Chapter 9 -- Druidic Goddess of Water... "Coventina"

My name is Coventina. Just days ago it was something different, but now I relate better to this new name than my old name. Someday I may assume my old identity, but today I heed the call of my goddess, whose name I have taken to help spread her power across our lands. I sit idly by a calm pond staring at my reflection. I need this time alone to meditate on the near-impossible changes of the past days.............................. A voice in my head that I once longed to hear now frightens me. I cannot be worthy! Why didn't she pick someone else A lifetime spent in her worship, yet I never truly expected to talk with our goddess. "Coventina... why have you done this to me? Surely there are others with greater skills?"

THERE ARE... the voice in my head says, YET NONE OF THOSE HAVE YOUR FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE, MY DAUGHTER....

Faith, yes. Knowledge... I am too young. I have little experience of the outside world. I have spent years of my life pursuing little more than the study of various healing herbs that I use on injured animals. Yes, I did once help a mighty Kraken survive a lost tentacle, but this cannot be the knowledge you seek!?!

IN MANY WAYS IT IS. IN THE COMING MONTHS, URAK WILL SEE MUCH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. I HAVE RETURNED TO URAK TO TEMPER THE COMING DAYS WITH COMPASSION, HEALING AND WISODM. YOU ARE MY LINK TO THE REALM. THROUGH YOU, MY POWERS CAN BE ACCESSED BY OTHER DRUIDS AND WATER FOLK. I HAVE FAITH IN YOUR ABILITIES, MY DAUGHTER. IN TIME, YOU SHALL COME TO KNOW THIS AS WELL.....

I can only hope so, my lady. Thank you for your trust. With that, I roused myself from the trance I had entered and set out to explore the lands beyond my shell home in the town of SeaView.

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My travels through the land were saddening. I saw much despair and worry. Rumors abounded of great evil across the land. Other gods than my lady, Coventina, were awakening. Fishermen and folk near the great ocean were telling stories of a great tidal wave that crossed the ocean and crushed not just a few of their great water craft. Traders from distant lands speak in hushed tones of erupting volcanos, avalanches and earthquakes. more than a few swear to have heard a mighty roar from afar at the same time.

As I travel, I make every effort to spread calm and reassurance, for our lady has indeed returned to aid us. Most are skeptical, as it has been centuries since Coventina was last involved with the lives of Urak's people. A few with greater faith listened to me and decided to follow me on my quest to spread peace and calm throughout the land.

Of those, I asked a few to assume leadership positions. Silverfish... swift as her namesake. She has the ability to blend in with the shadows and hs great skills in "encouraging" others to reveal their secrets. I worry that her methods are too harsh, but my lady has assured me that the coming months will demand harsh actions from even the most peaceful creatures.

While I am gaining knowledge daily from my lady in the ways of magical healing and other arts, I know that I am not a skilled tactician. Should events lead to conflict, I have asked a great Amazon warrior-woman, Manta, to take responsibility for amassing troops and training them in the ways of land combat.

I am lucky to have such supporters as these. My lady Coventina has advised me well in my search for capable companions. Manta's friends, the Merfolk, are rarely seen out of the ocean, yet she has convinced many of them to bring their skills to our forces. Silverfish has already amassed a library of information about the other faiths of Urak. I am saddened to see the losses suffered already at the hands of Balkoth and his minions. Had I been aware sooner, I might have been able to aid them or heal their wounded.

MY DAUGHTER... DO NOT WORRY OVERMUCH ABOUT THE EVENTS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. IT WAS MY DECISION TO HAVE YOU WAIT LONGER BEFORE I PICKED YOU AS MY FOCUS ON URAK. IN THE END, THE EXTRA TIME YOU SPENT STUDYING THE HEALING ARTS WILL AID YOU IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALING POWER OUR RELATIONSHIP GRANTS YOU. NO OTHER CITIZEN ON URAK WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HELP AS YOU DO!

I think I understand my lady, but I hate to see anyone suffer. Even the forces of the fire worshippers.

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A few days pass as this small band of Coventina and her followers moves across the lands of the realm of water. Every village they come across has been invaded and taken over by renegade armies of rag-tag Urakites. Saddened by the displacement of her bretheren, Coventina and her band of closest supporters vow to reclaim their lands and spread peace and compassion across Urak.

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After a few days of hasty recruitment and training, Manta has declared our small force ready to tackle our first objective. My home town of SeaView. Just a few weeks ago, I was there practicing my healing arts on wounded animals. Little did I know that my home village was the last unconquered city in the realm of water. It fell to renegades just a day after my goddess called to me and summoned me from my home. I have mixed emotions, knowing that I survived, while many of my friends ad family did not.

I nod to Manta, acknowledging her request for my permission to begin the attack. I watch in fascination as the sunlight reflects off the armor worn by those humans who have rallied to our banner, bringing with them their mighty war horses and lances. A good sign, to see humans and Merfolk side-by-side, even if there are only a few squads of humans. Marching steadily behind them, come a couple dozen Merfolk with their signature weapon, the trident. Silverfish leads a small contingent of Mefolk armed only with a small sling and a great desire to help Urak.

I stay back from the fray, ready to heal anyone severely wounded in the fight, and to possibly try a newer speel recently learned that sends a jet of water into an opponet.

From my vantage point, it seems that battle favors us. We outnumber the small band of renegades 2 to 1. Manta advises me that while this seems good odds, most military tacticians prefer 3 to 1 or better odds when attacking a defended position. I can only pray that our lady will bless us for this battle. I take a moment to utter a small prayer under my breath as the first ranks of humans meet the enemy.

Dust, mud and the mingling of troops makes it impossible for me to disinguish friend from foe. I decide to move closer to help with a few troops I see pulling back with wounds. As I approach, I see Manta's great riding beast run free of the pack, without Manta. My heart races as I look for signs of her. There! On the ground, recently exposed as our forces push the renegades back away from their fallen leader. A horrible gash across her belly, bleeding into the trampled earth.

I rush to her side and call upon my goddess to grant me the healing power to revive Manta. In my mind, I hear reassurance as I lay hands on Manta. I feel her heartbeat, weak and erratic. I send the power of Coventina through my hands into Manta's body. A golden light surrounds my hands and flows into her. Her heart strengthens, the pulse stabilizes. Color returns to her face. I move my hands over her belly and trace a line of glowing energy along the gash. As my hands pass, the wound closes until only a thin scar remains. I look up to ser Manta awakening, as my senses dim.

So tired....... can't fight it..... must sleep..........

The battle ended swiftly. Manta's revival send a wave of exuberance through the forces of water and the rengades were dispatched without further casualties. After the battle, Manta and the small army carried my unconscious body into the town and laid me in my old bed. As they watched over me, they saw a strange transformation take place as my features were altered slightly and my body began to glow with a beautiful golden light.

I awoke, knowing I had changed. No longer was ther a voice inside my head.... I was that voice. I smile gently as I the realization dawns on me. I have become the new incarnation of Coventina druidic goddess of water! With this new body, I walk outside my home to the small reflecting pond my family built nearby.

I sit idly by the calm pond staring at my reflection. I need this time alone to meditate on the near-impossible changes of the past days..............................


Chapter 10 -- To Deal With Death

I awoke in a palace bedroom. Breathing was hard. Daeme Azzhirr glanced up from a book she was reading. My eyes came to rest on her. "How long?"I croaked. She closed the book quietly. "Three weeks. You have been in a coma." I nodded weakly. "I...can't breathe." Azzhirr's finger traced a bandage on my chest. "The vampire's talon wound punctured one of your lungs. It grew infected. My arts are not good for healing internal wounds...I nearly lost you." Her obsidian eyes met mine. I struggled to sit up. Azzhirr laid her hand on my chest and pushed me down. I am too weak. I fall back. I let out my breathe. "You saved my life, Azzhirr...twice...thank you." She nodded,"I know. You saved mine." Her eyes met mine. Something was different. She looked away. "I haven't been idle. I have been looking into the ancient city libraries for spells that can add to our strength in battle. A thousand new believers have sworn allegiance to us." Us? Her eyes started to glow with excitement. "I have found an excellent flame giant named Zah'Phyr to be our Leader of a Thousand. He is training three new humdreds of the fire raiders and berserkers even now! And...the Thieve's Guild offered to pay for a unit of the rock hurlers as tribute." I smiled,"So you are now Great Daeme." After one more week, I was fit for travel, if not for fighting. To my dismay, I discovered that only 107 of the original army of 1200 survived the battle for the Temple. Azzhirr told me that the dark elves had all fought to the death. Her personal unit of elite berserkers and rock hurlers suffered badly and needed to be rebuilt. The task could be delegated to this Zah'Phyr. Azzhirr's next campaign was the southern Dha'Kol breweries and mines. They were important for two reasons. First, they had immense production value. Second, being in the Dha'Kol Mountains, they were on the borders of the lands of undead. They gave us a legitimate excuse to scout and move a large force close to Balkoth's domains without raising suspicion. Apparantly, the rumors of the humans uniting under a lord were true. The Dha'Kol region had been usurped by some fool calling himself Randolph the Magnificent, a lord who refused to swear fealty to a man named Lord Reisz and was attempting to carve out his own personal kingdom. His force totaled 700 men in strongholds to our 300 afield. Not that it mattered. The battle for the Temple had changed me. I found that I simply could not take this battle seriously. That, and Azzhirr had grown greatly in strength. She forced them to take the field after anihilating their entire crossbow regiment on their own battlements using the Fury Fire. Once afield, she used her new spell to heat the armor and weapons of the charging knights to a searing temperature. Azzhirr couldn't stop from laughing. Knights hopping around the fields like fish out of water. Trying to decide whether to attack us or rip off their armor and throw away the weapons. In the end, their indecision killed them. Finally, a large herd of magical stags charged. Need I say more? The victory feast was plentiful, indeed.

It came to pass on the third day of our consolidation of the Dha'Kol region that a dwarf scout had spotted a village a week's march off to the west; on the very rim of the border between the lands of fire and death. This village did not on appear on our maps, nor did it fly the flag of any greater lord. A pandora's box of trouble. Leave it alone? Balkoth loots it and garrisons it. Loot it and leave? Balkoth will use our indifference as political excuse to occupy the town and garrison it. Loot it and garrison it? Balkoth will interpret THAT as an agggresive move and we do not have the men or resources to properly defend or garrison this location.

Azzhirr chose the least of the evils: to loot and destroy it. Then, at least, she would gain some resources toward the planned rebuilding of Caer Kallizsha in the not so distant future. A powerful potential enemy will be denied fortifications on our border. On the fourth night of our forced march to the village, we were confronted by an ambassador of Death.

It was a quiet evening, Azzhirr and I were eating dinner I was pondering our interchange in Caer Kallizsha back when I had awoken from coma. The temple had changed me. Were there new feelings? Azzhirr was not a beautiful woman. Her features were sharp, harsh. She was arrogant; not inclined to sharing much. I shook my head. My imagination. Reading too much into words. She trusts me. I knew I could work with her, trust her. Let it remain at that.

In the tent entrance, materializing out of thin air appeared a hooded dark elf. He wore the sleek uniform of the Assassin's Guild and the emblem of Golgotha. I lept to my feet, sword drawn. Keeping her seat, Daeme Azzhirr hid her astonishment which changed quickly to fury. "Hold Mistress Azzhirr! Great Daeme of Kallizsha, I come in peace!" Azzhirr did not lower her outstretched hand. The dark elf licked his lips. He continued in his raspy voice,"I am Ronatih Fezli. I come in my Master's name." Azzhirr lowered her hand. The elf let out his breath. "I will grant you audience, Assassin. What does Golgotha's chosen have to deal with me?" she asked. I had remained standing. This elf was too close. "My master knows your intentions towards yonder village. He asks that you spare it. As a token of goodwill before parley, he has prepared to offer you the services of a hundred dark elf javeliners." Balkoth wants to give us troops? What is happening in the world? I cursed the fire realm's late entrance onto the world stage. Azzhirr answered,"An interesting offer. It shall be considered." I took my seat again. Azzhirr continued,"However, I do not need your javeliners. I had recently sent a message off to Lord Reisz to negotiate for a unit of his crossbowmen." She was bluffing. The dark elf smiled. "We already occupy over a third of his lands. Even as we speak, an army prepares to lay seige to the capital." So, Balkoth and a large number of troops were in Reisz's land! Excellent, Azzhirr! Keep him talking! "But make no mistake, we are strong on all fronts,"finished the elf. Azzhirr paused,"Is that what you want? A war on all fronts?" Azzhirr leaned back, a delicate smile on her face. The dark elf returned the smile. "Will you spare the village?" he asked quietly. Long silence followed. It was Azzhirr's turn to lick her lips. She responded,"Let's start over again." She paused. "I hear the dark elves have great talents in ranged attack." Ronatih Fezli adjusted his belts. "Of course, Great Daeme. Will you accept our offer of goodwill? Discussion of the village excluded, of course. We would not oppose moves to the east,"he paused,"...or the north." So, Balkoth is giving away units to encourage us to encroach the territories of Gilgamesh. Azzhirr leaned forward,"Since, I am no longer able to deal with Reisz, I am inclined to accept, but I want more." The dark elf smiled widely,"What more do you want that we can not provide?" Azzhirr spoke slowly,"I want two hundreds...veterans...and the services of an Assassin from the Guild." The dark elf closed his eyes. "I assume, my lady, we are NOT discussing the village right now?" Azzhirr nodded. I moaned inwardly. No, Azzhirr! Fool! There is no way we will get the village! Can't you see that?! You are giving away the initiative! "Then," asked the elf,"what do you offer in return?" Azzhirr began to tap her finger on the desk. She spoke,"The Dha'Kol mines and breweries." The dark elf closed his eyes. "Your offer has been accepted, with the additional gift of a Dark Paladin and unit of riders in your service. In return, you will give us the Dha'Kol mines and breweries, the elite unit of rock hurlers at Caer Kallizsha, and the services of the Flame Warrior Zah'Phyr. Armies have already been instructed to move into Dha'Kol. Your three new regiments will report for service......in three weeks time." Instantly, the Ambassador of Death vanished into thin air. Daeme Azzhirr lept to her feat,"THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!" She spoke to air. Azzhirr sunk into her chair, her head in her hands. The vanishing of the elf had been a subtle threat and a sleek move. Balkoth had tied our hands for three weeks. If we attacked the village now, our new units would never arrive. We would lose Dha'Kol for nothing. By giving Dha'Kol away, Azzhirr had inadvertantly given him permission to move armies into Flame territory. Armies we wouldn't be able to stop. If we tried, again our new units would never arrive. I highly doubted that the Lord of Death needed or even desired a unit of rock hurlers. They were primitive even at their best. No, Balkoth was telling us in no uncertain terms that three units were nothing to him, that he knew the disposition of our forces by name. Our officers...by name. We had been defeated...badly. In a fury with herself, Azzhirr slammed her fist into the table, shattering it to splinters. Her head sunk into her hands again. And...my heart ached for her.


Chapter 11 -- Reisz's Greatest Fear...Disbelief

Sean looked around and sighed. He had lost 400 men but had saved more than he had even dreamed of. Balkoth's army of undead was being driven back farther and farther, but yet there was no sign of him. He distrusted this and put Krystin out on the guard. "Grand Wizard?" a lieutenant asked. "Yes my good man?" replied Sean. "I regret to inform you that now our Wizard's Tower and Barracks have been taken." the fearful commander told him. "Ack....they dare do this dishonor to the pride mystics of Order?" Sean exclaimed. "I will not allow it...commander, give me 9 of your best men, 3 mace, 3 riders, and 3 archers....NOW!" "Of course m'lord...." the lieutenant ran out and started barking orders. Sean soon had his 9 men and they rode off into the direction of the great tower of Order's magics. "Lady Krystin! Grand Wizard Sean has ridden off to deal with the Wizard Tower and now we are left without a leader...will you lead us?" Humphrey asked. "Of course good man...but first I will have to reclaim our Barracks for us...you can lead our troops for that short time, yes?" inquired Krystin. "Of course m'lady...but perhaps you would like troops to accompany you?" Humphrey suggested. "Ah yes, that would be a good idea...put them together and have them ready to ride within the hour." Krystin said, a bit snappy and walked off. "Lord Reisz?" a servant asked quietly. "Yes, kind boy?" Reisz replied weakly. "I am sorry to report that the Thieves Guild has been taken...Krystin herself has rode off to recover the Warrior Barracks and her partner Sean has taken a small force to recover the Mage Tower." the servant said, afraid of what Reisz MIGHT do next. But it never happened. "Thank you loyal boy...on your way down tell Humphrey that I'll be leading a force to take back the Thieves Guild." Reisz said. The boy stared at him almost in disbelief and followed his orders. Reisz knew he was in no condition to take this Guild back, but he must be successful as the Order's people have been losing their faith. It must not happen! He believed and KNEW that his followers and his followers alone would be the only powerful enough to defeat the great Balkoth. He drew his sword, Ole Greenie, and polished it. "Yes old friend...I believe it is time to renew the faith...." murmured Reisz.

Meanwhile on the battlefield....

"Humphrey! Commander Humphrey!" the squire exclaimed. "Yes small one?" Humphrey said, looking down, his towering form completely covering the small boy. "Sir, my superior Sir Galgaman has asked that you know that Balkoth has totally demolished our scout camp." the maybe 9 year old boy said. "Good jog lad....leave me be and go back to your knight." Humphrey said, sighing to himself. As the boy left he cursed. What was to come of this? Balkoth had destroyed some of Order's best men! "Commander Humphrey---...." someone exclaimed. This job could be harder than I thought.

Reisz stared grimly at the Guild's terrain. It had not been Balkoth's forced but a contingent of Earthen warriors that had taken their table. The only reason Reisz trusted this was as he himself had snuck in and watched them. But why, he pondered, was Earth here? Had Death already gotten their fealty? What had caused this? But Reisz had no time to question, only to act. "Commander, prep the troops for immediate action." Reisz commanded. "Of course m'lord..." the commander did as requested, nervously. Reisz rode head of the party and spotted the enemy. "Charge!" he screamed. His troop rapidly surrounded the slow moving dwarves. A single dwarf stood out of formation and stepped up to Reisz himself. "Earnest Earthenrock, at your service Lord Reisz." the small figure said. "At my service???" Reisz asked in disbelief. "Why did you attack my guild?" "We had to to recieve shelter! Your ranger head denyed us entry even after we told of our intents." Earnest said. "Ok...I welcome your help. Let us talk back at my stronghold." Reisz said, very distrustfully. They would test the loyalty of these Earthen troops...now what was the name of the Earthen lord???

"Hurry men, we must reclaim Order's magical heritage!" Sean exclaimed. An astounding number of ayes and yes m'lords rang out from the mere ten. They charged at the tower and stepped into it's dusty environs. "Careful men...any corner could hide your doom." Sean warned. Sean held onto his staff and looked around silently...then his eyes blinked and he stared in disbelief. "This can't be..." he started, and then it struck.


Chapter 12 -- Spreading Chaos

A great structure emerges from the avalanche on mount Claw. Standing hundreds of cubits* tall, the structure dwarfs even the highest towers of Chayt-Domazh, the once-proud capitol of my lands. Peasants and travelers from afar see the structure as a pyramid, as they near, it becomes clear that this is not completely accurate. (*Cubit ancient measurement--length of elbow to fingertips of a man’s arm.) The structure rises in a series of concentric steps, each level a few cubits less in area than the one below. Attempts to count the levels end in frustration as the eye is fooled by the symmetry of each level. The only feature that stands out is a great stone carving in my likeness. The strong skeletal structure of my skull is captured in great detail. The ears accurately depict mine with the rounded lower lobes and wickedly pointed tops somewhat like those of the elves, yet much more durable. Perhaps the most impressive feature the 3 cubit high fangs, protruding upward from my lower "incisor" set of teeth. My finest feature! The time has come for me to leave this nether-realm. To do so, I must have this structure freed from the forces of Golgoth that have infested it since my last time on Urak. Only then shall the Temple of Orkus reach its full potential in drawing followers to my banner. Once properly consecrated, I can focus my powers through the temple and once again use my full powers to further my desires.

I must find a suitable candidate to assume leadership as my lieutenant among the Chaos followers of Urak. I will grant this person the powers necessary to unite the forces of Chaos and crush the forces of Golgoth and his minion, Balkoth. I must choose carefully, for my powers on Urak remain limited until the Temple of Orkus is freed. I may only have the influence to impart the necessary powers on one individual....... Wyrdaxe cursed softly to himself as he watched in frustration as the greater part of the squad he had worked hard to bring under his control ran headlong into the forces arrayed across the two hills distant. His band of followers had been traveling for days, heeding the summoning call from Orkus, their diety. It had been too long since their last battle and his forces had grown restless.

"Chaos warriors excel at combat, but fail too often at tactics." Wyrdaxe spoke to his sergeant as he led the few remaining forces atop a hill to watch their brethren’s slaughter.

"Learn from this, men. Combat flows in our veins like blood, but there is no reason to shed that blood needlessly. We must not let ourselves be overcome by our battle lust. Yes, I know that seems impossible, I was raised by the same of a mother as you all were. I held a blood-soaked axe in my hand in my seventh summer the axe used to kill a marauding renegade who killed my father as he slept. I know as well as you how the smell of blood sends primal urges through my body to join the fray, but I also know that we have greater potential if we combine our minds with our combat prowess." He continued.

In the distance, the members of his troop who ran headlong into the next line of hills were withering quickly against a well-arrayed force. Many lay dead a good distance from the raging battle, killed at a safe distance by archers, sling-stones and magical spells. Even the distance between his vantage point and the battle is not great enough to shelter his band from the effects of some of the spells tossed about in the combat.

"Troops, listen to me and remember well these lessons! These strong winds we feel even at this distance attest to the presence of a great mage of Air. In combat, a mage of Air can send gusts of wind at you so strong, that you are hard pressed to advance against them. Other times, frigid blasts of air will freeze your muscles in place until you manage to struggle free, or die at the hands of the enemy. Mages of air may call great bolts of lightning, or send clouds of poison into battle."

"Look closely and you can see bolts of energy flashing from the fingertips of the mages in yellow and white. These are the mages of life. Their spells are designed to sting the enemy and help cure the wounds their followers receive in combat. Never count these elves as dead, until their heads lie severed from their bodies. Even then the greatest of mages may be strong enough to bring them back from the realm of the dead."

Worried groans from his men interrupted his lecture. In the distance, the last of their mates fell to the combined forces of Air, Life and Order.

"Look also, my men at how those forces worked together to defeat their foe, our brothers. We too must seek allies with whom we can stand against Balkoth."

Eyes wide, the members of his troupe began a loud muttering. "Never before have we worked with others, Chaos will rule without bending a knee to another faith!" One of the small group shouted. Another agreed "We have learned from you Wyrdaxe, yet we call you coward for suggesting that we are not strong enough. With what you have taught us today, and will teach us, we will crush any who stand in our way!!!"

"Think you so?" Wyrdaxe inquired. "Then let me ask how well you expect to fare against the forces of Balkoth. Can you, or any of you think of a way to defeat the lord of Death by yourselves? Have any of you ever slain 40 enemies in combat, only to have every one rise again as a skeleton? Have you ever felt your life drain out of you as a vampire suckles from your neck? Do you think that your knees will not buckle as Balkoth and his great flying beast scream at you from the skies?"

"I can assure you that you will fail. I do not suggest for even a minute that we ally with our sworn enemy, Order, but we will find other faiths more similar in outlook as our own. I have heard from travelers that many of our brothers afoot and even some of our barbarian cavalry have already joined forces with Dame Azzhir and who can blame them for their battle-lust?"

"It is time to leave this site. Remember well what I have said. You will act as my lieutenants to spread the message of Orkus’ return across the land. Go now and bring with you the strongest score of men and women from each hamlet you pass. Keep a sharp eye out as well for our brothers with the skills of thievery and espionage. While you may have treated them as weaklings in the past, their eyes and ears will be necessary to find our enemies. Bring with you also the town’s shaman and witches. We will need their mystical abilities to fend off those of our foes."

"Whatever path you follow, take no more than a fortnight to reach Chayt-Domazh. From there, we will set forth to reclaim the great Temple of Orkus!" He exhorted of his men as they broke camp and set out in even smaller group to spread Orkus’ will. I have found the one to lead my armies. He will make me proud, or he will die trying.....

On to Part 4