Karl Norgaard - Grand Master of HollamKarl the main body of his knights had already left the battlefield by the time the Elven heroes arrived. He could hear the screams of the fanatics, common soldiers who followed him with a religious devotion but were not considered Knight of Hollam. He tugged the head of his horse around, the entire column coming moving with him as he spurred his mount back towards the fighting.
As they came within sight of the battlefield he was stunned to see only a handful of Elves devastating the fanatics without any serious injury. Granted, the fanatics were hardly trained soldiers but the ease with which the Elves were slaughtering them was appalling. He narrowed his eyes and stared towards the Elves, watching as one managed to perform some impressive acrobatics as she massacred a small group of soldiers.
“Hand maidens of the Queen.” This was the Bishop of Hollam, a man who was clad from head to toe in platemail and wielding a massive two handed mace, a great golden cross emblazoned on his chest. “Heretics...”
Karl smiled despite the situation, the Bishop was more interested in sending heretic souls to hell then he was praying to god, a man after Karl’s own heart. He dismounted, sliding from his saddle with a thump, the Bishop and a dozen other Knights accompanying him. These were the true warriors of God, Knights of Hollam who had pledged their lives to God and in return been granted powers few others could match.
As one they began to advance across the battlefield, stepping over the dead Elves with disdain. He was nearly within hailing distance of the Elves who had begun to contract into a small circle when he heard the sound of hooves behind him. He halted for a moment, glancing over his shoulder to see a man in brilliant armour approach. He grinned. Keaghan, Chief Commander of the Human armies and one of the few men in the Kingdom that Karl considered as fine a soldier as himself.
“I have been sent here to fight with you and your men in this battle and the rest to come while our army safe guards the human capital, if you accept my aid that is.”Karl grasped the younger man’s hand and smiled. “Keaghan, I could ask for no better ally on the field today.” He gestured to the surrounded Elves. “I would hesitate to suggest any strategy to a man as skilled as yourself, so I will tell you my plan. I intend to either convince our dear Elven hand maidens to leave and inform their Queen of the hopeless war they fight, or to kill them all. I leave you to decide how to best use your own soldiers though I ask you allow me a few moments.”
He bowed slightly to the younger man and then turned to the Bishop and the Knight who had come with them. “Your grace, Knights of Hollam, let us show these heretic fairies the power of god, of the resurrection.”
Karl began to sing, a deep baritone that echoed through the trees, an intense sound that was eerie and uplifting at the same time.
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.
Tendrils of light began to seep from the Grand Master, snaking their way amongst the fallen humans, touching some, passing over others. The Bishop joined in, his own baritone rising slightly, the Knights beginning a slow but precise deep “harum” sound as they sang.
Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.
The bodies that had been touched by the tendrils of light took on a faint shimmering glow, wounds began to close and colour returned to their cheeks.
Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, so to shall the servants of god.
As the song came to an end and the last words rolled over the battlefield the fallen humans who had been touched by the light rose to their feet, picking up their weapons as they did. Where there had once been a field of dead, a ring of soldiers stood once again, eyes ablaze with a strange light.
Karl lowered his arms, and swept his gaze across the army of God. Next to him the Bishop moved impatiently.
“Let us finish gods work m’lord.” He said as he turned his massive mace slowly in his hands, staring at the Elves with a hatred that could not be missed.
“No your grace, let them go, to spread the word, God is coming.” Karl waved his soldiers back and then stepped forward, within easy hailing distance of the Elves.
“I give you your lives. Go to your Queen and tell her what you have seen here. Tell her that God has charged us with a Holy Crusade and we will not rest until you, and all of your kind, are dead. Go home, make your peace with your false gods, say goodbye to your families, for the wrath of god is upon you.”
The resurrected humans that surrounded the Elves parted to their rear, leaving a path for them to exit the field.