The story of Bloed and the Blade of Warrior’s Heart

Near the end of the Age of Antivum , as Kulkemos planted the seeds of dissent and discord among the nations, Veteri still roamed the Material Plane. Their numbers had dwindled down to a mere several hundred, but their long lives made them near immortal heroes among the emerging races even the long lived elves. The Veteri were masters of all they plied their wits too given the longevity of life with which they had to hone their skill. As strife grew in the minds of men, many of the great Veteri hunters turned their tools to weapons of war and honed their skill to that unrivaled by any other. Likewise, many of the great Veteri artisans turned their implements from creating splendor and beauty to forging instruments of finest death. These peerless warriors and craftsmen lead the armies in the First War. Their weapons and hands alike brought an untold number of souls to Sonath as any one of the Veteri generals was worth a thousand of the lesser races and one Veteri sword carried the destruction of a hundred lesser weapons.

There was one such Veteri general, Bloed Hummant Therritsund the Ashen Blade and Bringer of the Blood Sun, he had long hunted the greatest beasts of The Planes in such a manner to rival that of Rovu and had mastered the ways of war faster and more thoroughly than any of his kin. At his hands, it is said that a full half of the remaining Veteri were slain and that cities fell with but a swing of his great blade. At the conclusion of the First War, Bloed still remained, unbested and unbloodied, the last Veteri general. No lesser mortal could challenge him, and even his own kin had proved but idle sport to his passion of slaughter. It was then that Bloed’s own pride took him. As though a thief had come in the night and robbed him of all sense, he woke one morning and challenged all around to best him. He screamed and shouted for a worthy opponent, he wailed to the heavens that another could try his blade and not find a quick death. He was answered.

At the end of the great conflict, Sonath had created Kavos, the very embodiment of war. He was created with the sole purpose of driving the mortal beings of the world against each other relentlessly and with all fury. But Kavos was not blind rage or idiotic fury, but the height of war body, soul, and mind. It was Kavos that heard Bloed’s call and it was Kavos that answered. As Bloed still beckoned come what may, Kavos took his first step onto the material plane and formed his aspect before Bloed. It is said that when Kavos answered the challenge it was as though ten-thousand warriors had answered at once with one voice and the ring of steel on steel. The steel was called, and the steel answered.

The battle begun there, as Kavos appeared to Bloed and answered him it were as though he had already made the first strike. Each was ready for their purpose and their purpose was to fight. The accounts vary as to how long the fight lasted. Some speak of a fight lasting through the night. Others still say the fight went on for a full three days and three nights. Regardless of how long the fight was, all recounts agree that as the sun rose, Kavos made his final strike, piercing Bloed through the heart and painting the rising sun red with his blood. From then on, the morning after tumultuous conflict the sun always rose in the morning as though bathed anew in the blood of the last Veteri general, Bloed Hummant Therritsund the Ashen Blade and Bringer of the Blood Sun.

Kavos kept the blade of the great general after that fight, so imbued was it with the warriors great will that it exuded strength and confidence. For as long as Kavos could maintain an aspect upon the material plane, he kept the sword of his first and greatest rival in the hopes to bestow it on another worthy opponent and relive the greatest duel in history.

And so ended the Age of Antivum