Ashwood: 18 Arodus, 4741

Lavitz looked up from the kneeling position that he found himself in and allowed himself a slight smile, one that softened his features in spite of the immense pain he was feeling, before thumbing the second stud on his axe again, causing it to change back into its previous configuration and then attached it to the hitch on his belt. "You follow the tenets of Lissala. 'That all workers receive their due, that all works are rewarded, and that faith... ' ''

Beneath his cowl, Naqam smiled. " 'And that faith is the answer to adversity.' " He finished Lavitz's statement, finished the very creed that was a foundation for both his order and his faith. He paused but for a moment before continuing. "As a J'sevath, I was taught that one's true strength comes from the purity of a heart unburdened by doubt, like a beast's. This is the essence of faith.

"That is why I fight, Lavitz Kaisur. I fight to affirm my faith, knowing that in these hard times it takes more than just sitting by and hoping that something or someone will come along to make everything better for all concerned. I fight because I know that if there is to be any kind of change, it will take both hard work and the strength of a pure heart to make such a thing come to pass."

Sirathu: 6 Desnus, 4742

The air thrummed as Naqam spun his force-staff before him, trying to anticipate the totenmaske's attack. The creature's eyes were wide as it lunged forward, desperate with hunger as it braved the dangerous weapon and tried to claw at the warrior-mystic. He angled his staff slightly, arcing it, and with a snap of his wrists, slammed the forearms of the creature so as to keep its clawed hands away from him.

The totenmaske hissed, whether in pain or frustration Naqam was not sure. Again it pressed forward, clawing and biting at its foe and again Naqam spun his weapon to keep the undead horror at bay. As it moved, the warrior-mystic noted that the totenmaske's speed was much faster than his own. In combination with its inability to feel fatigue, Naqam knew that allowing it to set the pace of this combat would be to the creature's advantage.

It dove at Naqam, who twirled away from the totenmaske easily enough, whirling his weapon about himself as he moved. When came he back around to face the creature, it was no where to be seen.

Where is it? Where did it go? Naqam looked about him, making sure to use every sense available to him, but found nothing to indicate where the totenmaske went. Secure that his foe had somehow fled the scene, Naqam shut off his force-staff and hooked the crystal-hilt back on his belt. He spared one more glance back over the area and began to make his way back to his companions.

Ashwood: 18 Arodus, 4741

Lavitz looked up at the man standing before him for a long moment. "Your conviction, your belief, is strong. And that is what connects all who would stand against the forces arrayed against us. Which is why I would be honored to have you by my side in this fight. You have given up much to be here in this place. Left behind all that you know to be here now in this moment, based solely on your faith, the strength of your convictions, and the purity of your spirit. I just hope that we prove ourselves worthy of you and your faith."

Naqam ceased his movement and deactivated his force-staff. "You already have, Lavitz Kaisur. I am curious about one thing. You do not walk the Hidden Path yet you know of it. How?"

"I walk my own path," came Lavitiz's response, accentuated with wink. He then placed a hand on his ruined knee. "Iomeade is a stern mistress. Stern but fair. Much like your own." A warm yellow radience flickered from beneath his hand, flowing over his injury. The sight made Naqam think of the sun, a celestial body not seen or felt in Varisia in over thirty years.

Sirathu: 6 Desnus, 4742

The holy knight understood Xein's frustration and could empathize with him. The Chelaxian was young and sought to prove himself on the field of battle. But his feelings went much deeper than that. Lavitz had been present on the day Xein first sought to become a Knight of the Sihedron. Many voices had spoken out against the Chelaxian, fearful of both his heritage and his power. However, Lord Draxas had seen something of himself in Xein, and so granted his petition to become a Rune Knight but only if one of his men would accept him as an equal. When Lavitz saw that no one else was going to, he immediately stepped forth.

He allowed Xein to regain his composure. "We have a duty to render aid however we can," said Lavitz, taking care on his choice of words. "It is an obligation that we all have accepted when we took on the mantle of Sihedron Knight. If there is even the slightest chance that someone could be alive here, then we must find out."

Xein nodded his head, then looked up at Lavitz. "I understand."

The Andoren smiled, relieved that he and the Chelaxian had not come to blows. "Let us go and see how Naqam is doing."

"Lavitz!"

"Naqam! We were just coming to..."

The Lissalan warrior-mystic interrupted his companion. "There is trouble here. A totenmaske is running loose. I can't sense where it is at the moment, but it couldn't have gone far."

Lavitz glanced from Naqam over to Xein, his clothing seeming to dissolve away, revealing a black and gold suit of baroque full plate armor displaying raised images of radiant angels and rampant lions beneath. "Time to render what aid we can," he said through the muzzle of the armor's roaring lion head helmet, his weapon firmly in hand.

Ashwood: 18 Arodus, 4741

The warrior mystic re-hitched his own weapon and extended his gloved hand to Lavitz. The Andoren, his knee now fully healed, accepted the offer and rose to his feet.

"A holy knight of Iomeade, trained in the ways of enlightenment. The Minkai of Tian Xia have a word for one such as you: sohei."

Lavitz inclined his head forward slightly in acknowledgent of Naqam's words. "Once again, you honor me greatly." Lavitz knew of the Minkai and had heard that a sohei was an honorable warrior, one with such depth of character and enlightened goodness that he gained holy power enough to stand against the most terrible of enemies in defense of his ideals and beliefs. "I am nothing like you."

Naqam pulled down the cowl of his robes, revealing an unreadable expression on his tattooed face. "No, you are not. You are sohei. I am J'sevath. It is very clear that we are different."

Prominently displayed across the bald man's face was a large red seven-pointed star, a Sihedron rune. The sign of his goddess Lissala plain for all to see.

Lavitz's mouth was agape for just a moment. This was the first time he had actually seen the warrior-mystic's face, for he commonly kept it hidden beneath the large hood he wore. He had the bronzed skin and noble look of an Osirian, one of the desert folk that lived on Garund, a continent to the south of Avistan. Lavitz quickly recovered his composure. "Come, Naqam. The others await and we have much work to do."

Sirathu: Desnus, 4742

The three men moved slowly amongst the ruins of Sirathu, each keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings and each other. Lavitz, taking rear guard, and Xein, taking the point position, kept Naqam in between them he used his mystical senses to try and locate the undead creature. But because the totenmaske had resumed its true form, he was unable to perceive it anymore.

But Naqam knew there had to be another way. He went through a couple of expressions before settling on one that enabled him to sense the hostile intentions of others. The Osirian immediately felt the intentions of his companions even as they caught the scent of burning ozone that was reminescent of a lightning strike billowing away from him as he activated his power. He also felt something else as well.

"Wait," he called out. "It's nearby. I can sense it."

They all halted their movement. "Where is it, Naqam?"

The warrior-mystic raised a hand to Lavitz as he focused his senses to locate the creature. "You should be able to see it."

Xein whirled about, trying his best to see it. "Are you sure? Because I sure can't see it."

"Neither can I." Lavitz turned his head as much as his helmet would allow. "Could your senses be wrong? Perhaps it has a way to fool you."

"No, Lavitz. My senses do not lie. It is here."

The Andoren thought for a moment, then assumed a defensive stance. "The ground. It is in the ground!"

And at that moment, before anyone could act, a pair of moldy green hands erupted from the ground behind Naqam and grabbed his ankles, who screamed as his flesh began to peel away from the creature's touch. He could feel his body going cold, feel his emotional essence being drained away. Naqam tried calling out to his companions, but the strength to do so was gone. It took all that he had to just stand upright.

Lavitz thumbed the third stud on his rod, causing a long blade to spring forth and the handle to extend, transforming into a ten-foot long spear. He immediately began to thrust the weapon down at angle before him, trying to hit the creature without hitting his friend.

Xein stood by, his own weapons in hand, waiting for an opportunity to use them against the totenmaske.