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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greppa of Tartwater" data-source="post: 1110503" data-attributes="member: 10191">New Post!Belial wrapped us in his arms and vaulted high into the air. The Nekromantiea became a tiny anthill as Belial's inhuman speed carried us home. I noticed that Belial was being very quiet. It seemed to me that since we'd effectively thrown in with their side, there was a whole lot more to be said. His face was somewhat pensive, very unsure."What's happening at home?" I asked him flatly.He was silent for a while. The wind whipped his hair, making him look like a beautiful statue cast from the reddest bronze one could find. I still admired that face, as well as the body attached to it, but Athan was back, which meant Allas was also making her move."What's happening at home?" I asked him again.He pointed with his chin, "Look for yourself."Unbelievably, the spires of Theralis framed themselves along the horizon. I never felt so glad to see home, however, something was wrong with the picture. Half of the city was illuminated with a bright golden light and the other part glowed with the blood red illumination of Luccas. Clouds of darkness surged through the skies, crossing from one side to the city to the other. Periodically multicolored lights streaked through the sky, striking indiscernible targets with a flashy release of energy. "What's happening?" I asked with growing horror, "Why aren't the full forces of Luccas, Hsethmah, and Corvidae here?""The mortals are fighting," He replied. "There are those among you who still follow Allas. They fight for Allas and she heard their prayers and sent her troops. Without you present to seal the bargain, the others have given gifts to those among your people who have individually given their worship, but they had to wait for you, to protect the city."Great, I thought, turning towards the rapidly approaching city. Then I had a sudden thought and I summoned Uripedas. A large shape split from the surging clouds of blackness over the city. The spot quickly resolved itself into a giant black hawk. "Uripedas..." I whispered. Something in Allas' makeup must make her prone to these blunt demi-poetic flourishes. Uripedas was once a blazing, eagle with feathers of gold. He now resembled a fierce black hunting animal, magnificent in its aerial grace. His greeting spoiled the grand image."HelloGreppa!I'mgladtoseethatyou'reallright!Seelookatme!Don'tIlookgood?WhenthishappenedtomemybuddiesturnedonmeandIhadtokillthem,butwhentheyweregonenewbuddiescameandnowI'mhappy!"Despite his fearsome new appearance, he was the same old hyperactive bird "I'm sorry your friends were stupid," I said grinning. "I think it's time to take back our city."Uripedas perked up, "Fight?""I grinned so hard, I felt the wind on my canines, "Uh huh. Fight!"I felt Belial's arm release me and I fell the rest of the way onto Uripedas' back. I grabbed handfuls of feathers and yelled, "Show me the city." The great hawk wheeled, leaving Merideth with Belial and headed for the edge of the city, "You're gonna wanna see this." I looked down and saw orcs battling at the edge of the city. However, they weren't' fighting Theralis troops. They were fighting celestial servants of Allas.Cursing under my breath, I commanded Uripedas to take me into the city, where I was greeted by more chaos. Clouds of Sunhawks and Ravens surged across the skies while Devas and other creatures rode on the backs of sun eagles. This was insane. I can't believe Allas would pull this crap when orcs were going to attack. Is she that confident? I did not say what I was thinking, but Allas was just plain stupid. Who gives a damn if she is a God. We veered towards Kyriotes' tower and arrived to find it surrounded by Devas on the backs of golden eagles. The tower itself was sheathed in a shimmering dome of force. The celestials were pelting at its surface with golden blasts of energy. I raised my hands and once again I realized that my words weren't my own. A five foot wide column of inky black energy rippled from my hand and blindsided the deva nearest me. The attack group stopped momentarily as their focus switched to me. "Keep them busy," I whispered to Uripedas adding, "Don't get killed." Before casting Dimension Door and teleporting into the other side of the force dome. Kyriotes was a conjuring specialist and I expecting him to have a spell that could hedge out celestials, but a side effect of the spell was unexpected. I appeared on the other side writhing in pain. And, standing above me was Kyriotes. His apprentices were gathered about him has he continually summoned creatures with a calm smooth efficiency. They, in turn were, surrounded by a bevy of various types of monsters. "Hello, Greppa," he said with genuine surprise. "I'm glad to see that the reports of your demise were exaggerated."I managed to lever myself to my feet, "Where's Phitios?" I asked."He's under siege in his tower," the arcanist responded."And Athan?""I don't know," he repliedI turned to him, "I take it you're getting ready for an assault?""Yes, Once I secure my tower, I plan to extend into the streets one block at a time. The creatures I'm currently summoning are specially resistant to magic and hopefully they will be able to stop the devas." I nodded and prepared myself to teleport out, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Greppa," Kyriotes said with an uncharacteristic sincerity, "I understand, you can create walls of rock. Do you think you can put a dome over my tower? It would make taking back this area of the city easier and I can move into the rest of the city faster."I looked at him for and suddenly we had a moment of understanding. He didn't see me as a little kid hanging at his hem trying to talk magic. I was a colleague, not yet an equal, but definitely someone who could be turned to for a certain level of competency. It was a strange moment and until now I didn't realize how good receiving his approval made me feel. I nodded, turned to the outside of the force dome and gestured. Four walls of shale erupted from the ground clawing at the air like grasping earthen fingers. The fingers met and the stone dome sealed.  Kyriotes nodded and went back to summoning. I flew to the roof and, still possessing the power of the Kithian earth elemental, passed through the stone wall and into the air. The sky was chaotic. Devas and their mounts tried to draw a bead on Uripedas while swarms sunhawks nipped at its feathers. Uripedas wheeled and spun, making them work for every bit of distance. They started to converge on him, coming from all sides and the sunhawks were able to find purchase."No," I whispered, starting to head in their direction. Then Merideth descended from above spraying the attackers with fans of kinetic daggers. She touched Uripedas as she settled onto his back and his wounds sealed shut. He let out a fierce war cry and he and Merideth, broke from the mass.I whispered a small prayer and said under my breath, "Take care of each other."****The scene at Phitios' tower was only slightly less hellish than the scene of the orcs massacring Eastpass so long ago. Theralis troops, battled celestial and the Outsiders attempted to breach the stone tower. Supporting the ground troops, were two Devas on golden eagles. They were attacking the tower, however, my presence caused them to change their tactics. They bore down on me, hurling spears of violet colored energy. I managed to evade most of them, but two caught me. When each hit, I was seized by a terrible pressure. My body felt squeezed, not as if being crushed, but being pushed, through the fabric of reality, out of existence. My Will flared pushing back the effect, however, in evading the attacks, I smashed into the stone roof of the tower. The Devas pressed their attack, diving for my position. However, the roof was stone, and with a thought, I passed through it and landed hard on the floor at someone's feet. I rolled over and came face to face with the brave healer who flew out onto the battlefield with me during the last war.  Her eyes widened momentarily and I felt her hands on me and I was completely healed. I stood, but before I could ask about Phitios, Athan appeared in the room. He caught me by surprise before, this time I had a special surprise for him. He drew a glowing spear from his back and released it. It sunk deep into my chest as the final syllables escaped my mouth. I started to fall, but I was grinning at the surprise that crossed Athan's features as the Dismissal took effect and he was ripped from our plane. "Gotcha," I murmured. Then I blacked out.</blockquote>

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