The Begining...

It was a warm autumntwilight, the sun receding to the sea let a pale light through the many windows of the Great Horns Tavern. There had been few patrons in this day and only two still remained whom wheren't employed by the taverns owner, Vinson. The renowned bard Frida was playing a somber tune on her harp in the corner of the bar, while a man in dark robes sat eating his evening meal in one corner of the room. A bent hat sat on the table next to his food and a tall, sun bleached white staff of rowan wood rested against the wall. Looking up from his food, the man watched as a young boy slowly approaced his table.

"Greetings child, you must be Vinson's son, Tab."

The child calmly turned his large brown eyes to the man and broke out in a large smile.

"Aye sir, and my pa says ye be a mighty wizard from across the seas. So I'm sure ye be havin a good story for me"

The man lifted an eyebrow at the boy, then attempted to give his most wizardly stare.

"Aye boy, I am a wizard, but once I was a lad no older then yourself. Would you like to hear the story of how I came to my power?"

The boy looked thoughtful for a moment, the vehemently nodded his head.

"Please sir, as long as it has lots of magic in it."

Chuckling to himself, the man called over some more ale and then nodded to Fridda. "Perhaps you can follow my story with some music."

The young bard smiled at them both, then winked at the man with a knowing you better tip me well after this, glance.

"Alright, where was I, ah yes the begining. I was raised in a small farming community somewhere between Yew and Britain. I had a pleasent childhood, learning the ways of harvesting the earth. We would send our grapes to the monks of Empath abbey to be turned into wine and our grain to Britain. We did well for ourselves and where very happy. That was until the days of the orc wars. We thought we would be safe, living so far away from the major cities. But as the stories grew worse, my father feared for our safety. He sent my sister and myself to the Abbey, where we would be protected from the war. Many days we spent with the monks of Empath Abby; there I learned to read and write, I learned of the virtues and of the ways of Justice. Then the letter came that we where to return to the village, that the war was over. We gathered our possesions and headed back to the village. As we passed through the great yew trees and tall oaks, we came to a sight of pure horror. Black smoke rose from the remains of our quiet hamlet. We ran through the now barren fields and came to the smoldering remains of our home. There, amongst the sounds of my sobbing sister, I saw the remains of our mother and father. I turned my sister from the gruesome shell of our home and set her down to sit upon fallen log. I returned to our parents, whose mangled corpses had become pale with death. I layed coins upon their eyes, as was our custom and said a silent prayer for their souls. My fathers sword, which he had retained from the war, sat broken in his hands. The corpse of an orc not far behind. I burned with rage at what had been done, that such evil could walk the land. I picked up my fathers sword and swore that I would slay every orc I could find. Then I heard a scream. I ran outside to see my sister being tossed up by a massive orc, he slung her up over his shoulder as if she was a sack of potatoes. I screamed a cry of pure and righteous anger and charged at the creature. Another orc jumped at me from behind a tree, easily knocking the broken sword from my hands. It grabbed me by the throat and laughed. Then it made me watch as its friend gutted my sister before me. I burned with an inner fire and struggled within its hold, but couldn't break free of its iron grasp. Then the words came into my mind, and I felt the fire course through me, it was an inferno that threatened to consume my soul. But I mastered it, I sent it out into the night and it consumed the two orcs before me. It tore through the entirety of the village and I could hear the shrill swine like sounds of orcs screaming before me. And I laughed, as the world became flame, the sound of my laughter filled the inferno. Then there was only blackness and I sunk to the ground and thought I had died. When I awoke, I was in a bed in the Abby. The monks wouldn't tell me of how they had found me, but I could see the fear in there eyes. They new the truth and were scared."

Looking around the room, the man saw that it was silent now, the bard had stopped playing and just stared at the wizard who had told such a horrid story to a child and yet tears streamed from her eyes. Vinsons face was ashen as he looked to the ground in fear.

"Child, would you like to see the scroll with the spell that came to me that night.

The child looked at the mage in what seemed like pure awe.

"Yes, yes, I would love that.

"Then follow me child, it is on my horse outside."

The man got up and walked out of the tavern, the child a few steps behind. Reaching into his saddle bag, he muttered a few words and a silver light filled the circle of a pentacle around the boy.

"That's far enough Vaelfar, you can do away with your disguise now!"

With the command of pure will and the calling of his true name, the demon screamed with rage.

"MAGELING, YOU DARE HOLD ME! I SHALL TEAR OUT YOUR SOUL AND DINE ON YOUR CORPSE! I WILL DESTROY ALL YOU HOLD DEAR!"

"Bah, you wish, you misreable worm. You take this back to your master, you tell him that though Magincia is a town full of prideful fops, he will not enter here! The Guardian shall have no sway as long as I draw breath."

The demon, now worked into a frenzy began screaming. Fridda, whose bravery could never be questioned, stared out a window at the scene. Then the demon tried a different tactic, in a quiet voice he wispered.

"Wizard, I can grant thee great powers and secrets to defy my lord. Release me and I shall bind myself to thy service."

The mage only smiled and summoned his staff. He held it with one hand and in the other he held something small and black.

"Demon, take back my message to your master, let him know the power I now posses."

With that he incanted strange words and fire tinted black rained down upon the demon, causing it to scream in anguish until there was nothing but silence and ash. Muttering a quick spell, a gate appeared and a child walked through. The wizard led the boy back into the tavern and set him down.

"Your child is safe good Vinson, but remember the warning you have seen tonight. Remember that it is yours and others pride that will allow these creatures into your city."

Then he turned to the bard.

"As for you, the payment you required before is the story I gave you tonight, not many know the story of The Bedlams origin. Share it with whom you like."

Then with a muttered word, the wizard disapeared into the night...

*waits*

Vepl