-Dominion Capital Eslet, Court room-

The royal court room, laden with marble, gold and silver. Today it lay full as nobles, merchants and military lined the long blue carpet in the middle. Along the carpet large pillars of marble and silver held the room as conversations and arguments took place around them, the blue carpet lay untouched leading up to the three thrones raised on a marble podium.

Atop the podium only one throne lay used, a woman of human origins lay sitting in the middle throne. The throne itself was pure silver gilded with gold, mostly plain except for the back rest that held the emblem of a hydra with intertwined heads.

The woman looked to be around her twenties, her expression firm and strong as she looked upon her subjects conversing about the disaster heading their way. Her long crimson hair fell over her shoulder and down her front, her golden eyes lay still as she watched in wait.

Suddenly reality rippled midway through the carpet, everyone turned to stare at the ripple in existence as it tore open. Draxxer walked out of the rift and continued to walk as the rift closed behind him, he quickly strode over to the front of the podium and kneeled down. “Your majesty, Draxxer Blade here to report” he announced.

The woman stood up from her throne “Be at ease blade hero, make your report” she spoke with a soft and kind voice that slightly faltered at each word. Her hands fidgeted with her long white dress lined with silver and embedded with green gems.

Draxxer stood and bowed before standing straight “Your majesty I have collected the information you requested and made arrangements” he began his report “Supplies will be prepared for the first platoon of men, the supply lines have been doubled for further supplies to arrive before the next three” his right hand slid into a pocket as he pulled out a golden medallion with a single pitch black gem shaped like a crescent moon embedded into the medallion itself, a golden disc lined with runic inscriptions. Draxxer faltered to continue his report.

“Draxxer please…I know it must be hard on you…they are your true people after all, but remember to whom you swore allegiance all those years ago” the woman spoke with plea as her voice continued to falter, the complete opposite of her current façade.

Draxxer nodded “I have scanned the adventurers I saw promise within, I’m afraid we cannot let destiny go it’s path any longer” he glanced at the medallion “The dark hero has taken the initiative, already has a hero candidate been overthrown. We cannot allow this game to proceed on its own anymore, if it does the Goddess of envy will get her way!” he exclaimed harshly. “The adventurers are being gathered by the dark hero’s comrades, the prophecy said nothing about this. Please your majesty, give me the order! I know his face, his current strength is no match even for my advanced age!”

“If my name is not Caitlyn Esfelt, follow through with your plan old hero. Otherwise believe in your people, prophecies are nothing more than poems of the future and destiny a very thin line of string floating about a rippling lake.” Caitlyn waved her arm silencing him “The last time through Oberon’s choosing it was not the dark hero to destroy our plans but one of the other chosen, we must keep an eye on all of them but we cannot act rashly. This time it is ‘Her’ prophecy, ‘Her’ grand quest not Oberon’s. We cannot make any mistakes Draxxer, you know this better than I do. You were there” she looked down at him in pity.

Draxxer flinched “Yes I was your majesty…and I saw what happens to a God when their grand quest fails…if she is to succeed, I dare not wonder what she’ll become capable of” he spoke grimly “Has there been any word?” he then asked while glancing to the side.

Caitlyn also glanced away “Has there?” she also asked.

Suddenly the shadows shifted as a cloaked figure appeared beneath the podium, “The Gods still remain quiet, the one of night hasn’t contacted me since…” the cloaked woman spoke with no emotion “If we are to believe the shadows then this dark hero will either be Chaoz’s doom or salvation. As we all know Gods cannot directly act upon reality alone, they aren’t the avatar of creation. It all depends on these heroes now, what choices they make, what path they choose to follow. All we can do is point but in the end it is their choice and theirs alone”.

Caitlyn nodded “We have no choice but to guide them and hope they take heed of our guidance, Draxxer what of the overthrown hero?” her gaze fell upon him as his eyes drifted to the floor.

“I have made arrangements that his stay in the cell is passable, the boy needs to think things over and time alone is just what he requires for that. I just wish we-” Draxxer stopped himself from continuing that sentence.

The cloaked woman shook her head “We cannot interfere too much Blade, it would change their paths in ways we cannot comprehend. The grand quest cannot be avoided but also should not be tampered with, the late emperor knew this well but tampered with ours anyway. It’s the reason we’re still here, it’s the reason he betrayed us and it’s the reason the others died” her tone changed and became cold and annoyed.

Draxxer nodded before giving a bow “As you say Advisor, I will not tamper with the quest”.

Caitlyn glanced between the two as she spoke “What of the demons? Has there been any activity within the cursed land?”.

Draxxer shook his head “Nothing out of what ordinary that place is has been detected, with the adventurers here we have another layer of protection but we must first communicate with them. Since us old heroes cannot interact with them for too long I suggest we send someone along with the first platoon to set up communication with their leaders, if that is all your majesty I will take my leave” he bowed and turned right to walk away.

Draxxer stepped through a side corridor as the cloaked figure appeared behind him “You’re getting sloppy Darkness” he turned around to face her as she removed her hood, a young woman with medium cut black hair and pitch black eyes.

Darkness spoke with no expression or emotion “As much as you’ve aged your senses remain as keen as in old Blade, what can you tell me about the current hero candidates?”

Draxxer sighed “Weak, stubborn, afraid…mad?” he chuckled sadly.

“Names Blade, what has the medallion tagged them as?” She asked bluntly.

Draxxer shrugged as he stared down at the medallion still in his hand “Light, Nature, Blood, Rain and Dagger” he momentarily stared wordlessly as he remembered the last one “The dark hero, he was tagged unusually.”

Darkness rested her back to one of the pillars that lined the corridor “Is that why you’re so agitated about him?” she asked.

Draxxer nodded “Not just that but…He was tagged twice, Void and Frost” he clenched the medallion as frustration began to settle in.

Darkness’s eyes widened “Frost?...He’s…” her voice trailed off as Draxxer nodded.

He sighed while pocketing the medallion “The texts say nothing about having two tags, what did Lilliana do?...What did that bastard Scythe do?”.

Darkness shook her head “This cannot be a coincidence…both dark heroes being of frost…two heroic tags…and his other tag…Void, worries me just as much”.

Draxxer stared at her “Why? What can be more terrifying than two tags? You know what it takes to be a dark hero but to be tagged twice as one? What did that kid…go through…” he held onto his face as he groaned in frustration.

“The tags are deity given, Blade remember that. Each one represents the hero and their representative, this is no longer the God wars so all the power is going to the heroes. Not only did the Winter God choose this boy but…It did…” Darkness’s expression slightly morphed to worry as she spoke.

“What it? What chose him?” Draxxer noticed her change in expression (“What terrifies the hero of darkness so?”) he thought.

She stared back straight into his eyes “Something even the Gods cannot ignore…Blade, this child was chosen by an ancient of the void. For one to be able to tag a hero as if it were a deity…it is a powerful race, if only I could find out which…We could determine part of Lilliana’s plan…We could even determine how he was born…”

Draxxer sighed “With Frost, Spear and Arrow gone…with Scythe…It’s just us now…us and the little Empress…”.

She shook her head “No it’s not, Scythe had his falling out with her…we’re not even in the picture anymore Blade. It’s all up to them…Will they cut the strings? Will they let the strings lead them? Or will they find another path?...” her sentence trailed off as the shadows engulfed her body, Darkness disappeared just as she came.

Draxxer bit his lip as he continued to walk forward “Gods and their games…Scythe, what have you done…”

---

-IL’E, FrostHold, Westgate guard post-

Pressure pressed down on Kyle as he entered the room “What is?” but it suddenly disappeared completely as he watched Sly sit back down.

“It’s nothing” Sly exclaimed as he stared down at the table.

Birse frowned “Alright then, shall we begin?” he walked up to the table and took a seat facing everyone. He waited for Kyle and Jonathan to sit down before he began to speak “So we’re all on the same page I will explain our current objectives, firstly is the approaching demon army. I will send a party of my own to Kaledd to collect the rest of our own and bring them here, that party will break up and move to the capital to make contact with the Dominion while the other half escorts the Kaledd spawns”.

Karnage nodded in agreement “Who are you sending?” she asked curiously.

Birse gestured to Kyle and Sly “Kyllix, Sly and Skill, I require the rest to stay here and co-ordinate our recruits” he explained.

Karnage hummed thoughtfully “Alright I’ll got too then”.

Zaahr looked at her with wide eyes “Commander I believe we-” Karnage raised her hand cutting him off.

“I’m going, you’re enough to handle things here. We have people at Kaledd as well, I need to go” she looked him straight in the eye, her expression as if made of stone.

Zaahr sighed and laid back in defeat “Very well…I guess I won’t need to prepare a convoy team with them going along but…Excuse me if I am blunt, your party does not include a healer as far as I can tell?” he queried.

“We can provide a skilled healer” Nakano suddenly exclaimed “If we are to work together we must trust each other, I believe this to be a step towards that…Our leader was out of line, not all of us agreed with him but we let him drag us all into that…I also wish to…” she stood up “In the name of everyone in our guild, I apologise for what conflict our leader’s indecisiveness created between us. If we are to survive this we need to help each other”.

Birse made a waving gesture “Don’t worry about it, a guild’s as strong as their leader. Your structure is strong even though your leader fell, there are no hard feelings” he smiled in amusement.

Nakano hid her annoyance and nodded “I’m guessing the party should leave as soon as possible? I’ll ask for my healer to meet up with your party here at the Westgate, is there anything else we are going to discuss?”

“Actually yes I’d like to question the guard captain here about a couple things, you should probably stay to hear out the answers” Birse explained as he looked at Jonathan who nodded. Nakano sat back down to listen in.

“What do you wish to ask?” Jonathan asked cautiously as he frowned at the Serenity guild leader.

“A couple topics, what do you know about the heroes and Lilliana’s betrayal?” Birse leaned over to rest his arms on the table as he asked his question.

“Also about a certain item that was stolen from her? Do you know anything about that?” Kyle added as he locked his eyes on Jonathan’s face.

Jonathan nodded “The tale is long and many facts have been lost to history, us older folk remember more of it but memory isn’t the best recording for tales” he began explaining as he mumbled some things from memory “Let’s see…since you’re asking me about it I’m guessing you know the base story?”

Kyle nodded “The Demons attack the Fae and Dwarven kingdom out of nowhere, the Fae Goddess Titania dies in combat while her husband Oberon and their daughter Lilliana escape with the survivors to Barik. The Demons give chase and Lilliana betrays her father to help the Demons for some reason, Oberon is captured and one of the two Devil Kings that came with the legions take him back. The remaining legion and Devil King are surrounded and set up inside the fort now known as Devil’s eye” he quickly goes through the basics of what they know.

Jonathan shook his head “My uncle had first-hand experience in that war, some things in that tale aren’t entirely correct and a lot is missing. Firstly is that Lilliana is Titania’s daughter yes but Oberon wasn’t her father, Lilliana is a Half-Goddess born through infidelity which is why her power is so limited. Who her true father is I do not know, what I do know is that she hated Oberon. My uncle was good friends with one of the heroes, it’s the only reason I came with this information. Secondly and probably the grimmest detail…After combat with the Demon legions, three of the heroes died”.

“Which ones?” Kyle asked bluntly.

“Spear, Arrow and Frost” Jonathan answered “Those three along with another of their companion fought a Devil King together but were defeated, their companion’s body was never found so it is thought that they are also dead. Lilliana used that opportunity to betray Oberon, I have no clue why but her hatred for him is all I can come up with. As for that item you spoke of I honestly have no clue either. Anything else you wish to ask?” he glanced around.

“No that is all captain, I’d like us to stay in touch on movements within the cursed land and possible reinforcements from the capital if you do not mind?” Birse stood up and forwarded his hand.

Jonathan took the hand shake “But of course, I’ll send someone your way if I do”.

Everyone else stood up to leave “So when we leaving?” Karnage asked as she walked to the door.

“After they gather some equipment you’ll be on your way, Kyll, Sly get yourselves armed. I’ll tell Skill to wait for you here while he waits for Eternium’s healer” Birse waved them off as he walked out of the town gate.

Sly gestured back “Aight, we’ll gear up”.

Kyle lightly punched Sly’s shoulder “Yo, where’s the armour and weapons store?...Or is it all at the Generalmart?”.

“The Generalmart’s armoury is all basic equipment, if you want the good stuff check-out the Dwarven forge they do personalized gear” Karnage dropped in between them smiling.

Kyle frowned “How much per piece?” he opened his inventory to check his balance.

Karnage shrugged “At your level? Fifty silver per piece, another fifty for every additional twenty levels” she stepped back as Kurt prowled through to nuzzle into Sly’s hand.

“Alright then, can you take us there?” Sly asked as he climbed up onto Kurt’s back.

“Yeah sure, it’s not far from here. Come on this way” she turned gesturing for them to follow as she began to hum a tune.

Kyle and Sly followed her through the streets, a couple adventurers noticing the direwolf asked if the recruitment is still open and Sly ended up giving them directions to the Westgate. Kyle gave them a silent prayer for them to arrive somewhere at all.

“Here we go!” Karnage announced after stopping in front of a completely metallic store, four large chimneys up top pumping out steam.

The store is an open forge except for a single room with all four walls to the left, the front of the store is completely open as five dwarves worked their hammers and anvils in their own corner of the store. The store, about a dozen meters squared, held six anvils , four forges and multiple equipment racks.

Only the two first dwarves were busy with other clients so Sly and Kyle went to a dwarf each. “Hey I’m here for a full equipment set” Kyle declared as he walked up to one dwarf studying his tool rack, Karnage had walked up beside him staring curiously.

The dwarf, brown haired with similarly coloured brown eyes looked Kyle up and down “A full set of armour is doable but friend you aren’t capable of wielding a weapon” the dwarf answered.

Kyle was taken aback “Urm…why?” he asked automatically.

The young looking dwarf shrugged “Your class is unique so it’s not unusual for weapon warding but friend you’re warded against all weapons I can think of!” the dwarf explained “Warding is sort of a curse or blessing depending on how you look at it, us dwarves can see them as clear as molten iron” he further explained after seeing Kyle’s confused expression.

“So he cannot wield weapons? Is your class a mage type Kyllix?” Karnage asked from behind making Kyle jump.

“Oh it’s you” he responded making her frown and pout “It does seem like it since my main abilities utilize mana but I should at least be able to wield a dagger or staff you know?” he sighed “I guess I’m a free handed caster?...”.

“Aye sure seems like it, mind showing me your main abilities without too much destruction? I need exact elemental usage and use of said magic to choose the proper materials” the dwarf grabbed a red gem from the rack and placed it inside the forge, the fire inside the forge burst into new life as the heat increased.

“Can you settle for all around elemental usage? Also I need three sets, one for my current level, one for 40 and one for 60.” Kyle explained as he activated Ooze while raising his right arm, suddenly the slime froze completely and began to change shape as Kyle’s mana continued to drain until it formed a long double edged blade much more shaped than the previous spikes he had quickly formed earlier.

The dwarf inspected the blade and Kyle’s arm “Does it not hurt to form it around your arm?” he finally asked.

Kyle shook his head “There is still slime in between the blade and my hand and wrist that I hardened, it prevents shock damage to my hand and reduces the annoying cold” he explained, both Karnage and the dwarf stared in amazement.

The dwarf nodded “Any other direct contact magic or mobility skills you make use of?”.

“Oh and this too” Kyle stated as he let the blade melt away and dissipate, once his hand was visible again claws grew out of his nails while his fingers stretched out longer.

The dwarf whistled “Impressive, a shape shifter. Is that as far as you can go?” he asked while intently staring at the claws.

Kyle nodded “It can go further?” he asked.

“IT CAN GO FURTHER!?” Sly shouted from the other side of the store making everyone turn to look at him, he coughed while continuing his conversation with another dwarf.

Kyle turned to see Karnage barely stifling a laugh while the dwarf scratched his chin “It definitely can friend, although I doubt you’ll reach half-morph before 120” the dwarf nodded a couple times as he took mental notes “I’ll go get the materials, want me to crate the other two sets for easier storage? Warning about that, once uncrated you can’t recrate unless at a dwarven store”.

“Yeah that would be great, what do you suspect the fee will be in total?” Kyle opened his inventory and checked his gold amount again (“128 gold, 83 silver”).

“That’ll be…3 gold and 90 silver if you had the resources but since they’re from our warehouse it will total up to 11 gold and 47 silver” the dwarf answered as he walked away and towards the large metal vault like door that took into the room to the left of the store.

Karnage tried to whistle but failed “That’s a lot of gold, can you pay it? You’re only level 20…”she asked while leaning in frowning.

Kyle leaned away “Yes I can pay it…Thanks to some out of the ordinary events I attended and along with my merching skills and comp-” he stopped himself as his expression suddenly darkened. He closed his eyes momentarily and sighed “Never mind” he responded before going quiet.

Karnage looked away and began rubbing the back of her neck “Oh right…I’m sorry for your loss…”, the silence proceeded for a couple more moments before she couldn’t take it anymore “So…I hear your guild is from another game? Rune Shock?”.

“Yeah…what of it?” Kyle didn’t feel like continuing the conversation but responded anyway.

“What did you guys do back then? The game’s player base was huge but the main guilds were almost completely dominant leaving no room for new or small guilds, I hear almost everyone joined those seven or eight guilds that constantly warred for territories and stuff” she had walked up to the tool rack and was looking through it as she spoke.

“We were a Dark guild, we took part in wars but as mercenaries. Large guilds employed us to do nasty shit to the other guilds like sabotage during sieges, command assassination during territory battles, spying and a whole lot of other things” he quickly explained.

“So covert ops? How good were you with the combat?” she picked out a small hammer from the rack and began inspecting it.

“If you’re talking about PVP I had a good handle on the action controls although I had to move some things around my room to make space, if you want to talk about actual high tier arena ask Death, Sly or Birse. I didn’t take part in that as I preferred PVE and questing anyway.” Kyle shrugged as he stared hypnotised by Karnage’s tail going completely insane as it lashed around wildly.

“Oh…you’re a lore freak?” she asked sarcastically while smirking.

Suddenly a loud crash echoes through the store as Sly goes flying by the both of them and into the metal wall, he slides down to the ground “Fuck…me…dammit that hurt…” he groans in pain.