Élan

The Helspawn Empire has had legends, in the oral tradition, since the Big Crunch. Most of them have been lost throughout the ages. Xenobius, the Drow sage wrote the Solkin bible, which has collected much of the oral legend and kept it for posterity. This work will attempt to further that work with some of the more recent occurrences. It has been prophesized for the last 1000 years that a white-skin shall lead the Empire. The Helspawn owe allegiance to Orcus and his minions, and the great prophet Hecatombian, proclaimed that there would come one day an Arch-Devil, white of skin, fair haired and puny, the size of an orc, He would be a ferocious fighter despite his looks and would defeat their greatest champion. He would also have a special birthmark on his body. The Helspawn Emperor and his family have known the details of this birthmark, but the secret has never left the royal family in 1000 years. One day, a human man approached the city of Vis, Capitol city of the Helspawn Empire, he arrived on a winged puma, black as night. The city guard attacked him and he slew 22 of them with a Prussian saber that sang a death song as he wielded it. Eventually 15 of the guards overpowered and captured him. Before he could even be brought before the high court, the rumors spread like wildfire that this some sort of demon or devil, he certainly fought like one. His winged steed vanished in a puff of smoke and could later be seen circling the sky over the palace, just out of archer range. He was dragged before the current Emperor, Gladius, in heavy Elephant chains, since he snapped the first set of heavy chains they put on him. The guards tried to beat at his knees with the butts of their spears to get him to kneel before the Emperor. These were palace guards, veterans of many campaigns, yet they could not hit his knees, he dodged, swayed and they spent 3 minutes trying, to no avail, even when they hit him once, the spear shattered against his knee and yet he did not bend. He looked the 2 guards in the eye with such a strong look that they backed off one step each. These guards had fought, in the beholder wars, the dragon feud, and the Vampire assault; they were not easily frightened, yet they gave the man some room. He stood tall and proud, snapping 2 links in the elephant chain as he did and spoke in perfect Helspawn tongue, and said....

Emperor Gladius, I respect your position, I will allow you to live, but your time is past, I challenge your greatest champion to combat, I am the one whom you have awaited; Lo, these 1000 years, I am the Arch-Devil "Élan". I will lead my people into the greatest reign of conquest and terror that has ever been seen in the land.The Emperor did not respond for a full minute, when he did, he stood up to his full 8 feet 6 inch height and said "I will crush you like a gnat, you puny human".

Élan responded "If that is truly your wish, I will gladly meet you in one on one combat, yet I had hoped to take on the Champion of the Empire, Vertronix.

Gladius said "Vertronix is away squashing your kind in Guale, you will be no match for me.

Élan said "Ha! And you call yourself the Emperor, you don't even know what is going on in Vis? Vertronix returned from Guale this morning, he is at his whore's place, he wanted to spend a day with her before he reported to you, send for him immediately".Gladius turned pale (a light gray) and sent for Vertronix, when he arrived, he was still pulling on his shirt. Gladius ushered both combatants into the City amphitheater, which had been filling up with spectators ever since Élan had first spoken.Gladius made both contestants strip, and don white tunics, and they were searched, death challenges were always fought in pure white tunics. Gladius informed Élan that since he challenged, Vertronix had the choice of weapons, he chose 2 ornate matching 2-handed swords, that were 10 feet long, each weighing 100 pounds. Vertronix laughed and said "Try wielding that little man, you killed my cousin this morning, I will not let you die quickly" Élan just smiled and lifted the sword up with difficult, the tip dragging on the ground. Vertronix gave a great shout and charged with his sword poised to skewer Élan's leg. Élan nimbly sidestepped and swing the sword in a graceful one handed motion neatly sliced the ear off of Vertronix. The fight went on like that for another half an hour, with Vertronix trying every trick he knew and only managing to make a slight scalp would on Élan. Élan on the other hand had removed both of his ears, major parts of his skin, with stab wounds all over his body. Vertronix was bleeding profusely and was starting to wobble, he had refused to surrender 3 times now, and Élan turned to face Gladius, and gave him a wide grin, spun around to catch Vertonix doing a flying, diving leap at his feet with the sword making a great scything motion. Élan leaped straight up and swung his sword in a low arc that cleanly cut both hamstrings of Vertronix who was in a prone position as his maneuver finished. Elan then efficiently slew Vertronix and then beheaded him. He tossed the head up into the stands towards Gladius and yelled for Gladius to come down now with the crown. Gladius demanded that Élan show him the birthmark. Élan pulled down his tunic and there in the center of his back was a birthmark in the shape of the Jet Dragon. Gladius bent to one knee and called to his people "All hail the Emperor Élan, may his reign of peace and terror last 1000 years!!" Élan smiled and whispered to Gladius "Try 3000"