This night as so many before
I awoke with a start only to find myself alone, in the dark. These
nights I sleep not so well for something is coming, something
I know I have no control over. I feel it in my bones, I see it
when I close my eyes, I taste it on my lips when I awake….
I have these past years lived a simple
life, keeping to myself mostly, practicing my craft and passing
the time until the queen once more calls me forth to do her
will. My brothers have attended to the queen’s will and the
family in my absence, for that I shall always be thankful. The
rest has done me well indeed, weary I was from the long battles
in Brittania….so many battles I cant even begin to count. We
fought to rid the land of the undead menace that plagued that
land, but that is another story unto itself. Could it be that
time has come again? Surely not so soon could any foe pose a
threat to the order we imposed upon so many worlds, so many
times.
I have heard stories of my brethren
and their adventures in foreign lands these past years and I
indeed long for the day we fight together again. It seems tho
that I am not the only one to hear these tales. The Queen's
army it seems has drawn attention from yet another realm, a
realm plunged long ago deep into darkness and despair, ruled
by evil warlords the likes of which we have seen too many times.
Only time will tell if the Queen shall command the full force
of the Serpent upon these foes. A part of me hopes my brothers
can continue to exact her will upon these lands, to restore
her peace to the people, and spread the word of the Family,
yet there is another part of me. This is the part that wakes
me almost every night, trembling but not sure why, alive with
the feeling that she will call again, and once again I shall
don the purple robe bestowed to me by my queen so many years
ago that now hangs upon my staff in the corner….untouched, constantly
whispering to me.
If she calls I will be ready and this
new realm shall feel a power unknown to it since The Age Before.
I know I am ready, years of solitude mastering my craft even
more have prepared me well. These days I feel an inner peace,
but I know the Dark Serpent still lives inside
me, coiled, ready to strike at those that oppose us. I know
the other are ready as well. Many are the stories of Druez the
Quick, brought in by the wind, whispered as the dying breath
of those that stood against him. It will be interesting to see
how Druez is these days, last I left him he seemed torn, perhaps
not sure which strength to follow. Im sure he has chosen the
right path, that thought is a bit scary to those that know him
as his power before was great no doubt…could he be even stronger
as they say? I look forward to seeing for myself. And Shira,
brought into the family in one of Druez’s more enlightened moments,
has brought pride unto the name of the Serpent as well from
what I hear.
My last journey to town for supplies
I over heard quite a boisterous fellow weaving a tale of Shira
and Druez slaying 5 foes in combat…..….I shall look forward
to hearing that story, tho no doubt it is as it was told. There
are so many others I long to see again but only time will tell
if they are feeling the same calling as I. I can only hope that
when I do walk into the Great Serpent Hall again, staff
in hand, I am met by Shador, our long lost brother, or even
Eclipse, an Elder gone for so long, or Ray Odyssey, Teelo, or
any one of the new proud Serpents that have helped the Queen's
cause since I have been gone.
Well the hour grows late and I have
herbs to mix before I lay my head down once more and wait…..wait
for her to come to me in my dreams once more and say those words……”Cal,
come home to us, the time has come!”
Caligula
