Testament of a Shadow

[Candor Ignifer]

The gates of Fort Valensk had been shut for the night. The daytime sounds within the settlement had subdued to the quiet hush that was nocturnal life. In those walls, people slept within their homes, blanketed in their soft beds, but that was not so for Kiva. He sat outside, unprotected by the Fort’s walls, gazing into the dancing flames of his fire.
  The large flank of jaguar meat sizzled and smoked, spitted above his fire, the juices dripped down and fizzed away on the red hot ashes. He could smell the blood cooking, the kind of aroma that would carry for miles, bringing both other adventurers and beasts alike.
  “Let them come.” He thought grimly to himself.
  His eyes trailed away from his charring meat and to the darkness that was being held at bay by the fire’s light. There was a silent war there in that line between light and dark. And no matter the persistence of one force, neither prevailed.
  “How much can be seen in the simple divider of light and dark. It reminds me of Emerald. We spoke again today. She, as usual, sat perched above the town folk. She seems unwilling to leave the platform above Hlint, and even more unwilling to involve herself with the people that frequent the village.”
  “Our topic of conversation varied, as it always does. We ranged from her private squabble with her lover, to her lack a name. And it is the latter that still perplexes me. Her words echo through my mind, and I am either un-able or unwilling to forget them.”
  “Does your name define you?”
  “Such a simple question with an impossible answer. She and I are creatures of complete opposites. Where she defies the need of a label to define herself to others or herself, I cling to mine. I use my label to herald my presence to the world. ‘Darkchild’…’Darkchild’…’Darkchild’. How many people have only that name to know me by?”
  “I admit that I would not change that for anything. She does not need a name, and I may need mine. But it is who…what I am. And that is all I have.”

[Candor Ignifer]

The sun was setting over Lielon harbor. The orange light danced upon the water’s surface, a grand cacophony of light that promised the glory of the night to come. The eastern sky was already deep violet, the edges of night’s cloak beginning to blanket the world. Kiva stood on the docks, watching, observing, and looking for hidden meaning in the retreat of light and the dominance of dark.
“A month ago, I would preach the cowardice and weakness of light. I would rant about the unnatural occurrence that is light. And I would gawk at the splendor of shadow.”
All that remained of the sun was but a sliver of red. The sailors quickened their pace on their ships in hopes of completing their tasks before the night came full.
“But that was a month ago. Tonight, I wield a greater understanding of light and dark. For you see, in the morning the sun will come from the east, and its light will burn away the darkness. It is not weakness that causes these two to wane from each other. It is balance.”
The sun dipped below the horizon.
“I have always clung to the darkness for dominance. I see now that I was wrong. Those who represent light are just as dominant. And so, it is not power I gain from the night, it is perspective.”
The Night sky darkened now, the stars shining through. The laughter of the shadows on the water echoed through the air, but Kiva knew only he could hear it. A smile crossed his lips.
“I am a creature of darkness. This cannot be denied. But in being such I am not a conqueror, I am not a dominator, I am an ambassador. I am a servant. I serve the night, just as the night serves me. As darkness exists in harmony with light, I exist in harmony with darkness.”
The city came to life with the sounds of night time merriment, jovial music and bad singing by those already drunk within Leilon’s taverns. A rush of people burst from a door, their intoxicated jollity escaping into the streets. Kiva strode away and vanished into the shadows.
“I hate crowds.” He whispered to himself.

[Candor Ignifer]

The words that Ozymandias had spoken to Kiva earlier that night plagued him. Not because the words angered or insulted him, but because they made sense. Kiva had always wondered why he was receptive to the Dark Forest’s influence while his mother was not.
  “What was so different about me that allowed the forest to assimilate me? It is a question that has always nagged at my mind, and for all my studies, I have found no answer.”
  He looked up from the Dwarven Tome he had been reading. The library of Blackford Castle was silent, which was ideal for his purposes, but it lacked the ambience that he had come to enjoy of the Voltrex Library. “No matter,” He thought to himself.
  His eyes scanned his current page, and it came with satisfaction that there were few Dwarven characters that he did not understand. But he could not bring himself to focus. Closing the book and his eyes, he relived that night with Ozymandias in Hlint.
  “I sought his knowledge because I knew he had it in abundance. But the truth is; I did not expect him to have the answer I was looking for. To my surprise, he did. It seems that there are two forces present in the Dark Forest, and one is called the Dark Father. This entity, like all beings of power, has servants; a clan of Wood Elves, as it were. But according to Ozymandias they are not pure bloods, they have been crossed bred with Drow over the generations. As such they share a physical appearance much like mine; unusual height, snow white hair, and unnaturally dark eyes.”
  Kiva stood and replaced the Dwarven tome back to its proper place.
  “This must be more than just coincidence. And I expect the truth of the matter lies with my father. I never knew him, and my mother refused to speak of him. All I have is his name, ‘Sjack’. But if this is true, it means that the blood that flows through my veins is partly Drow. This is disconcerting, and I shall have to investigate this matter in its entirety.”

[Candor Ignifer]

Matilda just stood there, chatting with Jareg as if nothing had happened. Her face was creased in her usual smile, her eyes sheen with the wonder of life. She was every bit as exuberant as any other day. And Kiva couldn’t help but boil with rage over her.
  “Now this is truly a marvel. That woman calls herself a Paladin. Holy Knight, indeed. She has played judge and jury based on a single act, forgetting passed words and passed actions.”
  Kiva considered calling out to her, making her listen to his words. Forcing her to understand his actions, but he did not.
  “She, like so many other humans, does not grasp the meaning of the ideals they live by. Namely: Justice.”
  Kiva’s mind trailed back to just a few hours earlier. He had been scouting ahead of the main party. It is what he did and he enjoyed it. They had been traversing the Dragon Isles, dangerous territory, but they had prevailed over all adversity so far. Kiva turned a bend, and there they were; Satyrs.
  He had no personal grudge with the Satyrs, not all of them, anyway. But among their numbers was one, a mage, which had felled him during a previous encounter. The others had caught up by then, and of course, Matilda being her “passive aggressive” self, beseeched the party not to attack them. It was too late, justice would be done. Kiva pulled his crossbow and loosed a bolt at his nemesis mage.
  The battle that ensued was more than he had accounted for. The party was able to defeat the Satyr clan, the mage among them, but not without a price. Renji had fallen.
  Just as Matilda had turned to Kiva and began to question his motives, several arrows were loosed from a cliff, felling another ally and forcing the party to take cover. They were pinned. That may as well have been the end of the battle. Words would not calm the Satyr snipers, and Matilda refused to confront them in combat.
  “Justice was done, but not in the way that I had suspected. The mage’s life was forfeit, but in slaying the other Satyrs a price had to be paid. Renji and the other defeated were that price. I had not calculated the situation in its entirety, and it is a mistake I will not make again.”
  He looked over at Matilda still laughing with Jareg.
  “And as for her. Let her make her judgments, they do not disturb me. In less than a century she will be gone, and her judgments with her. I will still walk these lands.”
 

[Candor Ignifer]

How long has it been since I last set foot in Hlint? Kiva asked himself as he limped into the adventurers' town. The place had not changed, warriors of every ilk still teemed in the street. But their faces were unfamiliar to him. He had not expected all of his old aquaintences to still be alive, but he had estimated that he would see at least one. There were none. He slowly walked to the great tree and eased himself down, resting his back against the large trunk. His eyes closed and he shut out the sounds of the the village.
  It had all started with his confrontation with Matilda. In her arrogance she judged him, cast him away as a traitor to goodness. Kiva was not a bastion of righteousness, and though he tried to explain this to her, she would not listen. Not shortly after AnnaLee, having professed her love for Kiva, became bitter towards him when he didn't return her affection. He could not stand it anymore. Gathering his money and possessions Kiva set off for Dregar. He intended to return home, and find the answer to his longest lived question: Why had the forest changed him?
  It was simple enough to locate his mother's grave and he spent a week cleaning it, laying flowers for her, and driving the weeds away. The old cottage that his mother raised him in had fallen into disrepair, so he spent some time returning his childhood home to its former state. With everyday that he worked, he could feel the forest calling to him. There was an intangible pull coming from the dark wood, and he was forced to finally succumb and answer the forest's summoning. Kiva stepped into the Dark Forest.
  It wasn't long before the Malar Panthers, undead, and other nightmares of the forest beset him. But Kiva had grown strong since last he left, and he battled on. Finally the beasts had fled from him, and Kiva pressed deeper into the wilderness. "Greetings, Kinsman." A voice spoke to him, and Kiva saw the tall man standinga short distance from him, the shadows clinging to him like acloak. "Come, I will give you the answer you seek." The figure leapt forward and Kiva tried to dodge, but the man's speed was unreal and his hand closed around Kiva's neck. Darkness took him.
  Kiva awoke in his old bed, in the cottage on the outskirts of the Dark Forest. He sat up, and realized inmistakably that his energies had been drained from him. He reached for his weapon, but it was not there.He discovered that he was naked, all his possessions stripped from him.Cursing, he stood, dressed incommon clothes, and lefthis child hood home once again. All his efforts to become stronger were in vain. He was right back at the beginning. "I will regain my strength!" He hissed. Kiva set of for Hlint.
  His head rested against the great tree in Hlint, the people were walking by, no one paying him any attention. Maybereturning here was a mistake, he told himself. He lifted his pain wracked body from the ground and made to leave Hlint.
  "Kiva?!" A voice called behind him. He turned and found himself face to face with Tegan. He could not stop the smile from coming to his face.

[Candor Ignifer]

A recent discovery has caused me great concern. I was speaking with Tegan about Renji's absence, it seems he has either fled the lands or is dead; most likely the latter. And she mentioned that he has been gone for over a year. That in and of itself is meaningless, except that Renji vanished AFTER I did. This means, inmistakably that I have been gone from Mistone for well over a year. I distinctly recall waking in my home only slightly over a month ago. I was sleeping for more than a year? This cannot be. And if it is true, what did that man do to me?
  My strength slowly returns daily, it seems that though my body is wracked, my mind still retians the knowledge of how to fight. And my gift for stealth seems to be as sharp as ever. Tegan, Tyrian, Ash, and the Stonecutter brothers have taken me in, promising that they will do all that is necessary to return me to my former glory. And I find this odd. It seems that in my absence, I was missed, and I was greeted...warmly. I had always assumed that my attempts to keep people at a distance had caused them to feel that I was cold and callous. It seems just the opposite, aparantly my distance endeared me to them. I truly do not understand this. Ash even went so far as to give me a hug...odd...
  Even more than my skills, I work harder to rebuild my fortune. I have pruchased another ox, and I search out Armolas in efforts to regain a key to my house. Jareg and Grympint it seems have left Mistone. Jareg now makes his home in Pranzis, I'll have to pay him a visit once I am strong enough. Grym, however, simply no longer appears. This disturbs me. These two were key peices to my plan to build my Shadow Guild, and without them, my plans are in disarry. My roster is even lost to me, and I hear Armolas has joined the Far Striders. Unfortunate.
  No matter, I did it all before and I can certianly do it again. I swear I will become stronger than I previously was. And my plans will be realized.

[Candor Ignifer]

Kiva stood, arms crossed, beside the great tree in Hlint. This was his spot, he knew it, and so did the others. Often comments were made to the manner of him holding the tree up, or Kiva sprouting roots. He usually ignored these jibes. He had a reason for standing there, that particular spot happened to be the informational crossroads of Mistone. Every adventurer sat on the benches under the tree's boughs, and layed about in the grassy field across the dirt road. No one paid attention to the black clad Elf, and they spoke freely. As such, simply by standing there and being silent, Kiva was able to learn much of recent events and much more about the new adventurers that had arrived in his absence.
  Several of them had asked him who he was. They wondered why someone so new to Mistone could know so many people. "Fools," Kiva thought to himself. "They assume that anyone arriving after them must be new." They could not be more mistaken.
  Those that did know Kiva seemed all too eager to welcome him back, many bestowing gifts to help him re-walk his road. But Kiva was still lacking a key to his home in Leilon, a place that he knew held many supplies that would aid him. He was regaining his strength quickly now, he had achieved slightly less than half his former prowess. Which pleased him.
  Kiva looked about Hlint, noting faces both new and old. "It is good to be back here," He whispered.
 

[Candor Ignifer]

The Voltrex Library had not changed a bit. Kiva sat, at his usual desk, and gazed around the great room. A female librarian was sorting scrolls nearby and Kiva could hear her low humming tune. He smiled in spite of himself. He used to dread this woman's humming, he found it irritatingly distracting. But now the soft sound seemed to comfort him, almost as if it was confirming the fact that he had returned. He raised from his seat and sought out two books, both the same story, but each in a different language. One Common, one Drow.
  He'd decided when he learned that he may be partially Drow that he should learn the langauge, and with current events with Tegan tugging at his mind, this seemed as good a time as any. Tegan's actions were infuriating. She obviously still yearned for Renji, though it had been so long since his disapeanace. But she still allowed this Remiel man to court her."How disgusting,' He hissed. Remiel spoke to Tegan in a forward manner, requesting private walks, and other such romantic nonsense. He spoke without any regard, and most likely any knowledge, of her past and her current feelings.
  It was true, Kiva had grown fond of Tegan even before he had left. And that affection had grown upon his return. But he truly was not thinking of himself in this matter. He owed Tegan a debt. Of all his old allies, she alone worked to help him retrain with unmatched vigor. If he could return the favor in anyway, he would. And he would start by insuring her heart was not broken a second time.
  Kiva scanned over the first page of each book. The Drow tongue was surprisingly different from Elven, and though he endeavored to focus on the characters, his mind drifted. "Everyone seems to have fallen in love in my absence," He mused. "Tyrian is nearly married...oddly, the Stonecutters have accepted her as their sister. AnnaLee is now married and with child." He grinned evilly. When AnnaLee first encountered Kiva upon is return, she paled and ran off. "Obviously she is not as confident in her love of her new husband as she claims to be. And now I hear her husband, Mith, holds a grudge against me. No matter."
  Kiva leaned back in his chair, listening intently to the maiden's humming. "Freldo hasn't changed a bit. He is still annoying as can be. And he still dresses as sexually confused as ever. But aparantly, with Ranewin gone, he has taken another lover. That man is shameless." Recalling more dire news,Kiva's peaceful expression faded and he became pensive. "Coal is dead..." He found the words difficult.He had never been close to Coal, but he knew both him and his lover Addison.And as such, he knew Coal was a hard man to kill. "This is troubling."
  Dispelling such thoughts from his mind, he returned his gaze to his books.

[Candor Ignifer]

"Fool!" Kiva hissed, only there was no one else around. He had cursed himself. His stupidity was monumentous. "How could I be so naive?" He accused. Tegan's image flashed through his memory and a fresh wave of anger overwhelmed him. He sent his fist crashing into his bookcase, knocking it over and and casting the books across the floor of his office. Unable to comprehend his lack of self control he fell to his knees.
  "What is wrong with me? Have I not learned my lesson?" He pulled his hood away from his face, and unfastened his cloak, letting it fall to the floor. He was trembling, but not from his anger. He knew that something was happening that he couldn't control. Something was changing inside him.

[Candor Ignifer]

The office was dimly lit by a single candle that burned across the room, and that was how Kiva preferred it. He sat at his desk, a solemn expression on his face, scribing his most recent thoughts and events into a heavy tome that he used as a journal...
  "In an efftort to distract my mind from the infuriating situation with Tegan, I have taken Ozymandias' advice and sought theinformation I seek at the Great Libraryin Voltrex. I have spent many nights there scanning through the tomes and scrolls, but never have Ineeded this particular information before. It took me quite a while to locate any document with the relevant information, and when I did, it proved vague at best. What I have discerned however, is that it is a possibility the man I encountered in theBlack Forest was the Dark Father. Often I have pondered the nature of this being since Ozymandias informed me that my father may have been a servant to this entity, but never have I wondered on his appearance. It seems now that his physical qualities matter more to me than anything else. He is described as having brown flesh and green hair. Unfortunately I did not have long to study my assailant before he was upon me. And I am nonetoo eager to seek him out a second time, lest I lose the little strength I have reclaimed."
  Closing the book, Kiva placed his quill back into the ink well and sat back in his chair.He closedhis eyes and his thoughts immediately turned to Tegan. "Forget it" He hissed.He reached for his journal and quill and continued to write.

[Candor Ignifer]

Kiva stood by his tree listening to the two Drow conversing. He was trying to pay close attention to their accents and dialect, but it was in vain. His mind was far too stressed at the moment. As if his emotional distress regarding Tegan wasn't enough, Ash and Tegan had spent the last several hours making him feel highly uncomfortable. He tried to brush their comments away from his memory, but it was of little use. The words they spoke were...flattering to say the least.
  All his life he had worked to keep his emotions in check, his passions safely in balance with his discipline. But since his return it was becoming more difficult.
  "If you'd just take off that hood you'd have women all over you." Ash's words echoed through his mind.
  "Just sneak up on him when he's meditating without his armor and take a peek." Tegan's words were just as unsettling.
  Kiva had no idea how to deal with compliments of this nature, especially coming from women. His mouth curled into a tight smirk, "I should never have come back," He told himself. But he knew that he didn't mean it.

[Candor Ignifer]

The house was empty, there were no light glowing, and there were no sounds to be heard. Alone is his office Kiva kneeled on thecarpet set in the corner. His face was somber and his mind was filled with dautning thoughts....
  "And so I have learned. After deciding to tell Tegan the absolute truth, I discovered that she does not share my affection. Her heart pines for the human male, Remiel. I am not angered by this, I had suspected as much. In a way, I am glad my heart is being denied its longing for Tegan. It has put things into perspective for me. Now I understand why AnnaLee became so bitter towards me when I did not return the love she once had for me. Though I will not turn bitter towards Tegan, I will resume where I left off. My mind will be steeled, my heart will be stalwart. I will not lose control of my emotions again. I am Darkchild, and I have a mission. Love is not part of that mission. I will continue onward, regaining my lost power, and reestablishing my shattered guild. I will seek to forge whicht was once only just beyond reach, my shadow network will come to fruition.But I miust be focused. I must journey with the knowledge that; I am Darkchild and I stand alone."
  Kiva fell into a peaceful calm.

[Candor Ignifer]

The forest was blanketed in nocturnal darkness, in the distance the screach owls and crickets could be heard singing their night-time song. The large Ogre grunted as it was shoved down, thudding into the leaf carpeted forest floor. Kiva wiped the sweat from his brow, using the short pause to catch his breath. The Ogre rolled away and returned to its feet. With an agonized roar it charged Kiva, heavy club held over its head.Kiva dodged the attack, assuming a hand stand and sending both his feet into the monster's abdomen. Before the Ogre could regain control of his massive form Kiva leaped forward sending a fist into the creature's chest. As the blow connected he sent a small tremor through his arm into the Ogre. He smirked as the beast's eyes became vacant and his jaw slacked. Not waiting a moment Kiva leaped into the air and smashed his foot into the Ogre's neck, crushing its windpipe. He landed lightly and departed the scene. A pleased smile occupied his face, "I'm almost there." He whispered to himself as he made his way for the edge of Sielwood.

[Candor Ignifer]

The Great Library of Voltrex was empty, a fact of which Kiva was glad for. He could not seem to find a spot to sit and gather his thoughts. First he tried the forest, but he couldn't help but feel every bird and critter was staring at him. From there he returned to Hlint and stood in his spot by the great tree. But the constant activity of the other adventurers made it difficult for him to turn his attention inwards. Next he sat in his office for hours, but each time he closed his eyes and attempted to seek out the serenity of meditation he was distracted by the music Jareg had left playing on the juke box. No matter what he tried, he could not change the music. Assuming that it was broken he gave the contraption a firm kick which only succeeded in making the music play louder. Giving up he depearted for Blackford and stepped into the portal, the Voltrex Library filling his vision upon arrival.
  He sat at his desk, and continued to glance around for any sign of life. But it seemed that even the librarians were off for the day. Satisfied with his solitude, he gathered his thoughts and tried to arrange them. "She kissed me," He whispered. The expirience had been an odd one for him. It was an entirely new sensation andthe sudddenness of the action caught him completely by surprise.And though he knew that his body must have tensed and his face probably paled during the kiss, he noted that it was not unpleasant. Rather the opposite.
  "I suppose this has been years in the making," He muttered to himself. His mind drifted back to his first days in Hlint.His earliest allies were always close by. Jareg, Grympint, Renji, Axodeth and Exodus Stonecutter, Ma'el Stormbringer, Freldo, Tyrian, Tegan, and Ash. Of all of them Ash had always seemed the most distant, the most guarded. And though Renji's garb was black, Ash still seemed to be the darkest one aside from Kiva.
  Things began to change when AnnaLee arrived. In payment to those who aided him in his early days Kiva took AnnaLee under his wing and attempted to instruct her on how to survive as an adventurer. Agianst his will she had fallen in love with him but he did not return her affection. During this time Ash started to make slight innuendos about her affection for Kiva. But he didn't seem to notice. Regardless, these events and AnnaLee's bitter turn toward himwere the events that finally made him depart Mistone, leaving all behind.
  He returned, inevitably, after his encounter with the creature in the Black Forest, and recieved a surprisingly warm welcome. It was then that he asked Tegan to personnally aid him in regianing his lost abilities.Looking back on it now, it was easy for Kivato see how he could have grown fond of her, and it was easier for him to see how he thought he desired her. He was wrong, and it took herwords to show him that. She said, "I don't know you. And you don't even know me." When she spoke those words Kiva realized what had happened. A reverse affect of the Florence Nightengale Effect. In his weakness, hebecame emotionally vulnerable and he came to care for the one thatlooked after him. There was nothing real to it, no true substance. But even so, he felt the weight of her rejection of him and suddenly he understand how AnnaLee could have become so bitter towards him. Kiva would not become that way towards Tegan.
  But there was still Ash. Since his return she was being...flirtatious to say the least. Her comments were far beyond flattering. And she had spokenvery simple words to him. Though she may not have known it, the simplicity of those words carried worlds of truth in them. "Someone will always love you, Kiva," She had said. She had spoken the same words shortly before his departure so long ago.Kiva finally understood two facts. The first being, she was right. This lot in life called companionship seemed unavoidable.The second being, that Ash was speaking about herself. Kiva finally understood. Taking Ash aside he confronted her about her emotions, and having discovered that she did in fact feel for him, he offered her his hand. She took it.
  It was a small act. But it was a beginning. Ifcompanionship was to be a new theme in his life he would have to learn it slowly. But he was willing. Andlater, in Lar, when Ash was cold, he wrapped her in his cloak. He found it strangely comforting holding her. Hehad lost himselfin thought trying to discover the source of thecomfort, when she kissed him. It was that kiss that now perplexed him. "It was such a simple act, to keep her warm," He spoke to himself, "And she felt it deemed a kiss?" He sighed and leaned back in his chair. A procession of librarians then entered the room, each carrying a stack of books or scrolls. Irritated with their sudden intrusion Kiva stood and sought out another sanctuary to think in.

[Candor Ignifer]

Kiva's desk was covered in parchments and folded bits of paper. Laying on the desk before him was a particularly large portfolio simply labled "Tegan". "She's hiding something," He mused to himself, "Never have I seen her so unsettled by words." He opened the parcel and looked over the contents. It contained any information that he had gathered to help him understand who Tegan was. He had one on everyone, except Ozymandias. He closed the pamphlet. "I promised her that whatever she had to say would never see this file," He sorted the document away in his desk. He had made Tegan a promise, and he never broke promises.
  Reaching for the file entitled "Ash Willo", he sighed. This parcel had close to nothing in it. Only a single comment that Kiva had written when he original met Ash, "Seems removed." He could never bring himself to write anything more. Anything he had on Ash, he kept in his head. Perhaps it was out of respect for her privacy, perhaps not. Whatever the reason, her file remained nearly empty. "What is going on between us?" He whispered to himself. The night before he had sat a long while with Ash and simply talked with her. He was trying to fill the gaps of information. The truth was, he knew very little of her. Then, as an after thought, he gave her a key to his home. Thinking back on it now, he had no idea why he did that. "It seemed right at the time," He told himself.
  Lastly he took up the portfolio entitled "Exodus Stonecutter". He opened it and wrote a simple phrase, "Possible enemy." He sighed deeply. This troubled him. He had always been a good ally and friend to the Stonecutters, Axodeth and Exodus particularly. He had stood with them in many battles, and had always shown the greatest respect. In fact, most of his dwarven alliances were forged and kept simply out of respect for the Stonecutters. But, inevitably, Exodus learned of Kiva's recent "involvement" with Ash. "It seems, Master Stonecutter, that you are softer than I had estimated," Kiva mused to himself, "I had hoped that our allegeince went a little deeper than a woman's affection." He closed the file and sorted it with the rest.
  Kiva leaned back in his chair and pondered the events of the passed few days. Things on Mistone were becoming interesting. He rose and walked from his office and stood gazing at the door that opened to Jareg's quarters. "Where are you,Jareg?" A rueful smirk curled his lips, "Have I got some stories for you."

[Candor Ignifer]

The Black Forest was unusually silent as Kiva tended to his mother's grave site. The River of Darkness nearby, rushed with its normal current. Kiva had become like the forest and the river. The side he controlled was silent, was peaceful. Like the forest that had left its mark on him. But this new side to him, the side that seemed to spring forth from him when he returned to Mistone was roaring, passionate. And he had difficulty reigning it in.
  It was this side that had removed Exodus Stonecutter from his list of allies. The dispute was finally settled and Kiva was able to assure Exodus of his intentions. But the Dwarf told him that the expirience of it all shook his faith in Kiva. Regrettably, Kiva did not push further. If that was Exodus' wish, Kiva would not force him to see or feel otherwise. He knew that he had earned Exodus' trust once before, and he was certian that he could do it again.
  But more disturbing than that, the conflict that Kiva had forced with Exodus drove Ash away. That was an unforeseen consequence. Kiva had not even intended for Ash to witness his dispute with Exodus, but she did. Then she fled. This was not what Kiva wanted.
  Stepping back from his mother's grave he assessed his work. The weeds had been torn away, and the moss removed from her gravestone. He looked back at the little cabin that had been his childhood home. "Why do I leave you intact?" He asked himself. He pondered burning it to ashes, but decided against it. He would not want to harm the forest in any way, and he felt that deep down, if he did destroy the cabin, he would be losing a very important piece of himself.
  Turning his attention away from his old home, he stared at the trees of the Black Forest a long while. "He's somewhere in there," He whispered. He toiled with the thought of venturing back into the forest to seek out the creature that robbed him of his strength. "No," He said, "If I wasn't strong enough then, then I am certianly not strong enough now." He scanned the tree line one more time. The he turned and fading into the shadows he left his mother's grave once again.

[Candor Ignifer]

High in the Grey Peaks, away from the constant activity and din of Hlint, a band of Ogre's clustered together around a large fire. It was a particularly cold night. Even the Ogres, accustomed to the biting cold winds of the Grey Peaks, were forced to take shelter behind a stone shelf. It did little to block the freezing winds, but it was better than standing in the open. The fire was large by now, with great burning tongues licking at the air, casting dancing shadows on the mountian side.
  It had been quite some time since adventurers last came into the mountians, but the Ogres were a paranoid lot, and were constantly glancing about to percieve any threat. Kiva grinned under his hood. He was just a few yards away, hiddden in a notch created by two rocks leaning against one another. The Ogres had been huddling together for hours now, all the while Kiva had been watching, yet none of them had noticed. He watched them with melevolent eyes, a wicked grin crossing his face. It was not that he wished them ill. He was noting, with some satisfaction, that he was once again able to sneak upon an entire tribe of Ogres without their notice.
  Testinghis luck, he closed his cloak, and lifted himself from the concealment of the shadows. He kept a sharp eye on their backs as he inched his way towards them. Settling down in one of the larger Ogre's shadows, he found himself quite pleased with himself. He was but an arm's length from them now, and still they paid no attention.
  One of the Ogre's lifted his head and sniffed at the air with a grunt. The action aroused the rest of the Ogres' attention, and they began casting looks about frantically for whatever the first Ogre had detected. Knowing they would soon spot him, Kiva drew his short swords and drove them hilt deep into the back of the nearest Ogre. The beast reared with a great roar, thrashing at its back. Not waiting Kiva used the diversion to run. Disregarding stealth he made his way for a narrow mountain path that no Ogre could fit through. Glancing behind him he saw that the group was giving chase. "Idiots!" He hissed. There wasn't an Ogre in the world as fast as he was. Concentrating his Ki into his legs he gained a great burst of speed and left the Ogres far behind.
  Almost an hour later, on the road situated between Hlint and Fort Llast, Kiva walked calmly as if nothing had happened. "I suppose they had to notice my presence eventually," He spoke sourly, "But it doesn't matter, it took them hours."He made his way for Hlint, his mind clear of all the distractions that had been plaguing him lately. He was only thinking one thing, "I'm almost there."

[Candor Ignifer]

The two short swords felt heavy and cumbersome in Kiva's hands. He launched himself forward, sending a wide slash at the battle dummy's torso. But he over extended himself and his wrist collided with the padded body. Stepping back he dropped the blades to the ground and gathered up a soft linen towel. His body, stripped from the waist up, was drenched with sweat and he dabbed the soft fabric against his flesh.
  Before he had left he was quite adept at swordwork. His movements, already perfectly balanced from years of training as a martial artist, gave him an edge over ordinary swordsmen. And Kiva's twin short swords were quicker than any rapier. But that skill was gone now, sapped from him with the rest of his abilities.
  He gathered up the two blades and assumed a battle stance, letting one blade hang loose and holding the other across his chest. It was odd to feel the hilts of the swords in his grasp and know that his once formidable prowess was now little better than anovice warrior.Launching his body to his right he hooked one of the blades behind the dummy's neck and as he pulled forward on the false-man he brought his second blade into the front of the wooden neck. There was a sharp crack as he severed the dummy's head and it fell to the floor.
  He sheathed his blades and gazed down at the dummy's head.He could not help butlaugh at himself. "Fear me, for I can fell amanican with ease," He mocked himself."Now let's see how I fare against thereal thing." Hestrode from the hall and headed for a group of mercenaries camped near by.

[Candor Ignifer]

The Leilon house was quiet despite the recent tenant increase. Kiva sat at his desk and added "Talen Sgath" to a small list of names. With Talen around that meant Treana would now be seen within the house. Kiva leaned back in his chair and let out a deep breath.Jareg, Grympint, Armolas, and Talen; these were the people that he shared his home with, and as such they were now a part of his plans.
  It had been so long since he had reveiwed his intentions, and now it seemed those goals were further from being realized than ever before.His crafters'guild was in shambles, most of the members joining theFar Striders. And any traces of his shadow network had fled. He found this frustrating. Not because his work had beenerased, but that he would have to recreate it all, and he'd have to do it alone. The first time Jareg aided. But now he seemed to be missing, along with Grympint.
  Of all the poeople he knew before he left, Jareg and Grympint were his closest allies. They made a strange trio; anElf, a Teifling, and a Dwarf. But somehow they managed to accomplish any job they setupon. Now Kiva had neither of them, and they were replaced by one woman; Tegan. As close andhe had become with her, he doubted that she could play any role in his plans. He wasn't sure that he wished her too, either. Tegan was a good person, and he would never want to compromise her.
  "It's going to take a lot of work," He mused to himself. "But I must rebuild, and soon. Ihave almost reached my former skill. The crafter's guild, the shadow network, it must allcome to fruition." He stopped, his own words troubling him. "The shadow network must be revised. My original intentions will never suffice." He had planned that the network would use gathered information in a gianfulmanner, selling it to the highest bidder. "Not this time,the information I gather will be used to destroy the threats of this world." He smiled in spite of himself. He had changed more than he'd realized. He knew, deep down, that he cared little for the well being of the peoples of Mistone, Rilara, Dregar, and the rest of the world. But there was one person that he cared for more than anything, and if protecting hermeant he must protect the world in the process. So be it. He closed his eyes, trying to suppress theemotions that had been struggling to overcome him, "What have you done to me, Tegan?"

[Candor Ignifer]

The sun shone through the canopy of the woods, casting a pale green light on the forest floor. The waters of Lake Rillon were calm, silvery fish could be seen swimming in circles just below the shining surface. Kiva glanced up into the trees, nearby a lark was singing."Odd," He thought, for a lark to sing in the afternoon. Dismissing the bird he stripped himself of clothes and dived into the lake. There was hardly a splash. The water was cool, and felt good on his flesh. He swam to the middle of the lake and tread there a while, letting the cool waters wash over his body and clear his mind.
  Jareg hadn'tchanged at all. A fact for which Kiva was glad. The merry Teifling seemed the perfect counterpoint for Kiva'sdark demeanor. Always eager for the next drink and ready to crack a joke, Jareg had proved to beone of the few bright spots in Kiva's life.The two had become allies at first, quickly forging a freindship, and finally becoming partners.Not one other warrior in the land could be called Kiva's partner, not even Tegan.Jareg and Kiva had created grand plans together. They would muster a Crafters' Guild, and underneath that front would be the Shadow Network.
  "Everyone has gone," Kiva had told Jareg when they reunited in Hurm.
  "What can you expect? When the two founders vanished, who wouldstay around? Some Shadow Network we turned out to be," Jareg shot him an amused smile.
  He was right. Kiva hated it, but he failed. In his departure, he abandonedthat which he workedso hard to build.Kiva rolled into a backstroke and leisurely crossed the span of the lake. "Jareg has driven himself into self exile," He mused to himself.
  "I'm not leaving, Mate." Jareg told Kiva while they sat at the Layonara Hotel common room. He took a swig from a bottle he had recently purchased. "Not until I have what I came for."
  Kiva smirked and dipped his head under the water. He stay there for a while, holding his breath and stretching his lungs. Jareg was stubborn. He refused to return to Mistone until he had purchased the guild hall that he and Kiva had desired. Rising to the surface Kiva swam laps around the lake. "At least he never stopped working for it," Kiva thought.
  After he was satisfied with his swim Kiva pulled himself onto the lake's shore and let the sun dry his body as he nibbled at an apple he took from his pack. "But he's right," Kiva said in between bites, "We can rebuild, and we will." Kiva dressed, draped his cloak over his shoulders and pulled his hood over his face. With a contented smile on his face, he began the walk to Point Harbor.