How in the hells did they lose the Iperantosi Isles? He thought to himself. No one should be able to defeat the Gantronese like that. In his mind Zal-Oharad tried to comprehend how the Vestrisians and their allies managed to take the Iperantosi Islands. The Iperantosi were closely allied to the Gantronese for various reasons. Today he caught whiff of something else. Now word came to him about V.U.V.R. forces and Calornese Coalition forces pressed from the south. Between north to south he had nowhere else to go but west. Yet those areas belonged to some other faction called the C.S.O. or another calling itself the Order of the Beast. Bearing down on his position was likely a platoon or a company of troops according to himself. As long as none of them were Zhenrai Zal-Oharad, outlaw to Meze, was mostly safe. Playing with his small, pointed beard he wondered why information did not come to him sooner. He was left blind about these events. Crosello should have warned him. That half breed spawn had one job, keeping him informed about the Iperantosi and these platform islands. He wasn't involved there, but knew the conducts.
Iperantosi ruling class and rulers permitted him to visit or probe their dealings with other city-states. Zal felt haunted by the sudden betrayal of the city-states the Iperantosi traded with. City-states of Oramatra, Oceanrest Var, Kilscar Orvain, Waikun, Rednight Fangsir, Carighil Ait, Anghai, ancient Hestapo, Old Morragaine, Nagabiro, Masat, Lahanor, Menwuhr, Dremmud, and Doclas. Tools of oppression were no doubt used in the propaganda by the Calornese allies. With his network of spies Zal-Oharad still felt awestruck and confused over independent states still clinging to life. He knew there were more than just the ones he became concerned over. Inside his eleven-story tower Zal-Oharad sat in his Den and living room listening to music played in the corner. His own personal musician, a Demon-Elf female played for him with her Viola. Named Senaath the illusionist, summoner, former Beautician, this Demon-Elf hybrid performed other tasks for him. She wore a tiered dress of silver over her own purple blue skin. His eyes wandered all over her body with some desires rising inside. Senaath's exposed lower legs, arms, neck, and face still aroused him. Zal-Oharad barely touched her since he already had a few concubines living with him or visited. She was more of a pleasure to be hold, and his personal servant of relaxation. Turning away from her to the metallic window he spotted a group of humanoids approaching his island from the southwest.
Grabbing his looking glass, he counted more than fifty dinosaur humanoids with sail spines. Possessing the appearances of an upright reptilian these red, sand scaled humanoids spread out on the beach heading towards the towers. Checking these humanoids out in a concerned manner Zal noticed these sail spined reptiles wielded weapons. Most donned a helmet meant for their head's shape. In their hands he spotted halberds, blood shovels, spears, longswords, sabers, rapier, battle axes, crossbow like weapons, glaive, machetes and poleaxes. In his gut he assumed these humanoids were after him over something. As a wizard banned in Meze, outlawed in Nahem, he enjoyed conducting illegal experiments. Perhaps these humanoids were after him because of one of his many experiments Zal sent outward. Nonetheless he watched the band approach his island from another that was close enough to combine both islands into one. His thoughts ran straight to the multiple guards, retainers, hirelings, and henchmen under his command. Twelve war forged clerics, thieves, fighters, four bards, half elf cleric, Orc fighter, Mad Knight, Gantronese Trooper, Angry Trapper, three pirates, Retoriam Knight, three Mezeen outlaws, and his crab spider humanoid experiment. Just twenty-nine minions, one informant spy, eight Gnoll Hunters, one trusted Oni-Triclops with four arms kept twenty-three peasants, eighteen servants, twenty-seven slaves under Zal's control. Living inside a tower sixteen stories high, Zal-Oharad's dwelling stood with a village sized settlement of metal buildings. Out of boredom one day he counted how many buildings on the island he turned into his own dwelling. Ninety-seven metal hexagonal structures, twenty towers standing at three or four stories semi-encircled his main tower. Calling it Coercion's Paradise Zal-Oharad's dwelling dug itself on an island wedged against the borders of the so-called platform seas. Behind his few islands lay the Wall of Ruined Souls made from countless shipwrecks. Cut off from the eastern parts by this long wall of shipwrecks offered some limited defense.
Still watching the band of fifty sail spined reptilians the wizard witnessed thirty-eight reptilians go down. His guards, hirelings, and henchmen had opened fire using the modern rifles he acquired from the Gantronese via the Iperantosi. About twenty-five or so still stood to return fire with a handful of crossbow wielders left. Zal-Oharad's heart skipped a beat as their bowmen returned fire. He could not afford to lose any of these retainers, guards, and hirelings. Now that the Vestrisians, and Calornese Alliance cut him off from the north. The only way to replace the lost henchmen now would mean convincing any attackers, or adventurers. Gripping the windowsill Zal watched another volley from his hirelings break the sail spined formation. Whoever was left routed from his island. Turning his attention away from the scene he observed the other islands to the west of his own. Towers made from metal alloys that seemed resistant to rust from rainwater, and the rising sea current at night. From his window he counted forty-eight of these alien towers that became either abandoned or homes of various people. Iperantosi made their homes inside hundreds of these types of structures south of their main islands.
"Master, I bring news from the Gantronese. Plus, someone wishes to join your army." A too familiar voice creeped up from the opposite end of the room.
Crosello stood in the doorway hiding behind the partially open door. The four-foot-tall cat looking humanoid with a slight hunch in his back peered from behind the opened door. Crosello appeared almond skinned with various bumps, warts, and scars on his body. He covered his body with a light blue tunic under a worn leathery sea fleece like shawl. Zal's eyes and ears revealed himself fully to his master. Studying him Zal could tell he just arrived on his hovercraft boat. The smell of the waters, and sands wafted off his body. It did not bother Zal just that he did not bother to clean himself up before coming to him.
"Crosello, what is the news first?" He demanded from the half-breed.
"Gantronese forces are on their way. They should be here in our location in eight or nine days." Crosello answered him with a slight bow. His Gantronese Noshima Cap covered his balding spot. Only the Gantronese symbol was missing on the cap these alien humanoids arrived with.
"Under whose command? Wait never mind that who wants to join me?" Zal-Oharad asked his spy.
"Waiting downstairs in the entry hall. My Master." Crosello replied.
"Have your treat and gift." Zal said referring to another figure in the room. An Iperantosi female by the name of Farah sat in a chair waiting to be used.
Leaving the spy to his gift for service the Wizard summoned Senaath to follow him down. Descending the tower Zal passed through five other levels before reaching the main entrance. Under his Den and Living Room lay the Kitchens, Dining Room, Mess Hall, Lounge Area, the Main Entrance, and the basement. In his Entrance level of the tower a female Drow waited for him. A pair of his guards stood by the entrance way blocking her way in. As a gesture of hospitality for those who waited there Zal set up a small comfy chair stool. The main entrance hall was decorated with tapestries, old wizard staffs, various weapons, looted furniture, intact vases, some portraits. Whoever this Drow was she wore a set of studded leathery armor, which did appear outdated in this era of machinery. Yet it looked somewhat modern in appearance. She may or may not possess the desirable body, but that is not why he wanted to hire her. When he approached, she stood up from her seat. Zal paid no attention to her body just her head. A single bleach colored braid wrapped around her neck. On her Shadow skin face this Drow or Dark Elf had a red tattoo depicting a curved dagger going across her nose and cheeks.
Following through with his usual routine of recruitment, Zal demanded her name and business. Akos Karzos came to his islands in search of work. She was not alone apparently. One pirate ruffian Captain (Crimdellacrim) who commanded thirty-six pirates, four humanoid pilots, Clan Wolfman, Uxane Cloud Rider, Faun Archer, Oni-Orc Hybrid, a half-elf half orc necromancer, Green skinned Captain with a crew waiting on northern shore, and Berserker Fiend Spawn. Learning the names of these twelve other recruits to his small army would take time. Yet he did get the names of the pilots and Captains. Being the Host Zal felt obligated to show them around. When he began his tour, his main guards came forward with nineteen of the reptilians who wanted to join him. Adding more to the thirty-seven-man gang, Zal estimated one hundred four in his head until the Uxane, and Green Skinned Captain spoke up. The Uxane brought one hundred-twenty-three renegade, brigand, and Uxane prowlers. As for the Green Captain a crew of five-hundred-six manned a Juggernaut Steamship constructed from different ships.
This gave Zal a small army, but it did not answer his question on how many he lost. On the next day he checked his own gang who forced some captured sailors, and pilots to fight the reptilians. A dozen pilots, and castaways found themselves near his island then made into human shields. Pleased by intact condition of his original gang Zal went ahead with plans of expanding to the other islands. Claiming twenty-eight towers, thirty-one islands, Zal's forces increased along with his personal domain. A total force of 1,103 were under his command. Thanks to some smuggled shipments from Crimdellacrim his forces wielded new rifles, and pistols that gave them the edge. Plus the pirates' Bark-Schooner with its eight main culverins, four breech loading swivel guns, gatling gun, and nine various machine guns outmatched the defenders. Seizing those islands granted him the slaves, and servants of the so called CSO, and Order of the Beast groups claiming parts of the platform seas. About two hundred or more servants, and slaves came under his control to manage the other islands as usual. This all occurred over the course of eight days during which more came to serve Zal-Oharad. A lone Warlock joined him to avoid the Calornese forces hunting him. Some man believed to write witchcraft and spells chose hiding out with him from Grussian Authorities. On the eighth day of his successes the Gantronese arrived. Under the command of a Daimyo's Officer Colonel Roshin Oppai Koijini a large team or unit of eighty soldiers, the small company made themselves at home on a tower island north of his position. Having arrived on a captured Sloop that once belonged to an elf faction that resisted Gantronese advances to little avail.
Daimyo Colonel Oppai-Koijini entered Zal's main hall entrance with two Gantronese Guards, a female Oni bodyguard, a red skinned Oni, Orc Slave Warrior, and a gorgeous looking specimen of a Black Mage. Donning all back with cleavage exposed this Black Mage wore a control collar around her neck with the words "Gift from the Nazdar" on it. Zal found it strange for a Gantronese possess a humanoid as a certain pet or slave like this. Yet here Daimyo Captain Oppai-Koijini was with his military fatigues-uniform mix, his balding head, grown scar marks, slits where the nose would be, usual cap, and fleshy tentacle-tendril beard on his face. His large black soulless eyes fixed themselves on Zal-Oharad himself. Those eyes said the light gray-green skinned humanoid was not pleased at all or was holding a serious stature.
"Iperantos is completely lost to those damned Calornese Coalition forces. My sources tell me the Vestrisians want to stop there for now. Once they have defeated our forces in the Unknown Lands, it is likely they will resume their campaign westward. Our Nazdar Allies are clinging on to territory in the north, but are failing miserably." Oppai-Koijini pointed out to him. Roshin's bodyguards stood firm while the Black Mage shifted uncomfortably while keeping her gaze away from everyone else in the room.
"Islands in this Platform Seas have fallen to other factions. The Chaotic Surprise Oligarchy, Order of the Beast, some Intergalactic Coalition and a Toceanid Alliance have claimed most of the southern islands." Zal reported to the Gantronese Officer. He may have been a Lord or Overlord of this expanded domain, but that was still outranked even by a Gantronese Officer. He glanced over at his informants, Crosello, Captain Gadill the Green skinned turncoat to the CSO, and the wolfman Rolayne. All were quiet in the presence of the Gantronese. Each one held an expression that expected Oppai-Koijini to kill them.
"The fate of Iperantosi will be the same fate as those islands and the Marfej Isles to west of here if we do not move quickly. Some islands of the Marfej have already been invaded, but by smaller forces than what we're about to face. A fleet of 956 Junk ships carrying two hundred eighty-six thousand eight hundred men are on their way. I do not know what size force we are facing, but your current army better be willing to kill their own." Oppai-Koijini pointed out like it was some sort of warning to Zal-Oharad. The Wizard did not want to anger his Gantronese Masters. Even though he was a powerful wizard the Gantronese were known to send someone who could deal with uncooperative figures with powers. He watched the Gantronese Officer grapple the Black Mage then fondled her in front of others. Roshin forced her to kiss him as his beard violated her in places. Without any words the Gantronese left Zal-Oharad for his new Head Quarters north of Zal's domain.
To his surprise the Gantronese left him a few Nezero 64 Cannons on two wheels to use on the battlefield. Zal-Oharad's main henchman, Akos received a Katana forged from some mysterious alloy not known to Calorn. Due to her skills in the field, and commanding force he named his second in command. Both of them sat outside the tower over a meal fixed for them. In refurbished and restored chairs from wreckage the pair conversed over the oncoming campaign. She continued to lead smaller parties further south into what he called the unknown to their current maps. Akos confronted a mind controlling Wraith Figure lurking on another island southwest of his position. The Dark Elf did not look pleased despite her victory two days prior to this meal, and the loot she scored afterwards.
"Despite claiming another island with a tower for yourself, treasures, along with his thralls you are disturbed by something. What is it?" Zal-Oharad asked her while adding the Ninja Spawn, Four Purple Goblinoids, thirty-Six Cultists, thirty-four Githyanki (Gold Skinned Astrals), twenty-one Skeletal Humanoids, five Snake Demons, three Lizardfolk, four Mousling thralls, two Molorcs, and dozen Dwarfs. She had to face an army of Wraith like figures, or more like humanoids dressed like them.
"Crex, used to be a member of a Dark Elf Assassin Syndicate called Onyx Phantom or Madam Onyxas Syndicate. Before the invaders came down from the stars the Onyx Phantom's ranks fluctuated between one hundred thirty and one hundred fifty. We performed hits, assassinations, sabotage, burglary, and espionage for kingdoms. Membership only permitted Dark Elves or Drow for centuries. To expand our network the Syndicate allowed non-Drow membership. The likes of Crex, a half Drow half Illithid spawn joined the Syndicate with a sickening desire to raise the dead for assassinations. He and a grouping of outside followers captured various humanoids for experiments turned them into either zombified creatures or mutated them to resemble wraiths. When the Drow Councils found out that is the ones who maintained communication with the non-Drow societies his influence grew too strong. Yet with help from Zhenrai Knights we were able to eliminate most of his followers, fix most of the damage. Crex fled deep into the south. For many years I travelled Calorn on the hunt." Akos looked to be done telling her tail until he saw tears running down her cheeks. Zal was under the impression that Drow did not have emotions or at least banned certain emotions that would be seen as weak.
"...I am sorry I KNOW I NEED TO BE TOUGH, BUT I DID THIS FOR ARYA STORMFOLD!!" she screamed aloud. Zal-Oharad placed a hand on her should casting a calming spell at a lower dose. It seemed to work. Akos pulled out a small book from underneath one of the pauldrons on her. She placed it down on the table. Zal studied this book for a moment. In purple lettering it was titled Assassin's Guidelines. Under the title in red or blood he could not tell Zal read RIP Arya Stormfold. In his mind he surmised this Arya Stormfold was not only a dear companion to Akos, but a victim of this Crex she just killed.
"We should expect company in the next few days. If it is not the Diren, an aquatic tribe in these parts then it could very well be Calornese forces, those IGC, CSO, Order of the Beast or the backstabbing Toceanid Alliance. This newly forged army will need your strength." Zal-Oharad said feeling a little too fatherly and mentor like to his taste.
"Are these Diren similar to merfolk in appearance?" she asked him.
"Yes." is all that Zal could reply to her question before finishing his meal.
A couple of days went by with more joining their army from the west, south, and north. Eleven Draconic Fighters arrived from the south to join him. One Harpy travelled from the north hauling herself from Vullan. Reports from the Harpy spelled disaster for the Vullanese Nation. Vestrisian forces overran various islands in the Valde Sea. From the west a white demon, eleven mad aliens, sixteen pirates, and three Gnolls came to join a horde to be a part of. To their surprise that horde fought under Gantronese control and command. Due to Koijini's pressure Zal's gathered army pressed the advance further south, and southwestward. Gaining or regaining lost islands they managed to acquire new recruits. A total of 565 former CSO and Order of the Beast flocked to their ranks. Advances for them looked positive with 2,807 CSO and OB forces killed, and 213 islands claimed. Getting slightly closer to where the Vestrisians first made an expedition they found landing forces of three or four factions decimated. Each faction came down to outmaneuver the other in a race to claim the southern half of the platform seas. Two days later their northern flank came under attack by a Vestrisian-Calornese assault. Iperantosi rebels led this assault with larger numbers as a sign of revenge on him alone. His experiments on Iperantosi finally enticed their desire for justice on him. Experiments such as necromancy, creating monstrosities he sent outward, creating antidote to poison, and venom. There were others he performed on unsuspecting castaway sailors who found their way to his tower for shelter. One he seemed to be perfecting was mind control, and manipulative loyalty. Zal-Oharad needed protection from anyone seeking to kill him over these experiments. Yet he gained an army that kept growing.
A force of 363 Iperantosi Rebels, Vestrisians, and other Calornese arrived on a few light Destroyers. In their attempts to storm the beach of the first island these attackers were met with arrows, bolts, javelins, fireballs, darts, and some machine gun fire. This resulted in a defeat for the Calornese forces. About 245 killed, one hundred wounded or captured, and the rest fled back to the Destroyers. Both Destroyers gunned it out of there sending shells after them in case of pursuit. Koijini ordered for them not to go after them. Since they landed on Zal's islands, he went through the corpses and the captives. To his surprise most of these "Vestrisians" were mostly Iperantosi, angry Uxane, peoples from Kilscar Orvain, Condor Islands, Oceanrest Var, Diren Spawns, Oramatra, and Magesar in disguise. All the uniforms were taken from a cargo of equipment which held old style uniforms among newer ones. Zal guessed these things were noted as missing or gifted to these ant-Gantronese partisans. Looking at the weapons a Gantronese Captain, Otage Korso, a Gantronese-Oni hybrid discovered the weapons were mostly Gantronese guns. Yekato Assault Rifle, Numei Katana Rifles, PF 71s, Lament Types 87s, 68s, 333s, various pistols could be found among various melee weapons. Short swords, tomahawks, batons, maces, rusted crowbars, war clubs, daggers, machetes, pipes, war picks, and battle wrenches. Battle Wrenches were basically a foot long wrench with a hole at the end to swing on a finger, and elongated forks for blocking blows, breaking swords, bludgeoning, and puncturing in the field. It can also be used as a basic tool. Observing this new home-made weapon for himself Zal heard this weapon was mass produced using various metals. Taking ten captives out of the lot of captured prisoners Zal spent eight days experimenting on each poor soul until more Gantronese arrived. Seventy-nine newly recruited goons, and collaborators perished fighting the Vestrisian forces. More than two thousand wolfmen, rat folk, cat folk, primates, Goblinoids, Star elves, various humanoids, reptilians, Molorcs, lizard men, and thralls joined their gathering forces. A couple were eaten by four crocodiles at a platform.
Eight days later another Gantronese force arrives with fourteen Destroyers and frigates. Word about the two hundred thousand finally came to their ears. All 956 Junks launched an offensive to drive out their other invaders in the south. In his min Zal could only see two hundred eighty-six thousand eight hundred corpses. The Gantronese commander behind this force was a Daimyo who pulled 9850 warriors from Vorcadam, Gora-Via, Koriv and Mulzan to defend their western flanks. With little knowledge of how many of their adversaries remained Zal sought out Colonel Koijini. He found him in his own tower, a little bigger than Zal's in terms of width. Even from a distance, or inside it the place gave the appearance of a castle of metal. He found the Gantronese Colonel in one of the pleasure chambers on top of his Black Mage who did not enjoy having him inside her. Koijini was not the one having their way with a female humanoid. One of his best yet brutal Majors, Osagu Blue-Katana ferociously humped the face of a one-eyed whore. A purple skinned humanoid with the usual limbs. She had a tail, and two tendrils protruding from her back that wrapped around his legs. As much as Zal would love to get some action with his own servants, he had to refrain. Other matters needed to be observed closer, and discussed as allies.
"What do you want Wizard? Can't you bother me another time?" Koijini asked with his own face buried in his partner's chest.
"Our forces are engaging the other invaders to the south, am I correct about this?" He asked concerned for their flanks all around.
"Do you mean the two hundred eighty thousand cannon fodder we sent to fight those CSO, Order of the Beasts, IGC, and Toceanid scum?" Koijini asked him, lifting his face up from the Black Mage's breast.
"Yes, but the Calornese are to the north! Iperantosi is in their hands-" Koijini cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"The Iperantosi do not trust the other Calornese nations outside our empire. Therefore, they had no interest in fighting us!" Koijini blindly spat out the very words of delusion. "Before I let you go, Wizard, our new scouts reported the IGC amassed a force to eliminate the Order of the Beast, and CSO. Their forces do have 6,127 personnel left. As for the CSO and Order of the Beast combined forces estimate at most six thousand alongside a force of three thousand Order of the Beast. It was reduced by a Gantronese force of five thousand. That force still clings to retaken islands. A loss of over half that force, twelve or more tanks, six aircraft, and twenty-nine of the smaller old craft will require reinforcing.”
Zal left the Gantronese, but not without receiving a Vorcademese Female DeathBringer to keep watch over him. For some reason Zal found himself in the thick of the fight. Leading two hundred heavily armed sailors, his own forces and plenty of turncoats. Around 896 Jurnisian Prisoners, 66 Playoi traitors, 20 Gantronese prisoners, 18 Draconic men, 19 wolf men, 41 cat folk, nine kitsune, eight Ratmen, two rhino mutants, and 24 Reptilians joined their forces. For days they engaged four enemy factions before a Gantronese Marauder Brig arrived from the northwest. Doing a reconnaissance Zal discovered they faced over two hundred seventy thousand enemies. These forces belonged to the CSO, Order of the Beast, IGC, and Toceanid Alliance. Only two were allied with each other, the Order of the Beast and the Chaotic Surprise Oligarchy. One month of fierce fighting ensued over three hundred forty-seven islands. Reinforcements arrived for all factions fighting over the platform seas. Weeks passed as the factions fought over supremacy against one another. Order of the Beast received 2,800 ground troops, 8 large tanks, twenty-five ships that were also seaborne. CSO reinforcements received 5,307 raiders, grunts, marauders, 15,234 slave warriors, 43,548 cannon fodder prisoners of war from other worlds, 12,142 wretched troops, and maggot ranked soldiers, and 614 ships, craft for combat. For the Inner Galactic Coalition, a total of 14,046 troopers, elites, pilots, scouters, and 72 extra aircraft came down to reinforce a scattered force. About thirty of those new aircraft crashed in the fighting. The Toceanids and Aquanne Hitto already fielded some 123,083 aquatic personnel. For this aquatic alliance only 46,436 warriors came to reinforce positions. Whatever battle they named this, it would be considered a chaotic quagmire of scattered fronts. Either it was a stalemate one place, overrun in other places, held in a different sector, or straight up back and forth between hands, there was no clear victor. None of the Gantronese ships were safe from melee combat except the ones hovering above them. One frigate only had nineteen survivors after a four-pronged attack from different factions. Some parts of the battle moved northward leaving an uncertain statistic.
Having four or five enemy factions to deal with allowed the Gantronese to take no prisoners. As they moved southward despite losses Zal could have sworn, they came across islands the Vestrisians explored months ago. Numbers did not do the other invaders justice since the Gantronese and the IGC wielded modernized weaponry. Thanks to some Gnomes who defected his Gantronese Overlords sent out a unit of 540 droids, automaton war machines, twenty-nine iron golems, clockworks, crafted wtih brass, copper, iron, and other alloys. Giving everything, they possessed the five factions lost most of their forces, leaving very few troops to hold more than ten islands at a time. There was an influx of reinforcements that kept moving northward or westward only to run into each other or come across Gantronese reinforcements from the west. Most of the platform's seas fell silent leaving room to do some research for more experiments. On the furthest southeastern island tower Zal-Oharad found time to conduct an experiment he wanted to attempt for years. Soul mending, and crafting weapons from the souls gathered. Zal made attempts to copy the very weapons Zhenrai Knights would conjure up using spirits. One of his new servants called for him. He stopped working on his experiments and proceeded down to the entrance of the tower. The Wizard came down to the exterior part of the tower grounds greeted by guards, and a wealthy fat frogfolk in a fine suit of some sort.
"Good afternoon, sir." The frogfolk began, bowing to the Wizard. "I was told your Gantronese masters treat their supporters fairly."
"Only if you succeed while appeasing their good side." Zal-Oharad rebuked. The frogfolk ignored the rebuke.
"Your masters seem to be in dire need of ships. I own several shipyards, and a junkyard from which the ships can be made or reinforced." The Frogfolk proceeded with the offer. He was clearly cutting to the chase since it was likely the humanoid would be shot by someone on either side. If he was part of either the Order of the Beast or the CSO, this one would be labelled as a traitor.
"And by what name do you call yourself. You seemed to have forgotten an introduction." Zal-Oharad pointed out.
"Master Blobbix is my name. I have come to serve a faction who would not fail to cleanse these southern parts of everyone else. There are other factions here in the southern platforms, hiding out." This humanoid introduced himself with a stretched-out hand. As quick as this offer was being accepted Zal-Oharad knew the Gantronese lost a number of fleets during this war. Gaining an extra supplier of weapons, and ships would help their war effort.
"For the sake of my own skin, and anyone else's under their bootheel I accept this offer. So long as I do not catch a virus that creates flesh eating warts on my hands." Zal-Oharad replied taking the humanoids hand. It felt a little wet, flabby, and squishy to the touch. The bones on his hand were covered by layers of skin, fat, and extra tissue.
