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chapter1

Amazhie hugged her knees, her frayed hair coming free from the ponytail. Tears ran down the side of her face-which was still matted with blood-and down her soft neck, pooling at the hem of her leather armor that was covered by a chain mail a mere inch below that. Her bow and quiver sat beside her, both still streaked in blood. She shook with her silent sobs, shoulders shaking softly as she clenched her fists, wanting nothing more than to stop now. Her companion had died. right when they were so close...

“Dammit...” Amazhie sobbed, “It’s all your fault...Crones...” she was a warrior raised from birth. Since she could walk she was given a bow and taught to fight or die. Emotions were an obstacle to a warrior. If a warrior showed weakness she was killed quickly. Feeling such passion was weakness. Yet, why could she not qualm the pain? Crones was just a temporary ally with the fight against the prime evils. She was a solo fighter, never one to be in a group...why had she become so dependant on someone and a man of all people? Cupping her face in her hands, she let out one last sob, promising herself that after she reflected on this moment, she would never again feel weakness. For now, however, she allowed herself to cry, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes and down her red cheeks. Her mouth worked into a grimace as she cried out, hugging her torso as she remembered where it had all begun....

The Amazon walked proudly through the dingy town, the grass crunching under her leather boots as she saw a troubled looking man clothed in a blue vest. He looked to her, eyes sparkling at the site of her as he walked up to her. The Amazon immediately gripped her bow tighter. She didn’t trust men. “Greetings stranger,” he called kindly, “I’m not surprised to see your kind here. Many adventurers have traveled this way since the recent troubles began.” yes, indeed trouble. demons had been spawning from the depths of the jungles, even where she lived. That’s why she’d come to this small town; to hopefully root out the evil from its source and save her dying people. Still, the Amazon remained quiet as she listened. “No doubt you’ve heard of the tragedy that befell the town of Tristram. Some say that Diablo, the lord of terror, walks the world again.” he took a short breath, looking smugly skeptic. “I don’t know if I believe that, but a Dark Wanderer did travel this route a few weeks ago. He was headed east to the mountain pass guarded by the Rogue Monastery.” he thought back to it, as if he was holding back other information from the female warrior who stood mute in front of him. She was disciplined enough to know to say nothing, so that she may learn everything before questioning this man.

“Maybe it’s nothing...” he finally mumbled. “But evil seems to have trailed in his wake. You see, shortly after the Wanderer went through, the Monastery’s Gates to the path were closed and strange creatures began ravaging the countryside. Until it’s safer outside the camp and the gated are reopened I’ll remain here with my caravan. I hope to leave Lut Gohlein before the shadow that fell over Tristram consumes us all.” he paused for a moment, looking her up and down, a gesture the warrior was now used to, being clothed in tight, bright red armor. As he spoke again, his voice almost sounded amused. “If you’re still alive then, I’ll take you along. You should talk to Akara too, she seems to be leader of this camp, maybe she can tell you more.”

“Where is This Akara, and what does she look like?”

The man pointed southeast from his position in the camp. “She’s over there, near her tent. You can’t miss her, she wears a purple shawl over her head and is garbed in deep velvet robes.”

“thank you for your time.” she said, turning toward the direction the man directed her too, her brown ponytail swaying gallantly behind her head.

“If I may ask, stranger, what is your name?”

“My name...is Amazhie.” she answered, back still turned from him as she went off to find the woman the man spoke of.

She walked through the camp, which was strangely empty besides the few stone walls scattered throughout that seemed to be collapsing with wear. That and, naturally, the few who remained. As she walked she saw a woman, next to her a tent with torches around it and various pots and potions around her.

“Hello, are you...?” she asked, walking up proudly to the older woman.

“Yes child, I am Akara, High Priestess of the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye. I welcome you to our camp, but I’m afraid I can offer you but poor shelter within these rickety walls. You see, our Sisterhood has fallen under a strange curse. The mighty Citadel from which we have guarded the gates of the East for generations, has been corrupted by the demoness, Andariel.” the old woman shook her head sadly, and Amazhie placed her hand gently on Akara’s shoulder to comfort her. “I...still can’t believe it...but she turned many of our sister rogues against us and drove us from our ancestral home. Now the last defenders of the sisterhood are either dead or scattered throughout the wilderness...” her voice was agonized, but hope was etched beneath her wrinkled brow as her dark blue eyes rose to Amazhie’s stiff posture. “I implore you, stranger, please help us. Find a way to lift the terrible curse we will pledge our loyalty to you for all time.”

“That is the reason I come here.” Amazhie said with certainty. “I’ve traveled all the way from my motherland on the twin islands on a journey to wipe out these evils. Athulua and Kethryes, the goddesses of the seasons, came to me in a dream, pointing me in this direction and telling me what I must do. I would have not come this far if I did not wish to help. I need not the loyalty of you or others; I can fight my own battles. However, if what I came here to do can also earn me allies, there are no quarrels with me in the matter. Oh High Priestess, please point me in the right direction so I may help us both achieve our desires.”

“There is a place of great evil in the wilderness.” she pointed to the pathway leading south of the camp. “Kashya’s rogue scouts have informed me that the cave nearby is filled with shadowy creatures and horrors from beyond the grave. I fear that these creatures are massing for an attack against our encampment. If you are sincere about helping us, find the dark labyrinth and destroy the foul beasts. May the Great Eye watch over you.”

Amazhie walked from the old woman, knocking and arrow and stepped out into the wilderness, her eyes tightening as she gazed through the trees and far off shacks. The sky above hung like a dark chandelier, casting its murky rays onto the already foreboding land.

Raising her bow and watching into the darkness, she let an arrow fly, watching it sink into the side of a quilled beast that let out a shriek, its armored head looking toward the Amazon as it shook its pin-covered body, arching forward and firing a barrage of needles at her. Amazhie ducked under one that passed directly over her head, grabbing a throwing axe from her belt and chucking it at the snarling face of the creature. The axe sliced through the air, ripping into the creature’s soft neck and beheading it.

“These creatures aren’t so strong.” Amazhie said to herself, walking cautiously over to it and grabbing a scroll off of its quills. “The first spoils of war,” she noted, holding the glowing scroll with blue ribbon wrapped around it. Wasting no more time, the warrior bolted forward, boots padding lithely across the ground as she passed by bushes and a few nearly dead trees that were crumpled upon the ground, some still trying desperately to grow. The Amazon’s eyes remained vigilant, sweeping the land as she saw another small creature covered in needles. This time, she silenced it quickly, chucking a small throwing axe into the creature and running onward to find the save of which the high priestess Akara spoke of. The lone shriek of a crow nearly startled her, but she paid it little heed as it lighted down on the corpse, pecking at it, and digging into the meat of the dead hellspawn. Blood trickled at as the crow cawed, ripping deeper into the fleshy meal before it.

Amazhie grimaced; what a disgusting creature, eating the flesh of demons. She turned on her heels, the call of the wild crow behind her as she trudged through the plains, eyes searching the plains as the strong stench of decay filled her lungs, making her heightened senses more of a hindrance than anything.

At last, the Amazon spotted a crevice in the ground opening up to the surface like a gapping teeth-riddled maw. Stepping toward it quietly, she peaked in. A shrill cry broke from the darkness, a demon about half her size and pale red skin springing forth, its beady eyes looked to her as it swung its staff at her, shrieking wildly. Startled, Amazhie ducked back, tripping back over her own feet and toppling to the cold earth below her. The demon’s club missed her face but slammed into her arm, producing a thick cry from the warrior as a thick snap was heard in contrast.

“b*****d heathen!” the woman snarled, tossing a potion with her free arm. The glass vial smashed into the demon instantly exploding and sending foul mounds of flesh splattering in every direction, some splattering onto the ground, coating it with a thick layer of red. Amazhie gagged, spitting out pieces of the foul demon’s innards. She coughed, spitting and wiping at her watering eyes. Once she could see, though her body and clothes were still stained with the taint, she gathered herself together. Gently, she touched her arm, wincing where she could feel the lack of resistance. The thing had broken her radius-the small bone in her forearm. Sure, Amazhie was no stranger to pain, but that didn’t make it any more enjoyable as she grimaced, carefully resting it against her leg as she pulled a small, rectangular potion from her sash, pulling the cork with her teeth and spitting it out. She gulped, pressing the potion to her lips and chugging down the crimson liquid with chagrin. It had no specific taste, only a fiery sensation as it crept down her throat, igniting as it curled into her stomach. The pain that stroked her abdominal muscles was well experienced; however and the Amazon stood easily despite the clenching throbbing in her stomach.

Gathering up her bow and walking over the shards of glass from the broken potions bottles, Amazhie stepped lithely into the cave. Drawing back the string until it nearly groaned with protest with her quickly healed arm, she released a volley of arrows, each of them whistling off into the darkness. A loud moan echoed through the cave, making the hairs on Amazhie’s neck stand on end. Regardless of her fears, she stepped forward, a form bolting out from the stalagmites beside her. A small, grunt-like humanoid figure like the one before bolted at her, club at the ready. This time, the warrior was ready for it, unleashing a flurry of arrows into its wide eyes and agape jaw. The creature couldn’t even let lose a grunt before it fell to the side, toppling to the ground with a thud.

“Glad these things are disorganized...” she murmured to herself. These demons were weak, only attacking in ones or twos. Very disorderly business to say the least. If they continued like that she was going to pick them off easily. Not that she minded. It was safer like this, easier. Bow at the ready, a fresh arrow knocked, Amazhie continued forward carefully, gulping as she hugged the wall, heart in her throat thrumming methodically. A tattered corpse continued forward, groaning. Her breath caught as the beast turned toward her. A ghoul. Wasting no time with this enemy despite its human body, she let loose an arrow, shooting into the creature’s neck and sending its head off into the abyss as its body crumpled to the ground. Stepping out from her hiding place and seeing three more zombies, she knocked and arrow and let it fly, running after it as it slammed into the shoulder of onto of the beasts. “Die!” she howled, slamming her foot into its already damaged shoulder and snapping it, pushing it into the spinal cord and killing the undead creature. Not afraid of the other two-for their speed impaired them-Amazhie grabbed another exploding potion, throwing it between the ghouls. Firing an arrow at the canister of flammable liquid, the bottle ruptured. Flames roiled up from where the glass shattered, roaring out into a Nova of colors that ripped the flesh right from the living carcasses. Both toppled to the ground, the flamed still flaring from them and certain parts where the liquid hit the cool ground and continued to burn.

The Amazon made no hint of satisfaction in her victory, instead bolting forward and shooting an arrow into the darkness. Squinting and watching after it, she saw a glowing light at the end of the tunnel. Could there be another exit...? No...the light was getting bigger and coming toward her, heat radiating from it. In almost a second the whirling light was three times as big. Her training kicked in as she fell to her knees, rolling toward the wall as the giant ball of flames howled past her, slamming into the wall and making the entire cave rumble, pieces of rock scattering down from above. A spell caster?

Running forward, the Amazon pulling a string back: no arrow mounted on the string. This time she closed her eyes letting her fingers pulse with the life force that was mana. The air around her fingers ignited. Glowing blue pulsed from them, spiraling into a linear shape. Without a word, the projectile was fired forth, glittering brightly and lighting the cave. It streaked through the air gracefully, passing by the hordes of a demon clan, all were the small humanoid figures, only with sickeningly red skin. Their eyes turned toward their rival, teeth grinning wildly as they raised their arms and chattered wildly, their small bodies clothed in a mere loin cloth around their waste. But what caught the woman’s attention more than the dozens of little creatures was a form about as tall as her, hunched forward. It wore a headpiece plated in gold, its own clothe stretching over a shoulder and a staff with a pulsing glow near the head. Amazhie’s eyes hardened; the spell caster. The magical arrow sliced past it, slamming and dispersing into wisps among the wall, the light fading away and leaving darkness. The dull red glow from the greater demon’s staff and few cracks in the surface were the only glittering shreds of light that the warrior could use to aim by.

“You will not have the privilege of dying first, shaman! I will kill your army before you with my own hands!” Amazhie grimaced as she raised her bow, anger searing behind her eyes. She let loose a sparking arrow of mama into one of the creatures. It sliced its thorax open, spilling blood everywhere as the demon collapsed. Letting lose a cry of anger, Amazhie’s eyes grew moist, though she kept the tears down as another demon fell to her anger, slamming to the ground and gurgling its last. A few more fell as her arrows hit their marks, while other advanced, arrows not coming toward them or missing their marks. One of the beasts ran to her side, drawing back its club. The Amazon’s eyes narrowed as she grabbed her knife, shifting her bow to her free hand and flipping the dagger out, clenching the hilt until her finger were white. Anger lighted through the warrior as she sheathed the blade in the beast’s chest, its eyes rolling up into the back of its head as it toppled back. Not missing a beat, she withdrew her blood-crested knife and bolted forward knocking her bow and felling another few screaming beasts. “Now it’s your turn!” the Amazon snarled, drawing her bow back to the shaman, whose staff was glowing and ready to summon another fire ball.

The string was pulled back as the warrior went to release it, fire in her eyes. Before she could, splitting pain ripped across her back, causing her to cry out and stumble forward, hands and knees scrapping against the cave floor. She looked up in time for the shaman to kick her in the side, throwing her across the room and into a wall. She grimaced, muscles clenching painfully as she looked up, the bloodied creature with blood streaking down its chest cackling happily as it rose its club. Amazhie felt terror rise through her throat as she quickly rolled to the side, scrambling to her feet and stumbling at the numbing her muscles’ movement. Her eyes narrowed, her gasp ripping from her parted mouth as she saw another felled demon spring from the ground, its eyes coming into focus as it howled out, screeching nosily like its brethren. Adrenaline pulsed through the woman as she drew the bow back toward the demon imp that sprinted beside her, raising the club over its head. Crying out in fear and rage, the arrow sliced forth, ripping into the air and slamming into its head, slicing its shaft through the neck until the arrow emerged at the other side, glistening with blood.

Spinning on her heels, Amazhie readied her bow again, eyes hard and dark as she aimed at the shaman. In defiance, physically and symbolically, it raised its staff, the pierced imp rising again and springing in the way of the next fletched arrow. Panting softly, Amazhie reached down with one hand, uncorking the bottle and guzzling down the red liquid that seared her throat like fire, tearing its way down her insides once again. “I won’t lose.” her strong voice held no fear as she dropped her bottle, letting the glass shatter along the ragged floor as she drew her bow again. “Die!” she screamed, letting another arrow fly. It slammed into the best again, the gurgling from its mouth seemed strained and gurgled as another shaft slammed into it. The shaman cackled, keeping his staff raised as another creature rose from the side, advancing on the preoccupied Amazon. She heard its clawed toes against the ground as it ran towards her. Sweat dripped down her brow as she fired another volley, trying to get through the stubborn imp that stood in the way, forced to remain alive despite its pain. It cried out, tears running down its cheeks. The warrior felt no remorse as she riddled its front with arrows, its chest heaving as its body withstood, quivering as arrows flew into it. Amazhie heard the thing getting closer, terror lancing through her as she let loose one last arrow, this one seeming to whistle through the air with a light gleam. The Amazon whirled, turning to the imp as it raised the club, swinging it down upon the Amazon’s head.
~ ~ ~

Amazhie coughed, feeling the feel of a growing pain along her arm. Her eyes opened weakly, a small, furry form at her arm, its slender tail a rose color. With horror, Amazhie bolted up, kicking at the creature. It let out a screech, tumbling through the dusty air and into the rocky soil. Scrambling to its feet, the rat shrieked at her, scurrying off into the darkness.

Drawing an unsteady breath, she pressed a hand to her heart and then shuddered. Her head felt heavy, something pinching her face and neck. Lifting the hand from her heart while keeping steady with the other, she touched her head gingerly, surprised at the ragged feeling. Pressing down harder, the resistance crumbled and Amazhie looked at her finger. Red flakes scattered her finger, and red pooled on the floor. She turned, trying to gain her bearings as she saw the imp riddled with arrows toppled over to the side, the shaman on the floor, an arrow between his eyes, mouth agape and staff tossed a few feet behind him. Gathering herself up and carefully rising to her feet, she saw a hole ripped through the small demon that had stood in the way, the flesh looking as if it had been seared. She stepped closer, smoke still rising from the open flesh. The demon beside her, the one who had run at her, lay dead on the ground, the front side of it burned, the club balanced on its open palm tipped with blood. So it had hit her but died from the flames that streaked her arrow?

The Amazon flexed her fingers, her spirit felt weak, and her body sore. As she stepped forward, her toe bumped into something. A ringing sound filled the air as a potion rolled across the floor its contents a rich purple color. Amazhie reached down and picked it up in her slender fingers; a rejuvenation potion. The rarest and most expensive of all, it was rumored to fully heal its user in both spirit and body. Shakily, her fingers undid the glass top, pressing the rim to her lips as she let the drink slide down her throat. It was warm, holding no flavor. Still, it was a relief as it tickled her insides, seeming to fill her with vitality and spirit. Refreshed and ready to fight, the Amazon bolted forward, letting an arrow fly through the darkness into the wall. It startled some nearby imps who scurried to her, drawing their clubs as their red skin flashed in the dim light. She wasted no time in riddling them all with arrows. As the first one fell, the others scrambled to escape, scattering in all directions as their arms flailed around. Not giving them a chance to flee, Amazhie shot at their backs, all of them toppling forward into the ground. Feeling herself filled with valor and at last the moral she needed to bring herself to fight onward, she stepped toward the end of her path. She stopped; a dead end, and turned on her heels.

Running through the dark caves, rats scurrying around by her and into the darkness occasionally, brought nostalgia back from her days in the forests with her fellow warriors. How exhilarating it had been, like the first time she had killed a panther on her own. IT had put up a fight, and nearly slashed open her arm before her arrow flew true and ripped right through its side, giving her the chance to skewer it and earn herself praise amongst her fellow warriors. She remembered the awe of the boys her age as she pulled the beast to the camp, sweating from the trek back. They were so pleased, all asking her to tell of the hunt. The older men listened with appreciation as they worked on the food, the women watching with smiles as the young warrior told of her first hunt against a formidable beast. Suddenly, Amazhie was torn from her memory by the groan of a zombie. Running up to it, she ripped a blade through its side, slicing its frail body in half as it fell to the side, its rancid flesh causing the air around it to nearly shiver with the stench.

Not deterred, Amazhie ran forward, ripping through another zombie with precision, the greasy slime pooling to the ground as she ripped its side open, watching its mangled corpse buckle beneath the force of her blow.

Amazhie’s breathing hitched as she saw a sparkling ghoul, its eyes rolled up in its head as it limped toward her, arms groping at the air toward her. Stepping back, she lowered her bow, letting the arrow rest snuggly against the knock. Anger rang through the young woman as she felt it fly, fire igniting around the head as it flew through the air, flaming into the beast and ripping deep into it, the heat sizzling at the morbid flesh. The zombie groaned, still advancing; perhaps at an even quicker pace than before. Not ready to call it quits or retreat, she sent another arrow into it, this one soaring above the creature’s shoulder. All at once, it was upon her, swinging a gnarled hand down toward her. Rolling out of the way, the warrior ducked under its arm, turning and letting loose another feathered arrow, stabbing into the back and upward so the tip gleamed through its neck. The corpse turned toward her, rotted eyes looking to her as its hand came down again, knocking the warrior down and ripping the front of her clothes and gouging a very nearly nasty wound into her stomach. Grimacing, she stepped back, grabbing the knife at her belt as she bolted forward, pressing the dagger into the beasts chest and wiggling it around, the grimy flesh at the tip of the steal shifting around as the ghoul stopped, gurgling and collapsing on the knife. Still, its arms lashed out, grabbing around the woman’s throat.

Gasping at the feeling, the Amazon froze instinctively, the thumbs of the humanoid undead pressing against her esophagus, closing off her airway as numbing discomfort pealed away to pain in her throat. Vision blurred as the two hands clenched tighter, trying to snap off the warrior’s head. Choking out a breath with all she could muster, she brought up her left arm, swinging it down on the two arms with all her weight. The creature’s arms snapped off, the torso collapsing into the ground as the thing writhed. Grasping for breath, the Amazon panted, rubbing the base of her neck gently as she drew breaths from the air, her sore throat slowly unclenching. Drawing her bow she unleashed a volley into the creature’s back, watching as its writhing stopped, body limp against the ground.

The ground shook, nearly making the woman lose her balance as pebbles crumbled from the ceiling, littering down upon her head. Gasping and seizing up at the possibility of the ceiling collapsing down on her, the Amazon could only stare. As soon as it began, it seemed the rumbling stopped, light flitting down from above where cracks had worked their way through the ceiling. Opening the scroll she had found earlier hastily, Amazhie unfurled it and watched as light burst forth from it, shimmering blue and then expanding into a swirling mist in a oblong shape. The glowing portal stood before her, shimmering brightly and warmly to the sore, but triumphant, warrior.

Stepping forward into it, Amazhie found herself pulled to the encampment, the warmth leaving her body tingling in a strange but not uncomfortable fashion. She walked to the old sorceress, hoping she had done it right.

Akara, the old witch, seemed pleased, extending her arms in a lively gesture. “You have cleansed the Den of Evil. You’ve earned my trust, and may yet restore my faith in humanity. Your reward is training in the skill of your choice.”

“What do you mean?” but Amazhie did not question for long, feeling her insides alight with a filling power like when she had sent forth the magical and fiery arrows. She saw the woman grin, and Amazhie was sure that she, herself grinned as she felt the power seep into her will, hardening around the idea of the fire arrow. She didn’t know why; was it some magic spell by the witch or maybe her victory, but for some reason she felt as if she could now grasp the spell easier, and that she and the fire of her arrow were one. “thank you,” Amazhie bowed to the woman and trekked off across the camp, her attention suddenly drawn to a woman in a chain mail top, a red cape fluttering from her left shoulder toward the ground, accenting the crimson hair tumbling down her shoulders. Her face was set like a hawk’s, nothing like the gentle but wise face of the old woman. Stopping, Amazhie stared at her, and the woman stared right back.

“You must be Amazhie, the new warrior trying to fight for our encampment.” she mused. Amazhie immediately hated the strong, authoritve tone of the voice, but listened. “Know this, Amazon, Akara may be our spiritual leader, but I command the Rogues in battle. It will take more than just killing a few beasts in the wilderness to earn my trust.” She paused, as if thinking of a way to challenge the woman, and indeed she was. Her eyes were alight with the same fire as Amazhie’s, only more brutal, and their meaning behind them very clear. This woman was older, and had been hardened by battle in ways Amazhie could not yet compare. Her feelings of disdain for this woman were immediately put aside by a more powerful feeling: respect and awe. “My rogues just reported an abomination in the Monastery graveyard,” she gritted her teeth, clearly displeased. “Apparently, Andariel is not content to take only our living. Blood Raven, one of our finest captains in the battle against Diablo in Tristram, was also one of the first corrupted by Andariel. Now, you’ll find her in the monastery graveyard, raising our as zombies. We cannot abide this defilement. if you are truly our ally, you will help us destroy her!”

The woman’s voice was heated with passion, passion that clearly reflected the woman’s hatred of the evil about her. Contained beneath her rage, there was also a certain aura of anger, anger and pity for the dead who were being forced to fight against their will.

“I will help you.” Amazhie said, pride swilling in her chest for some reason at the woman’s faith in her, whether she still needed to prove it or not. Drawing her bow, she grinned to herself, regardless of why she was here. Despite her clan being mostly gone, despite the fact those boys who had been her friends being killed in cold blood, despite the fact she was fighting the greater evils. And even despite the fact she would probably die in battle.