The Ashen Circle

A Tale from Cwenhild: The Ashen Circle

“We rode out as four that day—warriors and friends. We won the battle, but only three of us returned.”

— Cwenhild, Venerated Shield of Heironeous
In her younger years, Cwenhild fought alongside Galmyr Vogel, Avelyne Durana, and their steadfast wizard companion, Theravain the Ashkeeper. Bound by trust and battle, the four forged a deep bond. Among their greatest trials was the battle against the Ashen Circle, a marauding band of killers whose leader was no mortal brigand. It was a Calydraxis, a monstrous beast with the body of a lion, a serpent’s tail, and a head crowned in living flame—a creature of cunning and brutality, driven by hunger for domination.
Theravain’s sharp mind and mastery of fire magic had often turned the tide of battle, but the Calydraxis proved a deadly opponent. It corrupted weaker minds, transforming the bandits into zealots. The fight was long and bloody, and Cwenhild remembers it as one of the hardest battles of her life.

“Theravain was a brother to us all. I still hear his voice in the wind, reminding me of my recklessness… and my courage.”

Theravain held the Calydraxis at bay with his final spell—a surge of flame and light that consumed the beast and much of the battlefield. His magic ended the battle but cost him his life. Cwenhild found his body amidst the ashes, his staff broken and his eyes closed in peace.
In the stillness that followed, Cwenhild and Galmyr carried Theravain to a quiet grove, where they buried him beneath a sky filled with stars. His grave was marked with a cairn and the broken shards of his staff.

“It was the first time I was truly scarred. Not just in body, but in spirit. The burns still ache when I remember his voice and the light in his eyes.”

Avelyne, standing beside the grave, made a quiet remark:

“If that was your first burn, I’m honored to have fought beside you for it.”

The Aftermath

Cwenhild believes it was their shared grief that ultimately brought her and Galmyr closer together. Though Theravain’s death left an unfillable void, it also strengthened their resolve to protect what remained.

“We never spoke of it, but we all knew what we had lost. That grief stayed with us, shaped us, and made us more than we were. We owed that to him.”

Some whispered that dark forces had summoned the Calydraxis, but no answers ever came. What remains are memories of friendship, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond forged through fire and sorrow.