Red banners whipped wildly above Lord Vassar's grand palace, signaling the turmoil within.

Kalnir tightened his grip on his warhammer, exchanging determined nods with his companions. To one side, the elf Andriel traced magic symbols with his fingers, while on the other, the humans Fen, Doren, and Mayla and usen stood ready with alchemy grenades.

This was their chance to end the reign of the cruel Lord Vassar.

They charged through the shattered doors. Vassar's guards yelled in surprise, raising their alchemy rifles. Andriel's hands blurred, and the weapons' magic fizzled out.

"Now!" yelled Mayla, hurling a grenade. It exploded with a deafening bang, knocking the dazed guards down like felled trees.

More soldiers poured in, one of them hurling a bomb. The dwarf Krag shaped a strange liquid-solid substance, absorbing the fiery blast.

a young elf girl pushed forward, her eyes burning as she confronted the sneering Lord Vassar. She used her pheromones to confuse the guards, buying Mayla time to throw another sound bomb.

"You slaughtered them like animals! My mother... the others... their blood stains your hands, a crimson testament to your barbarity." the elf cried.

Fen tried to restrain her, but Vassar was quicker. With a sickening crack, he blasted the girlinto a state between life and death.

As long as I breathe," the lord snarled, "your pathetic resistance ends here."