CHAPTER 1

"How can you say that?"

He grimaces. His eyes pierce the darkness ahead.

"No matter, just know, brother: that I have been enraptured as well. Once I kill that Beast I shall never live again. My sons are gone, so are my dogs and Songbird. I want to join them." he says like a swift breeze "But I must know, why is an Easternman wandering so far beyond the Gate of No Entry?"

"The Lawmakers called for me"

The pathway twirls; you have reached the signage totem. Two paths form to your left and right, but upon the descent of the left path there is a small metal door inlaid on the rock face.

"Here. We enter through this door. It leads into an off-hand passage, and into the lair of the Beast"

"Come brother, quickly!"

The door creaks. You jump into the pitchblack darkness and into the splashing mud below. The scent of blood and mire of decay is thick here; piles of refuse litter away endlessly and you hear the scurry of rats. A blood-red scream!

"Nymphslayer!" you hear him wail somewhere. His torch fades away.

A sickening crunch on your left side, the swiping of metal and bashing of stone; you turn and raise your weapon as if to cleave: