Forward

Forward by Genos Dunkirk, in Legends: Aetheric Age Collection IV

$$ The tale you are about to read is a historical account penned by Kaelon Arwin a devoted priest of Sylf, the Goddess of nature. Arwin, one of the last priests to serve Sylf before the goddess's demise to Yharim's hand. This story comes from her book Heroes of the Grove, where she writes about the late goddess Sylf, and the other servants to the goddess. Arwin traveled alongside Daso for much of his journey following this event. Her work both emotional and factual, captures the intimate details of Daso's stand against the emergent hordes of Emera.
$$ The events of the story occur during a period of upheaval at the zenith of Yharim's campaign, as countries were reduced to ash and dust. Thran's destruction was not an isolated event, but part of a larger pattern of devastation that left scars across Tharassa. This tale has been included here to provide insight to the lives and sacrifices of those who stood against the overwhelming threat. It is not simply a story of loss, but a record of what it means to resist in the face of despair. I have also included Arwin's forward to this story as well, as her words speak more truly to it's writing than mine.

Introduction

Penned by Kaelon Arwin, Priest of Sylf, in Heroes of the Grove

$$ This tale is a testament to the valor of Daso, a man who's unyielding dedication to protecting his people remains through those he protected. The fall of his home town took place before we met, but serves to me as a shining example of his courage and resilience.
$$ Daso's story begins in the shadow of serenity—a town nestled in harmony with nature, under the watchful grace of lady Sylf. The peace he fought to maintain was shattered in an instant by the tide of monsters born of Emera's wake, heralds of calamity and ruin. On that fateful day, Daso made a stand, not for glory, but for the lives of those he had sworn to protect. His deeds were those of a mortal, yet his courage compared to that of the gods.
$$ What followed was a path defined by tragedy and determination. Daso, having lost his home, joined a band of adventurers, where he met me, in a desperate quest to confront the root of our world's destruction. He stood in the battle against Yharim alongside lady Sylf, and shared with her, their demise. Daso's courage was boundless, underneath the stark determination was a gentle heart. He was a perfect example of the sheltering nature of lady Sylf. I am confident that Daso would be proud of the peace his heroics helped grant the world, granted me.
$$ They will be missed.

Tale of Daso: The Fall of Thran

$$ The sky was clear, and the air felt clean. The morning was one of the most peaceful they had in months. Daso one of the four guards who served the church of Sylf, leaned against the mossy stone wall adjacent to the large oak doors of the church. He took a deep breath feeling the cold air of the upcoming winter hit his lungs. This year had been a good harvest, the winter would not be a tough one. With a small groan, he stood and began his daily rounds.
$$ It was his job to protect this town, he had sworn an oath to give his life if need be for their safety. Stepping through the cobblestone streets, he wondered if he had made the correct choice. He could have been a tailor, or a blacksmith like his parents, he remembered that they told him it was ok, but the disappointment in their eyes could not be hidden.
$$ His train of thought was broken by two children who came up to him, looking up at the man coated in shining armor.
$$ "She took my sweet roll!" The boy yelled in frustration.
$$ "There were plenty of them!" The girl disputed.
$$ "My grandmother gave me that one!" The boy yelled back.
$$ Daso got on one knee to be closer to the height of the children, "I have told you guys countless times, I am no judge to the stealing of sweet rolls, go talk to your parents," He then put his hand on the boys head, and in a slow calming voice spoke. "Take a deep breath Kyle, go speak with your grandma, everything will be sorted out," Kyle sniffled and nodded his head.
$$ Watching the children run back to where they came consoled Daso's life choices. This town was safe, safer than most, even young children were trusted to run amongst the town without worry for their safety. Daso took pride in that fact.
$$ Finishing the round, Daso stepped back towards the mossy path leading from the church, one of his brethren in sword shouted towards him.
$$ "Daso, we have trouble!" John yelled. Without hesitation, Daso broke into a run.
$$ "Where? What's the problem?" He yelled over the clanking of his armor.
$$ "Here, look" John replied handing him binoculars, and pointing towards the south. Daso dropped his draw inside the concealment of his helmet. A sea of strange beasts were washing over the landscape leaving a path of desolation in their wake, heading directly towards the town. Hundreds, if not thousands of misshapen creatures. They were each unique with tentacles in varying numbers, size, color, although they were all very pale. Some even flew in the air, snatching birds as they attempted to flee.
$$ "Evacuate everyone," Daso said as he pulled the binoculars from his eyes.
$$ "But-" John began to reply.
$$ "Did I stutter? I said get them out, now Go!" Daso raised his voice, for John a first. Daso drew his sword, one made from manasteel, specially forged to channel aether, a gift given from a dwarven blacksmith who he had saved in a nearby mine. It's magical properties useless to him, but a valuable keepsake regardless. Weapon in hand Daso began to march towards the south.
$$ "What about you?" John said, with worry breaking in his voice.
$$ "I will be fine. Our duty is to protect these people. Do not falter, get them to Phonas," Daso said confidently, hiding the fear and anxiety bubbling up within him "I will meet you there in time."

$$ At the southernmost part of the town, Daso stood with his sword between his legs, planted in the ground. About half an hour had passed and the townsfolk had been gathered to depart as a caravan to the north. They were gathering the last people before departing. The other guards were now looking for Kyle. His grandmother reported that he stormed off after not getting an apology for the stolen sweet roll.
$$ This was no longer of Daso's concern now, he watched the stampede of monsters that were just over the hill. Everywhere they traveled left white twisted shells, no life was left, but only pale terrain.
$$ Panic washed over Daso as he watched Kyle run for his life towards the town, without thinking, nor hesitation, Daso began charging towards the swarm of monsters, he had to save the boy. With a fluid motion indicative of his years of practice, he swung his sword past the boy cleaving a monster about to ensnare the child with it's twisting tentacles.
$$ "Run! Get! To! Safety!" Daso yelled to the boy between swings of his blades. The boy didn't need the orders as he never stopped running.
$$ The beasts fell easily, they didn't blead but instead turned to dust and dispersing around the landscape that was crumbling under his feet, everything seemed to be turning to dust, the air felt thin like he was struggling to get oxygen to his fading mind. He heard Kyle's scream from only a few dozen meters behind him. Looking back in disbelief, he watched a monster with large leathery wings stab the boy through the back with a long sharp tentacle. Daso took a few steps towards Kyle.
$$ Perhaps it wasn't too late.
$$ He could still save him.
$$ Contrary to the raving throughs of denial rampaging in Daso's mind, he watched in slow motion as the color and life faded from the boy, seconds before nothing but dust blew away in the wind.
$$ His vision blurred. Tears welled in his eyes, as he unwillingly remembered a moment of his past..

$$ "You can't save everyone," The guard told the boy, who was sobbing over the disappearance of his friend.
$$ "Please no! You have to try!" The boy begged desperately.
$$ The guard got down on one knee and looked the boy in the eye. "Listen, we tried. She isn't coming back, you have to move on, and grow up."
$$ "You didn't try hard enough" Daso's words as a boy struck through him now as sharp as a blade ripping his heart in two.

$$ Emotion overwhelmed Daso, as he charged at the flying monster, His feet pounded at the ground, along with the pounding of his heart in his ears. The vibrations of his sword slicing through it's flesh as it disintegrated into nothing flowed through his arms making him feel numb. He then turned to the monsters that followed him towards the peak of the hill and began mercilessly slicing them down.
$$ With each slice of the blade, he expressed the feelings that were coursing through his blood. Down fell one with hundreds of legs, out with his rage. Down fell one with pincers, out with regret. Another, with misery. More and more, with anxiety, fear, hatred, remorse, and most importantly his desire to protect. He fought with the thought of town, his people, of Kyle and his grandmother, his family, the friend he lost as a boy. He kept moving, cutting them down in the thousands until he was knee-deep in the dust of monsters. He slew until his body was just as numb as his mind. Until he couldn't fight anymore.
$$ His breath piercing his lungs. With vision faltering and his reflexes slowing. He began to miss his movements, the sharp edge of a beast dug into his side, his own blood turning to dust before it hit the ground. With a faulty step back, he came to realize where he stood, his back hit the ajar door of his church. The entire southern half of the town had turned to dust and was simply part of the wasteland that stretched towards the horizon. A monster lunged at him for the thousandth time, but he was tired, With his movements and thoughts sluggish, he couldn't block, nor could he evade. Stuck in the chest, he was tossed backward, the symbol of his god was broken by the spear of flesh, he could no longer see.
$$ "I guess this is it then..." He thought to himself, "This is how I die? Against an endless swarm of monsters?" The endless skittering and banging outside suddenly came through to his consciousness, and it seemed so painfully loud, overwhelmed only by his own erratic heartbeat. "I guess it's fair, everyone should be far away by now, they can warn others. Nobody else has to die."
$$ "At least I saved the others. Nobody can say I didn't try hard enough," The droning of the swarm began to sound quiet. "If only I could have kept fighting them," Even his own thoughts began to grow quiet. He had forgotten one person who could say he didn't try hard enough.

$$ Himself.