Shedding Light on the Darkness

Standing on a hill at daybreak, a man looks out onto the fields in front of him. He is a tall man who is about 25 years of age. He wears a battle harness which holds three swords and a sling pack which holds all of his gear. Putting away his map and clutching the hilt of one of his swords he starts walking down into the meadow
Well Yojimbo, over these last few years of training we've learned to battle with unyielding fury and to stare down our enemies and feel no fear. It's time we start looking for our greatest foe. The one being that caused so much fear and death. It's about time we get some answers. I think it's best to go back to Moetown, Moe has approxiate knowledge of everything.
Desmond continues walking towards the town in hopes to find out more about the Darkness...

Desmond continues his walk towards Moetown and eventually wanders upon a man on the side of the road. The man who was leaning against a tree alongside the road starts walking towards him with a club in his hand.
Well met sir! By the looks of ya, I'd say your an experienced traveler... so you know why I'm here talkin' to ya now. Give me 10 gold and I'll let ya pass on unharmed...


I don't have time for this....

He grabs the hilt of a sword which hangs horizontally behind him from his belt. He then teleports behind the bandit striking him with his longsword once and then waves his left hand over his sword and strikes again. As his blade falls on it's enemy, it makes a loud booming sound which takes the bandit by surprise. The bandit, trying to regain his composure, grips his club and takes a swing at Desmond. Desmond easily deflects the blow and makes ready for his next attack. He speaks over his sword which begins to glow with a blue aura. He strikes his foe causing some minor damage, but as soon as he swings his sword, behind the thug appears a mirror image of Desmond in a bright blue glowing aura!
You're going down!
He points at the thug and marks him.
The thug is astonished but grits his teeth and continues the fight by swinging his club at the real Desmond this time actually landing a blow. Desmond staggers a bit but soon recuperates and smirks.
I'm over here punk!
the duplicate taunts the thug and marks him before taking a swing at him with his sword. The thug becomes even more confused and after debating on who to attack he swings at the real Desmond once more reasoning that if he can take Desmond down he'll be better off since all the other one can do is attack every now and then. But as soon as his club strikes Desmond, the clone teleports adjacent to him and unleashes his fury slashing at the thug's abdomen. With that final strike, the thug falls over unconscious.

Desmond sheaths his sword as the glowing copy of himself dissipates. He searches the bandit and takes a coin purse which contained 50gp that the thug undoubtedly took from other weary travelers.

Crime doesn't pay off in the long run my friend.

He then continues on his journey for another hour or two before reaching town. At the gate, he is greeted by two guards who ask what his business in town is to which he replies that he is looking for rest and a meal at Moe's Tavern and they allow him to pass through. It has been a long time since he had been here and the town has changed alot but his memory is keen and he soon reaches the bar and walks in....

Desmond walks out of Moe's with a map in hand. He looks at his map for a moment and walks to the chicken shack. As he makes his way there he looks for signs of the person in charge....

As Desmond approaches he sees a man wearing a cloak and goggles upon his brow, walking away carrying a large pack on his back. The man waves at the two men sitting on the front porch of the old shack as he leaves. The two old men sitting on the porch seem to be enjoying their meals and the company of one another. One is sitting on a three legged stool almost as frail looking as the old man sitting upon it. He has a large toothless grin on his face when he notices Desmond. The other man is short with a long white beard wearing a hat that is almost as tall as himself.

Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt but I was sent by Moe to retrieve a shipment of chicken....
Still thinking upon Moe's riddle, Desmond can't shake the feeling that perhaps the short bearded man could be one of those on his list...

Chicken! The toothless man exclaims and skips into the shack behind him.

Well, isn't he excited. The bearded fellow chuckles. I am Markorov, a taskmaster at the adventurers guild, who might you be good sir.

As much as you talk of darkness, some might think it has consumed you as well. If you find counsel in the old, what is it you speak? Power, to defeat your enemy? Knowledge, truths that need remain in the dark? Or is it wisdom you seek? Wisdom, of those who know the patterns of time? The night comes to those underneath the star-filled sky, but those who choose to submerge themselves into the darkness truly know the terror that comes in the night. Your masters concept of time travel was critically flawed by terror, doubt, and delusion. Simply by your presence in the past the future you know is gone, but why do you believe that an evil that is incarnate could be stopped by one soul? How do you know that you coming to the past is not what began spiral of fate, and you have yet doomed the world again? Questions are what you have, and difficult truths will echo back. Do not stray from your unknowing state, continue to ponder. I shall not delay you further for we shall me again. The council meets where the hidden is, but I am but a bridge broken to the evil world. Do not follow my path take the course up stream. I must depart, but you should speak to my friend as well. Good day, Desmond Time Wanderer. He then vanishes into a puff of purple smoke. The chicken man comes back out with a plate full of food, and a bottle of blue liquid. One word is directed at Desmond. Chicken.

A very puzzled and troubled looking Desmond hangs his head in deep thought for a moment before realizing that the Chicken Man is addressing him....
Oh, sorry. I was just feeling puzzled and slightly troubled as well. I was so deep in thought for a moment there I didn't ever realize you were addressing me. Is this for me?

The peddler of chicken hands Desmond the plate of chicken and the blue liquid.

He takes the plate of food and the blue liquid
Hm... okay I am kind of hungry...
He starts to eat the food and takes a gulp of the beverage
So what's your story? Do you know that short fellow? You know, I've got a feeling that Moe sent me this way for more than a shipment of chicken...

Chicken? the old man smiles in a sly manner.

Spoiler:

As the smooth blue liquid flows down Desmond's throat he can feel the arcane energies spiraling around him. His knowledge of the arcane tells him that he has drank a drink laced with a powerful alchemical formula. The smile one the chickenman's face curls into a spiral string of brilliant colors and patterns. When Desmond's mind finally settles down, he is in a dark damp room on his back.

Boy, You handles that better than most their first time. Ha, most vomit all over their britches.

Spoiler:

Desmond sits up
Ugh.... where am I? Who are you? Why am I here?

Desmond's vision clears, and he sees the chicken-man standing there in front of him with his hand stretched out to help him up. "First in last out" is a rule I like to follow. I am hear because you have questions. You are what your decisions make you, or maybe you are fates design. I am with you in a place that is me and rules me. But if you want, I can shed some light on this situation. Two large bright circular lights appear behind the chicken-man. First, with a bright intensity, then to a normal ambient light. The circular lights now resemble windows instead. However Desmond cannot see completely outside because he is sitting down.

Desmond takes the hand up offered by the Chicken man and attempts to look through the "windows"

A giant eldrin is just outside the window, and is mindlessly gnawing on a chicken bone. Drool dripping out of the corner his mouth.