A dream:

A lone figure walks on wet ground, every step pushing water up around its boots. It struggles with each step but carries on all the same. The figure seems blurry to your vision, but appears human enough in size and shape. Suddenly it’s trudging stops and as it looks around. Something is rising slowly from the muck and mud around it, several somethings. Skeletal forms of man and beast slowly break through the surface of the mud and as they do will all effort attempt to pull themselves free of it. Once free they stand for a moment then begin moving as a group in the direction of the figure that you had watched. It raises its hands and begins to weave sigils in the air. Fire erupts all around the approaching group of creatures scorching some of them. Most are unphased and continue their steady march directly at him. He raises his hands again and traces another sigil, streaks of fire shoot out in different directions from where the sigil was. Four of the creatures are struck by these motes of fire, some of them perish to the flames. The group as a whole is undeterred, some loose arrows at the caster, as they approach the target the caster quickly raises his hand and in a single motion a shimmer of light appears in front of him and several of the arrows deflect off this invisible force. One finds its mark and buries in his shoulder, the figure recoils sharply from it, it doesn’t appear grave but is definitely a substantial wound. The caster raises his hands again and casts again, another eruption of fire surrounds the remainder of the group, this time nothing remains but charred bone once the fire and smoke clear. The figure pulled the arrow free and bound the puncture and swallowed down something from a vial. He then continued his trudge without as much as a second thought for what remains of the creatures.

He continued on for quite a while like this before stopping suddenly. He raised both his hands up and shouted out into the empty marshland.

“I know you reside here, I would have you as my master. There is much I could learn from you and there is much I do not know. But what I do know I would gladly share with you, Master.”

His voice echoing out into the empty expanse. There is a small wink of light, first one then a second large armored figure appears out of nowhere. They each hold a large shield in one hand and a sword in the other, the light through the thick mist reflects off the polished metal of the shields with their black skull emblem on them, in contrast to the armor of these two figures whose armor is black and sooty. They motion to this figure who reaches out his hands, each quickly clamps a cuff on one of his hands and then raises a small crystal into the air. A door opens in front of the three of them and the two armored figures drag the third through the door.

Your vision follows them, as it does it shifts in a haze, you can barely make out the figures as their shapes and edges seem to blend into one another in your vision. They do not seem to register anything as different for any of them. You hear the first figure reaffirm his previous statement.

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“If you would take me to the person who runs the place I did come to swear service to him.”

The two hulking figures take no notice to his response and continue as they had been.

Your vision follows with them through this space that to you seems as wisps of smoke held together and colored as the world.

You can see the figure being dragged into a large room, more of these armor clad warriors stand ready as well as other creatures. The two take position on either side of the figure, each pulling on their chain keeping the unwelcome guest under such tension that his arms are pulled out straight to his left and right. A short form enters the room and the two chain bearers pull the chains downwards forcing the guest into a kneel, then leave him in that position.

The man forces excitement through the fear in his voice.

“It is good to finally meet you, I would shake your hand but that seems quite impossible at the moment.”

The small figure only takes its seat in a large throne of some kind, obviously made for someone larger than itself.

“I have been looking for you for some time,” the chained man stammers out. “I have to say that I admire your work and would very much like to serve you.”

“You wish to serve?”, a magically deepened and loud voice echoes from the throne, “your corpse will serve well enough for my needs. I have told you that you have become an annoyance and that I can abide this no longer.” as he raises one hand as an indication to his armored servants.

The man struggles against the chains slightly as the armored figures begin to pull him away, “That is not exactly what I meant when I said I would like to serve you. I believe I can be of much more use to you alive. I am a spellcaster after all I am sure my skills could be of some use to you.”

The seated figure lowers his hands and the pull on his chains stops.

“I have knowledge of the world beyond this place, I ask only for the opportunity to study under you as a humble student. I would swear loyalty to you as my Master, for a chance to learn a portion of the great power that you control.”

“He may be of some use,” The voice again magically booming from the form on the throne. It then lowers as he speaks instructions to his armored servants, more for the new guest to hear than those he can command with a thought or wave of a hand. “Take him below, have the executioner ask him a few questions. Have him ensure that this man speaks the truth. Once we can be certain he is not lying then maybe I will consider his offer again.”

“You will not regret this Master, I will prove my usefulness to you, I promise.”

“Take him.” and with a wave of his hand they drag him from the room.

You wake.