Morgo wandered almost aimlessly through the forest, his book tucked comfortably at his side. The Norwoods were very stuffy and hot due to the canopy, but because of the same canopy, it always seemed to be a very dreamy yellow and dull green, making it an extremely relaxing place. At last Morgo came across a beautiful lake, so pristine that not even a ripple scattered across its surface. It was completely sheltered by a wall of willow's that drooped lazily, an occasional branch drifting across the surface.

Morgo stood only for a moment to enjoy the scenery, and then quickly remember about why he left the busy city. He had come to the Norwood in search for a nice, relaxing place to study and learn. He often wondered why more students didn't come to the forest or lake to study. Yet he knew that few civilians had the gumption to come and face the countless bandits and fierce wolves, even though rangers and druids swore to protect the Norwood Forest. Screams were barely audible in such a pristine place.

He ambled to a dead tree that hung over the water, sitting on it over the water. He crossed his legs and opened up his thick tome on his lap. He leafed through the pages until he came at last upon an interesting part. Morgo had read this particular book a dozen times and even memorized how it was laid out. He could recite the beginning chapter, his mind was constantly thinking of the various diagrams in the massive tome. Although he had read the book before, he still learned every time he read through, or at least had a wonderful time reading it.


At last he came to the most interesting part of the demonology book. It was the bestiary, a detailed list about the major demons of Imythess. Pictures of beautiful Erinyes flashed before, next several devious imps, and then the vicious looking Barbazus, until he came at last to a single page devoted to the massive bulk of the Pit Fiend. On the leafy page was the colored in sketch of the demon, which was so large it took up the entire page, and was used as somewhat as a title page, due to the extensive content of the fiend.

He took a moment to study the fiend's picture, then continued onward, his finger grazing past the mighty wings of the beast that he so longingly desired. He began to read.

The Pit Fiend is the leader of the mighty demons. They are massive, powerful, and capable of much destruction. Do not attempt to summon or have any attempt to control the Pit Fiend. Most scholars and demonologists can recall the release of the mighty Pit Fiend, Argoth, which was a great scourge of Imythess, and took several mighty wizards to contain once again. So at your own risk, stay away from these powerful beasts!

Perhaps it was the mystery and the power of the Pit Fiend that attracted it to Morgo so much, but for one reason or the other, the demonologist had no other favorite evil entity. The demonologist continued to read extensively about the Pit Fiend, engulfed in its lore and study. He was interested in every single demon, evil entities in general, but was particularly attracted to the Pit Fiend. He sat upon the tree overlooking the water, sitting in peace, his mind swarming with the fires and flames of the mighty demon.

Ethari pulled back a branch that hung low from a tree as he passed through a dense forest. The forest was known as Norwood forest, and had been known for a great deal of bandits, but this didn't worry Ethari. He felt oddly safe and at peace in the forest, almost like the feeling he felt when he was near water. He pulled back another thick willow branch into a large clearing. He had arrived at Norwood Lake! It was large, and several dead trees had collapsed into the lake, making small make shift benches for anyone to enjoy the view. He set his thick spell book down on a near by rock. He un slung his belt, which his wand dangled from, and placed it near where his spell book laid.

He began to undue his pants, but forgot to look around to see if anyone was present. With a face blushed red of embarrassment, he looked around the lake to see if anyone was near. Sure enough, a few yards away, a man sat with his back to Ethari, completely engulfed in a book. Ethari sighed, for he had hoped this would be his chance to wash himself, for he had spent a long while at the library in Taras. He removed his shirt only, and slipped inside the lake, feeling completely at ease with the water flowing around him.

Ethari glided under the water for a few moments, his webbed hands and feet giving him total movement around the lake. His gills on the sides of his neck allowed him to breath easily and his eyes gave him total vision of the lake. His slick skin made his movement that much easier, but his pants slowed him down greatly. If only this stranger was gone he could swim care free! But he couldn't blame the man for wanting to spend his time at this lake. It was beautiful, despite the fact that bandits infested its borders.

He drifted towards where his spell book lay, and grasped it. His spell book had a special enchantment placed on it, where it was protected from simple forms of abuse, such as liquids and minor tears. Ethari opened his spell book carefully, and looked at his first pages. The first few were dedicated to the Create Water spell, which he had already mastered with ease. Because he was a water gensai, he had been able to conjure water with ease, even around the age of ten. Now he was an adult, and had decided to dedicate his life to the magic art of the Wayves, he had perfected the art of Create Water.

He grabbed his wand, and placed his spell book on a rock, propped up so he could refresh his mind of the magic words. He flicked his wand as an extension of the arm, and channeled his energy through it. The crystal on top of the wand acted as a magnifying glass would act to sunlight, and amplified his energy slightly. Water formed a few inches away from the wand. Ethari concentrated on it for a few moments, and a second later, it was two gallons wide. Pleased with himself, he let the water drop, but instantly regretted it. It made a loud splash.

He placed his wand on the rock and drifted over to where the man sat. "I'm sorry sir! I hope my splash didn't disturb your book." Ethari looked at the mans face, and noticed it was the man, Morgo, whom he had met in the library. "Morgo! Its you! Remember me, I'm Ethari, we met at the library a couple of weeks ago!"

Morgo's eyes intently scanned the book's content, his mind racing along with the sea of words that raced across his vision. His heart suddenly stopped when a loud splash errupted in the silience. He slammed the book shut and tucked it softly away in his cloak. He didn't want anybody to come and argue with him about the 'severity of demonology' or the 'risks' involved in practicing black magic. If arts such as necromancy were dangerous, then why was it accepted in the Academy of Magic? Although he believed strongly in the acceptance of his magic, he was fed up with explaining himself, and hid his magic due partially because of habit.

He swiveled around, turning to face a very familiar face, although he wasn't quite sure were he had met this peculiar being. He immediatly recognized it as a gensai, and based off its webbed fingers, small slits for gills, and slightly scaley skin, he determined that it was most likely on of the element of water. It seemed only natural that the water based being would be attracted to such a pristine and calm natural lake. "I'm sorry sir! I hope my splash didn't disturb your book. Morgo! Its you! Remember me, I'm Ethari, we met at the library a couple of weeks ago!"

Morgo quickly remembered his encounter with the creature and another wizard a while ago. He scanned his mind to recover the details. It was him, Ethari, and a man named Saeborn, and they had a heated discussion over magic. He cursed in his mind, trying his hardest to hide his anger and fustration. Ethari was a very unaccepting individual. He had no understanding of true magic. Necromancy and demonology were both powerful and misunderstood schools of magic, and Ethari had the common misperception that they were dangerous and unethical.

Morgo pinched the tip of his nose, shaking his head. Why was it always him who was interrupted or disturbed when he needed to be away the most? Dark storm clouds of anger and hate flustered in his mind. Morgo was always quick to anger, and the people who were close to him realized not to disturb him while he studied or locked himself away in thought. He rose, bringing himself close to the water gensai. "Why, hello Ethari," he hissed. He brought one his large arms up, then shoved the water gensai a little.

"It seems to me that you have no respect for those who wish a little peace and quiet," he said in a low, angry tone. "Why, I tried to escape the hardships of city life for one day," he stuck out his finger, showing a visual representation of 'one', "and then you, a, a, a," he stammered, searching for an appropriate word, "a fish, comes and interrupts me!" he said, his voice raising. "Do you want me to fail as a mage?" he asked rhetorically, his face now flushed completely with rage. He continued his rant, his anger only building.

"I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate me splashing all over you!" he roared. Without thinking, he ran off the fallen tree, throwing his book of to the nearby shore before he hit the water. He aimed his body so that the water would purposefully hit Ethari.

While his body sunk into the clear lake, his eyes picked out something that could be of use. A dead body, probably that of a merchant who was unfortunate to come across the vicious bandits of the woods, lay at the bottome of the lake. Morgo quickly splashed up to the surface, quickly swimming to the shore. He stood at the shore, his body pointed to the lake. His mouth quickly uttered dark incantations, and soon, dark magic formed at his hands. Morgo then launched the energy into the lake, which plunged deeply into its depths. Morgo turned to Ethari.

"You will face the consequences for such treachery!" he roared. He knew that he was being ridiculous, but the stress of everyday life had merely errupted, causing the already boiling demonologist to snap at a nearly crazy level. Slowly, out of the lake came the animated dead body, moans turning to gurgles as the water flowed out his mouth, ears, eye holes, and several stab wounds throughout his body. "Attack!" he roared viciously, drawing his own blade.

Ethari treaded water carefully, as the man closed his book and began to speak. Something about him seemed strange. "Why, hello Ethari," he hissed. He brought one his large arms up, then shoved the water gensai a little. Ethari had little time to block, and his hand made contact with his cold, wet shoulder, and caused him to go under the water a little. Because he was under water for his first few words, the sounded like glubs. "Glub...glub... to me that you have no respect for those who wish a little peace and quiet," he said in a low, angry tone. "Why, I tried to escape the hardships of city life for one day," he stuck out his finger, showing a visual representation of 'one', "and then you, a, a, a," he stammered, searching for an appropriate word, "a fish, comes and interrupts me!" he said, his voice raising. "Do you want me to fail as a mage?"

"I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate me splashing all over you!" he roared. Ethari was afraid now. This man was insane! Morgo tossed his book aside and jumped in the water aiming, for Ethari. Ethari swam away with ease and stared at Morgo intently. He seemed to stay under the surface of the now, less pristine lake, and finally came up. He quickly came to surface, and held his up his hands, to cast a spell. Black energy flew into the lake. Ethari didn't know what to think about this, for he hadn't been around dark magic for very long. "You will face the consequences for such treachery!" he roared. A skeleton emerged from the lake, water pouring from all the holes in his head.

"Attack!" Morgo screamed, drawing his own blade. Ethari swam quickly to the shore of the lake, and opened his spell book to the pages he had dedicated to the Summon Water Elemental spell. "I hope this works," Ethari muttered under his breath, preparing to cast his spell. He flicked his wand around, saying incantations loudly, and clearly. Runes appeared on the ground, where the creature would be summoned. He pulled his wand up with great force and speed and shouted the last bit of the incantation. The runes flashed, and a smoke erupted from them.

After a few moments, the smoke cleared, leaving a Marid standing there, wearing nothing except a simple sash, a triton in his hand. Ethari closed his book, and yelled across the lake towards Morgo. "Now you may want to think logically, this creature is much stronger than that simple undead! Destroy it!" The Marid jumped forward, and into the water, and glided across it with astounding speed. It jumped out of the water once it reached the opposite shore, that Morgo and his undead stood, and jumped at the undead, his trident aimed to shatter it.

Morgo stared intently upon the wizard at the opposite shore. The gensai summoned forth several runes which served as a portal for a great creature, a Marid. The creature swam with startling speed towards Morgo, and nearly dashed across the lake. The marid leaped out, its trident aimed to destroy the undead Morgo had created. The demonologist knew that if the water creature Ethari summoned managed to hit his undead that the creature would destroyed, or mutilated to the point were all its useful limbs were gone yet it had enough black magic within it that it could survive.

Morgo had enough tatical knowledge to understand that in order to suceed that two duels would need to be formed. He would have to duel Ethari, and his undead would face the Marid. The very simple plan quickly formed inside of him. Within a matter of seconds, his master scheme was created. He orded the undead to dodge. The bones of the skeleton creaked as it jumped to the side, avoiding the powerful and ornate trident of the water creature. "Attack the Marid with no mercy," he commanded in the most authoritive tone he could muster.

He then dashed across the shore as fast as he could, keeping close to the water, yet making certain that he stayed out of the water, in fear of Ethari knowing any offensive water spells. Soon, he reached the water wizard, panting and out of breath, his blade hanging limply in his hand. Although he was very poor in his blade skills, he knew that close combat was his only option. He knew no offensive magic, save for Inflict Minor Wounds. But that simple ametuer spell was too simple and weak to even cause substantial harm to Ethari. He would have to test his luck with the steel of his longsword. Hopefully his foe was as unskillful in his melee skills as well.

He scowled, suddenly regretting the whole affair. But his ego wouldn't allow him to admit defeat or even ask for a truce. Suddenly, the entire battle wasn't a matter of a simple arguement gone rotten, it was a defence against his magic, a defence against dark and misunderstood magic. He wouldn't admitt defeat against Ethari, for admitting defeat would be telling the mage that necromancy was evil, unjust, and inhumane against spirits. But now was not the time for regrets. It was time for battle.

He roared with anger, bringing his blade high in the air. He lunged, aiming directly for Ethari's face.

The Marid which Ethari had summoned leaped towards the undead with incredible speed, but Morgo had ordered it to dodge almost at the same moment Ethari had told the Marid to attack. The heap of bones leaped back with similar agility, creaking ominously as it did so. "Attack the Marid with no mercy," Morgo commanded, with a firm voice. Ethari closed his spell book quickly and looked at which direction Morgo was headed. Ethari had no idea why he was even fighting! A simple swim! That was all he wanted, and this man had instigated a fight for a simple splash! Ethari had to defend him self, but he had no desire to hurt this man.

Morgo ran along the shore towards Ethari with quick speed, a sword in his hand. He held it loosely, and held it with a strange grip he hadn't seen before, which gave the water mage the impression that he was unskilled with a blade like Ethari was. Ethari didn't even own a blade! The lack of a weapon would prove to make the fight difficult, and knowing only two spells would add to his trouble. The Marid that he had summoned would have to protect himself.

Ethari thought of a plan quickly. He had a plan that might work, yet it would be risky. His Marid could cross the short expanse of the lake in mere moments, and the skeleton most likely couldn't. May be his Marid could protect Ethari from Morgo and the skeleton.

Morgo was quickly approaching Ethari. "Defend me Marid!," Ethari yelled, jumping backwards, attempting to dodge him. He was unscathed, for now. He looked across the lake for a sign that the Marid was coming to protect him from Morgo. Sure enough, the Marid jumped in a beautiful display of power and beauty, and landed in the lake, creating only a small ripple. It looked like he had dissolved in the water, but his body moved so perfectly that he entered the water with perfect smoothness and grace.

He lunged out of the water, but much more differently than he had entered it. His arms and legs were extended, giving him the foolish look of a bird. But it was a brilliant strategy. With him, a huge wave of water followed. His webbed under arms and legs brought a barrage of water with him, to confuse Morgo. Ethari grabbed his wand, and cast the spell Create Water. Two more gallons were created over Morgo's head, aimed to crash on top of him. The Marid aimed to pierce Morgo in the heart with his ornate trident.

Hopefully Ethari would win this battle, and bring Morgo to his senses. Morgo hated him because he thought that Ethari despised necromancy! Ethari respected any form of magic, but Ethari was afraid for Morgo, and his life! Necromancy and Demonology were dangerous arts, and if they were practiced without skill, the consequences were many. If he won this fight, Ethari would convince Morgo to stop the art, for it already seemed to be corrupting his mind.

Morgo quickly returned to a normal yet awkward defensive stance as soon as Ethari dodged, keeping his eyes opened for anything the water mage might throw at him. But then in a flash, a streak flashed across the water, and the mighty form of the marid leaped out from the pristine lake. The creature positioned its arms and legs so that a giant heap of the water from the lake came splashing over Morgo's head.

'Is this a diversion or an attack all its own?' thought Morgo. Magic was unpredictable, and if the demonologist took the chance he mighty be covered in burning acid or perhaps the water was enchanted to melt the flesh of evil souls. He couldn't risk getting hit by the water. Morgo had no clue on why the liquid was splashed on him, whether it be a diversion or an attack. If he dodged, however, he would leave himself open to yet another attack.

He side stepped the wave of water, his face fixed in concentration and strategy. Morgo then saw the trident that was hidden in the splash. 'So that was the purpose of the attack,' he thought, grateful that he dodged. If the wizard decided to get splashed and keep a more defensive stance, the marid's trident would of pierced him directly in the heard. He roared towards his skeleton, which was slowly submerging itself in the lake, chasing after the marid. "Defend me my minion!" he demanded. The skeleton moved its head towards the direction of his voice, and then slowly walked out of the lake. As soon as it made its way out of the water, it broke into a magnificent sprint, its joints and bones making a horrible creaking and squelching sound.


Morgo needed to keep the marid away from Ethari. As soon as he did that, he would be able to fight the mage hand to hand. Within seconds, the skeleton was at Morgo's side. The creature lunged, its bony fingers aimed from the scaly throat of the water gensai's summoned minion. Morgo navigated his way around the marid carefully, the lunged his blade towards the water mage's stomach. With any luck, Ethari wouldn't be able to dodge, and Morgo would get the first blow in what seemed to be like a pointless battle. Yet he wouldn't surrendor, no matter how fierce and intense the duel became. But the wizard knew this wasn't a duel, it was a war between two magics, two ideas. What was just and fair and right between the immoral and vicious magic of necromancy and demonology. Morgo understood that Ethari was probably confused about the whole battle, yet in Morgo's mind, if he was to be defeated, he would be surrendoring his whole lifestyle.

Ethari concluded his spell, his hands settling at his side after his flourish. Morgo seemed astounded at the sight of the Marid, deep thoughts forming in his head. He was probably confused at the sight, whether the water was an attack in itself or not. Unfortunately, it wasn't, but it was okay for the other mage to believe that. It seemed that Morgo had made up his mind that water wasn't an attack at all, but a diversion. Morgo jumped out of the way, and yelled "Defend me my minion!" The skeleton moved its head towards the direction of his voice, and then slowly walked out of the lake. As soon as it made its way out of the water, it broke into a magnificent sprint, its joints and bones making a horrible creaking and squelching sound.

The Marid landed, his trident missing the heart of the other mage. The undead lunged forward, its bony hands aimed to grab the throat of the summoned Marid. Ethari would watch the amazing battle between the masterful skeleton and Marid, but Morgo had carefully side stepped his minion, and aimed to pierce his sword deep into Ethari's stomach.

Ethari jumped back, the sword skimming across his shirt. A small line of blood splattered on the ground. A cool wind carrying the leaf which held his blood, sending it flying away.

They weren't playing for fun anymore. This man was aimed to kill! Ethari's minion had aimed to stab him in the heart, but the sudden sight, even so minuscule that it was carried away in the wind aboard its leafy ship, of his own blood shocked him into reality. He landed from his side step, placed his hand on the ground as he skidded back wards.

"Prepare yourself," Ethari said with a look of battle lust in his eyes. "Now its time for the storm." He sprinted up the trunk of a collapsed tree, that hung over the center of the lake. "Defend me Marid!," Ethari shouted, not knowing the name of the beast. He stood, hoping the Morgo would follow him, and the Marid come to defend him.

Ethari looked over at the Marid, to see how his fight was faring. He had jumped back, avoiding the skeletal hand. As his body flew backwards, he aimed his trident expertly at the gap between his rib, arm, and pelvis bones. Ethari was amazed at the intellect the Marid displayed. With the power of his blow, and if his hit was succesful, the skeleton would collapse, and be pinned on the ground by the trident. It was a risky plan, but if it was successful, Ethari had a winning chance!