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Message: <blockquote data-quote="amethal" data-source="post: 3713925" data-attributes="member: 22784">Flashback  (Jonathan Farrier)Beneath the Free City of Gate PassSome time agoNo one knows how or why the man first discovered the Pool of Dreams, deep in the caverns beneath the city. Not even the man himself, for while it was a man who entered the pool, it was something else which emerged – something with no memory of its past existence.****The black-clad man moved from shadow to shadow, his booted feet making no sound on the rough cavern floor. The figure ahead, illuminated in the flickering torchlight – a sentry? a passer-by? – remained oblivious to his presence. Instinctively the man’s hands dropped to the hilts of the two long, wickedly curved knives at his belt. His self-control almost allowed himself to smile at his lapse in concentration, then he selected instead the heavy cosh. Carefully, he identified the exact spot he needed, then struck out from the shadows. His victim collapsed to the floor. No need to check for a pulse – the blow had struck home exactly as intended – but the man did so anyway. Never take any unnecessary short-cuts. The target was still alive. It was a risk, but killing him was a greater one.The man continued on his way, moving like a ghost through the caverns, until he reached his destination. Ahead was a large, well lit cave, dominated by the pool at its centre. Some trick of the torch light, or possibly some phosphorescent fungus in its depths, gave the pool an odd blue sheen. A robed figure was sat in contemplation beside the pool, with his back to the entrance.In fact, with his back directly opposite the exact centre of the entry passageway. The man appreciated the gesture, and in a gesture of his own made every effort to make no sound as he approached.The robed figure turned as he got within twenty feet. “So?” he asked.“Greetings,” replied the man. “Are you the one known as the Dreamcatcher?”“My name is Vanguard. However, people have started calling me Dreamcatcher. Personally, I think Dream Chaser would be more appropriate, but one cannot chose one’s own nickname. And you are?”“I have a number of aliases, and more than a few nicknames, but my mother called me Marten. I doubt she would recognise me these days.” In the brighter light, it could be seen that the whole left hand side of his face was badly scarred, and his left eye was missing. “My full name is Marten Larkins, and I share it with you so you will know how serious this conversation is.”“What brings you here, into these caverns, Marten Larkins?”“I heard a strange story, from an assassin called Sligo. He in turn heard it from a smooth skinned, youthful looking man who claimed to be called Hope. Apparently your pool can remove scars, make flesh whole and, most importantly, grant immortality. I wish to bathe in your pool.”“And why should I let you? I choose my candidates carefully and, whilst I know nothing about you, I have an inkling that violence, rather than study, is your area of expertise.“I appreciate that I may not be able to stop you. However, did Hope also happen to mention that those who bathe in the pool are reborn in mind as well as in body? As skilled as you may be now, you will lose all of this when you enter the pool, and it will take time for your new talents to develop. I may or may not be able to stop you now, but I will certainly be able to deal with you after you enter the pool.“So, I repeat, why should I let you?”Marten reached into his bag. “I did not come here empty handed. I have brought you a couple of gifts.” Carefully he pulled out two round objects, both of which seemed too large to fit in the bag. They were two severed heads, one of a fresh faced young man and the other of a scarred half orc.“Sligo killed Hope in the end, after he had learned all he could from him, so your organisation is a man short. Later, I killed Sligo.”“Was it necessary to decapitate the bodies?”“Surely you’ve heard the expression ‘dead men tell tales’. Well, not without their heads they don’t.”“And why did Sligo tell you this information?”“Sligo was my partner. We shared everything, up until I decided the time was right to terminate our arrangement. Which brings me to my second point. I am not a nice man, to put it mildly. Once I’ve been in that pool, all my memories will be lost.” He fingered his eye socket absently. “All the bad experiences which have made me what I am will be washed away with them, and you can turn me into one of your peaceful scholars.”“And if your previous, ah associates, should come looking for you, bringing chaos into my carefully built organisation?”“None of them will recognise me without my scars. I got them a very long time ago. So, do we have a deal?”“We have a deal.”****Vanguard, known as the Dreamcatcher, helped the figure out of the pool. The creature once known as Marten Larkins was no more. It was time for a new name.“I thought we might call you Hope,” said the Dreamcatcher.“No thanks,” replied his latest recruit. He thought for a moment. “I will be called Jonathan Farrier.”Dreamcatcher snorted. “Why not just call yourself John Smith and be done with it?”“Oh no, that wouldn’t be at all subtle.”****Dreamcatcher addressed the assembled scholars.“I am very pleased with the progress you have all made in mastering the Power of Dreams. I flattered myself that it was due to my own teachings and example that you have been able to pick up techniques in mere weeks that it took me years to grasp.“Thanks to my pride, it has taken me far too long to recognise the truth. The Power of Dreams is getting stronger. It is possible this is the result of all of us bathing in the pool, as if unlocking the power within us has attracted yet more power to us. Possibly there is some outside source, which may or may not have been awakened by our actions.“Whatever the reason, my dreams of late have been filled with foreboding. I cannot escape the feeling that we are on the cusp of something major, and that it is strongly connected to the Power of Dreams.“That is why I am asking you all to go forth into the world, and look for clues as to what is happening. I will contact you at regular intervals to see what you have to report.”Jonathan Farrier, his mind awash with knowledge for which he lacked any kind of context, was delighted at this news.</blockquote>

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