Izzyr Returns Abane

 Three days of trekking through the wilderness brought them to campsites, and hideouts these Rangers created. Abane was finally awake, but was far more quiet than Bidfrid remembered. She acted sort of like a spoiled child who refused to say anything, but still willingly ate her meals. During those three days of avoiding the main roads to Neppetz they found themselves engaged in a skirmish 6 times. The first time was literally on the first day when a band 48 savage Goblins lurked in the deep parts of the forest. A tribal war of some sorts was being waged, and they disrupted an attempted raid on another tribe. On the next day they fought off three different groups. An Axe Wielding Ogre, a horned medium Ettin, one tall Elven Archer, Large Dwarf with pike axe, very tall skeletal warrior, 7ft tall fake wizard, a heavily armed bull humanoid mutant, 2 large wild Ogres, tall magenta skinned mutated humanoid, a white sorceress, a bow rider, and a bear riding paladin brought their own skirmish into their camp. Killing the ones who acted more savage they apprehended the rest. The Bear Riding figure was pressed to help them in the next encounter while the deceased bowman's horse was used to bind the sorceress. In their second engagement they faced a band of seventy-five skeleton warriors that were revived by someone to protect something nearby. Towards the end of the afternoon they might as well have angered a nearby city-state. Two city-guards, 4 flint-lock Witch-men, 4 masked battlefield assassins, 2 netherworld demon wolves, a pair of rival demons, five Elf Warriors, and a cannon team were already engaged in a skirmish. Their skirmish entered the Sun-Guard camp only to meat an enraged group who were trying to reach Neppetz. Not a single one of those humanoids Izzyr, Bidfrid, and their Sun-Guard allies faced in this third encounter lived. On the third day the other two encounters went as followed. As they road up to a path these two groups were already locked in some sort of stand down. One side had a pair of Renegade Drow outlaws, 7 samurai dressed marauding Orcs, 5 cadaver men in scary attire, 5 skeleton warriors, 2 rat looking humanoids, one hired Barbarian and an Armored Man at Arms. The other consisted of an interesting mash up of scantily clad humanoids, nude monsters, and rather angry yet depraved looking mutations. Close by are 8 attractive looking female warriors bound in certain positions. Not caring at all what either wanted they turned on both groups just to help someone while enforcing some peace. Even Abane helped them take down both of the groups. 

Towards the afternoon they had their sixth encounter with help from the eight women and those who tagged along. Just one band of 30 bandits camped out near a town that traded with Neppetz blocked their pathway. Making short work of these bandits they buried the corpses before resting for a bit. While resting he learned a bit more of what happened to Abane as well as the names of their new allies. She was bringing in laundry one day and this strange thin fellow in spectacles approached her. He wore a bluish robe with gold triangles along the sleeves, cuffs, and edges. He held a smile that sort of put her off a little. Acting all friendly he offered to help her with the laundry. When she declined he appeared in her path as if he was some wizard or ghost. Before she knew it he blue some powder into her face. Everything after that was lost to her. Bidfrid and Izzyr kept this in mind, especially Izzyr who needed to report this. Towards the end of the day the large party rode towards the city of Neppetz. At the northern most gate they found an army assembled outside. This assembled army was made up of 34 militia, 80 archers, 32 crossbowmen, 15 javelin throwers, 60 riflemen, 213 mounted knights, 33 missile/ bow cavalry, 28 dismounted knights, 42 spearmen, 33 heavy troopers, and warriors. This was just a small army compared to what was starting to gather from the city itself. Various Rangers, Clerics, Fighters, Warriors, Elites, Rogues, Thieves, Warlocks, Mages, Townwatch, Paladins, Orcs, Goblins, and Knights made up a force of 1844 to join the gathered force of over 500. 

Just witnessing a force of 2,414 march up the road towards Rednight Fangsir made Izzyr uneasy inside. Yes it was a large force assembled. Would it be enough to deal with the whole city that was made from a mountain? Especially when it was inhabited by various breeds of monsters and possible vampires. Looking around he searched for a high ranking official so he could get information on what the Six Mothers was going on. Among the Drow astride their steeds he spotted a Female Dame Knight bearing an officer's insignia of a silver spider web. Its shape could easily be seen from a certain distance. Breaking away from the Sun-Guard party he approached the closest officer he could get to. The female commanding officer he approached resembled his ex-wife. All the hairs in the back of his neck rose up under the belief that it was his ex-wife. She noticed him approaching her. 

"What is it Detective?" she asked him addressing him by his profession. 

"What is going on here Commander?" he asked her. 

"Rednight Fangsir is going through their turf war phases again. It is spilling over in other cities and regions. Neppetz along side eight other city-states are marshalling forces to clear out Rednight Fangsir." she answered. 

"Are you taking them inside Neppetz?" she asked him. He turned to see his fellow travelers coming up from behind him. They might as well form their own army or cavalry unit with over forty in their party. 

"Yes, yes I am. This is the missing Abane who was abducted by some strange fellow in a bluish robe. As for the rest these are the Sun-Guards who helped Bidfrid and I escape. These ladies are part of a faction dedicated to fighting monsters in these mountains. Every other member is a tag along. Do I have your permission to enter the city with this force? Or do we need to turn in weapons and wait at the closed gates for a few days?" Izzyr replied looking at this female Officer in the eyes. 

"No, go ahead Detective. Be sure to bring those new comers over to the Governess's Palace. She will see they are well acquainted with their temporary lodgings before their faction can be located." She told Izzyr. "Also bring Abane straight to the doctors. She will need to be examined before her family is informed of her return. Also, well done Detective." 

Before letting him go she patted him on the shoulder. Her own troop of Neppetz fighters passed by them as they trailed behind her. Not bothering to consult either of the girls or their new acquaintances Bidfrid and Izzyr led them into Neppetz. Abane covered herself with the robe so no one could see her. he did not know why she did this, but he chose not to ask. Taking them inside the streets of Neppetz he came back to a city that was preparing for some kind of siege. Citizens and Residents were too busy preparing for whatever was coming to even notice the new comers. Looking into the crowds of people he thought he saw his ex-wife. His heart skipped a beat knowing the next time she would ever see him would be the last time they run into each other. Bidfrid's hand rested on his arm snapping him out of a flashback. 

"I love my children." He said aloud causing Bidfrid to burst with laughter. 

"What did you do?" Bidfrid asked as they came to the doctor's office and workplace. 

"Made five children with two women." he admitted. 

"Where are they?" Bidfrid asked him dismounting and leaving him with the others. 

"Just with their aunt for now." He said feeling a little embarrassed. 

Doing his best to ignore the laughter from Bidfrid Izzyr left Abane with the Bounty Hunter while he took the rest over to the Governess. Winding their way through the streets had them pass through some poorer streets where he saw the Sun-Guards pass out coins to the poor, and homeless. This was something he only saw monks do or friars do at the end of each week. With them they would bring carts of food every day. What the Sun-Guards did was helping them a little further. Being a man of the law people assumed he was their escort. Seeing that each one was armed none of the usual thugs, or ruffians went after them. His gaze met their gaze knowing if any happened to these people none of those goons would live to see spring again. Izzyr left them to the hands of the secretary and the doorman-guard who awaited visitors to the Governess. Handing a copy of his report in he darted for the Neppetz police head quarters. The very moment he went up the steps he passed all the other police, guards, watchmen, and other detectives. His pace quickened as he went straight for the Chief. Wrapping on the door quickly he was told to enter. Chief Nolzur looked up to see him with an amused expression on her face. She was not the kind of person one would find a smile on their face very often. 

"Report Detective Nadisim." she ordered sorting through some envelopes on the desk. 

"Abane Velnis has been found Chief. She is with a guardian known as Bidfrid, a friend to her family." He reported to her. 

"Good job, good job." She got up with the most unexpected smile on her face. It showed all her white teeth that was the same color as her eyebrows. 

"Th- thank you Chief Nolzur. I shall keep up the good work." He replied. 

"Neppetz owes you one month off and a hefty reward before your next case. Oh by the way there is someone else here to see you." Nolzur sat back down. 

"Who is it, Chief?" Izzyr asked her. 

"Some privateer Captain by name of Jenere Omavern. A charming handsome elf, comes from Lheobethe." She answered. 

"A Vestrisian Elf? A Vestrisian Elf all the way here." Izzyr found this very amusing and puzzling. He almost laughed thinking this was a joke. What would a Vestrisian doing all the way here? 

"Dismissed." Nolzur said letting him go check his office. 

Izzyr jogged his way back to his office so he could retrieve the next case in his mail slot on the door. When he got to his own hall he found a few other figures, the usual staff. What stuck out was another figure who appeared lighter colored than the Drow and Dark Elves that worked here. This one dressed in a long seafaring captain long trench coat. A Captain style cap donned his head with a different symbol on it. He looked strong, tall, handsome and seen some fights in his day. Izzyr walked up to the elf who spotted him. This elf pirate or sailor smiled the biggest smile he ever saw on an elf. 

"You must be Detective Nadisim, Captain Omavern of the Abomination." He introduced himself with his hand stretched out. 

"Yes I am him. What are you all the way out here for?" He replied taking his hand for a shake. 

"I am a father who is looking for his dear children. The last I saw them with my now late wife they were in the hands of a caretaker who has disappeared and so have they." Jenere answered. 

Izzyr wanted to ask how he found out about Neppetz then realized this elf was a pirate who knew thousands of contacts, and spies. Pirates who lived long enough got to know an army of contacts, and spies. He would assume all were affiliates or thralls to pirates such as Jenere who stood before him. 

Their first Island

 Meeting all 136 of the arcane users was overwhelming for her. Izzine White-Spear plopped herself on the bed while Rhed Bykon was seated at the desk in the room. Taking the place of a Wizard for this crusade against the Gantronese that managed to assemble an armada of ships, 4,387 hired mercenaries who are likely to draw in more recruits. Izzine felt ready to plunge right into this little crusade. Something that sounded far more intriguing than some usual assignment that involved going after a monster from the underworld, netherworld, some cave, sewers, or some specter that needed to move on. The Zhenrai Order on Ivodra was just one of several on Calorn that managed to survive the Vearxall Hunts for Zhenrai a few thousand years ago. Her latest assignment involved slaying some Coral Golem. That battle alone took up a few hours. She was glad it was only an empty-headed brute of a creature summoned by some mad Wizard seeking to exact revenge on a noble family. Their order war rewarded handsomely for it. Rolling on to her stomach she faced Bykon. 

"When do you go after this Necromancer?" She asked him. 

"I believe tomorrow morning. The Grand Masters granted their approval of me taking this assignment. Whoever he is this Necromancer has a hidden lair deep in the city. Just the location of the attacks should give me enough information on where it is." Bykon replied to her. 

"Do you still have the package and letter I gave you?" She asked hoping he did not lose it. Bykon had bad habit of losing things. However that did not keep him from gaining the interests of the opposite sex. 

"Yes I still have it right here." He picked up the package he had on his desk. 

Izzine got off the bed just to put her breasts against the side of his face. She sort of liked him enough do this, but not enough to start a relationship. Bykon automatically turned to face her only to find his nose and face in between her covered chest. He seemed to freeze from the unexpected behavior she showed to him. No words came out of his mouth. His eyes were very wide from her surprise attack. She pressed herself against him even more until her breasts were on his shoulders. Izzine squeezed his face with her bosoms before kissing his forehead. 

"Thank you, I have to be ready in five days." Izzine said releasing him. She cut him off before he could say anything about what she did making him promise this was between them. No one was supposed to know about them. Feeling aroused by what he was doing for her Izzine had him get it on with her before they parted ways. 

When it came time to leave she hugged him for a long time. To her felt like leaving a close relative since he was a member of the same order. Exiting their room she went down to the lobby where one of the Wizards waited for her with the pirate Captain, and hired mercenaries. Not many words were exchanged except the usual greeting and introductions. Izzine almost forgot where they were going until it returned to her. Kilscar Orvain was going to be their next destination. Her profession as an Arch Warrior Zhenrai required her presence on the battlefield first. There were some islands a group of hired mercenaries, and volunteers claimed for their movement off the coasts of Kilscar Orvain. A battle occurred some time ago resulting in heavy casualties. Their Gantronese foe suffered casualties near Kilscar Orvain and on those islands. To them it allowed a pathway into the region while the Vestrisians pressed northward. Some damage had been done, but could be replaced within a few months if they did not hurry. 

Upon embarking she was introduced to the kid who owned the ship, the rest of the crew, and those who travelled aboard with them. In one large armada their hired army went past Borvados, Lybresan, and veered northward towards Oceanrest Var. Here they picked up new allies and recruits who rallied towards the calling of the first groups that fought the Gantronese. Not bothering to check who else joined them or who joined them Izzine jumped out of their landing boat onto the first island. Kilscar Orvain was to the north of them where the rest of their armada would dock. She had 8 of the mercenaries, and 43 of the pirates with her. She of course warned the other Wizards she would head for this island after they picked up reinforcements. Just checking the place out she found the aftermath of the battle and a column of makeshift graves. Most of the island appeared unscathed until she peaked through some trees using her ascension powers. Returning herself back into her bodily vessel Izzine checked the graves of the dead. Most of the graves were marked by a shield, sword, or rifle with a name written on it. She did not get a chance to read it as a group of survivors from the previous battle appeared out of the wall of trees. One female Forysthan, two Rangers, a Dwarf, female half-elf, and a female archer in makeshift uniforms taken from the Gantronese and some other faction. One of them greeted her. 

"Good to see a fellow skoger walking about. What's your name?" the female half-elf said with a wry smile on their face. 

"Izzine White-Spear Arch Warrior of the Ivodran Order. I have been chosen to fill in for this Wizard named Gredaro. All I have been told is this mercenary and volunteer army have gathered through the recruitment by 137 arcane users. There are more who joined us, and others waiting at Oceanrest Var. Oh and the pirates, and mercenaries are with me." Izzine replied to the half elf. 

"Charmed to meet thee Izzine. I am Cannie Chimay the Bard. These fine chums of mine are Durditz the Dwarf, Bellime the Forsythan, Faidal, Christal, and Vodern. We are members of the IBOIS short for International Bureau of Operations for Intelligence and Security. Under the command of Cularis, and employ of Babik. The other commander, Tinnastra is currently in the west gathering others discretely." Cannie introduced herself spilling out who their organization was. 

"Where is your base?" Izzine asked looking around seeing foliage, crashed aircraft, and destroyed vehicles. 

"Underground and well disguised by the very island itself. Come on." Cannie answered the Zhenrai. Izzine turned to see the pirates, and mercenaries come towards them. 

"Follow them. They are Orbik's mercenaries the IBOIS or International Bureau." Izzine commanded the mercenaries and pirates. All eight mercenaries followed her, and just ten pirates were permitted to follow. 

These IBOIS mercenaries led them into the forest on the island. Trekking through the jungle the Bureau members cut to the left in a detour across the open ground where patches of grass were just now growing back. The one called Faidal pulled on a metal piece on the ground. A trap door in the earth was opened up to an underground bunker. One by one they climbed down the ladder into the constructed bunker that was on this island for several months. Stepping down on the hard surface they were in a large circular chamber that acted as a front porch. On the walls were written the words First Island.

Escaping Rednight Fangsir

 Seated in a corner of the room a fine dressed pale faced figure had their eyes on Izzyr, and Bidfrid. The room was barely illuminated by the several lamps inside it. Just the dimness added more to the ominous appearance aside from the pale fine dressed figure looking at them. Izzyr's elf eyes made out the figure along with three others in the room. Why they did not stop Abane from attack them was beyond him at the moment. Turning to Bidfrid the Detective found him lifting up Abane from the floor and slinging her over his shoulder. The Dark Elf returned his gaze to the figures in the room. Grabbing the hilt of one his blades he prepared to engage one of them in case a fight broke out. In a blink of an eye the one who was seated zipped towards him. Whoever they were they stood at 7ft tall as a  handsome male with long fingers, and powerful physique. They grabbed him by the arm and lifted him up to their face. 

"Go. The way you came back." were the only other words they exchanged to him before dropping him. 

Another figure came roaring and screaming down the hidden hall they came through. One ugly grayish skinned stout figure in patched up clothing charged at them. Bidfrid punched him in the face knocking the ugly humanoid to the ground. He stepped over the figure back into the hall. Izzyr looked down at the ugly face seeing a heavy brow, oval shaped eyes, small nose with wide nostrils, wrinkly, scabbed, and boiled skin allover. Its mouth was a little wide to be a normal humanoid. Choosing to leave it be Izzyr stepped over the body, but not before finishing it off with a stab to the throat with its own dagger he found on it. Retaking the same passage in the walls the pair of them went backtracked. From the interior of the walls they heard a jumble of noise coming from allover the inside of the establishment. Screams, growls, and roars filling the rooms along with clash of weapons said they entered a turf war. The only ones he cared about right now in this eerie city were the helpful staff and the once enraged unconscious Abane. Drawing his weapon Izzyr did not look back. Doors behind them slowly closed and locked themselves. 

Feeling like they were trapped the pair of them skimmed the walls for any hidden doors. On both sides they found three doors that led to different rooms and situations. One room led to an orgy of some sorts where the staff were engaged in sexual intercourse. Another led to an aftermath of a fight that was yet to move on to other parts. The last one led to the outside alley. Getting out of this establishment appeared all too easy. Izzyr suspected a trap to be sprung. Looking up at the roof tops and walls he expected to find someone clinging to the walls. He was wrong about there being a trap. No one could be seen on the rooftops or in the windows of the dark buildings that flanked the alleyway they entered. Searching for an alley that would cut through the streets to the entrance Izzyr held Bidfrid back for a few moments. Spotting no dead ends or any paths that would steer them away Izzyr lead Bidfrid towards the entrance of Rednight Fangsir. Passing through two blocks of alley ways the pair of them ran into a turf war that erupted in the streets. He did not know how often it occurred in Rednight Fangsir. Izzyr surmised this had an impact on the activities that went on inside the city boundaries. Residents ran down the streets in panic trying to get away from the turf war. 

Whichever street they were on it filled with blood, bodies, and combatants. Possibly members or affiliates of different gangs, or thralls of a syndicate 50 Orcs, 7 outlaw knights, 6 swordsmen, 10 rogues, 11 troll like monsters, 15 Elf fighters, 5 Elf Archers, and scores of different humanoids spilled one another's blood. Lasting no more than five more minutes this street onslaught came to end leaving corpses, and wounded in its wake. Seeing the coast was clear Izzyr and Bidfrid raced towards the streets that lead to the wall. It was around this time the Rednight Fangsir Guards marched from either side of the street apprehending or killing the combatants. Their boots and footwear stepped in puddles of blood oozing out of the dead, wounded, and their entrails that spilled out. Izzyr almost slipped as they turned to enter another alleyway. Blindly entering this one they ran into some more thugs, one of whom was wounded. Clothed entirely in yellow these thugs did not reveal what they looked like. One of the, a 6ft humanoid lunged at them with a strange modified weapon that had three blades facing them. Izzyr blocked the first blow then cut the assailant down before running the other one into the wall with his blade. Doing the wounded one a mercy he cuts their throat not knowing what they looked like, what race, or gender. Eager the get out asap they raced down this new path only to run into a city guard who was on the hunt for combatants of the Turf War. Baring their teeth under the shadow of their helmet this Guard showed fangs of some sort. Starting to growl at them this Guard brandished a pair of gauntlet weapons. Both appeared like steel claws on the Guard's hands. Izzyr attempted to dance with him with his sword tapping both claws before jutting out with the blade at an exposed area. This Guard caught his sword and grinned. 

"Are you with the Red Loners, Black Pillagers, Phantoms, Yellow Corpse Posse, or the Hopeless ones?" the Guard asked them. 

"No we are part of none of those groups. I am Detective Izzyr Nadisim of the Drow city state of Neppetz. This is Bidfrid a Bounty Hunter for hire. We were sent here to retrieve Abane here." Izzyr responded to the question. 

This guard's growl went away, and his teeth disappeared behind lips. All facial features became relaxed with puzzlement. Blinking and shifting his eyes this Guard of Rednight Fangsir loosened his grip on Izzyr's sword. It took a moment for this one gather the words to even respond to his answer. Scratching his chin with a claw he pondered over this. Meeting people unaffiliated with those gangs during a turf war in the streets was apparently un heard of. His gaze returned to the pair of outsiders. The guard pulled something out of his cuirass and a writing utensil from his gauntlet. Just as he opened what looked to be a leather covered journal his head was cut off from behind. The Guard's beheaded corpse fell to the ground. A hooded figure armed with a very nice looking bastard sword stood behind the corpse. 

"Come on!" the hooded figure urged them. They beckoned for them to follow. Knowing they hardly knew where they were Izzyr looked at Bidfrid. 

"Did you forget your way around Rednight Fangsir?" He asked Bidfrid. The large man shot him a look. 

"No I did not lose my way around! Just follow that Ranger!" Bidfrid snapped at him. 

Shutting up Izzyr chose to follow this hooded figure. Racing through the interior alleys this figure took them to the walls of the city. A hidden passage was opened and they lead the pair of them through the interior walls to the the outside barrier of Rednight Fangsir. Pushing past some brush the Hooded Ranger, Drow Detective and large Bounty Hunter came across a man made clearing in some woods that flanked Rednight Fangsir. Inside the clinside earing they met up with 34 other hooded figures. Some were humans, Dwarfs, half elves, and straight up Elves. One of the Elves stepped up to the center. Pulling back their hood they revealed themselves to be female with jet black hair. Her attention went straight for the pair of retrievers.

"We are the Sun-Guards who protect these parts from any incursions made by the Vampires or Dhampirs of this mountain city." she said not even giving her name to them. 

"I am a Detective, and this is a Bounty Hunter who has been here before. We have come to return this woman back to Neppetz with her family." Izzyr pointed out to these Sun-Guard figures. 

"Check them. Once they have been checked. We shall return them to their homes or cure them if need be." The female commanded the rest of them. Four of the hooded figures marched up to them and checked all three of them. 

"None of them have any marks or bites Mistress." one of the hooded figures showed their Leader, the Dark Haired Elf. 

Without so much as a word the leader ordered for them to mount up on what appeared to be Large Cat-Like Creatures the size of a horse. Izzyr hesitated to even approach one of these mounts. One of the Hooded Sun-Guards pulled him and Bidfrid over to where their own mounts were hidden. Feeling a bit of relief inside Izzyr mounted his original steed that he rode to Rednight Fangsir. Once Bidfrid was mounted with Abane slung over the saddle the Sun-Guards rode off towards the south. Taking multiple switchbacks and detours through the woods, and over ridges they led the duo back to the city of Neppetz within a span of several days. Doing this was not without encounters with hostiles, or avoiding large war parties that kept lurking or swarming around other peaks. 

Izzine's Command and More

 Entering the stadium they came to a hollow portion that acted like a single chamber sized hall that encircled the main stadium. While they made their way to the main court portion the one named Odolin handed Izzine and Bykon notebooks with some lists. Bykon flipped through it out of curiosity. It contained listings of soldiers, and mercenaries hired. On some pages he spotted data for how many were hired, and how many wizards there were. As he kept going it showed which wizards, and witches hired which groups of mercenaries along with volunteers. The moment they entered the main court area for events Bykon stopped at the doorway. Filling the seats, and columns appeared to be a total of what he estimated to be two thousand seven hundred and more. 

Most of this stadium's space remained largely vacant. All the center, which was the court was filled up. As they progressed to the main balcony where the main speeches for this meeting was to take place more people poured in, citizens, civilians, and curious onlookers. They filled the upper columns as the ones with the mercenaries were blocked off. He assumed it was to keep them separate from the curious civilians who would piss them off in some way. Bykon expected this lot to start fighting each other, but he was wrong. These hired forces did not even argue. Each one appeared to be paid a nice sum of some sorts to appease them. Laughter, conversation, and chatter filled the inside stadium while the rain added to the noise. Izzine followed the Wizards with Bykon trailing behind. Once they took their seats another figure took the position at the microphone. Once seated Bykon began looking over who Izzine was going to be fighting alongside. 

"Welcome to the first meeting of the IBOIS. It warms my heart to see all the wizards, mages, witches and druids with their hired mercenaries gathered here..." the intro speaker addressed the crowd before them. 

While this meeting went on he read through all the wizards and their hired help. Some 84 Cat Warrior from Zegrav hired themselves out to avoid VUVR authorities after going renegade. One warrior family of 26 came to help a female mage they knew. Hailing from a Talus island a Wizard gets help from 12 friends after losing his laboratory. The very Wizard Izzine was filling in for hired 8 mercenaries, 43 pirates, and one youth with a ship. Tyen the Aqua Wizard-Mage came with 2 Forsythans as bodyguards, and 6 retainer warriors as hired hands. For Odolin's hire a group of 53 Blood Fighter Mercenaries arrived. Hired by some Wiccan named Ishann were 40 Stealth warriors. Egorse hired 9 soldiers with 7 sharpshooters to command. Someone named Madox Azzin managed to hire 119 Yellow Mist Goblins alongside 202 Blue-troopers from Kilscari. Eforahim brought 19 Evusian Auxilliaries. Another named figure named Apannos hired 31 gunslingers to add to this gathered force. An enchanter named Veleus came with 4 automatons, 1 blue elf Zhenrai outcast who had to stick with them. Under the enchanter he read the name Apon Janori who brought in 3 Orcs, 3 Dwarfs, and 2 Hybrids avoiding VUVR draft. 

Bykon focused more on the lists over the meeting, which apparently did not mention him yet. It left him time to read the rest of the lists. A Luvahan Elf Sorcerer hired 34 Knights and soldiers. One crew of 42 pirates came with a half-goblin mage. Three Wizards hired 63 Evusian warriors. Four Wizards constructed 27 automaton guardians/soldiers. When he read how many he doubted 613 Dragon Knights-Warriors would even bother with a Temple Witch. Apparently five Black Mages managed to hire 3 buccaneers, an adventurer, some ship pilot, a gentleman with 2 Knife Fighters. He did not read where they came from, but he noticed a Pit Fighter, Marksman, an adventurer, Rogue, a Man at Arms were hired by 2 Witches with their butler. One ship Captain, one crossbowman, commander, an Archer, some Navigator came under the employ of a Druid. One Summoner hired a ship captain with crew, buccaneer, 2 special forces, a long bowman, and swordsman. Two shamans hired a pilot with crew, a pirate, Ranger, swordsmith, a single Bard, and 3 Brigands. A team consisting of a Bounty Hunter, Raider, watchman, rogue, a ranger, and pickpocket were hired by a witch. One Wizard accompanied by their maid hired one Man at Arms, one Ranger, one Crusader, a single Adventurer, and a wandering clansman. One ship's Captain with a crew, 6 pirates, a smuggler, some warrior, a Crocodiloid, and 8 Goblins came under the employ of a lonely Druid. One duet of a Summoner and Warlock hired 3 Paladin, Dark-sword Assassin, a Dame, half Ogre, 3 Wolf Uxane warriors. 

Making up a team of 8 a Ranger, 2 burglars, Dame, one Orc, Warrior, one Bodyguard, and single Archer were hired by 2 Wizards. Forming her own platoon one summoner rallied a female warrior, 2 Nevoran Blinder C6 Pilots, 28 troops, and constructed 3 automatons. A rich witch gathered a tank crew of five, a gunship with a crew of four, 2 knights, 2 soldiers, and 4 Elite warriors. Another pair of Wizards hired 3 Evusian Tracker Plane pilots, 5 troops, a pilot knight, and Evusian Fighter. One quartet of fighters hired by a Sorcerer included a knight, a half Ogre, a wood elf sergeant, and a female Barbarian. As he kept reading they introduced each member of the 137 member meeting. One female Wizard hired just 9 for her force, 4 scouts, an exiled warrior princess, 3 Talus warriors, and a Monk Warrior. One Levitation Wizard hired 3 Koriv warriors, one exiled heroine, an Evusian sniper, one Forsythan, and an Uxane. 

Among these Wizards he found a dark Wizard listed who hired a Vorcadam Warrior, Gorav Katana wielder, 2 Carbon Warriors, and 2 Redrin Marksmen. An Elf Warlock was listed hiring an exiled princess with 5 warriors, one Mezeen Kol, a Desert Warrior, an Ivodran, and Uxane prowler. A group of 9 random warriors, 4 half-goblin ruffians, 2 Demons, 14 skull warriors, and 3 Uxanes found themselves hired by one Wizard. One dozen Wizards gathered 3 Winged Angels from Syrianos, 57 Knights, 51 Dwarf Hammers, 15 Barbarians and 228 Elves. Coming from West Koriv a Wizard seemed forced to hire 6 Goblinites, 2 syrianos demonoids, 4 half-goblinoids, Forsythan, and a Ranger. Looking down he noticed it was longer, but he wanted to keep going. Barely forming a squad was a Brute hybrid, one heroine, some Assassin-Rogue were hired by another pair of Wizards alongside 8 Goblins. Imprinting their own mark on the lists one lone Wizard hired a Forsythan, a Ranger, some Rogue, 6 Dwarf Axeman, an Initiate, 5 Bladesmen, and 5 crossbowmen. A second Dark Wizard somehow got a Crocoid Warrior, 3 cultists, 2 pirates, 4 civilized Gnolls, 4 Goblins, 4 Orcs, 12 Brigands into the same room. Seven Wizards who probably had enough between them hired 15 half Orcs, 5 Spearman, 8 Goblina, 4 Orcs, 8 Marksmen, 8 Warriors, and 4 Gnolls. 

He was surprised to find a second or so Warlock who rallied 8 Orcs, 2 Archers, 6 Knights, Dwarf Hammerer, 2 Rangers, 8 troopers for their contribution. The fourth or whichever number of Wizard pairs hired 6 Zedirian Kanines, 32, Malvieth contractors, 4 Marines, one pilot with a crew of 43, and a monster slayer. The third summoner on the lists brought together 4 conscripts, 3 Marksmen, a ship's captain with crew of 17, 9 Bladesmen accompanied by 2 bored highwaymen. He discovered the 6th Witch bagged herself 2 Assassins, one Pilot with a crew of 58, 6 mercenaries, 3 Knights, one swordsmen, a scout, and 3 troopers. Not surprised to find another group of wizards he counted five. These Wizards paid 4 Elf Paladins, 6 Bandits bound by service, 3 Dames, 2 Knights, 5 pirates for this operation. Down the line he found the largest grouping of arcane users. Fifteen female arcane users arrived to the meeting with 9 Elf Blades, 2 tamed Gnolls, a Goblin Dame, 5 Orc Clansmen, 50 soldiers, and 7 Rangers. The third Sorcerer here hired 4 samurai from Vorcadam, 3 Gnolls, 3 Morgadrans, and a pair of Nahemine duelists. Six conjurers hired 5 Bloodcats (Deadly Mezeen battle assassins), 4 Dark Elves, one Vampor (Renegade Holy Warrior), 6 Troopers, one Zhenrai, and 3 purchased automatons. One trio of snake sorcerers collected 3 Uxane, one Bandit, 2 half-Orcs, a Goblin explosive expert, 5 Troopers, 3 Syrianos Divers, and a female blacksmith. The fourth pair of Wizards drafted 2 tanks with a crew of 10, 7 pilots, 8 Rovantian soldiers, and modern armored trooper. Accompanied by a Wizard 2 mages employed an elf blacksmith, one Vorcadam Samurai, a monk fighter, half-orc, one bandit and a hybrid outcast. One Mage hired 4 tamed Gnolls, 4 Orcs, 14 Goblins, 8 bandits, 8 soldiers, 4 Paladins, and 2 Rangers. Just under the Mages he found a Mage and Wizard teamed up. Nine Orcs, 2 Archers, 2 Knights, 3 Dwarfs, 6 soldiers, and an assassin came under their employ.  Two Warlocks drafted one Dame, 4 Half-Goblins, Orc Brute, and one anti-infantry truck. A platoons worth of 30 Rovantian troops, 4 Orcs, Uxane Renegade, and Syrianos Ruffian came under the employ of 3 Elf Wizards. Hopefully the last duo of Wizards on this list Bykon found only hired 2 engineers, 2 soldiers, 2 pilots to one bomber who also recruited a mechanical trooper. The last trio of Wizards hired one Ranger, one Redrin Trooper, a lesser Zhenrai, a chronicler, and 5 ruffians. On this list of 137 or so he found the last Wizard close to the bottom who rallied an Evusian Elite, 2 Rogues, 5 Dwarfs, and 2 Forsythans. Five arcane users recruited a crew of 5 who operated an airship, 4 Elf Paladins, 5 Knights, and 26 Elf troops. 

To the average person it would be pointlessly boring, but to him it was something intriguing. Bykon sat there with this booklet reading off what was being rewarded, weapons being offered, and vehicles. Among the rewards are 38 bags of coins, 22 chests of coins for some group. From a donor 144 Rovantion Dolphin coins were being rewarded. The assortment of Rovantion Dolphins was not the only collection of coins being rewarded. One assortment of Tante crosses held 200. He also found 120 gold Kilscar Orvain coins among the rewards with 120 gems. From a Borvadosian Nobless 12k Eagles was being donated as reward. A total of 400 International Globes was being rewarded. From someone a reward of 72 bronze Titans was among the rewards. From Nahem an assortment of 100 Diamond coins, 100 gems, 2 earrings, 2 rings, and a necklace was found on the list. His eyes found a donation of 144 Mezeen Djinn coins, 288 International Globes, and 10 credits for 100 individuals that amount to 1000 each credit. A Lybresian was found among the donors giving 87k coins for the Wizards' crusade. A bag of 60k Turtles was found from someone he almost recognized, a Barrowson fellow. Some wealthy Wizard promised his mercenaries 12 horses as payment. Another bag of Turtle coins held 100 coins. One witch received 144 Tantos coins along with other rewards to pay her mercenaries. 35k International Globes was found on the list. Adding more Turtles a donor offered 150 Turtles, and 150 gems. In terms of weapons as rewards 6 gold swords, and axes was also being offered. Bykan doubted these were really made of gold knowing how cheap people can be. More Nahemines donated 72k Diamonds for this crusade. One chest of 230 coins was slapped on there as well. 

As he read more their voices rose up introducing themselves. A total of 110 Turtles, 500 Silver Turtles, 144 Oceanrest Var Blues, 144 Turtle coins, and 100 Gold Seals covered the last portion of a single page. Flipping it over he discovered more rewards such as 144 Silver Turtle Stars, 24 horses, 150 Starfish coins, 100 Black coins, 10k Sea Dragons, and 100 Turtles. The next page he found bags of 62k Sea Turtles. 10 International credits for 1000 each. Lybresian currency was found again offering 8000. Thirty pieces of Djinns from Morgadra added a bit more to the pile. About 85 Gold Turtles, 57 Ivodran coins, 20k gold coins, 2k metal coins, 41k Elf Dark Coins, 12k in terms of Djinns, 125 gems, and 72k Silver Sea Turtles were also being offered. Weapons were added to the rewards for the mercenaries. A total of 2883 guns with ammunition were also being rewarded. 

On another page he found a fleet of 382 vessels of various sizes with crews being donated to this crusade. Each came with 250 sacks, crates, and barrels with provisions. A cache of 90 weapons and tools were also being given for any engineers or gunslinger personnel. More than 24 camp wagons with all the essentials and accessories. There must have been some decent businessmen and merchants willing to hand over some storage, 8,534 barrels, crates, and chests full of goods, and provisions. He also found 3958 barrels of fuel, and other needed necessities. Materials to construct 329 ballista-scorpions, and 29 cannons had be given by a Dwarf Engineer, and Master gunsmith. It terms of modern cargo, 85 cargo containers were being given to them for storage purposes. Another 73 crates, and 1,133 chests pushed to help with this crusade. For housing or garrisoning purposes, they were handed over 411 taverns, and houses along with 3 towers on six islands. Two wealthy Tante Aristocrats offered 97,770 Tantos Crosses for the crusade, and some other female Noble funded them with 229, 200 Globes. One Dwarf Baron gave them 23 Dwarf Ballista from his armament, and 24 war automatons to use. 

When the speeches were done and the location of their forward base was selected members of the gathered audience jumped at an opportunity. Although they already had mercenaries, these Arcane users received more recruits. One company of 206 volunteers eager to fight in this war signed up.  A battalion of 1,140 pirates, bored initiates, unemployed Rangers, banished Orcs, disgruntled troops looking for work, ugly outcasts, conscripted bandits, old adventurers, Goblins, and frustrated Knights joined them. Another company's worth of 247 friends signed up with the volunteers. Bykon's eyes opened wide when a third company of 108 approached them. More Rangers, Rogues seeking to escape the law, bored Knights, Dwarves, female Elemani warriors, Orcs, and out of work Archers signed their names. To his surprise 11 bomber pilots, and 5 fighter plane pilots who refused to miss any action signed on despite their country's neutral status. 

Gredaro's Replacement

 Just as he thought it would happen. His profession as a Zhenrai warrior brought him to the war. His own Master would have sent a knight with experience in warfare in his place. However, most of the one who fought in a war joined the militaries of their designated nations, which were now one Union. All the Grand Masters of the Zhenrai Order chose his travelling companion who was at a higher rank than him. Zhenrai Rhed Bransoone had to accompany Zhenrai Arch Warrior Izzine White-spear for this venture. She was chosen as someone's replacement or fill in of some kind. Riding inside a newly designed automobile these Zhenrai headed towards the location of some meeting that needed to be attended. According to the messages they, meaning Izzine, are to fill in for some Arcane Wizard taken out of the action. 

His craving eyes settled on Izzine White-Spear. This one female Zhenrai kept her gaze forward not caring if he was staring at her. She never allowed herself to get distracted some how. Izzine was a woman who held features most desirable in a bawdy house, courtship, and every man's fantasy dreams. Those lovely curves and breasts hid under the layers of her robes, and travelling trench coat. Most women and girls envied her appearances save for her hair, which was a required style. Izzine's cropped hair still had green dye that made it the clover's color. Standing upright she stood at 5'11 feet. He stood just two inches taller than her, but she was stronger than he was. Just looking at this square jawed, ideal nosed Elemani female aroused him. Urges to squeeze some parts of her kept coming up. Doing that to her would get his ass handed to him. Izzine could easily wipe the floor with him. 

Sitting beside her in a cab Bykon watched the rain pour onto the city they drove through. She was meeting one hundred and twenty-six Wizards, mages, sorcerers, witches, Sages, and other arcane users. They amassed an army to fight the Gantronese Empire. News of the Vestrisians fighting the invaders came to them every few weeks. It seemed these arcane wielders wanted a piece of the action. Izzine was to lead them while he was to avenge one of their fallen. Scared his hand would touch her by mistake Estati Zhenrai Warrior, Rhed-Bykon Bransoone used his telepathy to communicate. Izzine turned her head to face him. 

"Yes, Byko." She said acknowledging his presence. It appeared as though he disrupted her train of thought. 

"Did you get the right orders from the Ivodran Guild?" Rhed-Bykon asked her. 

"Yes, yes I did. Do me a favor." She answered with a request. 

"Yeah, what can I do?" he was getting worried now. What did she want him to do while here?

"Whenever you get done taking out that Necromancer in Tantos, contact someone for me." Izzine informed him in a cool soft voice. 

"Wait contact who?" Bykon asked her. 

"Let's just say we had a bad history. Over a year ago I almost tossed them in jail. He goes by the name of Cousai in the Nahemine Kingdom. If you could send a letter with this small package to that area would be great." She said handing a package to him along with a letter with an address on it. 

"Yeah I'll be sure to send this off. Did this Wizard you are replacing get shot or something?" Bykon looked at her as their ride turned left. The motion pulled them towards the right a little as the drive swung left down the street. 

"Just read the paper they have on Tantos." Izzine pulled out a newspaper from the backseat storage behind the driver. She shoved the paper into his chest and right arm. Taking the newspaper Brany read the name as THE DAILEY COURIER. On the front page was the headline of the main story. LAST NECROMANCER OF TANTOS DISTURBED FROM HIDING. This Necromancer had a gang of thugs, henchmen, minions, and an army of zombies under their command. According to the story a convoy or line of vehicles drove into the Necromancer's turf. They ran into a zombie creature then found themselves ambushed. A few drivers died, and one passenger was shot during the engagement. The leading vehicle was set aflame and the ones under attack fought back the assailants. When the authorities arrived at the scene they chased the goons off. A total of 28 goons were found dead, 58 got caught and arrested when found wounded from the shootout. Authorities found 37 aliens among their ranks hanging back in the alleys. Only fifteen of those were taken alive after a deadly chase and shootout in the labyrinth like back alleys. No more than 34 Zombie creations were found dead among the carnage. 

Reading all he could take in, Bykon put the paper back. Even though he could see Bykon's hands acted like he was blind. They fumbled for the package and letter she gave him to mail off. By the time his hands found the package their ride stopped at a stadium. Standing at 7 stories tall this stadium held enough room for 20, 000 spectators. Their driver did not bother parking the right way as he stopped. Bykon, and Izzine got out. He paid the driver who did not even look at him when he took the money. This bald tannish brown skinned fellow with the appearances of a former thug, bandit brute. 

The only thing he had to unload was his travelling accessory bag. All personal luggage stayed at the inn. They were here for business. Izzine brought nothing with her, since she was attending this meeting. Bykon checked surroundings as their ride left them at the stadium. Dropped off at one of the entrances to this stadium the Zhenrai picked up the pace. Whichever gate this was it was not where they were supposed to meet. Looking at the structure they found an overhang in the design. It became a suitable shade from the pouring rain. Both Zhenrai passed two entrances before finding a group of seven wizards waiting with their guards. Each arcane user wore a suite in the specific color or pattern design of the arcane powers they knew. That included Aqua Arcane, Oracles/Runes, Charm, Enchantment, and fire. 

"Hello, you must be Izzine White-Spear who is replacing Gredaro." One of them greeted the Zhenrai Arch-Warrior. It was the one who appeared to be a Master in Aqua Arcane Magic. "I am Tyen, and these are Veleus the Vorpalist, Apon Janroi, Odolin of Oracles n Rune Powers, Egorse the Charmer, Eforahim the Fire Handler, and Apannos." 

"I am pleased to meet you all. This is my travelling companion Rhed Bykon Bransoone. He is here to deal with that Necromancer in Tantos." Izzine replied, introducing him to the wizards. All their eyes looked to him. A bead of nervous sweat went down the side of this temple. Before he could even expect a rejection, they smiled then shook his hand roughly. 

'The rest of the wizards, and arcane users are all waiting for you. As for you Mr. Bransoone, you are welcome to join in this meeting. Even though Gredaro can be prickly and rash he will still accept you as replacements and avenger. I mean Rhed here will be avenging Gredaro's honor, and prestige as a wizard. Not many people are able to take down a Wizard as powerful as he was. Before coming here he took out a squad of Gantronese invaders." Tyen boasted taking the two Zhenrai by the hand. Being grabbed by the handmade Bykon feel like a child and causing a sense of embarrassment to enshroud him. He did not know how Izzine felt until he saw her face beaming with delight. These seven wizards took them inside the stadium where the meeting was to take place. Even though Bykon Bransoone was not supposed to be directly involved his presence would be welcomed anyways. 

Rednight Fangsir: Abane is Found

 After asking a few rude inhabitants who scoffed at them Izzyr and Bidfrid found a stable to rest their mounts. It was right next to this stable that they found a three story Inn. It was more complex than just a regular Inn. This one had the resemblance of a Bawdy House, Drug Den, and Tavern molded into one. Rednight Fangsir did not appear to have much in the ways of restrictions. Next to the entrance a woman was getting known against the wall by some grotesque pale goblin hybrid who buried himself in her breasts. She was covered in a blue powdery substance and wearing very scantily clothing. Parts of her original skin complexion could be seen. Hers was an olive brown color. Passing them the two partners entered this small palace of sex, drugs, and rest. A blonde half elf-half orc spotted them. In a red scarf over her chest she wore a gold bodice over her revealing red tunic dress. 

"Can I help you two gentleman?" She asked stopping them. Her hands brushed against both of them. Her smile appeared across her face. Izzyr felt himself become aroused, but realized he was on duty. Yet so was she. This bawdyhouse worker approached him closer. She put her hands on his duster coat then his hair. It had been two years since a woman touched his hair. His own wife divorced him over his constant absence due to cases, and missions. Izzyr took a good look at who was inside this establishment. Calculating heads as best he could the Drow detective counted 98 monsters who appeared to wear the same type of hat, and vest, 7 monster humanoids for hire, and 6 small reptillianoids who appeared to be banished from the eastern lands. 

"Not going to talk huh? Well those 98 monsters all over the place are all under the command of one Vampire who rules this street." This half Orc vixen  said into his ear. 

"What does that have to do with anything?" Izzyr broke his silence looking at this beautiful female Orc. 

"That got you talking? My my you are just here for business aren't you?" she said in a teasing voice. She played with his coat, sleeve, hair and buttons. 

"You can call me Ivi. It is short for Iviim." This half Orc introduced her name to him. She pressed herself against him. "What is yours?" 

"Detective Izzyr of, miss could you please just-" he was cut off. 

"No, no, no men do not beg to be left alone here, Izzyr. Are you looking for someone?" She asked. 

"We are looking for a female Dark Elf named Abane." Bidfrid answered for Izzyr whose balls were now in her grasp. Izzyr felt some relief the large bounty hunter said this in a low voice. 

"Of course you are here for that. I can almost smell it, the scent of Neppetz on both of you. Seeing you are not from the underworld of the mountains brings me warmth, and pleasure inside. Most Drow who come here are either assassins, kidnappers, racketeers, or slaves that get shoved in the back." Ivi replied to them. 

"This one is a maid to a wealthy family. She went missing a week ago. Someone else that resembles her was left at our city limits, dead." Izzyr answered as she rubbed her hands all over his stomach and chest. Ivi nibbled at a button to his coat and pulled on it with her teeth before letting go. 

"I can take you to where the slaves are being held. However I'd have to do this without getting you killed. Around here slaves are not to be seen by outsiders unless they are at an auction." Ivi said to them. 

"Is there a catch?" Izzyr answered her. A larger male Orc approached them,

"EY Ivi why you mess with these two? They don't belong here!" He barked at her. All she did was stop to give him a haughty glare. 

"Let me do my business! Whatever you wanted can wait a week! Now beat it! Or the Mistress of the House knows you are sabotaging my work with clients!" She snapped back causing this Orc to back away in fear. 

"Okay, okay Ivi don't let the Mistress know. Uh, you gentlemen have a fine day. I bow to you." This Orc removed himself from their presence exiting the establishment. They had one less patron to worry about. Ivi grabbed both of them and pushed them to tag alone. 

"If you don't they will suspect things." Ivi hissed at them. She grabbed two glasses of green wine and handed them over to the new arrivals. 

Without much objection they took the alcohol. Allowing her to pull them along Bidfrid and Izzyr had to step over a few drugged up patrons, walk around some orgies, and avoid the intoxicated brute like monsters. The room was a little too dim to tell who was who or what race was what despite their shapes. Doing the best to ignore this the two of them followed Ivi all they way to the back. Izzyr chugged his wine in one gulp catching the attention of a tusked green and orange spotted monster with a very voluptuous half elf riding him. This ugly looking brute winked and smiled at him before Izzyr passed him. Ivi kept on going towards the back of the establishment with everyone else too focused on the patrons or getting intoxicated to notice their movements. Izzyr was beginning to think this was a trap. Why would someone like her help them upon a swift note or just from a quick conversations. Just when he was about to nudge Bidfrid she turned around looking worried. 

"I, I have to pleasure both of you, or else the others will get suspicious." She said covering their mouths so neither could speak. Ivi twisted a door knob to a door next to them. It slowly opened. 

"Quick inside!" She pushed both men inside this dark room. She entered as well then closed the door and locked it. she lit a few candles and  switched on a flickering cordless lamp. It barely illuminated the room. An expression of relief came over her face. It disappeared. "Oh no the walls have eyes and ears." 

Ivi threw her clothes off revealing herself nude before them. Without even asked them she went for their pants which she undid and pulled down. Not even caring to look at their sizes she immediately started working them with her hands. Giving each male a quickie the Orc looked around noticing parts of the walls and portraits shifted a little. She let go of them. Feeling the sense of no one watching them. 

"Will you take us to Abane now?'" Izzyr asked pulling his pants back up. Bidfrid did the same looking around the room uncomfortable. 

"Yes, yes. There is a secret door inside that closet. Take it and move through the walls to the very end. It will lead you to the one you are looking for. I warn you though. You might not like what you find." Ivi answered with a warning. 

Darting straight for the closet Bidfried pulled the door open and searched the walls inside. He found the secret door panel and pushed it. The bounty hunter had to slide the door panel into the wall. Entering the hall that was in the walls they pressed forward. Running into cobwebs, some rats, residue, mold, and some skeleton of a dwarf Izzyr and his companion made it to some end of this secret passage. Pushing the door open they come into another closet. Nothing but clothes on wooden hangers blocked their way. At their feet they stepped allover shoes, boxes and canes. Their movement caused some ruckus and noise inside the closet it door. Someone on  the other side of the closet door opened it. There stood the very dark elf they went looking for. Abane Velnis looked surprised and scared to see them. Her eyes were wide with shock and awe. She wore a red and black lace dress. Abane backed away from them as if they intruded upon her and she was scared. Bidfrid and Izzyr got out of the closet and into her room. Abane's transformed from fear to full rage. She grabbed the closest them to a knife she could find a hair pin. Wielding it like a dagger she charged at them letting out a feminine roar. Izzyr and Bidgrid stopped her from stabbing them and wrestled the weapon from her grasp. The Bounty Hunter pinned her to the ground. She thrashed and wriggled to get free. Izzyr was about to knock her out when another voice emerged from behind them. 

"Take the Dark Elf home. We do not want a war with Neppetz or the Gantronese." the voice said showing a slight hint of concern in its speech. 

Rednight Fangsir

 Taking the road was no trouble at all. Thanks to the cooperation of other city-states, enclaves, and settlements Neppetz managed to keep the roads in good condition. For an entire day the pair of them rode towards the city of Rednight Fangsir. The very first sign of approaching the very boundaries of Rednight Fangsir was a boundary marker made from six skeletons put together. Each skeleton has long fangs attached to their teeth. All of them including the stone and wooden pole they are nailed to have a red substance. Izzyr assumed it was blood given how dried and dark it looked. At a second glance he noticed it was more recent that a month ago. Another coating of whatever it was had been added some time ago. Bidfrid seem unfazed by this scenery. He clearly passed through here on certain jobs he was hired for. Forced to stop at nightfall they managed to find an inn along the road. Not the most welcoming of inns, but it did not seem run down at all. 

Both he and Bidfrid entered this eerie looking establishment along the mountain road. There were not that many patrons seen inside as it was nightfall. Several staff members were still up. Whoever designed this inn had the whole interior painted a dark red. Not even attempting to hide the theme of this inn the staff wore dark clothing resembling the eeriness. Long slick back hair, dark vests over red shirts and servant clothing in a darker dye made them appear vampiric. Their pale complexion also added to the appearance. All they really cared about was getting some sleep. Izzyr paid the staff member who was at the desk who showed them to their room. Sharing a room was not a problem for him. Yet sharing a bed with another man was something he did not expect. Inside the room was a strange blue candle that gave off a scent that put someone to sleep quickly. Whatever it was he could sure buy some for his own use. Sleep deprivation was his current illness these days. However tonight he had the best sleep in his life. 

Getting up at what felt like the second hour of morning the pair of them went straight for the common room. Going to bed without food made the stomach empty. Two nicely cooked venison with Leek soup filled up their stomachs. Well one venison for him, one venison, a piece of bread, and eggs filled up his big friend's stomach. Each had a freshly brewed coffee with a broth that kept you warm in the mountains. Both set off after paying the Innkeeper for their meal. Finding their mounts well fed the Detective and Bounty Hunter rode up the stone road to a sunnier day. Not two miles from the Inn they stayed in lay a small village of just five buildings. All its inhabitants appeared too occupied to notice the two of them. Not too far from the small village on the right side of the road lay another settlement. This one looked larger than the five building village. More than a score of buildings it was he estimated. At its entrance sat a large gate that read this town's name, Blade's Gray Grip. Past the town gate he spied 11 armed townspeople heading towards someone's home. He was about to rush over to intervene, but another figure got in their way with some help from armed authorities. Assuming the situation would be resolved with little to no bloodshed they went on to Rednight Fangsir. Winding through the paths, and roads they passed four more settlements until reaching the mountain city. 

Rednight Fangsir was sculpted out of a single mountain peak. Two outer walls encircled the whole city itself. Made from the stones, and rocks that were scraped off during the city's construction. This one city had to be at least two thousand years old or much older. Manning these walls would require one hundred thousand. To scale them he could only imagine millions attempting to attack this city just to scale its walls. In the back of his mind he realized something. Would anyone want to attack a city inhabited by vampires, demons, and other creatures that used to be humanoids? That answer would be a no for many. During this era the belief of vampires was decreasing into just old tales. Approaching the city gates they were confronted by several humanoids who looked vampiric in appearance. Their armor gave away the profession as city guard. Showing the badges of their own professions Bidfrid and Izzyr were permitted to enter the city. Entering this supposed city of vampires they found buildings in the colors of red, dark red, black, dark blue, dark grey, dark purple, and wine colored. Each building had a haunting design to them. A shade cloth of red or black stretched over the streets. These dark fabric blocked the streets and doorways from being hit with sunlight. Inhabitants of this city wore darker clothing and had a pale complexion. Finding a missing drow was going to be easier Izzyr expected. Among the inhabitants were Goblins, Elves, Humans, Orcs, and hybrids who made themselves appear like vampires. Looking at Bidfrid he wondered if this Bounty Hunter had really been here before. 

To Rednight Fangsir

 Right after he confirmed his discovery with an Officer of Neppetz he parted ways with Bidfrid. Izzyr left the bounty hunter companion at the northern part of the city. In a quick stride Izzyr wound his way through the city to the Neppetz Police Head Quarters that used to be a mansion. As he came up to the door Izzyr was greeted by several members blocking the doorway. Most of them were seasoned Police whereas a few were first year rookies. Three female and four males made up this blockading group. Wearing matching uniforms he could still make them apart. Some had black hair, others had white bleach hair. Only one of the females had short hair, and two of the males had long hair. All of them looked at him with smirks and snide expressions. A tall male with short black hair under his cap with purple eyes narrowed his eyes at Izzyr. 

"Someone told me you had sex with a strumpet on Dagger Street. Is this true? Not something a personnel of the law should be doing on duty." He said mocking him a little. 

"Go bugger yourself Officer Bodrai! That is not what happened. Don't you have some drugs to find? There have been reports of a crazed drug addict on Spider Street. At least four people were found with illegal substance called Catnip for the Gods." Izzyr snapped at him. 

"Woah, woah Izzyr! I am only jesting. You have a new friend helping you out. Who is it?" one of them raised their arms. They went down to his level on the steps.

"He is a Bounty Hunter who knew the victim." Izzyr answered him brushing past him and the others. 

Izzyr ignored them along with anyone else as he entered the head quarters. Not in the best condition the head quarters was in need of some renovations and repairs. Those repairs would be minor. Inside the main entry hall he had the two sets of stairs leading up to the second floor. In between them stood a hallway to the back of the mansion. At the top of the stairs lay an open chamber containing the first and second floors. The two wings of the mansion were connected by a patchwork of halls with their own set of rooms. Making his way up the stairs on the right Izzr took a left towards the Chief of the Neppetz Police, Bria Nolzur. Passing typists, receptionists, officers, trainees, a few head busts on tables, couches, sofas in the hall, and a few nice exotic plants he made it to his boss' office. She had it closed like every did here in the mansion head quarters. Next to her door sat a notice board of cases, and reports. Before knocking on the door he read a couple of them. Only two of them seemed out of the ordinary. Outside the city limits near a farmstead some strange tall tree humanoid got torched in a mill fire. Not too far to the west a wounded pet bear to some Ranger was found outside a town. When he was done reading about one where someone spotted reptilians in the east he knocked. 

"Come in!" Nolzur commanded from behind the door. 

Izzyr opened the office door. At a fine desk sat his boss. Dressed in a doubled buttoned uniform Chief Nolzur allowed her white hair to hang over her shoulders. Her bleach white hair was not a mess, but nearly brushed. On her desk lay a clutter of different objects, files, letters, notes, a phone, letter stands, books, a mug of coffee, and a few photos of herself with family. Her office had bookshelves, portraits, file cabinets, some armchairs, a private bathroom, coat rack, a statue to some spider goddess they no longer worshipped, and a head bust of the city leader. There were also a few head trophies of a mountain lion, reptile beast, and a dire wolf. She looked up to see it was him. 

"Hello Detective Nadisim. Do have an update on our missing maid?" She greeted him without smiling. During this time of the year it was difficult to put on a smile. Crime was nothing new, but with rumors of strange humanoids lurking about, disappearances, and the seasonal conflict of goblins did not help. 

"Yes ma'am. It is not her body. She is still missing." He replied. His boss paused and looked at him with a surprised expression. 

"Well we best go look for her don't we? How did you find this out?" She asked him. 

"I came upon a local Bounty Hunter who knew her. We went to the new city morgue where we got to see the body." He answered her. 

"Where does this Bounty Hunter live?" She asked in a curious tone. 

"Dagger Street." Izzyr answered. 

"Do not go there again." Chief Nolzur got tense when she answered. 

"He will help me track her down." Izzyr insisted.  He got a wide eyed cold look from her. 

"There were fang marks on her neck. I believe she was abducted and taken to Rednight Fangsir." Izzyr answered hoping she would not close this case. She only blinked and relaxed her face. 

"Very well since you found something new then continue your search." Nolzur granted him a pass to continue with the case. 

"Thank you, boss." He replied taking a permission card that would grant him safety in that city. He was about to leave when she stopped him. 

"Detective, Izzyr. Please be careful in Rednight Fangsir. I know our ancestors and people lived a brutal fighting lifestyle. Not even that saved the few unfortunate from falling to Vampires. Be on your guard there." She said in a worried expression. 

"I will Chief, I will." Izzyr said as he closed the door behind him. That was the first time he ever saw any hint of concern on his boss' face. Did she ever venture to Rednight Fangsir? He would have to hold that off for some time. Izzyr went down to his own office where he found it empty as he left it. Just an average servant's quarters turned into an office. There was nothing special to the room itself until he moved in and decorated it to look more like a detective's office. There was nothing too special about except for a portrait of himself and that of his wife, and two children. There was also one of him with siblings. Since firearms did not reach their part of the world Neppetz and other city-states continued with the use of melee weapons. Next to his coat stand rested his sword stand leaning against the wall. It held his longsword, rapier, great knife sword(messer), curved broadsword, and backsword from the north. Izzyr snatched up the curved broadsword, great knife messer, and a bandoleer of four throwing knives. 

In a hurry he slammed shut the office door catching the attention of those nearby. Looking up and down the hall he found a Marshall, Inquisitor, another detective, Inspector Coroner, Sherriff Lawman, 3 Police officers, a city guard, city watch, 3 constables, one town guard, town watch, a community watch, and a few vigilantes watching him. Knowing how awkward it looked he rushed out of the headquarters. When he was out he did not hesitate to head north to meet Bidfrid. On the way he did get a single skewer of fish kabab. He hardly ate anything all day. Passing through the city he caught glimpses of female drow dressed in traditional garb. Neppetz's founding had more to do with outcasts coming together than overpopulation in the underworld of the mountains. When he passed through the northern gate Bidfrid met him by the stables. Two mounts for each of them stood in the Bounty Hunter's possession. A thick white furred breed, and a gray thick furred horse. Not bothering to ask how he acquired them Izzyr mounted one of them. Once they mounted the pair of them went into full gallop towards Rednight Fangsir. 

Kaniima Brief

She did not like it when he was on top. Every time they were on the lookout post he was on top of her. His own dick got hard each time. Sure she was attractive, but she demanded restraint from every male she encountered. Inside the little reconnaissance window pod Constable Eirene and Constable Bargis had to keep watch over the assigned region. As a member of a four-member team of Police Investigators she was on an espionage mission. Their mission was to keep watch over activity within a region called Kaniima. She can just imagine him licking his lips, getting sexual ideas she wanted to kill him over. One team member was the pilot, a second manned the radio communications. Even though they were not the only team hers acted alone. For the past several days they watched over the region called Kaniima on a planet called Calorn. Through her binoculars Eirene spied a gathering of some sorts. As a scene unfolded the spies kept their eyes open. Two groups gathered at a single dune in the desert. One figure dressed for the desert came up to the desert followed by a short train of three troops, and one Camel Rider. They appeared to meeting an Amethorian Imperator. As she observed closer it appeared to be a royal sheikh in command of 3 or more Kaniima soldiers, and one Kaniima Camel Kol. Camel Kols are a unit within the Kaniima royal cavalry. 

Surrounding the Imperator of the Amethorians stood 6 humanoids bearing tower shields and energy staff weapons. To her it became obvious what was going on. The Amethorians came over to make a deal with the locals of this planet. Their job was just to report it while hiding from certain eyes. Behind some dunes she spotted some ships that did not belong to their faction nor the factions present at this scene. These Amethorians always handed materials to make weapons to fight certain factions that often invaded planets with splintered factions, and divided borders. In her head she recalled the Gantronese, the Nazdar, the Tetarq Mercs, the CSO, and the Order of the Beast. She knew about other factions, but those were mainly fractured, and to the point of being dissolved. 

Vimasdra 1844 AN (Just Dialogue Experiment)

 "Sir the enemy has stopped their advance." a twenty-one year old Vimasdran Civil Militia reported to a higher ranking figure who sat comfortably at a table map inside a command tent. 

"Looks like the Vestrisians have run into trouble." the figure boasted taking a drink from a goblet. 

"Those Nazdar are with us. No Vestrisian shall take another step further!" a younger Civil Militia claimed showing pride in the claim. 

"I was merely making a joke, Lieutenant Ardeev! For four years we have lost wave after wave. Only to see them push our forces and our allies to the south further westward. One third of Muskalla lies in their hands. Parts of Gontrella could very well be theirs for the taking. Yet I forget the very faction the Vullanese Empire, responsible for this war has lost half of her islands! Now tell me do you think we even have a cow's fart of a chance to push them back? With all their allies keeping the Nazdar and their Grevaskii occupied! Do any of you think it can be done?" Hollered the higher ranking figure. Dressed in traditional green uniform, cape, long black haired wig, and mustache, this Royal Commander of Civil Militias looked out of place. 

"They were not moving as swiftly as we believed at first." Another Civil Militia admitted. He appeared gaunt in the face yet he was still put together in the modernized tan uniform issued over a decade ago. 

"All they were doing was probing us, Bezavoor. In the first months they let us attack first while launching an full scale assault on the Vullanese, and the Gantronese. As for the others Gontrella was aiming at seizing the mountain communities along side Muskalla. That only encouraged them to intervene." A Captain explained while standing next to the Royal Commander. 

"Captain Eenaz, the Blackmell mountains will be ours to share with Muskalla, and Gontrella. If we do this right that is." Royal Commander Ghiralli said in a peevish voice. He started to laugh until another Captain cut him off. 

"Commander! You only have 308 Civil Militia left under your command!" This Captain said in a warning tone. All eyes in the command tent turned to look a Captain wearing what appeared to be a Grevaskii uniform of yellowish grass color. 

"Who the Maggot's Arse are you?" Captain Eenaz demanded from the newly arrived Captain. 

"Captain Vyskabb Gorvig of the Grevaskii frontier unit 887. I am representing Nazdar Colonel Kinotz who commands a regiment of 1,317. We bring reinforcements from Ossus, and other parts of Vimasdra." this clean shaven Captain introduced himself. 

"What reinforcements has Kinotz brought us?" Ghiralli demanded. 

"500 musketeer men, 220 local militia from nearby towns, 540 bowmen drafted from across the country have marched with us." 

"(Scoffs) You mean bows and arrows alongside musket wielding buffoons are going to challenge that war machine? Those Vestrisians overran the Vullanese and will crush that force!" Ghiralli argued. 

"To the south of your position you do have 463 Vimasdran Civil Militia who came out of goodwill. On the northern flank a large company of 447 fellow Vimasdran Militia, Musketeers, and soldiers hold the line." He stated to the Royal Commander. 

"Yes, and there are 487 or so Vestrisians holding positions within artillery range of us. They have us outgunned." the young Civil Militia snapped Captain Gorvig knitting his brows at him. 

"Yet you have support of indigenous groups like the Uxane and the Muskallan Raiders on our side." this Grevaskii said as if that would help the atmosphere. 

"Only 129 Uxane have joined our fight. Most of them migrated out of here well before the fighting began. As for the Muskallans, many of them already joined, died, or surrendered. We have 602 of them along the front." one of Ghiralli's Commanding Officers said with a bitter taste in his mouth. 

"Quit spewing out numbers and prepare to attack them!" Some different voice barked at them. Another Grevaskii burst into the command tent. 

"More than one hundred thousand of those Vestrisians are dug in. How do you expect us to attack after losing countless lives? Are the Nazdar done playing their chess game with the Gantronese?" Ghilari slammed a fist on his table. 

"Some 9000 militia volunteers are marching in behind us. More than one million volunteers are on their way." the Grevaskii boasted. 

"You mean slaves." the young Civil Militia muttered to himself.