Disclaimer: anything you recognize from a copyrighted source is not ours, we borrowed it. Most however is based on our own imaginations.

(A/N: This is an ongoing RPG, some of the chapters a bit short because each one is a post by a single person. For that reason, I will sometimes update two chapters at once to compensate. Constructive Criticism is welcomed, flames are discouraged. If you wish to contact the people involved, they can be found the site RPG Vault. The link is in the profile. Enjoy.)

Chapter One

iDeep within the obsidian structure called the Palace of Whispers, hundreds of wizards circled around a large platform upon which sat the throne of Vlaakith, Lich-Queen of the githyanki. A mist creeped its way up the throne, formed a humanoid shape, and began pulsing with a black power. The wizards began chanting in unison at the arrival of their queen. The blackness within the mist pulsed faster and faster until it drummed in the hearts of everyone assembled. Then it was over. The chanting stopped, the mist vanished, and Queen Vlaakith was left sitting on her throne.

She stood and began scrawling invisible lines of arcane power on the ground before her. Quietly and slowly, she began the incantation that would open the rift between the Astral and Prime Material planes. As her tempo quickened and loudened, the other wizards joined in, adding their power to the spell. The lines that Vlaakith had traced began to glow brightly causing the arcane symbols to contrast starkly with the black obsidian dais. When the chanting had reached its crescendo, all the voices stopped as one, except for the Queen's, who shouted out the final words of activation.

Nothing seemed to happen as a result of the spell, apart from the glowing lines dimming until they were no longer existent, but Vlaakith smirked knowingly. The portal had opened in a more convenient place for the invasion force to enter. Yev'dakai, the Commissar would oversee the troops once they crossed the planar rift, and Xam'kras, the Arch-Wizard and Vlaakith's right hand would make sure there were no troubles in navigating through the rift. The invasion had begun. /i

Kain Fahraen stalked the githyanki through the forest... he used the tightly packed trees and widespread branches to his benefit, leaping from branch to branch and running the length of it to stay above the creatures at all times. The githyanki he was following seemed to be some sort of scouting party for some larger force, and Kain felt it a good idea to find out what he could of their intent in this part of the wilderness.

The githyanki traveled in a fairly straight path for about an hour before veering south, towards the edge of the forest and a large open valley. They grouped up with several other parties before they reached their goal, and soon they numbered two dozen. Kain, not completely familiar with githyanki, but very familiar with military tactics, knew that there must be many of these creatures about for three scouting parties to meet like this on their return to their base. He began to see the reason for their being here.

Lost in his thoughts about why the githyanki had come, Kain didn't notice a dark figure until it had rushed into the northern flank of the combined groups. The man (for it seemed to be a man) knocked several githyanki with his first assault by sheer strength and with surprise working for him. With supernormal speed, he dipped his great sword and sliced open the creatures' faces. With the same extraordinary reflexes, he readied his sword to face the rest of his opponents, but he was hopelessly outnumbered. Kain sought out the leaders of the various groups and readied his bow. The warrior below would not go without aid.

With amazing speed and accuracy Kain strummed his bowstring twice, leaving two of the leaders dead. The third that Kain had sighted was now locked in a duel with the dark warrior and Kain didn't want to disrupt the man's concentration by eliminating his current opponent. Instead he began picking off any githyanki that had the gall to try and sneak up on the man's flank or unprotected back. In short order, all the githyanki lay dead, with the final one being cut down by one of Kain's arrows as he tried to flee the scene of battle.

Kain scaled down from the tree and jogged over to where the man was searching the leaders' bodies. He nearly faltered a step when he saw the man in full detail however, for instead of a man he saw a tiefling... a human with fiendish blood running through his veins. Still though, his principles held up and he knew that such beings were often treated unjustly just for being what they were. The man stood and faced Kain as he neared, watching the archer with a wary eye. Kain saw it would be up to him to initiate the introductions.

"Greetings, valiant warrior. I am Kain Fahraen, of Eredon. You have fought very well today; may I ask why you were following this group as well?"