Traitors Presented by Night Warrior Co. A arrow whistled towards the heart of it's target. A flick of moment, and the arrow slammed into a tree about a foot to the right. "Where are you!!! I'll kill you!!!" screamed iZ into the night. The moonlight gleamed dully on his arrowheads. A whisper almost as if in iZ's head spoke "You've betrayed those who trusted you, and in so your marked and therefore your time is coming, I'll get the better of you." "Get out of my head you son of a -" He sensed a movement, he felt a hard blow on his head and then darkness as he fell unconscious. "Hmmm..." said the man, a warrior named, Galaxy.
Castle Sholron was a huge, majestic building. It's outer walls were 10 yards high and it's inner walls were 15 yards high. It is a pentagon and made of ironstone which is extremely strong and glows red at dawn. More importantly, it has served for the HQ of the Rangers. Rangers are master swords and bowmen. They are also experts at alchemy and magic. There purpose is to be commando units because of the war. A war between The Osterlyn Empire and the Kierans has been going on for about 5 years and bled both countries dry. However, the Osterlyns have been offering a fortune in bribery money for Rangers to betray the Kierans. iZ is the 3rd Ranger to leave. He was one of the most skilled and a good friend of Galaxy and Galaxy's apprentice Bastion. The thing about iZ that made him a great loss was that he knew everything about Rangers strategy, and the Kierans weaknesses. This would mark the point where invasions, traitors and massacre would make this war take a new a bloody turn. Castle Sholron housed all 200 Rangers and iZ knew how to bring the castle to it's knees.
iZ walked through the deep foliage of the forest. His Rangers cloak was mottled and broke up his outline which made him near invisible. He was supposed to meet a elven mercenary by the name of Cyrus. As he approached a clearing he saw Cyrus standing at the edge next to a large tree. He was holding a bow with a katana and throwing knives at his waist. "Is that you Cyrus?" iZ called. "Yes, and how about you stay there for now, I don't trust you yet." Cyrus replied. "I offer you $10,000 to help me bring The Rangers to their knees." iZ bargained. "$10,000 for killing Rangers eh? Not enough, either I get something else to, or I put a knife in your heart." Cyrus called as he unsheathed a throwing knife. "I have a boy, he is skilled in throwing stars and nunchuks. He is friends with many and could influence people. His name is Lucas." iZ knew this was his last throw of the dice. "That young piece of -?" Cyrus comment sarcastically. "Even so..." iZ replied. "Very well, I'll take $10,000 and the boy, where is he?" Cyrus questioned. "Boy here now!!" iZ called out. A boy appeared at the clearing. He was small but athletic looking. "There may be hope for him. Hmmm...." Cyrus mounted his horse which was hidden in the trees and lifted the boy behind. "See you soon iZ!!" "I'll get you Galaxy, you're the dead man walking." whispered iZ and he disappeared back into the forest.
Bastion had been sent out by Galaxy to investigate a rumor of foreign knight. He crept in the shadows, his cloak making him invisible to any wandering eyes. Then he saw and heard a figure walking about three yards away from him. His sword flew to his hand and he struck at the knight. The knight was lightly amored and fast and Bastion barely was able to cut the knights arm. As bastion's rebounding strike whistled towards it's target, it was stopped by a almighty force of a two handed sword. As the knights counterstrike hit bastion's sword, the smaller one handed sword shattered. To close to use his bow, Bastion stuck out his hand and a plasma bolt fired point blank at the knights chest, ripping the armor to shreds. He then kept the knights at bay with a stream of fire. "Who are you???" the knight yelled. "Ranger Bastion, apprentice to Ranger Galaxy." Bastion replied. "Well then, next time Ranger Bastion, you won't be lucky enough to live. you will fear Bakeel and Ucanlos, Knights of the Osterlyn King!" and with that he dodged the fire, left onto a building and fled with the speed of a eagle. "We shall see, now to see what Galaxy has to say..." Bastion said, wincing as he guesses his master wouldn't be too happy about Bakeel's escape.
"YOU WHAT?!?!?" Galaxy yelled. He sighted and took down a bird 300 yards away with his bow. "Sorry, master." Bastion replied meekly. Suddenly a Ranger came running up to Galaxy. "I'm Ranger Mathew, sir. You have a visitor from Dellsford. A Lady Avril." Mathew reported. Instantly Galaxy felt like a teenager again. He rushed to meet Avril. "Avril!!!" Galaxy shouted. "Galaxy! Great to see you again!!" she replied. They kissed and then Avril delivered her report of the war. Dellsford was under siege and Queen Kiernan had fled to Castle Northwood. The once grant army of the Kierans, numbering near 200,000 had been decimated to about 70,000. Castle Sholron was to make sure the southern border of Kieran was safe. "Grim situation." remarked Galaxy. "Also, The Ranger Commandant has ordered you compile a elite Ranger strike team." said Mathew. "I'll see who I can get, Avril I'll show you to my quarters." Galaxy said grinning. An hour later Galaxy had chosen Apprentice Ranger Bastion, Ranger Rika and himself as leader. Their first job was to get allies for their ops.
"Rika and Bastion, try to track down iZ." Galaxy commanded, "Mathew and I will go visit my friends Malestone and Angel, perhaps they can help us..." "Yes sir" Rika said as she and Bastion walked away. "Well, let's get going Mathew, we have a 3 days ride northeast to where Malestone is." Galaxy ordered. "Let's make that 2 days, my horse is the fasted of the Rangers." Mathew boasted jokingly. "We'll see about that." Called Galaxy as he raced off.