Into The Hellhole

Kelvar sat in the hut bleeding. The blood slowly dripped down his wrist and into the small vial. Finally! He had filled the entire thing! The Hellfolk of Aeon were known for having deadly poisonous blood to the other denizens of this dead world. And Kelvar always made sure to have some on stock.

He licked the wound clean, being immune himself, and headed out into the hot desert sun where the village called The Hellhole. It wasn't a large village. maybe 200 people. 90% of the citizens were hellfolk. The rest were darklings and a few ogres. Once in a while a minotaur caravan might come into town.

The Hellhole was known for two things.

Murder...and more murder.

Kelvar was good at both. Or at least so he claimed. In reality he hadn't ever killed anyone. But his reputation around the city was that of a violent assassin who always caught his prey.

Today would be a challenge though. He had been hired to take out the Dwarven King of Krest. Kelvar would actually have to assassinate someone for once. Either that or never show his mangled face in The hellhole again.

As Kelvar walked down the main dirt street of The Hellhole, he wiped his forehead. The sun was miserably hot in this blistering desert and sweating was common place.

Sweating blood wasn't.

As Kelvar's forearm came down, rather than covered in clear sweat, it was covered in dark blood.

The hole in the middle of his forehead squirted like a siv.

The shot that had rang out was loud and sharp sounding.

Someone was firing more than just a musket.


B-B-B-BRAAAAAAP!

The machine gun rang out loud as hundreds of bullets flew through air dropping the Hellfolk like flies.

B-TANG! A sniper rifle rang out and half a woman's head hit the ground before the rest of her did.

And then the rumbling.

The sound of death and fury and lust and rockets and that all too powerful noise called pissed off.

The hundreds of steam driven chopper bikes and the ten steam powered cannon tanks barreled into The Hellhole.

The dwarves and rogue humans and rogue Hellfolk who weren't originally from The Hellhole all jumped from their vehicles grabbing the nearest civilians they could. The women became pleasure.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

The men became target practice.

Whiskey flowed freely.

The women were passed around like a group would share a pipe.

The narcotics were as ample as some of the dwarven women having their ways with the male civilians not used for target practice.

The Hellhole had fallen.

This new group....whoever they were....they were in charge now.

And there was nothing anyone could do about it.


"And that's my story," the old man said leaning over the table, "gold isn't any good in this world anymore. Not since all of the economies became virtually worthless when all people are concerned with is base survival. So instead I offer trade. Ten gallons of fresh clean water after the job is finished. 1 gallon to start with. I want whoever killed my grandson. I want you to find the sum bitch. And I want you to cut his head off and bring it to me."

Nelvan Nelvan of Clan Nelvan cousin to Irongut Irongut of Clan Irongut was anything but stupid.

"You up that price to ten gallons and a ten steel rivets and you have yourself a deal," Nelvan said cocking his eyebrow and twirling his long beard in his fingers.

Nelvan may have been a dwarf, but that didn't mean he was as stupid as the ones in the mercenary groups that invaded The Hellhole. He needed the rivets badly if he was ever going to finish the harpoon gun he was building.

"Agreed," Kelvar said.

After handling a few more small business matters, Nelvan left the inn in Steppes. The hellhole was a days ride. Nelven didn't own a mount. That would make it three days walk through the Ison Desert. he glanced at the gallon of water hanging from his bulging pack on his back which also held straps for the ten different poleaxes and spears he used.

"Should have asked for a bigger deposit," he said. Then he began his trek to The Hellhole.

Many of the rangers tried to convince Kutsu it was a bad idea to go off alone. However, none of the rangers were willing to venture to the Hellhole. So, the druid went by himself. He didn't know why he was going there, only that he had a strange dream of strange machines slaughtering innocents. If those machines could destroy people, they could destroy parts of the natural world.

Kutsu was a proud druid. He was a minotaur, found the tolerance and racial indifference in the druids to be refreshing. However, old habits die hard, even in Kutsu.

Kutsu also loved the world's natural beauties. He marveled at the dirt, sand and clay; water, air, and the warmth of the sun. Kutsu loved seeing the sun again. And loved feeling it on his fur.

Kutsu stood half an hour outside of the Steppes, bathing in the sun. All his vestments and clothing off and laying in the sand...

Lucian was thinking has his hair blew in the wind, he was thinking about how he came to be here and how he was wraped up in some quest of saving the world, was he a hero? He didn't know but he knew one thing for sure, these people Browden expecially were his friends and to him Browden was a borther and he was glad he stumbled into that village nearly a year ago. He looked back at Browden slient and looking into the ocean as the sun glisten off it, Browden glanced at Lucian and noded slightly as a gester. Lucian noded back admiring his black leather eyepacth and he stood up and was speaking to the man at the dock that helped them beach there boat as Lucian tied it up and began gathering there equipment. He went to the nearest tavern and rented a couple rooms and walked over to Browden with a pint in his hand. "Cheers to you man drink up we got about 2 or 3 nights to rest." Lucian sat at the bar and notice the loud laughter of the riverfolk and Dwarves at a table as chicken was stuck in his beard. Lucian smirked as he cleaned his gun and swords and daggers.

Browden sat down and buried his face in his arms. Why did he follow this group to Steppes? He was wishing he had gone to Teseron Isle.

It wasn't the sand that worried him; though that would hurt getting in the socket. It wasn't the heat. It was the company.

Browden didn't really give a damn about the Hellhole. He didn't know why he was going. Just cause he was a moron, apparently.

Browden called for a lot of water. He was not looking forward to what was coming up.

Lucian could tell Browden did not want to be here. Lucian walked over and sat next to him, and layed a hand on his shoulder handing him a new glass of water. "Were here because he sent us here," Lucian excalimed, "By the way i made something for you." Lucian reached in his bag and pulled out the most ellegant glass enchanted axe. The handle was black and the head was glass but made of the strongest material known in the world of Aeon the edge of the glass was black and charcoled as smoke slightly rolled off it and there was a hint of orange flame to the black. "It's speciall it has a fire enchantment and it took me along time to get it use it well." Lucian siped his pint and looked at the big burley man. Lucian then turned his attention to a group of men shouting defentially drunk and stumbling around. "Hey, hey look at that one" said one of the men and walked over to Browden and flicked him on the nose. "You look preatty tough huh? what you gonna do about it big man?"

Browden didn't even grab for the axe. When the prick came and flicked him, that was a death sentence.

Browden, almost casually, but with some speed, drew out a dagger and plugged the blade straight into the man's face. He pulled the blade out, cleaned it on Lucian, then replaced it.

Unfortunately, the man's face was so bloody, there were red blobs in the water.

"Dammit. Get me another glass, hound."

Lucian grined as he got up and walked to get more water. "Thats my friend." he said to himself with a grin. Lucian has known Browden for nearly a year now and he loved the way how Browden treated him. Browden treated him just like he did when he first met him but he was closer to him, a stranger certainly wouldn't be able to tell. Lucian walked back with two glasses as the other men now silent drug the body out. Lucian looked at Browden and then Lucian's eyes started turning more wolf color as Lucian's facial expression changed. "GAHHHHHHH!!!!" yealed Lucian as he fell to the floor and kicked and cursed as the lycan within him attacked again. This began happing more often when the wolf tried to escape Lucian couldn't take much more of it. Lucian slowly stood his appearnce more evil and more stronger looking he sat back down not saying a word. Browden has helped Lucian in these ocasions mostly when they were somewhere in public and someone would shout something cruel to the wolf. Browden didn't mind if he sayed something but when someone else did it pissed him off. Thats all that should be said the rest is easy to figure out. Lucian glanced at Browden as he could hear the whispers of nearby people. Lucian hung his head low, he was ashamed and saddened by this constent discrimnation that he seemed to feel no peace from.

Browden saw as Lucian began to change. He quickly reached out to grab a glass of water. The other one dropped and shattered on the floor as Lucian began to have one of his fits. Browden calmly drank his water.

"Gah! There's a wolf hair in the glass."

Browden picked the hair out. He signed with annoyance. As Lucian's attack continued, Browden kept his only eye out for what patrons were doing. Having only one eye, he couldn't focus on much more.

"Better stop, wolf, you're getting some on lookers," Browden joked. Then he saw a few men getting up while staring at Lucian. Browden didn't like confrontation. Only ending it.

"Hey!"

The whole room looked at the giant man. He only shook his head disapprovingly. His hand moved to his giant axe, letting the room know where he stood.

"The kibble-eater took my eye out. The asshole'ld fucking swallow the rest of you."

Lucian was glad Browden stood up for him, Lucian looked at the 2 or 3 that still stared and took out his Dwarven magnum, "He wasn't jokeing", as he named it at the one man and shot his pinky literally exploding it. Lucian holsterd it and walked upstairs into his room silently and fell asleep in his bed.

Nelvan was just about to leave Steppes and start his long walk through the Ison Desert when he heard the roar.

"What th' hell?" he said turning around looking back at the small village.

Riverfolk and Hellfolk both ran for their lives.

Dwarves and Minotaurs and Humans poured into the city on steam cycle and steam dune buggy armed to the teeth with large guns.

The guns were like something Nelvan had never seen before. Bullets, hundreds of them, poured out of the barrels in just a few seconds!

Bodies fell to the ground everywhere.

"SHIT!" Nelvan yelled and took off running through the desert.

Above him, an odd gyro-copter contraption raced through the sky carrying three humans. Two of them jumped off of it with battle axes and went after a fleeing Hellfolk child, cutting the boy down and hacking away at him.

Nelvan continued to run for the desert. And then it hit him...

"SHIT!" Nelvan yelled and took off running back to Steppes. If Kelvan, the man who had hired him, died, the Nelvan wouldn't get the rest of his payment.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

The innkeeper stood outside of the inn firing a musket. he dropped one dwarf but another drove his steam cycle straight at the innkeeper.

Nelvan pulled out on of his spears as he ran and launched it...

...and missed.

"SHIT!" Nelvan yelled in frustration.

The innkeeper got another shot off nailing the dwarf who drove straight at him between the eyes. The dwarf's body flew off the back of the bike, while the bike still went forward and ran the innkeeper down crashing through the front door.

Nelvan ran for the last place he had seen Kelvan.

The inn.

He burst inside and everyone stared in confusion, shock and awe at the steam cycle.

More gunshots were heard outside.

He found Kelvan hiding behind a big minotaur, a large man with an eye patch, and elf with a bow and a man who looked to be part human and part wolf possibly. Nelvan ran up to them.

"I'm fine, just get to The Hellhole and do your job. If you gentlemen would care to help him, I can throw in five gallons of fresh water for you plus a loaf of cheese each."

A dwarf minotaur burst into the inn and fired two pistols, one hitting Dacen in the shoulder the other one just barely missing Lucian's head. One of the barmaids, a short fat Hellfolk woman, slammed a kitchen skillet down on the minotaurs head knocking him out cold as she stood on the bar.

Nelvan didn't wait for his no cohorts. If they were coming to Hellhole with him, they were coming. if they weren't, then they would end up shot and dead eventually. Nelvan didn't care either way.

He just wanted paid.

So the dwarf made his way out of the inn and back through the village, the way he had came and ran for the desert.

And then he jogged. And then he walked quickly.

And then he just walked.

It was a large desert.

It would be a long walk.

"Shit."

Dacen cleaned his blade and che3cked all of his equipment before leaving the ship.
Then stepped out. "HOLY SHIT!" He whispered when he saw the comotion.
Dacen made his way to Lucien and Browden "So what next guys?"

Lucian looked at Dacen with disgut spit on his boot, and pushed him aside. Lucian looked to Browden and spoke only loud enough for him to hear as the walked with the Dwarf"Listen man, I really appreaciate what you did for me back there, just want you to know that." Said Lucian as he looked at the Dwarf "We wouldn't happen to be looking for Turk'en's son half darkling half god friend of Erron king of the undead, would we?" said Lucain as he waited for a reply

Browden slapped the back of Lucian's head.

"Hush, fool! Be more careful when you're giving information. He might not be trustworthy."

Browden then calmed himself and looked at the Kelvan.

"We'll assist you, old man, but when we return, if you have any information we can use, we'll take that WITH the water and food. However, if you 'talk' to anyone about use..."

Browden motioned to his companions to follow.

"We gotta catch up with that dwarf before he gets too far. Also I'm tired of this place."

Browden quickly made his way up to the desert. The sand prints were visible and not hard to track. Hopefully, if the moved quick enough and the wind didn't push the sand, they'd find the dwarf soon.

The sound of gunfire and crying could be heard all the way to the desert. Kutsu was knocked out of his meditation when he heard the commotion. It would appear he had found what he was looking for.

The druid quickly replaced his clothing, though they were sandy, and started to head towards the village. However, as he drew closer, he could see a dwarf emerging and walking towards him. Off in the distance, the minotaur also saw a group trying to catch up with the dwarf.

"Hail, fellow. I believe your companions are lagging behind. What has happened in the village?"

"heh? Companions?" Nelvan Nelvan of Clan Nelvan said in confusion. he turned and saw Browden and the others trying to catch up.

"Oh them..." he said.

When they had caught up he answered their questions...

"I'm searching for a killer in The Hellhole. The Hellfolk used ta run the place but it's been taken over by a variety of races. A steam-biker gang or sumthin'. Anyways I'm supposed to find the killer there. As fer someone named Turk'en, the only one I ever heard of was some Darkling who started the whole zombie plague in the first place or started the war or sumthin'. If he's got a son, someone should get the babe from him. I hear this Turken is a mean cuss that likes to eat babies or sumthin' and that he even has a harem in The Hellhole. Buncha women he has his way with all at the same time and each time he cuts off a body part and feeds it to 'em. Real sick fuck. Anyways if ya want to help ya can. If not, then don't. I don't care either way. Kelvan will see to it yer paid. Not me. It's about 3 or 4 days walk from here to The hellhole. And it's not a nice walk. There's beasts and shit out here in the desert. So be careful." Nelvan finished.

herod saw the others follow the dwarf into the desert from the window of his room. he had parted ways with them some time ago, but wasn't surprised to see them here. The dwarf kept to himself in his room, avoiding the group when he saw them. The desert had warranted the dwarf to cut off his hair and shave most of his beard off. he still kept his dark goggles. They proved just as useful in the desert heart as they were in the Long Reach's winter glare.


He saw the last trailing desert steam-buggie. There was only one person on it. Something must have happened to his passengers in the tavern, thought the dwarf. He had seen the minotuars and the dwarves firing off there rapid rifles, or so Herod had deemed them, and saw there devastating capabilities. Herod took out his rifle and pulled the hammer back, steadied himself and fired. The driver slumped over and slowly fell half out of the vehicle.

Herod ran down through the lobby of the inn. Once at the buggie he pulled the body out, took his water bags and side arm and hopped in the buggie, taking off after the others. He kept a slow pace, not wanting them to know it was him. once they were in site he veered to the left, heading that way for some time, until the party was out of site again.

They were headed to the hellhole. Not a nice place to be, especially when the live expectancy was five minutes. Herod kept the party in site through his scope on his gun but didn't allow himself to get closer. This was how he liked to travel since leaving castle Stairin. A few altercations with the brutish human, the Werewolf and too many bands of minotuars left a bad taste in Herods mouth, so he left the party one night. Keeping to himself and searching for the darkling child. Rumors and information lead the dwarf to Hellhole. There were captured darkling children there and Herod thought it a good as place as any to continue the search.

Dacen followed the others and kept close so he wouldnt get split up from them, keeping a sharp eye out for any trouble. Which was obviously all around them if they bothered anyone.

Dacen hurries to the front next to browden and Lucian.
"So im not quite sure yet, what exactly IS the hellhole?"

Lucian walked turned around and looked at Dacen now pissed and angry. "Do you not get the messege im putting out?" said Lucian angry and mad, he picked Dacen up by the shirt and shook him "Leave...me...the...fuck....alone!" said Lucian as he droped Dacen on the ground and looked at Browden. Lucian looked at the dwarf who already seemed like he was going to take charge. "Well Dwarf, i have met the dark elf and he is not what they say he is, and as far as his son im not sure were gonna find him, i have a feeling he already has been found." said Lucian as he continued to walk. "If the long reach is were we are headed I have a place there,"

"Damn, dog. We ain't going to the Long Reach. We're going to the Hellhole. As for you thinking you know where the babe is, there's no way for that. You may be a werewolf, but you are no mage. Until we find the child, we continue searching, got it?"

Browden then turns to the dwarf.

Nevlan wrote:

"I hear this Turken is a mean cuss that likes to eat babies or sumthin' and that he even has a harem in The Hellhole. Buncha women he has his way with all at the same time and each time he cuts off a body part and feeds it to 'em. Real sick fuck."

"Also, the wolfman is lying. We have met Turk'en, and he is ALL of those things. He also rapes people in the eye and ears, then gives them to his wolf to do the same. REAL sick fuck, that darkling is. Let no one tell you differently. Best to try to kill the bastard, Turk'en, first chance ya get."

Browden then hefted his axe up onto his shoulder then nodded towards the desert.

"Shall we?" he asked with a cheery smile.

"Hmmm? Well if we ever meet this Turken fella, then the best thing to do is put an end to him with the quickness," Nelvan replied.

"As fer the dof her, ya need ta refer ta me by my propper name, mutt. It's Nelvan Nelvan of Clan Nevlan cousin of Irongut Irongut of Clan Irongut. Anyways," he continued as they walked through the desert. Way I see thing we--" that was all nelvan got to say. Any other words he had prepared were cut off just as his head was.

His head went flying through the air and landed at the feet of Lucian and Dacen.

Genesis stood in front of them, a magical energy from teleporting to them now dissipating.

"Give me the child!" he screamed diving at Browden, swing his sword at the big man's head."

Browden jumped seeing the head of the dwarf he was listening to get lobbed off. Blood sprayed Browden's face and he looked at horror as the monster, Genesis attacked him.

Browden wasn't gonna allow himself to get hit like that, and with his axe in his hand, and just like Genesis swinging with sword, Browden was swinging with axe.

"Damn fool, we aint got him, but you sure as hell looked in the wrong place!" roared Browden.

If I die, at least I'll be rid of that damn dog...

"Hey lucian, whats your prob...." dacen was about to finish saying when he saw the head of the dwarf go flying "SON OF A BITCH!" he yelled as he then saw Genesis standing there.
"GENESIS, WE DONT HAVE THE CHILD!" Dacen yelled truthfully.
"I DONT KNOW WHERE THE CHILD IS, WHY DONT YOU LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE, CAUSE HE AINT HERE!"

Kutsu jumped seeing the dwarf's head removed, and seeing this monstrosity attack the one eyed human.

The minotaur didn't know who, what, or why was going on, but he knew he didn't like this Genesis. While Browden took his axe swing, Kutsu grabbed his spear and aimed for the monster's head.

Kutsu didn't know why the cowardly elf didn't fight. Whether there was a child or not, this guy was out for blood.

Lucian stood there and in the midst of it all he looked at himself and then looked at Browden his face now joyus and his face soft and pleased. "Browen, look." Said Lucian as his appeance began changing back to normal and control was given over him his appearnce now human again. Lucian then looked up at Gensis and grined. "Your luck has run out." Lucian pulled out his Dwarven magnum and aimed it at Gensis head at point blank "Your move,"