.The hot dry sands of the Calim Desert drifted silently on the wispy breezes that occasionally blew through the small encampment of tents. At the center, was a roughly circular oasis, not even a dozen feet in radius. Yet even that meager plot of fertile land served the purposes of this extremely small community. There were perhaps only twenty or so living in the half dozen tents, and though the majority was children, no laughter could be heard through the thin cloth walls of the tents. Only clinking of metal on metal, and the occasional fizzle of electricity. Much more common was a soft cry of pain and surprise, as a stronger jolt of electricity arced through the air. Usually followed by a scuffle of feet, and some words of comfort from an adult. This was obviously a community with a purpose other than simple survival, in the harshness of the Calim Desert. In fact, it was a school, of sorts. It taught only one art, however, the skills needed to become a puppet master, a user of corpses more limber and much more deadly than the common undead created by wizards and their like.
[t:wld1o007]Of course, as with any school, there were teachers and students. And amongst the students there were varying degrees of skill. A lad by the name of Abdul-Azim, a fourth year student, was the golden boy, favored by the head of the teachers, he had already crafted his own flesh golem by the end of his first year of school, and would proudly ride upon it, from one tent to the next, even if the distance was only two of the golem's strides. On the other end of the spectrum was a fairly scrawny little child, his long dark hair was incredibly unkempt, and always seemed to stick out of his head at the most strangest of angles imaginable. His bright green eyes instantly alienated him from the rest of the students, and the fact that his eyes seemed to always dart about the place hadn't helped much either.
[t:wld1o007]This boy, it seemed, was more interested in learning the makings of the weaponry, that all the students were taught to use, as opposed to the crafting and controlling of the puppets themselves. The teachers would always shake their heads about his lack of progress in the "important areas" and the other students constantly derided him, as worthless, and lazy. Yet, by the end of his second year, Almahdi has more than surpassed all that the school could teach him in the arts martial. However, all of the second year students were required to pass a test of sorts. It was a duel, where the first day's participants were allowed to choose their combatants. The second day was mostly for those who had been defeated in the previous day.
[t:wld1o007]That fateful day dawned, and by the time the teachers had come around to raising the second year tent, Almahdi was already fully awake. Customarily, the first challenge of the day was decided the day before, but Almahdi had no use for customs. As soon as the ring of onlookers and challengers, had formed, he stepped in. He turned around, looking at the shocked expressions of the teachers, and the whispers of the students. His smile was the first any had seen on that youth's face, and as he completed his turn, Almahdi's eyes settled on the face of Abdul-Azim. Even though he had spoken no words, or made any other gestures, his challenge was clear to all present. A smug smile creased the face of Azim, and he leisurely slid off the back of his golem. With no particular hurry, he stepped into the ring, "Ah, I see that the serpent wishes to soar with the hawk." A smattering of laughter from the students echoed back at him. "Very well, I shall oblige you." He pulled out a scroll of parchment, and unraveling it on the ground, jerked his hand upwards. The surface of the paper rose, and fell away, revealing a small dark skinned man. The person was obviously dead, and was, in fact one of the bodies kept in stock by the school for such occasions.
Lightnings crackled and flashed between the finger's of Azim's hand, and as they arced into the dead body, its limbs started to move, and when Azim stepped back, with a flick of his wrist, it took a step forward. There were whispers of praise amongst the students, and even a small chorus of applause amongst the teachers. It seemed everyone was waiting with some anticipation as to what Elwyn would do.
