The Charioteer of the Mists
Many years ago, a great charioteer lived in Ralios. His name was Keltorus.
Such was his skill that he won every race he ever entered and killed many
foes in battle. He was famed for taunting his enemies even as he beat them.
One day he claimed that even Orlanth could not best him on a chariot.
Orlanth heard this and grew angry. So the next day, as Keltorus rode through
the fields, a stranger on a regal chariot approached him. Keltorus smiled,
knowing that any man who rode such a chariot would be a skilled opponent. He
approached the stranger, hailing him. The stranger looked at him, then
challenged him to a race. Keltorus laughed, "Of course. But what shall be the
wager? Don't make it too dear, as I shall surely win."
The stranger smiled, "If you win, I shall give you this chariot, the best
chariot ever created, as I am Orlanth, and it is mine. If I win, you can
never ride a chariot again."
Keltorus' jaw slackened, as he realized that his boasts had been heard.
Seeing Keltorus' dumbfounded expression, Orlanth laughed, and cracked his
whip. His chariot bolted forward. Keltorus quickly responded, his chariot
swooping after his opponent. After a few moments, Keltorus began to catch the
god. Orlanth glared at him, whipping his horses faster. But inevitably,
Keltorus caught up to him. They were running neck-and-neck for several
seconds before Keltorus began to pull ahead. Snarling, Orlanth reined in his
chariot.
Keltorus swept his steeds about, laughing in his victory. As they stopped,
Orlanth jumped from his chariot to the ground. "You have bested me. Never
have I seen such a charioteer. I give you my chariot as I promised."
Gloating, Keltorus ran to his new chariot. "Wait till everyone hears of
this!", he yelled to the god. Orlanth smiled grimly before vanishing from
sight.
Keltorus whipped the horses, sending them into a run that easily passed
Orlanth' best. As he did so, he noticed that a mist began to rise from the
ground. Thinking nothing of it, he turned back to his clan-hold. He had
bested a god, and no man could stand before him.
That same morning, a merchant was travelling from the hold in the rising
mist. After a bit, he seemed to hear a hollow clopping. The sound was all
that could be heard, and made him quite nervous. Suddenly, a ghostly
apparition swept by him. It was formed almost as if from the mist. Quite
clearly he could see the outline of a beautiful chariot. But what truly shook
him was the horrified expression of the ghost that drove it past. And so
Keltorus rides the roads about Ralios, appearing only when a mist forms. The
only sound they hear is the horses hooves, with never a word from the trapped
charioteer.
I'm a bit of a fan of East Ralios, if ya can't tell ;>. Dan
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