Eternal

Year 101

Felkan medicine might be the most advanced in the known world, but there’s only so much that can be done to hold back the ravages of time. In your last moments on your deathbed, you still struggle as hard as you can to stay awake.

“Dawn, are you still here?” you call out.
“Yes, my love.”
“Good, I wanted to make sure I’m not going into battle alone this time.”
“Battle? You’re in bed my dear, remember?” Dawn says, believing that you’re losing your sense of awareness, but in fact you’re very aware.
“No, Dawn. I am in battle. Against an enemy that has stalked me for over a century…it’s going to win this time though…”
“I…I’m sorry…(sniff) I can’t help you this time.” She remarks trying not to cry.
“It’s okay. You’ve helped enough. I just need you here.” You say squeezing her hand.

Dawn holds you hand for the remainder on the night, until your final breath is your last.

Your funeral is a fairly major event; lots of military types there to pay their respects. The king, most of the royals, and of course Dawn is there.

Grand speeches are made about your accomplishments, like about your victories over enemies like gnolls and the Eternal Dominion. About how even though you were not Felkan born, you saw that its kingdom was something to believe in and that you always did what was best for it thus proving that the Felkan way of life is the superior one.

Part of it is Felkan propaganda to instill more patriotism, but most of it is genuine respect for you. It doesn’t matter, you would’ve certainly approved.

You are buried in a private tomb as per your request rather than in some military cemetery. Fifteen years later Dawn would join you in the after life.

Even after your death you continue to be well known throughout the kingdom. Certainly many of your military tactics are still taught in the academies. In fact a brand new one is built and named after you (complete with the statue in front) later on. As years become decades and eventually centuries, the kingdom continues to grow and history is altered, as is often the case.

In time your past is only briefly mentioned in passing and that past is often altered severely. You were never part of the “Empire” (In fact there never was an “Empire” as far as the books go) and you were ALWAYS a loyal Felkan citizen. And that it was you who single handedly got rid of the evil gnomes who once enslaved the Felkan people. Regardless of the alterations, your name in history is secured even long after the Kingdom eventually falls much like the Empire did and evolves into something new.

Myths and legends are built on names, truths, exaggerations, and outright lies. Yours is no different and as a result you remain as you always were and that is ETERNAL.