Zephyrx sat on a creaky barstool, sipping on her free white wine. Her work to ally herself with the merchant folk in Neriak had proven useful in more than one way. Few patroned the Cuisine Excelsior, deep within the 3^rd Gate, especially at this time of night. The Rack next door, run by Yally G`Noir, wasn't any better, no doubt because they didn't have any barstools. She passed her glass back.

"Empty as usual, huh?" Zephyrx stared down the stairs, seeing no one on the first floor, either.

"You're tellin' me... too many heroes, no one stickin' around. Run in, buy twenty or so bottles, then run off. That's all they do anymore." Grazis L`Crit smirked, baring her vampire-like canines.

Zephyrx smiled back, then stared off over the banister, letting herself become lost in thought. She recalled all the events that led up to this point in her epic journey. She remembered traveling alone over great expanses searching for the Masters who disguised themselves, one a Sarnak, one a skorpikis. With the help of her friends, she had slain a troublesome monk in West Karana, the terrorizing hill giant Cazel in the Oasis, and the tangrin in Field of Bone. She had charmed multiple creatures, including a ghostly Iksar librarian in Kaesora, a chromodrac in Skyfire, a Skorpikis in The Overthere, and even the dangerous Wraith of Jaxion in the City of Mist. Her mind milled through the details of each event, remembering the heroes who had helped her get this far. The attempts on the royal Chardok family also took their time in her thoughts. Finally, she had won that battle with the aid of the Cactus Rats clan. Her path had been difficult, but she was not yet able to rest. She had a few remaining monsters to slay in tight places.

These thoughts brought her back to why she was here. She sought the Dark Elf cleric Verina Tomb, who was a most elusive woman. She was seldom in the guild, gone for several days at a time. The other clerics kept silent as to where she went. Zephyrx would have been willing to bet her collection of precious stones that no one at all knew where she went, except maybe those she had been rumored to be in contact with on her journeys. She recalled what the skorpikis Modani Qu`Loni in The Overthere, one of the four enchanter Masters who would craft her a section of the Serpent, had told her about the cleric. Perhaps Modani was scouting the dark Outpost there on the northwestern coast of Kunark looking for Tomb?

Zephyrx slid off the barstool as quietly as she could, then sauntered down the stairs, where she leaned against the open door frame. With the aid of her ultraviolet-sensitive eyes, she could see The Maiden's Fancy through the darkness across the way. She felt sorry for the female Dark Elves who danced down there, working for coppers. An Ambassador frequented the place, and she had even tried disguising herself as one of the dancers in attempt to get information out of him. He knew something, but she wasn't sure if she'd ever know.

A glass smashed, and she whipped her head around and up. Grazis L`Crit cursed, then popped up from behind the bar. Zephyrx grinned, swishing her wine around in its glass. Verina Tomb would be hers. It was only a matter of time. Once Tomb came back, Zephyrx would confront her. Tomb would take offense at her inquiries and not reveal anything, become enraged, and Zephyrx would be forced to kill her. She would gather a force of Light, and possibly find an unknown Dark Elf defector. The guards would not interfere, and would cast their eyes aside if a powerful warrior of blue skin were to streak through the caverns, even if being chased by the prestigious Verina Tomb. They all knew her unknown deeds while on her secret missions were of a betraying nature, but no one would challenge her, as she was of her sixtieth rank within her guild.

Her thoughts were interrupted as a middle-aged Elf approached her from the street. He looked directly at her and smiled. "Ah, I have been looking for you. Please, come with me! I have information you may find of interest."

Zephyrx narrowed her eyes in suspicion. She couldn't pass up this opportunity, but she would have to be cautious. What if he knew something about Tomb? He certainly didn't pose a threat to her by himself. Easily forcing a smile in return, she stepped closer. "Oh? Information of what kind?"

The Elf seemed to lose some of his confidence, and his true timidity showed through. Why shouldn't he be nervous? She could pump his brain with a lethal dosage of mana in a heartbeat. "I-I shouldn't talk about it here, milady, please come with me!" He started to move away down the street. After a moment, Zephyrx followed, keeping her senses alert.

"Now!"

Zephyrx stopped, looking about. Suddenly, the stone walls and nearby bubbling fountain disappeared to be replaced by an even darker, colder cavern. Before she could blink, her arms were immediately bound behind her. A robed magician brushed her, backing away behind an important looking cleric.

Zephyrx struggled, her wrists held tightly behind her by a grinning elf whom she judged to be about her rank. She recognized the cleric as High Priestess Alexandrian, who paced in front of her as she squirmed in her captor's grip. "Let go of me! This is outrageous!"

"I agree! We have reason to believe that you are from Forces of Light. My comrades tell me you have been asking questions, looking for Verina Tomb. I want to know why!"

"There's nothing to tell. No one knows where Verina Tomb is, and I simply wish to speak with her about my cousin, T'Rix, who wishes to follow Innoruuk in the way of a priest. Now let me go! Just you wait until Perrir Zexus finds out about this!" Zephyrx hoped she could convince Alexandrian of her cover story, as she didn't want to create an incident. Attempting to stun or gate away could make them think she had something to hide. They would pounce, and it would all be over.

"Zexus doesn't need to know about this," Alexandrian replied. Two Dark Elves approached on either side of her, and Zephyrx recognized them as residents of Neriak's enchanter guild of the Tower of the Spurned, which she had patroned and even studied in on several occasions. Alexandrian turned when she noticed them. "Ah, you're here, good." She looked back at Zephyrx. "You may be powerful, but not powerful enough! My friends, disperse our "guest's" mana pool, if you would be so evil?"

Zephyrx panicked as the two beguilers began to chant, and she grasped at her own mana, instinctively attempting to conjure up the colors of stun. The mana floating about her sparked and became visible in balls of light. She was too late, however, and the lights blinked away and scattered, along with other invisible gatherings of mana that surrounded her. The enchanters cast over and over until her pool was sucked dry. She felt completely vulnerable, her ever-present aura completely obliterated.

"Ha ha! How does it feel, treacherous one? I'm not through with you, yet." Alexandrian looked at Jasar. "Remove her enchanted jewelry and armor, as mana tends to stick to it. That includes her lovely robe..." Alexandrian grinned satisfactorily as Jasar simultaneously removed her armor and shackled her to the wall, leaving her nothing but her skimpy plainclothes. Alexandrian picked up her cloak, which sported a green emblem on the back. "Cloak of the Faydark... very rare indeed, certainly befitting a High Elf, don't you agree?"

Zephyrx couldn't sit, and found it hard to meditate while standing up, but the soft breeze surrounding her brought mana her way, and it collected in bits about her blue form. It was, too, soon dispersed, however, as the two dark enchanters continued to keep her sucked dry. They placed enchantments on her that broke her concentration, causing the mana to seep from her pool and into their own.

"Evil Jasar, make yourself useful and annul her enchantments." Alexandrian smirked, feeding off the horrified expression Zephryx failed to mask. Her heart skipped a beat, then proceeded to pound wild in her chest. The younger cleric chanted words she found partly familiar, resembling that of a disenchanting spell she had learned when she was younger. It probably wasn't as powerful as hers, but it was plenty...

"...Sorra pu!" The elf channeled his magic into her, and she shut her eyes against the blinding flash as she felt her protective shields and, to her dismay, her ever-familiar soft breeze, dissipate.

Alexandrian scowled at her. "What? She hasn't reverted! Do it again!" Zephyrx could see the two enchanters flanking her roll their eyes.

"Maybe I'm really not who you say I am! Ever think of that?" Zephyrx shot out desperately. Unfortunately, Alexandrian was desperate, too, and Jasar continued his chants. She braced herself.

"... Foren nai, Sorra pu!" Zephyrx shuddered, her illusion ripped from her. The shackles on her wrists became uncomfortably tight. The four Dark Elves now stared up at her.

"There now, you see... there is no denying it! You may have pointed ears and long legs, but you're disgusting, pale hide betrays you! You're of Tunare, not Innoruuk! Forces of Light will learn to never again spy on us! No more lies... you're going to tell me why you are here. NOW!"

Zephyrx bared her now fangless teeth, glaring at Alexandrian. "Go to Hate."

Alexandrian's eyes twitched, fury welling up within her. Her hands began to spark red, evocative mana rushing to her side. "No one taunts me and lives... pay the price!"

Zephyrx writhed as the wrath of Innoruuk slammed into her unprotected form, burning magic coursing through her arteries to every cell of her body. She cried in pain, not even noticing the sparks recollecting about Alexandrian's hands.

Jasar pulled her arm, interrupting her. "Alexandrian, you've already almost killed her! What use will she be to you dead?"

Alexandrian glared at him, then turned to the suffering High Elf panting before her. "If you think that was painful, imagine what one of our necromancers could do..." Alexandrian threatened in a soft, menacing voice. "I'm sure Xon Quexill could find several of his followers who would love nothing more than to practice on-

"Is this the Shadowknight gu..." What appeared to be a blue serf sporting nothing but a rusty blade and underwear gaped at Zephyrx's white skin from around the corner.

Alexandrian turned. "What's wrong, never seen a High Elf before?"

The serf looked terrified, yet grinned wide. "Cool!"

"Get outta here!" Alexandrian sneered. The serf jumped and scampered off, undoubtedly to find his guild.

Zephyrx closed her eyes, absorbing the whole of her situation. Here she was in the deepest crevices of Neriak surrounded by a merciless race that now could see her true, hated form. Her mana pool was fried, her shields nullified. They even took her proud armor, including her cloak...

The cloak. She had almost forgotten it! Unknown to the Dark Elves, it was connected by thin strands of mana to the Faydark, and had the power to pull her out of here to her homeland, if she could just reach it...

No, there was no way of getting hold of it. As she sifted through the possibilities, she heard others approaching.

Alexandrian turned and grinned wide. "Ah... you have come at last. I have caught the fair Zephyrx for you! I leave her at your lack of mercy.... Muwahahahaha...!"

As Alexandrian and her minions backed away, Zephyrx could see through bleary eyes who approached. Clenching her jaw, her anger seething, she sneered at them.

"Darkness!..."

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Zephyrx's hope lay in the hands of the Forces of Light!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Saturday, October 12^th, 3pm PST (6pm EST)

Come be a part of Part 2!