Legend of the Dark Paladin
The legend begins during the grim days of the Mountain Siege, when a human force known as the Army of the Burning Banner swept into the Steerbright mountains. Driven by greed and a lust for conquest, the Burning Banner sought to claim the riches of the dwarves for themselves. This army, infamous for its scorched-earth tactics and unrelenting ambition, had already razed outposts and ambushed supply caravans, leaving trails of destruction across the peaks.
Led by the ruthless General Dain Blackthorn, the Burning Banner had cut down scores of dwarves as they marched deeper into Steerbright, searching for the entrances to the legendary forgeholds. Their path brought them to the narrow, snowbound corridor of the Silent Pass, a vital trade route and one of the few points of defense left for the beleaguered dwarves. A desperate stand was all that prevented the humans from advancing further.
The Descent of the Dark Paladin
The dwarves fought valiantly, their axes flashing in the snow, but the sheer numbers and ruthless coordination of the Burning Banner wore them down. Exhausted and outnumbered, the defenders faced annihilation. Snow stained with blood, the cries of the dying echoed against the mountain walls. The pass was on the verge of falling.
Then, from the heights of the mountains, a shadow appeared on the ridge above the battlefield. Against the endless white of the snow, a lone figure stood, clad in black armor that absorbed the dim light. He carried a massive two-handed battle axe, its haft etched with runes that glowed faintly like embers, and his imposing figure exuded a presence that silenced the howling winds.
The mysterious figure began his descent. Each step through the deep snow was deliberate, the massive axe resting on his shoulder like a feather. The battlefield seemed to pause as both dwarves and humans turned their eyes to the dark figure. When he reached the edge of the fray, he hefted the great axe with both hands, and with a single swing, the tide of battle shifted.
The Black-Clad Champion
The Dark Paladin’s axe cleaved through men and steel as if they were paper. Each swing was a calculated arc of destruction, sending shields and bodies flying. The snow beneath him turned crimson, and the black figure moved with a precision and power that bordered on otherworldly. Human soldiers who had fought without fear against the dwarves now cowered before this towering warrior.
The Burning Banner’s forces faltered as fear gripped their ranks. The Dark Paladin fought alone, a solitary storm of death, cutting through the enemy lines with terrifying efficiency. Even General Dain Blackthorn himself, a man known for his unshakable resolve, hesitated to face the black-clad giant.
Realizing their forces were breaking, the humans sounded the retreat, fleeing the Silent Pass in disarray. Their once-proud banners, emblazoned with a burning flame, were trampled into the snow, extinguished by their own desperation to escape the unstoppable warrior.
The Departure
As the battlefield fell silent, the surviving dwarves gathered around the towering figure. His dark armor was spattered with the blood of the invaders, and his massive battle axe gleamed coldly in the pale light. He spoke no words, answering their reverent stares with silence. The Paladin knelt in the snow, cleaning his bloodied axe with deliberate care, dragging its blade through the frozen ground until it gleamed once more.
Without so much as a glance back, the Dark Paladin turned and began his ascent back into the peaks. His figure faded into the swirling mists, leaving the dwarves with no answers, only awe and gratitude.
The Legend of the Dark Paladin
The tale of the Dark Paladin spread quickly through the forgeholds. Dwarves spoke of him as a forgotten Forgefather, perhaps even Halgrak the Grudgekeeper himself, returned to defend his kin in their hour of greatest need. Others whispered that he was a spirit of vengeance, a protector bound to the mountains, appearing only when the dwarves faced annihilation. His jet-black armor, massive axe, and eerie silence added to the mystery of his identity.
The Army of the Burning Banner, once a name spoken with dread, became a cautionary tale among humans. Few returned from the Silent Pass, and those who did spoke of a black-armored dwarf who fought like death incarnate. General Blackthorn disappeared during the retreat, his body never found.
Legacy
The Dark Paladin became both a legend and a symbol of hope for the dwarves. His appearance at the Battle of the Silent Pass reminded them that even in their darkest hours, they were not abandoned. The tale became a rallying cry, with the phrase "When shadows fall and axes falter, the Dark Paladin will rise" etched into stone halls and whispered in forgehold songs.
The Silent Pass itself became a place of reverence, its bloodied snow a reminder of the battle and the mysterious savior who turned the tide. To this day, dwarves believe that in their greatest need, the Dark Paladin will descend once more, his massive axe cutting through their enemies, defending his kin as he has done since the days of old.
