Shout Outs...
RandomTopic: I make it a point not to tell anything before I post it.
Enilas: Glad you enjoyed it. -Tosses more flattery about- What?
Maxmagnus20019: I doubt it'd be that much of a reaction, although Innes' reaction alone would be worth doing it like that.
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Chapter IV: Ancient Horrors
During my early teens I once attempted to learn magic. The less said about it the better. I was as talented in magecraft as a stone is talented at flying. The only 'magic' I know is some cheap sleight of hand. Yes, a card trick will truly make my foes cower before me.
Tyr: The Fall of Nergal
The two worst things I've heard began innocently enough. The first was when Sain tried to seduce Rebecca by asking her to be his cupid. As she was upset with him before then she nearly became just that, only without an arrow of love and one of the iron-tipped varieties. The second came from Hector's mouth. He said 'Hey! Watch this!' The less said about what happened, the better.
Tyr: The Fall of Nergal
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Deep inside Grado Keep two men gathered outside the throne room, each looking apprehensive as a woman joined them. "General Duessel." The lone female of the three, a well endowed blonde woman with a calm demeanour addressed an older man in red armour, his hair and beard greyed somewhat.
"Selena." Duessel addressed. "Have you been back long?" He asked. "Tell me, how fares the campaign in Renais?"
"Signs of chaos abound." Selena sighed. "Brigands ride without fear, and the peasants' cries fill the air.
"Hmm..." Duessel mused to himself. "If Grado's troops do not enforce order, the situation will only worsen. And still, His Majesty has given us no orders. Perhaps, just this once, I should take the lead..."
"What could His Majesty be thinking?" The third general, a blonde haired man in brown armour added. "Breaking our long-held alliance with Renais-invading without warning... He's never been this way before. He abhors violence." He said to his companions who addressed him with silence. "And have you noticed the recent promotions? Who are they going to? Certainly not to the soldiers who have Grado's best interests at heart. I fear this invasion is the prelude to a much larger war. I feel as though His Majesty is no longer the man we knew him to be."
"Glen, it doesn't matter what any of us might think of our orders." Selena replied coolly. "We are his servants, and we will not question His Majesty's intentions."
"I know that Selena." Glen barked back. "And yet..."
"That's enough. Both of you." The older Duessel commanded. "His Majesty summons us. Let's hope we can learn a little during our audience."
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"...I appreciate your work in fulfilling your orders." Emperor Vigarde said in his deep, yet calm tone. "You are the hammers that drive the nails of the empire's will... You will continue to operate ...without hesitation... wherever I send you." He added in an almost eerie tone.
"By your command." Duessel said, he and his fellow generals kneeling respectively before their lord.
"In Your Majesty's name." Selena said softly.
"Yes, sire..." Glen added with a frown.
"...However, I know this..." The emperor continued, seated deeply on his throne. "You, my Imperial Three, lack the strength to conquer the remaining nations alone. In the invasion of Renais, certain soldiers performed beyond expectation. I have chosen them to join you as new generals in the empire's service. ...Come." He beckoned, the throne room doors opening to allow three men to walk in. "...The performance of these men surpassed even your own. With the addition of these three... The empire will have six generals strong enough to conquer this land. Do you understand?"
"Heh, heh, heh..." The first let out, the older man rubbing his hands together. Despite the air of malevolence he gave off he was dressed in the cloth of a high ranking bishop. "I am Riev, given the name Blood Beryl by His Majesty. I know I am a newcomer, but I pray for your favour." He said with a nod of his head.
"...Understood." Duessel said curtly.
"I'm Caellach." The second began with a grin, his near black armour polished to a fine sheen, short brown hair on his head. "I was a mercenary, fighting in the desert. Seems I'm to be called Tiger Eye..." He added with a smile before looking over Selena approvingly. "You're a fine-looking lass, aren't you? Yeah, I'm gonna love working with you." The man said with a smooth chuckle, the woman's silence being her only response.
"So we meet again." The third spoke out, Glen's eyes moving to lock on to the crazy-seeming fellow with flowing hair. "You know me as General Valter, but you will call me the Moonstone. I'll save you worthless dogs from your own incompetence. You'll thank me later."
"Valter... You scum!" Glen let out with a growl.
"Peace, Glen." Duessel commanded before things could get out of hand.
"Selena. Caellach." Vigarde continued. "You will bring me Frelia."
"Yes, sire." Selena said crisply.
"Sure." Caellach chuckled. "Good as done."
"Reiv. Duessel." The emperor added. "You are charged with the defence of the empire. ...I will speak to you individually with more details later."
"Heh heh heh..." Reiv let out. "Understood, Your Majesty."
"By your command, sire." Duessel added.
"And me?" Valter asked, a grin forming on his face.
"Valter, Glen... I have other duties for you..." Vigarde replied.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Glen asked.
"Renais has fallen, but Princess Erika still eludes us..." Vigarde spoke; a hint is disgust filling his voice. "Her brother, Prince Ephraim, leads a resistance within our borders. Bring the siblings to me."
"Ha ha... Of course..." Valter chuckled with a smirk, Glen offering no response save glaring at Valter's head.
Soon all six generals would leave to complete the tasks set out for them. The moment the doors to the throne room closed the emperor slumped in his seat, as if he had fallen into a dreamless sleep.
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With her bracelet recovered, Erika sets out with renewed determination. Passing through the ancient forest Za'ha brings them close to Grado's border. As they near the town of Serafew, Erika's fears are assuaged by the lack of troops.
But never-before-seen terrors crawl in the shadows of the trees.
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"Place reminds me of Dread Isle..." Tyr muttered with a shiver as the group traveled through the forest.
"Dread Isle?" Colm asked he sat beside him, guiding the horses that pulled Tyr's wagon along.
"Back in Elibe, during the campaign against Nergal we traveled there twice." Tyr explained. "Always gave me the creeps. This... This area gives me much the same feeling of dread..." He muttered, looking ahead as Seth led the march, Erika beside him. Behind him Merlinus and his two wagons followed, Franz and Neimi with the first, Gilliam and Garcia the second. Ross and Moulder traveled on either side of his own wagon while Vanessa kept watch over head.
"Yeah, you're some great war hero guy, huh?" Colm asked.
"Something like that." Tyr shrugged. "I'm sure whatever was said was exaggerated."
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"We're approaching Serafew, at the border of Renais and Grado." Seth began. "Once we cross, we'll be in Grado... Renvall won't be much farther."
"That is, assuming we can cross the boarder without mishap..." Erika muttered before lifting her head, her eyes widening slightly, halting her march. "Oh! Look! Over there!" She cried out, Seth turning his head to look. Gasping slightly he saw them, hunched over figures with grey flesh. "Those strange figures... What... what are they? Are they... human?"
"I've never seen anything like it." Seth called out as the troop stopped moving, Tyr hopping to the ground to approach them. "What could they be?"
"What's the hold... Father Sky, what are those things?" Tyr cried out as he looked over the figures, creeping through the forest, some towards them.
"I was hoping you had an idea." Seth admitted.
"I've come across nothing like these!" Tyr replied. "And I sure as hell don't remember seeing this in any text at the academy!"
"So... What then?" Erika replied as Tyr drew his sword.
"To arms..." Tyr replied. "I doubt these beings are here to invite us home for tea..."
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"What have we done to deserve the trails before us?" A young man with a mop of orange hair asked, peering beyond the village walls as strange figures stalked about the countryside. "What is happening to us? How could such abominations walk our lands while the Sacred Stones protect us?" He asked, his female companion remaining silent, frowning as she thought. "Lute, please, it's dangerous outside the walls. Stay here in the village." He implored his purple haired friend, two lengths of her mane resting on her chest.
"Those are revenants, aren't they?" She asked. "They were the vanguard of the Demon King in the days of darkness. The Tome of Nazania describes them in chapter two, section seven, paragraph eight."
"You know of them?" The youth asked.
"Duh!" The girl replied dismissively. "I'm a prodigy. I can recall most everything I see or hear. According to the book, revenants attack using razor-sharp claws. Sounds painful, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, er, well... Be that as it may, I must go aid those travelers outside." The youth replied. You should stay here within the safety of the village."
"Very well." The girl replied with a nod. "I don't mind staying here. In fact, it seems the smarter choice." She added as her companion ran out of the village gate. "Magic is far more powerful than any monster's claws. The thickest hide and strongest armour are useless against magic's power. Yes, I suppose I could have studied swords, but only magic is worthy of me." She smiled to herself, self-assured. "Even if this village were to be assaulted by monsters, I could defend it perfectly."
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"Whatever they are, they don't seem to be in a hurry to get us..." Tyr mused watching as some of the strange figures walked towards his group, a few more which seemed to be armed skeletons joining them. "But until we know more we have to be careful, they could be lightning fast and are just hiding it." He added as Vanessa landed her steed nearby.
"I doubt that." Seth scoffed, his sword drawn.
"As do I, but rule nothing out." Tyr added. "These things look inhuman, and while I have dealt with such things before they took human form and had human weaknesses. We've no idea of these things."
"Wait! Wait!" They heard, a man in white robes rushing over to them, arm waving.
"Now who is this?" Seth asked as the man stopped before them, taking a moment to calm his breathing.
"Travelers, you must listen to me!" He cried out. "The ancient forest of Za'ha is dangerous."
"We've noticed." Tyr replied with a scoff.
"Head south and pass through this place before the fiends surround you!" The youth continued on, seemingly unfazed by Tyr's comment.
"And you are?" Tyr asked, tilting his head.
"My name is Artur." The youth explained. "The temple has assigned me the task of cleansing the forest of these... things. There are so many of the fiends, though. I wonder if I stand much of a chance alone. So if you would, please flee now while you have the chance."
"Fiends?" Erika replied. "You're not talking about the same fiends that served the ancient Demon King? That can't be right... They're nothing but legends and fairy tales..."
"So are dragons." Tyr replied. "And I've seen one and had to guide my people to kill it. Not fun."
"Indeed sir. But I felt the same when I was told." Artur replied. "And yet here they are. This place is filled with them."
"Agreed sir." Vanessa replied with a salute. "I've scouted the area, there are at least thirty, but some maybe obscured by the trees."
"Wonderful..." Tyr groaned.
"I wonder how far they've spread..." Artur mused aloud. "Surely they're not in Renais alone."
"But... why are they here? How?" Erika asked with a sigh.
"Beware, Your Highness!" Seth cried out. "Something approaches!" He called out, moving himself ahead of Erika as what Tyr could only call a large floating eyeball with tendrils flew over towards Artur.
"Please allow me to deal with this." Artur replied, pulling a tome out of a bag at his side, gripping it in his hand. "Evil shade! May the blessed light drive you from this land!" He cried out, waving his free hand about as light collect about it before casting it at the eyeball, burning a hole through it's pupil and sending it crashing to the ground.
"Well cast Brother!" Tyr said with a nod.
"We ought to help." Seth added, moving over towards Tyr. "He can't fight them all alone. Do you have orders?"
"I'll have them in a moment." Tyr replied.
"One of my companions is in the village south of here." Artur added. "If you can get someone there swiftly, I implore you to watch over her safety."
"Very well." Tyr added. "Vanessa, make it over there on the double!" He called out, the pegasus knight nodding before taking flight into the air, guiding her steed. "Franz, Seth the village to the east, get men upon the walls then make way back here and guard the wagons. Do not get hit, even if you must retreat to do so, I'm taking no chances with these... creatures."
"Aye sir." Seth called out, gesturing to Franz as they took off, noting a creature that seemed to him like a rotting corpse approach at a slow run. "Neimi, shoot that!" He called out, the girl wordlessly loading her bow and sending a missile at the thing, hitting it's head and causing it to stumble slightly. "Good shot! Erika, you're the swiftest one here, take it down but as I said, do not get hit."
"Right." Erika replied, drawing her weapon and approaching the inhuman being at a swift pace, quickly thrusting her sword out, the being leaning away before swiping at her with it's claws. Erika took a half-step away before thrusting her sword again, this time catching the monster in the throat, it's body going limp, slumping to the ground.
"At least they seem to die as if they were human..." Tyr mused. "Erika, you and the good brother will accompany me. Gilliam, take Moulder and Colm with you while Garcia takes Ross and Neimi. Travel slowly and be careful. We meet across the bridge to the south and we'll continue from there. Move out!"
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"Bloody hell!" Tyr cried out, locking swords with an skeleton, it's putrid smell assaulting his nose. "How can such a thing have no muscles but be so... STRONG!" He let out, the creature's power forcing him off his feet and to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Erika flow past her own foes blade, her rapier stabbing at what one could only hope were vital organs as Artur dodged another floating eyeball.
Scrambling to his feet he was barley ready for the next attack, deflecting the attack enough to slash at his foe, the creature leaning away from him and slamming his stomach with a closed fist, forcing the breath from him. The monster's sword arm raised again as a feminine cry rang out, Erika rushing across the field, sword pointed forward as she leapt into the air, tackling the creature sword-point first. "Thank you, Your Highness." He replied, coughing slightly.
"I still owe you one more." The princess replied as Artur's spell dispatched his foe.
"These things are not as tough as I had feared." Tyr said, gasping slightly. "There are just too damned many of them."
"We'll make it through yet." Erika replied, turning her head. "Artur, to your left!" She called out, the monk already casting his spell before spotting his target, the hunched figure rushing him only for a blast of light to decapitate it's head.
"I hate to be a pessimist, but that seems a ways a way yet." Tyr replied as the trio began to walk south once more.
"Just stay close to me so I can protect you." Erika replied with a shake of her head.
"Now you're starting to sound like Lyndis." Tyr groaned. "And Eliwood. And Hector... Marcus... Never mind, everyone says that to me."
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"Hm?" Vanessa let out as she landed her pegasus, a purple haired girl stepping over to her.
"Your flesh shows no sign of putrefaction." The girl mused. "It seems you're not a revenant." She added tilting her head. "I've decided to join you in battle now."
"Ummm..." Vanessa let out. "Very well then if you are willing and able to fight. Who are you?"
"My name is Lute." The girl said somewhat smugly. "I'm a mage of superior wisdom and rare ability. I've been reading up on these revenants. They are, quite simply, no match for me." She said, adjusting her robes. "I am superior after all." She added as the knight's eye twitched.
'Remember what Tyrland said Vanessa.' She thought to herself. 'Never turn down free help.' "Very well then, we could use someone who knows what we are dealing with."
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"Hi-ya!" Ross called out, his axe cutting a zombie's head off it's body as his father tossed two more away, the pair trying to tackle him to the ground. Nearby Neimi let out cries of fear in between launching arrows, each landing with deadly efficiency. "For such a cry-baby you got damn good aim!" Ross called out, bashing a charging skeleton with the butt of his axe.
"S-sorry..." Neimi let out, her next arrow puncturing the center of a floating eyeball. "I promised Colm I'd stop..."
"Hey, if you keep hitting targets..." Ross barked back, stepping away from two more of the clawed beasts. "Cry all you want!"
"Less talking!" Garcia bellowed out. "MORE HACKING!" He roared out, rushing across, cutting both monsters in two with a single stroke of his axe.
"Right Dad!"
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"Stupid thing!" Colm let out, driving his short sword into the belly of a skeleton, severing it's spinal cord.
"This seems to be a rather strange thing." Moulder admitted, remaining close to Gilliam who rammed his lance through a zombie. "Where do these things come from?"
"Don't know." Gilliam replied, a zombie getting close enough to lash out with a claw but unable to do more than scratch his armour's paint. "Don't care." He added, backhanding the thing away.
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"Oh, my!" A blonde haired girl with a regal air said, viewing groups of humans battle a strange array of beasts from atop a cliff. "Those travelers are besieged by the agents of evil!"
"Ha ha ha!" A man laughed out with wild forest green and a thick matching beard. "Right you are, Lady L'Arachel!"
"I cannot allow this to happen!" L'Arachel cried out, pounding the bottom of a fist into an open hand. "Come! We must charge down these cliffs and rush to their aid!"
"We charge down these cliffs, and the only thing we'll be rushing to is death." A roguish man added, brushing aside some of his brown locks. "How about we find us a nice gentle path down, hm?"
"Ah..." L'Arachel replied, tapping at her chin. "Yes, well... Let us hurry nonetheless. I cannot abide those wicked beasts running amok!" She added as she turned her horse about and guided it parallel to the cliff.
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"Everyone here?" Tyr asked as the group gathered about the bridge. A few people responded and a quick look about confirmed that everyone was present, in addition to a purple haired girl. "Very good, now then... we've only one left, but this one looks bigger and meaner." He addressed, pointing to the lumbering figure down the road.
The previous zombie-like creatures took on a skin colour of grey or purple and were as tall as he, but this one was a putrid green and stood a head taller. Boils on the creature's skin oozed yellow puss, and where some of the creatures had hair this one had none, only a scalp that looked half peeled off. "Gilliam, deal with it. Neimi, Artur, provide support and stay away from it." Each one nodded and slowly approached the beast. As if sensing their intentions the inhuman thing lurched towards them before moving at a slow, staggered jog. Neimi quickly prepared an arrow, firing it into the creature's heart, Artur's magic light following it and slamming into it's abdomen.
Despite the burning skin on it's belly the beast charged still, straight at Gilliam, arm outstretched for a strike as the knight of Frelia stepped into attack, shield smashing into the monster's face. The thing barley staggered and swiped again with a claw, Gilliam blocking with his shield as another arrow lodged itself into the creature, this time hitting the neck. Yellow puss oozed from the wound as Gilliam pushed it back, slamming his lance into it's torso with one quick strike. The monster let out a low growl, struggling on the weapon it was impaled on, only for a bright light to smash into it's head, blowing half of it away. A piece of it's piece missing it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
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"We've killed all the monsters." Seth said as Moulder ran about healing whatever wounds were incurred. "Still, we'd best burn the bones to ash to be sure they don't return."
"I still can't believe what we've been fighting here..." Erika added with a sigh.
"I can't believe we came out of it in as good a shape as we did." Tyr sighed, rubbing at his gut.
"I'd thought those fiends nothing more than myth and legend." Erika continued.
"Those revenants are said to be the least of the dark creatures." Seth replied. "And yet, the weakest of them could outmatch any normal man."
"I've noticed..." Tyr drawled out. "Thank Father Sky for above normal people. Yet we still cannot take a threat like this lightly."
"Oh, yes. There are much worse than those revenants and the entombed..." Lute said smugly. "Let's see, there's the bonewalkers, mauthe dogs, gargoyles, baels... Why, I'll bet you just about any creature of lore could be walking again. Yes, we're in for some trouble. Even my fabulous power may not be enough."
'Just what the world needed...' Tyr sighed mentally. 'Someone with all the talent of Erk, and enough arrogance to make Serra seem humble.'
"O divine light, show me..." Artur began as he prayed. "Is this a sign of dark days to come?" He added before walking away.
"Lute." Tyr began. "Gather whatever text you can on these... monsters and have them brought to my wagon. I need to know what in the blazes we're fighting if I'm to combat them."
"But of course." Lute said. "Although why you've not educated-"
"Chastise later." Tyr sighed. "Work now." He added, the girl nodding before walking off.
"By all that's holy Tyr..." Erika began as Seth went over, barking orders for Ross, Garcia and Franz to help burn corpses. "What is happening?"
"I cannot say." Tyr replied. "We should, head back to Frelia and regroup. At least that's what by old teachers would say. Pressing forwards seems foolish right now as we risk getting caught between Grado's troops and monstrous hordes."
"Tyrland..." Erika said, softly setting a hand on his shoulder. "I follow your point, and after this event nothing would please me more than running to safety. But what of my brother? He and his men are trapped in the same situation we are. I know full well that this path may lead to dangers beyond this, but..."
"I thought you'd say as much, Your Highness." Tyrland said with a nod. "I said once if you went to find your brother that I would follow. I am at your service Princess Erika, and am at your command."
"Thank you my friend." Erika replied. "Thank-huh?" She cried out as a woman on horse back charged over to them, two men following her. The first held a massive axe in his hands, the other wearing a cloak much like other thieves Tyr had met.
"Aha!" The woman cried out. "Foul creatures, beware!"
"What in the name of Brother Flame is going on?" Tyr asked, dumbfounded.
"I, L'Arachel, bestow upon you the honour of banishment at my blessed hands!" The woman cried out, the princess and the tactician quickly sharing a confused glance as the woman stopped before them, peering about. "Oh... Where are the monsters?" She asked.
"Well, we just finished..." Erika began before the strange woman cut her off.
"Ah, glad tiding indeed!" The woman cried out. "The heavens must be rejoicing! I am... a tad disappointed however. After all, I did rush all the way here to show you the splendour of my might."
"Gwah ha ha!" The bearded laughed out. "It's a real shame, innit Lady L'Arachel?"
'Why do I always find well meaning people who are more than a little insane?' Tyr thought to himself. 'Serra, Bartre, Canas, Sain, and now this pair? Father Sky, help me please!'
"What's shameful is the way you drag us around the countryside." The woman's other escort sighed.
"Pardon me, but... who are you?" Erika asked, raising a hand.
"Me?" The woman said. "Since you ask, please allow me to introduce myself. "It is I, the true light and glory of the sacred realm of Rausten..."
"Stop!" The bearded man cried out. "Lady L'Arachel, you mustn't continue! You cannot reveal your true identity here!"
"Oh, yes, you're right." The woman replied. "Oh, I get so careless sometimes! Now, I must ride off in anonymity. Oh, how beautifully romantic!"
"Uh... Right." Erika replied.
"Of course Lady L'... I mean, Lady Anonymity." Tyr said sarcastically.
"Fare thee well strangers." The noble woman called out. "Perhaps our paths will cross again. Come, Dozla! Rennac! We ride!"
"Gwah ha ha!" The bearded man laughed. "Let's go, Rennac!"
"All right, all right!" The other man sighed.
"...What was that about?" Erika asked as the trio rode away.
"I don't want to know." Tyr replied. "But that was... Somewhat amusing..."
"Yes... Somewhat..."
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"Disturbing... Yet admittedly fascinating..." Tyr mused in his wagon, reading the first text Lute had suggested to him, Tome of Nazania, an oil lamp providing light. The tome was a combined history of the war with the Demon King, his sealing away by five great heroes and the sacred stones.
More importantly he found some information on the monsters they had fought, and others to prepare for.
The zombie-like beings were revenants, one of the lesser beasts. He had slain a few en route with difficulty. Erika merely flowed about them with grace, slaying them with reasonable precision, but a still inexperienced hand. 'By war's end she'll be quite the warrior though.' He chuckled to himself. 'Maybe even a match for... No, no... No one could match her... Not to me...' Shaking those thoughts loose he continued his former thoughts. They were slow, stupid and as easily killed as any man, however some seemed to... change or evolve into entombed, such as the greenish monster that guarded the road. Not much faster but far stronger than it's counterpart.
Bonewalkers were the walking skeletons with swords, lances or bows, and were somewhat stronger but no smarter than their revenant comrades. Still, that strength was shown when one overpowered him, requiring Erika to rescue him. Vowing to learn more of the sword to better guard himself, he continued on noting that the bonewalkers had a counterpart as well, the wights, which were darker in colour.
Mogall were the floating eyeballs that used what appeared to be the dark elder magics, much like shamans, a thought that gave him the chills. He only thanked that Artur would join them, the monk's magic would continue to be a boon against such a foe. But still, would they encounter the yellow eyed arch mogalls as well?
Tarvos and their higher and darker form mealduin reminded him of centaurs of legend, a man's torso fused to the body of a horse. Wielding axes and bows he shuddered to think such a foe could exist, but he had fought the proof that very day.
Mauthedoogs, or maybe they meant mauthe dogs, along with the three headed gwyllgi were wolf-like monsters that sounded rather terrifying to him.
Even then the lance wielding gargoyles and darker deathgoyle seemed worse, winged monsters carrying death with their weapons.
The gorgon had no better form, but a snake-woman seemed bad enough as it was.
The cyclops also had no better form, but anything that stood taller than two men and had the strength of ten probably didn't have one to start with.
The worst of what he read though were the bael and the red elder bael, massive spider creatures that sucked the blood and marrow from human bones.
He had stared into the eyes of a dragon. He had led forces against that dragon, and won no less. Yet the mere thought of these admittedly evil but indefinitely weaker monsters scared him? Then again he still could remember that dragon.
It haunted his nightmares still...
Setting the tome down on the desk he reached for a second as a knock sounded on the door. "Enter." He called out; the door opening as Erika stepped inside, closing the entrance. "What a surprise this is Your Highness."
"I know it's late, am I disturbing you?" Erika asked, as she stepped closer, Tyr looking out the window.
"Oh, it is late..." He muttered, rubbing at his face. "No, you're not. In fact if you hadn't arrived I'd most likely forget the time and read till the morn."
"The tomes Lute gave you?" Erika said, sitting down on the bed.
"The one thing a tactician needs to know is everything!" Tyr cried out. "These monsters are like nothing I've needed to deal with before! Even Nergal's morphs were, to a point, human! This scares me..."
"Scares you!" Erika exclaimed, looking him over. "After what you've gone through?"
"I'm human." Tyr sighed. "I know fear. Hell, I stared down a dragon and my only coherent thought was 'make it close it's eyes'. It stared into my soul... Sky did it stare..."
"I thought that was a rumour..." Erika gasped, covering her mouth with a hand.
"Hardly..." Tyr replied. "Everyone was scared. How could you not be scared! Azure crammed all the possible scenarios that I could find myself facing into my head, and as much as we differ on opinion those lessons shaped all my strategies but no one told me what to do against a bleeding DRAGON! The only thing that saved us was I cried out 'close it's eyes', because Pent and Lucius snapped out of it long enough to slam a pair of spells into it's face and blind it long enough for me to formulate something at which I'm amazed even worked!"
"Wow..." Erika sighed. "It's just... Everything I've heard of you said you were some paragon of tactics, you'd never break a sweat over anything..."
"That's the problem with rumours..." Tyr replied. "They overstate everything. Hell, when I spoke with the old sage Athos he mentioned Elmine became a healer because she came from a home with an abusive mother and drunk father and was raped by her brother and never wanted to see pain or suffering again, devoting her life to peace and love. But you talk to anyone in the church that bares her name today she was born from a virgin mother, walked across a lake to heal a blind man and give him sight, and flowers bloomed at her feet, and her family was loving and nearly as saintly as she. They turned her into a paragon of virtue, but Athos said she was human before being given sainthood and human after forming her church, and perfectly human when she died and ascended to her rank of Patron Saint of Holy Light."
"...I think I can understand..." Erika let out. "I remember hearing tales of King Hayden when I was a little girl. They said he was a fierce some sage who once gleefully blew apart a bandit horde. I was terrified of the thought of meeting him, and yet when I did... I found one of the kindest and gentle of all men." Erika said shaking her head. "I'm sorry; I suppose I got stuck in the legend of the man, not the man in the legend."
"It's quite fine." Tyr said, shaking his head. "We all do it at sometime. Just very few of us ever met the man rather than just hear the legend."
"I prefer the friend to the legend myself." Erika stated as she stood up. "Good night Sir Tyrland, I hope you've the most pleasant of dreams." She added before curtseying slightly, leaving the wagon.
"Pleasant dreams..." Tyr muttered as he blew out his oil lamp. "Haven't had any of those for awhile now... Invasions, monsters... No reason, none at all... I fear pleasant dreams will elude me... This feels like not a war but a prelude to something far more sinister..."