Trail Head
On the Trail of a Dream
Thousands of dreams away from the safety and warmth of the bed you remember having crawled into, you find yourself being awakened by a wizard. At least, he looks like what a wizard ought to look like - an old man with a white, flowing beard, wearing a robe with stars shining randomly from the dark blue fabric. On his head a high, pointed hat; in his hand a wand.
After waving the wand over the length of your body he speaks a strange sounding word as a whispered question, “Lletherial?” When he repeats the word you realize that the wizard must think he is calling your name. Confused but curious, you sit up.
“That’s not my name,” you say. “My name is . . .”
“No,” says the white-bearded man, cutting you off. “Your name is Lletherial. I have interrupted your morning dreams so that you may hear my message and travel the trail of your choosing. Listen as I weave the spell of Dream World. This will suspend all time and action in the Real World so that you may complete your quest.”
The wizard starts to chant in a low voice, words your mind can not comprehend. Yet the spell reaches deeper than your mind. You feel something strange happen within you; you are now in Dream World. When he is finished with the incantation he gives you instructions.
“Upon leaving this room you will be a magic-user like myself, although much less powerful. As time passes, however, your power will increase so that eventually you will be able to break the spell of Dream World and return home. Until then, you must travel a road most perilous.”
You start to protest. “I don’t understand, I’m not . . .”
“Quiet,” booms the robed figure. “Listen to my words and you will learn. After I leave you will receive a staff whose mysteries will reveal themselves as needed. Until then, you must heed the counsel of fellow travelers you will soon meet. They are similar to you in duty, but different in desire. Remember your quest.”
You are about to say that you don’t even know what your quest is, but decide to sit quietly instead. The wizard nods in approval and continues.
“Travel south from this cottage, Lletherial, along the path until you reach the Boar’s Head Tavern on the outskirts of a small village. You will find your party waiting inside: Galain, master swordsman; Trelina, daughter of our King; and Marc, able woodsman and hunter. Their various talents, along with yours, Magic-user, should enable you to complete your journey.
“Now this is your quest:
Having finished his speech, the master wizard waves his arm in a complete circle and is gone. In his place, not leaning on the bed but upright, stands a wooden staff that is about shoulder height. You get out of bed and reach for it, sensing its power. It seems to radiate a life-force. As you grab it you expect a sharp jolt. Instead, you find it simply warm and extremely light and smooth.
Letting go, the staff stands erect and emits the same energy as before. The word weird comes to mind. Looking around the room you realize it isn’t your room at home. No desk, no bookcase, no dresser, no clothes . . . no clothes? “What am I going to wear,” you say out loud.
As soon as the words leave your lips clothes appear on the bed - a pair of leather pants, boots, a shirt and cloak. Trying them on you find that they fit perfectly.
You take the staff and explore the house. Finding the kitchen and looking through the bare cupboards you act on a hunch and say in a confident voice, “I’m hungry.” Not unexpectedly, a bowl of hot cereal appears on the table and you sit down and start eating. “I want some sugar,” you say, but nothing happens. “Please? Oh well, I guess I don’t need any after all.”
The morning is beautiful, a perfect day for traveling. After breakfast you go outside and see that to the north is a village busy with the hustle and bustle of buying, selling, coming and going. To the south is a narrow path that leads through some dark and uninviting woods. It disappears about twenty meters from the cottage.
A small voice seems to come from the staff as you look one way and then the other. “A choice, Lletherial. The first of many. The trail you pick will determine your future. Choose wisely.”
Travel Trail Number 1 if you decide to go north to the village.
Travel Trail Number 2 if you decide to go south into the woods.
Thousands of dreams away from the safety and warmth of the bed you remember having crawled into, you find yourself being awakened by a wizard. At least, he looks like what a wizard ought to look like - an old man with a white, flowing beard, wearing a robe with stars shining randomly from the dark blue fabric. On his head a high, pointed hat; in his hand a wand.
After waving the wand over the length of your body he speaks a strange sounding word as a whispered question, “Lletherial?” When he repeats the word you realize that the wizard must think he is calling your name. Confused but curious, you sit up.
“That’s not my name,” you say. “My name is . . .”
“No,” says the white-bearded man, cutting you off. “Your name is Lletherial. I have interrupted your morning dreams so that you may hear my message and travel the trail of your choosing. Listen as I weave the spell of Dream World. This will suspend all time and action in the Real World so that you may complete your quest.”
The wizard starts to chant in a low voice, words your mind can not comprehend. Yet the spell reaches deeper than your mind. You feel something strange happen within you; you are now in Dream World. When he is finished with the incantation he gives you instructions.
“Upon leaving this room you will be a magic-user like myself, although much less powerful. As time passes, however, your power will increase so that eventually you will be able to break the spell of Dream World and return home. Until then, you must travel a road most perilous.”
You start to protest. “I don’t understand, I’m not . . .”
“Quiet,” booms the robed figure. “Listen to my words and you will learn. After I leave you will receive a staff whose mysteries will reveal themselves as needed. Until then, you must heed the counsel of fellow travelers you will soon meet. They are similar to you in duty, but different in desire. Remember your quest.”
You are about to say that you don’t even know what your quest is, but decide to sit quietly instead. The wizard nods in approval and continues.
“Travel south from this cottage, Lletherial, along the path until you reach the Boar’s Head Tavern on the outskirts of a small village. You will find your party waiting inside: Galain, master swordsman; Trelina, daughter of our King; and Marc, able woodsman and hunter. Their various talents, along with yours, Magic-user, should enable you to complete your journey.
“Now this is your quest:
Half a crystal, half not whole;Find both sections of the Sacred Crystal and free the people of the Sky Cathedral. Now go, but remember, stay to the right trail and you will surely succeed in your quest for the sacred crystal.”
Living statues lose their souls.
Scarlet marred, they are enslaved;
When two halves touch they will be saved.
Having finished his speech, the master wizard waves his arm in a complete circle and is gone. In his place, not leaning on the bed but upright, stands a wooden staff that is about shoulder height. You get out of bed and reach for it, sensing its power. It seems to radiate a life-force. As you grab it you expect a sharp jolt. Instead, you find it simply warm and extremely light and smooth.
Letting go, the staff stands erect and emits the same energy as before. The word weird comes to mind. Looking around the room you realize it isn’t your room at home. No desk, no bookcase, no dresser, no clothes . . . no clothes? “What am I going to wear,” you say out loud.
As soon as the words leave your lips clothes appear on the bed - a pair of leather pants, boots, a shirt and cloak. Trying them on you find that they fit perfectly.
You take the staff and explore the house. Finding the kitchen and looking through the bare cupboards you act on a hunch and say in a confident voice, “I’m hungry.” Not unexpectedly, a bowl of hot cereal appears on the table and you sit down and start eating. “I want some sugar,” you say, but nothing happens. “Please? Oh well, I guess I don’t need any after all.”
The morning is beautiful, a perfect day for traveling. After breakfast you go outside and see that to the north is a village busy with the hustle and bustle of buying, selling, coming and going. To the south is a narrow path that leads through some dark and uninviting woods. It disappears about twenty meters from the cottage.
A small voice seems to come from the staff as you look one way and then the other. “A choice, Lletherial. The first of many. The trail you pick will determine your future. Choose wisely.”
Travel Trail Number 1 if you decide to go north to the village.
Travel Trail Number 2 if you decide to go south into the woods.
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