The morning was upon the mountain. Mathis, Trayon, and Dorloth were all up packing up what items that they were going to need. Kraygoss was loaded down with his pack and laying down watching as Mathis moved here and there to gather his things up. Waldern had showed them a supply room that the giants had been filling up for a while of all the things they find in the Darkwood. Many creatures roamed the woods and many of people have died in the woods even before the fog had showed itself. It had always had a dark presence to it. There were all kinds of trinkets and arms in the woods here and there. The supply room hadn’t had much added to it lately as the great war had been over, so the giants hadn’t found that many things as of late. The forest was ancient and had seen many things, some even said that it was the home to the old ones. Mathis is even said to be a decedent of them maybe that is the cause of him wanting to live in the same area. The whispers were swirling long ago about such a thing but it was never determined and Mathis never discussed it to any degree. He never wanted to know his history, just that he was here and the old ones were no longer.
The three men were finding all sort of things that hadn’t been seen in quiet some time. Trayon found a sword of his ancestry before the time of the Dark One. Its craftsmen ship was second to none. Its cutting edge was still as sharp as it had been when it was made. It will never rust and never dull. It was endowed with a magic of everlasting, something that had been lost long ago, along with the old ones being gone they took most of all their materials as well. Only artifacts and simple items stayed around hidden from most, found by a few.
Dorloth found an amulet that was made from the claw of the Great Griffin Colfang. He was alive during the burning sky wars. A war that saw griffins and dragons fighting each other over territory and sky supremacy. The girffins won the territory they wanted but at great cost. The claw of Colfang was harder than any material man made and could not be destroyed. It was said that there was a great hammer ax made long ago, but it was lost to the time forgot. The other item made from it was a staff that had an amulet made from the claw and marked with runes of an ancient language lost in time. The amulet was said to poses unknown power if connected to the staff. Dorloth took the amulet, because he believed he may know of the staff existence. It had been rumored to have been taken by the dark one long ago, and stored in the armories of the Dark Fortress. His hope was to one day gain the power that it was told to have, but it was never found, neither was it confirmed that he indeed had the staff. What Dorloth didn’t know is the Amulet did indeed have power in and of itself, just not all of the power. Something he would later on find out.
Mathis was looking through the supplies, but was not taking anything. “You see nothing that interest you Harbinger”, asked Waldern? “In my life, I’ve seen a lot, and have had a lot of things. This here is only memories that I don’t need. Most of what I have carried with me, is similar to most of this. This sword”, said Mathis as he picked up a sword looking at it, “I have one that was made during the same age.” “How can you tell”, asked Waldern? Mathis put it back down and started to walk out, “I made it.” Trayon walked over, as well as Dorloth, watching him and Kraygoss walk away. Trayon bent over and picked up the sword and looked at it. It was lighter than that of the swords he had but stronger in feel. It didn’t even have the runes that enabled it to be everlasting. It was just crafted that good. Looking on the bottom of the hilt Trayon saw a small insignia. It was the letter “M” and nothing more. “To have seen what he has seen and know what that he knows”, said Dorloth. Trayon wrapped the sword in a cloth and then tucked it into his pack. “He didn’t want it”, said Waldern. “No, but he deserves to have the history that he made in his hands. Maybe not now, but later yes. This is something I have to know how was made. IT’s greater than anything that I have ever seen or held. It’s handmade and nothing like it compares. I’m excited that I have found this”, said Trayon holding his new sword, “But this is something I have never seen, except with him”, he said pointing at Mathis. “Come let us go”, said Dorloth. Trayon agreed. They all thanked Waldern and then started for the rear back entrance to the mountain.
“Harbinger, I need to show you something before you leave, if you will follow me”, said Waldern. Trayon and Dorloth continued to the door. Waldern took Mathis and Kraygoss to another hallway that dead end. There Waldern took out a key and then placed it in a wall turning it the wall started to glow in a outline of a door with runes plastered in a shape in the center. It then seemed to turn to rain and then melt away. “What is this that you are taking me to”, asked Mathis? “This is something that only a few get to see. Once long ago, very long ago, we had visitors come to us. This is something that is not known to this world, but we were visited by the old ones long ago”, said Waldern. “What”, asked Mathis? “Indeed, this was a time after they had vanished too”, said Waldern. “What were they doing here”, asked Mathis, “And why tell me this?” “You looked at all the stuff in that room and wanted none. Even things that you had made, or even been around”, said Waldern. “And”, said Mathis. “You’re someone that desires nothing and needs nothing, and for that I’m going to show you something that has been left here for a long time. The old ones were here to find things that were left behind. They thought we had them and were on the lookout for them. One such thing is in here, one that they would want very badly”, said Waldern. “Then why keep it from them”, asked Mathis? “It’s because we giants believe it is the old ones that are at the center of all of this”, said Waldern waving his hands about. “What do you mean all of this”, asked Mathis? “Listen to me Harbinger, I don’t know it for sure, but I believe they are the just like the Dark One. They were not here to help or save anything. They were here to get things that could hurt them, or stop them”, said Waldern. “Then why not just kill you here and get rid of you all”, said Mathis. “Because they weren’t here so to speak. They were like half here and half somewhere else, but one thing is for sure, they knew your mark and wouldn’t touch any blade made by you”, said Waldern. Waldern wanted an explanation, but Mathis didn’t talk. “Anyways, what I want you to have, now that I know that you are not like them, is this”, said Waldern removing a cover from a podium. There floating with no strings or rope was a golden bow with green inlays. Mathis’ eyes widen at the site, “A Preion”, he said. Waldern looked at Mathis with wonder and questions.
“The old ones are creatures, not wise and beautiful. They were a race that once lived the same as mine. They all but wiped us out. They were here to take away things that could hurt them or stop them. They were here to stop me. They didn’t want me to find any of the things like this. Weapons of my people, the only things in this plan that could stop the like of them. A lot of this is making a lot more sense to me now”, said Mathis. “So, the Dark One was one of them”, said Waldern. “The Dark One was them”, said Mathis. “What”, asked Waldern? “I told you they are creatures. Formed from him as a part of him. It would seem we didn’t beat him, but just banish him from this plan”, said Mathis. “No, you destroyed him”, said Waldern. “But if you said that they were here, then he is still alive”, said Mathis. “Apart of him is alive not all. What you destroyed was the largest and strongest part of him. What’s left is weak and stranded. Whatever magic they used to get here wasn’t even strong enough to keep them here”, said Waldern. “Then that was it”, said Mathis. “What”, asked Waldern? “The thing that the Dark One was trying to do all that time. He was trying to bring or merge our worlds together with his”, said Mathis. “How is it that he is in another world”, asked Waldern? “My people long ago were in a great battle here with him and his creatures. We decided the ending and got rid of him, but it was at a cost that he made against us. He destroyed us all, and I have no idea how. My plan has always been to get revenge and find out how, but he’s gone, until now. There’s a chance to finally find out”, said Mathis. “The Perion is yours Mathis”, said Waldern. Surprised he was called by his name, “Why, why is it that you are giving me this now”, asked Mathis? “It wasn’t until recently that they visited us, only then we found out what was going on with these pieces. They knew of you and I knew about the pieces that were of your ancestry. They wanted nothing to do with them, but they wanted the weapons of your people”, said Waldern. “That’s because they are weapons that can actually kill the Dark One. Weapons of this plan have no effect of him, but my people’s do. This fog here, it’s something similar to him and what he produces”, said Mathis. “That’s why isn’t it that you wanted to live in this forest”, asked Waldern? “The only real reason indeed”, said Mathis. “Then take the bow Mathis and go. Get the Dark One, or whatever is out there”, said Waldern. “It’s close enough to him that I’m wanting to find out more, and then destroy him for real. I thank you for keeping this Preion safe from them. With this I’ll have a great advantage to a lot of things”, said Mathis. “One more, or two. We had these gauntlets as well. Their construction was similar and seemed to interact when close. We didn’t know what they would do, so we kept them separate”, said Waldern. He walked over to another table and pulled off another cloth. There sat two gauntlets. Mathis put the gauntlets on and they started to glow bright, He then went and grabbed the Prion Bow. Together the glowed bright then sent out a flash. When the flash died off, there Mathis stood with glowing armor magically endowed around him. It was as if he was wearing none, but it was there perfectly set to him. “This the armor of my people. Formed from the combination of the Bow and gauntlets. It’s not the heavy armor, but for me it’s exactly what I would be wearing if there”, said Mathis. “I believe the time has come for you to go”, said Waldern. “Indeed, anything else you want to add before we go. You seem to know more than you have let on”, said Mathis. “Hah, we giants have been here to, just as long as your people. Though we don’t live as long, we have passed secrets down for a long time. We are here to see to it that this comes to an end, as just like you”, said Waldern. “Thank you again, for all of this”, said Mathis. “And thank you for finally showing us who you are. We have been waiting a long time for your people to return”, said Waldern. Mathis turned and saw that many other giants had showed up. Mathis bowed to them and then started to walk to the door, to join Trayon and Dorloth. The Journey was underway and they were now more prepared than the start.