All of the accounts and anecdote I have stated thus far have been of all the Sentries. Now I’m going to write one more before the Sentries convene once again. This personal anecdote is going to be of the accounts of me, The Keeper. I watch over all that goes on in Nelbring and the transcripts that are written are by my means. As I am the record keeper I too am responsible for taking note of my actions and accounts in this world. If ever I am destroyed there needs to be a record of what has taken place through me and so I write this now for that reason.
My life began the day The Dark One was dispatched from our lands. The world of Nelbring requires a Keeper to always be present at the dark fortress. That is because it controls the flow of all magic in the world. Long ago before The Dark One, elves ruled this world. Not much is known of the elves of old except for a few points in the account of the dark fortress and The Dark One. The Vangors are said to be related to them, but their history doesn’t say much in the way of their interactions.
The elves built this fortress long ago during the Predorn Age. They built this fortress to control the magic in the world and harness it through a focal point. Of what is written it is said that the elves harnessed the magic and were able to better control it to their own will. This power was contained here and flowed freely through and harnessed when needed. It was the arrival of The Dark One that changed everything. The transcripts were lost as to exactly what happened, but what is known is he destroyed the elves and became the master of this dark fortress and then the world. He sought to control the magical forces himself and to control the flow of it as well. He created a powerful spell that made it to where a single being became the focal point of the magic, but the being could never leave the dark fortress. If this single being were to leave then the magical forces that make up Nelbring would no longer be controlled and eventually destroy the world. The Dark One’s spell changed everything in Nelbring making there need to be a being always controlling the flow of magic, and thus The Keeper was born.
The day that The Dark One was destroyed was the day I was born. I once was Katon Bare a Draksin from the northwest, but I am no longer that being. I have his memories and body, but the beings soul that once occupied it is no longer here. The Dark One was the Keeper, but used his power for evil and controlled all in Nelbring. I encompass all that is good and seek to free Nelbring from all that is evil and undo what The Dark One has done. Make no mistake though The Dark One was not completely destroyed and his presence is ever here in the dark fortress.
After the Sentries had defeated The Dark One he did not pass to the next life as some have thought. He however, is always present here in this place. The Dark One had absorbed so much magical power that when he died the fortress absorbed his essence. His life force lives within the walls of this magical place, and he is ever trying to reclaim what he once lost. Though he doesn’t have the power he once had he fights the bonds that have him locked here. I The Keeper am one of those bonds as I now control the magic and thus control him. The world will stay safe from his darkness as long as I am here to keep him at bay.
Though being The Keeper is to live a solitaire life I am not alone. The once Accursed Sentinels have a new life. Once The Dark One created one there was no turning back, but I was able to turn them into a force of good, and it is they who help me in the aid of keeping up the fortress. They have been reborn, no longer as the undead but guiding spirits who’s armor reflected that of the armies of light. They patrol the grounds and defend the castle against all enemies whom try to enter here. One day maybe I can free these beings from their bond, but now they are an army for good no longer evil.
As it is not possible for me to leave this place I can send out messengers to give word to my Sentries. It requires a lot of magic and I become greatly weak afterwards, but it is a means for me to stay in contact with the others. I might be the most powerful person here, but mastering the magical forces requires patients and time. I seek a way that if ever my friends need me that I might be able to assist them by sending my army to aid them, but for now I am not strong enough to accomplish this.
Ever since The Dark One was the destroyed the Oppressed Age ended, and now the Radiant Age has begun. It is a time for all the beings of good in Nelbring to flourish after such a long time of darkness. However, new challenges will arrive and I will be there to see them through as will the Sentries. For now I will walk these halls forever unlocking the vast knowledge that lies here. To help me in my journey I have crafted a magical staff that helps conduct the magic in the fortress and helps me wield it when I must. It is made of a rune metal and it pulses to the very heart beat of the fortress itself.
The magic of Nelbring lives and breathes as all the creatures here do. It flows through all and their lives and embrace them giving them life. The castle is and of itself a living piece of that magic. It has the ability to heal itself and know good and evil. The Dark One controlled the world through this. He weakened everyone and everything by draining the magic in all. I know of the pain it felt for so long, and of the power it now possess. It is my job to guide and nurture it, and heal it from all the years of darkness that it had to endure. Through time this dark fortress will be a beacon of light.
Much of the fortress is cause ways and passage way for the magic to flow through. The main tower is the area that has rooms for beings to live in. It houses the great hall in which the Sentry Council convenes. A room not located at the top of the tower, but below and high enough to see all around. It is the pinnacle of where the magical force gathers and can be harnessed by The Keeper, and it is where I spend most of my time mastering it. Few have ventured to this point and the Sentries are the only ones who come frequently.
The outer walls have five points to them. Each point is in the Direction of the five castles of the races that live in Nelbring. When the time comes the Sentries ride to the points and await entrance. There are no doors or gates in which to enter the dark fortress. Admittance must be allowed through me and I use the magical forces to create an entrance for the visitors. Once inside I seal it to keep unwanted guest out. It was not by luck that the castles were built in the locations that they were. Magic flows through all and even some of the beings in this world are comprised of it. For them to harness and embrace their true power they needed to be aligned with the magical flow of the world, and thus the castles were built in their respective positions. This allowed such beings as the Mystics and Vangors to tap into their true potential and during the great war harness power that otherwise would have been weakened or even lost.
So, the time has come, as I can see the Sentries are starting to arrive, for me to greet our guest and prepare. The Radiant Age has begun and this council and I will see to it that the light never fades again. Though it might deem at times we will always be here to make it bright once more. The presence of darkness is always here, and the world beyond Nelbring is unknown. The stories that I might end up writing will truly be epic, but it is the beings that live it that tell the tales.
There can be no lack of concern through this age though. As it is written The Dark One is not fully gone, and is always fighting to get back. His name is whispered and in every dark corner, and there are dark corners in the land. I have my eyes currently on one such place, and luckily there just so happens to be a friend in that location. A somewhat troubled soul, but special to the point the even he doesn’t know how special. For the Dark One has his name written and scribed in many transcripts. I have yet to piece it together yet, but there is something there. The information that is written seems to be written by someone other than The Dark One. I must have my friend join us. I must have the harbinger meet with me. I say his name now “Bragone”, and there are whispers abound echoing through the hall ways. The Dark One fights, but he will not escape I will see to it. The sentries will see to it. Bragone, a word that all swore they would never say again. They wanted to erase all that was of The Dark One. Never let him have the power he once had, but the wise would do well to remember the old paths. I will remember the old paths that created our hell here. I will fight and remain steadfast.
The sentinels have come and informed me that first of the sentries have arrived. Asprion Colchat, early as usual. I’m glad he is though I have need to know if my messenger was able to get off and if there is any word from the Harbinger. The matter of what is happening in the west is growing on me ever so much. Maybe I was too hasty in pushing Mathis to live in such an area. Maybe, just maybe that is what he wanted. Bragone, what is the connections? What is it that is here? I have poured over all the written transcripts, but I can’t see it, but I know there is something there. Mathis is the key, some way or another, that being is going to shape a many things for us all. The sentries will need to keep on fighting. For there is much that must be dealt with before the end.
Now however, is the start, it is the start of everything. We have our freedom, it is ours, and we be damned if we set and do nothing to fight to keep it that way. Our work is to continue and we will forever fight the evil that ever lurks in the darkness. I will restore this place to the glory that it once was. I will bring it back to be the place of light and power. It will once more stand for something that was just and magical. No one will ever set foot once more in here again and take that which was sacrificed so hard for. Maybe one day we will be able to free even the castle itself. It is too powerful to allow something as The Dark One to gain its power. We will see.