Battle for Griff: Dolan’S Journal

By John D. Wagner

It is the year 659 of the written record, and an eighteen-year-old cadet is about to enter the final stage of adulthood. Dolan has spent his entire life within the perimeters of his small village, training for this moment. Ready to endure a challenge known as a shoadalu that will ensure he is welcomed into his clan, Dolan knows his skills will determine whether he lives or dies. As he ventures into a world filled with danger, betrayal, magic, and mystical creatures, only time will tell if he can become the great warrior he has always wanted to be.

Just as the clansmen who have come before him, Dolan is on a quest for revenge for a vicious act carried out years earlier. Now it is up to Dolan and the other cadets to determine who betrayed their clan. Unfortunately, the nave young men know nothing about the outside world and must rise above their innocence in order to carry out their mission. Dolan and his team must rely on their magic, psychic abilities, and warrior skills in order to not only survive, but more importantly, reconstruct their beloved clan.

In this thrilling fantasy tale, a young warrior embarks on an adventure into an enchanting, wondrous, and often violent world that could potentially change his life forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781462083183

John D. Wagner

John Wagner has a PhD in international business. He is currently is the managing partner of WCG, human resources and management consulting firm. John resides with his wife, Carolyn, in Indiana.

Book preview

B a t t l e f o r

G r i f f :

D o l a n' s J o u r n a l

John D. Wagner

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Battle for Griff: Dolan’s Journal

Copyright © 2004, 2012 by John D. Wagner.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4620-8320-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-8319-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-8318-3 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011962919

iUniverse rev. date: 04/25/2012

Contents

Dedication

Written Record

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Cast of Characters

Dedication

For Carolyn, my wife, my partner, and my best friend!

Written Record

My journal opens with a story that began before I was born. This story is from my elders, my masters, my instructors, and my parents. This story took place on the 292 nd day of the 635 th year of our written record (WR). It was around midday when eighteen commanders of the Emperor’s elite Special Forces unit were traveling back to their home village. They were bringing home the bodies of twenty three dead warriors. As commanders it was their duty to return to the village and notify the warrior’s family. After the notification, each warrior would be given a hero’s burial with full military honors. As the commanders were heading east towards the village, Olap the unit commander, stopped. He had an uneasy feeling. He sensed a psychic disturbance. He felt something terrible had happened. He could not sense the presence of any of the villagers. He held up his hand and the entire party stopped. They saw no one, they heard no one, and they heard no noise. With a gesture from his hands, Olap sent the elite force out. They entered the village from multiple directions. Methodically and with military precision, they scouted the entire area. They checked each house, they checked the combat schools, and they checked the practice grounds. They converged on the center of town. When they got there they were horrified at what they found. They found all their brethren, every man, woman, and child in the village lying on the ground with their throats cut. Questions raced through their minds. What happened? Who could have done this? Why? Olap had to find out. He pulled out his crystal ball. As he looked into the crystal ball the images became clear. A large group of servants from the Emperor came to the village with a celebratory feast for the clan. All members of the clan were gathered in the center of the village and partook of the feast. Everyone in the village, including the servants, laughed and celebrated. Olap watched as the villagers and the servants slowly fell asleep and passed out. The food and drink must have been drugged. Then he watched in horror as the Clurg Clan, who were friends and allies, came into town and systematically slit the throat of every person in the village. Why? They have been friends and allies for over 300 years. Why would they kill everyone while they lay helpless around the lunch tables? Why? His blood boiled and he wanted revenge.

Olap knew he needed to contact the rest of the clan. He wanted them to know what had happened in the village. Olap sat down with his crystal ball and called up the rest of the clan. He called psychically for the other psychic thirty. No matter how far away the other members of the psychic thirty were, they could always reach each other using their crystal balls. He went into a trance and he used all of his psychic powers in conjunction with his crystal ball to reach Verrel. Verrel is a grandmaster and the head of the entire clan. He is also Olap’s father. The party surrounded Olap’s position making sure he was safe while he used all his energy to contact Verrel. Finally, Olap was able to break through the interference and reach Verrel and the other twenty eight of the psychic thirty. They were in the castle of their Emperor and they were under attack by the Clurg. Olap could barely see, but he could tell they were in the fight of their lives. Verrel was using all of his psychic strength while supported by the others to maintain a psychic shield. Someone there was using a psychic orb along with magic spells, arrows, swords, and fire to try and break the shield. Verrel and the other twenty eight combined their psychic powers to defend as many of the clan as possible. Olap watched as two hooded figures used a psychic orb to prevent the clan from leaving the castle. Since they were unable to teleport out, they had to stand and fight against overwhelming odds. He saw fires raging all around the clan. He watched as hundreds of arrows came flying in from all four sides. He saw explosion spells slamming into the psychic shield trying to weaken it. The clan was casting spells through the shield and firing arrows at the Clurg. It was the twenty nine against the psychic orb. Olap knew that the psychic orb was a powerful artifact, but no one was supposed to know where it was. Someone found it and was using it to destroy the clan. He continued to watch the battle as it raged in the courtyard of the castle. He could tell that the psychic shield was weakening under the constant bombardment. More and more members of the clan died despite Verrel’s best efforts. After forty minutes of battle only eleven clan members were left alive: Verrel and ten other psychics. The rest had all been killed.

They dropped the psychic shield and teleported as a group to the balcony where the two hooded figures were sitting holding the psychic orb. When they materialized on the balcony, they immediately attacked the two hooded figures. Verrel used a psychic blast and sent one of the hooded figures flying across the room. The other hooded figure used a pyro-blast to send a large ball of flame at Verrel and the other ten. The blast hit in the center and three of the ten were blasted back, flying off the balcony, landing in the courtyard on fire. The seven remaining used a cryo-blast to hit the figure with a blast of ice and cold. The figure flew across the room, but was able to hold onto the psychic orb. Verrel and the last seven ran into the room and attacked the two with the orb. They attacked with everything they had left. They attacked using fire, ice, acid, and sonic blasts. They did all they could to kill the two with the orb. The two hooded figures were not the issue, it was the orb. The orb amplifies the psychic powers of those that possess it.

The psychic attacks were vicious on both sides. Olap watched as Verrel slammed the hooded figure holding the orb against the wall. The force of the slam caused the figure to drop the orb. He saw Verrel drop to the floor. The last thing Olap saw was one of the clan’s psychics using a large hammer and smashing the psychic orb with all the strength he had left. He saw a bright light and an explosion. Suddenly the crystal ball went blank. Olap collapsed. He woke six hours later and immediately grabbed his crystal ball. He used all his powers to find Verrel. This time he could easily see the castle and the clan. The psychic barrier was no longer there. Everywhere he looked he saw bodies. The dead littered the courtyard, the parapets, the barracks, the steps, the doorways, the balcony, everywhere. He was unable to find a single member of the clan alive. Over 300 brave clansmen lay dead in the castle of their beloved Emperor. Olap was the last of the psychic thirty to be alive. He could see the other twenty nine, including his father were dead. The Clurg attacked the clan with 1800 warriors, mages, sorcerers, and wizards using the psychic orb. Olap could see that over half of the Clurg that began the attack were now dead any more wounded. He watched as they stacked the bodies and burned the remains. Why would they do this? Who were those hooded figures? Where is the Emperor? What happened to his family? Olap used the crystal ball to try and find the Emperor and his family. No matter how hard he tried he could not find his beloved Emperor or his family alive. He reported everything to the other commanders.

It was agreed that Olap would use the crystal ball this time to find out what happened. He used his powers to look back and see what had happened at the castle. The images of the castle came into focus. He could see the clan as they entered the courtyard and formed ranks. They stood at attention in the courtyard of the Emperor’s castle in Pharmat. Each column of the Emperor’s elite guard was ready for inspection. He saw columns of sorcerers, mages, mystics, sages, illusionists, clerics, healers, knights, rangers, fighters, sword masters, archers, and assassins all waiting for the Emperor. Everything seemed fine. Verrel and the other psychics were not alarmed or alerted to there being any problems. Why? Olap looked at the balcony and he could see the two hooded figures using the psychic orb. Moments later these calm images were transformed into an all out attack against the clan. A psychic barrier was placed around the castle to prevent any of the clan from teleporting out. They were trapped. Several dozen explosion spells blasted into the ranks of mages and clerics. (An explosion spell causes a large blast that sends fire and debris in all directions. Everyone in the blast radius of this spell is either killed or injured.) The blast from these spells sent clan members flying in all directions. He watched as the castle gates were slammed down and cauldrons of boiling oil were poured from the parapets, balconies, and towers. He watched in horror as the explosion spells set all the oil on fire. Hundreds and hundreds of Clurgs on the castle parapets attacked the clan using fire, arrows, or spells. Over 100 were killed in the first few seconds. He saw Verrel and the other psychics combine their powers desperately trying to protect as many of the clan as possible with their psychic shields. His brethren fought back the best they could. Their positions were indefensible. The courtyard was open and all areas were on fire due to the burning oil. The Clurg had the high ground and they fired arrow after arrow at the clan. The clan took as many of the Clurg as they could with them. The mages that were not killed in the initial blast, sent spell after spell blasting the Clurg positions. He watched as the clerics did all they could do to heal and help their wounded clansmen. Clansmen ran through the fire to engage the Clurg. Everything he saw in the crystal ball, he described to the other commanders. The clansmen fought like rampaging beasts. They attacked the parapets, they attacked the barracks and they killed all the Clurg they could find. The battle lasted over an hour and the last act was the destruction of the psychic orb. As Olap looked into the room, he saw everyone in the room was dead. The room was completely devastated. He was about to look away, when he saw movement. Somehow one of the hooded figures crawled out from under a heavy wooden table and left the room.

This is the story I have been told since I was two years old. Every member of our clan has been told this story since we have been in hiding. This story is part of the village’s written record. Today is the 53rd day of the year 659 WR. My name is Dolan and this is my journal. I decided to keep a complete written record of my shoadalu’ or should I say my party’s shoadalu’. A shoadalu’ is the final stage of adulthood in my clan. Each cadet must complete a shoadalu’, if we are to be welcomed as full fledged members of our clan. A shoadalu’ is a challenge that we all must endure, where we are sent out to engage in a life and death struggle under real combat conditions. Whether we live or die is up to each cadet’s skills and ability. I will do my best to record everything that happens to me and my party as we venture forth on our shoadalu’. I am not a good writer, but I will do my best to record what I see, feel, hear, and learn through my minds eye. I begin this journal on my eighteenth birthday. Today, I was informed by my elders, that a full party of cadets would soon be ready for their shoadalu’ and that I would be joining them. I am very excited. I have spent every day of my life since I was two years of age practicing and training for this day. Upon hearing the news that I would be leaving on my shoadalu’, I modified my training schedule. If I were not training, eating, or sleeping, I was in the village library preparing for the world outside. I have never been outside the village in my entire life. None of the cadets have. We have spent our lives in hiding and training. The clan elders made that decision over twenty three years ago, after that terrible day in the village. They decided the clan must stay in hiding and remain dead, until they have had time to rebuild. Once the clan has been rebuilt, it is the goal of each clansman to find out what truly happened to the clan, the Emperor, his family, and the Kingdom of Griff. The elders plan is simple: play dead, produce as many children as possible, and train them in all the traditional arts of war. Once a fully trained group of cadets is ready, they would venture forth and begin this quest for knowledge and revenge. The betrayal and murder of the clan must have been an intricate plan that took years to put in place. That terrible day, over 1500 clansmen were murdered and no one suspected a thing. That is impossible, but it happened.

Each day I spent inside the library. There I reviewed everything I could find. My goal in the library was to refresh my memory as much as possible about the outside world. I reviewed everything I could, including drawings and descriptions of what I might encounter once I leave the village and the safety of the Kron Mountains. I needed to get a better understanding of the continent of Macar. Macar is the largest continent on the planet Pata. The elders, the cadets, and I live in the Kron Mountains and the Kron Mountains are on the continent of Macar. This continent is divided into five kingdoms. These kingdoms are separated by towering mountains that are covered in snow all year round. The kingdom to the North on the other side of the mountains is Dragons Land. According to the library it is a dry arid desert with only the northern coast by the ocean being lush and green. The kingdom to the northeast is Jongg. Jongg is protected by mountains to the west and the ocean everywhere else. The area known as Kron Mountains is an ancient volcano with deep thick rain forests skirting the east side of the continent and the Kingdom of Griff. Griff is a land locked kingdom with no sea ports. It has mountains to the north, south, east, and west. There are mountain passes that allow movement to and from the various kingdoms. Griff is lush and green with many rivers and lakes throughout the lands. The Kingdom of Manuto is south of Griff and this kingdom is protected to the west by high mountains and it has nothing but sea coast to the south and east. The north border is protected by a large deep canyon and high mountains. The Kingdom of Nubbal is on the other side of the mountains from Manuto. They are both long, skinny kingdoms. Nubbal is protected by high mountains to the north and east and nothing but sea coast everywhere else. I tried to get a picture of where each of these kingdoms might be before I left so I might be able to help as the party navigated around the continent of Macar.

I found the library contained a complete written record of the events as the elder’s saw them on that tragic day. They documented everything they found in the village and what Olap saw in the crystal ball at the Emperor’s castle. It was the decision of the elders to leave Griff and not return until they were strong enough to save the kingdom. It was the most difficult thing that any of them had ever done. They left their brethren lying dead in the center of the village and left as if no one had ever been there. They took what items they could that they knew would not be missed and they traveled east towards the Kron Mountains. They buried the twenty three with full honors on the lower slopes of the mountains. They climbed the mountain and they traveled deep into the central valley. That is where they built the village of Kron Valley. Kron Valley was founded on the 3rd day of the New Year 636. The written record shows that all eighteen elders were joined and produced the next generation of clan cadets. The record contains the following information:

• Olap and Katrina had four children: Akram, Annica, Dagenhart and I. Dagenhart and I are twins.

• Grek and Taani had six children: Ampon, Sinisa & Gutta (twins), Kolli, Oury, and Piray.

• Zeb and Zanbi had five children, with two sets of twins: Reht and Spira (twins), Kouri and Zhu (twins), and Sikora.

• Zooloo and Cryax had six children: Trolem, Quipel, Jiping, Shoa, Sudha, and Srican.

• Darkon and Grifir had six children: Treml, Bovie, Vue, Gita, Telas, and Donthe.

• Darolen and Verna had five children: Eusebio, Dalea’, Castra, Jezek, and Semec.

• Samsi and Dahler had five children: Tequena’, Malea’, Vovk, Shaji, and Himani.

• Benex and Jani had five children: Collian, Zendo and Yao (twins), Mir, and Sosnov.

• Lazriah and Genah had six children: Manifie’, Dian, Bociuc, Rhamat, Rajini, and Mog.

The written record documents the birth of forty eight children. Each was tested at age two, including myself. We were all assigned an elder/master to begin our training as cadets. A state of the art training facility was built in Kron Valley and each cadet was given a rigorous daily routine of training, both mental and physical. Each cadet’s training was based on the discipline in which they were assigned. The masters trained and cross trained each cadet to make sure their skills were at the optimal level.

The written record shows the following masters and elders: Olap was the Emperor’s sage and the only survivor of the psychic thirty. He is the leader of the clan, and my father. He is the wisest of our elders. He stands six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds with wild gray hair, soft understanding and gentle brown eyes and a care worn face. He is responsible for the clan’s mental training in the psychic arts. Akram, Annica, Dagenhart, and I are his students. He trains us daily in the use of our psychic powers. It is not uncommon to have psychic abilities in our world, but to have a group of siblings that can communicate so easily with their minds is very rare. What is even more unique is that Dagenhart and I are psychically joined. We are actually stronger together than we are apart. Even if several miles separate us, we are able to see through the others eyes, hear what the other hears, so we know what the other is doing and experiencing. We can see everything as if we are there through our minds eye. Dagenhart and I are in constant contact. We have the ability to close our minds eye so the other does not see what is happening, but we only do that when we wish to be alone with our thoughts. Olap has been training our minds in ways that allow us to amplify our powers through physical contact. Dagenhart and I are actually stronger when we combine our mental powers. Our brother Akram and our sister Annica have mastered their psychic powers so that they can move things with their minds, cause objects to burst into flames, stun opponents, burst organs, and teleport themselves anywhere within sight. Dagenhart and I are able to do everything on our own except for teleport. That we must do together. When we combine our psychic strength we can do anything.

My psychic abilities along with that of my siblings, are the strongest Olap has ever seen and he has told us so on many occasions. Our psychic powers included ESP, telepathy, telekinesis, pyro-blast, cryo-blast, acrid-blast, sonic blast, psychic blast, mental shield, and mental barrier. Each of these powers we use differently. ESP allows us to probe others minds and determine what they are thinking so we can fully understand the intentions of others. Telepathy allows us to communicate with our minds. We can do that over large distances. Telekinesis allows us to move objects with our minds. The pyro-blast allows us to use our minds to set things on fire or burst objects into flames. The cryo-blast allows us to use our minds to freeze things or to blast them with cold and ice. The acrid-blast allows us to use our minds and blast our enemy with acid. A sonic blast allows us to use our minds to send high pitched or low pitched sound waves and vibrations. With this power we can burst organs, cause minor tremors, and even start landslides. The psychic blast allows us to use our mind and send a wave of force at the enemy. This wave is powerful enough to pick up an enemy and send him flying across the room. The mental shield is a defensive power. It allows us to deflect and prevent a psychic attack from harming our minds. The mental barrier is another defensive power. This power allows us to deflect or absorb a psychic attack that causes physical damage such as a sonic blast. Depending on the situation we are able to utilize the power of our minds to attack, defend, gather information, or spy on our enemies.

Katrina is my mother and she was the head of the Emperor’s secret police and a master assassin. She is the only assassin to survive. She is responsible for training all cadet assassins in all the traditional arts of cunning, stealth, spying, and assassination. It is recorded that the elders asked her to stop bearing children after Dagenhart and I were born so that she would be ready to train cadet assassins. She is five feet eight inches tall and weighs 135 pound with brown hair and brown eyes like the rest of the family. She is fast, agile and extremely deadly. She has reflexes like a cat. Dagenhart and I are among her students. She also trains Dalea’, Castra, Gutta, Jezek, Jiping, Kouri, and Piray. Each assassin cadet is trained in the use of all weapons, including the use of one’s own body as a means to kill. We have trained to scale walls, pick locks, find traps, and stealthily get in and out of places without being seen, heard, or detected. The art of assassination takes into account all the other arts of war, except for magic.

The following elders are responsible for all magic using cadets and they are Zeb, Zanbi, and Dahler. Zeb is a grandmaster wizard and his mate is Zanbi. He stands six feet one inch tall and weighs around 225 pounds with brown hair graying at the temples and brown eyes. Zanbi is an illusionist and she stands five feet four inches tall and weighs about 160 pounds with red hair and golden brown eyes. Dahler is a sorceress and she stands five feet seven inches tall and weighs around 145 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. These elders work together to ensure that each Umbar cadet is ready for a life as a magic using warrior. They instruct the following cadets: Akram, Tequena, Malea’, Ampon, Bovie, Eusebio, Gita, Sikora, and Zendo. Each magic using cadet learns to use wands, staffs, and rods along with incantations and rituals to create offensive and defensive magic. Each spell must be practiced over and over again until it becomes part of a mage’s essence. Once that happens, then a mage can cast the spell over and over again until their essence is drained. After a mage uses up his or her essence they must rest in order to regain the power in their essence. The essence of a magic user is what gives them their power. They must use their power wisely for the betterment of the team. No one has unlimited power. With practice, a magic user learns how to properly use their magical essence to cast spells and which spells work best each time they go into battle.

The following elders are responsible for training all of our clerics/healers and they are Grek, Taani, and Benex. Grek is our high priest and his mate is Taani. He stands almost seven feet tall and he weighs 190 pounds with a bald head and grayish eyes. He is very tall and lanky. Taani is a priestess and she is only five feet one inch tall and weighs around 100 pounds with long blonde hair and green eyes. They are a sight to see when they are standing next to each other. He is the tallest and she is the smallest of our elders. Benex is a cleric and he is five feet eleven inches tall and weighs around 185 pounds with white hair, a mustache, a beard and he has blue eyes. He is the only elder with any kind of facial hair. All the others are clean shaven. He, like Olap, has wild hair. It is like they haven’t combed it in a month. He is a strong and powerful elder, well disciplined, and extremely passionate about the clan. They work together to instruct all the healers and clerics in the art of magic healing through the use of potions and spells. The cadets assigned to the clerics are Annica, Collian, Mir, Oury, Reht, Spira, Vovk, and Yao. Each cadet cleric learns to use wands, rods, and holy symbols to generate healing and restoration magic. Their spells have to be memorized and practiced until they become part of their magic spirit. Once that happens, they are able to cast spells that heal and restore until their spirit has been drained. Once their spirit is exhausted they must rest and renew before they can cast spells again.

The following elders are responsible for training each cadet in the art of war as fighters, rangers and knights. Cryax is a knight, Darkon is a ranger, Grifir is a sword master, Verna is a weapons master and Jani is a master fighter. Cryax stands five feet ten inches tall and weighs around 175 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. As a knight, she taught us the use of all weapons along with battle strategy, both defensive and offensive. Darkon stands six feet four inches tall and weighs about 220 pounds with graying blonde hair and blue eyes and his mate is Grifir. As a ranger, he taught us the art of battle along with tracking and our ability to live off the land. Grifir stands five feet eleven inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes. She is a powerful fighter and our clan’s sword master. She taught each cadet how to master a blade. Verna stands five feet nine inches tall and weighs 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She is the clan’s weapons master and she taught us our skill with all types of weapons including sharp, jagged, and blunt. Jani is five feet seven inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is a master fighter and she taught us our skill in hand to hand combat along with siege tactics and how to properly field an army. The cadets assigned to the fighters are Trolem, Treml, Quipel, Donthe, Himani, Kolli, Rhamat, Semec, Shaji, Sinisa, Sosnov, Srican, Sudha, Telas, and Vue. Each cadet fighter is taught the use of all weapons. Each selects a favorite, but their job is to use all the weapons of battle to defend the troops and destroy the enemy.

The elders responsible for teaching cadets their skill with a bow are masters Samsi and Lazriah. Samsi is a master archer and his mate is Dahler. He stands a shade over six feet and weighs around 190 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. Lazriah is also a master archer and his mate is Genah. He is six feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds with balding gray hair and blue green eyes. The cadets assigned to the archers are Dian, Manifie’, Bociuc, Mog, Rajini, Shoa, and Zhu. Each cadet archer is responsible for being a well rounded warrior, but an expert with a bow. They are the snipers of the group. It is their job to eliminate an enemy at long range with a bow.

The elders that are responsible for teaching cadets the art of deception and thievery are masters Zooloo, Genah, and Darolen. Zooloo is a master thief and his mate is Cryax. He stands six feet seven inches tall and weighs around 260 pounds with jet black hair and black eyes. Genah is a thief and her mate is Lazriah. She is five feet seven inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Darolen is another thief and his mate is Verna. He is six feet two inches tall and weighs around 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. They work together as a team to teach each cadet how to pick locks, remove traps, scale walls, move quietly, blend into the shadows, pick pockets, and to come and go undetected. These skills are very valuable and they come in handy all the time as an assassin and a thief. Each is a member of the Emperor’s secret police. Each cadet assassin has learned these skills from master Zooloo, Genah, and Darolen. All of the cadets were trained and cross-trained by each of the masters. Each cadet requires expertise in many of the skills our master’s teach.

The last thing I want to document as part of my journal from the written record is the history of the clan. The Umbar clan was created by the Emperor of Griff over 300 years ago. He requested that his greatest warriors mate and produce the ultimate warrior the world has ever seen. His best warriors agreed to this life of servitude. This new clan would commit itself to thinking of nothing but war and the protection of the Emperor and the Kingdom of Griff. The Umbar clan was formed in the year 324 WR. Each Umbar child is tested at age two and assigned a master. That master hones each cadet’s natural abilities and conditions them for battle. Each cadet’s mind and body is prepared to work in harmony with each other so no fear, no challenge, no mercy is shown. In this world, it is kill or be killed. That is the rule and the masters trained each cadet to survive. Each cadet is trained to react without thinking. That way, their battle reflexes respond before their conscious self is aware that they did. Umbars train every day both at practice and in real world situations. Each year Griff hosted a tournament and warriors from all over the Pata came to compete in all disciplines. For over 300 years the Umbars proved themselves to be the best over and over again at the games. An Umbar was always crowned the tournament champ. The clan’s reputation was such that no one had ever killed an Umbar and lived to brag about it. For the past twenty three years those that betrayed the clan had been allowed to walk around with the knowledge that they murdered members of the Umbar clan and got away with it. Now it is time to change that knowledge. The time has come to begin our investigation into who betrayed our clan and seek revenge.

Chapter One

Kron Valley

It has been thirty eight days since my eighteenth birthday and the elders called a meeting and everyone was required to attend. The cadets and I gathered in the center of our training grounds. We were asked to take a seat in front of a large wooden stage with a podium in the center. At the back of the stage each elder sat in full battle gear, wearing their coat of arms and the Umbar insignia. In all the years of training, I have never seen our elders in full battle gear with their rank insignia. Olap got up and stood behind the podium and began to speak, Let it be written that on the 91 st day of the year 659 WR, we, your parents, elders and instructors, have decided it is time for some of you to put your training to the test and go through your shoadalu’. For over 300 years, we have required this test of each member of the clan. The shoadalu’ requires each party to venture forth into the world and meet all new challenges head on. Training is wonderful, but it is no substitute for a real battle. This is our twenty third year in exile and there are twenty among you that are ready to venture forth and attempt their shoadalu’. We will call each of you one by one and present you with our gifts, our hopes, and our final words of wisdom before you leave us as cadets. Remember, none of you may return to this village or wear the Umbar coat of arms, crest, and insignia until you have completed your shoadalu’. You will leave us today as novices, but when you return to us, you will be full fledged members of our clan. One other thing we must say, please remember that the Umbar Clan is dead and we must stay dead until we discover the true extent of the plot against us. After we learn this, we will be ready to exact our revenge on our enemies. Remember what you have learned and it will bring you back safely to your brethren. First, I would like Zanbi, Zeb, and Dahler to come forward and help me with the magic users. Tequena’, please step forward.

Tequena’ is twenty two years old and the daughter of Samsi (father) and Dahler (mother). She is five feet eight inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds with blonde hair and bright green eyes. She is well built, but not physically strong. She has worked on her mind more than her body. She is a brilliant mage and has been pledged to my brother Akram. Many of the cadets have been pledged to another. The elders have done their best to influence the breeding lines within our clan. If everyone survives the shoadalu’, then the pairs will unite as they promised. Tequena’ approached the stage and climbed the steps and stood in front of her masters. Dahler stepped forward, We, your instructors and elders, present you with the following in the hopes that they will help keep you safe on your journey. We present you with a staff, a wand, adventuring equipment, and most importantly your spellbook. Memorize well your spells for they can save your life and that of the party. Go forth and make us proud. When Dahler finished, the elders stood and clapped. Tequena’ was escorted from the stage and she stood to the side waiting for the others to be announced. Next Olap called Akram to come to the stage. Akram, my brother, is twenty two years old and he stands six feet tall and weighs about 220 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. His mind is well trained, but his body is that of a typical mage: a little flabby and weak. This time Zanbi stepped forward and gave the same speech as Dahler and presented Akram with the same items. After the presentation, Akram was escorted from the stage where he stood next to Tequena’. Next Malea’ was called to the stage. Malea’ is twenty years old and she is five feet seven inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She looks a lot like her sister, Tequena’. Malea’ has been trained as an illusionist. Malea’ has been pledged to Trolem. Zeb stepped forward and gave the same speech and presented Malea’ with the same items. After the presentation, the elders clapped while Malea’ was escorted off stage. The next to be invited to the stage was Eusebio. Eusebio is twenty years old and is the son of Darolen (father) and Verna (mother). He stands six feet one inch tall and weighs around 200 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. He has been trained as a sorcerer. Zanbi stepped forward and gave the same speech and presented him with the same items. After the presentation, the elders clapped while Eusebio was escorted off stage. The last magic user to be called was Ampon. Ampon is twenty years old and she is the daughter of Grek (father) and Taani (mother). She is five feet eleven inches tall and she weighs 160 pounds. She got her height from her father, but she looks like her mother. She has blonde hair and green eyes. She has been trained as a sorceress. She and Eusebio have been pledged to each other. Zeb stepped forward and gave the same speech and presented her with the same items. After each presentation, the elders clapped while Ampon was escorted off stage. Zanbi, Dahler, and Zeb returned to their seats and sat down.

Olap then asked Grek, Taani, and Benex to rise and help him with the presentation to the clerics. Olap began by calling Annica to the stage. Annica, my sister, is twenty years old and she is five feet seven inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes like our mother. I think she is very pretty for a sister, but according to Treml, she is the most beautiful woman in the entire universe, and he has told me so on numerous occasions. She and Treml have been pledged. Grek stepped forward, We, your instructors and elders, present you with the following in the hopes that they will help keep you safe on your journey. We give you your chain mail, boots, helm, backpack, belt with pouches, herbs, mace, and most importantly your spellbook and holy symbol. Memorize well your spells for they can protect and heal both you and the party. Remember you live to protect and benefit the clan. After Grek finished, the elders stood and clapped while Annica was escorted off stage. Next, Olap called Collian to the stage. Collian is the daughter of Benex (father) and Jani (mother). She is twenty years old and stands five feet five inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds. Her hair is a light shade of red and she has blue eyes. She has a fire and a zest for life that my brother Dagenhart finds totally irresistible. She and Dagenhart have been pledged. Taani stepped forward and gave the same speech as Grek, and presented Collian with the same items as Annica. Afterwards the elders stood and clapped while she was escorted off the stage. The next to be called to the stage was Reht. Reht is nineteen years old and she is the daughter of Zeb (father) and Zanbi (mother). Reht is five feet six inches tall and she weighs 140 pounds. She has red hair like her mother and bright green eyes. Reht has been pledged to Sinisa. Benex stepped forward and gave the same speech and presented her with the same items. Afterwards the elders stood and clapped while she was escorted off the stage. The last cleric to be invited to the stage was Spira, Reht’s twin brother. Spira is nineteen years old and like his sister and mother he has red hair. He has brown eyes and he stands six feet tall and weighs around 190 pounds. Spira as of yet has not been pledged to anyone. Grek stepped forward and gave the same speech and presented him with the same items. Afterwards the elders stood and clapped while Spira was escorted off the stage. Grek, Taani, and Benex went and sat down.

Olap now called Cryax, Darkon, Verna, and Jani to the stage to assist him in the presentations to the fighters. First, Olap called Trolem. Trolem is twenty two years old and the son of Zooloo (father) and Cryax (mother). He is also the oldest in the party by sixty three days. He stands six feet four inches tall and weighs 260 pounds with jet black hair and black eyes and not an ounce of fat. He has the kind of eyes that could stare right through you. His eyes are cold and unfeeling, but he has a heart and a passion for his people that no one could deny. He is the strongest person in the clan. He, like many others, could have left on their shoadalu’ years ago, but it was decided it would be better to send an entire combat group out when they were ready. He continued his studies and mastered many weapons and earned his right to lead our party. Cryax stepped forward, staring proudly at her son, We, your instructors and elders, present you with the following in the hopes that they will help keep you safe on your journey. We give you your chain mail, helm, boots, backpack, belt with pouches, and a long dagger. You must remember that you are charged with protecting the party and defending the others until their powers have matured. Now stand forth! Cryax turned and escorted Trolem to the right side of the stage. Grifir stood, As sword master I give you your sword to defend the others and help the party overcome its enemies. She handed him a bastard sword. Continue your studies and return as a master, battle tested and ready to take up the cause of the clan. Grifir sat back down and Cryax said, Stand forth! She escorted him to the other side of the stage, where Samsi and Lazriah were waiting. Samsi and Lazriah stepped forward and Samsi handed him a long bow and Lazriah handed him a quiver with two score of arrows. Both men stated clearly, This weapon is for the benefit of the party. Grow in mastery as you use it. After these words, Samsi and Lazriah sat down and Cryax led Trolem back to the podium in the center, Go forth and fulfill your destiny and become a strong and honorable knight. The elders stood and clapped as he was escorted from the stage. Darkon then stepped forward and called Treml. Treml is twenty years old and is the son of Darkon (father) and Grifir (mother). He is six feet one inch tall and weighs 220 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes, well built and a strong fighter. Darkon gave a similar speech and gave Treml the same items. Then Darkon led Treml to Grifir for the same presentation and then to Samsi and Lazriah. They also gave the traditional speech and items. Then Darkon led Treml back to the podium in the center and stated, Go forth and fulfill your destiny and become a strong and honorable ranger. The elders stood and clapped as Treml was escorted from the stage. Then Jani stepped forward and called Quipel to the stage. Quipel is twenty years old and she is Trolem’s sister. She stands five feet ten inches tall and weighs 170 pounds with black hair and black eyes. Like her brother, she is one of the physically strongest fighters in the clan. Her body is well built and powerful. She is a welcome addition to our party. She has not been pledged to anyone at this time. The ceremony for her was the same as the other two. Then Jani led Quipel back to the podium in the center and stated, Go forth and fulfill your destiny and become a strong and honorable knight. The elders stood and clapped as she was escorted from the stage. The last fighter to be invited to the stage was Sinisa. He is Ampon’s brother and very tall. He is six feet ten inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds. He has blonde hair and grayish eyes. The ceremony for him was the same as the other three. Then Jani led Sinisa back to the podium in the center and stated, Go forth and fulfill your destiny and become a strong and honorable fighter. The elders stood and clapped as he was escorted from the stage. Cryax, Darkon, Verna, and Jani all returned to their seats.

Olap asked Samsi and Lazriah to come to the stage and assist him with the presentation to the archers. Lazriah stepped forward and called Manifie’ to come to the stage. Manifie’ is twenty one years old and the daughter of Lazriah (father) and Genah (mother). She is five feet five inches tall and weighs 115 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is slender and very pretty. She has been pledged to no one at this time. Lazriah stood and said, We, your instructors and elders, present you with the following in the hopes that they will help keep you safe on your journey. We give you your hide armor, boots, helm, backpack, belt with pouches, dagger, longbow, quiver, and two score of arrows. Now stand forth! Lazriah led her to the right side of the stage. Grifir stood and gave Manifie’ a long sword, Continue your studies and return as a master, battle tested and ready to take up the cause of the clan. Grifir sat down and Lazriah led Manifie’ back to the center and stated, Go forth and fulfill your destiny. The elders stood and clapped as she was escorted off the stage. Then Samsi stepped forward and called Dian. Dian is Manifie’s brother. He is nineteen years old and he stands six feet tall and weighs 190 pounds with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. He is strong, slender, and very agile. Dian was presented with the same items and given the same ceremony as Manifie’. Afterwards, the elders stood and clapped as he was escorted off the stage. Samsi and Lazriah returned to their seats.

Olap now asked Katrina to come up on the stage and assist him with the presentation to the assassins. Katrina stepped forward and called Dagenhart. Dagenhart is eighteen years old and he stands six feet two inches tall and weighs 195 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He and I look a great deal alike since we are twins and we share many of the same characteristics, but we are not identical. Katrina spoke, We, your instructors and elders, present you with the following in the hopes that they will help keep you safe on your journey. We give you your hide armor, boots, helm, backpack, belt with pouches, four throwing daggers, and a long dagger. Now stand forth! She led Dagenhart to the right side of the stage. Grifir stood and handed him a bastard sword, Continue your studies and return as a master, battle tested and ready to take up the cause of the clan. Grifir sat down and Katrina led Dagenhart to the other side where Samsi and Lazriah were standing. They handed him a long bow and a quiver with two score of arrows and stated, This weapon is for the benefit of the party. Grow in mastery as you use it. Samsi and Lazriah sat back down. Katrina led Dagenhart to the back of the stage where Zooloo, Darolen, and Genah were standing. They gave Dagenhart a set of thieves’ tools and stated, Use these tools along with what we have taught you. Remember to continue to improve your skills, because the world is full of unseen traps and danger. Zooloo, Darolen, and Genah sat down and Katrina led Dagenhart back to the podium, We were created to be part of a secret society to serve and protect the lawful rulers of the land of Griff. Remember well what you have learned, be alert and always vigilant, allow the body to rest, but the mind must never rest. The elders stood and clapped as he was escorted off the stage. Then Katrina called me. I am six feet two inches tall and I weigh 200 pounds. I, like my siblings, have brown hair and brown eyes. I was given the same ceremony as Dagenhart. I also was supplied with the same items. Afterwards, the elders stood and clapped as I was escorted from the stage. Next Katrina called Dalea’ to join her on the stage. Dalea’ is eighteen years old and she is Eusebio’s sister. She is five feet nine inches tall and weighs 125 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She is quite muscular with a well defined body. She and I have trained together for the past sixteen years. She and I have been pledged to each other. Dalea’ was given the same ceremony as Dagenhart and I and she was given the same items. Afterwards, the elders stood and clapped as she was escorted off the stage. The next assassin to be called to the stage was Gutta. Gutta is Sinisa’s twin brother and they are almost identical. Once you know them they are easy to tell apart. If you didn’t, they can easily be mistaken for one another. He is eighteen years old. Gutta is extremely tall for an assassin. He is six feet six inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. He has black hair and green eyes. He was given the same ceremony and the same items. Afterwards, the elders stood and clapped as Gutta was escorted off the stage. The last assassin to be called was Jiping. Jiping is Trolem’s and Quipel’s sister. She is eighteen years old and she has black hair and black eyes. She is five feet eight inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. She is extremely strong, agile, and cunning. She and Dian have been pledged. She was given the same ceremony and the same items. Afterwards, the elders stood and clapped as she was escorted off the stage. Katrina sat back down.

Olap stepped to the podium, We, your elders, are proud of you who are about to embark on this shoadalu’. You enter this next phase of your life together, learning and growing. We are a proud and honorable people. Each member of our clan for the past 300 years has completed a shoadalu’, returning to the clan wiser, stronger, and prepared for life as a servant to the crown. Here are 300 gold pieces for you to use on your travels. Choose your own path, no one can choose it for you. Each shoadalu’ is unique and specific to the party that makes it. We give this to you and we wish you well. The elders stood giving each of us a hug and shaking our hands. After the last elder said their goodbye, they turned, gathered the other cadets and walked back to the village. We knew that from then on we were on our own. We were raised with the knowledge that none of us could return to the village until we had successfully completed our shoadalu’. We prepared all of our lives for this day, to venture forth into the unknown and return as a group of battle tested veterans and take our place as full fledged members of our clan. As we prepared to leave, I paused for a second and thought about my parents, Olap and Katrina. All four of their children were leaving together on this shoadalu’. I could sense their excitement and their apprehension as they led the rest of the cadets away. They trained us well, but would it be enough to bring us all back alive?

Chapter Two

Adventure Begins

It was late afternoon on the 91 st day of the year 659. We each exchanged our practice gear for the armor and items the elders have given us. We left all of our practice gear on the stage for others to use and we finished preparing ourselves for our journey. We