The Wheel and the Great Tomb of Nazarick
A FAN FICTION BY BUF_BUODA
CHAPTER 5
A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for your interest in my story. I really appreciate the reviews this story gets - it feeds me MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I do not own Overlord or The Wheel of time - regardless of how much I wish I did.
As usual, thanks to the amazing guys at atheistbasementdragon's discord for the ideas you bounce back and forth. Thanks to my RL betas as well - I know y'all find fiction of this sort boring, but that's what makes you perfect for catching errors.
Dominic Ihre Partouche looked at the woman kneeling before the Cardinals with a stern expression on his old, kindly face. As the Cardinal of wind in the Slane Theocracy and a former Sunlight Scripture himself, he'd been chosen to commission the newly reformed Sunlight Scripture, and send them on their first mission. The other cardinals held their peace and allowed him to take the lead.
"Raise your head, Chenna Grid Lain - and stand to your feet," he said to the woman in a voice like a kindly old uncle. Rising to her feet, the woman stood at attention. She bore some slight resemblance to her late older brother. Blonde hair cut short framed a face that was too strong to be called beautiful. Yet she was attractive in her own way. She was tall - as tall as most men - and was built like a dancer. Her lips were curled up slightly in a permanent mocking half smile. She had been set for the Black before the death of her brother Nigun. Now, she burned with zeal at the opportunity to avenge him. She jumped at the chance to lead the newly formed Sunlight Scripture.
Like all candidates considered for the Black, her faith was not the most outstanding thing about her. Her strength was. She could cast spells up to the third tier, and her mana reserves were larger than normal. But her real talent was that she could cast any spell she had seen more than twice before, irrespective of class, as long as she recognized it correctly as a spell, had the mana required to cast it, and was of sufficient level to use it. This made her an exceptionally dangerous foe in a world where third tier magic was legendary. Her weapon of choice was a pair of sabers, and she was proficient enough in it. Combined with the martial spells she had amassed, she was a real danger to anyone outside the Black.
"We have word that the Kingdom has sent the crown prince to investigate the village close to where Nigun was last seen, and presumably killed," began Dominic, hands together under his chin.
"Before our surveillance was disrupted, we gathered that the magic caster Nigun faced was none other than this infamous Ainz Ooal Gown, the one who forms the foundation of the casus belli the Empire is using this time. He purports to claim ownership of this Carne Village, and of E Rantel as well."
Dominic watched as the slight smile the lips of Chenna disappeared. Now, her face was totally emotionless.
Steel entered his kind voice, lending credence to the rumors of his supposed legendary temper.
"The maiden mission of the new Sunlight Scripture will be to join the army of the fool prince under the guise of clandestine reinforcements from the Slane Theocracy, and to capture at least one high value target from the village that can give us information on this magic caster. This village is obviously of importance to this Ainz character, but he will be on the battlefield and unable to intervene personally. This is a good chance the gods have presented us."
"Rules of engagement, sir?" asked Chenna.
"The usual," replied Dominic, leaning back. That was the signal for other cardinals to weigh in.
"It is vitally important that you do not carry out any actions that might antagonize the Kingdom," said Raymond in his soft voice. "Our agents are contacting the heads of the factions with our offer of support as we speak. They will explain our former official stance as a misdirection."
Dominic spared a glance for the former Black Scripture. He was the youngest on the seat of Cardinals, and sometimes, his faith seemed decidedly lacking to the Cardinal of wind. Only Raymond had argued against sending the Sunlight Scripture to Carne. He did not want to "antagonize the magic caster unnecessary," as he put it. Though he was the commander of the six scriptures, Dominic had moved for the Cardinals to vote on the matter. Ginedine had predictably voted against him, and with Raymond, but they were alone.
"You will make haste," said Ginedine in his scratchy voice. "As things are, you are already cutting it very close. No more time can be wasted. You must make contact with Barbro before they engage."
Dominic looked around, but no one else had anything to say.
"Thank you, Cardinals," said Dominic. Turning to the woman, he dismissed her.
Silence reigned as she took her leave.
"It begins," remarked Raymond dryly.
"Yes," said the Pontifex Maximus. "May the six favour us."
Chenna rode hard, her fellows scripture members behind her. They were not as numerous as her brother's unit, but they were all mounted. Besides, against a village, there would be no need for the full unit. One might be mistaken for underestimating her unit - they were only thirty after all. But they would be sorely mistaken. Her unit was primarily a magic unit, specializing in summoning magic and AOE attacks. Yes they were competent swordsmen, but that was not their primary skill.
The five she sent out as outriders had returned about half an hour ago. They were a few minutes from Barbro's army. The lack of any screens had diminished whatever respect she might have had for the prince.
'What a fool,' she thought to herself.
As her unit arrived, she noticed that the fool had stopped. He and his four hundred or so cavalry had clustered in the middle of a box formation by the foot. She stopped a good distance away and hailed him, sending the second seat under a white flag to talk to them. A few minutes of negotiations, and the rest of her unit joined the army, waiting for the foot to break apart and joining the cavalry. She rode up to the prince.
"Well, well," began the fool, looking her up and down in what he must have assumed was a regal manner.
'Great Surshana, help me.' she prayed inwardly. While she was not as devout as the other scripture members, she had always felt an attraction to the god Surshana. She could accept him as her patron god more easily than the others.
"Seems like your nation has decided to back the winning side," said the prince, practically preening.
Barbro didn't like this hard faced woman. When he saw her, he'd been a bit flustered at her slightly mocking smile. He had used his best regal voice on her, but it didn't seem to have its normal effect.
'Fool women. This is why they should not be doing unnatural things. Like that freak, Renner.' thought Barbro.
The woman had refused to insert into his chain of command i.e. under him. She told him in that dead voice of hers that she was not under him, but would support him as her instructions had ordered. He took a few moments to calm his rage at the whore as he imagined the knights snickering at her statement.
Just as he was nursing his fantasies of retribution, a knight brought him the news that they had arrived Carne.
"Huh?" He said out loud as they came in sight of what was supposed to be the village.
There was a wall around the village, with a gate and watchtower.
'A village with a wall? This might take longer than I expected. At least they still fly our banner over the gate' he thought.
"My prince," said one of the knights that had approached to get them to open their gate.
"What is it?" snapped Barbro.
"They have refused to open the gate, my prince. They claim… They claim that there is… That there is dung all over the ground, and they need time to clean it up," replied the knight.
"Tell them to open the gates this instant!" screamed Barbro. He couldn't believe that these peasants would dare embarrass him in front of foreigners this way.
Minutes passed. The gates remained closed.
"These fools are toying with me," muttered the prince.
"Get archers to set the village on fire. They are all traitors," he announced.
The knights blanched.
"My prince," one began.
"Are you going to contradict my words also?" asked the prince in a deceptively calm voice.
The knight swallowed.
"No, my prince. I merely wanted to point out that we would not be able to interrogate them that way," the knight said, his face white with fear.
"Hmm," said Barbro, thinking aloud. After a pause, he amended his order.
"That's actually true. In that case, set their watchtower on fire. That should wake them up."
"What is going on?" asked Egwene. Perrin glanced at her. She was seated at the table, and looking worried, her tea forgotten for the moment. They had all heard the start of the commotion outside.
Before he could answer though, Mat already started replying.
"We're all in here together, you know," he began, a tinge of mockery evident in his voice. "How would you bloody expect us to know? We don't have mysterious powers like… Ouch! What the hell was that for?" He glared at Perrin before the door opened and Moiraine stepped in with Lan. The Aes Sedai's face was grim.
"The village is under attack," she began without preamble. Unfastening her cloak, she sat at the table. She glanced at Rand, and he jumped to fetch her some tea.
'How does she do that to us?' wondered Perrin.
Perrin liked to consider things carefully before speaking, but it seemed obvious what the next question would be. Loial beat him to it though.
"By whom, Moir - mistress Alys?" the Ogier asked.
"The Re Estize Kingdom has sent soldiers to find out what is happening in the village. Apparently, news of this Ainz Ooal Gown has reached the capital. From what Enri has been able to gather, the crown prince is out there too." Moiraine replied. She paused, sipping her tea.
Perrin could understand how the villagers felt. He had never realized that the Two Rivers was part of Andor till he got to Baerlon. Even now, it still baffled him. He was sure that the Two Rivers would react the same way.
"Enri is trying to buy time while they hide the goblins and ogres, but it's not working too well," continued the Aes Sedai.
That gave Perrin some pause. While he had noticed wariness in the eyes of the villagers as they worked with the goblins and ogres, he had assumed that it was at least normal. The effort to hide them told him that his assumption was wrong.
A shout went up from outside the house.
Moiraine said nothing. With her cup in hand, she looked like a lady at a picnic.
The door burst open and the goblin named Jugem rushed in.
"Mistress Alys, Master Andra!" The goblin panted out.
Perrin tensed even more. The panic in the goblin was evident.
"Yes, master Jugem?" replied Moiraine.
"Enri nee-san requests your party's presence," he replied, panting. He was wearing more armor than before - arm guards, greaves, as well as a gauntlet.
"We will be there shortly," Moiraine replied the goblin, and he stood off to the side waiting.
"Master Andra," said Moiraine, maintaining their alias. "Please saddle our horses and meet us. Take the boys with you." With that, she swept off after Jugem with Egwene and Nynaeve in tow.
Perrin was silent as they saddled the horses and led them out. Lan was unapproachable, as usual. Leaving the stable with their animals, they followed the warder to Moiraine and arrived at a strange scene.
The smell of burning wood filled the air. The villagers were in a state of barely checked rage. By the gate, the watchtower was in flames - definitely the source of the burning wood smell.
Enri had asked the crowd a question, and they had just arrived to hear the resounding "No!" that the crowd gave in answer.
A portly, dignified, and ageing man spoke,
"Enri chan, this means that we need to evacuate the women and children. If they can get to the woods, they might lose the army in it."
"You're right," replied Enri. "We need to organize that."
Turning to the kindly woman beside the man, presumably his wife, she asked,
"Ila san, would you help organize those who will be leaving?" The woman began to smile and answer when the man interrupted her.
"Enri chan, we think that you should lead that particular group."
"Eh?" protested Enri. "I won't leave you all here to die. I still have the second horn Ainz sama gave me."
"No!" The old man and Jugem protested at once. Looking abashed, Jugem let the old man speak.
"No, Enri chan. You must leave it till you get away with the children. You will need it them more than ever."
"I believe we can be of assistance," said Moiraine in her melodious voice.
A hush fell over the crowd as everyone turned to her.
"How?" many people asked.
She pointed at Lan.
"He will hold the gate, and the I will support him - along with the others. That will force them to commit men here. Then you and the children can slip out of the village without too much pursuit. Loial will join that group."
"Alys-sama," began Jugem. "If you will, allow the ogres to take point. We will fight just behind them, and your man can mop up the rest."
Perrin noticed that this was the first time the goblins had addressed Moiraine as 'Alys-sama' as opposed to 'Mistress Alys', which was the way she introduced herself. Moiraine must have noticed it too. However, all she did was smile and nodded her agreement.
Lupusregina Beta watched the proceedings with keen interest. She had noticed the shaggy haired boy with the newcomers. He reminded her so much of a young pup.
'Uwaaa… So appealing… Focus Lupu!'
Not to mention she preferred the older one. He looked so attractive to her.
'I wonder what his screams will sound like? Probably just sharp intakes of breath. He doesn't look like the screaming type.'
Her mind wandered again.
She had contacted Nazarick as soon as it became clear that Barbro was coming to Carne. Her instructions were to watch, observe, and only interfere to protect those three. When the Slane Theocracy soldiers joined, she had contacted Nazarick again. The only change in her instructions was to try and capture one or two of the Slane Theocracy soldiers that caught her fancy if they joined the attack. She was also told to contact Ainz-sama directly for whatever new updates that might occur.
With this new declaration from Alys, she decided to watch them closely to assess their level of threat to Nazarick. Seated on the wall, she crossed her legs to get comfortable for the show.
Enri panted as she raced for the tree line. It had all started out well. The shock value of the ogre triplets was very useful. It had taken quite a bit to hurt one of them badly - mostly because Moiraine did something that made arrows useless, using the wind to make them veer of target. His brothers had grabbed him, and the three of them had gone inside to deposit him by the wall, before taking their position at the gate, narrowing it. The goblins fanned out, focusing on protecting the flanks of the ogres as best they could. They fought well for a while, but they were only twelve. Eventually, the first men made it through the centre in a group of four, one taking an arrow in the eye from the boys who had stayed with Moiraine and were sending arrows into the press as quickly as they could. The goblins could do nothing about it - they were hard pressed protecting the flanks of the ogres already. Lan stepped up to meet the trio in the first offensive action he had taken since the fight began. The stray arrow had flickered towards him initially before the infantry closed, but he somehow remained unarmed, flicking them away with quick swipes of his blade.
In a burst of motion, Lan flowed and the trio died. The ones behind them died moments later as well. There was no other way to put it. She had never seen swordplay like his before - completely different from the style of fighting the goblins used. He fought like he was dancing. His blade flickered, and men died. They died first in two's and threes, as they were forced to narrow due to the fighting of the goblins. The bodies began piling up, cluttering the battlefield as the men pressed Lan, trying to break past him. it made no difference. The whirlwind of death that was Lan gave the ogres the freedom to focus fully on defending their flanks with the goblins as well, yet the change of focus of the ogres did nothing to help the men dying in the centre. The huge man was untouchable. Panic spread, and the first rush of soldiers ended suddenly with no goblin down, and the huge man completely untouched. Some of the more enterprising goblins grabbed dead bodies and used them to form a barricade, solidifying their position. Jugem had glanced at the huge man then, question in his eyes, before turning back as his offer of backup was turned down just as silently. The soldiers pulled back from the defending party, but more specifically from him. The knights had not joined the initial attack, but now they did, cantering up through the gaps the infantry mob tried to create for them in twos and threes. Their plan was obvious - they were going to charge him with the hope of running down the position.
The woman Alys had other ideas though. She stepped forward and smote the ground with her slender staff, spreading her hands wide. A wall of fire abruptly rose in front of the now charging cavalry. Enri could feel the heat even from behind the walls, and the goblins and ogres shied away, hands over their eyes. Lan stood unmoving, as though the heat was nothing. The first group of horses tried to come to a halt, but their momentum was too great. Horse and man crashed through the flames, and the horses went mad, throwing their riders, armor and all, ass over appetite, to land either in, or on the other end of the wall of fire. Everything was on fire. Men died as they were smashed to the ground, the weight of their armor working against them. Men died as they landed awkwardly, on necks and faces. Men died as horses trashed and fell on them. Men died as they rolled on the ground trying to extinguish flames that burnt with unnatural ferocity. The ones that managed to stumble to the waiting blades of master Andra and the goblins were already mad with pain, and were easily put down.
Then ten strange soldiers appeared; and with them, summoned angels. The first wave crashed through the flames and killed all the remaining goblins, as well as the two ogres who were caught completely by surprise (except Jugem whose fast thinking saved him). Going for the goblins first was what saved the lives of the diminutive woman and the huge man called Lan. She'd done something, and made the air around her so compressed it was a blade that slashed through the eight angels that had targeted her.
Andra defeated the remaining two angels that targeted him. But more were on the way, all focused on them now.
Enri had bigger problems of her own. They had tried making a break for the trees, with the older children carrying infants and smaller children and running as hard as they could. However, more than fifty horsemen had targeted them, and were racing them to the treeline to intercept, circling the wall of the village. The one called Loial had stopped behind them and turned to face the oncoming horsemen, but Enri knew it would be a futile gesture.
'If I don't blow this horn now, I'll never get to blow it again,' thought Enri desperately as she clutched for the miniature horn hanging from her necklace, nails scraping the slopes of her bosom as she tried to dig the horn out while running. Putting it to her lips, she blew.
The first time she blew the horn all those months ago, it had sounded small and flat, like something of that size should. This time though, it was basso and loud. It reverberated deep in her bones, and filled the air. A moment later, and another horn answered her, every bit as deep as hers. It came from the woods ahead of them. The answering horn began to blare out a marching tune, and the most wonderful sight she had ever seen appeared.
There were goblins. Not a dozen like before. Not even a hundred. There was easily an army marching out of the woods. Ranks and ranks of goblin soldiers in different units marched out. The infantry of heavily armored goblins quickly put themselves between her and the children, and the formerly chasing (now dumbfounded) cavalry. She might not be able to read the expressions of Loial, but she'd bet her last copper that the ogier was stupefied beyond measure. Their armor glittered in the sunlight. They bore wicked looking halberds, and white, rectangular shields on their backs. They soon put the halberds to good use as they closed on the now paltry enemy cavalry. Less than a couple of minutes later, the pursuing soldiers were no more. The whole thing happened that fast.
All the while, the goblins kept on coming. All the while, the horn kept blaring.
She saw what looked like goblins riding. The riders poured round the goblin heavy infantry, and she saw their mounts clearly. They were riding wolves, jet black, or snow white - great armored monsters almost the height of a man, silent as a wolf gliding across the forest floor, even with the armor. The black wolves had armor the same color with their fur, and the goblins on them were armed with bows and curved swords dangling from the saddle. The white wolves had heavy looking white armor edged in gold. The riders carried lances and wicked looking maces. Under the sound of the heavy infantry's boots, the riders were eerily silent. They circled the village, the black wolves accelerating ahead of the more heavily armored white wolves, clearly looking to flank and harass the enemy before the smash from the white wolves.
All the while, the goblins kept on coming. All the while, the horn kept blaring.
Behind the heavy infantry, lighter armored ranks had started to emerge. Goblins with bows as tall as the bearers, quivers bristling with arrows. Goblins with massive crossbows, three goblins per crossbow team, with bolts that looked like they could punch through a horse. Goblins with slingshots and javelins. These wore what looked like leather armor, and their helms were open enough to show the terrible visage of 'angry goblin'.
All the while, the goblins kept on coming. All the while, the horn kept blaring.
Behind these, came goblins that were evidently magic casters. Heavy robed, staff wielding goblins. Flashes of light flickered around them as they cast buffs on the soldiers ahead of them. Their purple robes seemed to swallow the light around them, yet it was nothing compared to those among them who wore robes of the deepest black.
And still the goblins kept coming.
Enri sat down hard on the grass. A group of around 30 heavy infantry had detached from the main army and stayed with her as the army marched the way the pursuers had come, shield bearing heavy infantry forming the first rank, and drawing short swords she hadn't seen initially. The army was evidently seeking to provide the anvil for the smash by the circling wolf-riders.
A smartly dressed goblin with a hand fan walked up to her, surrounded by three other goblins.
"Enri sama," he said, bowing. The goblins with him all saluted smartly, and the infantry that formed their guard as well.
"R-Raise your heads please," Enri stammered out.
The hand fan goblin raised his head, a mixture of adoration and eagerness in his eyes.
"I am Sun, the goblin Strategist of your glorious army. Would you be so kind as to come watch as we smash the fools who dared oppose you?"
There was quite a snarl in his voice as he spoke about Barbro and his army.
"Glory to Enri sama!" chanted the goblins around him, stamping their boots. Enri felt like her face would catch fire.
Chenna watched dispassionately as goblins poured from where the knights had gone trying to circle the village in case anyone tried to flee.
"Sunlight Scripture! Alpha formation!" she shouted.
Her men broke away from Barbro's army, and formed two ranks facing the goblins. The first rank of twenty, and the second of ten, the gate temporarily forgotten. She herself remained behind them. The twenty would summon angels, and the ten behind them would buff the summoners, and by extension, the summons.
"Summon Archangel flames!" she ordered.
Twenty archangel flames, powerful third tier summons, rushed at the goblin line and began to decimate it. The heavy armor did not matter much, at least to the archangels. Their swords of light cleaved through amour and flesh with equal ease. The kingdom soldiers tried to rally and reform lines to deal with the threat, utilizing the chaos the angels brought. Out of sight, the gate was promptly designated as Barbro's responsibility.
However, screams from the far line drew her attention. Goblins on horses, no wolves, had began to maul the flanks of the kingdom army. She spared no glance for them just yet.
"Call back your summons," said a gravelly voice just below and behind her. As she tried to turn to the voice, she suddenly realized that there was a blade at her neck. A goblin in blank ninja attire was perched on her horse with her, the wicked sickle in its hands at her neck. She swallowed, and slowly raised her hands as if in surrender.
'Underestimated again. Praise Surshana.'
With that, she threw herself backwards at the ninja, slamming into it, and taking them both off the horse. As she landed, she felt a crunch from the ninja beneath her. Rolling off, she saw the pitiful thing crushed beneath her weight. Driving her blade into its neck, she felt near orgasmic pleasure as it died. She straightened to see a red haired beauty in a maid outfit leaning on her horse and clapping while staring at her, a wide smile on her face.