I am named Darna. I have had many names, but this is the last by which I have been known. I am a member of the Co.Rpse. heh... no, more than that, I am Co.Rpse. Co.Rpse is a part of me as much as my blood, as my body, as my soul. I remember when.. no, no. I must start at the beginning.

Years ago, I led a small party on a raid of a gnome village. My party members, Loggerhead, Shi, Killgore, Lynx and I were weak then - but children in a land of giants. Yet we survived. We even prospered. We learned that together our strength was greater than that of any one individual. Together we fought to master those who would prey on the weak, those who would kill for lust of blood and nothing else. We were not angels. We bathed in blood at times, and had to fight against the violence in our bones. But we lived in a violent world... ahh, but that is no excuse.

I ramble, and yet have little time left. We were weak then, my companions and I... though they would later straddle the world and laugh in the face of their ancient enemies. Ahhh, what leaders they became. There was a time though when they knew fear, as did I. Gnomes we hunted that fateful day, but lost we became. Eventually we happened upon an old graveyard, its crusty gate hanging open.

We fought well there, killing those ancient things that lurk in the shadows. The fights were easy, and the treasure good. We continued on and eventually came to a chapel where the bloodied body of a priest rested on a open altar. Young minds lit up with the thought of hidden treasure, so brandishing torches to light our way we rushed forward.

The caverns were dark black with murky water dripping from the ceiling. Ghoulish howls echoed through the chambers, and we began to feel fear. The land itself then turned against us, and a rock dripping with slime attacked, forcing us to flee before the battle had even began. I was hit the worst, and was close to death but they carried my bleeding body through those cursed caverns of undead. Our lights lost, we wandered for days, screaming for help, and yet none came. Great and powerful mages would pass us by, and ignore our pleas for help. Gods hid behind invisible shields and laughed at our plight. We swore then and there that we would never allow this to happen again. We swore that once we gained the power to shape the world to our will no one would endure this plight as we had. We swore that evil would no longer hold a dagger at the back of the righteous. We swore that with swords, daggers, spellfire, even our bare hands... the world would soon see the rise of a great force for good. An army would stride the earth, making the black hearts of evil quiver with fear.

This we swore in blood. My blood. Loggerheads blood. Lynx's blood. Shi's blood. Killgore's blood. As we pressed our bleeding palms to each other, a few drops fell on the floor, and the room began to shake. Stones broke loose, showering us with debris, and a fearful light arose in the corner. Steadfast now, strong and alive in the power shared in our bond, we stood to face the threat with no fear of death. We had died, and been reborn in union with each other.

A terrible creature rose from the ground, eyes red with fire and fists clenched about two daggers dripping black poison. In turn it looked at each one of us, and made a motion with one spectral hand, forcing us against our will to the floor. A forked tongue flicked out of its mouth, and it began to speak.

"You have defiled my grave. You have entered my hunting grounds. For this you should die. But a pact of blood has been entered upon here, and the blood has touched me and I have tasted it. Laws more ancient than even I protect you now. That you should not desecrate this dark ground, I shall return you to your puny world, and your useless lives.

"Before you go though I shall mark you, so that I know you and your descendants. If you ever break this pact, or if those who follow you ever break it, I shall know it. What I am denied today, I shall receive then. I am eternal. You should hope your pact will be the same"

The creature then approached Loggerhead and said "You shall lead this clan of good for a time. You shall be the first, and you shall have to struggle to keep it alive in a world made dark by evil." The creature crackled with glee at this, and then like lightning, a skeletal hand grabbed Loggerhead by the neck and a dagger pierced his neck, leaving a red gash that dripped with black poison. "Know my resolve by this mark, this black gash that shall remain with you until you die. Know that the poison is now within you, and that if you ever break your vow, you will pay in blood a price unimaginable."

Loggerhead dropped to the floor as the pressure was released, and a gash appeared on the neck of Shi. Smiling down upon her the creature addressed her. "You as well shall lead. You shall lead the weak and the pitiful. You will have to protect them as they grow. You will have to clothe them when they are naked. You will have to avenge them when they are wronged. You will no longer live for yourself, but for others. Break these rules and you as well will pay the price."

Lynx boldly examined the creature as a gash appeared on her neck. She spoke a word of power, and the gash healed, but the black mark remained. Rotting teeth grinned at her as the creature cackled with insane glee. "Puny mortal. Some day, you will heal with the power of a god, but never will you heal the scar I have given you today. You will lead as well, and you shall be given a strong clan by your predecessors. Do not think you will rest though, for to you to I impart a grave duty. You shall find a place for your soldiers to rest. The band will be strong, but your soldiers will need a home in which they can heal from the battles they will fight. You will build this hall for them. It will be built with stones brought by others, but the mortar will be your blood. Your will is what will hold it together. You will face many challenges. Do not think this bond an easy one. Do not think it one you can ignore.

The creature then marked me, and gave me duty as well. "You shall guard the clan. You shall guard my mark, and guard your bond. Many will come after you, and some will not be worthy. You shall whisper in the ear of the soldier, of the leader and help them see the way. You shall look for the downtrodden and point the way for your warriors of the light. You shall tell your clan-members when one dies or when one is hurt. You shall guard and stand on duty for those who can not. After one hundred years, your service will end, and another will replace you."