I stand upon the periphery of change and I see darkness.

Rekka wanted to talk with Isaac to learn more of what was going on. She thought he had some control even if it was just to keep him in line, but now….Now it feels as if no one has any control of anything.  Her emotions won’t settle, she feel restless, anger and despair. these emotions seems to grip her tightly, and images of killing and destroying came a little to often to her mind.  At time she doesn’t even want to fight it. A darkness that Rekka didn’t even know she had is begins to surface. she feels as if she stands on the edge of a cliff, down below the darkness of her heart, the front the lightness of forgiveness…and she feels ready to jump.


Isaac:  So.. Right. Billy. Billy is dead. Dead dead. Not unintelligent dead, or undead. Ash on the wind dead. I understand that you're all upset, worried and maybe even angry now that I've just told you that I've destroyed Billy but please hear me out.
     Billy was an accident waiting to happen. Understand that undead can be categorized into three types; 1) That which has no need to feed and exists solely on negative energy, 2) That which needs to feed to retain its mobility or other abilities, and 3) That which is driven to feed by an inescapable craving. After watching Billy for some time it has become apparent that he is one of the latter categories, most likely the second type. This means that to retain his sanity and ability to function, Billy needs to feed, MUST feed, at regular intervals. His food of choice, as you might have guessed, is the souls of the living. And he doesn't just kill the living, or drain their souls. No, he destroys the souls utterly. Similar to what Pendral did to cleric rob.
       The act of utterly destroying a soul is an abomination, even by undead standards. Existence is cyclic in nature. Things are created, live, die, and then are recreated into new things. To continue his own existence, the creature Billy had become breaks this cycle. It is all well and good to justify the destruction of a few black souls, but what about the life that would have later sprung from the energy their souls left behind? And what about those who might not deserve complete destruction? Mable was deluded and misguided, but not evil. Hubert can attest to that. The lycanthropes Billy destroyed around Podunk were evil, but likely some of them had little choice in their lot in life if they wanted to survive. I can hardly blame them for taking an out when it was offered to them.
       In addition, these hunger cravings eventually overwhelm Billy. He can go weeks, maybe even a month without feeding, but then he must. It is not a matter of choice. If he does not feed then his body will do it for him. That is what happened back in the spider's lair. There was a final spider in that chamber, gargantuan beyond belief. Decrepit with age, grown into the wall, and wounded by the inferno we ignited in there. Seeing its helplessness, I let it be and left with the body of the warrior Coppin. Billy sensed the spider's weakness, and the richness of its soul. Such an ancient soul deserved better than ultimate destruction, so I did my best to order Billy away from the elder spider, but the cravings were too much for him. He leapt to the top of the spider and proceeded to bash it to pieces, only stopping momentarily when the force of my will was able to push through the blinding hunger. Seeing that Billy was beyond reason, I did what I could to stop Billy. I risked my life to use this gaudy piece of jewelry to send him to a hostile plane of existence, which destroyed him utterly. The elder spider was beyond hope of recovery at this point, so I used Hubert to end its misery as well. A pitiful end to such an old soul, even that of a spider.
      I had not been feeding Billy souls in the hope that he could sustain without them, but it was a vain hope. This could have ended much worse as well. Billy might have attacked an eaten one of us. You all know what strength he had, likely we could not have stopped him before one of us was gone forever. And seeing how easily I gained partial control of him, it was only a matter of time until another, possibly more powerful, necromancer fought us and turn him against us.
      Araja, I know you wanted to use his ability to detect marks, but seeing as how he was so heavily marked himself that is a dangerous game to play. There was no telling if his mark would become as virulent as the ancient mark you described from your childhood.
      Rekka, I know that Billy was your friend, but his unlife was not a thing to envy. Beholden to his hunger and at the mercy of any skilled death magician, he was a slave in that body. His soul is now free, and will be renewed in the next life. The boy you knew died in that cave, this form was a poor substitute until he reached his next stage.
      Know that I did not reach the decision to destroy Billy lightly, and I do not revel in his second death. If the form he had were not so destructive I would have set him free, or taken him someplace else. However I could not risk that. He would continue to destroy souls, with or without me, and would be at a constant risk of being controlled by anyone who had the skill to do so. He was in my charge, so it was my responsibility to answer for his actions. You can chose to hate me for the choice I have made, but I stand by what I have done. I will hold no ill will to those who decide to leave my side. If you wish to attack me, then do so. I will not fight back.
  

       The words of Isaac seem to get through to her. They were straight forward and forth right. Rekka knew he was right, that Billy wasn’t Billy anymore. He was just a shell, curse by the mark and whatever was going on with those gods.  Rekka couldn’t help but wonder if she was to die would she become the same or are the mark on her different? Would the group have to kill her as well? She felt split, torn in two and didn’t know which half to keep.  Rekka spent the trip not talking to anyone, hiding in the chart, deep in thought. A decision must be made…to embrace her dark side, or to find some middle ground. For there will never be away back to the light for her.

Rekka made her decision, and once they reach the town, she will set out to do her work. She is going to need some ultimate weapons and Armor. If they are going to claim her soul then she not going without a fight. She going to kill and keep killing, even if she has to do it all the way down the nine levels of hell.  She didn't asked for this nor did she want it, but since she is right in the middle of it, then she has little choice but to become darkness itself.  She will embrace the darker side of her nature and give up any hope of redemption, that's just how it's going to be. If she wants to survive. she will cover any of her goodness and keep it locked away, so that it won't be tarnished by the deeds she intends to do. This is her decision and will not let anyone ruin her chances, even those around her now.

Never got to say good bye, again.

Traveling further down into the Dwarven mansion lead the group to a series of large rooms, with more signs of distress and destruction.
    Spiders took over one of the secret rooms, and the group fought them off. Ajara using the dragon breath rod that was Jessica’s, and almost kills the group by setting off a blast right in the middle of the group.  Cortanna still had trouble fighting and ended up being caught in a spider web, and wrapped in a cocoon. Most of us were about to get of the spider webs and make it to the far side of the room. When the fight seemed over, Isaac and Ajara went further and found one of the adventures, the fighter.  Something else happened while Isaac, Ajara, and Billy went in to get it.  Ajara left first but something was going on with Isaac and Billy.  Billy kept coming and going back, Isaac went in after him, and was the only one to return. Figuring that we needed to head back up to drop off the many bodies that we collected. Only to find that we were gone for days, in fact the servants were packing up to leave. The group decides to go right back down, even though some wanted to rest.  That’s when Rekka was told of Billy’s death.
        Billy is dead…Rekka couldn’t believe it. She knew he was undead but now he is no more, Gone. Rekka felts her mind going numb as she continues on with the adventure.  She didn’t understand the why, she didn’t really hear it.  They travel down further and found blood, and two dead Gargoyles. And a magical door, that once Rekka unlocked it, beyond the door was a dwraven sarcophagus, making this a a burial room. Not wanting to disturbed something or set off any traps, Isaac decided to leave it alone, Rekka agreed. Going further we found a Gargoyle and another body, this time of the ranger.  Rekka went over quietly and tried to move the body, but she wasn’t strong enough so came back. Isaac had her go back and then switched places with her, grabbed the body and then switch back. As Rekka moved away, the Gargoyle came to life and just missed Rekka. Turning quickly on the Gargoyle, Rekka struck it, weakening the Gargoyle, allowing for the group to get a better chance of hitting, then she herself got the last blow. 
    Traveling on, through the door the group finds the last person, still barely alive. Relieving him, he freaks out and tries to back away from the group, throwing a few smoke bombs down. The group unable to see through the smoke was forced to reply upon Rekka. Whom sneaks up on him and pushes him back towards the group. The Rogue does this while Isaac yelled for her to stopped him. Rekka tried to knock him unconscious but she ended up being bloody herself, when the rogue got a luck hit on her. Annoyed and a strange anger arising up in her, she pulled out one of the flowers Jessica gave her. She calmly told the group she can it handled it without their help, and thrust the flower under the nose of the rogue causing him to turn to stone. Rekka put the flower away before the smoke cleared.  Once the smoke clear, everyone saw that the rogue was stone. Confused as to how and why Rekka did this, Isaac places a item around the rouges necks in hopes that there was a way to turn him back to normal.  Jessica wasn’t talking, but Rekka pulled out the other flower and turn the rogue back to normal.  Isaac got him to clam down and that's when the dragon made his presence known.  The Red dragon that the group thought had been defeated crawled out  of his hiding spot. one wing badly broken.  Rekka badly harmed herself, ran for the door along with Jessica and Ajara only to find it shut and locked.  Isaac, Cortanna and Ajara fought back the dragon and some how won. Then there was the trouble with the door, it was still locked. Normally Billy would unlock these doors but he isn't here anymore. Rekka had to unlock the door, and after several tries and some luck she managed to open. 
    Ajara, Cortanna, and Rekka went to the horde pile and started taking things, when Rekka used her darkhand coin to take her share, only to find that the whole Horde disappeared.  Rekka merely said, “Guess it was magical and didn’t like me touching it.” and the group returns to the surface.  It was then decided to join the other party and return to a nearby town to resupply and obtain better equipment. 

It's all Crystal Clear...sort of

 In the cave before Issac could scrambled the controller to the magical portal device, a "Horrid" creature came through and crashed down the stairs. It was a unicorn, as I saw it. But the other described something completely different. I'll make note of that. anyway, as we tried to help it, more creatures arrived. No-something-bow. the dwarfs and the group attacked this creatures than a new and stronger creatures showed up, two them in fact. I yelled for Issac to work quicker but he was having some difficulties.  The group attacked but it seemed this battle was not going to be like the others. some stroke of good luck, Issac was able to turn the portal to another plane. the creatures seeing their way home being closed rushed through. Ending the danger for now. but what to do with the Unicorn, It's flesh gone and replaced, along with dragon like wings. Issac used the last wish on his sword to restore the Unicorn back to it's normal form. in which the sword was granted an other four wishes. Being done with the Device for now and the wishes of not only the dwarfs but of the unicorn to get out of the cave, We exited the cave.
    We left the town of Cortanna's past and move on. the Dwarfs left us and heading for the port that would take them home.  With some advice on how to get to the kingdom of Dwarfs, the group continued on a stupid quest to Lupic's dukedom.  Why would anyone, especially a king, believe a group of peasants about the prince's favorite Duke? How would we even get in to see the king let alone speak with him. plus I know that there is a conclave of baddies in that town that are itching to get their hand on me. but what else is there for it, so we travel on.
      Darkness is all I see most of the time, but as days pass something changed. One morning I awake and looked around. It was a plains with long green grass, scattered trees and the sky littered with puffy clouds, soaring over head. It was amazing, and then when Araja was helping me change the bandages, she found that something had grown where my eyeballs once where. opening my eyelids two crystals of clear make were there. the Mark still there, was faintly seen in the crystals. Deciding it was for the best Ajara help me cover my eyes once more. I did not tell anyone that i could see, Ajara once again asked if I could sense any marked beings, I said yes and she didn't believe me.
Old habit of mine I guess, but I think it will work to my benefit, for if I was possessed, like she might believe me, she'll be able to tell if I answer no. Setting a base line as were.
   Several days later, we came upon a group of Man Servants, to a group of five adventure warriors or something.  they had gotten a key to this Dwarven mansion, and gone inside. being low on supplies since the group did not think to buy food or at least hunt along our way, and my stores of food were running out. The Man Servants offered us a place at their so called table as they await their "lord" or "masters." We waited three days with them until they fear so much that their masters were not coming and begged us to go in after them. the group agreed.
   The place was a Dwarven place of some age ago. we looked around and made our way through finding the path the group must have went. in one of the larger rooms, Courtanna, Briar were attacked by dire rats, and then attacked by Dire Bats (like the one's in the cave before). Issac refused to come at first since he was admit that the adventures went down another path, but came when we needed him.  When the battle was over, there was two ways the group could go, stairs or a hallway. Most of the group went down the hallway, and found one of the adventure's body. the Female Barbarian slammed up against the wall. or at least that was what I was told,  by Jessica when she contacted me.  the called me to unlocked the door at the other end of this corridor. I passed by the trap without trouble since Issac had done it and then switch places with me. I unlocked the door and beyound was a mound of money/Items/ore and so on.  in the corner was three weapons. Issac checked out the weapons as Courtanna check out the mound. I waited by the door.
   As they did these things, a red dragon of a small size, poked it head out of a furish that was in the middle of the room and spoke in dragon. Issac seemed to understand and prepare for a fight. we all tensed up, I wanted to bolt. Issac step up to the dragon and touched it. a darkness came over the dragon and it fell. several of us come forward and watched the dragon fall. thousands of feet before hitting the lava below. Issac never cease to amaze me. picking up a few jewelry pieces from the pile. we continued on down the stairs.
     We found ourselves in a large dinning room, i saw three hallways. Issac told the group that there were one hallway, and two magical walls. I told him that there are just three hallways. pointing to the one hallway he could see, and then at the two magical walls. he didn't quite believe me, but I realized that i was able to see through the magical barriers. Issac seemed to notice that my "sight" was a lot better. he asked me about it and I showed him my crystal eyes. He seemed a little off put but interested at the same time. He said it was a good idea to keep my eyes covered.
     In one of the magical hallways there was a kitchen area where Issac saw/sense something in one of the cupboards.  Inside was six rings of Substance, and five water skins of dwarfen drink. I took one of the rings and found that a taste of red meat and something else seem to linger in my mouth. I wanted one of the skins but Issac thought better, since I'm "underage." Whatever I'll just steal it later. Nothing else to find here, we continued on. checking the other hallways that just was just a hallway that lead back into the main hallway.  there was a small chapel that looked like someone gotten into the small hidden space and took what ever was there. a little ways down the hall was a stuck door that Ajara and her unicorn tried to open but it was stuck tight.
     At the end of the hallway was a good size library littered with dead monster bodies. A lot of them. In one corner where part of the stone shelving gave way, Under the rubble there was a hand sticking out. I had a flash back to when we first found Billy. A slight shiver went up my spine. Issac claimed that there was something magical under the rubble and had billy move rocks. In to time, billy moved enough rubbel that we could pull out the dead Cleric and the last female in the Adventure's group. that's two of them....only the males left.  Issac looked over the magical items that were on the Cleric. He then pulled out a tarp and wrapped the cleric in it, then had Billy carried it. the group looked towards the door that lead further down into this ancient dwarven home, and wonder about the last members of the Adventure's group, and what condition we would find them in.
to be continued.

Just the beginning

Rekka a 15 year old  runaway finds herself mixed with a new group of "interesting" characters: Billy, the first person she could actually call a friend; only to have him die and then mysterious be brought back to life. Isaac, a farmer from the town who has unnatural red skin and just so happens have the ability to (somewhat) control the undead. A winged lady from the higher planes who as a "thing" against the gods. Rekka thinks she also has a thing of keeping her foot in her mouth. A rancher half elf with bow, who really wants to fight werewolves. A winged male who is "devoted" Cleric, whose god is now testing him. A Bar Wench who is called Bar Wench Jessica, and despite her living and working in a small town, she really knows some obscure things. Rekka and Jessica both like dancing so there was some common ground for both of them.

This strange grouping are now working on saving a small "Podunk" town from the consequential troubles that weren't quite their fault but are destroying the town folks' lives.  Working their way through the wildness they hope to seek answers and help from a duke who lost the lands in which all these troubles started; Only to find a Dukedom in a power struggle between the court of power, the court of the gods and the Duke. With the group unsuccessful intervention in a deadly assassination plot, sequential was the court of power taken down, and suggestive worldwide invasion of planes creatures stopped. But Rekka can't help feel that they now just added to their trouble by making enemies with some unknown person.  Despite all the side stepping to help others or themselves (the finding a treasure trove of wealth, the killing of a poor innocent boy, the almost ending up in a different plane altogether, a smart Troll, a smooth side job, just to name a few.), the group now has a chance to have their hopes realized or to be dashed away with more "run around" quests. 

With all those things Rekka still has to keep her eyes open for Sir. She has no idea if or when he'll show up, but with the awesome cloak she received, Rekka slowly starts gaining confident in her own abilities. Although she not quite sure of the others and still has trouble trusting them; they're not too bad though she'll never tell them that. Also with her new found freedom she starts taking steps towards her secret dreams of dancing, while retaining and improving her learned skills of the art of the thief. 

I can't see, but can "see"?

Darkness fell upon me with little chance of light.  The sounds long since taken for granted, seem some how unnatural. Things that I did everyday take more care than I’m used to. The nights are  the worst, that is if I can tell if it is night.  Years of travel and now every little noise, little bump in the night scares me.
    The others, I can’t let them know how scared I really am.  I mean this scares me more that Sir could ever. But with all the trouble this group seems to be generating, it will be surprising if we all get out of this alive.
The only good from this is now I can think and ponder; stories I heard, people and places I’ve seen. Stories...there was a story that our traveling bard used to tell, about old Demon eyes.  A man of very few word, and great skill with a sword. Many battles he fought, men he defeated, until one day he lost to a sword master.  A sword sage I believe. Anyway, it was in this fight that he lost his right eye. Declaring revenge, he traveled to a plane (no clue which one), and undergo some strange progress and making a deal with the devil. Once he returned he seek out the Sword sage, hunting them down, but the Devil had other plans and he had to put aside his revenge, for work. For now he had a large debt to pay and a contract.  He grew in his craft but dreamed of the day he would get his revenge.
    The day came but in a way he didn’t expect. The Sword sage was old and dying. He used his demon eye and killed the old man out right, but it was of little effect. His anger did not relinquish with the passing of the sword sage but once he learned of students that learn under the sage, he chose to destroy the old man’s work. To this day Demon eye is still at it.
(please note that Rekka is telling this wrong. the Demon eye guy died hundreds of years ago, killed the same day that the Sword sage did. It took all he had just to reach the old man, surrounded by academy of Swordsmen and woman. he might have gotten to the Old man but the students took out old demon eye.)
    The point to me is the fact he got his eye fixed not by restoring it, but by replacing it. There are only two in the group that I can talk with about this. The bard Jessica and the newly acquired horse that could talk but now can’t without help of a magical item.  Talked with Jessica and the horse. There is some hope of finding a person that could do the graft.  I don’t want to tell the rest of the group. 
     Due to information that Billy absorbed, the very people who can do the graft are same that wish to find me. Once more hope seems to be dashed from me. This is when Cortanna and myself exchanged some very harsh words. Both of us could not handle what was happening to us. The group of adults stunned and unsure what to do with us did nothing. I myself: angry, depressed, and wishing for no company spent the day in the wagon hiding. It wasn’t until the next day when for some reason I felt a little better and then the strangest thing happened. I could “see” things. Not well, mostly bits of color and blob like shapes.
   I worried that this was a bad sign, that Ajara’s fears of me being taken over was coming to pass. This sight came and went as I tried to understand it. The group went about finding more information the werewolves that were still about. We saved some dwarves and goblins (I think), and defeated an ooze, Ajara using my dagger so she could cast her spells through it. Isaac did something but i couldn't see it.  Cortanna found a passage way that lead deep under us, into a cave.  The group claimed that we were walking through magical darkness, but I soon notice that we weren’t moving and was able to see those around us were moving in place expect Billy. Now I wasn’t sure if what I was see was the world around me or some other place so called out to Billy asking if he was moving. He remarked that he was keeping up with Isaac, being a normal undead. I then called to Isaac and clued him in that Billy wasn’t moving at all. Unsure as to how I was able to detect this, Isaac order Billy forward and it work.
Then a battle, in which I was able to see the flying creatures, insured. Ajara badly injured fell to the ground. but then Issac saved her by switching places. As we tried to heal her nothing happened. the group decided to head back out of the cave and get Gideon. once he arrived he did his best but nothing worked. then Isaac figure out what was wrong with her and removed a ring she had just put on. with the Dwarves we headed back to the cave and continued through. that when we found this unbelievable, huge magic device. A device that would allow us to travel through to other planes, and allow others to travel here.
  Now a choice is to be made, send horse back to her home or ask her to stay. and what to do with the device.

City Fun?

    Made it to the city. Tired from the road and battles, we arrived in the dukedom. The group set about right away at the tasks lay out before them.  Jessica and myself set out to find more information from taverns and bars near the entrance.  They were able to find amount of information that might help the group. Things got crazy after this point. Everyone basically split up and did their own thing but some how it all ended up working together. Knowingly or not.  I won’t write about it since we all know about it instead I’ll write what I did that no one really knows about.
    During the first crazy split up I ended up taking on a job to sneak in the nobles quarters and steal a box of jewels. I did it will little trouble and brought it back to the guy. He said he’s seem me the next day. After a long night of killing Pentdril, stopping his guards from doing something, and attacking the little girl, her headmaster pig, and brother, plus their evil uncle. The group finally left the wizards college and got some sleep.
    I check around for the guy but he just wouldn’t show up. Later I received a note to come to the slums for my cut. Well I was tricked and betrayed. Sir showed up, and trapped me in a cage. I was seriously scared but tried make a deal with him. This was to no avail and when he started to transform I gave a blood curdling scream. To by great surprise and somewhat relieved  Billy burst into the room and began attacking the group. I pointed at sir and yelled to alert Billy that it was indeed sir. Billy seemed to understand and the rest of the group and a horse rushed in. most were taken care of but Sir ran for it. Isaac casting haste on Billy and myself, we chased him down. And defeated him in only a way that Billy could.
    Turns out that all these things that are going on, this group in the shadows are looking for me. It has something to do with my “blood”. I don’t really understand it but I’ll leave it aside for now. But I don’t think the group is going to trust my word for awhile. I had to lie about the job and all. The guy that betrayed me got his end, being tear apart by a crowded of angry but frighten mob.  Jessica was turned into a werewolf by sir and more things happened.
    Being in the city for under a week it was becoming clear that we are just messing the place up. So with one last shopping trip and finishing up things we were to leave. I was on my shopping trip when I saw a ring I wanted in a thieves’ guild shop. I sneak in and decided to be good asked for the ring to buy. This was a mistake, with no real way to get out of it, I had to do a “job” to join the thieves’ guild. I did try to leave and not do it but the head guy caught me at the door.  So going back the noble’s quarters, this time with Ajara, I searched for a place that matched the describing given to me.  I found three such places and knowing how most work I choose the one with the tallest tower with a baloney. I was very hesitant and tried to take my time.
    The wall, got over it. The guards, got pass them. Found the stairs, got down them. Then I came to the grass. That got me. I stepped and my foot prints became presence. I panic a little and tried to get back to the stairs but this ended in lots of trouble and caused a guard death. But when a guard touched the glyph that would cause the stairs to become a slide, I jumped off and landed perfectly on the lawn and did not cause the grass to bend under my weight.
    I waited for the stretcher that would take the dead guard into the building and followed behind. That when I seem to have met with my second trouble. As I got inside I tried to follow them but it was to no avail. Turns out there was another glyph that made me thing that I was moving when I wasn’t. Thanks to the cloak I got, and my good hiding skills, when I came to 30 minutes later I was surrounded by guards and wizards trying to figure out what was wrong with the glyph. Slipping pass I made my way up a stair case into a ballroom, across the ballroom I stepped out to a baloney. Deciding it was easier than trying to do it from the inside, I scaled the walls.
      Once at the top, I said, “Yay. Jerks.” not loud, but the person beyond the curtain heard me fine. Turning I was looking at a hand through the curtain. Directing me to pick up the coin that wasn’t there before and putting it on my left hand. I did so, it burned a little as the coin passed through my skin and into my hand. He explained how it all worked and then bid me good day. I asked if there was  a way back, and he suggested the way I came. I didn’t want to deal with the guards again and he told me I could use the glyph that was there. Doing so, all the guards were set on fire and burned to death. I made my way back, accidentally stepping on the glyph again but was able to pull through it quickly.
        I contacted Ajara to let her know that I was done, and asked if she wanted anything. Finding the gate locked magically, I searched the piles of ash, and found a necklace that has a cloud hiding the sun. holding it up to the gate, it turned to night, and the gate was open. Stepping through I place the necklace into my  belt and went to find Ajara.
    We finally left the city, although tt was more like asked to leave, and headed back to poeduck to see how the town was faring. Turns out not well. Not well at all. Basically we arrive just in time to save everyone but to my great depression and disappointment, I lost my eyes.