Kaustir, Chapter 2

[Cheesecake]

H'kal nodded at the Foreman. "For Dorgrad."

He slithered off to the tunnels to look for the miner, Theo. He would have to be punished, made an example of. He passed by minerrs stealthily, all weary from the heat of the lava. They were all headed back to the barracks now, and so should he, but he had this last job to do. He spied the centaur in the midst of the horde of workers, and when he was singled out, he grabbed him and yanked him to the side. He looked into the startled eyes of the centaur and thought of his past. He knew the pain of the lash many years ago. He dealt with whips now, he had received it, and now passed it on.

The first lash landed square on the centaur's back, the sound drawing attention from the miners. H'kal didn't know if they cared for their fellow worker, or they were curious to the change of routine, but they stepped closer. The second crack followed, a clean cut to he back. Then the third. The foreman had wanted H'kal to break his legs, but that would have severly reduced the miners work output, both to Dorgrad and to the General. However, orders were orders, and H'kal must serve, as all must serve the Desert Sun. Which, ironically H'kal thought, never appeared in the dark depths of the mines except for drawings.

H'kal wrapped his tail around Theo's leg, preparing to yank and break the centaur's bones.

 

[Jade]

"Why is there a concubine on my ship?!" Captain Barkah was back in roaring form. "Damn merchants!"

Tharwa huffed, annoyed at Barkah's presumption on her occupation. "I beg your pardon. My job here is to search the bottom of the Mark'hah Trench. How long until we get there?"

"Your job..." He paused.

"Down in a divin' bell, down in th' trench..." He continued, trailing off again.

"Bwaahahahaha! YOU'RE GOING DOWN INTO THE MARK'HAH TRENCH!? GIVE ME A FUCKIN' BREAK! K'larr's really gotta keep his whores outta th' way; I've been up 'n down this sea for months, procuring his sick whims. I've put up with it, but now he brings in some uppity bitch who thinks she's a fucking DIVER! HA!"

At that moment, a large sack of gold landed at the captain's feet, busting open slightly and spilling a few coins.

"She's no diver, my friend, though no whore, either. This here is my trusted associates, Barkah. Her name is Tharwa. Please show her all the hospitality you would any such honored guest." K'larr turned to Tharwa with a smile, "A bit anxious, are we? As I said, you won't be searching the trench yourself, but I believe you'll ultimately find the journey an exciting one. You may choose from any of the rooms that line the walls for your chamber, just leave the one in the center be; that is mine" He slung his head back across his shoulder to Barkah, "As for those... procurements you spoke of, I will inspect them in a moment; Though I'm sure you haven't let me down, dear friend." The merchant said, eliciting a wince from the young sea captain.

"You'n yer fuckin' slaves..." Barkah chided as he bent and retrieved his payment.

"THEY'RE NO SLAVES! How many times must I say, you uncultured seadog? I don't enslave, I employ. Every one of my servants is bound by contract, rendered service or payment, and then released when the contract expires. I provide a better life than they could have ever imagined. Perhaps I could lend you one, let them regale you with tales of their splendid life since coming to me."

"I'm not interested in goats and insects, you freak. Although, you keep the Czars flowin, an' I'm a ghost as always, y' depraved toad."

"Yes yes. Carry on, pirate; I'm off to my depravities!" He said with a loud chuckle as he turned away and strolled back toward his room. The door was draped with silk curtains of purple and gold, as well as small, decorative brass chains, strung with hundreds of tiny bells. The bells sang a gleeful crescendo as their master brushed past, announcing his presence to his previously referenced "procurements". Straight ahead, on the far side of the chamber, a pair of Unicorn Anthros lay on a sumptuous bed. Obviously bred back many time with humans, they possessed only the most minor of animal traits. A tail. A dainty horn. Hoves. Nothing to bestow the amazing benefits normally associated with Anima or even most other Anthros. Just enough to create an exotic pleasure.

To his sides, two more servants danced away, their wings fluttering in the lamplight. The one to his left, a blue Dragonfly Anthros, and on his right, a girl with the red wings of a butterfly. They swayed and clapped in a subtle, seductive rhythm, watching the corpulent merchants every move as he lumbered toward the bed.

"The light." He said, the two girls to the sides immediately smothering the lamps, leaving only a faint wisp of moonlight that bounced off the waves and through the window.

 

[heliacalRebirth]

Seiyr

[dash=red]Seiyr gazed at the rows of cheaply made beds, childhood memories threatening her attention. Never had her business left the Overseer's Chamber; she hadn't realized that the living quarters of Dorgrad so closely resembled the slums of Zirako that haunted her dreams. The blackness of the room was punctured only by the swaying lights of her party- the workers had either extinguished their torches or found their way in the dark. Both options made the engineer's hairs stand on end.

General Amalia broke into song, the nervous tone of her voice quickly turning the powerful words into a lament. Hollow eyes of malnourished miners looked on, completely oblivious to the woman's stumble. The little food in her stomach churned sickeningly, forcing the blonde to evacuate closely behind her superior.

"unnghh…"

She stumbled out the doorway, falling to her knees as she emptied her stomach. The vomit was the same sickly grey shade as her meal, causing another bout of heaving at the sight. Despite her strict fitness regimen, events such as this had been occurring more and more often. Consulting both Arania and Amalia had proved very little, making way for paranoia as the engineer knelt, gasping for breath and combating vertigo. They're getting worse… she grimaced, spitting out bile. Her heart rate slowly decreased, much slower than the woman wanted to acknowledge.

"unghhhhhh…"

Seiyr's head snapped up. Dizziness threatened to seize her body as she slowly stood up, looking around for the source of the noise. Amalia was nowhere to be seen, leaving only abandoned railroad carts and rhythmic metallic clinks in her wake. Her Aux tingled, alerting Crux for the thousandth time that day. The engineer stroked the hit of her sheathed dagger, tracking the source of the sound as well as her state allowed.

She made her way out of the sleeping quarters and past a large chamber where molten metal hissed angrily. Workers mechanically carried out their jobs, paying no attention to the woman in black. Any other time Seiyr would've been enraptured by the vast forges and manufacturing utilities. As it was, she barely noticed the structures. The voices were back, pulling her forward to the unknown. She didn't question their motives; she recognized the pain in their strained murmurs.

In the distance, a fireling stood on an upturned wagon, shouting to a small group of onlookers.

"The G-Gods have a-a-arisen from the South! Th-the evil lord of f-fire will k-k-kill us all! Look now! The harbinger of our demise is with us!" The naked fanatic pointed a finger at Seiyr, causing the female to nearly fall from the steep decline she traversed. Her path took a sharp turn, yet she could still hear the insane cackling of the man. She became very aware of the tablet still in her satchel. It was not a coincidence that the words "GATEWAY TO HELL" were engraved into the wall just in front of her.



The path led her to a completely new chamber, this one of a grotesque green hue. The voices reached a fever pitch, causing her Aux to lash out irregularly. She knew she was getting close, she could feel it-

A scream. A masculine scream, hoarse from years working in the dusty shafts of mines.

Seiyr burst into a sprint, years of spying silencing her feet. She turned the corner.

Backed up further into an alleyway she recognized the two figures. Theo and H'Kal. The screaming abated, leaving only a thick and sluggish silence. Seiyr swayed- she had not yet recovered from her ordeal. Fear briefly pulsed through her veins, only to be replaced with the one thing that had saved her life every single time. Determination.

"In the name of the Desert Sun I command you to halt!"[/dash]

 

[MiNaGi]

ARANIA VELKA

[dash=magenta]
Arania had been born in a world where worry was in her nature. She was not good at just "leaving it be" when it came to other people. When they had finally reached their destination in the grey, dead mines, Arania hadn't been as severely injured as some of her companions. Especially did the situation seem bad for General Amalia, and making her sing didn't make it much better.

Before she knew, the General was gone and instead, her gaze focused on the stumbling Seiyr. The place did give off a certain familiar feeling of dread, from back then... and she knew what was happening to Seiyr. Instead of stopping the female, she made up her mind to pursue the engineer.

It pained her to see Seiyr on the ground like that, but she couldn't bring her stiff legs closer to her long-time friend. She was worried again. This stupid, unreasonable and heavy worry making her feel as if a person was clutching at her throat.

Her eyes widened at the words coming from the fireling, and she briefly remembered the tablet that had been stuffed into Seiyr's back, setting in a dash after the running warrior. Despite everything that had happened in her life, Arania remained fast and unfazed by fear as she followed her friend through the dark alleys. She saw the General on her way, briefly wondering if she should go over and talk to her, but she was crying. Out of all things, Amalia probably didn't want their first meeting to be that of her comforting the crying General. And it seemed that Takeda was rushing to her side, as well.

As she followed Seiyr, who seemed completely out of her senses, it was obvious that they weren't just going anywhere normal. There was something in a place like this. The grey landscape changed to a sickening green, and everything about the place made Arania's stomach turn. Her Aux pounded loudly against her chest, alerting her of danger. But she was unable to leave her friend like this.

The moment she was about to grab Seiyr and drag her back, the scream entered her mind like a piercing sword. She closed her eyes for barely a moment and she could feel it. Someone was getting hurt somewhere in this cave.

From the looks of Seiyr, it seemed that the female had found out where that was, and she followed, watching all of the insanity that had been enveloping Seiyr disappearing as she went back to the one safe feeling that they both had; determination.

Determination was all they had to keep themselves on two legs, the resolve to do something for themselves and for this world. Together, they would probably be much stronger, but it was dangerous for people to know of their connection. They weren't exactly normal. There was no blood flowing between them - but they weren't just strangers either.

They floated in a grey zone, and neither girl knew how to get out of it. When she stepped up beside Seiyr, the sight of the injured Theo made her heart turn, but she stayed rock solid in place, staring straight ahead of her. Theo would need healing... her fingers were crippling to get to tend to him. She felt as if it was their fault for having left him earlier.

Her fingers clenched. Of course it wasn't their fault. Regardless, this torture would've just been put over onto someone else, had it not been Theo. Arania at least knew that much about the work standard in the mines. If you didn't obey... then you better be prepared. Arania had her regrets about escaping to Kaustir, but Viridos would have never provided her with what she had obtained over the years. She was not desired in any other lands, and here she felt as if she had just a few companions.

When the scent of blood reached her sensitive nose, the Nocturne slightly turned her head uncomfortably.[/dash]

 

[Torsty]

Downtown Avarath, brown

A female dressed in traditional sherwani attire moves through one of Avaraths many minor streets downtown. The multicoloured patterns made of tiny pearls on her signals she belongs to the wealthy merchant class, the tikka jewelry elegantly decorating her head signifying she is no common merchant. Purple being the dominant ground colour to her clothing means she is a member of the Kothari merchant family, one of Avaraths oldest and most respected. And sole representative of human merchants in the Anjuvannam Guild.

The Anjuvannam Guild is exclusive to only the greatest merchants of Kaustir.

Just infront of her, two guards push and shove anyone who stands in the way, behind her, another set of guards scout the crowds for any possible threats.

They move at a tempo indicating they are in a hurry. Making a left turn into a side alley. The sharp sunlight disappears and the cool sensation of stepping into the shadows runs down her back. The escort stops in front of a building without distinctive features. She stands still, takes a deep breath through her nostrils, exhales and closes her mouth which formes into a smile as the door opens for her. The Kothari enters, the guards remain outside.

Inside, a long table occupies most of the floor space. All but two seats are taken, as Kothari's delegate sits down only one remains empty. She recieves generous attention of the others as she makes her entrance, she is the only female present around the table. A guard standing by the door announces her, his tone firm "The House of Kothari is present!"

The room is filled with smoke and the scent of the finest tea Sunne has to offer. All the merchants are dressed in garments with strong colours representing their family. The bling factor is high.

The buzzing sound of merchants conversing business that had paused re-emerges. She overhears an exchange of words between her neighboring colleagues.

"There is talk of the coliseum needing an overhaul. Lukesh and his friends left markings..." A giant rabbit with grey fur spoke as he leaned closer to his nocturne friend.

"Simply embarrassing! The nocturnes of Zirako does not know how to behave properly...here...in the civilized world."

The conversation was overpowered by the voice of Mayor Gulzar Ganguly. He demanded their attention.

"Let us begin!" He says simultaneously making a hand gesture to wards the guard, signaling that all but the merchants are to leave the room.

"Keloslivek K'larr will not be attending todays meeting." The members move their gaze to K'larrs empty seat, situated to the right of Gulzar who is seated indubitably at the end of the table.

"I bring you news we've all been expecting."

Gulzar pauses, shifting his eyes' attention side to side.

"The Emperor is preparing his army to march. To expand Kaustirian eminence all over Sunne."

The response is stoic. Gulzar continues.

"I asked him to show mercy for our friends in trade across the sea and up north."

He pauses.

"We will open our harbours and aid the army so that they can move their troops most efficiently. I asked the Emperor to keep military camps out of the city center."

He pauses.

"Now we wait and see what form of action Zirako chooses."

"We need to act quick and harves what necessities we can get before war breaks out!" The giant rabbit – still the smallest person in the room – speaks.

"The tea houses, brothels, bars...many of our businesses will go on without greater losses during the war, but some of us are dependent on getting our shipments from Hosia to avoid ruin." The anima deals in the health sector. Cheap restorative herbs from Viridos are popular among the commoners of Avarath and important to his income.

"We have to stock up on as much as we can..." Another merchant adds.

"True. But we will not exaggerate the influx. Increase your shipments moderately within reason. The Czar will have our heads if we act impetuously."

The meeting went on for hours. The merchants went back and forth discussing how they would adapt. Architects would have to organize efficient camp structures for the Imperial Army. The harbour, the artery of Avarath would be turned over to the military.

"[...]...and that concludes our meeting." Gulzar stands up and immediately leaves the room. Off to another meeting.

 

[Obskeree]

Theo the Miner

When he had first been pulled aside, he knew what it would be about - he had gone somewhere on his own, seen something he wasn't meant to have seen.

Theo's memory of the whip did not do it justice.

It was excruciating at first, the lashings following the path of faded scars of beatings long since past. After the first few, he entered what the miners called the Numbing - the only way to cope with any dignity, to switch off and recite songs to the Glorious Czar in your head.

But when H'kal's tail wrapped around one of his front legs and began to constrict, it pulled him out of his trance - a sense of panic rose in him. This wasn't how punishments went.

Bruised, split and bleeding flesh would not hinder a miner's work, but bones? Bones were necessary. Bones took time to heal, time that could be spent more productively. It was an unspoken sin to break bones.

He felt the slow crack more than he heard it, and couldn't help but scream, flailing and swinging his horns at H'kal to try ward him away. It worked to a degree - H'kal let go before the leg broke completely, to twist his lithe body to dodge before beginning to approach Theo's other front leg.

Theo slumped awkwardly to the ground, bloody, pained and confused, curling his hooves beneath him to try and shield them - and then a voice rang out.

"In the name of the Desert Sun I command you to halt!"

 

[Cheesecake]

H'kal slid off the centaur to escape his horns. Although his scales protected him, Theo's horns seemed sharp and long enough to pierce them. H'kal waited for his chance to get to his other leg. He felt pity for Theo. The sooner it was done, the sooner H'kal would leave him alone. As soon as H'kal prepared to pounce on the bloodied centaur, he heard a women order him to stop, in the name of the Desert Sun.

The name made him cringe. What they taught in equality they meant hypocrisy; all are equal, unless your glorious Czar decrees so. He learned long ago: The Sun doesn't rise in the dark mines. It was a sin and high treason, so H'kal never revealed what he felt to anyone, except the old man, long time ago. However, H'kal snapped out of it and stopped attacking Theo. Turning to face the woman, he saw it was one of the First General's entourage. He slithered over to her and the woman next to her, slowly rising and looming over them. It was a common tactic to induce fear and panic in the workers by seeming big and important.

"And who uses the name of our Czar to command this humble one?" H'kal hissed, displeased at the interruption. This was growing to be a great hinderance to the quota.

 

[heliacalRebirth]

Seiyr

[dash=red]"What do you mean who?" Seiyr snapped, adding sarcastically, "I probably helped design half of those damned machines you use to do business down here, I'm surprised there aren't monuments in my name." Out of her peripheral she noticed Arania. The engineer's lips formed a tight, straight line yet she did not acknowledge the woman. The incessant screaming stopped, but her Aux still prickled her skin as adrenaline coursed through her veins, from both the danger and her discovery.

She solved the puzzle.

Seiyr pushed past the torturer, standing in the space between Theo and H'kal. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight; she could barely keep herself upright. But being an engineer meant that she had a different arsenal of weapons, if it came to that. For now, only a diplomats wit would save her from bloodshed. Straightening her back, she looked the reptile in the eyes, refusing to be cowed by his act of intimidation.

"I am Seiyr, Imperial High Engineer and direct consultant to the Czar. To oppose me is to defy His wishes."

"I'm afraid this centaur is under the Czar's protection. You may stand down, or deal with the consequences."[/dash]

 

[Cheesecake]

The little engineer managed to ignore his intimidations. H'kal smiled inwardly. The first person he's seen with courage, or general emotion other than fear or apathy. He started to circle around her, never taking his eyes off of her own. His right hand gripped his whip, the left his vial of drake fire, if it came to fighting. His common sense told him to avoid it at all costs, but his Draken blood screamed for real combat, not torturing workers.

When she revealed who she was, H'kal was unimpressed. "Monuments in your name? I'll just place it next to the statue of the Czar, then his generals, and his council, and so forth. Dorgrad is the only place where statues and titles are worth more than life. We're not sure if they look anything like their statues. Children believe their glorious Czar has burning hair and roars like a lion. I guess you deserve a monument for showing up to the Misery of Kaustir, unlike our magnificent leaders."

He snuffed out his lantern and envoloped them in darkness. He hissed and toyed with his prey. "If I continue to harm this centaur, then I go against the will of the Czar. If I cease to harm this centaur, then I go against the will of Dorgrad. When a master has many slaves, there is no quarrel. However, when one slave has many masters, then who does he follow? His first master? The most powerful master? The one he believes in? If he chooses one and shirks the other, he is punished. Then tell me, girl, who must I serve?"

H'kal was letting his emotions get the better of him. He stopped his attempt to attack Theo, pitying the poor comrade for his horrible first day. He was tired of having to swear multiple alleigances. He would choose his own: Dorgrad and the workers that died for her.

"Think about it, tinkerer. Convince me. You can use the Minotaur-Adjuncts services, but first he requires medical attention. The medical bay is down the hall you came. It will take a while, but they will soothe the pain."

H'kal somtimes did that for workers who didn't deserve punishment. Sometimes the higher-ups just had a morbid love for tormenting workers, and they used H'kal to do so. He would show them to the medbay after his superiors were pleased. Meanwhile, he helped Theo back up and gave him to the lady next to the engineer. He stared the tinkerer in the face for a while, before slinking back to the tunnel, trying to find Foreman Henvit.

 

[Asmodeus]

But Foreman Henvit was already fleeing.

His parting gift... an ichor smear on the frame of Amalia's bunk bed.



True nightmares make no footfalls. In the dead of that night, while Amalia trained and Seiyr wandered, what dropped from the chimney rafters of the worker barracks was both huge and utterly silent. The Turbaatus Drone cast a nine foot shadow decked with spines and chitinous bulk. Yet its six-fold legs were sleek ones. They bore the monster down the unlit aisle and brought its shadow over sleeping workers and motionless Aux. Digestive fluid dripped from its maw, sometimes flecking sheets and toes, but always scattering smaller insects. The normal bedbugs and spiders of the barracks knew better than to linger in this predator's wake.

As it moved, two mantis claws held high and probed the air as if searching. They straightened as the drone arrived in the barrack's centre. Amalia's bed, scentless to any other, yet pheromone-soaked to the hive, lay like some delicious morsel beneath it. There was a bulge beneath the covers. A slender female form, sleeping softly.

The insect passed between the bunks, its tail section swinging silently over Rakar, who slept in the next bed. It was now facing Amalia's bed. For a moment it seemed to pause and take in the delicious pheromone.

Then, as one, the mantis blades fell without sound and skewered the body in the bed. Sheet, flesh and mattress were pierced. Blood blossomed under blankets. The drone lowered its body and found the face of the slaughtered woman.

Mandibles closed around her dark-skinned, Anima face. And it began to devour her.

 

[Zen]

Matil lay curled up in a corner, face towards the mine walls. That's what Amalia wanted to do, hide away from the rest of the world for a little while. At least it was Takeda who found her, she wasn't sure if she could handle anyone else seeing her tear stained cheeks and trails of snot around her nose.

The exercises brought a strange calmness within Amalia. Of course her soft body protested, but as she got into the rhythm of the exercises, it began to clear her mind. It pushed aside her insecurities, pushed away everyone's opinion of her, and pushed away her own self doubt.

She allowed herself to digest the question, even if brought smatterings of unease in her mind. In the beginning Amalia wanted to become general to prove that she was someone and to help her nation. But with the Czar being who he was - her shoulder would have a scar for the rest of her life - she wasn't so sure about trusting him. Now it really boiled down to Amalia proving to everyone that she was capable and competent... Without succumbing to the cruelty that Lukesh so easily subjected his people to. That was what kept her sane, the idea that she could treat the people with more respect than the Czar ever could.

"We can continue," and paused. "Why are you helping me? The others don't think highly of me, I can tell. And I know you're under orders to train me but you don't seem..."

Don't seem to hold me in contempt, she wanted to say, but felt she would be overstepping.

Amalia cleared her throat. "You're too kind is all."

 

[unanun]

Zirako - the Blue Tower, brown

The carriage did not actually set foot on the ground-proper of the Blue tower. It stopped on a small holding area, and the occupants all departed to their respective Towers, leaving Lut, Nae, and Draegal. Although the trolls lived here, even a brewmaster as exceptional and rare as Draegal would normally not lay eyes upon this level.

"I'm afraid you will have to undress here." Lut was already peeling the sand blasted and fraying military cloth from his skin, exposing a lithe, if somewhat gaunt, body. The Nocturne's physical powers ran deeper inside than simple muscle. "I hope you do not value your clothes too highly." He tossed his into a nearby fire pit, and moved towards a square cut pool. The immense expenditure of a pool of water set aside for nothing but washing was not lost on Draegal.


"You must cleanse your skin before we can move on." Nae, who had nearly spent the entire trip as a statue, dove into the water with grace never seen, for most people in Kaustir had never seen a fish, home to water as Avians are to the sky. The trolls were allowed the privilege of leisure, so suited was their constitution for monitoring the endless and seemingly unchanging flow of water. Lut stepped into the pool and completely submerged himself, using pumice to scrub dirt off him in billowing clouds. The troll weaved between the expanding dirt in the water before surfacing at the far end, drying himself off.

As Lut rose from the water, a gesture from a nearby Firefox set his features rigid, and he gazed into the distance, lost in thought.

"Since we closed the Aqueduct, new cases of poisoning have stopped, although the plague continues to spread by air. My staff have interviewed the ones who are responsible for the particular cistern where the poisonings have occurred."

He climbed out of the pool, drying himself off in the shade.

"One of them is responsible. The reports are on the table."

Inhabitant 5S aayz 555, brown NATIONALITY: Kaustir STATUS: Citizen JOB: Sewage treatment and Aqueduct upkeep ALIBI: None. Was working in cistern at time of poisoning. TIME IN 5S: Since birth.

Inhabitant 5S abcr 304, brown NATIONALITY: Viridos STATUS: Prisoner of war JOB: Sewage treatment and Aqueduct upkeep ALIBI: Was inspecting an aqueduct different from the poisoned one. TIME IN 5S: Five-score winters.

Inhabitant 5S aaxk 000, brown NATIONALITY: Viridos STATUS: Temporary stay, paid consultation JOB: Sewage treatment and Aqueduct upkeep ALIBI: At home, taking care of wife, who is suffering from Ipari Blight. TIME IN 5S: One winter.

 

[Kino]

The bed was a welcome comfort to his rest as Rakar slept. He had been made to sleep in the desert sand enough times before that a bed, even a simple slave's bed, always led him into a quick and relaxed slumber. It came at the best time too, given the events that unfolded not long ago.

It had been far too uncomfortable to hear Amalia try to sing. During that brief scene that felt like forever, Rakar and Coros had kept silent as usual, though they couldn't help but avert their gaze and cringe. When it was over, most of the expedition team followed the General's lead and left the barracks. Rakar was about to go after her in order to follow his orders of protecting her, but after seeing that Takeda was already on his way to her, and having been instructed to get some rest, the allure of the bed was too much.

Unfortunately, the rest he looked forward to would be interrupted that night. Rakar remained blissfully unaware of his surroundings as the intruder made its way into the room, and subsequently butchered a nearby inhabitant. However, shortly after the initial killing, the intruder began devouring it's victim, bringing the sounds of flesh and bone crunching and cracking. Due to his close proximity, this was enough to cause him to stir in his sleep, and after a short time, to wake.

His vision was clear thanks to his darkvision, which brought the sight of the swinging monster tail over his face. He looked surprised and confused, wondering what the hell it was, but the sounds of the monster's feast beckoned his attention and he glanced over. He almost wished he hadn't. The sight was horrifying, and took a moment for it to make sense in his head. Then another thought clicked that brought him the most dread of all. That was Amalia's bed it was standing over.

Rakar rolled out of bed as quickly as he could onto all fours, and Coros, who had been resting at the foot of the bed, knew what he was thinking, and proceeded to leap into Rakar's back and join with him. His skin glowed briefly as his advent, Dragon Armor, activated and caused his skin to harden to the point of invulnerability. Just as this happened, the bug had paused its meal and turned to see what the noise was, turning just in time to have Rakar spring up and grab it with a bear hug.

Without his armor, Rakar was much stronger, and wrestled the beast away from Amalia's bunk and closer to his. He barely managed to pull it to the ground and attempted to pin it, which proved difficult even with his strength. The bug screeched as it frantically clawed at Rakar to try and break free, but thanks to his advent, its mantis blades were not able to pierce him. He couldn't hold the beast down for much longer, so he reached under his bunk with one arm where he stowed his sword and shield, and pulled his blade to him.

There was a series of swings from his sword, each one met with a loud screech of pain from the bug. It continued to flail and claw at him, but with each swing of the sword its actions grew slower and slower. It could have been as few as 5 or as many as 100 strikes for all Rakar knew due to his state of mind, but finally, the beast was silent and still.

Rakar breathed heavily and stood up. It wasn't until now that he realized everyone else in the room was wide awake and staring at him and the monster in terror. Several lanterns were lit, raised to get a good look at the corpse. Coros emerged from Rakar and perched on his shoulder. Many from the expedition were not present in the room, and seeing the bloody mess laying in the General's bed, Rakar thought the worst. How much time had past since he fell asleep? He dashed outside and began roaring with a booming voice that echoed all around.

"WE'VE BEEN ATTACKED! GENERAL LORTIK IS DEAD!"

 

[Tone 6th]

Takeda paused for a moment, returning to a normal standing position "As the unforgiving sun gives way to the sympathetic moon I too wish to see you succeed." He stepped in front of her his back turned. "K'jol, Rakar, even the Czar wish me to teach the power of rage, but rage is an unreliable and foolish weapon." He cast his arm out to one side. "I know what it feels like to have your world turned upside down by one person's decision." he trailed off. He chuckled to himself "You remind me a lot of my daughter..... she would have been about your age now. My kindness towards you comes from loss... forgive me I'm letting my emotions get the best of me. Let's continue." Takeda took a deep breath and went into a front set. He showed her the proper way to punch, put your hips into it, and how to block correctly. The next two hours were filled with push ups, sit ups, punching, and blocking. When they were finished he asked Amalia to sit down with him and mediate for a few moments "Deep breath in *inhales* out *exhales*, and backing to being" He opened his eyes as did she. "Very good work tonight Amalia you'll be kicking K'jol's butt in no time." He laughed. "One thing before we end the session. There are three things every warrior must do each day." He pointed to his head "Mind: Exercise your mind every day." He put both hands on his chest "Body: Exercise your body every day." He placed a hand over his heart "Spirit: Do something that eases soul every day." he quoted this creed in a soothing and calm voice. Takeda rose and helped Amalia up "So General... what are you fighting for?" he said in a kind of playful tone. It was then that he heard the screaming of Rakar "That will have to wait quickly back to the sleeping quarter!" he motioned for Amalia to start running.

 

[UltimaCircuit]

Sounds of screaming had alerted K'Jol to wake up. Still being in a daze from just waking up the lights from the lanterns bothered his eyes. The Draken warrior wiped them furiously. He quickly got up from his resting position before seeing a rather large insect on the ground, a green ooze leaving the sliced up body. U'Sil slid in between his two shoulders frantically as he just stared at the insect, before looking around to see who had killed it. A booming voice from outside the quarters stating that the general was dead made him grab his halberd from it's sheath. His eyes scanned the body of the drone once more, before looking at it's claws.

"Hmm..."

K'Jol quickly ran to one of the claws before raising his halberd high and bringing it down, cutting off the claw. He dropped his halberd before raising up the makeshift scythe weapon, dangling it around in his hand. It seemed very light and he brought his free hand to grip the claw. It was very hard, almost harder than any metal he had ever touched before. He slightly winced as he watched blood flow from a small cut upon his finger.

"Light, hard and sharp. A trophy with good use. I'll take this with me."

He grabbed his halberd before sheathing it, wielding the new scythe weapon with both hands. There was one more thing that he had to confirm. The famed warrior walked to the mouth of the beast, looking at the half eaten body. The legs that dangled outside of it's mouth were not human. "

"Anima...?"

K'Jol than ran out of the barracks, seeing Rakar in a sweat. His widened his eyes at the blade with green ooze upon it before looking back at his fellow Draken. It was he who killed it, and he who gave out the word that the general was dead. He quickly ran up to him, a large question bothering his thoughts.

"The thing that is dead in the quarters did not kill Amalia. I checked the mouth of the beast. I assume you interrupted it's meal since half of the body was dangling out of it's mouth. Nice job."

It was odd for him to congratulate someone but he thought it was appropriate. He had completed the first kill, something that meant a lot in his eyes. As he stood by the side of Rakar he heard footsteps coming from in front of them. The general and Takeda had confirmed his words. As he opened his mouth to call to the others, no sound came out. Rocks that started to fall from above and hit the ground in front of them drowned out his voice.

"What in the hell..."

The curious Draken looked up, before widening his eyes in horror. Another one of the insect beasts dropped from above and landed with a crash in between the Drakens and the humans. The insect creature turned it's back to the Drakens, making a rather loud chewing sound as it faced Takeda and Amalia. It had had a meal prior to arriving on the scene. K'Jol backed up before hearing the hiss of another beast from above. The second beast stayed upon the ceiling of the mine, watching the other below.

"SHIT! I HOPE YOU'RE READY FOR BATTLE EVERYONE!"

​

 

[Tone 6th]

"By the sun!" Takeda yelled as the a huge bug few down and hissed at him and Amalia. The swordsmen drew one his blades "Amalia stay behind me." he commanded. Takeda took a deep breath and started to read the enemies movements, if push came to shove he would use his advent. The beast stared him down before rushing at him, its last victim still dangling in its mouth. Takeda pushed Amalia out of the way and rolled to one side, just missing being cut in two by the bugs blades. The insect slid across the ground before it turned and charged again swinging its blades erratically. Takeda blocked one of the blades and let it slide down his sword and into the ground. "Think Takeda think!" he screamed to himself as he tried to find a weakness. He watched as the bugs leg joints moved and bobbed as it swiped at him. "Of course! Take someone's knee out and they can't walk!" he realized. Takeda ran backwards, getting some distance between him and the creature. He prepared himself as the beast ran at him once more. Takeda rolled to one side and and as hard as he could slashed through the lower ball joint of the bug's first left leg, using it's momentum against it. The beast toppled over and rolled across the ground. "Quickly Amalia!" He shouted as he regrouped with K'jol and the others.

 

[Asmodeus]

Dorgrad Chamber 9

Screams filled the barracks, each cry begetting more as sleep was broken. To this music came tipping bunks and swinging doors as the workers fled. Those outside were caught in the flood, Takeda jostled, K'Jol collided with. One even crawled between Rakar's legs. In the half-dark there was only chaos as insects dropped from the chamber walls to scatter them further.

Blood splashed on Amalia's arms, arterial red. Someone had been slaughtered behind her. She dare not look. She followed Takeda.

A scream came from the rooftop of the barracks. Another was being dismembered up there.

One worker had courage enough to find the alarm bell by the east tunnel, and the ringing clanged amid the cry of death and the hiss of death-bringers. The response would be slow. Warden Bracht and the Ipari were far above, while the city guard had been led astray by Henvit. For precious minutes there would be only carnage.

The rest of Amalia's cadre spilled from the barracks to meet her, half-dressed and half-armed. They formed circle at Takeda's orders, and looked to the closing shadows. Here between the rail tracks, they would make their stand.

Dorgrad Chamber 15

Foreman Henvit grunted and hissed, his legs sliding out from under him. The mine cart squeaked as he shoved it down the lower tunnel. He had plied the quartermaster with wine, but in his haste to act before the man awoke Henvit had overfilled the cart with black powder. And now was the worst of times to realize the weight he had made his workers push each day.

The guards had been re-posted, like their counterparts in Chamber Nine. He found the Forbidden Tunnel empty and the guardpost deserted. He threw aside the wooden blockades and got to shoving the cart once more. A lantern clanked from the cart and threw twisting shadows over the red-green rocks.

"What are you doing, Child?"

Henvit cried out and clutched his head. The voice was like a bone crack, boring cavities in his brain. "No! Not in my head! Out!"

"You bring heathen ashes into heaven."

He snarled and shoved the cart with renewed intent, both arms and head employed. "Must hide you. Seal away."

"Why deny them the sight of God?"

He continued squealing and pushed the cart, each bump spilling explosive powder throughout the tunnel.

 

[Zen]

Blood meant pain, and injury, and death. Blood was filthy, yet necessary, and blood was what made Amalia focus.

The insect made another attack towards Takeda, swiping at the solder with its claws. The attack barely missed, slicing off a strip of clothing. The soldiers around her closed in further, but the general was growing furious. Her party, her people, were dying to protect her. They needed to make sure no one else would die to this monstrosity.

"Stop protecting me! Slay it before it kills anyone else!" The guards hesitated. "THAT'S AN ORDER!"

They dispersed and Amalia now had a clear view of the creature, spiking her veins with terror. Unbeknownst to her, the ceiling above trembled, loosing dirt and rock.

Now that it was handicapped, her more courageous soldiers hacked at the creature whenever they could. K'jol pierced it with his halberd, Rakar and Takeda teaming up to cut down its legs with their swords. Those who were nimble and quick on their feet avoided its claws, and those that weren't were slashed open. Amalia's heart throbbed for their loss, but their sacrifice gave the others opportunity to attack.

Slicing and dicing, green blood spurting into the air and onto the rocks, her party made swift work of the creature. All of its legs were hacked off and only its body remained, laying there like a bloody cocoon. With a mighty roar, K'jol rammed his claw into the insect's chest. It quivered, hissed, and became still. The party exhaled in triumph.

Trembling, but smiling proudly, Amalia moved forward to examine the carcass.

She took one step, and the ceiling above opened on top of her. Another insect dropped down, and Amalia was crushed underneath the rubble, lost from view. This one had claws coated in red blood and in its maw was the head of a draken worker, newly slayed. It bit down and the skull was no more.

Its cold and calculating gaze fixed itself upon K'jol and without missing a beat, charged.

 

[Dunruffle]

With a feral snarl Nils charged through the crowd, his chain swinging with deadly intent as he saw the bug land on Amalia. "YOU COME INTO MY HOME! EAT MY PEOPLE! HURT MY FRIENDS!" His chain lashed out around the bug, the length wrapping itself around its head and shearing through its chitin. Hissing the bug turned to Nils and charged, with a ripping sound the barbed chain tore deeper into the bug's thorax, causing blood and ichor to splatter all over the ground. "fuck these things! Someone check on the general!!" Nils shouted as he wrangled the bug like some depraved animal tamer with a leash on his pet.

As another bug closed in on him Nils threw his poisoned knife into one of its eyes, causing the beast to hiss and flail amongst the other drones. This caused a chain reaction and soon the blinded drone was cut down by its brothers. An ineffective cog in the machine had to be replaced and the bugs showed no mercy.

 

[Kino]

Without armor or his prized shield, Rakar stood his ground alongside his comrades. He hadn't had much time to react to the news that Amalia was alive after all. It relieved him, if only momentarily. The bulky draken felt naked with only his sword, and may as well have been, with only a loose fitting ragged shirt and pair of pants on.

He and his comrades made quick work of the next beast, only to have another take it's place by dropping on top of Amalia, bringing down rubble with it.

"General!"

Rakar cried out to her, a look of anger mixed with fear on his face. He believed that he had failed to protect her only moments ago, and the thought that he might now do it again was just to much. "I had ONE job, damn it. ONE JOB. I can't fail again!"

He braced himself next to K'Jol, ready to help take down the one that had come down and set it's sights on his fellow Draken. However, Nils showed up just in time to wrangle the giant bug with his chain. No better timing could have been asked for, as it gave Rakar a clear path to where Amalia went down, and he rushed over.

"Keep them off me! I have to get General Lortik free!"

He was counting on his comrades to protect him while he worked to lift the fallen rocks and gravel to get Amalia out, and they did not disappoint. They were brothers in arms after all. Sons and Daughters of Kaustir. It was the only loyalty Rakar had known for many years now. They stayed close, and held the bugs at bay while he worked.

"You're not dying today General! I refuse to fail in my duties while I still draw breathe. GET UP DAMN YOU! You aren't allowed to go down before I do!"

Rage, copious adrenaline, and fear of failure fueled him as he finally got Amalia free. He was already becoming exhausted after such exertion, having just used an advent, slain 2 beasts, and dug Amalia free. He wasn't sure until he got to her if she was still alive. Twice in less than 5 minutes, Rakar thought he had allowed the one person he was meant to protect die.