Sectaurs Issue# 6

Story Title: Family Reunion!

In a secluded area of trees and running waters, Zak and Stellara try to combine their glow globes to obtain that which they secretly want.  “Since we both wish for the same thing, Stellara…,” starts Zak. “…Let us combine our gifts to see if they grant us our hearts’ desires,” Stellara finishes.  Pinsor sits back on Battle Beetle and voices apprehension about Zak and Stellara playing with unknown powers.  Mantor tries to ease Pinsor’s anxiety by reminding the old warrior that the glow globes were gifts from the Fairy Queen Liana in return for aiding her people.  Suddenly the globes streak into the sky, stop and mid-air, and focus a beam of light onto the ground.  From within the light, something begins to take form.  Dargon, amazed at the sight, asks his friend what he and Stellara wished for.  The form finally takes a visually recognizable shape.  A flying, sled like object in the shape of a Dragonfly.  Zak confirms that what he and Stellara wished for most was mobility.  Dargon and Pinsor are telebonded to insectoid steeds and can cover ground quite quickly while Stellara and Zak must walk, sometimes for great distances.  After seeing the fairy’s cloud craft it had suddenly occurred to both Zak and Stellara that some cultures may develop non-living forms of travel.  So they both wished for a non-living vehicle.  Pinsor fearfully suggests that the “magic-wrought” device would lead to evil.  Stellara becomes impatient with her old friend’s fears and reminds him rather sternly that he accepted the Fairy Queen’s magical prophecy of seeing his family again with open arms.  Zak dismisses Pinsor as a “superstitious old sourpuss.” The young warrior extends an eager invitation out to Stellara, “Let’s show [Pinsor] how useful our ‘Wing Thing’ will be.” “Wing thing?” Stellara quips as she questioningly repeats the name in a raised eyebrow fashion.  Zak says the name will work as well as any other.  He takes a step onto the sled. . .which then rockets off suddenly with Zak clinging behind it screaming help along the way. Dargon takes to the sky after him and urges his loyal friend to hold on.  Pinsor gapes at the scene playing out in the sky and turns to look at his comrades.  He sees Mantor smirking tightly in an obvious attempt to contain a much louder laugh.  When Pinsor questions the wise old counselor’s sense of humor, Mantor replies that the craft worked better than Zak had anticipated. “A fairy craft created by wishes, it responds to wishes. As soon as Zak stepped aboard it he must have wished for it to fly…and it flew!” 

  Meanwhile in the sky above, Dargon flies Dragonflyer directly over the runaway Wing Thing.  The Prince jumps off his flying steed and lands directly onto the sled.  With an attitude of “are you crazy” Zak asks Dargon just what exactly it is he’s doing.  Dargon chides his friend saying he’s doing what the young knight should have done in the first place…keeping his head.  Dargon wishes the craft to slow down and descend, and the craft follows willingly.  Mantor, Pinsor, Stellara catch up to where Dargon and Zak have landed.  Stellara praises the Fairy Queen for such a valuable gift.  Pinsor bows his head in disappointment.  He cares for Stellara terribly and will miss feeling her arms around him when they ride together.  Zak interrupts the glee and asks Dargon if he noticed a crimson colored cloud in a nearby valley.  Pinsor quickly connects the crimson cloud with the deadly fog Meander.  Mantor tells his companions that their journey may soon be coming to an end.  The royal tutor theorizes that the ancients used Meander as an obstacle to both conceal and defend the Hyves. 

  Back in the Dark Domain, Scorpia watches Mantor and the others from the mists of her scrying pool.  So the Shining Realm Knights were not as dead as previously thought.  The dark witch wonders if she should report her findings to Empress Devora.  She decides against it.  After all, Scorpia will one day be a Sorceress Supreme.  Why then should she play servant to another? Across the room, Skulk spies on Scorpia from behind a curtain.  He assumed Scorpia would help him ascend the throne, but after what he’s witnessed he now realizes Scorpia wants Symbion all to herself.  Well if that’s the case, Skulk rationalizes, there’s no reason in the world why he shouldn’t turn the traitorous witch in to his stepmother.  Suddenly, a hand forcefully takes hold of Skulk by the shoulder and throws him into Scorpia’s presence.  The evil enchantress looks toward the commotion in shock to find Skulk lying at her feet, and Spidrax standing in the doorway.  “My enemies live don’t they, Scorpia? They survived their encounter with the strange cloud that swept them away during their last battle! And you were going to report their reappearance to me?" Spidrax questions threateningly.  Scorpia feigns innocence.  Oh course she would inform everything to her dear half brother.  The General stares through the devious nature of Scorpia’s sweetness.  What a pair the two made! Spidrax looks to conquer Symbion by the sword while Scorpia looks to Sorcery.  “We could share power, Spidrax,” the wicked conjurer coyly hinted.  That was all Skulk could take.  He angrily challenges Scorpia, reminding her that she promised to marry him and rule by his side.  Delighting in Skulk’s betrayed expression, Scorpia digs the verbal knife in his back even deeper, “Marry a hundred-eyed horror like you, Skulk? Such a prospect would make me laugh—if it did not make me sick!” Unable to take any more abuse, Skulk rips out his dagger and launches himself toward Spidrax.  Scorpia will marry him or he’ll denounce both half brother and half sister as traitors.  With one hand, Spidrax grabs hold of Skulk and throws him into a wall.  Raising his venom whip, the dark general threatens to put an end to Skulk’s threats of exposure.  Scorpia stops him in mid-stride.  Killing the Empress’ foundling would definitely raise suspicions.  There are other ways to ensure Skulk’s silence.  Scorpia weaves a spell that leaves Skulk magically shackled and gagged…though no one can see the bonds.  Spidrax is satisfied that Skulk will remain silent and leaves Scorpia’s nest. Skulk looks at Scorpia and asks how she could betray him this way.  Scorpia sneers at him, “With Pleasure!”

  Meanwhile, back in the Shining Realm, the Lancers of the Royal Guard led by Captain Zayre walk into the Crimson Claw to discuss an unpleasant topic.  Some distance behind them a cloaked figure listens in on their conversation.  In hushed tones over goblets of nectar, the Guardsman discuss the daunting situation before them.  The Shining Realm is on the verge of war, Regent Galken endlessly negotiates meaningless peace treaties, and their beloved Prince Dargon and Royal Guardsman Zak have been exiled and accused of Heresy.  Perhaps the time has come to launch a coup and throw “the doddering old pacifist” out.  The cloaked figure listening in on their conversation is Belana.  She had a feeling the exile of Dargon and the others was some secret plan to save the Shining Realm.  If plans of mutiny are carried out against Regent Galken, the mission may never succeed.  She wonders if she should warn Galken.  But then wonders…what if she’s wrong?

  Somewhere across Symbion, the Knights of the Shining Realm come face to face with the edge of the deadly Meander mist. As Dargon overlooks the crimson fog, he recalls the sight of Pinsor’s village after Meander engulfed…and the remains of the Dark Domain soldiers who were unfortunate enough to encounter the killer fog. Mantor points to a group of Sentinel Plants ringing the boundary of the Meander and identifies them to the group as their source of protection. Dargon notes how interesting it is that the Sentinel Plants thrive where ever the mist is and wonders if the plants somehow keep the mist contained. Mantor recalls how wearing garments woven of Sentinel Plants enabled them to safely enter Pinsor’s Meander enshrouded village and save the villagers in return. Stellara shudders…not at thought of Meander or the horrific scenes of death and destruction left in Meander’s wake, but at the thought of having to wear such “ghastly costumes” to protect themselves from Meander’s effects. Mantor reassures her otherwise. Using his power staff, Mantor charges a Sentinel plant with a spell enabling a single leaf to protect a warrior from the Meander Effect. “Lovely smell,” Zak remarks trying to make light of the situation. “But not very soldierly!” Stellara replies. Pinsor traces the strange amulet he found over and over, and questions whether he will ever see his family again. Dargon reminds him that if the Fairy Queen’s prophecy is true, Pinsor will soon discover the amulet’s makers as well as his family. With the use of his power staff, Mantor takes to the air, and urges his comrades to brave the deadly mist “for kin and quest.”

  Not far away, Spidrax and his soldiers have also discovered the enshrouded valley. The general urges his Skull Soldiers forward and offers a hundred skallings to the first soldier who sights their enemy. One soldier speaks out rashly, reminding Spidrax that any sighting of Meander was to be reported immediately to Empress Devora. Spidrax rewards the warrior with the tip of his venom whip, sending both the soldier and his flying insectoid mount falling straight into the Meander. The dark general asks if any of his other soldiers would like to question his orders. No one does. The Sectaurs of the Dark Domain furnished themselves with Sentinel leaves and make their way into the fog. They soon discover that their attempts to maneuver are hampered by their inability to see through the fog. Suddenly, one of Spidrax’s soldiers points out some figures moving through the mist. Spidrax assumes it must be Dargon and orders an attack. In the midst of the their assault, they suddenly realize that their victims are not Dargon and his companions but a village whose inhabitants live at the very heart of Meander. The Non-Sectaur Humanoids are shocked at the offensive brought about by invaders from beyond the mist and try to flee. Some make it. Others simply give up and surrender without a fight. Spidrax grabs one villager by the collar and begins interrogating him. “Who are? What are you? I heard you speak! Your dialect was not so different from that spoken in the Dark Domain that you can’t understand me!” The terrified villager responds that his people are called the Hadji and that they were scavengers who built tools and weapons from the bones of those claimed by the Meander. Spidrax wraps his whip around the Hadj’s neck, convinced that if these people can successfully maneuver through the mists, then they can assist the dark general in finding his enemies and the lost Hyve. Spidrax wraps his whip around the villager’s neck.  “You’re just dying to lead me to them, aren’t you?” he sneers at the poor Hadj villager as he tightens the pull on his whip. The Hadj villager replies with a forced, weak yes. “I thought as much!” Spidrax replies, “Captain, while this Hadj guides me to the hyve others will take you to Dargon and his companions! Destroy them.” The captain offers Spidrax a set of goggles he snatched away from one of the villagers. The goggles allow the wearer to see through the Meander. Before leaving Spidrax leaves orders the Hadji village plundered and the remaining people enslaved.

  The Shining Realm Knights slowly make their way through the crimson fog when they suddenly come upon a group of frightened Hadji. Zak stares at them never before having seen such a creature. Dargon is also curious, and begins to warily approach the terrified group. The prince raises a cautionary hand, and tells the Hadji that he comes in peace. An inquisitive Pinsor approaches behind Dargon, and it is then that the Hadji notice the amulet hanging around the old warrior's neck. The amulet of friendship! One of the Hadji speaks, telling of evil outsiders who laid waste to their village and killed many of their people. “…but not those we had pledged ourselves to protect!” Just then, a group of cloaked figures step forward towards Pinsor, calling out his name. Pinsor is puzzled. These mist dwellers know his name? One of the group pulls back the hood of his cloak and reveals himself as Pinsor’s missing brother, Draymor. The other members of the group show themselves to be Draymor’s wife and children. Pinsor, elated at finding his family alive, begins to weep.

  Later, sitting around a campfire, Pinsor’s family explains what happened to them. The Meander was released and slew the invaders from the Dark Domain. It very nearly slaughtered Draymor’s family, if the Hadji had not found them first and saved them. Dargon thanks the mist dwellers for their assistance and asks if there is any way to repay them. The Hadj spokesman replies that they were a peace loving people until Spidrax brought death and destruction to their village. Dargon is shocked to hear that Spidrax and his troops are inside Meander. “Aye! We were fleeing him when we found you! We Hadji follow the mists, camping wherever we find Meander! Save for your bones, we had little use for outsiders! We observed your wars, but cared not who won – until now! General Spidrax is evil! If his power is not checked, he will one day enslave all Symbion!” Dargon pleads with the Hadj spokesman to lead him to the Hyve. “They would be deadly in Spidrax’s hands!” The Hadj leader agrees to help, as soon as Dargon saved his people first. Dargon offers his sword to the Hadj leader. “You mean our swords, my prince?” Stellara pipes in. Pinsor offers his Battle Axe and Zak his Slazor. Wherever their prince goes, they all go.

  Back at the sacked Hadji village, the soldiers of the Dark Domain glance up into the sky and see a looming shadow. At first they think it is General Spidrax returning. They discover quickly how wrong they are as Dargon and Dragonflyer come crashing into them. “Not Spidrax murderers…,” Dargon announces defiantly, “…the Sectaurs of the Shining Realm.” At the sound of their Prince’s battle cry, the Knights of the Shining Realm swiftly launch their assault against the dark raiders. As Dargon leads the attack, he declares to his adversaries that they are no longer facing helpless Hadji villagers but warriors with the mettle and courage to fight. A Skull Soldier is knocked off his winged insectoid by a blur, which upon slowing is revealed to be Zak, Stellara, and Mantor on their Wing Thing of a sled. Zak looks back at the Skull Soldier and lends a joyful quip about defeating such bullies. Mantor turns to Zak and offers admiration of the younger warrior’s exuberance in battle. “Fightin’s fun Mantor—Especially against these Dark Domain Creeps!” Zak replies, “Why not forget all your mystic mumbo-jumbo and give it a try?” Without warning, Mantor decides to indeed, “give it a try” and leaps off of the Wing Thing with Raplor clinging tightly to his back. Zak is startled at Mantor’s sudden leap and calls out to him. But Mantor allays Zak’s fear by smashing the jaw of one Skull Soldier while Raplor binds another with his grappling line. On the Wing Thing, Stellara turns around in response to a whining sound emanating from Bitaur. She asks Zak if Bitaur is whining because he is missing out on the battle. Zak corrects her saying instead that Bitaur is upset because the battle is taking the insectoid away from his nap. Zak sends a telepathic command to Bitaur telling him that the sooner the village is liberated, the sooner the insectoid may return to his nap. With that, Bitaur launches himself off the Wing Thing and into a group of Skull Soldiers on the ground, who retract in horror at the sight of his teeth.

  In another part of the battle, Pinsor and his brother Draymor are once again fighting side by side. Pinsor reveals his thanks that he and his brother are together again. Draymor points to the Hadji as the ones deserving of Pinsor’s thanks. “It is a debt I am glad to repay,” Pinsor proclaims as he smites a Skull Soldier with his Battle Axe. “They are a gentle people, brother, shunning strife , and slow to arouse to anger,” Draymor says, “But even they will fight rather than leave Symbion to the dominion of the Dark Domain.” Draymor looks on as a group of Hadji do battle with the Dark Domain forces.

  After some time, the battle is over. Dargon glances over at a dead Skull Soldier skewered with a Hadji spear. The Prince pronounces the village as saved and the attackers either slain or scattered into the mist. Yet he wonders if Spidrax has found the Hyve while the Shining Realm Knights were in battle. The Hadji leader tells Dargon not to fear. But Dargon questions the old Hadji leader’s reasoning. After all, Spidrax had ample time to find the Hyve, and several Hadji guides to aid him. “Do you think even under pain of torture, any Hadj would lead Spidrax directly to the Hyve…,” the Hadji leader asks, “…knowing that, when he got there, his life…like his usefulness…would be at an end? So you did not save our village by sacrificing our planet! You will reach the Hyve by a more direct route than the one Spidrax was led on!” Excited at the news, Dargon requests that they hasten to the Hyve at once so he could witness it’s power with his own eyes. The Hadji leader tells Dargon to simply turn around. The young Prince does, and is astounded to see the Hyve revealed as the mist drifts away.

  Commentary

Cool! Lot’s of interesting stuff in this issue. Zak and Stellara generate an artificial craft for mobility, which leads to a wild chase when Zak inadvertently causes it to take off without his being prepared. I love the art work of Zak clinging to the back of the Wing Thing for dear life while Dargon takes off after him. Mantor trying to suppress a laugh at Zak’s expense is equally hysterical. Talk about having the tables turned. My only problem (and it’s a petty one)…couldn’t the writers have come up with a better name than ‘Wing Thing’? Pinsor expresses his unrequited love for Stellara and his sorrow that he will never again feel her arms around him while they ride together. I still have a difficult time accepting this relationship. It’s not about age. I wouldn’t mind older man/younger woman or older woman/younger man. Pinsor found Stellara when she was a child, and over the years he became a father figure to her. That’s what I’m having difficulty with. I can’t make the leap from father figure to romantic interest. In the children’s books, Pinsor and a Sectaur named Slikk are rivals for Stellara’s affections and I haven’t found any mention in the children’s books yet of Pinsor being a father figure to Stellara. If that kind of triangle had been translated into the comics, I think it could’ve generated some interesting plots. There is one drawing that I think is excellent, and my hat goes off to Steve Geiger if this ever reaches him. As Dargon stares ahead at the deadly Meander he remembers seeing the remains of the Skull Soldiers in Pinsor’s Village. To illustrate the memory, a horrific scene of skeletal remains is drawn behind Dargon. I think it’s a great effect and imaginative scene. The most fascinating part of this story, was the introduction of the Hadji Mist Dwellers. People who nomadically travel around in a killer mist using the bones of Meander victims for tools and building materials. I love it. And they turn out to be a peace loving people given their rather macabre way of life. Pinsor finding his missing family among the Hadji was a great twist along with the simple discovery of the Hyve at the end. Overall a great story. So now that Dargon and company have found the Hyve, what next? And what about Spidrax? Sorry, go to the next issue and find out ^_^ 

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