"Each race holds significant importance when building a corpse-man. If one seeks one with a higher ability to take hits, then orc is highly recommendable. If one seeks speed or sheer general quickness, then an elf would be ideal. If one seeks just sheer durability then look no further than a dwarf. Of course different organs are also better between species, however, human parts are not ideal for any advanced undead except for their heart. Simply because it is the only organ that enables the undead the ability to gauge a toy with their opponent's emotions to such an extent that it can completely break them instead of merely uneasy or discomfort. That is why when I build, say, a gofokus the only part from a human inside of it, is the heart. Remember we are weak and pitiable creatures, thus the only thing we boast is our adaptability, and our 'hearts'."

-Adzulamna, 3rd disciple of the Black Lord of the West, Axus Dur Gonvez to his own disciples

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Although the closest settlement was across the ocean, there were humans much, much closer. At the base of a different mountain, to which is a member of the same chain this skeleton sat on, was a group of hired explorers discovering new lands for their kings and queens. The world of men was at a strange, almost forced peace. One that came gladly after almost 3,000 years of unending death and chaos.

Men had killed brother, son killed father, mother killed daughter. Murder and killing, killing and murder. Such things followed humanity for so long like a plague unrelenting in its shadowy grasp.

Then it disappeared as if never there. No one could explain how, just the day before this terrible conflict ended, people were dying. Shedding needless blood, yet it vanished. Former enemies turned often into just another face in the market crowd, locations, where battles took place either, came unto the god's curse or slowly returned to a peaceful state. From this ancient chaos rose nine kingdoms.

For the merely twenty years since these kingdoms first appeared, no conflict arose, no looming war on the horizon, save in the minds of mad veterans.

Thus these kingdoms turned to ways of knowledge and growth. New technology had appeared. Things like cobblestone roads in the capitals and major cities began appearing. More advanced smithing techniques, allowing superior quality materials appeared. Humanity had reached a golden age of knowledge. Due to this, humanity too sought knowledge of other places across the sea. Undiscovered locations, creatures, and of course resources. Thus the nine kingdoms together formed twelve exploring parties, to go where no man in their recorded history had gone before.

Thus sat this encampment of twelve humans. Each either a highly intelligible scholar, a powerful warrior, or bearing some other form of use towards such an expedition. They of course heard, and most definitely felt, the impact of the skeletons fall. Their eyes glued to the lake of smoke sprawling into the fading deep Tuscan colored sky.

An older man, gray hair far outnumbering hairs that weren't, rose from an impromptu chair of a stump in the middle of the camp. His eyes were wide and fearful as if he was staring at the gates of Desis themselves. He fell to his knees thinking this may have been some sort of divine sign that they were trespassing into parts mortals weren't permitted entry.

Another man came and put his hand on his shoulder, a younger man with a determined yet excitable expression on his features "Get up, Grenvald. We have a mission to complete." Grenvald stood still, his face still in a panic of religious fear, yet he stood and nodded, his dedication to his kingdom only barely outweighing his devotion to the gods. The younger man began shouting out orders, having the camp they set up for the night, disappear. They had to discover what caused that massive devastation in this new land, they were determined to gain that knowledge at almost any cost.

However, the mountain the skeleton had fallen upon, was a distance away, thus it was late morning by the time the arrived at its base. A couple of the group shrugged their shoulders a bit, sighing. Not many looked fondly upon traversing up such a large mountain. Others were excited, to discover what lay upon it. What secrets this mountain would hold. Then one of them, a scholar of the group, mentally grumbled upon having to be here when he could be in his bed at home reading instead of prancing around this 'god forsaken waste of land'. Then again his nose looked like a hook, so none of the group had a hard time realizing he didn't quite want to be there.