The Titan Prophecies Book 1: Tablets of Fate

By Joseph Barresi

In the world of Arator there once lived the legendary titans. Now considered to be extinct, the prophecies that they left behind have begun to unfold.

In this gripping and enthalling trilogy from author Joseph Barresi, the world of Arator has the potential to be torn asunder.

Dragons are going insane...the gods themselves begin to scramble into action...and races all across the world find themselves at the brink of war.

What is causing such turmoil...such upheaval that it has brought together some of the most famous and well known of Arator's heroes to work together in an attempt to answer those questions?

Book 1 of the Titan Prophecies features an all star cast of some of Joseph Barresi's most beloved characters as they find themselves unlikely allies to hunt down and search for answers as the world around them begins to plunge into chaos which all started with the finding of titan artifacts.

Will they find what they are looking for in time? Or will the mountain of obstacles they face be too much to overcome?

Only the gods know...and even they are not telling.

Exerpt:

Sebastion looked over at Valdimir and couldn’t help but still see the living man that had run him through with the same sword that was now strapped to his back. Standing 6’7” tall and still wearing the same black plate mail he had died in, Valdimir’s skull of a face swept over the group around the table with his burning red pin points for eyes.

Sebastion could just feel the disdain for them all radiating off Valdimir, and this infuriated Sebastion to no end...but he remained cool and calm....doing everything in his power to restrain himself.

If the knights can do this...I can...Sebastion reassured himself.

Valdimir’s gaze studied each member of the clan, not paying them too much heed until those red pin points landed right on Sebastion.

Sebastion’s blood literally froze...for Valdimir’s eyes flashed brightly in contempt and the death knight pulled his broadsword from his back as he said with rage in his hollow voice, “YOU...!”

Sebastion barely had time to dodge out of the way as Valdimir charged forward and swung his sword in a wide arc that would have cut him in half if he had not been quick enough.

The swing was so wide that Davarian also had to spring out of the way to avoid being chopped in two.

Sebastion rolled back up to his feet with the grace of a cat and withdrew his scimitar and long sword from under his heavy cloak, whirling around and facing Valdimir while in a crouched stance.

All the knights and everyone that had been around the table all drew weapons and were now in a standoff as Evalyn Matteholm, Dugo, and Oshar also had their weapons in hand and raised up about to strike.

Lord Marik Blackshield held out a hand to the three however, meaning for them to stay put and not attack, Alana made a similar motion to the knights, Myst, Vorg, Harlin Thule, and Davarian.

Blackshield then looked over to Sebastion and Valdimir with a smirk on his face, as if he was silently saying to his men and lady that this was between the two of them.

It most certainly was,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Barresi
• Release date: Aug 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476046983

Book preview

The Titan Prophecies Book 1: Tablets of Fate

First published by Midnight Rise Publications, August 2012

Published by Joseph Barresi at Smashwords © Joseph Barresi 2012

Cover Copyright 2012 © Bobbi Lee Hunt

All work done by © Joseph Barresi 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Any name, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Joseph Barresi.

Other Books by Joseph Barresi

Trials of the Bloodstone

The Curse of Silver Blood

Black Blooded Heart

World of Arator Role Playing Books

World of Arator Core Rule Book and Character Class Codex Version 1.5

The Gods of Arator Volume 1 Gods of Life

Gods of Arator Volume 2 Gods of Death

Gods of Arator Volume 3 Gods of Conjure

Gods of Arator Volume 4 Gods of Illusion

The Creatures of Arator Volume 1

The Creatures of Arator Volume 2

Prologue

Location: Searing Sands Desert

Timeline: 817 AT Year of the Dragon

There perhaps is no other region on Anastone more unforgiving then the Searing Sands Desert.

A blasted and lifeless region that spans over 700 total square miles, the Searing Sands was a place on the continent of Anastone that was both infamous and steeped in myth and legend.

For Melnor Sunstrider it was nothing more than home.

Being a Searian, Melnor was born and raised in the hot and arid regions of the desert, and he was accustomed to the harsh and unforgiving life that is the Searing Sands.

Melnor and the Searian people were nomads, drifters that constantly traveled across the desert never staying in one place for too long. Much like the wind that constantly changes direction; the Searians were always on the move, placing their very fate in the desert’s sandy hands.

The past couple weeks have not been easy for Melnor Sunstrider…for he had been hired as a guide for a group of archaeologists out of the small town of Thornvale, and has led them on a seemingly endless journey through the countless ruins and catacombs that dot the landscape.

Melnor did not guide for money, for coin was essentially meaningless out in the desert, and the Searians never did trade with any of the races that live outside of the Searing Sands.

No…Melnor did what he did because he had a big heart and did not want to see another group of naïve individuals from the north die in the harsh sands.

Archaeologists were nothing new to Melnor or the Searian people. They seem to come in droves to the desert looking for lost artifacts and relics that people believed belong to long extinct civilizations…including the legendary titans.

Whether they came for fame, fortune, or knowledge, almost all those that venture into the Searing Sands looking for lost pieces of history never returned if they did not have a Searian for a guide.

Melnor just happened to stumble across this particular group while he was leading his herd of vilaras across the desert. Beasts that closely resembled bulls though having a set of four horns instead of two, and six legs instead of four, the vilaras were the backbone to the Searian lifestyle as they provided food from their meat, and clothing from their leathery like hide. Without the vilaras the Searians would be hard pressed to live in the bleak conditions of the desert, and Melnor was in the process of bringing a new herd of the creatures to his tribe when he came across the lost group of archaeologists.

It was a group of six individuals, four Anastonian humans, a male dwarf, and a female halfling. The archaeologists were almost overjoyed to see a Searian, for they practically threw themselves onto Melnor begging and pleading for him to help them find their way to the destinations they were looking for.

Melnor agreed to help, but first he had to drop off the vilaras to his people. Once the beasts were in his tribes hands, he would then lead the group to wherever they wished to go.

Melnor did not leave his tribe easily however, for his family once again chastised him for helping a complete band of strangers and outsiders. Melnor’s father called the group foolish and looking for trouble and they would be pulling Melnor right into the middle of what he claimed was cursed business.

Melnor however would hear none of it, for he could not bear the thought of leaving these people stranded to the wilds of the desert and the many dangers that can be found in the sands.

All this began over three weeks ago, and as Melnor readjusted the white scarf he wore around his bald head to keep the sun’s rays from baking it, the Searian cast his gaze over the current ruin that the archaeologists were excavating.

Huge chunks of stone which once belonged to the walls of a city now long dead and deserted were strewn all over the area, half buried in the yellow white sands of the desert. Various ancient potteries, once beautiful and carved in intricate designs, could also be seen either under some of the blocks of stone or peeking out just barely from the piles of sand that covered them.

Melnor heard the legends of many of the ruins and catacombs that were in the desert, but this one here he was unfamiliar with. The architecture was enormous, as even a simple clay pot was as large as he was practically and he was almost 6’ tall.

The husks of the limestone buildings were massive, nearly three times the size of any building he had ever seen before.

It was as if this place once belonged to a race of giants…

Hey ho there baldy…mind giving me a hand here? A gruff voice suddenly called out interrupting Melnor’s examination of the area.

The Searian turned to his right and saw that the dwarf of the group was attempting to push a large sized rock that was just as big as he was out of the area they were currently digging in.

Melnor only knew the dwarf as Bigs and why in Rassha’s name he was called that was beyond Melnor’s understanding.

Bigs was an elder dwarf, with completely white hair and long beard that hung down past his upper chest. His face was tanned and weathered, but held very few wrinkles. Bushy eyebrows were layered over a thick sloping brow, and a bulbous nose protruded out over rather thin lips.

The dwarf was wearing a tan leather vest that was sleeveless revealing thickly muscled arms with veins protruding on the biceps and forearms. The vest was buttoned up in front but Melnor could still see the pushed out and burly chest that Bigs sported underneath it.

Tan leather pants, matching boots, and a belt that carried various tools such as a chisel, hammer, and hand shovel, were around his waist.

In the name of the Mountain God…are ya just goin’ to stand there and stare all day at me beauty baldy or ya goin’ to come and help out an ol’ dwarf? Bigs yelled out to Melnor, the dwarf’s face almost apple red in a combination of exhaustion, dehydration, and overheating.

Melnor quickly rushed over, stirring up the sand underneath his vilara hide sandals as he did, and came to stop behind the large rock next to Bigs.

The dwarf half looked over at Melnor and scowled that the Searian had been so slow to come over, but nonetheless Bigs placed both hands back on the rock and said, Alright…on the count o’ three you push with me aye?

Melnor nodded and placed both palms onto the rough surface of the large rock waiting for Bigs command.

The dwarf took several deep breaths through his mouth then said, Ok now...1…2…3...!

With as much strength as Melnor could muster he used his legs as leverage and pushed forward onto the rock, his arms burning as hot as the sands beneath his sandals from the strain.

Bigs grunted several times from the exertion but finally the large stone was pushed forward a couple of feet from the Searian and dwarf duo.

Once the rock came to a stop, Melnor removed his aching hands and turned around so that his back was resting up against the stone.

Breathing heavily, the Searian looked over to Bigs who had his hands on his knees and was panting just as much as Melnor.

After a few more moments, Bigs stood up and sighed deeply; shaking his head and then looking over at Melnor with his faded blue eyes and grinned.

Thanks sonny. If I was about two hundred years younger I wouldn’t have needed the help!

Melnor smiled crookedly and ducked his head, removing his back from the stone and then walked slowly over to the huge dug out pit in the sand that the group had been toiling over for the past week and a half.

Looking down, Melnor’s eyes widened at just how much progress the archaeologists had made in that time.

The pit was well over twenty feet in diameter by now, and about ten feet deep. The group had been working practically nonstop since they had arrived at this location and managed to uncover what looked to be a huge set of stairs that descended and then stopped in front of an equally large stone door with strange writing all over the surface.

The sand around the pit was being held back and out of the hole by ten foot tall steel poles that had pan shaped tops six feet in diameter. When these ingenious devices were dug into the bottom of the pit and resting along the edge it would catch any falling sand that would otherwise spill back into the hole preventing it from covering the work the group had painstakingly done so far.

Shovels pick axes, buckets, and all other manner of tools and devices were all over the inside of the pit resting on the large stairs or just at the bottom where the door was located.

Melnor was certainly impressed…he had never seen any archaeological group get this far without dying before hand from heat stroke, dehydration, or one of the many deadly desert beasts killing and making a meal out of them.

Yeppers…quite a sight ain’t it? Bigs said as he came to stand besides Melnor.

The Searian nodded with a grin, for he was fascinated by this place and was actually glad to be a part of it.

Hey Bigs you get that rock moved yet or did your eyeballs pop out of your skull from the strain? A shrill voice called out from inside the pit.

Melnor looked over to Bigs whose white eyebrows were scrunched up so tightly into a scowl that the Searian thought they would fuse together.

Craning his head over the lip further, Melnor was able to pick out who had thrown the verbal jab at the dwarf.

Her name was Mirri Shortfoot, a female halfling.

Mirri noticed Melnor staring down at her and she waved up at him with a huge grin showing her perfectly white teeth.

Having short red hair that was currently plastered to her head from sweat, Mirri had a round face with wide green eyes and long lashes like most female halflings had.

Unlike other female halflings however, Mirri had a small button like nose instead of the rather broad pronounced ones common of her race. Rosy red cheeks, a tiny chin making her face look even chubbier, Mirri was certainly the epitome of cute.

Despite Mirri only being four feet or so tall, she had wide hips and a slender waist and chest, quite curvy for one so small. She wore a bright green sleeveless vest with a white long sleeve button up shirt underneath that had frills on either side of the neckline.

Brown trousers and knee high boots finished her ensemble, with a rapier sheathed at her hip.

Why don’t you come on down you two? We were just about to study this here door and try to get her open! Mirri said energetically, the scorching heat of the desert seeming not to bother her one bit.

Bigs grunted and shook his head mumbling under his breath, Damn halflings…so frickin’ cheery just want to pop their heads like a ripe zit…

Melnor decided to take up Mirri on her offer, as he was more than curious now as to what could possibly be behind that massive door.

The Searian followed Bigs and the pair made their way to the wooden ladder that was resting up against the lip of the pit and climbed down to the stairs where the rest of the group was.

Two of the Anastonians were standing around the door observing the surface and no doubt trying to decipher what the writing could possibly say and mean.

One of the Anastonians, an elder man by the name of Rook, had a hand on his chin in concentration as he peered at the writing, his steely gray eyes showing the wisdom that lay just beyond them.

Another Anastonian, a woman named Veronica, was knelt down and studying the writing on the bottom of the door occasionally stopping her inspection to jot down notes on a pad of parchment with a quill pen.

The other two Anastonians were men named Samok and Taru, and they were both sitting on the last step of the stairs. Being the hired muscle for the expedition, the pair obviously did not need to help the others decipher the writing on the door.

The men instead were sharpening their weapons with whetstones and talking among themselves in hushed voices in a language other than common that Melnor was not familiar with.

So what do we have here hunh? Ya’ll figure out this writing yet? Bigs asked as he stomped towards the Anastonians.

Rook ignored the dwarf and continued to gaze at the door. Veronica on the other hand looked up over her shoulder briefly before looking back at the writing and said, Not quite…its fascinating though for it appears to be written in one of the ancient languages that died out thousands upon thousands of years ago.

What’s so special about words scribbled on a door? I’ll just go get me explosive powder and ill have this door open right quick! Bigs said as he was about to walk away and make good on what he said.

You will not do anything of the sort sir dwarf…this writing may be the very last of its kind from a race that has been extinct for over 50,000 years. Rook said, not looking at Bigs when he talked but it was enough for the dwarf to take pause.

Bigs grumbled under his breath in disappointment that he wasn’t going to blow something up, but he nonetheless said, So what ya sayin’ Rooky?

I’m saying that we may have uncovered actual scripture from the titans themselves.

Bigs and Melnor both looked at each other with wide eyes. The titans…the mythical race of demi god like beings that were said to have roamed the face of Arator thousands of years ago and seemed to just disappear without a trace.

The titans were said to be the children of the gods that were birthed on the world of Arator to evolve and grow as the very first sentient race, created in the god’s own images of themselves.

It is believed that the titans roamed the world for millennia up until the titans began to grow prideful and vain in their power and superiority over the other races that began to appear over time. It is said that the titans enslaved the other races, using them for their own ends. Some historians claim that the gods began to grow ashamed of their children and turned their backs on them, ignoring their prayers and devotion.

The titans grew angry and resentful that the gods had abandoned their own creations and it is said that the titans began a plot to overthrow the gods and take their place in the pantheon.

The gods found out about their children’s schemes however, and as punishment for their crimes the gods sent down a cataclysm upon the titan race, obliterating them all in one massive meteor storm that turned their once tropical paradise into what is now the Searing Sands Desert.

Many do not believe that the titans even existed, as there is little evidence to prove that they had walked the world. Some archaeologists have managed to dig up various relics, artifacts, and even bones that they claimed all belonged to the titans from the desert, but others dismiss these as just belonging to other long dead civilizations.

If anyone were to find true proof that the titans did indeed exist, it may very well rewrite the very history of Anastone itself.

So…how do we open this thing? Bigs asked finally breaking the heavy silence that had lingered in the air after Rook had made the announcement of what the writing could be.

Rook rubbed his neatly trimmed white bearded chin and replied, That is what we are trying to figure out now sir dwarf.

Melnor looked at the door now and studied the strange writing. The scripture was written in a very odd style with wide swirls, loops, and various pictorial symbols all crammed together that was meant to form words somehow.

Melnor squinted as he concentrated on the writing…for the more he studied it the more it seemed to make sense to him which took the Searian by surprise, for he could barely read the common tongue as it was.

But here he was…beginning to understand the writing as if he had been studying it for years and years. Was there some strange force at play here that was allowing him to make sense of the writing? Or was it simply the overbearing heat of the desert finally setting in and making him go crazy?

Melnor wasn’t sure which one it was, but since he did agree to help the group in any way he could, Melnor decided he would chime in.

I believe I know what it says… Melnor said softly, though he was still unsure as to how he comprehended the writing.

The entire group all stopped what they were doing and looked over at Melnor as if he had just sprouted horns on his head and a pair of bat wings while spitting fire from his mouth.

Samok and Taru even stopped sharpening their weapons to look at Melnor, and the sudden cease of the grinding sounds along the steel blades made the pit eerily silent.

You…you can read this? Veronica asked with shock clearly on her face as she slowly stood up from her crouch and began to approach Melnor.

The Searian nodded very slowly and replied, I do not know how or why…but the more I look at this writing the more I can understand the meaning of the words. It is as if something had just given me the knowledge within my mind.

Veronica was now only two feet away from Melnor and her topaz colored eyes were clearly sparkling with excitement. Pushing back a long lock of light brown hair behind one ear Veronica said, What does it say Melnor? Please…tell us.

Melnor squinted and looked at the writing further, relaxing his eyes so that they could take in the large scriptures easier.

As Melnor swept his gaze across every loop, circle, and symbol, they suddenly seemed to morph and change into a legible form of writing that Melnor knew, which was of course his own language, Searian.

Melnor took a deep breath and let it out before he spoke the words.

It says…it says ‘Beyond these doors lies our hopes, dreams, and all that we are. The gods have cursed their own children…their first born they now consider bastards. We, the very fruit of the heavens, have been discarded like peeling skin from a lowly reptile. The truth will be spoken…the truth will come to light…the gods will fall and their power will be consumed. We know our time is at an end…but we will never forget or forgive the gods for their actions. To those who may live after us, know that all our worldly power lies just on the other side of this door. May you find our legacy and finish what we started.

As Melnor finished the words he suddenly began to grow dizzy and very weak. The Searian began to sway back and forth and the stairs around him started to get blurry. If it were not for the steady hand of Veronica that grabbed Melnor by the shoulder, the Searian would have passed out and cracked his head on the cold stone underneath his feet.

Melnor…you ok? Veronica asked in a soft reassuring voice.

The Searian shook his head several times until the dizziness finally passed, and he slowly steadied himself nodding over at Veronica to assure her he was ok.

Remarkable…you have just spoken the very language of the titans themselves my lad…words that have not been heard of in many thousands of years. Rook said as he gazed at Melnor with an impressed look.

That still doesn’t answer how we open up this thing. Mirri pointed out.

True…but I think the answer to that lies in what Melnor here just said. Veronica said as she approached the door and looked it up and down.

The others anxiously awaited as the woman studied the writing. After several minutes she turned around with such excitement that Melnor thought for sure she would trip over her own two feet.

That’s it! The key to the door is so simple I can’t believe we couldn’t figure it out before!

The group looked at Veronica quizzically until the woman finally answered the lingering question they all had by taking action.

May the gods fall and the world know the truth…! Veronica shouted at the door.

As soon as she said those words there was a loud, earsplitting grinding noise as the huge stone door began to rise up.

Sand, dirt, and dust all shaken loose by the enormous force, sent a cloud of debris billowing out towards the others.

Samok and Taru immediately stood up and readied their weapons, backing up as they did for they did not know what lay beyond that ancient stone door.

It took several seconds, but finally the door ground to a halt revealing a yawning opening of pitch blackness that resembled the Abyss itself.

By Horandlar’s mountain peaks…how did you know that was going to work? Bigs asked Veronica incredulously.

Veronica looked over at the others with a grin saying, It’s obvious because this is a titan doorway…I should have known that those words would trigger the door to open through the historical records that claim the titans wanted to see the downfall of the gods. One particular book I read had that quote in it…the author said that quote was supposedly words from the titans themselves that was discovered and deciphered on a tablet found here in the desert years ago.

"You took a passage from Dominic Eldeburn’s book The Titans Walk Among us…very clever lass…very clever." Rook said as he smiled slyly at Veronica.

The others were all clueless as to what Rook and Veronica were talking about, but they nonetheless began to prepare to venture into the opening by assembling all the necessary gear.

After several minutes of making sure they were all set to journey into the pitch blackness of the doorway, Rook walked over to Samok and Taru and said, You two guard the doorway, let no one enter.

Melnor raised a curious brow as Rook seemed to be deadly serious about what he just said to the two body guards.

Samok and Taru both nodded and with weapons in hand, they took position on either side of the door.

Mirri lit up a torch and handed it up to Veronica who eagerly took it and immediately began to head towards the doorway, placing her torch out in front of her and tentatively lighting up the immediate area by the door.

As the others came to stand around Veronica, they peered down and saw more stairs that descended into the darkness.

Well…this is it. Let us not waste any more time. Veronica said as she took a deep breath and began to head down the stairs.

Rook fell in behind her followed by Mirri and Bigs. Melnor stood by the edge of the first step for several moments, unsure as to whether or not he wanted to follow.

He suddenly had a cold chill wash over his entire body…as if some invisible fingers of ice had brushed up and down his spine.

You comin’ or what baldy…? Bigs asked Melnor, looking over his shoulder at the Searian and pausing at one of the steps.

Melnor looked over his own shoulder at the pit they had just left and then back down to the dwarf.

He had made a promise to these people that he would help them in any way he could…and Melnor never breaks his promises.

Taking a deep breath Melnor stepped forward and descended the stairs to catch up with Bigs and the others.

Melnor just hoped that he would not regret his decision.

**********************************

Melnor was quite surprised by how short a descent the group had undergone since moving through the opened doorway.

They had only gone down roughly fifty steps before arriving in an enormous tunnel. Despite the short trip down into the unknown, the tunnel seemed to go on forever.

The group and Melnor had been walking through the expansive cavern they were currently in for over an hour, with seemingly no end in sight.

The walls and ceiling were made from sturdy stone and kept the millions of tons of sand above them on the surface out of the tunnel. What surprised Melnor was the amazing condition the tunnel walls were in, for they were not cracked or chipping away at all and despite being filled with grime and dust, they looked as if they had been built only a few short years ago.

The torch that Veronica was holding up did little to illuminate the massive tunnel beyond just a few feet, and the darkness around them felt oppressive and almost choking.

After another thirty minutes of walking the tunnel finally seemed to be coming to an end as Melnor spotted an archway that no doubt lead into an opened chamber.

Veronica picked up her pace and half ran/speed walked through the archway and into the chamber beyond, the others quickly following.

Once they were all in the chamber, the group all stared in wide eyed amazement at what was before them.

The chamber was huge and perfectly circular with a domed ceiling. Resting up against the walls and spaced roughly ten feet apart from each other, were twenty foot tall statues that resembled enlarged humans wearing various armor or togas and some holding weapons while others had their hands and arms in different poses.

The statues were made from the same stone as the tunnel walls, and like the tunnel, they were in immaculate shape revealing the surprising amount of detail on their smooth stone surfaces.

As impressive as the statues looked, they were nothing compared to what was dead center in the chamber.

Resting on a large stone dais was a gold sphere that was 3’ in diameter and resembled a mini diagram of the world itself, showing the two major continents of Anastone and Canthera along with smaller landmasses in-between them that were islands.

The sphere seemed completely out of place within a chamber where everything else was massive in size, but perhaps, there was a reason for this Melnor thought silently.

Bigs let out a long whistle of amazement as he stared up and down at the sphere.

That is some solid craftsmanship there. Forging with a soft metal like gold is tough as it is…but to make something like this…damn…

Veronica stepped closer up to the dais and waved her torch over the sphere’s surface causing the gold to sparkle and shine in the torchlight. Veronica then brought her free hand up, which was shaking noticeably in nervous excitement, and was about to touch the sphere’s surface up until Bigs let out a quick word of warning.

Hold on girl…we have no idea what this contraption is or what it does...don’t go touching it yet!

Veronica looked over at the group and then back to the sphere biting her bottom lip obviously conflicted as to what to do.

Rook approached Veronica and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder nodding at her in encouragement.

If Melnor did not know any better…he would have assumed that the pair knew exactly what they were looking at and what it did.

What is this thing…what does it do? Mirri asked her eyes still wide in fascination and curiosity.

"This…device for a lack of a better word…is what the writing on the door described. It is the legacy left behind by the titans…and the source of all their combined power before they were wiped off the planet." Veronica explained to them as she eagerly continued to examine the spheres intricate details.

It is pretty impressive…but it seems to be just an ordinary ball of gold…Worth a pretty penny too in that aspect alone. Bigs pointed out.

Mirri’s eyes seemed to light up even further at the mention of the value of the sphere, and she began to rub her hands together as if in anticipation of getting a hold of it.

Veronica shot a look over the halfling that could have turned even a gorgon to stone, causing Mirri to smile sheepishly and place her hands behind her back to show she would behave.

Looking back to the sphere, Veronica said, Looks can be deceiving Bigsley…watch and learn.

With those words said to Bigs, and Melnor now knowing why the dwarf was called Bigs as a knick name, Veronica handed her torch over to Rook and then placed both hands onto either side of the sphere.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Veronica pushed her arms inward and the sphere suddenly popped open with a loud click of unlocking hinges. The lid folded back to reveal there was something else inside the protective gold outer layering.

Veronica stepped back as did Rook for another sphere, only this one made from glass and glowing in a bright blue light, levitated out of the golden sphere box and hovered roughly five feet up in the air.

Melnor and all the others were simply dumb founded at what they were looking at.

The orb was pulsing as if it was a beating heart in a rhythmic pattern, and there was even a soft hum emanating from the orb.

Melnor’s head was now throbbing from the amount of energy the orb was producing, and the air in the chamber seemed to be charged with electrical currents, for the tiny hairs on his arms and the back of his neck were raised up and his skin all over his body began to feel gentle prickling sensations.

Behold everyone…the legendary Orb of the World...the last remaining piece of the titan’s reign on this planet. Veronica said breathlessly as she marveled at the orb with wide eyes and an enormous grin.

Melnor could not peel his gaze away from the glowing orb that was still hovering in the air as easily as it had when it left the gold spherical box it had been resting in.

So this is what the titans wanted others to find…but why? What is its purpose? Mirri asked.

It is an accumulation of all of the titan’s power collected together into one single source. According to legends and historical accounts, its purpose quite simply is meant to aid other civilizations in bringing down the gods. This device was the tool the titans left behind to aid in that daunting task. Rook explained.

Melnor’s fascination with what Rook was explaining about the sphere came to an end when he heard shouting echoing from the long corridor they had just come from.

All the others also heard the noises and they turned and looked out into the tunnel but did not see anything, only hearing the now distinctive sounds of battle as the clang of steel on steel and cries of fighting reverberated throughout the tunnel and into the chamber.

The group was frozen in place, not moving and just hearing the battle sounds suddenly come to an abrupt end almost as soon as they had begun.

The air began to grow thick with anticipation, mixing with the already charged energy the sphere was radiating out as the group waited nervously to hear anything more come from the tunnel.

When nothing else was heard for over a minute, Bigsley began to grow impatient and started to stomp towards the doorway.

He wouldn’t even make it five feet however, for just at that moment a group of men emerged from out of the darkness of the tunnel to block the dwarf’s advance.

Melnor looked at the group with wide shocked eyes, for he had never seen such men before in his life.

There were only four of them, with three of the individuals having heavy black scarves wrapped around their entire face only showing off their intense eyes which were all as black as coals.

They were garbed in black cloaks that concealed almost every part of their body, and they stood at a daunting 6’3" tall.

As intimidating as these individuals were, they were nothing compared to the mountain of a man that stood in front of them.

Standing 6’5" tall, this man had bronze skin and bald head with his face completely covered in a black tattoo that was made up of sharp pointed lines that crisscrossed all over each other. His upper body had on a bronze breast plate that had the design of a fist sized dragon’s skull with its mouth opened painted in black over the right breast. The man’s arms were exposed revealing tree trunk like appendages that were thicker in muscle than even Bigsley’s.

A long kilt that went past his knees adorned his lower body and was similar to his tattoo in that it had a pattern of striking lines that crisscrossed over each other in black with the rest of the material being red in color.

The hulking man wore sandals that wrapped up to his upper calves, and through each of his fingers on either hand were a pair of brass knuckles.

This man was a Searian like Melnor and a gladiator as well; the others were no doubt assassins Melnor thought as he studied the strangers intently.

The big man looked down at the dwarf and sneered, the motion making his face look even more sinister because of the tattoo covering his face.

I would not be in such a rush to leave dwarf. The man said in a deep rumbling voice.

Bigsley would not be so easily intimidated however, and like all dwarves, they did not know the meaning of fear.

I don’t know who you are or where in the Abyss you came from baldy but you better start talking before my boot finds your ass under that girly skirt yer wearin’!

The large man let out a hearty chuckle and replied, You can certainly try…but we have not come here to fight.

If that is true…then why did we hear the sounds of battle coming from down the tunnel? Veronica asked boldly.

Ya…and what did you do to Samok and Taru? Mirri added.

The large man looked from the group over to the assassins behind him and nodded at two of them.

The pair of assassins then stepped forward and threw something from under their cloaks that landed on the cold stone floor with resounding thuds.

The group stared down in horror at the severed heads of Samok and Taru, the former body guards’ now dead eyes blankly staring up at them, their mouths agape in frozen screams of their death cries.

You mean these two? They were in our way and they attacked us first…we had no choice but to defend ourselves. The burly man said, though he leered as he said it as if he had enjoyed the grisly act of chopping off his foes heads from their bodies.

You…you…monsters…! Veronica shouted in rage as she suddenly charged towards the big man.

Melnor attempted to stop Veronica as she ran past him but he was too slow and he could do nothing as the gladiator stepped forward towards Veronica and intercepted her as he placed his hand around her throat.

Veronica’s eyes bulged as the big man’s meat hook like hand kept her at arm’s length and squeezed ever so slightly. Melnor knew that the man could easily break the woman’s neck with even the slightest of motions if he wanted to.

Sneering at Veronica, the big man said, You are brave…but foolish. You are lucky we need all of you alive or I would snap your neck like the twig it is.

The gladiator then made a pushing motion with his arm and Veronica flew backwards out of his grasp to crash onto the stone floor next to Bigsley. The dwarf came over to the woman and knelt down to ensure she was ok. Other than a red neck, she seemed uninjured from Melnor’s perspective.

You need us alive…why? Who are you and what do you want with us? Rook asked.

The gladiator ignored Rook and instead walked up towards the dais to stand in front of the hovering orb, his eyes gleaming in excitement and his mouth curled back into a smile of triumph.

Melnor suddenly had a very sick feeling hit the pit of his stomach…

Yes we do need you all alive…but that is only second hand for what we really came for. The gladiator lifted a hand then and made a waving motion in front of the glowing blue sphere. Almost on cue the energy charged orb came floating forward towards the big man to rest in his enormous outstretched hand.

Looking over his shoulder and at the others the gladiator said, You have no idea what you have unearthed here…no clue as to the power it really holds. But you will…in time. You are hereby prisoners of the Clan of the Dragon…be lucky your services all will be needed in our endeavors, otherwise this would have been your tomb.

Melnor’s stomach dropped at the sound of those words, and as the three assassins stepped further into the chamber and pointed their sharpened blades at the group to motion them to move out, the Searian couldn’t help but wish he for once had listened to his father and leave these archaeologists to the mercy of the desert.

It would have been a far better fate for them than what they would soon become involved in.

Chapter 1: Among Thieves

Location: The city of Westgate

Timeline: 817 AT Year of the Dragon, four weeks after the Orb of the World was taken

Westgate…nowhere on Anastone was there a place quite like it.

The large coastal city was well known for its ports and harbor, where vessels big and small constantly came and went in an endless trade of goods that would eventually find their way all throughout Anastone.

Westgate was not only known for its famous ports, but also for its wide array of citizens and melting pot like society.

Races from all over Anastone coexisted in some semblance of harmony within Westgate. There was no other place where hobgoblins, halflings, goblins, orcs, humans, and dwarves could be found mingling together in every day society without engaging in all out warfare.

Westgate was constantly bustling…from the markets to the docks, to the industrial quarter, everyone was always moving and engaging in some line of work both legal…and illegal.

For one such as Atgar Thaxx however, it was home.

Born and raised in Westgate, Atgar knew the city like the back of his hand, and despite the dangers that can often lurk within darkened alleys and corners of the city, for Atgar; there was no other place that held the same charm as Westgate.

It was High Noon outside and the blazing sun was uncharacteristically brutal this day compared to the normal mild weather Westgate was used to.

Despite the heat, Atgar ensured that the hood of his dark blue cloak was kept pulled down over his head, for he did not want to be noticed at all this day…he had important matters to attend to.

Moving like a graceful cat through the bustling streets of Westgate’s Noble Quarter (the wealthy part of town) Atgar ensured that he kept a low profile…though with his traveling companion doing his best to keep up with him as Atgar weaved and ducked through the mass of people, his attempts to go unnoticed may prove to be unsuccessful.

Traveling with Atgar this day was a man named Simon Tavaraz who he had just met only a few short weeks ago in one of Atgar’s favorite taverns.

Simon had approached Atgar at the booth he had been sitting in while enjoying his favorite hookah, and had asked Atgar if he could sit with him for Simon had some extremely sensitive and important information to share.

Once Atgar agreed, Simon began to tell his tale and mentioned that he had just come from the Searing Sands desert with some artifacts that he needed Atgar’s help with deciphering.

At first Atgar was reluctant, for he was wary of strange people he never met coming up to him asking him for favors. Being a thief however and a well known one at that, it was part of his job to accept strange and unusual requests.

Simon would soon show Atgar a pair of tablets that contained writing on them along with symbols. Being knowledgeable and skilled with old world artifacts, languages, and relics, Atgar was able to make out the writing…and what he discovered was nothing short of incredible.

The tablets belonged to the extinct titans, and the writings not only had some history changing words on them, but they also contained the symbols of the gods themselves…but for what purpose, Atgar was not sure.

Simon went on to tell Atgar that the thief had seen more of these tablets, for Atgar had stolen them from some ruins that once were a titan temple thousands of years ago. At the time, Atgar had thought those tablets were of sun elf origin, and he had been assigned the task of stealing them for the thieves guild he had been part of.

That was over twelve years ago now however, and after Atgar had given the tablets up to the guild master he had left the guild to work on his own, not giving those tablets even a second thought.

With the discovery that those tablets could be of titan origin and possibly expand on the tablets that Simon had shown Atgar, the thief had insisted that the pair begin preparations to visit the thieves’ guild and at least attempt to see the artifacts and make a possible connection.

Unfortunately, Simon stuck out like a sore thumb even in Westgate’s diverse citizenry. Searians were not usually seen outside the desert, and with Simon’s bronze skin, intricately lined tattoo on the right side of his face that went from the corner of his eye to the side of his mouth, and sandy brown hair that was cropped short to his head, Simon Tavaraz made even the goblins look like they belonged among humans.

Many of the people that passed by the pair would give a lingering stare over at Simon, looks of curiosity and puzzlement quite apparent.

Atgar picked up his pace, not wanting to stay out any longer in public then he had to. Poor Simon had to almost jog to keep up with the thief but eventually he caught up to Atgar and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Atgar turned around though he kept his head down low so that his hood continued to mask most of his features. Simon was breathing heavy from the exertion of having to keep up with the thief’s frantic pace, and in-between breaths he said, Mr. Thaxx…please…If I lose sight of you I am afraid I will become lost in this massive place of stone walls and buildings. We simply cannot afford that with what I have in my possession.

Atgar did not respond right away, instead, he looked to his left and right to ensure that no one was taking an interest in the pair’s conversation. When he was sure that no one was paying them any mind, Atgar replied in a hushed voice with, We cannot stay out here Simon…the risk of delay is too great. Now try to keep up…we are almost at our destination.

Simon sighed loudly but nodded in agreement and after a moment Atgar once again was gracefully moving throughout the crowd with Simon clumsily following behind.

After another half hour of moving through the streets of the Noble Quarter, the pair finally began to approach the large and beautiful mansion that belonged to