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Robert Nihlander awoke from yet another nightmare and with swift hand he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, standing slowly, observing the room for a while before fully relaxing. This was a familiar dream of his, one that had yet to cease even thought the event happened many many nights ago, yet it would seem the plague of his dreams would not leave. Many times had he tried to rid himself of it alas many times had he failed, not even the gods themselves seemed to be able to help him. But it was nothing new to Robert and he quickly climbed back into bed, knowing the dream was behind him for now.



"Roobert, Roooobert" a faint voice called into the darkness "Roooobert, waaaakee up, Roooberrtt"

The young Robert Nihlander quickly arose from the darkness and slid down the ladder from his room. Looking around he could seem himself, in his old home, his mother before him.

"Robert, you'll be late for work if you don't hurry up" The old, pale and obviously ill woman offers a gentle smile before blood begins to drip from her mouth. The past sentence leaves her lips again, but this time hectic, jumbled, a word here and there, before entering into a strange dialect. The woman screams and falls to the ground, her gaze to her side.

"I...I love you Robert" Her eyes close as she finishes her line and blood pours from her chest. The young Robert rushes from the house, onto the streets. Fire and corpses litter it but people go about their daily business. Robert quickly runs into someone, a guard.

"Was tha matter, boy?" the guard speaks fluently, even thought his jaw hangs off, Robert tries to explain but can only manage some select words. The guard nods in understanding

"No needa worry yeself boy, we all 'ave to go sometime, ya know." The guard seems to smile and walks off, leaving Robert alone, completely alone. The street's fires seem gone, yet the bodies remain, burnt and mutilated. Robert begins to walk aimlessly about the place, looking for an exit.

"Rrr...Rrr...Robert? Please...help me R..Robert...I don't want to die...R..R... Before Roberts feet lay a young woman, naked, burnt, cut and obviously raped. A tear leaves young Nihlander's eye as his sweetheart calls out in pain, before closing her eyes again. Falling to his knees the young man cries in fear.

"Robert...We are coming for you...The time is up, your hourglass is empty... Join your family, friends, lover and your child... The last word hits Robert hard, he looks back to his sweetheart. Her stomach area lay cut open, inside a mutilated child. Robert blinks but stands quickly as he hears the footsteps. Men surround him quickly and he begs to die, begs for one to end him...But only words leave these men.

"Roooobert, waaaakee up, Roooberrtt" His mothers words leave their mouths over and over until he wakes again.

Safe in Trolls bane once more.

The night before had been strange. Never had dreams occurred so close to one and other. Sometimes a couple of weeks could pass before another nightmare, yet it seemed that they grew closer and closer as his training grew more and more intense. Hopefully this night would be a peaceful one, he thought to himself as he settled down. Hopefully, hopefully...

"Robert!!!" The voice boomed through the flames in which Robert was ensnarled. The inferno grew more and more intense, inflicting great pain upon Robert. The pain was too much, he succumbed quickly and collapsed onto the floor. The voice boomed again and all the flames quickly disappeared.

"Hello, Robert." A large, black knight stood in front of him, offering a hand.

"Robert, take my hand, accept your destiny The knight stares at Robert from under his helmet, waiting for him to take his hand, yet he does not. Still, Robert stands, leaving the knights still outstretched. The knight figure shakes his head.

"Robert, I am Zharkulis, your new trainer, master and God." The thing retracts his hand and removes his helmet to reveal his face, or lack of it

"You, Robert, shall carve my image. You will be a God Robert. The knight figure places back on his helmet and looks to Robert once more, taking his sword from his sheath. Before Robert can re-act the knight swings at his face, cutting it from forehead to check, over his eye. Robert tries to scream but can not manage it, before he can register the pain he is back in his own bed.

Robert looks around and quickly grasps his head in pain. A cut runs down just like in the dream. As he gets out of bed he notices his black hair on the floor, mostly all of it. But most eye catching of all, is his amulet. The one sign of his faith now crushed and destroyed. Robert begins to walk into the darkness of the night, searching for somebody.