Imagination
Something instinctively tells you that "It's not going to be that easy." You remember back when the Shadows first tried to take you, you wished you were back home and it didn't happen, you ended up in the middle of nowhere. There's no telling where you might end up if you tried it again. So far "little wishes" have worked for you, so you're going to stick with the current plan of getting the Empire wizards to send you home and use your "powers" only when necessary.
You eventually fall asleep with your new sword by your side, you're awakened by Qualan in the morning.
"Hey, get up boy let's get going where'd you get that sword from?"
"Huh? Oh well uh I found it under the bed."
"Sheesh, I know I've forgotten a few things in my travels, but never a weapon. That's just unthinkable. You probably should have a sword anyway, I'm not sure how it is where you're from, but a boy your age would definitely be somewhat familiar with a weapon of some sort by now in my tribe."
"Where were you?"
"I told you, I was getting directions to the Parran Empire, and exploring the town a bit well okay I was exploring the tavern, in fact I eventually explored the floor of it. Oh well at least nothing was stolen, not that I have anything left after spending it all at the tavern hey you still have that silver ring? I think I might need to trade for a horse. I can't be accompanying you efficiently if I'm not on horseback as well."
After giving Qualan the ring back, and uses it to buy a broken down nag, you and he are on your way again. You and he talk during your uneventful travel; he's very fascinated with your world as you are with all the adventures he's been on. Soon you come to a split in the path. You ask which way to go.
"Well, both of these paths will eventually lead to the Empire, but one of them is a lot quicker. There's a catch though, back in town I was told the quicker path is currently under complete control of a vicious goblin tribe. Apparently they're attacking anyone that goes through there. I heard The Empire was supposed to send in some soldiers to take care of the problem, but the Nightmare Tyrant is a more immediate and dangerous threat and as such they're concentrating their efforts on him instead. The second path is supposed to be safe and clear, but it'll take longer. We'll probably have to make a camp somewhere, before we even reach the Empire.
"Let's take the safer route." You say.
"Alright, but keep alert anyway, just because I heard it was safe doesn't necessarily mean it is."
You and Qualan travel further with no unexpected encounters. When it begins to get dark you half expect Shadows to come attacking you out of the sky again, but this is a natural darkness, night is merely falling. Qualan suggests that you should make camp and you do so. You and he eat the provisions he bought from town. He comments on how bad they are and next time he's just going to stick to hunting in the wilderness for food next time.
You've never slept outside before, so like most things in this adventure it's a brand new experience for you. One that makes you really wonder why some of the kids at school have said they like camping so much. You're definitely a city boy!
After trying to get comfortable several times and not worry about bugs crawling on you, you fall asleep, but not for long. A noise awakens you and Qualan. The horses seem agitated as well.
"Qualan?"
"Shhh! I heard it too be prepared for anything." He says standing up and readying his axe.
Soon a large figure lurches out from the darkness. It's another Shadow, but not like any of the ones you've encountered before, this one is bigger for one thing, almost as if its armored and for another it looks vaguely familiar. The black figure is hard enough to make out by the campfire, but when it speaks you know immediately who it is.
"At last I've found you boy."
"Salzat?"
"You know this thing?" Qualan asks getting ready to attack.
"Briefly, he used to be one of the Paladins sent with me to take me back to the Empire." You reply backing away.
"And I still have to waste my time escorting you around!" Salzat hisses. "Come boy, my new master the Nightmare Tyrant wants to see you, it would be unwise to keep him waiting, the agony will only be much worse the more you resist "
"Take the horse and ride boy! I'll dispatch this monster!" Qualan shouts at you.
You're sick of running at this point, and Qualan needs your help. Besides you figure you can actually do something now with your new sword, which you draw out.
"Boy, I told you to get out of here!" Qualan exclaims as he defends an attack from Salzat.
"Ha ha! Good. Saves me the trouble of chasing down the little fool!" Salzat laughs.
While he's laughing you take the opportunity to stab at him. He attempts to dodge, but you manage to slightly wound his leg. This causes him to bellow in a hissing shriek. Qualan hits him with his axe, but it doesn't effect Salzat like your attack did. Salzat retreats back a bit to recover.
"YOU MISERABLE LITTLE WHELP! YOU HURT ME!" he says before getting ready to charge again.
"Boy, your sword can hurt it, but I'm better with wielding such a weapon, toss it to me and I'll dispatch this creature!" Qualan quickly says bracing himself for another attack.
You eventually fall asleep with your new sword by your side, you're awakened by Qualan in the morning.
"Hey, get up boy let's get going where'd you get that sword from?"
"Huh? Oh well uh I found it under the bed."
"Sheesh, I know I've forgotten a few things in my travels, but never a weapon. That's just unthinkable. You probably should have a sword anyway, I'm not sure how it is where you're from, but a boy your age would definitely be somewhat familiar with a weapon of some sort by now in my tribe."
"Where were you?"
"I told you, I was getting directions to the Parran Empire, and exploring the town a bit well okay I was exploring the tavern, in fact I eventually explored the floor of it. Oh well at least nothing was stolen, not that I have anything left after spending it all at the tavern hey you still have that silver ring? I think I might need to trade for a horse. I can't be accompanying you efficiently if I'm not on horseback as well."
After giving Qualan the ring back, and uses it to buy a broken down nag, you and he are on your way again. You and he talk during your uneventful travel; he's very fascinated with your world as you are with all the adventures he's been on. Soon you come to a split in the path. You ask which way to go.
"Well, both of these paths will eventually lead to the Empire, but one of them is a lot quicker. There's a catch though, back in town I was told the quicker path is currently under complete control of a vicious goblin tribe. Apparently they're attacking anyone that goes through there. I heard The Empire was supposed to send in some soldiers to take care of the problem, but the Nightmare Tyrant is a more immediate and dangerous threat and as such they're concentrating their efforts on him instead. The second path is supposed to be safe and clear, but it'll take longer. We'll probably have to make a camp somewhere, before we even reach the Empire.
"Let's take the safer route." You say.
"Alright, but keep alert anyway, just because I heard it was safe doesn't necessarily mean it is."
You and Qualan travel further with no unexpected encounters. When it begins to get dark you half expect Shadows to come attacking you out of the sky again, but this is a natural darkness, night is merely falling. Qualan suggests that you should make camp and you do so. You and he eat the provisions he bought from town. He comments on how bad they are and next time he's just going to stick to hunting in the wilderness for food next time.
You've never slept outside before, so like most things in this adventure it's a brand new experience for you. One that makes you really wonder why some of the kids at school have said they like camping so much. You're definitely a city boy!
After trying to get comfortable several times and not worry about bugs crawling on you, you fall asleep, but not for long. A noise awakens you and Qualan. The horses seem agitated as well.
"Qualan?"
"Shhh! I heard it too be prepared for anything." He says standing up and readying his axe.
Soon a large figure lurches out from the darkness. It's another Shadow, but not like any of the ones you've encountered before, this one is bigger for one thing, almost as if its armored and for another it looks vaguely familiar. The black figure is hard enough to make out by the campfire, but when it speaks you know immediately who it is.
"At last I've found you boy."
"Salzat?"
"You know this thing?" Qualan asks getting ready to attack.
"Briefly, he used to be one of the Paladins sent with me to take me back to the Empire." You reply backing away.
"And I still have to waste my time escorting you around!" Salzat hisses. "Come boy, my new master the Nightmare Tyrant wants to see you, it would be unwise to keep him waiting, the agony will only be much worse the more you resist "
"Take the horse and ride boy! I'll dispatch this monster!" Qualan shouts at you.
You're sick of running at this point, and Qualan needs your help. Besides you figure you can actually do something now with your new sword, which you draw out.
"Boy, I told you to get out of here!" Qualan exclaims as he defends an attack from Salzat.
"Ha ha! Good. Saves me the trouble of chasing down the little fool!" Salzat laughs.
While he's laughing you take the opportunity to stab at him. He attempts to dodge, but you manage to slightly wound his leg. This causes him to bellow in a hissing shriek. Qualan hits him with his axe, but it doesn't effect Salzat like your attack did. Salzat retreats back a bit to recover.
"YOU MISERABLE LITTLE WHELP! YOU HURT ME!" he says before getting ready to charge again.
"Boy, your sword can hurt it, but I'm better with wielding such a weapon, toss it to me and I'll dispatch this creature!" Qualan quickly says bracing himself for another attack.