Chapter 3: Into the Temple

Back at Tamaryn's temple...

It was dark and smelly. Water seemed to be dripping from somewhere inside the walls, it wasn't nearly as loud as Bender's gruff breathing coming from up ahead. He was mad and, currently, most of that anger was directed at her via glares he shot back every once in a while. The other members of the group had fallen silent, probably due to the dark gaping hole they seemed to be plodding into without restraint.

Her mind wandered through old memories of daunting times, none were more peculiar than this. More were horrifyingly dangerous in comparison. She'd be all right.

Bender's lumbering steps changed sound as he hit a new type of flooring. "Well, here's the bottom," Haro cheered, "no one fell and broke their necks."

"No, but I don't like this place one bit," Jim said.

"If you're afraid, leave now," Bender grunted gruffly.

"I'm not afraid, I just don't like it!" Jim protested.

"Let's keep going," Chrom said, pushing his way through the group and walking towards a large room that lay in front of them. The rest of the party followed, torches fanning out to give everyone a better view. The room was 20 feet wide and triple that tall. In the center was a hole that stretched across the room barring their way to the other side. In the middle of the hole was a giant, golden frog. It didn't move or blink, just sat there.

"There seems to be a door on the other side," Dieras said, "we should leap over to it. Might lead to what we're looking for."

"Are you worthy?" a booming voice emitted from the frog in the center, he turned to look at the party. "Look at all of you, let see who we have here," he squinted in the light, sucking every detail. "A wizard fellow," the frog muttered, his long tongue hanging from his mouth for a second. "I don't know you," he continued talking to Chrom, "what name do they call you?"

"I am Chrom, a wizard," Chrom replied.

"Interesting," the frog moved on, looking up and down at Dieras.

The druid was enthralled with this new creature and immediately began speaking, "Oh great one," he said, bowing with a flourish, "I am Dieras, Druid of the Forest and friend to animals everywhere."

"Is that so?" the frog chuckled. Dieras was about to reply when the frog turned to Haro, "And what name do you go by in this life?"

"I guess Clary Haro," she replied, "though I'm not sure what you mean."

"Very interesting, this will be one for the memory," the frog said, he looked to Jim, "and you?"

"Jim."

"I know you," the frog chuckled pointing a webbed hand at Marie, "what name are you going by now?"

Marie glared at the frog, but made an effort to appear puzzled. Haro stared quizzically but no one said anything. Turning back to the frog, she replied, "Marie."

"I quite like that one," the frog said, "and you dwarf, I know you but not your name."

"You don't know me," Bender grunted.

"He's Bender, O wise frog," Dieras put in helpfully.

"A stubborn dwarf, " the frog smirked, "how original." He took in the party once more and shook his head, "You are not worthy yet," he growled.  With that he lashed out with one large hand, striking Jim and pushing into the water below. Everyone prepared for battle.

The frog was quite spry for its large size, it hopped nimbly to one side positioning itself to attack Chrom. Bender charged forward, knocking Dieras aside who was beside himself with shock.  With a mighty roar, Bender swung his great axe hacking at one of the legs of the creature.  It bellowed in pain, but didn't stop attacking. It's tongue lashed out at Haro who cleverly avoided it. Rapier prepared, she sliced it's tongue instead.

Marie took no time trying to rescue Jim, with a full set of armor on he would have trouble swimming to the surface. Hurriedly she pulled a rope from her bag and wound it around a column that connected to the ceiling. The other end she threw over the side as she peered over the edge looking for Jim.

Bender was furious, swing left and right. He and Haro were a vicious duo. She leapt from the floor and onto the back of the golden frog.  It shook violently, trying to get her off. She was too nimble and held fast.  In his attempt to dislodge the Halfling he ran over the still upset Dieras and shoved him into the water. The druid yelped as he hit the frigid water below. Chrom stood ready, his arm outstretched. With a flick of his wrist he called forth a fireball that smashed into the side of the frog. It bellowed again, finally flinging Haro off.

The frog bowed its head and began shrinking. Jim had finally caught onto Marie's rope and pulled himself up.  Bender charged again, but the frog held up its webbed hands in defeat. Now the size of a normal frog, it hopped casually forward.

"You have passed," the frog said, "you are worthy to enter the temple. I warn you however, it isn't safe. Nothing here is safe."

"That was a test?" Dieras whimpered, pulling himself up after Jim.

"You think Tebris is just going to let anyone into his temple?" the frog scoffed.

"You mean the dragon Tebris?" Dieras' face lit up excitedly. 

  

"Who else?" the frog replied, "It is curious that you know of him, how do you?"

"It is my mission to ressurect Tebris," Dieras replied.

"Then you have come to the right place," the frog answered.

"Noble creature," Dieras continued, "what name we call you by?"

The frog rolled his eyes, "What does that matter? There's a darkness that's invaded this temple and I need you to get rid of it for me."

"You can't?" Haro smirked.

"No, I can't," he growled, "but you seem capable."

"Fine," Marie butted in, "but if we need you, you have to come. We'll call to you. It's your temple, no reason we should do all the work of the guardian."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," the frog replied, "now off with you." It a split second the frog hopped into the air and disappeared.

"Well that was all very odd," Haro sniffed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Temple Guardians are a bit daft," Marie chuckled.

Ever the sensible one, Chrom spoke up, "Shall we destroy some evil in another room?" Everyone gathered themselves up while Jim went around making sure everyone was healed. No one seemed to notice the new towershield he now carried. 

Chapter 2: A Scroll Through Time, Part III

PREVIOUSLY...

They all set to work and completed the raft shortly. It was crude, but it would manage the two mile float to the tower. They shoved off, Marie watching the shoreline behind them. There it was, the being that had been following them. Clothed in dark armor and carrying a broad sword, how had it remained so stealthy in such garb?

"Is that it?" Haro asked, pointing to it.

"Yes," Marie said.

Haro raised her small palm to it and waved, the dark knight waved back.

The strange creature in full armor didn't follow them and they focused their attention on the river. The closer they got to the tower, the foggier it got. The only thing they could mae out well was the looming tower in the distance. They paddled forward, nervous and unsure of what they would meet. Things in the Shadowfell were never easy, you never knew who was out to get you or from where they would come. The sat in the eerie silence waiting.

Soon after they deemed it safe to dock on the shore and everyone got off the raft. They tied it to a tree and stared at the building before them.

"Looks like sixteen stories," Haro estimated.

"Who would build such an absurd structure in the middle of nowhere?" Marie asked, staring pointedly at Adalos.

He shrugged, "You never know, it seems like a trap though."

"Then why are we here?" Haro asked.

"Everess wouldn't ask us to do something if it weren't important," Marie answered, "we can trust her judgement. That doesn't mean it's not trapped though."

"Let's look around for a bit then, maybe there's a clue to why it's here," Adalos suggested.

"Fine," Marie agreed, "You two search around to the left and I'll go to the right."

Haro and Adalos exchanged a look of suspicion, but said nothing. They began making their way around the left side of the building. Along the sides of the building there were no insignias or even any embelishments to give away it's purpose. It was blank, cold stone that matched the ever graying sky. They kept going, happening upon a half buried statue. Despite being a scholar of history and religion, Adalos knew nothing of the cloaked figure that bore long sharp teeth.

"What is it?" Haro asked.

"I'm not sure, let's dig it out," Adalos suggested. With no other signs to give them a clue as to what they would face in the tower, they began digging.

Meanwhile, Marie had found the entrance to the tower. Her instinct told her to turn away and leave it as it sat ajar. But, there was something in there, something they needed. Quietly, she crept to the door examining the ground before her and the door frame. Her eyes easily found the thin but strong steel cables. It was a trap, one she'd need time to disarm. She found the device's pressure plate and began her work. Many years of practice and an excellent (although regretable) teacher, made the work easy. In no time, she had disabled the device.

Ducking down, she decided to investigate the interior. Like a shadow, she slinked in to the room but there was no light. Across the room from her came the rattling of chains, someone was inside. Rather than face them by herself, she retreated to find her companions.

Adalos and Haro had dug for an hour now and the statue's base had yet to be uncovered.

"This is ridiculous," Haro muttered, "we're not getting anywhere."

"But, this statue is the only clue we have," Adalos reminded her.

"We stopped looking as soon as we found it," Haro pointed out, "maybe there's something else. I don't think this is going to help us at all."

"Just a little more time," Adalos asked.

"What about the rogue? Shouldn't we have seen her by now?" Haro asked.

"You would have if you weren't digging a pit," Marie said, walking up to the two of them.

"We thought the statue might tell us something," Adalos said.

"What? That this place is really old?" Marie scoffed, "Come on. I've disabled the trap at the front door but there's something waiting inside for us. I recommend a torch for light."

Haro bounded up after the rogue and Adalos soon followed, taking one last look at the statue. A shiver ran down his spine just looking at it. He had a job to do though.

At the door, Haro lit a torch. Marie nodded to the both of them and kicked the door so it would swing open. She rushed forward and found the foe she was looking for. A skeleton was standing in front of them, a sword in its hand. It took a step forward but Marie was already upon in. She swung down with her morning star. It tried to dodge her, but it was too late. It crumbled to the ground in heap of dust and bone fragments.

"That wasn't so bad," she said, flicking her hair out of her face.

"We could have used you in our party a while back," Adalos chuckled, "seems we're always fighting."

"Everess said you had many enemies," Marie said. She began to examine the room, looking for more traps. Haro had found a bookshelf and was pouring over the scroll, most of them too ancient to understand anymore.

"Can you read these?" Haro asked, holding them up to Marie.

"I can make out a bit," Marie said, concentrating on the words, "they're goblin. Tactics for war mostly, but ancient. These must have been here for a very long time."

"Look at this," Adalos held up a piece of parchment, considering the rest of the books lying about it seemed fairly new. The strange writing was unknown to Haro and unlike the scrolls she'd found, who then passed on the letter to Marie.

"It's a warning," Marie said, "between men that seem to be brothers. Apparently one, name Jynx, was writing to tell his brother Yardol that he couldn't hide him. Someone called the 'Onlooker' was after him," Marie roughly translated.

"Whoever those people are," Haro muttered, "it doesn't help us."

"No," Marie replied, but she stashed the note in he bag anyways.

"Let's keep going," Adalos said, motioning to a staricase in the corner.

The ranged up two more levels, each had traps and more skeletons waiting to attack them. On the fourth level they came to a room. Unlike the ones before, there were no skeletons in site. Only an old telescope and on the floor in a large circle a symbol of sickness and sin. Haro, unbothered by the strangeness of it all, walked up to a closet on the farside of the room. Immediately two skeletons darted out of the closet. Adalos flung the telescope at one crushing it, while Marie bashed the other's head in with her morning star.

"Easy there, Haro," Marie helped the halfing up, "it's okay to be curios, as long as you can kill the thing you're curious about."

"I would have had it," Haro said.

"I know," Marie replied, "just be careful."

Another few levels of the same pattern, didn't phase their pursuit ever upward. As they were about to reach the sixth floor, Adalos heard a voice inside his mind, Welcome, me old friend, it said.

"Did you hear that?" Adalos asked.

"Hear what?" Haro asked.

"It must have been my imagination," Adalos sighed. They continued up the stairs entering a room with a pedestal in the middle and on it was the book.

Usmos, it's you! The book cheered, only Adalos heard it.

"Who are you?" Adalos asked aloud. Haro and Marie exchanged perlexed glances, but did nothing.

You don't remember, but we were friends long ago, the book explained, in fact, you helped create me.

"How can I know to trust you?" Adalos asked.

Because I'm hear to help, there's so much to do and so little time, it said, besides, I'm a book. What am I really going to be able to do to you?

"Well, I believe I meant to get you," Adalos reasoned, "so I have no problem in claiming you." A series of images ran through Adalos mind, 4 beings in blue, a volcano errupting in the middle of a mountain range, a large table, many different cities all engulfed in war, and two dragons with the three blue being fighting something dark.

A burst of light flashed through the room and suddenly two figures stood with the group. An old man in white robes and red designs stood with Everess. Haro and Marie stood in front of the dazed Adalos as the old man began to speak.

"I'm glad you're all here," he began, "I am the Onlooker. Together you must free Everess, unite the Champion Titans, and stop Nix. There's so much to be done and so little time, but Dane can help you. This book, will show you how to win."

The room began spinning and the three fell unconcious. Everything has just gotten more bewildering.

Chapter 2: A Scroll Through Time - Part 2

PREVIOUSLY...

"I don't know," Adalos murmered aloud. There was a sudden clanging to his right, a drawbridge began to lower. He could hear something breathing heavily from the otherside. Rather than run away, Adalos took this as his chance. Perhaps this was his way to escape. "Air, water, I don't know. I don't know, I don't know," he shouted, the drawbridge lowered faster and faster. Adalos was about to dart up the drawbridge when he saw the massive shape emerge from the gloom. An enormous three headed dragon stood before him.

CONTINUING ON...

Adalos immediately backed up, he wasn't prepared to fight a dragon on his own. The montrous beast snarled at him with all three heads each exhibiting it's rows upon rows of bone breaking teeth. The thick fog grew denser until Adalos had a hard time breathing, his head began to grow light and he struggled to stay conscious. As his vision faded he thought he saw a light glowing closer toward him. He braced himself for death and fell to the floor. The world went dark.

When Adalos opened his eyes again he was not in the wine cellar anymore. Disgruntled he sat up and looked around, he was in a field. A rather large field full of long white and greay shafts of grass. At least, the moon made them look that way. It was night out and up above was a full moon, but it was grey and didn't seem real at all. He knew then he was back in the Shadowfell, a place he vaguely remembered. Directly to his west was a large grey rock jutting up from the middle of the field. It was quiet out and no bugs seemed to be flickering past him. Had this been some extension of the weird wine cellar? He had no way of knowing.

"What in the stars...?" a confused female voice came from behind him. He jumped and turned defensively only to be met by a puzzled look from the female rogue he'd just encountered in Tamaryn's temple. Behind her, Clary Haro stood brushing dirt off of her knees.

"How did you two get here?" Adalos asked, he wondered if they all were dead.

"Last thing I remember, I'm laying down after waking Jim for his watch. Where on earth are we?" Marie asked. Her eyes stared up at the moon and Adalos thought he caught something in them, perhaps a twinge of sadness.

"What's the weird rock thing?" Haro asked, strutting forward.

"Wherever this is it feels-" Marie began.

"Creepy," Haro and Adalos finished for her.

All three of them walked towards the stone, and as the approached it was just that: a weird, gray stone. Nothing more. "Now what?" Haro mused, trying to climb up the rock.

Before their eyes a giant being appeared. She was pale skinned with a jaw that hung open, gray tattered rags covered her body. A gruesome sight for sure. "Adalos, my dear," she began.

"I've met her before," Haro muttered under her breath so that only Marie could hear.

"Everess," Marie whispered.

"It's been a while," she giggled, it sounded more like the cawing of ravens though. Only Marie seemed unphased while Adalos and Haro took a step back. "And your friends," Everess said, "you look quite familiar. Remind me of someone I used to know." She pointed at Marie, and scratched her head with a claw like hand. "It doesn't matter now though, I have something important for you to do. It's of great urgency that you find a book, it belonged to you long ago."

"A book, belonging to me?" Adalos asked, he didn't remember owning any particularly important books.

"Yes, it's bound in leather with a red ruby. It lies not far from here, but it will help you to complete your quest," she said.

"What quest is that?" Haro asked.

"You're going to be up against many enemies," Everess sighed, "you'll need all the help you can get to fix everything. It's the last chance you'll have."

"Still unclear," Haro said.

"There are a few things I need to warn you about," Everess seemed to ignore Haro and Marie and focus only on Adalos, "Jinx is doing terrible things to that town, be careful that he doesn't catch you, he will kill you. Katymar is not the same as the evil queen," Everess continued.

"Katymar?" Marie asked Haro.

"A companion who was dragged away by the Queen of the Shadowfell who looked a lot like her," Haro replied, "they could have been identical twins, except one is our friend and the other is freakin' evil."

"You musn't let the Queen take Katymar's essence," Everess continued, "that's what the Nightwatch wants. He wants the Queen to be more powerful. One more thing before I have to go back, you have to find the missing parts of my soul."

"Your soul, m'lady?" Adalos asked.

"Yes, they've been scattered a bit," Everess confessed, "and until I have them back I will be trapped doing the Nightwatch's will."

"I will find them," Adalos promised.

Everess smiled and moved closer to him. Out of fear, Adalos jumped back but managed to turn his fleeing move into a courteous bow. Everess shifted from the horrifying being she appeared to be and turned into a lovely woman with long blonde hair, dancing blue eyes, and cute dimples as she smiled fondly at Adalos. "You always were so very charming," she reminisced. Then she disappeared.

The moon in the sky became a normal golden hue.

"This is weird, right?" Haro piped up, once again trying to climb the rock.

"Very," Marie muttered quietly, seeming to be in a daze.

"If I recall right," Adalos scratched his chin as he thought, "there's a tower a few miles from here. It's old and abandoned like most things in the Shadowfell. That must be where this book is," he surmised.

"We're in the Shadowfell?" Haro asked excitedly.

"Yes, my home land," Adalos said charmingly, "shall we be off then?"

"Tell me this," Marie demanded harshly, even she seemed taken aback by her tone, "why is Everess so interested in you?"

"Everess?" Adalos asked.

"Yes, that being we just encountered," Marie replied.

"I don't know," Adalos shrugged, "never met her before. How do you know her?"

Marie grew suddenly quiet and Adalos knew for sure that time he saw a devestation crawl across her pale gray eyes, "Just read about her once."

Adalos wasn't convinced, but he didn't push her to keep talking. Instead he shared his childhood, he thought Marie and Haro both had the right to know what had happened in the temple. He explained about his father's ritual and talked about his dark childhood, "There was one time...I took two torches into a villiage...and..."

"You don't have to tell us," Marie butted in, "it's tragic and terrible but it's not your fault."

"We'll find a way to fix you," Haro added.

It was at this time they all began to smell a musty bog, up ahead all they could see was pure blackness. Above the stars shined brightly though, and it was comforting to all of them.  They could now see a faint dark line stretching up to the sky, the dark tower Adalos had mentioned. It loomed into the sky a foreboding visiage. A deep yearning resonated with Adalos everytime he looked at the tower, a missing link was there and he had to find it.  Marie turned to look behind herself, she saw a shadow flicker throught the brush. Something was following them.

The group approached a river. It was wide and the current was strong, it's flowing moving toward the tower. Marie glanced over her shoulder again, there was something there, but why hadn't it come out? What did it want from them? Gold, weapons, or something more treacherous? Her companions hadn't seemed to notice yet, instead they argued about the best way to buil a raft.

"I've got pleant of rope, we'll bind the logs together," Haro said.

"Fine, and we can fill in the gaps with dried grass so we don't get as wet," Adalos added.

"I'll go find something to steer with," Marie said absent mindedly, she headed through the trees in a round about way, looking for the creature that was following them. She hid behind trees and slunk through the shadows, then she felt it. It was watching her. She couldn't get a clear look at it, but she knew one thing for certain. It was only observing for now, otherwise she would have been dead. Eager to be away from the thing, she headed back towards her companions.

Adalos and Haro had finished half of the raft and all the logs were cut, waiting to be bound. Marie had returned empty handed after her fright over the creature. Her mind swam, the others only stared at her quizically.

"You've been gone a long time," Adalos said.

"And you didn't find anything to steer with," Haro crossed her arms across her chest.

Marie looked around, pulled a sturdy but small sappling out of the ground and used a dagger to trim off the branched. She picked up a chunck from one of the logs and fastened it to the sappling. She tossed the crude, but functional rudder/paddle and went to make a second one just in case.

"Are you all right?" Adalos asked her.

"You do seem on edge," Haro agreed.

"There's something watching us," Marie admitted, "Just observing, but I don't like it."

"Well, let's get this ship finished and get out of here," Adalos said, "they won't be able to follow us across the water." They all set to work and completed the raft shortly. It was crude, but it would manage the two mile float to the tower. They shoved off, Marie watching the shoreline behind them. There it was, the being that had been following them. Clothed in dark armor and carrying a broad sword, how had it remained so stealthy in such garb?

"Is that it?" Haro asked, pointing to it.

"Yes," Marie said.

Haro raised her small palm to it and waved, the dark knight waved back.

TO BE CONT...

Chapter 2: A Scroll Through Time - Part I

(This adventure happened midway through our game, yet chronologically falls right near the beginning. I thought I would add it as the second chapter)

Adalos wandered back towards Kingsport. The sun was out in the early spring day and he took his time to think. He had no idea what he'd do there but he didn't fancy risking his friend's lives again. Centering himself was the goal for now. Similar situations happened all the time to him, especially in his younger years. It was his father's fault! They were to blame for this constant fear, wondering if the next moment he'd still have control of his mind.

When he was just a baby, his father had sought great power. The easiest way for him to attain that power was through a dark ritual to the god of death. He had intended to sacrifice his infant son, but it backfired. Now Adalos lived with this. Something that could control him so frightfully. As a child he was hardly ever himself, Jim knew of the terror Adalos has wrecked in the Shadowfell. Only his mother's sacrifice had saved him and now he led this life always trying to keep his dark side at bay.

Kingsport was not far away. It took a mere 45 minutes to get there. It was a bustling town but unlike any city from his home plane, the Shadowfell. His bizarre red skin and flame like hair made many people stop and stare as he trekked towards the gate, but he didn't mind. He liked the attention, he liked to feel different. Unfortunately, not many people wanted to talk to him. That's the problem with being different, it's hard to make friends.

"Good woman," Adalos said cheerily, hailing a blind elderly woman who was walking along the path.

"Hello dear," she said, smiling brightly. She didn't know how he looked, she wouldn't be one to steer him wrong.

"I am a simple traveler," Adalos said charmingly, "if you would be so kind, could you point me in the direction of a good inn?"

"Of course," she replied, "you can't go wrong with the Laughing Goose. It's just a few streets south of here."

"Thank you, madam," Adalos said, he set off in the direction her frail hand pointed. Unfortunately, he got lost very shortly and the stares continued to follow him.

"You there, halt," two guards of the city stood across from him. The speaker, a stout man clothed in a full plate of armor, held out his arm so that Adalos could not pass. The other was a female guard who had her helmet under her arm and a flirty smile on her rosy lips.

"Is there a problem officers?" Adalos asked innocently.

"We don't get many of your kind here," the female guard said, holding out her hand. He companion rolled his eyes and stepped in between them.

"What is your business here?" the guard asked.

"My companions and I have some news for the mayor regarding the priest who's been sending creatures to invade your town. We've been hired by your mayor to stop him," Adalos tried. It wasn't entirely a lie.

"I see," the guard said, you best be heading towards the Laughing Goose. The mayor always has a drink there around this time."

"I was just headed that way," Adalos admitted, "I seem to be lost."

"It's just around the bend there," the woman said, the other guard began to move on, "can't miss it. And, if you're looking for so company tonight, come find me. I should be near the front gates most of the evening. The name's Breanne."

"Thanks," Adalos muttered, hurriedly moving away from her and down the street. He didn't turn to look behind him but if he had he would have seen her smile turn to a frown very quickly.

The Laughing Goose was a jaunty old place. It smelled of ale, vomit, and newly lit pipes. There were patrons everywhere, a rowdy bunch in the corner, a scholarly fellow sitting by the window, a tough looking mercenary sharpening his blade in a dark corner, and a plump man enjoying a goblet of red liquid surrounded by four guards. That had to be the mayor.

Cheerily, Adalos waddled up to the bar and laid down a gold piece, "Drinks all round, on me!" he declared loudly. There was a cheer from the group gathered there and Adalos took him time to approach the mayor. He had questions. Behind him, the bartenders eyes glowed red briefly and then returned to their original grayish hue.

"Master Infreed," the mayor called, batting aside his guards who had their hands on their swords. "My thanks for the drink," he said, "what brings you back so early from your quest?"

"Ah, it is a pleasure to see you again sir," Adalos said, bowing slightly. He sat across from the plump man and leaned back, "My companions have some questions about the Tamaryn fellow, we didn't wish to get all caught up without knowing some details first."

"No problem, no problem at all," the mayor insisted, "what can I answer for you?"

"How is the old man happening to summon creatures of the dead?" Adalos asked.

"He's a necromancer of some sort, that pig headed coward. If I could tear him apart I would," the mayor grumbled. He raised the glass to his mouth and his beverage dribbled down his chin. He was a disgusting man and his yellow teeth stank of rot. Inwardly Adalos cringed, outwardly he remained polite and delicate. If what Tamaryn had said was true, Adalos was not sitting across from a very cunning enemy with a lot to gain from killing him.

"I see, what about weaknesses? Do you know of any?" Adalos asked.

"I'm afraid not," the mayor sighed, "you should ask Matilda, the cook. She knew Tamaryn before he became what he is. She will know the most about him."

"Much obliged," Adalos stood up, "I will go speak with her. Thanks for your help."

"Of course, lad," the mayor chuckled, raising his glass. "Destory that bastard! In the worse way you can imagine!" he cajoled.

"Will do, sir," Adalos said, he walked back to the barkeeper who pointed him toward the back. The back kitchen were suprising clean, several young women were standing about cutting vegetable, stirring pots and other such chores. One woman stood at the back, slicing into a well cook ham and ordering the others about. She was broad and chubby with dark hair pulled up in a bun. As Adalos approached she pointed a knife at him and scowled.

"If yer looking for a free hand out, there'll be none to get 'ere," she growled, "so get on yer way before I call the mayor's guard on 'e."

"Kind madam, you mistake me for some kind of fiend," Adalos put his hands up peacefully, "I am here on behalf of the mayor. I have some questions for your old friend, Tamaryn."

The once bustling kitchen grew still and the cook laid down her knife, wiping her hands on her apron. "Follow me," she began walking toward the wine cellar. Adalos followed, not ignoring the accusing stares of the kitchen staff. Could this woman still be a friend of Tamaryn's?

She climbed down the cellar first, a torch in her hand. He followed close behind, trying to read her demeanor in the uncomfortable silence they walked in. Her tense shoulders made him anxious, why did she need him to follow her down here? It was a long staircase, one longer than he expected for such a quaint little inn. The echoing of water droplet came from somewhere below, was this place part of an undergrounhd cave system? His suspicion grew as the neared the bottom and she began to slow. With a flick of her wrist she threw the torch and it extinguished itself somewhere on the floor below.

His dark vision saved him. She yelled something fierce and charge at him, wailing the whole time, "You disgusting creature, I'll kill you!"

He dove out of her reach and kicked her down the stairs. She stood up slowly, a hand to her head. Suddenly smoke began filling the room and the woman's face morphed in to the undead creature she truly was. Adalos hit her with all he had, swinging his fists down as fast as he could. She grabbed hold of his waist and threw him across the floor. Dizzy, he tried to balance himself and stood. She charged him again, he fumbled aroung and found the torch she had thrown lying on the ground. With a grunt he swung upward and caught her on the jaw. Her skull shattered and her lifeless body fell to the floor.

He turned back towards the staircase, but it was gone. He lit the torch and began to move forward, perhaps she'd thrown him farther than he originally thought. In the flickering light of his torch he saw something, something he knew hadn't been there before. In front of him was a large statue of him. Recalling his studies as a young monk, Adalos knew this to be the likeness of the god of Trickery. Hardly anyone worshipped that deity anymore, it was odd that such a relic would be in a wine cellar (as strangely enchanted as it was).

Taking a moment Adalos surveyed the entire statue and noticed an inscription on the bottom. It read: I'm sometimes strong. I'm sometimes weak. But, I am nobody's fool. For there is no language I can't speak, though I never went to school. What am I?

"I don't know," Adalos murmered aloud. There was a sudden clanging to his right, a drawbridge began to lower. He could hear something breathing heavily from the otherside. Rather than run away, Adalos took this as his chance. Perhaps this was his way to escape. "Air, water, I don't know. I don't know, I don't know," he shouted, the drawbridge lowered faster and faster. Adalos was about to dart up the drawbridge when he saw the massive shape emerge from the gloom. An enormous three headed dragon stood before him.


TO BE CONT.

Chapter 1: A Rogue's Beginning, Enter Marie

(To be fair, I came into the game around level 3. The other characters had been with each other for a little bit now, learning each other's ins and outs. This was (is) my first time playing D&D, so it was all entirely new to me. I'm taking down the story because I'm proud of our DM and the story is pretty cool. Here it all goes.)

Marie sat in the rafters of a temple. She'd been there for a couple days now, watching the lumbering priest who guarded it. He was as boring as he was old. Brewing tea and meditating seemed to be the only things he did besides clean the rotten vegetables and fruit off his door that some village boys had thrown. Thankfully, he wasn't the one she was interested in. His temple was a means to an end. There was a group she was looking for, a group that just might help her change the fate of the world. Enevitably, be it days or years, they would end up exactly where she had.

She was running out of time, these people were her last hope. She'd heard rumors of a few of them before. A redskinned halfling ranging about with his heavily armored companion (strange news for the mostly human land of Ijaan) and of a barbaric dwarf that took nothing from no one (though, that wasn't a uncommon trait for dwarves). But lately she'd heard news of them combining forces, becoming a group. Her hop ewas that their cause would be sympathetic to hers.

There was a commotion from outside and Marie wondered if it was the boys again. A gruff war cry told her it wasn't. The priest looked in annoyance at the door, but did not move. Without warning, it buckled and fell inward. A dwarf carrying a great axe entered, followed by an infreed, a halfling, an old wizard, a druid, and a tall man arrayed in heavy armor. They had arrived.

"We could have knocked," the infreed was berating the dwarf.

"This isn't a social call," the dwarf grunted in return, leveling his axe at the priest who now stood and faced the group calmly.

Marie furrowed her brows. This certainly seemed to be the party she was looking for. She worried that she'd misconstrued their intentions. They were supposed to be do gooders with strong moral compasses. Why then were they threatening the priest? Marie tried to move in closer to hear the converstaion better. As she did, her foot slipped on the railing and she nearly fell. The party glanced up but she managed to hide herself behind the rafters in time. No one saw her and they continued talking to the priest.

"Tamaryn, my name is Adalos," the infreed said, his black hair whipping about his face like flames dancing in dry leaves, "you have been sending undead to plague the people of Kingsport. They have asked us to stop you. Now, I am a reasonable man, I just want to know why you did it and deal with this peacefully."

Marie scoffed, the priest may be a bit odd but he was no necromancer. Tamaryn seemed equally miffed as he sat back down and poured another steaming cup of tea, "I have done no such thing," he said, "that is all the work of a far more malevolent being."

"Who?" the halfling piped up. She was quite small compared to the rest of the group, especially the tall, fully armored man she was standing next to.

"You seem to be alligned with him," Tamaryn said, "that mayor is not all he seems to be. He wants something from my temple and has been spreading lies throughout the town in order to bring me ruin. You see, if I'm out of the way, there's nothing stopping him from a total take over."

"Can you prove this?" Adalos asked.

"Of course not, but I'm no necromancer so that should be a pretty good sign," the priest replied.

"What does the mayor want?" the wizard asked, piping up for the first time. For some reason his face felt familiar to Marie, a memory triggered in the back of her mind that she couldn't quite recall. Nothing. She drew a blank. She moved on.

"Something that belongs rightfully to you," Tamaryn pointed a plump finger at the dwarf.

The dwarf grunted and shrugged, he definitely seemed disappointed that they weren't going to fight anymore. It was the halflings curiosity that kept the conversation going, "What is it?" she asked, scooting closer to the tea.

"A weapon made for you, Bender," Tamaryn answered, keeping his tea out of the reach of the halfling.

"I've got a weapon," Bender, the dwarf, growled. He did not ask how the priest knew his name.

No one noticed why the infreed had grown silent, Marie saw it though. He was trembling and his eyes were slowly turning black. She'd seen it before. She knew what was happening. Yes, this was the party she'd been looking for and it was about to get very dangerous for everyone.

Adalos, now having lost his will, was being controlled by something outside himself. The other members of the group jumped back as he lashed out at Bender, who blocked his flailing hits with the broadside of his great axe. Now was as good a time as any, Marie had to stop him before he hurt anyone. With the skill from years of practice behind her, she slipped down from the rafters to tackled the infreed. She landed behind him, kicking his legs out from under him and then rolled to pin him down. He flailed, but she held on, keeping him down.

In this time, the wizard, druid, Bender, the armored man, and the halfling all moved in. Each went about their aproach, unsure of what to do with a woman who just dropped down out of the ceiling. The armored man was some sort of cleric, he began trying to fix Adalos. The wizard and druid stood by, waiting to assist when they could. They didn't want to risk hurting the party because of their attacks.

The halfling tried her best to knock out Adalos and only managed to have her rapier thrown across the room by his flailing limbs. Bender cared less about the infreed's current state and more about the stranger who seemed to be attacking him. He lashed out at Marie, she nearly lost her hold on Adalos, but remained pinning him. Her right arm now bleeding severly, she tightened her grip on him. Again he tried to break free but could not.

The cleric finally came forward, trying to aid Marie, he laid his hand on Adalos but nothing happened. The halfling went to retrieve her weapon and Bender continued with his attacks against Marie. The wizard and Druid began flipping through tomes, trying to find something that would help. As quickly as it had begun, it ended. Adalos went limp in Marie's arms and it seemed his spill was over.

Marie stood up and checked his eyes to see if he was being controlled. He was himself, fully awake and aware of what had just happened. His head in his hands, he sat on the floor while the cleric fussed over him like a mother hen.

"Who are you?" Bender bellowed.

Cautiously Marie raised her hands in defense, "I was just trying to help," she said, "my name is Marie."

"Marie," the halfling repeated returning from fetching her weapon, "I'm Clary Haro. Pleased to meet ya!" She offered her tiny hand in greeting, Marie took it lightly while eyeing Bender warily. He still held his great axe threateningly.

"Are you hurt?" the cleric in his mighty armor asked. His voice was strangely high pitched and nervous for someone of his stature and Marie couldn't help but smile at the irony of it.

"My arm's a bit damaged, but I'm fine otherwise," she replied.

"How long were you in my rafters?" Tamaryn scoffed, he walked up to her curiousity overflowing. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"I've been here a while," Marie replied, allowing the cleric to inspect and heal her wound. "I'm looking for someone," she answered the second question.

"Your name is Marie?" the wizard asked. She nodded. "My name is Chrom, the elf druid is Diearas. Thank you for helping when you did."

"And I'm Jim," the armored man said, "who are you looking for?"

"An old aquaintance," Marie muttered, "there's may be something in Tamaryn's temple to help find her."

"In the temple?" Haro squeaked, noticing for the first time the large open doorway that allowed a view of the steps decending into the ground below.

"I was waiting for someone to come along with me," Marie tried, it wasn't entirely a lie, "it's not exactly the safest place."

"No, no, you're right," Tamaryn mused, "it was tricky before with all the traps and riddles, now it's just impossible with how it's been infected. Damn evil dweling-"

"Don't get carried away now," Chrom butted in, "we came here to do a job for the mayor, but it seems we've been mislead. We can't just go back to town though and accuse their mayor of lying, we need to sort this out."

"I agree," Dieras said, "but while we're here, we might as well see what's lurking below. Perhaps it has something to do with the undead plaguing the town. We can't just let darkness roam beneath this temple."

"Maybe," Tamaryn sighed, "it won't be easy. I don't even go down there anymore."

"Is no one going to address what just happened?" Bender questioned, pointing at Marie and then Adalos.

"He can't help it!" Jim piped up, standing protectively in front of Adalos.

"Why not?" Bender thundered.

"He's cursed," Jim said mournfully.

"Does it matter?" Marie asked, "It's over with now, there's no use fighting something we can't fix or even understand." Jim glanced at her hopefully, smiling with thanks. She did not smile back.

"No one asked you," Bender growled, "you're some stranger who, for all we know, might be the cause of all the undead pillaging the town."

"I'm not," Marie answered firmly, "listen, my work is a bit time sensitive and as much as I'd like help down there, I'd rather do it by myself than worry about someone putting an axe in my back because he has trust issues."

Bender's jaw clenched and Marie was sure he was going to strike her when Haro stood in between them, "Look, we don't know for sure where the evil in the town's coming from, but there is evil down there. That's something we can bank on. It might not be the source, but who cares? It's evil. We can take care of that. As for the new comer, it's odd. But she helped us. That's all that matters right now. I'm going down those stairs and everyone else should too."

Bender huffed a bit, glaring at Marie, but seemed to calm down, "Fine," he said. Without another word he turned and stood at the top of the stairs.

"Fair enough," Tamaryn replied, "it won't be easy down there. I'm sure you'll figure it out, though. I'd go with you, but someone has to keep that fat man from invading my home. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Marie," Adalos had risen from his spot on the floor and now stood ashamedly in front of the group, "thank you for stopping me."

"Anyone would have," she replied, "now, there's something in this temple and since our quests seem to align I think it best we carry on before anything else drastic happens."

"I'm not going with you," Adalos said firmly.

"Why on earth not?" Bender said angrily.

"I can't trust myself around you," he answered.

"Whatever," Bender scoffed, it was odd that he didn't want to fight. Instead, he began trecking down the stairs. Chrom, Haro, and Diearas all followed without another word. Jim waited a moment, undecided whether he would follow Adalos or continue on with the party

"Go with them," Adalos told Jim, "I'm just need some time to myself. I'll come back." Jim still seemed unsure but went after Bender. Adalos and Marie remained for a moment more.

"You should come with us," Marie said, "it's over with for now. You'd be more useful to your group down there than sulking in the woods."

"Thank you for helping me," Adalos said, he turned and went out the door. Marie turned then, and followed down the steps. Wondering at what her new companions were truly like and what was in store for all of them.