Prologue

"I have been libeled as a wander, but this is not the case. I have a home, it just that it's inconvenient place right now. All my pity upon you. All my pity upon you. My luck can only get better. Yours can only get worse. Now I see it upon you, The Traveller's Curse!"

-Ben Caplan

How long has it been? I have lost track after the first.. thousand years? It is surprising how infinite space with nothing in it can feel so... small. Borders help us define space, help us define size, without them... size and space disappears. Time itself is just a border from one moment to the next, remove it and it is easy to lose track of it. Locked away with no walls, no locks, no time, no… anything. Still not sure how long it has been, but soon all of this will be over. Soon the war will come.

---

Dosik thought he was ready. He had trained Forvandla long enough. He had trained him to hunt dangerous creatures, taught him how to survive in world that was out to get you. Dosik wasn't sure he taught Forvandla how to play nice with others, but time is short and life always has higher priorities. Hopefully he taught him how control his inner turmoil. Over time he has learned that the worst enemy is the one within.

The Pearlbow Wilderness needs a protector. The forest is vast, and the monsters are endless. Forvandla would make a great addition to the area, Dosik believed. Odessloe would make a great home for a new start. The people are kind and welcoming to travelers. Maybe with some time, he would be able to find a new family.

---

"Diriger Zep is the reason you are all here today." The professor begins his lecture. "I would argue he is more important that Mercier, who you all know is credited for initial lift mechanic of airships. Zep's gnomish mind was able to see things differently. He could see between the spaces, he is the reason airships can fly the distances they are able to today."

The professor picks up a new piece of chalk and begins to write on the enormous chalk board that is located in front of the class. "The reason for his genius was he understood the basics, the fundamentals!" The professor begins to write 'Fundamentals' on the board.

"Where is Diriger Zep now?" A student interrupts.

The professor turns around and his eyes gaze over the students. He stops on Nappa and stares at him for a moment, then continues to survey the class.

"Please leave all questions for the end, but last I heard he was retired and living in Odessloe." The professor answers.

In that moment Nappa knew where he had to go, he knew where he should be getting his education.

---

“Find him! Find him now!” Yangor yells out.

“Sir… he has fled.” The lieutenant responds.

“That is why I have just ordered you to find him, you idiot! Send out a search party!” Yangor yells out at the lieutenant. “I’ll have his head on a stake and his body swinging from the rafters!”

“I should have trusted my gut! Divine touched my ass! They are all devils in disguise!” Yangor rumbles as he starts to pace back and forth.

“Sir, what is his name again?” The lieutenant asks.

“A soldier in our division is almost murdered and you don't even remember the traitor’s name? How fucking useless are you?” Yangor shouts as he begins to toss papers from his desk at the lieutenant.

“Vorrak! Find me fucking Vorrak!”

---

“Do you think she is ready?” Cressnia addresses the other priests.

“She has shown a certain… charisma.” One of the priests responds.

“It looks like she has been teaching already, the rough one from the woods keeps coming back looking for wisdom.” Another priest speaks up.

“All who agree please raise your hands.” Cressnia asks.

The majority of hands reach up into the air.

“It is agreed then, Verna will travel to Odessloe and work with the church there.” Cressnia commands to the group.

---

They sit high on their thrones and laugh down at me. Cursed to guard a gate that isn’t there. A blight that links me to this place. They plot and scheme while I sit in silence. I couldn't make a sound if I wanted to, sound does not exist in this place. Nothing seems to exist in this place, just me. When my time comes, I will make sure that they hear my lament. Then they will know who their king is. I will put all of my pity upon them.

“An interesting travel party.” The priest looks questionably at Cressnia.

“A human, a tortle, a aasimar, and a halfling. I have heard of stranger. We must remember that there are no accidents. A lack of understanding is part of the world we live in, we must learn to become more comfortable with our own ignorance.” Cressnia responds.

“They all were gathered here for a reason, the Raven Queen is working through them. It seems they need each other because they have found each other.”

The priest nods, thinking over Cressnia’s words.

“Like most of us, their final destination is death; but I sense before that day arrives they are destined to serve our Queen.” Cressnia says as she watches the group leave the temple and take their first steps toward Odessloe.

---

They don't know it, but the war is already over. The winners and losers have already been decided. Everything just has to fall into place. One does not choose their choices, one just reacts. Everyone but me! I have watched them with my infinite time. I have learned from them, I have become better than them. To create me, they had to give part of themselves and from that creation I will take all of them.