---------------------------
Chapter 17 Embers of Erudin
---------------------------
The dust was beginning to settle in the city of Paineel. It had been only a few hours since the attack by the Puritans of Erudin. In the rubble that was once the Council chambers, the members of the Council are deciding how to proceed.
" Our forces are down to a fifth of what they once were! Even at full strength we couldn't retaliate!"
"Our people have been massacred. Women, children spread across the ground like whitewash. I will not stand for this!"
"I don't like this any more then you do. But we don't have the forces to attack Erudin!"
"Look around this city! This city was founded on the basis of acquiring of all forms of Knowledge. We have the power to replenish our forces and double it over. We will used their own against them!"
"You have gone mad! Even I detest the very thought of summoning back Grail Knights. It's horrid. To mock the very being of the highest ranks of knight. I despise the Puritans as much as any of you, but I will not lower ourselves to using Black Grail Knights!"
"It is not your choice Alshaquir." Meya interrupted "Who and what is produced by Necromancy is my territory. In fact you have no say in these affairs, you are spineless little worm. You are a disgrace to your position and your predecessor."
"Why you wench! How dare you insult me! With Commandant Seyjuah dead, I am the head of this Council. And I will not have my people butchered or disgraced any further! And most especially I will not let him lead any assaults now or ever! He is the failure amongst us! He has lost 1 of his apprentices and he could not even protect you or his mate from a single intru.."
"ENOUGH!" Raziel's eyes flashes demonically through his armor. Alshaquir cowers and backs up from Raziel. But he stops when Raziel's eyes flash again, and an invisible hand begins to crush his throat. "I tire of you Alshaquir." Alshaquir screams as his skin begins to burn. "Your clucking tongue, is a mockery to every thing Paineel stands for. As of this moment, your services are no longer needed!" Alshaquir screams even louder, his skin blistering and burning. Alshaquir collapses to the ground smoking, his body twitching slightly.
Raziel turns back to the other Council members. "We march upon Erudin at last light."
--------------------------------------
The door to the great Vault opens and light spills into the chamber. Raziel walks inside. Arorua still lay inside the chamber. Still stuck in her final pose. Raziel kneels down and scoops her up into his arms. He looks at her for a few moments.
"Rest well Arorua. I shall you see again someday. Until then I will make sure whoever did this shall live in agony for eternity. This is my final promise to you.
Then they both fade away into the shadows.
-------------------------------------
Across the great oceans, several hours and continents away. King Tearis Thex is awoken by some disturbance, taking place in the castle. He exits his chambers and moves to stop one of his servants. But his advisor Caerdwill intercepts him.
"M'lord"
"What is all this ruckus?"
"Some one has open the crypt of the knights"
"What!?! Who would do such a thing!"
Caerdwill hesitated.
"What is it Caerdwill? Do you know?"
"Yes sire. Some seeking to put one of our knights to final rest."
The King was stopped for a moment. But he collected himself. "Show me to the crypt."
Caerdwill and the King left the upper portion of the castle and began a descent into the depths of Felwithe. They went around to the back of the Mountains, which bordered the city. In the mountains was a small waterfall and behind the falls was the crypt of the Grail Knights. The large stone doors were swung wide open.
"Stay here Caerdwill"
"Yes M'lord"
The King entered the crypt and moved down a small flight of stairs. The ancient lamps were alit and blazing brightly. Moving forward and rounding a small corner he came upon a figure crouched over a tomb. The king stopped and realized who the figure was and who was in the tomb.
"How dare you tarnish these walls with your presence! You dare show yourself after all that you have done!"
"I come to lay down my love within the place she deserves her final rest."
"I should have you executed for your crimes! You have tainted one of Tunare's holiest and then had her butchered! You are the lowest form of dog that there is."
Raziel still crouching over Arorua's wept a tear. "Maybe your right. She would still be alive, had it not been for me. Had I not taken her from this place or failed to protect her.. But there is nothing I can do about the past. I can only concern myself about the future and my promise."
"And what would you know about promises."
"You hold such animosity for me and such fierce protection of your people... I can only hope to fulfil my promise to protect our child. But I cannot let her stay within Paineel. It is in shambles and only exposes her to great danger..and what I must do now will expose her even more still......"
The king notices for the first time that he and Raziel are not the only ones in the crypt. He sees beside Raziel is a small basket containing a small child. Raziel moves away from Arorua's tomb and picks up the child. And he moves to the King and hands him Leylia.
"Please, Protect her. Protect her like you do your people."
"Is this what they teach you Heretics, have a child and abandon it?"
"No..They teach us. It takes a village to rear a child, but if the village it self is a danger. Move to another village." Raziel smiles "Paineel, Myself and my fate are all a danger to her. Faydwer is safe." Raziel reaches up and rubs Leylia. She coos in her sleep.
Raziel reaches into his shirt and pulls out a small pendant. "Reyas" The pendant flashes and a raven appears on Raziel's shoulder.
/You called?/
"This is my final command. I release you from myself and bind you to Leylia. Protect her and when the time is right lead her so she may find her past."
/Yes. I understand/
Raziel takes the pendant and places it on top of Leylia. The pendant shimmers once again, stirring Leylia. Reyas's ravens form upon Raziel's shoulder shimmers and then in a flash disappears. In another flash, a small puppy appears at the King's feet.
"Good bye my little one..Leylia" He moves forward closer to the King and fades away into the shadows.
The King stands holding Leylia. The King tickles her nose and she giggles. "Well little one. What a future you have." He exits the crypt followed by the puppy.
------------------------------------------------
Upon the training grounds of Paineel. The retaliatory army prepares itself for battle. Only a few thousand strong. They are uncertain of the coming battle, but never the less their hatred for the Puritans and their recent actions fills them with anger and courage. The last of daylight begins to dwindle away. A shadow whisks across the lines and gathers in front of the troops. The shadows gather and form a figure in jet-black armor. The remaining Council members gather around the figure.
"You are here, the people were getting restless."
"It matters not now. We march in a few minutes. Summon our legions then return to the city."
"No. I am coming along"
"You have no place amongst this battle Meya. Summon the Black Grail Knights and the legions, then go to the city."
"NO! I will not stand aside. I want atonement as well!"
"You can get your vengeance through the legions. I have lost one person who means much too me, I shall not lose another."
"I lost my son Raziel!"
"Melchoir?"
"Yes. A grail knight during the beginning of the attack cut him down. He was just a small child.. He did not deserve....." Meya began to cry her emotions overtaking her. " I want them to burn. I want to exact vengeance myself!"
Raziel looked into her eyes, which burned with hatred. He knew the feeling and he also knew that nothing would let her soul rest at ease unless she went with them. "Alright. Summon the legions then mount up."
Meya under her tears smiled. She turned to the bodies of the fallen Puritans, the common soldiers and paladins. She mana began to flow through her body and the wind crackled with power.
"Creas.. malsho.....sodurina....necromona!" She slammed her staff into the ground and the bodies began to move. The dead began to moan as they rose. Rotting flesh and shattered bone clambered together. Underneath the training grounds, bones began to form together as well and skeleton warriors began to rise from the earth.
Meya turned to the bodies of the fallen Grail Knights. She began to weave a stronger spell. One of the few spells that the people of Paineel banned. It was a spell that allowed them to crack the holy barriers placed on the highest forms of Knights, The Grail Knights. Even though the people of Paineel despised the Puritans. They did respect the Grail Knights and until now they were the only corpses that the necromancers of Paineel would not tamper with. But the attack changed all that. The Grail Knights rose, mounting their undead steeds. They shimmered with unholy power. Meya now finished summoning the undead legions, mounted her horse.
Raziel turned to the army. "WE MARCH UPON ERUDIN!!! BURN IT TO THE GROUND!!!!!"
The troops roared in approval and they began to leave the confines of Paineel. Their numbers tripled by the undead that encompassed them.
--------------------------------------
Just outside the gates of Erudin, two of the entrance guards were discussing the success of the recent attack on Paineel.
"That was a great battle. They are going to fear us now."
"Yeah. I got me 5 of them before the call back."
"Yeah. I got me 8 and some tail too. Man..They got some good looking women down there. You would think that all that worshipping the dead stuff would make them look like old hags, but no. O well I showed them a few things. They were calling for Elrossi when I was done."
"Right on! ..Hey do you hear that? O...Shi.." His head exploded as a bolt of mana ripped through it.
"Rick!!! O man! What the hell happened" The guard knelt over his friend. "By the gods!!!! What is thi.. GAAAAAAAH" A blade ripped though his stomach. Blood poured from his mouth and as the light faded from his eyes. He saw his friend extract his blade and begin to stand up, he was now one of the undead. The guard collapsed and then soon joined his friend into the undead ranks.
"LOOSE!!!" Raziel's voice boomed across the forest. And hundreds of bolts of mana flew into the mountain walls of Erudin. The entrance collapsed leaving a huge hole in the wall; the entrance to Erudin was now laid bare.
"LOOSE!!!" another volley of mana slammed into the upper platform of Paineel, creating a scalable wall for the troops. The Undead began to pour through the open hole. They scaled the wall and began to enter the city of Erudin. Paladins and Clerics who had been roused by the noise swarmed to meet the undead threat. Alarms began to sound.
"THEY"RE HERE!!! CITIZENS FALL BACK TO THE CASTLE!!!!! FALL BACK!! FALL BA...NO!!! PLAEASE NO!!! GAAAAAA!!!"
The clerics began to chant powerful spells drawing upon the winds of mana.
"Simple undead..BEGONE RETURN TO WENCE YOU CAME! TURN UNDEAD!!!" Bluish holy light leapt from the clerics and collided with the incoming undead troops. The undead began to howl as they began to dissolve away and then crashed to the ground shattering into pieces.
One of the clerics smiled. "Is this the best the can do?" He stopped smiling when he heard an unnatural whinny of a horse. Terror struck into his eyes when he saw Grail Knights on their steeds coming up the wall. "By Elrossi! They..They.."
"Think about it later!" barked a senior cleric "TURN UNDEAD!" More light leapt from the clerics and struck the Black Grail Knights. The Knights rode straight through unfazed by the magic. Then they rode straight through the clerics chopping them in half, spilling them across the ground.
More and more undead poured into the city followed by the soldiers of Paineel. Raziel followed them. "TAKE ANYTHING OF VALUE!!! TURN THE REST INTO ASHES!!! CONFINE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN!!!!"
"Heretic dog! You have met your match!" A templar charged Raziel sword held at high ready. Just then a figure whisked in front of Raziel, blocking the Templar.
"Maxim! Continue on inside! Ill deal with the Templar!"
"Yes sir!"
Maxim shoved the Templar back causing him to lose his footing and crash to the ground. Maxim then continued on with the rest of the troops inside to the castle.
"Now. You die Templar.' Raziel raised his sword to strike. "NO!!! I'LL GET YOU !!!!" Another Templar charged from behind and slashes at Raziel's midsection. But met only air as Raziel faded into the shadows. Then Raziel's blade went through the Templar's back and then it detached his head. Spraying blood across the other. The first Templar terrified got up and
began to run. "Were do you think your going?" Mana flowed to Raziel's hands. **"PRESSURE CANNON!!!" Three spheres of mana leapt from his hands and sailed towards the fleeing Templar. The first shattered one of the Templar's legs, the second cut through his midsection. And the last sprayed his head across the city.
Raziel laughed evilly and then turned to a large building towering beside him. "The famed library of Erudin. The answers I seek shall be there." He faded once again into the shadows.
------------------------------------
"Hurry! Gather what you can carry and get to the boat docks!!" shouted the librarian to his patrons and students.
"Sound advice." Came a voice from behind him. He turned and faced a large figure in dark armor. The figure quickly grasped him by the throat. "Please! Don't kill me!"
"I won't kill you, unless you withhold the information I seek."
"What do you want!"
"Tell me.."The armored figure lifted his hand towards the wall and a beam of mana burned a design into the wall. It was claw encompassing a small sphere."Who does this symbol belong too."
"I..I dont know!"
"YOU LIE!!!" The librarian screamed as waves of pain coursed through him. "Your people hired some that bore this symbol. Now who is it!!"
"Its..the symbol of Veeshan!!"
"Why did you hire a dog of Veeshan! Why bring an outsider into our affairs!"
"We didn't hire him!!! He came to us several months ago. Got the people stirred up for battle. Preaching about the Twilight!"
"What twilight?"
"An old wives tale. It says that two children born of the purest light and the darkest dark, shall give rise to the Twilight of the Gods."
"Now. Tell me how do I open a gate to Veeshan's realm?"
"What? You can't reach Veeshan's domain."
"STOP YOUR LIEING!!" More waves of pain ripped through the Librarian. "This library contains millions of testaments and tomes of ancient lore. And a true librarian has read every one. Now tell HOW DO OPEN THE GATE TO THE PLANE OF SKY!!!"
"I swear! It's impossible! Veeshan's realm can not be accessed through a gate. You have to petition the dragon council. The Ring of Scale."
"AND??"
'The Ring of Scale is in Kunark somewhere in the Skyfire mountains! It's all I know! I swear to you!"
"If you've lied to me librarian.." The figures eyes flashed with energy, then the figure realized the librarian. And he crashed to the ground. "GO!!! GO TO THE DOCKS AND LEAVE THIS CONTINENT!! IT BELONGS TO US NOW AND FOREVER!"
The librarian trembled violently and then scrambled out of the library. As he exited the library, he turned back to look at it one more time and to his horror, the towering building exploded with an unnatural force. As if some type of storm that had raged through inside it. He pushed back his tears and ran madly for the docks
-----------------------------------------------------
The ocean waves were very calm that night, perfect weather for sailing. But it was little comfort for the few remaining people of Erudin. Women, children and those that were too weak or could not fight had been all shoved into one of Erudin's only boats and cast out to sea. They would eventually hit the shores of Antonica, but for now they could only watch the flames which shined brightly in the night sky. The city of Erudin stood no longer.
------------------------------------------
End Of this Chapter
-----------------------------------------
Chapter 17 Embers of Erudin
---------------------------
The dust was beginning to settle in the city of Paineel. It had been only a few hours since the attack by the Puritans of Erudin. In the rubble that was once the Council chambers, the members of the Council are deciding how to proceed.
" Our forces are down to a fifth of what they once were! Even at full strength we couldn't retaliate!"
"Our people have been massacred. Women, children spread across the ground like whitewash. I will not stand for this!"
"I don't like this any more then you do. But we don't have the forces to attack Erudin!"
"Look around this city! This city was founded on the basis of acquiring of all forms of Knowledge. We have the power to replenish our forces and double it over. We will used their own against them!"
"You have gone mad! Even I detest the very thought of summoning back Grail Knights. It's horrid. To mock the very being of the highest ranks of knight. I despise the Puritans as much as any of you, but I will not lower ourselves to using Black Grail Knights!"
"It is not your choice Alshaquir." Meya interrupted "Who and what is produced by Necromancy is my territory. In fact you have no say in these affairs, you are spineless little worm. You are a disgrace to your position and your predecessor."
"Why you wench! How dare you insult me! With Commandant Seyjuah dead, I am the head of this Council. And I will not have my people butchered or disgraced any further! And most especially I will not let him lead any assaults now or ever! He is the failure amongst us! He has lost 1 of his apprentices and he could not even protect you or his mate from a single intru.."
"ENOUGH!" Raziel's eyes flashes demonically through his armor. Alshaquir cowers and backs up from Raziel. But he stops when Raziel's eyes flash again, and an invisible hand begins to crush his throat. "I tire of you Alshaquir." Alshaquir screams as his skin begins to burn. "Your clucking tongue, is a mockery to every thing Paineel stands for. As of this moment, your services are no longer needed!" Alshaquir screams even louder, his skin blistering and burning. Alshaquir collapses to the ground smoking, his body twitching slightly.
Raziel turns back to the other Council members. "We march upon Erudin at last light."
--------------------------------------
The door to the great Vault opens and light spills into the chamber. Raziel walks inside. Arorua still lay inside the chamber. Still stuck in her final pose. Raziel kneels down and scoops her up into his arms. He looks at her for a few moments.
"Rest well Arorua. I shall you see again someday. Until then I will make sure whoever did this shall live in agony for eternity. This is my final promise to you.
Then they both fade away into the shadows.
-------------------------------------
Across the great oceans, several hours and continents away. King Tearis Thex is awoken by some disturbance, taking place in the castle. He exits his chambers and moves to stop one of his servants. But his advisor Caerdwill intercepts him.
"M'lord"
"What is all this ruckus?"
"Some one has open the crypt of the knights"
"What!?! Who would do such a thing!"
Caerdwill hesitated.
"What is it Caerdwill? Do you know?"
"Yes sire. Some seeking to put one of our knights to final rest."
The King was stopped for a moment. But he collected himself. "Show me to the crypt."
Caerdwill and the King left the upper portion of the castle and began a descent into the depths of Felwithe. They went around to the back of the Mountains, which bordered the city. In the mountains was a small waterfall and behind the falls was the crypt of the Grail Knights. The large stone doors were swung wide open.
"Stay here Caerdwill"
"Yes M'lord"
The King entered the crypt and moved down a small flight of stairs. The ancient lamps were alit and blazing brightly. Moving forward and rounding a small corner he came upon a figure crouched over a tomb. The king stopped and realized who the figure was and who was in the tomb.
"How dare you tarnish these walls with your presence! You dare show yourself after all that you have done!"
"I come to lay down my love within the place she deserves her final rest."
"I should have you executed for your crimes! You have tainted one of Tunare's holiest and then had her butchered! You are the lowest form of dog that there is."
Raziel still crouching over Arorua's wept a tear. "Maybe your right. She would still be alive, had it not been for me. Had I not taken her from this place or failed to protect her.. But there is nothing I can do about the past. I can only concern myself about the future and my promise."
"And what would you know about promises."
"You hold such animosity for me and such fierce protection of your people... I can only hope to fulfil my promise to protect our child. But I cannot let her stay within Paineel. It is in shambles and only exposes her to great danger..and what I must do now will expose her even more still......"
The king notices for the first time that he and Raziel are not the only ones in the crypt. He sees beside Raziel is a small basket containing a small child. Raziel moves away from Arorua's tomb and picks up the child. And he moves to the King and hands him Leylia.
"Please, Protect her. Protect her like you do your people."
"Is this what they teach you Heretics, have a child and abandon it?"
"No..They teach us. It takes a village to rear a child, but if the village it self is a danger. Move to another village." Raziel smiles "Paineel, Myself and my fate are all a danger to her. Faydwer is safe." Raziel reaches up and rubs Leylia. She coos in her sleep.
Raziel reaches into his shirt and pulls out a small pendant. "Reyas" The pendant flashes and a raven appears on Raziel's shoulder.
/You called?/
"This is my final command. I release you from myself and bind you to Leylia. Protect her and when the time is right lead her so she may find her past."
/Yes. I understand/
Raziel takes the pendant and places it on top of Leylia. The pendant shimmers once again, stirring Leylia. Reyas's ravens form upon Raziel's shoulder shimmers and then in a flash disappears. In another flash, a small puppy appears at the King's feet.
"Good bye my little one..Leylia" He moves forward closer to the King and fades away into the shadows.
The King stands holding Leylia. The King tickles her nose and she giggles. "Well little one. What a future you have." He exits the crypt followed by the puppy.
------------------------------------------------
Upon the training grounds of Paineel. The retaliatory army prepares itself for battle. Only a few thousand strong. They are uncertain of the coming battle, but never the less their hatred for the Puritans and their recent actions fills them with anger and courage. The last of daylight begins to dwindle away. A shadow whisks across the lines and gathers in front of the troops. The shadows gather and form a figure in jet-black armor. The remaining Council members gather around the figure.
"You are here, the people were getting restless."
"It matters not now. We march in a few minutes. Summon our legions then return to the city."
"No. I am coming along"
"You have no place amongst this battle Meya. Summon the Black Grail Knights and the legions, then go to the city."
"NO! I will not stand aside. I want atonement as well!"
"You can get your vengeance through the legions. I have lost one person who means much too me, I shall not lose another."
"I lost my son Raziel!"
"Melchoir?"
"Yes. A grail knight during the beginning of the attack cut him down. He was just a small child.. He did not deserve....." Meya began to cry her emotions overtaking her. " I want them to burn. I want to exact vengeance myself!"
Raziel looked into her eyes, which burned with hatred. He knew the feeling and he also knew that nothing would let her soul rest at ease unless she went with them. "Alright. Summon the legions then mount up."
Meya under her tears smiled. She turned to the bodies of the fallen Puritans, the common soldiers and paladins. She mana began to flow through her body and the wind crackled with power.
"Creas.. malsho.....sodurina....necromona!" She slammed her staff into the ground and the bodies began to move. The dead began to moan as they rose. Rotting flesh and shattered bone clambered together. Underneath the training grounds, bones began to form together as well and skeleton warriors began to rise from the earth.
Meya turned to the bodies of the fallen Grail Knights. She began to weave a stronger spell. One of the few spells that the people of Paineel banned. It was a spell that allowed them to crack the holy barriers placed on the highest forms of Knights, The Grail Knights. Even though the people of Paineel despised the Puritans. They did respect the Grail Knights and until now they were the only corpses that the necromancers of Paineel would not tamper with. But the attack changed all that. The Grail Knights rose, mounting their undead steeds. They shimmered with unholy power. Meya now finished summoning the undead legions, mounted her horse.
Raziel turned to the army. "WE MARCH UPON ERUDIN!!! BURN IT TO THE GROUND!!!!!"
The troops roared in approval and they began to leave the confines of Paineel. Their numbers tripled by the undead that encompassed them.
--------------------------------------
Just outside the gates of Erudin, two of the entrance guards were discussing the success of the recent attack on Paineel.
"That was a great battle. They are going to fear us now."
"Yeah. I got me 5 of them before the call back."
"Yeah. I got me 8 and some tail too. Man..They got some good looking women down there. You would think that all that worshipping the dead stuff would make them look like old hags, but no. O well I showed them a few things. They were calling for Elrossi when I was done."
"Right on! ..Hey do you hear that? O...Shi.." His head exploded as a bolt of mana ripped through it.
"Rick!!! O man! What the hell happened" The guard knelt over his friend. "By the gods!!!! What is thi.. GAAAAAAAH" A blade ripped though his stomach. Blood poured from his mouth and as the light faded from his eyes. He saw his friend extract his blade and begin to stand up, he was now one of the undead. The guard collapsed and then soon joined his friend into the undead ranks.
"LOOSE!!!" Raziel's voice boomed across the forest. And hundreds of bolts of mana flew into the mountain walls of Erudin. The entrance collapsed leaving a huge hole in the wall; the entrance to Erudin was now laid bare.
"LOOSE!!!" another volley of mana slammed into the upper platform of Paineel, creating a scalable wall for the troops. The Undead began to pour through the open hole. They scaled the wall and began to enter the city of Erudin. Paladins and Clerics who had been roused by the noise swarmed to meet the undead threat. Alarms began to sound.
"THEY"RE HERE!!! CITIZENS FALL BACK TO THE CASTLE!!!!! FALL BACK!! FALL BA...NO!!! PLAEASE NO!!! GAAAAAA!!!"
The clerics began to chant powerful spells drawing upon the winds of mana.
"Simple undead..BEGONE RETURN TO WENCE YOU CAME! TURN UNDEAD!!!" Bluish holy light leapt from the clerics and collided with the incoming undead troops. The undead began to howl as they began to dissolve away and then crashed to the ground shattering into pieces.
One of the clerics smiled. "Is this the best the can do?" He stopped smiling when he heard an unnatural whinny of a horse. Terror struck into his eyes when he saw Grail Knights on their steeds coming up the wall. "By Elrossi! They..They.."
"Think about it later!" barked a senior cleric "TURN UNDEAD!" More light leapt from the clerics and struck the Black Grail Knights. The Knights rode straight through unfazed by the magic. Then they rode straight through the clerics chopping them in half, spilling them across the ground.
More and more undead poured into the city followed by the soldiers of Paineel. Raziel followed them. "TAKE ANYTHING OF VALUE!!! TURN THE REST INTO ASHES!!! CONFINE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN!!!!"
"Heretic dog! You have met your match!" A templar charged Raziel sword held at high ready. Just then a figure whisked in front of Raziel, blocking the Templar.
"Maxim! Continue on inside! Ill deal with the Templar!"
"Yes sir!"
Maxim shoved the Templar back causing him to lose his footing and crash to the ground. Maxim then continued on with the rest of the troops inside to the castle.
"Now. You die Templar.' Raziel raised his sword to strike. "NO!!! I'LL GET YOU !!!!" Another Templar charged from behind and slashes at Raziel's midsection. But met only air as Raziel faded into the shadows. Then Raziel's blade went through the Templar's back and then it detached his head. Spraying blood across the other. The first Templar terrified got up and
began to run. "Were do you think your going?" Mana flowed to Raziel's hands. **"PRESSURE CANNON!!!" Three spheres of mana leapt from his hands and sailed towards the fleeing Templar. The first shattered one of the Templar's legs, the second cut through his midsection. And the last sprayed his head across the city.
Raziel laughed evilly and then turned to a large building towering beside him. "The famed library of Erudin. The answers I seek shall be there." He faded once again into the shadows.
------------------------------------
"Hurry! Gather what you can carry and get to the boat docks!!" shouted the librarian to his patrons and students.
"Sound advice." Came a voice from behind him. He turned and faced a large figure in dark armor. The figure quickly grasped him by the throat. "Please! Don't kill me!"
"I won't kill you, unless you withhold the information I seek."
"What do you want!"
"Tell me.."The armored figure lifted his hand towards the wall and a beam of mana burned a design into the wall. It was claw encompassing a small sphere."Who does this symbol belong too."
"I..I dont know!"
"YOU LIE!!!" The librarian screamed as waves of pain coursed through him. "Your people hired some that bore this symbol. Now who is it!!"
"Its..the symbol of Veeshan!!"
"Why did you hire a dog of Veeshan! Why bring an outsider into our affairs!"
"We didn't hire him!!! He came to us several months ago. Got the people stirred up for battle. Preaching about the Twilight!"
"What twilight?"
"An old wives tale. It says that two children born of the purest light and the darkest dark, shall give rise to the Twilight of the Gods."
"Now. Tell me how do I open a gate to Veeshan's realm?"
"What? You can't reach Veeshan's domain."
"STOP YOUR LIEING!!" More waves of pain ripped through the Librarian. "This library contains millions of testaments and tomes of ancient lore. And a true librarian has read every one. Now tell HOW DO OPEN THE GATE TO THE PLANE OF SKY!!!"
"I swear! It's impossible! Veeshan's realm can not be accessed through a gate. You have to petition the dragon council. The Ring of Scale."
"AND??"
'The Ring of Scale is in Kunark somewhere in the Skyfire mountains! It's all I know! I swear to you!"
"If you've lied to me librarian.." The figures eyes flashed with energy, then the figure realized the librarian. And he crashed to the ground. "GO!!! GO TO THE DOCKS AND LEAVE THIS CONTINENT!! IT BELONGS TO US NOW AND FOREVER!"
The librarian trembled violently and then scrambled out of the library. As he exited the library, he turned back to look at it one more time and to his horror, the towering building exploded with an unnatural force. As if some type of storm that had raged through inside it. He pushed back his tears and ran madly for the docks
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The ocean waves were very calm that night, perfect weather for sailing. But it was little comfort for the few remaining people of Erudin. Women, children and those that were too weak or could not fight had been all shoved into one of Erudin's only boats and cast out to sea. They would eventually hit the shores of Antonica, but for now they could only watch the flames which shined brightly in the night sky. The city of Erudin stood no longer.
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End Of this Chapter
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