Its been months since I visited my old Master's temple.  Months since I'd seen his home in flames.  Months since I've had a decent night's sleep.

I've searched the land over.  The mountains, as vast as they are, I covered with my footprints within a few weeks.  The desert sands of the Gharundim I conquered almost as quickly.  The swamp lands of the Sho, the forest regions of the Aluvian, the vast rivers across all of Dereth…  I have journeyed across each of these, and found no clue as to my Master's fate.

But none of that matters now.

Its a cold night tonight.  But then, all the nights are cold anymore.  All the nights since THAT night, at least.

And just like all those other nights, I seek shelter from that cold.

I enter the inn and scan the room, not entirely sure what I'm looking for.  It isn't as if monsters tend to hang out among a room full of people, waiting to pounce on someone ELSE who happens to come along. Besides, the monsters in this land seem more comfortable in the dark anyhow.

Sometimes I envy them.

I huddle myself in front of the fireplace to warm myself.  Those few patrons near the fire scuttle away.

I can see my reputation has proceeded me.

The fire is nearly dead, but what little heat there is escaping from the burning coals and ash is welcome.

The barkeep asks me if I've need of anything.  He does a fairly poor job of hiding from his voice the disgust for me.  Assuming he even attempted to.  I have to pretend they at least try, else I might convince myself that these people aren't indeed worth saving.

Once upon a time, I knew some people here worth saving.  I'd have given my life for them.  I haven't seen any of them in a long time.  Perhaps they've found a way off this forsaken island.

Or maybe they never existed at all.

I request a mug of ale from the barkeep, and head for the upstairs.   I grow weary of the suspicious looks from among those brave enough to glance my way.

I notice a balcony outside, and soon I find myself looking out over the town, out in the cold once more.

For weeks I've tried to warn these people of what's coming.  I've spoken to them in groups, and tried to speak with them one on one.  Not in this city, although anymore, they're all the same.  Word spreads fast, and everyone knows of the 'crazy' Frog King.

I admit, I'm starting to wonder myself.  It isn't like I really know what's coming.  Only what THEY told me…

It all started one day while I was reviewing my maps, trying desperately to figure out where my Master had gone…

Suddenly, the air felt…  different.

I looked around, and what I saw chilled me to the core.

Before me walked the air itself.  It made no noise when it moved, touched no blade of grass with its steps…  I could see straight through it as if it weren't there, and yet I could see it as well as the trees around me.  It did not appear to notice me.  It walked past me, taking no apparent notice of my existance and stood a few yards down from where I sat.

And then the whispering began.

The whispering was almost inaudible.  I wasn't able to make out anything the whispers said.  I couldn't tell if it was one person or more whispering.

I got my answer very soon.

More of them appeared from nothingness to stand beside the first…  The wispering grew louder, and I was able to understand them…  There were many voices, all of them saying many things.  But the overall topic was the same.

They are coming.

Another chill ran across my body.

Suddenly, one of the air things took notice of me.

The others disappeared completely, almost as if someone didn't feel like drawing them anymore.  That was creepy too.

It breathed a warning… not to me directly, but to all Isparians on Dereth.  But he only said it loud enough so that I could hear it, otherwise all that stuff I said before about nobody believing me wouldn't make any sense.

He went on to explain how the Death Walker could control animate a person's dead body and give it life.  This zombie like creature would be completely devoted to the Death Walker.

As such, the Death Walker would weild a vast army of the Undead!

Armed with a knowledge of… something… that involved the coming of the Undead horde, I headed out to try and warn the populace.  Because, as I already mentioned, the ghost only told me, and not anyone else.  Even though he said "Children of Ispar".

Look, screw you straight to hell with a telephone pole!  I'm trying to tell an interesting, thought provoking story, instead of the same old same old!

I'm taking this storyline in a bold new direction, with a powerful plot, and amazingly detailed artwor*

You know what?  You're right.  The people do like death and destruction.

Give the people what they want, right?