Knights of the Damned

It has been nine full moons.

We have hunted it to the north and along the eastern border.

Eight of the king's most honorable men have given their lives during this quest.

Their bodies so mangled, they'll barely be accepted to the heavens.

It's coming. I feel the thunder of its wings.

The air grows hotter.

We cannot take another loss.

Now is the time to end this.

Steel yourselves, men. Stay in formation.

Where is it?

- It's playing games with us. - Steady yourself, Richard.

This infernal beast's demise has eluded us for too long.

I am ready for you.

Stay in rank.

I will even the score.

Enough, James.

Here it comes.

Forward.

- With your permission, sir, I will lead. - Wait for it.

You have a death wish, Thomas.

Not yet. Wait until it exposes its weak spot.

NOW!

Defensive positions.

- It knows what we're trying to do. - Hold it together, James.

Draw it in.

- I will make a strike. - Back in rank. That's an order.

Fall back.

That was a foolish move. He knew better than that.

It's heading back to the west.

And so should we.

Do you think the dragon will return to the kingdom?

We chased it from one side of our land to the next.

It has ravaged our numbers down to just us.

How can just three knights slay that beast? And what of the kingdom?

The king's army will protect the kingdom.

Who'll lead the army if none of us are left to lead them?

We're not irreplaceable, my old friend.

Our numbers may have dwindled, but have tested it.

We found its weakness and we could've beaten it today.

It was only if James hadn't broken rank.

But he did.

His courage and desire to protect his brothers led him to his death.

- Nobody can have such luck. - With honor.

With honor.

Blood,

fury,

dragon strength.

Blood,

fury,

dragon strength.

Blood,

fury,

dragon strength.

Relive again!

KNIGHTS OF THE DAMNED

170 YEARS AGO THE REALM OF NAZROTH WAS IN CHAOS.

A TIME OF VICIOUS CIVIL WAR AND SORCERY

THAT TORE THE IDYLLIC WORLD INTO 12 KINGDOMS.

THE MOST RESPECTED AND POWERFUL KINGDOM

IS THAT OF ZALDAH, WHOSE KING XALVADOR HAS ENDEAVOURED

TO KEEP HARMONY IN THE FACE OF NEIGHBOURING KINGDOMS PETTY FIGHTING.

THE BEASTS OF THE DARK KINGDOM AND THE DRAGONS

HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN FOR GENERATIONS

AND THERE HAS BEEN RELATIVE PEACE IN THE LAND.

BUT 9 MONTHS AGO THE DRAGON SCREAMS ONCE AGAIN FILLED THE SKIES

AND KING XALVADOR'S WESTERN CASTLE WAS BOMBARDED

WITH UNPROVOKED ATTACKS.

TO RESTORE PEACE AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HIS PEOPLE

THE KING ORDERED 12 OF HIS BEST KNIGHTS TO SLAY THE BEAST.

THE ROYAL WARRIORS CHASED THE DRAGON AWAY FROM ZALDAH,

A FIGHT OF TEETH AND BLADE, FIRE AND STEEL.

AS EACH BATTLE CLAIMED ANOTHER LIFE,

THE KNIGHTS FEEL A DARKNESS GROWING IN THE LAND...

NAZROTH IS CHANGING AGAIN...

Halt.

Who goes there?

Henry?

Is that you?

For a man who writes such beautiful poetry, Thomas,

you rarely appreciate the beauty that's all around you.

I do appreciate beauty.

To fight with such heroism is a thing of beauty, Thomas. You do that every day.

Are you saying I'm a thing of beauty, George?

We are brother in arms. Let us leave it at that.

So today?

Ah, today...

Today, we shall do battle under the glorious king's name

where we shall slay that beast and turn everything right in this kingdom.

The key to killing a beast is down to its whys and wherefores.

This one eludes me.

It's just a dragon, Thomas. It doesn't know any whys or wherefores.

- You don't know that. - It just kills.

So do we.

But something has changed in this dragon.

Violence wasn't always her folly. Something made her attack the castle.

Nowhere else in our kingdom nor in our neighbor's kingdoms.

I've chased down many beasts before.

Every one gave up their secrets before they died.

Not all of your women were beasts, Thomas.

But each one of them gave up their secrets. That's for sure.

But this dragon, it was a peaceful sort before all of this.

It stayed away from populated areas.

And now it seems this particular one

wants a bite out of the powerful king and the kingdom itself.

You know, I admire it.

I admire it for evading death.

There aren't many dragons and all they have are adversaries.

Surely, its strength and its will to survive will fade

and solitude will kill it for us.

It will survive alone, until in battle it dies alone.

That is the king's orders.

We must make haste.

We have a quest to fulfill and we are down to just three.

- Are you keen to do battle, George? - Keen to keep order.

- That means battle. - You remind me of when you were a child.

Always the first to battle and always against the bigger boys.

They were trying to steal your mother's bread.

You nearly killed the poor wretches.

- You had my back. - How could I not?

Do you ever think of the kingdom?

Not as much as I used to from whence we began these adventures.

King's orders will take us on the righteous path.

Be quick with the water. I'll be with your horses.

I know you're tired, old friend.

It's nearly over.

Yeah, I miss her, too.

What happened?

Water demons.

- You? - White wolf.

How did you escape?

Unseen archers in the woods somewhere.

Ours erupted from the forest, killing the beasts.

Let's move.

This is dark magic, George, the darkest.

Pull yourself together, Thomas.

We'll soon be behind the safety of the castle walls.

This, I fear, penetrates even the castle walls, George.

This is deeper, this we should have fear of.

It's taunting us.

It's just a dragon, Thomas, it knows nothing of taunting.

It does. It's drawing us out for the final blow.

Then, let's not disappoint it.

If the dragon is headed home, it bodes well for us, we'll get reinforcements.

If not, we continue until King Xalvad0r's wishes are fulfilled

and the dragon is slain.

While it is here fighting us,

it is not besieging the castle and killing our people.

Trust me, both of you. We will be home soon enough.

It's been many months, we're down to three.

We could've picked up reinforcements along the way.

Plenty of folk willing to join us.

Gather your things.

There's not many who could stay that and still be standing.

Kettlage village is up ahead. There, we rest for the night.

George.

Careful. He has a madness.

A fun evening of Ale and bar fights by the looks of things.

Leprosy? Some kind of sickness?

Seek religious council.

Many gods and their servants will tend to you.

I'll have some of what you've been having.

Hey, baby, won't come along where the sun is shining bright?

I promise if you do that, I'd be taking care of you for an afternoon delight

then she says, "Hey, now, hold your horses,

I'm sure that we got time." But then I say,

"Hey, ho, I'm sure we do, as long as I got you."

We need rest for the night.

They're not locals, we should be cautious.

I'm George Letholdus, King Xalvad0r's royal...

King Xalvad0r's royal warriors.

Guards, please,

warm yourselves.

These are the king's royal warriors.

And maybe the sun will rise again or maybe not.

Please sit. I'll bring you whatever you wish.

Wine and four jugs of beer.

Please.

Luanda,

take these drinks

and warm these gentlemen.

Never trust anyone, do you? Hey!

Bryce, I'mma tell you, don't you start in my bar.

They're the king's men. Yeah.

Same for you!

He's calling you, your boyfriend.

I'm warning you, okay?

Who is the gentleman who speaks in such hostility?

Oh,

he's just an untrusting soul. He's nothing.

What's his name?

I don't remember.

They ask of his name.

It's Bryce.

Bryce Jefferson.

Now, please.

Have you any more thoughts of going home, George, since we're so close?

You must go home.

Oh, yes. To your mystery lady friend. What was her name?

Never you mind.

The stable girl, that's it. It's been a long time.