Quickly the black figure ducked in and out of the shadows of Nordmaar. He saw the symbol of the black rose upon the taverns door. That's when he saw his target. She had red hair, pale skin with green eyes. She wore a purple sash and a tartan kilt of the clan MacCallum. Upon her head was a jeweled crown worth many jeweled eggs. He walked up to the door as casually as the next customer. At a table with Queen Moira, Queen of Nordmaar, were several Celtic men, two of which were fighting. That distraction was good enough for the bandit to make his move. With a small club he clobbered Moira over the head, picked her upon his large shoulders and carried her off.

They got as far as the Sea Mage before being slain by Maelduin MacAllen. The queen was rescued but who had done this? As the Celtic kingdom issued their rage they were eventually arguing with many Yinn. Words were slung as dishonor was brought to Queen Moira by Ryshana, a yinn from the dark knights of Eclipse. King Cathal MacCallum challenged Ryshana repeatedly, but Ryshana rejected looking for less experienced prey to duel. Wryllish of Eclipse stepped in his place and they dueled.

The battle was quick as one was quickly defeated.

Nadrik was pleased. Death by am honorable duel no matter the loss is a good way to die. Nadrik knew that Raije got more pleasure out of the duel than anyone. But yet the news must be told. Sir Valis MacGregor appeared before Nadrik. Nadrik told him of two events, the death of Cathal MacCallum and that the queen Moira had Cathal's child within her. Valis swore an oath to protect the unborn child and the Queen. Without the heir, the kingdom could be thrust into the clan wars that destroyed them before.

Mencius smiled with delight. Things were about to get interesting.

After a week of naval warfare between the Yinn Dae'tok kingdom and the Nordmaar fleet, the Dae'tok transports docked at south Icewall this morning. Yinn soldiers and members of the Dae'tok Royal guard flooded the area. They were met with resistance by Ganth regulars who defeated the scattered yinn on the west coast in small skirmishes. The bigger battle, which the highlanders have dubbed "the battle of mutt bay", was one of the bloodiest in recent history. The yinn soldiers were unstoppable driving through the Nordmaar troops all of the way north into their highlands. The Dae'tok royal guards invaded Nordmaar before being driven out by the Nordmaar 1st regiment, led by 2nd lieutenant and Knight Ultan Wallace. Casualties on both sides were extreme. Such prominent leaders such as the Dae'tok Vice Admiral of their navy and 4 Nordmaar Clan leaders died in today's battles. The Macgregor, Gunn, Wallace, and Macleod elders were all massacred. The mutt bay battle lasted 2 days with the Yinn eventually fleeing. Will the war just escalate or did the highlanders of Nordmaar deter history repeating itself with another world invasion by the Yinn. Only time will tell.

Jezeraely Swashblade, reporter the Althainian Times.

New Thalos officials have yet to comment on the situation.

Riakenis was in his early 20s with extremely pale skin and a very noticeable limp. The limp had prevented him from entering military service in Nordmaar where he now ran the cities local news postings. Not being in the military in Nordmaar meant he had much less of a standing among his people. Riakenis wasn't by any means shy, but he was very timid and cowardly and for good reason. He was skin and bones and could probably be beaten senseless by women 40 years older.

"Aye, ah called yae 50 damned minutes ago! Whute yae bae doing? Shagging sume mutt yae found at the Black Rose?" Rupert replied.

Rupert was a stout bald headed man well into his 70s. He sports a white goatee and wore an eye patch over his left eye. Rumor has it that no man has EVER seen him smile. He has also been Nordmaars minister of defense for as long as anyone could remember.

"No sir, I wouldn't.."

"Shutup lad, it was a joke! I swear to Cliath thute ahve near found ah lad more dense than yae!"

Riakenis blushed and said nothing else.

"Ah called yae here because there bae ah announcement thute wae bae most interested in happening in Althainia tomorrow. Yae need ta bae there for it. Tha Baron Randorf bae announcing if thute mutt champion bae stayen in thae Gladiator League. Since Arcana bae tha number one contender, wae need ta knuwe!" Rupert shouted with a frown.

"Minister, how do you expect me to be there by tomor.." Riakenis said before being cut off.

"Find someone with tha magic, use ah portal if yae need to, juss gaet there and then gaet buke to us! No excuses!!"

The next day at an office in the Algoron Gladiator League, Althainia.

The Baron wore expensive silk clothing and plenty of gold jewelry. He made sure everyone knew he had more money than entire kingdoms and wasn't shy about it. He had long red hair and a long traditional dwarven red beard. Members of several kingdoms news organizations surrounded a table while artists sketched the scenes before them. The Baron began to speak.

"Greetins and welcome to tha Algoron Gladiator League Coliseum. As many of yae knuwe, I have recently outlawed the participation of Gladiators who possess the powers of tha Manatonics and the curse of the Vampires. This left mae with a dilemma. Our own champion, Maxx from tha Slayers, removed Deykans head in their last title defense thus taking his manatonic powers frume him for himself. We have given Maxx the decision ta stay as champion if he's willing ta lose his new found powers, or hae cune leave penalty free with his powers if he wishes, with all rights an privileges a champion deserves. And, well ahll let the Champion make his announcement himself."

Randorf motioned towards a couple of servants who then opened a double door. A Yinn with pitch black fur walked into the room. He stood over 7 feet tall and wore armor that matches his fur color. The only real distinction one could make out was several scars that stretched across his face.

Maxx stood proudly before the news people and Randorf a moment before saying a word. He took special notice of Riakenis, who stood before him in awe. It was no secret to anyone in the world that Nordmaar and the Yinn of Daetok have been through a grueling and bloody war for many years now. Riakenis wished to himself that he would have wore something that concealed his kilt and tartan'd shoulder wrap that showed the world he was from the Wallace clan of Nordmaar.

Maxx begin to speak. "I was offered a choice. Have these new powers removed and leave with full honor or have them removed and stay as champion. I never intended to join the AGL, much less become its first champion. Someone pissed me off and I went to the Arena to poke my dagger in him. Since then, I have taken pride in my accomplishments there. However, I won the championship without these powers. I defended the championship without them as well. They have helped me in my war against dragon kind however, and the demons and winged feigns of the world. Never the less, I have come to a decision."

"I want all of you to look at me closely. I am NO coward. I will fulfill my obligation as champion without these cursed powers. So you tell your people and the other gladiators' two words for me. Bring it. If I die as champion, let it be said that I ran from no man. Randorf is always asking me who do you want next? And my answer is ALWAYS the same. It doesn't matter. Bring one, bring them all, whoever shows up will get my daggers up their arse!"

Randorf smiled. Something told him this was great press. Smiling, Randorf turned toward the news representatives. "You may ask a few questions if you like."

A tall dark man with an Arabic rag over his head raised his hand.

"You there, frume New Thalos ah presume." Randorf said.

"Yes, Maxx, rumor has it that your next fight will be against the undefeated Nordmaarian Arcane. Do you have any hard feelings towards simply because he is from Nordmaar?"

Maxx looked the New Thalos man with contempt.

"Yes, indeed I do. Their people are cowards. He's already been running from me. He doesn't want to face me. Randorf should lock his arse up now as his slave. But that's no surprise. These are the same people that killed innocent people and burned Daetok settlements. This means women, children and the elderly. They have no honor and should be treated as such."

Maxx turned towards Riakenis. "You make sure you relay that for me."

Another man raised his hand and spoke after the nod from Randorf.

"Any predictions on the outcome of your next fight?"

"I predict my dagger will need to be cleaned afterwards. Don't ask me stupid-ass questions like that. It really pisses me off."

Another man spoke. "Maxx, you have spared both gladiators from permanent death that you have defeated so far. Why, and do you intend to change this trend in the future?"

"If they bring it and show me that they are not cowards, I will continue to spare them. Both Troen and Deykan faced me like men and gave me great challenges. My respect will go out to any warrior who does the same. But if I get some whiney arsed freak who begs for mercy and hides during the match, they will die that day and I will hang their pathetic embalmed corpses above my fireplace." Maxx replied.

Riakenis timidly raised his hand. Randorf expression changed to one of worry as he nodded at the young Nordmaarian.

"Yes, mister Maxx. I just wanted to correct your misunderstanding of that Yinn settlement attack. It was actually a Daetok staging ground for future land invasions against Nordmaar. There were supply buildings there with weapons for hundreds of soldiers to use against us and Daetok shielded those buildings with the lives of women of children. How do you respond to that information?"

Maxx made one swift move that ended before anyone had a chance to respond. A black furred arm moved with such speed, it was all a blur. A loud pop was heard and Riakenis dropped to the ground. Maxx had knocked Riakenis out cold. Maxx then yelled. "Any other questions?"

No one said a word.

Randorf ushered everyone out of the room and thanked them for coming while doing his best to play down the incident.

You can't attack the reporters! Randorf blared.

Maxx said only three words. Get me Arcana.

Many passengers attempted small talk with this tall and handsome young man, but Malachive said little and always ended up walking to a more remote part of the ship. Staring down into the ocean depths Malachive spotted something odd.

"A white Dragon is swimming underneath us. Should I....? No, it will make no commotion. Somehow I feel as if I am being escorted to this icy place."

"Sir? Would you like anything to drink? Perhaps some wine? "

A steward on the ship had found Malachive, but he still was not in the mood for company or pleasantries.

"No thank you!" replied Malachive.

"I understand, sir. Nice day isn't it? Nice and clear from out here from the sea. Sometimes, during the right time of day, the new light from the sky everyone is talking about makes marvelous design on the waters. Sir...?"

Without saying a word, Malachive walks away.

"He has a lot on his mind for such a young man. Must be from Arkane and is fleeing the bloodshed they had. "

The ship had docked on Icewall and just as Malachive's dream had told him to do, he spent 3 days finding the highest peak in Northern Nordmaar. The climb would have surely killed or injured normal men. But alas, he had made it.

"Now what?" Malachive asked out loud.

"I DID AS THE DREAM SAID! I AM HERE!! WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME??"

Malachive looked around him. Nothing moved and all was quiet. All he could see was a dark ebony castle in the far distance that seemed to almost hide itself in the mountainous regions and the huge ball of light that had sparks everyone's interest since it mysteriously appeared in the sky months ago.

"Do not yell, my son. For I can always hear you," said a voice from behind him.

Malachive turned around and saw a man. This man had gotten to the top of the mountain with no noise and no footprints in the snow. He looked like an Ogre with the exception that this Ogre spoke without his mouth moving and unlike most ogres; he lacked the dull dim witted look. His arms and chest were very well-muscled and his hair was full and black. The Ogre looked noble. "Perhaps a king" Malachive thought to himself.

"Nay, not a King. A god, and your very father. Since you were placed upon this world you have always been blessed. Your mental and physical abilities have always been above anyone you've known. At times, you've made the objects of your imagination appear before you. You've noticed the demons and the dragons watching you with interest. You ARE the son of Necrucifer and you are here to rule this world. "

Again, the voice came with no movement from the Ogre's mouth. Malachive stood in bewilderment. Everything the ogre said was true but Malachive had always assumed he was perhaps a gifted mage, born with stronger abilities than most men.

The voice began again.

"It is time for you to realize your true power. You can change anything about yourself you wish. Your skills and spells will form as often as you wish them. You are a GOD, my son. But upon this world you are also mortal. If you die to the hands of a mortal you are dead for good. Be prepared. Danger will come at you from al directions, even from those you trust. Rule not with empathy or compassion but with MIGHT and WILL. Your time to rule begins today. You will know what to do, the barrier of your human mind will be lifted after today's events. Do well, my son. Everything in my power will be at your command less they wish my wrath upon them. "

The Ogre turns his head towards the great light in the sky and grinned. Malachive looked to the sky only to see the light grow brighter. He turned back to the Ogre only to find him gone, quietly and without any trace.

"This can't be!" Malachive said out loud.

A echoing BOOM from the heavens disturbed his train of thought as the great light erupted into the sky of Algoron. A huge ball of flame flew through the sky leaving dark smoke and particles of debris behind its path. The great meteor roared with a loudness that would drown out even the largest of dragons. As it passed over Malachive the light from its flame lit up the entire land around him.

"Dae'tok! It is heading for Dae'tok!" Malachive said with a self-surprising excitement.

The meteor hit the earth right in the general location of the Dae'tok kingdom. A great wave of light in all directions removed several mountain ranges and shook the earth. A huge mushroom cloud of devastation rose high into the sky.

Days passed but they seemed only like moments for Malachive. As Necrucifer told him, his mind was now free from the limitations of his human form. He understood much about the world and who he was and what was expected at him. The mysteries to the universe were no longer unknown to him. Today was the beginning of his new life and he knew what he must do.

Malachive was now unburdened by the limitations of the mortal mind. He knows the secrets to many things beyond mortal comprehension but still, as anyone around his age of 20 years; he couldn't piece a lot of things together.

"Of my father wants me to conquer this world, why not just throw a meteor at all kingdoms that resist?" He thought.

"Indeed," said a voice from behind him.

Malachive had sensed no one near him, so he knew whoever this voice came from was a God of some type.

A woman with pale skin and long black hair stood with more beauty in her smile than all wonders of the world combined. Instantly, Malachive recognized her.

"Mother!" Malachive said with a boyish excitement.

Drakkara embraced her son and for a moment one would never know the evil within these two hearts.

"You do not know the trouble your father went through getting the rock to land. The same people who would see you dead everything they could to stop it. So now the responsibility is yours to conquer the world. And while I would have you off this world safe, these events must come to pass" Drakkara said.

"I guess I can understand that. Already there are many who attack me." Malachive replied. "Elves, Knights and even kingdoms have come for my head. If not protected by your Black Tower and some of the Demons, my life would already be at an end.

"And what of the immortals? The ones who suck life to sustain their own?"

"The vampires? Mother, they have long forgotten their dark gift as a prize to be cherished. They have long stopped being thankful for eternal life and immortal powers. They are a lost cause. I have hope for many, but only a few of those are worthy of their gift. And I do mean a seldom few."

"Perhaps you should teach them a lesson?"

"Can I?" Malachive paused for a moment. "I'm still getting used to this.

My powers grow daily and I am coming to understand its limits are far beyond what I imagined."

Drakkara grinned an evil smile. "The first steps have been taken. The rest is your responsibility. I will help guide you all that I can, but you should know that the more your father and I involve ourselves, the more the others will become involved as well. Even the neutral Gods fear you and will do what they must to kill you. We created you without their permission or their council. However you were created with purpose and as my son you have all of the tools to ensure our victory. You know what to do."

In an instant, she was gone.

"Indeed mother, indeed. The beginning of the end is now and I know just how to start." Malachive, his eyes a flaming black.

Near the center point of the borders of Dae'tok, Ganth, Darkonin, and Mahn-tor the Viking freehold of Thagaard Faste has been all but destroyed by an avalanche caused by the destruction of Dae'tok. The crops necessary to see the inhabitants through the harsh Icewall winters lie buried, along with the keep that protected them from raiding parties and the elements, beneath a mountain of packed ice. Aside from being their only, rapidly dwindling source of food, their remaining livestock is whittled away by Yinn raiding parties almost nightly.

Of the original nine family-clans residing in Thagaard Faste only six remain. Their numbers slowly dwindling away as they move southwards into the northernmost highlands where they hope to establish a new freehold before they are all taken to sit beside their Gods. The Karlsamne which has ruled the freehold since its founding, the Hakonsen, the Arnason, the Kyrre, the Skotkonung, and the Tryggvason, the Greske and Sturluson family-clans are no more.

The Vikings now make their way across Icewall seeking to find a place they belong, a place to survive.

Ooc: See Nordmaar's web page for more information.