It had been a long time since Barlow had left this region. In another chapter of his existence, he had lived as a nomad. Traveling from country to country, seeing and learning as much as he could. During his wanderings, he had what one may call a fated encounter. In the hillside villages of Ule, he had learned of a strange apparition that roamed the land. The villagers warned him that after dusk, encounters with the spirit could precede harsh circumstances and that it was best to avoid the surrounding area during these hours. Barlow, however, was not easily dissuaded and knew that omens merely warned of events rather than caused them. To him, even a dark omen was a boon. If one knew ahead of...