Chapter 1: Strangers In The City

There was much rejoicing in the Known World, for the dreaded archlich pirate, Tacito Padovan had finally been captured by the Confederal Navy of the Confederate Islands. For more than three centuries, the pirate admiral has prowled the chaotic seas of the Abyss and has been the bane of many authorities. From the highly advanced vessels of the Xenjese Empire to the living ships of the Zoralian Coalition, no pirate has claimed as many lives, ships and hearts as Admiral Padovan of the Grim Sail pirates. When he was finally captured in a great naval battle between the Grim Sails pirates and the Confederal Navy, it could be said that all living beings in the Waste World made a sigh of relief. Now well on the way to the port city of Firstlight, where he would eventually be executed, it seemed that all would be right in the world.

In the sunny streets of Firstlight, the capital of the Goldstar Expanse, people put up colorful banners and pinions to celebrate the arrival of the Confederal Navy fleet that held the archlich pirate captive. Children played in front of houses, waving the flag of the Confederate Islands and the adults either played along with them or started cooking feasts just outside the entrances to their homes. Too long have people throughout the Known World lived in fear of the undead abomination said to command a vast fleet of ghost ships and innumerable vile pirates. Indeed, while there are many pirate fleets prowling the Waste World, none are anywhere near as feared nor as infamous as the Grim Sails whom are commanded by Admiral Padovan. Bards, skalds and various other entertainers came to the city and many locals chose to wear happy and bright colors to reflect their relief and joy.  Foreigners from many lands of all races and nations; be they dwarves from Steelrock, elves from Fastwood, orcs from Bloodmarsh, goblins of Saltcreek, stout men of Xenji or cunning women of Zoral, all had come to see the most fearsome pirate to have ever existed destroyed for good. While communication was difficult from one island-country to another, the clergy of Heartlock and the mages of Thunderclash were immediately called upon to carry out Admiral Padovan’s execution. Being an archlich, the pirate admiral was undead (and of the most powerful type at that) and could not be put down by mere physical means and could only be destroyed through extremely powerful magic.

For to truly destroy an archlich and make sure that they never return, one must be able to call on a power strong enough to destroy one of the universes of old when the World Tree still stood. No easy feat as magic itself has weakened considerably since the multiverse collapsed and shattered the boundaries between worlds. Only a large council of priests and spellcasters could hope to gather enough power to destroy an archlich for good.

+++

Three dark-skinned and dark-haired pygmies walked along the cobbled streets of Firstlight. Two of them looked about in wonder while one of them, the seemingly oldest, was much more serious and hurried the other two along. Short, less than four feet in height and possessed of long, prehensile tails, the pygmies wore wide-brimmed hats and potato sacks that they hoped would make them less conspicuous in the vast port city. At least, the oldest of them thought they would be less conspicuous but that was clearly not the case. People were already gawking at the three, some with curiosity and others outright suspicion, because of their odd appearance and their strange attire.

“Uncle Maito, can’t we slow down a little?” said one of the two younger pygmies. “I don’t think it’s dangerous here.”

“And that there is the problem Mindo,” said the older pygmy who continued to push the younger ones on. “You don’t think. Let me tell you something boy. Appearances are always deceiving. Few things are what they seem, especially in a city like this.”

“But I’m so tired uncle,” said the other younger pygmy who was even smaller than the other. “Can’t we rest a bit?”

“We’ll rest as soon as we’re somewhere safe, Mintu,” replied the older pygmy. “And right now, we’re far from any place where we can be sure we’re safe.”

“Maito!” shouted an ogre nearby who towered well over the pygmies with Maito, the oldest, barely taller than his knee. “There you are, you old rascal!”

The pygmies stopped dead in their tracks as the ogre, dressed in saggy clothes and a blood-stained brown apron lumbered toward them.

“Blorak?” Maito’s eyes widened as he looked at the large ogre stomping towards them. “Blorak you big buffoon!”

And the two younger pygmies saw something that surprised them.

The large ogre whom Maito called Blorak swept him off his feet and embraced him.

“Ah, Maito, how I’ve missed you!” said the ogre and set the pygmy down while glancing at the younger pygmies who stared at the larger creature with wide-eyed wonder. “And who are these little ones? Your sons? Are you a father now, Maito?”

“No,” laughed the older pygmy. “These are my nephews Mindo and Mintu. The older one is Mindo and the younger one is Mintu. Anyway boys, this ogre is Mr. Blorak, an old friend of mine when I was still a wanderer.”

“Hello little ones,” the ogre greeted the pygmies. “I take it you’re looking for a place to stay around here?”

“Yes, old friend,” Maito nodded. “I don’t feel safe here as there’s just too many people. Any of them could be dangerous. I heard there were also quite a few amazons here.”

The ogre sighed deeply at this as he observed that all three of the pygmies had ugly brands on their right arms.

“You know, amazons aren’t really as bad as you seem to think,” Blorak said. “Not all of them are slavers. You’d be right to say Firstlight could be dangerous though. There could be pirates in the city disguised as travelers and adventurers.”

“Pirates?” Mindo’s eyes widened.

“Aye, pirates,” the ogre nodded. “Don’t you know that they’ve captured Admiral Tacito Padovan, the dreaded archlich pirate?”

“You mean the meanest pirate in the Waste World?” Mintu asked with wonder.

“Aye, the very one!” Blorak smiled. “In a few days, clerics and wizards from all over the Known World are coming over so he can be destroyed for good.”

“Uh...” Maito said hesitantly. “We just came over to sell handicrafts to the locals.”

“Oh, I see,” Blorak laughed. “Come along then, there’s a tavern near my shop where you can stay while you’re here.”

+++

In another, less sunny part of Firstlight, a scantily-clad troll woman, broken and bloody, fell onto the hardwood floor of the stage as an equally scantily-clad cyclops roared triumphantly over her. One of the female troll’s curled horns had been broken and her face was bloody and, as she lay on the floor, it was clear she wouldn’t be getting up again soon. The cyclops continued to roar triumphantly above the injured troll as people around the stage booed loudly.

“You see?” shouted a human man near the cyclops. “None can best Skullcrusher in hand to hand combat! That’s ten silver pieces right there! Enough for a week’s stay at any of Firstlight’s expensive inns.”

A male troll and who was probably his child ran to the injured female and began to beg her to speak, to even just move. But it was clear that the female troll was already unconscious and, based on her appearance, she was in a grave condition. The male trolls were probably the female’s husband and son and they wept and bawled loudly as they begged futilely for the defeated troll to simply just respond to them.

The crowd around them was in an uproar as some cheered the cyclops Skullcrusher while others booed the cyclops.

“Who else wants to fight the Skullcrusher?” said the man beside Skullcrusher. “Only the strongest may challenge Skullcrusher and hope to win!”

“Skullcrusher is strongest!” shouted the cyclops, long braids swinging about. “None can defeat Skullcrusher!”

Suddenly, someone from the crowd raised a hand.

“I’ll take on Skullcrusher,” said a woman’s voice. “I’ll fight her for five gold pieces.”

There was a gasp from the crowd. If ten silver coins was enough to afford a week’s stay at an expensive inn, a single gold coin would allow one to afford a whole month’s stay. Of course, in a place like Firstlight, a single silver coin was already worth one day’s hard work.

A tall woman, maybe not as tall as the cyclops on stage or the female troll that was now on the ground who were probably seven feet or more but was at least six feet in height, stepped forward. She covered herself in a simple hooded cloak but it was clear she wasn’t someone to be trifled with. She strode forward to the front of the crowd fearlessly, as if inviting an actual confrontation.

“I’ll fight Skullcrusher for five gold pieces,” the woman said and cast off her hooded cloak. “What say you?”

The woman had long blond hair tied in a single tight braid, piercing grey eyes, fair skin and a body that was both powerful as it was voluptuous. It was quite obvious to most that she was an amazon, an all-female race most concerned with military pursuits. Indeed, the Xenjese Empire often employed amazon mercenaries to supplement their already fearsome forces.

“Five gold coins?” asked the man on the stage. “Do you even know what you’re talking about? How do you even think you can best Skullcrusher? From what you’re wearing, I doubt you have any coins on you at all!”

There were jeers and laughter from the surrounding crowd but the amazon didn’t flinch. In fact, she didn’t even move. Her eyes were simply dead set on the man on the stage and the cyclops behind him.

“Give her a chance!” cried a dwarf from the crowd. “Let’s see them fight!”

“That’s right!” said a human woman beside the dwarf. “Let’s give her a chance!”

“For five gold pieces?” the man on the stage laughed. “That’s absurd!”

“So that means, Skullcrusher here isn’t as undefeatable as you say she is!” taunted another dwarf who was closer to the stage. “Looks like there’s someone here who’s better, folks!”

There were roars of laughter and assent from the crowd around them.

Frustrated, the man on the stage decided to give in.

“Alright then,” he turned towards the amazon. “Come on up! Five gold pieces it is! Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you!”

And at once, the amazon moved onto the stage without a hitch in her stride. Her eyes were alert but betrayed no emotion of any kind. She simply stared at the cyclops whom she had been studying closely since she was still amid the crowd.

“WHAT ARE THE RULES?” shouted the man at the crowd below.

“THERE ARE NO RULES!” the crowd replied and cheered crazily as the family of trolls continued their distress right beside the stage.

“Tell me you’re name, lady,” the man said to the amazon as he eyed her attractive body. “So that I may tell it to the crowd.”

“Zunda,” answered the amazon. “You may call me Zunda.”

“SO NOW WE HAVE THE AMAZONIAN BEAUTY ZUNDA FIGHTING NONE OTHER THAN OUR VERY OWN SKULLCRUSHER!” shouted the man to the cheering crowd. “LET’S SEE HOW LONG SHE'LL LAST AGAINST OUR CHAMPION!”

The cyclops and the amazon stepped onto the center of the stage at the same time.

“You’re going down!” the cyclops said menacingly.

The amazon made no reply save for fixing a hard stare at the cyclops’ single eye.

“Ready?” announced the man just as the crowd began to cheer louder and louder. “And three, two, one, FIGHT!”

The moment the man finished saying “one” the cyclops immediately threw a wide haymaker at Zunda. She ducked beneath it easily enough but the fact that her opponent didn’t wait for the man to say “fight” said volumes about the latter’s regard for fair play. Before the amazon could recover, the cyclops then launched a roundhouse kick that almost connected if the former hadn’t rolled backwards in time.

Zunda rolled back on her feet and stood up just as Skullcrusher rushed her, roaring in anger. This time, the amazon was ready for the cyclops. As a matter of fact, this was exactly as she planned.

With an almost supernatural timing, Zunda launched a mean right hook into the side of the cyclops’ chin, followed by a hard straight into the latter’s abdomen and, finally, a knee into the groin.

Skullcrusher went down onto the stage like a felled tree. The ground around the fallen cyclops shuddered as Skullcrusher crashed face-first onto the hardwood floor. There were gasps of surprise and awe as the amazon triumphed over the cyclops, the latter’s loin flapping upwards embarrassingly while laying on the floor.

“My money,” said the amazon, extending her bandaged hand towards the man on the stage. “Give it.”

The man grimaced in frustration just as the crowds shouted for him to hand over what he had promised.

Finally, he brought out a small pouch from one of his pockets and counted five gold coins out of them. He handed them, obviously begrudgingly, to Zunda all the while eyeing the amazon with obvious malintent. The amazon recounted the gold coins in her palm before turning away.

Meanwhile, an orc and a dwarf stood staring at the fallen cyclops. The cyclops’ loincloths had flipped upwards and the two could clearly see what it concealed. The orc and the dwarf were at first incredulous but then their expressions quickly changed to that of anger.

“This ain’t no woman!” said the dwarf. “Skullcrusher is a male cyclops!”

“By the Enkindler, you’re right!” the orc pointed at the man on the stage accusingly. “You swindled us all of good money, you scoundrel!”

Zunda walked towards the family of trolls just as the crowd around the stage began to gather up and pursue the man who had promised them only fights between women.

“Here, take this,” the amazon said and offered two gold coins to the older male troll. “This should be enough to get her to a hospital. You have to be quick though, I don’t think she has much time. Here, I’ll help you carry her.”