Merlyn the Magician's page

"No! He cannot go!"

Slicing the air that he stood in, Josephine's scimitar opened a viewing portal to the Avatar of the Dead's location.

But all it showed was the figure of a dark, twisted creature, thick muscles flowing under it's skin, like it was barely contained. And it was walking purposefully.

"I cannot decipher the meaning of this. Can any of you help?"

"This did not go as planned," Merlyn said. "So that is what that scimitar does. Who is that coming through the portal? He looks familar, but it can not be..."

After seeing the image of the Council of Avatars, Merlyn smiled.

"It would appear that Death is looking for me, not the other way around. Very well, if this is where Death will find me, then I can think of no better place. There are far worse places to die."

Merlyn stuck his staff into the ground.

"Josephine, I would advice you to leave, but if you insist on staying, then make yourself useful. Clear everyone out of the way. Except for that statue of course. Maybe I can talk to him first, but that will probably be for naught. Still..."

Merlyn turned to Esil'dar and said:

"He is coming for me, you know, and I have a feeling he is not coming alone. The Avatar of Death has to be stopped. To interfere with the natural course of death on Beriya is the same as destroying it. I know the other Archdruids are listening too. I will sacrifice myself to stop him, if need be. If not, then perhaps I can just go home to live out my days. Will you help or just watch me die?"

(( Pretty busy lately, sorry if I'm not quite as active as I once was.

After several minutes, the Archdruid seemed to appear from the woods at a terrible speed, leaving behind a blurred image of himself until finally his form abruptly stopped no more than a few steps in front of them. This art is known as Leywalking among the elves, but most of the other races which had seen an elf perform this mystical feat tend to call it the Elven Path and it was indeed a rather complicated part of Druidism.

Esil'dar seemed to create no air as he stopped, as if he was all but immaterial while moving along the Elven Path. Smiling, he nodded to Merlyn with an apologetic fondness, but said no more, for both parties understood where they stood and no words need be said. He turned to Josephine, letting out a puff of smoke. "Here I am, Josephine. Your voice sounded somewhat troubled and I see you've brought our mutual friend with you. What's the matter?"

"Esil'Dar, I will not stand here and be ignored," Merlyn said. "We are here for a simple reason: I must fight the Avatar of Death! He threatens to undo nature itself if he tampers with the natural order of death. All that I know is he was here. With my companion Josephine, who insisted on coming, that is what we will do. As far as what I did to Stagbrow, I offer no apologies. I did what I felt was right at the time. Now, feel free to talk to your friend. I will wait."

"I have no objections. For now, i follow you, Merlyn."

Merlyn's white owl, that he named Lowan, took him and Josephine to the Great Forest. There he saw the Great Tree and a sixty rod (foot) tall, obsidion statue next to it. He didn't know what to think about that. They landed next to the tree and waited for their response...

"I insist, for without me you face certain failure. I know how the Avatars work, I know of the agreements they made, and I alone wield the weapon that can end them. And besides, at least one of us should return here to tell the tale of what happened, don't you think?"

Evidently Josephine knew a lot more than she outwardly showed.

"Very well, Josephine, you may lead the way. My Second Sight spell showed me that the Avatar of Death last appeared in the Great Forest. Unless you disagree, that is where we should go. I do have a ride."

Merlyn whistled and in a few minutes they both saw a giant, white owl fly down towards them.

Josephine was sitting in her room, when suddenly she felt a strange pull on her mind. She quickly opened her own bag of sand, and the sand flowed out onto the floor, before taking the form of the Avatar of Sand.

"Josephine, you must leave. Go with him. That scimitar is the one hope this world has now that the Gods are gone."

Josephine quickly packed her things. She went to Te-Bow, and said her goodbye to her apprentice. She will be back.

She quickly caught up to Merlyn, and she said to him "My scimitar is the one hope this world has of defeating Him. Why did you think of leaving without it?"

"You should stay back in Lighton and cook for the Paladins," Merlyn said. "However, if you insist on coming I won't stop you. The Avatar of Death must be stopped. Death is a part of Life. Two sides of the same coin. LordDeath is in the Realm ot the Dead waiting for souls, and all of the other domains in the Far Realms. Also, there are other Avatars too. I do not know what will happen when we face him."

Merlyn made a decision. I wrote a quick note to his acolytes. In it he named Te-Bow to be the Patriarch until he returned, but he did not plan to return. 20 years was enough to be in church. He had to perform one last act before his play was over. He had to confront the Avatar of Death!

He had to leave the Staff of Stars, but he made himself a new staff, made from a limb from the Tree of Life. It grew here in Lighton. He asked the tree for one of her limbs, and she said yes. He felt naked without a wooden staff. It also enhanced his spells and miracles.

Merlyn did not tell anyone he was leaving. They would just cry and beg him not to go, so it was better this way. He said one last goodbye, and Merlyn left. However,, he left one last mental suggestion in Te-Bow's mind. He told him how to activate the Dome of Light, using the Staff of Stars. The staff had actual starlight in it direct from the Sun. It would protect Lighton in case of an invasion.

"Time to go!" Merlyn said before he disappeared...

Merlyn considered the words of the Avatar of Sand, then he called for Josephine to reentry his office.
"The words of the Avatar of the Sand concern me. You will stay here for awhile. Train Te-Bow as your apprentice and also work in the Cathedral's kitchen as a cook. My paladins will take you to a room for you to stay."

When she left Merlyn knew he had another task before him; he had to confront the Avatar of Death!

"The question, Merlyn of the East, is not how you can help me, but how I can help you. I come here having spoken to Esil'Dar, and have heard of all that has happened here before I came. The Archdruid claims that this is a time of peace, and yet I arrive to find that the ranks of your... Paladins, i think you call them? have been bolstered significantly. I have conversed with the Avatar, and he in turn told me that he entered an agreement with the other Avatars. I come as their representative in this part of the world. I assume you have not forgotten how powerful the Avatar of the Sand was? He has not lost his touch, but it seems he considered you a worthy adversary, and so he asked me to come here."

At this point, Josephine seems a little lost. She is not used to being weaponless. It makes her feel uneasy.

"Rest assured, I am not here to cause strife, and the Avatar made it clear to me that I am not to harm any who do not wish harm upon others. Your paladins are no doubt skilled warriors, so you do not need me for that. And you are a skilled magician, perhaps the greatest this land will ever know, so you need not my magic. Guidance, however, is something you lack. The gods have left, including yours, and I wish to act as your advisor of sorts."

Josephine seems yet more lost. Speech comes easily to her, but Merlyn is an intimidating man, even in his aged state.

"If you wish proof of my allegiance to all in the East, then I would ask a favour of you. Give me the Bag of Sand that the Avatar gave you. I shall sever all ties it has to the other Archdruids. No doubt such an act will lift the burden on their hearts. I will also call the Avatar, I ias the bag will function purely as a communication system after I have severed the ties."

And finally Josephine finds the strength to finish what she needs to say.

"I will require my scimitar in order to do so. It has the power to negate any Avatar's magic to any degree that I see as being balanced. You see, the Avatars agreed to meddle no more in mortal...

"Very well," Merlyn said. "Here is your scimitar and Bag of Sand."

He made both items appear in front of her.

"I certainly wish nothing more to do with that bag. I would very much like to communicate with the Avatar of the Sand and the other Avatars. Your apprentice will be my Head Paladin......Te-Bow. He will need a powerful weapon like that one day to defend Lighton when I am gone, and that may be soon. All right, Warrior of the West, proceed."

However, Josephine had not come there blindly, for it seemed as though the warioress had surprisingly won the game of chess against the Archdruid, to which the old elf stroked his chin with a rather comic frown, before exclaiming that he needed more practice and handing Josephine a leaf-shaped crystal.

Perhaps, although not certain, that would help her earn recognition from the paladins of Lighton and reach Merlyn more easily. Alas, a relatively long time has passed since Merlyn was allowed into the forest, so it was not a very reliable aid.

The Paladins do take Josephine to see Patriarch Merlyn, after she was searched for weapons. Merlyn spoke to her in his cluttered office, because he felt more comfortable there than his large, throne room. He gladly accepted the leaf shaped crystal.

"It has been over twenty years since I was in the Great Forest. I had to do something terrible to win a great battle. I was fighting Nevara and the Avatar of the Sand. I had to pay a price for that action, and so did an old friend of mine. I am glad that you are here. I know very little about the West, and I need to learn more. So, tell me Josephine of the West, how can I help you?"

Merlyn the Magician wrote:

Cr500cricket wrote:

Noting the vast difference of technological levels in nations, and how quickly they can fall, Derek constructs a near impenetrable vault at the South pole to hold the most powerful artifacts of fallen nations and to keep them from creatures who would misuse them (via malicious intent or ignorance).

Through the use of a mystical portal, Merlyn brung the Orb of Oblivion to the Vault, and he watched closely as the strange, metallic man placed it in the Vault. Merlyn then noddded and returned to Primeva via the invisible portal.

"Thank you for your contribution Archmage."

I am the Patriarch of Lighton now, not an Archmage, but thank you. I suspect more of you Metallic Men are coming.

Minor correction: Jormungand was in the forest. The dragon attacking Destra was the Wyrm of Repose.

The Murmur watches with smug satisfaction as the Age of Gods comes to an end. He takes his other million-sided die—the one not used to create the moon—and begins spinning it.

It takes one hundred seasons to land on a number. The god of broken systems watches patiently.

Meanwhile, the goblins begin constructing great metal skyscrapers, purging all forest, swamp and general life within reach. They fill the sky with acidic smoke, and gradually, their kingdom comes to be known as the Choked Lands.

The "sour knights" grow in power as well, led by their draconic guardian. The undead attack bring new attention to their order, and recruitment has skyrocketed. They become a powerful, recognized force, their numbers more than a hundred times what they were originally.

But with this strength comes complacency. Many of them begin to grow corrupt, demanding recompensein exchange for risking their lives. The sour knights have become a mercenary order, and those few of them who remember the old ways are greatly outnumbered.

It was during the 100 seasons that Patriarch Merlyn oversaw the rebuilding of Lighton and the transition after Leafar left for the Realm of Light. A conflict between the Sour Knights and the Order of Palas grew. The Paladins believed that the Rangers were just in it for the money, and not for goodness itself. Merlyn agreed with the Paladins.

Merlyn knew that Nevara didn't die in his Great Tree attack; however, that was never his intent. The undead would attack from time to time, and the Paladins would always stop them, but it was very organized. Another evil was growing, and Merlyn wanted to know what it was.

He really didn't like being a "Patriarch". Merlyn did what was required. He led the holy services, appointed new Paladins, oversaw anything major. He made sure to appoint a Cardinal to run Lighton, and then appoint a High Paladin to lead the Order of Palas; he gave that duty to Te-Bow.

For Patriarch Merlyn, he just wanted to deal with the major stuff. The land around Lighton was becoming a nation. The people who couldn't fit in Lighton were building their own towns outside of it. He had to make sure that various Cardinals and Bishops were appointed to run those towns, because after all this was a theocracy.

Merlyn had to make sure he kept rejuvenating himself. When he was made the new Patriarch he was all ready 100, very old by Human standards. He had various methods for keeping alive and fit, but that could only last for so long. Eventually he would pass on this duty to someone else, but not yet. Trouble was always around the corner...

Merlyn returned to Lighton to find the city heavily damaged from Nevara's attack. They were mourning the death of Palas. Merlyn saw 12 Paladins carry his body into the Labyrinth of Lights. He guessed that Leafar would resurrect him, but he was wrong. He was walking the streets of Lighton surveying the damage when a tall, young Paladin approached. He was Human, with short-brown hair, muscular, and his white platemail armor was stained with blood.

"Are you the one called Merlyn the Magician?" He asked.

"Yes, and who is the one asking?"

"I am called Te-Bow, a Paladin in the Order of Palas," he said. "I have been ordered to request that you come to the Star Chamber of the Labyrinth of Lights at once...if it is your desire to."

"Yes, I will come. I have been there before."

Merlyn followed Te-Bow through the twisting passages of the labyrinth until he arrived at the Star Chamber. There he saw eleven other Paladins around the body of Palas, but he did not see Leafar. Then he knew.

" Leafar is gone," Merlyn told them. "I wager he has gone off to some other Realm. I had a feeling this would eventually happen."

"With Palas gone there is no one to lead us," Te-Bow said,"and none of us are worthy to take on his place as Patriarch. Palas whispered a few words before his soul passed on to the Realm of Light. He said you would lead us."

"What? You must be mistaken! I am not worthy to lead the Runts right now, much less Lighton. You do not know what I have done. No, I cannot. Find someone else please."

There is no one else, Merlyn. It was the voice of Leafar from the Realm of Light.

Your sins are forgiven. Only you can lead my people now. Get them through these trying times. This is not a reward, it is a responsibility you must accept to cleanse your soul. Merlyn, accept the Staff of Stars. You are now the Patriarch of Lighton!

Te-Bow handed Merlyn the Staff of Stars, and then the Twelve Paladins bowed to him. This was a job that Merlyn could not turn down.

"Oh well, I have had worse jobs. At least I get to have a new staff."

Merlyn left the broken Necropolis and Nighton. Yes, the second World Tree he planted had sunk beneath the earth, taking Nevara with it he hoped, but it still caused mass destruction. That included the dreaded Necrotic Engine.

He sensed that the Black Desert had retreated back to the West, so some good had come from this. The price was the Archdruid Stagbrow. Merlyn had chosen him quite randomly, because they were all essentially equal. However, if Merlyn was being honest with himself, he never liked Stagbrow; it made his choice a little easier.

Merlyn decided to go to Lighton to help rebuild the city. He wondered what exactly happened to Stagbrow. Was he dead? Imprisoned in the West? Banished to the edge of the world? He them all that this was an option, and he was able to defeat two evils and save many lives, but at what cost? He pondered that question and another: who had slain Palas? He would have to leave that for another day.

The sands pooled in the middle of the circle, and from the pool of seething sand rose the figure of the Avatar, with the same smile he always wore. With a flourish, he turned to face Merlyn.

"Hello Merlyn. I had a feeling it would come to this. The ritual is not yet complete. First, you must select one of the Archdruids, for reasons that you well know. Each gem has a name inscribed upon it, created at the moment of bonding. And you must tell me your enemy. I assume that they are nearby..."

While this was happening, each of the Archdruids felt that the ritual had begun. To some, it felt like all their will had been absorbed. To others, it felt like their connection to the Great Tree was at risk. And all knew that one of them was at risk...

And so it begins...

Merlyn looked directly at the Avatar of the Sand.

"Oh yes, my enemy is very nearby. First, I chose Archdruid Stagbrow. Second, the name of my enemy is you!" He pointed directly at the Avatar of the Sand.

"I am sure you will deal with yourself accordingly. Go back to the West, and take the Black Desert with you! Now, there must be a sacrifice to end this battle of death."

Merlyn stuck his staff, made from the Great Tree, into the floor of the Necropolis. He whispered ancient words and he connected to the World Tree itself.

"Thr roots of the World Tree connect to all parts of Beriya, even here. My staff is the seed, and when the roots touch the seed, watch it grow!"

Soon the staff was surrounded by roots, and the roots became a tree, and the tree grew! It grew until it crashed through the roof of the Necropolis, and then it too colapsed. Then the tree continued to grow across the city of Nighton.

Nevara did see the second, great tree destroy her Necropolis, where she made her Undead. She tried to personally destroy the tree herself using her dark magics, until she herself was caught up in the growing branches and she became completely entangled. Within minutes she disappeared with the great tree and her screams were muffled until nothing was left except silence. There was no sight of Merlyn.
The Necromancers did not know what to do without their Queen, and the undead walked aimlessly across Primeva...

Esil'Dar, Ae, and the other Archdruids gathered at the, now shattered, barrier of light, and spoke with the Avatar of Sand. Primarily, they wanted to know what would stop him from ravaging the land if it fully dissipated.

"My, my, you do not know? I spoke once before of how evil doesn't always attack good. I also spoke once before about the fact that not all evil is alike. I stopped the Desert short of the forest before I knew myself to be opposed, and part of that is the fact that I am not a god. I am an Avatar. The difference is fundamental. Gods only have honour if they choose it, but I have it built in. You have troubles enough with the wars in the East, North and South for me in the West to add to them."

The Archdruids did not find this to be enough of a reason.

Ae spoke first. "All things come to an end, and while we fight for the continuation, everything changes. What says that you, too, will not change?"

"Put simply, my dear Ae, I can threaten this world far more thoroughly than any of the previous threats. But, even now, a great wave is rolling in from the East. The Destroyer's Head is still here. And do you not see the moon covering the sun? No matter who survives, I will persist."

"And besides, I have two rather fun games on the go at the moment. One with Esil'Dar, who has taught me much. And one with Merlyn, which I foresee an end to sooner than you think. Hear me now, Archdruids. Merlyn will use the bag of sand. I can do more than he knows.

It was easy for Merlyn to enter Nevara's fortress. She had created her own city and she called it Nighton. Within this city of the dead was her stronghold called Necropolis.

Merlyn used his magics to enter unseen. It was virtually empty. He could sense that Nevara was in her garden singing. The ritual that the Avatar of the Sand described was simple enough.

He took out the bag of black sand, and he performed the ritual. Then he prayed, "Oh my gods, forgive me..."

Merlyn looked up and he saw the dark moon cover the Sun. He saw the dead rise on the battlefield of death. He saw that the battle was not over. He heard Nevara laugh from her valley. Yes, he knew what he had to do. He called the giant white owl again for another flight. This time to Nevara's stronghold...

Noting the vast difference of technological levels in nations, and how quickly they can fall, Derek constructs a near impenetrable vault at the South pole to hold the most powerful artifacts of fallen nations and to keep them from creatures who would misuse them (via malicious intent or ignorance).

Through the use of a mystical portal, Merlyn brung the Orb of Oblivion to the Vault, and he watched closely as the strange, metallic man placed it in the Vault. Merlyn then noddded and returned to Primeva via the invisible portal.

"You yourself have said, that you never intended to use it." - Sha'lorei looked at him with narrow eyes. "However, young Merlyn, worry not. We are well aware that you have your own duties to fulfill and we do not ask you stay and observe." - she loosened up, smirking.

Ae nodded grimly at that, lost in thought. "What Jormungand speaks is truth."

Esil'dar looked at one, then the other, before moving up to Merlyn and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Use it, if you feel that it is right to do so, Merlyn. But know, that whatever happens will be a guilt that you alone shall bear, and you alone shall be blamed for. I can assure you that the Desert will not go back on its words, but what about after it has completed its promise?" - he paused, moving his mouth sideways to exhale some of the smoke, before locking gazes with Merlyn once more. "Be cautious. Each and every one of us here is prepared to give our lives to save this world from destruction."

All the Archdruids nodded.

"Very well. I will go to Lighton, and if need be I will use the Black Sand, but only as a last resort. I know the price I will pay if I commit such an act."

Merlyn said goodbye to the Great Forest maybe for the last time, and he whistled. A giant, white owl flew down and grabbed him. She flew him to Lighton.

"May I make a suggestion?" Merlyn asked those gathered around the World Tree. They all nodded.
"I for one cannot simply wait here and observe the desert. Even now Nevara is about to attack Lighton, with the aid of the Dark Elves no doubt. Also, I feel as though Dogon has created another one like the Destroyer. I cannot put a name to it, but I feel it."

Someone starts to say something, but Merlyn silences him.

"Even now, south of us, Nevara's clone is attacking Gorilla City. The goblins and trolls are fighting against her. I have no idea how that battle will turn out. I suggest that the Light Elves, in the Sun Towers, be asked to aid Gorilla City. Also, I ask to go to the north to help fight the darkness up there. However, I make one request."

He holds up the bag of black sand that the "Avatar of the Sand" gave him.

"If the forces of light are being beaten, do I have permission to use this foul magic? Do I have the permission of the Seven Arch-Druids to use this foul magic, even though one of them will be taken from this world by the Sand-Man? What is your decision before I go?"

Hmmm... these fools do not know who they deal with. Nevertheless, I would be wise to remain disguised, for now...

"Druids! And a Wizard! My, my, how delightful! Perhaps we should chat for a while? Do not worry, I won't come any closer!"

Another Sandman, taller, stronger built than the previous, sits on the grass just beyond the edge of the Desert. He seems attentive, and he has facial features. He is almost like a desert version of Ea, with a cloak that seems torn, a complete lack of hair, and the same calmness about him. He doesn't pay any attention to the Archdruid confronting him.

"Now, now, we shouldn't get off on the wrong foot, should we? I did stop the Desert's advance far short of the Great Forest, did I not? And I entered peacefully, without intent of harm, but you still decided to destroy my "Puppet", as you call it. This seems to be a decision you hasten to make."

As the Sandman speaks, you see some of the sand fall away and rush back to the desert. Almost like he is disintegrating? He doesn't notice.

"Now, I will leave. But I will also leave you with a choice, and I will let you make it freely. After all, you do seem to have bested me for the time being, haven't you?"

"The choice I leave is this. In the East, dark forces gather. Evil, however, doesn't necessarily attract evil, and evil doesn't necessarily attack good. If you, Merlyn, Wizard of the Archdruids, take a handful of the Black Sand, and draw a circle of sand inside a stronghold, I will come to your aid, whoever the enemy be. But, each time you do this, I will take an Archdruid from the world. If you do not take this gift, I will continue across the world, until nothing is left. If you need me, I will be waiting..."

As the sand dissipates and scurries back to the Desert, a small bag, about the right size for a belt pouch, is left. It is filled with black sand, and has 7 small emeralds in a circle around the bag. None but Merlyn can touch it, and when he does, a small beam of green light travels to each
...

Merlyn takes the bag and he places it in his robes, then he answers the Sandman.

Then Merlyn flies back to the World Tree, because he must seek her wisdom...

The Archdruids responded.

They walked upon the air as if it was merely a bundle of steps to them, rising above the trees to witness this new hazard of perverted nature. After waiting for several minutes, each took one final step which caused them to travel miles ahead within the span of a second, joining the wizard.

"Greetings Merlyn. It seemы as though you left our forest just yestercentury and we are glad to welcome you back, old friend. We have been watching this desert for some time. Our hestitation is in part due to our uncertainty of whether this is a natural process, or some vengeful creature at work." - Ae paused, smiling: "It appears as though it is the later."

Ae's hair was green, consisting entirely of grass and leaves. He seemed almost plant-like.

One of the 7 archdruids floated down, stopping infront of the white river caused by the wizard. He was a man of mighty form, with bulging muscles and mighty stag horns adorning his head. A sizeable beard decorated him fruther with green plant-like locks of "hair". He looked stern as he regarded the sand creature, before speaking.

"You are disrupting the natural fauna of this place, intruder! Leave, or we shall make you leave!

Merlyn bowed to Ae, "It feels like it has been 40 years for me, old friend. When I saw,the Sandman and the approaching desert, I had to act. I hope I have not disrupted nature too much. This river of light must remain to hold back that Black desert. Who is the true power behind it? This creature of sand is merely the puppet of a much more powerful puppeteer!"

Given the proximity to the Great Forest that the Desert has managed to attain, it can be considered somewhat surprising that it stopped about half a mile from the treeline. Continuing to spread until everything to the west of the Great Forest is uninhabitable, the Black Desert has even destroyed such human villages as Elvenhold, the closest humans that the Elves allowed near the Forest.

Some of the sand forms into a humanoid shape. Gritty, featureless, it walks into the Great Forest. And it's heading straight for the Great Tree, almost as if it can sense the vast accumulation of moisture and life.

"Let us see how the Forest will react. This could get fun..."

Merlyn saw the "Sandman" enter the Great Forest. Raising his staff he pointed at him and shouted, "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

These are the End Times. I just question the reality of what is going. I do not like the reality I see around me, so I refuse to accept it. I refuse to accept this reality.

Although the elves did not contribute much to the battle, they too have suffered greatly through the cataclysmic times of the Destroyer's awakening. It took time to heal the woods, although it would forever bear marks of scars created by struggles and battles.

The Platinum Dragon would be very welcome back to the forest by the World Tree. With it's newfound calling, the dragon would be given a blessing of nature, allowing it to permanently learn the mystical arts and named Jormungand, which meant: "The First Serpent" in the elven tongue.

The Elves began to rebuild their homes, heal their wounded and mourne their dead, grateful to Jormungand for his gracious help, in return granting him a home.

------------------

This signified the end of an age, bringing about years of peace and prosperity in all of Beriya.

As this time indeed passed, however, most elves chose to clutch to the dreams of arrogance, superiority and power, exploiting nature as they saw fit, without giving anything back. As generations replaced generations, their people slowly began to split into those who still retained their connection with nature and those who did not.

Eventually, their conflict grew into the unthinkable as elf fought with elf. This war would be won swiftly by druids, leaving those who were not the losers. The World's Tree anger was triggered and he tore away the loser's gift of nature, forever rendering them unable to reclaim their ancient heritage as well banishing them from the forest for eternity.

Most left, but some stayed. Those who stayed and chose beg for the Tree's forgiveness would forevermore be called the Low Elves, while the druids would be called the High Elves. The Druids lived atop the World Tree, watching over the worlds and keeping the World Child's slumber safe and despite expectations, they displayed no arrogance or abuse towards their lesser brothers, who lived down there, among the woods. The council of Druids, consisting of seven immortal Archdruids ruled them fairly and justly,...

It had been at least 40 years since he left the Great Forest. He came here as a Human shaman...he heard the Call of the World Tree. He studied Druidism and became a Tree-Tender...until he heard another Call.

Merlyn waited for a response...

We shall overcome All...

The black desert continues to move. Smaller villages were engulfed, refugees fled before the desert's rapid expansion. Within 2 years, the primary western cities of Wayrest and The Crossing had begun their descent into destruction. The river at the Crossing had presented the desert with a problem, but the river did not match the Black Desert's ability to reason. The Desert had seperately dried up it's source.

With the West's primary trade centers deserted, the Desert has created a "Dead Zone", an area of land to the west that is completely unusable. It seems that nothing can stop the expansion...

Perhaps the "Great Forest" can stop us? Somehow, I don't think so...

Merlyn was on his way to Drakonus when he felt a growing evil in the West. The Black Desert was somehow growing. He did not know who or what was causing that growth, but perhaps the Elves and the Great Tree would tell him. He spent 20 years in the Great Forest tending to the trees. His staff was made from a broken limb from the Great Tree. He decided to start heading South...

Using both is ability to sneak and magic, Merlyn went down south until he walked into the two Human kingdoms or Hukara and Drakonus. Both kingdoms were divided by a river, which was simply called the Hutan River. He noticed warriors from both sides patrolling it.

Merlyn decided to go into Hukara first, because it looked friendlier. A lifetime ago he was born in these lands and he became a shaman of the Owl Tribe. He was 40 when he heard a Call and left for the Great Forest to become a Druid. That was almost 60 years ago.

He entered the capital of Hukara which was Hu-Nar, and he asked if he could see King Bo-Rak. The Hukarans knew him well, so with an hour he was talking to the king in a rather plain looking throne room. Bo-Rak considered himself a man of the people, and he didn't like extravagance. He was in his 40's now, and he looked it. Being a good king is not easy. He was dressed in plain clothes, and his gold crown fit loosely on his head. Merlyn could tell that he rarely wore it.

Merlyn told the king what Leafar had said, and Bo-Rak looked very worried.
"I will begin to prepare my people for a greater war than expected," Bo-Rak said. "We have been preparing ourselves for a war with the Drakonites, and their attack could happen at any moment."

"War with the Drakonites? Why? You are both humans; why would King Dar-Khan want to attack you?"

"I have not seen him in over 20 years, ever since we returned from Lighton. He considers himself more dragon than human now. My spies tell me he keeps himself locked away in his palace, and he only rules through his advisers. The only "person" he trusts is the dragon Jormungand. Perhaps he has gone mad, I do not know. He will not speak to me."

"Then perhaps he will speak to me," Merlyn said. "I can be very persuasive when I want to be. I needed to talk to him anyway, since I am a prophet now it seems."

Merlyn quickly left and began his journey west across the Hutan River to the kingdom of Drakonus. Being a prophet was much harder than he thought. He noticed he was being followed, but he didn't have the time or patience to worry about him or her now...

Merlyn made his way to Lighton, where he demanded an audience with Patriarch Palas. The Paladins who guard said no. Undaunted, Merlyn began performing magical trips for large crowds, and the crowds grew so large that Palas himself requested to see Merlyn. The Paladins reluctantly agreed to escort Merlyn to him.

Patriarch Palas lived in the Cathedral, a very large palace that was a church and government building. Palas was dressed in white robes and he wore a crown lined with white crystals. His skin was the color of gold and his eyes were all blue. Merlyn told him the warning that the Waste Wyrm told him, and Palas was perplexed. He said he would pray about. After about 5 minutes Palas said, "Leafar the Light wishes to see you. You must go now to him."

Twelve Paladins in white armor lead Merlyn to and then through the Labyrinth of Lights to the center, where the god of light Leafar sat on a throne made of starlight. Merlyn had other gods before, but Leafar was the most impressive.

Merlyn the Magician, welcome. I know why you have come, and even I cannot decipher the Waste Wyrm's warning, because his mind is closed to me. However, I do know that war is coming again. Twenty years ago the Destroyer nearly destroyed Lighton, and it was not a god who stopped him; it was Men, Machines, and a Dragon who did it.

I ask you to befome a prophet, and warn the Men races that war is coming, and sides must be chosen. Those who value freedom must ally themselves with those who want tryanny. It will be life against death. All of Beriya must be united when the Shadow from Beyond descends.

"What is this Shadow that you speak of my god?" Merlyn asked.

Let's deal with one crisis at a time. Now, go in peace my friend. Walk in the Light.
Leafar then touched his forehead, and Merlyn felt pure light wash through him. Then he was escorted out of the Labyrinth and Lighton by twelve Paladins who were glad to see him go.

Merlyn left the Waste Wyrm's cave, and he headed for Lighton. It was very easy to find, because he followed the path the Destroyer took. He was as large as a mountain, and his steps literally created craters. It has been some years since the Battle of Lighton, so many of the craters have either grown woods in them or filled with water to become lakes. A few, however, remained as giant holes in the ground.

As he was walking to Lighton he noticed a group of about 100 Runts looking through a crater. Merlyn immediately went invisible and silent, so he would not scare them away.

The Runts looked like pitiful creatures. They were about 3 feet tall on average, dirty, smelly, and desperate looking. The only way he could tell the men and woman apart was that the men had long beards; both sexes had their hair long. There were also child Runts with them, and they looked much smaller and more pitiful.

Merlyn was shocked to see them eating rocks! That was why they were here to collect food. He doubted that the Dogorr actually feed them, and their god Dogon obviously could care less about their welfare. It made Merlyn very sad, and he especially felt bad for the children.

He noticed that one of the Runts looked like he was in charge. He was a little taller, about 3 1/2 rods (feet), and he was telling everyone which rocks to find. They were speaking Runtish, which only Runts understood, so Merlyn had to guess what they were saying. However, Merlyn did some a special trick he could use to communicate with the Head Runt.

Merlyn sneaked up behind him, and he touched his mind. He implanted one word into the Runt's mind, and then he quickly sneaked away. The Head Runt looked stunned for a moment, because he had never heard that word before. He would have to make up a Runtish word for it, and teach it to the other Runts before they went back to work in the Dungeons.

The word that Merlyn implanted into his mind was FREEDOM!

Merlyn considered the Waste Wyrm's words carefully.
"Waste Wyrm, thank you for the warning. I fear another war more terrible than the first is coming, and I must prepare Primeva for it. Your words hold great meaning, and I must divine their true form. Good day to you, sir."
Then with a wave of his staff and a few arcane words, he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Actually, it was just a trick. He sneaked out. Merlyn loved magic, so he didn't like to waste it. He had to see someone about the Wyrm's warning.

As forces began to gather around the Black Glass Desert, as that barren waste of shattered stone and burned sand that once was the Obsidian Mountain came to be called, a rather different pilgrim arrived.

It was a platinum wyrm—one that had never been seen before. Its original cave had been destroyed during the great battle, and it had come to take a new resting place. The worshipers of Dogon have little use for material wealth, and indeed have found their fortunes a good deal brighter since the dragon arrived, so they've chosen to leave it alone while it makes its nest at the very base of the shattered peak.

And word spreads that any who seek the wisdom or blessing of a platinum wyrm must fight or steal their way past the camps of dark elves, dogarr and runts. In light of the High Elves' and Jormungand's increasingly isolated ways, this may actually be an easier dragon to reach.

One man does manage to steal his way past the camps of Dark Elves, Dogarr and Runts. He used magic to get past them. He easily found his way to the Platinum Dragon's cave. He used his wooden staff, carved from the World Tree, to wake him up; he knocked it against the cavern walls.

"Hello there, dragon, my name is Merlyn the Magician, and I seek your wisdom or blessing, whichever is more valuable."

The Destroyer screams in agony. He has already regrown his eyes. Using his regenerative powers he regenerates his leg, and he then calls on his Obsidion Dragons, and he creates one great dragon for every War Titan and he will keep creating them to match them. He also doubles in size, and he is able to temporarily block out the Sun. He takes one step closer to Lighton...

Hutan the Hunter wrote:

Dar-Khan's mind is nearly gone, having been driven mad by the Hammer. He hears the words of the dragon trying to drown out the voices in his mind. With a mighty effort, he throws down the Hammer of Carlock before the dragon.

"You are right, dragon, too many have been hurt because of me. Slay me now, or take me to the Destroyer. I will die defending my people."

The dragon relaxes, only slightly.

~Climb aboard. We will first go to attempt to calm the World's Child; even now, he rips into men and elves alike in a frenzy. But if fortune favors us, we will then fly to Lighton to face the Destroyer. I am only sorry that I have no weapon to give you. You may need one.~

Meanwhile, the platinum wyrm that saved Alsokar finds itself resting in a crevice in the ice. One of its seven necks has been broken, and its form is bloodied. Where blood has fallen, the snow melts, and small plants sprout up.

The dragon picks itself up and looks around. Alsokar is gone, as is the sword. All is converging at Lighton, but the dragon knows that that place is off-limits for it. There is only one thing left to do.

The platinum dragon takes wing, roaring as it flies ahead of the Destroyer. It soars straight at the titanic monstrosity, breathing seven lines of molten metal at the Destroyer's eyes.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! FLYING SEVEN HEAD MONSTER BURN MY EYES! I BLOW OBSIDION STORM MAKE MONSTER GO AWAY TO OTHER SIDE OF WORLD! ARRRRRRRRRRR! I TAKE PIECES OF BODY AND MAKE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OBSIDION MEN. DESTROY LIGHTON! ARRRRRRRR! I FIX EYES NOW!

Hutan the Hunter wrote:

However, he also knows that he can't turn back now. Not knowing what else to do, Dar-Khan begins to pray to any god that will listen to him, because he knows that Hutan no longer answers his prayers...

A quiet plea of desperation, conffounding strings whirling, the hint of memory from before mind...

I touch Dar-khan's mind and offer this:

"I seem to recall a TRUE hunter can make his own tools, and there is an interesting piece of material ahead of you for crafting weapons of hunt or war."

The moment he accepts, a craftsman's metallican hammer appears in his hand. I may not be a master of puppets, but I know when to pull a string.

The metal rings, the song plays on.

shame? why no, I actually don't know what shame is. Why do you ask?

***
Vines spring up by the hundreds, the thousands, reaching out to bind The Destroyer. They thrash and encircle the Titan as it stomps forward.

not expecting a lot to happen here, but it might be good for a laugh

VINES CIRCLE ME. I COUGH. THE VINES EVAPORATE. I KEEP WALKING. WHO DID THAT? I LAUGH IF I COULD. I TAKE A STEP AND EARTH QUAKES.

[b]I SEE DRAGONS COME TO ME! I TAKE PIECES OF MY OBSIDIAN BODY, AND THROW THEM INTO AIR! I BLOW LIFE INTO THEM, AND THEY BECOME OBSIDIAN DRAGONS! ONE FOR EACH DRAGON WHO FIGHT ME! I WALK. EACH STEP MAKES BIG HOLE IN GROUND. I SEE A CITY UP AHEAD. NOT FAR FOR ME. IT IS A CITY OF LIGHT. I SEE IN MY MIND. LIGHTON! I GO TO CITY OF LIGHTS. I DESTROY CITY AND ALL IN IT. I AM THE DESTROYER! I AM DOOM!

Each one of the dragons that tries to stop The Destroyer is fought with an Obsidian Dragon of equal size. He is slowly walking to Lighton, but he takes really big steps. He should get there pretty soon. On the map is southwest of the former Obsidian Mountain; I should probably call it the Obsidian Crator now.

DOOM! I SEE THE MY PRISON EXPLODE! I SEE THE PIECES FLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS OF THE LAND! I SEE PIECES OF THE MOUNTAIN HIT PLACES AND DESTROY! I SEE DESTRUCTION! I AM DESTRUCTION! I AM THE DESTROYER!

OTHER GIANTS COME WITH ME! I SEE THEM NEAR. GIANTS OF STONE! GIANTS OF ICE! GIANTS OF FIRE FAR AWAY! RISE GIANTS! TIME TO DESTROY! ALL WILL BE DESTROYED! I AM THE DESTROYER!

The Destroyer, who really is as large as a mountain, begins to slowly move south, and each step causes an earthquake. Pieces of the former Obsidian Mountain rain down on Primeva, and every part of the continent feels it...