Magic is complicated, sometimes the simplest of things can actually be much more difficult than you think. The problem lies in the fact that magic isn't easy to control. Magic is a living force and it behaves erratically at the best of time. Mastering mana manipulation is the only way to make mana behave properly. It's a bit like trying to manage a small child.

  Sir Walter, after dealing with the crossbowmen turns to me and says, I can explain. Sure, sure, just tell me exactly why you look like a pin cushion on legs? I respond. Well, it's a long story, you see, I'm undead. I wait patiently for him to respond. One second goes by, then ten, then thirty. Well, go on then, finish your story I say. What, really? You are going to let me finish? SWEET, he responds. So began the tale of Sir Walter

  You see, I'm not actually a noble. I was born on a farm on the edge of the continent. Me, my mother, and my father lived there in peace for many a year. That came to an end though once the soldiers came. They were ravenous, feral. My father was their first victim. One day while he was supposed to be hunting he disappeared. After he was missing for a few days, my mother decided to go searching for them. I offered to join her, but someone had to watch after the farm. That is my greatest regret.

  After waiting for over a week and doing my best to keep the farm intact, they came. I was lucky you see, I was on the top of the hill watching for my mother and father to come through the woods. Well, they were coming back, but they didn't come back alone. You guessed it, soldiers, lots of them. I could tell even from a distance that they were undead, but what could I do? In a fit of rage I grabbed my fathers spare bow and started picking them off. Mostly successfully too.

  Eventually only a few remained as they neared, my mother, my father, and the biggest burliest looking knight I had ever seen. I figured I could take mother and father, though father was imposing, he wasn't armored like the rest of the nights. Looking back, I realize this was where I made a mistake. In a moment of desperation I grabbed the old sickle and cleaved through the undead knights helm. I didn't watch behind me though and ma and da fell upon me with a fury. I kicked them off me without much effort, though I did get a few bites and scratches for my trouble.

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  While they were on the ground I went and got the shovel. If anyone was going to give them peace, it had to be me. So I smashed their heads in, dug them a grave under their favorite apple tree out back and went inside. There I fell into a slumber. I'm not sure how long I slept, but it must have been awhile as the sun had set. 

  I awoke with a ravenous hunger, eating anything I could get my hands on. I even dug into the larder and ate the last bit of bacon, da's favorite. It was not enough, I dug everything out of the garden and ate it whole, no peeling, no cleaning, I didn't even wipe the dirt off. It was at this point that I knew something was wrong. I feared I was turning into one of these things, and couldn't fathom bringing harm to anyone. So, out came the rope, when the sun rises I had decided I was going to hang myself from the apple tree. I wanted to be with ma and pa you see.

  I spent the whole night making a good noose. You see, nooses are normally only things you read about, they aren't very practical in real life. Eventually I just made a slip not, moved the wheelbarrow over to the tree. Tied me a good-ish knot and kicked it out from underneath me. As you can imagine I didn't die. Justin popped up, It was then that a passing wizard saved you right? Walter responded, what, no, are you daft? That kind of thing only happens in fairy-tales.

  I hung there, for a short bit. Then after realizing the the rope wasn't going to kill me I decided I'd try a knife. But I had a hell of a time getting down from the tree I'll tell you what. It took me almost an hour. Anyway, I tried a knife, and as you can guess from my pretty smile. It didn't take. I left my childhood home, and set out hoping something could kill me. Some things happened, some private things, and I ended up here, full of holes.