Apostles of Doom

“It cannot be!” Baba Smert’ hissed in shrill denial.

As the horn’s disquieting blare finally ended, a ball of fire appeared in the air behind and above the two knights.

“This cannot be!” Daerth Tromlane boomed. “A Doom Gate! Inside the interdiction?”

Exador noted that several of the Storm Lords were hissing and cackling amongst themselves in their revolting raspy-hissing-clicking language. One which he really had no interest in having translated into Universal.

“Is that music?” Ramses asked.

“What the…?” Exador asked, frowning as a strident marching anthem blared outward from the oncoming knight. Exador noted three demons fanning out in front of Talarius, carrying large boxes. Presumably these boxes were the source of the music.

“Whoever is coming is bringing their own theme song!” Ramses exclaimed, sounding a bit too enthusiastic given the situation. “I’ve always wanted to do that!”

While they were distracted by the music, Exador suddenly realized that the ball of fire behind Talarius had been expanding into a ring! “How on Nysegard are they opening an Abyssal Gateway inside the beacons?” Exador shouted at the expanding ring.

“That’s not the Abyss on the other side! That’s atunlight! They are about to fry the entire freaking army!” Ramses shouted. The shouting arguments, or discussions, or whatever they were, of the Storm Lords was quickly escalating.

Suddenly, from the not-quite-an-Abyssal Gateway, a very large version of Lenamare’s demon emerged, brandishing a brightly glowing metal wand.

“Doom has returned!” Praelgeis shouted, practically in Exador’s ear. He turned to see the Storm Lords staring and pointing in shock at the large demon.

“Orcus is alive! This is not possible! We made sure he was permanently dead!” Daerth Tromlane screamed angrily.

Suddenly, behind Lenamare’s demon, a group of very large demon orcs were coming through in formation. A lot of them. A very lot of them. Exador shook his head as fanning out to each side of the D’Orcs came a second wave of normal demons. Hundreds and hundreds of them — much more than a thousand, in fact.

“What are those?” Ramses asked.

Exador saw what Ramses meant. Above and below the D’Orcs, even as the demons were to the right and left, flew some very ugly winged — wolves? No. wargs? D’Wargs? All were flowing from the ever-expanding fiery hole in the air.

The knights and Lenamare’s demon were now over the Citadel and coming in towards the Army of the Night. Exador glanced back to the Storm Lords to see them scrambling to get to their various commands, screaming at their generals and underlings.

“This is not good,” Ramses said. “There must be well over three thousand demonics. If you ask me, all of those orc demons appear to be major or greater demons, at a minimum. We outnumber them by less than a factor of a hundred! This is definitely not good!”

“I’m not sure how this could get any worse,” Exador said, shaking his head in dismay. He noted they were now alone in the command center.

“Oh, crap,” Ramses said, staring in a different direction slightly to the north of the Citadel. A very large, feather-winged woman was rising into the air above the northern army.

“What is she?” Exador said.

“If I were to guess, and it’s only a guess, but I think that’s the Prophetess of Krinna upon Nysegard,” Ramses said.

Exador sighed. “I should not have said that, about things getting worse.”

“Yeah,” Ramses said. “Because I am seeing what I think are several other avatars emerging from the Citadel and they do not appear to be lacking for mana in any way whatsoever. They seem to have found a way around the beacons. All Holy Hell is about to break loose.”

“I hope the Storm Lords know what they are doing, because I really do not want to have to get my hands dirty here,” Exador said, his shoulders slumping.

Ramses chuckled. “Have I thanked you enough for the amulet?”

Above Battlefield, Talarius

As planned, Talarius and War Arrow dove towards the bulk of the heavy infantry, while each D’Orc, demon and D’Warg regiment peeled off to their assigned targets. Stainsberry and Mufasa were splitting off a bit, but would be staying nearby.

Are you ready? Talarius asked Ruiden as he drew the sword.

I think so. This will be only the second time I’ve ever done this, Ruiden said.

On the count of three, once you tell me you are ready, Talarius said.

A few seconds later Ruiden said, Ready.

Talarius raised the sword high and began spinning it in a circle above his head. One… two… THREE! he mentally shouted at his sword as he released it into the air towards the troops below.