Farren walks into the Tavern, closely followed by Duraza. Duraza speaks his name, and the two speak, though the initial conversation is of no importance. As they talk, they get around to talking about stopping Duraza.
"Personally, I just want to live a nice calm quiet life with Jeslanae," says Farren as he seems to be looking toward Duraza, even though he cannot see him. Duraza replies, "You live a quiet life? Not going to happen, Farren. Frankly, no one is safe anymore. If you haven't noticed we live in a time of chaos and disorder... not a peaceful utopia. To think you can 'settle down' in a time of chaos is not the smartest idea..."
"Then perhaps I will just leave you behind and move to where you won't reach me," says Farren. "To where I am most at home."
Duraza sighs, taking a seat and looking up to the ceiling again, eyes deep dark and filled with long contained blood lust. "Its not going to happen... No matter how hard you try, you will always be one who will be called to fight people like me. You can look for happiness, but no where is safe in this world."
"I know a place," replies Farren, "Where you would never defeat me."
"Beating you is not the question... it's you beating me," says Duraza, then gives Farren a dark, twisted smile. "And to leave would be to run away and abandon your friends... You would never do it."
Farren is quick to reply, "If you are not a problem then I have no need to defeat you. And if I was bringing Jeslanae, yes I would."
Duraza sighs and says, "Looks like 'love' has changed you Farren... You would now abandon those you once called friends for a girl?"
"I have faith that they can defeat you without me," replies Farren.
"And what if they cant? You would leave them?"
"Am I that effective against you?"
Duraza gives a deep, dark chuckle and says, "No... It's just funny..."
"If I am not effective enough to matter, then my being here will help no one."
"To think at one time I thought you were a warrior of light... One who puts the needs of others ahead of their own... Who fights for the common good..."
Duraza gives Farren a dark stare. "Your no better than me..."
Farren replies, "Perhaps. One thing people often do is presume to know my mind."
"Greed has overcome you... Maybe lust? Either way it is funny."
"I am tired of fighting for everyone else."
The two talk more, talking of Farren's sudden uncaring nature, Duraza questioning who Farren is, and what he is, and discussing once more Farren's leaving fighting behind. At some point, Skreit Saner comes from upstairs with Siteri Kidachi. They all talk about Farren, Skreit saying that Farren is no longer a ranger, no longer who he once was, Duraza trying to spark something within him. Duraza calls Farren heartless and a coward, in effect, and Skreit claims, jumping over next to Farren, "Cowardice comes from the ability to think things over, Duraza. Why must we fight again? Have you not learned?"
This conversation goes on more, and Siteri says, "Farren's not... a coward." Farren replies emotionlessly as he steps back from Skreit, "Yes I am Siteri."
They once again commence discussing Farren being a coward and not caring for anyone but Jeslanae. Siteri keeps fighting for Farren, though to seemingly no avail. After a while of their talking, Farren unsheathes his two short swords and drops them on the ground. He then reaches under the front of his armor, pulling four throwing knives from their hidden sheaths, dropping each to the ground. He reaches down to his boots, pulling a dagger from the inside of each, and drops them to the ground as well. Coming back up, he reaches behind his back, pulling two more daggers from their sheaths and drops them as well. He then undoes the ties of his torso armor and the belt that connects it to his upper-leg armor. He drops the armor to the floor and undoes his shin-guards. When they are undone, he lets them fall to the floor of the tavern as well.
"Skreit," he says, "Take my armor and weapons, use them if you wish. Don't throw them away, keep them. Give them to someone. Whatever. I don't need them any longer."
Farren starts to walk away and then stops, his back still to Duraza and the others. He reaches under his leather shirt and pulls something from under it. He says, "One more thing, Duraza..."
Duraza replies, "What?"
Farren suddenly spins, his arm snapping out straight, a silver throwing knife flying free of his hand at an astonishing speed straight at Duraza. Duraza manages to move a little bit, but the knife cuts him deeply in the side. Duraza says, "Guess you still got it Farren..."
Farren turns and leaves, up the stairs of the tavern and to the roof, where he waits for a time. After many minutes, he gets up on the railing on the roof, down to the roof tiles, and jumps off, landing easily at the Tavern door. He walks back in, and sees a fight has been going on, and Skreit on the ground. Duraza sees Farren and sends a beam of his dark energy at Farren. Expecting his natural defenses to Duraza's magic to flare to life, he is surprised when he is suddenly knocked back quite a bit. Confused, he stands to his feet, concentrating deeply to summon his defenses. Duraza sends three orbs of energy and Farren rolls quickly to the side. He concentrates more deeply and for a moment a slight aura begins to shimmer around him, but as quickly as it came, it fades. He does this a few times, and Duraza sends three more orbs at him. Farren dodges two of them, but one hits his leg, sending him to the ground. Duraza advances on him, attempting to grab his head. Farren slams both of his fists into Duraza's temples as hard as he can as his foe grabs his head. He continually slams his fists into Duraza's temples, and Duraza starts to take some serious damage, but he simmers with gray energy. Farren screams out in anger and pain as five marks are burned into his head. Duraza laughs and pulls away, coughing up much blood. Pain streaks through Farren for a while as Duraza leaves and the five marks fade.
When Farren stands after the pain ends, the Dark Ranger is born.
