Foretold

Chapter 1: Can't Hold

Chapter 1

                “Gather around patrons, don’t fright, we watch destruction upon this world, my treat.” A mystic figure appeared in the twilight chambers in a black cloud that slowly dissipated. In a dark blue room, held by pillars of emanating neon blue crystals, Taren Scales stood out among the Walkers of Time, the title given to members of the high council, that attended the midnight ball. Skin as dark as night, and eyes glowing of dark purple, streaks of violet crystals split the skin on his high cheek bones and forehead, forming vibrant designs on his face. He held out his hand and the room darkened even more, beams of light originated from the pillars and crossed into designs that formed a template in the middle of the chamber and a lifelike display of a beach appeared.

                “The world will burn before I can even do anything,” he pitied himself “but rest assured, this makes up for an interesting evening, does it not?” he look at the rest of the Walkers of Time. They looked at him, in question and turned their attention to the image of the beach. “Yes my patrons, I don’t want the attention tonight, this is a special occasion, for the council.” Moving his fingers into symbolic figures, the 3D image began to play.

***

                An armored male stood at a cliff that over looked over a beach. He stood almost completely still, arms at his side; the only movement was the dark red armor that extended with every breath he took. He looked out into the ocean, a fog bank moving across the waves and a single figure stood out. He concentrated at the figure as more began to materialize from the fog.

                “We have airships inbound! Load the mortars, set the mines, take aim and fire on my command!” He turned and screamed at army that stood behind him.

                “Commander, cannons armed, but we’re low on the air mines!” A soldier screamed as cannons were being loaded, and the clanking of the air mine’s motors began to run.

                “Get as many as you can in the air, they are approaching and quick, LT I hope you understand,” the commander sighed and the LT straightened, “Bring up the engineers, and hurry up!! Send word down the lines, count to a hundred units and launch the mines. On my order and the sound of the cannons, send every volley we have, I fear we are outmanned on this engagement.” As the LT turned and began to bark orders, the commander turned around and watched as hundreds of airships drifted out of the fogbank, closing in indefinitely towards the shore.

                “FIRE!!” the order rang out and seconds later, hundreds of cannonballs soared into the air, on a collision course with the airships before finally splintering and shredding each airship that happened to become an unfortunate victim of proximity. As the first volley obliterated the first line of airships, the mines began making their way towards the cloud of metal and helium that suspended each airship in the air. The mines made their first contact, along with the second volley of cannonballs, the ensuing destruction created fireballs that blew apart dozens of airships, the destruction of airships created a wall of fire that enveloped a major section of the sky. Metal and bodies littered the ocean and washed ashore, the intense heat of the burning metal glassing sections of beach. The first wave of airships made their way to the shore, ropes sprang over the edges of airships and soldiers began flowing down the ropes and developing a beachhead.

                “Brace! Brace!! Brace!!” as the commander screamed, balls of fire blew apart cannons and chunks of the cliff exploded, “Their attack ships are firing! Take aim! Take aim!” cannons turned towards the distance, as more shred round impacted platoons, scores dead and hundreds wounded as shrapnel tore through the cliff side. The beach was in an uproar as soldiers sliced and fired at each other, a battle for the beach, a strategic point in which to set up a command point on the continent. Battle commanders ordering fighting positions as the invading force blew apart hundreds and hundreds of men and woman, fighting for their lands.

                The commander of the field stared at the carnage, the ringing in his hear cancelled out the noise of the cannon blast, a silent theme of chaos, blood, murder and death seared into his head, he turned to watch cannons helplessly continue to fire at the hundreds of airships that continued to make their way towards the beach.

                “The Nujians.. What have we done..” A blast ripped what conscious he was left with and the image went dark.

                “So it has begun!” Taren happily exclaimed, “The great war of this planet has began, time is quick, lets make the best of it my patrons, my friends.” The holographic image of the battle blinked out, and the room fell dark again. Taren snapped his fingers, and the blue lights returned. Taren raised his arm, and a table graphed out of a block of purple granite that made up the wall and floated to the center of the chamber. Taren brought up chairs, and took his seat at the head of the tables. “Sit, my friends, we have much to discuss.” The Walkers of Time stared at each other, the image of the battle still fresh in their minds, and made their way to the table. Many of the council members eyed their seats wearily before finally pulling them back and taking their seats.

                “Now, the Shroud has finally come out of time, we are floating just off the coast, enough to pick up this intoxicating beginning to what’s worse to come.” Taren began.

                “What are we looking exactly?” Councilmen Jassor asked

                “What we just watched, was the Nujian occupation of Kaba” Taren explained

                “What prompted such attack?” High council lady Nejuria pointed out.

                “After scouts returned from the Rift hubs earlier in the month, they reported a small Kabian fleet assaulting a major fishing village off the cost of Nuji, the Nuji were quick to eradicate the problem, and took swift action against the Kabian regime, they have declared war on each other.” Taran answered

                “Over a fishing village?” Nejuria was quick to assume

                “The Nujians are quick to action, it would seem the Nujians were looking for just the right touch of inspiration to attack.” Taren smiled.

                “Hmm, a nice pot of chaos if you ask me. So, what are our plans my lord?” councilmen Ujaria shed his opinion.

                Taren gave him a look, and smiled again “We wait.”

                “What do you mean we wait, should we not act now!?”

                “Collect the essence of the dead, and convert them into void walkers, when they wear themselves, we act with overwhelming strength, patience my patrons, patience. This world will soon be ours, and soon, many to come.”