Dead Moors,

The Watch,

Hurtling past smaller groups of fleeing peasants, Kido sailed like a huntsman’s arrow fired at the Emperor's servants. Those coming in from the furthest reaches paid little heed to him but were wise enough to stay out of his way.

His gifted core advancement over the years had leaned the fat from him, lending him a stern gauntness to the face. Frustratingly, it was now this gauntness that allowed the wind to whistle through his mask. An incredibly irritating sensory distraction when reaching these speeds, but one that ingrained upon him a higher truth.

The very real difference between good and Master craftmanship.

On the path of the warrior, Kido held true to the adage that attack was the best defense and so had long prioritised accruing a Master blade.

Now, he was the first in his family to ever possess one. Their first of any Master crafted item, as the one consistent of all Master crafted items, was the eye watering prices. He had scrounged every last Kwon and Koku these last two years, just to purchase his ‘beloved’.

She had cost him dearly and more via loans, but now she was his, and he could not be happier with the results. Rather than piercing or bludgeoning, she brought death in the form of swift deep cuts. A true Sacred Artists instrument, the Katana.

She was perfect.

Over a meter in length, her criminally dear price tag was also in part to the vast quantity of metal she held. Nearly a full third of the blade was crafted from a single complete piece of it, something the Watch’s very own elder Master Artisan had named ‘Noble metal’. He had folded it eight times over, insisting the technique enhanced its resilience.

The rest of the blade was molded and set with the finest of Sheraak leaves, a staple in all cored blades. Its hilt and spine sculptured from the hard-boiled and treated bones of a Spirit beast.

Not quite the match against the elegance of the Shoguns blade, it had been sufficient to immediately catch the man’s eye. Earning Kido a silent nod of approval. Lovingly he tested the unusual weight once more.

The Master Artisan had further assured him it would not break, no matter how hard he swung. The braggart’s disciples had even dared whisper of its ability to sever clean the head of Cultivator of Tempered flesh in but a single stroke.

Dangerous advertising, but appealing to the type of man who sought out such a blade. It had been the Artisan’s gall, after all, that had drawn Kido in. Now he just had to finish paying it off, but with her by his side, that would come easily.

The dead cared little for money, and he looked forward to the chance he might collect more than just a head or two in this endeavor. Mostly though, he just couldn’t wait to test its edge. The Shogun had chosen well his herald.

With a growing excitement, he sped on the winding road as it curved its last towards the many shoddy piers that riddled the Flooded river. Setting a new personal best, he crossed the boundary of tall, cracked and gnawed, Night Lantern poles. Heedless of their long dangling ribbons that billowed in his passing, he began to move with more caution.

Emptied of their low-grade cheap cores during the day, the Lantern boundary designated the edge of the Watch’s domain and final responsibilities. They also heralded the end of the Ascendant Road, marking the beginning of a realm of death and decay. The eternal Dead Moors stretched out like an ocean for as far as the eye could see.

Here the moors fought back against the trespasses of civilisation, to call it a road rang of false charity. Whilst still passable it would have long been swallowed if not for the daily efforts of the peasantry and their foraging.

Releasing his hold on his core, his powered leaps abruptly shortened. Though he still managed to clear a respectable two meters with each unpowered leap, his body had long undergone the rigorous changes experienced by the gifted Cultivator that he was. Shortly though, he muttered a curse as he was slowed even further, having to focus more on sure footing and not sinking into the marshes.

It was eerily quiet as the last of the stragglers ran past him whimpering in fear, still clinging to their loads. Nearing the dominating wall of white, his breath misted over as an unnatural chill gripped the moors. Even the bugs and voracious mosquitos were blessedly absent.

Listening closely for potential danger, he heard only the gentle trickle of water and soft breeze through the tall grass, as the city was surrounded.

Further aboard the unnerving quietness was pierced with the sporadic screams of peasantry too slow and old. Their swift silence told him all he needed to know of their outcome. Without stopping, he looked upon these final stragglers and then back up the way he’d come at the city walls.

Kido shook his head.

Pitiful fools, they were already dead, they just didn’t know it yet.

Not giving up their burdens, they’d never reach the gates in time and that was even if they survived the awakening. All around him he felt the stirring of scavenger Beasts crawling out from hidden burrows that pocked the land. Rousted from their daily slumber by the Tower Lords alarm, the safe side of the river no longer felt quite so safe anymore.

Giant armoured crustaceans broke free from their mud pools and scuttled about in search of food. Sharp toothed Bloat worms, easily capable of swallowing a man whole, emerged from their molehills, swaying in the air. They would latch onto anything that dared come to close enough, dragging them to a muddy grave.

He snarled as he heard the first croaks of tusked bullfrogs. A childhood incident that had almost cost him his foot, ensured his hatred for the things remained true. At half the size of a grown man, the vile things were known for their aggressive tendencies around their breeding pools.

From atop the wall, he had watched this scenario play out over the years, steadily getting worse. Now he was of the mindset that even the lowliest of scavenger Beasts could learn, and learn they had. Recognising the City’s alarms and waiting on the patrols and Hunters Guild to pull back to their Tree fortresses, stranding the peasant folk for easy pickings. These oversized scavengers recognised the Watch’s alarm for what it truly was, feeding time.

With a quick scan, he reached out into the ambient flows of Chi, searching for any nearby powered life forms, quickly determining nothing to be of significant threat to him.

Infact.

He drew his blade with a smile, almost losing his footing in the delightful sound of its smooth rasp as he unsheathed it.

He’d felt something close and enhancing his senses, he could hear the discordant sound of movements in the reeds nearby. Moving towards it whilst still maintaining a bearing towards the Royal Wagons, he came upon the beast in the middle of its meal.

With a squawking croak, the tusked bullfrog leapt at him, jaws opened wide, completely ignoring its half-eaten catfish.

“Shi-Baal!”

Cursing profusely, he backpedaled and cultivated as quickly as he could, drawing on his powerful aura. Mid-flight he slammed the oversized toad back into the mud with a wet squelch. The giant slimy beast squeaked in rage, trying to kick loose and snap at the Preafect as he sought sure footing. With a final curse, Kido opted to slam his boot down hard on it.

Too hard.

He burst its head and showered his prized armour in filth and gore.

Shocked and disgusted, he was overcome with rage at the indignity of it all. Flicking off what he could, he checked on his beloved in concern. He had almost besmirched the finest blade to ever grace his family on a damn toad.

*Disgusting things... the wretched… Pyeanchi dung…*

An ear-splitting cry rattled behind him as a giant bone clawed Crab rose from the mud, lifting a layer of reeds and grass growing atop of its massive shell. Here was the Beast he had sensed.

His Cultivation aura most likely having alerted the slumbering titan to his presence and now it was acting out of hunger rather than preservation. Watching the titans approach his foul mood abated steadily.

“Oh yes. You will do nicely,” He exclaimed somewhat mollified.

Sensing a powerful core and at over three times his height, it made for a suitable foe. Worthy of wetting his blades against in her first kill. Activating the Katana’s precious blue core embedded in the hilt, the blade crackled to life.

With a cry of delight, he charged.

Without warning, a last drawn-out call rose from the city. A cacophony of small handheld horned trumpets sounded off from each platform along the first wall. Lockdown was now in effect and all the Watch at the ready..

Flickering a concerned look at the Wall both Preafect and Giant crab paused in their charge. Whether it was the crackling sword in Kido’s hand or the noise from the walls, the giant crustacean turned around and scurried away in the opposite direction.

“No. No! Come back.” Kido cried. “Dammit!”

Taker’s Tits he deserved that kill. The blade demanded it.

He could catch up, no problem. But such a detour would bring the Salamander's wrath down on him for sure and that was not something a person ever recovered from. Case and point, his task here. Besides, that alarm had been the Final call. The Wave would be upon them immanently.

Annoyed at the loss of a valuable core, easily medium to higher, he approached the Royal Waggoneers with grim determination. There was no way they hadn’t heard this alarm, or the others for that fact. Regardless, no longer did they have an avenue for petty excuses, they either obeyed his Lord and Master or he took their heads.

Finally approaching them his grim smile wavered and faltered, noticing the Emperor’s servants almost finished packing up. Utterly dismayed, he heard the lead waggoneer declaring the harvest complete.

Running and splashing now, he arrived just in time to watch as the last crate of bulging seaweed was thrown into the back of a canopied wagon. Palace guards in royal blue livery cracked their whips above the ponies, whilst those in lesser brown uniforms began pushing the wagons out of the mud.

Seriously. What in the Nine was with his rotten luck today? The Salamander wanted heads, but without reasonable cause he couldn’t collect. These Pyeanchi hadn’t even given him a chance to threaten them. Dammit! The sneaky bastards must have sensed his aura against that wretched Tusked Toad and hastened to avoid any confrontation.

He didn’t have to look to know he could easily take them all on single handily. With a layered core of the 4’th Dan rank and core proficient in over five different weaponry Techniques, marking him as Don 5. He was a monster in his own right.

Selected from the elite Night Watch after years of exemplary service. He had joined the ranks of the Salamander's personal guard, marking him as one of the most feared and deadly Duellists amongst the Watch. One did not climb these heights by disappointing the Shogun.

Raking his brain for options he mused what would happen should one of those blues accidentally fell off the back.

Tsk, no, he really shouldn’t. At least not without the cover of the mists, they were the Emperor's servants after all.

“Time to go ladies. Push! Put your backs into it.” The lead waggoneer called out.

Kido didn’t know if the man had seen him yet or pointedly ignored him. Oddly out of all of them he could barely feel this man’s core as he reached out with his senses. Worse, there was something interfering with his ability to sense the wagons. Most likely their proximity to the Beast Wave or its mists.

Surprised at how easily these weaklings managed to pull the large cargo wagons out of the muddy marshes, he noted the wheels had small tufts of grass tied to them making for easier traction. With a sigh of dismay, he realised the wagons would be on the move long before the Mists hit.

“Good job ladies! We’re done here – Well, I’ll be.”

Although none could see beneath his mask, he scowled angrily as the lead waggoneer, who finally deigned to notice his approach.

“Behold! The Divine Emperors' servant has seen fit to grace us with aid after all. And just when I was beginning to wonder why he would delay sounding the alarm.”

The Lead waggoneer opened his arms wide and bowed mockingly towards Kido. Then without further ado, he promptly ignored him and jumped into his cushioned seat. With a crack of the whip, the leader of the convoy set them into motion, what few men remained scrambling aboard desperately.

The ponies took off in such a rush they almost toppled the insolent man right out of his seat as he struggled to regain his pose still smiling maniacally.

Lucky for him the ponies were so fast, as that damned waggoneer dared wink at him in passing. With a snarl, Kido nearly took his head right there and then. If it weren’t for the next wagon coming up fast, he might have unconsciously followed through.

Kido nearly burst a vein as he watched them pull out, vacating the area without argument or conflict. Robbed, he felt the urge to scream out loud but hated the idea of giving the madman the satisfaction of it hearing it.

Emperors’ servant my arse.

“Better get a move on Watchman,” the lead Wagoneer hollered back in jest. “You could always hitch a ride up here with me if you can catch up,” he cackled.

Insolent Pyeanchi.

Kido watched them go in stony silence. None amongst the convoy appeared to share in the madman’s mirth. Clearly, that fool was a bone flower addict. He’d never known such insolence and from a junior too.

Judging by the whites of their eyes, these men were terrified. He approved of their fear, it meant they respected the approaching danger. The distant roars and snorts were getting clearer by the second and if he had a bit more time, he could probably identify the Beasts by their sounds.

“Do I have to repeat myself, Watchman? Or are you blind as well as deaf? There’s an Imoogi coming down the river and I would just hate for it if you died horribly before escorting us through the gates.”

Enraged Kido drew his sword.

“That’s it! I’ll cut out your… what did you say?” He squeaked.

Alarmed he looked back at the waters.

Sure enough, just below the water’s surface, a gigantic sinuous shadow was clearly visible. Weaving its way towards where the men had just pulled the last of the seaweed nets out.

No wonder these men were terrified. Why had such a Beast come?

“Might have stumbled across an empty nest,” the Wagoneer called back as if reading his thoughts.

“Yep, definitely empty!” He burst out into a maniacal laughter

Letting out a string of unholy curses, Kido sheathed his blade and fled after the wagons. All whilst wishing death on the madman.

Ascendant Road,

Rice fields of Qaelang,

The silent throng moved steadily forward to escape the oncoming conflict, even as they cowered when the more powerful Sacred Artists descended on the lower walls from the City above. Here and there the excited murmurings of Bufan soup and other meaty dishes pierced the shroud.

Culus gave Davi’s hand a reassuring squeeze, trying to rouse his silent companion or at the very least free him of his brooding thoughts. He hadn’t let go yet and wouldn’t, not until they reached the top and made it through the third and final gate.

“You still there buddy?” Culus nudged him gently.

Davi looked up questioningly and nodded his head dismissively.

“I’m here Culus.” Only to immediately shake his head in disbelief.

How did it get in the City Culus? That attack... it was invisible. Just like the Nobles do. It was there and then it was gone.

All these people around and it just vanishes? Where did it go Culus? And how did you know it was there?

Oh, Davi. All dangerous questions and absolutely pointless too.

He knew he could have tried to explain. But what good would that have done? Ugly truths would do no good for his younger friends’ nerves and besides, he still saw plenty of evidence of the creatures passing.

People sitting on the side of the road, recovering from a serious bout of dizziness. Here someone had been violently sick, but most tellingly of all were the averted gazes.

Everyone knew on some level or another that something really bad had just come through. But as he had also just proven, simply looking was enough to get you killed. What could the uncored ever hope to achieve against such things? That was a world they didn’t belong in and talking about it or acknowledging it only ever made things worse.

Folks weren’t known to wholly survive ‘questioning’ by the Watch and for the boys that was absolute. They would just be reset and sold into servitude.

“I could tell you,” Culus intoned with an air of mystery. “But then you’d just go on to accuse him of being mother’s boyfriend.”

“Dammit, Culus.”

Davi pulled his hand free and punched his tall, cloaked friend in the shoulder.

Culus laughed out loudly, quickly latching back onto Davi free hand that waved menacingly. He was far more concerned about losing him to the crowd as another set of horns was sounded.

Davi sighed.

“All those damn alarms and they didn’t even raise a single one when we were all out there?”

Culus had his suspicions as to why, but then he knew was always a dark one. And so, he kept his thoughts to himself.

“They did.” He replied with false cheer, happy for the conversation. “Also, I still maintain that was your doing.”

Davi shook his head.

“No. That was the Tower Lords doing and besides,” he inclined his head. “The gates are still open. Shouldn’t they have closed with that previous one?”

“They were waving a red banner from the parapets, so technically they did. As for the gates, I’m really not sure about that one.”

“Right, and your mother’s …ahem… Atticus, just happened to teach you the meaning of the red flag in between all the other lessons?

“It’s a giant red flag Davi! What in the Fourth could it possibly be besides something ‘Alarmy’? And I’ve told you plenty of times before, stop saying his name out loud. He forbade it.

“Ugh.” Davi rolled his eyes, “Yes, so mysterious. We’ll just wrap it up in another one of your cloaks, shall we?”

Culus flinched at his younger friends’ words, unconsciously reaching for his sleeves and face. As he habitually checked no part of him was exposed.

Davi saw it immediately.

“I’m sorry Cul. That was stupid,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Caught in the act he forced his hands down, holding them at his sides as he sighed deeply.

“Don’t apologise buddy, it’s… it’s nothing, just a silly old habit. Don’t you worry about me. There are plenty of others worse off.”

“You know brother, if you ever want to talk…”

“No! Taker’s tits Davi… I’m good.”

The boys trudged on as the awkward silence settled on the pair, both retreating back into their own sullen thoughts. It bothered him that he was still so sensitive about it, but then he’d never been able to look at himself naked and not feel disgusted.

Finally, Culus couldn’t bear the mood anymore and tried again, calmer and more focused.

“That alarm you just heard, that was the River Horn, and seeing as though we’re coming up to the ‘Muddied Boot’. What say you we rest a moment and see what the Watch is facing this time. I’d have preferred it if we were a bit higher up, but we should still be able to see over the walls from here. Who knows what we’ll see this time?

“River Horn?” Davi queried.

“Yeah, it’s the last call for all members of the Watch to report in and it’s only ever given when the threat crosses the river. Apparently, there is no shortage of bad things out there, but most just pass us by. Anything that does cross the river, puts it on a direct course for Qaelang.”

“And before you ask, it’s only because I listen during our odd jobs with the cleanups. If you were less distracted by all the colourful skins, then you’d hear more too.”

Davi just looked Culus before nodding.

“A rest about now sounds good Culus.”

The boys made for the turnoff, having to squeeze past some slightly annoyed harvesters. Tempers would fray the higher up they went, so taking a break now and allowing the crowd to thin out a bit seemed like a good idea.

Arriving at the Muddied Boot, the boys found the way blocked to them. The space around the tavern’s walls was congested with many others who were of like mind, all wanting to see the spectacle play out below. It suited them just fine as neither would be able to see much from behind the great inn’s walls.

Lowest of all the Thorns, it was heavily frequented by the less scrupulous members of society and a favourite for the rowdier members of the Watch. Private land fervently sought after by the Nobles, these guild protected Inns were the last bastions of private ownership along the Ascendant road that hadn’t been converted into rice farms.

Craning his neck, he could no longer see the Flooded River, being swallowed entirely by the mists. Both lower walls had troops aplenty with more veterans lining up on the second, things were about to heat up shortly.

Still straining to get a better view, he thought he saw…He did!

A convoy of blue caravans with the glint of gold on them.

Shi-bal, the Emperor's wagons were still out there. How had this happened? Why wasn’t the army being sent out to save them?

Looking about he saw the whole crowd was watching the same thing, some muttering about the gates still being wide open.

Oh Takers Pit, this was insane. The divine Protector's servants needed rescuing.

He couldn’t look away.