Fire & Blood, by Theodor Helbrecht
Posted: Thu May 13, 2021 7:04 am
**These books can be found IG**
Chapter 1 - Brothers
This is a story about two brothers who grew up together in a small farming village near Trail’s End east of the Icelace River.
Eduard, the older brother, was always fond of reading. He enjoyed research and could often be found studying hard. The younger brother, Wilhelm, was far less disciplined. Often to be found getting up to no good. Eduard would stand up for his brother and hide the many mischiefs his younger brother would get up to from their parents. Even taking the blame many times.
Damara is a cold and harsh place, and it was no better when the brothers were young. Wolf Winter hit Damara and famine was widespread. The Northern reaches of Damara got infested with lycanthropes at the same time. It was a difficult time even for the hardy people of Damara.
At the encouragement of Eduard, the brothers involved themselves in charitable work helping out surrounding farmsteads.
Eduard looks at his younger brother with a disapproving look. “Instead of causing another fire to a chicken coop, why don’t you make yourself useful and carry these sacks of grain to the cart, Wilhelm?”
“That only happened once! And it was an accident.” Wilhelm grumbles but then picks up the grain sacks and starts loading the cart.
“These types of accidents happen a lot around you. You’re lucky I’m always there to clean up your mess.” Eduard simply states to his younger brother and lifts several grain sacks from the ground himself.
As time went on things in Damara got even worse. The Witch-King Zhengyi invaded Damara with his hordes from Vaasa. Their uncle, a battle seasoned lieutenant, had to leave to fight in the army and their father, a skilled smith, moved along with him to supply the troops with steel.
One evening Wilhelm walks into his brother’s study to find Eduard bent over several heavy tomes on the topic of undead and liches.
“What do you think you’re doing. Why do you have that?” Wilhelm immediately seems on the aggressive and accusatory side despite their strong relationship and the sacrifices his older brother always made for him.
“I’m researching our enemy. Our uncle has gone to fight the Witch-King’s forces. I intend to join him, but I cannot do so without understanding what I’m fighting.”
Wilhelm looks unconvinced. “There is never a good reason to read those books. I always knew something was off with you!”
“Brother, I assure you. There is no other reason for me to read this. When I have completed my studies and my training, I will be joining our uncle in battle.” Eduard responds calmly, but Wilhelm storms out of the room before Eduard can attempt to convince his younger brother.
The events of that evening caused the brothers to grow apart more and more. Wilhelm joined the Arcane Academy as an apprentice, following the footsteps of his older brother who had joined two years prior for his own reasons.
Two years later, as the brothers studied independently the forces of Damara were crushed at the Ford of Goliad after one of King Virdin’s trusted advisors betrayed and murdered him. Independent Baronies were forced to bend the knee to the Witch-King. When one day sad news arrived for the brothers.
Eduard holds onto a crumpled letter in his hands as tears flow freely down his cheeks “Father… I am sorry I was not strong enough. That I couldn’t be there to defend you. To save you….”
In another room, Wilhelm reads the same letter. His expression neutral as he folds the letter and throws it in the burning fireplace. He watches it burn and crosses his arms “They are all weaklings. They should have simply burned and tortured all in service of this Lich. Even those who believed themselves stupid enough not to have a choice.”
A year later, Wilhelm joins the army and seems determined to show everyone what the power of a true warrior is like as the armed resistance against Zhengyi flares up again. Eduard continues his studies to try and discover weaknesses against the lich and his army, but eventually Zhengyi is defeated and Damara flourishes once more before he has a chance to join the battle. Wilhelm returns home victorious and is hailed a hero in Damara for his services in the defeat of Zhengyi.
A golden era begins for Wilhelm as he is granted many gifts including a wife.
Wilhelm assesses his new wife and finally nods an approval. “This will do. You will serve me dinner at the eight hour after midday and breakfast at the sixth hour of morn. Do not be late. You will bare me children and keep the house clean. If you do not, I will have you beaten.”
“Y-yes My Lord” A submissive response with a small curtsy as Meri-Anna looks down with fear desperately trying to avoid her new husband’s wrath. The woman was beautiful. Her dress gold and green, long brown braided hair fell down her shoulders as she took comfort from the Chauntean symbol hanging from her neck.
Chapter 1 - Brothers
This is a story about two brothers who grew up together in a small farming village near Trail’s End east of the Icelace River.
Eduard, the older brother, was always fond of reading. He enjoyed research and could often be found studying hard. The younger brother, Wilhelm, was far less disciplined. Often to be found getting up to no good. Eduard would stand up for his brother and hide the many mischiefs his younger brother would get up to from their parents. Even taking the blame many times.
Damara is a cold and harsh place, and it was no better when the brothers were young. Wolf Winter hit Damara and famine was widespread. The Northern reaches of Damara got infested with lycanthropes at the same time. It was a difficult time even for the hardy people of Damara.
At the encouragement of Eduard, the brothers involved themselves in charitable work helping out surrounding farmsteads.
Eduard looks at his younger brother with a disapproving look. “Instead of causing another fire to a chicken coop, why don’t you make yourself useful and carry these sacks of grain to the cart, Wilhelm?”
“That only happened once! And it was an accident.” Wilhelm grumbles but then picks up the grain sacks and starts loading the cart.
“These types of accidents happen a lot around you. You’re lucky I’m always there to clean up your mess.” Eduard simply states to his younger brother and lifts several grain sacks from the ground himself.
As time went on things in Damara got even worse. The Witch-King Zhengyi invaded Damara with his hordes from Vaasa. Their uncle, a battle seasoned lieutenant, had to leave to fight in the army and their father, a skilled smith, moved along with him to supply the troops with steel.
One evening Wilhelm walks into his brother’s study to find Eduard bent over several heavy tomes on the topic of undead and liches.
“What do you think you’re doing. Why do you have that?” Wilhelm immediately seems on the aggressive and accusatory side despite their strong relationship and the sacrifices his older brother always made for him.
“I’m researching our enemy. Our uncle has gone to fight the Witch-King’s forces. I intend to join him, but I cannot do so without understanding what I’m fighting.”
Wilhelm looks unconvinced. “There is never a good reason to read those books. I always knew something was off with you!”
“Brother, I assure you. There is no other reason for me to read this. When I have completed my studies and my training, I will be joining our uncle in battle.” Eduard responds calmly, but Wilhelm storms out of the room before Eduard can attempt to convince his younger brother.
The events of that evening caused the brothers to grow apart more and more. Wilhelm joined the Arcane Academy as an apprentice, following the footsteps of his older brother who had joined two years prior for his own reasons.
Two years later, as the brothers studied independently the forces of Damara were crushed at the Ford of Goliad after one of King Virdin’s trusted advisors betrayed and murdered him. Independent Baronies were forced to bend the knee to the Witch-King. When one day sad news arrived for the brothers.
Eduard holds onto a crumpled letter in his hands as tears flow freely down his cheeks “Father… I am sorry I was not strong enough. That I couldn’t be there to defend you. To save you….”
In another room, Wilhelm reads the same letter. His expression neutral as he folds the letter and throws it in the burning fireplace. He watches it burn and crosses his arms “They are all weaklings. They should have simply burned and tortured all in service of this Lich. Even those who believed themselves stupid enough not to have a choice.”
A year later, Wilhelm joins the army and seems determined to show everyone what the power of a true warrior is like as the armed resistance against Zhengyi flares up again. Eduard continues his studies to try and discover weaknesses against the lich and his army, but eventually Zhengyi is defeated and Damara flourishes once more before he has a chance to join the battle. Wilhelm returns home victorious and is hailed a hero in Damara for his services in the defeat of Zhengyi.
A golden era begins for Wilhelm as he is granted many gifts including a wife.
Wilhelm assesses his new wife and finally nods an approval. “This will do. You will serve me dinner at the eight hour after midday and breakfast at the sixth hour of morn. Do not be late. You will bare me children and keep the house clean. If you do not, I will have you beaten.”
“Y-yes My Lord” A submissive response with a small curtsy as Meri-Anna looks down with fear desperately trying to avoid her new husband’s wrath. The woman was beautiful. Her dress gold and green, long brown braided hair fell down her shoulders as she took comfort from the Chauntean symbol hanging from her neck.