The steady patter of a cold rain fell upon the road in an endless drone.bThe dark skies above turned the darkness of night into an inpenetrable wall of black. It was not a night fit for man or beast. Yet despite the storm, a carraige trundled its way through the mud as it approached the manor house.<br/><br/>Inside the house a warm fire was burning brightly. The aroma of roast pheasant and sweet potatoes filled the air. Lord Rune Blackthorn savored his evening brandy. It had been a productive day. The young prince had gone missing and the court was in turmoil. Although he hated to see the land's seat of power in such chaos, he knew it would emerge stronger due to the crisis.<br/><br/>Lrd Rune was one of the most influential men of the court. He had wealth and power. He ran most of the city's slave trade and had first choice of servents for his personal use.<br/><br/>Sitting in his reading chair, he perused his latest acquisition; the lost tome of Abnezzer the Mad. It was a heavy book, but it spoke of mysteries of the darker arts. Eager to unlock the secrets within it's pages, he had just started to read when he heard a noise from outside...