I stand fully clad in thick, plate maille armor, emblazoned with gold highlights on metal so dark of red it's almost black. My full velvet red cloak billows behind me, barely lit by a hundred candles as I look about the church. My sword is drawn and my shield is clasped tightly against my arm. Shadows twist and turn around every corner as I walk deliberately forward. My heavy footfalls are loud and demand attention. I signal the beginning of the fight by clanging my sword against my shield with a heavy blow, ringing clearly the precious tang of metal echoing through the stone walls. The clarity of this note narrows my focus, and time seems to slow down. Shadows come into focus, wretched creatures, twisted forms lunging at me. My motions match the speed of this slowed time, but theirs do not. They strike with unnatural speed, and only my technique and focus give me the advantage I need to slide a sword under a guard, through a side, turning just in time to deflect a blow with my shield and thrust backwards to take down a third, a fourth in a tight arc... They shatter into a thousand sparks caught in dispersing black mist. Time quickly returns to normal, blurred shapes flying through the air at me at terrifying speed, unearthly shrieks that once chilled my bones and stopped my heart in my throat now simply indicate the direction of an attack. Their motions are wild, fully committed, predictable from the moment they leap at me. A misstep of but an instant will cost me this battle, but my motions are quick and clean, and my sword finds its target with each passing second. I rely heavily on my shield and armor, and they serve me well in deflecting blows intended to rip me apart. I stand to catch my breath as the shadows withdraw, off to bring their masters, someone who might be able to deal with me. It is why I'm here, to face these dark masters, and to bring righteous fury upon them...

Now that was an awesome dream. ^.^