Spetyco's Beginning

[Spetyco]

Part 1: Darkness
Darkness!
"That's all I remember!  That's all I can see!  There is nothing!  There never was!  Here I am in total darkness.  But where am I?  Who am I?  What's going on?"
The darkness fades slightly only to reveal a dense fog.
A young man in his mid-twenties is lying on the ground with a deep gash on the back of his head and all he can see, all he can remember is darkness.
He lies there for time without end when the crystal's light begins to cut through the fog and a tall grey figure approaches.
"Hello," the young man calls out in a dry rhaspy voice, "Is anyone there?"
"I am here!"  A voice in the mist calls back to him and then the darkness returns.

A lone elf travelling in the wilderness comes across a young man in a remote region.  As he approaches he can see the young man is seriously injured.  His head is resting in a deep pool of blood and there is a dark feeling about the place.  The elf casts a healing spell and gives the young man a potion, then builds a fire and waits for him to wake up.

"What happened?" the young man asks as he comes to.  "Who are you?"
"I am a friend.  I found you lying here wounded and I have tended to your wounds.  As to what happened I do not know for I was not here when you received your wounds.  Perhaps you could tell me"
"I...uh...I don't remember.  The last thing I remember was...Darkness!"
"Then perhaps you could tell me where you are from, if you have any family nearby.  Is there somewhere I can take you?"
"I don't know.  I don't remember."
"Do you have any memories?"
"I remember the darkness, then the fog, then there was you.  Before that there is nothing.  No family, no friends, nothing!"
"Perhaps your name then?  Do you remember your name?"
"Sp...Spetyco, I think."
"So you have no membory of a childhood, Spetyco?  Of your parents?"
"No.  Nothing.  Nothing before the darkness."
"And yet you remember your name."
"I suppose so.  What do you think could have happened to me?"
The elf looks intently at the young Spetyco, "There is some magic to this.  But why someone would steal your memories so I can not say."
"What do I do?  Where do I go?"
"There is a town a few days walk from here.  I will take you there.  Perhaps someone will recognize you."

[Spetyco]

The Dream
That night was a restless night for Spetyco.  He dreamed of darkness.  But there was something in the darkness.  He did now know what, nor did he know where, he only knew that he needed to find it.  And if he could find it, light would be restored.  So he searched.  But as he searched, he could sense something else in the darkness.  Something was looking for him.  And he knew that something meant danger!

[Spetyco]

Part II: Walking with the Elf
After travelling three days with the mysterious elf, Spetyco didn't know much about him.  He found out his name was Rehaus, but that was about it.  Rehaus kept to himself, occaionally nodding at Spetyco but not really joining in the conversation.  This didn't really matter though, Spetyco was perfectly capable of keeping up both sides of the conversation.
"So you're an elf I guess.  It's odd isn't it?  I can recognize you're an elf.  I recognize the trees and plants around me.  The beasts I am familiar with.  I know of the crystal above us.  I know of Hydlaa and other towns.  I know my own name.  But I don't have any memories of any of these.  It's like there is some kind of block.  Somehow I know things as they are, but I don't remember ever having seen the trees or plants or beasts, or the crystal, or even an elf.  I know what these things are, but I don't ever remember seeing one before.  If it is some magic, why would someone block my memories and not simply kill me?  Over there!  That's a tefusang.  I know it but I don't remember it.  It's very odd isn't it?"  At this he pauses briefly looking for a response from his travelling companion.  He gets a brief nod and so he continues.  "How could I know my name?  Is it really Spetyco?  What kind of name is Spetyco anyway?  I can't remember ever being called that before.  But somehow it just feels right.  Why would someone do this?  What did I do?  Do I know something?  I must know something someone doesn't want me to know.  Or at least I knew something!  What if I run into him, or her, or them?  Will I recognize them?  If I do will I remember everything again?  Will they kill me?  What if we meet and I don't recognize them, but they recognize me and then decide it's best to just kill me?"  At this point Rehaus wonders if he shouldn't have done the job for them.
"And why leave me with all my money?  My bag was nearby when you found me and there was nearly 60 Hexas in it.  Where did I get it?  Am I wealthy?  Maybe I'm a thief.  What if I am and I meet someone I robbed and they recognize me and I get arrested and I don't remember doing anything?  Or maybe I've killed someone.  Who knows if I'm a good person or not?"
"You are good," Rehaus comments, "you conscience would not worry so if you were not.  Look!  Hydlaa!"
"I see it!  You're right that is Hydlaa.  Well, of course you're right, but I mean somehow I know it is Hydlaa, even if you didn't tell me."
"You can make it the rest of the way from here.  I prefer my peace and solitude over the big city noise.  Especially today."
"Thank you, Rehaus!  How can I ever repay you?  If you hadn't come along I would certainly be dead."
"You needed help, so I helped.  Now farewell, and good luck."
"Thanks again!" Spetyco called out to the only persion he had ever met, as far as he remembers.  "Now on to Hydlaa!  This should be fun."
Coming down the hill toward the main gate Spetyco trips on a stone and begins tumbling down towards the main gate. 
Rehaus hears his cry and turns around to see his new "friend" appearantly making a new shortcut to the city.  He shakes his head and continues his own journey.
Meanwhile Spetyco is thinking, "Ow!  Does this sort of... Oof! ...thing happen to... Ah! ...me all the time?  Ouch!  I have a feeling... Ugg ...it does," then he gently rolls to a stop at the bottom of the hill, "but I just can't remember!"
"Oh look!  The gate!  Greetings!"  He calls out to the guards.  "Which way to the nearest tavern?  I've been travelling for three days with a silent solumn elf and I'm in need of some ale and some good conversation.  Oh wait, I think I might know where the tavern is.  Maybe I've been there before."  The guards look at each other with a puzzled look and let the strange traveller pass by, still muttering to himself.
When Spetyco arrives at the tavern he's disappointed to find few souls around to converse with.  But he orders an ale and sits down to talk with the bartender.
Two hours later the bartender has an idea.  "If yer lookin' fer sum acshun, take a luk at dat perchment on da wall!"
So Spetyco takes a look.
"Parchment on the tavern wall reads: To all citizens of Yliakum, I want to invite you on a camping trip to explore the wilds, treasure hunt and hunt wild beasts you normally wouldn't on your own. This trip will be most exciting and dangerous. It is a chance to meet new people and get to know the land and what wonders and secrets that it holds. I shall be standing at the front gates of Hydlaa with my supply cart on the seveth setting of the crystal, early morn. All are welcome to join."
"Sounds like fun!"  So off he goes.

This story is then continued at http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=23917.0