Chapter 2-A siege of Fire
The cathedral of the wedding is beautiful. It's massive on the inside. The windows are stain glass comprising of vibrant shining colours of purple, gold, scarlet, blue, green, white and orange. The windows depict scenes of saints with crowns on their heads, Knights slaying demons, angels and griffins. There are multiple stunning archways on both sides of the cathedral. The crowd comprises of nobles, lords, barons, Knights and Angels. As the doors to the cathedral open the King and Queen arrive at the sound of the horn. Nicolai, wears armor that makes him appear two times his actual size. His chest plate extends almost two feet ahead of him, the gauntlets around his arm and the plate armor guarding his legs extends one foot out. The breastplate is silver, engraved in it is the golden image of a crowned Griffin standing triumphantly on its hind legs. The armor around his torso replicates the abdominal muscles beneath the armor. The gauntlets around his arms only make his already large biceps seem larger. He wears a red crystal encrusted with gold, chained around his neck. His cape is thick and heavy and white also bearing the symbol of the golden griffin. Nicolai appears as a handsome, silver titan in his thick armor. He seems very imposing, and even stronger than he already is. The sunlight pouring into the cathedral reflects of his golden flowing hair and crown. Isabel exceeds her husband's glory. Her hair curled up jet black hair compliments the gold crown on her head. Her smile brightens the cathedral almost as much, if not even more than the diamonds that shine around her neck. Her wedding dress is whiter than snow and is comprised of silks, and sash and ribbons. It's long and around her neck its collar is adorned with gleaming pearls. A King, a steel, dominant, handsome, blond haired titan and his Queen, radiant, illuminating, glorious and beautiful. Isabel isn't as inclined.
Isabel: I feel silly wearing this dress.
Nicolai: Darling you look beautiful today! The Light of Elrath shines brightly upon the Griffin Empire today!
The paladins that were escorting them reserve their place on either side of the aisle and salute the royal couple. The Paladins themselves look similar to Nicolai's armor. They too possess the bulging breast plates, gauntlets and boots, but they don't have Nicolai's crown. Instead the wear helms, with a thin visor laid horizontally before their eyes, with the golden wings of the Griffin adorning either sides of their head. Their capes are thick and heavy as well, black and white tufts of fur outlining with the rest of the cape being gold. Isabel remarks…
Isabel: It's a shame the Archbishop couldn't be here.
Nicolai: Agreed my love, he's caught shingles. We'll visit him this afternoon.
The 2 walk up to a priest decked in white and golden robes, he holds a large crucifix in one hand and a holy book in another. To the priest's left (he's opposite Nicolai and Isabel) stands Godric, usually predisposed to having a stern, determined face, smiles at the young couple. He is not as heavily decked in armor as the King. He wears a white tunic with a blue cross, hidden underneath is chainmail that reveals some of itself under Godric's collar bone. His gauntlets nor boots are not bulging either, yet his pauldrons are formed in the way of the Unicorn's head. Godric, is actually taller than the King. His folds and wrinkles reveal his aging, his short silver hair, short silver sideburns and short silver goatee don't make it much of secret either. His low brow and high chin condense his face even further. He is broad shouldered, and his indomitable physique is backed up by his heraldic voice, when he speaks men listen. Nicolai's bodyguards, Kenald and Sire Gilles stand beside Godric. They are younger men, Kenald has jet black hair like Isabel and a mustache. Sire Gilles is slightly older with brown hair, hazel nut hair. To his right is Freyda, Godric's daughter. Her face is almost as beautiful as Isabel's. Her hair is oakish brown, her skin also vanilla white, with ruby red lips and a sleek figure. She is adorned in armor from head to boot. Their armor (Kenald's Sire Gilles' and Freyda's is not as impressive as Godric's or Nicolai's). Beatrice is dressed in a long white robe. As Nicolai and Isabel walk up the steps Godric, Kenald, Sire Gilles, Beatrice and Freyda bow. The pair of them kneel in front of the priest.
Priest: I am here in the sight of Elrath, to unify the love between the Sovereign of our Empire, the beloved King Nicolai Griffin and our fair Lady Isabel Thorncrown, to a bond stronger than steel, more pure and truer than light. If there are any objections to why these two, unshaken in their commitment should not be together, speak now, or forever remain silent.
The light in the once beautiful and gleaming cathedral begins to dim. Thumping noises are heard. The ground shakes. Smoke appears from behind the priest, cracks appear and fire spurts from them. A devil, a fearsome and most powerful denizen of Sheogh appears from the rupture. The devil's head is blood red and ugly, its eyes sightless and black and fire spurts from its massive shoulders. It's a huge hulking beast standing almost as tall as a column. Everyone is caught by surprise! The priest cannot react and with one powerful swing the devil sweeps the poor priest many meters, straight into a column with his 4 meter fiery mace. The strike was seamless and the swing was done with one hand revealing the devil's demi-god like strength. The crowd watching screams in horror. All around the cathedral cracks smoke appears. The ground shakes furiously, and stain glass windows of beautiful saints, crack. The nobles, dukes, barons, rush out. Nicolai, his body guards, Godric, Freyda, his angels and Knights draw their swords. The massive beast bellows, and roars, walking towards them. The King commands.
Nicolai: Uncle, take Isabel to safety! Kenald, Sire Gilles take my guard to the walls of the city! Freyda guard Beatrice!
Godric: Yes Nicolai!
Godric grabs Isabel by the hand amidst Freyda rushing Beatrice out from the cathedral.
Godric: Come Isabel!
Isabel: I can't leave him here! Beatrice!
Godric: There is no time for discussion
Godric grabs Isabel and rushes her out. The demons begin to emerge from the ashy smoke emitting from the cracks in the cathedral. Their red eyes pierce through the black cloud of hell. Nicolai realizes he is surrounded by demons, the devil leaps towards him. It bellows again, horribly. The King looks behind him seeing Isabel's frightened face. Godric closes the doors of the cathedral. Nicolai looks at his sword, a massive 1 and a half meter blade, it was the Seraph blade. A sword forged by his father, its material mined from a mysteriously strong element found deep in the dwarven caverns, it needed to be hammered 600 times. It was cooled in an angel's and a griffin's blood. It was enchanted by his cherished archbishop to disease a demon, just at the touch of the tip of the blade. The blade radiates in times of heroism, after all a Saint had used it, and it glowed orange and gold and crimson. It was longing to eviscerate the demon scum. Nicolai whispered under his breath.
Nicolai: Blood of my father, a hero's heart.
Nicolai accepts the challenge of the beckoning arch devil as the other demons watch, thinking the young King will be no match for such a mindlessly cruel beast. The devil swings and roars, but Nicolai rolls and ducks under the seamless swings of the massive demon. Just as the demon prepares an overhead strike the young King, darts forward gashing the devil near the underarm, the sword is so potent even the smallest strike yields massive pain to the unholy. The devil staggers backwards into a stain glass window falling through to its impending doom. The surrounding demons, their skin scaly, littered with boils, fire red with black veins, horns in their forehead as large as ram's, 4 rows of teeth, jagged and sharp, they have claws and instead of feet they had the hooves of a horse. Their torso was filled with black fur. Their upper body was covered in a mix black armor that fit tightly to their ugly bodies. It was a mixture of charcoal, ash and bone. The eyes were the worst part of their being. The way they could stare, at the end of one's eyes, you could find a soul. Not here. Nicolai knew what these kinds of demons were. Incubus and Succubus. At one time they were mortals like him, but they gave themselves to temptation and were turned into horrendous beasts. Nicolai hated them the most. He felt that unlike other demons, they chose their fate, they chose their destiny, their side. Their side was against Elrath and Nicolai the valiant would make them pay. The demons all charge at him, crying and baying, bellowing with their black spears and sword all making way for the king's flesh. Nicolai a master swords man himself swings so hard it snaps the demons' weapons leaving them easy for Nicolai to crack them open. On the outside of the cathedral…
Godric: You can't go in there!
Isabel in her wedding dress has to be restrained by 2 of Godric's guards.
Isabel: What are doing? How could you leave him?
Godric: This is war, and you are not a warrior.
Isabel: Maybe I should become one. Maybe I will.
Godric grabs Isabel away from his guards. And forces her down the stairs with him.
Meanwhile a fight still goes on in the cathedral. As the demons are slaughtered at his hands, devils begin to appear again. Nicolai looks overwhelmed. Nicolai looks encircled and almost about to lose. He reaches for his neck when….Agrael leaps from the air and impales one devil, shoots two others, and bashes another devil off his feet with his damned staff.
Devil 1: Lord Agrael!
Kneels, but Agrael cuts off his head
Another devil tries to attack Agrael but he jumps on the devil's fiery mace and blinds the devil. Nicolai realizes that Agrael is a momentary ally and calls to him.
Nicolai: Stay close to me if you want to live!
Agrael: No, you stay close to me if you want to live!
The two give each other a stare down.
Agrael & Nicolai: FINE!
They roll to each other and the two warriors fight other demons back to back. Nicolai swings blocking the attacks from the Devils and newly summoned Pit lords. Pitlords are almost as large as devil, and almost as ugly. They are much slower though and they pay for that as Nicolai slashes the hand of a Pit lord and finishes him off by running him through. A devil attempts to step on Nicolai but this is foolish as Nicolai impales his foot and stabs the devil in the eye. He blocks another overhead jab and springs from the ground and gets the Pit lord in the throat. Agrael uses his staff mostly as a melee weapon, blocking 3 simultaneously attacks and stabbing and flaming the demons. He sidesteps away from an attack and punches an arc devil into the ground, another pit lord attacks him but he misses and kills the scrawling arc devil on the floor.
Nicolai: And you are?
Agrael: Agrael, I am Agrael.
Nicolai stabs and turns and pulls his sword out of unfortunate Pit lord
Nicolai: What are you doing here?
Agrael unleashes a wall of fire at more demons
Agrael: It's rather complicated to explain all of goings on.
Nicolai tackles Agrael to the floor and pulls out the Heart of the Griffin. The heart of the Griffin absorbs a huge incoming fireball. It wraps the fireball in white energy and expels it to all the surrounding demons. Who all are incinerated and die. The 2 heroes warily get up.
Nicolai: Agrael. A demon lord, outside of an eclipse? What are you really? Tell me why you're here!
Agrael: You couldn't have started with that, The Heart of the Griffin?
Agrael asks in an unimpressed tone.
Nicolai: Answer me!
Agrael: Fine, It's a rather long tale, very passionate, none of it nice.
Nicolai: I don't know what you are, or why you're hear but you are not leaving this city alive!
Nicolai arcs himself against Agrael. Agrael's staff pulsates with fire. They are ready to duel. Agrael breaks the silence.
Agrael: I'll make this easy. Hand over the Queen and my army will halt its attack against the city at once.
Nicolai: I'd be more foolish than a jester if I accepted that.
Agrael: At least you're not as foolish as your father…
Nicolai yells and swings at Agrael. Agrael's staff blocks the strike, the King jabs and Agrael sidesteps, Agrael slices across the King only to be blocked. The two pace around each other staff and sword drawn.
Agrael: Strong. Hmm, I might actually have to try harder.
Agrael flips acrobatically and lunges his damned staff at Nicolai, who himself cuts off a horn off Agrael's helm.
Nicolai: I'll make you a deal, your army turns back and you had yourself over to me and lead me to Kha Beleth's lair where I will take his head.
Agrael: We'd both be fools if we accepted that deal, little knight. You are fighting powers you can't hope to defeat. You are but a pawn in the battle between ancient enemies.
Nicolai: And you aren't?
Agrael: I am his left hand man.
Nicolai: How long will that last? He'll discard your soul in fire as soon as finished with you.
Agrael: You lie.
Agrael overhead strikes at the King, Nicolai wacks the staff away.
Agrael: I'll cut your tongue you twerp!
Nicolai: You won't have hands to hold your staff after I'm through with you.
Both swing at each other at the same time, staff and sword meet in middle, both have even strength and force themselves away. Nicolai charges at Agrael but Agrael trips the King to the floor, he is about to dig his staff into him when Nicolai swivels out of the way and hammering down his Seraph Blade on Agrael's foot. Agrael's boot armor cracks and he staggers falling on the floor. Nicolai gets up but is fireballed away. The demon lord and the King are on opposite sides of the cathedral. Both wounded. Nicolai grabs the red amulet around his chest, the Heart of the Griffin and speaks to it.
Nicolai: Guardian Angel Luke I summon you in my time of need!
A furious blinding light materializes into a massive angel. The angel is covered in heavy golden armor. It carries a 5 foot sword that burns with blue fire. Its wings exceed 6 meters and it radiates in the dark cathedral. Agrael remembers his hatred for angels.
Agrael: Curse those winged abominations!
Agrael and Luke fights while Nicolai still lay on the floor un-able to fight for now. The archangel swings the massive sword from left to right but Agrael being extremely agile slides and ducks under every attack. He sidesteps a jab and expels a burst of fire at Luke. Luke is blown away. Agrael stands there and hits the ground once with his staff and disappears in a second. A second after this, the title pops up
Heroes of might and magic
Rise of the Queen
The scene switches to the massive, majestic stone towers of Talonguard, soon they get pummeled by massive flaming boulders. On the inside of the walls, there is a great panic. Screams are heard, people run out of their homes up the street, in barracks, squires quickly put on helmets and grabs swords from their racks Paladins mount their huge steeds. Actual Griffins take flight, priests gather in a temple and chant in angelic tongue. Their prayers are answered as the heavens part and angels disperses from the clouds. Nicolai rides down the street, scattered soldiers run after him. As he rides, the people have renewed hope.
Civilian1: Look! The son of the saint will save us!
Civilian2: The son! Fear us demon host!
Nicolai arrives in front of the gate, with his men. Kenald rides to him.
Kenald: My King, the demons infected the plains of Talonguard, in minutes, thousands appeared over the hills and poured in front of our walls. The priests, have summoned the arch angels and should be arriving soon. We are waiting here in extreme fear, awaiting instruction from you. My King.
Nicolai: Where is Sire Gilles?
Sire Gilles: Here I am, my lord! I am sorry, I think we are outnumbered. The demon lord has brought with him a fearsome army. The walls won't stand much longer. We aren't fully mobilized. I fear greatly that we will lose the city my Lord.
Nicolai: I will die before I see that happens.
Kenald: We will die for you my lord!
Nicolai: Now for a speech.
Nicolai followed by his loyal knights ride to the front of the army, as boulders pummel his city, his troops try to stand at attention trying not to show their fear to their King.
Nicolai: Men, today was supposed to be special for another reason, but fate has dealt us a great difficulty. But in times of great confusion and fear, we do not throw our arms in the air and surrender. No! We rise to the challenge! There is no more talk about a possible loss today, for who has ever won a battle desiring victory when one only thinks of defeat! This city's walls are as strong as our faith, our courage and our righteousness. My loyal soldiers will be the saviours of this city! Of your families, or friends! We all have something to fight for, we fight as if we will never fight again and if we don't we pass away knowing that our death has saved another life! We'll send those abominations back to their abyss! Griffin Eternal!
Soldiers: GRIFFIN ETERNAL!
On the other side, Agrael rallies the demons. This time he is mounted on a lizard, it looks like a velociraptor.
Agrael: Stand tall, soldiers. Today is the day we fall the walls Talonguard! When the gate breaks, we will emerge victorious, our tactics are flawless and our number unmatched. All worshippers of Elrath will bow at our feet as we torch their temples and eviscerate their idols. There can be no retaliation, we must punish and punish with impunity. We must not waste eliminating civilians, no, our target is the queen! She cannot escape her destiny!
Demon troops: Grahhh!
Both sides of either wall shout to prepare themselves.
Agrael raises his staff in the air, and shoots a concentrated burst of fire energy at the gate, it fizzles with great intensity and the gate disintegrates. The force of the explosion stuns Nicolai and his knights. Then Agrael, roars and urges the demons forward. The demons pour into the holy city, devils, pit lords, cerberi, and horned demons, incubi and succubae flood the holy city like a red wave.
Nicolai: For Elrath! For Isabel! For the Griffin Empire!
Troops: CHargEEEEEEEEEEE!
The paladins lower their lances and gallop towards the enemy with Nicolai leading the charge. Agrael remains outside the city walls busting shooting fireballs at the wall and shooting holes. As the walls fall on unfortunate griffin troops, it shatters on to the ground letting demons barge in killing off any would be survivors. However those deaths do not go unavenged, Sire Gilles and his Paladins assail the demons. The Paladins lances land heavy blows on large demons and their steads trample smaller ones. Nicolai joins this part of the defense as he rides in slaying all demons before him. A devil attacks him, but he ducks out the way of the devil's fiery mace and slices its face. The devil kneels weak and bleeding, but Nicolai ends him with a dig of the sword in its back. More demons swarm in from the walls worrying Nicolai pulls out the Heart of the Griffin.
Nicolai: By Elrath I send you back!
The artifact illuminates brightly and shakes in Nicolai's hand. His army looks to be losing as they are tossed aside by fireballs and demonic weapons but suddenly the screen brightens quickly to blinding white and then a crackling noise is heard. When the white veil disappears the demons have as well, the human troops are stunned by the power of Nicolai's artifact. With added impetus the humans near the gaps of the walls and fight the demons out. Nicolai delights in his minor triumph and pushes forward. On the outside, Agrael is still firing at the human troops and urging ballista's to fire on the walls. The ballistae carry a special enchantment as when they land on the wall they explode with fiery energy. Nicolai engages the demon forces within the walls. He rejoins his body guards Sire Gilles and Kenald and continues to slaughter the demon scum. Nicolai's steed kicks away a Cerberus with its hind legs and Nicolai throws his sword into the chest of a devil, rides over to pick it up and then kills a hell charger. He and his bodyguards fight alongside a wall, unfortunately for them, Agrael is right on the other side, and with another deadly fireball he destroys the wall. It explodes and chunks of the former wall injure Nicolai's detachment. He himself almost falls off his horse. He looks already in panic to find the majority of his forces on the floor bleeding and wounded. Some scream loudly in agony, and others can only cry. Sire Gilles grabs his abdomen and strains his face in pain. Kenald helmet is broken and his face is cut and bleeding. Nicolai is the only thing standing between is weak, dying troops and the eager blood thirsty demon horde. Show his weak and dying troops and the floor and the eager bloodthirsty demons awaiting to attack with Agrael at the back. They bellow and rampage towards him. He unleashes the heart of the griffin into the demon contingent. The screen is blinded by a white flash, cracking is heard! When the flash subsides, Nicolai is there on his steed and Agrael is there alone, stunned. But he does not hesitate. He shoots a fireball, but Nicolai is well versed in magic absorbing the fireball with blue energy that surrounds his sword. More demons approach the hole in the wall and charge at Nicolai. However Nicolai looks up he sees the blessed Archangels and with their huge holy blades and massacre the demons they see. Their anointed swords and spears tear demon bone from demon flesh. Agrael singles out the King cutting down his forces and shoots a molten burning flaming stream at Nicolai from his damned staff. The flow of the fire is molten and sizzles but Nicolai holds the Heart of the Griffin which absorbs the energy. However the sheer might of the terrible stream of fire, forces Nicolai's great steed to stagger backward a bit and its knees begin to bend.
Agrael: Give me the heart of the Griffin, Nicolai and I will accept your surrender! Your troops will be spared, but Isabel will come with me! You cannot best me ! My numbers are too large and my magic is too deadly for you.
Nicolai: Never! I HAVE ELRATH ON MY SIDE! I AM KNIGHT-KING OF THIS EMPIRE AND I WILL NOT DIE BEHIND THE WALLS THAT HAVE STOOD AGAINST YOUR KIND BEFORE!
With that, it's Agrael's Lizard's time to stagger, the fire magic is being forced on itself due to the magic of the Heart of the Griffin. Then all the energy that Agrael shot forward is repulsed back at him send him and his mounting flying away. They land harshly, the blow inflicts physical pain, as well as denting his ego. Agrael uses his staff to disappear again. Meanwhile human soldiers who are inspired by the angels fight harder and join the King, it seems the tidal of the battle is changing. Nicolai rides to man covered in armor with a trumpet in his hand looking at the sky.
Nicolai: Have the griffins returned with more help?
Trainer: I can see about double to triple the amount we had earlier, yes my lord they await your instruction.
Nicolai: Are they capable?
Trainer: That's what I trained them for.
Nicolai: very well, Signal them to dive on both sides near the wall. We need breathing space, I'll rally the men.
The trainer sounds the Griffins in the sky and they respond. The Griffins have the noticed the sound and look down at the ant-like trainer. From the ground we see the trainer making motions with his hand to attack either sides of the wall. From the sky angle we see loads of Griffin dive into the demon army pressing the wall. We shift back to the ground were Squire, Paladins and Priests battle, with their angelic allies, but then shadows form over the demon troops and the Griffins smack into them at great speed. On both sides of the wall Griffin decked in armor kill as they crash into the demon hordes. The demons are caught off guard by the dives and are in disarray. The Griffins are ferocious as they scratch with their massive talons and rip apart with their beaks. One Griffin latches on to a hell charger and throws into a pile of demons. It takes to the sky again before a devil and kill it and then the Griffin dives on him, ripping away at the demon's head. The Griffins keep the demons at the wall busy by throwing smaller units around like rag dolls and lunging and scratching larger units like devils and pit lords. It isn't all one sided though as fireballs shoot by Pit lords and succubae alike kill Griffins. We shift to the other side of the wall where human troops and their angelic counter parts kill all the demons in the city walls. When Nicolai rides and up and kill the last Devil, his army roars in delight!
Nicolai: On the other side, Elrath's sacred Griffins fend off the evil that threatens to deface our city! Now is the time to push these horrid children of hell back, and off our land, off Ashan forever! RAAA!
Troops: RAAA!
Back on Agrael's side
Agrael: Now! FOR THE CITY!
But suddenly bolts fly in from everywhere, blue comets (a form of Elrath's anger) rain on the demon army. Agrael himself almost falling victim, he pushes forward anyways but then Nicolai and his Paladins charge from the gate and other gaps in the wall with their lances directed right into the demon horde. The Paladins tear through the disorganized demons. Their steeds pound the ground, making it sound like someone is beating a great drum somewhere. A sea of gold and white floods in the red horde, easily killing the helpless demons in the way. Agrael rides his lizard out of the killzone and to his right hand man Alastor. Alastor is a Pitlord.
Alastor: Commands my lord?
Agrael: Fireballs will cut down those Paladins. The ballistae as well!
The commands are followed and fireballs and are hurled at the Paladins, but Nicolai absorbs the blasts with the heart of the Griffin. But he can do nothing when the ballistae rip through the Paladins. One bolt kills several, sadly they are trampled by the riders behind them. The slowdown causes devils and other demons to teleport or run back to the Paladins they were fleeing from. Nicolai again gestures to the trainer. He gestures once more.
Nicolai: Where's the trainer!
Before anyone can answer the question his is horse is attacked by a nightmare, Nicolai attacks it, but hellhound bites his sword around making him crash on the ground hard, he punches the hell hound to death. He swivels and impales the hell charger. A Pit lord casts a fireball but Nicolai's heart of the griffin blocks it.
Squire1: My Lord, the trainer is dead.
Nicolai: Call for another to send the griffins on the ballistae!
Squire1: yes sir!
Nicolai continues to fight. Now we move over to Agrael who is off his lizard and killing Nicolai's troops. He shoots a fireball at 10 squires killing them all, then he grabs a Paladin off his horse and carbonizes him with his touch. Agrael fights a priest, side stepping the sledgehammer strike and running the priests through with his staff. In the distance we hear a faint trumpet but Agrael makes nothing of it. His lizard rides by him, he gets up on it and rides to the enemy. Agrael uses his staff to produce the molten lava stream which he rains on the human troops causing them to cry and scream as they burn... A Paladin seeks to end him, but Agrael forces the Paladin's lance on himself making him to fall over and Agrael kills him by stabbing the Paladin in the back, raising him up over his head and throwing the corpse into the charge of the Paladins, consequently making their horses fall over and injure themselves badly. Then a slight and quick flash occurs, Agrael spots Nicolai as his Paladins charge once more. He points at the advance and commands.
Agrael: Ballistae! Fire!
NO answer
Agrael: I said fire!
Alastor: My Lord, the ballistae crews and machines have been destroyed by griffins.
Agrael: Damn it!
Alastor: My lord, Nicolai's force equal ours now.
Agrael Looks at the Paladins and squires, then at the sky where sees, well he can't make out what he sees.
Agrael: Alastor, what is that?
Alastor: Not, griffins. Wait, no. I think bolts, and lots of them!
Agrael: Take cover!
Suddenly hundreds of bolts descend upon the demon army, bolts decimate demons. Devils take 5 bolts to both arms, cerberi and hell hounds get their skulls cracked by bolts, and one hell charger gets a bolt in the eye and rears up in pain before meeting its end at Nicolai's hand. The camera changes again to Alastor and Agrael running and riding (respectively) away from the Paladins. Then Agrael takes a bolt to the leg, even though it is covered in armor it deals him pain, he rips it out. And turns around. He gets off his Lizard and sends it away. He kneels on the floor and lays his arms out. Then a fiery pentagram forms around him and a circle of fire explodes and conceals him, Paladins attempt to enter but are carbonized and disintegrate.
Nicolai: NOO!
Then only devils swarm from the hell circle and engage the Paladins, squire and priests. Nicolai signals the trainer to summon the Griffin down, which they do. Griffins dive on the demons as it seems all soldiers of Nicolai's army are engaged. (Except marksmen and angels). Nicolai can see Agrael faintly through the fiery hell circle, he tries uses to heart of the Griffin. The second he holds out his hand his arm is shot by a fire ball knocking the heart to the ground. Then Agrael jumps on him, tackling him to the ground and putting his staff hear Nicolai's throat.
Agrael: Last chance.
Nicolai: Never!
Agrael is about to stab him but then Kenald tackles him to the ground. Agrael punches him off with a fire fist, Sire Gilles comes in with an overhead swing which is blocked by Agrael who kicks him and in the chest picks him up and throws him in the ground he is about to kill him and then Nicolai duels him.. The two are evenly matched. Nicolai goes at the side, blocked, Agrael's overhead sidestepped goes for underhand jab pushed back by Agrael who uses the other end to bash Nicolai to the floor. Then Agrael attempts to carbonize Nicolai but Nicolai grabs his arm twists it, Agrael activates his fire fists Nicolai dodging both. Nicolai cuts at Agrael hand causing him other pain, using his body he forces Agrael to the ground. Agrael grabs at his staff but Nicolai blocks the attack. He swings so hard the staff falls out of his hand Agrael is defenseless. Agrael can only use his gauntlets to block the strikes causing him to groan in pain every time, then Agrael attempts to make room and get up but Nicolai lands a hard blow to his helmet. Nicolai readies the finishing strike when Agrael shoots fireball at him forcing him back. Then Agrael runs awkwardly to his staff and teleports away.
Nicolai: He got away.
Kenald: Well. I'm sorry I was not of more assistance my lord.
Sire Gilles: I as well.
Nicolai: He was strong.
Kenald: My lord, the angels have healed and resurrected those that could be behind the walls. These reinforcements can push the demons back.
Nicolai: Excellent, I'll give them a beating them won't soon forget! Summon angels forward. All troops forward! All demons will be purged of our lands!
From the sky the sea of gold and white pursue the red horde that were attacking their walls. Griffins, squires, Paladins, Angels, priests and marksmen all rush forward in a mad chase. Demons flee in all directions as fast as they can. Then the camera focuses on a hill were we see all manners of hell hounds, hell chargers, nightmares, pit lords running away, scattered broken and disorganized. They are pummeled by blue comets and bolts. In different parts of plains before Talonguard, Griffins adorned in their armor drop at high speeds rupturing the retreat of Pit lord's allowing Priests to kill them with their blue comets. Elsewhere a squire duels a horned demon, the demon punches at the squire, met a good block, the demon tries to leap on him but the squire thrusts his sword forward and kills the demon. Succubae cover the retreat of their demon brethren, but get shot down by bolts and Griffins. Nicolai's proud steed gains ground on the last large group of demons in sight and expels them off Ashan with another bright flash with the heart of the Griffin. Nicolai announces on his horse is victory.
Nicolai: And with this victory we have saved our faith! We have saved our people! A battle which looked doomed from the start, has ended in a triumph of spirit, fearlessness and discipline! I do not know other kinds of troops I would rather have here today! Celebrate this conquest my friends, for these villains rejoice to dance on our ashes, but we will not let them!
Meanwhile in a forested area not far, Agrael sits in behind a tree trunk listening to Nicolai's speech
Nicolai: Now, we must mobilize! We must prepare! Kha Beleth's first emotion when he receives news of this humiliation, will not be glee! Know that the demons we could not wipe out, will probably be devoured by their master as punishment! They are barbaric and evil, while we are good and peaceful! All cities in the Empire will hear of this feat today, and will send their soldiers, hearts overflowing with passion and love-of our existence, of our law and order and our light! The Empire will guard, will maintain vigil against all demon hordes and their cultists
At that word Agrael cringes
Nicolai: How can they dare show their faces after the vicious defeat they have tasted today! They will move quickly, but so will we! We must hit the iron while it's hot, we must skin the snake before it sheds! There will be more battle like this, but with it come victories! FOR ELRATH! FOR ISABEL! FOR THE GRIFFIN EMPRIE!
Troops: GRIFFIN ETERNAL! NICOLAI! NICOLAI! NICOLAI! NICOLAI!
Agrael still sits at the trunk listening to this, clenching his fists in anger. Biara sneaks to him. Biara a succubus, unlike the rest of her sisters, her skin colour is smooth and black. Her wings are a mix of the colour bronze and black. She is still very ugly though, her faces is oranges and her eyes glow crimson and orange.
Biara: My lord, what will Kha Beleth do to us when he finds out?
Agrael: He won't find out…
Biara: The King has butchered our forces.
Agrael: I KNOW! I know that. The Sovereign will not look on us with favourable eyes, but we have served him well time and time again. No, this was only a distraction. Nicolai knows that the demons are here and he cannot guard all his cities. I have a plan….
Biara: Go on my lord.