After explaining to Exodus what the tide of souls represented. The general went to each guard tower. Checking on those enlisted guards that made up the standing guard force that was always present in the castle. These consisted of veteran warriors whose family had long served the serpent and in it cause. The men and their descendants never had the calling to become full Warriors of Hades. However, they were content on the service that they provided for their god. They had long ago become proficient in their duties and the general was not displeased to see how efficiently they had assumed their assigned posts. With armor and weapons, both in good condition and ready for use. After checking on the guards, the general walked the battlements speaking cheer and friendly banter. Many of the warriors standing guard on the battlements asked questions of the General as he made his rounds. However, there was one question asked more than any other. "General, what do you think the Dark One will throw at us sir?" A good question and yet the general had little answers other than to say. "Well, he has sent against us pitfiends and bone Devils so far. I would expect the same. But who can tell what other demons our enemy has enlisted into his service. "With that said he would again move on to the next group of warriors and guardsmen only to repeat his previous statement. After what seemed like forever to the general he finally made his way back to front gate house where Exodus stood intently watching the plane of Hades. "Hey boss, I haven t seen a thing moving out there for sometime now, where is this army?" "That s a good question exodus, I wish I had an answer for you." Taking a position a few feet off to the right of exodus, Vikar quickly did a mental check of his weapons. His twin swords hung at his sides. His longbow, with an arrow notched, waited in his right hand. His armor was set, fully repaired and ready for the coming battle. Slowly he scanned the plane of Hades set out before the Castle of Fire. True to his word, exodus had not misspoken. Nothing moved nothing at all. Out of habit more than anything, he quickly lifted his eyes to the skyline. Being a ranger for most of his life. Vikar long ago knew the truth of battles. If nothing moved on the ground to attack u. Then duck and look up quickly for surly something will come flying down to squash you. Like a great big boulder from a hill giant. Slowly his eyes scanned the red haze that consisted of the sky over Hades. His well-trained eyes quickly noticed the darker specks against the red haze. Quickly lifting his bow, he sighted down the arrow shaft using the magic of the bow to help bring the distant images into better focus. Quickly the little black specks grew to become small forms. Slowly these forms grew bigger until they started to gain a definitive shape. Before he could make out what they were, he heard others shouting the alarm across the castle. Others had sited the horde of little black dots as they approached the castle. Still he watched them approach hoping to gain some knowledge of the army that was poised to strike at them. Precious seconds slipped by, as the forms grew big enough to make them out. Gross bloated bugs stared back at the general he watched them. He now knew what they were. Slowly dropping the bow to his side, letting the site of those bloated bodies disappeared from his view. "Damn I hate fly's" Was all that he said.
Something upon the battlements off to his left snatched Vikar's attention momentarily. He turned to see Hydra approaching quickly.
"Ssir, your orderss have been carried out, an impenetrable wall now protectss the lower chamberss and the sscrying pool." Hydra's gaze drifts out toward the horde gathering to descend upon WOH Keep.
"What iss thiss?" Hydra asks with an almost amused tone to his voice.
Vikar, looking at Hydra closely for the first time in many moons notes a few subtle changes in his Lieutenant, but shrugs them off.
"Our Nemessiss enterss Hadess and attackss uss with a ssumoned horde of demonlingss?" The flicker in Hydra's snakelike eyes could have been pure mirth, or absolute madness. It was growing harder for Vikar to discern these days.
"Perhapss... our enemy forgetss, WHERE HE ISSSSS.. and WHO HE DEALSS WITH!!
Hydra spits in a shrill, piercing shriek of rage... or is it glee?
Vikar unconsciously takes a step back, catching himself truly wondering for an instant, where exactly his bro Hydra has been all these weeks... and... what by the fangs of the Great Serpent has he been up to??
As Hydra's pallid features lit up with utter madness, the swirling fires of arcane magics, began to trace rings around his talon-like digits as they worked through the archaic ritual of invocation. His burnt orange sun-burst irises enveloped his vertical lash pupils casting powerful twin beams of orange-red light out of his skull, where only a moment ago his eyes had been...
Vikar took another step back, as Hydra's lanky frame levitated three feet into the air. His back arched and his chanting became less archaic and more like a scream of pure agony.
Vikar slung his bow and ripped his blades from their sheaths almost without thinking about it. Others standing guard on the battlements gaped at the pyrotechnics slashing around and through the rigid form of Hydra.
"Get back!" Vikar shouted! "He's Losing it!"
Perhaps a ranger by trade, but Vikar knew enough about magic to know whatever the hell his bro was doing, it was not going well. He had never seen his bro attempt a spell of this caliber before. He knew all too well the effects of powerful spells gone awry. Wild magic some called it.
All at once it stopped.
Hydra fell heavily to the stone like a sack of wheat, groaning and mumbling incoherently. then.....nothing happened.
Hydra raised his head weakly, a grin of satisfaction initially.. then as he contemplated the silence around him, his grin became a frown, then a look of confusion.
Nothing happened.
Vikar raised one eyebrow looking down at his underling. Hydra's face a mottled guise of confusion and utter disappointment.
"Well it was a helluva show bro!" Vikar needled slapping Hydra on the back with one hand and offering the other to help his bro up. Entirely unable to contain his mirth any longer. His deep chested guffaw was suddenly cut short...
by a faint tremble... Followed by another tremor.. Then...
the ground before the castle gates began to heave as if it were about to give birth.. now all gatherred on the battlements were fighting to maintain their footing. Vikar eyed Hydra who was smiling in complete satisfaction.
"What in the name o' the nine hells did you do?!?!" Vikar demanded, all humor evaporated from his stature in an instant.
Hydra giggled, again sounding more like a madman than a mage.
One look into Vikar's face and Hydra knew he'd better explain himself and quickly...
"Well ssir... letss jusst ssay... when it comess to ssummoning demonss... It iss a game that can be played by more than one."
No longer able to contain himself Hydra burst into maniacal laughter as all those on the battlements looked out at the ever widening gap forming in the ground before WOH Keep with trepidation written all over their faces.
"Damnit Hydra!" Vikar shrieked
"What the hell did YOU DO!?!?!?!?!"
(Blaze) awakening in a bed with a large scar going across his shoulder to his stomach, and feeling like something just ripped him a new one. "I gotta get a better training routine, this kind of damage would have killed me if it wasnt for my etheral changing... Owwwwwwww.
(Calling for nanuk) where are you and what was it that attacked me.. Nanuk where are you.... Why doesnt the damn beast answer me....? (Tries calling for Quin) Brother Quin.. Brother Quin.. Where is everyone... Im in some bed with a huge scar on me, what happened....
Blaze realizes he isnt gettin anywhere decides to try and walk out and see where everyone is.......
Devlyn hears the commotion going on outside and decides she better figure out what is going on. On her way through the hall she sees Blaze slowly walking down the passageway, a trail of blood follows him. "Blaze, you OK? Come here a sec and let me have a look at you." Blaze grunts an answer to Devlyn, but none the less, stops walking so Devlyn can catch up. "OH! That looks like it hurt a bit. You want to let me try to fix that? Been working on my spells lately and I think I can handle it." "Do what you want Dev, it's pretty numb now anyway" Devlyn places her hands on Blazes deep gash. Blaze can feel the wound getting hotter and hotter. Dev's hands begin to glow a soft auburn color while she is quietly chanting the spell over and over. Her hands go from the auburn color to a deep red almost instantly. "Ouch Dev! You trying to cook me alive here?? I think the wound is sealed now" Sorry Blaze, still getting acquainted with the grand-master spells." Devlyn removes her hands from Blazes now sealed wound. "Oh my!" Devlyn quickly looks at Blaze seeing if he noticed, he did. Where his wound once was are now two nicely shaped outlines of Devlyn's hands. "Sorry Blaze, I guess I got more work to do, heh" Suddenly, the ground begins to shake. Devlyn and Blaze grab a hold of each other and the wall to steady themselves. "What the Hell was that??" Blaze shouts. "I have no clue, but its coming from outside, as well as all the yelling" "You feeling well enough to see what s going on out there?" Devlyn asks. "Hell yeah, lets get a move on, seems like they could use us out there Devlyn and Blaze take off for the outside of the keep, not knowing what they were about to face.
A rip appeared in the ground itself, a chasm really. Half a mile wide, and an 8th of a mile across when the ground finally stopped moving. Looking into the depths from his vantagepoint, Vikar saw what he could only think of as the night sky. Vast blackness dotted with a million points of light. The depth was impossible to fathom; it was as if he looked into infinity itself. He looked at Hydra, standing beside him and suddenly realized he was looking at a total stranger. Hydra stood staring into the abyss with a glassy-eyed child-like expression of utter joy. Giggling and murmuring quietly to himself. In all the time he had known Hydra, Vikar could not once recall a genuine smile crossing malevolent warrior s countenance. Always grim, usually angry, occasionally delusional with more than a touch of eccentric malice. Hydra rarely laughed, and when he did, it was humorless. He was acting completely out of character. The only time he had ever seen Hydra with an expression on his face even close to what he now wore, was after he had been blasted with a feeblemind spell. Then it finally dawned on him. Hydra s body was standing next to him, but the mind was still missing. Yet if this were so, how could Hydra have cast any spell let alone one, seemingly, of any substantial power? Hydra let out a quiet gasp, and pointed toward the crevasse.
They come ? THEY COME!!! THEY COME!!! MY BEAUTIFULL CHILDREN HAVE COME TO ME!!!!!! He shouted in hysteria, throwing his arms above his head and dancing rapidly in circles while giggling insanely.
Vikar looked down at the gash in the ground as the first wave of the creatures scrabbled out of the void. Thin wiry things with mottled gray to black flesh. They were 9 feet tall, and most wore sparse, but gleaming armor. All carried a weapon of some sort or another, but all the weapons too gleamed with malevolence. They moved with blinding speed, those that came up on the side of the chasm facing the onrushing horde charged into battle without hesitation but a few came up on the side closest to the gates. They too immediately rushed to attack WOH Keep. Vikar unslung his bow and took aim at the ones rushing the keep; they were met with a fierce attack by the hound Blaze set to guard the gate. Fearing he might hit the guardian hound, Vikar hesitated.
He reached over and grabbed Hydra by the collar jerking him off his feet and starred menacingly into Hydra s face.
What are they? He stated flatly.
Mezzer.. eh.. Mezzorb Er Mezzodaemonss! Hydra exclaimed triumphantly. Throwing his arms into the air as if he had just discovered a lost artifact.
They are type IV Deamonss.. He continued in a quiet voice, wide-eyed as if he were telling Vikar some ancient secret. VERY NASSSSSSTY! he exclaimed gleefully.
They will attack EVERYTHING they ssee, they will not sstop, not until everything in ssight iss DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!!! He cut off with another bout of hysterical laughter.
They will defeat the entire horde! You will ssee! All we need do iss ssit back and watch! He added with an over-dramatic wave of his arms. Seeming oblivious to the fact that a few of the things were attacking the castle itself.
Vikar shook his fist angrily and pointed at the fight developing before the gates. LOOK! was all he managed to spit out in the rage that was beginning to overtake him.
Hydra, upon seeing his creatures attacking his own brothers frowned and looked back meekly at Vikar.
I did ssay they will attack every ..
YES YOU DID! Vikar thundered cutting him off in mid-sentence. You also said they can defeat the entire horde alone did you not?
Hydra smiled broadly again.
Yesss! YESS! They are invincible! He exclaimed proudly.
Then what? Vikar demanded.
Hydra paused, looking confused again.
What? Hydra asked, unsettled by the anger he saw in his general s face. He had been expecting praise.
After they defeat the horde? Vikar prompted
THEY WILL ATTACK US YOU IDIOT! Vikar answered for him.
A look of fear crossed Hydra s face as his brain finally caught up to the direction this conversation had taken.
I had.. uh.. Hadn t thought of that.. Was Hydra s quiet reply.
Hydra looked down at the battle unfolding before him a look of dread on his face.
I thought I was staring at a picture, the scene through the portal hadn't changed in so long, thought Ion. All my brethren stood poised waiting, watching, expecting certain doom. And then the Dark One gave command, the hordes of demons spilled forth and yet I am still held here forced to watch. Our forces are weak right now, I was not sure we would be able to survive, but then I saw an old friend. One who has gone through just about as many metamorphoses as I. I knew immediately, even from my distant vantage point whom this new warrior was. Hydra. His form was even more misshapen than the last time we fought together, and I could assume with his new shape came new power, in fact I could feel it. Only thing is, it didn't feel right. As I watched the mighty warrior spasm in frightful incantation, I knew something was different. The ground tearing open, the demons pouring out only served to strengthen my fear. Never have I had the power to do what I just witnessed. A bit jealous I watched in horrid fascination as they escaped their hellish underworld. At first I believed maybe Hydra succeeded, the new demons attacked with a ferocity I would fear to be at the receiving end of. They tore the Dark Ones demons from limb to limb. We have a chance I thought. But then I saw the first warrior fall to the same demons, a neophyte to the ranks, someone I had never even the pleasure of meeting. Her body was picked up and snapped like a twig, tossed aside as if nothing more than a child's doll. Hades help us Hydra, what did you do?... And as if to mock my question, my mind is filled with the Dark One's laughter.
Clearly the shock of what Hydra had just unleashed upon us all was displayed upon his reptilian face. The General of the Warriors of Hades had once had his doubts about recruiting Hydra into the guild. His background was covered in WOH Blood and it seemed that his future was soon to be that way also. But after seeing his old friend in battle and how willing he had been to join our ranks. The then Col. Keepers of the Night had agreed to let him join. It was a choice that until now he had never dreaded. Now staring at the form in front of him, he wasn t even sure if it was Hydra, but another one of the Dark Ones minions playing as Hydra. Hydra stood as if his mind was only half there. His movements were slow and came with much thought. Quickly Vikar grabbed him although Hydra loomed over the general by as much as a foot and half. Vikar was still easily able to physically lift Hydra and place him directly in his face. Hydra didn t recoil or even seem to be aware of the position he had just been forced into. Closing his eyes he summoned up a simple spell. When it was ready he sent it forth to envelop his Guild brother. He knew what he was searching for. He had felt it once before back in the inn. When he, Peron and Ion had all felt the presence of the Dark One. His spell quickly rolled over the form of Hydra. Down to his shoulders and then down his massive chest and arms. As soon as the spell covered his clawed hands Vikar s eyes shot open. "Of course the rings, you used them to summon up the horde that now threatens us all. Hydra (screaming, shaking the still sluggish hydra for emphasize) HYDRA! Give me those rings NOW!" With the mentioning of the rings a strange dark light filled hydra eyes. A blackness so deep that not even his pupils could not be seen. A deep powerful voice whispered back to answer Vikar. "Don't you like my new pet?" Came the voice of the Dark One. The surprise was complete, and total both from the voice and Hydra's movement. Vikar's mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events was caught off guard as Hydra exploded into movement. Where once his arms had been slack at his sides suddenly came a flurry of movement. Both arms slammed into Vikar s chest sending him flying a good ten feet backwards. To crash directly into Linty's side as he was preparing a bow shot at the horde forming in front of the castle. The two Warriors were both down in a tangle of arms and legs. As Vikar crashed into Linty s side. He prematurely fired his bow. His arrow was lost flying away from the castle into the horde of dark things massing to assault the castle. Just after the two had gone down, Exodus stepped out of the door leading to the HQ. There he stopped looked about in total puzzlement. Had Hydra just summoned up a horde of demons? And had he just attacked the general? Taking a step towards the two downed Warriors, he came up short again. Was that a growl he had just heard? A growl that was oddly familiar? Extracting himself from Linty, who was clearly upset at being so badly treated. Vikar turned cold eyes on the creature he once considered his LT and friend. A vicious snarl escaped his throat. He took no notice of Exodus stepping to help him. Or of Linty s raised angry voice. A blood lust was running in his veins and through his mind. Hydra stood waiting for him. He knew that, this battle was staged by the Dark One just for him and so be it, he would have it no other way. Jumping to his feet, he called upon the power of the cloak of shadows. The cloak flashed a dark swirling gray and then he was gone. Hydra had seen this many times and would have been prepared for the shadow walk. But the Dark one wasn t! As quickly as he had vanished he again reappeared directly in front of Hydra, with a sword in each hand. In his right hand he held Grey, sword of shadows. Its blade the living shadow of the plane of shadow swirling and dancing to its own mesmerizing dance. In his left hand he held Black, a long sword like its sister sword except along its blade ran black fire. At the tip of the sword the fire leapt out towards its intended victim. Hydra was close but not close enough. The tongues of black fire fell to the stone battlements and dissipated into nothing. In a fluid motion that took the Dark One by surprise Vikar stepped right up inside of Hydra arms. His sword leading the way! With but a thrust he could kill Hydra, or disembowel him in the least. In came Hydra arms to defend himself. And out went the swords, Grey catching Hydra in the lower arm, just above the wrist. Slicing clean though both arm and bone. Where Grey had gone straight out and away from his own body, he had angled Black up and away catching Hydra just below the armpit. Here his arm was much thicker, and black could only manage to cut into the bone before becoming lodged. Black fire hungrily leapt from the blade to encompass the arm. Its other more sinister mate was doing the work that the blade could not do. Not waiting a moment Vikar let go of Black and grabbed Hydra under the chin. Bringing his head down slightly and into perfect alignment for Grey. Mercilessly he slammed the hilt of the sword into his face, over and over again. Until Hydra saw or felt no more. With a mighty shove he was able to push him over onto his back with black going along for the ride. A trail of black greasy smoke trailed up in an arc as the sword went. Waiting only as long as it took for Hydra's body to settle on the stone. He calmly walked over to the still burning arm and with Grey finished the job that black had started. Reaching down he extracted Black for the remains of the arm. It flared a rich black and then went dark. Nodding his thanks to his sword for its ability to clean itself off, Vikar replaced it in its sheath. Turning he looked out across the battlement to see Dev and Blaze staring up at the scene they had just witnessed on the battlements. The force of Vikar's mental ESP caused Blaze to nearly pass out again. While Dev had to bring up a mental block to tone it down. "Dev, get up here I have an errand I need you to do ASAP! Blaze get up here and recall your pets before they get slaughtered outside!" With that said he turned to give orders to Exodus and Linty. The two Warriors stood there, mouths agape, faces pale. Had everything gone crazy! Warriors attacking Warriors! "Linty, get back to your place in line. Keep those demons pinned down for as long as possible. Exodus, I don t know what happened down in the crypt but I think you need to grab Slog and go find out! Find Viper and the rest of them Oh and if they don t seem like themselves (pausing, in a deep and serious voice he continues) take them out and ask questions later". Not waiting to see if either Warrior goes to carry out his orders. He turns and with Grey in hand, he locates both the severed body parts. Without remorse he stabs them both through and raises then to look at the rings on all ten of the clawed fingers. Just then Dev appears at his side "well I'm here what s the rush and did I just see you fighting Hydra?" With out replying to her questions, Vikar grabs the short sword hanging at her hip. She jumps back as if Vikar was going to attack her, like he had with Hydra! "Brrts flam " Came to Devs lips. Vikar looked up at that, his eyebrow over his left eye raised in an inquisitive look, " I didn t know you knew meteorswarm. Fear not Dev, I am not going to attack." With that he takes he sword and cleanly pierces the two severed body parts and removes them from Grey. He then hands Dev back her sword. Take these to Magi, give them only to him, do not stop, and do not talk to any one! The key to our victory may hinge on these rings now go!" With that Dev is off. Looking up, and down the battlement. Opposite from Linty, he sees Jynn and Krown. "Jynn, grab Krown and get Hydra to the infirmary". With that said he takes up his bow that he had dropped at the beginning of this little charade. Quickly he notches an arrow and takes aim at the horde.
(Blaze) still reeling from the ESP blast of info from Vik stumbles back and shakes his head. Damn I knew I should have kept that mind block ring.. Shakes his head some more... Nods to Vik Aye, I shall. Blaze turns for the stairs to the highest tower calling for his dogs.. "C'mon my pets its time to prepare. Giving separate orders to some of them, you go get extra arrows from the armory, you go get me some pouches of sulfur, you go get me some that dry ice that Sister Dev had the other day. And Nanuk get away from Quin's desk he is not going to teach you anything, in fact he thinks you stink now c'mere and give some support. Its time to do some bombing. " (Blaze starts to smile at the last time he started wasting demons with their own element, they just hate ICE)... Blaze continues up to the top Battlement up above the Gates.......
Realizing that the Dark One has a better hand on this battle then anyone thought Phantom decides it's time to get serious. With a small chanting session, lasting about 7 seconds, and a quick vanishing act he appears on the highest post above the front gates to the keep. Once there he sees the demons against the gates fighting Blaze's pet. As Blaze's pets retreat, the demons follow right on their heals. Phantom points his hands towards the creatures, aimed specifically at the hound, and starts chanting spells. His first spell is to get the hound out of there. With one flash the hound dissipates into nothing leaving a black mark on the ground where it stood. The demons, slightly confused at the change in enemy in front of them, pause. Before they get a chance to even look for a new target, Phantom casts a bazerker spell on them. With the little intelligence they have it becomes their undoing. They already have the mentality of ants, now they want to kill themselves in their rage. To help them along a few ice showers are cast upon them. A smile of satisfaction comes upon Phantoms face as the creatures directly in front of the keep kill each other. Phantom disappears again only to reappear in front of Vikar, far enough in front so Vik doesn't attack right off. "Sir, the demons attacking the keep are taken care of. What would you like me to do next?"
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