Ch. 6
Before the Storm
The crimson haired ranger stepped from her bathing room as a series of light knocks summoned her to the door of her chamber at the Consulate. Tightly wrapping her towel about herself she threw back wet hair and lifted the latch, allowing the door to swing open. A messenger boy looked up at her, blinking at her silently. She arched an eyebrow, and still the boy said nothing, simply returning the gaze with a stare. Finally with a small chuckle she reached forward and gently pushed up on his chin to close his mouth.
"You have a message for me or what kid?" she smirked.
"Wha? Oh!" he exclaimed, frantically searching his bag before pulling out a letter and raising it up to read, "Spearmarshal Kormir requests your presence in the Council Hall… immediately. The Elders are gathering to hear the words of the Spearmarshal and those who commanded her forces in Fara…Faharah…" the boy paused, peering at the word as he tried to pronounce it.
"Fahranur?" Rakiv suggest helpfully.
"Thanks!" he smiled and nodded as he continued, "Fahranur, the First City. It is a matter of some urgency, and she cordially requests your attendance."
The boy nodded as he rolled up the scroll and handed it to Rakiv.
"Thanks," she smiled, turning to retrieve her purse from the table, "Here, for your trouble."
"Thanks miss!" he exclaimed excitedly, cupping his hands as he accepted the gold coins she handed him.
"No problem kid," she nodded, as she turned away.
"Oh… uhm…" he raised a hand and then paused nervously.
"Hmm?" she asked, one hand resting on the door.
"Are… are you really the Rakiv Maelstrom?" he asked curiously, "From the Battle Isles? Nobody believed me when I said I had to deliver to you…" he chuckled lightly.
"Mmm, I am," she nodded, and then gave a small smile, "In fact.."
The towel clad ranger turned towards the belts of her gear which hung over the coat rack near the door. Popping the cover off the top of her quiver she retrieved one of her many crimson fletched arrows and handed the feathered end to the boy.
"Wow! Really?" he gasped, hesitantly reaching for it.
"Don't run with that," she cautioned.
"Oh no miss I won't!" he responded eagerly as he accepted the shaft, "Thank you!"
"Go on now," she chuckled, "Other people are waiting for their messages."
"Yes ma'am!" he snapped to an almost comically stiff salute, before rushing off down the hall.
"Don't run with that!" she shouted after him, and then gave a sigh and a shrug, "Oh well. Not my kid."
She turned back inside, shutting the door behind her and striding towards her wardrobe. A croak came from the crocodile who was lazily sunning himself on the broad balcony of her room.
"C'mon Butter, better freshen up," she called as she let the towel slip to the ground, "Looks like we've got a court date to make."
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Rakiv and Butter strolled the halls of the Consulate, eventually reaching the oaken doors of the Council Chamber. The ranger paused to tighten the straps of her quiver about her waist and straighten the leopard skin around her hips. Satisfied, she pushed open the doors, Butter waddling in before her as she slipped in behind him. The chamber was filled, Sunspears and politicians had gathered in the large amphitheatre seating that circled around the central floor. At the head of the chamber stood a great stone desk, carved out of the very rock that formed the foundation of the room itself. At this desk sat a number of men and women, all of extremely advanced years.
A general murmur rose from the crowd as questions circulated as to why the Council had been called, while others questioned what exactly had taken place in Fahranur. Rakiv surveyed the room, before catching sight of a red gloved hand in the air as Kydar waved to catch her attention. The ranger nodded in his direction, descended the stairs and scooting past several delegates before taking her seat next to the elementalist. She gave a sigh as she looked around and glanced over to Kydar, who was busy reviewing the contents of a scroll he held across his lap.
"Man," she commented, "Full house. This better be quite a show."
"Oh it will be," Alendra leaned forward from her seat on Kydar's right, "I hear Elder Suul is furious."
"What? Cause we went in without Council approval?" Rakiv blinked.
"And we got most of the quarry miners killed," Anicara said, from her seat beside Alendra, "And we lost many good men in there. And we destroyed a national and historical monument."
"Oh… right," Rakiv grimaced, beginning to understand exactly how much had gone wrong.
"Oh, and some of the undead escaped," Kydar added, not looking up from his scroll.
"What?" Rakiv blinked, "When!?"
"Mmm if I had to guess I'd say it was somewhere between the part where the army that woke them up retreated…" Kydar said, looking up at the ceiling as though mired in deep thought, "Aaand the part when the whole ruin crashed in on itself. Probably somewhere in there," he nodded sagely to her.
The ranger glared at him and shook her head. She sat back in her chair and folded her arms, propping her legs on the empty seat in front of her. The Sunspears had succeeded in entering an evil ruin and destroying a wicked creature. But when the collateral damage was summed up, the victory seemed somewhat hollow. There was the fact that had the Apocrypha gone unchecked, it likely would have burst from the city someday and terrorized all of Istan. But theories and conjectures meant little against the facts they faced.
"So… what do we have on the credit side?" Rakiv asked.
"The testimonies of a few survivors," Anicara answered without enthusiasm.
"But we proved that there was evil in the city!" Alendra offered, "The undead proved that!"
"Undead that might never have left the city if Kormir hadn't opened it," Kydar commented.
"Well… what about the miners? The whole… purple glowy thing you know?" the Castellan blinked.
"If I know anything about old farts like these," Rakiv sighed, pinching her nosebridge, "They'll harp on the fact that had she left the western jungles alone, none of this would have happened at all."
"But it would have happened eventually!" Alendra protested, "And it would have been much, much worse!"
"Which…" Kydar said, "Is a point I might be able to support… if I can finish translating this…"
"Is that what was on the tablets?" Rakiv asked, peering over at the scroll.
"Mhm…" he nodded, "Unfortunately the original writer died while making these, and the tale was resumed by his First Lieutenant… whose chiselmanship wasn't nearly as neat…" the elementalist paused before lifting the tablet and pointing to a glyph, "Does that look like a 'acth' or a 'sheh' to you?"
The ranger glanced at the tablet, then up to the elementalist, arching a brow. It was only in looking at him that she realized he was indeed serious, and he raised both eyebrows in curiosity.
"Why would I…?" she began, before heavy rapping on the grand desk called the court to order.
"Let it be marked that on the 35th day of Phoenix in the year 1275 of the Dynastic Reckoning, this High Council of the province of Istan was called to order," an elder stated, rapping his gavel on the desk.
"This court calls Grand Spearmarshal Kormir to the floor," Elder Suul ordered, "To answer for the actions of the Sunspear order in the ruins of Fahranur, the First City."
Rakiv peered down towards the floor, where the Spearmarshal rose from her seat. She was flanked by Koss and Dunkoro, and Melonni as well. Kormir however raised a hand to them, and all three sat back down.
"Why's Melonni down there?" Rakiv hissed to the others.
"She wanted to testify about the whole dark forces thing," Alendra leaned across Kydar to explain, "But Kormir said that since Mel's just a wandering dervish who's not in good standing with the Warmarshal's court, her appearance on the floor would only hurt us."
Rakiv nodded as she returned her attention to the proceedings, as Kormir strode to the center of the floor and gave a short bow to the Council.
"Spearmarshal Kormir," an ancient council member seated next to Suul began, "You have petitioned this council for the rights to excavate Fahranur under the supervision of the Sunspear order. You were granted permission, and access to diggers at Quarrymaster Bohanna's discretion. You were not, however, authorized to unseal the city, nor to lead any incursions into it until such time as the council could verify the necessity of such actions, and ensure the safety of the miners!"
"Now as Spearmarshal," the woman next to the man said, "You of course wield full authority in matters of defense and emergencies… such as the corsair invasion that washed up on our shores. However, this was a domestic matter, in which your orders placed civilians directly in harms way!"
"Spearmarshal," Suul spoke, "How do you answer to these charges?"
The chamber was silent as the Spearmarshal took a step forward and spread her hands before the Council.
"Esteemed council members," she said, "The facts in this matter are grave indeed. It is with a heart burdened by sorrow for those lost that I stand before you today. I weep for the brave miners who faced such horror, and for our honored dead who now lie with their forebears."
The Spearmarshal paused, raising her eyes to the council as she lifted a hand high.
"But the whispers of darkness have crept across our island for far too long," Kormir said, "Beset by legions of brigands and evil men, we have all felt the sting of wickedness as it slipped into our cities, our homes and our very dreams! My visions showed me the shroud of blackness in the heart of an ancient city, from whence this malice came. And as hatred and fear were spread across this land, that evil grew stronger still. For centuries it has slumbered, waiting and watching for the day it might rise once more against us."
"You have seen the undead forces, have you not?" she said, pointing up at the bench, "You have heard the tales, skeletons in ancient armor now stalk our shores, seeking to destroy the living. They are but remnants, the last vestiges of the power that slept in Fahranur. And had they slept but a little longer, we would face an army of darkness that would wash over Istan like the tides o're the shores. You would say that blood was spilled, lives that could have been saved. But I say to you that it is by the courage and bravery of those lost that we and our children shall live!"
A single cry went up from the gathered Sunspears in the hall. As one they called in a loud voice, "Arra! Arra!" before settling into silence again. Elder Suul banged his gavel for silence, glaring at the crowd before turning his attention to Kormir.
"Your speech is all very well and good Spearmarshal," the elder said, "But we have yet received no proof that the evil within was so great as you claim. Our own Necromancers make the dead to walk and rise from their graves."
"The state of the miners bodies is indeed cause for concern," the ancient one next to him said, "But I for one will require yet more evidence to be persuaded."
"Of course council," Kormir nodded, "Which is why I have summoned forth another testament to the growing evil. A close ally of the Sunspears, and close friend of mine… I would like to call to the floor General Yurukaro of the Zaishen Order."
Rakiv perked, looking across the floor where a red clad figure strode from her seat. Her clothing was distinctly Canthan, bound by straps that held her armor together. A long sword hung at her side, and she rested one hand upon the pommel as she calmly strode to the center.
"Hey… Karo is here," Rakiv smiled.
"You know her too?" Anicara blinked in surprise.
"Mhm," Rakiv nodded.
"You've got friends in some very high places…" Alendra commented with a note of awe.
Rakiv simply chuckled as the Zaishen general took the floor, snapping a fist to her chest and bowing sharply to the council.
"Council members," she elocuted through a distinctly Canthan accent, "I am Yurukaro Kanjian, Grand General of the Zaishen Order. We are the Blades of Balthazar, his mortal servants in this world. For months our far-seers have beheld a growing shadow in these lands, and the threat of a danger and a terror that could threaten our entire world. Three weeks ago our High Prophet was struck by a vision. He said that he saw the lands of Elona, engulfed in shadow and its people destroyed by demons. Our scribes have recorded his prophecy and we have brought it that you may review his words."
A red clad soldier rose from the crowd and marched to the desk, sharply thrusting forth a series of scrolls which Elder Suul accepted. Saluting quickly the soldier returned to his seat as Yurukaro continued.
"The vision was so powerful, and terrible that it struck him unconscious, and he remained so for three days," she said, "However, before he lost consciousness he uttered two words."
"And those were…?" Suul queried.
"Nightfall comes," Yurukaro answered.
Immediately the chamber came alive with whispers and murmurs of shock and disbelief. Rakiv glanced over at Kydar, who scribbled madly across the scroll, transcribing the last few lines from the tablet.
"Order! Order!" Suul demanded with rapid taps of his gavel, "General Yurukaro this is truly grave. The last prophecy of Nightfall was a thousand years ago, during the time of the Primeval Kings!"
"Then heed these words council," Yurukaro said, "As the Blades of Balthazar we cannot stand by while this evil begins. It must be cut down, and snuffed out… before the world is consumed by it."
"Pardon me," the female elder spoke up, "But how does any of this pertain to the events at Fahranur?" she asked, "The prophecies of Nightfall, while grave in their own right, are unrelated to the Spearmarshal's actions in the First City!"
"Objection!" Kydar shouted from the audience.
The entire hall turned to look at the elementalist, and the girls blinked at him.
"What are you doing!?" Alendra whispered
"Sir at this time…" Suul began with an exasperated sigh.
"The First City has everything to do with the Nightfall prophecy!" Kydar said, standing up and attempting to edge out of his row, "Excuse me… pardon me… could you move your… thank you," he nodded as he hopped away from the seats and made his way down the stairway.
"Uh… Scribe Raelesin is our honored guest and a representative of the Academy," Kormir blinked in confusion, "He has also been helping us with translating the inscriptions found in Fahranur."
"Assistant Professorial Scribe Kydar Raelesin, College of Historical Records," he introduced himself, "Your honor I can prove to you that the incursion into Fahranur was not only necessary, but that the city is directly related to the Nightfall event!"
The council deliberated for a short moment, speaking one to another before Elder Suul finally nodded.
"Make this quick Scribe Raelesin," the elder said.
"Thank you sir," Kydar nodded, as he unrolled his scroll, "I have here… a translation. Well… wait, can I start over?"
As the elder gave a frustrated groan, Rakiv smacked a palm to her forehead and shook her head.
"Oh gods…" Alendra murmured, caramel cheeks coloring with embarrassment for the scribe.
"Kormir, get him off the floor…" Rakiv muttered under her breath.
"Sorry!" Kydar chuckled sheepishly as he placed the scroll on the desk and produced the tablets from his pack, "During the investigation of Fahranur, we discovered that the path to the inner sanctum was sealed by these four keystones, crafted to shut the way into the inner city. We retrieved them all and I have spent the last two days translating them. The tablets are a log, written by Sunspear Guard Commander Ehaz Mirunde, acting commander in the absence of the Spearmarshal. The log chronicles the several hours of Fahranur's last day."
"I suppose this is going somewhere?," Suul sighed.
"It is!" Kydar promised, "Commander Mirunde explains that he was present in the court of King Jahnus, when the final decision concerning the Scarab Plague was made. The Plague was destroying his empire, and Jahnus had consulted every source in an effort to save his kingdom. Mirunde says that the king had taken a heretic into his council, and that the entire court had agreed to consort with 'dark forces'. Their deal was going to be that in exchange for the City, Jahnus would receive the means to become immortal and spread his empire across world. According to this, Jahnus agreed."
"Thus calling evil to Istan," the female elder nodded, "But what of Nightfall."
"Getting there," Kydar said, "If you continue reading the text, it becomes clear that the Commander is against this, but doesn't know what to do about it. The king and his men perform this ritual to the, again vaguely named 'dark force'. It says that upon beginning the ritual the king was empowered, and this passage says.. 'called forth an army of bones, corpses of long dead warriors who strode forth to do his bidding'. The king's new army killed the entire court, and attacked the citizens of the city, most of whom were helpless and suffering from the Plague anyway. Mirunde recalls fighting for his life as the king completed his ritual and summoned 'a great stone monolith'. "
" 'And thus it spake,'" Elder Suul read, peering through his spectacles, " 'Yea, I am the word of the 'dark force'. Surrender this world to darkness and thy life shall be everlasting… and thy kingdom forevermore…' ?"
"Yes," Kydar nodded, "The rest was apparently not caught by the Commander's ears, I imagine because he was preoccupied with surviving the undead. But one more important passage he did hear was, 'Sunder the holy temples of this land, cast down the high places of the gods. Then shall shadow overcome the light, and night shall fall over all'. Now this is where it gets tricky!" he said enthusiastically.
The elders watched as the scribe placed several scraps of paper on the desk beside the scroll.
"During the translation I had trouble with this, because some of the language was so vague," he said, "But the end part here, 'night shall fall over all', it's a mixture of the ancient verb 'to come' and the word for 'night' or 'darkness', which would have been horrible grammar for the language. But, I went through your archives to find a copy of the original doomsday prophecy and found this!"
He smacked one piece of paper and pointed to the word he'd written on the scroll.
"The word used by the Commander is the same word used in the original prophecy," Kydar exclaimed gleefully, "It's the ancient Elonian word… for Nightfall!"
A small murmur went through the council chamber and Elder Suul nodded slowly.
"Rather impressive Scribe," he nodded.
"Wait! There's more!" Kydar said excitedly, "The narrative breaks off after Commander Mirunde is killed, but is continued by his first officer. I might add that the second guy's chisel-work is frustrating, but it illuminated two very important things!"
"And they are?" Elder Suul asked.
"He names the monolith that Jahnus summoned," Kydar said, "He's calls it the Apocrypha. Now to you or I, an apocrypha is the secret writings of any sect or religion. But that name came down from the ancient Elonian word for the writings of a heretic sect, the Book of Secrets. That tome is said to have been given to humans by the Margonites, before they were wiped out in the Crystal Desert, and it is said that the tome contained the secrets to destroying the world. That is what this is! The Apocrypha is the secret, and the instructions it gave to the king were exactly those secrets to destroying the world… instructions for bringing about Nightfall!"
From the crowd Rakiv looked up. He was on to something… something big. She glanced to the other girls to speak, before the elementalist continued and Alendra shushed her.
"Finally," he said, "This is one that has plagued our scholars for years. In the surviving texts of the Scarab Plague, there were vague references to some kind of 'dark force', a word that is intentionally without a specific meaning. The theory has been that it was an alternative to naming the subject of conversation, because they were afraid that speaking its name would invoke it. But that's not all it was! The symbol that we thought was a word, is really only half of a word, one that the ancient Elonians never wrote in full. The First Lieutenant, in talking about the Apocrypha, states that when he and his men slew King Jahnus to end the undead's rampage, Jahnus uttered a final word as he died."
The elementalist paused for effect. The elders looked at him curiously, before Elder Suul gave a sigh and took the scribe's bait.
"And the word is?" he asked patronizingly.
"Abaddon," Kydar said gravely.
Silence fairly rang through the hall, all eyes forward as a feeling of dread washed through the chamber.
"The word 'dark force'," Kydar explained, "Is pronounced 'Addo'. When placed between these two symbols, the entire pronunciation changes, and it becomes a new word altogether. The evil in Fahranur, the shadow seen by the Zaishen seers, the nightmares that have haunted the Spearmarshal and our Kournan guest Melonni," he said, pausing again to lick dry lips, "The dark force that promised a Primeval King everlasting life… that, is Abaddon."
The council members turned to one another, whispering amongst themselves before finally turning back to face the rest of the hall.
"We shall have to deliberate upon these matters," Elder Suul stated, "For the time being however…"
He was interrupted as the door to the hall burst open, and the young messenger boy who had delivered Rakiv's letter earlier stumbled in. The crowd turned to the source of the crash as the boy struggled to speak through gasps for breath.
"Demons!" he managed, "In the city!"
"Son, this is the Council Chamber!" Suul began angrily.
"No, wait!" Kormir said, "Child, what has happened?"
"They attacked… attacked the south docks," he panted, "They're head for… the marketplace… and the archives! They're killing everyone!"
"Sunspears!" Kormir shouted, "To arms!"
A shout went up from the hall as the gathered soldiers leapt to their feet and made for the doors.
"We shall postpone these proceedings!" Suul shouted, attempting to be heard over the noise, "Until such a time! As we can accurately ascertain!"
"Spearmarshal," the ancient elder next to Suul called, "The council grants you full emergency powers at this time. Please defend our people."
"Yes, Councilman," she responded.
"Zaishen!" Yurukaro ordered, "To battle!"
Rakiv rose from her chair, drawing her bow from her quiver and giving Butter a nudge with her foot.
"C'mon boy," she said, and then paused as Alendra and Anicara rose to follow her, "Shouldn't you two be out there already?"
"We're still your agents," Alendra explained, "Kormir assigned us to your command until further notice."
"Oh," Rakiv nodded, "Well in that case… Kydar!"
The scribe was busy attempting to stuff his scrolls, pages and tablets back into his bag, giving small yelps as papers fluttered out of his grasp.
"Just a minute!" he called.
"We don't have a minute!" she snapped.
"I'm coming!" he responded, trotting up the stairs.
"Move it!" she barked.
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The Kamadan Marketplace was usually a scene of life and business. Traders, merchants and sailors from all over the world came to the port city to do trade for goods that could only be found here, in the Jewel of Istan. Stall vendors always opened early, prepared to hock their wares to the first ships of the day. Fortunes had been made here, and the wealthiest merchants ensured that their stores always offered the best goods to the traveling sailors.
Now it was a place of carnage and death. Inhuman creatures rampaged through the wrecked stalls and overturned carts, attacking and slaying anything in their path. The city soldiers and the Sunspear guard fought valiantly against these horrors, but they were too few against such evils. The heavy doors to the Consulate burst open as armed Sunspears and Zaishen charged forth, shouting battle cries as they marched into the marketplace. Sensing fresh blood to spill, the demonic fiends turned upon these new foes, rushing mindlessly into the fray with slavering shrieks and savage barks.
Rakiv's party exited the consulate as the battle began, the human forces clashing with their demon foes. Alendra and Anicara glanced about as Kydar finally caught up.
"They just keep coming…" Alendra observed with horror.
The nightmarish horrors poured through the grand square, galloping away from the southern docks and the Churrir gates.
"We have to stop this at the source," Rakiv growled, as she pressed to fingers to her mouth and gave a peculiar whistle pattern, "Let's go!" she ordered.
The party charged forward, as a similar whistle answered the ranger. She responded with another whistle pattern as Alendra and Kydar forged their way through the fray. They reached the tents on the far side of the market where Rakiv ordered them to hold their ground. A frigid lance spiked one demon through the back, before Anicara beat it into oblivion with her staff. Kydar blasted a flare into the great maw of an approaching demon, before whirling to thrust a fist upwards as another charged at Alendra. The attacking monster was blasted by a burst of liquid flame that spiked out of the ground, melting it on contact. Rakiv turned in circles, grimacing as yet more hostile creatures closed in. A moment later a spear thrust forth and a longsword flashed as Kormir and Yurukaro emerged from the chaos.
"Sister Maelstrom?" Yurukaro blinked, "Kormir did not tell me you were here."
"It is good to see you too Sister Kanjian," Rakiv nodded, "But we will talk later. We have to stop the source of these creatures, which by the looks of their movements, is somewhere near the Churrir gate."
"We cannot reach them through this mob!" Yurukaro responded, cutting down an opponent with a punishing swing of her blade.
"Through the archives!" Kormir called, "This way!"
The Spearmarshal raised her shield and bulldozed her way into a crowd of approaching horrors. Rakiv and Yurukaro moved in behind her, the warrior's golden phoenix sword flashing with every stroke as the ranger's arrows zipped into her targets. For a moment Kydar, Alendra and Anicara could only watch as the three women moved as one, a single human machine of death. As Kormir defended, Yurukaro swung her blade, and while Rakiv loosed her shafts into the mob, the Spearmarshal blocked for her.
"They've done this before…" Anicara blinked.
"Let's go!" Kydar cried as he dashed after the trio.
The party attacked the stair way, Yurukaro and Kormir leading the way, knocking demons aside or beneath them as Rakiv followed to finish their kills. The rookie three trotted to keep up as the three women reached the top of the stairway and brandished their weapons. The Archive plaza was in equal disarray, though fewer demons had attacked here. Bodies lay across the square, and a scythe handed beast drew its arm out of the torso of its victim as it turned to glare at the party.
"Look!" Rakiv called, pointing towards the archives entry.
The majority of the demon forces were focused on the door, prying at it and struggling to draw it open. They had succeeded in widening its gap, and the scribes inside could be seen desperately pulling to keep the door closed.
"Defend the Archives!" Kormir called.
"Wait!" Kydar shouted, "Anicara?"
"Snare n' flare?" she asked, looking up at her fellow elementalist.
"Just like in Dohjok," he nodded, and turned to Rakiv, "Cover us."
"Protect the ele's!" Rakiv called, notching an arrow to her bow.
The casters formed up as the others moved to protect them. The demons paid the party no heed however, continuing to pry and pull at the archive door. Under her breath Anicara swiftly muttered her incantation, before pressing two fingers to her azure lips and whispering the spell.
"Deep Freeze," she commanded, throwing her hand forward.
The familiar rush of frost closed in on the mob and rose in a splash of frigid water that immediately crystallized. The horrors turned their attention to the party, howling angrily as they struggled against their glacial bonds. Kydar's spell was already on its way, and the male elementalist thrust a hand to the sky.
"Fire Storm!" he shouted.
A burst of heat rose from his palm to the heavens and seconds later fire rained from the skies. Yurukaro brandished her sword and Kormir gripped her spear.
"Finish them!" the Spearmarshal called.
Weakened, bound and burning the demons were little match for the group's wrath and were quickly dispatched. Without waiting for the others, Rakiv sprinted across the plaza, stopping at the stairs to look down upon the fields before the Churrir gate. The demon's source was immediately apparent, taking the form of large black orbs that hung in the air. Great swirling vortexes of black and violet energy had formed large portals, and new demons emerged from them with each passing second. Beneath each portal some sort of monstrous creature writhed and flailed, the malevolent energies rising from it to feed the portal's strength. The ranger grimaced, four of the wormholes had emerged so far and it looked like the monsters were busy attempting to make more.
"We have to close those portal!" she called as her party caught up with her.
"Kydar, Anicara," Kormir ordered, "Seal the one by the smithy! Yurukaro, Rakiv, take the portal at the docks. Alendra and I will take the center and we will convene on the final portal near the gate. Move!"
The party scattered, dashing down the steps and into the fray once more. The demons spawned and immediately rushed towards the square, heedless of the humans moving towards their portals. Several groups did take notice, and with angry roars moved to intercept the attackers. A very large monster bore down on Alendra, raising its clawed arm to strike. Kormir's spear pierced its chest, only to watch the demon ignore her and bring its arm down upon Alendra's shield. The paragon was knocked to the ground, crying out under the force of the blow, and forced to roll to avoid a second strike. Kormir stabbed it again, and was forced to block as the demon's party charged into her. The Spearmarshal's sandals slid in the dirt as she held off the attack, leaving Alendra to scramble to her feet and brandish her spear.
Kydar and Anicara fared little better. After spiking a demon with a fount of liquid flame, he immediately realized his firepower was insufficient. The portal defenders were much stronger than the creature's rushing the plaza. Anicara leapt in front of him, pressing a hand to her chest and quickly chanting.
"Mighty glaciers defend me," she spoke, "Frigid Armor!"
The beast struck at her, just as the elementalist's body was encased in ice. The blow glanced off of her frozen shell, and the girl responded by thrusting an ice spear into it's shoulder. The creature snarled in pain, snapping the icicle contemptuously and roared at Anicara challengingly. The demon mob sprang at her, and the elementalist brandished a spear, cold blue eyes daring them to bring her down. Suddenly an arm wrapped around her waist and she was tugged backwards as Kydar pulled her close to him. The fire elementalist thrust his wand upwards and shut his eyes as he shouted his spell.
"O raging explosion," he chanted, "Inferno!"
A burst of heat ruffled his clothes and expanded outwards, immediately turning into a wall of flame. The fire formed into a great orb of twisting heat and tongues of flame, consuming the demons around them. Through the crystal lenses of her armor Anicara watched with a touch of awe as the fire washed over their opponents and devoured them. Minutes later the storm ended, and dispersed with a rush of wind. The female's armor slowly melted away as Kydar released her and surveyed the smoldering bodies around them. The scribe stepped over the bodies and paused before the creature that writhed and contorted beneath the portal. Without further hesitation the elementalist gave a pump of his fist, raising a spike of liquid flame into it and watching as it immediately burned away.
"Come," he said, "To the gate."
Rakiv and Yurukaro moved quickly, the general's sword flashing and the ranger's bow singing. Butter chomped into a demon, snapping off its leg and rolling away as his mistress ended the creature's life. As the portal defenders rose against them, the pair moved with a beautiful and terrible grace and speed. Yurukaro ducked a blade swipe and Rakiv slew the creature as she released an arrow into its head. The general twisted around behind her partner, thrusting her sword into the gut of a beast that attempted to attack the ranger's back. The demon snarled and rose to strike the warrioress, before the general wrenched her blade upward, cleaving the demon in two.
"Down!" Rakiv called.
Yurukaro whirled down into a crouch as the ranger fired over her head, sending her shaft sailing into the skull of the twisting portal wraith. It died with a scream, the stream of energy cut off and the portal beginning to recede. From the center of the field a great howl assaulted their ears, the final portal guardian dying to Kormir's spear. The Spearmarshal turned and with a precise thrust slew the portal wraith. Yurukaro and Rakiv trotted up to them, and all paused as the ground began to rumble under their feet.
"Oh… you've got to be kidding…"the ranger groaned.
Across the square the demon horde charged, called by the death screech of the portal guard. Ignoring the Sunspear and Zaishen soldiers they turned to save the sole remaining portal, and slay these humans who had flanked them.
"Close that portal!" Kormir shouted, "Close it now!"
Kydar and Anicara raced for the gate as Yurukaro twirled her sword and planted her feet. Alendra and Kormir raised their shields, leaving Rakiv to notch an arrow to her bow and level her aim.
"For honor! For glory!" Yurukaro shouted enthusiastically, eyes wild with delight.
"For Elona!" Kormir called in addition.
"For staying alive…" Rakiv muttered under her breath.
The elementalists reached the portal, just as something very large attempted to push its way through. Kydar cupped his hands together, mumbling his incantation before thrusting both palms forward.
"Fireball!" he shouted, sending the flaming orb into the portal and blasting back the creature attempting to exit, "Kill it Anicara! Kill the wraith!"
The scribe pummeled the emerging demon with repeated flares as the elementalist girl rushed underneath the portal. A rush of frost summoned an ice spear to her hand and she raised her weapon… and paused, blue eyes wide with horror. Beneath the portal knelt a man, a very human man, screaming and thrashing with pain. From his bleeding eyes and mouth dark purple energies swarmed upwards, feeding the demonic portal above him. His body began to change before her very eyes, warped by the evil energies that poured out of him.
"Gods…" she whispered, "They're… people!"
"Anicara!" Kydar shouted, striking the escaping demon with his wand and blasting it with another flare, "Anicara kill it!"
"It's a man!" she screamed back, "I… I…"
"Kydar!?" Rakiv called with concern from the front lines, the evil horde approaching fast.
"Anicara!!" Kydar shouted desperately.
"I can't!!" she screamed.
Summoning another Fireball to his hand, the scribe thrust it into the maw of the demon's head as it tried once more to push through the gate. Diving under the portal the burning orb exploded, blasting fire and flesh across the field behind him. The elementalist rolled, skid to his feet and snatched the spear from Anicara's grasp. With a swift spin, Kydar brandished the lance and thrust it forward, striking deep into the chest of the tormented man. The man screamed in agony, clawing desperately at the frigid spike that impaled him… before falling limply against the jagged ice shard. The evil light left his eyes, and the energy flow ceased as the portal above them shrunk and finally vanished. The scribe released the ice spear, letting the body fall and the weapon shatter beneath it as he gave a sigh of relief.
The demons thundered across the plaza, barking and slavering madly. Spears and swords raised to greet them, the women giving an answering battle cry. As claws touched shields and steel bit flesh, the creatures evaporated, an anguished shriek rising from the mob as their link to the other side was suddenly severed. Across the city the demon bodies were immediately reduced to vapor, a thick and choking black mist that rose to the sky and slowly dissipated. As the bodies around them vanished, Kydar turned away from the slain man to face Anicara.
"Kydar… I…" she blinked, words eluding her.
The elementalist said nothing, but gave a small nod of understanding and placed a hand on her shoulder as he passed her. The girl paused, and then suddenly whipped around.
"Wait… did… did you know?" she exclaimed.
"No," he said, not turning around, "But I suspected."
"How… why!?" she blinked.
This question the scribe did not answer, instead proceeding across the field back towards the party. Yurukaro wiped her sword before sheathing it at her belt and Rakiv slid her arrow back into her quiver.
"As I said," Yurukaro said, dusting her hands with satisfaction, "It is good to see you Sister Maelstrom."
"Good to see you too Karo," Rakiv chuckled.
"What…" Alendra began, "What were those things?"
"They are demons," Yurukaro said, folding her arms across her chest, "Creatures from the Realm of Torment… the realm where the dark god lies bound and chained. They are the forerunners of doom, the bringers of Nightfall itself."
"If that's all we have to worry about…" Anicara chuckled, recovering herself somewhat, "I think we can handle it."
"They are merely the beginning," Yurukaro cautioned, her expression turning grave, "The calm before the storm. As the dark one stirs, these events will become more and more frequent. I fear before long your corsair problem will be replaced by a demon one."
"This is indeed a grave matter…" Kormir said, "We have done our best… but I fear that this is an evil we cannot face alone. Between the corsair threat and the evil in Fahranur, our forces have been severely weakened, and my men demoralized. We need help…"
All were silent. The thought hung in the air, though none dared voice it. They could not fail… the consequences were too dire. But against such an ancient and powerful force…
"Then go get help," Rakiv spoke.
"Ranger Maelstrom?" the Spearmarshal blinked.
"You're right," Rakiv said, "The Sunspears are strong, but they can't do it all. Against demons, corsairs and undead… Istan may once more be destroyed. We need help. And you're going to go get it."
"From where?" Kormir asked.
"Our Khel Varr are spread throughout the world," Rakiv said, "And we haven't got it in us to ignore the call of a brother or sister in need. So go and get help. Go to Cantha, and Tyria, the Battle Isles even, wherever you can find them. I'm sure they'll have friends, and be ready and willing to help… especially if they know what's at stake."
"But… the Sunspears?" Kormir asked.
"I'm sure the commanders can keep things held together," Rakiv nodded, "And my team will be ready for anything."
"We sure will!" Alendra smiled brightly.
"I can see few other options," Yurukaro nodded, "I would bring more Zaishen, but those here are all I can spare. Our own duties must not go unattended. We will need aid from another source."
The Spearmarshal was quiet for a long time, mulling the plan over. Finally she raised her head and gave a slow nod.
"Very well," she said, "I will go. Immediately. And I will find what aid I can. Sister Kanjian… will you come with me?"
"Of course, Spearmarshal," Karo smiled.
"But first…" Kormir said, turning to the others, "I have instructions for all of you. There is much that must be done in my absence. Alendra, would you fetch Dunkoro and Koss for me?"
"Yes ma'am!" the paragon saluted before skipping off across the square.
"I will leave most of my soldiers here to help defend Istan," Yurukaro said, "However, I would like some of my order to travel with your agents as well… if that can be arranged."
"It can," Kormir nodded.
"Very well," she said, turning to call her troops to order, "Zai-Shen!" she shouted as she strode away.
The others took the time to relax, Kydar holstering his wand as he eased down to sit on the ground. Rakiv slung her bow as she too slid to the ground, scratching Butter's head as he laid his long snout in her lap. Anicara also sat down, neatly folding her legs beneath her as she set her staff down beside her.
"You're tougher than I thought," Rakiv complimented the scribe.
"How's that?" he chuckled.
"You hold of undead hordes," she chuckled, "Battle demon portals… and can kill without flinching. Not what I expected from an academic."
"I do what has to be done," Kydar shrugged, "As do we all."
"Mmm," the ranger nodded.
The elementalist looked up at her, arching an eyebrow. Was she trying to read him? He turned instead to look at Anicara and gave her a small nudge of his elbow.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah…" the girl responded with a nod, "Yeah I'll be fine. I'm… sorry."
"Don't be," Rakiv replied.
"You're both…" Anicara blinked, tilting her head, "Why do you say that? Everyone could have died cause I couldn't…" she broke off, looking down at her lap.
Rakiv chewed her lip for a moment and opened her mouth to speak, before Kydar interrupted.
"Because killing should never be easy…" he muttered, echoing the very words the ranger had thought.
Sensing the ranger's gaze on him, the scribe looked up. Rakiv's brow scrunched in curiosity and the elementalist shrugged. She began to wonder if he would ever stop surprising her… apparently there was much more to this Assistant Professorial Scribe than met the eye. Inwardly she cursed herself for recalling his full title, and gave a sigh as Yurukaro and Alendra approached.
"I brought them Spearmarshal," Alendra said, "And Dervish Melonni as well."
"You still wish to fight with us?" Kormir asked the other woman.
"Very much so ma'am," Melonni nodded, "Aim my scythe wherever you need it."
"Very well," Kormir nodded, "Yurukaro?"
"I have marshaled my troops into brigades and attached them to your divisions," the Zaishen General said, "I would like to introduce you to my agents. Acolyte Souske."
A young elementalist stepped forward, a short cane in his grasp as he bowed sharply to them.
"Very nice to meet you," he said through a thick Canthan accent.
"Acolyte Jin," Karo continued.
"Hello," a brown haired ranger said curtly, as she bowed and then stepped back.
"And the sole dervish of our order," Yurukaro chuckled, "Acolyte Basilisk."
A dervish woman in plain brown robes and carrying a wickedly curved scythe stepped forward. Golden eyes peered out from the gloom of her hood as she bowed wordlessly and stepped back.
"Assign them as you see fit Spearmarshal," Yurukaro nodded.
"As you wish General," Kormir said, and then turned to the officers around her, "Now then, hear the orders of the Spearmarshal. Dunkoro, Koss."
"Ahai, Spearmarshal," the men replied.
"I want you to lead your divisions to the northern Reach," she said, "Remove the corsairs in that region and help the villagers there. Once the Reach is safe, focus on the corsair presence in the Keys. We must stop this invasion once and for all. Acolyte Sousuke, I would like you to accompany them."
"Yes, Spearmarshal," the men responded.
"Alendra and Anicara," Kormir addressed the girls.
"Ahai, Spearmarshal," they both said, snapping to attention.
"This plague of undeath must end, and soon," she said, "Alendra take your division to the Dohjok woods and find Captain Nerashi there. Her team have been tracking the undead's movements for the last few days. Help her find these vile creatures, and eradicate them. Acolyte Jin, please follow them."
"Yes, Spearmarshal," the nodded.
"Rakiv and Kydar?" Kormir turned.
"Uhm, Ahai Spearmarshal?" they replied, though not quite in unison.
"I have a special task for you," she said, "I am sending you to the Issnur Isles to track down a man named Jerek. When I became Spearmarshal, he was the other considered for the position by the council. He is a stubborn man, course and with a sharp tongue, but he is an excellent commander and a fair judge. Please find him and inform him that he is to be the acting Spearmarshal in my absence. Be warned though, he may not go willingly."
"Yes Spearmarshal," they answered.
"Acolyte Basilisk?" Kormir asked, "Would you go with them?"
"Yes, Spearmarshal," the woman replied, her voice deep yet smooth.
"Speak with Castellan Puuba at the Great Hall," Kormir said, "He will be able to tell you Jerek's exact location."
"Will do," Rakiv nodded.
"Sister I am leaving Field General Hayao in charge of the Zaishen here," Yurukaro nodded to Rakiv, "I have instructed him to operate as he sees fit, but to defer to your judgment. In all matters concerning my troops, please speak to him and he shall do all that you require."
"Thanks," Rakiv nodded, "Don't worry guys. We'll hold the island together while you're gone."
"I know you will," Kormir nodded, "Are there any questions concerning your orders?"
There were shakes all around and the Spearmarshal nodded again.
"Good," she said, "Then prepare yourselves and move out. If we are quick… we may yet be able save our lands and stay this evil. We must be courageous and act swiftly… before Nightfall comes."