It was a beautiful Jalldoonian day as Jastier Marcel stretched and got out of bed. He ran his fingers through his beard as he shuffled to his closet. The early morning sun glistened through his windows as he dressed. He was thinking about the omelet he was going to make with some of the Strider eggs as he opened his door, and the warm sun hitting his face was the last pleasant thought Jastier Marcel ever had. The scene outside sent the farmer to his knees. Everything was dead. His crops, his animals, the trees and weeds even…all dead. Blackness surrounded him and the ground nearby. Crushed at losing his livelihood Jastier wept, but he heard what sounded like a group of people up the road so he went over to see if anyone knew what had happened. As he crested the hill he saw a group near the plot of land marked out for the new headquarters of Karnok Brewing… a construction Jastier had vehemently fought against, but money as always wins out in the end.
In the center of the now black field was a hole with a large rock glowing with purple runes in the middle of it, which clearly had been the epicenter of this black death. As he approached one of the Hogashin workers held out his hand “Ho Sir, I’d stay away if I was you.” He said stopping Jastier in his tracks. The farmer poked his finger into the worker’s chest “ What happened here? It looks like everything is emanating from here! What did you do?” he asked him accusingly. The Hogashin worker. stammered a bit “Uh…We was digging the foundations, and we struck that rock over there just yesterday” he said pointing towards the black rock sticking out of the ground in the middle of their hole like a sore thumb before adding “Today we show up, and everything in this area is dead and black”. The rest of the day was a blur of sadness and anger. The owner of Karnok Brewing showed up, and of course, refused to take responsibility for killing everything in the area “Act of the Gods…we didn’t put that stone there Mr Marcel. Nothing we can do.” He said. Jastier would see about that, Once the sun went down he crept to the plot. Surely if this stone could kill all the plants around it could help him get revenge. He looked at the black rock, and in the moonlight, he could see faintly glowing purple runes carved into it pulsating. He raised his pick and struck the stone as hard as he could. A small chunk broke off, and a purple mist started emanating from the stone. Jastier felt a rush of air as the mist swirled before him, and the mist started to take the form of a…being of some kind.
The farmer took in this odd creature floating before him Scaly purple skin, large ears adorned with many earrings, long black horns, and glowing green eyes. This… thing’s lower half trailed off to a wisp of smoke, and it seemed to come from the rock. After looking the farmer over, the being spoke “Who dares disturb my slumber??” it bellowed. Jastier cleared his throat “ Jastier Marcel local farmer….your rock has killed everything around it, and I want to make those responsible pay for destroying my life” Jastier told it, poking his finger into the thing’s chest. The creature looked at Jastier and started laughing “A puny, and on top of THAT dirty human standing defiant in the face of a Maestro Demon? I like you Jastier Marcel!” it said to the angry farmer with a chuckle. Jastier stomped his foot on the ground “Maestro Demon or not something about this rock of yours has killed my crops, and without them, I will not be able to survive for very long. So your liking of me does me no Gods Damned good now does it Mr….” Jastier was cut off by the Demon “ Just Nihasa will do, and while I do like your attitude do not think for a moment that you may speak to ME with that tone without reprisal little man!” the boom of the Demon’s voice did give Jastier pause for a moment. The farmer took a deep breath before responding “Nihasa eh? I suppose it isn’t your fault these clowns dug up your rock and released your evil upon these lands, but my livelihood is gone. What am I to do? Jastier slumped down on the ground. Nihasa rubbed its hands together “ Once released my evil cannot be contained, and I cannot bring your crops back Jastier Marcel, but you have amused this old Demon so I will give you this..” the Demon said, running its finger across the air horizontally, and then vertically. As it did this a scroll appeared floating in space. Nihasa plucked it from the air, and before handing it to the farmer gave an ominous warning “Jastier Marcel, this scroll will give you your heart’s desire, but beware…revenge is not always what you think it may be.” with this Nihasa and the rock disappeared in a flash of purple smoke.
Jasteir could almost hear the faint laugh of the Demon as he stood flabbergasted at what had happened. He took the scroll to his greenhouse. Since the plants in the greenhouse grew in raised beds, and not directly out of the ground, his vegetables in there had survived this mass death brought on by Nihasa’s damned rock. As he closed the greenhouse door behind him, he unrolled the scroll. It was covered in Demonic Runes, but somehow he could hear the words in his head so he spoke them “ Lutan De Merata. Belosh Zi Mascatta. Lutan De Merata. Meegosh Shegara. Lutan. Lutan. Lutan!!” as he said the last word the scroll flashed purple as tendrils of energy shot out in all directions. The tendrils crawled over the vegetables making them grow and change. His pumpkins grew into armor and a horned helmet, his radishes a belt, a cob of corn became a sword, a green bean his sheathe, a cucumber became his shield, Carrots formed boots, and broccoli became his gloves. All this new vegetable armor spun around him quickly, and he could feel its power as it moved closer “ Yesss give me power great Nihasa!! Let me take revenge on those who have wronged me!” He screamed over the increasing noise shaking the small greenhouse. As the armor touched his skin it felt…wrong. It burned, and Jastier’s head swam with pain as Nihasa appeared in front of him “ You wanted revenge, Jastier Marcel, well now you may have it…FOREVER you are cursed to wander the planet killing those who disrespect nature in any way. You wanted revenge for your plants? How about ALL plants? Rise oh Garden Knight, and leave death in your wake…after all…dead bodies make great fertilizer! HAHAHAHAHAHA!” the Demon laughed, disappearing in an explosion of smoke. The Garden Knight staggered out of the ruined greenhouse and felt the urge to hunt down those who would harm plants. He had a vague memory..of a man named Jastier Marcel, but it was quickly fading as his one and only thought became Revenge for the Plants. Beware those who would pillage and pollute the Planet Jalldoon as the Garden Knight stalks never resting. Anger sprouts from his dark heart, and his sword waters the ground with the blood of his enemies. The Garden Knight sows nothing but sadness. Respect your home or face his wrath.
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