Dahkore, Gryphon Paladin of Bahamut

Honor and goodness above all else. A righteous warrior always observes the rules of honorable warfare. The tenets of honor and chivalry are to be upheld even in the face of enemies that do not grant the same respects. Never strike a helpless opponent or one who is down and unable to defend himself. Flee the battlefield only if greatly outnumbered or defeat is inevitable with no righteous outcome.

Service to ones fellow people is the highest service one can undertake.

Law and justice are the cornerstones of a righteous society. Never subvert the rule of law in the name of expediency or put oneself above righteous authority.

Relentlessly pursue evil and destroy it, but never let the desire to smite the evils of the world take one outside the rule of law and justice. The ends do not justify the means.

Lethal force is not always the best option for dealing with evil. Do not let wrath cloud ones mind to other options that may lead to greater good.

Show the power and righteousness of Bahamut in every action and word. A righteous warrior can fight evil by providing an example of courage and good to all those who know him. Changing the hearts of people by example is one of the noblest ways to spread justice and law. A paladin's powers are an ally, never a tool. Lead by example, never the tip of a sword.

Be careful of who one associates with, the subtle influence of less righteous companions has been the downfall of many a noble warrior. A righteous warrior never associates with those he knows to be of questionable character.

Treachery and deceit are the tools of Tiamat. Avoid them at all costs. Better to die a thousand deaths in the name of truth than to live by lying.

Beware the lure of riches and worldly possessions. The desire to acquire wealth and personal power will blunt the edge of a righteous warrior and cause him to center his attentions on things that do not spread law and justice, or show the power and humility of a knight of Bahamut.


(codex of honor taken mainly from here)

Through the Eyes of a Child

“Everiss! Come here, darling!” a deep voice rolled over the mountains.

A few peaks over a child playing with her friend stopped suddenly, her ears perked, her head swiveling towards the sound. She looked back at her playmate, opening her beak to explain her departure, and decided quickly it would take longer than she was willing. Instead, she smiled and then dashed away.

Her entire being radiated with happiness, dreams coming true in her mind, as she wished her wings were not still useless for flying. She thought about her mother’s lesson that this was so she could learn to be strong on land before she could be allowed to be strong in the air. She shook her head. She didn’t need to reflect on teachings right now.

She listened for the voice to sound off again, not because she needed it to pinpoint its origin; she simply missed it. She pushed her body faster, feeling her muscles burn. She was almost there.

Rounding the final bend, a flash of light from the entrance of her home surprised her, causing her to lose her footing. She tumbled head over feet, skidding across the rocky surface, and stopped only when her head hit a solid surface.

She looked up, slightly dazed, at what stopped her inertia. A scaly leg covered by silvery and black feathers rose high above her, until it at last became a beaked, helmeted head. She heard it laugh, and as things came into focus, the mouth came down and picked her up by the scruff of the neck, then set her down gently again.

“Ever graceful my child!” he said, still chuckling.

The voice brought her promptly to reality. Her bird-like talons wrapped themselves around the large leg she had previously crashed into as she yelled out in pure excitement.

“Daddy! I knew it was you! Oh, I missed you so much!”

As he nuzzled his small daughter, another gryphon arrived for the meeting, dropping gracefully from the sky. “I thought that was you, Dahkore, but I almost didn’t believe it. How long is your leave?”

He shook his head, the plate armor he still wore catching the sun again. “No leave. I’m home, I’losa.”

The female’s eyes were moist, and it was evident that she was trying to hold back tears. She came forward and embraced her mate, and the three went inside the cave they called home.

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Nightfall came only too soon for the young gryphon.

“Come now Everiss, it’s time for bed!” Dahkore called to his child.

“But I want to stay up with you!” she pleaded, her voice quavering.

“How about I curl up with you, then?”

Her ears perked up despite herself, and she had to begrudgingly admit that if she had to go to bed, at least she wouldn’t have to be separated from him just yet. Noticing the change, Dahkore picked her up and brought her to her nest chamber. The “nest” really was more of a bed and nest hybrid. While it held a nest-like shape, instead of branches and fibers, it contained soft silk, fleece, and velvet fabrics. The two beasts climbed in, the little one snuggling underneath her father’s wing.

“How come you had to be gone so much?” the voice beside him asked.

Dahkore took a moment before looking down at her and responding. “I had to keep you safe.”

She sat up a little, her brow furrowed. “But how could you keep me safe if you weren’t ever where I was?”

Her father looked away, her words naïve and innocent, yet they still stung. He took another long pause.

“Everiss, I know it is hard for you to understand. Sometimes there are things that happen that require everyone’s help to take care of. There were a lot of bad people not too far away that wanted to hurt the whole world. Even though you couldn’t see them here, if I hadn’t gone to them, they would have eventually come here to you and your mother. I helped stop them before they could get here.”

“But you’re home for good now right? The bad people have gone away?”

He smiled at his daughter. “The bad people have gone away. Rest now, darling.”

Instead of further debate, she put her head down on her forefeet, and soon was sleeping, for the first time in over a year, next to her father.

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Ten years later…


Everiss, still a child, but now a full twelve years old, was flying.

Her wings had finally grown, not their full potential yet, but enough where she could soar for a few miles without tiring. She absolutely loved it.

At this moment, she was gliding back home to check in with her mother, who was not as excited about her daughter’s development. She worried too much now that she was gone most days.

The clouds parted, revealing the mountain top her home rest upon. She noticed a couple of armored gryphons standing on the ledge to their doorway, speaking at her father. He hadn’t worn his armor since the day he came home, and looked naked next to the others. She was too high up to hear what was going on. She dove.

She expected to startle the gryphons, but battle taught and trained, they already knew she had been coming, hearing her young wings on the wind. They had ceased whatever discussion it was that they had been having, and merely looked at her. She suddenly felt embarrassed, and cast her gaze to the ground.

Her father’s voice finally broke the silence. “Everiss, why don’t you go inside? I’ll be in to see you in a bit, okay?”

She looked up into his face, searching for whatever explanation they might be able to give. She saw a hint of sadness, but it faded away as soon as she noticed it. She walked solemnly past him, knowing in her heart that her happy carefree days with her father were going to be a memory for a while again.

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The family sat by the hearth, warming themselves by the fire that burned there. Between them lay an antelope, almost completely uneaten. Dahkore stared at his feet, afraid to look up and see his mate and daughter’s faces as he spoke.

“We don’t have any concrete evidence yet that Tiamat is returning. But evidently there is enough speculation to warrant rallying the troops. We know that the Dark Forces have never really stopped their fighting, but it was manageable enough without the Paladins of Bahamut having to stay involved. That’s why I have been able to stay home with you so long. It seems now, though, I must again leave you, for a length of time that I do not know. If nothing else, I am going for a refresher on my paladin training. I’ve gotten a bit rusty.” He chuckled, risking a glance upwards to see if the room’s mood had lightened at the joke at all. He wasn’t surprised that it hadn’t.

“When do you leave?” Everiss managed to choke out.

Dahkore looked into his daughter’s eyes and swallowed hard. “Tomorrow.”

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The weather reflected their mood; somber, rainy, and cold. The grey-black gryphon stood gallantly in his platinum and blue armor, his headgear shaped in honor of Bahamut. He was currently standing forehead to forehead with I’losa, a loving parting that was part of many gryphon family traditions. He broke contact, and repeated it with his daughter.

“Remember, I leave to keep you safe.”

“I know, father. I just wish you didn’t have to go, all the same.”

“I wish I could stay here as well. But I would be turning my back on the whole world and our Protector. I would risk never giving you the chance to grow old.”

She broke the bond and spread her wings. Dahkore thought she was going to take off, but instead she plucked a single feather from them. She used her agile front feet to weave the feather amongst her father’s head feathers, where the golden brown stuck out amongst the silver plumage he wore. She then placed her forehead back to his.

“Don’t forget me, father.”

“I could never, Everiss.”

With that, he looked up, and with one final goodbye, left his family standing on the ledge as he flew off into the rain.

Rumors

Dahkore flew through the rain, the drops pelting him. Though he felt them hit, they merely slowed his flight; his feathers were coated with a soft oil that repelled the majority of the moisture. The same could not be said for his vision; the sheets of moisture hung in the air and limited his line of sight. Thankfully it was a journey he knew well enough to gauge where he was.

After a few hours, he finally could make out his destination, just as the sun started to peek through the clouds. A pine forest below him sprawled towards a craggy bluff, on which perched a veritable fortress of stone. The gryphon slowed his decent, coming down to rest gently on the ground before the great entrance of the keep. He bowed his head, and dropped one knee, letting the tip of his beak touch the ground. “I am home, Platinum One.”

Rising, the gryphon looked up, just as the portcullis was raised. An elf in platinum and blue came to greet him and escort him into the Aerie Temple of Bahamut. Behind them, the door was again closed. Dahkore was unfamiliar with the elf that guided him, but with his leave was not surprising. They walked through the courtyard, where new young paladins were training. It was a sight that the old gryphon had not seen in some years. The Templars were truly expecting something, then. He felt his heart sink a little before he regained his composure. If he was needed, and judging by preparations he soon would be, he would need to give all of himself to the cause to be worthy.

The pair entered the main hall. Here it was much more evident that this was indeed a temple honoring the Platinum Dragon and not just an outlying fortress. The pillars were carved into great Wyrms, painted to look like the platinum He himself was said to be made of. The rugs were the deep blue of the shield He carried into battle. On the walls were great swords and hammers, retired after those who had wielded them were sent to finally be with Him. Hanging over the bank of candles in the front most part of the room was a great shield adorned with His symbol. Reaching the pulpit, the elf left the room, leaving the gryphon by himself. The gryphon again kneeled, whispering the prayer the Order had taught him years ago: “The Platinum Dragon is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. He is my stronghold, my refuge, and my armor; I need only kneel and offer him my praise.”

“I am glad that you came, Dahkore,” a voice sounded behind him. The silver and black gryphon rose from his position, and turned to face the speaker, knowing already who it was.

“Kendar. It has been sometime.”

The gryphon he address was black as night. There was not a spot of any color on him. It made him look quite formidable, though he smiled now and betrayed this façade. “That it has, my friend; that it has. Though our separation this time meant relative peace; I am sorry that we had to meet again under such circumstances.”

Dahkore nodded. “Aye. Though I must admit I know very little; only that there is rumor of the Weapon being recovered, and fledglings being trained for war in the yard.”

“Come with me, and I will fill in what blanks I can.”

The Plan

The two gryphons flew up to a spire where the Battlemaster made his office, landing just inside the large window that served as the only door to the room. The Aerie did not have any stairs; the few elves, dwarves and other two-leggers that made this their temple rode on the backs of their gryphon comrades to travel anywhere that did not rest on the ground. Its location on the top of the Crag also made it impossible for those without their own wings to get up or down without assistance.

Kendar moved towards the center of the room, moving behind a table that rested near the center. On the table layed a map of their world, with current positions of known Horde uprisings. There also were markers for cases whose validity could not be confirmed. A very familiar red marker sat on one of the isles of the Hargorn Empire.

Dahkore snorted. “Kendar, we checked the Hargorn Empire 20 years ago for the Weapon, and found no proof then. Why are we still looking for it there?”

“I understand, friend. We know it is most likely another false alarm. But while we can ignore these others,” he waved his claw over the many brown markers that were the unconfirmed cases of evil Draconic activity, “anything to do with Ascalon we simply cannot. If we can say without a doubt that it’s a misinterpretation or a drunkard’s tale, then we rest easy another night. But I do not want to be the Paladin who turns his back on the chance that its true, and give the Evil One a step up on Bahamut. Do you?”

The silver gryphon snorted again. “Do you really question me on this? Of course I understand our need to investigate. I just think that we are preparing for another ghost. Why all the new Fledglings?” Even though many of the training paladins in the courtyard were not gryphons, it had become the standard that any training in the Aerie was a Fledgling. “And why was I summoned when there is not confirmed threat?”

Kendar sat down on his haunches, and pointed a claw to the country of Westerna on the map before them. “The humans have suffered heavy losses lately, and we have been instructed by the Templars to assist. It seems mostly goblin fights, as usual, but their numbers are inflated for some reason, giving the humans a run for their money.”

“You mean to tell me is that you asked me to leave my family in service of the Temple…to fight goblins?” He glared at the Battlemaster. “Your Fledglings could handle this. I came because of the rumors of Ascalon, not to participate in a territory war.”

“I understand your frustration, Dahkore. I had the scouts tell you about the Weapon so that you would come. I knew that you wouldn’t otherwise.” He saw the silver gryphon start to turn away in frustration. “Please, friend. You know I would not have done so with no reason. You have served this temple well in your years, and I know that you have a family. But you took an oath to Bahamut that you would put His needs before your own happiness. The best thing you can do for that chic of yours is to keep helping us.” Seeing him calm down a bit, the black continued. “Now, on the surface this may look like the same ol’ fighting the humans have been engaging in for the past century, but I want to know for sure. I think something bigger might be happening down there, and I need one of my best to find out.

“The plan is this; you will take a regiment of our newly trained paladins, and lead them to the fight we’ve been asked to help in. I, like you, think they can handle themselves just fine. What I need you to do is scope out the rest of Westerna for us, and find what you can. Since the humans know we’re coming, they won’t be so surprised to see you there, and won’t think much of it, unless you get too far from the battle. This way, I can have you sniff out what you can without making people nervous.

“My other Senior Paladins are already checking out these other leads we’ve got. I knew you wouldn’t want to go checking on the Weapon for reasons we’ve already discussed, and I didn’t have anyone else to call on that can navigate those mountains easily. You were the only option I had, Dahkore, and if I could have picked someone else, I would have, so you could stay with the family.”

Dahkore looked out the window as the sun sought to bury itself behind the mountains. He could no longer find fault with his comrades decisions. He looked back at the black beaked face, the eyes now hardened, the smile faded. The silver nodded. “You’re right, old buzzard. I will help. Tell me where to start my search.”

Just updated first post with photomanip of Dahkore for anyone interested

Updated with character reference sheet Josh did the sketch and I did everything else!