Morning came and at the Hellgate keep's stronghold Ixian watched the smoke from a distance, yes he knew that they were on their way, an army of men sent to hinder his kind in their well deserved conquest of this plane. Putting on his last piece of armor the tall winged tiefling turned and walked outside of his fortress where his legions waited for the bloodbath. He could see their anxiousness, it had been so long since blood filled the ground and pooled beneath their feet. As promised a troupe of lesser devils waited in the crowd of orcs, Mephistopheles summoned them with his own magics, they were not the best in warriors but extra bodies were always welcome for the slaughter.
Two small hands came around the big warrior's hefty chest as a beautiful woman slinked up beside the tiefling and also glanced out at the dark crowd that was gathered, "You've done well with what resources were available to you Ixian, but this battle will be the beginning of an even more deadly game." her yellow eyes narrowed as Adriara left her son's side to lean against the balcony railing, "these humans are foolish to have provoked a war they are destined not to win, make them suffer Ixian... for me."
Ixian merely peeked at his mother from the corner of his eyes before brandishing a deep groan, "Your lord has given us more allies for the slaughter, dragons in allegiance with Tiamat who are now under his control. I prefer to keep those foul smelling lizards out of this.." the tiefling glanced down at his gathering army, "We can dispose of the gentle will that this place holds on our own."
"That is not the issue Ixian." Adriara had to comment snidely, "We rely on all darkness, should the Tanar'ri find our plans then we will have more to worry about then just the fools who survive on this plane. And what of the celestials? What if they decide to rear their ugly heads in our business again." her lips tightened as she spoke venomously, "Ixian do not anger Mephistopheles, he is your commander."
"Only due to you." the tiefling muttered as he watched a large black form leap from a high ledge and dive towards the plains below. He despised dragons, Ixian hated everything about them.
"The spineless berks are heading this way to destroy us." the devilish warrior hissed as the dragon disappeared into the shadows,
Dirge gazed at the fires that the travelers had made, they looked like four tiny little lights in the distance. Even at this great expanse of distance the dragon could smell their scents, nostrils flared he wet his jaws at the smell of fish being prepared. His senses tingled at the creatures fresh blood being spilled and it's innards being removed. The dragon shook his great head as he caught more odors. Blowing his sinuses out Dirge grimaced at the horrid odor that he knew only elves could possess. "Rotten pointed ears." he muttered lifting his head once more, then his eyes grew wide when known smells came to be, taking one more sniff to be sure the dragon sneered.
"devil blood from the enemy?." he thought as he glanced over to the fire that seemed further from the others, "You may make this game quite interesting."
With a smile the dragon stretched his wings and took to the air.
Mephistopheles sat in an old throne as he flipped a sharp gem within his fingers. To most the stone would be an omen, an artifact that would strike fear into their hearts. But to the Lord of the Nine the gem held the control of what could possibly be his strongest of allies, Tiamat had lost this during a wager centuries ago and now the devil was going to make good use of it. And it was the stone he now held that awarded him powers he couldn't barely imagine, a gem magical in all it's worth that allowed him control of black dragons.
He was enthralled with the stone when one of his goblin commanders walked in, the creature stood with long gangly black hair and a dark look in it's eyes.
"Master, Dirge has arrived with more news of the travelers." it told the devil with sharpness and gruffness in it's voice. Mephistopheles raised in his seat, then without a word followed the goblin to the outside. There in the midst of a legion of orc, barbarian, and demon armies croutched a large black gaunt form.
Dirge stared down at the devil below him, he gave a slight bow of his head just to make sure that the magic the outsider held would not be turned on himself.
"So dragon what have you to bring me?"
"There are four armies master." replied the black, "each with around six to eight hundred members, they camp alone. Seems there is trouble within the army already."
"Anything else?"
The dragon bit hard trying to hide the urge to kill Mephistopheles, "I smell Baatorian blood amongst them, along with demon and drow."
A grin appeared on the devil's face as he pondered the fact that armies were left out in the open as such, he wanted to test some of his powers out on the creatures.
"Ravnos." her words left her lips sounding of both passion and resentment as Adriara stepped into the grand courtyard, "He's the one you sense dragon. I knew he would come..." her words trailing of the Erinyes devil came up to Mephistopheles and using her typical seductive advances she took a place beside the devil, "That one must be kept alive my lord."
Her whisper into his ear and the caress of her hands made the devil sigh but Mephistopheles was not one so easily bought. With disdain he glanced at the female from the corner of his eyes, "The slave escaped you once Adriara, and I will not risk a battle just to bring back your breeding pet."
She looked cross but continued her play, "He is more then just a toy my lord, a spy has given me some intriguing information concerning Ravnos, Alustriel the chosen of Mystra herself seems to think him the bearer of Obilith blood."
Those words were enough to catch the devil's attention and Mephit stood up, "so his blood must be spent, or he will turn to destroy us."
"But if we turn his focus." Adriara interrupted slyly coming up behind the large devil, "He can be such a weapon on our behalf, with him we can destroy not just this plane but the celestials will fall to our power. The girl's sacrifice assures our stay here, Mephit tell me you do not dream of destroying the Celestial fools."
"I do." he replied deep in thought. Sighing the devil glanced to the waiting dragon,
"Dirge, I care not what you and your nest brother do with the mortal races, but leave the devil blood and the half blood girl alive and bring them both to me." as Mephistopheles turned to enter his fortress, "They will come in quite useful."
As the dragon turned away Ixian strode up on his large black hellish mount, he looked over at his mother with distaste at her pressing against the arch devil before he turned back to his army, "All are ready for blood dark lord, we await your signal."
Mephistopheles smirked, "Then by all means, tread a path of destruction for our brethren to control."
The front piece of his helm slapped down as Ixian nodded and raised his sword up high, as it fell deep drums could be heard and the army of madness began taking it's first steps toward battle.
At the site of the Silverymoon encampment blue eyes narrowed against the sight before them as Kai'lair watched the rise of smoke and flames that gave way to the enemy's approach. He turned back slightly to meet with Ravnos, "Uh big guy you might want to take a look at this."
"I would have guessed." Ravnos hissed as he saw the smoke moving toward them, inching it's way down the valley from the fortress of darkness. He grabbed his sword and made a straight line right to Thraxus's tent, opening the flap he came right into a conversation between the commander and Rael. By the look on the red haired tiefling's face, something was wrong.
"What is it Ravnos? Do you have news?"
"The devils are impatient Thraxus, they're already on their way to battle and your own soldiers are far from prepared to deal with them. It's going to be a bloodbath, you have no chance."
At the tiefling's words Thraxus stood, giving the large devil blood a sharp rather spiteful glare, "my soldiers are prepared to face anything tiefling. These devils are going to fall to their own fates this day and we will be victorious I assure you this."
Ravnos groaned before glancing back at Kai, the other tiefling could only shrug leaving Ravnos bitter and frustrated. Slamming his fist into the table and watching it shatter into splinters Ravnos looked back at Thraxus, "You send your soldiers straight to their deaths Thraxus, they have no idea what they're up against and neither do you."
saying that Ravnos turned and still upset left the commander's tent with Kai following close behind. Behind Ravnos, Kai dodged soldiers preparing to fight as he tried to keep up with the wayward tiefling, "There isn't anything that can be done then?" he asked as Ravnos turned down a line of tents. Ravnos stopped with a sigh, "Kai we haven't any means to destroy the devils. They cannot be simply run through by the weapons available to these soldiers, and the dragons have not shown themselves." the tiefling turned his green eyes to the side as if in thought, "Atleast with them there would have been a chance to stave the devils off."
Kai nodded in agreement as he looked toward the sky, "So do we fight?"
Ravnos looked back at his companion, "I can't leave them to die." Was all he said as he continued on his path.
At the fire Drizzt sat with both Cattie and Shela, he knew this was not the best of ideas as the devils were not so easy to destroy. And it was his fidgeting with Twinkle that lent Cattie to start conversation with her drow companion.
"You seem tense Drizzt, what has ye britches in a knot?" she asked as she twinged her bow's string. He shook his head before responding, "I don't see how this is going to accomplish anything, too many are going to die." his words trailed off slightly in shame, "They walk into a death trap and don't care to realize it."
"All war is a death trap Drizzt." Cattie responded as her bow string vibrated between her fingers and satisfied she placed the weapon to her side, "Who's to say how this one will end?"
He looked at her with a solem look in his lavender eyes, "It won't be good."
He had survived so much in his life and now even the drow was a bit uncertain of the outcome of this fight, and whether or not he or his companions would survive till the end. Why would Alustriel send them to their deaths like this, Drizzt could not fathom a reason. The sound of footsteps quickly ended their conversation as Ravnos and Kai arrived to join them, Drizzt saw the obvious look of disdain on the taller tiefling's face but kept silent his lips, it was clear that he wasn't the only one with the knowledge of how deadly this battle would become.
"They're gathering their arms." Ravnos muttered in both an angry yet solemn tone, "all joining the battle are asked to prepare as soon as possible."
"Prepare to die that is." Kai muttered cutting the larger tiefling's words short. Ravnos glared at Kai for only a moment then turned his attentions away, "We do not control this battle Kai, all we can do is try and aid as much as possible..."
"They have to save themselves." Drizzt interupted as he rose to his feet to meet the tiefling, "I don't bear the knowledge of our enemy that you do Ravnos, but I do know they have no chance with what weapons are given them."
To this Ravnos was silent, pretending to busy himself instead the tall tiefling removed his blades, checking them edgewise before re sheathing each and every one.
"They can't be let to die!" Shela called out as she raced to Ravnos' side, took hold of his forearm and pulled him to look at her, "Didn't you warn them!!?"
"As best I could." Ravnos replied his green eyes not matching her own gaze. His clawed fingers gripped tighter against direwrath's sheath as he held the weapon closer, "there is only so much I can do Shela, they are under the command of a fool and he will be the death of them, I can't stop that."
"And it's all my fault." Shela responded with a dry tone. This realization hit her heart like a piercing dart and the girl very reluctantly glanced up to Ravnos. The tiefling did not meet her gaze, instead he kept his eyes forward so he did not have to face her sorrow, and so she did not see the solemn visage he kept on his own face.
"No it's not your fault, none of this was of your doing Shela." he whispered gently, the baatorian accent giving his tone an exotic sound, "Don't put yourself to blame, sometimes chaos rears it's ugly head even in the light of kindness."
Ravnos sighed then gave a shrill whistle, summoned by this call Risen trotted to his master and stopped before the large framed tiefling. Even the horse trembled with angst upon the oncoming battle. As Ravnos took the reins and heaved himself up into the saddle Shela ran to him, putting her hand against his leg she looked up at him, "You will return... won't you?"
"I don't make promises that I cannot keep." he replied and gently kicked Risen's sides with his heels. The horse took the command trotting away leaving Shela to watch in sadness as the tiefling rode into the fray of armored soldiers.
A hoarde of armored warriors and mounts ranging from hell equines to large dog like beasts grinning with venemous teeth sat vigilantly upon the plain, watching their enemy with hateful eyes and salivating at the thought of bloodshed. The army of the hells was large, but he knew that this was merely a small portion of them, Adriara held more power then this. And she took advantage of all her resources.
Ravnos sat atop his mount looking out at the stronghold searching for any sign of Ixian. This army before him held only one general a strange concept for the tiefling but he wouldn't allow that to interfere with his focus, though he couldn't fathom that Adriara would allow one legion to declare victory in her name. No she wasn't that stupid, and she wouldn't allow just the most minute of chances that her army would be defeated.
From ahead Ravnos could hear a grouping of barbarians boasting about how they would end up killing these creatures. He listened to their plans of head long attack and could hardly believe that they were that naive to the ways of devils, none of them held any sort of hellfire prevention, no rings, no weapons, nothing. He himself wished that his companions had such magical items for themselves, but to find such things would be almost impossible. Right then his senses began flaring and the tiefling stopped Risen gazing at the skies above him. He knew that the moment was close, Ravnos could feel the enemys' breathing quicken knowing the creatures were far more anxious to spill blood then he was. At his side Drizzt and Cattie waited, for Ravnos it was somewhat odd to find himself fighting beside a drow elf. But if they survived this the tiefling kept a promise to himself to let the elf know where his true feelings lie, he held no disgust for Drizzt, instead he felt proud to fight beside him.
"They seem to know they're going to win this war."
Hearing this Ravnos looked at Drizzt with a wayward glance, "All too well." he replied cryptically causing Cattie to gasp beneath her breath. She turned to the tiefling, "something feels out of place, do you feel it tiefling?"
"Many things about this are wrong but I can't place what. Though it's peculiar that we're facing merely one legion, and a rather weak one at that."
"Weak?" Drizzt exclaimed with some shock as he eyed the enemy army closely, "How are they weak?"
The tiefling raised his arm and pointed to the front line, "There do you see those rather gnarled looking beasts?"
Both Cattie and Drizzt nodded so Ravnos replied with the same, "They aren't created for battle, but for servitude... The front line is nothing more then stall muckers and hard laborers. And there." the tiefling's claw tipped finger motioned behind the front line to the calvary, "They will give this army some trouble, mounted on those flaming horses are some of the most malicious of soldiers in the Baatorian army. Though we're lucky there's only one pit fiend, if luck is what you would wish to call it."
"Lucky my arse." Kai muttered and Ravnos smirked back.
Suddenly interupting the tiefling's words came the call of Thraxus, he was going to push the first attack. Ravnos kept Risen steady as the army consisting of different races began their march toward the enemy, he felt it a bad idea to make the first move. They would be smart to watch and wait, see just what their enemy was planning.
Ravnos quickly held his arm out to stop his friends, "The devils have something else planned." he told them reaching for his weapon, "Keep an eye out, these creatures can be tricky."
Just as he had finished the warning a black shadow loomed over their heads. From above a large winged beast swooped down closer to the warriors, he made a dive for the back of the group and rushed up to the front hoping to scare the beasts that they rode into stampeding. The tall red haired tiefling saw the dragon's move before it happened, he turned to his companions, "Cover your horses heads with something. The dragon wishes to frighten them!"
Ravnos threw over his cloak as he leaned close to Risen's back, the dragon flew by and In front of him the other groups were having problems with their horses and many were thrown from the frightened equines.
Seeing this Dirge landed a few feet from the fallen warriors, it was in his race's blood to avoid full on battle, but to Dirge this was the best part. Watching the warriors he picked out which ones he would like to try first, then he held his wings high as he lurched his long lizardlike neck forward to charge head long at the already attacking soldiers. The dragon barely felt the hammers and axes being shoved strongly into his body, for the weapons themselves no matter the strength of their wielder, could not break through his tough scales. One Barbarian, a leader he presumed, stood before him rushing in to shove his axe deep through Dirge's chest. Taking a deep breath the black dragon held his head back as a shot of green acid came from his jaws and soon the barbarian was nothing more then bones in the ground.
"Ravnos, they're getting killed out there!" Cattie yelled in horror as the warriors and soldiers became victims to the large dragon.
He saw this but knew there was nothing that could be done.
"There's nothing we can do Cattie, what do you intend we do against that beast?"
"He's right." Drizzt added but his fingers fumbled with the sheaths and both his blades found their way into his hands anyways, "But we can atleast distract the blasted thing and allow them to escape."
"With the devil army on their heels.." Ravnos muttered casting Drizzt a cross look as he pulled his hornblade out and turned Risen, "If they should have even the most remote chance at escaping this we need to interfere now." the tiefling held his weapon close to his side as he turned his head to his companions, "Or the devils will run them over in an instant."
"Then we fight."
Kai looked at the drow and rolled his eyes. Always trying to look on the bright side of things wasn't going to work this time, Kai'lair knew this was going to hurt so with a sigh he too pulled his weapon at the ready and turned his mount towards the dragon's chaos. Cattie nodded and pulled her bow.
Her head hurt and stomach felt queasy at the sight of the barbarian's violent deaths but turning away from the carnage she followed Ravnos away.
From behind them another rider appeared, small in frame and riding a deep bay she hesitantly retrieved a sword that was far too large for her to handle and feigning her identity she rode out after the small group of companions.
Dirge was far too enthralled with the death around him that he failed to see Drizzt come to his left flank, but when Icingdeath's blade bit into an open piece of flesh on his thigh the dragon hissed and twisted his body to meet this new attacker. Seeing four small figures on horses riding around him the dragon's long maw turned upward to a smirk and he watched as the surviving soldiers fled into the mountains.
"You must be foolish mortals?" the great dragon hissed in draconic while raising his head upward and slamming a heavy claw into the earth.
Shrieking the dragon jumped forward. Ravnos was behind his friends when he saw Dirge moving at them, he could hear the creatures long breaths as the dragon gained ground. Nodding Cattie and Kai to travel one way the tiefling kept his mount on a forward pace. Dirge kept his charge straight knowing he could easily smash both rider and beast into the ground should they continue their path, but he didn't expect the tiefling to turn his horse sharply. Nor did he expect the hint of electrical surges that emanated from the tiefling's sword. Catching the charges in his eye Dirge fumbled and slid in the dirt towards the tiefling, Ravnos saw this and pulled Risen to turn and with no command had the horse lunging away from the sliding dragon.
Risen's dark red flanks were covered in sweat as the horse urged on, he could feel the dragon behind him, and horse sense kept him moving no matter what he would feel. Ahead of the animal were his herd mates, Kai's black mount neighed for his partner to push on so with a nicker the bay stallion flared his nostrils as he pulled the bit. Risen could feel the dragon fall behind but as he came to speed up the horse put his hoof into a hole and fell hard to his knees.
With a scream the horse raised up as Ravnos jumped down from the saddle, he barely had a chance to notice the horse's knees before the dragon was upon him. Ravnos held his weapon in front of him as he kept himself between the dragon and Risen.
The tiefling stared at his draconic foe, he knew that he had a chance of atleast hurting the dragon before it killed him, if the beast didn't charge it's breath weapon.
Dirge just looked the tiefling over, Mephistopheles's words going through his mind as a grimace formed on his jaws.
"You are brave for a tiefling." he hissed as a gurgling noise came from his great throat. Not wanting to show any fear Ravnos stood firm where he was, glancing over at his companions who had just noticed that he was not with them. As they were about to return he signaled them to stay.
"Mark me now dragon, it will be your life that I will crush this day."
"You mock me tiefling." Dirge replied stomping his great claws, "One of your size cannot destroy a dragon such as myself."
Ravnos could see the dragon's front leg was mishapen, pointing at it the tiefling smiled grimly up, "You seem to have been bested before dragon,"
"this is nothing tiefling, a temporary halt in my very existence." he answered as he raised his claw above the tiefling. Ravnos was quick to jump away as the large claw slammed into the ground he once stood on, with his reflexes firing the tiefling lifted his sword and shoved it into the dragon's hand.
It screamed in pain as the tiefling removed the magical weapon, as he backed away to regain his senses the dragon hissed toward the tiefling.
"How...? what type of magic do you posses tiefling?"
"The horn of a blue dragon! This weapon can cut your black heart in two!"
"That will not happen!" he hissed back rushing at the tiefling, before being slammed to the side. The force knocked the dragon's breath away and Dirge looked to see who had done such a thing to him.
Ravnos too was pretty aghast at the sight of the opposer, a large bronze dragon, with glistening scales and wide eyes. He himself outweighed the black dragon by a couple hundred pounds, and centuries if by years.
"Stay out of my affairs chromatic!" Dirge hissed raising to face the bronze dragon. But seemingly uninterested in the black dragon the other just stared at his brethren with ease. The second dragon grabbed the other's tail and pulled him back. Rising in the air the bronze lunged back down on top of the younger, lowering his jaws forward near it's head, "You speak with a sharp tongue for one being so young, seems you need power to back your words."
flinging his front claw back Dirge began to feel a sharp hint of panic run in his heart, seeing that his nail dug where he intended within the opposing dragon's face the younger black shoved his foe away standing once more in a defensive stance against the creature. "Speak no more ancient one, your time has come to an end on this earth. although you may be much more powerful then me, I've still got youth on my side."
"Oh do you." came the response as the large bronze dragon gave a draconic smile towards the younger one. His eyes began to change color as a strange noise erupted from the brilliant creature's throat, a static feeling could be felt by the others as he opened his jaws releasing his breath weapon on the younger dragon. Noticed by the black Dirge jumped out of the way of the weapon and returned fire with his own, this charge fell at the bronze dragon's feet melting away the vegetation. The bronze looked down at the ground, then back up at his foe, "Good shot dark one."
"Next time I will not miss."
Now he had to do something and fast, Dirge knew had no chance against this creature unless he used some tricks. Midair now the black dragon stretched his wings as his powers erupted from within himself, then there was darkness.
Silent the bronze dragon tried to feel for the location of the other but in the blackness his eyes were useless. "You are at a disadvantage ancient." came a slithering hiss from all around him, the bronze had to take his fight to a new level now, the black was right.
Summoning his own strengths together the large beast gazed into the skies, and within a moment thunder and lightning fell across the darkness while rain began to pour down at a heavy speed.
"He's going to flood the plain!" Kai warned as he sat on his mount next to Drizzt, "we've got to get every one to higher ground!"
"That is your job Kai, I've got to help the bronze somehow. Get Cattie somewhere safe."
He looked at his silver haired friend with utter shock, "Drizzt how are you going to do that? Are you crazy?"
Sighing deeply the drow turned back to the tiefling. "Kai, I'm able to see well in the dark now. The bronze cannot find the black in this shadow, I can." Shaking his head and wishing the elf well Kai couldn't help but smile at Drizzt's boldness, before he allowed the elf to leave he pointed at Cattie who looked on worried, "You know that she's going to force her wrath upon you for this don't you."
"Better her wrath then losing her tiefling, now go!"
"Yeah." said the darker tiefling turning his horse away and taking Cattie's horse along with him, "Just be careful."
Ravnos dodged any damage from the dragon battle and nearly literally pulled Risen away from the danger zone before he saw the devil army begin to march forward. Then a figure caught his attention in the distance, a small woman upon a horse frantically trying to ride away from the oncoming devils on hell mounts.
Setting direwrath blade down at his side Ravnos caught a riderless horse, calming the frenzied black he leapt into the saddle and with a gentle nudging charged the horse forward.
On her own Shela tried to protect her mount from the three hell hounds that were snapping at his white fetlocks. The bay horse startled early and was not making her escape any easier but she wasn't going to leave the frightened animal to the mercy of those fiends. Pulling gently against his bit she whispered against his neck to slow him but it was all to no avail, the horse barreled forth and heaving his 1200 pounds into the air as quickly as he could. Shela gave in, one glance back showed the devil army advancing and the hell hounds coming at the horse's heels, but when she turned forward her eyes widened in double shock. Her mount was moving too quick for his own good, ahead of them in the horse's very path lay a rather broken shard of stone. One that stood to the horse's breast high.
He wasn't going to be able to make the jump. In his fear the horse didn't care to slow down for the immense object that lay before him, instead he forced his burning muscles to work and took to the sky. He did well to cover the ascent, but it was in the descent where the bay stallion made his mistake. Shela held on for dear life as the horse's body flew over the stone and began to fall, his front legs hit the ground first taking all and double his body weight within the thin bones. But as his rear came to rest he shrieked and made a tumultous dip forward, both front legs crumpling beneath him as his head fell hard into the dirt. Before Shela could react they both were hurling towards the ground at a great speed.
Holding on as tightly to the beast as she could they finally both slammed into the ground.
Grabbing her head Shela crawled to a rise, her neck hurt and there were obvious sprains on her wrists but she wasn't worried for her own well being. The girl turned her attention on the wounded animal struggling to get to his four legged stance.
From afar Ravnos saw what was happening, he urged his mount to move faster not quite favoring this obsidian black beast from his own Risen. The black stallion shied when he saw the devil army in the short distance and Ravnos had to spin him in a circle to get the horse back to his focus, once the animal was near where the young woman fell from her horse he pulled back the reins.
Jumping from the animal's back Ravnos quickly moved toward Shela weapon drawn when a meaty hell beast slammed him from the left and it's master jumped down to face him.
Ravnos felt the broken rib right after the landing, gritting his teeth he pulled his sword back and weakly went to face his opponent.
Shela left her fallen mount and went to help Ravnos when something grabbed her from behind and held tightly around her neck. The strength of this creature was unbearable so she began to struggle when whoever it was pulled her close and whispered into her ear.
"You will make a delightful pet won't you pretty one."
Ravnos saw the tall tiefling with Shela, he needed to help the young girl or all was lost, even his own cause.
Lunging for his dark haired son Ravnos almost made contact when another grabbed him and bit into his arm, causing him to drop the sword.
Ixian was quite please with what he had aquired, now the twins were in his grasp and all the hells could be broken loose and made free to roam the prime plane without fear of banishment. Toying around he ran a long claw through the locks of her soft hair as he watched his father attempt to fight off the many shadow beings that were now surrounding him, "You care about him don't you girl?" he asked relishing in the fear that seethed from Shela's very being, "he seems the popular fiend these days, already I've met another that feels emotions for the red maned fool."
She struggled but Ixian with one sharp tug easily gained control of the feisty young woman. With her in his control he glanced back to Ravnos and smirked with some disdain, "Take the red haired one!" he yelled commanding his creatures as he and another took the female with them.
Ravnos saw them leaving with the girl, growing angry the big framed tiefling slashed at the sentinent beings that were around him before he ran through them, taking a few out before he was hit in the back of the head just to fall unconcious.
The bronze dragon kept his senses heightened as he tried to keep up with the black dragons position, but in all the corrupted magic he could not. "Your flood will do nothing to me Wyrm, or do you believe me weaker then I truly am."
"I do not make such mistakes Dirge!"
"How did you know of my name?" asked the black from behind him. It seemed the name paused his attacker giving the bronze an idea where he was. But still he could not see to attack himself. Giving a sneer the metallic dragon stood still, "I know of you, and of your nest brother, we all know of your alliance with Mephistopheles of the Lords of the Nine."
"We make the alliance for our own vices ancient, the humans are nothing more then a puppet for us to lead."
A laugh erupted from teh elder dragon's throat as he scoffed at Dirge's inexperience, "You are the puppet Dirge, I know of the stone that he wields against you both. He will destroy you when your use is up."
As they spoke Drizzt, pushing through the waist deep flood water; snuck up to the standing bronze dragon. Keeping an eye on the black that moved ever so closer to the wyrm, with stealth on his side the black skinned elf stood before the giant creature and moved Icingdeath before him, with the frost driven abilities of his sword Drizzt then raised the weapon before the dragon.
His eyes were suddenly drawn to bolts of purple shaded electricity at his feet, the bronze dragon at first thought it a trick of his enemy, cautiously looking closer he saw that it was a drow elf who caused the lights.
Changing his dialect the dragon leaned closer to the elf, "You are in a dangerous place dark one. Why do you stand here?"
"Because I have the ability to see through his darkness dragon! I can show you where he is." Drizzt explained to the immense creature.
"Oh can you." quipped the bronze dragon, "Hold on to my horns, We will take down the beast then."
As Drizzt jumped onto the dragon it turned and raised it's wings, catching a breeze, when it was safely above the ground it paused for a moment.
"Do you have companions?"
"Yes, and they are in the caves now."
"Good." Replied the dragon as another strange staticy noise began to rise from within himself.
"Turn left!" Drizzt yelled as the black dragon lunged for the bronze, but with a flash the elder let go his breath weapon at the ground before the other's feet. At first Dirge laughed at the dragon's bad aim once more, then he felt strange as tingly sensations rose through his legs and into his great body. Foam flowed from his mouth as the dragon's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell into the water still.
From above the bronze gazed at the still flowing water, and soon it sank deep into the ground.
As he landed Drizzt leapt from his skull, going to examine the dead dragon's corpse. The living dragon seemed quite pleased with his kill, "Well he gave me something to boast about eh' elf." Groaning from the creature's burning flesh Drizzt kicked it's head to make sure there was no life left there.
Upon seeing the devilish army take out his entire front line in a clean swoop, Thraxus called a retreat and the soldiers were heading away though after leaving Cattie's side Kai'lair and Drizzt looked for Ravnos. It was when Risen limped toward them did they get the sudden apprehension of having to realize that the large tiefling may not have survived the fight.
Rael was silent as he rode his lathered grey gelding up to them, "They have been captured but are alive, come we must leave for now." he had seen the fight between the tiefling and the devils, but he could not give aid.
"We can't leave them!" Kai'lair argued but Rael stopped him, "We will come back, but we must get help." he said.