<em>Wake up...</em><br/><br/>In an unadorned stone mausoleum, worn by the years of neglect and whims of weather, lay a large figure on top of a granite slab.  For centuries, it had lain there, undisturbed and unmoving, a skeleton of what it once was.  But now, vitality coursed through its veins, hot vitality that made it stir as it began to wake up from its eternal rest.<br/><br/><em>Wake up...</em><br/><br/>Claws untested for years began to clench and scratch at the granite, leaving deep groves.  From a crack in the roof of the mausoleum, a gentle breeze teased black and red fur, and animal ears flicked in response to the sensation.<br/><br/><em>Wake up...</em><br/><br/>A weak beam of sunlight began to move through the mausoleum, guided by the movement of the clouds.  As the beam traced the length of the furry form on the slab, it rested on the creatures face.  Flinching at the light on its eyes, there was a growl of annoyance at the intrusion of its deep slumber.  Lips peeled back, revealing the sharp teeth along its muzzle.  The figure tried to shy away from the light, but the slumber had been broken, and what had been laid to rest was awakening again: a deep resounding rage.<br/><br/>And then golden eyes snapped wide open.<br/><br/>----------<br/><br/>From outside of the mausoleum, there was a yawn and the sounding of something shifting and moving inside.  It approached the stone door that sealed the mausoleum tight.  Even worn down through the ages, it was still a formidable structure.  The sound of hands scrabbling to find purchase and a loud grunt could be heard from inside, as whatever inside struggled to free itself.  Then there was a moment of panting before silence.  Followed by an explosion as the stone door burst outward, showering the immediate area with debris as an entrance was forced open.  The stone door pinwheeled as it flew, crashing into other grave markers and smashing them, gouging tracks of grave dirt, until it finally succumbed to the forces acting on it and shattered into large chunks that impacted deeply into the earth.  Clouds of dirt filled the air, obscuring vision until the mournful breeze swept the clouds aside.<br/><br/>At the newly opened entrance stood a large gnoll.  From the glint of its golden eyes, surveying the landscape, it was clear that whoever he was, he was angry.  At it was most definitely a he, as all he wore was a pure white loin cloth.  The purity of the colour could have only been some kind of joke, as there was nothing sacred or holy about the figure that exited its former stone prison.  Taller than any normal gnoll, he looked like something from Hell had spawned him, or perhaps he had been spat out of Hell itself.  He sucked in deep breaths of the musty, sickly air of the graveyard, frowning at he unsavoury flavour.  Lifting up a thin, white tablet, he squinted at it, his brows furrowing in confusion before he dropped his hand back to his side.<br/><br/>In a deep, rumbling voice, the gnoll spoke, "Where is this place?  Why am I here?"<br/>He looked back at the tablet.<br/>"And who am I?"