The Man in the Shadows

The sunlight shined through the tree canopy, causing Derrinus to stir. He slowly rose to his feet, gazing at the surrounding birch forest. These trees, however, aren't the thin birch trees he is used to. These trees look like birch, but are as big as oak trees; and as solid by the looks of it. He could faintly hear the the sound of running water nearby. Questions assaulted his mind, as well as a splitting headache. Where am I? Wasn't I just in a crypt with a, last I checked, functioning ceiling?Memories of the void and, more importantly, his demise began to creep up from within his head. Eyes widening at the horrific memories, he began to hyperventilate, only to be unable to hear himself breath. Confused, Derrinus began to try talking, stomping, yelling, only unable to hear himself. It was as if some wizard put a silence spell on him. Getting desperate to know if this was a dream, he pricked his arm with one of his thieves tools, only to feel the slight sting of it puncturing. This wasn't a dream, and the thief, in a final attempt to hear himself, tried to will the silence away. It worked immediately, as if it was, Could it be?, by his own power.

Curiously, he willed the silence to come back, then he tried to yell, only for nothing to come out. Dispelling the silence, he began to feel giddy, happy even. He had magic! Derrinus remembered the times that the group's psion would try to help him find his power, only for nothing to show for it. "I guess all that hard work finally payed off! I need to thank..." Derrinus paused as he couldn't remember the names of his companions. How? I was just with them! How could I forget their names? In fact, he couldn't remember anyone's name only his family members and his own.

He began checking his belongings to see if everything was in order. He took off his backpack and cloak, only for his leather vest to fall apart. Taking off his armor, Derrinus found most of it was in similar condition to the vest. "This isn't good." Derrinus mumbled to himself as he cut the leather into strips for later use. Once he finished, he continued to examine his gear. He was in an unknown location in an unknown land. He had to be sure he had everything. Checking his backpacks insides, he found he still had his jeweling kit, a bag with 3 amethysts, 3 emeralds, 3 topazes, and 3 sapphires, another bag with a few small ingots of various metals, his rations, and 3 torches with his tinderbox. On the left side, he had his crowbar and a length of rope. On the right side, he had his water skin. On top of the pack, rested his bedroll. Looking and being thankful that his tool-belt didn't suffer like his armor, he found that it was still stocked with his good ol' reliable tools. His clothes are dirty, but a good clean while he washes will fix that. He has a few spare sets of clothes anyway. His dagger, Sanguine Crescent, his first jewel modified item, rested reliably on a thigh sheath and his bow, just a normal short bow, was snapped in half next to where he landed. Derrinus cringed at the sight of where he landed. A shallow crater with a humanoid outline marked where he landed, making him wonder how he didn't become a glorified grease stain on the ground upon impact. He turned away from the indent in the ground and checked his pocket for his most important possession. He pulled out a singed scrap of paper, a picture of his family standing in front of their jeweling shop/home magically imprinted on the paper. He may of forgotten his companions, but he will never forget his family. He will never forget his sin and drive for adventurer.

Shaking his head to dispell the thought, he put the picture in his bag and began to pack up. Once he finished, he went in the direction that the water was in, hoping to get himself cleaned up and to find a source of fresh water.

A few hours later, Derrinus found it. It was a wide, slow flowing, and crystal clear river. 10 feet wide at its narrowest by the looks of it, 25ft at it's widest. It also looked decently deep, 6 feet by at it's deepest if Derrinus was a good judge of depth. 30 yards on the other side was a cliff face with a cave 10 feet up. The cave was obscured by vines and the branches of the trees on the other side of the river, only spotted by Derrinus's keen eyes (which is self proclaimed). Derrinus went to a shallower part of the river, due to being only 5 feet tall, to clean up.

It felt good to bathe after days on the road. The water was turning brown around him as he cleaned his pale, almost snow white skin. Thankfully the grime was being carried away from him by the rivers flow. His jet black hair and thin beard felt amazing after just being rinsed. Derrinus knew this wasn't the best cleaning job until he could get himself some soap, but it felt great none the less. It didn't take long to get himself cleaned due to his height and rail thin frame. He can remember all the times his smaller than average size has saved him from someone's blade or sight.

Derrinus finished washing his clothes and himself when the sun started to set. Wondering how the night crept up on him, he put on a black tunic, some charcoal grey pants, and his boots; as well as his cloak and other belongings. Looking at the cave, on the other side of the river, he shrugged and felt it was as good a place as any to rest. That is, if it's uninhabited. And if he can get across the river. Pondering how he would get across, he got an idea. He wanted to use his magic again, see if he had any other tricks up his nonexistent sleeve. So, he tried to will himself across the river, taking the mental image of flying across the river. Suddenly, he dashed across the river, his body dissipating into a shadowy orb during the dash. As he regained his original shape on the other side, he looked around in shock and awe. He just teleported! Well, more of a dash but the sentiment was still the same. He just crossed the river almost instantly without swimming or jumping across. Though feeling a little physically drained due to never 'Shadow Lunged', he felt great. With new vigor, and a little arrogance, he swaggered his way to the cave. The cave entrance has a oval shape reaching 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Looking up, he focuses at the cave entrance, and he Shadow Lunges in.

Upon entering the cave mouth, he staggers, his renewed vigor now gone as he stumbles off balance. After regaining his balance, he lit a torch and looked in the cave. The mouth of the cave goes in 17 feet,  and then widens out into a circular room 15 feet tall and 20 feet in diameter. Derrinus felt relief when he saw the cave had no sign of life, the vines seemingly hid the cave from other creatures, or maybe it was the height of the cave from the ground, who knows? Who cares? It's mine now! Derrinus thought as he gathered branches and stones for a fire. After  he gathered the branches, he climbed up the rope he tied to a stalagmite in the cave entrance. He emptied the sticks and stones  from his pack onto the floor in the middle of the cave and began to construct a campfire. Once the fire was made, he laid the rest of the sticks in a pile next to the wall of the cave. Derrinus then laid his bedroll out a good distance away from the fire and put is pack next to it.

After eating his dinner of traveling rations, he laid down to go to sleep on his bedroll in the light of the dying fire. Before he fell asleep, he made his plans for the morning. Tomorrow, he will find civilization.