No thanks to the Gantronese Invaders all sorts of alien creatures and monsters poured into the territories they occupied. Along the southern coasts of Hadoras rested a city known as Ashan Thalore suffered an intrusive invasion by these alien creatures. The Gantronese offered to keep these "allies" of their's under control in exchange for any information on other humanoids who landed here. It came to no surprise to Scholar and Master of the Eastern Sector Glanr Zalim-al Chetti the Gantronese wanted intelligence on other humanoids from other worlds. Yet it did surprise him how they called for fewer troops from them. Due to his status, and rank within the city he learned the true reasons behind Hadoras joining this Grand Empire. To the north rested Kyria, and Kharmalla who fell to the Nazdar. For Orcs, Half-Orcs, Goblins, and Humans in one area to fall like that made one shudder. Who knew what type of threat they would pose with alien weapons and unity on their side. Hadoras' ruling Sagecons chose to join these Gantronese for protection. That did not bode well with their Chieftains, Viziers, and Mages. Calling themselves "friends" to the Gantronese sounded more like slave to Glanr's eyes and ears. As he went through the organized shelf of bamboo scrolls someone entered his office-study. Glanr expected more than one visitor once or twice a week. He had his own Apprentice Tennuu Algahd Chetti Sah to mind the door way at times. Tennu is a youth of about eleven he adopted from the Unknown Lands near Mulzan. He had two other apprentices a Zema Ilam girl who appears to becoming a powerful Mage, and a young eunuch whose body was shaven and kept from growing hair. The Zema Ilam girl had an older female companion he impregnated recently. Although he was married he was allowed to have such luxuries. As for the bald boy he wanted to mold him into becoming a battle mage.
"Do you believe or suppose Bolith, and Novaris would join this Grand Empire like Hadoras did?" a familiar voice spoke from the doorway. Glanr turned his head to see a tall, strong, Forsythan Woman he usually hired as a bodyguard or hired help as he called it. She either went on quests, errands, intimidation checks with dead beats, and trained little Ikka the bald boy in combat.
"Ingrid Kyziir the Forsythan Inquisitor and Guild Master? I thought you gave up on killing evil monstrosities?" Glanr greeted her with a sarcastic tone to show he was please to see her again.
"Legions of the Badger needed a second Guild Master who showed the ropes to raw recruits. I see you are still dabbling in the dark magical realms, and ancient occultist practices." She pointed out taking a seat on a stool with a dark magic text on a tall book stand, he was copying.
"You know me I am a Scholar and a _"
"A mage." she finished for him.
"Yes that is true, however I am not going to take over the whole world. The Gantronese and their Nazdar counter parts have seen to that!" Glanr tried to keep his voice low enough to avoid unwanted attention.
"No one is accusing you of that! Besides the invaders sorry, the new arrivals of Calorn, are making deals with an ancient enemy of the very people I belong to. So what is this about a contact of yours going missing?" Ingrid folded her arms letting a long black braided hair drape over her right arm.
"I know Ingrid. You see for the past several months I keep losing agents, adventurers, scavengers, and rogues near the sewers along the waterfront. Could you go to these sewers and find out what has happened to them?" Glanr explained to Ingrid what happened, but not why he sent them down there.
"So why did you bother sending what like twenty souls you paid to go down there? Was it for some artifact you could have picked up yourself?" Ingrid asked him curious as to what he wanted down there in the first place.
"Something like that, look Ingrid I am a Scholar now!" Glanr snapped at her holding up a finger in a warning position.
"Artifacts keep evading the mighty Chetti the War Mage. You were known to the Guilds' enemies as Death's Tongue. During the last battle with the Greenheart Cults scores of those plant humping fools died by your hand. Oh, I see you are teaching three pupils to create your own sect of the Arcane Guilds." She said looking at him.
"New members of the Guild not a new sect. I intend to introduce each one to the Guilds." Glanr said with a grin on his face.
"Okay I will see to it then." Ingrid accepted his request to find out that happened to his people and kill whatever was responsible.
She left he Mage's home with a bow to him and a pat on Tennu's head. Her own apprentices stood outside waiting in the shade of the front porch. One apprentice was known as Arnier Gorig Sundagger. A lad of sixteen years of age, Arnier's parents died when he was a toddler. Both his parents being an Elf, and Estati (hybrid mix between Elf and Forsythan), which his elf ears, and marking on his neck show. Next to him was a young adult female dark elf with a hood over her white hair. Endril Curzo wore the long poncho with the hood over the usual tunic and rogue-duelist outfit. Each apprentice showed promise yet both had their flaws. Endril was nimble, quick and light in her motions, yet arrogant and boastful. Arnier was strong, smart, and skilled with every weapon in an arsenal. However he was a bit myopic, showing lack of foresight and narrow view of things.
"Alright you two come with me to the waterfront sewers." Ingrid told them with a lesson in mind for them.
"To the wastes of this city?" Endril protested, but knew her master gave her no option. She was Ingrid's apprentice, pupil, and student. Ingrid acted as a contractor for the Guild along with other members. She was training two younger recruits and children of the deceased members. A sharp look and disciplining eyes forced her arrogance back to the back of her thoughts.
"Yes Master." Endril said removing any protests from her thought process.
"What are we going after, trolls?" Arnier asked Ingrid eager to fight something. She could have sworn Arnier would probably kill a whole nest of creatures by mistake if let loose and no supervision.
"We do not know yet. All I have gathered is that Mage Glanr sent some people to retrieve an artifact and none of them came back." Ingrid replied to him. She tousled his head even though it was covered by a brimless cap.
Without a single word Ingrid Kyziir led her two apprentices through the lower streets of Ashan Thalore. As a trio they stuck together because the last city they were in nearly resulted in a companion getting abducted and held captive. It took all three of them with aid from Gantron servant soldiers to rescue her. Izra Darek, an Actress, and famous duelist who got sick of city life decided to join Ingrid and her two apprentices. She like a loud mouthed Zedirian, which were rare in this part of the world. Izra caught herself in a bad situation that almost resulted in her being sold to three Buccaneers from Mulzan. To avoid another incident like Shylla Thalore, they left Izra with a Loremaster who occupied her time with various tales of these regions.
It did not take very long to find the waterfront, which was located next to some docks and the port of the main city. Against the very edges of the Midatone Cliffs the port city rested comfortably with natural barriers and caves for defensive purposes. One of those caves may have been connected to the sewers some how. Ingrid spotted the large mouth like entrance to the sewers Glanr mentioned. A team of dead explorers lay rotting away to the bones. They looked like creatures from some nightmarish horror story with the flesh still wrapped thinly around the skeletons. Not even fazed by the appearance of these dead fools Ingrid pressed on.
Leading two of her own personal pupils Ingrid had them light lanterns to show the way in the dark. Along portions of the pipe walls were slots for torches, which remained empty or unlit. Ingrid lit each one as they passed one as best they could until they reached a cavern with water in the center. Nothing but rats, and more dead souls occupied the edges. A few snakes were also present just for the rats. Bugs also crawled all over the walls no bigger than a finger. She ignored all this and found tunnels leading further into the sewers and well bellow the main city. Her eyes focused on the ground knowing what ever killed Glanr's people would strike at any moment. They came to a larger cavern that appeared more natural than the usual brick walled or pipe lined walls. Covered in skeletons, swords, gear, guns, other weapons, armor, travelling gear, and other belongings this cavern also had eight large holes. Large bodies of water dotted the floor. She was here.
Ingrid drew her trusty Morning Star, which she had on her back beside the Round Axe she often used. Whatever type of creatures they were going to fight had claws and pincers plus a shell. She intentionally let her footfalls step all over the bones making as much noise as possible. Ingrid had her pupils prepare themselves and to toss some bones into the bodies of water. Each one drew their weapon. Arnier unraveled his halberd which he used as a walking staff. Endril drew her scimitars, but Ingrid shook her head forcing her to draw the retractable spear she carried. Both of them forged their own weapons using the strongest steels, and metals and placed wood in the center for the look. Movement from three large ponds could be seen as three lobster looking creatures submerged. Ingrid grabbed a weapon off the ground and chunked it at the largest one. Not the best course of action, however she wanted to damage it before it could use its claws properly. She had seen this type of creature before along the shores of Nymres, and the Vullanese islands. How one let alone three got here was beyond her knowledge.
All three spotted their intruders and possible meals. Like any monster they pressed forward. Claws came first yet made an easy target for a mace wielding monster slayer like Ingrid. She crushed two of the creature's claws while her pupils moved on the flanks of these creatures. With all their might the students of hers speared at the underbelly of the monsters. Like she had shown them and practiced her apprentices punctured the underbelly of two of these creatures. Her own target had friends which she had to parry away and block using a leg bone. Using both Ingrid managed to crush one of the creature's heads when she pushed a claw down. It shrieked and retreated back letting its flanked brethren attack her. Due to the halberd and spear the other two lost blood from puncture holes. They turned around to attack the pupils exposing their backs which Ingrid went for. She jumped on the closest one's back. With all her might she bludgeoned the face of the creature. Arnier did not hesitate to go for the other one that retreated. He charged with his halberd impaling the head and face. Endril's target wobbled on its legs because of the injuries. It slowly fell on the floor letting out squeaks of pain and suffering. The Dark elf paused watching it suffer with a hint of pity in her eyes.
"Kill It Endril! It has caused too many deaths already!" Ingrid barked at her ripping any thoughts of letting this thing live because of a small squeak. Endril did as he Master commanded and drove the spear into the face of the creature. With a crunch she killed it driving the spear wear the brain was. She tore the spear from the corpse. Arnier had to kick and pull the halberd out with help from his Master.
"Never use the halberd as a charging lance again. Now let's collect our reward." She suggested. Ingrid looked around pondering over something.
"Sverx it, fill up your bags and coin purses. Let's leave almost nothing for these Ashan scum to loot." Like any adventurer, explorer, pirate, buccaneer, treasure hunter, or rogue would the trio collected as much as they could before heading back to Glanr's for the reward.
"Do you believe or suppose Bolith, and Novaris would join this Grand Empire like Hadoras did?" a familiar voice spoke from the doorway. Glanr turned his head to see a tall, strong, Forsythan Woman he usually hired as a bodyguard or hired help as he called it. She either went on quests, errands, intimidation checks with dead beats, and trained little Ikka the bald boy in combat.
"Ingrid Kyziir the Forsythan Inquisitor and Guild Master? I thought you gave up on killing evil monstrosities?" Glanr greeted her with a sarcastic tone to show he was please to see her again.
"Legions of the Badger needed a second Guild Master who showed the ropes to raw recruits. I see you are still dabbling in the dark magical realms, and ancient occultist practices." She pointed out taking a seat on a stool with a dark magic text on a tall book stand, he was copying.
"You know me I am a Scholar and a _"
"A mage." she finished for him.
"Yes that is true, however I am not going to take over the whole world. The Gantronese and their Nazdar counter parts have seen to that!" Glanr tried to keep his voice low enough to avoid unwanted attention.
"No one is accusing you of that! Besides the invaders sorry, the new arrivals of Calorn, are making deals with an ancient enemy of the very people I belong to. So what is this about a contact of yours going missing?" Ingrid folded her arms letting a long black braided hair drape over her right arm.
"I know Ingrid. You see for the past several months I keep losing agents, adventurers, scavengers, and rogues near the sewers along the waterfront. Could you go to these sewers and find out what has happened to them?" Glanr explained to Ingrid what happened, but not why he sent them down there.
"So why did you bother sending what like twenty souls you paid to go down there? Was it for some artifact you could have picked up yourself?" Ingrid asked him curious as to what he wanted down there in the first place.
"Something like that, look Ingrid I am a Scholar now!" Glanr snapped at her holding up a finger in a warning position.
"Artifacts keep evading the mighty Chetti the War Mage. You were known to the Guilds' enemies as Death's Tongue. During the last battle with the Greenheart Cults scores of those plant humping fools died by your hand. Oh, I see you are teaching three pupils to create your own sect of the Arcane Guilds." She said looking at him.
"New members of the Guild not a new sect. I intend to introduce each one to the Guilds." Glanr said with a grin on his face.
"Okay I will see to it then." Ingrid accepted his request to find out that happened to his people and kill whatever was responsible.
She left he Mage's home with a bow to him and a pat on Tennu's head. Her own apprentices stood outside waiting in the shade of the front porch. One apprentice was known as Arnier Gorig Sundagger. A lad of sixteen years of age, Arnier's parents died when he was a toddler. Both his parents being an Elf, and Estati (hybrid mix between Elf and Forsythan), which his elf ears, and marking on his neck show. Next to him was a young adult female dark elf with a hood over her white hair. Endril Curzo wore the long poncho with the hood over the usual tunic and rogue-duelist outfit. Each apprentice showed promise yet both had their flaws. Endril was nimble, quick and light in her motions, yet arrogant and boastful. Arnier was strong, smart, and skilled with every weapon in an arsenal. However he was a bit myopic, showing lack of foresight and narrow view of things.
"Alright you two come with me to the waterfront sewers." Ingrid told them with a lesson in mind for them.
"To the wastes of this city?" Endril protested, but knew her master gave her no option. She was Ingrid's apprentice, pupil, and student. Ingrid acted as a contractor for the Guild along with other members. She was training two younger recruits and children of the deceased members. A sharp look and disciplining eyes forced her arrogance back to the back of her thoughts.
"Yes Master." Endril said removing any protests from her thought process.
"What are we going after, trolls?" Arnier asked Ingrid eager to fight something. She could have sworn Arnier would probably kill a whole nest of creatures by mistake if let loose and no supervision.
"We do not know yet. All I have gathered is that Mage Glanr sent some people to retrieve an artifact and none of them came back." Ingrid replied to him. She tousled his head even though it was covered by a brimless cap.
Without a single word Ingrid Kyziir led her two apprentices through the lower streets of Ashan Thalore. As a trio they stuck together because the last city they were in nearly resulted in a companion getting abducted and held captive. It took all three of them with aid from Gantron servant soldiers to rescue her. Izra Darek, an Actress, and famous duelist who got sick of city life decided to join Ingrid and her two apprentices. She like a loud mouthed Zedirian, which were rare in this part of the world. Izra caught herself in a bad situation that almost resulted in her being sold to three Buccaneers from Mulzan. To avoid another incident like Shylla Thalore, they left Izra with a Loremaster who occupied her time with various tales of these regions.
It did not take very long to find the waterfront, which was located next to some docks and the port of the main city. Against the very edges of the Midatone Cliffs the port city rested comfortably with natural barriers and caves for defensive purposes. One of those caves may have been connected to the sewers some how. Ingrid spotted the large mouth like entrance to the sewers Glanr mentioned. A team of dead explorers lay rotting away to the bones. They looked like creatures from some nightmarish horror story with the flesh still wrapped thinly around the skeletons. Not even fazed by the appearance of these dead fools Ingrid pressed on.
Leading two of her own personal pupils Ingrid had them light lanterns to show the way in the dark. Along portions of the pipe walls were slots for torches, which remained empty or unlit. Ingrid lit each one as they passed one as best they could until they reached a cavern with water in the center. Nothing but rats, and more dead souls occupied the edges. A few snakes were also present just for the rats. Bugs also crawled all over the walls no bigger than a finger. She ignored all this and found tunnels leading further into the sewers and well bellow the main city. Her eyes focused on the ground knowing what ever killed Glanr's people would strike at any moment. They came to a larger cavern that appeared more natural than the usual brick walled or pipe lined walls. Covered in skeletons, swords, gear, guns, other weapons, armor, travelling gear, and other belongings this cavern also had eight large holes. Large bodies of water dotted the floor. She was here.
Ingrid drew her trusty Morning Star, which she had on her back beside the Round Axe she often used. Whatever type of creatures they were going to fight had claws and pincers plus a shell. She intentionally let her footfalls step all over the bones making as much noise as possible. Ingrid had her pupils prepare themselves and to toss some bones into the bodies of water. Each one drew their weapon. Arnier unraveled his halberd which he used as a walking staff. Endril drew her scimitars, but Ingrid shook her head forcing her to draw the retractable spear she carried. Both of them forged their own weapons using the strongest steels, and metals and placed wood in the center for the look. Movement from three large ponds could be seen as three lobster looking creatures submerged. Ingrid grabbed a weapon off the ground and chunked it at the largest one. Not the best course of action, however she wanted to damage it before it could use its claws properly. She had seen this type of creature before along the shores of Nymres, and the Vullanese islands. How one let alone three got here was beyond her knowledge.
All three spotted their intruders and possible meals. Like any monster they pressed forward. Claws came first yet made an easy target for a mace wielding monster slayer like Ingrid. She crushed two of the creature's claws while her pupils moved on the flanks of these creatures. With all their might the students of hers speared at the underbelly of the monsters. Like she had shown them and practiced her apprentices punctured the underbelly of two of these creatures. Her own target had friends which she had to parry away and block using a leg bone. Using both Ingrid managed to crush one of the creature's heads when she pushed a claw down. It shrieked and retreated back letting its flanked brethren attack her. Due to the halberd and spear the other two lost blood from puncture holes. They turned around to attack the pupils exposing their backs which Ingrid went for. She jumped on the closest one's back. With all her might she bludgeoned the face of the creature. Arnier did not hesitate to go for the other one that retreated. He charged with his halberd impaling the head and face. Endril's target wobbled on its legs because of the injuries. It slowly fell on the floor letting out squeaks of pain and suffering. The Dark elf paused watching it suffer with a hint of pity in her eyes.
"Kill It Endril! It has caused too many deaths already!" Ingrid barked at her ripping any thoughts of letting this thing live because of a small squeak. Endril did as he Master commanded and drove the spear into the face of the creature. With a crunch she killed it driving the spear wear the brain was. She tore the spear from the corpse. Arnier had to kick and pull the halberd out with help from his Master.
"Never use the halberd as a charging lance again. Now let's collect our reward." She suggested. Ingrid looked around pondering over something.
"Sverx it, fill up your bags and coin purses. Let's leave almost nothing for these Ashan scum to loot." Like any adventurer, explorer, pirate, buccaneer, treasure hunter, or rogue would the trio collected as much as they could before heading back to Glanr's for the reward.
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