In the distance, my falcon flies, circling above a clearing in the

forest. Suddenly, I hear its cries as it falls to the ground to its

death. Leaving Destiny, I rush in the direction of its final cry. I

enter the clearing and stop in sudden horror as I view an

unnatural spectacle of ancient fallen trees.



This is a fossilised forest, silent and calm, with no sign of

movement save for the stain of my form. The spell of age has

woven its evil intent upon this hallowed ground as beneath the

grey clouds the forest was rent. Moving slowly, in deliberation

and respect for the dead, I am revulsed by the scene played out

before me. How these giants have fallen. Their majesty, their

power, and all that they were are as dust to the soil and returned

to the earth. I know not why.



I plead with Destiny for an answer as she arrives and she explains

it thus; "It pays tribute to the accursed rains for of all that was,

little remains. These grey flowers you see are but a poor

reflection of what's left of humanity. They spoke the laws of old

yet chose to disoblige the Ancient, holding such decrees in

contempt by their works. The bane of mankind is that all that he

is until the day that he dies is a pawn that's expected to live by the

lies of tradition. The human condition, it seems, is to reduce all to

tradition."



I wander amongst the fallen trunks as though drawn, and find my

fallen friend, my falcon forlorn. Lifeless, I hold his body hoping in

some way he's free. Whilst clutching him, I notice something, now

what can this be?



Embedded in chalcedony within an aged oak is the semblance of

an ancient warrior sword. To suggest that this had aught to do

with the legend was a dream but to ignore the possibility I could

not afford. I grabbed a nearby rock and began to smash away

the quartz as crystal shards, they flew and cut into my flesh. The

golden sword hilt exposed, I pulled with all my might as it was

loosed at last from its chalcedonic grave. And I held the sword

aloft for all the land to see and I was filled with power beyond my

darkest dreams.



Destiny, with a smile, approaches saying, "The Garensword holds

the power to bequeath life as well as death" as I watch my falcon

take wing to wind and soar high above the forest once again.

Following the bird, leaving the clearing behind us, we enter into

the forest and instantly I am startled. The sword has affected my

sight, enabled me to see things which I have never noticed before.

There are thousands of graves amongst the trees; a cemetery for

the living. Headstones with no names, overrun with wild grey flowers.