Descended
from a celestial being who took a human wife several generations back, Lucien
was no ordinary child. His father served as a cleric in the church of Heironeous
and he instilled in his son the values that would eventually lead the young lad
down the path to becoming a holy paladin of The Fist of Valor. Lucien was well
liked as a child; he was energetic and charismatic, leading a band of local
boys and girls on imaginary quests for Heironeous all about town. Even as a child,
his celestial heritage shone forth with his golden blond hair and striking blue
eyes.
At
the age of nine Lucien became a page in the halls of the Temple of the Fist
that was just a little ways up the mountain from their town. The paladins had
often visited and their gleaming armor reflected in Lucien’s perfect blue eyes
as he watched the ride by in dumbstruck admiration. He served for a number of
years, slowly learning from the paladins whom he served devotedly. He excelled
in all of his studies and became a quick favorite among the elders in the temple
and the paladins he worked with. On several occasions he was allowed to accompany
the holy warriors when they went out on a quest and began making a bit of a
name for himself. “Lucien the Courageous” the y began calling him, for he would
never back down from a challenge or waver in the face of evil.
Finally
it came time for the boy to become a man. On his nineteenth birthday he was
told that it was time for him to make his rite of passage and join The Fist of
Valor as an anointed paladin in service to Heironeous the Invincible. The rite
of passage for centuries at this temple has been to escort a monk of the fist
as they begin their spiritual journey. Monks trained in the temple, at the
completion of their training, were sent up the mountain to a sacred location to
meditate for three days and nights with only one companion there to drive off
the wild things and ensure the safety of the catatonic monk. The monk was
supposed to meditate on his or her inner being and upon reaching the end of the
third day, their path would become clear to them and they would embark on their
spiritual journey. For some, that journey was a simple pilgrimage and completed
easily, for some it became a lifelong task. Either way, upon returning from the
rite of passage both candidates would be given the official title of monk or
paladin of The Fist of Valor.
Lucien
came to the elders ready and excited to begin his rite of passage. There he was
introduced to a young monk-in-training with peach color hair. He introduced
himself with a polite bow and soon they were off. They had to travel about half
a day further up the mountain, deep in the eldritch forest there, before they
found the circle of standing stones. Before entering the sacred place Lucien
recited the prayer he was taught to consecrate himself and his escort. Then he
prepared a special meal for his charge, it was a simple but filling meal with
some herbs that would help the monk maintain her meditation for such a long
time. Lucien’s last meal had been on the previous night. He was not allowed to
eat or rest for the duration of the monk’s meditation. This was both a test of strength
and endurance, meant to push you beyond your physical limits and rely on the
power of Heironeous to make it through the trial.
After
she had eaten, the monk began her meditation and soon she was whisked away into
some sort of dream world which Lucien could only imagine. After a few hours of
silence, so as not to disturb the newly entranced monk, he began to pray to
Heironeous to bring him a challenge that he might demonstrate his devotion and
gain honor worthy of a Paladin of the Fist. His prayers were soon answered when
he heard howls in the distance. All day he could hear beasts gathering just out
of sight in the woodlands surrounding the stone circle. At twilight the first
wave of wolves attacked. Lucien was armed only with a long sword and a wooden shield,
but he dispatched them easily. Through the night he fought, the wolves only
coming in one or two at a time. At the break of dawn the monk awoke as he
finished off another of his foes. He quickly assured her that he was fine and
that she should continue her meditation.
That
day no more wolves came, but late afternoon came a mountain lion. His battle
lasted hours but in the end he stood bloody and victorious. Lucien cleaned his
sword, stood over his foe, and thanked Heironeous for allowing him to emerge
victorious against so powerful a foe. After this, he tended to his wounds as
best he could, tearing his shirt to make simple tourniquets and stop the
bleeding. That night was quiet, none the less, Lucien stayed up keeping a
weather eye. At dawn on the third day the wolves came back in force. A whole
pack attacked at once, darting in and out, circling him and lunging at every
opening. Lucien fought with every ounce of strength left in him and called out
to Heironeous for strength with every breath. He killed many wolves, their
bodies piling up around the alter where the monk sat. But he was losing blood
from many new wounds and some old ones that has opened back up. He began to
despair and his last thought before sliding out of consciousness was that at
least he would have an honorable death. Sometime later, he could not tell if it
was minutes or hours, he awoke to see one large wolf covered in blood and peach
colored fur standing between him and the one remaining wolf. The peach colored
wolf lunged with feral grace and ripped open the other wolf’s throat. It
dropped in agony, twitched a bit, then it’s spirit passed on. The peach colored
wolf turned toward Lucien and stared at him. He
saw the wolf stand and begin shifting forms back into the young monk
who he had escorted just before he fell unconscious once more.
When
he came to, he was back in the temple infirmary. His wounds had been healed by
the clerics there, and he had slept clear into the next day. Once he sat up, a
boy rushed over to him excitedly. “You’re up!” he cried, “please come with me
sir, the ceremony will be starting soon!” And the boy ran with Lucien to a
dressing room where there was a perfectly tailored suit of armor gleaming. The
boy helped him don the armor and then led him to the main hall where Lucien was
greeted by one of the elders who was very pleased to greet him. Lucien was told
that he was just in time to attend the ceremony where he was to receive his title as official Paladin of the Fist of Valor. Lucien’s father was there, ready to walk up and perform the ceremony in his stead, but he smiled and stepped aside as his son walked down the aisle. Lucien was as
happy as a young man can be, his blue eyes practically glowed, the sun glinted
off of his golden hair and glittered off of his armor.
“Lucien,
Lucien, Lucien” the crowd all shouted as he strode gracefully down the center
of the room. No paladin in close to a century had come back after slaying so
many beasts; everyone believed that he was favored of Heironeous. He was still in pain, but all of that seemed to fade away as he walked down that stone pathway. He received a medallion, which he carries with him even now, and the blessing of the elders there. He was asked to speak, and with a smile he said, "Glory be to Heironeous!" Shouts erupted echoing his words, and then the ceremony ended.
With
the ceremony complete, Lucien was sent to serve in a church in the town of Homlet. He served there for
four years doing whatever he could to help the town and defend it. Then one day
he received a letter from the mayor…
