The Chronicles of Payten: The Sightless Eye! *Prologue*

"Warriv's Tale"

The Rogue Encampment was abuzz with a cautious excitement as a figure appeared on the outskirts. Clad in colorful robes marked with mystic symbols, a staff clutched in her hand, the figure was unmistakably a sorceress. From the Eastern Jungles of Sanctuary, this was Payten, the Sorceress of the Zann Esu Clan, ready to partake in her heroic quest.

She was greeted by Warriv, a weathered old caravan driver whose eyes had seen many horrors unfold in the recent past. He looked at Payten, the recognition of a fellow traveler in his gaze. She was new to this harsh reality, and he felt compelled to share his story.

"Greetings, stranger. I'm not surprised to see your kind here," he began, his voice hoarse from the biting chill of the evening air. Warriv regaled Payten with tales of the tragic fall of Tristram and the mysterious Dark Wanderer. His words painted a vivid picture of the once-bustling town, now desolate and devoid of life. "No doubt you've heard about the tragedy that befell the town of Tristram. Some say that Diablo, the Lord of Terror, walks the world again," Warriv said, his voice growing softer, the shadow of a forgotten fear creeping into his tone.He spoke of the trail of darkness that the Wanderer left in his wake, the gates of the Rogue Monastery closing after his passage, and the grotesque creatures that now ravaged the countryside. With a solemn sigh, he confessed his fears, "Until it's safer outside the camp and the gates are re-opened, I'll remain here with my caravan. I hope to leave for Lut Gholein before the shadow that fell over Tristram consumes us all. If you're still alive then, I'll take you along."With a thoughtful pause, he directed Payten towards Akara, the spiritual leader of the camp. "You should talk to Akara, too. She seems to be the leader of this camp. Maybe she can tell you more." His words hung in the chilly air, as he watched Payten, her silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of the encampment fires, make her way towards her next chapter, her next challenge.As the night cloaked the encampment, Warriv stood alone, lost in his thoughts, the echoes of his story dissipating into the night. But Payten's journey was only just beginning. And so, with the weight of Warriv's words on her mind and the burning determination in her heart, she prepared to face the terror that was gripping Sanctuary.