"Yes, I remember you, Einnol, and I am pleased to meet you, Arka.  We have not met but I have heard of you and your adventures."

Spetyco then stops and watches Xagred run to meet the group.

"Watch your step, Xagred!"

After grabbing an ale and discussing current events with Brado, Spetyco leaves the tavern and heads towards the gate.  Then he sees Zorbels, "Lady Zorbels, greetings.  Have you heard the news regarding Trasok?"

I hope you don't mind if Spetyco stumbles into the story.

Ever since his encounter with the strange klyros, Spetyco has been overcome by weakness. "I seem to spend more time in the Death Realm then amongst the living," he thinks to himself after finding himself there again after having been killed by a tefusang. "I used to be able to slay one of those creatures with relative ease. That klyros must have done something to me."
He travels the path through the Death Realm and comes to the library. He then turns towards the chamber across from the library where the dark crystal resides. There are two ynnwn in the room. He walks up to the one closest to the Dark Crystal. "Excuse me"
"What do you want, Mortal?" the ynnwn bellows.
"I was looking for some answers about a particular ritual involving the drinking of blood."
"I don't have time for such things, Mortal. Now move along! I don't have patience for the likes of you."
"Sorry," Spetyco mutters then quickly leaves, stumbling as he exits the chamber and falling into the darkness.

"Hmph! Ouch! That hurt," Spetyco mutters to himself as he lands. "Well, he may not have time for me, but I know someone around here who has lots of time on his hands." With that Spetyco gets up and goes to see his old nemisis, Aphtarin. Aphtarin was imprisoned in the Death Realm by Talad himself after an attempt to destroy Talad with power from the Dark Crystal. Spetyco freed Aphtarin, naively trusting him only to later find out his true nature when Aptharin killed Spetyco's adopted parents. It was then with the help of some new friends, that he was able to re-imprison Aphtarin. The strange thing is, Aphtarin and Spetyco are identical, and Spetyco has yet to discover the reason for this.
"Ah! There you are! How have you been, Aphtarin."
He spits at Spetyco's feet, "You seem to be visiting the Death Realm a lot lately. Are you so eager for my company? Or have had a visit by a certain klyros? Maybe one that had a taste for your blood?"
"How did you know about that?"
"That is not your concern! Though I am happy to see you here again! Perhaps if you let me out I could help you?"
"I don't think so, Aphtarin. You won't fool me so easily again. Tell me what you know of this klyros."
"I will tell you once I am back in Hydlaa."
"Then I will have to find the answers on my own. Goodbye!" And with that Spetyco turns and heads back to the realm of the living.
"You'll be back, fool!"
Spetyco turns around, "Next time I come back, I will bring that filthy klyros here with me.  Maybe you would like a cellmate!"

Ooc:
I hope you've all enjoyed the "Yliakum Journeys(Vol.1)".  I thought I would work on some more of the background story for our young Spetyco and his nemesis Aphtarin.  Some of what you'll find here is revealed in the community story.  This work should fill in all the blanks for those who are wondering.

I hope you enjoy!  And feel free to give me your comments.  Thanks!


Part I:  The childhood!

"You stupid, Oaf!" his father said.  "Would you abandon Talad who has blessed our family so richly for this 'masked god'?"  Then his father took him home and beat him.  "Don't you even look at that temple again!"  he ordered.  "Or you'll wish you had never been born!"
This was not the first time Aphtarin had been beaten by his father.  On the contrary, these beatings were almost a daily event.  Aphtarin knew they would come and he looked forward to them.  Because of his father, Aphtarin had learned contempt for Talad and all who worshiped him.  He blamed Talad for his father's beatings.  So when the beatings came, he took them with pride.  "Give me your worst, Talad!  I will pay you back someday!"

Aphtarin was fascinated with magic at an early age, especially with the Dark Way of magic.  By the age of thirteen he was quite adept.  It began with mischief but quickly grew to something else.  He found he could control small animals, so he would have rats follow his father around and defecate  on him.  This continued for several weeks until his father had enough and attacked the rat.  His father was not a fighter and was badly injured before a young ranger intervened.

When Aptharin's father was brought home bleeding badly, Aphtarin watched from a distance as an elf came and healed his wounds.  It was at that moment Aphtarin realized how much he hated his father.  He felt a cold sense of satisfaction watching his father be attacked, and a deep sense of fulfillment when he thought his father would die.  That night, as his father lay in his bed recovering, Aphtarin sneaked into his father's room and slit his throat.  Then at the age of thirteen he left Hydlaa and sought out his own destiny.

Spetyco chases Aphtarin down a narrow spiral slope in the darkness.  He knows this is not the way out of the Death Realm, so Aphtarin must have something else in mind for him.  Though he is wary he continues the chase.  He refuses to let Aphtarin get away.  He notices some symbols carved into the wall of the cavern as he continues his chase.  "I've seen these before," he thinks to himself.  "I have a good idea where we are headed."
The chase seems to last for hours, or was it days, or did they just get here.  It was difficult to measure time in this place.
Then the path stops.  Aphtarin is no where to be seen, and directly in front of Spetyco is the prison.  This is the place Spetyco first met Aphtarin all those years ago.  This was where Aphtarin had been imprisoned by Talad himself, only to have Spetyco come by and let him out.  He feels the pangs of guilt deep in his gut.
"You were so naive!"  Spetyco turns quickly to find Aphtarin staring back at him.  "You never even questioned why I was in there.  Somehow you wandered down here, I told you I knew the way back to Yliakum and so you released me.  You never even asked!"  Aphtarin laughs wildly.  "For centuries I was trapped in that cage.  Many came by, but no one would come near because they new I was caged for a reason, even if they did not know why.  But you didn't even question me."  The guilt overcomes Spetyco so fiercly he grows weak and almost collapses.  "Now we are here again, and this time it is you who will be caged!"  Aphtarin grabs Spetyco and starts to push him into the cage.  Spetyco is so overcome with grief and guilt he doesn't resist.  "I deserve this fate," he whispers to himself.
At that moment Xlaal appears out of the shadows.  In an instant before either Spetyco or Aphtarin have realized what has happened Spetyco finds himself lying on the cavern floor while Aphtarin is trapped in his cage once again.
"No!  You fools!  I will get you for this!"  He struggles with the bars, but to no avail.
Spetyco looks up at Xlaal.  "Xlaal, is that you?  How did you get here?" Spetyco is still struck with guilt though he is much relieved to see the vile Aphtarin back in his prison. 
"I died, of course."  Xlaal replies.
"Me too," returns Spetyco, his spirits lifting lightly.

There was a sound like thunder, and an other-worldly voice calls out, "Spetyco!  It is finished!  Now I will return you and Xlaal to the rest of your friends!"  The voice booms in the cavern, though there is no body to go with it.  A portal opens before them.
"What was that," asks Xlaal.
"That was Talad," Spetyco replies with tears of joy.  "He gave me the task of stopping Aphtarin after I was the one to set him free.  Now that task is finished!"  A shadow lifts from Spetyco.  "Now I am free!  Come, my friend, let's return."
They walk through the portal and find themselves in the middle of the campsite.  There is destruction all around them, ulber flesh surrounding the campsite which is riddled with smoking craters. Zorbels is tending to Zhai, and everyone has a smile on there face.
"Hey guys," Spetyco says with a smile.  "Looks like I missed all the fun!"  He walks over to shake Farren's hand, but trips and they both end up falling to the ground.
The whole campsite bursts into laughter.

A Complete Guide to Camping on the Oja Road

Zorbels is fuzzy!

The battle for the Big Red Book! [Maybe the book should have a better name like... Howard- The Battle for Howard!  or maybe the Book of Souls! so then the title would be The Battle for the Book of Souls!)

Ulbers, Gobbles, and a Really Big Snake!

[more ideas to come]