Before you stands a woman, tall and proud. Her Amazon heritage is written all over her in her dress, her mannerisms, and the stature with which she holds herself. She is Hyployta Sian,one of the last surviving Amazons of her tribe.

She is hard and obviously a warrior, her sword sheathed on her back, yet she is beautiful and something about her draws you. Something in her eyes shows she is caring as well....if she likes you that is. She would gladly die for her Amazon sisters....but alas, they are all gone now and she is far from her home.

You study her appearance, the long golden brown hair, the wary honey colored eyes, the honey tinted skin that makes you wonder if she tastes of honey as well....the big sword she could make mince meat out of you with.....and decide you want to know more about her.

You approach her, as non threateningly as possible....and ask her how she came to be here. She hesitates, taking your measure....then for some reason, decides to share her story with you.

She begins to speak, her voice husky and inviting, weaving her tale about you until it becomes almost reality.......

"I was born and bred an Amazon warrior. My mother was the third sister of the queen of our tribe, and the fiercest warrior our tribe had ever known. She would never rule the Amazons, as she was only the third sister and our queen already had a daughter of her own, yet my Mother didn't care. She wanted only to build the Amazon nation by being the best warrior possible...to live and die for her tribe if need be....and in the end, she did.

I was much like my Mother and took quickly to the sword, training as much as I could, only dreaming that I might be as good as Mother some day. All the Amazon sisters care for one another equally, their loyalty unquestioned, as it should be. I was quickly becoming a leader of our Armies as mother was. We were the strongest Amazon tribe in all of Greece.....Which is why we were the last to fall.

The Romans began invading Greece....taking the old Goddesses and rewriting their stories, making them nothing more then consorts to Gods. Subjecting women in general to the rule of men...and trust me, that rule was not always kind. The Amazons refused to bend to their will. We Rule ourselves, no other. They began waging war on the Amazon nation itself. We fought valiantly, not fearing to die for our sisters. We took many of the Romans with us. However...the Roman army had advances that we did not, and the Amazon nation began to flounder until finally our tribe was all that was left of the organized bands. Many of us had gone into hiding when their tribes had been destroyed. Our tribe continued to hold our ground, our queen and my mother leading our armies fiercely, fearless, intent only on destroying the Romans who sought to subjugate us. It was quickly realized that I was one of the best warriors in our tribe and was given my own band to lead. I had proven myself to my queen and tribe...so much so that they sent my band under my leadership to engage the leader of the Roman army himself. To kill him if possible.

It was a trap. They lay in wait for me, under orders from their Emporer to capture me as a trophy for him. The defeats his legions suffered at my hands had gained his notice..and nothing short of my becoming his captive would do to appease his wounded ego. Unprepared for such motives thier leader was able to take me captive, but not for long. They held me and my band captive for but a few days. In that time I watched their leader, young, zealous, eager to obey the almighty Ceasor. I vowed I would never forget his face, and someday he would know retribution at my hands. Finally my chance to escape came and my band was able to overpower them, though I did not escape unscathed. In my battle with thier leader he left his mark upon me...a thin wound that trailed down over my collar bone, no doubt intended for my neck. I knew it would leave a scar and simply used it as a reminder to never forget this man, or my revenge.

We escaped and defeated our captors....but my triumph was short lived when I returned to my tribe to find it embroiled in battle. They but waited for my band to ride out to meet thier comrades, knowing what they had in store for me, once I had gone they attacked the tribe....and had killed most of them...except the queen, a few of her warriors, and mother. They had not anticipated my escaping.

My band set upon the romans fiercely, fighting with an unquenchable bloodlust at seeing their sisters violated and murdered. I cant even count how many I myself killed....*her eyes cloud over with the memory, the pain obvious in her face. She shakes herself out of her memory and continues the story*

Eventually we routed the romans.....but there were only a few of us left. Me...a few warriors from my unit, and the Queen.

Mother was dead. She had died taking an arrow intended for her sister, our queen.I found the queen, still horribly wounded, kneeling over Mother's body. I saw my mother's lifeless form on the ground...and even while the tears began to stream down my face and my chest wrack with sobs, I felt immense pride that I had a mother such as her, and that she died defending all she believed in.

As my tears dried...I noticed the queen gazing at me....I looked back and for the first time realized how badly wounded she was. I became concerned and began to do my best with what healing knowledge I had, but she bade me stop. She looked at me sadly....pride shining from her face as she said...."Hypolyta..you are the last of the Sians. All my daughters...they are gone...my sisters.....your mother....we are the last, and I fear I shall not live out the hour." She coughed and I noticed blood forming around her lips. The other warriors left, five in total, gathered around us, sadness written on their faces and they bestowed their honor and respect on their dying queen.

She looked to all of them in turn...letting them know she had loved them all like her daughters, as she had loved us all in the tribe ....letting them know they had done her proud, then returned her gaze to me. "I know not what shall happen to the tribe now...there are so few and the Romans will not stop till they have killed us all.....but whatever happens....you will lead them to it.

Hypolyta Sian....in the eyes of the Goddess Artemis, I hereby grant you my Rite of Caste, to rule when I am gone."

I can not tell you how shocked I was....I had not even mourned her death and she was making me her heir. I knew it was my duty however, I had to protect those of us left, my honor and love for my tribe demanded it. I nodded my ascent and then held the hand of my queen as she passed to the other side.

There was no time for me to mourn, however. We had very little time, for I knew we must move on before the Romans returned.

I would not go without seeing my sisters properly sent to the Goddess. The six of us worked furiously into the night...and when dawn came it was greeted with the funeral pyres of all of my fallen sisters. The sky looked to be on fire. As soon as the ritual was done, we gathered all we could carry and set out. I had little idea of where to lead them, but I was now queen,a nd lead them I would. Their welfare was my sole concern now.

I turned them towards Athens, towards the temple of the Goddess Artemis. If anyone could help us, it would be the Goddess of the Amazons.

We arrived at the temple to find it almost deserted. I say almost because it did not look neglected...it was lit with candles and incense burned and offerings were laid out for the goddess.

I knew not else what to do, so I fell to my knees before her shrine and sent my prayers up to the Goddess, the way I had been trained to do by our tribes Shaman. The others followed my lead. Soon I realized a robed form was standing before us. I looked up and saw a beautiful woman I assumed was a Priestess of Artemis.

She gazed upon me....a caring smile playing about her lips. "Hello Hypolyta" She said, and I was startled that she knew my name.

"my Lady....we are the last of my tribe of Amazons. We knew not where to turn, and so have sought refuge here in the temple of our Goddess." I stammered out.

"I know who you are Child.....I have been watching you. You do Me proud. But, you are in grave danger. There are many Amazons from different tribes in hiding. They serve as Priestesses in my temples where they will not be discovered. The Romans know of you, they know if you get the chance, you could unite them again, and lead them against their armies. They fear you and want you dead. There will be no where that is safe for you.....here."

As she spoke I knew the rightness of her words....but I was lost. I knew not what I would do if I was not with my tribe.

"Where will I go? What will I do? What of my sisters?" I shot my questions out at her...forgetting my respectful tones as panic surged up in me at the thought of leaving them.

"You will go to another land.....in another world. Your sisters will stay and become Priestesses in my Temples should they wish."

"Another world???? How in the name of the Gods will I get to another world??"

She smiled serenely at me and replied..."I shall send you, of course."

It was then all the clues began to click into place and I knew that I kneeled before no ordinary Priestess, but the Goddess Artemis herself. She saw that I had realized and smiled, nodding.

"Now, we haven't much time. You must go, and quickly."

She pulled me to my feet and placed a gold medallion with a blood red stone in its center, and a bow and arrow with a sword engraved on its back.

"This will protect you. It will aide you greatly and bring you many gifts if you but let it. Gifts that you will need in the world you are going to. Do not fight it, daughter. It will also bring you home if you wish, when its time. The Amazons will rise again...and you will be needed to lead, if you so desire. Till then, keep this on you always!" She admonished me.

I nodded, mute, barely understanding what was going on around me. I knew I couldn't leave without knowing my sisters were taken care of. She sensed my concern and summoned a group of the Temple Priestesses. They came and took my sisters among them, and I saw that many of them were Amazons. I knew then that they would be protected. She also garbed me in the robes of one of her Priestesses, covering the leather garb of my people and my sword. She thought it best that I not be to conspicuous in a new world. Though I feared no threat, I knew I must get my bearings, and so agreed with Her.

She took my hand and led me to the Alter where she had prepared for this. I looked upon my sisters...and bid them farewell till it was time for me to return. Artemis smiled at me and before I knew it, I was gone from the temple. It felt as though I was being yanked at all sides. The lurching in my stomach was awful. Finally I set down in a forest in a place I had never seen. I didn't move for the longest time....getting my bearings...studying my surroundings. I began to travel, slowly at first, unsure of what creatures they may have here. However, the forest has been my home since I was a child, and I was not scared.

One day, I came upon a Castle. It was secluded and was built for defense, but had an aura of comfort about it.

I was hesitant to approach the Keep, unsure of the reception I would receive, but my curiosity about this land over rode any uneasiness.I went up to the postern gate and was greeting by the guard. She was not unfriendly, but naturally wanted to know what my business was. I told her I was a traveler from a land, very far away and knew nothing of this land. She smiled and took me to her leaders. They greeted me in their great hall. They were

the Queen and King of this Clan,Caillean and Thorne. I was unused to being around any males in power, other then the Romans, and immediately went on the defensive. Thorne sensed this and did all he could to make me feel unthreatened.

Caillean came to me, and took my hands in her's. She smiled at me warmly and I could see the kindness and strength in her. She looked into my eyes probingly, and I felt as though she was seeing into my soul.....and perhaps she was because she immediately took me to her private chambers and saw me bathed and fed and made comfortable.When I was through taking care of the things I had been bereft of for weeks, I sat comfortably with the Queen in her study. She gently asked about my past, and I found myself pouring it all out to her, every bit. She listened to all I had to say, never once disbelieving. When I was through, she again took my hand in her's.

"You have been through much, Hypolyta, but your journey has ended, if you wish. You posses much strength and honor and caring...all qualities this Clan values in the utmost highest. You have a home here, with us, if you want it. If you do not want the home, you shall always have friends in us.'

I looked at her, stunned, and knew in my heart I had found a home.

I smiled at her and said "Please, call me Sian." thinking of my mother, queen, and sisters.

I have been with the sR Clan ever since.