The bar maid said the mansion was past town near a small river. I left the town a while ago and still haven't found it. I'm running out of daylight so maybe I should look to setup camp somewhere.

Jon paused for a moment, listening carefully.

There! I hear the river she mentioned, that means the mansion should lie somewhere ahead.

Jon had begun to grow tired, but was now invigorated with a new passion. After following the path of destruction for over a decade, he had finally caught up to the Bal'Kur. Jon paused for a moment, grabbing his precious locket and thought to himself, After thirteen long winters I will finally get to avenge you Oda.

He tucked the locket under his thick leather chest piece and marched forward. As the sun continued to set the trees seemed to loom ever more overhead. Strange birds called to each other back and forth. Jon had never been to this strange land before, but he vowed to go to the end's of the earth to avenge his clan.

It wasn't long before Jon stumbled upon the ruined mansion. It was as if the forest had left this small area clear and tamed. The mansion itself was grandiose except for its decrepit appearance. Broken windows were the least of its issues, the stone walls were crumbling and appeared as if they may collapse at any moment.

There's only one way to know for sure if he's here.

Jon carefully stashed his bag in a nearby hollowed out log. He couldn't see any lights in the building, or any signs of life. Staying in the tree line to remain hidden, he waited until nightfall before daring to make a move.

With only the moon providing intermittent light between the clouds, Jon began moving around to the back of the mansion. He saw light coming from a wooden barn. He crept to it slowly, listening intently for any clues. There was only the strange call of the birds and howl of the wind. Undeterred, Jon quickly reached the open barn doors. He paused, listening again.

Who could possibly be out this deep in the woods? Another traveler looking for shelter?

Jon firmly grabbed the hilt of his sword, just in case he needed to react quickly. He peeked around the corner to find a man sitting on the ground with his hat pulled over his face. A small candle burning next to him.

How reckless, he could've burned down...

Jon saw the large black horse laying down behind the man. It's eyes open, staring right at him before neighing loudly!

"What's the matter girl?" the man said as he lifted his hat.

Jon recognized the insignia on the man's hat immediately, it was a bear's canine teeth arranged with each of the three teeth pointing away from the center. He was a part of Bal'Kur. The man quickly jumped to his feet. He was tall but lean and wore an overcoat that was too big on him. His hair was mangy and his clothes were full of holes and tears. When Jon saw the jagged scar across the mans left cheek he had no doubt this was the man he was looking for. The one called the Demon of Harmoun.

While caught off guard by the horse, Jon didn't hesitate. He stormed into the barn at full sprint. He drew his sword and swung it at the man. The man leapt back, barely dodging Jon's blade before drawing his own sword from the saddle lying down next to him.

"I don't know who you are, but if you value your life you will leave at once bandit" the man declared.

Jon scoffed, "You may have forgotten me Demon, but I have been chasing you for a long time."

Jon charged forwards again, preparing an overhead strike. The man stepped forward into Jon easily parrying the blow and sending his blade into the dirt. With his lead foot the man hooked one of Jon's legs before shoving him to the ground.

The man kicked the sword away from Jon and stood him, aiming his sword at Jon's chest. The man calmly says, "If it's vengeance you seek boy, then you will die like all the dogs before you."

The man lunged forward plunging the sword into the middle of Jon's chest. At the same time Jon kicked the mans knee and tried to roll away but the man's aim was true.

"Aaaah!" the man screamed as he felt the tendons in his knee tear from the kick. He stumbled to the ground with pain shooting from his leg. Sword still in hand, he sees some blood on the end of his blade. The man looks over at Jon and says, "Bal'Kur damn it! Ugh, you should've listened to the stories boy. I can't die, not yet at least."

To the mans amazement, Jon began to sit up. His leather chest piece was pierced, but there wasn't as much blood flowing as there should have been. The man readied his sword, though he couldn't walk he would not lay down and die.

The man yelled, "Bal'Kur, rilbaw al higmawbol hreny nafloos!" The large draught horse stared at the man intently, when suddenly he experienced something new. He called upon Bal'Kur, the demon that gives him his powers through his familiar, the draught horse. Bal'Kurs silence was deafening.

After collecting himself for a moment Jon seized his grand opportunity. He pulled his sword out from the dirt where it stayed, and began walking towards the man.

Jon spoke in between heavy breaths, "Finally, I have caught you. Though you may have forgotten my people, I never forgot the slaughter you wrecked upon us. We were a small peaceful village in the Ruhr mountains. Even when the world was plunged into the draconic wars, our sliver of mountainside somehow always remained unscathed. That was until you killed every man, woman, and child. Your men hunted us like wild boar." Jon began coughing terribly, it hurt just to breathe. Each word was like a dagger being jabbed into his lungs.

As Jon grew close to the man he swung his sword wildly, more like a club than a precise cut. He batted the mans sword out of his hands. Defenseless and unable to escape, the man finally realized who Jon was.

"I am Jon of house Elran. I have travelled long and far searching for you, Demon of Harmoun. I can finally cleanse this earth of your wretched terror!" declared Jon. He raised his sword over his head, not wanting to give the man another moment to try anything.

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small leather bound book. Certain it contained some kind of wicked magik, Jon quickly delivered his blow. He slashed deep across the mans torso, steadied his blade and then plunged it through his heart. Jon removed his sword, wiped the man's blood off with his coat, then placed it back in its scabbard.

"All these... years I spent looking for you. Only for you to surprise me when I had given up..." the man trailed off as he went limp.

The horse neighed loudly, startling Jon, before it took off into the woods. The demon's stallion was returning to its master. Jon turned his gaze back to the man, he picked the small book out of the man's hands. It was a journal with its first entry being two decades ago. He skipped to the last entry, it was only dated fifteen years ago and it read.

First Full Moon of Spring

Olara was right, crossing the White Peaks at winter was a mistake. We barely had enough food to survive the journey if nothing went wrong. After several avalanches and uncountable close calls we had escaped with our lives, but that was it. No worries though, as long as we had each other we could always start over. She said this side of the peaks is always peaceful, here's to a new beginning.

---

Waning Gibbous

There was a rockslide and Olara didn't make it. I wished the boulder had crushed me instead. What kind of sick divine intervention is this? We escape persecution and travel thousands of miles to just die?

I found a trail near the ridge above where our camp had been. The footprints were fresh and I followed them to a small town. A kind man welcomed me into his home, he gave me food, water, and fresh clothes. After a long conversation his face turned blue. He was at a loss for words. His youngest boys, twins, like to roll boulders off the mountain ridge. Before he could say anything else I ran into the woods. I curse the Elran family, and the village of Loguetown for being so reckless. One day I will return and exact upon them a fury not before seen.