Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sound of hell seemed to penetrate the dark swamps of Vamaria. Dark shapes played into the darkness, hinting at the monstrous forms of demons of every nightmare imaginable. The only thing that lay in the forest, untouched by unholy hands, was a small glade, deep within the swamps.

Even in the unusual standards of the dark moonless night, one particular being stood out among the things that howled, and screeched, and hungered for human blood. A old man sat on the ground, seemingly unworried about the terrible doom ascending down upon him. Withered by time, the man wore a charcoal cape, that hide a normal country shirt, and pants. He wore boots of reptilian skin, that seemed as old as the one that bore them.

Various trinkets of obscurity hung on his body. Necklaces, rings, and such littered with glittering jewels. Each stood out in its own beauty, making the owner seem like more the decoration in a old house, than a living person. Though through all this, the man looked as normal as any other, save the strange raccoon that sat upon his head. Every minute the raccoon would stand up upon the mans head, and shriek at the monstroustys that converged on them, silencing, though briefly, the unhuman sounds that ran through the night.

If one person, brave and unhurried by the danger around them, would have stopped and studied the strange scene, he would notice that the man seemed to mumble, and that the very air seemed to still around him. Suddenly in a bright blaze, a circle of light formed around the old man, forming a barrier between himself, and the danger that swarmed around his area. Standing up he surveyed the circle, still not noticing the raccoon siting on top of his head, scratching at its ear.

Norman sighed to himself as he relised that he wouldn't be able to swipe anymore jewels from unsuspecting people, seeing as he wouldn't make it out alive from his current ordeal. As he thought about what he had to do before he completed his task, his thoughts barely touched the idea of death, accepting the entire prospect, and moving on to the more greater woe of his world. How the hell was he supposed to get the jewels he wore to civilization so he could pawn off the recent nicks that he acquired. He merely shook his head as the raccoon smacked the bald spot in front of it, seemingly responding to his selfish thoughts. "you should have left me marry, you knew that I wouldn't be coming out alive, why didn't you go back and explain to our nephew why I suddenly died, because I was granting the world more time to prepare for the inevitable war looming over us. Why the emperor wouldn't listen to my claims, because I have never supported him and his plans for purging the land of beauty that he cant fathom. Why I never told him why exactly I found him when I did, and took him in. And most importantly, why I left him with everything in a house older than time.

How exactly, do you talk yourself out of the lecture im about to give you, for old times sakes."

He spoke to the raccoon as though it would respond, and though no one would have believed it, it did.

"because you knew I had to be here for what your thinking. You know that the next companion has already been choosen for your nephew."
the words came out calm and un hurried, as if they had all the time in the world to discuss the what if's and why's of their long life together.

In which, they didn't.

"I still wish I had someone else to explain to him, other than what I left him, and those over complicated bird brained fools that I sent the magical message to." Replied in a angry tone. Thought not upset as his compainion, he just needed to vent his frustration out on something, hating what he was forcing on the only human being he actually cared about in this century.

"Feric will be all right, he's a resourceful lad, and the power that lies within him will appear when he needs it most. Besides, I don't know why you mother him so, you know as well as I that the boys been through more than most, and besides the "bird brains" have that guest of theirs, who will no doubt be coming." this came as stern message to him, telling him that he was only opening old wounds.

"the boys got more problems than either me or you, or anyone else we knew in our long lives, ever had, combined!" he emphised the last word, hoping for once to win against the only person to ever not lose to him, in anything.

"though what you speak of is true in a way, you know that the boys got more potential to solve them than anybody ever will. Hes ment to do things that were put in place long before the house ever came into the thoughts of those that made it." This he knew was true, and nodded his head slightly, accepting the answer and continuing in his chanting. He could feel the evil approaching his circle, and knew it wouldn't last more than a hours more.

He was nearly complete when the raccoon stoped him again.

"before we set this off and leave this world. Did you forget too tell me anything."

He thought about this, and decided to come out with a few details that he was sure she couldn't change, and that fact alone would anger his old friend more than anything he could ever do.

"I hide your treats under the floor boards in my bedroom. Which one ill never tell." He could feel the amusment of his comment in this dire situation take hold in his friend, and decided now would be the time to tell her of his one last joke on the world.

"I also purposely didn't tell the bird brained idiots exactly who Feric is." He felt the animal on his head anger,

As the sharp claws dug into his old head.

"you WHAT!" this came as a more of a tiger roar, rather than the small animal that his friend resembled.

"I simply withheld information from them, seeing as they have done it to me over the years, I just forgot to tell them certain things."

He started to chuckle quietly, his joke finally taking affect, he could just visualize the poor fools faces when they received his vague but crucial message.

He winced as he felt a small paw pound on his head. "you… will… tell… me… everything… Norman!!" each word was stressed with another pound on his forhead, causing him to smile.

"I only didn't bother to tell them who, and what jack was. Nor what he looked like. Nor that he was my successor, or that he was the compass of the ancients." He searched his mind for further details. "or his… past. In fact, I didn't mention him at all. Ever!!" he laughed at this. Making the raccoon pound more and more rapidly on his head.

"damn….. you… and …. Your… tricks…. Norman" he smilled knowing what came next. "do you realize…. That you've endangered the entire universe with this….joke!! of yours" the raccoon wailed causing him to sigh.

"it's a good thing I already added the knotch to the tree, that way they would know that I planed it. I would hate for them to think that I was growing senile in my old age." His smile faded as he saw his circle of light waver.

His dailying was over, the time had come.

He continued into the last part of his chant, the words starting to take a toll on him.

As he finished, the light from his circle faded, leaving the glade unprotected.

And him finally submitted to his foe's desires, or so he wanted them to think.

He allowed the dark stranger to come towards him and his companion. The mans face was hidden for no reason, for Norman had known it for more years than any man should have to.

Words slithered from the direction of the stranger, leaving filth in the air as they slugged their way toward his ears. "so here we are at last Norman, you the great thief mage of Vamaria, the last decendent of the house left by my stupid brothers, at my mercy, I wonder will you beg for a quick death, or will you continue your stuborness ever through the pain filled demise I have planned for you and your weasel." He choose not to answer, simply letting his stillness speak his answers.

"do not continue to try and intimidate me old fool, I know a little of what has been occurring in the last moments of your life, and I know you haven't the strength to even draw light from fire." This came as a sneer from the stranger, filled with anger and slight hint of fear.

Good he thought, as well he should be afraid, for what im about to do to him will cause him to twist in the dung heap he sleeps in.

"why I have no idea what gave you that idea old friend, but know even though soon I will fade, there are others who will oppose you, and know, they have the power to finally put a end to you, I only wish I could see it when it happens."

The dark stranger only stared at him, trying to put untruth to his words. Failing he resorted to anger.

"do not think I don't know about the current plans you have, what you do is mearly a small stop in my plans, how long will this last old man? A few years, what you speak of cannot happen in that time. No matter how much you think you know."

Obviously still in the dark about the plans of his demise, the old man thought to himself, well I for one wont ruin the joke of others.

My parting words to you, friend are these. When the fires of our land reach out to burn you to a crisp, know that it was I that started them with the rocks that your brothers gave me." He allowed that to sink in. watching the rigidness in the strangers body, seeing the anger of the darkness.

He could almost smell his fear.

"old man, I don't care what you've been burning, but I only hope I can use that same flame to burn your beloved house. When I find it. And I will. I will." This came a threat, and a empty one at that. The house would move before he could even come near it. Being what it is.

"I pity you, and I hope that you find enlightenment before your final hours." Not wasting any more time, he drew upon his comrades strength, and used it and the power of his soul to activate every spell he had placed. He felt the wave of power leave him, and saw it ripple through the time between him and the being in front of him.

"what did you just do old m-" he suddenly burst into flame, him and every creature of darkness around him. The screaming was nothing to the old man, for no longer did he see the scene before him, he felt himself drifting away from this land that he had protected for no reason, until the reason presented itself one very weird day, 7 years ago. And he could see the reason before him, sleeping on a bed. miles across miles, the passing of the man could be felt by all, some just the passing of a person of importance, others a blow to the heart.

and to some, something to celibrate.

.