Chapter 1: Khaos Begins

In the year 1494. At the KHAOS Academy. A particularly destiny-filled collection of individuals preparing to end their fifth year and graduate. The graduating class was seated in orderly rows. The chairs are much more lavish than can be remembered upon their induction address. What was plain though well-crafted wooden chairs and slightly uncomfortable to sit in. Now they were padded with elegant fabric thought by some to much more fit their station. They sat conversing in the massive stone hall awaiting the headmaster’s address and their Certification of Syndication. The faculty they’ve been tutored by these past 5 years seated orderly on stage in front of the similarly ornate chairs though seemingly morphed to represent the individual faculty member sat upon them. Upon the perfectly crafted wooden stage, flanked by blood-red silk curtains.

Silence crept through the faculty. This silence as though infectious extended to the student body. whether they be undead, demon, dryder or any sort of being, all knew what came. The flames on torches around the hall hanging from the walls morphed from a warm orange to a wispy purple. A Similar flame emerged from the right side of the stage, wispy, like a flame unsure which way it was burning. The flames surrounded a skull floating onto the stage. A skull with massive Purple Gems for eyes, a singular lime green stone seemingly embedded into its forehead and several gold and red teeth. As The skull reached the centre of the stage Headmaster Thazduul spoke. A refined yet gravelly voice rang throughout the hall.

" A final year has passed. Momentarily Professor Smoke will announce your name. You will receive your certification and proceed to the final combat exam orchestrated by Professor Hector. Upon completion, your final grade will be solidified as will your status as an alum of this institution. You will be assigned your Khaos Kards and issued an Initial Group. Now go forth and make the past into a reality.”

As the Headmaster fell silent a figure arose from a chair on stage. A seemingly living suit of tight-fitting matte black scale-like armour began moving toward the Headmaster. This figure moved with silence and grace that seemed shouldn’t be possible with the weight of such armour. The students were all well acclimated with the impossible things the faculty made possible. Arriving next to the Headmaster, Professor Smoke announced " Bellatrix Kane” in a disharmonic voice.

Standing now viewable among the various students was a smallish pink-skinned Cambion with soft Elven features and long spiral horns adorned with decorative, semi-precious metal bands. Dressed in fine clothes with a worn tricorn hat and highwayman’s overcoat for weather protection. Riding low on her hip is a well-crafted rapier of an elegant design, and two bone-handled kukris tucked into a broad brightly coloured silk scarf tied around her waist. She carries with her two books, a simple enough leather-bound volume in which she keeps her alchemical notes, complex arcane formulas, and observations on the arcane physical world. The second book is much larger bound in iron, a ledger where she records deals and struck bargains. The latter now held the names of her previous crew before coming to the Academy.

Never far and currently perched on her left shoulder a black raven. Lord Zuzou, Viscount of the Seven Lakes. A creature pulled directly from the dark miasma of the hellish planes and given to Bella by her father in her younger years.

As she began climbing the steps to receive her certification she began to think back briefly on her time at the Academy. Bellatrix studied economics and the arcane at the KHAOS academy, showing a moderate talent for both when she decided to apply herself. But her studies never did excite her she often appeared bored or just lazy when it came to completing assignments, which were usually late. As a very accomplished liar, though, she always had an excuse or was able to shift the blame onto other students, and always seemed to just escape trouble with the headmaster.

It was her extra-curricular activities where she showed real passion. As a member of the KHAOS sailing club, she took to boats and ships of all types with a natural aptitude and often talked of sailing the Styx after her time at the Academy, if not just to avoid the price demanded by the ferryman.

Intra-planar travel was a hobby of hers and a subject she studied often. Understanding the confusing nature of the Styx and its ability to not only confound sailors trying to navigate it, but also its ability to bridge the planes was of particular interest. I guess it was only natural that her talents for sailing lying enabled her to easily find, procure, and deliver the rare, the desired, and the forbidden to the student body. There was even a story going around the campus of her joining the Navy and using Navy ships to unwittingly smuggle illicit cargo. With Bellatrix, however, it’s buyer beware.

Yes, I will deliver that which you desire, but you will get “exactly what you asked for”.

A momentary embarrassment having stated a memory out loud directly in front of the Headmaster and Professor Smoke. Quickly composing herself almost without missing a beat she received her certification and descending the stairway made her way out of the hall.

The disharmonic voice rang out again and Professor Smoke announced “Zoz”.

A small deep red imp utilizing his wings ascended from his position among the students and fluttered over to the stairs to the right of the stage. The flapping coupled with the markings gave the impression of black flames rising on the lower half. His black Mohawk was as long and wild as ever nearly masking his left eye and the yellow-lensed, white-armed, frame-less spectacles he wore. His visible body was accompanied by black lines and markings. His classmates would often wonder whether his eyebrows and W-style goatee were hair or simply conveniently located markings.

As he landed and began to climb the steps he gave a quick once over his chosen wardrobe.

Immaculate, he thought to himself. His white-lined and buttoned, red vest steamed fresh this morning.

“Check” he muttered, visually tracing the chaos of his double-wrapped light blue belt. The second wrap strung lower on the backside to intersect with his triple-wrapped red belt. He continued to mutter as he traced “from the bottom right around back to top right down to the bottom left around the back and across the waist, Perfect.” The chaotic streams of belts perfectly held in place and complimented his black lower garment.

“Check” he muttered, and lightly tapped his drum fastened to the left side of his light blue belt.

Finally, I can begin my internship with Lord Levi. The small imp thought excitedly.

His black leather steel-tipped boots tinged slightly on the steps as he made his way to accept his certification.

Finally, He thought. As his hand grasped the certification. Finally no more menial contracts, with this I can say no.

Zoz Descended the stairs on the left of the stage and made his way out.

“Khalid” The disharmonic voice announced.

A massive dull grey, heavily armoured figure arose from the back row. The runic symbols engraved into the armour moved on their own. The movement was not as many pieces of armour worn but a single solid piece of armour that shifted its fittings as it moved. The dull sounds of metal hitting stone as the figure walked the centre aisle toward the stage. It reached the stage directly in front and below Professor smoke and the Headmaster crouched down and leapt up landing with a loud dull clank.

" I DID IT!” He shouted, throwing his hands into the air.

“Thanks for the help this year Headmaster, I don’t think I would have passed Advance Evil Plotting without your help. You too Professor, those extra classes for assassination 101 were a big help.”

The gravely yet refined voice replied quietly, " Khalid we always need those who hit things exceptionally hard and Professor Hector said in his 2400 years here you were his favourite student.”

He gave a nod Khalid grasped his certification and jogged off the stage and out of the hall a dull clang following him out, as the door shut behind him.

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As the Door closed behind him Khalid found himself in a very familiar room. One of his favourite rooms. Usually used for combat practice, it seemed outfitted for something far more exciting today. The square room lay before Khalid. The usual three equally distanced lava pools spanned half the room from the centre out. The new additions were the randomly placed pillars and walls. Khalid guessed they were put there for cover or sneaking which seemed a little rude as he liked to get up close and personal. There were also two new pools of liquid one to his right side ahead about 40 metres and another he could just barely see off to his left out about 80 metres.

As he was scanning the room a gruff voice almost caught him off guard " Khalid! My favourite student, I’ve been waiting for this you know. I love watching you in action!”

“Oh hey, Professor Hector! I’ve been waiting for this too. The ceremony was a little dry, but this looks much more fun!”

Although Professor Hector was a magical construct of fire and steel and didn’t have a face you could almost see the flames viewable through the open-faced helmet flowing into a smile.

" I knew you were coming first. So I brought out something that you’ll be able to take at least a few good swings at before they start to wear down.”

“What exactly are we fighting, professor?” the imp chimed in.

“Nothing too pathetic I hope,” Bella added

“Now now little Bella I wouldn’t have your last day here be boring, next to Khalid I know you two like to compete, so I got my hands on a professional.”

As they looked across the room, past the three elongated pools of lava, on the far end where they knew another door was located a massive shadow of darkness loomed.

That won’t stop me, as she strained to pierce the darkness and focus her eyes.

“No fair” Bella said “That’s no ordinary darkness”

“No it isn’t Bella, we can’t have you peeking before it’s time.”

“Speaking of time looks like they’re ready to begin” Professor Hector began to levitate upwards

“Thank you. Melvia” He said

The three looked at each other inquisitively

“Probably an assistant for the battles today,” Zoz said

“As soon as you can see em you can kill em”

With a whoosh, the smoke cleared away revealing four figures standing where the smoke had just cleared

To the right, a tallish pale white figure with hair slicked back dressed in fine red leather with gold trim and a cape to match.

Zoz whispered “Vampire to the right”

To the left was a short creature with hair that looked like long grass, and pink flower petals scattered through it. Yellowish green skin and light leather robes of green with intricate white designs throughout.

Further left was a comparatively normal-looking human male. Medium-length black hair. No shirt and blue cloth pants. The only distinctive feature worth any note was a black palm print tattooed on his left shoulder.

The final figure was hooded and considerably more imposing than the others a tall wide green orc. The only indication of the race was a small gap between his leather armguards where his worn fastened blue cape didn’t cover and the lower half of his face was not covered by the intricately designed white mask or the cape hood. As they scanned the orc taking account of all defensive armour and weaponry. Spiked black leather shoulder guards. Throwing daggers wrapped with red leather to separate the blade and the handle, the holsters acting as the central cape fastener. Fitted black Leather on his upper body. Two Large daggers with the blue leather wrapping for the handle on the right side of a crossed leather belt. A leather pouch on each hip containing 10 more red throwing knives of red-wrapped fashion. And to top it off two large long hilts protruded out from behind his left shoulder The hilts were wrapped in red leather.

“Mine” Khalid said almost in a giddy mood

As Zoz began to rise into the air gathering fire in his palms, Bella ushered Zuzou into the air for a better view, and Khalid retrieved his Steel Thorned Greatsword from his back. A long silver sword forged with forward-facing curves in the blade near the hilt and cross-facing hooks near the point, giving it a look of a snapshot of silver fire. The hilt in a style matching his armour. He called out across the room " Come on!”

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