http://wallarthd.com/imagepics/fantasy-cave-wallpaper-picture.html

Head bowed down in thought, you slowly travel north, listening to the rustle of leaves, smelling the sweet richness of fertile soil, and catch glimmers of the stars above flitting about the sky above as though they had lives of their own. The pearly white lights drifting to mingle with each other, before breaking apart to dash away in opposing directions.

Daedalus sensing your uneasiness, broke through tense silence. "You do know that the stars are actually alive?"

Distractedly you reply back, "What?"

"I said the stars are alive, master."

Brows furrowed in consternation, you gaze up into the darkness, seeing the thousands of pinpricks of light, drifting in swirling motions that remind you of the sea. The tiny lights gathering together like swarms of insects, while above them all hung the Silver Star, the brightest and largest of all the stars. The only star known to stay in the same exact position it had been in for thousands of years.

As a child, your father had once told you that the Silver Star was the pure essence of the Lightbearer, who after seeing the creatures that haunted the night had given up a piece of himself to give light to the darkness, but even then as a child you had been skeptical over the existence of gods such as he.

It seemed inconceivable that the Lightbearer would give away a piece of himself to protect those who traveled through the night. In a world obscured by black and grey, there was little to to no light left in this world. The heroes of the past such as Ice Eyes were long since dead and the Honor Blades, the most righteous of all warriors that journeyed throughout the lands rooting out darkness had become shells of their former glory. War, corruption and power were the true gods of this world and yet as you look up at the Silver star, there was something awe inspiring about the way it glowed with that brilliant white light, casting all other stars into shadow.

"What are they?"you ask.

"As to that, I don't really know master. I've spoke with dozens of scholars, storytellers, bards and historians in regards to that very question, and for the most part all their answers vary from form to another, yet all agree that nothing can move like that without having a mind of its own. And to a certain degree, I agree with that conclusion, however I do not believe it to be gods, spirits or any other fanciful stories, but the realms of demons."

Head crooking sideways at the odd notion, you reply back, "Wait, I thought all demons lived within the heart of Coroleya in a plane that allows them to mingle with this world?"

"In a way that is partly true, master, but it is not the whole truth. It is difficult to explain to one that has not studied at the Black tower like I have, but not all the demons of this world are the same, they have their own hierarchy and their own system of governance that allows for both chaos and order to live side by side. But in order to achieve this equilibrium, the Lesser demons have been forced to live upon the surface of Coroleya, the Higher Demons have their realms amongst the stars, and the rest make their home within the core of this world, providing the magical energy we see all around us. All three serve different purposes, yet their goals all remain the same, they hunger for our souls, not only because of the nourishment it provides, but because of the power it offers to those who sup upon it."

You shake your head, and rub a hand across your eyes, your head throbbing abominably as you try to decipher Daedalus' words. Your thoughts inevitably returning to the Blood Storm, Sarsonel, Tazrael, Bone eye and Dywin. The five inexplicably linked together somehow to create a puzzle with dozens of pieces missing. Or was it more like chess? With both sides sending out their pawns to battle each other and die, while the real game continued on behind a veil of silence.

You'd hoped to learn more from Lorna while aboard the ship, but by the time you'd thought to ask her what she knew of Sarsonel, it had already been too late. Although in all fairness, you do not think you would have asked her anyway. The truth was you preferred to keep your life simple, clouding your thoughts with all these questions would have only served to distract you, and in battle that cost you your life, a lesson you'd learnt well.

No, you had not wanted to learn more, but now wonder if forging on alone was wise. Without Gorrack and Lorna to aid you in battle, you would be ill prepared to face a demon, not to mention the lengthy journey it would take to reach the war torn lands of Orkeyluim, where battles still raged between the Orcs and Ogrekans. Still, what other choice did you have but to continue this suicidal quest?

"That does not have to be so,"said Daedulus, "There is a way for to survive, but you will need to trust me and travel to the Island of BloodTides."

You roll your eyes in annoyance at Daedalus's intrusion forgetting again how easily the cloak could read your thoughts. "What's on the Island of BloodTides?"

You feel a tingle of excitement run through the cloak. "Why the rest of me of course, well not all the me, but nearly all. With them in your possession, you would be able to summon armies of Lesser Demons to serve at your will! Fly through the skies like a dragon raining down death and destruction! Or even wield divine weapons meant for the gods! The choices are endless!"

Half grinning like a goblin that had gotten it's hands on fresh meat, you cannot help but picture yourself gliding through the skies, the winds gently buffeting you from side to side upon leathery wings that touched the clouds, the land below hidden behind a thick fog that seemed almost blinding. But that feeling soon vanishes to be replaced with cold suspicion. "And what exactly would this cost me?"

Daedalus hesitated for the briefest of seconds, before replying back, "You are my master, all I but wish to do is serve and keep you safe."

You let out a dry chuckle, instinctively knowing the cloak was up to something, but what other choice did you have? It's not like you could come up with a better plan, and this did sound very promising. With an army of demons at your command you could march straight up Tazrael and strike at the heart of his host.

Somehow buoyed by his words, you increase your pace and begin passing boulders and rocks half buried in the sand with a cliff rising up in the distance. It's sharp edges, towering high up over you, blocking off all access to the north.

Rubbing the back of your neck, you press forward, clambering over rocks, hoping there was a way past the cliff and grunt in annoyance at the sheer rock face cutting it's way through the ocean, stretching for many miles out into the sea. Swimming around it would take hours as would trying to climb it. You could try going back towards the forest and risk searching for an inland route that would take you around the cliff, but that would mean risking crossing into another giant's territory.

Cursing and kicking the sand, you turn back, when you spot a crevice hidden in the side of the cliff, cutting a thin gap into the stone wall.

Taking a few steps towards it, you peer into the gloomy darkness and see a tunnel carved into the stone lit up by the same colorful mushrooms you'd seen in the forest.

Curiosity peaked, you take a step into the tunnel and slowly begin edging forward along the wall, your feet scraping lightly against the stone and hear the pitter patter of water dripping off somewhere beyond you.

In the dim light cast against the walls by the mushrooms, you see the path widen and split apart into three passages, each of them identical to each other. But which one do you take?

(Each tunnel will provide several options of their own for you to explore, however if you wish to investigate more than one tunnel, you will only be able to select the first option that appears within the tunnel at the beginning without traveling too far in, allowing you to return back and select another choice. By doing this, you can partially scout out all three tunnels and see which one you'd like to follow all the way to the end.)

1. Do you take the tunnel to the left?

2. Do you take the tunnel in the center?

3. Do you take the tunnel to the right?