Athe Zepavelapama 'TundraLyric' 001
A cold wind blew over the badlands, stinging Athe's numb skin through his ramie outfit. He was deemed too weak to wear the warrior's armor, fine grown oak, but as an ambusher and blowgunner he was okay with that. His job often required the guise of a civilian, or so they told him when he was recruited 30 years ago. It was why he was told to carry what looked like a harmless stick with him all the time.
As Athe walked slowly towards the elf in the distance, he wondered what duty would oblige such a great spirit to waste her days away in this cold, desolate wasteland. As if sensing this thought, the green-clad figure turned around and said:
'This land wasn't always evil and dead, you know. We have paid some dwarves to dig up some rock, and in it we found rotting skeletons. They took on this sticky black coating, and you could
smell their pain. It was a little like the smell in the air now, faintly putrid, but more corrupted. The smell in the air is more mixed with the goblins down south and the merlocks to the north. We are in a land of dying, Athe, one upon which death would be a mercy.'
'Sir?', Athe flashed a quick and measured salute.
'No no, child. I am not asking you to do anything so vile. I have spent my days here, gathering the information required to finish our job. Almost 80 years of research went into the information I am giving you.
'While we only finished scattering the goblins of The Spurting Wrath but 20 years ago we succeeding in debasing their power structure back in The Ferocious War. I don't remember seeing you there, amoung my lines, so I will say that during the deciding battle of that war we came face against a terrible power we had never seen before. A demon. You are aware they exist, correct Lieutenant?'
'Only by the vaguest of rumors and wildest human tales.'
'They do. That monster took 13 of our soldiers to the grave with it, and died in a burst of fire so spectacular the elephant squad that killed it was immolated and everything within 10 Urists was unrecognizable. We have no proof we killed it, save our impeccable memories and the relief of the Earth itself. '
'We have evidence that it was not the only one upon this Earth. Word has reached us that the humans of The Foggy Confederacies have been studying one they captured in their ''Roasted War''. For 20 years they have been attempting to solicit from it a source of power. Besides the obvious implications, we cannot allow them to gain such an edge over us in combat.'
'In addition, our brethren of The Orange Love report a similar embarrassment at the hands of an abomination down in the tundras. They say this creature fought with the strength of 20 mer, and its death caused a violent eruption from a nearby volcano.'
'All said, there are a counted total of 5 of these beasts. We have reports that 3 of them are dead, and two more still live. I want you to account for the 4 we did not personally slay.'
'Atac of The Mean Wrath was slain by a dragon in 70. By tracing its body, we have located a minotaur who acquired its body for unknown purposes. You are to kill CankerItches the Entrails of Strife.'
'Xubkib HellCharmed the Tender Mucuses was Master of The Fetid Seductions. Our brethren of The Orange of Love disposed of it. Its body is allegedly entombed in FindNightmares, which was constructed directly after its death.'
'Uthimi SnailBait the Nightmares of Sap still reigns in its well-fortified fortress of MenacedFists. Its goblins reign over a large part of the eastern world. Dispose of it by either raiding the fortress or search its personal vault ThrownBlock for clues'
'Desmo ThiefSeduce saw its civilization in ruin when it was captured by human forces in 139. We received word two years ago that dwarves assimilated the leftover goblins as servants. Silence Desmo before the humans gain any profane knowledge.'
'We must have all of their bodies accounted for or destroyed. We cannot trust the mortals or goblins to keep our Earth safe. You are to go out in the name of Nefola and keep our world safe. We give you our full trust and authority. Look at our maps before you go.'
And with that, Yarare turned from Athe and back into the bitter winds of the badlands.