SoW What Ifs

What if... Achillean didn't follow Ingressus?

This theory follows the original SoW storyline.

This theory would somewhat relate to my actual story where the Challengers don't follow Ingressus through the portal. This would also change how everyone sees the story and with the Tidesinger knowing what is behind that portal, could help with his return.

Let's begin.

After a long and exhausting battle, the Deathsinger finally managed to knock the Tidesinger off of the mountain, ready to fulfill his master plan. He would walk through the portal, leaving the Prime Songs behind. When Achillean climbs back up the mountain, he sees the songs and the swirling dark magic portal. He remembers the key word in the Deathsingers final words before knocking him off, "when". "When my enemies are gone." "When Ardonia has grown weak" "When you are no longer there to stop me." Achillean pondered for a moment, switching his gaze between the portal and the Prime Songs. He makes a decision using his strong wits and his smarts, he picks up the Prime Songs, and descends the mountain.

The Ardoni are relieved, the Deathsinger gone and their adversaries either defeated or retreated. But Achillean stops their celebrations short, they needed to prepare. The Tidesinger handed the Prime Songs to his Master Aegus, never to be used again. Aegus distributed them to certain villages of the four Ardoni clans. The Tidesinger would then announce that the Deathsinger was not defeated and that he had used dark magic to travel through time to the future.

The Ardoni gasped, with Achillean's leadership and his great strength, they knew as long as they had the Prime Songs, he would overpower Ingressus with training and time. Thalleous, his dear friend, would grow old with the Tidesinger, until one day. Hawken had summoned them to the caves of Northwind and to the Walls of Time. This is where he explained how his scouts were missing near the peak of Mt. Velgrin. Achillean and Thalleous would investigate, knowing that this could mean serious business since the Deathsinger had still yet to return.

Thalleous and Achillean would ride with Hawken to Mt. Velgrin. Who would find the Voltaris and Tygren. After a long battle, Hawken would die and the Voltaris would flee deeper into the mountains. Achillean would hold Thalleous back saying: "that is there territory, despite our skills they could overpower us there." He would pick up Hawken's body as proof of their return, including the shield that had remnants of Aggressium energy from Tygren's aggrosphere.

With the knowledge of the return of the Voltaris, the Masters would call on Thalleous and Achillean to wield the Prime Songs and to defeat them once and for all. Zulius, Hadion, Galadar, and Hubris alone would accompany them, with only them, with no other Ardoni. Despite the amount of times Achillean refused to give into the Prime Songs, Thalleous suggested they shared it, and Achillean agreed. Thalleous would wield the Aggresium and Supporium Prime Songs, and Achillean would wield the Mobilium and Protisium Prime Songs.

When they arrive, the battle is fierce but fast, and none of the notable Ardoni die, Tygren is overwhelmed after his clan falters and perished, and he is also killed before the Deathsingers return. Surprised to see his closest brother, and the one who murdered his Master, he fights the Ardoni, killing off Hubris and Galadar. But before he could continue the bloodshed, he is caught off guard with the Prime Songs by Achillean, and killed by the group of Ardoni.

The Second Great War never happens and the Ardoni that survive, Zulius, Thalleous, Achillean, and Hadion would become heroes.