Chapter 2: Chance Encounters THE HORDE – Name given to the massive armies that have flooded out of the Great Void (See Great Void) twice in the recorded history of the Star Sphere. In both instances the Horde devastated the Star Sphere and causing the fall of empires. The First Great Horde flashed out of the Great Void in the youngest days of the Star Sphere, when there was only one empire, ruled by the Founding races that populated the Star Sphere, not just humans. The Star Home as it was known was shattered after millennia of peaceful growth and coexistence by the First Great Horde. They came from the Void seeking death and destruction and raping and pillaging as they raged through the Star Sphere. The Mighty Elven Armadas fled the war into the great vortex in the center of the Star Sphere. The Dwarves locked themselves away in their fortress worlds leaving only men to face the final onslaughts. The halfling nations, recent arrivals in the Star Sphere allied themselves with men and they did war for a full century against the Horde until they were finally banished back to the Void. The Second Great Horde destroyed the Great Circle, the human empire that dominated the galaxy for nearly two millennia after the fall of the Star Home. The Concordance of the Heavens rose in the Circle’s place and is currently engaged in short but brutal wars with the Horde as they constantly probe the Star Sphere for weaknesses. The Horde is a generic name given to the inhabitants of the Void. Orcs form the backbone of these armies, but they are by no means the sole warriors of the Void. There are necromancers, black magi, demons and other unspeakable denizens of the Void that hunger for death and desolation. ---Biblex Historia The StarJammer exploded out of the void like a cannon ball, but suddenly slowed and a beautiful canvas of silken light unfurled behind the craft like a fine lady’s gown. The Ether sails were designed to catch the energy of the ether that suffused the void. The starjammer quickly accelerated again and gracefully began a desperate hunt. “Anything yet?” Derek asked impatiently. Aleeta peered out of the corner of her eye as she piloted the small swift craft and smirked. “We’ve just starshifted in, Lord Dartanian. It takes time to pick up a trai-” The craft shuddered hard and a deep boom reverberated through the hull. “What was that?” Perseus asked, glancing at the walls of the ship with concern. “We hit something.” Aleeta replied cautiously as she glanced at her instrumentation. “That’s all you have to say? We hit something? What did we hit?” Griswold asked angrily and clutched his staff tightly so that his knuckles whitened. “Relax, I have everything under control.” She replied wanly. Another impact shook the Starjammer and the boom that reverberated through the hull was a little louder. “Are we being shot at?” Perseus demanded as he stuck his head into the small cockpit and peered past Aleeta, straining to catch some glimpse outside the small bubble on the fore of the small ship. “Do you mind!” Aleeta huffed as she shoved at the young man to get out of her field of vision. “I’m going to bring us around for a quick pass and see what’s going on.” “What kind of weapons are we carrying?” Derek asked. Aleeta frowned. “Several light ballista in the back and one on the top side, other than that, we’re pretty much unarmed.” “Looks like your father was right once again. These starjammers are next to useless in a fight. What good are light ballista going to be against an Orc raider?” Derek commented to Perseus in disgust. “I don’t think it’s an orc raider.” Perseus replied hesitantly. “Why?” “Because we would be dead by now.” Griswold replied coolly. Derek nodded slowly. “I think I have our answers lords and mage. Take a look.” Aleeta commented. They all crowded around her cockpit and looked out into the void. A field of broken parts and torn sails floated around them in a cloud. “A debris field?” Derek noted. “Yes, and it looks like its forming a trail.” Perseus noted pointing to the field as it slowly descended towards a barren world beneath them. “This looks like it’s going to be easier than I thought.” Aleeta commented. Derek frowned a she looked down at the small halfling. “That debris field is coming from the transport my sister was on. She could be dead and all you can say is that this search is now made easier?” he asked darkly. A large blackish metallic plate struck the port side of the cockpit window and continued flipping end over end as the starjammer descended. “I’d say from the look of that plate that your sister gave as good as she got.” Aleeta replied wanly. Derek turned to Perseus. “Black Iron, only the Orcs used that in their ships. Looks like it was a fight, however I wonder how this all turned out.” Perseus commented. “We’re about to find out, because it looks like the fight took them all the way down.” Aleeta added as she pointed to a gouge in the earth that could be clearly seen from the height that they were descending to. The crater was fresh, smoke still rose from the various small fires started by the impact. Derek squeezed Perseus’ shoulder as he watched the crater grow as they descended. The trees around the crater were all pushed up and out and at the end on a raised mound was the twisted wreckage of a ship. There was no telling its class or allegiance at this distance nor was it likely they could standing on it, it was nothing more than twisted metal and wood. “I’m sure they’re fine.” Perseus lied. Derek frowned. He prepared himself for the worst. Aleeta clucked as she brought the Starjammer around to inspect the wreckage before finding a spot to set down. “Damn shame to see a ship reduced to that.” she muttered. “I’m more concerned about the passengers at this point.” “There is another question troubling my mind, where is exactly is this place?” Griswold added as he peered out the cockpit window at the light foliage around them as the Starjammer finally settled down on the ground with a soft sigh. “The charts say that this is Orthego.” Aleeta answered as she opened up a very crumpled map. “Or it could juts be an ale stain on this chart.” she added slowly examining the area more closely. “Orthego? That’s not in the Protectorates. Whatever in the hell were they doing out here?” Perseus wondered. “If this world is not in the Protectorates then we’re in greater danger. That means that whomever or whatever we find out here will not recognize our authority.” “Oh, its much worse than that my lads. They may even be allied with the Great Void.” Griswold interjected and shook his head sadly as he gathered his things. “I’m stepping out first, any sign of danger and you get my lord out of here.” Perseus ordered Aleeta. Aleeta smiled softly. “Of course, My lord, but trust me, if the orcs are going to ambush us they will wait until we’re all out of here, so the heroics can wait, huh?” Aleeta replied and walked to the back of the starjammer and opened a small chest on the wall. She pulled out a sword and scabbard belt. She cinched it on and pulled on a leather jacket. “That’s it?” Perseus asked sardonically as she walked back to the group. Perseus and Derek looked imposing in their full body armor and they were now donning their helmets. each checked their swords and nodded to each other. “Well, the way I see it I have two strong handsome men to protect me so what do I have to worry about?” She replied with a wink and a nudge, Perseus blushed and quickly slammed his helmet’s face plate down. Aleeta activated the switch and a door hissed open, a pneumatic cough followed and a rope ladder launched itself into the ground below. “You know, I can definitely see the disadvantages of these starjammers when it comes to landings and boarding.” Griswold grumbled. The starjammer was floating several meters off the ground, gently swaying in the breeze. “Oh, come now, magus, would you like me to sling you over my shoulder?” Perseus asked with a grin as he swung his leg over the lip of the gangway and started to descend the rope ladder. “Have a care, Man at Arms, I have done worse to people for far less.” Griswold replied haughtily but it sounded ridiculous coming from the grizzled old man. Perseus winked and descended. “Just why is this contraption necessary madam?” Griswold asked as Derek gently helped him over. “The landing struts, they’re too heavy.” “Excuse me?” Griswold asked as he paused at the lip of the gangway. “We’ve stripped absolutely everything that we could out of these ships to get more speed and acceleration. There’s a price to be paid, wizard if you want to claim to have the fastest ship in the Star Sphere.” Aleeta explained and shooed him down the ladder. Derek motioned regally to her and she smiled. “Why thank you, sir.” She replied with a slight curtsy and quickly scuttled down the ladder. Derek finally swung his leg over and followed the rest down to the field. When he stepped off the ladder he quickly glanced around. They were alone in the field, a large copse of trees to their right and the unmistakable smell of burning wood. Perseus moved quickly in a low crouch, sword drawn as he scouted ahead for the others. He listened intently but could hear nothing but the natural sounds of the forest. That was the giveaway. If there were any orcs about the wood would be silent as a tomb. As denizens of the Void, the orcs were outside of nature. They were creatures that inspired fear, dread and disgust from the natural world. He stood up slowly and peered out to see the wreckage ahead. He gently tapped the side of his faceplate and the wreckage zoomed in closer thanks to special lenses built into the faceplate. There did not seem to be any movement from the wreckage. He did not dare tell Derek that he believed that the lady Selena was most likely slain. He doubted anyone could have survived that wreck. Simultaneously he felt relief that the ladies died this way and not at the hands of the filthy orcs. He raised his hand and waved the group forward. Almost immediately he heard a stumble and a crash to the ground. He whipped his head around in time to see Griswold complaining as he tried to get back up. Perseus rolled his eyes. Griswold would be the death of them. The group finally reached him. “You know something, wizard? If you keep acting as you do you will get the lord and myself killed.” “Oh stop acting like some grizzled veteran, Perseus! I remember when you were in swaddling clothes crying for your mother’s tit!” he spat. “Enough!” Derek barked. The group settled down. “My Lord, I’ve looked ahead, it looks like there is no movement around the wreckage. I don’t believe that there are any orcs around right now but that doesn’t make things any safer.” Perseus reported. Derek nodded trying to ignore the gnawing feeling that this mission had been all for naught. He looked around and made a decision. “We came to find my sister and my intended and that is what we are going to do. Until I see the bodies this mission is not over.” Derek stated grimly. Aleeta cleared her throat. “Did you ever think that maybe it would be best not to see the bodies. I’ve been piloting these ships most of my life. I’ve seen accidents like these. The results are never pretty.” Aleeta commented and her eyes had a strange mix of concern and curiosity. Derek looked down at the halfling. “I am a Lord of the Protectorate. I will not allow my blood to rot inside the hull of a ship in some forsaken world. If she is dead, I will bring her back to her home.” “Have a care, Derek. This is not a game.” Griswold warned. “Enough, everyone fan out. Perseus take point.” “Yes Milord.” Perseus replied and immediately went back into a crouch and stalked towards the wreckage. Aleeta drew her own short sword and crept along towards the wreckage but the expression on her face clearly showed her displeasure at the prospect of what was happening. Derek followed, hand on the hilt of his sword but he kept an eye on Griswold. The old wizard was not accustomed to this. He was a house wizard. He had come to the Protectorate as a wandering teacher from the Crystal Moons. Poor was the Protectorate house that could not afford a magi of their own. Particularly one from the Crystal Moons. Derek never looked on Griswold as an ornament or a status symbol. He was always old Griz. Griz the magnificent teller of tales, Griz the magical jester, Griz the teacher that always let them play an extra hour outside because he felt that children belonged outdoors not in a stuffy room learning history. He smiled softly as he watched the old magus negotiate a patch of rocks leading up to the wreckage. He would never forget the look in the magus’ eyes when Derek once told him that he wanted Griswold to teach his won children. The old mage smiled and Derek swore that he wiped something from his eyes as he patted him on the head. “Enough foolish nonsense, lad. What noble woman would want to marry a rapscallion like yourself and HAVE children.” He replied with a snort. Derek loved the old man. The woman that would want to marry him may be entombed in this very wreck. He stopped at a small rise in the dirt and looked out over the wreckage. The shattered remains of the ship were twisted beyond recognition, entire trees and mounds of earth were mixed with the metal and wood frame of the vessel. He could see bits of the ether sails still fluttering uselessly in the light breeze. Perseus was standing on the largest chunk of the wreckage and was shaking his helmeted head at Derek. Nothing. Derek was about to speak when he felt a bone jarring impact that sent him sprawling down the crater’s edge and down into the wreckage itself. He landed with an awful thud and his vision blurred for a moment. Something landed a few feet away and was readying a weapon. He rolled away just as the weapon impacted on the earth where he had lain only a second before. Suddenly there was a clash of metal on metal and he heard a curse. Derek got up into a sitting position and pulled out his own sword. He saw his assailant clearly now. It was a human in jet black battle armor. The helmet was on, face plate down and he was moving with cat like grace around the crater. Slim and deadly fast the armored attacker had a wicked looking sword drawn, notched and bloodied, this weapon had recently seen combat and had obviously dealt death as well. However, standing between Derek and his attacker was Perseus with his won sword drawn and he stalked after the smaller but quicker opponent. Where the black armored one was small and lithe, Perseus was large and powerful. Perseus advanced on the black armored warrior and the parried a quick slice to the midsection. Derek scrambled to his feet and tried to discern who the mystery warrior was. There was no symbol of coat of arms on the armor. The color black was a generic armor coating for fighting in the void, so there was no way to tell that way. Perhaps the fighting style may be a clue? Some of the Protectorate Houses concentrated on certain forms of fighting. Perseus stepped in and sliced out with his blade at the black warrior’s head. The armored figure bent backwards and let the blade pass over head before whipping his own blade around for a strike at Perseus’ exposed midsection. Perseus was already turning at the waist and the blade passed within mere inches of his torso. Both warriors recovered and faced each other slowly circling, looking for weakness. Suddenly the black armored warrior launched a series of quick furious strokes. Perseus parried in long smooth turns of his arm as he was driven backwards by the attacks. He waited and saw his opportunity as the black armored warrior finally tired in his assault. Perseus launched his own counter attack and began a series of quick furtive strikes that drove the black armored warrior back, as soon as he had him back enough his strokes became longer and stronger as he bore his strength and weight down on the enemy, trying to simply batter through the defenses. The black armored warrior suddenly launched herself backwards in the air and landed on the lip of the crater. “You’re not getting away from me that easily.” Perseus grunted as he leapt after her. He continued his attack as soon as he landed on the crater. The black armored warrior parried and leapt about like a panther, staying just ahead of Perseus’ powerful thrusts and strokes. Perseus grunted hard as he thought he had him in one sweep and instead struck a tree. Such was the power of Perseus’ strike that his blade passed clear through the thick tree trunk, exited the other side and with a blow from him as he charged past the tree toppled over. Unfortunately for the black armored warrior, the tree toppled right on top of him and he could barely scuttle out of the way. The black armored warrior gracefully spun out of the path of the tree right into Perseus’ free hand, now fist. The black armored warrior didn’t make a sound as he toppled to the ground on his back and Perseus leapt up on top of him and put his blade on the warrior’s throat. “It’s finished.” he hissed. “Is it?” The black armored warrior replied and Perseus felt something tapping against his lower abdomen. He hesitantly glanced down and caught sight of the blade resting against his belly, ready to strike. “A bit of an impasse, no?” the black clad warrior added. There was something odd about the voice. “Wrong, he is not alone.” Derek replied appearing beside Perseus. They were silent for a moment, contemplating each other when a bolt of fire struck the earth behind Derek and Perseus, sending them both leaping out of the way. The black clad warrior kipped up and stood his ground. “Neither am I.” he replied hotly. “Stop this nonsense at once!” a voice commanded from beyond the copse of trees. “In the name of the Dartanian Protectorate step out to face us!” Derek boomed. Perseus and the black armored warrior continued facing each other swords drawn. “Aren’t you going to do anything?” Aleeta asked Griswold as she helped him up over the lip of the crater. “What am I supposed to do? Swords and dueling are the province of these warriors, I’m just along as an advisor and occasional assistant.” “Some magus you are.” Aleeta harrumphed. Griswold shrugged. There was silence again for a moment and a figure suddenly appeared at the edge of the tree line. “No milady, don’t!” the black armored warrior shouted. “Selena?!” Derek exclaimed. The young woman at the edge of the tree line stood holding a pulse musket in one hand and the tattered remains of an elegant gown in the other. There was dirt, blood, leaves and various other stains in the once beautiful gown but it did not detract from her beauty. Her blonde hair shone like spun gold in the low sunlight filtering in under the copse of trees. “Derek?” she whispered and when she squinted and recognized the seal on the breast plate of his armor she shouted, “Derek!” She raced across the distance between them and threw herself into his arms. Derek smiled and held her tight in his arms, smelling her hair and feeling the warmth of his beloved sister in his arms. “I thought you were dead kitten.” he whispered. “You know I hate it when you call me that.” she whispered in return and looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears of joy. He wiped a stray leaf out of her hair. “And this one?” Perseus asked tersely not lowering his defenses and the black armored warrior doing the same. “Perseus, stand down.” Selenna ordered suddenly collecting herself and standing up regally as she spoke. “With all due respect my lady, I am your brother’s man.” Perseus replied politely. “Enough of this, I’ll stand down.” The black armored warrior sighed and touched a button on the collar of his armor. The faceplate and helm suddenly snapped down into the collar of the armor revealing a woman with long crimson hair currently kept in a tight bun on the back of her head. Her eyes were piercing green, the only thing that marred her alabaster skin was a long jagged scar down left cheek. The wound must have paralyzed part of her face because her lips on the left side of her face were in a crooked sneer and they did not seem to change expression much. Perseus was grinning at the black clad woman. “You’re a woman.” He said with a snort. “Oh, I see you’re the bright one.” She replied frostily. Derek stared at her. She was beautiful. The emerald green eyes flashed between them like huntress and there was a fire there, a defiance he had never seen before in a woman. “Is this how my royal personage and retainers are treated?” another voice intruded on the revelation. The others quickly turned to face the newcomer. A woman strode towards them with a regal dress on, it like Selenna’s was worn and torn with grime and dirt but it somehow hung differently on her, as if she were born to it or it were part of her. She moved with a sublime grace and her soft blue eyes calmly regarded each of them as she approached. A gentle toss of her head sent a cascade of raven black locks over her right shoulder as she stood by the black armored woman. “Lady Ursula?” Derek asked curiously. “Lord Dartanian, I take it.” She replied coolly. “Yes my lady.” Ursula calmly extended her hand and waited. Derek glanced at Perseus and Selenna. Selenna nudged him forward with a quick elbow to the ribs. He walked over to her and took a hold of her hand and gently kissed the knuckles. Ursula withdrew her hand and examined the young man with a critical eye. “The last time we met, you were twelve years old and you were not very fond of me.” She said in a calm conversational tone. “Uh, well, My lady, as you can see, I am not that twelve year old anymore. I have grown up.” ‘That remains to be seen.” Ursula replied softly. The black clad warrior woman smiled to herself. Perseus frowned slightly. “Now please, call off your attack dog. Xenia is my man at arms.” “She’s a woman.” Perseus replied evenly. “Not all the Great Houses have held on to such antiquated notions that men make better warriors. She suits me.” “I see.” Derek replied eyeing the pair with some doubt. Ursula sighed. “Are we going to remain in this forsaken place or can we leave now?” Derek blinked. “Of course milady. If you will follow me.” Aleeta smirked. “That is one woman which elicits my sympathies for any man that has to marry that.” Griswold chuckled softly. “That young woman is my lord’s intended.” Aleeta looked from Griswold to Ursula and back at Griswold. “You’ll forgive me if I say this but who arranged THAT and what were they smoking at the time.” “What are you implying?” Griswold asked in mock seriousness. “You fought well, milady.” Perseus said to Xenia and he sheathed his sword. Xenia watched him with a hawk like gaze. She waited for a moment then was suddenly very close to him and her blade rested against his genitals. Perseus froze. “Let us get one thing clear, MAN at Arms…I am NO ONE’S lady. I am NOT a lady. SO the next time you care to grace me with your loutish platitudes say good bye to your little friend.” She spoke in a calm monotone. She finished by jabbing the blade upwards eliciting a cringe from Perseus. She withdrew her weapon and smiled amiably, save for the left portion that turned her smile into a half sneer. “And I do mean little.” She strode away to be with her lady. Perseus stared after her and shook his head. Derek walked over to Perseus. “Well, I see that you are getting along with my future wife’s Man at Arms.” “Is it too late for you to consider an annulment?” Perseus asked with a grin but it suddenly froze on his face. “What is it?” Derek asked cautiously, hand drifting down to his blade. “Nothing.” Perseus replied softly and drew his weapon. “That’s just it, Derek. There’s nothing, not a sound. The forest has grown still.” Derek immediately knew what that meant and drew his own weapon. “No, get the women to the ship and I’ll cover the retreat.” “Perseus..” Derek began. “There is no time!” Perseus hissed. Then the first orc horn sounded from the wood.