Banners from the gathered clans and city nations blew high in the morning northern filled wind as the fourth day since the group embarked to the astral plain started. The men grew restless with the impending attack from the fierce miniature mage whose reputation not written in vain, scout return from the vision quest to report a severe storm system headed their way at a great speed never charted before. Straud issues to the enclave for a full readiness command for the day, the day they were waiting for had come.

“But uncle Rain is not back yet” Cloud questioned, issuing the command to his own troops.

“He’ll be here,” said Straud, looking to Cynn who had a worried look to her face in fear about their safety. “I know Cynn, Rain is a power young growing Sorcerer but Malice is fiercely powerful, I fear for him…I fear for my son, but hold hope with him till the end” and smiling she agrees through not showing it to well for the fear on their own lives held heavy weight to her heart as well. Tristan gave the order as well and the women and children staying with them escorted to their caverns, Stark showed up with a group holding in the range of about thirty Druids who got given common soldier garments to hide the power usage from Colossus eyes during the battle. The leaders meet on the top of the guard wall facing the north of the field and already there was Tristan. Cloud smiles at the look Anubis had with his cat shaped battle armor and leg coverings. Tristan armored in a full suit stood alongside the rest as they waited for the impending army of darkness to approach.

In the caverns, Alisianna sat with Penelope and her child, holding the little one Elanee adopted she holds a strong look of calmness for the surrounding company. The wait comes not in vain, a short time spent as the last remaining troops line up for their posts come the rolling storm clouds, colored in a heavy dark blackness. The clouds streaked quickly across the sky and held sections of deep rosy red pockets in about the blackened doom.

Two mages appeared to the outer limits of the battleground, beginning to cast spells. Archers and watch captains ran to Cynn`s side alerting her of the sight they`re elven eyes saw, “We shall take them down Judicator”

“No” Cynn posted “This is the start we all knew was coming”

“But judicator, our assassins are out there waiting for the signal, they`ve been there for two days on such an event”

“And Sophie has hers out there as well, posted there for over a week scout Captain, don`t send our men to die for an issue that can`t be saved, this battle will happen and this pre-scene is the way to it…back to your stations, and luck of our names protect us” the men nod, bow and take to their positions. Two more mages appear as the casting goes on from the first, shields, protection spells erected to the mages, and the power begins to work. Two pillars of light grow up to the sky, distancing them about a half mile apart. Lightning arched between both pillars and the ripping hole widened to show Cynn again the front gate of her home city Shadowell, having the tele-portal linking the front gates to the battlefield.

“The trans portal of Vensive, I almost forgot what it looked like, mother only ever used it once” looking to Straud who looked back at her “To solidify her power and make her queen, crushing a no chance rival army to nothing inside their own stone castle walls”

“A useful tool, to minimize casualties and maximize damage” Straud said back half impressed already knowing of its power.

“A tool of destruction I will destroy once this fight is over and my sister is beaten” Straud leans to her ear “True leadership knows when such a devise is prudent to keep around, just fight wiliness to use it”

Cynn lens back whispering in tow “Your brother said that about his wife…and through his blinding wish to preserve her…it killed him in the end”

Straud stands again normal looking to the army starting to come through “Point taken Milady”

The trembling sight of thousands of footmen filled the ground as Sophie’s army marched beneath the cloud cover, worse yet was the silent sound their elven dexterity and footing gave them. Sections of Vampires were slotted into the ranks and by rough count Logan’s guard numbered in total around twenty-five thousand as Sophie`s came in at half a million. The cavern walls shook with an echoed deep rumble that sprinkled dust from the cavern roof onto their heads, inspiring nothing but sheer fear.

The leaders watched intensely as the clouds started to light up with lightning and small explosion erupting inside the black mass itself. Streaking down to the ground swiftly, comet tails patterned with black, blue and red colors. Impacting hard to the ground the beast that attacked the city before emerged once again from the hellfire risen home to the battle field, the streaks at first were few and far between but not long did the sky bring them falling to the ground like rain drops in a pouring storm. Numbers massing in the countless thousands spread to the surface of the plains littering as far as the eye could see. The men of all banners looked upon the mass of evil with bone chilling doubt of their survival rate for the number outweighs theirs by a landslide.

Then they arrived, Sophie shimmering, Logan smoke-phasing to the front, then to a building up red sparkling haze Colossus appeared as the mists moved to form his body shape that put a shade to Logan and Sophie`s. His sword tight to his grip and as none of Sophie or Logan`s men have seen Colossus before all by him were in awe to his sheer mass, size and power that any could feel was upper being potent. The ranks of Sophie and Logan were mixed while Colossus’s forces were to the front, tension grew high as the allies could barely keep the hatred of each other at bay. A single Drow shifts his eyes and hands slightly to equipment check and upon a gentle non-noticeable nudge to any human, the vampire to his aft acts with hostility. A blade pulled swiftly goes under the Drow’s chin, the vampire feels in the same quick action a blade as well to the back of his neck, the woman to that sees in her peripheral sight an arrow to her head side and at that vampire was there a sharpened wooden axe shaft ready the impale at the back of the neck down to the heart. This chain reaction spilled across nearly forty bodies all lining death strikes to one another, upon the movement of the group Sophie and Logan and made aware of the scene. The Matriarch giggles a bit “Looks as if our forces don’t like each other” Logan looks back at her with a straight face glare of intimidation,

“Good, we may stand as one unit now but when the battle starts…it’s every army for themselves” Sophie turns with a look back at him of almost full on respect for a first time.

“Agreed” announced in rebuttal. Sophie mind links to her units forcing them to subside retracting their blades, the vampires look to their master Logan who with a very unnoticeable hand motion commands the same…the vampires withdraw, slowly.

“How are you going to fight off the Enclave and the Grim?” asked Logan

“Trust me, I have enough cover spells to hide this part of the land from all existence, but to aid your worry the Grim attack through life sense, the sheer number of men here will block even my strong aurora for a long enough period to finish this battle” said Colossus

“How pathetic, the number is a joke, this will be won within the hour” smiled Sophie towards the two males

“Don’t underestimate them” barked Colossus

“What…are you scared?” she threw to Colossus’s face

“Preemptively cautions are the words I would as they most certainly have a plan” he responded with an intense look for a trap. Logan closes his eyes and slams his smoking gripped sword to the ground down, summoning his holy steed. Arriving in a bright brilliance a gleaming white resonating stallion wreathed in a holy blue flame. With a wingspan rivaling large rooftops it flapped down to a level from which Logan could mount, sheathing his weapon again he sits hovering overlooking the battle for a familiar foe.

“Now there’s something I never thought I’d see; a vampire riding a holy steed…wow, this world really has gone downhill,” Sophie laughed in the patheticness of her surrounding comrades. At the final fall of his last arriving army member Colossus too lowered his head and closed his eyes, the storm clustered to gather to form once again the evil view of Colossus’s face in the darkened nightmare sky,

“I offer this one chance for a peaceful resolve, hand over the stones and you will be spared from my wrath. Resist and a most certain strenuous death will follow to your clan” dispersing the cloud cover once again to the open sky, he waited for their answer, and in minutes of silence and not acted upon response Colossus received it.

Through a fear unknown to most and duty that is slowly being stripped away from the clearheaded importance, the men sway the vision to the leaders they follow, Cynn Straud, Tristan, Cloud and Stark all look to the conjured terror with no fear or shudder of a second thought. Seeing such bravery shields the men from first doubts until the last member of Colossus group enters the field.

A mighty wind breaks the regular breeze and bringing uncomfortable warmth from the continuous flapping of mighty red wings she lands to the front side of the army standing against the clans.

Unleashing a mighty hatred flame from the depths of her throat it blankets the sky, the men standing with the enclave clan shudder at the mere sight of the massive muscle being displayed outright as Sephinroth thunders to the ground shaking the realm.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show up,” said Colossus regaining his control of his body, opening his eyes again.

“I am a dragon of my word; I said I’d be here and here I am” Sephinroth passed the deep heated words from her mouth altering the air with her thunderous echoed voice.

Gazing to the sheer magnitude of the red dragon the men lose faith as a cold chill they now feel erupts around them. An artic wind hits the air around the enclave pushing away the boiling air and replacing it with a winter mint freshness. Hearing a second flap followed by a shrilling shriek coming from the south behind the clan has faced formation they all turn to gaze upon a most relieving sight. Slamming hard upon the rocky surface on a heightened peak standing proudly on the side of the clan members was Lalandra. Resonating with her shiny silver brilliance from her scales repelling the heated air; Lalandra arched her neck upright to let out a standing roar, it pulsed throughout the encampment from her deep bellied breath sending a bone striking wave of inspiration and strengthening resolve to the men defending her home. From the men to follow came a cheer gaped from every fighting mouth on the fielded keep, shouting, screaming and the yelling of battle cries from the enclave filled the field’s air, the side baring the enemy was silent, focused and ready to die.

“Shall I give the attack order master” questioned one to Logan`s upper leadership, Colossus snapped to the comment “And what fool orders an attack, read that in some ridiculous tome did you, orders and given and followed by action…now I want what`s mine!” barked Colossus tossing his great blade to the sky.

The blade glows white hot and upon impact, it unleashes a wave of hellfire flame stretching in front of the Drow, Vampire and hell beast army. The wave launches forward in the form of raging fire elementals sprinting to the enclave defenses. In response to the initiation, the army charges with no charging battle cry to war.

“Paint the field with their blood,” added Sophie raising her own form into the open air. Like a water breaking tide, they charged heavy toward the standing men at the single order of the blade,

“Hold!” yelled Tristan and Straud commanding the groups loudly, he repeated the command over and over waiting till the charging army was in reach, and seconds before impact the order changed,

“NOW! FIRSTSTRIKE!” Straud shouted and the men laid out their weapon for a short range impact.

Smashing upon the army like water on rocks they smashed, pummeled and collided into one another, the elementals burned and incinerated the standing shield bearers, which triggered the second wave of defense slamming blades together, into flesh demon and humanoid alike.

“Archers!” cried Cloud from above commanding the bows to be loaded with a string tightened volley, druids amongst them used streaks of flame to ignite the metal in the tips and letting them loose they imbedded to the enemies reinforcements behind.

Mages from both sides’ unleashed swarms of spellbinding attacks upon the flooded field of armor, blasting holes that quickly are filled with moving men some mages attack while others disperse defensive attack laid directly upon their spell casting positions

“Time to die sister!” said Sophie lowering again to the ground walking into the army barrage,

“Wouldn’t it be faster to go right to her?” shouted Logan

“Yes, but far less satisfying” she smiles as passing through the men she lays to her feet a continuous empty open path from her stone residing in her chest causes men of all types to suddenly disintegrate in a full-fledged implosion, some just losing parts of themselves getting away from her presence. Seeing the terror of her presence causes her nothing but sheer unadulterated pleasure, and closing her eyes and embracing the screams of death rousingly, she continued through the mass walking with a swaggering strut.

Logan closed his visor and with a rearing starting gallop from his fire-embedded steed he rode hasty into the battle smashing his way through, hoping for the final confrontation he had waited his whole life; extended existence to have come to him.

“Bring me the stones” Colossus blasted from his vocals as he too joined in the chaos unraveling into the realm; simply walking up to his blade he pulled it from the ground and to notes of battle tactics.

The Drow rebels fought unusual Colossus noted seeing they broke into group of four men and women; never did they attack the rival in front of them but always the one to a partner’s front. Clever it was as none to such a battle would expect to always be fighting two on one, they swapped weapons mid-battle as well. Tossing weapons to one another as they needed them to only more confuse the enemy, Straud had multi-trained the army to use all type of weapons. Blades, pikes, daggers, hammers, maces, battle-axes and even heavy short range cross bows would be used switched through and reloaded during the constant conflict.

The combat capability made the groups fast and efficient, as no enemy as they approached could ever fully be ready for the attack. Sophie`s forces were trained in both weapon combat and spell combat. Watching in impressive speculation as areas concentrated by rebels bombarded, as fire and lightning spells from many areas of the field erupted from the Shadowell hands.

Colossus gaze to the scene was almost mesmerizing until an arrow shot from the tower keeps rained down upon him; a dozen arrows impaled his skin at his face, neck and torso. Colossus looked up the sharpshooters’ setting with fresh blood oozing from his wounds that produced no pain. The arrows came pulling out of him and from his free hand they spun in the air aiming back to the sources, his fist closed tight lacing the arrows with dark energy and as his fingers extended did they fly back. Each archer struck exploded having parts of insides and skin coating the tower stone. Colossus shook his head and simply carried on to the enclave with wounds almost healed instantly.

Gripping a firm grasp to the ground Sephinroth takes to the skies, throwing flame-striking attack upon flame strike to the clan infested areas of the battle. Lalandra flaps to the skies and seeing her rise Sephinroth bears down towards her position. They fly fiercely at one another squinting their eyes at one another and embracing in a body collision, the two flap to keep a flight and having claws unbuckled and tail spikes extended they attack in midair, combating over the battle.

Her blade pulls jarred from the Vampire she impaled, having blood pour out from the sliced open jaw she makes one last reef to free it, having the vampire fall dead at her feet. Her sights change to the coming of the dreaded one and by a signal call of a word does her battle group rally behind her, following her to the encounter. As the dreaded one approaches the female captain gives orders for her group to stand their guard. Sophie stands stopped as the female battle party block her path, “I know of your powers, of your closeness from men…it won`t work on us Matriarch”

Sophie just stood there, a little confused, “really” she stated to them, simply cocked her head to the side, the Matriarch’s powers worked in a devastating manner non ever could see. Her mind links with a victim the stronger willed the target the more power she needs, Sophie can muster anything to a targets mind making them see, feel, experience anything Sophie brings to her will. In this case Sophie didn’t feel the need for a lavish thought…she quiet simply shut down the female’s brain overloading it with a mental blast that cooked it outright. The female captain dropped to her knees saying nothing. Blood leaked out from her ears, nose, mouth and eyes, the rest watch as the leading comrade falls silently dead to the ground. The matriarch stands still…waiting for their move, “You`d get me in a rush but know that one more shall meet the same fate before that end” Sophie warns to them. They move against her and with room between them Sophie readies herself; picks at her teeth, blade distance comes and half way through the backs of their swings, all female fighters drop …toppling bodies meriting the same fate as their leader. Sophie looks down at them “oh I forgot to say, you`d get me in a rush, if I wanted to actually fight a bit”. Laughing as her knee length boots squish and sludge through the fresh leaking blood puddles, moving on to her goal.

Cleaving bodies in half and blowing other apart just for sheer entertainment Colossus reaches the main gate of the enclave. His magic raises the portcullis, and from the great weight, the use of one arm fully needed for it. Human men bannering to their shields the symbol of Stormguard block his path, half draw blades while Colossus lays sight to the other drawing back bows, equipped with holy fire arrows he does the only thing he can…drops his sword.

The human eyes follow the blade to the ground, seeing it do they miss his action. Flicking his free wrist, hellfire lash flames erect from beneath each one. The flames whip to the souls of each one dragging the spirits out of their bodies and into the fiery ground, to follow was the limp soulless bodies that burn out of life. Stepping one foot further Colossus drops the gate again to a crashing close and picks up his blade.

Cloud, Straud and Cynn banned together keeping the enemy at bay from bolting into the caverns for the magic on the entrance now weakened with Lalandra’s attention on her mortal enemy. Fighting for a time the three see fighting in the rear behind a group of attackers and going to join with them they have their hopes reunified.

“Rain” yells Cloud bringing to the ground the last demon monster to the area,

“Cloud” Rain responds with a gesture of his head getting off horse back from what brought the four to their spot and Straud runs to give him a brief hug,

“The stones, Rain were you able to get them” Cynn said franticly and revealing to all the group the belt attached to his hip containing two of the four stone shards they grin with joy.

“And Malice” added Straud

“Dead” said Artanis showing them his two shards as well, “And I must say I am hurt that you started the battle without us,” changing his smile to being serious, Straud gave some new quick orders,

“Cloud escort Elanee and Dawn to the caverns, Dawn start your battle meditation for the armies sake, Cloud defend her and the rest while that is going on. Cynn and I will aid the front lines where I hope Tristan and Stark are still with”

“Rain where are you going” Cloud asked and seeing the look in his eyes Artanis knew what was coming as did Straud and Cynn. Rain turns to face the battle and breathing deep, takes off his amulet.

“Brother; do you trust me?” Rain asks him

“You know I do”

“Rain!?” Elanee adds

“Then if this works and I don’t make it know I’m always with you” Rain said coming to him, placing it in his hand palm. Cloud looks down as Rain turned to leave, seeing what was given to him, the amulet he was never to take off. Panicking he walked to catch him, stopped by Straud who held him back.

“Son, no! he needs to do this he’s the only one who can” Straud says to him

“Rain” Elanee runs to him but is held by Cynn “Rain I love you please; don’t do this”

“I have to Elanee, please trust me on this, I love you…always remember that Elanee” he says to her and a single tear rolls down her face

“RAINNN!!” Cloud yells trying to break free but his heart is overwhelmed and fails on the strength needed to break free of his uncle’s hold,

Dawn goes to his brother’s side when Artanis’s hand holds her back; she turns to him knowing that from his face this all was planned. “Rain” she yells to him and turning to his sister Rain smiles.

“Be careful ok, I don’t want to lose a brother”

”You’re the best little sister anyone would ever want Dawn, I love you” and lowering his own head Artanis lets go of her hand and walks to his horse, about to mount he stops.

“I’m sorry my dear but you need to know”

“What?” Dawn says interrupted by a kiss from his lips

“That I love you, but I can’t let hero’s die alone, I’ll be with him” Artanis says running to his horse that he brought back from the entrance they came from in returning to this plain, he mounts it and rears it to the air blowing her a kiss “If this is good bye, I go with honor my love”

“Artanis!!!” she yells to him stopping his tracks from moving “I love you too”

“I know” he replies with a smile and gallops off to catch Rain’s untimely lead.

“Cloud please he knows what he’s doing” Cynn comforted

“He’ll die out there with no help!” Cloud yelled at her

“He’ll die here if those crystals are activated with him inside, it’s due to his blood, the protection sphere would kill him,” Straud said to him, and thinking of the dire outcome Cloud lowers his head.

“Cloud please honor him and his sacrifice if that happens, and protect his love and your own, while Dawn helps the battle, shaking his head but getting to his feet Cloud nods and runs off with the girls to the depths of the cave. Cynn moves to aid the castle defense and Straud heads out following her to the field.

Sparks flash to his face with darkness again covering it; sparks and darkness repeatedly he falls back with his strength slowly weakening from the blows of the foe. A simple stone catches his heel and falling back the ranger holds steady the vampire steel to a lasting hold back to a fatal strike, inching closer to his heart a strike of flame lights up to the rangers face. The druidic blade meets him as Starks sword runs through the vampire fully; the druid fans through the dust the puffs upon its death, reaching through to pull the ranger again to his feet.

“Pointless to die so early in the fight Tristan, you won`t be remembered at all that way” the ranger moves fast, pushing the face of the massive druid aside, placing his slayer blade over the druids shoulder and into the mouth of a demon beast that lunged for a gorging bite. Dying in mid jump the demon corpse lands piling all three on one another, “Who can know with all your babbling, it’s a wonder you`ve lasted this long” Tristan sparks back; both heave the dead off them and gather to their feet.

Side by side they had been since the battle commenced and yet another wave comes at them do they hold skill, fending them off. Looping and jumping while switching opponents the tag team the group horde raining down body after body to the bloody dirt floor.

“Well that was easy,” boasted Tristan, taking to a knee catching his breath. It was dark already, and then suddenly a cool shade added even more. Stark turned around to snap shot a great hammer coming down, pushing over the ranger into an evading roll Stark jumps to clear the smashing hit.

Dust blows up in the air; Stark waves his hands clearing his view to a sight of a massive demon. Long black shiny horns curled to the sides of his face, his body was a course black obsidian color layered with scales he knew no normal weapon could pierce. The demon`s eyes were ruby blood red glowing bright, his spin continued into a long tail and both held great spikes all down the middle lined perfect. Stark glanced to Tristan, the ranger curled and looked as if injured from an unknown fight. The great druid`s worry wasn`t about the features the demon had, nor the hammer. It was the sheer build of the beast general as the hammer recoiled at least twenty feet to the air, resting back to the demons shoulder`s. Starks weapon glows blue and the demon moves to challenge him, calling up a shield of unknown potential. Using a druid spell magically induce his weapon Stark throws his blade, hitting the barrier it dissolves to nothing.

“I`m Mindbender, general to Colossus`s forces” he laughs to Stark, Stark draws two spells to his hands both different but just a powerful. Mindbender slams down his hammer to the ground; Tristan slips getting to his feet and the Demon grasp his leg hoisting him to the air. Dangling like a worm on a hook, Stark still baring his spell power waits for a clean shot.

“Just take the damn shot Stark, kill him,” snapped Tristan swaying like a pendulum. Tristan looks to the attacks Stark had casting resistance to attempt living through the hits. “Do it!”

Stark over hand through both spells, one hit then the other and with each strike the shield lit up, Tristan yelled out in pain as the spells surged all over the demon channeling into Tristan. Mindbender strikes back, swinging his hammer near-missing Starks face many times; summoning his flame blade to his hands again and again Stark lashes strike after strike with Mindbender`s defense taking it all in.

Mindbender laughs, “My shield halts all impacting hits adjusting to their counter”

Tristan draws his blade, “Stark hit with something, anything”

Stark tosses a bolt of lightning, channeled from the sky and waiting until it hit the shield Tristan swings his blade. The bolt hit, then the blade. The shield took both hits without error, blowing the ranger`s blade from his grip it stuck in the ground.

“It must have been two separate hit” the druid thought, “wait Tristan`s blade, that should work” lit up the druid with an idea to his head, conjuring his flame blade again he knew wouldn`t do anything, and was counting on it. Taking another hit Stark in put to the air, part of the plan he didn`t appreciate but needed the distance. Stark scrambled to his feet drawing his blade again, rolling once close he tosses it. Flipping a dodge to the hammer, he does it again with the hammer blocking the strike, and then Stark gets ready. Stark puts a ball of light to his hand and tossing it, Stark ignites it just before impact making a blinding flare in the demon`s face. Stark bolts gripping Tristan`s sword to his palm and quickly he wraps the steel with flame, masking the look to match his own. The demon shakes his head from the blinding and glares to the druid standing ready again,

“The definition of insanity is preforming the same act over again expecting a different result…and your that druid, go ahead take a free shot you pathetic being”

“Thanks” Stark replied throwing the blade, the demon puts up no hammer counter, the blade hits and the shield blocks the fire, allowing passage for the ranger blade that hits the demons throat.

Massive pain rings to the demon, loosening the grip on the ranger, Tristan climbs up the arm. Wild swishes from the hammer hand erupt and the druid takes evasion, Tristan reaches the shoulder and leaps to his stuck in sword. Gripping some scales Tristan forces the blade in more; the demon loses its balance leaning back.

Tristan takes to a pogo stick jump pounding his blade all the way in to the demon`s neck going right up to his hilt…the demon choking to a slow death on its bubbling out blood fall to the ground. Tristan heaves out his sword and walking still on the body impales it through the chest multiple times, blood flings to the air covering the ranger with Tristan continuing until the demon moves no more. Tristan slides down the belly side of the beast and falls to a lean against it, grunting still to the crushing grip it had to him. Stark moves to his location fast “Are you alright”

“I`ll live, nice plan you had there” thanked Tristan, a jerk to the body sprang Tristan to his feet, reacting with quick slashes to the demon`s side.

“Tristan it`s dead, no shield…stop!” restrained Stark on the ranger, “Bodies twitch when the die don`t you know that”

“Well yeah but it`s a demon, and I thought healing…or something…man I think I just pissed myself” ended Tristan with a smirk from the druid, Stark turns to the battle scene and pulls the blade from the demon handing it to the ranger.

“Breaks over my friend, time for more war” announced Stark at the sight of demon`s fast approaching to avenge the fallen general.

The elven rebel looks upon her three members to her battle party, slain upon the ground. Then to the three vampire’s quick footed on her approach, her eyes moved to each one, while filling with both sweat and fear. Footprint hit the dirt behind the three and turning quick did two of them…then with a shoulder nudge the third looks back to see him, the vial betrayer of their master Logan Silas. The woman shines a smirk to the sight of the rouge demon,

“Here” cried Artanis tossing in the air a blade to the girl, the vampires’ sight on the blade and as one fanged brethren swipes it out of the air they look again to see Artanis not there. A Vampire leans to his comrade and pushing him off back upright the vampire falls the other way freely to the bloodied grassland. With a throat cut almost all the way through the falling impact shreds it from his shoulders, franticly they spin their eyes to the women…that Artanis is now standing by. “Go” Artanis motions her and with a gentle kiss to his cheek she takes off to join another battle group, armed with twin daggers offered by the Tiefling.

“Nice trick”

“Wait till my next one” Artanis smirks charging at both; applying some acrobatics given to him by Logan himself Artanis engages both. Dodging the dreaded blades of the enemy Artanis evades and exits the combat spin flipping to safety away. Artanis is with heavy breath pointing at the feet of each of the men “that must hurt” the rouge says having the vampires roll their sight to daggers in each of their feet.

Laughing fills the immediate air from the two “You’ve been away far too long tool boy…that doesn’t hurt nor will it kill us”

“Umm boys… (Artanis rears back his battle robes to them revealing his dagger bandolier and only two of them missing) those went to the girl…guess where yours came from” Artanis finishes with a smirking nod. The vampires with haste check their stuff to find the dagger hostlers empty, “now correct me if I’m wrong but does your battle equipment from our great master come with enchanted daggers of disintegration?”

Artanis in a shot jump tumbles rolling between the two reefing the blade from the feet of the old comrades; and getting again to his feet spins quickly to just see them break into sudden dust. Artanis refills his bandolier with the new blades. “That’s what I thought” he states getting back on his horse.

Riding hard and fast with Artanis in tow to the front lines of the battle did Lalandra catch them moving, and fighting free of entanglement with Sephinroth, Lalandra broke loose and headed toward them, she flew low and above their position and breathing a stream of wintry blizzard she parted the crowd holding them at bay. The monsters not able to handle the harsh blinding ice moved out of the way and as they moved along behind it both Rain and Artanis move through the open areas and through the armies.

Getting Dawn secured down in the cavern she immediately went to her kneeling position for instant meditation for the armies’ added confidence,

“I can’t believe he did that” barked Cloud hugging Alisianna as she saw him alive and well,

“Who did what?” asked Alisianna

“Rain rode out to place the stones for the artifact with Artanis alone and with no guard,” he added still holding her

“Cloud he did what was needed” said Elanee trailing slowly behind him with a worried look “Would you have done any different if the situation needed you” and in a stone silence Cloud said nothing, gave Elanee a look of knowing that she was right. Alisianna gave Elanee a hug saying to her that Rain is strong and that he will not be killed easily, that he will make it back and with Artanis at his side. Elanee hugs her back, trying to show no fear for his well-being but a looming threat growing in her mind that haunts her absurdness of it.

Straud marks a symbol in the battlefields matching that of Logan of his old flaming steed. Straud places his sword to the stone ground to summon forth his own steed, and erupting through the yellow fire a midnight black horse came forth. He was beautiful with hooves perfectly balanced with the mane hair braided down one side showing signs of elder age. He was in a roaring yellow flame that cooled to a blue tone when Straud rested to him.

“I need you old friend, once again I call upon your wisdom and strength to aid me in this quest” and looking to his master the horse unfolded his mass muscled wings and carried them off to the raging carnage below.

To Lalandra`s home the rebel Drow build laneways and towers, carved into the vary rock of her mountain dwelling. To purpose as an early warning system and archer snipe spots. Carved nearly twenty feet wide and five feet up, battle now littered them deep with Drow against Drow, Human`s, Vampires and Demonic breeds of many. She rounds the steps calmly, never needing to lift a finger now issue a threat, her swagger is one well known and all who see and know her bolt from her sight. The aid from Stormguard and Silverspire rally up against her and always will it be their last, piles of bone and disintegrating dust follows to her wake from the men that attempt to challenge her.

Sophie waves her hands allowing her black cocktail dress elegantly flowing to the stone way; she takes a pause in stride at her latest ignorant foes that lay in bone at her feet. She looks as if to study their pattern, a sudden echoing scream draws her eyes up to yet another body hurling to her form, the dust again flies to her presence and again the bones tumble down but as the cloud clears Sophie sees a male figure standing at a distance. The cape a cowl of Soul guard’s insignia to its silk, Sophie quickly looks again to the new bones noticing the brand of her army symbol to the arms…one of her own, tossed to her against his will.

Rising her hand Sophie extended it forward, the rebel Drow dropping immediately to his knees, but baring massive resistance, he gives in clawing at his armored torso`s back screaming in agony. Under his armor, his skin starts ripping slowly tearing using his spine as a fault-line. Sophie took her time, making sure the skin would come off in one full piece and ending the pain at the rebel’s fingers the skin floats to her hands. Blood leaked from the steel from every crack and hanging at the open ends was living tissue and bone.

“My men don`t die by my doing…but you most certainly will” wiping the one bead of sweat she made upon her brow with the rebels own skin. She was shocked and impressed as the rebel`s helm moved upward to see her again, his lidless eyes stared to her with him greatly grunting the pain. Jance was the name of the Drow, a lieutenant to Straud`s forces and known mostly for having a very high tolerance for pain.

“I must say I’m very impressed, not many even to my own army can take this kind of discipline for pain, which I can only think must be terribly great” spotted Sophie, taking to a slow advance she stops short again when a blue tinged envelops the rebel under his armor, molding to him line a skin. The rebel breaths relief and in a flash is gone from Sophie`s sights, the dark queen tosses to her lips a smirk.

“Finally you show you face…sister” Sophie states turning around knowing she was there, also seeing a group of female guards to Cynn`s front. “Oh, you brought friends, how quant” she chuckles giving her wrist a gentle flick.

Around the eyes of each of the female guard do they emanate a yellow, making the defensive spell casting of Cynn`s power to protect their minds from Sophie`s power. The smile leaves the matriarch very fast, “Well arn`t you a potent one, I assume it was you that saved the other, indeed you have power not very many poses”

“It`s enough to be rid of you” Cynn barks back with Sophie growing laughter

“My dear sister, you think my mind power is all I have”

“You rely on it too much Sophie, these are trained fighters by my Captain and sword on sword I know can be beaten” Sophie walks back a bit, her gentle hands grasp to a hilt latched to her waist belt. Prothinteist sister, the blade of our dear mother, I shall use it to carve the truth to my great skill into each of these servants of yours” Sophie spoke with a sinister smile,

“I have never been afraid to fight you one on one Sophie, but you have never till tonight been at an area without guards around to show enough respect for a fair fight”

“Well a queen needs to take measures to ensure her life is safe, and you could have fooled me with being afraid, I can sense the fear coursing through your vines like sap it’s so thick”

“Actually sister that’s courage but I can see how you would get the two mixed up for you never ever carried that one” and smirking at the remark that left no scare she moved her sight to Cynn’s hands which bared her mother’s blade tightly in its grasp

“Ah! Vailrath, so that’s where that blade went to. I was looking for it, figured on my failed attempts that you might have had it”

“I got it as instructed from her personal servant as a passing gift when she died…by your hand!”

“You know that was one thing I never could yet still understand, why you and our other sister, why have another child at all after me because let’s face it I was born perfect!”

“I used to think it was because she had so much love to give out that she needed more children. But as the truth unfolded it was not that at all, all it was…was disappointment” Cynn smirked back at her and hearing the comment brought a scowling face to Sophie’s eyes and a dark focused look,

“You’ll pay for that as you will pay for all the torment and expense you have ever cost me since your betrayal”

“You are the betrayer Sophie, when you murdered my mother and younger sister in cold blood, you vicious, coward little bitch”

“I admire your resolve and valor but this is pointless to attempt Cynn, you and me both know you can’t beat me fair fighting ground or not”

“You’re not invincible Sophie, you may think you are but under that vial corrupted skin lies only one thing…blood! You bleed like everyone else and that means you can die”

“I assure you Cynn before this night is over and before my troops destroy what little hope your pitiful clan has left, your blood and freewill shall cover these stone walls” having Sophie dive into the guards for combat.

Dawn covers her eyes at the bright arrival of Jance upon the spell of Cynn`s teleport, the glowing protection leaves again and again Jance cries out in massive pain, Cloud, Elanee and Dawn rush to strip him of the armor.

“Stop!” commands Alisianna half seeing the scene under the metal; “he has no skin, my god what kind of being would…Sophie” she ends with hatred.

“If we finish he`ll, heal him as is we have to now” Dawn states, Elanee and Cloud carry him to a corner, Dawn applies a silence spell to calm the crowd of the horrible scene unfolding. Cloud holds him down; Elanee uses her power to render him unconscious, keeping nearby monitoring by touch Jance`s life coating her hand to his bloody skull. Alisianna goes to the women and children, calming them again as Dawn starts her healing magic quickly.

Swooping down slaying demons in his landing area Straud looks to the field as his horse impales it is hooves into the ground for a slowing descent. Fiery dirt flies to the air caking some demons and men around, blurring their vision in combat with one another. Straud strikes at the demons while bringing time to his men to clear their eyes and fires on their capes. Deep to the field trotted Logan slaying men of Straud’s like chickens while on the back of his holy steed, the holy sword smoking in his grip. He looks up from an up stricken blow to see his greatest challenge awaiting him down field. Logan gives a motion to his horse and with it; the horse lowers its head, firing back dirt to its rear from the front hooves in prep for a charge. Logan re-adjusts for the sprint tightening his grip, his greaves while moving his shield from his back to his right forearm. Straud sees this and signals his horse the same motion to prep as well; he grips his shield tight and steadies his sword hand. Blood dripping from the helm slits of both masks cleared for a perfect focus both will need.

“Yah” echoes from both as they command their steeds to take to grounding takeoff speed, their hearts race as they pummel towards each other, sweat streaks from the under mask of each knight’s foreheads as they grew closer and closer to each other. They pass by ricocheting harmonic sounds of metal as the two knights hit. It tuned a high pulse wave note like a sting from a guitar humming after release.

Logan and Straud both rear their horses toward each other’s face to see a stalemate in the charge that had occurred. Raising his visor Logan stared a deep hatred at Straud who did not even touch his helmet.

“I see you have been practicing, no one has ever been able to match me in horse combat, not even when I was alive” Logan smirked looking at his blade for fresh blood

“Logan I wish that you…that none of this had ever come to pass, every night since out last encounter I have prayed for your soul to finally bring you peace and forever rest”

“Why, scared to face me again? Save your prayers for the weak and those who are in need of it. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been and I really owe it all to you”

“I know you didn’t want this, that message you send is only out of battle anger; I would trade places with you in a heartbeat if I could”

“Says the knight with the black horse, your words have been a comforting poison long enough Straud and tonight I will lay both them and you to rest”

“Logan please it’s not too late; please stop this come back to our side, where you belong. Your wife would have wished that”

“How dare you speak about my wife you useless swine” Logan says shifting his head, slamming his helmet visor hard to his chin “yah” he shouts as he blitzes toward Straud once again with his horse blazing blue flame from its snout. Closing his eyes Straud once again says a prayer; “Have your soul go in peace my brother” finishes Straud as he drives his horse towards Logan. The realm soil travels to the air again in the wake of their sprint, closing in fast Logan changes his act; he aims his sword discharging a bolt of energy from it straight to the ground in the path of Straud’s flaming steed. In blast into a cloud of thick dust, covering Straud`s sight, the holy rebel knight tones his ears. Logan throws his weapon to the fog, lobbing it to a cutting motion, straight shot to Straud`s throat area. Straud recalls the move on many high-end foes, he ducks hearing the swooshing blade rezoning just over his crinkled body. The eyes of Logan go focused, seeing the shimmering to the fog`s movement…Straud was still as one. With vampire swiftness, Logan draws his second primary blade.

They connect, slowing down as they meet, entering sword combat, fighting while on horseback and rebalance as their horses fight as well. Rearing up on two legs each horse drives its flaming hooves to each other throats. The knights show once again pure skill at their own level, as they almost never break sword form even with the changing ground structure.

Helping Rain and Artanis ride through the clusters of enemy lines beating down hard against the clans on her own side, Lalandra sees them clear the mass of the first wave and enter the more spread numbers of the second and third ones. Slaloming through the numbers like slow moving trees Rain and Artanis clear the waves and head for their locations splitting up upon exiting the last bunch, and wishing to gain speed on his trail does the glowing hands of the young sorcerer apply a haste spell upon his horse for extra speed. The silver dragon backtracks. Her step as she once again blankets the enemy unit with her secondary breath weapon of paralyzing gas clouds; seeing as the numbers hit is decimated by the fatal blowing hits of her own men.

Being larger and less speedy that Lalandra, Sephinroth does not give chase when Lalandra bolted to aid Rain. She in turn moved onto the enclave mage defenses and caked the walls with waves of flame toasting what mages she could hit. Lalandra watching her home on occasion sees the havoc and returns to engage Sephinroth as the red dragon knew she would do. Sephinroth retracted her attack to speed a charge at Lalandra, for this second round of the battle will go much different. Sephinroth knows that even in battle, she and Lalandra hold equal challenge but the tricks she will spring hopefully give her the bigger edge. Colliding in midair they go at it again raking and clawing each other apart, slashing her one wing Sephinroth throws her weight on top of Lalandra and drives her into the ground hard. Lalandra’s back scrapes the ground tossing silver scales into the air, blood runs fresh from her back to the ground and adrenaline flows through her arms and body as she removes Sephinroth from her pinned body with her legs. Tossing her into the air Sephinroth slams thunderously to the ground and leaping up upon her once more they hack and slash with teeth and razor claws.

As Dawn focuses her concentration with Cloud watching her back so does her power giving to the army, having much more power than before Dawn increases the level of combat to the men to a noticeable level from Colossus’s point of view. Wondering if the stones are responsible for the change in power, he quickly moves to an unseen location of the enclave to search for the source, having Lalandra weakened enough from battling Sephinroth he is now able to penetrate her shielding wards to the inner areas. Colossus goes to a tower position quickly taking out the guarding mages to get a bird’s eye view of hidden spots when he spots a rider moving to a location fast on horseback,

“The stones, he has the dragon ruin stones” Colossus shouted for Sephinroth’s attention

Colossus bolts his vision to Sephinroth, under the sheer mercy of Lalandra’s grip. Colossus sees Lalandra about to finish the life from Sephinroth’s body with an unbreakable chokehold around her massive neck. He generates a dark bolt of energy and aiming carefully launches it at Lalandra’s back, the bolt of energy hits her in the back dead center and losing the hold fast Lalandra falls to Sephinroth’s side convulsing from the pain of the blast.

Sephinroth looks to where the shot came from and sees Colossus standing there,

“Get the rider Sephinroth. The rider” he blasted from his distance

“Not until I have my revenge!” she spitted back

“Now or the reunion of you and your child will be only a memory” he stated as he held an illusion of the scroll burning up in his hand for her to see,

“Well if I can’t take your life I’ll know a comfort that hell did” she said and ending the words she appears to her right claw hand a stone of a bluish color, Lalandra looks to the stones and gasps a whispering word as it was placed to her chest scales,

“A recalling stone!” and with a flash of light Lalandra was taken from the battlefield,

“Enjoy the abyss my dear silver back” she smiled as she grinded rocks and dirt into her talons from getting ready to take off and go after the rider.

Clinking his metal weighted boots to the cold stone floor he grew closer to the enclave refuge cavern, he was masked by shadows keeping his image in the dark until he emerged from the hallway to the great chamber where women and children in hiding resided,

“Mommy, what that” asked a innocent voice pointing to the shadowed figure and looking up at it Alisianna went pale,

“Oh my god Cloud it’s him; it’s Colossus” she says moving to Cloud’s side

“Hello, Cloud” he smiles “Give me what I want and I promise you an instant death

“Go to hell Colossus you’re not getting the stones; I know you can’t hurt me” Cloud calls back at him

“Maybe not but I’ll slaughter the innocent down here one by one until you do”

“Not this time” and in a thought out of nowhere Cloud decides to put on Rain’s medallion leaving his own on as well for the thought of added power but what was about to happen he nor Colossus did not expect.