In the town square a small gathering of people crowded around as Lord Bartle left the town hall, followed by two guards dragging along a man in cuffs. “I am prepared to announce my verdict!” He shouted to the masses, though it was clear that all in attendance already knew what was about to be said. The accused had pled guilty to the crime of murdering Lord Bartle’s brother in law, after the man had raped and killed the accused’s daughter. “Through careful deliberation, and prayer I have found Woodcock Johnson guilty, and hereby sentence him… To death!” The accused was dragged across the square to the place where he would meet his end. The crowd cheered as the executioner marched his way up to the platform upon which Woodcock Johnson had been forced to his knees, facing the axe. However, despite the odds stacked against him, this was not to be his last hour, a robed figure appeared atop the roof of the town hall.

Charon looked out across the square, looking to the dark clouds on the horizon; a storm was brewing. Drawing his blade, he called out, “By my command, I order you, Lord Bartle, to set this man free!” Gasps rang out in the crowd and hushed words were exchanged, as the assembly grew more and more excited.

“Who the hell do you think you are! Why don’t you come down here and tell it to my guards!” The Lord shouted back, daring Charon to make the first move.

“It’s the Stormcaller! Look, the clouds darken at his very appearance!” One man yelled.

“My name is Charon, Keeper of the Storm. I wish you no harm. And yet, the balance must be preserved. An innocent woman has died in this town, and a guilty man has paid the ultimate price, thereby restoring the natural order. So long as this order is upheld, none other need die this day. Should you choose to execute this man however, I warn you, that by my code I shall be forced to collect your own life as payment to the gods.” Charon answered, evenly.

“Damn you, Keeper! Archers! Bring this man down!” Upon receiving their orders, five archers drew their bows and fired at the rooftop. However, by the time the arrows reached their destination, they met nothing but empty air. As the gathering turned their heads to the sky the winds began to pick up, and rain started to fall. Amidst the grey sky was Charon hung momentarily in the air, at the apex of his jump, before gravity took hold and sent him plummeting towards the earth. Landing gently, (thanks to his boots) among the archers, Charon set into a flurried mixture of precise flips, kicks, and slashes, knocking down his opponents and breaking their bows without inflicting any fatal wounds.

Sprinting over to the platform, the Keeper engaged the executioner in combat. Parrying a few light blows from the man’s axe, Charon saw the opening as the executioner raised his axe above his head and brought it down over the robed figure’s head. In a flash, Charon sidestepped the blow, jumped, flung his left arm out, grabbing hold of his opponent and cartwheeling over the his shoulder. Then, before his opponent could turn around, the Keeper put a hard kick into his back, sending the man off the edge of the platform.

At this point, the unthinkable began to happen, as a mighty tornado began to form, sending the remaining guards scrambling away from its wrath. Taking the much needed break in the fighting, Charon freed Woodcock Johnson from his restraints. “Your wife is waiting for you two miles south of the town with a horse and enough supplies to see you safely from this place. Go now, and never turn back.” The Keeper said, giving the man a little push to wake him from the shocked daze that had come over him.

“I don’t even know what to say, I hope someday I will be able to repay you. Thank you so much, Keeper.” With that, Woodcock Johnson ran off to meet his wife, never to be seen again.

Suddenly, a loud voice echoed through the air, “Embrace the storm, chosen mortal. Cast aside your fears and brave the storm. Only then shall you see the Eye.” It called, seemingly from out of the tornado, which was now headed straight for the Keeper. Though at first paralyzed, Charon quickly realized that the only possible conclusion was that he was being summoned. Without any further hesitation, the purple robed figure sprinted towards the buffeting winds and leapt up into the tornado.