[center][img]http://s25.postimg.org/kn20vadkv/Far_Hunter_Logo.png[/img]
[b][color=96512B][h3]Gerrik Far-Teacher[/h3]
Level 1 Hain Hero
0 Khookies[/color][/b][/center]

It was just another night. That is, until the phantoms lit up the sky. Gerrik Far-Teacher had wandered far enough to have seen the Aurora a few times before, and this looked similar, yet it did not [i]feel[/i] similar. The lights were intense, and much further from the poles than should have been possible, and they took forms, strange forms, twisting and turning like some sort of dream.

"What's going on?" he muttered to himself.

[color=Peru][i]I'm almost as stumped as you are, to be honest,[/i][/color] came the reply.

Gerrik almost jumped, and his head swivelled to the left and right to attempt to see where the voice was coming from. Looking was in vain, though, for he could not Perceive any source for that voice. This left him to conclude that the voice originated from within his own mind. But of course, it was Stone Chipper's voice, and had he not promised that if he ever needed him, all he had to do was ask? He hadn't realised that this was what Teknall meant, though.

[color=Peru][i]I have a few extra observations, though,[/i][/color] Teknall's voice continued once Gerrik had composed himself, [color=Peru][i]This is a global event. No part of the sky, not even the day side, is unaffected. It seems to be the work of Illunabar, the Muse. Something to do with dreams...[/i][/color]

Gerrik stared at the writing light-show in the sky for a few moments in silence. "But what does is it doing? She wouldn't go to this effort just to make lights?" he eventually asked.

Teknall was silent for a moment, deep in contemplation. This seemed all too similar to that time Jvan had spread her virus across Galbar. [color=Peru][i]I wouldn't put it past her to make pretty lights for the sake of it, but I can feel her power pulsing across the planet with it. But I trust that whatever she is doing it is for the better. Get a good night's sleep. You'll need it for tomorrow.[/i][/color]

The voice of Teknall faded, and Gerrik was left looking at the sky like the others in the village. However, his words did not slip Gerrik's notice. 'You'll need it for tomorrow'. Those words were foreboding, yet Teknall dropped no hint as to what they foreboded towards. Gerrik decided to trust Teknall on this matter, and once he tired of looking at the sky he returned to the hut he was staying in, slipped under his blankets and closed his eyes to sleep.

Yet Far-Teacher did not sleep soundly that night. His heightened senses and new power of Perception made everything more vivid to him, including his dreams, and tonight his dreams felt real. The lights in the sky descended upon him, and the world about him changed into a phantasm of reality. Rather than the quiet darkness of sleep, he Perceived scenes around him...

A strange creature materialised in his mind. It was bipedal, of form not completely alien to a Hain's, yet this being was taller, with different proportions, a single pair of eyes on the front of the head, covered in soft, pinkish skin, and with a skeleton on the inside rather than outside. The form appeared feminine, and was dressed in clothes and carried equipment not too dissimilar to his own. She was nomadic, well travelled, not even staying long enough to enjoy the hospitality of the villages she visited. Yet he saw her stumble, trip and fall, and the pain as the bones of her leg bent and fractured was almost enough to wake Gerrik. Then whiteness washed over her, and her leg was wrapped in bandages and leaves. Incapacitated, she stayed, and now the [b]Huntress[/b] became the teacher. He could see a material similar to rawhide, yet more flexible, and also contraptions of string and sticks, yet the harder he focussed on them the blurrier the picture became, until the whole scene faded...

Stories and fables, dancing Hain and acted scenes, music and colour. These sensations all came at once in a great collage of culture. Yet they all followed a pattern, and soon Gerrik realised that this was all from a single village, a single history, some story about [b]Slaying a Fiberling[/b] and upholding traditions. Yet in this kaleidoscopic scene he noticed that some of this story was not simply acted or sung but carved and painted into wood, a method of recording which was quite unlike any which he had seen before...

Next came visions of a single man, a Hain fat from feasting and gluttony. Yet not simply fat with food, but with power. This man was portrayed sitting in a high chair, surrounded by hungry Hain who begged for some of the odd, white food he held in his hands, and those Hain stood like slaves. Gerrik could see that this haughty Hain was grinding something in his hands, and he sensed that this had something to do with the food, yet he could not tell what it was. And it was with this secret that the other Hain were forced to kneel to the [b]Grinder[/b]...

There was a tent, and in it were two creatures of the same sort as the Huntress, conversing. It was between a male and a female, the latter appearing to be a traveller and collector of sorts. However, the conversation was in a tongue foreign to him, and their body language was difficult to decipher, being much more subtle than that of the Hain, although there were hints of a potential conflict. The only word he could distinguish in the conversation was a name, [b]Vascogne[/b]. Yet tensions melted away as the male went to the casks and opened one. The aroma that wafted out was vaguely sweet, yet with a sharp edge, and this strange scent engulfed the scene and smothered Gerrik's senses until all that was left was a happy pink haze...

When he finally awoke it was not long after daybreak. Gerrik climbed out of bed and looked to the sky, and found that it had returned to normal. Yet he was confident that what he had seen when he had been sleeping were not mere dreams, but visions with meaning. And he had good reason to think so, for even though many details of his dreams were blurred, there was one piece of information he had learned with perfect clarity- location. Somehow, although he did not know how, he [i]knew[/i] where all these visions had taken place, and as such his curiosity compelled him to visit those places and people, for according to the vision each of them held some technology, some new piece of knowledge, which he had to learn and spread.

He ate his breakfast, of meat cooked dry and gathered vegetables, and was considering the things he had seen when a voice spoke to him. [color=Peru][i]Come meet me outside the village.[/i][/color] Obediently Gerrik walked out of the village and over a hill nearby, where another Hain was waiting for him.

[color=Peru]"It is good to see you are well, Gerrik,"[/color] Teknall greeted.

Gerrik's beak and his palms turned up as he bounded down the hill to meet Teknall. "It's good to see you again too, Chipper."

Despite Gerrik's enthusiasm, Teknall only reflected a fraction of that emotion, for he seemed troubled by something. But Teknall suppressed that worry for the moment. [color=Peru]"I have seen everything you have been up to, so there is no need for you to report everything to me. But there is one thing I must ask. What did you dream about last night?"[/color]

Gerrik paused for a moment of recollection before answering. "The visions... I saw four scenes. One of them was of a culture and stories of a particular village, and in it I saw that these stories were carved into wood and coloured by some means. Another revealed a Hain who ruled over other Hain by means of food, and control of it, and this food is an odd, white food which I have not seen before. The other two visions involved not Hain but some other strange beings, tall, bipedal, fleshy, yet also intelligent. One vision was of a huntress, who taught knowledge of a material which seemed similar yet different to rawhide. And the final vision included two of these creatures, who possessed a strange, fruity drink.

"But most fascinating about all these visions," Gerrik continued, "Is that when I awoke I knew exactly where all four of them took place. I could travel to those places, and discover how they made what I saw, and then spread that knowledge to others." His gaze looked off wistfully, considering the possibilities.

Teknall thought for a moment before answering. [color=Peru]"Last night was a strange one indeed. I do not claim to understand the machinations of Illunabar's dreams, but I have already seen some of their results. They have sparked a wave of inspiration across Galbar. I'm sure you will find many new technologies besides the ones you have seen in your visions, and you shall learn them and share them as well.

"But now is not the time for that. I did not come to speak of dreams, but of a great danger that is coming."[/color] Teknall's jaw clenched, and his tone became grim. [color=Peru]"The Mad God Vestec has unleashed a horde upon this world, a horde which will slaughter all in its path. He treats this world and the life on it as if it were a game. That is where you come in."[/color]

Teknall grabbed Gerrik by the hand and his senses dissolved around him until he shared a part of the god's vision. And revealed before them was the horde. Marching along, their numbers covering the hills and filling the forest, were many Hain, all carrying weapons. At the flanks of the horde, and flying ahead, behind and above it, were strange beings, similar to those he had seen in his dream, yet with wings like that of a bird. Gerrik's head flitted from side to side and his teeth chattered at the terrifying sight of all of this. Never in his life had he even conceived of such a large gathering of murderous beings.

The scene faded and returned to the peaceful hillside when Teknall released Gerrik's hand, yet he was still shaken. Teknall, his tone unwavering, continued speaking. [color=Peru]"If they are not stopped, they shall kill everyone in every village they find. So I have decided that they shall be stopped here. You are to prepare weapons, build fortifications, warn the townsfolk. And make many, many arrows, for you will need them."[/color]

Gerrik stood for a few moments in stunned silence. He was about to speak, but hesitated on remembering when he had last made a foolish statement about Teknall's work. So he picked his words carefully. "But Teknall, there are so many of them, and I am only one man. If I have nothing more than myself and the villagers, then there is no way I could stop them all."

[color=Peru]"I think you underestimate your capabilities, but at the same time you are right,"[/color] Teknall replied levelly, [color=Peru]"But you shall not be alone. The Urtelem are my own creations, and I will call on them, such that it will be as if the very earth had risen up to fight for you. But even with that help, it will not be an easy fight. Come here."[/color]

Teknall beckoned, and Gerrik drew close. Teknall laid both his hands on Gerrik's shoulders, and the air hummed with a divine glow. [color=Peru][b]"Be strong, Far-Teacher. Be swift. Be agile. Be durable. May you stand stalwart against your foes, and be a guardian for the innocent and for civilisation. Do not fear, for I am ever behind you, and with me you shall stand like the mighty mountains, unyielding to the forces which try to batter you down."[/b][/color]

Power flowed from Teknall and into Gerrik Far-Teacher. Once this was completed, Teknall removed his hands, and Gerrik took a new breath, his vigour increased almost as much as it had the day Teknall had first blessed him with power. And with this new strength came courage, and the fear faded from Gerrik's expression. The situation was still dire, but he now had confidence that he would overcome it.

Teknall gave Gerrik a few moments to establish his resolve. [color=Peru]"I entrust upon you the preparations here. You have seen your foe, so you know what is coming. Vestec's Hain will fall easily to my Urtelem,  and although some will still get through which you need to account for your main foe will likely be from the winged people. While many of them did not carry weapons you could see, they have the ability to project their power to create weapons of pure energy. If the horde keeps their current pace, they should be here in about ten days. Refugees, Hain who have fled their villages to escape the Horde, will be coming before then. You should have enough time to prepare adequate defences and enough arrows, if you get help and work efficiently. Understood?"[/color]

There was no miscomprehension or forgotten words, for Far-Teacher's keen mind caught every word. He nodded, "Yes."

[color=Peru]"Good. I shall leave you to it. Good luck,"[/color] Teknall said. And then he turned and walked off, and Gerrik also turned and walked back to the village. It was time to prepare for war.

[hider=Summary]
Gerrik experiences the Phantasmagoria. Teknall is unsure exactly what it does, but trusts Illunabar that no ill will come from it.
During the Phantasmagoria, Gerrik receives visions of events which will take place because of the Phantasmagoria. He sees Susa the Huntress, the cultural reinassance of Fiberslay, the tyranny of Grinder, and Vascogne's wine. In each of these visions he is tantalised by the existence of some new technology, yet is unable to discern any details of each. Instead, the vision told him the locations of each of these people, so that he might go on a quest to find these new innovations.

The morning after, Teknall speaks with Gerrik in person. Gerrik tells him of the visions.
Teknall then warns Gerrik of Vestec's incoming horde, and instructs him to stop it. He is currently in the path of the Hain and Fallen Angel horde.
Teknall blesses Gerrik (-1 MP, 12.5MP remaining. Far-Teacher goes up 4 levels, is now Level 5)
Gerrik has approximately 10 days to prepare the village before the horde arrives.
Teknall will gather an army of Urtelem to help him.
[/hider]