D'azar Tae stood on the edge of Mt. Ispar, peering down into the blazing flows of molten rock. He closed his eyes, and recalled the sorrowful day when the Fla'akregs attacked. The day when everything, when everyone he had ever cared for, had perished. He recalled the day when he lost his wife, his best friends, his soul

"Hey D'az, what are you doing sitting over here, when your darling wife is waiting for you by the campfire" called out Deveron. "She looks lonely, and some of those new guys don't know she's yours"

"Just thinking. Tell Artenis I'll be there in a minute." Replied D'azar.

"D'azar, are you going to try and wait out those mossies?" Said Keiron. "They are just going to wait there and stare at you. You know without a chief, they are dumb as bricks and twice as ugly."

"Ok, ok! Geez, does nobody care about someone staying out here, collecting their thoughts?"

"Fine. Just come back when you get done. But don't go trying to wipe them out without inviting me first. You know I love the sound they make. Can set a man's soul ablaze, hearing the death cry of a mossy!"

D'azar ignored his friends ranting, instead focusing on the angles with which he could attack these monsters. He mentally scolded them for their lack of organization and tactics, seeing about ten ways to wipe them out with one strike. He then walked back to camp, where his numerous friends and fellow allegiance members greeted him. He walked over to the tent where he and his wife, Artenis, were staying. The two talked for about an hour, and crawled into bed.

Trimera Vendras ran through the forest, hoping that the creature chasing him would lose interest. It had slaughtered his fellowship, and had then come after him. It had even destroyed his patron, a warrior well renowned for his prowess with the axe. And now, it was chasing him. This creature, with its gleaming fangs and shining red eyes, its long reptilian body, was so close he could almost feel its breath on the back of his neck. He heard a rustling in the bushes, saw the light reflected off of a sword, heard the creature scream, then nothing. "Are you alright?" Asked the mysterious stranger.

"Not until you came along. How did you do that? My patron was a valiant warrior, and this creature killed him like he was nothing!"

"I have seen these things before, and they are fierce fighters, and almost as intelligent as we humans like to believe we are. They are hard to beat, but not without weaknesses. By the way, my name is Shaharidan."

"Shaharidan! My patron spoke highly of you. Did you two know each other?"

"Quite well. Your patron helped me when I was starting out, showed me some nice places to sharpen my skills, even gave me my first sword. I believe I should be the one speaking highly of him. My vassals and I are on a hunting trip near here. If you want, you can join us if you wish. Maybe you could even swear to one of my better vassals, D'azar, Keiron, or Deveron."

"Really! Thank you!"

D'azar dreamed that night, as he often did. He often dreamed of long battles, where he and his friends were always the victors, always coming out unharmed. This night was different. The battle started out as always, with legions of shadows extending forever, and Bael'zharon himself leading the army. He, Keiron, Deveron, Shaharidan, Devast, and Dr. Deth, the only thing standing between the army and the last human village. Suddenly, Bael'zharon spoke. "You have defeated my in your past battles, but now, it is my turn. Behold, the Fla'akregs!" Thousands upon thousands of large, reptilian creatures suddenly rose out of the very ground they stood upon. They were huge, larger than lugians even! Deveron and Keiron charged forward, with Dr. Deth pounding the creatures with powerful war spells, but to no avail. They were simply too strong for them, the spawn of Bael'zharon's own dark, evil sorcery. Shaharidan himself charged, and managed to say several, but it was not enough, and the creatures fell upon him. He screamed, and then there was silence. Shaharidan, the strongest of them all, had fallen before these horrible new creatures. Keiron, Dr. Deth, and Devast screamed in rage and pain, as they had known Shaharidan best. They rushed forward, and fought valiantly with powerful, rage-filled attacks, but even they fell. It was now just Deveron and D'azar. Deveron started to charge, but D'azar held him back. The creatures rushed forward, and were almost upon them, when D'azar and Deveron raised their swords and met them head on. They slaughtered many of the creatures, and for a moment, it looked as though they had defeated the lot of them, when D'azar heard Deveron scream in pain behind him. He turned around, and gasped in horror as he saw a pair of claws impaling his friend. D'azar was the only one left. He fought harder than he ever had, but saw it was meaningless. He dropped his sword, and the creatures fell upon him. He saw a pair of claws falling toward him, and felt them enter his body.

D'azar awoke with a start. It had all been a dream. It had been so realistic though. He heard a familiar voice outside. Shaharidan must be back from his hunting trip, he thought to himself. He walked outside, and saw an unfamiliar character. "Ahhhh, D'azar, hoped you would still be awake. D'azar Tae, this is Trimera Vendras. I met Trimera on my hunting trip. He was running from a strange creature I ran into on my trip. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, almost a lizardman."

"A lizardman?" D'azar replied with a touch of recognition in his voice.

"Yeah, why? You ever seen something like it?"

"Actually, I have. But what's strange is it was in my dreams."

"In your dreams, you say? Strange. This creature was very strong, almost enough to defeat me."

D'azar decided to change the subject. "So, you know where we are going to hunt tomorrow?"

"Actually, I was planning to take my top vassals out on a small party trip in the Direlands. Make a quick stop in Ayan Baqur, let Deth restock on components, maybe even see someone else from the monarchy."

"Ayan? Um, are you sure that is a good idea? Maybe we should hunt someplace else, like Aerlinthe? You know, make it a little more challenging?"

"D'azar, you know Deveron is not strong enough for Aerlinthe yet. That is the reason we are going to the Dires. To prepare him for the trials of Aerlinthe. Who knows, the way you, Keiron, and Deveron train, you will be able to take on Aerfalle's challenge by yourselves!"

"Well, ok, you are the monarch. I'll follow you. I just have a bad feeling about this."

The next day, the small party set off for Ayan Baqur. D'azar seemed more tense that usual, and not because he felt he needed more training before the Dires. He had been there many times before. What troubled him was the dream he had. Was it a prophecy of things to come? Maybe. D'azar had never shown signs of magical ability, unlike Keiron, who was adept enough to summon his own portals and cast spells of the 5th level. But nonetheless, he felt as though there was some truth to the disturbing dream he had the night before. "D'az, you alright?" Said Keiron. "You seem tense. It's not like you haven't been here before, you know."

"I know. Just something bothering me about that dream I had last night."

"Oh, that one. You know it won't happen. Bael'zharon hasn't shown his face since we have been here, and I seriously doubt he will on this hunting trip. And those lizard things, Shaharidan killed it with little effort. They are not near as strong as the ones in your dreams. So don't worry about it. Just enjoy the trip."

"Ok, I'll take your advice."

"Good. That's the smart thing to do, you know."

D'azar nevertheless could not let that dream escape his mind. He tried focusing on the hunt, but to no avail. Finally, the party arrived in Ayan Baqur, where they were immediately greeted by one of Shaharidan's numerous friends. They went around the town, buying components for Deth and Keiron, and a good backup sword for Deveron. They were soon ready, and left the town. They had a good hunt, and Deveron was very close to being strong enough to travel to Aerlinthe.

"See D'az, we didn't see any shadows today. Your dream was just that, a dream. So don't worry about it."

"Yeah, your right. Nothing to worry about."

The brave warriors awoke the next day to horrible screaming inside Ayan Baqur. "The Shadows are attacking! Bael'zharon is leading the army! Asheron, why must you betray us like this!"

Oh no, thought D'azar, its happening. The warriors quickly ran into the town, and saw the army. Legions of shadows, stretching on forever, with Bael'zharon himself at the head of the army. They quickly beat back the few shadows that had made it into the town, and chased them out of the town. They were the only thing standing between the massive shadow army, and the human town of Ayan Baqur. "So, D'azar Tae, your worst fear has come true!" bellowed Bael'zharon. "My army of shadows has arrived, and you and your friends are mine! I would like you to meet my newest creatures. The Fla'akrag!"

"Do not charge them!" Shouted Shaharidan, but Keiron and Devast ignored him.

"Argh, they never listen! Might as well join them. When in Rome"

Shaharidan joined the fray, and began to slaughter the lizard creatures, more violently and more quickly than in D'azar's dream. It was beauty in motion, a deadly ballet with Shaharidan the star. But he began to grow cocky. His attacks became sloppy. The creatures got closer. Then they lunged, 10 at once! Shaharidan screamed in fury and pain, then was silent. Shaharidan, their patron, had been slain! If Shaharidan had fallen, their was no hope! Keiron, Devast, and Dr. Deth screamed in rage and pain, as they had known Shaharidan best. They attacked the last of the creatures, rage powering their attacks, making their blows more accurate and far, far more deadly. Soon the last of the lizard creatures, those horrid Fla'akrag, were slain. "No! Shadows, attack!"

The legions of shadows, which had been watching the battle in amazement, quickly rushed the angered warriors. Every shadow thrown at them was quickly thrown back in pieces. They seemed unstoppable. Then, a type of shadow last seen in the Great Wars, a breed so horrid the mere mention of their name even to this day still filled people with horror, appeared on the battlefield. The Nightmare had arrived. The horrible shadow lunged at Keiron, but he barely avoided the creatures clawed hand. It then swung at Devast, who did the same. Dr. Deth launched a spell at the creature, and it screamed in pain. For a second, it appeared they would beat the creature after all. Then, it grabbed Deth, and with one fell swoop the great mage was gone. Devast swung at the creature, but it merely angered the great shadow. The Nightmare swung, and Devast joined his friend and patron in the great beyond. Keiron, greatly angered by his friends demise, tried in vain to attack the creature. Just before the creature sent Keiron to join his friends, an aura surrounded the valiant warrior. Keiron had grown stronger because of this fight. He leaped over the creatures long claw, and stabbed at the creature through the chest. Filled with rage, he attacked the creatures dead body until Deveron placed his hand on his shoulder. Keiron then collapsed onto the ground, the fury of the battle and the extent of his injuries suffered finally claiming the warrior who had cheated death for far too long. Deveron and D'azar were the last ones left on this lonely battlefield, the last warriors in an endless battle. They turned to face Bael'zharon, the coordinator of the battle that had claimed their friends. Rage and hatred filled the brave warriors, and they rushed the Demon King. Bael'zharon in turn attacked the two warriors, and knocked D'azar away from the battle. Badly injured by the last blow, D'azar struggled to remain conscious while his friend battled the fierce monster. Deveron swung again and again, pummeling the demon with fierce blows, but Bael'zharon only laughed, and with one blow, plunged his claws through Deveron's body. D'azar was overcome with emotion as he watched his valiant warrior friend perish, another victim to Bael'zharon's evil attacks. D'azar, filled with rage to the breaking point, no longer cared about his life. His friends had been taken from him by this foul creature from the deepest pits of the underworld, and someone had to pay for their deaths. D'azar struggled to his feet, regained his stature, and rushed toward his certain doom. Bael'zharon was surprised that this one lonely human dared to challenge him, and that deserved admiration, even from the Demon King. D'azar attacked again and again, with blows of rage that caused even this demon to feel pain. Bael'zharon swung at D'azar, connected with his chest, then there was darkness.

D'azar Tae stood on the edge of Mt. Ispar, gazing down into the fiery depths of the volcano. He recalled that sorrowful day when everything was taken from him by that demon, Bael'zharon. He had been so depressed by the deaths of his friends, his wife had left him. He later learned she had been killed in a battle with some new kind of monster, a type of lizard man. He started to jump, but then wondered why Bael'zharon had spared him. Several of his friends had been stronger, or had more experience, so why him? A small voice in his head seemed to reply. "Lord Bael'zharon has his reasons. Be grateful you are not with your friends, so that you may avenge them when the time comes. Be grateful, and become stronger. Surpass Bael'zharon, as he wishes for you to. Be grateful"

"I will become stronger. And when the time comes, when Bael'zharon and I meet once again, it will be me, not him, who emerges the victor! Then I will at last be able to join my friends and my wife in the afterlife. Then, perhaps, once I have conquered the world's demons, I will be able to conquer my own, and finally be able to put my soul at rest."

He stood for several more hours, then reached into his bag, and pulled from it the sword Keiron had used in his fight with the Nightmare. He watched as the sword gleamed with a hidden light, as if somehow enchanted with its owner's soul. For a moment, he thought he saw Keiron's smiling face in the reflection of the sword. He replaced it, and pulled instead the sword Shaharidan had given him upon his arrival in Dereth. He gazed for a moment at the sword, and then tossed it into the fiery depths of the mountain. D'azar Tae, last of the original monarchy, leader of the new, walked away from the mountain, walked away from his past, from his painful memories, and began to walk toward the setting sun, walking toward the painful, horrible, great destiny that awaited him in the future.