The sound of a hammer hitting ice echoed through the tower, the final piece of the puzzle had just been put in its place. Instantly the tower resonated with power, gears of bone- metal- ice- lifted levers of wood- ice and gold, flamethrowers, spike walls and holes on the floors momentarily activated themselves as their sensitivity and effectiveness was tested.
While outside the tower, the walls rose and fell, became stairs and slides that no man could climb, while at the very top an arena was put in place, the final surprise, for the new blood.
With a smile beast men/Fanus- Humans- Dwarfs- Elves and a few others that had gathered to lend their help. Now came the hard part each man regardless of his position, let a single drop of his blood fall and so from the highest floor, their blood fell giving the tower its baptism by blood.
Crack, crack their blood drops shattered on the floors of the tower, instantly the lands outside resonated with the rower and every beast and creature knew that a fight would soon come.
A loud trumpet began to echo and letters were instantly sent, messengers carrying letters ran with all their strength, their destination clear, each high-ranking person was to come and see the show, the new recruits will be tested, their skills will be sharpened by the chaos of war.
Their bravery, loyalty and intelligence would be pressed to their limits, in reality this was all to see how long they lasted, the first to die will be the weakest and it will go on until all that was left were the stronger and more capable of them all.
Mothers and Fathers held their sons and daughters, giving them the warmth of their affection, reminding them that they loved them.
Knights, sharpened their sword, polished their shield and inspected their armors, while barbarians drank and spoke about the wars they had been in their past, as they attempted to calm their worried minds.
Treaties were signed and marriages proposed, securing food- workers- animals and clean water for their people.
Maidens- Saints- Holy Men of all sort prayed for the safety of the people and that their troubles would be alleviated, before their eyes warriors of lighting- fire- light- water- crops and all that was holy in the forms of men came forth.
Witnesses for the trials ahead, each worrier's wings heald the people's souls as they walked passed them, where they stepped the world sang, their destination clear, a stone table that had a miniature river flowing thru it.
Each of them took a seat, never acknowledging any of the many people that gathered to see them, their armors made of gold- silver- adamantium and other metals not found in the worlds of men, each holier than the last.
Girls and boys ran as they held hands, their smiles bright for the future to come, as the sounds of infants could be heard behind them.
Benjamin Stark had finally returned to the wall behind him were the many prisoners he had picked up along the way, they marched alongside desperate men and one or two small boys that had nowhere else to turn.
Yet he found no rest as one of his men emidiatly handed him a letter inviting him to watch an exam that those beyond the walls were about to hold.