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As told by
Shadowteal, Dark Hunter himself:
"My name was Nylan as a child. I remember
my father little, and my mother even less. I grew up on a farm with my
father in Ashwood. He farmed and raised cows. As a child, I would hunt
with my father. We would go and hunt bears within Ashwood. I grew up
with bows all my life. I believe I held a good childhood with my
father. I had little friends outside, Moorgate was almost a myth.
"One day, my father went out to hunt for
us. He took one of his bows, and traveled into the shadows of the
night. Once out I assumed he hunted. I woke up later the night to find
my father wasn't there. I frowned deeply. Outside I heard noises, I
heard wolves howl and some strange grunt afterwards. My father limped
back through the trees. I ran to him and helped him into the house. He
was very badly wounded. Blood soaked through his cloak and his leather
jerkin was shredded. He shuddered and lay still, but still breathed.
"For three weeks he lay ill, he was
delirious and had trouble eating food. Finally, two days after the
attack, he woke to tell his story. He was attacked by a pack of wolves.
He saw at least 4 and maybe 5. They attacked him. He was able to kill 3
when the other 2 left, but he was already severly wounded. He told me
that he crawled through the brush. He came upon a large, bulky shape.
It grunted and moved with fluid motions. My father had seen an Eye
Demon before. This close, it was almost impossible to escape him. He
was attack as badly as the wolves. My dad could not take much longer.
In the end, the eye demon sulked away to nurse wounds that would heal
in time. My father was not so wounded. He was poisoned in numerous
places and was seared with fire.
"My father lasted only 4 weeks after the
attack. He died of poison and other burns on his body. I did my best to
save him. He left me his 4 best bows, the rest I buried. This was his
legacy to me. This was all I had.
"I took my name Shadowteal, from how I
remembered my father. He was sleek and fast, I remember when he came
back how he almost blended with shadows. My name is for my father.
"I left my fathers house and packed up
his horse. I packed provisions and water for a long journey. I left my
house and walked into the forest. I was lonely and was sad from my dads
death. It left me empty. I journeyed through the lands, visiting places
I only dreamed of. I accumulated gold and other trinkets through simple
monsters I was able to kill. I could not use my father's bows untill it
felt right. The first thing I did was get a sword. From there I was
able to get an axe.
"Some months after I left, I came upon
the city of Moorgate. It was a monstrous city of towers and pillars. It
was a city that has withstood years of battles and the walls were
remade multiple times. I entered the city through the gates. Guards
stood milling around talking quietly and watching the roads. I made my
way to the town square.
"Some days afterward, I reached a
towering place of majesty. It was a monstrous fortress with large
gates. I walked up to the gate but was not admitted entrance. One of
the guards murmered something of a viper spirit. I questioned around
town and found it was in the catacombs. I ventured in to the dark where
I am best.
"Since than, it has been over 8 years. I
have matured and grown through the fighters guild. I have grown into
the man I am now. I have forsaken my old axe and shield, and have taken
up my father's bows. I feel better to know I still have a part of my
father within me. I am who I have become.
-- "This is my childhood story. Of how I
have grown and gone away. I have visited my house once, and found it
empty with the forest retaking the land. This is my story."
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