Mercenaries of the Gods: Chronicle One - Stories

The Beginning of the End

After completing breakfast Rina, Thrack and Kadlin proceeded to the labs and begin preparations for the coming storm of chaos. Needing a quite space, Alan and I bring Zaidu to a conference room. We sit him down before locking the door and disabling the recording enchantment embedded into the room. Zaidu's nervousness is palpable when Alan starts the interrogation. 

Alan shows off by manifesting a chair across for Zaidu and taking a seat. With a smile, he asks the timid Seraph "So Zaidu, how are you enjoying this whole mercenary thing?" 

Zaidu gives a cautious glance to me before replying "So far it fine. You treat me better than I ever treated in Sumer and me learn a lots already." 

I start a small pace around the table while Alan smiles. "Good. Because we need a favor." 

The Seraph dons a small smile of his own. "Me know. Kadlin tried to get me help but I have hard time trusting demons. She say something about an attack on Tiamat. I know you strong but you guys no kill her. She is very powerful, have many minions and she resistant to black hole and most power attacks. You need ask Gods for help to kill her but I know they not help. They never help." 

I counter his logic with some of my own. "We have a plan to take the foul one out and you are part of it. However, your loyalty remains untested. Some of us question if you are the right one for such a task." 

Not phased buy the intensity of the situation, Zaidu smirks. "I loyal to Alan. He been good to me. Without him I dead already. If Alan need my help, he will have it." 

"I was hoping you would say that." Alan gives him a sinister smile. "So, this is what we are working on." Alan reveals the grand plan to Zaidu. I watch the Seraph close as Zaidu goes through a wide range of emotions. His mind seems overloaded when Alan finishes the reveal. "... and that's the plan. You can see now why we need you." 

Zaidu stares blankly for some time. After about a minute, his brain finally digests the complex plan. "You plan crazy, evil and break many Counsel law. But it just might work." He equips a big grin and he fills with confidence of his race. "I in but I need training before we start." 

Alan and I give each other a pleases glance. My attention turns back to Zaidu and my voice grows serious. "Training is what we begin now." 

In the safety of HQ, Alan and I spend the next week teaching Zaidu a few tricks. The rest of our group continues crafting what we need for the endeavor. Keeping the guild effectively in the dark, we finish all preparations in relative secrecy and depart for Sumer. We choose the sight of battle and, on the edge of the lake some six miles southeast of Eridu, we set up a small camp. In our traditional prebattle custom, we sit around a small fire watching the brilliant display of the sun as it sets. Off to the side, in a moment of contemplation, I watch as they drink and enjoy the calm before the storm. Lost in thought, my mind moves to the future and the mighty battle with a dragon Goddess. My curiosity wonders what this place will look like when the sun sets tomorrow, then I glance back to my comrades. This is the third time we faced off with a God together but never before was this much at risk. Success will save countless lives. Failure would mean death and destruction that spreads far beyond this world. Ironically, none of that mattered to them. To them it was about the mastery of their own existences, slicing through the bondage of destiny and giving fate the finger while taking a gulp of whatever the drink of the night is. In that moment remember why I enjoy their company so much. Much like dragons, they are crazy, blur the line between good and evil, shed blood without hesitation and care for little beyond themselves. Yet, despite all those detractors, they are the embodiment of pure freedom. In the end, it was not about money or glory or power for them. They desire to exist in their own way without someone other force dictating the rules of their lives. Even our new companion Zaidu seems to be basking in the freedom. This adventure was his first real taste of it in his existence and I could tell he enjoyed it much more than I have words for. I stop thinking about tomorrow and join them in their revelry. Much to the annoyance of Rina we tell Zaidu the story of how we all came together. We laugh and drink under the stars until they fade and the sun peeks out over the desert.