Written by Augustus Agaricus, manager of Mylehatsu Bone Stable, friend to all horsekind, expert equestrian, and a master horsemender.
Today I will bestow upon you a legend. Known and shared among my family from generation to generation, but yet to be put down to pen and paper. It is a legend, of long lost souls finding their way back towards the earthly realm.
Long... long ago, mighty warriors conquered the lands. They fought, they pillaged, they conquered, but it is not their brawn nor their steel that swayed the fate of battles. Their mighty steeds, stallions of glory have brought them swift victory time and time again. But their victories couldn't last forever, mighty as they were both the rider and the horse were fragile, and a stray arrow or a precise strike could end the life of both. And so, as the battle raged and with victory close at hand, many riders would find misfortune, and their steed would shortly follow.
Their souls restless and burning with hatred, they would not find rest within the underworlds cold embrace. Their will unshaken, they would search for any opening day and night, and when they did... lightning would STRIKE across the lands in the earthly realm, sending fear and chills across the unsuspecting commonfolk. The dark magics would quickly reanimate the bones of the longdead, giving new form to the rider and the steed. If someone dares to approach their life would soon end by the assault of the phantasmal riders, their mighty steeds with them. But their rage can only burn so much, and so they would be slain once more and sent back to the underworld. Some would lay still within the afterlife, but some, particularly restless souls would come back time and time again, their souls filled with longing for the days of conquest.
However, the mighty steeds would not pose any threat to people, and sometimes, would be left alone to wander. One such steed was Bonelord, now The Eternal. With a soul as old as the first phantasmal riders... the first equestrians to take their steed to battle... this mighty horse has achieved immortality through sheer will alone, escaping the laws of death entirely.
Today, we train these spectral steeds, or as we call them - "Bonestriders", to ride with us once more. Through the use of an enchanted flute their souls can be summoned, and they would possess a pile of longdead bones. We would train them, clear the worry and pain off of their minds, and show them a future of glory and companionship. And when they are ready, their souls would be bound to a flute, to be called upon in times of need. One such flute, I'll save for a special occasion...