A lone figure clad in a red cloak limbed up the mountainous slope, determined to reach his destination.

It was not much further now – he could see the flickering light ahead. Adjusting his collar and gripping his cane, the figure finished the last leg of his long journey.

In front of him was a majestic sight, a pure white light eminating all around from a central source within a circle of people. Both light and shadow danced upon the surrounds of the clearing.

Nine men wearing dark red cloaks chanted indescribable words and phrases, each indescribable as the next.

It seemed as though the light moved and flickered with the chanting, but the loner knew this was simply a trick of the mind.

Walking up to the empty spot in the circle, he began chanting with the rest of the cloaked figures.

The chanting went on for hours, deep into the night. The members of the circle felt their energy draining, being tapped by some unknown source.

At once without warning the dancing light grew brighter than the sun, blinding everyone momentarily and illuminating their surroundings. At the same time a shrill sound pierced the clear mountain air, causing the members of the circle to drop to their knees.

A figure rose out from the light, clearly twice the size of a man. It had no facial features, just smooth hollows where the eyes would have been. The majestic being paid no heed to the cloaked men, but stepped out of the circle and walked towards a cliff overlooking the countryside.

Down below were the twinkling lights of a small city, smoke rising from the hundreds of chimneys.

The being knew at once its purpose.