It is Begun... (Episode 0, 'Pilot')

It is Begun...

In the waning moments of twilight, pale dark-haired twins carefully ascend broken steps winding up a steep overgrown hillock. Fallen columns and remnants of ancient walls litter the forlorn landscape, as twisted trees seem to reach out for them. Girded in adamantine and gripping wicked gloomishingly glowing blades, the two muscular male dhampirs climb.

Suddenly, to their right, a horrid sickly pinkish globe of flesh rises over the top of a broken tower wall. Its great eye glowers at the intruders, as tentacles and it six eyestalks are set a quiver at the inevitable challenge it must defeat. Three of the smaller eyes glow with a fell power and fire rays of energy at the twins.

Radu attempts to get out of the way of the creature's attack, both himself and his Echo diving in mirrored directions from one another at the same time. He shakes his head and rights himself as one of the blasts hits him.

Radu is caught off-guard by the sight of the large central eye of the globulous creature.

Radu finds himself unable to move and for a moment completely loses concentration. His echo blinks out of existence.

The spherical obscenity hovers over to block Radu's path up the stairs and fires off three of its twitchy eyestalks again. Stunned, the dhampir can only stay motionless, as he feels the effects of the monster's barrage on him.

Radu feels the necrotic energy seep into his body. He struggles through the forces holding him back, trying to break free. "Enough!" he shouts. He manifests his Echo adjacent to the floating creature and strikes at it with incredible fury.

Tired of getting the wrong end of the eyestalks, Radu empowers his twin with the rage of his demon greatsword. The twin slashes away. Once. Twice. Thrice. And as the fourth attack comes for the floating bastard...

It is Begun...

In the waning moments of twilight, a shapely beautiful female, Moonfolk ascends broken steps winding up a steep overgrown hillock. Fallen columns and remnants of ancient walls litter the forlorn landscape, as twisted trees seem to reach out for her. Scantily clad and highly tattooed, she grips an intimidating naginata, as she glides upwards a foot off the ground.

Ahead, near a free-standing arch, a giant black scorpion rises from its rest beneath a gnarled tree. It raises its stingered tail and snaps its massive fore-pincers in challenge to the intruder.

Tajuri points the end of her naginata at the giant scorpion, makes a few gestures with her other hand and utters a couple dark words in high eldren - the demon tongue. "Ilnxl ao ljlao!"

A wave of eldritch power surges forth from the Moonfolk's weapon and slams into the giant dire scorpion. It shudders and then goes limp. Its tail slumps onto its armored back and its massive pincers drop against the ground.

Taj rushes to close the distance before the scorpion has a chance to snap out of its paralysis. She leaps onto the monstrous back and thrusts downward with her demon pact weapon. The razor sharp edge of the blade easily pierces through the armored carapace. She tears the polearm free and slices at the giant scorpion's poisonous tail stinger for a second attack.

Dark ichor spurts from the wound, as the demon weapon penetrates the ancient guardian's armor. Taj swings her gore-splattered weapon for a follow up attack and...

It is Begun...

In the waning moments of twilight, two riders upon winged mounts land upon a steep overgrown hillock. Fallen columns and remnants of ancient walls litter the forlorn landscape, as twisted trees seem to reach out for them. Seeing the lone free-standing arch ahead of them, they dismount to close and investigate. The first, a young Human female in fine leathers, with a tiny blue winged monkey, climbs down from her wyvern. The second, a tall muscular figure in full armor and hefting a massive greataxe, climbs down from a menacing-looking black winged nightmare.

Agitated by the sudden arrival of the intruders, a large dark blue, armored, serpentine monstrosity raises it reptilian head and rushes out of it resting spot with the ring of an old ruined tower. It rears up between the two intruders and the archway with the crackle and static glow of electricity snaking over its form.

"Blue, I have feeling this is going to hurt. Better pop out of sight for now." Kris tells her little winged monkey. She swallows hard and bursts across the field of the ruin to engage the lightning worm. Her demon-bound scimitar howls as it moves through the air, guided by the young woman's expert hand. Once. Twice, before she spins off and disengages the large serpentine creature.

The multi-legged serpentine dragon-kin turns and exhales a line of electrical energy after the young woman, then speeds forward to meet her tall armored companion with slashing claws.

An angered roar emerges from the armored warrior's helm. he hefts up the greataxe and cleaves away at his attacker, ripping two large gashes in the monster's chest.

Rolling with the shock of the behir's breath, Kris spins on her heels and races to attack as it mauls Killian. She slashes twice into the behir's flank with her demonic scimitar.

The demon scimitar carves through the ancient guardian's scaly hide. Kris swings her gore-splattered blade for a follow up attack and ...

It is Begun...

In the waning moments of twilight, an attractive female with jet black hair carefully ascends broken steps winding up a steep overgrown hillock. Fallen columns and remnants of ancient walls litter the forlorn landscape, as twisted trees seem to reach out for her. Girded seemingly in but fine garments and gripping an arcane staff, the tanned and slightly scaled Yuan-Ti Pureblood climbs.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her quakes and trembles. Something is moving beneath her. With a loud screech and sound of falling rocks and sod, a gigantic worm-like monstrosity erupts behind the ruined low wall of an ancient tower to her right. It massive maw bends toward her, threatening...

"I've ssseen bigger maggotsss, you little worm," Natrix hissed as her winged boots took her to the air and away from the slitherer. With a flick of her staff, the slitherer was engulfed in an icy blast!