Vermin Tide Quest
Chapter 27
As the convey of Illias Kruez members traversed through the desert to Witch Hunt Village, the Ubersreik Five took up the second to last wagon, sharing it with two Human twins, who simply introduced themselves as Kallia and Emile. Kallia had silver hair that was shoulder length compared to her brothers' ear length crop with both having blue eyes like sapphires, and was covered in scars from her time fighting a Slug Girl that tried to attack Emile, and she barely survived the encounter, hence her nickname of 'Krieg.' she was recounting the story to Kerillian who asked about them. The Wood Elf Waywatcher also noticed how the Human woman not so subtly had herself positioned between Emile and Kerillian herself during the recounting of the story, while the others simply ignored the conversation.
"...and then I smashed her face in with the pommel of my ax, and then decapitated her. So, that was how I managed to earn my nickname of Krieg by being one of the few in Illias Kruez to actually win a fight with a Monster one on one." the woman recounted proudly, before getting in the Wood Elfs' face. "So if you approach my brother, I'll gut you and-"
"Oh for fucks sakes." Kerillian muttered as she got up and interrupted Kallia, then walked over to the wagon driver, and tapped him on the shoulder. When he jumped and saw the Wood Elf, he was visibly uncomfortable "Driver, stop here. I'm going to fight Krieg." was all she said, as the wagon driver made a calming sound to his horses, pulling them back to stop the wagon. The convey wagons up ahead of them stopped, hearing the commotion, as the one in the back stopped as well. She then hopped off the wagon she was in, and pointed to Kallia. "You and me. We're fighting one on one, right here and now."
"Oh really now?" Kallia snarled, getting her ax. "And if you win?"
"You shut your bloody gods-damned mouth until we reach our destination. It's already insufferable having to stay around you mayflies, without you insulting me to the face!" the Waywatcher snarled and rushed forwards at Krieg. A few minutes of fighting later saw Lazarus running over towards the gathering crowd of fighters and adventurers. Behind him, Ulboro and two other members of Illias Kruez were following him.
"What's going on here Micheal?" he asked the wagon driver for the Ubersreik Five. The other four were clearly sitting at the
"Krieg just pissed off the Wood Elf, and now they're about to fight each other." Micheal replied. With a sigh of frustration, Lazarus pushed his way through the circle, though the Sigmarite Warrior Priest only nodded to stomp forwards to part the bodies. When the two of them made it past the last few cheering onlookers, they saw Kerillain on top of Krieg, punching the Human woman with a blinding flurry of fists. Both were bloody and bruised, though Kerillian looked worse for wear, as Krieg grabbed one of her hands, and the Wood Elf shrieked as she crushed it. However, she wasn't done, so the Waywatcher proceeded to jab a finger into Kriegs' left eye, almost gouging it with the furious way she put pressure on it, causing her opponent to scream. Victor and Kruber could be seen trying to peel Kerillian off of her, while Sienna and Bardin were pushing back against the crowd of angry Illias Kreuz members, who were trying to attack Kerillian. Lazarus pulled out the pistol that he was given by Hunter, and shot it into the air, the gunshot echoing throughout the trees as everyone stopped.
"That's enough!" he shouted, his voice raising to a loud bellow. "We're already behind schedule to reach Witch Hunt Village, and you two are beating the shit out of each other in the middle of Monster territory!"
"But sir-" Kallia tried to protest as she rubbed her eye, only to be interrupted by Lazarus.
"I DON'T GIVE A RATS ASS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY KRIEG! YOU AND KERILLIAN ARE NOT RIDING IN THE SAME WAGON FROM NOW ON!" with that, he turned to the Wood Elf, though this time his voice was hoarser and low from the shouting he did, something he was not used to compared. "Did you have Micheal stop the wagon?" the Waywatcher spat out a gob of red blood onto the, then turned her black and golden eyes to Lazarus as she recovered her mouth with her bandana.
"Yes." she responded solemnly, her covered mouth not hiding the fact she said it through gritted teeth. Lazarus sighed, and rubbed his eyes.
"Why, exactly?" he asked. One of the members of Illias Kruez spoke up then.
"Wait, why are you even going to-"
"Carl, I'm handling this." Lazarus snarled, as Victor and his group got back into the wagon, until he pointed at them. "You four, I'm not done with you." Ulboro translated for them, as they got off and walked back over to Lazarus. "Now then, why in the hell, did this fight start to begin with?" After a few minutes of conversation between Ulboro and the Ubersreik Five, the Warrior Priest turned to Lazarus, as Kerillian walked over and sat on a rock, staring out like a hawk looking for prey at the treeline with her bow drawn. Several others drew bows or crossbows of their own, formed into a firing line.
"Apparently, Kerillian asked how Kreig got her nickname, but while she was telling her about how she saved her brother Emile, was making snide remarks and comparing her to the Monsters."
"Well, she is an Elf, one of the races th-"
"Krieg." Ulboro interrupted. "You are talking about a Wood Elf from my world."
"And? What makes her any different then the Elves of this world?"
"The Elves of my world would've gladly disembowel you, and then leave your corpse to rot just for saying they would lie with Humans, let alone comparing them to the harlots you are staying they are alike. In fact, you should be grateful Kerrilian is not currently impaling your dead body on a tree over in the forest there." the Warrior Priest said bluntly, leaving Lazarous and company to shift about uncomfortably at the image. The various archer and crossbowmen, having heard this and realizing the Sigmarite was serious, proceeded to back away just a tad more from Kerillian, who breathed out loud.
"Glad someone isn't a total asshole for once." she muttered darkly, then her ears twitched, and stood up, looking around.
"What is it?" Lazarus asked of the Wood Elf, as her ears twitched once more.
"I hear skittering." the Waywatcher reported, then widen her eyes. "Were Wolves!" she yelled as she drew an arrow, loaded it, and loosed it into one of the creatures that were charging the the caravan of Humans, letting a cheer of glee as they began bounding towards them. The arrow she released struck a Wolf Girl in the eye, and the early warning gave the ranged members time to release a volley that followed suit. However, due to their inaccuracy and terror at being attacked meant most of their arrows missed, and what did hit barely slowed their targets down. Victor, Hunter, and the others that were from the other world had more success when they opened fired however, as the swifter speed of the Skaven they were fighting in Ubersreik had trained their reflexs well, and downed multiple members of the shocked Monster pack. Illias Kruezs' members however, were panicking, as the cries of the Monster turned from howling in joy to angry roars towards the Humans that dared strike their fellow pack mates.
"Do not despair before this barbaric horde!" the Warrior Priest Ulboro shouted suddenly, as he glowed with a holy light that caused all to pause and look at him. The Sigmarite, having saw they were beginning to route already, had taken charge and pointed his hammer at the Were Wolf pack. "Remember your oath, and fear not! Fear these craven beasts no more, for I am the will of Sigmar!" with that, several Monsters jeered. However, as one of them spoke, he suddenly rushed forwards at her.
"Look girls, this priest fancies himself a- OH SHIT!" with an uppercut that connected to her chin, the Were Wolf was sent flying over the air, and an audible cracking sound was heard as she landed head first onto a rock, her neck twisted unnaturally. As the Monster pack turned back to him, it was to see he had drawn his hammer, and one of them raised her arms in a futile attempt to block the incoming blow he was going to deliver.
*BGM: TOTEN SIE SIE FROM PUMPKIN SCISSORS*
"I am the Hammer of Sigmars Fury, come to purge the Beastman!" the glowing priest shouted, as he smashed the Monsters' crossed arms, and her torso into the ground as her spine snapped backwards. Her sisters jumped back in shock, and he turned to them, and raising her hammer as charged once again. "I am wrath of Mankind made flesh!" he screamed zealously, swinging it horizontally at a particularly foolish Monster that tried to strip his armor, sending the beast flying into the ground, leaving several craters as she bounced off it, her body bursting apart into several chunks. Suddenly, Lazarus snapped out of his shock, and pointed his sword. He could not explain what was happening to him, but as he called to the men and women who served him, he felt a form of holy radiance from the Priest, calling to him to serve as the sword of the Goddess Ilias to defend his homeland, his companions, and was overcome with righteous fury. For the first time however, his eyes were no longer cynical, of a man broken by guilt over his deeds, and anger towards his own weakness. Instead, they were burning with an inferno that raged within, that compelled him to fight or die for those closest to him and followed him unto their deaths serving his organization to rid the Monsters, to ensure they did not die in vain.
"Leave some for us! GET THEM!" he shouted loudly, then ran, following Ulboro towards the now terrified Monsters being attacked by the Sigmarite as he let out a shout. "DEUS ILIAS VULT!"
"DEUS ILIAS VULT!" his followers repeated, as they were now suddenly overcome by the continued praises to the Gods their Imperial comrades worshiped. While they did not know why they were moved the way they were by his faith, his display of holy power and divine judgment upon the Monsters that were continuously hunting them drove them to a new height amongst the Humans. One of the Monsters shouted in fear.
"Fuck that, run for the lair get the boss! These Humans are insane!" she screamed, before turning and running for the forest, and the pack of Monsters, having been driven by mob mentality routed. However, the trees suddenly began to move, as various vines and, branches, and roots shot up, hitting and smacking those who tried to pass through. When they tried to go around the barrier, they suddenly found that it extended itself out from the tree line, as several of the tall and ancient trees of old began to crawl forwards, blocking off any and all routes except for the angry mob rushing at them.
"What the hell, the Plants must have betrayed us! What do we do?!" one of the Wolves screamed. One of them tried to take charge, and began to bark out an order.
"Go through them then! Their only Humans, even if th- Gaak!" she was interrupted by one of Kerillians' arrows flying out and stabbing itself into her neck, then a fire bolt that set the Monster ablaze. Suddenly, she exploded, and a Human woman whose body was burning yet uninjured or clothes were singed was among their ranks, along with an Elf who began to cut apart a horrified Wolf Girl apart after tossing an empty glass bottle that the Monster caught on reflex.
"BURN YOU BEASTS!" Sienna shouted, the Bright Wizard swinging her sword, the Red Wind of Aquay igniting the flammable hair, hide, and fur of those Monsters it cut, while her flame wreathed body scorched those who opposed her as she ran around in their group. Kerillian meanwhile, was fighting those who tried to get behind the Bright Wizard, slicing off limbs and dodging and weaving through the gauntlet of terrified and panicking Monsters. Eventually, she was grabbed by something, and was hoisted and thrown upwards with a scream of terror, before landing on the plant barrier that was caging in the Monsters. As she inspected the battle, she saw that the Monsters, due to being herded by Sienna and Ulboro into a terrified panic, were now overrun by Lazarus and his band. The Human leader himself was facing off against a Wolf, who flashed her claws in an attempt to intimidate him. However, she was clearly the one backing away, as her legs dragged themselves backwards.
"St-stay away from me zealot! I-I-I'll gut you!" the Monster stammered, as the sounds of her kin being hacked apart were clearly overwhelming her. Lazarus glared in response.
"Oh really then? Then why are you backing away then, I'm just one man after all..." he replied, fingering the handle of his blood drenched sword as he flourished it in front of him. The Monster hesitated, then tried to take advantage of the opening Lazarus made.
Big mistake, especially if your opponent predicted your attacks. Kerillian thought, as Lazarus side stepped a paw strike, then slashed the exposed stomach of the Monster. As she fell over to grab at her wound, he then followed through with a decapitation, and the headless body of the Monster fell over and bled all over the ground. Another Wolf saw this, and charged Lazarus.
"You bastard!" she yelled, jumping toward him with her fangs bared, only to impale herself on his blade as he stabbed it into her throat, and through her back. He then looked at Kerillian, who was watching the ensuing fight where similar scenes were playing out, before turning to fight another Wolf Girl.
Victor could be seen keeping two of the beasts at bay, who were trying to side step his rapiers' swiftly winging point, as the Witch Hunter used his wrist to swing it in circles. Suddenly one of them managed to hit his sword and swat out of the way, so he pulled out a pistol from his coat with his free hand. "PARRY THIS!" he yelled in anger as he pulled the trigger, and shot his attacker point blank in the hip. Her companion hesitated in shock, giving the Witch Hunter enough time to slash her throat. As the Wolf grabbed her throat, he then proceeded to stab her through the eye, and grabbed the rapier blade poking out of the back of her head. As the Monster tried to stop him, still alive from whatever foul magic created her, Victor wrenched his sword, and twisted his enemies' head along with it.
"Cycil!" the wounded Wolf screamed in shock, then tried to get up to continue fighting Saltzpyre, only for Kerillian to snipe her in the heart. Victor turned, then looked at the Waywatcher, the one eyed Human staring with a grim face as usual. With a quick nod of thanks however, he dived back into the fray. Hunter, the other Witch Hunter could be seen firing his repeater handgun at a cluster of Wolves that were forming, downing three of the ten or so Monsters trying to claw a path through the barricade in their way to the forest. As they turned to face him, the Templar pulled out his falchion, and readied himself while Bardin appeared from the fighting with his Grudge Raker, and blasted two more of the Wolves as they tried to storm the lone Human. Taken by surprise, they stopped as Hunter pulled out one of his own pistols, and fired on another, her head jerking back as her brain was shot and pasted onto those behind her. As they jumped back at the gore, Bardin had loaded two more shells into his own black powder weapon, firing and downing two more of them, resulting in those who survived run to get away from the duo as Hunter pulled out another pistol.
"HAHAHA! Nice work Witch Hunter, my cousin Okri would smile on your jolly teamwork!" Bardin laughed boisterously. "We shown those Dum-Gor what for!" the second Witch Hunter simply huffed as he looked around the area, and locating Ulboro, who currently was fighting off a number of Monsters trying to dog pile him.
"Bardin, over there." he said, gesturing to the Warrior Priest with his sword. With that, the Dwarf nodded, and swapped to his ax and shield, as Hunter called over three Ilias Kruez members. The two then charged with a howling war cry that was shared by the companions, and proceeded to attack several of the Wolves, distracting the Monsters long enough for Ulboro to flex upwards, smashing the heads of two more together. As he got up, the Warrior Priest lifted a particularly small Monster looking to be in her adolescence still clinging in fear and desperation to his forearm while grinding on it in a last ditch attempt to seduce him, and swung hard enough to send her flying like a a chain tossed aside. She sailed through the air, and slammed into the tree root barrier, and fell to the ground where she curled up in pain.
*BGM FADES OUT*
"Beastmen..." the Sigmarite muttered to himself, then noticed with a look of horror that his book was missing, finding the chain connecting it to his armor was cut."Sigmars' scriptures! Where are they?!" he cried out in shock. As the Humans looked about for them, a whistling sound was heard, and the battle was paused as everyone still alive turned to see a Wolf Girl holding the book in question while standing on a knocked over Human with one foot on his chestplate. She in particular had a silvery gray coat and shining red eyes like rubies, and held the book in question with it open to a random page, making the man under her foot groan as she put more pressure on his torso.
"I supposed correctly this particular book is important to you Humans when I yanked it off that armor of yours it seems." she said, tail swishing back and forth in excitement as she gazed at it with a mischievous smile. "How about we make a deal, where you Humans-" she was suddenly cut off, as she suddenly got a small hole above her right breast at the same time one of the Witch Hunters shot her. She jerked in response, dropping the book as she stepped back. While the Human from Illias Kruez quickly grabbed it and ran, several more gunshots were heard as Hunter unleashed his wrath by shooting her seven more times with his repeater handgun, and the Wolf Girl in question fell over dead.
"Clarrisa!" one of the remaining Wolves cried out, as their final pack leader was slain in front of them. As she saw the man above her was about to cleave her head with an ax, she cried out. "No wait! I surrender, NO!" the Human ignored the Monster, and struck his ax strong and true, as what remained of the now demoralized pack was slaughtered helplessly as Ilias Kruez unleashed its wrath upon them. By the time they were done, sun was starting to set, so the caravan dug in since they were not likely to make to Witch Hunt after the delay. Thankfully, the trees seemed to assist them, as a ringed version of the barrier was made, and the caravan was enclosed around it.
Several hours later, Kerillian was inspecting and cleaning her sword and arrows, using the firelight made by the pyre that the Witch Hunters taught their fellow Humans to create to purge any dark magic still within the corpses of the beasts. She then heard footsteps, and looked up and sighed. "Are you planning a round two Krieg?"
"No, I wish to say, that I was sorry." the Wood Elf turned after a moment at hearing the words the Human woman said. She was more surprised at how honest the words were then the fact they were said. Krieg seemed off, as she shuffled in place. Her body language clearly indicated that she was telling the truth, but Kerillian still blurted out the word that came out of her mouth.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I was the bitch this time, and should not have judged you like the 'others'. I had no right to act the way I did, and blamed our problems on you for it." The Wood Elf turned back to the fire, and looked back at her sword.
"I suppose I'm sorry as well. If my kind were put in the state you and your fellow Humans of this world are in, it would be understandable for us to be angry towards everything not of our race." she said, then turned back to Krieg. "Anything else you want to discuss?"
"You know, I have heard that Sigmarite say that there are many Gods in the world you come from. Is that true?" Kerillian chuckled lightly.
"Attending the sermons for the Priest of the Dragon with Two Tails."
"Sigmars' a Dragon!?" Krieg exclaimed. The Wood Elf burst out in a wheezing laugh, as everyone looked at the two.
"No, no, that refers to the Twin-Tailed Comet he was born under."
"What do you mean?" Kerillian turned, and saw Emile was there as well. He had hid in one of the wagons when the battle broke out, being one of the non-combatants that did most of the logistics of the organization. The Sigmarite Warrior Priest then stomped over to Kerillian, face one of unamused annoyance.
"What are you saying about Sigmar?" he asked of the Waywatcher.
"Nothing mayfly, we just had a misunderstanding." she wheezed loudly, before releasing a shrill screech. "Oh by the Cadai, you're going to love this..."
**POV SHIFT**
As Teclis was preparing to go to the area he was asked to, he turned upon hearing Promestein walking up to him with her escort. The Angels stopped, and had a look of bemusement.
"How are you able to do that exactly?"
"Your foot falls and breathing." the High Loremaster replied simply. "Is there anything you wished to ask?" at that, she shrugged.
"We have heard of the way the Humans from the Empire refer to their various Gods as being their pantheon. Are there other Gods not worshiped by the Empire?" Promestein asked in perfectly fluent Eltharin. Teclis smiled at how quickly the Angel seemed to have picked on it, though internally he found it disconcerting how Ilias was capable of listening in on anything that was spoken of in the world, which in turn made him wonder how much her darker sister was aware of behind the seal she was placed in. Since he had finished packing up his supplies for the mission, the two began to talk while walking through the castle.
"Well, yes and no. The Elves of my world technically have two pantheons. They are the Cadai, the Gods of the Heavens, and the Cyntharai, the Gods of the Underworld. Our beliefs are that they represent the duality of our race, and that every action has a meaning to at least one of them, and thus that ones actions are a form of worship to them. Vaul, for example, is the Cadai of smithing, and thus invoked when one is creating say, a sword or an ax, while..." Teclis looked around for a bit, before turning back to Promestein. "...while Khaine is the Cyntharai of hate and war, and is always drawn to battle." Promestein stared in confusion towards the High Elf, and noticed his confusion.
"Why exactly are you worried about speaking the name of this Khaine?"
"Humans somehow confused him for the God of Chaos known as the Blood God, and this has led to misunderstandings between our two peoples before..."
"Ah, I see." Promestein said. She looked away, apparently remembering something that she did not seem willing to discuss. As they continued on in silence, they ran into Leopold.
"Mi'lord Teclis." he said, bowing in respect. Teclis returned the bow in kind, and replied in Reikspiel.
"How fares the seal around the Dark Goddess currently?" he asked.
"So far it has been reinforced well by your enchantments, though I am noticing something rather... disconcerting at least." the Morrite said. "I am sensing that the Dark Goddess is stirring within her prison, and is rather, displeased with us and our actions. Just thought I should let you know."
"Well, as long as she is kept contained by the Six Ancestors Seal, she can't hurt you." Promestein said, as she proceeds to start writing down some notes. "Not unless you decided to take a dive into her prison at least." Suddenly, there was ground-splitting crack akin to a burst of thunder, and a burst of light shot out from the tomb. As the beam shot out, the Angel dropped the pen she was writing with, her skin turning paler then it normally was alongside her guards, while her companions stared with their eyes wide as dinner plates at it. When it disappeared, Promestein muttered something under her breath, and ran towards the tomb the Dark Goddess and the Ancestor Lords were held in. There, they found Arnold getting back up from the ground, the Black Guard Knight looking around in confusion.
"Are you alright, Knight of Morr?" Teclis asked, having not been formally introduced to the man. His helmet moved up and down in a nod, before gesturing to where the seal was. As Teclis and the others looked at Promestein as the Angel inspected the Six Ancestors Seal, she cursed under her breath. When she saw the Humans and High Elf looking at her, she cleared her throat.
"Long story short, the Six Ancestors Seal just became the Five Ancestors Seal... apparently the Dark Goddess had a few tricks up her sleeve we didn't know about." Promestein said grimly.
"Oh bugger." Leopold muttered as he sighed in disdain and held his forehead. "I'm already getting a splitting headache at the amount of graves we'll need to dig before this is taken care of."
"...Well that's not good if their half as powerful as the stories and myths make them out to be." Teclis muttered. "I'm guessing the Ancestor Lord in question is running around in the world to figure out what in the hell is going on on our side?"
"Probably, and considering your stoically silent friend here is still alive, I'd say she ran off somewhere to avoid detection and to scout us out first." Promestein said. "That, or establish contact with the Monster Lord. Either way, the Dark Goddess will have made sure that the Ancestor in question can hide her true power from the Ilias, so attacking anyway of the Monsters here will now become an unacceptable risk." Teclis scoffed in exasperation, rubbing a hand through his hair.
"Oh bloody hell..." after a few seconds passed of him walking around the room, he turned back to the Angel. "I'm going through with my attack on the Monster Village anyway."
"What?" Promestein asked. "Why?" when he cast a knowing look to her, the Angel had a visible look of comprehension, and chuckled lightly. "Geez, you are ballsy as hell." Teclis shrugged.
"It at least help identify which one was released." the High Loremaster replied, as he walked out the room. "I'll let my escorts know what has happened. Find Balthasar, and warn him of what is happening here. I'm ready, send me to the target area when you're ready."
**POV SHIFT**
While Granberia walked through the forest, she fell down and collapsed on her knees, and coughed loudly. The Light Elemental energy coursing through her was dissipating at this point, but the Dragon Knight knew if she didn't feed on a man soon, she was going to die long before her body fully purged it. Realizing this fact, she punched the ground in rage. She bit back the scream in her throat as her arm bones crackled, and pain shot up to her shoulder.
Those cowardly bastards of Ilias! They know they can't kill us off on their own, so they're having the Imperial Humans do it for them. Ilias is probably laughing her ass off watching me crawl around through the forest. She thought, as her mind became unfocused and distracted, as . Why are the Imperials suddenly working alongside the Angels, if what Tamanos' comments about what Balthasar said about Ilias are true? As far as we know, Morr is willing to let the dead of my kin into the afterlife he presides over, while Sigmar has mentioned being the leader of these Humans. So, why are they allowing this, unless... her thoughts trailed off, as though something clicked in her head.
The Dragon snarled as she finally got up. "No... I have to warn the others..." she growled, as she called to the Spirit of Fire. She leaned against the tree, closing her eyes as she slowed her breathing, despite the amount of pain coursing through it. "Sal..lamander... help... me." she groaned out, calling out to the Spirit in question. She didn't have to wait long to be answered, but it clearly wasn't the Spirit in question. When the Elemental of Fire entered Granberias' body, she leaves a impart of warmth in her pupils body, which invigorated Granberia whenever she had to march across the continents or was pushing herself in training much harder then normal. However, she heard a chittering sound, which caused the Dragon to perk one of her ears up. As the Knight heard something scamper away as she turned her head, her body ran cold in shock and fear, as she realized she recognized the sound as what the Skaven make when running away from her.
Quickly standing up, she proceeded to bare her fists, and called out. "Are you ready to go again assholes? I'm more then ready to beat your faces in for what you have done!" she yelled out, and then struck a tree next to her with her left arm. The bark was shattered on impact, and Granberia kept herself from flinching as her arm stung. Thankfully, her bluff worked, as she sensed the Skaven were all running away in terror. All except one however, which Granberia muttered a curse upon seeing.
"Well well, this Man-Thing Breeder still has fight-battle spirit..." the Grey Seer Skit-Slip sneered, then turned to his servants. "...Shame-worry that you FUCK-FUCKING TAIL-SHOWERS ARE BLIND-SIGHTLESS TO SEE-SEE!" it yelled in pure rage. Granberia growled.
Damn it, you got to joking... she thought, as the Skaven stopped running in terror, obviously worried that their leader was lyng, but wondering if Granberia was truly weakened.
"How-how dost thou knowest-see, mi-lord?" one of them asked, backing up as the Wizard Rat Man walked up to it. His branch horns had regrown, but now the regrown part was smaller, and Granberia realized that some parts of it were tipped with eyes that were stabbed onto the horns of the antler. Skaven eyes, which were beady red orbs that were oozing more then they should down the antlers, while one of his eyes was clearly infected with something. His skull had some form of metal plating attached to it, which appeared to be reinforcing the broken part of his head, as well as fusing his antlers back together.
"I am-am the Seer of the Horned Rat, it is my role to know-learn. Now, take that Man-Breeder Thing alive, we have much to seek-find about these Things that live here at once." with that, the Skaven drew a number of clubs, and rushed at her. The Dragon Knight muttered in anger, and tried to block an overhead swing. It hit against her arms, and knocked down the off-balanced Monster, and she was immediately and beaten upon as she continued to kick and punch in an attempt to resist, as the Light energy was still weakening her. Eventually the Skaven relented when the Gray Seer screeched. When they stopped, the Dragon Knight was barely breathing, and she could tell the Skaven Wizard was smiling sadistically at her.
"So then, it seems that these Things aren't all they claim-talk themselves to be-be. Scurry-hurry, take it with meh-meh, I have a deal to make with our Clan Moulder representative Pack Master." Granberia felt herself being lifted up by the Rat Men, and made a groan of pain, as they did not seem to care about taking her alive. However, as the Gray Seer went through a rock, it disappeared, revealing a hole in the ground. As he came back, the Skaven stopped upon seeing he had a glowing green amulet in his paw.
"What-what is that for?" one of them asked.
"Keep the Breeder-Thing steady-still, it's near-close to being dead-dead..." the Grey Seer said, as he tried to pry Granberias' mouth open. Upon seeing she won't cooperate, the Rat Man grunted, and punched her throat. As Granberia gagged, he jammed the tailsmen into her mouth, and the magical energy coursing through it suddenly was blasted into her body. The Dragon Knight felt an intense pulling motion, as the Light energy was drained from her body, and the amulet started to glow brighter. "Fuck-fuck..." Skit-Slip muttered, as he grabbed and wrenched it out of her mouth, before throwing it. Upon disappearing into the brush, an explosion was heard, and the Skaven jumped back at the noise.
After a few seconds, Granberia felt strength returning to her limbs. "Hehehe... big mistake rat." she said darkly, and then rushed at the Grey Seer. However, she ran into a barrier that surrounded the Skaven Wizard head-first, and cart-wheeled over him and landed on the ground with a grunt. With that, the Skaven wheezed, then pointed a finger at Granberia.
"Bind-capture this Breeder-Thing, and forget the Pack Masters' interest in these Things. It amuse-muses meh-meh..." Skit-Slip said, as he chuckled once more while Granberias' vision grew dark. At her final moments of consciousness however, she felt a stirring of Darkness, and smiled knowing what it was...
**POV SHIFT*
Out in the Monster encampments, Tamano was visibly trembling, while her assistant was looking out at the camp, her fur bristling with nervousness as she looked out at the camp. The Monsters of Hellgondo could sense the presence of one of their progenitors walking upon the earth once more. Feria began to listen in on the whisperings of the Monsters closest to Tamanos' tent. As she listened in, the Nine-Tailed Kitsune spoke up. "What is the disposition of our forces?" the Heavenly Knight of Earth asked.
"Currently, they are split about the fact one of the Ancestors has apparently been released by the Dark Goddess. On the one hand, they are hoping they can get the situation with the Imperials and Gelt under control and defeat them. On the other, whoever it is is an Ancestor, which likely means we should be sensing activity in the Castle by now. So, either something has gone wrong, or the Ancestor Lord in question is going to seek out answers from us about what has happened." Feria summarized. She then swished her own tails in nervousness, dyed currently in a blue and gray pattern. Every Monster knew about their Ancestors, the first six created by the Dark Goddess, who were infamous for their... extreme and often hedonistic lifestyles. Saja the Ancestor Lord of Lamias and Harpies for example, was known to have been the only one who actively sought a lifelong partner, but always continuously killed those men she was attracted to unintentionally due to her voraciousness. And she was the least malevolent of them, or at least can be considered having well intentions for those she sought out, as the other Five were often mentioned as being capable of single handily bringing rebellious nations to their knees, as well as acts of sadism that most Monsters nowadays would pause to consider acting upon.
Tamano meanwhile, had started to panic internally, as her plans were now suddenly in further jeopardy and danger. A key cornerstone that was central to her helping Luka and Alice bring peace and coexistence, that being her siblings not being in a position to interfere with Lukas' quest or worse, attacking and killing him themselves. "By the Dark Goddess!" she muttered grimly, as she got up and composed herself. "I'll need you to come with me, along with some of our more loyal elements to our ideas. We'll be finding and keeping an eye on the Ancestor Lord ourselves for the time being, as she'll no doubt will need to be updated on what has been happening." Feria nodded, and sighed in frustration.
After a few minutes had passed, Feria had gathered several Monsters, who jostling with each other when Tamano herself appeared before them. Upon seeing the serious look on her face, they stopped and stood at attention. With a simple nod of acknowledgment, the Kitsune set off with her group, and they quickly took off to find and escort the Ancestor Lord in question. Or, they would have, if not for a Succubus suddenly crashing to the ground. When they saw her burned and scarred wounds, they gathered around the injured creature, as she began to wheeze and cough.
"What happened to you?!" an Imp cried out in shock.
"Mantakai Village... under attack... help us." the Succubus wheezed out, before her eyes closed. Upon confirming her breath and heartbeat were still there, Tamano paled in fear.
Gelt you fool... she muttered, before pointing to the medical tent. "Get her taken care of, I'll be heading to Mantakai with a force in tow to stop this latest attack." she commanded, as the Monsters rushed to fulfill her orders. "Hopefully before she gets her hands on the throat of the Humans in question..." the Kitsune added under her breath. With that, she took Feria and a number of Monsters, when suddenly she heard someone call out to her.
"~Hey Tammy!" a cheerful voice called out, and Tamano turned to see a group of Vampires running up to her. The Kitsune was shocked to see their Queen was amongst their number, along with her handmaiden Carmilla, who was the one that spoke. As the Queen Vampire examined the campsite, she proceeded to speak to the Kitsune. Tamano herself looked at the cheerful Monsters with some suspicion, as they were notably against many of the reforms that Alice and her mother were trying to implement, and rumors abounded of them having been gathering with an underground movement that was planning a coup. So far, however, nothing had been proven, but Tamano was weary nonetheless about them.
"I see things have been pretty grim since the Humans managed to take the Castle..." the Queen said, staring out in the direction of it. She examined a white glove with red alluring eyes, and stared at them, shook her head as she continued, causing her golden hair which was braided into two swirling pig tails to shake. "Shame for them they pissed off the Dark Goddess it seems, as well as whatever poor bastard made the mistake of attacking Mantakai after an Ancestor Lord was released." the Queen said with condescension. "Ah well, either way, we are here now to give our support in pushing this Balthasar Gelt off our lands."
"Oh?" a Wyvern named Slin asked. "And where were you when the initial call to arms was declared by the Monster Lord?"
"Taking care of some business in my castle." the Vampire Queen said, her ornate cloak curling up and twisting in place. "I have to make sure my absence would not be needed, and left Elizabeth behind to look after some guests in the mean time."
"What sort of guests?" the Dragon offshoot asked.
"That is not your business to know, unless you are thinking of taking my place somehow?" Tamano stepped in at the point.
"We need to not fight amongst each other, that would only waste time we need to go to Mantakai..." she said. With that, the Vampire Queen and Wyvern looked at the Kitsune, and nodded as they acquiesced to the Heavenly Knights' rank. "...good, now Slin, I want you to fly ahead, and scout out the village for the rest of us. Do not engage, I plan to take them with surprise and stealth. If you believe the Imperials spotted you, fly around towards the Castle, then circle wide and away so they will be less likely to recognize that we are coming to their east."
"Yes Knight Tamano." with that, the Wyvern kicked up to air, and flew off into the air, as Tamano turned to her gathered band of Monsters. "Alright, let's go. There's also a contingent of Skaven as well running about Hellgondo, so stay alert on our way." Tamano said, adding in the line about the Skaven to let the Vampires know not to let their guard down.
As they were on their way over to Mantakai through the forests, the Wyvern came back, and landed on the ground in front of them. "Mi'lord, it's not the Imperials, something else. I don't know what they are, but they aren't Human, Skaven, or Monster, but they are pissed and already heading this way towards the camp. At least, not Monsters lie us." The Monsters rallied up, as the Wyvern left to warn the others to prepare. With that, Tamano and the others with ran ahead to see what was it she saw. Soon, they began to hear the stomping of cloven hooves and snorting breaths from afar off, and stopped as they drew their weapons or prepared their spells for what awaited them. One of the Monster took out a horn, and after a nod from Tamano, she blew into it to draw their attention.
**POV SHIFT**
*BGM: BFG DIVISION FROM DOOM 2016*
As the Khorngor Zarkrak Brazen Ax was running to track down the escaping Mutants that dared build a village, paused upon hearing a horn. As he stopped, his herd of similar Devoted Beastmen paused, and turned to the direction it came from. Each one of the Khorngors were dressed in red bronze armor, coated from the blood and gore of their most recent battle in the skirmish, followed by them chasing down a number of Human men that were left behind when the Mutants that built the village in question fled like cowards. While most of the Brayherd was still occupied with their tearing down and defiling the nest of civility and order, Zarkrak and his small herd of Devoted had been chasing down the scent of a terrified Mutant, their bloodlust causing them to separate from the others. While most of his kin appeared more or less the same behind the armor and weapons they made for themselves, Zarkrak was distinguishable by his horns growing into the Mark of the Blood God who he followed, making him the leader of the Brayherds' Khorngors in particular, as well as his better quality ax and armor sporting the Mark of the Blood God which burned in his chest plate combined with his larger size and strength to match.
"It came from that way. After them!" he shouted to his subordinates in the tongue of the Beastmen, and as they followed him, each one echoed his warcry. "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"
"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" The Gors under his command formed into an arrow head formation, bellowing in rage as they worked themselves up to a frothing rage to slay and maim, rip and tear, and to claim skulls for the Blood God Khorne for whom their caste was named after. They began to run through the trees in a stampede of hate and fury, when they sighted their prey. However, when they saw their target, Zarkrak and his herd stopped in shock and surprise.
*BGM STOPS*
What in the name of the Blood God is this? He thought, as he took in the sight before him and his herd. The herd of Mutants was formed of what seemed to be similar the previous ones he attacked, but dress in a manner as to appear as erotically dressed noble Human women, but he was more confused by the second part of their ranks. They looked like Human females with parts of the bodies of animals, which ranged in variety and type. Even more, they smelled less like Humans, and more like the animal versions of what he imagined a Slaangor would smell like. The dog Mutant with black skin, red fur, and horns had the scent of a canine Slaangor for example. After a moment passed, he noticed the Mutants that were like the village he razed, and the rage of Khorne overcame him once more. Raising his ax, he pointed at them, and yelled "KILL THEM!"
*BGM RESUMES*
Snapping to reality, the Khorngors with him charged, raising their weapons as he ran ahead of them with his shield in front as one of the canine Mutants rushed him. Zarkrak braced, stopped, and at the last second made a pushing motion when the Mutant leaped at him. The Khorngor smashed it in the head, and registered the feeling of his shoulder being knocked off his joint as he was knocked on his back. However, he managed to roll, and twisted his arm back in place in one motion,and turned to see the Mutant that attacked him was stunned for the impact, and one of her horns had been broken off and stuck to his shield. Setting his ax under his arm, Zarkrak grabbed the horn, pulled it out with one motion, and noticed one of the more Human-looking Mutants coming at him. He proceeded to stab it in the eye as she tried to claw his face, wrenching sideways with enough force to tear off a piece of her head. As he turned and saw an archer about to loose an arrow at him while hanging on a tree branch upside down by her legs, he threw the horn at her, and stuck in her shoulder. The Mutant yelped in pain as she loosed the arrow anyway, but due to flinching, it bounced off his pauldren, and Zarkrak grabbed his ax, and turned to shield bash a Fox Mutant with blue and gray aside as she tried to sneak up him. As she hit the ground, the Mutant looked up, and saw his ax falling down, about to hit her neck. She managed to dodge it, then spun about and kicked the Beastmans' legs out from under him. Due to the sheer size of his bulk and the weight of his armor, Zarkrak left a crater when he hit the earth, and held back the feeling of motion sickness when he looked back to see the same Mutant was running towards him, somehow having acquired an ax from one of the other Devoted. When she tried to hit him, it bounced off his armor and sent her arms wide, and Zarkrak kicked her in the stomach and sent her jumping back several feet, eliciting a grunt of pain as she grabbed her unprotected abdomen and fell to one knee.
As he got up, something jumped on his back, and suddenly he felt some form of cloth wrapping around his skin under his armor. Screaming in rage, he felt a burning sensation as he saw it was the black cape belonging to one of the Human Mutants. This cape is sucking out my blood! He realized with shock, then raged in anger. He proceeded to reach for the head of his attacker, and felt it shift and twist away from his shield hand. Annoyed by this, he reversed his ax, and swung it over his head, hearing the satisfying sound of it hitting flesh and bone. A pain filled grunt accompanied it, and when he pulled it out, Zarkrak jumped and landed back first to crush it underneath his weight before she recovered. When he rolled off and turned to see who it was, he saw the Mutant was miraculously still alive, though clearly wounded. She appeared to be one of the leaders of this particular race, and was about to hack her head off, when one of its subordinates suddenly flew in and kicked in his helmet. Zarkrak stepped back, as his vision was now impaired, causing the Khorngor to snort and bellow in anger.
After feeling two more strikes hit him, and sensing the Mutant in question backed off, he proceeded to grab his helmet, and then ripped it off to look at her. When her eyes suddenly flashed, the Beastman reared in shock at the light. The rune on his chest plate suddenly burned hotter, unweaving the magic that the thing tried to cast on him, and the Beastman charged her in anger. As she stared in shock, he whacked her upside the head with his helmet, then smashed a leg as she fell by stomping on it. It proceeded to scream in agony, causing its companions to run at him with pure rage in their eyes. As he took in his surroundings, he noticed several of the Khorngors were on the ground, ripped apart or being taken by the creatures, as they deserved for falling prey to them. It was then it suck in that these Mutants must've been servants of Slaanesh, and had lured the Brayherd to this place for some purpose.
While the Brayherd had first sensed that the forest they were in was not the one they resided in, with less foliage covering the sky, they had decided to question it later when they smelled and sensed the Mutants that were in the village. Now, it clicked to Zarkrak that they likely did not plan their village being razed so early, hence being caught off-guard, but this was the only thing that made sense in the Beastmans' mind. It did not matter, as he simply raised his weapon and shield, and snarled, ready to reap his toll upon these freaks of freaks. Suddenly, they stopped, and looked at something behind him. The Beastman then felt an overwhelming presence behind him, that made him pause.
*BGM ENDS*
It was enough to make enough the rage-filled Khorngor stop, as he could feel two eyes boring into his soul. He could not understand what it said, but he feel every fear in the animal half of his mind scream to run. He quickly kicked back to splash his opponent with mud, and swung his ax to follow through however, only to find he struck air only. Sensing movement from below, he turn only to see a pale fist strike him, sending the Beastman flying into the air with a baleful cry of pain. As he soared in the air, the thing grabbed his left hoof, and threw Zarkrak at the ground, towards the village the Brayherd was. As he slammed into the dirt and smacked into a statue, he somehow miraculously survived the impact, though he wished he hadn't.
As the other Beastmen stopped and stared in recognition of who had fallen from the sky, they recoiled in shock when something crashed into the ground at the foot of the village, and turned to see what it was. Suddenly, a pink wave of energy started flying at the Beastmen, who started to panic when it flew at them. However, a Bray-Shamen with the Mark of Khorne on its chest raised its hand, and spell proceeded to unravel, causing the magical energy to dissipate before reaching the Brayherd. The Beastmen proceeded to draw their weapons, and charged the dust cloud.
*BGM: FOUR KINGS FROM DARK SOULS*
However, a shape zipped through them, and knocked aside the horde of mutated creatures, going straight for the Shamen. Just as it raised its' staff, the blur of motion went behind it, and disappeared as their head snapped backwards. Zarkrak got out of the hole he was smashed in, and started crawling in pain away from the screaming and shouting Chaos worshipers as they were torn and ripped apart by the thing to search for a weapon.
"WHERE IS IT?! SOMEONE KILL IT, KILL IT QUICKLY! AARRAGGH!" A Gor screamed, before suddenly being cleaved in half. As the Bestigor next to him turned, the sword the Gor carried was stabbed into its' skull. Braying noises could be heard as the thing that was amongst them tore the sword out, and threw it with enough force to send an Ungor flying when it hit their chest. A number of Tzaangors clustered together, and began chanted to the God of Change. Before they finished the spell, a whirlwind fell and struck them, burning the Devoted Beastmen of Tzeentch to bloody ribbons. While the slaughter continued, a Slaangor was able to track what it was among them, and tried to give chase, only to be decapitated as it tried to gore the attacker. Zarkrak was contemplating suicide to escape the carnage, knowing that to run would mean guaranteed death, either by the hand of this being, or by one of the Blood Hounds. However, he couldn't find anything, when the Great Bray-Shaman Khazaka appeared, and quickly proceeds to slam his staff just as the attacker was about to hit him. The Mutant was sent flying back from a dark pulse of energy, and struck a still standing wall of a house that was still burning, which collapsed on top of it. Before they could recover, Khazaka charged the Blue Wind of Azur, holding his hands up high, and bringing them down as a comet was teleported from the great void between worlds, and smashed into the rubble. Zarkrak and the surviving Beastmen started to gather around behind the Beastmen, when the debris that was left moved aside allowing them to see their opponent.
It took the form of a small girl, with pink and green hair divided into two halves, wearing naught but a ribbon of cloth that somehow did not burn around her tattooed white skin and four white wings. However, the Beastmen sensed it was far older, and worse, was not at its peak, as she got up looking at them with what could only be rage in its blood red eyes. Khazaka slammed his staff, and created a swirling set of blue crackling daggers around his form. The Great Bray-Shaman was visibly disturbed by the way the Mutant was able to get up with little in the way of wounds, but his foresight from using the sorceresses of Azur will give an advantage... he hoped. As the Mutant growled, it shot forth at the Bray-Shaman, and the swirling daggers launched themselves at his attacker. She pressed on despite the cuts they left on her skin, and jammed her hand into the shocked and terrified magic Beastman. As she grabbed his heart, the daggers of Azur energy stabbed and slashed the creature, and she winced and grunted in pain. Even so, she still managed to crush the screaming Khazakas' heart in her fist, and ripped her arm out, causing the corpse of the Beastman sorcerer to fall dead like a ragdoll. A Wargor suddenly punched her in the jaw, but the Mutant recovered instantly, and threw it with a deceptive amount of strength, sending the elite Beastman warrior flying away and breaking its neck upon hitting the ground. As she stepped back several more of the Beastmen infantry dog-piled her, trying to stomp the Mutant to death. As they began to kick and trample the enemy, Zarkrak got to join, and stopped when he found a ring of energy flowing around him, and stared at it in confusion.
"What is that?" A Bestigor next to him asked.
"I don't know." The Khorngor replied honestly, when the ring formed a portal and he let out a bellow while falling through, grabbing unto the Bestigor by their beard and pulling them through. Just as it closed, the Mutant screamed and released an aura that formed a tornado with her in the center. Without Khazaka to counter it, the Beastmen were sucked up into it, baying and squealing in fright as they were thrown about the land, while none of the buildings and such were disturbed save for the stones and dust that struck them. As abruptly as when it formed, it was then canceled dropping everything, and the Mutant got up, bruised, bloodied, and stared out at the devastation of her attack of last resort, and cursed upon realizing she was already given away.
**POV SHIFT**
*BGM ENDS*
As Tamano and what remained of the Monsters reached Mantakai, they noticed all the dead non-Monster Monsters strewn about, and the destroyed village that was left. As the Monsters saw the Ancestor Lord in question, they quickly recognized her as Minagi, one of the more powerful Ancestors, and the birth mother of the Succubi and their offshoots such as the Vampires. Even the Vampire Queen seemed shock that this was the one that was released but still maintained her cool, and mumbled something about watching the dungeons carefully.
Tamano reacted in the complete opposite manner however, cursed up a storm, her normally collected and even-tempered demeanor falling away like a mask as she let an expression of rage. Turning to the Castle, she screamed in anger. The other Monsters stared in wide-eyed shock, as they never knew that she had the guts to yell at the Dark Goddess herself, and with an Ancestor ten feet away from her no less.
"WHY MINAGI?! WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE MINAGI?!" the Kitsune yelled incoherently as she fell to her knees. "YOU COULD'VE SENT HIRUKO, OR KANADE! HELL, I WOULD EVEN TAKE KANON OVER HER YOU JACKASS! WWHHYYY?!" after a few seconds of a loud and drawn out groan of despair, fear, hate and rage Tamano slowly collected herself, brushing a loose strand of hair. "Alright, get yourself together hun. You can work with this, just tell not to kill anyone, and give her lots of strong and healthy young men that are fine sharing the same monster." suddenly, Minagi made a groaning noise as she got back up.
"Would you stop talking for five seconds, and will someone explain how the Angels and Humans took the Monster Lord Castle, and what those things I just slaughtered were?"
**POV SHIFT**
As the Angels of Heaven began to panic and scream in fear because of this new development, the Gods Sigmar and Morr took the shaking Eden aside to explain what was going on. Ilias had, upon seeing Minagi, flew into a similar rage that Tamano had, and her rant was similar, albeit still going on in the background, and with more vitriol in her tone and words, and was raging long before Tamano and her group saw the Ancestor Lord.
"Well, Minagi is the most depraved of the Ancestors, to the point that Ilias hates her the most, as you can hear."
"...AND DRAG YOUR PASTY REMAINS INTO THE DEEPEST PIT IN THE SEAS, AND THROW YOU INTO THEM IN A THRINCE DAMNED PINE BOX!" Ilias could be heard screaming, followed by the sound of what sounded like dishes breaking. Sigmar rubbed at his eyes, while Morr barely react beyond an eye roll. As Eden was about to explain further, They turned as someone entered the room. She appeared in the form of a blind elderly Elf woman, an old crone who was hunched over, yet despite that clearly radiated power that shown she was a god. As the Crone Goddess spoke, all of Heaven went still. Including Ilias, no doubt sensing the intruder.
"That, and if she is allowed to roam the world, chances are she will drain every man dry into a husk, which is obviously bad news for the Humans of this world, and Monsters that are not immortal..." with that, she sat down in a chair, as Eden scoffed as she looked right at the Angel.
"Who are you?" Ilias said, appearing before the group and seeing the intruder.
"Morai-Heg, Crone Goddess of the Cyntharai, whose domain is the shaping of fate itself as well as the stars in our world." Sigmar said, though he seemed unnerved by the whole ordeal. "What are you doing here?" at that, the Goddess of Fate shrugged.
"I sensed the being known as Minagi, peered into the future of how she will shape this world, and affect ours if she found a way into ours, did not like the results." she then turned to Eden. "Now then, would you get some tea, ginger with lavender leaves sounds rather lovely at the moment." Ilias looked on in annoyance, while Eden muttered something about not being a damn Cupid towards the Crone.
"Is literally everyone capable of waltzing into my domain whenever they feel like it?" she sighed.
"Not quite. In fact, I had called in a favor from you, dear Ilias."
"Me?"
"Oh by Ulric, it hasn't been a minute and Warp sorcery is already afoot here." Sigmar groaned as he held his face in his hands. Morai-Heg frowned as she looked at him, then spoke up.
"Well, as it stands, I also saw an opportunity to use this time to point that Minagi has her uses... say, if she was dropped in the middle of the Everchosens' army, methinks." the Crone Goddess said. Sigmar and Morr looked at the Crone, before the God of War got up and pointed a finger at her.
"No, I already see where the rabbit hole starts. Ilias, whatever you do, do not say yes to her proposal. Trust me, it is going to bite us in the ass." Morai-Heg snickered loudly.
"Too late." she said. "I'm already here..."
"So if you send Minagi to take out Archaon and get her out of my hair before she fucks with my plans, I'll owe you a single favor, right?" the Goddess of Heaven asked. Morr and Sigmar looked at her wide-eyed in shock.
"No promises." with that, Morai-Heg extended a hand to Ilias, which had nails more akin to claws due to how long they were. Noting the scars that also traveled up the Cyntharai Goddess' hands and arms, the Goddess took the hand and shook it before Morr and Sigmar could stop her. "Now then, can you do it now?"
"Not yet dear Ilias, for we'll need something for her to feel motivated to return to this world, wouldn't want to cause problems for the Empire or even Kislev now, which Tamano has unwittingly provided for us now..." the Crone cooed, pointing to the two Monsters she mentioned. "Besides, I would also prefer if you did not interfere, Sigmar. If you stand aside, I'll reduce the debt you and the others owe me." After a few seconds passed, Sigmar sighed.
"Get it over with already. You probably had a hand in this to begin with."
**POV SHIFT**
"After that, Granberia and Alma Elma have yet to report, while my colleague Erubetie was slain in the very Castle itself. Currently, the current Monster Lord, who is still the direct descendent of the Dark Goddess is traveling with a Human she is interested in, believing that their adventures together will help quell the Imperials, and convince them that our people can in fact, exist together peacefully. Which brings us to you, Ancestor Lord Minagi." Tamano said, finishing her explanation of the many thousands of years that passed, what happened, how Monster society evolved and changed, and how the Monster Lord Castle itself came under Human occupation after taking her sister back to the camp. Minagi listened intently to the Nine-Tailed Kitsune Knight of Earth, her red eyes enhancing an uncharacteristically serious look on her face as she looked at the records of what has happened. "How exactly did you get out of the Six Ancestors Seal?"
"Well now..." the Succubus Birth Mother said, filing her nails. "...to summarize it, your account of the death and destruction at the Castle had caused me and my sisters to awaken. That, and Mother sensed something has gone wrong. As a result, she chose me to investigate what in the hell had been happening... speaking of which, I want to talk to you privately, Tamano..."
"Tamano May Sun."
"Ah yes of course, pretty name. Either way, I believe what I have to say should be kept between us." with that, Tamano looked at Feria, who turned around and left, while the two Monsters activated an enchantment which silenced and muted any sound inside it from spilling out. Minagi stared at Tamano, her face one of visible disappointment. An uncomfortable silence passed before Tamano spoke up.
"Is there something wrong, mi'lord?" the Kitsune asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Yes, there is many things wrong, Knight Tamano..." Minagi proceeds to get up from her chair. "One of the more extraneous wrongs I find, is that the current Monster Lord, descended directly from the Dark Goddess herself, has not executed this Balthasar Gelt for murder of Monsters, and for his blasphemous words you mentioned him saying about the Dark Goddess." The Ancestor Lord grabbed an apple, and bit into it as she walked back to the table the two were sitting at, setting aside a bottle of sake, a tea cup for Tamano, and a chalice for herself. The Kitsunes' ears twitched lightly at what she said, her mind remembering long ago memories.
"Well, to be fair on the Human, he is from another world. He may have uttered blasphemy about our kind, but given our history, he is not wrong." she replied, playing Devils' Advocate for Gelt.
"Hmph, yet you're willing to defend him... and what do you mean he is not wrong?"
"Well, how many Human nations did Tamano no Mae destroy, genocide their peoples, and ate their remains simply because she could, or because they offended the Dark Goddess in some way?" Tamano questioned, causing a look of contempt to cross the features of Minagis' face as she poured some sake for herself and her sister. "Even if it was say, because a King kept a certain race from overrunning his lands, he was just trying to protect his people at the time. That does not mean we should just-"
"That's rather ironic. Your Ancestor Tamano no Mae would've never second guess her consuming an entire nation, not that she'd really need a reason to do so to begin with." Minagi took a drink from her chalice, then looked back at the Kitsune. "When did this new movement within our kind start taking root, exactly? It must've been slowly growing past the thousands off years since Mother first walked this earth to have not been noticed by any of the more immortal Queens and their servants, as I imagine the older generations do not approve..." she said, looking at Tamano with suspicion.
"You can be surprised by how the threat of Ilias and her Angels unleashing her wrath upon us during the Great Monster Wars can change a people." the Kitsune said, not showing any of the nervousness she was feeling. Minagi looked at the Kitsune. "After the Wars, many actually slowly started to develop the belief that we should not try to enslave the Humans. As it stood, if we did so, not only would it justify Ilias' response and seeking out our extermination, but our treatment of the Humans was what caused this to happen to begin with." the Kitsune explained. "Eventually, the Fateburn family line itself, with a few exceptions had also developed this thinking. The fact that the 8th Monster Lord also has gone down in memory as a tyrant and a warlord is proof of this." The Succubus Ancestor scoffed.
"If you ask me, she should've conquered the world by now... whatever happened to her?"
"Dead, killed by a Human named Heinreich. He disappeared after wards, but all that is known is that the 8th was the only Monster to die at his hands, after which her empire fell into disrepair when her successor could not sustain it. Among other things, Monsters that were not in agreement with her polices of continuing the war and expansions began to fight those that did. The political upheaval alone took a century to die down due to those who could still remember the times of old not letting go."
"Well then, sounds like we have a rather... problematic group of insurrectionists." Minagi said, sniffing her sake, then getting up. "I suppose I'll have to... Tamano?" the Succubus Ancestor asked, noticing that the Kitsune was frozen, with the exception of her eyes, which gazed about in a panic. As she looked around, she saw a shadow approaching the tent they were in. As the Ancestor noted that it was hunched over, she readied herself to fight the thing that paralyzed her sister somehow. However, she found she herself was also frozen, unable to moved a muscle as the hunched thing entered the tent.
It appeared in the form of an Elf, but she was old, a crone upon whom a raven sat on her shoulder. Minagi also noted that she held a large amount of power disproportionate to her haggard and ugly appearance. As it chuckled with an almost sadistic smile, it spoke in an accent that Minagi could not recognize.
"I have a most profitable plan for you." it said cryptically, before waving a hand at Minagi, who then flew over to her hand, which nails more akin to claws. Tamano started to twitch as she turned towards the newcomer, who lifted Minagi like an oversized doll. "Ah, that's a first. Well, I made a promise to do something for Ilias, and I'm not one to leave a task half-finished, so sorry, but I must leave now. HeheheHEHEHAHA!" the crone cackled madly, turning into an over sized raven that flew up through the roof of the tent. Minagi was carried away in her talons, and made a scream of terror and fear as a portal opened up, and the two disappeared. Tamano and the Monsters that witnessed this then looked on as as it closed shut on them, as though it never happened.
"Shit!" the Kitsune muttered, realizing that her sister had just been kidnapped.
**POV SHIFT**
Somewhere in Ostland
As Kriegor Blood Mane examined the battlefield, the Khornate champion stared at how the last of the defenders of the Kislevite village he burned down tried to escape his wrath, and that of his Norsemen. As the blood flowed in literal rivers onto the ground from their slaughter, he began to laugh evilly at the scene of carnage. He may be behind schedule to keep up with Archaon and his army of Chaos Undivided, but soon the Chosen Knight would make to the final battle.
He began to chuckle loudly, when he noticed something falling from the sky. "What in the Blood Gods' name is that?" he muttered, eyes squinted at the object. It appeared to a Mutant of some kind falling from the sky, despite having two pairs of perfectly normal and functioning wings, which were white n color, and resembled what a scaleless Dragon wing might look like. As it fell, Kriegor realized it was falling towards his men. "INCOMING! TAKE COVER!" he shouted, and the Norscans ran to avoid the collision, needing only his command to realize something went wrong.
*BWOOM!*
As he got off the ground, another Chosen ran over to him, wearing the same red armor that Kriegor had.
"Was that just a single cannon ball?" he asked.
"No, just some Mutant..."
"...Whelp, it's dead now. Pity, I wonder if-" the second Chosen stopped talking, as his eyes looked in the direction of the crater that was left behind. As Kriegor turned around, he saw the same Mutant getting up off of the ground, muttering in some unknown tongue. Cathayain perhaps, or maybe the language of Nippon. When it stopped and looked at them, they recognized the look it gave as one that an animal about to pounce was, and prepared for battle.
Authors note: I was going to make this longer, but decided you all waited long enough... Next Chapter will be some time between now and the end of the world. That is all for now.