text: [Themes: fan fiction]
  
  You get up, groggy from last night's affairs. You brush your short black hair back and grab your sword. Heading down to the tavern lobby, the owner hands you cup. Almost like he can sense it's your last.
  
  "Thank, you." you reply. "You know, I never got your name?"
  
  "Jayce. Be safe out there today, Dorian. I better see you back here tonight to pay for that room you've been staying in!" He jokes.
  
  "Fair enough."
  
  You down the drink and head out into the street before the gates. Off in the distance, on the cliffs, you see a white horse and a man with a red mask. That must be him.
  
  Rowe stumbles out of the Tavern. His Axe poised upon his shoulder. Gywn makes here way down the street with staff in hand.
  
  "Fancy seeing you here" You say to Gwyn.
  
  "Oh, let's get on with it already!" She says.
  
  Grif raises his spear high and then sets its point upon the village. Bandits come swarming from the hill tops towards the gate.
  
  You only have moments till the whole force arrives at the gates. How do you proceed?
  
  > make your stand within
  You decide within the towns walls is the best way to combat the bandits. They do not have any seige weapons, though breaking through the gates won't take much force. At least this way you can funnel them in.
  
  The three of you stand at the gate, poised and ready for action.
  
  "Some of us are not destined to meet again in this world." Gwyn remarks.
  
  You take the advice to heart as you draw your blade.
  
  Fifty bandits come, slamming against the gate. They shake the bars as stone begins to give way. It won't hold for long.
  
  > rush the Bandits at the gate
  You take this moment as an advantage. You run towards the gate and begin stabbing through the bars at the bandits. With many pressing behind, they're helpless to raise their weapons at you. Rowe runs up to your aid and clumsily slams against the gate to support it. His attempt to help actually loosens the gate from its hinges as it begins to fall. Rocks come down all around you, burying you and the bandits beneath.
  
  Your hand shoots up from the rubble as you try to force your way through. You feel a soft hand grab yours as you slowly break out into the light. Gwyn stands above you smiling, pulling you out of the debris. You smile back as you get back on your feet. Suddenly, a sword erupts from her chest as blood spills from her mouth.
  
  "No!!!" you're overcome with a berserk rage.
  
  She falls, revealing a bandit built like an ogre. He smirks at your pain and agony. One swing and you send his head rolling as his body falls to its knees. You keep swinging, wildly left and right. You're vision red with anger. Something catches your blade as you look to see Rowe gripping it in one hand.
  
  "Calm down, son. It's over for now." Rowe responds solemnly.
  
  You take Gwyn back into the village to lay her to rest. That night the clouds hang overhead dark and menacing.
  
  You sit at the bar with Rowe discussing the next plans for battle. You don't know when Grif and his men will attack again.
  
  "It was just fifty men..." you say in disbelief. "Why would he only send fifty?"
  
  "He was gauging us, lad. Checking our will to fight." Rowe responds.
  
  The silence of the night is cut with the sound of a horn blowing outside the village walls. You rush out of the Tavern with Rowe following quickly behind.
  
  The rain begins to pour clouding your vision. Off in the darkness you see a torch and the man holding it. Grif! Lights begin to illuminate, at least fifty or so. Grif throws his torch into the village and the rest follow suit. The town becomes engulfed in flames as the villagers run for their lives through the rear gate.
  
  > The end is important in all things
  You and Rowe rush out into the night to finish it once and for all. His axe claims the bandits under its heavy steel. You crush them with your massive sword. Grif approaches on horseback, charging fast in your direction. You brace yourself for the impact.
  
  Too quick. The horse sends you flying in the air. You land with a hard thud on your back. Gazing up into the night sky, you're dazed. You look left and watch helplessly as Rowe is surrounded by a dozen men. They drive their spears into his side as he goes down with a vicious yell. To your right, Grif dismounts from his horse and steps closer and closer to you. You're broken. Your hand grips your sword but you can no longer lift it. As he closes in with spear poised to strike, a dark figure slams into his side taking him down.
  
  You strain your eyes to get a better glimpse of your savior. Through the faint light of the flames you can make out his back. A ship on rough seas inked in black. His hands fall harder and harder onto Grif's face as the mask cracks and blood soils his fists. You close your eyes, weak from battle and drift to sleep.
  
  You wake up the next morning in your bedroom at the Tavern. The owner stands over you. Your body is wrapped in bandages. Must have broken a lot of bones.
  
  "What happened?" you ask the Tavern owner.
  
  "You and that man saved us...from the bandits and Grif!" He exclaims, excited
  
  "I thought this whole place was going to burn to the ground?" You say.
  
  "No, the guards stayed and put out the fires while the townspeople ran. We lost a few but not much."
  
  "Where's that man? The one who killed Grif?" You ask.
  
  "What, man. It's was only you and Rowe out there. He didn't make it."
  
  You lay down thinking of the loss of your comrades. Gwyn was soo young. You bash yourself for bringing her along. Rowe knew what he was getting into. He died a protecting the village, as he would have wanted to.
  
  The villagers won today, not you. Another losing battle.
  
  The End