I explained the situation – or at least what I knew of it to Krilldog, Veloxe and Neelia. Neelia seemed some what concerned, Veloxe a little confused and Krilldog didn’t pay much attention at it seemed.
“So, what do you need to know then, Kal?” Neelia asked handing him a cup of whatever she was drinking.
“I’m guessing these Alzadaal Ruins aren’t anything Horutoto?” I smiled, “The people I’m with hired me from the Tenshodo to ‘escort’ them…but, from what I gather it’s more of a ‘get us in’ type thing.”
Veloxe chugged a little of his drink, “You’re right. Alzadaal isn’t musty and filled with sand like most of the old places on Quon. It’s…well, it’s bit more advanced even then a lot of Bastok’s stuff.” He strained a bit and tried to adjust his armor around his neck.
“You doing ok there big guy?” Neelia asked.
Before Veloxe could answer Krill slammed down another empty bottle, “Don’t be a pansy.” He snorted and Veloxe rolled his eyes.
“More advanced then Bastok? So…?” I asked.
“When they call it ruins.” Neelia explained, “It’s just in reference to the fact that they belong to some older, lost civilization.”
“Yea.” Veloxe added, “But there’s not really much that’s old about them. It’s like being in some…mechanical maze. It’s not the type of thing you’d expect to find around these types of lands. Whatever built or operated that place was so far beyond where we are today.” Veloxe was grinding his teeth as he pulled and yanked at his armor neckline again.
“Oh, Jeez!” Neelia reached over and pulled him down, “You really are a little pansy!”
Veloxe jerked back, “You weren’t the one being strangled by the damn thing!”
“Hold still and let me see!” she pulled him back down and put her hand further down about where the magical arm had it’s grip. She pulled her fingers back and they were covered in a dark crimson liquid. “Well…shoot. Yea, he got you pretty good.”
“Let me see.” Krill leaned over just enough to pour whatever booze he had down Veloxe’s neck.
“Gah! Damn you Krill!” The Paladin bounded up, nearly knocking Neelia off her chair, “What the hell man that burns!” Veloxe clawed at his neck and tensed his muscles taking the pain.
Krilldog frowned a bit, “…yea, you’re right. That was a waste of booze…I’m sorry.” He drank what was left.
I rolled my eyes, “Anyhow…what do you guys think? I don’t need you taking and showing me around, but is there anyone else I can talk to about getting into these ruins?”
“I’d say your choices come down to two people.” Krilldog spoke up as Neelia helped Veloxe mend up his wounds, “Naja Salaheem of the Sentinels, stationed right here in Whitegate. Or Qultada, leader of the Corsairs…you should have a hell of a time finding them.”
I smiled, “Corsairs, eh? That sounds like a group of gentlemen who would be right up my alley.”
I heard Neelia snicker, “Oh, yea…I’m sure you boys would get a long just great.”
“Can I go now?” TamTu asked tugging on my Scorpion Harness next to me, “Sooraya’s probably worried about me…actually…that makes me worry about me…” he said to himself.
“Not yet.” I sad, “So…any other information?”
Veloxe scratched his head, “To be honest Kallo…the Ruins are opened to the public, and if something that thing that cursed this Captain guy… ifsomething like that existed down there we’d know about it, you know?”
“Not necessarily.” Neelia responded, “There are still quite few parts of the ruins that haven’t been accessed or that are still closed off by the Empire.”
“Then how would my employers got that deep? Or…hell, even better why would they need me? If they got there to begin with…” I wondered aloud.
An all too familiar voice came from behind me, “It’s not that we don’t know out way back…” it was Gideon, “It’s that we cannot go back that way.”
I turned around and she was standing there with both hands on her hips, “You’re a pretty slippery little Thief aren’t you, Long Ears?”
Neelia laughed, “You’ve no idea.”
“So, when were you planning on filling me in on the rest of the information?” I asked standing up.
She shrugged, “When do you plan on ceasing your little Rogue act?”
Neelia laughed again, this time bumping Veloxe’s cup and nearly spilling it all over himself.
Krilldog piped up next, “It sound to me like you people need to find your ways into the Alzadaal Chasm.” He stood up, “I’m sick of this place. I’ll see you two later.” He said to Veloxe and Neelia before turning back to me and Gideon, “Your best bet would be to seek out Qultada…” the last part he whispered to us before lumbering away.
“…can I go home yet?” TamTu whined again.
I rolled my eyes and nodded, “Thanks kid.”
Gideon wouldn’t tell me anything about who or what Qultada was as we made our way through the city.
“Did Vael say anything before they left?” she asked.
“Only that they’d meet us outside of the city.”
“Mm, probably at the Bhaflau Bastion, I’d think then.” She smiled, “Here comes your Kitten.”
I turned around just in time to catch my beautiful fiancé as she came pouncing through the air and directly into my arms. A bewildered gaze on her face, “…you heard me?”
This was actually, the first time with or without help that Tara hadn’t gotten the jump on me, literally.
“How’d you hear me?” she gave me a playful whack on the shoulder as I set her down.
Gideon giggled a bit and started walking again, “Honey, you Mithra aren’t quite as quiet as you might think.”
We followed her to a small opening in the walls of the city that went underground a bit then opened out into the thickets of Bhaflau through a Bastion gate. Vael, Stitch and Katurian were all waiting outside. Stitch was giving Katurian a well deserved verbal beating.
“Yea! Sure Mr. Kills A lot! You can know how to melt a few adventurers, but what would have happened if the Immortals came a runnin’? Huh?! We’d all be put right where they think we are!” she gave him a slug in the stomach, “In the dirt!”
Gideon smiled, “Katurian getting into more trouble?”
The Shadow Priest rolled his eyes, “She hasn’t shut up yet…
“Wha?! Ooh!” Stitch stomped her foot down and hit Katurian again. “Gosh! You make me so mad sometimes!”
The other three seemed to smile a bit – even Katurian.
“So, do we have a destination then?” Vael asked.
“Yes, indeed.” She said, “Mr. Kallo Landis needs to visit with Qultada, Captain of the Seagull Phratrie, last of the Corsairs.”
“And how do we find them?” I asked.
“Oh, you don’t much have to worry about finding them if you’re waiting in the right place.” She smiled. “We’re off to Arrapago Reef.”
Arrapago Reef is dreadful place in every respect of the word. It houses creatures known as Lamia – which are by-products of the Empires genetic and alchemic experiments to make the denizens of Altana into super soldiers. There are one of two outcomes – Blue Mages, also known to the Empire as the Immortals, or Lamia. Half-man half-snake, completely beastmen.
Arrapago Reef covers a very large part of the land mass in north Aht Urghan, along with Caedarva Mire. Gideon assured me that if we hung out long enough in one place, the Corsairs would find us.
“This place is eerie…” Tarawath was by my side the entire time, her arm around mine. “No place back home quite this dark…”
“And be sure these lands house evils far darker then anything else you’ve yet to witness as well Lady Summoner.” Katurian hissed.
Stitch spoke next, “And that’s the truth more then it is Katurian tryin’ to scare you too!”
“The Lamia are nothing more then freaks…” he hissed, “But the Soulflayers…those abominations are made from nature.”
“Gid.” Vael called, “This is as good a place as any. Open access to the waters…” he pointed above, “Large alcove and ledges for an ambush. An invite to any pirate if there was one.”
“Ambush?” Tarawath asked.
“That’s right honey, we’re trying to draw these Seadogs out.” Gideon smiled, “Not scared are you?” she grinned. “Besides, they’re not blood-thirsty like you might read in the books…they’re more along the lines of freedom fighters around here. As much as the Empire might want to convince you otherwise.”
“It’s not so much an ambush from the Corsairs that worry me…” Tarawath corrected them, “You said this reef is home to Beastmen as well…and if that’s true, and they’re any fraction of the same type of cunning as the hordes back home, we’ve pinned ourselves up perfectly as bait for the Pirates and snakes.
Vael smiled a vaguely at Gideon, “That we did Gideon.”
There was barely a hint of dissatisfaction on Gideon’s face before it was replaced by a smile eerily as charming as mine. “Well, then maybe we’ll get lucky and have a little bit of entertainment while we wait.”




