Primarch II's story continues, I apologise for the slight delay. I hope you enjoy this.
On another note, I haven't been placing the chapter names in the story so far. That starts with this chapter.
A Dream Beneath the Storm
Tempestas was not a unified world. Each eyrie was its own nation, and each settlement its own community. As such, each looked out for its own interests. Alliances between eyries may form from time to time, only to swiftly break down the moment it suited one or the other. Eyrie betraying eyrie were common occurrences, as were the small wars that broke out between individual eyries. The ones who suffered the most during these events were always the people of the smaller settlements, which were unable to field their own armies, and were forced to protect themselves by allying themselves with an eyrie, which would cost them precious resources and manpower, and if the eyrie they were allied to lost, the consequences were far more horrific.
As with all things to do with war on Tempestas, the Storm Riders were the ones to profit the most. As such, it suited them to keep Tempestas in a constant state of conflict. Many of them were involved in the political intrigue to engineer or maintain war.
Such was the way of Tempestas since far beyond the memories of the eldest greybeard.
Until the rise of the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost.
Whenever a war would break out between eyries, they would send their Storm Riders to the settlements that would be drawn into the conflict and protect them. Out of gratitude, the people of the settlements would willingly provide food supplies and fresh recruits to the Iron Roost Storm Riders, greatly strengthening them and bolstering their numbers.
Given the widespread location of the settlements on Tempestas, the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost could only protect a limited amount of settlements and they were not always successful. But stories of their efforts were widespread, and won them support and numbers until their sphere of influence came to encompass the south-eastern region of the planet.
Under their guidance, the settlements improved their defences and the skill of their guards, until they could even hold off the Storm Riders from hostile eyries.
Uneasy at this development, a number of the larger eyries had banded together to end this threat; and under the combined efforts of the alliance, several of the settlements furthest away from the Iron Roost had fallen, and its people massacred.
In response the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost had mustered their forces and met the invaders. With the Thunder Bearer at their head, the invaders were soundly beaten back the Iron Roost Riders, and Torwald had declare that no longer should the people of Tempestas suffer at the greed of the eyrie Storm Riders, and the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost would see their tyranny end.
Threatened by this, more eyries had joined in the effort to annihilate the Iron Roost Storm Riders, but always, they were beaten back.
As the leader of the Iron Roost Storm Riders, Torwald had been hailed as its greatest hero, and rightly so. His prowess in battle, his leadership and his charisma had inspired countless others to join the cause of the Iron Roost.
But he was not the only one.
Among the many names of the great Storm Riders: Adalgrim the Rider of Wrath, Gunnar the Fearless, Bard the Windblade and many more were two young Storm Riders, who had risen to prominence and became known as the right and left arm of the Thunder Bearer.
Thorondor and Gwaine.
Both were great warriors and commanded their own armies in the battles against the eyrie Storm Riders and their victories were many. But beyond the battle, they had also succeeded in improving the lot of the people under the protection of the Iron Roost.
The ancient radio communication, always made difficult by the Eternal Storm, had been drastically improved due to innovations by Thorondor. Trade was more faster and more efficient thanks to Thorndor and Gwaine's improvements on the design of the aircrafts. Weaponry, tactics and even the limited agriculture available, all were greatly improved to the efforts of Thorondor and on a smaller scale, Gwaine.
Of the many heroes that have risen to prominence, Thorondor and Gwaine's names have risen far above them, rivalling even the Thunder Bearer. They had earned their own titles: Thorondor the Storm Lord and Gwaine the Lightning Rider.
Yet despite the advancements made, the Iron Roost Storm Riders have been on the defensive in battle, advancing very little beyond their borders. It was because they still did not have the numbers needed to go on the offensive without leaving their lands vulnerable. They were building their numbers.
This would continue for a decade.
II II II
Thorondor and Gwaine climbed the winding stairs leading up to the tallest tower of the Iron Roost. They had both been summoned by Torwald.
Though the invading eyries had been continuously repulsed for the last decade and morale was high throughout the settlements, in the Iron Roost, the mood was grim.
Though his strength and skill had not diminished, the Iron Roost Storm Riders could see the tell-tale signs of Torwald's advancing age. Slowing reaction, the decreased stamina, the great weariness that he revealed only in private and the general decline in his health; and there was the fact that lately, Thorondor and Gwaine had been the ones to lead the Storm Riders into battle, not Torwald.
No one would say it, but everyone knew the truth.
The Thunder Bearer was dying.
He had already been old when he had first met Thorondor and Gwaine, but because of his presence and his undiminished fighting prowess, none had really noticed it until recently.
Not even Torwald could defeat Father Time.
Now that Thorondor and Gwaine, Torwald's most trusted lieutenants since the conflict began had been summoned to meet in private, many feared the worst.
II II II
Thorondor and Gwaine found Torwald sitting on rock on the platform at the highest point of the Iron Roost overlooking the sea. Tor stood on a higher outcropping, keeping watch over his partner silently.
The view was spectacular; the rough seas of Tempestas stretched out to the horizon, with numerous settlements and smaller landmasses dotting it. The Eternal Storm loomed above, though it was unusually tame that day, with pillars of weak sunlight streaming through parts of it.
Thorondor and Gwaine took up position on either side of Torwald, respectfully remaining silent, waiting to be addressed.
The Thunder Bearer said nothing for a long moment, silently gazing at the view. Finally he sighed.
"Truly, Tempestas is vast," he said. "In all my life, I've travelled to countless eyries, seen much of Tempestas...yet, I feel that I've only seen a tiny bit of what Tempestas has to offer."
Torwald leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Yet, from what little I've seen, we're all the same people. We all live beneath the same Eternal Storm. We are all blessed by it. So why? Why do we insist on inflicting such misery upon each other? Why do the Storm Riders of the other eyries, who should be the protectors of our people, care only for profiting from their suffering? Why do they care only about exploiting the very people they should protect?"
Thorondor and Gwaine listened, captivated by the passion they heard in Torwald's voice. They could feel his love for Tempestas and her people.
"I'm old; I can feel my time approaching..."
"No, Master," said Gwaine softly.
"Please don't joke about such things, Master Torwald," said Thorondor with a sad smile. "We would all be lost without you."
Torwald chuckled, which ended in a series of harsh coughs. "No, you wouldn't. The Iron Roost will be fine when I'm gone. I have lived long and seen much; I am certain of this. I am certain because of you two."
"Master..."
"This will be my final command to you, Thorondor. Gwaine, you shall be witness to this," said Torwald, turning to face them at last. Every single year of his life seemed to be etched on his face, but his eyes blazed with determination.
"When I die, you shall lead the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost, Thorondor."
Thorondor and Gwaine stared at Torwald silently for a long moment. At last, Thorondor knelt before the Thunder Bearer. Even kneeling, he was still taller than the sitting Torwald.
"Master, I fear my shoulders are not broad enough to bear this burden..."
"There is no one more worthy, my lad," said Torwald firmly. "I have spoken to other elder Riders, and they have all agreed."
Torwald coughed again before smiling. "Besides, you won't be alone. You have Gwaine. Alone, both of you are great, but together...ah...the possibilities are beyond my imagination."
"Master Torwald..."
"It is decided then," said Torwald in a voice that would brook no argument.
Torwald turned to gaze at the view. Thorondor and Gwaine both wanted to speak but it was clear that Torwald could not and would not be dissuaded. The Thunder Bearer smiled a little as he took in the view.
"Do you know what I dream when I sleep...no, even in my waking hours?" said Torwald softly. "I dream of our people, free from fear, strong and proud and supporting each other. I dream of the eyries at peace with each other, working together for the betterment of all. I dream of us, the Storm Riders, fulfilling our sacred duties as guardians to our people, not the glorified mercenaries we have become. I dream of us sacrificing our lives for the sake of our people, not for greed."
Torwald stood, the movement clearly paining him, but he stood proud and tall, looking up at the Eternal Storm rumbling above. A ray of sunlight, weakly penetrating the Storm, shone on Torwald, haloing him in grey light.
"I dream of us all, united beneath the Storm. Can you imagine it? Can you imagine such a thing?"
Torwald sat back down wearily. He raised a trembling fist to the sky, as though trying to grasp it. He smiled wearily to himself.
"If I just had twenty more years...I might have been able to grasp that dream."
Behind him, Gwaine had lowered his head, weeping silently as he listened to the Thunder Bearer's words.
Thorondor had closed his eyes and allowed a single tear to fall.
He swore to himself, to Torwald, to Tempestas that he would see the Thunder Bearer's dream come true. It would be his dream and the dream for all Tempestas.
Tor let out a cry that echoed throughout the Iron Roost.
II II II
Torwald the Thunder Bearer died a week later. He had died on the platform overlooking his favourite view from the peak of the Iron Roost.
Thorondor had succeded the him as the leader of the Storm Riders of the Iron Roost. His elevation had been met with great approval amidst the mourning.
Thorondor's first act had been to grant the Iron Roost Storm Riders a new name, a name they would carry into battle, through which they would shoulder Torwald's dream.
The Thunder Bearers.
His second act had been to declare the beginning of the War.
The war to unify all of Tempestas.
I hope you enjoyed that!
Just a few notes about this particular chapter...
The scene with Thorondor, Gwaine and the Thunder Bearer was actually inspired by a scene in a manga called Kingdom by Yasuhisa Hara. You can find on any manga browser I think, the particular scene I'm talking about is in Chapter 45. It's a pretty good manga.
Until the next chapter then.