Retribution of a Fallen God

[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?