Disclaimer : Obviously not mine, but the ten year love/hate affair with the game is.

Rating : The game is rated MA, so the fic will have to follow with a M for violence and graphic gore.

Author's Note : And now for some obligatory traveling.

Act I End, Act II Begin

Intermission

Akara managed to save Kyoko's life, but the Rogue Archer was in no shape to travel out with Warriv's caravan to Lut Gholein in two days' time with the seven of them.

The Rogue was somewhat sad, but also slightly relieved, not to be continuing with them in chasing after the Dark Wanderer's shadow. "I would have accompanied you, if you wanted me... but I want to help with cleansing the Monastery." She shook her head, still lying on a cot in the High Priestess' tent as the Sorceress knelt down beside her, having entered to collect the healing and mana potions she had purchased from the Rogues' High Priestess. "We will not be sending you off without one of our own to help, Flavie has volunteered to take my place."

The spell caster smiled softly in the dim confines of the fabric shelter as she gathered the glass bottles filled with potions she had entered for. "We will miss your swift and sure bow, that is for certain."

Outside of Akara's tent, the others were loading and securing the goods the Rogues had selected to be sold off for the capital needed to purchase more supplies that they could not make or forage for themselves, Warriv had given each of the seven of them their own space in his wagons to store what they would, but they had little to store besides their cache of gold, personal items, or the few gems and other such jewels besides the equipment they wore.

The Encampment was either busy or nearly abandoned by turns that day, Kashya having taken those of her Rogues fit for battle and returned to the Monastery early that morning to look over what needed to be done to restore their home to its original condition and to open the gates east to the deserts of Aranoch, just on the other side of the Tamoe Mountain Range. Akara and Charsi were currently looking over the semi-permanent parts of the camp, seeing what would need to be dismantled and what would need to be moved to strengthen the outpost. The Rogues had decided to remake the Encampment into a frontier camp, to better protect the settlers that might return to the Khanduras forests, as long as they had survived escaping it to consider returning.

When the setting sun started casting lengthening shadows over the camp the caravan was finally prepared to depart, checked over for any possible problems and set up to leave with the rising of the next morning's sun. They spent their last night in the Bloody Moors sitting around the fire pit without bothering with their usual chores or anything else resembling the maintenance of their combat equipment. The Barbarian and the Paladin could not do much but rest, seeing as they were still badly ill with the remains of Andariel's venom coursing through their veins in spite of the potions of antidote both the Sorceress and Akara had poured down their throats. Having escaped the majority of the poison spewed in the chamber underground but unable to stand for very long, both the Amazon and Assassin spent the time cautiously talking about the places and sights they had seen since leaving their respective homelands. Spending time reading the two tomes lent to them from the High Priestess of the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye, the Necromancer and Druid both were slightly peaked from the Demon Queen's poison but not as afflicted as the others were. The Sorceress was cheating a little in preparing the evening meal, using her fire magics to ensure the deer which Rogues had given them was cooked thoroughly without the use of a spit.

Warriv, Deckard Cain, and Flavie had joined the recovering heroes around the fire, the Rogue Scout resting her curved bow on her knees, the caravan driver next to Cain with his maps laid out before him, and the Horadrim Sage with his staff set against his stooped shoulder.

Once the meal was done, the Sorceress portioned most of it out and set the rest of it to be dried for jerky on one of the wagons. After doling out the portions to those who were eating, she took a seat next to Warriv. "How far out is Lut Gholein?"

"Lut Gholein is on the other side of the Aranoch desert, next to the Twin Seas. We have to get through the mountain ranges and the decent to the desert floor, as well as the miles of scorching sand between here and the port city." The older man pulled out the maps that showed a great part of the Aranoch desert and the mountain range. "I am relieved that so many of you survived your tangle with Andariel, you'll be of great help in dealing with the desert raiders and whatever monsters we encounter on our way."

"Is it a dangerous route?"

"I've been leading caravans for twenty years now, Sorceress. I have, in that time, been attacked by more bandits than I care to remember, but never when a Paladin accompanied me." Warriv cast a grin to the holy knight recuperating across the fire pit. "The Paladin Order of Westmarch has kept me from losing a small fortune, so I don't expect more trouble than you and your comrades can handle. However, I wasn't expecting the Monastery to be besieged by one of the Lesser Evils, so I may be wrong about that."

They set out with the rising of the sun, rounding the long way around the wild forests of Khanduras. It took them three days to reach the Monastery gates that way, but they also didn't have to risk taking the wagons through the Underground Passage. Kashya greeted them with the out runners of her Rogue scouts when they reached the Tamoe Highlands, escorting them up to the gates leading east through the mountain pass.

The terrain changed drastically, from the lush forests to the rocky crags of the mountain range and on the decent it just got hotter during the day and freezing cold during the nights. The ground under their boots turned from mossy to rocky, then to the shifting sands of desert terrain.

Half of their number weathered the transition better than the others. The Paladin, who had trained with all terrain types in mind, ignored the heat that baked off his armor and helmet, marching almost at the head of the caravan. Both the Amazon and the Sorceress, although used to extreme heat paired with vast amounts of humidity, were just as successful at enduring the changes in temperature as the holy knight. Having come from a mountain region, both the Druid and Barbarian had trouble at first with the extreme heat of the days, but were well fitted for surviving the nights. Though she hated the dry heat paired with her black leather, the Assassin remained mute about any problems she was having, and the Rogue, Flavie, held a similar silence.

The caravan spent two weeks crossing the desert. Warriv ordered them to travel during the mornings and evenings only, to keep any of the people with them from expiring with the heat and from getting lost in the dunes during the nights. The oxen that pulled the wagons each spent long amounts of time at each of the oases they found, as the water that traveled with them in great barrels was portioned out whenever it was needed and not as travel rations.

There were more monsters along the trading routes than the old caravan driver remembered, and less human bandits to be seen. Great twisted vultures circled overhead and one periodically landed to harass whatever it could before one of the eight escorting the caravan managed to kill it, as well as frequent attacks from Saber Cats and the twisted, legendary dark warriors called the Sand Raiders that appeared from out of the night and tried to slaughter the people traveling to Lut Gholien.

They reached the main trading port of the Aranoch desert two and a half weeks after they had left the Rogues' Encampment in the Bloody Moors with the rise of the midday sun. The eight assorted warriors lent a hand with unhitching the wagons and unloading, as they had not seen much action since the previous night's raid by a pride of Huntresses.

Once Warriv had situated himself near the edge of the city, gathered the eight of them together before they left him there. "Now that Andariel is dead, I can return and outfit the rogues properly. Once I've made some trades here, I'll be free to head back to the Monastery, let me know if you wanna travel along."

Before they could scatter to see what the Jewel of the Desert held for them, they were approached by a finely robed man. "Greetings, honored travelers. I am Jerhyn, Lord of Lut Gholein, and I bid you welcome to my fair port-city. I'm glad to know that once again caravans are free to travel through the Western Pass. For some time now, we have been under siege by an evil power that I cannot identify. Strange... It all began when a Dark Wanderer came this way, looking for the Tomb of Tal Rasha. No one knows exactly where Tal Rasha, Keeper of Baal, is entombed, but it is certain to be far out in the desert. Now, my people whisper tales of the dead rising from their tombs and horrible creatures lurking amongst the moonlit dunes. Even I have witnessed things which I cannot explain. I've ordered the port closed and all trade ships moored until I am sure that my city is safe. Atma, the tavern keeper, has an important mission for you all. Go see her immediately. You'll find her on the other side of town. Now, I must return to the palace. I apologize, but I can't invite you in. Things are... rather a mess right now. To any who aid me in the defense of Lut Gholein, I pledge my support. Passage East, wealth, honor - all are due to those who help my city." With that, the Sultan leader left them there and returned to an ornate palace in the distance.

The Paladin grimaced at his back as they watched him walk away. "A fine greeting indeed. I suspect that all is not well in this fair city."

"Atma… well, we will need rooms to stay in, for I don't think we can pitch tents in the middle of the streets." Checking to ensure her wrist blades were still where she left them, the Assassin looked around the part of the city they were now in.

There was a well next to where the caravan driver had his wagon, as well as some wooden awnings holding goods and food for sale. There were fewer people roaming the streets than any good sized port city should boast, unnerving the Amazon and Paladin further.

With a heavy sigh, the Druid pulled off his pelt and tied it around his waist. "Mayhap we should see for ourselves what the other merchants have to say. "

"Charsi was unusually good with her gossip. Shall we each take a part of the city and meet in this Atma's inn?"

When no one objected to the Sorceress' suggestion, they started wandering the streets to see what they could learn.

(ooo000ooo)

The holy knight, the wild warrior, and the lycan found the merchant's square first, since that was the way they had split from the others. Seeking a cooler place in the heat, the Druid was the first to come face to face with Atma within her Tavern.

As soon as he entered the manmade den, a woman in gray and purple robes approached him. "You'll forgive me if I seem upset. I've suffered a loss recently, but that's not your problem. It's a relief to see some proper warriors come through here. My name is Atma. I run the tavern here in Lut Gholein."

"… I am sorry?"

Atma gave the nonplussed Druid a tired smile. "I don't expect this of you, but if you want to help me, I would be grateful. In the sewers below our city, there lurks a horrid creature that hungers for human flesh. The creature has killed many, including my son and my husband. If you destroy it, I will reward you. Please be careful though, that beast has taken enough from us already. The sewer entrance is through the trap door just up the street."

"I will see what I and my companions can do for you, dear lady." The wild mage gave her a rueful grin. "We were, in fact, looking for you. Lord Jerhyn told us to seek you out."

"That was kind of him." Atma's smile grew more genuine, and she invited the shapeshifter into her public house.

(ooo000ooo)

The Barbarian had taken a quick look around, then went off after his brother in spirit, leaving the Paladin alone in the merchant's square, where it seemed Deckard Cain had also wandered to. He wandered a bit, seeing what was for sale and eventually reaching Fara's smithy.

The red headed woman nodded respectfully to the Knight of the Westmarch. "Welcome, brother Paladin. I am Fara. I was once a devout champion of Zakarum, now I forge weapons and armor, and can repair your equipment for a price."

"Well met, lady Fara." The holy knight saluted her with one fist, as his weapon would remain sheathed while in the city. "I am looking for a new sword."

(ooo000ooo)

The Sorceress and the Rogue Scout passed the merchant's square after looking in and seeing the Paladin conversing with the blacksmith of the city, wandering down some more streets until they came up to a blind alley where a brightly robed and dark skinned man was reading a tome of some thickness. He glanced up at the two women, shutting the heavy book and tucking it away once he recognized one of them as a fellow mage. "Welcome, young Sorceress, to Lut Gholein. I hope your skills are a match for the horrors that lie beyond the city's walls. A mage of your limited experience may find the evil too great to withstand alone. My name is Drognan and I know what you're up against, my friend. You ought to look over my inventory of items for trade."

"Then it is thankful that I do not walk alone then." Despite the rather unwelcoming words, the older man's words were warm and the Sorceress felt none of the censure she normally got from male mages similar to her own clan.

Stroking his white goatee, Drognan grinned wryly at the young mage standing proud before him. "Many of the Mage Clans feel that women shouldn't practice magic openly. But since you've made it this far, I must say that you have proven your right to do so."

The elemental mage cracked a grin at the older wizard. "My thanks for the compliment, and I think I will look over your items, my good sir."

(ooo000ooo)

Elzix peered down the street, convinced that his one good eye was playing tricks on him. No one was that pale under the desert sun. As the figure got closer, the old bandit lord realized what he was staring at. "Ah... You must be one of the new heroes who've come to rid our city of evil. Under any other circumstances, I'd be surprised to see one of your kind in the city. But lately... Oh, never mind all that... You know, I used to be quite the scoundrel in my day. I led the fiercest group of bandits who ever terrorized these sands! Nowadays, I run this here Inn and pretty much stay out of trouble. My days of adventuring are behind me." The crippled older man grinned, displaying a few missing teeth to the Necromancer who had stopped once he was addressed. "You know, I've lost a number of body parts over the years. An eye here, a leg there... Say, do you know any spells that'd grow them back for me? Hmm... On second thought, I'll leave well enough alone."

The pale mage arched a sardonic eyebrow at the ex-bandit. "I would advise that as well. May I have your name, if you are done accosting me with pointless observations?"

With an even wider grin, Elzix held out part of a hand. "Elzix of the Desert Rain Inn, at your service. Necromancer."

(ooo000ooo)

By mutual consent, the Amazon and the Assassin stuck together. Something about the city was bothering the two female warriors, and until they knew more, decided sticking together was better than becoming confronted by whatever it was alone. They wandered to the entrance to the city, intent on systematically searching Lut Gholein by starting at the beginning and working their way out.

Just inside of the city walls, a mercenary leader called out to the two of them. "Who goes there?" He scowled at the two of them, until he noticed the weapons they had but kept holstered while within the city's walls. "Well, a pair of warriors come to clean up the Evil in the city, huh? I'll bet you wonder how this town manages to stay safe with all the trouble going on out in the desert. Well, I can tell you that it's got nothing to do with the local town guards... they're all in the palace for some reason. Jerhyn hired me and my mercenaries to help keep the peace around here. We're not cheap, but we're the best this wasteland has to offer."

"I take it then you are the one to see about what goes on around here?" The Amazon inspected the male from his turban to his booted feet, and had to admit it looked like the mercenary could hold his own.

"We do a good job in town, but beyond the city gates, you'll find all manner of demons. The local guards were all relocated to the palace after the troubles began. No one really knows why. Actually, all of the town's brothel girls have been hiding out in the palace's cellar lately, so I assume that the guards have been assigned to 'protect them' with their lives. We're keeping the town safe and tight, but I've got a hunch there's something Jerhyn's not telling us." The man grimaced at the thought, then shook his head and held out a calloused hand to the women. "My name is Greiz, the leader of these desert mercenaries."

The Assassin shook his hand after the blond warrior. "Do you have any mercenaries for hire then?"

"I might spare you a few of my men. Why, enough gold can muster an army." He grinned broadly at the two of them. "May I ask why?"

"I have the feeling that we may end up traversing the deserts, and an experienced guide is always welcome."

Nine of them met up in Atma's public house with the fall of the desert's harsh sun. The Mercenary named Durga joining the eight of them already present to listen to what the others had found and interject his own two copper pennies worth. The Druid explained Atma's request of them, and the Mercenary told them the rumors and stories that had been circulating the town since the disappearances started.

It was a unanimous decision to go after the monster lurking beneath the city, each for their own reasons. They decided to start on clearing the sewers of the Evil that resided there at the next day's dawn, and four of them, the Amazon, the Paladin, the Assassin, and the Mercenary stayed to rent rooms from the tavern keeper more for her peace of mind; the Necromancer leading the Sorceress, the Druid, and the Rogue to the Desert Rain Inn to keep from crowding the widow's available rooms.