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Shackled City Epic: "Vengeance" (story concluded)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 2911928" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 608</p><p></p><p>The companions materialized on the open plain of Occipitus, with the cracked marble columns and crumbling walls of the celestial cathedral forming a backdrop behind them. Their gaze was drawn to the skull, which was continuing a general collapse, its iron skin sloughing off in great pieces that plummeted down to the ground below. Demons by the thousands were being crushed by those massive shards, and more were charging away in a blind, chaotic rush. </p><p></p><p>“Looks like they haven’t figured out that they can <em>teleport</em> again yet,” Mole observed. </p><p></p><p>“They will,” Dannel said. He looked up at the sky, where knots of flying demons could be seen in scattered groups in every direction. “And they’ll know we’re here, in a moment or two.”</p><p></p><p>“I have one more <em>teleport</em>, and can take us to the Bastion,” Cal said. “Maybe Saureya can <em>plane shift</em> us back home…” The archmage silently cursed himself for not memorizing the spell himself; both Umbar and Beorna had possessed it, and he had not planned on a contingency when both of them had fallen, and yet he remained alive. He could gain it from his spellbook, given time, but time was likely something that was not going to be available to them in great quantities. </p><p></p><p>“If he’s still there,” Dannel returned. “If anything’s still there.”</p><p></p><p>“Even without Graz’zt, his legions remain a potent force,” Callendes said. The avariel had lost his bow in the battle, and with Dannel supporting him, he looked thin and frail. </p><p></p><p>“If they come at us, we’ll deal with them,” Lok said, tightening his grip on his axe. Coming from anyone else, the statement would have been bravado, but from the genasi it was a simple statement of fact. </p><p></p><p>“Look!” Mole shouted, drawing their attention back to the Skull. </p><p></p><p>White flashes erupted in the sky around the collapsing mountain. When those bursts faded, they revealed white-winged beings that shone with a golden radiance that was clearly visible even miles away. Their nature and intent was immediately obvious, as the newcomers and the demons started to exchange <em>holy smites</em> and <em>unholy blights</em> even as more of the flashes continued to disrupt the Occipitus sky. </p><p></p><p>“Celestials!” Dannel said. “Dozens of them…”</p><p></p><p>“But… who is bringing them? Did Saureya get a call for help out?”</p><p></p><p>Callendes shook his head. “No,” he said. “The Herald.”</p><p></p><p>A loud noise like an earthquake reached them, drawing their attention back to the mountain. Slowly, but picking up momentum as it progressed, half of the upper portion of the Skull broke away and slid down the ruined mountain’s face. As it fell clear, the pillar of burning fire within became visible as a bright flash that extended upwards into the sky. The pyre twisted and touched the dark clouds that had gathered around the dark presence of Graz’zt, and as the flames pierced that shroud, the darkness fell back. The sky above, streaked red with chaotic surges of energy just a short time before, was revealed as a golden dome that unleashed a soft pleasing radiance upon the plain below. As that light fell upon the fleeing demons, they grew disheartened, and fled cowering. There were dark flashes as those that could <em>teleport</em> realized that they could escape, and they vanished from the mass to seek shelter in the far corners of the plane. </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately for them, there was no place upon Occipitus where the gaze of the celestial host could not find them. </p><p></p><p>The companions watched in amazement as the demonic horde was routed, as the celestials, now numbering over a hundred that they could see, unleashed righteous destruction into their ranks. </p><p></p><p>“I don’t believe it,” Dannel said. “We did it… we won!”</p><p></p><p>“Heh, I never doubted it,” Mole said, with a wide grin. </p><p></p><p>But Arun did not smile, and his gaze did not shift from the ruins of the Iron Skull, his fists locked around the shaft of his warhammer.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 2911928, member: 143"] Chapter 608 The companions materialized on the open plain of Occipitus, with the cracked marble columns and crumbling walls of the celestial cathedral forming a backdrop behind them. Their gaze was drawn to the skull, which was continuing a general collapse, its iron skin sloughing off in great pieces that plummeted down to the ground below. Demons by the thousands were being crushed by those massive shards, and more were charging away in a blind, chaotic rush. “Looks like they haven’t figured out that they can [i]teleport[/i] again yet,” Mole observed. “They will,” Dannel said. He looked up at the sky, where knots of flying demons could be seen in scattered groups in every direction. “And they’ll know we’re here, in a moment or two.” “I have one more [i]teleport[/i], and can take us to the Bastion,” Cal said. “Maybe Saureya can [i]plane shift[/i] us back home…” The archmage silently cursed himself for not memorizing the spell himself; both Umbar and Beorna had possessed it, and he had not planned on a contingency when both of them had fallen, and yet he remained alive. He could gain it from his spellbook, given time, but time was likely something that was not going to be available to them in great quantities. “If he’s still there,” Dannel returned. “If anything’s still there.” “Even without Graz’zt, his legions remain a potent force,” Callendes said. The avariel had lost his bow in the battle, and with Dannel supporting him, he looked thin and frail. “If they come at us, we’ll deal with them,” Lok said, tightening his grip on his axe. Coming from anyone else, the statement would have been bravado, but from the genasi it was a simple statement of fact. “Look!” Mole shouted, drawing their attention back to the Skull. White flashes erupted in the sky around the collapsing mountain. When those bursts faded, they revealed white-winged beings that shone with a golden radiance that was clearly visible even miles away. Their nature and intent was immediately obvious, as the newcomers and the demons started to exchange [i]holy smites[/i] and [i]unholy blights[/i] even as more of the flashes continued to disrupt the Occipitus sky. “Celestials!” Dannel said. “Dozens of them…” “But… who is bringing them? Did Saureya get a call for help out?” Callendes shook his head. “No,” he said. “The Herald.” A loud noise like an earthquake reached them, drawing their attention back to the mountain. Slowly, but picking up momentum as it progressed, half of the upper portion of the Skull broke away and slid down the ruined mountain’s face. As it fell clear, the pillar of burning fire within became visible as a bright flash that extended upwards into the sky. The pyre twisted and touched the dark clouds that had gathered around the dark presence of Graz’zt, and as the flames pierced that shroud, the darkness fell back. The sky above, streaked red with chaotic surges of energy just a short time before, was revealed as a golden dome that unleashed a soft pleasing radiance upon the plain below. As that light fell upon the fleeing demons, they grew disheartened, and fled cowering. There were dark flashes as those that could [i]teleport[/i] realized that they could escape, and they vanished from the mass to seek shelter in the far corners of the plane. Unfortunately for them, there was no place upon Occipitus where the gaze of the celestial host could not find them. The companions watched in amazement as the demonic horde was routed, as the celestials, now numbering over a hundred that they could see, unleashed righteous destruction into their ranks. “I don’t believe it,” Dannel said. “We did it… we won!” “Heh, I never doubted it,” Mole said, with a wide grin. But Arun did not smile, and his gaze did not shift from the ruins of the Iron Skull, his fists locked around the shaft of his warhammer. [/QUOTE]
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