Plot Synopsis: The Green Chapel
Sam realizes that his skills as a gunslinger are not enough to survive in Faerie, and asks Sir Spindle to teach him how to fight with swords and other medieval weapons. Sir Spindle agrees to become his teacher and mentor and the two of them travel to the Skeleton Mountains, where they locate the Castle of Opposition. Within this hidden monastery, time speeds up and entropy slows down, allowing knights and warriors to spend years studying the martial arts while only a few months go by in the world beyond the monastery.
Much to his surprise, Sam discovers that within the walls of the monastery, entropy occasionally reverses itself and not only has Sam Smith stopped aging, but actually has grown a few years younger. However, Sam soon realizes that no matter how good his skills are with a blade, there will always be someone better than him as Faerie Folk are immortal (or nearly so) and often have several lifetimes worth of experience at their chosen profession.
After discussing this problem with Sir Spindle, the Goblin Knight agrees to accompany him on a quest to acquire an enchanted sword--but along the way learns that in order to earn such a weapon, Sam must prove himself as both a warrior and a hero.
Sam follows Sir Spindle through the Wasteland and faces a series of dangerous challenges to test his abilities as a hero, encountering some of the greatest warriors and the most feared monsters in Faerie. Reaching the end of his journey, Sam arrives at the Green Chapel and has his first encounter with the Green Knight, who teaches Sam that the only way to survive in Faerie and grow in knowledge, wisdom, and power is to follow the Path of the Hero... and only by following this Path will Sam find his way back to Earth.
The Green Knight reveals that in accepting the Path of the Hero, Sam will become a hero from myth and legend: Sam will survive wounds that would maim, cripple, or kill an ordinary man and will recover from such wounds with superhuman speed. Sam will also become stronger, tougher, and faster than ordinary men while his accuracy with weapons will reach almost superhuman heights.
"What must I do?" Sam asks.
"You must become the Hero in thought as well as in deed," the Green Knight says. "You must be pure in both heart and soul, dedicated to the cause of protecting the weak and innocent as well as bringing law, order, and justice to the land. You must follow a code of honor, remaining true to the code no matter what the odds or circumstances, but most important of all you must be true to yourself--for when you lose faith and begin to doubt yourself, your powers will desert you. Can you do this?"
Sam pauses a moment in thought, then reached into a pocket and removed a well-worn tin star and pinned it to the breast of his duster.
"I've always believed in law and justice, and I know that if I don't protect the weak and innocent, no one else will. As far as the rest is concerned, I just have to do my best--and if that's not enough, I guess I'll just have to do what's right."
The Green Knight accepts his promise, and Sam discovers that the Green Chapel is suddenly crowded with swords of every size and description, hanging suspended mysteriously in the air before him. After pausing to examine them, Sam chooses a medieval broadsword engraved with Celtic knotwork that perfectly fits his grip and is just the right weight and balance.
"Most interesting," the Green Knight muses. "That blade is an aspect of Excalibur, the Sword of Kings."
Sam stares at the sword in awe and wonder, remembering childhood stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. "This is Excalibur?"
"One aspect of it," the Green Knight replies. "All the swords of legend are aspects of Excalibur, just as Excalibur is an aspect of the One True Sword. Remember this, for one day you might have need of this knowledge."
Having completed his quest, Sam leaves the Green Chapel and finds Feliana, who assumes the shape of a horse while Sam studies the enchanted compass to determine where his quest next will take him.
Meanwhile, Sir Spindle kneels within the heart of the Green Chapel at the feet of his former mentor.
"Your debt to me has been repaid," the Green Knight proclaims. "Go forth and complete his training so the Hero may fulfill his destiny..."
Much to his surprise, Sam discovers that within the walls of the monastery, entropy occasionally reverses itself and not only has Sam Smith stopped aging, but actually has grown a few years younger. However, Sam soon realizes that no matter how good his skills are with a blade, there will always be someone better than him as Faerie Folk are immortal (or nearly so) and often have several lifetimes worth of experience at their chosen profession.
After discussing this problem with Sir Spindle, the Goblin Knight agrees to accompany him on a quest to acquire an enchanted sword--but along the way learns that in order to earn such a weapon, Sam must prove himself as both a warrior and a hero.
Sam follows Sir Spindle through the Wasteland and faces a series of dangerous challenges to test his abilities as a hero, encountering some of the greatest warriors and the most feared monsters in Faerie. Reaching the end of his journey, Sam arrives at the Green Chapel and has his first encounter with the Green Knight, who teaches Sam that the only way to survive in Faerie and grow in knowledge, wisdom, and power is to follow the Path of the Hero... and only by following this Path will Sam find his way back to Earth.
The Green Knight reveals that in accepting the Path of the Hero, Sam will become a hero from myth and legend: Sam will survive wounds that would maim, cripple, or kill an ordinary man and will recover from such wounds with superhuman speed. Sam will also become stronger, tougher, and faster than ordinary men while his accuracy with weapons will reach almost superhuman heights.
"What must I do?" Sam asks.
"You must become the Hero in thought as well as in deed," the Green Knight says. "You must be pure in both heart and soul, dedicated to the cause of protecting the weak and innocent as well as bringing law, order, and justice to the land. You must follow a code of honor, remaining true to the code no matter what the odds or circumstances, but most important of all you must be true to yourself--for when you lose faith and begin to doubt yourself, your powers will desert you. Can you do this?"
Sam pauses a moment in thought, then reached into a pocket and removed a well-worn tin star and pinned it to the breast of his duster.
"I've always believed in law and justice, and I know that if I don't protect the weak and innocent, no one else will. As far as the rest is concerned, I just have to do my best--and if that's not enough, I guess I'll just have to do what's right."
The Green Knight accepts his promise, and Sam discovers that the Green Chapel is suddenly crowded with swords of every size and description, hanging suspended mysteriously in the air before him. After pausing to examine them, Sam chooses a medieval broadsword engraved with Celtic knotwork that perfectly fits his grip and is just the right weight and balance.
"Most interesting," the Green Knight muses. "That blade is an aspect of Excalibur, the Sword of Kings."
Sam stares at the sword in awe and wonder, remembering childhood stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. "This is Excalibur?"
"One aspect of it," the Green Knight replies. "All the swords of legend are aspects of Excalibur, just as Excalibur is an aspect of the One True Sword. Remember this, for one day you might have need of this knowledge."
Having completed his quest, Sam leaves the Green Chapel and finds Feliana, who assumes the shape of a horse while Sam studies the enchanted compass to determine where his quest next will take him.
Meanwhile, Sir Spindle kneels within the heart of the Green Chapel at the feet of his former mentor.
"Your debt to me has been repaid," the Green Knight proclaims. "Go forth and complete his training so the Hero may fulfill his destiny..."