~*FOREWORD*~

I write this book as the legacy of my lifetime. As my time grows short and my
mind dwells more on memories than the present, I feel a certain sense of
urgency to pass them on before they are lost forever.

This is the history of the Holy Paladins of Celest. Their founding, their
progress, their triumphs and tragedies, I pour it all into these pages. Times
grow darker with each passing day. I fear that soon the light and beauty and
grace that were the Paladins will be forgotten in the ugliness of our new
reality. We were scholars, priests, artists, diplomats, and the most skilled
warriors the First World has ever seen or will ever see again.

Yet now the old ways are dying and the new Paladin is a warrior first and
foremost with little time for the finer things in life. It is a time for blood
and the fires of war. I do not doubt the need for this but I mourn the passing
of the golden age every minute of every hour and I shall do so until I draw my
last breath.

And so I write, not to resurrect the past but simply to honor it and perhaps
one day, it will be remembered and embraced once more.

~*THE BEGINNING*~

The Paladins were formed in the year 56 B.E. when the warrior Ledor Inalai,
Captain of the City Guard, knelt in reverence and drank from the Pool of Stars.

Ledor was a devout man prior to the Partaking as it has come to be known. He
was an Initiate in the Mysteries of the Dawning Hope and had been chosen for
the singular honour of being granted a Pilgrimage to the Holy Plane itself by
the Celestines.

He was a young Merian at the time of the Partaking, having only reached his
27th year. Yet it is said his skills as a warrior were unsurpassed and he had a
charisma about him that inspired loyalty in his soldiers.

Though the Partaking is often referred to as a miracle, it is likely that the
Holy Supernals knew exactly what they were doing when they selected Ledor to
form their Holy Warriors. Another might have drank the Pool dry without being
granted the same boon as Ledor.

And so Ledor Inalai was named the first Lord General of the Paladins, a name
and rank which came directly on decree from the Holy Plane. He took his charge
quite seriously and hand selected those who would join him in this new formed
organization. The numbers were few at first but as more and more people flocked
to the Holy city, they expanded.

In these early days a Paladin served primarily as a guardian to a Celestine.
The Paladin would accompany the Celestine on their duties and provide
protection from the various dangers the Basin and the planes they traveled to,
had to offer. The Paladins also served to augment the city guard, forming an
elite legion that was sent to handle those situations that required their
mastery of combat. Finally, the Paladins guarded the Pool of Stars, a task
which required specialized training and was one of the highest honours that
could be conferred upon a Paladin.

During Ledor’s lifetime, many of the customs of the Paladins that would last
over five centuries were formed. Construction on the Temple also began during
his leadership. At the time it was simply an annex to the Celestine Halls but
it grew to be their equal in the same manner the Paladins grew to equal the
Celestines.

In Ledor’s later years, it is said he began writing and his books of
philosophy on reconciling the Light and the path of the Warrior served as the
basis for all future Paladin teachings and sparked an entire school of
philosophy dubbed the Ledorian principles. Ledor’s family, the Inalai, was
also granted Great House status, one of only a few at the time. The Inalais
would prove a driving force throughout the history of the Paladins.

Lord General Ledor Inalai passed into the Light in 1 B.E. prior to seeing the
first Emperor crowned. His successor was his daughter, Calora Inalai, by
reasons of both birth and unquestionable merit.

~*SIGNIFICANT EVENTS*~

Beyond the Partaking, the Paladins had several events which helped shape them
as well as the Holy Celestine Empire itself. The most notable are detailed
below.

The Battle of the Horns, year 97 of the Empire:

This battle was one in which the Paladins, the primary fighting force of the
Empire at the time, were sent to deal with an encampment of rebel Aquamancers
and the various bandits and ruffians they had attracted to their cause. The
Paladins, under the command of Captain Jurius Alai, marched five thousand
strong to deal with the threat. Less than five hundred marched back. They were
victorious yet at such a cost that the ranks of the Paladins were decimated and
demoralized.

Emperor Tilare decreed that the Paladins were far too valuable to be sent on
missions such as this in the future and he ordered the commissioning of a
standard army to deal with the daily threats and petty battles of the Empire.
This reserved the Paladins to serve as commanders for these new troops as well
as freeing them to serve as Peacekeepers for the Empire.

At first, there was great resistance from the Paladins as they felt they were
being punished and their rightful duty being taken from them. However, in time,
as the Holy Warriors realized the elevation in their status this was as well as
the opportunities it opened for them, they embraced the change wholeheartedly.

This marked the modern age of the Paladins and it is in this role as commanders
and Peacekeepers that the Paladins are most often remembered.

The Betrayal, year 169 of the Holy Empire:

The Betrayal is the only time in the history of the Basin that Paladins fought
Paladins. It came about when the current Heir to the throne, one Norel,
apparently grew impatient with waiting for his mother, Empress Sinenth the
First, to die. Other histories are dedicated to the exact specifics of the
rebellion. Marcius’ work, “And the Angels Wept”, is generally considered
the foremost authority on the subject.

Norel was a popular youth and had trained as a Paladin his entire life. When he
broke with his mother, at least one hundred Paladins broke with him. These were
mostly younger Paladins, blinded by idealism and also wanting their chance to
move up the ranks that were currently filled with the older and more
accomplished Paladins.

The battle was short but it had lasting effects. It pitted blood against blood
and wounded the very soul of the Empire. Though the Empress’ forces were
victorious, much of the most promising youth of the Empire were now slain or
disgraced.

In a wise move, Empress Sinenth granted a general pardon to all participating
in the battle. In addition, the Lord General Olan Ularia initiated a massive
overhaul in how Paladins progressed through the ranks as well as decreeing the
formation of the Aegis initiative. Under this program, young Paladins in
training would become the ward of an older, established Paladin who was
referred to as their Aegis. It was hoped, and proven to be true, that this
practice would increase the bounds of friendship and familiarity amongst the
Paladins and prevent any future occurrences of Betrayal.

The Society for the Promotion of non-Merian Rights, year 209 of the Empire:

Since the formation of the Empire, there were always grumblings from
non-Merians about the preferential treatment given to Merians. Indeed, at this
point in history, non-Merians were not even allowed to become members of any of
the Guilds of the Holy City.

In the year 209, a group under the leadership of the Aslaran Scath Visoth
marched peacefully on the Holy City. The Lady General Irisil Inalai was sent to
deal with them. Against the advice of her Commanders, she went alone to speak
with Visoth and their conference lasted several hours. Upon its conclusion she
returned to the Holy City, met briefly with her Commanders, and made the
following proclamation:

“It is the opinion of the Paladins that those races not blessed to be a shard
of Meridian should be given the same opportunity as those who were to prove
themselves in the Light. The Light shines on us all and we should not let our
mortal prejudices drive us from this truth. As such, the Paladins shall be
opening their admissions testing to all races from this point forward.”

The Emperor Ladantine I, a staunchly conservative Emperor, was absolutely livid
at this decree and it is said he ordered the arrest of the Lady General. The
Paladins, being loyal unto the Light before any mortal Emperor, naturally did
not allow this to happen. There was no bloodshed but one did not walk into the
Paladin Temple if the Paladins did not want them to. What rash action the
Emperor might have ordered next is unknown as he died shortly thereafter from
apparent heart failure.

This event established two key things for the Paladins. Firstly, it established
that the Paladins would serve as a driving force in the integration of
non-Merians into the inner workings of the Empire, thereby serving as a buffer
for the resentment of the non-Merian races and keeping things from erupting
into full scale rebellion.

Secondly, it established that the Paladins did not answer to the Emperor. They
considered themselves, rightly so, as an organization whose commission came
directly from the Holy Supernals themselves and they would answer to no
authority but them. This of course did not mean that they would not take orders
from the Empire, simply that they would ignore those orders if they deemed them
not in the service of the Light. This policy would prove both beneficial and
quite harmful in the future.

The Deliverance, year 393 of the Empire:

The Empreror Nerale VII was by all accounts an insane and despotic ruler. Under
his guidance the Empire had become a place of fear as his Truth Seekers roved
the Basin unchecked, arresting and executing anyone suspected of Treason.

The Paladins had been decreed outlaws by the Emperor in the year 390, though it
was a meaningless gesture as no one could assault them in their Temple. However,
many of the more zealous and misguided Paladins now served as Truth Seekers for
the Emperor.

Finally, in the summer of 393, Commander Mihal Lendren, nephew of the Emperor
entered the Palace and slit Nerale’s throat. The accounts of how he
accomplished this are quite varied and range from Lord Methrenton himself
transporting him there, to him dressing up as a serving maid and sneaking into
the royal bedchamber. The truth was lost with Mihal who opened his own veins
shortly after ensuring the Emperor was truly dead.

The new Empress, thankful of the Paladins role in her ascension, quickly
restored them to their former position in the Empire and reinstated them as the
royal guards. However, every ruler of the Holy Empire since has kept a wary eye
on the Paladins. Killing an Emperor, however necessary it may have been, is not
something to take lightly. There were many a ruler who likely did not sleep
easily at night knowing the Paladins were right outside their door.

The Cleansing, year 417 of the empire:

Even in the most noble of organizations, too much power eventually corrupts.
Such was the case with the Paladins. In the years leading up to 417, the Holy
Warriors had succumbed to pride and arrogance. Feeling no one had any authority
over them except themselves, they roamed the Basin, using their positions as
Peacekeepers to force their will upon the populace as a whole. Stories of young
people gone missing to serve in the Temple abounded. Merchants declared heretics
with their holdings confiscated by the Paladin guild was the norm.

The Emperor had no control over them and they had ceased listening to the
advice of the Celestine Guild at least a decade prior. There were even rumours
they planned to usurp the Emperor and initiate a military rule on the Empire.

As they felt they need only answer to the Light, it was the Light that
eventually stopped them. Some claim Lady Elohora herself descended to the Prime
material plane and personally stripped the leaders of the Paladins of their
Celestia given powers. Whether this is true is unknown, however it is true that
the Paladins found themselves without their holy powers and they themselves
branded as heretics of the Light.

Chaos reigned for a month whilst the Paladin leaders were executed and exiled,
leaving the younger generation to pick up the pieces. Once again an Inalai was
the driving force in the reconstruction of the Paladins. The family had fallen
into disfavour in the Paladins, caused in part by their adherence to the old
ways but primarily due to several scandals that disgraced the Great House in
prior decades. However, Dalan Inalai took up the reins as Lord General of the
Paladins and it is said within a day of him doing so, the Holy Supernals once
again granted their favor to the warriors.

The Last Hundred Years

The Paladins, humbled by the Cleansing, became more devout than ever, many of
them taking Holy Rites as Myrmidon Priests. They resumed their Peacekeeping
duties and spent many years regaining the trust that they had so rashly
squandered.

Their disgrace opened the door for the Ur’guard to move up in stature. They
had always served in the shadow of the Paladins and they relished the
opportunity to prove their worth. They were assigned many of the former duties
of the Paladins though the Holy Warriors retained their role as the Royal Guard
and protectors of the Holy City, Pool of Stars, and Holy Plane.

By the time Ladantine VII proposed his Cosmic Hope mission, Lord General Dolph
Inalai was in command of the Paladins and they had regained much of their
former stature. Lord Inalai, or simply The Inalai as was the customary
reference to the holder of the Inalai High Seat, was the betrothed of Princess
Marilynth and served as one of her father’s primary advisors. He was a young
man widely respected for his common sense, loyalty, and quiet devotion to the
Light.

He argued vehemently with Emperor Ladantine to allow the Paladins to serve as
the royal guard for the Cosmic Hope expedition. However, Ladantine was adamant
that the Ur’Guard would serve. It was a matter of politics as Ladantine had
often been censured throughout his reign for a marked preference to all things
Merian and Celestian as opposed to taking a more welcoming view to other
cultures.

The rest is, as they say, history. The Inalai had to be practically forced to
order his Paladins to lead the evacuation of the city and it is thought that he
himself would have much preferred to die with the Empire. However, his duty
drove him to the ships and he watched with the rest as the city fell.

~*PALADIN CULTURE*~

The Testing:

The Testing is a practice that came into favor in the second century. Prior to
this, Paladins were chosen primarily for their family connections and not until
they were in their late teens. The Testing changed this.

Any child from the age of six to twelve could be Tested. The supplicants would
be put through a variety of trials designed to test their intelligence,
resourcefulness, willpower, and physical prowess. They were also tested to
determine their potential in the Light. Though the children were too young to
survive a trip to the Holy Plane, the Celestines would have their Angelkin
companions assess each child’s potential.

Only the top twenty were selected from a candidate pool of thousands. Entrance
into the Paladins was a guaranteed rise in social status and wealth for any
family so most were eager to offer up their children for the opportunity.

Even with the testing, children of powerful Paladin families were still given
preference and it was generally guaranteed that the child of a Paladin would
have the opportunity to become a Paladin themselves.

The Testing came under some criticism over the years as some children were
seriously injured during the process. Though the Celestine Healers on hand
prevented any lasting damage, the experience left many children troubled
throughout their lives.

Becoming a Page

As soon as they were accepted into the Paladins, the child left their family
and moved into the Temple where they fell under the supervision of the
Quartermaster. Pagehood lasted for at least three years or until the child
reached the age of fifteen.

While a Page they were in lessons from dawn until dusk with two free days a
week. Martial lessons began as soon as they entered the Temple with training
drills lasting four hours every day. The rest of their time was spent in
lessons for reading and writing both the common tongue as well as the various
racial tongues of the Empire. They were indoctrinated into the Light and took
lessons three times weekly in the Celestine Halls. They learned the basics of
planar theory, mathematics, strategy, and history.

Pages also had various duties around the Temple and the Holy City. They ran
messages for the other Paladins and were assigned various chores such as
cleaning and the handling of supplies for the older Pages.

There was a sixty percent failure rate for Pages. It was a hard program and
most individuals simply were not up to the standards the Paladins demanded.

When a Page was ready, as determined by their tutors, they underwent their
first Advancement Trial which was several written tests along with a spar with
a Squire. If they passed, they moved onto Squirehood. If they failed, they
could try again in a year. If they did not pass by the age of 15, they were
dismissed from the program.

Becoming a Squire

Once a Page satisfactorily passed the first Advancement Trial, they became a
Squire and came under the direct supervision of a Paladin Knight. This was part
of the Aegis program initiated by the Lord General Olan Ulari after the Betrayal
of 163.

Paladin Knights served as the Aegis, or guide and protector, of their Ward.
Wards were matched to their Aegis based upon complimenting personalities and
interests. The Squire still took general lessons with their peers but also
learned directly from their Aegis. Their Aegis was ultimately responsible for
their continuing education.

The Squire would accompany their Knight on any mission the Knight was sent on.
They also moved into the Knight’s quarters in the Temple. They were
responsible for the upkeep of their Knight’s armour and weapons as well as
their steeds if they had any. They took all their meals with their Knight.

During Squirehood a Paladin learned the essentials of what it meant to be a
Paladin Knight. Beyond their weapons training, which was far more intense than
the Page training, they witnessed firsthand the various duties of a Paladin.
They learned the laws of the Empire so they might serve as a Peacekeeper. They
learned in depth the properties of the Pool of Stars so they might guard it
better. Finally, they made their Pilgrimage to the Holy Plane and knelt on the
sands of Celestia, swearing their devotion and fealty.

The failure rate for Squires was much less than Pages, around fifteen percent.
This is accounted to the Aegis program primarily as Squirehood is far more
draining physically and mentally than Pagehood is.

A Squire had to prove themselves in combat, philosophy, strategy, planar
theory, history, geography, and languages before they would even be considered
for their Knighthood Trials. The earliest they could attempt the trials was the
age of seventeen and many Squires did not earn their rings until their early
twenties.

The Knighthood Trials

Pages were told horror stories of the trials of Knighthood. They were told of
all the Paladins that had died attempting them and the horrors they had to
face. While this is mostly children’s fancy, there was some truth to the
accounts.

The Knighthood trials were a grueling three day process in which a Squire was
essentially given a list of tasks to complete, dropped off in a remote
location, and told to get home.

The tasks involved a variety of things such as slaying bandits, killing various
wild beasts, gathering of supplies, acquiring items from various villages, etc.
The Squire was given no food or water. The only supplies they had were the
clothing on their back, leather armour, a shortsword, and a healing vial.

The trials were designed to test a Squire’s resourcefulness, intelligence,
and combat skill. They had to use all that they learned to successfully
complete them in the time allocated.

If a Squire did not pass their trials, they were dismissed from the Paladins.
There were no second chances at this point. However, if a Squire did pass, they
were marked for Knighthood and proceeded to their Vigil.

The Vigil

The Vigil is the most moving experience in any Paladin’s life. No Paladin
came from the Vigil unchanged. The Vigil was a day long process in which the
Squire was taken to Celestia dressed only in a supplicant robe. They drank from
the Pool of Stars on Celestia itself and then were taken to the Halls of Light
on Celestia and left with only their Aegis watching over them.

During the Vigil a Squire was faced with their worst and best memories as well
as the collective memories of all the Paladins that had gone before them. They
were stripped bare by the Light and their greatest weaknesses exposed and
examined. Their faith was challenged and reinforced. Their duty was seared onto
their soul. They could not hide from the probing of the Light. They were made
known unto it and they were accepted as its Guardian. Or they were not. Not all
Vigils were successful. Though it was rare, sometimes an unforeseen flaw or
weakness was discovered that made the Squire unsuitable for service to the
Light.

During the Vigil, a Squire would be marked by a Supernal. This marking was the
culmination of what was discovered by Light about their character and
manifested itself on the ring of duty that all Paladins were granted upon their
Knighting. It did not force the Squire on any sort of particular path, but they
always had more of a bond with the Supernal that marked them then the others.
Generally the symbols of their Supernal were integrated into their personal
coat of arms.

Assuming the Squire passed the Vigil, they would spend the next day resting and
the following day they would be Knighted.

The Knighting

Compared to the rest of the process, the Knighting was a formality and a
celebration rather than a gauntlet of proving. Generally an Archon of the
Paladins would do the Knighting itself which was a simple affair of the Squire
stating the oaths of the Paladins and being tapped by a blade sanctified in
Lord Methrenton’s forge. After which, the new Knight was whisked off to a
grand party.

Contrary to popular belief, the Aegis/Ward relationship continued after a
Paladin’s Knighting. The status of Ward was not removed until such time as
the Aegis felt there was nothing more than they could teach. However, after the
Knighting the relationship changed somewhat in that the Ward was being trained
in practical application of their skills as well as in whatever role would be
their primary function for their first few years.

The Peacekeepers

This segment of the Paladins was commissioned shortly after the Battle of the
Horns in order to provide the Empire with a way of ensuring the Imperial Laws
were upheld throughout the realm. Paladins were selected for this task due to
their dedication, ability to take care of themselves, and the extensive
education they already received.

These Knights traveled the Basin enforcing the Empire’s laws and serving as
judges in most minor disputes. Besides the tax collectors, Peacekeepers were
often the only representative of the Empire some of the more remote of the
villages saw.

A Peacekeeper was especially versed in the laws of the Empire as well as the
Holy Law of Celestia. Before taking up this duty they were anointed by Lord
Japhiel. They would usually travel alone and built strong relationships with
the citizens that they served.

Most Paladins served as Peacekeepers for at least a year of their life before
being called to some other duty. However, several notable Paladins served as
Peacekeepers for their entire tenure and the Lord or Lady General was often
elected from the ranks of the veteran Peacekeepers. They were distinguished by
their purple cloaks.

Guardians of the Pool

The Guardians were commissioned at the time of the Partaking as the primary
duty of the Paladins when the Pool still could be threatened by outside forces.

Guardians were stationed at the Prime Pool of Stars, the Water Pool of Stars,
and the Celestia Pool of Stars. They monitored the usage of the Pool and
guarded it from any threats.

Mostly a ceremonial role in later years, it was nonetheless a singular honour
to be selected as a Guardian. They were trained in more detailed planar theory
as well as the nature of the Pool by the Aquamancers. They were distinguished
by their royal blue cloaks along with the hammers they wielded rather than
blades.

The Royal Guard

The royal family as well as the Star Palace was protected by Paladin Knights.
This segment was commissioned soon after the crowning of the first Emperor.
Only the best of the Paladins were assigned this duty as it carried such a
grave responsibility.

The Paladins of the Guard were selected by the Archons of the Paladins and
confirmed by the current Empress or Emperor in a ritualistic ceremony.

The Royal Guard could always be distinguished by their white cloaks. To be
selected as a member of the Royal Guard instantly conferred political status on
the Paladin Knight in question and their family.

The Myrmidons

Myrmidons came into existence during the Merchant Rebellion of 233. Commander
Myr Inalai was an uncompromising, skilled leader with unparalleled combat
ability and a zealous dedication to the Light. She attracted to her command the
best warriors of the Paladins and her legion was often sent into the most
difficult of the situations and usually emerged victorious with minimal loss on
their part while their enemies were completely decimated. The tradition carried
on even after Myr’s passing and the Myrmidons were officially commissioned in
279.

The Myrmidons were comprised of those Paladins most skilled at combat. These
were Knights that trained day and night in the martial arts and reveled in
battle. They had a code of conduct all their own which was extreme even by
Paladin standards.

There was no hesitation in a Myrmidon. They were skilled and efficient killers
and their bravery bordered on the suicidal. They would not rest until their
mission was accomplished. They had no fear of death, fully believing that any
death in battle was the highest honor that could be achieved and returning to
the Light was something to be embraced, not feared.

One Myrmidon was a match for ten of any regular soldiers. They had several
rituals they felt strengthened them for battle which included
self-flagellation. Several times throughout the history of the Paladins, the
Archons have had to step in to coral the Myrmidons and keep them from becoming
too fanatical.

Their loyalty to the Light and the Paladins was without question or doubt. When
a situation needed to be handled with brutal efficiency, the Myrmidons were
unleashed. Indeed the mere threat of them was enough to squash many rebellions
before they even started.

A Myrmidon was anointed by Lord Methrenton and was distinguished by the red
cloaks they wore.

Paladin Ceremonies

The Paladins were very fond of pomp and circumstance and took any opportunity
given to show off their splendor. As such they often could be found marching
the streets of Celest in their ceremonial leather armour. They marched on all
holy days and their display was especially magnificent during the month they
celebrated the anniversary of the Partaking.

During this month there were re-enactments of the Partaking, festivals thrown
for both the nobility and the commoners, parades, and a grand tournament of the
Paladins. This was also the only time that the Temple was open for tours and
many people flocked to get a glimpse of the Paladin stronghold.

Paladin Attire

Most Paladins wore cloth or functional leather when going about their duties as
Plate armour was generally too cumbersome for every day use. While in the
temple, robes were often customarily worn.

Plate armour was the workhouse of the Paladins and the Royal Guard, the
Guardians, and the Myrmidons wore it as a matter of course in their duty. A
Paladin’s armour was a personal thing and generally bore their personal or
house crest and was of their own design. It was fitted to move as naturally
with the wearer as possible though by virtue of its sheer weight and nature, it
was always somewhat difficult to wear. The Peacekeepers wore functional leathers
most of the time.

Paladins utilized cloaks to distinguish their various positions. Purple for the
Peacekeepers, Blue for the Guardians, White for the Royal Guard, and Red for the
Myrmidons. The cloaks all had the symbol of the Paladins embroidered and it was
a crime for any non-Paladin to wear a Paladin cloak.

Paladins also were granted a ring upon their Knighting. This ring served as
their signet ring and their identifier as a Paladin. It was usually engraved
with the symbol of the Supernal who marked them during their Vigil but a house
crest was also acceptable. It was a crime punishable by death for any
non-Paladin to wear a Paladin ring.

The Paladin ceremonial armour was crafted of leather rather than the plate that
was their customary battle garb. This was a change instituted by a Lord General
soon after a parade that happened to fall on the hottest day of the year. The
ceremonial leather was a work of art given that it had no need to actually
protect its wearer from harm. Paladins loved to show off their leathers and it
was widely accepted that a Paladin’s form was best shown off in their
ceremonial garb.

Paladin Lifestyle

Paladins lived a simple life while in residence at the Temple. Their clothing
was plain and their food hearty but uninteresting. However, their lives outside
the Temple were often the opposite of this. Many Paladins were fond of their
creature comforts and there are many cases of Paladins being punished by the
guild for their excesses.

Paladins were allowed and encouraged to marry and produce large families which
they did with gusto. As a result of this and the policy of admitting children
of Paladins into the guild without much question, the Paladins became something
of a family affair.

A Paladin served six months at a time in their duty. They were then released to
auxiliary duty for three months and had three months where they were not
required to report. A Paladin was paid well for their services and most of
their basic needs were provided by the Temple.

A Paladin would generally retire from active duty around the age of sixty after
which they served as advisors to the Guild. Upon their death Paladin was given a
proper Merian burial at sea regardless of their race of birth. In addition the
name of every Paladin was engraved on the Wall of Remembrance in the Temple.

~*AFTERTHOUGHTS*~

Writing this brief summary of the Paladins prior to the Fall has brought to me
an awareness of just how far we have fallen from what we were. It was necessary
of course, but gone are the Peacekeepers and Guardians. All Paladins now follow
the Myrmidon path though without the full understanding of what that path means
and the glory it once was.

I find myself wanting to rise from my solitude and nail this document to the
gates of the Aegis Keep. Yet I know the ramblings of one old Merian cannot be
allowed to distract the Paladins from their new reality.

So I will keep this work to myself and when I die, it will go to my children,
and to their children and so on until there comes a time when it is safe to
remember what once was.

- The Inalai