You wonder how Kemvar is coping with the goblins and rats; the old wizard has his staff, and his spells, and he was a hardened adventurer in his day.  But what about now?  If the old man fell in battle...

"Wait here," you say to Hailyn and Ciana.  "I need to see how Kemvar's handling things."

"Oh no, we're coming with you!" Hailyn says, before decapitating another goblin that gets too close.  "If the two of you get in trouble, you'll need us anyway."

You consider this for a second, before deciding that she makes a good point.  The three of you get moving, cutting down the few goblins in your way that stop chasing someone else and turn in your direction, only to be met with your blades.  Legs pumping, swords striking fluidly, the ugly things are little match for your charge. 

Three flashes of red light followed by the smell of burning and the flickering of open flames greets you as Kemvar battles a trio of goblins, with four more lying charred and quite dead at his feet.  However, your eyes flick to the two men with wolf tattoos to your left, charging towards him!  They're too fast!  What do you do?

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A basic, typical fantasy style story with all the classic elements - elves in the forest, dwarves underground, old wizards in towers and the like. It's largely just to experiment with the form more than anything, although the idea formed ages ago before I got depressed.

The idea is that about a dozen characters meet each other along the way on a perilous journey north into the heart of evil/darkness/symbolic force thereof.

Arrith and co head north-west to the capital, Pasaveer, a day or two out from their home town of Terris. Kemvar accompanies them. They are looking for information about a cursed armour, shield and weapon that one of the goblin leaders mutters something about. On your trail is the men with wolf tattoos, and behind them is the rouge Hailyn has been waiting like a lover for.

updated Jul 8 by UltimaDan