In a quiet town in the middle of the kingdom of Termasse on the outskirt of the town in a small barn three stand watching, worried as a woman breathes deeply. Inside her right now is a child. Her child.

“ Breath… it is ok my child”

A tall gruff man. Stearn in appearance wearing the robes of a simple workman but thicker then expected considering the human weather. Holes scatter his shoes and 4 toes are shown on his right foot.

“ Dad, it hurts”

The woman is not very attractive but instead she gives off a honest feel to her that borders naive. Yellow hair braided down her back catches on the woden post behind her but none care not even her self.

“ Just breath ok, breath honey”

Of the three one is sweating profusely and crouched down by the woman who is sat on top a cotton rug placed above a pile of hay. Terror stricken his face as he desperately clutches his lovers hand at some futile attempt to bare her from his fear. The baby is early.

The baby cries surround the room as he is lifted up into the arms of a fourth person. In terms if dress and elegance the fourth man carries prestige and all his actions feel as if they are with purpose. The man looks down at the woman before handing her the baby.

“ Despite everything their have been no broken normality in this child's birth. He will be healthy if you wish I will speak and pray for his health in church tomorrow”

“ Thank you sir paladin. Thank you” the woman speaks with a honest kindness as she has gain a feeling of happiness that has overcome even her expectations as relief and new found love wash over her.

“ Speak of it not miss.” The paladin give a polite bow before making for the exit but first he places his hand on the father’s shoulder “God has given you a blessing and a new burden. I have hope you may carry both well mister blacksmith”

The father in his joy speaks without through.

“ I could hardly see a son as a burden sir but a blessing I will accept”

The pailden smiles and asks “ Do you have a name for the child? So that the angles will know of who I speak.”

“ Not yet but we were thinking Isaac” the older gentleman answer.

“ Isaac Griffiths is a fine name if I may say so myself.”

The paladin claps his hand on the shoulder of the now grandfather of a new child but does not say a word as he leaves.

He does not simply leave the room but instead he walks away from

He is a paladin. A weapon without a crown to guide him. Driven by his need to… politely enforce the word of god at times and justice at others. A warrior with a sword and shield with a preference for defensive and counters he travels as he pleases but today he has a very particular destination in mine. Today he will drive his blade through the heart of the worst of the sinners. A vampire.

He walks out into a small courtyard and past then pass that onto a dirt road. He walks with a steady pace but under his breath he repeats “ May the lady of the shield save me from my sin and may my hand he true as I stick with the weight of the lady swords weight today”

To a non believers these words are meaningless as they do not offer a true protection or divine magic instead it is simply said to relieve the hearts of the fearful before a battle they doubt the outcome off.

He does not like war it is my he is a pailden of truth. He thinks of events recently. The coming of the red stair. The pope has begun to speak of vigilance and strength of will to protect the belief and believer of the true faith. To most they would not detected the hypocrisy but he, This paladin knew of the true corruption in the heart of the church and he feared the problem was only getting worse despite the efforts of the truth paladins like him catching and condemning more false shepherds by the day.

As he walked down the road he felt it. A presence behind him. He made no change of movement. This was as he intended but he felt considered that the vampire would strike so early in the evening while the sun was still up but he did not doubt that this was the creature that he sought.

For an hour he traveled leading the creature away from life until he arrived at the base of a mountain and began to climb it. Every step came with a small almost unnoticed increase in incline.

Half way up when he was sure he turned to face his would be follower. “ Harvey Rees” the figure below calles out. Harvey smile despite his displeasure at having his name called out by such a thing.

The figure below was hardly different from the old man who was the father to the woman who just gave birth he was civil with before. No it was the old man who he just help his daughter give birth to before.

“ I thank you kind filth for allowing me to assist you grandchildren entrance into the world but it is time we will engage in combat. I have said my prayers and I hold no fear for the outcome I will let you know that if you repent and aloue me to clams your head without struggle I am sure god will be… you don’t seem impressed with my offer”

The old man sneered as he spoke

“ we both know your god does not forgive.

Just as I know you all care not for the truth you burn the ideas that deny your groups power. And all that conflict you attack while declaring yourselfs the righteous defenders. You are all criminals and hypocrites. If there's a god then I doubt he will stand with me.”

Harvey nods in response. “ You are not wrong. But that does not mean you are right either”.

Harvey drew his blade and ready his shield.

“ God asks of us to show faith by bettering ourselves. He ask of us to seek the virtues he wants in us. And for our services he promises love.”

Sharp half meter long claws grew out from the old man. “ I am a master while you are a warrior, you don’t stand a chance”

The paladin stops nodding then speaks “ many a man you thinks class is the end to the question of strength. But not I and I think not you”

The old man lunges up the hill. His claws collide with the shield that was placed before them. Sparks fly.

Harvey step towards the old man his shield throwing the old man off a balance and he then strikes the side of the old man's ribs a line of blood flies and the paladin step back waiting for the next attack. The paladin sighs “ How could you face your family knowing you are a monster”

“ SHUT UP! I AM NO MONSTER. I AM MAN”

The old man send forth two attacks of seim equal strength but it is clear the side with his injury is slightly weaken.

The paladin reflects the attacks to the left and the swings down cutting thought the mussel on the back of old mans leg then once more steps back as the old man falls to his knee. The old man tries to rise only to fall. The paladin uses that chance to plunge his sword through the heart of the vampire who is laying face down.

The paladin reflects on this fight. It was very average. The side that took the first hit lost. Nothing unsolved and no hidden surprises. The old man was strong when he lunged he covered ten meters in a single step a speed type but all Harvey had to do was wait for the chance to counter than taunt when things didn’t look well for his attacker only to bring a swift and hopefully with as little as possible pain to end the old man's life.

Then Harvey removed his shield it was strapped at his wrist and his elbow. He made note that his bone was on the verge of breaking after the old man was more powerful than he expected him to be.

The paladin sat down and look over the scenery that he could see from the middle of this mountain.

Tomorrow he had to pray for that child but other than that he had no engagements. He smiled knowing that. He hope he would find that he was not needed but still he prayed that he would be their if he was. He decided he will return here later in about ten years or so when he has gained more experience and is ready to settle down… if he is ready I might impart some knowledge of an elder.