User:Rmarkum
For seventeen centuries, Robert's ancestors ensured that wayward travelers never made it home. Each day, they stood in the dark forest paths and lured lost souls with promises of safety and protection. Modern life, however, meant fewer forests...and fewer lost travelers. The vocation remained, though, a dark curse upon his bloodline. And as much as he tries to shed the curse, to bring souls to safety, to lead them into paths of light, the curse remains.
The real (?) bio
Robert is a third year PhD student who, if anything, is mostly busy leading himself down the blind paths of his own curiosity. At the moment, the path is winding its way through computer ethics. One day Robert hopes to emerge from the forest of his own making and become a professor, but who knows if he'll ever find the way out of this forest...
The curse
He should have known. The signs were all there. First, there was a high pitched cry in the distance. Then, a fox ran across the path. Finally, when he entered a small clearing deep in forest, a dark-eyed shepherd sat on a fallen tree. But he was distracted. His wife was at home, pregnant, ready to give birth at any moment.
He had only ventured through this forest to save time coming back from the market, avoiding the longer but well-traveled path. He nodded at the shepherd, who returned the nod.
"Friend," he said, "You look weary. Come rest for a moment next to me."
The man paused and realized that he did feel tired, likely as a result of rushing back home. He moved over to the tree and sat next to the shepherd. It seemed, though, that the longer he sat, the more tired he became.
The man rose, as did the shepherd.
The man spoke: "My apologies. I must continue on. My wife awaits me, pregnant with our first child."
The shepherd smiled and nodded, stating, "I will walk with you for a while."
The two moved down the path, the shepherd in front and the man trailing behind. It was only much too late that the man realized he was not on the path home but instead was descending deeper and deeper into the tangled forest. He spoke, "I think we have lost the path," to which the shepherd responded, "No. This has always been the path."
He turned and faced the shepherd, whose eyes now glittered despite the dark and shadows. It was then that the man recognized his fellow traveler: Ürdüng.
The shepherd spoke, "I see you recognize me now."
The man responded, "Yes. And I know that you are leading me to hell."
The shepherd nodded, "It's a shame you will never see your child."
The man, desperate to return home, to be reunited with his family replied, "You don't need to take me. Allow me to bring souls to you, and let me go free."
The shepherd grinned, "Your life will be short. I have seen your death, seven years from today, crushed under the weight of a falling tree much like the one we sat on. You will not have much time to honor our pact." He continued. "I will agree to this deal, but only if you and all born into your bloodline bring me souls."
The man paused, weighing the terrible offer. Could he accept seven years with his wife and child, knowing not only him but all his descendants (including his unborn child) would need to bring souls to Ürdüng for the rest of time?
"If I serve you, will we be free from hell?" asked the man.
"Yes," replied Ürdüng, "you and your entire bloodline will be free, the price of your sins and misdeeds transferred to those that you bring to me. Service to me, but ultimate freedom."
---
The sun was setting when the man stepped through his front door. Dark shadows streamed through the doorway and deep into the small house. He was surprised to hear the muffled sounds of what sounded like a child, and there, nestled in the arms of his loving wife was the newborn, its eyes dark and sparkling.
The failed escape
It was bound to fail. He knew that from the very start, but he had to try. At least that. But at what cost?
