It is a time of high adventure--of war and tenative peace--and of secular armies and mystical mages. Dwarven hammers ring in hidden forges, elven scouts patrol the woodlands, and all manner of other creatures scurry about on missions known only to themselves.

Human lords impose a limited amount of control, but any efforts to truly accomplish anything are undermined at every turn by devious plots from all sides. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda, and murder and thievery are part of everyday life. No one is safe...and everyone is armed.

Mages, often persecuted for their mysterious powers, lead small sects of followers and train adept pupils in hidden citadels. Some become involved in politics, others in the military. In truth, large numbers of the populace, in all species, possess some measure of innate magical talent--they only need to unlock it...

There were six angry solders in all. Each of them held a deadly rapier, and each blade was pointed directly at my throat. It was not the best situation I had been in. But I was quite sure I would manage.

Instead of surrendering to the fools, as they had expected me to, I fought back. I flung my dagger into the nearest man’s skull. Before any of them could react, I drew my sword and ran it through the chest of another solder. And then they were upon me, swinging their swords with all the rage of a pack of demons, but with no more skill than the average toddler.

I deflected their blows with ease, fighting with merely half my natural skill, I felled three of them in good order. The last remaining solder dropped his sword and ran like a coward. It was as easy that.

I smiled to myself and began rummaging through the bodies for gold or anything of value.

"Halt." The voice was stern.

I froze, detecting at least three men on horseback standing directly behind me.

"You will burn for this." The voice boomed.

I turned around slowly. Three knights on horseback, as I had suspected, one of them had a crossbow pointed dangerously at my skull.

"No." I grinned. "It is you who will burn."

I drew back my fist and shouted in the forbidden tongue. Flames erupted from the ground beneath my feet. I smiled to myself, noting the fear in the eyes of the knights as the roaring flames leapt toward them.

The nearest knight cried out in terror as his crossbow turned to ashes. The horses panicked all at once, and the knights disappeared down the path. The flames lifted into the air and lunged after the fleeing men. Seconds later, there were three distant cries of pain.

I shook my head and continued searching the bodies of the fallen solders. I recovered six gold pieces in all. It was a due reward for slaying such evil men. The remainder of the day was spent in aimless wandering.

At sunset I located a small caravan of farmers. I spent the evening in their company, sharing stories of battle and love. The caravan master offered me a bed and a position amongst his guards. I accepted both, glad to have a purpose again. At dawn we began traveling north.

We had been on the trail merely an hour when a pack of vicious wolven creatures attacked us. We fought wave after wave of the beasts, one by one, men were lost. The caravan master collapsed in a bloody heap as a pair of the beasts tore him nearly in two. With the master gone, the men began to flee into the forest. I stood alone, surrounded by the blood thirsty monsters.

I had no alternative… I raised my hands into the air and shrieked a phrase in the forbidden tongue. Light swept in from all directions, blinding the beasts and swirling gently around me. When the air cleared, I was gone.

I found myself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar field. I strode slowly toward the tree line, wondering where my wandering would take me.

I was not able to walk much further than the treeline. Battleweary, I slumped against a tree and fell asleep. I awoke the next morning for the better, though much hungrier. My wrists felt sore, and I tried to rub the pain out of them, but nothing could ever assuage the damage of living cuffed and chained for five years. I will never go to prison again. Mark my words. Never.

I had been lucky enough to steal some dried meats from the caravan master the night before, but the salted rabbit did little to slack my thirst.

As I ate I studied my surroundings. I had never seen such strange trees. By my mother's white milk, I could be anywhere on the continent. Course, I could be dead, too, if I hadn't spoken in the forgotten tongue. So I guess everything turns out for the best in the end. Like my first master said the day he sold me, "Think of it this way, boy. You won't be here any more."

That is life to me. I sure as hell won't be here any more. One day, a port, the next, a desert stronghold. It beats farming, and it beats slavery.

But what about those trees? The bark was dark as night, even in the day. And the leaves were sticky. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. My cotton mouth reminded me of the real issue at hand, so I started walking.

Two hours later I had to unsheath my sword--a rusty old thing with little to say about it. It would hurt, though! Vines had begun to grow in my path, thin, spidery vines that looped around your feet when you least expected it. My traveling time was cut in half.

Eventually, I reached a small stream hidden behind an entanglement of vines. I was very happy to have found it. I cupped my hands into the stream and began to drink heartily. I was tired from all the chopping. A little bit of the dried rabbit remained in my belt pouch, and I ate it.

I said to myself, "If you are going to live here, then you better learn yourself fishing." After a gracious yawn, I added to my unseen audience, "Tomorrow."

I awoke with the same pain in my wrists that hurt me everyday, but with an extra pain in my side. I tried to stand, but fell into the vines and groaned. What did I drink from the stream? I received the most curious answer.

"Wat is tat you are doing?" I could not see the face. I did not want to see the face. I wanted to die, supported by the forest's intricate weavings.

"Will you please to turn around and say someting? Are you friend or foe?" I could no better turn around than I could dance. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

The most peculiar face looked at me. It had dark eyes and black fur. "O, my, you are a sad-looking creature, aren't you?" The last thing I remember is vomiting. I'm sure it wasn't a good first impression.

When I awoke I was in some sort of underground den. Large roots dangled from the ceiling, and a bed of grass lay beneath me. There were two wooden doors at each end of the room, as if this were a large cavern.

One of the doors creaked open.

"Ello!" my strange nurse said.

If anyone knows of a way in which I can get the computer to instantly post the contents of this form on a page, please tell me.

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