Primordial Chaos

[Arage Bao]

[SIZE=10.6667px]He remembered coming here not that long ago. Eogorath’s beginnings had never been humble. A proud warrior sacrificing himself for the glory of the Wylds. His roots buried deep. Around him life had expired as he took it all into himself to grow larger and more complete, that time was now approaching faster and faster. [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]Almost there[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]. How fascinating that the Eogorath’s growth was running its final stages just as Anja herself expired - perhaps it was a lesson to be learned. Perhaps it was a hint of that invisible hand that some claimed moved them all. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]It could mean a lot of things or it could mean nothing at all. His power was wrapped around the now fragile corpse of the former Host Lord. That same body held so many consequences. With her gone… without her holding everything together? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Soon everything would descend into chaos. The marches would rise up again, the banners marching and in the end… it would be the little folk who would start dying.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]There would never have been a different way. Even if Khal had been able to assassinate Anja himself, there wouldn’t have been a way to minimize the damage of all the various Warlords suddenly free from her influence. That was the problem with a despot at the head, even a religious one, she could claim to be there only as a neutral force - but it was usually only that neutral force that kept the hounds from descending on each other. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]No, there had not been a single way to avoid the bloodshed that would follow soon.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]But perhaps there would be a way to minimize the damage done. Khal would have to contact Catalys after they paid their [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]respects[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px], after he had taken care of Loxa and made sure she was alright. Why did he care for the priestess? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]He did not know.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Without realizing it Khal offered his arm to Loxa. Perhaps as support, perhaps needing some comfort himself, who knew with the Underlord.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px][member="Loxa Visl"][/SIZE]

 

[Blackthorne]

The trek across the rootbridge posed a challenge Loxa had not expected. The heartseed's power pulsed intensely, it's reverberations within the ether growing every stronger with every step they took. Already being fatigued by her journey, Loxa's stride gave pause.

And then Khal was there, his arm proffered for her to take. She did so, wrapping a hand around it with a grip that was resolute but suggestive of her own faded strength. Within her she could feel the reeling essence of Korangar, reacting to the power of the elder tree. Roots and vines shadowed their steps closely, snaking around the pair as they finally came to a stop just before the heartseed.

Loxa gestured to the floating corpse, enveloping her will around that of Khal's to guide the body forward and over the pulsing green pod. The Priestess closed her eyes and with a controlled released of breath began the process of mentally bonding with the tree. Sweat began to bead on her brow.

"Eogorath," her voice sounded both from her lips and from the very chamber itself, booming, powerful, "hassan n'itir a radu-sa," Khaleel would recognize the Pacean tongue.

Awaken your senses.

"Dosst kult'ressin uriu chi lu'l'quarth zhah t'larryo."

Your ruler has fallen and the order has broken.

"L'draeval d'jurhi'x uriu fun. Udos z'klaen evo ulu dro'xun."

The time of growth has ended. We must evolve to survive.

Loxa felt the weight of several vines snaking across the tops of her feet, along the front of her shins. Eogorath pursued the body of the Host Lord as it came to rest upon the heartseed. Roots slowly began to surge forward, ensnaring the body. Loxa's face grew pale with effort to remain connected with the tree.

"Zhaun l'vrin'klatu d'Il, ori'garo ilta xal knan wund dos ji nindel dos xal scour l'slyannen wun ilta kaas."

Know the essence of She, let her might grow within you so that you may scour the stars in her name.

"Xxizz udossa ajak ilta tajo, ilta wiles. Sevir naubol whol l'plynnin."

Help us remember her vision, her words. Leave nothing for the taking.

[member="Anja Aj'Rou"]'s body became enveloped by a green glow as the vines overtook it, a deep and ethereal groan sounded throughout the cavern. All around them soil began to shift, roots began to furl and coil. Loxa dropped to a knee, her bond with the tree and her grip on Khal falling with her.

"It is done," she said breathlessly

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Catalys Maijora]

There are wars that can be won by soldiers who believe in the cause they fight for, but when the cause itself is up for grabs they turn into monsters. To the Mandalorians, Republic, and all other enemies of the Primeval; they probably were monsters, and yet despite being a terror in the night themselves, the Primeval are only beginning to understand fear and death. Because for a zealot, they can handle dying for what they believe is right. It's when they are blind, that the fear of death sets in.

Catalys Maijora was never a believer. His motives, ideals, and loyalties all remain a mystery; so why was it that Anja trusted him more than any other Exemplar? Already he commanded the second largest fleet, including seven of the Primeval class vessels. Phantasm, Amaurosis, Mirage, Nogras, Ruination, Prophesy, and the Primordial. Before her death--one he has yet to learn of--Anja had given Catalys an order: Gather the fleet at Citadel Station.

Above Telos IV, the massive structure containing hundreds of thousands of lifeforms also became the new base of operations for Anja's loyalists... Unfortunately he has yet to learn that too, or how he's perhaps now the highest ranking member of Anja's loyalists, being her enforcer.

"Sir, we have reports coming in from various sectors... Our worlds are being attacked!"

Catalys approached the command deck, "By whom, exactly? Mandalorians?" He pondered, the Primeval have a few notable enemies but few likely to amass an assault on multiple worlds.

The officer's face had a grim look to it. "No," he paused, "the starships are our own. Specifically those produced at the Time Foundry, sir." His voice lowered with the final words.

"That karkin' slug," Catalys muttered under his breath, "I want CIC to establish a theatre over Primeval space, I want to know what's being hit and where. Get a hold of Bastion--see if we can't find out what's going on." The Exemplar ordered. If [member="Zambrano the Hutt"] had begun an assault, it likely meant civil war; yet as long as Anja remained in-charge he would find allies a difficult commodity to acquire.

Which they did assume she remained in-charge.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"] | [member="Loxa Visl"] | [member="Laguz Vald"] | [member="Orkamaat"]