(Post here first!) Gate of the Valheecius Desert

Deep with the Gate of the Valheecius Desert, one tribe seemed to hold more power than most any other. Despite their choice of home, they were a prosperous tribe. Recently though, something has changed them. The tribe seemed to be becoming eviler and war thirsty. What was stirring in these lands was something that could change the course of many lands throughout the world...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN ONE MAN AND A FEW SOLDIERS FORCED YOU BACK?!" A high ranking Dark Elf yelled at one of his officers.

"Sir, the man created a wildfire in the snap of a finger and those soldiers... they were giants and highly trained. We had no choice. If we didn't, I couldn't have reported to you that the children are there." The officer spoke spoke.

"So you seen them?" The high ranking being, Pimjow, spoke.

"The children were running from something. By time I noticed them, the enemy was running towards them. The summoner left two Giant Trolls for them. The trolls will hunt down the children like a wolf. We need to prepare a retaliation to this." The officer spoke.

"We will show these humans and these elves who is the strongest... Ready the forces, we will march at daylight.", Pimjow spoke.

The officer elf left quickly, knowing he escaped with his life after retreating. He then began to go around telling everyone to prepare. Battle was coming and the enemy was fierce. The Dark Elves seemed to be joyful about this, but the Night Elves were disheartened. The Night Elves wondered what they had done to deserve this.

At this point, the Dark Elves have captured the Chieftain of the Night Elf tribe known as the Black Lion. With this, the Dark Elves turned on the Night Elves and assumed control. Since this, the tribe has gotten worse and worse. All this because one little girl escaped them with something they wanted so they could use it's power to take on the world and try to cover it in darkness.

"I was wondering why the Royal Forces haven't stopped us yet...There's only one being I know who can create a wildfire and tame it...If so, we will need to prepare for battle here. He will come with a force these elves have never seen. Everytime I turn around, there he is..." Pimjow spoke to himself as he looked in the mirror and at his hands, the burn scars consuming 87% of his body, "I'll kill him this time!"

Pimjow slammed his hands shut and the mirror shattered into thousands of pieces. Pimjow had encountered Zaltos before, and it was not good for him. This time, Pimjow was stronger and he firmly believed he could kill Zaltos this time, even if it meant losing every life around him.

Pimjow would leave the stone building and walk outside, looking out over the people and their structures. There was about 1,200 elves total, exactly half of them were soldiers. He knew it was going to take everything he had, but Zaltos was weaker now than before, so he had a chance. Things were about to get interesting for the Free Plains now that Pimjow knew the children were there.

Jimpow would send out an order to the Dragon Mounts, "Scout ahead. Fly high. Return once you can give me an exact location of Zaltos and any surrounding forces. We can march through the land blindly, but battle with Zaltos must be prepared for."

Immediately, the dragons flapped their wings and lifted into the air. Even though they were small dragons with no special powers, they were fast and vicious. They rocketed through the air, taking a direct path towards the Free Plains.

The people did look upon the dragon, but not in fear or shock. To them, a dragon of Askar's size was like a god to them. They would take a knee and pray, thinking that dragons were created with Amun Ra's blood, making a direct link to him.

If any tribe seen this dragon, the religious leader would hit a gong. Luckily, no tribes did. The outposts would play dragon flutes, hoping to get the dragon to land.

For now, there was nothing but awe and inspiration. A few of the people in the lands made a similar comment, "The elders say that when the dragons begin to show, prosperity is right behind it. Do you think The Phoenix State is reuniting?"

Reason being, these lands were once home to all dragons. This was a myth to later be unravelled. Maybe Askar would find more here than what the dragon sought.

For some reason the military force marching towards the Free Plains would turn back. Whispers could be heard between soldiers muttering something about Amun Ra. Jimpow was displeased, but he knew he had a duty.

"Men, as a command from Amun Ra, we must return home. We must return as fast as we can. He has not said why, but we are not to ask why." Jimpow shouted to the group.

There was no response from the immense stone structure for a few moments, it's twin banners reading 'HAVE Golem' and 'WILL TRAVEL' flapping in the wind. Then, from two-hundred or so feet above the ground came the ululating war cry of a goblin warren in the throes of excitement. A ballista swiveled about on the creature's shoulder, the goblins manning it squealing their exultation with their brethren as the wind whipped their gnarled faces.

With a ponderous but mighty motion, the golem took a mighty stride forth and the ground trembled.

Inside the head, surrounded by the arcane sigils and brass control rods and flashing gems, Captain Gargrobz grinned his rotting smile. Bori had come and now for the fight.

((Been sick and busy the last couple of days. Sorry.))

Of all the trade routes he had traveled during his career, the Valheecius Desert was perhaps Meryn's most hated. The place was oppressively hot, and as dry as a kiln. The air was similarly uncomfortable: light smog at times clung to the ground, swallowing travelers. Only the wind would bring respite, and with the wind came gusts of dust, sand, and all manner of detritus. In his youth Meryn had came to know this route well: few Sancturian merchants were willing to travel to the Phoenix State, and that led to higher margins and more gold. That was years ago. Meryn's ascent had brought with it comfort: he could delegate the worst routes to his employees and guild-members and manage it all from the comfort of his office in Nanut.

Yet here he was, riding a Brutox yet again across this thrice-blasted desert. While a sledge of goods was tied via travois to the back of his massive reptilian mount, Meryn wasn't here to trade this time. He was on a mission for the Imperial Bank. The collapse of the Solarian Empire had brought both opportunity and trouble to Ivelius, and Meryn was determined to make the most of the situation at hand. Seeing movement on the horizon, Meryn lowered his veil to peer off into the desert. Perched atop his Brutox, he certainly looked like a strange sight. His robes of office were packed securely away in a bundle hidden in the bottom of his saddlebags. Instead he wore the robes of a traveling merchant: an eclectic mixture of pieces, each artfully appropriated from a different hub of trade. His veil and cloak were unmistakably of Phoenix-State origin, but his trousers and shirt were of a thicker, Sancturian wool and a draping cotton respectively. His boots were fashioned from soft brown leather from Meden, but were cut in a style popular in Solaria. The last flourish was inspired: as a belt he had tied a sash of bright red silk of undoubted Katashiman origin. Across his back was a simple, unadorned crossbow, and behind him rode two "sellswords" he has acquired from the ranks of the Bank's guard.

Hopefully their journey to the Flo'Liare would be uneventful enough.

As the scout approached, Meryn lowered the scarf he had tied over his mouth, leaving his lower face to the mercy of the wind. The man's words troubled him, slightly. He hadn't been aware of the zone... perhaps things here do change. Calling out the the approaching guard, Meryn coughed out,

"Dragon hunting? Here? Dear goodness, I have strayed far. Thank you for the offer, I would enjoy some company out here in the wastes."

He signaled his guards to sheathe their swords, as upon seeing the approaching scout both practiced warriors had begun to edge their swords out of their scabbards. Meryn relaxed slightly. The guard seemed reasonable enough, and he would be more than glad to be out of any dragon hunting zone.