Chapter 3

Hey, Lars boy, wake up.

As Lars opened his eyes to get a bearing of where he's at, he notice's a skeleton looking directly at him.

What, never seen a skeleton, said the skeleton.

Well actually, I've never seen a talking skeleton, said Lars.

Lars gripped the bars of his cage and tried to peer closer to the jumble of bones.

Griply the skeleton, at your service.

With a exasperated bow, causing his head to roll off and hit the wall.

Rowan Lars, nice to meet you Griply, said Rowan.

No need to tell me your name, I already can see that you're a Lars, said Griply.

How, you don't have eyes, just empty sockets, said Rowan.

Griply jumped up, and grabbed his left arm with his right hand, and brandishes it in the air and points at Rowan.

You're rude, don't you know travelers etiquette, said Griply .

No, I know mage etiquette, said Rowan.

Rowan looked at the ceiling and he's surrounding noticed the door seemed to have some odd engraving, he could see a chained beast with many people unleashing waves of elements at the demonic creature.

Where am I, asked Rowan.

You stand in the prison of Zor'Gar, said Griply.

I never heard of such place in all of my travel, who controls this prison, said Rowan.

It has been many years, since I have seen such an arrogant mainlander, it it you who is imprisoned, yet you still demand answers, a deep guttural voice speaks out.

Rowan look up at the figure that walked in. A tall dark skinned behemoth who physique speaks for itself. A gleaming great sword on his back, combined with his magic power that seem to radiate a heat so hot the temperature and of this small dank room seemed to get even more uncomfortable.

My name is Marcellus Maestro, you stand accused of breaking rule five, no unauthorized magic without a permit, rule two, no inter dimensional travel within ten kilometers of my village, rule seven, destruction of property while using unauthorized magic, how do you plead, glowered Marcellus.

You, can't, he's a Lars, Griply exclaimed.

You would do well to be silent skeleton, carry out your sentence in silence, said Marcellus.

I care not for his lineage, he broke the laws of our land, so he should be punished as our law dictates, said Marcellus.

• I'm not beholden to your laws, I serve and wield my magic for my lord Vog Edisson, ruler of primwale, said Rowan.

Bold of you to assume your still in primwale. We might not be allied with primwale doesn't mean you can walk in our territories and disregard our laws. You will stand before the tribunal and answer for your crimes, said Marcellus.

Without waiting for a reply, Marcellus left through the very door he came in.

Where am I, Griply, asked Rowan.

You stand in the territory of zograven, said Griply.

I've never heard of you, are we still in Ceismiya, asked Rowan.

Yes, the larger cities tend to ignore us, until you need soldier to fight in your wars or to try weasel money out of us. You even tried to conquer us a few times, but for all of your might, y'all can't even stand to us in the battlefield, said Griply.

Bold of you to assume just because we couldn't conquer you a thousand years ago, doesn't mean you stop us now, said Rowan.

Rowan notice the skeleton seems to have broke one of ribs, watching as his skeleton seem to inflate and deflate several times.

Stop, stop, you're so funny I broke my ribs, Griply cackled.

We would literally tear your nation apart, rip it to sunder, and turn you into ash and dust, Griply yelled.

With a sudden leap Griply launched straight at the bars of cage. Rowan watched as he gripped the cage, a sudden flare of magic and he saw as the skeleton magic seem to melt the bars, Rowan could nothing but assume a defensive stance, suddenly Marcellus rushed back in the room, as soon as he's sees Griply a staff is appeared in his hand, I notice the staff top has one giant metal ring with four smaller rings entwined in it. Marcellus starts to shake the staff violently causing the rings to vibrate and unleash a ringing noise that sounded like claws being dragged across glass.

Griply was suddenly blasted from holding the bars to into the back wall of his cage.

Best be careful Lars, that's a prideful skeleton. I be careful what I say, who knows how close I'll be, Said Marcellus as he smiled nastily.

Would've been nice to know that first, said Rowan.

Rowan watched as Marcellus left the room, wishing he kept a a teleporting shard with him.

Rowan, noticed it's not a door that Marcellus went through, but a barrier. He barely noticed the ripple of the barrier, he pondered his next move.

There's no escape for ya, don't you notice the nifty little statues that hang, there not measly little decorations but there actually signil , said Griply.

What in the seven arcane is a tall signil , I've never heard of such a thing, said Rowan.

Not many people have, they fell out of disused simply because better alternative exist, said Griply.

They seem pretty useful right now, snarled Rowan.

Seem I have to actually use that dreadful skill, thought Rowan.

Tell me Griply, do you know the material the bars are made out of, asked Rowan?

Its simply iron, said Griply.

With a mighty clap, that seem resonate around the room, causing the very cage to disappear from their very eyes.

Woah, Woah, what did you just do. You shouldn't be able to use magic In this room, these sigils has never failed before, exclaimed Griply.

It didn't fail, it simply was never warded against it.

It's difficult to ward against alchemy, said Rowan.

Alchemy, never heard of it, but we need to go, said Griply.

Let's go, said Rowan.

Both Rowan and Griply runs through the only doorway, only to come to abrupt stop staring face to face with three three powerful looking figures, that each had tails that thumped the ground causing a quake, each had draconian wings that had different accent of colors, one had a smoldering heat around him, the feminine one seemed to radiate a hazy feeling that seem to ensnare all his senses, while the last one seems to seem to radiate insurmountable power.

My name is Kezes, said the one that radiate heat.

My name is Sanzi, said the Feminine one.

My name is Drurzriad, said the last one.

We are the Tribunal of Zograven.

You stand charge of using entering a forbidden zone via inter dimensional travel, use of magic without a permit, failing to notify us of your arrival, changing of the surrounding without a permit, said Sanzi whose voice seemed to carry a musical note.

How do you plead, barked Kezes.

No need for theatrics, my fellow tribunals, said Drurzriad.

You never let us have any fun, said Sanzi.

This chair is uncomfortable, I don't have time for this today, said Drurzriad.

You Rowan Lars have been pardoned of your crime, you have been called back to your hovel you called home with haste, said Kezes.

All three tribunals slammed their gavel down, a gust of wind blows, flashing lights caused Rowan to closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, he staring at the gates of the village.

Man they must really need you in that Hovel of yours, they never pardon anybody said Griply.

Eh, where you come from, why are still here, asked Rowan.

You don't remember, you broke out prison, then was pardoned by the Tribunal, said Griply.

I Clearly remember that, I don't understand while still here, don't you have somewhere you want to be, Rowan.

Nope, I want to see your Hovel that has the power to command the Draconic tribunal.

You the most infuriating skeleton I've ever laid my eyes on, said Rowan.

Wow, how many skeleton do you know, asked Griply.

Well…you're the only one I've met so far, said Rowan.

How can I be the most infuriating, if you never met another one, asked Griply.

You know what, I don't have time for this. Let's go said Rowan.

Rowan starts to aimlessly walk into a direction while mumbling about annoying skeleton.

Not to question u fearless leader, do you even know where you going, asked Griply.

Umm, why do you ask, said Rowan.

Because I seen this marked, tree three times, said Griply.

I course I don't know where I'm going, everybody knows if you wander around long enough someone will come and show the way, said Rowan.

That's insane, there's no way that true, said Griply.

It's traveller 101, said Rowan..

Can't you use magic to teleport out of here, asked Griply.

With earth magic, not possible, furthermore unless someone have my exact coordinates then it's virtually impossible to activate teleporting circle, said Rowan.

Well how do exactly do you plan on getting out, this place, because a guide won't just magically pop up, said Griply.

They both heard the crunching of branches behind them, they both reach for there weapon, just waiting for the enemy to approach.

Griply leaped forward with a skeletal sword in his his hand, only to get sent careening back into a tree by a peculiar staff.

What are you doing here, Blodwen, asked Rowan.

Didn't you know, the dazzling sunflower blooms here in abundance, you seem a bit rattled, said Blodwen.

What a weird man, do people often dress like that, asked Griply.

No, that man has a no sense of style, said Rowan.

I rebuke that, just because you don't like it doesn't mean I have no style. You should be careful, your quite close to the draconian Tribe village, there no fans to outsiders, said Blodwen.

Yes, I just experienced there unending hospitality, said Rowan.

Truly, they just let you go, asked Blodwen.

No, apparently I have been called back, by Vog Eidsson, said Rowan.

The closest town is Chaosglade, they should have a teleport circle, it's ten kilometers away, said Blodwen.

West, east, north, or south, asked Rowan.

Whichever the wheels of fate takes us, I do need to grab a few chaotic primers from there. Since I'm going there anyway, and you don't know the way, how about you travel with me for a time, said Blodwen.