ave no sense of duty. In fact, they watch over a treasure that is more valuable to them than their own lives: the Original Lance.
This mysterious weapon is considered to be a true relic. In its presence, even the most sceptical of lance-bearers becomes imbued with spirituality and unshakeable faith. How can you not be transformed – or even transcended – by a heritage passed down from the furthest reaches of time?
Those who gather before the Lance realise the threat that looms over the world. The Twilight of the Gods is no longer a faraway fantasy once you have felt the coldness of death deep within.
The Albuera Temple
Built atop the highlands of the island of Albuera, the Forgelances' sanctuary seems timeless. Who could imagine that it was built over a thousand years ago? Its rooms of wood and stone, its walls decorated with scarlet drapes, and its racks lined with well-kept lances give no hint of its advanced age.
Yet behind the metal-clad doors, the secrets of the past persist, as though they were but the first signs of a future foretold... but yet to be written.
Typical Expressions – How to Speak Forgelance
Can't see beyond the tip of one's lance: to be short-sighted.
Lance on through: to do something passionately without worrying about the consequences.
Break a lance: Forgelances scream this when heading into battle.
In one's iron years: old enough to handle a lance.
Revenge is sweeter than mead: don't upset a Forgelance too much, or they'll get their revenge.
It's by forging that you become a Forgelance: it is by living through experiences that you become better.
Take a lance to the chest: to die heroically (or not).
Envy corrupts man as rust corrupts the lance's iron: coveting other people's things irreversibly corrupts a Forgelance's character.
Forge your own opinion: see for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
It is better to die than to disappear: death is not the end, as long as you are not forgotten.
introduction
no one is a prophet in their own land
in these troubled times, we often hear that the world will end tomorrow. or perhaps the day after. oracles follow one after the other, rains of froogs are becoming more frequent, and mimilk is turning sour in the gobbette breeders' buckets. rumours and predictions are rife.
but will this much-feared cataclysm really happen? many people reject the possibility. eliocalypse, chaos, primordial flood... these are nothing but fables, tales intended to terrify children, goblins, and goblin children!
others disagree, however. there is no doubt in their minds. they believe that the peoples of the world of twelve are cornered... and that the gods cannot save them.
"help yourself, for heaven will not help you."
this firm conviction forged the first forgelances. they abandoned the darkness that hid the truth from them and stepped forth into the light, as burning and painful as it was... to gain their freedom.
what do they hope for, these mortals who claim to be free from the divine powers?
to take charge of their destiny. to pass on a message, a heritage. to offer a future to a doomed world.
to give meaning to their existence.
and quite simply, to survive.
"no one can escape death, but accomplishing great things and changing the course of history allows us to live on after death in the hearts of our people."
heralds of tomorrow
upon reading the above, you might imagine that the forgelances carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. but that's no problem when you're in the habit of carrying a ten-foot weapon with you everywhere you go! except when you are a lighthouse keeper and you have to climb a spiral staircase every day.
no, forgelances have far too much to do to waste time feeling sorry for themselves. life is a tournament, a never-ending joust, and they intend to be the last ones standing! they fight with ardour and panache, encouraged by the admiring looks of the audience. are they not the champions of future generations?
forgelance worship
the original lance
although it is said that forgelances believe only in themselves, this does not mean they have no sense of duty. in fact, they watch over a treasure that is more valuable to them than their own lives: the original lance.
this mysterious weapon is considered to be a true relic. in its presence, even the most sceptical of lance-bearers becomes imbued with spirituality and unshakeable faith. how can you not be transformed – or even transcended – by a heritage passed down from the furthest reaches of time?
those who gather before the lance realise the threat that looms over the world. the twilight of the gods is no longer a faraway fantasy once you have felt the coldness of death deep within.
the albuera temple
built atop the highlands of the island of albuera, the forgelances' sanctuary seems timeless. who could imagine that it was built over a thousand years ago? its rooms of wood and stone, its walls decorated with scarlet drapes, and its racks lined with well-kept lances give no hint of its advanced age.
yet behind the metal-clad doors, the secrets of the past persist, as though they were but the first signs of a future foretold... but yet to be written.
typical expressions – how to speak forgelance
can't see beyond the tip of one's lance: to be short-sighted.
lance on through: to do something passionately without worrying about the consequences.
break a lance: forgelances scream this when heading into battle.
in one's iron years: old enough to handle a lance.
revenge is sweeter than mead: don't upset a forgelance too much, or they'll get their revenge.
it's by forging that you become a forgelance: it is by living through experiences that you become better.
take a lance to the chest: to die heroically (or not).
envy corrupts man as rust corrupts the lance's iron: coveting other people's things irreversibly corrupts a forgelance's character.
forge your own opinion: see for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
it is better to die than to disappear: death is not the end, as long as you are not forgotten.