Bracken+BG

 Green lights twisted through the blackness. The deep voice of Orin sprouted from the unconscious daze Bracken found himself in.  “You must return, it is time.”  “It will take time master, I am very far from home.” Bracken had to concentrate to get his message to Orin.  “The tree’s are our homes, home is closer then you may think.” Orin spoke in tongues.  Bracken’s eyes creaked open. His body was sore, his energy shot from opening a chasm just hours before. The bumpy road on the gypsies' caravan didn’t help either. Chester was sitting in the front, controlling the six mules pulling the caravan while Grundle was perched atop of his ballista turret, keeping his eye out for anything along the roadside.  “Hey there sleepy head. How are you feeling?” Chester asked.  “I have to go. Orin needs me. I’m worried that something could be terribly wrong.” Bracken replied hesitant, not sure what was going on.  “You’re miles from Tyrestia! It would take you at least a week to arrive home.” Chester said.  “If I am in a forest, I can be home. Something horribly wrong is happening. I will be in touch with you.” Bracken leaped off the caravan and ran towards the largest tree he could find, Praying that it worked, he ran through the tree.  Bracken crashed into solid ground. His head was throbbing and his body was limp. Unable to move, Orin appeared out of the corner of his eye as Bracken felt warmth overrun his body.  “I didn’t think it was going to work master. Why did you call me back so soon? What is happening?” Bracken asked.  “A dark force is culminating in the eastern provinces. I can not leave this forest for my life force is directly tied to these trees. It is time for me to pass my being on to you young shaman. You are ready to burden this power.” Orin’s voice was soft. acknowledging that his life will end as his power is transferred.  “Master are you sure. How will i know what to do? Where to go?” Bracken trembled.  “All will be clear. Come now, time is of the essence.” Orin said.  Bracken followed Orin to an opening in the canopy of the forest. Orin motioned Bracken to sit. Orin raised his arms above his head. A wall of vines began to grow around them, building a tower slowly. The tower began to sprout branches, and leaves. What Bracken believed to be a tower, he discovered that Orin was creating a tree of immaculate proportions. The center of the tree began to shrink, closing in on the two shamans. Vines started crawling up the legs of Orin, slowly incasing his ancient body. A familiar greenish hue began to emanate from Orin. The vines started to make their way onto Bracken’s robes, twisting and mingling with the vines that grew on the dwarf. The vines began to tighten. The calm Bracken now found himself in a state of panic as he found it hard to breath.  “Do not stress young one. It will be over soon.” Orin’s voice was hardly recognizable, almost a language that even Bracken could not understand. The green hue that floated through the tree then flared. Blinded, the dwarf felt as if his skin was melting away. He could hear his bones cracking and hardening. His head was overloaded with the knowledge of the master he loved as a father. As quickly as the light flared it died out. Bracken opened his eyes and saw nothing. He reached out to touch Orin, what he found was what felt like a gnarled root of a tree. Bracken knew that Orin was gone. The room was purely dark. Bracken walked towards a wall of the tree. He passed through it to find that he could not see. The warmth of the sun beat down on his new body. Bracken was blind. Yet he could feel everything around him. The trees whispered to him as a green fog swirled in his mind. The outline of trees and bushes began to materialize and just as quickly faded. Bracken took a step forward and a green vibe reverberated through the ground. Each step he took the objects around him solidified. One of Orin’s apprentice’s approached Bracken. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Where is Orin?” The shaman said. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Orin is gone. He left everything to me. Something is very wrong in the eastern lands of this world. I have to help stop it. Orin could not leave these lands. This is a fate that I have no choice to fulfill.” Bracken replied to the shaman. The apprentice nodded then bowed to Bracken, Bracken dismissed the apprentice. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Bracken had to get ahold of Chester and Grundle. Envelo was the destination before. Bracken had hopped that they made it. He focused on the essences of the two men. They began to appear out of the blackness in Bracken’s mind. He walked back to the tree that Orin created in the act of sacrificing himself. This time though his goal was not the inside of the great tree. Chester and Grundle were only a step away. He pushed through and appeared in the forest on the edge of the trail to Envelo. Bracken stepped onto the trail and the two men appeared on the caravan just as they had been before he left. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “We have to get to the east. A force is culminating and our aid has been called for.” Bracken told Chester and Grundle. The two men nodded as Bracken jumped onto the caravan. To Envelo they went, their fates decided.