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[Thrax]

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The last time he had visited their keep Thrax had left behind the bodies of the fallen Ophidians intentionally slashed open as a sign of desecration. But evidently it had not left any lasting impression upon them; their raids to Papua and environs had not increased substantially. Hence another, more concerted effort, to stir up their wrath was necessary. Papua needed a foe, even if one had to be contrived, unity, even if it cost lives, and "heroes" to rally around and deliver them once more from a dread peril. The Ophidians would do nicely.

As he traveled slowly along the thickly-overgrown paths, lanes, and hollows toward his destination, he felt a slight twinge of regret that he had to slay so many useful and evil creatures such as these Ophidians, even if it was needful. In his god's great scheme of things, all living things were no more than a means to an end, and if the wholesale and wanton destruction of any species was helpful to usher in the Last Day, to increase his god's power over lesser beings, or increase his god's influence over stronger ones, so be it. The Ophidians must die, and he felt no pity or remorse for the butchery he meant to work among them.

Of them all, he most respected the Avengers; their keen blades, dipped in one of the most pernicious and lethal poisons in the realm, demanded it. To hopefully negate the power of their poisoned blades, he had brought several plant petals with him. He believed those, and an ample supply of bandages, would keep him safe.

He considered combat tactics. He would try to fight them one to one and use his dark paladin skills to the utmost, chief among them being the Enemy of One spell which could give him enhanced advantage against the Avengers. In his right hand he carried an ebony war axe, one that had been blessed as a slayer of reptiles. It would cut them down like a scythe through wheat, and he need only fear being surrounded by too many of them, or a sudden, adverse, change in the winds, to become their victim and trophy.

Their saurian stench warned him that they were near. He spurred his mount forward, raised his axe high and charged. It was a good day for killing, he thought.

And then he was upon them.