A New Beginning (Open)

[Professor Charles]

Slowly did I stride through the darker foliage of the forest, defenceless, sparing the hard staff of wood strapped to my back and the circling of dark energy softly burning through my system. Ever since my brother can gone to the semi-plane of death that belonged to my old enslaver, Morté, the King of Death, and gained me my power back, I had felt comfort at its presence. Now I was putting it to good use - taking no weapons but my quarter staff as I adventured into history and into the woods where trees and ruins held a universe of secrets.

I was looking for a certain aged and crumbled temple that I was told laid here. It was attributed to an god called 'Iamyl,' which I believed was an offshoot of Jomil, and possibly a minor deity in himself. For a couple of months now I had been researching the ancient worship for Jomil, out of personal interest but slowly realiising that it had a more powerful connection to an incoming apocalypse I had been warned was occurring.

According to the rough pages of a tattered book I had actually acquired from my brother's library the temple had a frieze upon it that spoke of how Iamyl had saved his people from a great disaster. The only issue was that it was in some form of ancient Raiaeran, and I definitely needed to work on my elvish.

Therefore, now I was within the trees, bracken under foot and oak brushing against my arms. Sunlight streamed in white rivulets through the gaps of the tree crowns above, some of them stained green by the grass green leaves. Soft shuffles made me aware of small creatures around who nosed at acorns. Flutterings spoke of birds.

Onwards I strode, following both my nose and a crude map I had copied from said book. Eventually I heard the bubbling of a stream and seeing that this was a point of reference for the map, I twisted and began towards that direction. From my pocket I pulled a ration, and began to chew on it as the water became louder.

Loneliness. Peace. Satisfaction. To be away from the strange semi-plane of my brother, and life he was determined that I needed. Knew I did not want. I smiled, a little and tried not to think about my potential daughter. I liked this world, this adventure, which I had firmly told my brother Morningstar not to disturb me on.

I found the river and began to follow it. Curling to the east it led me into the path of hawthorn bushes that I tried to avoid as best as possible, with their barbs that could sting. Striding, I looked at the map and knew I had to follow the stream for a mile or so more and then-

Immediately, I came to a stunner stop as I emerged from the trees. For suddenly, I was not alone. There, sitting on the bank, was a incredibly hairy man and what was worse ...

He was fishing.