Champion of the First Flame

As the Keldons worship the Flame of Keld, the source of their life and power, so too does it grant them power beyond their strength. Learning to channel the fires of the Flame of Keld is a feat many Kelds aspire to, but one which few ever manage to achieve. Most Keldons learn the basic tricks of starting a fire with a snap of the fingers, but more rare are those capable of creating roaring bonfires beneath their enemy’s feet, and only those marked as warlords ever seem capable of generating roaring fireballs to blast away an enemy host. A few true and powerful warlords are capable of granting fragments of their gift to others, lending them some modicum of the Flame of Keld’s raging power to fight with in battle- such blessed warriors are given the title Champion of the Flame.   Passion Proven in Combat In theory, a powerful warlord could lend the strength of the Flame of Keld to any Keldon warrior they choose, enhancing the power of their own army. But all Keldon people know that fire is fickle, and none more so than the Flame of Keld which gives them their life. To give its power freely, to those who have not proven themselves worthy, risks that power overrunning a tribe and bringing it to ruin. For this reason, a warlord only makes a Champion of Flame from those who prove themselves best in combat. The strongest of warlords, Grand Warlord Radha, gives this power only to those who challenge her for dominance of the Keldon people. This tradition of challenge is passed from ancient times, and in ancient times, a challenger would fight until they won or they were killed. But the Grand Warlord abolished this practice, to ensure that Keld never lost its most-proven warriors. Instead, a warrior who fights with the passion of the Kelds may be granted the gift of the Flame of Keld from Radha herself, and made into a Champion of the Flame who rises above all others.   Servant of Keld A Champion of the Flame designated by Grand Warlord Radha is not on the same level as one gifted the title by another warlord- Radha herself holds the Flame of Keld close, enough so that she united the people of Keld under one banner, and brought them back from the edge of extinction. The Champions she creates hold the Flame close to them too- it burns bright on their hands and their weapons, giving them strength to fight with, and caresses their bare skin, giving them a shield to defend with. In return for this gift, a Champion dedicates themselves to fighting for the Grand Warlord, not against her, and in turn fighting for all the people of Keld. The Grand Warlord creates each Champion with the intention that they are to serve as guardians and guides for the Keldon people, as they walk to a brighter future lit by the Flame of Keld.   In a Raging Inferno A Champion of Flame’s greatest strength is the ability to cloak their weapons in unquenchable flame, burning at the skin and armor of a foe as equally as they slash and stab at it. This fire is intense, outperforming most other magical weapons with similar enchantments. Additionally, a Champion of Flame is protected by an inner fire, which takes magic from the air around them to empower their blows, making them hit harder and faster each time a spellcaster attempts to stop them. But the greatest ability of a Champion is to rocket forward, their body consumed in flames, striking with raging intensity at a foe, torching them with a fraction of the Flame of Keld’s true power.