Light in the Dark

Hyrgan Teobold found himself standing on the deck of his beloved ship, The Howling Squid. He could hardly see — it was night, and the sky was overcast. Although nearly in complete darkness, he moved unimpeded across the deck, up the steps towards the helm. The water was calm and the ship was steady. It was quiet. The only other sound was the gentle splashing of water at the ship’s bow as it drifted slowly through the inky water. He placed his hand on helm, the familiar feel of the dark wood wheel easing his nerves as he pondered his predicament.

Just moments earlier, he was struck down by one of his companions. Hyrgan didn’t even feel the Kii’s greatsword cleaving into him. The Catfolk’s strength was so immense, it only took one blow to subdue him. He lay there, helplessly watching as the undead tyrant’s sword was destroyed by another one of his companions. The gnomish paladin poured all of his remaining strength into the black steel, radiant energy cracking the blade from within until it finally shattered. Strangely, that moment felt more like a dream than a memory. He couldn’t remember why he had wanted the sword in first place, or why he was willing to kill for it.

Suddenly, a voice spoke to him softly, “I am tall when I am young, short when I am old. I love to glow, and breath is my foe.”

Shocked, he called out, “Who be there? I am captain of the Squid and I demand to know what happened to my crew!” He stood there a few moments, but no response. Hyrgan laughed quietly to himself in the dark. With all that had happened, he had almost forgotten. The mutiny, dueling his first mate and losing, being tossed overboard and sinking into the cold black waters of the sea… He had no crew.

Hyrgan thought himself to be an unlucky man. Dying at the hands of a companion not once, but twice. Maybe the gods had given up on him and this was where he would spend eternity: alone, adrift in the dark. Then, why the riddle? He repeated the words aloud to himself, “I am tall when I am young, short when I am old. I love to glow, and breath is my foe.” He paced around the deck for what seemed like hours trying to think of the right answer, shouting out ideas into the darkness. He wasn’t very good at solving riddles. Hyrgan decided he needed a break, releasing a low frustrated sigh as he hopped up to sit on the railing, dangling his legs over the dark waters. Hyrgan was a halfling and a seasoned seaman. He was used to perching in precarious places around the Squid, his natural dexterity enabling him to keep balance with ease despite his age.

He stared down into/out onto the water, reflecting back on his life. All the blood shed, the frantic fights for survival and men he had lost over his own greed. Hyrgan had ended his fair share of innocent lives with his own blade. He was a pirate, after all: captain of The Howling Squid, marauder of the South Sea, the terror of the Coral Coasts — though Hyrgan wasn’t always bad. He remembered spending many nights as a poor young man with little to his name, drinking the night away at a crowded table with friends, sharing stories and laughter by candlelight.

Hyrgan’s eyes widened as he stood up on the railing. “Candle! It be a candle!” he shouted. As he turned around to step down, he saw a small light on the deck. It was a candle. Hyrgan rushed over and picked it up. He stared at the little flame for a moment. It wasn’t that bright, but, after being in the dark for so long, it was it a blessing. As he looked up, he found himself in front of a pale woman with white flowing hair and a purple formal dress. She sat on top of an ivory throne, on her right an hour glass, on her left a small ceremonial knife. The woman’s eyes were white and lacked pupils, but Hyrgan felt naked in front of her, like she was staring straight through him. She spoke softly, “Ascend the Tower of Last Peace. Place the candle on the shrine in the highest room, and do not let the flame go out before then.”

“What will happen if the candle goes out?” Hyrgan inquired. The woman raised her hand and swirl of mist engulfed them both, blocking his vision.

Disoriented, Hyrgan stumbled forward, trying to get closer. The mist began to clear and his sight returned. The air was crisp and Hyrgan could hear the chatter of birds and the buzz of insects. The beams of light cut through the trees as the sun began to rise out of the horizon. He stood a few feet from the edge of a clearing with a stone tower at its center. It was only a few feet taller than the forest canopy. Three sets of windows ran from top to bottom, and a large engraved wooden door stood at its base. The door swung open, and out walked a red-skinned woman with smoky white hair. She took a few steps into the clearing, yawning with sleep still in her eyes. The morning dew evaporated on contact with her bare feet. Their eyes met, and it took a second for them recognize each other. Disturbed, she mumbled, “How? Hyrgan? You are supposed to be dead!”