|
|
A shriek is
heard from within the darkened room, then a gasp of air, then a thud,
as if a lifeless body has dropped to the cold damp ground. A voice
whispers to you, "This is the fate of one who tried to follow the
ancient ways of a dark wizard. Tried and failed." The darkness seems to
separate, as out of the shadows appears, Uzbek. He gives a sly smile
that causes the hairs on the back of your neck to rise.
Effortlessly he glides across the room, picks up a gleaming chalice and
drinks deeply. Remembering that you are present, he lowers the chalice
to size you up. You notice a line of crimson liquid dropping down his
chin. "You have brought parchment and ink to chronicle my tale," he
states rather than asks. He motions to a cushioned high backed chair
and you feel yourself compelled to sit to hear the telling.
"It was all tavern tricks at first ... for a gold coin, I would pull a
kobold cub out of my hat, or gold out of the air. I thought my life as
a magician was enough. Mophard, the tavern owner gave me a two meals, a
small room off the kitchen, and after the evening was over, enough ale
to quench my thirst. There was a steady stream of customers, so there
was always need for some type of entertainment." The outline of the
wizard seems to blend in with the darkness around him as he continues.
Smiling at the remembering, "Then one fateful day, she came ...
Morghanna." he whispers the name in reverence. "She visited the tavern
one evening and I was drawn to her as the moth to the flame, uncaring
if I was consume by the dark powers of magic that shrouded her." He
chuckled softly to himself. "I felt her eyes studying me from across
the room, as I entertained a gathering of battle weary fighters. I felt
her disapproval deep within my soul. I could hear her whisper to me
although she never moved closer. 'You waste your talents on parlor
games dear boy', she said. 'Come with me and I shall show you what the
Immortal Valtera had intended for your gifts.' My entire being shook at
the thought of a life beyond the smell of stale beer and the stentch of
warriors a month from a bath. This was more than I had ever dared to
dream for myself. Without thinking, I laid the deck of cards, my flimsy
wizards hat, and the kobold cub in the lap of an astonished warrior and
never looked back."
The dark wizard takes a final gulp of the red liquid, as he drains the
chalice he sets it back upon the polished table. His eyes gleam,
"Several decades did I spend in the company of my lady Morghanna. She
taught me everything I know about the dark arts of magic. How to best
use my Magical Spells. How to be in two places at the same time, how to
travel through time and space," he emits a gravel laugh, "to travel to
the correct place. As a boy, I had not the faintest notion of my
untapped powers, but she knew. As all great warlocks and witches do,
they can see into your soul and witness the dormant powers inside. When
my time was due to pay back my debt to Morghanna., she told me that I
must serve the Mages Guild of Moorgate until such time as I was able to
undo a spell of her own making, or it simply wore off. Unaware of the
nature of this spell, I vowed that I would serve until that time. She
leaned in close to me, I felt her warm breath on my face, her cold
hands embraced me, as she kissed my quivering lips. When she pulled
back a smile was plastered upon my face that until this day has not
'worn off'. And, I will admit I have not tried very hard to break her
spell." His sly smile grows bigger.
"Perhaps one day you will have the fortune to meet the Lady Morghanna.
And, when you do, I assure you, you shall loose your heart and soul to
her as I have."
Uzbek smiles once more at you before vanishing into the shadows, the
last sight to disappear is his grinning teeth.
|
Last modified Wednesday June 28 2006
|
