Toan followed the trail sent by Moryssa. He had waited a long time to see his sister. He had found what his destiny was, and wanted to share it with her. So he traveled the waters on a small boat propelled by the undine ready to see his sister.

Zatch stops at the gate of Raiden and drops to his knees clutching his head in pain. The Abyss is trying to tell him something like it often does, but it had never spoken to him this violently before. "G…Great shadow, what is it?" Something...something strong...must find....must face....seek...

Five miles south east of Raiden Zatch has caught up to Toan and is 170 yards behind him, too far to tell anything. "Is that him? I think so, even from this distance I can sense something about him very different, I wonder if he can sense me. Well now that I've found him what do I do? all I know is I have to face him, but does that mean kill him or just talk to him? Maybe if I get a closer look I can tell more"

Zatch rides off the road and cuts through a lightly wooded area and stops about 100 yards ahead of Toan.

Toan rode the stag who galloped furiously. At this speed he could get to Roid in three days. As he rode he noticed someone in the distance. Slowing the steed down it approached the strange man.

"Can I help you?" Toan said this smoothly. "If not I ask that you move out of my way. I've got more pressing matters to attend to right now." He eyed the stranger coolly. After two years he would finally find his sister, and he would not allow some fool to stand in his way.

Zatch thought to himself A dark elf! No wonder he saw me. He's obviously not looking for a fight at the moment but i still don't know his intentions. What do I say? I know little about shamanistic magic so he might have a spell that would tell him if I lie.

Zatch spoke to Toan "My name is Zatch of Ma...Raiden, a powerful force has guided me to you and I wish to speak with you so that I may find out why."

Toan looked at Zatch penetratingly. He sensed a power about him so he slowly put his hand on the hilt of his sword. "What is it to me? Hurry up about, I've got better thinks to do with my time." His stag seemed a little uneasy around the man yet Toan showed no signs of fear or hostility. Only the elven trademark expression, indifference.

"Very well. You already know my name and where I'm from, so it's really your turn." Zatch thought to himself, Dammit, am I supposed to kill him or not? He's ready to draw his weapon but if it were me I'd do the same. I have to buy some time.

He then spoke to Toan, "Not here, There has been heavy Kobold and Goblin activity in this area." A year ago, but since I've never felt his presence before it's safe to assume he isn't native. "Let me ride with you to your next stop, then I can tell you my story."

Toan looked at the man in front of him. He was scrawny and Toan was sure he could take him. But that strange force he sensed. That's what worried him. "Why don't we play a game? The more info you give me, the more I give you. Then I'll decide whether to take you along with me. Goblins don't scare me and kobolds are even worse. So, speak." Was that me just speaking? Toan looked at the man, waiting for his reply.

His blood seems to be stirring, I think he's getting ready to fight. "With all my heart and soul. but…" Damn, that came out wrong. How do I make him understand that I'm not an enemy, it took me five years to convince myself.

Before the man could say another word Toan leaped off his stag, drew his sword and slashed downward at the man. "You are my destiny!!! You must be the one I was sent to destroy!"

Zatch stumbled back just as the sword was about to cut him in half. Instead it tore away his scarf and made a small cut on his shoulder. Many thoughts raced through his mind as he decided on a counter attack How could he have closed the distance so fast? Power is surging around him greater than before. I've dealt with dark elves in the past, but none were like this!

"Great shadow of darkness I summon the hands of Ghenna!!!" From Zatch's hand a portal opens about two feet wide and from it quickly spring four thick black tentacles able to reach up to ten feet from the portal

Toan leaped back as the tentacles appeared. Dodging left and right, he manage to avoid three of them. But the fourth sent him sprawling into a tree. He got up, albeit slowly and tried to fight off the pain. "I summon the power of the salamander, come and singe these arms of darkness!"

Fire erupted from the portal and burned it. The tentacles dissolved into nothingness and Toan fell to his knees. Panting , he reached out to his sword. A fire erupted from the blade and consumed Toan, healing him completely. Smiling, he stood up and smirked.

"Now you shall feel the power of my blade." His eyes were glowing red and he seemed to be anticipating a kill. He ran towards Zatch And performed an overhead slice, all the while, the enchanted flame trailed behind his sword.

The sword, I should have known! He's coming too fast for a spell. Zatch draws the scythe from his back and attempts to parry, but he has severely underestimated Toan's strength and Zatch falls to his knees barely able to keep the sword away from his neck. Arghh his sword his burning me alive. I have to concentrate or it's all over!

"G…Great shadow, open thy gates and let me walk home," Another large portal beneath them opens and swallows them whole. Toan is sent spiraling through a pitch black area where he is freezing and cannot breath, an immense feeling of emptiness and despair sweep over him. Only a few seconds later they are both tossed back into the physical world. Toan has sustained no bodily damage but has been deeply shook up as if awakening from a terribly disturbing nightmare. And Zatch is leaning against a tree panting, it seems the spell has taken its toll.

What was that? Dark images flashing through my head. He's very powerful. Toan was shivering slightly, barely able to concentrate. He had felt the man's energy as he pierced him, but he was still tired. The flame on his sword burned less.

"You are powerful, but Light must prevail! Prepare to die!" He charged at Zatch thrusting his sword at Zatch's heart.

He's still coming, maybe I can use that. Normally when Zatch walks into the Abyss it recharges and heals him, but taking an extra body with him has had a dire effect as he struggles to focus. That's it, just a little closer…

"Umbra Interfect!!" (Shadow Slay) Unable to cast the spell as quickly as he hoped Toan's sword reaches Zatch but he manages a half successful parry, instead of the piercing his heart it pierces somewhere between his shoulder and chest, narrowly missing his left lung. Zatch has no time to yell in pain, just as this happened the spell took effect and a thick blackness spread over them and expanded to a 10' diameter sphere where everything inside sustains massive damage.

Toan flew back slamming into another tree. His vision blurred he looked at the man he had stabbed. There was no blood because the wound had been burned by the fire. The energy he received from the man was the only thing that saved him.

"Your..ugh.. stronger than I-I thought…pant." Toan realized the flame on his sword was almost out. So using all of the power he could he cast a final spell.

"Great Ifrit I summon your power.

Give me your strength this very hour.

I call from the sky a blazing rain,

that this very forest it may stain."

As Toan finished his spell, the sky began to rain fire. But right before it touched the ground it flew back into the air where it gathered into a large ball. This continued until the ball was roughly Toan's size.

Then it slammed into the grand causing a massive explosion.

When the smoke finally cleared, Toan lay unconscious, scarred and burned. His sword lay unscathed.

As Zatch laid there at the edge of death, the Abyss spoke to him once more. Too early...cannot sleep...cannot die...must continue...wake up...wake up...WAKE UP! Slowly Zatch slipped into consciousness with pain shooting through his body as he did so. minutes passed before he was able to open his eyes. What happened? Where mm I? The dark elf! I remember now. Is he dead? I have to make sur…oh no, I can't move!

Five minutes later he began to regain feeling in his body. Starting with the tips of his fingers he slowly and painfully gained just enough strength to sit up against a tree. Damn, he's still breathing. I have no Idea when I'll have enough strength to stand, even then I won't be able to so much as hold a weapon.

And It'll be hours until I regain the power to cast a spell.

Zatch has no choice but to sit there and wait for Toan to wake up, in hope that he is as injured as Zatch is.

Toan didn't know how long he had been unconscious. He slowly opened his eyes, to see a large crater where there had once been woodland. He managed to drag himself to a rock and sit up. Wincing from the pain he saw Zatch. I'd hoped he'd be dead, but now I'll have to wait to kill him.

Still unable to move, Zatch saw Toan wake up. "It's about time you woke up. Maybe now I can get some answers. Can you walk?"

Toan struggled to his feet, wincing in pain. That's the last time I try a kamikaze attack. But it seemed to be affective. Moryssa would be proud. "I'm guessing...ugh...that you are in the same condition. Either that or you are a fool." Toan manage to stand and he looked at the other man with a little amusement in his eyes.

"Both it seems, I finally have time to tell you that I'm not your enemy. Had you not been so brash you could have saved us both a lot of pain. You attacked me, foolishly, believing that because I serve darkness I must be evil. But it isn't that simple. You didn't choose to be a dark elf, just as I didn't choose to be born with this power. But beyond birth everything is up to us. And now you have a choice to make once more, either we continue our battle and most likely we both die. Or you can continue your quest with me as a powerful ally and I just might find my destiny." By now Zatch was able to stand up but he still had to lean against a tree to do so. "Now..(pant)..chose"

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It's just that I've been trying to find my sister for the past year and I finally have a trail to follow. And with the dead rising, I've been a little punchy, no pun intended." Toan smiled, albeit painfully, and was about to answer Zatch's question when a strange man spoke.

"Heh, you two are interesting..." Fenix finally made himself noticed, watching the two. "Nearly kill each other now you’re getting all philosophical and buddy-buddy. Well, isn't that just great..." He smiled, looking at their wounds. "You two look kinda ragged out to me, and some undead guys are nearing this place, so I suggest you come with me, and sorry about the remarks. I'm really bad with first impressions."

"Who are you?" Toan asked a little surprised. He looked at Zatch giving him a look that said he accepted him as an ally. He eased himself over to his sword and picked it up. When he touched it he felt a calm overcome him, like he had retrieved part of himself.

Fenix looked at the hand reaching for the sword, so, this guy thinks he was gonna attack. "The name’s Fenix." He did a small bow. "And you two are?"

Toan studied the man for a moment. Then with a relieved sigh he said his name. "Toan."

He turned to the stranger and said his name with a colder demeanor than Toan "Zatch."

He then turned to Toan and spoke with a quiet voice "We're in no condition to fight, besides, if he wanted to kill us he could have easily done so when we were unconscious."

Toan turned towards Zatch. "We're in no position to argue. Besides, this man intrigues me."

Fenix watched the two with head cocked slightly to the side. Well, at least he knew their names now, but trust would be a little harder to gain. "So, why are you guys out here anyway. Nasty beasts runnin' about. Its kinda dangerous out here for some reason...well, anyway..." He paused as he moved closer to the two, though still not to close so he wouldn't be considered 'moving in for the kill'. "You should probably get those wounds treated, and as I said, its dangerous to travel out here alone, so...maybe we can join up for a while? I can escort you to a healer around this area and you guys can keep me company. Whaddya say? We allies?"

Toan couldn't help but laugh. "You don't beat around the bush do you?"

"Then it's agreed, we have our wounds healed and plan our next move from there." Zatch said.

With much pain and effort Toan and Zatch find and mount their rides as the three set off at a slow pace. Zatch decides to use the time to gather more information. "Toan, I wish to ask you about your sword, where did you find it? And do you know who made it?"

"My sword? I found it in an underground temple near the Storm and Fire Desert. We heard about an ancient sword of heroes. I suppose it originated in Kastuul, which was many years before my time. I'm pretty sure you can't tell, but in elven terms I'm only a, what do you call them, adolescent. Why do you ask?"

Toan rubbed his stag's neck gently. He always loved animals but they seemed so hostile around him. Moryssa on the other hand can't stand 'those little critters' but they seem attracted to her. I can't wait to tell Moryssa about my journeys.

"I think I might have read about it somewhere in my studies, but I'm not sure." Truth be told I'm not sure about anything. If I were blind I'd swear this isn't the same person I met a few hours ago. I've read about enchanted weapons that give the wielder great power but at a terrible price, could this be such a weapon? My new ally may be slowly selling his soul. "I'd like to study it more closely when we get the chance. I may be able to recognize any runes, symbols, or writings. I know four dead tongues and if it's as old as you believe I should be able to tell more about it." As they rode Zatch's stab wound flared up, he clutched the area and hissed in pain. "Fenix how much further?"

"Sure. Maybe you and my sister can exchange notes. Relics are her hobbies." He saw Zatch grab his wound. He was suddenly overcome with guilt. "I'm sorry for attacking you. I guess it's because I've finally got a trail from my sister, so I'm anxious to see her again. Your wound isn't bleeding is it?" Good job Toan. Not only have you made someone a victim of stereotype, you almost manage to get him, and yourself killed.

"It's not that bad," Zatch assured them.

"Not much further now, your lucky you were close to a shrine to Marfa." Fenix smiled, leading them through the trees, a small building could be seen slightly above the treeline, soon they were in front of a church-like structure.

"This is it, come on, I know a few people in there that owe me one so they should give you a freebie." He dismounted his horse and looked at the two, smiled, and entered. Some voices could be heard inside, after a few minutes a pair of Clerics walked out. "Come on, we haven’t got all day here. There are plenty of other people who are wounded you know!?"

Fenix followed the Clerics out. "Don't mind them, they're always like that."

"Will they admit me? Because of, well, you know." Toan said as he looked at the clerics uneasily.

"Most likely, if you enter with no harmful intent. Marfa demands her followers to value all life." Zatch told Toan. I think.

Fenix nodded, pointing to his blood red eyes. "Yeah, they accept anyone with a pulse. Beyond that...well, there’s little to do beyond that."

The Clerics were starting to look impatient. "Luckily, unlike most gods, Marfa seems to love all and respect all life. Well, I wouldn't know, recently she's been kind to me but...well, problems of the past are just that, in the past. What’s important now is getting you guys patched up."

Toan allowed the clerics to heal him. He walked outside of the temple in order to get a breath of fresh air. What's that smell? It's like decaying flesh. "Oh boy. Zatch and Fenix! Get out here! We've got company and I can guarantee it's not packing a pulse." Toan drew his sword and hopped on his stag. Moryssa's magic is stronger than I suspected. A normal animal would have left during my fight with Zatch. I'm going to have to thank her for this.

Fenix was watching one of the Clerics when he heard Toan call out. He was quick to rush outside and draw his sword, a 5-ft long black Damascus steel great sword, the edge being white in color. "Hmm, you'd think a walking pile of dead flesh would be slower then this. Heh, anyone know a spell to invoke some worms to finish these guys off?"

Hmm, I was just going to leave the clerics a Raiden piece for their troubles, but saving this holy temple from destruction seems like a much better form of repayment. "No, but I have something special for these devils." Zatch draws the scythe from his back and puts himself in a ready stance. "Fenix, you flank right. I'll flank left. Toan, you attack them head on but only at spell casting distance for now. We'll whittle them down with magic and then switch to weapons to finish them off."

"Consider it done." Fenix circled around to the right side, he struck down on the ground so that the blade stuck out. "Fire, raise up now and envelop all greenery I see! Incinerate!" Where once stood an undead fires came up and turned it to ashes, though it was really only a small dent in their lines...

"Right." Toan pushed his stag forward. After several leaps Toan saw the undead approaching. "I summon the powers of the salamander. Breathe your fiery breath across these unnatural enemies." A large group of undead were consumed in a blaze. And as they touched others, they were consumed as well.

Zatch ran left keeping his scythe in hand in case one of the monsters got too close. "Shadow of darkness I summon the hands of Ghenna" Once more the black tentacles with crushing strength shot from his hand and tore three of the creatures limb from limb before the spell wore off. Their tougher than they appear, I thought I'd get at least five. This isn't going to be easy.

Fenix looked at the other two, shaking his head. "Something seems to be weakening our attacks against these guys..." He thought of anything he could use, his magic didn't seem to be that effective against them, this would be bad if they got in close with the numbers they had. Only one thing came to mind, the ritual of weakening, it would at least make the magic attacks more effective. Fenix passed his hand along the blade of his sword, squeezing his hand to cause more blood to flow.

"Goddess of darkness, let your power enfeeble my enemies." He continued to chant these words, a dark aura surrounding the front lines like a gate, each time an undead passed through it they moved slower, as if a great burden was put upon them. "Go all out guys! I can't enfeeble them forever!"

"Great Ifrit, let the furies of fire smite all that deny the natural laws of death!" A great wave of fire swept over the army of undead.

"Shade of all oblivion, Shadow of all darkness, Grant me the power of destruction, And swallow my enemies as thou reacheth to the heavens." Several black pillars 8' wide and 25' high blast up from the ground and disintegrate many of the creatures. Zatch panted. That took a lot, but I swear I'll live long enough to make sure whatever necromancer animated these corpses will soon learn and fear the name Zatch Kar de Raul!

"I don't think I can keep this up much longer!" Toan was being tired out by the spell casting. Afterall, he never bothered to use shamanism in most of his travels. And now, trying to fight an army, this was more than he could handle.

"Umbra Interfect!!" He's right, there are too many and we still haven't fully recovered from the last battle. We need a new strategy. "Everyone fall back. Toan, can you summon an earth spirit to form a fissure between us?

"I'll try. I summon the power of the gnome. Let it divide the terrain and protect us from our enemies!" A large fissure appeared and swallowed up a good portion of the undead army. But the spell had taken its toll. Toan lay on his stag half-awake, half-asleep. "Let’s hurry..." He let out an involuntary yawn.

"Good, that'll buy us just enough time." All right Zatch, this is where all that studying pays off. Combining two forms of magic by force can be dangerous and cause a violent back flare, so all I have to do is make sure that it's dangerous for them instead of us. A shadow spell forced onto an unholy blood ritual should do the trick. "Fenix, I need to do exactly what I say or we're all dead. Perform the ritual of weakening one more time, concentrate it on the center of the army and sustain it for as long as possible, when I cast my spell brace yourselves because this is going to hurt. Toan if you have any power left at all now is a very good time for a shielding spell." Zatch stood ready and hoping that this idea of his wouldn't get them all killed. He knew the risk in colliding magic, but it was still much safer than facing an undead army.

Fenix nodded, looking at the center, he squeezed his hand again, more blood came out of the closing wound. "Goddess of Chaos, let your power weaken these carrion rouges!"

He was weakened, not only was he losing blood but his magic was draining his strength. But he began to think, these guys had just got out of a battle and yet they continue to fight, and he was well rested, this thought spurred him on and a darkness crept over the center.

"I ask that the spirits of the elements combine your powers to protect us." A multicolored glow surrounded the trio. With the last of his energy Toan passed out from exhaustion. His stag moved up to Zatch, waiting for orders his master could no longer give.

Here goes, the spell has to be powerful enough to have any effect. Slowly a black ball of energy forms in his hands. "Almost there, hold on Fenix."

"Shade of the abyss, lend me your power I beg of thee!" The ball shoots upward and arcs down into the center of the blood ritual. The ball clashes down and there is an explosion of green energy. The undead were annihilated and the protection Toan created had been shattered, fortunately not before enough of the blast was absorbed to save them.

When it was over the three were knocked out, more from exhaustion than the blast. But the threat was gone, the undead were no more and the holy temple stood with little more than a few small cracks. The clerics of Marfa rushed out to heal their new heroes.

The three were jolted awake to see that the field where the army once stood was scorched blank. "We did it!" Zatch yelled in triumph with enthusiasm he hadn't displayed in a very long time.

"We actually tore a hole in the physical plane, part of the ethereal plane spilled out and disrupted everything in the area. I don't know how but I think we survived it. Luckily the natural balance of the universe allows it to be self repairing." But even as he said this a chill swept over him and he realized the full magnitude of his actions. What have I done. I've used magic in a way it was never meant to be used. Not only could I have Killed us all, I might have upset the entire universal order. I don't know exactly what's in the ethereal plane, who knows what force could have come out. Great shadow forgive me. "We um, we should go."

Fenix groaned as his eyes went open, he felt his head and shook it slightly to try to get all the cobwebs out. So, they had survived it seemed. But something didn't seem right at all. "Yeah...I think we made a big mistake here. We survived, but, maybe not for long!"

He sat up, sheathed his sword and looked around before running to Toan, checking to see if he was alright, still out it seemed. "Come on, wakey, wakey, we can't stay here..."

"Wh-what?" Toan opened his eyes, still a little groggy. He sat up and glanced around, nervously.

Something's here. But I don't know how or where. "We've got to go, quickly. There's something else here." He jumped to his feet and found his stag, grazing a few yards away. "Let's go."