The Rains.

"As the world turns so too does it end, for me at least. Clouds darken the sky and my heart darkens with it, for I know now that there can be no escape, my fate is sealed. Let the rains come..."
The rain splashed down upon the cobbled streets of Thais. A bedraggled man ran through the puddles toward the city gates. A crowd of riotus townsfolk hard upon his heels, screaming foul taunts and insults. The figure ran on oblivious, bolts whizzing past his ears, fireballs shooting around him. Still he ran, for his very life depended on it. Then ahead of him the welcome site of the town gates, casting a final look back he rushed out of the open gates into the wilderness. Only a few members of the mob followed but soon gave up persuit, losing him to the darkness of the night.
Once out of sight of the town the figure, known by some as Fen Marson, stopped to catch his breath and take account of the past few days events.
He had been in town seeking someone, he wasn't sure who, he just had a vague name. One known as Resora, he believed. She was said to be the daughter of Dalsen Firbred, once a soldier of the Red Legion and comrade of Marson, now vanished without trace.
After a few days of search he found someone matching her description, she was a petty theif stealing from anyone and everyone and subsequently was hunted by many. He found her bruised and battered in one of the city's many back alleys. Her wounding seemed superficial but still Marson didn't want to risk his only lead and so cast a spell of healing over the woman. She looked up at him with bright blue eyes and brushed a lock of dark brown hair from her face, there could be no mistake, this had to be Dalsen's daughter. Marson brought his hand down so as to help her to her feet, she slowly, tentitively reached a hand up to hold his.
"Who, Who are you? Why did you help me?" She seemed poised to take flight at the slightest thing. "I am Fen Marson, I once knew your father-" "You knew my father?" She interupted, "Where is he?" She asked with haste. Marson let out a small sigh, "I had hoped that you could have helped me in that respect, but obviously not." He turned to walk out of the alley but she called out to him, "Wait! Please don't leave me! You're the first person to show me any kindness in a long while, please let me help you search for him." Marson turned, "Well, another pair of hands and eyes is always appreciated I suppose, come child let us--" His voice trailed off as his attention was taken by a noise further out in the street. A scuffle of feet brought a crowd of 4 burly townsfolk around the corner into the alley.
"That's her! That's that damned thief!" One shouted and all four drew large swords. They began to advance on Resora, Marson stepped between them and held up his hand calling for them to halt.
"Out of our way old man," One sneered. "I think that maybe you should leave here before someone gets hurt," Marson pointed out in a gentle tone of voice. The group now switched their attention to Marson who reached to a scabbard on his back which housed his quater staff. One man took a slash at him, but he had agility not obvious form his age and dodged to one side whilst bringing his staff in a sweeping arc through the man's legs flooring him. The other three looked slightly daunted, but refused to retreat and all three advanced at once. He was a blur of activity, sticking out a leg here, blocking there, in a short space of time his four assailants lay spread eagled on the floor, groaning.
"Come, I think we should depart with haste." Marson said gripping Resora's unresisting hand and leading her out of the alley. They sculked around the city streets, trying to reach a gate without drawing attention to themselves, but to no avail. Soon a mob, headed by the four men who had attacked them earlier, cought sight of them. "My child, I fear that I will not be able to fight this many men,"
Marson glanced about him desperately, "I believe you may be able to reach the rooftops via that drain pipe." He said indicating to his left. "But what of you?" Resora asked her voice filled with concern. "I will aid your escape by drawing the mob's attention for a short while, have no fear for my safety. Now you must go my child, I will meet you outside the city. Farewell."
His thought's were jerked back to the present by a rustle behind him, he turned reaching for his quater staff, to see the welcome face of Resora.
"It seems we should perhaps seek refuge in another town, I would suggest Ab'dendriel, it is relatively peaceful there." Resora nodded her agreement and they set off north. After a few days trek they came up to two vast gates made of stone, surrounded in a dense forest. They cautiously walked towards the gate, Fen glanced up to see a pair of elven guardsmen observing them from atop the stone gates.
"Greetings elven friends, we seek refuge in your fine town." Fen said ammiably.
"You may pass friend, all are welcome here so long as no trouble is caused." One of the elves waved them in. Once inside they realised that the dense forest was in fact the town itself, each tree intertwined with building materials making homes out of the forest.
A very elagant elf walked towards them and did a small courtsey, "Welcome to out fair town, sir, ma'am. I hope you enjoy your stay, I am Seyadro. If there is anything you need you merely have to ask." She said in a musical sing-song voice.
"Thank you, could you direct us to some form of lodgings where we might stay the night?" Asked Fen.
"Oh I insist you stay with me, you see we have no inns or guesthouses here, any visitors stay in one of our homes." She said bouncing slightly on the spot with excitement.
Fen woke with the crack of dawn, to find Seyadro already awake and perform various jobs about the house and Resora still fast asleep. He decided to let her lie for now, there was no rush to leave. While she was asleep he spent his time talking with their elven host about the surrounding area, he found that a graveyard dedicated to the soldiers of the Red Legion that had died.
When Resora awoke they said their farewells to Seyadro and left for the graveyard. Fen looked at Resora as they walked, she had a sort of fear in her eyes, a fear of what she may find at the graveyard, while she wanted to find her father a graveyard was not the place she wished to find him.
As they reached the entrance to the graveyard the sky had began to cloud over with dark menacing clouds. They cautiously entered and began to look at the grave stones.

  Sonnya Dandale	        Thomas Dandale	        Joseph Lascane
Died 1034 New Era	      Died 1033 New Era	       Died 1033 New Era
The graves continued in this fashion, one after another. Then Resora screeched with terror. "What is it my dear?" Fen Asked concerned, "It's-- it's him, look." She said as realisation set in. "Dalsen Firbred 1045 New Era" "Hmm, my dear, I don't think all here is as it seems. The date on the grave is this years, yet the stone is old. And you will notice a trend amongst the others, they all say "Died" this one does not..." Fen calmly stated. He walked towards the stone and pushed gently, slowly the stone fell backwards on a pivot revealing a hole beneath. Resora let out a small gasp and her hand went instinctively towards her crossbow. Fen merely looked into the hole for a moment, then withdrew from his backpack a small lantern and decended into the depths below, followed shortly by Resora.
Beneath was a long winding corridor leading further and further down, finally ending in a solid wooden door.
Fen walked towards the door, not hesitating for a moment, and knocked three times creating a loud booming sound echoing throughout the rock tunnels. The door slowly began to drift open soundlessly, to revealing a dimly lit chamber beyond. In it's center was a lone chair, sat in the chair with his eyes closed and hands resting in his lap sat none other than Dalsen Firbred.
"It has been a while Fen." He said in a hollow voice. "That it has dear friend," Said Fen as peaceful as ever. "Father! I have missed you so!" Resora burst out, but the seated man merely waved a hand in her direction, never once opening his eyes. "Why have you hidden yourself from the world in this manner, old friend?"
"You already know, I am sure, or at least you suspect it. As a sorceror I always dabbled slightly in the... darker arts. Then on a raid, when we were still with the Red Legion, I discovered a book, filled with power, but dark power. My will was not strong enough to resist it's call and I read the book, or maybe the book read me, I'm not sure which way around. But it consumed me, my soul, my life, everything, to leave me as the hollow shell of a man I am today. It tried to use me to it's purpose, to destroy, to kill, but there at least the small remanants of my will held on, and I retreated here. I cast a spell on the door so it would open to all but myself. It now seems that this was not adequate. If you find me then others could, and my will can not hold forever without the confines of these four walls. Leave now, so it can be over." He said, sorrow filling his hollow voice. Resora ran towards him, but Fen held her back.
"We should go my dear, I know your father. This is for the best." He said as she struggled in his grip to no avail.
He began to walk slowly from the chamber dragging her reluctantly with him. As they were reaching the door, the figure in the chair opened his eyes for the first time in years, and looked straight into the eyes of his daughther. Her gaze met with his and immediatley she stopped resisting Fen and walked mournfully away.
When they reached the surface the gravestone swung back into place. Fen pushed the stone testing it, then began to pound the earth. "Solid. As if there had never been anything there."
Resora looked towards the sky, to the dark thunder clouds gathering over head. Slowly she became aware of the light rain brushing her skin. Fen gripped her hand gently and they watched the rain fall.