Retribution of a Fallen God

[SaigoKusunoki]

Night. Darkness. These were things common to the mourning wife; despite the fact that she hardly left her room, which was windowless, and the fact that her eyes were sewn shut, the real darkness came not from without, but from within. Five hundred years of utter darkness. There are few who could have dealt; some would have slit their wrists in tears and ended it. But she was stronger; the life of Sunev Kusunoki was riddled with strife, and she had lived. She wasn't going to back down from life's hardships, not yet.
At least, that's what she told herself every day. As she ran her fingers across a tome of advanced Elemental magic, she realized that every day she despaired more and more. Even as the book's information implanted itself in her brain, she felt that each day sapped a little of her sanity. Bored with learning the same things every day, she threw the book down in frustration. As she didnt need to see, no candles were lit in her room, but it did not hinder her at all. She slowly got up out of her small bed and made her way to the door. So used to the room as she was, she stumbled over nothing. She felt she needed a quick breath of air to calm her nerves.

*****

Elvilad lost count of how many times he cast his runes, in an attempt to decipher the future. Every single time, the five small stones arranged into a circle; in Runeseeing terms, this meant that the future was unreadable. He was aware of the tempest in the Winds of Magic, but he did not realize how strong it was. Even he, an experienced Runesmith, was unable to decipher a blessed thing, and it was beginning to frustrate him. He dropped the runes where they were (which quickly rearranged into a circle) and made his way to his window. He pushed the pane up and locked it in place, attempting to enjoy the cool breeze. He cast a weary gaze over the Archanas Academy of Magic and Warfare. He could see some students were still awake, milling about the courtyard in quiet conversation. He sighed; one day, he promised, these students will be able to spread their wings and soar to new heights and new lands. He gazed past the school, past the fields, to where the Seal was. The Seal, which had protected them for five hundred years, had a clear defining line; on one side, the land was green and fertile, on the other, gray and dead.
One day, he had always told the students, one day they will live in a land without evil, without fear. It was a promise he had given for five hundred years; others had accepted the world for how it is, but not him. He knew that one day, He will return and make the world green again.
Elvilad was about to retire to bed when he felt something; a shift in the Winds of Magic, small at first, but then very strong, as if a hand was gripping his insides and turning them around. He wretched, and quickly put his hand to his mouth. Something was wrong.
Then came the wind, stronger than any hurricane, and with the sound of breaking glass, the Seal shattered into a million pieces and dissipated.

*****
Master Forgesmith Enav Dunedhal was admiring the craftsmanship of a wall-mounted cannon, when the wind began. The stout dwarf braced himself as he felt his stomach drop out from under him; though never much into magic, he knew that whatever this wind was, it was not natural. Some of the weaker, younger, or just unexpecting soldiers who were milling about were knock flat on their backs by the sudden wind. The Bastion of Dawn's Light was thrown into chaos in a matter of seconds as the gale continued. Captains shouted orders, horses neighed, children cried, and for a moment, Enav expected to hear the drums and horns of war. After several minutes of intense wind, however, he figured maybe something even more sinister was at foot.

"Hold steady lads! Its just a little breeze!" He managed to shout to those on the walls and below. Something was definitely amiss.

((OOC: Alright kiddies, those who are in tune with the Winds of Magic will noticed a huge change, and even those who dont will notice something odd. Make this a good and fun RP.))

[Red Mage Black]

Black shivered as the wind passed through him. Even within his home the Winds of Magic reached him. "Marion, what are you planning? You can't hide it from me."

'Something wrong Black?' Latis asked as she sat in her pendant form around his neck. "Did you not feel the Winds? They're strong." 'He's still looking for you. It may be part of his plan.' "I feel it is bigger then that. Much bigger." Black wandered outside of his home, it sat on the outskirts of the demon infested city.

"But we shall not let it distract it us from our nightly feeding." 'Indeed.' "Let the rest of the world have its war. Long has it been since I cared at all what happens to mankind. Only my survival matters, that is it." Black wandered out further, wondering what he'd find tonight.

[Ugainius]

The wind surged through the Bastion of Dawns Light. People panicked, soldiers attempted to restore order and one old Dwarf smiled.

He smiled not at the chaos or general pandemonium that surrounded him. He smiled not because of anything that had been done or was being done or what would be done. He smiled for a reason most would find trivial, if not ridiculous.

He smiled because, whatever this wind was, what it brought or what it caused was irrelevant. All that mattered was what was hidden inside it. Another wind. The wind of change.

The old dwarf, despite never so much as looking at a magical book, knew that something was about to happen. Something which would change everything.

The dwarf smiled. He knew what the change would be.

[SaigoKusunoki]

The severed head of an Acolyte of Malak'har hit the ground wetly and rolled down the stairs leading from Morian's throne. He was angry, wrathful even. He called up the next Acolyte in line and without another word dispatched him. The boy did not cry out, for it was part of his service to Malak'har, to die at his master's whim. With each death, Morian's anger steadily rose.
Flanking his throne, was Praxis to his right, and Gaius to his left. Praxis had a sick smile on his face; he revelled in spilled blood. Gaius, however, tried to make his lord see reason.

"My lord, do not despair. It could be a trick of those wretched Elves. Wind is easy to conjure."

Morian glared at Gaius with malice. He was not that ignorant. He hastily stood up.

"Praxis. Take one hundred fifty of the Legion Dominatus. The Seal is broken; make sure to leave none alive in that wretched school."

"Yes, my liege." Praxis was overjoyed with the anticipation of the slaughter. However, Gaius frowned and shook his head.

"Lord, Praxis and the Legio are the most powerful forces you can muster. And remember who resides in the school. It would be wiser to send that vile thing you have in the dungeon, with some Gorobar or some Acolytes..."

Morian, though stubborn, was not deaf to the advice of his strategist. "Yes...there is the Bitch Queen and that repulsive Elrundel. They could pose a threat. Praxis, go fetch my little pet...tell him he can finally feed once again. Gaius, rally some Gorobar to accompany him. Those barbarians are at least good for testing the enemy's strength."

Gaius bowed and hurridly left to do his master's bidding, but Praxis remained with a look of disgust on his face.

"My Lord, do you not think I can complete the task at hand? I can rend them all limb from limb!"

"It isnt that, my dear boy. If what I think is happening is surely in motion, then I am going to need you later. I cannot afford to risk losing such a fine warrior."

Satisfied, Praxis bowed low and made his way to the dungeons of Daranaughl. He had no idea why Morian kept the wretched Vampire-thing alive. If it was up to Praxis, he would have murdered it centuries ago. All it did was cry and whine and yell.

And just as he expected, the Jailer opened the large steel door, and a vile, heart-wrenching cry filled Praxis' ears. Cringing, he made his way to the cell at the end, passing by other prisoners who had long since killed themselves, having had to listen to the Vampire's lamenting for so long.

What was in the cell could only be described as a monster. Thin and gray skinned, yet tall and muscular, the demonically-possessed vampire lay huddled against a corner of the cold stone cell, scratching idly at the walls as it cried out in pain and misery. Praxis hefted his halberd and strode fearlessly into the cell, his halberd at the creature's throat.

"Our lord wants you to go to the school. Murder what you want, feed as much as you want, so says our lord Morian. Get up wretch, and go spill blood in the name of Malak'har and Morian." so said Praxis.

The lamented cries stopped abruptly, and the silence was deafening. A thin, long fanged smile crept itself across the vampire-thing's face.

[PhoenixFlame]

Auvrea Eilkash sat in reviere, staring again at a long, and complex diagram of an advanced fire spell, searching quietly for the tiny secret that continued to elude her grasp. A quartet of faint red wax tapers barely illuminated her study of the tome, held face-level by a stand, allowing the adept free use of her hands. This would have been a luxurious aid in simpler, earlier magics, but now, it was merely the luxury of standing in thought. She should have retired long ago, but Auvrea found it much more peaceful to study when her world was free of the distractions of day.

It was night now, and the wind...

"No..." she said audibly in a whisper, looking up from the book with dire eyes. Her gaze was drawn forcibly, as if by a hand, toward the room's single window. Then, as one, the tapers around her work were snuffed. Something had gone horribly wrong. Then, with a feeling of icy dread, the sorceress caught sight of the barrier shattering with an inaudible scream that deafened her mental senses.

Reeling, and in darkness, she feverishly reached for her brazier of the winds, a small, silver bowl upon which white incense was ritually burned to commune with air elementals. Even in the low light, she managed to find it flawlessly, lighting the small sticks with a most basic fire spell.

"Watcher!" She said, in the trained bark that a military captain might call for his second, "We must speak at once. Manifest yourself." calling for one of the air elementals she had suspected brought such a dire message.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Enav, down off the wall and currently helping those who had taken a nasty fall, heard the Grand Marshal calling to him. He hustled over, Worldbreaker slung over his shoulder and a stupid grin on his face.

"Aye lord, something is definitely amiss. This ridiculous wind started up without a warnin'. I have no idea why, in all me years I haven't seen something quite like this."

He looked into the rising sun as the Winds began to die down.

"Feels like the winds of change...eh lad?"

*****

If her eyes could open, Sunev's eyes would be wide right now. More in tune with magic than most, she could feel everything; she knew exactly what was happening, and the news frightened her, more than anything she had ever experienced. Quickly, she made her way to Elvilad's small study, and almost ran into him as he flew from the room. He was breathing heavy and sweating profusely. He knew as well.

"My lady...what do we do now?"

"Nothing. We make sure the students do not leave their dorms, and we wait. There's not much else we can do."

Elvilad nodded. He was calming down, instead beginning to feel jittery and happy. He smiled, and Sunev could feel it. She frowned and shook her head.

"Nothing is certain. This could usher in peace and order...or truly bring ruin upon us all. Do not get excited." she said blandly as they both sat down in Elvilad's study.

"Ah ever the pessimist you are, Sunev. Do not speak as if..."

"I will speak as I damn well please. Ive had a lot of things happen in my life, and one thing Ive learned is not to get excited about anything...because in the end, everything will be taken from you." She snapped.

*****

Coils of smoke-like energy began flowing freely from the bowl in Auvrea's room. Twisting, whispering, it slowly formed into a vaguely humanoid shape, almost transparent.

"What is it you require, child of the Material Realm? If it is knowledge you seek, knowledge you will find."

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin had been here long enough to learn this ones name. He watched praxis walk down the hallway to where that wretched vampire thing's cell was. Oh how he hated that beast and its damned whining.

Ruin was smarter than most, but he was still a demon. He bored of this place, it had been weeks since he had maimed a foe. As Praxis and the beast walked past his cell, he mustered the strength to pose a question.

"Please, i want to come with you." Ruin said in his booming voice. He tensed, and got ready for a fight, expecting punishment for his insolence.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Praxis and the Vampire-thing stopped and regarded the demon. Praxis looked it over with disgust.

"I dont give a damn. Make sure this sap does his job." he jerked his head towards the Vampire, whom glared at the back of Praxis' head with hatred.

They made their way to the courtyard of Daranaughl castle, to find Gaius had already mustered about two hundred swarthy, drunken barbarians itching for a fight. They silenced as Praxis lowered his halberd to point at them.

"Your orders are simple and come directly from our lord Morian Baneblade himself. Enter the Academy, kill any and all that reside in there, and make sure none escape. No prisoners, no mercy. You will follow this one." he jerked his head again to the Vampire. "Now quit wasting time and GO!"

They raised a mighty war cry, and began pounding their drums as they marched to battle. Before letting the Vampire leave, Praxis locked eyes with him and got very close to his face.

"You fuck up, and your skull will hang from my belt. Now go, and murder."

The Vampire merely smiled.

*****

Enav Dunedhal stood next to Abzadrael, having to stand on top of a cannon to see over the crenelated wall.

The Bastion of Dawn's Light was an awe inspiring work of architecture. Set against the Dragonspine Mountain, made of the finest quality stone mined from the deepest parts of the earth, it had stood for five hundred years against demonic assault, a testiment of it's craftsmanship. Walls fifty feet high and twenty feet wide, almost a half a mile across, it was impenetrable.

Enav casually puffed smoke from his pipe, the whole time gazing into the rising sun. He turned to Abzadrael.

"Do you think...that blasted prophecy is true? Do you think our Lord has returned?"

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin found his place at the back of the marchers. It was nice on this planet, and he walked casually with his club resting carefully on his shoulder.

These humans disgusted him, more so than the others. He had already had to step over several bodies, some from fights, and others had simply been trampled. "Stupid cattle cant even walk." he murmered to himself. One of the barbarians heard him, and spat in his direction.

Ruin calmly clutched his club and raised it high above him. He brought it down onto the mans head, crushing him instantly. The blood on his skin felt good, the dungeon was dry and cold. I feel alive again, Ruin thought to himself as he pulled the remains of the man out from between the spikes of his club.

[PhoenixFlame]

Attempting not to be taken aback by the rather forward nature of the wind spirit, Auvrea smiled. The elementals of the air had a reputation as notoriously fickle, often flitting from one thought to another with little coherancy. A trained mage quickly learned how to ask the right questions, although, in this situation, the powers that be were so strong and focused such formalities were pointless.

"That is what I seek." She nodded to the spirit, "The coming storm is a harbinger of a paradigm shift in our world, and you ride at it's head. What news do you have, that your brethren move as such? Is it true that Lord Saigo has returned to our realm?"

[SaigoKusunoki]

The spirit cocked it's head, amused.

"It is a possibility. If he has...he is certainly different, and is masking himself. But I would not mention his name out loud. There are forces at work more powerful than any of my kin could match...this world interests many higher beings...it would be wise to keep quiet about that issue. I would say the boy has made quite a show...is that all you require?"

*****

Enav had descended the walls and began making his way throughout the barracks, cheering up the superstitious and paranoid amongst the soldiers. He pulled a wooden stool next to a particular soldier, a man who seemed in his thirties.

"Garvi, lad, ya look troubled. What be on your mind?"

The man shrugged and fiddled with a dagger, cleaning and trimming his nails with it. "I feel weary. It has only been eight months since the last attack...where my company took a heavy loss. We are ready for anything...in body. In heart...Im not sure my men can stand up to another assault. That wind...it had to have been of demonic origin."

Enav shook his head and handed his still lit pipe to the man. "Nah lad you worry too much. Its probably one o' them elves screwin' with magic and such, you know how they do. Now, I wanna see smile from this here company or I'll kick all o' yer hides." He said with a smile. Garvi grinned after taking a long draw from the pipe and handing it back.

For all of their sakes, Enav hoped he was right.

[PhoenixFlame]

The sorceress nodded, cryptic... but direct. She would have expected nothing less. "I understand... Yes, that will be all." she bowed, "Many thanks, you are dismissed." With this, she snuffed the brazier, and quietly sat down.

Regardless if it were true, there could be no counting on good fortune. Morian's army would certainly know the barrier had broken, and was likely already marching his army down upon them, even more likely with greater number and superior troops. Even knowing this, Elvilad would never order or permit an evacuation, there would be too many to move with haste, and where would they go? Supplies would quickly run out, and the forces of darkness would undoubtely harry them at every turn.

No, there would be a seige, that was certain. The hour was less certain.

Though she would never admit it, Auvrea doubted just how prepared the academy was for such an event. Complacency was never a luxury, but with the ward...

Rising slowly, Auvrea recovered her staff from it's place beside her door, and took her place at the window, staring off toward the horizon. They, would be coming.

[SaigoKusunoki]

The next morning, Elivilad made it clear that all students must assemble in the courtyard quickly and quietly. Though the quick part was achieved, quiet was not; all of the students were gossiping and talking about that previous night. Whether they were awake or asleep, in tune with magic or not, every student felt that wind. Some were frightened, others were playing hero, but all had a feeling of uneasiness. All looked to Elvilad for support, for hope, for anything. He raised his arms and quieted all of the students.

"Though I assume you all know already, last night there was a strange magical wind. There are rumors about Morian's army marching to us, and there is even silly gossip about the Seal being broken. I want to assure all of you that last night was just a releasing of energy. For a while now, the Winds of Magic have been clouded by a Tempest, a surge of magical energy that distorts the flow of the winds. Well, last night, that Tempest flew over us. Do not be alarmed."

Elvilad sighed as he saw the relieved look on the faces of the students; he knew he was lying, and that the truth would now hit them even harder once he was forced to tell them. He had found those students who were awake, who had seen the Seal shatter with their own eyes, and sternly ordered them not to say anything to the rest, that he had a plan to keep them safe. Lies piled on top of lies, he realized, but he had to do something, anything, to keep the students calm.

He had not seen Sunev since last night. She had locked herself in her room, doing who knows what. Elvilad pitied the girl; she had lost so much, and now, she refused to accept that someone taken from her is returning to her; she refuses to accept it for the mere fact that she doesnt want it taken away again. Elvilad could read her like a book, he realized with a smile.

He wearily went back to his quarters, ready to finally get some shuteye. Like all buildings in the Academy, it was made of polished mahogany, and he had been fortunate enough to have enough polish to keep it looking new. He opened his bedroom door and was halfway pulling his coat off when he stopped abruptly. Someone was standing ten feet away from him, in his room. He was tall, about six foot one, and from the looks of his wolf and bear skin cloak, had come from the northern mountains. He carried an ornate spear of gold and silver. Emerald green eyes peered from the wolfskin headwrapping.

"Who...wha...?" stuttered Elvilad.

The figure chuckled and pulled off the head wrapping. Silvery white hair spilled out and hung to the man's waist. He was wearing a stupid grin.

"Do not alert the students of my presence. To you, and to all of them, I am known as Kauyon, a scout from the north who saw that Morian had sent a small force to attack the school, and came to inform you. By the way, Morian sent a small force of barbarians to attack you."

He spoke of business, but he was nothing but smiles. Elvilad did not know what to do, his heart racing, so he did the only thing he could do. He kneeled.

"Yes my liege."

((OOC: Gotta give this some sort of direction quick, all this multiple area stuff could make this overly complicated.))

[PhoenixFlame]

This was outrageous. Not a thousand years could it have been dreamt, or so thought the (albeit relatively) young sorceress.

It was all Auvrea could conjure within herself to maintain a straight face during Elivilad's courtyard address. Like all of the students and staff, she too looked to him for help, for a plan, for a strategy, but it was all met with nothing but lies and deceit. A fighter's guild in a backwater city surely might have fallen for such a ruse, but an academy? The Academy?

Anyone who had taken intermediate geomancy would have known, without a shadow of a doubt that this was more than just a "random" tempest. Still, she had been told to say nothing, and to act casual. Threatened, almost!

Still, there had to be a reason for it... They just weren't telling her what it was.

"Pah, they wouldn't bother telling an adept or the general staff anyway... If I were but a master, perhaps things would be different." she thought to herself, not daring to speak such a thought aloud. It was unlikely now that she'd ever live take the test, or, more likely in the wishful mind, if the test would live for her to take it.

And so, she remained in the courtyard after the adress, sitting near a small reflection pond, wondering and counter-wondering the need for such secrecy within the heirarchy. Certainly, not all of them were children? Little could the still waters reveal of million year old politics, despite their own formidible age.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Despite Elvilad's comments, rumors still spread like wildfire, albeit behind shut doors instead of out in the open. Amongst those who did not believe the Headmaster was Phoenix. He was always one to question authority, sometimes just for the sake of heated debate. Despite his overall calm and joyful nature, doubt pulled at his insides. He still tried to keep a smile on at all times, but he found it difficult. Something was amiss.

He was wandering the Courtyard when he happened upon the elf Auvrea. She seemed deep in thought, with probably ten times more troubles and doubts than he had. Quietly, he sat down a little ways from her.

"Heya, mind if I join you?"

*****

In Elvilad's room, the Headmaster paced back and forth in anxiety and frustration. What was he going to do? He had so many questions to ask, so much to do, and so little time. He made sure no one was eavesdropping outside his window or door, and then began asking questions.

"Where were you these past five hundred years?"

The Emperor laughed quietly. It was not the jolly laugh the man had so many years ago...more like the laugh of a man who had seen just too much.

"Well...some higher ups didnt like the fact that I died. Didnt like what Malak'har was doing, possessing Morian and all that. So, they put me to the test; I wandered the Nether, with a sort of hitlist. Each being on that list was a demon of immense power. Each kill brought me more power. It was hard at first...but it became a little easier. Met up with Shiro, and my brother Kyogi, at some point...they were doing the same thing, except they were killing demons who were sent by Morian to recruit new demons into his army."

Elvilad nodded, more to himself than to the Emperor.

"Im going to skip a bunch of questions and get straight to it. What are we going to do? Morian obviously knows you have returned...he will mass an army that could span the horizon twice over. There is no way we could defend from this school..."

"Ah. The fun part. Well as far as I know, the force approaching right now is a group of disorganized rabble. I could probably take them on myself. But, while they approach, I know Morian is raising his army. He plans to delay us with this small force, then descend like the executioner's axe...right at our necks. Now...before I can make a solid plan, I need to ask you a few questions."

"Ask away, my lord." Elvilad stopped pacing and sat down in a chair.

"Alright. What has become of my wife, my children, and my allies?"

Elvilad cast his eyes to the ground. A few issues he really wished he didnt have to talk about.

"Your wife is...how do I put this...alive. Alive bodily, broken in spirit. She's sewn her eyes shut, and I would guess she is sleeping right now or she'd be tearing through this building looking for you. Citan was killed in battle a few years after your death...and Uriko, the poor thing died in child birth." he sorrowfully replied.

Saigo's eyes widened, and for a moment, anger flashed across his face.

"Child birth? I take it she was married...was it at least a decent individual?"

"Hardly. After your death, she sought shelter with Kalaador. She eventually was wed to Maleus Pegasi. Whom is still alive, if I recall correctly."

He cringed at the name. Though surely not enemies, Saigo had never really taken a liking to Maleus; though he was loyal to his King, there was definitely something "off" about him. He stifled his anger as best he could, but small objects such as teacups and pens began rattling on their own. Elvilad paled with fear and awe.

"Continue. Did the child live?"

"Yes...in fact, the direct child, your grandson, was delivered here by Maleus himself. He said he would rather let myself raise the child. The descendant of the child still lives; in fact, he is a student here. I have kept watch over every generation of your family, though I have never told them who they are."

"Good. I would like to see the boy later. Now, what of our allies?"

"Well...Naorond is constantly keeping Morian on his heels. They like war a little too much...but their constant raiding has kept Morian from developing a way to destroy the seal prematurely. Ultherathor sits behind their wall of fire, complacent and without worry. I have not heard nor seen Neldor or any Sylvans since your death...but being as the Glade is still alive, I would figure so are they."

Saigo nodded as he absorbed all of the information, and began to formulate a plan.

"Elvilad, is my old dormatory in use?"

"No lord, the entire building has been abandoned and kept locked."

"Good. Give me one night to think things over...and have a talk with Sunev. Oh, and one more thing Elvilad...what happened to Geliath Jerramas, and the forces I led to the South?"

"They occupied the then-unfinished keep built into the Dragonspine mountains...it is called the Bastion of Dawn's Light. "

"What is the size of the army? And is it defensible?"

"It has been under near-constant siege for five hundred years and has not fallen...so I would say it is defensible. The army stationed there is hardly thirty thousand, but they are the finest the world can offer."

"Good good...this is good to know. I will see you tomorrow, old friend. Now, calm yourself, rest, relax. I have promises to keep, and I plan on keeping them. You will one day be at my side again, as the Prime Minister of Archanas, I promise it."

Elvilad was speechless. Saigo spoke with such confidence, such benign generosity and confidence...it kindled the fires of hope in his heart. He merely nodded and smiled, and shook his old friend's hand.

[PhoenixFlame]

Auvrea almost looked suprised at Phoenix's approach... Apparrently, she had fallen into deeper thought than she had origionally anticipated.

"Oh? Not at all. Please, what's on your mind?" she smiled, offering the young man a seat next to herself. It was easy to recognise one of the more prominent rising stars of the academy, especially since he was a little bit of a troublemaker. Still, Phoenix was talented, and not on Morian's side, which was enough to call him a close friend.

"I hear a tempest is responsible for interrupting my studies last night." She continued as the man took his seat. Her tone was one of... Suffice to say, the best veiled sarcasm she could muster.

[SaigoKusunoki]

"Haha, yeah. A tempest..." he lowered his voice "A tempest that could shatter the Seal?

He knew he shouldnt be talking about what he saw, thats what Elvilad said, but he knew Auvrea was no idiot, he knew she had felt something if not seen something last night.

"What did you feel, last night? I dunno...I felt like the Seal was almost a part of me...I'm certainly missing a certain something that Ive felt all my life."

Phoenix began idly picking at the ground. His typical joyous smile was replaced with a look of despair.

"I dont think we're going to be here at the Academy much longer..."

[PhoenixFlame]

She nodded grimly, "Indeed... The academy was never designed to be defensible. If it were, why build the bastion?"

Like Phoenix, Auvrea lowered her voice, and then again, so it were barely a whisper.

"I shouldn't speak of this, but last night, I saw the seal break while I was studying... In a frantic start, I summoned one of it's accompanying wind elementals, well, it was no tempest... I'll leave it at that." She sighed, inwardly cursing at herself for speaking too much. Still, Phoenix was a bright and courageous man, and he deserved to know.

"Elvilad is right, though." She started again, "A great many of the academy could not handle such news. It will fall to us to carry them through the coming storm."

[SaigoKusunoki]

"I see...that is definitely not good...I can see why the old elf is keeping it a secret...let kids know that their one and only defense is gone, and the panic will kill us before the demons do."

Phoenix began fingering the demon teeth at the end of his swords. Touching them brought back the painful memory of his first real combat. He could distinctly remember everything; the sound of the demon's warcry, the smell of it's breath and blood, and how effortlessly his blades had pierced it's stomach, spilling it's insides to the birds to feast on. He quickly shook the vision from his thoughts.

"Auvrea....have you ever had to kill?" He asked. He didnt even really know where the question came from, or why.

[Red Mage Black]

"No wonder there is no food tonight", Black said listening to the footsteps of barbaric soldiers. Something clicked in his mind, though it was something he thought of much when Morian sent out an army. "I will follow if only for a while. Then maybe I will not starve." 'Certainly they are heading for a human capital. The elves are too much trouble to bother.'

"Yes, now only to see where. Once they are done, surely there will be survivors for the taking." Black swept through the area and silently followed the amassed group Morian had sent out. 'With this many they must be heading towards a largely populated area. More for me to feed on.'

(My goodness this moved fast.)

[Astral Harmony]

The beast fell, crashing into a nearby tree and soaking the trunk and roots in blood. Shalvanis was never a clean hunter. "This could have been so much easier if you had simply died peacefully...but I'm so happy you resisted until the end. Ah, I feel satisfied."

She put her weapon away, grabbed the carcass (not caring how much blood got into her robe), and began her trek back to the Bastion of Dawn's Light. It was how she made her living and became a responsible member of society there. This was her last prey for today and she could rest until tomorrow.

[Ugainius]

Iarann walked through the Bastion. To a passer-by he would look like mad man; muttering contradictions and bumping into people.

He was thinking of things to come. If he was right then Morian and his Demons would be gone forever. However the Dwarven people would have some difficult decisions to make when the storm cleared.

He needed to have a talk with Enav. He was the supposed leader of his people and there was things to discuss.

The races future was to be decided.

[SaigoKusunoki]

((OOC: Yeah it's moved fast because Im trying to get everyone to the Bastion for the real fun. So if it seems to move fast, bear with it, it will get a little more coherent and interesting for everyone soon.))

Enav had done his best to keep morale up...now it was time to get his own morale up. He began moving back to the top of the wall; it was a peaceful place for him, when there was no war, it seemed like you could see the very ends of the world. It was on his way to his place of solace that he noticed Iaraan. Like himself, the dwarf was one of the elders, original inhabitants of their city Kharakhor. He looked troubled, so Enav hustled his way over, Worldbreaker over his shoulder.

"Hey lad. You got trouble in yer beard, I can see it from a mile away. What troubles ye?"

*****

Saigo had made his way to his old dorm, face wrapped just in case anyone saw him. The mahogany door creaked open, and it was obvious that no one had entered for at least five hundred years. Schoolbooks and other items were scattered about, untouched. He climbed the stairs remembering the days when he was but a cocky teenager. Those days were over, he told himself, even as he slowly pushed open the dusty, cobweb covered door to his particular room. He faltered, and for a moment, tears welled up. The bed was unmade, in the same state that they were in before he left to war. He quickly wiped away the tears when he remembered why the bedsheets were in disarray. A wicked smile crept across his face when he saw not one imprint of a body, but two. He quietly undressed and slipped into the bed, hoping to catch some shut eye before the coming storm.

[Ugainius]

"Som'ins up" said the old dwarf "I dunno if its good 'r bad but somthins after happenin'. Tell me, ya lead the people, right? If, if the humens were to say, die out, you'd carry on without 'em, right? It may soun' stupid an I don' tink I shud be da one ta say this bu'..."

Iarann looked out over the wall, to the fields before the Bastion. He sighed.

"Lis'n, one of two thin's is going ta happen: either we die or Morian does an' to be 'onest I don't tink its gonig ta be Morian who does da die'n'. The Humens got the Academy an' all, well, as good as itid look if Dwarves went out with a bang an' all bu'... Lis'n promise me this; if Morian gets this place between da vice well... make shur that, a good few of us get out. Wat I mean is you shud be gone too." he rushed the last part.

Iarann looked at his feet. He didn't want to say it but someone had to. His race, the race couldn't die out. He hoped that Enav understood. He had a tendency to mumble when talking about something he didn't want to say.

[SaigoKusunoki]

A wide grin spread across Enav's face. He jovially chuckled and patted Iarann's shoulder.

"Lis'en here. It's never been like us dwarves ta run from a fight. That fellow Jerramas himself had to wrestle me to the ground and drag me out here in da first place. If it was up ta me, I woulda fought till death back at Kharakhor. These humans...they be stronger than they ever been. Hate burns in there hearts and fire be in there eyes. Grand Marshal Abzadrael, the lad would never buckle. This place has held fer five hundred years, and its not about to fall. Trust me lad, we wont need ta think of self preservation or nuttin. Our people be safe here. Plus...you 'member that old prophecy? The one where God fights God an' all that? Trust me...we'll be fine."

Enav's words of encouragement only partially mirrored his own thoughts. He had his doubts; what if the lad Emperor didnt return? What if Morian showed up tomorrow? These were worries that kept surfacing, with each encouraging speech he gave.

[Red Mage Black]

Black had gladly followed Morian's armies towards the school. Though he didn't serve the man he swore to, the thought of feeding made his mouth water. He was civil, but if he hadn't fed for a long time he grew feral.

Black thought even if one of the soldiers spotted him, that he could pass off as one of them. After all, he should still have the essence of Morian still on him even after all those years.

[PhoenixFlame]

A long, unconfirmed sigh signaled to Phoenix that, coming from an eastern elf, was not a no. "Long ago, in your perspective, I was a young priestess in one of the mountain shrines in western Ultherathor. Then, like now, my people hid behind their vast wall of fire as they have always done in recent memory. Even like his ward, however..." She made a general gesture toward the Academy, as if not wishing to speak the Emperor's name.

"Pragmatically, such tricks are never foolproof. Frankly, it's never been our nature to be pragmatists, though. One day, the telltale vibrations of a local earth spirit alerted me to the presence of a loyalist human warband, fleeing into Ultherathor's mountains, presumably to lose something persuing them. Naturally, none came to their aid." Auvrea's mouth quirked slightly.

"Except me. I was, far too curious for my own good, and I had to see why they had wandered so far. I found them set upon by a group of harpies under Morian's control, their men-at-arms bearing only swords, and, in tight formation, attempting to futily fight off their flying harriers."

A small, amused sigh.

"Consumed with fury, I did something rash. Calling on the earth, I shackled the beasts, and drove them to the ground where the men could fight them on their own terms. Screams turned into triumphant yells as the men found their tiny savior in a young shrine maiden. Naturally, my parents were furious. They accused me of throwing my lot in with humans, going to war against Morian, killing my way to peace."

Auvrea's face contorted into a confused look, as if she couldn't quite understand the sentiment given the circumstances.

"And, it occured to me that they didn't understand. I had killed demons, demons! and, in doing so, saved those people. What became of them after the others cast them out was a fate that many of free Archanas suffered five hundred years ago. I was so furious with my parents, and myself, that I fled."

Her voice speeding now, as if to finish the story, almost ashamed of boring her listener by now with such drivel.

"And so, I went from place to place, and eventually to the Academy. Along this path, I found my share, and more, of such experience. The first time, I felt grievously ill. The second, was more justifiable, it was self defense... The third, was in defense of others, and... It just went on. I knew I couldn't go back like this."

She trailed off, and then smiled at Phoenix, "So yes, I suppose I have."

[SaigoKusunoki]

Phoenix absorbed what she said the best he could. He never quite understood the Ultherathorians; their methods and beliefs were about as foreign as his were to them. He shrugged and sighed in an amused fashion.

"I guess my experience was a little different. Although...I think you were attending here already, so Im sure you know about this event...I took one of the younger students, a girl by the name of Xiang, a little too far past the Seal. They talk about raging adolescent hormones making you do dumb things...this was one of those things. We wanted some privacy so we tried to get some."

He laughed, but his face showed no sign of amusement.

"We were ambushed. Two demons, a little far from where they should have been, a little hungrier than they normally were. The girl was injured, I was almost killed, but by the Gods I turned into a ball of fury, let me tell you...not surprisingly, she stopped talking to me afterwards. Though I was reprimanded for leaving the Seal and endangering my life and the life of another, I was rewarded due to my showing of knowledge. I would not have survived, had I not applied everything Ive ever learned here at this school. Im telling you, that Elvilad is strange. He was the one who rewarded me. The angry witch Sunev wanted me severely punished."

Just then, the bell tower's bells tolled nine times, a reminder for students to get to their classes.

"Well look at the time. Ill see you around...take care of yourself. I predict soon, everything we've ever learned will be put to the test."

*****

Captain Garvi was standing on the walls of the Bastion, examining the horizon, when he saw dust in the distance. Quickly, he pulled out a pair of binoculars and peered into them, trying to get a good view of what was approaching.

Thirty riders, dressed in pure black, carrying wickedly curved, two handed swords. Too small a number to be an attacking force, to large to be a scouting party. Their mounts, all pure black, closed the distance quickly, and in no time, they were arranged at the gates of the Bastion.

The figure at the head of the formation lowered the hood of his cloak, revealing long silver hair. He cast his eyes up to the growing number of soldiers at the top of the walls.

"Where is your lord? I have a message for Grand Marshal Abzadrael, and it is urgent! Hurry and let me in!" said the figure.

"And who might you be? We dont just let people into the Bastion of Dawn's Light." Garvi called back.

"Do you whelps not recognize me? I am Maleus Pegasi of the Naorond Royal army! Now open the gates, damn your eyes! This is urgent!"

Garvi, though he grimaced at being referred to as a whelp, knew the name and knew his rank, and military protocol demanded that he obeyed. Hurriedly, Garvi descended the walls, searching for the Grand Marshal.

[SaigoKusunoki]

The elf cringed at the sound of Abzadrael's voice. Maleus had never had a liking for the Grand Marshal, though only having met him three times in his life. In fact, Maleus hasn't taken a liking to many of the Grand Marshals that have ruled over the Bastion.

"I bring news from the front. Morian Baneblade has sent two divisions in this direction. If they keep up the current speed, they will arrive here tomorrow. Though each force numbers only ten thousand or so, I figured I would be kind enough to inform you. Now, if you would let me in, we could talk further on the matter." His airy, aristocratic voice carried over the wall, loud enough for those down below to hear; war would be coming to the Bastion once again.

[PhoenixFlame]

"So we may. If that happens, meet me here." Auvrea nodded grimly to Phoenix, collecting her books, and making way back to class. Gods only knew what personal commentary her professor might idly remark during the course of instruction, if any at all.

Ah, to live in interesting times... It made life worth living, or did it?

[SaigoKusunoki]

"Firstly, I bring a message of congratulations from my King. He commends your efforts as Grand Marshal, and says there has been no finer leader here since Geliath Jerramas. That being said, we must focus on the matters at hand."

Maleus found a chair and pulled it close to Abzadrael.

"My men have intercepted one of the approaching forces. We are hard pressed right now simply due to the fact that these are no barbarians or demon rabble...Morian has sent his finest, the Legio Dominatus. It would be wise to not underestimate them...they are fast, strong, and utterly ruthless...as well as some of the finest disciplined soldiers I have ever seen. Then again, they were trained by Chou Raenyc...so they would be." He said that last part with a smirk. The famed general Chou Raenyc of Archanas was one of the only humans Maleus ever got along with, surprisingly enough, despite their personalities being completely opposite of each other.

*****

The sound of footsteps in front of his door awoke Saigo with a start. Silently and quickly, he hopped out of his bed and grabbed his spear, pointing it towards the door. Slowly, it creaked open to reveal the one person he was afraid of seeing. Sunev stood unmoving, scythe slung across her shoulder and perpetually closed eyes fixed on Saigo. He chuckled quietly, and approached her.

"You know, you scared me for a moment. Though Morian had already sent assassins waiting for me." he said with a grin.

"Saigo, you can mask your imprint on the Winds of Magic but you cannot hide your scent. Do not forget what we've shared. I know every bit of you." she said levelly. Saigo could sense a hint of malice in her voice.

"Calm down, love. C'mere...what did you do to those eyes? Those beautiful azure eyes...men could get lost in those, you should draw up a map." He said amusedly as he brought his open palm mere inches from her face. His skin began to glow, then shine, and soon, magical light was pouring from his hand. Slowly, the threads holding Sunev's eyelids shut began to burn and ember away. If she felt pain, she did not show it. When the threads were gone, Saigo took a step back.

Sunev slowly opened her eyes, and he was right; a sea of azure that lesser men would most certainly lose themselves in. The first thing she sees in five hundred years is the face of her Emperor, best friend, and husband. Before he can react, she reaches back and punches him hard across the face.

"You've brought doom and damnation to us all Saigo. If you had not lost your head those five centuries ago, none of this would have happened! I hope to the Gods above you have some sort of plan in that cavern you call a skull!" All of the level-headedness she had displayed previously was gone, replaced with wrath, the anger of a broken lover.

"...I love you too?" was his only response. His answer was sarcastic, but sarcasm was not what Sunev wanted to hear. Without another word, she turned on her heels and left the musky, dusty, abandoned building, tears welled up in her eyes. Saigo closed his door and slumped against it, eyes on the ground.

*****

Morian took a long drink of wine from the skull pan of an executed East elf noble, savoring how the bone adds to the flavor of the red spirit in such a subtle way as only a King could recognize or enjoy. While he sat upon his throne, carelessly enjoying his wine, Gaius stood at his left with a worried look on his face. Morian took notice of this, and motioned for a half naked slave to bring the strategist some wine.

"Gaius, why the long face? Enjoy this time while you can. I predict we'll be at our wit's end in due time. Not that those fools at the Bastion or Bloodthorne worry me at all." he boasted, causing a few attendants and Acolytes to titter respectfully. Gaius shook his head.

"My lord, your army is vast and powerful, nay, innumerable and indestructible...but the forces you sent out will not be enough."

"So, are you doubting the skill of the Legio Dominatus?"

"Not at all Lord. But think of it this way; the Bastion of Dawn's Light is a giant wall set against a mountain. An army of elder dragons could attack it and fail. Also, scouts report that Naorond has engaged one of the Legio divisions. On top of that, they report a man with a gigantic greatsword, meaning that troublesome swine Tanata is back as well. We cannot take these issues lightly."

Morian merely raised an eyebrow and began laughing heartily. He motioned for the slavegirl to refill his skull goblet.

"Do not fret, Gaius. At this very moment, Praxis is rallying the barbarians of the Central Plains, and our demonic emissaries should be back any day now, each with at least one hundred fifty thousand demons! Remember, we sent forty of them into the Nether...no matter how powerful he is, Tanata could not have killed them all alone."

Gaius nodded and bowed.

"Your knowledge is infinite, lord."

[Ryu Kurai]

Demons.

Darenith could almost feel their presence, all that hate was enough to boil the blood of a man. He and the demons had something in common, he thought.

It was as this thought crossed his mind when he spied a cloud of dust building up on the plains outside of the Bastion of Dawn's Light.

Demons.

He didn't know how, he just knew. He felt that burning fire in his stomach he felt during every hunt he had ever been on. Every fight he had been in.

He donned his helmet, knowing that quite a few times, the demons had mistaken him for one of their own. That could buy him a few extra strikes, which was all he needed to end a few of them. He hoped that the guard on duty would know him or be wise enough not to fire at him. He could heft a short spear up that wall. He had done it once, the last time he was fired at.

As he ran towards the right side of Bastion, he said a silent thanks to himself for veering off his usual path back from the surrounding lands or Daranaughl. Although he was a skilled warrior, being in the middle of a demon army might have proved fatal.

After all, his weapons might have broken.

He drew his demon-skin cloak up about him to keep the dust from the plains from getting into his armor. He held his spear behind him, like some kind of bizarre, straight tail.

As he got closer to the walls, he realized that he had not even been questioned, possibly not even noticed. He did not blame the guards. Their eyes were likely fixed upon the approaching cavalry, which he had arrived a bit ahead of. He figured in a few minutes, they would be upon the city. He could try to head off the demons and hope for some support from the troops. But from the size of the dust cloud in the distance, he had no idea if they were a scouting regiment, a commanding force, or something much worse.

But the burning was overwhelming.

He slammed his greatspear into Bastion's gigantic stone wall.

"Guards!" He called out, his voice echoing partially inside of his helmet. He pulled it off, revealing his scarred face and black hair. The elf's green eye met that of a young guard, who had his bow half-readied at the rather unnerving sight of Darenith. Darenith had already leveled his spear to block any arrows that could connect to his now unarmored head.

"W-Who are you?" The guard said shakily. He lowered his bow, something that Darenith would not have done were they in opposite places.

"You hide your fear well, human. Ask your gatesman to let me in, quickly. I would rather not keep all the demons to myself." The elf said, his tone almost one of sarcasm. His voice was strangely deep for an elf's, and was heard easily even over such distance. When the guard hesitated a moment too long, Darenith made it known. "Get your Commander. Mayhap he can do as I ask." As the guard's confused and scared face disappeared back over the lip of the wall, the elf silently hoped that the commander knew him at a glance. The demons were close enough that he might not be able to make it inside if this took too long.

[Ryu Kurai]

Darenith did not like being led about the interior of the castle. He held his helmet under one arm, not having the time or desire to place it on his head. He was led to the commander's quarters and silently ushered in by the guard. He ignored most of the captain's quarters, save for the captain himself.

"I thank you, sir, for sheltering me from the approaching demons. I did not request you frivolously, but your guards seemed rather unsure that I be let in. Perhaps they thought me a heretic from my appearance." He bowed slightly, his helmet arm across his chest. "If you would require my services, I would volunteer them at no charge."

He himself could barely believe what he was saying. Although the demon hides and bones in his pouch might fetch enough for a few day's food. In addition, there was his remaining wealth from his previous hunts. Perhaps he could do something for this city as a citizen, for once. Darelith decided not to revoke his offer.

[Ryu Kurai]

Darenith kept calm despite the fact that his body was urging him to kill this man, kill him before he had the chance to fire that gun. "If I were a heretic I know for certain I would find no shelter here. I am a demon hunter. I offer proof of my occupation through these," He held up his helm and pulled out a demon skin from his pouch. "Ask any of the locals, I am here often enough that quite a few of them know me from appearance alone."

He is just in suspecting me, but still very hasty. He thought to himself. "I offer my services as a demon hunter and-" He paused. Grimacing, he practically spat out the word. "Mercenary."

[Ryu Kurai]

Darenith too allowed himself a slight grin, revealing the demon fangs that had replaced his canines. "Much as I hate to admit such a thing, I would have been left in a very dire predicament had you not been so quick to open your gates. I have not caused much trouble in the past here, but I will say I tend to attract it." He placed his helmet over his head with his free hand, not once taking his eye off of the commander. "Darenith Neullishod. What would you have me do, commander?"

[Red Mage Black]

Black kept following the armies of Morian soon to find himself near the Bastion. "So this is what they planned eh? I shall dine well." He licked his lips just at the thought of all those humans and maybe some elves.

Even if a few stragglers managed to see him, Latis could take them out with much ease. Though he kept a great distance between him and them just in case.

[Ugainius]

Iarann decide to see if the Grand Marshal had heard anything from the Academy concerning the wind. "Abzadreal I need ta talk to ya, have ya got a minit to spare?" he asked barging into the room where He and an odd looking elf were having a discussion.

"Oh sorry your busy, I'll just..."

[secretskull]

The Previous Day:

As a sergeant, it had been Villard's duty to drill the half-dozen men he had under his command, before going off to be drilled in turn. Then winds began.

Villard, who was a magic user, felt it in his head, sharp, and almost painful. His body also felt it; his halberd flew from his hands, and clanged loudly on the stone.
"Something is happening... It feels like a change... Perhaps and end is coming...
The others were less calm, they began moving around in a panic, gibbering unintelligibly. "Peace!" He barked at them.

"Are you going to forget all your training because a bit of a wind?"

"But sir-"

"You men have fought Demons, this should be nothing to you. It is probably-" He grasped for an idea "-A simple magical flux, caused by Morian's demon summonings. They are probably suffering because of it more then we are."

"Really sir?"

"Just as likely as anything else, now move it! We need to finish up."

"Beautiful, if only some officer had seen that I would be well on my way to Captain. Still, all in time... I will see them all dead."


Present Day:

People were rushing along next to Villard, preparing for the upcoming battle. The information from the gates had been leaked, and most everyone in the Bastion knew that they were about to be attacked. Villard was moving around in an aimless fashion, he was wondering, as he always did, if there was some way he could sabotage the Bastion's defenses. One of the Captains bumped into him.

"Ah, Villard", he said. "Just the man I need. Go and tell Grand Marshal Abzadreal, that we need his advice on some of the defenses."

"Of course, sir! Right away!" Said Villard, rushing off. At last, I will meet the Grand Marshal." He had been told to study everything and everyone, this was the perfect chance. [I]"The winds of change are blowing for me. I will have my revenge…"

He walked up to the Grand Marshal's study, knocking respectfully on the door, waiting for permission to enter.

[Ryu Kurai]

(OOC: Darenith had just put his helmet back on in my last post.)

The elf inclined his head, walking out past the dwarf swiftly and surely.

"Commander says it'll be awhile." He said to the taller human standing outside the commander's office, stopping in his tracks a moment. He felt the same burning sensation in his stomach. He looked at the human more closely. Something wasn't right about him. He turned his gaze away from the man and walked out the way he had come. He made a mental note to keep an eye on that officer. Maybe it was all the demon blood these soldiers had been in, but he could have sworn...

Of course, he wouldn't go around confronting people. The commander had told him not to make any trouble. Perhaps he needed a drink or something. But first, he would trade in his kills.

[Astral Harmony]

Shalvanis returned to the Bastion for the seventh time today. Her latest hunt had stopped bleeding and the blood in her cloak was drying. The guard recognized her and let her through. She looked around as she walked up the street. "Something strange is stirring. The people here look on edge. More than they usually are."

The dwarven butcher Dragmur welcomed Shalvanis inside and they quietly got to work. She undressed out of her cloak and the work was finished before long. "Here ye go, lass," Dragmur said, supplying Shalvanis with her payment. "A good payment fer a good day's werk, wouldn't ye say?"

"It's fair." Shalvanis gave a non-commital response. "Oh, can you tell me what's going on out there? The people look restless, as though they expect something beyond the usual sorts of troubles any day now?"
Dragmur shrugged. "I couldn't tell ye, lass. Ye might want to ask eround out there."
"Got it. I'll go hunting again tonight."
"S'soon?"
Shalvanis hid her bizarre clothing beneath the blood-moistened overcoat once more. "If this disturbance is what I think it is, the Bastion just might be in for a long siege."

[SaigoKusunoki]

Aware that Abzadrael was fastly becoming a busy man, Maleus bowed and left without another word. He made his way through the Bastion, two handed blade slung across his back. He kept a grimace on his face, not necessarily of anger, but mainly to keep any Bastion soldiers from approaching him.

When he reached the court yard, he took a deep breath and shouted "Sa'an'ishar!"

He voice resonated hoarsely, cutting through all but the deepest parts of the Bastion. Without delay, the thirty riders that Maleus brought with him exited the guest barracks and kneeled at his side.

"Brothers and sisters, we have endured the atrocities of war spectacularly, but the test is not over. War approaches; do not fail our King."

Silently and in unison, they stood up straight and saluted. Their faces were set, determined. They were ready to die if need be. With a sharp, terse whistle, the jet black steeds that were holed up in the Bastion's stables crashed through the wooden gates, at their master's sides in seconds. The Naorond horsemen mounted before the Stableguards could complain.

"Be ready for my command. Until then, ignore everything."

And so they did. Despite complaints from the stableguards at the destruction of the stables, their words fell on deaf ears as the thirty riders stood unmoving, in formation five men wide and six men deep, eyes towards the gate. Their black cloaks flowed in the breeze, billowing around the flanks of their horses, their spears and two handed blades resting steadily on their shoulders. Gold-gilt crossbows rested in their laps.

Slowly, dust could be seen rising in the distance. The drums of war could be heard, and hoarse cries echoed through the vast valley that the Bastion was built into. Amuse, Maleus cocked his head and chuckled quietly.

"It seems, my kin, that the storm has arrived a little ahead of schedule."

*****

"No...no no no no..." Elvilad began to panic, rushing around his office, searching for his blade. "This is bad...oh Gods..."

His hand closed around his obsidian blade just as Sunev barged in, his door crashing against the wall with the force of her blow. She was armed and fuming. Elvilad noticed her eyes were no longer sewn shut but it did not fully register; his mind was too preoccupied.

"Elvilad the students have been assembled in the courtyard and grouped by class. What are we going to do about our guest?"

Elvilad shrugged. "It's up to him. He can reveal himself now or fight without any knowing who he is. It's his choice."

"For now, you will refer to me as Kauyon, warrior from the north."

Sunev jumped and turned around, not hearing Saigo approach at all. He was dressed as he came, wolf pelts wrapped around his face to hide his appearance. The spear he brought with him gleamed in the light coming through Elvilad's window. It was now Sunev could see the spear was made of a crystalline material, unknown to her at first glance, lavender in color.

"Aye lord. What shall we do with the students?"

Saigo smirked. "Well, this is what they were trained for isnt it? Have them arrange as they see fit; let their intuitions and training guide them. It's what I had to go through."

Saigo grinned widely, remembering his first days of combat. He remembered Emperor Tanata's gladiator pit, fighting and killing good and honest people, to get close to Tanata, to assassinate him. He fondly remembered the night his world was turned upside down, when Zerakath Gaos announced to the gathered Academy that Saigo was of royal blood, and then attempted to murder him. These times, Saigo looked back upon as a Trial by Fire...he would not be where he is today if those events had not taken place.

"Oh boy this is going to be good. I wonder if there are any out there like me...ready and willing to shed some blood."

*****

Phoenix was standing near the reflection pond, waiting for Auvrea. She told him to meet her here, should the situation worsen. And well, it was definitely worse. Dust was rising in the distance, and judging from the sound, it was barbarians on the warpath. The students were thrown into a panic, and though they were grouped together and ordered to not move until told to do so, many were crying and lamenting. Hopelessness was in the air, and even Phoenix's upbeat nature could not change that. He nervously fingered the hilt of his swords, and unable to stop himself, unsheathed them both in one fluid, practiced motion. He stared at his own reflection in the golden blades, and was surprised to see a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Where are you elf...?"

[SaigoKusunoki]

Maleus had no patience for being talked to like a child. He had no patience, not when he and his men were ready to risk it all for these pitiful humans. Breaking formation, he turned his horse angrily.

"I think, human, that the war drums currently being sounded outside your keep's walls is enough of an explanation. Now, while you and your men get into position, MY men are going to run circles around the enemy formations, and harass their flanks. I cannot do this if you do not move your men from my path. Move them. Now." his voice dripped with malice, but all sense of civility had left him; the field commander in him had taken over, and had pushed the politician out of the way. He did not care about his manners any longer. Not when there were enemies within blade distance.

[Ugainius]

Iarann sighed. "Well, a'least Humen-efl relations have stay'd the same" he muttered as he watched the Grand Marshal "talk" to the North Elf

[Astral Harmony]

Shalvanis was outside in time to watch the exchange between Maleus and the Grand Marshall. She cared little for it, but the information that was passed between them excited her. If the enemy was going to get here that fast, then she wouldn't have time to do any more hunting. She hadn't fought Morian's forces before, and was looking forward to seeing their skill firsthand.

[secretskull]

Villard had discovered an interesting fact; those who were in a low position were often ignored by those in a higher one, unless they were needed for some task. The Grand Marshal saw no pressing concern to listen to him, low ranked and unimportant. Not that he minded overmuch, it was a splendid opportunity to observe the events.

Villard supposed he was also guilty of the same thing, his eyes tended to slide away from the common soldier; he would have to work at preventing it.

He was making as much use as he could of his lack of attention, and he stood a few feet a way from the dwarf and watched, working hard to keep a smirk of his face. There were possibilities in this.

[Red Mage Black]

Black had arrived at the Bastion before the armies left the gate. "They were a little too slow." 'It was amazing how you were able to sneak past them.' "My steps are swift and silent. They couldn't hear a fly buzz past them if their minds depended on it."

As he was whispering what seemed to be himself, the cavalry had rushed past him in a lightning quick response. 'They're in quite a hurry. It's a pity they'll end up dead.' Black laughed at the very thought. Now the next task was to not be mistaken as one of the demonic soldiers. He walked calmly and quietly towards the building, a malicious grin on his face.

[SaigoKusunoki]

((OOC: Just saying now, in the heightened state of things, no one would be allowed to casually walk to the Bastion; they would be shot. By cannons. Lots of them.))

Maleus huffed at Abzadrael, and turned back to his men. Pulling his sword from his back, he issued his orders quietly, not giving the humans insight on how they fight.

"Brothers and sisters, harass them in the typical two-body fashion. We will split in half, fifteen and fifteen, and run along each of their flanks. I will take the right. Move out, and may you bring yourself glory before death."

As they galloped out, they got in a new formation; two elves wide, fifteen deep. In each group, one would be carrying a two handed sword or a spear, and one would have his or her crossbow primed and ready. Quickly, they arranged outside the keep's walls, a fine showing of discipline that none immediately broke in the face of the immense tide layed out in front of them.

Ten thousand of Morian's finest, the Legio Dominatus. Armed with two hand weapons of their choice, armored in black steel gilt in gold, they were a frightening sight to behold, even ignoring the fact that they were all at least seven feet tall. They stood in perfect marching formation, one hundred men wide and one hundred men deep. A single, impenetrable unit of death minded warriors. The drums were silenced as they stopped in unison, and a single figure stepped out of the front rank. He carried a large, two handed axe, and did not wear a horned helm like the rest of them; his skin seemed to shift and move, as if more alive than it should be. He hefted his great axe above his head and then swung it into the ground. The Naoronians were unmoving.

"You are soon to meet your end, elf. Come off your horse, and fight me one on one. With such a puny force, I should at least give you a chance to redeem your honor." the figure yelled

Maleus snorted. Wordlessly, he stepped down off of his mount and patted it three times, telling it to stay. Removing his dragonhide cloak, he pulled his two handed sword from his back and gave it a few test swings, it's honed edge cutting through the air with ease and grace. Maleus took a few steps forward, so that he was ahead of the Naorond formation, and stood at the ready, left knee bent and forward, blade pointing behind him.

Recognizing his go-ahead, the Legio captain charged with a mighty bellow. He closed the distance to Maleus in a blink of an eye and hefted his axe above his head in a powerful, disemboweling swing. Carefully and precisely, Maleus took one step back and turned on his left heel, letting the axe fall mere inches from his face. Reacting quickly, he raised his sword and swung left, causing the captain to have to drop his axe and roll to the side to avoid behind decapitated. Maleus was on him without hesitation, and did not relent or give him a chance to right himself. He subjected the downed captain to a series of small, quick cuts and jabs, none impacting skin but denting armor, but decided to end it by putting all of his might behind a downward thrust into the captain's armored chest. The heavy blade folded and tore through the blackened steel like paper, and penetrated skin, flesh, and bone with a wet, satisfying sound that made Maleus grin widely. Not giving him a chance, Maleus put his foot on the captain's crotch, yanked his sword free with a sloshing sound, and swiped his blade across his neck, severing his head effortlessly. The fight had lasted all of twenty seconds, and the Legio stood dumbfounded for a moment at how this tiny elf had taken out their leader so quickly.

Picking the captain's severed head up, Maleus remounted his steed with a neutral look on his face, though there was a hint of a smirk. He casually tossed the captain's head into the ranks of his men, bringing insults and complaints from the Legio soldiers. Maleus snorted and addressed his horsemen.

"The easy part is over, now the fun begins. Keep them confused until that dreadful human can actually do something worthwhile. Sa'an'ishar, prepare for glory!"

And so each two elf team set out, spear or sword armed elf on the side closest to the Legio, crossbow armed elf on the outside, firing in. Each group alternated direction, the first group with Maleus going right, then the next group going left, and so on. They ran dangerously close to the Legio's ranks, just out of spear range, and began firing at the unprotected necks of the invaders. If a Legio soldier stepped out of rank to attack an elf, he was impaled or cut down by the close combat-armed elf. Though the actual kill count was no great, the Naoronians were doing their job, disrupting the enemy and destroying morale. All the Legio soldiers could do was hold their weapons to their necks for protection.

Eventually, a warrior in the front rank assumed the role of captain, and ordered the forward march to continue. The Naorond harassment could not stop them; they moved inexorably forward over the killing plains, steel battering rams and ladders safely guarded in the middle of the formation.

Maleus cursed as he dashed close enough to decapitated a soldier, then quickly moved out of weapon range. "That damned human better be ready by now, we can't keep this up forever.

[PhoenixFlame]

Auvrea strode uncerimoniously toward Phoenix from an angle his eyes had not thought to look. Her battlestaff was held at ready, the saftey wrappings along it's bladed edges long removed. It was made in the ancient fashion of the Yan'alai, an ancient cloister of war magi, distant ancestors of the eastern elves, long forgotten. She had found it's schematics in a dusty tome back in her homeland, and over long years, assembled the replica herself. It's edges and runes glistened in the light like silver flames.

"I apologise for my la-..." Auvrea began, and her face turned to the assembled students with a look of abject horror. "No... Oh no." She said, mournfully. They lacked training, and they lacked hope. Without either, they would most certainly all not live to see day again. Auvrea lamented she could not give them both, but she had to try. Striding before one of the groups, Auvrea did her best to make her voice carry. In an act that was very unlike the quiet elf...

"Assembled Students!" She cried in a loud voice, which quickly softened to merely to it's baser, resounding emotion, "I know many of you have not seen battle. But I have, and it is a most painful experience that I wish you could not face, but we are the students of the Archanas Academy of Magic and Warfare! Warfare, is upon us now, and there is no escape. I want every one of you to know that every moment lost to hesitation is one that we lose to defend our home! If it were me, this news would not have been hidden from you all." A tear ran down her right eye, "But now, if you have not the heart to fight for yourselves, look to the person to your right! Can you stand by and let them die? I say no!"

Raising the ancient staff aloft in a triumphant yell that had not carried throughout the land in five thousand years...

"I say no!" She repeated, pointing the weapon toward the gate, "If I go alone, I will surely die. How many will follow me? I know without a shadow of a doubt that if we go together, we can break Morian's army here, even outnumbered! We have to break his army! We will break his army!"

"Are you with me, senior class? Are you with me, Archanas Academy of Magic and Warfare?" She finished, with one final request. Now, to see if it had worked...

[Ugainius]

Iarann charged, crashing into a group of Legio soliders. He decapitated one and began swinging Mauvbas left and right, forcing the enemy to take a few steps back or be hit full force by the great axe. A small group of fellow dwarfs how had come with him helped by attacking any solider how tried to surround and attack Iarann from the rear, but it was McClochanna himself who did the most damage.

"Tough old bastards" He mumbled as one of the Legio blocked his axe. Iaraan swiped downwards and caught the solider in the chest. He smiled "Not tough enough."

[Red Mage Black]

(Guess I'll stick with the Bastion)

Black watched as the armies launched several ranged attacks on the Legio forces. 'What will happen when they close in, hmmm? No matter, when at least one of you remains I'll drink your sweet blood. It is better when the adrenaline is pumping.' He simply walked through as if he was one of the inhabitants.

Latis glowed around his neck, almost as bright as the midday sun.

[SaigoKusunoki]

The Legio forces immediately took a heavy hit to their numbers, the rifles and cannons and cavalry chewing through their forces. However, they were more disciplined than most; this fazed them not. Forming a tighter circle, they slowly advanced, and men began to break against them like waves against cliffs. Their new leader had found their fallen captain's axe, and was a few steps ahead of the Legio formation, pulverizing and decapitating any and all who ventured too close. A company of swordsmen charged into him and the Legio, shields raised and battlecries in their throats. Surprisingly, the Legio had yet to charge or do anything other than steadily advance, despite the losses, which was unnerving to those lined up against them on the field. The new captain kneed one soldier in the stomach, causing him to double over and begin retching. Immediately, the captain grabbed the man by the face and lifted him up. With a sinister, sick smile, he crushed the man's skull with one hand and flung him into his fellow comrades. Frightened, the men began to take steps back as the Legio approached. They were a force they could not match, or at least they thought. The Legio used this as momentum; they broke first into a trot, then a full out run as they widened their formation and charged, silent orders showing that every single Legio soldier acted in the same mindset as the one next to him, frightening to any soldier, and certainly frightening to the swordsmen in front of them. Utterly afraid, they broke and ran, past another regiment of swordsmen who were in a tight defensive formation. However, these swordsmen were different. These were the men of Garvi Loken.

The middle aged man turned to his men and brought his sword and shield up to the heavens.

"Cmon boys, this is what we are trained to do! Make sure they fear our names for centuries to come!"

A shout of approval came from his men as he braced himself for the charge. However, despite his words, he did not know how they would stand up to the charge; seven foot tall men barreling into you was not an easy thing to brace against. He had no time to think, just time to do, as they were upon them faster than he anticipated. Most of his men were bowled over, but the men behind them held fast. He was face to face with a tall, menacing, dual axe wielding bald man, one axe embedded in his shield, the other held safely away with his sword. They both looked each other in the eye, knowing one would die. Garvi was had no time to think about anything; his forty men were holding at least a small part of the Legio back, a feat that bought his allies time to bring more forces to bear.

Garvi saw his opening, however, when the bald man glanced over to his left, observing something that Garvi wasnt going to make the same mistake by looking at. He put all of his weight into his shield arm, pushing the man's axe arm high, and with a deft maneuver, twisted his sword around the man's other axe, making the man lose balance as he was putting weight on something that was no longer there. Quickly, before the man could recover, he thrust his sword into the man's mouth, causing his eyes to go wide as he perished instantly. He pushed the man over and rushed into the Legio's formation, some of his soldiers being able to do the same. Now inside the guard of many Legio, Garvi began swinging madly at weak spots in their armor, taking three men out of action if not killing them. This is what he and his men were trained to do, and it is what they would do, until the end.

On the other side of the battlefield, near the rear of the Legio formation, the Naorond formation had been recalled to regroup by Maleus, as they had bought the humans enough time, and it was time to move on. He noticed he had lost seven of his riders; the confused look on his face was enough of an inquiry. The elf who was in the head of the left flank group, Lunorha, saluted.

"Lord, the butchers began throwing their weapons on our side, and I guess some people were not quick enough." she answered levelly.

Maleus shrugged "Well they obviously were not up to the job. They will not be missed, they did not die gloriously." he answered with no emotion. "Alright my kin, we have warned the humans, now we must get back to our King with our report. Do not look back."

And with that, Maleus and his twenty three riders turned sharply and galloped east, not caring to look back at the Bastion. They can handle themselves.

*****

Phoenix smiled devilishly at Auvrea's words. He realized it she was damn attractive when she talked like that. The teenager in him poked through with some improper thoughts and comments, but he quickly pushed that out. Raising one of his blades, he strode next to her.

"You know Im in! This is my job, it is what I've been trained to do. Its not my first, and surely not my last. I'm ready to die defending my home...what about you kids? Lets do this. Follow us!"

He turned and pointed; from their position in the courtyard, they could see the enemy, waiting for them in one of the fields outside the school. Around two hundred barbarians, full grown men who have seen combat their entire lives. It gave Phoenix chills, but not chills of fear, chills of excitement. He turned to Auvrea.

"So girly...I guess this is our final exam." he winked at her "Lets see what you can do."

And with nothing but something resembling a warcry, Phoenix charged. The students were in disbelief, as he seemed to be charging alone. No one stopped him. Slowly at first, but then in unison, they joined him. Some wielded blades, and those were generally in the front. The unit had no true coherency, united only by their desperation, their will to defend the only home they had ever known. As Saigo watched from behind a tree, he smiled to himself. The one they call Phoenix...he was very much like him at his age. Silently, Sunev and Elvilad crept up next to Saigo.

"Do we follow them?" Sunev asked.

Saigo shook his head. "Give them a moment. We will see how well they have been taught, how well they have learned. You can go immediately if you wish...but Im going to watch this. Its a little too nostalgic for my liking...but, you know...can't help it. At their age, I never wanted anyone helping me."

Sunev tutted loudly. "Not very many people are like you. Im going to help them. And I know Elvilad cannot just sit around either." she said, glaring at the Headmaster, who nodded and gripped his obsidian longblade tight.

Saigo laughed heartily, "Do as you must. I will hop in later."

Though Sunev was disgusted at the nonchalant manner he was taking all of this, she did not have time to object or voice her complaints; the lines had hit and she had definitely seen more students flying than barbarians. Wide eyed, she charged, scythe raised.

Phoenix was immediately met with resistance, two barbarians raising an axe and club respectively, and swinging in his direction. Quickly and effortlessly, he ducked in between both strikes, and facing away from them, stabbed one through the stomach, and thrusting his other blade into the back of the other. He twisted his entire body and yanked both swords out, drawing blood and entrails all around him. He turned and faced the barbarians quickly enough to parry a large two handed axe with both of his blades crossed in front of him. The swarthy, sweaty man grinned, anticipating Phoenix to tire any minute. Phoenix, however, was stronger than that, and smarter than that. He pushed up forcefully on the axe, then dodged to the side as it came crashing down mere inches from his left leg. He opened up the man's stomach with his left hand blade and stabbed his heart with his right. The man died instantly.

And now, as it has been for five hundred years, and for many years before that, war had gripped Archanas once more.

[SaigoKusunoki]

((OOC: Red, edit your post or something. There is open war in front of the gates, soldiers in front of the gates and the gates themselves are locked. There is no way he can just stroll in. Sorry. Im going to get "expert" art to show the layout in a little while, just in case it's confusing anyone. Check the signup/discussion page.))

[PhoenixFlame]

"Then let us see!"

Auvrea was among the first to join Phoenix. The charge was long, and one of the most arduous hundred meters the elven woman had ever ran. She did not sprint, for her mind did not allow it. She had origionally wished to keep the barbarians at range, and not play into their hands by charging...

But who would have expected a charge by three hundred student mages? Better they charge themselves, rather than recieve the enemy's.

"Infernos, grant me your speed and fury." She whispered silently, the focus of her tiara turning a ruby red for a moment, as the line of crimson gems lit across one of her stave's edges. The tips of the weapon did not catch fire, but rather glowed a bright, supernova white, fire given rank and file.

And the charge was met, Phoenix first, and Auvrea closely behind. Staff held underhand like one would a spear, she dropped to one knee and slid forward, thrusting the blade through the upper torso of her oncoming foe, a burly man with his mighty axe raised high overhead. The man grunted at how easily the lance of the sun pierced his heart, his axe falling backward overhead as his balance was lost, Auvrea remorselessly twisting the weapon and burning a path toward his sword arm. The man screamed in pain, and fell backward as she wrenched the weapon free, and not a moment too soon.

It had occurred to her that she'd fought before, but never in a mass melee. A pair of men flanked her, a wicked kris greatsword to her left and a tetsubo of sorts in the other's hands. She caught the greatsword between the handgrips of her staff, drastically throwing off her balance. Staggering, the far point of her staff impaled the ground from the shock, forcing her to deal with the second assailant.

Freeing her left arm, she thrust it imperiously at her previous assailant, blinding him with a tiny flare, giving her the freedom to snap her weapon free and, with the alacrity of a striking viper, thrust it through the other man's head before he could even swing. Turning to the temporarially blinded man, she almost laughed... But it was not a laugh of happiness or amusement. It was a laugh of pain.

"First spell I ever learned..."

[Red Mage Black]

((One more for good measure.))

Black sat out in the woods, keeping an eye on the forces of each. As soon as the battle was over he'd follow the victorious force into the the Bastion. It didn't look like it would end too soon, but he kept his hopes up. "Even one clinging to life is fine with me." He whispered to himself as he awaited the conclusion of the battle.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Phoenix had been the first charge, but now he was steadily regretting it. The Gorobar seemed to be focusing on him, seeing him as some sort of leader figure in the ranks of the students. He was constantly on edge, ducking, rolling, and parrying as each barbarian vied for glory, trying to eliminate their enemy's leader. He slid his blades across one man's chest, only to have to bring them up to his face quickly to parry a sword blow. Hardly recovering in time, he twisted his blades around the sword, knocking it out of his opponents meaty hands, and driving them into his neck. He hoped one of the professors would choose to hop in, but it seemed like they viewed this as a test. It angered Phoenix that they were being abandoned, but at the same time he understood their manner and method.

A shrill banshee's warscream cut through the air, and made several cringe at the sound. Sunev was upon the barbarians, scythe raised and eyes ablaze in fury. The curved, polished blade of her scythe passed easily through the ranks of the barbarians, and the sight of such murder drove the students forward, feeling confident that they could not lose with such a wargod on their side.

Sunev impaled the sharpened end of her scythe into the stomach of a Gorobar, then spun on her heel and beheaded him with the bladed end. She kept spinning another ninety degrees and held out her hand. An invisible force knocked the barbarians in front of her into the air, their bones breaking with the impact. She was unstoppable, indestructible.

That was, until the Vampire-thing landed next to her. Before she could react, his scorpion-esque tail swiped at her scythe and knocked it into the air, far out of reach. She turned to it, wide eyed. She knew his scent, though she tried desperately to deny it. Tall and thin, a superb killing machine, the Vampire-thing smiled a sharp toothed, sinister smile. It held out it's hand to Sunev.

"How have you been...my dear sister?" it's voice was smooth and slippery, the kind of voice that gets under your skin.

Sunev shook her head in disbelief "You...you died. You did...the tower...Sidian..." she was on the verge of tears. Unable to fight, she collapsed to her knees, still in disbelief.

The Sidian-monster shook his head and knelt in front of Sunev, face inches from her. She could smell the corruption on his breath and it made it all the harder that her beloved brother, whom died saving her, was now this monster. She knew it was no ruse of the enemy, for she knew his scent...despite the fact that it was masked by all of the corruption in his veins...it was him. Sidian Valentine.

"Come now Sunev...is that how you greet me? Your dear brother?"

"You are a freak, a monster. Get out of my sight before I am forced to incinerate you." she said weakly. Her meager threats made Sidian laugh coldly.

"Freak...no. Malak'har has given me so much power...I am no freak. Just look at what I can do."

He turned to a nearby student who was busy attempting to cast a spell at an approaching barbarian. He extended his arm towards the girl, palm up, and she stiffened in fear as she was lifted up into the air. He made a beckoning motion, and she slowly floated towards him. She cried out for help, but none could help.

Sidian, with a sadistic smile on his face, waited until she had floated directly above him. He then spread his hand fully, and Sunev watched in horror as the girl's skin was ripped from her body in a bloody mess. Her cries of agony were stifled as Sidian closed his hand into a fist, and her neck snapped multiple ways.

Sunev was speechless at the monster her brother had become.

[Astral Harmony]

Shalvanis was outside the Bastion, doing what she could against the Legio forces. She caught an axe on the inner edge of her scythe and bashed the enemy in the chin with the pole, causing him to stumble back. She pressed her advantage, knocking him down by slashing him in the leg he was focusing his balance on to drop him on his back. An overhead swing found the scythe burried in the Legio's chest, ending him. Pressing her left foot on that chest, Shalvanis yanked her weapon free.
"Six," she counted. These bastards were pretty strong, but they went down fast enough, making them easier than the monsters Shalvanis used to hunt for sport in Naorond. Her next opponent swung his sword in a broad horizontal arc. Shalvanis countered by dropping into a prone position, then rising up and bringing the scythe with her in a swing that divided the face of her foe in two, spilling fresh blood on her blade. She nailed him with a shoulder rush when he reached to feel the wound, then swung her own weapon, impaling his stomach. Shalvanis pulled the scythe free and whacked him against the back of his head with the pole, dropping him on his face harshly. Finally, she thrust the scythe forward, let it fall, and dragged it across the Legio's neck, decapitating him completely.
"Seven," Shalvanis breathed, falling back to recover.

[PhoenixFlame]

In the old times, it was said that a student Yan'alai battlemage could be counted on by his or her commander to count for fifty levied militia. Alone and surrounded, even a pretender of the ancient order was a formidible foe. To wonder what three hundred of them could do given order, was a awed but fleeting thought. Fifty? Alone? Auvrea was not thinking... Largely enough.

"You, you witch! I'll kill you! I'll KILL YOU!" The barbarian roared, one hand clutching his eyes, the other attempting to feebly swing his greatsword at Auvrea. She gracefully lept back, burying the other end of her staff in his abdomen.

"Suffer." she said softly. The flames of her staff guttered out, being channeled down the tip and into the man's body. "Suffer and be redeemed."

The flames engulfed the man's body, a mad greater fire elemental, an infernos, chewing and consuming his body in a terrible fury. When his screams had stopped, the body remained, burning in bright white fire, undying, and unmoving.

"Sentinel of the Ring, Protect me." She commanded, confident that the fire elemental could guard her long enough to conjure the momentary deep concentration she required. Her pupils dialated, and the world blackened. Sounds became dull and distant, her vision clouded, and the sight of an oncoming barbarian swinging his axe only to be knocked forcibly aside by a mighty gout of fire was an unimportant, and faraway happening, like an portrait in a dark room.

Her staff floated in front of her, bouyed by the air whipping around her like a small storm. To Auvrea, it appeared as motionless pane of white glass between herself and a deep sea. Six human forms of six barbarians in a loose line became sharp to her senses, and with a forceful thought, she pushed forward with her mind.

Back in reality, her staff suddenly snapped it's opal edge toward the six she had selected, and the gusts of wind around her howled with a hurricane fury, and then suddenly stopped. A moment later, a thin white line, lying on the same plane of her staff, shot forth with a soundless scream, cutting all six men's lower bodies from their uppers in a rain of crimson. Beyond, others were battered back, but the spell had lost too much of it's power to do any real damage. Auvrea silently lamented that her best performance of a wind saber had been in battle, rather than in class. Snapping back into reality with a physical jerk, she seized her staff, and took up a ready position.

"Infernos, do as you will." Was her final command to the summoned elemental.

[Ugainius]

"Tenn down." Iarann was happy. The soliders of the Legio had formed a semi-circle around him, just outside the range of his axe. They occasionally tried to rush him but he beat them back every time. Only ten of them had tried to take him down on their own and each one had fallen. And they weren't bad either, well worthy of being Morians finest.

He looked around and shouted at a nearby elf who had moved back to catch her breath "Com' on ya little beggar, get bac' in there! Ya think these lads ar' tuff, ya should see some of tha Demins Morians got up his sleve."

He turned his attention to the task at hand. Another Legio solider charged him. Iarann parried and pushed him back into the semi-circle. "That tha best ye got?" He shouted gleefully, a happy with his work.

[secretskull]

"What kind of tactics are these?" Villard muttered under his breath, as the soldiers had prepared to charge out of the Bastion. "They have one of the finest fortresses in the world, and they leave it to attack head on. I suppose glory in battle is more important then living. Sadly I am need of some glory as well." He took up his halberd and charged into the fray with the others.

In battle, he made careful use of his weapons long range, impaling many soldiers on the sharpened tip, keeping potential threats away from him. One soldier, a wicked smile on his face, managed to get past his defenses, and prepared to strike him down. A few murmured words sent a cloud of dust into the man's face, and the halberd's staff end was used to block the blow. The staff wasn't quite enough and the ax pushed down on Villard, cutting him painfully across the cheek. Villard quickly drew back, and hacked at the man's head.

Villard had no qualms about killing the soldiers of the Legio. "This isn't a serious attack, a force this small couldn't have hoped to conquer the Bastion, especially with barely any siege to speak of. My lord probably has a brilliant plan up his sleeve. Probably. Hopefully."

[Red Mage Black]

(Not sure if I can see anyone in particular but here goes.)

One particular warrior caught Black's eye, a female elf wielding a scythe. 'My my, why is one such as you out here?' The feature that got his attention the most was her hair, black as the darkest nights. 'You remember our agreement Black.' 'Yes, we shall stay together until the end of time... my love.' He gazed at the battlefield, watching his target draw back.

'Shall we engage?' Black asked his soul bound companion. 'Can you take on that many?' He simply laughed and grabbed the pendant, feeling it warm glow in his hand. 'For you, I would battle to world's end.' The pendant glowed brighter and grew warmer, Black simply dropping it to his chest. Latis split off into two pieces, each going to the opposite hand. They formed into jade metallic short swords. He walked towards the chaos from his spot in the woods, a malicious grin plastered across his face.

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin was disappointed, these were mere children, there was no honor, no rush to slaying them. But he had a Blood lust to satisfy, so he pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind and let his instincts take over.

He singled out a student with a small axe, yelling and flailing it wildly. He picked up the student in a three fingered palm and squeezed until the battle cries turned to panicked screams, and then silence. He hurled the bloody mess across the battlefield and picked another target.

A small, red-haired mage hurled arcs of pure energy into Morians men, killing half a dozen before Ruin swung his club at her, hitting her on the side and killing her instantly.

Ruin smelled the air. The stench of death and magic was all around, as was the putrid smell of the barbarians. Ruin raised his head, gazing across the field. "There" he muttered to himself, eyes fixed on a tall human, wielding two swords. Death flowed from this one like a river, hopefully HE would pose a challenge. Ruin stomped across the battle towards him, flexing the muscles in his razor lined jaw.

((OOC: SaigoKusunoki , im going after Phoenix.))

[Ryu Kurai]

Two warriors about ten yards from Shalvanis suddenly fell, each with a wooden shafted weapon in the gap of their armor in-between the helmet and chest piece. Darenith threw another, hitting one using a pair of maces squarely in the chest. The seven foot demon survived, staggering forwards and flinging one of his maces at the swiftly approaching warrior clad in demon bone armor. Darenith slapped it aside by spinning his spear, bringing the weapon around in a slice just below the demon's neck, demon bone slicing through steel better than any steel weapon could. Darenith came around with a spin, lowering both his arms and thrusting smoothly into the demon's stomach with his spear. Darenith's head swiveled quickly to the right, then to the left. He pushed on his spear with his upper body, the spear head sliding through the now limp demon's body. He turned the nearly 300 pounds of demon carcass to his right, shielding himself from the arrow of an archer who had been aiming at him. Another demon approached from his left, greatsword raised high. The elf moved the corpse quickly, the demon's sword slashing through the demon's armor as easily as Darenith's spear. The black blood of the demon sprayed over Darenith, and his shield gave out an agonizing cry.

Guess he wasn't dead after all. Darenith thought to himself, the demon's left limbs falling to the ground like steel-covered trees. Darenith pulled back on his spear, shoving his shoulder into the remaining parts of the demon he had impaled, slamming into the demon with the greatspear, then stepping back and grabbing the end of his spear's shaft, rushing forward again. The singing slice of his spear impaling a second demon brought a sick grin to Darenith's face. He planted his foot to the left of the demon whom he had just impaled, turning to his right once again. The arhcers predictably had unleashed more arrows, since Darenith's manuever had taken roughly four seconds, enough to string the arrow, aim and fire, and for the arrow to travel to its target. He heard a gurgle from the demon on the far end, and the soft clang of the greatsword dropping to the ground was enough to convince him that the demon was dead. Darenith started pressing his spear, now carrying around 600 pounds of demon corpses, out across the open plain towards the small platoon of archers who had been targeting him. He imagined that the archers weren't making anyone else's job easier, but they were a threat that needed to be eliminated before he could start having more fun with his prey.

Besides, anyone that far away from the battle was most certainly a coward.

And cowards had one place on the battlefield.

On the ground. Preferably in a few pieces.

[SaigoKusunoki]

"I bring the doom of the Endtimes upon ye! Let me hammer shake the fair earth herself!" shouted Enav as he barreled into the legs of a Legio soldier standing over Abzadrael's trapped body. The weight of the dwarf and the angle that he was hit knocked the soldier face first into the ground, forehead connecting with the spiked pauldron of a fallen comrade, cracking his skull.

Enav brought his hammer Worldbreaker against the chest of another soldier with a powerful, overhand swing that the man did not see in the chaos of battle. The man's hauberk crunched in, and with a sickly sound, so did his ribcage. Enav stood back to back with Abzadrael, growling menacingly at any who approached, and lashing out with heavy, powerful sweeps that were unblockable and could only be dodged.

"Lad it's not a good idea to go runnin' and jumpin' into an enemy formation like this ya know." he shouted over the din of war jokingly.

*****

Phoenix felt ponderous footsteps inexorably approaching, and he turned to see a large being resembling a frog pounding towards him. It carried a large club and was battering students out of the way without effort, it's demonic eyes fixed on him. Phoenix did not feel fear, only a heightened sense of things. If that was how it was going to be, then so it shall.

He began to make his way over to it, dispatching an unsuspecting barbarian with a scissoring motion of his blades, severing the man's head whilst he faced the other way. Cheap and dishonorable, but Phoenix was being challenged, and he would let none get in the way.

*****

Saigo could take it no more. The students had grown horribly complacent, and though there were those that used powerful magics, or those that were superbly skilled in bladework, the majority were like lamb to be slaughtered. Hefting his spear high above his head, he dashed towards the fighting. He smiled to himself; he had not gotten the opportunity to test his new power, and there was no better time than now. Unseen in the confusion by the students, he snaked his way in between bodies, lashing out with his spear when the opportunity arose. He found himself singled out by a barbarian wielding twin maces, but it was no contest. The man seemed to move slowly to Saigo; with much grace and little effort, he twisted his body in between the two swinging maces, and drove the head of his spear through the bottom of the man's jaw, the tip erupting from the back of his skull in a spray of blood and brain matter, that temporarily blinded the barbarian behind him. Not wanting to lose the opportunity, he angled his thrust a bit and kept pushing, until his speartip pierced the blinded man's right eye. Quickly running behind the man whom had originally received his spear, he gripped the spear just in front of the second barbarian's face, and with almost no force applied, pushed it through until the speartip yet again burst from the back of a skull. When the whole head was through, he gripped the spear behind the head and yanked hard, freeing his spear from both heads in one swift motion. He would have been amused, had he the time to think on matters other than fighting. Three men, seeing his awesome feat of skill, charged, various blades raised high and guttural cries in their throats. Smirking, Saigo held out his hand, and focused for the quickest of moments. A white light flashed for but a moment, and all three men collapsed in agony, their eyes bubbling out of their sockets.

"Im beginning to enjoy this. A lot." he mused to himself. He dashed deep into the enemy formation, hacking and thrusting and slashing and slicing; with each drop of blood drawn, he grew more rowdy; the slaughter fueled him, fueled his rage and hatred. Each death was the end of a heresy for him, and as Emperor, all heresy must be mercilessly eradicated.

*****

Captain Garvi had begun to lead his company forward; a combination of the rear cavalry charge, the hail of bullets, and the stout determination of the soldiers had begun to weaken the Legio; wounds and weariness were taking their toll, and the Legio was fast becoming less of an organized unit and more of self-minded rabble, each man becoming more and more concerned with slaughter than with completing their objective. That was the one flaw of the Legio; their demonic pacts made them bloody minded, the spilling of blood throwing them into a frenzy, a frenzy they would only break out of if killed. For the newer recruits of the Bastion's defense force, this spelled almost certain doom, as each man became a bloody minded, furious God of war. For the disciplined veterans, however, this was a godsend. Small wounds and much careful dodging would eventually wear the heretics down, until the killing blow could be made. For veterans like Garvi's company, this was no real problem; skilled in footwork and shieldwork, they minimized casualties until Garvi called for an attack. For them, the war became a methodical slaughter instead of a desperate defense.

Garvi dodged right, an axe head missing him by mere inches, but he quickly recovered by bringing the tip of his longsword down, into the weak spot in the Legio's armor between the breastplate and helm. The warrior, however, was not about to be taken down so easily. Dropping his weapons, he gripped Garvi's body two handed, headbutted him, and threw him into his own men. Garvi blacked out, landing face first, and then having a Legio soldier fall on top of him, dead.

[PhoenixFlame]

Twin paths of slaughter from the Northern Warrior and Sunev made Auvrea's job easier, but not by much. She were but a mage, and while she carried her staff in such pattern because she knew how to use it, she found it difficult to advance and match their pace with enemies closing in from all directions. How could one so willfully allow themselves to be surrounded? Truth be told, it was hardly willing, for the sorceress found herself surrounded aswell.

"So, for my next trick..." She sarcastically muttered, glancing around at the myriad vectors of chaos surrounding her. Deftly withdrawing from her robe a small chain of beads, she looped one end around her hand, and tossed the other, lasso-like, over the edge of her staff.

It became crystallinely clear to her why one was graded on the factor of time, now. Good art could not be rushed, but in battle, all martial art was rushed.

One of the heretics her wind saber had knocked backward drew forth now, flanked by two of his bretheren. In the back of her mind, it suddenly occured to Auvrea that they should outnumber the barbarians. If they did, why was the battle going on so long? Sorrow gripped her heart, and the beads across her staff and hand crystallized into a chain of ice. Pouring her sorrow into the chain, she looked toward the trio of barbarians whom her earlier spell had buffeted, but not killed... They appeared quite angered by this.

"Come no closer. Only the mad would attack the unbound." She warned, but they paid no heed.

A trio of barbarous warcries resounded through the air, and Auvrea sighed. Letting go with her hand, she flicked the chain at the leader. As it flew, it broke open... A line now, and each link carried a gradually lengthening icicle, razored along the chain's inside edge. A moment later, it snapped around the leader's neck like a choker, blades inside. He faltered for a moment, and without discipline, so did his compatriots. Hardened warriors they may be, this was a queer and strange form of magic the witch used. Clutching at the choker, the man tried to tear it free but with every wrench, it tightened. All of this took but a pair of seconds, though it seemed to last for time immemorial.

Auvrea slid her right foot back, into stance, and gently twirled her staff behind her. At that moment, the chain twisted in a circle, wrenching the man's head free of his shoulders. The two beside him stood momentarially dumbstruck, it were only a short moment's hesitation, and they were unpreturbed, continuing mid-charge. Flying guillotine or not, their axes where much more direct.

The sorceress broke her stance for a moment, as if to flee, but it was merely a fade to one side, an action which threw the linearity of the barbarian's charges, aswell as her own response. Leaping forward to one's side with suprising grace, she angled her weapon downward, ducking under his high-level axeblade and clipping his thigh as she passed. Hamstrung, the man fell to the ground, but quickly regained his knees. The second ran behind his friend towards her, swinging his axe overhead like a rabid animal. Though she deflected the swing with the tip of her battlestaff, the man let go of the weapon and, in a suprisingly unexpected move, punched her in the face.

Reeling from pain, she dropped to one knee, as if defeated by a single strike. Blood dripped from her nose, and the barbarian laughed.

"Is that it, elf? You have lots of flash and glamour, but little real fury!"

Auvrea's left hand trailed across the ground, feeling along with her fingers like a spider, until it reached blood.

"You are going to die now..." The man grunted, hefting his axe with a broad, sadistic grin.

"I don't think so..." she looked up, gripping the cold chain she felt around the bloody stump. With a desperate lunge, she threw the used guillotine at the man, catching his right arm as he raised his weapon. It fastened loosely this time, as her mind was reeling, but enough for her to use agaisnt him. Rising with a dramatic whirl of her staff, the barbarian dropped his axe with a stifling scream.

"Let's see your fury without your sword arm." She coldly spat.

[Red Mage Black]

(Not sure if I'm allowed to do this, let me know otherwise please.)

As he closed in on the action, Black caught a soldier fleeing from the battle. "COWARD!" He shouted stabbing the man through the gut. The soldier reeled forward and Black wrapped his free arm around the man and got close to his ear. "Shhh shhh...." He said calmly as if trying to quiet the man.

As he pulled back, Latis absorbed the blood on her form. The soldier merely fell to his knees and clutched the wound, staring up at Black with wide eyes. "Fear not young warrior. Your blood shall be the life force that leads me through eternity." He opened his mouth to reveal large fangs in which the soldier stared in horror at. The man let out a scream before Black sank his fangs into the man's jugular.

The blood flowed quickly into his mouth, the warmth making it all the better. Black savored every second of satisfaction he got. Yet it wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger. As he finished up the man's body fell limp to the ground, Black wiping away blood that overflowed from his mouth. "Don't worry, you will not be forgotten. Fear and anguish have made your blood ever the more potent. You have made me strong enough for the upcoming battle." Black left the soldier's body on the ground as he continued towards the chaos.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Saigo could almost smell something was not right. There was someone here, someone familiar, that should not be. Pulling his spear from the throat of a barbarian with a vicious yank, and began to back off from the battle slightly, letting students fill the gap between him and the Gorobar. He looked over the battle to see how things were going; both sides had lost a lot, and it saddened him to realize the students had lost more. He had a more important mission, however, so he tore his eyes from the battle, and began running towards the source of familiar energy.

Within seconds, he saw the Vampire-thing and Sunev, and wished he hadnt. She was on her knees, crying, and he was standing triumphantly above her, scorpion-like tail raised and ready to strike. Saigo did not need anyone to tell him who it was; he had seen Sidian like this once before. He was surprised, however, that he still felt the real Sidian and not a monster. Not wanting to waste any time sitting and thinking, Saigo charged, spear raised. He was quick, and got in between Sunev and Sidian before he could thrust with his tail. Saigo caught the thrust in one hand, and pulled, bringing Sidian to his knees.

"Sidian Valentine, I should have killed you when I had the chance. It is a shame you serve the fool Morian. Now, go, tell your master that the Emperor has returned, and that I shall have his head within the month."

With his free hand, Saigo reached up and pulled the wolf pelts from his head and face, letting his silver-white hair spill to the ground. Sidian stared at him wide eyed; fear, it seems, could grip the hearts of those who spelled fear themselves. With a casual flick of his wrist, Saigo picked up Sidian by his tail and flung him into the chaotic melee, bowling over student and heretic alike, causing many to turn their heads in Saigo's direction. Not wasting time, he raised his spear high, and a white light emitted from the speartip.

"All shall FEAR the Emperor's WRATH!" he bellowed, his voice carrying over the entire combat. Without wasting time, he charged into the melee, hacking and stabbing left and right, taking out barbarian after barbarian with little to no effort, but full of fury. First one man, then ten, then slowly, all, began to turn tail and run toward the horizon.

Only two remained fighting, a young man wielding two golden swords, and a large demon, resembling a frog.

((OOC: We'll do the Phoenix/Ruin fight and then that will be over))

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin looked over at the fleeing barbarians. "Damned cowards." He spat, and turned back to his prey. Ruin held the club high above his head, and brought it down with the strength of a god. It connected with the ground, but the man was able to leap out of the way. Ruin tried to raise the club again, but all that he pulled up from the cracked earth was a splintered mess.

The other students were turning to him now. And Ruin was without a weapon. He could probably kill them all with his bare hands, but he didnt like the odds.

A elf charged at him, wielding a long-sword. Ruin couldnt turn fast enough, and the blade found home in his arm. The elf screamed in horror as he was picked off the ground and torn in half, his sword still quivering in Ruin's side, barely piercing his thick hide.

He ripped the sword out of his arm, and tossed it to the side. In his throaty voice ruin growled "Now, we fight.", eyes fixed on his first target.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Phoenix smirked devilishly. The beast was slow, and large, something he could use to his advantage. However, if one of the beast's swings connected with him, he would be over. Phoenix started by feinting to the left, then executing a series of swift strikes to the right. Baby steps, he told himself. Small wounds would wear the creature down, bleed it dry until he could finally make the killing blow, and send the hellspawn to whatever pit of the Nether it came from.

*****

The Legio Dominatus had three laws in it's creed; no retreat, no surrender, no mercy. Fear and pain were completely wiped from their minds; they knew it not. Over at the Bastion, the last Legio soldier stood, surrounded on all sides, bodies piled around him. He hefted a curved, two handed sword above his head, which was slick and crimson with blood. His eyes were wide and wild, knowing full well he was going to die, and being completely okay with it, for it was his duty. Three swordsmen rushed him at once, shields held high, swords low. They struck at once, one parried by the heretic's mighty blade, one bouncing harmlessly off his pauldron, and one finding home deep in the heretic's thigh. Bellowing with bestial wrath, the heretic swung wide, catching one swordsman's throat, and biting deep into the chest of another, his hauberk little protection against the heavy blade. Without waiting for a reaction, he grabbed the third man by the face, and began beating him into the broken bodies and armor below him, turning the loyalist into a bloody mess.

((OOC: Evan, Commissar-style his ass))

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin blocked the attacks with his right fore-arm, sheilding his face. The small cuts brought forth blood, but ruin ignored the pain. He lunged to the right, and swung a spine-breaking fist at the man. All he had to do was get his hands on him, but he was a quick little bastard.

Ruin was afraid. Even after he killed this one, there was still many more than 100 others waiting for the chance to slay him. He was afraid he was going to die here. There are things worse than death, and where he was summoned from is one of those things.

[Ugainius]

Iarann helped restrain the last Legio solider, watch the Grand Marshal approach, give a speech and shoot him. He wouldn't have minded, but a good bit of blood hit him the face.

[SaigoKusunoki]

Phoenix ducked under the demon's clumsy attacks, keeping a steady rain of blows on the creature's body, arms, and legs. Phoenix felt confident that he could slay this beast, this wretched abomination that had killed so many. He was driven by his thoughts of vengeance; he would show no mercy.

Saigo, however, had other plans. He calmly stepped forward, eyes set on the demon. Quickly, he put one foot out, and tripped Phoenix. Not expecting this, he fell flat on his back. Now, Saigo stood in between him and the demon. Saigo levelled his blade, pointing it mere inches from Ruin's eye.

"Demon, what do you fear more...the wretched hell you were spawned from....or me?" his voice was steady, quiet, and unwavering.

[PhoenixFlame]

Auvrea didn't see Lord Saigo at first... She was a driven one. Though her enemies fled, she did not take eyes from them. They fled with all haste, leaving their wounded behind, as only the enemy could. It was all she could do to oblige them with a just, quick death.

"Ahhhrgh! Arrhh!" The armless barbarian howled, his axe having fallen to the ground at his side. He attempted to limp away, but she allowed him not. Sweeping her weapon low, she knocked him forward off of his feet, taking her staff overhead and driving one end through his back with a sickening, wet sound.

Was this fury?

"It was." she could only think, striding slowly to the man whom had earlier lost his footing. On his knees now, though his weapon were still ready. Fear gripped him at the sight of Lord Saigo, but he could not flee. What other recourse did he have, but to die?

*Splurtch!*

From just beyond the range of his axe, the sorceress threw her spearlike staff through the man's torso, and only then did she turn to see salvation. Lord Saigo, in all of the story's splendour, had arrived at last. She could do nothing but stand dumbfounded, at her actions, their victory, and the return of their emperor.

[Red Mage Black]

(I don't remember where the hell everyone was...)

It was a surprise as Black got just where he wanted. But even so, the army had already found its victory. He walked amongst the wounded and dead, taking care to finish off any he found still alive, soldier, demon, or heretic. "None of them are worth my time. They do not even carry a good pints left of blood in them. Are you satisfied dear?" 'Quite, but be careful the humans are still around.'

Black's swords reflected the suns rays in all directions, the jade showing on all armor and weapons. He reared his head back and let out an audible scream. "Wretched beings, I shall slay those unworthy and drink the blood of those who are."

From a distance one could see a pale skinned man standing in a field full of bodies, as if he was the last survivor.

[Ryu Kurai]

Darenith had removed his helmet, and was doing the same to the legion of archers, most of whom he had downed himself, but were quickly rushed from behind by one of the Bastion's companies. He ripped the helmet offf of each one, at last finding a demon whom he had slew with a deep stab to the neck. He hefted Bonesplitter high, recognizing the demon-blooded heretic's demonic influence as that of an eye demon. That's what Darenith called them, anyway. Their eyes were said to be the keenest of any demon's. Funny, that hadn't helped him dodge the elf's spear. The organs themselves were rather odd looking, somewhat fly-like at the pupil, but that wasn't what he wanted. He stabbed downward into the demon's armor, the body shuddering at the sudden force. He stabbed it a few more times, until he could get through the armor. He removed it with his gauntlet, flinging it aside into the rest of the corpses. He grasped the end of one of the bones he had severed in his attempt to get the thing's armor off, and pulled out a rib. He grinned, the demon's bone bearing several barbs that seemed almost randomly placed. Perfect for more short spears. He thrust his blade down a few more times, harvesting every last one of the ribs with surgeon-like precision. He stepped on the demon's exposed face as he went over to another body and removed the helmet. He would join the others once he had harvested the rest. Perhaps war could bring a bit of profit.

[Astral Harmony]

Shalvanis scanned the battlefield carefully. She herself had removed seventeen of the Legio Dominatus from the battlefield, and after resting, she was ready for more. Now that everything seemed to grind down a little too easily, she decided to start mopping up, finishing what others couldn't be bothered to do because their skills were required to deal with fresh targets. Her kills in this manner increased her total to upwards of fifty, though she wasn't counting those that she simply finished off. Once she was done, she decided to wait around. The beasts that she hunted were likely all in hiding thanks to the enemy's approach and retreat, meaning any hunt she made wouldn't be successful for a time.

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin pondered the options over in his head. He couldnt run, there were too many of them, and he would be painfully killed if he returned to morian, having failed. He could try fighting, but maybe they wouldnt kill him if he gave up, but that seemed very unlikely. The desire to kill was in the eyes of all around him.

He smelt something on this one. The void. Ruin didnt know he was coming until he was on him. He wasnt a normal human.

"W...What are you?"

[SaigoKusunoki]

Saigo cocked his head amusedly. Quiet at first, he began to laugh, but soon, it became a hearty chuckle. However hearty it was, it dripped with cold malice.

"I can't exactly say what I am, for even I do not know...but I do know who I am. My name is Saigo Kusunoki, the rightful and true Emperor of Archanas. I have been through many tests and trials, all to return now, and deliver this beautiful land from the clutches of the Heretic Morian Baneblade."

Stunned silence. Students stared at him wide eyed, disbelieving. It was him. The Emperor had returned.

"Now demon you have a choice. You can die now, a clean death, or you can return to Morian, and tell him that his skull with decorate my throne, and be tortured mercilessly, to a slow death."

Saigo now turned away from the demon, and offered his hand to Phoenix, who was staring at him from a sitting position. Phoenix shakily took it, and was pulled to his feet without effort.

"Now. My people. The future of the country...the students of the Academy. This was but your first test on the road to peace. There will be battles like this that are far harsher, far bloodier. In the near future, many will die, blood will run in rivers, and screams of anguish will be so deafening that they will shake the very ground. For this is war. But do not fear. I have returned, and with my return, I will bring peace, once and for all. What you saw here was just a tiny glimpse of my power; you have nothing to fear, but the traitor has everything to fear. Now, we must march north. To the north there is a keep, an impenetrable fortress, where we will make our stand. There is no time for rest; gather any waterskins, field rations, and small personal belongings, for we march in one hour. Time is of the essence."

Saigo turned back to Ruin. "Now YOU," he pointed his spear at the demon's eye again, "have you made your choice?"

[Echo of sanity]

Ruin fell to his knees, and lowered his head. "Be grateful to your friend here." he said to the tall man, jerking his head to the "emperor". Ruin had no interest in the babbling of human politics. "Just make it quick." He muttered to Saigo.

[SaigoKusunoki]

"Gladly."

Even on it's knees, the beast's eyes were still level to Saigo's. He moved the tip of his spear to rest in the middle of the demon's skull, where it's brain would be.

"By blade and fire be purged, wretch."

He thrust forward, the speartip passing though flesh and bone and bursting from the back of the demon's skull in a spray of blood and brain matter. Saigo rested his foot on the demon's chest, and pulled his spear free with a sick, wet sound.

"Now, dont just stand around kids, prepare for the march!"

*****

Phoenix was prepared. He did not need to grab anything special because he had nothing special, only his swords and his body. He sat next to the reflection pond, wondering about his future. Now that he was to leave his school and home...what will become of him? He was truly and honestly scared. He idly picked at the grass, hoping Auvrea made it out alive. He did not have the courage to check, lest the answer be no.

*****

As was Naoronian tradition, all of the Legio Dominatus corpses were beheaded, the bodies piled on top of one another, and the heads put on pikes in a circle around the pile of bodies. Afterward, a fire was set, and the Naorinians sat around the pyre, drinking and laughing and talking of victory. It was hard won, with more friendly soldiers lost than enemies, but a victory nonetheless. Amongst the gathered North Elves, sat two humans. One was tall, muscular, with long brown hair tied back into a ponytail. He wore a bloodstained leather jacket over a white cotton shirt, and black pants, and was very much scarred, most notably a scar that ran from his forehead, over his left eye, down to his chest. His left eye was milky, a sign that he was blind in that eye. He hefted an enormous greatsword, the likes of which probably weighed as much as a man, if not more. He was incredibly imposing, and sat staring at the ground with his one good eye, deep in thought.

No matter how imposing this man was, the person sitting next to him was downright frightening. Shirtless and unscarred, his skin is pale, almost blue tinged, and decorated with many intricate tatoos, the likes of which would make you dizzy to look at for too long. His hair was black, mid-back length, and hung in greasy strands. This man sat arms folded, eyes closed, also deep in thought.

From the sky came a roar, guttural and frightening. The roar of a dragon. The assembled soldiers looked up to see a large black dragon coming in to land. They immediately stood at attention, as their King approached. The dragon landed smoothly, hardly making a sound. The figure on top, however, was more frightening to the men than the dragon could ever be. Fully armed in plate mail, Kalaador Aferaanor swung his leg over and dismounted, landing with the crunch of steel hitting rock. He gave a quick nod to his men, but his business was with the two men, and no Naoronians were in a position to interrupt him, lest they wish to keep their head.

"Tanata, Stormborne. What news from the front?" he asked, his voice quiet and calm, yet commanding vast authority.

"Slaughtered, each and every one of them, I made sure of that. Have you considered my request, Lord?" the man with the greatsword stepped forward.

King Kalaador sighed. "It is a large request, no doubt risky and will cost the lives of thousands. Even this military action has cost me many valuable men, and if that dreadful Morian decides to march on Bloodthorne or Blacksteel, I would be in dire straits."

"But Lord, he wouldnt attack you. Not with him alive. He will devote his every waking breath, and spend every coin he has, to see my Emperor's head on a pike. Without your help, the entire world is forfeit to his will. I hope you consider my request carefully, but I must be on my way."

Before Kalaador could say anything, the tatoo'd man stepped forward and bowed.

"Now, King Kalaador, you stand on the blade's edge. Your decision here today will decide the fate of the world. Is it in your heart to live with yourself, should your decision lead to ruin? Choose wisely." his voice was dry and airy, and commanded as much authority as Kalaador's, if not more.

The two men mounted black steeds and were ready to leave, when Kalaador turned suddenly.

"Shiro Tanata....Kyogi Stormborne. Give me two weeks. My forces are meager and not what they once were...but I swear to you, I will stand by my allies and honor my vows, and so I declare the Naorond army on the warpath once again."

The cheers from the surrounding soldiers shook the ground, and Shiro Tanata, Regent-Marshal of the Archanas Imperial Army, left with a smile on his face.

[PhoenixFlame]

Auvrea left the battlefield in a bit of a daze, like she could only imagine everyone else doing. The sorceress packed her books, her tools, scrying kit, diagrams... It was a lot to carry, but she could afford to leave none of it. As she turned to leave, she stopped to examine herself in the mirror... The person who looked back to her was not a student, nor a teacher. The bloodsplatters across her robe were something that couldn't be imitated by even the best actors, and her staff was slicked with crimson. This person was a warrior, no?

The mirror couldn't come, and the academy would be burned if she ever lived to return to it. Striking it once, she shattered the image, and left without looking back.

She came to the reflection pond still in a faraway daze. Given not the time to change or clean her clothes, she still wore the robe she had for the battle. Although, with a similar demenour toward the mirror, she tossed her staff in the pond. The clear waters splashed, and slowly, the blood began to come off.

"Heretic blood is thicker than... Than normal blood." She explained quickly to Phoenix, making a macabre parody of an old quote while retrieving her weapon. "I'm glad to see you're alive, but I cannot say the same for the others..." she said softly, "I take full responsibility for not demanding an orderly formation before the charge."

[SaigoKusunoki]

Phoenix sighed. He wanted to help in some way...in any way. Though he survived, many friends of his, many good friends, had lost their lives. He quickly came to realize that this was a hollow victory. Loss of life traded for loss of life.

He shook his thoughts away. "Auvrea, this is what we have been trained to do. We have been trained to fight, and kill. This was just our first....our first field exam." Despite what he told her, he could not help to feel miserable.

"C'mere kid. The Emperor's back...we're safe now." He pulled her into a large hug, more instinct than conscious action.

*****

Sunev had not left the battlefield. In fact, she had not left her sitting position for some time. The whole hour that the students prepared for the march, she sat, eyes wide in disbelief, in horror. Her brother, her beloved Sidian, a monster, no better than the demons he once devoted his life to eradicating.

Saigo had stood watching her, a half an hour passing by, without saying anything. He understood her pain, to see a loved one turned against you. To lose a loved one. Pains he was all too familiar with. Quietly, he sat next to her.

"He...he begged for me to kill him...I could hear his voice...in my head. He wants death...death that I dont think I can deliver." her voice was shaky, and she sounded like she had been crying.

"Sunev..."

"No Saigo....there's nothing you can say or do. You have no idea what it's like!" she snapped, a little louder and sharper than she intended.

Saigo's blood rose almost instantly, but he managed to stifle himself and not yell.

"So...what was Zerakath Gaos...Sessho Stormborne...my father? Those three I lost, to my own hand! And what of our oldest son...it is you who doesnt understand, obviously...you haven't seen your son, the heir to your throne, beheaded in front of you." He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with malice.

"Saigo...don't bring up Dante. He died trying to impress you, don't you ever forget that." She said with challenging eyes.

He was on her in the blink of an eye. Instantly, he grabbed her by her throat and pinned her to the ground. His grip was powerful, and she could do naught but stare back at him frightfully. They locked eyes, his full of rage, hers full of sorrow. Slowly, his expression began to soften, as did his grip. He leaned in and kissed her, eyes closed, for a few long moments. She did not resist.

Eventually, he stood up, and wiped something from his eye. His expression was completely neutral.

"See to it that the students are prepared. We march in fifteen minutes."

"Yes my Lord."

She stood up, brushed dry grass and blood from her hair and clothes, and headed off to the school without another word.

Saigo gazed over the battlefield; he told them not to bother with moving or burying any bodies, and the stink of blood was heavy in the air. He walked through the bodies, brooding. Without thinking, he kicked at a dead barbarian's exposed head, shattering it's skull and spraying brain matter and fluids all over the dead body of a young girl student, no older than fifteen or sixteen. He sighed; this battlefield reminded him of a certain battlefield, so many years ago....

[PhoenixFlame]

"Field exam..." She echoed, returning the embrace. "A field exam."

Was that really, an exam? People didn't die during exams, at least... Not the ones you took in school. Then again, it was the academy of magic and warfare, and warfare was part of the game.

"We're 'safe'?" She asked, "We're anything but safe. Maybe..." she trailed off for a moment, and then picked up more rapidly, "Maybe we're physically safe, but..." She soon caught herself, and sighed.

"Oh, Phoenix... I know we did well. Not well, but we preformed well. It was well, wasn't it? Ah... I can't... Can't think, mental strain from spellcasting is getting to me..." She excused this confusion quickly with what might have been the truth, but she imagined it was merely fabrication.

"March soon." she finally said, "Better get ready to go."

[SaigoKusunoki]

"Aye...but Auvrea...make sure you're ready for more than just a march."

An hour had passed, and honoring their Emperor's request, the students had assembled in the courtyard, their hearts broken and bodies already tired from the fight. However, one glance at the Emperor filled each student with a small ray of hope. His kind, benevolent smile, and all-knowing gaze made one feel safe and secure. He would deliver them from evil. He definitely would.

"Students of the Academy...your efforts today were brilliant and beautiful. The almost near eradication of Morian's forces will surely send a message to him; he will not sully our land any longer, and it is not his right to try and take it from us. The youth of the nation, the future of the world, you have struck fear into the heart of a tyrant!"

His words of encouragement raised a weary cheer from the students; despite their inner feelings of doubt, being told that they caused Morian to fear made them feel more than just special. It made them feel like this incoming war could be won, that the few could stand against the many, and win.

"Now, we march north. North to our destinies. Whether we find victory or ruin depends on every single one of you. Now, let us march, together."

And like a shepherd guiding lambs, the Emperor Saigo Kusunoki turned his spear north and so followed his people.

[Ryu Kurai]

"That's the guy there, making some kind of weapon."

Crrrk, snikatch

"Ugh, he's ripping those bones in half. I mean, those aren't human bones, right?"

"Which side is he on, anyway? Looks ugly enough to be a heretic to me."

"Why don't you go ask him?"

"Yeah, sure. Get me a few more ales and maybe."

Darenith's skinning knife danced across the sharpened points of the heretic bone. He glanced down its length, sharpening another point further. He then took out a length of twine and a smooth wooden pole, holding the rib shard taut as he wrapped the twine around it again and again, making the twine almost one with the bone and wood. He did this again and again, making more spears than he could carry. From the way things looked, it still wouldn't be enough.

Fine by him.

But what would happen after this war? If the demons did win, things would certainly be different. Odds are, he would be dead. But if there were no more demons, what would he do?

Sure, he could hunt some remaining heretics for a while, but for how long? Killing was all he really knew how to do. It gave him purpose. After the war, would it be like after his exile?

He ran his thumb across one of his demonic canines. He did the same with the spear he had just finished.

Maybe he was the same as this weapon, to be discarded when it was no longer needed.

The thought filled his cold heart with the first real fear he had ever felt.

He bundled up his spears and began wandering the fortress, trying to find some sort of hint among the stone and soldiers.