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Alresco
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Joined: 30 May 2010
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re: Through the Portal

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A story from Jim Pettibone, aka Saint Max


Saint Max was having visions again. And this time he was not alone. Years before when he was a mere lad, he had had a vision of what the Saints of the True Covenant would become. That vision had come true, the heroes of his Fellowship had in fact defeated the forces of evil that had plagued Tristam. The world was safe again.

But now, he could not sleep without seeing poor, innocent people attacked by vicious beasts on the roads and in the countryside of a place he had never seen, a place of great beauty and vast beyond his imagination, but also filled with evil and destruction. Every dream became more real, and he knew that this place must exist. He also knew that somehow the Saints of the True Covenant must come to the rescue of this wonderful land. He felt it in his soul. But how?

Others would come to him in his study in the Church and tell him wild, horrifying stories of some strange land. He would listen and allay their fears, but as time went on he grew worried. Surely, something was happening. People were being chosen to have these dreams. He prayed and fasted. But no answers came. Finally, he shared his thoughts with his battle companion, and in his heart, his beloved, Kala. She told him to have faith, that the answer would come.

Later that week, Max was out riding on his favorite steed, Fenway. And he felt a tingling in his spine. As he rode forward, he felt as if he were being drawn to something. As he reached the top of the next hill, he saw it. It had been years, and his heart dropped. But as on that fateful day, decades earlier, when STC had been outnumbered a 1000 to one and had been rescued by someone unknown, he saw in front of him . . . a shimmering, blue portal.

He knew that whoever had sent it, had rescued him and a handful of his fellows, so that they could go on to defeat the forces of Diablo, and was now asking for that favor to be returned. All that he had achieved, all the good that STC had done, his life and the thousands of lives that the Saints had effected owed a debt to this person, and he knew that he had no choice, but to step through, and answer the call.

He quickly wrote a letter to the leaders of STC, explaining his departure, and telling them that some of them might be called as well. That if they were, it was a debt of honor. He would be waiting for them, and preparing. He put the letter on Fenway and sent him back to the Rectory.

And with that, he stepped into the gate . . .

As he stepped through the gate, he did not know what the future would hold for him. Alone, left only in his riding clothes, with all those he loved left behind in in another realm. Max was afraid for the first time in years. This land was different, that was all he knew for sure.

Around him were some villagers, the land looked new and fresh. He stood in front of an Abbey. Whoever had placed him here, knew Max’s heart. As a Saint he was committed to serve and die for the people. He entered the abbey, said a short prayer, and asked a passing scribe the name of this place.

"It is Empath Abbey, in Yew," the scribe said.

"What is this land called?" Max asked.

"Britannia, of course," replied the scribe as he shuffled away, shaking his head; "newbies . . . ," Max heard him mumble.

Max had never heard of Britannia, and had no idea how to do anything. He thought he was too old to begin again. But he knew he had a debt to pay, and that he would die before failing it. He had been given a sword, although a dull and dented one, some cloth and a sewing kit. He noticed he was weak, and had lost all of his magical abilities—his attributes must not have been able to make the transition through the gate, he realized that he was in fact a "newbie" again.

With a sigh, he put his old bones in motion. He was hungry. He made his way out into the forest, quickly spotted a fat pig, and brought the sword down on it.

He missed.

Aghast, he swung again.

And missed.

The pig, however, was not missing, and in short work had taken most of Max’s life. Max began to run, but the pig caught and killed him. If he ever needed to be humbled, the great Demon-slayer, Saint Max of STC, killer of a thousand hellspawn, was now. Killed by a simple pig. Max made his way to a healer, and this time decided to satify his hunger with a nice chicken instead. Things were indeed going to be different here.

But he began to get stronger, and along the way, he made some new friends. As he was in town one day, he met a young merchant/warrior on horseback, named Gloik. Gloik cut an impressive figure on the horse, when few had the resources to afford one. He was wealthy, and strong, and could cast spells. He was what Max needed to be. And Gloik was also kind and courageous, and helpful, and that was all that Max could ask for in a friend. When they saw each other they hunted together. Gloik showed Max not only how to survive in Britannia, but also to grow strong and prosper. Max told him of the portal, and of his mission, and then Max asked Gloik if he would join that mission and become a Saint of the True Covenant. He accepted the commission, and Max knew that a new beginning was upon them.

Max made other friends and battle companions. No one more important to his early development than a man dressed all in black with a red cape who introduced himself as Noir, of the Darkfire Guild. Noir was an archer, in a time when it was not easy to be one. He was also courageous and honorable, and Max regretted in his heart that Noir had already committed to a different Fellowship, but in time came to recognize that their friendship, would cause their respective guilds to form an alliance, and together there would be few who could stand in their way.

With the help of Gloik and Noir, Max progressed. And it was not too long before other Saints in Tristam stepped through their own portals, committing themselves to this new land, and swearing to serve the good people of Britannia.

Maddog and Iceman came through, and were quickly teaching Max new aspects of survival. Chancellor Golem came through and immediately took to the roads to learn all he could of our new world. RuMorgue’s portal had brought him to Britain, where he had changed his name; now called Brutis, he had become a Master smith, and his service to the Fellowship was tremendous in those early days. Perhaps in no way more so in that he introduced his brother to us, grunt. Grunt, too was a smith, and a tinker, and together they kept the Saints in good armor and ready to face those that would do evil.

With money raised mostly from Gloik and Maddog, the Fellowship raised its first building, a forge in a clearing just North of Plugger Valley, and we began to grow and form alliances. Darkfire was joined by the Pluggers, who taught us too many things to recall, and who came to our rescue when we as a bunch of newbies were attacked by some Master Mages. Their mission was different, but their courage and the sharpness of their swords could never be questioned.

As time went by, several more Saints joined us from Tristam, Gaia, Avatar/Rama, Achilles, Alarc Whitehand/Itannar, Maverick, Gandark/Maltros, Javan, and Sparrow. The portals continue to open, and more and more continue to join us from Tristam.

But our home was now Britannia, and our ranks swelled with the Best Britain had: Sir John, Windwalker, Gnaff, Alresco, and on and on. Thankfully the list of heroes continues to grow.

Over time, the Saints have done their name proud. Evil still exist in Britannia, but they have stamped it out when possible. They answered the call of the Portal, and will continue to do so, until that next portal opens . . . bringing STC to another world on the verge of chaos . . . taking the Saints of the True Covenant into the next grand adventure, wherever that may lie . . .
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