In 753, reports first surfaced of a heroicwarrior who rescued people in need along theroad that skirts the Great Rift near the ruins of Nedragaard Keep. The armed and fully ar-mored figure has been sighted many times sincethen, always in the same vicinity, always atmoments of great peril for helpless travelers.Known only as the “Blessed Knight” by thosehe has rescued, the stranger refuses to speak orraise the visor of his helm, and makes his exit —vanishes, some say — as soon as danger haspassed.
Because the Blessed Knight has battledstate soldiers, preventing them from abusingpeasants and merchants, Azrael has establisheda sizeable reward for the hero’s capture or death.To date, no one has successfully cornered theman or even landed a blow against him inbattle. His skills as a swordsman are remark-able, his strength prodigious.
Some claim that the Blessed Knight isnone other than the wandering hero Ganelon,also sometimes called the Blessed for his kind-ness and compassion. Ganelon has denied anyconnection to the armored rescuer, and he hasno reason to lie about the matter.
Yet the Vistani say that the key to theBlessed Knight’s identity lies within the ruinsof Nedragaard Keep itself. They claim that theBlack Rose spent so many years within theillusory worlds of his memory mirrors, dreamingof the hero he could have been, that he leftsome aspect of himself behind. When thememory mirrors were smashed, those illusions— images of the Black Rose as a mortal, had henever been damned — should have been de-stroyed as well. Instead, they were freed, givenlife by the very shadowstuff that blastedNedragaard. Even so, the “Blessed Knight”would remain a mere illusion. These imagesseem to be gaining strength, showing signs ofincreasing intelligence and independence. TheVistani claim that this means they may bedrawing strength from some unknown source.Perhaps, they whisper, the Black Rose truly wasdestroyed, but his essence is slowly being drawnback into the shadows he left behind.
