the Golden Knights

An Adventure

The dangerous expanse outside the City Walls, known as Desolation Belt stretches for hundred of miles under the Dome.
Not many have ventured far into it, but Retrievers who make their living from going into the Wastes have over the years pushed further and further into the dangerous landscape in a bid to retrieve precious resources such as wood and metal.

Twenty years ago a Retriever team crossed the Never Tower Gates and set out to explore the unknown reaches of the Never Road far into the Wastes.
The team had an unusal compositions as it included a young wizard from the Enchanter's Ward in their midst as well as a one of the druids from the Circle of the Fervents.
If one thing could save you in the Wastes, it was some magical abilities and it bode well for the team to have spellcasters as part of the crew.

The leader of this expedition was a rather well-known successful Retriever, a woman by the name of Flor Tabbard.
As the legend goes, Flor had heard rumours of the existence of a building made totally out of iron and copper along a far away portion of the Never Road.

This rumour was enough to whip up the imagination of wealthy sponsors within the City's merchant community; and a crew had been assembed at some expense to bring back the minerals if found.

Flor's crew never found the metal tower, but managed to bring back enough wood and other artefacts to satisfy their sponsors.
However, one member of the team never made it back. The young mage, a talented and promising female halfling by the name of Goldie Dinkfoot was killed in the most unnerving circumstances. 

Golden Knights

The team had travelled for more than a few week along the Never Road without any sign of the fabled towers.
The group had successfully repelled curious bands of prowling Night Wolves and the specters of a few Revenants along the way.
Nerves were getting frayed, and many within the group had already sey their sights on the return journey and filling in their bags with metal artefacts and scraps they had earmarked on the way here.

As they neared the third week into their journey on the eerilie straight ancient road, they notice the glint of gold in the distance, reflected by the red light of the Firelands in the horizon. As they approached, the silhouettes of two giant golden statues came into view.

As they came even closer, they could see that the statues were of two standing knights and had been built or deposited on either side of the ancient road. The statues were several buildings tall and as far as Flor coudl ascertain made of solid gold.
As the team's lights hit the base of the statue, they could see that the workmanship was exquisite, every detail rendered to make the Knights lifelike.

The breastplates were particularly magnificent and presented a series of ornate engravings reminiscent of the most ancient Elven work.
At the base of the statue, a series of texts had been carved. However, no members of Flor's team were able to dicepher what was said.

More disturbingly, Goldie Trinkfoot, soon fell down and started to thrash on the ground, uttering nonsensical phrases in her own language and another tongue totally unrecognizable by the rest of the crew. 
Quickly carrying Goldie's by now listless body, they retreated to a safe distance from the Golden Knights. However, despite their best effort, Goldie passed away from her traumatic experience in the night. 

Flor did not hesitate. After giving Goldie an appropriate burial, they departed, hasting back along the road to the City.
The crew just made it in one piece after being set about by a flock of fire drakes just two days before entering the safety of the City Walls.

Cultural Significance

Many have wondered at the powers of the Golden Knights and their significance. Within the Enchanters' Ward, Goldie was much mourned and many of the mages of her Circle have spent some time discussing why she was targetted for the Knights' attack.

As to the City Retrievers, they have marked the Golden Knights as the furthest reaches of the Wastes and no crew has been near them again since Flor's expedition.