A taller than average man with hair like bronze stretched into threads, in a black, dirty cloak sat up on a ledge overlooking the ocean. He sat, and he thought. He thought about the gods. He thought about the people. He thought about himself, and what he was. He thought about the earth. And he thought about what he should do about it all.

"The gods...created a world of unique imperfection. They themselves are imperfect. Where then, does the concept of perfection come from? Perhaps being of imperfection saw those who were less imperfect then they, and interpreted it that way. Nothing is perfect, then."

"The people can be either misguided, evil, balanced, or good. There is a boggling array of creatures, some more fit to live then others. This is what my family is for, to purify the races."

"I myself, am curious. I have an evil soul, a violent, opressive darkness within me. It wants to subsume me. I must not ever let it do so."

"The earth is a place of wonders..."

"I must gain power. More power. The power to fulfill any goal. I need...power. I need money to finance that power. I need strength. I need intelligence. I need Magic. I need my powerful soul...but my soul is one of evil...Does that predestine me? If I strengthen the rest of me, perhaps I can wrench free of my soul..."

Ian thought. And he thought. And he thougth some more. He was doing so out loud, weirdly, though. An odd habit of his. He looked down at his shattered sword. The order for his Elven Blade was going slowly, and he had kept the hilt of his old longsword. He plunged it down into the sand next to him, and waited, and continued to think out loud. He needed someone to talk to, really, or else his mind would REALLY start wandering!

Arthur liked the open salt air and the sound of the sea. He often came here to think or calm himself. Now though eh came to get away from things. He had left the world for awhile by that he meant that he jsut did not mingal with otehrs. he wanted to think and be aloen for along time. That time was coming to a close. He had wanderexd logn enough and the world woudl again see his face.

For now though he just wanted to think. He had to think of howhe would come back. Would it be like before silently not announcing himself and just go about his usual business. He might do somethign big liek coming in on the back of the wind to save somebody. He decided he liked the quiter way better. He was not over humble he was pridefull and arrogant but he was stil a gentleman and would act as one.

Finally he stood up and started waling the beach just to stretch his legs. He then heard a voice and he quirked an eyebrow and went in that direction and saw a man. He seemed to be talking to himself and he wondred if the man was alright or jsut crazy. He kneeled to the ground putting one hand on his kneed the other on the ground and jsut looekd at the man studying him. Finally he said," You know its not wise to talk to yourself, an enemy could have snuck up on you to easily".

Ian looked up at the other man. "I don't have any personal enemies, and this is a beach, not a war zone. I wouldn't have been so careless if I wasn't certain of my safety, though I appreciate your concern. I wasn't simply staring into space and rambling, I was aware of my surroundings." Ian wasn't going to draw attention to the fact he was currently without a way to defend himself, but He hoped Arthur was not the sort who could detect alignments, and then slew anything less then Lawful Good. He'd seen that sort before.

Truth be told, Ian was fast enough to outrun any significant threats, as he wore no armor. But running away and hiding was both disgraceful and a royal pain to deal with. Annoying, Annoying, and Annoying, that's all it was.

Arthur smiled and said," You would be suprised how many dangers there are on a beach, not all dangers are on war zones". He tapped his sword for the point and looked at the man he seemed odd but not crazed. Probably was talking to himself for other easons either thinking out loud. HE then smiled again and said," If you had been aware I would not have gotten as close as I did, without you detecting me, you think youre in no danger, your wrong".

HE smiled and his eyes took on a diffrent look and he said," I am dangerous only to my enemies though, you are dangerous in a way I guess, everybody has a danger to them big or little". He chcukled and then said," But I am being rude, I am Arthur a wandering knight".

Ian looked at Arthur rather disdainfully. "Saying that makes you sound like a threat. ARE you a threat, Sir Arthur?". Ian got to his feet. He didn't have any spells, but he had his wits, and he had speed. Copius amounts of both, actually. Ian started to wonder what Arthur wanted. It was okay to have some paranoia, and in this situation, it was warranted.

Ian started forming a plan. Throw his cloak off, at Arthur, if he drew his sword any further. Arthur would either be caught off guard and do nothign as it hit hima nd he had to get out of it, or he would slash at it as a reflex and get his blade briefly entangled in the tough fibers of it. That would give Ian about 2 to 4 seconds to get a head start. Ian didn't have a sword either, nor armor, and then, no cloak. He would be very fast, and would be able to escape. Ian was a plotter, he planned his actions ahead. They probably wouldn't be necessary, but in this case, it paid to be prepared for the worst.

Arthur smiled and said," Nay I am not a threat, if I was you would have been dead already". HE saw the man rise and Arthur tensed a little but eased himself he was in no mood for conflict he was only conversating. He then said," No need to be worried, only shadowspawn need fear me". He took his hand of his sword and sat down fully of his knee. He smiled at the man again and looekd him up and down and said," It is good that you took my words to heart, becayse that is what you should have done the moment I came upon you, always be cautious it will keep you alive".


He paused briefly and then said," Hwever, once the person is not a threat you can stop worrying, I was only seeming to be a threat because you were not cautious, and I like to make sure everone I meet is cautious, its the best lesson anyone can teach". He unhooked his sword and put it on hsi lab as it was digging into him and he said," You however have no need to fear this blade, or its wielder, so sit back and relax I did not mean to ruin your day".

A vein ticked in Ian's forehead. "Not to be rude, Sir Arthur, but your arrogant tone is sullying my day more then your actions could a hundred times over." Ian did not liked being talked down to. He had the Pride Flaw. He was a proud member of the noble Vaner clan! How dare any knight, no matter what king he served, speak down to him so! Ian's evil soul flared into activity. Sir Arthur was pissing Ian off, and it showed.

"You would have been dead already", huh? That pissed Ian the hell off. That made him ANGRY. If Ian had a weapon, that alone would have been grounds to draw it.

"Well, SIR Arthur..." Ian placed a very derisive emphasis on the 'sir'. "If my level of skill offends you, and your SUPERIOR presence is bothered by it, I do not believe I can do much to change that perception."

Oh How Ian wished he had a good spell to make Arthur's head explode right then.

Arthur was suprised he pbviosuly riled the man and he had not meant to. HE was usually very good with people and his smiel could win alot of people over. He frowned and said," I am sorry if I offened you or seemed arrogant, I did not mean to, sometimes I say things I do not mean".

HE listened to him and slight smile appeared but he put it down and said," No your skill level does not offend, and its just Arthur, I am not a knight by title only by deeds, technically I am not a knight at all". He shrugged idely. HE then stuidied the man a bit and said," However, that still does not account for my actions, if they offened you I am sorry, I just have been away from people for along time".

Ian cooled off slowly, but he didn't seem as riled up as he was a second earlier. "Alright, apology accepted...but I'm going to be off all the same. I have to be going."

And with that, Ian took off. He had things to do, and this little encounter reminded him of how dangerous it was to walk about without a sword.