A little tale from somewhere far away...

[Caoimhin Fearghul]

The shadows seemed to flicker and dance around Caoimhin as he crept through the forest towards the tall tower that stood at its heart. He had heard many tales of the powerful mage that lived in the tower...many of the people of the town had spoken of how he could command the dead to his whim and that he had amassed a vast wealth both of gold and in tomes of knowledge. Caoimhin couldnt help but smile at the thought of that as he pushed his long dark hair out of his face.

Magic was a rare thing in this land, and to be able to command it was to be able to command power and respect over those around you...Caoimhin thought for a moment of the power he could gain from plundering the tower...

Silently one of the shadows itself followed him...its eyes being used by another as it trailed behind the dark haired intruder to the forest.It amused the mind controlling it that yet another would be thief was entering his realm...perhaps this one would provide more entertainment than some of the previous intruders. The shadow continued its lazy pursuit as its masters mind focused elsewhere...

Caoimhin had a strange sense of unease as he crept onwards seeing ahead the outer wall of the tower, feeling almost as though he was being watched. He shook his head with a small smile as he reached the wall, slipping his fingers into cracks in the stone work as he scrambled up it, adjusting his small leather pack as he reached the top. He sat perched atop the wall looking down into the courtyard below...he was startled to see several decaying zombies standing guard over the gates to the place. A cold shiver ran up his spine...he knew now it was true that the lord of

the tower did command the dead....Carefully Caoimhin lowered himself to the ground warily watching the zombies as he crept towards the tower itself...

High above the master of the tower turned towards his familiar, fixing it with a burning stare.

"Go down to the main level and make sure this little thief doesnt get up here to bother me."

The small winged demon, fluttered into the air hissing softly.

"Yessss Masssster..."

With lazy strokes of its wings it headed towards the stairs spiralling down the tower.

With quiet skill Caoimhin picked open the lock of the tower door, looking carefully at the tiny crack between the door and its frame, noticing a small pin...taking a small wire tool from his pocket he carefull hooked it into place, looking seeing it was attached to a spring of some sort...fiddling around on his belt he found a small sticky leaf in a little pouch and slid it into the crack holding the pin in place as he slid the door open. Within a the hallway was lit by a softly glow...it took Caoimhin a moment to realise it was coming from a small stone hanging from the roof above. He watched the glow for a few moments before closing the door behind him and starting towards the spiraling stairway that would lead him to riches...

Suddenly from the door to the stairs a small imp came forth, Caoimhin ducked back towards the door as it came towards him.

"Masssster hasss told me to killlsss you...."

Hissing it advanced towards Caoimhin. Biting down his fear he pulled out a pair of daggers from the tops of his boots...with a quick twirl he held them both downhand waiting for the little creature.

"You can certainly try."

The little creature cackled with delight as it swooped at him, Caoimhin ducked to the left, his right hand dagger slashing across the small creatures stomach as he moved. The blade simply glided across the creature as caoimhin rolled away, looking up in astonishment at the unharmed imp. It smiled at him baring a mouth full of wicked pointed teeth...

"Sssteeel alone cant harmsss mee."

Once again it swooped towards Caoimhin, thinking quickly he sprang at it knocking it backwards towards the door. The tiny creature smashed into the door unharmed by it...unfortunately it had jarred the small spring mounted pin free in the impact...the door and the imp were suddenly doused in a thick stinking liquid. The tiny creature screamed as the acid ate into its body, its scream was echoed from far above in the tower as it fell unmoving to the ground...

Picking himself up from the floor Caoimhin headed quickly for the stairs, heading up them he found a man in thick robes crouched on the floor one hand clutched to his temple, for an instant he considered striking him down...but couldnt. The man managed to bring his head up, his smouldering eyes locked with Caoimhins sparkling green eyes.

"You snivelling little thief, I shall make you wish you were never born..."

Suddenly Caoimhin didnt feel at all bad about the idea of slitting the mans throat. The man began muttering softly under his breath as he raised a hand, almost moving in slow motion Caoimhin threw his dagger at the man, the dagger plunging into the mans throat up to the hilt. Anger flashed for a moment in his eyes and was gone as he was bathed in flames from his own spell gone awry. The blast from the failed spell sent Caoimhin flying backwards, landing heavily against the wall...he lay there for a moment, looking at the blackened ash where the man had beeen...muttering his thanks to lady luck for watching out for him he grabbed a few items from about the room...a small pendant, a dagger and a small leather bound book.

With that he ran for the door, slipping out into the night and running into the thick fog that had engulfed the forest...so thick he could hardly see his hand infront of his face...the darkness of the night engulfed him as he ran....heading away....