Tirus was alone in the castle when the assault came. The D'Sari and the 9th circle decided to take advantage of the mass deployment of the Knights of the Ahrmy, and sack Castle Ahriman. The warning sounded. Tirus awoke with a start. Whar to do ? He must stop them. The wizard raced into the maze protecting the entrance. Soon he found the enemies. Their strength proved too much for the hobbit, though. Before he knew what was happening,he awoke, beaten and bloody. He didnt waste a second grabbing arms from the stores. Hastily returning, he used a spell older than the elves, exerting his influence over Shamra. He tricked the D'Sari warrior into giving his treasures. But only a few trinket. The mentalist broke control sooner than expected. The vengeful Knight of Ahriman wanst done, however. He sought out and eliminated Azuv, seeing to it that the satanist defeated Ozmar first. Such weak creatures would always turn on each other. In a near blood lust, Tirus searched for Shamra again, intending only death for him this time. Shamra and Rauve both managed to escape. But escape the must. All ideas of an invasion left their minds as they fled for their lives. Next time there will be more that one of Ahriman's waiting. How will the cope?
Another night was passing slowly and high above on the castle walls the tactician took his nightly walk along the battlements. The moon had been turned a blood red, it was a bad omen. A single talon rested quietly along the maw of the creature as he peered out into the shadows outside, and thats when it happened.
The enemy raided and stole the stones. He didnt hear the calls from his viewpoint but saw the figure running through the castle grounds. He had missed the first opportunity, the enemy had made it past the defenses and he could do nothing but watch from above as the vandal escaped.
Even later in the evening Sparky of the befallen Stygian Temple had came to claim his stake in the raiding of Ahrimans Castle and was driven away by Ahrimans Knights in each attempt. It was a blow to the demons pride that they had finally been found, however, the tactician saw it as a double-edged sword.
"We will still conquer." He muttered quietly inside the War Room to Silthe, Cornell the Orders Caster of Arcane Spells, Tirus and Nimbis. "Tactics is the key now, we know they know where we are, let them come. We'll set traps." A smile spread across the small group as a map of the castles halls was spread along the oak wood table and candles were set on each corner lighting it in the dim room. "Shamra has returned our stones to us, this will lure Sparky to our halls quickly, he'll want them to stop the threat it represents." The price for the stones was a decent one, but one well paid and worth the price. "If we place our spellcasters here and here, and set up Nimbis in the altar room, theres a chance we can route any attack before they even reach the stones." He was pointing and glancing around the group that had gathered, they seemed to understand more than he noticed.
"What about me?" Came the voice from the shadows. The amber and ruby eyes of Silthe slid free of the darkness and soon the Abyssal Assassin melded free from the encompassing darkness.
"I need you to go between the two focal points. Your the only one that can move through the shadows with such ease, it'll be up to you to blind or catch the victim unprepared and knock him unconcious." Armanon's eyes never left his brothers and even though the words were spoken, they were more for the others in the room. They had that knowledged bond between them, where there was one, the other was shortly behind.
Silthe nodded quietly in responce, a smile flickering across the corners of his lips before he dissipeared back into the darkness and began his routes. Tirus and Cornell both nodded and dispersed with a quiet word which left Nimbis and Armanon alone in the tacticians war room.
"So, leaving me alone at the altar?" He chuckled softly and nervously ran a hand through his hair.
"No, I will be with you. Cornell gave to me inscribed scrolls of the gas breath spell so that I may uncover any sorcerors shrouded in darkness. I have a very special plan for you."
Nimbis smiled and nodded, "Great, what plan?"
"Freeze his mind, keep him from casting spells and should he manage to flee the chamber keep him confused and stuck just outside so that we may refresh the assult quickly." He pointed at the map just below the altar's chamber. "Here."
Nimbis looked and nodded, "What are the chances of this working Armanon.. seriously."
"Its up to fayte. Sparky is not a normal sorceror, he has been in these realms for a long time and his wisdom and knowledge are a constant test of our wits. Hes escaped us enough before, but this time we may have a chance." He smiled, "Not that it matters really, even if he gets away it wont be the last time he'll try his luck. Now that the Infernal Order knows of our location D'Sar will send his troops in full force. The Darkforce controls him more than he controls it, he deals in Absolutes and it will be his downfall."
Nimbis was wise and Armanon would suspect none less than the Telepath to question him or offer him his advice, which he took with a trained ear, his views were greatly appreciated and often found helpful. "Are we ready for it? For a full on assult? D'Sar's Darkforce has shrouded his minions in a powerful shield." Armanon nodded again, "Yes we are, for all the powers the Darkforce may provide, there is a reason why Ahriman was his master. Our leige wont fall to these armies, our castle will not fall and we will win."
Would the confidence last? Would the walls hold? Would the Knights of Ahriman force back the on-coming armies that would see them fall? Time would tell and darkness would win. Now the question was which side.
Nimbis was notified by his kin that mass numbers of warriors have came in. A large battle was suppose to take place. While Ahrimans clan were planning, Darkstar's minions were slaughtering Dulthail's kin and other warriors aswell. While Darkstars guild was racking up heads, Ahrimans warriors stepped out into Market Square. Tirus mighty armeggedons shook the ground and set ablaze everything in it's path. While Silthe and armanon were bashing and slicing through there enemy's. Soon the floors became wet and bumpy. Market Square was stained with blood and massed with corpses. Ahrimans warriors planned well enough that they drove Darkstar's minions back and all else who challenge them. The shade came and showed there skill by racking up there kill count. With this the battles ended and left Ahrimans warriors to go back to there halls with victory and few casualities.
"Klons at the Square, he has requested a duel."
"Is Sparky there?"
"Yes brother."
A thoughtful ponder was given as amber and ruby colored eyes scanned over the map of the Square itself. "If we attack from here, I have a scroll of frost breathe. It will drag the Sorceror out of hiding and allow us to attack him full on."
"That means you'd be hit with his magic though."
A nod was given, "Yes. I have you there though, and Shamra has offered his services to us as well against the Temple."
"Perfect! Laep is still working to uncover the secret of the Stygian Temple brother, he said he is close however to figuring it out."
A smile was given, "Excellent Silthe. Now, let us bring honor to our leige and kings." The tactician readied himself, checking his equipment twice and then unsheathing Ahrimans Will manifested, the sword known as Absolute Night.
"All too easy Armanon." The ruby eyes of Silthe echoed against the shadows, mere tracers from the already moving Abyssal Assassin. Darkness rippled at his passing, like a black pool of water that marked his trail.
-=*Five minutes later*=-
"Their coming!" Klon cried out, magic raising to his fingertips as words were already being uttered on his breath.
Sparky readied as from below bursted free the two warriors. The first flew past in lightning speed, shifting weight and manuevering over large portions of stone and debris as the first spell was casted from the Alchemist and the large matte of webbing stuck against a part of the fountain. Then the blades were buried into the spellcaster and blood and screams tore through the city.
Next came the scroll. Armanon lifted it free and spoke the words before casting the paper into the air. It rippled with an aura of radiant blue and white before it shattered into a cold lightning that arched to its nearest victim, the shadowed Sorceror Sparky.
"NOW!" Armanon screamed as the swords blade flared to life with the black aura fire and struck into the casting spell weaver with ferocious strength. The Draconian screamed defiantly as fire rained from the sky and pounded against the armor of the Incubus Knight. Heat spread across both forms but the pain lacing through the body of the warrior was great, and black skin tightened and burned in responce to the heated attack. And again the sword came down following a strong bash of his shoulder up into the gut of the Sorceror.
Behind them all, from the Temples Altar within Kjeldoran's main district, a Telepath weaved his work of mind spells, before sending a shock of telekentic power into the Draconian from behind. Sparky reared back in anger as the storm of energy struck him.
Silthe looked, the trap was sprung, a smile creeped over his features as again and again the blades were sunk into the body of the failing Alchemist. Klon was falling and quickly under the skillful attacks ripping flesh from bone. In a desperate cry he prayed for mercy from Dulthail and was granted and the form silthered into nothingness, till the daggers pierced only air.
Sparky, however, was engaged in mortal kombat. Spells of pure power unleashed in powerful attacks that struck the wielder of the Absolute Night and whos attacks broke through the thick scales of the creature and buried into the meat with every strike. Above the forces of Dulthail and Ahrimans powers rolled in responce. The enhanced magicks and brute strength of the opposing Gods crashed and red and purple lightning scarred the sky.
Shamra had joined the battle fully and was hacking away along the side of the weakning sorceror and continued thrusting storms at him. Sparky, unfortunately, didnt see it coming. Blinded by the focus, driven by his magics very essence, he called down Armageddon on the Incubus just before the lethal daggers slid smoothly into his back. The two Knights, Silthe and Armanon were now locked in battle with Sparky, and now, death was assured. The trap had come full circle, the tactic realized as the fumbling sorceror felt the daggers rip his hopes apart. Armanon rushed full strength and as both the Telepath Shamra and his brother hacked away, cleaved through the body of Sparky one last time and sent the Draconians soul to respawn into a new body. A final cry heard, shrieking its last breathe unto the city. Flames and power streaking across the sky of the Square where the combatents met. It was there that Armanon took the corpse of the Sorceror and declared victory over the Stygian Temple. Silthe stood alongside, holding the pearl by which Sparky wore and the knights left the field of battle victorious.
-=*5 hours later*=-
"The temple has been cracked! Quick lets go! We know the entrance!" Laep rushed into Armanons quarters and threw the directions at him. "Go now why they are not here!" The gasping priest swore softly before clearing his throat, "Go!"
Armanon raced through the castle only to find Silthe already alongside him. He pushed the papers over and followed his brother as Silthe led the way to the maze's entrance.
It took the brothers all of thirty minutes wandering the mazes corridors to find the entrance to the clans halls. Inside they wandered and looked for every little advantage point they could find. Such an intractely delictae temple must be reguarded with respect, least they would know you were there.
Once everything was ready, the strategies built. Their leader, only earlier, had fallen to the brothers attack. It was only a matter of time till Tirus arrived, and then the plan would come full circle. By the end of the night, two of the Stygian members had been killed.
The Stygian Temple, had been defeated by the Order of the Tainted Shade. Conquered in the name of Ahriman. And the Shades influence spread, becoming stronger by the day.
"It is an honor my king." Armanon's head bowed as the rank of Knight was branded unto the black hide of his body. Around him reality resonated like small waves shimmering and twisting slighlty as the incubus recieved his prize. He had proven himself worthy of his title of Tactician and his King acknowledged that with a promotion in rank like none of the Order had ever recieved, until now.
Beside him the second of the two knights was bowed in respectful silence, an Assassin of the abyss and a killer without boundaries. Armanon's kindred spirit, he could feel his brothers emotions as the brand was placed upon him as well. Both of them were now the Knights of Ahrimans army, second to none except the Kings themselves. His recent activities had brought honor and power to the Shade and he too was rewarded justly.
"I expect great things from the two of you, my knights." The titan smiled happily as he watched the two stand and bow again before turning to leave the chamber. It would be a rude awakening for the other sects of the realm, Farg could see it coming.
It did. The same week that the Knights were branded and marked to their status the two made the ruined square of Kjeldoran rain with blood. The Ninth Circle, a cult of a lesser demon known as Satan had always been a hinerance, a thorn in the side of progress to the Knights. However, Silthe and Armanon felled one of their assassins not once, but twice. Both times taking his equipment and sharing it amoung the soldiers who were at least of the Catalyst of Despair rank.
It would be soon, that these two would make their mark permanent on the realm by helping lead the Order to over ten kills, out numbering their closest successor the Stygian Temple by over double their kills. The Stygian Temple, they would have to fall soon enough.
As the candlelight danced across the warm stones of Ahrimans Castle, nestled deep within the trenches, the Tactician sat looking over maps hand drawn and placed upon the walls. The Crusaders, the fanatical followers of some Ravens cult, had been found and successfully raided. Its maze and inner sanctum were mapped out and their entrance pegged upon the map.
Now it was time for the Temple, Armanon summoned Laep, Arhimans Priest, and told him of news that the Draconian Sparky had let slip in recent drunken conversation. "We must search it all if we are to find the entrance." Upon hearing this Laep smiled with a vengeful grin and nodded, "It will be done."
Tirus was sitting in his quarters, researching, hoping to find a way to breech the defenses of the Stygians and the D'Sari. These two groups have plagued us. Seemingly unpenatrable fortresses. As frustration began to mount, there was the sound of running in the hallway. The irritated hobbit stuck his head out the door to see what the noise was about.
"We have have found a way into the Stygian's Lair," said a grinning Armanon.
"Yes, and Darkblade is there alone," Silthe reported. "It's time to strike, Now."
Hurridly, Tirus grabbed up my staff and charms, and followed them to the hidden entrance of the Stygians. Darkblade was not there when the Shade arrived, so they took it upon themselves to relieve the clan of its infamous stones, ridding the world of the threat they posed.
Darkblade arrived quite suddenly, while the warriors were all distracted. He managed to run to a nearby room, where he was quickly found. TIrus summoned a firey wall to crush Darkblade, but he survived. However Armanon and Silthe rushed into the room and dispatched the alchemist with ease.
The body count and the legend of the Shade grow...
Nimbis appeared in his Clan Hall to the sight of a brave Knight, Silthe. Nimbis and silthe exchanged gossip and had good conversation. But as Nimbis left the halls toward market square a surprise awaited nimbis. Nimbis stepped into Market Square also accompanied by a dagger launched at his back. Nimbis quickly spun around and concentrated to cast a deadly spell using his mental abilities. Silthe shortly walked in and quickly reacted to a dagger at his back, as Hanibal tried to escape Nimbis plagued hanibal with a telekinetic storm, which stunned Hanibal leaving him helpless. Hanibal then died motionless from Nimbis's mental spell. Only leaving his stuff corpse that was no motionless then hanibal was when life was still in him, Hanibal payed the price for his actions.
(as told by Tirus)
As the call came, I quickly grabbed up my trusty staff. I rushed to the front to aid Nimbis. He was surrounded by the bastards. Generally, my tactics are much thought out, and well formed. Today, in haste to save Nimbis, I simply reacted. They had cast upon him some damning magicks. I worked quickly to undo what I could. Just as i completed one spell of protection, they struck him. The protection afforded him allowed him to escape safely. I was not so lucky. Having seen to my friend's saftey, I, too, opted for a hasty retreat. My escape was thwarted however by foolish imbalance. The enemy was merciless. In no time they had beaten me to the ground. And then, darkness.
I awoke among a circle of peers. "What is...." Then i remembered. I lowered my head in shame, not worthy to gaze upon my Kings. But, Demerol put his hand on my shoulder and spoke...
"Do not worry. You fought like a warrior."
The altar was completed, the stones that were scattered throughout the lands were united, the circle was completed. The knights had returned. The grip of the shade engulfed the land within its iron hold and soon none would be able to stand before its presence, not even the mighty D'Sari Knights.
Armanon sat alone atop the walls overlooking the lands which one day he hoped to see united under Ahriman's banner. Below lesser knights and those chosen by the Kings Farg and Demerol themselves were busy with activities. Over the past few months things had been changing, the altar was finally finished and Ahrimans shade had been seen casted over the land from atop the tower. His knights were stronger in battle against their foes and it had been no less than aweing to see them in action. Silthe, a long time Assassin whos worth had been proven time and time again returned from his journies along with Rauln, a mighty warrior and well-focused knight. Nimbis had been seen on more than one occasion practicing his mental prowess with the other knights in training. Zedar himself had been seen, a mere shadow slipping along the walls silent as death. Alot of the older Knights were returning to the realm and re-joining the forces and ranks of their brethren. Now, there were two more.
Laep, a priest of the shade. His time would come when his courage would be tested to its fullest as the rivals of the Order were stirring, however, Armanon would never doubt this new comers abilities. He had seen the strength of his resolve already in combat, and knew he was casted in steel. Then there was Sammael. Sammael, an odd creature of bone and black arts. Runes that were scarred from fire into the bones of the Assassin radiated a permanent glow of shock blues and reds. It was said Sammael stood beside Farg, Demerol and Kalvas in many battles when Ahriman still held control over the old Hellfire Ahrmy. He had been before Armanon's time, so he knew nothing except rumors and stories passed between the battlefronts.
Something of Sammaels past was never spoken though, some curse that had him locked away in cold isolation from the rest of his kin. All that time was spent in focus, in search, and Sammael had unlocked something, some force yet to be seen. This was something the tactician would look to develop, if not only to see it in action.
As the wind blew hard across the ancient stone of Ahrimans Castle, high above on the battlements where the Tactician stood and focused, it brought with it a smell of change, a scent of something turning in the tides of war. The Absolute Night shimmered briefly in responce to the unseen force, and the tactician turned. It had begun.
Silent, grim, The wizard sought out the hall of the fanatical Satanists. He used an arcane form of magical travel that was none to safe, or accurate. Days upon days of mishaps followed. Beatings by beastly monsters, trapped by magics that prevented the magic travel.
Finally, the weary mage found himself in the place that Nazira called home. He called for the aid the oh so ready Armanon. The Tactician was mad for action.
"When the time is right," was Tirus' answer."Now!"
A few arcane words brought the warrior to his side, and Armanon raced to Nazira and dragged him from the saftey of his priests. The battle was short and fierce. It ended is a cloud of noxious gasses. Tirus' vision was blurred by Naziras flaming blade. Fargs sword. It made no difference, as Armanon collected the prizes and mutilated the corpse of the dead barbarian.
A smile was on Tirus' face as he went to summon Farg, at Armanon's request.