[Neraphym]

Lohengrin and Neraphym cirlce a tallmountain peak off in the distance and return to a clearing near a waterfall a few miles away. Lohengrin touches down and Neraphym hops off. He is greeted by a tall, strong Aphorite. There are several other people nearby.

Neraphym: "Lohengrin's sharp eyes did not find any humans in the vicinity. Although, there's an adolescent human roughly 10 miles from here to the west. He was heading northeast, though, so we needn't worry."

Dekzer: "Alright, we can begin the demonstation. Ready, Phalberan?"

Phalberan: "Yes, God-Marshal. As I said earlier, I have invented a Golem Core. It can be used to create a golem out of whatever material surrounds it when activated. Creating a golem is usually a very long and intricate process involving hours of tedious work, expensive magical implements and an deep understanding of the arcane artes. This device will allow us to accomplish such a feat in under a minute with little or no experience."

Phalberan pulls out a rather large glowing sphere and activates it. He tosses it into the water at the base of the fall, then shoots the pond with a freeze ray. The pond freezes over. After a few seconds, an intense light shines from beneath the surface. Cracks from in the ice and the frozen water beings to churn violently. After a while, the movement subsides and the water becomes still. An ice golem climbs out from a shallow end.

Kimes: "Impressive! So you can create a golem with ease. Now tell me, Phalberan, how strong is this thing?"

Phalberan: "The strength of the golem is dictated by the surrounding elements and the density of the mana compressed in the core. This particular golem is a class A. It should be slightly weaker than any one of us. Class A golems are expensive to make, whereas classes B are cheaper, and C's even moreso. So far a class S golem is possible to create using this method, but I have yet to pull it off. The mana core is far too unstable at that density."

Ondaari: "You don't control this thing..."

Phalberan: "Of course I do, I am the golem's master. I can issue commands fre..."

A spear of ice hits Phalberan square in the chest armor. The ice shatters, but Phalberan is knocked down.

Ondaari: "The months spent creating a golem help form the deep bond between the golem and the golem master. This method forges a very weak bond. I'm sure you can control this thing in a lab all by yourself, but anyone with even basic training in coersion could turn this thing against you."

Phalberan: "Yes, I have been unable to get these golems to obey commands after they are created, but I have found ways to program into them certain desires. For instance, this one was programmed to kill us all."

Phalberan gets up quickly and finds cover behind a rock. Dekzer was closest tot he Ice Golem, so it came after him first. A storm of ice shards darted his way, but Dekzer blasted them out of the air with his broadsword. Lohengrin spewed firebolts at the golem, but even they did little. Neraphym jumped on Lohengrin and they took off too a distance.

Neraphym: "This one is all yours, Dekzer. I haven't seen you fight in a while, and it would be quite entertaining. How about some music, Kimes?"

Dekzer: "Fine, I wouldn't mind killing it for you all to enjoy."

Kimes: "Why, I'd love to! I know just the song."

Kimes and Riach find some cover behind a large tree trunk, then Kimes pulls out a rather strange, violin-like instrument. He begins to play a soft, sad melody, but the song picks up quickly and gets quite intense. Dekzer can feel the power of the song flowing through him.

Dekzer: "Aaaaaggggghhhh!"

Dekzer transforms his giant sword into a giant axe and charges towards the golem. He jumps in the air and cleaves off the golem's left arm. He swings back towards the golem's torso and puts a giant crack in its side. After a few more bashes, the golem shatters and melts back into the pond.

Dekzer: "Well, that was certainly exhillarating. Phalberan, try and recreate that link between golem and master. Without it, these beasts will not be successful in battle. Good work, otherwise. Ok everyone, you'll all free to do as you wish for the next two days. We will leave in 47 hours from now, so be on the Descent by then. We shall return to the other side of the galaxy to plan our next moves. Dismissed."

Dekzer, and the others leave, but Neraphym and Phalberan remain.

Neraphym: "Those things are quite handy, even though you cannot yet control them. The basic programming still makes it somewhat useful. Might I have one of those class A cores?"

Phalberan: "Thank you, Neraphym. You've always stood up for my work, and I'd be glad to give you a core. How do you plan on using it, though?"

Neraphym: "I haven't decided yet. I think I might just program it to accomplish a task for me while I'm gone. I'll be off now. I'll see you back on the Descent."

Everyone is now gone.