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Description
     The Traveler sat on the red rock floor of a cavern.
     This cavern was a ways away from civilization, and the entrance was at least thirty feet from the ground. No stragglers would be able to get in, and the Traveler would get his privacy.
     He was sitting cross-legged in the center of the single room. His coat was off, and his head was bare, revealing a shock of red-orange hair. He was staring intently at the small cage in front of him, with a small, thoughtful frown on his face.
     The cage was open, but, as Tallus had said, the small insect inside made no desperate bid for freedom. It just stayed there. Valdo picked it up, and gently removed the insect from its cage. It rested in his hand, glowing vividly and slowly. The Traveler figured he'd experiment a bit.
     "Hover in place." He took his hand out from underneath the bug, and it stayed there, wings humming slightly. "Fly to the wall in front of me." The mysterious creature drifted to the far wall and stayed there, wings buzzing against the rock. "Fly back to my hand." It hovered back and assumed the same position it had been in a few moments ago.
     Valdo was perplexed, but intrigued.
     "What are you?"
     The bug, of course, did not respond.
     "Why were you with that old hermit?"
     No response.
     "Where are you from?"
     Contrary to Valdo's expectations, the insect did respond. It stopped glowing momentarily, going out completely. Then it flashed brightly, a brilliant gold color. It flew several feet away from the Traveler, and stopped in midair.
     There was another flash, and bands of light started forming around the creature, making a solid circle about one foot in diameter. The band started to fill with intricate designs and symbols, similar to the ones etched into the body of the insect itself. The symbols lined the edge of the circle, and the complex lines and shapes came together to form a single solid shape, with various things written on it in the symbolic language that Valdo didn't understand. A single point of bright light appeared on the shape, followed by another in a different spot. The first one began to pulse quickly.
     The diagram of light rested, the single point of light pulsing silently.
     Valdo knew instantly what this meant. It was a map. The shape looked exactly like the map of the region he had in one of his pockets.
     But what did the two dots mean?
     He pulled out his map, and compared it to the one produced by the insect. They were almost identical. He noted the positions of the two dots, and looked at his map.
     According to his analysis, the first, blinking point of light was at his location. That meant the insect was displaying its own location as a reference point. If that was the case, then the second, still marker was a very long way away, even for the Traveler. It was obvious that that location had something to do with the bug's origin. He marked the point on his own map with an ink pen from one of his pockets.
     Then, as quickly as it arose, the glyph was gone.
     Unfazed, he immediately started to get ready for his long journey, but halted.
     Tallus should know about this. He was the one that gave him the mysterious little thing, so a hint to its roots would excite him. An issue was, it was in the dead of night, and Valdo didn't want to wake Tallus up.
     The easy thing to do would be to sleep.
     By that reasoning, Valdo spread his jacket out on the cold cave floor, heaped empty pouches in a mound for a pillow, and promptly fell asleep.

     The ground vibrated.
     Valdo's eyes snapped open, he was instantly alert. The tremor must have been a forceful one to have reached him in this mountainside cave. He sat up, and listened carefully, but all he heard was silence.
     Silence should be the only thing to be heard this early in the morning. Th only explanations were human involvement or a very large animal.
     "Human involvement" meant mining. The Traveler recognized this mountain as being a likely supply of iron ore, and he thought he saw the remnants of a miner's camp on his way up. The tremor could have been a dynamite blast.
     "A very large animal" meant a very large animal. Most likely one that was looking for breakfast.
     Wasting no time, Valdo equipped himself, putting on his jacket, wrapping up, and attaching his drawstring pouches that contained most of his worldly and necessary posessions. He put on his belt and his boots, and he was ready to go.
     He ran for the edge of the cave, and dived into empty space. His jets ignited, and he took to the skies.
     Before making for Tallus's town, he decided to take a lap around the tiny mountain. Maybe then he could learn the origin of the noise that awoke him.
     He banked left and turned toward the mountain, scanning it for movement or other suspicious activity. He went as slow as he could while remaining airborne, at about 60 miles per hour. He looked as carefully as was possible, but he saw nothing. Eventually, he was brought back to the front of the crag. There was nothing there.
     If there was nothing near the mountain itself, then that meant it was an extremely forceful tremor at a very large distance. Which meant that the Traveler was in no immediate danger, but he would be on guard for the duration of his journey.
     Then, underneath his goggles, Valdo's eyes widened. For the first time in decades, fear leaked into his body. His heart began to race.
     He changed course to due south, and flared full speed, something that was rarely seen of the Traveler. A mighty shockwave rent the air, any birds nearby would be instantly incinerated. The jets from his boots flashed bright white, and Valdo, it seemed, disappeared.

     If teleportation were possible, any passers-by would have attested to it instantly if they had seen Valdo decrease speed. The rapid decrease in velocity combined with the wall of air catching up with him made him appear to materalize from nowhere. Fortunately, there was no one around to have their eardrums concussed. Valdo was safe.
     He fell six feet to the ground, and landed on one knee. He rose and ran to the town gate, not even bothering with the gatekeeper. He took a massive jet-assisted leap up and over the wall, landing on the inside.
     As soon as he saw the inside of the town, he wished he hadn't.
     Everything was destroyed. Everything. Buildings were torn down, debris was scattered everywhere. Flames engulfed the buildings that weren't already demolished. It was exactly what the Traveler had feared.
     He coasted down the city streets, headed for Collander. Tallus had a basement, most other people didn't. He also kept it locked and hidden, being a paranoid old man. Chances were that Tallus heard what was coming and hid.
     In no time, Valdo arrived at Tallus's house. It was badly burned, but it was still standing. Valdo opened the door.
     Inside, things were in a wrecked state, even more wrecked than normal. There was no fire damage, but it was clear that something had ransacked Tallus's house. Why this was the only house left standing was apparent. Whoever was responsible for this was looking for something. Something belonging to Tallus.
     A moan was heard from the kitchen.
     Valdo ran in, yelling, "Tallus?!"
     In the kitchen, Tallus was sprawled on the ground, coated in soot and ash. His eyes were opening, but Valdo could tell he was badly injured. He was bleeding from a severe head wound, and one of his legs looked broken.
     Tallus rasped, "Traveler?"
     Valdo knelt over him, and lifted his head in his arms to slow the bleeding. "I'm right here. We need to get you to the next town, you're hurt."
     Tallus coughed, then smiled sadly. "Traveler, I'm not going to make it."
     The Traveler's voice took on a stern tone as he said, "Don't say that. We'll get you to the hospital, and they'll fix you up. I'll carry you."
     He started to lift him up, but Tallus interrupted. "No. You... know it as well... as I do. I am an old man. It's my time."
     "No, Tallus. I won't let it happen. You'll be fine."
     Tallus's sad smile was back. "No. My time is up. I have one... thing to tell you, before I go. Listen well." The Traveler gave in. He knew it from the start. Tallus was not going to survive.
     "That insect. They want it. And they will... stop at nothing... to get it. But whatever you do, do not," he went into a coughing fit, then recovered momentarily, "let them have it. The world rests on the fate of that little bug... protect it."
     "Yes. I'll keep it safe. Whatever you want, Tallus. Now let's get out of here."
     Tallus did not respond.
     "Tallus?"
     The old man's eyes were glazed over. His soul had left him. Tallus, sole owner of Tallus's Oddment Emporium, and Valdo's only friend, was gone from the earth.
     Valdo let the old man's head rest.
     Dead. Tallus was dead. And only he knew who was responsible.
     Fury erupted in the Traveler's body, burning away any thoughts of grief. Valdo vowed to have vengeance for the crimes done here today. All the people that had died, the Traveler would avenge them.
     The Traveler ran out of the burned resting place of his old friend, and blasted into the sky. After a short distance, he went to maximum burn, and disappeared.

     Vengeance is sometimes a difficult thing to attain. It is written about in epic tales and songs, always portrayed as a happy thing to achieve. But, the ttruth is far more different. No amount of wanton destruction can fill the hole left by the murder of a loved one.
     In killing Tallus and everyone living in that smell, unnamed town, the culprits may as well have dug their own graves. For nothing in this realm is as mighty as the rage of Valdo Morenicus.

Description
     The Traveler sat on the red rock floor of a cavern.
     This cavern was a ways away from civilization, and the entrance was at least thirty feet from the ground. No stragglers would be able to get in, and the Traveler would get his privacy.
     He was sitting cross-legged in the center of the single room. His coat was off, and his head was bare, revealing a shock of red-orange hair. He was staring intently at the small cage in front of him, with a small, thoughtful frown on his face.
     The cage was open, but, as Tallus had said, the small insect inside made no desperate bid for freedom. It just stayed there. Valdo picked it up, and gently removed the insect from its cage. It rested in his hand, glowing vividly and slowly. The Traveler figured he'd experiment a bit.
     "Hover in place." He took his hand out from underneath the bug, and it stayed there, wings humming slightly. "Fly to the wall in front of me." The mysterious creature drifted to the far wall and stayed there, wings buzzing against the rock. "Fly back to my hand." It hovered back and assumed the same position it had been in a few moments ago.
     Valdo was perplexed, but intrigued.
     "What are you?"
     The bug, of course, did not respond.
     "Why were you with that old hermit?"
     No response.
     "Where are you from?"
     Contrary to Valdo's expectations, the insect did respond. It stopped glowing momentarily, going out completely. Then it flashed brightly, a brilliant gold color. It flew several feet away from the Traveler, and stopped in midair.
     There was another flash, and bands of light started forming around the creature, making a solid circle about one foot in diameter. The band started to fill with intricate designs and symbols, similar to the ones etched into the body of the insect itself. The symbols lined the edge of the circle, and the complex lines and shapes came together to form a single solid shape, with various things written on it in the symbolic language that Valdo didn't understand. A single point of bright light appeared on the shape, followed by another in a different spot. The first one began to pulse quickly.
     The diagram of light rested, the single point of light pulsing silently.
     Valdo knew instantly what this meant. It was a map. The shape looked exactly like the map of the region he had in one of his pockets.
     But what did the two dots mean?
     He pulled out his map, and compared it to the one produced by the insect. They were almost identical. He noted the positions of the two dots, and looked at his map.
     According to his analysis, the first, blinking point of light was at his location. That meant the insect was displaying its own location as a reference point. If that was the case, then the second, still marker was a very long way away, even for the Traveler. It was obvious that that location had something to do with the bug's origin. He marked the point on his own map with an ink pen from one of his pockets.
     Then, as quickly as it arose, the glyph was gone.
     Unfazed, he immediately started to get ready for his long journey, but halted.
     Tallus should know about this. He was the one that gave him the mysterious little thing, so a hint to its roots would excite him. An issue was, it was in the dead of night, and Valdo didn't want to wake Tallus up.
     The easy thing to do would be to sleep.
     By that reasoning, Valdo spread his jacket out on the cold cave floor, heaped empty pouches in a mound for a pillow, and promptly fell asleep.

     The ground vibrated.
     Valdo's eyes snapped open, he was instantly alert. The tremor must have been a forceful one to have reached him in this mountainside cave. He sat up, and listened carefully, but all he heard was silence.
     Silence should be the only thing to be heard this early in the morning. Th only explanations were human involvement or a very large animal.
     "Human involvement" meant mining. The Traveler recognized this mountain as being a likely supply of iron ore, and he thought he saw the remnants of a miner's camp on his way up. The tremor could have been a dynamite blast.
     "A very large animal" meant a very large animal. Most likely one that was looking for breakfast.
     Wasting no time, Valdo equipped himself, putting on his jacket, wrapping up, and attaching his drawstring pouches that contained most of his worldly and necessary posessions. He put on his belt and his boots, and he was ready to go.
     He ran for the edge of the cave, and dived into empty space. His jets ignited, and he took to the skies.
     Before making for Tallus's town, he decided to take a lap around the tiny mountain. Maybe then he could learn the origin of the noise that awoke him.
     He banked left and turned toward the mountain, scanning it for movement or other suspicious activity. He went as slow as he could while remaining airborne, at about 60 miles per hour. He looked as carefully as was possible, but he saw nothing. Eventually, he was brought back to the front of the crag. There was nothing there.
     If there was nothing near the mountain itself, then that meant it was an extremely forceful tremor at a very large distance. Which meant that the Traveler was in no immediate danger, but he would be on guard for the duration of his journey.
     Then, underneath his goggles, Valdo's eyes widened. For the first time in decades, fear leaked into his body. His heart began to race.
     He changed course to due south, and flared full speed, something that was rarely seen of the Traveler. A mighty shockwave rent the air, any birds nearby would be instantly incinerated. The jets from his boots flashed bright white, and Valdo, it seemed, disappeared.

     If teleportation were possible, any passers-by would have attested to it instantly if they had seen Valdo decrease speed. The rapid decrease in velocity combined with the wall of air catching up with him made him appear to materalize from nowhere. Fortunately, there was no one around to have their eardrums concussed. Valdo was safe.
     He fell six feet to the ground, and landed on one knee. He rose and ran to the town gate, not even bothering with the gatekeeper. He took a massive jet-assisted leap up and over the wall, landing on the inside.
     As soon as he saw the inside of the town, he wished he hadn't.
     Everything was destroyed. Everything. Buildings were torn down, debris was scattered everywhere. Flames engulfed the buildings that weren't already demolished. It was exactly what the Traveler had feared.
     He coasted down the city streets, headed for Collander. Tallus had a basement, most other people didn't. He also kept it locked and hidden, being a paranoid old man. Chances were that Tallus heard what was coming and hid.
     In no time, Valdo arrived at Tallus's house. It was badly burned, but it was still standing. Valdo opened the door.
     Inside, things were in a wrecked state, even more wrecked than normal. There was no fire damage, but it was clear that something had ransacked Tallus's house. Why this was the only house left standing was apparent. Whoever was responsible for this was looking for something. Something belonging to Tallus.
     A moan was heard from the kitchen.
     Valdo ran in, yelling, "Tallus?!"
     In the kitchen, Tallus was sprawled on the ground, coated in soot and ash. His eyes were opening, but Valdo could tell he was badly injured. He was bleeding from a severe head wound, and one of his legs looked broken.
     Tallus rasped, "Traveler?"
     Valdo knelt over him, and lifted his head in his arms to slow the bleeding. "I'm right here. We need to get you to the next town, you're hurt."
     Tallus coughed, then smiled sadly. "Traveler, I'm not going to make it."
     The Traveler's voice took on a stern tone as he said, "Don't say that. We'll get you to the hospital, and they'll fix you up. I'll carry you."
     He started to lift him up, but Tallus interrupted. "No. You... know it as well... as I do. I am an old man. It's my time."
     "No, Tallus. I won't let it happen. You'll be fine."
     Tallus's sad smile was back. "No. My time is up. I have one... thing to tell you, before I go. Listen well." The Traveler gave in. He knew it from the start. Tallus was not going to survive.
     "That insect. They want it. And they will... stop at nothing... to get it. But whatever you do, do not," he went into a coughing fit, then recovered momentarily, "let them have it. The world rests on the fate of that little bug... protect it."
     "Yes. I'll keep it safe. Whatever you want, Tallus. Now let's get out of here."
     Tallus did not respond.
     "Tallus?"
     The old man's eyes were glazed over. His soul had left him. Tallus, sole owner of Tallus's Oddment Emporium, and Valdo's only friend, was gone from the earth.
     Valdo let the old man's head rest.
     Dead. Tallus was dead. And only he knew who was responsible.
     Fury erupted in the Traveler's body, burning away any thoughts of grief. Valdo vowed to have vengeance for the crimes done here today. All the people that had died, the Traveler would avenge them.
     The Traveler ran out of the burned resting place of his old friend, and blasted into the sky. After a short distance, he went to maximum burn, and disappeared.

     Vengeance is sometimes a difficult thing to attain. It is written about in epic tales and songs, always portrayed as a happy thing to achieve. But, the ttruth is far more different. No amount of wanton destruction can fill the hole left by the murder of a loved one.
     In killing Tallus and everyone living in that smell, unnamed town, the culprits may as well have dug their own graves. For nothing in this realm is as mighty as the rage of Valdo Morenicus.