As you walk to the camp fire towards the three figures you feel strangely light headed. It is as if the weather and time have been suspended, for you feel numb. Only your mind is awake. You recognise two of the three as Vladek and Kyrena, but the third man is a stranger. He bears the familiar looks of a barbarian, although there is a distinctive intelligent gleam in his blue eyes.

"Greetings, Hyuga," Vladek says pleasantly, offering you a seat. "My condolences on the death of your father. This is Marakand, King of the Ice Barbarians and a good friend of ours. I thought it would help you if he spoke a few words to you. I sense the need in you, my son, for I can feel a gaping wound within your soul. Marakand may help you."

The King of the Ice Barbarians - Marakand - bows to you before he speaks :- "Well met, at last, Hyuga. I have heard much about you over the last year from Vladek and you strike me as a man of formidable courage and power. I witnessed at first hand the way you and your companion despatched the Skarvik hordes and it made me ache for the thrill of war once more. It was truly impressive, friend." He grins a little and casts a sly look to Vladek. "There is something inherent within our kind, Hyuga, that instils a great passion for war. Still, to business.

"You and I are alike, friend, for we share several important factors. My soul, like yours now, was once in tatters and my death was merely a formality. There is hope, however, for I too was blessed by the hand of the gods - just as you were in the Battle of Shiboleth. The gods have altered you, Hyuga, and there is no way they can un-alter you. The touch of the hand of a god - any god - brings certain rewards to the recipient that cannot be denied. This sets you apart from the ordinary man.

"Do not despair. Vladek here will aid your survival, because - like it or not - you are one of us. Our family is yet small, but it has power and in all the madness in this world we are not about to let one of us vanish in a suicidal haze of violence. Remember, Hyuga, my soul was all but lost but I am now stronger than ever. May Vladek watch over you !" With a simple salute he is gone, vanishing into thin air.

Vladek places a calming hand upon your arm and all your fears and questions melt away. You feel suddenly at peace with yourself and your surroundings. Vladek pauses before speaking. "Marakand is your brother, Hyuga." he says. "Not a blood brother, you understand, but a brother nonetheless. You may be wondering at his words and I will explain.

"Long ago, during the Time of Creation, there were many races. Some have since become extinct whilst others have thrived. All manner of creatures have inhabited Greyhawk and during those first centuries the Lord of Creation - Promethius - began to structure his new creation to suit the races living upon it. This was a vast task. He created two sons, Varn and Fatal, to aid him in this mammoth task and as the centuries rolled on more and more creatures were created.

"During this time Nature came into being. She was the bastion of all things natural and her control of the natural elements and climate was absolute. This work, however, was time consuming so she decided to enlist the help of a few disciples. These disciples were the first real druids. They learned from their Mother the arts of Nature and became ambassadors for her during those first formative centuries. She decreed that each millennium she should have another disciple to carry on the work that she had started. I was the first disciple, Hyuga. Although I may not appear so I am bordering on thirty thousand years old. Kyrena is another disciple, as is Marakand, although their lives span merely four thousand years between them.

"There is a new disciple born every thousand years. Many of these have been killed or destroyed throughout history but we have managed to succeed in our allotted tasks. You, Hyuga, are the newest disciple. Your power is raw and as yet untried but your potential is perhaps greater than any other disciple I have ever seen. These are dark days, Hyuga, and the Great Mother (Vladek’s favourite term for Nature) must have a serious task set aside for you. I have been at this game for many millennia and it appears to be my task to aid the new disciples and try to direct their power to where it is most needed. Kyrena has assumed a similar role.

"There are several things you must know, Hyuga. The first is that you are immortal. This immortality is granted to all disciples but this exists within the boundaries of normal life. A sword in the head will still kill you ! The next question is the one which is troubling you most. Your soul. Believe me when I say this, Hyuga, for the Great Mother will never allow your soul to compromise your abilities. She is all powerful and will act directly to ensure you will not just fade away into oblivion. I am fairly certain she will act promptly. I have seen the signs before...trust my judgement and wrench your mind back to what is happening around you. Your survival - and perhaps the survival of Greyhawk - depends on it.

"You may be wondering ‘why me?’. It is not a question I can readily answer but events move fast. The gods have thrown themselves against you and Anstran and the lady Dismet is embroiled within the plot somehow. This is all a distraction for you for you must begin to come to terms with your potential. Of course, Kyrena and myself will help you as far as we can but in the interests of safety we will not linger too long around your companions. There is a high mortality rate around them !

"Power is a relative thing, Hyuga. Always remember that. You will soon begin to realise the potential within you and with that comes a certain responsibility. Remember, the Great Mother has chosen you for a reason and she rarely chooses incorrectly. We will never be too far away if you need us. Go back now, disciple - go back with courage. I will speak with you again before long."

Vladek vanishes leaving you alone with the lovely Kyrena.

"You must have a thousand questions," she says, taking your hands in her own. Her touch seems somehow to lift your spirits. "They will all be answered before long, my brother. Do not fear the inevitable. Remember what our master said - we are never far from you if you need us. Go now, Hyuga my love, go in peace..."

Kyrena disappears and your eyes open to a sharp, bright sunny morning.

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