Chapter One
The Rouge Encampment
"Greetings stranger." The man said. "I'm not surprised to see your kind here. Many adventurers have traveled this way since the recent troubles began. My name is Warriv. I the leader of the caravan passing through here. Unfortunately we can go no further east due to recent monster activity. But let that not concern you now. I am pretty sure you have had a rough journey here. Feel free to take a load off your back. The townsfolk here are quite friendly and are happy to offer their services. I do, however, want you to speak with Akara. She is usually over at her tent in the southwest part of camp."
I sensed that Warriv was a kind man and could be trusted. He was medium height with a warm eastern complexion. It was good to see a kindly face after so many demons. The journey was indeed a hard one.
"Thank you, Warriv." I replied. "I appreciate your help. I have, actually, had a rough journey from my home land in the southern islands. And I will surely talk to Akara."
"Feel free to talk to me if you need to. I'm knowledgeable in many aspects of this land and its inhabitants. Although I do so miss my home in the east…." He said his voice trailing off. I was certain I detected a hint of longing in his voice. I think I'm going to help him. I'm tracking the wanderer anyway.
"I am a sorceress from the islands to the south. I am here to investigate the rumors of a strange, dark, wanderer. Wherever he seems to go death and chaos follow in his wake. My task is to find and confront this "Wanderer" and find out what has been going on. But," I said more warmly, "I will do my best to rid the land of these horrible abominations. So that you my return home east."
"Oh, that isn't necessary." He said shyly. "I'm sure I can get all the help I need returning east from Kaysha's rouge mercenaries."
I just smiled and went to find Akara.
The rouge camp was a huge place. Covering at least a square mile, it was filled completely with tents. A huge stone wall surrounded the camp with a large wooden gate in the middle of the north wall. A giant fire pit was placed directly in the middle of the camp. Many tables and awnings surrounded it. There were rouges and adventurers of every kind everywhere. There were Amazons from the deep southern jungle islands, Barbarians from the Northern regions, Necromancers from the Western temples, Paladins from the glorious city of Kurast in the Eastern Jungles, Druids from the North, Assassins from the Northeastern regions, and even some mages from my own homeland. It was nice to finally be back among decent people. The general hustle and bustle of the place gave me a homely feeling that reminded me of the many bazaars back home. It was a good feeling. The warm sun came down from the late afternoon skies and embraced my small, weary body. "I think I shall get some rest before visiting Akara." I said to myself "I am in need of some healing and mediation."
"Get away from me you scum of the earth!" I yelled at the many Fallen chasing me.
They have been following me for nearly half an hour now. They are weak but are many in numbers. I'm a Paladin, a blessed warrior of God. But there are just too many of them.
"Lethal thorns!" I shouted as I erected a barrier of immense thorns. The attack took out about a score of the brutes, but more kept coming. They battered down my barrier and continued the chase. I was weak and mentally drained. I needed a mana potion, and fast. But there was none to be found. "I think this is it for me…" I whispered as my legs finally gave way beneath me. "I come to you O lord."
They swarmed over me and started yelling and beating me. "Rakanishu!" They shouted. And then there was darkness.
"Ahhhhh!" I shouted as I fell out of the hammock. Immediately I was surrounded by the Rouge guards. "What happened?" They demanded.
"I-I don't know…" I whispered. "I was sleeping when suddenly I saw a vision."
"What was this 'vision', you had?"
"It was the images born of nightmares. There were Fallen. Fallen everywhere. They were shouting something, 'Raka- something'. I was being attacked. I couldn't defend myself. Then everything went black."
"Is that all?"
"No. Everything was black for a while, and then I saw something terrible…."
"What? What did you see?"
"I saw… I saw… their leader."
"Their leader?"
"Yes. The leader of the Fallen. He was an ugly, horrible creature. Two times the size of a normal fallen. He was sporting a wicked-looking flail. It was tipped with broken glass and sharp stone shards. There were legions of Fallen dancing around this hideous being. They were shouting 'Bishibosh, Bishibosh!' like a pack of wild animals. It was horrible."
"Then what?" The rouges inquired.
"The Fallen grabbed me and tied me to a post. Then they lit an enormous fire. And then something completely and utterly evil unfolded before me. They had captured a Rouge guard and tied her to a post much like me. They up-ended the post and slowly carried it to the fire. By this time the rouge was screaming with fear struggling wildly. I was utterly horrified. I could do nothing. The Fallen then put up the post next to the fire nearly touching it. Then everything went silent. Bishibosh, I am pretty sure that this leader was named Bishibosh, strode over to the rouge. She had stopped screaming but had turned a ghostly pale-white color. She was trembling viciously. Bishibosh looked her over for a minute then shouted something unintelligible. There was a pause, shortly followed by more shouting, although this time he pointed at the rouge when he was finished. At this gesture the rouge fainted from fright and the Fallen, once again, began their frenzied dance.
"After about five minutes of this they stopped again. Bishibosh shouted some more and a huge set of drums in the back began their slow beat. I watched in unparalleled horror as the Fallen danced more and more excitedly. All the while the drum beat got faster and faster. Right when I thought I could take no more of this, everything stopped. A single Fallen came running forward and splashed some grimy water on the rouge. She awoke and started screaming again at the sight of the flames. Then without warning, Bishibosh pushed the pole into the flames. I watched in silent agony as the rouge screamed out her pain to the world. The Fallen once again began their dance of death. As the rouge emitted one last death-screech, I woke up and fell to the ground." I was tired and scared from having to relive that dreadful nightmare. I wished I could just be left alone. But the guards wouldn't have it.
"What did the place you were in look like?" They asked.
"It was in a stone cave. A cave with cruel ugly drawings on the vast stone walls." I responded. The guards looked at each other and then nodded.
"Follow us." They said. What choice did I have? I followed them. It was completely dark outside my tent. The guards bade me to follow them. We walked down to the southwest part portion of the camp. After a while we came to a particularly large tent. There were some wounded rouges that were being attended to by many healers. Prominent among these healers was a petite woman in a purple dress with a big amulet around her neck in the shape of an eye. She was small and moved with a graceful, purposeful, stride. She was giving information to the other healers and attending to victims herself.
"Akara," the guards hailed her, "We must speak with you immediately!"
"What for?" She responded.
"We have some potential information about the Den of Evil." Den of Evil? What are they talking about? Could this place be linked with my dream?
"I will be there momentarily. I need to finish the dressing."
"We will wait in your tent, ma'am."
We walked through the many cots of sick and wounded people till we came upon Akara's tent. By far this was the biggest tent in the camp. One of the guards lifted the tent door and the rest of us filed in. The tent looked even more immense from the inside. There were many shelves inside. Each one was filled with different bottles and flasks of all shapes and colors. Some were bright neon green whilst others were dull and black. Some even hummed and pulsed with unknown alchemical properties. There was also a decent sized bed in one of the corners. As I stood gaping at the enormity of the tent, Akara entered and began quietly conversing with the guards. After a while Akara came over too me and said, "The guards have informed me over your vision. I believe it concerns a most pressing concern. You see, there is a place of great evil in the wilderness. Kashya's rogue scouts have informed me that a cave nearby is filled with shadowy creatures and horrors from beyond the grave. I fear that these creatures are massing for an attack against our encampment."
"But what does that have to do with my dream?" I asked.
"The setting you described to the guards is very similar to what the Den looks like. I believe you had a vision of what is too come."
"That's horrible!"
"I know. If this is indeed a true vision, than it must mean Bishibosh is ready to mount an attack. We must ready our rouges for a counter-attack. We must be ready for them." After this she glided (or so it appeared to be) over to the guards and held a hasty conversation. When they were done the guards smartly saluted and hurried off. Akara glided over the nearest chair and sat down. She looked troubled.
"What is on your mind?" I inquired.
"Well, we have already lost many a brave rouge and adventurer too the creatures of Hell. I wonder who that rouge was that got burned in the cave…" She answered.
"Wait a minute… If my vision was of what is too come, than maybe she is still alive!"
"True, but it is night right now. To engage the Fallen in their own territory now would just be sending our rouges to their death." I thought about this statement for a moment, and then came to a decision.
"I will rescue the rouge." I said determinedly.
"That is a noble gesture, but I'm afraid that I can't let you do that. I do not want to feel responsible for anymore bloodshed."
"I will be fine. My magic is powerful. The Fallen will be no match for me. Plus, I have defeated much worse demons in my travels."
"Well, if you are sincere about helping her, then go find the dark labyrinth and destroy the foul beasts. But be warned: The cave is filled with terrors much worse than Fallen. I give you my blessing. May the Great Eye watch over you." At this I turned around and exited the tent. I stood there for a moment, wondering if what I was doing was worth the risk. I decided that a life is more important than anything right now. I jogged through the camp to the northern gate. Warriv was there, ready as always to open the gate for the needy.
"Hallo!" He called to me. "Where are you off to?"
"I have some personal business I need to take care off." I said to him.
"Fine, fine. Well, whatever your business may be, good luck with it!"
"Thank you." I whispered as I ran into the cold night. "I'll need all the luck I can get."
"What am I going to do?" I whispered. "I'm tied to this stupid pole and unable move. That poor rouge. If only I could move my hands…" I struggled tightly against the constricting bonds. "No use. I need to find some other way." I started thinking hard about my current situation and all my possible options. None came to mind. "The only thing I can do is hope and pray that someone finds me before I, too, get burned alive. O lord, free me from the torturous nightmare!"