The landscape began to change slowly as Arkadi got closer and closer to the Keep. Life began to drain out of the area, the little things, like bird songs, began to disappear. The atmosphere began to quieten and a certain ambiance filled the air and the only things growing were harsh weeds and hardy trees. The landscape became grey and the words of the land spoke of death and evil. Such things unsettled the superstitious Varan, everything told him to leave, even the beard on his jaw. Never-the-less the giant kept jogging till he could see the foreboding massive keep which made even him feel small. Arkadi began to walk a few hundred meters away from the Keep when the other Varan dismounted from his massive horse and walked in through the gateway. 

[i] Damn horses. It's unnatural to ride a horse, I wonder how he even learned to ride. The last time I rode I was as stiff as rawhide.[/i] Arkadi laughed, which was a big booming sound and seemed foreign to the location. [i] It must be the nerves getting to me.[/i] Thought Arkadi as he neared the large keep. The gateway where the other Varan walked through was actually a gate and it seemed to be melted through. 

"Damned sorcerers! Messing with the spirits." He began to grumble on as he walked through the gate and saw the courtyard. The courtyard was filled with bones of the dead which overlaid crimson runes. Overhanging was a crane filled with giant stones, Arkadi made a mental not to avoid walking under it. Arkadi's perceptive also noticed the sorcerer in front of him, who heard his ignorant grumbles.