On a dark grey asphalt highway, intermediate between lush green forests on its left, and open yellow fields on its right, hidden in the white misty smog -almost fog-, drives a coal black limousine, of Imperial architecture. The car has been driving for over two hours, almost three, and has stopped only once during the journey (for fuel). Now, it is about to deliver its passengers to their desired destination.

The limo takes a turn to its left, and parks at a national forest’s parking lot. Two national park range guards, wearing light & dark green camouflage and their funny cowboy hats, rush forward to greet the visitors, and move their hands to their foreheads as a sign of salute as the special guests step out.

Out first came the imperial majesty herself, Inpératress Kristiar Lazon-Liftoke, armed with her two blades and her special bow & quiver. She wore a richly decorated breastplate made of arcane white steel, silver scales just around her waste, and a dress of red, white and gold. Then stepped out Gathordia, wearing a cape of black & blue, armoured in his best suit of armour, and wielded a large sword, forged from the flames of the earth’s blood. And lastly came the grand duke, the young babe ‘Ignatius’, carried by an imperial guard.

“Greetings to her Imperial majesty, Kristiar Lazon-Liftoke! Hello to our excellency, prince Gathordia! And welcome to the grand duke, heir to the throne, Ignatius. Ave!” The guards shout “Hello, men. We hear reports that Solordiar has been spotted in these forests. Please, direct us to your witnesses,” The Inpératress asks, “As our ruler commands!” the guards yell out before turning, and leading the way.
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“So what did you see?” Gathordia enquiries, “I sure.... him”, an elderly ranger mumbles, sitting on the dirt floor of the cabin, with a bandaged arm, a blanket, a mug of hot chocolate, and ash all over his skin. Gathordia narrows his eyes, “continue” he asks. “I saw him. I saw fire, I saw smoke, I saw an iron-clad warrior. I saw Solordiar, but... not how you would’ve knew him as...” the old man says.

“Aye, I saw him alright. He killed my comrades, he killed my best bud, and he killed my own son! In the most horrendous and cruellest of ways possible!” A man in his forties cries, “He was only a boy!... *sniffs* Please, avenge them! I don’t care how, just kill that demon!” He then pleads, “We’ll do our best” Gathordia says.

“Yeeah mame, I saw heem in the deepest defs of da f’rest yo. Mah main conc’rn about heem at the time was.... the trees he burnt down, and the animals he probably killed.” a hippie chained to a guard’s wrist told. “Okay...” Krstiar began, “and when was this?” She asked. “An hour ago he claims, just before I caught him and arrested the trespasser and lover of chaos” The guard says. Great! Kristiar smiles.
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After hearing the witnesses, Kristiar and Gathordia proceed to march on, on a long trek through the misty forest. They were accompanied by two imperial guards, and a band of rangers who volunteered to join them (Plus Ignatius, don’t question why they’d bring the babe with them). “I have a bad feeling about this...” Gathordia is heard saying. As they reach the part of the forest said to be haunted by Solordiar, the smog gets thicker, and the environment changes. More and more blackened trees and dead fauna become visible. “For those who are mortal, put on your masks now. The air here can murder,” orders Gathordia, “And stay silent! for who knows, inferno’s wrath may hear you...”

“Grrr...”

“Halt... Hear that?” Gathordia asks whispering. “No I....” Kristiar pauses, the eerie sound reoccurs

“Rrrr...”
“W...what on earth was that? A wolf?”

“No, your majesty. That’s not a call from a wolf, that’s not even a sound from earth. That’s the sound... of a hellhound....” A ranger whispers. Hellhound? Kristiar ponders.

“It’s the sound of a devil! Look!”, Gathordia points. The group gasps, as a screeching black critter emerges from the shadows of a hallow log. “Rr-rrahh-hahgh!”

“Ha! It really IS the sound of a devil! Aha!” The ranger laughs before being shushed by everyone else. “It... is? What do you mean?” Kristiar asks.

“It’s a devil, a marsupial. The scientific name is Sarcophilus harrisii” Gathordia answers (Tasmanian devil: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=387). “A marsupial.... thought those were extinct in Osea.”

“They are, I am just as surprised as you are to find one here; especially a devil” The ranger replies. “Oh”, Kristiar approaches the devil with a curious yet cautious eye. “R-rah-agh-agh! Rrr...” The devil screeches. “It’s... kind of cute... why is it here?”

“There is only one answer... out of the way!”

“Huh? Oh s***!” Kristiar jumps out of the way of a hurdling javelin, that finds itself in the flesh of the ranger’s stomach. As the ranger gasps, and hits the forest floor, the devil pounces and bites him by the leg. The other rangers trying shooting it with their rifles but completely miss, as the devil drags its prey into the thick smog. The distressed cries of the man can be heard as the creature tears the mortal limb by limb, gut by gut, piece by piece, until sending his unfortunate soul to the land down under.

“Bah!” A man cloaked in many furs ambushes and strikes Gathordia with his polearm, Gathordia deflects these blows yet is forced to step back as the combat thrives. The two guards aim their guns towards him and prepare to fire, but...

“Wait... Gathordia?”
“Zelatano?”
“Whoa whoa whoa....” The two break from combat, and turn to the group.

“Everyone meet Zelatano, previous protecto-“
“One of the two protectors of the fauna elemental. Greetings” Zelatano bows.
“He murdered Simone...” Says one of the rangers.
“Who's Simone.... Ah, him. No I didn’t. That was my friend Tassie, he was hungry.” Zelatano answers.
“Describe the javelin...”

“Alright fine, sorry. I couldn’t tell whether you guys were a friend or foe, but due to circumstances I assumed you were enemies. Besides, survival of the fittest, that guy was weak....” Zelatano says while smiling like a psychopath. The group remains quiet. “Hi Zelatano!... it’s been a while,” Kristiar waves cheerfully. “Oh, didn’t see you there Kristiar. Greetings, yeah it has, how’s it going?” He waves. “Alright...” She replies.
“And by the looks of it, you’re raising a man cub. How’s he?” Zelatano asks, gazing at the slumbering youngster.
“Ignatius? Healthy and promising. Listen, we are in search for my husband Solordiar. He has-“
“Turned mad. I know. I’m partly to blame for all this... come, where it’s safe. I’ve got some nice roasted boar for you guys to eat.“ He beckons.
The guards and the rangers look at eachother, unsure of whether they should allow this stranger to be their host. As for Kristiar and Gathordia, it felt like shouting ‘Eureka!’, but even they were unsure of him.