Chapter 1: Storytime at the Tavern

"...But magic must exist! How else can we explain the unexplainable?" The bearded man of great size & strength slams a half empty tankard on the maple roundtable, spilling a bit of wine.

A man in his gray years leans towards him. "My King, magic is just something from night time stories for our young. You've been fixated with the concept since you were a wee boy."

"I assure you they aren't "just" stories." The King then projects his voice throughout the smallest tavern in the Oates Kingdom. "Gather around everyone! The King of The Public has a story to tell! Does anyone remember the Third Royal Physician?"

The commoners were quiet.

The King looks at the man in his gray years. "Jensen? You're my Venuri. I assume you know of him?"

Jensen The Venuri speaks, "Yes. I was the one who advised his exile when I served your father, King Lonson V. My belief is that the Third Royal Physician, Master Narfk, is responsible for the defilement of your grandfather's grave and theft of his body. The chambers of the IVth are still empty to this day.".

"And why do you believe this?" responded King Lonson VI.

Jensen continues, "He arrived to the Oates Kingdom as a foreigner many Kings ago. No one knows from where, but there were rumors of his countrymen being able to raise the dead. Few believe he willingly let his patients die in order to practice those unordinary methods. Considering the number of deaths under his care, I also believe it to be true. Needless to say, no one in the Oates Kingdom has seen the dead revived.".

The King raises a finger. His hand is slightly larger than a newborn's body. "I wouldn't say "No one"." He turns to the commoners. "I've never told anyone this story in fear they would just say I was dreaming or creating a fable. But I assure you this wasn't a dream. As an 8 year old boy who knows he is next in line to be King, I was a rather unruly child. "Commoners aren't the only ones barred from visiting the Chambers of Fallen Kings.", my mother would tell me all the time. I was destined to be King so I truly believed that rule didn't apply to me. I went every night at sundown, but my last adventure is the one that haunts me forever. I've taken the walk with my lantern down those steps tens of times before that moment, but this time when I entered the chambers a wave of uneasiness overwhelmed my body. I wasn't prepared for what I would see. My grandfather the IVth, who I've only seen in the paintings hanging in the castle halls, standing outside his burial ground. Were my eyes being deceived? The naive me from boy age carelessly got closer, a mistake I would never make nowadays. What he looked like has stayed with me, pale pigment, cold eyes with darkness surrounding them, strong, but also much shorter than he appears in the paintings. Before I could speak, a hand touched my shoulder. Before I could turn around, I hear the phrase "Mestakaloshalo Amarozi Nukuri." I still don't know what it means. I suddenly awoke in the safety of my bed in the castle. Days later my father the Vth declared Master Narfk a wanted man and an exile for "grave robbery". He was never captured. I've always wondered where is he hidden? Is he alive? Why didn't my father go after him? Was he the man in the Chambers of Fallen Kings that night? With all I have explained and what Jensen mentioned earlier, I believe Master Narfk was able to raise the dead. How exactly? There is only one possibility, Magic."

Jensen is in slight shock, his voice wobbles of fear mixed with old age. "That's certainly unheard of My King. You're very well informed about the Vth's shortcomings. There were reports of Narfk's last appearance being him walking into the Drowning Forests. We were in the middle of war, but I asked your father to assemble a unit for his capture. He was too weak-minded. It seemed as if the IVth meant more to me than his own son. His mixed phobia of large water and the unknown has left Narfk free of consequences for years. With the information of this story however, I believe your father was right. If Narfk does hold a kind of power such as magic, we would have marched into our deaths leaving us weaker than we already were at the time."

The King laughs, "A unit? How about an army!". He stands up, tankard of wine in his hand. He takes a swig. "Gather 10,000 of our strongest men! March into the depths of the Drowning Forests! Avenge my grandfather! Discover the secrets of Magic! KOORAAL!"

The commoners agree in unison all of them as drunk as the King. "KOORAAL!"

Jensen tries to interrupt, "My King if true, the power of Magic could destr..." but he is drowned out by everyone shouting "KOORAAL! KOORAAL! KOORAAL!".

"Prepare our expedition. Let our soldiers know I will come along with them. We leave in a fortnight.... Now Jensen!", The King commands Jensen.

Jensen walks out of the tavern while worriedly thinking, "The boys obsession with Magic may lead to our deaths and the end of the entire Oates Kingdom.".