Continued from S3-3-6: Brytag, Warrior-Priest of Chaos (Portrait). Rodrigo saw the last of his men fall, and his blood burned with rage as he slashed through the thug that charged him. Four loyal warriors of Vilmir, and good friends, had died at the hands of these filthy bandits… and now only he remained. With half their number already down, the remaining dozen roughens circled him out of reach of his deadly, virtuous broadsword. But, despite the virtue enhanced protection of his finely crafted armor, he knew he couldn’t withstand the weight of their numbers. Yet, being the cowards that they were, none was willing to be the first to charge. “Surrender and live, pretty boy,” offered a particularly ugly thug, whom Rodrigo guessed was what passed for a leader among them. “I’ll bet there be someone willing to buy you back for a pretty penny in old holy Vilmir.” The reference to his homeland’s dedication to the Church of Law brought a round of snickering from the others, and Rodrigo realized that most, if not all, of them were likely Vilmirians, driven from their homes and into a life of robbery to survive. “I was just about to make you the same offer,” Rodrigo replied with roguish grin, panning around as if expecting them to comply. “No takers? Fine then… who dies first?” Just then the thunder of hooves out matched the roar of the nearby falls, and they all turned in surprise to see four horses charge into the clearing, each baring a rider armed to kill. One was a fair-haired, bearded man, in a rich red tunic, brandishing a broadsword, another was dark haired beauty in tight-fitting, soft leather armor who let out a piercing war cry as she swung her greatsword over head, the third was an exotically stunning woman, with gilded skin and flame red hair who fired a bow with deadly accuracy, but it was the fourth that froze Rodrigo in his tracks; leading the charge, with his black greatsword wreathed in an aura of blue-white lightning was a vision of Chaos-spawned hell… a Dragon Lord! Reacting with a warrior’s instinct, Rodrigo dropped to one knee and ducked as the riders thundered pass, with showers of blood springing up in their wake. To be continued on S3-3-8: Rodrigo Bandras (Portrait). Raised to never question the church of Law or the traditions of Vilmir, Rodrigo was an obedient noble son of the oppressive nation until he encountered the renegade Dragon Lord, Daeron Syn, and his companions while on what should have been as simple errant, but lead him into a web of deception and sorcery. Left unfulfilled when he returned to his routine and regulated life, he welcomed the opportunity for further adventure when it presented itself, but left his family marked by scandal as a result. Rodrigo’s mission to retrieve his cousin from the House of Stars in Ilmiora first brought him into contact with Blade, Rynard Adae and Dearon Syn, challenging his preconceptions and loyalty to the church of Law, which would continue through their future encounters and leave his entire world shaken. The seventh installment in the third "book" of my Stormbringer characters' adventures. Thanks for looking... Hope you enjoy! Comments and suggetions always welcome and appreciated!