<span style="font-style: italic">KABLAMMM! The fog was impenetrable, but the explosions could be seen bright orange-yellow balls illuminating various regions of the city. The ever present sounds of people screaming, a child wailing, an old woman crying and men begging for their lives sounded all around him.<br/><br/>Anthony was aware of his own presence in the dream, the vision. He found himself standing on a hillock in the midst of a city. He recognized the city. He knew it all too well. It had been home for most of his life. His appearance on the other hand was even more disturbing. <br/><br/>Anthony's long salted gray hair waved in the wind. It would have extended to the small of his back if there were no wind. What struck Anthony most was that it was salted gray rather than the raven jet back he was accustomed to. His eyes were black and ablaze with anger. A scar seared his cheek below his left eye. Gray stubble dotted his otherwise unblemished face. crow's feet creased the corners of his eyes and his brow furrowed. A wicked grin spread across his lips. His teeth, yellowed with age, but well cared for.<br/><br/>The smell of burnt buildings and death permeated the air. What he had earlier mistaken as fog he now realized was smoke. The sleeping 19-year old Anthony was frightened by the vision, but the older ageless version of himself, drenched in sweat was casting fireballs in every direction. He could see his hands whirling in mid air--soft incomprehensible incantations flowing from his dried cracking lips. The fire balls started small and quickly grew to balls of flame roughly three feet in diameter. The old wizard, Mars Anthony Edward Lokken hurled the balls at every building he could see. Any person that moved, was struck by the balls of intense heat which burned people alive and cast the entire city ablaze. The fire of the city could be seen many leagues off into the distant. Anthony heard his own laughter. It sounded wicked, demented coming from someone whose mind had ripped asunder long ago. The vision frightened the young man.</span><br/><br/>The dream was a recurring one, he started having when he was 19 years old and an apprentice to the last wizard, Sahayle. Mars knew all to well the contents of the dream before the day dawned and was not surprised at the outcome. Yes, he slaughtered the inhabitants of his hometown and laid waste to every building, save one structure,<span style="font-style: italic">Fastborg Palads</span>The Lokken family estate, which is now his home. Both his parent passed away years earlier. His brothers either died in battle or were exiled to distant lands. One nephew, Herod II, son of Günter followed his uncle Anthony's path. They were very similar in appearance and demeanor. Uncle Mars, or as the young man refers to him, Uncle Anthony is the 19-year old Herod's idol and mentor. He wants to be just like the older wizard.<br/><br/>But Mars was in a foul mood. He had conquered all of Alathea years ago and finally suppressed the most recent rebellion. The people of Alathea lived in fear. The power Necromantic Wizard had fouled the soil and left many villages scorched throughout the land, none more so than Norfell, his home. He hated his family, where once he held strong to the belief that the Lokkens should rule legitimately. He despised his father who readily accepted the previous emperor's position on the throne. Then Mars tossed it all away. His heart is filled with hatred and loathing. Is there anyone capable of squelching Mars's anger? Will the people of Alathea ever be free from his tyranny?