![[Verified by Gossamer]](./images/checkmark.png "[Verified by Gossamer]")
Duncan Rightstone Vizerian
Appearance
Race: Isur, Vizerian Clan
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Birthday: 19, Spring, 468 AV.
Birthplace: Vizerian City, Kingdom of Sultros
Appearance: As an isur, Duncan stands five feet tall and weighs 240 lbs. He bares a highly muscular build with dense isurian flesh and bones. His left arm is emerald blue with raised silver veins; indicating his Vizerian Clan heritage. His skin has a slight blue hue and just over his brow is a hint of a raised ridge granting him something of a persistent look of seriousness. Raised silver veins spread across his body which. Duncan has short, dark hair and deep brown eyes. He is sometimes found sporting a light goatee but also favors a very short beard.
Character Concept
Duncan is a man of faith; devoted wholly to the God of Strength and Patience, Izurdin. He takes the qualities of strength and patience quite seriously and lives his life according to not only the teachings of Izurdin's Anvil but also Izurdin's Hammer. Strength empowers one to do what is right, what is just. Patience empowers focus and directs ones strength. Skill empowers the use of strength guided by patience. Faith empowers it all. Duncan is a man of principal and honor although honor is reserved for those who deserve it; for those who also conduct themselves with it. He views his body as a vessel for Izurdin's will and as such works to build upon and maintain it. He takes his health seriously and routinely engages in exercise and physical training.
Character History
Duncan is the only son of Emaneus Rightstone Vizerian, Priest of Izurdin, one of Izurdin's Anvils, one of Izurdin's Copper Hammers (honorary title of Bronze Hammer), head of Izurdin's Temple at the Kingdom's Southern Border Post and next in line to become High Priest of Izurdin. Duncan's mother was a Copper Hammer who succumbed to her wounds after a battle with a Zith colony while on a patrol assignment. Her actions in the battle helped save many in her unit and allowed them to overcome and exterminate the colony. A statue was erected in her honor in the Crimson Plaza in Sultros City. She died when Duncan was but two years of age.
Duncan's father, spiritually wounded by the loss of his wife, chose not to remarry and has since poured every bit of who he is into his duties as one of Izurdin's Anvils. Duncan was raised in part by his father but also by the surviving members of his mother's unit of Hammers. As a result, Duncan had a profoundly religious as well as militant upbringing. When he was but 25 years of age, still a child by isur standards, his father tested and subsequently accepted him as Disciple of the Anvils. As a Disciple, he spent his time studying what it was to give one's self to Izurdin and model the qualities the god held so dear.
At the age of 40, Duncan, after years of training and with the guidance of the Hammers who once served under his mother, petitioned Izurdin's Hammer for entry. After engaging in the test of the Hammer and Anvil and passing, Duncan was named a Hammer. As a an Anvil Disciple and now a Hammer, Duncan became one of the youngest isur to become a part of both institutions.
For the next several years, Duncan took part in several different long-term assignments for The Hammer. Following the Djed Storm of 512, his assignments were more geared toward patrolling the Kingdom and defending it from the renewed threat of Zith following the ascension of the new Goddess of Fear, Ssena. Mixed throughout his patrol assignments were a small number of escort missions; protecting various trade caravans traveling from the Southern Border Post to the Suvan Sea. The Kingdom's opening of trade relations with the outside world following the return and sacrifice of the legendary King Isengir Sultros to save a group of humans, brought about such new assignments for The Hammer.
Duncan's Path Toward Becoming an Anvil
Secret :
Duncan's early life involved a rather strong focus on the worship of Izurdin. His father, Emaneus, was an Anvil and Priest of Izurdin. He was the head of his own small temple at the Southern Border Post in the Kingdom of Sultros. As such, Duncan grew up at the Post and split his time between the Hammer Barracks and the Temple. Emaneus instilled in his son the teachings of Izurdin; that a person's skill is powered by their strength, directed by their patience and given purpose by their faith. The key to the whole thing was faith. Without it, it didn't matter how skilled, strong or patient one was, if they didn't have a purpose, there was no meaning in any of it.
Duncan learned of these concepts at the same time he was learning to speak. His father taught him that he must first gain the true understanding of what it was to have faith before he could learn his true purpose in life. As Duncan also wanted to follow in his mother's footsteps of being one of Izurdin's Hammers, he desperately wanted to work toward one day being considered for being named one. However, his father, a Hammer himself, decreed that before Duncan could begin training and seek acceptance into the Hammer, he had to first be accepted as an Anvil and become a Disciple. According to Emaneus, becoming a Disciple of Izurdin meant that Duncan had proven that his faith was strong enough to be reflected in an item crafted by his hand. It was the test that all would be Anvils had to pass in order to progress in the religious order.
Duncan, as with most isur, had been exposed to the concept of crafting and creation since he was first able to hold a hammer. While he was far from the skill of even an apprentice smith, he was isur and had a natural affinity for such things. He had worked in the temple forge at the Southern Post since he was 18 years of age (human equivalent of 9). He had started as a simple "go-fer", fetching various tools and materials for his father while Emaneus worked on items for the Anvils and the temple. He eventually advanced to tool maintenance and from there, by the time he was 24, the forging of simple tools. While most isur were capable of doing similar things at that age, Emaneus' work was becoming more advanced. He was embracing concepts and techniques that were beyond what he normally should have been capable of.
It was shortly after his 25th birthday that Duncan's father finally decided it was far past time for Duncan to attempt entry into the Anvils. As the head of the temple at the Southern Post, it was Emaneus' duty to administer the test. While nepotism was not viewed as a negative by the isur, Emaneus wanted to ensure that Duncan felt challenged in his test. Thus he changed the rules for acceptance specifically for his son. Instead of the one administering the test being the sole judge of whether or not Duncan was worthy of becomign a Disciple, Emaneus decreed that the two other Anvils who aided him in the operation of the temple would also be involved. Their would need to be unanimous decision by all three that Duncan was ready before he would be accepted. The two Anvils, Matronia Copperlight Sultros and Haros Tongfire Vizerian, would join Emaneus in setting the requirements for the test and making a judgement on the results.
So it was that Duncan appeared before the three Anvils. He presented himself by his full name along with lineage, Duncan Rightstone Vizerian, son of Emaneus Rightstone Pitrius, Anvil and Priest of Izurdin, son of Morvari Rightstone Vizerian, Copper Hammer in Izurdin's Hammer. He proceeded to formally request the opportunity to prove that he could give physical form to his faith and show that he was worthy of starting the path toward becoming a full Anvil of Izurdin.
As all three of the Anvils present knew Duncan better than most, they knew that he was at least ready for the attempt. Thus each one set forth a certain criteria that had to be met in the construction of an item that, once finished, would be presented to them to judge whether or not Duncan was ready.
Matronia had been an Anvil for almost as long as Duncan had been alive. She'd watched the boy grow up and was like family to him. She knew Duncan was a faithful boy but she had never been certain if it was Duncan's faith that was strong or if it was somehow a reflection of his father's faith that she saw in his eyes. So, she required that Duncan craft a simple hand axe. For her, the axe was symbolic in that it would cut through any confusion and get to the source of the faith she saw.
Haros also knew Duncan for many years and noticed how Duncan had developed a tendency towards relying on others to put his own life in context. He sensed how Duncan inwardly compared himself to his father and thus judged his own worth based on how close he was to being like Emaneus. Duncan also fought to live up to the standard he saw in who and what his mother was. He measured his own strength and skill against hers even though he never knew her. The members of his mothers Hammer unit were also used to give Duncan context and purpose. He viewed their opinion of him as representing the opinion of his mother. He did all he could to live up to what he perceived to be their expectations and by extension, his mother's. As a result, Haros required that Duncan impart upon the axe with Izentor. His thought was that by putting a bit of himself into the axe, Duncan would be relying on his own self instead of looking to others.
Finally, Emaneus, who knew Duncan best of all, considered his own requirement. When his fellow Anvils had shared with him what their requirements of Duncan would be, Emaneus was impressed at their thoughtfulness. His own requirement was no less personal when he told Duncan that the boy would have to travel to the Footsteps of the King, an ancient holy site, one of the most important ones for the isur as a race, and retrieve a branch from one of the trees that grew there. That branch would be the handle of the axe. It was Emaneus' hope that by traveling in the King's Footsteps, Emaneus would be able to truly feel and hopefully accept the full power of his faith.
Accepting the requirements for possible acceptance, Duncan left the temple and began the task at hand. Obviously, the order in which the requirements were given were not a set order for crafting the hammer. The first thing he would need to do is travel to the Footsteps of the King and retrieve the wood for the axe's handle. After that, he would need shape the wood and forge the head of the axe before finally imparting upon it. Off the three main tasks, Duncan was most concerned about the first and last one. He had never been to the Footsteps before and knew little of them. He knew that the site was located a couple of days from the Post and that it was higher up in the mountains. He knew what most isur knew in that it was the exact location where, after the Valterrian, King Isengir Sultros, discovered what would become the new home for the isurian race. While not seen as overly dangerous, the journey to the site would still be difficult for one of Duncan's age. As for the imparting, Duncan had never imparted upon anything before. He was still a child by isurian standards and had not had the need or opportunity to do such a thing. It would indeed be a challenge.
Duncan immediately set to packing for his journey to the Footsteps. He wasn't entirely sure what he would need as he'd never been all that far from the Post before. He had his backpack that he already carried around most days and packed it with a bit of food, an extra set of clothes and a few simple survival items including some flint and steel, a small tent and a bedroll. It wasn't as if he was going on an extended trip into the Unforgiving or at least that is what he kept telling himself.
He considered taking a weapon, perhaps a dagger or even a shortsword however he couldn't help but admit to himself that he didn't really know much about using either. The fact that his arm itself was a weapon did not escape him. He was rather fond of relying on his own strength and his own metallic arm for protection. Even at a young age, an isur could splinter wood, bend metal and shatter stone with their arm. "What other weapon do I need," he thought as he finalized his packing.
Once packed, Duncan set out on the path toward the the Footsteps. As it was one of the greatest holy sites in all the Kingdom, there was an established path, sometimes rough, other times quite well maintained, that one could travel. Duncan took the path and made his way up into the foothills of the nearby mountains. He'd traveled the path before yet never progressed farther than the small hut that sat roughly a day away from the Post. It was a simple place where one could rest and take refuge. It was also symbolic of the isur who died defending their race from the darkness that once haunted the area.
Twelve stone pillars surrounded the hut to remember the 12 isurian scouts who died defending the people. Their sacrifice allowed our people to continue forth in their quest for sanctuary following the destruction of the Old Kingdom during the Valterrian. Duncan spent his first night at the hut, reflecting on the significance of the place. Before drifting off to sleep, he imagined himself as one of the scouts, fighting back a horrific terror and sacrificing himself for his people. It was a rather morbid thought to sleep to but it framed his reason for seeking out acceptance from the Anvils. The scouts died to protect the people. They died to ensure that Izurdin's children would be able to live on and fight against the odds.
The next day Duncan continued his journey higher up into the foothills until he came to something of a dead end. That is when he saw the marks in the nearby stone. What looked like the hand of an isur sinking into the stone and ascending the stone wall higher up gave Duncan the chills. He was standing in the very spot where King Isengir once stood. The marks in the stone were where the King climbed up and eventually discovered the New Kingdom.
Duncan was still young and nowhere near as tall as the King was when he first climbed the stone centuries before. This meant he would have to work even harder, possibly jumping to reach each hand hold. He noted however, thankfully, that the stone was uneven enough to provide some amount of footing as well. With a deep breath and a prayer to Izurdin for strength, Duncan began the climb. It was not an easy one and he slipped more than a few times and nearly fell. The climb was exhausting to say the least and left Duncan's muscles burning by the half-way point. When he finally made it to the top, he wasn't sure he could keep on moving. Raising his head, he saw a cave. Thanks to his isurian eyes, he could see that the cave did not go very far. After picking himself up from where his muscles had given out on the edge of the cliff he'd just climbed, Duncan entered the cave and shortly after exited the other side. There he found a few small trees growing on either side of the cave entrance. He found a fallen branch that looked to be just the right size for what he would need for the axe.
Breaking a workable piece off the fallen branch, Duncan turned and walked away from the cave, slowly, step by step, as he looked around. He was on a cliff high above the valley below. The sun was beginning to set but he still could see a sight that he would never forget. As he looked out over the valley below, his gaze quickly focused on something far to the north. There, a towering mountain peak loomed over everything else. Duncan's legs gave out on him and he fell to his knees. He was looking upon the mountain that housed Sultros City, the heart of the Kingdom of Sultros, home of the Isur. He saw the same sight that King Sultros saw so long ago and he was paralyzed in awe.
Duncan was looking upon the Kingdom from a completely different perspective than ever before. He saw a world that was far greater than anything he could have imagined. Seeing the Kingdom from that vantage point caused him to think about just how great a task it must have been for the King to lead his entire race from the Old Kingdom to the new one. The world was far larger than Duncan ever imagined. It was because of the King's skill, strength and patience, powered by faith that saved the people. While Duncan had lived with the teachings the entirety of his short life to that point, he now understood what those words meant; he felt their significance. When he was a able and ready, Duncan left the Footsteps and returned to the Post. With him he brought a new understanding of what it was to be an isur.
The second task was far easier than the first. Utilizing the temple's forge, Duncan got to work forging the axe head. It was a a bit more than what he was used to though. Up until then, he had simply worked on the most basic things like horseshoes. He had watched his father forge an axe before knew he couldn't match such skill. He remembered the basic techniques though and got to work. It involved flattening a bit of iron into a strip of sorts and tapering the ends somewhat. Using a combination of tools, the anvil and his own isurian arm, Duncan flattened the iron, shaped it and folded it over, leaving a space in the metal to slide a wood handle through. The wood from the branch he'd recovered from the Footsteps, was shaped and sanded before being wrapped in a bit of leather for a grip. A hole in the metal and wood was punched and a small stud placed inside. After some more shaping and smoothing, Duncan had finished the simple axe. It was not pretty and very basic in form but after a few swings, Duncan felt that it was serviceable. At least it was serviceable for chopping a few small branches or trimming away bark from a tree.
Although the axe was simplistic at best, Duncan felt rather proud of it. While he could see countless places for improvement, he realized he hadn't yet the skill to make those improvements. He recognized the need for his own personal improvement before he could do anything for the thing he'd created.
With the axe finished, that left Duncan with the need to impart upon it. The process of imparting upon an item was a deeply personal one. It wasn't something that was ever taught however. It was different for each individual. From what Duncan had been told, imparting on an item began with the intent. One would focus on the end result and the gnosis would take over from there; drawing upon one's own life experiences, their memories, to empower the item with a tiny piece of the person's soul. Children had been known to be able to impart upon items but it was not a common thing. Duncan was barely at the age where some had been able to succeed with imparting. Since most children didn't have the life experience or memories significant enough to empower the imparting process, success was far from guaranteed.
Duncan took a couple of days to prepare himself after finishing the construction of the axe. Preparation meant having a few good meals and getting himself ready mentally. He spent many bells wandering around the Post just thinking. He thought about the test, the journey to the Footsteps of the King. He thought about his mother and about his life to that point. He thought about Izurdin and what the god might think of him. He was no great hero like Isengir. He wasn't a favored priest like his father or as strong and brave as his mother was. He was just a child who wanted to be more. He wanted to be the great hero, the devout follower, the one to bring justice, safety and security to those who depended one him. He wanted to be someone Izurdin would be proud of because if Izurdin was proud of him, so to would his father in this life and his mother in the next.
When he felt he was ready, Duncan returned to his chambers and began the process. He held the axe in his hands and sat on the floor at the foot of his bed. He looked at the axe and tried to take in all the curves, angles and edges. He noticed all the imperfections and even the few strengths. He focused his thoughts on the axe and what he had created as well as what it could one day be. As he did, his eyes slowly closed and his sapphire blue arm began to dimly glow.
Duncan found himself remembering a time, just a few years prior, where he was in the forge with his father. Emaneus was working on the blade of a sword. Duncan couldn't recall what or who the sword was for but he remembered how focused his father was. Duncan was sitting on a stool a few feet away, watching as his father struck the metal with a hammer, over and over again. He watched as Emaneus would occasionally pause and do some more personal adjustments to the shape and form of the blade with his metallic hand.
As he watched, Duncan heard his father's words. "When you start working the metal, it can seem daunting at first. Your taking this piece of material without any obvious, usable form and your turning it into something functional. At first it seems fragile and you wonder if you might push it too hard when shaping it; that you may break it. Yet, as you continue to work with it, it begins to slowly take form. It becomes stronger and it begins to show a recognizable shape. When you're finished, you are left with something wonderful. It may not be perfect, there may be tiny imperfections that only you can see, but its yours. You made it and it is a part of you. Something to be proud of."
Although Duncan wouldn't consciously realize it until he was an adult, his father was not just talking about the blade of a sword. He was talking about his son. There was a part of Duncan, deep beneath his own ability to perceive, that understood what his father had said. It was those words that had guided him even if he didn't realize it. He was imperfect. He had his weaknesses but also his strengths. He was working hard to make himself into the strong person he knew he could be.
The words that his father had spoken, at the time he didn't hear it but as he remembered those words once more, he could hear another voice speaking the words at the same time. It was a woman's voice, one that he hadn't remembered hearing before but somehow recognized as his mothers. There was also another voice behind that one. As he replayed the words in his mind and focused on the voices, the last one sent shivers through Duncan's body even as he was lost to the process of Izentor. The last voice, hidden behind the voice of his father and mother, it was filled with such power, such strength but also love. The voice, it was that of Izurdin.
Duncan awoke to the fading of a chromatic light that flickered off the walls. He was completely exhausted, barely able to move. He felt as though he'd climbed to the Footsteps of the King only to descend and climb back up again several times over. Before falling completely unconscious, Duncan looked down at the axe in his hands. He could feel it, not just the physical touch of it but he could feel the axe as if it were a part of him; an extension of who and what he was. He then passed out.
His final task complete, the axe finished, Duncan returned to the temple when he had recovered from the process of imparting. While it had been many days since, he was still quite drained. Most adults recovered from imparting within three days. For Duncan it had taken more than twice that. When he returned to the temple and the Anvils came together to look over the axe they'd tasked Duncan to create, they made him wait while they examined and discussed.
When they'd finished and came to their decision, the Anvils called Duncan to Emaneus office where they spoke with him.
Matronia offered her thoughts on Duncan's work. She told him that the overall form and structure of the axe, while needing quite a bit of work, was more-or-less solid. It was a functional tool that could accomplish a few tasks and perhaps provide an example of what works and what doesn't for future projects. She pointed out the few flaws but also praised the successes in its construction.
Haros complimented Duncan on the imparting process. The fact that Duncan was able to impart at all proved to Haros that the boy had a strong soul and even stronger faith. Without either, the imparting would have failed.
Finally, Emaneus commented on Duncan's journey to the Footsteps of the King. "Duncan, not just as a father but as one who knows Izurdin well, I must say that I'm proud of you. I can feel in this axe that you experienced something on that cliff that will help guide you through life. I can also feel that this entire experience has left you with a new understanding of what it is to have faith. You've always had faith but understanding what it means to be faithful, that is the part that doesn't always become known. Faith means doing what you know is right and doing so not because you know you will succeed or even that you may fail. It means believing in a cause far greater than yourself. When it comes to faith in Izurdin, know that it is not just faith in one being. Izurdin is not just a god, he is an idea, a cause, greater than any single one of us. Have faith in him, in what he symbolizes, what he stands for and you will be the man you dream of being and the man I will always be proud to call my son. My son, a Disciple of Izurdin."
After that, Duncan began his duties as a Disciple of Izurdin. As a Disciple, he is responsible for expanding his concept of what it is to be an Anvil and what it is to serve Izurdin. It is the first real step to becoming a full Anvil.
I hope to further detail Duncan's journey toward becoming a full Anvil most likely through flashbacks since I am planning on starting him in Sunberth; a LONG way from Sultros. Thank you for reading and for your consideration of this request.
Duncan learned of these concepts at the same time he was learning to speak. His father taught him that he must first gain the true understanding of what it was to have faith before he could learn his true purpose in life. As Duncan also wanted to follow in his mother's footsteps of being one of Izurdin's Hammers, he desperately wanted to work toward one day being considered for being named one. However, his father, a Hammer himself, decreed that before Duncan could begin training and seek acceptance into the Hammer, he had to first be accepted as an Anvil and become a Disciple. According to Emaneus, becoming a Disciple of Izurdin meant that Duncan had proven that his faith was strong enough to be reflected in an item crafted by his hand. It was the test that all would be Anvils had to pass in order to progress in the religious order.
Duncan, as with most isur, had been exposed to the concept of crafting and creation since he was first able to hold a hammer. While he was far from the skill of even an apprentice smith, he was isur and had a natural affinity for such things. He had worked in the temple forge at the Southern Post since he was 18 years of age (human equivalent of 9). He had started as a simple "go-fer", fetching various tools and materials for his father while Emaneus worked on items for the Anvils and the temple. He eventually advanced to tool maintenance and from there, by the time he was 24, the forging of simple tools. While most isur were capable of doing similar things at that age, Emaneus' work was becoming more advanced. He was embracing concepts and techniques that were beyond what he normally should have been capable of.
It was shortly after his 25th birthday that Duncan's father finally decided it was far past time for Duncan to attempt entry into the Anvils. As the head of the temple at the Southern Post, it was Emaneus' duty to administer the test. While nepotism was not viewed as a negative by the isur, Emaneus wanted to ensure that Duncan felt challenged in his test. Thus he changed the rules for acceptance specifically for his son. Instead of the one administering the test being the sole judge of whether or not Duncan was worthy of becomign a Disciple, Emaneus decreed that the two other Anvils who aided him in the operation of the temple would also be involved. Their would need to be unanimous decision by all three that Duncan was ready before he would be accepted. The two Anvils, Matronia Copperlight Sultros and Haros Tongfire Vizerian, would join Emaneus in setting the requirements for the test and making a judgement on the results.
So it was that Duncan appeared before the three Anvils. He presented himself by his full name along with lineage, Duncan Rightstone Vizerian, son of Emaneus Rightstone Pitrius, Anvil and Priest of Izurdin, son of Morvari Rightstone Vizerian, Copper Hammer in Izurdin's Hammer. He proceeded to formally request the opportunity to prove that he could give physical form to his faith and show that he was worthy of starting the path toward becoming a full Anvil of Izurdin.
As all three of the Anvils present knew Duncan better than most, they knew that he was at least ready for the attempt. Thus each one set forth a certain criteria that had to be met in the construction of an item that, once finished, would be presented to them to judge whether or not Duncan was ready.
Matronia had been an Anvil for almost as long as Duncan had been alive. She'd watched the boy grow up and was like family to him. She knew Duncan was a faithful boy but she had never been certain if it was Duncan's faith that was strong or if it was somehow a reflection of his father's faith that she saw in his eyes. So, she required that Duncan craft a simple hand axe. For her, the axe was symbolic in that it would cut through any confusion and get to the source of the faith she saw.
Haros also knew Duncan for many years and noticed how Duncan had developed a tendency towards relying on others to put his own life in context. He sensed how Duncan inwardly compared himself to his father and thus judged his own worth based on how close he was to being like Emaneus. Duncan also fought to live up to the standard he saw in who and what his mother was. He measured his own strength and skill against hers even though he never knew her. The members of his mothers Hammer unit were also used to give Duncan context and purpose. He viewed their opinion of him as representing the opinion of his mother. He did all he could to live up to what he perceived to be their expectations and by extension, his mother's. As a result, Haros required that Duncan impart upon the axe with Izentor. His thought was that by putting a bit of himself into the axe, Duncan would be relying on his own self instead of looking to others.
Finally, Emaneus, who knew Duncan best of all, considered his own requirement. When his fellow Anvils had shared with him what their requirements of Duncan would be, Emaneus was impressed at their thoughtfulness. His own requirement was no less personal when he told Duncan that the boy would have to travel to the Footsteps of the King, an ancient holy site, one of the most important ones for the isur as a race, and retrieve a branch from one of the trees that grew there. That branch would be the handle of the axe. It was Emaneus' hope that by traveling in the King's Footsteps, Emaneus would be able to truly feel and hopefully accept the full power of his faith.
Accepting the requirements for possible acceptance, Duncan left the temple and began the task at hand. Obviously, the order in which the requirements were given were not a set order for crafting the hammer. The first thing he would need to do is travel to the Footsteps of the King and retrieve the wood for the axe's handle. After that, he would need shape the wood and forge the head of the axe before finally imparting upon it. Off the three main tasks, Duncan was most concerned about the first and last one. He had never been to the Footsteps before and knew little of them. He knew that the site was located a couple of days from the Post and that it was higher up in the mountains. He knew what most isur knew in that it was the exact location where, after the Valterrian, King Isengir Sultros, discovered what would become the new home for the isurian race. While not seen as overly dangerous, the journey to the site would still be difficult for one of Duncan's age. As for the imparting, Duncan had never imparted upon anything before. He was still a child by isurian standards and had not had the need or opportunity to do such a thing. It would indeed be a challenge.
Duncan immediately set to packing for his journey to the Footsteps. He wasn't entirely sure what he would need as he'd never been all that far from the Post before. He had his backpack that he already carried around most days and packed it with a bit of food, an extra set of clothes and a few simple survival items including some flint and steel, a small tent and a bedroll. It wasn't as if he was going on an extended trip into the Unforgiving or at least that is what he kept telling himself.
He considered taking a weapon, perhaps a dagger or even a shortsword however he couldn't help but admit to himself that he didn't really know much about using either. The fact that his arm itself was a weapon did not escape him. He was rather fond of relying on his own strength and his own metallic arm for protection. Even at a young age, an isur could splinter wood, bend metal and shatter stone with their arm. "What other weapon do I need," he thought as he finalized his packing.
Once packed, Duncan set out on the path toward the the Footsteps. As it was one of the greatest holy sites in all the Kingdom, there was an established path, sometimes rough, other times quite well maintained, that one could travel. Duncan took the path and made his way up into the foothills of the nearby mountains. He'd traveled the path before yet never progressed farther than the small hut that sat roughly a day away from the Post. It was a simple place where one could rest and take refuge. It was also symbolic of the isur who died defending their race from the darkness that once haunted the area.
Twelve stone pillars surrounded the hut to remember the 12 isurian scouts who died defending the people. Their sacrifice allowed our people to continue forth in their quest for sanctuary following the destruction of the Old Kingdom during the Valterrian. Duncan spent his first night at the hut, reflecting on the significance of the place. Before drifting off to sleep, he imagined himself as one of the scouts, fighting back a horrific terror and sacrificing himself for his people. It was a rather morbid thought to sleep to but it framed his reason for seeking out acceptance from the Anvils. The scouts died to protect the people. They died to ensure that Izurdin's children would be able to live on and fight against the odds.
The next day Duncan continued his journey higher up into the foothills until he came to something of a dead end. That is when he saw the marks in the nearby stone. What looked like the hand of an isur sinking into the stone and ascending the stone wall higher up gave Duncan the chills. He was standing in the very spot where King Isengir once stood. The marks in the stone were where the King climbed up and eventually discovered the New Kingdom.
Duncan was still young and nowhere near as tall as the King was when he first climbed the stone centuries before. This meant he would have to work even harder, possibly jumping to reach each hand hold. He noted however, thankfully, that the stone was uneven enough to provide some amount of footing as well. With a deep breath and a prayer to Izurdin for strength, Duncan began the climb. It was not an easy one and he slipped more than a few times and nearly fell. The climb was exhausting to say the least and left Duncan's muscles burning by the half-way point. When he finally made it to the top, he wasn't sure he could keep on moving. Raising his head, he saw a cave. Thanks to his isurian eyes, he could see that the cave did not go very far. After picking himself up from where his muscles had given out on the edge of the cliff he'd just climbed, Duncan entered the cave and shortly after exited the other side. There he found a few small trees growing on either side of the cave entrance. He found a fallen branch that looked to be just the right size for what he would need for the axe.
Breaking a workable piece off the fallen branch, Duncan turned and walked away from the cave, slowly, step by step, as he looked around. He was on a cliff high above the valley below. The sun was beginning to set but he still could see a sight that he would never forget. As he looked out over the valley below, his gaze quickly focused on something far to the north. There, a towering mountain peak loomed over everything else. Duncan's legs gave out on him and he fell to his knees. He was looking upon the mountain that housed Sultros City, the heart of the Kingdom of Sultros, home of the Isur. He saw the same sight that King Sultros saw so long ago and he was paralyzed in awe.
Duncan was looking upon the Kingdom from a completely different perspective than ever before. He saw a world that was far greater than anything he could have imagined. Seeing the Kingdom from that vantage point caused him to think about just how great a task it must have been for the King to lead his entire race from the Old Kingdom to the new one. The world was far larger than Duncan ever imagined. It was because of the King's skill, strength and patience, powered by faith that saved the people. While Duncan had lived with the teachings the entirety of his short life to that point, he now understood what those words meant; he felt their significance. When he was a able and ready, Duncan left the Footsteps and returned to the Post. With him he brought a new understanding of what it was to be an isur.
The second task was far easier than the first. Utilizing the temple's forge, Duncan got to work forging the axe head. It was a a bit more than what he was used to though. Up until then, he had simply worked on the most basic things like horseshoes. He had watched his father forge an axe before knew he couldn't match such skill. He remembered the basic techniques though and got to work. It involved flattening a bit of iron into a strip of sorts and tapering the ends somewhat. Using a combination of tools, the anvil and his own isurian arm, Duncan flattened the iron, shaped it and folded it over, leaving a space in the metal to slide a wood handle through. The wood from the branch he'd recovered from the Footsteps, was shaped and sanded before being wrapped in a bit of leather for a grip. A hole in the metal and wood was punched and a small stud placed inside. After some more shaping and smoothing, Duncan had finished the simple axe. It was not pretty and very basic in form but after a few swings, Duncan felt that it was serviceable. At least it was serviceable for chopping a few small branches or trimming away bark from a tree.
Although the axe was simplistic at best, Duncan felt rather proud of it. While he could see countless places for improvement, he realized he hadn't yet the skill to make those improvements. He recognized the need for his own personal improvement before he could do anything for the thing he'd created.
With the axe finished, that left Duncan with the need to impart upon it. The process of imparting upon an item was a deeply personal one. It wasn't something that was ever taught however. It was different for each individual. From what Duncan had been told, imparting on an item began with the intent. One would focus on the end result and the gnosis would take over from there; drawing upon one's own life experiences, their memories, to empower the item with a tiny piece of the person's soul. Children had been known to be able to impart upon items but it was not a common thing. Duncan was barely at the age where some had been able to succeed with imparting. Since most children didn't have the life experience or memories significant enough to empower the imparting process, success was far from guaranteed.
Duncan took a couple of days to prepare himself after finishing the construction of the axe. Preparation meant having a few good meals and getting himself ready mentally. He spent many bells wandering around the Post just thinking. He thought about the test, the journey to the Footsteps of the King. He thought about his mother and about his life to that point. He thought about Izurdin and what the god might think of him. He was no great hero like Isengir. He wasn't a favored priest like his father or as strong and brave as his mother was. He was just a child who wanted to be more. He wanted to be the great hero, the devout follower, the one to bring justice, safety and security to those who depended one him. He wanted to be someone Izurdin would be proud of because if Izurdin was proud of him, so to would his father in this life and his mother in the next.
When he felt he was ready, Duncan returned to his chambers and began the process. He held the axe in his hands and sat on the floor at the foot of his bed. He looked at the axe and tried to take in all the curves, angles and edges. He noticed all the imperfections and even the few strengths. He focused his thoughts on the axe and what he had created as well as what it could one day be. As he did, his eyes slowly closed and his sapphire blue arm began to dimly glow.
Duncan found himself remembering a time, just a few years prior, where he was in the forge with his father. Emaneus was working on the blade of a sword. Duncan couldn't recall what or who the sword was for but he remembered how focused his father was. Duncan was sitting on a stool a few feet away, watching as his father struck the metal with a hammer, over and over again. He watched as Emaneus would occasionally pause and do some more personal adjustments to the shape and form of the blade with his metallic hand.
As he watched, Duncan heard his father's words. "When you start working the metal, it can seem daunting at first. Your taking this piece of material without any obvious, usable form and your turning it into something functional. At first it seems fragile and you wonder if you might push it too hard when shaping it; that you may break it. Yet, as you continue to work with it, it begins to slowly take form. It becomes stronger and it begins to show a recognizable shape. When you're finished, you are left with something wonderful. It may not be perfect, there may be tiny imperfections that only you can see, but its yours. You made it and it is a part of you. Something to be proud of."
Although Duncan wouldn't consciously realize it until he was an adult, his father was not just talking about the blade of a sword. He was talking about his son. There was a part of Duncan, deep beneath his own ability to perceive, that understood what his father had said. It was those words that had guided him even if he didn't realize it. He was imperfect. He had his weaknesses but also his strengths. He was working hard to make himself into the strong person he knew he could be.
The words that his father had spoken, at the time he didn't hear it but as he remembered those words once more, he could hear another voice speaking the words at the same time. It was a woman's voice, one that he hadn't remembered hearing before but somehow recognized as his mothers. There was also another voice behind that one. As he replayed the words in his mind and focused on the voices, the last one sent shivers through Duncan's body even as he was lost to the process of Izentor. The last voice, hidden behind the voice of his father and mother, it was filled with such power, such strength but also love. The voice, it was that of Izurdin.
Duncan awoke to the fading of a chromatic light that flickered off the walls. He was completely exhausted, barely able to move. He felt as though he'd climbed to the Footsteps of the King only to descend and climb back up again several times over. Before falling completely unconscious, Duncan looked down at the axe in his hands. He could feel it, not just the physical touch of it but he could feel the axe as if it were a part of him; an extension of who and what he was. He then passed out.
His final task complete, the axe finished, Duncan returned to the temple when he had recovered from the process of imparting. While it had been many days since, he was still quite drained. Most adults recovered from imparting within three days. For Duncan it had taken more than twice that. When he returned to the temple and the Anvils came together to look over the axe they'd tasked Duncan to create, they made him wait while they examined and discussed.
When they'd finished and came to their decision, the Anvils called Duncan to Emaneus office where they spoke with him.
Matronia offered her thoughts on Duncan's work. She told him that the overall form and structure of the axe, while needing quite a bit of work, was more-or-less solid. It was a functional tool that could accomplish a few tasks and perhaps provide an example of what works and what doesn't for future projects. She pointed out the few flaws but also praised the successes in its construction.
Haros complimented Duncan on the imparting process. The fact that Duncan was able to impart at all proved to Haros that the boy had a strong soul and even stronger faith. Without either, the imparting would have failed.
Finally, Emaneus commented on Duncan's journey to the Footsteps of the King. "Duncan, not just as a father but as one who knows Izurdin well, I must say that I'm proud of you. I can feel in this axe that you experienced something on that cliff that will help guide you through life. I can also feel that this entire experience has left you with a new understanding of what it is to have faith. You've always had faith but understanding what it means to be faithful, that is the part that doesn't always become known. Faith means doing what you know is right and doing so not because you know you will succeed or even that you may fail. It means believing in a cause far greater than yourself. When it comes to faith in Izurdin, know that it is not just faith in one being. Izurdin is not just a god, he is an idea, a cause, greater than any single one of us. Have faith in him, in what he symbolizes, what he stands for and you will be the man you dream of being and the man I will always be proud to call my son. My son, a Disciple of Izurdin."
After that, Duncan began his duties as a Disciple of Izurdin. As a Disciple, he is responsible for expanding his concept of what it is to be an Anvil and what it is to serve Izurdin. It is the first real step to becoming a full Anvil.
I hope to further detail Duncan's journey toward becoming a full Anvil most likely through flashbacks since I am planning on starting him in Sunberth; a LONG way from Sultros. Thank you for reading and for your consideration of this request.
Duncan's Path Toward Becoming a Hammer
Secret :
Duncan grew up among not only The Anvils thanks to his father being one of them and a priest of Izurdin but also Izurdin's Hammer. While both of his parents were Hammers, it was his mother who influenced Duncan's ties to the Order. She a Copper Hammer in charge of her own unit. While on patrol one evening a few seasons following Duncan's birth, his mother, Morvari and her unit encountered a large colony of zith that had moved into a remote area of the Kingdom. A heated battle ensued which found Morvari's unit of 20 Hammers greatly outnumbered by more than half.
Normally, a unit of Hammers would be more than a match for a zith colony that size. That was of course if the colony was encountered underground. In the case of the one Morvari's unit discovered, the encounter was above ground in an open area. This allowed the zith to take to the air which gave them something of an advantage.
It was a bloody, brutal battle that resulted in the extermination of the colony. Victory did not come without a cost however. The Hammers engaged the zith with tactics that required them to remain close together as a single force. While it allowed for a greater focus of attack, it also made them vulnerable to being swarmed by the zith's greater numbers. One by one the Hammers were being weakened before some started to fall. While they were taking down several zith as well, it was not enough. It was Morvari who recognized the problem and made a fateful decision. Breaking ranks, she took off running away from the rest of the group while giving a fearful shout. The other Hammers looked on in confusion. This confusion lasted but a few breaths as they realized what she was doing.
Zith were drawn to fear and were opportunistic creatures. Seeing a woman fearfully running away offered a perfect, enticing target. As Morvari ran, almost a third of the remaining zith went after her. This allowed the surviving Hammers a relief from the onslaught and provided them the opportunity to gain the upper hand. Morvari, her plan working, suddenly stopped her running, turned to face the oncoming zith and let out a battle cry before engaging them on her own. When the rest of her unit was able to make their way to her, they found nearly a dozen dead zith surrounding their fallen commander.
In honor of their fallen commander, the surviving members of Morvari's unit, 12 of them, vowed to help instill the values of the Hammer in her son, Duncan. They worked alongside his father, Emaneus, to ensure that Duncan knew what it was to be a Hammer.
So it was, nearly 40 years later, that Duncan found himself preparing for his potential admission into the Hammers. Having grown up in and around the Southern Border Post among both the Hammers and Anvils, Duncan was already well known. Several of those who were a part of his mother's unit remained stationed at the Post. They, along with his father, had petitioned The Hammer's Post Commander, Bronze Hammer Sular Firehammer Coglias on Duncan's behalf. Sular, also familiar with Duncan, accepted the petition.
Thus Duncan was at the barracks, standing before the Bronze Hammer. Sular, a monster of an isur with his thick emerald green arm and long black hair braided with blades, was accompanied by Duncan's father, Emaneus as well as the members of his mother's former unit. Sular had brought Duncan there to reveal who the Hammer was that Duncan would be facing in the test of strength required for induction into The Hammer.
It came as some surprise to both Duncan and Emaneus both that Sular named Emaneus to be his choice. Although Emaneus, a high ranking Anvil and Priest of Izurdin, technically held a higher status than Sular, Emaneus was still a Hammer and held the rank of Copper Hammer. This meant that Sular was a greater rank and thus his orders stood.
Later that day, Duncan and Emaneus stood in the center of a training circle in the Post's courtyard. The test of strength required for acceptance into the Hammer involved a wrestling match between the would-be Hammer and an existing Hammer chosen by the nearest ranking Hammer. Gathered in the courtyard were all off-duty Hammers stationed at the Post as well as the Post's resident Anvils along with many other Post residents. High above the courtyard, on the second balcony, stood a dark figure who also took a passing interest in what was taking place. Arvus Pitonshatter Pitrius, Sentinel of the Silver Tower assigned to the Post, watched the event as it was not everyday a someone attempted to become a Hammer.
Emaneus and Duncan took their places and Sular announced the start of the match. Father and son circled one another in their defensive stances; each one attempting to lead the direction of the other. There was the occasional fake-out attempt from both of them in an attempt to get enough of a reaction to create an opening. It all looked like some type of dance as the each combatant attempted to size the other up. While Duncan was a capable fighter, he was still young and not nearly as experienced as his father. Emaneus, although having been a Hammer longer than Duncan had been alive, was more of a tactician. His combat style while including extensive hand-to-hand techniques, was more focused on mounted combat on the back of his Mountain Ixam, Istaris. This lessened, albeit only slightly, his obvious advantage.
Finally, after circling for several moments, Duncan made the first strike. He quickly closed the short distance between the two of them and grabbed the back of his father's neck. His father in turn locked his own hand around the back of Duncan's neck. Each tried to get control of the other's arm with their free one. The match continued with the two locked up, head to head, each trying to maneuver to a position of superiority. Although he was in great physical condition, Duncan was quickly beginning to feel the superior strength of his father. As both combatants opposed each other's strength with their own, it didn't take long for both to unwillingly lighten up a bit.
With any wrestling match among the isur, a race devoted to physical improvement and strength, a lot of raw physical power was on display. With Emaneus and Duncan's match, after the initial posturing, it erupted in a series of throws and takedowns, grapples, joint manipulation and an constant exchange of control.
A typical isurian wrestling match done for sport was set into three periods lasting four chimes each. Points were scored for taking control of the match, takedowns, reversals, escapes and for keeping the opponent on their back leading up to a pin. A pin was obviously an automatic victory while the person with the most points at the end of the third period was declared the victor. In the test to become a Hammer, the periods were increased to five chimes. By the end of Duncan and Emaneus' match, neither had been put on their back and both had scored 10 points. This meant that the match would go into overtime. Each overtime period lasted two chimes and the first point to be scored decided the winner.
By the second overtime period, both men were almost completely drained. Barely able to stay standing, they used each other for support as they continued to struggle for control. With what little remaining strength he could muster, Duncan went in for a takedown; hoping to catch Emaneus' legs, lift him up and slam him back to the ground. As he did, Emaneus found his opening and brought his arms down on Duncan's shoulders while sprawling his feet backward. This forced Duncan to lose his balance and fall forward while Emaneus took the opportunity to scramble around behind him. Maintaining control as he did, Emaneus scored the final point and the match was over.
The two men collapsed to the ground. Sular then approached, a stoic look on his face as he gazed down at the two exhausted men.
"Indeed a match to be talked about for some time to come. I have to admit, I am impressed with both of you. Emaneus, never let anyone say that an old man can't hold his own against one half his age."[b] Sular said with a crooked grin. [b]"Duncan, although you were not victorious over your father this day, you proved that even when your strength was failing, your skill exhausted and your patience stretched to the breaking point, you refused to give up. You fought to the very end. That is what it means to be a Hammer. I think your mother would be proud. Congratulations, Duncan Rightstone Vizerian, you have passed your test." Everyone assembled erupted in celebration as Sular reached down and helped both Duncan and Emaneus to their feet. Emaneus looked to Duncan with pride and the two embraced arms.
"Tomorrow you will head to Sultros City and undergo the Hammer and Anvil. There you will be named Hammer." Sular announced before dismissing everyone for a large celebratory dinner. High above, Sentinel Arvus returned to his chambers, the momentary diversion below now over.
Emaneus and Duncan's adoptive family of Hammers, accompanied Duncan to Sultros City and to the Hall of the Hammer. There he stood before Simas Fistfall Coglias, the Iron Hammer and second in command of all of Izurdin's Hammer. The final step in becoming a Hammer meant standing before the might of the Iron Hammer and not backing down. So it was that Duncan prepared himself for what he knew was to come. Next to where Duncan and Simas stood was lit iron brazier. With his emerald arm, Simas placed his hand into the brazier. Slowly it heated, his fist coming to a searing glow. As he pulled his hand from the fire, Duncan could see Simas was wearing a ring that also glowed.
"Duncan Rightstone Vizerian, Son of Hammers Emaneus and Morvari, you have lived a life close to the Hammer. You are known as a man of unwavering faith and determination who, even though not yet a Hammer, has internalized what it is to be a Hammer. You stand before me now, you stand before the might of the Hammer. Embrace the Hammer's Might and become one of us." Simas then unleashed a mighty blow with his heated hand upon Duncan, striking him in the chest, just above his heart. If not for being an isur, the punch would have sent him flying through the air. Instead, it sent him staggering back several feet while leaving him unable to breathe. The pain was almost too much; it felt like he had been stabbed followed by having molted iron poured into the wound. It was all Duncan could do to remain standing; his body still weakened from the test of strength. Yet stand he did.
When the pain subsided enough for him to breathe somewhat normally, Duncan looked down at the place where he was hit. Although the skin around the burn needed to heal, he could make out the symbol of a hammer upon a shield.
Simas smiled and said, "It is my honor to name you, Hammer, Duncan Rightstone. Congratulations."
Normally, a unit of Hammers would be more than a match for a zith colony that size. That was of course if the colony was encountered underground. In the case of the one Morvari's unit discovered, the encounter was above ground in an open area. This allowed the zith to take to the air which gave them something of an advantage.
It was a bloody, brutal battle that resulted in the extermination of the colony. Victory did not come without a cost however. The Hammers engaged the zith with tactics that required them to remain close together as a single force. While it allowed for a greater focus of attack, it also made them vulnerable to being swarmed by the zith's greater numbers. One by one the Hammers were being weakened before some started to fall. While they were taking down several zith as well, it was not enough. It was Morvari who recognized the problem and made a fateful decision. Breaking ranks, she took off running away from the rest of the group while giving a fearful shout. The other Hammers looked on in confusion. This confusion lasted but a few breaths as they realized what she was doing.
Zith were drawn to fear and were opportunistic creatures. Seeing a woman fearfully running away offered a perfect, enticing target. As Morvari ran, almost a third of the remaining zith went after her. This allowed the surviving Hammers a relief from the onslaught and provided them the opportunity to gain the upper hand. Morvari, her plan working, suddenly stopped her running, turned to face the oncoming zith and let out a battle cry before engaging them on her own. When the rest of her unit was able to make their way to her, they found nearly a dozen dead zith surrounding their fallen commander.
In honor of their fallen commander, the surviving members of Morvari's unit, 12 of them, vowed to help instill the values of the Hammer in her son, Duncan. They worked alongside his father, Emaneus, to ensure that Duncan knew what it was to be a Hammer.
So it was, nearly 40 years later, that Duncan found himself preparing for his potential admission into the Hammers. Having grown up in and around the Southern Border Post among both the Hammers and Anvils, Duncan was already well known. Several of those who were a part of his mother's unit remained stationed at the Post. They, along with his father, had petitioned The Hammer's Post Commander, Bronze Hammer Sular Firehammer Coglias on Duncan's behalf. Sular, also familiar with Duncan, accepted the petition.
Thus Duncan was at the barracks, standing before the Bronze Hammer. Sular, a monster of an isur with his thick emerald green arm and long black hair braided with blades, was accompanied by Duncan's father, Emaneus as well as the members of his mother's former unit. Sular had brought Duncan there to reveal who the Hammer was that Duncan would be facing in the test of strength required for induction into The Hammer.
It came as some surprise to both Duncan and Emaneus both that Sular named Emaneus to be his choice. Although Emaneus, a high ranking Anvil and Priest of Izurdin, technically held a higher status than Sular, Emaneus was still a Hammer and held the rank of Copper Hammer. This meant that Sular was a greater rank and thus his orders stood.
Later that day, Duncan and Emaneus stood in the center of a training circle in the Post's courtyard. The test of strength required for acceptance into the Hammer involved a wrestling match between the would-be Hammer and an existing Hammer chosen by the nearest ranking Hammer. Gathered in the courtyard were all off-duty Hammers stationed at the Post as well as the Post's resident Anvils along with many other Post residents. High above the courtyard, on the second balcony, stood a dark figure who also took a passing interest in what was taking place. Arvus Pitonshatter Pitrius, Sentinel of the Silver Tower assigned to the Post, watched the event as it was not everyday a someone attempted to become a Hammer.
Emaneus and Duncan took their places and Sular announced the start of the match. Father and son circled one another in their defensive stances; each one attempting to lead the direction of the other. There was the occasional fake-out attempt from both of them in an attempt to get enough of a reaction to create an opening. It all looked like some type of dance as the each combatant attempted to size the other up. While Duncan was a capable fighter, he was still young and not nearly as experienced as his father. Emaneus, although having been a Hammer longer than Duncan had been alive, was more of a tactician. His combat style while including extensive hand-to-hand techniques, was more focused on mounted combat on the back of his Mountain Ixam, Istaris. This lessened, albeit only slightly, his obvious advantage.
Finally, after circling for several moments, Duncan made the first strike. He quickly closed the short distance between the two of them and grabbed the back of his father's neck. His father in turn locked his own hand around the back of Duncan's neck. Each tried to get control of the other's arm with their free one. The match continued with the two locked up, head to head, each trying to maneuver to a position of superiority. Although he was in great physical condition, Duncan was quickly beginning to feel the superior strength of his father. As both combatants opposed each other's strength with their own, it didn't take long for both to unwillingly lighten up a bit.
With any wrestling match among the isur, a race devoted to physical improvement and strength, a lot of raw physical power was on display. With Emaneus and Duncan's match, after the initial posturing, it erupted in a series of throws and takedowns, grapples, joint manipulation and an constant exchange of control.
A typical isurian wrestling match done for sport was set into three periods lasting four chimes each. Points were scored for taking control of the match, takedowns, reversals, escapes and for keeping the opponent on their back leading up to a pin. A pin was obviously an automatic victory while the person with the most points at the end of the third period was declared the victor. In the test to become a Hammer, the periods were increased to five chimes. By the end of Duncan and Emaneus' match, neither had been put on their back and both had scored 10 points. This meant that the match would go into overtime. Each overtime period lasted two chimes and the first point to be scored decided the winner.
By the second overtime period, both men were almost completely drained. Barely able to stay standing, they used each other for support as they continued to struggle for control. With what little remaining strength he could muster, Duncan went in for a takedown; hoping to catch Emaneus' legs, lift him up and slam him back to the ground. As he did, Emaneus found his opening and brought his arms down on Duncan's shoulders while sprawling his feet backward. This forced Duncan to lose his balance and fall forward while Emaneus took the opportunity to scramble around behind him. Maintaining control as he did, Emaneus scored the final point and the match was over.
The two men collapsed to the ground. Sular then approached, a stoic look on his face as he gazed down at the two exhausted men.
"Indeed a match to be talked about for some time to come. I have to admit, I am impressed with both of you. Emaneus, never let anyone say that an old man can't hold his own against one half his age."[b] Sular said with a crooked grin. [b]"Duncan, although you were not victorious over your father this day, you proved that even when your strength was failing, your skill exhausted and your patience stretched to the breaking point, you refused to give up. You fought to the very end. That is what it means to be a Hammer. I think your mother would be proud. Congratulations, Duncan Rightstone Vizerian, you have passed your test." Everyone assembled erupted in celebration as Sular reached down and helped both Duncan and Emaneus to their feet. Emaneus looked to Duncan with pride and the two embraced arms.
"Tomorrow you will head to Sultros City and undergo the Hammer and Anvil. There you will be named Hammer." Sular announced before dismissing everyone for a large celebratory dinner. High above, Sentinel Arvus returned to his chambers, the momentary diversion below now over.
Emaneus and Duncan's adoptive family of Hammers, accompanied Duncan to Sultros City and to the Hall of the Hammer. There he stood before Simas Fistfall Coglias, the Iron Hammer and second in command of all of Izurdin's Hammer. The final step in becoming a Hammer meant standing before the might of the Iron Hammer and not backing down. So it was that Duncan prepared himself for what he knew was to come. Next to where Duncan and Simas stood was lit iron brazier. With his emerald arm, Simas placed his hand into the brazier. Slowly it heated, his fist coming to a searing glow. As he pulled his hand from the fire, Duncan could see Simas was wearing a ring that also glowed.
"Duncan Rightstone Vizerian, Son of Hammers Emaneus and Morvari, you have lived a life close to the Hammer. You are known as a man of unwavering faith and determination who, even though not yet a Hammer, has internalized what it is to be a Hammer. You stand before me now, you stand before the might of the Hammer. Embrace the Hammer's Might and become one of us." Simas then unleashed a mighty blow with his heated hand upon Duncan, striking him in the chest, just above his heart. If not for being an isur, the punch would have sent him flying through the air. Instead, it sent him staggering back several feet while leaving him unable to breathe. The pain was almost too much; it felt like he had been stabbed followed by having molted iron poured into the wound. It was all Duncan could do to remain standing; his body still weakened from the test of strength. Yet stand he did.
When the pain subsided enough for him to breathe somewhat normally, Duncan looked down at the place where he was hit. Although the skin around the burn needed to heal, he could make out the symbol of a hammer upon a shield.
Simas smiled and said, "It is my honor to name you, Hammer, Duncan Rightstone. Congratulations."
