Let Battle Commence

The last phase of Promethian Prophecy is at hand. Five survivors stand before the hordes of the Unmaker - Promethius' long-time enemy. Presently Kareel, the young thief and seeress, is abroad amongst the hordes, her mission to get her hands on the Dark Prophecy of their enemies. The other four elements of the prophecy sit and wait, making plans and building the morale of their troops for the most long-awaited battle in the history of the universe.

Jeran, Anandar, Karim and Moshan sit in the centre of the citadel surrounded by their chancellors, many generals and Trevelyan and Kerat, two Asharok survivors from the Promethian Prophecy. An hour before dawn they still make plans. There is a distant commotion and this ripple of discontent becomes a flood of hurried activity. They ascend to the topmost tower of the citadel and there is a distinct, frightening sound like thunder. It is a grim sound. The rumbling of thousands of siege engines and a million feet pounding the ground in a forced march. In the pre dawn light they witness the sea of the Unmakers hordes, like a black ocean all around.

Karim senses a growing surge of magic from beyond the walls. He suspects that Cedron is influencing the weather in some way, perhaps to throw a great storm at the citadel. He steals himself for a battle of wills and sorcery against the leader of the forces of the Unmaker, a battle perhaps greater than any challenge he has ever faced. Anandar gathers one thousand of his Ashandir troops and descends into the labyrinthine catacombs beneath the citadel. His expertise in the small, confined dark places make him an ideal candidate for the tunnel detail in the sewers.

Karim handpicks four of his best swordsmen to act as personal bodyguards for each of the elements of prophecy. The Darim swordsmen are widely believed to be the defending army's best fighters. He then turns his attention, and sorcery, against the growing storm around them. Instead of lashing the storm with the full force of his will Karim gradually builds a wave of warm air, a growing column of heat that intercepts the impending storm and causes it to explode prematurely. The heavens open and a deluge of rain and lightning strike the area immediately around the outer walls. The deluge quickly fill the moat-like trench surrounding the outer wall and many areas are turned into a quagmire very quickly.

As the sun finally heralds the daylight hours the drums of the marauding hordes can be heard. Towers as high as the walls trundle into place and a barrage of missiles rain onto the defenders. Trebuchets, catapults, mangonels and bolt throwers pin down the defenders with deadly power. Smaller engines hurl bolts, nails and pieces of metal slag in an attempt to keep the defending archers heads' down. Row upon row of Darkland (human) archers launch salvoes of arrows as the main infantry units of orcs, goblins and hobgoblins move behind the gargantuan siege towers awaiting any breach of the outer walls. Huge boulders crash into the base of the outer walls all around the citadel as the day starts violently.

Jeran positions himself in the 'palace' at the hub of the battle. His network of telepaths making him an ideal commander of the Promethian armies. As he and Moshan discuss the finer points of their tactics there is a blur of steel. Moshan's bodyguard unleashes his katana and his blade swings close to Jeran. As the Marraq ducks an unseen assassin is cut down, his presence not noticed amidst the commotion of the battle. Jeran acknowledges the bodyguard's intervention. As they examine the body the sounds of fierce fighting can be heard.

The huge siege towers contain hundreds of troops with thousands following behind. All over the walls their ramps are laid onto the battlements and the flood of humanoids are met by Promethian infantry. The Darkland archers now turn their attention to beyond the outer walls, where the Marraq archers continually pepper the hordes with volley after volley. Death is all around and the fighting on each part of the wall is desperate and brutal. Jeran continually surveys his telepaths, monitoring each separate hot spot and stretching his immense mind over the carnage.

All morning the battle rages, the defenders holding the initial assault easily, exacting a heavy toll upon the orcs and goblin marauders. Some sections, however, fair less well. At one point near noon Jeran gains a report from one of his telepaths that the black orcs have gained a foothold on a part of the wall garrisoned by Malan infantrymen. Hundreds of humanoids are pouring over the ramp and gaining an ever-increasing hold upon the wall. Moshan buckles on his huge black demonic blade, much to his chancellor's disgust, and Karim and Kerat soon follow suit. A series of walkways and rope bridges allow them easy, quick access to the fighting and soon the news of Moshan and Karim's arrival send a ripple of excitement through the Malan ranks.

The orcs stand three abreast on the battlements as Moshan and Karim fall upon them with a hundred Malan soldiers behind them. The black orcs are vicious, dangerous opponents but not even they could expect the whirlwind of death that the two elements of Promethius unleash upon them. Moshan cuts left and right, felling three orcs instantly. Karim waves his left hand quickly before him and three orcs fall by his deadly sorcery. His katana is equally deadly as the two men tear apart the initial resistance. Such is the power of their assault that the Malan's following behind are unable to maintain such a pace and the two friends become quickly engulfed in an orcish sea.

Kerat, the Asharok survivor, tries desperately to follow the two men but an orc cleaver smashes into his face, felling him like an oak in a tornado. The ferocity of Moshan and Karim's attack spurs the Malan's to greater efforts and the battle is as deadly as it is dangerous. Instant death is only a heartbeat away but Moshan and Karim, both beset by minor wounds, can think only of stemming the tide of orcs coming across the ramp from the monstrous siege tower. They press onto the attack, despite overwhelming odds. The orcs, usually grim and relentless opponents, fall back against the two vicious blades and Karim's awesome sorcery. As the first hint of fear crosses their faces Karim manages to come within a few feet of the ramp. He cuts two orcs down and, almost as an afterthought, unleashes his sorcery upon the thick oak beams. The ramp explodes into a million fragments sending four hundred orcs screaming to their deaths at the foot of the outer wall.

The Malans now attack the marauders on two sides, squeezing them into an impossible position where there is death on every side. Moshan's blade drinks more and more souls and Karim spins around, his deadly blade taking life after life. Soon, innevitably, the last remaining orcs are vanquished and the Malans surround the two 'kings' their swords raised high and their voices chanting their names with awed passion. Karim moves to where Kerat fell. A Malan soldier cradles the unconscious Asharok in his arms, trying to stop blood gushing from his severe wound. Karim waves a gentle hand across Kerat's face and the wound closes. As Kerat opens his eyes the young Malan soldier gasps at the miracle he has just witnessed.

Soaked in blood the two men move through the tumultuous Malans. Exhilaration is all around them but both men realise that this is only the beginning and their mood is sobre. Eventually they reach the 'palace' where reports continue to come into Jeran. They notice, however, that their Marraq companion wears a concerned expression.

"What is it, my friend?" Karim asks.

"Someone has stolen my shadow," Jeran replies. There is an eerie silence within the 'palace'......