NationStates Jolt Archive

Congrats to everyone on the 5000th post

"Tell me where your dragon master is and I'll spare as many soldiers as possible. I respect footsoldiers and guards too much to kill them without absolute need." Cadeyrn said slinging his weapon in a defenseless position. "I'm a mercenary, not a slave by the way."

Slowly he stepped closer to the soldier keeping an eye on his weapon.

"I am here, Cadeyrn," came a rumble of a dull brown dragon, who quietly flapped down behind the remaining guard. He was not very tall, nor very muscular, but his stature gave the appearance of a wise creature, nearing his death.

"Somehow, I knew you would come for me. After I heard Xenocrates was ordered to kill you for betraying your order...Not to mention joining Valtrox of all beings."

The dragon blinked slowly as he let out a pained sigh.

"Cadeyrn...please, rethink your decision. I do not do this for my life...I do this for the better of the world."

"A dragon with honor? What a rarity." Cadeyrn chuckled tossing the guard aside like a rag doll. "The world, like all things, must earn its survival. I learned that the hard way."

Spitting a quick lump of tar to the side he lowered into an attack stance ready to earn his place by Hel.

"Don't take it personal, but this is what was destined, this is my place." He grunted before engulfing his weapon in fire and diving into a sprint towards the dragon.

"May your decision be for the better of the world, Cadeyrn," the dragon said as he charged towards the warrior, trying to trample him underneath.

***********************************************************
Rothargot smiled he held Hel in snuggly in his arms. His thoughts began to wander to what could have happened. How she got her form, why did Habdebza treat her much better than others, including Rothargot.

"Poor girl," he whispered as he gently rubbed her head as she slept, careful not to push too hard, as he knew how even the lightest touch from the him had the chance of crushing something within his hands.

He took a moment to make sure they were going the right direction. The gates were passing by them, the lone figure seeming to be in a hurry to get out the gates. Didn't matter to them, they were on an assignment from Valtrox.

With the knowledge that they were indeed going the right way, Rothargot went to a new train of thought. Why was he acting this way? When he first entered the world, Valtrox was the only thing in his mind. He cared little of mortals, other than those he needed to keep alive. He crushed things with little thought of their lives...he was strong, feared, ruthless.

And now look at him...lovesick, caring, gentle...emotional. A change of heart, a change of ways.

That will mean the end of Rothargot.

The berzerker rolled narrowly avoiding the dragon's foot immediately he recenter and fired a shell into his back. Cadeyrn knew this battle was his, the beast itself wasn't extremly powerful and his fire would do nothing more than energize him. His mind tried to think of what he was doing and the greater repurcussions.

You would destroy the world just to extend your own life.

"A soldier does not think, a soldier takes orders. A dog that does not obey does not get rewarded." He retorted in his mind to focus on the battle.

"Well I can't really help you, and I have stuff to do." He replied as he neared the exit of the city and prepared to step up the pace as he followed Inzikai, Rothargut and maybe Marlene.

Harlin frowned, "I thought we were a team," he paused thinking for a moment, "I'll just come along with you anyway."

Looking around the immediate area, he saw not a soul paying any attention. Those who managed to appear alive had a strange vacant look in their eyes, as though they'd had their emotions crushed out of them and replaced wih blind zealotry for Valtrox. Quickly, he stepped out of the Shadowfold and into pace with Azrael.

"You decided to come with me, I never asked for you to come along." He commented as he exited the city. "Can you keep up or should I expand it to include you?" He asked as he began muttering.

The old dragon, let out a short gasp as it fell to the ground. Nearby villagers who watched from their windows gasped. Children were hidden from sight.

"Cadeyrn...If you were expecting more of a fight, you will not find a fighter in me. I am old...beat...even in my prime I was no fighter," the dragon wheezed. "My scales are brittle, my pain great, my every breath...forced."

He slowly brought his long neck around to look at Cadeyrn. "We are alike, Cadeyrn... yet we are on different sides of the spectrum. We both fought for something. I fought for my people. What have you fought for? A chance to prolongue the inevitable? Warrior, I hope you find what you are looking for. I have found mine."

The dragon's eyes let out a tear as the old beast slowly set his head on the ruined stone. "May you atleast grant this old dragon a favor? May you let my people live...please?"

Cadeyrn walked beside the fallen dragon with his head raised slightly.

"You have my word I will not harm your people, but when and if Valtrox gives the command then I shall show them no mercy." The warrior said raising his weapon over his head. "The sky will accept you good dragon."

His weapon came down hard only to meet a familiar scarlet sword just inches over the beast's neck. Xenocrates fired a palm into Cadeyrn's chest that immediately shattered his dark grey armor and drove him back over twenty meters.

Swiftly and callously the dragoon lord decapitated the wounded dragon without a second of hesitation afterwords.

"Why did you do that!?" Cadeyrn screamed only to be interrupted by the same crimson blade. Barely escaping the swipe mechanical bits danced along the street as the berserker raised a the chunk of metal that remained of his arm.

"Anyone within the order, or who could convince the order of you being my son will be silenced. Your mother, you, and maybe even that girl because you have given me such a hard time." X snarled marching forward. "I want Valtrox to be released, I want another war with his minions, and most of all want more power!"

For a split second Cadeyrn saw himself in his father's eyes and in that second the same scarlet blade stuck him from his knee to his upper stomach. The human gasped in a blinding pain. He stretched his busted metal out towards his father whom immediately batted it away.

"You have no honor. I guess you were right. To side with Valtrox to prolong your own life. Selfish. Marlene, who you obviously do not give a shit about will be devistated, however we will have to explain that you have no loyalty, and care only about yourself. Pathetic."

Cadeyrn tried to breath only to find he hadn't the ability to do so. A frantic gasp was all he could do to take in air while the black tar pushed its way from his mouth.

"Cadey, you switch sides because you are too selfish to die for someone else. When it comes down to it, it is all about you."

A tear escaped his pain blinded pride as his blade also escaped his desperate grip and fell noisely to the ground. Xenocrates through the weapon like a javelin into a nearby building where Cadeyrn hung, black blood drooling down the wall behind him.

Leaving his weapon, the dragoon lord walked into the marsh satisfied he was done.

"You decided to come with me, I never asked for you to come along." He commented as he exited the city. "Can you keep up or should I expand it to include you?" He asked as he began muttering.

"That depends, how do you plan on traveling? I could summon my horse here if you like, but if you're going to be moving faster than when mounted, I'll need your help."

As he heard that, he added Harlin's name to his mutterings. "Yes a horse will be at a bit of a disadvantage in this. Now keep up." He replied as he began walking but covering a rather large amount of distance with each step, much more than would seem possible. If Harlin didn't start walking as well, within a few seconds he'd lose sight of Lorathin.

Harlin took a step, watching the rules of space bend and him cover an unreasonable distance in that one step. Cocking his head, he smiled. He loved magic, just for this sort of reason. Taking a few more steps, he caugt up with Lorathin. "That's a great spell."

Cadeyrn lifted his head slightly still gasping rapidly until a smile slid across his face.

"I didn't even need that job with Rimoru." He weakly admitted before letting go with a laugh.

"Look what we have here...two elves, a half elf...and a skizzarish. An odd group...and in an odd place. Where are the others? Who were they...Harlin, Azrael, and Karasu? Yes...that sounds right," the giant growled as he cracked his neck. His breath stunk like rotted meat, while his teeth shined like daggers.

Yet his voice was so familiar.

"We come in peace, Morgrathien. We are against the Cult of Valtrox," Ixair began, but was silenced immediately.

"I know what you want twiggy!" he snapped.

Suddenly, it clicked within Sarik. "Kalzog?" he asked quietly.

The beast smiled broadly. "Did you think I'd die without fulfilling my word?" he grunted, as he walked back outside, letting in the light. "I told you I would kill the demi-god, and so I will."

"You overgrown oaf! I thought you were someone else sent to get us!" laughed Sarik.

"Well...I was sent to get you, thinking you were Cultists...apparantly you all aren't, and you suffered some losses from the dogs. 'Tis a shame. The rebel Morgrathiens need good men," he said as his eyes scanned the inside of the cave. His face turned to one of seriousness as he turned around. "Come, theres warm food and drink at camp," he said as he began to walk away.

"It does what's necessary. You may have heard of the enchanted form, the seven-league boots." He commented, thought the spell he was using was a pale reflection of a true pair of seven-league boots.

"It does what's necessary. You may have heard of the enchanted form, the seven-league boots." He commented, thought the spell he was using was a pale reflection of a true pair of seven-league boots.

Harlin nodded, "I have indeed heard of the Seven-League Boots. I stole a pair from a viscount in Fandar, on the order of the King of Fandar, himself. It appeared that the Viscount had certain ambitions towards the throne, and needed to be put in his place. I'm still not sure how he found them in the first place."

"Look what we have here...two elves, a half elf...and a skizzarish. An odd group...and in an odd place. Where are the others? Who were they...Harlin, Azrael, and Karasu? Yes...that sounds right," the giant growled as he cracked his neck. His breath stunk like rotted meat, while his teeth shined like daggers.

Yet his voice was so familiar.

"We come in peace, Morgrathien. We are against the Cult of Valtrox," Ixair began, but was silenced immediately.

"I know what you want twiggy!" he snapped.

Suddenly, it clicked within Sarik. "Kalzog?" he asked quietly.

The beast smiled broadly. "Did you think I'd die without fulfilling my word?" he grunted, as he walked back outside, letting in the light. "I told you I would kill the demi-god, and so I will."

"You overgrown oaf! I thought you were someone else sent to get us!" laughed Sarik.

"Well...I was sent to get you, thinking you were Cultists...apparantly you all aren't, and you suffered some losses from the dogs. 'Tis a shame. The rebel Morgrathiens need good men," he said as his eyes scanned the inside of the cave. His face turned to one of seriousness as he turned around. "Come, theres warm food and drink at camp," he said as he began to walk away.

Shara stood and began to leave and then thought for a moment about the curious situation of the cultist lying on the floor. "Kalzog, we have a prisoner. He is one of the cultists from the library. Perhaps one of your men could carry him back to camp and have him put under close guard?"

Kalzog turned slowly, his brows furrowed as if in thought. "A cultist? How did he get here with you guys?"

The ogre looked in the cave, finally laying eyes on the naked man on the floor. "I don't think he'll last long in the cold. Why take the time to put him under guard when he's going to die?" he growled.

"Kalzog, please. He may hold important information for us," Sarik said as he stared into Kalzogs blood red eyes.

The ogre definately looked uncomfortable under the paladin's gaze. "Confound it, Sarik. If this man makes one wrong move, I'll smash him in between my palms."

The ogre grumbled to himself as he squeezed into the cave again, bringing out the man, not even bothering to hold him properly or dress him. He just dragged him in the snow. "Hey...isn't he the one that nearly killed you, Sarik? The one that nearly killed all of you?" he asked suddenly as he looked at the man's face.

Sarik stepped closer to see, realizing he hadn't even looked at the man. It indeed looked like him, the same peculiar color, almost elflike man. A wave of anger was welling up in the paladin's stomach, his eyes began to turn a light red...

"Answer me, lizard," Kalzog growled as he slapped Sarik on the back, gently, but gently only to the ogre.

Sarik stumbled forward and caught his footing before shaking his head, realizing what was almost about to happen. "Yes. That's him," Sarik finally said, giving the man one last look, before following the other barbarians.

"Ogre, don't drag him on the floor and give him your cape or something. We want him alive," Ixair said as he picked up Ar'mai and began to walk carefully towards the others.

Kalzog grumbled something, before handing Maverion to another man.

"So...what happened to the others?" Kalzog asked without turning to look at them.

"Long story," Sarik replied quietly.

"Very well then, perhaps later," the ogre sniffed as they continued to trek along the mountains.

The barbarians kept to themselves for the most part. Their dogs, brutal and vicious in battle, were practically puppies out of combat. One of them panted as it licked Sarik's gauntlet. He smiled as he gently rubbed the dogs head, careful not to push to hard.

Several of the dogs went to Shara as well, hoping for some attention.

The dogs that neared Mebbiwik were met with a hasty "Go away!"

While the other sailors laughed at the dogs playfulness.

He simpled shrugged as he continued following Inzikai, Rothargot and the maybe Marlene entity.

Having slept for a good period of time, the slumbering priestess was stirred by the loss of firm ground under her. Her subconscious mind, already disturbed by the sounds of havoc and battle, woke her gently from her doze. When her eyes focused, Ar'mai looked up and saw the face of the one who had called himself Ixair; he was carrying her now.

"Tee hee... thanks, but I think I can manage to walk," Ar'mai giggled as an obviously startled Ixair looked down at his burden. He stopped and laid her down so that she might stand under her own strength.

The princess smiled serenely at him before looking at the field of battle that they were passing through. There were slain bodies, weapons, and blood spewed about. Despite the carnage, the weapons caught her eye - in particular, the bows. Elves had always been known as master craftsmen of weapons and so Ar'mai grew up with only the finest. These weapons before her however, were of poor quality... designed for mass production rather than given the care and attention a blade or bow needed. "Such a disgrace..." she commented as she picked up a bow and tossed it over her shoulder.

Hel's dream like so many before revealed what may come or what has passed. She saw the man posed as a snake roll upon itself several times before dieing after being bitten by the snake posing as a man. She could she once amber fields set ablaze under the fiery claw of the earth's new master; millions of stout hearted individuals masacred for their inexorable pride. She was behind digging a familiar grave.

She blinked twice as she felt a large hand petting her so softly.

"Rothy, when are we going to see Cadey?" She asked quietly.

Ixair smiled and let out a small embarassed chuckle, as he set down Ar'mai.

"You missed my amazing battle," Ixair started as he puffed out his chest. "I killed all these cultists by myself. And while I did that, about fifty gnolls jumped out of the cave we were just in, and I fended them off by myself too."

Kalzog raised an eyebrow, but otherwise kept moving forward.

"Nice to know you're awake, Ar'mai," Kalzog mumbled.

***********************************************************

Rothargot smiled warmly at Marlene. "Soon, I hope," he replied.

I wish I knew if Cadeyrn completed his quest or not... the demon thought as the wind blew around him. His arms cradled the girl from the stronger winds so she would only feel a slight breeze.

Inzikai meanwhile was brooding in his saddle. He still couldn't take his mind of Marlene. He needed to talk to Valtrox. And if he didn't get his way, he may need to speak with Habdebza himself...

Maverion awoke suddenly in Rimoru's bed with a sneeze and started shivering violently.

***

Maverion awoke slowly. At first, he heard some voices talking, and a lot of crunching from underneath. As he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself being carried through a snowy land, surrounded by a large group of people. Many of them had similar features and clothing, though a small number of them were as varied as you could get. None of them were familiar to him in the slightest.

With a confused look on his face, he just looked around, trying to figure out what was going on.

***

As she was being carried off around Rothargot's neck, Teralynn experienced some more shedding of her skin. The first time a piece of her skin flew off, she was afraid that it would leave traces of herself for some resourceful person to use against her. The surprise and fright brought a sudden impulse in her, and she subconsciously sent out some sort of energy to the skin that peeled off, and it all burned up to leave no traces. Tera was momentarily stunned by what had happened at first, but with each successive peeling and flying away of her skin, she found that she could more and more easily burn them up. It was almost fun, and she soon turned it into a game of how quickly she could vaporize the skin falling off of her. All the meanwhile, however, she made sure to keep up the illusion of her retaining her normal appearances, so that anyone around would not see the skin falling off of her to show a deep purple skin that started hardening upon exposure to the air.

An unintended but much preferred outcome of her focusing on her little game and in keeping the illusion up was that she did not have to listen to all the mushy talk between Rothargot and Hel. Seriously, they were like children.

Ixair smiled and let out a small embarassed chuckle, as he set down Ar'mai.

"You missed my amazing battle," Ixair started as he puffed out his chest. "I killed all these cultists by myself. And while I did that, about fifty gnolls jumped out of the cave we were just in, and I fended them off by myself too."

Kalzog raised an eyebrow, but otherwise kept moving forward.

"Nice to know you're awake, Ar'mai," Kalzog mumbled.

"I'm sure you did..." Ar'mai said jokingly as she rejoined the group with her new bow, though she hesitated to even call it that due to its poor quality.

"Umm... yeah," she responded somewhat nervously to the ogre.

The ogre, knowing the sound of nervousness and fear, due to his life of terror, smiled broadly as he slowed down until the little elf caught up to him.

"You seem to be having a problem, princess," Kalzog said in a low tone as he noticed Ixair watching intently.

The guards who now held custody over the strange naked man shook him slightly.

"Who are you? Who sent you? How did you get here?" one of them started in a gruff tone of voice.

The other one growled a curse as he brought out a blindfold.

"We gotta make sure he sees nothing," he said as reached to tie the blindfold over the green skinned man.
***********************************************************

Rimoru was woken up from her quiet slumber by Maverion's startling sneeze.

"Mave...You're back," Rimoru said quietly as she rubbed sleep from her eyes. She yawned and gave him a sweet smile as she got closer to the now awakened man. "Sleep well?"

***********************************************************

As Rothargot flew onwards, he could feel a source of heat behind him...greater than usual, if it were coming from Teralynn.

"How are you doing back there, Tera?" he asked as he followed the black drake.

The ogre, knowing the sound of nervousness and fear, due to his life of terror, smiled broadly as he slowed down until the little elf caught up to him.

"You seem to be having a problem, princess," Kalzog said in a low tone as he noticed Ixair watching intently.

"Maybe I am..." she responded coyly without much more to say. An ogre didn't seem like the best friend to an elf and so she shied away from the beast.

"And what may that little problem be?" Kalzog asked as his red eyes stared directly at Ar'mai.

The ogre was slightly confused by this, however. She's acting as though they've never seen each other before.

In fact, Ar'mai was the one that recovered the ogre from the Library after the terrible incident there...

Kalzog's face formed into a confused frown for a bit, but he decided he should have his fun before he goes to a more serious mood.

"And what may that little problem be?" Kalzog asked as his red eyes stared directly at Ar'mai.

The ogre was slightly confused by this, however. She's acting as though they've never seen each other before.

In fact, Ar'mai was the one that recovered the ogre from the Library after the terrible incident there...

Kalzog's face formed into a confused frown for a bit, but he decided he should have his fun before he goes to a more serious mood.

"I'm not sure," Ar'mai replied, trying not to say too much to the monster.

The ogre let out a small chuckle as he walked closer to Ar'mai. "You do know I seem to be having a problem with you, right?" he whispered to her, while turning to keep his eyes on the other elf.

The elf maintained her composure and answered simply, "Your problem..."

Kalzog's smile widened again, before he slapped her on the back in a rather rough manner, but definately not too rough.

"Still somewhat the Ar'mai I remember," he laughed. He walked back to the front, still chuckling as he did so.

Ixair walked closer to Ar'mai and continued to watch the ogre. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly, giving the girl a small smile.

As the ogre slapped her heavily on the back, Ar'mai's natural elven reactions took over and she caught herself before stumbling over. As Kalzog walked away, she shot him a slightly dirty and annoyed look, but other than that she did nothing.

The kind soul, Ixair, walked over and asked if she was okay to which she responded. "Yeah... I'm fine now."

Ixair nodded as he walked with Ar'mai. "You don't remember him either, do you," Ixair said quietly as they walked. With his elven senses, he could definately tell there was the smell of campfire nearby.

Suddenly, all of the barbarians stopped and turned to face Sarik and the others. Kalzog slowly turned before crossing his arms around his chest. "We are near. You must all be bound, blind, deaf, and dumb. Agree to this and you will be brought in. If you don't, you are left to die, right here, right now, and your bodies will provide food for the dogs, or some of us other ones."

Sarik raised an eyebrow and turned to the others.

"I suppose we can agree?" Sarik asked the others. He couldn't help but notice Kalzog was acting somewhat strangely since they met him...

Ar'mai shrugged. She wasn't fond of the idea of being at the mercy of an unknown band of warriors, but what else choice did they have. After all, from what she had heard, they had been saved by these people.

Maverion was cold, but for some reason, he had a feeling that he ought to be much colder. He looked at the guard who spoke to him, and wondered the same questions himself.

"Who...am I?" he said. "I...I don't know... Who are all of you? What's going on?" he continued as he was blindfolded.

***

Maverion was cold - much colder than he ought to, considering he was in the middle of a desert.

"There was something in the-" he started to tell Rimoru, but was interrupted by another sneeze.

***

"Hmm?" Teralynn asked, her attention popping back to Rothargot.

"Oh, um, just fine. How much longer until we reach wherever we are going to?" Her arms were starting to tire from having to grab onto Rothargot for so long.

Kalzog's serious face turned to a massive grin, his dagger-like teeth shining in the afternoon sun.

Sarik nodded in agreement as he pushed his hands out to be bound.

"Excellent...I knew you guys would trust me," the ogre growled as several men began to blindfold and bind the others.

Mebbiwik continued to stare at the barbarians as they began to walk towards him. "Ixair...what if this is a trap? A really complex one...there are shapeshifters you know...We all saw the ogre die," he whispered after he walked close to the elves.

Ixair shrugged. "I don't know what else to do then...he might as well kill us now," he whispered back, as a barbarian roughly pushed him away chained his hands together as well as blindfold him with some sort of enchanted cloth that prevented the wearer from seeing, hearing, and smelling.

The guards than proceeded to do the same with the others.

Maverion, on the other hand, was dropped.

"Since you're awake, you can walk," growled one of the guards.

The other guard called for Kalzog, who slowly walked to the now awakened Maverion.

"I can answer all your questions in three quick sentences, cultist," Kalzog growled. "One, I am you doom. Two, You are Dead Meat ...and three, you're going to die."

With that Kalzog gripped his club and slowly raised it. He motioned for the other guards to raise their weapons as well. "I love the taste of senseless slaughter," he laughed.

***********************************************************

"You're so...cold," Rimoru whispered as her face contorted to one of concern.

"Mavey...you should only be able to see yourself in that mirror...nothing else," she whispered as she rubbed his lips with a small nearby cloth, before resting her head on his chest.

"Why are you so cold," she asked again.

***********************************************************

"Not too far," Rothargot said as he descended slightly, revealing the massive stone structures in the distance. Clouds covered the top portion, while fog covered the bottom. Already thousands of runes were glowing on two of the massive structures, while some remained like stone.

"Perhaps another ten minutes," he continued as he continued his descent, along with Inzikai.

Lorathin had kept up the pace as he followed the direction Inzikai, Rothargot and maybe Marlene had headed, slowly gaining on them as he added a masking spell to cover himself as he didn't know how astute the demon or pervert priest were.

Something pulsed through the berzerker's body like an awakening. He fell to the ground without a sound slowly getting to his feet. Cadeyrn looked around and saw the battlefield he left behind: the beheaded dragon, metal fragments, and even his own body dangling lifelessly. His corrosive blood had eaten the wall to its very structure only leaving the cross bars and bare skeleton of that section. Still the massive blade clung between the iron and metal still left dangling cautiously with the human's weight trying to assist gravity's work.

Cadeyrn could hear millions of sweet and sinister voices trying to guide his soul away from his earthly binds. In disbelief he tried to lung back into his body only to go straight through the wall and into a crowd who were gawking at his corpse.

"Not yet, not yet." He growled grinding his teeth furiously.

Suddenly his body awakened and Cadeyrn felt the blinding pain and limitations of his position. The disease had filled and began repairing what would have been an instant death. Screaming (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/Luporum/Cadeyrn/Cade2.jpg) and spewing a horrendous mix of blood and tar he began trying to rip the blade from himself. The blood curdling howl could be heard for mile as he tried to wrench himself from the wall.

---------

Xenocrates turned as he heard the familiar voice carry on the wind and immediately sprinted back to finish what he thought was already done.

---------

Hel lifted her head as she thought she cought the sounds of distant echo. Carefully turning her glance to Rothargot she looked to see if he had heard anything.

The naked Maverion, blindfolded, could not see the people raising their weapons at him. In the general direction of the ogre's voice, he demanded, "What!? What are you talking about? What did I do? Why am I to die!?"

***

Maverion shook his head to Rimoru as he shivered, "I don't...I don't know. Must find...warm clothes..."

***

Teralynn smiled wickedly, revealing her slightly lengthened canines as fire danced in her eyes. The time was drawing near...

"Kalzog! There will be no slaughtering today," came a strong low voice that commanded respect. Out of the white landscape, came a large plated figure, with a black fur cape trailing behind him. Although not nearly as large as the ogre, he was certainly large, being about eight foot. At his hips hung one broadsword and one long sword. Chief Higsthor took off his helmet and stared at the group of blindfolded people.

"Bring them all in. We could question them all," Higsthor ordered as he walked back up the hill.

Kalzog grumbled as he put his club away, the remaining troops doing the same.

With a grunt, the barbarians carried or pushed the group up the hill, righting someone should they fall. The last barbarian to climb the hill, had the honor of covering their tracks, in which he did quite well, so as no cultist would find their current home.

At the top of the hill, the sight of hundreds of thousands of camps were seen. Barbarians were seen scurying about; blacksmiths crafting, mages and scholars writing, soldiers practicing, marching, or dancing with their loved ones.

Kalzog ushered the group to continue on to a rather large tent, full of animal skins, maps, several chairs, books, weapons, and other small baubles and trinkets, including several severed heads.

The Morgrathiens took off everyone's bindings and blindfolds and took a few steps back from the group as Chief Higsthor walked in.

"Greetings, fellow travelers...we apologize for...the dogs...we had thought you to be cultists as well..." Higsthor said, rather uncomfortably. "What brings you around these parts?"

"We look for a book, my lord," Sarik said with a bow. "A book that if used, will bring Valtrox into this world, dooming us all."

There were several mutterings behind them, some hushed worries, some angry grumbles.

"And why do you think it's over here?" Higsthor asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's not sir...Inzikai has it," Sarik said quietly. The whole tent grew quiet as Higsthor looked down and played with a few of the maps on a table. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

"How do you guys plan to get this book?" he asked gruffly.

"We don't know, my lord. We were hoping to catch Inzikai, but he proved too clever."

"Spies indicate he has arrived at the ruins north of here, book in hand, gleeful as ever," Higsthor said as he rubbed his forehead. "My men are ready and eager for a fight...as long as you can get the book away...and save us all."

There were again hushed voices behind them.

"I will go, and find the reserves of well over twelve thousand hardy men. From there, I will attempt to reinforce your position..." Higsthor said quietly. "I suggest you prepare for this battle," he said to Sarik and the others. Turning to his nearby Morgrathiens, he said, "Prepare everyone for battle. I will ride out as fast as possible..."

***********************************************************

Rimoru looked sorrowfully at the man in her bed and slowly raised a hand. In front of the hand, a warm looking shirt was being woven from thin air, in which it fell into Rimoru's open hand. She gently lifted Maverion off the bed as she slid on the new shirt.

"Any better?" she asked as her lips inched closer to his.

***********************************************************

Indeed, Inzikai had touched down, practically running up a small set of stairs next to one of the massive stone towers.

Rothargot on the other hand, landed at the steps of the tower and gently set down Marlene and Teralynn.

"Cadeyrn was meant to do his task alone," Rothargot whispered sadly.

Already, Inzikai had set the book on a pedestal on the platform the stairs led to and was chanting fevorishly. One of the stone towers suddenly glowed with symbols, snow melting around it almost instantly. The ground quaked slowly as a new, much smaller stone arch rose out of the platform, next to the glowing tower. It too glowed with an unholy light, as a demon set slowly set foot on the ground...

Soldiers were awakened, along with scholars, mages, and everyone in between. The moment is coming...

Harlin gaped as he saw the larges structures appearing and watched as Inzikai and Rothargot descended towards them. He noticed some were glowing and looked at Lorathin.

"Would you know anything about those?" he asked and made motions that maybe they should slow down, it would not be a good idea to step into the enemy camp.

Lorathin stopped at a distance of one step away, or rather one step of the spell, many more in reality. He examined the pillars and found them problematic.

Looking over at his tag-along, he asked, "Feel up for a fight?"

Harlin stopped alongside Lorathin, "Whatever that place is, its big and probably important. Inzikai brought that book here for a reason." He paused for a second and thought about the likelyhood of them surviving a fight with only the enemys they knew about, they hadn't faired too well in the library. "I think a bit of scouting might be more appropriate than an all out attack, at least not until we have some idea of what we are up against."

"Of couse he did, this is where he needs to use it afterall." He commented in a dry tone, "But feel free to try scouting."

"It's not going to do anything, but do it if you want, it's your death afterall. He thought with a shrug.

"So it was him..." She replied sadly already knowing his fate, immediately after landing she stumbled forward and fell to her knees sobbing.

---------

Xenocrates returned only to see Cadeyrn's bloody memorial empty and a half melted wall in its place. Feeling the source of his blade he was led to a back ally where it laid in a massive pool of tissue, tar, and oil. Softly picking up the weapon he scanned the area for where Cadeyrn could have went.

How is he still alive?

From the roof the berzerker lunged in smashing his sword over the dragoon's helm causing him to stagger backwards into the street. Xenocrates regained his composure only to meet a flurry of wild strikes from his son, one of which snapped the tooth on his dragon shaped mask. A sharp repulsing spell gave the dragoon enough room to draw his weapon and to examine his 'revived' foe. Another barrage of attacks pushed the dragon servant back into the ally over the spot Cadeyrn had pulled the weapon from his body. Their swords were too large for convential combat in close quarters but they ignored their surroundings and struck at each other swinging through the surrounding structures themselves. They came to a stalemate with their weapons locked when Cadeyrn began laughing.

"What's so funny?" X grolwed trying to push his son backwards.

"Just remembered how you dragoons don't like something." He answered back when the trail of blood he left behind ignited creating a massive fireball leveling the buildings around them.

"Fool, I'm as immune to fire as yo-" Xenocrates was interrupted when the tar like disease began raining from the sky onto him burning swiftly through his crimson armor and into his flesh. The dragoon lord fled into the street screaming in agnoy trying to avoid the diseased temptest. Looking to the sky X could feel a dark energy approaching.

"Valtrox!" He screamed slowly getting to his knees struggling to breath as the acidic disease died away.

A wave of energy blasted X down the street where he and is blade rolled to a defeated stop. Cadeyrn walked down the mark his strike had carved into the road standing over his father.

"30 long years and this is all you can muster, I'm done with you." The berzerker said dismissing the defeated dragoon.

"Today you have won, but I will return, and even if I don't then the dragon's bane will consume your body whole and leave you a puddle on the ground. That is to say Valtrox permits your survival human." X replied before summoning a fiery drake that swiftly flew him away.

Cadeyrn smiled before collapsing to the ground.

Now to get back to the others, it isn't too far..

"Maybe i will" Harlin replied, "But, before i do, how will we meet up afterward? and do you know any ways of finding the others?"

"The others are wherever they are. I don't have the time to look for them in the only reliable manner." He commented, "And depending on how long you take, I may still be here."

Harlin nodded and took a look around, marking down anything that would help him find this place again. "I'll be back soon if all goes well." With that he slipped into the shadowfold and started to make his way towards the camp.

Ar'mai stood quietly as the others talked. There was something here that seemed vaguely familiar, though she could not pinpoint what, why, or where from - it wasn't even a memory... just something she felt she knew.

"Bravo, my fearless warrior, Bravo," came a hissing voice from behind Cadeyrn. The massive dragon of fire lay in the rubble, playing with a small pile of rocks with his fiery hand. "You've defeated a dragoon and the dragon. You have definately proved yourself worthy...you have definately earned a gift, but what...what is this gift you would want?" Valtrox asked, his eyes blazing crimson.

***********************************************************

The second stone only took three hours to light up, revealing another portal, in which demons streamed out in a constant stream...

Inzikai was chanting in an almost mechanical voice. He had long since let himself continue while his mind thought of other things. Of how this new army would have little trouble cutting through anything the Order, or even all of Lustria could throw at them...Victory was finally his.

At this realization, the Lord of Zlatlan had almost lost his rhytem, which would have cost them much needed time...and perhaps more...

Rothargot meanwhile, lifted Marlene up. "Don't worry, Marlene. Have faith, for the truth is not evident until one see's the evidence."

***********************************************************

The soldiers of Higsthor were well armed and armored, much of it due to the dwarves in the mountains who constantly churned out much needed armor for the resistance.

Sarik was busy talking with the officers of the army of thousands.

Mebbiwik had found himself a large badger pelt and wrapped it around himself as he was ferried about by his mechanical spider, always right behind Ixair.

The elven prince, however, had a long leather coat he was given, along with a matching hat. With the rifle slung across his shoulder, he slowly walked to where Ar'mai and smiled.

"I'm afraid this is where I say goodbye, Ar'mai," he whispered sadly. "This is not where I belong...my men have suffered enough."

He looked warmly into Ar'mai's eyes and looked down as he let out a small sigh. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it immediately. He had the look of desperation about him, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it.

Finally, he looked up at Ar'mai and smiled weakly. "Ar'mai...you're...I...you..." he paused again as he adjusted his hat and gave a nervous chuckle. "Come with me, Ar'mai. We...I can take care of you, we can do anything!" he asked suddenly.

Chief Higsthor had participated in Sariks meeting for a good hour, but left soon after, much to the sadness of his army. But they were ready for battle...this is what they've been ready for.

***********************************************************

Several patrolling demons had noticed some movement behind a group of tents. With a grunt and a few growls they slowly made their way to where they thought they heard Lorathin and Harlin...

As he considered what Harlin was doing and the general futility of it, he noticed some minor movement in the encampment nearer to his position. He decided to do a bit of prep work for a spell he didn't particularly like to use but would be useful if he were discovered before the time limit ran out or Harlin's return.

The naked Maverion was saved, but he was far from feeling safe. Blindfolded and surrounded by unknown people, anything could still happen to him.

Confused did not even begin to explain what Maverion went through now. "Wait, who's Valtrox?" he asked. "Why are we doomed? Who are we battling?"

***

By the time Rimoru's shirt was completed, the naked Maverion who was countless leagues away was ushered into the barbarian leader's tent, which offered some protection from the cold.

As the Maverion in the empress' palace put the shirt on, the combined effect was very helpful in warming him back up. "Much, thank you," he said to Rimoru. "I don't know what's happening to me...maybe I'm sick...delirious..."

***

Teralynn tried to get close enough to the structures to get a good, detailed look at them, but not so close as to interfere with the ritual.

She then turned her attention to the massive numbers of people assembled there, loyal to Valtrox - and she, ranked high above them all in Valtrox's eyes.

Then the earth quaked, and her eyes shot back to Inzikai, remembering that she was to protect him until the ritual was completed. But no protection was needed, she realized, when the quake turned out to merely be the birthpains of the emerging demons.

Kalzog was reminded of the strange green-skinned man as he was still trying to get questions answered.

"You truly don't know, do you?" he asked quietly. "You are Maverion...you once served Valtrox, a terrible, evil god, who is bent on returning to this world and destroying everything in it. Any of this sound familiar?" Kalzog asked as he took off the blindfold and threw a bundle of blankets at him.

***********************************************************

"I always figured you were sick...but more of the lovesick kind," she said seductively as she brought her lips to Maverion's and kissed gently. "I think that's why you think you're seeing things..."


***********************************************************

Rothargot slowly turned to Teralynn and smiled. "Tera, you should feel honored...Valtrox requests something from you...something very few have the honor of doing."

The demon pointed to the sign of Valtrox that still shined brightly above Zlatlan, which was a large distance away.

"He wants you to make that...he tells me that he knows you are capable of doing it."

"What you have to do, is send out a large amount of fire...you'll know when to stop as soon as you feel a straining in your hand, a feeling like something is tugging you upwards. That's when you let go, but do not ever stop there. You must control the fire...force it into the form of the three horned dragon head."

Maverion muttered his thanks to Kalzog and wrapped the blankets around himself. It would have been rude to not have thanked the ogre, but he did not want to sound overly enthusiastic either, considering as how the beast was talking about killing him not that long ago.

With a shake of his head, he answered, "No, it doesn't. Why does Valtrox want to destroy everything? What will he or she be god over, then?"

***

The other Maverion was getting confused as well. Though the kiss stirred up emotions in him, he was more curious in figuring out what she was talking about. "Huh? How does lovesickness cause delusions?"

***

Teralynn looked up at the demigod as he talked, and a grin crept into the edge of her lips. "With pleasure," she almost cooed.

She pulled the hood away from her head, letting her auburn locks fall freely around her shoulders. It was getting a little too warm with it on, anyway, despite the fact that she was in a land covered in snow.

Giving a quick glance back to the distant and tiny symbol floating in the faraway horizon, she spread her hands apart, palms up. Her head tilted upwards slightly as she looked toward the sky above.

An intense heat began building up in her body, and she used the surrounding snow to keep herself cool, causing them to melt within seconds. Soon, even that was not enough, and the fire in her continued to grow like an uncontrolled wildfire. Tera briefly feared that she would not be able to contain it, but she gritted her teeth and determined not to prove herself a failure in front of all these people.

Exerting as much control over the heat as she could, she began feeling what Rothargot described, and followed his direction in the creation of the sign of Valtrox. The fire swirled upwards, trying to pull her along with it, but she fought back, straining to win the battle of dominance with the fire.

She started sweating profusely, and the discomfort distracted her just enough for the fire to start breaking free and spazzing out, twirling around like twin tornadoes to devastate anything and everything within their path. The moment the fire tried to break free, however, Teralynn realized what was happening and again focused all her will into it to reassert her control, and the fire settled back down, eventually forming a huge figure of a three-horned dragon head.

"Valtrox cares nothing for us. He only wants to kill us because we provide some sort of power to the gods we worship. Those that worship Zavers, give him power, while those that worship Valtrox, give him power."

"Without the worshippers, I would say the gods are nothing more than super powered mortals. Perhaps a little more powerful than Rimoru," Kalzog said as he gave a sidelong gaze at Sarik.

"Valtrox wouldn't destroy his followers quite yet. He would get as many as he can, kill all the gods, then take over everything he can. In the meantime, he would create a 'perfect race' that worships him and him only. With this race, he'll have his fun and wage war upon those that once called him master. Only until he comes himself and kills everything, save for his 'perfect race'."

***********************************************************

"When you're lovesick, you're mind can make strange images...usually that of something you desire most," she whispered as she kissed around his neck. "And you do desire me, right, Mavey?"

***********************************************************

The watching soldiers clapped their hands and cheered at Teralynn's sign.

Rothargot gave Teralynn a small smile and nodded. "Well done, Teralynn. You have progressed well, and I have noticed you have grown in power quite well. Not to mention you're...change in color," he chuckled quietly.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked quietly as he watched the sign hover ahead.

Maverion sat down as he tried to take in the information. "But you can stop that from happening?" he asked Kalzog.

"You seem to know more about me than I do... Is there something I can do to help?"

***

Maverion furrowed his eyebrows, trying to tie what Rimoru was saying to what he saw. Also trying not to succumb to the physical pleasure that Rimoru seemed to be promising him with, he pulled away slightly and said, "Maybe you can help me - achoo!" He quickly covered his mouth and sniffled. "I mean, I thought I saw some snowy land. There were mountains in the background. Why did I see that?"

***

Teralynn suddenly realized that, with all her concentration on controlling the fire, she had unknowingly dropped her illusion of appearing as her old self, at least to the eyes of a demigod like Rothargot.

At that moment, the fire tried to break free again, but she was prepared, and did not allow it to. Slowly, ever so gently, she began raising her illusion again to appear as her human self rather than as what she was becoming.

"A disguise, in case any enemies lurk about," she quietly explained to the nearby Rothargot. "And yes, it does. But not as intensely as before. Maybe I am used to it, or maybe it is because I have so much else on my mind at the moment. But everything is starting to become more bearable."

"We can try..." Kalzog said. "I honestly don't know how to stop the process..."

"Well, you can try to remember everything you once knew about Inzikai and the others you were with."

***********************************************************

Rimoru scrunched up her face and wiped it with her sleeve.

As she listened to Maverion, she gave him a thoughtful smile. "I can help you...but you need to help me," she said quietly. She let her bright blue eyes stare into his. "I promise it will be the most enjoyable experience you've ever had..."
***********************************************************

"Excellent..." Rothargot replied. "Do you wonder what Valtrox will do when he comes to this realm? Do you wish him to make you a demi-god?"

Maverion furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to think about "Inzikai and the others." But then his thoughts wandered to whether he could even trust these people or not. They did just threaten to kill him when he was defenseless and blindfolded, after all. And of course, one would always paint their enemy in the worst of lights. For all he knew, things were the other way around, and these people did something to him to make him forget who he was so that they could try this trick on him.

Nonetheless, that name did not bring up anything for him, and he could not begin to imagine who these "others" may have been.

"I...can't remember anything," he said.

***

"What?" Maverion asked Rimoru, having a feeling that he already knew what she was alluding to, but still hoping it might have been something else.

***

Teralynn looked over at Rothargot with a slight smirk. "If only..."

"What I want..." Cadeyrn began turning his head seraching his mind for the answer. "Marlene's soul..."

Slowly approaching the fiery god he fell weakly coughing lung fulls of tar as his eyes began growing weary.

"Return her human form, and that is all I want." He claimed lifting his head slightly.

Karasu, you always said I was selfish.. I guess I was right all along.

A sly grin slid across his face under the mud, blood, and tar adorning his brutal grimace. Falling over he felt weak again as the disease conquered what remained of his flesh. Slowly his mind itself was consumed distorting and tearing his last grip on life away.

"Save the girl." He uttered before falling into emptiness.

A gentle wind swept across the marshland trees despite the unusual wave of heat rushing from the gate, it was quite chill.

I didn't even need to take this job.

Valtrox stared coldly at Cadeyrn as he stumbled forward. "Marlene's soul..." he growled back.

The god watched as he noticed Cadeyrn's life slipping away.

"How...sad this predicament has become. You have the chance to save your own life, yet you decide to save that of the girl's. Why Cadeyrn? Why is that?" he growled, his fiery eyes turning to slits.

The god shook his head and began speaking in an ancient tongue. "This...will not happen," he said finally. He stared coldly at Cadeyrn, waiting for some sort of response.

***********************************************************

"Then you are useless. Your execution may resume soon," Kalzog replied with a smirk. "You once worked for the Cult and Inzikai. That is why you will die."

***********************************************************

Rimoru giggled quietly as she wrapped her arms around Maverion. "You know what I want, Mavey. I've wanted it since I first saw you, and I know you want it yourself. Succumb to it. It is much more fun than you can imagine!"

***********************************************************

"You never know what the mighty one may wish," Rothargot replied. The demi-god thought for several minutes as his query hit him. He wanted to be human again, for atleast one day...Perhaps a small switch...

He smiled again at Teralynn. His mind was racing, the heat around him grew just a little. "Would you do it, even for one day?" he asked quietly.

"I've done all you asked! Give the girl back to me!" He screamed with what little strength he had left.

"A dragon, and a dragoon have fallen before my hands today...perhaps I should add a god to that list as well." Cadeyrn snarled staggering to his feet.

The berzerker's flesh turned deep black as the disease prepared to finish him once and for all. Parts of his body melted and fell to the ground evaporating into nothingness.

"Her soul for mine at least." He growled in a disgusting mutilated tone. "Just give her back!"

Finally, he looked up at Ar'mai and smiled weakly. "Ar'mai...you're...I...you..." he paused again as he adjusted his hat and gave a nervous chuckle. "Come with me, Ar'mai. We...I can take care of you, we can do anything!" he asked suddenly.

"I-I... can't..." Ar'mai professed hesitantly as she was taken aback by his outburst and comments. "Though I do not know where... I know my place is somewhere out here."

"I can feel them... I can feel my goddess."

"You dare threaten me, mortal," Valtrox roared. Just for that, Marlene will be mine forever! And she too will feel your pain...twofold."

As he bargained his own soul, Valtrox stopped suddenly. "Your soul...for eternity will be mine. Mine to do what I will?" he asked quietly.

***********************************************************

Ixair nodded to Ar'mai and smiled broadly.

"And that shows that you will recover what you've lost," he said sadly. He held her hands in his and slowly kissed her on each cheek.

"Ar'mai, may your goddess watch over you. Be safe," he said as he slowly turned around. Mebbiwik scuttled afterwards. Ixair got on top of a horse the barbarians let him and his sailors borrow, with much reluctance. Mebbiwik got atop his horse with help from his mechanical spiders, which gently latched onto the saddles in a position to keep their master from falling off.

Ixair looked back at Ar'mai and smiled as he horse stood on his hind legs. He waved his hat as his mount did so, and the elven prince, the inventing gnome, and five of the lucky sailors rode off into the horizon.

Bjorn and John came speeding out of a tent and screaming and yelling, but to no avail...they were stuck with the barbarians.

"You fool! This is your fault!" John slapped Bjorn.

"I had nothin' to do with it! It was your idea to go to the tavern!" Bjorn replied as he slapped John back.

"Wonder how long he's going to take and what he makes of whoever's work that is. Bit flashy but then for those that follow that Valtrox, I guess it doesn't take much to amuse them." He thought as he looked at the flaming sign that was almost asking for a convient rain storm. With a chuckle, he wondered how Inzikai would like a nice storm tearing up his big moment, and began thinking about what might be best to piss off the arrogent, lecherous priest.

Both the large four handed demons growled as they noticed Lorathin.

The spoke in a strange language that sounded much like grunts. Then, they charged at him.

He noticed the demons charging and smirked as with a single word to complete the spell he'd prepared and also disliked, he slid into the ground without leaving a trace. He had melded with the earth, a process distinctly unpleasent but also a highly useful escape route.

The demons growled as they slowed down and began digging into the ground they saw Lorathin sink in.

The minions of Valtrox would find themselves digging for a very long time, as to an extent he'd become a part of the earth itself and not exactly vunerable to being dug up.

"So I'm to die for a past I don't even remember, is it?" Maverion demanded. "I'm to die because I was once aligned with the people you are currently fighting against? Then you are just like the Valtrox you described; exterminating everyone without reason aside from the fact that they aren't completely loyal to you!"

***

Maverion took a deep breath, gently pulling one of Rimoru's arms off of himself. "Empress, I'm married. I can't just betray my oath to Fala. I'm sure you can understand that, can't you?"

***

As Rothargot fell silent for a couple of minutes, Teralynn refocused on the sign of Valtrox. She found that it actually got easier to control over time, rather than make her more weary the longer she did it.

When Rothargot spoke again, Tera arched an eyebrow at him. "Be a demigod, you mean? Are you kidding? Of course I would!"

Lorathin had travelled through the earth a good distance, leaving the demons to dig in greater futility than they had before, emerging a decent distance away in a crag on a nearby mountain.

Looking out over the massed minions of Valtrox and the annoying symbol. Taking a seat he began scribing an intricate design on the ground that would in all likelyhood take him close to half an hour to complete. He smiled as he really should have been designing a regulator rather than an amplifier. The reasoning behind the deviation from the proper actions was that he wasn't after proper weather control, something he was spotty at anyways but a much more deadly effect.

By funneling power through the amplifier he would be able to create a far more dangerous storm, both to himself and anyone who got caught in it as it would be as close to unchecked as he could make it. The strong or lucky would likely survive but woe to the unwary.

He began the spell which was likely the riskiest part as Rothargot, Inzikai or the most powerful amongst the gathered, including whoever had set up the symbol, would have to be distracted or otherwise occupied to miss the power building up. He was counting, at least partially, on the ritual to serve as a distraction as a mask to the power build up as it was still pumping out more power than he'd be working with.

Harlin's scouting mission had been fruitless. All he had seen were the unending streams of demons pouring out of the gate.

When the ground began to rumble, he returned to Lorathin, thinking that perhaps he was creating an earthquake in an attempt to bring down the enormous monoliths.

Standing in the Shadowfold near where he had left Azrael, he looked down to see that Azrael had vanished, and yet there were two demons searching the ground for his trail. Looking more closely, Harlin noticed them digging into the ground. Relaxing slightly, he realized that Azrael had hidden himself in the earth beneath his feet.

Running quickly in the Shadowfold, he jumped into the air, and in one swift motion drew his swords and brought them down in a slash across both demons necks just as he exited the Shadowfold. Finishing his stroke, he rolled, and re-entered the alternate dimension, waiting to see if his blows had had any effect.

"My soul is yours so as long as you leave Marlene out of this." Cadeyrn began standing defiantly as his body began melting away. "She is useless to you."

His fingers began evaporting as his weapon clashed to the ground.

"My soul is yours to do what you please with, only if, Marlene's soul is in her own hands. That seems pretty fair considering I've already done for you." The berzerker added kneeling to the ground as he started to fall apart.

Eternity...

Cadeyrn saw himself dangling from the most distorted and disgusting places being torn from all sides in the most painful ways. Then he saw Marlene in an open field.

"It is fair." He mumbled one more time.

Ar'mai simply stood with the comforting words from Ixair, waving as the prince disappeared into the distance...

Whoever he was... he was nice to me, Ar'mai thought, remembering it forever.

"Oh, but Cadeyrn...you are not the selfish creature others believed you to be. Marlene is your weakness," Valtrox continued to smirk as his body seemed to grow each second as he slowly circled around the dieing Cadeyrn.

"And with your foolish comment...I should torture your safe soul, by destroying Marlene's," his smile broaded before he reformed himself into the girl whom Cadeyrn protected. Yet three horns sprung from her head and her eyes were a deep crimson.

"Or...reshape it. She will be a mindless slave of mine. Perfect, loyal, obedient...And she will become my puppet. The Marlene you know, will be gone..."

Valtrox frowned as his feminine fingers gently prodded the warrior, before dissolving blackened flesh from his fingers. "You have made a mistake, Cadeyrn. You have insulted me. Defied me. And for that, people recieve terrible punishments."

The figure of Marlene slowly burst into flames as wings sprung out of her back, along with a long dragon-like tail. She turned around, and smiled, revealing long needle-like teeth.

"But I am a kind and forgiving god. I will grant you your wish...as long as you bow before me, one last time. And pray to me, with whatever heart you have left. Tell me that I am your only devotion. Tell me that every being of your existance is mine. Beg for forgiveness," he ordered as the Marlene-Valtrox figure transformed even more slowly.

"And then, I shall have your soul..."

***********************************************************

Kalzog gave Maverion the most wickedest grin he had ever given before. It was almost...unnatural.

"You have no idea, Maverion," he laughed as he walked away from the tent, towards the blacksmith tent nearby.

***********************************************************

Rimoru looked somewhat shocked for many an uncomfortable moment.

"What did I do wrong?" she asked herself more than anything. "No...no no no!"

She narrowed her eyes as she stood up in bed. "Fala is nothing. I am an Empress! Every man wants to be with me! Fala wouldn't know about this!"

***********************************************************

Rothargot smiled weakly. "Then perhaps, when this is over...you will take over as demi-god? Just for a day...while I enjoy a mortal life. We can ask Valtrox, and he probably would not mind..." Rothargot's mind was racing. He could finally go back to Rimoru, make sure she was doing well. They would have their time together, and he would explore more of his mortal desires and feats.

Just thinking about it made him wish he could do so now.

***********************************************************

Several of the demon lieutenants sniffed the air and turned their heads towards a mountain, some distance away.

Two of them barked orders to nearby lower ranking demons, who immediately began to run with unholy speed towards the mountain.


Meanwhile, one of the demons yelped as something cut at it. It was not a very deep cut, the demons having a tough hide, but it was still an annoyance.

The demons growled at each other, and sniffed the area. They could definately smell the scent of something that recently passed here accompanied by the odor of the mole man.

Maverion glared at Kalzog as the latter left the tent. He then looked around in search for some clothes...and perhaps something to protect himself with as well. He was not going to just stand by as the ogre or whoever else executed him.

"Hope you don't mind me finding something to wear," he muttered to the guard watching him.

Spotting some dirty clothes, he pulled the blankets off from around himself and tossed them onto a table, using them to cover up a dagger that was on that table. Mave then grabbed the articles of clothing and began putting them on. They were a tad big for him, but he grabbed a thin cord of rope and tied it around his waist to help keep the trousers up.

Then, returning to the table, he picked up the bundle of blankets, carefully slipping one hand underneath them to pick up the dagger and concealing it in his slightly baggy outfit as he did so.

"Where do you want me to put these?" Mave asked the guard, now holding out the blankets with both hands.

The guard grunted and waved a hand as if he was backhanding a fly out of the air.

With a shrug, Maverion tossed the bundle of blankets in the general direction of the waving hand.

When he tried to leave the tent, however, the guard was quick to act. Getting in his way, the guard demanded, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm a little hungry; aren't you?" Maverion asked. "Could use something to eat, wouldn't you say?"

The guard just frowned at him. "You are not to leave the tent."

"Just a little nibble?" Mave asked.

The guard's frown deepened.

Mave no longer felt like being civil with the guard, but he knew he could not risk getting into a scuffle with the man, lest the noise attract others and quicken his execution. But he had to get away from these hypocrites somehow and save his neck.

Then, something came to him, and he said "Sleep" out loud before he knew what he was doing. He paused for a moment, wondering why he said that. It was not something the other Maverion had ever done before, not that this Maverion would remember. But there it was.

He looked back at the guard, wondering how he would react to the randomness. But there was something strange about the guard. Maverion waved his hand in front of the guard's face, but the guard never moved an inch. Mave then poked him in the shoulder, and still nothing. He did not blink, flinch, or anything. It was as if the guard had turned into a statue.

Mave furrowed his eyebrows. Did he just make the guard fall asleep? Well, no time to stand there and wonder. He looked around the tent again and grabbed a fur cape to wrap around himself. Then, peaking under one wall of the tent for signs of people outside, and finding none, he snuck out from under the tent. Pulling the hood of the cape over his head, he tried to blend in with the other barbarians around him, and casually made his way toward the edge of the camp for his escape.

Meanwhile, the guard inside the tent, if touched by anyone else, would wake up again, not knowing what had transpired after he had fallen asleep while standing up and with his eyes wide open.

***

Maverion held onto Rimoru's hand reassuringly, not wanting her to get upset. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's not you...it's me" (OOC: Gah, I can't believe I just used that)

"Maybe she wouldn't find out, but I'd still know. And imagine, Empress, if you promised yourself to someone, and they to you. Even if you never found out about it, you still wouldn't want him to cheat on you, would you?" he asked in as soothing a voice as possible, with a hint of puppy dog eyes.

***

"Fine with me," Teralynn said. "Although, I cannot imagine why you would want to be a mere mortal."

Weakness? No, she is my strength. With her I found the power to a defeat demi god, dragoon lord, and even defy the gods themselves. Forgive me Marlene. I did all of this for you.

Despite his body and life literally fading away his pride was stronger than ever. Tears fell from his eyes as he collapsed his other knee and raised his stumpy limbs towards the god bowing.

"Only the mighty Valtrox can redeem my sins against he, who is the grandest of the gods. My only master, the truest diety, the only diety. Forgive me master for I have blasphemed against you in vain and desperation. My soul ismore suited in your hands than my own." Cadeyrn said almost systematically secretly wishing he would die before suffering the indignity of seeing Valtrox's smug satisfaction.


"Is it not enough I have served you, but you must break me as well?" The berzerker added losing his entire left arm.

Kalzog came back to the tent, a wicked looking axe in his hands. He looked around, pushing over chairs, tables, looking under blankets and clothes. Nothing...

"Where did he go?" he growled at the guard. No response.

Kalzog wrapped his hands around the man and began to squeeze, yet the guard remained still.

With a frustrated sigh, he walked out of the tent and looked through the crowd. There were too many people walking about, and Maverion could blend in quite well, as long as his back was turned to him.

Sarik soon stepped out of the command tent and looked up at Kalzog. "We're ready. Get the men in formation."

The ogre grumbled a small curse and looked back towards the crowd. "Our prisoner has escaped."

Sarik looked around, concern in his eyes, until another officer spoke up.

"We shouldn't worry 'bout him. If 'e runs in any direction outta 'ere, 'e's gonna die," said the dwarf.

***********************************************************

A tall, blond haired man in long regal robes, slowly glided behind Ar'mai, before he lightly tapped her on her shoulders.

***********************************************************

Rimoru opened her mouth as her eyes narrowed, but nothing came out. She let out a loud sigh and let herself fall back onto the bed.

"I suppose you're right, Mavey...I am...sorry," she mumbled. Images of the elven Rothargot swarmed in her mind. She wanted him back, more then ever. She wanted to feel his lips, his muscles his...

Rimoru stared a little at the bulge in her belly and felt along it. "Mavey, may I ask you two favors?" she asked quietly. "First, one, long passionate kiss?"

***********************************************************

"Tera, remember back in Rimoru's palace? I have done things I never knew possible. I have felt love and it felt great. I have been able to actually feel things with my hands, my feet. I was able to eat and taste. Oh, it was wonderful!" Rothargot replied. He was getting jittery just thinking about it. He was about to wrap Tera in a massive hug, but decided he shouldn't while she was concentrating on the sign.

***********************************************************

"Oh, but Cadeyrn, you brought this upon yourself," Valtrox replied with a smile, as the Valtrox-Marlene body exploded into his smaller dragon form.

"Poor, poor Cadeyrn...But you have done what I asked, without complaint. I am almost reluctant in keeping your soul for eternity. But souls can be molded, placed into another body. You may have hope to live again, Cadeyrn."

With that, Valtrox wrapped his hands around him and smiled very wickedly. "Are you ready, dear Cadeyrn?"

A tall, blond haired man in long regal robes, slowly glided behind Ar'mai, before he lightly tapped her on her shoulders.

Ar'mai spun around as she sensed someone about to touch her on the shoulder and nearly slapped the man as a reaction. However, she held her cool and stared at the man wondering what he wanted.

Meanwhile, the demons were climbing up the mountain, one lieutenant following close behind, sniffing the air for signs of the magic buildup, approaching ever closer to the 'mole-man'.

Yet, even as the demons approached, the runes on the massive towers glowed brighter in sync with the magic buildup.

Ar'mai spun around as she sensed someone about to touch her on the shoulder and nearly slapped the man as a reaction. However, she held her cool and stared at the man wondering what he wanted.

"Dear Elf, it is so good to see you again," The man said quietly, wrapped his arms around her in a friendly hug.

His golden hair rose up in little spikes, as his turqoise eyes stayed on Ar'mai's. His teeth were slightly elongated, but not too threatening. "How are you?"

"Who are you?" She replied immediately, mimicking the emphasis he had put on his question.

Another person Ar'mai had no recollection of. Was he truly someone she had known or someone playing tricks on her...

The crag Lorathin had chosen was as close to unreachable as possible for a natural location. Even a demon would find it nearly impossible to scale the final distance, as but for wings or travel through matter there was little way up as the rock face bore little purchase for hands or claws.

Harlin frowned at the way the demons shrugged off his blows. There was no way he could make a dent in their thick hide, yet looking up the hill face, he saw two things that interested him. The first was Lorathin perched atop a spire of rock some distance away. The second was the large boulder that rested above him on a precipice that afforded a beautiful path directly down onto the demons.

Running up the hill, he stopped behind the large rock. Stepping from the Shadowfold, he leveraged one of his blades underneath it, and worked it up, causing the boulder to roll of the edge, and fall onto the demons below.

Again, he stepped back into the safety of the Shadowfold to await the results of the attack.

***********

Minos, battered and burned, stumbled over the crest of the hill, and fell down, rolling unconsciously into the rebel camp.

Cadeyrn nodded his head as parts of his chest peeled away falling to the earth. The prospect of being tortured for all eternity didn't please him, but better him than Marlene who didn't ask for any of this. He killed her parents and dragged her into this life of war and suffering. Besides, his soul deserved whatever punishment Valtrox could do to it.

Tears began to well up in his eyes as the god wrapped his arms around him. Over Valtrox's shoulder he saw a pale woman with long flowing brown hair waving to him.

"Mother?" He asked puzzeled slightly uplifted by the appirition.

He had to laugh before his lips sank into his face.

"Let's go." He said in weak distorted tone.

Several patrolling guards noticed the old man stumbling into camp.

"This ain't good..." one of them said as he pulled out his blade. His companions followed and surrounded the man.

"Bring him to the infirmary. We'll let him realize his doom in coming here..." growled another guard as they picked him up and began to take him through the camp.

***********************************************************

The golden haired man frowned slightly as he pulled away. He studied Ar'mai's face carefully before returning his gaze into her eyes.

"It is me, Relthor," he said quietly with a small smile. "Surely you remember? In the desert? The Imperium Arena?"

Relthor looked around, as if searching for someone, but returned his gaze to Ar'mai again.

***********************************************************

The demons snarled and yelped as the rock came tumbling towards them. All of them began running down the hill, almost on all six of their limbs, trying to out run the rocks. Yet, most of them were killed as the rock rolled over them. Some of them merely sunk into the snow.

***********************************************************

Valtrox disappeared from view, as whatever senses Cadeyrn still had burned, along with whatever remained of his body, melting into one charred skeleton.

Cadeyrn suddenly appeared in Valtrox's throne room, the god in all his glory lay wrapped around one large pillar. Demons lined every wall as lava poured down like waterfalls to an unknown area behind the god.

"Welcome to my humble home, Cadeyrn...I trust you will find it...most enjoyable," the dragon said with an unnatural voice. The demons laughed sinisterly and jeered at the warrior's soul.

Seeing that his assault had had it's desired affect, Harlin walked down the opposite side of the hill, trying to get as far away from the encampment as possible. Sighting a small hollow in the rocks, he dropped in and hid under an outcropping. Leaving the Shadowfold, he used his remaining energy to use the spell Minos had taught him to summon a small lightless fire to keep him warm in the frigid cliate. Closing his eyes, he drifted off to sleep.

The golden haired man frowned slightly as he pulled away. He studied Ar'mai's face carefully before returning his gaze into her eyes.

"It is me, Relthor," he said quietly with a small smile. "Surely you remember? In the desert? The Imperium Arena?"

Relthor looked around, as if searching for someone, but returned his gaze to Ar'mai again.

"Sorry... y-you don't seem familiar," Ar'mai said as she desperately attempted to remember who this man was.

The Desert, the Imperium Arena... neither felt familiar.

Relthor frowned and slowly backed away. He rubbed his chin as his brow furrowed. "You are Ar'mai, aren't you?"

"Did you come with others?"

Relthor frowned and slowly backed away. He rubbed his chin as his brow furrowed. "You are Ar'mai, aren't you?"

"Did you come with others?"

"Yes, I am Ar'mai," she confirmed as the man looked confused. "And yes, I came with some others... though I do not know who they were. I woke up and they were on a boat with me... so I followed them not knowing what else to do."

Relthor continued to rub his chin as his gaze swept the camp.

"Do you think you may be able to direct me to them?" he asked her with a small smile.

Relthor continued to rub his chin as his gaze swept the camp.

"Do you think you may be able to direct me to them?" he asked her with a small smile.

Ar'mai shrugged as she pointed out of the tent. "They are around here somewhere."

Relthor poked his head out the tent opening and laughed.

"Atleast I know I am in the right camp," he chuckled. "Many thanks, Ar'mai."

With that, Relthor walked out of the camp, passing several guards who sneered at him.

Thats when he noticed Sarik, walking towards the tent as officers scurried to the opposite side.

"Sarik! It is so pleasant to see you again," Relthor called out to the lizardman, waving his hand high into the air.

"Relthor?" Sarik asked as he walked closer. "By Zavers, it is you!"

The two embraced each other as they laughed. As they pulled away, Relthor's smile faded slightly as his eyes reached Sarik's.

"You look different...your-"

"I know," Sarik replied as he blinked a few times. "So, how have you been? And did you have any luck?"

Relthor shifted his position slightly as he looked towards the ground. "I...I found something..." his eyes teared up slightly but he wiped them away with his fingers and gave Sarik a weak smile. "Other than that, I've missed all of you."

"We've missed you too, Relthor," Sarik replied. Oh no...I don't want to give him more bad news...the poor dragon...Please do not ask, Relthor.

"What happened to Ar'mai?" Relthor asked as he looked back at the tent.

Sarik visibly relaxed. "During our travel at sea, we encountered Rothargot's demons, amongst other things. Ar'mai, was knocked unconscious and when she awoke, she remembered nothing, save the basics."

Relthor nodded slowly as he ran his hands through his hair. "Poor elf. And what of Karasu?"

Sarik coughed quietly and it was his turn to look away. "She...she was lost after Orogen destroyed our ship-"

Relthor was already crying. Tears were flowing down his face as he walked away, looking for somewhere to sit down or atleast rest against. "No...please Sarik...no jokes."

"I wish it were a joke..." Sarik replied, beginning to tear up as well. "But we think she has escaped. She may still be alive."

Relthor looked up hopefully and smiled slightly. "She is too explosive to die subtly," he laughed weakly. "I hope that is true."

"Now when and how did you get here?"

" I got here several weeks ago. I was on my way back, soaring across the sea, but I didn't see your ship. I continued until I landed on the shore of the mountains."

"That is when Kalzog washed ashore, near death I suppose. He refused any of my aid and refused to speak of where you guys may be or what happened to him."

"We both traveled up the mountains for days, stopping only for rest or shelter. Soon enough, we noticed a dwarf, barely alive, fighting for his life against several cultist knights. We helped the dwarf, who happened to be Loraf, Higsthor's second in command. And from then on, we were allowed into the camp."

"But Morgrathiens treat outsiders like cattle, unfortunately, especially pacifists. Kalzog, being the bloodthirsty lug he is, threatened his way to a high position, and has done surprisingly well up there...I, have stayed back, however. Please, do not tell anyone of my true form, I fear the Morgrathiens may try to kill me. They have been known to eat dragons..."

Sarik chuckled at the last comment. "I promise old friend. But we prepare for war, I'm afraid. Inzikai has the book and is now trying to raise Valtrox. I may need your help, and the help of the dragons."

Relthor shook his head slowly. "I'm afraid my master, Dominatistradz does not wish to interfere with mortal affairs anymore. He talks very little these days, and rarely comes out from his mountain. He mourns for the loss of his brethren and his family."

"I, however, will help however I can."

"Thank you, Relthor, I promise you will be rewarded greatly for your effort."

Relthor laughed as Sarik began to walk to Ar'mai's tent, conversing with Relthor as they approached.

"Ar'mai, I need to ask you a question. Are you able to fight? And if so, could you join us this fight?"

"I-I think so..." Ar'mai responded. Though she had not fought since the fateful day in which she was knocked unconscious and lost her memory, her skills and style would come back to her when she actually stepped into a battle.

Regrettably, all she had was the pathetic bow from one of the cultists. No daggers, swords, or anything of a good quality.

"Excellent," Sarik replied with a smile. Relthor nodded his head to Ar'mai, before they took off. Already, most of the tents were taken down, or being taken down, as the large army began to get into their ranks and files.

Kalzog slowly approached with a man slung on his shoulders. "The guards found Minos and put him in the infirmary. I had to take him out since we're all leaving."

Sarik nodded his thanks and turned to another general who nodded.

"All men are ready and waiting."

Sarik nodded and the general picked up a large horn and blew on it.

The low note practically shook the ground it was so powerful. It was a note that commanded respect, that delt fear to the enemies, and faith to the allies. Several horns blew their responses as the Morgrathiens roared in response.

Several horses were brought for Sarik, Relthor, the generals, Shara, and Ar'mai. Kalzog disliked horses and couldn't exactly ride on one.

And so it begins...

***********************************************************

Back near the Gateway, Inzikai was sweating perfusely as the temperature around the gateway increased dramatically. His clothes clung to him, as his skinned burned. His eyes had lost whatever color they had previously had and glowed with a terrible red light. His teeth were much longer and sharper than expected. His figure was much larger than before as his muscles bulged and expanded painfully.

The spellbook in front of him glowed the same red as his eyes and the runes along the towers. One more tower to go...

Demons were already swarming the place, stepping away from their gates to let others proceed into the mortal realm. Officers were barking orders. The call has been heard, the barbarians are on the march. And they will be exterminated...

"What of Marlene!?" He screamed in desperation.

No prison can hold me, no master can break me, I'll escape, and lay waste to Valtrox's 'kingdom'. He'll suffer for threatening Marlene.

The warrior raised his teeth towards the demon's jeers and taunts.

-------

Hel's vision blurred as she doubled over. The heat and the swarm of demons were bad enough, but suddenly she felt ill.

"I will keep my word, Cadeyrn. But know that I will still have left my mark on her. I have delved into her mind. Now I can traverse it how I please, as I can in any who's mind I've contacted. Know that even with her soul free, I can still destroy her," Valtrox threatened as he formed the image of Marlene in front of him. A crying Marlene, a poor girl. She mouthed Cadeyrn's name as she reached out for him.

The demons continued to jeer and taunt as Valtrox smiled at Cadeyrn.

***********************************************************

Rothargot looked back at Marlene and walked towards her slowly.

"Are you alright, Marlene?" he asked quietly as he picked her up in his arms.

***********************************************************

Valtrox's image would swim in Hel's mind.

"Cadeyrn has come to me, dead, Hel. I have no use for a dead warrior. So the deal was off. No warrior, no life. But he bargained something that is very hard to obtain. Something you gave me earlier. Can you guess what it is?"

Marlene would begin to feel incredibly hot and dry. Her tattoo would feel as though it were burning through her bones.

Lorathin smiled as he put the last line onto the amplifier. Looking out over the valley, he muttered, "And not a moment too soon."

Placing his hand on the design he began casting a spell to create a most dreadful and unnatural storm. Tornadoes, hail, gale force winds, lightning and all the rest of the meteorological mayham he could think up. Few would be standing and even fewer would be happy as he'd put quite a bit of power into the spell to make it nearly impossible to bring under control and the effects would be playing around in the higher levels of the spectrum.

With a grin, he watched the clouds begin to form as the storm started to unleash its fury on those who'd chosen to follow Valtrox, an event to prove they had chosen wrong.

Cadeyrn fell to his knees screaming in a blinding rage, the berzerker was grinding his teeth to the point of breaking.

"Take whatever anger you have out on me, she should not matter to anything anymore. She is worthless to you." He shot back gazing past Marlene weeping.

--------------

Dead?

The burning and sorrow hit her all at once as she screamed full pitch, eyes streaming with tears. Clenching her left arm, her sobs flowed uncontrollably.

The girl viciously fought out of Rothargot's grip falling to the ground not far away. Her sobs became thick to the point of suffication.

The terrible storm brought faces of shock and terror upon the faces of the mortals assembled. No doubt those hundreds of thousands would be destroyed by the effects.

Rothargot looked towards the sky as lightning cracked close by, frying a soldier.

"Infernal sorceries..." he grumbled as he looked around for someplace safe to stay.

Yet as the storm began to lay waste to the area, the gateway itself hummed with a low pitched sound, one that sounded across the mountains. The Towers began to vibrate with incredible intensity, dust, dirt, bird nests, even a few drakes were shaken loose as the enormous towers vibrated.

Suddenly each stone blasted into the middle of the mile long gateway, forming a giant ball of energy, which then shot forth into the sky. The stones seemingly roared as the orb blasted into the clouds, immediately dissintigrated them, however, somewhat slower along the edges of the clouds.

This brought a smile to Rothargot. "What the gods made to prevent the gate from being damaged, has saved what they seeked to contain," he laughed.

Inzikai's chant had finally finished, once the storm ended. The sweat covered skizzarish looked around the gate as all three towers were lit and even protecting him and those nearest to the center.

"Fools...they cannot even hope to stop us now," he laughed, before he walked passed the book on its pedestal.

His captain, who had warned them of the Barbarian forces spotted nearby and the 'heroes of Lustria' as the Patriarch had begun to call them, came up, soaked from the downpour that had only lasted a few minutes.

"Your highness, the gods themselves must be appalled at their own creation. But we have suffered many losses. About several thousand, perhaps even in the ten thousands, have been los-"

"That does not matter, captain. The demons are appearing by the second. The bulk of the army has been saved. Prepare yourself for war, Captain. Prepare yourself to defend this structure with everything you have."

The captain bowed and backed away slowly as Inzikai raised his arms above him, to the assembled soldiers, scholars, and everything else that had come.

"Do you see this, my brethren? They dare attempt to stop us! They have called upon their own powers to try to destroy us while we sleep, eat, and play. They attack the innocents who had come for a pilgramage. Do they have no honor?"

"Valtrox is ready to arrive, my people. He has sent us his gift of aide. An unstoppable army of Rothargot's, and the demi-god general himself! This is the time to act! They have attacked us! Now we will retaliate! Go forth my warriors! Go forth and ransack every home, destroy every village, kill every man, woman, or child who dares stand against us! We will give them a taste of their own dirty tricks...Tenfold!"

The cultists roared chants of "Long live Inzikai! Long live Valtrox!"...music to Inzikai's ears.

"I love my job," Inzikai said as he turned away and proceeded down the stairs as horns sounded, drums pounded, and men chanted.

"I begin to wonder who's pathetic storm that was..."Inzikai said aloud as he watched the remaining clouds dissolve away.

Cadeyrn fell to his knees screaming in a blinding rage, the berzerker was grinding his teeth to the point of breaking.

"Take whatever anger you have out on me, she should not matter to anything anymore. She is worthless to you." He shot back gazing past Marlene weeping.

--------------

Dead?

The burning and sorrow hit her all at once as she screamed full pitch, eyes streaming with tears. Clenching her left arm, her sobs flowed uncontrollably.

The girl viciously fought out of Rothargot's grip falling to the ground not far away. Her sobs became thick to the point of suffication.



"Oh, but she is not worthless to me, Cadeyrn," he replied quietly, mocking a soothing tone. "You know as well as I do, how ingenius she is. You know how much she means to you."

With that, Valtrox smashed the image of Marlene, raising his fist slowly, revealing the blood, gore, bits of hair, and any little gross detail dripping from the fiery gods' massive fist.

***********************************************************

"Marlene...please!" Rothargot said as he walked to her. "It will be alright...you have nothing to worry about!"

***********************************************************

Valtrox nodded slowly. "Not of my cause, little Marlene. He died because of that dreadful disease. And he had completed his mission, and naturally, I was going to give him his wish."

He looked Marlene dead on. "And do you know what he wished for?"

His lips curled around his massive teeth. "Your freedom. Naturally...I denied it. You are were my hold over the warrior. You were a valuable asset."

"But I am a kind god. I will give him his last wish. Your soul is yours again, Marlene...for now."

Just then, Marlene would feel the pain slowly disappear, but the mark on her arm still glowed brightly.

"Realize that I will contact you again, Marlene. I will contact you in the future...and you will not be able to do anything with it."

"That's annoying." He muttered with a scowl at what had happened to his storm. "I doubt a wildfire would be effective, so what best to pound them this time."

He sat down to think about the best way to cut out a larger portion of the army.

"She's just a kid aga-" He was silenced by Marlene being utterly crushed right before him. Parts of her splattered gently on his stunned face.

Cadeyrn went berserk blindly rushing the god with only his fists drawn. His feet made a strange noise as he sprinted through the remains of the only person he ever loved.

----------

As the pain died down Marlene let go of hre arm and remained on her knees sobbing.

"Cadey...no." She whimpered corssing her arms trying to crawl into herself.

"No harm will ever come to you as long as I'm here." He said before his fight with the Varvul king, Beau.

"Shut up Rothy!" She snapped running to him and hitting his armor like skin blindly. "This is all your fault! You brought him into this!"

Valtrox let out a terrible laugh which was mimiced by the demons. With a wave of his hand, Cadeyrn floated upwards, in front of Valtrox's eyes.

"My my my, Cadeyrn...so violent..." he laughed as he spread his fingers apart, each limb of Cadeyrn twisting themselves from his torso until they popped off in a bloody mess.

"Yet your defiance is...admirable. If only it wasn't I who you were defying."

***********************************************************

Rothargot's primal instincts almost kicked in, he almost attempted to kill the girl right then. But his newer self, the kind, loving Rothargot, only let her continue to pound him.

"I'm sorry, Marlene..." he said sadly. "If I could have gone with him, if I could have prevented the disease...I would have."

Screaming uncontrollably and blinded by absolute pain, Cadeyrn still seemed as if his torso was trying to push itself towards Valtrox. His eyes, though rolled into the back of his skull, focused on the god directly.

Never before had he experienced such agony, even when his throat was pierced with iron, his limb torn from his body, and his eye gouged out didn't compare to this torment. Blood guzzeled from his mouth as he ravenously churned thousands of swears by the second.

--------------

Tired of beating on the demon she collapsed into him sobbing. Marlene's fists wer bruised bright red and nearly broken from the fury at which she was punching Rothargot.

"It's not fair Rothy!" She sobbded grabbing ahold of him. "It's not fair!"

Several horses were brought for Sarik, Relthor, the generals, Shara, and Ar'mai. Kalzog disliked horses and couldn't exactly ride on one.

And so it begins...

The saddle of a horse felt very recognizable under the princess as she took her seat on the horse. With bow and quiver over her shoulder, she began riding slowly with the rest of the lead horses...

The battle was at hand...

Valtrox growled as he could feel Cadeyrn's hate.

"Yes...hate me, Cadeyrn. Hate me with every ounce of your being. Marlene will die eventually...and I will make sure to recieve her soul. And I will tear her apart just as I do you."

With that, Cadeyrn's body slammed into the wall, before it slammed into the ground several times.


***********************************************************
Rothargot gently wrapped his arms around her. "I know, Marlene..."

He gently peeled away from her so he could crouch to a somewhat eye-level to her.

"I can honestly say I am not sure what to say, Marlene. I am still relatively new to this world. But what I can tell you is to keep your chin up. Cadeyrn was strong and defiant to what he believed to be right. And loyal to that which he loved most. You, Marlene. He would have died a million times just to make sure you were safe. Just to make sure you were happy."

Rothargot smiled reassuredly to her and gently messaged her shoulder with one hand, while he wiped her tears with the other. "Chin up, Marlene. Show me what Cadeyrn has taught you. Make him proud. Show him he has taught you well."

An ear defning scream of blind rage rang out through what could be called hell itself. Slamming into the wall and ground repeatedly did nothing but drive him further into his infamous frenzy. The torse finally came to a halt and then began rolling towards Valtrox as Cadeyrn shifted his hips rapidly.

The bezerk torso left a wide trail of blood, and anywhere else, would have rendered him dead a long time ago.

-----------

Slowly her deep sob came to a stop as she only turned her head aside.

"Don't ever leave like him, you stay with me forever ok?" She said lifting her bright teary eyes to the demon.

Maverion stumbled into the thick, coniferous forest, the tops of which were covered in a layer of snow. The army of savages in the distance seemed to be packing up to move, but he did not see anyone following after him.

Pulling the fur closer around him, he looked around, wondering what to do next. He had no clue where to go, no idea where Valtrox's people were, unless he kept following after the army until they clashed with Valtrox's forces. And he would have to find shelter and food soon lest he be overwhelmed by the elements come nightfall.

Then he heard thunder and a torrent of other noises somewhere far off. His head snapping in that direction, he saw the edges of the unnatural storm, and figured that that would be as good as any direction to go in.

As quickly as he could, given his surroundings, Mave crunched his way through the snow toward Valtrox's army.

***

Maverion continued to gently hold onto Rimoru's hand to keep giving her a reassuring presence. "Empress...you know I'd do anything for you if I could, but I can't do that..."

***

Teralynn frown when the storm started, and forgot about what Rothargot was saying. When the effects began hitting the camp, she intensified the heat around her to the point of melting the hail aimed at her and evaporating the rain. The winds would get caught up in the vortex of inferno swirling around her, leaving her untouched in the eye.

And then it stopped. She knew immediately that someone was trying to stop them from summoning Valtrox; someone powerful. Yet, no matter how powerful they were, summoning something of that magnitude would no doubt have drain their energy greatly, and they would now be in a weakened state. When the storm died down, she sent her mind out all around to probe for people who did not belong there.

"I begin to wonder who's pathetic storm that was..."Inzikai said aloud as he watched the remaining clouds dissolve away.

"His'," Teralynn said, looking up at a ridge a good distance away. The wizard was not visible from so far away, but she knew he was there. Her giant fiery dragon head turned to face Lorathin, and everyone remotely near the valley could hear the thing chuckle loudly. Then, more flames burst to life on it, and much smaller dragons grew out of them. They began flying circles around the head before all of them simultaneously darted straight for Lorathin.

"And he shall pay dearly for it."

The saddle of a horse felt very recognizable under the princess as she took her seat on the horse. With bow and quiver over her shoulder, she began riding slowly with the rest of the lead horses...

The battle was at hand...

Within several minutes of riding horns could be heard a short distance away. Many horns. Much more than comfortable...

The Morgrathiens slowly came to the top of a large hill, overlooking the amassed demons. Already, thousands of demons had poured out, filling up the ranks of those lost from the deadly storm.

As the demons noticed the barbarian presence, they roared in unison, taunting the Morgrathiens.

In return, the barbarian's roared their own taunt.

The horns sounded again as their army repositioned themselves to face this thread.

As soon as they stopped their march, the horns blasted again. The frontline demons began to marche forward slowly, roaring all the way as they marched to the battledrums, booming across the field.

Sarik's horse whinnied nervously as they stood in front of their resistance.

"Pikemen! To the front! Keep them at a distance!" Sarik shouted. "Catalpults, wait until they are within range. Same goes with Archers. No wasted ammunition!"

Officers nodded and began to shout out encouraging orders, the Morgrathien's would rather hear encouragement from those of their own people, rather than someone they met just recently.

Relthor looked out at the field calmly, taking a small sniff of the air.

"Have you ever noticed how foul these demons smell?" he said seriously, making Sarik crack a smile. "Relthor, perhaps you would want to take Ar'mai to the back with you?"

Relthor smiled and replied, "Only if Miss Ar'mai would desire it."

Sarik nodded and looked towards the cavalry officers. "Get your men out of sight on either side of our army. Try to get as far ahead as possible without letting yourselves be seen."

The officers nodded and let carried out their orders.

An ear defning scream of blind rage rang out through what could be called hell itself. Slamming into the wall and ground repeatedly did nothing but drive him further into his infamous frenzy. The torse finally came to a halt and then began rolling towards Valtrox as Cadeyrn shifted his hips rapidly.

The bezerk torso left a wide trail of blood, and anywhere else, would have rendered him dead a long time ago.

-----------

Slowly her deep sob came to a stop as she only turned her head aside.

"Don't ever leave like him, you stay with me forever ok?" She said lifting her bright teary eyes to the demon.


"You sicken me, Cadeyrn," Valtrox growled as the great god himself picked up what remained of torso inbetween two fiery claws, instantly charring his flesh and melting some pieces of it. "But I do have plans for you...plans that make even this seem pitiful..."

The great Valtrox laughed in his domain, which sent a rumble to the ever working gateway above him...
**********************************************************

Maverion stumbled into the thick, coniferous forest, the tops of which were covered in a layer of snow. The army of savages in the distance seemed to be packing up to move, but he did not see anyone following after him.

Pulling the fur closer around him, he looked around, wondering what to do next. He had no clue where to go, no idea where Valtrox's people were, unless he kept following after the army until they clashed with Valtrox's forces. And he would have to find shelter and food soon lest he be overwhelmed by the elements come nightfall.

Then he heard thunder and a torrent of other noises somewhere far off. His head snapping in that direction, he saw the edges of the unnatural storm, and figured that that would be as good as any direction to go in.

As quickly as he could, given his surroundings, Mave crunched his way through the snow toward Valtrox's army.

***

Maverion continued to gently hold onto Rimoru's hand to keep giving her a reassuring presence. "Empress...you know I'd do anything for you if I could, but I can't do that..."

***

Teralynn frown when the storm started, and forgot about what Rothargot was saying. When the effects began hitting the camp, she intensified the heat around her to the point of melting the hail aimed at her and evaporating the rain. The winds would get caught up in the vortex of inferno swirling around her, leaving her untouched in the eye.

And then it stopped. She knew immediately that someone was trying to stop them from summoning Valtrox; someone powerful. Yet, no matter how powerful they were, summoning something of that magnitude would no doubt have drain their energy greatly, and they would now be in a weakened state. When the storm died down, she sent her mind out all around to probe for people who did not belong there.

"I begin to wonder who's pathetic storm that was..."Inzikai said aloud as he watched the remaining clouds dissolve away.

"His'," Teralynn said, looking up at a ridge a good distance away. The wizard was not visible from so far away, but she knew he was there. Her giant fiery dragon head turned to face Lorathin, and everyone remotely near the valley could hear the thing chuckle loudly. Then, more flames burst to life on it, and much smaller dragons grew out of them. They began flying circles around the head before all of them simultaneously darted straight for Lorathin.

"And he shall pay dearly for it."

Rimoru frowned slowly as she looked at him.

Suddenly, she wrapped herself around him and kissed him passionately.

With a small giggle, she pulled away from him and smiled. "But I can," she chuckled.

"Second...don't forget me, Mavey. Please?" she asked as she scooted away and got to her feet. Something was calling her...something very powerful...

Hearing the horns, he looked over the valley and smiled, "Time for the armies to clash, guess it's a bit of a good thing the storm was stopped." He commented to himself.

He wondered what Harlin was up to as decided to play with the earth a bit. Looking at the nearest mountain to Valtrox's minions, he began probing it looking for a fault line, or a section of snow that was weakened.

Finding a section of snow that was ideal, he muttered an incantation to further weaken the ice supporting the massive volume of snow. Even the massed pyroclastive abilities that seemed to be the prefered domain of many of the wannabe god, it would very likely be futile as they could save themselves from an avalanche only to be caught in a flash flood.

Cadeyrn had exhausted all his anger and remained motionless in the grip of the vengeful god. As his flesh burned he felt sick to his stomach from the smell alone.

He only remained silent as his flesh boiled and charred to the very bone. His mouth dangled slightly open trying to find the breath to scream, but finding nothing.

ooc:bedtime, damn work.

Maverion looked up again at all the sounds of horns being blown. Was the fighting starting already? He had to hurry and catch up, though he did not exactly know why. Any sane person would have ran in the opposite direction, but somehow, he knew he had to be at that battle.

His feet began moving faster and faster, until they were no longer even sinking into the snow, but flying across the top of it.

***

"I'll never forget you, Empress," Maverion promised, giving Rimoru a smile.

Then his face took on a look of concern. "Is something wrong?"

***

The five fiery dragons blasted right into Lorathin at a high velocity, the intense heat from just one of which would have been enough to kill a man.

Teralynn smirked. That ought to have taken care of their unwanted guest.

Meanwhile, her dragon head faced the barbarian army and let out a massive roar to assault the eardrums of Valtrox's enemies. A low morale, after all, could make even the strongest of enemies succumb.

"Relthor, perhaps you would want to take Ar'mai to the back with you?"

As she sat calmly on the back of her steed, the pikemen readied up for a defensive strike while the archers and catapults prepared to launch their loads in a few minutes. They were still at quite a distance, way out of their range.

Ar'mai slowly pulled an arrow from her quiver and notched it to her bow. She lined up and took aim.

*Twang*

The arrow flew through the air and impaled a demon through the face.

"Damn't!" Ar'mai cried as she looked at her bow impudently.

Lorathin looked up a few seconds before the fire dragons impacted the ground. Rather than attempt to deflect, counter or otherwise expend force to deal with them, he simply avoided them in much the same method he'd used against the demons earlier.

As he vanished, he wondered who was trying to whack him. He'd really have to have words with that person as attempting to inflict violence upon him in such a manner was most uncouth.

"I am...needed..." she said quietly as she fingered the pendant Lorathin had given her. A habit she had grown into when she grew nervous. Her face began to get red as a regal robe formed around her. Although it still gave enticing peaks to those who looked in the right places, it was not nearly as revealing as those robes she usually wore.

"Mavey, please stay hidden," she said quietly as she used her powers to toss her enormous blanket over him.

The clacking of boots bounced off the stone walls leading to Rimoru's room, when the door opened suddenly.

There, stood a radiant skizzarish, his armor glowing a bright white. The armor itself was so polished anyone would know that the man was holy, bringing the darkest places to light.

Despite the known circumstances between each other, he remained in perfect posture. Yet even he had to smile when he saw Rimoru.

"Your highness," he said as he bowed elegantly, despite his dashing platemail armor.

"Oh...you don't have to," she nearly gasped as she buckled at the knees. "Patriarch...I-I..." she felt along her stomach, outlining her buldge.

The Patriarch looked carefully down and blinked twice, before returning his gaze to Rimoru's. "I would love to know who the father of this child would be. He must be the luckiest man in the world," the Patriarch smiled.

Rimoru returned his smile as she blushed greatly again and began to fan herself with her hand.

"But, the reason I have come, Rimoru..." The Patriarch continued as he pulled a scroll from his belt and handed it to Rimoru.

"Your highness, stay safe. I do not expect anything from you, but if you see it like I do, you'd understand. You love everyone greatly. A woman of the people. So I would be hoping you'd take up this chance to show them your love."

Rimoru smiled and nodded. The Patriarch bowed again. "Thank you for seeing me, Rimoru," he said quietly.

"No, thank you, Patriarch," she whispered as she created a chair for her to sit on. As the Patriarch walked away, the door closed and Rimoru let out a huge sigh.

"I wish he was mine..." she whispered as she looked towards Maverion. It's alright now."

***********************************************************

"Aww, Cadeyrn...I was expecting more from you...however I suppose your mortal limitations are hindering you. No problem..." Valtrox sighed.

Suddenly, Cadeyrn was in a dark place. Almost pitch black, save for light seemingly coming from the cieling, as if from the moon.

He was whole again, no bodypart missing, but he was shackled to the wall, with little space to move.

***********************************************************

The resistance remained surprisingly silent as the dragon roared at them.

Sarik could tell they were losing their fervor.

But Kalzog couldn't hold it. He let out his own roar, as if to challenge the dragon's head, as if to challenge Valtrox himself.

"I didn't come back from the dead to be with a bunch of cowards!" he roared at the barbarian's who chimed in with their own blood thirsty roars.

***********************************************************

Relthor watched the arrow fly out and into one of the demon's faces.

As Ar'mai cursed, he let out a chuckle. "Did you miss?" he asked with a silly grin.

***********************************************************

The demons growled as one of their comrades was pierced through the snout. It wasn't dead, but it was angry.

As their fiery symbol roared, they too roared in challenge. The demon officers barked the orders to charge...and so they did, with the same unholy speed.

Yet, an avalanche seemed to have come from no where.

The demon spellcasters, were ready, however. All of them, far from the front lines instantly brought up their hands and made their own incantations. An effective defensive spell against cold, and a deadly offensive spell...

A red glow seemed to glitter around the demons as they charged. The snow around them instantly turned to steam. The incoming avalanche may take some casualties, but not enough as it would have should the spellcasters not have been there.

Faster...faster...must run faster... Maverion zipped over the snow and up the side of a mountain, away from the passage that the barbarian army used so as to not be spotted by any of them. Yet, even the steeper sides of the mountain seemed to be hindering him little now.

***

Maverion froze, not even daring to breathe unless he could no longer help it, and even then, only very slowly and lightly.

He pulled the blanket off himself when Rimoru gave him the green light and took in a deep breath to fill his lungs.

A pause, then, "The Patriarch??? What's going on, Empress?"

***

Teralynn's smirk turned to a frown when the wizard disappeared. Her mind probe went out again, and found the presence, no longer quite human, moving within the mountain.

Unlike the demons, however, her fire dragons were not physical, and it was not too difficult for her to transfer the energy from the air into the earth to give chase. Even if they could not harm him when he became one with the earth, they most certainly could when he emerged back out of it.

Cadeyrn lifted his head towards the light and smiled.

"So is this the lesson?" He asked to no one stretching his hands towards the streams of light from the cieling. He tested the strength of his shackles by furiously pushing his limitations and eventually dislocating his left shoulder.

I won't be broken.

Lorathin could feel someone was looking for him and followed it back along it's trail to the source, a female Inzikai. Casting a spell, something somewhat more difficult than otherwise, he sent a mental message to the woman.

"Do you mind? You're little fireballs aren't going to be able to bother me, and if you don't put them to some other use I will." It wasn't false confidence but should she keep them around him, she'd find they would soon be doing more harm than good.

Rimoru slowly got up from her chair and silently sat on her plush bed, next to Maverion, handing him the scroll.

It read:

Greetings and Salutations, my good friend, Rimoru,
It is rather unfortunate that I come to you during some rather unfortunate circumstances. I have recieved word that your former fiance, and an old friend has finally achieved what I had attempted to stop.

Inzikai has finally begun the chant in which Valtrox will rise from the gateway the gods tried so hard to hold him in.

I fear that we have little choice than to turn to war, my friend. Although war is what you want the least, I can assure you, it is felt amongst me as well. I've had many a good time with Inzikai, despite our differences. Before Valtrox took a larger part in his life.

I would prefer this to be an invitation to a ball, perhaps the wedding of one of my greatest pupils, Sarik, whom you've already met. But Instead, I ask you from the bottom of my heart, to help aid in ending this once and for all. Valtrox must not enter this world. I would gladly sacrifice myself to make sure he does not harm my brothers, my sisters. I do not expect the same as you, mighty Rimoru.

I have already spoken with the Judges of the Imperium, who have agreed to accompany us on this 'Gate War'. This will be a battle of the ages that won't soon be forgotten. Chief Higsthor has informed me that he has left several thousand men at Sarik's disposal, in attempt to atleast slow down the process in which Inzikai will arrive. I fear that even the tough Morgrathien's will be cut down like wheat.

Again, I regret to ask you of such a sorrowful task...but may you aid me in this battle? If not me, atleast the people of the world?

Your old friend,

The Patriarch


***********************************************************

Valtrox lay brooding over what to do while he waited for the opening. He stared into the gateway above him and roared, loud and clear, springing up with incredible speed, he slammed his full body into the gate, not even making a dent.

The demon fell back to the ground, sprawled in an awkward position. He readjusted himself so he lay on his back, still in a very awkward position, almost like a dog wanting to be scratched on it's belly.

"Insolent gods...my time is nearing..."

Relthor watched the arrow fly out and into one of the demon's faces.

As Ar'mai cursed, he let out a chuckle. "Did you miss?" he asked with a silly grin.

"Yes..." she frowned, but as she did she was already notching another arrow. The demons charged closer and as they did she loosed another arrow into the demon's face - this one contacting where she had aimed it.

Slowly it was coming back to her...

And then as they gained better archery range, she moved her horse behind the lines of men and unloosed volleys of arrows at the demons.

Maverion crested the mountain and collapsed to his knees, panting for air in the thin atmosphere of the mountaintop. His legs were burning, and his heart was pounding. So hard, in fact, that his sudden stop started making him feel ill. But the nauseous feeling soon passed away, and his spinning head cleared enough to allow him to take in what was happening below.

Down in the valley, tens of thousands - no, hundreds of thousands of people were amassed. Those moving into the valley must have been the hypocritical savages, whilst the ones already within the valley must have been Valtrox's forces. There were large structures, with a very large light emanating from the center of the valley, and a giant head of a dragon made of fire not far away.

What had he gotten himself into?

***

Maverion read the scroll, his eyebrows furrowing further the more he read. When he reached the bottom of it, he quickly rolled the message back up.

"Why are they throwing away their lives?" he asked Rimoru. "All this bloodshed is needless! Valtrox will forgive them if they would stop fighting him, and they would be able to live the rest of their lives as normal rather than die!"

He shook his head disdainfully. "Senseless waste of lives. You're not going to let your people die like that too, are you, Empress?"

***

Teralynn had a haughty expression on her face. What could this charlatan possibly do? Fire was her element now.

She continued encircling Lorathin within the rocks with the fire dragons, but now paying closer attention so as to be able to control them better should he attempt to do anything with them.

Lorathin simply moved himself throught the stone, counting on female Inzikai to keep the fire elementals nearby. Pausing scant millimeters below the feet of the soldiers of Valtrox, he simply began amplifying the heat from the spirits. It started melting the snow and would in short order start burning the soldiers as the rocks began to heat up. As the fire she was using was the source, her powers were literally burning her own side.

"Mavey...We all have our biased views. All of us...except the Patriarch. That is what I have come to believe. He trusts Zavers with all his heart, yes, but he won't shy away from the truth. He has told me in several private conversations of his gods' cowardice. But also tells me how much he adores his god."

"He doesn't speak badly of Valtrox. Atleast not in a biased way. He speaks of his faults. And he speaks of what the god will do should he escape the confines of the underworld."

Rimoru shifted uncomfrotably in the bed. "Mavey...I feel it to be my duty to do so. Even if I will regret it."

"Mavey...Valtrox wants to cleanse this world of unbelievers. That would include me," she said sadly as she looked into Maverion's eyes with tear-stricken ones. "I have to go..."

**********************************************************

The demons growled as their comrade fell to the floor. But that didn't matter, their charge had already arrived. The demon mages, however, wanted to play a little game with the resistance. They let their enchantment drop, letting the pikemen spear the first line of monsters, who were, some of the lightly armored ones.

Each pikeman had three demons roaring into the pikes, smashing themselves at the soldiers as fast as they could, bowling some of them over, or even killing a few.

Shara had been kneeling beside Minos for some time. They were some distance back from the front lines, as Shara attempted to heal the damage the Cultist Captain had dealt to Minos. Her low chanting slowly caused the white glow that was characteristic of Westera's divine touch began to knit close wounds, and heal burns. After several excruciating minutes, Minos opened his eyes.

At first, all he could see was a blur, then his vision focused on the beautiful face of the human-elf halfbreed. Smiling, he said, "If only I could wake up to you everyday."

Shara opened her eyes and looked down at him, interrupting her prayer. Reaching out, she pinched him on the arm. "I can't believe you Minos... You know Harlin and I are to be wed."

Minos winced, and then nodded. "Aye, but a old geezer like myself can dream can't he?"

Shara laughed, and then perked up as he elven ears detected a familiar trumpet bleating it's battle call on the wind. Standing, she shouted, "My Sisters have arrived."

Sure enough, the full strength of the Sisterhood of the White Rose was riding down out of the hills on immaculate white steeds. If not for the shadows they cast, they would have blended perfectly with the snow. A full three thousand healers had amassed at the back of the formation, and begun setting up healing tents and infirmaries.

Meanwhile, a small old woman rode to the front of the line, and stopped next to Sarik.

Looking around, her eyes landed on the Skizzarish, and then she inquired with a great deal of urgency, "Where is the Patriarch, has he not yet arrived?"

****************************************

Harlin was falling, deep down into the blackness of unconsciousness. He felt a vague push towards the surface, but the depths were so warm and enticng, that he shrugged it off, and continued his plunge. Then, like a smack in the face, a great light appeared above him. A great glowing hand reached down and lifted him up. Suddenly, he was on a starlit plain, and before him stood a man.

Confused, Harlin began to ask where he was, but the man interrupted him. "Do you know who I am?"

Harlin shook his head. "I am sorry, but I do not."

The man pointed to Harlin's chest. "You wear my hand around your neck."

Harlin's eyes grew wide. "Arcturus?"

Suddenly ashamed that he hadn't recognized the One True Master, he fell to one knee, and bowed his head.

Arcturus nodded. "Aye, but get up off the ground there," He shook his head and then added to no one in particular, "I hate it when they grovel."

Harlin stood, and looked at the other 'man'. Arcturus radiated a dark aura, and seemed slightly immaterial. Unable to help himself, Harlin reached his hand out, and was stunned as it passed directly through his god.

Arcturus watched as he did then and then looked up at Harlin. "I have come to give you a message from the gods. Our old foe Valtrox is about to enter the mortal plane. You have already seen the gate he is trying to enter through. I have come to ask you to stop him on our behalf, as we have had a strict policy of remaining out of the mortal plain since the last incident with Valtrox." He looked around and frowned. "Alright, enough of that lawyer crap. We can't interfere, so you have to go and take care of our dirty work."

Harlin looked at Arcturus, not quite sure what to say. Slowly, he responded, "I know... I've been trying to do that for the past few months."

Arcturus looked slightly surprised. "Oh, well so much for being Omnitient... Anyway, you might want to wake up right about now, the Guild is about to arrive."

Suddenly, Harlin was thrown awake to the sound of horns blowing in the distance. CLimbing out of the small hollow he had hidden himself in, he looked down into the next valley. There marched the entire Jiltakin Thieves Guild, led by Centurus Froms on his black steed, Herodotus.

Restored of his energy, Harlin leapt up and rushed down to join the columns of thousands of Jiltakin thieves.

Maverion kept watching what transpired far beneath him in the valley below, as he was not sure of what else to do, exactly.

***

Maverion shook his head. Was Valtrox really going to kill everyone who was not his follower? That somehow struck Maverion as...wrong... But still, there need not be so much bloodshed.

"No...wait! You can't deny that Valtrox is powerful. What if he succeeds in entering the world? You'll suffer an even worse fate for opposing him. Accept him as your god, and you won't be one of the unbelievers! If everyone turns to him, then there will be no need for him to purge the world of unbelievers, right?"

***

Teralynn was not a fool. She could tell where Valtrox's forces were, and she knew the charlatan was headed in their direction.

With a single thought, the fire dragons fizzled out from within the earth long before they got close enough to the soldiers to be of harm to them. But she kept tracking the presence, that she may ignite the fires within him once he resumed his normal form again.

With the disappearence of the spirits, he headed toward female Inzikai. She was fighting at a bit of a disadvantage but he was as well so he wondered if he should take her on at the moment or not. He decided to she how she reacted first.

ooc: LoL I love how Arcturus acts...

Inzikai scowled as he stretched his arms out. Several female aides stripped him of his robe, revealing the red muscular form underneath. His slightly baggy pants jutted from his waist down, where a read sash held his sheathed falchion.

"How did this come to be? Now we have annoying healers, and pesky thieves fighting against us. The Patriarch has some friends that he managed to scrape off the bottom of his boots. Criminals, hooligans, and...fools. The lot of them," he growled as his female aides wrapped his combat armor around their master, letting their hands glide along his chest.

"No matter, our demons are a match for them. Their sharpest blade cannot cut through their hides so easily."

The demonized Inzikai caught Rothargot in his perepheral vision.

"Drop that cretin, Rothargot. Battle calls," he growled savagely.

Even the demi-god was taken aback at Inzikai's strange behavior. But he knew he was right. He had to buy time...

"I'm sorry, Marlene. I will be back," he said quietly, nuzzle the girl gently. "Be safe."

He looked at Inzikai one last time. "You had better not hurt her, Inzikai. If one hair is misplaced on her head, you will find out why even Habdebza is reluctant to take my position," he growled, before he extended his wings and took air.
***********************************************************

Sarik smiled at the reinforcements. Definately good timing. Not to mention a booster for morale. The demons had really banged up the pikemen, who had long abandoned their pikes. Now it had become a pitched battle, man against demon, demon against man. Man to man, fighting for their lives, and the lives of millions.

But as he examined the battle, a kind, old voice, that still commanded authority, spoke up behind him.

"I'm afraid he won't show up, ma'am..." Sarik replied as he turned around.

She was definately familiar...someone that he had only had a glimpse of before...

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but do I know you?" he asked quietly, his cheeks reddening in embarassment.

OOC: Yea, that's my perception of 'mortal who became a god and found out that it's not what it's cracked up to be'...

The High Mother looked Sarik in the eyes. "I do not believe that we have met personally, but the Patriarch has told me much about you, Sir Sarik. I am the High Mother of the Sisterhood of the White Rose, and I was under the impression that The Patriarch himself would be here. That's what his message suggested. No matter though, we will fight with you until the end regardless."

Marlene sat on the ground with her legs tucked up curled into a ball. She thought that Cadeyrn would have wanted her to at least watch the war for the entire planet.

"You have my thanks, your holyness," Sarik said with a bow of his head. The Patriarch? How does he know of this?

Sarik was stuck in glee and confusion. But he was thankful for all that was helping him now...if only they could somehow stop the ritual...

***********************************************************

Inzikai growled as he eyed Marlene. He walked up to her and pulled on her arm roughly, rolling up her sleeve as he stared at Valtrox's slightly faded tattoo.

"Impossible," he growled as he practically threw her arm back at her. "Useless imbecile..."

Maverion shook his head. Was Valtrox really going to kill everyone who was not his follower? That somehow struck Maverion as...wrong... But still, there need not be so much bloodshed.

"No...wait! You can't deny that Valtrox is powerful. What if he succeeds in entering the world? You'll suffer an even worse fate for opposing him. Accept him as your god, and you won't be one of the unbelievers! If everyone turns to him, then there will be no need for him to purge the world of unbelievers, right?"




"Mavey, I dislike the prospect of following a god. I feel as though I lose my free will. And if he enters the world, that means I am dead, Mavey. Sure, I can try to persuade my way into his good graces...but that would mean...rough times, if you get my drift," she chuckled quietly.

That's when she began to think about Rothargot. Would he protect her from Valtrox's wrath? Would his closeness to her mean she automatically got into Valtrox's good grace? Would she gain more power?

Rimoru leaned on Maverion, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't deny the fact that he is powerful. Too powerful for comfort. But he is also the god of rage. He'd kill people just because he feels like it."

"No, Mavey...I don't want him to enter this world..." she said quietly.

"You have my thanks, your holyness," Sarik said with a bow of his head. The Patriarch? How does he know of this?

Sarik was stuck in glee and confusion. But he was thankful for all that was helping him now...if only they could somehow stop the ritual...


The High Mother bowed in return. "I will accompany you into battle on the front lines. I know of ways to use Westera's power for things other than healing."

"Killing people...just because he felt like it...?" Maverion repeated, not aware of this. "How...how do you know that? I've never heard of that happening...at least, not from my lands..."

***

"Inzikai, Rothargot, something more important happening right now," Teralynn said. "The one who started the storm, he's in the earth, coming straight towards us. Is there something either of you can do about him?"

Inzikai growled a curse as he walked towards Teralynn. "Quit being useless...deal with him yourself. If he kills you, I'll disintigrate him," he growled as he walked back towards the stairs.

Each second, a demon appeared in the gates as the floor of the gateway itself began to glow bright red.
***********************************************************

Rimoru looked up at Maverion. "Your people, the Cult, glorifies Valtrox, of course you won't hear his...lesser qualities."

"I know of this, both because of my families own bias against him, and the fact that he's ordered the execution of thousands of innocents, the elves of Zlatlan only a small fraction of these victims."

***********************************************************

Sarik smiled as he nodded and proceeded to move towards the front lines, as he noticed the next massive wave of enemies approaching. This time, they were the barbarians that sided with Inzikai...

And then he saw one large demon flying ahead of the group...Rothargot...

Bowing her head, the High Mother began a low rythmic chant. At first, it was quiet, toneless, but then it began to gain volume, and a thrumming sound began to emanate from her. Then, she suddenly stopped and looked up to see a large handprint form in the demons ranks. All the demons under it had been mashed into a fine red paste, and those in the vicinity were blinded by the holy light of Westera reaching her hand into the mortal world.

******************

Cresting the hill, the Jiltakin Guild halted, and Centurus Froms surveyed the battlefield. He turned to Harlin, now mounted on Windflitter, and said, "We are lucky, we have them on their flank."

Harlin nodded, "Aye, let us attack now, before they can regroup."

Centurus gave a smile, "Always eager for battle, Harlin." He shook his head a little, and then fell silent.

Trotting around to view his army, he grew solemn, seeing the many young faces, and knowing that many of them would sacrifice their lives today. Drawing in breath, he began to shout a speech to his army.

"Brothers! We are gathered here today on the field of battle to serve a higher purpose. Our Brothers in the cause are already valiantly sacrificing themselves for the future." Donning his helmet, and drawing his sword, and pointing his sword skyward, he yelled, "Let us not allow that sacrifice to be made in vain!"

Turning his horse, he nodded to his trumpetter, who sounded the charge, and the Jiltakin Guild went to war.

Ar'mai had continued her onslaught of arrows into the heads of the incoming demons. As men and demon clashed, she picked her spots carefully and occasionally healed an injured or dying man. However, when she saw the thousands of healers appear, she focused her energies solely on the bow in her hand.

Marlene ran behind Inzikai pulling on his arm to spin him around and in one fluid motion cocked her arm back slapping him powerfully across the face.

"You can at least respect what he's sacrificed for us." She screamed teary eyed.

Rothargot cursed as the handprint of Westeria mashed his men to a pulp. And many of the survivors were blinded as well. This was not good...

The battle continued blazing through the fields throughout much of the day. The surviving demons of the first wave still fought on with each ounce of strength they had. For every one demon killed, several resistance warriors went down. Yet even with that ratio, the wave was considered dead...

Yet, even though Valtrox was no longer in the heavens, he still had incredible strength on the mortal plane.

And that's what Rothargot was for...

As the remaining demons of the first wave were being killed, Rothargot flew in between the hundreds of thousands of troops of Valtrox and the fighting resistance.

He spoke in a tongue, only known by the gods and their minions, usually associated with that of Valtrox. It was a deep rumble, but it was heard clearly by everything on the battlefield.

Suddenly, the demons let out a deep laugh, and began roared something in their language.

Rothargot repeated and listened for the response, which came even stronger than before.

Then, the demi-god turned to the resistance and spoke with clear authority that rang through even the heaviest of fighting.

"You pitiful creatures that stand on the brink of extinction. You that stand before the inevitable, the oppressed, the right way of life! You have proven yourselves enemies of Valtrox, and therefore, you have signed your death warrant!"

The cultists and demons roared at that comment, before Rothargot continued on.

"Yet, Valtrox loves all mortals, whether they love him back or not. So he brings all of you a gift. A gift...of his love..."

With that, Rothargot raised his arms towards the sky, which instantly turned a bright red. Whatever clouds remained formed strange funnel shapes as massive flaming rocks came from the sky, impacting into the resistance, killing scores of them with each rock.

***********************************************************

"Infernal..." Sarik cursed as his people were getting killed. There was no way they'd regroup in time once this meteor storm ended...

"Retreat!" he shouted. The horns blowed as the retreat was called...even with all this help. He looked to the back of the resistance, where the Sisters of the White rose had set up their tents.

"Holy Mother, how long would it take your people to pick up and retreat?" Sarik asked worriedly.

Relthor, meanwhile, tried as best as he could to sheild his allies. Using ancient spells, he crafted shields that could only survive one or two hits.

The dragon overheard Sarik's question and immediately walked to him. "I will buy you as much time as you need, your holiness," he said with a bow.

Marlene ran behind Inzikai pulling on his arm to spin him around and in one fluid motion cocked her arm back slapping him powerfully across the face.

"You can at least respect what he's sacrificed for us." She screamed teary eyed.


"You foolish little girl!" he snarled as he extended his arm. Instantly one of his wicked daggers sprang into his palm as he pushed Marlene to the floor with his other hand. "I've been waiting since I met you to kill you since we were forced to bring you along...And now, I have my chance."

The High Mother stared at the meteors raining from the heavens as though with blind eyes, and grew very quiet. Hearing Sarik's question though, she perked up a little, and then turned to him. "We can be ready to move in under a half an hour. Trumpetter, sound the order."

A bleating form the trumpet set the healers into motion. They cleared their camp with practiced precision, and were ready to move in the timeframe the High Mother had suggested.

***********

Minos marveled as the stones rain down from the heavens, and was momentarily in awe at the sheer scale of the spell. Then, he noticed that one was on a troubling trajectory towards him.

Slamming his staff into the ground, his eyes shone with argent brilliance. Suddenly, with a sound as though the Earth itself was coming apart, a massive explosion rocked the meteor raining tiny fragments over the Army of the Gods, and grapefruit sized stones on the demons.

Sarik nodded and smiled to Relthor. "Are you sure you can handle this?"

"Positive," Relthor said confidently as he looked out towards the battle. "Just promise me you can get everyone safely out of here..."

Sarik nodded as he signaled the lines to retreat ever so slowly, trying to buy the Sister's time.

Meanwhile, Relthor, grabbed a handful of dirt, underneath the freezing snow, and pulled it out, as he sought out a rock that jutted from the hill.

He slowly walked onto it and smiled as he noticed the demons getting sprayed by the deadly projectiles from one of the meteors.

The battlefield was horrendous. Bodies littered the floor, almost to the point that one couldn't even see the snow beneath the blood and gore. He noticed many familiar faces in the snow, people he'd seen from the camp. The surgeon whom was one of the few that truly respected him was decapitated, the head possibly used as a projectile as it was quite a distance away from the body. Nearby, the man's loyal and lovely wife, her head split in two, yet she still held her sword in her hand.

In the opposite direction, one of Higsthor's generals lay on the floor, split unevenly in half by the ferocious demons claws. Around the general there were several corpses of the demons, and his loyal second in command, a dwarf with a cheerful grin.

Relthor sighed as he let tossed the dirt down the hill. As it rolled, Relthor raised his hands together and drew several symbols in the air, light forming where his fingers were.

As he finished, there was a large flash of light where the dirt was thrown, and about twenty blobs, like those that trained Tlaxkrox, formed, waiting to ensnare the demons.

The demons growled and charged the blobs, immediately getting sucked in. Those that tried to escape from their clutches, were tied by the blob's tentacles and sucked in.

Lorathin surfaced behind the female Inzikai and commented, "So you don't think you can handle me alone, have to go running to your betters for protection. What I'd expect of a servant of Valtrox."

It didn't take long enough for the demons to figure out how to kill the strange blob like creatures.

Their high temperature bodies melted the snow underneath Relthor's creation, slowly dissolving them to puddles of dirt and soil, freeing the trapped demons still alive.

Relthor looked behind him, noticing the Resistance still retreating, trying to help pack the Sisters.

The dragon turned and watched as the demons hungrily ran up the hill. "That's not good..." he whispered to himself as he turned around and sprinted up the mountain.

Suddenly, the man ran and leapt off the jutting rock, his arms spread far apart, as his robes transformed into magnificent wings. Relthor's legs expanded and grew, along with the rest of his body. His neck elongated, and he grew a snout. His spikey hair became spikes, and a tail grew behind him.

Relthor the ageless one had come back to hunt these demons...

The demons screeched as the dragon slammed into the ground, grinding demons under his massive claws. With a roar, he continued his rampaging through the demons, when another wave of meteors began to come crashing down..., yet this one wasn't placed for the retreaters...it was for Relthor.

The dragon roared as he leapt out of the way of a large meteor, almost stumbling from it's shockwave. He leapt into the air, and soared towards the source...Rothargot.

The demon noticed this and immediately flapped his much smaller wings away, using his much smaller form to menuever around the asteroids.

Relthor, meanwhile took several hits through the wing membranes. He roared in pain, but continued to follow the demon.

Rothargot however, had the disadvantage. Relthor's massive wings, despite the damages done, carried him three times farther with each stroke, and the dragon caught up with the demon.

"Rothargot, I will make you pay for all that you have done...and you will tell your master that we are ready to stop him once and for all," Relthor growled as he tried to grab the demon, eho fluttered around his face, scratching at his thick scales, barely damaging them.

Finally, Rothargot wrapped his massive claws around the demon, who struggled to release himself from the dragon.

"You may stop me, dragon, but you'll never stop Valtrox..." Rothargot growled painfully.

The Jiltakin paused momentarily as the man transformed into a dragon and took to the sky. Harlin smiled, Relthor, old friend, may Arcturus Guide you safely home.

Meanwhile, the demons were slowly falling under the weight of the Jiltakin assault. When Centurus Froms heard the retreat sounded, he was shocked. Nonetheless, he and the other Jiltakin suddenly vanished, Moving swiftly through the Shadowfold away from the battle.

Relthor growled as he fluttered higher into the air. "Valtrox will not come into this world as long as I and the other ageless ones are alive to stop you!"

With that, Relthor shoved Rothargot in his mouth, as the demon struggled desparately to hold the dragon's mouth open.

But it snapped shut, leaving the demi-god in complete darkness, to be digested...

Yet something else happened...something unexpected. The scratches on Relthor's forehead, was not any attempt to truly wound him...they actually formed something...an insignia that Rothargot had planted on many victims before...something worse than death...

Suddenly, Relthor squeeled in pain when suddenly, Rothargot shot forth from the dragon's head, brain matter oozing off the demon's slightly tarnished skin.

The Ageless dragon's bright blue eyes were full of sorrow as his memories passed him by. His first breath, his mentor Dominatistradz, Rimoru's life, Karasu, Sarik, Lorathin, Ar'mai, Harlin, Minos, Shara, even Kalzog. Even the few that he met just for a few days...

His child, his passionate nights with Karasu and his undieing love...

Welcome Relthor...to your new home... came the terrifying voice of Valtrox himself...

With one last sorrowful scream, Relthor's blue eyes faded to white, as his corpse fell from the sky...his skin dissolving slowly, leaving a charred skeleton in it's wake.

Marlene smiled staring Inzikai in the eys.

"Death may frighten you Inzikai, but it does not shake me." She taunted before stretching her arm out and putting her hand straight through the dagger. She gritten her teeth in pain but remained definat still glowering at the lord of Zlatlan with blood running down her wrist.

-------------

A fiery drake with a masked rider shot from the sky towards Rothergot with a scarlet blade stretched forward.

"Relthor!" Xenocrates screamed while rushing towards the demon, all six orange chambers circling over his head.

Inzikai snarled as he pulled the dagger away and wrapped his hand around Marlene's neck. "Death doesn't frighten me, Marlene. I am dead..."

"And I have no use for you, as Cadeyrn is no longer around..." he growled as his grip tightened.

***********************************************************

Rothargot growled as Xenocrates zoomed in on him.

"Your efforts are futile, dragoon. Your dragon is dead, as will be all of them," Rothargot snarled. As fluttered backwards slightly, but something at the edge of his vision caught his eyes...Inzikai was attempting to kill Marlene.

Rothargot looked back at Xenocrates, keeping him at a distance. He needed to somehow distract the dragoon so he could help Marlene.

The girl pressed her bloody hand into Inzikai's face as she suelled trying to breath. Her other hand began viciously clawing at the side of his face.

-----------

Xenocrates flew past Relthor's skeleton uttering a quiet prayer.

He was a good dragon...

"Rothargot!" He screamed when five of the chambers over his head vanished..as did the dragoon and the fiery drake. Slowly a coccoon descended from the sky made of the clouds themselves. A single wing exploded from the shell as a half human, half dragon began tearing its way from its prison.

X's face was sticking from the middle of the dragon's chest which still struggled to break it's surroundings. The dragon itself was small but threatening nontheless with a long wingspan and an incredible physique.

"I am the king of the dragoons, you are no match for me servant of Valtrox." X's voice exploded over the skies.

Lorathin noticed the male, but most certainly not masculine, Inzikai was attempting to throttle Marlene. Flicking a finger at him, an energy dart flew out heading for Inzikai's spiked head while he prepared to counter or avoid anything the female Inzikai threw at him. Maybe he could get them to kill each other, wouldn't that be grand, and an excellent way to tweak the nose of Valtrox the annoying.

Inzikai snarled and let go of Marlene's neck, licking her blood from his face. He shook his head twice as he tried to regain his bearings from both Lorathin's and Marlene's attacks. Blackish ooze was slowly pouring out of his cheek from the small scratches of Marlene.

"Wretched beings," he growled as a dark aura seemed to surround him. "I shall enjoy watching you rot!" he growled as he stepped closer to Marlene, the snow melting underneath him, revealing the dead grass.

Several guards and demons noticed Inzikai, Teralynn, and Marlene having trouble, yet they didn't see exactly from who. They just knew that there was one who was not supposed to be there...Lorathin.

Immediately, they charged at Lorathin, attempting to dismember him bit by bit.

***********************************************************

"You should not threaten a follower of the god of fire, with his own magic," Rothargot snarled as the air around them immediately grew dry and very very cold. The demi-god's fire seemed to be growing as well, ready to counter whatever Xenocrates could throw at him...

"I read that those elves were inciting rebellion, raping and pillaging nearby towns and villages in their frenzy..." said Maverion to Rimoru. "You're saying...they weren't?"

***

When she sensed Lorathin reform, Teralynn immediately struck. She did not create more fire dragons, or a fireball, or anything like that. Instead, she instantly set the man on fire at the same time Lorathin was busy attacking Inzikai. Not just the outsides, but she sent the intense heat into Lorathin to cook him inside out as well - like what she had been feeling for a while, only much more intense and altogether, rather than spread out.

Turning around to face him, Tera pulled out her metal fans and slid them open, putting herself into a ready stance. "Only the pompous and foolish try to take the world on by themselves. Oh, and look what we have here..."

The dragon broke free of its cocoon and hovered in the sky for a moment.

"Is that so demon? Who said anything about using fire, I had planned to tear you apart with my bare hands!" X yelled lunging down for Rothargot.

The dragon was bipedal and thick bodied. Its head, wings, claws, and skin were of a dragon, but the shape was generally human. The exception of X's face in the chest and arms dangling from the chest. The dragon was only about ten feet in height, but its tattered wingspan stretched over a hundred.

Xenocrates wielded his weapon from what little leverage he had in the chest while the dragon stretched its claws out towards the demon as it dove straight down towards the demon.

-----------

Marlene scooted backwards away from Inzikai as she saw the deadly aura taking the life away from that which it touched. However, she was running out of room to scoot.

Rothargot dodged the first lunge and summoned his massive magma axe, hacking at what he could from the dodge.

As he faced the back of Inzikai, he noticed Marlene scooting away from the fiery Inzikai, as Lorathin was under attack by Teralynn.

Perhaps Rothargot could take care of a few problems...

The demi-god soared underneath the dragon, making sure to get his attention, before falling into an extremely steep dive, soaring towards Marlene, before letting loose his wings at the last minute. He wrapped his arms around Marlene, and landed on his feet for just a second, propelling himself past the snarling Inzikai back upwards into the sky.

***********************************************************

Rimoru nodded sadly as she looked at Maverion. "The elves were peaceful and had lived there in peace with Inzikai's father centuries before. The attack had no purpose, rather to please Valtrox's fancies and Inzikai's as well...and the other demi-god who's name escapes me..."

"Then why are you trying to be that fool?" He asked her with a mocking grin. He'd been prepared for something involving fire and planned accordingly as he drew in the frigid air to deal with the flames and heat.

As the demons and soldiers added to the assault, where there had been one there was now many and a small pile of pearl dust. It was a rather nasty spell as the clones where indistinguishable from the original in all ways with one minor difference. When one was struck a spell was triggered with almost invariably lethal consequences. He was glad he's taken the time to perpare it a couple years ago, even though it had been expensive to do.

He was in his element in the middle of the enemies camp where he did not have to worry about friendly fire, at least nowhere near to the same extent as he had in the library, and muttered a spell sending lightning arcing from a man to a demon and onward. His only concern had been Marlene and the demon had made off with her, taking her out of the line of fire and thus unbinding his hands that final bit. "If you play with fire, make sure someone doesn't have a means to put you out little girl."

The dragon rolled the same time Rothargot did and Xenocrates met the axe with his blade before soaring back for another lunge.

The dragon itself summoned a long lance of fire and launched it towards Rothargot. As soon as it was released, it summoned another and another. Just barraging the general vicinity of rothargot.

---------

"Thanks Rothy, but I had him." She said smiling until she saw the many bright streaks of fire racing through the sky towards them. "Rothy, look out!"

"I know you did, Marlene...you can take on anything," Rothargot chuckled until she shouted her warning. Rothargot could feel the heat approaching. He could stand it...but Marlene may not be able to...

Yet he still hadn't taken care of the Lorathin problem. "He's an annoying one..." he grumbled as another bolt of fire soar nearby. He noticed the devastating effect the spell had on those that killed the clones...which got him to thinking...

Using his attunement to fire, he collected the fire nearby, stopping it in it's tracks, and doing so with all of Xenocrates' previous bursts.

As Rothargot circled around the orb of fire, he sent it away towards the Lorathin clones, perhaps even ridding himself of this Dragoon King.

The dragoon king summoned the orb back towards him and lifted it straight into the clouds. The sky parted in rivers of fire and magma that dripped towards the earth like fiery chunks of rain.

"I am the master of fire, not some Valtroxian slave!" Xenocrates shoted and as the dragon hovered every flap of its wings sent ashes that scattered into the wind.

-----------

Marlene quickly anaylzed the dragon before smirking devilishy.

"Rothy, his wings are his weakest points. They're long and outside his own defenses, once removed he won't be able to fly and you'll have the upper hand." She said proudly while still looking for weaknesses.

"That's what your dragon masters thought," Rothargot called back with a smirk as he held onto Marlene a little tighter.

"You are so very observant, Marlene," the demi-god replied with a smile. "I'm glad you are by my side."

But Rothargot didn't want Marlene to get hurt in this battle...he needed a safe place to hide her, so he could deal with this self-proclaimed fire master. Rothargot flew around one of the stone towers, facing Xenocrates coming closer.

Then, with a burst of speed, he soared to the middle of his right wing, and hacked viciously with one hand, the other still holding onto Marlene.

***********************************************************

Inzikai was watching Rothargot for a short time, having stolen the girl he was about to kill...

He turned around towards all the Lorathins and smiled as his death aura faded. He pointed to the middlemost clone, closest to the others, and summoned a death aura, not for Inzikai, but for the clone...He would enjoy watching them melt...

As the one 'died' it disappeared in a purplish-green fog, a toxic acidic fog that would dissolve or lethally poison anyone who breathed it in, with the sole exception being Lorathin as it was his magic responsible.

"I would have expected more resourcefulness from such an exalted servant of Valtrox, but I guess once weak always weak. I guess that's why Ar'mai wouldn't go near you with a ten foot pole." The assemble people added with a sneer. He knew it was somewhat risky but a berzerk mage was usually written as D E A D.

The dragon attempted to roll out of the way, but still found a large chunk of his wing missing. Spinning around he barely managed to hold his body in the air.

"Accursed demon!" X shouted eyeing the little girl in Rothargot's arms.

So you have found mine, I have found yours.

The dragon extended its arms out summoning a fiery shield and spear in attempt to defend it's wings. As the dragon chased after the demon, Xenocrates formed a strange orb of fire smirking.

Next time you go for the wing, you'll leave the girl vulnerable, and thus yourself. Foolish beast.

------------

"Likewise Rothy, we make a good team. You do all the work, and I'll be your comedic sidekick." She mused chuckling.

"Marlene...I need you to find someplace safe as we fly about. I don't want to lose you..." Rothargot said as he could feel the heat being used by Xenocrates.

Yet, he didn't want to set her down anywhere...he didn't want Inzikai to get ahold of her, and he definately didn't want Xenocrates to get to her...

He let himself turn around, facing Xenocrates again...

"A spear...he has the advantage of range..."Rothargot said as he probed the spear and the shield. He may be able to surprise the Dragoon...

He soared for the other wing this time, much as the same before, he held onto Marlene with one arm, while striking with the other.

***********************************************************

"Your foolish magics have no effect on me," Inzikai laughed as he tossed a knife into another Lorathin clone.

"I simply cannot die..." he muttered with a smile.

The knife was caught and returned to Inzikai in much the same manner that it had been delivered. "Even the gods can die, and you are no different." They commented while a lightning bolt was called down from the sky, targetted at him.

Inzikai only laughed as he took the lightning bolt head on...yet walked out uneffected, the heat around him clearly visible.

"You seem to forget that my 'gift' as Valtrox enjoys to call it, has made me much better at the element of fire...and heat," he chuckled. As the dagger soared back at him, he snapped his hand out and grabbed it from mid-air, blade inches from his face.

Then, he held the dagger in the palm of his hands and muttered something, before tossing it back at the Lorathin clones.

Where ever it went, the dagger acted as a stationary death field, dissintigrating any Lorathin along the way, and preventing the living from touching it...

Seeing Inzikai casting a spell on the dagger before throwing it, prompted Lorathins to simply step out of it's way to let it go and nail one of Inzikai's soldiers. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on who you asked, it struck one of the trapped copies. This sent a bolt of killing ice in the direct line that the dagger had travelled. "Then I shall just have to deal with you as it is. I wonder which of you is the hotter?" He commented to both Inzikais.

Inzikai simply flung another dagger head-on into the icicle, stopping it in it's tracks.

With another cursed dagger, he flung it, this time landing it in front Lorathin, the field again killing anything nearby, the limit of it's reach barely an inch from Teralynn.

The battle was raging on...

The demons weren't even remaining in formation anymore. They just all charged, all several hundred thousand that were fighting the several tens of thousands of the Resistance...

Sarik only gaped as his friend, Relthor disintigrated from mid-air, his massive bones falling to the ground with a loud thud.

"Relthor!" he shouted, his reddish eyes beginning to glow. He gripped his head as he felt anger and anguish swarm his mind. He wanted revenge...he wanted to kill Inzikai, Rothargot...all of them...

As the demons charged up the hill, the resistance couldn't just pass the Sisters, after all they've risked and done. They turned around for their last stand, challenging the incoming demons.

The dragon rolled with the attack shield held fast lunging at Rothargot with the spear. In the same motion the spell Xenocrates had been working on lunged out and grabbed Marlene like a lasso.

"Careful now Rothargot, keep a hold of her and she'll be torn apart, just let go and spare her." He said almost chuckling while yanking on the energy chain.

"I've yet to meet a more one trick pony." They commented as in a quick flury of motion they traced a glowing design in the ground, large enough to encompass a goodly area. The dagger was promptly ejected from the perimeter as the deathward took affect.

It was crudely done and thus had only a short duration compared to the normal spell, but just as potent. "Now you'll have to come up with new trick Inzi." He commented with a grin as the now regular dagger punctured the foot of a soldier.

"Marlene!" Rothargot shouted as his grip instantly tightened around her instinctively..

He slowly flew closer, as much as he was allowed with the spear close by. His mind was completely blank as he could feel himself boiling with rage.

"You had better not hurt her...or mark my words, you'll wish Valtrox was your torturor..."

"I've yet to meet a more one trick pony." They commented as in a quick flury of motion they traced a glowing design in the ground, large enough to encompass a goodly area. The dagger was promptly ejected from the perimeter as the deathward took affect.

It was crudely done and thus had only a short duration compared to the normal spell, but just as potent. "Now you'll have to come up with new trick Inzi." He commented with a grin as the now regular dagger punctured the foot of a soldier.


"Unfortunately...I don't need another trick," Inzikai smiled wickedly, as all the Lorathin's were surrounded by Inzikai's elite guards and many a demon.

"But you've just burried yourself into a hole...and for that...you die," Inzikai laughed as he raised his arms, as if to create a spell.

***********************************************************

Blight burst into the air, a certain cultist officer riding on it's back.

He noticed Rothargot battling away with the 'dragoon', and decided interfering would not be in his best interest...instead, those healers seemed like quite a target...

With a laugh, the Captain drove Blight to make a wide circle, ending up behind the sisters before belching out a cloud of disease and decay.

"What use is a demon with compassion, it was the death of Cadeyrn and so it shall be the death of you." Xenocrates mocked pulling hard on the magical line. Marlene screamed in pain as the lasso tightened around her neck.

"Hold onto the girl and I'll break her neck. Let go and I'll break her neck. What do you chose pathetic demon?" X asked through the booming voice of his vessel dragon.

"You really have no idea what I'm capable of, do you?" He asked with a grin that could only be described as horrifying. "And I have to inform you, I've been holding back by quite a bit."

With a single phrase, a whirling vortex appeared around Lorathin as the clones explodes with sufficiant force to injure anyone near to them. Any that tried to move through the vortex would find themselves ripped apart, as if by a million blades. With another phrase, multiple boiling masses appeared from the ground as multiple swarms of insects appeared from the ground and began biting, stinging and buzzing around those who strove to enter the area the protected.

He was draining his stores, but after the nigh disasterous events in Rimoru's library, he had been letting his reserves build closer to thier maximum to prevent the lethal spiral that would have resulted had not Rimoru saved him.

confound it! Im angry...somehow, my Rothargot response disappeared...

Inzikai only laughed. "You do not understand me, silly little mage...you will learn the hard way, that I cannot be crossed..." he shouted over the strong winds as he only waited and watched...

***********************************************************

Rothargot growled as he slowly inched closer to Xenocrates, his hold over the girl loosening. "Not much of a choice," he said quietly.

Suddenly, he bolted towards Xenocrate's face and slashed at it with his axe, while using his control of fire to explode Xenocrate's sheild and spear in his hands.

Rothargot hoped it would be sufficient enough to free or atleast loosen Marlene from his hold.

Blight burst into the air, a certain cultist officer riding on it's back.

He noticed Rothargot battling away with the 'dragoon', and decided interfering would not be in his best interest...instead, those healers seemed like quite a target...

With a laugh, the Captain drove Blight to make a wide circle, ending up behind the sisters before belching out a cloud of disease and decay.

The sisters dropped their things immediately, and began muttering prayers, as the disease swirled around them, they began to shone with white holy light. There were many who were not quick enough to react, and succumbed to the illness, but the others were numerous enough, for the effect to reverse and send holy energy screaming back at the bone dragon.

Meanwhile, the High Mother was speaking a much longer prayer. It grew louder and louder in an ancient tongue spoken only by Westera and her closest followers. Raising her voice to the heavens, the old woman pointed at the captain, and a bolt of divine energy shot out towards him.

[ooc: Italics are memories or past events.]

The resistance was being pushed hard. Many thousands if not tens of thousands of humans had fallen pray to the endless onslaught of demonic waves that now rushed the lines. They were endless. Hundreds of thousands of demons roared onto the battlefield, and every minute more than a hundred more joined their ranks. For every one that fell to the swing of a rusty sword or lucky shot of an archer, at least three more were brought into this world to take its place.

The elven princess continued notching and firing off arrow after arrow without delay, but it was all in vain. She would fell twenty demons with her expertise and blessing, but then the men of the resistance were pushed back twenty feet by the hordes. It was a futile effort... but still... something in her pushed to keep fighting. Ar'mai watched as a lone man, caught in the fray away from his lines, was cleaved in half by a tarnished metal blade in the hands of a powerful demonic being. His head split in half, blood gushed out as his brain matter spilled onto the frozen grounds, but for some reason she thought he was still alive... at least for a moment and then the rampaging lines of devils crushed his skull as they trampled through his overran position. For the first time in a while, she felt helpless. Even when the priestess was a captive of the evil war lord Inzikai she did not feel as helpless; at least then she could have tried to escape... here there was no chance these men survived the night.

And then a horror beyond horrors flashed in the sky.

They were flying high through the clouds. The whole lot of them. Sarik, Kalzog, Caderyn, Minos, Harlin, Shara, and even Inzikai. On the back of a mighty dragon they cut through the sky and soared into the clouds before landing. The great beast known was Relthor spoke sorrowfully, "It was a place full of life. The trees were giant, as large as castle towers, some even larger. Water cascaded down rocks in beautiful waterfalls, looking every last bit like precious stones. All forms of life coexisted, anything from the tiniest slug, to the noble elves, to us dragons. The elves called it Bountiful, and it was called such ever since..."

Relthor, locked in battle with a demon lord of untold power, disintegrated in midair. Where his powerful wings once flapped, propelling him at high velocities, there was nothing but bones and devastation... a cruel reminder of her current surroundings. The beast that had helped them escape in a distant memory and then befriended them in the desert, was now gone... just dust in the wind. But beyond the dread of the scene before her, something distant caught the elf's keen eyes...

O'er the hill, between two cliff heads that parted for a passage into the frozen tundra, a figure appeared. A massive figure; taller than any of the demons that now pressed hard against the free men. The figure's stature was only enlarged by the size of its mighty steed - a beast of unknown strength, towering over any other horse, and having eight muscular legs to propel it. She could see now that the figure that rode such a mighty steed was an impressive looking warrior in any culture; unparalleled size; a wicked looking sword, sharpened to the point of a diamond; and armor that gleamed like none other. A brief ray of light from the sun so far above broke through the black clouds that had overwhelmed the land and found its way to the stoic warrior. The light engulfed him in its warmth and his armor shimmered with impressive valor. A single word - a name - escaped her lips, "Bael'ther..."

The scene: a mighty forest, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. "Escape... perhaps not. But don't think I couldn't hide in there for a very long time," the princess smiled as she dismounted Blight and began walking slowly and calmly towards the forest.

She took a step in before turning around. "See you soon..." was all she uttered before taking another step and effectively disappearing into thin air.

She had no intention of trying to hide or escape; both options would be futile. However, she did have something in mind now that she was alone and unwatched. She quickly and agilely made her way through the forest to a deeper and thicker part.

Once there she began uttering a quick spell in her native Elven tongue. In no time at all a light-green owl manifestation appeared out of thin air. It looked like a normal owl except for its color and its odd appearance of being partially transparent. When it rose into the air, it became very hard to see against the sky...

Ar'mai's keen elven eyes honed in and confirmed her beliefs...

It was dark - sometime during middle of the night - while everyone else was asleep. She had woken the giant elf up, though she wasn't sure if he even was asleep, and told him to mount Gael'kadar and ride like the wind. He had protested, not wanting to leave Ar'mai's side - it would kill him if anything happened to her when he was gone - but eventually he gave in to the intensity that the fair elf's eyes had shown. He left with all due haste on a journey far across the world.

Now the giant elf had returned from his quest on which he had been sent on that fateful night. As bones crunched and blood spurted, pooling on the frozen ground, Ar'mai's eyes were locked on the shining star in the darkness of battle. The muscular beast on which Bael'ther rode raised itself on its hind set of legs into the air and let out a loud roar that traveled down the hill and across the plane of battle for all to hear... And then the real thunder rolled. The roar of the beast was joined by the simultaneously trumpeting of a thousand horns....

"That sound!" It all began flooding back to Ar'mai in a wave of knowledge, memory, and understanding. Everything she had forgotten due to the violent demon attack had flowed back into her brain and now it was all so clear: Who she was, why she was here, what she was fighting for... everything. Unfortunately, the demons did seem polite enough to give her the time to take it all in. A pair of them charged towards her horse, which now stood to the side and in front of the Resistance lines. Their fearsome appearance and blades scared the weak horse into bucking the elven princess from its back and dashing off into the fray. Ar'mai lay on her back with no weapons in reach and two demons bearing down on her... until a familiar neighing sound was heard from just behind the devils. The famed and easily recognizable, winged horse known only as Gael'kadar smashed into the demons and knocked them to the ground. Coming in at such speed snapped even the strongest of the demons bones in half, rendering them effectively dead... stomping on them sealed the deal. The horse, now reunited with its master, knelt down on its front legs and reached his neck forward to rub Ar'mai with his nose in a highly endearing manner. The elven princess grinned wildly before hopping onto the horse's back and urged him to the skies. As she realized that an elven set of a bow and arrows was attached to her friend, Gael'kadar flapped his elegant wings and rose higher into the sky...

The horns sounded and soon fury would follow. The lone rider on the crest of the hill was soon joined by the lines upon lines of marching warriors. Tens of thousands of skilled elven warriors marched up one side of the hill and the began down the next, soon to enter battle. Armed and armored by some of the best forges in all the lands, the elves were all equipped with body armor, a bow, a sword, and a dagger. The armies of the immortal elves had trained for hundreds of years and now was the time to put that training to use. Traveling across the world from their realm far beyond, the journey of a thousand miles had come to an end...

The Shadowfold was crowded with hundreds of Jiltakin, those who remained after the main battle, as Harlin sat with Centurus discussing the best strategy for assuring victory in this battle. The arrival of the elves gave them hope, which was rare in this most dire of times, but they knew that it would only delay the inevitable.

Harlin looked up from where he had been staring at the demons passing around them, unaware of their presence on this alternate plane. No matter what he thought of, he realized that there was no way to end the battle, and see through to ultimate victory.

After voicing his opinion, Centurus nodded, and said, "We will go to the front lines of the Resistance forces, and we'll leave the Fold amongst the enemy, and cut them down by surprise, thus giving our comrades more time to escape, after which, we will retreat into the Shadowfold, and head to the rear for healing and recuperation."

Harlin nodded, and the officers issued the orders. After several minutes of running, the Army of the Guild was in place. The trumpetter sounded the exit, and instantaneously, hundreds of Jiltakin appeared amongst the enemy, and cut down as many as they could, before returning to the Shadowfold, and retreating to the healers.

The resistance, dwarves, humans, skizzarish and a few elves cheered and raised their weapons again, to rejoin the battlefield.

Sarik laughed as he too recognized the form of the giant elf. He looked up in the sky and noticed Ar'mai in the air. He couldn't help but join in the cheering.

"Your holiness, keep the tents up! This day may still be ours!" Sarik shouted to the High Mother.

Yet, something rumbled in the distance. Something large, large enough to make the ground shake.

The stone towers boomed loudly as steam rose from the ground...fires ignited along the sides of the gateway as fire and smog erupted from cracks forming in the gateway.

Inzikai's unnatural smile grew even larger as a deep laughing erupted from within the cracks.

"You are all too late...Valtrox arrives!" he laughed.

***********************************************************

Blight fell to the ground, her undead form dissolving away under the holy barrage.

The captain, however, was dealt a deadly blow. He was flung off Blight into a sister's tent, where he lay, for a short time.

His fingers wrapped around the hilt of his blade as he stood up and prepared to fight his way out of the camp...

"You fail to understand me as well, and as yet you are of no consequence." He replied before muttering a spell and pointing a finger at Inzikai. The creature of Inzikai's greatest nightmare, a most fearsome and horrifying entity created from Inzikai's own fears, terrors and inner demons. Until he could manage to master and overcome his fears, he would run a most immediate risk of death through terror.

"Your god is not a threat, he is as weak as you and will thus fail even if he succeeds." He added as the phantasmal horror stalked toward Inzikai.

Blight fell to the ground, her undead form dissolving away under the holy barrage.

The captain, however, was dealt a deadly blow. He was flung off Blight into a sister's tent, where he lay, for a short time.

His fingers wrapped around the hilt of his blade as he stood up and prepared to fight his way out of the camp...

The High Mother walked up to the tent, and stared at it's occupant. The Sister who had when a large man with a sword had crashed through her tent was now several yards away with a few more of the healers who were beginning to form a ring around the two.

The High Mother's stern face was unforgiving as she looked into the eyes of the captain. "You made a grave mistake when you attacked my Sisters and Daughters. For that, you shall pay with your life."

Xenocrates was forced to let go of Marlene to parry Rothargot's offensive, nut the dragon was able to grab ahold of the demon in the fray. Its claws latched deep into Rothargot's shoulder holding the axe with Xenocrates holding it away with his blade. The dragon's remaining free hand cocked back as if to slash across the demon's face.

"I fail to understand what use a compassion could serve on any creature, let alone a demon." Xenocrates growled as he struggled to stay the axe back with both hands. "Valtrox will crush her and you, but that just leaves myself to dispose of the wicked god and become immortalized."

Inzikai snarled as Valtrox appeared his first instinct...run.


But commen sense appeared in his mind...Valtrox was still in the underworld, and he would require Inzikai to let him free...

"Your pitiful spells are almost as worthless as you," Inzikai laughed as he pointed his finger at Lorathin. "I hope you enjoy the feeling of rot."

With that, Inzikai cast his disinitigration spell, a spell that takes hundreds of years to master as Inzikai has and the full power of anyone less than a god to stop.

***********************************************************

"You wouldn't stand a chance against my god," Rothargot growled as his fiery orb-like eyes stared into Xenocrates. "And you have missed out on some of the most enjoyable moments in life..."

Again, Rothargot sucked the heat from the air, leaving the space around him frigid and cold. He wrapped his tail around Marlene's waist and brought her behind him, trying to keep her safe from Xenocrates.

Now with his free hand, he began to push his axe closer to it's intended target.

***********************************************************

The Captain chuckled as blackish blood oozed from underneath his armor.

"You old hag," he laughed. " My life is with Valtrox. I hope you all suffer a terrible death...a death I will bring you."

He spat at the Holy Mother, before he exploded into clouds of plague, much like Blight's onslaught from the air, leaving only his black armor and long sword.

The High Mother closed her eyes and whispered a few words as the other sisters joined in, and slowly holy light neutralized the plague in the air. Looking around from the seen of the commotion, she said, "Back to work sisters! There are lives to be saved."

Xenocrates shot away from the demon as the air became freezing and the axe pushed closer to his face. Suddenly the dragon melted away revealing the dragoon's human form with one last chamber circling over his head.

"This is not the end of our battle, my master will come and lay waste to you and all your unholy kind." He snarled holding a wound he received earlier. "I will return."

The last chamber vanished as a fiery hydra flew and snatched him away into the clouds, which now disolved back to their grey and thunderous state.

Rothargot growled as he examined his shoulders, in which the whole Xenocrates punched in with his claws were closing up.

His tail brought Marlene back to arms as the temperature rose back to normal.

"You doing alright, Marlene?" he asked quietly as he flew closer to a cave he'd spotted earlier.

As soon as they reached it, he set her down gently. "I want you to wait here, until the end of the battle. I want you to remain safe. Stay out of the battle, Marlene. That's as much of an order as I can make it," he whispered as he embraced her tightly. "I don't want to lose you..."

Inzikai snapped his hand back before the spell was complete. "Why am I wasting my time on this one?" he snarled as he spun around and walked back to the gateway. "Teralynn, kill him and be quick about it!"

Valtrox was nearing his objection...and one more component was needed...

As Inzikai walked through the flames, unaffected by their terrible heat and burning. As he did so, he smiled wickedly and produced a large medallion beneath his armor. He pulled it off and walked to large rock, about as tall as he was, and placed it in a round shaped hole. Barely enough froom to fit his fingers along the sides of the medallion.

As he did so, whatever part of the floor that wasn't glowing, glowed just as bright as the towers...only a few more hours...

Lorathin mentally cursed as Inzikai was being smart. Since he was in all appearences necessary to Valtrox's escape, Lorathin had decided to engage both to give others time to either kill or stop him. He tossed off a magic missle at Inzikai, hoping to re-focus his attention, but not expecting to as he turned to face the female Inzikai, now named Teralynn. "Let's pick up where we left off then, or are you too dependent on your master?"

Kalzog's voice boomed in the battle as he sang an ancient Ogrish warsong about some powerful warrior who killed an army and eventually a god.

The song itself was quite simple, some of it in the crude language of Ogrish, but the words themselves were quite easy and many of the barbarians took up the song as they cleaved their way through the enemies. Something to take their mind off the inevitable death that approached them.

The ogre himself was having quite a fun time, his lips curled up in a smile as he swung his massive club, smashing it into several demons. Those he didn't kill were flung into the air and crashed into several of their brethren with an audible crack of the bones.

With his free hand, Kalzog drew symbols into the air, as two small cyclones ripped through the demonic army, not powerful enough to pick anything up but dust, snow, and sand, but useful enough to get a few of them disoriented.

Which added to the chaos...and chaos is what Kalzog lived for.

As the barbarian, elves, and jiltaken held the line, the ogre noticed Rothargot in battle with Xenocrates, the dragoon lord.

With a grunt he pushed the demon in front of him to the ground and stomped on it, cracking bones and revealing purple organs. "That dungpile has my target," he growled as he watched Xenocrates latch himself onto the demi-god. Kalzog had a deep respect for the Dragoon, but anything that takes on his intended target gets little respect until Kalzog eventually kills his target, or kills the creature that killed his target.

"I've had enough of this," he shouted as his eyes turned completely red and his tattoos glowed from all over his body. With a blood-thirsty roar, he smashed his club into the demons on the left, knocking down a large portion of them, much like dominos. Then, with a mighty swing to his right, the demons fell much like the left.

Kalzog continued to do this as he waded into the enemy army, Resistance killing whatever they could, trying to keep up with the ogre.

***********************************************************

Sarik noticed Kalzog leading a reckless charge deep into the cultist lines, and shook his head. "Not one to follow orders..." he said to himself. He raised his sword again and twirled it around and pointed forward. "Charge!" he shouted as he spurred his mount forward.

From nearby trees, his cavalry sounded their horns and followed suit, their lances forward as they rammed into the demons. With the elves on one side, the cavalry on the other, and the resistance in the other, the demons were flanked, and as many would think, doomed.

However, the demons were a fighting force to be reckoned with. Already, the Resistance itself was reduced to almost fifteen thousand men. The cavalry, their charge giving a boost in combat, were struck down as the couldn't get themselves away in time. The elves, having the greatest number in the battle, also suffered quite a number of losses.

Sarik shook his head as the gateway seemed ready to open...they'd all be doomed.

***********************************************************

Inzikai could hear the small burst of magic homing on him, but at the last second, he moved away, the missle exploding off the enchanted rock in which the medallion glowed brightly.

With a flourish of his robes, he faced a demon lieutenant. "Get the airborne flying. I want this resistance to be dealt with as swiftly as possible."

The demon nodded and roared several orders to several thousands of winged demons, who growled their acknowledgement and took to the air immediately.

In much the same fashion as on the boatride, the demons would dive into a group of soldiers, trying to kill as many as possible, and rise up, with one or two soldiers, dropping them on those still alive below them. A deadly tactic against soldiers and their morale.

Inzikai smiled as he watched all the soldiers die. He didn't care who died and when...he enjoyed it....

The casualties were growing horrendous. The ground was slick with blood and most, except the elves, of the resistance fell at one point or another, sometimes costing them their lives.

But the air demons were met with resistance, but might as well been throwing grass at them. Arrows struck hard bone and bounced off, and the few that made it in didn't seem to effect the beasts. The resistance was losing what little they had.

Suddenly, another horn sounded, this one towards the coast, where the sun was setting. Behind the wall of sound blaring across the horizon, the sounds of beasts could be heard.

More than beasts actually. As heads turned to see the newcomer, People rode drakes and griffons, horses and elephants. Colorful banners depicting a golden griffon was being flown proudly by half of the front lines.

On the other half, were men and women heavily clad in glorious silver platemail armor. And at the head of them all, was a man on a dragon of white, much smaller than Relthor, but a dragon non-the-less.

"The Patriarch!" Sarik laughed as he took his eyes off the battlefield. As with the Jiltaken, the Sisters, and the elves, the resistance roared again, charging forward, strengthening Kalzog's wedge as he pushed closer to the gateway, which had slowly formed a ball of energy about two hundred feet directly above the middle of the gateway.

The flying demons turned to the new assailant, ripping wings, taking out riders, whatever they can do to stimie the tide of the two nations, the Imperium and the Order.

Yet, as the air battle raged on, the sounds of wardrums could be heard as soldiers from the Order and the Imperium walked over the hill, weapons at the ready.

Inzikai, on his podium, snarled as he ran to the edge and gripped the railing, leaning over to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He cursed as he looked over at the remaining forces. He still outnumbered them, even with the new arrival. His eyes lingered on the Patriarch and he smiled. "I have something to settle with you," he whispered as his hand wrapped around his falchion.

Maverion's head began spinning. What if Rimoru was lying? But what if she were telling the truth? Would she dare tell such a lie? Would she not? How could Valtrox be like that? Why would he?

His knees felt weak, and he staggered back a few steps, but managed to stay on his feet. Slowly, he opened his now dry mouth. "T...take me with you...to this battle..." His eyes got a little wider, as if remembering something. "Wait, my sword! I think...it's still in the library somewhere..."

Marlene held tightly onto Rothargot before gently letting go.

"Just come back as soon as you're done Rohty." They woman said backing into the cave smiling.

Rimoru shook her head. "Mavey, you cannot go into battle. Look at you! You can barely keep your balance, you've fainted, you're sick...no, I will not," she said as she stood up slowly, holding onto her stomach as she walked to a drawer next to the mirrors, pulling out a long, elegant scimitar with a jeweled handle and gold encrusted guard. It shined, much like the Patriarch's armor did and when is sliced through the air, it sang terror to those it touched.

***********************************************************

Rothargot gave her a smile as he walked out of the cave. He turned and faced the battle.

The waves of demons attacking the resistance was crumbling as attention was diverted to protect closer to the gate, many oriented on the Imperium and Order Combination. The air battle was indeed getting pretty heated up. The Patriarch's pure white dragon was a marvelous sight to behold. As demons scratched at it's wings, the Patriarch would blast them with a bolt of divine magic. The dragon itself chomped down on demons, and spit them back out as it's claws crunched them together. It's tail smashed any that were unfortunate to be behind.

The Templars, were never far behind, protecting their leader as only they could. Armed with bows on their mounts, they launched arrow after arrow accurately into the demons, which, as seen before, had little effect but to get them angry. And that was what the Templars wanted. As they approached, their drakes would tear them apart, while the Templar would hack at them with their finely crafted blades.

Yet as hard as he looked, he could not find Inzikai...he was not in the battle, not on the podium, not fighting...

With a grunt, he pushed off of the ledge and beat his wings regularly, seeing if he could aid against the resistance...

He folded his wings behind him and dove at incredible speeds, the air wistling behind him.

The crash was so loud, he couldn't hear the screams of the soldiers he crushed.

Rothargot leapt out of the hole and smiled as his axe went right through a man's defenses, through the man himself, and through even the next soldier.

"Stop!" came a loud voice from behind. "This is my fight."

The massive ogre stepped forth as both demon and soldier walked back, giving them a wide circle. The ogre smiled wickedly.

Rothargot turned and smiled back. "This time, we don't have a time limit," he rumbled as his axe turned from bright yellow to bright red.

***********************************************************

Inzikai had long walked away from his podium. He had time before the battlefront actually went to him. And he had a plan that will disrupt all of them...

But as he waited for the perfect moment, he had some time to indulge in some more...vengeful actions.

He had watched Rothargot drop the child off in the small rock formation, not too far away from his podium, and left, do deal with whatever the demi-god was doing...

Inzikai heaved himself over the ledge and noticed the shadow in the back of the cave. "You know, Marlene, I have waited for this moment...well, let's just say I can't wait to resurrect your corpse when I'm through with you," he chuckled maniacly.

"You don't have to kid yourself Inzi, the only reason you came over hear was to get away from the battle you coward." Marlene hissed grabbing a nearby rock and wielding it awkwardly.

----------

Momoki continued to lead her sister through the cave after what seemed like hours of endless caverns. After just barely escaping in the commotion of the battle they managed to flee the guards in the very same cave.

"I think I see some light Nienna." The elf said squinting forward to a strange figure.

"You imbecile, it does not matter if I am present at the battle or not. Valtrox will arrive within hours and reward me for my excellence. And in the meantime, I'll indulge myself with your blood," he smiled before he noticed two familiar looking elves walking through the cavern.

"Why...my two little puppets...I think we must have been meant for each other, considering we're always meeting somewhere at sometime..."

Nienna stepped back slightly as she whispered to her sister, "I think I see darkness instead."

Inzikai only laughed, until he heard a dragon's roar behind him. The Patriarch's white dragon blasted several of his reserve troops as it swung around, not even noticing the little cavern.

The cultist lord walked out and spat in the dragon's direction. "Watch this, my little puppies," he laughed as he pointed his hand in the direction of the drake. He followed the glorious creature when finally, a long sliver of dark energy blasted out, aimed directly for the Patriarch.

His dragon, however, noticed the blast first, and twisted itself violently, taking the blast head on the chest.

It let out one pitiful cry as the beast tried to flap itself to safety.

"Die you pitiful wind bag, and take that scum with you," Inzikai growled as he unsheathed his falchion. The dragon, decaying by the second, chunks of blackened flesh falling off it's body flapped slowly until it finally reached the rock face, before it finally collapsed onto the ground, creating a small quake.

Inzikai smiled as the beast lay motionless, it's last breath pained as it's organs slowly decayed.

Suddenly, some movement, and a shining man walked from behind the beast, his gauntleted hands gently stroking the beast, whispering something to it as he did so. With the last word, he brought his hands together and bowed as the beast glowed brightly, before it disappeared.

"Always one of formalities, aren't you," Inzikai growled.

"Inzikai, Morialstradz was a gift from the dragons. Much like Blight was...until you 'tamed' her." The patriarch said calmly, as his eyes seemed to look behind the dark figure. He inspected several dents in his armor, along with a long trail of blood dripping from his arm. "I always seem to find you with some sort of captives...all women. I sincerely hope that you have not done anything with them."

"What I do to them is my business," growled Inzikai, loosing his patience with the man. "You've come to kill me, I know. But you will find out, I am invincible."

"No one is invincible, Inzikai. It will hurt me to fight a dear friend, but I will do what I must to make the world a better place. Without Valtrox," the Patriarch replied as he walked around Inzikai, placing himself in between the girls and Inzikai.

"You infernal fool!" Inzikai growled as in one swift movement, he tossed a dagger at his adversary, who, with incredible speed and accuracy, pulled out his weapon and blocked it, the tip of the sword still sheathed.

"Let's end this, my rival. Once and for all," Inzikai said as he brought his falchion to his mouth and wrapped an abnormal tongue around it as he slid it through, blackish blood lining the edge.

The Patriarch pulled out his own blade, seemingly made out of pure light. On the blade was an engraving of angels, approaching the tip, where the sun glowed brightly. Along the golden hilt was a line of words that, once translated, said "When dark is your day, let light guard your way."

The Patriarch's bright blue eyes looked into Inzikai's angry red ones.

With a snarl, Inzikai charged, his blade only a spec as it smashed into the Patriarch.

Only it didn't. The Patriarch pushed the blade away with his own, nearly toppling the cultist.

Inzikai scowled as he regained his balance and twirled his blade at incredible speeds, slashing at the Patriarch, who blocked each one before kicking Inzikai down, to the bottom of the rock face. He leapt down, landing heavily next to the Lord of the Cult and lowered his bladeless hand.

"I don't fight those on the ground," the Patriarch said with a kind smile.

Inzikai growled as he thrust his sword at his opponent's heart. The Patriarch dodged the thrust and held onto Inzikai's arm and pulled him upwards, eventually bringing Inzikai to his feet, several feet away.

"You imbecile!" he screeched as he ran towards the Patriarch and feinted a horizontal slash, instead doing a verticle one, landing it right in the Patriarch's shoulder.

He only winced slightly as he pushed Inzikai away. The Patriarch walked backwards slightly and winced as he saw the smoldering skin. It remained unhealing, despite the power he put into it.

"Then let it begin," The Patriarch said quietly.

***********************************************************

Rothargot brought his axe towards Kalzog, who barely dodged the blow, instead landing a punch in Rothargot's arm. The punch really didn't do anything.

"Blast..." the ogre mumbled as he brought his club around him and swung heavily, landing it on Rothargot, knocking him to the floor. The demon, however, wrapped his tail around Kalzog and lifted, bringing the ogre to the floor as well.

With a push, Rothargot righted himself on his feet and turned around, kicking Kalzog as he tried to get up. With a growl, Kalzog rolled to his side and avoided the deadly axe as he moved his head to his left.

He brought his foot on Rothargot's stomach and kicked, pushing the demi-god back a few paces...enough room for Kalzog to get back to his own feet.

Yet as he did, Rothargot charged, horns first towards the ogre, who moved one foot behind the other and bent his legs, ready to take the hit head on...

But instead of taking the hit, Kalzog latched onto Rothargot's horns and diverted them to the side, Rothargot moving along with it. Then he twisted violently, in attempt to crack the demon's neck.

Rothargot, however, raised himself up, bringing Kalzog up with him and smashed his fist into Kalzog's stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Then, gathering up more head, he unleashed a blast of fire onto the ogre, who pushed himself away from it, his fur cape burning off.

Kalzog, meanwhile, brought his hands together, unleashing a strange red lightning that cracked into Rothargot, dizzying him greatly and sending him to his feet.

The ogre took this moment to find his club and walk next to the struggling demi-god.

"Finally, my job is complete," Kalzog growled, blood dripping from his mouth as he raised his club, and brought it down as hard as he could.

Rothargot, anticipated this, however, and his own hand caught the club before it hit it's target. With a roar, Rothargot swung it foward, catching Kalzog's mouth with his elbow, and jamming it in his face a few times, before using his tail to once again bring Kalzog's leg out from underneath him.

Using the time he just made, he stood up and attempted to right himself from the confusion.

With helped Kalzog greatly. He spat our a dagger-like tooth, much to his disappointment and stood up. "I use my teeth for eating, thank you," he growled as he dove into Rothargot, knocking him to the ground again, and using his hands to pummel the demi-god, but making little progress.

Rothargot, kicked him off and lept to his feet.

Kalzog, meanwhile, pulled out the large orb. "No more playing around..." he growled as he looked at Rothargot with glowing red eyes.

He tossed it towards the demi-god, finally about to end Rothargot's reign...


But the demon gripped a random weapon from the floor with his tail, and tossed it into the orb, diverting its course and saving the demon.

Then, with another roar, he ran towards Kalzog and gripped him underneath the arms and rocketed into the air.

"Kalzog, I will make sure you are killed...you have hampered us from achieving our goal, so your punishment will be severe," he growled as he struggled to keep the ogre within his grasp, who was kicking, and punching at Rothargot.

Finally, Kalzog smiled as his hands grew a bright white color. Suddenly, he brought them together, erupting in a painfully white light and a loud boom.

Both ogre and demi-god plummeted to the ground and landed painfully.

Kalzog gasped as he gripped his side. He had definately broken a rib or two...he was lucky he hadn't broken his back or neck.

The ogre placed his hands to either side of him, in attempt to raise him to his feet. However, his hands found something else instead...a large orb...

The Chaotic Shaman smiled as he got himself up and limped towards Rothargot's broken form. His wings were slowly reforming themselves as he brought himself to his hands and knees. He was still half-blind to the blast.

"I have to say...I will miss you, Rothargot...I have had such a fun time with you..." Kalzog coughed as he spat blood out next to the demon.

Rothargot only looked towards Kalzog, his tail sneaking towards his leg.

Kalzog only laughed as he stomped on the tail and tossed the orb at Rothargot.

A burst of energy shot forth from the orb onto Rothargot, who immediately roared painfully as energy seared through him.

His whole body cracked as his fires died out, getting transferred into the orb. The demon screamed in pain as he stood up and reached towards Kalzog, pieces of his body forming off as charred chunks.

The orb fell to the floor, leaving a charred Rothargot in it's place.

"Marlene...will...protect..." he mumbled as he continued to limp towards Kalzog. The fire that usually surrounded the demi-god was weak and dripped off of him. His flaming orbs that were his eyes dripped fire, like tears as his mind kept going to Rimoru and Marlene.

"Infernal orb...it shouldn't have done that," he growled as he picked it up again.

Rothargot growled as he lunged towards Kalzog, who only shoved the orb into Rothargot's chest.

"I won't ever see you again," Kalzog growled between clenched teeth.

With another painful scream, Rothargot gripped his sides and doubled over, trying desperately to pull the orb from his chest. He shouted Rimoru and Marlene as the energy cackled around him. His rock hard skin was slowly falling to the ground, leaving a large skeleton in its wake.

"Rimoru," he wheezed as his tried to support himself with his skeletal hands. "Marlene...I love you both." The last to be enveloped was his face, before it too dissolved into dust.

Kalzog gently brushed dust off his face and frowned. "He was no demon..." he growled as he took the orb and gave it to a nearby soldier. "Take that orb and keep it safe. Don't even bring it back into battle. Give it to me when this is done."

The soldier nodded and retreated towards the Sister's tents.

Kalzog took one last glance at the pile of ash and the skeletal remains before walking away.

Marlene staggered backwards as the battle between the two erupted she could still see Kalzog and Rothargot going at it. She had seen Cadeyrn battle for his life in the same situation and she was always filled with the same sense of dread that the one she loves may not come out alive. However her faith in the demon remained strong.

A bright explosion of energy followed by a warbled scream shattered the girl's faith as she stumbled forward unwanting, but needing to see more. Tears fell from her eyes as she struggled to come to terms to what she was seeing.

"Demons can't die." She muttered over and over covering her ears and shaking her head. She became catatonic, face devoid of all expressions, as she collapsed to her knees.

Momoki ran forward and snatched Marlene by the hand dragging her away from the battle. The woman remained unmoving as she was drug through the rocky dirt.

The peaceful sky had become ravaged as the glowing red orb of the sky glowed violently. One beam had shot up into the air, causing the sky to turn a crimson red.

Thunder roared across the heavens as lightning struck the nearby grounds. The gods themselves were attempting to dissuade the cultists.

Rain poured upon the battlefield, so much so, that a flood had erupted near the valley from which the resistance had come from.

Lightning showed what had become of Inzikai.

The Patriarch's and Inzikai's blade clashed in time with the lightning, a violent shudder erupting in the clouds. Steam spewed from the ground as they leapt onto the altar.

Inzikai, with his mad spinning was almost unimaginable as his blade seemed to strike a thousands places at once, all of them deflected by the Patriarch.

The Patriarch, his radiant armor still glowing brightly in the darkness, the red glare not even reflected off. His long blade working ferverously against the Cultist's blade.

Inzikai attacked with a horizontal slash, in which the Patriarch perried and back handed Inzikai across the face, ripping his whole left cheek.

The man's distorted grin would give nightmares to even the most grizzled veteran. But the Patriarch showed nothing as he kicked Inzikai away, who deflected a blow by the holiest of the Order. And brought his dagger out, thrusting it at the Patriarch, who held it away with his hand, pushing them both away.

Inzikai was no longer the man people knew. He had gone insane with rage. His attacks were reckless, at times he was wounded, even brutally, but that seemed to have no effect on him. In a way, it seemed as though Valtrox himself controlled this pawn of the devil...

Inzikai perried a blow with his dagger and struck for the Patriarch's chest, missing it's target, but scraching the Patriarch's cheek.

Any man would back down from such a fearsome figure, but not the holiest man to walk Lustria. He battled on, in this vicious cycle of death...upwards...to the pedistal...

Inzikai's guards remained at the alert, making sure nothing interfered with the duel.

Inzikai climbed to the middle of the staircase, thrust, and kicked the Patriarch, who went back two steps, before returning upwards, keeping his onslaught going.

The Patriarch struck horizontally, but was perried and nearly lost his weapon as Inzikai bashed the butt of his dagger into the Patriarch's head, causing lots of discomfort and some disorientation.

Ar'mai could feel the clashing of powers from her vantage point in the skies above the bloody battle. Not only were there powerful beings doing battle like Kalzog and Rothargot, Inzikai and the Patriarch, Lorathin and whoever... but also the sheer numbers of soldiers going at it. Each one of the unfortunate 'pawns' in this game of ultimate control had a small presence in them and when combined with their fellow demons, barbarians, or elves they created a powerful presence that the Elunari could feel vividly.

Ar'mai continued to fire arrows down from her aerial platform (Gael'kadar) and occasionally dove down to knock some demons over, but she knew in her hear that this battle would only be won by stopping the masters of this game... namely Valtrox.

"But...I've got to do something..." said Maverion. "I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

***

The charlatan was not worth the effort to speak back to. Teralynn again began building a fire in the man, which in under a second turned into a raging inferno inside of him, but this time with another goal in mind.

She had seen glimpses of Rothargot's fight with the ogre, but was otherwise too preoccupied with everything else going on to give him her full attention. After all, he chould handle himself, or so she figured.

"And do what, Mavey? Do what?" Rimoru snapped as she sheathed the sword and held it carefully.

She sighed as she looked towards Maverion and shook her head as she walked towards him and leaned gently on the greenish man.

She held out the sword and stared at it, before she looked up towards Maverion.

"Mavey...Just promise me you won't get into the fight?" she asked quietly as she pushed the sword into Maverion's hand. "And forget the sword for now...use mine."

***********************************************************

Sarik shouted an obscenity as a demon pushed him to the ground and stomped onto his chest.

But the Paladin happened to catch the heavy foot with his two guantleted hands and pushed upwards with all his strength, toppling the beast.

He rolled towards his weapons as a hand pounded the ground he had just occupied.

Several demons growled as they had the paladin surrounded. Suddenly, another plate-clad figure stepped in their path, hacking off one arm of the beast.

"Sarik, you always get yourself into trouble," a feminine voice laughed as she kicked away another creature as Sarik rose.

"Ikara?" he asked as he thrust his sword into a cultist's stomach and pushed him into a demon.

"In the flesh," she laughed. "Someone else has come to see you."

With that, something above roared as it flapped it's wings heavily.

"Andrazlia!" Sarik laughed as the white drake landed itself on a group of cultists, crushing them underneath.

"Where's the Patriarch?" Sarik asked as he healed himself as Andrazlia bought them both time. He let his eyes fall upon Ikara's graceful form as she shoved a short sword through the demon's lower jaw, all the way out of it's head.

"I don't know...he was soaring around the towers last time I saw him..."

Ikara backed away slightly and looked into Sarik's eyes. "I don't know..." she said, her voice full of worry.

Sarik looked in the air again, before he took off his helm in the short but sweet calm that engulfed their area.

He looked towards Ikara who took her helmet off as well, and smiled as she ran into Sarik's arms and kissed him passionately.

"Oh Sarik...I've been so worried...Please...don't go...the Templars have it covered..." Ikara began to cry.

Sarik was reminded of Karasu as he wrapped his arms around her. "Ikara, do not worry for me..." He smiled as he looked into Ikara's sad eyes. "I've gone to the ends of Lustria and survived the toughest battles...I will be fine."

Ikara smiled as she kissed Sarik again, before backing away. "I'll meet you in a few minutes," she whispered as Andrazlia grunted impatiently.

Sarik nodded as he mounted his old friend and soared into the air, searching for the massive white dragon that the Patriarch rode earlier.

"Really, if you don't do something new, I'm going to get bored." Lorathin commented with a yawn as he again neutralized the fire with ice.

The fights were starting to get on his nerves somewhat, especially the battle of Inzikai and the Patriarch. They might not have intended it but they were releasing an impressive amount of energy, uncontrolled energy at that. The death of a upper-level demon had also added to mix and if people with less control than power continued to throw fire around it might well lead to a storm that would make the one he'd conjured look like a gentle summer shower.

Maverion did not know what to say for a moment as he held onto the finely made sword in his hands. "Uh...th...thank you, Empress. I don't know what to say...other than that. And...yes, you have my word, I won't try anything stupid..."

Just then, a shadow fell over Maverion and quickly disappeared. He looked toward the window, and saw a carpet flying around out there, which then flew into Rimoru's room and swooshed around him several times before coming to a stop. Maverion smiled broadly, a hand going out to touch the carpet's fabric, which in a few spots were now covered in some fruit debris or was otherwise frayed slightly.

"And you've gotten into some trouble, I see," a large smile was still on Mave's face. But that soon faded as he realized that he could no longer control the movement of the carpet. His eyes darted to a paperweight in the room, and he tried to lift the object with his mind, but found that he could no longer do that either.

A cold dread filled his very being as he realized something had gone horribly wrong, but he quickly hid that. The carpet, though he could not control it directly any longer through his mind, still seemed to respond to his physical presence nonetheless.

Turning back to Rimoru, Mave said, "I...no, we," a glance at the carpet, "are ready, Empress."

***

Perfect. Teralynn was waiting for the charlatan to do exactly that. He was using up his energy in keeping himself cool, thus keeping him preoccupied, and he was also expelling large amounts of heat into the surrounding area, which only served to empower the demons even more.

Then, much as Rothargot did back at the tavern in the desert, Teralynn suddenly sapped all the energy out of the area surrounding Lorathin in a second to leave little time for the trickster to respond to the sudden frigid temperatures. Not only was Lorathin already expelling heat energy out of himself, but combined with this move, Tera hoped to flash freeze him and put him out of the game for good.

"It's certainly new." He commented as his internal temperature had stabilized as he'd already drawn in sufficiant cool to deal with the fire she'd tried to light in his belly, something foredoomed to failure considering what she looked like.

Her sapping the expelled heat did cause him to feel the chill but it wasn't exactly as effective as she'd hoped. "I've got to give you credit. You're the first person to try to bump me off with a case of terminal frostbite and pneumonia."

With a smile he decided to deal with her, at least partially. Muttering a couple words and pointing to the groun at Teralynn's feet, he caused gravity to reverse itself in a localized area. She would find herself moving upward at a fairly quick pace only to stop fifty meters in the air, bobbing as when she got to the 'bottom' normal gravity pushed down and once back inside the field, she got forced further away from normal down.

He called up, "I'll see you later, unless you can fly down here and want to continue pestering me. Your boss is in a wee bit of trouble and unless I'm much mistaken your demon is awol as well." With that he looked over the battle to see what he could see.

Rimoru smiled sweetly at the carpet and poked it gently. "I have not seen one of these in years..." she whispered in awe.

Rimoru circled around Maverion and the carpet twice before she sat down in her chair and began fanning herself with her hand. "Mavey...let's hurry," she said quietly as she stood up again and began to walk out of her room, her door opening widely as she stepped into her palace and down the stairs.

An elegantly dressed man, handsome by many standards followed close behind. "Your highness, everything is assembled. Are you sure you will be able to teleport with your...condition?" he asked hesitantly as he stared at her stomach.

Rimoru furrowed her brows as she walked down the stairs. "I....You....Of...go pack something for me to chew on," she growled as she walked out the palace gate. The guard nodded and walked to the kitchen.

Rimoru was sweating as she panted towards the massive arena near her palace. It was nothing like the Imperium's, in fact it was a gift from them, but it served it's purpose well. Especially now...

"Mavey..." she panted as she paused and leaned heavily on Maverion. "Don't put your wife through childbirth," she chuckled as she gulped in some air.

As she continued to walk again she turned back to examine Maverion. "On the other hand..." she laughed to herself.

"Mavey, promise me you won't fight as a cultist anymore, alright?" They stole my Cadeyrn...I steal their Mavey...

***********************************************************

Inzikai scowled as the two combatants circled around the pedistal, the book glowing brightly in between the two.

Suddenly, Inzikai swung low, but was perried and kicked by the ever alert Patriarch.

"Fool! I have been alive for thousands of years! You stand no chance against me and my combat," Inzikai snarled as he summersaulted back to his feet. Half of his face was completely gone, black bones remaining with his red eyes.

"Funny...You don't seem to have struck a well placed blow yet," the Patriarch laughed as he swung for the cultist's waist, which was perried by Inzikai's dagger. Using the momentum of his blade, the Patriarch spun around, bringing his blade to Inzikai's neck, which was blocked by both the falchion and the dagger. "And by your judgement, Rimoru would be the best swordsmaster ever."

"She has other talents she's practiced," Inzikai almost cheerfully laughed as some color returned to his eyes, before he returned to his raging form.

The Patriarch laughed as well as they continued to battle. "You'd be surprised...she learned fast...and well," he whispered as he dodged another thrown dagger.

Inzikai roared as he finally charged at the Leader of the Order, headbutting the man off the high pedistal, but with his momentum, following as well.

The Patriarch was in freefall as he managed to twist himself so he was face down.

Inzikai, however, sailed down, struggling to right himself back up, but failing to do so.

He hit the floor with a terrible crunch and a loud gasp as he smashed back-first, into the stone surface of the altar.

The Patriarch, however landed with a bang. His sword was out, and much like in the arena, once his sword tapped onto the surface, it used the surrounding energies to blast the unholy beings to either side of him.

The immense boomed was nothing compared to the blast. The power of the gods seemed to charged the shockwave as a massive wave of divine energy melted demons and undead alike.

Yet Inzikai managed to save some part of himself. He stood up, his lopsided head slowly righting itself as his robes were tattered and ruined, revealing the jet black armor underneath.

As soon as the shockwave passed, Inzikai ran straight for the Patriarch and struck out, nearly beheading the man.

The Patriarch only headbutted Inzikai, pushing him back a few paces so he could raise his sword.

As the battle continued to rage, Inzikai's ragged black robes mingled with the Patriarch's torn, yet still pure white cape in the strange dance of fate.


***********************************************************

Noticing the elf high above launching arrow after arrow, several flying demons soared upwards in attempt to rip her to shreds...

However, after the death of their master, Rothargot's minions fought recklessly. Order amongst the demon was no more. Very few remained to follow their leaders as they either ran for the woods, or charged recklessly into the fray.

Ar'mai's eyes caught the soaring demons, flying upwards at her, angered by her torrent of arrows spattering down on the unending ranks of demonic beasts. Apparently, they were upset with the elven princess...

The lead one had closed in on the flying horse, but as it stuck out its snout to bite, Gael'kadar smacked it in the head with his hoof and sent it sprawling back to earth. However, the others pushed on and the winged horse was forced to take evasive maneuvers.

The unholy sped of the flying demons was too much and they were about to catch up to the horse and send its cargo sprawling to the land, a death's length below. They were just about to bite.... but a roaring "Cawww" burst through the air.

Gael'kadar took the demon's momentary hesitation to leave the area and dive down and away. Meanwhile, the flying demons had turned towards the source of the sounds. A group - maybe ten or twelve - of Great Eagles appeared on the horizon. Massive in size, their wing span was yards upon yards of feet, about fifty to sixty feet, wit a body, beak, and set of claws to match it. Giant predators that had allied with the elven clans centuries earlier in a mutual protection. They had now come to their aid, arriving just minutes after the main elven force, having watched the rear and skies for an ambush on the army. Now they came flying at the demons and locked them in battle...

As the elf dragged Marlene away from the battle deeper into the caves, her face remained a blank yet morbid expression. Momoki heard a delicate sob from the now reformed child and set her aside.

"What's wrong child?" The elf asked quietly.

Rothy...

Cadey...

"This is their fault." She scowled. "This is your fault!"

Valtrox, Habdebza, Inzikai, Xenocrates, Kalzog, Rimoru, Teralynn, Lorathin...

She paused for a moment recalling the people she now despised holding on one name in particular.

Harlin

If he hadn't taken me, none of this would have happened, Cadeyrn wouldn't have had to trade his soul for mine and he could have helped Rothy.

I'll destroy them all: The dragons, Valtrox, Kalzog, and Harlin's Order.

The three demons snarled at the new challengers, immediately disingaging from Ar'mai and concentrating their attacks on the eagles.

The resistance had been able to push upwards, closer to the gateway, where the reserves Inzikai had set aside had been fighting the Order and Imperium.

***********************************************************

Valtrox snarled in disgust as he threw the limp form of a battered dragon on the floor.

"Relthor...what a disgusting little creature," he growled as the massive form of Valtrox flapped towards Relthor, his eyes glazed over.

"Speak, beast!" Valtrox roared as he dug his claws into Relthor, who cried out in pain. "You cannot escape me now..."

With a curse, Valtrox began ripping Relthor's scales off, each one being more painful than the last.

Suddenly, the god stopped. He looked around with a puzzled expression on his face. "Habdebza...what happened to Rothargot?" he growled to no one in sight.

Dead, my master. The ogre killed him... a quiet reply came.

Valtrox slowly wrapped himself around the massive pillar and waved Relthor away, his body becoming engulfed in fire, being chained to a wall near Cadeyrn. His two valuable souls...

When Rimoru began fanning herself, the carpet tried to help with two of its tasseled corners, waving itself around to generate a small flow of air for her.

Maverion followed along after her in a manner that seemed to imply that he was her bodyguard now. “With things changing so suddenly and dramatically,” Maverion said, “I don’t know if I can promise much of anything at all... I mean, I never imagined Valtrox would...” He shook his head slightly.

Then, changing the subject, but not sure how to without being a little awkward, he simply asked, “If I may, Empress, who’s the father?”

***

The sensation was disorienting at first, but then Teralynn realized what was happening to her and tried to stabilize herself as much as possible as she floated up. Then, wriggling around, she found that she could not get away from whatever this thing was that was making her float up. It was evidently only localized, though, as it did not affect anyone else.

Since physically moving about made no progress for her, she shifted to another plan quickly. Suddenly heating up the column of air in front of her, the hot air shot upwards, creating a vacuum that would immediately be replaced by the cooler surrounding air. That, in turn meant a strong gust of wind would converge on where that column of air was, which was forceful enough to push Tera out of that spelled area and back over normal ground.

There was still quite a ways down, but with a combination of heating up the air to create a strong upward gust from below her and her new, enhanced body, she took the landing without much trouble. Looking over, she saw that Lorathin’s attention was no longer on her, and used this to her advantage.

She completely disappeared from sight, hearing, smell, touch, even taste, and mind. Then, Lorathin would see on the battlefield that an entire flank of rebels was collapsing under a wave of Valtrox’s force, and would continue to be trampled over unless Lorathin came to their immediate aid.

Lorathin saw the forces fall back and decided to play a bit of a mind game with Valtrox's forces. Since there were few demons in the force there was little chance it would be seen through. He cast an illusionary spell designed to target the minds of Valtrox's soldiers but leave thier foe untouched.

The Valtroxians would see, smell, hear and even feel like they were caught up in a fire-storm. The weakest minded would in all likelyhood die as they believed themselves burnt alive, while the rest would likely be shocked long enought for the resistance to rally and strike back. The fact that the resistance was untouched by the fire while they were consumed by it would likely be doubly shocking as fire seemed to be the province of Valtrox.

Rimoru smiled as the carpet fanned her. "I wish I had one," she chuckled as she curiously studied it.

She turned her attention to Maverion as she once again continued to the massive stadium.

"Someone very sweet, very handsome, very strong. Someone I want to hold in my arms each second I live," she said quietly. "You know him as Rothargot."

With that said, she continued silently as she walked into the massive stadium, slowly heaving herself up the stairs.

When she finally reached the top, she leaned on a railing with two orbs glowing subtly on either side of her. She looked downwards, her eyes falling on a large army. Definately not all of her men, but a good amount, all armed with the latest technilogical advances. There were eight hundred riflemen, five hundred shredders, and ten massive structures near the far end of the stadium.

Two arch-magi bowed low to Rimoru and smiled.

"You're looking quite sweet, your beautifulnessm" one of them said.

Rimoru raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "When am I not?" she asked as a smile split on her face.

The two Magi gave her a gently hug before backing away. "Will you be able to perform this, Rimoru?"

Rimoru nodded slowly. "Hurry...I want to get this done."

The magi nodded and returned to similar posts as hers, and placed glowing hands upon the orbs. Immediately, the stadium began to cackle with electricity. Four other magi were positioned around the railing, each one placing their hands on the orbs.

Rimoru smiled as she turned around to Mavey. She gently picked his hands and wrapped them around her waist, before gently grabbing the carpet and setting it down around her neck. "Hold on tight," she whispered, her lips slowly reaching for Maverion's, before she turned around slowly and placed her hands on the orbs, immediately the whole stadium charging up. Suddenly, light filled everyone's vision. In fact, everything seemed blank, like a painter had splashed white paint on the whole canvas.

Rimoru began to feel terribly tired. Her breathing became heavy, forced. Her legs began to buckle, she could feel a kicking in her stomach, sweat glistened on her forhead.

Suddenly, it ended...The stadium long gone, however her forces were amassed on the hill, slowly recovering from the effects. They didn't seem too affected by the teleport and got themselves back in formation.

"Rimoru...are you alright?" one of the arch-magi asked as he walked to her.

Rimoru nodded and gulped some air. "Attack," she said quietly.

The arch-magi nodded and turned to the generals and nodded again. Horns blew as the Shredders were activated and began to march slowly towards the cultists.

Rimoru smiled briefly before she fell to her knees and coughed out her previous meal.

Rothargot, strong, yes. But sweet and handsome? Maverion had a hard time imagining that, for some reason. He fell silent just as Rimoru did for the rest of the way.

When he saw the army, he did not see a grand and glorious battle to come. Instead, all he could see was death and destruction ahead. Yet, there was nothing he could do. Bigger things than he could control were in motion, and he could only come along for the ride at the best, to be swept along with the crest of the wave.

He felt a little weird at having to wrap his arms around her. In fact, he did not know why he even had to – was she still trying to flirt with him even at this moment?

Then the world went almost blindingly white as he was teleported along with her, and he saw around him the snowy lands he saw in his vision. Mave held on to Rimoru tighter as he felt her begin to fall, trying to keep her up, but was afraid of holding on too tight on account of the baby in her belly.

And then she began to throw up, and he really had no idea of what to do. “Uh…uh…are you okay?” Obviously not, but then he did not know what else to say.

***

Teralynn remained hidden from all senses, keeping half of her attention on the charlatan, and half on everything else going on around her.

Lorathin could then see the wave of Valtrox’s forces faltering and hear the screams of thousands of men as if they were lit on fire. The Valtroxian line began buckling, and the rebel line formed back up to make use of the advantage Lorathin gave them.

But then, on another side of the large battlefield, more celestial objects began raining down. Fiery balls fell into the midst of the rebel advancement, shaking the ground enough for even Lorathin, distant as he was from that area of the valley, to feel a rumble in the ground after each hit. Scores of rebels were falling prey to these attacks, with no way of their own to protect themselves, and would soon be annihilated if no one intervened on their behalf.

"I...don't know," she coughed as she brought herself up. "I...have never been pregnant...before..."

Instantly, a small tent formed above them as well as a grand throne, warm blankets, a small fire, plump fruits, even a chair for Maverion near the throne.

Rimoru smiled as she set herself down on the throne and motioned for Maverion to sit on the nearby chair.

"Mavey, I look for two important figures...the Patriarch, and my love, Rothargot," Rimoru said quietly as she brought a napkin to her lips. "Please tell me if you find them."

The Empress let her eyes scan the field. The feeling of magic burned within her. The gateway itself was so powerful in magic, she could only dream of that much...power...

Rimoru gazed strangely at the massive gateway. Although she could see the magesty of the gate, she couldn't see Inzikai and the Patriarch fighting for the very fate of the world...

"Maverion, do you have children?" she asked quietly as she shifted in her chair, looking for other sources of power amongst the battle. Rothargot had to be there...

If only he still had his powers, Maverion would simply have scanned the battlefield for Rothargot and the Patriarch with his mind. Granted, it may have taken a little longer than usual to do that, given the sheer number of people in that valley, but it would still have been much quicker than searching for the two by sight alone.

He sat down in the chair indicated by Rimoru, trying to warm himself up with the fire and holding back another sneeze.

"I will try," he promised her.

He then looked over at her when she asked the unusual question, given their circumstances in the middle of battle. "Uh...no, I don't. But I would like some. I seem to be pretty good with children, strangely. Fala liked that about me..."

Lorathin was taken aback slightly at the meteors, before a faint smirk tinged with annoyence as well as a faint amount of admiration graced his face. He disliked being fooled, but his fooler had made a mistake. He didn't know if they'd underestimated him or overestimated themselves or perhaps simply didn't know him well enought to realize how they'd screwed up. The only spells that could do what the illusion was doing had a distinctive feel, and he'd cast them enought himself to be able to pick out the lack of that magical pitch.

Since he now knew he was being subjected to illusionary magic, he could deal with it. Closing his eyes, he focused before reopening his now blue lined eyes. It would now be far more difficult for whoever it was to try and mess with his mind as well as nullifying with the present illusions.

"Fala..." Rimoru suddenly perked up as she looked with wide eyes at Maverion. "Tell me, is she a devout follower of Valtrox? What if she won’t accept these…revelations?"

***********************************************************

Inzikai slashed at the glowing figure around him, slicing through the pure white cape, but missing the body it was attached to. He snarled as he got tangled up in it and began ripping through, trying to escape.

The Patriarch took the opportunity to twist himself around, bringing his blade towards Inzikai's back.

But Inzikai brought around another dagger, parrying it away, and elbowing the Patriarch, mostly succeeding in pushing him back, giving him time to reorient himself.

Lightning struck in between them, as the sound of something shifting rumbled under the two combatants.

"Almost time..." Inzikai smiled wickedly, speaking in a confident tone, almost a mocking one.

"Not while I'm here," growled the Patriarch as he closed the gap in between himself and the High Priest.

Again their sword clashed, but immediately they pulled away, the speed of their swords so fast, they were barely a blur. Inzikai's face dripped his blackish blood on the slick floor of the altar, mixing in with the rain that sizzled and steamed as if it were some sort of hot dishware.

Suddenly, another jolt, both combatants backing away to regain their balance. Several strange runes on the stones shifted as another piece of the floor began to move, revealing a small patch of another doorway. It was definitely clear the gods did not want Valtrox to break through…

Inzikai saw his opening as the Patriarch wobbled around, almost falling to the floor. The dark lord raised his hand, dark energy swarming out around the Patriarch, engulfing him in mere seconds.

Inzikai kept pouring energy into his disintegration, unsure if he had finally killed his rival of over a thousand years...In fact, he wouldn’t believe it…

And his eyes went wide with shock as the power that surrounded the patriarch began to give way to a bright white light, practically dissolving to the floor as useless goo, much like the necromancer’s blood.

Under it all, the Patriarch was down on one knee, his arms spread apart as white light slowly destroyed the darkness around him, only the ends of his cape dissolving into nothingness.

With a screech, Inzikai rushed towards the lowered man, immediately hacking at the Patriarch, who slowly raised himself against the insane beast, blocking blow after blow as though it were a child trying to beat him with a stick.

But one could definitely see the Patriarch had gotten too old for this. Inzikai was immortal…the Patriarch, young as he seemed, was far older then he looked.

“No more playing around, Inzikai. I’m sorry,” he said as he pushed Inzikai away, before twirling his sword on both sides of him, confusing the demonic man.

As Inzikai twisted his sword to parry that blow, but the Patriarch strafed and circled so that he was next to Inzikai, holding his hand out, while chopping it off in one swift motion.

Inzikai screamed and fell to the ground as his sword clattered to the floor with his hand. He began to kick himself backwards, away from the advancing Patriarch.

“Guards! Protect your master!” he screamed as the unstoppable force that was the Patriarch closed the gap.

Immediately, five guards encircled the man. The one behind the Patriarch thrust out, but the Paladin lifted his arm, and pulled the hand as it went underneath, shoving his elbow painfully in the man’s face, knocking him out.

In the same motion, his hand slid into the hilt of the other sword and he twirled around, letting the body carry itself into another guard. With his twirl, he took the head off another of Inzikai’s guards, and ended with his newly acquired sword in the chest of another guard.

With the last two, the Patriarch faced both of them and walked backwards slowly; glancing ever so slightly to make sure Inzikai was not up to any trick. He only continued to cry and scream as he slowly pulled himself away, towards the podium with his remaining hand.

One of the cut horizontally, trying to behead the Patriarch, who ducked underneath, flipped his sword to his left hand, held up the man’s arm, and dug his own sword into his exposed arm pit, while pushing the man’s sword into his comrade, who blocked it with a confused expression on his face.

With a gauntleted hand, the Patriarch punched heavily into the man’s face, a definite crack resounding around the altar.

He slowly turned around as more guards came running to protect their master.

The Patriarch began to run towards Inzikai, twisting, evading, and hacking at the guards’ legs as he charged towards Inzikai.

The last guard…The Paladin, ducked, sunk his blade in the back of the man’s tendon’s and through his armor, as he twirled around, carrying his blade high over his head.

Inzikai was cornered against the podium, his remaining hand cradling the stump that was his right hand as his feet tried to push him as close to the podium as possible.

“The scourge that you are will finally end,” the Patriarch said quietly. “May Valtrox have mercy on your soul.”



Slice.

There was no explosive death. No bright flashes of light. Nothing special one would expect from the death of someone so powerful. Only a short gasp and the wide eyed look of surprise...


A blood stained blade clattered to the floor.

The Patriarch fell to his knees, his hands gripping a long dagger protruding from his throat, right underneath the plate that was supposed to protect his neck.

His sad eyes looked at Inzikai before they lost all signs of life.

The Patriarch's body fell to the floor, motionless and cold.

The world just seemed to stop. The battle was silenced, the roar of the storm paused.

Inzikai sucked in air as he looked at stump that his hand was once connected to. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the hidden dagger he had threatened Marlene with earlier.

With a smile that could only be described as that of a demon, he slowly rose and walked towards the body. Screams could be heard amongst the Order's ranks. The templars were shouting vigorously, trying to get close enough to avenge and protect the body of their master.

"You're right. The Scourge that is the Patriarch, and the Order itself, will be eradicated," he said mockingly.

The cultist lowered himself to the Patriarch's elegant sword, his fingers anxious to wrap around the glorious hilt.

However, his fingers burned with an intense pain that surged up into his head. He squeiled and jumped backwards as he looked at his hand. His whole hand seemed charred and burned. In fact, even his robes were burned.

The dark lord scowled as he walked to retrieve his own weapon, his falchion and smiled as he looked onto the battlefield.

"Look, world. Observe your new master," he shouted as he raised his arms.

***********************************************************

Sarik couldn't believe it. No, he wouldn't believe it. The fatherly figure of all people, killed before his very eyes. A fight he should have won. A fight he would have won.

Sarik blinked as Andrazlia roared and dived towards Inzikai.

Sarik blinked again as thoughts of anger rose in his mind. Mere whispers at first, but now, they were roars of hate and rage.

Inzikai dove away, just in time as Andrazlia smashed into the altar, sliding across the altar.

Sarik leapt off and roared as his eyes glowed a bright red.

"Inzikai, I should have killed you when we first met you in the Arena!" Sarik shouted as he ran straight for Inzikai and thrust his sword at him, which was easily parried.

Again, he struck, but was blocked and deflected. Again, again, again, all the same outcome.

Finally, Inzikai laughed as he kicked Sarik's feet from beneath him and shoved his falchion in Sarik's shoulderblade.

The paladin screamed as undescribable pain coursed through his sword arm. His weapon clattered to the floor as he writhed in pain.

"Face it, Sir Sarik," he spat. "Your order is dead...the world belongs to Valtrox and I..." Inzikai laughed as he walked away, examening the rock formation that held the medallion.

Sarik's eyes began dulling as he panted heavily. He lost all hope. The resistance was too small, and their morale had just recieved a heavy blow. Now Sarik was in Inzikai's grip, death an imminent possibility.

The paladin cried as he stared at the dead form of the Patriarch, as he pulled the falchion painfully out of his shoulder and pulled his way next to the man's body. The man he looked up to for his entire life.

Inzikai laughed as he walked back to Sarik, picking up his falchion and inspecting it casually.

"Yes, hold on to your past, Sarik. It's the last bit you're going to see. When this gate opens-" Inzikai gloated as he began to pace like a cat behind bars.

Sarik gasped as he saw a bright light. He looked around, wondering it anyone else saw it. Apparantly not, as Inzikai continued to babble.

Suddenly, the light again, but this time, it stayed. The form of the Patriarch took shape as he stepped in front of Sarik.

"Sarik...I don't have much time. You must get the medallion out of the rock...Valtrox is entering...once this ends, promise me you'll do so..." The Patriarch said urgently.

"Master...but...Inzikai. He's too powerful. And my weapon is out of reach..." Sarik whispered as he looked around. The Patriarch's weapon gleamed in this unreal reality. "Perhaps-"

"No, Sarik. Do not touch it. I will deal with Inzikai...trust me. Now go!" The spirit shouted, the white world suddenly getting sucked into nothingness.

Sarik shook his head, realizing he had just been staring at the cultist lord, who was still gloating.

The paladin curled his lips and pushed himself up, running for the pedistal, catching Inzikai off guard.

"You fool! You cannot stop this!" Inzikai shouted as another shift of the gateway...an immense blast of heat...Valtrox was coming.

Sarik got to the medallion and stuck one of hands through. He couldn't get it with his gauntlets. He dodged a dagger as he pulled off his guantlets and tried again, his hands finally wrapping around it. He pulled ferociously, the medallion moving extremely slowly.

"Oh no you don't," Inzikai snarled as he pointed his finger at Sarik's hands.

The paladin screamed out in pain as the flesh from his hand began to dissolve into greenish, reddish goo.

"You have failed, Sarik!" Inzikai said, before he yelped in surprise as a gauntleted hand wrapped around his throat and lifted him in the air. "Im-impossible!"

Sarik screamed as his hand was nothing more than skeletal remains. But as he saw the corpse of his master rise up to buy Sarik time, the paladin brought his remaining hand in the medallion and roared as he pulled as hard as he could.

Finally, the medallion gave way, taking Sarik with it as it fell to the floor.

A scream came through the portal, a scream that struck fear in any creature. Valtrox has been thwarted.

But he planned on taking as many as he could with him...

Suddenly, the gateway groaned as the fires swirled viciously. Geysers of fire erupted around the altar. The grounds shook and cracked, bringing those unlucky ones into the abyss.

Volcano's formed from the ground, blasting ash, smoke, and fire everywhere.

Armies called the retreat and speedily tried to get away from it all.

Demons screamed as they got sucked into the altar, flying high overhead.

The Patriarch's body smiled at Inzikai, then Sarik, before a dropping the Lord of the Cult to the floor and falling limply as one of his templar's drakes picked him up.

Sarik smiled as he fell to the floor, feeling himself slide towards the gate. He had done what he was supposed to and could die happily now...

No...I still have Ikara...and Andrazlia, he thought as he perked up. He tried to pull himself back to the stones, but couldn't grip onto anything. He really was doomed.

Suddenly, someone screeched behind him, as Andrazlia picked him up by the claws and took off to the air.

Sarik was on the verge of losing consciousness, but he tried to keep himself awake by gently stroking Andrazlia's claw with his good hands. "Go, my sister...my sibling..." he whispered as they soared across the starry sky.

Geyser's popped out of the ground suddenly, spewing deadly steam, barely getting dodged by Andrazlia as she flapped as fast as she could, trying to get herself and her master away from the gateway.

But, she couldn't dodge them all. He wing was hit by a large gust of steam, a loud crack resounding along with the pained cry of the drake as it smashed into the ground, which itself was caving in.

But Andrazlia was too dedicated to get her master to safety. She lifted herself up, picking Sarik up in her mouth and ran as fast as she could, away from the terrible devastation following them.

Her mouth was frothing with blood and spittle as a she strafed just in time as a volcano formed in front of her, then another. But she kept on running.

***********************************************************

Inzikai slowly picked himself up and looked out at the devastated battlefield. The battle was his...all his...

"The world was mine!" he shouted angrily, before noticing the corpse of a demon slamming into him, sending him sliding towards Valtrox's domain.

"Not yet!" he snarled as he let his remaining hand latch onto the pedistal, his robes ripping and flapping in the wind, revealing his bloody armor underneath.

Suddenly, a demonic face came into his vision, seeming to come out of the fire itself.

"Inzikai..." Kalzog laughed from atop his mound of earth. "You do not wish to join your master? What kind of devotee are you?"

He knelt down and smiled again as Inzikai looked fearfully at the ogre. "Kalzog...we were somewhat friends in the Arena. Help me! Join us! You can be my second in command, you can rule the mountains, the Orderlands!"

"I don't like ruling...I only enjoy chaos, death, and destruction," he growled as he wrapped his fingers around Inzikai's arm. "Besides...I was on your side..."

Inzikai gasped as he noticed the scabs on the ogres head, one tattoo on his arm...A servant of Valtrox...a very important one...all along.

Then, the ogre let go.

Inzikai screamed as he plummeted towards the vortex. But instead of immediately getting sucked in, he rose in the sky, his arms spread out as he screamed. Then, piece by piece, his skin fell away as though it were rotted wood. Followed by his muscles, leaving only his bones screaming in the wind, before they too fell into the hole.

***********************************************************

Andrazlia was panting heavily before she felt the ground beneath her rise up suddenly, before she felt painfully hot liquid shoot through her stomach, and out the side.

She gave one last leap, past a chasm that had formed...and landed, skidding to where the destruction seemed to end.

The white drake let Sarik roll out of her mouth as she smiled slowly, knowing her job was done. Her life with Sarik, their enjoyment, their happiness, their joking. Giving him a hard time as he rode her. Giving his friends a hard time. Celebration, love, happiness...then darkness...

She cuddled with the unconcious Sarik, before she finally fell limp, her body going cold.

“I...don’t know,” Maverion replied to Rimoru. “I mean, I thought I was devoted...but...” He shook his head and pursed his lips, as if uncertain of anything and everything. “Fala and I have been together so long now, it seems like we know everything about each other. But if I don’t even know myself... Well, I can’t really say, I guess.”

His attention was then drawn to the large valley, where something even bigger than all the fighting going on was starting to happen.

***

When Inzikai began a one-on-one fight with the Patriarch, Teralynn’s attention started to drift in that direction and away from Lorathin. She remembered Valtrox’s order to make sure Inzikai completed the ritual, and Inzikai did not appear to be doing too well against the other lizard.

She had already begun moving away from Lorathin, and by the time the man had realized the ruse and she sensed him trying to overcome it, she was no longer concerned enough about him to continue trying to combat him.

But then Inzikai killed the other lizard, and Tera had only the Patriarch’s underlings to deal with. Still hidden, she began wreaking havoc amongst the ranks of the templars by confusing their senses and sending them in the wrong direction, away from Inzikai. Yet, Sarik still made it through, and soon enough, he had the medallion in his hand.

There was a painful sound emanating from the vortex, and the world around Teralynn began rumbling. Things have suddenly taken a bad turn, and she knew it. As the ground cracked and burst upward to spew forth lava and ash, she figured that it was time to get out of there.

Seeing a drake going for the Patriarch’s body nearby, Tera jumped onto it with deftly precision and hung on, making it so that the drake did not sense her holding onto it.

***

The other Maverion watched everything happen from his vantage point high up on a tall mountain overlooking the valley. He did not know what to do, nor did he know if he could do anything at all.

When all hell broke loose, he decided it was time to leave, and went back down the side of the mountain, untraveled and unseen by others. As he made his way back into the snow-covered trees, he began wondering again. Who was he? The claims of that brutish ogre probably could not be trusted.

With that on his mind, he made his lonesome way through the darkening wilds.

Rimoru had brought a large cluster of grapes from across the room and gently picked a few, popping them in her mouth one at a time.

Rimoru watched Maverion quietly as he spoke about Fala, her eyes wide with curiousity. When he grew silent, her chewing slowed and she followed his eyes to something happening...something catastrophic. There was a terrible roar and then, a much quieter roar...screams...

She gulped before she furrowed her eyebrows. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice wavering.

Suddenly, one of her guards came in, and bowed low. "Your highness, It's time to evacuate. The gateway is...getting destroyed," he said urgently, walked to Rimoru and getting ready to pick her up.

"I can walk," she snapped as she slowly rose from the throne. "Somewhat..."

The empress waddled a bit out of the tent, observing the devastation caused. Still, she could not see the Patriarch...no Rothargot...

"Mavey...where...where are they?" she asked, tears forming in her bright blue eyes. She began to feel faint and wobbled slightly. "Where's Rothy..."

"Your worshipfulness, there is no time!"

Rimoru shook her head. "There is..." she whispered as she cast a spell to augment the auras cast. There simply weren't any powerful enough to be either of the ones she looked for...

Except...there.

"I see Rothargot!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Maverion, squeezing tightly.

With a laugh, she teleported to the area, bringing Maverion with her, and excitedly searched around for her love.

But she couldn't find the massive form of the demi-god...And that was something one didn't miss...

She walked to where she noticed the aura that had to be Rothargot...

Instead, it was a demon, panting heavily as it dug through the rubble, apparantly looting corpses. In it's left hand, it held a large pinkish orb. One she remembered Kalzog holding at one point. One she knew to fear...

She gasped and immediately knew her mistake. She slapped her hands on her mouth as the demon growled and looked back at her. It challenged her with a growl, ready to defend it's loot.

She narrowed her eyes as rage boiled in her. "Get away from that," she growled as the distinct feel of energy charged up in the air around her.

Again the demon shouted, before charging at her.

She raised her hand, stopping the beast in mid air, before, the creature exploded violently, the orb falling to the ground.

"Rothy...no," she cried as she ran to the orb, her knees finally buckling as she fell to the ground, her legs spread to either side of her as she cradled the orb.

The ground began to shake as the fiery destruction that began from the gateway had begun to make their way towards Rimoru and Maverion.

The goddess empress slowly walked towards Maverion, sniffling as her head hung low, and wrapped her free arm around him and teleported far past her camp, where it was relatively safe.

Again, she slumped to the ground and cradled the orb. "Mavey...what now?" she asked as tears streamed down her face.

The realization of what was happening and the force of energy caused by the blast of the gate hit Ar'mai and her flying horse, Gael'kadar, at roughly the same time. Luckily though, she was able to notice what was happening before she was caught up in the blast... urging her horse high and away, Ar'mai called to the Eagles to do the same.

They flew a safe distance away before landing on the ground and waiting to see what to do next...

[ooc: Ugh... to late to write well.]

Seeing the oncoming wave of destruction, Harlin who had become seperated from Centurus told his trumpetter to sound the retreat. As the Jiltakin turned and ran, they brought the Sisters along with them.

Harlin, meanwhile, searched for any sign of either his master, or his friends. Not able to sight any more Jiltakin on the field of battle in front of him, which had now devolved into chaos as the far ends of the demon lines were being swallowed by the earth itself, Harlin turned and ran after his fellows.

The inferno was approaching too fast, he was sure he wasn't going to make it, but he kept running, until he felt as though it were right on top of him, and then it passed. Looking around, he was stunned to see that he was in a small bubble that was inaffected by the raging cataclysm outside its intangible walls. Looking around in wonder, his eyes fell on the one responsible, Minos.

Soon, the platform of rock they were standing on soared up and out of the flames, and they came to rest at a level where they could see all below them. Harlin looked down at the gaping red scar in the earth, and saw the retreating lines of the Resistance just beyond its farthest reaches. He thanked Arcturus that they had made it away with so few casualties. Looking back to Minos who was steering the rock to a group carrying familiar flags and banners bearing the emblem of Iskan, he asked, "Where's Shara?"

Minos looked at him for a moment, speaking in the rumble that became his voice when he called on his power, "She is ensuring the safety of the High Mother. She will meet us for the debriefing when Sarik calls it."

Harlin nodded and fell quiet as the floating piece of earth carried him out of harms way, and back to friends, and peace.

Lorathin gasped and stiffened more than a corpse as he was hit by the backlash from the gateway detonating and turning into a sinkhole. The backlash was beyond imagining, but was almost universally, in the uppermost magical spectrum. With a cough, he stumbled back as the physical wave struck out before caving back in. It started to drain him at rate that was nigh-lethal, and would have scrapped him dry had he not managed to erect wards.

Staggering away from the former portal, he knew if he couldn't get his hands on a latent, a massive party, or some other source of energy he could leech he'd be tapped out for weeks if not months. Stumbling, he made his way toward the camp of the resistance to try and find some ways of partially re-juicing his batteries.

Maverion had seen the orb before, back at the library. He did not know of its importance back then, and he still did not really know it now. But from Rimoru being drawn to it, and her reaction now, it could only mean one thing.

“Maybe...there’s a way we can get him out of there...” he said as a way to console her. “If there’s anything I learned from everything I’ve been through lately, it’s that nothing’s permanent. Not loyalties, not death, and not what’s happened to Rothargot.”

Mave grew quiet for a moment before placing a hopefully reassuring hand on Rimoru’s shoulders. “The battle’s over...I don’t think Valtrox will be summoned. Come on, let’s go back to the palace. We can figure it all out then.”

Rimoru looked up, hope in her eyes as she stared squarely into Maverion's, but instead of the intense wanting, the desire in her eyes, it was one of hope, of caring, of kindness.

She let her head rest on his hand as she gently set her hand on it. She nodded slowly, before she looked at the assembled banners, much farther away. Then she noticed a floating rock, and for a minute, thought it was the vicious ogre looking for his orb. She was, however, relieved it was Minos and Harlin instead.

She silently pursed her lips in thought before turning around to Maverion. "Mavey...I don't want them to see you or this orb. If they do, I will lose both," she whispered as she slowly stood up. "I'll teleport you back to my palace, and I shall join you later..."

Rimoru wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. She looked up and kissed him ever so gently on his lips before she teleported him to the palace, along with the orb.

She turned around slowly and put on a weak smile as she waved at Harlin and Minos.

Behind them, a figure stumbled about, an action that she immediately associated with one night at the palace...Lorathin.

The empress fiddled with her necklace he sent her, and began to walk towards him, wiping away whatever tears remained.

***********************************************************

"Sarik? Oh no, Sarik!" came a feminine shout. "Medics! Save Andrazlia! Save Sarik!"

"I'm sorry m'lady, the drake is dead. The paladin is being worked on as fast as possible."

"What happened to his hand?"

"Inzikai, m'lady. Vicious beast got what he deserved...

Suddenly, a very gruff voice walked nearby. "The Patriarch is dead," he said, his voice wavering.

Silence. Deep, dark silence...

"Blow the horns, we shall have our debriefing, our status reports, and possible meetings for the leaders. Make sure you do your best on Sarik. The Patriarch...enjoyed his company."

Stiffled crying could be heard, it left the area...

***********************************************************

The horns blared for a meeting of the armies, once they were sure the magma was not going to intrude in the safe zones.

And so they met, assembling into a city of tents. There was no mirth in the tents...the battle deserved none.

Lorathin looked up and saw Rimoru coming toward him. Smiling at her, it was appearent that neither he would have considered a bad day a couple steps up. He wasn't quite as drained as he had been after the battle in the library but it was a very near thing. "Are you doing well?" He asked in a strained voice as he took a step then fell to his knees, his face going even more wan and pale than before.

He'd failed to consider that an exceptionally large volume of ambient energy had been spend and he'd already had his natural buffers, that kept a person's energy inside rather than flowing out, effectively shredded by the failed portal and thus was being leeched to an extent himself. It wasn't a situation that normally, or even abnormally, came up and thus it was natural he'd overlooked it. As he felt the drain start into the very beginning of the critical spiral that required an outside energy source, he looked at Rimoru as if she were an oasis to a man desperate for water, before slumping over slightly to the fetal position in a vain effort to keep his energy from burning out.

"Azzy...what's happened?" she asked quietly as she walked as fast as her large abdoman would let her. As she closed the distance one would hear Rimoru quietly cursing her pregnancy. She reached Lorathin and gently sat herself down, careful not to just fall.

Her hands wrapped around him as she pulled him up on his haunches next to her. "What's going on?" she whispered again as she gently stroked his face.

He looked up at her, "Drained. This place is leeching me faster than I can replenish." He replied in a weakened voice. He could feel the energy within her but didn't have the strength to draw it from her, nor would he.

"This place has definately leeched people of something, magic or whatnot," she said quietly as she stared out in the burning tide of lava and ruined earth, a tear escaping her eye. The massive gateway itself had crumbled upon the vortex, blocking it out and creating a whole new mountain. But it's immense power still gleamed brightly in her eyes.

"I'll help you, Azzy," she said quietly, with a smile. She gently brought her fingers to his eyelids and closed gently, before closing her own. She pushed herself closer to Lorathin and kissed gently as first, a small nudge of her lips. But then she kissed him again, this time with more passion as he fingers slid down his face and around his torso. As she kissed him, she transfered a modest amount of energy to him.

She pulled away gently and opened her eyes slowly. "Good to see you again, Azzy," she giggled quietly with a sniffle..

He looked at her gratefully, as he regained some of the colour in his face. "I really needed that." He said before giving her a gentle hug. "It's good to see you as well. How've you been?"

She laughed as she pulled away and looked at her large stomach and rubbed it gently. "Pregnant..." she chuckled. "Something I don't want to do again..."

"And...lovesick I suppose," she mumbled as she looked back at the ruined gateway with a look of sadness.

The distant sound of trumpets blaring rose over the small hill behind Rimoru and she looked Lorathin. "I think that means they want us to assemble..." she whispered. She really didn't want to go to it. She didn't want to know who died. She wanted to go back to her palace and cry freely. Or go to the Library and find a way to get Rothargot out of the orb...

As the trumpets blared, Ar'mai was attending to Gael'kadar's minor wounds as well as those much larger ones of the massive Eagles. There was nothing serious though, and the priestess was able to heal them quickly and without trouble.

Noting that it was time to assemble and relive the recent trauma, Ar'mai leapt onto her winged horse and they took off with the Eagles in tow.

Ar'mai landed first where there was a large gathering of leaders and dismounted in preparation for the meeting. The Eagles swirled around the area for several moments before setting down, each taking up the room that a dozen or so horses could occupy.

He looked at her, "You look as, if not more, beautiful as a mother to be as you did when I last saw you." He commented with a soft smile, "But you sound as if something is wrong."

"What would you like to do, should we go see what they want or retire so we may recover?" He asked as his pallor left him, thought he was still in a weakened state.

Rimoru blushed as she leaned on Lorathin's shoulder, adding a light kiss to his neck.

"You flatter me, like before," she said quietly, a smile gracing her face.

"And you jest, I'm sure. Not only is my child so hinderous to lug around, but I am not used to myself being so...wide," she chuckled as she blushed again.

As the subject of her current feelings, she looked away, once again towards the gateway.

"Nothing, Azzy..." she whispered as tears once again began to fall down her face.

"I would rather not be here. I would rather be home," she cried, as her mind drifted to the orb and Maverion. "But I think I have to be there...I am an empress..."

***********************************************************

A gruff looking templar, heavily armored, except for his head, in which the helm was on a nearby table, looked at Ar'mai.

"Ar'mai, right? The Patriarch spoke of you quite highly. He spoke of all of Sarik's friends highly...Please, go inside the tent," he said as he opened up the tent curtain.

Inside the tend, it was warm, food was being served, along with drinks, fine elven wines, dwarven beers, non-alcoholic drinks, everything needed for a celebration, except for the celebration itself.

Those that had already assembled, a Iskani general, with a bandaged forhead nodded a greeting to Ar'mai, along with large barbarian general.

"Miss, Ar'mai, if the birds wish to join in, we may move this meeting outdoors," the Order Templar asked from outside.

"No, no... that will not be necessary," Ar'mai replied as she walked into the tent. "They regrettably cannot understand the common tongue," she added after grabbing some food and drink.

Battle was tiring - everyone knew that - but it also made one hungry. She settled into a seat with her food and began eating delicately.

"I do but speak the truth." He replied as he looked at her. "You may have lost your girlish girth for the moment, but you shine with a glow and radience that was not there before."

As she began crying, he took her into his arms to give her a shoulder to cry on. He wasn't sure what had caused Rimoru grief, but he was willing to help her with it.

"If you feel you should be there, I shall go with you." Lorathin added as his shirt started to dampen and his general appearence began improving.

"Perhaps you just like to see me in the state I am...not in control," Rimoru chuckled quietly.

"Azzy...I wish you were with me more often. I need more friends like you," she sighed as she tried to push herself up. After several attempts of slipping, sliding, and almost smushing Lorathing under her large stomach, she was finally able to get herself on her feet, despite her deep red cheeks.

"Come, before we're too late," she whispered as she led the way, on foot, towards the resistance camp. She didn't want to teleport, mostly because the last few spells had cost her quite a lot. Apparantly, her child seemed to be sucking up her energy quite quickly.

The trip itself was somewhat uneventful. Rimoru would slip occasionally, but balance herself by placing her heavy weight on one of Lorathin's shoulders.

As soon as she reached the tent, her clothes changed to a more regal, yet darkened tone, a dark blue robe that clung tightly to her abdomen, something she furrowed her brows at and cursed quietly.

She walked in as she was greeted by the assembled generals and leaders. She was somewhat surprised that the leaders themselves haven't shown up, except for her.

But she did see a familiar elf eating calmly nearby. One that she remembered she treated badly when she thought she was with Inzikai, however never really noticed her in the palace when she visited. She made her way to the elf and sat herself down across from her.

"We meet again, Amy, is it?" Rimoru asked as a small cup of tea formed in her hands, keeping her somewhat warmer.

***********************************************************

Sarik could hear something again, not just anything however. This rang eerily in his ear. It felt like desire...distress...power...

The wounded paladin slowly rose, not even opening his eyes in fear of losing the strange music that rang so sweetly in his ears. It told him which directions to go, what to do, in so that he took where less people were, and the quickest path to it was...

"We are never in full control all the time." He replied with a grin. As they got up, a process simpler said than done, he ended up with slush covered legs and Rimoru at his side.

"I'll always be your friend, available if you need to talk or simply a shoulder to cry on." He said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder to help her with her balance so they could head to the camp.

While she changed her garb when they arrived, Lorathin did not, thier contrasting appearences somewhat comical. Rimoru appeared a somber but regal queen, while he was a somewhat soggy and slightly scruffy mage.

He remained at her side as she met and greeted, but didn't speak much.

As Rimoru awaited a response from the calm elf, she glanced at Lorathin and flash a sweet smile. "Are you hungry, Azzy? Or cold?" she asked quietly as she leaned closer to him.

"I thank you, Azzy. For just being here with me," she whispered as she stared at the floor, or rather, her stomach.

"A bit of both, but don't worry about it. I couldn't keep anything down at the moment anyways and I'll warm up once I dry off." He replied as returned her smile.

"It is what friends do, there is no need to thank me for it." He replied softly.

Rimoru smiled again as she rested her head on Lorathin's shoulder. As she did so, she helped his clothes dry off much faster, but said nothing of it.

"You will still visit me when this is over, right Azzy?" she asked quietly as several of the Imperium Judges walked in, a very bloody Judge of fate as well. He must have been in the thick of battle, but surprisingly, most of that blood did not belong to him.

"Yes and we shall keep in touch as well." He replied as he felt his clothes lighten somewhat causing him to smile slightly.

Rimoru smiled again as she pulled on the necklace Lorathin had given her when they first departed. "Now, I know this beautiful necklace is more than just a necklace. Mind telling me what it can do?" she giggled as she played with it.

"You're right there. It's one of a set of twelve, well actually thirteen, but the thirteenth shall only be revealed to whoever it's proper owner is. As I'm not sure how well it'll adapt to you, or you to it, I can't say what it can do. What it can definately do is see and speak with one you know, serve as a battery to an extent, aid in focusing of abilities and that one can aid in the creation of portals. It is a matter of learning how to use it which will reveal it's other attributes." He replied, "I can't tell you much more as each one is unique and little enough information remains of them in general, much less the specifics of each."

But she did see a familiar elf eating calmly nearby. One that she remembered she treated badly when she thought she was with Inzikai, however never really noticed her in the palace when she visited. She made her way to the elf and sat herself down across from her.

"We meet again, Amy, is it?" Rimoru asked as a small cup of tea formed in her hands, keeping her somewhat warmer.

The princess took her time finishing the sip of Elvin wine she was working on. "Ar'mai." However, the voice was not her own. From across the tent, where the cloth opening stood, a trio of large, armored beings stood in all their glory. They were the Lords of the Akenea'raeheal. The three elves tasked with leading the army into battle. "It is good to see you again, Princess," the one forward of the others said as he kneeled gently in a regal bow.

Ar'mai smiled broadly as the three elves walked over to her and they began conversing fervently in a language foreign to most...

"What a nifty little artifact in the guise of a necklace," Rimoru laughed as she fiddled with it a bit more, before letting it fall back to her neck. "I'll keep working on it when I'm back home."

As it appeared that Ar'mai was about to speak, they were interrupted by a group of elves, who began talking in their elven language, that Rimoru had not much time to study.

"How rude," she mumbled as she furrowed her brows. "I don't like that Army girl."

In fact, Rimoru was known to dislike anyone who would not pay attention to her. But she never lethally retaliated against such instances. If she retaliated at all.

***********************************************************

Sarik walked as the glorious music swam around his head, before it stopped. He opened his eyes slowly and found himself, half naked from the waist up, facing a muddy stone in a clearing in the forest. "What is this?" he asked quietly.

He looked at the path he had taken. There was a cluster of bloomed flowers nearby, beautiful butterflies fluttering around it as if in a ritualistic dance. Rabbits hopped around and nibbled on leaves or grass. Birds sang beautifully, and even a few deer pranced by.

The place looked so familiar, the path, the woods. He's seen it before, in a dream he'd had long ago...But he hadn't. There was no rock, there was no snow on the floor, not even a hint of it.

Sarik sighed as he put his hand on the rock and pushed with all his might. His muscles bulged and the rock soon came loose and rolled away.

If I remember correctly...I had dug a hole in this... he thought to himself as he slowly began to spread out the dirt and mud.

He looked in his robes but sighed disapprovingly as he found nothing that would make digging easier. He would have to get dirty in this.

He began to dig and dig and dig. Hours upon hours stacked up until he finally felt something hard.

"By Zavers...is it true?" he whispered in awe as his rate of digging increased. His hands wrapped around a large handle and pulled as hard as he could. Finally, it slid out, Sarik ending up on the muddy dirt as he smiled with happiness and looked at his prize.

A hilt. A dirty, muddy, hilt. Where the blade should have been, there was only a hint of a broken saber.

"Darn...useless...hilt," he grumbled as he tossed it aside and looked back in the hole. There definately was something else in there. Not only could he see something, but he could feel a distinct pull. He reached his hand in the hole and wrapped his fingers around something. Something that felt so familiar, something that sparked memories, only glimmers of them.

He pulled as hard as he could again, but this time it wouldn't budge.

"Give up, you infernal sword," he growled as his eyes began to glow red.

Then, it came out, once again leaving Sarik in a heap in the mud.

He looked at the sword (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f307/Blastit52/Clash%20of%20the%20Gods/Ssvaru3.jpg)again, and smiled as his reflection gleamed off it's surprisingly spotless blade.

He heard a scream nearby and turned to face it, unsure of what to do. He blinked slowly.

But upon opening his eyes, he saw an entirely different scenary. The snow was gone, as were the birds, the rabbits, the deer.

Again, someone screamed, but this time it was much closer.

"Master Skrangor, I commend you on your strategy," came a deadly familiar voice.

Sarik spun around, noticing for the first time he wore a long elegant red cape.

He noticed Inzikai standing there, watching solemly. His eyes were a bright green, very different from the Inzikai he knew. He bowed his head as Sarik stared at him, but he remained speechless, as he raised his formally disintigrated hand. There it was, a bloody gauntlet on it with deadly spikes at the knuckles.

"Get away from my family!" someone shrieked.

"Skrangor! Watch out!" Inzikai called out.

In instinct, Sarik spun around and blocked the weapon with his own sword. But instead of blocking, the Sszzarvu cut cleanly through the elegant sword. He brought his hand to the man's neck and picked him up effortlessly and snapped it with a small movement of his fingers.

Sarik gasped as he realized what he'd just done. He dropped the elf corpse to the floor and looked around. Elves were fighting for their lives everywhere he looked. A horn sounded as several well-armored elves cut through several demons and charged straight at Inzikai and Sarik. Behind them was a man with a crown, and a woman, most likely his wife. Within her hands was a small boy, crying as hard as he could.

Something within Sarik snapped and he let out a fantastic roar, before swinging his sword around and leaping at the elves, crunching one under heavy feet, while hacking another in two. His knee smashed into the groin of another, before his spiked elbow sliced through his neck.

The last guard thrust his sword into Sarik, but only cracked as it touched his armor.

As if by habit, he muttered a spell and took off his gauntlet and gripped the man's face. Instantly he opened his mouth as if to scream, but his face cracked before he turned to dust.

He began to walk after the queen and king, when another large figure stepped in his way.

"Not yet. Leave them to me. I would enjoy a few good test subjects..."

Sarik nodded as he watched the royal family escape.

Then, he snapped out of his trance. "Was that another premonition?" he asked no one in particular.

"Nifty yes, and if legend is correct, the full set offers close to limitless power." He replied, "One other thing I forgot to mention is it can not be stolen while it's owner is alive, only willingly given."

He watched Ar'mai for a second as she began speaking with a number of elves, "It's just the way she is. When I first met her, she got her god to put a curse on me because I was annoying her." He commented with a grin.

"Now that is really nifty," Rimoru laughed as Lorathin explained the anti-theft system of the necklace. "I should find out how to place that charm on everything of mine."

On account of Ar'mai, Rimoru laughed. "Well, I can see why she would do such a thing."

She looked up at Lorathin, before breaking out into a smile and giggled quietly. "I jest, Azzy. I adore your company."

She sighed quietly as she looked around for any newcomers. No Harlin, Minos, or Shara. No Sarik either. "I wish they'd get here faster," she grumbled.

"It's an inherent property rather than a spell." He replied with a grin at getting her to laugh as she'd seemed slightly down earlier.

"I'm hurt." He said with a mock hurt face before grinning as he had known she was jesting.

"They're probably catching up like we are."

Harlin and Minos wandered into the tent together, and mingled with the other commanders as Harlin attempted to locate Centurus.

Meanwhile, Shara and the High Mother arrived and stood waiting for the debriefing by Sarik.

Rimoru smiled and nodded her greeting to the batch of newcomers, before laying her head on Lorathin's shoulder again.

"Now all we need to wait for is Sarik..." she yawned. "I've noticed you're a bit dryer, Azzy. Are you hungry?"

***********************************************************

"Can't be...why would Inzikai be there? Why would I be sided with them? Why did Inzikai call me Skrangor?" he asked himself as he slowly stood up, his white robes now black with mud and dirt.

Suddenly, he heard a twig snap behind him. The paladin twirled around and snarled as his eyes turned red again. He swung at the newcomer, not even sure who it was.

***********************************************************

"Sir. Sarik is not in the medical tent. Nor have any guards seen him," a templar said to the High Templar general at the tent entrance.

"What do you mean? Send a group of troops to search for him," he commanded, before walking into the tent.

"I'm afraid to say Sir Sarik cannot join us, however, I will speak on my behalf about this battle. As a few may know, I am not a speaker, so I will keep this brief," he started, his eyes meeting everyone assembled.

"This single battle has cost thousands upon thousands of lives, not to mention several key figures. My own leader, one that was admired by millions perished in a valiant fight to prevent the terrible creature entrapped by the gate. I wish that him and I could switch places, that I was the one who died rather than he. But I have no say on that."

"But by the sacrifices of all those who died, we are allowed to live again. We are allowed to breath air untainted by Valtrox. We are allowed to teach our children what we want."

"I would say to continue our charge, straight into the Cult. But we do not have the resources, nor the people. Spies have reported a large amount of demons still within the city, not to mention a large population of cultist soldiers. Not to mention the massive expanse of disease filled swams and bogs. Not to mention the thousands of strange creatures created by the evil that surrounds the city."

"Mark my words though, the Cult has been dealt a crushing blow, losing their leader, their hope, and their armies. They will need to rebuild. But as they rebuild, we too grow stronger. And when that time is ready, we shall have our vengeance. Our day will come."

"Before I leave you all, I must commend you personally. We would not be free if it weren't for our allies and comrades who have come to our aid in a time of need. The Patriarch would have loved to have made a large speech about it, but he is in a better place."

"We shall be holding a ceremony dedicated to those died, including the Patriarch soon. I'm sure he would have loved to have had you all come to one of his lavish parties. But the most I can ask for is to attend the ceremony. Thank you."

With that, the General walked out of the tent, his eyes filled with tears.