My entry for the Original Heroes vs Villains Skin Contest. It originally started as a request, but I trimmed off aspects from the requester that I didn't like, to make the skin look better, in my opinion. I'll still upload two more versions, but will not enter them in the contest. They have the aspects the requester wanted.

Now, for the story:

The Dark Ages were a time of strife, war, disease, and misery. The Code of Chivalry, which knights had sworn to follow for centuries, was dying with the people. There were less knights than ever before, and those few that remained faltered from their path of honor and glory.

All but one, that is. Few knew his name, even other knights, but many knew his mark, and knew who he was. A knight, clad in armor that shined like a star that walked upon the ground. His blade signaled the coming of justice, as he brought evil-doers and criminals to their timely deaths, blood soaking the ground with his passing. But justice was indiscriminate. He would challenge his fellow knights to trial by combat, and spill their blood as easily as he did a simple thief. He followed the Code of Chivalry still, and defeated his enemies' underhanded tricks.

The peoples' hearts were snatched by his skill and bravery. But the attention of mortals was not the only thing he garnered. Demons watched him ravenously, wanting to corrupt him. Not only to fight for them due to his skill, but due to the symbol he stood as. Every man, woman, and child saw him as a hero, and what better way to crush morale than to see a hero sack a village?

With malice in their hearts, and schemes in their minds, countless demons set about corrupting the knight. From temptation with food, to lies and trickery, there were any number of trials thrown at the knight. But he stood strong, and resisted all of them.

Until, at last, he was faced by a particularly crafty demon.

The demon, disguising himself as a knight, strode forth, and challenged the knight to trial by combat. Sticking to his honor, as always, the heroic knight accepted, and engaged the demon. Foul magic was on the demon's side, and he nearly vanquished the knight. But defeating the hero was not the demon's goal, and he revealed an obvious opening as he gloated over his kill, tempting the knight. One that would be breaking the Code of Chivalry to abuse.

At long last, the knight gave in to the pressure, and took advantage of the opening. He tossed the demon to the ground in a heap. But as he went forth to check his opponent, the hero found that there lied no body. All that remained of his foe was the suit of shadowy armor that he had worn. Realizing that he had both broken his Code, and played right into the hands of a demon, the hero cast away his own armor, and donned the dark equipment before him. He fled his homeland, too ashamed to face his people, and hid himself away in a ruined fortress on the countryside.

There he waited, sitting upon a shattered throne for decades. Decades turned into centuries, and he did not wither. The dark curse placed upon him as he broke his Code extended his life indefinitely, until one powerful enough to vanquish the fallen hero stepped forward to defeat him in a duel.

Grief had overtaken his soul, and at the turn of the 20th century, he began to maraud along the countryside, slaying all he encountered, attempting to find one who could slay him in honorable combat. Rumors and tales of a brutal ghost killing any who trespassed in the area began to circulate due to his actions, and all but the bravest souls stayed away.

But none were mighty enough to defeat the corrupted knight. His steel was too strong, his body too skilled, and his mind too sharp. Even the punishing assault of projectile weaponry could not stand against his onslaught. Bullets and arrows would merely break upon the ashen armor he wore, and no material could resist his crushing blade.

None could bring the champion to his knees. Few even dared to set foot in his lands, even less seeking to fight him. His remorse and grief grew stronger, causing his power to increase even further.

For all time, the fallen knight would sit upon his broken throne, in the corpse of what was once a mighty fortress, mourning for the mistake that brought about his eternal torment, and wishing for one strong enough to slay him.