Water, there was water all around him. The God Slayer awoke to a rushing flood of stinking putrid water. Swamp water, gushing forth through a wall of his tomb. It came from the swamp above, the land of the Covenant of Tribes. He had been placed here, so long ago that this land had been rolling plains upon his imprisonment, not wretched swamp. The change itself was startling, shocking, angering. He had not realized that he’d been placed into his slumber, he only knew that one moment he’d felt the glowing hot nails shoved into his jaw, the next he was in frigid water up to his chin. This sudden change of events brought rage upon that sent the male into a frenzy of violent motions.

With total ignorance to any pain he felt, the God Slayer began to rip apart the wall of his tomb, rending the stones apart. Any normal man would have bruised and bleeding arms and hands from this rough work, he had neither. Stone after stone was thrown aside, his cries of rage stifled behind the mask. He could not open his mouth, not with those nails keeping his mandible in place. This only served to further his anger, his frenzied efforts to free himself from this tomb. Little did he know, the exit was a mere five paces behind him.

After quite some digging, smashing, bashing, and infuriated kicking, the man had dug himself free of his tomb. He had broken from the entombment chamber and into the ceremonial storage chamber. That which held all his worldly possessions at time of imprisonment. Most of them were ruined, rotted from time or destroyed by the swamp water. Three items caught his attention, high on an alter they were safe from the ravages of water. A sword, a shield, and armor. Wading through the swamp water Marduk approached these items, looking at each in turn. He’d only be able to carry two from this place, and he chose the armor and the blade. Lifting these items, their weight together was enough to strain the mighty warrior as he once more waded through the water. There was a passage in sight, one which was allowing the swamp water access to this chamber. That passage had been damaged by time and seismic activities, until one section of the wall collapsed. This not only allowed water it, but allowed Marduk out.

After squirming through a layer of mud and scum the warrior reached the surface, although that would be hard to tell. The air was rank with disease and insects, the sky was darkened, and stagnant water was all around. This was truly a Hell on Earth as he saw it. Not knowing that he’d been asleep for many hundreds of years Marduk could only assume that some hostile force had invaded while he was kept prisoner, and desecrated his land. Revenge, the word burned in his mind. Revenge on the people who had done this. But first, he’d need his gear. Laying the sword down on a log near him, the warrior carefully dressed himself in his armor, slinging his weapon onto his back in its traditional position. With the blade secured there he began to move through the swamp, searching, searching for the ones who lived here.

***

Several days passed, the warrior was growing hungry. Malnourished and enraged he stumbled at last across the denizens of this swamp. The pygmies of the Covenant, those poor unfortunates who just happened to be in his path. A group of them, not an army, but not a small group either. Marduk cared not. His blade was drawn free of its sheath the moment he saw them. The shining sword flashed through the air toward the nearest of the little creatures, striking with the benefit of surprise. This little beast would be the first to perish at the blade of the God Slayer.

Should the Pygmy somehow avoid the strike, it would be followed up by two more rapid slashes each aimed to either kill the little beast, or send it scrambling back to its companions. Once the first pygmy was either dead, or falling back, the God Slayer attempted to open his mouth and use his most deadly weapon. This attempt was frustrated by the mask which was still nailed to his face, preventing him from using the BanSidhe Cry. Startled, Marduk stepped back for a moment, his blade held in a defensive position lest the pygmies attack rather then flee. This was a startling new development. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t open his mouth, he couldn’t use his best weapon. He was severely handicapped, he’d have to rely on his skill with a sword to win this battle. And although his skill was considerable, it would be hard for him to fend off large numbers of enemies by himself, without his special ability.

So found the God Slayer, angry, confused, and alone. Unknowing of the years he’d spent in slumber, released on a world with no friendly faces. He was enemy to all, just as all were enemy to he. His power was locked away, and he could not use his primary mode of defense. Quite a predicament he was in, one which could very easily kill him

Indeed it was not an army, but rather a regiment of troops. The Southern Patroll consisted of over 100 pygmies chataur and wolves. These collections of troops were mostly internal policing and advanced scout. Rumor had it that a tomb lay buried under the earth, and murky waters of the covenant swamps. These troops had been dispatched to find that tomb and any treasure it may hold.

But what they were searching for had found them. The Pygmie spearman who walked on point was suprized when the blade of a sword leapt out at him. He brought his spear up and into the blade. The force from the sword send him back several feet and int othe water. But he survived. He rose and emitted a loud squeel. "Enemy, Human! Something it here!" it howled.

The troops of the Covenant Came to bear. The barks of wolves echoed through the woods as the wolf rider rode around Marduk. The Pygmie soldiers with spears ran up with their weapons pointing at the stranged. From behind Archers found purches and aimed their arrows at the interloper. Finally the 10 foot tal Chataru clad head to foot in their thick Iron armor walked up with hammers in hand.

The Pygmie soldier stood up and walked cautiously up to Marduk. He spoke in a broken version of Commen "Hunam.. me is commader in Covenant, you be surrendering yes..give sign if you hear?" He said in a high pitched voice.

Marduk would find him self Surrounded, but even confoused he must know had the Covenant wished his death surly a battle would be ensuing now.

The first moment of confusion regarding his inability to wield his BanSidhe cry was over. In its place was mounting anger which was rapidly growing toward a state of mind which one might call a berserk. A state of mind where the warrior no longer felt pain or fear, instead rushing to battle with all his strength and skill. The moment this state of mind was achieved would be the moment this entire Pygmy squad would die.

The foolish stupid pygmy commander walked right up to the trembling warrior who was even now fighting to control the maddening rage which was growing inside. The fact that this scum, this pathetic piece of shit pygmy spoke to him was enough to send the God Slayer over the edge. The resulting cry of hatred was stifled by his mask, which only furthered the anger toward this little beast. Both hands now gripped his sword, and he no longer trembled. Here was a BanSidhe warrior at its finest hour, its body working perfectly for the purpose of mass murder.

His muscles tensed as he took hold of his weapon in both hands, the only warning the pygmy would have before he launched forward at a sprint. This was of course a deadly attack, what would likely be an unexpected burst of speed and power as adrenaline flooded the God Slayer’s system. Beneath his armor his well toned muscles slid beneath his flesh, visible only in certain areas where his armor showed weakness. These areas were meant for his shield to cover, but were exposed at the moment. Not that it would do the pygmies any good to strike at this warrior.

He charged the pygmy warrior, his sword lunging forward in a thrust motion dead on toward the creature’s head. Because it had moved toward him it was unlikely that the beast would survive this rapid attack. And should its body become impaled on the blade, Marduk would pivot upon his heels, sliding across the ground as he moved to hurl the dead body toward the archers in the trees. Should his attack somehow miss he’d continue passed the pygmy warrior, leaping feet first toward one of the armored hulks. The flying attack would send the heels of both feet toward the larger beast’s face, clearly aiming to knock it off balance from sheer surprise, speed, and force.

Should he connect with his attack to the hulking armored beast he would use the impact to toss himself back and onto his feet on the ground. While moving back through the air he’d change the grip on his sword, his right hand resting on the pommel stone as he shoved the blade toward the middle of the creature’s chest. This would in all probability pierce through the plate armor it wore, and rip through its heart.

Should his attack on the first pygmy connect, and the body become hurled toward the enemies in the trees, Marduk would continue his spin to come around toward the armored creature. At this point he’d bring the flat of his blade toward the side of the creature’s head, hoping to stun it with the force of his blow. Should that occur, he’d shift grips so that his right hand was on the pommel stone of his sword as he moved to drive the point of his blade deep into the center of the creature’s heart.

Two possible attacks he could launch, both depending on whether or not he killed the lead pygmy. Either way, a battle would begin and he would emerge the victor. This was a battle that the sheer numbers the Pygmy forces possessed would not win. The Covenant was living on the ruined land of his people, his murdered kingdom, and they had dared to speak to him as though he were some common peasant. The wrath of the God Slayer was terrible indeed, and these poor pathetic creatures had incurred it with only a few simple words.

The pygmie warrior manuvered at the speed of Marduk's attack. It was futile how ever for now the beast lay in a puddle of mud, and it's own blood.

The sword indeed stabbed into the Chataru's armor, and went into his flesh, But the massive creature had moved to its left causing the blade to enter his lung. It wailed in agony, yet continued to press on, It swung it's massive hammer in a clumbsy fashon at Marduk's head aiming to crush it.

A battle cry flew from the trees, The calvarie of the Covenant dashed off into the swamps leaving the fray, Probley off to alert the Elders of the base to this interloper. The remaining ground forces began taking up positions through out the swamp. Marduk had suprised them but her would find the covenant of tribes one of the most combat hardened forces on Utopia. From his rear 2 spear men rushed in Timing their attack with the wounded Chataru, hoping to catch Marduk in a dodge and run his kidney's through.

In the trees a famed Pygmie sniper had taken up a position 20 feet up and carefully aimed his bow and arrow at the being's throat, he let the arrow loose and the missle screamed for Marduk's blood.

Watching the battle stood the Patrol's commander, a Pygmie wearing a heavily feathered mask, and holding two flint-headed hatchets in his hands. He watched with admiration for this creature that stood before him.