\--==Official Submission==-- FROM: General Debinani Rahl RE: Stryke''s Last Gasp \---- A New Soul ---- Stryke curses as he rummages through the backpack of the recently fallen Ophidian. So far, this hunting trip has produced very little in the way of loot. "Ah, well," he thinks. "64 gold is 64 gold." Dropping the gold pieces into his own pack, Stryke stands and stretches, wincing at the sound of creaking bones. He is getting too old for this. He looks around to reorient himself and then sets off in the general direction of Papua. As he makes his way around a particularly large rock formation, a familiar hissing interrupts his whistling. He turns to face the Ophidian, eager to rid the lost lands of another snake-fiend. The beast draws closer and Stryke catches his breath as he recognizes the markings of an Ophidian Avenger. "Perhaps 'twould be best to let this one be," he thinks, turning and sprinting for the break in the embankment that will allow him to climb to safety. Just before he reaches the haven, a second Ophidian slithers out of the brush to block his path. "Aw, hell!" he says aloud, staring into the cold eyes of the Matriarch. This is not good. Pulling his lute from its place at his side, Stryke calmly places his fingers on the strings. He is never sure of the tune that will come to him, but one always comes, familiar, yet somehow new at the same time. A melody springs forth from his instrument as the notes form words in his head. The Avenger is almost upon him. "Anger, Ophidian, I sing to thee, upon another thy anger turns, a Terathan is about, dost thou not see? Recall the hatred that in thee burns!" Overcome by the music, the Avenger furiously lunges past Stryke and sinks its blade into the shoulder of the Matriarch. Screaming in agony, she quickly overcomes her confusion at being attacked by one of her own kind, and her sibilant chanting engulfs the Avenger in a column of flame. A wry grin crosses Stryke's face as his fingers trace the scar across his throat. Ever since his run-in with a murderer's dagger he hasn't been able to sing a note. Luckily the music from the lute is enough. He climbs the small cliff and watches the two Ophidians engage in a dance of gleaming metal and magical energy. This will not take long. The Avenger falls first and the Matriarch soon after, with the help of a few finely placed arrows from Stryke's bow. Descending from the embankment, he sorts through the items on the corpses. There is plenty of gold and gems to collect this time, but his attention is particularly drawn to a small golden box engraved with strange symbols. As he removes it from the Ophidian's pack and examines it more closely, he is surprised to find it warm to the touch. Curiosity getting the better of his common sense, he opens the box. A blinding light pours forth and he loses consciousness. \-------- He wakes, blinking up at the cloud filled sky. He tries to sit up, but his body does not respond. He blinks again. What has happened to him? He cannot remember. What is his name? "Stryke." The name that echoes in his head is foreign to him, but it is the only answer he gets. Feeling returns to his limbs and he slowly, painfully stands. He staggers but retains his balance. Looking down, he shakes his head in confusion. These are not his clothes. This is not his body. He holds his hands, that are not his hands, in front of his face, examining both sides. He touches his face, finding an unexpected Vandyke beard. He picks up a musical instrument that he thinks is called a lute. Almost as if they have a mind of their own, his fingers begin to play a tune he's sure he's never heard. He drops the instrument in surprise. "By the virtues! What has happened to me!" he screams. He receives no answer. It is beginning to get dark. Instinctively, he starts walking toward Papua. The land is familiar, yet his body is not. Perhaps he will find answers in town. Behind him, a golden box shimmers in the fading light. Not noticing, he presses on to Papua.