The once-reversed master craftsman was now known as the notorious Executioner of the Abyss, but Terizla didn't care. From the moment he was framed as heretic by the Church, he had been wielding his hammer solely for revenge, for the day he could at last soothe the restless souls of his kin.
The Fallen Smith
As one of the most powerful institutions in the Land of Dawn, the inquisition of the Monastery of Light evoked both extreme reverence and absolute dread from its people. The very thought of having to traverse its hallowed halls and cryptic depths would send an involuntary shudder even among the most devout followers of Light. For at the very depths of this solemn place was the Gate of Rebirth, the dungeon holding the Church's deepest secret-a past so dark it could leave even the bravest of souls petrified in fear.
Ten years ago, deep in the dungeons of the inquisition, a guard slowly unlocked an iron gate to check on the imprisoned victim, only to find it completely abandoned. The dark and desolate cell lay empty, except for a bloody message that stained its unforgiving walls. Heavy with hatred, the vile words read:
Overthrow faith... Light will perish...
Aghast, the guard stood in the deserted dungeons in silence and sheer horror. Soon enough, news of the breakout spread, taking the entire Monastery of Light by storm: the heretic Terizla has escaped!
"Smiths must uphold freedom, maintain craftsmanship in their work, and never be subject to the Church's rules!" That was what Terizla openly shouted at a major gathering of the smiths.
As head of the Free Smiths' Guild and spiritual leader of the anti-Church alliance in Lumina City, Terizla repeatedly ignored the Church's commandments while openly advocating for fellow smiths sanctioned by the Church. His blatant defiance of the Monastery's teachings earned him both the disfavor of the Church and the label of Lumina City's "known heretic".
Besides his rebellious streak, the principled Terizla was also known for his exceptional craftsmanship. He was a man of great skill, respected by his peers for his unrivaled rigor and precision. His meticulous eye would not allow even for the slightest mistake in the forge. Any apprentice who tried to fool him with flawed works was severely punished. Frustrated apprentices often complained about this among themselves, but not a single one dared to speak of their grievances against Terizla out loud.
Terizla's craftsmanship and standards, as severe and exacting as they were, always yielded the best. creations from the forge. Because of their fine quality, works by the Free Smiths' Guild were beloved across the Moniyan Empire and quickly snapped up as soon as they went on the market. And so, seething with jealousy from the Guild's success, competitors bribed Terizla's apprentices into sending a secret message to the Church: the" Heretic" Terizla had always been crafting his creations using Black Magic!
Before his son's sixth birthday, Terizla spent days in his workshop just outside the city, preparing a special gift for his son-an intricately detailed statue of their family. Terizla skillfully worked on the statue with such care and attention that it took him until the very day of his son's birthday to finally complete it. Eager to surprise his young boy with his gift, Terizla rushed back home in excitement. What awaited him, however, was the ambush of the Raven assassins sent by the Church.
Realizing something was off, Terizla struggled to break away from the siege, but was just as soon pinned to the ground.
"My wife! My son!"
Amid Terizla's heart-wrenching cries, the knights of the Church and the Ravens stormed the fortress of the Free Smiths' Guild. Within minutes, the air filled with echoes of shouting and anguished screams.
The leader of the Ravens gripped Terizla by the hair and forced him to watch the fortress burn down to the ground. "See them burn. Hear them shriek. This is what the heretics deserve!"