E-Rantel
Renner sat at a table in the Crowns local palace. Seated around her were comrades who she now trusted unlike any other. Some of the people here were strange, people she thought she would never trust. Some were people she has always trusted and some who were new to her life. If she had been told of this moment a mere one year ago she would think the speaker mad. This scene no doubt the product of some fever dream. Yet here she was surrounded by a cast of characters that in her mind still seemed so very foreign.
Around her sat her trusted Roses, Lakyus her long time friend and confidant. Lakyus used to be a priest of the water god now she has taken to praying to the Lord of Light, the Paragon of Justice and Defender of the Weak. The second Primordial Lord Touch-Me sama.
Gagaran now aspired to the ideals of the God of War, the Exemplar of Honour and the Martial Lord of Valor. The fiery eyed patron god of the Nephilim, Fire Giants and Vermin Lords. The greatest warrior who has ever existed and who ever will, Lord Takemikazuchi sama.
The twins Tia and Tina unsurprisingly have chosen to worship the God of Ninjas, stealth and subterfuge. The black clad master of the shadows, Nishikienrai sama. Of particular interest to the twins was the special operations branch of the Ordo Hereticus. A special division consisted of handpicked assassins. A group feared by heretics across all the realms who have been known to be able to infiltrate the heart of the most impregnable citadels to kill the most well guarded of targets. The reach of their shadowy blades knows few equals for none are safe from the Officio Assassinorum.
Then there is Evileye or now known to the world as Keeno Fasris Invern. No longer wearing her red cloak and mask, she now proudly wears the garb of her order. Masked no longer, she no longer has to hide herself from a spiteful world. She can now display her crimson eyes and vampire heritage for all to see. Now she freely practices her faith and worships her chosen god. The God of Desire, Archery and Lust, the patron god of vampires, the Winged King of Explosive Strikes Peroroncino sama. To be a vampire is to be in constant battle with your own desires, the blood haze is a curse that all vampires bear. Some may see Peroroncino as the god of indulgence but in truth he is the god of restraint. Desire is the fire that pushes all life ever onward but like any flame it must be controlled and tempered. None know this more clearly than the chosen race of Peroroncino.
Beside Renner's group sat the Jircniv the Emperor of the Baharuth Empire, to his either side stood two of his most trusted knights Leinas and Baziwood. Clad in their iconic black adamantium armor they stood their silent vigil beside their lord. Jircniv himself was gently fondling a rosary hanging around his neck. It was a platinum symbol showing a single eye surrounded by twisting throned vines. The symbol of Punitto Moe god of cunning, strategy and wisdom.
Jircniv sat deep in thought, as he was once again summoned with the instruction to bring those he trusted without question. He was told where he would be going would be very different from Eden. To that end he was very curious, he knew the 41 had an almost infinite amount of resources at their disposal. He wondered what wonders he would see today.
Jircniv looked over to Queen Draudillon who was speaking with the Elf King. They were an interesting pair, both had nations that were beset by a foreign force which has decimated their nations. Granted the Draconic Kingdom has suffered more by a large margin but suffering is something both nations had in abundance. How interesting that through loss and decimation two very different individuals can find common ground.
Zesshi sat uncomfortably in her chair gazing at all the powerful men and women of the different nations. She has never seen humans as anything but the enemy but here she sat facing allies who were of the human race. How she wished Quacey was with her but he was needed to guard the border during her absence. Apparently they would be visiting the dwarves, the elves have been cut off from the dwarves for 600 years. Historically there has always been friction between the two races, the elves venerated nature and all things natural. While the dwarves preferred metal and machines, seeking to discard the sacred flesh that the elves hold so dear.
In the teachings of Bukubuku Chagama and Blue Planet, your body was a temple. Your body was a living beacon of faith that you carry with you always. Every drop of blood, every pound of flesh was something to be treasured. So the dwarves who would so easily cast aside their life's blood was something that sat poorly with the elves.
Zesshi looked over and saw the Queen of the Re-Estise Kingdom had a rosary of Blue Planet around her neck and privately she was glad that at least some of the humans still believed as she did.
Maeve walked towards the door of the room and threw it open. Entering to see the gathered Kings, Queens, Heroes and Nobles. She noted as usual the cast of the Draconic Kingdom was small consisting of just the Queen, her best general and her closest advisor. Although this time their small turnout was matched by the Elves who only brought the King and the Princess. Of course the largest group was from the Re-Estise Kingdom easily making up half the occupants in the room. True the Re-Estise Kingdom possessed the largest territory of all the nations but privately Maeve suspected it was just that Renner was a naturally trusting person. Her escort included the Roses, the boy Nfriea which was the head alchemist, the heads of the martial houses and Marquis Raeven.
"Lady Maeve." Renner said as she stood to greet her. She was swiftly joined by the rest of the room all rising to greet the child of a god.
"Before we begin I wish to reconfirm everyone in this room understands that if anything is leaked out with regards to what transpires today, the punishment is death." Maeve said grimly.
When all gathered affirmed their understanding, Maeve took out a scroll and cast the spell sealed within. A roiling tear in reality appeared before her that crackled with arcane power.
"Let's go see the dwarves shall we?" Maeve said as she entered the portal followed by Arche.
Zesshi looked at the black robed girl that followed Maeve. From the moment she laid eyes on her she felt a chill run up her spine. She looked normal enough but something about her seemed off. Her skin was deathly pale, almost translucent and her eyes seemed to twitch in her sockets. To her it seemed she reeked of death, she gave off an aura of something most profane. Although Zesshi knew not what it was, she made it a point in her mind to stay away from the pair.
The Dwarven Kingdom
Belegar Ironfist has ruled the dwarves for the past 50 years ever since his father Belethor Ironfist passed. The Ironfist clan has always kept faith with the 41, even as the world burned around them the dwarves held firm. Now he was hosting the children of those who had betrayed the 41 but it was his god's will that he do so. The 41 are infinite in their wisdom and infinite in their abilities, none are their equal.
As he watched the tear in reality appear he was once again put in awe. The oldest of records have spoken of such spells. Tears in the fabric reality itself transports anything you desired across immense distances instantaneously. It was said the Ordo Mechanicus also possessed such capabilities but he knew the branch posted in the dwarven kingdom 600 years ago did not.
From the portal stepped forth a small blonde haired human. One eye was black as obsidian the other was glowing gold. In the relative darkness of the cavern that led to the Dwarven Kingdom her eye cast an ominous glow. Then others followed, one was a girl blonde as well wearing a cloak as dark as a moonless night. The cloak seemed to float almost ethereally as if gravity itself held little sway over her. Each movement caused the cloak to billow and furl. It didn't fall as normal cloth would it merely gently floated down like a feather.
Then came the others humans, normal as one could expect followed by two elves. One old another young, the young one carried a large scythe that she held comfortably over her shoulder. On her forehead she wore a silver tiara in a matching style of the old elf's crown. Her garment was ornate of the finest elven craftsmanship. It was a piece of wargear fit for a queen or perhaps a princess as Belegar inferred.
Then one of the shorter individuals stood out, she wore the garb of the Ordo Malleus. The brother order to the Ordo Mechanicus. Her skin was pale and her eyes glowed red showing her vampire heritage. He had heard that the old Ordo Malleus did employ vampires, there were merits of course. Dwarves were strictly utilitarian and the benefits of vampiric strength and immortality were plain to see. As long as you could handle the down sides as well...
Belegar watched as Magos Aldebracc walked forward and bowed deeply to the girl with the glowing eye.
"Lady Herald, an honour as always." Aldebracc greeted with his head bowed.
"Rise Magos, we are comrades in arms, I require no deference." Maeve replied.
Magos Aldebracc righted himself and put an arm towards Belegar.
"May I introduce the High King of the Dwarves Belegar Ironhammer." Aldebracc introduced.
"A pleasure young one." Belegar replied taking note of her child like appearance.
"The Lady Herald is not young High King, she is immortal; she has walked creation since before your nation existed." Aldebracc corrected.
"It is fine Magos Aldebracc, this form is one I wear proudly. It has numerous uses no one expects the strength of gigant basilisk from a body like this." Maeve replied with a smirk.
"I meant no disrespect." Belegar replied.
"None taken. I hear the dwarves are ready to join the fray." Maeve said.
"We are as soon as the agreement is signed we shall sound the drums of war. The Dawi march to retake this world." Belegar replied firmly.
"That is heartening to hear. Stok si Kruh, Khazukan Kazakit." Maeve said, speaking in the old tongue of the dwarves. The ancient language known to the Dawi as Khazalid.
"You speak the old tongue? Few among us still do." Belegar replied in surprise.
"I do, I am fluent in fact. The Dawi have always kept their oath with the 41. Their faith is as immovable as the mountains they live under, stalwart and unbreaking. While the humans plot and plan, the elves evade and strike, the Dawi stand and endure. I am no stranger to dwarven tenacity." Maeve said.
"You honor my people Lady Herald." Belegare replied gratefully.
"Yes the dwarven armies naturally complement the elven armies. Some of the strongest armies I have seen are of dwarves and elves working side by side. The fools who worship the false Six seem to believe their gods and humans stand above all. They have forgotten the power of the 41 and their faithful. Soon we shall remind them." Maeve said with a predatory smile.
"Nothing will give this old one greater pleasure." Belegar said as he extended his hand.
"Tremble for the Dawi are on the warpath." Maeve replied as she grasped his forearm, a handshake in the style of the dwarves.
"Now come there is much to speak about." Belegar said.
Renner followed behind Maeve and the High King, they seemed to get along rather well. She has been thinking about Maeve, she realised somehow she has this ability to get on the good side of seemingly anyone she wishes. She plays the game of politics and persuasion almost perfectly. When she first met Maeve she just looked like a strong adventurer but over the coming days she seemed to be able to grant her what she wanted when she wanted it. She always seemed kind and caring while being subtly calculating at the same time.
It wasn't hard to assume why she was such a capable diplomat. She knew Maeve was one of the best servants at the 41's disposal. She needed to be a soldier and diplomat, leader and assassin. She must stand as easily in the light as she does in the darkness. That though unsettled her, all this time the explanation for why she was dispatched was that the rebellion of a chosen of the 41 was a great disgrace. That was why they dispatched such a force to bring the rebel to heel. On a surface level it made perfect sense, wars have been started over an insult over dinner. If a noble's pride can spark a war then how much more for a god?
It was a simple reason, an answer that seemed to perfectly fit the ideals of the inhabitants of this realm. Renner however has been reading, there are many books that she has been reading. The Draconic Kingdom has a massive catalogue of old records and ancient texts. In addition she has been given books from Eden on the teachings of the 41. There were many mortals that rose above their sallow flesh and fragile hearts. Mortals who rose above the crude beginnings of their birth to rise to status of legends. Achilles, Tanjiro Kamado, Tanya Degurechaff, Malcador the Sigillite, Alarielle the Everqueen and many others. These were all legends who have departed this world in service to the 41. Still many legends lived, like Elwing Rommel the commander of the Ordo Malleus, Belisarius Cawl the Arch Magos of the Ordo Mechanicus, both leaders of the most powerful organisations in creation. Then there was Viktoriya Serbyakov the Scarlet Letter and Johan Weiss the Blazing Skull the heirs of The Argent Tanya Degurechaff. Tanya Degurechaff, Renner wondered what kind of person this woman was, the books said she died in the Battle of the Billion Saints in a far away realm called Cadia. The book she read did not give any details on what transpired but she could only imagine what kind of battle would warrant the name The Battle of the Billion Saints.
Soon Renner found herself entering a circular room with a long table. At the head of the table was an ornate throne no doubt a seat for the king. To her surprise the High King took a seat at the common seats denying himself the throne. She knew the symbolic meaning of this gesture, in this room they were equals comrades in arms in service of a higher power. Renner took her seat and her retinue stood behind her. The only people seated were Maeve and the other monarchs.
"Greeting fellow rulers I am High King Belegar Ironfist. I welcome you to my mountain home. I hear you bring friendship and an alliance." Belegar said.
"Yes, I am Queen Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself. I rule the Re-Estise Kingdom to the south of your mountain." Renner replied sweetly.
"I am Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nic the Emperor of the Baharuth Empire. My nation has had dealings the dwarves in the past." Jircniv said.
"Yes, your nation does not worship the six. In fact your government follows no gods if my memory serves" Bellagar replied.
"Indeed, we believe religious dogma has no place in effective governance." Jircniv replied.
"Yet you are aware that the 41 do exist. They are the true gods." Belegar countered.
"I do not deny their existence or their power. It is because of that I feel no need to enforce anyone's beliefs. Beings such as the 41 need not ask us for our worship, their power and wisdom is enough to inspire it. I follow Punito Moe not because he is a god or some divine providence. I follow because his teachings are wise and his mastery of strategy and cunning is unmatched. I kneel to their power and their wisdom not to their status." Jircniv replied.
"An interesting interpretation, the 41 demands we think for ourselves. After all Tabula Smargadina gave us free will for a reason." Belegar replied.
"True gods do not demand worship, they inspire it." Jircniv added with a smile.
"Yes, I do agree." Belegar replied with a curt nod after which he turned to look at Draudillon.
"I am Queen Draudillon Orciullus, sovereign of the Draconic Kingdom." Draudillon said in a tone that betrayed the fact that she was much older than her childlike appearance suggested.
"Yes, my condolences for the blight that has befallen your kingdom." Belegar said solemnly.
"The fate that has befallen my kingdom is tragic… but with my allies we have turned the tide. Even now our forces march towards the beastmen capital, the beastmen will never threaten us again." Draudillon said coldly.
"That is good to hear. The barbaric have no place in the realm of the 41." Belegar replied.
"Agreed, High King." Malon the Elf King replied.
"Yes King of the Elves, we tried to get word to the elves during the great fall. Did word ever reach you?" Belegar asked.
"No, we were preoccupied with the aftermath of the Elven Dragon war. The followers of the six were also assaulting Crescent Lake. It is unlikely your messengers got through." Malon replied with a grimace.
"I see another grudge to right then. My ancestor's sacrifice will not be forgotten." Belegar growled.
"We have not had dealings with the Dawi for six centuries but it appears the tales hold true. The Dawi truly do not forget nor do you forgive." Malon replied with a nod.
"The book of grudges in full, the age of reckoning is at hand." Belegar declared.
"Agreed, High King of the Dwarves. Too long has this realm quaked in the shadow of the six. It is time for a new order, or perhaps an old one." Jircniv said.
"Let the faith of the six burn, let their memory fade into the abyss." Renner replied.
"Hmm, the gods are right as always. I was hesitant to meet with you all initially but my god the Omnissiah Amanomahitotsu commanded me to form an alliance with your nations. Now I see, I was blind to the rest of the realm. I join with you all gladly, may the age of reckoning begin." Belegar said.
The gathered sovereigns all penned their signature on the treaty signing the five nations into an alliance. So was declared the alliance of the Old Gods, the messengers were sent to all corners of the realm carrying the news.
In the coming days the elves celebrated, the humans celebrated but the Dawi lit their forges and struck their anvils. It is said the drums of war to the Dawi were no different from lighting their forges. Steel, Mithril and Adamantium ingots were thrust into the glowing forges. Molten metal poured into sword molds for human hands. Breast plates for Elven chests were hammered into shape. Barding for human cavalry horses were enchanted, in preparation for the devastating charges of the human shock cavalry. The Reliquary of Reckoning was opened and large volumes of wargear were added.
But all that was in the near future now the Sovereigns saw a large golden door open and it revealed a room. The room was massive; it was a giant armoury filled with wargear.
Jircniv looked around very impressed. Almost everything in here was made with mithril or adamantium. For his empire just equipping his four knights with full adamantium gear was expensive, he couldn't imagine the costs of fielding an entire legion of knights with such equipment.
"Bring one of the lances." Belegar commanded.
A servant rushed off to a shelf and emerged with a long cavalry lance. The lance much too large for a dwarven frame looked almost comical being carried by a dwarf. The servant held the lance before the gathered kings and queens.
"This is a cavalry lance as you all can see. It has an adamantite tip with a mithril plated frame. The interior is hardened dwarven steel, there is a rune of weight reduction inscribed on it to make it as light as wooden lance." Belegar explained.
"You were preparing." Renner stated.
"Yes, we knew the Baharuth Empire gives little regard to the six so we had been preparing to aid them in the event of the Age of Reckoning. Historically your nation has always had powerful cavalry. In the age of the old gods the Arwin people rode mighty Demigryph mounts and we had heard of your Arwintar Hussars Emperor Jircniv. These lances were modeled in the style of the Demigrpyh knights of the elder days" Belegar said.
Jircniv looked at the lance, it was a master crafted piece of war gear. He turned to Leinas and gestured for her to pick it up. Leinas walked over and grasped the handle. The handle had grooves that fit well in her hand giving her a better grip. The lance was also extremely light for its size. The more surprising was that it was extremely well balanced, usually cavalry lances were imbalanced making them unwieldy. The designers have tried to counter this using the conal shape shifting more of the weight closer to the handle. Although this made it easier to control it also increased its weight dramatically as the overarching cone structure did little to improve its offensive capabilities. Some of the more defensive designers have said it was meant to protect the users hand but Leinas knows having been a cavalry knight previously, that shock cavalry was meant to deliver all their offensive power in a single charge. Armor for the knight and barding for the horse was often all that was required to keep the user safe. If a shock cavalry unit armed with lances ran into a cavalry force armed with halberds the shock cavalry would lose handily in a melee. The weight of the lance was simply too much to effectively utilise in a close melee.
Leinas held the lance and gave it a few practice thrusts and was very impressed. The design was very well done, being one of the most well equipped knights in the empire meant she had access to the best the empire had to offer. She knew Admantium cut through iron and steel like paper with the drawback of being slightly heavier. Mithril was stronger than steel but lighter, however due to its low density it had weak cutting power so mithril was mostly used for armor.
The paladins of the Holy Kingdom used steel to forge their equipment just like the rest of the nations in the continent. No nation has been able to field an army using anything better than steel. Mithril was reserved for small elite units and Adamantium was reserved for heroes. What's more, most of the shields used by even the Paladins was a wooden shield with steel plating. A full body of steel would simply be too heavy to use effectively. Leinas knew if a Arwintar Hussar armed with his lance charged into a Holy Kingdom paladin this lance would punch right through the shield, the arm holding the shield, the chest armor of the Paladin and skewer him like a piece of meat. She herself owned a adamantium halberd, she used this weapon due to her family's cavalry heritage. She could cut through steel as easily one would wood with an adamantium weapon. She looked to the tip and saw the adamantium tip was quite large; it covered a good 30 centimeters of the tip.
"Forgive me High King Belegar but is the tip of this lance plated or solid adamantium?" Leinas asked.
"It is solid of course, the Dawi do not skimp on our craft." Belegar replied seemingly mildy offended.
"If any of our smiths dare to cut corners we will have them thrown from the mountain." Gondar added, sounding very insulted.
Jircniv visibly winced at the reply, Leinas was a great warrior but a diplomat she was not. To be a warrior and a politician is a rare combination. Thus far he only knows one… as he thinks on this he looks to Maeve. Then again demi gods are cut from a different cloth from the rest of mortals.
"My apologies for my servant's poor phrasing High King Belegar. In truth in the human nations we do not have smiths that are the Dawi's equal. So to see such craftsmanship is quite jarring for us." Jircniv replied.
"Hmmm, yes we have been separated for over six centuries, in the age of the old gods our craft was unrivaled even by the Asrai and the Dracon." Belegar replied his displeasure mellowing out.
"I meant no disrespect your grace, it is rare for us to see such war gear it is almost hard to believe." Leinas said with a bow.
"Very well, no offense has been taken. Come we have more to see, we have constructed barding for your horses as well." Belegar said as he turned and walked deeper into the reliquary.
Renner was stunned as they walked through the armory, the barding the dwarves constructed were made of mithril. The Arwintar Hussars were already the uncontested best cavalry on the continent. There was a saying "Only a fool would meet the Empire on an open field". The Hussars were known to shatter lines with a single charge. There was once this battle in the Katse Plains, in that battle the Re-Estise Kingdom tried to push towards the Empire's lines hoping to use the fog as a cover. However, the fog cleared suddenly as if the plains themselves wanted more dead to join its restless host. Soon battlelines were formed and the two armies clashed, the issue was that at the time the Martial houses did not exist so the Re-Estise Kingdom lacked good cavalry. The Arwintar Hussar decimated the Kingdom's cavalry in a skirmish and landed a devastating charge in the rear of the right flank. The charge shattered the line instantly collapsing the formation and causing a route. It was one of the most costly defeats in the Kingdom's history and the Kingdom would never attempt a full scale offensive again. Armed with such war gear the Arwintar Hussars would be unstoppable by mortal means.
Then they moved on the equipment for the front line troops, she saw tower shields made of mithril with adamantium spikes in the centre. Chest plates made of mithril, spiked adamantium gauntlets turning fists into powerful bludgeons. Warhammers with adamantium heads and mithril handles. There was also common steel gear, but it was not normal steel. It was dwarven steel, dwarven steel was harder and more flexible. Renner herself gave Climb a dwarven steel sword, he had told her when sparring with other knights the other knights later complained of chips all along their blades. In a pitched battle the army with the superior equipment will most likely win on the grounds that the weaker equipped opponent will find their equipment failing first.
Draudillon looked on with an almost wistful regret as she looked at the plethora of military might stored away in this mountain. Six centuries of preparation for this moment, if only those great gold doors were opened earlier. Perhaps her citizens would not suffer so, if armed with equipment like this the beastmen would stand no chance. This room although beautiful and awe inspiring also rang with a pang of loss. An echo of an age past, a better age, a kinder one. The only people who remembered that good age could be counted on her hands. The five dragon lords that ruled the Argland Council state, her great grandfather the Brightness dragon lord who founded the Draconic Kingdom, herself the Dragon Queen and of course the lone Ordo Malleus mage that survived. Keeno Fasris Invern the vampire who lived in a spiteful world alone and powerless for six centuries. Seven is all the remains of the age of the old gods. Even the long lived elf king was born in the age of the six gods, a lonely seven who remembered the world that was and dreamed of the world that could be.
It appears however, the dwarves did not forget and they did not forgive. So with hatred in their hearts, they did what they did best. While in the age of the gods what served were strength, brilliance and splendor, but that luxury was given to the more long lived races. The dwarves lived barely longer than humans. They were short lived and constantly felt the weight of their mortality. So to the dwarves used toil, persistence and time. Like the mountain they called home, they were stubborn and unforgiving. So they toiled in silence, with no guarantee for a reward, the toiled knowing all this might be for naught. The age they so cherished may truly fall to darkness. They did this because they remembered a better time in the long distant past, they remembered despite their short lives. They remembered that a debt was owed and debt will be repaid. They remembered the 41 were the true rulers of this world and while a single dwarf still draws breath, that long distant age will not be forgotten.
"We have made Alvish weapons as well, but not many. Forgive me but we feared you would not survive till the age of reckoning is at hand." Belegar said as they walked towards the end of the room. There were bows with mithril limbs strung with a black string.
"Mithril bows designed to fit the Alvish draw strength, we still have the old records showing the preferred draw strength of the Alvs." Belegar said.
"You have records on us?" Zesshi asked, surprised.
"Of course princess, we were the forge of the old world, we tailor our equipment to the different races. Our records are extensive; this is also why we refer to the races in the old tongue instead of the common tongue. We call the wood elves such as yourself the Alvians, the high elves are called the Asrai, the humans are called Terrans, the Goblins are Grobi, the dragons are the Dracon, the lizardmen the Saurians and of course we the dwarves are the Dawi." Belegar replied.
A servant brought one of the bows to Zesshi and she handed her scythe to her father before picking it up. Zesshi herself was a capable archer, she wasn't the best in the Crescent Lake. She was nothing compared to Solanna who's speed and accuracy defied mortal comprehension. Zesshi preferred close combat and she was uniquely talented at it, mixing elven agility with a dexterity based weapon is a deadly combination.
Zesshi drew the bow and found it drew easily. The bow held steady, much steadier than the elven bows. What's more surprising was that though it was metal it weighed only slightly more than a wooden elven bow.
"It's good, very good." Zesshi said as she handed the bow to her father who tested it himself.
"Yes, good balance and I can tell the accuracy will be good. This is very well crafted." Malon praised as he handed the bow back.
"I am pleased you like them, we have also made lighter armor for your best warriors. The pieces are not many we planned to equip the few that remain. I will send the smiths to make more by the time this day is over." Belegar said as he gestured to pieces of mithril armor crafted in the elven style. Each piece had a pair of runes inscribed on the chest one of durability and one of physical resistance.
The tour continued and it was clear most of the equipment was designed for the soldiers of the Baharuth Empire no doubt that was due to their weak ties to the Six and their military might. A legion equipped with such equipment will smash the conventional armies of this world.
1 hour later
Maeve stood before the gathered lords and looked to Magos Aldbracc. Aldbracc nodded and turned to face those gathered.
"Soon a portal shall open, we will be going to the forgeworld of Mars. First however I will be giving all of you amulets, you must wear them at all times. The forgeworld of Mars is as unforgiving as the wargear it produces. Without these amulets you will not last long in the world. Am I clear?" Aldebracc said solemnly.
Gondo put the amulet around his neck, only the High King, his father and himself would be going. The stories tell of a forge stretching to the farthest horizon catching the setting sun. Great bellows fed raging infernos resting within adamantite forges. Great hammers the size of wagons striking ingots of godly strength to be forged into war machines fit for the Omnisiaah's chosen.
Then a tear in reality appeared, it was not like the one before. This one was stronger and larger, The very space around the vortex seemed to twist and crack. If the past vortex was a tear to join two spaces in one world, this was a tear to bridge the divide between realms. The dwarves have been told of the different realms, this world was not alone. It was stolen by a wayward demigod, all the suffering, all the loss, all for a petulant childs vanity.
Gondo watched as the Herald of the Abyss walked through the whorling tear in reality as if it was nothing. The other sovereigns walked through like it was nothing, the High King walked to the portal and paused for a moment. Seemingly to gather his courage he stepped through the tear into a holy realm.
When Gondo emerged he found himself in a large room, the walls were made of red metal. On the walls flew the banners of the Ordo Mechanicus with its skull and gear sigil. The banners were larger than any piece of cloth he had ever seen, easily a hundred meters long emblazoned with gold, platinum and jewels of every variety. The walls were of wrought red metal, the plates of metal were fused together with rivets. The distance and pattern of the rivets was like a braided weave. Gondo was sure if he took out a ruler and measured the rivets he would find them perfectly spaced, placed with perfect precision.
"This way." Magos Aldebracc said.
The group stopped their admiration of the room and looked to the Magos. He was standing in front of a massive metal door that was rising up. They could hear the clinking of the chains and grinding of mechanisms as it rose. The sight of the short Magos in his red robes in their world just made him look like a man of a faith. Here he looked like part of something greater, an order older than most civilisations. An order to the ignorant must seem like gods, for in the face of the 41's finest the rest are but children waving sticks.
Nfriea was not born into splendor, the son of a commoner. He lived out most of his life like any of the skilled tradesmen of the kingdom. Then he got appointed as head alchemist and at the time he felt this must be what splendor was. Then we went to Eden and saw a city made by the gods themselves. Structures that defied mortal understanding, spires that towered into the clouds, gold paved streets, platinum for cutlery, diamonds on doorknobs, crystals for lights, the finest of silks for napkins and food sourced from every corner of creation. Even in that first room he could feel the splendor, with its gilded walls and swirling engravings. Here artistry was much more sparse, the architecture was pragmatic and enduring. A testament to the Ordo's history, as solid as bedrock and as unmoving as a mountain with only enough livery to show their identity.
As he followed Aldebracc out of the room they came to a corridor with a wide window. Although the Magos kept walking the rest of the group stopped cold when they looked out the window. Nfriea felt his heart jump and mouth go dry. He looked out past the window and saw a city of metal. A forge city, a forge world, a world dedicated to the mechanical arts. He could see towering spires made of red metal, rivers of molten metal that cast an orange glow on the surroundings. In the distance he could see something, if he saw this in any other circumstances he would pinch himself thinking it to be a fever dream. In the distance he saw a metal giant with what looked like a cathedral on its back, its arms were massive with cannons attached under its forearms. From the Cathedral like spikes on a hedgehog, bristled cannons. It was so far away, he could not tell how tall it truly was but as he looked at the surrounding buildings that looked like tiny marbles in comparison he felt his mind struggle to parse the information.
"Mars is the arsenal of a hundred thousand worlds and that is the greatest weapon the Forge World of Mars has ever created. The Mars Pattern Imperator Class Titan, all under the command of the breaker of civilisations, the Legio Titanicus." Maeve said from the side.
"How big is that thing?" Lakyus asked in awe.
"A few kilometers tall. Each step is an earthquake, the force caused by firing one of those guns is enough to break bones. Those guns can grind mountains to dust under the weight of their shells" Maeve replied.
"Why not just send one of these to deal with the Theocracy, would save us a lot of trouble." Gangaran said.
"The mana load would pop your realm like an egg, an Imperator Titan has a higher mana load than some small worlds." Maeve replied.
"Come we must go, there is much more to see." Aldebracc said.
The group turned away from the window and continued on their way. They reached a strange small room and they stepped in. A set of sliding doors closed in front of them and they felt the room shudder. Jircniv looked to the side and noticed the walls had gaps built in. Through the gaps he could see chains and machanisings moving. As he looked closed he realised the mechanisms were moving away from him. It was then he realised the mechanisms were not moving away from him, he was the one that was moving.
"This room is moving?" Jircniv asked, surprised.
"This is an elevator, the mechanisms around this room move it vertically. Some of the spires are so high it is almost impossible to climb it on foot." Aldebracc replied.
"That's convenient." Brian mused as he looked around the room.
When the doors opened again they found themselves in a long wide room. At the sides of the room stood rows of metal warriors. Their bodies at first glance looked to be wearing armor. On closer inspection however those gathered realised their bodies have themselves been turned to metal. The reactions were mixed among those gathered, Renner and Zesshi found it distasteful. It was said that your body was a temple, to replace it with steel was unthinkable.
On the other side however, the dwarves and Jircniv looked on with admiration. Such utility would greatly improve one's capabilities. The form must follow the function, function over form. A beautiful tool that does its job poorly has no use. For Jircniv, his legions always follow the tenant that military competency trumps all other factors. After seeing the Ordo Malleus in action he knew his belief to be correct. Pride and arrogance has no place in his empire, splendor is earned through practical success. Succeed, become powerful and splendor will naturally follow. One look at the Ordo Malleus would tell one that this is true. Afterall, the Ordo Malleus is the hammer that will smite the foes of the 41, it is the mailed fist that will strike the enemy and for that task a velvet glove serves no purpose.
Already in his mind he was thinking of the practical applications for this. How powerful his army would be if his soldiers all had the strength of iron, no shield wall held by flesh can hope to withstand the tide of metal. For steel does not know fatigue, it is strong and unyielding. Strike at steel and it does not recoil for fear of pain, it endures and the only way to beat it is to use superior force.
"Is it possible for Empire to receive such improvements?" Jircniv asked Maeve who walked behind the group.
"The dwarves should be able to help with that, more will be explained soon." Maeve replied.
"We would gladly fit those willing with blessed steel." Belegar added.
Jircniv smiled and gave Belegar a grateful nod as they continued to head towards the door at the end of the ornate hallway.
"You can't be serious? You would give up your flesh that your mother bore you?" Renner asked Jircniv aghast.
"If that demon can orchestrate the downfall of the Dragons and the High Elves it is naive to believe that mortal flesh and ideals alone will carry the day." Jircniv replied.
"But it's wrong!" Zesshi added hotly.
"So you think wars can be won on principle?" Jircniv replied, raising an eyebrow.
"This works, have you seen these soldiers? A single company of these metal warriors is enough to break any of our nations." Jircniv said, pointing at the nearby Skitarii.
"Renner we have been staring each other down at the Katse Plains for years. Imagine one group of these soldiers, the negative energy doesn't affect them. They don't tire, while our armies get their strength sapped in the fog these soldiers fight on. We will be invading through the Ice Gate Valley soon, I heard the temperatures can hit negative twenty degrees. Military operation range will be reduced because of the snow, our scouts can't go as far, supply lines will be strained and battles will need to be fast lest our soldiers freeze. These soldiers can fight in negative fifty degrees if needed, metal doesn't freeze. These soldiers can literally bury themselves in the snow to set an ambush. How the hell are you supposed to fight that?" Jircniv said to Renner.
Renner had no reply for that and merely looked away sullenly. She sighed and clutched the rosary of Blue Planet and silently brooded on Jircniv's words.
"In war metal often serves better than flesh but in peace metal is a poor choice. For it is cold and unliving that is why the Ordo Mechanicus that uses metal and machines is primarily a war focused Ordo. However, the Ordo Hospitaller and the Ordo Iustitia which focuses on life are the peacekeepers." Maeve said as Jircniv, Renner and Zesshi turned to look at her.
"The 41 are a whole you cannot take one and discard another. They are all and all are one. True prosperity is a marriage of all 41 aspects. Even though for many of them it may seem like opposing forces if you look closely they are merely two sides of the same coin. Is vengeance and justice truly that different? From flesh metal is given purpose and through metal life can be sustained. For are your ploughs that grow your food not metal? Metal is used to fight for life, they are not opposites merely two sides of the same coin." Maeve said.
At those words the group reached the great door at the end of the room. The door groaned open with the sounds of machines running in the walls. Maeve walked forward and joined Aldebracc at the front as they stepped into the room.
The room was elaborate to say the least but it wasn't gaudy. It was dark and grim, there was a certain menace to it. There was the symbol of the Ordo Mechanicus everywhere with it's haunting skull set on a gear. It was on the door, on the walls, on the windows and almost everywhere you looked. The room was dimly lit with only lights of a few lamps and several screens glowing. On the screens rows of information scrolled past like a waterfall too fast for the normal person to read. At the centre of the room was an open area, on the floor was of course emblazoned with the symbol of the Mechanicus. At the end of the room was a large figure in red robes. Before him was an array of screens and they could see at least five limbs tapping on interfaces. Beside him stood a short dwarf who was also staring at the screens.
The pair turned and revealed themselves. The dwarf some recognised as Arch Magos Belisarius Cawl the leader of the Ordo Mechanicus. The other figure seemed like a mass of metal with a dozen metal appendages that protruded from its chest. The figure was large easily two and a half metres tall and not the slightest bit of flesh was visible.
"Welcome Lady Herald, I see you bring the denizens of Realm 235." the tall figure croaked out in a robotic unfeeling voice.
"Fabricator General, Arch Magos." Maeve replied with a crisp salute that was returned by the pair.
"Yes, let us sit down." the Fabricator General said as a few limbs started tapping away at the nearby screens.
The floor in the centre opened up revealing a complex system of turning gears below. Various parts appeared and they formed a table. The table was followed by the chairs for everyone in the room, the number was perfect, no more no less. Except for one, there was no chair for the Fabricator General himself for he just walked over to the vacant spot and merely bent his massive metal frame down to be at eye level with the table.
"Please take a seat, this form is ill suited for the utilisation of chair type furniture." the Fabricator General said.
As everyone took their seats all eyes were on the metal amalgamation before them. It looked eldritch almost otherworldly. If they had run into something like this in their world they would most assuredly panic.
"I am Fabricator General Gelebrim Hal, the 41 have granted me the privilege of commanding this world." Gelebrim said.
"Some of you have met me before, some have not. I am Arch Magos Belisarius Cawl, the commander of the Ordo Mechanicus." Belisarius said.
"I am sure you have many questions. Why are you here, why bring you here, all of these will be answered in due time. I have been chosen for this most crucial tasks by the Omnissiah Amanomahitotsu, for I am a Successor of the Forge." Gelebrim said.
"You are a Successor?" Draudillon asked in awe.
"Yes, I am a Successor although it does not entail as much glory as most mortals believe. There is great sacrifice to attain the title of Successor. The title does not interest me, this is true for all Successors. For the sallow flesh and brittle souls of mortals, to even attempt to aspire to the peak of but one of the 41 aspects, will take all that you have." Gelebrim said.
"Were you flesh once?" Zesshi asked shakily.
"I was a Dawi in the long distant past. Now I am steel, an instrument of the Omnissiah's will. Nothing more, nothing less." Gelebrim replied as he turned his massive frame to face Zesshi.
"Your discomfort is understandable little Alv. I know much of your people and your beliefs." Gelebrim said as he moved his frame closer to Zesshi. It was then that those gathered realised that he had no feet, his lower half was a mass of metal appendages similar to a centipede.
"What happened to you?" Renner asked softly as she gazed and the mass of metal hands that formed his lower half.
"I realised the weakness of my flesh. Once a long time ago I was a soldier, like all soldiers eventually I fell in service of the 41. As I lay with my lower half blasted away, my organs spilling out like a red mass of worms. I realised the weakness of my flesh, my spirit demanded I rise to continue to fight but my flesh rebelled. It did not obey save for my metal right arm of which the flesh which I had lost previously. Only the metal obeyed, the flesh rebelled against my will. The flesh chose defeat but metal did not. That was the moment I realised the weakness of my flesh, that was the moment I understood." Gelebrrim said as he rose up revealing his full form for all to see. His body was entirely metal.
"From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. The 41 have a saying…
A man chooses, a slave obeys
I was forced to obey the weakness of my flesh
I was a slave to this frail and sallow flesh
The flesh is a cage which robbed me of my choice
So I sought the strength and surety of steel
I aspired to purity of the blessed machine
I died on that field
On that day thousands of years ago my heart ceased to beat
But my lord the Omnissiah delivered me
I was reborn as steel
I was reborn in his image
Flesh I was, Steel I am
Even in death I serve the Omnissiah
For the machine is immortal.
Gelebrim spoke with reverence and pride one could only possess after being blessed by the divine.
Inwardly Renner wondered if this is the true face of the divine, to sacrifice so much that you are. To discard everything for the smallest glimpse of those beings who sits at the apex of that great mountain. Perhaps mortals were never meant to soar as the divine does, perhaps in that pursuit you just might destroy yourself. Like a bird that flies too close to the sun, a bird who chases that incandescence and finds itself burned to ash in that blazing light.
"It just feels wrong…" Zesshi said softly.
"I do not expect you to accept it, the Omnissiah is just one of forty one. I only ask you to view all forty one virtues as equal. One does not stand above another, to discard even one is the greatest of blasphemies." Belegrim said.
"All 41 aspects have a common theme, sacrifice. The law of the creation is simple, the law of equivalent exchange. The greater the things you seek the more you have to sacrifice. The forty one supreme beings are fair in ways only gods can be. They give with one hand and take with the other. Creation is always fair in the cruelest of ways, sins of fathers are paid by their sons. The 41 always come to collect eventually, in a lot of ways all of you are paying the price of your ancestors. The blood of your people will be the ink to write the next chapter of your history. You are fighting for the fate of your world, now in your minds imagine the price of a world." Maeve said grimly.
"That is the reality we face everyday, denizens of realm 235. We the Ordo's pay this price everyday, we have paid for hundreds of thousands of years. Even now as we speak young men and women die choking on their own blood far from their homes. War rages in every corner of creation, for there is no peace without war, there is no victory without sacrifice. We have learned that lesson a long time ago." Arch Magos Belisarius said.
"I spit on the fool that did this, I spit on the fools that commit this folly over and over again in every corner of creation. I curse their vanity, their pride, their sins. Most of all I curse the price we have to pay, but I am making my peace with it, now you make yours." Maeve replied with a snarl on her face.
The gathered group sat quietly as they processed the words said.
"The dwarfs are no strangers to sacrifice. We will pay what is needed." Belegar said.
"Every generation must know its own suffering. That is the way of the world." Jircniv added.
"For six hundred years we have fought, at last the end is in sight. I say come what may, the Elves of the Crescent Lake will not be found wanting." Malon said.
"The sins of six of hundred years paid in a single generation…" Renner whispered.
"When a building collapses it gives very little warning. Take one look at my kingdom and see the truth for yourself." Draudillon replied bitterly.
"You do not stand alone, the Ordos stand behind you." Belisarius said.
"Indeed, this disgrace cannot endure any longer. It is the 41's will that this wrong be righted and by the Omnissiah's light it will be done." Belegrim said.
"Come, you will have time to think about it later. Now we have more to show you." Maeve said as she stood.
The rest seemingly snapped out of their introspection stood as well almost on instinct. Maeve herself knew subconsciously they wished for the distraction. Mortal minds were never designed to handle the fates of worlds. The responsibility of everyone that drew breathe and everyone who will ever draw breathe. Most minds struggle to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation. Some block out the worse parts, others detach from reality and the worse ignore the problem completely deciding to indulge in pleasures before the inevitable end. That is why there have been so many trips to explain to them why they were doing what they were doing. Information must be given slowly, let the mind internalise it bit by bit lest their psyche is overwhelmed. Even with all this it may not be enough.
Nothing the 41 decide is without purpose, their considerations are vast beyond comprehension. They draw on wisdom only the divine can possess, for in a way they are in all rooms at all times. Her father had told her that the forms they took were just a fraction of who they really were. By binding themselves to this plane of existences their control is reduced. In past realities they knew everything, now they condemn themselves to ignorance. In past realties they gave too much power, too much knowledge and too much free will to the mortals. The result as always was the destruction of their plane of existence. So with each attempt they shave a little bit more away making mortals weaker and weaker lest they destroy themselves. Maeve herself does not know how many attempts came before her reality but she knew that as always the 41 has high hopes for this iteration. It was up to her and the other servants of the 41 to tend to their great works.
Servants… another lie born of necessity of the 41. The 41 rarely directly intervene in mortal affairs. They instead work through servants. For in each being there is a basic line of programming in the magi scripts that dictate their form and behaviour. The line is the most basic of qualities granted to life, it is the ability to subconsciously gauge the power of another individual. This help keeps the lifeform alive, it aids survival but in the face of divine power this line causes subservience almost on instinct. The 41 believe that they should not dictate servitude, servitude should be given freely. They should inspire more than they terrify, that is why only a handful of servants ever get to directly meet the 41. As Ulbert Alain Odle once said, a man chooses, a slave obeys. If the 41 wanted slaves golems would do better, no they wanted individuals that can rise above their failings. So in truth they have no servants, they merely have willing individuals who would rather think of themselves as servants rather than bear the burdens that the 41 bears. Even herself, often she would listen and obey because it would be easier to do so. For to ask questions is a dangerous thing, knowledge is a dangerous thing. She knows that more than any mortal ever will. There is a reason that Tabula Smaragdina is the god of both knowledge and fear.
The truth of existence is a truth that is hard to swallow for mortals. For it is in darkness that light is the most valuable. It is this constant battle of light and dark that the true face of the 41 resides. For few in creation realise it is in virtue that sin is born. Good and evil are both two sides of the same coin, no shadow without light, no peace without war, no love without hate. For what is the meaning of one when the opposite does not exist? So it is in creation and all the suffering that the 41 seeks an objective that is known to no one. Even herself, the daughter of the great Momonga who is more divine than mortal. This most crucial of information is denied to her. But she does know one thing, this whole creation thing is not a pass time for entertainment. Bukubuku Chagama mourns her countless fallen children, Touch Me grieves the death of justice throughout all corners of creation, Warrior Takemikazuchi looks on in disgust as soldiers flee in battle and most of all Momonga the Lord of the Abyss watches as creation exists and disappears over and over and over again. To what end she knows not, for such knowledge is dangerous, it is known that Tabula Smaragdina can shatter minds under the weight of his knowledge... Perhaps this is what makes them divine. To serve a purpose that is beyond mortal comprehension. Perhaps one day a true utopia can be born, a perfect existence, but for now all she can do is lay her bricks on the grand project that is the 41's will…
Perhaps in the greatest of ironies, although their divine servants are not slaves. The 41 themselves are. They are slaves to that unknown great purpose. For reasons beyond her they cannot give up and so they toil on, slaves to that purpose. Trying, creating, destroying, endlessly.
Later
Belegar stood in an armory that made his Kingdom's armory look like a common tool shed. Wargear was hung on towering racks that reached up to the ceiling.
"This is what we have set aside for your use." Belegrim said.
"There's not just adamantite there, wooden bows as well." Zesshi said as she looked at the racks around them.
"Those are Gaia Oak bows, crafted from the trees of Ulthuan the High Elf homeworld. We did not make these, the Ulthuan craftsman made them and sent them over for storage. We have 10 000 of these in inventory, enough for an army." Belegrim said.
"What is this steel?" Malon said as he picked up an elven saber made of a brightly coloured metal.
"Fairy steel, this is a product of Athel Loren home of the Alvs. Quite strong and it has the bonus of being effective against ethereal targets." Belegrim replied.
"This isn't much. We couldn't allocate too much of our resources to your war, there are many wars to fight and many soldiers need arms and armor." Belisarius added.
"We could, however, provide you with raw materials for your smiths." Belegrim said to Belegar.
At those words one of the servants opened up a massive container and within they saw adamantite bars stacked to the brim.
"There's easily ten thousand bars here." Gondo said in awe.
"This is but one container, when you run out we will send more. Although our crafting ability is bottlenecked our raw materials are not. Craft as many as you can, the adamantite and mithril will flow freely." Belegrim said.
"This will help… greatly. In truth adamantite has been harder to mine as of late, we were depleting some of our mines." Belegar said.
"That won't be a problem, come let me show you something." Belegrim said as he turned away.
The group followed him to a set of spiral stairs and they found themselves at a window of the warehouse. They looked out and saw a river of molten metal. The river was as wide as a lake stretched on far over the horizon.
"That molten metal is pure adamantite. Mars has never had resource shortages, what we have been short in and will always be short in is labor. We do not have enough skilled smiths to produce the amount of wargear to supply all the worlds to the maximum potential." Belegrim said.
"Where does it all come from?" Gondar asked, amazed.
"Olympus Mons, a volcano that spews precious metals like a fountain. It is a gift from the Omnissiah. That holy mountain spews lava that is a mixture of every conceivable metal needed for production. All we have to do is separate it and purify it." Belegrim replied.
"Every hour Olympus Mons produces enough lava to bury your continent. Adamnatite, Mithril, Iron, Carbon, Sulphur, Copper, you name the element, Olympus Mons makes it." Maeve added.
"How do you separate all those elements?" Belegar asked.
"A giant distillation system. The Mechanicus uses the heat of a miniature star to heat metals till they evaporate. The gaseous metals then rise up a massive distillation filter in a process known as fractional distillation. The metals with the highest boiling point which in this case is Tungsten will condense at 3,414 degrees at the bottom of the filter which is closest to the heating point. The other elements rise up higher and higher condensing at the correct area of the distillation filter condensing and flowing out. It's a simple process but extremely hard to implement due to the heating temperature of at least 4,000 degrees. That temperature is closer to the temperature of the surface of a star than it is to room temperature." Maeve explained.
"We call those filters, star filters, the heat is generated using the process of Thermonuclear Fusion. We use magnetic fields generated through runes to compress the fuel for the reaction causing fusion of the Hydrogen Isotope 2 also known as Deuterium. The heat generated initially is millions of degrees, we rapidly cool it to prevent instant vaporisation of the lava which would cause a gas explosion." Belegrim added.
"This is truly the work of the divine…" Gondar muttered.
"No this crude system is the work of mortals. Momonga sama can harness the abyss which is material with enough energy to bend the very laws of the world. Time, space, reality itself can be brought to heel under the weight of the abyss." Maeve said.
"The abyss? Like from the legends?" Gondar asked.
"Yes it is a tangible force. It can be harnessed and it is a power like no other… but I will tell more on that when the time is right. That time draws near, enjoy the pleasure of ignorance for now, for this knowledge is a curse." Maeve replied darkly.
"Lady Herald speaks the truth, the abyss is the domain of the divine. Even we can barely control it, so primordial and great is its power. The abyss can devour stars and worlds as easily as fire can claim dry grass." Belegrim added.
"So the legends are true? About the Profaned Valley, all of it?" Gondar asked
"I know not what your oral traditions have passed down, all I can say is that the Profaned Valley is very real and is much more terrible than you can possibly imagine. So tread lightly the 41 do not treat sinners with mercy." Maeve replied as she drew from thin air a steaming black stone dagger.
Gondar instinctively took a step back along with everyone else, including the Arch Magos and the Fabricator General.
"Astounding, I have heard of this weapon. It is more terrible than I could have ever imagined." Belegrim said as he watched every danger sensor in his body go off.
"What is that?" Belegar asked shakily.
"Untempered Abyss Obsidian. This is as close to raw abyss that you can get. Raw abyss explodes when exposed to any form of creation, the air, light, anything. 1 gram of raw abyss is enough to level worlds. This is the only example of Untempered Abyss Obsidian in creation. It is a gift from my father." Maeve said fondly as she looked at the black dagger.
As Gondar looked at the black stone, to his eye it looked like a crude weapon. As if the blade was made by neolithic civilisation but as he gazed at that cursed blade we wondered if its crude appearance was simply because of the material. If the material was so dangerous then it made sense that only the most rudimentary of crafting techniques could be applied.
"Your father?" Belegar asked.
"Lady Herald is the child of the great Momonga, I had heard you have spoken Amanomahitotsu sama so I am sure you are aware the 41 are very real." Belisarius said.
"You are a child of a god?" Belegar asked.
"Yes, the essence of Momonga runs in my veins. Which is why I am the only one that can use this blade." Maeve replied.
"What do you mean?" Belegar asked.
"Observe." Maeve said as she pulled a dark metal bar and handed it to Belegar.
"This is Adamantite, some of the purest I have ever held." Belegar said as he examined the ingot.
"Now give it to me." Maeve said as she extended her hand.
Belegar handed her the bar and watched as she placed the bar on the flat of the dagger. As soon she did there was a sizzling sound as the bar began to sink into the dagger. There was no residue, no molten metal, not even ash that remained as the bar sank into the blade. Soon the whole bar was simply gone.
"The laws of the world state that matter and energy cannot be destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to the other. Just like how we turn the chemical potential energy of food into kinetic energy in a punch. The reaction of ignition releases heat and light energy while breaking the fuel into its base components. You burn wood, you get carbon dioxide and carbon ash. Nothing is destroyed; it merely changes form. That is true for most of creation, but not for this." Maeve said as she looked at the dagger and tipped it revealing there was no residue.
"The abyss destroys in a way that defies the laws of the world. It destroys all matter, all light. It has almost infinite mass, yet weighs nothing. It can create anything and yet it destroys all. It is a material unlike any other." Maeve said.
"Some of our best weapons use abyss infused materials, the highest grade we can make here is 5% abyss steel. The best in creation is made by Amanomahitotsu sama himself, even then he cannot do it alone. Momonga sama and Tabula Smaragdina sama must aid its creation. The finest steel ever made was 60% Abyss Steel. That dagger is pure abyss, when abyss infused material strikes non abyss materials it cuts right through." Belsarius said.
"In truth we do not fully understand the abyss, even the 41 do not fully comprehend it. Perhaps it is a fool's errand to try to understand something that does not obey the laws we mortals have constructed. Logically if something has infinite mass it should possess infinite inertia. For inertia is calculated by the mass value multiplied by acceleration. So if you swing an abyss weapon the inertia should tear the users arms off due to the inertia. Yet it doesn't, the inertia only applies when striking another object, when it is unobstructed the inertia does not apply to the material. That is what gives the abyss such resilience, its infinite mass and infinite inertia makes it unstoppable by other materials. To stop a certain amount of force you need equivalent force, since the mass is infinite, so the inertia is infinite hence the force is infinite. Only infinity can stand against infinity." Belegrim explained.
"Why are you telling us this?" Renner asked.
"It is to make you understand that this world has few absolutes. There is only one absolute, the fact that all things come to an end, the abyss embodies that fact. The entropy of creation, the rise and fall of civilisation. Order, entropy, a never ending cycle. In the coming war your minds must be open, for in mortals almost all of you cling to things you believe to be true and hold them as absolute. The inherent value of life, the justice of the world. Life has no inherent value, it is your actions that give your life value. There is no justice unless you make it, one man's liberator is another's oppressor. One man's freedom fighter is another's terrorist. This war will put the calculus of war on full display, let 10 million die over here to save 20 million over there. Nothing is absolute, reality itself is fluid as you can see by the abyss. If reality itself can be bent how strong can your preconceived notions be?" Maeve said.
"That titan over there, has a higher mana load than some worlds. Our best tanks that can level cities run on a power source known as a Magus Engine. It filters mana from the air itself to power it. That Titan has 10 magus engines per muscle strand. There are millions of Magus Engines in that war machine, the average construction time is a millennia. They are essentially weaponised worlds sent to war and the thing is… sometimes they lose. Titans have been destroyed in the past." Maeve said gravely.
"Observe." Belegrim said as he projected a scene before them.
The gathered group looked at the screen to see one of those warmachines in battle. They watched as the Titan fired off a volley of shells at what looked liked to them as an eldritch titan. The shockwave from the volley collapsed every building and wall in a city behind the Titan. They could see hundreds of thousands of people below being thrown back like chaff in the wind. They looked like ants flying far below, judging by the distance of which they flew, none would be getting back up. The shells mostly struck home on the leviathan, there was a flash of blinding light and when vision returned they saw the mountain next to the monster was melted away. Behind the monster there used to be sea but now the sea has been boiled away. Blasting a column of steam high into the sky. The monster roared as it charged forward, trampling entire forests in the process. The Titan changed weapons on it's massive arms to a set of massive blades. The two clashed, the first blow created enough force to blast the clouds apart. The steam from the boiled sea was blown away condensing and forming a storm in the distance. Then the creature slammed one of its bladed appendages into a gap into the Titan's armor. A claw then grabbed onto the gap and tore open the armor plate. The Titan unfazed thrust its blade into the creature's side eliciting a roar. The creature clawed away at the Titan's exposed chest ripping blocks of machinery the size of small villages out of its chest. The Titan perhaps sensing its defeat wrapped both arms around the creature. The chest of the Titan began to glow and the creature shrieked as it tried to back away but the Titan held fast. The glow grew brighter ever brighter and then the screen went white. When vision returned the group gazed slack jawed as they now looked at a smoking crater. The city was gone and all that remains was the burnt remains of the creature and the melted remains of the Titan's legs. Bits of molten flaming metal rained down into the crater. The nearby mountains were blasted apart becoming pools of lava that have sprayed out in the direction of the blast. Everything within the vicinity was gone, the crater had a layer of molten lava on its surface. The screen panned up and saw as the sky seemed to catch fire. Flames covered the sky and stretched far over the horizon. They could see distant forests began to catch on fire and the mountain peaks started melting away.
"The sky is on fire…" Nfriea muttered.
"When Titans are deployed we use the MAD protocol." Gelebrim said.
"Mad?" Renner asked.
"It stands for Mutually Assured Destruction." Gelebrim replied.
"No sacrifice too great, no victory too costly." Maeve added.
"What was that thing?" Jircniv asked.
"That is a Class 15 Outworld Devourer. Outworld Devourers are creatures that exist on the fringes of creation, they live close the Abyss that encircles creation. Over there reality starts to warp and behave in strange ways breeding creatures such as this. A cult managed to summon one to their world using a relic known as [The key of the Nine Gates]; it is a powerful teleportation relic that can transport entire worlds." Maeve replied.
"Why would they do such a foolish thing?" Draudillon whispered in horror.
"They believed that the Outworld Devourers were gods and that by summoning one they would transcend to a higher plane and become gods themselves. There is no such thing of course." Maeve replied with a shrug.
"This world had approximately 4 billion inhabitants, in the end we managed to rescue 15 000 souls." Belegrim said.
"What was the point of all of this? Why fight when you are just going to destroy everything?" Gargaran asked, horrified.
"Outworld Devourers can travel between worlds, usually they are trapped in this area of creation that is the border between creation and the abyss. That area is known as the Outworld hence the name. The Outworld Devourers are a symptom of creation, as long as the realms exist so too do the Outworld Devourers. Usually there is a magic seal between the Outworld and the rest of creation but those idiots decided to summon one in the middle of a realm. The Outworld Devourers can traverse the gap between worlds, climbing along the branches of the world tree. For you see they are immune to the void between worlds that would destroy all other forms of life. If we didn't kill it here, it would have moved onto the neighbouring world. That one has 15 trillion souls, so you can see why this decision was made." Maeve replied.
"The calculus of war... doom 4 billion here to save 15 trillion over there…" Jircniv said, his face pale as parchment.
"Exactly, sacrifices will be made. We will win your war no matter the cost. This is a Category 5 threat. Category 5 threats are threats that endanger multiple worlds with total destruction." Maeve replied.
"What is this Category system?" Belegar asked.
"Category 1 threats are threats that endanger a world that threatens a portion of the life forms. Category 2 are threats on a single world that would endanger the large majority of the lifeforms and ecology of the world. Category 3 threats are threats that will cause the complete destruction of the world. Category 4 threats are threats that can cause the destruction of a world and cause damage to neighbouring worlds. Category 5 threats are threats that cause the total destruction of multiple worlds." Belegrim replied.
"Category 5 threats are grounds for extreme measures, any sacrifice is acceptable as long as the threat is eliminated. Citizens are meat shields, worlds are sacrificed like cannon fodder, anything goes, nothing is sacred. As the Supreme ones say, the gloves are off." Maeve added.
"I know this may seem like alot to take in and this isn't the best place to tell you this but often I find fate springs the worst outcomes when we least expect it. We will send you back now, please try and internalise what has happened these last few hours. More information will be given when you are ready." Maeve said somberly.
The Dwarven Kingdom
The group sat around the table once again, Magos Aldebracc took out a roll of parchment and handed it to Belegar.
"5000 Skitarii will be joining you soon, along with 50 tonnes worth of adamantite, mithril and iron. 500 Fabricators will be joining the ranks of your smiths as well. The Lords of the Mechanicus have decreed that the armies of Realm 235 will not be underequipped." Aldebracc said.
"Thank you Magos Aldebracc. I will have every able bodied dwarf mobilised." Belegar replied.
"I hope today's events were not too jarring, think on what has been said. It is a tall order to ask of mortals but you are leaders and leaders are held to a higher standard." Aldebracc said as he left the room with Maeve.
"You think they got the message Lady Herald?" Aldebracc asked.
"It's hard to say, I bet Jircniv probably was the most receptive. He is no stranger to bloodshed and the horrors of the world. The rest are still clinging to their common sensibilities. They still believe they can win this war with their honor intact. The supreme ones are wise to plan the entrance of the nations in this specific order. The dragon lords will be easy to persuade, after all they lived through Jaldabaoth's usurpation. Their race is decimated on the verge of extinction, they will take the gravity of the situation in stride." Maeve replied.
"So they are the last?" Aldebracc asked.
"Yes once the naval invasion is destroyed we will approach the dragon lords with an offer to join in the war against the Theocracy. Then we will begin the war to end all wars in this realm." Maeve replied.
"And HVI in the Holy Kingdom?" Magos Aldebracc asked.
"That is a trickier situation, our plans will need to adapt based on her. Field Marshall Elwing has already prepared 17 battle plans based upon the darksoul. She and her staff are currently working on two more." Maeve replied.
"With luck we won't have to undergo Blacksky Operations." Magos Aldbracc said with a sigh.
"I didn't take you to be naive Magos Aldebracc." Maeve replied with a chuckle.
"I am but a humble servant of the 41, although I do wish fate can be merciful once in a while." Magos Aldevracc replied.
"Fate is a cruel mistress, I know that best." Maeve said.
"Indeed you do Lady Herald, indeed you do…" Magos Aldebracc said.
Jircniv sat quietly as the group discussed what they had been told. Draudillon didn't seem to get it, Renner was in denial but Jircniv knew what those words meant. This was the prelude, the calm before the storm. The 41 were giving the truth to them slowly, giving themself time to prepare themselves. He has known this for a while, nothing the 41 does is without purpose.
One thing stuck out to him, why show him the Titan and Outworld Devourer? Why tell him what a Category 5 threat was? The only conclusion he can think of was that they were sitting on something that is as bad as that monstrosity was. A Category 5 threat, it made sense. They say Maeve is one of the 41's finest, their world was small no need to send someone that important to clean up a village. He suspected this for a while now but he never seriously thought that the entire world literally hung in the balance.
"Emperor Jircniv you are being awfully quiet." Draudillon said.
"I just have some things on my mind, my apologies." Jircniv replied with a grimace.
"Would you furnish us with your thoughts? We should not withhold information on our thoughts in this trying time." Renner asked.
"I think we should start categorising our citizens, who can fight, who can work our industries and who are currently unproductive. We should also start stockpiling resources, more than we already are. We should cease plans on what happens after the war and dedicate all our resources to this fight. When I say that I mean all our resources, including our living resources." Jircniv said.
"I am afraid I don't follow." Renner said.
"He is saying we should assume the worst, we need to figure out which parts of our population are viable to contribute to the war effort. The old, the crippled and infirm, we must make preparation to discard them." Belegar replied.
"Yes, we must make plans. We also need to make triage protocols. We may need to decide to prioritise those we can immediately return into the fight, those who are crippled from their wounds might have to be left to die." Jircniv added.
"What are you saying? We can't just leave our citizens to die." Renner replied.
"We may have to." Draudillon added.
"During the beastmen invasion I made many sacrifices, sacrificed one city to evacuate the other. Telling my soldiers there were reinforcements when there were none just so they would delay the beastmen long enough." Draudillon replied.
"I'm surprised Renner, you sacrificed a portion of your capital to defend against the demons." Jircniv replied, eyebrows raised.
"That was a few thousand at most, this is entire segments of the population." Renner replied hotly.
"The concept is the same just matter of scale and degrees." Belegar replied.
"When a conflict increases in scale so does the scope of the casualties. We will bury many of our own by the time this war is done." Jircniv said.
"We must prepare or we doom many. To lead a nation is a sacred trust and we must not be found wanting." Malon added.
"May the 41 watch over our deeds, may their light shine through the darkness and light the way to our future." Zesshi muttered.
"41 deliver us." Renner said.
41 deliver us…
Authors Notes:
Hey everyone sorry for the long wait this is the longest chapter to date. It's about two chapters worth sitting at 30 pages. Took awhile to write this as I tried to get the science of it right as much as possible. For this story I wanted to view magic and science as one and the same. Technology should work hand in in hand with magic and I wanted to show that with this chapter.
After this we will explore a bit more into Neia and then the war will begin in earnest.
So once again tell me if you enjoyed, every review is a welcome sight and I love to hear from you guys.