(by Deathwalker)
The day started like any other I was up before sunrise and prepared my weapons and armor. I took my sword and begun to work the nicks out of it from my last battle. After I was done with my sword I prepared my pack for the upcoming journey. In to the pack I put hardtack jerky and grain for my horse for as long as I would need him. After all was ready I saddled my mount and put on my old dark armor that was made for me millennia ago by a great magi I had once helped. And so dressed in black I begun my journey to find my old master.
At first things went well I made my way out of the city saying my farewells to friends as I left. Once outside the gates my horse when lame so I released him to return home. I had traveled no more then a few miles when I was set upon by a pack of hungry wolves. So drew my sword and prepared for battle and the next thing I knew the wolves were cowering in fear. So I turned to look at my blade and I had not grabbed my sword that I had been using but my old Sword Hellraiser was in my hand. And so I thought this is a good omen that I will return to the dark. So I sheathed my sword and started on my way once again. The rest of the day was uneventful so I made camp for the night under the stars.
I awoke before dawn and cleared my camp and prepared to start out on my journey once again. The first few hours before the came up were peaceful until brigands surrounded me. They demanded that I hand over my gold and sword. To witch I replied that the only way they would get it would be over my dead body. Their only answer was to smile and close in around me. I drew my sword and laid about me with it attacking without a care in the world as to whether I was hurt or not. And soon to my surprise all around me were dead or dying. And so I gathered up their belonging and continued on my way to my brother's house. Once there I laid out the armor and weapons of the five brigands to give to my brother for the upcoming hard times. And went into the house to break my fast.
As soon as my brother saw my face he knew something was wrong. I answered him best I could that nothing was that I was just going on a journey of a few days and would be back soon. I could tell from the look on his face that he did not believe me. We sat down to break or fast and talked of every day normal things but I knew he was going to ask again what was wrong. At last when breakfast was done we sat talking some more and again he asked me what was wrong. To witch my reply was nothing brother I'm just leaving town for a few days. And again he looked at me with a strange look upon his face. As if he knew I was lying. Some little time passed and again my brother said to me. Look brother I know something is wrong you have on your old armor and that Sword. I asked what's wrong with this sword. And as to the armor I decided to wear my old armor so as not to dirty my new. And again he gave me that strange look.
After a few minutes he again said to me look brother I know things have not been the same sense your wife passed on. I know that something is troubling you let me help. After a few minutes of thought my reply to him was that sense her death I had felt that there was no reason for me to remain in the light so I was seeking my old master. His response was to say and who is this master that you seek my brother. To which my reply was that he's an ancient evil who has been long forgotten. I then explained to him that this was something I felt that I had to do. And again he asked me why I felt this way. My only answer was that I did not know but something was driving me to take this quest upon myself. After a few moments of silence he told me that he would join with me on this quest, as he would not feel right if I went alone. This set off a round of arguments as to wither or not he would join me. We fought back and fourth each stating his reasons why his view was the right one until I finally had no reason to say he could not join me. After that was settled we prepared a pack for him and set out on our way.
The first day of traveling together went with no problems. However on the second day we awoke to the sounds of battle. We both donned our armor and took up our swords. And as we broke from the underbrush we came upon a small skirmish of trolls and the people of a small farmstead. We both picked out a troll and started to battle to help these poor people. Once the battle was over and all the trolls dead we took stock of the people and helped those that we could. We then returned to camp and gathered up our gear and begun to move out. Once upon the trail again we were stopped by a small group of farmers. The came forward and offered us any food or shelter that we might need for the night. We thanked them and explained that we were only passing through but that if we needed it on our return we would take them up on it. And so the second day of out journey passed with no other problems. We camped that night in a small glade with a view of the stars and not a worry about the marrow.
We were up before the break of day and on our way I could feel that we were getting close to something but not what. We awoke and begun to move out when I felt drawn in a direction that I had never thought to take. And so we started off to the north not knowing what we would encounter. After a few hours we began to climb between two great mountains their peaks high above the clouds. We had only climbed a few thousand feet when we decided to stop for the night.
We awoke the next morning to find out horses fled in the night. But for me there was no turning back and this my brother knew. So we donned our armor and belted on our swords and started our climb to the pass. The higher we got the more I noticed something strange about the twin mountain's. I could not set my finger on what it was until after hours of climbing we came to a wall that climbed straight up for thousands of feet. Once we walked into the wall I knew where we were. This was not two mountains but only one and somewhere near us was a temple to the God I sought. My brother and I decides to go to the left and down slope as that would take us to the center of the valley and to the temple I sought to find. We had traveled only a few hundred yards when two Cyclops beset us. We were hard pressed to defeat them as that seemed to only want to attack us one at a time. I put my self to the front to draw the attacks as my brother attacked from behind. As soon as they turned to attack him I would come out of my defensive stand to attack till they turned back to me. After a few hours battle we finally defeated the monsters but at this time it was too late to continue on our journey so we camped for the night.
That night was uneventful with no more disturbances however when we awoke the next morn we were in for a big surprise. The two bodies of our antagonists were gone without a trace of what happened to them. We donned armor and weapons again and began to move out and down into the valley. We came upon a few Kobolds who died to our swords in a matter of seconds. After dispatching them we begun to move on and after a few hundred feet came upon another group of monsters. It seemed like we were going to have to fight our way to the valley floor as we could not go more then a short distance without running into more monsters. And so our day went until just before dusk and again we camped for the night.
When we awoke the next morning monsters had surrounded our camp. We arose and donned armor and prepared to fight. Once we were ready for battle the monsters opened a path and let us move on down the valley. That day we ran into no more monsters and made it to the valley floor. And began the search for the temple that I knew would be there. Just before nightfall we found it and camped at the entrance to it.
The next day we found the gateway that I needed to continue my journey. And so I set about gathering the items I would need to open the gate. As I gathered the items I needed I talked to my brother explaining that I would only be able to open the gate enough for one to pass through. At first my brother would not agree to staying behind to wait for me until I explained that if I failed I would need someone on this side of the gate to pull me through it. He still balked at first till I explained that I would be too weak to do more then open the gate to get out. Finally after hours of preparation I was ready to start the ritual that would open the gate to the Realm of Shadows and to my old master.
As the gate opened I gathered my dark accouterments and stepped into the dark gate leaving the light behind me. As the gate closed behind me I set around it a series of dark runes to mark it so that I could find my way back to it. And so doing I turned and drew my sword from its sheath and prepared to battle my way to what I wanted. Amazingly enough there was nothing for me to combat so I began to walk in the direction that I was being pulled. And still not seeing any monsters I started to wonder what was wrong. After traveling a few hours I started to feel as if something was following me but I could not put a name to it. After traveling for several hours I decided to camp for what seemed a night and still nothing bothered me in my sleep.
When I awoke I could feel that which was following me was closer then it was the day before. Still not sure what was behind me I started forward to meet my fate. I traveled many hours that day and still felt no closer to what I was seeking however that which was behind me seemed to get closer. I traveled for many hours more until I thought it was time to rest so I camped for a few hours not wanting to sleep, as I was not really tired. Once again I stood up and started to move forwards feeling that behind me was even closer. I knew what the beings in shadows felt about any living thing that entered their realm. They have a deep-seated hatred of the living and chase them no matter the cost till one or the other is dead. And so I started to move faster in the direction I was headed hoping to get to where I was going before that behind me caught up to me. And so I started to move faster but no matter how fast I went it seemed to come closer to me. After a few more hours of travel I stopped for the night as I was beginning to tire.
As I rose I could feel that which was following me very close behind me now. I donned armor and weapons and turned to start on my way when I felt something behind me. I turned with sword swinging ready to slay that which I felt only to freeze in mid swing. I was shocked to see standing behind me the shadow of my wife. I was so amazed to see her that I was speechless at first then my senses came back to me. My first question to her was why are you here you should have gone to the light rather then this evil place. Her reply was that a feeling that I would need her to protect me from a great evil drew her here. We sat and talked for a long time about why I was there. After a long time she told me that she could not allow me to return to the dark path that I once followed and that I was being gave one last chance to redeem myself. I was gave one of two choices return to my life or remain here forever trapped. My answer to her as I could not deny my love was to return to my life but only if she would return to the gate with me. And so w turned and walked back to the gate talking and holding hands all the way.
On our way I began to remember stories of this place and those who were found here that did not belong. And with this in mind I begun to form a plan to return my wife to the world of the living. I knew that my brother would be waiting for the gate to open and for me to emerge from it. Once we returned to the gate I set about opening it and as the gate opened I took my wife in my arms to give her a kiss. With her back to the gate she could not see the arms of my brother reaching in to help me make my escape. And so I whispered in her ear that I loved her and threw her into the waiting arms of my brother. I watched as he pulled her from the shadows and just before the gate closed I heard two anguished cries of no.
Now that I knew she was safe and back in the real world I had a new quest. I started to search for the evil that took her from me. I had decided to never let this evil do to another what it had done to me. And with a lighter heart knowing my love was safe now I turned to confront the evil around me. I turned and started to walk away when before me a being in bright light stood. I drew my sword and prepared to fight not knowing what it was I faced. Each of my blows was turned aside is if I was nothing more then a babe. This went on for a short time and suddenly I found my priced by a blade of intense light. I looked down in amazement at the blade in my breast an then looked up into the strangest eyes I had ever seen. I could only think of one thing and that was why. And in my mind I heard his reply. You gave your life for another and your sacrifice is now repaid the last bits of evil have been driven from your heart now return to the life you have earned for yourself.
And then I awoke in the real world with my brother and my wife around me. I had no armor or sword all my dark accouterments were left behind me in the world of shadows. Now I knew that I had been given a chance to live my life like it was meant to be at peace with the world around me.