As our two groups of friends began their quests, a power was gathering that could have threatened all the lands, but only a select few knew of this power and they were either murdered for their knowledge or were part of this cult - this gathering darkness. Only the efforts of those we already know of and the efforts of others who have yet to begin their quest could stand against this darkness, but none yet suspected the parts they would play in this tale
As for the darkness, it is about to receive some bad news…
"What do you mean 'lost the link'?" He asked, his voice calm and level. He didn't turn from the window to look at who he addressed
"The vessel has lost its link with the leader of the team. The runes linking them have gone cold. The only possibility is that someone has killed the leader"
"Brutus, arm 5 of your best Minotaur Berserkers and send them after the Kobolds in The High Forest. I want you to lead them. Either you return with the Adamantite, or you do not return. I trust I will be seeing you again, soon"
"At once, my lord" grunted Brutus as he turned and thumped down the stairs outside the doorway
"Runecaster, are you ready yet?" he said, finally turning to regard the men stood behind him
"I am, my lord. All I need are the final materials and I can finish the final runes" replied the man with white, wild hair and white stubble where he hadn't shaved in a few days, barring two sigils that had been shaven into his beard that morning. In his right hand was his hammer – he seemed to always have it on him – and his left held a metal spike that he used to scribe the magic runes into the materials and gave him the title 'Runecaster'
"While you are waiting, use the vessel on another kobold. It is useful to keep an eye on them. I will leave the choice of the new team leader to your capable hands"
"Thank you my lord, I shall begin immediately" he replied as he shambled out of the room and down the stairs
"The glorified bull and the magic artisan are now out of ear-shot, my lord. What would you wish of me?" asked the final man left in the room. He wore the red and black robes of his order and shaven head with a stylised beast tattooed to his shaven head and he leaned upon a sceptre with a similar design as it's head. His cold, uncaring, dark eyes stared at the man stood in the window with a feel of malevolence
"You failed me"
The wizard was suddenly, visibly, taken-a-back "My lord? In what way?"
"You told me that the forest was safe yet something has killed my kobold. I would not be surprised to learn that the entire team is at this moment lying dead in the forest"
"My lord, the only things in there are druids, rangers and beasts. Your kobolds should have defeated them with no trouble whatsoever" he replied, clearly growing more nervous
"One of my beasts is dead. That is unacceptable. You have failed me" he continued, his voice still calm. "Your life is now forfeit"
"I will NOT be defeated by YOU, old man!" roared the Red Wizard, his staff flying into his hand, pointed at the old man in the window. The air began heating as the wizard immediately charged his staff with fire magic and as a massive fireball leapt from the end of the staff, the old man in the window simply raised a hand in response. The fire roared towards him, threatening to consume him, whole, but simply vanished
"Now you will know but a shred of my power, fool"
In the circular courtyard, below, within the walls that surround the tower, the 6 Minotaur roared as one as there was an enormous explosion from the top of the tower, but before Brutus could run to his masters aid, a red-robed figure was blasted out of one of the windows and, accompanied by another explosion. The figure flew for miles before finally hitting the ground, below
Up in the tower, the old man, none-the-worse for his encounter, simply turned back to the east window and looked out over the forgotten realms towards the far-off shore, beyond the horizon
I suppose I'll have to send for a replacement wizard. That fool had better send me a decent one this time or I shall have to depose him as head of the order and I really don't want to have to cross the world to Thay – it is such a boring place
