To anyone who’s started this story before, yes, this is in fact ‘Change of Fate’ but I’ve rewritten parts of this story to make it more of a love story ‘thus the title change’. Now it’s more than just a rehash of Lodoss war history.

It is also notable that to make the main characters more realistic I had to branch off slightly to give them a more human element. As the characters were in the series they would be hard to identify with.

Characters such as Ashram in particular have more emotion than the series portrayed. For the most part they are still true to the original characters but there are parts where there is a noticeable difference. That said, lets begin shall we?

Ashram & Pirotess, OVA timeline, Included are theories about Lodoss history, answers to unresovled questions from the series, new characters, old characters with expanded roles, battles, duels, monsters, magic, dragons, Gods. Pretty Epic, not a short read.

Is a man’s path really of his own choosing? Can the transgressions one encounters in life be avoided or is every man doomed to one simple fate? If one choice is made differently will all that follows be altered as well…?

Love & War:A Change of Fate.

By: Josh Dahl

Chapter 1: Preparations and Introductions

Ashram awoke and sat up. He could hear the sounds of his horses and soldiers outside of the tent he occupied. He looked around for a moment not wanting to accept it was morning yet. His eyes were still sleepy and his muscles ached from the hard day before. There was work to be done though and it was on his shoulders to make sure it was done right. He slowly slipped out of his cot and started to pick up the various pieces of his heavy black armor one by one from the corner of the tent.

Ashram stretched his back; arching backwards. His abdominal muscles pulled tight. He let out a soft sigh as he realized the stretch. More than anything at that moment Ashram yearned to spend a couple more quality time minutes with his bed but his better judgment told him it was time to be up and get the day started.

‘Back into the fire.’ Ashram though firmly as he slipped on his boots and then pieced together the torso and other upper portions of his armor. Just as he finished attaching his shoulder guards his stomach started to rumble. ‘Time for some breakfast’ he thought to himself as he stepped outside his tent and got his first taste of the new days weather. The sun was just coming up and seemed particularly bright to him at that moment.

‘Oh... damn!’ Ashram thought squinting his icy gray eyes for a moment until they adjusted. He could see all around him the rest of the Marmo Army also beginning to rise with the new day. Their camp seemed to cover the entire countryside. The morning air was just a shade too cold for Ashram’s liking. It was always like this in Valis though and he had started to adjust to it. Still… that first feel every morning that always seemed to catch him off guard. In a short while though the sun would warm the air and the minor annoyance would trouble him no longer.

The Marmo camp was situated in a sand and rock terrain. It was the Northwestern territory of Valis. Under Beld’s watchful eye Ashram had lead their army deep into Valis’ heartland. The rumor was that the main Valisian Army had finally been called out to meet them. Ashram and Beld were expecting them to arrive within the next three nights and were formulating a plan to crush them. If the next major battle was won the rest of Valis would be theirs and what remained of Lodoss would swiftly fall to the march their army or surrender.

However the next battle had to be won first and it probably wasn’t going to be a simple task. Valis had taken some hideous losses in the first couple months of the war but the main body of their army was still expected to be much larger than Marmo’s. They wouldn’t have to trouble themselves with counting heads to know it.

‘Just as well.’ Ashram thought. ‘If Valisian knights think their numbers will win the battle for them their arrogance will be their undoing.’ Ashram was well aware that a numerical advantage would not win a battle alone. Of course it does help… a lot.

On the other hand the Marmo army had several advantages. First, they would be the ones to choose where the two armies would meet. Picking good ground to fight on makes all the difference in the world, especially when outnumbered. In addition, through Beld’s manipulation of the monsters under Wagnard’s control, they would have thousands of shock troops. Ashram had no problem sacrificing them in feigning maneuvers or having them do the dangerous jobs most human soldiers are too smart to do willingly.

Ashram pushed those thoughts out of his head for the moment. He had more pressing matters to attend to. He wasn’t going to be thinking of good strategy later if he didn’t get some good food in him now. He made his way through the camp walking past a portion of the motley lot that made up the Marmo army that included goblins, kobolds, orks, human foot soldiers, mercenaries they had acquired as they pushed through Kannon and Alania, and of course his brother’s in arms the Marmo knights. There were even a few dark elves; they made excellent spies and scouts.

Ashram respected the dark elves for their abilities if nothing else. They had their own code of honor. They were typically obedient and respectful to him, although some were notably arrogant towards humans. But any of them that would dare to pull that crap with him would soon find the back of his hand and if they weren’t so lucky the tip of his sword.

Ashram had every right to do so, he was the superior officer to all in the Marmo army and demanded respect from everyone. The only person he answered to was Beld, the Emperor of Marmo himself. As such it would be improper for anyone to talk down to him Elf or not and Ashram would not stand for insubordination in any shape or form.

After walking for a minute Ashram finally spotted the officer’s mess tent. On the way to the mess Ashram noticed a female dark elf looking at him from a nearby tent. ‘She looks familiar’ Ashram thought to himself as he passed her by but couldn’t quite place from where. She was quite striking but he was still pretty groggy from just getting up and he had shared some wine with Beld last night. On top of that the last few days had been extremely draining on him. It was just last night he had led the attack on Valis’ Northern border forces. Afterwards Beld felt they should celebrate the victory.

‘I really shouldn’t be so tired. The soldiers from Valis weren’t much of a challenge at all. I thought they were supposed to be the best knights on the entire island.’ Ashram had been eagerly looking forward to crossing swords with Valisian knights, he thought they’d be a worthy challenge but they turned out to be a disappointment.

Ashram smiled recalling the battle. ‘Disciplining my own troops afterwards seemed to be more difficult, at least more tedious.’ If there was any-one-thing Ashram hated about command it was dealing with the undiscipled subordinates. The incident happened while he was in the middle of discussing strategies with Beld, which particularly irritated him.

‘Wait a second, that’s it.’ Ashram’s memory final clicked. ‘That elf woman by the tent just now is the same dark elf from last night. Yes, she was the one standing by the fire being harassed by that foolish drunk soldier. ‘I knew she looked familia...’

Suddenly a small goblin darted out from the tent Ashram was passing by and ran flat into him. Its head smashed into the lower part of the armor covering Ashram’s abdomen. The goblin bounced off the armor like an acorn and fell straight down flat on his back. The creature was stunned as if it were just a small child who hit his head on a cabinet. It looked up at Ashram who was towering over him and looking down at him with an aggravated, yet calm, expression.

Ashram said not a word, but held his icy glare on the goblin. The goblin appeared to be frozen with fear of the now famous black knight of Marmo. Ashram stood there for just a moment more, then continued to walk. Him long stride went directly over the goblin, his foot landed just a few inches left of its head. The goblin watched him walk away for a minute looking up over his shoulder and then scurried off when Ashram had gotten a safe distance away.

After a few more long annoyed strides Ashram entered the mess tent; the aroma of the room was ‘almost’ refreshing to him. It was ‘Almost refreshing’ because for a second he had forgotten how unappealing the food could be at the mess in the morning. If he didn’t need to eat or if he had any other choices he wouldn’t bother with what the cooks there called food.

Ashram preferred Beld’s large dining hall where he had a great many number of choices in what he could dine on. Pork, eggs, and wild berries held the most appeal to him. Too bad none of these could be found on the menu in the mess tent. The greasy, fat man who dared to call himself a chef plopped down a stale loaf of bread, which was accompanied by some type of meat and a small piece of cheese upon a plate and pushed it towards Ashram as he approached.

Ashram couldn’t quite identify what type of meat was on the plate but it was just slightly greasier than the cook’s forehead. The cook’s nearly toothless smile didn’t help Ashram’s appetite much either.

‘It’s still not too late.’ Ashram told himself reconsidering going back into bed for a moment. But he gave in and accepted the meal from the chef and sat down by himself on a bench in the corner of the tent. The food wasn’t anything to brag about, but he decided it was enough nourishment to keep a soldier going. Ashram sat there alone eating for several minutes. He tried to image better tastes as he chewed and swallowed.

Before long he saw the same dark elf woman from outside earlier enter the tent with a group of other dark elves. Ashram didn’t know her name or rank, but it was apparent to him she ranked fairly high among the elves. From what he observed all the other dark elves with her seemed to report to her and showed her a certain level of respect. She picked up a plate and sat across the room with her group. Ashram continued to eat putting her out of mind although her firm, smooth, petite, and tan legs that happened to occupy that notably short white skirt occasionally ran in and out of his head.

A loud clang from a pan dropped by the chef made Ashram look up momentarily. As he did he noticed the dark elf woman was staring at him again. She tried to look away as soon as she saw him look up but Ashram still caught her stare. Ashram thought about saying something to her but a hand tapped him on the shoulder and he looked up to see one of his Calvary officers standing next to him.

“Lord Ashram, you are needed to oversee the loading of supplies for our next outing. We are not completely sure of how much of and what we’ll need for the next few days. Considering the importance of the mission and since you’re better informed of the mission’s details I think you should make the decision.”

“Very well, I’ll be there soon lieutenant.” Ashram said before taking a quick drink of water.

“Yes my lord.” The officer bowed and left. “Enjoy your… meal sir.” The officer jested as he glanced at the plate and then towards the fat cook. Ashram looked up at him with a sarcastic gleam in his eye. The lieutenant just smiled and left.

Ashram quickly finished his meal, got up, and began to exit the tent. The Calvary officer was one of the knights who rode with Ashram. The mission he had referred to was a sneak attack on Valis’ advanced scouting forces. One tactic the Valis military liked to use was to send out a small force that was meant to draw in the enemy so the main army could hammer down when they were ready.

As Ashram walked out he spared one more glace to the dark elf female but he had no time to waste questioning some dark elf for the simple crime of looking at him, although a part of him would like to take the time for an interrogation…

As he walked to the supply depot Ashram started to think about his conversation with Beld the night before in his tent. It was about how he said their casualties were a necessary shield. Ashram knew this was true; it was a cold hard fact of war. He thought about himself in this equation. He owed Beld much more than just his life, so much more. Ashram came to a decision.

‘If uniting Lodoss under Marmo’s flag for my Beld means I have to die in the process, then so be it.’ He thought grimly. Ashram was indeed very much prepared to die for the Marmo cause. He wasn’t too enthusiastic about life anyway; by all rights he should be dead already. It was true Beld had been very good to him; but the past was still the past and there were deep pains that suffocated Ashram’s will to live.

It is not a simple matter to enter Beld’s service, and in Ashram’s case it was a particularly painful process indeed… paved in grief. Not well know to the world at large it was the death of Ashram’s family that had caused him to become the cold, seemingly emotionless black knight, the champion of Marmo. Hate, fear, anguish, and pain were the fuel of Ashram’s ascension into darkness. Intense fury forged the iron fist of the black knight.

Since then Ashram had earned himself an odd reputation for being a hard-ass. The oddest part of it was that he supposedly had no emotions, even while locked in the life and death struggle of battle. The fact of the matter was that Ashram did indeed still feel things, but he chose to bury them deep inside or they would tear him and everyone else around him apart.

More than anything he felt powerful guilty for his family. They had all died and he had lived. It was his rightful place to die along side them; he wanted to die along side them. What was he suppose to do all alone? How was he supposed to go on now?

But nothing would change the fact that fate had placed him away from home at the time when hell descended on it, and when he returned he faced the carnage left in the wake of an Ork’s incursion. None of his kin were spared from the rampage that claimed their lives. Both his parents and his sister were brutally murdered.

Though only a boy at the time he still vividly remembered walking through the front yard of their home after the fallout. It looked as though his father had put up a pretty good fight. The yard was littered with many of the retched beasts’ corpses. Orks aren’t well known for their skills with weapons or fighting ability but their instinctual tactic of coming in overwhelming numbers well makes up for it. Their sheer numbers were too much for Ashram’s father and had won out in the end.

Anything of value had been taken from the small farm and anything that did still remain was reduced to ruble and unusable. Anything that had been alive beforehand was now dead. Everything was gone the livestock, food stores, the house, and the people living there. Ashram’s entire world was shattered in a mire moment of agony.

‘And now I’m leading an army full of monsters just like the ones that had killed them.’ Ashram’s face grew dark with shame. ‘I dishonor their memories by doing this.’ Then an evil grin came to his lips after a second as he though of what most of the Orks and other monsters would be doing in the not so distant future.

Ashram had a scheme in mind to get his revenge. It would be sweet, swift, and best of all cold revenge. Beld had already approved his plan to use the monsters as bait to lure Valis’ main army into a trap. The idea was to lure the Valisians in a nearby valley surrounded by cliffs that Ashram’s scouts had located a few days earlier. It was prefect for what he had in mind. No other site would serve Ashram’s purpose so ideally.

Most, if not all, the monsters were likely to be slaughtered in the upcoming battle and their sacrifice would leave Valis’ army sitting ducks to Beld’s main force, which was primary made up of dark elves, knights, regular soldiers and even some mercenaries. Ashram couldn’t help but feel pride for coming up with such a perfect plan that would eliminate all his enemies with one deadly stroke.

---

It took most of the day, but all was finally ready. Ashram’s troops were totally assembled, supplied, and ready to depart. By this time it was getting dark nightfall was close, which was what Ashram wanted. It’s always easier to move a large military force discreetly at night. Ashram planned to raid several small towns and destroy a nearby Valisian fort to draw the attention of the Valisian advanced force.

From what Ashram had heard from spies and read in scouting reports King Kashue of Flaim was leading Valis’ advanced forces. Kashue was a skilled warrior that ruled the desert wilds of Lodoss. If he lived up to his reputation then Kashue was a serious threat, perhaps the only man alive who could seriously challenge Ashram’s strength and skill with a sword. The idea brought a gleam to Ashram’s eyes, he loved challenges and somehow he knew this one would be worth the wait.

‘I hope I get the chance to see for myself just how good this mercenary king is.’ Ashram thought as he mounted his black horse and rode to the front of his task force. When he arrived at the front he was met by the male dark elf commander who was to take charge of the monsters and attack the towns before rendezvousing with Ashram to set their trap for Kashue and his men. Ashram liked the idea of having the monsters distanced from himself and was more than happy to be rid of them for a time.

“Make sure that none of Valis’ scouts make it back to report our position.” Ashram ordered. “It could corrupt all of our plans. Now go.”

“Yes Sir Ashram.” The dark elf replied. “By your leave.” The dark elf turned and rode off, followed by the hordes of orks, kobolds, and goblins.

Ashram watched the rabble dart away into the underbrush. As soon as they had all disappeared into the forest he shouted, “Lets go!” and motioned his horse forward, but he stopped before his horse even got a step. His path was being blocked by a small white figure kneeling before him.

Ashram looked down slightly surprised. Most people would have sense enough not to block the path of a column of troops, especially not a column lead by him. Ashram watched the small woman in white curiously not sure what to expect. Then she lifted her head started to speak to him.

“Please allow me to accompany you my lord, I promise I shall serve you well.” The female dark elf said softly.

Ashram recognized her from earlier, it was the same dark elf from the night before and then in the mess tent earlier that day. Ashram said nothing, in part due to the fact he was caught off guard by the request. He continued to stare at her for a moment. She just stared right back at him.

Then something happened that no one would have expected. Ashram smiled, though ever so slightly, at her and urged his horse to ride around her. She smiled too and rose off her knee and walked beside his mount. No one else had seen their exchange of glances and though he had said nothing she took his small grin as a ‘yes’ to her offer.

---

During the night Ashram’s forces sacked the Valisian fort as they had planed. It was a relatively easy task, it took no more than twenty minutes to completely level the castle’s front gate and kill most of its occupants. Ashram decided to spare a few people they had captured for questioning. Ashram then released them in order to draw Kashue to them. The survivors would also spread fear amongst the Valisian ranks by telling tales of the monsters and vicious mercenaries in the Ashram’s forces.

‘Rumors of the blood thirsty Marmo troops crushing everything in sight are good for the cause.’ Ashram thought to himself. He knew that psychological warfare was a powerful ally of theirs. Fear and panic can break an enemy line just as well as a heavy cavalry charge.

Ashram decided to remain in the fort for the night. It was a good secure place to set up base camp and issue out orders before their next move. It was also the most defendable stretch of land in the region which was why the Valisians chose the spot to begin with.

Before long, a dark elf rider entered the fort through the demolished front gate and reported the position and situation of the main body of the monster’s forces that had separated from them earlier.

Everything was going as planned, the monsters under the dark elves watchful eyes were several miles away. The dark elves had raided the two towns using the monsters as they were supposed to and were awaiting further instructions. The dark elf was kneeing, patiently awaiting Ashram’s orders.

“What of Kashue’s Army?” Ashram questioned the Elf.

“There is no sign of them thus far, sir.” The dark elf replied. “But our scouts are constantly on the lookout for them.” A small map of the area was outstretched on a nearby table, Ashram studied it momentarily.

“Have the monsters destroy another town here to the north just after daybreak and send out three more scouting parties, I must know Kashue’s position and movements before we can make our move.” Ashram’s cold impassive voice hid his true dismay of having to destroy another town needlessly. But he had his orders and he had to get Kashue to come to him.

“Yes my Lord.” The dark elf bowed his head in respect and exited the room.

Ashram found no pleasure attacking the defenseless peasants but there was little choice in the matter. It’s what Beld would tell him to do and he knew it what was necessary to gain the advance in the coming battle. Attacking civilians would send the Valisian military running right into their hands.

“It seems our victory has to be paved in the ashes of the innocent, why is that?” Ashram whispered to himself as he sat.

“Because that is the way of the world Sir Ashram.” A voice answered his question suddenly from nowhere. A slight wind gust filled the room followed by a grey mist. In a corner of the room Ashram could see a faint purple light begin to get brighter and brighter until a female form could be seen at its center.

“Karla…” Ashram said plainly not bothering to stand to greet the witch. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Hello Sir Ashram.” Karla said in her usual taunting voice.

“What do you want with me witch?” Ashram asked as he sat there intentionally not looking at her.

“I’ve only come to advise you silly boy. It seems that this war with Valis is about to come to an end soon, you have my congratulations.” Ashram didn’t look at all stirred by her words. Karla’s ill-fated attempt at flattery wasn’t getting her anywhere so she moved on to a different tactic. “What do you think Emperor Beld plans to do after your usefulness to him has ended?” She said with a sinister smile on her face.

“What are you trying to get at witch?” Ashram finally looked up at her understanding all to well what she was implying.

“Do you really think he will keep you around?” She asked. “Someone like you? A young, charismatic, leader who holds great sway with the Imperial Marmo Army? Someone who could potentially take his crown from him? I think not Sir Knight. A wise man like Beld who has no blood heir knows when a threat is on his door step.” She paused to let Ashram consider it for a moment and then added. “Join me against him Black knight and I promise you will rule all Lodoss.” She reached her hand out to him.

“Ha! Beld is my Emperor witch and more importantly he is like a father to me.” Ashram ignored her outreached hand. “If you think you can make me turn my back on him then you’re a pitiful fool, a deluded idiot! He took me in when I had nothing to call my own and nowhere else to turn. He raised me as if I were his own blood.” Ashram’s eyes burned as he glared at her. “Furthermore I am completely loyal to him and am willing to die for him should he ask it of me. He knows that to be true!” Ashram almost shouted the last part as he stood up and took a step towards Karla.

“Really…?” Karla started to move backwards staying out of Ashram’s reach. “We shall soon see about that Sir Ashram.” Karla laughed as she disappeared into the shadows. She knocked over a vase during her retreat. Ashram simply watched her vanish from his sight, but his hand was griping his sword’s hilt.

“Damn that witch!” Ashram said out loud. He had never, not even for a moment, trusted Karla and now all his suspicions about her were confirmed. ‘She wasn’t ever really on our side at all. She’s had her own agenda all along. I should have known.’ He wondered if she could possibly be working for King Fahn of Valis? Somehow he didn’t think so… but it wasn’t impossible.

Someone opening the door to Ashram’s temporary chambers interrupted his apprehensive thoughts. He drew his sword ready to face this second intruder. But in the narrow stone doorway stood the female dark elf from earlier, her sword was drawn as well.

“Are you alright my lord?” She asked. “I heard you shout and then a crash!” She said as she rapidly scanned the room ready to pounce on any would-be attackers.

“All is well… you can put your weapon away.” Ashram said calmly as he sat once again, taking in a deep breath.

“Yes, my lord.” The dark elf female obeyed obviously a little confused. She stood there a moment not knowing what else to do except stare at him. Ashram glanced up and noticed her still there.

“You must have some good hearing to hear my shouting all the way from the courtyard.” Ashram had seen her there with the other dark elves just before he had spoken to the dark elf scout. “And also mighty swift legs too.” He observed. That’s quite a long distance to come in such a short amount of time, don’t you think?” He said this in an almost accusing voice. “Probably impossible in fact.”

“Actually I was...” She began.

“...right outside my door?” Ashram finished her sentence before she could. “Spying on me?” He paused as he raised an eyebrow. “What is your name? I’ve seen you before, but I never caught your name.”

“My name is Pirotess, my lord.” She said, apparently not intimidated by him at all which was surprising to Ashram. A person in her position should be worried about being charged with spying or treason. Ashram decided she probably wasn’t a spy.

“In the future, ‘Pirotess’, it would be unwise to spy on me, you are dismissed.” He watched her bow slightly and leave, his sharp cold eyes focused on her until she was gone. ‘She always seems to be around, just what is it she wants?’ Ashram asked himself. ‘No matter, if she was sent by someone to spy on me I will find out sooner or later.’

By that time it was getting late and Ashram was tired. ‘Tomorrow is going to be a big day, I’ll need my rest.’ He puffed a breath of air and blew out the candle on his table.