The sun was setting, and the green, reptilian figure swam north, upstream, the top of his head slightly above the water, just enough for his eyes to break the surface. People could easily mistaken him for a log or a plant floating in the water, if he wasn't moving upstream, of course. The reptile was making for the Vilpamolan; for news of the bounty has reached him. He was tired and decided to rest, so he rose from the water and prepared to reside until he was ready to move once more.

His scales were smooth yet hard, and were a shade of murky green. His hair was long, sleek, oily-black, and reached a few centimeters below his shoulder. His head was that of a crocodile, and so were his eyes, and around his waist he wore a shendyt, in his hand a long, silver grey staff. Tavor made camp and rested until first light, then he took off once more, travelling on the banks of the river which he was following on foot. It wasn't long before he reached the Vilpamolan.

Tavor N'eveth wasn't a fan of crowds, but the Vilpamolan was crowded, as always, with outlaw, pirates, and of course, drunk men. There were many fight, and a lot of noise; cheering from inns or people talking in the streets. Tavor walked around for a while, then made for the Black Dagger tavern right as it started to rain.

Aspect flew swiftly through the sky, her long legs dangling down below her massive wings. She tucked her long neck in and felt the strong muscles in her wing arms beat rapidly. Down on the ground she saw a few people walking back and forth along the dirt roads. They didn't interest her much and clicked her long, sharp beak. The heron dipped to the side and followed the course of the road towards a small gathering of houses she could see in the distance. Vipamolan. 

The shady river town was a place full of trouble and mischief. Pirates and outlaws ruled this part of the world with iron fists. It was not a place for weak minds or weak stomachs. She'd heard stories about it, the vile crimes and acts that it's residents had conducted, but were never prosecuted for. The wretched inhabitants were all twisted, some worse than others. Murderers and drunks were as common as the gentlemen and ladies of civilized nations and walked about freely. It was easy to kill or be killed in this place.

She dipped her tail feathers and began her descent in a bare spot near the river. She arched her neck and dropped her clawed feet to the ground. She ruffled her feathers and settled them gently at her sides before neatly folding them along her back. She walked along the bank, her lengthy limbs allowing her to take long ground-covering strides. She shook her head, her sharp beak flashing like a knife among the reeds. She approached the town from the river and stopped when she was close enough to smell the alcohol from the local bar.

She shook herself and flashed her feathers. Human. She thought. Her feathers turned into her jacket and her scaly legs became pants. She brushed her red hair out of her eyes and entered the town. It didn't take her long to find the fabled Black Dagger tavern, all she had to do was follow the trail of rank, stumbling men. She flipped her lip up at them when they drew close, but decided it was better to avoid conflict. She didn't like her odds in this place. She flicked her collar up as it started to sprinkle outside. She walked around the corner and ducked inside tavern.

 Tavor reached the inn after a short while. He pushed the door open and stepped in, his eyes scanning the room. It was a busy place, like most taverns, filled with pirates and outlaws and whatnot. Of course, that was what makes up the population of the Vilpamolan. He ignored all the noise of chattering, laughing, cheering, and all other sorts of strange noises, for his eyes landed on the wall at the far end of the tavern. It was a paper, held in place by a rough yet fine black dagger. A few people paused before the note to read it then moved along; there were no seats below it.

He made his way through the chairs and through the people towards the note carefully, and paused before it, reading the note.



Tavor turned around and immediately ran into a lady with long red hair, almost falling over but grabbing a seat with such force that the drunk man on the seat toppled face-first onto the ground. The drunk stirred but stayed unconscious, while Tavor studied the woman before him.

The tavern was dark and reeked of alcohol and smoke. Slowly, Aspect weaved her way through the drinking and dining patrons. She heard a cat call from across the bar and ignored it. She didn't have time for petty human games. She walked quickly, keeping just out of reach of the drunkards, a few so disgustingly wasted that they attempted a grab at her. She glared at them and brandished her white teeth. She sorely tempted to shift her form just so she could take a nip at them in return. The better part of her refrained, she didn't need to start anything.

She would remain in this form while she was in this place if she could help it. These creatures didn't need to know her secrets. She slipped over to the back of the pub and saw the flyer she was looking for hanging on the wall. It was tacked to the wall by a small obsidian knife and she took the time to eye the craftsmanship of it. She thought about taking it with her, but didn't. She had no need for a knife. Besides, whenever she'd change forms it would fall off anyway. It wasn't magically enchanted like her clothes, to shift when she did. 

She quickly read over the stained paper, memorizing the names of the wanted. Her prey. She licked her lips, thinking of the convicts as rabbits. She was close to shifting. She abruptly turned on her heel and headed for the door. Suddenly her vision was blocked and  she ran headlong into a very tall individual. She growled, stepped back and looked up at him, thinking about whether or not to apologize for the rude gesture. The man's appearance was slightly appalling.

He was several inches taller than her and had the appearance of an upright crocodile. His body was that of a man, but was instead covered in hard green scales instead of soft skin. His head was long and that of a pure blooded crocodile. His eyes were yellow with a single stripe across the middle for his pupil. His jaws extended from his head and had several rows of sharp teeth along the edge. Greasy back hair brushed his shoulders and he carried a staff in one of his hands. Another shape-shifter? She thought to herself. She hadn't seen very many of her own kind. 

Tavor N'eveth steadied himself and let out a low, barely audible yet menacing grunt. He stared at the lady he just ran into, studying here with his sharp eyes. He blinked once, his eyelids opening and closing, and the third inner layer sliding sideways briefly over his golden eye. He turned and grabbed a tankard of mead from the bar to his side and handed it to the lady; he wasn't one good with words.

The crocodile moved swiftly to a table at the other side of the tavern and sat down. The waiter carefully lowered a plate of steak and bread before him, and hurriedly scrambled away in fear, for people of this place were used little to creatures like Tavor N'eveth–to creatures from the swamp in the South. Tavor neglected the food before him, and was lost deep in thought.

How was he going to find the criminals ? He needed something to track them, and where they were last seen wasn't enough. He needed clothing or some source of clear smell, or clues as to where the criminals were going, or a direct trail, which he of course knew was not going to happen. Maybe tracking down orcs and extracting information before eliminating them. Sure, it won't be easy. It will prove very difficult, but it was the only way… For now. But even at night, near a water source, attacking a hoard of orcs alone will be dangerous… Even for Tavor N'eveth.

Aspect stood still and was tempted to growl back at the large crocodile but refrained. In human form she would surely lose if caught in combat with this creature. He gave her a glass of ale before going and sitting down at a table. She watched him for a second before glancing back at the poster they had both been looking at. He’d be good to have on her side. She wouldn’t being against splitting the large bounty if she was able to get all the wanted orcs. Gators had a good sense of smell and she could use that to her advantage. Nevermind all the different varieties of tracker creatures she could shift into as well. Dog, bear, wolf, horse, and rat to name just a few. She felt her skin itch under her jacket but kept the shifts at bay. She didn’t need them right now.

To distract herself, she walked over to the bar and stopped in front of it. The bartender looked her up and down for a second before asking her what she wanted. “Do you have any objects related to these individuals?” she asked him, gesturing to the poster. The man glanced back and forth before reaching under the desk and handing her a medium sized box. She took it from him and retreated back to the table where the crocodile was sitting, not touching his food. She pulled into a seat next to him and put the box on the table top. She opened the grimy lid and peaked through the items. An old bloody shred of what appeared to be a shirt, a scrap of leather from a boot or a scabbard, and a dirty hat.

“These scraps belong to the convicts,” she told him quietly, holding out one of the belongings. “I saw you looking at that poster, the same as I.” She reached over and took a piece of food off his plate. She was starving from the long flight, but she’d never tell him so. Besides, he didn’t appear to want the food. She leaned back in her chair and eyed the man. “I propose that we work together on this. Divide and conquer. Split the bounty down the middle. What do you say?” She didn’t want to show him her shifting abilities, not yet anyway. She wanted to see which side of this matter he would take. She snatched another piece off food off his plate. It wasn’t the best but it was edible and that’s all she really cared about right now.

Tavor studied the woman before him for a moment, then pushed his plate towards her; she was obviously hungry and he needn't food now. He pulled the box that she had placed on the table close to him and removed the lid, and pulled out the objects one by one, examining them briefly.

There was a bloodstained piece of cloth, a piece of what seemed like cow leather, and an old hat that seemed to have belonged to a bandit. All three pieces were laid out before him, and as he returned them to the box, he noticed another item that was hidden below the three other objects. It was a small, curly lock of hair, barely visible in the dark box. He pulled it out carefully, then replaced it in the box. The smell was as strong as that of the blood on the cloth. He put the items back in the box and replaced the lid, then turned his eyes to the lady before him.

The crocodile considered her for a moment, then he gave her a nod. She seemed like a good fighter, and she did, after all, bring him the items he needed. He felt a slight breeze coming from one open window, and made a mental note to weave a cloak later if he can. But for now, the quest is what mattered. He removed the lid and sniffed the torn leather strap. It belonged to an Orc once, and so did the dark blood on the cloth. The hair and the hat, however, didn't have the taint of Orc, but that of a man. They had at least two criminals now, if lucky three or even four.

There was a loud screech outside, followed by a yell. Tavor's eyes darted to the window, and he saw  the scene outside. It was early in the night, but a small band of Orcs were attacking. The men and Orcs were already engrossed in a skirmish, but most men were either drunk or not ready to fight, and the Orcs seemed to be making for the Black Dagger. There was a flash of light as a building caught fire, and was engulfed in flames.

"My child's in there !" He heard a man yell as he made for the burning building. Tavor leaped out of his seat, grabbing his staff, and made for the door.

Aspect was the crocodile reach in and smell the box's contents. He held the things in his hands for a moment before nodding at her and putting them back. He slid his plate over to her and let her have it. She glanced at him for a second before finishing off the food and giving it to a waitress walking by. He didn't appear very talkative and she sat in silence with him for several minutes while she licked the fat and grizzle off her fingers. 

Suddenly behind her came a loud scream. She jumped and twisted around as the shouting started from outside the tavern. She scrambled to her feet and followed the crocodile outside of the building. Chaos swirled around a house across the street and she saw a torch fly in through a window and set the inside ablaze. Men and orcs ran rampant the orcs appearing to have started an attack on the civilians, most of which appeared so high on spirits that they couldn't even register what was going on around them, making their defenses futile. 

Aspect crept along the side of the Black Dagger and tried to slip away from the scene unnoticed. She didn't need to get involved in the affairs of these individuals. She had turned the corner and was about to escape when a massive hand reached around and grabbed her shoulder. She was twisted around and slammed against the wall. The large orc looked at her, a twisted grin on his squashed up face. "Hey pretty, you're mine now," he grunted at her around his tusks. She glared at him and spit, the liquid hitting him square in the chest. "I don't think so pig face," she growled at him. He rumbled deep in his throat and used his other hand to pin her other hand to the wall. "Who you calling pig face?" He asked, pressing his face close to hers. 

She looked up at him and let a sinister grin slither across her face. "Myself." Daeodon. She kicked him away with her legs as she felt herself start to transform. She hunched over and dug her hands into the ground, ducking her head between her arms. Her hands turned to hooves; thick, strong, and as large as platters. Her back arched from the massive muscles contracting underneath, giving her a hunched back appearance and a hump behind her neck. Her mouth stretched forward into a long, narrow snout, with giant hooked teeth protruding out of her jaws. A tall roach of fur went down the length of her spine and ending as a fine switch at the end of her tail.

The large pig looked at the orc, now frozen in shock. There were not a lot of shape shifters and this form was uncommon. And also very scary looking, she thought to herself, her smile now a crooked, toothy snarl. She lunged for the orc and pinned him to the ground. She rumbled low in her throat, rather pleased with herself. "Hey pretty," she squealed. "You're mine now." She snatched him up in her jaws, feeling bones crunch and the salty tang of blood as it dripped out of her mouth. She enjoyed hearing his loud shrieking as the life drained out of his body. She shook him, back and forth like a dog with a toy, then dropped him roughly on the ground. She ran back to the entrance of the Black Dagger and looked around for the crocodile. After finding him, she turned and charged into the mass of fighting men and orcs. 

The crocodile darted out of the door towards the approaching hoard of orcs. One orc, scrawny and speedy, sprang forth with his blade unsheathed, but Tavor grabbed his head and twisted his neck, breaking it, and dropping the lifeless and limp body. He pulled out his khopesh and blocked an attack coming from a large, heavily built orc. They parried each others' attacks at first, then the orc's sword was caught in Tavor's. The crocodile twisted his own blade, causing the orc to lose balance and pull back his sword, then as another came charging, he threw the large orc at him, and the two fell into the water.

He paused, standing on one small bridge, his sword once again to his side, then he saw the lady he had met in the tavern transforming into some large boar. A shapeshifter. She'd make an excellent ally in this quest indeed, but now he had to fight. He whipped around swiftly and ran towards the burning building and stopped right before it. He threw his hands into the air, one holding the staff and the other free, and in a strong voice spoke, repeating several times, an incantation that rang through the water.
Qui vocat aquas magnas vires inimicos profligare! Mors ignis! Mors ignis!
The water behind him stirred as a band of orcs crossed the bridge, then a great tendril rose, destroying the frail wooden structure that the enemies were standing upon, and sprayed the burning building, then dropped back into the water, causing ripples in the water.

The reptile turned and looked into the water, where a few dead orcs and broken planks of wood were floating. He spotted another bridge and crossed it, scanning his surroundings. Another of the scrawny goblins attacked him, but he parried with his staff, for his sword was placed upon his belt and not in his hand. He slammed the crooked top of the staff against the goblin's head, and the goblin dropped to the ground, falling on his own blade. The crocodile grunted and turned around, then he spotted the great boar charging towards a group of orcs. Several men were also attacking, but many orcs ran in fear of the large animal. Now it was his chance.

Tavor pulled out his sword and sprang forth, charging at the orcs. The symbol on the crooked top of his staff turned dark, and as he ran and a thin, black mist shot from it, curling at the legs of the orcs and avoiding the men, causing them to become weak and to slowly decay, emitting loud screeches of pain, a few falling and getting consumed by the mist, decaying alive, slowly dying. The mist slowly dispersed, but many orcs were unable to stand on their legs, let alone fight, and those that have fallen were dead.

The crocodile stopped in his steps and his eyes looked up, and landed on a lone figure standing on the top one one building, right above him. He let out a low, deep snarl as he recognized the smell, staring at the figure of Jenseal Ravvon. But he could do nothing; he was no climber.

Aspect lunged and rammed the attacking orcs, her large body and tusks causing significant damage to even the largest of the orcs. Her thick hide and fur protected her from their swords and arrows. She pounded an orc into the ground with her hooves and let out a roar. Several orcs turned and ran away from her. She raced after them, bloody cowards. She caught one orc by his clothing and threw him up in the air. He clawed at the air and reminded her vaguely of a bug that was flipped over. She caught him in her jaws and threw him into a building nearby. His body slammed into it and he dropped to the ground lifeless.

She gradually drifted back towards the crocodile as she attacked. At one point she heard him speak and turned around. It was a language she was unfamiliar with and his deep voice rippled through the ground like an after shock. She watched, stunned, as a large column of water shot out of the river and broke apart a wooden bridge. The orcs on it fell and were quickly consumed by the ravenous water and disappeared. She looked warily at the crocodile, making a mental note to never anger him when they were around water.

She saw him rush forward and she returned to the band of orcs. She felt a cool substance, like water vapor, tickle the back of her hind legs as she ran. She looked out of the corner of her eye and saw a large shadow follow her over the ground. She stopped and growled, thinking the shadow was from a large creature above her. Nothing was flying down to attack and yet the darkness still moved. It reached her and the black fog laced around her legs, the cool air making her fur stand on end. This wasn't natural. She looked at the crocodile and saw him holding his staff, which the mist was coming from. Of course.

She walked slowly towards the orcs as she was unable to see her feet through the fog. She heard a scream and saw one of the orcs in contact with the fog drop to his knees. He seemed very old and frail for this fight and she wondered why he was here. She heard several sharp screeches and saw a group of three orcs standing in the fog. She could watch them age, going from young warriors into that of old. Their hair turned white, their muscles receded, and wrinkles were created. The fog was the cause of it and they soon dropped down into it and disappeared. 

She shuddered to herself and noticed that the men around her were not being affected by the dark magic. The crocodile was only targeting the orcs. Only a few were left at this point and she was debating about shifting back into a less intimidating form. She looked back at the crocodile. He was staring upward and she followed his gaze to a figure on the roof. Jenseal Ravvon. She hissed. She waited to see if the crocodile would attack first, but it appeared his magic couldn't get far above the ground. Her turn then. She ducked down and trotted behind a building.

She crouched down and shrugged her shoulders. Eagle. She thought. Quickly her hog body was replaced with that of a Haast's Eagle. She flapped up to the top of building, stretching out her ten foot wings. She jumped off the side and glided above the small town. She tipped her tail feathers and circled back around. She eyed the man perched on the rooftops and closed her wings. She dived down towards him, as swift and silent as a bullet. She let lose a scream and extended her large talons. Ravvon stood and started to turn to look at her. She saw the whites of his eyes before they collided together, her claws digging deep into his stomach and chest. 

She stabbed at him fiercely with her hooked beak and picked hunks of flesh off his face. She flapped her wings and used the pressure to push them over the edge of the roof. He grabbed at her neck with his hands, catching mostly feathers. They fell quickly, their combined weight speeding their descent. At the last second, she let go with her talons and spread her wings, almost hovering. He crashed to the ground, his body sprawled in an unnatural position. He twitched briefly before the life left his body. She perched over him and shrieked to the crocodile. They had their first head.