The Land Of Rohan

End Of The Line - Exodus

The End Chapter - III

- Birthplace of Purity, Ignis -

The battle rode on full-swing, taking lifeblood by the tankard, until Krieger let loose his rain of spite and vengeance upon the whole host, allies and foes alike. The sky was dark, as if seeping with the very liquid spilled below it. The sense of foreboding covered every inch of air outside the walls of Montt.

The reinforcements sent by the Resistance had arrived mere moments before the treacherous onslaught; Wahrsager having turned the tide of battle against the sleepers, but nevertheless caught off guard by none other than his own Lord.

Wahrsager exclaimed his disbelief over the din of steel on steel. “Garrick! What tomfoolery is this? What in hell’s blazes happened to the Old Man?”

The mighty Paladin marshalled his troops behind him to flank his comrade’s. Garrick had found a horse still breathing and helped it to its knees. He mounted the animal and rode full gallop towards his fellow Servitor. His armour had seen better days, but he wasn’t about to give it up to the spirits of corrosion and fester. He waved Ho to Wahrsager, and quieted his animal down before the marksman.

“It’s the Beast,” Garrick announced. “It’s grown so mad; the Lord Dragon hath no control nemore. I fear his sanity hath left him too.”

“First time, sir. First time this had to happen to me. I arrive all hero-like, save the day and everything, and the DAMNED HELLS break loose on my parade! From my own team, no less. Dammit!”

“Calm, Forester, last we need’s another berserker.” Garrick approached the situation with the experience of a grizzled veteran. “Your generals? Have they reported?”

“Our forces are on full retreat on all fronts. The enemy’s been drawn towards the west; scattered groups at most. They were decimated to begin with, and we only swept up after the Old Man. General Bahadur of Rev’Deca is rallying the others; we’ll be regrouping a safe distance away from the Lord Dragon’s maelstrom.”

“Good,” Garrick grunted approval. “We’ll have to wait for his bloodlust to run off. Word from Vena?”

“Only that they wonder who sealed the Dragon’s might for the time being, what with their cousin’s energies all focused on protecting Montt and the Sky Palace.”

“I did.” From behind Garrick arrived a poignantly exquisite Dark Elf, hovering inches above the ground, downcast, with but a cinder left in her once raging eyes. Wahrsager put bolt to crossbow almost by pure instinct, if not flavoured by his ill will against the notorious Flamechild, enemy and ruiner to the woods he calls home. Garrick stayed his hand, and stepped between the two.

“Peace, Wahrsager. She is not our adversary, at least not anymore.”

“What the damn blazes did I miss? The Lord Dragon throws a tantrum the size of the King’s wives’ combined arses, and his hated rival and oh-so-bitter opposition, lapdog to the Gods, is suddenly our friend and bosom buddy?”

Rache shot him a look of disdain, which was probably brought in more by the strain of her efforts to contain Krieger rather than insult taken from Wahrsager’s tirade.

“Look, Forester, she is here to aid us. She no longer serves the Five; or the Two, for that matter.”

“How can you be so sure, you Human dimwit?!” Wahrsager dismounted from his horse, pointed the loaded crossbow at Rache past Garrick’s shoulder, and promptly received a bloody boot to the face. Rache mediated next, oddly in behalf of her staunch challenger.

“Enough Garrick. I have said and done enough to deserve what he means of me.” She looked down to the sprawled Wahrsager. “Whatever malice you wish on me must wait, however. For I perish before your Dragon is calmed, none of us will live past this day. His weapon has drunk enough blood to fuel a thousand-year war. In so far as those who are here now and involved, only I can barely enclose the Dragon’s frenzy. So if you must do me harm and kill me, I will give you free rein to do so – I will stand motionless an arm’s length before your arrow – AFTER we settle the matter of Krieger’s rage, and the impending schemes of the despicable Flox and his sister Marea.”