Chalice of the Vampire

 Picking up the goblet she studied it for a moment. It depicted two Vampiric bats with open wings. Two small rubies above the depicted bat on the bowl. One pair of blood rubies on the chalice stem. At the base of this chalice were eight skulls etched or forged on it. Lia Nikoalas took a drink from it. Its contents tasted sour even though she just poured in sweet tasting wine a few seconds ago. Lia found herself spinning around in one spot. The room twirled around at the same time in a blurry twister. She became engulfed in a twister that transported her through a tunnel that appeared above the ceiling. Whatever kind of twisting tunnel this was it sucked her in. Nothing but blurry twisting images surrounded her as the tunnel brought to a different place than her apartment. When everything stopped spinning and the tunnel disappeared she found herself inside some chamber in a palace or mansion. 

Looking around the place she found she was not alone. Seven Gargoyle statues holding females in various sexual positions encircled the chamber's interior. In between each statue was a bed with queen sized beds. On one of them dark red covered beds was a nude wizard forcing his shaft down a female's throat. On his back in the form of a tattoo was an arcane magic symbol depicting a hand with fire and a star above it. Just above the fiery star rested some eye with a swirl for an iris and diamond stars around it. Lia got a better look at the female who was choking on him. The female looked to be a female dhampir with the vampiric fang bat symbol on each shoulder. While the Wizard kept ferociously humping the dhampir's face Lia had thoughts that this could be a possible rape. He appeared too focused on the dhampir to notice her in the chamber. Taking a single step, she bumped into a railing she should have seen. 

Everything stopped and fell quiet. All the sounds of the lips smacking on the manhood and the gagging along with the choking sounds ceased. Lia was certain this Wizard would stop and turn around then come for her. Fingering her pockets and clothing she felt for a weapon or something to use as a weapon. She found nothing on her. Not a single knife, or pistol, not even a pin or utensil she could use as a weapon. Looking down at her hands Lia discovered the Vampire Chalice was missing. How was she going to get back to Monabay, Nymres? Slurping and sucking sounds filled the chamber as the dhampir worked him in their own section of the room. Did the Dhampir know she was there? Lia did not know for certain. She did not know where she was. Where was she exactly? Yes she was inside a chamber, but in what part of the world? Looking around her surroundings she became oblivious or just ignored the intercourse going on. In the center of this dark purple lighted chamber was a metal spiral staircase. Seeing no signs indicating where she was on the walls or floor she looked up. Hanging from the ceiling was a red flag depicting a gold crescent moon and three thunderbolts. The only region with this flag that came to mind was Vossa. A vast region in the world where one part was wild, another part dead, some parts savage, and tribal. As for the rest of Vossa it was either civilized or cruel, or simply Ominous. Very few places showed any hospitality, or courtesy along with security. 

Realizing the chalice brought her to the lands of Vossa, Lia felt confident in grabbing someone's attention. When she moved one foot forward someone came climbing up the spiral stair case. Startled Lia fell backwards on the hard floor. Both Wizard and Dhampir stopped copulating. Mortified Lia felt her body freeze to the floor. Feeling paralyzed Lia did not know what to do other than watch the pair look in her direction. This Wizard had a thin Oblong face. His hair was in short mohawk with eyes tattooed to is head that flanked the mohawk. Something about his eyes shouted untamed desires. Both appeared to be slitted teal color. Everything else about his face looked more beige colored with scars, and signs of curses. A part of his arm looked completely ruined on the surface like it was burned at some point. Each limb had a sign of battle or defeat. As for the Dhampir's appearance. It was all pale with tattoos all over depicting vampiric symbols, and ancient demonic runes. Her eyes appeared to be purple with the slitted eye pattern. Bleach blonde hair draped over her shoulders and firm breasts. Some bracelets could be seen on her arms, and ankles. Lia was certain she was in trouble. 

"Who are you? How did you get here?" The Wizard asked. 

"Ha ha, I am Lia Nikoalas the Geneticist, Inscriptions, and Occult Keeper from Nymres." She answered in a nervous voice. Lia could not stop herself from grinning nervously as her eyes shifted a few times. 

"You are all three of those professions?" the Wizard pointed out in a skeptical tone. 

"Why yes. Um how are you? Ha ha." She forced herself to ask the Wizard. 

"Travoss Kydell the Teal Wizard. Welcome to the chambers of intercourse." the Wizard answered her. 

"Sorina-Kairos le Vol the Dhampir Sage. Yes welcome to the chamber of intercourse, trespasser." the Dhampir replied with a rather playfully cruel smile. 

"Just show me the way out and I'll be out-" Lia was about to finish when a barmaid came up the metal stairs. Dressed in a standard barmaid's outfit of a white ruffled shirt, striped long skirt, and a fine blue bodice over the shirt. Slippers with a wooden sole was the behind the noise of her coming up the stairs. All three looked at the red-haired barmaid with curls who came up with nothing in her hands. Travoss looked at Lia then at Sorina-Kairos. 

"Excuse me." He said then went over to the barmaid. Grabbing her by the dress he pulled her in to another bed where he undressed her while kissing, biting, and licking. Lia watched as he proceeded to mount the barmaid on the second bed. Showing his desires and hunger were not satisfied he forced himself on top of the barmaid. Each thrust procured a gasp, orgasm, and a cry of pleasure that sounded more like yelping and crying mixed in. Lia and the dhampir listened to the sounds of humping, rattled of the bed, the orgasm, grunts, and skin slapping against skin. When he was done the wizard let out a growl of pleasure before letting the barmaid return to her duties. Travoss spanked her on the left buttocks sending her back downstairs. Each participant in the intercourse cleaned up before dressing back in their clothes. 

Travoss shot a finger at her casting a little spell on Lia. He donned his travelling clothing. A pair of baggy trousers with black chevron patterns, one big hide belt, a long blue linen tunic went over the trousers. Over all that he donned a long-belted charcoal dyed long coat with a hood. Travoss picked up a satchel, a belt with a broken pickaxe weapon, dagger in sheaths or loops, and a cudgel walking cane. As Travoss put on his weapons belt under the coat Sorina clothed herself. She layered herself in a red sleeveless tunic dress with a dark purple Vorcadam Kimono robe over it. Over the kimono robe she donned a large wood brown hooded wrap around her body. It covered the kimono all the way down to her shins. However she was not without weapons herself. Since Vossa was still a savage land everyone there needed a weapon. For her weapon of choice a curved short sword, and a chain belt with some weight balls attached at the ends. All Lia had on her was her green, black brooch of a dragon's eye, a few coins, ID card, ring of keys, three nuts to a lamp, box of twenty matches, office pen, and stress marble. Everything else she would have on her were in her purse, which she did not have with her. Dressed in a dress suite depicting the Nymresian colors Lia felt she was more suited to a banker's profession in Vossa. 

"Are you going to do anything to me?" she asked the pair of them who were heading for the stairs. 

Her only answer was a blank stare from each of them. Neither of them looked in the mood for answering questions. Whatever they set out to do that was already accomplished. Lia knew she needed their help to get back to Nymres. Travoss gestured for her to follow them downstairs. Both started descending the stairs with Lia getting up to follow them. Descending the spiral staircase reminded her of the whirl wind that transported her here in the first place. Dizziness overcame her making her stop to grab on to the railing. The metal felt cool to the touch. A whole story of stone or concrete encased the staircases in a hollow cylinder-shaped prism. Their footsteps were almost stomping sounds due to the metal and wooden steps. Lia kept her eyes on her footing as they descending to the bottom of the spiral staircase. Following Travoss and Sorina-Kairos down she came to another chamber hall that appeared to be the size of four rooms put together. Resembling the shape of a clover heart, this chamber appeared full of patrons from different races, and backgrounds. Cushions of various shapes and sizes covered most of the chamber. Some corners had a circle of sofas and couches in colors of either dark green, red, or purple. Most of the cushions were either red, purple or light blue. In one of the corners of the chamber was a bar area with stools, and booths. A set of doors leading to other rooms or the exit stood closed along the circular wall. A total of twenty-eight patrons occupied the place. Just several or more barmaids, and serving girls carrying drinks around the chamber. Lia was surprised she even found room to walk through the cushion littered chamber. Getting a closer look at the other patrons she noticed they were half-elves, dhampirs, Dark Elves, half demons, Zedirians with hooves, and voluptuous humans. Some were nude, others were half naked, while the rest wore loose revealing clothing. Bar patrons included a few Wizards, witches, and one Zhenrai Knight from the Vestrisian Continent. 

What was he doing here? Lia asked herself as she stepped onto the floor without taking her eyes off him. He did not appear tall, but his appearance stuck out anyways. Opposite him sat the Wizard with graying short hair, fine beard, lightning, and conjuration markings on his clothing. As for the Witches they appeared more traditional in their dress robes. Not the school type, but the stereotypes without the hats. Even the bartender was a witch with the earth elemental sign on her necklace. Next to the Zhenrai knight as a sexy looking witch flirting with the Zhenrai Knight. Travoss, and Sorina sort of parted ways when a door opened, but no one noticed. It gave Lia time to approach this Zhenrai who wore a dark gray suit with a bronze vest. The coat was off including the ascot that lay draped over the stool next to him on his travelling duster coat. On the back of his neck was a burn mark in the shape of the outcast sign. Lia could not believe her eyes. A Zhenrai Knight cast out of their Order. Travoss pulled her away from the bar area. Forced to let the Wizard lead the way she noticed an extended part of the chamber. Through the doorframe she spotted a man making love to several women of different races, and skin colors. One appeared pink with small horns, another looked green toned with jet black hair, and another with the resemblance of an elf only red skinned. As she passed the doorway Lia watched the man pull each woman to sleep in the large bed. Travoss took her to the exit of the chamber and into a corridor that was pitch black save the torchlights that barely pierced the darkness. 

"SHE TOUCHED THE CHALICE!" a voice screamed from the hallway. 

"Intruder!" another voice screamed in the hall. 

"A vampire's best meal in Vossa. The curious ones." a third deep voice declared in the darkness. 

Ignoring these voices Travoss grabbed her arm and pulled her against his body. Lia pissed herself as they entered the dark corridor with nothing but torch light. Pushing her along regardless of her soiling herself the Wizard held up and amulet that created some sort of bubble around them like a shield. Within seconds of moving further the door slammed shut and vampires emerged from the dark walls. Each one lunged after them only to be bounced back by the shield. Fangs exposed, eyes red, skin pale or scarred, and nails become claws on the thirsty Vampires. Travoss kept moving while the Vampires pressed the attack on the bubble as it only pushed them back. Some hissed, others growled, and the rest screamed with anger over the teasing meal they were likely promised at some point. Lia believed there was no end to this corridor until she spotted a door slowly opening. As it opened sun light peaked through. Any Vampires chasing them were either forced back into the walls or likely dead. Travoss went for the opening only to be greeted by a Drow Spider Priestess from Galaia. Dressed in the traditional Galaian Drow garb of leather strips, belts, and chains resembling spider webs on her body the Drow stood near a portal. A palla of dark red with thin white patterns draped over her shoulders in a wrap pattern. Lia recognized her as Alicia Bells the Mad-Liv of House Red Tori. She met the Drow at a party or festival in Galaia honoring an alliance between countries. Blood Red hair with three white stripes in long curls hung over her right shoulder. Was Alicia Bells here to save her? Lia couldn't believe it. Despite soiling herself Lia ripped away from Travoss and hugged the familiar face. A look of disgust must have appeared on the Drow's face as she pressed her whole body against her. Lia did not care if her clothing was still wet or smelled from urinating herself. She was that terrified of being chased by vampires whom she thought never existed. 

Quickly thanking Travoss for getting her out Lia followed Alicia through the Necromancer Portal that was made from bones with a few skulls at the top. A swirling vortex of green and blue lay open for anyone to enter. Taking a deep breath, she plunged into the portal with Alicia next to her. This was also the first time she entered such a portal. She was more used to standard transportation, horses, carriages, stagecoaches, automobiles gifted by the Nazdar Invaders and Inventors of Calorn. Inside the vortex they rushed through a twirling tunnel of green and black filled with skeletal souls reaching out to them. All the way to the end of this tunnel Lia and Alicia had to avoid the arms of the black and green creatures attempting to snatch them. Here she thought the nightmare couldn't get any worse. Grabbing Alicia by the hand Lia squeezed it hoping that would get her to speed up. The Drow Priestess quickened her pace as though she grew six extra limbs and hauled themselves off to the end of the tunnel. Finally exiting the tunnel of green, black arms the pair of colleagues came to a dancing university where servants or slaves were forcefully taught to dance for the pleasures and delight of masters. Its stone walls appeared more ominous than cheery. Yet it was meant to keep nosy Uxane away who were superstitious about scary imagery. Just outside the portal Alicia opened lay a scary looking automaton resembling some mechanical demon with vertical spikes, and pieces jutting from its shoulders beating a fat looking figure into the ground. Lia recognized them as one of the red-brown skinned heroes sent by the temple monks to dispose of villains, crooks, corrupt officials, thugs, bandits, invaders, and monsters. To the new governing powers these were rebels dressed in martial arts uniforms. Many of them attempt covering the uniforms in ponchos, animal pelt cloaks, Overlapping shawls, and tribal wrap garbs. In her mind Lia could tell this was only the beginning of a rebellion. 

Vullanese Front 1840 Mothgar Isle

 Vullan was officially at war with their newly formed V.U.V.R. He did not want to think about the full name of their new nation just what he was going to do here. An invasion was starting on their behalf not the Vullanese. It had more do with what they did over some treaty the Vullanese leaders broke. Waiting for the orders to attack he kept his eye on the town on the other side of the border. Having a demon in his scopes Sergeant Flame made him a little uneasy about fighting the Vullanese now that war began. Pondering over these events he wondered if this war would last a while or be short. Not much was known to him about the true reasons behind the war other than what the newspapers said. There was no time for him to waste while sitting the grass while perched on a hillside. He was hidden from view by rocks, bushes, and tall grass from the ground troops. In front of him Flame had a few fallen tree branches and a naturally hollowed out fallen tree stump. As for the winged imp on the rooftop, he doubted he was well hidden. Perched on a spire to some cathedral built behind the town his target held binoculars in its clutches. Unsure if the demon could see him, Flame did his best not to move an inch. Putting his finger on the trigger he prepared to fire. Flame stopped realizing the gunshot would alert the Vullanese troops in the town. Just yesterday they arrived at the border with word that half the population left. That was good for them. Less collateral damage and less civilians in the way. Moving his scope to see the imp's exposed stomach he found it a little outlandish for Vullan to have winged creatures in their ranks. 

Taking in a deep breath he prepared to start a fight with the Vullanese of these parts. Ever so slightly he put pressure on the trigger when some loud aircraft came overhead. Making a lot of noise the few aircraft drowned out everything else with their growling sound engines. Even a dog's barking could not be heard above the roaring. Flame could not hear his own thoughts, these engines were so loud in the air. Taking advantage of the noise, Flame fired a killing shot to the imp's lung. The brown skinned imp fell from the spire leaving the binoculars on the spire's jutting spikes. Breathing a sigh of relief, he allowed himself to relax. Sweat started to soak his undershirt under the brownish green uniform his unit was issued. 

Charging enemy positions now would not be a smart move. Even if their comrades on other fronts did so. He was not the personnel in command, but he had combat experience. Just a single year of military experience in war was all he possessed under his belt. Evusia attacked Meze, Redrin, and Nahem. Right after the Nochannian-Zegrav conflict the Evusia Empire started invading its neighbors. That war gave Flame is first taste of modernized combat. Only two years of training, a full year of hunting wild Gnolls, killing Troglodytes, fighting Kuruks, removing Beastmen threats, and a seven-month war earned him Sergeant. To him that prepared him for this new war. Hailing from a small town called Axebing, Geverine, Rogert Eminabel Flame was now twenty-two years old. 

Checking out the town of Orney on Mothgar Isle he spied on Vullanese soldiers. In their new khaki uniforms, the Vullanese appeared more modern rather than out of date. He saw photos of the old uniforms they once wore. Jerkins, trousers over red, white cotton tunic shirt in a color set of orange with light blue. Distinct yet out of date that Vullanese uniform became an easy target to shoot at. Now the khakis were their uniform it would be harder to find them. Through his scope Flame could see how different it was on the Vullanese side. Houses constructed in the appearance of pavilions with hexagonal roots of clay tiles. In the size of an actual house these pavilion shapes had walls covering the inside. Some were two stories tall. Other building shapes included small villas, brick cottages, terraced homes, chapel shaped homes, limestone round houses. Most of the cottage and brick houses were single stories painted orange. The rest were painted a lighter blue, yellow-gold, and red. Plenty of these houses had flat roofs, bonnet roofs one thought to find in the country or store on the road, hip roofs and hexagonal roofs. Every one of them had clay tiles, slate tiles, or concrete tiles. Among these buildings the Vullanese called homes he spotted a marketplace, blacksmith, carpenter shop, pottery shop with kilns, and studio with it. Orney's townhall could be seen in the center next to a merchant guild, a library of sorts, and a temple with exotic statues. Orney possessed no walls around her to defend the settlement. She still had feudal age structures among homes from different ages. A Bowyer, town guard, town watch, Mason's Guild, Leather Tanner near a villa complex, Blacksmith, an Inn and a Tavern could be spotted through his scope. Within Orney's confines Flame spotted seven other Taverns. 

One Tavern in particular caught his attention. Taking a better look at it, he saw it was named The Black and Blue. Smiling with a thirst for a drink Sergeant Flame hoped their own bombers would miss it. He even cursed the artillery in his mind. Outside this Tavern he spied a woman waltzing about in a Baker's dress equipped with apron, and ascot. Donning a coif, she did not look the prettiest he'd seen yet still a little attractive. Flame did not believe in judging women by their beauty or appearances. However, he ran into plenty of women that stunned him. He followed her with his eyes for a while holding both eyes opened. To the left of Orney the town spa caught his gaze. Vullanese troops prepared defenses along the town's borders. Oblivious to Vestrisian presence the team of Vullanese troops stopped work and headed for wherever the imp perched itself. 

Orney's spa thrived with male and female staff moving around. Loading and unloading boxes, and small crates these Vullanese seemed to rush the evacuation. He saw their military uniforms had changed since their last few conflicts. Never before had he seen the Vullanese traditional garments they wore. Long Tunics, which came in different styles along with colors, covered their persons. Some Tunics were light blue, orange, gold yellow, red, brown, green and white. Most of them were women at the spa's location performing different duties. Brown, Reds, and the whites performed laborious tasks, while the oranges did manual tasks. As for the rest, they performed skilled tasks. Some dismantled equipment, others boarded up the windows. Others prepared the vehicles used for transportation. Situated near a stream this spa was run by some beautiful, voluptuous, curvy, and petite women. One in particular caught his eye at the edge of a man-made pond with finely carved stoned encircling it. Standing at five feet eight inches, a tannish brown skinned female wore a loose light blue tunic dress. Her light brown hair rested on the back of her head in a messy bun twist. Her tunic dress covered her torso, chest, and upper legs covered by a green shawl. She had the shawl draped from her left shoulder to her right hip tied at the back. 

"Hello there, Sergeant, are we spying on those lovely ladies? Or are you peeping at those voluptuous beauties. My, my I do want to meet those vixens I spy." He heard a very smug, cocky voice appear next to him. The all too familiar voice emerged from his right flank. Hearing it made him stiffen a little. 

Turning his head to the right he found Private Eggard "Suave" Fusesky the perverted prude of the platoon. He stood up above the tall grass, and upright foliage Flame hid in. A photographer, sketcher, and spotter for the platoon, Private Fusesky held a more infamous reputation among the 408th battalion's 13th platoon. The self-proclaimed ladies' man had his three cameras around his neck. The cylinder shaped one, the container shaped one, and plate shaped camera that folded up. Out of seven combat artists, four photographers, and six cartographers, Private Fusesky ruined their image with his perverted taste for females. How he still managed to keep a smug smile after the number of times he was beaten to the earth in boot camp, and the fields of Castaria. Taking another glance at the Vullanese women Flame knew Fusesky would attempt sliming his way into their beds or clothes. Fusesky broke his train of thought. 

"Ooo, that one would do me a favor and keep this rogue comfy! While I paddle that naughty looking behind to our delight!" Fusesky claimed, spotting another woman to target. He moved a few steps forward making kissing sounds as he watched through his binoculars. 

Sergeant Flame's heart raced and pounded his rib cage like a drum. Was Fusesky about to blow the cover of the entire 408th? They were supposed to wait for the signal to attack while staying hidden in the foliage. This Private's personal fetish was getting in the way of their surprise attack. Flame's mind raced around picturing himself as some sentient rodent circling a closed off room in panic. He had to act fast or Fusesky would reveal their positions. Flame made a grab for the Private then pulled him to the ground with him. 

"Could you pack it in already? We are in a future warzone! Our country may be the ones attacking, but history is about to be made! Yet you have a history of harassing women! Now do us a favor Private and keep your eel in your pants! Cut it off from your brain and focus on the frontlines!" He growled at him through his gritted teeth. Flame wanted nothing more than to drown him in the pond or the river just to be rid of Private "Suave" Fusesky. All he did was blink several times in confusion. 

"Why Sergeant Flame. I thought the men loved it when I woo the ladies." Fusesky responded in a half sarcastic yet confused tone. Flame released him and sent him back to camp. He did not watch the Private move away from his position. 

"Sverxing Pig, going to turn all the women of Mothgar on us." Flame cursed under his breath. 

Checking the spa again he found Vullanese soldiers and militia appeared in the scene. Humans, Mehoge demon spawn, Kuruks with ram horns, Orc Jaws, tall Goblins, Orcs, half Orcs, half goblins, short Ogres, Beastmen spawn, Troll Spawn, Man bull spawn (Minoatuars), Zedirians, Half-Elves, Redcap spawn, Aos Si humanoids, and ugly Lideric spawn wore the uniforms of Vullanese Military. Being human, Sergeant Flame envied other races of their newly formed Vestrisian Union. Elves lived longer, which allowed them to learn more, fight better, and experience more than everyone else. Dwarves also lived longer yet showed off their mastery in smithing techniques. They also made better craftsmen, inventors, scientists, as well as artisans. Gnomes had a better taste for machines, tinkering, gardening, and alchemy. From what he heard, Gnomes were not as good with alchemy producing gunpowder or poisons as Goblins proved to the world. Well, the civil ones. His envy also went towards Zunia Pucks who know how to farm, cook, play music, excel at herbal alchemy, and singing came natural to them. Many Zunia Pucks became servants, maids, butlers, house keepers, care takers, and nurses.  Flame felt like he would be complaining about that if he revealed his thoughts to anyone. Humans could master all those professions it only took time, patience, and a bit of free time. 

Just past Orney he could see the city of Busry Isle. An island said to be filled inhabited by Harpies, Trolls, and Gargoyles. One would think neither of those races would be productive. He could certainly say the Vullanese were productive while an enemy watched them. From his position Sergeant Flame spotted Vullanese defenses. Protecting Orney stood eight fixed pill boxes out of wood, eight tower mounts for machineguns, eight pillbox walls. These defenses were spread out across the town limits. He also found the road to be blockaded at the border, and laden with over sixteen tank traps. Eight old broken pillars lay strewn about the road's shoulders. Flanking Orney by the north and the east sat sixteen pieces of cover the Vullanese constructed from logs. Between the constructed cover and pill boxes he spotted sixteen or more sections of walls. Flame presumed these houses either burned in a fire or destroyed by the Vullanese to make more defenses. Right as he was about to call it quits on reconnaissance a platoon of Vullanese troops forced a group of prisoners along. Gnoll prisoners, Human prisoners, Goblin prisoners, Half Elves from Boathrin carried sixteen crates, and sixteen barrels. Watching them carefully place the containers in other parts closer to the town. Another group of prisoners appeared from Orney's streets wielding shovels. Flame took note of this as the enemy's prisoners filled containers with dirt and rocks. 

Out of curiosity Flame returned his gaze to the Spa area. Every spa employee found themselves in a line. Most of the Vullanese troops left them at the supervision of an ugly hunch back figure in uniform. This one wore neither of Vullan's military uniforms. Instead, this hunchback donned a brogg brown uniform with a Nymresian Flag under the Invader's Flag. He was not the only one in that particular uniform. A full platoon of the ugliest creatures for men buried their faces in the features of these spa staff. The hunchback pinched the leading spa owner who appeared powerless. Flame sort of felt offended for these women. Whose side were these scum on? His stomach grew sick, churning as the hunchback started to lick her in several places. He rubbed his face against her exposed areas for a few more moments. Out of the blue his head exploded. It blew up in a bloody, fleshy mess. Brains, torn tissue, blood, and muscle splattered her face. Sergeant Flame did not fire that shot. Looking around to see if anyone else joined his team Sergeant Flame called it a day. Slinking further back until he was out of view he got up and bolted for their camp. 

Sprinting towards camp he found Fusesky sketching an abandoned cottage. Sverx you we have not time for that, get going! He wanted to shout the words at Fusesky. His focus was ripped from Suave when Flame found the rest of his team nearby in the clearing between two hills. Hearing more shots being fired from the Vullanese side caught their attention. His team was now alert as bullets flew above their heads. 

"Get back to HQ! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!" He shouted at them. In a mad hurry Flame's team grabbed all they could while scrambling back to base. Leaves rustled, twigs snapped off as bullet's flew above their heads. Vullanese troops opened fire in a frantic manner in retaliation. That would sap away at their ammunition if they kept doing that. Another shot rang out from a position closer to their location. Flame stopped for a moment realizing he left his position, disobeying orders. Sergeant Flame turned around to return to his position on the hill. Going back had to be cancelled out as an option. Over a hundred Harpies, and Imps flew from Orney. Resembling a bee swarm the flying humanoids went for trees and nearby hills. Flame crouched low in the foliage brush to conceal himself. Harpies, Imps pounced, and dove for a dozen places around them. Screams, and shouts emitted from thirteen different places in the region. Only nine of those places saw gunfire erupt in the faces of the attackers. Rifles, machineguns, pistols, submachine guns joined by screams, shouting, and screeching, filled the air. 

No more than three Boathrian militiamen of the Queen's Sharpshooters were dropped. Those Imps, and Harpies plucked them up and tore them apart before dropping them back down. Other armed troops fared better than the three sharpshooters found in the trees. Entire groups of Imps and Harpies flew away. A larger group of Harpies discovered Flame and his team. Sergeant Flame and five of his Privates became surrounded by one hundred seventeen Harpies. Some appeared hideous with black red lips, red hair like spikes, pale skin with red spots thin bodies. Others resembled scaly humanoids born with tails, wings and grew horns dotting the scalp. A handful of them almost mimicked female bodies covered in feathers or fur. Several had wings for arms with talons. Whereas the rest of them possessed a woman's face, body, arms with talons, claws, and wings. One wielded a mace preparing to smash a skull open. Private Fusesky, Private Browners, Private Monn, Private Riovas formed a tight circle. Not that it would doo much other than allow all members to spray fire in a circle killing multiple foes before getting torn to pieces. 

Sergeant Flame found himself in the middle of the tight circle. Expecting nothing short of being torn apart he went for his pistol. The world slowed down with adrenaline taking over. Sweat poured from his skin, soaking his undershirt, and underwear. All sounds became blocked out except for his heartbeat. How could they escape tis swarm of Harpies? None of them would be able to move an inch with ten pouncing on each of them. Flame returned to the present as all sounds returned to his hearing. In his mind he wondered if the town hero of Queens Church Jeff Blair the Sheriff-Warden, would head this way. As a Veteran in the Geverine infantry, Colonel Blair enlisted to fight in this war. He saved the town from some corrupt thug boss who attempted to take over during the Castarian Conflict. 

More than a thousand guns went off from their eastern flanks. Scores of leaves, sticks, small branches, and Harpies dropped to the ground. Just the noise itself would scare off the Imps. According to the Boathrians who fought the creatures before. Yet the Harpies needed to be killed or wounded in order to drive them away. Most of the Harpies go hit while the rest scattered in the air. Dozens of Vestrisian Soldiers and Boathrian militia emerged from the foliage. Using T.M. 13's, Lever Action Rifles, Repeaters, Boathrian Vowed Rifle4s, and the early E-7 prototypes, the riflemen gunned down as many Harpies before the winged creatures disappeared behind the hills. Colonel Jeff Blair appeared with Major Gorgenne, Major Ol-Gribb, and Captains Castern, Nennetz, Greymir. Sergeant Flame saluted them and handed over his report. Blair checked the notes Flame wrote when a squat bug monster with rustic red lumpy hide, armored tail that ended in a bony paddled projection, emerged from the tall weeds along the hill's base. Its two prehensile antennae were about to grab a gun when an Uxane in VUVR Ranger's uniform burst out of the woods armed with a wooden stake. The red-brownish warrior drove the spear into its skull ending its life. 

"Ranger. Name and Rank." Captain Nennetz demanded calling for his attention. Nennetz wore the officer's uniform depicting blue chevrons over a pair of silver bars. The uniform appeared similar to the standard grunt's greenish brown that had a vest in similar colors only with a khaki brown tint to it. As ugly as it looked it saved their lives from enemy eyes. His pinkish beige skin and clean-shaven face would be an easy target especially the eagle like nose. As for the Uxane, he wore the Ranger's dark green uniform that allowed them to blend in the environment. 

"Sorry Captain." He straightened up. "Corporal Otterspaw Red-Cat, 10th Rangers Battalion." 

"Are you specialized in slaying monsters such as this, Corporal?" Colonel Blair asked folding his arms in his Commanding Officer's field uniform of Bluish Green decorated in small patches representing his rank. He had a flap every officer came with to cover the patches making it look like they wore a short cape poncho. Every personnel including the Officers wore a helmet, the standard Vestrisian military caps, beanies, garrison caps, or a Fassool hat of Vestrisia. 

"Yes Captain, I used to hunt-" Otterspaw was cut off before he could finish his explanation by Major Ol-Gribb the Zedarkhand with brown-grey hair, triangle face, a few war scars dotted his neck and right cheek. 

"That will be all Corporal, carry on." Blair dismissed the Corporal back to his monster hunting job. He ordered for the rest of the unit to return to HQ while sending the captains off to find other teams. Flame and his own team followed the Colonel back to a castle on V.U.V.R territory. Flame prayed their own unit's Captain; Captain Haley De Vill Skald was back at this castle. Currently garrisoned with 290 troops this Castle called Farfell could house a brigade. Around its grounds and base sat 64 tanks, five artillery platoons with twenty pieces, and twelve troop carriers. Each vehicle looked read for the war that would start tomorrow. 

Eoth's Lost Altar

 Not caring for the laws of a modernizing era she wanted to ensure an Eoth victory. Grussia stood as any ally all the way through. Vunnace and eight city-states pledged to fight these invaders. Shabbilne gazed upon the temple altar expecting an answer from the gods. Wearing the traditional Eothan poncho Shabilne had two other companions accompanying her. Captain Grechin of the Eoth Jaguar Warriors, Walod the Mage brought a volunteer for a sacrifice. Shabanna, an Eothan enchantress who made a mistake in a spell. While enchanting a dagger for a youth seeking to be a Jaguar Shabanna had the dagger stab the poor youth. Elders of the village banished her to service of the cults who still practiced the old ways. Shabbilne was a priestess to the altars of Nemarho Yerza, the god of sacrifice, and payments. At the overgrown temple of Nemarho Yerza the four of them were at the very borders of the Unknown Lands. Wedged between two mountains, the temple altar sat as a doorway into the lands of vast jungles, extended mountains, marshes, tribal lands, and grasslands. All of such landscapes filled with savages, monsters, beasts, and wild carnivorous animals. Tales say the tribes are cannibals that kill and eat the outsider upon encounter. 

They were within the mountain range itself that separated them from the Unknown Lands, the Dyhrex Mountains. A large mountain range that acted as a thick natural wall for them and Grussia. A rather large lake was shared with Grussia as well. Lake Nixorne, they called it, another natural border between them and the Unknown Lands. Fishing, diving, swimming, rowing, and sailing could be done on that lake. Nixorne bordered the Dyhrex mountains acting as an extra border between them and the Unknown Lands. Shabbilne had little time to waste. Eoth, Grussia, and Vunnace could hold out for a few years with combined forces. Their new allies in other parts of the world can increase their chances of holding out by a few months. Would that be enough to cripple the invaders? She doubted that it would even force the combined forces of the invaders and their collaborators to quit their offensives. More allies is what they needed and a miracle, according to her point of view. Leading the trio closer to the altar within the temple Shabbilne prepared the dagger. 

"I don't know if this will work Shabbilne. It has been centuries since anyone has made a sacrifice here." Walod warned her. 

"Bah! It will work Walod, it will! I have read the ancient texts on how to do this. Come now Shabanna, come over here." She beckoned for the enchantress to approach the altar. The young Eothan woman hesitated with a concerned expression on her face. 

"What will you do to me?" She asked sounding like she wanted to back out of this. 

"Just a slit of the palm or finger. Several drops of blud should drip onto the altar. Come on now. It is clean." Shabbilne urged her. 

"You mean you have been here before?" Captain Grechin asked her, gripping the torch in his left hand. The lantern they used to traverse one of the mountains to get here ran through their tinderboxes. 

"Several times, Captain Grechin." She replied as Shabanna approached the oval shaped altar with a small bowl crevice in its center. 

Grabbing Shabanna by the wrist she pulled her over the altar drawing the dagger closer to the enchantress's skin. To her surprise the enchantress did not pull back or attempt to resist her. In her grip Shabanna's hand rest in her control at the moment. The enchantress bared her teeth and shut her eyes closed. She even turned away like some scared child or youth made to look at something or do something undesirable. Shabbilne chose to ignore her with some strands of her wild hair draping over her face as she began to press the blade into the palm. Making a cut into the sacrifice's palm she drew blood. Her hands acted on their own squeezing some blood out into the small bowl-shaped crevice in the altar. The red fluid seeped out of Shabanna's palm and onto the altar. It filled the bowl-shaped crevice. That was the only amount of blood required. Looking past the altar at the back walls she waited patiently. Do not fail me. Was all she could think as she released the enchantress from her grasp. Stepping back she placed the dagger on the altar in a position that it faced the center at an angle. From the altar itself stones grounded against each other from the altar's interior. It sounded as though a mechanism was built inside and the blood acted as the trigger. 

Without warning the altar rose a few feet and the wall opened up. Stones grounded against stone, cogs, and other levers squeaked and groaned. Amazed by the success of the attempt they stood idle for a moment. Slowly the wall separated become two sliding doors making way. A secret door opened up behind the shifting walls revealing an outdoor tunnel like hall covered in vines, and overgrowth along the sides. The infamous dreadful Unknown Lands lay before their path. to the four of them this created a new path to take into the wild lands most civilized cultures avoided. Shabbilne could only guess how long it would remain out of the invaders' reach. Shabanna quickly wrapped her hand in a piece of cloth from her leather hide handbag. 

"How many days of provisions did you bring with you?" Grechin asked from behind. 

"First we need to let someone know we are here." Walod informed the Captain. 

Hearing their voices annoyed her. When travelling with them they brought a few weeks' worth of rations. They even stayed at several villages along the way riding in Grechin's automobile that broke down a few times. Hunting and staying at a few settlements helped maintain their stock for each mouth. Shabbilne lived alone these days and lived off the land. She could not say the same for Shabanna, and Walod. Captain Grechin brought two rifles, and a hunting crossbow. The Tiger's Roar 93 bolt action rifle, and the king's favorite, Scorpion Sting 33 breech loader. All three projectile weapons would do them good. Grechin brought a curved machete knife, sickle weapon, and bamboo warclub. All three weapons would prove useful. She possessed a dagger, short sword, metal claws, and retractable staff on herself. At the age of fifty, Shabbilne could still hold out on her own. She was once a Manticore acolyte of the Manticore Circles. 

"Walod, take Shabbana back to the nearest village. Captain Grechin and I will explore this new discovery for the next few days. We will return of course." Shabbilne ordered the Mage. 

"Are you sure Shabbilne? There is only two of you. Who knows what monsters and perils lay beyond those doors." Walod warned them. 

She ignored the Mage plucking up her dagger, and grabbing her own satchel bag. Eager to find out what lay beyond the temple doors she opened, Shabbilne welcomed Grechin to join her. His footsteps behind her said he was joining her. Walod and Shabanna's footsteps faded behind her as she entered the overgrown tunnel. Vines, moss, mushrooms, wildflowers covered the walls of the tunnel. For a ceiling this tunnel did have rough parts of stone overgrown, showing signs of crumbling. Fifty-two lunges away from the last crumbling part the tunnel opened up at the ceiling. Another twenty paces past the opening in the ceiling the tunnel became sheltered by leaves of jungle trees dotting the landscape. With Captain Grechin following her she sauntered ahead for a mile before spotting hints of humanoid life. Various animals chirped, let out caws, loud purrs, and rustled in the foliage. Shabbilne raised her arm to stop Grechin in his tracks. Squatting down she spied what looked like a hut or lodge mixed together. Topped with a flat roof this structure appeared put together with logs, branches, rocks, stones, and mud as the mortar. To her it seemed strange for there to be a structure this well made in an area such as this. Who was she to judge, she had never been here before. 

Drawing closer to the structure they found a few more huts and some inhabitants. Excitement grew inside then faded when she saw some of them had tails. Through some trees, and tall bushes she could see a group of humanoids gathered in the center of a small hamlet in the jungle. Nine horned lizard demons with green scales that looked like armor on their bodies. Each one wore a leathery vest with fur grieves over their legs. On a chain linked leash the lizard demons possessed some bumpy fat dragon of orange, green stripes. Standing on four fat legs this one reminded her of the type of bulldogs Shabbilne saw among Grussians. At a closer glance she noticed these Lizard Demons wielded black ion weapons such as spears, tridents, axes, and machetes crafted in crude shapes. Confronting them or attempting to were three Lizardfolk that held more native appearances. Clad in bones, hides, and shells these Lizardfolk possessed claws, tribal Spears, and tipped tails for weapons. At their flank stood a large, mutated crocodile humanoid fighting one of the Lizard folk archers. In their own language these humanoids held a heated argument about something. Each growled, roared, and hissed at the other. The Mutated crocodile started to swing at the archer, which rolled back to loose an arrow at it. Shabbilne felt her hands reach for her weapons while Grechin prepared to shoot at the lizard humanoids. Just the amount of noise these monsters made gave her goosebumps. Her heart raced as she watched the heated argument turn into a brawl of claws, swinging blades that drew blood. For several minutes it dragged on until something else burst out of the jungles to their left flank. Another lizard beast with a large head and two arms appeared before them. Yet this one possessed two heads attached to another body of another beast. Squinting her eyes, she spotted two metal collars linking the heads to the body revealing it was more of an experiment of some mad scientist who hid in these parts. 

Not taking any chances with any of these lizards the pair of Eothans turned tail and ran from the scene. Knowing what the outcome was they raced back the direction they came. They tried to as there was no clear path to take beyond the tunnel. Finding the tunnel would be rather difficult. What did not help was the sun setting into dusk for the day. Several minutes of sprinting through the jungle one of them lost a boot, and likely a few items from their bags. Neither of them turned around to retrieve anything. Even though she felt like a coward, Shabbilne admitted to herself this was a part of the world she did not know. A Ranger would have helped. She thought to herself when she spied another structure in the jungle. Stopping in her tracks to see what it was the Eothan noticed it was a military aircraft propeller that was usually found on the invaders' choppers for assault. According to the stories such craft were easily taken down with machineguns or handheld modernized cannons. 

"We need to get back to that tunnel!" Grechin shouted as he rushed past her. 

"Yes." She replied taking another glance at the aircraft. Have the invaders already been here or are they just sending scouts? She asked herself before chasing after Grechin. Her discovery of some lost altar opened the door to an older world that was likely alive with monster who could be hostile to both them and the invaders.  

Castaria-Zegrav Borders #9: Insurgents Attack

 His fellow soldier, Sergeant Pumpeen barked at the five palm branch wielding staff. Under his cap his thick reddish hair, and handlebar mustache made him look like a lion trying to be a human. A lion with a big nose, shaven chin, and exposed cheeks. Wind blew around them lifting sand up that hit their clothes, and tried getting in their eyes. Most of the citizens, workers and patrons ran from the blast site. Checking their surroundings Malik spotted two Uxane Horses, a pair of armor wearing twins approaching their direction, a Camel Rider, some Gnome goat rider, and female Drow Mage covered in a tan cloak. To the locals the twins were called Dane workers. Both were fighters and laborers. One Vestrisian Desert Trooper who was Zegrav came up to them. Malik could tell they were of Zegrav background due to the tribal band around their head. It could be seen under the cap, tangerine orange over dark brown skin. Adding another soldier to help wouldn't hurt. Malik had never really been here in Zegrav before. Red Curve was a city he heard about or passed on is travels through Zegrav. Studying the figure in their tan brown uniform they sort of blend in the surroundings. Telling his squad leader what he found, Malik glanced at the Desert Soldier who stuck out because of several light blue tents, orange striped tents, green ones, red painted huts, and colorful vendor stands. 

Handing over his discovery Malik heard the Desert Soldier's voice. Everyone in ear shot turned their heads on the covered Desert soldier. All they could see of her were the eyes above the tan veil. She introduced herself as Corporal Bia Jeerdall of the Desert Unit. Facing North West Malik spotted a Blacksmith at work in his open forge as through nothing happened. Clanking and hammering of metal could be heard from the blacksmith along with other noise as Jeerdall spoke. She once had thirty-five fellow soldiers she called co-workers in a platoon. Now it was just her after a week in Badraan. 

"I heard what happened out there in Badraan, Corporal Jeerdall. A platoon sized unit of thirty-five or more Desert Soldiers and forty local militia set out to hunt down a band of unruly Ghouls led by a Lamia Lion. When they caught up with what they thought was seventeen turned out to be a set up ambush. Caught in the grassy dunes they were first attacked by seventy white spawn Ghouls followed by a wave of eighty Black Ghoul spawn. Both waves were repelled until the Lamia-" Lieutenant Ritherson's story was cut off by fresh screams and shouting. This interruption was followed by sounds of attacks and clashes. 

All their attention was transferred to the southwest. Hundreds of people fled towards them in panic. Several shots rang out behind the fearful crowd. Heading towards the source, Malik's squad was not alone. A total of seventy-seven armed humanoids rushed to defend Red Curve. Malik could tell this was the work of the Lamias of Ottante and their Ghoulish henchmen. No one expected this to happen so soon. Yes there was an insurgency going on. However insurgents acted as guerillas attempting hit and run attacks. They would always melt away or disappear into the countryside or wilderness whenever troops arrived in force. Knowing or believing this was the force they set out to deal with, Ritherson ordered a counter attack. 

Red Curve's populace barely mobilized to face this threat. Citizens, residents, workers, and inhabitants moved towards the defensive castles that formed Red Curve. Malik's squad mates passed a tea salon, practicing dentistry in a cottage, carriage tour guide, bake with a bread stand, and two safari stations against the walls of a castle. Some trio of ex pirates searching for mounts had to give up and join the defenders. Everyone was expected Red Curve or hide in a safe spot. The newly formed VUVR government permitted the Zegravs rights to arms for defending themselves. As long as they don't rise up against the new government. Fortunately this law was not going to last much longer. An enforced law the VUVR's 4th Law of Restraint ensured the Zegrav's would not rise up or form large militias. 

Besides the enforcement and restraining law there were bands who sought to resist. An insurgency arose in Castaria, Zegrav, and parts of Ottante. Yet this day he was facing the Zegrav insurgents. More people rushed pas them in fear. Up ahead they spotted the insurgents near an old mine shaft, an old tower, one saloon, and a bank. Malik's squad mates started firing at the insurgents when the crowds were clear of their line of sight. they lined up near a working blacksmith who was too focused on his work to care. The seventy-seven warriors rushing to defend Red Curve charged at a force of three hundred. Shooting at these insurgents became hindered due to the heroic seventy-seven in their line of fire. 

Forced to watch the Red Curve defenders fight, Malik and his squad mates helped civilians get out. Hiding in a Radio Station within a sand brick structure, a horse riding instructor, her student, chimney sweeps for the castles, a couple of merchants, a family of four, and station master race out. They rushed by a cottage and the stands owned by the merchants. On the vending stands Malik saw they sold saddles, lever rifles, sleeping bags, and other essentials. Among the merchandise they found arrows, bolts, and bullet holes from the insurgents. At other vendors, and structures they found some dead Red Curve citizens. Two ex-pirates selling saddles, and belts, two fire fighters, an operatic entertainer, male surveyor, and older female surveyor-photographer, two kids, a beast tracker, and a merchant. One of these merchants sold essential parts, cameras, small campfire extinguishers, carpets, belts, carpets, capes, banners, circlets, collars, gold coifs, an ale pitcher. Opposite those vendors and particular shop sat the Sheriff Office, a Saloon, owned by nine nobles, and a castle where a noble stood by the stairs. Giving the Tavern a good look he saw it had decorations such as banners, halberds, spears, swords, maces, mortar cannon, and shields. Noting the settlement had ten banks, Malik wondered if the insurgents were after money, supplies, and weapons. Not getting a chance to engage the insurgents was disappointing. 

The engagement of combat between Red Curve defenders and the insurgents lasted for a few minutes. Every Red Curve defender got at least one or two kills. Malik hoped the volley they sent in helped out. Calling this one a second attack Ritherson led the squad over to the site of the skirmish. Just one defender died in the fighting, local sheriff, Lomon Gunari. Whereas the insurgents lost two hundred twenty-five dead, and seventy-six taken prisoner. at their hands a total of fifty-nine Red Curve people died and over sixty wounded in the attack. Knowing the wrath of  Red Curve's citizens these prisoners were at their mercy. As though the VUVR soldiers were not present, fourteen Ghouls, spawn, and Zegravs were hanged. 

As usual in Zegrav every remaining prisoner received the dungeon sentence. Between the eight castles, sheriff stations, and abandoned wells the prisoners found themselves distributed into one of the structures. Corporal Malik knew half these or more would die of starvation, torture, or suicide. He only heard the stories after arriving in Zegrav again when he was a little older. Ritherson took command of the defenders since he was a Lieutenant in the VUVR military. The seventy-six defenders who joined the fight were made up of various professions. A team of seven Swan Knights camped out nearby, another group of five Swan Knights with the swan sigil, stayed at some Tavern. One platoon of twenty regular knights, nine Dwarves, three Crusaders in VUVR uniform, a Tournament Knight on vacation, and a pirate knight came here for new steeds to buy. One female archer, female rogue, Elf Archer, and Dwarf Body Guard lived here in Red Curve. An Elf Blue Blade, female archer, four Tower Shield Knights and Zegrav Tribesman acted as security in Red Curve. Three Blue Archers, a single winged Demon, three Vestrisian locals resided here. Helping the two other Sheriffs of Red Curve, three Vestrisian Troopers ensured the banks would be protected. 

Leaving the prisoners in the hands of Red Curve locals Malik's Squad Mates moved towards the southern end. They were now leaving Red Curve's citizens to clean up the carnage and aftermath. It was not against them. His fellow soldiers did care about the citizens of this member state. Their own duty lied elsewhere in Zegrav. Much of Zegrav remained untamed like Ottante and Castaria. He even heard rumors about parts of the northern regions still had wild bands roaming the country. Bands consisting of Beastmen, wild Troglodytes, Kuruks (humanoids with horns), Fierce Gnolls, and other creatures that should have stayed in tall tales. Looking at the sky he noticed they patrolled Red Curve for over five hours. 

This was normal for patrols and a little short compared to some patrols. Patrols could take days at a time. Depending on where they were patrols would not return for days. Letting out a loud sigh Malik looked around their surroundings at the end of Red Curve. Just the way this settlement was set up in the grassland fields full of hills, it formed a scimitar shape. Old forts, castles, along with the close nit structures allowed for an easy defense. Attacking forces would have to spread out or be caught in a choke point. Either way it would require artillery or bombers to reduce Red Curve to rubble. 

"Alright lads fall on me." Ritherson commanded them. 

The squad of soldiers, now camel riders, or Camel Kols, rallied to Lieutenant Ritherson's position. Corporal Jeerdal joined them, making her part of the squad. Sergeant Pumpeen looked at her up and down unsure about this. Corporal Asim-Sugmuk Malik checked his fellow squad mates with his eyes. Corporal Amun Munn, the second Corporal hailed from Zegrav, Privates Naviddi Calumet, Eric Sextur, Seymour Bleu, Grommni Swannson, Stephen McPaulis, Ed Drommond, Redd Pawblade, Nimor Sedwash, Michael Stonehaven, Walter Olaff, Jasmial Amakiir came from Castaria, and Geverine cities. Then there was Corporal Bia Jeerdall being assigned to his command. Six others used to be under his command under Ritherson. Three of them were dead, one was wounded, and the other two filled in the ranks of another squad in the 1224th. 

"Listen up squad, our presence drew attention of insurgents. We need to move. Our own 1224th just cleared out insurgents while we were fighting the other force at Red Curve. With held from local militia, Zegrav 428th Cavalry Battalion our comrades cleansed a village of 541 insurgents. No prisoners were taken so expect extreme fanaticism. Sort of disappointing, we got nothing, but news about a freed village. Colonel Zepher will move south. A motte and bailey is under the insurgent's grip. In the countryside we have a merchant involved in some rivalry. According to locals and sources they work with a spy who serves a priest. Between the three are four hundred forty-five rebels roaming the country in Zegrav." Ritherson briefed the squad and Jeerdal who was tagging along. 

Castaria-Zegrav Borders #8: Insurgency in Red Curve

 How long have they been planning this? For entire weeks, reports about Kaniima, Badraan, and Zegrav engaging in border skirmishes came in. According to some of these reports along with rumors, many combatants claimed to be loyal citizens. Patriotism towards this newly formed Union of Republics could easily be feigned in his opinion. It would not surprise him at all if they acted patriotic towards the V.U.V.R. just to get them off their backs. Born of a Nochanian Uxane mother and a Zegrav father, Asim-Sugmuk Malik felt more aligned with the Nochanians. Despite his name he showed more connection with his mother's side of the family. 

Before becoming annexed as a new member to the VUVR, Zegrav attempted to conquer the Nochanian Islands. Not only was it to expand and conquer, but to gain better access to trade goods from Valde. Castaria's Empire collapsing left no one to stop them. There was the V.U.V.R., well the members that began it. All the founding states focused on occupation and repairing the whole region. A wave of 106, 276 hungry, greedy, disgruntled, low, and deprived Zegravs invaded. All the Uxane islands had to defend their homes and people. Slaves, land, materials and respect as a new empire were all these Zegrav desired. With a force of 4,535 or more, Nochania fought on the island of Gisugonne. Nochania had 329,250 people leave for Geverine. Most of Zegrav's first wave died in the fighting, and during their occupation. His own mother fired a few rounds out of the window at these invaders. 

Zegrav lost their war to the newly formed V.U.V.R. and became a new member. Corporal Asim-Sugmuk Malik and his fellow Vestrisians passed a herd of forty-five Zegrav Mastadons. They were large in stature, but very timid when it came to small rodents. Asim was glad to be able to see them in Ottante-Vestrisian as a child then again as an adult. His unit of 390 soldiers were part of the 1224th that was called up to deal with an insurgency. Just a week and a half ago they helped another army unit. Part of the 144th Infantry-Rangers scouring in groups of Elves and Dwarves that got caught in an ambush. Both forces fought for exactly four days reducing each others manpower. Mostly chipping away during the battle. When the 1224th came upon them just 37 Dwarves, and 32 Elves. These Rangers engaged 126 Ghouls, 75 Troglodytes, 15 Gnolls, and one Lamia Lion leading the ambush. 

None of the ambushing party lived to tell their reasons behind the ambush. As for the rest of the 144th company, 69 remained alive. The trumpeting sounds of the Ottante Mastadons brought him back to the present. Outside a city called Red Curve they set up a headquarters in the form of a base with multiple camps. Just twenty-seven miles from the borders of Zegrav and Castaria, they prepared to retake another settlement.  In the eastern-central part of Zegrav a total of four settlements remained in rebel hands. Whatever transpired in Castaria also began here in Zegrav. Rumors about a rebellion sparking up in Badraan, Kaniima spread across the regions. Among these rumors the gossip included aliens helping the insurgents and a possible civil war brewing. Asim did not want to know the caused behind them. He thought the 1224th were bound for Zekmar and Dorntalla. Their "real" enemy was the invade not angry rebels upset over some ancient feuds. Every tribe would either be subjects, slaves or dead if the VUVR fell. 

It was still the year 1843 and the Vullanese were getting crushed. More islands fell to the V.U.V.R. and their military started pushing into territories of other foes. All he heard was the areas of Zekmar, Gontrella, and Muskalla were likely to be invaded soon. There was also the rumor of their forces invading Vimasdra. Word about the frontlines seldom reached his ears. He was focused on the borders of Zegrav and Castaria. In a squad of fifteen riflemen, submachine gunners, grenadiers  machine gunners, and Marskman, Corporal Asim-Sugmuk Malik felt at home. Fields of yellow grass, hills, carious rivers, jungles to the south, and small deserts is what he visited with his own father. His own mother took him along when they were hunting down Zegrav invaders. She also allowed him to reload the guns. 

Under the command of Lieutenant Sallah Ritherson, fourteen infantry of the 1224th broke from the main unit. Another squad followed their example with only thirteen members in the squad. Breaking away from the main force they began searching for mounts. The commanding officer of the 1224th battalion, Colonel Eddos Zepher required the Zedelet transports for carrying the wounded. Loading their own packs on their backs the squad wondered about the mounts. Mules proved capable of carrying heavy loads, but moved slow. Horses were fast, agile, and durable. To the misfortune of the rider, they often scared easily. Oxen were used for pulling carts, wagons and sometimes vehicles. Those beasts were too slow for a mission such as this one. Other beasts would be too wild or too dumb for such a mission. Yackdreth had those thick coats and this climate was too warm. 

Any Yackdreth used for this mission would tire easily from the heat. Looking around the tent, wagon hut, lean-to, and nomadic house filled settlement they spotted what they needed for mounts. Often called humped steeds, or ships of the desert, Camels made the perfect specimen for the deserts, and grasslands. Among the mounts for sale and for rent were horses, Camels, Mules, Oxen, Mastadons, and some unusual ones. Roaming around the settlement they found a total of 557 horses, 338 Camels, one hundred fifteen Mules, Thirty Oxen, Eighteen Ram-Goats for smaller races, Nine Mastadons, fifty-seven lizard mounts, and five horned beasts for rent. 

Just checking the are out they noted the settlement consisted of three thousand one hundred twenty seven structures. Red Curve had more buildings, but the estimation was solid enough for them. Corporal Asim-Sugmuk Malik's gaze concentrated more on the people. Inhabiting these estimated one thousand eight hundred eleven tents, four hundred thirty nine lean-to's, three hundred eighty-eight Caravan houses, four hundred eighty two huts they estimated at three thousand three hundred fifty and more. For settlement like this to thrive meant it had more services than just mounts, and beasts of burden for purchase and rent. Some blacksmiths, horse trainers, tent weavers, apothecaries, bodyguards, saddlers, blade smith, coopers, farriers, merchants pawners, healers, tailors, tanners, wheel wrights, tavern tents, and companionship. Red Curve also held some taverns, and other necessities to keep a settlement thriving and working. 

Rounding the corner they found some suitable camels next to a saddler, and animal trainer. Collecting the Camel steeds they proceed to patrol sectors in Red Curve's vicinity. Corporal Malik did his best keeping a mental note on the scenery around them. A tall portal inn stood at four stories towering above some castles, and old towers. It perched on a nice hill with a switchback pathway for steps. Forming part of Red Curve's foundation, twelve old structures appeared restored and renovated. Eight small castles, four old watch towers seated on hills formed a curve pattern. Each one was constructed from red clay and sand bricks. Thus the name Red Curve was given to it. Very little is known about its pre history, but the founding of Red Curve itself is well known. Its inhabitants retell the story of how nomads settled in some ancient ruins, and transformed the castles and towers into a town. 

Possibilities of finding other inhabitants wasn't difficult. Dozens of customers, scores of workers, and craftsmen could be seen among other structures. A trio of Guild riders, some Gold clad hero/writer from Geverine, and Elf Ranger buying new mounts for their own quests. Two female fire mages in the lose red robes rented a single lizard mount. Near some stands and old well three adventurers, three elf fighters, and three veterans haggled over saddles with four different saddle merchants at their stands. Wearing a light blue robe with orange trimmed borders a water phantom mage petted white spotted horse. This eunuch held the appearance of an aging man because of the shaven part of the head, and white dyed hair. His tan brown skin covered his age well. Any Mage with "Phantom" in the title or name were castrated. A multi-thousand year old tradition that is still practiced even after the scarcity of mages in Vestrisia in this era. For females they dyed their hair the color of their elemental powers. Whether they were a regular mage, fire mage, frost mage or water mage their still had to represent the elemental practices and guilds. Travelling with this eunuch was a female Gnome mechanic-inventor, an Old Knight, and Castarian Veteran. 

The Gnome was easy to identify, but for the rest, one needed I.D. papers, or I.D. cards. Here in Red Curve Malik spotted the Old Knight's sigil of a blue cat sewn to the back of a duster coat, and the Castarian Veteran wore a white armband. Anyone who fought against the V.U.V.R. had two options to choose from. Either they wear the white armband with the broken sword icon or serve a ten year sentence in exile. Most chose the armband whereas nine hundred or so chose exile to other parts of Calorn. Noting those off as customers buying or renting mounts Corporal Malik spotted a Red Curve Police officer in Red uniform. This police officer was escorting a family of elves towards a castle. They passed a colorfully dressed knight, nineteen Gryphon Dames from New Vattoram, two cow herders, three warriors, and Elf Blade seated at an open Tavern tent. 

On patrol as well they crossed paths with a mounted Uxane and five Red Curve Police in search of signs of lawbreaking. Exchanging words with them the Vestrisians discovered a few unsavory patrons. Adding this to their mission the squad of Camel Soldiers pressed through Red Curve. While moving west to make a turn the squad spied a Black Knight and a Cleric in wheel chairs near a cottage. Asim assumed they were visiting a site of a lost companion's final battle. Other inhabitants filled the streets shoulders along with six Uxane, and two local Vestrisians. Aiding the crippled souls was a Druid from Prinn, a Battle Blade Mage, and two younger silver knights. Each one gave a salute to the mounted Vestrisians. Being saluted made him uncomfortable for some reason. The idea of insurgents in the area triggered their battle instincts. How did he know the Ogre Hybrid, Leon Dame and former King's Knight would not attack? Hanging out near a cluster of huts he spotted three adventurers talking to an inspector in slacks, tie, and khakis. Next to the cluster rested a trebuchet that was now vintage decoration for the settlement. 

Still patrolling the area in search of rebels, Malik's squad passed a Legionnaire of Boathria, and ex Gladiator from Nevoran continent. Malik's gaze rested on a pair of Zema Ilam horses when a police officer in an automobile came through. Just as it came to a corner some figure in rags, and torn trousers rushed out of the crowds. Wielding what appeared to be a grenade this one figure attacked the police. A pink haired elf watched in horror as it exploded on detonation. Creating a fiery explosion and chaos the attack sent debris flying everywhere. Dozens of people fell whereas scores more fled the scene. Screams of fear and pain filled this section of Red Curve. Survivors lay on the ground in pools of blood. Everyone else either watched in panic, ran from the scene, or rushed in to help the wounded. Getting involved in the aid did help with the image of the V.U.V.R. military. Zegrav was a recent additional member that was still sort of under occupation. Mainly conquered, but still a member of the newly form Union against the invaders to the west. Seeing carnage wasn't entirely new to Corporal Malik. Similar events occurred in Meze and Evusia. Whatever conflict occurred only lasted for thirty-nine day and a half days. A team of seven Swan Knights, a Badraan dark skin, and a team of twelve rescue-medical personnel rushed over. Helping the patients with wounds they made off with three of them. The rest needed more patching up before moving. Malik's eyes widened when he saw the victims were entertainers, and other inhabitants aside from the police in his vehicle. A juggler, snake charmer tribesman, old female Orc, some tournament knight, six Red Curve citizens, female scavenger, fashionable bard, and an ex gladiator along with acrobats made up the wounded and dead. Whatever type of grenade that was it seemed to big of an explosion for a vial grenade. Either the attacker used a bunch of grenades attached together or something bigger. Studying the impact and black marks left on the ground his commanding officer surmised it was a bigger grenade. Even Malik combed through the dirt uncovering thumbtack needles, small screws, iron nails, and shrapnel. The dampness from the blood did not help with the combing for the grenade's contents. He and one other soldiers were able to collect forty-four pieces. What did not help their search were the Red Curve staffing covering up the blood and smoke with sand. Using palm branches they shifted the sand to cover everything up. 

Flag of Zegrav

 

Acting as a crossroad bridge between Vestrisian and Ottante, Zegrav is home to many dark skinned humanoids, and a few other races. Finding itself a land of grassland, deserts, savanna, jungles, oasis, rivers this land of Zegrav also had a few mountain ranges. Although it is rich in minerals it still chose to invade Uxane Islands north of its bay. It has to share waters with Geverine, Lheobethe, and Castaria. To its south lay the Evusian Empire, which was at war with Zegrav's natives on and off. Now it was a member of the V.U.V.R also called the Vestrisian Union or Vestrisian Republics. 

Draconic Collaborators or Warriors of Retoriam-Fecuvia -Korvatzi 1844

 Was it time to show their true colors? Or should they feign allegiance and die for their new masters? Walking into the room he found his 3rd wife reading to his 8th son, and two youngest daughters. She read from the bestiary of dragons that once flew the skies of Calorn yet still fly on her three moons. According to the dragon books there were thirty two types of dragons. Lung Dragons, yong Dragons, knuckers, ampitheres, Lindworms, Wyverns, marsupials, colony dragons, Dwarf Dragons, stone dragons, firebird dragons, earth dragons, Apophis Dragons, Sea Dragons, Blue crest Dragons, Red Dragons, Green, Black, Metallic, white, fire Drakes, Leviathans, behemoths, nagas serpents, nidhogs, wyrms, hydras, cockatrice, purple and gray dragons. He ha to remember all those dragons. Closing the door to their chamber Baron Blackmire interrupted the reciting of the 350 page bestiary. His wife, one tall beautiful battle mage, Ingrideinne the motherly had a knack for stories, teaching, training, and hard working. Knowing her since childhood, he knew she was afraid of spiders. It was something he always teased her about. Whenever he went too far she would through a small fireball at him. Blackmire also had a angry hedge mage in his armies. 

"Time for bed children, you need your sleep. Tomorrow will be a day of festivities and fun." Blackmire said making the next day sound exciting for them. Each little face had an excited expression appear. His own wife, his mother, gave him a more cross expression. 

Ignoring her Blackmire said his goodnight to each child before taking her off to their own quarters. She was silent in her black gown with silver designs. All he had on was a wool laced shirt with their Black Dragon insignia. Although not the only Black Dragon Clan or Family the Blackmire House felt forced to pledge allegiance to the alien Gantronese. Those light gray humanoids with no noses, scared faces, and large black eyes. Some say these were ghost demons from the skies. However they did provide protection from the other invaders, the Nazdar. Entering their room he saw a Green Dragon wine bottle holder on a counter bar against the stone wall. Next to it lay two chalices. A Duwal Chalice with twin Dragon Blood figures guarding a skull crest. The other was a goblet with a blue divine Dragon holding a blade. Sitting down he pulled his wife in with him. She did not resist as she got in bed while he poured them a little wine. Blackmire started to drink, but his Ingrideinne did not for some reason. 

"What is wrong?" he asked her lowering the wine from his face. 

"Are you going to face them?" she asked him. "Are you going to confront our new masters?" 

"Not yet. They have summoned us to protect our half of the small continent." He assured her rubbing her shoulder. 

"If they haven't already, they will send our men to fight against those Vestrisians. What do they want?" She retorted back at him grabbing his arm with fear. 

"I have summoned the other Dragon Clans. We must march to the south where this new enemy has just landed on our shores." Blackmire responded. 

"You mean the Gantronese lands. This was once home to the Blackhell peoples who are likely to side with the new invaders." she tried to argue. 

"We have new weapons to use against these new invaders. A few Lesdonian vessels went down from a turret they gave us." He boasted to her face. 

"That five man turret that looks like a death trap only sunk small skiffs or gunboats!" She said as though it was a rebuke. 

"Ingrideinne they gave us a Nazdar Tank, well three Nazdar tanks."

"One stolen tank, and two broken down ones." She replied. 

He wanted to tell her about the 375 Assault Rifles, and AA transporters the Gantronese also gave them. That would either have to wait or be shown in a few days. Finishing his wine alongside his wife Blackmire laid back and fell asleep. Morning came as the light of the dawn hit his closed eyes. The children entered their room with the nanny chasing after them. Forced to get up because of the children he ate morning meals with them and his wife. Each one were excited over what he was going to show them. What none of them expected was a bit of company. Seven other guests arrived wearing traditional clothing of their respected regions. Count Redmire of the Red Dragons arrived with his fiend looking maid. Lord Greenmouth of the Green Serpent Dragons, Baron Abbogus of the Gold Dragons, Gantronese-Puppet Commander Count Viggu Rabashi leading the commoners, Sir Eudes the Green Drake had the militia under his command. Looking at each leader he spotted 6 kegs, 8 crates and 6 barrels that were taken from a siege tower some lone Oni made into a home. On the wall hung a ceremonial Dragon Costume with Draconic Bat wings. 

"Welcome my fellow collaborators. The Gantronese have ordered us to repel an attack by an invader. No it is not the Vestrisians, but someone else." Blackmire addressed to his guests. His feast for them was waiting in the other room. 

"I understand the past blood feuds are still lingering over our heads. It would benefit us all, if we stood together while serving the Gantronese. I have offered 337 of my own Black Dragon Warriors to serve them. What about the rest of you?" Blackmire addressed to the gathered leaders. 

One at a time the leaders presented how many they were offering to defend their realm. Count Redmire offered a unit of 715 Red Dragon warriors for this defense. Lord Greenmouth brought over 635 Green Serpent Warriors. Baron Abbogus commanded just 198 Gold Dragon Knights for this fight. Count Rabashi had over 7555 armed commoners and peasants under his command. Sir Eudes commanded over 1,000 militia armed with Gantronese weapons. One company of 210 Foreign mercenaries was given their own commander by the name of Eman Bowerstone the Harpoonist. Not playing around Blackmire insisted they begin moving troops to the south. Gantronese authorities, their rulers, would not doubt have someone executed over any delays. 

"Making the most of the forces were are allowed to marshal, we have to move quickly. These 10,650 warriors we rallied already exceeds what they allow to be marshaled." Blackmire persisted before the other leaders who came. 

"How much time did the Gantronese give us?" Rabashi inquired folding his arms. 

"Just ten days to rest and begin moving our troops." Blackmire answered Rabashi. 

"Moving a large amount of troops is going to be difficult. Most of the motorized vehicles are taken by the Gantronese!" Greensmouth touted before the meeting of leaders. 

"We can march on foot!" Abbogus gave him a sincere glare that would send apprentices in the corner wetting their pants. 

"We have no time to march on foot, Abbogus. A fort of Retainers is under siege by these monster aliens called the Order of the Beast and CSO." Greenmouth pointed out. An argument arose among them over what to do. Blackmire put his head in is hands with his elbows on the table. Hearing arguments when they needed to get a move on created head aches. As they almost came to blows something hit him. Someone else could lead their forces. Another person could do this for them. 

"How about someone else do this for us? Lead our troops or their own troops that is closer to the front." He suggested to them. Every leader fell silent. They knew of whom he spoke of. A loner, who had military experience when fighting the Nazdar, Vestrisians, and the tribes of the Unknown Lands. This person was familiar with the area. 

"Mogg the Ghost Marked Orc is closer to the invader than we are." Blackmire suggested to the leaders. In his mind he knew how it sounded. The invader, if he was a neutral official watching this unfold their Gantronese Masters would be the invader. Fighting for them would make them a traitor to the rest of Calorn. It apparently made them traitors, anyone who fought for the Gantronese or Nazdar. One Grussian Prisoner of War spat the words at his face from their prison cell. 

No one said a word in response. Each one showed a blank yet scared face. He knew what Mogg was like, the Orc Hybrid wasn't what they really cared for nor had the balls to confront. Looking down at the table he spotted the Dragon Letter opener sitting next to some Draconic Sea Lions figurines on the table. Representing real draconic sea lions in the southern seas, the decorative pieces appeared eye catching. These really belonged to the cross chamber full of artifacts his wife arranged. However she insisted on setting the sea lion pieces on the table. For a half an hour he convinced the other leaders to let him contact Mogg tomorrow while they prepared to march south. 

At dawn they marched with a force of over ten thousand. Only five of the leaders went with them. Blackmire kept close contact with them via a radio given as a gift from  the Gantronese. Through this communication he learned smaller forces joined them. One band of 25 fire warriors of Retoriam, a company of 252 Green troopers with Gantronese rifles, one creator wit 25 automaton sets of armor with swords, and another company of 152 marksmen joined them. Blackmire himself had to march down there two days later. A unit of 92 Cat Folk warriors, 6 Dog Soldiers, 43 human collaborators, 468 rifle Dragoons, and 7 barbarians arrived at his home. Leaving the castle-mansion to the defense of a Gantronese Field Marshall, the cat folk guards and Dog soldiers he marched with the rest of that unit. Riding with this unit they arrived at the scene of the invasion. Carnage was all they found as well as the forces they sent over. Corpses of the invading forces, collaborators, some of their own knights and warriors littered the grasslands just before the coast. Signs of infighting could be found in abandoned villages, some coves, and the main bay. Some fortress was under siege around the time their forces arrived. Just 77 retainers to a Gantronese Lord survived a battle and siege. Corpses trailing from a nice grove towards the fort showed how fierce the fighting was. Blackmire surmised the determination of both sides over control in this region. Checking the bodies he noticed their Gantronese Masters seemed less in number among the casualties. Were their masters losing manpower or were they trying to use them as cannon fodder. 

Disposing of a population through war was never seen by Blackmire since 1838 AN. Several nations of Elves and Dwarves were sent to their deaths in the Unknown Lands bordering Mulzan. Although they were gifted cipher wheels as friends to the Gantronese, these humanoids were used as expendable troops. That was something Blackmire could barely forget no matter how hard he tried erasing the memories. Combining the new forces with Red Dragon, Green Serpent Dragon, Gold Dragon, Black Dragon warriors, and their militia, Blackmire's new command found the invaders at a beach further west. Speaking with newly promoted commanders because of the intense combat killing off the original ones proved difficult yet informative. Over a division's worth of aliens invaded marched under the banners of some Order of the Beast, and a Chaotic Surprise Oligarchy that acted like rivals. Eager to send the invaders to their graves or into the seas, his Gantronese masters insisted on attacking them. Claiming they would be finishing them off they engaged a force of more than eleven thousand. Another collaborator unit attacked from the northern flank with just 915 troops out of ten thousand. Hearing this news Blackmire wondered if this army attacked with over 100, 000. 

Knowing this would lead to his death Blackmire attacked alongside thirteen thousand others who made a mess in the fighting. Facing various alien mercenaries they discovered a few rebels joined them. One unit of 200 people of the Blackbell Isle chose to fight against the Gantronese, an island on the southern end of the continent. Another unit of traitors was among them, known as the Lairthos wolfmen, a humanoid race that pledged fealty to the Gantronese. Apparently, it was a fake pledge through their eyes. He drove his blade through the throat of one wolfman as 950 green faced troops engaged with bayonets alongside 708 hobgoblin-wolf like beings called Tessari, 621 Mahadi cat folk. Forced to fight in gunfights, close quarters combat his forces also engaged 809 tattooed warriors called Woadi. For several hours forces loyal to the Gantronese fought off another set of alien invaders preserving another alien's foothold. Taking out these new invaders wasn't easy, but they managed to wipe out the rest of them while driving the remnants into the sea. Either forcing them down into the muddy water face down, or choking them under the water Gantronese collaborators won a costly victory. Ending this battle alongside his fellow Tenmosians Blackmire slew other aliens such as Vanudai Ratmen, Qhelmite Bug humanoids, Chugo pigloid humanoids, Primate Bhitalions, Andazi reptilians, elite blue demons, Chugsin(warthog humanoids), Ogres, and Baubauns (baboon humanoids). Among these aliens they discovered a few Vestrisian Dark Elf collaborators who were likely acting as spies to these new alien invaders. Some of them had fake I.D.'s along with VUVR ID's with the Vestrisian Emblem and flag on the back of the ID card. 

Kezef's fleet year 1844

 His own fleet managed to secure a few spots in this newly found region. It added more islands they counted as out of Gantronese hands. Yet the Gantronese were still up north, and they had several more alien factions to deal with. He now looked at 29 mega ships heading this way. Each one belonged to a different faction other than Gantronese. Hearing much of the islands were cleared in their vicinity proved to reveal mixed results. Casualties were expected, but to deal with a mishmash of allegiances among the strange aliens found was not what he expected. Having more than five factions named through the radio communications gave him an idea of how much of a quagmire the situation looked. Other than the Gantronese and their Aquanne Hitto allies, Admiral Kezef had to think about three or more factions. Some Order of the Beast, the Chaotic Surprise Oligarchy, the Toceanids, and some liberating faction called the IGA. For Kezef this appeared too much to keep up with. 

Although he applauded and saluted the efforts of their troops, he could not believe they could secure the whole unknown region. Called the Platform Seas, this massive archipelago of islands stretched from the Iperantosi Isles to the southern hemispheres of Calorn. Thanks to some maps and willing pilots, he was able to note this blocked region of the sea hosted thousands of islands. Looking out the bridge to his flagship, he wondered if it was a good idea. Did they move too far into these unknown parts of their home world? Kezef read stories about caves leading to undiscovered caverns and underworlds. Even the Ottante continent still had places no one really ventured. For at least a few weeks or more they had been here, and hardly heard any word of Gantronese movements. That is what concerned him the most. Not hearing any news or reports since their victory against the Gantronese. Every privateer they hired barely gave a whisper to them. As unnerving as it was, he just had to remember, the alien invaders had more valuables to loot. Plus they hunted everyone they suspected of piracy before this war began. 

Partially heeding his crews' existence Kezef glanced over at some islands he got to walk on with some escorts of course. Taking a good look at the structures himself he also found some exotic animals living on these islands. A flock of yellow, green, and blue birds called Atotolins roamed around the western islands. These slender bodied, large headed water hens could be found in other parts of the world. Yet to find them here in the platform seas was baffling. He gave orders not to hunt these birds down since they came with enough provisions. Kezef turned his focus away from the thoughts of the birds, and the islands. Next to him one of their new allies came to his side. A commanding officer whose name he already forgot. Yet it was good they forgot his name as well, but not his rank. 

"Admiral if these Gantronese regain any foothold they will still have to contend with ten thousand or more enemies. Ones that are not from our factions. My own superiors are sending in a brigade to help." the alien put in. 

Not intending to ignore the alien elf Kezef signaled for them to send a warning fire at the incoming fleet. With a bolstered fleet of forty-three vessels he felt ready to take on this fleet of behemoth ships. Some appeared the size of islands. His flag ship fired a warning round at the twenty-nine ships. Letting loose a barrage from their own turrets, these enemy ships answered. A sea battle ensued before his very eyes. Although he fought the Gantronese, Evusians, and the Nazdar, he still felt an uneasy discomfort. His fleet along with nearly a division of personnel were in unknown territory no cartographer mapped out, and not a single explorer came back alive. Aliens, wildlife, monsters, and strange structures were all they found in this part along with the same enemy they had been fighting. He did not take it seriously at first until he met some of the aliens who turned against the enemy. Kezef was even more convinced when he came face to face with the turncoats, prisoners, and a new faction bent on interfering here. Even if their faction were to help, Kezef would prefer it if their superiors did not dictate commands to V.U.V.R. personnel. 

"Signal for the Aquanne Hitto to attack along with their Toceanid friends." Kezef ordered. No more than 1053 Aquanne Hitto warriors remained of the hordes that came down to Calorn to fight for the Gantronese. Kezef recalled talking to a General at dinner about them. The General believed the Gantronese were pulling in subjects from other parts of their empire here just to prevent uprisings. Kezef sort of disagreed with him there. He believed the Gantronese were stretching themselves thin. They had to be otherwise they would have overrun the southern islands by now. Watching the sea battle unfold from the safety of the bridge Kezef considered the possibility the Gantronese are holding back. 

His flagship's guns roared as the crew gunners unleashed lethal shells meant to sink or damage a vessel. Following his ship's lead, the rest of the fleet opened fire from a position that protected their gains. Even though they maneuvered ships slightly north of their claimed islands, the platform seas still exposed flanks. Forces loyal to the Gantronese were bound to come down at the bidding of their Masters. Thanks to the cooperation of other alien defectors they had a few airships to transport personnel out of here quickly. Studying each large behemoth vessel he could only guess the size of the crews. A dozen of the shells fired made impact on their intended targets. Every other shot hit the water, or some smaller island nearby. Grabbing his binoculars, Kezef assessed the damage from the bridge. One of their shells hit a smaller turret, another hit the rails to the deck, the rest just hit the side hulls along the bow, starboards, and broadsides. Seeing they did minor damage, Kezef waited for the next barrage of shells, which could be followed by a return fire. 

In command of a combined fleet he aimed to keep as many ships afloat for any future engagements. The Gantronese still had a formidable presence in these platform seas. A small brigade's worth of troops held the islands and platforms north of their positions. Thanks to the six aircraft patrolling the region signaled more forces were on their way. It could take every personnel on their own claimed islands to fend off the size of the Gantronese force coming for them. Preparing for the return fire Kezef ordered his crew to go into evasive mode. His crew sprang into action as his Lieutenant Captain repeated his commands through a phone piece on the wall. Feeling a little secure inside a trapezoid shaped bridge Kezef watched the crews prepare the Hervorne. Her bow turret fired a third round before they received an answer. Heavy, and light shells hit more than two hundred areas just in front of the combined fleet. A few islands were hit with tremendous explosions. Splashes from the impact rose up like large waves. Hervorne and a dozen other ships felt the choppy waves that managed to rock them. Their maneuvering made the rocking feel like they were in a small storm. Turret crews fired whenever they felt level. Kezef wished they would stop firing and conserve ammunition. 

After several minutes of fighting the waves the Hervorne and nearby ships regained balance through some side-to-side maneuvers. Ships behind them fired their turrets backing those who sailed at the front. Kezef felt tense as held on to a hanging handle on the ceiling. Sailors sat at their posts while he stood up in front of his command seat. He would be sitting down in it, but he felt uncomfortable at the moment. A good walk around the ship would give his legs a good stretch. Letting the ship Captain off the hook for his cabin seemed like a bad idea for his own legs. Kezef would have enjoyed an extended stroll through his flag ship. His military mind was needed, the Gantronese had sent their first fleet since the engagement at sea. More ships arrived to engage the alien fleet, which relieved his fleet of being needed there. Another Vestrisian Admiral and her own fleet arrived, a fleet of Elves, Half-Elves, Orcs, Goblins, Half-Orcs, Half-Goblins, Humans, Dwarves, Gnolls, and Troglodytes. Most of the Gnolls, and Troglodytes who chose to assimilate. He met a few dozen of those humanoids who were raised into the modernizing civilized society. 

After another volley of fire each behemoth vessel were hit. Firing at least nine more times the combined fleet brought one of the behemoths down. In a fiery explosion this monster vessel burst into flames as it succumbed to the amount of damage. Watching just one of those sink gave them relief. Cheers went up all over his ship while the gunners were still firing rounds. Eight more volleys of combined shelling brought another one down. One of their own allies lost a ship to five shots out of eighteen from two of the behemoths. Appearing as a blow to their fleet they were still in this fight as a third behemoth went down in ten shots. Kezef watching a fourth one go down in eleven volleys of fire from ten ships alone. To their luck hardly any more of their own vessels suffered any hits except for the one they lost. It belonged to Alagen, an ally of theirs who showed determination to fight. A fifth behemoth went down after fourteen sets of rounds, but it came at a cost of one Vestrisian Destroyer. It went down in six or seven shots. Kezef felt his heart sink as the blow stabbed his heart. Over two thousand sailors were now dead, drowning, suffocating, or afloat at the mercy of this situation. In the heat of the sea battle a sixth behemoth went down, reducing this fleet to twenty-three vs thirty-nine allied ships. Checking the flag on these beasts he noticed the Gantronese Flags, and the Nazdar Flags flying over them. 

"How many rounds was that, Lieutenant Blackbell?" He asked the third in command aboard the Hervorne since Captain Durnvire was in his cabin. 

"Sixty-five Sir." the Lieutenant answered. 

Not bad, not bad for the first day of engagement. He thought to himself. During his time in the Navy he would see hundreds of rounds fired resulting in little or no damage to any hostile ship. Times were a little different now. Stronger ships, more turrets, large carrying capacity along with a slightly larger crew. There was also the newest technology in radio communications, and radars. Some ships did not need fuel thanks to engineering of Gnomes, and Dwarves working with sea Goblin mechanics. A new enemy invaded their home world threatening to expand into Vestrisia, and Ottante. Some new technology to combat them was secretly handed over as well as scavenged, salvaged or stolen. Watching these behemoths slowly move around Kezef could only imagine how much fuel these mechanical monsters guzzled up. More shots were exchanged before the Behemoths started to back off. A flare shot from one of the leading ships ordering the fleet to stop. In a stroke of luck the Gantronese fleet backed off and began to retreat north. Kezef sat in his seat relieved to watch them retreat. 

"They are retreating!" one of the Command Bridge Crew members cried out causing a loud rise of excited voices. His entire crew cheered with joy at the sight of their enemy retreating again. The whole fleet expressed their excitement over this. For them it had been weeks since they saw the enemy retreat like this. In his mind he knew the enemy would return. 

Dawn came as the next day began with the two sides returning to positions. Instead of twenty-three Behemoths they saw twenty-one come after them. Kezef received word their own ground troops on the islands fought off the Gantronese forces. Marines, Rangers, Infantry, Allied soldiers, turncoats, and new allies fought off over 7,000 troops with just 12 tanks engaged their forces on nine different islands. Every tank was destroyed or sank in the muddy shores. Gantronese forces lost well over 5,250 infantry and 75% of the forces originally holding the northern islands. According to prisoners this was the only force they managed to send along with the rest of the defenders who surrendered or allowed themselves to drown. As for their casualties, a few hundred men and women died in the fighting. That did not explain the missing behemoth. One of the Aquanne Hitto had to inform him and other Admirals here that a force of 1,053 Aquanne Hitto launched a night attack on the crew of a behemoth. It was after they slaughtered the survivors of the enemy crews in the waters. Toceanids were preoccupied with summoning something else to help. Not even a score of Aquanne Hitto survived despite massacring the sleeping crew. Other behemoths opened fire on the one they attacked, sinking it as it burst to flames. 

Kezef ordered for the surviving Aquanne Hitto to leave and save their species. However they refused, insisting on acting as spies while the next day of battle commenced. Twelve shots is what it took before another Behemoth to go do down. Another blow to the behemoths, but not as staggering as watching a Sloop sink to five shots, and a VUVR ship sank after suffering three shots. One behemoth ship with a Gantronese and Vorcadam decoration on the bridge sank in fifteen shots. Kezef's fleet suffered more losses. The second Vestrisian ship sank after suffering five shots. One of their own frigates does down after 6 shots. It pulled out quickly with smoke emitting from her hull. An Ivodran ship sinks after getting hit 8 times. To his left flank an Evusian light Battleship sinks after 16 hits. Everyone else either pulled back or helped collect survivors as the Behemoths went everywhere. Two of them were forced to retreat, and three of them had a few working turrets. He could not tell if they were winning or losing. They brought more ships, but these aliens had larger vessels that proved hard to take down. Looking through his binoculars he noticed each one had a different shape than the other. More conventional weaponry was installed over the energy blasting ones he heard about from spies. Nevoran Federation fleets suffered heavy loses to the alien ships that used weapons that shot out beams of fire. Despite the advantage the alien ships still went down after several days of fighting. One report detailed an explosion caused within an alien vessel guessing it used too much energy or something ignited. 

Seeing his own fleet retreat he began to lose hope. Several ships let loose depth charges, mines, and torpedoes. Kezef's heart started to beat harder and faster as he grew tense from watching. His hands squeezed the binoculars shaking them a little. Beads of sweat emerged from his pours as he watched a few torpedoes hit two of the behemoths. This is the end of our expedition. He thought to himself, keeping that from the ears of his own crew. The Hervorne slowly turned around with one of the turrets still firing away. Hoping to outrun the enemy fleet Kezef's combined fleet went full speed ahead. Kezef handed command of the ship to Durnvire while he raced over to a balcony facing the stern. Getting to the stern side of the destroyer he witnessed a behemoth ship hit a reef, or something while another got entangled by large tentacles at an area they had not ventured. From the skies scores of alien fighters attacked the Gantronese and Nazdar behemoths. Turning to face the direction the fighters came zooming in he spotted Yvonnes airship with the Vestrisian Flag painted on it. Leaving the scene of the battle felt difficult due to the loss of thousands of sailors. Just as many sailors were rescued in time before the whole fleet returned to base. 

For the rest of the evening he held a meeting on one large island where the discussions, planning, and apologize grew into tense arguments. No one threw a punch just protested ideas, turned down roles, and threatened to leave soon. Kezef's reminder to them about the enemy losing ships as well and air superiority at them moment, calmed them down. When he mentioned the sea monster they also got angry and scared of that thing before someone on his side managed to shut everyone up. Captain Argosan Vroigson of the Lybresan Frigate Bogam, half goblin-half human, got everyone's attention. He reminded them of new allies, the fleets they had on the other side of the Arm of Lost Souls. 

"...My fellow Captains, Naval Officers, and peers, we have another fleet on the other side of that wall of ruins. More than half the behemoths are damaged. I say we stay and fend them off!" Captain Vroigson slammed a hand on the table. Around the meeting table the other Naval Officers nodded in agreement. Some of them crossed their arms with intrigue, and skepticism. A few muttered their approval. The room filled with chatter for a moment or two as they discussed among each other. 

On their third day the combined fleet let these behemoths have it on the seas. Fore a whole hour the coalition bombarded the first line behemoth ships, peppering them with turret shells. Not caring if their guns overheated, they went at it. Maneuvering was easier in the southern part of the waters they chose to fight in. Although it seemed awfully close to home base, it was still north of their positions in the open water. Six or so shots sunk a behemoth flying Nazdar colors. It resembled a battleship mixed with a blimp. On another one, five good hits destroyed a smaller behemoth resembling a steel shark. As the sea battle dragged on the coalition flanked the behemoths, which forced a portion of the fleet to pull back. Four well placed torpedoes and four hits sank a third behemoth that flew a Gantronese flag. Taking with it thousands of souls, this third one held the shape of a forked blade of some sorts. One damaged behemoth ship with an eagle shape took four more hits before going down in flames. Its bridge, radio tower, turret, and hull became nothing but destroyed debris. Twelve hits took down a lightly damaged behemoth that sort of resembled the shark one. A sixth one went down after receiving hits from multiple ships. Just three hits to the engine following ten others demolished the ship. Four more ships on the coalition side sank on the third day of battle. One of their Destroyers sank after receiving eleven shots, four hits sank a Steel Sloop, four hits sunk another Destroyer while twelve hits sank an allied Cruiser on his left flank. 

Just four more losses in this battle compared to eight more losses to the behemoths. Only twelve behemoth ships remained. Twelve damaged behemoths managed to stay afloat. Was he counting wrong or did more behemoths join the fight. A ship of his own fleet went ahead of the fleet. Not what he wanted, and it was too late to call them back. One single tear went down his cheek as he watched the ship go down with over several hundred sailors he commanded. His heart became heavy. Kezef dropped the binoculars while slumping back down in his seat. Another Vestrisian fleet gone to the enemy guns. Another volley managed to sink seventh behemoth for them. What did that make it now, elven or ten behemoths to worry about? Sure they were damaged from the fighting, but each still posed a threat. Ignoring everyone in the bridge and a few calls to him, he clasped his hands. All he focused on was the heavy loss, the ten or more behemoths still a float and how to get out of this one. In his mind he wondered if this was a fleet cut off from communications with the fleet just northwest of these hidden islands. Taking his eyes off his own hands he saw a Vorcadam Death Bringer went after this one ship caught in the open. As it came upon its starboard side the Death Bringer succumbed to torpedoes from the west. Squadrons of alien craft zoomed in from the skies. A mixture of aircraft attacked the Gantronese and Nazdar behemoths who could only answer back with flak guns, and AA fire. From behind them and their eastern flank scores of aircraft roared overhead towards the enemy. A wave of flying engines created a startling noise that he and some crew members jumped out of their skins. 

Roaring Eagles, Dreamfires, Screaming Hawk, and Holy Angels came to their rescue in a few waves of dive bombers and torpedo planes. Like seagulls and pelicans diving for food these aircraft unloaded on the remaining behemoths. Watching 108 of their own aircraft attack these behemoth ships made Kezef uneasy. Did the Gantronese and Nazdar have aircraft coming in to counterattack them? With wings resembling an inverted shape their Roaring Eagles held the shape of an eagle. Its H tail and cockpit took away its resemblance to that of an eagle. Known for its dive bombing feats the Roaring Eagle-7 became the VUVR's number one aircraft for the job. It was also produced, and shipped over to certain allies. Kezef was astounded by the capability it had against these alien aircraft. Dreamfires held more than one wing shape. The only one he saw was the D shaped nose and the thick Oblique wings, the Dreamfire 5b. An aircraft whose wings can fold upward or backwards to make room. Agile, fast, well armored this Dreamfire could act as a fighter, bomber, and torpedo diver. Its double engines allow speeds up to 625-701mph making it the fastest aircraft in their arsenal. Whatever the engineers did to this aircraft went beyond expectations. Due to its speed the Dreamfire was tasked with escort jobs, and fighters for dogfights. Screaming Hawks showed a more mid-wing aircraft with straight edged, and tapered trailing end. Its mixed engine made a screaming noise thus dubbing it Screaming Hawk. Acting as a dive bomber, and torpedo launcher, the turbo fanned craft can carry nine bombs, and two small torpedoes. Holy Angels flew with three engines, double tails, space for two pilots, and four guns could place a bomb or three on its target at once. Only three of these types came from aircraft carriers while one of them had to be launched from Ruhonthran Islands. Kezef smiled at the sight of twelve behemoths going down ending the battle for the southern platform islands.