The Voice of Hasmed

Grendel was said to be the most ancient of the Black Dragons. He was once the scourge of the Vladarian Empire, a cruel tyrant that demanded tribute to his greatness from those he deemed inferior. Most villages and towns would bow to his threats, fully aware of the ruins of entire cities, melted by his vile breath; though the Imperial family never backed down. Many died as a result of their defiance, but they held steadfast, refusing to bend the knee to the Dragon.   Grendel grew angry with them and began to lash out, wiping cities off the map and leaving but a handful alive to spread the word. Fear erupted throughout the Empire, with some villages bowing to Grendel, losing their will to resist. One village in the Amaryllis Province was completely destroyed, save for one girl; Khala.   Khala made a pact with her Gods, vowing to rid this world of his tyranny if they would give her the strength. They agreed, though they warned her it would come with a great cost, as all things do. Devastated at the loss of her family, her people, she took the deal. Khala carried the eternal silence of her people with her from that day forth. She would slay Grendel and avenge them, but to do so she would need to become the vessel of oblivion incarnate, for Grendel himself was a bringer of destruction and nothing short of that would be enough.   Khala took the weight of her people's souls to the Gates of Shyish. She would need to venture deeper into the land of the dead to claim her strength, but the journey would not be easy. She battled with the desire to be with her people and speak with them once more, the promise of peace clawing at her determination. She fought with her mortality as she found herself wading through a sea of the dead, forced to consider whether she should ever have come this far for just a chance at vengeance. She struggled to maintain her grasp on reality as everything she had ever known was laid bare to her, the ingredients of existence taunting her inability to comprehend them. Finally, however, she reached her destination at the centre of Shyish; Oblivion. Khala walked calmly into its embrace and remained standing even as every atom of her existence was being torn apart into nothingness. She closed her eyes, she kept her hands by her side, but she listened. Khala then heard the voice of Hasmed, the Angel of Annihilation. The Seraph of Sand spoke to Khala its name and granted her its voice.   Grendel had not been idle as Khala was venturing through the Underworld, however. The Emperor had ordered that his cults be purged, his presence erased wherever it could be. He even sent armies after the beast, refusing to accept defeat. The Empire had angered Grendel once more and, this time, he swore to destroy them.   One fateful morning, the citizens of the Imperial Palace awoke before the sun had risen to see the Black Dragon in all his glory, perched upon the wall. As dawn began to rise behind the mountains in the distance, Grendel unfurled his wings and blotted out the sun.   "See now you have angered a God", He roared, "I am Grendel. I am the Dawnbreaker. You shall perish, forsaken by your light, for I am the immortal bringer of death.".   Just as his breath began to build, he fell silent. Everything fell silent. Khala walked toward him slowly, unsheathing a simple steel blade and pointing it at the beast atop the wall. No sound could break the quiet. Then Khala spoke. It is said that to hear the voice of Hasmed is to know that you are deaf. Khala and Grendel both vanished, never to be seen again.   Many stories tell that they were locked in an eternal duel until the end of time itself, others claim they both ceased to exist at that very moment, forever. One thing is known, however; the Empire would never forget the deeds of that one girl. No one knew her name, so they called her Khala, an ancient word for unity and oneness. While she but one woman, she carried with her the hearts of her people and so it was the name she was granted.