Chapter 3

As we walked down the road Valoria and I explained our visions to Dromus and Var. They both agreed to take the side road instead of the main road where the trap lurked. We were walking along having a conversation about what we would need when we got to town. "something Is wrong" Valoria proclaimed "we're surrounded". I looked around but didn't see anyone but none of us moved because we did feel a presence. There was a loud voice as if it were coming from everywhere at once. "I am Rannok Arch-mage of the royal council, under the orders of king Valkor I command you to lay down your arms or you will be killed". At this moment we saw the mage Rannok appear as if walking through a portal from some dark dimension (which he very well may have been). Then about twenty soldiers came through portals that looked the same as Rannok's. I decided that I would not fall into another trap so I drew my weapon but not to surrender. I turned to the three closest soldiers, slicing one across the neck, parrying a blow from a second then countering, and thrusting my sword deep into the chest of a third. I turned towards Rannok and was instantly frozen by his magic, as were the others. I looked around. Var still had his dagger in someone's stomach and I also noted the arrow wedged in the eye of a soldier who had apparently tried to strike me from behind. I saw a body that was burnt beyond recognition at my feet and noticed Valoria swinging her staff at a frozen soldier. Dromus had left his larger axe encased in some poor soldiers chest but had also proceeded to attack two other soldiers with the two small hatchets that are usually at his waist. It seemed he had cut off the leg of one soldier and then proceeded to throw the other hatchet at the other soldiers face. We were now only surrounded by ten soldiers and a mage. "Now, since you refused to throw down your weapons you will die!" Damn. We had almost made it to the next town too. I remember getting mad at that fact but then… nothing. It was pure darkness and I was thinking, is this really what it feels like to be dead. Then I heard a voice, it was familiar but muffled, as if it was talking to me through a wall. At first I couldn't understand but then suddenly I heard it loud and clear "Seek your past" was all it said but somehow I knew it to be of great importance. The voice seemed to be Elven but it was a mans voice so it couldn't be Valoria's. Then I did hear Valoria's voice "hey, hey, are you ok" she asked.

"We're not dead?"

"Thanks to you we aren't"

"What do you mean thanks to me"

"You don't know? You… changed. You killed all of the soldiers Fenrik. Unfortunately Rannok escaped"

I finally opened my eyes. It was already night.

"What do you mean I changed? Into what?"

"You looked like one of the race of dragons that nearly conquered the world 2,000 years ago. What were they called…?"

"The Dragonaar"

"Right"

"I was told stories about surviving Dragonaar when I was a child"

"I think everyone was"

"You've already set up camp?"

"Yes"

Dromus and Var walked towards us. "It seems we've underestimated you my friend." Said Dromus. "We have just enough supplies for tonight." Said Var whose left arm was in a sling. "What happened" I asked. "You did, but it's a small, if not somewhat painful, price to pay for one's life." Replied var. "Tis but a flesh wound!" said Dromus "so stop whining." "Anyways, I think what the boys are trying to say is we owe you one." Stated Valoria. "You three owe me nothing; if anything I owe you three my life. When I was stupid and attacked recklessly you three were watching and defending me from the soldiers that surely would have killed me from behind. For that I owe you my life."

"Then we're even" said Dromus. "Yes, you saved us too." Said var.

"Alright enough of this I'm hungry" I said.

 We feasted that night which must be why Var said there was just enough for tonight. After we ate we just went to sleep. During my sleep I dreamt violent dreams. I dreamt of war. I dreamt of the death that came with it. I woke early but I could not sleep. I thought about the voice that I had heard. I thought of all the elves I had known closely throughout my life and the only one I could think of was Myste my mentor and protector as a child. The last I had heard he moved to Port Bloodsea. That would have to be our destination. When the others awoke I told them of my plans and they decided that it was the best idea we had so we broke camp and headed for Greyhawk.

                               Chapter 2

We decided to travel along the river so we wouldn't run out of food and water. After a short time Valoria stopped. I tried to talk to her but she just sat down off the side of the road. I signaled for a break to the others but at that moment I felt something cold hit me in the back. I looked down and sure enough it there was an arrowhead standing 3 inches out of my chest. As I stood there I saw arrows fly over my head and pierce the hearts of Dromus and Var before they could even ready their weapons. I turned around to look for Valoria but she had already walked to the center of the fielded area that she had been staring at. She was surrounded by a magical bubble and the arrows fired from the other side of the field were steadily bouncing off of it. I was wondering what sort of sorcery it was that was keeping me alive when I saw a ball of fire fly through Valoria's magical shield and hit her square in the chest. "NOOOO!" I screamed as I realized my companions were all dead. Then I woke up. We were still in camp and the others were standing around me. They started asking me what was wrong but all I could choke out was "Water… I need water" Dromus went to fetch my water and when he got back I thanked him. Valoria answered everyone's questions and confirmed my suspicions by saying "He had a vision" which explained why I wasn't dead from an arrow to the chest. "I saw a trap waiting for us" I said.

"I had the same vision."

"But it was so real."

"I know."

"Why did I have that vision?"

"Because you have a connection to the magical universe. You simply need to open your body and mind to the soul of Shalea* to let her energies pour over you. Try to have the vision again or at least try to see your original one again."

"I'll try but I don't know whether I can do it."

"Focus. If you don't focus it will just exhaust your energy."

So I focused and I could feel the world melting away from me. In a single moment I knew all that there was to know in the universe. Then it was lost. I swam around in my consciousness and finally found it. It shone like a fire and looked to be a living portrait but I knew instinctively that it was but a simple memory. I stepped into the memory and suddenly I was there. I was with our party on the road to Greyhawk village but for some reason I could see myself too. I then realized it was still just a memory and I could not truly relive it, only observe. I couldn't stand it when I saw Valoria stop and sit and as I tried to talk to her I saw what seemed to be a glare of metal on the edge of the other side of the forest. Then the arrow took flight. I couldn't bear to see this again so I tried to focus on an earlier thought and the memory dissolved from focus. At first I thought I had somehow gone to some other memory because the road was unfamiliar but there we were so I watched carefully. It was most likely a part of the vision that my subconscious had denied to let me remember. As I watched we came to a fork in the road and stood debating whether we should take the direct route to Greyhawk or the side road. "There is no doubt there will be troops on the main road." Said Var. "Aye but Valkor is not stupid and would anticipate our anticipation therefore placing his troops on the side road, but he did not think we would know that he would know that we knew." Said Dromus somewhat smartly. They stood bickering while I and Valoria stood quietly off to the side. Finally Var backed down and we took the main road. Everything soon became familiar again. I watched as Valoria sat down but that was all, for at that moment I withdrew myself from my memories.

"Did you see?" Asked Valoria.

"The crossroads?"

"Yes"

"Then yes I saw."

"Then you know what we must do"

"We have to take the other road"

Then I had a question.

"Why did you sit down in the vision?"

"I sensed something was wrong"

"In the vision?" I asked

"Yes"

"Then why didn't you warn us?"

"Because it was irrelevant in a vision"

"Oh"

It was getting late again so we ended the conversation and slept. I had nightmares that night about there being archers everywhere I went and they all wanted to kill me. I ran around a corner and there were three bodies on stakes. I recognized them instantly as my companions. Then I saw a huge ball of fire come from the sky and hit the bodies. I had presumed them to be dead but they started screaming in pain as the flames licked at their bodies. I knew what this meant. This meant that I was simply dragging them to their death. But no, I wouldn't let that happen. They are my friends now and nothing can change that. I awoke and the others were already breaking camp so I got up and helped. We then left for the road.

               Calling of the Brood

                           By Marcus Zepeda

                                 Chapter 1

I can still remember the night when I last saw my family. I've long since escaped but sometimes I wonder whether they are truly dead or whether they are still being held prisoner. I wonder too whether the rest of my friends survived the attack… But enough of this, I'm breaking camp at dawn and heading towards the town of Rurik, with any luck I should get there before nightfall.

    I've reached my destination and obtained a room for the night. I had almost no coin to pay with because I didn't think to bring any but I fortunately had enough to pay the small fee. Unfortunately the innkeep noticed who I am so I had to threaten him. I had run into one of Valkor's search parties on the way here but I was able to slay them all. After washing up I heard the voices of guards downstairs. I could vaguely tell that they were talking about me so I found a way out by jumping out the window and running down the edge of the awning outside. Luckily it was dark so no one noticed me.

    I decided that I needed some help if I was going to find my kidnappers. I found the nearest bar and asked around for information concerning mercenaries and found that there were three in the back of the bar. They were sitting at a table in the corner and having a lively conversation. I approached them and waited for them to acknowledge my presence. One, a scruffy looking dwarf, looked up and turned back to his companions and said "What do you think of this one, eh?" "I think he may be a potential customer" said a beautiful woman. "Looks like he has no money to me" said a mid-sized man who was plucking a bowstring. The woman nodded to a seat and I took it. I had no idea what was going on because I usually don't work with mercenaries but I thought it was worth a try. The woman was looking me over when I saw two guards walk into the building, even though I wasn't looking at the door! I turned to look and sure enough there were two guards. Before I could the woman said "Let's go!" She then got up and walked to a door at the back of the building. Her companions got up and signaled me to follow so I did. When I went through the door I realized that we were trapped because the room led nowhere. It was a mere supply closet! Then the dwarf reached under a shelf and the opposite wall split apart. The newly made doorway led into the alley behind the building we walked out and immediately the door shut and became a wall again. The woman hastily bowed to me and said "Your majesty the king we would be honored to serve you." Her friends were just as surprised as I was and then it hit me "You're a mage" I said. The other two hesitated then she spoke "Yes and forgive me your highness I only read minds so we can tell if our customers intend on paying" I decided that was fair but I asked her never to do it to me again. Then the true question came to mind "Why did you call me the king?" "Because, that is who you are" and then she explained that our royal advisor had killed all of my family and even displayed they're bodies as if they were traitors of some sort. Except, for yours and your brothers, of course. Everything was blank. My family is dead. My sister, mother, and father the king, all dead. From that moment on I vowed that Valkor would pay. So, my brother must still be alive somewhere. That is the only thing to be happy about now. "Now for introductions." "I am prince or King Fenrick as you all now know. Who are you." I announced. The mage introduced herself as Valoria an Elf. This explained her magnificent beauty for Elves have always been the essence of beauty. The other human told me he was Var. He appeared to be an archer. The dwarf introduced himself as Dromus, "The one with strength." he said. "This is a good party and I am glad to meet you all, if you help me you will be rewarded handsomely. I am being pursued by Valkor's men and will do anything to stop him from being king." I reported. Dromus seemed like he had something to say. When asked what it was he simply said "Should we not get going your highness" "Yes I suppose we shall" I answered. We soon left town and set up camp near the river. Thus our story has begun