[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/k8g7W4a.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]GESTIES: "Damn it. . ! Bastard. [b]BASTARD![/b]" The forlorn Scorpion struggles but yet still cannot move his body. "I'm gonna find ya." He seethes, leg still glued to the first step of the dais, where the blood of his comrades runs thick. His fist waivers with the sickle blade in its grip, "I'm gonna kill ya. . . For what you've done to my band!"[/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6HOFPQ5.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]KASTILUS?: "Perhaps you should have aimed your fury at the Hellions and died with your companions then?" The [i]sage[/i] as Gesties referred to him, raises an en-robed arm while the other begins to trace a pattern in the stagnant, iron-tinged air. The man's body begins to turn translucent in the darkness.[/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/k8g7W4a.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]GESTIES: "SAGE!!!" The merc cries out.[/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6HOFPQ5.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]KASTILUS?: "Unlike the Hellions of Gyr, you have nothing to blame but your own weakness. Farewell!" A plume of azure flame the likes that illuminate the subterranean chamber engulfs the scholar, seemingly burning him painlessly to ashes, leaving no other trace of his presence. 

[hr]

After a brief delay of watching the man languish in his utter defeat and deconstruction, the Hellions count their coin and gather themselves for the trek back into civilization. Somewhat uncharacteristic of him, the bandit, Ashür, is the first to address the otherwise broken figure of Gesties. [/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MouTqPS.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]ASHUR: "Come you fool." He says at first, drawing again the length of his curved bronze blade. "Or perhaps you'd prefer we assent to Kastilus' words and send you to join the others. Hm?" The tip of his sword nearly reaches the man's hairless forehead, but is quickly battered away.[/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/k8g7W4a.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]GESTIES: "I could not. . . I would not join you." The merc replies, rising from his knee. "I cannot forgive you Hellions for this. But neither could I turn back to the Scorpions, facing Shulaar, surviving this travesty. . . I am despicable." Gesties voice trails off and he's the first one to leave the Ziggurat. Shortly thereafter, the Hellions do the same. [/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MouTqPS.png[/img][/center] [indent][indent]ASHUR: "My gut tells me that I do not wish to see that scholar's face again. Even if the pay is so good. . ." The man addresses the rest of the band as the falling sun greets their flesh, "Let us make for the rendezvous with Captain Doan at once, this place gives too deep a chill in my bones."[/indent][/indent]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/YuyRrll.png[/img][/center]

[indent][indent][i]And so the band began their long trek back through the rough Zagros mountains towards the city of Der where their captain and the rest of their men would meet them, their coin-purses a good bit heavier than when they'd arrived. With the falling sun at their backs and the rising moon ahead, the Hellions trudged on through the badlands toward their next horizon and towards the day their blood would dry up in the dunes.[/i][/indent][/indent]

[center][h2]CHAPTER 1-2 COMPLETE![/h2][/center]