#tzala

[thelegendoflithra]

The Decision

Tzala stood in water red as wine, holding Akhendi’s severed head by the braids like a macabre pendulum. He gave a cry of victory, echoed by his men. They had swarmed the drowned fortress, and though the battle had been difficult, their enemies no longer had the numbers or the defenses to withstand them. Their victory had been decisive. Whooping wildly, Tzala climbed a pile of rubble and stood to…

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[thelegendoflithra]

Beggar's Warren

Beggar’s Warren

In mere seconds, the peaceful moonlit canyon transformed into a battlefield hellscape; full of broken bodies and nightmarish screams that echoed throughout the mazeways of the Beggar’s Warren. The dominator kept riding on, rapidly escaping down a side canyon. “Move,” Lithra demanded. “Hurry.” The charioteer caught his meaning and charged down the canyon, swerving to one side to avoid the bodies.…

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[thelegendoflithra]

Anthem

Lithra had seen some of the grandest castles and most impressive fortresses the world had to offer, yet the humble walls of this tiny village filled him with more relief than he had ever felt at those mighty citadels. The walls were built of woven branches covered in numerous layers of mud and clay, but they were tall and sturdy, more than enough to keep out most animals. By now, he would be glad…

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[thelegendoflithra]

Curious Beasts

“Lithra,” somebody said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Lithra woke up instantly, startled and confused. “What happened?” he asked. “Sandstorm?” He had been certain the sandstorm warning was real. Jharad removed his hand and put a finger to his lips. “Quiet, men are sleeping. No, there is no sandstorm. They are not common in the savannah. But there is something I thought you might want to see.…

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[thelegendoflithra]

Justice

“Mhemhe!” came the now-familiar call, echoing up and down the line in a strange, rhythmic murmur like the babbling of a brook. It meant rest, and Lithra was glad to hear it. They had been travelling for three days now, and Tzala drove his company hard. Such a pace was not good for the animals, but Tzala seemed to have little care for animals besides his own pets. Breaks were short and infrequent,…

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[thelegendoflithra]

War Council

They arrived at Tzala’s command tent, a towering structure of wood and canvas, trimmed with black banners. They had been here once before, during their initial interrogation. This time, rather than being dragged in by soldiers, they entered of their own volition, not bothering to announce their arrival. A few men were gathered around a table, looking down at a large map. Lithra intruded into the…

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[thelegendoflithra]

Ambush

For a half second, Lithra thought somebody might be rescuing him or at least Jharad. But no, they had no allies that he knew of. Yet, who would be so bold as to strike here? Tzala had brought them to his own camp for questioning, a canvas city erected on the far side of Vassra. The execution was being held in a clearing near the center of the sea of tents, in the heart of the camp. There were…

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[thelegendoflithra]

Interrogation

“Stay still, curse you,” Tzala commanded, words almost unintelligible through his thick accent. He shouted at his soldiers, berating them as they tried to secure Lithra and Jharad with ropes. The two of them weren’t making things easy for the soldiers. Jharad was skilled at twisting free of their grasp, and Lithra caused chaos by unleashing freeform bursts of wind and fire. The soldiers…

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