Faction Belkaden: Beginings

[Gorogoth]

Hyperion | Bastard | Djinn Rizzla | Kyros of Memnon | Astrid pentoghast​

To the victors went the spoils. They presented the gold to their goddess and readied the rest as tribute. Polishing their runic armor and burying their dead in blazing, richly lit fires. Heralds performed ceremonies by chanting reverence and reading names to place on memorials in the conquered city.

They raised banners for the Golden Host to symbolize their shared triumph. Presenting an invitation to the city's castaways, the disfigured, the abandoned, and the lost, to join the Malformed and bask in her glory. Before departure, the remaining spoils were divided and shared among the other victorious warlords.

Thus, that day, they fully conquered their Emperor's first major city, from that day forward to be known to them as Arandar: The Footstep of Glory.

Tribute was taken to their emperor, a mighty warhost seeking to align with his cause. Carrying great chests of jewels, relics, and all plunder the city provided. Hundreds marched to the ringing of soft bells and the light, ethereal singing of elevated siren-like voices. Arriving at the entrance, Gorogoth waited to be admitted to the Emperor. His followers carried the finest chest, while a golden spirit, old and once Echani, hovered nearby, observable to those with force senses.

If accepted, the Herald and those with him bent a knee, laying the first tribute down. "The Malformed Host offers the Chosen Emperor tributes worthy of his title; long may his power endure." They asked for nothing yet, but the implication was clear: they sought to align with the Emperor. But for what reason?

The tributes began, and long may the river flow.

 

[Bastard]

Trees lined the dirt-hewn paths leading to where Emperor Rizzla encamped. Soldiers hailed me on approach, only deterring my passage long enough to ensure their beloved Emperor no harm from mine. To their credit, the lead soldier managed to maintain eye contact without so much as a flinch. I couldn't help but smile. To them, I must've looked like one of the phantoms I slew nearly an hour before. Caked with blood. Crimson eyes alight with an unholy fire.

That broke them. Or maybe it was the abomination's head dragging behind me via a rope fastened to my belt.

"I come bearing a gift for the Emperor." My voice bellowed over the din of soldiers. "A creature sought to undo his work here today. I would think the great conqueror would enjoy such a grizzly trophy, but I am unfamiliar with the camp. Can one of you lead me to our lord?"

A boy no older than eighteen stumbled out of a nearby group. His red hair grew uneven all over his head, but it was heavily decorated by hand-carved beads and other jewelry pilfered from some corpse somewhere.

"I'll bring you, sir." His voice nearly quaked, so I shifted my gaze elsewhere.

"Lead on."

We marched across the war camp to a chorus of exhalations. Even by my standards, this 'gift' was an anomaly by any stretch of the word. Rarely did such a beast act without guidance. Their powers were best shaped by a sorcerer of this dimension, one familiar with its very laws. Thankfully, my ruminations were cut short by the words of another.

"The Malformed Host offers the Chosen Emperor tributes worthy of his title; long may his power endure."

I glanced toward the specter of another that lingered nearby. The silhouette took the shape of a gilded woman, it appeared, though I could not place the greater details. Force entities are tricky in how, where, and why they manifest.

"Forgive my organization's tardiness, Emperor Rizzla." I began once Gorogoth fell silent. "We've discovered Insurgents within the wode. Loyalists, perhaps, to the whelp-governor's allies. Already we root out one of the nests they've infested." Gripping the rope with one hand, I yanked the eldritch monster's head closer and undid its constraints. "This, on the other hand, is an entirely separate matter with no connection I can discern. Consider it a gift. The first of many such trophies."

Djinn Rizzla | Astrid pentoghast | Gorogoth ​

 

[Astrid pentoghast]

Djinn Rizzla Gorogoth Bastard

Astrid sat there happy that djinn had taken her deal when she was offered wine she took the glass not expecting it to be anything special from the state of things. This so called empire was. Little more than some former slaves looking to make some money and let out some anger and feel like they where in control truth was they traded their masters for an emperor even if it was of their choosing.


And djinn gave them freedom to do anything to improve his empire or their empire she figured now sitting there she watched Gorogoth walk in. She saw the spirit of a former echani hovering near this being who wished to join djinns cause whatever it was she wasn't truly interested in it. Probably a spirit who's soul was bound to a person or part of the plunder either way she took a sip of her wine as bastard walked in listening to him speak she didn't want to intervine on djinns behalf until they knew her position it would be unwise.