Bitas Kondu the Death Knight

Bitas Kondu

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Bitas once had short black hair and pale white skin but is now little more than a ghost haunting her bones and armor. Across her skull and at major points of her chakra are inscriptions upon her skeleton that reinforce and enhance her undead state. She still wears the armor of the Potentate of Arms she had when she died but since then the Emperor has enchanted and altered the armor into a cruel mockery of what she once stood for.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

"I fight because that is all that I know, I kill because if I do not then they will surely kill me. I live for the next day so that I can do the same thing again, what else is there?" - Bitas the Bandit

Prior to joining the the nobility of Corrlus Bitas had led a life of banditry and slaughter leading her bandits across several successful battles with any for. Upon kidnapping the Duke of Kondu's son Matsu, she fell for the intelligent and caring nobleman who looked into her soul and saw pain. After talking to Matsu Kondu she had come to realize how meaningless her life had been and let the nobleman go while surrendering to the Duke himself. Instead of being executed Bitas was spared by the Matsu who married her and made her the leader of the armies. Together the pair were nigh unstoppable as they won every military engagement the other duchies dared send. For a time Bitas was happy as she had found new purpose in protecting her home.

"I fight because that is what I am skilled at, I kill to protect those I love and to insure they do not have to. I live for my loved ones and for our future, what else would I want?" - General Bitas Kondu

Years later pesants began revolting across the continent, the Kondu province was not spared as Matsu was killed by an ambush while Bitas was away at the border. Incensed Bitas quickly put down the revolt and brought stability to her province if not peace. When the King had been deposed and put to death Bitas only mourned for Matsu's sacrifice as the other dutchies all attempted to vie for her skills promising her rank and honor if she fought for their claim to rule. Instead Bitas fought off all other armies till only three remained: hers, the Holy Order of the Saint Rose, the Crowlech who hid in ther mountain, and the merchant Tondal. As the Holy Order's armies came to Kondu's borders the leader Rand Dulchant came forward to speak with Bitas. His first words were to apologize for the loss of her husband and ask that he be allowed to pray over his grave. With that Bitas bowed before the Rand and offered her fealty toward the Saint Rose. In retun Bitas became the Holy Order's first Potentate of Arms and leader of the Order's legions. Together Bitas led the Order's armies against Tondal's mercenary soldiers, while they were unable to capture the Tondal family the capitol fell and the leadership of the mercenaries surrendered when their client fled.

"I fight in memory for my beloved, I kill to in hopes of a unified Corrlus. I live to see my child grow up safe, what else must I do?" - Potentate of Arms Bitas Kondu

All that remained to a unified Corrlus was the Crowlech providence that had elected not to fight thus far. With her forces controlling all entry to and from the mountain the Holy Order sent messengers and courtiers seeking a peaceful surrender. When several days had passed and none of the diplomats had returned Bitas stopped all merchants and food entering the mountains. After a month a single diplomat was sent and again was never heard from, Bitas stationed her soldiers ready for battle or to siege the very mountain but nothing happened. After a year of waiting Bitas herself took her best soldiers and marched into the Crowlech mountains. At first it seemed abandoned as all posts, rest stops, and minor villages that spotted the mountain were stripped but as they reached the fortress that sat atop the mountain they finally saw soldiers stationed at the castle wall. The doors to the fortress stood open but Bitas could only see a single man standing inside the walls. Before they reached the open gates Bitas sent a scout back to tell of what they had seen, he failed to go far as a number of undead had appeared behind Bitas and her soldier boxing her in. Sensing the trap just as they reached the gates Bitas called for her soldiers to retreat and attempted to flee, the portcullis fell in such a way that had she not turned around she surely would have been captured but as quickly as she turned around the army of undead arose from their hiding spots atop the fortress walls and rained arrows, spears, and worse upon Bitas and her crew.
With enemies in front and behind her Bitas led her soldiers in a mad charge to the forces blocking her escape, had she known they were undead she might have planned better but a few of her soldiers managed to escape while the horses Bitas an many of her soldiers turned, fled, or just dropped dead of fear as the armies of undead swarmed over the Bitas. Try as she might she was overcome by their numbers and eventually fell to their spears and swords, as she lay dying she closed her eyes and hoped she would see Matsu, her love, soon. When she once again awoke she arose as a death knight, her will subsumed to the foul Lich who ruled as Emperor to Crowlech mountains. Besides her were almost sixty of her men, all greater undead forced to work for the Lich. Given a fraction of their will back the Emperor Bleak asked of the newly arisen warriors a choice, fight for your new master a slave or as a soldier. Some turned their swords upon themselves then and there in an attempt to end their existance, others declared that they would fight against the lich with every fiber of their being, Bitas and a few stood silent contemplating their choice. For their first battle they were given no choice as the lich overrode their will and commanded them to attack their allies.
The first major conflict between the Holy Order of Saint Rose and the Bleak Empire began with Bitas leading her death knights into battle, unable to resist she slew a great many soldier as the rest of the undead armies slew the forces that had guarded the western egress of the Crowlech mountains. Unprepared for war against the undead a quarter of the Order's forces fell to the horde before the sacrifice of Rand Dulchant and his wife consecrated the grounds and cleansed a number of undead. Fearful of the Holy Order's paladins and priests the Lich Bleak had Bitas and the rest of the army of darkness retreat back to Crowlech. The self proclaimed Emperor Bleak has been unable to push beyond a mile of the Crowlech mountain range but has also managed to defend against all possible attempts to oppose him. For now the two sides wait and plot as they attempt to find a weakness to exploit. Those that Bitas led to become death knights now see her as the leader of their faction with the Bleak Empire. They look to her and try to find reason in their new half-lives as the undead, some believe that the Saint Rose would forgive them while others believe that should they succeed then the Gods will have to accept the undead should the whole world become so. Regardless Bitas has returned to her mindset of her days as a bandit, and even with this meaningless undead state she continues to do what she does best, manage her forces to fight and win.

"I kill because that is all that I know, I fight because I must. I wait for the next night to do same thing each night, there is nothing else." - Bitas the Deathless

Accomplishments & Achievements

Bitas was once known as the Bandit Queen of Kondu before stepping down and surrendering to the authorities. After her pardon and marriage to Matsu Kondu, Bitas led the forces of the Kondu province to several significant victories often where they were outnumbered. As Potentate of Arms Kondu she routed enemy forces with little casualties and led the Holy Order to retaking all but one province. As the Death Knight Bitas the Deathless has organized the undead forces into a credible threat that has killed more soldiers than the previous civil wars.

Mental Trauma

Even without a portion of her soul having been ripped apart to animate her body she has suffered greatly from the loss of her husband and her death and rebirth. Bitas has half her will subsumed to the Lich Emperor Bleak and has been forced to kill those she once fought beside as well as former allies.

Social

Family Ties

Bitas is survived only by her grand daughter who currently holds a position as Exemplar Knight of the Holy Order. While they have not met her grand daughter has sworn to kill Bitas and put her soul to rest.

Birthplace

Hopes Rest, Kondu Province

Current Residence

Crowlech

Aligned Organization

The Bleak Empire

Other Affiliations

• Holy Order of Saint Rose