Prayers of the Lycanthrope

The Tower of the North

We continued on our way, the setting sun painting a beautiful backdrop as we ventured towards Julian. Although he had only recently left to travel eastwards, it was clear that his absence had left an air of melancholy in our small group. A silent communication passed between us as we spotted the distant tower, its spires reaching out and beckoning for us to draw nearer. We felt mystified and almost compelled to explore what mysteries it could possibly contain.

We trudged up to the uninviting tower and paused, apprehensive at its dismal appearance. The structure was like a remnant from an ancient age; stony gray walls and cracked steps covered in thick dust. We hesitantly ventured closer and knocked on its heavy door, the sound echoing ominously within. Nothing stirred for several minutes until sudden thunder startled us as something began stirring inside, followed by a loud creak. To our surprise, after a few moments, someone answered from within and opened the door slowly.

The man had an immediate sparkle in his eye, and it seemed like he knew more than we did. He was wearing a large cloak which billowed in the wind as he opened the door. His hair was white as snow yet his face young and full of vigor. I will introduce myself: "My name is Alina, and this is Anthony.

"Welcome!" he said warmly, though his voice had a strange timbre that echoed oddly against the walls of this unknown room.

The cloaked man smiled warmly as he extended a hand for me to shake, introducing himself as Julian. His eyes twinkled with kindness and his voice was gentle and inviting. He offered us all an invitation to enter the tower that stood before us. With a slight bow of his head, he motioned us forward, saying "Welcome Alina and Anthony, it is my great pleasure to have you here.

I took a deep breath and turned to Julian. "Can you tell me about the special parchment that should be delivered to the Order of Enlightenment?" I inquired, my voice trembling slightly with anticipation. Julian's face softens as he looks at me intently, his dark eyes shining in understanding. He reaches for a nearby book on his shelf and delicately flips through its faded pages before producing an ornate piece of parchment featuring intricate symbols etched into its surface.

Julian seemed very worried when I asked him about the special parchment that should be delivered to the Order of Enlightenment. He glanced around nervously before leaning in and whispering, "I'm afraid our mission has been compromised. We weren't the only ones who heard about this parchment, someone else is on their way here as we speak." His brow furrowed with tension, yet his eyes were determined. "We don't have much time," he continued urgently. The tension crackled in the air like lightning, electricity practically spilling from his fingers, as he took a step towards us with one hand outstretched as though to protect us from whatever was coming our way.

He closed his eyes and murmured an ancient incantation as a brilliant white aura surrounded him. With each word of the spell, I felt a surge of power, the same power he used to protect us from whatever was coming our way. The winds began to howl and swirl around us, but nothing could penetrate the magical shield he had placed upon us all. Suddenly, there was a loud bang outside the tower and the sky grew dark. A low growl began to fill the room as what seemed like an evil presence descended on them all. We held our breath, fearful that any sudden movement could bring disaster upon them. There it was again; another deep rumble shaking through every wall of that vast structure, sending chills down everyone's spine. One of them shouted, "Orcs!" They had come in search of something, or someone, drawn towards this remote location by some unknown power. Even from within the fortress walls they could feel their presence, large creatures with sharp teeth and claws gripping crudely crafted weapons ready for battle.

Out of nowhere, hundreds of orcs emerged from the plain nearby, carrying weapons and looking ready for battle. Their scaly hides glistened in what light remained while their teeth gleamed fiercely underneath their yellow eyes. The tower shook as they started pounding on it with massive maces. It seemed like nothing could stop them!

Anthony and I looked at each other in disbelief, as Julian had just created a mysterious portal from thin air! We didn't have time to waste, so we jumped right into the swirling vortex. Instantly, the darkness around us changed color as if we had stepped into another world. Everywhere there were mesmerizing lights that shone like stars, while strange sounds emanated from everywhere. We were at the far end of the forest, at least 6 days from Silvestia. The trees were taller and older, reaching to the starry night sky above us. We could hear strange animal calls in the distance while our feet brushed against soft patches of moss on rocks that used to be part of something else.

There was a sense of peace here, something we hadn't experienced since arriving. Suddenly, Julian stepped through a portal he had created, only barely avoiding an ax that flew past him. We all froze for a moment before Anthony expertly grabbed the weapon and commanded "Into the woods!"