"Phil Amazo" by Rafael Crazy Gonzalez

One morning, an abandon human baby boy was found and taken in by a group of Alans, a good hearted race of man-sized bird creatures who live primarily in the tropical forests across Nira. Two of the Alans, Mr. and Mrs. Amazo became the boy's foster parents, and of course, not knowing the child's real name, took it upon themselves and named their new son Phil Amazo. Being the good creatures that they are, the Amazo and the rest of this particular Alan community treated and loved Phil as one of their own. And over time the boy grew up to be a fine young man. He'd sometimes wonder about his real parents, but because of the wonderful life and family he did have, this never truly bothered him.

At the age of 15, Phil wanted to travel the land and see what the rest of the world was like outside the forests. His parents were against this at first, especially since talk of a war between the human run Kingdom of Manoss and the ancient Harpy Empire had just begun. As well as rumors of giants reappearing after a long absence. But they realized they couldn't hold onto Phil forever and during the next 2 years, trained the boy so that he could defend himself if he had gotten into any sort of trouble. The Alan may be a peaceful race, but are well knowledge in psychical combat if the need arise. A neighbor girl, Maka, went to see a blacksmith troll for a suit of armor and a sturdy sword. And returned with it as a farewell gift to Phil, who was a long time friend. Maka and Phil would have become more then just friends had things been just a little different between them, not one of which was the fact they were not of the same species though. And when Phil reached 17, he left the community and onto his life adventure.

Phil was quite naive when he started out and was amazed and sometime confused by the many people and places he visited. He'd do various odd jobs to earned food and board, learn about things to make him less oblivious, and spent a lot of time hanging with good natured strangers willing to have him along. He also developed another habit on his travels, girls! And not just human ones, but also non-humans as well. Leading to some fulfilling relationships with the likes of the good-natured succubus Demonica Lazdry and the Nekojin (cat-people) sisters Kate and Tabitha Marnita. As well as some relationships which ended on a sourer note, to say the least, like his one with Miki, the giant sphinx. His travels were pleasant and enjoyable, until the terrible reality of war forced its way upon him, as he too found himself trapped in the conflict between Manoss and the Harpy Empire.

At first he tried to find a way to avoid it all together, but time and time again it effected him and all else around him. Most human men in similar situations either selfishly ignored the battle or joined the Manoss out of fear, hate, or sincere, if not slightly misguided, support for their fellow humans. Phil, however, came up with his own plan. One so ambitious and so outrageous, you'd think tenacious and equally crazy giants created it; Phil was going to end the war himself, by killing the leaders on both sides of the conflict! Yes, he never killed anyone before in his life, but his thinking was that there was no other way and that the absence of the leaders would cause chaos within the respective governments and eventually the war itself would cease because of it. The king and queen of the Harpies had been slain in combat and that their eldest son Prince Taq Alleo had taken over, along with the rest of the Harpy military elite. While Manoss had there own kingdom's named ruler still in power, King Manoss and his many supporting warrior nobles. Phil felt that it would be best to start with the younger prince first and after days of traveling in secret away from spying Harpy eyes or their supporters, reached a strong hold where Taq was staying for the time.

Phil entered it undetected and right into the bedroom of the sleeping prince, who despite being no older then he was, had a presence much mature in mind and spirit then he did. Unfortunately, because of his inexperience and lack of murderous malice, Phil panicked and failed in his attempt, managing only in pure accident in taking out Taq's left eye. Surviving the gory injury, Taq and the strong hold's guards chased Phil until he escaped. A week later, Taq sent fourth his younger sister Tiq Alleo to find the pathetic assassin who took his eye and punish him. And so she did, along with a small group of harpy soldiers, frond Phil who was in hiding out by a nearby lake. At first they were going to kill him, but realizing how much of a buffoon he really was, gave Phil a brutal beating instead. When it was over, Tiq, with her own claws, ripped out Phil's left eye for her oldest brother's eye. This cruel action gave Phil an anger he never had before and no longer held any doubts or fears about his goal. From that day forward, he was fully committed to his plan. This was also the day in which the viscous and soon to be infamous revelry between Phil Amazo the lone human knight and Tiq Alleo the Harpy princess began. TO BE CONTINUED