A Twist of Fate

Prologue

On a barren and desolate world where life had seized to be, savage winds howl across the dunes and jagged rocky cliffs that time has all but forgotten. A once paradise of lush fields had fallen into the desolate lands that it has now become. The winds being aired enough to force one to wear a mask to protect oneself, the sands thick enough to blind them to the perils of the lands. Jagged rocky shelves protruding from the sands, most of them being hidden under the fine sands that the winds billow into the air.

The winds whistle around the shards of the rocky outcroppings, billowing sand clouds so thick that it would choke any that traveled in the open. The winds chiseling away the ancient stones and the bones of beasts that litter the landscape long abandoned by any sentient being, leaving one to wonder what purpose such things must have had. As the wind whistles through the forest of ancient bones, it produced a calming whistle that could lull one to sleep if one would not steel there mind.

If one would traverse such lands, the days would be long and miserable. Having to struggle against the shifting winds and scorching heat alone would drive most into madness, leading them to be swallowed by the sands and forgotten in there embrace. Yet few still attempt to find the secrets of this forgotten world, most failing to find the answers that they sought. Among all who have attempted to find answers in these lands, few have returned to tell their tales in a coherent manner.

As a new traveler traverses the lands, their path meandering across the landscape. Unlike many of the others who have sought answers in the desolate wastelands, this one traveled searching for something else. After many days and nights traversing the lands, the figure comes upon a forest of bones. Among the whistling winds and soothing sounds that has claimed countless lives, a sharp cracking draws the figures attention.

Staggering through the billowing in clouds of sand and towering bones, the figure draws closer to the snapping sounds of the canvas. As a lone figure brushes against the giant bones, it moves quicker as the flapping becomes determinable. It wasn't until the figure was much closer to the sound that the tent became noticeable. When the figure managed to come upon the tent, it slid around the canvas wall as a shadow. When it found a opening, it tumbled into the interior of the tent.

Once inside the tent, the figure struggled to pull back the dark hood and breathing regulator away from its self. The young man that was reviled drew gasps of the cool air inside as a welcomed relief, the cool air felt relieving after the harsh winds outside. Just as he was getting to his feet, a tall elderly man in heavy robes moved on the opposite side of the tent to reveal a small glow of embers.

"Welcome, welcome. I had been expecting you for some time now," said a caring voice of the robed figure on the far side of the tent. As the traveler moved to remove his outer garb and speak, the elderly man turned towards him with a stern face. "Yes, yes. I know who you are, no need for introductions. I also know why you have traveled these lands to seek me out, young one."

The old man made a gesture with one hand towards a lone table with two chars sitting opposite of each other, just feet from the traveler. "Please have a seat there, the tea is nearly finished. We have some time before a caravan comes to collect me, perhaps enough for you to learn of what it is you seek." The old man moved with a liquid grace as he carried a steaming pot form the embers, taking it over to the table to sit on its waiting heat pad.

The traveler took a chair nearest him, glancing about the spacious tent as he took a seat. It appeared larger than what the outside made it out to be. A small fire pit of embers occupied a small corner of the room, the light was bright enough to just make out the outline of the rooms items. A shelf filled with outlines of items, a low sleeping mat and the table and chairs he sat at. The traveler wondered how this man could see in such poor light.

The robed man set a cup and the pot next to the young man. Startled by the suddenness, the young man jumped from his seat. "No need to be so jumpy, young one." The elderly man said, with a sly grin crossing his face. "Please help yourself to the tea as you see fit, I'm sure the winds outside have made you rather thirsty." As if just by mentioning the winds summoned them, a long howl blew outside the tent. The young man took his seat again and took his cup of tea, feeling himself relax as the familiar sent washed over him. Once he had tasted the tea, the elderly man took a seat opposite of him nodding to himself or in approval.

"As I said before, I know why you have sought me out. You are looking to fight the creature that has become very dangerous, too dangerous to be left to its own devices much longer." As the young man went to speak, the elderly man raised a hand to silence him. "Fear not, you will be able to defeat this creature that you seek. As will you return to you home lands, when I cannot say. Your journey shall be longer than most believe it to be, for too many lands have been plagued by this creature."

Finishing his cup of tea, the young man set it onto the table. He had heard this man sitting across from him was well renowned for knowing beyond what most men do, and being cut off from speaking made him wonder if all he had heard of this sage to be true. Finding this man was never a easy task, he moved around with various vagabonds. Never did he travel for any set amount of time or any destinations in mind that anyone could guess. He knows of the creature that he sought, but was it beyond the grasp that everyone imagined? How many lands have fallen victim to these things?

"Before you get too lost in thought, young one, perhaps it would be best if I tell you that far too few had crossed these creatures and lived. They are the reason the lands we are in have become what it is. While you drink the tea I shall tell you some of what it is you seek, of a wound that has caused the creature much harm. I may not give you all of your answers, but you have yet to know what questions that must be asked."

Reaching out to the center of the table, the old man placed a ball on the table. As his hand moved away from it, a soft glow illuminated the tent from the ball. Just as the young man was about to look away from the ball, images appeared within its space. A planet of green lands, enormous bodies of blue, and lights that appeared in the darkness.

"One of the first encounters with these creatures happened in a land you have yet to cross." Continued the old man. "I cannot say when this happened, for its yet to accrue at a fixed time. However I can tell you that the events happening around one individual, a young man not much younger than yourself."

As the sage talked, the young man's gaze was fixed to the changing images within the ball of light. Strange buildings were seen within its glow, made of fine stone and glass. The people wore strange clothing that he had never seen before. Some even got in and out of strange objects that moved on their own, others talked into strange items and conversed with no one. The young man was intrigued by what he was seeing, though the images didn't allow him to view one thing for too long of time. The images began to settle on a youth in his mid to late teens, unlike the others around him, he didn't speak into the strange items or get into the moving contraptions. He managed to look up at the sage to receive a nod of conformation; this must have been the youth that he mentioned.