Light of Empyrion
Chapter One
Author's Note: Hello all, welcome to the next chapter of the story. Thus begins the gathering of the peoples of Cairn. If you see anything that needs fixing, please, leave a review.
Song: Written while listening to my soundtrack playlist, as always, and Make You Mine by PUBLIC.
As he stepped out of the swirl of the riftgate, Ares beheld a strange sight: the entirety of the Rover camp was empty. Not a single soul was present. Gazing all around the area as he quickly walked over, he could see that the camp was exactly as it should be, as though they were simply there one moment and gone the next. Meals were still cooking. Bedrolls were still laid out. Even the maps of the area were still left on their table. What in Cairn could have happened?
Behind him, away from the camp, a snuffling could be heard. Ducking low behind one of the wagons, Ares could see a large, ugly, brutish troll lumbering about. He held a club in his hand that was as long as Ares was tall.
The beast appeared to be searching for something. Ares could not tell what, but immediately he knew that he had to do something. Crouching lower, he began to shuffle to the other side of the wagon in hopes of getting behind the monster.
And then something even stranger happened: despite absolutely nothing being in front of him, he collided with something.
"What in the name of Empyrion?" he mumbled to himself. A disembodied voice hushed him.
"Speak not, o mighty Dervish. We seek to hide from the beast until it passes," it whispered to him. His eyes widened. Either he had swiftly gone mad in the head, or the Rovers had found some sort of spell to remove themselves from the sight of others
"He has endangered you. Let me take care of him," he whispered back. Taking the silent response for permission, he deftly stepped over what he assumed to be the lap of the invisible Rover and continued along. When he reached the opposite side of the wagon, he peeked out.
The troll was still lumbering about, but his back was turned to the camp. As Ares was about to leap out into the clearing, a hand reached out and clamped onto his shoulder. Turning his head, he still could see no other people around him.
"What great gift have you been given, that you can hide in plain sight?" he asked quietly.
"The tome you brought to us months ago, the annals of Arkovia, held a secret. It gifted us the ability to continue on as we do without being persecuted for our peaceful ways. When we heard the troll approach, we used it," the voice whispered. "Let me give it to you now so you have a greater chance of removing that beast."
Nodding, Ares knelt and hid himself further behind the wagon. A second hand found its way to his shoulder, and the voice spoke again in a language he was unfamiliar with. A cold feeling poured over him, and he shivered. Looking down, he could not see his own body any longer.
"Go now, and do what you must," said the voice. Ares clasped the hand on his shoulder and stood.
His first steps were odd, considering he couldn't see his own feet, but he quickly adapted. Feeling for his sword and shield, he drew them and began to creep forward.
The troll never once turned around. It continued to shuffle about the area in search of some kind of prey. When Ares drew close to it, it seemed to sense there was something close by, but still could not place it. Grimacing and raising his sword, Ares sheared the club hand of the troll clean off.
With a strangled roar, the beast stumbled backwards in shock. As it moved, Ares crouched low and swung his sword in a sideways arc, slicing the back of its leg. The beast tumbled over itself and landed on its back. Ares then swiftly put it out of its misery.
Walking back to the camp, he resheathed his sword and shield, thankful for the habit of doing it without looking.
"The Dervish has saved us!" a voice cried out. A cheer arose, and the Rovers slowly began to appear again as their spell wore off. One approached him, watching where his footsteps appeared in the dirt. "I can reveal you to us now. Take hold of my hand, and I will undo the spell."
Ares complied and clasped the hand of the Rover. Speaking again in the language the Dervish did not know, the man undid the spell. A warm feeling washed over himself, and, looking downwards, he realized he could see himself again. The Rover bowed and moved back to the map table.
"My friends, it seems my timing was fortunate for both of us," said Ares. "I have come seeking your aid, and thankfully was able to prevent further destruction to your people."
"What would you have us do?" asked the Rover who had moved to the table. Ares recognized him as Quade.
"Well, at first, I came to request your aid in a great battle to free all the peoples of Cairn. I know it is against your ways, but truly, if ever there was a time to abandon tradition, it is now," he said. "But it seems there are other skills you possess that can aid us in greater ways."
"The way we hide ourselves," said Quade. "Yes, it is a very useful skill. Of what need can it fill?"
"The fortress we seek to breach, that which houses our greatest enemy, the blood god Ch'thon, is nearly impenetrable. To be able to slip inside undetected would give us a great advantage over him," said Ares.
"Yes, indeed it would. But would it require us to come along and abandon our camp?" asked Quade. "We have not been here very long, and we have wounded who need attention."
"Unfortunately, I believe it would," said Ares. "But I promise you, your wounded can be aided first before all things, and there will not be anything to keep you from returning here. It is simply that we need all peoples, even the nomadic Rovers, to be gathered as one, under the banner of Empyrion."
"The banner of Empyrion?" sputtered Quade. "You speak of the weary god who has left us. How can he be your champion?"
"Ah, but he is weary no longer," said Ares, raising his hand and removing his glove. He then held out his palm, showing off Empyrion's seal. "He has returned to defeat the final evil and bring salvation for those who have followed him."
"Salvation... could it be?" asked Quade in wonder. Taking the book on the table next to him, he began to flip through the pages. When he finally found what he was looking for, he held it up. "The seal matches perfectly. It is true!"
Ares smiled as the Rovers around him cheered. "Yes, it is true. Empyrion came to me and gave me this seal. He wants all his loyal people to gather as one and be united in this final effort," he said. "Once that is completed, we will march against our foe and destroy them once and for all."
"I am no lover of violence, and our people shall not draw swords, but hear you me, my friend. We Rovers, rather, Rhowari, will gather behind you and aid in any peaceful way we are able," said Quade. "Of that I am fully confident."
"You have my thanks," said Ares, bending his arm over his chest. "When the smoke has cleared, I will do my best to repay you for what you will provide."
"My friend, there is no need. You have saved us many times. Let this be our way of repaying you for all you have done," said Quade.
Ares nodded. "It is with utmost haste that I need you to come to Fort Ikon, north of the Asterkarn mountains. Our battle begins soon," he said, walking back to the riftgate. "Thank you, my friends!"
His next stop was the Coven's Refuge. Immediately after stepping out of the riftgate, Seer Rugia had called for him as she stood by Garradia. She did not wait for him to ask why he was summoned.
"I have seen many glimpses into the Aether in my life, Ares. None compare to what I have seen most recently," she said. At his confusion, which was mirrored on Garradia's face, she continued. "I foresaw you, though you were not yourself, battling with a great enemy. The light that shone from your form battled ferociously against the darkness of your opponent. It was a dazzling sight."
"The light that shone from me?" asked Ares. "Is this how you typically see me in the Aether?"
"No, and that is what is strangest of all," said Seer Rugia. "But I am no interpreter of fate, and, sadly, it seems that we do not have time to find one."
"You know, then, why I have come?" asked Ares, turning to Garradia.
"You request our aid against the Ch'thonians. They are the final threat," she replied. "You will have our support behind you, always. You have served the Coven well."
"My thanks to you both. Do know, I would not ask you to risk your people if it was not dire," said Ares. "As it stands, we need every single soldier we can get. The Ch'thonians are armed well."
"We will send as many as possible," said Garradia. "We may leave a small amount to guard the Coven against the people of Barrowholm, but the majority will join your forces."
"I intend to speak with them after this," said Ares. "I doubt they will join us, due to their spite against Mogdrogen, but I will try nonetheless."
"Make haste, mighty one," said Seer Rugia. "Time is not on your side."
A shiver went down the spine of the Dervish as the same feeling of dread came upon him. Blinking rapidly and shaking his head, he backed down the small ramp to the map table and walked over to the riftgate. "We band together at Fort Ikon, north of the Asterkarn Mountains!" he called. "Come with all haste!"
As he walked down the cobblestone lane in Barrowholm, he could tell something was very off. Not one single person was present. Each house he checked was empty.
The dread from earlier returned. Were they at their altar again?
His suspicions were unfortunately correct. Nearly every person in the village stood as one large crowd around a pulsing altar that glowed with a sickly yellow light. On each of their foreheads burned a red sigil that looked faintly familiar. Among the throngs, Scorv Egdenor could be seen kneeling in prayer and wearing some kind of ceremonial robe.
Shaking his head, he cupped his hands around his mouth to let the whole crowd hear him. "Scorv! Cease this madness! I have already warned you once against summoning the Ravager. Do not be so foolish as to try again!" he called.
Sighing, Scorv stood and faced him. "My friend, it is already too late. The eve of the Ravager is nigh! Welcome him as we do, and he shall grace you with the same glory he has bestowed upon us!" he said, parting the crowd to speak to his former ally.
"I cannot do that, Scorv. I serve a different god, one who is much greater and more powerful than this Ravager who fools you so," he said, removing his gauntlet to show off the seal as Scorv stood before him. "Empyrion, the mighty one."
Gaze hardening, Scorv said something to one of his subordinates lowly. He then faced the Dervish again. "Empyrion is dead, friend. It is you who has been fooled by a false spirit. I give you this chance, to cast off whatever false curse you have and join us! You shall find safety here, away from what the Ch'thonians plan to do!"
Ares sighed and unsheathed his sword and shield. "Is that what this Ravager has promised to you? Safety from the Ch'thonians as they destroy the world?" he asked. "Ask yourself, how is it that Ravager knows what they plan?"
"Simple. He has spoken to the blood god," said Scorv, also taking up arms. "If you cannot see that this is the right way to go, then we will have to send you away. Whether it be to the Aether or back to wherever you came from is up to you to decide."
"You know my achievements, Scorv," warned Ares. "You know who my allies are as well. They hear me at all times. Think you this Ravager could withstand the might of the witch gods?"
"You would be dead before you could call out to them," hissed Scorv, casting off his outer robe.
The air was split with a mighty crack! At the sides of the Dervish stood the three witch gods and Mogdrogen. "I would not be so sure of that, if I were you, little one," said Mogdrogen, lazily twirling a vast mace in his hands.
Scorv recoiled in disgust. "Ravager shall make you pay, god of the wilds!" he spat.
"While it would be quite the spectacle to see these two duel once again, time is not on our side," interrupted Dreeg. He turned to the Dervish. "You are needed at Fort Ikon immediately. Let us handle these dissenters."
Ares nodded. "Will your followers be joining us in this battle?" he asked.
Bysmiel nodded. "Long have they been taught to follow Empyrion above us. At the sign of his seal, they were greatly encouraged," she said. Ares smiled.
"I shall see you upon your return," he said. He then sheathed his sword and shield and made his way back to the riftgate, and to Fort Ikon beyond.
To be continued.
I figured this would be a good place to leave this off. It was always my plan to include the Rovers being involved but not fighting, since they are peaceful, and this was born out of that. I figured the the people in Barrowholm would choose the wrong side, and Ravager would do anything to get back at Mogdrogen for defeating him, including allying with Ch'thon.
On that note, it was revealed recently what Ch'thon, Empyrion, and Rattosh (who I have not included in this story because I believe he is dead, according to the lore, though I may be wrong) look like according to the devs. Their pictures can be found at forums dot crateentertainment dot com slash t slash grim-misadventure-178-loyalist-the-third slash 134091 without spaces. I know FanFiction is iffy with links, so I hope that works.
If you see anything in need of fixing or would like to tell me what you think, please review! Happy reading!