Adventurers (Book II – Issue #3)

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The issue begins with the City of Liam, under the cover of night. Inside its walls, it is not as peaceful as the whispering winds of the velvet black skies. No, inside the yells of rowdy Baal soldiers still the silence. Sultar watches with minimal interest as several Baal soldiers harass one of the servers during the Welcome Baal Warriors celebration. Sultar leaves and begins to head back home when he overhears several Baal soldiers in an alleyway, drunk and urinating. He overhears them speak of how they had essentially drowned a plant in their urine and destroyed it; just as they would the Northlanders, and that within a year’s time, Baal will rule over Anoria.

Sultar, however, is caught over hearing the three Baal soldiers. The Baal soldiers grab Sultar and threaten to bathe him in Baal’s flame. Sultar comments that he knows a little something about fire – the Baal soldier laughs as Sultar calls out the name of “Oneida!” before having his face shoved into the flame.

Sultar awakes and discovers that it had been a nightmare.

The scene shifts and we see that Shadolok has broken free of the fever that wracked his body. Muldor approaches them and offers Shadolok additional food, while thanking him for saving their lives against the Chaos Beast.

The scene rapidly shifts again, where we see Barak complaining that they have taken too many casualties too soon. Yerdik scoffs at Barak’s claim, adding that they had intended on killing all of the mercenaries anyway – and that his magic would be adequate enough to handle whatever threats lie ahead. Avienne then stepped up to question Yerdik’s magical protection – considering the results of his magic “protecting” them while they were on the boat. She then adds that Coron, whom Yerdik swore would be dead, was still among the living as well.

One of Barak’s men gives Coron a bowl of rations, claiming that they were from Yerdik as an act of goodwill. Coron, doubtful of Yerdik’s word, sniffed the food and declined. Armond Cres Hadrax then notes that Coron must be on some self-inflicted starving diet, as some Accuris type ritual. Coron corrects him and informs him that the food would not sit well with him and insists that Armond Cres Hadrax have it. After some convincing, Armond Cres Hadrax takes it but before he can eat it – one of the soldiers tells Armond Cres Hadrax that he only got a partial portion. Armond Cres Hadrax gives it to the soldier and walks away – never seeing, as Coron had suspected – that the food was poisoned. A poison so quick, that the man died silently, barely coughing and drawing no notice.

In the City of Liam, the Temple of Baal rises quickly. Just outside of its construction Guryd chases after Priest Muar asking for his daughter Renna. Priest Muar informs Guryd that only Yerdik is aware of Renna’s location, so he would have to pray that Yerdik returns safely – and then he would have his daughter.

The scene changes again and we see Barak yelling at Yerdik about his magic failing again – behind them, the soldier who had died from the poison found by the others. Yerdik growls back at Barak claiming that he’s not one of Barak’s suicidal warrior fools – but he is an arch mage – and one to be reckoned with, as he blasts a portion of the jungle with his magic. At that moment, Eyamma appears to inform Barak that he has seen the outer walls of the Lost City and that they are a day and a half’s march away. He also concludes that the poison used that killed the soldier was not native to the Jungles of Angora; concluding that either Coron had intended to kill Armond Cres Hadrax, or more likely, someone had tried to kill Coron.

Barak suddenly realizes what happened to the soldier and glances back at Yerdik and tells the others that they had best forget it and that there was more pressing concerns to address now that they were close to the Lost City. Eyamma then goes on to show that Coron was spying on them the entire time from the bushes.

Coron, as always, quickly thought on his feet, claiming that he had not been spying, but merely waiting to speak to Barak. Coron informs Barak that there is a traitor amongst them – one who seeks to kill him. Immediately, Yerdik begins shouting at Coron saying he wouldn’t betray Barak. Coron ignores Yerdik and explains that it’s another – one that knows Barak personally and had, not only been a slave in the Baal Slave Camp, but led a revolt there as well. Coron reveals Shadolok’s secret.

Nightwind and Eyamma scout ahead while Barak barks the command that any deviation from this point forward was a crime punishable by military execution – noting Shadolok’s name in particular. While Eyamma and Nightwind scout ahead, they see a tribe of mutated apes moving quickly towards the others – before they can react however, a giant jungle cat manages to sneak up on them. However, Eyamma proves he had the ability to speak and calm any animal and manages to do so.

Meanwhile, the mutates apes reach the remainder of the expedition camp and begin their vicious assault. Yerdik seems to lose himself in attack the vicious apes, while Armond Cres Hadrax calls for help as he’s being dragged by his hair. Eyamma and Nightwind arrive just in time to save him and help turn the battle. Barak calls to chase the mutated apes when they retreat, but Eyamma overrides his command. He then questions some of the decay suddenly found in the jungle, to which Yerdik all too proudly claims. Eyamma informs him that if he casts the spell again, because of the damage it does to the jungle, the entire jungle will converge on them and destroy them.

As they draw closer and closer to the Lost City, it seems to have an adverse affect on Avienne who seems to be falling deeper and deeper into the clutches of insanity, carrying on how it is cursed by Baal, until they finally reach the outer walls of the Lost City itself.

The scene shifts to Sultar training with Erikor. While Sultar manages to manipulate the flame, Erikor stares out the window, lost in his thoughts. When Sultar asks what he is looking at, Erikor points out that King Belgur spent no time building the Temple of Baal within Liam’s walls – and he wonders if he’s the only man in Liam willing to fight King Belgur. Sultar, while still manipulating the flame, promises Erikor with an all too familiar twisted smile, that he will stand next to Erikor and fight King Belgur as well.

Within the Lost City, the expedition comes across the one called Grundar who is being viciously tortured by the mutates apes. Driving the apes away they pull Grundar off the sacrificial torture device – and much to their surprise, watch as Grundar’s wounds begin to rapidly heal!

The one formerly known as General Zydrak stands on a wall and shouts, “Grundar – who let you free? What’s this? Real Manlings! I hope thy intent was not to leave for thou wilt be staying forever – in the City of the Living Gods!”