Golden Jinns Chapter

Camp Mirage Oasis was a market place made up of various sized and shaped tents of travelling merchants, settled herders, and a few craftsmen. This camp of tents formed the shape of a humongous labyrinth in the sands near the beaches of a few nearby cities. Each tent or smaller tent had a vendor outside run by the owners. Some of these vendors had another hired clerks-man working for the owning merchant. Every tent with a vendor were partially full of a variety of products and artifacts for sale. The Mirage Oasis camp was the very place merchants did business. It is where travelers, explorers, adventurers and entertainers settle down to create a new life. Most of them start their own business or take over a Vendor owned by a wealthier merchant. It would be a merchant who is retiring or a resident of the cities nearby.

            Mirage Oasis camp was placed right on the road that led up to the city of Paradise Cove and other cities. This city was a port city on the coasts of Gaskouth Ladai. It was one of the home cities to the Baedur Corsairs and the nomadic locals. Paradise Cove housed numerous peoples from Zema Ilam refugees to Muzad settlers. These groups included the Baedur Corsairs, Gaskouth tribes, Lheobethan elves, Al-Dadorians, Anomaths, and Anori. The city itself was full of riches and wealth yet it would not serve for a certain band of thieves.

            Just on the outskirts of the Mirage Oasis encampment by a secret hideout called Green hideout. It was a hidden cave where a band of thieves known as the Golden Jinns made their home. Their leader was simply known as Shadow Thief his real name was Emez Bucjis Kinahir. He led a band of about fifteen thieves in the Golden Jinns. One of their members happened to be a demon hybrid. He had connections with a Devalpa who became in league with the band of thieves.

            This Devalpa was some demonic fairy creature who had the appearance of an old man. He even dressed as one to hide his lion like tail and wore sandals made from a very enduring material of leather with linen. Their Devalpa was known as Uganzas or Tarove the bag of bones deceiver. Uganzas would often lure or lead lone travelers to their lair. Most of his victims are wealthier travelers with plenty of coin to take. These poor souls are stripped down to their undergarments then forced to wander the desert. This would happened whenever the thieves hadn’t turned out with much goods from thieving in the Mirage Oasis. Only a few privileged thieves would go out and either sell stolen goods or bury it as a long term deposit.

            A month ago the Golden Jinns pulled off a mass heist across the coasts of Gaskouth Ladai. One of their members even made off with an ancient glazed amulet of some pharaoh of ancient Kaniima. The leader of the Golden Jinns sat in a comfortable Castarian style armchair. He had some Zema Ilam made quilt draped over the armchair. Emez Buchis Kinahir “Shadow Thief” watched his band of fifteen thieves just hanging out in the main den of their hideout. Green Cave had over twenty-seven caverns and dens connected by various tunnels.

            Tricopis sat on a stool tinkering with a nice looking bronze box. It appeared to be a puzzle box that you had to figure out. The thief held the puzzle turning cerain parts to it and twisting it to get it reveal its secrets. Tricopis was a bearded Anori with three rings pierced to his left eyebrow. He wore a white garb that looked more like a dress with long sleeves. His white garb had a black sash around it. Tricopis wore the typical black turbin often worn around thise parts of Gaskouth Ladai.

            Behind Tricopis sat another thief named Zur a Mulzaneen with most of his head shaved leaving one spot to grow long. Zur wore his elongated hair in a braid and wrapped it around his neck. The Mulzaneen was a burglar and the band’s assassin who would sneak out to do his job. He was by far Shadow Thief’s favorite one of all due to his cunning, silence and deadliness. Zur had his hood pulled back while cleaning his nails with his dagger. Next to Zur was Monti a rather larger man for a thief. Monti wore a black vest and wool pants. Underneath his turban was a head of shaggy hair. Monti was more of a thug and the band’s mugger. He would go out to the camp or city and hide in the alley ways for his victims. The brute leaned against the den’s wall adjacent to another member of the Golden Jinn’s.

            Jaquiin was a small man with a raged looking beard that made him appear like an old beggar. He found Jaquiin in the streets of Paradise Cove while he was out for a stroll. Shadow thief found Jaquiin to be exactly what he was looking for in a thief. Jaquiin was able to use his nimble fingers to pick pocket everyone in a crowd. He could steal money out someone’s shoes or from a hidden coat pocket. They started this band of thieves together before moving here.

            Emez sat in his arm chair pondering over what would have happened if they tried to pull another heist. Several days ago the two brothers Ferzin and Eegerts returned with the news about the invading Gantronese landing close to Paradise Cove. They had to call it off due to the battle that was raging on at the beaches. It was because of the bald twins the Golden Jinns did not attempt to pull off the planned out heist. Another member named Ogist recalled seeing over a dozen Vestrisian soldiers awaiting this Gantronese horde.

            In the back of his mind Emez Buchis Kinahir “Shadow Thief” thought about scavenging the battlefield after the fighting was over. He chose to hold up and wait for the shooting to die down. For some number of days the band of thieves listened to the shooting and more vehicles roll by their hideout. One day he wandered outside to see large groups of warriors march down to the battlefield. This gave him a better idea of robbing the dead corpses. As he pondered for several more minutes Emez came to a conclusion. The leader had made up his mind. They were going out tonight after seven days of waiting for the fighting to die down. He stood up with the decision made drawing the attention of all sixteen thieves.

            “We shall go out and begin our scavenging. Once we acquire modern weapons we shall become unstoppable highwaymen.” He boasted to his band of thieves. This appealed to all of the members except the Devalpa. Uganzas scowled at this idea with his strong faith in the old ways of stealing and robbing. All fifteen members of the Golden Jinns stood up to get ready for the outing. Every one of them had a smile on his face over the outing tonight. As they got ready for the scavenging  the Devalpa brought up his own viewpoint on the matter.

            “Go on ahead boys and get yourselves killed in the process. Make the effort to rob dead soldiers while they are still fighting. My ancient bones won’t stop you nor do I aim to do so.” Uganzas urged them on as though he did not care about their fates. He egged them on as they were leaving with the leader behind them. Ferzin turned around to respond to the Devalpa’s heckling.

            “You do have quite a bit to say about this don’t you Tarove the bag of bones?” Ferzin responded with the Devalpa’s nickname.

            The Devalpa just scoffed and turned his head. He let the scavenging party leave the hideout. Emez followed the band of thieves outsides to the desert sands surrounding the rock formation that hid their lair. As they made their way through the dark the Golden Jinns passed two camps of warriors and militia from Paradis Cove and the religious city of Ammadin. Emez stopped and turned to his right and spotted more shadows of warriors heading towards the battlefield. He even spotted the cone shaped tents of Lheobethan elves come to fight the Gantronese.

            Shadow Thief rushed on the sand to rejoin his bandits who were now skulking through the dunes and rock formations there was no sounds that night. He was glad to hear the silence instead of the constant gunfire. The Golden Jinns slipped past some campsites and made it to the very edges of the killing field. They stopped behind a large dune with no signs of any campsites behind them.

            “Bandits lets stay put until we know the coast is clear.” He commanded the Golden Jinns. Each one of them got on the ground and waited for some patrols to stop their night watches. He laid on the sand with his head on a rock. It did not feel comfortable, but it would have to do for now. For seventeen minutes they waited and about eight of the best members gathered around. Emez The Shadow Thief decided to leave them alone and started to doze off. He didn’t want to admit it but the slow, dark night caused him to feel tired. The last thing he saw before slowly falling asleep were his siz best thieves and two others going out earlier than was anticipated. He had no doubt these fools were under the influence and leadership of that beggar Jaquiin. For the past six months the clever beggar tried taking over the Jinns through influence. Emez won them back with a successful raid on a passing caravan, which forced Jaquiin back to being second in command.

            A heavy burst of machine gunfire woke him up. He shot up and yelled for the others to get down. Emez krept his way cautiously as machine gunners fired wildly in many directions. The bandit leader crawled to the edge of the dune to witness several of his thieves be gunned down. About four of the ones that set out earlier made it back to the dune with a spray of bullets coming after them. Tricopis, Monti, Ferzin, and Zur survived the massacre.

            “Jaquiin is dead lets get out here!” Tricopis yelled at Emez as if this was his fault. Emez noticed Eegerts and the two other thieves had died in their attempt to scavenge and grave rob corpses. The Golden Jinn’s leader nodded his head anticipating when they should leave soon. That is when Monti is shot and about eleven or so Gantronese looking shadows jumped them. This whole group was part of some wave that was coming up from the south. Shadow Thief and six others managed to fight them off with more of the wave just passing their location.

            As Shadow Thief killed two of their attackers he saw Zur’s outline take down six more enemies. The rest of them only took down one for each thief. It was just seven of them left behind the dunes surrounded by a frenzy of shooting. They crouched down as the shooting spread all over the beach and the surrounding area.

            “We need to get out of here Shadow Thief!” Ferzin yelled at Emez in a panicked voice. Bullets flew over their heads as more shadows passed them. Two Gantronese rounded the corner and bayonetted one of the thieves then left. Emez looked at the remaining members of the Golden Jinns with eagerness to get out of here.

            “Let’s get out of here boys before more Gantronese spot us!” Emez yelled over all the shooting around them.

            He told them to go in front of him and avoid the camps they had passed. Moments later they are being shot at by a group of shadowy figures south west of them. Ferniz was hit along with another low ranking member of the group. Shadow Thief and three other members of the gang were all that was left of the Golden Jinns. It took them less time to get to the rock formations even though they took a loop around as many camps and patrols as they could. All four of them rushed inside together thinking of starting over in the east. When they entered the den the four last members were greeted by the dead corpse of the Devalpa and eight unexpected guests. Seven of them they recognized to be the local guards from Paradise Cove and the other was some blue uniformed officer.

            “Hello there we could not help it when we heard of this hideout full of demonic ghosts. Such a clever way to prevent anyone from snooping around or trespassing your lair. I hear you are Shadow Thief, leader of the Golden Jinns. Your real name Emez Buchis Kinahir from the Hazin Al-Dostrich family am I correct?” This officer questioned the group’s leader.

            “Yes I am Emez Buchis Kinahir, my mother’s maiden name was part of the Hazin Al-Dostrich family. My father Jasun Kinahir was a low life scum, who managed to marry into her family.” Emez said to the officer. He would have demanded who he was except the seven the guards were now armed with the new modernized weaponry.

            “The name is Captain Markus Hunt of the Vestrisian Army Elites. I am more of an agent than an officer, but I have come here in search of thieves such as yourselves to recruit. The Vestrisian Army is in need of men or women with your talents of stealth, theft and burglary. You will be sent into enemy territory west of the unkown lands. So, Gentlemen do I have my new team of agents?” Captain Hunt asked with a wide grin on his face. 

Nazdar Flame Thrower in color skethwork

Commando Part 7

Going through the forest road the small convoy made its way to the base of the first peak that was part of the Qad Rise Mountain range. The path was more covered with brush and tree roots yet looked so safe to travel on. As they made their way upward the quartet came across a few settlements, and homesteads dotting the slopes and sides of the Qad Rise. There was a small group of at least twenty seven Uwaux living amongst a smaller group of Tuxir in a village still under construction. The quartet passed through this harmonized community of Uxane whose inhabitants had a number of the Cabrakan-Tadis. A few horses, and tamed Mervac Hounds were with the enclave of Uxane peoples.

      The quartet passed through the rising community with little trouble, but a lot of gazing, and some greetings from several members. All day and through the night they ascended the Qad Rise taking the paths freshly cleared and fixed for all travelers. It was very clear the road was still being fixed and cleaned up. They ran into teams of path blazers and rangers who were busy cutting up bushes, chopping away at roots, and digging up tree stumps. Branches were gathered along with sticks and twigs. Leaves and rocks were brushed to the side.

      As the quartet passed the teams they found a group of female pilgrims wearing brown robes under travelling cloaks. Each one was an elf with different hair color and style of braid or bun. It was obvious these were apprentice pilgrims from the nearest town of Wintertide. Pilgrims of Wintertide were tasked with planting specific flowers and herbs along the path to a shrine to a deified saint and heroine on a mountain in Eoth. Apparently Eoth was now under Gantronese control only it still did not stop them. These pilgrims would reach either Uwaux or Tuxir compounds and outposts where they’d meet their escorts/protection.

      Under the supervision of a high priestess the group seven apprentices started planting seeds along the cleared path. All the young elves turned to look at the quartet whom looked a little bloodied from the recent fight with mercenaries. Many covered their shocked mouths at the sight of the blood on their clothes. The four of them ignored these expressions and pressed on towards Wintertide. Breezing through the town they finally made it to the road that took them directly to their main base. Just past Wintertide were a series of switchbacks trailing up the face of a mountain of the Qad Rise. This particular path led them straight to a mountain pass as old as time itself. To many dwarves it was called the Vammin Crevice to others it was simply known as the Cleaver’s Slice. That was a fitting name for the passage through the Qad Rise. It resembled a cut into a piece of meat, except the cut did not go all the way through. Slowly they proceeded through the pass flanked by the mountain peaks of the Qad Rise. If ever an army would try invading this pass it would just spell doom for those in its ranks.

      Maurice looked up at the towering walls hoping they’d go through this pass without any trouble or any dangers back to base. Vammin Crevice was long with plenty of rocks and stones cluttering the path. Amongst the rocks lay some skeletons and skulls of deceased demons, travelers, warriors, various beasts and beast men. Their steeds and beast of burden stepped over the remains of the deceased as they cautiously moved through the mountain pass. In a matter of minutes the quartet came out of the pass to a road leading down the Qad Rise. Maurice looked at the path ahead of them and spotted their destination, the Mountain of Elarikh Ogantis.

      The mountain known as Elarikh Ogantis was where the Red Hearts and other gangs had their base in a spread out dwelling on the side of the mountain. On this mountain there were at least eleven settlements and dwellings on Elarikh Ogantis. Most of these settlements and dwellings were towns, villages, and lodgings of some sort. Before proceeding down the path the commando spotted a tower used as a lookout for the first town. Between them and the lookout was a forest of grey trees filled with plenty of wildlife. Not the type wildlife that was as dangerous as the Beastly monsters of the Unknown lands, but still best left alone.

      As they proceeded towards the forest it began to grow dark again. Determined to reach their dwelling the quartet stepped up the pace. Within a few hours the group made it to the town taking the road through the forest. It was a quiet night for this particular town. Many of the inhabitants were mostly singles, miners, ex-soldiers, former guards, warriors, hunters, adventurers, merchant-tradesmen, a few artisans, ex-thieves, escaped slaves, trappers, dishonored knights, hedge knights, ex aristocrats, herders, haywards, sappers from various armies, former peasants, masons for construction, and one administrator. This town was called Lost Rasp’s Axehead, it was founded as a mining, and trading town for business between the civilized peoples of the Unknown lands and several nations to the west. The same could be said for a couple of other towns whereas the villages were attempts at establishing colonial havens for the unfortunate. As they proceeded up the mountain a cold wind blew around signifying the cold night air of the mountains had come. During the day it was usually warm thanks to the sun despite the cold climate. Passing a peasant’s hovel and another settlement the quartet found their way to their city.

      Resting on the face of Elarikh Ogantis was the Ancient Dwarf City Bor Dorahl. Once the capitol of an ancient Dwarf Empire, Bor Dorahl witnessed the fall of the empire and the rise of various city-states. It surpassed many kingdoms and states, which died over the centuries. This city survived two thousand years of history, but most of it fell to ruin. Within the span of a century its inhabitants rebuilt it and expanded it a little more with other peoples and races. This city was also home to some gangs including the Red Hearts and the Unseen Bears, which were in a strong alliance. These Red Hearts hid the commando from the Gantronese whom still held territories north of the Sarcagos.

      Going through the streets of Bor Dorahl was easier than crossing the paths of the Sarcagos Mountains. By the time it was midnight the quartet wound its way through the city to their main dwellings. At the very edges of the city the Red Hearts and the Unseen Bears shared a large manor big enough to house a hundred or so residents. A group of eleven members of both gangs stood guard at the entrance to the manor. Once they made it to the front gates multiple guards greeted them and opened the gates for them. Several steed handlers came up to them and took charge of their steeds. Their rewards would be shipped straight over to the vaults deep within the treasury hold of the manor. Each of the party took their weapons as their mounts and rewards went to different locations.

      Relieved the journey was finally over the quartet went inside the manor. Maurice, Brittany, and Amonif went to the lounge area whereas Hilastes went straight to his own room. The lounge area was located in the left wing of the manor. It held the shape of a trapezoid with a portion being the shape of a semi-circle. Inside the lounge was enough furniture for an audience at a theatre. Sitting in the lounge were a score of Unseen Bears, Several Red Hearts, and three other Vestrisian commandos. The occupants looked up to see the trio entering the lounge. Every one of them cheered at their entrance into the lounge, raising their glasses and mugs. At the request of the happy occupants the three of them took the drinks they were offered. For a while they had a few drinks with the welcoming crowd of ex-soldiers, and goons. Maurice looked around the room seeing the faces of good spirited company. His gaze was drawn to the farthest corner of the trapezoid lounge.

      In the corner sat two of the gang leaders and a high ranking officer of the VAVR’s Expeditionary Forces. All three of them sat a finely carved table with their own personal tray of pastries, delicacies and shots of many beverages. These leaders are Colonel George Bryce the Quick of Ezonel, commanding officer of the Expeditionary Forces, Rachel ‘Revolvers’ Grange, the leader of the Red Hearts, and Major Vorheels alias Clayton ‘Mad Eyed’ the leader of the Unseen Bears. All three of them enjoyed themselves when Colonel Bryce summoned Maurice over to them. Not even hesitating Maurice went over to the leaders and took a seat. Each of them congratulated and thanked the commando for completed another mission. Those weapons and ammunition would go in handy for the Kingdom of Ayalim against a multitude of enemies. As a reward for a job well done Maurice was given a portion of the Dwarf King’s payment, a bit of cash, a new revolver with four boxes of ammunition, and a bottle of the Onyx Cougar’s finest made wine from a local vineyard outside the city. Bryce told him he was given a full week off for completing the mission. He dismissed him, but before he left the table Maurice informed them of their encounters with assassins, thugs, bounty hunters and hired killers along the road.

      For three days Maurice relaxed in the city district of Emarn Point where the Unseen Bears, commandos, and Red Hearts’ base were located. Across the street from the manor was a set of pubs, and bars owned and run by the Silver Harpies alongside the Onyx Cougars. These two gangs consisted of wine makers, distillers, thieves, adventurers, engineers, barkeeps, bartenders, mill runners, trackers, hunters, and common workers. Silver Harpies were mostly females who wanted to protect their profits from outside corruption and rival businesses. Maurice went inside a pub called Megan’s Pub where the patrons were a mix of goons, guards, smugglers, fighters, miners, Unseen Bears, Onyx Cougars, and locals from all walks of life. He was greeted by the Unseen Bears who cheered at his arrival. Others simply glanced over at him then turned away after nodding and tipping their drinks to him. The main bartender noticed his entrance and called him over.

      The commando took a seat at the bar next to an Unseen Bear and a local Engineer-Brightsmith who was next to a well-dressed female Zoographer. As he sat down he ordered himself a glass of Infinite Blazed Gin. Just as he took a sit the commando heard the sounds of roaring engines of motorcycles riding through the streets. Cheers and laughter followed outside as some sort of celebration was taking place. When the cheers, and noise died down another figure entered the pub. Out of curiosity Maurice turned to see this newcomer. This newcomer was dressed in black clothing and had half his face covered with a black cloth. He wore a black wide brimmed hat and a black cloak. Around his waist and across his chest and shoulder this newcomer wore belts of bullets. At his hips were two revolvers that were possible armed and ready to shoot. Everyone turned to look at this newcomer as more figures entered the pub. Each one of them was armed with a variety of weapons.

      Disgusted that a group of unknown figures entered the pub armed to the teeth many goons got up going for their weapons. The barkeep opened a back door to let the civilian patrons leave the pub and not be caught in the crossfire. Once all the noncombatants left and those running the pub hid or joined the fighters Maurice joined the Unseen Bears. He had left his drink on the bar, but that didn’t matter now. Evert patron’s evening was disrupted by the arrival of this gang of figures. A standoff ensued between the armed patrons and the intruders. The atmosphere of the pub grew tense as the two sides prepared for a bar fight. To their misfortune more unknown figures showed up at the pub. It was a few moments before anything happened, which felt like hours of the standoff. Within a heartbeats notice both sides charged at each other making a mess of things inside Megan’s Pub. 

Events before the war

The Gaskouth War between Mulzan backed by the Gantronese and the Zema Ilam over Zekmar

-the Zema Ilam are pushed eastward by Mulzan and the Gantronese expansion

-the Muzad tribes fight alongside the exiled Zema Ilam to maintain independence from the Gantronese expansion

-lands of the Zema Ilam are turned into territories controlled by Mulzan and the Gantronese

-the Castarian Empire expands further across Vestrisia sparking the 1st Castarian War

Boathrin Civil War

-Vullan expresses disloyalty to the crown by reforming the old empire

-loyalist Boathrians and Al-Dadorians wage war to reclaim Vullan in the name of the Queen

-the Boathrin Kingdom is split by the two rival factions

Sovereign Wars

-4 Zhenrai Kingdoms hold back the Castarian Empire and form an alliance in 2nd Castarian War

-Gantronese Empire continues conquest in the western continents

-Nazdar conquer the continent of Estorasia

-a few nations maintain their independence in a few continents

Muskallan Conflicts (three conflicts over the span of forty years)
-various Muskallan clans expand territory westward, include various groups into horde
-forge an empire westward with funding from Gontrella well before pushing eastward
-their horde is destroyed twenty years before the Muskallans invade the east again

­-Raiders from Muskalla attack the cities of Dos and Liv while surrounding Tamoth

-Muskallan raiders form alliances with the bands of orcs in the Blackmell Mountains

-Orcs attack villages in the mountains and Bymere Country

-Naatidra and New Valorum send armies to end the raiding

-Mercenary armies are raised to fight the War bands and Raiders with the support of the local tribes and Elven city-states that form a confederacy

-Muskallan and Orc allies are destroyed on the field and the orcs are forced deeper in the mountains

-New Vattoram and Naatidra annex parts of the Bymere country to protect the various tribes there

-Bisdolan is founded and takes most of Muskallan lands which is handed over to the Nazdar when they arrive

Other events in Vestrisia

-slavers continue to invade homes and abduct women, children and other youth across Naatidra, and the rest of Vestrisia

-resistance against slavery begins in New Vattoram

-Antalace spreads his movement to the cities of the Zhenrai Nations and other parts of Vestrisia

-Slavers are attacked across the Vollante Ocean and six other states

1833-the Castarian Empire begins demanding slaves from the neighboring kingdoms to labor on lands reserved for peasants

-Castarian peasants rise up against their government

-the Vestrisian Union of the Vestrisian Republics is formed in response to Castaria’s new method of labor

1836-Castarian War ends- the Castarian Empire falls to the V.U.V.R. and the revolution

1837-Nachanian War- Zegrav threatens the Nachanian Islands

-the Vestrisian Union intervenes on behalf of the Nachanians

-Zegrav joins after its defeat

1838-more nations join putting pressure on the Vullanese Empire

1839-Vullanese Empire forms an alliance with Nazdar and the Gantronese

1840-Vullanese temples are attacked in Boathria

-the Valde war is declared between Vullan and allies vs. the Vestrisian Union

Commando Part 6

The commando awoke the very next day with a cat patting him on the face with its paw. He scratched it on the head, but it ran away when he tried to pet it. Maurice got out of bed quickly so he could get going with the day. He took little time in getting his clothes on and donning his travelers equipment. There came a knock at the door. Maurice went to the door as the person knocked again. He opened the door to find Brittany at the door with her own things packed up and ready for travel. Several servants were behind her waiting help them carry luggage. A few knocked on the doors to the Unseen Bears’ rooms to wake them up. Both smugglers/fighters waited for the Unseen Bears before going down for breakfast. Amonif was the first to come out then Hilastes whom allowed the servants to carry their things over to their steeds.

      Right after breakfast the quartet went straight for the stables. King Hornbrand and his son Prince Kulem had other matters to tend to with the Court. No one really said their goodbyes to them save for the servants, Head Butler, and the Doorward’s third apprentice. A Lieutenant of the Ayalim Guard escorted them through the market areas, enclaves for miners, and barracks. The stables were large enough o house an entire herd of Yackdreth. At these stables stood their steeds and pack mule Yakox loaded with their provisions and rewards. Not saying anything to the handlers the quartet paid the handlers and went on their way. As they made their way through the cobbled streets heads turned to watch the Unseen Bears with their Cabrakan-Tadi. Brittany turned to Maurice who tied his Yakox to his Goat Steed. She touched him on the arm getting his attention. The commando turned to face her. She blinked slowly to him. Maurice put a hand on her chin clasping it a little.

      They mounted their steeds as soon as they reached the Gates of Bhastroick IV. Ayalim’s Gates of Bhastroick was built six centuries ago to replace the old gates, which were destroyed in a war still recalled by many dwarves. To them these gates stood as a symbol of strength, determination, will, and triumph against the savages of Sarcagos. Tales say the hordes of the Sarcagos were led by an Overlord Vampire named Zadimus the Heinous Prince of Mount Exoris. The gates stood several stories high with a bonded arch and two statues depicting royal guards for pillars holding the archway.

      Passing the gates the quartet convoy came to the road. On the road they headed straight for the Qad Rise with no time to waste. At a quickened pace the party traversed the road passing a village or two. There were also some rains along this road including a shack.

      The Qad Rise was covered in a forest of Troll trees, wormwoods, and thick Dwarf Ferns. It was a dense forest that engulfed the entire Qad Rise and stretched over miles upon miles over the central parts of Sarcagos. This dense forest started about half a mile away from an old farm. Without hesitation they went in the forest following the road. As they ascended further up the slopes they party came to the borders of Ayalim. In the road was a stone carved into the shape of an axe head that marked Ayalim’s border. At this particular border marker stood a gang of seven rather determined hit men, bounty hunters, thugs and hired killers. Each one of these mercenaries had a distinct feature about them.

      One of them in the center had a large built with big arms, strong legs, and a big head. This brute looking hit man had a scared face, half of which was covered with a black mask. His left arm was decorated with tattooed armbands, and scars. The other arm had an arm brace of latched rings wielding a long dagger with marks on it. Next to the black masked hit man was a bounty hunter wearing highwaymen’s clothing and donning a tricorn hat. He was armed with two cutlasses. On the other side of the hit man stood another hit man wearing a duster coat and armed with machetes. Two of the mercenaries were thugs dressed in old looking leather jerkins and jeans armed with a club and a sledge hammer. The sixth mercenary was a hired killer covered head to toe in tattered rags for a cloak. The cloaked killer wielded a katana. Behind the katana wielding killer stood an orc armed with a mace and a war axe. These seven mercenaries blocked their path.

      Maurice turned to Brittany then to Amonif and Hilastes whom nodded to him. All four dismounted forced into a melee combat. They could take out seven mercenaries here and now except the noise of their guns would attract others. The commando grabbed his pole arm sword; Brittany went for her knives whereas the Unseen Bears brought their iron knuckles, and quarterstaff.

      Each member of the quartet chose an opponent to face. Maurice chose the black masked hit man, Amonif too the machete wielding hit man, Brittany took on the bounty hunter and Hilastes took the killer. The commando faced this black masked hit man who held a very overconfident smirk. All four of the commando’s party were ready to face their opponents. In seconds the fight began between mercenaries and the quartet of Vestrisians. Maurice dodged the first strike from the black mask who spun around to grab a machete off the duster coat hit man. Brittany had to dodge and jump back as the bounty hunter moved in. Hilastes blocked every blow from the killer while hitting him every three or four blocks. After the black masked hit man took a machete from the other hit man, his partner attacked Amonif.

      The Unseen Bear caught both the hit man’s arms as he tried to strike down with both blades. Amonif twisted the hit man’s left arm at the wrist forcing the hit man to drop the weapon. He punched the hit man in the face then went for his gut. His opponent dropped to the ground unconscious. Acting fast Amonif picked up a machete and threw it at one of the twins. The blade struck the intended target instantly killing one of the thugs. Amonif turned to the other twin who fled. In a split second the Unseen Bear gave chase.

      Maurice had some trouble fighting this black masked hit man who used the machete against him. As he fought he caught glimpses of how Brittany and Hilastes were faring. Both of them were still alive. Brittany was still dodging and blocking the cutlasses. Hilastes had smacked the killer dozens of times before knocking him flat on his back on the ground. Once the killer was down Hilastes finished him off. He struck down on the head repeatedly. Hilastes turned to the orc who charged at him with berserk rage.

      Maurice focused more on the hit man gaining the upper hand against the black masked hit man. It took a while to bring this hit man to his knees. As he wore the hit man down Maurice hit him in the stomach with the butt of his pole arm Brittany stabbed the bounty hunter numerous times.

      Returning to the hit man Maurice saw he brought the black masked mercenary to his hands and knees. Realizing he had the advantage the commando pushed the hit man upright. He faced the defeated hit man then drove his pole arm sword into his chest. Maurice’s opponent collapsed on the dirt face down. The black masked hit man laid in the dirt as a lifeless corpse. Brittany took both of the cutlasses and the tricorn hat. She placed it on her head right as Hilastes broke the orc’s neck. The large Unseen Bear had over powered the orc using his Quarterstaff skills.

      Amonif returned with the corpse of the second twin thug. He dropped it on the other corpse then stormed over to the duster coat wearing hit man. With one hand Amonif lifted the hit man’s head to find he had committed suicide through poison injection. Realizing he was dead Amonif flipped him over to take the machetes and any loot. Hilastes looted the orc and the killer of their weapons leaving the bodies where they lay. Maurice turned his attention to the dead black masked hit man to search for anything worth taking. He took the hit man’s long dagger that had twenty-five notches. Each one represented a kill the hit man made over time. Maurice took the dagger then rummaged through the pockets and found an envelope. He opened it to find that these mercenaries were hired to hunt them down.

      On the letter were the symbols of the Ruthless Hordes, the Omnir Raiders, and a Dwarf Warlord. To him it was obvious he had pissed off a number of people already. It was now clear a group of powerful people wanted them dead. A bounty was on their heads or at least on his head. 

Commando Part 5

      The Kingdom of Mount Ayalim wasn’t just the mountain itself. It included the mounds, and various settlements surrounding the region. Ayalim stretched from the base of the Crehx to the slopes of the Qad Rise and the very slopes of the Northern Quwar Heights. Each mount was about the size of a small village with six buildings on top. A few just had one temple with a set of stairs descending to the ground. They were all about two or three stories high. Mount Ayalim stood well over fifteen hundred and eighty four stories high. It was mostly carved around the entrances whereas the rest was left at its natural state.

      King Sasseak Hornbrand led them towards the Mountain. Maurice, Brittany, Hilastes, Amonif followed King Hornbrand to Ayalim with Prince Kulem. They left the High ranking officer to his duties. Ayalim’s commander of the Guard followed them with just a troop of Guardsmen. All around them were Dwarves of various shapes and sizes for dwarves. Beards were in a number of styles and colors. Some beards had sections or locks dyed a single color. Ayalim’s dark green banners dangled on their poles, and from their posts. The dark green banners had golden borders and two ivory axes flanking a silver triangle. These banners varied in sizes according to which building they hung from. Some were in flag shapes on poles on top of towers. At guard every guard tower, temple, shop, and street corner a Guardsman. Each one of them was armed with an axe and a rifle. Their shields were slung on their back with ivory axes and silver triangle painted on it.

      Several hundred of Ayalim’s citizens walked about the area carrying on about their own business. Many of them bowed to the king as he passed through the crowds. Heralds blew their trumpets at the King’s approach to the entrance. King Hornbrand ordered for the group to stop at two statues that stood one story tall. Each one was carved to resemble heroes from an ancient era. From these statues to the very doorways of the Mountain laid the red carpet for the king, his court, and those who wish an audience.

      King Hornbrand turned to Maurice and his three companions. He requested for them to dismount and hand the reigns to someone. A score of Dwarves, and Gnomes came to take their steeds away to the stables. Luckily they had one Uwaux Caretaker/Handler or these Jumbo Cats. About three to four dwarves handled the goats and yakox while the Uwaux handled their large cats. He mumbled to the steeds in his native tongue. All the gnomes and rest of the dwarves took the bags of weapons off the Yakox’s back.

      When the steeds and pack mule were led away to some stables Hornbrand and his son took them inside. All along the red carpet were lines of Guardsmen, Royal Guards, and Green Rangers standing guard. The vigilance from the guards could be felt on every inch of his body. Sweat started to pour from his pores drenching his clothes. Commando Viyamor continued following Hornbrand and his son to the gates of Mount Ayalim. Every foot of the gate was carved with decorative designs with gold as the door frame. Over a score of large red garnets were encrusted on the door frame. The two Dwarf royalties approached the doors, which were opened at their approach.

      Without thinking Maurice followed the king and his son inside Mount Ayalim. Brittany, Hilastes, Amonif, and the baggage carriers followed his lead into the mountain. As they entered Ayalim several members of the King’s Court greeted them. A total of seven court members stood at the entrance. The King’s Groom of the Stool, Doorward, Steward, Head Butler, Ushers, and main Herald greeted and welcomed them inside. King Hornbrand and his son said hello to each member. A tall Dwarf with a black beard eyed Maurice with some suspicion. It was only due to the Dwarf’s position in Hornbrand’s Court. At the entrance they came upon what appeared to be a city carved into the interior of the mountain. From the looks of things his multiple greeters brought them inside a city full of dwarves and gnomes.

      Ayalim’s interior at the entrance was carved to resemble a machicolation. Beyond this well-crafted and built machicolation the city inside appeared like houses on top of houses. It appeared like entire city blocks of apartment complexes and condominiums. The city itself was carved out of the mountain with homes and workshops around the entrance. As high as the group of homes stood none of them were as high as Ayalim’s ceiling. Past the homes they came to a vast chamber with support beams and pillars. Parts of the chamber were still under construction while other parts had markets, bakeries, and roaring fires cooking meals. There were various passageways and tunnels that led to other chambers and sections of the Mountain. Only one of these passageways led to the throne room.

      Inside the passageways Maurice spotted what looked like heavily armed guards turned out to be suits of armor.  Hornbrand took the party over to a golden hallway. This particular hallway had no statues At the beginning and end of this golden hallway stood four heavily armed guards. Hornbrand’s throne room was vast enough to put a couple of ships inside. The throne room was an octagonal shape with tapestries handing on each wall. A statue, urn, large vase on a pedestal, large crystal, and a glass orb sat bellow the banner-tapestries. At the central end of the throne room was the throne itself. It stood on a seven foot tall platform carved from stalagmite. The throne itself stood six feet tall made from stone with a large Topaz above the seat.

      At the feet of the platform was the reward for the weapons and ammunition. The reward consisted of five medium sized chests full of gold coins, gems, rubies, and lots jewelry. Sassaek Hornbrand went over to the chests and pushed each one towards Maurice. The Dwarves and Gnomes carrying the bags of weapons and ammunition placed them to the side in the throne room. Each one bowed before leaving them. Maurice, Brittany, Hilastes, and Amonif grabbed a chest for themselves letting Prince Kulem to deal with the last one. He ordered for a man servant to pick it up. The Head Butler escorted the smugglers and commandos to their guest sleeping quarters.

      Hornbrand had given them guest room to stay in and invited them to dine with him and his court. Every single guest room was located in the southwestern wing of Ayalim’s grand citadel that faced the Qad Rise. Once he settled in a circular room Maurice took a bath and changed into a nicer set of clothes one of the servants laid out for him on his bed. He exited his room to find a servant waiting on him. His companions came out of their rooms in party attire for dining. Amonif and Hilastes wore matching dining clothes whereas Brittany wore a dazzling blue dress. Maurice could not help but keep gazing at her as they proceeded to the dining hall.

      Once there they entered a vast chamber decorated for a special occasion and long tables for a party of eight hundred or so. It was filled with guards, captains, nobility, members of Hornbrand’s Court and other relatives of the Royal Family. Hornbrand spotted them and darted for them. The Dwarf King brought them to his table and asked them to dine next to him and his son. All four joined the King who sat at the head of the table of nobles, members of his Court and commanders of his own army. Amongst the Court of three hundred and forty were one hundred and twenty seven gnomes. These Gnomes had status’ and professions such as Key Houlders, Sages, Alchemists, and Royal Sorcerers. Other members of the Court included Pages, Secretaries, more Butlers, Doorwards, Cupbearer, Almoners, and plenty of Constables.

      Their feast lasted a good while in the night, but still seemed short for a Dwarf’s feast. Maurice assumed it was due to Ayalim’s plans to prepare for any future attacks from the Beast Men and Purple Beasts of both the Crehx, and the southern tribes. It was also to make defenses for another threat to the north Orcs, and a division of lesser Gantronese troops still in the Sarcagos. The King left them alone to their sleep Brittany had retired to her own quarters after two glasses of the finest wines. Hilastes and Amonif stayed for a drinking contest and some games amongst the patrons.

      Maurice got up and was permitted the King’s leave for some rest for the next day’s travel. He left the feast after warning the two Unseen Bears to get some rest before tomorrow’s journey. Alone Maurice took the way they had went to get to the Dining Hall. Along the way to the citadel Maurice could not help but feel that he was not alone aside from the statues, and standing armor. In a long hall Maurice had this notion that he was being stalked, no hunted by someone. He tried to shrug it off but something moved in the darkness of the ceiling behind him. The commando heard something move drawing his attention to the ceiling of the main hall to the citadel.

      He studied the darkness trying to decipher anything suspicious that could stand out in the ceiling. Unfortunately the darkness enshrouded everything forcing him to give up. Maurice then decided to stay put and wait for this assassin to come get him. This just encouraged the figure in the dark to come out his hiding spot. He heard someone drop on to the floor their feet landed on the stone floor.

      Maurice turned around armed with a dirk he received in the chest. He faced an assassin dressed in dark leather cloak the assassin tossed to the floor. This assassin stalker revealed his dark gray clothes with a blood red shirt underneath, brown gloves, brown boots, and a black bandana holding a head scarf used to cover the face. This assassin had brownish skin with a mustache and a goatee showing he was from Koriv. This Korivian assassin was armed with a long knife coated in red, an old flintlock pistol, and a short dagger.

      Without warning Maurice threw his dirk at the arm wielding the pistol hoping to scratch him or force a wasted shot. His dirk nailed the assassin in the forearm forcing a reflex to pull the trigger as the Korivian jerked from the impact and pain. His would be assassin grabbed his arm dropping the pistol while holding the long knife. Maurice charged the assassin and performed a kick knocking the assassin to the ground. He picked up the pistol and stood over the assassin. The assassin tried to jab him with the long knife, but Maurice brushed the stroke to the side with the pistol. Maurice proceeded to beat the assassin senseless with the buttress of the pistol. He did so with such brute force and aptitude that the assassin dropped the long knife. Determined to get this fight over with Maurice snatched the long knife and stabbed the Korivian finishing him off. Maurice now stood over the corpse of the assassin realizing he had probably angered someone powerful enough to hire an assassin to go after him. He took the long knife from the corpse and the pistol as prizes to keep. Tired and a little drunk from the party Maurice retired to his guest room. 

Nazdar with Flamethrower sketchwork

Tank Commander Adalet Chapter

The battle for Dorntalla was the fiercest tank battle he had ever experienced. It was also the longest battle recorded in history that involved tanks and other types of armor. Commander Temel Asil Adalet perched himself on the turret of a Dragon tank he commanded. His crew cleaned the tank, scrubbing the dust and ashmarks off the turret, tracks, and the engine so it would run with little trouble the next morning. They had to clean around him before he sat in the seat to let them clean the spot he previously sat on. When it was cleaned he ordered one crew member to refuel the the tank while the rest of them went to get supplies and ammo for the tank. The last time they go supplies was a month ago. It was just an hour ago before they cleaned the tank when a crew member discovered they had just three rounds left for the turret. Commander Adalet had four men under his command to run his Dragon tank. There was a driver to driver it, an engineer to fix the mechanical problems, the gunner for the turret, and a loader who loaded the shells for the gunner. The loader also fired the secondary machine gun on the tank. Temel served three positions, he served as the commander, the spotter, and the top machine gunner whenever he was in the safety of the turret.

Temel looked around them seeing hundreds of tanks scattered around the area. There were a few towns and villages insight. Each settlement was surrounded by a score of tanks. Most of the tanks around them were already destroyed from the previous battle. Slaad tanks, Dragon tanks, and a few Chimera tanks located here and there were amongst the destroyed tanks. There were far more Slaad tanks destroyed in the field then theirs. The kill ratio was hundred to one despite the superior numbers of the Slaad tanks and the Gantronese artillery.

Most of the artillery were found on the edges of the settlements. Gantronese forces had them hidden behind buildings and in the streets aimed at the south. A few were aimed at the entrances to the towns. The Vestrisians were lucky that the Zema Ilam here rose up in rebellion against the Gantronese. Those Zema Ilam who inhabited the towns and villages killed the Gantronese and commandeered scores of artillery pieces. Those same people turned the Gantronese’ weapons against them when the Vestrisian forces arrived.

 Temel’s Dragon tank had an artillery piece to its left twenty feet away. Ten feet away on their right were a couple of Chuul tanks. Behind them was a mix of CHuul tanks, Dragon tanks, and Chimeras. All the Chuul tanks were destroyed along with a few Dragon tanks. There was another Chuul tank fifty feet in front with smoke still rising from where it was hit. It was charred from the flames and blast from an enemy round hitting it. This tanks no longer had a turret. It was blown off when a Vestrisian tank shot it in the midst of the battle and pursuit.

If Temel or anyone else looked at the field behind him they would se an entire field covered in destroyed tanks, artillery and the aftermath of the prolonged battle over Dorntalla. Thousands of Gantronese bodies also littered the field. They would even see more settlements and flesh eating birds like crows or vultures that circled above them for weeks. These flocks of birds pecked at the flesh of those who lay dead on the field. It was rumored amongst populace and the men that the destruction from the battle extended all over Dorntalla from Nevkamuu all the way to the southern part of Zekmar. Commander Adalet and the tank army he travelled with were now deep in the southern part of Zekmar. Temel and his crew came all the way from the unknown lands. They went through Borvados and the strip of land that was for some reason part of Morgladr. From that strip of land they took transports to the coast of Dorntalla. Getting through those areas was easy and straight forward. Even the trip across the strait was easy and the landing was like a walk on the beach. What was hard was getting out of the unknown lands and fighting through Dorntalla.

He did not dare think of the godforsaken lands they entered five years ago. That was when they were defeating the Gantronese and Mulzan and their superiors wanted to investigate the Unknown lands. There they found some Gantronese presence where they were. It was this year they exited those lands around the same time they are attacked again. This time the Republic and its ally were attacked in several places. The Nazdar struck first launching an invasion with a horde of allies from some underworld and a mountain range he can’t remember the name of. Months later they are invaded by the Gantronese who retook Zekmar and Dorntalla. The enemy took over most of the Gaskouth Ladai coast and pushed into Nevkamuu from Dorntalla. Another few months pass and they are attacked again.

Even though they were winning against the Gantronese in Gaskouth Ladai and Nevkamuu, Al-Dadoria and the Boathrin Kingdom come under attack. Gontrellan, Nazdar and Gantronese fleets launch an invasion on multiple islands. From some reports over the radio they all heard most of the invasions failed, but two islands of Al-Dadoria were taken. That was a blow to the Republics while they were fighting the Gantronese in Zekmar. He pondered for a moment how the defenders fought and tried to hold on. The Gantronese and Nazdar probably overwhelmed the first island together and then launched the bulk of their forces on the main island before taking the second island. Thinking of Al-Dadoria’s defenses gave him a head ache since the islands were a loss to the Vestrisian Republic. Temel looked down and saw that his crew was finished with cleaning, refueling, and resupplying the Dragon tank. All four of them rested on a few tank cushions they managed to salvage from other tanks. They turned the salvaged cushions and turned them into a couple of couches. After the battle crews went all over the battlefield scavaging whatever parts they found useful. Some managed to find tanks with cushions that weren’t burned or destroyed. It was better than looting the settlements around them, since those were still inhabited by the Zema Ilam. Such actions would sever the alliance with the Zema Ilam.

Temel reflected back on their journey starting from some hell hole swamps and marsh next to a city full of crazed cannibals unaligned with them or the Gantronese. Both the Vestrisian Republics and the Gantronese invaders were enemies to this cannabilistic society within the unknown lands. Temal thanked Al-Hana they had pulled out of such a nightmare. It was no wonder it they were called the unkown lands. Every outsider who entered the place was either sacrificed after receiving great hospitality. Others were executed, killed then eaten or ambushed out of nowhere. There were several accounts that reached their ears concerning a few diplomats and soldiers gone missing. Later on their fates were discovered from those captured or mutilated bodies were found in the swamps.

Fortunately, the Vestrisian forces were able to make some allies who guided them through the swamps and jungles of tall grass. Those guides took them on trails that strayed from the territories of the cannibals and murderers. Many of the guides were from other city-states who were at war with the cannibals. While he was there Temel found it settling to know not all of these people were cannibals. It was enough for Temel and his crew to get their tank through the bamboo forests in Borvados. In the tall grass of this unknown world it was not possible without cutting through it every inch of the way. Several tanks were lost because of the natives had booby traps set up and mines laid out. Over the course of five years they lost thirteen thousand if not more brave souls in the unknown lands.

Temel tried to suppress those memories with other thoughts of the past. His mind went to the long battle just fought last week that turned into a pursuit they were still on. For one long month and half the 2^nd Vestrisian Armoured Field Army butchered its way through Dorntalla and into Zekmar. A hundred thousand foot soldiers charged with the tanks as they demolished waves of Chuul tanks. Temel chuckled when he recalled the very first day of the battle for Dorntalla.

The Gantronese were in full force scouring the entire region of Dorntalla. Every Gantronese in Dorntalla were in search of Vestrisians and Zema Ilam who continued to resist. There were still a significant amount of Vestrisians and Zema Ilam who fought on even though most of their positions were overrun. None of the Gantronese commanders bothered to secure the coast. Their orders to destroy the enemy made them focus on hunting the enemy to leave themselves blind of other armies coming in. This allowed the 2^nd army to land on Dorntalla and takes the coast with ease.

Opportunity struck and the entire 2^nd army began their assault three days after their arrival. As the Gantronese search an army of Dragon tanks stormed in as one massive wave that pounded the Gantronese artillery, machinegun nests, Chuul tanks and outposts all across Dorntalla. Their sudden assault caught the blind enemy off guard. Many Gantronese infantry died in the first assault while the survivors ran for their lives to bolster the next group, which killed them all for retreating. Only surviving CHuul tanks gave a fierce fight, but were soon over powered. Some managed to escape while others tried to keep up the fight on the move in retreat. The ones who fought on forced the Dragon Tanks to pursue the retreating Gantronese for a whole day. As they pursued the Gantronese they came across more Gantronese forces from artillery teams to more CHuul tanks. There were plenty of infantry with anti-tank weapons, which gave the Dragon tank divisions headaches. A few Dragon Tanks were destroyed, but many of them were damaged as a result. About a thousand tanks had to be repaired before the rest of the army could move on. This went on for a week as each battle was getting fiercer every day. By the second week Muzad, Zema Ilam, and other Vestrisian Armour entered Dorntalla through Nevkamuu. That assault came as a surprise for the Gantronese who did not expect an attack from Nevkamuu. Nevkamuu was mostly a desert but somehow the Umber Hulk tanks and Chimera tanks traversed the desert.

Temel heard from other Commanders that on the second week the Umber Hulks and Chimeras ran into the bulk of the CHuul tank army, which was aided by artillery and infantry. Both tank types crushed the CHuul tank army and their support in a three day fight. That week they had to stop for eight days then move on for another push into Dorntalla. During one of these mass pursuits of the Chuul Armour and Infantry the Dragon Divisions linked up with the Umber Hulks and Chimeras. For two more weeks both armies joined up and forced the Gantronese out, killing countless infantry and tank alike as they pushed their way to the borders of Zekmar.

It was on the fourth week when they had the Gantronese Chuul tanks trapped at the border. The Zema Ilam living along the Zekmar and Dorntalla borders rose up against the Gantronese. They took over their positons and fired on the Gantronese using the Gantronese’ own weapons. The heaviest fighting was on the border where numerous Gantronese fell and CHuul tanks were shot and destroyed every minute. Scores of tanks were killed each minute as the battle raged on over the borders. This one fight lasted for two days and at nightfall the remnants if Chuul tanks made it out.

It was just this morning when they found a large number of artillery teams and CHuul tanks waiting for them at this very spot. The morning battle was swift and fierce with tanks shooting at each other for hours. Temel’s tank destroyed ten CHuul tanks and demolished five artillery pieces. Commander Adalet was becoming renowned for his kills on the field. He pondered over the various kills he made this past month. In each engagement he outgunned his opponents each time, shooting while moving around. At one point in the battle he maneuvered around an unsuspecting CHuul tank that was too focused on other tanks, and shot him in the engine. His victim blew up in a large explosion. Seeing this explosion lit his eyes up with satisfaction.

He even recalled one foolish enemy tank that tried to make a run for it after shooting at him. Unfortunately for the Chuul tank his shot missed Temel’s tank by four feet. He ordered for their turret to aim for the moving target that was trying to get away. It was taken out once the turret locked on and fired one round. That was the one he was looking at with the smoke still rising from it. There were a few more kills he added to the ten he got from this battle. The battle here ended with a few Chuul tanks and Gantronese infantry fleeing before them.

For the remainder of the day they all sat idle waiting for new orders to move on the Gantronese forces located near Zelhinan. Rumors were starting to spread amongst all the men in the tank divisions. These rumors started not long ago, most came from radio broadcasts and local travelers who went from town to town. Temel heard such rumors being spoken of amongst his own crew who must have gotten them from others. The Commander himself even heard these rumors from officers, and infantry talking amongst themselves whenever they passed his quarters or tent.

Such rumors included rebels coming down from the mountains they saw on the way to Dorntalla. These were the mountains he saw while he was at sea. They were the large mountain range that separated Zekmar, Dorntalla and Mulzan from the Unkown lands. To the cannibal kingdoms and city-sates these mountains were known as the Galacho Zoxo Mountains, but to the Zema Ilam and Borvados they were called the Vegud Nepa Mountains. There were other names to these mountains that signified death and more horrible fates would fall upon those who ventured those mountains. These names made his skin crawl and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up whenever he thought of them or whenever someone mentioned them. These rebels who were coming down from those mountains attacked numerous Gantronese positions. The same rumors included how long these rebels have been raiding and ambushing the Gantronese.

Other rumors were about some mass jailbreak along the coast that released an army of prisoners held by the Gantronese. If this was true then the Gantronese would have to split their forces and fight on three or four fronts in Zekmar. Everything was going well for the Vestrisian Army and her allies for these past few months. As he watched the smoke from his latest kill evaporate, Temel listened to his crew chat to each other. When he listened closely he heard them mention the rumors to themselves.

“I heard something about resistance rising all over Zekmar, and the people rising up attacking Gantronese troops everywhere.” Unan said to the crewmembers Jan, Sentas, and Mosa.

“If there is Unan then it will be small resistance springing up all over Zekmar.” Jan replied.

“Bah! It does not matter! The Gantronese could be sending in more men as we are sitting here!” Sentas scoffed.

“The more men they send the more men we kill and they waste Sentas!” Unan responded in a mock tone.

Jan laughed with the others, but the fourth one remained quiet even the Commander who was watching them from the top of the turret. It was Mosa who was the quiet one who did not speak this time. To the crew it seemed strange for Mosa to be this quiet. He was never a quiet fellow.

“Mosa why are you so quiet today? You are the loudest and talkative of us all. What is wrong?” Jan asked the fourth crewman named Mosa.

Mosa shrugged and told them the truth. “I guess it’s just that Borvados is breaking away from the Vestrisian Republic.” He said to his comrades.

“Borvados is breaking away from the Vestrisian Union?” Temel broke into the conversations.

“Yes Commander, the nation of Borvados wants to break away from the Vestrisian Union. That is what Mosa just told us.” Jan answered looking up at their Commander.

“Mosa, aren’t you from Borvados?” Commander Temel asked Mosa.

“I suppose so, I mean I am from there sir, but my loyalty lies toward the Vestrisian Union.” Mosa stated to his fellow crew members and Commander.

“Why is that Mosa? Weren’t you born and raised in Borvados as well?” Unan asked, questioning Mosa’s reasons for not showing loyalty towards his native land.

“Borvados may be the country I was born in, but I never felt welcomed there. Odd enough as that is, no one showed me true respect and friendship there until I joined the V.A.V.R. I had found a home there and a true family who loves and respects me.” Mosa told them.

“So did the Vestrisian Army give you a home to belong to and a family in the Vestrisian Republic?” Jan asked him.

 “I understand that Borvados does require every child born there to show loyalty to their birthplace. Yet you showed none of it towards Borvados and your own family even though it was required of you by law.”

Temel looked down at the Borvados native knowing the crewman felt like an outcast within his own country. When Mosa joined the Vestrisian Vestrisian Army he found more embrace than he ever had from his own family. Even at a young age the Borvadosian had little to no love from the people he lived with except from his mother who showed to him whenever they were alone. That was all the love he ever spoke of to his own Commander when they fought side by side in the unknown lands. Commander Adalet would have continued asking Mosa about Borvados’ reasons for leaving the Union except a Major approached their tank. This Major rode on a new vehicle called a jeep that was produced in Kaniima.

“All tanks prepare to role forward! This is the final push to Zelhinan!” the Major yelled as he passed them. He then turned to another crew and shouted the same orders to them.

“You heard him, get this beautiful steel beast up and ready! We’re rolling out now!” Temel commanded as he took his seat in the turret and closed the hatch.

His crewmen did as he commanded them and followed his lead entering the tank through side doors and other hatches on the tank. Commander Adalet felt the engines turn on as it rumbled causing vibration in the tank. He now had three Dragon tanks under his command plus two Chimeras, which were given to him two days ago. He originally started with one tank and acquired a few more under his command as he proved his skills at leading and commanding in the battle. As commander he looked out again to check if the other tanks were ready to roll out. Once he popped his head out and signed to each commander they signed back saying their tank was ready. Temel gave the signal and all five tanks rolled out following another line of tanks that formed the vanguard.

Behind them was another line of tanks forming up one of the rear lines. Each line was in rows and columns of tanks. Dragons, Chimeras, and Umber Hulk tanks all made the rear lines of thisone wave. To their right were four Umber Hulk tanks each one flanked by Dragons and Chimeras on each side. Those giant Umber Hulk tanks were good for bombardments, taking out Wyverns, demolishing nests, and sinking ships. The Dragon and Chimera tanks worked as anti-infantry and anti-tank armour. Chimera tanks had superiority in terms of speed, armor, power and the number of barrels over the Dragon tanks. It was not to say the Dragon Tank wasn’t powerful, for it still proved its worth since the start of this entire war.

As Temel rode on top he put on his headphones to listen to commands, updates and other reports over the radio. When he put them on and switched the radio on he heard numerous voices at once, static, and commands shouted. These were all the sounds he heard as the drowned out the engines. Over the radio he heard that their next target were lines of trenches, artillery, Tanks, machine gun nests, and countless infantry waiting for them. These were the barriers between them and the city of Zelhinan.

He also heard something about resistance and rebels shooting down Wyvern transports in Zekmar. These transports the rebels were shooting down were bound for Zelhinan. Each of these were carrying cargo of supplies, weapons, ammunition, tanks, artillery and infantry to the front lines in the center of Zekmar. As he listened to all of this he wanted to say something like the state of Borvados was leaving the Union. He imagined someone asking him why and him say it was because it was not part of the Vestrisian continent. An even more true answer would be along the lines of diplomats and representatives of Borvados were killed somewhere in Naatidra by Nazdar scum. The Commander chose not to say any of this, fearing persecution, and court martial from his superiors.

The next day they passed a large lake with the city of Zelhinan standing next to it like a mountain range. To the west of this lake the 2^nd army ran into a large bastion of Slaad tanks whom fired the first shots at the front lines. Temel ordered his crews to aim their tanks at one of them and fire over the vanguard lines, returning fire. In seconds everyone exchanged fire with the enemy tanks pushing towards their positions.