Battle of lindly, p.27
Battle of Lindly, page 27
Victus did not relent and could feel the slow release of magical anesthetic from his helmet working. It did nothing to heal his melted eyes or the cut on his side, but it numbed his pain, allowing him to focus on his target. He stepped forward completely offensive, no mercy as he swung from high cutting back and thrusting towards her. He knew she would move her sword from her chief defense to meet his quick reversal and when she did, Victus stepped back, pulling away his sword, not allowing the swords to touch. Immediately he swung his sword from the outside of her sword arm, which she held to the side to rebuff. Her sword was tipped to the ground, which was Victus’ goal. She tried to correct the mistake, as she realized she should have just disengaged a few steps back, but it was too late. Victus had allowed his sword to be pushed back and up, bringing the hilt near his face.
This overpressure from the elf caused her to lose balance in her defensive posture. Victus capitalized as she teetered and brought his sword down into her chest. Her parry was too weak to stop the strength of the man’s thrust. The priestess’ eyes widened as the sword penetrated into her magically enchanted armor and pierced her heart.
Excitement coursed through the crowd, causing them to scream and cheer. As the priestess gasped her breaths, her true dark form began to reveal itself and the veil that had concealed her identity was lifted. She could not speak, but sent an imprint to Victus' mind– what he heard, he would never forget. “I am afraid to die.” To Victus, the sound within his mind was reminiscent of a helpless child who had been ruthlessly beaten and was now cowering in fear of an endless punishment. He pitied the lifeless priestess as he slid his sword from her lifeless body, allowing her to collapse dead on the platform.
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Victus knelt down, his hands touched the priestess’ face and then he brushed her eyes closed. Nibarn hopped from his throne in shock, staring in disbelief as his mouth gaped. Stuttering, he yelled, “This is not possible!”
Victus, his voice booming beneath his helmet, “It is done. And you will be brought to justice.”
Nibarn glanced over to his counselors, giving them a knowing nod, and turned back to address Victus. “I think it is time I take my leave, Commander Victus.” Pulling out a small stone, he held it out towards the crowd, as did his sycophants. In unison, they all spoke the command word to activate their safety-net spell, “Pigeon Flight,” which teleported them to a secret, safe location.
Victus began moving towards Nibarn to apprehend the corrupt man, but he and the others dissolved. The crowd, after the priestess’ death, had been released from the enchantment. Cheers and booing ceased, and people began to scream in horrified realization. A dome had surrounded the city, and only a small gap at the top remained open. The crystals were forming the completion of the dark elves’ magic as signified by the funnel of souls being sucked up from bodies in the distance. Panic-stricken, people ran in all directions. Victus yelled into the crowd, his voice projected through the platform’s magic. “Flee to the RIVER GATE! Get to the River Gate!”
In the distance, the River Gate horn blew. Victus yelled, “RIVER GATE!” Some in the crowd heard, but it was not enough. The dark elves were revealed, displaying their natural obsidian-like skin and a proclivity for murder. They massacred everyone in their vicinity. At least one hundred dark elves guarded the pathway to the River Gate and though the attempts of the people to break through were valiant, they were in vain.
Aris, stunned by the carnage and death being unleashed upon the city, stared. Janus tugged on the young man’s armor, snapping him back. “Time to go.”
Jess was behind, pushing Aris. “Get on the platform,” she said. When Aris turned to run up the platform, a dark black purple fire burst forth and outlined the platform, preventing Victus from getting down and halting the others from coming to his aid. A laughter bellowed through the city, causing uneasiness in everyone. Some citizens began vomiting at the sound, others just held their heads frozen in despair.
Janus saw that Victus' shield, which he had placed on the edge of the platform, was not touched by the flames. “That way, go!” Aris, Jess, Serin and Brandan ran up the platform into the narrow gap made by the shield. Janus followed behind, securing their backs. A few dark elves were coming, but Janus did not wait for them, he ran towards his commander. “Victus, I do not believe the flames will hurt the elves. We will be attacked from all sides at once.”
The commander, his voice calm, said, “Back-to-back!” Victus and Janus, Jess and Aris, Brandan and Serin all turned outwards, determined to fight as one and die as one. Victus could see through the flames with his helmet and saw the elves coming. “Be ready! We have seconds before they are here! Family! Duty! Lindly!”
Victus noted in the distance beyond the elves’ charging, dark circular portals opening with what appeared to be orcs and goblins pouring through them. He also watched dark anti-paladins marching in behind the hosts of orcs. Suddenly, he saw about five of these fallen knights surrounding a ragged-looking skeleton– tall with elegant red and blue robes, with fleshless hands gripping tightly to an onyx staff tipped with a stormy jade crystal. The whisper of disappointment fell from Victus’ lips, “Dread Reavers and Liches.”
Backs to one another, sides close to one another, Janus noticed the ground beneath them was moist. It was collecting, pooling blood. A bubbling, oozing pit was forming underneath their feet. Janus yelled, “Move back!”
They stumbled back as a magnificently tall female dark elf rose from the blood. She was much like the priestess that Victus had fought, but this female was far larger– standing nearly ten feet in height. The armor she wore was plum, with a texture of glass. She came into being with her cackle falling down towards them all. Her beauty was undeniable and the aura of power surrounding her was like a noxious gas in the air. It flew forth from her like a low fog early in the morning. She stepped towards Victus and the others, her voice haughty, “Kneel before your new goddess! Kneel and become one of my knights, Victus.”
Aris looked from his father to the dark elven goddess, who he concluded was Lestar. Victus held his sword firm and pointed it in a threat to the elven goddess. Janus had his spear over his shield pointed directly towards her as well. Lestar looked down at them, her hands open and inviting. “No need for this, Victus. You have earned a place with me. Come, your destiny beckons you. Join me. You can even keep your pet.” She pointed towards Janus.
Aris looked from his left and his right and saw dark elves standing at the edges of the platform, waiting for word from Lestar. Brandan also saw the elves surrounding the platform and yelled at them, “Come on! You have us, end it!” Serin was holding her dagger, which she now realized was not going to be much help against a god.
Lestar looked up to her crystal formation above Lindly and then back towards Victus. “You are running out of time, human.”
Aris interrupted the goddess as he yelled to his father, “Up there!” He pointed and everyone, including Lestar, looked up. High above the city were Skylighter’s gryphon shock troopers. They were flying in formation, seemingly looking for a way to enter through the dome.
Lestar laughed, “Ah, sadly, they have arrived a bit late. And who is this charming specimen, Victus?”
Aris didn’t give his father a chance to answer and responded for him. “I am Squire Aris Tin of House Andreas.”
She roared in laughter, “Victus, you brought your son to die with you? Foolish. Join me and save your son!”
Victus took a deep breath before responding, his heart pounding, sweat dripping down his face underneath the mask. “I will never bow to you. I openly resist everything you are! We stand against you! FAMILY, DUTY, LINDLY!”
Skylighter watched from above, upon his gryphon, frustrated. He could not get his men and women through the barrier. Outside the main city gate, portals began opening with Elivendel’s high elven mages marching. Skylighter watched as the mages began opening more portals and began throwing out small trinkets and sprinkling the ground with powder. He knew that every single one of the elven mages sent here carried with them siege engines in miniature form. They would place them where they wished to begin an assault against the city and then re-enchant them to normal size. Skylighter began praying as he watched the formations of elven soldiers pouring through the high elven portals. “I am running out of time. Kalisdel! Help us! Help me!” he pleaded. His gryphon troopers continued circling the enclosed city, and he saw Lestar standing before Victus. It took everything he had to hold himself in the air. The desire to aid Victus in battle burned within him, and he longed to be able to fight at his side.
Skylighter was angry, and his prayer reflected his anger. “KALISDEL! Your children are dying! We are stuck and unable to intervene. Where are you? Come to our aid. Lestar is here–” He paused as he continued watching below. He saw a disgusting behemoth of what looked like an orc, but somehow twisted. “Oh... damnation. Tagar is here too!”
The sounds from the city were truly horrifying. The flying troopers all saw, heard and could feel in their very souls the death. Souls were screaming as they were being pulled by the vortex to the crystals. Citizens were being trampled by one another and slaughtered by the orcs and elves. Skylighter felt helpless as he cried yet again out to Kalisdel, “Please! Where are you?”
After a moment, he felt her. He felt the surge of his goddess’ power coursing through his body before hearing her voice. “I am here, noble paladin.” Then he saw a pillar of white and gold smokey fire falling from the heavens straight down past the flying troopers. It slammed into the crystal formation, shattering them into millions of tiny pieces.
Skylighter watched in awe as the dome barrier surrounding the city collapsed, turning his head to the sounds of, “Whooah!” His troopers cheered and looked at him for their orders. Some were already flicking their magically enchanted boots– boots which provided the wearer a more controlled, stable descent, allowing for inflight directional changes. Skylighter lifted his hand out to them, pointing his hand like an arrowhead and dipping it down towards the ground. The gryphons cawed and then rolled to the side; troopers disembarked, dropping like rain from the clouds. Upon releasing their riders, the gryphons tucked their wings in and dove down, passing the falling troopers on the way down to the city’s surface. Skylighter stayed atop his mount, riding his gryphon down in the center of the wedge formation. He was leading their flight path straight into the chaotic lines of orcs and goblins forming. The gryphons would sweep through the first wave of enemies and allow a clear landing zone for their paladins.
Skylighter realized this was not just cult activity they were defending against. This was not just Lestar toying with mortal lives, this was an all-out invasion. The armistice between the brother gods, Eu’rok and Asmolor was clearly broken.
The goddess’ gaze shifted to see her crystal formation destroyed by a ball of fire. She screamed in rage and then was blown back off the platform a hundred feet in the air by a figure who matched her in size and beauty. The tallest woman Aris had ever seen rose from her assault through the barrier, she wore white-gold and silver plate armor and she held a massive sword and kite shield, with an aura that glowed white. Her red hair flickered with flame tips as she tucked in her twelve-foot angelic wings.
She smiled at Victus and his son as she spoke in a melodic voice. “Family, Duty, Lindly!” Though Aris heard her speak the words, he could have sworn she said, “Family, Duty, Serin!” Victus bowed before her, and everyone followed suit. Kalisdel returned the bow and her voice resonated with every one of her children in Lindly. “FIGHT ON! Fight for your families. Fight for your city! Fight against the darkness! Stand as one. I am with you!” Every human in the city felt her, every human knew her, and every person was invigorated by her presence and power. Kalisdel pointed her sword upwards, and the city was blanketed by a dome of her own. Instantaneous and white in color, the city was protected from the barrage, which would surely come from her brother Elivendel. She turned to Victus and waved her sword hand around the platform, extinguishing Lestar’s magic. “Get as many as you can out. I will deal with Tagar and Lestar!” With that, her wings sprouted out, and she flew off towards Lestar who was stumbling to her feet, dazed with blood trickling from her nose.
Lestar wiped the blood, huffed in anger and rose to levitate above the ground as wings sprouted from her back. Unlike her cousin Kalisdel’s brilliant white wings, hers were more bat-like in form and when she spread them, her body transformed from the body of a dark elf into a two foot cloven monstrosity. Her head was adorned with massive horns, while her tail, with barbed tendrils, waved in the air and threatened to spread poison. She cracked a large whip made of black flame, whipping an unsuspecting human in her demonstration. With her other elongated clawed hand, she began casting. The man she had wrapped up with her whip squirmed to get away, but she easily pulled him to her. His flesh was melting from the flames. She bared her teeth as they molded themselves into sharp, tiny razors. As she opened her mouth, the disembodied smile she gave the man chilled those that saw it. What used to be a soft and soothing voice now came off as bastardized due to her own corruption and transformation. Sounding less sensual and more demonic, “Welcome home, cousin.”
Her jaw was unhinged, and her mouth hung open like a python’s. She devoured the man’s torso in one swift motion, clamping her jaw tight and swallowing it whole. “Mmm,” Lestar moaned in pleasure, savoring the flavor. Her whip released the lower half of the human, letting it drop to the ground. Her free hand reached forth and pulled his soul from the air, harnessing it. With a careful gaze, she observed the spirit and relished the man’s soul’s shrieks of fright before devouring it entirely. She released a shriek that made all present in the city wince with a sharp pain in their heads. The banshee scream transmuted into an audible yell, “KALISDEL!” She croaked in a horrible hissing laughter as she continued, “Failing your people again!”
The gryphons continued their crescent descent, swerving only millimeters, avoiding incoming archer fire. Skylighter kept his head low to the left of his gryphon’s neck. “Hold!” He yelled to the faithful beasts. “HOLD!” With his gaze fixed on his targets below, he listened to the cries of some of his gryphons to the left and right of him as they plummeted from the sky. He looked back behind the line of orcs and elves and saw a skeleton-like figure hurling greenish black ballista bolts from his staff. He yelled again, “HOLD THE LINE!” as the next barrage of ballista bolts were released.
Skylighter called upon his archdom abilities, altering the course of the bolts, causing them to pass through the gryphons safely. When they were twenty feet from the ground, Skylighter shouted, “NOW!” The gryphons wings untucked, spreading out, their innate magical abilities helping as they prepared to engage. They changed directions, using the momentum to carry them horizontally, passing over the citizens attempting to flee. Skylighter jumped off his gryphon into the narrow gap between innocents and the enemy. The gryphons continued on through into the wave of orcs and elves. Talons ripped bodies apart, splitting them in half and tossing them back into their allies. The complete forefront surge came to a stop and was thrust into disorder. Dark elves maintained their position, unleashing a barrage of magically enchanted arrows. The orc brute’s battle lines were shattered, leaving them vulnerable.
The chaos being caused by the gryphons gave Skylighter the time he needed to prepare his next move. He stepped forward, tapping his left bracer, allowing his transparent tower shield to appear. Its magic immediately began its work. White beams reached out towards the retreating and disorganized orcs and elves. Like a whirlpool, it swirled the air around him and sucked twenty enemies in towards him. Each ray of light it touched held tightly the orcs and elves fleeing the gryphons’ wrath and pulled them harshly. Some were even dragged, clawing into the ground. Right on time, as enemies surrounded Skylighter, his paladin’s descent slowed, and they landed next to him. Each paladin activated their own bracers as they touched down, allowing for their own shields to be activated. They formed two lines as they landed, one line facing in towards Skylighter and his trapped enemies and the others facing outwards towards the enemy.
The sharp, righteous wrath of the paladins systematically executed the enemies within the first line. The second line of paladins, each individual held a small cylinder tube in their dominant hand, which they activated. The device transformed itself into a spear, which they placed atop their tower shields. As the interior ring of paladins finished up, they all let out a communal, “Hoo-hah! Hoo-hah!” The sound of fifty paladins reverberated into the ranks, who were still being waylaid by the gryphons, demoralizing the enemy. Skylighter and his interior warriors moved into positions behind the speared ones. He centered himself amongst his men and women, ordering the interior group to switch their shields to kite style which would offer them more maneuverability into the flanks of the speared phalanx that now marched towards the chaotic lines.
With a slow and measured approach, the warriors advanced while simultaneously and masterfully reflecting and absorbing any magical attacks that came their way. Over half of the gryphons lay dead on the ground and Skylighter waved the rest off. A lich was picking them off, like a horse’s tail swatting flies. Skylighter gave another sharp command, “Tighten up! We march straight through the Dread Reavers. That lich is our priority!”
A familiar voice rang into Skylighter’s ears off in the distance. “Friendlies coming in!” he shouted. The large arch turned to the voice and saw Victus and his compatriots jumping off the platform, heading to them through the crowd. Immediately upon seeing them, Skylighter moved from his paladins, sprinting off towards his allies, heavily under fire. He threw up a temporary wall of ice, preventing the arrows from finding their targets. “Hurry,” he yelled to them. Victus, Janus, Jess and Serin were the first to make it to the paladins.
