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Do not follow me, my friend, for I am just a traveler trying to find my way.

I remember ... the path that leads to the gate which I seek is straight and very narrow.

When I was younger and stronger, I always climbed over the things that blocked my path. For I was told early in my journey that if I ever drifted from the path that I may never find it again.

A day came long ago when I was very tired and had many miles to cover before the sun should set. An enormous rock blocked my path. I stood looking at the rock and at the path that went off to the left. I knew that I should have waited and climbed the rock the next day when I was rested. But in my youth, I was always in a hurry and decided to take what looked like a simple path around the rock.

Suddenly all the paths started looking the same and more and more often I simply took the easier path for I was lost and confused. A few people tried to tell me I was going the wrong way . but I was death to their words.

Though I never encouraged people to follow me, there were many that looked at me as a leader and followed the paths I took. Some in time realized I was lost and traveled their own way. Others I do not know where they went. I kept walking faster to lose them. I had not asked to be their leader nor did I want to be their leader. For I was to proud to admit I was wrong, even to myself. I wonder if any of those that followed made it out of the places I lead them?

Do not follow me, my friend, for I am just a traveler trying to find my way.

For many years I would only walk with those that could keep up with me, for I judged myself to be superior to those that could not. To slow those that were faster, I often put stumbling blocks in their path to slow them down or pointed them in the wrong direction to keep from being passed. It is so sad that, we were all going the wrong direction and racing for nothing.

Do not follow me, my friend, for I am just a traveler trying to find my way.

One day not long ago I looked up and no longer saw the light of day. So I ran left and right trying to find a glimmer of light but all I found was more darkness. Then one day, I thought I would make a torch and would simply make my own light. With this light, I could see shadows of what was around me and I was afraid. My friends were afraid of me, so they would not answer my screams, for I had hurt them terribly so many times before. So I ran even faster in random directions. Then one day my self made torch simply burned out. And I found myself in the darkest of places that I have ever been.

Do not follow me, my friend, for I am just a traveler trying to find my way and you do not want to go through the places I have been.

It was now hard to even move one foot in front of the other. And no one in this place would help me find my way out nor do most want to leave. Many are content to stand there and do everything they can to try to keep everyone else there.

But somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered the path I had abandoned so long ago. So I pulled one foot in front of the other. Day after day for a very long time, to make it to the shadows where you find me now. But even after going through all those things, I still catch myself turning back to the darkest of places. I know not why, for I know what tortures hide there.

Do not follow me, my friend, for I am just a traveler trying to find my way.

If you wish to travel with me, do not walk in front of me, for I am not sure you know the way. Walk beside me instead. For while the path is narrow, it is wide enough for all of us to walk beside each other. And together, we can help each other over the obstacles. And help keep each other from going the wrong way. Though each of us must decide for ourselves which way we go when the choice comes.

Remember, my friend, while I will try to help you and warn you of things I have seen . . . do not follow me, for I am just a traveler trying to find my way.

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"Traveler" Image copyright 1989 by TSR Ltd. Copied from page 130 AD&D Player's Handbook.

Copyright © 1998 by Timothy Allen Roach All Rights Reserved.
no part of this document may be reproduced, published, etc.,
without written permission from the author.
Page last modified: 7/20/01 7:18:16 PM