Fallen Warrior

Several years ago Ynda Silverwind, servant of Aalat, Lord of Air, left her temple on a matter on some importance. A paladin traveled with the priestess as protection. The arrogant cleric felt the warrior was unnecessary. She didn't even bother to remember his name when introduced. The human paladin took the events in stride. Despite his youth compared to the long lived elven priestess, he had a wisdom learned from experience not books.

The journey had been uneventful until they reached the Towering Forests. The Towering Forests are an impressive sight. The largest trees in the world grow in this forest. The first explorers who viewed the forest believed they had entered the land of giants. Giants do live in the area but not in homes constructed by the enormous trees as imagined by the explorers. Forest giants live in the woods itself. When not moving distinguishing a forest giant from a tree is near impossible.

Ynda and her companion had never heard of the forest giants. The treant slammed the surprised paladin aside with a huge tree branch of an arm. Normally peaceful, no leaves grew on the forest giant giving it a sick look. Ynda backed away unsure how to handle such a massive creature. Her guardian quickly returned to his feat and charged the beast. His sword sliced into the thick trunk of a leg but the treant barely seemed to noticed. Ynda prayed to aid her warrior but another tree branch crashed into her interrupting the spell.

The priest could tell the battle was not going well. The forest pounded the lone paladin.

"Burn it," yelled the embattled warrior.

"Get back and I'll...," started Ynda before being interrupted.

"No! Burn it now!" screamed the warrior never looking away from his opponent.

Ynda called down a pillar of fire. The wooden beast screamed in agony and fell with a booming crash. The elf rushed forward and pulled the paladin away from the fire. He was already gone. Tears welled up in the cleric's eyes. Aalat had not yet blessed her with the ability to raise the dead. She knew she had to bring his body back with her but he was far to heavy for her to carry.

Ynda apologized for never having learned the paladin name and promised to remedy that mistake. She petitioned Aalat to grant her the strength the carry the fallen soldier. The paladin's body began to stir surprising Ynda. Standing up the paladin seemed to wait expectantly. Staring into his eyes, the cleric found only a vacant stare.

Ynda stepped back several paces. Hesitantly the elf commanded the zombie. "Come."

Upon hearing the command the zombie shambled forward. Ynda had to resist backing away from her former companion. "I'm sorry... I pray that you will forgive me for this desecration," whispered the priestess. The cleric set forth once more along the path with her undead guardian following close behind.

A couple of hours away from Ganor, a group of adventurers spotted the priest and undead minion. The band quickly moved in to defeat what they assumed to be a necromancer. The party's wizard silenced Ynda with magic to prevent her from using magic. Ynda tried to signal them to stop. A priest of Kasman quickly destroyed the zombie turning the body to dust. Silenced Ynda's scream went unheard but her collapse startled the party. Recognizing the floating leaf symbol on her amulet, the disciple of Kasman had the wizard cancel the magical silence.

Between the tears, Ynda explained her situation. It didn't matter for the damage was done. The fallen paladin would not be returned to life. She would never have his forgiveness nor would he tell her his name.