Preface

In a land far away, where the sky is ever grey, in a world where peace is long forgotten and taken from memory by the long present wars... the land where heroes rise, and heroes fall, to be remembered by none, save the dead. Here, in a world long forsaken of good, and right, rises a warrior unequaled in strength and valour... and his deeds are known to the utmost regions of the earth... for he riseth against the powers that be... and prevaileth... We lay our scene in a town of small renown... many years past, when our hero was yet a child... untempered and unknown.

Chapter1

Sunlight glimmering on the river as it sparkles down through the valley of green... smoke rising in a slow haze from the chimneys of the thatched houses, and a general lull in the small village, and rising from the houses... the quiet hum of voices and laughter. Another burst of laughter, and abruptly a door swings open, giving way to a man of medium stature, a man of few years. And no worries that ever came to mind... and standing but a while on the porch, proceeds down the stairs onto the street where he freezes.. and can only look with despair at the sight he now faces... for where the forest so peacefully had surrounded their small vale... now hordes of dark knights are the only sight to be seen, and he spins... to shout a warning to his kin... but the arrow catches him far to soon.. and life that was once so carefree is now gone... to flow out upon the dirt. And down come the hordes.. in an eerie silence that can only mean magic is at work... they descend swiftly on the small cluster of houses... and in but a few moments have quelled all resistance... well all but one lad. The people of the vale only knew him as the hunter... for though he was but fourteen years, he was a great and renowned hunter among them, even when their own hunters could find no game, he would always find meat. And closing around him in a ring, standing on their own dead, that he had slain so effortlessly before their very eyes, they seek to ensnare him in a powerful spell of entrapment, but he shook off their very strongest efforts, as a duck would shake off water, and drawing forth his own magic, releases a mighty storm of fury upon them, and moving between them, slicing, stabbing, ever moving, he passes through their ranks with the ease of a arrow from the string.. and in but a few moments has hewn them all down, and in naught but shock, the village people turn to him in awe, at the speed in which their world had been brought to the brink of death, when there seemed to be no hope, and brought back again, by a mere child.. and throwing themselves at his feet swear their allegiance to him, and his line... for ever as their saviour and protector.

I am known as Hunter, by my adopted people, as Bane by my enemies, and as Weapon by the Fifty Swords of the Barisium, and this is my story. It is a tale of woe, of haunting memories, of valour, of hope, of fear, of courage, but most of all, it is a story of my life.

Where to start, my first memories, I remember a kindly face, a ladies face, a face that had care worn into it like a rut in the road... as the wheels slowly wear the rut by too much travel... so had care written itself upon her face, she was my mother.., I lost her when I was but four years aged, and my father? I never had one, he had died in a battle to protect those he loved, my mother and I. For I was born into a world of turmoil, a world of many sorrows and tragedies, and even as the dark legions had taken my father from me, so also did they take my mother those four years later. And fleeing before them as my mother had instructed, I came to a place of strength, where the dark legions could not yet avail, The Stronghold of the Barisium. It was here that I was to live my next four years... and as the masters and lords of this great place saw my sorrows, they took it upon themselves to train me in their ways. And in my pain I threw myself into my studies, and to their wonder and amazement, had mastered their ways in a mere few months. And though I was yet four years, could fell many of their greater warriors in the training ring. Indeed, as I matured I became a master among them and my fame grew as a master of but five years. and many Lords came and saw for themselves the skills that I had. So I dwelt in the halls of the Barisium for a few more seasons. learning lore craft, skills from the hunters, from the trackers, from the archers, from any who would teach me. and indeed, I became a force to be reckoned with. But, when I reached my eighth year, as it would happen, I met a man of great wealth, who though not liked by many, had a great influence, and in his great pride he sought to buy me for his own, to be a slave in his household, a mere trinket to his life.. but my lords saw what he intended, and knowing full well that I would not go peaceably, warned me aforetime, and giving me provision sent me away, so as not to cause offense to this rich lord.. but the lord, in his wrath, sent after me twelve stalkers, highly trained assassins, with but one purpose, capture me alive, and take me back to serve their master.

Can you but imagine his shock, when his twelve stalkers came back empty handed, dead, and with a message... what I said was simple... try again, and the stalkers fate would be his also.. never again to this day have I had trouble from him. So once again on my own, I traveled through the wilderness, passing from town to town, land to land, till at last, half a season later I came to a mountain that shimmered, and appeared to be but an illusion.. and yet people were walking from the road which I trod, up this mount... so quelling my doubts, I set forward and coming to the start of the would be illusion stepped upon the road... or thought I did... but my foot went straight through, for indeed it was an illusion.. and stepping through it I entered into a strange place where all was light yet there was no sun, no lamps or candles.

A man stepped out of a small house to greet me, and for some reason it surprised me, for there seemed to be no life here, yet here he came up the road to meet me, and I quelling my doubts, strode forth to meet him. As I drew closer to him I realized he was not walking to meet me, merely… flowing somehow, by some means he was gliding up the path, and as I saw this the hairs on my neck stood up and I felt a constriction in my chest, but then the stranger spoke, "hail traveler, what business have you in my humble abode?" in his voice was the very nectar of the gods, for with those few words he blew away my fears as a zephyr would blow a small leaf forth. And I replying said to him" I seek knowledge from the wise, peace from the turmoil, and vengeance upon the evil". And would you believe it, he merely looked at me and laughed… to me, the weapon of the Fifty Blades of Barisium, he mocked my very potency, yet even in my ire, I saw he meant no harm, and indeed, when he said he could learn more off me than I could learn of him, he said it not in jest but in belief,… I see this now, but at the time I felt he mocked me, and turning to face him more squarely asked him of what he spake. And he, losing all signs of humour, grew closer and said, you have entered a place protected by magic older than my own, and far more powerful, and you have done it with such ease, that a person would think that you were the very wielder of the true Lapni. The force that none has seen since the end of the last age. You are truly a force that even I. great and mighty sorcerer that I be, could have no hope of ever defeating in a battle. And as he finished speaking I could but stand there in shocked amazement. He spoke of magic, of the forces that only the dark legions wielded, that had only been ever used for evil, and yet I who hated them most, had their power within me. Surely he was mistaken, how could one such as I ever have such a power as they? and that is what I asked him, and he simply said… it is in many, it is merely that the legions have found a way to pervert many to its dark lessons… and turning to me, told me that while it was true that the legions did command this power, it in itself is not evil. Thus began my training, and in but three months had surpassed even my master. And traveling forth from thence, I sailed across the great oceans of the south until at last I came to a land untouched by the evils of the legion, a land where peace reigned, rather than war and sorrow. It was here that I found a small village nestled in a quiet vale, so peaceful and unworried by the troubles of the world. It was here I made my home for a few years. And when their hunters went out, I went also, and though they mocked at first, thinking naught of a child, after I shot a partridge on wing from one hundred and forty paces they reconsidered their opinion, and I became accepted into their group, and indeed, gained renown in their small population.