• The tavern seemed as if it was full and bustling with activity. As any other night, Gorim's inn was all but full, and a young songstress sang tales of heros and heroines from the past. Men and women, young and old, talked quietly and drank and ate while they heard her tales. An old man in a corner took a pipe from his mouth, blew some smoke, and listened intently. As he did so, a young serving girl came to him and attempted to ask him something.

    "Sir?" the serving girl asked loudly with a southern slurr.
    "Hm?"
    "Can I get ya anything?"
    "No thanks. I'm alright," the old man replied and listened to the songstress singing "Greensleeves".
    "Ye been sittin' 'ere for Skava knows how long, and ye ain't ordered a damn thang!"
    "Hmm...Greensleeves...if only the song had ebony sleeves," the old man muttered.
    "What?"
    "Nothing. May I have some water?"
    "Well, it's 'bout time! Comin' in 'ere without orderin' a damn thang than askin'..." the serving girl trailed off as she left the old man at his table.

    The songstress looked at the old man halfway through her song, gave a small wave, and looked elsewhere. The old man chuckled. Pulling his cloak over his clothing, he began to walk towards the door when elf man, a little younger looking than him, had entered. The old man shook his head as the elf joined him at the table. The old man gave him a small glare as he removed his cloak with a small smirk.

    "Forgive me for being late, my old friend," the elf said.
    "Will you never cease to apologize? For the past ten years, Silas, all you ever did was apologize," the older man retorted.
    Silas smiled. "Better than throwing an attitude. Would you not agree, Eoden?"
    Eoden rolled his eyes. "I'm like this now because of your stupidity. Especially all those years ago with your apologizing."
    "How long has it been...? Since we have seen them...?" Silas asked quietly.

    At first, Eoden didn't answer. Once Silas had mentioned "them", that's all he could think about. A fellowship that took him back nearly thirty years ago. The songstress began to sing "Caledonia", and only his friend's voice brought Eoden to the present time.

    "Caledonia...it has been a while since we've been there. Hasn't it been rebuilt?" Silas asked.
    "Nearly thirty years...I would imagine so...takes me back to the time before the two wars," Eoden answered softly.
    "You two were there before the wars started?" a young man asked.
    "Yessir, we have. Lived long enough. We were young men just like you and your friends are right now," Silas responded, a smile appearing on his face.
    "Were you in the wars? And were you there when Caledonia was destroyed?" another young man asked.
    "Look, young man. You can hear the story from the songstress or you can hear the truth from us," Eoden stated, an exasperating sigh escaping his lips.
    The man and his friends listened intently.
    Eoden smiled. "Fine...here's how it all began..."