Fiction:Odyssey of the Desert/The Allied Offensive

The Dawn of War
Early Verdant Earth, 33 New Age: Central Sohitaria

The Spring sun was yet to rise to its peak as the morning began, with the native denizens of the city starting to go about their daily business as merchants set up their shops and the markets started to awaken and flourish; arriving at the heart of this bustling desert ecumenopolis were several carriages, one transporting cargo and the other a set of passengers as they headed towards the gates of the palace in which resided the Sultan of the - the Sultan, whose agents had prowled the multiple registers of adventurers who had undertaken assignments within the city in order to cautiously select certain individuals and send out messages of urgency in hopes of a response. Within the confines of one carriage were six passengers, a diverse cast of experienced adventurers and veterans continuously tried and tested against the dangers of war and other, more hidden conflicts. They could be hailed as heroes, yet for they had been contracted as if they were no more than simply skilled mercenaries.

Kannaerona Innuaryntai sat with his arms folded within the carriage, a tired and sleepy expression on his face as he looked down at his feet; he had trouble sleeping the night before due to the rough and unsteady means of transport, although he had managed to nap for a few hours as the carriages were pulled through the city by camels. rested with his serrated sword in hand, looking down to the floor of the caravan while his companion, the elven woman named spent her time looking out of the caravan's window, admiring the view. Enshrouded in a sand-coloured silk robe, with a golden visage obscuring his face, the known as  was polishing a shortsword using a cloth. To those who he had called friends and those who called him friends in return, Septimus was not a warrior by any stretch of the imagination - though he appeared to be more than ready for an engagement. Next to him, sat the colossal metal giant, who sat motionlessly throughout the whole journey, though secretly he was astounded at how the carriage did not collapse under their weight. The spectral knight remained on his sit, seemingly immobile and unresponsive to any kind of interaction. He appeared to be asleep, or perhaps had dozed off.


 * Ndrhthryr - So. Homeward bound, eh? Bit of a difference from pulling these carriages.
 * Lyra - Did they even give a reason to call us?
 * Earath - They didn't.
 * Septimus - They had invited us specifically. That is more than enough of a reason to suspect a serious event. Or forthcoming event. However you wish to interpret the writing.
 * Kanna - They probably did not want to write down the details in case the letters were intercepted. Standard practice, I suppose.
 * Ndrhthryr - I missed the Dynasty. You could make a lot of honest money here and not get looked at for being a nine-foot tall husk of armour.
 * Earath - No surprise. Giants are not uncommon around these parts... Well, beastman giants, at least.
 * Kanna - I'd rather beastman giants than those shitty cats to the east.
 * Septimus - There was little mention of the nature of the Dynasty. What would a newcomer expect to see here? Aside from a steady flow of coin, as far as I can gather.
 * Earath - It's not exactly special compared to any other place in the world. Except there are lots of mercenaries around.
 * Lyra - And it's hot all year.
 * Ndrhthryr - Yep. Used to be one of them. Until decided to hurl an arrow into my shoulder...and then the rest was history. Up until this point anyway.
 * Kanna - I heard Khadya say that she used to travel with an infamous group of mercenaries that began in this very city. Called them the Goldhawks-- Oh, we seem to have arrived.
 * Norrigan - ... Oh-ho! Indeed! I was a Goldhawk! Khadya grew up into the ugliest orc I've ever seen.

The carriages stopped in their tracks outside of the palace; the doors opened and allowed the adventurers to exit the transport, whole the neighbouring carriage stored any luggage they did not wish to carry upon their person - supplies fit for long-term adventures alongside any personal belongings and additional equipment in case they needed replacements. The rays of the sun glimmered off of the metallic gates and the marble walls that encased the palace grounds, with Merovar guards standing at attention at the entrance, although it seemed they were accompanied by a rather unusual sight upon this fine, hot morning as sat beside the wall some distance away, dressed in light robes, were a pair of Inquisitors that the group had since grown accustomed to.

, his attire stripped of any semblance of an indication of his loyalty to the Empire, sat with his legs folded and his head faced downward, his blonde hair gently picked up in the light breeze. He had tied his hair back in such a way as to reveal some rather notable changes since his last adventure with his companions, for upon his forehead had grown a set of crude protrusions that could have been compared to small, dark horns. The whites of his eyes had become greyish and his face had continued to lose its moisture, causing him to appear like a dried husk yet his breaths indicated that he was still among the living. He was draped in a rather dull poncho, which cloaked the armour he wore beneath.

Following him was another Inquisitor, his constant, if reluctant, companion, too in disguise -, wearing a white Glasswalker cloak that was wrapped around her body, concealing most of her figure and extending to her legs as a coat. Only her eyes, slanting from the bright desert sun, could be seen, warily turning from person to person as she gripped on her scimitar - glistening and burning from anger, as usually. She breathed heavily, yet seemed to be enjoying herself, as the usual contempt in her eyes was addled with something that resembled pleasure. Norrigan, upon sighting the two Inquisitors, immediately marched at their direction, and once he got close enough, he threw a hand at Alfgund's head, gripping into his ear and twisting it as he spoke with a melancholic tone.


 * Norrigan - Never run from me again without warning! What were you thinking?! Dear heavens!
 * Alfgund - Agh! B-Brother, you are about to wrench my ear from my head! ... I had matters dire that were to be attended. Matters that I wished not to involve my companions in, for the circumstances were such that I must have faced them alone.
 * Javina - ...I do not see why do you argue. This is the desert. It's home. For the first time since forever... - Javina stared at the sun, squinting her eyes - Finally, I can reminisce of better times. So too should you.
 * Earath - ... Oh, that's the human guy with the morningstar.
 * Lyra - That's a human? Looks more like a tiny version of those golems the Niaka make back home.
 * Septimus - The adverse effects of magic upon man.
 * Alfgund - And look at you, elf. You look to me like a doll; sweet and equipped with a look of innocence about you, yet here you stand before us all draped in the steel of war. An unfortunate turn of fate for such a pretty girl.
 * Lyra - ... Eugh! He's hitting on me!
 * Ndrhthryr - He's mocking you.
 * Alfgund - Hah! I do not mock you. And I am not expressing any love for you, either. I simply find it a misfortune that a soul such as yourself has found itself drawn to the bloodied field.
 * Lyra - I do it out of my own volition, you weirdo.
 * Earath - Yeah listen, good to see you again and all, but we got things to do. Come on, Norrigan. We can't leave the Sultan waiting.
 * Norrigan - Expect me to give you a very stern yelling later.
 * Alfgund - So... you are off to meet with the dear Sultan, eh? Such convenience, for we had matters we wished to discuss with him ourselves. Or rather, our superiors would have us act on their behalf to seek answers for them.
 * Earath - Good luck with that then. Inquisitors are not exactly welcome in this city.
 * Alfgund - I am an Inquisitor no longer. Or rather, I do not consider myself a hound of the Inquisition any longer.
 * Javina - Yes, yes, all that. Just remember that I'm listening to you. You're literally proclaiming high treason, in the face of an Inquisitor.
 * Alfgund - While you wear those robes, you are no Inquisitor either. You are but an emissary of the Glasswalker tribes, if those were your words exactly.
 * Javina - Yes, yes. - Javina coughed - E-sbeaking of fich, I eforgot to e-but on de accent.
 * Ndrhthryr - Did you just have a wasp fly into your throat?
 * Lyra - Inquisitors are all wasps.
 * Javina - It's the dialect of the Glasswalker tribes. My father came from their stock, so I know how to do it.
 * Earath - Regardless, we gotta go. Come on, people.

Not too far from the crowd, standing up against the wall in the shade, a rather peculiar individual was watching them with a very staunch gaze. Purple, scaly flesh and bronze-black armour of a similar scale-like nature made the most of his being, as well as an avian helment and red, tendril-like hair sparingly jutting out from underneath. The most odd thing about him however, was his left arm that look much more like a dragon's claw than what was assumingly a man-like being underneath. He certainly did not fit in with the general crowd, even for the Dynasty's multicultural populace. In fact, he did not appear to be able to accustom himself anywhere. As Ndrhthryr was looking around, before entering the Sultan's Palace, he took one long look at the anomalous being, considering him to be stranger looking than he was. Norrigan's eyes shifted to the entity before he quickly reached his hands to his weapons, whispering to the others.


 * Norrigan - Keep your eyes and other bodily holes open, friends. We are being stalked by some sort of demon.
 * Ndrhthryr - Not the first time or the last time, either. Watch out for any sudden movements.
 * Norrigan - He smells like that other walking carcass person we were stuck with.
 * Earath - There are guards everywhere. We don't have to worry.
 * Kanna - Hey, just because he happens to look strange does not mean he wants to cause trouble. ... He probably cannot help the fact he looks so bizarre. Probably a mercenary from some other exotic place.
 * Javina - Do you trust these guards will offer protection? We'd rather protect outselves.
 * Earath - I've served the armies of the Dynasty for several years. I know their efficiency.
 * Alfgund - Aye; if they were unfit for duty, then what point would there be to assigning them as members of the guard? Yoru distrust of the foreign folk clouds your mind.
 * Norrigan - I don't distrust foreigners, friend. I distrust things who ooze black energies from their eyes. And goblins.
 * Javina - ...What he said. In our scenario, we will have to rely on our own skills.

Kanna passed a glance towards the strange humanoid before he turned, shaking his head as he walked up to the guardsmen perched outside of the gates of the palace and cleared his throat in order to gather their attention. With his companions following his rear, Kanna spoke with confidence yet some deal of agitation as the less than smooth journey to the city had disrupted his sleep, thus in turn made him somewhat restless.


 * Kanna - We're here to meet with the Sultan. He is expecting a group of adventurers that he hired for a mission. Those two humans in the robes are with us as support.
 * Lyra - Are they?
 * Kanna - Yes. Yes, they are.
 * Lyra - Pfff. Fine.
 * Guardsman - Present your letters and we will let you pass.

The members of the group who had received invitations raised them for the guardsmen to see, passing them over and allowing them the opportunity to examine and verify them; as they awaited for their letters to be validated, Kanna's head tilted as he looked through the gates and looked across the palace grounds, watching as a figure seemed to be approaching them. The figure in question was of a similar stature to the Lagosi elder, with a hat laid atop blonde hair and a coat adorning his brown-furred body while portions of light armour complimented his attire. As the Lagosi approached the gates, he whistled at the guardsmen and chuckled while they verified the invitations.


 * ??? - Ah, so these are the bunch of mercenaries that the General went about hiring. Let me see if I can remember who is who... Kanna, Earath, Lyra, Norrigan, and the one with the funny name. And a few other funny faces as well, eh?
 * Javina - Call me Jamal. Jamal Whitelion.
 * Ndrhthryr - Thanks, you flea-ridden...you know what? I won't dignify that with a response.
 * Kanna - ... . You son of a bitch.
 * Taka - In the flesh, brother!
 * Earath - You know each other?
 * Kanna - I've served with Taka a couple of times when I was not adventuring with you. He's a good man when he is not being a pain in the ass. And he can hold himself well in a fight if he needs to.
 * Septimus - Regarding your opinion of him being a pain in the rear, that is rather a commonplace remark that you make.
 * Taka - I can tell you that it's a remark he attaches to a lot of people. You get used to it eventually. You can tell me what that's like because I sure haven't, hehe.

The guardsmen returned the group's letters to them as they opened room for them to proceed inside the palace. Wrapping his arm around his head, Taka embraced Kanna in a brotherly hold as they walked up towards the palace, the two of them laughing while the company of adventurers, mercenaries, and soldiers were welcomed onto the grounds before the gates were shut behind them. As the group reached the steps, Taka let go of Kanna and folded his arms, chuckling before he turned to look at the group and address them.


 * Taka - So, I'm guessing you lot are probably wondering why the General invited you all here. I know that she made the letters as enigmatic as possible for all of our safety, so you guys would be right to be confused.
 * Earath - She didn't put us in the most comfortable position.
 * Taka - Well, I'll tell you now before she does; it's to do with those Wranploer sons of bitches.
 * Javina - It is good! Fe always enjoy a good efight with ethese ebastards!
 * Taka - A good fight every once in a while is fine, sure. But the fact of the matter is that the reason you guys were contacted is because we fear that it's going to escalate from raids and such into an all-out war. ... They're banding together and they aren't up for peaceful negotiations.
 * Norrigan - I've had my share of encounters with Wranploer bandits. And they didn't survive, because who in their right mind would try robbing a loyal knight of Isiris?
 * Taka - It's not just that, though. I'm sure the General will speak more about it when we get inside. The Sultan wants to make sure he can trust you guys to get the job done, or else the entire Dynasty is going to be put on the line.
 * Earath - Sheesh. We can't catch a break.
 * Ndrhthryr - Killing Wranploer? Listen. If I wanted to kill Wranploer, I would have picked up one of those notices back at the market. The General's just taking the twelve hells out of our 'experience' now.
 * Taka - Heh... You say that. You weren't the ones who had innocent men and women from our border settlements sent to your doorstep with their ears and noses cut off and screaming about how they're decimating the nurseries and burning all the people that are too old to labour for them alive.
 * Ndrhthryr - No, because we were too busy evacuating a city from an invasion. All I'm saying is, if you want justice to be served, don't hire people who...I'm rambling again. I think I might just button it from now on.

Taka placed his hands in his pockets and continued to guide the group; the insides if the palace did not defy their expectations, for it was full of clean marble architecture and decorated with expensive and exotic pieces of art, with the halls and floors being maintained by young serfs from multiple species although they did not appear to have been forced to do so - they looked to be equally as well-groomed as the royalty that resided within the walls. Taka began to whistle an old Dynasty song that Earath was familiar with, for it was a song of soldiers and the glory of facing and slaughtering those who fought beneath the banner of the Dynasty's seemingly eternal nemesis -. Having heard the song, Javina began humming to it - having known it in her past life - for Alhassal barely had any more tolerance for the Khep than their Merovar neighbours.

Soon enough, Taka guided the group into the throne room of the Sultan, where they saw the aforementioned lord of the Merovar Dynasty sat upon his mighty throne of gold, its frame encrusted with jewels and gemstones from all over the continent. With him was the General that Taka had spoken to them about - the renowned General Jurrgha - and Taka made sure to kneel onto his knee as he stepped onto the regal carpet of red that was stretched across the tiled marble floor. Kanna bowed his head respectfully to the Sultan, for he was unaccustomed to how he was expected to respect and revere the lords of this kingdom - he had never met with any of them until now. Earath too knelt onto his knee, followe by Lyra who did her best to mimic his actions, while Norrigan merely performed his usual pose, stretching his arms up and putting a leg in front of the other. The Sultan looked at them with curiosity, while Alerad instead had a more stern expression, inspecting them with narrowed eyes. Septimus and Ndrhthryr did not offer a remark of respect - both of them generally ignorant of royalty - for Septimus was ancient and Ndrhthryr's machine-like stature would have made it difficult.


 * Taka - I brought your lambs for the slaughter, General. They even brought some of their friends.
 * Megrovaz II - That is no way to refer to our allies, Captain.
 * Alerad - Yeah, watch your trap. I am actually familiar with one of these lambs.
 * Earath - An honour to meet you again, ma'am.
 * Taka - I gave them a basic situation report on my way here. They know that the Wranploer are getting more uppity as time goes by; I thought I would leave the business regarding confirming our suspicions about their allies to you.
 * Alerad - Where's that twitchy elf? He's supposed to be here to inform them of the situation. Haran!!

Stepping into view of the group as he emerged from behind them was a dark-skinned elven figure, deprived of hair other than a braided beard and sporting a patch over his eye while he wore armour bearing an insignia of some form across its pauldrons. He looked at the group of adventurers and pondered to himself, silently passing judgement over them; the natives of the Sea of Sand could tell that this was a Khahurnim, yet his attire did not match the comparatively primitive or tribal styles that were commonplace among their people. For those that knew of it, Mivtzar was the last sophisticated remnant of their dominion prior to its near complete eradication by Khaepsha-ultan many eons before now.


 * Alerad - Okay, listen. We've called you for you people have a good reputation of getting hard jobs done. Well, we got a pretty difficult job for you. Wranploer bands are uniting under the rule of the warlord named Volim the Greedy, and we have reasons to believe Khaepsha-ultan is backing him.
 * Javina - ...Great.
 * Ndrhthryr - ...Ah. That changes a few things.
 * Alerad - Haran here can explain it better. So spill the beans.
 * Haran - For those who are unaware, I am Arch-Guardian Haran shi Serya-Fakirji of the Mivtzaran Great Legion; I have a hand in all of the military operations undertaken by the warriors and agents of Mivtzar. Recently, Mivtzar came into possession of a source proclaiming that the current Pharaoh of Khaepsha-ultan,, is preparing to march his Golden Battalion upon foreign soil, including the lands of the Merovar Dynasty, the , Mivtzar, and Alhassal. And that he has been in contact with the aforementioned Wranploer warlord.
 * Earath - I trust you are mobilizing for an attack.
 * Megrovaz II - Of course. But there is only so much we can do, and only so fast we can act. We have reports that Volim's Wranploer have assaulted a number of cities in the western borders.
 * Javina - This cannot e-bode well for-e Alhassal.
 * Septimus - War is found in plentiful quantities as of late. It is rather obvious that you do not want us on the front line. What is that you invited us here for?
 * Haran - While the Dynasty, with support from Mivtzar, will defend the cities and settlements it current has control over, you are to serve as our strike force and, eventually, meet with an incursion within southern Khaepsha-ultan territories. You are to not only dismember the unified Wranploer legion but also gather information that will be vital in completing your objective. There is, according to our source, a rebellion in place. Once there, you will proceed to Khaepsharathas and terminate the Pharaoh.
 * Ndrhthryr - ...You are asking us to assassinate Pharoah Khyannarith? Alright. We have been in some very sticky situations over the past two years, and that's up there.
 * Alerad - Yes, that's why we chose you in specific. The common people are telling tales of the heroes atop a hidden fortress who fit your description. And I want to believe these tales have foundation.
 * Septimus - Such stories spread. We have had other handlings in the world recently.
 * Megrovaz II - Obviously, a most handsome reward awaits you should you succeed. But I must warn you, not only have the Wranploer gone violent, we also have reports of Idkin growing more bold in the land. The roads are not safe.
 * Javina - That is e-broblematic.
 * Taka - Oh, and let's not forget that Sand Drake attacks have also been on the rise recently.
 * Ndrhthryr - ...Alright. This journey sounds a little more something like our calibre of missions.
 * Alerad - Taka will accompany you. Make sure you lot don't die to the first band of Wranploer you come across.
 * Septimus - Such a failure would be deemed in bad taste to those who come for our souls.
 * Norrigan - Whatever a Khyannarith is, we must cleanse the Sea of Sand of his villainy! Isiris will not be happy with the harming of this land!
 * Javina - For the Padishah, de armies of Alhassal will e-cleanse the Desert of foreign unbelievers.
 * Lyra - I don't know. Sure we smacked some s over the head once, but regicide?
 * Haran - ... I assume that you are aware of the myths surrounding the Pharaoh. The legends that claim he has reigned over Khaepsha-ultan for a millennia yet he has not aged a day beyond his prime. That he has been burned, decapitated, stabbed, and torn apart yet he walks in one piece. That the Dark Pharaoh stands among the immortals of our world.
 * Javina - Does he bleed? If he does, he can be killed. If he does not, he vill.
 * Norrigan - Indeed! Only Isiris is eternal! All else can be purged with varying degrees of lightning.
 * Septimus - ...Thank you for that remark, Norrigan.
 * Norrigan - You're welcome, friend!

Taka stepped forward and looked over the group, a wide smile on his face as he kept his hands in his pockets and appeared to have some form of cigar in his mouth, freshly lit and smoking with the unmistakable scent of tobacco. The Lagosi chuckled to himself, musing over the absurdity of the situation that was at hand, yet he knew that it was all real. The legends of the immortal Pharaoh rang true in his head - he had been raised on stories of the Pharaoh's infamy - and he stood upright after analyzing the diverse range of people that were inside the room with him. As the General said, stories of the slayers of ancient evils and immortal foes were spreading through these lands at an increasing pace.


 * Taka - ... I suggest sending a note to your loved ones and kissing your asses goodbye. We leave as soon as possible.
 * Septimus - You Lagosi really do all descend from the same place, do you not?
 * Norrigan - Ridiculous friend, my loved one looms over the sky at all times! ... Save for nights and eclipses.
 * Taka - Then you had better pray to Her that you will see her light again when the going gets rough. I've heard the stories; you're all truly amazing at what you do. But this? Heh, well...
 * Norrigan - The nerve! Isiris is always with me! I do not fear anything for she is by my side at all times!
 * Earath - Honestly, pal, we've been face to face with demons. Actual demons. An Ankhor, as old and as powerful as he may be, will not make us run away.
 * Ndrhthryr - The Idkin might.
 * Earath - ... Oh, they may. Disgusting things.
 * Norrigan - Monsters of Id! Creatures most foul!
 * Lyra - ... Yeah, I'm gonna say we're ready to go.
 * Taka - Splendid, mates! We've got a carriage ready to take you to one of our western cities that are still under our control. Hope you don't mind the smell of camel shit too much, because there's gonna be a lot of it over the course of this adventure.

Thus, the wheels of action were beginning to turn; strong and mighty heroes turned to assassins in order to tear apart the Wranploer army and deprive the throne of Khaepsha-ultan of its malign and ageless Pharaoh, while the men and women of the Dynasty could feel the chilling darkness looming over them as, surrounded on all sides, their enemies were starting to step closer and closer into their shadows. Even as the sun, in all of its deific glory, sent its light to touch the desert plains, its loving warmth could not be felt as the reality of a war most catastrophic crawled over the horizon, threatening to consume the kingdoms and lords of the Sea of Sand and, if left unchecked, extend its fierce and bloody will to the regions beyond.

So did begin this odyssey of the desert.