Note/L10N/Myths_and_Legends_Weapon2/2.4.8/Books/BookMALbra?
題名 † 
原題 †
訳題 †
本文 †
原文 † 
<br>Myths and Legends:
<br>Special Edition
<br> by Draskal Ratden
<br><br>
-Foreword-
<br><br>
This special edition of my Myths and Legends series focuses on a forgotten order of enigmatic knights, whom I was fortuitous enough to literally stumble upon one day. Apparently, long ago sometime in the forgotten years of the First Age, there existed an order of knights known only as the Black Legion of which there is neither recorded history or mythical stories surviving today, as if they have been purged from all memory.
<br><br>
However, some time ago during my younger, more exploratory years, I came across a seemingly normal ruin. In this ruin I discovered a book, tattered and torn, which was written in an unknown language. After years of searching, I finally found someone who was able to translate the obscure text into something sensible. The following is a portion of the book detailing the Order's fall into darkness.
<br><br>
- The Order of the Black Legion -
<br><br>
The Black legion, a now forgotten order of knights, began their existence as bringers of peace, protecting those who could not protect themselves. Rather than impede on the duties of other benevolent orders, the Black Legion would take watch during the night, standing vigilantly in the shadows to ensure justice was kept perpetually.
<br><br>
As their duties called for nocturnal operations, the Legion equipped its knights in dark, unreflective armor and gave them black horses to ride upon, so they could move swiftly and surreptitiously through the night, blending into the shadows so that they could vanquish the darkness.
<br><br>
But, as with all things, they were misunderstood, their armor and clandestine activities precipitating fearsome tales of ghostly knights riding upon black beasts, apparitions bringing chaos and destruction at the darkest hours of the night.
<br><br>
The Black Legion, focused more on upholding justice than their own public image, were not swayed in their endeavors and only strove even more to ensure the guilty were punished. As time passed, despite all of the good deeds the knights had accomplished, the tales of their monstrous malcontent only grew with each telling, and soon the very people the Legion protected began to fear and despise the devout order. Unable to rectify their image, the Black Legion was driven from the cities it protected, into the harsh and unforgiving wilderness.
<br><br>
At about this time, a new and charismatic leader arose to take control of the Legion, which, under his watchful eye, was taken far to the east, along the Morrowind border into a sacred part of the land deep in the Valus Mountains.
<br><br>
Through many years of hardship and diligent work, the Black Legion built a magnificent stronghold for themselves, which would serve as a place of sanctuary for the order; a base from which they would continue to fulfill their sworn duty as protectors of the innocent and conquerors of the unjust.
<br><br>
Even with this act did the hate of the Legion grow, fueling the fervid flames of misunderstanding, breeding new tales of twisted knights riding only at night. But, even as the seed of anger slowly grew, turning more and more against them, the Black Legion remained ever true to their cause.
<br><br>
Generations passed and the order again flourished, slowly becoming more secluded and less vigilant, their focus deviating from upholding justice. But it was not until the young squire Josarian joined the order, with high hopes of obtaining power and respect, was the fate of the Black Legion forever doomed.
<br><br>
Eager for praise, and secretly yearning for power, Josarian soon became a strong knight, respected and feared throughout the Legion. Three times did he attempt to become the new leader of the Black Legion, and three times did he fail. Soon Josarian became bitter and desperate, his only goal to assert his power over the Legion.
<br><br>
Just as he had begun to plot nefarious plans of overthrowing the rule, the leader of the order died and preparations began for the ceremony of initiation, which would ensure the strongest and most capable candidate was elected as the new leader.
<br><br>
The night before his chance to take up the challenge and prove his worth by lifting the great axe, a tradition which required both strength and cunning, Josarian prayed to the gods, hoping any of them would listen and grant him the power to obtain his long sought dream.
<br><br>
Desperately he called, but for hours his prayers went unanswered by all but the howling wind, which even seemed to mock him in his despair. Weary and angered from being unanswered, Josarian gave up, seeking the unconscious comfort of sleep as his last sanctuary.
<br><br>
Just as the dreamworld began to take hold of his mind, a voice echoed ominously from deep within the voids of the unknown, dark and sinister it spoke, but to Josarian it could not have been more melodious or consoling.
<br><br>
"Josarian, child of a faithless world, I listened to your prayers. I heard them go unanswered by your so called gods. What fools they are, to abandon a boy with such promise as you, to not give you what is rightfully yours. But I heard you, and I answer, for I believe in you, Josarian. I believe in your power, that you could accomplish great things with my help. For years uncountable have I awaited one who could serve me, who could be my emissary in the mortal world."
<br><br>
Josarian, still trapped within the strange void separating reality from fantasy, could not reply to the mysterious voice. But the enigmatic god continued, as if it already knew Josarian's reply.
<br><br>
"A heavy price must be paid for me to come into this world and help you Josarian. Your unanswered prayers awoke me. Should you wish, I will come, and together we will build a new world, one under our control, free of these useless so called gods that ignore their own worshipers," whispered the god, its unknown voice drifting off into the void of dreams.
<br><br>
Waking the next morning in a confused fugue, Josarian put the experience behind him as a strange dream, though he hoped it truly was an unknown deity speaking to him, rather than his own deprived imagination attempting to placate his greed with delusions of grandeur.
<br><br>
The initiation ceremony was just beginning as he took his seat around the great podium. Placed squarely in the center of the great room, resting in a ray of hallowed sunlight upon an alabaster dais, sat a fantastically designed axe which had been in the order since its shadowy creation. The key to becoming the next leader of the order, the axe was sacred to the Knights, an invaluable artifact which flawlessly represented the Black Legion as an everlasting symbol of justice.
<br><br>
As tradition went, all knights of age would, one by one, approach the stone podium, and, gripping the handle of the mighty weapon, attempt to move it. None ventured to lift the sacred weapon from the dais, as no one had ever managed to completely lift the weapon since it was brought here by the Great Silcor, the founder of the new Black Legion.
<br><br>
Knight after knight, they gripped the handle, straining with all their strength to move the great axe from its resting place. And, knight after knight, they failed. Finally, after dozens of powerful knights sat gasping for breath, it was Josarian's turn.
<br><br>
Slowly approaching the great weapon, Josarian gripped the handle and heaved, concentrating every ounce of energy from his body and willing the axe to move rather than trying to do so himself. Not even the glowing balls of dust, floating serenely about the axe, illuminated by the single shaft of light descending resplendently from an opening in the ceiling, were disturbed.
<br><br>
Heartbroken to once again fail, Josarian relaxed his grip, and prepared to step away. At that moment, a familiar voice once again spoke to him, its voice echoing throughout the large room, yet heard by nobody else.
<br><br>
"Accept me, Josarian. Accept me as your God above all others, and I shall help you now."
<br><br>
"I accept you, forever I shall see the truth," exclaimed Josarian, knowing this was his one chance to obtain true power.
<br><br>
Gripping the axe's handle with new might, Josarian heaved. With a resounding crack, the weapon was lifted free from its resting place in the dais, as if it were nothing but paper in Josarian's hands. Unprepared for his newfound strength, Josarian nearly toppled backwards as the entire assembly stood in shock, amazed at what he had accomplished. There stood Josarian, holding the Great Axe of the Black Legion above his head in triumph.
<br><br>
Climbing onto the podium, Josarian spoke to his fellow knights, holding his new trophy with pride.
<br><br>
"Fellow Knights, long has our order been shunned by the ignorant citizens of Cyrodil! Long have they blamed us, their protectors, for their problems, labeling us monsters of the night! We protect the innocent in the name of the gods, yet where were these gods when we needed them? How many here have laid awake at night, wondering why their prayers go unanswered!?"
<br><br>
An eerie silence enveloped the large room as every member of the assembly stared in shock at the blasphemous man holding their sacred weapon above his head, yet secretly searched their memories for the truth; had their prayers ever been answered? It was accepted that the gods worked in mysterious ways and did not need to communicate with a mortal to have an affect on their life, yet perhaps Josarian was right. When nobody spoke up, Josarian continued.
<br><br>
"Who are these gods but liars, hiding behind the facade of their own immortality to take control over mortals? But they will have power over us no longer, for there is a new God, one who sees the truth of our order. One who sees the great deeds we have done in the past, and those we shall do in the future! He has answered my prayers, as he will answer yours! All you must do is pledge your allegiance to him, and him alone! Rid yourselves of the false shadow of the false gods, for he is the only true God!・<br><br>
Though they tried to cast of his words, each knight knew deep down that what Josarian said was true, that, if anyone was to blame for their precarious position and slow departure from their mission of keeping peace and justice, then it was the gods who they had prayed to for so long. The thought of a new God who would free them from their blind ways sounded like an escape, a pardon for their mistakes. A young knight stepped forward, speaking his concerns.
<br><br>
"Josarian, how will we know this new God? What is his name?"
<br><br>
Josarian faltered, for he did not know the God's name. Thinking quickly, he was about to reply when the God suddenly spoke aloud to the entire assembly.
<br><br>
"My children, within each of you I see the promise of great power, of the ability to alter the future. The potential is yours, but without my guidance very few of you will ever realize it. Worship me, and I will elevate you to new heights, I will make your order renowned throughout Tamriel, respected and feared by all! Your word will become the unwritten law! If you want all this, accept my help, renounce your false gods and offer your prayers to me, demonstrate to me that you are worthy of my assistance! Only then will I completely reveal myself to you."
<br><br>
And then the room was silent again, but for the howling wind outside, as if it too were trying to convince them to worship the mysterious God. Slowly, each of the knights reflected upon what had occurred, and they eventually agreed; they would do as the God asked and try to obtain his help.
<br><br>
Josarian then became the new leader and acted as their guide in the order's quest to obtain the enigmatic God's favor, becoming both a leader and a preacher for the Black Legion. Over the years the order eventually lost sight of their duties to protect the innocent, instead devoting all of their time to proving their worthiness to their new deity.
<br><br>
Slowly the God began to speak to them again, guiding them along their path of redemption, filling their hearts with hope, tainting their minds with desires and greed, and instilling them with distrust of the innocents and hatred of other gods.
<br><br>
Without even knowing it, the knights of the order slowly became twisted into what they, for so long, had fought to rid the world of. Blinded by the smooth words of their new God, their perceptions of good and evil were reversed, and the once benevolent order plummeted into true darkness.
<br><br>
Twenty years after Josarian had first claimed the sacred axe as his own, the God once again spoke to him in the seclusion of his bed chamber as he lay dreaming.<br><br>
"Josarian, the time has come for action. Your order has grown strong and powerful under your watch, and you are a truly magnificent leader for them, but you must now prove your worth, for a threat arises that could destroy all you have built! Another God, evil and deceptive in her ways, has requested a smith in a land far to the west to create for her a weapon with which she shall banish me from this realm. But in her blind hatred she has underestimated me, and I have learned her plan."
<br><br>
"You must act quickly if you are to succeed, otherwise I will be vanquished and your order will fall out of memory. You must take each of your knights and head west to the Niben, then south to the city of Leyawin. From there cross into the province of Elsweyr, travel across the desert and into Valenwood, and then to the city of Silvenar. By taking this path you can arrive at the destination without alerting the watchful eye of my nemesis. Once you arrive there, I shall tell you the next step of your journey. Now go, Josarian, and make haste, for the fate of the order, and perhaps even the sanctity of the future, depends upon you!"
<br><br>
Awaking from his sleep immediately after the God had spoken to him, Josarian called an emergency meeting and explained what they must do to stop this evil God from destroying their patron and their order. Without hesitation, the order of the Black Legion moved swiftly away along the path the God had laid out for them, riding their black steeds into the dark night.
<br><br>
While the rest of this book details their long journey to Silvenar and the occurrences after, too many of the pages are missing or ruined to make worthwhile sense of the rest of the tale. Readers familiar with my stories may note that this seems to tie into another popular myth from another angle, yet I am unsure what this means, for this story was unknown to everyone until I stumbled upon this ancient tome.
<br><br>
Perhaps the Black Legion never existed, simply a fanciful tale from an imaginative writer, a mere coincidence that it fits into another myth. But perhaps they truly are an archaic order of benevolent knights who were twisted by a manipulative God, doomed to obscurity and forgotten by the rest of the world for acts that even I cannot uncover. Wherever their secret castle is, it must contain answers to some of these questions.
訳文 †
<br>Myths and Legends:
<br>Special Edition
<br> by Draskal Ratden
<br><br>
-序文-
<br><br>
このMyths and Legendsシリーズ特別編にて忘れられた騎士団の不思議な騎士に焦点をあわせたのは、ある日偶然その事を思い立ったからだ。見たところ、First Ageから何年か経ったはるか昔から今日まで、騎士団の歴史や神話の記録からBlack Legionだけ抜けているのだ。まるで彼らの全ての記録がそこから追放されたかのように。
<br><br>
どうしてか、若かった頃の私はさらに長期の探索をするため、見たところ何の変哲もない瓦礫を乗り越えていった。その瓦礫の中で、ぼろぼろに破かれ引き裂かれ、見知らぬ言葉で書かれた本を発見したのだ。数年かけて調べ、私はついに不鮮明な文章の意味を翻訳することが出来た。以下は、闇に落ちた騎士団について詳しく記述された本の一部である。
<br><br>
- The Order of the Black Legion -
<br><br>
Black Legion・・・忘れられた騎士団・・・は平和をもたらすものとして結成され、弱き者を保護していた。むしろ任務の妨げになるほど善意の義務を果たし、Black Legionによる夜間の見回りまで行われ、長い間影に隠れて用心深く正義を貫いた。
<br><br>
それら任務は夜間の作戦と呼ばれ、Legionは闇の中の騎士達が一晩中迅速に動き回れるよう、後先を考えず鎧と乗馬用の黒馬を与えた。影と融合し、暗黒を打ち負かすことができるように、と。
<br><br>
だが、それらの全てが誤解を生むことになった。彼らの鎧と隠密の行動は、夜の最も暗い時間に混沌と破壊をもたらす幽霊・・・黒い獣に乗った亡霊騎士の恐ろしい噂として広まったのだ。
<br><br>
Black Legionは大衆の抱く印象よりも正義を維持することに集中した。彼らは努力に努力を重ね、揺らぐことなく確実に罪を罰していった。だが時間が経つほど・・・騎士達が成し遂げた全ての善行にもかかわらず・・・奇怪な反逆者の噂は尾ひれをつけて広がっていき、やがてLegionがかつて保護した人々までもが恐れ、軽蔑するようになった。その印象は修復することが出来ず、ついにBlack Legionは護ってきた街からも追い出されてしまった。厳しく容赦ない荒野の中に。
<br><br>
その頃、Legionを導くために現れた新しくカリスマ的なリーダーは、遥か東にあるMorrowindの国境沿い、Valus山脈の奥にある聖域を注意深く見つめていた。
<br><br>
長年の苦難と激務を経て、Black Legionは自らの手で立派な砦を建設した。それは騎士団の聖域として・・・彼らが不当な征服者から罪なき人々を護り続けるための基地として。
<br><br>
この行為は、Legionに対する誤解と嫌悪をさらに燃え上がらせる結果となり、夜に蠢く騎士の話は捻じ曲がって伝わり続けた。彼らに対する怒りの種がゆっくりと成長しさらに広がっていっても、Black Legionは彼らの目的を忠実に保ち続けた。
<br><br>
世代が変わり、新しく加入した若き従者Josarianが力と羨望を得ようと高望みしたことによって、騎士団は再びかつての勢いを取戻した。しかし、彼らは徐々に隔離され、用心深さもなくなり、正義を守るという目的から逸れてしまった。Black Legionの運は永遠に尽きてしまったのだ。
<br><br>
貪欲に賞賛を求めながら、強い自分をひそかに夢見ながら、Josarianは騎士としての腕前をぐんぐんと伸ばしていった。そしていつしかLegionの仲間たちから敬われつつも恐れられる存在となった。彼は三度Black Legionの新団長へと立候補し、三度落選した。その後、彼が非常な人間に落ちぶれるまで、大して時間はかからなかった。Legionの仲間たちに自分の力を誇示するための唯一の手段をあきらめさせられたのである。
<br><br>
彼がルール破りの悪巧みを計画し始めたちょうどその頃、騎士団長が亡くなって継承の儀式の準備が進んでいた。この儀式で、最も強くふさわしい候補者が新団長として選ばれるはずであった。
<br><br>
儀式の前夜、Josarianは神々に祈りを捧げていた。候補者は巨大な斧を床から持ち上げる事で力と知恵を試し、後継者としてのふさわしさを証明する習わしであったので、どんな神でも良いから力を与えて欲しい、長年の夢を叶えさせて欲しいという一心で祈ったのである。
<br><br>
彼は必死に叫んだ。何時間も祈り続けたが、風の音以外耳に入ってこない。風までもが自分の必死さをあざ笑っているかのようであった。無反応に耐えかねて、Josarianはついにあきらめた。そして、眠りの世界に最後の逃げ場を求めたのである。
<br><br>
彼が徐々に夢の世界に入り込んできた頃、得体の知れない不吉な声が真っ暗な空間の奥底から響いてきた。その話しぶりは邪悪であったが、Josarianにとってはこの上なく耳触りの良い、安心できる声といえた。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]Josarianよ。不義の世界の申し子よ。祈りは届いたぞ。お前たちが神と呼ぶ者たちは何も答えてはくれなかったようだな。奴らは馬鹿者だ。お前のような哀れな子羊にこそ契約は相応しく、正当な報酬を得る権利があるのだ。だが、私はお前を信用して耳を貸してやったし答えてもやった。それに、お前の実力にも信頼を置いている。私が力を貸してやれば、お前は偉業を達成できるぞ。何年もの間、この定命の世界で私の手足となって働く人間が現れるのを待ち望んでいたのだ。[QUOTE]
<br><br>
Josarianはいまだ夢現の異空間にとらわれたまま、謎の声にも返答できないままでいたが、この得体の知れない神はお構いなしで続けた。Josarianの返事など聞くまでもないとでも言いたげな様子であった。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]私がこの世界に降臨する為には多大な代償が必要だ。そうすればお前を助けてやる、Josarianよ。奴らには届かなかった祈りが私を目覚めさせたのだ。お前が願えば私は来られる。そして一緒に新しい世界を作ろうではないか。信者を大切にしない神々など不要だと思わないか？[QUOTE]。そう囁いて、正体不明の声は夢の世界から消えていった。
<br><br>
翌朝、混乱した頭で考え直してみて、Josarianは昨夜の体験を奇妙な夢に過ぎないと結論づけた。自分で自分の名誉欲を満たそうと、貧困な想像力が作り出した幻ではなく、本当に謎の神が自分に語りかけてくれたというのが真実であれば、どれだけ良い事だっただろうか。
<br><br>
彼が演壇の近くに着席した時、継承の儀式はちょうど始まったばかりであった。大広間の中央、神々しい陽光が降り注ぐ白の祭壇には一本の幻想的な形をした斧が安置されていた。その起源は謎に包まれていたが、これまでずっと騎士団と運命を共にしてきた斧である。次期団長になる為の鍵であり、騎士達は神聖視してきた。Black Legionにとっては不変の正義を象徴する、かけがえの無いアーティファクトと言えた。
<br><br>
慣習によると、年嵩の騎士達は皆、一人ずつ石造りの祭壇に向かい、斧の柄に手を掛けて動かそうと試みる事になっていた。しかし、持ち上げようと試みる者は誰一人としていなかった。Black Legion創設者であるGreat Silcorが騎士団に斧をもたらして以降、持ち上げるのに成功した者は存在しなかったのである。
<br><br>
一人また一人、騎士達は斧を動かそうと懸命に試みたが、皆失敗に終わった。ついには何十人という屈強な騎士達も息を切らし、Josarianの番がやってきた。
<br><br>
斧にゆっくり近づくと、Josarianは柄をつかんで持ち上げようとした。全身の力を集中し、斧よ動けと祈った。自力で持ち上げようとするよりは、どちらかと言うと他力本願であった。しかし、斧の周囲に浮かび、天井の穴から差し込む光によって照らされおごそかに光る綿埃の一つさえ、動く気配はない。
<br><br>
再度のチャレンジに失敗し失望したJosarianが握りしめる手の力をゆるめ、立ち去ろうとしたちょうどその時、懐かしい声が再び彼に囁きかけた。声は大広間中に響き渡ったが、彼の他に聞き取れた者はいなかった。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]俺を受け入れろよ、Josarian。他のどんな神より尊い神として崇め奉るのだ。そうすればお前を助けてやっても良い。[QUOTE]
<br><br>
[QUOTE]あなたを受け入れます！私は真実を知りたい！ずっと。[QUOTE]。Josarianは大声で叫んだ。彼にはこれが真の力を手に入れる最後の機会だと分かっていた。
<br><br>
新たな力を得て、Josarianは斧の柄を握ると引っ張り上げた。耳が割れんばかりの音を立てて、武器は祭壇から持ち上げられた。Josarianにとっては紙切れ同然であると言わんばかりに、軽々と持ち上げられたのだ。未知の力を振るう心構えが出来ていなかった為、Josarianは危うく後ろのめりに倒れこむところであった。彼の成功に、騎士団全員が驚き衝撃を覚えた。そして、後には頭上にGreat Axe of Black Legionを掲げたJosarianが残された。
<br><br>
壇上に上りながら、Josarianは仲間の騎士達に語りかけた。その手には勝利の証が誇らしげに握られていた。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]同志よ、我等が騎士団は長らくCyrodilの無知蒙昧な市民どもに疎んじられてきた！我等は彼らを数々の問題から守護してきたにも関わらず、闇夜の怪物扱いだ！これまで神の名の下に善良な市民を守護してきたが、我等自身が欲した神はどこにいる？何故祈りは届かないのか？そう自問しながらこの場所で幾夜、眠れない夜を過ごしてきたことか！？[QUOTE]
<br><br>
不気味な静寂が大広間を包んだ。騎士団は全員、神を冒涜する男が頭上に神聖な武器を掲げている様子に衝撃を受け立ち尽くしていた。しかしその内心は、かつて一度でも祈りが報いられた事があっただろうかという疑問に真実味を覚える所があった。神の御業は謎に包まれており、定命の者の暮らしに影響を与えるような交流を必要としないという考え方は受け入れられていたが、それでもなお、Josarianの言葉は正しいように思われた。誰も声を上げないのを見計らって、Josarianは続けた。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]これまで我等が信仰してきた神々は自らの不死性を隠れ蓑に定命の者を支配しているが、嘘吐き以外の何者でもないではないか？しかし彼らが我等に及ぼす影響もこれ以上は続かないはずだ。我等は新たな神を迎える。我等騎士団の真実を知る御方だ。過去の偉業も、将来の栄光も全てお見通しだ！彼は私の祈りに報いてくれた。あなた方の祈りにも応えてくれる！ただ彼に、彼だけに忠誠を誓えば良い！偽りの神々の影から身を遠ざけよ！彼こそ真実の神なのだ！[QUOTE]<br><br>
騎士達はみな彼の言葉を振り払おうとしたが、心の奥ではJosarianの言葉が真実であると深く理解していた。誰かに責任があるとすれば、彼らの地位を危うくし、平和と正義を守る使命から徐々に逸脱させた責任は、これまで長く騎士達が祈りを捧げてきた神々にあった。新たな神が自分達に盲従の道からの自由を与えてくれるという考えは、さながら一個の逃げ道のように、数々の過ちに対する赦しのように聞こえた。一人の若い騎士が前に進み出て、こう懸念した。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]Josarian、私達はどうすれば新しい神を知る事が出来るのですか？神の名前は何というのですか？[QUOTE]
<br><br>
Josarianは口ごもってしまった。彼自身、神の名前を知らなかったのである。咄嗟に考えをまとめ、答えようとした時の事である。突然、神が騎士団全員に聞こえる大声で語りかけた。
<br><br>
[QUOTE]わが子らよ。お前達一人一人に未来を変革する偉大な力を約束しよう。そう、お前達の中にはその力が眠っている。だが、我が導きが無ければ、自覚できる者は僅かであろうな。我を崇めよ。更なる高みへ引き上げてやろう。騎士団の名はTamriel全土に響き渡り、恐れ敬われる事になる事だろう！お前達の言葉は法律同然だ。もしも全てを望むのならば、我が助力を受け入れるのだ！偽りの神々を捨て去り、我に祈りを捧げよ。そして我が助力に相応しい者であると証明して見せよ！それら全て達成された後、我の全てを明らかしてやろう。[QUOTE]。
<br><br>
そしてまた部屋は静寂に包まれた。しかし外では、まるで謎の神への信仰を折伏するかのように風が吹き荒んでいた。ゆっくりと、騎士達一人一人が先ほどの出来事について熟考した上で、ついには神の要求に応え、助力を求めることに賛同した。
<br><br>
そうやってJosarianは新たな指導者に就任し、謎の神の歓心を買うための冒険の手引き役として活動した。彼はBlack Legionの指導者であると同時に伝道師でもあった。年を重ねるにつれ、ついに騎士団は罪無き者を守護するという義務を見失い、代わりに新たな神へ自分達の有用性を示す為の活動に全ての時間を費やすようになってしまった。
<br><br>
次第に、神は彼ら騎士団に再び語りかけるようになっていった。義務の遂行に導きを与え彼らの心に希望を与えると同時に、彼らの精神を願望と欲望とで汚染し、無実の者を蹂躙させ、他の神々への憎悪を植え付けた。
<br><br>
自覚も無いままゆっくりと、騎士達はかつて自分達が世界から取り除こうとずっと長い間戦い続けた敵そのものへと変質していった。新たな神の甘言に目をくらまされ、善悪観は逆転し、かつては慈愛を誇った騎士団は真の暗黒へと転落したのだ。
<br><br>
Josarianが最初に聖なる斧を自分の物にしてから20年後、神はもう一度だけ彼の夢枕に立って語りかけた。<br><br>
[QUOTE]Josarianよ、行動の時が来た。騎士団はお前の指導のもと勢いを増し強大になった。お前は素晴らしい指導者だが、今こそ真価を証明しなければならない。そう、お前が築き上げて来たもの全てを破壊する脅威が迫っているのだ！邪悪で狡猾なもう一人の神が、西方の地に住む鍛冶師に命じ、我をこの世界から放逐する為の武器を鍛えさせた。しかし彼女は我を見くびっていたようだ。そんな計画などお見通しなのだからな。[QUOTE]
<br><br>
[QUOTE]成功を望むのならば迅速に行かなければならない。さもなければ我は打ち倒され、騎士団も人々の記憶から忘れ去られてしまう事になるだろう。騎士団を全員集めたらまずは西のNibenに向かい、Leyawinへと南下せよ。そこから国境を越えElsweyrの砂漠を抜け、Valenwoodまで進んだらSilvenar市を目指せ。この順路ならば我が宿敵の監視の目をくぐり抜けられるだろう。到着したら、次の指示を出すつもりだ。さあ行け、Josarian。急ぐのだ。騎士団の命運と未来の栄光はお前の双肩にかかっている！[QUOTE]
<br><br>
神の語りかけを受けてすぐに目を覚ましたJosarianは緊急会議を招集すると、邪悪な神によって騎士団の守護神が打ち倒されるのを阻止する為、何をしなければならないのかを説明した。何の躊躇もなく、Black Legion騎士団は神の用意した順路に従い速やかに行軍を進めた。黒馬にまたがり、闇夜を進んだ。
<br><br>
この本の残りのページにはその後の彼らのSilvenarへの長い旅路とそこで起きた出来事についての詳細が書かれているが、消失したページがあまりにも多く、もはや物語の体を成していない。私の著作に慣れ親しんだ読者諸氏ならば別の角度からもう一つの有名な神話と結びつけて言及するかも知れないが、私自身確かな事は言えない。というのも、これは私が古文書から書き起こすまで誰の目にも触れてこなかった物語なのだ。
<br><br>
Black Legionなど存在せず、他の神話とうまく整合がとれるように作家の空想が生み出した単なる架空の物語でしかないのかもしれない。しかし、慈愛に満ちた古の騎士団が実際に存在し、神に唆されて変節していった事は事実かもしれない。私が明らかに出来なかったその後の行動によって世界から忘れ去られていったのかも知れない。彼らの秘密の城がどこにあるかは分からないが、そこにはきっとこれら一連の疑問に対しての答えが用意されているに違いない。
