Gold Digger: Edge Guard: Thraxian

(Page 1, panel 1. Lei is at his desk, monitoring things. Nearby, Onoli and Sheila enter. They are in their uniforms.)

Caption (N): In the realm of Jade....

Onoli: Sorry we couldn't spare more people... there's riot going on in the northeastern sector.

Lei: One person may be enough to stop this menace... I have determined that there is a big problem in the chambers. Someone is trying to bypass things and enter the inner chambers here.

(Panel 2. Sheila and Onoli look confused at Lei.)

Sheila: But that place is protected by some of the most arcane and ancient magic on Jade. You can't just bypass it.

Lei: Apparently, he can. He has already gone through one of the front shields. I want you to get in there and stop him no matter what it takes.

(Panel 3. Sheila and Onoli go towards the door.)

Onoli: Then let us in.

Lei: Good luck.

(Panel 4. Sheila and Onoli enter a large chamber. They look around the place.)

Sheila: So what do you think we'll be up against?

Onoli: I have no idea.... but we've got to be ready for it anyway. If it can bypass the magic of the nomad artificers, then it's got to be very powerful.

(Panel 5. Onoli goes over to a console and looks at it.)

Onoli: Hmm... according to this, our intruder should be here any minute now.

(Panel 6. The room grows very cold and somewhat dark. Sheila and Onoli swivel their heads around.)

Sheila: Whoa! Who turned off the heater?

Onoli: I don't know, Sheila. I have a feeling that it has to do with our guest here.

(Page 2, panel 1. Suddenly a male figure starts to form in front of Onoli. Sheila and Onoli draw their weapons.)

Sheila: We've got company!

(Panel 2. Thraxian completely forms. He is a 7 foot tall male human, bald, and wearing a wizard-like robe. In one hand he has a falcata (a sword that is similar to a kukri, but larger.))

Thraxian: I see someone is trying to stop me from claiming what I want... prepare to die. Nobody denies Thraxian the all-powerful what he wants.

(Panel 3. Thraxian waves his hand, and a large wall is rising up between him and Onoli and Sheila.)

Thraxian (1): Barrier Reef!

Thraxian (2): That should keep you busy long enough for me to defeat this fleabag friend of yours.

Onoli: Sheila!

Sheila: Onoli!

(Panel 4. Onoli clashes swords with Thraxian.)

Thraxian: Give up your pathetic attempts to stop me, were-lion.

Onoli: I will not let you steal anything here!

SFX: CLANG!

(Panel 5. On the other side of the wall, Sheila starts hacking at the wall with her sword, chipping away at it.)

Sheila: Onoli! I'm chipping away at the wall!

SFX: WHACK!

(Panel 6. Back on the other side of the wall, Onoli and Thraxian clash swords some more.)

Thraxian: You are by no means a match for me, were-lion.

Onoli: I didn't become leader of the Edge Guard by being a slackard!

SFX: CLANG!

(Page 3, panel 1. Thraxian waves his hand, and Onoli starts transforming into human form.)

Thraxian: Doom Gaze!

Onoli: What the -!?

(Panel 2. Onoli is now in his human form again, and Thraxian slices Onoli's sword arm with his sword.)

Thraxian: You are now helplessly trapped in your frail human form, until I let you go.

Onoli: AH!

SFX: SLASH!

(Panel 3. Onoli nurses his sword arm with the other arm, and clashes swords again with Thraxian.)

Thraxian: Where I come from swordsmanship is not enough to keep you alive. I have mastered the mystic arts and the martial arts.

Onoli: Might does not necessarily make right!

SFX: CLANG!

(Panel 4. Thraxian gestures again, and the air around Onoli turns a metallic silver. Onoli burns, falling backwards.)

Thraxian: Silver Dust!

Onoli: GAH!

(Panel 5. Onoli falls, out cold and hurting badly. Thraxian stands over him, pointing his sword at Onoli's throat. Onoli is smouldering from the silver dust attack.)

Thraxian: I warned you that nobody stands in my way. Now you will pay dearly for opposing me.

(Panel 6. Sheila manages to break through the wall. She sees Onoli on the ground hurt and burning still.)

Sheila: Onoli!!

Thraxian: Hmm... the were-jaguar broke through... well, he's hurt enough that I can deal with her.

(Page 4, panel 1. Sheila rushes at Thraxian with her sword ready to attack.)

Thraxian: I took care of your friend here, and you are next.

Sheila: Leave him alone!

(Panel 2. Sheila and Thraxian clash swords.)

Thraxian: You have no chance against me.

SFX: CLANG!!

(Panel 3. Thraxian waves his hand again. Sheila starts transforming.)

Thraxian: Doom Gaze!

(Panel 4. Sheila is now in human form, and clashes swords with Thraxian.)

Thraxian: Wait a minute! This should have made you weaker than normal!

Sheila: My human form is more powerful than my were-jaguar form.

SFX: CLANG!

(Panel 5. Sheila manages to disarm Thraxian, slicing his hand in the process.)

Sheila: Nobody always gets what they want. That would put too much power in the hands of one being.

SFX: SLICE!

Thraxian: GAH!

(Panel 6. Sheila delivers a kick to the jaw, sending Thraxian backwards.)

Sheila: Power is nothing without the wisdom to temper it.

SFX: WHACK!

(Page 5, panel 1. Thraxian starts vanishing. He is nursing his cut hand.)

Thraxian: A hundred curses on you, were-jaguar! I will return - and be better prepared for you next time.

(Panel 2. Thraxian vanishes as Sheila rushes over to Onoli.)

Sheila: Onoli, can you hear me?

Onoli (weakly): Burns...

(Panel 3. Later on, we see Onoli lying in a bed. He is sleeping soundly. Nearby, Sheila, Tigra, Raphael, and Thropan are looking on.)

Caption (N): Later on...

Sheila: The healer said he will recover. Apparently, Thraxian gave him a silver dust shower at point blank range. They've done all they can for him.

Raphiel: a lesser were creature would have been killed.

Tigra: I knew I should have come with him.

(Panel 4. Onoli opens his eyes.)

Onoli: I wanted you to stop the riot in the eastern sector, Tigra. Don't blame yourself for this.

Sheila: Onoli! You're all right!

(Panel 5. Onoli looks at Sheila.)

Onoli: Yes. You came in just in time to save me. This is one time I'm glad your human form was more powerful than your were-jaguar form.

(Panel 6. Onoli sits up in bed.)

Onoli: However, this has proven one thing: the forces that oppose peace are getting too numerous in number. We're going to have to get more people to help us out.

-End-