[h1][b][i][color=8190a8][center]Etzer[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1]

 A tunnel of endless memories, a war won over and over and over… Then it all swung into focus like the motion of a sword through the sky. Etzer's eyes snapped open from a sleep he considered eternal as his whole body lurched forward. A hand reached for the place over his chest where an Emperor had struck him dead…

 … and now he was here. His surroundings snapped into focus. These were not the mountains he once called home, but he was struck immediately with a scent like fire – something ugly and toxic that filled his lungs. Etzer let instinct take over before all else as one foot pressed against the ground and took him to his feet.

 [color=8190a8][i] “Selene…” [/i][/color] And the spear flashed to his hands. 

 His body moved before his mind as familiar actions came into play. A hand brushed the dead dirt and the slightest magic that he understood was enough to convince him that something was [i]off[/i]. He couldn’t even stop himself from getting to his feet before he noticed the figure standing before him. Her red hair blowing in a wind devoid of life as the blade in her hand called to his vaguest understanding of history. 

 She was important, once. A great title thrust upon this woman he seemed to remember, yet… wasn’t she long dead?

 Then again, as he looked around the group, he supposed they all were. With a shake of his head, his eyes turned to the place around them. It was hauntingly familiar to witness a village ravaged, and life snuffed from it likely without its citizens having knowledge of what occurred. This bitter winter had fallen on this place like someone clearing the table after a game of chess, yet this cold seemed far worse than the winter with which he was familiar.

 Speaking of…

 [color=8190a8]“Vakir? Are you here? Can you hear me, dear friend?”[/color] He said, shouting despite himself.

 A hand curled around the shaft of his spear reflexively as the other clutched at the amulet around his neck. He waited – yearning for that iron voice to slash through his doubts and worries.

 Then there was none.

 His heart sank – not even pleased with the second chance at life in this world devoid of hope. With this other group of people here, however, showing weakness was a terrible sign.

 His father had always said that it was important to show the best of yourself in a regiment, or the loss of morale could shatter the group entirely.

 But, who was he without that drake?

  [color=8190a8]“This place… I don’t recognize it,”[/color] he said aloud next, glossing over his previous outburst,[color=8190a8] “What kind of monstrosity could have caused such damage, and what does that Pale Lady expect us to do about it?”[/color]

 There was a chill in the air. Even though the heavy fabrics that seemed to have followed him through the fades of Death didn’t seem enough to protect him from the chill. He jammed his lance into the ground next to him and started readjusting any button he could find on his thick hide clothing before turning back to the woman where she stood.

 With a deep breath, he stepped towards her, and towards the charcoaled building barely standing within vision, [color=8190a8]“Do you have any sense of where we need to go?”[/color]