Ittindi had decided to vacation outside Fiore in honor of joining the Rune Knights. He had picked Stella for its beauty. He had felt a kinship to the raw efficiency of nature, even with how dirty a jungle made everything. The first dinosaur he saw took his breath away, if he ever had a choice of office at a higher rank he’d consider this country. He’d have to make his way out too Santalicia to get a taste of the real tourist package. He regretted his decision too not wait for a guide to come back to the border. Now he was lost in one of the largest jungles in the world. No one explained how there was a thick fog that seemed to permeate everywhere. That combined with the shade cast from its random canopies Ittindi had long lost the trailed road, as dusk started to approach he heard noise. The sound of life being such a relief Ittindi didn’t listen to the words being uttered.

As he emerged into a clearing of the jungle through the vines and high grass, Ittindi saw a supernatural sight. In the clearing there was a road leading to a pyramid, with spirits and undead walking around the road and up to the pyramid. They didn’t seem to be surprised by Ittindi one even waving at him as he walked down the road towards the large pyramid. That was when a particularly strong looking zombie turned to him.

”Puny alive Fioran, have you come for an audience with our god Tezcatlipoca?”

Ittindi was surprised the zombie spoke his language, even more surprised that there was a god here. Ittindi had heard tales of other countries having living gods, he just didn’t expect it to be so easy to have an audience with one. While the idea excited Ittindi, he had no idea what he’d even want or ask from a god. Would they be upset if he came with no favors or requests, or would it seem like he’s some kind of bootlicker?

”Why yes good sir, I’d love an audience with Tezcatlipoca. Will you take me there or do I need to just walk to the top of that splendid structure.”

Ittindi would point towards the top of the pyramid, he couldn’t even make out the top from where they were. The zombie would make a horrible gurgling noise, that Ittindi thought might be a laugh without all the organs necessary to do so. Then it’d start to walk towards the pyramid, Ittindi would follow shortly behind it. As they got closer to the pyramid, the more disgusting undead creatures would start to shamble out of huts, even the swamp itself they were all staring at them. Ittindi wondered if he had accidentally agreed to something like a ritual sacrifice. He’d think to himself this would possibly be the dumbest way to die if that was the case.

It wouldn’t be much longer until Ittindi was walking up the steps of the pyramid, their seemed to be a set of human sized steps on one of the faces of the pyramid. Or were those giant steps something else entirely? Ittindi was unsure he hadn’t seen to many pyramid structures up close until today. There was a beauty in its symmetry as they continued their ascent towards the top of the pyramid. Ittindi felt like they had been climbing for more than 20 minutes by the time the zombie took a turn, and they were moving towards an actual door instead of climbing towards the heavens. Ittindi wondered exactly how tall this structure was, as the zombie knocked on the door. He’d turn to Ittindi and moan out barely audible Fioran.

”So what modern invention are you going to show him?”

Ittindi would look at the zombie puzzled; he figured the trial would be something of the lord’s choosing. Apparently Ittindi was supposed to come prepared this country’s rituals were so odd. He’d think of his favorite hobby, he wondered if the god of war was interested in cleaning. Probably not, he had also heard he was a god of Chaos, it would probably have to be his only other skill. Magic, he wondered if this zombie would oblige him in a spar. Ittindi figured the worst that he could be told was no.

”Excuse me sir, would you perhaps like to spar me for his entertainment? I don’t think he’ll be particularly interested in my cleaning abilities, though they are legendary. I don’t really have any modern inventions on hand.”

The zombie would look at Ittindi with a sudden grin, nodding its head slowly at Ittindi’s request. They’d enter the altar room of the god Tezcatlipoca he was sitting upon a throne. His body looked more like he was from Boscoe than Stella his blue eyes piercing through Ittindi’s soul. The zombie creature would bow, and Ittindi would follow as well. Eventually they’d both rise, and the zombie would speak again.

”This one wishes to impress you with his prowess in combat, he has challenged me to a sparring match for your pleasure.”

It was weird, almost as if being by the god empowered the man as his speech had changed, along with his voice to a more human deep sound. Ittindi was a little worried about the fight now.

Ittindi had something to worry about indeed as soon as the zombie’s words finished he launched straight into him. His speed caught him by surprised and Ittindi would go flying backwards into a wall, the walls must of have been as old as the zombie as debris went flying from the impact. While it hurt, the older material must of absorbed more of the shock than a typical wall, since Ittindi was still good to go. He’d take the same practiced stance from his years of fighting with the Young Master. His left foot forward while his right offered his base support, Ittindi didn’t put his hands up in front of his face. Instead, they were underneath his chin, his white gloves were the only thing that remained clean from his outfit.

The zombie and the god were both chuckling, and he could hear murmurs from others who had started to gather in the throne room to watch Ittindi’s fight. While he wasn’t exactly versed in martial arts, he knew how to hold his own long enough to cast a spell or two. Or at least that’s what Ittindi would hope would happen. While the zombie was still laughing and the dust started to clear Ittindi would get a clear picture of the zombie, hoping he wouldn’t move anywhere but straight his arm would point directly out at the zombie. A green spell seal would appear in front of him as a strand of silk when straight for the zombie’s right arm hoping to cut it off with the flesh already weakened from centuries of rot.

Ittindi knew his attack had been successful because the first thing he heard was the zombie groan, the second being a loud smack. Suddenly he was on the ground, dazed with a squirmy arm beside him. The zombie was on the move once again, while still on the ground Ittindi’s left arm would go across his chest as another green seal would appear. The silk shield would barely manifest seconds before the zombie was once again on Ittindi this time bearing his teeth trying to bite past his silk shield. Ittindi would manage to find leverage and push him off.

His shield couldn’t take another bite like that, or any stronger attack from the zombie, by now the crowd around were cheering…Well it was hard for Ittindi to make out exactly what sound was coming from the unholy crowd. It seemed more like his Young Master’s crowd than his.  Ittindi would take the offensive now going to shoulder slam the zombie. He knew it wouldn’t be very effective, but he wanted the crowd to be worked a little more before he tried a victory spell.

To his surprise the zombie didn’t seem to have much constitution or control of his body as they both fell to the ground from Ittindi’s shoulder check. Another part of the zombie’s body had fallen off to his disgust, the ichor and dried blood splattering and ruining all his outfit.  He had to hold his emotions at bay, all he wanted to do was vomit and change his clothes. Ittindi knew that he couldn’t do any crowdwork after this. He’d put his shield down against the Zombie’s face as he put his right hand where he approximated the zombie’s bridge of his nose was. As the spell seal appeared, Ittindi would dismiss his shield, just in time for the zombie to try and turn his face to bite.

A single string would shoot through the decayed zombie’s head piercing, but before he could make purchase his magic fizzled out. The god was standing up and looking down on him, Ittindi couldn’t make out his facial expression, but he could feel the satisfaction wash over him like a wave. Then when he went to look the god in the eyes he was out in the jungle again. A mysterious token in his hand, and his outfit was still ruined so Ittindi knew what had just happened wasn’t a dream.