Draconic Theatre
Genji sat next to Varian as they ate their meal, the meals they received were good and the envy of the soldiers from the Empire and Re-Estise. Most soldiers received hard bread, dried meat and hard cheese. The food was usually hard, cold and was either tasteless or extremely salty. Genji on the other hand was eating a hot meal of some strange bread called pasta with a red fragrant sauce and meat sausages. The strangest part of this meal was that it came in a strange bag, the bag of food started cold but when Genji pressed a strange stone to the side of the bag a rune would glow on the bag. All he had to do after that was wait a few minutes and then once he opened the bag he had a hot meal in his hands.
Although usually the food tasted good this time it tasted like ash. It was the day after the attack on the enemy camp and Genji just woke up from the worst night's sleep in his life. He numbly put the food to his mouth not really registering his surroundings. The rest of his platoon wasn't much better usually they would talk and joke during meal time but now there was silence save for the sound of utensils touching the ration bags.
It was because of this silence that when the portal appeared 50 metres behind them the entire platoon turned to look at what was happening. Then they heard the roar of some metal machine. The platoon was well acquainted with that sound seeing as it sounds just like their vehicles but louder… much much louder.
First they saw a long metal rod appear suspended in the air emerging from the portal. Then they saw the rest of the vehicle was wrought of lightly glowing red metal, painted in the style of the Ordo Malleus. It was huge about the size of a small house, it made their own vehicles look like wooden wagons. As Genji looked to the mastercrafted war machine he felt a sense of dread as we watched the metal threads roll over the ground. He was no fool if his gun with its small size could be so deadly to beastmen what could that massive cannon do to flesh and sinew?
No doubt these machines were brought in to help retake the three cities, the killing was far from over it seems. The engines of war would roll over the entirety of this land, crushing everything in its path. The flames of war burn bright singing a serenade to the god of war Takemikazuchi. Genji watched as tank after tank rolled out of the portal. He noticed each tank has unique paint patterns, some bore the sigil of skulls. Others had words painted on the side, the words were names most likely these soldiers have named their tanks. The tanks were varied, some were large some were smaller and then there was this one tank. It was large even among its other fellows; it had a massive gun that looked more like a pillar than a rifle barrel. He could tell this one was heavy as the ground rumbled beneath his feet as it rolled past, leaving deep tracks in the earth.
Later that day Genji stood gathered with the rest of his comrades as they looked to the arrayed tanks and their crews. At the front were the crews of the various tanks, at a cursory glance the crews were of a different breed as compared to the rest of the Ordo Malleus recruits.
Gazef stood beside General Nimble as they looked on at the veteran tankers before them. As veteran warriors themselves they could clearly see that these were men and women who have been fighting for years. Their faces grim, their eyes showed a will of steel that can only be tempered in fiery crucible of war. Their equipment was also a far cry from the crew of the vehicles of the recruits. The other green crews wore simple headbands with pads covering their ears, their uniforms were not much different from the regular troops. All wore the simple red of the Ordo Malleus, these however had specialised uniforms. Their garb was strange, it was the same shade of red but the uniform was padded much like in the style of a padded gambeson. Their helms were large made of a red painted metal, there were large protrusions where their ears were and their eyes were covered by a black reflective visor. The only part of their head that was exposed was their mouths which were without exception pressed into a grim line.
Their tanks all had unique paintings on the sides, each tank had unique writings and imagery. Some had names of war and valor like Fury, Punisher and Widowmaker. Others had stranger names that Gazef didn't really understand like Roman Candle, FireCracker and Tsunami. The all however had a strange symbol painted on the same place, it was odd. It looked like normal letters but were arranged in a way that was incomprehensible. The symbol read XLI, searching his memory Gazef came up blank as he tried to understand what that symbol meant. Then one of the masked walked forward.
"Greeting my fellow comrade of the Ordo Malleus and of course honored allies." the man said as he gestured to Gazef and Nimble who in turn nodded in return.
"I am Major Don of the Iron Wolves 607th Panzer Battalion. We are 800 strong split into seven companies. We have 3 medium armored shock companies, 1 heavy armored destroyer company, 1 artillery company and 2 mechanized infantry companies. Our specialization is in mobile warfare and superior firepower tactics. We will be joining you in the liberation of this land, I hope we can cooperate in the days to come." Major Don said his tone was cold and professional.
"Alright listen up men." one of the officers said as he walked to the front.
"High command has graciously dispatched our comrades here to aid us in this campaign. They have fought dozens of campaigns, they are veterans and heroes, one and all. You will afford them the respect they are due. Am I clear?" the officers said.
"Yes sir." the men answered.
"YOU LOT LEFT YOUR TONGUES AT HOME? AM I CLEAR!" the officer bellowed.
"YES SIR!" the soldiers shouted in reply.
"Good, ready your gear we move out at dawn. We have villages to clear, be ready by 0500 hours. Dismissed." the officer said.
Gazef and Nimble began walking back to their respective armies. Both were lost in thought, as they pondered the combat efficacy of the massive armored vehicles. They had seen the power of the common soldiers rifle, they had seen the bullets they fire. The bullets they had seen were about the size of a human thumb, those cannons however looked like they fired shells the size of a man's leg.
"It's good to fight a war where you can't lose." Nimble said offhandedly.
"Indeed, the beastmen had no answer for the previous group of armoured vehicles. What can they do in the face of those monstrosities?" Gazef replied
"They can die. After all that's all we need them to do." Nimble said.
"With the help of those iron behemoths they can do their job quickly." Gazef replied.
2 days later Outskirts of the Wailing Woods
Lady Tyra stood facing what to her seemed like the god of death itself. It floated above the ground as cold mist floated from beneath its sable cloak. Gems of untold value encrusted its robes and if not for the fact that it seemed to be ender of all things it would to be dressed as the king of kings.
"Are you the god of death?" Lady Tyra asked, wondering in her mind if this was the being that would come to collect her soul when she departs this mortal coil.
"I am not mortal, I serve one far greater than I. Your sanity he will shatter your dreams and ambitions he will destroy, if… he so desires." Kel'Thuzad said
"Eden must be truly formidable to bring one such as you into its service. Is it some magical bondage that holds you so? Is it some arcane weave holding you back from destroying this realm?" Lady Tyra asked
"No mortal, I serve of my volition. The undead are merely tools to be used, they are a form of power plain and simple. Power has no morality, there is only strength and the will to wield it." Kel'Thuzad said.
"I see, forgive me. I am but flesh and sinew, it is quite the shock to see one such as you." Lady Tyra replied.
"Most mortals turn and run, you are doing much better than most." Kel'Thuzad stated.
"Well I am old, the run would probably kill me before you do." Lady Tyra said with a nervous laugh.
At those words Kel'Thuzad let out a laugh, to Lady Tyra it sounded like music squeezed from rotted instruments. She held back a shudder as she looked on at the Arch Lich.
"Now then shall we proceed? I sense many minions for the taking." Kel'Thuzad said.
"You want me to come with you?" Lady Tyra asked incredulously.
"Naturally, you are my guide are you not?" Kel'Thuzad asked calmly.
"Yes, but I am not aware where the hideout is in that dread forest." Lady Tyra said hastily
"Then we shall find out together won't we?" Kel'Thuzad said with a chuckle.
Kel'Thuzad turned and started floating towards the forest, Lady Tyra turned to look at the black robe figure standing behind her. The figure wordlessly nodded in the Arch Lich's direction. Left with little choice Lady Tyra began walking after the Arch Lich into the forest.
The light of the sun was quickly shadowed by the canopy of trees above. As she walked she felt the temperature start to fall rapidly. At first she thought it was the shade but soon she could see her breath forming mist. Then she heard the clacking of bones around her, she turned to see a skeleton emerge from behind a tree. She was about to scream but she noticed that the skeleton shuddered for a moment as its eyes which were red flashed icy blue. The skeleton then knelt as if before a king and remained motionless on the ground.
"What?" Tyra muttered to herself incredulously.
"This so-called Zauron holds weak control over their minions. Such weak bondage is easily broken." Kel'thuzad said as his hand glowed with an arcane light.
"It appears I am in good hands." Tyra said with a weak smile.
"There are few in creation more skilled than I in the art of necromancy." Kel'Thuzad replied calmly.
Although the words rang with arrogance and pride, as she gazed at the legions of undead prostrate themselves before their dread lord she could not find it within herself to doubt him.
"Shall we proceed?" Kel'Thuzad said calmly as he turned and continued to float down the forest path.
Soon they reached a wide open plain. In the plain stood about a dozen black robed figures. On their faces they wore crude masks of bone made from human skulls. Surrounding them was a veritable army of undead ranging from common skeletons to skeletal dragons.
"Good day minions Zuranon, I have come to speak to your master." Kel'Thuzad said calmly.
"Who are you lich?" one of the figures asked.
"I am Archlich Kel'Thuzad, the ruler of the dread necropolis Naxxramas. I have no interest in speaking with chaff, send for your master, I grow weary of this charade." Kel'Thuzad replied
"Strong as you are lich we have an army here, you may have defeated our minions at the border but those were just sentries to scare away the odd wanderer." the man replied.
"Defeated? Oh no, why would I destroy perfectly good minions." Kel'Thuzad said with a chuckle.
As he spoke the undead of the surrounding forest stepped out of the tree line surrounding the trees surrounding the group."
"As for what you said, what do you mean by your army?" Kel'Thuzad said as magic circles surround his hands. The circles spun with kaleidoscopic speed before stilling. Kel'Thuzad crushed the circles in his hands and the circles vanished into motes of blue light.
The army of undead trembled as one as their eyes flashed icy blue. Then the army turned and faced the dozen black dressed boxing them in. At the sight of their own minions turning the gathered group froze as a primal fear seized their hearts.
"What are you? I have never heard of anything being capable of wresting control of summons." the man said shakily.
"There is much you do not know mortal. Now then send for your master before I go in and drag him out." Kel'Thuzad said
"There is no need." a voice said from behind the group.
Kajhit turned to see his master walk out from the archway. His master was an elf with a pale parlour and deep sunken eyes. His master had promised to make him an undead so he could continue his life long goal. Perhaps this Archlich could grant him his wish…
"You are of the abyss?" Kel'Thuzad asked the pale elf.
"I am, I expected nothing less of one who bears such mastery over death." the pale elf said.
"Yet so weak, disappointing. Pity…" Kel'Thuzad said. The elf scowled at those words, it was no mere insult to call him weak.
"What do you want, Lich?" the pale elf asked.
"Why I wish to command your little group of miscreants. I have great plans for the bodies at your disposal." Kel'Thuzad replied calmly as he interlocked his fingers.
"You will find no easy prey here Lich." the pale elf said as his eyes glowed red and a bone mask formed on his face. The mask covered his eyes, nose and forehead, leaving his mouth exposed.
Behind him his two attendants formed their own masks however theirs were small only covering a single eye.
"We of the abyss the chosen of Momonga will not fall so easily." the pale elf said.
"Frogs in a well…" a female voice said from behind.
Khajit looked to see the Lich's black robed attendant approach. The Lich said nothing and merely allowed the robed girl to walk forward.
The girl removed her hood to reveal shoulder length blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Her gaze was glassy as if her mind was elsewhere.
"Do you know who I am?" the girl asked.
"You're Paradyne's apprentice, you should be dead." the pale elf said now much more guarded.
The members of Zuranon knew that she was an abyss user, that was why she was supposed to be kidnapped. However, in the end the raid failed and the whole family was burned to death in a fire… or so they thought.
"You lot are the reason my home was burned to the ground. Your thugs held a knife to my sisters throat. I will have my vengeance." Arche said as she took a step closer. As she did her mask formed on her face. Her mask covered her entire head like a helm and within the eye sockets glowed ominous red lights.
"Oh yes one thing girl." Kel'Thuzad said offhandedly
"Yes?" Arche asked as she turned her head towards the Archlich.
"Lady Herald has noted that the Scholars of the First Sin would like the leader for experiments." Kel'Thuzad replied calmly.
"So I can eat the other two?" Arche asked
"Yes, enjoy." Kel'Thuzad said with a wave of his hand.
Khajit looked on frozen in fear as the girl approached. An aura of darkness wreathed her back and from it emanated a black mist. Then from the mist emerged six black scaled tentacles each tipped with black blades. The blades were serrated and dripped black ichor that turned the grass to ash where the droplets fell.
He could feel the air start to feel heavy and his lips started to dry out. He tasted metal in his mouth as whispers started to invade his mind. This girl was releasing negative energy in torrents, but that would harm her elderly companion…
Khajit turned to see the elderly woman was covered in a purple light, he looked to the Lich and as he expected he saw the last wisps of a spell dissipate in his hand.
Faster than he could react the tentacles shot forward and impaled the two disciples. In a flash they were held up above the girl. The girl's mask cracked open revealing a black whorling pit, there was a loud ethereal wail as the air was sucked into her maw creating a heatwave effect in a cone in front of her mouth. The disciples began to choke as their skin turned black and dead. Their bodies aged in ten years in the first second then twenty in the next before their bodies crumbled to ash.
As their bodies melted away what remained were their ethereal selves. The souls screamed in agony as their form was gradually dissolved and sucked into her gaping wide maw. The whole ordeal took only a few seconds but to Khajit it felt like an eternity.
Then something odd happened the girl recoiled slightly, her head and limbs started twitching. The girl clutched her head and said…
High above the rotten rows
Cloth and metal, teeth and bones
Through the field, down the lane
Voices never heard again…
That was a children's rhyme that was told to the young ones by those who lived near the forest.
Then as abruptly as it began the twitching stopped and the girl stilled.
"Learn anything useful?" Kel'Thuzad asked
"Quite a bit, the rest are yours." the girl replied.
"Excellent." Kel'thuzad replied as his hands began to glow.
Khajit felt the temperature drop even further and it began to snow. Khajit took a hesitant step back along with the rest of the members from Zuranon. Khajit sensed movement behind him, he turned to see the master turn and attempt to escape. He got two steps forward before icy chains erupted from the ground and wrapped themselves around his body. The master roared in pain as the chains began to hiss as they tightened around his body. Then ice started to form around the master's body, he thrashed and tried to break free but the ice spread inexorably slowly covering his body. Soon only his head remained, more chains emerged from the ground and pulled the master towards the lich until they were skull to face.
"You know despite the failure that you are, you will still serve a great purpose. Few have such an opportunity, I almost envy you… almost." Kel'Thuzad said as a portal opened behind him.
"What do you want from me?" the master said
"Everything, although weak, you are rare. Exceedingly so in fact, we will take your body and mind. We will take them apart piece by piece until we have learned all that can be learned from you. Then you will be archived away and used to further the 41's great work. You will be… immortal." Kel'Thuzad said.
With each word the master started to go paler and paler, his pupils dilated as primal fear took him. He tried again to break free, his head thrashing as he tried to escape.
"Send my regards to my good friend for me, I hope you like insects." Kel'Thuzad said as the ice covered the master and fully encased him. The master let out one last terrified scream as the ice encased him.
Khajit looked on horrified as the man sized ice block he once called master was tossed into the hole in reality.
"Now then as for the rest of you…" Kel'thuzad said as he turned around and faced the remaining members of Zuranon.
"You answer to me now. Rejoice for you now truly serve the first primordial, the one above all Lord Momonga." Kel'Thuzad said with a chuckle.
Khajit instinctively knelt before the lich, he was quickly followed by the rest.
"You knelt first, why?" Kel'thuzad asked
Khajit saw the hem of the Lich's robes as it entered his cone of vision, he saw the white mist flow over his hand and felt the biting cold of winter on his exposed flesh.
"I fear death." Khajit stammered out.
"Good, those who do not fear death can never truly live. I assume your posture is a sign of your servitude?" Kel'thuzad said.
"It is my lord." Khajit stammered his body trembling.
"Good, we have much to do in the 41's name." Kel'thuzad replied with a laugh.
Khajit in that moment wondered if this was the price of his fervent wish. He sought the power to become undead, to buy time to achieve his fervent wish. To delay the inevitable end, yet here he was an old man in his sixth decade upon this life. Finally beings appeared, one an undead of unparalleled power the other a girl of flesh and blood who is one with the primordial abyss. In the face of true power, in the face of those who could perhaps grant him his wish. Khajit felt afraid…
Chapel of the First Sin, Domain of Tabula Smaragdina
Icar was born in the crescent lake 200 years ago, for as long as he could remember he always had a hatred inside him. It was primal but it wasn't the hot blazing hatred most warriors had it was a cold insidious rage. The kind where you peel off your victim's fingernails instead of cleaving their head open. He was also strong, very strong, he once threw another child across the room in a fight. The throw broke 14 bones and after that no other school would take him.
"That child is a monster." many said.
At first the words hurt but he got used to it soon enough. The rest were all weakling anyway, afterall hatred was as good a motivator as any. As his power grew so did the hatred within it. Then one day he realised it was a hatred of life, of all that drew breath.
Icar still remembers when that epiphany struck him, suddenly it all made sense. His dislike of others, his enjoyment of the suffering of others. Just like an undead…
So Icar joined the army, to fight the Theocracy. After all if you kill one civilian you are a murderer, if you kill a thousand soldiers you become a hero. Plus it paid well, at the time there was a bounty system for soldiers of the Crescent Lake. If you kill a Theocracy soldier, cut off its ear and you can turn it in for one silver. Thinking back this was probably done in some twisted poetic irony considering Theocracy Slavers mutilate the ears of their elven slaves.
So Icar got rich, really rich, really quickly. Soon he stopped turning the ears in, he just couldn't be bothered. He already had an estate with servants, you tend to get that when you earn two gold pieces a day on average. Well he still collected the ears, it was fun in a therapeutic kind of way. He enjoyed the way a sharp blade cut along the soft flesh of the ear, meeting the soft bone before severing it completely. He found he could relate more to his mother who liked to hum as she chopped the meat and vegetables. It was fun… but he had to do something with the ears…
So he made necklaces, he embalmed the ears to stop them from rotting and charged into battle with them. His fellows called him Ear Taker, his foes called him the Devil of the Crescent Lake. He didn't care for titles, he just liked killing, he was a monster and he loved it.
Until he met another monster, the Reaper, a woman armed with a scythe. She bested him initially, she had her scythe raised ready to carve his head open but that darkness within him finally woke up. In that moment he felt unstoppable he rose and renewed their battle before finally striking her down. The Reaper ended up in the dirt bleeding and beaten, so now the roles were reversed. Icar approached bleeding from every limb he raised his broken sword preparing to stab down into her throat. However once the danger was past the darkness retreated, now the weight of his wounds came crashing down upon his mortal frame and he collapsed. A battle for the ages ended in a draw…
After that day he was hailed as a hero but for the first time he had brushed with death and he fully felt the weight of his mortality. He needed to find a way to deny death's embrace, for if he died he wouldn't be able to continue his favourite pastime. However, fate had plans for him, for once in his life he had been blessed with good luck. Something good happened, Zuranon happened.
The leader at the time was an old vampire who like him was touched by the abyss, he taught Icar everything he knew. For it is the way of Zuranon that the master must be destroyed by the disciple. The disciple will defeat the master and devour him. The disciple will become something greater than either. It is in this way that Zuranon will eventually achieve its goal, they will create a land where none draw breath. Where there is no light in the darkness, where the dead rule.
So Icar succeeded where many did not, he devoured his master and his mask formed. He was the first to form one this large and in that he was proud. Then the lich appeared and along with it came what appeared to be a true child of darkness…
Icar rattled awake in a jolt, the train of nostalgia in his mind pulling far from the station. He looked around and saw a black stone ceiling that seemed to glisten and glow. Then a hooded figure came into view as it peered from under the hood. He tried to move but found himself strapped down.
"It's awake." the hooded figure said.
"Good, symbiote prepared." a deep monstrous voice growled
Icar turned his head in the direction of the voice and instantly wished he hadn't. He saw a black worm like creature, it had large green glowing sacs on its head. It had numerous arms and appendages, some had fingers, others were just blades. It had small glowing green beady eyes and it had a large maw with small mandibles constantly clicking within.
The creature approached and held out its hand, then in its hand appeared a strange worm. Icar saw the worm shoot towards his arm and felt a burning pain as the worm burrowed into his body.
"Symbiote implanted, analyzing sequences." the creature said.
Icar arched his back and screamed in pain as he felt the creature began to break his bones, tear his flesh and rearrange his organs. He looked down and saw his flesh moving and shifting as the worm made its way through its body.
"What are you doing to me?" Icar groaned through gritted teeth.
"Analysing, physiology, you rare, 41 demands data, I deliver." the creature replied
Icar turned to see the hooded figures fiddling with tools, the tools were comprised of large needles and saws. Whatever tests they were going to run it wasn't going to be painless.
"Interesting, sequences integrated with abyss essence. Impossible? Reading error? Negative, further analysis required." the creature said as it produced a much larger worm this time.
Icar seeing the worm decided he had enough and bit down on his tongue. With his strength he easily severed the tongue but then he realised he wasn't bleeding.
"Mmphhh?" Icar croaked out.
"Symbiote injects clotting factors, prevents excessive haemorrhage. Subject must not die, 41 commands it." the creature said as it approached with the large worm.
Icar let out another croaking scream as he felt the worm enter his body, while in the past he sought to defy death now he would beg for its sweet embrace.
Icegate Valley
Noah stood in an endless dark but he felt no pressure and no presence. Ever since that meeting he has not sensed that eldritch being's presence. The only conclusion he could find was that before that day the being was searching for him. Why it took so long he could only guess but if he had to chance a guess. Noah would assume he wasn't easy to find, it would be like finding a single ant in a banquet hall. The ant would scurry and flee, too small to even notice.
So now at night he at least had some peace of mind, so now he was sifting through the mess that was Remedios's mind. She was truly an air head, when he had grabbed her in that cell he had tried one of his abilities. He had the ability to steal memories, he had no idea if it had any other side effects but it was Remedios, he didn't care.
Although her memories were a mess he had found a few useful documents but the majority were blurred messes. The sharpest memories were those of the queen and her letters, this of course infuriated Noah to no end. He already hated that smiling hypocrite now he had to read her letters and see her face every night.
The documents however were useful, one of which was the plan for a preemptive attack on the Kingdom Re-Estise. The army seemed strong, paladins and heavy infantry. The army would be supported by the colours including his father's outrider archers. They would be a formidable fighting force. However… the Re-Estise kingdom and Baharuth Empire were nothing to scoff at either. The Re-Estise had the Roses and the martial houses, while the Empire had its four knights, its famed core of magic casters and its Hippogryph knights. What's more they were perhaps the army with the most combat experience, considering their ongoing war with each other these past years. What's more the location of their battles were in the dreaded Katse Plains, where the very air was poison and your dead comrades may return as foul undead.
The memories also showed Kelart suggesting a winter invasion as the troops of the Holy Kingdom were more acquainted with cold as their nation bears the brunt of the cold western winds. The memory also showed the generals dismissing that advantage as the battlefield of the Katse Plains was as cold as any winter. In fact after fighting in those conditions the opposing army might be even more resilient to the cold as compared to Holy Kingdom troops.
Then there was the unknown quantity, there have been rumors drifting over the border of another force mobilising in the east. It carries rumors of followers of the 41 resurgent and powerful, as strong as they were in the age of the old gods. That of course was extremely concerning, if it was a foreign nation that would make this war heavily against the followers of the six, considering the opposing nations consisted of the Re-Estise, the Empire, the Draconic Kingdom, the Elves of the Crescent Lake and this mystery nation. Granted the Elves are losing and the Draconic Kingdom is half destroyed by beastmen but that still means there are a lot of bodies to throw at the Holy Kingdom. So far it isn't looking good for the Holy Kingdom and that was perfectly fine by him. Let this rotten kingdom burn, let no stone stand, let this castle of lies crumble into the annals of history.
Noah chuckled as he moved onto the next memory, it was another battle plan. Strange this one was sharper than the rest. As he looked on he realised it was another plan, it was a naval assault.
"Huh, thats a daring strategy." Noah muttered.
As he looked at the memory he started to see its merits, if the fleet managed to land the army on the coast they would be only three days march to the Capital of the Re-Estise Kingdom. In addition the paladins heavily used angels in their combat tactics this would make defending the fleet much easier. Granted the Empire had their Hippogryph knights but their range was limited, they would not be able contest the movement of the Holy Kingdom's fleet. The Re-Estise Kingdom possessed a small fleet which was mostly used to deter piracy, it was no threat to the Holy Kingdom. The Empire was land locked so it had no fleet to speak of. Indeed if this plan works the Re-Estise would find their capital under siege at the outset of the war. If they do manage to take the capital they would have supplies for the rest of the campaign. With an easy source of resupply form the sea using the Holy Kingdom's considerable merchant fleet.
Noah looked through a few more memories and found documents showing troop diversions to the Ice Gate Valley and the port cities. Looks like the naval assault was the plan they were going for. That's unfortunate, it wouldn't end well for him and Neia if the Holy Kingdom actually won.
"Hmmm, that's concerning." Noah muttered to himself
What is?
Noah felt the pressure just as he heard the voice, unprepared he buckled to his knees as the pressure crashed into his frame. He grit his teeth and looked up to see the twin orbs of red light looming over him.
Are those memories?
"Yes, they are." Noah replied
To whom do those belong to?
"Remedios Custodo." Noah groaned out.
And who is that?
"The commander of the paladins." Noah replied.
And how did you come to possess such memories?
"I took them, I don't think she even noticed." Noah replied.
Hmm, interesting… may I see those memories?
Noah was stunned at those words, the power of the voice it all felt so eldritch. It felt like the might of a god and yet… it asks for consent? Noah was so forthcoming with the voice because he didn't want to get smushed into oblivion.
"Wait may I ask a question first?" Noah asked
Certainly, speak your mind.
"Who or what are you?" Noah asked
I am surprised you took so long to ask that question
I am the first
The first am I and the last I will be
I am the first Primordial Momonga
The Lord of the Abyss
Momonga? The god of death from the pantheon of the 41? The 41 are real? It was said the 41 shaped creation, they moulded the valley and mountains, set in place the moon and stars, they ignited the sun and breathed life into this world. If you think about it the six didn't do much as compared to that, they saved one puny race. Quite the saviour of ants, round of applause everybody…
"I will give you everything but I have a request." Noah said with as much strength as he could muster.
To bargain with a god is a dangerous thing
I am the god of death and the final arbiter of sinners
Do you truly wish to bargain?
"Yes, Lord Momonga I wish to bargain." Noah replied
Then speak
"I wish to be free of this prison, this nation, save my sister and I will give you all that I have." Noah said.
Are you bargaining for your life or your sisters?
"Hers, for we are never one without the other." Noah said
I could liberate you, grant you a body of your own
"No, I wish to be with my sister. If she wishes to be rid of me then that is her choice. This is not my choice to make." Noah replied.
I sense guilt little dark soul
"Your senses do not deceive you, I am the reason for her suffering. You see my lord, I was born a crime. Our mother never loved us, and that is because of me. I was a monster so that made my sister a monster. I have robbed my sister of a lifetime of happiness by the sin of my existence." Noah replied
You would give everything for her?
"Gladly, my life is a pittance." Noah replied
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for another
I accept your bargain Noah
"I never told you my name." Noah replied
I am a god, child
Fear not I will come for you, my servants will free you from this prison
Your sister will want for nothing
"Then I am yours great Momonga." Noah said as he lowered his head and raised the Remedios memoires up as an offering.
This will damn your nation little dark soul
"So be it, let this rotten kingdom fall, I will not weep for it." Noah replied
And what of your sister?
Will she weep?
"I suspect she might but her compassion will be the death of her." Noah said
Will you tell her?
"One day…" Noah said softly.
You do not trust her to be wise enough
Noah didn't reply; he merely looked back at the glowing red orbs as he felt the pressure start to overcome him.
Careful little dark soul, lies poison the soul
With those parting words the god Momonga vanished and Noah felt Neia wake up.
"Morning Neia." Noah said as he began to see through Neia's eyes.
"Morning Noah." Neia muttered sleepily.
"Rough day ahead." Noah said
"Yeah the quota's gone up now." Neia grumbled.
"Well then get it done quickly, they don't feed you much anyway." Noah grumbled.
"Well we are here for penance, the better we do our job the faster we go home." Neia said optimistically.
"We are never getting out of here if we count on the Queens justice." Noah replied.
"The law is clear brother." Neia said as she got dressed and went to pick up her pickaxe.
"The laws are lines scribbled on a piece of paper and our dear queen holds the pen and paper. They can't kill us so they chucked us in here to freeze and starve." Noah said
"Heresy is no small charge brother." Neia replied
"You are easily the most pious person I know sister, even the priests don't believe as you do." Noah chided.
"The gods have a plan brother we must believe, no matter the trial." Neia said as she walked through the snow towards the mess hall.
Neia entered the mess hall with it's stone floors and walls. The temperature was freezing, no hearths were lit and the only light was cast by torches with flames so weak they threatened to be snuffed out at any moment.
Neia walked over to the counter and was handed a clay plate with a small piece of rye bread and chunk of mouldy hard cheese. The portions were small, enough to feed a child but not nearly enough for an adult. This was even more so considering the prisoners here had to do back breaking labour in the freezing cold.
Neia took the plate and sat down, she was soon joined by Nate who stared bitterly at the meagre fare. Neia looked to Nate and saw as she expected he was getting thinner with every passing day. He had it better than most considering he was on Neia's team and she could do the work of ten men in half the time. So even though he wasn't eating much at least his exertion is much lower as compared to the other prisoners.
"No idea how you maintain your monstrous strength while eating so little." Nate grumbled.
"If there's a trick I would tell you, believe me." Neia replied as casually bit into the bitter and sour ice cold block of cheese.
"No idea how you eat this thing so easily either." Nate said as he started breathing on the cheese to defrost it.
The cheese here was so hard because of the cold that it has been known to break teeth. So the trade secret was to hold it in your hands and breath on it in the hopes that it will defrost ever so slightly.
"I guess I have strong teeth." Neia replied with a shrug.
"You have strong everything Neia." Nate said.
"That's good isn't it, make your life easier." Neia replied, raising an eyebrow.
"No need to remind me. Speaking of that, the teams are being merged. Some of the teams lost a few, so they're merging them during the shifts." Nate said as he tried to bite into the cheese and failed. He let out a sigh and started breathing on the cheese again.
"Really? Who's on our team?" Neia said as she took a bite out of her bread.
"This girl, she lost her buddy two days ago. Poor guy died in his sleep, lasted two years here if I'm not wrong." Nate said
"You're not wrong." a voice said from behind them.
The pair turned to see a woman in her mid twenties with red hair and brown eyes. Her skin was pale and freckles dotted her cheeks. Her eyes were hard and cold like the land they now called their home. The woman put her plate on the table and took a bite out of the bread.
"The name's Eudico and you must be Stone Splitter." Eudico said
"Stone Splitter?" Neia asked perplexed.
"That's what we call you, you would know that if you actually spoke to anyone other than kiddo over here." Eudico said as she jerked her head in Nate's direction.
"My name's Neia, this is Nate. I assume you are our new teammate." Neia said
"That I am Stone Splitter." Eudico said.
"I'm sorry about your friend." Neia said kindly.
"He was a good kid, I knew he wouldn't last. Many don't, not everyone is as strong as you." Eudico said as she looked into Neia's eyes.
"Or as lucky you to have a partner with the strength of ten men." Eudico said as she turned towards Nate who visibly recoiled.
"It wouldn't hurt to lend a hand to others in the yard." Eudico said as she finished her bread and shoved the plate with the cheese on it towards Nate.
"Take it, you look like you need it. I don't like cheese anyway this defrosting shit pisses me off." Eudico said as she stood up. As she stood up Neia grabbed her hand, as Eudico looked at Neia she saw a change in her eyes. Previously she was looking at a meek penitent girl, now she was looking at Neia the Paladin.
"You look much better like that, with those eyes no wonder the guards are scared shitless of you." Eudico said.
Neia reached over and picked up the cheese.
"Noah could you give me a hand." Neia said mentally.
At those words her hand glowed ever so slightly and the cheese was defrosted. Neia put the cheese in Eudico's hand who felt the warmth of the cheese.
"Now this is interesting, you know these collars are made by dwarven slaves. The magic suppression isn't anything to scoff at." Eudico said as she looked down at the collar around her neck.
Neia wore the same collar as all the other prisoners. Since many of the prisoners were guilty of heresy and many heretics dabbled in magic in some form or another there needed to be a way to prevent magic casting.
"A coat can shield in a cold day but you need a little more for a blizzard." Neia replied.
"Now that is interesting." Eudico said with a smirk as Neia let go of her hand.
"See you in the yard Sparky." Eudico said as she turned away and walked towards the door munching on the cheese.
"What the hell was that?" Nate sputtered.
"Huh?" Neia asked, turning her head perplexed.
"You've been watching me breathe on the stupid chunks of cheese for the past 6 months when you could have just easily melted it for me?" Nate said
"Oh shut up Nate, the hardest thing you've had to do these past 6 months was to breathe on your food." Neia said as she held out her hand.
"What?" Nate asked, looking at her hand.
"What? You like blowing on her cheese?" Neia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh…" Nate said as he sheepishly handed Neia the cheese.
Neia watched Nate greedily munch on his cheese and thought about what Eudico said.
"Noah should we have helped them?" Neia asked
"Probably not, best not to draw attention to ourselves. The guards are already shitting themselves when we walk past." Noah replied coldly.
"If we helped them they wouldn't suffer so." Neia replied.
"What are you going to do? Do everyone's work for them? If you help one the rest will come crawling and begging for help. Then who do you decide to help? The weak need it the most but it's not the work that kills them, it's the cold. The strong? The strong get by just fine. Best not to get entangled in this nonsense." Noah replied dismissively.
"Maybe people wouldn't die if we lent a helping hand." Neia countered.
"We all bloody die. My priority is you not some shit faced idiot who decided to read the wrong book or said the wrong thing in a bar." Noah replied with a snort.
"If I choose to help anyway?" Neia asked
"Then I would watch you make my life harder but it's your choice sister." Noah replied.
"Thanks brother." Neia said
"We're in this together sister, never one without the other." Noah replied
"Never one without the other." Neia said as she stood up along with Nate as they walked out into the yard.
Neia trudged through the snow and saw Eudico slamming her pick into a particularly large piece of ore. It appears this time they were doing iron ores, the task for the day was often slightly different. The Holy Kingdom used the prisoners of the Ice Gate Valley to break down stones into more usable chunks. Although not many know this this prison camp has a fixed quota as well. At any time there must be at least a certain number of prisoners in order for this camp to reach its production quota. So if you can't find legitimate prisoners then you catch someone and make something up.
Initially this prison was purely a place of rehabilitation but due to its proximity to the mines of the nearby mountain range this cap slowly began integral to production of metal and stone. This fact however was hidden from most of the nobility who still firmly believed this place was a place of second chances. However, this place was a forced labour camp plain and simple. The people thrown in here cogs in the machine that is the Holy Kingdom's economy. Cogs that were disposable and to be used until they destroyed themselves.
"Lets see what you can do Sparky." Eudico said
"Now you're gonna call me Sparky? What happened to Stone Splitter?" Neia asked, eyebrows raised.
"Would you prefer Oven Mitts?" Eudico replied sarcastically.
"Fine whatever." Neia said as she hefted her pickaxe and split a chunk of ore in half with one swing.
"Damn, the stories were true." Eudico said with a whistle.
"What do the stories say?" Neia asked as she split another rock as easily as one would a melon.
"The bane of the guards, strength of ten men, some say you're a vampire." Eudico said as she got to work splitting the halves that Neia made.
"A vampire? Really? Do my eyes look red to you?" Neia said incredulously.
"I never said I believed the stories… well the vampire one at any rate." Eudico said with a shrug.
"I think ten men puts it lightly." Nate said from the side as he finally split one of the halves that Neia made.
"Ten just has a nice ring to it I suppose." Neia replied with a shrug.
"And the eyes of a demon." Eudico added.
At those words Neia visibly flinched and she turned to look at Eudico.
"What? You're the one that asked. You do know the guards avoid you right?" Eudico deadpanned.
"Avoid me?" Neia asked, getting ever more confused.
"You always finish your quota in less than two hours, the rest of us work for at least six. The guards come out when you finish your quota to encourage the rest of us to work harder. By encourage I mean a lot of yelling and threats with the occasional beating." Eudico said
"Good, they fear you sister, as they should. If they lay a hand on you, they lose the hand." Noah said
"I heard a demon lives inside you, Sparky. A creature of darkness and hate. I heard that's why you were thrown in here." Eudico said her pickaxe stilling.
Neia paused mid swing and looked at Eudico, their eyes locking for a brief moment. Then Neia laughed a bright bell like sound echoed out over the snow covered earth.
"If that were so, life would be so much simpler. No Eudico I don't have a demon inside of me, if there was a demon this place would be a smoldering ruin." Neia replied with a chuckle.
"Well weak men in armor like to exaggerate stories to justify their cowardice. I heard that from someone who overheard the guards talking." Eudico said as she raised her pick again.
"Well fear makes something look more dangerous than it actually is." Neia replied.
"That sounds like it comes from experience, you a soldier before you got thrown in here?" Eudico asked.
"You could say that, never saw much combat though. I was never posted to the wall." Neia replied.
"What made you join?" Eudico asked.
"Duty." Neia replied.
"Well I joined because the pay was good, I get paid four times more than working a field. Plus it seemed more exciting." Eudico said
"So how did you end up in here?" Neia asked.
"Some of my friends got captured during a raid on the wall, the shit faced paladin in charge didn't want to mount a rescue. I didn't care, I got a few guys and we brought our friends home. When I got back the idiot had me court martialed for insubordination, so I called him a shit faced coward and then voila guess I'm a heretic now." Eudico replied.
"Insulting a paladin is no small charge." Neia said.
"The paladins are supposed to be best of us but all they do is hide behind their shiny armor. They sit on the wall and bark commands while the rest of us fight the beastmen. Give me and my guys the same armor, a dozen angels and we'll hold our sector of the wall no problem." Eudico said.
"Enchanted armor isn't cheap." Neia replied.
"Neither were our lives." Eudico countered bitterly.
"Hmmm." Neia replied
"Then what about you Sparky? A mage of such caliber that you can melt cheese while wearing a magic suppression collar. The terror you must have inspired with your powers of food heating." Eudico said
"No banquet was safe." Neia replied wryly
"Hahaha. So what? You read the wrong book?" Eudico asked
"No, I did the same thing as you, pissed off the wrong paladin." Neia replied.
"What about you kiddo?" Eudico asked looking over at Nate.
"My dad thought it would be a good idea to read about the 41 and get caught. He hung himself, my mum was hung as a heretic and I inherited the moral debt, so here I am." Nate replied with a sigh.
"Everyone here has a story, usually its a stupid one." Eudico said.
"Tell me about it. I didn't even know he was reading about that kind of stuff but I was guilty the moment they saw me." Nate muttered in reply.
"A rotten kingdom hiding behind their so-called gods." Noah said
"Brother enough." Neia replied
"How much proof do you need before you see the truth?" Noah countered
The group worked in the snow cracking stone after stone. Soon their sled was filled with the broken apart bits of Iron Ore. The whole process took only two hours, Neia looked over to the other teams and saw their sleds were not even half filled.
"You gonna turn in after this?" Eudico asked
"The quota's done." Neia said
"Their sleds aren't even half full. " Eudico said looking over at the nearby group.
"Neia don't." Noah said
"No they aren't, I suppose they could use a little help." Neia said.
Good deeds are rarely rewarded sister…
Author's Notes
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, it was fun to write. I have lots of plans for Neia in the future chapters so stay tuned. The next few chapters will be kind of a lull as we get to the main event.
Once again leave a review if you liked the chapter and any criticisms would be welcome. I love reading all the reviews so keep them coming.