Adventurers in this tale: of the Ax Perseus RheLjik a psychotic elf (Psycho Elf) ===================================================== on a dusty trail deep within a barren desert A moment’s respite was all he needed to tie off the bandage. He pulled the bandage with his teeth and cinched the knot that he’d tied so many times before. Perseus then took a step forward and grasped his massive ax where it lay in the earth – the blade buried slightly under the ground. The sound of the battle raged in his ears as he called out the titan’s key ligaments and weak fleshy points to strike. Swinging his mighty ax upward it was dislodged from its state of rest back into the fray with a terrifying blow to the titan’s chin. “You damn psychotic elf! Focus your strikes behind its knees!” he could hardly believe his own words. It wasn’t the type of soldiers he was accustomed to running with, but he somehow knew that this rag tag bunch had the propensity to shake a titan to the ground. The goliath crumpled to his knees and with a massive quake of the ground his shoulders fell and leveled his head right in Perseus’ sweet spot. With a nod to his fellow ax man, they heaved their sharpened planes of death and separated the gruesome giant’s head. “Stand clear!” Perseus warned as the enormous head flew into the sky. Jupiter turned from the imp he was studying and with a quick word he evaporated from the spot then re-appeared a few short steps away. “Vas Flam!” at his command a ball of fire sent the vicious bat hurling into the titan’s decapitated grimace. “Well done warriors! Come, we must water these horses or they will perish of thirst!” “Grey Wizard,” Perseus warned, “you realize, the only source of clean water is the oasis, which draws to it all the dangers of this barren land.” “This desert has many more perils yet,” Jupiter agreed as he glanced again at the strange imp, “but if you handle them like our jolly big friend here, I’ve no doubt we’ll succeed.” Jupiter’s words seemed to give reassurance to all except himself. It took only a gentle whistle from Jupiter and the horses trotted back into line. ================================================================================ Valley of Titans The ground shook constantly and disquieted the horses a great deal. “Are we certain there is no other passage to the old lands?” RheLjik spoke above the constant tremors, “surely we could have taken the caves to the Jungle.” Jupiter shook his head, “The locals of Delucia assured me that the caves were impassible this time of year – as it is the arachnids breeding season and there would be countless eight legged devouring machines.” Perseus spat, “and we can’t take the mountain roads as those are constantly being watched by thieves and murderers. No, the wizard is right; this path of calamity is the only chance we have to deliver any of these steeds.” They knew not whether theirs would be a tale of great glory or a tale of woe. Fearing nothing and with great strides of courage, they charged into the valley of legends.
