A Master's Pawn

Prelude

"Stay with me," yelled Roran as he held the hand of his master. He looked down in horror as the man he had traveled with for what seemed like a year was dying in front of him. The man clad in a white robe stood nearby.

"You were not worthy," said The Seneschal.

Suddenly a rift opened under The Arisen. His body fell through the it, still clenched by Roran's hand. He refused to let go. The Seneschal raised his hand and launched Roran far away from his Master's body. He rolled over back onto his feet, running back towards the rift. He jumped to the ground, sliding mere inches from the rift which was nearly closed now.

"No," he yelled looking deep into the clouds, seeing far below him the small image of his master transformed into a shining bright silhouette of a dragon. The realm slowly disappeared around Roran. Everything was quiet as he was pulled back into The Rift.

Roran opened his eyes after what felt like an eternity. He looked around him. He was back in Cassardis, the fishing village where his master's story had begun. He shifted himself back up to his feet. Nothing felt right. He was purposeless, more so than your usual Pawn. Everything he had done since his creation was to serve his Master, and other Arisens across the fissures of time.

He turned around as he heard armored foot steps behind him in the sand. Behind him had been a woman clad in black armor. It was the other Pawn that the Arisen had chosen to travel with him, Katrina. She was heavily skilled with a sword when compared to other Pawns. She was of toned build, dark brown hair that went down just past her neck, and had been slightly shorter than the Arisen.

She wore a Chaos Helm and Armor, a Black Leather Glove, Chain Mail, Full Chain Hosen, a Nebula Cape, and wielded a Cursed Dragon Sword. Roran however wore a nigh complete set of the rare Oblivion armor, and wielded the Darkening Storm bow. Together the trio had crept through the depths of both the Everfall and the mysterious isle of Bitterblack Isle.

But somehow neither of those trials had been able to prepare their master, the Arisen, for what had transpired in what seemed like the realm beyond The Rift.

"Where's the Arisen," Katrina finally asked Roran.

"H-he was defeated by the Seneschal. He's become the Dragon," Roran stuttered.

Katrina looked perplexed at Roran, she didn't understand what Roran meant. Roran could see the confusion on her face.

"He's gone, dead. There was nothing I could do, no Wakestone could wake him," Roran said grimly.

Katrina looked out towards the ocean. Roran could see it in her eyes, she did feel sorrowful. Which was odd for a Pawn, they didn't usually display emotion. Though Katrina was a special case, she was once the Pawn of an Arisen, though she died long ago. In their travels they had learned of something called the Bestowal of Spirit.

Over time an Arisen's Pawn would slowly start to mimic their Master's appearance, and they'd also eventually turn human even. The trio had seen two instances with this: The Fool, the Dragonforged's old Pawn, and Selene, the Pawn of the Arisen who lived in the Witchwood.

"What should we do," Katrina asked, wondering what her companion would say.

Roran thought on her question for awhile. Trying her best to figure out what would seem reasonable. Then the thought hit me.

"We will avenge our Master's death. We'll slay The Dragon, and kill the Seneschal."