There were once three brothers, who were traveling along a lonely winding road at twilight. In time the brothers reached a river too treacherous to pass. But they were learned in the magical arts. The three brothers simply waved their wands and made a bridge. Before they could cross however, they found their path blocked by a hooded figure. It was Death.
And he felt cheated. Cheated, because travelers
would always drown in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate
the three brothers on their magic. And said, that each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him.
The oldest asked for a wand, more powerful than any in existence. So Death fashioned him a wand
from an elders tree that stood nearby. The second brother decided he wanted to humiliate Death even further, and asked for the power to recall loved ones from the grave. So Death plucked a stone from the river and offered it to him. Finally, Death turned to the third brother. A humble man, he asked for something that would allow him to go forth from that place, without being followed by Death.