"So, this is Innistrad?"

A white-haired man looked on at the Plane he just entered. He'd heard rumors about this place: All the horrific creatures that roam this dark Plane and all the sadistic magic used by dark and insane mages.

The white-haired man smirked as the howls from a nearby wooded area reached his ear. Were the rumors all true? Was this place full of madmen and monsters?

It didn't matter, honestly. He knew this wouldn't be an easy hunt. What are a few other freaks added to the mix? Besides, it would make it that much more fun.

First things first: Head towards the nearest town. Even with all the creatures roaming this Plane, someone would notice the thing he's after…

It took him about a half hour of walking to reach the town. It was large, surrounded by a massive wall being patrolled by a couple dozen men, at least. Judging by the look of the men, the town must've been fairly poor. Two armed men stood at the gate. Their weaponry wasn't the best, but they looked fairly trained, even for peasants.

"Hold stranger." The guards stood their ground, hands on the hilts of their swords. They were cautious, which would affect his mission. "State your business."

The white-haired man opened his cloak, revealing no weaponry. "I am the Planeswalker Roland Colas. I am here to speak to whoever's in charge."

The guards looked at each other, then back at the man claiming to be a Planeswalker. "What information do you seek? If it is mere rumor, you can ask us. The Father should not be bothered."

Father? This was not going to be easy at all. "I am here about hunting some nasty little critters. There is one in particular I am after."

The guards fell silent. One motioned to the gate. It opened slowly, four more men walking from the other side. Roland smiled at the guards, putting his hands into his cloak pockets. "I take it you aren't used to tourists?"

"We are just very cautious, Planeswalker. You would be, too, if you were surrounded by monsters." The guard who answered him pointed towards the other four. "They will lead you to the church. That is where the Father will be."

He followed the guards through the church, looking around as they went. The town didn't seem poor, just simple. Everything up until the blacksmith's shop, at least. At least he assumed it was, because an armory wouldn't be opened up to the public like that. "Guard, why such a big shop? Your men here looked well-armed."

One of the better-dressed men looked back at him. He had a massive scar over his eye, the eyeball itself bright blue while his other eye was green. "The blacksmith also repairs the weaponry of our men. You wouldn't believe how many swords and spears must be fixed after just a night of fighting."

Roland smirked, curiosity filling his eyes. "What exactly do simple peasants have to constantly fight every night?" The Planeswalker looked at another building. It seemed to be a hospital, except it was covered with spikes and a thick wall. "Even dragons don't attack men so consistently."

The scared guard smirked. "Werewolves, stranger."

His curiosity was peaked now. He hadn't been a Planeswalker long, but even more advanced mages never spoke of them. Even in Ravnica, filled with travelers, had no real stories been heard by him. Were there really such things walking around freely?

"Here we are, stranger." Roland looked up at the massive building before him. It was ridiculously big and fancy, especially for a town this small. "The Church of Avacyn, home of Father Gerald and the center of everything here in our town." The guard looked over at him, smirking still. "Keep your spells to yourself. You're being watched by half the men here." He walked away. "Especially me."

Roland sighed, looking at the massive door. "A church as the center of everything?" He shook his head. "This is why I left Orzhov…"

Who knows, maybe this will be different. Orzhov's church was just a political powerhouse, not a real religion. These people didn't seem to be ruled like that. Maybe this was a real church? Only one way to find out.

Roland made his way up to a set of massive doors with two guards standing by. This was definitely the room. The guards eyed him suspiciously. "I am a Planeswalker, here to speak with Father Gerald."

The guards opened the doors and Roland walked in. Inside was a man standing behind a desk, looking through a book. He looked up, smiling. He was an older man, slightly balding. His clothing was simple, proving this wasn't a thing like Orzhov.

"Welcome to Thane's Peak of Gavony, Planeswalker. I am Father Gerald"

"You heard I was coming?" There was no way. He'd just gotten into town and no one was seen running into the church ahead of him.

The older man still smiled, sitting down. "I have my ways." He motioned behind Roland.

Roland turned around to see a young lady standing behind him. If she could even be called a lady. She floated through him and the desk, resting near the older man. "A spirit?"

The older man nodded. "Even in the afterlife, some spirits are loyal to their causes. She is my eyes and ears." He kept smiling. "So, you are here about monsters, Planeswalker?"

"Just call me Roland, Father." He looked around the room. "I've heard rumors about monsters all over this Plane from travelers who visited Ravnica."

"Yes, yes, mostly everything you hear about Innistrad is very true. All sorts of horrible things roam our lands."

"Well, Father, maybe we can help each other out?"

Father Gerald looked at his visitor with interest. "How would you be willing to help us out?"

"It all depends on the information I receive right now."

"What information are you seeking, Roland?"

Roland leaned onto the desk, his face more serious. "I've been tracking a nasty creature for a few years, now. A freak experiment from Ravnica." He looked at his hands. "It's capable of walking from Plane to Plane. I've been everywhere looking for him: Ravnica, Zendikar, Mirrodin, Alara twice… Even Planes no man has even heard of before."

"This sounds rather dangerous. I assume you tracked it here then?"

Roland nodded. "The thing jumps Planes over and over and kills anything in its path. I watched it cut down a dragon without even trying." He pulled his sleeve up, showing a massive scar. "The thing almost took my arm during our first encounter. I left a pretty scar on its leg as payback, though."

"Oh my."

"I need any information on this Plane you can give me. If I can find a place it'd go, I can beat it there and catch it before it jumps again."

Father Gerald looked at the spirit beside him. "Can you fetch me the book?"

The spirit nodded, grabbing a large book. It was covered in gold and bound in green cloth.

"This, young Planeswalker, is the book of Avacyn. It tells the whole history of our Plane. Consider it a gift." He smiled again. "It also contains the most common spells of the mages here in Gavony. I wouldn't trust the summoning spells, though. They haven't worked much since Avacyn left."

"Who's Avacyn, Father?" Roland opened the book. "I have never heard of this woman."

Father Gerald laughed. "Avacyn is the great angel and guardian of our realm. Her power protected us for as long as we can remember."

Roland looked out the nearby window, a scoff leaving his lips. "I don't think it's working anymore."

Father Gerald stood, walking towards the same window and sighing. "Avacyn will no longer answer our prayers. Her symbols of protection have lost their powers. Many believe she has abandoned us…" He grabbed a small pendant that was hanging around his neck, rubbing it with his thumb and pointer finger. "When her protection started wearing off, the creatures of the night began terrorizing the people. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts and zombies… They all stalk the people of this Plane." He sat back down. "Even the mad scientists and insane mages began giving up on Avacyn and began using dark magic most horrible…"

Roland stood up. "I take it that means this whole Plane is fairly twisted then?" Father Gerald nodded, forcing a sigh from Roland's lips. "That means this thing could be anywhere…"

"I can give you anything you may need for your journey, Roland. We may be humble, but we are not poor by any means."

Roland nodded. "I only need a few men who know the Plane."

Father Gerald nodded. "That's a rather simple and humble request."

Roland simply smiled. "I have no need for anything other than the necessities and I only need a guide."

"I can do you one better than a few guides." Father Gerald looked towards the doors. "Guards, go get Captain Reaver." The guard nodded as he left. "Captain Reaver is the best at what he does."

"Can you tell me what it is he does?"

"Simple." Roland looked back, seeing the scared guard walking in. "I kill anything with claws and fangs."

Father Gerald nodded, smiling a bit more. "Captain Reaver is one of our Hamlet Captains. He's fought every type of creature in Innistrad and has killed more werewolves than any man here in Thane's Point."

"You honor me, your holiness." Captain Reaver bowed a bit, then looked down at the sitting Planeswalker. "I take it the Planeswalker is staying?"

"For the time being, Reaver. For now, can you take him to go find Sam?

Reaver bowed then looked back at Roland. "C'mon, let's go."

Roland stood up, bowing back. "Thank you, Father Gerald."

He nodded as the two left. They walked out to the training fields. "You must be hunting something big to be given aid from the Father."

"What can I say? I like the thrill of the hunt."

Reaver laughed. "Sounds like your perfect for Innistrad, Planeswalker." The two walked up to the training circle. A sparring session was going on in the closest circle. "The one with no shield is Captain Sam, the only other captain here in Thane's Point."

"Is he good?"

Reaver smiled as the two watched the sparring couple. The one that Reaver pointed out as Sam was excellent. He had seen no flaws in his technique. "Let me put it this way, Planeswalker…" Sam finished his opponent off then took off his helmet. It wasn't even a he, it was a she. "She's a monster." Reaver laughed and patted Roland's shoulder.

So, this would be his crack team? Roland smiled. "Well, maybe this trip will be fun after all."