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Thea always looked forward to the Solstice. After them, a few blessed individuals stepped forward to be inducted as Templars, receiving their masks with honour.
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Where some were commended for completing their training, recognised before all of Solana, others were commended for their excellence and dedication, proudly accepting their promotions. Trainees, squires, knights, all stepping forward to receive the blessings of the Grand Magister. Templars, radiant in gold and ivory, marching with their weapons held high, their masks gleaming in the light of the sun. Great processions of knights clad in ceremonial armour strode through the streets of Solana, gathering at the base of the Amphitheatre. The Solstice took place once a year, equal parts celebration and ceremony for the Hand of Sol. The busiest time of the year, however, was during the Solstice of Laurels. Others, however, came from further afield to visit the great Library of Illumination, or listen to speeches in the Amphitheatre.
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Most travellers came from the villages under Solana’s protection, following one of the many paths leading to the grand city gates. She loved to listen to them share stories from their hometown, or describe the things they had seen on their travels. Thea was fascinated by the patrons that came to the inn, many of them travellers visiting from outside of Solana. Then, as all the guests were settling in for their evening meal, she would take up residence next to the fire and listen to the chatter around her. In the mornings, Thea helped out with minor chores, sweeping and cleaning the tavern before returning to the family forge in the afternoon. While Thea knew that Minerva had been born outside of Solana, the innkeeper was incredibly private, and rarely spoke about her past. Her parents had known Minerva since they were children, long since passing the line between friends and family. When she wasn’t in the forge with her parents, Thea could usually be found with Minerva, the reserved, steely-eyed woman who ran the Golden Chariot next to the Ironsong forge. Her mother would often talk to her while smithing, explaining everything to her curious daughter. Her earliest memories are of the forge, and the heavy scent of smoke hanging in the air as she watched her parents work, expertly crafting graceful blades and sun-blessed shields. In the years since, they have passed down their trade secrets from generation to generation, preserving the Ironsong name.ĭorinthea Ironsong was an only child with a penchant for mischief. The first generation of the bloodline were awarded the name of Ironsong for their work with weapons and armour, forging some of the finest in all of Solana. The knights of the Hand of Sol are needed now more than ever, to defend innocent lives from the horrors that threaten to overwhelm them all.įor centuries, the Ironsong family have prided themselves on their reputation as master blacksmiths. As terrible beasts begin to emerge, Solana’s scholars continue to search for a possible cause, and a way to eliminate the creatures once and for all. Worst of all, the savage packs of the west gather near the outskirts of the jungle, creeping ever closer to the villages under Solana’s protection.Īmidst the brewing storm, the Hand of Sol gathers in ever larger patrols, permanently stationing knights in villages across the golden fields. To the South, blasphemous cults gather, driven by greed and gluttony. Strangers hail from the East, bringing their strange customs and mystic rites to the outskirts of the grand city. And yet, a strange wind has begun to stir once more, sowing seeds of unrest across the continent. Centuries after the end of the great wars, Solana is experiencing an era of peace and prosperity, with the last of its great defenses completed, and its people watched over by noble protectors.