Oberion is being trained as a warrior. Just as both his parents were and their parents before them. And while his parents are very proud of his progress, (since he is one of the strongest and most coordinated students) Oberion isn’t as sturdy as other pupils and is beginning to show signs of being arcane. His training sword always seems a little sharper and quicker than his classmate’s does. His practice armors a little harder, his blows a little more accurate.

Str=80
End=40
Coor=100
Quick=60
Focus=30
Self=20

[Skills]
Trained=Healing, Item Enchantment, Mana Conversion, Melee Defense, Arcane Lore
Specialized=Sword

Oberion’s vision told him to enter one of the strange portals that have recently appeared throughout the land. The portals through which no one has ever returned. In his vision there was a troubled place that needed him and people like him. He is to travel through the portal, gain experience, defend the weak, heal the wounded, and find a group called ‘The Source’ to help them grow strong. He would recognize this group because they, like him, follow the code of Pwyll:

* Work your lord's will in all things.
* Guard the weak.
* Protect the young.
* Slay no one for doing a thing unto you that you would have done unto him.
* Obey and honor those above your station.
* Do not mistreat those of lesser station
* Let your word be your bond.
* Grant succor where you may.
* Be fair in all judgments.
* Let nothing stand in the way of justice: the word of the law is not always its intent.

Most importantly, to assist him in his travels, he is supposed to find a special weapon, a Sword of Lost Light. With this weapon the wrong and evil will fall before him. His first step along the path of enlightenment, is to find 6 keys located in 6 cities: Yanshi, Samsur, Rithwic, Shoushi, Yaraq, and finally Holtburg.

And so, that morning Oberion stepped through a portal to beginning his first day in Dereth, in Rithwic.

First things first. Oberion needs a real weapon and some armor. On this way to Rithwic, he finds a odd note saying, :

“...I just didn't have enough of the keys! Oh, how I kicked myself for not having bought that seventh key from the desperate adventurer. I thought only six were needed. The journey to that accursed dungeon was long and hard, through dry and dangerous lands that I could never have imagined when I first arrived. How long have I quested for that lost sword! If only...”

“And so it begins,” he thinks.

Strangely, almost everyone in Rithwic has a most interesting way of greeting you. Instead of the traditional “Hail.” or “Well met.” or “How are you?” they immediately ask if you need a patron. Why would you swear allegiance to someone you just met? Why would anyone want a vassal the don’t even know? Strange people in Dereth. Worse yet, after politely refusing to swear to them, they attempt to buy your loyalty. Can you imagine?

As Oberion is finding a new weapon and armor a person addresses him by name.

“Oberion? Hello, I’m Bonden. It is time to begin your quest for the Sword of Lost Light.”

Before Oberion stood a Sho warrior of average height and build with no weapon but a crossbow. Something in the way Bonden stood bespoke of distant battles and experience. Oberion had heard of the Sho and the legend of Ben Ten, but had always been skeptical that bare hands could equal cold
steel.

“Hello, Bonden. Well met. How is it that you know my name and my quest? Go ahead, you will never guess my favorite color.”

A smirk crosses Bonden face. “I am Source. And I have come to start you down your chosen path.”

The Source! So soon? Oberion could hardly believe it. Already he had found them. Unlike the others, Bonden did not immediately ask him to swear allegiance. “You have no weapon except for that crossbow. Here, take my sword, I can use this dagger.”

Again Bonden smiles. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. Join me in Fellowship and follow me to the Yanshi Tunnels.” And he was off.

This was more like it! Oberion had no choice but to follow. And soon they were standing at the entrance.

“Ready?”

“Bring it.”

If he hadn’t seen it for himself he would not have believed that it was possible. Oberion could hardly keep up with the Sho warrior. His fists were death. The staccato sound of his blows seemed to pound out some bizarre and macabre musical beat, like a kettle drum in some hellish orchestra.

His crossbow was just as bad. The sound of it’s string like the strumming of the harp of Death. Each time a group of drudges would rush them they would fall. Again, and again. Until finally they reached to a room with two tables at bottom of the tunnels filled with drudges. After the battle, the two warriors surveyed their handiwork.

“Retrieve your first key, Oberion. You have just taken your first step towards earning the Sword of Lost light. How does it feel?”

As Oberion reaches down to pick up the Worn Plain Key from the bruised and hacked body of a Drudge Slinker he says, “I never could have done it without you. I can hardly remember how we got here.”

“Don’t get mushy on me, Oberion. We still have to make the run to Samsur's Dungeon Manor”. And with a grin he was off again.

And so, once again, Oberion had no choice but to follow. And soon they were standing at the entrance to the Dungeon Manor. Where their deadly partnership continued to cleave and pound its way to the bottom of the Dungeon.

At the bottom of the dungeon, Bonden stoops to casually to pick up the Worn Rusty Key from the barely recognizable corpse of a Drudge Slinker and says, “Here is your second key. Let us depart this foul place.”

At the entrance to the dungeon Bonden looks at Oberion and puts on his enigmatic grin. “You did well, but you have a long way to go. You may some day be worthy of a place in The Source. I must leave you now, but keep searching for the keys and following The Four Stones of Jojii.” And with
that he began to fade away, with only the departing words, “Next time we meet, I’ll bring you a real weapon.” And he was gone.

A good start. And it was time for Oberion to follow his own path. So he headed back to his starting place in the world, Rithwic. There was rumor of a Crypt to the north. And this is where Oberion headed.

What is the first thing Oberion hears when returning to Rithwic? “Welcome to Rithwic, need a patron?” Oberion is convinced that it must be the town motto. When suddenly, out of nowhere, a warrior address him. “What are you?” Is this another member of The Source? Someone to help him
with his vision?

“Hello. I follow the code of Pwyll. I aspire to become a Paladin. I’m not interesting in being your vassal.”

“Heh. I didn’t ask you to become my vassal.”

“Opps. Sorry, knee jerk reaction.”

“No problem. Have a dillo coat.”

Incredible. Oberion had never seen such a beautiful piece of armor. Strong, light, a thing of true craftsmanship. By the time Oberion looked up to thank his benefactor, he was gone. A sign. A sign that he was on the right path. And so he begins his trek to the Rithwic Crypt. Alone, but confident.

With some trepidation Oberion approachs the ring of stones that defines the entrance to the crypt. “Can I handle this alone?” “I barely made it here by myself.” Then he looks down at his new coat. “Bring it!” And he steps through the portal.

Once in the Rithwic Crypt, Oberion cautiously begins by heading left were he encounters his first wasp. Several minutes later the wasp lay at Oberions feet and he begins the process of healing and lying down. Mental note: Avoid more than one wasp in the future.

Oberion presses onwards until reaching a room with three Gnawer Shreths. Hmmm. Three. Hmmm. Third Level. Hmmm. “Bring it!” Hack, ouch, slash, ouch, stab, ouch, run, run, run. Rest, heal, buff, head back. Wasp. “Die Wasp”. Kill one Shreth, Kill two Shreth, run, run, run. Rest, heal, buff, head back, kill last Shreth. “Oh baby!” I mean, “By the code of Pwyll!”

Oberion then heads lower in the Crypt where he hears something behind a locked door. Something casting spells that makes very loud noises. “I’m glad I can’t pick locks”, he thinks.

A short distance away, Oberion easily dispatches a rat with the Worn Odd Key around its neck. “Hmmm. That was almost too easy”, he thinks, remembering his encounter the Shreths as he carefully
removes the key from the rat’s carcass. On to Shoushi.

Oberion avoids Rithwick on his way to Shoushi (to many Patrons, not enough Vassals), but stops in Yanshi to visit one of the home bases of The Source.

“Welcome to Yanshi, need a patron?”

“Hmmm. Must be from Rithwic,” thinks Oberion. “No thank you, good warrior. My path is in a different direction.”

“Here, take this Ice Tachi. Do you want to be my vassal, now?”

“I’m sorry, as I have said, my destiny lies along a different path. Please let me return your Tachi to you.”

“Whatever. Keep the sword. Travel well.”

Strange. What kind of town is this? Just then another warrior addresses Oberion. “You handled that well.” Is this another member of The Source? Someone to help him with his vision? Was the previous conversation just a test of his beliefs?

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Have an Olthoi sword. It should serve you well.”

Fascinating. Oberion had never seen such an odd sword. Sharp, fast, and made from some kind of monstrous claw. By the time Oberion looked up to thank his benefactor, he was gone. Another sign that he was on the right path. Almost implying that this new sword should serve him well until he
finally finds the Sword of lost light? Armed with this new weapon, Oberion heads to the Shoushi Grotto. Still alone, but more determined then ever.

Well, that’s what I did this weekend. Thanks for the help.