“"Well, that couldn't have gone better for us", remarked Doomreaver, as Gunplague made their way along the northern Lustrian coast.

They had managed to bargain their journey there on a Norse Longboat. They were left in no uncertain terms that this would not be a return trip. They had made it to the Slytherinn stadium with weeks to spare and had to actually wait for a prior game to be played before they would get their shot. at the cold-bloods.

When the game had come the numerous charms that now adorned each of the team seemed to do their work admirably. The mighty Kroxigor had collapsed as the teams were being led out, their apo choosing not to intervene, which was the right decision as it was later called upon to save Salazar's life after a savage blitz from Great Winged Terror. Both Hell and Blood had scored and so had Buccaneer.

Not that it all gone their way. The sauri were well prepared and drilled but they had slowly dropped to Gunplague's numbers.

"Aye", agreed Blood.

Black Ark looked over the cliff top they had just climbed for a better view of their surrounding.

"There", he pointed to a small pygmy community on the waters' edge, in the valley below. "They'll provide us the provisions we need and whatever you beasts need. It's not exactly canibalism now is it", he sneered. The remark went straight over their heads or atleast did'nt appear to hit the spot he was hoping it would.

"Atleast it will get us out of this damned heat. I've worked on Bloodships that were cooler than this", Blood complained.

As they slowly negotiated their way down the mountainside they could see a spot in the distance, appearing to move towards them.

"Well, well", Black Ark mused. "It's that crazy mage from months back".

The Banetower landed in a nearby clearing and it was the very same mage.

"It appears that I have been pressed into your service", he said with obvious disgust in his tone. "You have been marked and I am here to facilitate your transportation, it would seem".

They set off the following day, the thick smoke from the unspared village fanning over the base of the trully awesome Bane Tower, 'Soul Nexus', where Black Ark sat, relaxing, in the hot sun, with the others, except for Doom Reaver. He was no longer needed. His body had joined the villagers. There were a good number of beastmen onboard and Black Ark had already pressed a new recruit for Gunplague.

"Marked?", he wondered. He looked over the others and observed both Buccaneer, Hell Slicer had recently become as agile as himself. Clearly evident with their new acquired fondness of throwing things in the air and catching them in rediculous positions. He preferred to keep his talent for more important things than parlour games. As for Great Winged Terror, his claws had now started seeping poison. "A gift from this accursed place?".”