<div align="center">In the time of tyrants<br/><br/><em>In the time of glory</em><br/><br/>There lived a ruler feared far and wide<br/><br/><em>There lived a golden queen</em><br/><br/>With her fell magics she stole the will from those who lived beneath her iron fist<br/><br/><em>She was beloved by all who dwelt in her land</em><br/><br/>With foul magics she consorted with the powers of hell and those that would ravage Creation<br/><br/><em>The Courts beyond respected her power and wisdom, and sought her council</em><br/><br/>The mortals of her land were nothing but slaves, chattel and bargaining chips<br/><br/><em>Those who sheltered beneath her arms were envied amongst their peers in neighbouring lands</em><br/><br/>Such could not be allowed to continue<br/><br/><em>But the great Golden Age could not last</em><br/><br/>The mightiest of the Creation’s heros rose up against the evil tyrants of the world<br/><em><br/>The Chosen of heaven were betrayed by those they trusted most</em><br/><br/>Their power was broken, their slaves freed, their dark deeds cast into the pit of history<br/><br/><em>Any who stood with the Chosen were slain without mercy, their wondrous deeds stolen from memory</em><br/><br/>With her dying breath, the tyrant swore she would return again, to seek vengeance on those who had cast her down<br/><br/><em>With her dying breath, the queen swore she would return again, when her people needed her most</em><br/><br/>And the heavens would tremble when she rose again<br/><br/><em>And that the heavens would announce her return</em><br/><br/>Let the righteous keep watch for the signs of her return<br/><br/><em>Let the faithful watch the stars for her awakening</em><br/><br/>That she might be slain before she can subjugate this land once more<br/><br/><em>That she may be welcomed in glory to her rightful throne once again</em><br/><br/>When the stars weep, and day is cast black as night, then watch for her return<br/><br/><em>When heaven sends a star to Creation, and Sol and Luna embrace, then know she draws breath again</em><br/><br/>And the wicked shall rejoice<br/><br/><em>And the righteous shall rejoice</em><br/><br/>For she is come again<br/><br/><em>For she is come again</em></div><br/><br/><div align="center">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/91/Cavemouth.jpg)</div><br/>The full moon’s silver light bathed the desert sands, drawing the heat from them more rapidly than any non native might credit was possible. In the distance .. but not far enough for the comfort of those who knew it .. loomed the mountains that surrounded the Valley of the Silver Tower.<br/><br/>Prudent travellers avoided the region, for the Wyld storms could be fiercer here than anywhere else, and open desert left few hiding places. The small caravan that had been crossing the desert for the last few weeks had split off from a larger one a few nights previously, with assurances that they would meet up at the First Age ruins in another few days.<br/><br/>A dozen slaves now stood in front of a set of rocky hills within one of the small ravines that criss-crossed this region of the desert, guarded by half their number of hard eyed guards. The Master of the caravan stood talking with the leader of the guards in low voices, gesturing towards the craggy rock face that stood a few score yards away, as servants scurried about lighting braziers and doing other tasks that seemed to make little sense.<br/><br/>Finally the leader of the guards nodded and stepped forwards, drawing his blade with an evil hiss. “Listen up, scum,” his voice was not loud, but easily carried to the slaves that stood huddled together, a servant passing out a ration of water and trailbread to each. “If you want to live to see tomorrow, listen to the words of Akeem Magi and heed them well. Show any disrespect and I’ll slit your throats here and now and leave you for jackals.”<br/><br/>The magi stepped forwards, a serpent crowned staff in his hand. This was levelled at the rock face, the smoke from the braziers rising into the air, the desert winds sending them to caress the stone.<br/><br/>As the moon finally rose fully there was a grinding noise as the stone changed, reshaping itself into the majestic head of a massive lion, the maw opening to reveal a cave entrance. Only the presence of the guards prevented at least a couple of the slaves from turning and running for the desert .. that and the manacles they still wore.<br/><br/>“Within that cave is something I desire,” the Magi said without preamble. “A golden circlet, set with the head of a lion. Anyone who brings it to me will be rewarded beyond imagining.”<br/><br/>“Why do need us to do it?” asked one of the slaves, a heavily scarred brawler by their looks. “Big man like you with all them blades. What’s in there that you’re sending us in.” He punctuated his words with the half eaten trailbread gestured like a dagger.<br/><br/>“It’s always good to find an insightful mind,” the Magi replied, with a faint smile. “To answer your question, that cave leads to a tomb, as yet unplundered. I expect there will be all kinds of dangers inside. I have no need to waste my guards when I have the likes of you to send instead. You have been selected for your individual talents. I believe that you will be able to succeed where your predecessors have not. But if you need additional encouragement, allow me to offer you this.” He held up a hand and ticked off points on long fingers.<br/><br/>“All I want is the circlet. You may have the pick of anything else within. Second, I can always find a use for individuals of talent, and you may rise to a position of wealth and power within my service. And lastly, I expect that you will want the antidote for the poison that is in the food you’ve all been eating.” He gave another thin smile. “Oh, don’t worry, it will be a day or two before it claims you, you needn’t worry about that.” He nodded towards the cave mouth. “The fact that that will close again with the setting of the full moon and not open again til the next full moon rises is a much more pressing concern.”<br/><br/>He made a small gesture and a servant came forwards with an armful of basic gear .. ropes, staffs, pry bars and the like, dumping it and then moving to unlock all the manacles. The guards had stepped back and raised bows to point at the slaves.<br/><br/>“If any of you wish not to continue, simply say so now and ..” his hand rose to gesture at the guards.<br/><br/>“Your time is limited. I wouldn’t dawdle if I were you.”<br/><br/><br/>