THE WAR OF THE ELEMENTS
By m00nstorm77
Chapter Two
The High King drew his sword. He had been on a midnight stroll with the queen when a scream had pierced the air, followed by a call to arms. Several underlings came sprinting towards them
"Your majesties, we must get you to the safety of the Top Tower."
The front one said as he signalled to more underlings running around franticly. The one who had spoke, a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and a shaved head, ordered the underlings into a protective formation around the High King and Queen. The air whistled ominously as two boulders were catapulted over the walls one hitting a storeroom behind them filling the air with flour and another nearly crushing them but instead of the boulder hitting the hill and rolling back at them it smashed into the ground and sunk several metres into the soil
"Lets move." Said the bald man, and he led them on a mad dash for the Top Tower. The air whistled again and a volley of arrows rained down on the courtyard, hitting a few underlings on the shoulder and arms. The underlings barely noticed these wounds and kept running. The High King half-dragged the Queen, who kept tripping over her gown as tears rolled down her porcelain face. There was a collective sigh of relief as the heavy door shut behind them.
The top tower was the latest renovation made to the royal mansion at the very top of the hill. This building was five stories high; shaped in a dome except for a turret used to survey the High King's lands. The top three floors had loggias running around them.
The High King and Queen went up to the roof of the tower with the underlings. "Report, captain." Said the High King, but the captain slumped over, dead. He spun around. All the underlings were dead, and so was the queen. The High King knelt down next to her, not noticing the tears streaming from his dark brown eyes. Sensing another presence he peered up and there, standing before him, was the self-proclaimed Emperor of Metal, ruler of the East Elements.
The High King drew himself up, removing his staff from its sling on his back and sheathing his sword at the same time. He grasped his staff with both hands then slid them down to the end of the staff, drawing power as he went. He raised it high above his head and brought it down thus blasting out the force of Spirit. The elemental force blossomed out of the end of his staff. His foe was quick to respond, putting has hands together and summoning a temporary shield of Metal that reflected the force of Spirit.
The High King changed his grip on his staff. The Metal emperor held his hands up to the cloudy night sky, fingers apart and palms flat, he brought them down along with a dozen metal poles. Now it was the High King who shielded himself from these blows by slamming the end of his staff on the ground creating a purple bubble harder than steel to cover him. His shield sung to the night creating an eerie music to go with the half-moon.
The High King slid his staff back inside his robes and drew his sword again as he began his dash towards the Metal emperor. The emperor didn't even flinch. Smiling, he held his arms against his steel plated chest, and flung them out drawing four knives, one attached above and one below each wrist. The High King was unmoved by this, continuing his adrenalin-charged strike. He hacked at the breastplate of his opponent only to be blocked with two of the knives protruding from his wrists. With the other wrist the emperor attempted to pierce into the High Kings left cheek. The High King reflexes were good. He ducked, rolled to the left, and then leapt up, spun once, swiping at the wrists of his foe causing the knives to drop out of their slings.
The emperor's smile widened to a manic grin as he put his hands behind his head and draw his legendary battle-axe forged from the toughest steel, well known for the incredible power captured within it.
The High King took a long step back feeling sweat run down his face. Raising his sword over his head, he brought it down upon the Metal Emperor, using all the physical and metaphysical force he could muster. There was a flash of light and sparks flew as blade met blade. The ancient power in the High Kings sword was astonishing, but the power within the axe was inconceivable.
The High King fell back, his blade shattered and his mind dazed. The emperor did not hesitate. In one quick movement he swung a sudden jolt at the High Kings neck, decapitating the High King.
The steel emperor laughed an evil laugh, which he felt was appropriate, although it was rather cliché. He then paused to hear it echo around the mountain region. Satisfied, he approached the edge of the tower and called down to those below
"Hail your new leader. Mua ha ha, ha ha ha, ha... Ha!"
A shrivelled man with dark skin, wearing blood-red robes and carrying a staff and an air of importance stepped up onto the roof of the tower. He surveyed the emperor before muttering,
"Shut up, you."
The emperor spun around. "Who dares to oppose me?" He bellowed.
The old man didn't answer, but raised his staff. The emperor saw the old mans lips moving. The spell summoned a burst of fire above the stranger, which hovered for a moment, then rounded and began to swirl.
The Metal lord was wary, but leaned forwards to see what it was nevertheless. A shrill scream pierced the emperors ears as a swarm of phoenixes and dragons poured out of the vortex. Though they were only half the size of a man, they were snorting fire and their claws were sharp. The elderly man pointed at the emperor and they flew towards him. He stood his ground, knowing that the elements were against him. Fire melts Metal was written in the ancient tomes, and so it was that night. As the dragons approached the emperor, flanked by the phoenixes, they blew at him a great fireball that burned him up. The fire-creatures quickly turned and returned to their vortex as what remained of the emperor was carried off with the wind.
By m00nstorm77
Chapter Two
The High King drew his sword. He had been on a midnight stroll with the queen when a scream had pierced the air, followed by a call to arms. Several underlings came sprinting towards them
"Your majesties, we must get you to the safety of the Top Tower."
The front one said as he signalled to more underlings running around franticly. The one who had spoke, a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion and a shaved head, ordered the underlings into a protective formation around the High King and Queen. The air whistled ominously as two boulders were catapulted over the walls one hitting a storeroom behind them filling the air with flour and another nearly crushing them but instead of the boulder hitting the hill and rolling back at them it smashed into the ground and sunk several metres into the soil
"Lets move." Said the bald man, and he led them on a mad dash for the Top Tower. The air whistled again and a volley of arrows rained down on the courtyard, hitting a few underlings on the shoulder and arms. The underlings barely noticed these wounds and kept running. The High King half-dragged the Queen, who kept tripping over her gown as tears rolled down her porcelain face. There was a collective sigh of relief as the heavy door shut behind them.
The top tower was the latest renovation made to the royal mansion at the very top of the hill. This building was five stories high; shaped in a dome except for a turret used to survey the High King's lands. The top three floors had loggias running around them.
The High King and Queen went up to the roof of the tower with the underlings. "Report, captain." Said the High King, but the captain slumped over, dead. He spun around. All the underlings were dead, and so was the queen. The High King knelt down next to her, not noticing the tears streaming from his dark brown eyes. Sensing another presence he peered up and there, standing before him, was the self-proclaimed Emperor of Metal, ruler of the East Elements.
The High King drew himself up, removing his staff from its sling on his back and sheathing his sword at the same time. He grasped his staff with both hands then slid them down to the end of the staff, drawing power as he went. He raised it high above his head and brought it down thus blasting out the force of Spirit. The elemental force blossomed out of the end of his staff. His foe was quick to respond, putting has hands together and summoning a temporary shield of Metal that reflected the force of Spirit.
The High King changed his grip on his staff. The Metal emperor held his hands up to the cloudy night sky, fingers apart and palms flat, he brought them down along with a dozen metal poles. Now it was the High King who shielded himself from these blows by slamming the end of his staff on the ground creating a purple bubble harder than steel to cover him. His shield sung to the night creating an eerie music to go with the half-moon.
The High King slid his staff back inside his robes and drew his sword again as he began his dash towards the Metal emperor. The emperor didn't even flinch. Smiling, he held his arms against his steel plated chest, and flung them out drawing four knives, one attached above and one below each wrist. The High King was unmoved by this, continuing his adrenalin-charged strike. He hacked at the breastplate of his opponent only to be blocked with two of the knives protruding from his wrists. With the other wrist the emperor attempted to pierce into the High Kings left cheek. The High King reflexes were good. He ducked, rolled to the left, and then leapt up, spun once, swiping at the wrists of his foe causing the knives to drop out of their slings.
The emperor's smile widened to a manic grin as he put his hands behind his head and draw his legendary battle-axe forged from the toughest steel, well known for the incredible power captured within it.
The High King took a long step back feeling sweat run down his face. Raising his sword over his head, he brought it down upon the Metal Emperor, using all the physical and metaphysical force he could muster. There was a flash of light and sparks flew as blade met blade. The ancient power in the High Kings sword was astonishing, but the power within the axe was inconceivable.
The High King fell back, his blade shattered and his mind dazed. The emperor did not hesitate. In one quick movement he swung a sudden jolt at the High Kings neck, decapitating the High King.
The steel emperor laughed an evil laugh, which he felt was appropriate, although it was rather cliché. He then paused to hear it echo around the mountain region. Satisfied, he approached the edge of the tower and called down to those below
"Hail your new leader. Mua ha ha, ha ha ha, ha... Ha!"
A shrivelled man with dark skin, wearing blood-red robes and carrying a staff and an air of importance stepped up onto the roof of the tower. He surveyed the emperor before muttering,
"Shut up, you."
The emperor spun around. "Who dares to oppose me?" He bellowed.
The old man didn't answer, but raised his staff. The emperor saw the old mans lips moving. The spell summoned a burst of fire above the stranger, which hovered for a moment, then rounded and began to swirl.
The Metal lord was wary, but leaned forwards to see what it was nevertheless. A shrill scream pierced the emperors ears as a swarm of phoenixes and dragons poured out of the vortex. Though they were only half the size of a man, they were snorting fire and their claws were sharp. The elderly man pointed at the emperor and they flew towards him. He stood his ground, knowing that the elements were against him. Fire melts Metal was written in the ancient tomes, and so it was that night. As the dragons approached the emperor, flanked by the phoenixes, they blew at him a great fireball that burned him up. The fire-creatures quickly turned and returned to their vortex as what remained of the emperor was carried off with the wind.