Chapter 1: Call of the Woods

It was far beyond noon when they finally found the way out of the broken palace. Birds were already singing a song of moon and night, and the woods outside whispered something mysterious.

“I don't like the sound of it, not a bit”, said the one with the lute. His black hair fluttered with the breeze. His robe had a dark shade of purple, and he wore a look both puzzled and amazed. He was lean and agile, but something unknown weaved a heavy air of seriousness around him.

“No, Dern. It's not time for your dark predicaments. Though... I think I have to agree”, said another. 

Hal Selvais was a warrior of the faith, devoted to the arts of the Random God and messenger of the Fourth Dimension, according to his own words. His beliefs were confusing even for those around him. Dern Ace, being friends with him since before everything happened, sometimes would find it hard to counter argue. Hal would always point a loophole in the belief's own logic to make everything fit together somehow. Almost like magic.

He scratched his beard and tied his long hair, the darkest of browns, in a ponytail. He had a trustful and reliable look about him, sometimes hidden behind a smoke screen of indifference or cold tranquility. Or was it not smoke at all?

They were discussing the dangers that could lie ahead while steps were heard coming from the ruins.

“Thanks for waiting, guys”, she said, stepping out of the shadows under the marble doors. Mu-Rafaën of Toir was smaller than the others, but her fiery mane and piercing eyes inspired respect and reverence. Her white robes shone with the moonlight, indicating her faith in Lionheart, the Golden God of the Red Tribes. She had the utmost kindness to the needed she promised to heal and protect in her Vows, but equally fierce when crossed or threatened.

Their meeting happened by the most improbable of circumstances, when they used at the same time different but connected ancient devices that transported their minds to a place not ever known by them or even heard of. There they met and talked, first timidly, discussing the nature of that bizarre contraption, but later united by common ideals and characters.

They kept strengthening the bonds of that odd friendship by talking and sharing their joys and griefs, when suddenly, one day, a fourth shadow appeared beside them at their special room. They could only see bits of his image and voice, but it was enough to understand that that person seeked help. After gathering scrambled coordinates, their decision was unanimous and needless to be spoken. They had to find that fourth element, for they knew he was one of them.

That fateful day led them to a long and nearly fruitless search. First they met each other in person, and then they started to gather the pieces of information they had, to see if they made any sense, but the progress was painfully slow. They faced their share of dangers, for they went from the Great City of Sainpalor to the edge of the Gigantic Ocean far in the East, and yet could not find that mysterious man.

At last, Dern discovered a hidden clue that was enmeshed into the interference sounds of the transmission, and that was the word “MARBLE”. And there they went, towards the last known marble ruins of Sainpalor: the Palace of Itemhain, located deep into the southern woods.

Dern was uneasy. “I think we should go there. The birds are singing a very strange song.”

“I don’t think we have a choice, in fact. We’ve checked this place a thousand times and we found nothing”, said Hal.

“Nothing!?”, said Mu-Rafaën, in disbelief. “Those wild redwolves were not nothing! And those giant spiders! Holy Heartily!”

Hal laughed. “Yea, you’re right, Raff. It was not boring either…”

“I figure, why not? I mean, why not going into the woods? It’s our best shot, it seems. And I think we can trust Dern’s guts.”

Dern remained silent, trying forcefully to read the leaves amidst shadows.
Hal stopped smiling. He recognized the moment in the face of his friend and made a gesture to Rafaën. “Yea, he means business. Let’s go.”

They gathered their belongings and followed into the forest. Dern went after them, as if leaving a trance state of mind. He felt his skin crawl with anticipation, and could not ignore the rarity of that feeling.

Something was about to happen. Something huge.