Order of the Void
I own nothing
Tristain was a small kingdom when compared to its powerful neighbors, but even so, no nation prided itself on their mages as much as the nobles of that small land. Because of that the reputation of Tristains Academy of Magic was one fiercely defended and its students were encouraged to excel in their studies...more or less anyway. For pampering of students usually gets you only so far.
Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière felt the pressure like nothing before. Today, all of the students in the second year at the Tristain Academy of Magic would summon their familiars, all of the students gathered in the Vestri courtyard to perform the summoning ritual.
Louise had been trying to appear as small as possible, despite already being the smallest in her class. If she failed today...then her mother will probably kill her. She shook hear head, no even worse she will be disappointed.
Despite her bloodline, her magical ability was practically zero. Her classmates could cast the simplest of spells with ease, while she could only cause violent explosions, no matter what kind of spell she tried to perform. This earned her the nickname 'The Zero'.
"Now, has everybody performed their summoning?" Colbert asked
"Nope!" A voice called out from beside Louise, stumbling forward as the owner of the voice gave her a light shove. She whirled around, coming face-to-chest with Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt Zerbst.
Louse glared at the taller girl.
"Louise hasn't summoned anything yet," Kirche said.
Louise growled and turned away without responding, and walked to the summoning circle. As she approached, she couldn't help but overhear her classmates mutter to each other. Most had simply figured she just wouldn't summon anything, while others speculated the weird creatures that she could possibly summon.
"Are you ready Miss Vallière?" Colbert asked.
"I am," Louise nodded, drawing her wand. She took her stance at the circle, and held her arms outstretched with her wand in her right hand. She inhaled deeply and started to chant in a clear, musical voice.
"My servant that exists somewhere in this vast universe!"
"Oh sacred, beautiful and strong familiar spirit!"
"I desire and here I plead from my heart!"
"Answer to my guidance!"
What resulted was exactly what everyone had more or less anticipated: A sizable explosion that tore up the earth, and sent dirt and pebbles raining down on everyone in the area. The smoke started to clear slowly, revealing Louise sitting on the grass having been knocked over by the explosion, looking up she glanced something standing behind the still remaining dust cloud.
As the dust cleared Louise Valliere finally managed to see what she had summoned. To her or rather everyone's surprise a old, almost derelict tower appeared where the summoning circle was located, its walls were decorated with ugly black statues that did nothing for the buildings aesthetic appeal. Beside it was also some sort of portal, the pinkish light coming from the vortex bathing the surrounding area in its light.
But that wasn't the strangest.
Instead of grass the ground was changed to stone, the stalagmites and strange glowing blue crystals made it look like the area was simply ripped out from some underground cavern or something similar.
Louise was afraid she failed again, but she still held hope that her familiar was inside the tower...though she doubted a dragon would fit inside, or a manticore...perhaps a griffin?
She was about to walk to the decrepit building, when one of the statues moved.
"What in Brimirs name..." said the astonished girl. Though her surprise quickly turned to fear when dozens of the ugly creatures rose into the air and flew towards her.
"Miss Vallière stay back!" warned Colbert as he conjured up a fireball and launched it at the advancing menace.
As soon as it reached the first constructs the spell expanded and engulfed the obsidian gargoyles within its magical flames.
...and did no damage at all.
For the first time in years Colbert was completely stunned, before he started to chant another spell he turned to his students "Everyone, run back to the academy, NOW!"
They still had the chance, the creatures weren't the fastest so the children should be able to out run the things.
The students didn't nave to be told twice and did as they were told...at least most did.
Seeing how the professors spells were having no effect on the hostile alvis Tabitha decided to provide some assistance.
"Windy Icicle" she chanted in her usual quiet voice and released a barrage of ice spears at the things that were pursuing Colbert and Louise.
To her frustration like with her professors fire spells her own failed to do any damage.
"Spirit of Fire!"
"Fireball!"
Both Colbert and Kirche said in unison and tried once more to burn the things...with the same lack of results.
"Damn it! Why cant we destroy those things" growled the Germanian who was surprised by Colbert's mastery of fire magic...and also disappointed that it failed to stop the strange alvis.
"Then allow me!" said Guiche as he flicked his wand and summoned seven of his golems. The fop then commanded them to attack the things with their bronze spears.
The Valkyrie did as they were commanded and rushed to stop the constructs from reaching the humans.
With a quick thrust of a bronze spear one of the Valkyrie broke through the obsidian golems left wing, forcing it to land and fight on foot.
Everyone was surprised that Guiche of all people managed to halt their foe, forcing the things to concentrate on the Valkyrie instead on them. But even if physical attacks were able to do actual damage unlike magic, their enemy wasn't beaten...far from it.
Two obsidian gargoyles were destroyed by Guiches golems, but the Valkyrie also lost two of their own...and with the numerical advantage the gargoyles had, and seven golems being Guiches maximum it was obvious they were losing the attrition game.
Something had to be done, and fast.
That something came in two flavors. First Sylphid joined into the battle and crushed the enemy with its talons, turning the gargoyles into crumbled pieces of obsidian.
The other advantage proved to be even more of a surprise.
"Fireball!" shouted Louise.
Her spell like always misfired but to everyone's surprise the resulting explosion blew dozens of the things into smithereens, dramatically decreasing their numbers in the air around them.
"Wow, good work Louise" said Kirche who for once wasn't sarcastic with that comment.
Colbert sighed in relief and turned to the pink haired girl "Nicely done Miss Vallière."
The pink haired girl smiled at the praise at having done something right for a change.
"What were those things? They didn't behave like normal alvis" commented Kirche as the fight finally ended.
"Whatever they were, they were no match for my Valkyrie" said Guiche as he struck a pose with his wand "though it is understandable, they were fighting against a Gramont."
"Tower?" asked Tabitha.
"You think they were guarding something inside the tower?" asked Kirche "Must be something important in there."
The short blue haired girl nodded.
Everyone then turned to Louise. The pink haired girl steeled her nerves and started to walk towards the now thoroughly de-gargoyled building. The thing looked like nobody maintained it for years, maybe decades...though what if it wasn't as abandoned as it looked?
Well, best way to find out is to examine it thought Louise as she and the others approached the building.
They first tried the door but it was locked, not surprising. A incantation from Tabitha removed that obstacle without any problems.
If any of them expected a room full of treasure inside, they were disappointed. The only thing inside was a old staircase going to the next level. The group exchanged glances before they continued on.
Once again a door on the top of the stairs blocked their path, but unlike before this time Tabitha's spell failed to open the lock.
Colbert tried to cast the spell again, but it failed as well.
"Strange" mused the bald professor as he rubbed his chin in puzzlement.
"Let me try" said Kirche as she pointed her wand at the door "Fireball!"
Everyone was terrified at first that a fireball in such close proximity would blow up in their faces, but fortunately whatever negated Tabitha and Colbert's magic also made sure that Kirche's spell never went off.
That actually made Louise smirk "Whats wrong Zerbst, run out of passion?"
"Not funny" said the red haired Germanian "if you think you can do it better, be my guest."
Louise snorted and pulled her wand "Unlock!"
The explosion tore through the door and almost threw them down the stairs.
"Ehhh good work Miss Vallière" praised Colbert, but not with the same enthusiasm he did when she destroyed the gargoyles outside.
"Good work indeed" said a new voice from the now open room. The group quieted down and heard footsteps come their way, and through the blasted door emerged a dark haired woman with green eyes that seemed as if they were radiating in the dark "You have my gratitude."
Louise looked at the woman she released and was convinced she made a blunder...at least if one could judge people how they dressed.
And this woman's attire was suspicious as one could get. Dark robes, with green spikes...bad. Chains with hooks dangling down her skull decorated belt? Really bad...
Colbert cleared his throat "Excuse our intrusion, but what is this place, and who are you?"
"Its a prison, it was made so it drains spellcasters of their mana, no matter how high your willpower you cant manifest it here."
Wait, what! "P-Prison?!" shouted Louise as she pointed a accusing finger at the other person "you're a criminal!"
"Don't jump to conclusions. My name is Anastasya Griffin, the youngest daughter of Duke Slava and Duchess Cate of Griffin and my confinement has nothing to do with any criminal activity" answered the imprisoned woman in a chilling voice.
Louise felt like swallowing her words back...the woman was a noble, scratch that she was high nobility, a step away from actual royalty.
"Righttt" drawled Kirche "forgive me if I fail to believe that. Is there anything that would prove your claim? And I certainly haven't heard of any Griffin Duchy before, in what country is it located?"
"The Griffin Empire"
The others looked blankly at her, none of them ever heard of such a country.
"So why were you imprisoned anyway?" asked Louise suspiciously.
"My brother hates necromancers and he could only execute me once" was her reply.
Ahhh, that explains the pale skin and the piercing emerald ey... "W-WHHAAT?!"
"You...are dead?" asked Colbert with a hint of worry in his voice, if its true it was bad...not elf bad, but still bad.
Anastasya crossed her arms "You are acting like I'm the first undead you ever heard of."
Colbert, Tabitha and Kirche shook their heads since they knew about vampires.
Even when the necromancers helped humans and elves against the demons it always ends up with them being killed and burned on the stake for no better reason than because they are using the dead as workers and soldiers.
The whole reason the mages of House Eterna had too flee their homes was because humans and elves hated those that weren't like they were, who acted differently from the norm.
"Thank the gods" mumbled the undead
"B-Blasphemy!" shrieked Louise...and surprisingly followed by Guiche de Gramont.
"Oh not this gain" said Anastasya.
"There are no gods you heretic, there is only one God!" raged the pink haired girl "and his name is Brimir!"
Anastasya scoffed "Such a familiar tune...don't tell me you also burn people who don't share your own beliefs?"
Colbert cringed and turned to his more zealous students "Stop it, it isn't our place to judge what faith one holds" he then turned to the woman "my apologies, but I'm afraid that you should keep you religion a secret...the Brimiric Church doesn't take kindly to people who don't follow Brimirs way."
Why am I not surprised...then again that is a necromancers lot in life "Very well, could we leave this place already? I have spend too many years in here and wish for some change of scenery."
Colbert nodded, but made sure too stay on guard if the undead tried anything funny.
As they walked down the stairs and out of the tower the bald professor decided to break the silence with some banter...and get some information along the way "Pardon me for asking, but what are those things?" he said as he pointed at the remains of one of the flying constructs.
"Those are Obsidian Gargoyles" answered Anastasya "the wizards of the Silver Cities make them because they are immune to things like fire, lightning and ice spells."
The mages looked stunned by that...that such a thing existed was extremely dangerous, it effectively rendered ¾ of a nobles arsenal useless.
She scowled when she recognized the silhouettes of two moons in the sky. I guess Sandro was correct all along, I should gather more information about this place and what sort of magic breached the shell that Asha created over Ashan. Then something else caught the necromancers eye "Ohh, you have a problem" she said and motioned to the two way monolith that was transported together with her prison and the surrounding cavern rock.
"Why?" asked Kirche.
"The other end of that portal is near the city of Ygg-Chall, the possibility of a Dark Elf patrol or army coming through it is rather high."
"E-elves?!" the children shrieked...well with the exception of Tabitha.
"Are you certain?" asked Colbert.
"Well, such portals make travel far faster, so they are often used. It was the only source of information I had over the years" the woman shrugged, though was also angered that nobody cared too free her even though it would be easy enough for a bunch of peasants to do so "and since the portal is here to stay you should be on your guard."
I have to warn the Headmaster...heck, I need to warn the palace! The possibility of a elven army simply waltzing into the heart of Tristain was almost enough to make his stomach twist.
"E-Elves" whispered Louise...
"Dark elves" corrected Anastasya "you know, pointy ears, like to sacrifice people in bloody rituals, masters of magic? Have excellent markets though, if you need any magic equipment you can find it there."
The living humans didn't say a word.
"Whats wrong? You look like you saw Urgash himself."
"Close" said the masculine voice from behind her.
The necromancer turned around and came face to snout with a deep lizard, the dark elven warlock riding on its back looking down on the whole group, ready to blast them with his magic if they made one wrong move.
Behind him a few dozen Shadow Mistresses cracked their whips on the ground.
Huh? The imprisonment must have really dulled my perception...then again the pointy ears have a affinity for ambushes though the necromancer.
"You people are in big trouble" commented Sinitar as forty Stalkers appeared around the humans, disarming them with speed beyond what a normal human could achieve.
They only arrived moments ago, but seeing the unfamiliar scenery made the paranoid elven commander order his troops to turn themselves invisible as soon as he spotted the tower in the distance.
The warlock looked distastefully at his surroundings, it was all green and sunny...so different from their underground home "We are returning to Ygg-Chall" he told his troops before he refocused back on the prisoners "and you are coming with us."
A/N:
Since HOMM6 introduced the concept of Void magic with Sandro and his Order of the Void it was too cute if I didn't at least attempt a short story...though I will mostly be using HOMM5 spells until Louise and Anastasya find Markal (or at least his skull) and he takes them Sandro (or rather his spirit) in Lorekeep.