NationStates Jolt Archive

The gates came crashing down onto the cold sands, and from the underbellies of the ships the Freeks came forth. They wasted no time in setting up shop in their newly purchased territory, but because a lot of the land was of substandard nature, clean up crews were first dispatched to take care of any hazards. The Austian government had tried to dupe Automagfreek by selling it contaminated land, but a fairly inexpensive radioactive clean up operation would do the trick.

Hundreds of tons of supplies were loaded onto large vehicles and taken to the makeshift staging areas at each new location. To the naked eye, it would appear that the Freeks were doing nothing more than colonizing thier new territory....

For many weeks construction and clean up went around the clock both above the surface...and below. Housing was quickly established as well as defensive perimeters, but underneath the ground there was much more going on. Underground SAM sites and defensive batteries were built as well as storage and personnel bunkers, capable of holding thousands of combat ready troops and hundreds of thousands of tons of supplies.

However this was totally masked by efforts on the surface to create a visibly appealing colony. Each colony that was being constructed definatly reflected the military nature of Automagfreek. Mine fields, watchtowes, machine gun nests, anti-air emplacements...the works. As days continued to pass more civilian engineers, Sentinels, and diplomats arrived at each colony to step up operations there.

However, things on the home front were much more...intereting. Dreadfire had once again gone missing, and this time he had taken the remains of his son deep inside the bowels of the Vault of Souls....a place where even Lord Dreadfire himself feared to tread. The entrance was a virtually pitch black hole in the side of a vacant corridor inside the Halls of the Dead, and with little more than a torch Damien started off into the abyss.

He had never gone more than a few dozen feet inside, a combination of unwordly creatures locked inside their crystal vaults and a cold so bitter it could freeze over Hell. He passed hundreds of blue soul crystals as he continued on into the Vault, and even though he tried not to look at what surrounded him, his curiosity got the better of him.

May the Gods help us all if these beasts are ever set loose upon mankind.. Whispered the fiery Lord as he passed the crystal that contained his old friend from Crimmond, Delta. He gave Delta nothing more than a glance before passing him by and heading further down.

Stop.

The Destroyer's voice echoed in his head. Dreadfire was little more than a fraction of the way into the Vault, and he felt like he had already walked across the Earth. Here. Place Azrael's body at the foot of this crystal. Damien complied and placed the bag containing his son's bones on the cold ground, laying them out in the correct positon. Now, open the crystal Lord Dreadfire, and claim your prize

Damien looked at the creature that was housed in silence before him. A tall and burly figure it was, its arms folded over and nailed to its chest. His eyes, and lips were sown shut, his skin black and riddled with festering sores. Damien hesitated for a second, not sure if he wanted the essence of this creature to inhabit the body of his son. Why has this creature been chosen to breathe life into my son?

The Destroyer cackled inside Damien's head.Because this creature is both hero and coward, master and slave, worth and worthlessness....such as your son was in life. I do not think that one such as yourself who is in the position you are in can make choices. Release this beast or lose your son forever.

Damien took the Relic's Sword that he always carried off of his back and swung it without hesitation this time. The bluish crystal exploded into shards as the razor sharp blade tore through its fabric with relative ease. Dreadfire watched as the chamber dissolve, leaving only the motionless creature in his wake. But soon the beast began to fade into the darkness, and Damien scrambled to grab ahold of it before it vanished.

He failed to snatch the creature before it dematerialized, and he cursed at the top of his lungs and buried his head in his hands....until a single word broke the silence.

Father....

~Tag~

Tag-I presume the land is that of which you brought from me.

OOC: Yes, and the other land I purchased. But there is no way of you knowing, all military construction is taking place underground.

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Dreadfire's heart skipped a beat or two as he slowly glanced down at the white sheet that covered the remains of his son. Was he losing his mind? Did he really hear the voice of Azrael? He paused for a moment, ready to dismiss what he heard, but as soon as he began to turn around to leave the Tomb, he saw the sheet move. Father.... The raspy voice cried out again.

Damien threw back the sheet and saw the withered remains of his son moving about faintly. The flesh on his bones was regenerating ever so slightly, and if one were to pay close attention to his body, you could see the tendons and muscles beginning to grow and reattach themselves. Damien was near hysterical with joy, a sense of panic with a hint of relief washed over him, and he began to twitch and his eyes water.

Azrael extended a boney hand towards Damien and strained to call out to him once more, but as he attempted to do so he was silenced by a calming hand gesture. Be still my son, I am here. Azrael's body contorted and twitched as his internal organs began to take shape and his bones fuse back into place. A greusome sigh he was.

After several hours Azrael's body was complete enough to allow him to be carried, and Damien scooped up his son into his arms and carried him out of the cold Tomb. He decided it was best to take him through the secret passageway that lead from the Halls of the Dead to the basement of the Great Hall, as to avoid being spotted. The reanimated Azrael gasped for breath as he hack and coughed, his lungs and passageways taking shape was well as the rest of his figure.

Upon entering the Great Hall, Damien quickly took Azrael to his private chambers in the west wing. The servants had shuffled off to bed, so there would be nobody else awake that could spot him. The two entered Dreadfire's master bedroom, and after laying Azrael down on the freshly made bed Damien rushed to the door and locked it securely.

Father.....where am I? What happened?

Damien moved over towards the bed and looked upon his son in wonder. Azrael, I have finally succeeded. I have saved you from the clutches of Death....I have defied the Gods once more, forever sealing my fate once I depart the realms of the living. Azrael looked at Damien with confusion.

You were lost in war, m'boy. The powers of Rayne poisoned your mind, and in the midst of the greatest land battle on Automagfreek soil since the charge of Lord Rising Sun, you were struck down. Azrael's mind quickly began to recall that fateful day, but his memories were clouded by the spell that Rayne had put under him.

I cannot remember, father. I am weary, I need rest... And with that Azrael passed out on his fathers bed, his body still regenerating slowly.

When the sun breaks the horizon, we will begin anew, you and I. A New Dawn is upon us.

{OOC: I don't mean to clutter this, but do you ever plan to write a novel Automagfreek? If you want I can delete this post so it doesn't clutter the thread}

Pretty cool stuff, AMF. If you're interested, you can check out my newest RP from the link in my sig. As always, I'll be reading this one.

OOC: I'll keep my eye on this.

OOC: El Caudillo, I've been working on a novel off and on for almost a year. Haven't really had time or ambition to finish it though.

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Production on the new Freek territory was moving along ahead of schedule. In order to avoid suspicion, heavy equipement was moved at night to the underground entrances, which were shrouded by large tents or warehouses. The vehicles would drive into the buildings in the dead of night to decend into the subterranean caverns, removing hundreds of tons of dirt each night, and by morning other vehicles that had been running for some time would return to the surface to refuel and allow the operators to rest. At any given time, the same number of vehicles could be accounted for. It was a perfect deception.

Many long hours had passed at the Great Hall, and after nearly 48 hours the body of Azrael had, for the most part, returned to its normal state. By noon on the third day he was up out of bed and moving about Dreadfire's master bedroom, and his father had not left his sight for a single second. It is good to see that you have regained your strength. Good thing too.... Damien began to trail off as he glanced out of his large window. He then turned slowly towards Azrael and locked eyes with him, his expression cold and to the point. Are you ready to take control of your Empire once more?

Azrael nodded slowly but without hesitation. Good, then we shall begin immediately. I will not inform the press of you return, in fact I will leave no trace of it. Instead, your return to glory will be made when you lead our armies to victory once more. I have purchased several plots of land, and as we speak construction of new military bases is underway. We will use these bases to launch our first assaults.

Azrael nodded, attempting to soak in everything that was going on. But there is something much more...important that we must discuss. Damien motioned for Azrael to sit on the bed, and as he did he pulled up one of the wooden chairs from a nearby desk. Damien sat on the old chair, causing it to creak as it bore his incredible muscular mass.

His unblinking red eyes again locked with those of Azrael, and in a stern voice he broke the silence that had filled the room. Why did you not tell me about the existance of your sister, Silvia?

Azrael swallowed hard.

From a crystal in the Vault, The Beast looked on as Damien brought his son to the dark place. He said nothing as teh Destroyer walked on. The restoration of his son was not expected, but The Beast was happy for the warlord. After they left, he stared across at another soul, damned centuried ago. To be reunited with one's son, in a place of such suffering... perhaps all is not lost in this world. The other soul just screamed at him, as he expected. After all, it was here as punishment. The Beast's punishment was over long ago... he had returned as this was the only place on Earth his soul could rest without substance.

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Two days later, before Azrael awoke, he 'spoke' to the Warlord. A chill passed over Damien as the thoughts rose unbidden until his mind, though he could not 'speak' back. He is the second Azrael I have watched defy Death's cold talons. The first is the Ancient he is named after. I am happy his return has given you peace for the moment... but there is a storm brewing in the distance. Soon I will require your assitance, my friend. The next time you feel my presence, we will have but days to prepare. Make ready...

Dreadfire shook off the cold feeling, although he never let it leave the back of his mind. Indeed there would be new and more pressing issues that would arise, but for the time being he would focus his efforts on the coming storm. In due time, old friend. In due time.....

Azrael had been flown under tight security to Camp Rock, where AMF's largest contingent of Sentienls were housed. There he would be charged with rebuilding his forces, many of which were recycled and thrown itno other mixed units under supervision of Lord Dreadfire. After Rayne's Rebellion most of Azrael's Sentinels were executed for high treason, although everyone knew that they were only following orders.

In the weeks that passed a cloud of suspicion began to build on the mainland. Camp Rock was located no more than a mile or two out to sea, and onlookers on the beaches saw a swirling mass of banners....the colors of green, gray, and gold. This caused somewhat of a panic amongst the local folk, but none of them wanted to go public for fear of what Lord Dreadfire might do.....

How are things progressing m'boy? Damien said as he took up a seat alongside Azrael. He nodded and continued about his work, overseeing the revamping of his flagship, the Death Rattle. The entire craft was being refurbished with new weapons, safety improvements, armor, the works. Things are going well father. My forces should be prepared for combat soon. From inside the watchtower the two could see the entire shipyard, and the hundreds that toiled around the clock to make the required changes on Azrael's ship.

Azrael shifted in his seat slightly, knowing that up until this point he had avoided the question popped by Damien. But the fiery Warlord knew this, and without hesitation he asked again, a little more stern this time. Tell me boy, why did you keep your sister a secret from me for so long? He looked down toward the floor for several seconds before standing and walking several feet away from his father.

I did not want her to get involved in the...family business. She isn't like us Damien, she takes more after mom. I don't think we should drag her into our business. Dreadfire's lip tightened as he nodded in an almost unconcerned manner. I understand, but we are a family. Regardless of the 'games we play', we need to stick together. There is no telling what could happen if Silvia were taken captive by a foreign threat. If she stays too far away from us there will be little we can do to protect her.

Azrael thought for a second. Well....makes sense I suppose.Our country doens't exactly have an...upstanding reputation, and a captive family member of Lord Dreadfire is definatly a trump card. He paused for a few more seconds, then cleared his throat. I agree, she should be kept close to us at all times.

After Azrael finished speaking, Damien raised his right hand into the air and snapped his fingers. The door to the tower opened, and under Sentinel escort she entered the room....Silvia. It seemed as if everything was moving in slow motion, and the young woman paused as her eyes locked with those of Azrael. For what seemed like an eternity she starred at him as if he were a ghost, and with watering eyes she ran towads him. The two embraced and shared laughter as they had finally reunited.

Damien simply stood in the background and smiled, a single thought running through his mind. My line is now complete....and soon the Campaign of Carnage will be underway....