Chapter 217 - The Hour of Twilight

(Duskhaven, Theocracy of Ograin)

There was an air of suspense and anticipation in the city. Even the most oblivious man could see the tension in the air, so thick that you could cut it with a knife. It was like the quiet before the coming storm. Everyone knew something was going to happen, but no one knew exactly what.

Of course, there were rumors aplenty. The Theocracy may have made a campaign these last three years of cracking down on any churches or groups that they deemed heretical, but not even the most devoted Inquisitor could root out and crush that eternal source of wickedness known as gossip. The more the Theocracy tightened their grip, the more whispered rumors began to pass through the land. Whispers of resistance against the Gods of Light and the Theocracy that supported them were heard anywhere that was believed safe from the ears of the Inquisition.

Chief amongst these rumors were the tales of the Shadow Alliance. Who they were, what numbers they could call on, where they were based? All of these questions and more were unanswered, even by those who could cast divination magics. Every theft, every murder, every embarrassment against the Theocracy was laid at the feet of the Shadow Alliance, but no one knew how to find them, to deliver the Light’s judgement to them.

The only clue that any had was the persistent rumor that the Shadow Alliance was supported by the Enchanters and Craftsmen of Lithaes, in the Wyrmwood. That was the home of the man that the Theocracy was calling Corruption Made Flesh, and the Army knew as the Demon of Amhelin. The Dragonlord of the Wyrmwood and the Caller of Flames he was named, for the summoning of dragons upon the battlefield had left no small impression on the survivors, and the none who had witnessed the Rain of a Thousand Flames during the initial salvoes of the Battle of Amhelin Fields would ever forget the terrible beauty of the sight, full of majesty and terror.

The Army had been rebuilt after the Amhelin Fields had butchered it, reducing their numbers to a mere fraction of their former glory, but there was a fear that ran through the soldiers whenever the Lord of Lithaes or the Aria of the Twilight was mentioned, even those who had not been present at the battle. Some had seen the Dark One as he led his people through the streets of Duskhaven following the battle, prompting the Night of Flashing Blades, where the nobility and merchant clans tore themselves apart in fighting that threatened to engulf the entire city. Few doubted that, had he wanted, the Chainmaker could have stretched out his hand, and the city would have been his, despite the best efforts of the Inquisitors to try and stamp out this heretical belief. Those who had lived through that night knew the truth.

Two months ago, the Temple of Sharess in the city of Lastwall had been sacked by the forces of the Theocracy, the lucky ones amongst the priests and followers beeing driven into exile or getting arrested and thrown into the dungeons. Most had been slain outright by the ‘righteous’ followers who had come to put down an infestation of ‘heresy’. Following that incident, similar events had happened throughout the Theocracy.

Two weeks ago, the city had been rocked by events happening elsewhere across the planes. The Temple of Sezphy, whose high spires were lit with the symbol of the goddess, a constant reminder that Justice came for all those who defied the will of the Theocracy, was shaken down to its foundation. Like dousing a flame, the eternal sigils that lit the symbol of Sezphy sputtered, and died, disappearing as though they were never there. Stone walls long enchanted and infused with divine power to strengthen it lost all trace of its magic, becoming simple rocks placed together with mortar. The priests and paladins of Sezphy had been hit the hardest. The power of Sezphy was withdrawn from them, like a rope snapping under strain, and the backlash caused more than one to be put in dire straits, with those who had not yet reached level 20 often being killed outright unless a servant of another god was there to try and save them. Ever since that day, no servant of Sezphy could call upon the power of their goddess, and their prayers went unheard and unanswered.

Now, the rumor had been passed that the Chosen of Sharess, the Chainmaker himself, had heard of the treatment of Sharess’s followers at the hands of the Theocracy, and that he would be coming for them. What was more, he claimed responsibility for the misfortune that had befallen Sezphy’s church. Openly, he bragged that he had bragged to the other Travelers using the magic of their world saying that he had consorted with a demon to draw Sezphy into the Abyss, and together they had stripped the Goddess of her divinity. And that was but one part of his revenge against the Theocracy.

It was a week since the first rumors began spreading in earnest, spreading out from the darkest parts of the city, that the Demon of Amhelin would be descending upon Duskhaven, and that he would make his displeasure with the Theocracy known. The fact that the Inquisitors did not immediately try to quash these rumors only lent them creedence. The nervous air with which many of those in the Theocracy who were more pragmatic than zealous carried themselves suggested to the people that there was indeed trouble on the horizon. But no one knew when the hammer would fall.

To the west of the city, as the sun settled down, towards the the horizon, as it did every night, only the most magically astute noticed the opening of a massive portal in midair. None of the Guardsmen on the walls noticed the portal, for it came out as a pool of light against the sun, blinding the eyes of mere humans to the danger that emerged from the portal. And danger there was! For no force like this had ever assembled to fight against Ograin since the days before the Scourge!

Tailong the Twilight Dragon Divine Descendant Dragon Female Level 830 Ascendant Dragon (Dragon) / Fang of Mirelth (Blackguard) Titles: Evil Bane, Demon Bane, Undead Bane, Broken One, Masochist, Slave, [Redacted]

Merkath the Dark Vampiric Dragon Female Level 420 Shadowmistress (Dark Sorceress) / Loremaster (Diviner) Titles: Fallen One, Human Bane, Elf Bane, Orc Bane, Dwarf Bane, Undead Bane, Lichloved, Greedy One, Great Scholar, Daughter of Mirelth

Mirelth Dragon Female Level 950 Title: The Adorable, Mistress of Ice, The Taker of Life, Bringer of Death, Harrowdale’s Bane, Terror of Gloomspell Lake, Dragon God of Winter, Terror of Duskhaven, Queen of All Dragons

Dragons poured out of the portal, over a score in all, and in the lead were three of great prominence. Scales of red and gold and gleaming in the dying light of the sun, Tailong the Dragon of Twilight, corrupted from her holy radiance as the Sun Dragon, was there, in her draconic form for the first time in years. Nearby was Merkath the Dark, vampiric daughter of the Dragon Queen, but the light of the sun no longer harmed her, for the Mithril Band of Night Eternal had placed the Balm of Unending Night upon her. Stronger by far than she had been the last time she’d come to the land of Ograin, she was eager to aid her mother’s Consort.

But between them was a figure who would not lose to them in the slightest, for Mirelth, the Dragon Goddess, Bane of Harrowdale, Queen of All Dragons, had returned to terrorize Duskhaven once again. Resplendent were her scales, the color of blood in the twilight! None could look upon her in this form and not feel awe at being in the presence of the true Queen of the Dragons, her power and majesty obvious to all who saw them.

Behind the draconic vanguard, more shapes began flowing out of the rift. Two fallen angels, their formerly white wings turned to black, flew side by side with a demoness who looked far too eager for the ‘fun’ to begin. Like an unholy chorus, they heralded the arrival of a great ship, gliding forward in the air despite there being no seas to support it. To one who looked closely, it would seem to be a simple sailing ship, like others that plied the coastal waters all around the world, though this one had the look of something more accustomed to evil lands and dark hearts. The prow of the ship was shaped to look as though it were a dragon’s head, and in its mouth was the open barrel of a mighty cannon.

Slowly, the ship began moving forward as dragons and angels parted way before it, allowing it to move to the head of the procession. No resident of this plane outside the Wyrmwood had actually laid eyes upon the mystic vessel now floating in the air, but none who followed the stories of Travelers would be ignorant of what this ship was, and what it meant for the city. The return of Zayn Darkmore to the material plane from his adventures into the Abyss had spread across the world like wildfire, the news that he’d come upon the deck of a magic ship that flew through the air, even against the wind, and could cut across the planes as though they were breakers in the ocean had quickly become the stuff of legends.

Zayn Darkmore Demigod Hellspawned Drake (Incubus) Male Level 110 Hexblade (Warlock) / Soulbreaker (Dominator) Titles: The Executioner, The Sexecutioner, Corrupter, Divine Chainmaker, Machiavelli, Dragonfriend, Dragon Consort, Slave Trader, Trophy Hunter, Harem King, Stud Horse, Undead Bane, Divine Lord of the Leash, Dragon Summoner, Dark Ritualist, Troll Bane, Unholy Hordebreaker, To Launch a Thousand Ships, Chosen of Sharess, Silver Tongued, Lichloved, Godlayer, Demon Binder, Crusader, Violator of the Divine, Demon Consort, Battle Raper

And so, if any mage were scrying from afar, they would not be surprised to see the incubus himself, dressed in his regalia as a Chosen of Sharess, boldly wearing her symbol upon his tabard, the blades of his daisho hanging by his side, a whip on one hip, daggers sticking out from his boots, and a bow slung over his shoulder. He stood amidships, looking over the side as the Veil of Twilight slid soundlessly through the air, the rift they had come through closing noiselessly behind them. Around him were the members of his harem and his guild, who were there to support their leader, though they knew that, when it came time for the serious fights, there may be very little they could do to aid him when fighting a god. But there would be many foes who weren’t gods to fight before this night was through.

Slowly, he walked to the prow of the ship, his gait steady, his eyes fixated upon the walls of Duskhaven, trying to see across the distance to try and spy his target. One hand rested easily upon the hilt of his katana, as he watched the city. The people of the city had not seemed to notice the invasion that was on their doorsteps yet, or if they had then there did not look to be any noticeable effect on the city’s preparations. No spells of defense were raised, and no forces came out to harry them. It was almost a shame to take them so completely by surprise, but if they had not noticed his coming, he would not spoil the surprise by warning them. Reaching over to the massive magical cannon, he placed his hand upon the charging plate, and put in the last few MP needed to fully charge the cannon. With the cannon’s magic, he got a view of the city enhanced by the cannon’s aiming magic, showing where the the cannon was aimed. Calmly he selected the type of attack he wanted, and pulled the lever that fired it, unleashing the energy upon the unsuspecting town.

EVENT NOTICE! The Siege of Duskhaven Woe to the people of Duskhaven! Woe to the people of Ograin! The actions of the Theocracy have long gone unchecked, but now the pantheons are moving against each other, with mortals at the forefront of their battles to stop the Theocracy of Ograin’s actions. Zayn Darkmore, Chosen of Sharess, has led the Aria of the Twilight and their allies to Duskhaven! Rise up, and defend the Theocracy! Or take this time to stand, and throw off the yoke of your oppressors! Be warned, that the gods themselves may descend to fight alongside you mortals who take up arms in this conflict!

With a fire in his eyes, the Chosen of Sharess called to those within the range of his magically amplified voice, “ALL FORCES, ADVANCE! THE THEOCRACY FALLS THIS NIGHT! IN THE NAME OF THE TWILIGHT!”

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