The tavern smelt of must and of stale wine. Clayborne peered around with his tired eyes. He sat on a barstool, sipping his ale as he noticed two men from his own Legion, walk in, laughing and joking with each other. He snarled, swishing his clubbed, segmented tail. His race, the Shen, are a mighty lizard men, standing proud and tall. They come from the West of the world of Tekumel, the West being a dry, baking wasteland. He snapped his beak as he finished his ale. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She sat at the back of the tavern, her legs crossed under her long, black, heavy trench coat. She sighed, adjusting her feathered wings from under it, pushing her long green tresses from her face and onto her shoulders, her light aqua blue eyes concentrated on the armored Shen, her crimson red lips grinning gently. 'I wonder what he's up to,' she thought to herself, sipping her gin. The Shen got up to left, as she swigged her gin down and got up to follow him, her boots tapping against the dusty, old, cobblestone tavern floor, tossing the barkeep a few gold coins. "Keep the change," she sneered, staying a distance as she followed the Shen. 'I've never seen anything like it,' she thought, undoing her trench coat, her large, broad, dove-like wings stretching them outward, then forward, flapping them, becoming airborne as she pursued the Shen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clayborne continued his walk through the meadow and to his Legion's encampment, reaching the tall, solid wooden gates, it's hinges creaking open. Inside the encampment were warriors, merchants, harlots, and other folk who frequented the camp. Clayborne yawned, looking up and seeing the sun set in the West, where he grew up. He always thought to himself about going back to Shenyu, the country where his brave, strong, yet ignorant people have lived for at least two millennia new, or so the Old Scales told him when he was a hatchling. Now an Officer in the mighty Blade of Hetias Legion, named after one of the human's many Gods. Clayborne was never much like the rest of his people, which are quite boisterous, harsh, and crude, yet at the same time, honorable, brave, and noble. But Clayborne has been an outcast because of his kindness and pity, which his people think those emotions showed signs of weakness. He sighed as he walked passed a jumble of tents, finding his own, opening the front of the tattered sides away as he sat down, taking his massive armored shoulder pads, elaborate breast plate, and Chlen-hide kilt off, laying them all next to his ancient axe-sword, bundling up a heap of garments as his pillow and a dusty Jakkohl, a fox-like mammal, mantle as his blanket, closing his blood shot eyes, listening to the other men, women, and beasts of the camp cackle the night away as he drifted off into his subconsientious. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girl looked into the encampments, only able to see unrecognizable figures in the light and shadows of the bonfires. Then she saw the rows of tents, becoming more discouraged. "He could be anyone of those tents," she said to herself, sitting inside a small cave, over looking the Legion's encampment. She laid her trench coat down on the dry cavern floor, then undoing her boots. "Hmmm... Maybe I'll find him tomorrow," she said sleepily, laying down on her coat, hearing the faint sounds of the camp below, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clayborne awoke to the shaking of a boy. "Sir? Are you awake?" he asked, still shaking his rough, scaled shoulder. Clayborne sat up, hissing at the pestilent youth. "What do you want boy? Why have you awaken me?" he growled, glaring at the boy. "I... I... uh... General Osheseck wishes to... to see you Sir, he says it's urgent," stuttered the boy nervously, his palms sweating, looking at the massive reptile put on his armor and kilt on, strapping his weapon to his back. "Very well," Clayborne said, standing, his tail swishing behind him as he walked out of the tent, the messenger boy following. "Do you come from ... uh, Shenyu Sir? Where all other Shen's live?" asked the youth. Clayborne chuckled lightly, amused by the child's question. "Yes, I am from the dry West," he answered. They both reached the General's tent, guarded by two pikes men,their weapons at their sides. "Halt. State your position, name and request," said one guard, Clayborne seeing the man grip his pole arm tightly. "I am Officer Clayborne Clawsa and General Osheseck sent this boy with a message to see me," he answered, his clubbed tail swishing. A man opened the tent door, his face narrow and dirty, standing abit taller then the guards, wearing an elaborate breast plate with a reddish orange sword, shield, and bird embedded onto the breast plate, the three images representing the God Hetias. He also wore a lavish blood red cloak and rough tanned boots. The man looked at Clayborne and the messenger boy, then gave them both a generous smile, his silver hair shimmering in the morning sun. "Ah! You brought him lad!" said the man. The boy nodded. "You may return back to your tasks now lad," he said, the boy scurrying off without saying a word. "If you haven't already known, I'm General Osheseck," the man said. "Thank you Sir, tis a great honor," Clayborne responded. General Oshesck has been one of the most respected men in Tsolyanu, the major nation in the South, for fighting off the barbaric human and non-human nations in the North, the corrupted nations in the East, and the native races of the planet, the Ssu and Hluss. Before humans and other races made Tekumel their home, the two races were the planet's original inhabitants. But man and his allies slaughtered them, send took the planet from them. Now the two races have a bitter hatred toward man and his allies. Men, like the General, have been fighting for humanity as the Ssu and Hluss try to reclaim their homelands, Ssuganar and Hlussuyal. The General grinned, "Come, I have summoned you and I'll tell you why inside my tent." They both went in, Clayborne looking at the emotionless expressions on the two guard's faces as he went in. The General's quarters were quite lavish, a pallet with throne pillows, a small wooden table with a tray with his morning meal, various papers, documents, and scrolls bundled about. A large map of Tsolyanu was pinned up over the table, with various areas highlighted. Then he noticed a man in the shadow's of the tent. He stepped forward abit. He was some what short, his black hair cut short, his chest bare, his neck and shoulder's adoring a cape of velvet black and green, the colors of the forest Goddess, Vestla. In one hand he held a crossbow, it's wooden frame well polished, the metal boltings ' shinning, and string finely tuned. He wore a belt made of Vringalu, winged snakes that lurk in Gyogma Flats in the East. He also wore a pure black Chlen-hide kilt, and green laced sandals. "Sit down Arjasu, please!" exclaimed the General. The archer nodded and sat on the carpeted tent floor, resting his crossbow on his lap. "This is Arjasu Cha Kasl, a renowned archer from the Allaqi Mountain Range in the East," the General told Clayborne. "Now, I've called you here for a certain assignment. We've heard rumors of an ally to our nation that is harboring Undead warriors, and of course you know that the Undead are not permitted to fight in our armies, it's against the Emperor's laws and the God's Rulings, with an exception of the Dark Gods," said the General, as he went to his table, pulling out a scroll from a drawer. "I want you and Arjasu to travel through the Underworlds and catacombs to the backdoor of our so called "ally", Prince Maheskaho Vald, Ruler of the Kingdom of the Gnarled Claw in the Southeast. Here is a map scroll to guide you through the Underworld," he said as Clayborne took the map, putting it into a side pouch on the side of his kilt. "We shall report back as soon as possible Sire," said the archer, loading an arrow into his crossbow, cocking it and getting up and standing next to Clayborne. "Cha! Very well lads," said the General, telling them the great deed they are doing for their Emperor and the nation of Tsolyanu. They both packed up their supplies from their tents and met at the encampment gate. Then Clayborne saw a girl, at least eighteen turns old, run up to the archer and kiss him passionately, then muttered something he couldn't hear into the archer's ear. Arjasu replied gently and she nodded. "Let us go Clayborne," said Arjasu, toting his crossbow and walking away. Clayborne turned his head back abit, seeing the girl waiting in her sleek and long olive green dress, her hair in a bun, looking like a black bundle on the back of her head. "Is that your, uh, mate?" asked Clayborne, chuckling abit as his tail swished behind him. "Yes, I'm going to marry her when I get back from this mission. I promised her that I would," grinned Arjasu, as they walked the dusty path through the meadow and to the mountains. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She awoke, yawning, spreading her wings and getting up, tugging her baggy pants up to her hips and buckling them with her belt. She got dressed and over looked the encampment, seeing the troops of warriors in drill, weapons at their sides, marching and practicing strategies. "These people are like none I've ever seen before," She smirked. She sighed and put her trench coat on, her wings spread through slits in the back of the coat. She dove out of the cavern, taking to the air. "I wonder where that critter is. Maybe he went for a walk," she said to herself, soaring toward the open meadow, seeing men ride large, grey, six-legged, spiny crested beasts pulling carts behind them toward the encampment. As she flew, she noticed the terrain below her turn rocky and finally saw the Shen, accompanied by a man with a black and green cape. She landed on a large boulder, watching them both as they made their way to the mouth of a cave, looking like the maw of some enormous beast, sharp rocks pointing up and around like jagged fangs. 'Maybe I ought to keep an eye on them both,' she thought. With those words, she disappeared. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Clayborne and Arjasu approached the cave, they saw the gapping maw- like entrance. "This must be the entrance to the Underworld," said Clayborne, pulling his axe-sword out, just in case. "Yes, indeed. How long do you think it will take us to..." just then, Arjasu stopped, smelling the air. "By the Gods, do you smell it?" he whispered, his fingers on his crossbow trigger. Clayborne nodded. The air smelled of musty cinnamon, and a high, sweet chiming, like the many sets of wind-bells tinkling all at once, met their ears. "Ssu!" cried out Clayborne. There were no Ssu near Clayborne's home in the Western regions of Tekumel, and the Old Scales had told many stories of these horrific beings. The first few came out of hiding, burbling out their bell-like tongue, scrambling forward, their oddly shaped swords and spears drawn. The Ssu were about as tall as Arjasu. Four wide-spraddled legs extending out from the twisted column of the torso, and their two upper arms ending that have two long fingers and a shorter thumb. Their heads were oval, faces vaguely human: there were two eyes, round and gleaming black and nostril slits, but no nose. The mouth consisted of a vertical ellipse. The Ssu's skin was the most repellent feature: it resembled mottled gray parchment peeling from a roll, then ends loose and ragged, very much like a tattered mummy. The musty cinnamon smell was over powering. The first few creatures lunged toward them, cackling in their bell-like language. Arjasu shot a bolt at on of the advancing Ssu, striking it in the chest, whining and falling dead, the other Ssu advancing closer. Clayborne growled and went into the heat of battle, raising his blade and slashing into one of the creature's arms, black ichor oozing out as he sank the blade deeper. Another Ssu scuttled towards him, it's sword raised, chiming. But the Shen was quick to react, hitting the Ssu with his clubbed tail, knocking it to the ground, then sinking his blade into the creature's side, hearing it whine, then fall silent. Meanwhile, Arjasu shat another creature as it attempted to attack, hitting it in the neck with an arrow, the Ssu crumbling to the ground. The few Ssu that were left chimed to each other, like a chorus of bells. Then they backed away as a larger Ssu, darker in color, wearing elaborate Chlen-hide armor. One of its claws held a golden scepter, chiming to the other Ssu. "It's a Black Ssu," said Arjasu, reloading his crossbow. "We better run while we..." before Arjasu could finish, a brilliant green light flowed from the scepter, then shot a beam of light at Arjasu, knocking him to the ground. "I... I CAN'T MOVE!" he screamed Clayborne hissed and lunged forward, his weapon raised, but before he could even touch the Ssu, the sorcerer hit him with the same magical beam, knocking him down. He couldn't feel his body. He tried lifting his legs, but it felt like his body was weighed down. Then he noticed the Ssu advancing, weapons drawn. Suddenly, a winged figure appeared, hissing, wearing a long, dark coat. "We're both gonna die you know?" groaned Arjasu, squirming. "Quiet!" snarled Clayborne as the winged being stood in front of them, it's back facing them. One of the Ssu attempted to attack the being, lunging forward with it's spear. The being lifted its hand and a great invisible wave knocked it down onto it's back. The other Ssu were totally confused. The sorcerer Ssu came forward, scepter in hand. It waved the scepter about, the gold gleaming as the sorcerer began to weave another spell, chanting in it's sing-song language, the green light appearing again. But before it could finish casting it's spell, the winged being pointed a finger at the sorcerer, and a small ball of light formed and it flung it at the sorcerer, hitting it in it's ragged chest. The beast chimed, the exploded, black ichor and gore painting the area. As the being approached, both Clayborne and Arjasu realized it was nothing more then a girl that defeated the Ssu! "I suppose we're next for the bloodlusted demoness?" exclaimed Arjasu, gulping. "Hi," she said," my names Sonya," she smiled, leaning down next to Clayborne. The Shen hissed lightly, not sure what to do, still under the Ssu's spell. "I thought I'd give you two a hand, since, well, you seemed stuck," she said, winking at him, her eyes the color of the seas of the South. She pushed her long, free hanging tresses away from her face as she waved her hand over him, then Arjasu. They both immediately felt their bodies again. "Uh, thank you Sonya," Clayborne said, looking at her. Oh, your both welcome," she said, grinning and spreading her wings abit, standing up. "We are most gracious of you saving our hides. Is there anyway we can help you in return?" asked Arjasu, picking up his crossbow. "Matter of fact, there is, oh, by the way, what are your names?" she giggled, batting her lashes at Clayborne. "I am Clayborne Clawsa, Officer of the Blade of Hetias Legion, and this is Arjasu Cha Kasl, renowned crossbower from the Allaqi Mountain Range in the East," Clayborne said, picking up his axe-sword and cleaning off the black ichor. "Hehe, well, here is my request, I'd like to join you two," she said grinning, adjusting her wings, arms crossed. "Err... Uh... Well," Clayborne blushed then sighed. "Very well, you may join us," Clayborne answered. She smiled and flung her arms around him and whispered "You won't regret it," she grinned wickedly, exposing her fangs. Clayborne backed away, growling "What ARE you?" he growled, pulling his blade out. "Well," she said, smirking "My mother was an Arch Angel," fluttering her large, dove-like wings, "And my father was a vampire," exposing her fangs to them both again. "Hoi! She is a demoness!" exclaimed Arjasu, aiming his crossbow at Sonya. "If she was a demoness, wouldn't she of killed us?" said Clayborne, stepping infront of Sonya. "Leave the girl be and let her join us Arjasu." Arjasu nodded, putting his crossbow dow. "Thank you Sir," said Sonya, hugging him. Clayborne blushed, then gulped, not sure what to do next. She looked up at him,"One question, what are you and where am I?" Arjasu chuckled,"He is a Shen, a race from the West, and this is the land of Tsolyanu, mightiest Empire on Tekumel!" She nodded, scratching her head, still abit confused,"Um, ok?" "Now Sonya," Clayborne cocked his head, looking at her "Where in the Empire did you come from?" "Well," Sonya said,"I'm... I'm not sure, somehow I created a portal thingy, and next thing i know, I'm in some cruddy backwater planet, uh, no offense," she said, blushing. "Ah! One who travels other planes!" said Arjasu. Sonya nodded,"And I'm very good with magic and spells too." "An archer mercenary, an Officer Shen, and a plane-traveling sorceress," chuckled Clayborne. "A ragtag trio, eh? Bent on fame! Now, let us go into the Tsuru'um, the "Underworlds"!" encouraged Clayborne, and with those words, the three began their journey into the darkness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The entrance of the cave was dim and dry, with a rough sandstone floor. Sonya had casted a light spell, allowing the three to see what beholded them further. Large columns, shacks, and ruins covered the walls and floor. Small, furred, six- legged mammals scurried about, chirping, blinking their large, bright eyes at the three adventures as they went deeper. Clayborne pulled out the map General Osheseck gave him. "Looks like there's a split up ahead," he said, putting the map scroll back into his pouch. As the walked, they noticed numerous animal bones littering their path. They all became quite cautious, not knowing what could lurk ahead. They finally reached the split, the left entrance was deep and dark, only the sounds of the Underworld howled out of it. The right entrance, the one they had to take as the map directed, had a dim glow coming from it, as well as talking, cackling, and barking? Arjasu readied his crossbow, Sonya casually crossed her arms, grinning, and Clayborne readied his blade. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The "voices" became more clearer, more barking and cackling. A heavy stench of rotten flesh overtook them. "Smells like carrion..." whispered Arjasu. Just then, a hyena-like beast appeared, standing on it's hind legs, like a man, approached, cackling somewhat, and passing out, snoring. Loud cackling was heard from around the corner where they stood and the drunken beast laid. "It's a Gnoll," whispered Clayborne. "Gnoll? What's that?" Sonya whispered, looking at the creature at their feet, snoring. "Gnolls are creatures the Ancient's created many millennia ago as guards and servants, but now, they are free, surviving on thievery and savaging. They attack anyone they see as food, hostages, or sport," Arjasu answered quietly, crossbow pointed at the sleeping Gnoll's head. The Gnoll laid still, drooling as it snored, it's head looking like that of a hyena, while it's body looked very much human, but with black spots, short, greenish gray fur, darker near the muzzle, with a short grayish mane. It wore a stitch-work of armor, mostly stolen from fallen victims, with a small sword at it's side and empty mug of beer. Just then, three more came from behind then corner, cackling to each other drunkenly, then noticed them. One yelped, and charged. As it did, Arjasu shot his crossbow at the intoxicated Gnoll's head, the creature yelped, then lay still in a pool of blood, the arrow sticking out of it's eye socket. Arjasu backed away to reload his crossbow, as Sonya took flight, and bomb dived the three other beasts. She casted a the fire spell, and hit one of the Gnolls, the creature engulfing in flames, then lay still, stench of burnt fur and flesh filling the cave. Then Clayborne attacked the remaining two beasts, striking one with his blade, slicing through it's chain mail armor on it's side. The last Gnoll came at Clayborne, it's halberd raised, cackling as it's shabby armor clanked. It struck the Shen's armor, denting it. Then Clayborne dented the Gnoll's face with his tail and Sonya finished it off with a swooping stomp onto it's stomach from the air, knocking the breath and life out of it. Two more Gnolls appeared, one in the same shabby armor as the former four, a sword, and the other Gnoll had a scar on it's muzzle, an eye patch on it's left eye, and was heavily armored, carrying a battle axe. "Must be the chieftain," said Arjasu, readying his crossbow. The more elaborate Gnoll barked at the lesser one, and the lesser charged, growling. Arjasu quickly shot the beast, hitting it's shoulder. The Gnoll whined and whimpered in pain, pulling the arrow out. "I missed,"growled the archer, reloading his crossbow. Clayborne charged at the wounded Gnoll, his blade cutting the Gnoll's side armor, then lifted his blade again, slicing the poor creature in two. The lead Gnoll looked about, snorting. It padded toward the Shen, its paws clutching the battle axe. Clayborne looked up and backed away, snapping his beak at the chieftain. The lead Gnoll lifted his axe, trying to swipe at the Shen, but he ducked. Sonya gasped, taking to the air, and kicking the axe head off the axe staff of the chieftain's weapon. The beast cackled nervously, and turned to run, scrambling away. Arjasu shot a bolt into the Gnoll's back armor, sticking out abit. It howled, the arrow head digging into it's back, as Clayborne came forward, lifting his blade, and struck the Gnoll in it's skull, ending it's life. They looked over the stinking, limp, corpses: five limp and sprawled and the other burnt to a crisp from Sonya's spell. The readied themselves as they went behind the corner. They found a small camp. A small fire burned in the middle of the corridor and a few shabby pallets made next to the fire on the hard, cold Underworld floor. It smelled just like the Gnolls. Then movement came from one of the pallets. "Drop your weapons and surrender!" yelled Arjasu, aiming his crossbow. Muffling came from the pallet and two odd shapes appeared. Clayborne walked to the figures. One was a feline-woman hybrid in brilliant battle armor, bound and gagged. Next to her was a strange, small creature, a grey beak, large, cat-like eyes, it's facial features looking like those of a rodent, large ears twitching. They both were bound and gagged. The catgirl warrioress struggled and muffled something through the gag, looking up at Clayborne. "What should we do with the Gnoll's prisoners?" Clayborne asked, his tail swishing lightly. "Hmmm... I suppose we free them?" Sonya said, her wings stiffening, eyeing the two odd looking beings. The Shen nodded, cutting the warrioress feet free, then her wrists, and gag. She hissed and jumped to her feet, looking at the three, then kneeling down to her comrade, extending her claws from her right paw and cutting him free. The small creature leaped onto his bow legs, standing only about three feet tall. "Hoi! My Lady! Are you alright?" the little creature asked the warrioress, going to her side. She nodded. "Whom are you?" asked Arjasu, crossbow pointed at the two strangers. The feline warrioress walked forward abit to the archer. "I am the Lady Felicia Kha'Kat, from the Northlands, and this is my adviser and scholar, Moss. We were both ambushed by those stinking Gnolls, which seems you three took care of," she said, the odd little beast looking at the three, his paws clinging to her side. "Fa! Northlanders!" hissed Clayborne his blade at hand. "We are most generous that you rescued us," said Moss, looking at the Shen. "Well, my name's Sonya, and this is Arjasu," she pointed to the capped archer," and this is Clayborne," she pointed to the Shen, his eyes overlooking the two foreigners. The Lady Felicia was quite renowned as a skilled fighter and clanswoman in the barbaric and cold Northlands. Her little companion was a race known as the Pygmy Folk who also dwelled in the Northlands. They were a devious and greedy race, always looking for some way to get gold. But they are generally friendly to humankind. His fur was short, light grey in color, his beak light grey with sharp teeth. His large, cat-like eyes gleamed in the fire light. He wore a bright red tunic, with shabby grey armor on his shoulders. His bowed legs bare, only his fur covering them. The Lady Felicia wore brilliant iridescent green armor, from her shoulders to her chain mail mini skirt, her shapely woman thighs covered in a cavern of shadows. She had soft, velvet fur, light gold in color, with leopard spots across her body. Her hair was black and long. Her ears were perked up, listening to the sounds of the Underworld. Her face was a mixture of feline and woman features: feminine in shape, the eye's silted horizontally, with long eye lashes, her pupils cat- like. She had a short muzzle with whiskers on the sides, and in the middle of her muzzle was a pink, upside down triangled nose. The Lady grinned, "Seems we aren't the Gnoll's prisoners, but yours," she said, purring with a strong and sharp Northern accent. She spoke to the Pygmy Folk in their Northern tongue and he nodded. They both raised their arms up, seeming to surrender. Arjasu went over to Clayborne. "I don't like this, the Northlanders are a proud people, they'd never submit like this," he whispered. Clayborne nodded," Ai, I have killed manya Northlanders because they'd rather of died then become slaves or prisoners of war." Clayborne looked at the two captives, "Did you have any weapons?" "Yes, the Gnoll's took them when they ambushed us," said the Lady. "Their on that pallet, across from us." Sonya went over and picked up an elaborate sword, still in it's sheath, and a dagger, then strapping the two weapons to her belt underneath her trench coat. "Cute outfit," giggled Sonya, winking at the Lady. The warrioress hissed, flickering her tail, annoyed by the girl's taunts. Clayborne gently pushed his blade point into the Lady's back , "Now march..." he hissed. The Lady smirked and began to move forward. Arjasu pointed his crossbow to Moss's back, the little creature gulping and looking up at his Lady. Sonya casted her light spell as the five marched into the dark, dry, and stale darkness of the Underworld. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They moved through the ruins and slums of the Underworld, talking and Clayborne actually gained some trust from Sonya, the Lady, and Moss and told them of his and Arjasu's mission. Lady Felicia has interested by this and said she would put their difference behind them and fight as one. She wanted to see if the rumors were true, because Prince Maheskaho Vald had told the Lady and her people that he'd help ally them with his armies and crush their enemies in the South, the nation of Tsolyanu, which was whom Clayborne's Legion was allied with, and Arjasu was hired by. Sonya returned the sword to Lady Felicia and the dagger to Moss. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They reached a part of the Underworld which had graves carved into the walls, skeletons hanging off of them, littering the walls. "The catacombs..." said Clayborne. The five looked stressed, then Moss's ears perked up. "Listen," he said, the others standing still. Lady Felicia's ears flinched, then perked up as well. Clayborne, himself, finally heard it as well, the sound of rattling bones and clanking armor. "It sounds like an army," said Moss, standing at his Lady's side. Clayborne nodded, "Lets keep moving, maybe we can... " before he could finish, a group of shadowy figures approached, limping along, armor clanking. As they came closer towards Sonya's light spell, they finally revealed themselves to what the three non-humans heard. They were warriors of Sarku, the Lord of Worms and the Undead, God of Death and Decay. He was feared by all races, even the hostile Ssu. Only a few of his temples stand, far in the North of Tekumel and on remote islands, because of the laws banding necromancy. "Hmmm... seems the rumors were true," said Arjasu, seeing the Undead warriors approaching, wearing bulky armor over their skeletal frames. They carried rusted swords and spears, some with shields at their sides, most rusted and dented. Arjasu shot a bolt at one of the advancing corpses, arrow hitting it and sticking out, doing no harm to the living dead. "Damn! Seems I'm out of this battle," said Arjasu, loading his crossbow. Quickly, the Lady, Clayborne, and Sonya were quick to attack. The Lady lashing at one of the lifeless beings, hacking it's head off while others slowly surrounded her. Clayborne quickly helped, Sonya at his side. Clayborne swatted a few of the Undead with his clubbed tail, snapping the corpses in two. Sonya immediately set them upon fire with her fire spell, burning the magical life force out of them. The remaining Undead slowly backed away, armor clinking as they backed away, seeing their comrades burn. "Their afraid of the fire," said Moss, coming forward. "Sonya," said the Lady" Set fire to them, now!" Sonya nodded, and closed her eyes, wings spread, an angelic aurora flowing from her as she opens her eyes, glowing like hot embers as she shoots a glare at the group of Undead warriors. Immediately the first few infront bursting into flames, the others scrabbling. "They retreated," said the Lady, her weapon still drawn. "That doesn't make sense, they fight until their beaten, or told to stop by their master," she said, her tail flickering as she panted and purred. "Then their creator is calling them back," said Clayborne. They continued through the catacombs, knowing the Undead could attack and ambush them any second. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clayborne checked the map. "Seems that we are near are destination, one more mile, and then we'll reach the Prince's back gates," he said, putting the scroll up. Sonya suggested that they rest abit and eat. The old, war beaten Shen sat, adjusting his kilt as Sonya plopped next to him, near a piece of fallen architecture of the past. Arjasu sat near by, pulling out a flask and pouch full of dried meats. The Lady Felicia sat on a fallen column, cross-legged, facing the archer and the Shen, her adviser at her side. "So, whatcha got to eat?" asked Sonya, taking her trench coat off. "Well," said Clayborne, pulling out a pouch and flask,"Some aged black whiskey and dried meats." The five shared the half-hearted meal, saving some for later. Clayborne looked around, noticing strange scribbling on the walls and hieroglyphics of Gods, beings, and words he couldn't read from the Ancient Times. "This is where priests of Sarku burry their dead and bring them back to life." The Lady nodded"My people rather burry their dead then resurrect them, we don't wish to disturb are ancestors." Both Clayborne and the Lady had something in common, they same God, Lord Hereska, God of the Sword, Shield, and Arrow. He wasn't a harsh God, like Hetias. They rested abit, then the Pygmy Folk's ears perked up. "Someone's coming!" he exclaimed, his jagged toothed beak open abit as he backing to his Lady, staying infront of her, dagger drawn out. The Shen and archer stood, crossbow cocked, and Clayborne standing his ground. Sonya went into the air, ready to attack from above. The Undead were back with human warriors as well, faces painted white with black around the eyes, armor made of both bone and metal, dressed just like their Undead comrades. Arjasu quickly shot a bolt at one of the living warriors, hitting him in his unarmored waist, seeing him buckle over, then two of the fleshy corpses leaped upon their fallen comrade, devouring his flesh. Sonya gasped, and the feline warrioress hissed. "The Shedra... "Eaters of the Dead", abit more stronger then the ones we fought before, the Mrur," Lady Felicia said as she kicked one of the flesh eaters in the head, knocking it off, then hacking the remains with her sword, trying to fend off the other Shedras. Moss came to her aid as one of the human warriors attempted to attack, Moss stabbing him in his thigh, then rapidly slashing him with his free claw and dagger, blood spewing onto the dusty ground. Some of the Shedra smelled the fresh blood, lurking to it. Moss and the Lady had been cornered as the Undead began to eat the man, but wanted a new kill. Clayborne and Arjasu came to the aid, Clayborne smashing some of the Undead with his tail and blade, while Arjasu, in vein, kicked and punched the Undead. Sonya saw more groups of Undead approaching. She set fire to the entrance, seeing them back off. Then she began to shoot small beams of pure light at the Undead cornering the Pygmy Folk and the Lady, making the bodies of the Shedras and Mrurs crumble. The Lady slashed her way through the remaining ones, then felt something tugging her skirt, it was Moss, pointing to the Shen, whom was lashing at a human warriors. Then she saw the archer behind the Shen, laying on the dusty catacomb floor. Lady Felicia cut through a Shedra, seeing Sonya hit the remains with a fire spell as the Lady, Sonya, and Moss rushed next to Arjasu, while Clayborne kept the Undead and human warriors at bay. Lady Felicia kneeled down to the examine the wound. He had a large, bloody gash in his side, staining his cape brown with blood. His mouth was crimson as he coughed and looked at her, his gaze some what faded "Hoi... seems them corpse eaters got the best of me," he whispered. Clayborne began to think of the archer's love back at the encampment, then noticed he hacked and killed every Undead and human warrior in sight, only bones and crumpled human bodies laid on the now bloody catacomb floor. Clayborne knelt next to his dying comrade, looking at his gash, then to Sonya, "Can you... you heal him?" Sonya looked at him with a solemn stare, and her head hung low. Arjasu laughed abit, spitting up blood, and grabbed Clayborne's arm. "Seems like... like I was right,"he gasped" I was going to... to die," he grinned, blood running down his cheek" Tell ... tell my girl...I loved her," Clayborne nodded as the archer smiled, then passed on. Now he belonged with his ancestors and his Goddess. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The four buried their comrade and said a small prayer, burring his crossbow with him. They kept walking, meeting a few of the Prince's Undead guards and turning them back dead. They were going to revenge Arjasu's death. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They finally got out of the Underworld, thinking they would take all eternity. It was early dusk, they must of been traveling for atleast two or three days without sleep. They made a shabby camp and Moss took up guard duty as the others slept. Sonya shyly nuzzled up to Clayborne, asleep and snoring. She sighed and kissed him on the tip of his beak, then put her arm around him, and fell asleep. Lady Felicia was amused by this, smirking as she took off her armor, now wearing only a light grey shirt and skirt, putting her cape around her to keep warm. The Pygmy Folk sighed, his large eyes gleaming in the fire light as he looked into the darkness, waiting for something to happen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They all were still asleep during mid-afternoon, even Moss. Sonya was half asleep when she heard the harsh voices. She opened her eyes, seeing the same human guards they fought in the catacombs. She shook Clayborne, trying to waken him, but one of the men jabbed his spear point into Sonya's shoulder, making her scream in utter pain. Moss quickly got up, as well as the Lady. Clayborne sat up, but before he could react, he felt a sharp prick pressing against his neck. A spear head was pointed at his throat by on of the men. Lady Felicia and Moss too were at spear point. Sonya had been knocked out by one of the men. The men spoke in a tongue Clayborne couldn't understand. "It's the tongue of Sarku," hissed the Lady as the huddled them together. One of the men threw Sonya over his shoulder, and tied her wrists and ankles together. The other men collected their armor and weapons as they marched through the somewhat shrubby landscape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They reached the wooden gates of the Kingdom of the Gnarled Claw, ruled by Prince Maheskaho. The gates opened and the three were led in, still at spear point. Sonya was taken off somewhere else, her trench coat covered and dripping in blood. The inner part of the Kingdom was dark and gothic. Grey columns and pillars stood, supporting lavish, yet dull buildings and sculptures. The buildings and people both looked tired and battle worn. The three were led into the palace of the Prince. The front of the building was guarded by many men, dressed claddly, wielding spears and swords. The massive palace doors opened. All three of the non-humans could smell the stench of death and pestilence in the palace. They were led into a Great Hall, which was extremely lavished and shadowy, the inside palace guards dressed like the ones they fought in the catacombs and who caught them. Then a man approached them with five guards in skeletal looking armor. The man wore a skull cap with a long grey feather sticking out, wearing the armor plating of a great dragon or other beast. He had around his neck i clasp of ivory color, which was connecting a dust brown cape, at his black leather belt was an elaborate sword hilt in a sheath with an unrecognizable writing engraved in it. His skin was a light tan, hair long and black with a blue tint to it. His eyes were the most recognizable feature. Blue eyes are not common on Tekumel, that was why Clayborne was mostly shocked by Sonya. This was the Prince Maheskaho Vald. "Greetings," he said, grinning. Clayborne cocked his head at the Prince. "Sire, why did you send your men to attack us and wound one comrade and kill another?" Clayborne and the Lady stood tall "I am the Clayborne Clawsa, Officer of the Blade of Hetias Legion, in the South of Tsolyanu," he said, snapping his toothed beak. "And I am the Lady Felicia Kha' Kat of the Northlands, and my adviser and personal scholar Moss," said the Lady, ears perked up, her tail swishing. Moss looked up, hissing. "What did you do with our wounded comrade?" asked Clayborne. "Oh, the demoness?" said the Prince, waving his hand, the guards taking their spears away from the three's backs. "Her wounds are being tend to..." Clayborne nodded, looking at the Lady and Moss. Then the Shen looked at the Prince, "Where are our weapons and armor?" The Prince grinned and snapped his fingers. Three servants came in, carrying their armor and weapons, setting them at their feet. "There's your weapons and armor, my guests," said the Prince. They nodded as the servants walked away. They figured out who's armor was who's. They were led into separate rooms, served dinner, and had a goodnights rest... Clayborne and the Lady worrying and wondering if Sonya was truly alright and safe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clayborne was awoken by a servant girl, serving him his breakfast. The girl was in her late teens, like Sonya and Arjasu's widowed love. She had light tan skin that didn't match her pure red hair or her blue eyes. She wore a light grey tunic and skirt, her hair done in a ponytail. When Clayborne finished, he sent the girl away, giving her a few gold coins, chuckling lightly as she groveled at his clawed feet, thanking him for his kindness and scurried out of the room with his tray. He got dressed, putting his armor and other clothing on, walking out of his room, seeing a couple of guards on patrol in the corridor. One of the guards stopped Clayborne, and spoke to him in the odd Sarku language. The guard lead him to the Princes's chambers. The Lady and Moss were already there. Sonya was on a furred pallet, asleep, the Lady kneeling at her side, holding her hand. The Lady Felicia looked concerned and troubled, her ears laid flat. When she saw Clayborne, she sighed in relief. "Thank the Gods," she said, still sitting on her furred haunches, her chain mail skirt riding up her shapely thighs. "I thought the killed you." "Who? The guards?" he asked, pulling his axe-sword out, hissing lightly. Moss nodded, "They dragged us out of our rooms and threw us in here, the angel was already here." He pointed to Sonya. Clayborne hissed, sitting down on a stool. He looked around the Princes's quarters. It looked extremely classy; a lavish bed with red throne pillows and grey silk sheets. The floor was made of red marble tile with very elaborate patterns. The room it self had an unusual smell, a mix of incense and staleness. The only light came from two torches hung at the sides of the bed, giving the room a quiet yet dim look. Sonya looked cold and pale, her shoulder bandaged and the ones who cared for her, changed her clothing. She now wore a grey top, with dark brown skirt, the sacred colors of the Worm Lord. Clayborne knelt down next to her, letting out a low growl as he stroke her shining green hair gently. Then the doors opened, the Prince appearing. He grinned wickedly and yelled some orders at the two guards who accompanied him. The came forward. The Shen knew what was going to happen and lunged at one of the men, slashing his face with his clawed hand. The man screamed as Clayborne threw him to the ground. The other guard approached Lady Felicia and raised his sword to her back. Her adviser came to her aid, hissing and stabbing the guard in the leg. The man screamed and fell, then Moss pulled his dagger from the man's leg and slit his throat. Clayborne finished off the other guard as well, hacking his blade in the guard's rib cage. The Prince laughed and applaud, "Ah! Good show, seems that my two best honor guards weren't a match for a Shen and Pygmy Folk!" He laughed, pulling his sword from his sheath. "Well... lets how good you'll do against a much more HIGHER order of the Children of Sarku," he said. The Lady Felicia's ears perked up, then she turned around, facing the Prince, "Your a Jajagi!" she hissed, pulling her sword out. The Jajagi were prodigies of Lard Sarku, only the most noble and highest sects of his faith knowing the way to create these Undead. They looked very much like a living human, never aging. They can breath, eat, and even produce waste, but can not procreate, that is the only thing that separates them from the living, besides not having a soul or being dead. "So the Princeling is a Jajagi?" said Clayborne at the prince, his blade drawn. "Well, let's make sure he doesn't waste the air for the living!" Clayborne lifted his axe-sword, charging at the Prince and swinging at him. The Prince dashed back and met Clayborne's weapon with his own as they dueled. The Lady Felicia looked at Moss, " Look after Sonya, try to wake her up!" she said, getting up and joining Clayborne. Moss shook the girl vigorously, trying to wake her, then watched the three struggle in battle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clayborne and the Lady both had the Prince trapped in a corner. "In the names of the Northlands and even the bloody Emperor of Tsolyanu, we shall vanquish you!" hissed the Lady, and they both swung at once. But the Prince had vanished. They turned to see if he was behind them, but before they could, the Prince knocked them both onto their faces. The Prince laughed and pointed a hand at Clayborne, the mighty Shen hissing in pain as the Prince casted a horrific spell upon him. Clayborne felt as if his body was twisted and crushed. The Lady attempted to leap up, but her threw her to the ground, her head hitting the cold, hard marble floor, knocking her out. Moss seen his Lady fall. He hissed and got up from beside Sonya and attacked the Prince, stabbing him in the back thigh with his dagger. The Prince screamed, feeling the small blade in his back thigh. He grabbed the Pygmy Folk by the back of his neck and threw him across the room, the poor creature hitting the wall and crumpling into a pile of fur and flesh, his limp body laying on the marble floor. The Prince took the dagger from his thigh and throwing it to the ground. Then he picked up sword and put the very tip to Clayborne's throat as the Shen laid still, whimpering and hissing, his body looking like it was in knots. The Prince grinned, and as he was about to jab the sword point into the Shen's neck, the Prince heard a whirling sound, then saw a blazing white disc cut through his wrist like a hot knife through butter, severing his right hand, black blood flowing freely. He screamed and looked over his shoulder. It was the demoness! "Foolish girl, cut my hand off will you?" he sneered, raising his other hand to her. She flapped her wings and took flight, her one hand holding her bandaged shoulder, flapping her wings rapidly, gusting wind at him and knocking the Prince off his feet and onto the hard floor. Sonya swooped down, seeing the Prince fall and then hovered over him and dropped, stomping a foot into his gut, seeing his slited eyes bulging open and his hand trying to grip her foot as she took it off. His other hand oozed bloody gore. The Prince grinned then grabbed her by the leg a threw her down next to him. She screamed in pain as her bandaged shoulder hit the hard marble. "Now feel the wraith of Lord Sarku!" he screamed, his eyes glowing red. Sonya hissed, showing her vampiric fangs and raised her hand, swiping his face with her sharp nails and kicked her leg free. He gripped his face, blood smearing over it. Sonya stood up, her left hand held high and chanted "Radius solis Etumbra, Ignis, aqua Caelum, luna Terra, stella!" A wisp of multicolored orb appeared in her raised hand. The Prince gasped and uttered a prayer to his Worm Lord as Sonya threw the orb at him, hitting his armor and sinking into it, like a mud engulfing a rock. The Jajagi Prince howled and hissed as he evaporated, his body turning into nothingness as she finally dispelled him at the same time, free the Princes's captured soul. Sonya folded her angelic wings, holding her wounded shoulder and biting her lip in pain. She knelt at Clayborne's side, waving her hand over his twisted figure. His body relaxed and stopped hurting. She then went over to the Lady, restoring her to conscientious. She walked over to poor Moss, slumped against the wall, and healed his wounds. The four left the Kingdom. It seemed all the inhabitants were trapped souls, and were now free to go to the Planes Beyond, to better lives. The Lady Felicia and Moss both needed to get back to the Northlands, and Sonya promised them a nexus Point, or portal, to their homeland. "It was a great honor to fight with you Lady Felicia," said Clayborne, bowing to her. "Maybe one day we shall meet in the battlefield," he said, chuckling lightly. She nodded, flickering her tail as she stood infront of the whirling vortex. "It wan an honor to fight along side you Sir Clayborne as well. Your type should be seen more often amongst both your Toslyani and Northlanders," she said in her rough accent, winking at him, purring and grinning wickedly. Clayborne blushed and Moss cackled lightly. "Sorry to see you go Lady," said Sonya, standing at Clayborne's side. Lady Felicia nodded," I know dear, but it's for the better. My people are a bunch of "rag-tags" as one might call, and they need a leader." Sonya nodded and gave her and Moss a hug, then looked at the Lady Felicia and winked. "Are you ready my Lady?" asked the Pygmy Folk. She nodded and they both went through the Nexus Point, waving to Sonya and Clayborne as the portal closed behind them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So, now what?" asked Sonya, holding her wounded shoulder, looking up at him. "Well, I must return to my encampment to report Arjasu's death, the truth of the Prince, and of you to the General Osheseck," he said to her. She opened another Nexus Point to his encampment. "Don't worry, I won't let a thing happen to you Sonya," he said to her, patting her head. She nodded as they both walked into the portal, back to the beginning of it all.