…Vesp made his way east with a multitude of both Ixis Followers & Summoned Demons from Ixis
When they reached the Eastern Coast of Azrekon, construction of 8 Shadow Ships began…
…fuelled by Shadow Magic
Meanwhile, the High Priest Evory Tybarro headed south with his own legion of Ixis Followers to court and/or demand an alliance between the Dark Forces of Ixis & the Dragonclaw Orcs to the south, in the Capital City/Village of Fhor’tog
The Dragonclaw War Chief Brotar, being no fool, did just that
Once the first Shadow Ship was constructed, Vesp boarded it with his Demons and Ixis Followers & sailed northeast to the southern shores of Cerces…
…quickly seizing control of the villages to the south…
For the next ten to 15 minutes I felt nothing but the lashing cold and branches of the surrounding mountain forests…
…with an occasional drop which my pilfered guard’s horse seem to cope with just fine
I could hear nothing but the sharp winds and crunching snow beneath my horse’s hooves, and the sheer silence that still seemed to creep its’ way in between the resounding winter storm
Then we slid down the side of part of the mountain, some four of five hundred feet…
…I was thrown from the horse, which ran off
Can’t say I blame him
I’m left the blasting storm, and the silence that perhaps only I can hear
‘WHERE TO NOW BOY…’ the voice mocking me once more, I ignored it
If if didn’t know, how was I to know
Suddenly someone grabbed my arm and dragged into a small nearby cave…
…before I knew it I had a bow aimed at me from a well wrapped traveler, perhaps a Ranger
‘What are you doing out here in this? the female’s voice spoke directly, almost demandingly
‘I… I needed to get out of town.’
‘What… Now,’ with this she lowered her bow, and the maroon scarf from around her face
Her eyes were dark green, but she had dark hair from what I could see
Human
‘It wasn’t exactly my idea,’ I replied
She just stared at me, than moved back behind the small fire she furnished
Over the flame were I think two squirrels cooking on skewers, ‘Take one.’
And so I did… It was tough, but lightly seasoned, better than nothing I suppose… Obviously I’m used to much more
‘Are you armed…’ she spoke more than asked
I wasn’t sure how to answer
‘I have my ways… But no actual weapon,’ I replied
I seemed a bit to honest for my own comfort…
…but so far it hasn’t killed me
‘Your own ways, eh…’
Suddenly she started to get a better look at me beyond the high collar, ‘What kind of creature are you?’
‘A half fiend,’ might as well keep the honesty coming
When I walked in, the place was a rumble of drunken chatter, clattering plates & Bard music…
Still, a couple keen eyes definitely noted my black skin, small horned head and slightly glowing violet eyes
I sat
‘What have yah?’ spoke a dark haired barmaid before i’d hardly landed on my chair
‘Uh…’ just as I realized I had no coin, for I never left my father’s home in Nessus, I suddenly felt the weight of a black velvet purse upon my belt
I reached down and felt many a coin within
‘Wine… And… Stew’ I spoke, and she was off
Feeling hyper vulnerable to criticism due to my breed of creature, I was reluctant to bring down my high collar
‘What are yah then?’ suddenly spoke a deep, rounded voice
I looked to my right, it was a dark brown bearded dwarf, sitting with three other very intoxicated Dwarven companions, one passed out on the table
‘I’m a half breed fiend…’ I spoke
He just sat there staring at me, one hand on the axe at his side, his eyes a greyish black and very clear
He let go of his axe, ‘Hmm…’ he replied, then changed his focus back to his drink
‘YOU NEEDENT ASNSWER TO ANY OF THESE CRETINS’ spoke the voice in my head
I ignored it
‘Here you are love,’ spoke the barmaid as she placed the wine and stew upon the table, winked, and walked away
Had they seen my kind before?
Did Devils and their half breeds walk the material plane?
‘Aye you,’ suddenly a voice came from behind me
I turned to face who looked to be two town guards
‘Up… Out… We don’t allow your type in our town,’ he continued
‘DO NOT RISE’ spoke the voice…
…but I did, ‘Yes, I’ll see my way out,’…
…but that wasn’t good enough for them, they were quick to grab me and hurl me into the icy streets of this icy town
As I lay there for what felt like minutes, but was only seconds, my eyes glowed the deep purple fire once more and I levitated and spun towards them…
…I felt no control of what happened next
‘Well, looky here, we got a magician,’ with this they both drew their swords…
…but it was too late… all… too late
Suddenly great black tendrils lit by the same dark purple flame came from inside me, wrapping around the two guards bodies, they dropped their blades to the ground, gave out screams of terror, and their bodies melted down upon the icy ground below them
‘RUN!’ the voice rang in my head
Regaining control of my body, I ran to the nearest horse, a guard’s horse black in color, and sprinted out of town, leaving behind two, maybe three townsfolks who’d seen the deed…
…I whipped into the blinding ice and snow beyond the town, into the mountains and trees beyond
In the ‘Kandria Woods’, south of the ‘Two Cities’, there lay a Rabbitfolk in the middle of a sun shiney field…
His arms behind his head, he gazes at the sun in the sky above…
…blue skies, and billowy clouds
‘What a perfect day,’ he spoke in a knightly manner, his soft yellow eyes filled with the wonders of nature… including a coolish warmish breeze that made its’ way through his light grey and white fur
‘Oh Ander, must you leave?’ came a voice from a nearby cluster of yellow and purple flowers where a brownish furred Rabbitfolk girl by the name of ROSAIA picks a grouping of flowers, and makes her way back to her male companion
‘Oz Ryder, Rosaia… I told you, I’m not taking my father’s name into my new profession… My…
The Written Word 
