The monkeys were howling, Jade being close to the jungle many were kept in the thick trunked trees in the yard. Zafiro watched from the lower branches from one as the near seven foot arraki strolled almost silently behind Japshoot. The mosquitos didn’t bother the arraki, a few unlucky ones tried to ingest his blood only to sizzle into nonexistence.

“What do you think killing the magistrate will lead to?” His voice whispered from behind the Almeddan. The man had passed Zafiro and him not to long ago growling he had no change. “Surely even if you get to the man the guards while cut you down, you bring a small knife against a man with six guards armed with swords.”

The arraki chuckles low in his throat, “You want bragging rights I am sure but if an Almeddan strikes down a member of Aleris government it will threaten the peaceful merging that seems to be happening. The Aleris people may be weak at the moment, but they have some very powerful allies.”

The arraki stops walking as Japshoot goes to turn around, brandishing his knife. The arraki raises his hands, “Now..” He takes a step to the side looking up at Zafiro briefly before looking back to Japshoot, “If someone with no tie to Almedda were to kill the magistrate and a couple guards in the confusion the Almeddans could solidify themselves as a strong and able and possibly peace keeping force”

The arraki lifts his eyebrow turning back to Japshoot, “I could be that man, and I’ll kill the magistrate and enough of his guards to destabilize the government of the city. I’ll leave one alive to blame the attack on a seven foot monster and leave your hands entirely clean.”

What was the arrakis play many would wonder? The being had just risked his life to protect Aleris after all, “I’ve never been a fan of gods, especially gods who after so much loss of life decide to intervene to put some King into place in their favor. Many died and for what? So the god and king could have a grand entrance and save the day?” The arraki shook his head, “Aleris would be better in the hands of someone else, someone better suited at protecting its people. What are a dozen more people dead if it can help save thousands?”

The pitch was out, whether or not Japshoot would take it was left to be seen, if the man’s ego was too great and he tried to kill the magistrate himself the arraki would probably stop him and still do it, Aleris couldn’t afford another war at the moment and hundreds more would die in a violent conflict.

Zafiro watched from the trees absorbing everything, the arraki had been talking to him about things, teaching him things. Just that day they had a conversation about what was going to happen. “But why do you have to kill the magistrate and his guards?”

“Because if I don’t, he will try and it will turn Aleris against Almedda and there will be a war or at least the start of one. This land has lost to much, if Almedda wants control they need to gain it as peacefully as possible. I can’t just kill the would be assassain because his friends would note his disappearance and they would come looking for him. This outcome doesn’t gurantee there won’t be war, but it is the best option.”

“But the magistrate and his guards could just be good guys. You kill good guys? I thought you were a good guy.” Zafiro had questioned, trying to understand.

“Sometimes good men must die to guarantee the survival of many, and good men must be bad men to make sure it happens. I am not afraid to take the mantle of villain if it guarantees the survival of many more.” The arraki had smiled a little, “ I've done it before and if need be I will do it again.”

Back in the present the little boy nodded understanding as the arraki spoke to Japshoot. It finally sunk in what the arraki was saying picking sides wasn’t important. His green eyes moved to Japshoot, waiting for the man to respond to his mentor.

Despite the poison that made an attempt at entering Madrin's bloodstream, Wish was able to fully heal Eiler's Lord Commander. The venom that his enemy had used was extracted by Wish and after that, healing Madrin was simple enough. He would be left with a few bruises and some very shallow scratches, but nothing life threatening that wouldn't heal on its own.

Still, after everything, she was quite exhausted and had managed to secure a stool that she could sit upon until Madrin awoke. With closed eyes, Wish reached out and grabbed the pillow that hid Madrin's manly parts, only to cover him with his sheet and blanket that had been on the bed. Once done, Wish felt safe enough to open her eyes and went to the stool where she sat to wait.

Several hours passed and Wish found herself nodding off, her posture disappearing as she slumped forward, her elbow on her knee and chin in the palm of her hand. Madrin was breathing deeply, almost a snore, and the sound was lulling her to sleep. She would have fallen off her chair and onto the floor had the sound of his breathing not ceased. Wish looked up; pushing off her elbow and saw Madrin was awake and was starting to sit up, the stiffness in his body evident in the way he moved.

Wish looked at Madrin thinking he must have gone delirious as he woke up with his comment about her being a beautiful sight to behold. Wish gave him half a smile that was laced with a little skepticism. "Aye, Madrin, I'm sure Elysia isn't ready for you either." Madrin went on to explain his story and Wish lifted a brow in question. "House Corporis of Almedda, you say? Are those the strange people I've been seeing in the city? You must be careful with them Madrin. They made an attempt to take your body away from me. I, erm... stopped them."

Her question was not met yet with an answer. Instead, Madrin reached out and took her hand to kiss the top of it in thanks. Wish blinked a few times, part of her surprised, but not so much. Madrin could be quite the gentleman when he wasn't fighting people to protect the kingdom of Aleris.

"You're welcome, Madrin," Wish said dropping her hand back into her lap. "I understand you must see King Elias, but please rest some more, or else -"

Just as Wish had started to warn Madrin about moving too much, he pushed away from his bed although with a struggle. Wish's mouth dropped open and she stuttered. In his getting up, he must have not realized he was completely nude underneath the blankets. So there was Madrin in all his glory again and Wish plastering a hand over her olive colored eyes.

"Madrin, rest! Do not move too much!" Wish said turning her head to the side for good measure. "And by the gods, please clothing!"

Madrin had fallen to one knee, but Wish did not go to help him up unless it was needed for fear of blindly grabbing onto things she shouldn't be grabbing onto. Eventually, by some means, Wish heard Madrin getting up and moving around the tent. It was some time before Wish heard his voice again and she patiently sat on her stool wondering if he was amused by seeing a crimson blush upon her cheeks.

Eventually Wish heard Madrin say that he was clothed and when she opened her eyes, he was indeed dressed in a pair of white uniform pants and sitting on a chair. Wish let out a long sigh and shook her head as she slipped away from her stool, her booted feet landing gracefully on the floor and blue-gray gossamer-like wings stretching some behind her.

"Whoever tortured you poisoned the blade they were using," Wish said explaining any pain he felt in his leg. "I was able to draw the poison out, but for some time it is going to hurt and you'll have a limp. Do not force it too much, Madrin, or it'll only get worse." After her warning, she smiled softly to him and pushed a lock of brown hair behind a slightly pointed ear of hers. "I know how difficult it is for you to sit still."

Wish then spun on her heel and started looking around Madrin's tent for her things. She gathered her herbs and unused bandages, placing them carefully into her only pack she had brought with her from Arthuran. Wish found her coat, which was a bit heavy for Eiler and more suited for Arthuran weather, but she pulled it over her shoulders anyway. The jacket had a hood and she could hear that thought the rain had let up some, it was definitely tapping softly against the top of Madrin's tent. When she was done, Wish turned back to Madrin and met his ice, blue colored eyes.

"Madrin, when I left Chaliceton, I told you something: 'Stay strong; Aleris will need you.' I believe it still does and will for some time, but... be careful. There are unseen threats all around us and if you push yourself too much, I shudder to think what may become of you," Wish said. Moving to Madrin as he sat on his chair and leaning forward, Wish placed a soft kiss on the side of Madrin's bearded cheek. Taking a step away, Wish nodded. "Take care of yourself, Madrin."

With that, Wish left Madrin Kir's company and was out his tent, stepping into the light mist of a rain. Outside his tent Nedira Kir waited along with another woman from the Blackwolf clan that Wish did not know. Wish looked to Nedira Kir and then to the woman who stood over half a foot taller than Wish. After a few quiet seconds, Wish placed a hand on Nedira's shoulder and smiled lightly to the girl.

"He is awake, Nedira. You may go see him," Wish said. But before Wish released the little girl's shoulder, Wish gave Nedira a knowing look. "If he pushes himself too hard, give him a kick in the knee for me – the right knee."

To this, Nedira Kir offered a giggle and then hugged her arms around Wish's waist for a split second before diving into Madrin's tent without warning. Once the young girl was gone, Wish bowed to the other woman of the Blackwolf clan. Stepping away, Wish went to fetch her horse hoping not to encounter any more half-dead bodies on the way out of Grand City.

Jade City:

The Magistrate of the Jade City had an impressive fortress, Japshoot had to admit. As he neared the impenetrable building, the Evincan noticed several guards posted within. His knife, he was afraid, would simply not do the job. To effectively claim the head of the Magistrate, he'd need at least three men. He'd be the lookout, of course, safe and sound.

No time for fantasy, he thought to himself. I'll have to go at this alone... Or maybe, I can just turn around now. No one will know I changed my mind. I'll live another day. That guard sure looks mean.

Japshoot nearly screamed in alarm as the voice of Soul hissed over his shoulder. Ducking into a defensive stance, the Evincan whipped his curved blade up and over his shoulder to block the thrust that never came. Instead, the arraki studied Japshoot with surprising calm as the frightening apparition spoke.

“What do you think killing the magistrate will lead to? Surely even if you get to the man the guards will cut you down, you bring a small knife against a man with six guards armed with swords.”

Standing and trying to recompose himself, Japshoot listened carefully to every word Soul had to say. The Evincan knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, his life hung in the balance. Something about this creature.. This was what they warned him about, before the Almeddans entered Aleris. This was something utterly.. powerful. Being no fool, Japshoot wasn't willing to risk his life by interrupting Soul as he spoke. It was clear Soul understood the position they both were in, for he laughed and continued.

“You want bragging rights I am sure but if an Almeddan strikes down a member of Aleris government it will threaten the peaceful merging that seems to be happening. The Aleris people may be weak at the moment, but they have some very powerful allies. Now.. If someone with no tie to Almedda were to kill the magistrate and a couple guards in the confusion the Almeddans could solidify themselves as a strong and able and possibly peace keeping force.

“I could be that man, and I’ll kill the magistrate and enough of his guards to destabilize the government of the city. I’ll leave one alive to blame the attack on a seven foot monster and leave your hands entirely clean.”

Japshoot slowly lowered his knife, fighting to control the tremble. He was a trained warrior, but the adrenaline of being surprised coupled with the massive silhouette before him left Japshoot wishing he'd never attempted this mad scheme. When Soul explained his intentions, the Evincan's mood switched from frightened to elated. This .. monster.. wanted to do what he could not!

Wonderful! Brilliant!!! Japshoot wanted to kiss Soul, and he would've if he didn't fear for his safety. Besides, he had an image to maintain. Instead he simply nodded to Soul, his eyes burning with intensity and adrenaline.

"As you say. Deal with this Magistrate." Japshoot turned, studying the gate as he planned his exit. His eyes flickered back towards Soul, and the soldier tilted his head respectfully. "I will thank you for this moment, every day. For my life.. and for the Magistrate's." With that, the Evincan hurried away, unaware of the watchful eye of Zafiro as the child's gaze trailed him into the city of Jade.

--

The Ripping Gate - South-West of the Hyperborean Mountains:

Chaos had invaded the Almeddan camp, and with it came confusion and death. Jasker had no warning when destruction flowed into the small army and began slaughtering his men.

The Ripping Gate is being ambushed!!!

Jasker charged into battle, unleashing a battle cry as lightning tore through the sky. The rain poured down, but it did little to hide the horrendous sounds of murder and death all around. Venomous sorcery flowed through the camp, charged with hatred and spite. With the sorcery came insects, spiders and beetles, all imbued with cruel disregard for their own safety as they swarmed the army.

The Veneficans responded to the ambush with their own sorcery, and Jasker noticed a group of the sorcerers wielding elements as weapons with incredible success outside his tent. In a full sprint, the Commander charged up to the Veneficans. He was useless against thousands of insects and sorcery, so instead he did what he was trained - to augment sorcerers against melee combatants.

In times such as these, Jasker was well aware there was no chain of command. It would return shortly, but for now, all that mattered was the life of these three mages. If they died, he died, and if he died, nothing mattered.

Swinging his sword, Jasker tried to bat away the insects, feeling insignificant against the face of such a ridiculously small foe. A mage tried to chuckle, but the laugh was without pleasure as the sorcerer shouted, "Just do this," then he waved his fingers obscurely and the insects around them turned to ash. Some beetles batted the sorcery off and more fatal insects closed in. In the distance, the booming sound of sorcery echoed through the camp.

Jasker shook his head frantically.. "Whatever that was.. Do it quicker."

--

South of Grand City in a grove of trees:

Chained and lashed to a table by impossibly thick webs, Blend groaned, coming to consciousness. As his vision focused, Tempesturo's Champion instantly decided he'd rather go back to sleep.

Gore was everywhere. The first thing Blend noticed was the jaw-less head of a woman as it gaped on the altar to the right of him, fresh enough to bleed. Other body parts littered the table, a gruesome stack sitting on a glistening silver plate. Turning his gaze around, the armored skeleton noticed two more macabre altars, each evoking clearly a different aspect of the frightening nature of death. On the second altar, death was in the process of it's bounteous feast, for worms and flies burrowed through the flesh stacked on the table, and even the altar itself was under siege from ravenous termites. The final table had bones picked clean, half-buried in centuries of dust and age, death returning to the eerie comfort of eternal silence from which all life began.

In the middle of them resided a most fitting sacrifice - Blend, Tempesturo's Champion, a living skeleton. No skin or flesh coated his bones, and to his dismay Blend realized his armor - Tempesturo's armor - was also gone. As naked a corpse as anything else here, Blend realized for a frightening moment how at home he really was. This is where a dead man belongs, isn't it? Among the dead!

As he contemplated this, the living entered his midst. Meristali the Spider Birvuo studied him with deep black eyes, once more wrapped comfortably in her human skin. With her were three Almeddans, an Evincan and two Accersans. They peered at him cautiously and waited at a distance while Meristali approached.

"Forgive me, Xezvimhi." Meristali leered over him, nudging his skull with her boot. "As we speak, I am in the process of slaughtering all Almeddans near the Ripping Gate, with the help of disguised Corpirians. Don't give me that look! Really, you have done so much worse.. It's a shame you don't remember killing gods. Well, fear not, mindless brother, for I've no intention of killing your god or any Alerian gods for that matter.. I'd much rather prefer killing mankind. Yet these gods.. they mean so much.

"Elysia has an obligation for dealing with the dead. How many pitiful spirits slamming on the gates to eternal damnation does it take before she gets overwhelmed? I wonder, and now we will see! A hundred Almeddan souls for the goddess to cart across into their respective heavens and hells! This, I think, should occupy her time."

Her giggle was cold and humorless, a bone chilling noise (which Blend, being particularly boney, could attest to wholeheartedly .. if he had a whole heart). "Busy, indeed. I hope she enjoys my altar. It's not you that I'm here for. These Almeddans have a history of manipulating gods for use in warfare. How beautiful would it be to see their games played on them for once?!

"Tempesturo! Your champion awaits his savior! And we have a small price, a small trade!" Her eyes lifted from Blend and towards the sky, where the sun even now rose towards the heavens behind a veil of thick clouds. "Bring us the Goddess of Death!"

Wishing someone would knock him back out, Blend mumbled to himself, "I just want to see the laserbear again."

Meristali scowled at him. "Laserbear..?"

"Don't ask."

Japshoot fled, almost as quickly as he had come, Soul had smelled the fear on him. He looks up at Zafiro and nods his head the small boy sliding down the trunk in his small stained brown coat. “Wait for me outside the gate.”

“I want to come with you.” The boy said quickly, “I can help.”

“I won’t allow it, soon but not now.” The boy wasn’t trained; he’d be a liability in a fight. “Go to the gate and wait for me.” The arraki finishes sternly pointing toward where Japshoot had run.

Zafiro drops his head and walks to the gates while the arraki turns to face the manor. He stumbles as he walks toward the main door. He comes into view around a statue of a woman and the two guards at the main door go from attention to a defensive stance with hands on their scimitars.

He stumbles and leans on the statue, “Where is Mayor Esteban? That man…” He belches and lurches toward the guards, one pushing him back. “Hey hey hands off! He owes me!”

“Go away drunk!” The guard on the left draws his scimitar the curved blade glinting in the rising sun.

The arraki stops and raises his hands, “Fine fine, but Esteban can’t hide from me forever!” He turns away slowly, waiting for the scimitar to slide back into its scabbard.

He turns back so fast the guards don’t have time to react, a massive hand clamps on each of their throats pressing them against the wall. The men grip his wrists, clawing at his skin on the left and at unyielding metal on the right. Obstinata opens itself inside his mind and their energies began to slip from their bodies and channel into it.

The bodies go limp and he releases them to crash to the ground. He presses his bare palm against the wooden doors with iron bands and feels another five in the room beyond, some stirring at the sudden noise outside. Obstinata pops a bundle of energy from one of the guards and the door explodes inwards spraying the five within with pieces of wood and iron.

Two were unaffected coming at him with wild swings with curved blades, their armor was plain grey armor and each had an orange sash running across from right to left. Three were picking themselves up from the ground, one with a foot long piece of oak in his side.

The arraki dodges the strikes, betraying his size with surprising speed. The men try to force him back to the outside, but the arraki wasn’t a fan of going back. The three blades snap from their spot under the gauntlet and catch one of the blades in the gap between them; with a jerk he wrenches the scimitar away from the man and catches the hilt in his left hand blocking the next blow. His right arm swings just as fast and three bright red gashes appear in the armor of the unarmed man.

As the man falls he stabs his new found scimitar toward the knees of the next man, as the man goes to dodge the attack he jerks the blade up, hooking his chin in the curve of the blade like a fish hook. He steps past the falling man, leaving the scimitar in his chin. Just as a horn started blowing.

The arraki frowned, half the city guard would be coming, he looks at the man blowing it, the one with the piece of wood in his side. He nods at the mans courage and punches him in the head, just hard enough to knock him out, he had to leave at least one witness and the man might still die from the wood.

The remaining two had fled to the next room which opened up into a marble stair case. Five men stood up high with recurve bows, arrows notched. He steps unafraid into the room, the two from the foyer having joined another four. The arrows launch at him as he enters and they bounce off a sudden barrier of marble that rips from the ground itself.

“ You can run now, I will let you live. I am only here for the Mayor.” The arraki yells from behind the slab before kicking it hard and exploding it upwards into the balcony making the archers take cover. While the four swordsmen were considering the option he was already upon them. He kicks the largest ones leg out and catches the scimitar in his armor hand smashing the next one in the skull with the hilt. He ducks just as the other two blades swing, the metal colliding with a clash inches over his hood.

He shrugs off his tattered cloak leaving his heavily runed skin exposed to the air but freeing up his moment. The three recovering swords men dance away in a semi-circle, the sound of arrows drawing echoing in the chamber. The arraki grins, dark crimson eyes narrowing at the three.

The arrows launch and the arraki spins using his second captured scimitars blade to reflect three of the arrows with a twist toward one of the swordsmen, caught off guard the three broad heads punch into his arm, leg and throat. The man gurgles blood as he collapses. The other two arrows bounce harmlessly off his armored gauntlet; broadheads were no good against armor.

The other two swordsmen advance in a rage at their dead comrade swinging wildly at him. He backs himself up the stairs, hearing more arrows being drawn. A melon sized chunk of marble is scooped up and thrown into the lead swordsmen knocking him back into the other. The arraki turns and bounds at the archers just as the loose their arrows.

The first two go high and the third strikes his chest, the second his stomach and the third just above the groin. The archers seem to relax triumphantly as he crouches in pain, but their emotions soon change to dismay as his blood burns the shafts away leaving quickly healing holes in his skin. The five almost turn in unison and run away, the uninjured swords man following suit. The first had dented armor, and was bleeding from a rib punching through from the marble; he stares up from the first floor in fear.

The arraki glances at him uninterested before advancing on the next staircase, which was surprisingly devoid of any guards. He sees a double door at the end and approaches it rubbing the healing wounds. The left door opens and a man of equal stature steps through it ducking. He wore heavy plate armor and carried a large mace. His face was hidden behind the heavy helm.

“Not often I run into a human my size.” The arraki strides forward, heavy leather boots echoing in the hallway.

“What are you doing here Soul?” The voice echoed from the helm and caused the arraki to stop in mid-stride.

“Impossible.” The arraki narrows his eyes and stops walking, “I could ask you the same question.”

“I got bored with home and had one of the sorcerers tear a portal for me. I’ve been here quite some time. Almost reminds you of home, with the jungle.” The voice says.
“Working as a Mayors guard seems below you.” The arraki responds.

“Working as his puppeteer is more like it. Though I have been tracking you since you killed Black and Chaos, that took you long enough.” The armored figure takes a step forward. “I’ve already killed the Mayor. I agree with your plan and I am curious to see this Almedda.” The armored figure steps even with him, “The city guard is coming though so we should make ourselves scarce, I am sure they will be looking for you but since we look so similar maybe even me. It has been good seeing you Soul.” The armored fingers brush the arrakis shoulder and he seizes up in pain collapsing to the ground, “I never forget either.” An armored kick sends the arraki against the wall.

Soul gasps on the floor as the armored figure walks away Obstinata trying to override the pain keeping him on the floor. He can hear the guards coming into the lower room but he can’t will his body to move. Suddenly a small shadow is cast and his eyes cast up to the blurry figure of Zafiro who presses one of his palms on his forehead.

The two are gone suddenly and the city guard barges up the stairs and toward the mayors room, the man lays on the floor eyes rolled back in his head, no other marks show. The guards turn and put out the alert for the arraki.

Outside the city next to a bubbling jungle stream the arraki shudders in pain as Zafiro tries to recover from the sudden transportation. The little boy sweats pressing a sapphire palm to his forehead, “I.. am.. going.. to.. try.. and absorb it.” The boy grits his teeth and the pain begins to subside from the arraki, his skin cooling as the burning lessens. The boy jerks away and falls back hood falling from his eyes.

The arraki looks up through the tree at the sky and pants, Syvern was here, and he knew magic that could strip away what held back his acidic blood from burning his flesh. With a single touch he had almost destroyed the arraki, if Zafiro hadn’t been there. The arraki looks at the boy, “Thank you.”

“Now will you bring me on missions?”

"No Wish the other four houses are the ones occupying Grand city as well as Jade and Joi. However, I guarantee the outlawed Corporins are hiding among them. They use death magic so be wary." These words were spoken after his first bit of food but, he couldn't deny how her cute blush reddening her cheeks only added to her beauty. Alerians really needed to loosen up.

"Poison Is that so, thank the gods I won't find out what might have happened if it had run its' full course. The possibility of becoming undead was quite high given the young man's affiliation. Ten others were awaiting the change when we escaped. No matter he's dead now at least I think so, hard to tell with a necromancer." Madrin's mind whirled like a pulley, as the possibility occurred to him, the strange dream made a little more sense now.

"Take care of yourself as well Wish. I want to see you again, my worthy comrade." His heart went with her as she hurried out into the cold, hard rain.

Madrin was in the process of cutting off the extremely itchy beard, when his daughter ran in. "Madrin what's with the beard? are you still on a secret mission." The little sprite attacked him with open arms nuzzling her nose on his broad chest.

He felt the salty tears on his exposed skin and scooped her up into a deeper hug for a few seconds. "Now now lass, I'm not a handkerchief. No worries Wish made me all better. If you'll just release me I can finish up getting rid of the beard." Nedira clutched tighter and kept letting out her formerly restrained pain. Madrin sighed and went back to shaving, he noticed the fey woman must have cleaned his skin before tending his many wounds. He found it strange that she had such close contact with his flesh but, blushed at seeing his private parts. That must have been very difficult for her.

Mira attempted to sneak up on them so she didn't disturb Nedira's emotional outpour. Madrin smiled at her poor stealth ability and met her sapphire eyes. He nudged the little girl and kissed her forehead. "Nedira we have company wipe your tears and show your discipline."

Nedira stood up, back straight, and blushed as she cleaned her face with her sleeves. "Well done little one." Her stance was sloppy but, she put forth good effort. "Mi..." The words Madrin tried to form were lost as she gave him a long kiss the caused them both to breathe thru the other.

Nedira's eyes became big as saucers as she witnessed the intimate display with interest. Mira backed up slowly and spoke with an alluring tone. "In case you were trying to make me jealous with your fairy girl, I had to settle my claim."

"Mira that discussion needs to wait for another time, I must see the king immediately." His voice took on a no nonsense quality. The child's mouth was wide as it could get. "Nedira Kir, close your mouth it's very rude!" His daughter closed her mouth so fast that she bit her tongue, and winced in pain. Madrin merely shook his head hoping that her brief pain had taught her a lesson.

"I'm glad to see you again too Mira." Madrin noticed the woman's hostile posture relax as he took the sting from his earlier words. Madrin grabbed a uniform shirt and buttoned it up before slowly rising. Mira and Nedira both jerked as if to catch him when his balance slipped a little. However, he stopped himself and stood straight.

He patted his adopted daughters head gently and spoke. "Nedira go see if your grandmother is in need of any help. I promise I'll be back as soon as possible." She nodded her head sadly and took off like an arrow.

"Mira please give me a hand, I don't have the strength to walk to the king's chamber on my own yet." It annoyed him greatly but, Madrin refused to let embarrassment delay his report any longer.

"Of course." Mira kissed the opposite cheek that Wish did, and led him out of the tent. The whole way she thought about what she had said to Wish before entering the tent as much as it galled her. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for bringing him back alive. "I'm Mira Blackwolf, Madrin told me of you, Miss Star please remain his friend." She gave the fey woman a deeply respectful bow and went into the tent. The walk to Elias' room was pleasant as she assisted Madrin. The guards on the door gave the pair a questioning look. "What are you two looking at, open the damned door."

South-West of the Hyperborean Mountains, at the Ripping Gate:

The Almeddans at the Ripping Gate had been slaughtered. Jasker surveyed the damage while the remaining men regrouped. The entire encampment was destroyed. The Ripping Gate itself had been under siege, and there was one frightening moment when the commander was certain they'd die in Aleris while watching the Ripping Gate get torn apart, effectively locking in all other Almeddans to this realm.

Luckily, the Evincans on the other side of the Gate had noticed what was going on. Due to the warping of time between two worlds, their response was faster than one could hope, and the entire Veyja garrison of troops stormed out of the Gate to repel the attack. In spite of this much needed assistance, they came too late. Jasker's defensive army had been completely annihilated in minutes of desperate battle.

Was it really only minutes of battle? Or was it hours? It felt like days to Jasker, days of swinging his sword ineffectively against hoards of insects, of watching the Almeddans around him succumb one by one to venomous bites, of watching himself face the inevitable. Those beetles were worse than the spiders, by far. For all intents and purposes, the spiders were spiders, nothing more. But when the beetles attacked, some of them resisted the magics, while others appeared to gradually grow immune. The mages countered by shifting their arsenal around, using fire one moment and ice the next, but even so..

Jasker worried these creatures were capable of building resistances. If that was the case, they would only grow more powerful with time.

So, even as he reeled from the aftermath of the savage ambush, Jasker pondered his options for a counter-attack. They only had a small window of opportunity to wipe out the insect threat before it became even more dangerous. He could use the Veyja garrison (an admittedly small force of fifty, augmented with proficient mages) to deliver swift revenge on the heels of the ambushers. The downside was, if anything unlucky happened in the encounter to come, the Ripping Gate would be considerably unguarded - from both sides.

Regardless, it would work. Filled with inspiration, Jasker began barking out orders to Veyja soldiers as he strutted through the ruined camp.

--


South of the Grand City, in a grove of trees:

The heavens roiled with indignation, thick clouds spiraling in the bleak sky above the altar where Blend was secured. An unnatural vortex was forming, an eye to the heavens snapping open to stare on the folly of mortals. The Spider Birvuo Meristali stared back, her face beaming with pride.

She pulled her black eyes from the maelstrom forming above to cast Blend one ecstatic look. "Do you feel that?!" she demanded, her hair whipping around her face as the wind clawed in panic. Those abysmal eyes returned to the spinning clouds above before shifting towards the three Almeddans that accompanied her. "The Gods hear me! And the Almeddans are coming! Time to prepare the chains!"

Sure enough, he could hear marching in the distance, nearly inaudible beneath the howling wind. Good! The Almeddans would set him free, and there'd be no need to bring gods or devils into this picture. Then a thought struck him, and his heart skipped a beat (a lot of beats, seeing as the heart, and everything else save bones, was long gone). Meristali's bugs weren't fighting the Almeddans. There was no defense. She wanted them to come.

Blend watched in morbid fascination as the three Corpirians, disguised still as Evincans and Accersans, instantly drew their blades and slit their throats. Oddly, there was no blood, but their faces twisted into matching masks of terror and finality as they crumpled to the floor. Whatever sorcery they had performed in their sacrifice plainly pleased the Spider Birvuo.

Meristali laughed as she watched them fall while she addressed her captive skeleton. "Yes, Xezvimhi. I will capture this goddess not with chains of steel or ropes of sinew. I will bind her with souls! And these Corpirians, they will serve as the willing anchors, to tie down so many dead Almeddan souls. Elysia will have no choice, you see? She has to come, to set them free.. But soon she'll need someone to set her free!"

It was then Blend realized the sounds of an army approaching had stopped entirely. He hoped that was a good thing.

--

Jasker watched as his men began dying one by one around him, their eyes blank and unknowing as their lives simply flickered out. He opened his mouth to cry out a warning, knowing it was already too late, then his eyes glazed over and the commander stumbled and collapsed. By the time the prestigious war-leader and proud Evincan collided with the earth, his soul had been wrenched from his body by taloned, tearing hands. The few remaining Almeddans soon followed his lead. Three Corpirian spirits flitted through the field of bodies, harvesting souls as they sung haunting praises for the (now dead) God of Death Silenti.

Corpirian death magic... A most effective weapon. There was a reason they were banished in Almedda. One look at the destroyed wasteland that was their home was enough evidence of their degraded ambitions, and a second glance at the screeching souls clutched in their ethereal arms should convince even the most skeptical of viewers. To put it plainly, Corpirians were deadly.


--

Within Soul's mind!:

Blend's spirit appeared briefly inside Soul. Their link, though tenuous, had remained in tact since the previous wars and Soul's exposure to Chaos, a connection that gave them both the useful ability to reach towards each other, in mind if not in body. In truth, Blend was taking a shot in the dark. He was after all chained to an altar and about to become the subject of much unwanted attention by Elysia. It seemed an unlikely time to test his link to Soul, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Look, I don't have much time," Blend's voice echoed inside Soul's mind. "Whoa, nice kid. He's got his fathers eyes and his mothers smile! I didn't know you had a son. Err, yeah, about that time thing. Gahh, it's almost run out, and here I am talking about what I'm talking about instead about what I should be talking about. Which is this:

"I think I'm about to be eaten by an evil spider witch that says she's my sister. The Almeddans are getting their asses kicked over here, and she's probably going to eat them as well. I'm not sure where you're at.. a rainforest? Where the hell..? ..Jade City? Ahh.. I heard they serve delicious monkey-brains there. Well, you should watch out, this eight-legged freak might try to eat you too. Do me a favor, try to help the Almeddans, because whatever this Spider-bitch is planning involves killing a lot of them. In the meantime, buy your little kid a sword. I have a feeling things are about to get a lot worse... For me, at least. Speaking of which.."

Blend's presence vanished as quickly as it came, retreating to his captive body. Soul knew where to find him. It's not like Blend was going anywhere!

The Champion of Chaos filled his mind coming suddenly upon him as his mind still reeled from almost burning from the inside out. The arraki processed all the information as suddenly as it came and groaned. It seemed all he had done to avoid more deaths had been a waste of time; well at least he was immortal. Time was the one thing he had plenty of.

Zafiro crouched to the side watching the arraki, Soul peered at him from under the shade of the lower branches of a thick trunked tree. Animals chittered and chattered high above almost giving a peaceful hum to the area. The boys little sapphires seemed to have two uses, absorbing and dispelling magic and tearing portals in Aleris, a skill that Soul hadn’t managed to completely master.

Different realms treated magic and portals differently and Soul could barely managed jumps of a couple hundred feet at a time. He pushes himself slowly wishing he could just sit and enjoy the peace of the jungle for a little while longer but it seemed he was the skeletons only chance. He walked through the foliage to Zafiro.

“Thank you.” The arraki spoke to the boy, crouching to be at eye level. Blend thought the boy was his son, Souls only children had been killed years ago when they were mere babes.

The boy stared at him with hard green eyes, “I told you to let me come.”

“I know, I know.” The arraki grinned, the kid reminded him of himself at that age.

“What do we do now, Jade will be looking for you.” The boy said standing.

“We have bigger fish to fry. It seems some evil creature is trying to do harm to the world. Can you transport me south of the Grand City?” The arraki asked with a tilt of his head.

“I think so, I am pretty tired though, and it might not be exact.” The boy said with a groan but held out palms, the two sapphires connecting with a streak of blue energy. “Grab it while picturing where you want to go.”

“Go back to Jade find Japshoot and tell him that the assassain sent you and that the Almeddan forces near Grand City are under attack and they need help. Okay?” When the boy nodded Soul grinned, “I hope I see you again Firo.” He grabbed the bolt of energy and felt the world rush away from him.

The field was strewn with bodies, but no blood leaked from any wounds. The arraki frowned looking up at the spiraling clouds over a grove of trees that was where Blend was. He lowers his eyes and almost flinches as Obstinata puts up an ethereal shield around his soul as one of the Corpirian spirits tried to steal it like they had the others.

The armor on his right hand pulls away and the flesh splits as the tip of Obstinata pokes from his palm. The blade sprays a bolt of red energy at the Corpirian spirit in return trying to trap the spirit in a cage, it would kindly suck the spirit and the souls it holds if the Corprian allows it.

Jade City…..

Zafiro darts through the streets toward the east wall. The city had been thrown a little into disarray since the magistrate and his wife had been found dead with no wounds. The guards were all on the lookout for a giant of a man who had his right arm encased in armor and were offering high rewards. The Almeddans were working to help the city get back on track.

Zafiro remembered what Japshoot looked like from the court yard. He found the man closer to the town square with his other conspirators, now turned guards for the man trying to be the new Magistrate. The three eyed the boy curiously as he stopped in front of Japshoot.

“I come from the assassain. He tells me to inform you that the Almeddan army near Grand City are under attack and they need assistance.” The boy pants, putting his hands on his knees.

Japshoot looks at the other two before narrowing his eyes, “Is this some kind of joke? He is trying to get us out of the city isn’t he?” Japshoot draws a knife, “You tell him…”

“If you don’t listen to me he said he is going to find you and kill you, same if you hurt me!” Zafiro lies but sees the man’s eyes change.”I am telling the truth, I just sent him to Grand City to help your friends, you need to tell whoever is in charge!”

Japshoot puts his knife away and turns to the other two, “Come with us kid.”

Near the Ripping Gate…..

Syvern has his helm off, the heavy piece of steel resting in the crook of his arm. He resembled Soul almost to the point of being identical. He was the last copy of the arraki, the last split of his entire being. His dark blue eyes stare at the gate, left almost entirely unguarded and surveys the remains of a battle. It seemed the army that had been guarding the place had been attacked by waves of insects, curious.

His mace is planted in the ground next to him, a five foot piece of steel with an intricate but deadly head of nearly twenty spikes. The heavy plate armor weighed nearly a hundred stone but to the lost prince it weighed less than a pillow, being an immortal had its perks.

He couldn’t remember how long he’d been in Aleris but he had felt the arraki and the other two copies come months ago. He had waited patiently knowing one of them would eventually put themselves near him. His resent filled him for his brothers. He’d been abandoned to die in the realm they came from, his soul left without a body. It had taken nearly a century of wandering the world as a spirit to find the magic to reconstruct his form.

He had set a spell upon Soul to burn away his physical form and to leave him to the same torment as he had. The lost prince smiles picking the mace up from the ground and taking steps forward when Souls presence filled his mind again suddenly. His eyes turn to look in the direction and his face contorts in anger, how was he still there? His helm slides back on his head and, Almedda would have to wait the lost prince had more pressing matters to attend to. He tears a portal and steps into it his armored form disappearing in a flash.

"Why should I care if your Champion perishes to the hands of the Spider Birvuo? Do you not recall him betraying my simple request to help permanently exile Sharay's soul from Aleris? Why am I to be his savior?"

"Hey now, let bygones be bygones. It's you she wants. If I go there, that nasty woman will just spit on my shoes, and frankly, I'm not up for that. Must be some lesbian fetish the Spider Birvuo has with you," Tempesturo said. "Besides, you haven't been on Aleris' 'hot' list lately. Lots of people are mad at you for everything that has happened lately, as I'm sure you're aware. Think of this as a PR gesture!"

"And you do realize that your avatar - your Champion - is a skeleton? After all, how much pain can the Spider Birvuo inflict upon Blend?" Elsyia asked a slender brow lifting in question.

Elysia circled around a room deep inside the Temple of Winter, stopping to crouch down and touch a few cerulean blue flowers that seemed to hold some importance for her. The room was not one that any person entered, save for herself and her siblings. The walls, though varying types of stone, were covered in ice and the ceiling was a life-like image of a midnight starry sky. Amongst the room, the blue flowers dotted wherever they could grow, popping up from a floor that was made of snow. Tempesturo appeared to be uncomfortable in Elysia's cold room, but he kept himself warm by making sure part of his legs and torso were always in flames.

"A living skeleton! Let us not forget that he can feel pain, my dear," Tempesturo said. "Besides, are you not supposed to show compassion for those close to death or those who are travelling through the realm of death?"

The Goddess of Winter opened her mouth to speak, but at once she was overwhelmed by a wave of pain. People were dying; hundreds of them at once. And it was not merely death, but sacrifice - an act that Elysia did not approve of. The tidal wave, Terra Vale and Sharay who had killed thousands of Alerians had already worn Elsyia thin. One soul after another pummeled repeatedly into the realm of death and she was the gatekeeper for all of them. If she ever had a moment to recover, it was snatched away by the Spider Birvuo, Elysia's latest threat. The death toll in Aleris lately was far from natural and the invasion of the spider was only further angering Elysia.

Unfortunately, instead of being able to relay some of this anger and frustration to Tempesturo, the Goddess of Winter stumbled and fell to her knees. Tempesturo caught her, softening her landing, but at once did Elysia recoil from his touch. The heat of Tempesturo, channeled from the very sun itself, was too much for the Goddess of Winter, especially when she was being constantly pushed on by the souls of the dead.

"Forgive me," Elysia said looking up at Tempesturo with onyx colored eyes.

"Don't worry about me, Elysia," Tempesturo said. "Worry about Aleris and what that Spider Birvuo will do if you do not go to face her soon. This is not just for Blend and of this I am sure you are aware."

"Indeed," Elysia said slowly rising to her feet. "Do not linger long here, brother. The cold will become unbearable for you."

"And this is why I do not visit you often," Tempesturo said. To this, Elysia flashed him what could be considered a grin and then flickered away from view.


Elysia stepped through the grove of trees south of Grand City. It didn't take her long to find the Spider Birvuo as Elysia was able to follow the ever present feeling of death. The souls flowing from the region ran steadily like a strong river that Elysia drifted down. Somehow the Goddess of Winter managed to keep her steps confident, her feet sturdy against the ground as she moved deeper into the spider's nest.

When she came to the altar, Elysia took in the sight of mass gore and carnage before her. Body parts were dismantled and strewn about, several heads still staring horror-struck towards her as if frozen in time. Bones decorated the altar and insects scuttled and slithered about - worms, flies and spiders all making home to this macabre display. The sky was dark and threatening, clouds swirling about and forming an unnatural vortex that could have only been created by some sort of dark magic.

And there in the middle of this mess was Tempesturo's Champion, Blend.

The fierce wind in the area created by the Spider Birvuo and her clouds seemed to slowly grind to halt, a flickering of Elysia making an attempt to control the unease of the elements. It was then that the woman before Blend might notice that Aleris' Goddess of Winter had indeed made an appearance and that she was not too happy about being here at all. In fact, inside the palms of Elysia's hand was energy, light blue and glowing almost as if flames, although the source was much more frigid to the touch.

"Meristali, Spider Birvuo, you have interrupted the flow of death long enough," Elysia said her brows narrowed and her black colored eyes dangerous. "I suggest you let Tempesturo's Champion go and cease this foolish charade of yours. You will - and I promise you this - accomplish nothing."

((Chat logs, with minor formatting and typo fixes))

Japshoot studied Zafiro as they walked away from the eastern wall, accompanied by two guards. Acting as Magistrate of Jade City, the Evincan soldier was dressed in considerably different clothes from his people. No more was he clothed in green, armed with swords and chain-mail. Now he was robed in the teal hue of Jade royalty.

Japshoot studied Zafiro. "You said they're under attack?" He was speaking, of course, of his Almeddan friends to the north. "By what? Did the 'assassin' elaborate?"

Zafiro looked like a miniature Soul with his tattered and stained hood. The boy could feel the absorbed magic from Soul in his gems, ready just in case this man tried something funny. "No, he didn't say anything else, just they were under attack." The boy ducked under a man swinging a merchant basket and looked up, "It sounded urgent though he made me send him through a portal to get to Grand City." The boy looked up at the man, "We need to send help, the assassin is tough but if he thinks they need help, they need help."

Japshoot shook his head. "They're a day away, at least. Most of these Almeddans will be on foot. Besides.." Scowling, Japshoot snapped his mouth shut. He had a tendency to let words slip out, and he didn't want to tell Zafiro anything more than he needed to. As he decided what to say, they moved quickly down the street, Japshoot walking at such a pace that the young boy was having difficulties keeping up. "I need to talk with my commander. This way."

The boy caught the sudden stop in the conversation, "Being in charge here won't mean anything if all your allies are dead." The boy shot at the man in response, Soul had informed him what the men were looking for. "If I can be supplied I can open a portal for everyone to get there I just need something to draw from and with Soul gone the next best thing would be a mage or someone who has access to magic." The boy followed quickly, "But I guess we will see what your commander has to say."

Japshoot nodded as he listened to Zafiro. The child was able to make portals. Well, whatever those crystals were on his palms, Japshoot had a feeling they signified a certain capability. Japshoot approached an unassuming building, its only distinguishing feature being the guards stationed outside the door. Recognizing Japshoot, they let him pass, casting curious eyes towards Zafiro as the boy followed him in. "Wait here," Japshoot motioned towards a chair, then moved deeper into the building. Several moments passed before the 'Magistrate' returned. He had with him a Venefican sorcerer, a wizened man with incredibly fierce blue eyes. "Alright," Japshoot said. "A portal it is."

The boy waited patiently in the chair, eying the guards on his way past. Soul told him to always be on guard even if you trust those you are with. He didn't trust any of these men, they had already proved their needs to subterfuge when they asked Soul to kill the old magistrate. When Japshoot returned the boy nodded able to feel the course of magic in him, "It might be enough, this will be the third portal today and I am still inexperienced. I can't guarantee we will be right where we need to be." The boy stood and approached the duo, "Where are we doing this? We need a good size area for all of us to go through."

"We'll do it outside." Japshoot motioned over a guard, showing him a slip of paper. "The commander's orders. Go round up the Almeddans, every last one, except fifty Evincans." His eyes shifted towards Zafiro, his eyes suddenly sharp and cold. "Before we begin.. I need to know.. What manner of magic is this? Will you kill my friend here when you drain his energy? What is the purpose of those gems on your hands?" Japshoot studied the boy with diligence, his face hard as he drilled Zafiro for answers.

The boy lifted his palms, "No he only needs to channel his magic into his hands and I can absorb the energy and then convert it to tear the portal we need. I will leave him unable to do magic until he rests but he will survive otherwise. I've done it twice before." The boy said confidently. "Outside what if others are curious to see what is going on?" The boy tilted his head narrowing his eyes. "Those gems were there when I was born, no one knows where they came from but I've been working on them since I could walk. I will be drained after the portal myself especially one this big."

Japshoot nodded, accepting the information with caution. "If the others are curious, they may watch! We have no need to hide our actions here. If you didn't notice, we're in command." There was something dangerous about this kid. No, who was he kidding?! It wasn't the kid he was worried about. It was his protector, Soul. It was the frightening prospect of battle on the other side of that portal. It was all manner of things, things Japshoot would prefer didn't exist. But there was nothing he could do. Japshoot led Zafiro towards the eastern wall, where most Almeddans were already gathered, working on repairs.

The boy followed eying all the others in suspicion. He looks at Japshoot and shakes his head at the mans arrogance, had he forgotten just yesterday someone else was in charge? The boy held his hands towards the mage. "Condense your energies into your palms and I will do the rest." As the mage began to do this he placed his palms around the orb of glowing energy the sapphires glowing as the energy rushed into them. He stored some in a back up just in case Japshoot and his friends tried something funny and his portal was too short for Soul to be there. In a matter of minutes his left hand rose toward an empty space of air and the air began to shimmer as it seemed to heat. The air tore and the magic flowed in a blue spiral to form a full circle nearly eight feet tall. The boy concentrated hard, sweat beading on his forehead the portal should take them south of Grand City within a mile or two of where he'd placed Soul.

A crowd gathered to watch the growing light-show. Snakes of blue energy wormed through the air, spiralling onto themselves as if hungry for their elusive tails, commanded by the skilled Zafiro. Sparks of energy threatened to erupt from the portal, but were carefully contained as the young man worked his magic. Japshoot instinctively took a step back as the doorway widened. He caught a whiff of whatever waited on the other side, and the scent of blood was unmistakeable.

"You've opened a door into hell," he moaned as he watched the vista unfold before them. Bodies, burning tents, and thankfully the rare figure of an Almeddan moving through the wreckage. Apparently, Zafiro had found their Ripping Gate. Japshoot wasn't eager to step through the doorway and find out what caused this destruction.

The boys' eyes widened while looking through the portal seeing the bodies on the ground, but then his resolve hardened, "Come on I can't keep it open forever they need help." Soul was still alive, he knew that, the arraki seemed impossible to kill in the boys eyes. He felt the mage began to waver next to him, the portal trembling once or twice. He turned his eyes back to look at Japshoot, "Hurry!"

The not-so-grand, Grand City was the one place Nari had been stuck at for weeks after the war was over. Her damaged ship had needed extensive repairs and to do it with the government gone to hell was arduous indeed. While the ship was repaired, she was left to her own devices to try and stay sane. Well....folks had always wondered about her sanity anyways...so there's no telling if she was sane or not. She'd dealt with fools trying to loot from her ship, had killed more people than she ever cared to admit, and her crew was forced to camp out near the ship. Surviving on fish, game, and the land was really nothing new to her, for she she wasn't entirely Human anyways.

It seemed this place had turned into Hell, and a pirate was just the sort of person to thrive in it. Any injuries she'd sustained were healed up by now and she had basically wandered the forests near the beach where her airship was floating just a short ways off. They'd needed new masts, sails, rigging, food, supplies, a whole ship's worth of stuff. She'd lost crew, had buried them at sea, so everything hadn't been peachy-keen for her. Soul had wandered off to some damned where and she didn't know another soul here...and anyone who probably ever had known her was dead for all she knew. The finishing touches were being done to the ship while she strolled through the forest, probably just to be out for a walk. She was aware there 'new folks' in town, which was partly why she'd kept away from the city itself. "Damned place is just as bad as Dragonia..wars all the damned time." she muttered to herself.

Japshoot shook his head, staring at the portal. There's no way he was going through there! Not first, at least. Japshoot waved at the Almeddans, who had gathered in preperation for the entrance into the frightening portal. It truly was a gateway to hell. Japshoot was lucky enough to overlook the spider webs, the signs of poison in the freshly dead. And luckily, the portal failed to transmit the wailing cries of those living Almeddans in the camp still suffering from bug bites.

"Almeddans! Stop standing around with that dumb look on your faces! Into the gate!" And to reaffirm his authority, Japshoot wielded the commander's paper, the note that gave him authority among Almeddans. It seemed, regardless of his position as 'Magistrate' of Jade City, he was still only a soldier in the House of Evinco. Watching as the Almeddans began lining up and entering the portal, Japshoot studied Zafiro. How long could he keep it open? A minute? Hardly enough time.. Ahh, but this was nothing like the Ripping Gate, was it? This was crude magic.. And so much energy before their eyes was being obliterated. "Remind me to introduce you to a Venefican friend of mine, boy. You've got potential."

"The assassain is going to teach me." The boy said after the Almeddans started going through the portal. The mechanism became more stable as life forms went through it each unknowingly giving a sliver of their life energy to keep the portal stable, a safeguard for those being transported in case the caster was killed. He releases his hand from the mage, the man slumping and panting. The portal shivered. The man, Japshoot, seemed afraid, no wonder Soul had to have been the one to kill the Magistrate.

It just so happened Nari's walk brought her into a crowd, though she was at the edge of it. She wasn't entirely sure what the heck was going on, but it seemed someone had opened some sort of portal. Eyes narrowed slightly as she absently adjusted her hood, even though she knew no one would know her. The long crimson cloak had seen better days, but it served to still conceal her identity.

Pushing into the crowd a bit, she looked over shoulders and heads, around bodies, trying to see what all the hubbub was about. This didn't feel right to her, but then again, things hadn't been right with this realm since she's been here. She kept prepared to draw a weapon if need be, though neither hand was near a weapon that was on her.

Japshoot was beginning to think it might be a better idea to stay behind, here in Jade City. After all, he reasoned with himself, he was Magistrate! He couldn't just leave his duties! A quick cop-out, sure, but Japshoot had copped out worse things. Scowling, he studied the Almeddans as they marched through the gate. There sure were a lot of them! As they flowed like a stream, the crowd seemed to tighten around them. Curiosity had a way of doing that, bringing people closer, just so they can see. Evincans were trying to keep the crowd contained. Might as well let them go for it, Japshoot thought to himself. Then when they see what they're so curious about, they'll all scream and run away! How he wanted to give into such an impulse.. Yet fear itself was not a sign of cowardice, or so he believed. Cowardice was defined by how well one could overcome their very real and understandable fears. Who wouldn't fear death? On the other side of that doorway, Japshoot saw death. So he lingered, arguing mentally with himself about how he should stay put.

The portal wavered once, Zafiro gritting his teeth. "They need to go faster." His fingers were bending on themselves almost covering the gem as his own body tried to stop the flow of energy. His hood blew off his head and the boy almost looked afraid. The portal twisted again spraying the area with a shower of sparks, burning a couple of folks who got to close. The force of Almeddans were more than half way through but the pace was too slow the little slivers of energy weren't fast enough to keep the main integrity of the portal together. The boy was young and this was the third one today, his body felt the toll.

Fear...it could be a powerful thing, but so could other emotions. Nari didn't much care for the crowd tigthening about her, even though she was on the edge of it. She jabbed one fella in the ribs when he got too close. Obviously she didn't like her space invaded by strangers. She wasn't sure this was a good thing and when the two got burned, she frowned. She wanted to extinguish the flames, but that would cause her to reveal her own powers and she didn't want to do that in front of strangers. When she laid eyes on the boy, she could tell he was tiring with the way the portal wavered. So many were coming through and she wondered if anyone even knew of the invaders. She fought to calmly remain at the edge of the crowd, slipping around this one and then another. Seems the 5'3 height gave her advantage of being able to slip through crowds fairly easily.

"ALRIGHT PEOPLE!" Japshoot's voice rang out. "DOUBLE TIME! GO!" The command seemed to carry weight, for the Almeddans ran through the gate with more urgency. It was in part due to the frightening instability of the portal. As Japshoot watched, the destination wavered, moved, then stabilized again before his very eyes. He sighed. If he waited much longer, he'd be branded a coward. Japshoot may have concerns and reservations, but only a fool wouldn't.

Glancing at Zafiro, he shrugged. "If I wait too long, there won't be a door to go through!" Then, committed, the Evincan followed his people through the doorway and into the ruined camp that surrounded the Ripping Gate. Here, thousands of spiders and small black beetles had performed a deadly feat of malicious violence, butchering nearly the entire encampment. Thick storm clouds roiled overhead, and Japshoot noticed on the horizon to the north there was a vortex whirling downwards.

As Japshoot disappeared the portal shattered with a screeching noise similar to metal being torn. The boy slumped next to the mage hands clenched tightly. He stood slowly eying the crowd before running off, he was famished but he still didn't trust anyone in the crowd. His fingers clenched and unclenched his hands felt like they were burning.

--

Acothaein was an Evincan soldier, his massive bulk straining against plates of armor, standing in line to enter the gate. As it snapped shut, he growled. Damn! He was next in line! His vicious eyes wipped towards Zafiro, then the crowd behind, and the Evincan drew his sword with a howl. "You bastards get BACK!!" He screamed at the crowd, waving his blade, and watched with pleased green eyes as they screamed and spread like flies. Of course, he wasn't going to strike anyone, but Acothaein was a man of brute force and he had to take his rage out somehow. His brown eyes whipped towards a nearby woman, Nari. "What, didn't you hear?"

"Fuck me sideways with a barbed mace.." she muttered to herself under the den of noise. An army this big was up to something and she had no idea where anyone else, or what the so called new King was up too, but she couldn't lead these people anywhere near her ship or crew. Something was in her hand and it was quickly swallowed, followed by something else. Whatever the two objects she just swallowed, obviously she didn't want to part with them. Insane as it was, she decided to see what the hell was going on, so the crimson cloaked pirate swapped her cloak around so that the black side would be seen and she kept right on following this bunch. She had no idea where Soul was, and there'd be no one to help her if she got into trouble, but she was used to being on her own anyways.

Then some jerk was screaming, at her no less. Her eyes had shifted to a sapphire blue, which she had done as a simple precaution. She could pretend to be deaf, blind, mentally challenged, limp, or something, but she was eying that sword, thinking of melting it. Tempted, but not yet doing it, she simply stared at the man. He seemed in quite the fine rage. "You've a loud mouth, I heard ya."

Acothaein stopped dead in his tracks, and Nari probably noticed his eyes change color, warping into a cool green as he studied her more carefully. As his gaze moved over her curves, a smile formed on his mouth, but Acothaein's mind returned once more to his impatience at stalling here in Jade, and his eyes snapped back to her face. "Then why don't you.." And just like that, his mind (and eyes) whipped back to those curves of her body, followed by a guilty glance at her face. "Look.. The door's closed, anyways.."

Shifting eyes, that could be good or bad, Nari wasn't sure which yet. She might be small statured and might even look like she couldn't lift anything too heavy, but her crew knew she could pack a punch if need be. Just ask 'em...a couple of 'em were missing teeth cause of her. Beneath that cloak of hers, she wore a shirt that was probably a size too large for her, same for the pants, which was why they were belted a smidge snug, and her shirt tied at the waist in a simple knot. Beneath the shirt was a bustier, which might've been a more vibrant blue at one point. Wars were atrocious on clothing. Rage-filled and impatient, not a good combination. Seeing the way he looked her over, she didn't want to think of the things possibly flickering through his mind. Yeah..he was guilty and horny...also not a good combination.

"So it has." she mused. Bloody hell, she thought. "Don't suppose you could point me in the direction of an inn, could ya? I was looking for one." Was she really? It'd be an excuse to get away from this creep. "I'm just passing through."

Acothaein smiled, the opportunity too obvious to pass up. "I've a lovely place, you can stay there, free of charge. These locals charge enough for a room, you'll get a deal buyin' your own damn house!" Well, maybe he was getting a bit fanciful there. The Evincan sighed, sheathing his sword as he studied the retreating crowd. His eyes had changed color once more, and grey orbs followed the villagers as they dispersed.

"I wasn't always this angry. It's these damn wars.." Frowning, the massive soldier studied Nari carefully. She looked distinctly fugitive, with that defiant glaze to her eyes that guaranteed everything he'd try would go wrong. His only chance was to get her interest. "Say.. You hear anything about this Magistrate and his guards gettin' killed? Rumor has it, a seven foot tall demon slaughtered the whole lot o' them. Well, I heard from a sorcerer buddy of mine that the assassin has acid blood, an' he got attacked by somethin' even worse!"

It was a good thing he'd sheathed that sword. Nari would've had a pistol out and in his face had she needed too. Hopefully he couldn't tell she was armed since she had her cloak pulled about her. He had a place here already? She supposed anything was possible, but she'd heard there were new people in the realm.

"I don't wanna buy no house..least not right now. The war has ruined so much...I've not the funds for building no house." Whether she was fibbing or telling the truth, he could probably tell that somewhat true by the state of her clothes. They were mostly clean, she'd been working earlier to help around the camp. "Oh noo...I did hear. I ain't never seen no giant though.. least not in a really long time. Can't say it was a demonic one or not though...didn't get too close. It was just a giant..one of them ones which lives off in the mountains I think..cause I saw it while gathering water one day." Frowned somewhat. "Acid for blood? Is that even possible?" He had no idea she was a pirate yet...goody.

Acothaein shrugged. "Possible? Likely! Everything's possible in this madhouse." In truth, Acothaein struggled to comprehend the world around him. He'd been born and raised in Almedda, under the great glowing domes that covered each city and protected it from the wasteland outside. This world of sun, clouds, and wildlife was too much for him. Jade was even worse, buried inside a rainforest as it was. "I've seen a giant before, or at least close to one we've got back home." Golden eyes studied the cobblestone road as he spoke. "A massive moving mountain range. She moved every day, a foot at a time. They said before we captured her, the Mountain Worm would move miles in a day.." He sighed. "She's dying now, to feed the shields that protect my home. Almedda is a cruel empire." Suddenly, his eyes shifted colors into a vibrant green, as he studied Nari once more. Single-minded, indeed. "Never mind that. What's you're name?"

Nari seemed to be pondering that and then looked around the 'madhouse' that was Jade. Well, she was outta the frying pan and into the fire now, wasn't she? "I reckon...many things are possible. But acid for blood...I'd think someone would roast from the inside out," she pointed out. His eyes shifted again and she wondered how many colors he could shift them too. Maybe there was a shade of red for rage. "You've giants back home?" A mountain...a moving one. Was she hearing that right? "Almedda...why is it so cruel? Are there lots of wars there like here?" So far she's seen mostly war and people dead, dying, or struggling to survive. A name...she needed a name. Could she give him her real one? Maybe, maybe not. "Ummm...you haven't even told me yours." Yeah..distracting wasn't she.

Acothaein laughed. "My name is Acothaein Fallarbor. Proud Evincan, heavy infantry of the Twenty-Sixth Squadron of Jasker's Peacekeepers." The pride be stated was obvious in his stature, as the massive soldier straightened. "As for Almedda.. She's old. Your world is so young, compared to mine. Seven days happen there, for every day here! And it's always been thus. My world is .. drained. Now, this world, you've got a little too much going on." He glanced briefly at her chest, then his green eyes shifted shades into a predatory black as he noticed a mosquito hovering dangerously close to him. Smack! "I HATE these things!"

That was a mouthful and Nari blinked, thinking she'd never recall it all. Somehow she would. Did she even have that long of a name? Probably not. "I'm not sure how old this world is...but I guess its old enough." Shrugged and continued walking, though couple paces off to the side. His eyes kept drifting to her chest and she eventually peered down, wondering if there something there which shouldn't be. "What...do I have something on me?" She didn't notice anything out of the norm. Hearing the smack, she looked back up and tried not to snicker. "I think its fallen for you."

Acothaein grinned stupidly towards Nari, not knowing what to say. She was sharp as a knife, this one, but the cuts only felt good and left him begging for more. Too bad she wasn't taking the obvious bait. "I think I've fallen for you," he said with a laugh. "Luckily, not everyone's fallen for you!" He pointed, grinning, at her chest.

Nari stopped and just stared at him, her eyes while still sapphire blue, seemed to fill surprise. Either no one has ever admitted those words before, or they have and its only brought heartache. Whichever it was, she looked away before he could hopefully discern which. "Ohh? Or is it just my boobs you've fallen for? You've not taken your lustful eyes off of 'em yet." Sharp and quick-witted she was. "So how long have you and your folks been here? How can you have a home so fast if you've only just recently got here?" she wondered.

Acothaein shrugged. "Lust is only human. The day I ignore it, is the day I stop enjoying life." Sure, he'd said that line before! Actually, he hadn't, but it sounded good and Acothaein was all for that. "Where have you been?! We moved in two days ago. Jasker got the King's permission. And, hey, we're working all day long building a wall for these people. It's only right they give us some shelter." He pointed at a nearby house. "See that? No one's living there. Half this city is wiped out. Jade, it turns out, got hit by a tidal wave. Thank the gods I missed that." The oceans in Almedda were impressively stable, no doubt in part to their destroyed moon, a beautiful ring that circled the night sky. He'd never seen it, of course. To go outside the domes was suicide.

"Almedda, we're here for two reasons. One, food. Two, food. And three.." He glanced at her chest. "Food."

Where had she been? If she told he and his men might swarm her camp and wipe them out for all she knew. Or they might steal all of her supplies and then her crew went without, and then that'd start a hellish fight. "I've been..." Where had she been? "I've been... wandering, surviving." Struggling to, rather. They've pillaged, burned bodies, hunted, fished, stole what they could clothing wise, and day by day, barely managed to survive. "I guess...I've been lost. That forest is so huge...death is everywhere. This world reeks of death." she murmured, tugging her cloak about her a little better. She was sure she looked quite the sight, how could he 'fall' for a pirate lass? When he pointed out the house, she studied it for a long moment, the whole building looking almost alien to her. So many had been destroyed. "Good thing you did...many died."

Acothaein shrugged. "Death is everywhere. We all die. It's a question of if we die in batches, or in slow starts." Grey eyes studied the building for another moment, then shifted to Nari. Acothaein was growing impatient - not entirely because of Nari. He had duties to return to. The Almeddans would be designating tasks, preparing for the opening of the next portal. Soon, he'd march into the frightening scene he'd witnessed so briefly while Zafiro forced open the doorway earlier. After that, he'd never see Nari again. It was such thoughts that inspired his boldness. "It's a shame, when I tell my friends of the defiant princess I met in Jade, I'll have to tell them.. I never got her name."

"Seen too much of it.." she whispered softly. Had too much blood on her hands, the faces were a blur, their screams all garbled together. What would anyone say if they learned she'd been with one of these soldiers? Oh right, no one would ever know. Least she'd keep it that way, even under torturous conditions. "Princess?" At that, she started laughing, not expecting to be called a 'Princess'. "I dare say I'm not a princess, I'm about as far from being a royal as you can get." Staring at the house, she realized a few things. 'Maybe', she could get some food, something to drink, and for once in weeks lie in a soft bed and not on the ground. "I'm no Lady, no princess, nothing of the sort. I'm just me...Nari." And she hoped to the gods she didn't bother worshiping that he had never heard her name...never been to Mystic either.

Acothaein studied Nari, gauging her response. Unfortunately, from his side it was completely impossible to read her expression. The woman was simply beyond him. Luckily, her words helped guide the mystified Acothaein along. "Nari.." A simple name, unlike the one he was cursed to carry. But she was far from simple. She seemed to expect something from him, as if he'd recognize her name and draw his sword in furious indignation. The name meant nothing more to him than the face he saw now, an intriguing mix of danger and adventure that Acothaein had never seen before. Maybe she was up for the challenge. "Did you see what was on the other side of that portal?"

Nari also hoped he had never heard of 'Captain Nari' either.. 'cause she's the one with the airship which had done all that damage during the war. Was she risking a lot? Most likely, but anything she could learn of thier true intentions would surely help someone...if she wasn't walking into some elaborate trap that was. That deeply concerned her of course. There'd be no rescue if she got in trouble. "De`Wyndsor is my last name." Where she got it from, that didn't matter right now. "Aye...I did. Looked like a warzone." Maybe in time he'd be able to read her..she was somewhat of a tough cookie to crumble. "Were those..bugs I saw?"

Acothaein nodded slowly. "From what we've heard, the C'udisk are back. They're creepy insects that we wiped out. But Mai'ka, their God of Shadows, entered this world. Now they say he's got kids! With the Spider Birvuo!" The words didn't have the desired effect, so Acothaein whipped his green eyes down towards her chest. "Do they always puff up like that?"

Nari had never heard of the C`udisk, so they were foreign to her. "Another deity is here? I can't imagine the dieties of this realm would be pleased about that." She didn't know much about any deity..she didn't worship one. "Kids? With who?" Obviously the people he spoke of were unknown to her. When he peered at her chest again, she purposely took a deep breath and made them rise and fall.

"Every time I breathe..or if I wore one of those accursed corsets." She was beginning to wonder if he'd ever been with a woman!

Acothaein nodded, studying her breasts openly. "It's a good look for you." His eyes shifted to her face, a glimmer of red in those deep brown orbs. "Come with me. To .. well.. to the mayhem. I've got no choice, I have to fight whatever's out there. But it looks nasty. I need a local. And a beautiful woman like you around will inspire me to.. you know.. " He shrugged. "Survive." The Almeddans in the distance were calling, an unseen rope, the strands of responsibility and obligation. Zafiro was probably prepared for the second portal. Acothaein waited, his eyes on Nari.

"You think so? You really think these would look good peeking out of a corset? Those damned-able things won't let a woman breathe if strung too tight." Maybe he ought to wear one for a couple hours! "Mayhem...I just endured mayhem with the wars, tidal waves, sea dragons, looters, and the world falling apart. War is always nasty business, so is politics, and all that." She sighed and grabbed his shirt. "There are people out there..some good, some criminals, most of all, they're just trying to survive," she reminded him, hoping it would sink in. "I've been in enough battles to see the horrors and good too." she confessed. "Seems you're my ride out of here.. and you promised me food. I'm starving and not in the mood for a fish dinner."

Acothaein felt a flood of emotions at that moment, from lust and excitement to outrage. How dare she grab him?! And furthermore, what he was going into was no average war! Lives depended on them. The Spider Birvuo, the Corpirians, they all represented a dark and evil faction, a group of death-worshiping warriors from the times of Xezvimhi. Nari, of course, would know little of this. To her, it was only another bloodbath. Then again, she didn't say no, did she? She said she was hungry. Scowling for a moment, Acothaein finally nodded and motioned her forwards.

"This way, my 'princess'." He laughed softly.

Yes, she had dared to grab him and while he struggled with figuring out if he liked it or not, she held his gaze, her sapphire eyes shifting more to a darker blue as she released him. It's not like she hurt the big brute! He was scowling and she frowned wondering if he was really going to be a sourpuss again. "So I'm your 'princess' now? Doesn't that mean I get to have my feet massaged, and all that other 'princess' type stuff?" she teased. Moving along, she tried to emulate that prissy walk those stuck up princesses had, but those infernal boots she wore had seen better days and she nearly lost her footing, but recovered quick enough.

Acothaein grinned, watching her backside as she strutted about. "Sure, if you do that a little more often!" A man could get used to some eye candy, when all he saw was burly men with swords arguing about battle tactics. The Evincan life wasn't as glorious as the poets would have people believe, and Acothaein could attest to that. A smile still on his face, he waved Nari over towards a building. "Almedda's finest dining hall, my lady." The place was hardly better than a shack. Luckily, there was the smell of cooking within as a grey eyed old man worked at the stove.

Nari stopped that silly prissy walk and returned to normal saunter, that gentle swagger, which for those who recognized it, it was proof she was used to boats and airships. Hopefully none of these other men were ogling her, but if they were, all they'd see was heading for that shack. She wasn't sure what was being cooked up, but she flicked a strand of flame-hued hair from her eyes. "Any idea what he's making?" she wondered, hoping it wasn't fish.

Acothaein grumbled. "More horse." At least, he hoped. Really, considering the extreme wilderness of Jade City, he didn't know what to expect. Almeddan cooks were known for their resourcefulness. Entering the crowded room, Acothaein studied the old man. "What's for dinner?"

The man grinned towards him. "It' brekfa's."

"Ohh. Right." Acothaein nodded. "What's for breakfast?"

The old man smiled, wielding a pot laden with beans and meat. "Dinnah!"

"Horse? You like to eat horse?" Nari didn't know too many who did like it, she supposed it was an acquired taste. Peeking at the stew pot, she tried to discern the scent of the stew. "Beans...what sorta meat?" she asked, looking to the old man. The room was really crowded, and she hoped she didn't draw a whole of attention.

The old man grinned. "Ain't no human meat, leas' I think!" He scowled at Acothaein, who lifted his hands defensively.

"I swear, only was one time, and the bastard deserved it. Don't give me that look!" Then he cautiously took the offered plate and began sinking his teeth into the bizarre but edible concoction. Pausing for a moment, he glanced at Nari. "Oh. Another one, for the lady!" The response had bowls raising left and right, but Acothaein skillfully found the fresh one from the old man and passed it along. "If there's monkey in there, it's delicious, he pointed out.

Now Nari wasn't sure she wanted to try the old man's cooking. "Wait...you put a person in a stew pot? Whatever did he do to deserve that?" It had to have been something horrible. Tentatively taking the plate, she sniffed at it and then eyed all the other offered ones. "Ummm...thanks, got one." Moving to sit across from him, since everyone else was a stranger to her, she wrinkled her nose. "Monkey? I don't think I've ever had monkey before."

Acothaein smiled towards Nari. "Now where's your sense of adventure? You know, all mammals taste alike." He took a bite. "They all taste like chicken. Which just so happens to be a bird." Another bite. "Way I look at it, if I was starving, which I damn near am, I'd eat anything that doesn't put up a fight, which this isn't. Same reason I wouldn't eat you." He glanced at the table, which conveniently concealed her waist. "I take that back." Pausing for a moment, Acothaein reached out for a goblet of some local crap they called wine. Even worse than wine was an empty goblet, and Acothaein stared at the barren cup for several minutes. His eyes lifted and landed on Nari, serious grey-green orbs locked on hers. "You should sleep. Up above, there are cots.. I.. I'll go find someone to get me more wine." His face shifted as confusion struck the Evincan. "Will you come with me, Nari? Or.." He could not finish the sentence. Suddenly, he felt like fighting.

"I've found that each animal has its own unique flavors, and can taste quite scrumptious with the proper spices." Chuckled still and supposed she'd have to have him try some of her cooking one day. "Oh you wouldn't huh? So if we stuck in the depths of the mountains, snowed in for a couple weeks, you wouldn't think I started looking tasty?" Seeing his empty cup, she looked to see if there was something available to drink. "I never took you for a guy who liked wine." Something was going on in that head of his..he was confused. "Are you alright?" Hunger won and she tried the stew, hoping she wouldn't scoop up an eyeball or something like that. "Aye..I'll come with you."

Acothaein winked at Nari. "You look tasty already." After she admitted that she would come with him, the Evincan was suddenly all smiles, his worries gone. His confusion, a derivative of his lust and growing affection towards Nari, was cleared away. For once, his objective and his desires lined up, side by side, and it was a nice feeling. "Good." Smiling broadly, Acothaein took another deep bite of the meal, hoping there wasn't any mice this time. Yeah, things were turning out alright. "I'll wake you when we're ready to go."