Spell and Sword

[Akuma_Reiten]

It was within a routine caravan headed for the city of Sundren he arrived in. For days now he'd been with this caravan, ever since they had left Waterdeep. It was rather funny actually, he had simply asked what was the furthest city from anywhere, and his answer was Sundren.

He shared the cart with a few others, all had their own reasons for heading to this Sundren. There even used to be a dog sitting with them, barking all the time. But one night he solved that by braking its neck while everyone slept...

His name was Ryder, and was not a nice man.

Many would question why this man would be heading to a place so isolated like Sundren. Few would realize he did it for a simple book.

It was a tattered book, slightly torn in places and almost all the colour had faded. Yet Ryder kept it close, and would read it very often...

Finally the caravan made it's stop at the gates to Sundren. He closed his book, stepped off the cart and looked the gate up and down. He grinned.

"Time to get to work then..."

[Akuma_Reiten]

"Teach you magic? I'm not having some... scruffy thug for an apprentice!" The man slammed his door hard, leaving Ryder alone. His hands began to twitch a little as he scowled at the door, as if his gaze would melt it.

Ryder was having no luck in finding someone to teach him in the arcane ways. Since the the moment he had arrived in Sundren he had nothing to his name, no gold to buy his way, no influence to make his life easier. Whatever leisure's he had were left behind...

For now the only wizards he had come across were those pompous nobles, and they would barley even note his existence.

Silent rage swelled in his throat.

He knew he had to be careful in this new land. He could not afford making enemies of anyone yet... and worse he could no longer get away with breaking the law... another leisure he had left behind.

The worst part had been the fact he'd had to share actual conversation with Paladins and knights of the good deities. To them he would seem absent minded, but in reality he was trying his best not to punch them in a fit rage. They would never truly understand why he hated them so much.

But it would all be worth it in the end, so long as he had his book he could make this all work out. He would be able to stand tallest in a crowed one day, but for now all he needed was patience...

Ryder walked down the road and knocked on the door, a voice asked what he wanted and he said:

"Greetings good sir... are you a practicer of the arcane? If so would you be interested in accepting an apprentice?"

[Akuma_Reiten]

Ryder stood before the entrance of the Sestra mine's. He scoffed at it. Who ever he had asked to help him venture within it had declined, they did it out of fear... and because they were weak.

He choice his spells carefully, making sure he would be prepared should something happen. The magic power of weave filled him as he stepped into darkness.

He unsheathed his sword from his back, a mighty blade that would fell a normal man in a single strike. He raised his free hand and closed his eyes...

Da-Boom...Da-Boom...

It felt like a single heart beat, a slow rhythmic tune up ahead. However this sound was sinister in nature... it was the sound of the flowing negative energy that gives life to the undead.

He grinned and pressed forward, finding the tortured soul exactly where he had felt it. The shade turned to him, and looked at him with hungry eyes. With a silent scream it lunged at him, it's formless body clawing away at him. Yet when it reached him something was in its way. A minor magical barrier surrounded him, and the shade could not gather the strength to break past it.

Ryder took his blade in both hands and began swinging at the horror, dissiapating pieces of its form with his swings. Finally he sliced downward, between its eyes, scattering it to the four winds. This would be easy, the others were truly just weak.

He continued on down the dark corridors, sensing the beating life of the undead. He could not lose his way and be trapped here, for he could feel them all.

With a smirk he turned around corner, muttering to himself "If I follow this path I should be able to easily avoid most... of... them?" In the distance something caught his eye.

Behind a door made of iron bars he could make out a corner of a tree... It looked dead, it's brown oak turned pale white. Blue glowing lights emitted where leaves should of been. He could only look in wonder.

"What is that..."

Da-boom.

He's senses returned to him as he felt one of the pulses spike. It was then that he could see behind the tree lay two small glaring eyes...

The shade swooped down from the tree, passing through the door and met Ryder at an astounding speed. He tired to pull his blade up in time but the shade pierced through his barrier and pierced his body. With a short gurgle Ryder was thrown to the floor.

The shade circled him like a hawk before descending upon him again, clawing at his barrier. Ryder shook his head and swung his blade at the thing, driving it back from him. He began to lift himself up...

Da-boom.

A chill ran down his spine as he watched past the shade. An even mightier formless shade had appeared, it's dark form engulfing the end of the tunnel. Ryder looked into it's eyes, and knew it had come for him.

He darted himself up, and with a mighty swing flung the lesser shade further from himself. With the space he began to cast a spell. They may have been spirits, but they can not attack what they can not see. But as he spoke the words he made the gestures in haste, and arcane power built up wimpered out like a small fire.

Ryder's face was a cross between anger and desperation. Losing no time he turned his back on it and began to run. The lesser shade hounded after him, like a dog nipping at his ankles. But for the most part he ignored it, his barrier would keep it away.

Before him lay a sharp turn, and turning would take up time. But Ryder was not always a wizard, and he did not train his body for nothing. He ran straight at the wall, hitting his shoulder hard into it before pushing himself away from it and down the next corridor.

Finally the exit lay before him and he jumped, tumbling violently onto the path outside. He could feel the rain drops on the back of his head, and could not feel the heartbeat of the dead. With his face in the ground and trying to catch his breath, he sighed.

"Perhaps.... Perhaps... Perhaps I will find some help..."