The Grand Unitary Church of Ede Rame:  The Book of Fire and Ash

“In the wilderness of Mun lurked craven creatures who walked upright like men yet rejected the love of the gods. These wild creatures, who were shaped like men yet had naught but skin but the bark of a tree, and who sang to the moon, and who danced on water, and who worshiped not the gods yet trees. These creatures called themselves The Laterni.

“The Laterni were the children of Tutela Boudiga, or as men referred to them, The God-Trees of the Laterni. The Laterni wandered the wild lands and would steal the children of men and offer their blood to the roots of the God-Trees to sate their unholy thirst. For centuries the Laterni thus polluted the world with their wickedness.

“The Grand Unified Church of Ede Rame, under the enlightened leadership of Grand Patriarch Aquino Tos Salari sent many of the bravest Knights Hospitalar to seize many of the Laterni to determine the ability of the Laterni to embrace the love and worship of the Great Pantheon. The gods thus revealed the Laterni were incapable of proper worship and could not live beyond the reach of their God-Trees.

“Wisely, Grand Patriarch Aquino called for The Crusade of Fire and Ash to eliminate the Laterni menace from Ede Rame with the eradication of the Laterni. The God-Trees of the Laterni were declared “Unclean” and targeted for absolute destruction.

“The Grand Unified Church of Ede Rame thus called upon all of the chivalry of Ede Rame to destroy this menace.  The Knights Hospitalar and The Krusaders gathered their great host and bent their arms to war.

“Cardinal Damiano et Randell came to head this Grand Krusade and weeks the army traveled to find the cursed God-Trees of the Laterni. Laterni warriors, who carried the flesh of children in their mouths and darkness in their hearts, came before The Grand Army of Naggarium and Mun. The Laterni, whose voices were deep and hearts empty, begged humble Cardinal Damiano to turn back their army. Cardinal Damiano, knowing that Laterni treachery would be the payment for such mercy, set his vast force upon the Laterni.

“The Laterni set their dark magicks to work and a dark host of forest creatures joined the Laterni in fighting the The Grand Army of Naggarium and Mun. The Hospitalars and Krusaders rode down the enemies of mighty Naggarium and scattered the ill horde of wicked things.

“When they came upon the God-Trees themselves, many Laterni arrived to desperately defend their craven idols. A cadre of glorious priests of Naggarium arrived upon the battlefield and readied to destroy the wicked beasts when Dark Shamans from amongst the Laterni unleashed their dark magicks.

“Lightning rained from the sky as the God-Trees used their wicked shamans unleash their wicked magicks. The Laterni drove back the brave Krusaders, but they continued to attack, regardless. Soon the blades of the Krusaders cut down the wicked Shamans and sent their souls to The Darkness Beyond.

"Even so, it seemed that the darkness could not be overcome, but at that moment a host of half-dead and full dead and others came upon the scene, guided by the Dead-Lord Walraven van Nijmegen.  Nijmegen had heard the Word of Naggarium and thus did the Dead-Lord find himself the tool of the Divine Hand.  Gathering his host of warriors, Nijmegen set with all haste to the God-Trees of the Laterni that their wickedness might be cast down.  Thus did Nijmegen arrive, bearing both blade and magic, and set his host upon the Laterni.  The Krusaders, thus buoyed  by Naggarium's gift, set upon the Laterni and drove the wicked invader back to the base of their fell trees.
 

“Thus Cardinal Damiano himself came forward and unleashed Great Naggarium's fury upon the God-Trees and they were reduced to ash and smoke. Those Laterni still fighting were thus reduced to shadow and memory as their God-Trees were gone.

"In the ash of the God-Trees did Nijmegen kneel, feeling the blessing of Mighty Naggarium upon him.  Thus did Cardinal Damiano bless the half-dead and the undead, ordering missionaries amongst the not-living and declare that ever after the walking dead might touch their hearts and minds to Naggarium."