The paladin's mad laughter echoed through the now sunken tavern. His gleefully deep-throated laughter was the only one to be heard as everyone else reacted negatively to the news. Some men had to gulp down their drinks, and some who were eating stopped and looked away. The dark elf's elegant features were twisted in a mask of despair much like others at his table. 

"Oh well that would be bad, wasn't it? The twin-sided dragon got his prey. It was a fact of life." The paladin continued chuckling a bit.

"How can you be ok with that?" The elf looked at him in apparent confusion as she stared at him. 

"Oh, you lot don't know much about Maligious? Oh well, I assumed you would at least be aware of its Astra. Bartholomeus comes on you research lore so you must know." The paladin attempted.

 "How can you find such a joke in this tragedy? Are you the heroic bastard who stops pillaging and torturing to honor your word? " The barbarian asked, looking at the paladin in confused awe.

"Simple. It makes sense why Malgigous would do that, hell his top men would jump at the chance. Sure, he is known as the dual-natured dragon god, but they love combat. Oh, that reminds me of the first one, the first follower of Maligoious Gary.”

This shocked the tavern as everyone eyed the paladin with a newfound suspicion. The spoke of such things, so grimly and grisly like he was uncovering diamonds. The table however looked at him with not only suspicion but clear rectification. Was why when he is wading into battle? did he fight so savagely like a beast of hell?  Was that the reason for his actions?  the twisted honor of everything held value and prices? It would explain the strange love of gold and gems along with the manic joy of fire and burning.

"I am not a dragon you fool. Sure, those traits would have that being clear but I have no den and what I collect goes to the village Sepertuis. However, I will explain the traits of twin headed dragon or what title you prefer” the paladin said.

"Oh, really please tell me how what could you possibly tell that? You barely speak nor act now we should believe you?" Bartholomeus propped his hand reaching for his blade a small broad-bladed dagger.

"He does have a point, Elric. Most dragons hid under armor matching their scales I hear." Astra stated.

This led to silence as the paladin stopped and looked up. The flames crackled as for the moment it was the only thing that could be heard in the tavern. The barbarian hand reached for his large axe; his roughed finger wrapped around the handle. Then the paladin laughed his voice ringing out as his arms shot up to his helm.

"What are you doing?" Bartholomeus mused as he made space readying for his strike or if things turned his escape.

"Removing my helmet what do think I am doing choking myself?" He said slipping off the helmet, a large crow-shaped thing of metal and ebony. He placed it on the table with a sign and chuckled.

The tavern gasped as muttering and whispers occurred around the area and the paladin's appearance was startling. Elric looked human enough, but something was wrong, straightforward addition to it. It was like a Pandumoinan, or some other creature had mixed or if he was a half-breed of an unknown species of snake, his eyes having clear serpentine traits his iris melting into his eyes, and sharp needles for his incisors. Small scales sat under his eyes as he laughed his voice far deeper as he looked at everyone.

“Well is this my face, it is quite ugly and disfigured,” Elric spoke between breaths.

“Wait I thought you were human? You look more like Pandomuiman than human, hell the elf is more human” the barbarian questioned.

"That is a fair point truly. But I could go through the long explanation or explain it with a long-winded explanation or the extreme and annoying terms. So then shall we begin?" Elric spoke placing a large red gem on the table.

This turn shook the party. They had never seen his face nor heard his voice so lively. He was a stoic and serious person who spoke once and had mastered his emotions. The tavern grew quiet like a child before the fire, and the story began. Elric coughed then looking at the tavern a serpent's smile crept over his face.

"Well, then now where to begin this long and binding tale? I would say the start but even I am not sure about that. The first follower, Gary was once known as a hero in the strange bend of irony. He was once known as the hero of devout light, the shining blade. He was one of those who had fought off the first demon invasion and the first species of orcs before they mellowed and other things that were once in the plagued us " he began taking a sip of the mead with one gulp.

“Well, that is interesting what would lead a man like that to join a monster like Malgigious? He seems like a rather good man” Astra commented.

“Indeed, he once was. That is until he met his closest friend Asomdusan, he was a mighty warrior, skilled in combat and knowledgeable in magic but had rough faults truly disgusting.” He took another drink looked at his food and sighed.

Bartholomew stared at Elric with new eyes the barbarian eyes lit up. He started to tap the table as he remembered how this story that was told to him as a child the folly of the hero Gary and the false hero.

“Oh I know this story...” he muttered.

“What wait you don’t mean that story? “Bartholomew spoke his eye light with recognition.

The paladin's eyes twinkled as continued his story, “Well yes, I guess it would be the false hero Asomdus and the doom of the purity reach. But the fact was his fault and the reason for that place's destruction was the rapes and other depravity done by the once-known Asomdusan. He rapped the elf known as Lentara, and first ambassador of the dark elves Ventura, and more so much more. He did not stop drugging raping and doing so much while Gary was a hero fighting and destroying the world's villains at the time. The fact is the fight against him and dread lords and the first demon king in the first war in the war of the seven heavens. However, this would not last well then like most heroes Gary was going home to the love of his life.” 

“I can see where this is going” Astra stated placing her hand on the table.

Most of the tavern muttered as the older men and the races grunted as they remembered that place. Only they knew the truth about that land and what exactly happened to the terror of that time. They had all learned the story as children but they were caught in the paladin tale.

“Well, what you see it was worst, for all the women of his village were either mindless sex slaves, a tool being used by that man, or worse trapped in sick love with that man. The fact was Gray had befriended a scorpion, and he finally noticed the sting. 

When he got home after a long perilous journey saving all humans at the time only to see her. He was going to propose and retire and settled down into a quiet life. It was unfortunate she was the first to target by that man. the one he loved as basically a drugged-up whore whose mind had gone a long time ago. Her handler his dear sister, and his dog were altered to become one of the first cases of the wolf man creatures so he could well know, and all were pregnant with that man’s children. It was horrific and worst, he came back to see his master, his mother, and knight all begin well, it would be disgusting to everyone here all by that Assdousan just was like that.” the paladin stated finishing his drink.

“That is disgusting that the men or those of strength couldn’t just let that happen. “Astra asked.

“Yeah, if I was there I would have gone on a rampage and killed them all." The Barbarin added coughing.

“Oh, those men had left due to the wars at the time, the boy's minds were broken by Asdousan magic, they were gathered using the dumpster, Gary's kind aunt who was well had tried to defy Asomdusan and was well a sperm dumpster and I am sure you can assume what happened. I would call it hell but even the most hateful demons have a reason for their actions no it was lust unrestrained or bound. Now Gary had witnessed all of this, and he could not take this they say he fled running into the wild. This is true however it was the impulse that led to this Gary had just come back from a war so brutal most records call it thrice war for the fact the three heroes were there. They were there you know.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The first Hero and the Second and Gary is the third hero. Well getting back to the topic Gary could not handle it and ran, where who knows?” He spoke taking a deep drink.

“His legs moved forwards into the wild the shining blade left as his screams and tears ran through the area. Now, most heroes are far beyond normal but as a legendary hero, a man at the top Gary was far stronger. So, it was a small surprise he ended up by the wild elves of the Bonum Quercus territory some 30 miles away”.

“Now, this is every legend of Gary Swalli the hero of the shining blade dies here of heartbreak. But that is not the truth of the matter. For you see the wood breaker massacres happen here. They had surrounded Gary and given the only threat and waring out of respect for Gary, but Gary started going mad and he was just like everyone in the village affected by Asdousain's disgusting effects. See the weak would be enslaved the stronger people would still have a bit of their mind but to someone so strong no it altered him opening up to other influences of the world.” The paladin stated as if he was repeating facts in some strange lecture.

At this the barbarian fell silent, a mug replaced placed by a tavern lady on their table. Everyone knew of the broken wood breaker massacre; it was the major reason most wood elves hated humans or at best distrusted them. That was the reason the wood elves would rather work with demons or strange creatures that help a hero. Elric's party gulped as he took the drink and gulp it down. After clearing his throat, he looked over the tavern to see one wood elf sitting in the corner alone. The oak color skin was hidden by navy blue robes and the green-tinted eyes narrowed in rage starting daggers at Elric.

“Well, one mistaken arrow flying past Gary unfortunately as that was the final moment the snap began. He went wild, three swings, and the first set was slaughtered. Then he attacked and genociding  them."

"The wood elves thought it was some demon or mind control or illusion or some reason why at first. Gary was broken, lashing out at a world that had wronged him. They were just in their way. He cut a path through them, their beasts purged their men destroyed only children, small ones would only cry and hid and survived what Gary did."

"That place had four thousand strong. It was the origin point of the wood elves' homeland but fell that day. Only about five hundred survived and ran swearing vengeance on all humans and heroes. Now, most would think that would be enough the wood elves' homelands were wiped out, the Fanaion who lived with their slaughter, but now Gary moved upwards where he went destruction followed."

“The damage can still be seen today. No tree nor plant grows there anymore. A sick swamp sits were beautiful plants hid the sun the fruits were once ripe and sweet.  You can still hear the screams they pledged for help, even now the furthering done by him could never be forgotten, that land is now called the broken wood or in elvish Gary's betrayal. He kept moving walking and fighting. The amount of destruction in his path grew they called him the wither wanderer I am sure you all know about him. The reason the pananduimoin praised the human form, the reason for the pushing of the dragons and wyverns of the north, and the trauma to the goblins, their reason for Wyernion's existence are directly his fault. There is more but that would be too much time. In short, he had become a living calamity. He brought death with him, and his fury burned the world but there was change where he when. That gained the interest of the darker powers.”  he spoke. 

“Darker? He was the fucking wither wanderer. There are whole species that are gone thanks to him. They warned the children of him showing up if they are bad.  Forgive me. I am forgetting he follows Malgigous. He would be lesser than scum at the moment, I shudder to think what he was then. I bet he worked for the demons and the dark lords.” Bartholomew snorted, looking at Elric.

Astra, however, was a bit more contemplative. She thought, listening and processing, looking and trying to figure something out. There was a fact missing, as the withered wander was a hero, saving many species in his travels slaving many a dark and cruel beast. How could a man like Gary someone wrong save anyone?

“He was lost in rage, all he knew then was to swing his sword. His broken mind reasoned combat he reasoned in his twisted blood-addled mind, and he looked for strength in attacking all things. All strong things that are. He fought dragons, demons, and all their kin the fiends, and more. I am sure every species had a tale of him appearing and just killing something or killing them for no reason.

That attracted the dark forces, the demon lords and dark ones all of them were interested in recruiting or at least replicating him. It was the supreme darkness the high king great demon lord  the third to hold the throne who was most advocated for this and set out his most trusted ally Malgigious to find him.” Elric laughed

“Wait Malgigious works for the demons and those creatures?” the tavern screamed in the union.

“At the time he did, now he is just his own thing. Now then where both Gary and Maligigous fought was prosperous land before. However, where the titans clashed the world is scared. The dragon desserts where the brown dragons stay are what remains of that land. Malgigious and Gary broke the heaven, their melee destroyed the water, the sun was covered by the flashes of their attacks, and the shouts broke the clouds. The magic they used killed all that lived in that place leaving a red mark in the sky.

The red night they called it.  For four days they battled leaving desolation in their wake. It was Gary who left the scar in a chest of Maligigous, but he lost, for he slipped over some loose gravel when he moved to do the finishing blow.

He laid broken and battered at claws of Malgigous holds over his worn and ash-covered helm. Malgigious saw something in him. So he did something unexpected, he spared him. Not only that he took him to his den in the garden. So he took Gary back to his den and healed him. Then they fought trained and bonded. The Twin Sided dragon became his only friend and brother to him. 

He was there for him, and they joined the dark army for a time until Gary asked for a release. So, the dark lord sent him to desolate a place that was the bulwark against his army the outpost of Soldom the place of Gary village, and where Asmdusan was.” He laughed finishing the drink he spoke droplets over his face and armor.

“Oh, that does not sound good.” The Barbarin said glancing at him

The tavern had fallen quiet the story holding their interest. There was something about this tale they all knew. Something to the strange story as it lead to something they all knew. That place Sodom was a place of sin and depravity but it produced grain for the cities, spies, and soldiers. Many could trace their family back to that place even though that place was no more.

“Well the release cost was simply destroying that place by any means and they would be freed. That village had produced so many warriors and legends, it was a symbol of humanity's strength. Sure, Asudousan's action had tainted it but he was not weak often he and his spawn fought off many invasions for personal reasons. Even so, he had started to change he had realized that he had damn humanity removed the third hero and led to the first and second death. 

But it was too late change had come too late for Sodom, Gary had come home. His once cleanly crafted armor was brown and dented barely holding on. Holes and cuts from battles that can only be spoken in whispers show the change in Gary. It was said a smoky mist poured from him as he moved to despair his messenger, darkness his herald, and death he brought. The shadow of Malgigous landed dropping Gary onto the gates of that place, Asomadusan tried to pledge mercy for the children and his own. But Gary only tossed him a sword. It was through combat it would be decided.” Elric laughed as he stopped going into a laughing fit.

Astra's eyes widened as she released the tale and what was coming. It was savage action the burning and absolute destruction of Sodom. There were still those in the elvish land that still morn what happened and the amount of dead. That moment hardened man against the demons and make them their mortal enemy.

“Ketos” She muttered

“Yes, Gary no the great lankdon the beast Ketos fought Asomadusan. It was savage, at the first strike Asomadusan's hand was shattered only to be healed. Then his leg was removed only to heal so Ketos could keep fighting that Bastard. Asomdusan tried to fight back but it was pointless, sure he was strong but he was inferior to Gary how would he fight Ketos? Ketos slaughter him through the village some of them tried to help Asomadusan there was an army but Maligigoius destroyed them sparing the children.

Asomadusan hands were lopped off only to heal, his leg was destroyed only to be repaired Ketos wanted him to suffer, He broke Asomadusan in that time he just kept breaking him his pain is blood it is said painted the streets. However, it was in a temple here Ketos saw the woman he loved in a bed holding her children far better than before he faltered. Was he doing the right thing was he now just a monster? was there a way back? these questions and more played in his mind until he saw the collar. The black metal around her neck in a bed of refined grace and the fact she was bound there glancing back up at Ketos her eyes were like dead fish.

Any mercy was gone only the burning fury of the last twelve years at what he has done.. Asomadusan was mutilated alive his body striped of flesh his bones shatter like twigs Gary, no Ketos rampaged. If not for Malgigious he would have killed everything then and there but malgiguos saved the children all the others burned away in the fire he created.

Maligigous took the children and when off into his garden to raise them Ketos when back with proof of the action his helm broken revealing the monster he was. He then plays his part in breaking the old dwarfs, shattering the path of the elves, and destroying the bridge of the gods. He ascended in a way” the pladdin finished.

The tavern fell silent as they thought about his words. It was then that someone moved into this small place two more paladins in similar armor. The bigger man had studded his with gold and made it far too bulky while the other choosechoice to make it barely more than a gambeson and rough metal helmet. Elric's eyes narrowed as he looked at the two the myrrh dropping as he saw them. The smaller man moved in a blink appearing by the table with a chair as he sat down looking over the party through tiny eye holes. The other moved far slower as he waved grabbing a chair and taking a sit.

Astra seemed confused by these two who appeared, while the barbarian looked at them with a raised brow.

“Who may you be? “Astra asked.

“Old friends of Elric we practically raised him.” The bigger man said

Elric went pale looking at the two as only a simple word slipped out of his mind as he looked at the smaller quiet man.

“Ketos”