<em>When the court of Queen Abrogail II learned of the Taldoran expedition to a previously uncharted land, a counter-expedition was quickly approved. Under the leadership of Contessa Megaera, the Chelaxian armada made landfall at the rocky shores of the crumbling city of Myrs.<br/><br/>A full month behind the Taldorans, and beset with problems including the shallow harbor, the state of the decayed city, a tenacious type of fire-resistant ivy, and pests in the granaries, the expedition was well behind schedule. Their resources and armies were greater than that of the Taldorans, however, and patrols had found the ruins of a greater civilization farther inland. Ruins waiting to be reclaimed in the name of the empire of Cheliax.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/>(http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/9828/pzo1111cheliax1.jpg)<br/><br/>Myrs was starting to resemble an actual city. The buildings along the waterfront had been torn down, and the narrow, meandering streets replaced by paved roads precisely oriented to north and south, east and west. Although the majority of the Chelaxians still slept in tents, there were ever increasing numbers of crude wooden barracks and slave pens, all identical in plot and plan.<br/><br/>At this point the more permanent construction was largely hollow shells, arches of timber or stone with slowly rising walls. But a few structures were complete, and though they lacked the features common in Chelaxian architecture- towers and spires, gargoyles lining the eaves, marble facades engraved with red and black runes- Myrs was starting to feel more like home.<br/><br/>At the heart of the city was a tower built of red limestone and ringed with a barbed iron fence. Asmodeus's Spire, they called it, the home of the current ruler of Myrs, Contessa Megaera. A dark haze ever surrounded the spire, sheltering it from unpleasant sunlight and isolating it from the cooling sea breezes. The scent of brimstone hung heavy in the air.<br/><br/>It was a pleasant day in late summer when the Contessa called a meeting of her inner council. The first to arrive at the circular second-floor chamber and take her place at the five-point star table was the Hellknight commander, Noravia Ratarion. Dark of hair and eye and pale of skin, she was a native Chelaxian, and imposing in black, spiked plate armor. Next was Morvious Sarini, Chief Inquisitor and priest of Asmodeus. His head was shaven, the left side of his face tattooed in swirling black symbols, and his robes were red and black and worn with a sweeping red cape. He gave a token bow to the others before taking his place at the table.<br/><br/>Contessa Megaera lounged in her throne, legs seductively crossed. At six feet she was very tall for a female human, though the large, black feathered wings at her back suggested she was anything but. Her clothing, if it could be called that, was a breathtaking blend of leather straps and sheer black silk that revealed more than it hid. Long brown hair framed a lovely face set with lustrous dark eyes. Eyes that burned red as flame when displeased.<br/><br/>They were not burning yet, though if the others did not arrive soon, they most likely would. Three seats were taken, two remained. Only the High Infernal Scholar and Spymaster were absent.<br/><br/>