De Eredan.
Kriegsbeute
We are still in the deep of the battle.
Dragon Knight Valentin is upset by the sand everywhere and the sun. Bad luck, the earth open and Lava comes out.
Zahal orders him and his troops to go to help the Witchblade in the centre of the line.
The Witchblade have bad times with DeathBlade invoked by Nehant and who find that Moira is a good receptacle for her.
The Witchblades are disorganized and the Solarians go through theirs lines.
Valentin comes to help with his regiment.
They prevent the Solarians from breaking the centre of the line in two parts.
Moira, possessed by DeathBlade, kills Eglantyne her sister.
Meanwhile in Noz'Dingard, Anryena stands before Dragon's Gem where all the stone-heart of the Draconians are.
Suddently, the stone-heart of Eglantyne fell in the floor. Anryena is sure, Eglantyne is dead.
Few minutes after, another stone-heart fell : Valentin is dead. In the middle of the battle, the Sphinx finds Valentin and kills him with his spear.
The Runic Legion is approaching the battle, Eilos is ready to fight with the Draconians against the Solarians, if they succeed, they will fight after some demons.
The runic Legion enters the battle with all their forces.
The new Nomads led by Mahamoud the Vizier join their forces to the Runic Legion.
This is the war of Nomads ancient gods and Tantad pantheon against Sol'ra.
Just at this time, the Stone ritual performed by Pilkim and others mages enter in action cutting the Solarians from Sol'ra.
The following slaughter of all the Solarian is inevitable.
Hares kills the sphinx during this phase.
Meanwhile, Nehant defeat the Avatar and makes Ozymandias appear, Sol'ra's avatar is dissolved in the process.
Eilos, the Runic Lord, seeing Ozymandias understands that man should be taken prisoner.
This end the war of Sol'ra.
Another battle is near to begin ...
Original-Version: Prise de guerre
Die Flamme freilassen
We are in Bramamir, Capital of the Pirate government (yes, there is a Government for the White Islands).
We remember that Al Killicrew and is coalition has defeated the Bramamir Fleet and witnessed to the death of the Nehantist' puppet who acts as Governor.
So the Pirates take the power, dismiss the government, ask for the complete rendition of the fleet.
They obtain everything (with a gun on the head, everything is simpler). They put the Finance minister in jail for his good behaviour towards the people during his long time of service.
Al search in the governor office for useful information. She finds only standard business.
But, during her search, a portal opens and a demon appears. Al take the demon with her mechanical arm and try to have answers.
The demon didn't talk and Al is forced to close completely is hand on the throat ot the demon. The following death of the demon is inevitable.
Al rage explode the Governor desk and find some strange marks on the floor in the piece of the desk.
Sha asks the mages to find what the marks are.
Bragan an Poukos come back from the ceil and explain to Al that Flammara is in the jail and wants to see Al.
Al goes down to the jail and find a woman with red eyes and some mechanisms on the head.
Flammara wants to be free, Al asks how she was put in jail. Flammara says that something is on going with the vortex. Something important and hidden.
She won't say anything more until she's freed.
Al wants to know, she releases her from the jail.
Original-Version: Libérer la Flamme
Ausrottung
"You won't get anything from me ! Kill me, so I can join the great star." Ozymandias was nodding. Many weeks had past since Sol'ra was defeated by the Draconian, Nehantist, Nomad and Runic alliance. The late Priest-King, who was hosting Sol'ra's avatar, was only a shadow of his former glory. Now he was perpetually interrogated in the hand of the Runic Legion.
"You're wrong...", started Eilos, before the interruption.
"No. The wrong was Nehant's. He should have extracted the informations you wanted... But now it's too late."
Eilas grabbed Ozymandias' jaw and tightened his grip.
"There are other ways. You may have an iron will, but we learnt how to shape the strongest metals."
Runic and new Nomad camps were at the far north of what was left of the Tomb of the Ancients. A temporary alliance between the two guilds was taking form, and Eilos and the vizier Mahamoud were trying, in vain, to rise the troups' moral after a tiring battle against Nehant. For Eilos only the mission Tantad's Cenacle gave him mattered : get back the cristal fallen from the sky. Sadly there wasn't anything left after the creature inside it took possession of Ozymandias as to destroy the world. But Eilos was the incarnation of perseverance : he would not be stopped by some kind of little detail or minor failure.
The next morning, there was some kind of bustle in the camp. Eilos and some other went out of their tent, attracted by the ruckus. Coranthia, Lania and Xenophon were around a man, revering and glorifying him. One couldn't see the man's face for it was hidden by the imposing minotaur's stature. But the man's staff indicated Eilos that the one he was waiting for had arrived. After greeting his people, the man went to meet the Runic Lord. His face was marked by old age, his white clothes with golden lining were those of a priest, and not of any priest.
"I salute you, Runic Lord Eilos. May the Pantheon be with you.
- And I salute you back, Sapient, Orpiance Oracle", Eilos answered, embracing the old priest. "Your arrival is relieving me. We desperatly need your talents... In many ways. But come, my friend. You are welcome in the Archons' tent, like it should be."
The inside of the tent was all about weapons, armors, chairs and beds. There was table in the middle with various stuff on it, a water jug and some goblets. Sapient left his scepter against one of the columns holding the heavy tent. Then he laid down in a heavy chair, letting a relief moan go.
"I'm too old for this kind of travel", he said, pouring himself some water in a goblet. "So, why did you ask for me here ? I don't think you need any rune art teaching : Coranthia and Lania are already experts in this field."
- Not really. At least, not for the moment. But you have some knowledge that could unlock a tongue. I have a prisonner, someone important. I'd like him to reveal what he knows but he doesn't want to. After preventing our thick heads to dismember him, I thought it would be a good idea to ask you to come."
Sapient drinked down then poured himself some more water. "You want me to play the torturer ?" Asked Sapient, with a reproachful tone.
"Not only. This prisonner can tell us where to find these cristals fallen from the sky, and you would be the first to forge some runes with it. I think it's a well enough motivation and reason, isn't it ?"
The priest sighed and put his goblet back on the table.
"Yes, it's well enough. My servants will get my things here. Let me rest a moment and we will... unlock your prisonner's tongue." "You won't get anything from me !" Shouted Ozymandias.
The vizier Mahamoud, who was close to Eilos and Sapient, was wondering if they could get answers. After all, they, the new Nomads, tried to get Ozymandias to talk, too, but aside from the traditionnal curses and insults, he didn't spill anything. Sapient stood in front of Ozymandias, who was attached to a firmly burried post.
"You won't have to talk, but what is hidding in your head's meandering will unveil before us."
Sapient was speaking in a loud voice. At this moment, his clothes and staff runes flared.
"Hold him tight." He added, as his eyes where flaring too.
Loquitus got behind the post and immobilized firmly the unfortunate. At this moment, blazing runes were flying in circle around the staff Sapient was holding in a hand. With other hand, he was drawing some other runes on Ozymandias' forehead.
"God of the Pantheon, hear your servant, Sapient Orpiance's Oracle's voice. Reveal what is hidden. Grant me clairvoyance !"
Then the runes on Ozymandias' face disappeared one by one, as if they were sucked in by the skin.
"Now, let's watch your memory."
Sapient cloed his eyes and put his hand the late Priest-King - who was starting to convulse-'s forehead. Human forms and places, depending on different situations, appeared like mirages. Memories came and went backward, from the most recent to the most ancient. And so it started with Sol'ra' Avatar, then he became Ozymandias, and then the audience saw how he was freed from a yellow cristal similar to the stone fallen from the sky.
"There are other yellow cristals". Eilos was smiling.
They waited a long moment before other memories came. At this far epoch, Ozymandias was a great warchief, leading armies in the name of Sol'ra. And at last, a more extraordinary event that changed Ozymandias' destiny for ever. A meteor swarm rained over most of the desert. From the fallen cristals came creatures of Sol'ra.
Sapient stopped his search, feeling his prisonner couldn't hold much longer. The runes on his clothes and his staff shut down.
"There are other cristals in the desert", he said, catching his breath. "I saw in his mind that Sol'ra had a back-up plan in case his Avatar couldn't win. Everywhere in the desert these... How do you call them again ? Sol'rain ?
- Solarian.
- Thanks. These Solarians are locked in these cristals and are a future menace."
Mahamoud and Metchaf looked at each other. The news were bad, and they were impacting directly on the desert kingdom.
"In this case it is time for us to go home", decided the vizier.
"Is it ok for us to join ? We want to get our hands on these cristals and to destroy these Solarians", added Eilos, giving Mahamoud a hand.
The man with the lion armor took the opportunity and sealed the decision with a hand shake.
"With pleasure. There should be enough work for two guilds in this matter. We have to clean the desert from the influence of the solar god.
- Runic Legion ! We break the camp ! The gods are watching and judging us !", shouted Eilos.
" The gods are watching and judging us !", answered the rest of the Runic Legion, as one.
The Runic Legion and their new Nomad allies traveled to the double sphinx door, the only access to the Emerald Desert. The wind, heat loaded, was strongly funneling, throwing thin sand at the travelers' faces. The Nomads were opening the march, accustomed to looking for roads that were invisibles to strangers' eyes. The Nomads were expecting to haul the Runics like loads, because of the heavy heat, but it didn't happen. Most of them were accustomed to extreme temperatures.
"It reminds me of the training in Faistaios, without the lava", told Agillian.
"Faistaios ? It's cool down here, compared to up there", answered Loquitus, laughing.
The Nomads just ignored the allusion, concentrated on their new aim and led the group according to Sapient's instructions. Many days later, they were at the north-east of the desert, and before them was rising ancient ruins covered by sand.
"Here we are. I recognize this place although many cristals were around here, according to Ozymandias' memories." Explained Sapient. "Then we'll make our camp here. Everybody know what to do. Patrols of two." Ordered Eilos.
"We will help you with the camp and the patrols." Said Mahamoud, less familiar with Tantadian military tactics.
"Sand, sand and sand again. How can people live in this kind of environment ?" Whined Agillian, his feet struggling in the sand. "Well, you know, where I come isn't that much better : stones, stones and stones again." Ironized Loquitus.
"What's the..."
Agillian pointed at a shining spot, at the top of a dune. Both runic warriors ran to discover many yellow cristals shards. That was like a bigger cristal had burst out.
"Agillian, look : footsteps !"
Like a person went up here, then left to somewhere else.
"They're going to this mountain.
- If what Urakia told me is true, footsteps vanish quickly in the desert. The one who left these went by to long ago." Explained Agillian.
"Then let's check !" Ordered Loquitus, reaching for his large sword. Both runic warriors followed the footsteps until the bottom of the mountains that were circling around the Emerald Desert. There, they saw a white haired man with shining wings. He was digging a cristal buried under the rubbles. When he realised he wasn't alone anymore, the Solarian turned quickly and threw a stone at Loquitus.
"Back off or die !" Shouted the Solarian.
It was enough to piss the minotaur off, and he immediatly charged the troublemaker. The fight wasn't really fair, but the Solorian defended the best he could, harming Agillian's left arm. Unfortunatly, it wasn't enough to impress the runic warriors. Loquitus immobilized his foe, while Agillian pierced through the Solarian's throat with his spear. Loquitus let go of the dead body of the Solarian. The wings faded off and the man retook his former shape, the shape of the simple passerby who was unlucky enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. From the corpse fled a luminous form who quickly vanished. There was nothing left of the Solarian.
Weder tod noch lebendig
"The fire was crackling in the hearth. The smell of smoke was spreading inside the house, without even disturbing the occupants. It was mixing with the perfume of the cooked meats and whines. Two bowls were left in front of the chimney, only traces of sauce and bread bore witness of the past feast. A nearby little copper cauldron was cooling off after the flames assaults. Playing with a silver goblet with a hand, Dimizar was staring at the fire from an armchair, the mind felt with future hopes. He let himself dream of the descendants he wanted so much, of the kids that would fill this big hollowed house, lacking of any happiness and childish joy.
"What do you think of ? Asked a woman voice coming from behind.
- Future."
A yound lady joined him. Her pale visage was framed by long dark hairs. Her green eyes were expressing a deep love for the man she was looking at.
"It's a nice house. We'll be fine here, she said, smiling.
- Let's hope. The few people I've encountered didn't seem that friendly.
- It's the same everywhere. People are always suspicious of those they don't know. Give them some time and..."
The young lady stropped. Something was wrong. She grabbed her chest at the heart. Her legs couldn't hold her anymore and she collapsed on the floor. Dimizar let go of the whine and reached for the inert body of his wife.
" Almaria ! ALMARIA !" He screamed, holding gently her head. Dimizar's heart was racing, sucking and ejecting the blood of terror."
The blood.
The blood was dripping on the wet flood of the cave where Dimizar was crawling. Memories of this past life were thrumming in his head to the rythme of this heart who was beating more and more slowly. The coldness of the blade struck in his chest was freezing each breath. It was an agony. No sound could come out of his throat too tightened to let any emotion out. Only the blood could pass. He tried to take it out, but the pain from just holding the hilt was too much. This time, he was going to die. It was over.
"Almaria hardly opened her eyes. The ambiant light was so hurtful that she had to cover with her arm, moaning. Laying in a simple wooden chair, Dimizar was holding her other hand in his. Since the first time, the first stroke, everything went doing at a hellish rate. This beautiful home was now an empty shell. Each sold furniture, jewel or book was a cruel deception, but it was needed. For him, only his wife mattered. Everything else was meaningless.
He tightened her hand in his, as if he wanted to hold her back, as if the inevitable outcome could be prevented.
"I'm here. I'm here, he said, the voice trembling.
- Forgive me...
- There is nothing to forgive.
- I won't give you the child of your dreams. I... I feel like abandonning you. Don't bear them a grudge, Dimizar. They don't know and they are afraid."
Tears were dripping on Dimizar's cheeks.
"Don't leave me... Don't leave me !"
The hand holding his opened up, dead. Dimizar stayed there, still, trying to admit his wife's death. Outside the night was coming, like an echo to the death's blackness. Trembling from head to toe, he put an arm under Almara's lifeless body to hug it.
"I'm the one who should have asked your forgiveness."
Sorry.
"She won't hear you, my friend."
From the fog of the death path, Dimizar thought he was hallucinating. Who was talking, here out of nowhere ?
"I'm definitly won't let you go, my friend. We braved so many obstacles together."
He knew this voice. Strange it was manifesting now. Zejabel's heart-stone, fallen while Dimizar came here was shining intensely. A form appeared, like a ghost.
"We are dead, my friend. Nehant won't help you, he forsake us. You know it couldn't be any other way, you were like the worst nehantist ever. Me too, in fact."
The ghost form of Zejabel was floating around Dimizar, contemplating the dying Nehantist.
"Do you fear death that much, Zejabel ? Asked Amidaraxar. You should be honored to give you life to Nehant.
- I'm honored, but that's not the point. I'm a mage... A wizard. I study magic, and I'm pretty sure there is a deathly application to nehantist powers, said Zejabel, in the throes of large cavern under his manor. My research will be long.
- But it's not the time for this. Noz'Dingard's blue lizard announced a prophecy. Are you aware of it ?
- Of course. Who do you think I am. It's not because I'm locked here that I'm not aware of what's going on outside.
- I'm about to drive the legions northway to crush those who tries to rebel. You, you will see with Artrezil how to get rid of the bloody Dragon.
- I'll see. I have to finish some experiments and I'm on my way.""
"I worked hours and hours to manipulate the darkest magics. When Nehant got defeated, I was about to succeed. Dimizar, I will get rid of this dagger that is piercing you and you will die. Your heart will stop forever. At this moment, everything will change. I told you we would be one, you will be me, and I will be you. We will walk our path, and we will do it our way, because the moment your memories will join with mine, your character will be mine too.
Dimizar was almost out of blood when the Zejabel's spectral hand grabbed the dagger Telendar had thrusted with all his strength. With a single stroke he got it out in a bloody shower. Dimizar's face was expressing terror and sadness, tears were flowing from his eyes.
Everything stopped. The pain. The sadness. The fear. Everything was swept away when the death veil laid on him.
His eyelid wiggle a bit while everything was changing inside him. Both spirits were really one know. He knew it because he was at the same time Zejabel and Dimizar. He had Telendar's dagger in his hand, and instead of his wound there was now his heart-stone. Only its surface was sticking out.
"It worked. Death is beaten", he said with tomb voice, hardly human. His heart had stopped beating, his blood wasn't flowing and know he wasn't breathing anymore. He wasn't looking at the word with the same eyes. His vision was altering the reality. With some time to adapt, he realized the dimension of what happened. It was really confusing, but the result was here : he wasn't alive nor dead, but he was still here... in a different forme. Now they were on, the dire event that propeled Dimizar appeared under a new light : was it really mere luck... Long ago, Zejabel was working on creating magical diseases he was trying on villagers, precisely from the village where Dimizar and his wife settled down.
That was closing the circle : Zejabel was a Nehantist, and even if he had to join his soul with Dimizar's, he ended up having what he was looking for.
Original-Version: Ni vivant ni mort
Ziel: Dimizar
The Zil's Warrior packing their stuff to help the Noz to follow the orders of the Guild's Council.
But Telendar has other objective : He must be sure that Dimizar is dead to accomplish his redemption to the eyes of the Noz (he has been sentenced after all).
He asks to Wild to let him go after Dimizar : He can feel the place of the dagger he has put in the heart of Dimizar.
Wild agrees only if he goes with Bloodsword and Saphyra. They leave together and hunt Dimizar.
After some travel, they arrives to the cavern where Dimizar and Zejabel merged.
They find only the dagger : Dimizar is still alive for them. They think about their next move when some zombies attack. They manage to destroy them. (note of the translator : kill is not the correct word for sure)
They decide to go to Zil's Manor with a head of one of the zombies.
At the manor they find Kriss, Alyce and Salem just changed into Zil.
They explain what they found.
With some piece of crystal brought by Telendar from cavern where Dimizar should have been, Zil is able to say that Zejabel is behind this.
They met in the past, Zejabel wants to corrupt all kind of magic, including Shadow Magic.
Zil decides to hunt Dimizar/Zejabel with the others.
Original-Version: Objectif : Dimizar
Wind des Wandels
The Nomads are back in Mineptra the capital of the Desert Kingdom.
The King and the High-Priest of Sol'ra welcome Metchaf and Mahamoud in name of Sol'ra.
Metchaf answers to his father in the name of Ancients Gods. Discord in view....
They quickly go to the palace to avoid people reaction on this blasphemy.
Mahamoud takes the lead to avoid the hot blood of Metchaf to ruin the chances of a clean explanation.
He relates the arrival of the Avatar, the will of Sol'ra to destroy the world and the existence of the Ancients gods.
The High-Priest is about to have an heart attack.
He wants to close the mouth to theses heretics.
Bad luck for him, the ancients gods appear and confirm Mahamoud's words.
The King wants to keep his people together, and this schism can have bad consequences for the kingdom.
Especially with the Eclipse. Mahamoud wants to see them to try to make them work for the kingdom and not by themselves.
End of the meeting, the word is traveling that Mahamoud wants to see Eclipse.
At the night, Mouktar approaches Mahamoud and make clear he is part of Eclipse. He guides Mahamoud to a small temple where they meet Inakta who presents herself has the Head of Eclipse.
With some help from his sword, Mahamoud made clear who is the boss.
And he explain that now Eclipse will work for him, and he gives his first order. Inakta is horrified by this order.
Original-Version: Le vent du changement
Erneuerung
So the new World-Tree (remember Kei'zan sacrifice to make the World-Tree revive) is a strong tree. It grows rapidly and is ready to deliver his firsts fruits.
And the fruits of the World-Tree are the Daïs.
All the existing Daïs have created a village around the new World-Tree. Elfines and Hom'chaï and others creatures have come in this new village.
The first fruit is down on the ground, the first born is ready to emerge from his cocoon.
Eykitan helps the new Daïs, as he did in the past for the children of the first World-Tree.
Fe'y is the name, everyone cheers the new Daïs.
Few days later the new baby is now a strong Daïs, the groth is quicker than the old Daïs remember.
Fe'y is ready to share his knowledge with the others Daïs, he can hear Kei'zan speaking to him.
Other Daïs want to harmonize themselves with Kei'zan to hear him. Big changes are approaching, Fe'y asks if the Daïs knows the story of the Eltarites.
Eykitan answers, he lived those days, he remembers the war between Daïs and Eltarites before they become a single nation. Eltatrites conquered all the countries and began to enter in the Daïs forest.
The thousands of Daïs faced the Eltarites in big battle, the Eltarites defeated the Daïs several times and the last battle occurred before the World-Tree.
The World-Tree acted to prevent the annihilation of the Daïs and blocked in his roots all the combatants, Daïs and Eltarites.
When the Daïs managed to leave the roots of the World-Tree, they discovers that the Eltarites disappeared to make room to Hom'chaï and Elfines.
The three races formed the new Eltarite nation. A peaceful nation this time.
But Hom'chai and Elfines are not aware of this old story.
Fe'y announced to the Daïs that Kei'zan wants to reform the Eltarite race from ELfines and Hom'chaï.
Big trouble in perspective and the Eltarite race could be the only hope for the Eltarite nation.
The way to do that is unknown, they have to find a solution and a unity to do that.
Eykitan should become the leader of the Sap Heart and find a solution.
Meister der Geister
Some of you remember perhaps that Daijin meets Yashoukou not far from Meragi.
Yakoushou is not happy from the behaviour of the Crow and want to kill all members of the Crow.
He sent a lot of crow against the house of the Kage family.
The spirits birds fly directly to Meragi.
The Tsoutaï were searching harmony through meditation when the Flawseekers feel the cloud of spirit birds.
Toran and his old friend Xianren teach the new Tsoutais like Hime or Ayako.
Flawseekers are spirits banned from the spirit plan to another plan and the Tsoutais have been able to find them and make them allies to protect the Guem world against the spirits.
Toran and his Tsoutais run to follow the cloud.
They meet all in the Kage house where a fight occurs.
The spirits birds fell against the Tsoutais helped by spirits killers like Flawseekers.
The cloud retreats to Yakoushou without having done much damage.
The Tsoutais follow the birds to know who has sent those spirits against the Crow.
Daijin is happy to see the birds coming back apparently in disorder when they leave with a lot of order.
Yakoushou is afraid to be blocked there by the Flawseekers. He knows that he can't win against Daijin, Tsoutais and Flawseekers together.
He can defeat each one one by one, but not all together.
He decide to run away and transforms himself into birds and hides as birds through the cloud before disbands the cloud in all direction. The Tsoutais can't do anything against him this time.
Daijin thanks the Tsoutais for the protection they gave to the Crow.
Daijin invites the Tsoutais to help him to make plans to defeat Yakoushou.
Original-Version: Maître des esprits
Champion gegen Champion
The desert is hot, the sand burn under the shoes and the braves of the Runic Legion walk through the desert looking for yellow crystals and Solarians.
The homing pigeon to Tantad and Cenacle are weak and only 4 of them left to carry the news of Eilos. Agillian, just have sent one of them with the latest news.
Sapient the Oracle explains to Eilos that when several crystals are together, he can feel the divine radiation emanating from them and he can feel others, and exactly, he feels a big radiation from somewhere not to away.
So all the Runic Legion goes to this point. They don't find any crystals, but they should be there, Sapient feels a lot of things.
The soldiers spread themselves to find anything.
And they found a big emerald slab recovered by stones and sand.
They gather around and remove all the rubble from the slab.
They found this slab is big enough to be a small temple with some writing on it.
Crac.
The emerald explodes and a creature emerges from the emerald.
This sphinx is Nebsen, sphinx of Sol'ra, gardian of the Ra's tears.
The sphinx is not very happy to see the Runic Legion, especially because they want the yellow crystals, that Nebsen names Ra's tears.
He challenges Eilos in fight.
If Eilos win, Nebsen will reveal where all the Ra's tears are.
If Nebsen win, the Runic Legion will become his slaves.
Eilos doesn't want this fight, but the word "Honour" is pronounced, he has no way to avoid this fight.
Eilos and Nebsen agree to fight themselves the next morning.
Eilos prepares himself all the night with the help of Runic priests to be as ready as possible for the fight.
On the morning, the Runic Legion gathers around the two champion, the fight will begin...
And ....
We are in Tantad, at the Cenacle amphitheatre.
Myrina is summoned by the Cenacle to receive a mission. Her father, Centorium Aurius, and Apolodria members of Cenacle announce to her that they don't have news from Eilos from several months.
The Abydios's clear-sighted are unable to find them, it seems all the Runic Legion has disappeared.
Myrina should take some soldiers and looking for Eilos in the desert.
Original-Version: Champion contre Champion
Maelström
Now Flammara is free, it's time to her to tell her story.
She looks for Eriade, a mythical phoenix who used to be the sovereign of a wide country from Bramamir to Tandad in old legends.
Her search lead to a room under the Governor palace in Bramamir where she witnesses dome soldiers pushing people in the Maelstrom beneath the White Islands.
But she can't hide herself and was put in jail. When she was in jail, she saw some prisoners disappears, she is sure that they have been pushed in the maelstrom.
She is also sure that the Governor and the government of the White Islands were aware of this.
Al killicrew wants to find the phoenix and with Azalys, Mylad and Flammara they go to the place where Flammara saw the mass killing.
They found a room where some soldiers under the order of some Living Shadow.
They pushed some innocent people in the Maelstrom.
Al and her crew launch the attack to stop this horrible process.
They managed to stop the soldiers, and are ready to free the people, when the Living Shadow launch the ambush, Al Killicrew who was without cover, is hit by a bullet in his mechanical arm and the arm explodes. In following seconds, she his hit by another bullet in the chest and fall on the floor.
Mylad, Flammara and Azalys launch all they can with Lightning, Fire and Powder to kill the soldiers. But it is too late, Al is dead.
Just moments before her death, Al see in her mind her father, the Geant with a sad glance.
Her father call her, he has something to say.
He tells Al that she will die, as she has already died before when her arm was torn off.
But he made her a gift, the gift of the phoenix that lived in him before and in all his ancestors and now in her.
Eriade will make her live to fulfil his destiny and stop the gigantic demon known as Maelstrom.
Maelstrom doesn't destroy the White Islands due to a pact signed between him and the government. They pay a tribute in flesh.
In the normal word and time, Azalys try to stop the bleeding, but it is too late. Al is dead.
Flammara suddenly warns Azalys, Al is about to burn.
Mylad, Azalys and Flammara witness Al turns to red and a phoenix of flame appears.
Al's wounds heal magically and Al' heart pumps again.
The living shadow takes this moment to disappear, his evil plan has failed.
Opfer des Drachen
Some of you remember perhaps that when Nehant coupled with Ciramor as Receptacle defeated the Avatar, we were in the middle of a huge battle between Draconains, Demons, Runic Legio and New Nomads leaded by Vizier Mahamoud against the Solarian.
So the avatar is destroyed, but the demons remain.
Zahal and Kounok reform theirs troops against the demons, Nehant on his side, leave the poor Ozymandias at his fate and move all his demons against Kounok, his most dangerous enemy.
Guts, blood, members everywhere, demons continually arriving by portals from Meandres.
Not a good time from the Draconians, despite heroic defense against the demon, they die and they will all die if nothing is done.
Nehant fights Kounok, Chalice against Chimera, Kounok is good, but Nehant is stronger. The grandson of Dragon has no chance to survive and he knows that well, His life is doomed...
Meanwhile in the Noz'Dingard palace, Anryena cry on each stone-heart grounding when a Draconian die. It's like a rain of stone-heart, the end is near.
Dragon materialize himself in this world, he should do something, he can't let his people die.
But he has no Hero like Eredan in the past to counter Nehant. Ciramor, heir off eredan, can't counter the will of Nehant further, the receptacle will become Nehant.
Dragon have to do himself.
He said to Anryena that when he will disappear, she will be the new Dragon and he fly magically in one wing stroke to the battle.
Kounok is desperate but with Chimera giving him strength, he manage in a final blow to destroy Chalice. Chalice explosion put everyone in the surround on the ground.
Nehant is on his feet before Kounok and approaches to kill him.
And Dragon arrives, he lands before Nehant and change his form to a human one.
The two enemies face each other.
Dragon said to Kounok that he has an old story to tell before facing Nehant.
Nehant laughs and says to Kounok that he is a part of Dragon, an shadow part.
He become Nehant when Dragon manage to take outside of him the uncrolled shadow part of him.
After that, Dragon doesn't want to interfere, but he should and with the Eredan saga, Nehant was put in jail, but not destroyed, if Nehant is destroyed, Dragon will die.
Nehant is sure that if Dragon tries to kill him, all the Guem world will be destroyed.
But Dragon is a smart guy, he summon a door to infinity.
Nehant tries to escape, but Dragon leashes him with magic, Nehant leaves the body of Ciramor to find an exit. Dragon have foreseen this and changes his leashes to catch Nehant.
The two Entities are taken outside of this world by the door.
Without their master, all the demons spread away to the world.
So ended the battle of the Stone fallen from the Sky.
Sol'ra, Dragon and Nehant are no more on this world.
The Guem world is ravaged.
And it's time to the Draconian to go back to home.
Original-Version: Le sacrifice de Dragon
28 Zombies später
Our fellow Zil's warrior are divided in two group, one small with Telendar, Bloodsword, Saphyra, Kriss, Zil and Alyce looking for Zejabel ; one big group with all the others currently on their way to join the Draconian in the Tomb of Ancestors.
By the way, this last group just arrive on the edge of a cliff. They can see all the battlefield of the Tomb of Ancestors.
They can see Sol'ra's avatar on a side and Draconians with demons on the others side.
Wild, currently at the head of the guild, is surprised by this alliance, she has orders from the Guild's Council to help Draconians against Nehantists. She decides ayway to help the Draconians whatever the ennemies are.
They begin to go down the cliff to approach the battle when Sol'ra's avatar is defeated by Nehant and the Solarians vanished and the demons goes against the Draconians.
So the situation is simpler : Help the Draconians, Kill demons.
So they run against the demons.
The other group was still looking for Zejabel, they have clues about the Nehanitst created a lot of zombies. They arrive in a small village where no living soul nearby.
No living soul, but bunch of Zombies.
Zil, Telendar, Saphyra and Bloodsword take their daggers and attack the zombies.
Kriss and Alyce stay on backup and launch some good Shadow spell to help their friends.
Some moments after, the village is cleared and the poor zombies are back to the eternel rest where they should have stayed.
The Zil's Warrior are still in alert looking for the necromancer.
Zil sees a movement in the edge of his view, he runs against this furtive figure.
Zombie ? Nehantist ?
He stabs the figure before seeing it clearly.
When he sees it, he notices that the poor little girl dead in his arms was not a zombie nor a Nehantist.
Telendar arrives at this time and Zil lie. He said this was a zombie, but inside him he is full of regrets.
They decide to burn the village and search elsewhere for Zejabel.
The fire begins his job, Zil's warrior heading somewhere else (Tantad it seems), a necromancer leaves the shadow and goes directly to the small dead girl.
Zejabel makes the little girl revive to be the weapon against Zil.
The Zil's warrior are good runner, but not good enough to arrive in the battle before Dragon defeat Nehant and take him into the door of Infinity.
Nothing more to do ? No, of course, there is a lot of disbanding demons, enough to show their combat skills.
They begin to send the demons to the Meanders.
Amidaraxar tries to escape but sees the Zil's warrior coming his path.
He uses Inferno to make some diversion.
Inferno is a big one, bigger with the small demon attached to his back giving him more power.
Bad time for Zil's warrior, Inferno is in the place...
Ergue merge with Bigrage and Soriek to summon Abomination. Big demon against big war machine gives big fight.
The boosted Inferno is still faster, bigger, stronger than Abomination.
Is this the end of Abomination ? No, arriving rocket-style, Aberration shows up and help Abomination.
The two monster give some very bad moments to the poor Inferno, he ended with no arms and no head.
Bad moment for the demon and for the others demons too, they flee as fast as they can, but a lot of them were killed in this battle.
At the end of the battle, Abomination dissolves to give back Ergue, Bigrage and Soriek.
Aberration dissolves too to give Oukanda, N’ba, N’ga and Dar’i. Oukanda, a human, seems at the head of the group.
Wild is angry because Oukanda was late, but he was here anyway, a good fight, old friends back in the group, everything was good for this time.
Original-Version: 28 zombies plus tard
Katze und Löwe
Vizier Mahamoud and Kebek are looking for Ra, Cheksathet and some other old forgotten gods.
They arrive in a small village in the desert where they found an old man named Azim.
He is known to be a follower of the old gods and he arrived in this small village to avoid the Sol'ra's followers and their "inquisition".
Azim is reluctant to gives information but Mahamoud gives him enough confident to incite Azim to reveal that they should proceed to Kahouma's Oasis and look for Maat.
Mahamoud and Kebek arrive in Kahouma the next day and find Maat in the marketplace where she sells some clothes.
All three go in a private place to speak more freely.
Maat is not convinced by Mahamoud and doesn't want to speak.
At this time Naptys, the Lion Goddess appears in the room and orders to Mahamoud to follow the cats. Kebek stays with Maat to keep an eye on her.
Maat knees immediately before the goddess, but for Mahamoud, the trouble is now to follow a cat in a town he doesn't know.
What is good with gods, is that they can help from time to time, so Mahamoud doesn't loose the trace of the cat and manage to follow him in a small house.
No-one in it, but after some fast search, he finds a tunnel under the carpet.
He enters the tunnel, at the end of the tunnel, he is attacked by cats and a woman.
Due to his big armour, he has no bid deal to repulse the cats and with his sword he keeps the woman at distance.
Mahamoud says he doesn't want to hurt her and he is here guided by Naptys.
At this name, the woman stops the fight.
A cat comes and seems to speak silently with the woman.
Ba-Sthèt presents herself as the servant of Baast incarnated in the cat. She wants compensation from Naptys who has exiled her from the surface of the world.
Mahamoud has bad feelings about this : he knows nothing about this and Naptys has suddenly disappeared and give no signs of coming soon.
Ba-Sthet will tell information if Mahamoud gives her a child. Mahamoud is married, he is faithful, but the Cause is everything, and the Cause is pretty and has big boobs...
And the gods want it...
So she says, so he does.
When they put their clothes on (and armour too), Ba-Sthet says to Mahamoud that she will guide him to the Cheksathet's temple in Tebirhak where something big will happen...
Original-Version: Chat et Lion
Der Eltarit
Nur wenige Jahre nach der Explosion der Baum-Welt, entschieden sich viele Elfinen, Homchai und Dais, eine grosse Stadt zu bauen. Ausgehöhlt, eingerichtet und bevölkert, wurde die Stadt mehr und mehr zum zivilisiertesten Ort im Wald. Hier wurde alles im Ziel errichtet, die Harmonie und Ruhe zu wahren. Die Häuschen wurden an der Innenwand der Stadt befestigt und waren ähnlich einem gigantischen Spinnennetz aus Lianen miteinander verbunden, die in der Mitte zu einem durch zusammengebundene Baumstämme etwas erhöhten Platz zusammenliefen. Fey bewunderte die Schönheit der Stadt, er sah vor sich ein Volk, welches trotz einiger Unterschiede friedlich zusammen lebte.
Unter den Wurzeln der ältesten Bäume in Eltarite ist noch immer ein Teil der Magie vorhanden, die einst de Luft erfüllte. Gaya und Mailandar, welche ihr Leben lang noch nie wirklich voneinander getrennt waren, entdecken an einem See einen grünen Bernstein, ein extrem seltener Stein, der nur tief im Innern der Erde gefunden werden kann. Unter einer grossen Wurzel entdecken sie einen Eingang unter die Erde. Dem immer schmaleren Gang folgend stossen Sie schlussendlich auf ein Überbleibsel der Baum-Welt, Mutter aller Dais. Das Geschöpf übergibt den beiden ihre letzte Lebenszelle, worin das Geheimnis Eltarites verborgen ist und schickt sie damit zum, zur neuen Baum-Welt gewodernen Keizan.
Gaya und Mailandar übergeben Keizan die Lebenszelle und erfahren, dass sie in Wirklichkeit zusammengehören, eine einzige Person sind, die man einen Eltarit nennt. Keizan führt ein uraltes Ritual durch. Der mächtige Zauber hüllt die beiden in einen Kokon, in welchem die Verwandlung stattfinden kann.
Entstellte Vergangenheit
The nehantists who fought against the nomads retreat They decide to go to Zejabel mansion to find a way to open the door where their leader was imprisoned, because they suppose that now, the fourth chain will be guarded.
Meanwhile, Zejabel also goes to the mansion, with the little girl that Zil killed in a previous chapter. Zejabel hears a voice, that is more and more oppressing and wonder who it is. There, Dimizar takes control and explain that it is his wife voice.
They go to her grave and free the corpse. Then, a feminine voice is heard, saying that she can revive Almaria if he wants to. Dimizar/Zejabel wonders if he is developing an other personality, but see a ghost with a feminine form.
Dimizar accepts and Almaria is revived. The ghost disappears and the now reborn Almaria starts to kiss the little girl, Dimizar introducing her as their "daughter" (probably not their real daughter, it's just because she is there, and they are a kind of family now).
When the three arrived at the mansion, the other nehantists are already there. The other Nehantists believe that it is Dimizar, but Zejabel rectifies who he is. At first Zejabel is angry, stating that Nehant is not his master anymore. Amidaraxar retorts that he IS, Zejabel refusing to acknowledge it again.
Finally, Amidaraxar and all explains to Zejabel what happened during the war and that they need to find a way to open the door. Unfortunately, the books all burned during the Zil attack, the only one knowing their content is Zejabel.
Zejabel accepts to help the Nehantists (feeling that he hold all the aces) and asks the Nehantists to bring Ciramor there.
Original-Version: Passé décomposé
Der oberste Berater
Die Nehantisten wollten den Rat der Gilden in ihre Gewalt bringen und haben es geschafft, mehrere Berater zu manipulieren. Zum Glück konnte das Schlimmste verhindert werden. Leider hat der Rat dadurch aber einige seiner Mitglieder eingebüsst. Inzwischen ist im Rat der Gilden nun Veraz der neue oberste Berater, gemeinsam mit ihm kümmern sich Agalinar Nadur und Chantelain und neu auch Abysser, Marlok, Sevylath, Meister Maen und Myrie von Avalonien um das Wohl Gems.
Bei Veraz's erster Ratsversammlung hat Galmara ein Anliegen vorzubringen. Er fordert, dass die Tribute der Gilden an den Rat zurückgehen sollen. Aber Veraz stellt klar, dass der Rat die finanziellen Mittel benötigt, wenn er die Leistung erbringen soll. Da macht ein Anwesender auf sich aufmerksam. Es handelt sich um einen Marquis aus den weissen Inseln. Anna Trist schickt ihn mit einer Truhe voller Gold, ein Geschenk für den Rat. Dieser wittert jedoch den Hintergedanken; wenn sie das Geschenk annehmen legitimieren sie den Putsch der Piraten... das Geld käme ihnen zu dieser Stunde aber mehr als gelegen.
Die Anhörung wird vertagt, der Rat bespricht sich. Schlussendlich entscheidet sich Veraz, anzunehmen. Aber vorerst will er sich mit Galmara und dem Marquisen zusammensetzen.
Original-Version: Le Grand Concile
Unerwartet
Die Bleibe der Raben hatte selten so viele Besucher aufgenommen. Beinahe die gesamte Kotoba befand sich im Anwesen und alle Splittergruppen der Gilde diskutierten über das heisse Thema des Moments: Die Karukai.
Alle Karukai wurden besiegt, bis auf einen: Yakoushou, der Meister der Vogel-Geister.
Daijin, Gakyusha, Toran, Yu Ling und weitere Persönlichkeiten der Kotoba, haben sich versammelt und beratschlagen sich nun, wie man auch dieses Problem aus der Welt schaffen könnte. Die Sitzung wird von Meister Ma unterbrochen, der Neuigkeiten aus der Provinz Maoling bringt: Am Fusse der Tsang-Felswand wurden gut zwei Dutzend tote Vögel gefunden, alle zwei bis drei Mal grösser als normal. Die Versammelten vermuten, dass Yakoushou dahinter steckt, obwohl es nicht nachvollziehbar ist, dass er seine eigenen Diener umbringt. Iro, Asajiro, Yu Ling, Xianren und Kotori Kage schliessen sich Meister Ma an, um sich die Sache genauer anzusehen. Die Vögel scheinen allesamt unverletzt, aber Xianrens Schwächensucher kann nichts übernatürliches spüren. Oben an der Felswand findet Kotori weitere tote Vögel, gut drei Mal mehr als am Fusse der Felswand lagen. Das seltsame aber ist, dass sich genau in der Mitte des Massengrabs ein exakter Kreis befindet, in welchem weder Federn noch Körper liegen. Ich weiss nicht was hier passiert ist, aber Yakoushou scheint in Schwierigkeiten geraten zu sein, sagt Iro, während er sein Kusanagi zieht.
Rückkehr nach Noz'Dingard
Die Reise nach Noz’Dingard war lange. Der Sieg war errungen, aber er zog viel Schmerz, Tränen und Blut mit sich. Grosse, durch Magie geschaffene Kristallbarken trugen die zahlreichen Verstorbenen zu ihrer letzten Ruhestätte. Der lange Zug glitt langsam die gepflasterte Strasse zur Hauptstadt entlang.
Zurück in Noz'Dingard ist die Stadt in Trauer. Aber Ardrakar erwartet ein Kind und so leuchtet für sie und Kounok ein Licht in der Dunkelheit. Wird es ein Mädchen, soll sie Ceili heissen und Krenv, wenn es ein Junge ist.
Viele sind in der Schlacht gefallen. So auch Valentin, guter Freund und Meister Zahals und liebender Ehemann und Vater. Der Verlust drückt schwer aber Zahal muss sein Wissen nun einem Schüler weitergeben. Während seiner kurzen Suche ist er schnell auf Valentins Zwillinge aufmerksam geworden. Der Junge und das Mädchen fallen durch ihr heldenhaftes Verhalten positiv auf und Zahal beschliesst, Valentins Witwe, die Zahal die Schuld für den Tod ihres Gatten gibt, um Erlaubnis zu bitten. Absalon soll zum Drachenritter ausgebildet werden und Nadarya zur Zauberklinge. Zuerst ist die Mutter dagegen, aber sie kann ihren Kindern deren grössten Wunsch nicht aberkennen.
Ein Monat später erreicht Zahal und Absalon eine schlechte Neuigkeit: Der Drachenritter Anselm von Arpienna verkündet, er wolle nicht mehr unter dem Joch des Drachen stehen und verweist Moira und ihre Schülerin Nadarya aus seiner Stadt. Zahal und Absalon machen sich auf der Stelle auf den Weg.
Original-Version: Retour à Noz'Dingard
Heldenmut
Die Runen-Legion feuerte ihren Champion begeistert an. In einem Kreis um die beiden Krieger herum wurde die Stimmung in den Rängen immer hitziger. Privus der Gladiator und Freund von Eilos erinnerte sich an die fabelhaften Abenteuer des Runenhaften Herrns in Zeiten, als sie beide bloss zwei junge Leute mit dem Traum nach Freiheit waren...
Während dem Duell zwischen Eilos und Nebsen, der Sphinx des Ra, erinnert sich Privus an die vergangenen Abenteuer, die er mit seinem Freund verbracht hat.
So hatte Eilos beispielsweise Tantads Minotauren überredet, ihm die Rune von Tavros zu übergeben, mit deren Hilfe er später den Löwen von Atios besiegt hat: Eine Bestie mit 3 Köpfen und so gross wie ein Haus.
Das Duell ist spannend, Nebsen scheint Eilos' Taktik durchschaut zu haben. Aber Privus raunt seinem Freund zu, er solle die Waffen beiseite lassen und nur von seinen Fäusten und der Rune von Tavros gebrauch machen. Das verhilft Eilos scheinbar zum Sieg und er fordert den Preis, nämlich dass Nebsen ihn zu den Kristallen führt, die er "Tränen des Ra" nennt. Nebsen beschwört einen Sandsturm herauf, der die Mitglieder der Runen-Legion zu den Kristallen teleportiert, aber er selbst ist verschwunden.
Plötzlich bricht Eilos zusammen. Er lebt noch aber an diesem Ort sind die Mitglieder der Runen-Legion von der Gegenwart ihrer Götter abgschnitten. Sie müssen einen Weg finden, der aus der Grotte der zahlreichen gelben Kristalle hinausführt.
Die Verschlungenen
Trotz der Müdigkeit stellte Galene Annas neuen Arm fertig. Abgesehen von der Ästhetik war dieser ein wunder der Technologie. Galene hatte sich seine letzte Kreation S.A.R.A.H zum Vorbild genommen. Die junge Klementine bewunderte die Spitzenleistung ihres Idols, sie hatte bei der Transplantation nicht die kleinste Detail verpasst.
Es hat sich herausgestellt, dass der Maelstrom unterhalb der weissen Inseln ein riesiger Dämon ist. Diese unmittelbare Bedrohung ist natürlich ernst zu nehmen und es wird beschlossen, einen Erkundungstrupp auszusenden. Um keine Menschenleben zu gefährden seilt man also S.A.R.A.H ab, ausgerüstet mit einem von Klementines Geräten, welches die aufgenommenen Bilder zum Eisentitan, Galenes Schiff, zurücksendet.
Im Innern des Maelstroms scheint es festen Boden zu geben aber die Aufnahmen zeigen auch, dass S.A.R.A.H von Kreaturen angegriffen und überrumpelt wird. Anna Trist beschliesst, mit der Arc-Kadia in den Maelstrom hineinzusegeln. Mit Edelsteinauge am Steuer gelingt ihnen das Unterfangen und die Crew schwärmt aus. Ausser auf längst verschollene Schiffswracks treffen sie auf Balastar und weitere Menschen, die Anzüge und Gasmasken tragen. Balastar ist ein berühmter Waffenschmied, der die meisten Pulverwaffen der Piraten erfunden hatte. Er führt sie an ihren Rückzugsort, den sie die Höhle der Verschlungenen nennen und erklärt ihnen, dass der Dämon ihre Energie absorbiert, wodurch sich ihr Körper langsam auflöst. Er war einer der ersten, die den Sturz in den Maelstrom überlebt hatten und nimmt seitdem die Schiffbrüchigen auf und lehrt sie, sich vor dem Einfluss des Dämonen zu schützen.
S.A.R.A.H bleibt jedoch verschollen und mit ihr, die seltsamen Gestalten, die sie angegriffen hatten.
Sommerabends Besuch
Der Krieg von Sol'ra ist schon seit einem Jahr zu Ende und die Kämpfer der Zil haben ihr Zigeunerleben wieder aufgenommen, bereisen die Welt und unterhalten Gross und Klein. Diesen Sommer war die Gauklerbande mit den unterschiedlichsten und unglaublichsten Kräften im Kaiserreich von Xzia auf Tournee.
Die Zil bereiten sich auf die Aufführung vor. Tickets werden verkauft und die Zuschauer nehmen im Zelt ihre Plätze ein... Aber ein Raunen geht durch die Reihen, als plötzlich Iro und der Kaiser auftauchen. Sie würden der Vorstellung auch gerne beiwohnen. Die Wilde findet das alles mehr als merkwürdig und während das Schauspiel beginnt, studiert sie noch, über die Absichten des Kaisers. Unterdessen beobachtet Kuraying, wie sich Yu Ling hinter die Bühne stehlen will. Die beiden waren vor einiger Zeit ein Paar, bis Yu Ling plötzlich von der Bildfläche verschwunden war. Als Kuraying erfahren hat, dass sie noch lebt, ihm aber aus dem Weg geht, war er so verletzt, dass er sich der Kotoba abgewandt und den Zil angeschlossen hatte. Bei dieser direkten Gegenüberstellung erklärt ihm Yu Ling unter Tränen, dass sie auf eine Mission berufen wurde, die aber schief ging, worauf sie mit der Krankheit des Alters bestraft wurde. Sie wollte nicht, dass ihr Liebster sie in diesem Zustand seht und hat versucht ihn zu vergessen aber die Liebe lässt sich nicht leugnen. Kuraying ist schlussendlich bereit, ihr eine zweite Chance zu geben.
Aber Yu Ling ist auch mit einem Auftrag gekommen: Der Kaiserliche Herr Gakyusha möchte mit der Wilden sprechen. Die Kotoba brauchen die Hilfe der Zil, denn Yakoushou ist spurlos verschwunden. Stattdessen ist seither 'der Fremde' aufgetaucht. Die Tsoutai vermuten dass es sich um den Karukai handelt, der seine Gestalt verändert hat. Allerdings können sie ihn nicht aufspüren, da er eine Art Schattenmagie benutzt, welche weder Tsoutai noch Raben oder Treiber oder Dämonenjäger aufspüren können. Und aus diesem Grund, wenden sie sich an die Zil, Meister der Schatten.
Original-Version: Visite d'un soir d'été
Thebiraks Geheimnisse
Die Löwen-Göttin Naptys hatte Mahamoud in der Oase von Kahouma zu Ba-sthet geführt. Die Dienerin von Baast hatte eingewilligt, Mahamoud den Weg zu Cheksathets Tempel in Thebirak zu führen, wenn er ihr ein Kind schenkt und obwohl der Vizir verheiratet ist, war er schlussendlich bereit, die Bedingung zu erfüllen um mehr über die alten Götter zu erfahren.
Thebirak war vormals die Hauptstadt eines wichtigen Reiches. Aber der Krieg zwischen Ra und den anderen Göttern hatte sie vollkommen verwüstet und übrig blieben nur Ruinen zwischen den Dünen. Mahamoud ist etwas enttäuscht und reagiert eher schroff auf einen leichten Annäherungsversuch Ba-sthets, aber die beiden machen sich auf die Suche nach einem brauchbaren Hinweis. Sie entdecken frische Spuren, die von einer relativ grossen Kreatur stammen müssen. Den aussergewöhnlichen Spuren ins Innere der Stadt folgend kommen sie zu einem grossen Platz bestehend aus einer einzigen Steinplatte auf welcher Tausende von Symbolen eingeritzt sind. Die beiden fragen sich, was die Symbole wohl bedeuten mögen, als eine durchdringende Stimme erklärt, dies sei die Sprache von Thebirak. Mahamoud und Ba-sthet wirbeln herum und auf einer Düne hinter ihnen befindet sich jemand. Geblendet schützen sie ihre Augen und versuchen etwas zu erkennen. Mahamoud hält die Gestalt zuerst für Aziz, aber obwohl es sich um eine Sphinx handeln muss, hat diese hier eher vogelähnliche Merkmale.
Die Kreatur stellt sich als Nebsen, Sphinx des Ra vor. Es ist also ein Solarian und scheint aus einer früheren Zeit zu stammen, denn er sucht den König von Thebirak , dessen Magie er noch immer spüren kann.
Mahamoud findet dies alles höchst interessant und beauftragt Ba-sthet weiterhin den Tempel des Cheksathets zu suchen, während er sich Nebsen auf dessen Suche nach diesem König anschliesst.
Mahamoud möchte herausfinden, aus welcher Epoche Nebsen stammt, aber dieser geht nicht auf seine Fragen ein. Sie führen die Suche bis zum Anbruch der Nacht weiter.
Plötzlich geschehen seltsame Dinge. Durchscheinende Menschengestalten flimmern durch die Ruinen und die Symbole auf dem Platz beginnen zu leuchten. Mahamoud und Nebsen rennen auf den Platz und... verschwinden.
Ein Junge spielt auf dem grossen Platz in Thebirak als die Symbole zu leuchten anfangen und mehrere Personen aus dem Nichts erscheinen, darunter auch Mahamoud und Nebsen.
Aufgeschreckt rennt der Knabe, seine Mutter holen.
Als er zurückkommt, erkennt Mahamoud Ba-sthet, Kebek, Urakia und Sakina, aber sie haben sich verändert.
Ba-sthet tritt näher und erklärt Mahamoud dass er in dieser Nacht vor 10 Jahren einfach verschwunden sei. Sie habe lange nach ihm gesucht aber schliesslich angenommen, dass er tot sei. Sie hatte den Tempel von Cheksathet gefunden und die Götter hatten ihr offenbart, dass sie Thebirak wieder aufbauen solle und dass Mahamoud daraufhin eines Tages wieder auftauchen würde.
Der Junge ist Mahamouds Sohn, Sethnak.
Original-Version: Les secrets d e Thébirak
Die Brut
Als Nehant verschwunden war, begann sich das Chaos wie ein Seuchenwind in den Mäandren zu verbreiten. Zu dieser Zeit, kehrten Azaram, seine Diener und die Peiniger zurück in diese Welt, die zugleich so nah und doch so fern von den Ländereien von Gem ist.
Die Dämonen leben in den Mäandren, dieser heissen und bedrückenden, von den Ländereien von Gem abgeschnittenen Welt. Niemand kennt das ganze Ausmass dieses Tunnel-Labyrinths ausser Nehant, aber es reizte auch niemanden, zu entdecken, was in den dunkelsten Winkeln lauern könnte.
Azaram und die ganze Truppe kehren also Heim. Das Steinherz des Dämons berührend, beschwört er Teufelshitze wieder herauf, der im Kampf gefallen war, lässt sich vom Seelenfresser die Treue schwören und begibt sich gemeinsam mit Alptraum und Riss zu einem entlegeneren Tunnel, wo nur die schlimmsten Dämonen leben, die nicht kontrolliert werden können und oftmals von Nehant selbst hierhin verbannt wurden. In diesem Tunnel befindet sich ein schwarzer Monolith, in welchem die erste Generation der Dämonen des Nehant eingesperrt sind. Diese Dämonen sind überaus stark und sehr instabil. Nehant bezeichnete sie als ein schief gelaufenes Experiment und weil er sich nicht dazu durchringen konnte sie zu zerstören, sperrte er sie im Monolith ein.
Azaram tritt durch die schwarze Wand des Quaders wie durch eine flüssige Oberfläche ins Dunkel hinein.
Einzig Utkin, der stärkste der Brut und der einzige, der sich jemals freiwillig zum Dämon hat machen lassen, stellt sich in den Rötlichen Schimmer Azarams Dämonenklinge. Die Brut ist mit Nehant verbunden uns weiss um dessen Verschwinden, aber sie wissen auch, dass er noch irgendwo existiert und vermutlich sind sie auch in der Lage, Nehant wieder zurückzuholen. Azaram weiss, dass sie niemals kooperieren würden und zeigt ihnen deshalb Kelch, die alte Klinge des Nehant und einziges Mitglied der ersten Dämonengeneration, die sich bis dahin nicht im Monolith befand. Bem Anblick von Kelchs Zustand nach dessen Kampf mit der Chimära willigt Utkin ein, Azaram zu helfen, wenn dieser Kelch im Gegenzug bei der Brut lässt.
Utkin schlägt vor, die letzte Kette des Kristalls zu sprengen. Auf Azarams Bedenken hin, dass der Nehants Gefängnis von Drakoniern und Magiern, die im Anti-Nehantismus spezialisiert sind bewacht werden, erwidert Utkin "die werden wir zermalmen".
Original-Version: Les rejetons
Der Bergfried
Es ist Nacht. Shana hat solchen Hunger, dass sie nicht schlafen kann. Natürlich gibt sie Lucyan die Schuld dafür, denn er hatte darauf bestanden, einfach am Wirtshaus zum angestochenen Fass vorbeizugehen, um die Fährte des schwarzen Krokks nicht zu verlieren. Nun soll er eben zusehen, wie er ihnen was zu Essen besorgen soll. Shana schickt Lucyan auf die Jagd, obwohl es schon dunkel ist. Nach einigen Stunden erfolgloser Suche nach etwas essbarem, stellt er fest, dass er sich verirrt hat. In der Hoffnung dass er nicht allzuweit von ihrem Lager entfernt ist, beginnt er Shanas Namen in die Nacht zu rufen. Nach einigen Minuten tritt aber eine andere Frau zu ihm, die etwas missgelaunt zu sein scheint, da Lucyan sie offensichtlich geweckt hatte.
Dame Jana kennt sich im Wald aus und nachdem sie den jungen Mann etwas harsch angefahren hat, führt sie ihn gerne zurück und hat sogar zu Essen bei sich, das sie freimütig teilt. Shana ist überaus froh um das nächtliche Mahl und Lucyan, dass Shana soweit besänftigt ist. Die drei kommen ins Gespräch und Dame Jana erklärt, dass sie eine Türe zu einem Bergfried öffnen will, aber diese hat kein Schloss und sie weiss nicht, wie das Tor aufzubekommen wär.
Dame Jana wurde nämlich vor 2 Jahren von einem Hetzmagier angegriffen. Solche Angriffe enden meist tödlich, und Dame Jana hatte nur dank ihrem Glauben an Mera überlebt. Nun lebt sie aber mit dieser schrecklichen Erinnerung und dem Wissen, dass jemand umherzieht und ungestraft Menschen ermordet. In besagtem Bergfried aber, soll sich ein Gerät befinden, mit welchem man die Hetzmagier aufspäuren kann. Es handelt sich um den Begfried des Magiers Lemagrag, der ganz oben im Turm die Maschine baute, um in diesem Wald seltsame blaue Wesen aufzuspüren. Allerdings ist er hinuntergestürzt und war auf der Stelle tot, worauf sich die Türflügel durch Zauberei verschlossen und der Bergfried unzerstörbar wurde, um das Geheimnis sicher zu verwahren.
Shana ist beeindruckt von der Mera-Priesterin und überzeugt Lucyan, der Dame zu helfen.
Tags darauf, macht sich die kleine Gruppe also auf zum Bergfried und versucht mit allen ihnen bekannten Tricks und Mitteln, das Tor zu öffnen, aber alle Bemühungen bleiben erfolglos.
Frustriert macht sich Dame Jana dran, das Tor einschlagen zu wollen, aber Lucyan befürchtet, dass dieses mit einem Schutzzauber belegt ist und ein solcher Angriff leicht nach Hinten gehen könnte. Zusammen mit Shana, schafft er es, dass Dame Jane's Schlag nicht auf die Tür trifft. Erschöpft entscheiden sie sich, einen Magier aufzusuchen, der ihnen mit Sicherheit besser wird helfen können.
Als die drei Leute bereits weg sind, öffnet sich das Tor einen Spalt breit und zwei winzig kleine, blaue Kreaturen treten hinaus. "Denen haben wirs aber gezeigt", sagt die eine und die andere lacht lauthals, worauf sie wieder im Bergfried verschwinden und die Türe sich hinter ihnen schliesst.
Vorhut
Asajiro brings documents to Malyss in the Crow house.
One message from Karasu Kage who is with the Zil's warrior looking for Yakoushou.
In this message, Karasu explains they was tracking Yakoushou in a distant country named Shirozuo. They found some giants birds killed and a piece of metal like an half-moon in an abandoned camp with some partially burned parchment.
The piece of metal has been sent to the Pythia in Draconia and the parchment is now in the hand of Malyss.
The second message is from Kyoshiro who is in Noz'Dinguard with the Pythia.
He relates that the Pythia had a vision of a beautiful and terrifying city in a red sky. She was sure that this city is not on the Guem lands. She saw also an animal with moon fur and very tall people, taller than Hom'chaï. Kyoshiro finishes his message indicating that the Stranger could fit the description of the people seen by the Pythia.
Malyss spent the following days trying to understand the writing on the half-burned parchment with no success.
He receives then another message from Karasu. As soon as he read the message, he order Chidori to go to Gakyusha house and give him the message and protect the message at all cost, even with her live. Chidori, as good Crow member, do her job well and gives personally the message to Gakyusha.
This one read and order Chidori to gather some Crow and go to the tracker's dojo to meet him again there.
And bring food and stuff for a long journey.
Karasu explains in the message that he was with Fenrath, they found Yakoushou but he was fighting with the Stranger, and he was losing. The Stranger wins and makes Yakoushou prisoner. Then he performs a ritual. A big door appears. The Stranger seems to take magic from Yakoushou and opens the door. A women arrives through the door. They speak a foreign language and seems upset of what the Stranger did.
The message ends at this point, Karasu had chosen to relates all of this before going with Fenrath to watchs the strangers.
Original-Version: L'avant-garde
