Screech, screech, screech, slam. As I slowly rise I try to remember what I dreamed about, I see flashes of images comes to to my head but nothing makes sense. I see a tree that roots has stretches for miles, burning cities, walking mountains, then a feeling of dread comes over me as a hooded figure pointing a skeletal finger at me. I sit up, and notice another magical signature in my house. I Stare at the beaming sun that shines through my room rejuvenating as it's washes the feeling of fatigue out of me,I make a quick prayer to Orvard wishing all goes well. As I go to the bathroom I slowly caress the walls as I feel the connection to the earth, filling me nigh unattainable tranquility. I tie my hair up in a bun, as I stare into my mirror as I gaze at my reflection. As my green eyes shine like an emerald in the sun. Despite my ominous dream, i walk into my kitchen to see my old friend Ajax, eating my griffin meat.
You know Ajax, griffin meat is not exactly cheap, said Rowan.
Your right, it's not cheap for a normal person, luckily for me my rival family raises griffin to be slaughtered for food, said Ajax.
What can I say, we all got to make a living, said Rowan.
Well before we get in the cruelty of eating a griffins, you should know that you have received an invitation to the battle of mages, said Ajax.
You been reading my mail too, I should send you to the Deadlands, I said in a joking manner.
It's not my fault you wasn't here when the delivery fairy delivered it to you, everybody knows the Deadlands don't exist, said Ajax.
I'm telling you the Lars family are one of the families that warded the Deadlands from outside forces, Rowan said.
Honestly Rowan this is an age old argument, do you plan to enter the tournament, said Ajax.
I don't know, why should I dance around like an imp in front of that foolish council when I'm already one of the most powerful people in Primewale if not the most powerful in Cesmiaya, said Rowan as arrogance seeps through his voice.
Your definitely not the most powerful in Primewale, I'm pretty sure Lord Vog would wipe the floor with you for one. I also quite sure I can wipe the floor with you, said Ajax.
I very much doubt that, but it's only fair if I let you dream a bit, said Rowan.
Such arrogance will day be your downfall, said Ajax.
It's not arrogance if I can back it up. Watch me as I claim victory over everybody at the tournament, said Rowan.
Well I would watch you on the holo, but there's been some troublesome party goblins that has been attacking travelers and merchants.
Wait, you're not going, said Rowan.
QI course not, I'm a direct descendant of the fallen lord's, said Ajax.
Why should that matter, it's not like you had a choice of who's your ancestors followed, said Rowan.
It shouldn't, but in the real world following an usurper is frowned upon. Especially because we never renounced Titus the Titan, said Ajax.
Well why don't you simply renounce your ancestors, said Rowan.
Why would I, whenever a Dhurstad sits on the throne, rivers of blood with surely follow, Ajax.
Yet when Titus sat on the throne village's was destroyed by many opposing forces said Rowan
At least he didn't murder his own subjects, yelled Ajax with rage in his voice.
No your right he just got someone else to do it for him, said Rowan.
Don't…
I wish all the luck on your tournament, said Ajax with barely disguised rage.
With barely a glance back, Ajax leaves Rowan home.
With fury Rowan attempts to punch through his wall, only for his fist to sink in and get stuck.
Damn frivolous security measure, said Rowan.
I'm hoping I'm not interrupting anything, said that voice's that seems both hoarse and angelic echos through his home.
He wrenches his arm free, and wills the earth to form a hole free wall.
He walks towards his archway, only to see nobody there. Not a single creature or an individual near him. A wall of earth rises right before his eyes bearing nigh unrecognizable runes that seem almost primordial. As he reaches over to touch it, a soft, almost mothering speaks.
Not yet, my champion, said the mysterious voice.
As the wall returns to the earth leaving no sign of its presence. He walks back into his house, with paranoid eyes.He walks over to his bookshelf looking for books on runes. Runes That Live On, Journey Through Runes, Malicious Runes Of The Ages, find it he say and pulls out it out, Otherworldly Runes Volume three. He flips through the book hoping to recognize at least one rune that appeared on the wall of earth that he just saw. The only that he recognized is the rune for champion. With heavy eyes he puts the book on the shelf and decides to solve the mystery another day. He grabs his mail and goes through it. Battle of mages invitation, ghoulish goblins are coming to town, farming fairies are having a sale, and this month bills.
Might as well pay the bills now, thought Rowan.
He drops five thousand gold coins on the letter, he watches it dissipate.
He look at the date, noticing today is the last day to sign up. He signs the letter and watch as the letter dissipate and a new one in its place.
Rowan Lars, Thank you for accepting our invitation to prove your skill.
Please proceed to the necropolis coliseum, at the setting of the blood moon.
We look forward to seeing your skills.
Your illustrious Lords, the council of the realm.
As soon as he finish reading it, the letter vanished and the knowledge where the necropolis coliseum seems to pop into his head.
Well time to get ready, said Rowan.
He slips on his werewolf armor, and his ring of warning. He head's off to teleportation center. He rushes out through the Arch, as he head's out many people are waving at him no doubt hearing the news from lord Vog.As he gets closer to his destination, he couldn't help but notice ice on the grounds. He looks around a notice a obscure cloaked figure talking to Lord Vog. As he walk, an earthen arch rises right in front of him. Rowan stop walking waiting for the figure to walk through the arch. The arch lights up and someone walks out.
Bior, said Rowan.
Is that how you greet the ruler of your clan, said Bior as his eyes glowed with a dangerous green light.
My apologies, I'm a bit busy at the moment, said Rowan with a smirk.
So I have heard, a congratulation seems to be in order, said Bior.
Yes, without a doubt my greatness Is one for the history books, but I doubt you came this way to congratulate me, said Rowan.
You are correct.
My son, I hope you know that leaving these walls will put you into great danger, said Bior
Father I have left these walls many times, said Rowan.
Never to the necropolis coliseum, the Lars family has made many enemy throughout our family history, I beg you Rowan. Revoke your admission, said Bior.
Who's do you fear, I will venture out and set the earth against them, said Rowan.
Bior grimaces, our enemy our not so easily conquered, any battle against them will be long and difficult, said Bior.
"We who weathered the storm", Those are our family motto, said Rowan.
Yes boy, we weather the the storm when it comes for us, we do not seek it you. Don't you dare use the forefathers creed, when you haven't bled for it!, said Bior.
Rowan took a step back as his father's aura flared, a strong pressure pressed down upon him.
I misspoke, but I won't revoke my admission, I swear that in our lord and savior Orvard,, said Rowan with defiance in eyes as his own aura flared.
I figured you won't, be wary of any giants you meet, said Bior.
As his father walked back through the arch and disappeared a bells rung three times, he could hear the yells of the the watcher. Werewolves and dark elves are coming!!!
Prime the traps, yelled the watcher!
As soon as Rowan heard that he ran to the closest rune traps and started to activate them, within seconds the rune glowed cobalt blue showing there primed.
There a few hundred meters out, yelled the watcher.
He runs to the entrance of town, using a bit of magic he basically skates through the town.
He he goes through town he spots children running towards the protection arch, he spots a few warriors he trained with pull out silver swords, spears, and halberds.
He arrived right at the gate, waiting for the dark elves to appear first as they all do. He pulls out his own silver dagger, and let magic coat it, turning it a spear.
He looks at his fellow warriors and yells.
Triumph through the blood of our enemy's, yelled Rowan.
As soon as the words left his mouth a dark elf jumps down from sky to land onto him, he could taste the foul magic of the elf as he jumps back and followed up a strong thrust straight into the heart of the dark elf, wrenching the spear out the body of the dark elf, Rowan twirls the spear around him smacking an elf with the butt of the spear knocking the elf to the ground, followed by a downward thrust killing the foolish elf, he he notice and elf slashing the throat of a warrior, he lifts his spear throws spearing the head of the dark elf. He jumps back as he turns around to see a towering monstrosity of black matted fur, standing 7 feet tall. With blood red gleaming eyes, with blood in his teeth. He calls his spear back to him and throws towards the werewolf but it jumps to the side allowing the spear to pass it by but killing the dark elves behind him.
The werewolf leaps forward towards me, I roll to the left picking up a fallen warrior sword, the werewolf turns around with hate in his eyes snarling at me. I stomp my feet causing a several spires to rise up stabbing the werewolf, sadly only one manage to pierce his skin causing blood to leak from his upper arms, a goblin slashes towards me, he block with sword, pushing the goblin away, roll to the right as the werewolf jumped towards me, I stab my sword straight in the rib, in response the werewolf backhands me into a building causing me crash into the wall building creating a resounding thud against the wall, I stand up as fast as possible, I spit some blood on ground noticing the werewolf running towards me on all fours, I concentrated on the earth swinging my arm in a slashing moment upwards, I cause severals rock walls to appear under the werewolf pushing him up in the air, causing spikes to grow where he would land turning him to human pin cushion, as he lay there slowly dying on the bed of spikes, I created an axe with a downward motion had the axe come crashing down on its head, decapitating it. I slowly stand up, feeling a pain in my ribs, as I huddle back towards the gate, I encounter a goblin, we stare at each other for just a few seconds that almost feel like eternity, as quick as a flash the goblin pulls out a dagger, and rushes towards me with reckless abandon. I quickly get into position, stomp my feet twice causing a small dust to rise up, sliding my feet across the ground caused a massive dust storm to rush straight towards the rushing goblin, blinding him for a few minutes, I quickly gather the magic around me, as soon as the goblin exit the cloud of dust. It quickly falls into a chasm I created, I close the chasm as quickly as possible, as I heard the crunch of the goblin bones against it turns to a goblin stain. With a barely a second passing I feel something stab through my shoulders driving me to the ground.
As I lay there, waiting for for the final moment of death, a shadow blocks out my view.
As I tried to look up, my body failed me as I eyes closed, hopefully that's not an enemy gazing at my corpse.