Al'Heur, The Baron's Tale

Traditional Folktale

  Baron Al’Heur was a knowledgeable man. He knew how much rainfall there had been over the year and how many crops would grow. He knew the names of each person in the town he governed. He knew every inch of the castle that was his home - its strengths, weaknesses, and history. He knew the title of every book in his library and what was inside each. He knew everything he needed to know, and if he didn't, he knew where to find it out.
  If he could account for it, the baron did. Baron Al’Heur did not take chances.
  So when there was a magic competition to see who would win the hand of Baroness Sei’Raught’s eldest child, he knew he had to ensure his victory. In addition to controlling a large portion of the country’s production, Sei’Raught was on very good terms with the Blood King himself. The alliance that would come from a marriage to her family would give Al’Heur a seat at the table any time he wanted his voice heard. He needed to win.
  Baron Al’Heur spent the next several months training his already impressive skills, but the day before he was due to set off, he was still not satisfied with his chances. It wasn’t enough that he could hit an apple at fifty paces with a shard of ice; it wasn’t enough that he could conjure illusions and cancel out another’s; and it wasn’t enough that he could make a piece of wood as strong as diamond with runes. He needed to be sure.
  When the sun set, Al’Heur locked himself in his library. The baron spent the whole night searching for a way to guarantee his success. He tried ritual after ritual, playing all the roles himself, even those that used his own blood. Nothing was good enough. Eventually, dawn came, and it was time to leave.
  It was only a two day’s journey to the Sei’Raught’s estate. Baron Al’Heur rode in a carriage guarded by his best knights and worried as the countryside passed by. At around sunset on the first day, he turned from the window and was startled to see two figures sitting across from him. One wore a blue traveling cloak and the other wore gray, over robes of the same color. The figure wearing gray, on the right, looked rather sad to be there, in contrast to the figure in blue, who was clearly enjoying a glass of wine.
 
 
  “How did you get past my guards?” the baron asked.
  “We asked,” said the one on the left, “We told them you invited us along.”
  “I did no such thing.”
  “You did,” said the one on the right. “You did ask for us. Last night.”
 
 
  Al’Heur was confused. He thought back on his many rituals done the night before that would’ve summoned companions and came up with nothing. He was about to call for the intruders to be removed when he remembered asking for Luck. He looked again at the pair in front of him and recognized the Twins. “So, you’re going to help me win then?” he said eagerly.
  “We can,” said Illom.
  “At a price,” said Seren.
  “What do you mean?” Al’Heur asked.
  “We can give you power beyond any mortal and guarantee your victory in the competition,” said the blue, “But that is a lot of Good to borrow. It will need to be paid back.”
  “Tenfold,” added the gray.
  “What would that mean?”
  The Twins looked at each other and swapped expressions. “That remains to be seen,” they said, together. Al’Heur looked at the gods, suddenly nervous at their changed demeanor, and thought. He was a careful man, the most careful he knew. Surely nothing too terrible could happen as long as he accounted for the deal. And he would have enough power to assure that should something go wrong, he could fix it. Even with his reasoning, the baron was unsure, until he saw the Sei’Raught estate become visible on the horizon. The competition was too important to leave anything to chance.
  “Make sure I win and I’ll pay whatever price I have to,” Baron Al’Heur said to the Twins. They both nodded at his declaration.
  “So it is said,” Seren said.
  “So it will be,” Illom finished.
  The carriage was silent for a few moments before the baron asked, “So, what happens next?”
  “You wake up.”
  With a bump, the carriage came to a halt, jolting Al'Heur awake. They were stopped in front of an inn and the sun had long since set. With the memory of his dream already fading, Baron Al'Heur stepped out of the carriage and into the inn.
  He awoke the next morning feeling different. His nervous energy of the past week was gone, replaced by a calm assurance that he couldn’t find the source of. Normally this in itself would worry the baron, but nothing could bother him today. It was the day of the competition and he was going to win.
  He arrived at the estate around midday. A crowd of suitors was already in the courtyard when Al'Heur arrived and when everyone was assembled, Baroness Sei’Raught went over the rules. There were several challenges given over the course of the day until only two contestants remained - Baron Al'Heur and Baron Pet’Ink. The final challenge - a magic duel - would take place the next day.
  Baron Pet’Ink wasn’t a stranger to Al'Heur. They were one of the best blood magicians in the country and the two had studied together extensively over the years. Everyone knew the best mages were about to face off and the atmosphere around the duel was electric. When the time came, the two friends took position and the match began.
  It was over a minute later when, somehow, Pet’Ink’s spell backfired on themself. Pet’Ink was blasted backwards, slamming against the wall twenty feet behind them with a chilling scream. The force was so great that it blasted one of Pet'Ink’s arms off at the elbow as well. They died quickly afterwards, screaming all the while. Despite the horrific scene, Al'Heur was declared the winner and a victory party followed, albeit more subdued than it otherwise would’ve been. The mystery of how a master of blood magic could have miscalculated so disastrously was dismissed as overambition on Pet'Ink’s part, but Al'Heur had the sense it was something else.
  Baroness Sei’Raught’s heir and Baron Al'Heur were married soon afterwards. The couple lived happily for many years and the township prospered. They had a son who was smart and kind and filled the keep with laughter. All was well, until one day, a Rift opened above the town. Ash and monstrosities poured out of it and the townspeople fled to the safety of the baron’s keep. Even with Al'Heur’s significant power, it took many months before the area was safe again and he was able to close the rift. During that time, an unknown sickness spread through the keep. Many refugees died while the danger was dealt with.
  With the township cleared, the keep was emptied and a sense of relief was felt by all. The worst of the danger had passed and they could go back to their lives. Baron Al'Heur shared his people’s relief as he made his way back to his home. On his return, he found that the threat had not passed, and a creature had found its way inside. Al'Heur hunted the beast along with his best fighters and, after cornering it, killed it. It was only after it was dead that he realized the monster wore the same pendant as his son. Ash had transformed him. Refusing to believe that he killed his own heir, the baron searched the castle for his son, to no avail.
  Al'Heur’s spouse died soon afterwards of grief. Little by little, his people left the town, until Baron Al'Heur alone remained in his keep. His days were spent desperately searching for a way to change the past or renew the good fortune he had enjoyed for so long. Year after year passed with the baron finding no answers, until he was an old man.
  One day, a pair of visitors arrived at the castle. Baron Al'Heur answered the knocking himself - there was no one else left to do it for him - and saw two people, one dressed in blue and the other in gray. With a flash of recognition, Al'Heur remembered his dream from so long ago and the deal he had made. The weight of his decision and what it had cost slowly dawned on the baron and he sank to the ground, sobbing.
  The Twins of Fortune watched the man break down and waited patiently for him to collect himself. When Al'Heur quieted, Illom finally spoke. “There is nothing left here to collect, but your debt is still not paid.”
  The baron looked at them aghast. “You have destroyed everything that has ever mattered to me. What more could you need? What more do you want?”
  “We did nothing but abide by our bargain. Now you must as well,” Seren said.
  After another bout of tears and regret, Baron Al'Heur slowly got to his feet. “What do I have to do?” he asked the gods.
  “There is nothing left here,” Illom repeated, “But there is fortune in other places. You must collect it and bring it to us. I have no doubt a man of your talents can figure out how to do this.” To their right smiled Seren, who started to laugh as the pair turned to leave.
  Al'Heur stood in the doorway of his empty keep and watched the Twins as they left. He stood there long after the sun had set. Eventually, without a second look back, Baron Al'Heur walked away from his vacant home and out into the world.
  It’s said that he wanders Aldwa even today, searching for unwitting travelers to collect Luck from and end his deal with the Twins of Fortune, so that he may rest and join his family Beyond the Veil.