Junction Battle for Sanctuary | EE + Bryn'adûl

[STRATCOM]

Spoiler: EE and Bryn hexes

Netherworld; a very special place that is now accessible to almost everyone because of Omni. That is why empires, states, groups have come to explore and conquer this world. But, most have forgotten something or just didn’t know this world is far from uninhabited. Here live not only the souls that have died, but also many other races that are independent of the dead, not to mention that there are cities in this place.

Bryn’adûl had just met such a densely populated city in the frosty zone when this new world was being explored.

The things of the Eternal Empire were easier, they were welcomed in this place, as the Sanctuary had an attachment to the Empire. Members of the Eternal Empire were now guests at this place, where you could trade, relax, and get to know countless local species. All this in a snowy, cold environment where the polar light can be seen day and night over the city.

And then none of the sides even knew what kind of enemy they were going to meet in this place.

Objectives​

Objective 1: Exploration

OOC this is a two line objective:
In the first line, the Bryn’adûl you can explore an area outside the city, which is quite large and has many attractions.

At the same time, the Eternal Empire can do the same within the city, in all the areas which are free to go to everyone. Finally a safe area in the Nether.


Objective 2: The Battle

The fight, all of which doesn’t need to be explained much, this is the PVP option between each other when Bryn arrives and starts the fight. The members of both factions are kind and friendly, so feel free to choose this option and have fun. Remember, communication is paramount!


Objective 3: BYOO

Your own stories, in the city, around the city, or anywhere in the Netherworld you want. Have fun in any way that you please!

Relevant Links: The Sanctuary | Valkyrja
Hex Links: EE Hex | Bryn'adûl Hex

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Leader of the Dawn of Hope
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Inside the City
Objective II.: The Battle
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | G1 OmniLink | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Writing With: Osam | Closed

[ Ancient Magic ] ​

Sanctuary, this was the first time Ingrid had come to this place where her son had grown up, not to mention that the city was built by the species that she created. The red-haired woman was also lucky enough to go to the Masque. Adrian would have been proud of the Shadows, just as the woman was to the Valkyrja. The first case was that she might have felt parental pride in seeing what her creatures had created. Now she understood why her husband was thinking the way he did.

As for this place, it was wonderful; northern style, it simultaneously blended modern things and the traditions of the past. She hoped Omni wouldn’t find it here and that place would survive. In the last few days Ingrid had met with the leaders of the clans, she had also met Runar, who might even be useful to her, the Nite and the Empire later on.

Last but not least, she also had the opportunity to talk to her "daughter", Eina. About what she's doing with Adrian, why she brought him here. She did not like to form attachments or connections with her creations, although Eina was different, and since her son regarded Valkyrja as her sister, since the woman's parents were both Ingrid and Adrian in a loose sense, for whom she existed, the red-haired woman was forced to refer her as her daughter.

Beyond family stuff, this place would also have been great for an Eternal Empire base within Netherworld because it seemed safe enough, and it didn’t even mention the rift to Terraris at the time…

 

[Osam]

Location: Outside of the City
Equipment: Flesh Vessel | Assault Carbine | Pulverizer Sidearm | M30 Sear Grenades (x2) | Kukri | Quilxyn Shield
Writing With: Ingrid L'lerim (Closed)

Even in the midst of this land of the dead, there was the stinking detritus of inferior life.

Osam observed from the side of hillocks outside of the city-scape, as the general bustle of activity indicated the presence of humanoid occupants. In truth, in such a wretched location as the Netherworld, the hybrid had expected to see very little in the way of life. He had thought that they might, perhaps, come across some manner of spirit predator or prey, or perhaps some amalgam of Force energies coalesced into coherence. Such things might have proven dangerous were it not for the traveling band of Shamans who had accompanied this expeditionary force - and for the fact that corporeality lent credence to the lethality of the Bryn'adul firearms.

The presence of luminous hair and other striking features - these were quite tall for humanoids - was enough to indicate to the hybrid that this civilization was not merely the outpost of one of the galaxy's fledgling societies. Instead, whatever abominable entities had settled here were native to the territory in their own freakish way. Were it not for their obvious association with members of the galactic vermin, he might have attempted to use his personal diplomatic weight to encourage the Ish'makra to dispatch diplomats - the inclusion of a primitive civilization of spirits would be exceptionally helpful in navigating the Netherscape.

Bile rose in his chest at the sight of a realspace hawker going about the process of bartering their possessions with one of the gleaming entities. Clutching at a cart, they went about the process of offering whatever cargo they possessed in exchange for... it was impossible to tell at this distance, but the presence of commerce in so unnatural a place was disturbed. The vermin had been so quick to corrupt this society, and already they had managed to drain it of any sort of individuality or worth. These "people" if they could even remotely be considered such were little more than slaves to the industries of... he thought he recognized the insignia of the Eternal Empire

The Warlord tore his gaze away from the city, returning it to the portion of expeditionary forces that he had taken under his direct command. A few dozen warriors and more specialized warriors, alongside a handful of beasts. Others too would supposedly be joining in the attack upon the establishment, but these few were his to dispatch as he saw fit. Elsewhere he was fairly certain that other members of the expeditionary force would be going about the process of gathering vital information about the area, and hopefully transmitting their findings to the Ish'makra.

"The Shamans have gotten their Brumaks in position. All eight." The worm-mind whispered into his head, its minuscule legs binding and unbinding it rapid succession as it transmitted the message through the Vessel's attached mindstone.

"Good. They'll fire on our signal... tear breaches in the city walls and take down those artillery pieces." He said, as much for his own benefit as anyone else's. The Kraemonen knew his plans, his thoughts, his inclinations. It had become as much a part of him as anything could be.

"And... my pet?" Osam questioned, looking through the Juggernaut forces nearby as he waited for an answer.

"The Shaman from Sev Tok - the survivor - he claims the Agragost is ready to hunt."

The hybrid nodded without a word. Slowly, steadily, he raised the barrel of his assault carbine toward one of the watchtowers... watching as the luminescent being within gradually fell within the center of his iron-sights.

The squeeze of the trigger, the flying of a massive bullet, and the crack of the carbine were signal enough for the forces of the Bryn'adul to begin their assault.

What happened when a being died in the land of the dead? They were about to find out for themselves.

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Hǫrgr
Allies: EE ( T Tamar Caldera Ingrid L'lerim N Nyxeris ) │ CIS ( Laertia Io )
Enemies: Bryn'adûl ( Osam )

On hearing the news of the portals opening to the Netherworld across the galaxy, Cameron had never expected that she would find herself crossing one to enter a realm which she had initially thought to be Hell, with her family, specifically to counter a Bryn'adûl incursion into the alternate dimension at the behest of the Eternal Empire. For the diminutive speedster, there was so much to be nervous about, fighting the Bryn'adûl for the first time in her short life, entering a realm of the dead, and not to mention, walking among strange beings who could switch between material and immaterial forms seemingly at will. Even being a Sithspawn herself, Cameron found it all to be almost too much to take in, but her family, specifically her mother, helped to ground her. Laertia’s familiar presence was enough to keep her focused on the matters at hand, even as the preemptive sounds of war began to echo throughout the city, telltale signs of the arrival of the omnicidal Bryn'adûl, the faction which her mother had dedicated her life to destroying.

And Cameron had sworn to follow her on that mission, all the way to certain death or the elimination of the Bryn'adûl as a threat, for there could be no victory against an enemy that had already destroyed so much and snuffed out many lives.

As the Bryn'adûl approached the walls, Cameron observed their progress through a feed on her OmniLink, recognizing each of the various war beasts, monsters, and units that they deployed, having learned their strengths, weaknesses, and abilities through relentless quizzing and study administered by her mother, preparing her for this very moment. The Vaydralen were fast, but fortunately wouldn’t be able to match her Force Speed. The Baedurin were massive and strong, but were weak to cold weather and weaponry. Their cousins, the Aeravalin, were resistant to cold, but weak to heat and conventional energy weaponry. The Ungulloi were dangerous in groups, but individually cowardly.

This and yet more had been committed to her memory. All of it was information which she had acquired through study, but had been paid for by countless others in blood.

Nevertheless, through it all, the Red Eye loomed over her awareness, threatening to rob her of her sanity. For all of the shapeshifting Netherworld creatures, omnicidal monsters, and dimensional abnormalities, the curse was the thing that yet still demanded the most worry from the speedster, the fear that all of her study would be for naught if she fell into it again as she had done on Vjun.

For now, Cameron could only pray that she wouldn’t succumb to it again.

With a deep breath, the speedster sealed her helmet over her cyan head, before pulling her eyes away from the OmniLink and moving towards the walls after her mother, there to meet perhaps the greatest known threat to the galaxy in battle...

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-09 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit
  • Left Gauntlet
    • Universal Gas Launcher
      • Pink Vapor
    • Vac Attack Mk-127 Disc Launcher
  • Right Gauntlet
    • Wide Beam Sonic Stunner
  • Energy Shield
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Talisman(s)
    • Spirit Anchor
  • Neon Overdrive Heels
  • Utility
    • Supernal Infusion
• Jasmine Lightsaber
  • Pink Kyber Crystal
• The Sprinting Frost
• X8 “Gambit” Elite Disruptor Pistol (2)

 

[Asmus Omaand]

Spoiler: Loadout

Armor: Armor
Weapons:Scatterblaster, Charric Rifle, 3 Vibro-knives, 2 Batons, Veshet Right Sleeve Blaster,Sniper Rifle,
Tinfoil Hat, 3 Probe Droid Grenades

The Mirialan had taken off his helmet, giving an approving whistle to the sights around him. His blue eyes matched the environment around them, the black of his tattoos near to blending into his jade green screen. The helmet beneath his arm gave a signal to the events transpiring some ways away as he did a slow turn to examine everything.

It had been a strange call to answer, coming to the nether as defender and explorer. His gear was spread out across his armor, the scattergun strapped to his thigh while the charric rifle was slung over his shoulder.

The sniper rifle was in a long, reinforced case of its own, set on the ground for the moment as he took in the sights. His companion quietly holding his hand up to his comm-link as his face dropped to the ground.

There was a scene developing outside the wall, and the other sniper was intently listening before the report was finished. He looked up, sure that he had only looked away for a second. Had only looked away for a terrifically brief second.

Asmus was nearly half a block away from him already, talking to someone with luminescent hair, with an all too interested smile upon his face as the being seemed all the more surprised by the attention.

"Feth. Asmus! Quit that before you catch a boot between the teeth!" The other sniper hissed, taking off into a brisk shuffle.

The Mirialan turned, an exasperated glare coming from him as the being stared between the two before moving along. His large body turning as he watched the tall and astounding being walk away. His spotter swatted his head, the twist of his neck betraying the fact that Asmus had been quite pointedly watching the Valkyrja walking away.

This one had been female presenting, and Asmus had quickly found them out in the crowd. As Jules sharply stared at the other man, but hidden behind the helmet.

"Quit. Or you'll be catching that boot. I know better, Jules. This is the land of the dead, after all." Asmus hissed, putting the helmet on finally and glancing to Jules.

"Sitrep?" He finally asked, sealing the suit as the other shook his head.

"Bryn are gathering around the outer gate. We've been asked to come make sure they stay here in the Nether." Jules replied quietly, nodding to a taller building.

"Already got a spot, huh?" Asmus asked, taking stock of the spot as Jules nodded. "Lets go then."

The pair slowly traveled, Asmus spotting a few bodies that made him slow turn to keep them in view as they made their way to the building in question. It was close enough for their rifles to reach, but not enough for direct danger.

The ascent was met with guards, their presence questioned at first as they explained themselves and were allowed forward. Asmus filled the silence with stories of his past encounters.

One meeting he explained had occurred shortly after entering a bar, cutting into a drinking game with a lovely eight of a Zeltron. The woman had initially been wary of him, which he remarked was entirely fair. Even after giving her the credits instead of giving her the drink, she had still thought about leaving.

And he figured that the night would have started on a sour note with the Zeltron as he gave up the chase and moved along. They reached the roof before he could finish the story, Jules getting his macro-binoculars system setup as Asmus put together the rifle system.

He examined the scene from their spot on the building, patting his pocket for the pack of cigs as he paused in his weapons setup. Jules watched him take the helmet off, blue eyes cast to the wall as the flame caught the end of the paper and burned.

Asmus breathed deep, blowing smoke as he watched the trail it made for wind. He pulled a ranging laser from the rifle case, shooting the distance before watching the body in the watchtower move about as he finalized his ranging and informed Jules of the ranges before finishing assembling his sniper rifle completely.

There was a crack of a weapon outside the wall, his eyes never straying from the edge of the wall as he assessed the sound. His helmet came back on as he flicked the butt of the cig from the edge of the roof.

He and Jules settled in, his left eye closing behind the visor as his right hyperfocused through the scope as he ran through the scope and oriented himself to the distances.

"So...you want me to take the knee down, a little off the top-" Asmus asked from behind his mask as Jules didn't seem to move while he thought. "Or what are we doing this time?"

"Just...keep em out." He offered quietly.

Allies: T Tamar Caldera Ingrid L'lerim N Nyxeris Cameron Crownwraithe Laertia Io
Enemy: Osam

 

[Laertia Io]

Wearing: Chitin of Darth Xiphos

Armed with: The Sword of Cinndurr

Double Bladed Lightsaber (Exar Kun Length, Baas Wisdom Crystal)

Shoto Lightsaber (Synthetic Ankarres)

SFOR Carbine (Cryo Modified)

Dashade Sonic Disruptor (2)

Plasma Eels (3)

With:

Cameron Crownwraithe (Equipment not currently known)


The Battalion


Equipment: Warrior's Skin

Elaine Tear's Lightsaber (Corrupted)

Guard Shoto (Purple Bladed Lignan Crystal, Dual Phase)

Sith Medical Kit

Objective: 2


007 hours prior...


"I'm still amazed you want to carry all that..." The Battalion said, astonished as she stared at Darth Xiphos preparing her load out. Nobody did overkill like Xiphos did.

The Light Side Sith Marauder wasn't taking any chance heading to the Netherworld... especially not when looking out for her daughter.

"It's the Netherworld. The land of Death. Aren't you even worried you might run into someone you know?" The Battalion asked.

This made Xiphos stop. She turned to The Battalion.

"Are you?"

The Dark Side Warrior scoffed. "If I do, I just kill them again."

"Uncomplicated approach, I'll admit."

The Battalion slinked up to her seductively.

"So...just how many do you think are waiting for you?"

"Enough that they'll all be smart enough to stay away."

"It's not just enemies waiting for you there." The Battalion reminded her coyly.

Xiphos didn't reply to this at first, and merely resumed final checks.

"Risk I'll have to take..." she finally admitted.

"What a battle that would be, watching you fight the undead...your saber swinging, sending enemies..." The Battalion trailed slinking up breathily to Xiphos.

"...to Hell once more..."

Xiphos felt her head being turned by The Battalion's hand, the Witch's fingers dancing gently across Xiphos's lips.

"Fighting next to me, like we did at the Bastille. Or Serenno. Vjun...both of us cutting down the dead with abandon..." The Battalion whispered. "And where was Syd these last few battles? Getting ready to denounce you. All over Starlin Rand . She doesn't appreciate. Doesn't deserve you--"

"And you do?" Xiphos asked, eyes dancing across her athletic frame, covered by a white catsuit so skin tight it might as well have been painted on. The hungry part of her that had wanted The Battalion since first laying eyes on her at the second battle of Ziost imagined tearing it off and seizing her.

"At least I'm willing to earn you..." The Battalion replied lustfully.

The part of Xiphos that still loved Syd deeply was all that made her pull away. But it was getting more difficult. The Battalion just...stirred something Xiphos could not explain.

"I have to get ready..." Xiphos said weakly turning back to her weapon inspection...

The Battalion wasn't fooled.

"So close. So close to feeling my bare skin..." The Battalion hissed quietly, grinning as she withdrew...

Xiphos finally managed to stop thinking about how The Battalion's lips might taste long enough to finally open her recently completed armor, Organic in nature. Dark Blue and with veins, resembling her old Juggernaut Chitin.

She tapped it on the shoulder and key segments parted, allowing her to slip inside...


Present...


Darth Xiphos, Black Knight of Nar Kreeta, having tasted Victory at Ziost yet again, walked calmly alongside her daughter Cameron, the pair completely mismatched in appearance, equipment, and fighting method save one: the ability to eviscerate their enemies quickly.

This city, this nether world felt strange, both familiar and alien in the same breath. Darth Xiphos forced her fears and trepidation over this place into an icy cage. Whether in the land of the living or the dead, she would take the fight to The Bryn'adul.

She felt the anticipation grow as she noticed The Battalion walking next to her. It was one thing to kill Ashlan Crusaders. It would be another to kill lobsters. Here is where The Battalion could truly prove herself...

"It will be alright, Daughter. Trust your feelings, but more importantly, listen to your instinct to rip and tear, until it is done..." Xiphos said softly to Cameron.

"One should always indulge in bloody violence when possible. Builds character..." The Battalion joked, though she thirsted to kill. Painfully

The Bryn'adul were about to taste the blades of two Master Warriors...

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Leader of the Dawn of Hope
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Inside the City
Objective II.: The Battle
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | G1 OmniLink | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Writing With: Osam | Closed
Tag: N Nyxeris | T Tamar Caldera | Cameron Crownwraithe | Asmus Omaand | Laertia Io

[ Ancient Magic ] ​

Ingrid was just walking inside the city close to the walls when the first something slammed into the shields. The strangest thing for the woman was that the civilians weren’t particularly scared either. In fact, she remembered that during negotiations and meetings, someone mentioned that demon attacks and burglary attempts were almost commonplace here. And in light of that, it wasn’t too surprising if the majority weren’t worried. However, Ingrid loved to be aware of what they were up against.

She hurried up to the city wall, where, however, something unfolded before her eyes that she did not expect at all. What are they doing here?! She was expecting everything in the Netherworld, not just that Bryn'adûl would be the one she'd meet. Especially not by attacking the city of her own creatures. Not to mention the fact that the Eternal Empire didn’t really bring an army with them because they were invited by the Valkyrja. They were only guests here, not an invading army.

N Nyxeris 's units were the biggest here currently from the EE, who came with a small private army. The total number of Eternal Imperial soldiers was not as large as the woman's mercenaries. She asked for a pair of binoculars and looked through the enemy. They brought quite a large army with them. As she watched them, she saw a familiar person among their lines, Osam . She remembered this warlord from Ankhypt. They had an unfinished business from there. A predatory smile appeared on the Empress's lips and sent a telepathic message to the Warlord.

~ Well, well, well… it seems like you haven’t learned enough last time about where it’s not worth fighting for. Now you will lose not only your legs but your head as well! I hope you remember me, warlord! ~ as the woman's cold and emotionless voice "spoke" in the man's mind, so it was not a common language, but the man also understood the woman's words perfectly, as if she were speaking the Drael language.

 

[Osam]

Location: Outside of the City
Equipment: Flesh Vessel | Assault Carbine | Pulverizer Sidearm | M30 Sear Grenades (x2) | Kukri | Quilxyn Shield
Fighting With: Ingrid L'lerim (Closed - but I'll orchestrate a few NPC movements for people to interact with too. )

The assault of the Brumaks was thunderous and terrifying to behold. Even with only a handful of the war-beasts scattered throughout the ranks of the expeditionary force, the exceptional force that they were able to produce and then direct was sufficient to blast chunks out of the terrain nearest the shielded walls of the ethereal inhabitant's city. Explosive, fiery, and tantamount to the obliterative strength of tank shells, every shot of the synchronized beasts was enough to drive wedges through the otherwise solid walls - and to allow the forces of the Bryn'adul to begin their assault in earnest - but with the protection of the shield's, they would not pierce as easily as expected.

In truth, the presence of such recognizable technology was an irritant to the hybrid. Had they already been so utterly inculcated in the tactics of humanity that they had begun to borrow the electronic machines that they used for their wars? Osam supposed that wasn't the worst fate to have befallen them... after all, the Bryn'adul forces had spent the better part of a decade at war with their neighbors, and they had learned a great deal in that time period about fighting humans and those who sided with them.

Or - rather - it would become useful information for the future. The expeditionary force had not thought to bring along Syphons in any significant number. There had been little reason to expect that they would need to disable electronics in the midst of the Netherworld. At best there were a couple of stragglers that had been brought just in case they had sensed any kind of disturbance that needed to be observed... but to risk them would mean compromising the remainder of their explorative mission. They couldn't afford to lose everything in an impromptu skirmish, or they would be sent back to Malagarr with little to show for it.

"Juggernauts - make an opening through that wall. Use whatever strength you must, but make us a hole, and then withdraw." Being shot down on from above would be detrimental, but if anyone was capable of such a feat, it would be the mighty Baedurin warriors.

"Afterward, I'd like the Vaydralen to clear the entry space. Use your speed. Secure us a beachhead." A nod from the nearest Centurion. "The Saviors won't be able to fly easily in this place... stick together in packs with the Ungulloi. Bring our kindred home."

The hybrid lifted his gaze, peering out at the cityscape as the vicious Agragost began its prowl at the behest of the Shamans. The monstrosity - a creation of his own world, and something that had never been deployed in open conflict before - promptly began its hunt by shifting behind the hill, apparently deciding in its own animalistic intelligence that it would strike the city from a completely different angle than the primary fighting force under Osam's command.

Good. He wished it well in scoring many kills... it was a Jedi-Hunter after all. If anything could secure death against such freakish enemies as the locals, it would be the Agragost.

A voice... familiar and uneasy whispered into his head. A frigid voice tainted with belittling mockery accused the hybrid of having forsaken earlier lessons, dictating its threat even from afar. He knew all that the hidden voice spoke, but the words were... they were meaningless to him - a Force effect, no doubt.

He had not encountered the owner of the voice in a long time. It had been upon the fields of Ankypt where he had joined a desperate attack against the forces of the Sith Empire and the undead. Had a descendant of that collapsed Empire found herself here within the ranks of the Eternal Empire? She must've fled when the collapse had occurred... a wretched shame, since Osam had hoped that the fledgling insurgencies and rebellions that had sprung up throughout the Sith territory would have ended with her head on a pike.

He'd have to put it there himself, apparently.

Still, even with that seeming bravado, he felt a twinge of fear at the thought of having his skin rent open against by the terrible poison with which she had afflicted him so long ago. He had nearly sawn off his own limb at its introduction. Could the Flesh protect him from such a malicious venom? The worm-mind shuddered, its tendrils writhing against his bare skin, reassuring him of its presence.

"When we fought, I was one... now I am two." He spoke aloud, a whispered breath carrying his message into the empty air. He raised his voice, directing it to the remaining expeditionary members: "Setup the three Rescripts! I'll have no witch teleporting behind us."

The assault carried on in earnest, forces of the Bryn'adul assailing the cityscape... and all the while, the Warlord kept his eyes peeled for the arrival of his fiendish foe.

 

[Aberrant]

Location: Outside of the City
Equipment: M30 Sear Grenades (x2) | Quilxyn Shield | Jedi Recon Armor | Tattered Cloak
Fighting With: Open

Aberrant was quiet as she walked through the snowy landscape around her. It was pulling at a memory locked deep within her mind as her talons cut trails into the snow. A place she had been comfortable, welcome. Cared for.

Her amber colored eyes lingered over the area, the sound of a vessel flying played through her mind. It wasn't here in this place. The supposed place of the dead.

Her wings were pulled tight against her back, covered against the elements and from sight. Her previous life, she might have wondered at the sights and sound that were contained within the city. Today she was assisting in assaulting this place.

Her old armor reshaped to fit her new form as the white color of her recon armor had aged to a cream color. The blue fading into a dull sky blue along the hips and shoulders as the cloak softly blew open and closed as she watched the first part of the Bryn force move to attack the city in question.

Her green skin shone in the light, amber eyes flickering as she traced the presence of others in the force. Their was a swell of purple energy around her body as the force was woven into her being as it blended her presence into the background and trying to hide her in a blank void.

Her eyes glowed as the force worked around her, a loathsome inability to use Bryn weapons properly a small bite to her existence as a mutation of the Draelvasier in all forms.

She stood in silence, watching the scene while waiting to see what drew closer to the city.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Supporting: Bryn | Osam
Opposing: EE | Open to engaging up to 5 opponents
Units:

• 6 Shaman Beast Masters (full strength)
  • 3x Skag mounts (full strength)
  • 30x Obaliscs (full strength)
  • 15x Rhivaks (full strength)

Equipment (Ostak & Shamen): Armor | glaives

The forward bombardment formation had arrived.

Thirty Obaliscs lumbered forwards in a single line, each providing formidable long-range firepower. Protecting them were fifteen Rhivaks, their thick hides and powerful limbs posing a serious threat to any hostile who mustered the courage to approach the Obaliscs. In front of them, three Skags ran in a V formation, their riders masters of both their mounts and the beasts behind them.

From his vantage point atop a hill on the leading Skag, Shaman Beast Master Ostak Cl‘ mana observed the upcoming battlefield.

The vanguard, led personally by Warlord Osam, had begun to engage hostile defenses shortly before. They seemed to be encountering stiff resistance before the defensive walls of the nearby urban center. However, Ostak knew that they would not hold for long. With his reinforcements atop an already formidable force led by one of the finest Draelvadier leaders, it would only be a matter of time before the defenders buckled.

“Relay the order for the others to focus all their energy on the Obalisc bombardment.” ordered Ostak to the Shaman mounted behind him on his Skag. “I’ll take control of the Skag and Rhivaks.”

With a silent nod, the Shaman telepathically relayed the order. The Obalisc line came to a stop on the crest of a small hill about a kilometer away from the city, forming a neat row where each beast could fire without wounding the other. From atop his Skag, Ostak directed the Rhivaks to gather in front of and downhill of the Obaliscs as to avoid friendly fire.

This foreign realm was a mysterious and jarring place, one that even the Seers had yet to decipher. It had stolen the Chieftain from the Bryn, as well as every early relief force sent in the portal he had entered. The Urasik and Ra’mak War Beasts had found their ability to fly mysteriously robbed from them once they entered the portal, and had been left behind as reserve units. Ostak held out hope that this minor conquest would unravel some of the secrets of the new dimension, and perhaps grant some hope that the Chieftain could be, surely would be, definitely would be rescued and reunited with his people.

Consequently, it was more than mere bloodlust or pride that made him clamor for the destruction of the hostile-filled foreign city. This time, Ostak personally relayed the next order.

-All Obaliscs, open fire.-

All at once, thirty brilliant blasts of energy soared rapidly towards the defenses of the nearby urban center.

 

[Reggae_Muff1n]

Cancelled post

 

[Gal'Zhoren]

Location: Some way east of the dead City.
Objective 1: Exploration
Equipment: Kurigasami, Kukri.
Timescale: 3 Hours before the first shot is fired.


What came to the mind of Gal'Zhoren from the initial hours of search was the vast emptiness of the immediate area. He wasn't expecting much from the landscape but at least something by now.

It served as his honoured duty to scour the lands for the cause. But, yet, Gal'Zhoren couldn't help but think he may have been the subject of an elaborate joke that, admittedly, he did not find amusing. The fact of the matter being that there was simply nothing out here. The wasteland, he thought, the name struck him as rather fitting. Despite all this, however, he would keep looking. He couldn't report back to Ish'makra with nothing. He wouldn't. Sure, Kru'kk would get most of the flak but all the same....

His thoughts died as fast as they had formed when he caught sight of Xanlatt skulking over the plains to his right. Marksmen Rifle seemingly freshly slung over his shoulder.

The sniper had been tasked with Venturing further still into the hellscape and, until now, had been gone the longest from all their separate searches.

"Tell me you found anything?" Gal'Zhoren called as Xanlatt drew closer.
Xanlatt's voice came through as a brittle croak.

"Yeah, aside from the rocks and Ice, yeah. Where's Kru'kk?"

Gal'Zhoren inclined his head towards the summit behind him. In truth, he hadn't seen the Major since the start of the search. However, there was little doubt he was there.
The hellscape was empty, sure enough, but not quiet. Not as deathly mute as a land if the dead had any right to be. Gal'Zhoren had cursed himself for not being able to investigate the disembodied sounds but had soon surrendered that to the Shamans.

Xanlatt shrugged dismissively and began the jagged ascension when Gal'Zhoren spoke again.

"So what you find?"

The sniper paused. Hid turn was exaggerated in its pace as regarded his teammate now at the base of the plain. There was no emotion to his voice.

"I found us a cemetery".

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Leader of the Dawn of Hope
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Inside the City
Objective II.: The Battle
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | G1 OmniLink | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Writing With: Osam | Closed

[ Ancient Magic ] ​

Ingrid watched as the attacks slammed into the shields. After all, it was a city of more than a hundred thousand inhabitants, with the strongest shields in existence. She did not even mention Valkyrja then, nor did she mention the demons here. She watched as various demons outside the city set out in the direction of the Bryn'adûl *.

Ever since they were here, she had learned quite a lot about the city, so she trusted the locals to handle the attack. She had a personal affair with the Warlord. By now she had the strength again, so such a distance was no problem for her. Only the shield; she had to get over it first. The red-haired woman jumped off the city wall and went to the part where she could go outside the shield. Once that was, she teleported to get close to the opponent as soon as possible.

She didn't know what her opponent wanted to use, but she wasn't stupid enough to get behind the man either. Ingrid couldn't have been so accurate, which is why she arrived at a distance of about 30-40 metres. There, where Osam could see her perfectly. The woman was not in armour now, only in a uniform and military coat, with a cap on her head. When they last met the woman was a novice sorcerer only, she was only able to summon two smoke demons at once. Times have changed.

~ I use telepathy because at least you understand that, Warlord. Where did you leave your Chieftain? I have a case with him too, because of Firrerre. ~ she continued her words in telepathic communication.


*I leave it to your imagination what you invent in addition to what I mentioned in the city's sub and what you bring out as a result. I don't have the energy to fight and write armies, I'm sorry. Just keep in mind that this is a big city with maximum protection, built on the concept of being exposed to constant demon attacks.

 

[Osam]

Location: Outside of the City
Equipment: Flesh Vessel | Assault Carbine | Pulverizer Sidearm | M30 Sear Grenades (x2) | Kukri | Quilxyn Shield
Fighting With: Ingrid L'lerim (Closed - but I'll orchestrate a few NPC movements for people to interact with too. )

All of the blows lashing against the shield had seemed ultimately insufficient to breach the shield. What kind of construction was it that it could withstand so many Obaliscs firing at once? Perhaps it would merely be a matter of attrition. Osam was familiar with the idea of capacitors holding more electrical charge than they could typically maintain - perhaps this Netherworld fortress had been designed with an overcharge to prevent immediate failure. Nothing could infinitely withstand the shelling of the Obaliscs... but patience would prove to be virtuous.

Even as the shield was maintained, the infantry under his command engaged with whatever enemies they could locate from the city walls. Utilizing their heavy firearms to blow apart whatever fiendish creations came into their view - including those that had begun to creep from the outskirts of the wasteland. These were less luminescent than those within the city's confines and often took on more bestial and animalistic traits. Predatory vultures drawn to the firefight, spirits of hunger.

They surprised at least a few of the Draelvasier, lashing out at them, attacking them in strange and exotic ways whenever they had the opportunity, but the weapons of the Bryn'adul were ultimately exceptional both in their size and their stopping power. Blowing apart a few ghouls was a simple enough matter once they had been located - but it involved having at least a few of their soldiers constantly watching the rear for the arrival of more of these creatures.

Not all were so corporeal though... some seemed almost built of sand... others of blood. Frightful abominations dispelled through gunfire and the talent of the Seers.

The Warlord sucked in a breath, feeling as the frigid air painfully kissed at his lungs. The Quilxyn did its best to heat the area, warming it immediately around Osam, and allowing him to breathe more freely. The arrival of the witch was little surprise - though he hadn't quite expected her to suddenly appear some distance away from him. She had gotten a bit older since their last foray into violence together. During that time, she had clearly received some form of promotion or another, because she now wore the garb of a military commander.

Another unrequested breach in the sanctity of his mind - another message blasted through his brain by the mystical Force. She spoke of the Titan. Of the loss of the father figure of the Draelvasier, and Osam felt himself bristle at the comment. How dare such a vile and pathetic thing assert that she would assault his progenitor?

"If there are children in this place, we will slay them last so that they may know the consequence of your insolence." He hissed, the worm-mind rustling against his flesh in anticipation of the fight ahead.

There was no reason to banter or continue with insults. Rodents didn't deserve sophisticated answers... only to be stamped into gore. The hybrid jerked his assault carbine upward toward the sorceress, and a burst of projectiles lanced out of it a moment later with a bark that promised carnage.

 

[Gal'Zhoren]

Location: Burial ground east of the city.
Objective 1: Exploration
Equipment:Barad Kukri, Kurigasami.
Timeframe: Mere moments before the first shot is fired.

Gal'Zhoren knelt beside one of the many amassed headstones before him. He smoothed away some of the grime that had festered upon its surface. The chipped marble had a somewhat warm feel at his touch as he examined it. The strange indents, possibly ancient in nature, boasted some unusual markings that he realised-with a certain reserved clarity- must have had a strong chance of being written in one of the multiple human tounges. Were he still young and Naive, Gal'Zhoren would've committed his utmost talents to decoding its translation. He had since learned, however, that his place was not that of among scholars or Sages.

In his time, Gal'Zhoren had seen many burial sites of many different cultures. Almost all of which had been more vast in scale than the hovel before him. And yet, something about this.... mound of patchy earth fascinated him. He couldn't explain why, or even, what it was however.

Why would the dead need graves?
He thought aloud unknowingly. The idea struck him as almost laughable. Like the Bryn'Adul declaring peace with an enemy, such a farce would seem unfathomable.
They are dead. Or rather, they're supposed to be.

He considered the site before him for a moment, the icy wind seeming to punctuate his deliberation like an unseen bystander. After a time, he decided he hated this place. But then, that didn't surprise him much, for he despised the notion of burials themselves. To Bury one's body was to hide one's shame in defeat. To rid the Victors of a fitting, well-earnt trophy from those that were slain.
After all, dying at all was a weakness, but burials were an insult.

Gal'Zhoren's attention was ripped away as the familiar sound of clattering and a rhythmic, metallic rustle came off to his immediate right. Directly before him, Kru'kk was approaching the grave site at a dead run. Gal'Zhoren remarked the sight as a rarity. To see his commanding Major run when outside of chasing a target was certainly not a common sight. Certainly not due to the Baedurin's size or lack of drive but simply due to the gargantuan weight of the crimson Coloured spec ops Armour he wore. Gal'Zhoren instinctively reached for his Kurigasami and considered for a moment that perhaps there was something he had missed.
No, he thought, that would be impossible.

"What in Osam's name is this?" Kru'kk said with a bellow, his expression quickly matching the colour of his armour.
"When Xanlatt said he found the cemetery, I expected... well, I don't know, something more"
His ramble was aired but not directed anywhere in particular. Kru'kk seemed to notice Gal'Zhoren for the first time.

"Report, Minor"

"Major, I admit no expertise on the subject but I have two theories"

"We didn't come here for theories, minor." Kru'kk snapped. He paused for a brief moment before adding
"Go on"
The impatience gone from his tone to perhaps an eager curiosity.


"Major" Gal'Zhoren continued " I would suggest that, given the rough numeric estimate, it is possible these could be the enemies' sleeping quarters."
He paused shortly to gaze between the site and the horizon towards the city before continuing .
"Or, perhaps more likely, the graves indicate that the residents were deceased but something happened to bring them to un-life. Major, I believe that, given research, whatever happend here - can unhappen."

Seemingly to punctuate his point, a massive crack is heard coming from the horizon. The sound like a discharge of a laser. Gal'Zhoren turns to face the direction of the disturbance only to find Kru'kk unholstering his blaster.

"Forget about that for now" he barked.

" That was Osam's weapon, Minor. We're at war".

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Leader of the Dawn of Hope
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Inside the City
Objective II.: The Battle
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | G1 OmniLink | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Writing With: Osam | Closed

[ Ancient Magic ] ​

Ever since Osam and Ingrid had their first and last meeting, the woman hasn’t really changed in her appearance. Because of her very long age, she looked the same. Although last time the man could not see this because the woman was in full armour. So the man could only see the red-haired woman for the first time. Her uniform, more like a coat, seemed unmarked, without any insignia only an armband was on her right arm with the coat of arms of the Eternal Empire, the cap also unadorned. It was more her appearance and radiance that was different than last time.

Earlier, at the last encounter, she was an assassin, hiding who she was. Not now, even though she was wearing clothes that would be for a low-ranking soldier and not for a leader, but the woman's radiance and appearance made everyone clear that she was a leader. Ingrid stood cold, calm, in a small straddle, her hands clasped behind her back, as if she were not standing in front of the enemy leader, away from her own men, but in a meeting room with her own. She seemed like a simple assassin last time, now she was really a leader.

Ingrid didn't know that Tathra was missing, that's why she asked where he was. However, as an agent, the woman was good at reading in the feelings and reactions of others. Although it was hard here because it was a completely alien species, the reaction she received was such as to make the situation clear for any species. The red-haired woman's gaze remained expressionless, and her voice as well; she didn't care about the threat she received.

~ So something happened to him. Is that why you're here at Netherworld? Are you looking for him? ~ she asked in her usual cold and military voice.

She sighed as the man raised his firearm and then fired. Ingrid jumped to the side at the moment of the shot. She was even faster now than it had been in the last encounter. The bullet flew past her, and she placed her two palms on the ground, and began to channel the Force into the ground to collapse the place beneath them, into the lava when she'll hit the ground if the Force imbued the ground enoughly.

~ I hope after this behavior you will not be surprised if I say the whole galaxy thinks of you as animals… ~ her voice still was cold and emotionless.

 

[The Battalion]

The Battalion's Lightsaber, a lighter red than typical Sith Blades due to the corrupted Kyber within found that the big ones were not pushovers. They were strong, skilled, and determined.

She still butchered them, utterly without mercy. Her red blade ruthlessly burned through Verikast Armor, piercing molecular-dense flesh, the thrill of battle coursing through her as she fought next to Darth Xiphos as they defended the wall, killing the Bryn'adul, with Xiphos taking full advantage of the immense telekinetic strength her armor granted and hurling dead bodies of Bryn'adul at their own kin, smashing into them, the terrible power of her fiery orange Lightsaber cutting through heavy armor, foiling even Quilxyn shielding after two to four blows, sometimes less. Sometimes more.

Her SFOR Carbine, an old school Republic weapon dating back to the Mandalorian Wars, came out, unleashing a destructive cryo wave that flash froze and ripped apart Juggernauts after at least two hits. They both never stopped moving, slashing violently, ripping open or shooting them where Xiphos was concerned.

She heard a dripping sound, even through the roar of battle, felt it splash against her legs, and barely avoided the blur swiping at her, leaping backward through pure athleticism from the frenzied storm of slashes and stabs. She tried to stare directly at it but couldn't...it just came across as a large blur. It made it difficult to hit or even counter-attack, moving very fast.

It wasn't long before she sustained a gash across her ribcage, leaking out white blood and eliciting a metallic cry of pain as she sustained another gash, this one across the shoulder. Fury swelled in her as she was forced to roll out of its way, not hearing it make a sound as it tried to kill her. Xiphos would have helped, but she was locked in vicious combat against the Juggernauts, ramming her blade through the chest of one.

She would have to do this on her own.

The Dark Side crawled through her veins, turning fair skin cracked and stony. Her eyes became two black spheres as she sustained another blow to the chest, though her flesh and suit only chipped off slightly as the blur, ever silent, continued it's ruthless attack. She was forced on the defensive, using the Dark Side now to warn her of where the blows would come from...

OOC: Osam wasn't sure if you're controlling the Agrogost or not, so I didn't auto kill it

 

[Osam]

Location: Outside of the City
Equipment: Flesh Vessel | Assault Carbine | Pulverizer Sidearm | M30 Sear Grenades (x2) | Kukri | Quilxyn Shield
Fighting With: Ingrid L'lerim (Closed - but I'll orchestrate a few NPC movements for people to interact with too. )


Ingrid was not the only one of the two to have changed significantly since their last encounter. When they had fought in the past, Osam had been little more than an esteemed grunt. Of course, he had already been appointed to the position of Risen at that time, and had won honor and glory for his people in the process, but he had essentially still served as a particularly adept drone. Since then, he had fought in numerous conflicts and better perfected many of his militant abilities.

More importantly, he had been appointed since then to the position of Warlord, and had acquired a significant amount of personal materiel to bolster his skills and physical attributes to a greater degree than ever before. Now he was completely protected and encased within the bounds of the Flesh Vessel, and he wielded a number of instruments of war with greater skill than previous including such instruments as the Quilxyn Shield and the Sear Grenades.

Of course - such improvements meant little to the sorceress. With seemingly no effort whatsoever she was able to evade the stream of bullets fired at her from Osam's carbine. Where before he had been able to trace her movements as she dodged and weaved, he now found that she had adapted preternatural speed. With that same swiftness, she planted her palms against the ground, and the hybrid felt as the world beneath his feet began to lurch and crumble. He had fallen many times in the past - this was no different.

Steadying himself, the hybrid was forced to crouch, using one hand to steady himself while he fired the odd potshot at his target with the other. The floor gave way in a great heap of stone and dirt, crashing down into a bubbling stream of magma below which spouted and flourished with the crackle of heat. They now stood, it seemed, upon an island within the center of this lava stream... away from the aid of either of their companions, though not so utterly distant that they could not retreat if it became acutely necessary.

It was a futile effort to fire upon her until she got closer... Osam recognized that as truth, and so, with seemingly impossible restraint, he simply waited. Waited for her to close the distance... waited for her to slip up somewhere along the way.

---

Meanwhile, the Agragost had been released completely from its bounds, and it was now engaged with a particularly hardy piece of prey. Completely and utterly silent with the exception of the strange liquid that dripped from it at odd intervals, the ambush predator had stricken hard and fast against a Force Sensitive when it had detected them. It had been raised from its infancy to prefer such targets, though that training had occasionally come at the cost of a Shaman or Seer among the Bryn'adul ranks.

Sacrifices that were mourned, but ultimately necessary. Few of the predators existed throughout the Empire, and this was the first time that one had been brought into open conflict. All of the tests had shown that it would excel in its given task, but all of the examinations and scientific inquiries in the universe would not override the practical knowledge of seeing it in action.

Hunger and training drove the Agragost forward as it struck its blows, observing as the milky blood of its prey was splattered against its claws and the ground. It was an ultimately explosive predator, not relenting for an instant as it continued to swing its bestial claws at its target, hoping to carve them in twain, but finding itself repeatedly repelled or avoided.

Of course, there was always the option of trying to wear down its prey, of allowing it to over-exert itself and slip up, but the Agragost possessed a more aggressive and animal consciousness. The obvious solution to such a beast was simply to immobilize its enemy, and this it attempted, bringing the razor claws it possessed together in a great clapping motion in an attempt at gripping at its foe. If it managed to clasp onto them, or even if they simply remained stationary for a moment, it would lurch forward, allowing one of its massive spinal protrusions to stab at the area in an attempt at chipping away at armor or impaling its foe outright.

Spoiler

The Battalion - I'm perfectly happy controlling the Agragost. It's meant to be something of a mini-boss critter to provide opposition to PCs who don't have a PC to fight. Hope you enjoy it!

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Leader of the Dawn of Hope
The Red Witch, The Night Queen, Lady Stuztala, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium, Archon of the Primyn Group​

Location: Inside the City
Objective II.: The Battle
Equipment: 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | The Soulsabers | Brynja coat | Hersir Imperial Uniform | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | G1 OmniLink | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Writing With: Osam | Closed

[ Ancient Magic ] ​

In fact, Ingrid wasn’t using Force now to be faster, this was simply already her base speed as a Shadow-born. She was stronger, faster, had better reflexes, became more persistent and had regeneration. Of course, nothing came for free, so there were many disadvantages to this condition. In fact, nothing could be felt of what Ingrid was doing with the ground because she hadn't hit her palm down on the ground, just squatting, it seemed to lean on it, as if the formerly jump had been exhausting. that is, this should have happened

The good thing about what she was doing was that not even a Force User was sure she could figure out what she was doing. At least until she hits the whole surface at the process' end to collapse. But then it's too late. However, the Force doesn’t always work properly in Netherworld as it did in Realspace, so that may have been the reason everything was felt from what she was doing now, because the ground was apparently moving under the draelvasier who even fell. However, this completely ruined the plans of the woman who wanted to do all this unnoticed. She failed.

When Osam fired at the woman again and crashed, the same thing happened to the red-haired woman too, so that’s why she avoided the shot and landed a few metres down on an island as the ice fell into the lava from above. A larger rock obscured the place where Osam was, but she felt he was there and not injured. She reached out to the Force and jumped from one small island to another, then at the last to the larger rock he had seen before. On top of that, too, so now she could see Osam who was farther; he was indeed alive, but he was also stuck on an island. She wondered for a moment how much that seemingly heavy armour might hinder the creature in movement.

~ Tell me, how fireproof are you? ~ she asked with a predatory smile.

 

[Ostak Cl'mana]

Supporting: Bryn | Osam
Opposing: EE | Engaging NPCs under N Nyxeris | Open to engaging up to 4 more opponents
Units:

• 6 Shaman Beast Masters (full strength)
  • 3x Skag mounts (full strength)
  • 30x Obaliscs (full strength) [Firing on Blood Order troops]
  • 15x Rhivaks (full strength, 90% efficiency) [Digging a defensive ditch]

Equipment (Ostak & Shamen): Armor | glaives

Ostak watched with shock as five of the thirty Obalisc blasts flew back at the formation from the city.
​

"Scatter and defend!" yelled the Shaman-Overseer, the only order he could give in time before the blasts could return to their senders.

Extending outwards with his spiritual energy, Ostak formed a large, thin rectangular barrier of translucent purple in front of the combined formation of Shamen and beasts. One blast landed short of the formation, but the other four blasts slammed directly against the barrier, the impact absorbed and the Obaliscs and Rhivaks alike spared from their reflected shots. However, it came at a dire cost. The impact of each reflected Obalisc bolt against Ostak's barrier tore through his energy reserves and his physical body alike, with each absorbed impact hitting Ostak like three strong hammers to the stomach. The Shaman-Overseer swiftly lost his footing and slipped off his Skag, blood flowing out of his mouth as he coughed violently. The mental tethers tying Ostak to the Rhivaks snapped, and the beasts nervously paced downhill from the Obaliscs.

"We need to get you to an Ashaka now." exclaimed a nearby Shaman, rushing over to hold his head up. "You're in no condition to fight."

"Call the healers... that's fine..." rasped Ostak. "But I... I can still lead. I just need a drink."

The Shaman-Overseer slowly steadied his right arm and reached for his hip flask, taking a long and deep sip of the liquid inside. Then, he swished the liquid around as to remove any blood left in his mouth and swallowed. Rehydrated, Ostak regained enough of his concentration to concentrate the remaining fragments of his spiritual energy to strengthen his muscles and bones, allowing him to rise up and slowly mount his Skag once more. The sensation of background noise returned to him just in time to hear the urgent cries of yet another Shaman.

"Incoming hostiles! They appear to be massive humanoid creatures about as tall as our Rhivaks are long, and number over a hundred, all armed with huge blades!"

As it seemed, an increasingly unfavorable situation was only becoming worse.

"Cease fire on the city walls." ordered Ostak, pausing to release a loud cough. "I lost control of the Rhivaks when I blocked the reflected bolts. Take control of them for now if you can, and have them dig trenches uphill of the advancing enemy. The Obaliscs shall bombard them. When I have regained my mental strength, I will assist once more."

The vacuum of mind control was rapidly cleared, and the Rhivaks newly controlled with strain by Ostak's subordinates began to dig near the top of the gently sloping hill on which the Obaliscs resided. As the Rhivaks assembled, the Obaliscs concluded their second charge windup. Once again, they all fired at once, thirty brilliant bolts of light sailing towards distant targets. But instead of the city walls and the unknown reflecting force, the Obaliscs were directed towards closer targets, each bolt directed towards a group of advancing humanoid monsters.

Catching his breath atop his Skag, Ostak prepared to return to active combat.