New Enemies.....New Allies

[Sylus Kurgen]

The mountain pass was thick with snow as he truded on along the narrow path. Gripping his fur cloak closer to his body, he shrugged away the piercing wind. He kept his body pressed against the rock wall as he inched his way along. He was agile to be sure, but it was still a long fall and a sudden stop at the end of the ride. Sylus had been taversing these mountains for nearly a month now, moving from cave to cave in search of his target. Still he had found nothing of their whereabouts. However he could not stop the search and turn back, he'd done that once all ready, but that was just from a shortage of food. This is what he had been asked to do though...with all of the troubles taking place on the Emerald Isles...Alais had said they would need to ready a defense on this side of the ward in case her group failed in stopping the Annaran force. He had searched out Rhiannon, gaurdian to Queen Teleperien and her daughter. Through Rhiannon he sent a letter to the queen speaking of the events taking place and of what should be done in preparation in case the worst should come to pass.

He knew immediately what problem faced him when Alais told him what he could do to help. Sure he had some friends and allies...but not enough to take on an army that could best Tass and Alais along with whoever they took with them. Through Teleperien, Xeno would be notified along with his Regulai...but more would be needed. So to the north Sylus looked. He was certain that he could not rely on human help for this task. If you want to defeat monsters....you have to send monsters.

Sylus had come across a nomadic tribe on his journey into the lands of Rhydin; and had noted their tracks on his way back to Kelvar all of those months ago. He hoped that they were still up here and had not moved onto another area yet. He sensed what they were right away. They were like him...shapeshifters. The one thing he didn't know was...were they all wolven like he thought they were? To this he did not have any answers. Pulling his hood up higher, Sylus fought through the wind until he came to a wideer path along the mountainside; here it seemed the wind had lessened. He was no longer in the wind trap that was below him. Not taking any chances though, he kept his hood up and trudged on, still searching.

[Sylus Kurgen]

It had begun to darken along the distance ridgeline as Sylus came to a small break in the cliff face. He could just make out a narrow opening as he moved further along. Edging his way closer, the weary climber pulled himself into the dry cave for the night. It looked like a storm was coming, and would probably fill up the passes that led back the way he came. Nothing much he could do about that inevitable possiblity, so he moved toward the center of the little cavern, trying to figure out where he should go next.

Pulling out his map of the area, he looked over it for a time; devising a game plan should the storm hinder him more than he thought it would. Though he could still see the map quite clearly, thanks to his preternatural sight, Sylus did not want to huddle over the map in the dark. Setting the parchment aside, he pulled out his tinder box, along with a portion of the log he had left from his last campsight. Carving out a small part of the log, he placed a bit of grass he managed to dig up into the carved area. Over the grass he poured a little oil he had left, this would ignite the flame quickly, but would keep it buring a little longer than grass alone. Fire burned on top of oil, leaving whatever was underneath relatively undamaged, sure it would heat up and scorch, but it would take longer for any real damage to incur. At least to a log of cold wood.

The fire caught quickly, to this Sylus counted his blessings. The last two times he'd tried to make a fire, he couldn't get any embers to burn. Either a wind would come out of nowhere, or he'd be interrupted by some more threatening menace. With a small prayer to whatever god was showing him favor, Sylus sat back and looked over his map...debating on where to go next.

"Hmmm....looks like roughly three or four miles up the path I have a narrow fork. One leading further up the mountain towards the plateau, while the other will take me back down into the low lands...."

Leaning back against his supply pack, Sylus weighed the pros and cons of the two paths. If he followed his wolven instincts...he'd be led down into the low lands where there was more hunt still available. However if he kept his thinking as that of a man, he'd be led to the high passes and then the plateau. Up there he'd find less snow, but colder wind; but he would also find an old set of ruins...this meant shelter and protection from the elements.

" I just wish I knew more of how they think. Are they more human? Or are they more wolf? I doubt they could think like both....." That last notion gave Sylus pause for thought as he suddenly saw everything in a new light. "Wait....if they're still up here in the mountains...they'd head for the ruins...to wait out the incoming storm. Then they could go to the lower ground without anymore hardships....least where the weather is conserned....". At this speculatint, he felt his hope rise. If he was right...and the tribe was heading for the ruins...after the storm passes and he heads down to the low land. He would either be able to cut the group off and talk with them about helping him....that would probably take some doing...or he would just catch the tail end of their caravan. Either way he was in a win win situation.

Smiling to himself, the elder Kurgen rolled his map back up and stuffed it into his pack. "Guess I should turn in for the night...." Moving back over to the fire, he put up a few looks stones in front of the meager flame; not only to protect it from any wind that might come through the cave entrance, but well as keep anyone from across the way from spotting the light. Settling into whatever comfortable position he could find, Sylus closed his eys, using his supply pack as a pillow, and tried to find whatever sleep he could.

[Sylus Kurgen]

The snow had fallen thick through the night as Sylus slept. Rising an hour before the sun began to peak over the ridgeline, he stretched out a little bit to eleviate some stiffness that had set into the joints in his legs and arms. Growling out a yawn, he packed up his equipment from the small camp he'd made and erased all traces of him ever being there. Looking out from the cave entrance, he could only smile as it seemed a nicer day that yesterday. There was little to no wind, and hardly any ice had formed. To him it felt like it was going to be a good day.

Stepping out of the cave, Sylus began his treck up the mountain towards the fork in the road that was shown on the map. The three mile hike up the mountain path had the lone traveler smiling to himself. The air up here was crisp, clean, and everything around him felt peaceful. Living up here didn't seem so bad to him right at that moment; but Sylus had to remind himself that it may seem nice right now, but after a while the solitude may begin to way on his sense of keeping a social life. Shrugging away such thoughts, he trudged further along the path.

Roughly an hour or more later, he found himself standing at the fork along his journey. Falling into himself, Sylus considered his options and the ideas he had played with the night before. [i]Do I, A....continue up the mountain and run into the whole, or see if they were up there and possibly lose time and distance on finding them? Or do I, B....head down into the low lands and hopefully catch up with them if they either rose earlier than myself, or I can cut them off by getting ahead of the tribe?[/i] Finally coming to a decision, he nodded to himself and headed down the left fork in the road, towards the ruins on the upper plateau. "Tis better to eliminate an option rather than wonder, What if?" Having made his decision, Sylus went on his way before he could give himself time to reconsider his choice.

[Sylus Kurgen]

It took most of the morning for him to make it up the mountain path onto the plateau. Ducking his head into the heavy wind, Sylus trudged on; looking for signs to confirm his suspicion.

Creeping silently towards the closest out-building, he couldn't see much of anything in the way of a sentry; but just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. Sylus stopped for a moment and pressed his back to the wall and edged towards the corner to slowly peer around it with utter care. Seeing no one insight, and no movement he broke into an easy trot, making a straightline for the first door that he saw. Testing the handle, he found the door open.

As he pushed the old, oak open, he cringed visibly as the hinges let out a groan from age and underuse. Easing the door open just enough to squeeze himself through, Sylus loped down the hallway to the first open door he came to. Dagger in hand, he used it as a mirror to look around the corner into the room. Seeing nothing, he slipped through the portal and made his way into the next room.

For the next three hours, Sylus moved through the ruined lookout post with methodical efficiency. Searching each room thoroughly, inch by inch for the slightest hint of his prey. Of anyone staying there recently, there were minimal signs, mostly what he found were the traces of rodents and other carrion creatures. It was in one of the larger rooms that he found the barest impressions of larger figures making the outpost as a brief home. A few droppings in random piles near the corners, and ashes from a small fire near the center of the room.

Moving away from the ashes in a spiral patter, he was able to locate where different members of the group had stood or sat or slept. There has been close to a baker's dozen in the outpost. Nodding to himself, Sylus crept out of the ruins and headed down into the low lands. He had some catching up to do; and fast.

[Sylus Kurgen]

It had taken him almost two days to make it down the steep trail that led into the low lands. Balancing precariously on the balls of his feet, Sylus maneuvered himself the last few feet to get clear of the broken ledge that had nearly killed him. With a sigh of relief, the elder Kurgen jumped down from the last fifteen to twenty feet of mountainside to land hard on the frozen ground below. Shaking off the stunning effects from the impact, he was moving again in search of tracks left behind by his quarry.

Dark amber eyes scanned across the small basin that led towards open plains which created the lowlands. Not seeing any signs of life outside of small animals here and there, Sylus started off at an easy lope; heading towards the plain.

Sundown came quickly to this area of the region, and so it was that after several hours of walking, Sylus found himself alone in the dark; with little in the way of rations, and still no signs of what he was looking for. "Damnit, I need to head back." Cursing his luck, he pulled out a small portal stone from his pack and embedded it into the ground. Issuing the quick release spell, the portal blazed to life. With a single step he was back in the city, heading for the market place before it closed.

[Sylus Kurgen]

Now several hours behind, Sy knew he had to move, and move fast. Setting off at a steady pace, he jogged over the snow laden ground eyes scouting over the terrain. The time passed slowly as Sylus continued his hunt, growing ever frustrated. Stopping after traveling for roughly nine miles, he let his eyes glance up at a bird flying high in the heavens. He stood there for several minutes, letting his mind wander over the reasons that were driving him to seek out these people. His mind told him that it was an added precaution should Alais and the dragons fail. Yet, his heart told him otherwise. Though he stood by Alais and her decision, inwardly he was furious that he could not be there to aid her. To protect her. To be with her when the end came, should it come for her at all. Alais was the one person that kept him going now, the one person he trusted explicitly. If she should fall, he would have nothing stopping him from falling back into the darkness that had ran the gambit of his life previously.

In his heart, he knew why he sought out these shapeshifters. They were like him, if they were as like him as he thought that they were, Sylus might find some place to truly belong. The elder Kurgen did not even want to concider the possibility of Alais' death, but it was a very real possibility now more than ever. Watching the bird fly so alone in the sky, Sylus felt like it was him up there, flying alone, as he had for most of his life. The only companion he could truly trust, was now off in another dimension, fighting to repel an evil that she was in part responsible for creating. Or so she felt that way. Now he was alone again...with only one path open before him. Watching the bird he let his thoughts and feelings drift upon the winds and the aether. "Alais.......please come back to me."

[Sylus Kurgen]

With yet another fruitless day drawing to a close, Sylus began searching for a flat piece of ground to set up a camp for the night. Finally finding a decent spot, he dug through the layer of snow on the ground so that what meager fire he could create would have some form of protection from the wind. His lean frame hunkered with his back to the mountains, his attention on where he should head next. Along the path that led him here, Sylus had come across faint tracks belonging the group of nomads, and had followed them accordingly to make it this far. After a quick search through his packs, Sylus pulled out the map of this region, and began examining possible hunting grounds in which to search for the tribe.

Pushing his two packs together, Sy curled up infront of the small fire. Arms wrapping around his ribs, he closed his eyes and fought for sleep, with thoughts of Alais, and where his life was taking him in the forefront of his mind.

[Sylus Kurgen]

The new day found the ex-assassin moving cautiously over snowy terrain. He measured his steps evenly. making sure not to press too firmly upon the layer of ice that separated him from the icy current beneath his feet. Following the prints of the nomadic clan had placed him in this situation, with several feet of icy covered river on all sides.

Pressing down lightly with his left boot, Sylus tried the ice that would hold his weight in the next step. Finding the spot firmly frozen he slowly started to shift his weight to that foot. He had moved only about ten feet within the last twenty minutes, he would have moved faster, but he did not have any way of knowing how big this river was. The map said it was a river, but there was not any marking on its dimensions ouside of spanning for miles, there was nothing on depth. Sylus couldn't tell if it was waist deep or over his head. So caution was his path in this moment.

Time itself seemed to move faster than he did as the elder Kurgan made his way across the frozen river. He was nearly on the other size when a high pitched whistle resounded in his ears. Clamping gloved hands over them he looked around franticly for where the noise could be coming from. Grinding his teeth trying to think through the pain in his ears, he had only time to gasp as a ball of flame raced towards him from out of nowhere. Everything slowed down as he watched the fireball strike the icy ground at his, and like the fastforward button on the device called a VCR being pressed he crashed into the freezing water, to be pulled away by the current.

[Sylus Kurgen]

Gloved hands pounded at the icy ceiling, trying to get a hold on something, anything to stop his path downstream. Sylus had no way of knowing how long he drifted on the current as he continued his frantic search for an escape. "I'm not going to die out here, not in the wilderness to end up as carrion food." He thought to himself coming to a stop against the bend in the river, fingers digging into the soft murky ground. His lungs burning for new air, he drew a dagger from his boot and pulled back his hand as much as the current would allow. Stabbing straight up, the blue steel peirced the ice. Turning the blade a little he widenedd the opening and put his mouth against it, exhaling air and breathing in fresh air. Jerking away before his lips froze to the surface, Sylus brought up the blade again angling the dagger to cross cut the hole he had just made. Slamming the blade up through the ice, he nearly let out all of his air in suprise as his fist followed the weapon into the chilly air.

Eyes wide with sudden hope, he began working at the hole, widening it up so that he could squeeze through. With renewed vigor he hacked and punched at the ice, shattering it open wide, his upper torso burst through the subzero waters with a loud gasp, arms flailing to keep him afloat despite his water logged gear. Numb fingers lost the grip on his dagger as Sylus clawed his way onto the river bank.

Body shuddering uncontrollably he hugged himself tightly shivvering agaisnt the cold, eyes blinking agian and again as he fought the hypothermia. He needed to get up and move, keep his limbs from becoming frostbitten, or from falling off, but he was so cold, so cold. His mind filling up with images of a warm fire, and a warm bed, Sylus began to drift off to sleep, his frozen form huddling on the side of the river bank.

[Sylus Kurgen]

He came to consciousness slowly, as if waking from a very deep slumber. Eyes fluttering slowly, he forced them open, his mind fuzzy, body tingling painfully. Sylus could not tell how long he had been out, but he was alive if only for the moment. Moaning softly he wanted to get up but when he tried, the swordsman found his limbs had not the strength to accomplish that feat. His only option was to lay there and wait for the body to catch up with the mind.

Sylus cast his eyes around slowly, trying to get some bearings on where he was. In front of him a decent sized fire crackled with fresh wood, beyond that he saw a flimsy door that appeared to lead either into another room; or outside of wherever it is that he was.

It was while trying to turn his head to look at the other parts of the room when a soft rustling sound came to his ears. Why hadn't he noticed it before? Holding absolutely still, he focused his mind upon that noise, it was coming from behind of him.

"Munchies and crunchies in here somewheres" Came a low voice, sounding like it belonged to a child with a sore throat. Sylus had just begun to ponder what it could be when he saw his only map sail past him and land in the fire. Eyes widened in shock and disbelief. His map!! His only way of figuring out the terrain and planning where to go next was now catching fire! Fighting for strength he forced his body into a sitting positiong, anger in his eyes. Twisting around violently he brought the nosey person into his line of sight and just stared.

Kneeling infront of his bag was one of the strangest creatures Sylus had ever seen. At least he thought it was a creature. With its back to him, all he could see was fur, dark brown fur running from the top of it's head all the way down to its feet. Tiny arms flailing as it set the various contents of his bags flying across the room. Sextant, healing droughts, portal stones, he watched as they all flew wildly to crash everywhere and anywhere. "Wheres munchies? Him have to has crunchies!" Came it's voice again sounding vexed. Shoving the backpack away angrilly the creature bounced over to his rations bag, it's movments like that of a child on a sugar rush.

[Sylus Kurgen]

Sylus remained still in his huddled position on the floor, just watching the little creature root through his belongings. Its movements were jerky and erratic. All the while repeating, "Munchies and crunchies in heres somewheres". He watched it for several minutes seeing it throw bread and cheese here and there, obviously it wasn't into grains or dairy. His strength had come back with enough speed to allow Sylus to move into a kneeling position. Looking over his hands and limbs, there were not any signs of frostbite to be found, and of that he was thankful.

Just as he was readying to stand, Sylus nearly jumped out of his skin as the thing let out a gods awful screech, bounding up and down all over the room he yelped and whooped and hollered, clutching something in it's hands. "Knews me find munchies, justes knews mes find crunchies!!"

Barrelling round and round in multipe circles, he watched as it darted too and fro all around the room crashing into shelves, furniture, baskets filled with varrying items, till it finally ran head first into the leg of a sturdy looking table. The little thing rolled around as if in great pain. Squeeling, it's voice reaching an agonizing crescendo it clutched at it's mouth; but before Sylus could move to check on it or kick it for snooping in his bags, the creature was up on it's feet; the object from his rations bag held tightly in its mouth.

Bracing himself for the little creature to go off on another tangent, Sylus kept his eyes upon it, watching, waiting. "Curious little fellow isn't he?" Came a whispered voice right beside the eldest Kurgens ear. Bounding to his feet, Sylus spun around eyes wide. He had not heard anyone else enter, was it his ears the cold waters had damaged? Was he partially deaf? That had him seething, a twist of fate had taken one of his greatest tools from him! " Now now, calm yourself young man. No need to get yourself all aflutter, if I wanted you to hear me, I'd have made myself known." Looking around wildly he continued to scan over the room. "Where are you? Reveal yourself!" Sylus demanded, oh how he hated these games. "Bahh! You're no fun 'tall"

Frowning, Sylus tapped his foot in agitation, now noticing that he was in his stocking feet. From the left of the room came a loud pop and whistle. Then in a poofing plume of purple smoke there appeared the second stranges creature Sy had ever seen. The strangest being the furry animal eating something from his bags. Standing barely three feet high, his dark eyes beheld a small man with gray hair hanging down to well below his knees; the ends thick with filth. Brown, baggy, ratty robes hung heavily along the small beings' frame, a walking stick held light in his left hand. " No fun one iota..." The fellow repeated in a shaky voice. "Well at least you are away, you've been alseep for the past four days, almost figured you for vulture grub. Was considering giving you to my pets."

Sighing heavily, Sylus bowed his head, once again letting his mouth run away with him, leaving the mind behind. In his anger at losing his map, he had forgotten to consider the fact that he was alive; and he owed whoever had saved him much thanks. " I am not fond of games played at my expense." He admitted, probably more to himself than to his rescuer, if that was who this fellow is.

The hermit watched his ward in silence, beady yellow eyes narrowed in concentration. "You are young yet, wisdom comes with age..." As if that was any form of answer the little man bounded up into a little chair and tapped his walking stick against a larger one. "Here sit, there is much to discuss, and unless I be wrong, witch I rarely am any more..I believe you have quite a tale too tell."

"But where should I begin?" Slowly easing himself onto the chair, Sylus watched the old man calmly.

"Why not at the beginning? Tell me what has brought you here.." Smiling serenely the hermit just sat back in his little chair, the small creature slinking over to kneel beside of him, eating an apple.

"Well, this may be hard to believe, but the newest home of someone very dear to me has.." Sylus yelped out of nowhere as something suddenly banged into his shin HARD!.

"No no no! Not there, I want you to start at the beginning. The very beginning of your life! " Huffing in irritation the old man crossed his arms, the little fellow beside him doing the same thing. "When I said tell me of what brought you here, I didn't mean why you were in the river!"

Rubbing his shin, Sylus shot a look filled with daggers at the old man, but the fellow had saved his life...it was the least he could do for the deed that the old man could have just let slip by. What was another traveler lost to the elements? Sitting back Sylus began that very long, and very dark story. Telling the old man of how he was handed over to a complete strange by his parents when he was very young, he told the old man everything. Loves lost, friends slain by his own hand, the violent death of his parents, the angry retribution he hand enacted upon the orc hoard that had done it. Sylus told the hermit everything, his tale spanning hours on end.

[Sylus Kurgen]

A full day and then a little bit more had passed during the telling of his dark tale. Setting down his empty glass of water, Sylus looked at the old hermit with guarded eyes. His elderly audence had remained silent for more than a handful of moments, his eyes receded into his wizened face as if in thought.

Finally the old man lifted his head and stared Sylus square in the eyes, stared at him and nothing more. And so the contest continued for several more silent minutes. " That is quite the tale, young man. Nay, tale is too vague. What you have just told me could be considered an adventure, or a saga. There was heartache, pain, treachery, darkness, light, love, anger, revenge, blood, death, and acceptance. Yes, your sojourn through the world up to now has not been an easy road. I scarcely can imagine many people would have remained sane were any of this to happen to them." Nodding to himself carefully, the youth just listened as the hermit continued. "However, there were several moments in your story where I sensed that you had omitted some instances. What those were, most likely had little to do with the whole adventure; but you felt I need not know them. " Sylus was taken aback as the old man's gaze became sharp and piercing, the man was more intelligent than he let on.

A finger scratching at his long hooked nose, the hermit rose to his feet and walked over to the kettle dangling above the fire in the hearth. " The woman you love, more than any other...has gone to another place, where you cannot follower her. You know not wether she is safe or in dire straights, and you still search for this group of nomads. Quite the situation, quite the situation indeed." Standing upright rather abruptly, the old man looked at Sylus. "Good lord, it just realized that I still haven't asked your name. You have just told me your life's tale and I know not your name." Staring rather bemusedly, the old man just shook his head.

"Umm...my name..is Sylus, Sylus Kurgen." At these words, the old man's eyes widened slightly as he lifted the kettle from the fire. "Kurgen you say? My my my, I have not heard that name in several years. Several years. Last person to speak that name to me was a very old friend of mine. Sad to say she passed on some time ago, nasty incident with a warlock. Nasty incident, just awful. But, there is not point in mourning, she was too proud in left to ever wish others to cry for her in death. I believe she instructed your younger sibling, Artemus was his name you said? Yes that was the name she mentioned. Said he had a lot of potential to become a great druid, a thumpin great one. If he could just let his arrogance go, instead of rule him." Waving whatever thoughts that may have followed that away, the hermit brought the steaming kettle over to the table. "I don't know what kinds of delicacies you may be used to, but this is all I eat, so you can either take what I offer or go hungry. Your choice.

With a sigh, he took a bowl of whatever it was the old man had fixed. The smell coming out of the pot was just awful, and the "food" , if it could be called that, looked just as bad as it smelled; but eat he did. It wasn't the greatest thing Sylus had ever eaten, but it was better than going hungry.

"Now.." The old man began once more. " I guess it is my turn to make pleasantries. My name is Snarfle Fizzywart" The hermit held out his hand to Sylus. "Alchemist, illusionist, and proudly the only gnome you'll find in this area for a hundred miles."

Smiling a bit, Sylus took the Snarfle's hand and shook it. "Umm, nice to meed you." He didn't really know what else to say at that moment, as he met many strange creatures through the years, but this was his first gnome. "Well, you know my story but I know next to nothing about you. Snarfle. Might I get the honor of your saga?"

The old hermit just began laughing as Sylus posed his question. "My dear boy, there isnt' enough time in the world to tell that quest. Besides, I think we need to get you on your way to finding these nomads. Never know when your lady love will be coming home, if home is indeed where she wishes to be."

After dinner, Sylus and Fizzywart sat in front of the fire and discussed what could be done next to get the young man on his way to finished the task set before him by Alais. The night passed quickly with the old hermit making a choice.

[Sylus Kurgen]

The forrest passed by the trio quickly as they set a rugged pace aiming to reach the lower plains. Each of them wore a set of heavier fur cloaks as the snow was thicker in the region than up along the plains. Tramping along their way little was said outside of Snarfle complaining for the millionth time about the idiocy of the choice he made.

"Why did you let me decide to come along with you? Huh! Daftest move I've ever made."

So this is how the second month past, nothing but walking, and the old hermit driving Sylus and the third member of their group, whom still had yet to speak its name, absolutely nuts.

" I made you do nothing, Snarf. You chose to aid me of your own volition." Sylus smiled inwardly as the old man's complaints had actually become a way fo rhim to pass the time with an amused feeling.

"And would you quit calling me SNARF!, sounds like the name of someone's fat house cat. My name is Snarfle Fizzywart! Get it right!" Laughing against the wind the youth and the little furry creature walked ahead of Snarfle by several steps, letting the old man grumble by himself.

The seventh day of their treck found the group rising early. Gathering their gear and setting out again the boys, and critter, were up for a pleasant suprise. Cresting a small hillock, there sprawled out before them was a series of tents.

Amber eyes scanned over the campsite quietly as Sylus moved into a crouch. "See something, laddy?" Came Snarfle's reedy voice close to his ear. I really need to figure out how he does that. He thought to himself as he had not heard the old man approach.

" I think that's the group of nomads I've been searching for."He glanced at Snarfle before turning back to the camp, in time to see the old man halfway down the hill.

"Well then, lets head down and say hello!" Came the response as if the hermit had read the young man's mind.

"Wait! " Sylus called after him as he ran down the hill. "We can't just waltz into their midst as if we own the place. Don't know anything of their disposition, we could find ourselves facing spear points before getting a friendly word"

" Preposterous, the campsite is out in the middle of nowhere and there are not any senturies walking the perimeter, it's perfectly safe. Just you watch." Walking determinedly, Snarfle made straight for the camp, head up, back straight. A bony hand reached out to his left and patted the head of their third companion.

"This is bad on so many levels." Sylus's natural alarms were screaming at him that they were on their way into a trap. Yet the old man kept walking. Hands resting on his twin blades, the elder Kurgen merely followed. "This is a bad idea...a bad idea."

Making their way into the center of the camp, not a soul greeted the travelers. Eyes darting around warily, Sylus never let his gloved hands leave the hilts of his twin shamshirs. "Something isn't right about this, Snarfle."
No reply came to his words as the youth turned to look at the old hermit.
"Snarfle?"
He cast his eyes aroung wildly as the old man refused to answer. Where did the old man go? Spinning a perfect 360 degrees, Sylus found himself alone. Alone! in the middle of a possible enemy infested campsite!

"Ohhhh I'm going to hurt the old man for this, I swear by whatever deity is listening, since I have none of my own." Growling under his breath he began to creep towards the edge of the camp when a familiar high pitched whistle came roaring to life in his ears.

Diving behind the closest tent he turned every which way to spy what he knew was coming. His head had just turned towards the hill where himself and Snarfle had just come from, when he spotted the hermit. His old hand was held high above his head, holding a large ball of flame!
"First he tries to drown me...then he saves me, now he's going to kill me again! That's it...he's getting a gut full of steel"

[Sylus Kurgen]

His eyes grew large as he watched the ball of flame streak from the old hermit's hand, b-lining for the fire in the middle of the campsite.

It was at this point, that two thoughts raced through Sylus's mind.

1) Run like hell for the hills like a sane person.
or 2) Draw his weapons and fight with honor and valor!.

As more than three dozen weather beaten warriors, both men and women, raced out of the tents with their weapons at the ready, it occured to the elder Kurgen that he should have taken option one.

Drawing his twin scimitars, he took up a position between two small carts, this way he could bottle-neck his multiple opponents a little bit. Eyes closed, hands at the ready, Sylus emptied his mind of all thought. Letting the emptiness fill him completely, he visualized a single flame in his mind. Into the flame he pushed all distracting thoughts, letting only the flame become his sole focus. As he opened his eyes, the world seemed more alive, scents were stronger, sounds sharper, the slightest movement more noticeable. This was what his teachers had called kodi, but over time he had found the technique to have several names. The Oneness, and Void and the Flame. His eyes towards the gathering storm, Sylus readied for the wave that was too come crashing down over him.

[Sylus Kurgen]

The tribe of shifters continued to creep closer, taking their time with long, slow, measured steps. Like the wolf just before it springs into action when it has the kill in its sights.

The tension between Sylus and the group was nearing a crescendo. He could hear the blood flowing through his veins, like a dull roar in his acutley sharp ears. Blades coming to the ready, he dropped down a hair to alter his center of gravity. Just then, the throng of bodies parted like a Moses and the Red Sea. Craning his neck in hopes of glimpsing whoever or whatever was approaching, Sylus could just barely make out the top of the figure's head as it made way through the crowd.

"Must be the leader" He mused to himself, readying for a hard fight and flight.

As the shifters finally parted to allow the approaching figure to stand before Sylus, the elder Kurgen's jaw dropped. It wasn't some hulking behemoth, not some walking mountain of muscle, floating at 3' off the ground, there came none other but Snarfle Fizzywart.