Sharp winds would blow across a desert land, carrying forth a destructive storm of sands. A sharp harsh sky of trio suns, a murderous reflection of yellow tons. Few creatures on the move, so very few in view to bask in the love of such a world. The desert world of Toyen 11, a world known as one of death and yet one of life. On the desert plain walked the four: one of anger and annoyance, one of collect and knowledge, one of determination and excitement, and finally one of simple desire and destruction.
Their steps echoed in the sands, lost as the winds covered over. Shrouded in cloaks and hoods they moved on, not a pace taken back.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY13fXcc2TF
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“Team Dolphin.”
“We’re called Team Dolphin now, really?!”
“Yes Christa. Now. You four have an assignment. Recently Elysium High Command sent out another batch of missions. This one is a highly rated one for knights. It’s been reported on Planet Toyen 11 that mummies have recently begun to walk the sands at night. They’ve apparently been acting under order of a curse and could threaten to spread to all dimensions. The mummies are said to be immortal and are able to create a legion of zombified civilian slaves.”
“Sounds peachy,” Silas chuckled.
“Don’t worry sir, we’ll get this done and be back in no time!” Enzo concluded.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ULRCI3yQh
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“Ugh, this sucks!” Christa barked.
“Hey healer girl, you said you’d take any mission,” Mifune laughed.
“Mifune, I swear to Asura!”
“So Enzo, where are we heading to anyway?”
“Well Silas, first we’re heading to a village named Crakhowl. It’s one of the oldest villages that has a library of events. Supposedly they might know what’s going on and how to stop it.”
“So why haven’t they stopped it themselves yet?” Silas questioned as behind them Christa began to shake Mifune by the throat.
“They can’t decipher the text.”
“And we can how?”
“Beats me.”
“Terrific. This is going to be a long mission.”
The sands stretched forward, blowing and covering their path, seeming eternal and unchanging. The further they went, the more lost it seemed they were to become as their steps quickly filled back in with the rushing flow of sand.
Beyond into the core of the desert, through the scorching sands and the burning winds, through and through over the dunes of endless sand there stood an oasis. A lake. A lake as blue as any other, crystal smooth water with rocky shores. Curved like a crescent, taking up half a square kilometer with ease with its folds.
Gently the waves of this water crashed against the shore lined with rock. Just beyond, rich grass and climbing palm trees, cool cool shade ever present. Many stone huts and buildings lay scatter in row around the palms, fields present beneath their cast shade. Stone paths carved in, paths from building to building around the lake to which people walked upon.
Alligators lay plentiful, birds crowded where they could, and wild life itself scampering around the people. The individuals, wrapped in bandage scarves and long flowing robes that covered much of their bodies. The robes though flopped with just the slightest of breezes, weightless it seemed.
The group approached from the dunes, slowly walking forward into the shade of the palm trees. Forward along the stone path they walked, their heads turning around observing. Children ran around stripped almost nude minus some minimal fabric. The elderly were dressed lightly as well though not quite as exposed, keeping many of their wrinkles hidden.
As they entered, several sets of eyes turned their way. Christa’s own began to launch themselves, darting glances left and right.
“Ignore it,” Enzo murmured, “They’re not accustomed to outsiders most likely, especially with how we’re dressed.”
“Pft, we’re not that weird,” Christa began.
“HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!” Mifune barked, “Where are those dang mummies at!? We’re here to destroy those sonsa-”
“Quiet!” Christa spat slamming her arm around Mifune’s throat.
“Guhcke-”
A grunting could be heard off to the side, a pained one followed by some shuffling. Step by step their heads turned to witness an older man approaching with a cane. One arm behind his back, slowly stumbling forward with the cane balancing him. A few inches per second. His hunched back slowly bent ever so, allowing his half closed eyes to meet with the four.
“You are the Bounty Hunters?”
“Bounty Hunters? No we’re-” Mifune began
“We prefer the term mercenary but uh, yeah we are,” Christa chuckled as she choked Mifune.
“Idiot,” Enzo hissed, “They can’t know what we are!”
“Guh, right, sorry.”
“Yes sir,” Silas said, “We’re here about the mummies. We were wondering if you could update us on the situation, and maybe explain why this could be happening.”
“Why certainly. Eh, please, come with me,” he murmured slowly turning around.
Almost at once his pace more than tripled, moving far faster than before. With a nod Enzo led the group after the elder man, all heading towards a building. A wooden door opened, to which they all walked in as it then was shut. The room was relatively bare with a wooden desk and a bunch of book shelves, a few men and women standing around in armor with children also present beside them. The elder stood across on the other side of the table as the four entered, having moved far quicker than before.
“I apologize for our off putting statures. Truth of the matter is that we’ve not had a lot of visitors as of late that are actually still living,” the elder spoke.
“We’ve heard the stories. Before we can do anything, we need to know how and where it all began, what the possible source is, all of that.”
The elder looked to two of the men, both of which returned the look nodding, “Very well. Oh but introductions first right? That’s customary I suppose, forgive the rudeness. I am Mirlo, the leader of Crakhowl’s Tribe.”
“I’m Silas. This is Enzo, Christa, and Mifune. We’re peace keepers more than anything else so we’re eager to help the people of Crakhowl with this disturbance.”
“This disturbance effects more than just our humble Oasis Town. You see, thousands upon thousands of years ago, our people were an enslaved people. We served the Great Kings of the Sands. Kings of the Sand were known quite well for being vicious rulers, forcing their subjects to die constructing pyramids and temples and other such buildings. For generations people died serving their leaders.”
“Seems like a common thing across most worlds with deserts,” Mifune mumbled.
“Eh, so we’ve heard. Well it’s said that the last King of the Sands placed a curse on the desert after his followers turned on him. To what extent, we’re still learning. Supposedly he swore that in a thousand years he would return to smite the descendants of his followers, to destroy them for betraying him. Well, a few months ago we hit that marker. Nothing happened, not until just the last few weeks with these mummies popping up at night. They were originally spotted about a half-day’s journey to the nearest oasis.”
“And, that’s all you can tell us?” Christa mumbled.
“Unfortunately yes. They only appear at night and any attempt to cut them down has been less than successful. Other than that, we’re at a standstill. We don’t even know the full story of the last king.”
“No need to worry elder, we’ll get to the bottom of this,” Mifune laughed.
“We should start our research at the oasis,” Christa commented, looking to Enzo.
“Agreed. One of us should stay here though to help with the-”
“Enzo, you’re a noodle. You stay back,” Mifune chuckled.
“What? But you might-”
“We’ve got this, right Silas?”
“Oh yeah, definitely.”
“No, we should all go together. We need all of our brains on this one. Thank you elder. Come on guys,” Christa said turning around.
Silas sighed, silently following after. Behind came Enzo and a laughing Mifune. The elder sighed as well, shaking his head as the team of four exited the building, “May the stars give you strength travelers, you’re going to need it.”
Slowly a boy approached the old man, looking to him with a shaking expression, “We should have told them, everything,” he commented holding out a rather old tome.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjxMVw731a
