Together we made our way through the remainder of the field and into the forest that formed an insulated border between patches of farm land. As we walked, I had more time to examine my new friend's figure. He was a titan of a man to say the least. With hands that could easily cover my own twice over. Blending into the trees themselves, he towered over me at what I assume to be well over seven feet.
                          
He moved with surprising agility for someone of his size, darting through the branches and over roots at a speed a tad slower than a jog. I had to walk nearly twice as fast to keep up. His robes still shimmered as they did in the corn field, though the moon was no longer visible. Oddly, no matter how fast the man moved, his hood never failed to conceal his face. Growing bored of silence, I struck up conversation.
                          
"So... What's your name?" I asked
                          
The man glanced down and told me, "You may call me Lombard; it is one of my many monikers."
                          
"Okay, Lombard, who are these friends of yours and what is this meeting and... and where are we going?"
                          
"Just a meeting, friend, held here in the woods with some close acquaintances of mine. You needn't worry about it, Robert. Think of it as more of a party; it will take your mind off of your troubles."
                          
It was at this moment I realized what I was doing the exact opposite of what society had taught me. I was found lying in field and decided to walk off with some strange hooded man to go and meet his friends in the woods. Heartbreak can drive people to do some crazy things...
                          
It wasn't long before we saw a light in the distance. As we grew nearer, the lights turned out to be a ring of torches lining a circular clearing containing rows of chairs and tables. An altar, draped with red cloth sat in the middle of it all. At each of the tables sat groups of people dressed similarly to Lombard, some of them had their faces exposed and hoods down.
                          
"We have arrived!" said Lombard with glee. "Sit down amongst the others and help yourself to some food and drink, the festivities will begin soon!"
                          
I made my way to one of the less talkative groups and grabbed a free seat. As I recall, it was the only seat that wasn't taken. Next to me sat an old couple and a younger man with his hood up. When I asked each of them why they were here, I got... a less than ideal response. The couple started cackling as if they had just heard the greatest joke of their lives and the hooded man just grunted something I couldn't make out. Seeing no entertainment in the people around me, I decided to try the food. There were the occasional bits of bread surrounded by meats of all shapes and sizes.
                          
Having eaten a filling meal in town a few hours before this all began I was not exactly starving, so I decided to give the wine a try, which was in goblets sitting in front of each chair. I took a small sip and my mind took a kick in the pants. My vision became blurred with color and I began to choke on my own tongue. The old woman told me that it stops hurting after the third glass and burst into sickening laughter. After about five minutes, the effects of the drink finally subsided and I silently poured the rest onto the ground... I didn't think any of them would notice. Suddenly, a bell rang out and the dinners stood up from their chairs in unison and approached the center of the clearing. Lombard made his way over as he walked me towards the center.
                          
"How did you enjoy the refreshments? The guests?" he asked.
                          
I held my tongue about my unpleasant experience at the table and said, "Everything was great! I've calmed down quite a bit now! What's next?"
                          
"Excellent, my friend! I'm sure you will patch things up with that girl after tonight and I'm glad to have been of assistance to you, but now we have business to attend to."
                          
We found ourselves standing in the center of a circle of the hooded guests, all of them with hoods up and hands folded in front of them. Lombard instructed me to sit in the center of the ring. When I objected, he told me this was just a formality in order for the group to accept my presence amongst them for the night. I knelt as I was told and Lombard took his place at the crimson altar.
                          
As I glanced around me, all of the robed people seemed to be emanating a strange droning sound that rose and fell as the minutes passed. I looked up at my mountainous guide who had turned to face the center of the circle, and to my amazement, had drawn back his hood to reveal a sight I would never forget. On Lombard's long, broad shoulders sat the head of a goat, jet black save for a stripe of white between its pale green eyes and spiraling ivory colored horns that curled backward behind his ears. The thing that stood in front of me lifted his hands into the air and the droning immediately ceased.
                          
Lombard's head reeled backward as he shouted into the night, "Ladies and gentlemen of the Black Circle! I present to you: The Pale!"
                          
The crowd roared with cheers and jubilation.
                          
"On this night, we shall end the torment! And bring about a new era of peace for our order!"
                          
The younger man I sat next to earlier approached the orator.
                          
"My lordship," he whispered as he bowed on one knee, "I witnessed him earlier, he has not accepted the purifier. We cannot continue until he has." He then retreated back to his place and resumed the stance.
                          
"Is that so?" said Lombard, quizzically. "Well then! I am sorry to delay, my children, but the sacrament must wait!"
                          
The circle answered the statement with boos and howls of disapproval. A large member drew a curved blade from his robes and approached me. I attempted to stand but was pulled down to my knees by an unseen force.
                          
"For the love of Sekra! I've waited my whole life for this moment!" the man shouted as he flipped the knife in his hand.
                          
"Stop, you fool! You will undo everything!" Lombard roared as he latched on to the man's arms.
                          
The last memory I have of that night was of the gargantuan, tree-like form of Lombard grappling with the hooded man until they both crashed to the ground in front of me. In the tangle of limbs, the handle of the man's knife struck me squarely between the eyes and I lost consciousness.