CHAPTER 1
You cross over the edge of the lake. You see too the small stream from before, the one from the city. Jumping over it you see now the small cave overlooking the entirety of the lake. You lean over .
A man sits alone, curving inwards towards a small fire. Before him is a pool. But you see now that the man is naught but a feculent, ailing shade, for he waves and turns with the wind that blasts from the fire. Aye, if it weren't for that fire there would be no man there at all; only a gleaming white blade, and a necklace of white bone.
He plunges his two hands into the pool and drenches himself. And from the pool he drags an orb of pure green jade.
"Come hither!" and as he says he throws the orb of jade to your feet "Come forth!" and as he says he lunges at you, and disappears completely from the light. You shift around the room but he has disappeared completely.
You lean down to grab the orb, but you are stopped by something, a sting in your neck. You see now: two round orange eyes, and twin slits where pupils should be; and a looming blade!
In a flight of frenzy you slam your whole body towards him. Your neck is cut, but you have knocked the thing down!
"Your blade is dull! If it cannot cut through the chaff of a cloth mask, then you are no assassin at all!"
He disappears into the shadows once more.
You bring back the jade orb to the fat man and part ways.