Arieadne came out of her tent before dawn and transmorphed into her favorite animal form, the raven. Silently she flew down to the besieged city. Atop the walls she could see the weary battalion eager for the change of the guard so that they could steal a few hours sleep before the inevitable attack. Small fires still burned throughout the city. Several buildings had been destroyed completely. Even though Arieadne would have enjoyed looking more upon the destruction her army had caused she had come into the city on a more important matter.

She flew into the seedier part of the city where she spotted the brothel. The destruction wasn't as bad in this part of the city though she was uncertain whether those who inhabited these quarters cared much. She flew into the open window and transformed back into a human.

The room was lavishly decorated with gaudy items in various shades of red. Arieadne eyed the room with disdain and sat on the velvet maroon loveseat waiting for the wizard to arrive. She could hear his grunting from behind the door of the adjoining room. Within a few minutes she heard the man's grunting quicken and a woman's theatrical screams of lust. The door opened and a round bellied, short man walked out tying up his robe.

"You realize you'll have to kill her don't you?" asked Arieadne.

"Of course. As a matter of fact she's dying now. I found a rather ingenious way of injecting her with the poison," said the man.

"Spare me your fetishes, Franslith. I've got a town to invade in a few hours. Will you be able to keep the gates open?"

"Why Arieadne my sweet? Don't you trust me?" said Fraslith grinning broadly, "You know I'd do whatever is necessary to please you; and bring about the new age of the DarkImage."

"And to save your own sorry ass," she said looking him in the eye with a cold stare.

He bowed his head acknowleding the truth of the statement. "Some wine my dear? No? I also have arranged for the highest members of the city rulers to all meet together with the king. You are sure the Jakaar warriors will be able to get in and slaughter them all?"

"Have you no faith in the might of the Jakaar? Perhaps you'd care for a demonstration?"

"No, no ... I am sure they will perform their task with the utmost efficiency and skill. Just making sure. Despite what you may think, I have a lot invested in this attack," replied Franslith.

"But not nearly as much as I do. And for both our sakes it better work," said Arieadne, "I will see you again when my army marches through the streets as conquerors."

Transmorphing back into a raven she flew back to camp. Dawn broke over the horizon with Arieadne's army outside the walls of Scythe. soldiers moved out of the way of her black war horse as she rode to the front lines of the army.

"Leaders of Scythe listen to me," her voiced boomed over the walls thanks to a small magic spell. "I come in the name of the DarkImage, lord of the Jakaar. Your city shall be the first to fall in the renewal of the Dark Age. If you surrender now mercy will be extended to your city. If not then all will suffer the consequences."

From atop the walls of the city she could see a figure walk to the edge of the wall.

"I am the mayor here! The people of Scythe will not become slaves to the evil of the Jakaar and the DarkImage! You claim we will be the first to fall in your dark rebellion! I say we shall be the first to fight and stop the madness of you and your kind!"

As the mayor's words ended the defenders of the city let out a loud cheer.

"Very well," rang out Arieadne's voice, "You have decided your city's fate and of all those within her walls. May the DarkImage judge you accordingly." With that she rode back into her army as the city waited.

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