Epidal saga: Chap 1

After struggling in many fights and skirmishes Mathew and his companions found a town. The buildings of this town, all were destroyed, the streets were a desert, and silence was the only thing that you could hear, it was one where you couldn't find trace of humans. They didn't like it, nobody likes a town like this, not because of the aspect, it was more the air, one that made you reflect about what power destroyed it. Solehm didn't feel good so they had to search a house and stayed there. While they were in this house, probably the only almost complete of all the town, they realized that something was wrong with Solehm. At some point he started to scream of pain, and in the last moments he started to talk about a black stone. His companions assumed that it was the illness that made him to talk nonsense, but they didn't know the dark secret.
After some minutes Solehm ceased talking. Mathew didn’t know if that was good or bad, all he knew was that before he only screamed about the dark stone and a fearsome power. Every person that joined Mathew in his quest was worried about Solehm. He was the most powerful wizard that they knew, everyone saw him as a father like figure, and they couldn’t stand to be losing him.
In the middle of the night, at an indeterminate hour, a strange man made his apparition. This man said he was just a random traveler, nothing more, that had little knowledge about magic, and that came from a tribe that practiced an ancient art to be in harmony with the spirit. His name was Epidal. If they wanted, they could call him a monk, he added, although his clothing didn't look like one.
When Mathew tried to get close to him, he evaded Mathew, and said that his customs didn’t allow him to touch others, and to enforce it, they have to dress with a black robe, from head to toes.
Everything was getting weird. Mathew asked that why he was there, Epidal replied that he is traveling though the continent, seeking for something. When he saw the town, he thought that it was good place to sleep. Such disillusion to see it was a ghost town, but then he heard human voices, and joyful decided to investigate. Before continuing with this tale, he realized about Solehm, and said that maybe he could try to heal him. Mathew thought it was weird, all the time that they spent in that town and Epidal showed up when Solehm started to scream about this “black stone” but he was too tired and worried about Solehm to actually reflect about that, and it only remained as a little hunch.
Epidal did all he could, prays and herbs but Solehm was dieing. It was unavoidable and in the last moment Solehm asked for a moment alone with Mathew. He mumbled something about a big war, the big powers that it could unleash and what the winner could get. Mathew tried his best, but didn't understand anything. Solehm realized about that, and took a small letter bag that he had in one of his pockets, and gave it to Mathew.

Solehm: Open when you think is the right moment, not before or after, just in the special moment. Mark my words, and remember everything I just told you, someday they all will make sense, and may be the small help to win this quest.
Mathew: But how am I going to know when is the right moment?
Solehm: You will feel when it is, You have great powers, don’t waste them in the darkness…  

Those where the last words of Solehm.
Solehm closed his eyes, Mathew in the bottom knew that Solehm was no longer with him and just sat there for some minutes, trying to convince himself, but finally he accepted it.
Mathew: Solehm, my master, you taught  me the few things I know about sorcery, and now you leave me. Illness is what took your life, I can’t take revenge on that, but I will fulfill your wish, even if I have to give my life for it.

Mathew then, began to cry.
Everyone, waiting outside, growing impatient and then Mathew coming out. Mathew’s face was enough to tell that hope died, and refrained to ask, as they knew that Mathew probably was the most affected by Solehm’s death.

Mathew: Its over, lets go to rest to give Solehm the final rest in the morning.

Everyone slowly went to look for a bed, or a good place to make one, so they could sleep.
After such long night they needed rest.
Epidal was getting ready to sleep when Mathew came in, Epidal didn't seem surprised by his presence in there and very calm asked:

Epidal: What do you want lord Mathew?

Mathew didn’t feel right, his master was dead, but still needed to confirm some thoughts about Epidal. Mathew thought he was a mystery, but he didn't know even half of the true.

Mathew: Epidal may I ask some questions, and a favor to you?
Epidal: Yes my lord.
Mathew: Tell me your story.
Epidal: My story my lord?
Mathew: Yes, why you are here, and about you tribe… your story.

Epidal: There isn't too much to tell, I used to live in a far away land, separated of the rest of the continent by a desert. That’s why not too much people know about our customs. One year ago a big war happened with a fellow tribe, very similar to us. After the war, the tribes, as anyone would suppose, are almost destroyed. but some of the survivors still participate in skirmishes using their magic powers. I didn't want to participate in any bloody act so I fled with a group of friends. We met with a man, we knew he could help us regain our lands, but first we had to help him. He wants us to meet him, but he has an illness, before meeting with us we need to get this item, which with his magic powers will help him regain his health. In a few words that is the story of my recent life. I have been traveling since that to search for the item he wants.

Mathew: Hmmm but I thought you were of a land of monks not mages, monks should be pacific....

Epidal when noticed the inconsistency of his story tried to hide his deep thoughts and after some moments he replied with a question.

Epidal: Tell me my lord, what do you know of monks?

Mathew surprised by this question said that he didn't know too much about them, just some things that Solehm told him. They use their magic powers to heal people, they live in far away regions, so not many people have seen them, among with other things.

Epidal: Yes my lord that’s right. But also sometimes the priests train themselves to use the same magic used to heal, it is low level light or nature magic but it is enough to defend ourselves, some of our people reached a magic level worth of any mage or wizard but I... I barely can use magic. Same with this group of friends. And as ironic as it may seem, I am happy with that, since some scroll, or some ancient magic corrupted our tribes, and that’s why now they act like this. This last year has been very hard, a lot of friends have died in front of me, and I, powerless, can’t do anything about it.

Mathew: I am sorry to hear that, also if I caused some pain, or forced you to remember something you didn’t want to…
Epidal face wasn't visible but you could say that he showed some relief when Mathew said that.

Epidal :No it wasn't a problem for me my lord.
Mathew ut something is still bugging me.
Epidal: What is it my lord?
Epidal: What are you doing in this town?
Epidal: You see my lord, I am not strong, not a bit. A lot of times I have to run of the wild creatures, every time I see a town or people I feel very happy. As always people is there, I am glad, even if it is a ghost town like this. I just want to find the item that this man wants to give it to him and continue with my old live.
Epidal: This man, he seems to be good, but do you know him Epidal?
Epidal: Yes, he was friend of my father, he lived with us like 20 years ago but then he departed in search of the true knowledge. I just can assume that in his trips, he got cursed, but I am sure that this item will help him continue his knowledge search.
Mathew: I see, tell me Epidal, are you good healing wounds?
Epidal: Yes, all this months healing my own wounds gave me a lot of experience.
Mathew: Epidal… What would you say if I told you that you can travel with us?
Epidal: Nothing would please me more my lord, but where are you going? I don't want to slow you down.
Mathew: To be honest with you, I don't know, Solehm was the one that guided me. Now I guess that I will have to start using the knowledge he gave. I know that we are going to get lost or get out of the path before I get stronger, so you really can't slow us.
Epidal: Ahhh Solehm...his dead...such a mystery...such power to cast it. But now that I you grant me the honor, I am pleased to be your healer.

When Mathew heard the last comment of Epidal, it seemed like all the problems vanished, and just wanted to know more.
Mathew: Epidal, answer me truthfully, don’t hide me anything, don’t try to protect me.
Epidal went nervous again, though the fact that Mathew couldn't see his face helped him to hide it. After a few moment of thinking Epidal replied with a question.

Epidal: Tell me lord Mathew, what did you know about Solehm’s past?
Mathew: Weird question Epidal, although now that I think it very well, Solehm never told me anything about his past, if he had family, from where he came, I even didn't know what was his favorite food. I always thought that at long it seemed right he would eat anything that I gave him. Even when he joined me, he didn't told me his reasons. When he fought me it looked like he was holding back, and when I asked to him he just said, "we have to hurry it looks like it is going to rain". Heh funny, now that I remember it he only talked when he gave me an advice, told me where we were or when he was teaching me sorcery.
Epidal: I see... I am sorry to have to tell you this but he had a curse, an ancient and strong curse.
Mathew: A curse!? How is that possible, and why did you don’t tell me before?
Epidal: I am not sure, I never have seen anything like this before, or if it was real, I wasn’t sure so I didn’t want to make you paranoic.  I am sorry to have to tell you this but to me it looked like a very strong wizard, or better said shaman with mastery in the dark skills launched the curse against Solehm. This curse seemed to be destroying him slowly, draining all his energy. I am not sure though, everything is so confusing about this power…
Mathew: But how?
Epidal: We know nothing about Solehm’s past, we don’t know where he lived or what he did. Maybe he went to war or maybe he was a strong wizard. Although I am sure he was the last one, such a strong power should be easy to feel, Solehm had a great power, but his curse annihilated it.
Mathew: But why?
Epidal: My lord it is better if we go to sleep, we need to rest, I already told you all I know but if you want I could try....
Mathew: No Epidal, go to sleep, I am going to do the same.
Epidal: Whatever you want my lord…