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Prologue

          It was raining outside the black tavern. The rickety old place almost seemed that it wouldn’t be able to take on this much water… but alas just as it had so many years before the place held. Of course not without the usual creaks and moans that sent tiny children screaming to their mothers. But today one of the men that stepped into the crowded place was a bit different. He wasn’t one of the commoners here. In fact, it had been YEARS since he had even SEEN the place. The man had red hair and eyes, and wore a brown tunic with blue trousers and a magenta overlay, one that he wore even when there was no rain. His hair and clothes were soaked and the green headband that he wore stuck to his head as if come to life by some wicked force unseen. As he stepped in with his brown boots sagging and squeaking on the stone floor he pushed his hair back behind his ears, to reveal he was an elf. His pointed ears caught a few of the other folk in the room by surprise. It had been a week or so since they had had an elf in town, what with the new king and the missions they were forced to undertake, it was no wonder they avoided the bloody place. He looked around the place, the dirty unwashed bar, the tables, and the burning fire with some children and a caregiver watching over them huddled up against flames. He saw that any table that was not already occupied has filth and half eaten food all over it. The wooden chairs and the oak furnishings soiled with spilled drinks. He looked over to the children and saw that there was another seat next to the caregiver. He stood there for a moment pondering on what to do… he did not want to seem strange in his doings and he knew this caregiver would be a bit overprotective, but then he thought of it. He was a lot older than he appeared and had seen many things, things so bold, so dangerous, and so terrifying; he KNEW he would make an excellent storyteller. He stepped over to the bunch, taking care to keep his cloak out of the way, and his weapons hidden. “miss… may I sit?” she looked to him as he expected, holding one of the children back as if he was some sort of creature ready to snatch one up for DINNER. She had brawn hair sticking out from under a bonnet, and had a bit of a disgusted expression. He bowed, trying to seem as humble as possible but failed as his hair dripped over the child with freckles and deep brown hair near his boots. “S-so sorry…” the child laughed as the caregiver snatched that one up as well stating “you may…”

          He sat down on one of the chairs and almost flipped over not realizing it to be a wooden ROCKING chair. All of the children laughed as he pushed his hair back into place with one hand. His hair now looked to be in every which direction than the way he wanted it, so as he tussled with the red demon upon his head the children laughed some more.  After he finally got it settled into place he looked up to see all of the children bellowing with joyous tones and the caregiver herself was beginning to snicker. He looked to her in surprise before laughing a bit on his own. He looked at the bunch and said quietly “well it seems I know how to entertain… do any of you know who I am?” all of them shook their heads. He was a bit disappointed. ~only 9 years and they’ve forgotten me? ~ He held up his gloved palm motioning for them to stop as he then said “I am… one of the Order… does any of you know what THAT is?” they all shook their heads again. “well now that won’t do… let me see… if I may?” he looked to the caregiver as if asking permission to tell them the tale. She shrugged “alright then… let me see.” He sat for a moment trying to recall the events from all those years ago. “alright I’ll start off by explaining WHAT the order is… you all know where it is we live correct?” one child with red hair and crooked glasses raised his hand “yes?” the boy stood and said, in a bit of a quiet, shaky voice “w-we live in Koran.” He nodded “good!” he then looked to the bunch again as the boy sat down once more “do any of you know where Koran is on a map?” another child, a girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes raised HER hand. “yes?” she stood a bit shyly saying “S-Syora?” the elf nodded again laughing wildly, delighted at how well the bunch had been taught. “alright then, well Syora is a kingdom part of a group called the ‘seven kingdoms’ and the order.