The sun shone brightly on an open meadow. Although the ground seemed flat around me, it seemed to arc upward in every direction and sun shone directly down from above. Effectively, there was no place that could surprise me and no place that wasn’t flat. A profusion of flowers in every color waved gently in a warm breeze. I wasn’t very surprised to find myself again in a dream space and that rapid realization brought everything into focus much faster.

Dream WalkerYou have visited the dreams of others and understand some of the intuitive rules of operating in another’s internal reality. You are able to adapt more quickly to the dreamscapes of others and have more autonomy while you’re there.

Passive

The blue box popped up, letting me know that I was actually getting a skill from visiting my collection of souls. I waved it away and began a amble through the meadow, stopping frequently to smell a flower or raise my face to the glorious sun. Not long after I started walking, I wasn’t surprised to come upon a large blanket, spread in the middle of the flowers, like a lovers bower. Samantha and Eric lay on the blanket cuddling and occasionally giggling as they whispered the sort of things lovers are wont to say. A picnic basket nearby promised lunch if they ever tired of their current activity, but from the looks of things, that would take a while.

While I waited for the two of them to notice me, I took a good look at them. Death was finally being good to them, I saw. Each had happy smiles on their faces, although Eric’s face showed the permanent marks of extreme sadness and despair and Samantha seemed to be permanently pale. Eric was a brown haired man with nearly black irises. His features were sharp and serious, although he showed a look of unaccustomed happiness now. He wore casual clothing consisting of a dark vest and a long white tunic. He had the musculature of a white collar worker, slim and intellectual looking, and his hands were uncalloused, smooth, and intertwined with Samantha’s.

Samantha seemed a creature of golden light in these surroundings. Her blond hair shone in the sunlight and her green eyes dance with laughter. She were a light peasant dress. She had a willowy figure and she wasn’t particularly big in any dimension, altogether giving off the feeling of a small fragile creature. Yet, her entire being broadcast joy like the warmth of a fire, as though she herself could generate happiness and share it with those around her. It was no wonder Eric was happy with her and had fallen into such despair without her.

After several minutes, I realized that these two weren’t ever likely to notice me on their own, so I started clearing my throat, gradually getting louder.

“Ahem… AHEM… AHEM!”

Samantha finally looked up and her entire body seemed to flush red, starting from the bridge of her nose and working its way down to her bare toes. Eric seemed entranced by the sight and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I can’t pop in just any old time, so I’m afraid I’ll have to interrupt while I have the chance,” I said.

Eric looked up at me and achieved a business-like demeanor, despite lying on a blanket cuddling with his wife. I have to say, I was impressed.

I smiled and tried for a professional bearing as well. “I don’t think I ever formally introduced myself. I am called Ker’Haros. I believe you are Eric and Samantha.”

Samantha rose to her feet and pulled Eric up with her, although he was obviously reluctant. She gave me a dazzling smile and stepped to the edge of the blanket to curtsied. Eric followed her lead and bowed. I gave them a slight bow myself, which I hoped would suffice. Bowing wasn’t common in my last life, but I’d done them after some kind of performances, I vaguely recalled.

“Ker’Haros, thank you so much,” Samantha said.

“Truly, we owe you everything,” Eric agreed.

I waved it away uncomfortably, quickly changing the subject. “So this is where you’ve chosen to spend your afterlife?” I asked.

“It was Samantha’s idea,” Eric explained. “This is the meadow I took her to when I first began to court her.”

I suspected it wasn’t identical to the meadow, since no earthly realm was quite this uniquely good, but I let that slide. Obviously, the concept of wearing rose colored glasses applied much more strongly in the dream realm. “Well, I’m glad that you’re finally happy and together. If there is anything I can do for you, I sleep every night,” I replied.

“Oh no, Sir, if there is anything we can do for you, we would gladly be of service!” Samantha countered.

I frowned, but I couldn’t turn away offered aid. “I don’t know what you can do for me, but, Samantha, you have already saved my life once. You shouldn’t feel obligated to do any more.” They both opened their mouths to speak, but held up my hand to forestall them. “But, if you want to help, I am very new to this world, and I have found that I can access the memories and skills the souls I carry. If you are willing to give me that access, that could help me immensely.”

“Of course,” they both replied, again with a bow and curtsy, respectively.

I nodded. “I appreciate it. Aside from that, I don’t know what will come up, but enjoy this safe haven while it lasts. I am not eternal, so neither is this place, so someday you should be free to move on to your eternal reward.

These words seemed to concern Eric as he suddenly grew serious. “Then we shall enjoy this time while it lasts,” he answered.

I nodded and smiled. “Come, let’s sit and we can get to know each other better. For instance, where are you from?”

We all sat and proceeded to converse about many things, especially their lives leading up to their marriage, though we carefully avoided speaking of their deaths.

Bia Keres followed her master back to his room after what felt like a very long day. She too was injured and fatigued, but nowhere near as desperately as her lord. Once the servant showed them into the room, Lord Ker’Haros collapsed immediately onto the bed. She wished to heal him, but she had little strength to give at the moment. It would be wiser to wait until the morrow when both of them would be refreshed.

She sank down into a meditative pose with her staff across her knees, having long since become accustomed to trancing instead of sleeping, after the manner of the elves. She replayed the events of the day through her mind and marveled at the power of her master. It had been her task to place the sword in that haunted house some weeks ago to hide its aura from those that would covet it. She had felt the immense power that the trapped souls there exuded. Placing the sword had been simple, but placing the key had been a terrible trial. First, climbing the staircase required her to pass fairly through the wife as she fell to her death, and the impact had rattled her soul. Yet, the room of the suicide had very nearly been the end of her, despite her many years of training and harsh discipline. Only the teachings she had learned warned her to prevent the door from shutting. It was all she could do to quickly enter, throw the key across the room, and exit again before she was entrapped with the spirit’s sorrow.

Yet, her master had shown no such difficulties. Like her, he had been chilled by the spirit’s otherworldly energy, but unlike her, he was in the house for nearly two hours before he returned and when he did, the energy of the building seemed to exit with him like water flowing from a pierced sack. He carried both their souls with him, she presumed, yet seemed none the worse for the wear, nor had he gained the darkness rumored to follow the necromancers of legend.

She had been more surprised when he had immediately set off for the arena, even after what must have been a brutal trial. He was serious about gaining greater power before he face his enemies, and she was grateful that he seemed to lack any of the arrogance many of the myths attributed to the downfall of his predecessors. That boded well for the future, but his willingness to place his life on the line fighting as a gladiator concerned her.

She allowed herself to drop into deep meditation, replaying the battle in her mind and watching the movements of her lord in her mind’s eye in a way she hadn’t had the leisure to do while they were fighting. His style was sharp and brutal, but she was more surprised to note that not once did he draw his sword. Such restraint seemed unnecessary to her, but it was true that when he chose to use that weapon he would likely draw the attention of any that could sense such things. She had questioned his willingness to put his powers on display for a crowd, but she had to admit that the arena offered a clear and rapid way to gain battle experience.

She watched him as he seemed to react to his opponents with split second decision making skills, yet his obvious thought process behind his actions slowed him down, she decided. When there was time, she should spar with him and try to impart some technique. Despite his obviously lacking martial skill, he obliterated every skeleton that came within his reach with steady efficiency and blasts of power like none she had ever seen before. That would be the power of the necromancer, and she was amazed to watch it in action in battle, just as she had been amazed when he had absorbed the soul of that old beggar before he could even speak her language.

If not for her magic that let her comprehend any speech, she knew she wouldn’t have been able to understand him when he first arrived, yet he resolved that problem quickly and efficiently just as each subsequent step he had taken had rapidly increased his personal power and clearly moved forward. She was beginning to wonder if she was really necessary for his eventual success, despite the disparity between their skills.

She winced as she noticed the circumstances of that ringing blow to his head that had seemed so out of character. It seemed that one of her half destroyed foes had distracted him at a crucial moment. She silently reprimanded herself for causing harm to her master, even indirectly, and vowed to be less restrained in future battles. If she had struck the skeletons with excessive force as he had, no wounded enemies would have slipped past her, just as none of his had survived to trouble her.

Her mind slowly blanked as she entered a fully resting state. He would likely rise early on the morrow, and she wanted to be prepared to serve him to her utmost. She was ashamed that she had so far done so little for him, so she would strive to serve him better.

Spoiler: STATUS

STATUSNameKer’HarosAlignmentNeutralRaceUnknownLevel2ClassThe NecromancerTitleChosen of DeathProtection0Defense15Health24Mana20Strength18Dexterity15Constitution--Intellect12Wisdom12Charisma16Leadership1Luck1Reputation10Souls3The newly Chosen of Death. He has yet to do anything truly significant and, so far, most of the world remains oblivious to his existence.

He is recognized as a beginner gladiator with some potential. Many remember his impressive debut in the qualification round.[/tr]

SKILLS

Death SenseThe Necromancer is the master of the dead. He instinctively knows when someone is about to die and the major cause of death. He can also sense the aura of death on places and objects that have seen much death or are haunted by spirits or the undead.

Constant

Mana Cost: 0

Dream WalkerYou have visited the dreams of others and understand some of the intuitive rules of operating in another’s internal reality. You are able to adapt more quickly to the dreamscapes of others and have more autonomy while you’re there.

Passive

ManifestAs the necromancer you can request or command the souls of the dead you own to manifest in the mortal realm as semi-physical ghostly apparitions. While manifested, they can talk, act, and speak according to the abilities they have gained in life and death.

Activated

Mana Cost: 10 per round (six seconds)

Second SightYou have learned to see the souls of the departed who linger in the mortal realm. They can interact with you and you with them.

Constant

Mana Cost: 0

Soul GathererThe Necromancer is the master of the souls of the dead. With this ability, he can capture a soul and keep it. This allows him to use the creatures memories and knowledge as though it were his own.

Activated

Mana Cost: 0

SOULS

HamA simple laborer and beggar. He has an intimate knowledge of the seedier side of Ak’Har. He is basically literate and a native speaker of the common language of the area.

SamanthaA young wife. She has a unique charm and knowledge of several handicrafts such as needlework, knitting, and many housekeeping related tasks appropriate for the day. She speaks the language at a high level and is basically literate.

She is an innocent soul.

EricA young husband. He has knowledge off business practices and is highly literate in math and writing. He knows much of the business sector. He knows specialized business practices and terms.

He is the soul of a suicide.

WEAPON SKILLS

BrawlingThis is a brutal and unsophisticated combat style that focuses on striking with the fists to deal maximum damage. Improvised weapons may be used to block, entrap, or strike enemies.

Mastery Basic

+1 to hit and damage

Passive