Dulan 516

Dikain goes to Northerland

When Cyripus' men didn't find the Archons in Gracia's village, Cyripus supposed she must have left them elsewhere for safekeeping. The safest place she would have known was the main temple in Serend, so that is where he turned his attention next. A monk of the highest level, named Dikain, guarded the temple. He was a formidable force all on his own, but surrounded by his people he was invincible. Cyripus knew he had to destroy Dikain from the inside if he had any hope of gaining any Archons he guarded.

The army of Dulan arrived at the temple one day and displayed for all the people a remnant of a robe worn by Dikain. They said they had retrieved it from a band of orcs captured on their way back to rejoin the larger orc army. They also carried with them a detailed map of the defences at Serend. Dikain, they said, had betrayed his people to the orcs for a large sum of money. And there was the proof.

Dikain came out and protested that he was innocent, but the tension in Serend was too high. The people turned on Dikain and together with the army from Dulan, they drove him from the city to a bluff over the river. He cast himself over the ledge, and his body was never found.

To Cyripus' dismay, his men reported Dikain had taken the Archon of Wind with him from the temple when he fled. Serend had lost their most powerful protector and the soldiers of Dulan destroyed the city in their search for more Archons, but none were to be found.

This event was a turning point for Prince Cerion. He knew his father would never lie about evidence and bring down a respectable monk, so must no longer truly be in command of the army of Dulan. The prince took the forces loyal to him and struck out into the countryside to oppose the Dulan soldiers. Prince Cerion's men became known as the Knight Corps and were spoken of as heroes of the people.

What no one knew was that Dikain survived his fall into the river, and was slowly making his way to the Northernland, the Archon of Wind tucked safely in his cloak.