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The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3780291" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 256</p><p></p><p>A NEW COMMAND</p><p></p><p></p><p>Dar’s guess had been all too correct. </p><p></p><p>“Talen’s loss is a great blow to our cause,” Velan Tiros said, his voice distorted slightly as it passed through the magical sensor that hung in the air before them. The glowing orb was a direct conduit to the tower of the Guild of Sorcery in Camar, but it only allowed them to see and hear through it; it was not an actual gateway between the two locations. Tiros’s form shimmered and shifted slightly as he spoke, like a reflection viewed in a pond. “But events have made our situation more grim, colonel. The town of Albrith has been completely destroyed. The quake was just the latest of several that have hit the region, but it was the most damaging, focused almost directly on the town. The chasm that swallowed Albrith is now over a hundred feet across and almost a mile long. Honoratius confirmed that the quake was not natural in origin.”</p><p></p><p>“I scried the site,” the archmage said, “and the lingering auras there were extremely... potent.” </p><p></p><p>“How many people were killed?” Nelan asked, his face pale. </p><p></p><p>The new Patriarch, Decius Jaduran, looked almost shrunken in the heavy white robe of his office. The aged priest replied, “Our latest estimates are just under four hundred dead. But many are still missing, or otherwise unaccounted for.”</p><p></p><p>“It would seem that the demon prince is testing its power,” Selanthas said. </p><p></p><p>“Why wouldn’t it just attack Camar?” Dar asked. </p><p></p><p>“Honoratius?” Tiros said. </p><p></p><p>“I am not certain, but I believe that the demon’s touch upon our world is still tenuous,” the archmage said. “These impacts may not even be deliberate, but merely side effects of its efforts to gain a firm presence upon this Prime. As it grows stronger, the effects will grow more pronounced.”</p><p></p><p>“We’ve destroyed two temples,” Allera said. “Shouldn’t its power be growing weaker, not stronger?”</p><p></p><p>“The completion of the ritual and the sundering of the Sphere of Souls brought Orcus almost fully into our world,” Honoratius said. “We can weaken the demon by destroying the temples, but it will ultimately pass fully into the Prime, unless it is confronted and destroyed. Once it is fully here, it will rapidly grow in power, as it feeds upon the life energies of our rich world.”</p><p></p><p>“You had said it was hiding in some plane thing,” Dar said. </p><p></p><p>“A demiplane,” Honoratius explained. “An artificial reality halfway between the Prime Material and the Abyss. The demon had to expend a considerable amount of power to make the transition from the Abyss. It will gather its strength, and then make the final passage into our world.”</p><p></p><p>“And when it gets here?” Allera asked. </p><p></p><p>There was no reply. On the other side of the sensor, Tiros looked grave. </p><p></p><p> “Have there been any more undead attacks, marshal?” Dar asked. </p><p></p><p>“Only a few scattered incidents. But there has been a rash of disasters since you left Camar, and the people are increasingly fearful. Midwinter has long since passed, but winter keeps an iron clutch over the land. We have done what we can, but hunger is becoming a problem in the cities. Pestilence has ravaged both the human and animal kingdoms. In some areas as many as half of all domesticated animals have died, badly, covered in oozing boils, their carcasses suitable only for the fire. A plague broke out in Dalemar; a not uncommon occurance in a city under siege, but I have never seen nor heard of such an occurance in the depths of winter. There have been reports of thousands dead, with corpses lying frozen in the streets. Despite this, Livius has refused to sue for peace, and if anything his raids have grown more aggressive. Conditions in our legion camps outside the city are... grim, even with the bulk of our forces redeployed further south.”</p><p></p><p>“Damn that stubborn bastard,” Dar said. </p><p></p><p>“Do you believe that these events are connected to what is happening in Rappan Athuk?” Nelan asked. </p><p></p><p>“I can grant credit to the occasional coincidence, ser priest, but there are just too many troubles coming at once,” Tiros replied. “The orcs are stirring in the Galerrs; there have been at least a dozen attacks since the Border Legion was pulled out, and the tribes seem to have united around the patronage of a new “blood god.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, three guesses who <em>that</em> is,” Dar muttered. </p><p></p><p>“There have also been reports of a new death cult that has become active in Drusia. And in the last few weeks, there have been surges of random violence throughout Camar. There have been over a hundred murders in the capital alone, despite the additions to the ranks of the Guard...”</p><p></p><p>“The bad winter, tempers fraying,” Allera said, but she trailed off, not really believing her own statement. </p><p></p><p>“Marshal,” Dar said. “What do you want us to do?”</p><p></p><p>“You must continue with your mission,” Tiros said. “You must find the hidden access point to the demiplane where Orcus is hiding. The very fate of Camar may depend upon your success.”</p><p></p><p>“What about Talen?” Shay asked, the first words she’d spoken since Honoratius had established the connection. </p><p></p><p>“I share your feelings, Shaylara,” Tiros said. “But we must consider the good of Camar, and all its people. Talen would say the same, if he was there.” </p><p></p><p>The scout turned away, and did not respond, but her hands tightened into fists. </p><p></p><p>“We’re going to need to deal with Navev sooner or later,” Dar said. “He’s grown in power with each time we’ve faced him, and he seems to be particularly favored by old Blood and Horns.”</p><p></p><p>“The spell’s duration is nearly up,” Honoratius said, her face showing some strain as she focused her attention upon the sensor. The magical field shivered a bit before it grew steady and distinct once more. </p><p></p><p>Tiros fixed Dar with a hard stare through the sensor. “I am placing you in command of this mission, Dar. As of this moment, you have the effective rank of general.”</p><p></p><p>“Marshal, I don’t want—”</p><p></p><p>Tiros cut him off. “What we want or don’t want is pretty damned immaterial at this point, general.” The marshal rubbed his face, and his expression softed fractionally. “I am sorry. But we have very few choices left to us.”</p><p></p><p>“Sir, I don’t exactly have an army here,” Dar said, looking around at his companions. </p><p></p><p>“I am sending you what aid I can, but I cannot promise anything. Our grip on the situation here becomes more tenuous by the day.”</p><p></p><p>Dar faced the sensor with a grim look. Allera stepped up to him, and placed her hand on his arm. He looked down at her, and seemed to draw strength from her eyes. After a moment, he turned back to face the older man. </p><p></p><p>“Marshal, one last question.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, what is it?”</p><p></p><p>“Have you heard anything from Varo?”</p><p></p><p>After a brief pause, the marshal shook his head. “Nothing. And I cannot say I am displeased by that fact.”</p><p></p><p>The sensor destabilized again. Honoratius almost lost it, but after a moment Tiros and Jaduran reappeared. Tiros’s voice came through to them again. </p><p></p><p>“—know that you understand what is at stake. What we ask of you is... great, it is unfair. But you are the best hope that Camar has of surviving this crisis. You must—” </p><p></p><p>The sensor abruptly vanished, cutting off the marshal’s final words. </p><p></p><p>The elves shared a long look, but said nothing. </p><p></p><p>“It would appear that the road ahead of us remains long,” Nelan said, sagging against the wall. In that moment, he looked far older than his years.</p><p></p><p>“I am going after Talen,” Shay said. “Alone, if I must.”</p><p></p><p>Dar negated her with a chop of his hand. “Damn it, Shay, we’re all going. But we can’t do squat until we find out where he is.”</p><p></p><p>“The temple...” Nelan said. </p><p></p><p>“Yeah, get your stuff, priest. We’ll camp there while you complete the ritual. Honoratius, be ready with that spell, when we get out of there.” </p><p></p><p>“Twenty-four hours,” Shay began, but Dar wheeled on her before she could complete the thought. </p><p></p><p>“If you want to go off by yourself, then I won’t stop you. But getting yourself killed won’t bring him back. And if you’re lying dead in some freaking tunnel somewhere when we need your skills, then maybe <em>we</em> won’t find him, either. So it’s your choice, scout.” Biting back an angry curse, the fighter grabbed his pack, and led Nelan out of the room. “Get your stuff, we’re moving,” his voice came back to them. </p><p></p><p>“We’ll find him, Shay,” Allera said. But the mood was somber as the companions gathered their possessions, and filed wordlessly after Dar and Nelan, back to the second temple of Orcus.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 3780291, member: 143"] Chapter 256 A NEW COMMAND Dar’s guess had been all too correct. “Talen’s loss is a great blow to our cause,” Velan Tiros said, his voice distorted slightly as it passed through the magical sensor that hung in the air before them. The glowing orb was a direct conduit to the tower of the Guild of Sorcery in Camar, but it only allowed them to see and hear through it; it was not an actual gateway between the two locations. Tiros’s form shimmered and shifted slightly as he spoke, like a reflection viewed in a pond. “But events have made our situation more grim, colonel. The town of Albrith has been completely destroyed. The quake was just the latest of several that have hit the region, but it was the most damaging, focused almost directly on the town. The chasm that swallowed Albrith is now over a hundred feet across and almost a mile long. Honoratius confirmed that the quake was not natural in origin.” “I scried the site,” the archmage said, “and the lingering auras there were extremely... potent.” “How many people were killed?” Nelan asked, his face pale. The new Patriarch, Decius Jaduran, looked almost shrunken in the heavy white robe of his office. The aged priest replied, “Our latest estimates are just under four hundred dead. But many are still missing, or otherwise unaccounted for.” “It would seem that the demon prince is testing its power,” Selanthas said. “Why wouldn’t it just attack Camar?” Dar asked. “Honoratius?” Tiros said. “I am not certain, but I believe that the demon’s touch upon our world is still tenuous,” the archmage said. “These impacts may not even be deliberate, but merely side effects of its efforts to gain a firm presence upon this Prime. As it grows stronger, the effects will grow more pronounced.” “We’ve destroyed two temples,” Allera said. “Shouldn’t its power be growing weaker, not stronger?” “The completion of the ritual and the sundering of the Sphere of Souls brought Orcus almost fully into our world,” Honoratius said. “We can weaken the demon by destroying the temples, but it will ultimately pass fully into the Prime, unless it is confronted and destroyed. Once it is fully here, it will rapidly grow in power, as it feeds upon the life energies of our rich world.” “You had said it was hiding in some plane thing,” Dar said. “A demiplane,” Honoratius explained. “An artificial reality halfway between the Prime Material and the Abyss. The demon had to expend a considerable amount of power to make the transition from the Abyss. It will gather its strength, and then make the final passage into our world.” “And when it gets here?” Allera asked. There was no reply. On the other side of the sensor, Tiros looked grave. “Have there been any more undead attacks, marshal?” Dar asked. “Only a few scattered incidents. But there has been a rash of disasters since you left Camar, and the people are increasingly fearful. Midwinter has long since passed, but winter keeps an iron clutch over the land. We have done what we can, but hunger is becoming a problem in the cities. Pestilence has ravaged both the human and animal kingdoms. In some areas as many as half of all domesticated animals have died, badly, covered in oozing boils, their carcasses suitable only for the fire. A plague broke out in Dalemar; a not uncommon occurance in a city under siege, but I have never seen nor heard of such an occurance in the depths of winter. There have been reports of thousands dead, with corpses lying frozen in the streets. Despite this, Livius has refused to sue for peace, and if anything his raids have grown more aggressive. Conditions in our legion camps outside the city are... grim, even with the bulk of our forces redeployed further south.” “Damn that stubborn bastard,” Dar said. “Do you believe that these events are connected to what is happening in Rappan Athuk?” Nelan asked. “I can grant credit to the occasional coincidence, ser priest, but there are just too many troubles coming at once,” Tiros replied. “The orcs are stirring in the Galerrs; there have been at least a dozen attacks since the Border Legion was pulled out, and the tribes seem to have united around the patronage of a new “blood god.” “Yeah, three guesses who [i]that[/i] is,” Dar muttered. “There have also been reports of a new death cult that has become active in Drusia. And in the last few weeks, there have been surges of random violence throughout Camar. There have been over a hundred murders in the capital alone, despite the additions to the ranks of the Guard...” “The bad winter, tempers fraying,” Allera said, but she trailed off, not really believing her own statement. “Marshal,” Dar said. “What do you want us to do?” “You must continue with your mission,” Tiros said. “You must find the hidden access point to the demiplane where Orcus is hiding. The very fate of Camar may depend upon your success.” “What about Talen?” Shay asked, the first words she’d spoken since Honoratius had established the connection. “I share your feelings, Shaylara,” Tiros said. “But we must consider the good of Camar, and all its people. Talen would say the same, if he was there.” The scout turned away, and did not respond, but her hands tightened into fists. “We’re going to need to deal with Navev sooner or later,” Dar said. “He’s grown in power with each time we’ve faced him, and he seems to be particularly favored by old Blood and Horns.” “The spell’s duration is nearly up,” Honoratius said, her face showing some strain as she focused her attention upon the sensor. The magical field shivered a bit before it grew steady and distinct once more. Tiros fixed Dar with a hard stare through the sensor. “I am placing you in command of this mission, Dar. As of this moment, you have the effective rank of general.” “Marshal, I don’t want—” Tiros cut him off. “What we want or don’t want is pretty damned immaterial at this point, general.” The marshal rubbed his face, and his expression softed fractionally. “I am sorry. But we have very few choices left to us.” “Sir, I don’t exactly have an army here,” Dar said, looking around at his companions. “I am sending you what aid I can, but I cannot promise anything. Our grip on the situation here becomes more tenuous by the day.” Dar faced the sensor with a grim look. Allera stepped up to him, and placed her hand on his arm. He looked down at her, and seemed to draw strength from her eyes. After a moment, he turned back to face the older man. “Marshal, one last question.” “Yes, what is it?” “Have you heard anything from Varo?” After a brief pause, the marshal shook his head. “Nothing. And I cannot say I am displeased by that fact.” The sensor destabilized again. Honoratius almost lost it, but after a moment Tiros and Jaduran reappeared. Tiros’s voice came through to them again. “—know that you understand what is at stake. What we ask of you is... great, it is unfair. But you are the best hope that Camar has of surviving this crisis. You must—” The sensor abruptly vanished, cutting off the marshal’s final words. The elves shared a long look, but said nothing. “It would appear that the road ahead of us remains long,” Nelan said, sagging against the wall. In that moment, he looked far older than his years. “I am going after Talen,” Shay said. “Alone, if I must.” Dar negated her with a chop of his hand. “Damn it, Shay, we’re all going. But we can’t do squat until we find out where he is.” “The temple...” Nelan said. “Yeah, get your stuff, priest. We’ll camp there while you complete the ritual. Honoratius, be ready with that spell, when we get out of there.” “Twenty-four hours,” Shay began, but Dar wheeled on her before she could complete the thought. “If you want to go off by yourself, then I won’t stop you. But getting yourself killed won’t bring him back. And if you’re lying dead in some freaking tunnel somewhere when we need your skills, then maybe [i]we[/i] won’t find him, either. So it’s your choice, scout.” Biting back an angry curse, the fighter grabbed his pack, and led Nelan out of the room. “Get your stuff, we’re moving,” his voice came back to them. “We’ll find him, Shay,” Allera said. But the mood was somber as the companions gathered their possessions, and filed wordlessly after Dar and Nelan, back to the second temple of Orcus. [/QUOTE]
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