Retribution of a Fallen God

[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."