Skamos Valander stood watching the green coast of Galdria approach from the bow of a small schooner. Salt stung his nostrils as he breathed in the fresh air. Creaking ropes, the barefooted pad of sailors about the deck, water lapping at the ships hull; these sounds danced about him and sent him to another place. Dreams during the day had of late been of his young wife. Had he not been a gifted mage, his hands would be either cooking or holding a book back home. Reilynn was not fond of his adventures nor his obsession with fire. While he sought after his love with his mind's eye, his hands toyed with a clear orb that seemed to hold an internal fire. The orb itself was not entirely powerful being merely a focus but it's significance in Skamos' life was great.

Suddenly, the men were shouting and a loud splash brought his attention back to the present. He formed the power of a missle of pure magic ,the least likely to catch his surroundings ablaze, into the orb and turned to look for the disturbance. The sailors were bring down sails and a few were lowering a chain into the water. With a shake of his head he let the power trickle slowly back into his being. He watched as the others in the task force made thier way to deck at the call of the captain. A grin slid to his face as he sauntered towards his good friend, a stalwart Dragonborn Paladin who looked slightly awkward at sea.

He sent nod to his friend as he joined the group awaiting a familiar face to appear from the topside cabin. Looking around at those who were to be his battle companions, Skamos had to appreciate thier strength and ability. A halfling thief, an Eladrin Cleric, and another who was a skilled Ranger. The Eladrin were holding hands...apparently they knew each other.

Well rounded group we have here...

Soon a small cloaked figure appeared from the door to the topside cabin. Skamos' eyes danced about watching the sailors and could tell the others were doing the same. Though the seamen seemed to be ignoring the small one, it took only one loose tongue to ruin the expedition. A few words were passed only loud enough for the small group to hear and one unanimous nod was given. Each of the five watched as the cloaked figure made it's way back to the cabin before they moved as one towards gear and a long rowboat that would bring them to shore.

After some jostling, half for fun and half for room, the group and two sailors were creaking towards the green coast. Skamos watched the forest that butted against the sea for any signs of hostility. There were at least five tribes of feral creatures and one other rumored to be making a bid for rulership over all.

First the artifacts, then the white one...

Soon the vessel struck the stony beach and they piled out. Almost instantly the ranger was bristled and his attention was no longer on Anaria, his love. The cleric stood close but not too close to her male as the halfling knelt as if she was about to kiss the ground. Even one born to the rivers did not like the big waters. As usual the Paladin was a beacon of light to the surrounding lands. Skamos chuckled as he waited for the ranger to guide them into the basin...

There the true fun will begin...

It was not long until the Ranger had found his bearings and was ready to enter the thick forest ahead of them. Dark green pines and maples were the base of the forest itself while white birch trees stood as a beacon throughout. All of them shifted their weapons as a feeling of unbearable weight descended on them as they entered the dark wood. Little noise was made by the Ranger...lots by the Paladin.

They traveled for nearly an hour before they reached the first of the clearings. Wearily the Eladrin leading stepped into the clearing only to jump back at the last moment as an arrow clipped a bit of his hair and thudded into a nearby tree. Weapons were drawn in an instant and the paladin made his way to the front. Seconds passed before the goblin war-party showed itself.

Most stood gathered around their leader, a squat goblin with one tooth curling over his bottom lip, but a few of the archers kept their distance. "Show yo'selfs introodurs!" To which Kidren gave one quick smirk at Skamos, who had made his way to the front also, before stepping out and giving a ferocious roar. What once was a grin turned to a slack jawed stare as they took in the mighty warrior. This gave Skamos just enough time to raise his orb and send a nice burst of flame into the center of the group. As the goblins became engulfed with flame screams arose as those not touched by the fire fled.

A few of the little beasts made it through the attack unharmed including the chief. He looked around at his dead comrades with an expression of fear firmly planted on his face. "Uh...maybes we's undaestamaded yous...bye now." He and the rest scampered into the forest to lick thier wounds haunted by the sounds of laughter...Skamos' mostly.

The rest of their day was uninterrupted and went fairly smoothly. Fortunately for them, the Ranger was capable and recognized a few traps laid for animals before the others were caught or hurt. That night the party slept beneath the shadow of the crater making a small fire. Slowly they slept, with the Eladrin in trance and being completely aware of the surroundings, not fearing any attack. A few hours after the others asleep, the lovers ended thier trance and snuck away to...do what lovers do...

Skamos awoke to a nudge of the foot and the laughter of goblins. Reaching within, he summoned a fire blast without thinking and engulfed himself with fire. His fire tempered body resisted most of the damage. The goblins laying dead around him had little chance to flee before being burnt to a crisp.

"I love the smell of burning in the morning." Skamos' signature grin slid to his face as he watched Kidren nearly split one of the attackers in two. Their halfling companion used her daggers with deadly results as the last one fell with her blade in it's throat. "Well Kid, looks like I win this one." He quietly counted the dead around him coming up with eight while the massive paladin had a pile of only seven. "Better luck next time."

Kidren only smiled and shook his head. The pair had been friends for quite a while. Skamos had come to the City of No Names to study under some of the best mages in the Bolermos Archipelago. An old Dragonborn by the name of Lucian had accepted him as an apprentice as they both had a love of fire; Lucian being a red and Skamos being a Teifling. Kidren was asked to be the apprentice's escort through the city. The pair were often seen wandering the streets in conversation. Dragonborn admire those who work hard to better themselves and so the relationship blossomed.

One day the Paladin uncharacteristically wandered them to a tavern in the foreign quarter and even went so far as to buy them drinks. This day changed Skamos' life forever and to this day he believes the Dragonborn had planned it. Behind the bar was a beautiful, even by other race's standards, Teifling maiden. Her long black hair fell to bare shoulders. Her skin was a light red, almost a pink and had she not had small horns she would have passed as an oddly colored elf. Skamos was taken by her and work hard to win her over. In the end he married her sister whom had taken to him and had a forceful personality.

Now Skamos actually missed her as the memories flooded back to him. He stood looking around and immediately noticed the missing pair.

"Where are the lovers?" As the others shrugged they heard a scream cut short from north of the camp. Without thinking they scrambled through the forest towards the most gruesome scene any had witnessed. In small peices lay what remained of the two Eladrin. The largest peices of them were hands which were nailed to trees nearby. Skamos collected them and put them into a small sack.

"We must move on now..." Screams and Jibbers from a large Goblin horde could be heard approaching. Kidren despite the halfling's protests kneeled in prayer. Fire leapt up around them as Skamos began to burn the area hoping that it would destroy the bodies completely. Finally, Kidren leapt up and ran towards the camp as the others followed. Gathering what they could they ran towards what they thought was the tunnel leading into the Galdrian basin.

Once in a while an arrow or javelin would thunk into a tree nearby. The screams of the Goblins seemed to be right behind them. None dared look back as it would only slow them. Rushing head long into a large clearing Kidren stopped suddenly. Amica made it under the Paladin's legs but Skamos collided into his back knocking him to the ground.

Peering around the steel humanoid's legs he could see a large gathering of tents and rough shelters. Looking like statues stood hundreds of Goblins staring back at the three. Behind them the screams had stopped at the edge of the forest. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the thief was the first to move. She ran sideways out of the middle of the two armies of goblins. Kidren shook his head, turned, and picked Skamos off the ground shoving him ahead.

They ran as the sounds of battle suddenly lurched behind them. Pursuit was close behind but only a few from each side. At some point they all separated but all were running down into the basin. After what seemed like ages they hit a clearing with a beautiful pond and three crystal clear streams. In the clearing were goblins fighting with four humanoids. One dressed in black seemed to step out of existance then back in at a different point in the basin. A beautiful elven woman swung two swords as if dancing. Another thief toyed with his prey as monsterous metal thing picked itself out of a stream and lumbered towards the goblins.

I think I'd be afraid of that thing running towards me...if only because of the walking accident that it is...

His thoughts turned to enemies as some of the pursuing goblins joined the fray. Skamos mind went to another place as magical energy flowed from him. Fire coursed through his veins and through the ranks of goblins until the dust settled leaving little but blood and charred bodies.