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Timelines Wan Home Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

The Red Gate

Wan and his companions enter the "Broken Realm." There they seek out and join forces with King North and his Mirror Guards, in a desperate bid to prevent Arch Duke Morgrim of Chaos from gaining absolute control over the Annex Animus.

As the gate opens... two worlds collide... and heroes fall.

Switching to Channel Prime

The sexless winged seraph swoops down from the ether to alight on one knee atop a glowing disk of intense white energy. Without averting its sparkling, slightly oval shaped eyes, the being bows its head and begins its report in an inhuman sing song voice; Lord of the Heavenly Host, I bring you grave news from the mortal realm...

Sat on the very edge of a throne of purest light equal to that of any sun, Aslan, newly declared Lord of Heaven shifts uncomfortably, his brow furrowed with chasms of worldly woe. Speak Seraph... do not hold back. At this moment, nothing is too grave.

The forces of the Lord of Daig have secured all major temples and shrines of faith across the continent save a few who remain isolated. His power over the defeated Lords of the Underworld in neighbouring pantheons has also secured him power within the barbarian steppes and those countries beneath the Palasdine yoke. There is no hope we match his power alone.

Aslan fiercely clenches his fist, his knuckles flaring with light. It is as I feared, but I had to be sure. It's too late to break his stranglehold. His army of spirits are too well trained, too versatile and co-ordinated. We may have defeated the Arch Angels, but at what cost? It's as if this whole thing has been a distraction... while we fought to regain Elondil, HE pulled from beneath us that on which Heaven stands - the faith of living kind. Abruptly standing, Aslan draws comfort from the power flowing beneath his feet, swelling his size to that of a towering titan. I will not sit here waiting for others to tell me what to do. I will dwell no further on this sudden impotence that ails us. Though our numbers be small, our hearts be resolute, without measure. Sound our battle horns. Call upon every Angel, every Immortal, every Holy Legion; we go to do battle with Arun!

The Seraph bows its head once more, its heart beating strong and proud at the Lord of Heaven's words. It shall be as you command my Lord.

As the Seraph retreats and takes flight, Aslan shouts out into the glistening spectral sky. Mother! Can this be all there is? Is it my Destiny to rule for mere hours over a shattered sky, it's power dwarfed by those of its enemies? I cannot accept that it is so!

A woman's soft voice gently drifts down upon a sunbeam to warm upon his face. My dear son, without you, those in Heaven would have lost their Faith... Heaven would be no more than a memory shattered into a thousand pieces upon the remains of Mount Eldahar. The hopes and dreams of Mankind would be no more.

I intend on fighting this Ashar, this Witch King, this evil, to the very last.

I know you do. But the Crown wielders will not agree with the timing of your action. You must be prepared for their interference.

I will not be turned from my task. I will not rest until my sacred blade plunges into his foul heart. I know what I must do. Arun's power is to confound and paralyse those around him. Who has struck against him? Who has dared raise a hand? NO ONE I SAY! Well no longer! There is still power in Heaven and for as long as that power lasts, it will defy those who seek to pervert and twist the fate of human destiny for their own nefarious ends.

Aslan summons his sword and grasps it tightly in both hands. There is no future for us as long as this being lives. Aslan then raises the blade above the Throne of the Gods and the sky grows suddenly thick with dark clouds and lightning.

What are you doing? Kitara asks, her voice now struggling to reach the mind of her enraged son.

I am making a very human choice!

The sword descends in a blazing arc to strike the throne and split it down the middle. As the ancient seat falls asunder, the heart of Heaven gushes its life's energy into Aslan's heavenly blade; the blade glows, absorbing the energy, growing brighter and brighter until Aslan himself shields his own eyes with one arm. Crying out in pain he staggers back as the energy continues to gush from the throne.

Aslan! Kitara cries.

And moments later, it is done. The power of Heaven is no more. Aslan stands, thrusting his throbbing sword skyward to rip apart the sky with a flash of lightning. This blade, all that remains of Heaven's glory, shall be the instrument of Arun's demise. This I swear!

Kitara gazes upon her son within the waters of the Blessed lake and lets a single tear drop to briefly disturb its pure and placid surface. My son... I choose to go with you, for in truth there is no reason now to remain; the waterfall that once kept the Avatarn brimming has turned from a torrent, to a trickle and now nothing. So bring the Host here, to these sacred waters so that each and every warrior of Heaven can drink their fill of its strength until nothing but a dry basin remains.

Dragon Whispers

They come, swooping through the dark space between the Realms, screeching in relish of the bloodshed to come, like chalk upon a board; Wyverns... great black winged monstrosities, the spawn of a nightmare never destined to be dreamed, let alone burst through into waking lives. A dozen of their largest, most twisted hunters, mouths forced agape by an overgrown garden of frothing teeth, sense the opening ahead of them and the single being stepping through it. Then, one of their number, more savage and violent than the rest, breaks formation to swoop forwards, its claws extending and its neck at full stretch, ready to cross an imaginary finishing line. For a moment the darkness seems never ending... but then, a sudden brief burst of light sends the Wyverns veering out of control, crashing into one another to form a knot of claws, necks and wings. As their heads whip around and they tear and rend at each other to be free, the being floats by, oblivious to their anger. One reaches out, its claws almost brushing against the meat and its mane of jet black hair, but at the last second, pausing, its mind turns, suddenly confused and unsure.

I am here to speak with your mother... Eskanith. You will escort me.

The wyvern screeches again, shaking its skull to try and clear the sudden fog in its mind but in mere moments, its anger and fierceness drain away and the stranger pulls itself up onto the creatures bony neck.

To the abomination that spawned you... go, there is little time.

Danae allows her mind to reach out for a moment into the vast emptiness... Out there, in the distance, she senses the Dragon God - SHE who was born as a horrific side effect of the Titans and Orion's conflict upon Mount Eldahar. As Danae's mind touches Eskanu's, the God stirs and shares its pleasure. Danae knows that she is expected... she knows that Eskanu awaits her.

As the minutes pass filled, Danae prepares for what is to come by clearing her mind of what has come before. Less than one hour ago she had stood within the Obsidian Citadel at the centre of Heartland, watching a thousand of Ashar's Deathwatch fly down from the sky brandishing spiritual blades behind shields of light. The secret soldiers of Arun had used blasts of energy to tear gaping holes in the citadel's roof and walls, surrounding Danae and her fellow Orion loyalists at lightning speed.

The tormented metapsychic gifts of Hannibal had lashed out, superheating the air and its molecules to dissolve twenty of the soldiers before Danae could blink. Tamara, founding mind and Queen of Heartland had spoken then, her mind seething behind layers of intense mental shields; What is the meaning of this! How dare you intrude here! How dare you set foot in this hallowed place!

At that moment, all eyes had been drawn upward as an oily darkness had seeped its way across the sky, swallowing the stars and dripping down through the roof to take shape before the Obsidian throne. Danae had instantly recognized the being's aura but felt an overpowering fear grip her mind in a vice.

So, Ashar Guentas of Khur, you finally appear in person before us, Tamara had said, no trace of fear, no tremor to her voice. Danae admired her then... admired her defiance and belief in a cause. You have made a grave error by coming here... for here, we are more powerful than even you! Surrender!

SILENCE! the darkness commanded, its voice permeating the very reality of the walls, causing them to tremble, shake and begin to dissolve.

Tamara's eyes blazed with power in retaliation, forcing the walls to again regain their composition. Danae, Hannibal, Fatherland is with us. Together we can defeat him. Tamara's telepathic message had temporarily freed her mind.

It was then that an image of Abaddon had floated into her thoughts, sent without a doubt by Ashar; Abaddon on his knees, a sword at his throat.

As Danae processed the vision, she realized that the darkness had gone to work, seeping diluted through imperceptible layers of spirit to fill the room like an invisible gas. Then by Ashar's will, everyone in the room suddenly froze - everyone except her and the inky black cloud.

DANAE... I have a proposition for you, the darkness whispered.

I want nothing to do with you.

I witnessed you above the Green Realm establish a mental bond with Eskanu. I can sense that bond, even now and I expect you have already tried and failed to sever it. SHE whispers to you, draining your strength, using you to gain herself a Crown of Power. Your friends, the other Crown wielders are powerless to help you... it is inevitable that she will wear you down... and what then? You will become her puppet and she will have a Crown... and with that Crown she will have access through your hidden Doors to the minds of the others... your failure will be their doom.

The fear filling her mind had suddenly returned, intensified. Could Ashar be correct? Had that whispering, soft as silk voice in her mind been making more sense recently, growing stronger and louder? What if he were right? How can I believe you?

How can you not? Ashar had answered. This plane is nothing to me. It is inconsequential. If these people believe that it will save them then so be it. But you and I know the truth... deep down... you KNOW that this place is merely a fantasy.

You do not know everything. Not even you know how this will all end.

Ahh Danae, but I do. It will end as I foresee it ending... because the future is shaped by MY WILL.

Isn't that a bit megalomaniacal?

In a moment I will withdraw my aura. When I do, your friends here will engage my Deathwatch and die. I will offer them no quarter. I will spare no one. I will erase this Dream from existence but leave you untouched. Of course, this does not have to come to pass. If you leave with me now, they will be spared.

And what about me? If I go with you, do you intend on killing me too?

Your options are limited. If you continue as you are, unable to sever your connection with Eskanu, SHE will consume your mind. Strong as you may be, you cannot hope to withstand the mental assault of her combined heads. When that happens, you will allow her to feed upon your friends and bring great danger to us all...

To you you mean...

To us all...

So what then? Do you have a way of ridding me of Eskanu?

In a manner of speaking... now, enough idle chatter. Choose and if you choose wisely, I will tell you more as we travel.

Danae had then weighed it carefully in her mind and come to the only reasonable decision. With one last glance at the fierce Tamara, flanked by the wild-eyed spirit of Hannibal and her Obsidian warriors, she had stepped into the embrace of darkness.

Now, in the Between, a sea of emptiness between her and reality, the Dragon God's vast web begins to take shape. It hangs there ahead of her, a monstrous weave of glistening crystal shards, radiating outwards like the spokes of a wheel from a gigantic moon sized egg wrapped in a shroud of pulsing energy filled veins. Danae gasps at its sheer size and the thousands of unhatched Wyvern eggs that hang suspended from the nest's shards, each and every one fed via a drip with spirit of hapless souls forced to pray to the monster on its various conquered Realms. Yes, Eskanu's power stretches far and wide with her followers outnumbering those of the Witch King fifty to one. Anyone foolish enough to rule this creature out of the fight, deserves their fate.

Danae... child... approach us... you have listened to our summons...

I am here Eskanu... as you have willed it.

Your mind is my mind... together, we will destroy everything... we have seen your suffering... we have felt your emptiness... you do not belong... but here, with us, in our service, you shall realize your true potential... there is a fury inside of you child that we crave to taste... we shall show you how to unleash it!

Yes... Danae thinks back, driving the Wyvern forward through an opening in the colossal egg. As she passes inside, the egg begins to close behind her and Eskanu's mind lifts her from the creature's back.

Floating towards a rainbow of light, Danae opens her mind allowing the Gestalt Anti-Orion to triumphantly enter.

At last! What is rightfully ours! Our birthright! Eskanu's multitude of mental voices roar. As the voices merge into one cacophony of psychic savagery, Danae feels them ripping into her mind; she cries out in agony as hungry draconian mouths writhe through her consciousness, swallowing her whole. Humans, the voices mutter in disgust... you dare to compare yourselves to us... we are the True Titans... true Gods.

Images of Danae's life begin to flicker and fade; she feels her heart stop, her blood turn to ice... the end beckon... Ashar! Now!

And the Dragon God laughs. He has forsaken you... not even HE will pit himself against me! HE sent you here promising to aid you child... but he sent you as a sacrifice to appease me! HE knows that I will unite your human crowns. HE knows that by working as my ally, he secures belief from all of Eldahar's other Realms! What could humans like you possibly offer HIM? Offer me! Eskanu laughs again.

Somewhere deep, deep behind forgotten memories, deep within and far away from the pain, in a hidden place, Danae finds herself as a child standing before a box; a plain wooden box with a simple bronze lock. She reaches up, removes a key from around her neck, inserts it and twists. The box clicks; she lifts its lid and gazes within with childlike wonder. She remembers; only once before had she stood here, in this place, far away from pain. Only once before.

Eskanu senses a shift in the human's mind, because in the midst of her mental feeding, she and her victim are as one. What is this? she asks, her heads growing concerned at the sudden disturbance.

As the Dragon God's heads attempt to quickly withdraw, they realize they are too entwined within Danae's thoughts and memories to make quick their escape. An intense energy blooms from the depths of Danae's consciousness, igniting like a new born sun to expand and strike the myriad mired mouths. Eskanu begins to panic; her bond with the human refuses to break... instead it seems stronger! Eskanu screeches; how could SHE not have foreseen it. Consuming the human's mind only reinforced their connection! Her hunger has drawn tighter a noose about them both!

The Dragon God squirms, trying to regain her self control and muster her mind's defences, but the mind fire leaps unhindered passed them all.

Somewhere nearby, in the darkness between the Realms, Ashar floats observing. As crystals shatter and the emptiness is filled with an inhuman, monstrous cry of pain, the figure smiles and draws his own darkness a little tighter about him. You wanted her Fury Eskanu... well now you have it. The last time this happened the minds of four Ancient dragons were consumed. And she awoke hours later without any memory of the event. Apparently it's quite a rare ability... I believe the Eldar called it 'subsumation' There have been no properly recorded incidences of it since our escape from the Homelands... until now... I expect both of you will go utterly mad, destroy each other, or be crippled beyond saving; but I wanted you to know exactly what it was that was corroding your insides... you see, Danae's mother created her inside of her own imagination. The World just fills in the blanks, but of course you know that... except, no one could work out where the other half of spirit came from to bring about life. Yes, Hollis impregnated herself by shape shifting off plane, but the Laws of Eldahar state that two souls MUST contribute to the birth of another. Subsumation is a mutant ability that has only ever shown itself in one family bloodline... an ancient bloodline responsible for a thousand times more death, pain and suffering than even you Dragon God! And so the truth is out; Eldahar recognizes the daughter of Hollis and Hannibal Murdoch O'Neal - Destroyer of the Homelands! May the Prime have mercy on your soul. Enjoy your feast.

*Note - The above has direct relevance to Guardian Daoman, Hollis, Odex, Danae's creation / birth, the Destruction of the Homelands, Orion's psyche and pain and the Planal-key of Pendragon.*

The Final Push

With the Crown secured, Sinsifel communicates with the Allied HQ. Commandant, the way is now open. Gather your troops and prepare to advance through the Master Gate.

Back at Allied HQ, the Commandant closes his eyes and communicates with the Duke, his master. My Duke, our attack force has successfully defeated Xercifare and gained control of the Gate system. The Supreme Commander is requesting the army advance. What are your orders sir?

A voice resonates through the Commandant's mind... THE ORDER IS CONFIRMED. ADVANCE WITH DUE HASTE.

God knows where Balthazar is or Vorshim... they're both mad and out there in the Ids. thinks Wan.

Wan is concerned that suddenly appearing on the alternate Eldahar would be extremely dangerous - especially as 2 Crown wielders have already been defeated there.

He was shit, says Godark, booting Xercifare's headless body.

Kranatakyn whispers in agreement. Yes, he was. His power though has once again eluded us. Instead, a girl holds it. I AM GROWING QUITE IMPATIENT.

Quit your moaning. Working with these people isn't my thing either. You know as well as I that at some point, it'll all go turn black.

The sword chuckles aloud, causing a few Mal's to stiffen and glance nervously around. Yessss. Everything goes BLACK in the end.

Wan is concerned that Satüle could be the Foe. So Kranatakyn could have the completely wrong end of the stick by accusing the Foe of being an impostor. This in theory could be down to the Will of San - perhaps Wan thinks, the Will of San corrupted Kranatakyn's perceptions by forcing the sword to bind itself to Goruan and grudgingly accept the Esian Smith as its rightful wielder.

30 minutes pass... as the Army of Mals continue to form ranks and mobilize ready for the big push.

As the Mals are coming through the gateway created by Xercifare but manipulated by Sin, Wan and his companions have time to reflect on their recent conflict. Alyx is especially annoyed. I feel bloody useless at the moment, she growls at Godark, folding her arms sternly across her chest. I can't do anything. If I at least had a magical sword, I'd be able to fight properly, but all I've got is this damned dagger! Tomorrow gave it to me as a joke. I bet he was having a good chuckle with Ragnek and the others, muttering about me wielding a stupid toothpick.

Godark shakes his head. You are all that remains of Makailla. Makailla has tremendous power. You just have to adjust to your new state of being.

New state of being?! Alyx purses her lips. New state of pacifism more like. I don't think Makailla ever intentionally harmed a fly. I'm having real issues here. I'm the Spirit of Vengeance for Kand's sake! Not the friggin Spirit of Fluffiness.

Godark sheathes and muffles Kranatakyn, to keep the sword from speaking something insulting aloud. Methos said you would need time to relearn about yourself... find a new centre. Wan seems to be having success finding his.

Unaware of Alyx and Godark's conversation but sensing the young woman's frustrations, Wan approaches her, full of genuine concern. As long as Alyx cannot fight or defend herself properly, he fears for her safety. I have a cunning plan, he says. You are Alyxia, Alyx, Makailla... your powers are Spirit and Blood. How can we create some sort of weapon that would fit along these lines? As she has a unique spirit, perhaps she can create an extension of her spirit, add blood to it and make it more real. Any creature struck by such a weapon would also be struck by Makailla's blood and fall under its effect. If this proves effective, Wan has visions of just how powerful such a thing could be.

I'll try, says Alyx, wandering off by herself alone to begin experimenting.

With a few more minutes to spare, Wan prays to the Source for Guidance. Once his prayer has ended, the Supreme Commander comes over to discuss where in the Army Wan and his friends would like to travel. Wan decides to go at the front of the advance which Sin is happy about. You've been a tremendous help so far. Without you it would have taken us a lot longer to break the stalemate and attack this Palace. Make sure you all stand back when I open the Road. I have no idea what to expect. Morgrim could throw anything out at us.

Alyx heads back over a few moments before Sin uses Xercifare's Gate Crown to open the way to the Red_Road. She smiles at Wan. I think I can do it. Foe, Blade and other Spirits (of Akilla / Cairis) can make spiritual weapons. I've had a little practice with it but it was never really my thing. I always had Woethorn. But now I guess, my spirit is stronger. I made a blade over there a minute ago and it seemed pretty strong.

Wan looks pleased. It doesn't have to be solid. Just enough to cut the spirit so that Makailla's blood can convert them to your side.

I know, says Alyx, but I like having something solid, something with weight that will really hurt when I swing it. As for the blood, I think a vein of it, flowing through the sword should be fine. It's dangerous stuff and obviously quite precious so I don't really want to experiment with it until I have to. Thanks though Wan, it's a great idea!

Stand by... Shouts a Mal, gesturing for everyone in the great hall to take cover.

Imminent Gate formation detected, another Mal shouts, his voice barely audible above a sudden howling disturbance in the air.

Sheltering behind some Mal shields, Wan and Alyx watch as the Supreme Commander opens a gateway. Sin holds Xercifare's glowing crown before her in both hands, letting it slide through her fingers like a ship's wheel. The crown rolls one way and then the next before suddenly releasing a searing flash of rainbow light. Where the light hits the air twenty feet ahead of her, it illuminates a hitherto invisible maelstrom of energy that suddenly churns and swirls, as it is whisked into a frenzy by converging interplanal forces. A moment later, the energy takes shape and dimension, forming into a oval shaped passage over thirty feet wide with a slightly flatter base. A dull, throbbing red glow emanates from the gateway, spilling out onto the faces of the gathered Mals.

But nothing else comes through. A visible but silent sigh of relief spreads quickly through the ranks. Then an order is shouted from the sea of identical faces... Advance!

The End of the Road

As the army marches its way along the Red_Road, Wan grows increasingly uneasy. It seems to be taking too long and Godark has an explanation for why.

Godark, looking gloom ridden as usual says This is an Id corridor that's been reforged... existing by their rules. I don't like this... It could be miles long. They've stretched it. If these realities were so close together we would have been there minutes ago. Travel would have been near instantaneous.

Wan and the others can now travel through it to North's Eldahar. But what dangers will await them when they arrive? What creatures or protections will guard the entrance to Moraos? *Note - Moraos is the alternate name for Eldahar, chosen by the Archduke Morgrim.*

15 minutes in, Wan faintly senses Need and then senses a much stronger feeling of Chaos on the other side. Once again he experiences visions of the world that awaits them; he sees North's Mirror Mir citadel and a sea of demonic creatures, bustling eagerly forwards, their eyes alight with inhuman hunger.

Detecting an energy spike... a very BIG energy spike! a Mal screams, as his odd metal detection box goes crazy and its sensitive needle violently cracks the machine. Wan's mind snaps back to the present.

"This whole army is fucking dead," Godark

Something's destroying the road! another Mal shouts right at the front of the army. The Mal points ahead to where in the distance, a long way off down the Red_corridor, a wall of fire and sparks seems to be rapidly approaching, incinerating the Road like a burning fuse.

Godark grunts. This whole army is fucking dead...

What can we do? asks Alyx, looking between Godark and Wan for ideas.

Godark tightens his grip on Kranatakyn and grips Alyx's elbow with his other hand. You'll be fine.

Wan pushes forward and braces his aura for something big. Maybe, just maybe, he can keep the destruction at bay. The incendiary wall looms before them and then hits like a tidal wave. It intensely burns at Wan's aura, draining energy from the priest until he is forced to step back. He had hoped to use his aura as a shield, not just for the Mals and his friends but to protect the integrity of the road... but this is not the case. The fire simply travels around his aura and continues burning the wall on the other side. Wan's aura doesn't encompass the skin of the Red_Road, only the things contained within it.

Alyx sees Mal's near her struck by the fire but it doesn't seem to harm flesh and blood. Instead it flows right through the Mals as if they aren't even there. Unfortunately her relief at seeing them survive is short-lived as the full horror of the fire and its purpose soon becomes apparent. Without the Red_Road beneath their feet, or sheltering them from the darkness between Worlds, the Army of Mals are suddenly cast adrift. As Alyx stares in horror, thousands of Mal's begin drifting away into the endless cold darkness, spinning and silently screaming as they are consigned forever to the Void.

Filled with rising panic she feels Godark tighten his grip on her arm and sees him point to Wan. The Priest of the Source appears in intense concentration, keeping the Void outside of his aura and those within it safe... but for how long?

As the Mals are obliterated Sinsifel tells Wan and his friends to save themselves. Go, if you can. Morgrim is destroying his Eldahar's connection to other realities... he's destroying all the bridges, preventing us from reaching him. If you can reach North, tell him the cavalry is still coming... but we will need a gateway to emerge through. Our place is here, with Maloth. We made an alliance with him and can't abandon it now..... Pray for us Priest....

But the Supreme Commander's final words are lost in the Void.

Faced with the prospect of floating in the timeless Void forever, Wan reaches for the only thing he can... the Source.

Godark speaks to Wan but isn't sure he is heard. If you have a fancy way of getting us out of here, do it now.

I can sense the Source. Even though it seems such a long way away, Wan uses the Source as a guiding beacon, drawing himself and those protected by his aura towards it.

*Note - Morzûl, sensing the approach of another powerful force of Chaos, sent a huge blast wave along the Red_Road to annihilate it and everyone on it. The Red_Road has now been completely destroyed - the very corridors between Realities ruptured and burned to nothingness, sending thousands of Mal's spinning off to ice cold deaths in the Void. Sinsifel called upon the Eye of Chaos to save as many of the Mals as possible but the Eye let her down. The Mal army has now been nearly entirely obliterated but at no small cost to Morgrim who has also lost his connection to the other 7 connected Chaos infested realities (8 if you include Xercifare's lands). Deprived of their power, Morgrim now orders the immediate invasion of Eldahar Prime and the Army of Mor begins its assault. He simply cannot afford any interference from other Chaos Lords at this point - especially not Maloth.*

The Broken Realm

Wan, Alyx, Godark, Tanni and 25 Mal's arrive on the dunes of Zal'aba'rum but as soon as they arrive they are attacked by giant flesh hungry worms (called Chundrokk).

Many of the Mals are slain and devoured in a swift and savage attack but Godark, Wan and Tanni fight off the Chundrokk and buy themselves some time.

We made it - well done Wan... gasps Alyx, utterly relieved to be back on solid ground.

Dammit, where did they go... asks Wan. He had been hoping that more of the Mal would have made it; he had extended his aura as far as it could safely go but those who weren't closest to him had obviously been swept away into the Void.

Wan speaks up into the air - Old friend, I have come to help you again... just like against the Elves of the Grey Mountains. Only I know the secret of you and Corflamme and its connection to Queen Kitara. I vouch for these people here.

It isn't long at all before two dozen mirror armoured soldiers materialise out of the air around them in a circle. Godark moves in front of Alyx but Wan stands his ground.

I am Captain Vale of the Mirror Guard. Who are you? the leader of the soldiers demands.

Friends of King North Wan replies.

You have Chaos in your group says Vale. With a gesture of his hand the other soldiers brandish glowing spears in Tanni and the Mal's direction.

I can vouch for them repeats Wan. They are allies. King North will want to speak to us and them.

The ground suddenly seems to shift slightly underfoot.

Vale looks up into the air and gives an order to an invisible recipient. No time to question them here. Adjust re-entry angle to reflect us straight into the Hall of Spears. 20 seconds pass and nothing happens causing Vale to grow impatient. Come on Brian we don't have all day. These little ones have drawn an adult.

After a very long thirty seconds or so, the sky seems to flash like a headlight caught in a mirror and then Wan and his companions find themselves standing in a large domed ceremonial hall. All around its edge stand shields and spears, swords and bows; of every size and every style.

And standing before Wan is a flame haired woman flanked by very serious mirror armoured guards.

I am Wan, says Wan, introducing himself and giving a stiff but effectual bow.

I know who you are the Queen replies. We are not as in the dark here as some would believe. Queen Red gives each and every one of Wan's group a good look over, but lingers on Tanni and the single remaining Mal. You are both of Chaos she says to Tanni and Mal the Mal.

We are admits Tanni.

We have much to tell you says Wan to the Queen.

Well we don't have time to listen the Queen interjects abruptly. We're about to engage Chaos here for the final time.

The Mirror Guard are ready to leave the citadel your highness, says a soldier, bowing stiffly to the Queen in his full plate Mirror Mir armour.

Thank you Adric, please ensure any remaining civilians are conducted safely to the bunker says the Queen.

Red presses on leading her entourage and Wan's group across a wide stone bridge between two one three hundred foot high buildings. With a broad view of the Citadel and its surrounding buildings, Wan and Alyx pause in their strides to take a look around at the place that has sheltered the sole survivors of this alternate world for the last few years.

Every building is tall - taller than any buildings ever built in a human city back on Eldahar Prime. The tallest structure thrusts over one thousand feet above the ground and glints in the sun like it is embedded with precious stones. Some of the architecture seems to have sprung from unknown roots but the rest bares recognizable traces of Kai'Myrriahian, Andorian, Elandian, Esian and even exotic Suraanese and Sardinese influences. The archways, balconies, crenelations, bas relief images, mantles and ledges don't just add splashes of multicultural life, they leap out with their originality and craftsmanship. Yet it is obvious to any onlooker that the hands and minds of races other than human have left their mark of grandeur upon the horizon of the Sanctuary... elves, dwarves and the near God-like Eldar themselves.

Bridges span between the buildings, creating walkways through the air. Gardens in full and majestic bloom rise up from the tops of lower buildings, creating forests and bouquets of colour in the unlikeliest of places. And yet above it all, a reminder of the Citadel's tragic purpose, the sky is awash with a silver sheen that curves down to form a protective dome over the buildings and their outermost limits. Sanctuary's shield against the Chaos outside, an effective barrier keeping the monsters out and everyone else trapped within.

We are preparing to fight our final battle. It's a battle we can win, but not survive, Red explains.

"This world has run its course," Queen Red to Wan

I need to keep North alive - because I need him, says Wan. He needs to come back with us.

The Queen laughs. You are failing to grasp what I am saying. Everyone here will die... This world has run its course. Everyone...

...except General North.... Wan mutters stubbornly.

As the Queen continues to walk briskly towards some unknown destination, she asks the taciturn General Verner to explain a little more about their situation. Flexing his artificial metal arm the General reluctantly takes a deep breath.

Queen Red

It's like this right, the Chaos forces are gathered in two locations. When I say gathered, I mean they've gathered their big guns in those places even though many are waiting elsewhere. We originally thought they were going for just the one location, Mount Eldahar, or what's left of it, but that turned out to be a ruse. Morzûl had been deliberately hiding a second force from us up in the North by keeping their movements below the ice. Hundreds of Drakes have been busy digging a network of ice tunnels. It's a wretched maze up there for sure with every tunnel looking the same to confuse our Mirror makers. Anyway, we now know that the initial thrusts will take place near here, at Mount Eldahar's Master gate site and up in the north at the Titan graveyard, in Northern Mordark.

From intelligence gathered through interrogation and missions within the various Chaos strongholds we've discovered that Morzûl wants to cement his victory over your reality by waging a battle first. He wants to win favour from his followers and at the same time, thin the herd of other potential First Eternals who are waiting for him to trip up. This is why he is deliberately opening two large gates to your reality through which he intends on sending his strongest and most untrustworthy forces. He believes that his forces can crush any half hearted resistance mustered by your reality and therefore secure him an even greater majority of belief for when the two worlds fully merge. He doesn't want to leave anything to chance!

We're minutes away from dispatching troops to the Master Gate site, to help the Dragon Crown wielders and their allies fight.

As near as we can figure, both Eldahars are being drawn together at an increasing rate of speed. When the two realities collide, whoever controls the majority of the World's Heart will be forced to try and repair anything that happens as a result. Here on this reality, that is Morzûl. On your reality, we know it is a little more complex, what with Dragon Crowns, Arun and Dragon Gods.

No one can know the outcome of such a collision. But one thing is extremely likely - the world as you know it and how we remember it, will very likely end.

There's nothing we can do here to help those on the other side. It's up to them to muster their own defence. It's up to them to stand united against Morzûl. United they stand or divided they fall. It's as simple as that.

Our King, in his wisdom, saw Chaos and Law ready to destroy your Eldahar 17 years ago and sought to buy us all some time. He knew that without such powers influencing us and our destinies, humanity would find a way to protect itself and offer up its own heroes to save the day. This has happened, but unfortunately, quicker than expected. Instead of a united world ready to defeat Chaos and its ilk, your world is currently being torn apart by feuds, mistrust and disbelief. It's a sad and sorry state of affairs. In my opinion, we can't rely on your reality to stand united. So we've had to seek another solution. The Ark.

Session 05/09/07

Wan's party are walking along behind Red, Queen of the Sanctuary.

Red gestures for Wan to enter a chamber ahead but as soon as he does, his group find themselves trapped by light angled from hundreds of mirrors.

The light seems to negate any magic, spirit, astral power or chaos, rendering all but Godark powerless.

What the hell? says Alyx.

Tanni is quick to explain - It's the Chaos - they can't take the risk that we're here to harm their plans. Narrow minded fools.

What exactly do you want to achieve? Are you able to communicate with your ring? asks Wan.

I can. But we're here to help, not hinder... says Tanni. I have to get Sin here with what's left of the army so that she can confront Mor.

A loud voice shouts through - It is General Verner - Right you lot just stay put until we think of what to do with you. You shouldn't have come. Whether you're friend or foe it don't mean an elf full of beans at this moment...

We can't stay here... things will not go the way we want them to go... says Wan. We must get North back to the Prime.

Godark - So, what? You wanna kidnap the big guy? Minutes before he leads his people to their final battle. He ain't gonna shrug and piss it all into the wind because you pour fancy ideas at him.

We need to support him, up to the end... and then get him out of here, states Wan.

Godark - Let's ditch these Chaos people - I'll take the girl, you take the Mal.

Wan shakes his head.

Fine then, let's blow this joint, says Godark. I don't like prisons. Raising Kranatakyn he pushes the light of the mirrors back and exposes the doorway. With a kick he breaks it open and subdues two surprised mirror guards by banging their helms together.

Alyx decides to put on one of the Mirror Mir helmets.

Mal the Mal takes a whole suit and puts it on. Alyx also puts on a whole suit (impressed at its highly adjustable fit) - Godark sighs again when Alyx admires herself in a mirror.

Tanni commends Godark on his swift breakout. What type of magic did you use? she asks, full of admiration.

Dark shit, Godark mumbles back. Very old dark shit.

While this is going on Wan pulls out Methos' stone - thinking that he understands how it works. Wan believes that the stone compass will lead him to North. He tries to use the old Magic.

Somewhat disappointingly it doesn't work.

I can't believe you just tried to use that crock of turd says Godark.

Wan in front, Alyxia in the middle and Godark behind. Just expose your hand so I can contact your aura.

Need is the only contact to the Source in this world. Wan cannot locate it properly.

Godark looks out of window, grabs Alyx and points to a large force of Mirror Mir soldiers heading into a immense round tower building across a bridge.

I guess that is the place to be says Alyx.

Maybe they're showing a movie in there Godark smirks but Alyx just gives him a weird look, like he's mad.

Tanni unhitches her gigantic black blade and says her goodbyes. It's time I went my own way. I need to find a good spot to send Sin the all clear.

Wan wishes her good luck. Tanni shrugs. I've never believed much in luck. Just Sinsifel. She gives a smart Mal Army salute and then jogs off down an empty corridor, followed closely by Mal the remaining Mal, leaving Wan, Alyx and Godark to rush towards the tower.

They cross the bridge and rush inside the bastion's immense doors, just as they are beginning to mechanically close. Enormous steam driven cogs grind and shudder, bringing the thirty foot high doors to a resounding close behind them.

A voice echoes over a loud speaker - Attention, Attention, the Shield is about to be breached.

A heavily bearded Mirror Guard steps up to Wan. It's obvious though that the man has no idea who Wan or his companions are. Instead of challenging them, he seems relieved. By the God's, you nearly got shut outside.

Godark looks at the doors and privately asks his sword to prep something destructive to blow them back open, just in case, causing the sword to vibrate eagerly at the prospect.

The Citadel of Mirrors - 'Sanctuary'

The Mirror Mir Sanctuary

North's people call the Broken Realm - Eldaharn; a name given to it by the Eldar Elluva.

Morgrim's Lords of Mor call the Realm - Nevermore.

Total Population of Sanctuary ;- 11023 civilians and 1800 Men at Arms - Of which 450 are Mirror Guard.

The Bastion - Central building in the Citadel / Sanctuary - Final defence against Chaos should the exterior wardings be breached. It is this central imposing structure that everyone is called to.

By the blessed makers... they're here... cry the gate keepers, their voices reeking of dread. Outside of the Bastion, the shield barrier is breached allowing titanic tentacled horrors to begin oozing their way inside, overshadowing the sky scraper towers of Sanctuary with their undulating bulks.

Wan allows himself to be swept deeper into the structure, to its very heart, the bottom of a cylinder of throbbing energy surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed and grim-faced soldiers.

Visitors from the other Eldahar... come near the front, North shouts.

Alyx looks around. Who's he mean?

Us, replies Godark in an unamused tone.

When Wan and the others are in position, towards the front, North's son begins, his voice travelling loud and clear throughout the gathering, conveying strength and purpose.

Sentinels - This sanctuary has served as our home for the last decade. Each and every one us has lived a lifetimes worth of battles, pain and sorrow within it's walls. We have sheltered here, we have hidden, and retaliated in brief skirmishes, raids and missions of subterfuge... no more I say! Today, we as one, leave this place never to return. Today, we go to our final battle. Morgrim's armies stand waiting - expecting us... are we going to disappoint them? Are we going to be late?

"We're here to teach Morzûl and his craven master the true spirit of the living... the unconquerable Will of Man," King North - final speech

No! the gathering cries.

For those that have fallen, the Eldar, the Elves, the Dwarves, the other races who have now, on this World, become but memories, we go to fight for them... but most importantly, we fight for those who live on the other side... We have but one chance now, one chance to turn back the tide of Chaos.... we need just a little time.... Life is not worth living, unless you have a cause - a reason to breathe, to love, to exist. We, the last remaining living souls of this Eldahar, have just such a cause... we're here to teach Morzûl and his craven master, the true spirit of the living... the unconquerable Will of Man.

Again the crowd erupt, cheering and brandishing their highly reflective metal blades. Then North's son steps forward, holding his flaming blue sword aloft for all to see.

Sentinels - I will be leading you to the Master Gate and Mount Eldahar. I know each of you, each of your names, I know your families - I have shared and stood with each of you as you have suffered loss... And now, here, today, on this day of days, I am honoured to stand and fight by your side. Today is the day that our world ends, so that another may live.

Cheering.

Our sacrifice will be told of and passed down for aeons to come. No one here will be forgotten. No one here will die forever. For the King, for our Heroes, for the Soul of Mankind... Be true to yourselves... be brave, be bold... do not falter, do not retreat... fight... fight for what matters... go forth with me into history...

Even more cheering. The Prince then turns and leads a charge into the great column of light. As he enters it, he is stretched to hundreds of feet in height before being beamed into the sky to some far off destination. Following him go the Sentinels, the light failing to rebound from their Mirror Mir suits.

They're splitting up, Wan aura-speaks to his companions - each of their aura's floating within his own. We must save North and Red. It's the only way bring the Red on Eldahar out into the open; the only way we can hope to defeat Ashar... For the briefest of moments Wan loses himself in plans and scenarios as his companions digest what he has said.

That's easier said than done, says Alyx. This whole place reeks of desperation and death. Though she doesn't share it, she sees the Shadow of Death on each and every face present, bar North and his Queen, who are too steeped in arcane energies to glimpse with otherworldly sight. I don't think we're going to be able to persuade these guys to hang fire and tag along.

Who do we save... who? Wan finds himself torn between the iconic figures before him, ensnared by endless permutations and possibilities. But in the end, he knows his choice will be the Will of the Source - he has to trust that the Source will guide him.

Godark makes a hopeful suggestion to Wan and Alyx - We could split up... Used to working alone and not caring about the destruction caused by Kranatakyn, Godark doesn't really want to be hindered by Wan's scruples. If it weren't for Makailla reborn at his side, he'd be long gone.

No, Alyx shakes her head. We're stronger together. To Wan - Can we really save North? It sounds like he's on a suicide mission.

I do not know, says Wan privately to her. I wish we could, but it seems unlikely. His path is one with the Source. This is North's Destiny. I will not take it from him.

Three choices, three of us. It just makes sense to me that's all. Godark shrugs and folds his arms across his chest.

North takes a moment to meet Wan and Alyx's gaze - Now there's a pair of faces from my past. Unexpected visitors at such a pivotal moment. He glances skyward. Why am I not surprised? You honour us with your presence High Doman and I'll gladly accept your aid, if that is what you are here to offer.

One Final Audience with the King

North is surprised to see Wan and Alyx and a little curious about the black stranger they have accompanying them, but unable to really investigate who he is or why they are there. He simply doesn't have time. From the Broken Realm's perspective, Wan has arrived at zero hour; North and his Queen have literally no time to spare and must act now if their plan is to stand any chance of success.

How can we help? Wan asks the King.

And North smiles... Ever the Doman.. direct and loyal to the last. Right, I have very little time so I'm going to keep this ultra brief...

As he is about to continue though, the Queen interrupts, laying a hand on the King's greaved arms. They brought a pair of Chaos Servants within our walls. One was able to withstand the Ark, the other had the strangest Chaos aura I'd ever seen. I detained them, but they must have escaped.

It's of no consequence, the King continues, his gaze unwavering from the Doman and Alyx. The Sanctuary will fall soon enough regardless. As you can see, we stand at the precipice. even now Chaos consumes the Sanctuary beyond this Bastion's walls and in scant minutes, nothing will remain. We are launching two coordinated attacks... With a gesture of North's hand, the air shimmers and shows plans, images and battle formations. Wan's aura captures the images like a camera allowing him Alyx and Godark to manipulate and move within them in three dimensions. This is what we know and what we're doing. We have to close both of these Gate sites. If we close these, all the smaller gates will also snap shut. We're not expecting to keep them shut for any length of time, just long enough to use the Arkysancture to erase every last thing in this Realm.

Wan watches as a blast wave of light ripples across the plains and deserts, blasting away human and demon alike. The Ark Wave is a force of pure Law. It's the only thing we have that can wipe Morgrim out. The only problem is, if even the smallest bridge exists for it to spill through to the other Eldahar, it won't stop... it'll wipe out your Eldahar too. Now, we've been coordinating with a group of powerful people on your world who have God-like powers...

Crown wearers, says Alyx. We know all about 'em.

Yes, Crown wearers, North continues, nodding. Good, that makes things easier to explain. They're mustering forces on the other side of these gates to prevent Chaos securing a foothold. While we're trying to shut the gates on this side, they'll be trying to shut them on their side too.

We have to go, the Queen's grip on North's arm tightens, her eyes almost pleading. Go now with our son to Mount Eldahar, before the Light shifts, she orders Wan and Alyx. Or stay here and die.

There really is no time, North apologises. I would have liked to hear your story High Doman. And young Alyx... your journey by appearance seems to have been even more wondrous. But fate calls and I don't want to be late for it. As for where you can help? Well, you're better suited to making that judgement than I. I have no idea of your abilities but have to assume they're substantial - you wouldn't be here at such a moment if they weren't. My own mission is for me and me alone. I'm allowing no one else to accompany me, for the simple reason that it would serve no purpose. My fate has been written upon the Spine of the World for sixteen years and no one can change its outcome. However, both my son and my queen will need aid in multitudes of forms. If either of them fail or fall before the gates are simultaneously shut, our sacrifices here will have been in vain.

My Lord... Queen Red stresses, a little more urgently.

Yes, of course... the King smiles. You have less than a minute to decide between them, because if you stay here, you will surely perish. Gods Speed.

Wan refuses to be brushed off despite lack of time. Because he has pressing questions that need answering, he extends his aura and attempts to slow things down, to buy a few more minutes of conversation. But his aura skims impotently against the magic surrounding the King and Queen. The Queen's aura seems even more steeped in protections and resistant to interference than the King's, which comes as a bit of surprise.

In frustration Wan steps forward and speaks very quickly, keeping pace with North as he salutes soldiers and grasps hands.

Gods speed to you, North says to a Mirror Guard.

And to you your majesty.

Alyx watches Wan's aura gently move people out of his way so he can keep up and turns to Godark. He's going to get a slap in a minute from someone if he's not careful.

Godark nods in agreement. None of this matters anyway. Let's just go and kill something.

Your majesty, what is to prevent this Law Wave from using the Source to spill into Eldahar Prime? Wan asks frantically, as the glowing shaft of light suddenly changes in colour.

LINK TO NORTHERN MIRROR STABILISING NOW... COUNTDOWN TO TRANSPORT IN 25, 24, 23... announces a disembodied voice.

By Source, I assume you mean the Eternal Source... that mystical energy Ischandi believed in and from where Need draws its power? asks North, not waiting for Wan's reply, but picking up a sturdy Mirror Mir shield and strapping it to his left arm. It won't happen High Doman. I won't let that happen. In that you have to trust.

Alyx leans over to Godark upon hearing that and gives the dark warrior a nudge in the armoured ribs. Great. Every passing minute reveals another way we can all end up dead. This time it's a lethal wave of Lawfulness. In a minute's time it's going to be Death by Falling Moon, followed by chronic Chaos Constipation.

Godark considers a moment. I could bring the Moon down... for you... with enough power... if that was your desire.

Alyx steps aside as warriors begin filing closer to the shaft of light. Hold that thought. A falling moon might be just what we need.

12, 11, 10... the countdown continues.

"Blood and honour," Queen Red to King North

Ashar is ridiculously powerful on the Prime. Is there a way that either of you, Wan looks back and forth between the King and Queen, can help us oppose him?

North effortlessly draws Need from its shimmering white scabbard. As the sword emerges, Wan finds himself suddenly lost for words as a feeling of profound spirituality washes over him... the sword's blade burning with white fire.

We do not oppose Ashar. The fate of the Prime is not our concern. That is for others. There is more at stake here than just your Realm. If Law and Chaos are not checked, the Idiom will fall... a million realities, a million worlds. Now, enough Wan, these are my final moments with Red. Make your choice and go! With those final words, not said with anger, but definite finality, the sword hurls up a barrier. And though Wan knows his aura could easily prevail against it, he senses that it is the Will of Need that the King has a few seconds to say farewell... and against the Will of Need, Wan would meet his equal.

Wan watches the King take his Queen's head in his hands and lay a gentle kiss upon her lips. She remains still for a moment, then fiercely returns the kiss with desperate passion. Within seconds it is over. They exchange words, for their ears and their's alone, behind Need's shield and then North lets his fiery Queen of the Dawn go.

Blood and Honour, she salutes North.

As it was written, so shall it be... North replies.

Behind me... the Queen yells, stepping up to the shaft.

2,... 1... CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. LOCATION IS HOT.

Five of Red's mirror guard unclip rough surfaced metal spheres from their chests, twist them until they make loud clicks and start to flash at their equators. A second later they hurl each sphere into the light and two seconds after that, Red follows and vanishes.

Christian's Assault Force

Queen Red's Assault Force

North's Final Stand

Front line View

Lord Muurshak sat astride his stone hydra golem using the freshly peeled face and eyes of a eager to please priest to view the battlefield ahead; the priest's head encased in a magical jar being worn around the neck of a fire giant, affording a frontline perspective of events. The only frustrating thing about Muurshak's front row view was the sprays of blood; with a grunt of annoyance he telepathically commanded the giant to wipe the jar clean for the fifth time and uttered a series of curses to several Chaos deities for not providing him with a better method of doing his job.

To his left stood Belshoro, Lord of the Fire Giants, fully immolated and wearing a helm of Frostfire. Muurshak had once witnessed the ruler of the Fire Giants crush a challenger's skull between his forefinger and thumb, such was the power of the helm; the strength of twenty giants. In fact, Belshoro often boasted he was the strongest being alive. A boast that one day Muurshak would shatter by reaching into the Lord's chest and turning his heart into a lump of rock.

What do you see? the Giant boomed. Has the prey taken our bait? I wish to grind their bones beneath my heels.

Yes, said Muurshak. He could make out the Blue blade, cutting swathes through the flesh of lesser minions, surrounded by the glinting shields of the puny Knights of their King. They had arrived as anticipated right before the gate, in some ridiculous attempt to hold back the tide and buy time. Muurshak would have laughed were it not for stone-skin magic covering every inch of his mortal flesh. He pressed the priest's bloodied face tighter to his own and squinted. Yes, they are falling. How pitiful. That so few would dare stand against so many; they sacrifice themselves for nought. And after so many years of awaiting their destruction. It actually galled Muurshak to watch. In a way, he felt cheated.

And our forces on the other side, what of them? asked Belshoro.

Obliterated as foreseen, but their blood and spirit serves its purpose. Once enough flows through the gate, seeding their ground, no power will exist capable of preventing our Lords Edict from burning their world.

I would move closer, to taste their flesh, while it is still warm, Belshoro roared with excitement.

I would too, Muurshak agreed. He was weary of using others to see and feel with and hungered to feel the life drain out of his enemies again. Then let us claim our prize Fire Lord. Before another does!

Grasping the reins of his golem, rearing each of its eight stone heads, he spurred the beast forward with Belshoro thundering alongside with immense chasm leaping strides. And not a moment too soon. To his left he could see other minor Lords breaking rank to join the frenetic charge to the front. To his right he could see the towering pillar of flesh that housed one of the strongest Chaos Magi... Salvatin, spewing forth a cloud of transportation. Oh the fury. Muurshak unhitched his stone splitting hammer and swirled it above his head in battle frenzy. The front line approached; his golem crushed minions under hoof while Belshoro bellowed and blasted others aside with waves of fire.

And then he was there, smashing a metal shield and the arm holding it aloft. The Knight cried out and fell, only to be plucked skyward by one of the hydra's mouths and tossed into the hungry horde behind him.

MOR! Muurshak cried. Today he would rise in rank. Today he would gain power, respect... Morgrim himself would hear the name Muurshak and...

The Blue sword was suddenly there, sending two of the golem's heads spiralling away from its body.

I am Muurshak, Lord of Ek-craise, Master of Living Stone! he screamed, bringing his war hammer down. There was a bright flash, an explosion and Muurshak's world suddenly turned upside down. Fire engulfed him, but he laughed it off. A giant's red arm, spewing liquid fire, fell at his feet. He arose, raised his hammer again and found the shaft shattered, the hammerhead gone. He lunged forwards, through the smoke and screaming bodies to grip the source of light.

DIE! he roared, ready to crush the life from his foe. Nothing escaped the death grip of a Lord of Mordark. Nothing!

Another flash exploded before him, causing the stone to run from his face like wax. He reached up instinctively to shield his eyes, but something was amiss, dreadfully amiss. When he could see again, he was lying on the ground, unable to move as his hydra golem crumbled to dust, Belshoro's limbless body entered its death-throws and to his horror, several yards distant, his own body melted in blue fire.

He tried to speak, but found too much of his face had run into ground. All he could do was watch the Blue blade deliver swift death to everything it touched, including the magical shields of Salvatin.

Muurshak would have laughed, if he could, as Salvatin unleashed his potent volley of death magic, his one hundred and one bound devils and his robe of screaming souls, only to stumble, spitted upon the blade with blue fire bursting from his skull.

Then the Red gate rippled, widened and exploded open... the threshold between the worlds mere yards away. And Muurshak, Lord of Living Stone, knowing the battle had only just begun, thanked Mor that he had a front row view.

Dial a Chaos Lord

The Supreme Commander was pacing and when she paced, everyone and everything in the room watched in silence. A few entities had made the mistake of getting in her way before, thinking their size and otherworldly powers gave them the security and right to interrupt her. Everyone remembered K'linthrou, giant brutish K'linthrou... a Lord among his own kind, able to crush boulders and howl flesh from bone. Everyone remembered him, because he was still spread, thin as wallpaper, all around them across the 8 walls of the Supreme Commander's war pavilion. The Commander had been pacing for some time and every being in the room could feel the tension. Her companion, a female humanoid like herself had undertaken a desperate mission into enemy territory and it had been a while since she had been in communication. When the Supreme Commander was nearby, tension for a Chaos servant felt like a thousand needles being driven slowly under your fingernails and into your wide-open eyes.

A Mal General almost self disintegrated when the Commander finally spoke.

She's alive, in battle but alive. Even through the ring I can't get much more than that.

The Mal may all have looked identical, composed of identical powers with identical goals, but they each had a finely tuned individual sense of self preservation. The Commander possessed the very Eye of Chaos, as fickle and unpredictable an artefact as ever existed and no Mal relished the prospect of being turned into a pot plant or a snapper fish if it could be helped. The Mal's had pride; and no wonder considering the template of their creation - Duke Maloth of Chaos himself, a high ranking member of the Court of Chaos and eternal nemesis of Arch Duke Morgrim. Each and every Mal had plenty of reason to be proud, not just because of who they were created to be like, but because of all the Lords of Chaos, Maloth had been the only one to gain entrance to the mystical and legendary Nexus; at the very heart of Time; a tremendous feat giving Maloth an advantage over all of his brothers and sisters, not least being the ability to partially clone himself - something the Balance had forbidden under the Champion Accords, but which no longer seemed to bind him.

There were several dozen ranking Mal officers in the pavilion as well as a host of other entities, summoned in by priests and other demonic allies. Each represented another Lord of Chaos, sworn to support and in many cases serve, albeit reluctantly, the Supreme Commander. Among such beings, interspersed between the sharply dressed Mals, a few stood out; a tree of tentacles with many mouths, a fountain of oozing skin, puss filled with bubbling misshapen limbs and a small brown goat intent on eating the bottom of a Mal's coat.

The goat worried people the most.

Everyone, clear the room. I'm making a conference call, the Commander declared.

Within seconds, each and every entity either teleported, shifted, oozed or scrambled its way out of the tent, with a Mal very cautiously leading the goat out too.

Aside from the Commander, only one Mal remained, dressed in a long red leather coat draped in medals. As soon as the others were gone, this Mal broke the Mal tradition of stoic seriousness and gave a broad smile.

You really should stay calm my dear. You're causing so much worry among the ranks. I think one Deshlark actually ate himself from the inside out with panic when he heard you'd be passing by. Of course, in itself, it was entertaining to watch.

Maloth, you know I don't give a damn.

Oh absolutely, but I take every opportunity to build up your image. It's one thing being able to steal a Lord's powers but if you want to stay around long enough to use them, you need to be FEARED.

I didn't expect I'd be accepted as the Fluffy Bunny of the Chaos Court.

Maloth shivered slightly. Ah. What a terrifying image. Now you're really beginning to think like a Duchess.

Queen... I'm settling for nothing less.

Of course, Maloth winked, smoothing his coat and straightening his collar. My Queen, my lovely destructive Queen.

Knock it off. Stop preening yourself and make yourself less useless. Link with me while I summon your brothers, I need to know they're going to be ready.

Maloth laughed, but reached out and lightly brushed the Commander's armour clad arm, lingering ever so slightly to watch the deep red glow beating beneath Sinsifel's chest intensify at his touch.

What a beautiful union we would make. Imagine the possibilities...

I'd absorb you and use you as sandwich spread.

Is that a promise? the Chaos Lord laughed heartily.

Absolutely you twisted moose.

Indeed my Queen. It's a twisted Multiverse we walk within.

With a grunt of frustration, Sinsifel raised her arms and closed her eyes. Maloth watched with interest as one moment both of them were standing in the pavilion and then the walls of the tent, the casualty filled wasteland and the thousands of ranks of troops were swept away by a fog of unreality.

A second later and they were standing atop a jagged cliff facing several hovering pulsing rainbow auras, having transitioned across space and time into the farthest reaches of the cosmic dream.

One of the auras immediately spoke. You grow more adept at abusing my powers by the day.

Maloth could sense the voice, if you could call it a voice, wasn't only laced with bitterness but grudging admiration. Naveh, the Lord of Nightmares had never been one for parties or social gatherings. You'd never find him bringing a good bottle of wine or a fresh planet killing virus to a gathering, not like Mog, who'd invite a whole country as an appetiser.

It was Mog who spoke next, all light hearted and eager to please. If Maloth was a born leader, Xarimog was a born nuisance; a perverse manipulator of the human condition. Xarimog saw himself as a craftsman. Maloth saw him as a waste of atoms.

Ahh, our Future Queen arrives, Mog chuckled. And if I might say so, wearing such a deliciously tight fitting ensemble. What a treat for the soul.

Sinsifel was proud of her latest armour design, but wasn't about to show it. Listen up you lot I should be getting the go ahead from Tanni any moment so I need to know you're all ready.

One of the auras flashed angrily at the Commander's abruptness. We are Lords, worthy of respect. You are not a Queen yet. Not until Morgrim is deposed.

Oh Pangee, don't spoil the mood, Mog chirped back. I was always fond of her grandfather. Such a shame I lost the whole bloodline in a bet with Kûtal. I'm still not sure how that...

As Mog spoke, another blood red aura materialised and interjected. You did no such thing. The blood line belonged to the Balance long before you got your hands on it, and I have invested a lot of time and care into it over the years. Far more than you can lay claim to. This was the voice of Kûtal, Lord of Blood and from Maloth's perspective, their greatest supporter. Especially as Sinsifel was the Blood Lord's granddaughter.

Yes, well, we all know about your little jaunts into the temporal streams. And I'm accused of meddling! Mog exclaimed, in mock astonishment.

Welcome Kûtal, Sinsifel inclined her head in respect, earning yet another indignant flash from Pananga.

My child, Kûtal responded warmly. I believe we each stand ready at our respective positions.

Good. So, the moment I start laying into Morgrim, you guys begin linked assaults on each of his other power bases.

Maloth knew it was his turn to speak. He took a step forward and cleared his throat. Morgrim is already isolated, having been forced to destroy the Red road to the Idiom in an attempt to prevent the Queen and I from entering his realm. All that remains is his own power and that power granted by the Pseudo-Prime. He can still channel from his other selves, even open portals to these other realms to bring in heroes and beasts, but he stands alone. His allies in the Court are powerless to assist him.

Let us worry about those, said Mog. We won't be able to strike them all but thanks to Grand-papa Kûtal here, we know exactly when and where he will draw from his other selves. I've got to say, you're looking very... flesh bound Maloth old boy. Isn't that a little... dangerous.

I am still immortal Mog, if you're considering foul play.

Sinsifel, silent during this whole exchange, raised a hand for silence and the Lords of Chaos ceased their banter.

No one moves on anyone... especially Maloth. I hope I've made that clear.

Maloth felt his insides tighten as it galled him to have anyone standing up for him, but kept his expression completely neutral. He needed the Supreme Commander and as long as she possessed her powers, he would suffer the indignation.

Of course, Maloth is so brave, whispered Naveh sarcastically.

The only reason he's alongside you is so that he can gloat over Morgrim's defeat and steal the title of Arch Duke, said Mog. A title he's been chasing for millennia.

Such dispersions of character, says Maloth. I thank you. He bowed to Mog.

Is it true that there is a Champion of Law there? asked Naveh, trying to change the topic.

Yes, Sin replied. But he won't be a problem.

His sword will be tremendously powerful... even more so when you arrive. Do not underestimate Law's ability, Naveh cautioned. As well as the sword they have a Relic in some form, one of the Seven and in my experience, such objects can never be taken lightly.

I'm not. I'm actually counting on it, said Sinsifel.

And what of He Who Devours? Naveh whispered. He who hath targeted you throughout Time, severing your Destinies... what of HIM?

Before Sinsifel could reply, Kûtal spoke up, loud and resolute. One Foe at a time Naveh, one at a time. You know as well as any of us what would happen if we opposed him and lost... we cannot afford to hand him such power. Let the Balance restore Balance and we Lords bring Chaos.

Yes, well, Sinsifel could sense something tugging at her soul... It's time to go. Create and Destroy. Next time we converse, things will be quite a bit different.

Indeed, rumbled Kûtal with pride.

To the inevitable fall of the King of Chaos... Xarimog pulsed ecstatically.

Pananga's throbbing rainbow aura exploded with mad cackling laughter and insane mutterings as Naveh hissed To new Nightmares...

As for Maloth, he kept quiet. He preferred to make his declarations a little more privately... between himself and himself. By the end of Eldahar's current day, he would be Arch Duke and if things went to plan... he would control the very Source of Time itself.

The Supreme Commander gave him a broad smile as soon as they were back in the pavilion. Tanni is pulling to me; ready to make history?

Maloth returned her smile with a very broad one of his own, a smile mimicked by his entire Army of Selves as the Commander began summoning her powers to pierce the veil between worlds.

My dear, I'm ready to unmake history.

The Burning Sky

The Burning Sky

Thousands of feet above the earth, wrapped in cloud, something golden hovers, perfectly still, defying gravity by will and will alone with spread wings the length of a field, unmoving and utterly silent. Upon its back two figures sit, high up on seat of ivory and finest leather.

So, I guess this is it, says Brin, everything's falling into place.

Her companion, sat ahead of her, raises a willowy arm to stroke the encrusted scales of the neck before her. Yes, Azrianne replies. Everything...

DO NOT BE SAD. FEEL ALIVE. The ancient dragon's voice floods her mind with confidence but does nothing to raise the morbidity of her mood.

I can't help it, says Azrianne. I'm sad for everyone who has died and is about to die. All so that someone can gain power; such terrifying power.

INDEED. BUT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE CANNOT BE UNDONE. WHAT WE NOW KNOW MUST COME TO AN END, SO THAT CREATION CAN BEGIN AGAIN AND EACH OF US BE SET FREE OF THAT WHICH BINDS US.

You two! Brin exclaims, giving her friend an admonishing punch in the back. Enough already. Anyone would think we've lost this thing before it's even begun. Brin's own mind surges with voices but she swiftly silences them. And the Animal Lords agree. Enough already with the bleak speak. Let's win this thing.

There will be no winning today Brin. Azrianne sighs and unclasps the locket at her neck, bringing it to her lips to kiss each of the faces within. Her sister Kethry, miles below within the Hall of Ages, singing the Song of Creation alongside those dragons too old and weak to fly, and Prince Aslan, her prince, the protector to whom she had long ago pledged her heart. Be safe both of you, she whispers.

The dragon shudders beneath her as if caught in a sudden wind, but Azrianne knows no normal wind stirs the Ancient Sol. Sure enough, a split instant later, a thousand foot high white robed man appears above them, straddling the clouds and shrouded in light. With a wave of his staff the Wizard splits the cloudy sky, inviting in the sun.

Time to go, says Brin, giving the Wizard's apparition a jaunty salute.

Time to go, echoes Azrianne solemnly and Sol requires no further prompting. With the majesty earned from of a thousand lifetimes, the ancient dragon slides through the dissipating clouds, parting them before it until the sun bounces rainbows from its golden scales in every direction.

Spellbound, Azrianne holds her breath and marvels at the beauty of it as a hundred clouds dissolve and a hundred more behind those. Her eyes widen as swooping down from the highest altitudes come hundreds of scintillating sinuous shapes and a chorus of ancient voices rises up in a rumble so deep and tremulous she imagines mountains falling in its wake; voices so forlorn; so old.

MY KIN, says Rûn, aura bursting with pride. EVEN WITHOUT THE MISGUIDED ONES, WE OUTSHINE THE SUN.

Brin points at the distant red horizon. How long until we reach it?

WE ARE THERE! Rûn booms as the front line of Dragons fold astral space, closing miles of distance in mere seconds. Azrianne notices the sky shimmer for the briefest of moments and then all she sees is rolling waves of white hot fire.

Rûn Urza, most ancient of Alondian's, grunts and swerves as one of his kin is obliterated by a hissing bolt of power. Azrianne grips the saddle, grits her teeth and feels her skin crawl. The air around them buzzes and sparks as a maelstrom of magical currents rip and lash at creation in every direction.

It's a barrage of magic! Brin shouts, steadying the air around them with the gentle light of her Crown.

BAH! Rûn scoffs, IT IS NOTHING BUT A DISTRACTION. But as Azrianne closes her eyes and Urza doubles his speed, another dragon is sheared of scales and yet another spiritually overwhelmed by aggressive, almost sentient magic. Unable to deflect it, the dragon feels the Chaos permeate its flesh only to erupt again from its neck in a spray of steaming life's blood.

And then it is over. The turbulence ends, a red sky greets them and below, a throbbing blister upon the face of the world beckons.

Brin points again. That must be it! Their breach!

ALONDAI CHAI GRUACH! Rûn roars forcing Azrianne to move her hands from his neck as he tenses and a blazing glow bursts from beneath his scales. With gaping mouth, Rûn swoops over a horde of slack jawed abominations and disperses their atoms with his Breath of Light before climbing back into the sky, stung by the magical barbs of red robed priest atop befanged elephants.

Brin spots the priests, using the borrowed sight of a hawk and allows herself to slip from Rûn's saddle. This is my stop. Good luck!

Azrianne glances back but Brin is already gone, dropping through the fireballs to land softly in the midst of the Chaos forces. Several mutilated priests, flesh distorted, limbs contorted, eyes and mouths misplaced upon broken faces, focus their powers upon her, but the Crown burns their magic to nothing. Lords of Mordark, meet the Lords of the Hunt. As Brin brings both hands together in a thunderous clap, animals leap out of the air around her; a golden maned lion, an immense white-eyed gorilla, a diamond toothed mastiff and many others. The priests step back, reaching for the comfort of their protections, their demonic bindings and ritualistic oaths and laugh to their last insane breaths as tooth, claw and brutal hands rend them limb from limb.

Elsewhere in the sky, another savage battle rages, between Dragons and winged demonic skeletons with barbed tails. Summoned and in the direct service of the Lord of Mor himself, the skeletons appear no match for the strength of the dragons, but outnumber the former Creators of Eldahar more than a hundred to one - a factor that seems to be growing by the minute as each shattered skeletal bone falls onto Chaos tainted soil, it takes root, splits and reforms, giving rise to another skeletal demon. In the thick of this nightmare flies a phalanx of dragons under the command of Simion of the Ancient Greens.

BROTHERS, SISTERS, OUR FIRES ARE NOT ENOUGH. WE WILL SOON BE OVERWHELMED. With a swat of his claws and a thrash of his tail, Simion sends another flock of barbed devils scattering back to earth. He spits fire at their remains but bones escape the blast, spinning away on the wind, only to spring back to undead life again below.

WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? another dragon bellows back. THESE CREATURES WERE ANNOYING AT FIRST BUT NOW THEY'RE BEGINNING TO PROVOKE MY IRE! A devil jabs with its tail at the dragon's eyes, cutting the green's cheek and jaw before being snapped to pieces by a side bite. Yet even as it crumbles, its barbed spine explodes, hurling sharp fragments that lacerate draconian flesh.

OUR SCALES AFFORD US LITTLE PROTECTION, another blue dragon roars. THERE IS FOUL MAGIC AT WORK HERE. MAGIC THAT NOW SEEMS INTENT ON EXPLODING WHENEVER I SQUASH IT!

OF THAT YOUNG ONE, WE CAN BE CERTAIN, Simion agrees. ALL ALOFT. FOLLOW ME. Simion angles upwards and flies directly towards the sun. WE MUST TAKE THE BATTLE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE.

As the phalanx obeys, stretched like a necklace of sparkling emeralds behind him, Simion watches through his aura, hoping that the enemy pursues. And it does; a tidal wave of clacking bones and bleached white skulls, reaching up like some great maggot from below. And Simion realises what he must do. CLOSE TO TIGHT FORMATION. DEFEND ONE ANOTHER.

As the dragon phalanx breaks through the red miasma, the sun glistens upon their backs and warms their faces.

DEFEND! DO NOT BREAK THE CIRCLE! Simion roars, gnashing another dozen demons to dust.

The air begins to fill with hot draconian blood as barbs dig under scales and demonic hands cling and grope for weakness. But still Simion orders his kind to hold their ground.

I BELIEVE NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME.... coughs Suchray the red, as a barb buries itself in his throat.

AS ONE, EXTEND YOUR AURAS AND BURN THE SKY! Simion cries.

The Dragons need no further prompting. Their auras stretch out, encompassing every last one of the devil swarm. Too late the devils realise their error. Too late their master orders them to disperse as two dozen mouths spew world-shaping fire in every direction, willing it to fill every inch of their aura's, every inch of their trap.

Below, Azrianne and Rûn both glance skyward as the sky bursts apart with the white searing light of a second sun, only an instant later to shimmer and vanish to leave an empty sky.

What happened? Azrianne asks. Where did they all go?

GONE BETWEEN... SIMION! SIMION MY BROTHER.... Rûn reaches between the planes with his mind. I SENSE GREAT PAIN... AND DEATH. THESE DEVILS DO NOT DIE WITHOUT TAKING THEIR FILL.

For a moment all Azrianne hears is the beating of Rûn's wings, the thumping of the ancient's heart beneath her as his mind concentrates and scours. Then the sky flashes once again with light and half a dozen dragons emerge, aura's withdrawn, each bearing a multitude of deep and savage wounds. In their midst, Rûn sees Simion with a torn wing and a bloodied side, but head high in triumph.

NOW! Simion booms. IN CASE ANY PARTS ESCAPED, SPREAD OUT AND AVENGE OUR NOBLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS. LET NO PART TOUCH SOIL. NO EVIL TAKE ROOT.

Knock Knock

Tomorrow, Lord of the Planes, materialised above the impending battlefield and on a whim conjured a spiritual deck chair to sit on. He'd been busy, damn busy, and felt he deserved a quick break. As usual though, wearing a Crown of Power meant his breaks lasted a few seconds at most and this one proved no exception. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a fist was banging on a door. An instant later he imagined himself opening it and peeping through.

On the other side stood the Wizard Ragnek appearing more stressed than normal.

What's up now? Tomorrow sighed. Ragnek always brought bad news. He was so going to be the new Divinity of Depression.

Ragnek stepped across Tomorrow's mental threshold without waiting to be invited; something that made the former thief suddenly a little uneasy. When you entered someone else's mind you put yourself in a compromising position. It showed tremendous trust, as Tomorrow could do some serious damage if he wanted to and had been multitasking a bit over the last hour, looking at ways of using the links between the crowns, just in case.

Ragnek sounded as serious as he looked. Danae's gone off plantation. I can't find her anywhere and neither can The Oracle. The last place she said she was going was Heartland but that shouldn't have made her vanish.

Tomorrow agreed. Heartland was a plane; a new expanding Realm even, but still a place that existed and such well within the dominion of the Dragon Crowns.

I just have a bad feeling, Ragnek continued. She hasn't been right since Eskanu got into her head. We cannot afford to lose anyone else at this stage.

Agreed old boy. But she's a big girl. Maybe she just needs some space? Tomorrow knew he could. The idea of flying off into the Idiom had never been so appealing as now. Despite possessing practically unlimited power, nothing seemed to be going right for them at the moment. Every one of the Crown wearers has 'issues' and that was being nice about it.

It's more than that. Help me force her door.

That's going to piss her off. The last time they'd done that... well, it didn't bare thinking about.

I'll take the rap, says Ragnek. Lets do it.

Tomorrow sighed again, seeing how determined his friend was and allowed his mind's eye to wander until another door slid into position before them. But as soon as it appeared, both he and Ragnek became guarded.

That's not good said Ragnek, reaching out to touch the door but Tomorrow grabbed his arm to stop him.

The door was covered in a hard black crust that made Tomorrow uneasy. It didn't look healthy.

That stuff looks eerily familiar.... said Ragnek.

Draconian. Tomorrow knew the feeling well. It was the same feeling that haunted his every dream; ever since Skathe, one of Eskanu's warped Dragon-spawn, mutated and hatched from s stolen egg and raised in the Between, had invaded his mind and left a few noisome 'stains' behind.

Both of them applied mental and spiritual pressure to the door. Tomorrow could feel resistance, as if something or someone on the other side was pushing back.

I don't remember it being this hard last time, stated Ragnek, scratching his beard. Even with Danae's mind power we should be able to overwhelm her.

Agreed, it's not giving... but maybe I can... Tomorrow wanted to try something new. It will only give me a glimpse but just long enough.

Allowing the wizard to step aside, Tomorrow placed both of his palms on the door and focused between them. With eyes of fire he unleashed a narrow beam of energy at the pseudo wood, careful to balance it and shroud it in all the subtleties necessary to work. It did. Since gaining the knowledge of the Doe-Law, Tomorrow's knowledge of energy and its patterns had never fallen short of success. The beam bored in and through, allowing him the briefest of views before the door reconstituted itself.

What Tomorrow saw scared the hell out of him. He looked away.

Well? What did you see? asked Ragnek anxiously.

Danae's not home. If she is, she's got a new interior decorator. Tomorrow's expression spoke plenty more words.

Eskanu! But how? Danae was resisting that creature. There's no way she'd succumb that quickly. Not without warning us.

Tomorrow shivered away the image of a mind in turmoil; poisoned and choked by Draconian evil. We need to get in there and salvage something, before it's too late.

It may already be beyond us. Perhaps we should talk to those Orion followers she was so fond of, Tomorrow suggested. Tomorrow knew the Wizard was keen to pay them a visit, but not for Danae's sake.

Ragnek and his soul-twin Stormcrow had slightly different opinions on things and it was Stormcrow who'd moved most of Heaven's refugees into Heartland.

Why? What could they possibly do that we can't? said Ragnek incredulously, surprising Tomorrow with his reluctance. We have to do this ourselves.

I'm not so sure. Can't afford getting blammed by Evil-E this late in play. People are counting on us.

Yes and without Danae we will inevitably fail. We have to act and now!

Aww shit, Tomorrow moaned. Fine, let's try again. But if I bust a brain ball in the process, I'm holding you responsible.

With a heavy sigh, Tomorrow rejoined the wizard in front of the mind door and as one the pair threw their combined spiritual and mental weight against it. At first only a distant rumble but then a terrible crushing din filled Tomorrow's imagination until the door began to shudder and shake from enormous forces and cracks formed in it's surface. Then an explosion as the door burst open, crashing back and forth on its hinges.

Lets go! Ragnek yelled.

But a twisted almost inhuman scream from within gave him pause.

STAY AWAY. TOO MUCH DANGER! they heard a voice cry. It sounded like Danae but with something dark and malevolent chasing her words.

Danae! Tomorrow shouted into the black stifled mind until the walls of reality between them seemed about to burst. DANAE!

But even as he shouted, the door reformed and slammed in both of their faces, actually knocking Ragnek, who had his foot in the doorway, clear onto his behind.

Well that's that, declared Tomorrow, giving the door a whack as the blackness over it spread thicker than before. We can't rely on Danae's help. But there's one good thing in this...

She's wrestling with Eskanu, said Ragnek, showing insight equal to Tomorrow's. And if she's wrestling, it means Eskanu hasn't beaten her. The black hearted dragon-bitch isn't going to be causing us much grief while fighting Danae. Which I suppose is one mixed blessing.

Tomorrow had to agree. It wasn't ideal, not by a long shot, but he and Ragnek both knew when and where to pick fights and this wasn't one of those times. Where are you now? Tomorrow asked the Wizard. He was curious, as from high up above the world, surveying the blooms of chaos spells detonating below, Tomorrow realized he'd lost track of his other Crown wearer's locations. We should stick close. I feel like we're being picked off.

Ragnek coughed. Um, I'm in Southern Elandia, the Grey-Stick Inn, having a full breakfast. I didn't want to face Morgrim without bacon and eggs.

Tomorrow stared in astonishment at his friend and broke into laughter. Well, with the whole world going to the dogs, why the hell not! Get one in for me, I'm on my way.

Ragnek nodded and slipped from Tomorrow's mind, leaving the Lord of the Planes alone again with his own private phantoms. Several miles away he felt a tugging upon the astral plane as a Chaos spell ripped open a gateway. Tendrils of energy began probing their way through, solidifying the edges of a bridge across which his far sight could see a stampede of horned creatures.

A man's gotta earn his bacon I guess, he muttered to himself, appearing before the freshly torn gate and startling a plainly dressed Chaos worshipper. The man had his shirt open and a grizzly brand exposed.

Hello.... said Tomorrow, lifting the man into the air with a slight wave of his hand.

I have been chosen! By Mor himself. The Coven shall be reborn! the man screamed feverishly.

Yah yah, said Tomorrow, shaking his head. I foresee a stillbirth. An instant later, at high velocity, the Coven member hurtled through the gate to be caught and devoured by the approaching horde.

Tomorrow then concentrated and re-knit the astral plane, weaving threads of energy back into their original matrix until no trace, memory or imprint of the event remained. I wonder if they have fried bread....

The Unmaking

Harmony only had to wait a minute before receiving the mental summons to enter the Elder God's hall. It seemed quite normal for her now but in the beginning, the first time she had entered the Idiom's Nexus, even she had been overwhelmed. She had seen many amazing sights in her travels through the Id's but none so moving and all powerful as that at the heart of the Nexus. To think that beings millions of years old prayed and worshipped for the chance to stand where she was for even the briefest of moments; it humbled her.

She could sense the Elder Gods, immense shapeless beings the size of tower blocks, watching as she approached from behind their mysterious curtains of light. She could also sense a barely perceptible, even to her acute spiritual abilities, sadness in the fabric of reality around them.

My time has come to an end. The voice of Quizzil, oldest and greatest of the Gods and last of the great Yuushi'att reverberated through every atom of her being. I have out existed two cycles of the Multiverse. I have seen creation end, begin, end and begin. Now I am... ready.

Harmony tuned her atoms to the God's voice and let its mind become a part of her. She read its intent. I understand, she thought in return. How may I bring about your end?

For an instant she sensed surprise from the other Gods looking down upon her. They hadn't known. Quizzil had kept this part of his plan even from them.

Your insight child is truly my equal. You are correct. My form is stronger than that which crushes universes and yet so permeable even Time cannot touch it. My thoughts are the heart of a billion suns. And yes I ask that you unmake me.

Harmony found herself crying and at that moment, one with Quizzil, a hundred stars were born from the love she felt for it. I will do as you ask, she said with a bowed head. There would be a consequence and both of them knew it. She understood how it would change her and what it would mean.

But the time had come.

The burden is now yours my child. Do with it how you will.

The other Gods raised their minds in unison to create a last great thought... to honour the oldest and wisest of their number. And Harmony joined with it, helped seal it and send it on its way.

Then with love, she merged with the God and unmade the unmakeable. And in so doing destroyed the Nexus.

Mal-adjusted Intent

As Tanni and the only surviving Mal soldier on the Broken Realm watched, the protective dome of energy over the Sanctuary flickered once, twice and then vanished forever, announcing open season on anyone and anything not safely within the Sanctuary's central Bastion.

With tentacles and clouds of fiery gas already descending from the sky to torch the city's wondrous gardens and choke its minarets, Tanni knew their time was running out just as quickly as everyone elses. We have to get out of here. Can you get a fix on any concentrations of Chaos? Tanni asked the Mal.

Mal, the Mal, raised an eyebrow at that question. Not surprising really as the both of them could easily be classified as 'concentrations' themselves. This whole world is Chaos Handmaiden. I can however sense channels of power that are being used to conjure these apparitions. He gestured overhead at one of the tentacles crushing a tower until it exploded. I may with some manipulation be able to convey us along it to the proximity of their summoner but there will be a large margin for error, especially as so many summoner's seem to be involved.

Do it. As long as it's away from here and closer to where we need to be. Hold my ring and draw power from it if you need to.

Tanni watched as Mal composed himself and drew several deep breaths. If there were two things the Mal were good at, one was commanding other lesser chaos entities and the other was recognising and making use of chaotic transmissions, with each and every Mal able to turn himself into a chaotic transmitter and receiver; kind of like twenty four seven Chaos radio.

I have the channel. Mal took hold of Tanni's hand and an instant later the two of them were flying disembodied through waves of turbulent power.

A jolt, a flash of fire and Tanni crashed into solid ground with Mal by her side. She turned to congratulate him but the words caught in her throat as much of the skin had been melted from his bones.

Overload, Mal explained through charred flaking lips. Too much power in the atmosphere. Too many rituals and summonings, gateways and warping of reality. Impossible to navigate. My apologies.

Don't be silly Tanni chastised. You did great. Is that you done?

I am a Mal, a facet of Maloth. I can never be 'done', Mal replied indignantly, heaving himself onto an elbow.

Good, because I need that highly tuned nose of yours, or what's left of it anyway Tanni grimaced. She offered the Mal her own demonic hand and hoisted him to his feet. He was a gruesome sight, cheek bone and eye socket fully exposed with smoke rising from patches of sizzling flesh and yet unflinching and immune to pain. Maloth sure cloned himself tough.

The two of them took stock of their surroundings. They were on a steep mountain side beneath a fire filled sky. Above them, at the mountain's summit, at regular intervals meteors exploded from inside the mountain, upwards and across the sky to come arching down many miles away.

Down away from the mountain in every conceivable direction Tanni could make out thousands of trudging shapes; an army of Chaos marching to some distant destination. She wondered if they would even make it to the front in time or whether their part in this Armageddon scenario was simply to trudge.

We appear to have landed on a mountain turned cannon Mal observed. How unimaginative of the Arch Duke. He always did like making use of natural resources though. Never very wasteful.

How far do you think it is to his base of operations? asked Tanni.

I honestly couldn't tell you. I don't have enough presence here to pinpoint anything and channelling ourselves again would without a doubt prove fatal for one or both of us Mal explained.

Tanni bit her lower lip and leaned for a moment on Black Bone. Fine, here will have to do. Sin wanted me to get as close as possible but I guess we don't have any choice.

Actually, maybe we do, said Mal, giving Tanni a long hard stare with his one unburned eye.

---

Even from her vantage point in the middle of her lumbering captors Tanni could still see too much of her surroundings. She'd seen a great deal fighting alongside Sinsifel over the last couple of years but this Morgrim sure knew how to turn someone's stomach and disturb someone's mind.

The corridor she and the Mal were being led down was made of heaving blood drenched flesh and if that weren't enough to make her wretch, the whole thing was alive. Every now and then she would pass a tormented face mouthing silent pleas or have to step around a reaching broken hand, or over a pair of desolate eyes.

The Mal had said it was Morgrim's attempt at art. But to Tanni it was just the product of a sick mind; a mind that Sinsifel would soon have bowing before her and a mind that would soon feel the inky smooth blackness of her sword stained with Naveh's very own brand of horror through its every thought.

Tanni had had dark thoughts quite a lot recently but still occasionally surprised herself with them. If her father saw her now he would see a monster; a Servant of Chaos hellbent on creating more of the same. Yet she had come to accept her role a long time ago. When her life had been extended, her hand had been replaced with that of the Chaos Lord of Nightmares and she had fallen in love with who she firmly believed would be the first and only Queen of Chaos.

She knew her role. She was the Handmaiden. Sin's bodyguard.

The Black Giants had taken her sword, removed her armour and that of the Mal, then bound the both of them in a pair of spider demons that had jumped themselves onto their backs and brought eight thick steel-like limbs wrapping around their bodies to pin their arms. Then to make things even more uncomfortable they had positioned fangs at the base of their necks, ready to inject some deadly poison straight into their spines.

Both she and the Mal had tough skin but something told her the spiders could exert a tremendous amount of force in a very small area and the Black Giants were not taking any chances either. Two of them gripped Tanni and the Mal in tight rings of kinetic energy while another two stood ready to cast metal nets and impale the both of them with fifteen foot long tridents.

Tanni hadn't been convinced about the Mal's plan before and still wasn't now. But at least one part of it, the most important part of it, had gone fine so far. She still had her ring on. The giants had noticed its chaotic aura but not considered it a threat; not anywhere near as much as her hand. Fortunately the ring only showed a tiny representation of Sinsifel's aura, not the whole thing, because if it had the giants would have killed them on the spot.

The Hand of Naveh had posed a problem for the giants to begin with and had nearly been for the chop but after a quick long distance consultation with someone quite knowledgeable had declared it safe, just so long as no one fell asleep around it.

More fool them was Tanni's opinion. Hadn't they ever heard of daydreaming?

Still things looked pretty bleak. They were on their way to see some minor underling and then potentially on to see some major ass hole, but at least they were moving, being conducted behind enemy lines by a pretty impressive escort. The further the better. The closer and faster the better, because Tanni and the Mal didn't care what happened to themselves. She was fast, could regenerate from most injuries and Black Bone could be summoned to her hand at will. While Mal the Mal was just one facet of thousands, prepared to sacrifice himself, but only if he had to, for the greater goal of his kind.

So Tanni considered herself prepared. Bring it on she whispered to herself.

---

What is the meaning of this intrusion?! the high priest of Chaos bellowed, his mouth full of tusks like a several wild boars crammed into one.

Prisoners for the attention of the First Eternal, one of the Black Giants boomed back. Out of our way little pig man.

Choking on the insult the priest found himself moved aside by a giant black foot and a nearly lethal thrust of a trident. But you cannot pass through this gate. This gate is sealed by Lord Karpas who is engaged in ritual. No one can pass.

We will pass the Black Giant clenched its fist.

The priest was suddenly flanked by armoured Orn who rushed from side passages growling in anger and eager to taste blood; a fight seemingly inevitable. Their square cleaver like blades and manes of gray white and black fur hanging with mementos hacked from their greatest foes made them far more than just a rabid pack of armoured dogs.

Listen to pig head. No one pass, one of the Orn grunted through a mouth full of filed teeth and bleeding gums.

Tanni had never seen them before and wouldn't forget them in a hurry. Their dental hygiene was atrocious. Well, we made it through three gates she sighed. Three is better than none.

Mal nodded. It is truly amazing how far a little suggestion can get you, especially when the minds bare no relation in size to the forms he agreed, before opening his burned and twisted mouth to speak directly to the giants in a voice steeped in command. Release us now and engage these infidels he said and almost immediately and quite naturally the Black Giants moved to do his bidding.

Not many creatures of Chaos could resist Maloth's Voice of Command and big as the giants were, they were not among them. But such a big command made earlier on would have made them too rigid, too awkward and suspicious. So a simple suggestion here and there had done the trick to get them this far. 'Why use a hammer to break a rock when you also have a chisel' Tanni's father used to say. A wise man that Kaine, even if a bit strict on bedtimes.

Two of the giants moved to order the spiders off while the other two slung kinetic blasts at the leading Orn. The Orn dug in but several flew backwards like leaves in a gale.

Raise the alarm! the priest screamed before retreating for the safety of a reinforced door. He made it at least half way before Tanni's sword flew through his sternum.

To the gate! Mal commanded as tridents impaled Orn in every direction. But to Tanni's amazement, despite being out sized and up against magic, the Orn refused to retreat or give up their attack. Instead they worried at a Black Giant like a pack of wolves until it fell to its knees, gashed from knee to ankle and one of their number took a flying leap with a beastly howl to plunge its cleaver into the giant's neck.

We appear to have caused a bit of a ruckus said Mal. Might not now be a good time to summon our allies?

We can take these dogs for a walk first and push one more gate in Tanni replied, leaping between two eight foot Orn and cutting both in two with her supernatural strength. You're not beginning to doubt your own plan are you?

Well to be fair my plan involved very little actual fighting and it would appear that aspect of it is now defunct.

Just grab a sword will you and follow me. This is what I do best, Tanni grinned.

If only I was more myself said Mal. I could command so much more.

Well you're not. You're just one Mal soldier, so four giants...

Make that three....

Three giants will just have to suffice.

Two dozen more Orn burst onto the scene with howls and yelps of excitement and wild untamed eyes. And as the Orn charged in, Tanni tasted blood in the air and felt her heart quicken with supernatural hunger.

A Hollow Life

It had always been there. Listening to the echoes, waiting on the ripples. And recently, if such a thing existed and could be defined, they had grown in intensity and regularity, to the point of being predictable and anticipated.

It had no heart but the beat of the darkness, the breath of the unknown, and recently for yes recently had perhaps now begun to exist, things had changed.

It was the quickening, a almost definable increase that some might infer as longing that made it listen all the harder. As something somewhere was happening.

Mind over Matter

Mind Over Matter

Tamara, Motherland, creator and shaper of the new continent of Heartland felt chilled to the soul and couldn't understand why.

Towering over her, the mighty black skinned Abaddon, a figure who normally instilled calm and confidence in her thoughts, seemed equally disturbed. As the greatest but least well known of the Black Elves who had been used for thousands of years as a tortured bloodhound leading the Foe to Eldahar, Abaddon was well versed in feeling bad about things. But even he felt something was wrong and would not tear his gaze from the sky.

What do you think it is that darkens our moods? Tamara asked, gently resting her delicate black hand upon Abaddon's forearm.

Whatever it is my lady it is beyond this plane and therefore beyond our control.

How so? Tamara gazed up into star-filled eyes that had been imagined and created by Orion himself and not for the first time these past few days, found herself lost in their depths.

Abaddon held her and gestured with his head out to the lands beyond the palace. Because Fatherland and Brotherland are also restless it seems.

Tamara withdrew slightly and caught herself to her own disdain, pouting like a girl. They've far sensed to you?

No, not yet. But I feel their discomfort.

Why don't I feel them? I'm closer to them than you. Tamara hated being left in the dark, especially in a plane where she was the primary creator.

Perhaps because of exactly that. You are all too close to one another. I merely feel it because you and they feel it. I don't believe I am directly being effected it. But I am empathically aware of it through proximity.

Tamara nodded. It made sense. Abaddon was able to gain incredible insights into others. After all, hadn't it been one of the reasons that Ashar had left them alone, because Abaddon had threatened to delve into that man's insanity and turn over a few stones.

She had no doubt attempting such a thing would have killed him, but he wouldn't have died in vain. Ashar's plan might very well have been exposed... had she had the courage to let Abaddon do it.

Instead Danae had been forced to go with him and Tamara, Hannibal, the Shade of Orion and Orion's Child had simply watched and pretended, a little too hard for her liking, to be helpless.

Ashar had terrified her. Abaddon had helped her admit that. But failing Orion terrified her more.

Heartland needed her.

Look! said Abaddon, squeezing her hand in his and pointing with his other to the night sky. That is new.

Tamara looked and for the briefest of moments couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. Nothing occurred in Heartland without happening in miniature somewhere in her mind first. The strain of so many refugee souls flooding into the plane and so many details in the trees, forests, lakes and rivers, mountains and subterranean caverns would have destroyed many of the greatest minds to ever live.

But Tamara knew what she was; a conduit, a go-between, between the mind of Orion and what people mistook for reality. She was their wake up call. The person chosen by Orion to either put the world to sleep in the perfect dream or wake the world from one.

And yet, what she saw in the sky had nothing to do with her.

It seemed as if all the stars were falling at once and as they fell, dislodged from their cosmic perches, they streamed towards one another, forming a mass of light that fell faster and faster until in a blinding shock that for a second turned night into day, the heavens crashed upon the land and sent a mental shock wave that knocked her off her feet and into Abaddon's arms.

What on earth? she gasped.

We should go and see. The others are already moving, Abaddon stated, his tremendous scientific curiosity briefly superseding any concern for her wellbeing. Do you need a moment? he asked her mentally, but as an afterthought.

No, but I would be lying if I said my mind hadn't just been bludgeoned.

Abaddon reached out with his mind and in an instant they were elsewhere, atop the edge of a vast burning crater. To their left stood the shade of Hannibal Murdoch O'Neal and to their right hovered the disembodied black shape of Fatherland.

Five thousand feet from edge to edge, the crater. had decimated a recently created forest and set fire to miles of grassland in every direction. Tamara knew it could all be repaired, or at least that it should be able to repaired, but the sheer scale of it still shocked her.

Deep below, in the bottom of the crater. the five of them witnessed something moving in the smoke and earthen heat.

It is madness, said Hannibal. Pure madness. Madness has befallen us.

Tamara could sense it too. Something raging below them. Then suddenly for the briefest of moments she glimpsed scales just before the five of them took an involuntary step back and a tortured inhuman howl shook the plane to its core.

What is it? she whispered to Abaddon with her mind. What horror has come to our new home?

I will find out. But you and the others must stay here. Nothing can befall you. Do you understand my lady? Nothing. Abaddon transfixed her with his eyes and she felt the spider-like crawl of coercion tracing across her mind.

She saw through it but bowed to his sense anyway. Be careful.

Hannibal was pacing nervously along the rim of the crater. muttering to himself and scratching his arms until the bled. I don't like this. Don't like this at all. There's a mind down there that is out of control. Wild and crazed. Too much like mine. Far too much. We should just leave it alone. Walk away. Yes we should. Walk away.

Abaddon spoke softly to the tortured spirit before walking down. Be calm Hannibal. Sometimes not all is as it seems.

Oh but it is! Hannibal warned in return. There is something like me down there. Something wrong. Something that shouldn't be.

Abaddon descended and after a minute vanished into clouds of heat and smoke. Tamara tried to follow him with her mind but like Hannibal and the wavering shadow of Orion to her right, their minds seemed unable to penetrate whatever crazed Metapsychic shielding existed at the crater's bottom.

It's bad. This is how it all began. This is how it all went bang and everyone died, said Hannibal, shaking with fear. Tamara had never seen him like that. He seemed to regret his past and occasionally, in his most lucid moments, talked of a bottomless hole in his mind, but she had never seen him terrified until now.

Another minute passed and another, the waiting unbearable. And then a tall shadowy shape began to climb back up. Tamara sighed with relief when the shape was obviously Abaddon but then gasped with surprise when she could see what he was carrying, draped in his arms.

Danae; her skin part scaled, her face distorted, her spine twisted and her eyes brimming with insanity but definitely Danae. She was convulsing, making Draconian-like sounds, her Metafunctions out of control around her making shapes and gnashing teeth appear in a cloud of phantoms.

Tamara felt her heart sink to new depths of despair. It was Danae, but also something else.

She's done it! Hannibal shrieked. She's eaten a mind. We should just kill her now!

NO! Abaddon raised his voice. She needs our help.

But you can't ever understand Hannibal continued, bringing the full force of his mind to bare in the Black Giant's direction. No one can understand.

We will help her. She is one of us and vital to Orion's return. Whatever has happened is Orion's will! declared Tamara. She so hoped that was true. Join with me in concert. Together the four of us may be able to find some way of correcting this.

I can't, I can't! Hannibal continued to yell. If I go in there I'll remember. They'll remember and they'll all rise up against me!

What are you talking about? Tamara asked. Who will get you?

Them! All the people. All the people I ate!

Unbeknownst to Hannibal, Fatherland floated silently to his side and reached out to touch his head. The effect was instantaneous. The tenseness seemed to drain from his body he slumped like a puppet. Fine, I'll try. But I warned you. I warned you all he muttered, resigned to his fate.

Abaddon placed Danae on the ground and took Tamara's hand. Tamara in turn took Hannibal's and the ever silent Fatherland completed their circle.

Tamara was a master at linking minds. It was her greatest skill. Magnifying the sum of the minds to achieve greater potency and efficiency. She was the conductor of the chorus, the architect of the concert but she knew Abaddon was the superior redactor.

I'm surrendering the link to you she stated, knowing Abaddon would accept.

I will do my utmost the Black Elf replied. That I am here to help, perhaps that truly is fate.

She won't be who she was. She'll be different. If she lives, added Hannibal.

If her mind cannot be saved, then none of this around us matters. If we can't heal her, how can we hope to heal HIM? Tamara responded.

But then their minds became surgical extensions of Abaddon's and the time for talking was over.

Out of Prophecy

The moment the air began to hum the two demons let the strings of their newly made human dolls go limp and in unison unsheathed their phantom blades.

Mirror? one of them asked aloud, sniffing the air with its massive trout.

No, magic spell. Big too, it's companion replied, letting its webbed talons caress the air like the strings of a harp.

Why hasn't it been deflected? the first asked again in a hiss, allowing dozens of new eyes to sprout from its head to look in every direction. I see no...

At that instant King North appeared twenty feet away, resting his hands upon the cross hilt of the sword Need and both demons bristled defensively with Chaos. The King looked resplendent, garbed head to toe in Mirror Mir armour and wearing a striking Blue mantle across his world bearing shoulders. But of course, such an observation was lost on the demons. Instead, they only saw something very very dangerous.

The first puffed itself out, swelling in size and mass while at the same time hardening its skin into something akin to adamantine. The second, plunged bloodily inside of its own flesh with a talon and prepared to crush its own heart and open the biggest magical gateway it could.

But then a voice seared their minds and with what felt like a thousand hammer driven nails, took control of their flesh.

HE IS EXPECTED the voice said, and the two demons, now nothing more than mindless nightmarish shells, lumbered aside.

North passed between them, beneath a shimmering multicoloured arch that could steal a soul, to the base of stairs that could bring change with every step. And as he climbed, Need seemed to fight it all and grow hotter and hotter to the touch.

WE HAVE WAITED MANY YEARS FOR THIS, YOU AND I, the voice spoke, its sound resonating from the very substance around him. YOUR PROPHECY IS OVER. NOTHING WATCHES OVER YOU NOW.

I know, North replied, staring fiercely at the bombardment of wards and magics all around him; so much magic that Need began to sear his hands. I thought I'd come anyway. To pay my respects on the day of your greatest defeat.

YOU THINK I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR PLANS? THIS IS MY WORLD. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. I KNOW OF THE ARK. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN AND I HAVE FORESEEN YOUR FAILURE A THOUSAND TIMES.

I've never been one for caring about the odds, said North, gripping Need tighter, in case it fly from his hands under the assault of Chaos.

The top of the steps was coming into view and with it, tall as the sky, the warping bending walls of the Citadel of Souls. It hurt the eyes to look at but it was hard not too, as if light itself had a purpose, to crawl in behind your sockets and dice up your brain. Fortunately though, his Mirror Mir helm seemed to take the edge off it and the final step also saw an end to the chaotic assault.

How do you want to do this? North asked the Citadel and the entity within it.

YOU WILL WATCH YOUR PEOPLE DIE. WATCH YOUR PLANS UNRAVEL. AND THEN, WHEN YOUR SOUL IS AT ITS WEAKEST, YOU WILL GIVE ME WHAT IS NOW RIGHTFULLY MINE.

North nodded and approached a newly forming red swirling window of light. For now, I agree only to watch.

INDEED. THEN WATCH. AND WHEN THAT IS DONE. I SHALL HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE SWORN BY LAW TO GIVE.

North knelt before the window, stared at the figures moving across its surface and as their screams arose from it, felt each one strike him like a whip.

Some things are inevitable, he thought to himself, holding Need until his palms bled. While others... others are the will of Fate.

Wan's Personal Summary of Events

Along with finding Red, Wan has other thoughts swirling around in his head and a lot of questions.

I have concerns regarding Sapphira & Methos as I have no real idea where the Dream Dragon of Seraphir will lead.) Will the “Watcher” help? Sapphira has the Armour of Phanes; will that help her in any way? Also, will they make contact with Harmony? And what are Methos' ultimate goals?

How does I, Alyxia and Sapphiria overcome the broken Heartstone issue? What is missing from them and how do we fix it?

Enlightenment is the key for me, but it involves embracing all aspects of human life, including emotions. To be at one with the World I need to understand emotions as well.  I need to be human, but more.

I already have Altur’s knowledge and emotions, Gray’s dedication and Wan’s power but will that be enough to become the Daycaster and steer humanity in the final day?

Seph should be less troubled as she was born in another ID.

Now to Alyxia. Should she declare to the other Spirits? It would worth uniting them on our side.

Also, she is the house of Dusk and Red is the House of Dawn, both key elements of the DAY. She also has Golden disk of the Arch Angel which might be a key to the Tower of Time as well as the Dagger of Phanes. Now full Mirror Mir armour too and able to create a “new” spirit sword, she is a lot more formidable but needs to maximise these changes.

I have major concerns regarding Godark though, but more specifically KK. At least KK will be very busy soon.

As a Triumvirate we still haven't had chance to realise our full potential.

I am also thinking about the Skara Axis of Temoa’Kain. Would that be big enough to remove the Hollow from the Prime? And what does the Sun Crystal do? Godark sure has some powerful items.

Could Rombhard close the gateway if he had access inside the Hollow? Rombhard learned how to create the Nothing so now how to unmake the Nothing?

It's crucial though, whatever happens, that the eye of Chaos does not enter the Prime. It would be really bad if both the Annex Animus and the Eye of Chaos came into contact. Really bad.

I'm also still wondering how Tharizden made a connection to Annex Animus? Hadn't I dealt with the Living Dark already? Is there something I'm missing?

Obviously the Tri need to close the gate from the Prime side (leaving Queen Red to do her thing). Hopefully Kizzik and Cantoninus have had sufficient time to track down the “new Sun”.

Red could easily run and disappear, but hopefully she will stay following our help to North and realising my connection to “Daycaster” which is important to her and Orin.

The other half of the World's Heart should be quite sufficient to sever any “Witch” connection to Ashar (this may have been North’s plan all along, to pull her back from his clutches).

Wan believes Red is following old instructions to remain “low” by North until either he or “Daycaster” return (both have the only connections left to the Eternal Source).

Ashar will certainly be distracted and Wan hopes he will have sufficient time to try and make contact with Red if all goes to plan (that’s a big if with all the Chaos held against us at present)

This is an evolving plan, but at least a start.

The Tunnels of Orkrist

Ice Tunnels

Wan, Alyx and Godark have made their decision, to accompany Queen Red on her suicide mission to block the second entrance to Eldahar Prime.

Session 15/08/11 @10pm for 1hr.

Red steps into the mirror portal first and arrives, sword drawn in the frozen tunnels beneath the Titan Graveyard.

The temperature this far north is well into the minus twenties but Red doesn't feel it because she has the Ice-Fear, the same Breath of Kyth as her King and husband, North. Not only granting her immunity to the cold, but also the strength of a small giant, little has ever stood before a swing of her blade.

And a little to her disappointment nothing stands before her today, only the bleak ice and a maze of identical tunnels; the creaking of ice under a thousands of years of pressure, as loud as any marching army.

General Aimar and some his elite Mirror-Guard arrive next, fanning out around her, followed almost immediately by Godark, still muttering in frustration at it taking so long. Oh for fuck's sake! he declares, both before leaving the Sanctuary and arriving to find a distinct lack of action. I thought we were arriving in the middle of a battleground? he complains.

You're appetite for death will soon be whetted, Aimar replies gruffly.

It better be thinks Godark. Or you're going to have one hungry sword on your hands you old fart.

Alyx appears next, followed almost immediately by Wan and the remaining guard carrying the Arkysancture of Law suspended between two poles. As soon as Alyx arrives the cold takes her by surprise and makes her stagger, but she quickly recovers and instinctively adapts her new body and spirit to cope.

Wan on the other hand pays the cold no heed. Instead, his aura sense scans the area in minute detail, from the state of his allies to the chaos filled air with something stretching thinly through it like a delicate fibrous web of energy.

Whatever it is, some spell or protection, it seems to rapidly decay as they move forwards and seems to be both ahead of them, behind them and penetrating the ice.

Wan asks around if anyone else knows what it is. My hope is it's some sort of early warning system, thinks Godark to Wan's aura. So we can get this party started he then thinks privately to himself.

Red doesn't speak but stands uncertain of her direction for a moment. Then, as if catching a scent she bounds ahead with the group at her heels.

Where the hell are we going? asks Alyx. But no one gives her an answer.

A junction, a t-junction and more identical long and empty tunnels pass by with Red homing in on some unseen destination. At one point the group stops as the tunnel wall thins to their right and a thousand Morman march obliviously by on its other side. But nothing comes close to barring their way.

Wan senses some discomfort from Alyx and asks her what is wrong. We're going into battle and I don't know if I'm ready. I guess I'm missing Woethorn she replies.

Despite only being in the tunnels for a couple of minutes, Alyx spirit whispers nervously to Godark. I just realised. This is going to end up in one hell of a battle isn't it?

Godark nods. If Kranatakyn and I have anything to do with it. Yes.

Bugger. I just agreed with Wan's decision to do this without thinking it through. I don't know what kind of help I'm going to be. This stuff is way beyond me. I can't compete with the likes of you two. I can't even come close!

Only through battle will you come to understand your potential, Godark says quite sagely.

I'm not so sure. I'm scared as hell. I mean, this is a World of Chaos we're going up against here. Even Wan with his connection to the Source of our Eldahar doesn't weigh up against that and I've always trusted he could handle anything.

Wan is irrelevant. His powers will wane as the two worlds grow weaker and Armageddon approaches. The only power you need trust is the one that has no ties and with conflict can only grow stronger.

Your sword I suppose?

Me, Godark says with finality.

Their private conversation is suddenly interrupted by a sudden drop in temperature and spiritual shifting in the ice, both to their sides and beneath their feet.

Elementals, Red says to Aimar, just as the first of the creatures begins flash freezing their boots to the ground.

It all happens in a second but a second is a long time for Wan, who steps forwards into the center of the group and expands his aura to push the Elementals back. I will keep them at bay he says aloud, earning a nod of respect from the General.

Yet even with their attack thwarted, the creatures pound and hurl themselves futilely against his aura, refusing to give up and trailing along behind the group.

At last the tunnels begin sloping upwards and Red signals everyone to pause. The exit to the graveyard is ahead she announces, speaking for the first time to the group.

Aimar sniffs and speaks as well. And there's a Drake.

About to suggest a plan or at least open up a debate on the best way to proceed, Wan finds himself a little frustrated when without any warning Red runs forwards, straight into battle, followed by an even more eager Godark.

Go, I'll deal with the Elementals Alyx volunteers, sensing Wan's brief indecision about leaving her and the Ark unprotected.

Wan doesn't question her ability.

The Ice Drake

The Ice Drake Fargeth

The tunnel opens into a large ice cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites, and at its far end, blocking the way out to open sky, a giant growling Ice Drake chained to the wall by a magical glowing collar. As Red engages the Drake in a headlong charge Wan leaps amongst the stalactites to get a better look and see what lies beyond it; a small army of Chaos, consisting mostly of Mormen, Mist Wraiths and Chaos priests.

Red's first blow is a ferocious one, slicing the Drake's snout to the bone and releasing blood that almost instantly freezes in the air like liquid hydrogen. Only her strength allows her to pull her blade free and evade from its agonised thrashing.

Godark on the other hand appears less foolhardy and hangs back, whirling his black sword around his head to create a black circle of energy. Then when the circle seems wide enough he flicks it forward like a rope to perfectly lasso the Drake's head and with the will and strength of Kranatakyn, pin it to the floor. Down boy! he laughs.

Next it is Wan's turn and he has a slightly different approach in mind, one that doesn't seem to gel with that of Red. Landing on the Drake's back, just below the glowing collar, he rips it apart with his spiritual empowered hands and as he does so receives a flash vision of a mutilated Chaos priest clutching his heart and keeling face first into a cauldron of stew.

Wan prepares to use his aura as leverage, planning on turning the Drake around to rage against the army, but a second later Red administered a second blow that nearly severs the beasts head, leaving him stood on top of a corpse.

We go, now she commands, gesturing for the others to exit the tunnel and join her.

Wan is unhappy with the course things seem to be going in. Look Queen Red, coordinating our actions will bring about better success. We need to get to the gate first, not get weighed down with fighting so far from our destination.

This is my mission, not yours. We do what I say, Red replies with a steely glare, before jogging out to face the Chaos army.

When Godark joins her, Kranatakyn humming with excitement in his hands, he cannot help but express his disappointment at there only being five thousand or so of the enemy. Oh this is just piss he declares.

A spoonful of sugar to sweeten the taste of the meal Kranatakyn croons in his mind. Let us be about the slaughter. I hunger for what their juices.

We don't need to fight them, says Wan, primarily to the Queen. I can lift everyone over their heads and bounce us far from here. He has an idea, of surrounding everyone in a bubble of spirit and pressurising the air to suspend them within it. This way even those with powerful magic resistance should, theoretically be able to be moved, allowing Wan to bounce the whole group over the heads of the Chaos forces and beyond.

I doubt it will work. I'm resistant to any spiritual or magical interference says Red.

Let me try, suggests Wan.

Red considers for second as the -ormen stand and begin moving towards them and their Mist Wraith commanders howl like a tormented wind. She agrees and Wan tries to grasp her with air, to no avail. Red's spells of protection, bestowed by Need over seventeen years ago and unequalled in power or potency defy Wan's manipulations.

Even when he tries direct hand to hand contact he finds the magic resisting him, causing tremendous spiritual friction between them.

Aimar keeps the foe at bay, slicing at Mist Wraiths with Slayer and shredding their spirits. Whatever we're doing, we better do it quick, he suggests.

Red retrieves her hand with an 'I told you' so look and seems to change her mind about something. Leave me, she orders. I'll find a way of propelling myself after you. If your way works at least you'll get the others through without having to expend any of their powers.

Once again Wan doesn't hesitate. He moves away from Red, surrounds everyone in air, including Godark who doesn't hide his disappointment, and propels his bubble skyward over the approaching Chaos army.

He's such a boring arse sometimes, he spirit whispers to Alyx.

Well I think he's practical, Alyx defends.

Exactly, practical is just another word for 'boring arse.'

Without looking to see Wan and the others go, Red faces an onrush of Mist Wraiths. With Deed whistling in the air, she moves between dozens of cold grasping fingers, bringing the final death to the already dead and contemplates her next move.

With Wan and the others out of the way she reaches for the Horn of Heroes and fingers the belt clip holding it in place before ducking a sudden flurry of -orman arrows and using her shield to parry the accurate ones.

Propel myself after you she laughs. Not quite.

As Mist Wraiths swarm on her position, threatening to overpower her with sheer numbers, she closes her eyes and opens them again an instant later in the middle of the army.

For a second nothing notices her but then a seven foot tall -orman wearing head to toe ice-blue armour jumps towards her. With tiny spikes of ice on top of its head, across its face like pins and on the backs of its hands, the high ranking -orman updûl moves within a swirling cloud of razor sharp crystals and brandishes a throbbing blue ice blade of savage and wild design.

I am Fractal the Frozen Fear. Prepare to meet your...

The Morman's words splutter to an end as Red's Mirror Mir shield ploughs into its teeth.

Nearby a giant blood red boar standing some eighteen feet at the shoulder strains against its chains and snorts clouds of fire that even at a distance Red feels weakening her strength. But at that moment it isn't her main concern. Needing at least a second to close her eyes and dimension jump a little further through the army, she finds herself unable to do so, under brutal and relentless assault from the Morman's magical blue blade.

The two of them exchange a dozen blows, their blades ringing together in a magical cacophony, the power making the ice shatter beneath their feet. Then Red unbalances the updûl with a low kick to the shin and skims over the blue blade to impale its wielder in the mouth.

The boar breaks its chains and with a roar stomps forwards only to find her gone and far beyond its senses.

Her second hop lands her right next to a priest frantically scribbling in blood on a sheet of skin, giving her just a moment to shield bash and spatter the skin with brains. Her third hop lands her in an open space, behind the -orman lines and her fourth on a low ridge, several hundred feet further beyond the army.

Then with Wan's sphere still ahead of her, she continues blinking to catch up, leaving the army's remaining leader, a giant called Yuba Sedool, or Winter's Fist, scratching his tufted head over Fractal's mutilated head.

Surfing the Channel

The Channel Between Worlds

It's kicking off big time over there. Tomorrow knew he had a knack for stating the obvious but still did it anyway, just to keep himself focused away from the rampaging psychic impression of the dragon-wyvern she-bitch Skathe in his head.

Whatever gives you that impression? Ragnek asked, busy manipulating threads of magical energy to contain as many rapidly spreading Chaotic gateways as possible.

I'm looking at it right now, Tomorrow pointed at empty air. They were both standing on a mountain peak so there was a lot of it.

You can see clearly into the other Eldahar now? Ragnek asked, a little surprised. Despite the blocking?

I can't just see into it, I can affect it! Tomorrow picked up a small rock and with a slight wiggle of his fingers casually tossed it through the planes and into the other even more volatile Eldahar.

Hmm, Ragnek split himself in two so that one half could continue with his magical delays and the other could regard Tomorrow with a serious stare. The Convergence is proceeding faster than we anticipated as Chaos is thriving off of the conflict, meaning... North's people no longer have enough time to close their side of the gates.

Tomorrow opened his mouth but the Wizard cut him off.

I know what you're thinking but it would be suicide to even try it. You'd immediately be targeted by the Archduke and neutralised. Need I remind you of what happened to Syrene and I? HE is simply too powerful for us.

Don't you think I know that? Tomorrow replied, a little exasperated at the old man's berating tone. The speed that we're converging and the way the planal barrier is weakening, I wouldn't even need to go over there. I could simply do a bit of 'bending' and squeeze right down the middle. Tomorrow flash projected his plan into Ragnek's mind. I'm not really needed here. You and Stormy-You have the outbreak of our little screaming red measles under wraps, or sort of at least, while Brin is off ploughing up some mountains on Goldy-scales and reshaping the whole of the north into a Chaos filled bagel. Orin ''I'm a one man army' let me stand in the middle of things and stir up a shit storm,' is doing exactly that and holding his own while south-bound your immortal chums and the Dark Dumpster's festoon of equally annoying spiritual facsimiles are having a jolly around Black Blobby and a spring of projectile Chaos vomit. He gave a little successful punch in the air as with a lot of nudging, the rock he'd tossed into the other world had finally fallen several thousand feet to land directly on top of a ranking Chaos Beast Lord's head.

Ragnek furrowed his brow at the younger man, knowing full well he was up to some mischief. Sometimes your misuse of the Common tongue infuriates me. Fine, go. But bloody well come back before it ends. We've lost Danae and Balthazar, not that we ever had that fool, so we can't, repeat CAN'T, afford to lose you too to the other side.

Affirmative, Tomorrow grinned. Never fear Raggy-pants, I'm not the sausage in anyone's sandwich. And with that parting quip, the Tomorrow Thief, born Kelsen Small of Eerehese, warped the folds of energy in front of him and slipped beyond Ragnek's perception.

Bloody fool, the wizard muttered with a smile, before rejoining his other self to continue shutting gates.

---

At the exact center of where the two Eldahar's were overlapping and colliding with one another like two competing oceans, there was a theoretical point. A point where amid all of the violent energies and twisted natural forces it was theoretically possible, for an instant, to stand beneath the resulting interplanal tsunami and survive.

Except no one believed anything could survive there, or even see into there, as the forces involved were greater than the sum of both worlds.

So when Tomorrow, possessing the infinite knowledge of the ancient Doe-Law, somehow managed to penetrate right slap bang into that channel between the worlds and begin surfing back and forth in it with seeming impunity, no one noticed or paid him any heed.

As it was after all, just a theory.

The Communal Flesh

The snake bodied Master of Rituals slithered as fast as it could to the Communal Flesh, that sacred place where one could stand inside an exploded but still living body and hear the voice of the Arch Duke of Pain.

It had news for it's master and it wasn't good.

Great One, Bringer of the Lingering Death, Arch Duke of Pain, King of Chaos, Master of Flesh... the servant hissed, gently positioning itself between strings of veins and arteries, just below a floating beating heart.

ENOUGH. REPORT FOUL ONE.

Something has indeed affected our rejoining with the Prime, using some kind of astral manipulation at the confluence between worlds. Though most unforgivably our probes are unable to ascertain how or where from, we can clearly see that it will not last forever. Whoever or whatever is doing it seems to only be delaying the inevitable as we continue to converge, only at a much slower rate.

The Communal Flesh groaned around it and the Master of Rituals felt its scales rise in panic.

I HAVE ALSO WEIGHED ALL POSSIBILITIES AND ONLY ONE IS CONCEIVABLE. IT IS THE CROWN WEARER TOMORROW. HE IS BETWEEN THE WORLDS DOING SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

Ahh my master, you are indeed the font of all perception. How can we eradicate this noisome meddler? The Master of Rituals gulped, it's scales glistening with sweat in the fiery glow of power filling the room.

YOU CANNOT. HE MOVES BEYOND YOUR INFLUENCE, SURROUNDED BY ENERGIES THAT WOULD DESTROY ANYTHING YOU SENT.

Then what can we do? the snake man asked meekly.

I WILL DEAL WITH HIM MYSELF. HE USES THE POWER OF THE PRIME AND I AM THAT POWER. AS HE AFFECTS OUR WORLD, I CAN AFFECT HIM. The Archduke's voice seemed ponderous for a moment, as if contemplating exactly how he would do such a thing. REJOINING THE PRIME MUST BE ACHIEVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FIRST ETERNAL, DESPITE HAVING MY POWER, LACKS THE SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE TO DO WHAT IS REQUIRED. I HAVE TO DIRECTLY INTERVENE.

Is there any danger to... the snake man quivered as the voice of its master silenced him.

YOU HAVE DONE WELL AND ARE WORTHY OF REWARD. A NEW MASTER OF RITUALS WILL BE HATCHED TO REPLACE YOU.

I only wished to serve, the snake man bowed in despair, knowing what was to come.

YOU WILL MAKE AN EXCELLANT REPLACEMENT FOR THE COMMUNAL FLESH.

The Angry Shed

The little girl tugged at her father's arm until he woke up and patted her head. What is it baby? he asked.

Our tool shed is growling, his daughter replied, pointing out of a window to the end of their garden.

Shed's don't growl poppet; it's probably just a small animal caught inside. That storm last night must've driven it in there to stay warm. The storm had been a strange one, unlike any he'd seen before; with flashes across the sky, frozen hail stones and then hot rain. How such a mixture of things had come about he had no idea but he'd held his daughter until the early hours until eventually falling asleep.

Oh, the girl replied. Are you going to let it out now? It sounds angry about something.

Sure, he replied, stretching his back and rubbing the bristle on his chin. If her mother had still been alive she would chastised him for his appearance. Stay here poppet and watch from the window. Just in case our guest is a bit frightened.

The girl pouted but clambered onto the windowsill to watch as he grabbed a broom and opened the back door into their garden. A few lumps of ice crunched underfoot as he stepped out and he had to squint to see as the sun was so blazingly bright, but he was soon at the shed; a very silent shed.

Maybe she had imagined it? Or dreamed it? He reached out and lifted the latch to take a peek inside, being careful to keep the broom on standby. And as the door creaked open, he heard his daughter scream.

The little girl watched as the thing in the shed reached out and swallowed her father's head, dragging it and his body into a pulsing red light. Then as the door slammed shut, the whole shed shook, howled and sprouted thorny limbs that began dragging it towards the house.

Terror held her there, powerless to look away as it hauled itself closer and closer to her window. All she could do was scream and even that, after a few seconds, became suffocated by the horror of what she had witnessed.

A black haired man, dressed entirely in black was beside her, his hand on her shoulder. She had not seen him before and could not understand how he had gotten in without her noticing, but his hand felt strong and safe. Come with me young one. You're safe now, the man said without moving his lips. I have one gate survivor. Dream shifting now.

Another man, identical to the man beside her was in the garden opening the shed. She wanted to warn him, to call to someone inside but couldn't remember who or why. Only that she was safe and needed to go.

The man outside was standing in a burning red light when she was led away by her hand. The last thing she heard was something in pain and the last thing she saw was the man's skin, shining as if the moon were on fire.

Dark Observer

The Dark Observer

The vast chamber of folded dimensional space was buzzing with activity as every second a hundred black garbed men with identical faces appeared with cuts, burns or worse and another hundred disappeared, shrouded in spiritual shields and grim determination.

Overhead hundreds of perfect black spheres hovered and monitored proceedings within a cloud of searing white energy while on the ground countless spiked machines nursed or regenerated weakened spirits through a series of sharp nail-like injections to the spine.

There were one hundred thousand coming and going at any one moment and more than ten times that number out in the field. And yet, the figure looking down upon the precisely controlled operation below him was beginning to doubt it was enough.

It had taken him years of experimentation, thousands of hours of planning and he was still concerned, because the Queen of Spirits was no longer in his possession. Her blood had been the vital nutrient of the great Optimidium and could not be replaced. If only it had retained its properties in jars or other magical storage but it hadn't; only working straight from the vein.

And now the Optimidium, unlimited source of warriors for his army stood silent and still. He clenched his fists and let his gaze sweep through the distorted dimensions to the thousands of war machines and weapons awaiting the light of day and felt his aura grow heavy with darkness.

Fools, everyone of them, seeking to interfere with things they barely grasped or understood. Disrupting plans for no other reason than ungrounded fear and dislike of his actions.

It sickened him.

One of the floating spheres of the super ego High Gard One descended from somewhere high up in the I/O Terminal's pipe and cable threaded ceiling to address him but he spiritually dismissed it. He knew what it was going to report; Chaos was spreading, despite his efforts, and the Prime was minutes away from reforming into a premature End Game.

This shouldn't have happened yet, he muttered. The Crown wielders were fighting just as predicted, but woefully outnumbered and over powered, especially as Danae was somewhere in the Realm of Orion receiving well needed psychic attention. Tethys' army of seed soldiers were for some reason holding back until the Dragon's faltered, despite pleas for them to engage and the human armies were burning like fields of corn.

As near as he could tell Wan, Alyx and Godark had returned from their brief run through the Ids to the Broken Realm. He could occasionally catch a glimmer in the mind of the world of their activity, but it was distorted by Chaos, like looking through a telescope of several different types of random lens.

Whatever they were doing there, they were no doubt causing trouble. But he knew it was too late for such desperate acts. Even North with his plan of destroying the other Realm was kidding himself.

He signalled the sphere to return. Instruction input mode active, it crackled.

Closing the gates was never going to work; it was the far reaching plan of desperate short sighted fools. How could anyone possibly keep one half of the world from the other when every prophecy and gust of astral energy suggested their need to reform?

The Prime and the Broken Realm would be whole again, by the will of Orion and the predestined end of days.

He had done enough to protect them; to save them from themselves and unite them against a common foe. And for the most part they were putting up a valiant fight. But the time had come for them to face reality. The time had come for him to concentrate solely on the future.

Initiate the Hour lock down protocol. Activate the 10 minute Life Seal window. Inform the central Intel core to broadcast the following new Action Code to all Deathwatch; 'Babel is Rising.' Confirm.

'Babel is Rising' confirmed the sphere.

Within seconds the chamber below him slowed to a standstill. Deathwatch continued to return but none departed.

Thousands of eyes gazed up and out of respect he pushed back his hood to face them. They knew without actually knowing. They may only have been cloned within a machine and infused with his spiritual skills but they knew what this moment meant to the everyone else still outside.

His eyes briefly met those of a small girl, tightly holding the hand of one of his soldiers (just one of the countless thousands of civilians he had ordered brought here for processing) and he saw her smile. Her innocence and trust, just for an instant, pierced the darkness around him like a tiny pin, but then he let his gaze move on.

I have no time to mourn the World, he whispered.

The Lost

Session 19/09/11 @6.00am for 1 Hr.

Red's attack on the army and death of the ice drake prompt some of the more influential Mist Wraiths to chaos shift an alert to their masters overseeing the attack on the Evermore Gate. Chaos' response is immediate, with news of Red's whereabouts sent directly to Morzûl and the Archduke. Within seconds of Red dimension jumping the army atop the trenches, Chaos descends in full force to intercept her and her companions.

Wan brings his bouncing air sphere back down to earth just in time for Red to catch up and a second before events monumentally escalate.

The first sign of Chaos' retaliation is a sudden flashing across the sky and several hundred gates tearing open overhead. Then pouring through these come thousands of flying black money-like demons called D'Habu. Then, behind them come 77 lesser Pit Fiends, at a radius of about 1/2 a mile around the party.

*Note - Morgrim is taking no chances with Red. He knows she has the Arkysancture and what it can do. He also knows that she won't fully use it until the Evergate is closed. How does he know? Well, he does have pretty much the entire Heart of the Broken Realm at his disposal as well as a mind that has witnessed a thousand worlds burn under his foot. It takes a lot to get one over on an Arch Duke of Chaos.*

Red pauses for a moment to catch her breath and then addresses her people. This is why we're here. Form up our defence, I need a little time.

As the sky blackens with demonic monkeys and thousands of snapping snarling teeth plummet down towards them, Wan turns to Godark. Can your sword do something big if I give it the power? he asks.

Godark, with his helm still retracted, gazes thoughtfully at Wan. It can he replies, letting Kranatakyn rest point downward a foot or so from him. Donations are always welcome.

Careful not to get too close to the sword and only let his hand hover near it, Wan prepares to unleash a huge amount of his spiritual reservoir. But with the monkeys almost upon them, his anxiousness to put up a shield to protect Alyx and Red, not to mention the danger of so much raw spiritual power leaking into the surrounding area and actually harming Red's people, he pulls back a little at the last instant.

Only to see the spiritual blast instantly and completely absorbed by the black sword.

Kranatakyn leaps back into Godark's hand like an obedient dog and the warrior turns towards the now blinding mass of monkey demons, ready to step into their midst.

Wan raises his shield to protect everyone but a few of the D'Habu are already inside, giving the General with his sword and the guards with their power lances an opportunity to cut them swiftly down.

I'm stepping out says Godark, just before walking through Wan's spiritual shield, raising his helm and disappearing into the swarm.

Where's he off to? Alyx asks Wan, watching Godark vanish beneath a mountain of black wings and tearing teeth.

He's going to blow something up replies Wan, a little distracted by the Queen who is hunched over the Arkysancture manipulating some sort of control interface on its top. At first completely devoid of any aura of Law the Ark seems perfectly harmless. But as Red continues her manipulations Wan senses an obscure transmission of energy come from somewhere far away and stop at the box. Then, a moment later its aura begins sparking into life and a moment after that a breath of perfect calm passes from it outwards and into the swarm.

Instantaneously the D'Habu who are closest combust into flames and fall to the ground as ash. Beyond them, more D'Habu suffer the same instant fate and so on and so on until an area some two hundred and fifty feet in radius around the Ark is clear of demons.

In the suddenly clear space around them, a lone black armoured figure glances back and makes an obscene gesture, but no one really notices.

Wan takes a few seconds to compare the signature of the Ark to what he understand of Chaos and quite logically finds the two completely different. The Ark's power seems constant and stable, without interfering with his aura or the aura's of those around him. There had been a moment, when the strange breath of energy had first been released that everyone felt it, like a gust of wind flickering the flame of a candle, but that had passed.

Shall we press on? he asks the Queen, growing more and more concerned at their lack of progress.

The Queen nods, gesturing for everyone to continue at a slightly quicker pace. With the Ark protecting them and Wan able to erect a shield against anything else, there now seems no reason to push on as fast as possible. And yet, Red's pace still seems a little too slow for Wan.

Wan and Alyx briefly exchange a few thoughts, both of them voicing concern over just how far the Evergate is and how with so much Chaos attention it is going to take a long time getting there.

Something's not right about all this says Alyx, privately to Wan. I don't know what exactly , but this plan definitely sucks.

Wan has to agree. He too feels that this tactic, if you could call it that, seems flawed. He steps alongside the Queen and offers a suggestion. Your majesty, maybe Alyx and I should go ahead to help secure the gate before your arrival.

The Queen looks right at Wan with a steely glare, as if the Guardian of the Source has said something blasphemous. I need you here she says bluntly, leaving no room for discussion or debate.

Faced with a barrier that the D'Habu are not powerful enough to penetrate, the Pit Fiends take action to neutralise it.

Releasing streaks of fire towards Wan and his companions, and yet not directly at them, the Pit Fiends instead target the D'Habu swarm, incinerating their minions in the hundreds.

And as their glowing embers fall to the ground, continuing to burn and retain an unnatural heat, the ground quickly becomes saturated with an unnatural light.

What are they doing? asks Alyx aloud.

They're consecrating the ground says Red. Weakening the power of the Ark. She reaches to her belt, removes a white ivory horn and after a couple of attempts, blows forth a single long sonorous note.

Wan doesn't ask her what it is or why she's blown it as at that same moment a flash of light arcs down from the sky and strikes the ground just at the edge of their group. One of the Mirror Mir guards survives the almost direct hit thanks to his armour but is hurled into the air with terrible force.

Wan may have been taken by surprise by the blast but he is quick to cushion the air with his spirit in the man's path, reducing almost certain broken bones to just bad bruises.

General Aidar goes to help the man up and check he is fine while everyone scans the skies expecting another blast at any instant. Wan erects his shield again and sure enough, ten seconds or so later, a second blast strikes a little closer to the center of the group.

This time though everyone is safe, even if a little worried as it is obviously some sort of powerful spell. The blast wipes out a large portion of Wan's spirit but Wan estimates he can recover it before a third blast. However once again he urges full speed ahead.

Then an idea occurs to him. By fluctuating his spirit and keeping it moving he can make the shield over and around them far more difficult to scry or target through. He even, albeit briefly, attempts to come up with a way of layering the shield to make things even more effective but such a construct of aura currently lies beyond his knowledge.

As they continue to move forwards, the consecrated Chaos ground grows closer and so do the D'Habu. Still affected by the Ark, the D'Habu continue bursting into flames but the Ark's effective radius has now reduced to under one hundred and fifty feet.

Just how much further the Ark can be neutralised Wan and Alyx do not know. In fact Alyx even seems a little disappointed by the 'great weapon' against Chaos they have in their midst.

This Ark of Law isn't all it's cracked up to be, she thinks to Wan.

Indeed Wan replies as a third blast only just touches the edge of his spirit.

A horn blows in the distance. Then twenty or so seconds later it blows again.

Reinforcements are coming Red announces, so obviously relieved. And reinforcements they are.

Wan sees the tide of D'Habu behind them beaten back by unseen weapons and then riders appear, leaping over dozens of hairy black corpses to gallop to Red's side.

Perhaps four dozen riders and another five dozen on foot soon arrive within the safety of the Ark; some of them archers, others of them knights, but all of them with the unflinching eyes and easy movement of battle veterans, ready to fight and die beneath a golden banner with weapons of every shape and size gleaming with magical sharpness.

As others stand stock-still in awe Alyx cannot help herself and discreetly claps. Godark, are you still out there? she thinks. You haven't left us have you? You should see these people that just turned up. They look like heroes, everyone of them. I even think I recognise some of... by the goddess! I think that's Berle the Huntress of Daya.

You have to stop saying that, Godark's thoughts float back to her from somewhere in the distance.

Saying what? she asks.

Talking about goddesses like that. You are one now.

Yeah well I wish I believed that. I'm the most useless person here at the moment.

No, you're the most powerful person there, Godark adamantly disagrees.

Oh come on, you can't expect me to believe that can you? You're just saying that to make me feel better.

I didn't say it says Godark seriously. Kranatakyn did.

Alyx stops in her tracks, stunned, and almost gets run over by a burly warrior with a horned helm. More powerful than the Queen, than Wan? It has to be a mistake or a lie. But if there is one thing she knows about Kranatakyn, it's that the sword knows power when it sees it.

You alright milady? a leather clad man on a resplendent piebald mare asks.

I'm... I'm fine thanks she stammers.

Today is a good day to die says the man, grinning, before spurring his horse on.

Yeah, I know, Alyx mutters to herself. I've been there and done that already.

Wan and Alyx are approached by a black haired man who calls himself Branden. Almost immediately Red grins and rushes to give the man a hug. Bran! It's fantastic to see you again! she exclaims.

It's been a while by the looks of it. I don't remember Eldahar being this shit when I died Bran laughs. Great to see you again too Red. Is Cullyn still alive?

He is for now says Red, losing her brief excitement.

Your majesty, addresses a grey bearded fully plate armoured man on a plate barded war stallion. We have heard the call and responded as by our oath. The Lost stand ready to fight on your behalf. The stallion stamps its hooves on the ground sending up clouds of demonic ash.

I welcome you to Hell your majesty Red replies with the first smile Wan has seen from her.

You may call me Lewen the man smiles in return. Now, let us to the task. You require an escort?

We do Red nods. And speed is of the essence.

Then let us put heel to hide and steel to the kill. King Lewen raises a hand and in a booming voice shouts For Fate and honour!

---

Godark glances back in the direction of Alyx and Wan but doesn't really know why as he is too far out among the D'Habu to stand any chance of seeing them. He pauses a moment to let Kranatakyn 'sniff' the air and survey his surroundings.

A minute ago the Pit Fiends had descended en masse to cut his friends off as well as cover their retreat; why they even contemplated Queen Red would retreat he had no idea but such was Chaos - used to the most unpredictable of outcomes.

He might have let Kranatakyn loose right then and there to give the blade a Fiend or two to chew on but he was a stickler for plans and not comfortable diverting, especially when he'd come out into the middle of the D'Habu swarm to create a swarm of his own.

You got enough juice for this as well as the rest? he asks the blade, knowing full well it will resent even being asked.

Kranatakyn growls. I have more than enough but would prefer attacking some of those more powerful demons first. They look so ripe.

Nithlings first, Godark says unwaveringly. Then we can grab ourselves a Fiend burger or two.

The blade sighs but begin vibrating with darkness so Godark holds it out at arms length and lets it do what it does best.

It vibrates and vibrates until dozens upon dozens of tiny slithers of darkness break off from the blade and as each slither flies away and touches the ground it expands, unfolding itself over and over until the piece of darkness is many times the size and has taken on shape.

Within moments, all around Godark, stand thin slither men of the pitchest black. Their fingers like long thin and pointed nails, their faceless featureless bodies and heads like piles of needles in the dark for unwary reaching hands.

They await his command, his signal, his will and when he gives it, as one they slither and slide as thin and sharp as glass shards, among the D'Habu churning up a storm of demonic blood.

---

North watches blank faced and unemotional as Red is offered a horse to ride and she joins King Lewen at the head of The Lost.

He leans a little closer when the small army spurs on towards the edge of consecrated ground as he sees, perhaps just before she does, the D'Habu give way to a line of twenty one Fiends and yet another fourteen behind them.

Walls of fire rage around the demons. Some juggle fireballs, others burn with unholy malevolence and snap the air in two with barbed whip-like tails. Each howls and grinds its teeth in anticipation; in eagerness and blood lust.

Now the truth is unveiled. It is all about the fight.

THIER ARRIVAL IS UNEXPECTED BUT OF NO CONSEQUENCE. IS THIS THE EXTENT OF YOUR PLAN? Morgrim asks contemptuously.

I think you'll find they're quite good North says matter-of-factly. Plus, they're here more for Red than anything else.

FOR YOUR QUEEN YOU SAY? I WILL MAKE SURE SHE IS THE FIRST DIE A THOUSAND AGONISING DEATHS.

You don't think she has already? Every night in her dreams? She's already seen everyone dear to her killed by your minions. Nothing you can do to her can change her Destiny. She's beyond you. North smiles then, but with a hint of sadness.

AS SHE IS YOURS, IF YOU ASK, I MAY CONSIDER SPARING HER.

She's never been mine. In fact, I expect history will tell it as it has been. That I have merely been an instrument serving her prophecy.

Morgrim laughs at that, causing the whole of the Citadel of Souls to ring like a bell. HISTORY SERVES ME! AND SHALL BE UNWRITTEN.

Undone and unsung, North whispers.

---

Red and Lewen lead the charge. At first the Fiends unleash a barrage of fireballs at the assembled Lost but between Wan's shield, a mage called Erekose creating a dozen piece unfolding barrier of wall shields and a Dwarven fellow using his hammer to create cover in the form of stone blocks, only a few of the Lost are burned.

The sky spits another blast of red energy, felling two more of the Lost. But weapons are bared, lances are lowered and the Fiends are howling in anticipation of blood. There is no turning back. No prospect of defence.

The Lost attack.

A Fiend curls its whip and lashes out at the galloping horses, flaying metal armour from their chests and sending two crashing to their knees. Another Fiend sends a wave of fire towards Lewen and Red, briefly engulfing them, but unable to slow them. Their horses leap the flames and Lewen sends a sheet of sunlight from his sword that slices clean through the attacking Fiend's left arm.

As it howls in anger and pain three black feathered arrows pieces its left eye and a fourth its mouth, leaving it dead but still standing.

Another Fiend throws several large concussive fireballs at the Lost, sending some of them diving for cover and others to the ground with broken bones and savage burns.

Then the first lances strike, piercing demonic flesh to the hilt before snapping off or being left impaled in fiery flesh.

Behind the Fiends gateways tear open and beast headed men flood through; bear headed, squirrel headed, cat headed and dog. So many types of beasts and so many different creeds of man. Poorly equipped, with little but leather and iron, it is obvious to Wan that the beast men are fodder so that the Fiends can work their magic. But no matter how quickly they appear, the Lost on foot cut them to the quick and trample them to the ground.

All around Wan, warriors display extraordinary skill and prowess at arms. One man kills three beast men with a single thrust of his sword while a young woman blurs between others, hamstringing half a dozen in barely a second.

A mighty barbarian, who only a minute before had introduced himself to Wan as Sammael, swings twin battle-axes each the size of a man, using them as picks to climb a Fiend's chest and spit in its face.

In the sudden surge and subsequent battle, Alyx finds herself swept along, having lost sight of Wan. Beast men suddenly appear quite close to her, most of them running by to face the Lost but two of them stopping to snarl and stab awkwardly with their rusted swords.

She dodges a clumsy blow and manifests her spirit into a sword resembling Woethorn. The scaled, lizard headed beast man in front of her hisses and tries to bite her but before she can act it is kicked to the ground and run through by one of the Lost.

Branden of the Lost, (also known as Kable of the Brand) runs the second beast man through without even looking, making Alyx wonder if he has eyes in the back of his head.

Would you like to stick with me? asks Branden.

I need to do something says Alyx, her cheeks inflamed with frustration.

Fight with me then offers Branden. I don't usually get the company.

Alyx reluctantly nods. Fine. Find me something to kill.

If only everything were that easy Branden smiles.

---

Tanni watches the muscles and sinews in her arm knit back together; the ancient blood bubbling through the wound regenerating tissue and finally skin before she wipes Black Bone clean in a tattered robe.

She can feel the fangs, a by product of her immortal blood, deep within her lower lip but the pain is somehow comforting; keeping her focused.

A good start don't you think says Mal, stepping across a pile of Chaos servants no more real in Tanni's eyes than a heap of sausage meat. At least I still have all my limbs, even if they're not attached.

Tanni watches as Mal waves his own severed arm in his remaining hand before tossing it on the pile of meat. Surely now would be the correct time? he asks. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this body working.

Sin, it's time, thinks Tanni, concentrating on her finger where Ithillan's ring glows softly with her lover's aura. We're pretty far in - further than I expected to get. Morgrim must be distracted and looking elsewhere. All I've encountered is one of his hard ass High Lords.

Tanni flash thinks a condensed account of the battle. The Lord of Mordark wearing black dragon armour and a dragon shaped helm. She didn't know his name and he didn't care to give it; he just wanted to kill her and she him; just two black swords dancing around death.

Whoever he had been he had been experienced and old. He had had a lot of power under his armour's scales and an aura that could burst a normal person's heart. He had also been damn good with his blade.

Despite Tanni's superior speed he had matched her on strength and surpassed her in skill. She had received wound after wound while Mal dealt with the Lord's lesser servants and as each drop of her blood had fallen to the earth, her hunger had grown more intense until it had to happen; she had reacted a little too slowly.

Using powerful telekinesis to crush her behind a huge piece of masonry, the Lord of Mordark had stood ready to take her head. And it might have been the end for her then and there, but for the Hand of Narveh.

Hating the thing and almost, but not quite, willing to die before using it, Tanni had groped instinctively around the masonry to grip the Lord's leg. A finger on Narveh's hand must have found a gap in the Lord's armour as the moment she caught hold, she sensed the man's fears.

His mind floated before her, a landscape of horror, bad dreams and terrifying nightmares - a veritable feast for Narveh to devour. And within a second the Lord was paralysed, unable to move, trapped screaming behind his own eyes, falling backwards into a hell of his own making. He fought every step of the way, screamed at the intrusion, at the power of Chaos that held him and such was his strength he might have recovered, might have clawed his way back out and finished his fatal blow. But Tanni had already moved the masonry to one side and in the process of regaining her feet, taken his head.

Tanni, based on what you've already told me I'm going to have to change my primary target, Sinsifel replies in her mind. We're coming now. As soon as I arrive though I need you to accompany the rest of the Chaos Lords to attack Morgrim.

Why, where are you going? Tanni asks.

To fuck up Law before it's too late.

The Fiery Chasm

The Fiendish Chasm

Session 05/10/11

A fierce ground battle ensues between the Lost and the Fire Fiends.

Godark comes up behind a group of the Fiends and hamstrings two in a running attack. Then as they fall to the ground howling in agony a wave of Nithling's descend to smother them in darkness.

One of the Lost rides his horse straight at a Fiend and leaps from the saddle just moments before the creature's blade swooshes by. The Fiend looks frantically around for the rider only to suddenly feel a blade eviscerate its stomach. But as it staggers back, feeling its existence fading, it combusts into a searing ball of fire until with a final snarl of delight it smells the rider burning nearby.

As a few more of the Fiends finish combining their powers the entire battlefield bursts into flames. Horses stumble and members of the Lost catch fire, as well as dozens of Beast Men caught in the area. Wan tries to flatten as much of the fire as possible, especially around the Queen as around the Ark seems to take care of itself. Yet still more of the Lost fall as casualties and the battle takes a grim turn.

At least 17 Fiends still remain standing despite a few being injured or stuck with lances. As for the Beast Men and their wide variety of different animal heads, more and more keep flooding from the gateways threatening to overwhelm the area.

Faced with constant enemy reinforcements Godark changes his tactics and targets the gates. First Kranatakyn summons a Black Stalker to deal with the closest Fiends. Tentacles of darkness flood out of the blade growing larger and thicker as they properly materialise. The tentacles all connect to a huge billowing sheet of darkness that slithers along the ground towards the closest Fiend. When the Fiend tries to burn it, it's fire just vanishes into the darkness. When the Fiend tries to strike it, tentacles reach up and try gripping its arms and body. It immolates in an attempt to drive them back but the Stalker slithers underneath its feet and a dozen tentacles wrestle and wrap around it until suddenly the darkness reaches up and completely smothers the Fiend like a black sack containing a nest of writhing snakes.

Several seconds later when the darkness drops away, nothing remains of the Fiend and the Stalker slithers on towards its next victim.

Another Fiend finds itself surrounded by a group of the Lost. One of heroes fires a crossbow bolt straight into its forehead despite his cloak and boots being on fire. Another of the Lost jabs some manner of enchanted spear into its foot, impaling it to the ground.

It beats its wings and spews liquid fire straight into its attackers faces. One falls screaming to the ground with a flaming skull but the others duck or dive out of the way. It knocks away another incoming sword with a wing and slashes out with a barbed sword but a flash of light from a glowing dagger stuns it. It feels a sharp slice of pain, loses the sensation of the sword in its hand and when it can see again realises why.

With only one hand left it grabs a Lost by the throat and bares it teeth to rip the man to shreds. But the spear in its foot, torn lose in its confusion, finds a more permanent home in its neck first.

The battle rages in every direction. Beast men continue to flood through the gateways and the Lost continue to kill far more than fall.

One Fiend notices Wan providing spiritual cover to the Lost and attempts to use a medium level psychic attack to stop him. For a moment Wan feels it stab painfully into his mind but he quickly recovers to spirit punch the Fiend in the chest and shatter a few demonic ribs.

Then the tide of the battle really turns. Godark, still moving unchallenged behind the Fiends, smashes the gateways one by one to put a stop to the flood of Beast Men.

Another Fiend is then swallowed by the Dark Stalker which catches it as it attempts to fly away, bringing the Fiend numbers down to only 11 and the Lost down from 111 by 22 dead and 20 injured. Faced with suddenly diminishing numbers the Fiends howl at one another and as one beat their wings skyward in retreat. But one doesn't make it far from the ground when the Lost shoot arrows into its wing before impaling it in the snow.

A cheer goes up as the Fiends disappear into the sky but it is soon spent when the number of casualties are counted. Lewen and Red know that they have to proceed as quickly as possible, before Chaotic reinforcements arrive, but that doing that means leaving at least fifteen or so very badly injured people behind.

Their Fate is understood and accepted by every member of the Lost. It is a hard but very real aspect of war. An aspect of war that Wan doesn't necessarily accept though. Having an idea he finds one of the crippled Lost, a man called Ghent who is badly burned. Then, recalling how Altur once lay healed someone in the past, Wan attempts to attune his aura to the man's and isolate what is wrong. By separating the man's longer term aura imprint from the injured short term one, Wan manages to move the injury onto himself and then, after a second or two dispel it into the atmosphere.

With one man miraculously healed, Wan offers to heal as many others as he can.

Go ahead says Lewen, but you'll need to do it on the move. You fought well and I expect we'll need your protection again soon.

With injured quickly put back on their feet and others healed on horseback as they move out, the Lost find them once again in high spirits.

Alyx manages to find a moment to rejoin with Godark and ask him a few questions. What were those black things in the sky?

Nithlings Godark replies. Tiny bits of darkness with razor edges. They can be any size or shape but are pretty pathetic on their own. Hence the swarm.

And that tentacled thing? Alyx asks.

That was a Dark Stalker. At least, that's what I call it. They can come pretty big but are far worse in groups. Godark smiles slightly as if remembering some battle long ago and makes Alyx shiver.

Is there anything your sword cannot do? Alyx asks incredulously. I mean, I've never heard or seen of anything quite so... powerful.

Kranatakyn was made to destroy worlds and realities. If it has a limit I've never encountered it. Everything you've seen it do so far is inconsequential. Give it a large enough power source and you can have your very own Armageddon, without all this clock crap. Godark brings the inky black blade up for Alyx to get a closer look but she involuntarily backs up. Don't worry. It won't hurt you. There are much bigger meals to be had.

If it came down to it and it wanted to feed, could you stop it? she asks quietly.

Godark considers that question for a moment. I'm alive, if you can call me alive, because Kranatakyn is feeding this body energy. It has to have a wielder to use its abilities and because it has a hold over me I'm perfect for the job. But, if it came down to it, I could stop it from acting. I've done it a few times but it doesn't like it. One day a better wielder will undoubtedly come along, but at the moment I fit the bill. We have an understanding it and I. I'm not afraid to die.

Up in the sky, just below a cloud layer, the Fiends gather to receive new orders from their lord and master.

You must slow their progress their master's voice booms like thunder around them. Once they are in the Graveyard they will never leave. With maniacal laughter filling their heads and flattening their ears eight of the Fiends gather in a star shape and begin chanting until upon reaching a crescendo they direct their Chaotic magics to the ground about a mile ahead of the Lost.

Wan feels the ground shaking beneath his feet and the Queen signals everyone to stop.

This doesn't feel good says Alyx, reaching down to touch the ground.

It's not directed at us says Godark. Our enemies have become wise to one of our strengths.

Suddenly the ground in the distance ahead of them splits open and a widening crack begins rippling in both directions to cut them off. The crack travels at least a few miles each way before suddenly bursting open to form a one hundred foot wide chasm and as it does fire roars from somewhere in the depths and rises high into the sky along its length and breadth.

Godark chooses this moment to privately speak to Wan. These humans don't mean anything to you. Why do you try and protect them so much? the black clad warrior asks.

I respect them Wan replies. In many ways we are similar, removed from the Wheel of Time. He shares a kinship with them.

We could go so much faster though without them Godark grimaces.

Wan nods but looks over at Red. I need to let her play out what she is doing.

And what might that be I wonder? says Godark darkly.

For now we're going to have to walk in the dark says Wan prophetically.

The gathering of the Lost arrive at the edge of the fiery chasm but can go no further. The Queen addresses those closest to her. Any ideas? she asks.

If we go around says Lewen our foes will have time aplenty to reinforce.

Wan moves forward, stands on the edge of the chasm and looks across then down.

What are you thinking? asks Alyx.

Wan turns to the Queen and speaks, his voice rising above those of the Lost. I can create a spiritual bridge that will also protect against the fire but I will need everyone to stay close and in file.

King Lewen bellows commands at his troops. When he is finished he turns to Wan. Work your miracle then priest.

Wan raises his arms and extends his spirit halfway across the chasm, solidifying it beneath him into a smooth surface that is slightly curved at the sides to prevent people accidentally falling off. Despite being transparent it remains easy to see though as the flames lick and dance beneath it, illuminating its dimensions.

Almost immediately the Fiends sense something amiss with their plan and begin swooping down, hurling fire ahead of them like burning meteors.

The Lost follow Wan onto the bridge, shuffling forwards to the half way mark and then the rest of the way across when Wan anchors his spirit to the opposite side and begins dissolving the bridge behind them.

It is a tense minute for everyone as they put their trust entirely in Wan and the Fiends fly closer and closer, but they make it safely across; just as the first fireball detonates their midst.

Fire rains from the sky and fiery craters erupt in every direction. The edge of the Titan Graveyard with its rough hewn rock lies less than half a mile away now but the Fiends mean business, staying well out of missile range and hurling enough Chaotic artillery to flatten a small town.

Run! Wan yells, positioning himself in the middle of the Lost, who need very little motivation to do just that.

Horses gallop, men and women stumble and sprint, many holding shields over their heads to fend off moulten rocks. Godark stays next to Alyx, Lewen and Aimar next to Red but Wan stays with the Lost, positioning his spirit behind them to slope up like a protective roof.

The Fiends scream and howl in frustration as their spells strike the spiritual shield but it is already too late. The first of the Lost scramble from the snow bound wasteland onto the uneven terrain of the Graveyard forcing the Fiends to cease fire.

With the Graveyard out of bounds to their magic they howl in frustration and angrily beat their wings in retreat, leaving the Lost to collapse exhausted and tend to their injured.

Looks like we made it says Alyx, relieved.

Godark stares sombrely into the distance, to the broken monuments, titanic tombstones and beyond, remembering his travels in the fractured realities of aeons past. For now. But things are going to get a lot worse.

And as he says that Kranatakyn croons with delight.

The Titan Graveyard

A Titanic Monument

Session 19/10/11 @22.00

The Titan Graveyard lies before them; a landscape of rubble and ancient ruins, some looming hundreds of feet into the murky sky, others drowned beneath waves of snow and ice. Giant warriors with the heads of beetles, monstrous cats with tusks like mammoths; the Titan Graveyard has them all and more. The relics of a thousand civilisations and hundreds of thousands of years of a Titan playground.

And somewhere, still several miles distant, the bulk of the northern Chaos forces awaits, surrounding the entrance to the Evermore Vault and the gateway to the Prime.

Before moving any further into the graveyard, Red as the only person who has ever travelled in it, tells everyone about what to expect. Where we are about to go is one of the most unnatural places in existence. You will see things, such as loved ones or horrors that will want you to run or try and follow them. If you do this you will die! The land here is broken, filled with invisible cracks that a man can fall through and never return. I will guide us safely through but it is imperative you remain in physical contact with those around you and go exactly where I tell you.

Wan asks where Red would like him. She replies Anywhere you like, seemingly irritated by his presence.

As Wan is trying to get a grip on what is going on and understand why Red is so against him Alyx sidles up and says She really doesn't like you. I'd give up if I were you.

The Lost buddy up to make physical contact with other and move ahead in formation until a few minutes into the Graveyard Red's warning becomes reality. At first each and every person glimpses strange echoes of themselves in the distance, walking or lying in the snow, bleeding or beckoning to be followed. Wan sees the High Doman and Alyx sees Jaeni her long dead closest friend among the Sisters of Sorrow. Only Godark seems immune to the phantoms (his body and soul consumed long ago by Kranatakyn) while everyone else becomes unnerved, unwilling to look or tempted to call out.

Wan senses strange fissures in reality all around them and notices how the Queen is guiding them through them like an invisible maze. When his aura hits one it seems cut off, as if going somewhere too far away for his spirit to reach.

This continues for perhaps twenty minutes putting everyone on edge; and then King Adric dies.

The Queen witnesses something blindingly fast sever one of the King's of the Lost diagonally from shoulder to waist just an instant before the same invisible blade smashes into your own shoulder sending her flying from her horse.

Normally her protection spells would kick in against such an attack and indeed some do, perhaps saving her life, but some don't, their magic simply not fast enough to trigger against such incredible speed.

With a chink in her armour and a slight cut she quickly vaults back to her feet yelling Stand ready. We're under attack!

Wan immediately shouts Come back to me, extending his aura to encompass as many of the Lost as possible. But even he cannot stop another three Lost from dying, one of them King Lewen, the Queen's friend. For a moment he senses a blip in his aura, as if something appears within it and then vanishes less than a second later. What frustrates him is that the being, if indeed it is such, doesn't have to pass through his aura from the outside in so much as just teleport inside of it.

Alyx stands right by Wan's side, sweeping the area with her own spiritual sight and trying to come to terms with her new Queen of the Damned powers. On Eldahar Prime she might possess the power of a goddess but her on the Broken Realm, that power is unreachable. She feels lost, impotent and frightened, all of which are alien to Alyx Spirit of Vengeance but part and parcel with going through such a huge metaphysical change.

The being blips in again and with supernatural speed cuts another of the Lost in two, prompting Kranatakyn to send out invisible feelers of energy that pass through everyone (bar Wan, Red and Alyx) in the area. *Note - See Kranatakyn (Black Field Spell)*

And the being ignores it.

It is then that Wan has an idea. He stills his spirit, attempting to slow everyone inside of it so that when the being reappears it too is caught in spiritual quicksand. Godark, Red and Alyx remain immune to this effect but Wan tries it anyway.

And the being takes notice.

Aiseeka the Chaos Assassin moves and sees through planes and realities at will so it senses Wan's attempt to foil it and appears right behind him.

Wan has a split instant to react and try to thicken his spirit around the assassin but it isn't enough. The assassin resists and plunges two Chaotic blades right through the priest's chest dropping him to his knees.

Alyx cries out and Godark hurls Kranatakyn in the assassin's direction but it is already gone, back into the countless folds of reality to watch and pick a new target. When Godark catches his sword on its return he curses in three dead languages and Kranatakyn in six.

Wan finds himself in excruciating physical pain; something that is both unnatural and strange for him to feel. In order to put the pain aside he lets go of his physical body and shifts entirely to the astral plane and pure spiritual energy. In an instant the pain is forgotten but the spiritual wounds made the swords remain. at least for a while.

A couple of seconds later Wan re materialises his body in a perfectly healed state, much to Alyx's relief.

When 2 more of the Lost die Alyx does something that takes her totally by surprise. Unable to do it before as her powers strictly limited her to the ethereal plane, something clicks in her mind, perhaps because of Wan, and she goes astral. Then when the assassin appears again, this time in the middle of a circle of Lost and wielding an immense Chaotic pole-arm, Alyx attempts to snare it with an astral rope.

And it shrugs her astral energy off like a thread of cotton. Seven of the Lost fall dead, in the circle from one single spinning attack of the pole-arm and the assassin departs, still unslowed and unchallenged.

In a panic the Lost begin breaking formation. One Lost trips into a fissure and vanishes forever into some unknown place while others leave Wan's aura to fend for themselves, back to back with their friends.

I can't stop it! Alyx exclaims spiritually. It's too strong. Too powerful for anything I think I can do.

It is drawing on the combined prayers of Chaos on a world of Chaos, Wan intones.

Godark speaks to Wan and Alyx again in a thin and impatient voice. There are things I can do but not around these people. He gestures at the Lost. It's obvious they'll die anyway but it's your call.

Not yet says Alyx privately to Godark, aware that some of the Lost heard the dark warrior and are now scowling at him in hatred.

The Chaos assassin appears again, this time right in the middle of a group of the Lost. But this time it doesn't attack, it simply leaves again a moment later. Two seconds after it has gone a grenade goes off, dicing several more of the lost with razor sharp fragments of magical metal.

As you wish my lady says Godark stoically while Kranatakyn continues its diabolical alien spitting. I'll do this instead. Kranatakyn's darkness will render everything blind, perhaps levelling the field of battle.

An umbrella of blackness mushrooms out from the tip of the sword and descends to settle over all of the Lost. Alyx and Wan remain outside of the spells radius though and true to Godark's word find themselves unable to see or spiritual sense within.

What the hell is going on? the Queen demands to know. She too moves beyond the darkness but doesn't attempt to stop it.

He's protecting the Lost Alyx explains, knowing that the Queen can see and hear her despite her astral status.

This is the Chaos Assassin isn't it? asks Wan to the Queen.

Yes, most likely The Northern Prayer she replies, her face almost admitting defeat. At least if it's here it isn't anywhere else she mumbles quietly to herself.

How can we defeat it? Alyx asks at the same time as Wan.

You can't. It killed Quiverin and Lurienn. Do you really think any of us are their equal? It's unstoppable. The only thing that has kept it from our door in the past has been the price it asks of Chaos to act. Despite her defeatist tone Red still fiercely holds her sword.

Wan talks to Alyx - We need to get her on side he says.

Good luck with that. She's a right bitch Alyx thinks to herself.

Suddenly dozens of daggers fly into the darkness when the assassin blips in nearby and then blips out. Men and women scream inside Godark's spell but Godark maintains it.

It's toying with us! Red shouts angrily to the heavens. It could kill us all anytime it wants.

But it isn't says Alyx. Well, not all of us. Maybe it can't. Maybe it is under orders to only delay us.

Can't kill us? Red laugh maniacally as fighting breaks out in Godark's darkness.

Inside the Black Light spell (see Kranatakyn) Godark watches with cold detachment as the Lost are cut to pieces by the assassin. The sword casts one spell, two, three in an attempt at stopping the assassin. First it slings a Black Sphere spell that easily leaves another 10 of the Lost casualties of war. The sphere encompasses the assassin before it can vanish again but to Kranatakyn's anger seems to have no effect, other than diminish the being's huge reservoir of magic. Next Kranatakyn and Godark move to engage it, using a Black Heart spell and Black Nimbus to gain ranged strikes and lethal accuracy.

More Lost die as the assassin moves in, dodging Kranatakyn's deadly strikes with unbelievable speed until Godark feels burning metal rip open his spine from behind.

The darkness spell recedes to reveal carnage. Lost lie bleeding from mortal wounds or already dead. The survivors, scarcely 30 in number stand huddled and terrified around General Aimar and a couple of surviving Sanctuary guards.

The General's face is white as death, his armour and hands dripping the life blood of men at his feet.

Alyx rushes astrally to Godark's side. Oh Goddess, shit, are you alright? she gasps.

I'm going to nuke this fucker! says Godark angrily while pulling himself to his feet. Alyx and Wan see the warriors bloodless spine exposed but already correcting itself and reknitting skin with tiny swimming worms of darkness.

This being is insulting us the sword croons into his mind. Making us seem impotent against it. Unable to cast anything large or powerful without killing even more of the Lost in the process, Godark feels like his hands are tied and Kranatakyn doesn't like that one bit either.

I know says Godark. Give me another minute to decide. She won't like it.

I have enough power the sword hisses. Who is the master here? You or HER?

Another minute Godark reiterates.

Are you a coward?! The Queen yells, moving away from the Arkysancture to try and bait Aiseeka. Come out and show yourself. Fight us. Don't lurk in the shadows!

Meanwhile Kranatakyn has been busily casting another spell to send a network of black visible threads across the entire area that pass harmlessly through the Lost. Whatever it is meant to do it doesn't as the assassin appears unperturbed by them.

Aiseeka moves to accept Red's challenge, giving Godark and an astral Alyx chances to get in on the action.

As Wan watches he sees his allies strike futilely at the assassin, unable to hit the being's magically hasted body, while the entire time the assassin simply pretends to attack and deliver mocking blows on all three of its attackers.

It does give Wan a few moments to begin his next course of action though. He begins praying to draw upon spiritual power but after a few seconds realises that the amount he can draw upon on this realm is far smaller than on Eldahar Prime.

The assassin then retreats, unscathed into the darkness.

Godark kicks the Ark and nearly topples it. What good is this thing? he says bitterly.

It kept the last of humanity and the other intelligent races alive for sixteen years Red snaps back at him. It's an artefact. Treat it with bloody respect.

I don't respect a lot, especially not things that don't work, Godark growls in return.

What do you expect for God sake. We're out matched. Haven't you ever come across anything too powerful to fight before? The Queen points her sword in Godark's direction provoking a tremor and hiss from Kranatakyn.

No I haven't Godark replies dangerously. And if it wasn't for you and your pets being here I would have resolved this by now.

You're blaming me! the Queen shrieks. If this were any other day I'd kill you where you stand.

We shouldn't even be here Godark continues. You'd still be back there knee deep in demon shit if it wasn't for us. Your plan, if you can call it that, sucks cock.

While all this is going on Wan is busy manipulating his spirit in another bizarre and impossible way, paying absolutely no heed to the threats being thrown about around him. In physical contact with the Ark he concentrates on attuning his aura to try and match its and to his surprise manages to do it after only a few attempts.

With the aura of the Ark firmly imprinted in his mind and spirit he lets go of the Ark and continues radiating the same type of energy. Success he thinks to himself, allowing his aura to grow and expand until strangely it seems more powerful (perhaps by quadruple) and intense than that of the Ark itself.

Perplexed by this, that he can make his own aura a duplicate of Law and even more powerful than an artefact of Law, Wan returns his attention to the others, just in time to prevent further bloodshed.

Alyx spots what he has done first and stands mouth agape in awe. Holy crap!

A moment later the Queen notices and appears utterly shocked. How can you be doing that? she demands. It's impossible. You can't just make yourself a Servant of Law like that.

Wan stands tall. I am Wan. I break Laws.

Deception, Bargains and Royal Bombs

Session 26/10/11

While Wan awaits the assassin's return, prepared to snare it in his new Lawful aura, Alyx, Red and Godark discuss the new turn of events.

What are we actually doing here? Godark asks wearily.

We're escorting the Ark to the northern gate, there to join with the forces of the Prime and help them close said gate announces a very bloodied General Aimar.

It was a rhetorical question Godark sighs.

Perhaps my general thought you'd forgotten and needed reminding says the Queen sarcastically.

Pulling on her hair Alyx steps between them and says How can we understand its purpose when we don't know ours? Is that really the plan? Because if it is, you were woefully under equipped before we came along.

One of the Lost, perhaps angry at being overlooked, pipes up saying We're the best military force you could ever wish to have on your side. We've decided the fate of Empires and won more battles than even history remembers.

You're food for the crows says Godark, picking snow from his boots with Kranatakyn's tip.

Gather around the Arkysancture says Wan, his voice carrying to every surviving man and woman with many automatically doing as he says.

Yet Red gives them pause. Heroes and Heroines of the Lost. You have brought us this far but I can ask you to go no further. Against such a foe you all face inevitable death so I hereby release you from any obligation you might have to follow me.

General Aimar and the two remaining Mirror Mir guards step forwards to stand by the queen. We are loyal to you till the end says the General, saluting her with his sword.

We too says one of the Lost. We have lived and died hundreds of times. Death holds no surprises for us. This is just what we do.

Another says If we can slow any of the enemies attacks and give you even the slightest advantage, we will have served our purpose.

Very well says Red. Then let us for the moment proceed.

---

For several minutes it seems as if Wan is keeping the being at bay. However, the peace is short lived.

At first a subtle change occurs in the air; a slight rise in Chaos alerts everyone to something happening. Within seconds though the slight rise becomes an exponential surge that quickly begins to dwarf the Law emitted by the Ark and put tremendous pressure on Wan.

Next the ground under their feet begins to shift and slide as if turning to mush and the air seems to grow thin making breathing difficult. Rocks begins to float into the air and strange winds cut across people without warning.

Above their heads the sky churns into a maelstrom of cloud and energy and flashes of light evaporate pieces of terrain at random as far as the eye can see.

The Queen cries out. It's a Reality Warp.

Big mojo Godark interprets for Alyx who looks totally freaked. Stick close. He takes her hand and squeezes it slightly.

Is there a way to stop it? asks Wan.

The Queen shakes her head. If we had Need or the Sword of Law, maybe. But we don't, so no.

Wan looks to Godark for suggestions but the dark warrior seems more interested in staring at the Queen. Godark does answer him though with eyes in the back of his head. I have a way of creating a plane but we'd just end up stuck in there instead of here. I'm reluctant to do that.

Kranatakyn whispers in the warrior's mind. You know I can battle this magic and turn this area to my own will if you so wish.

I know Godark replies quietly. But for the moment Wan, Alyx and I are safe and in no immediate danger. I'll not expend any of your power to save this Queen or her precious box. She can go to hell and so can these pawns with her.

The pressure of Chaos on Wan increases again, this time pushing his aura back and inwards until he feels caught in a magical vice, being slowly squeezed to nothing. With his power from the distant Source seemingly interrupted he knows he has little time left before it crushes him.

Someone do something he says with gritted teeth.

And someone does.

Godark moves like a rattlesnake and grabs Red by the throat, his sword at her flesh. Don't struggle your majesty. I have a proposition for you Godark whispers into her ear, too quietly for anyone else to hear in all the Chaos.

Godark! Alyx exclaims.

Godark continues, completely disinterested by the swords of the Lost surrounding him. You're playing some sort of game and have some sort of hidden agenda. But it seems to be going wrong.

What are you doing? the Queen says aloud. You're insane. Unhand me you idiot.

Godark's tone grows colder in her ear. I don't make idle threats... You're putting my Lady in danger and I won't allow that. Stop what you're doing or I'll let my sword drain your magic, eat your soul and then your son's. Kranatakyn shivers with delight as it begins absorbing the spells around her, one layer at a time, while also splashing images of horror and destruction across the surface of her mind for good measure.

We don't have time for this says Red through gritted teeth.

We have all the time in the world says Godark with a twisted smile. But how long is that exactly?

Alyx steps up to Godark, lays a hand on his shoulder and in a stern voice says Godark, let her go!

And the dark warrior does immediately as told, even bowing slightly towards her.

Red rubs her neck and stands ready for a moment to engage the warrior but the sudden almost complete loss of gravity make her reconsider.

The Lost begin floating into the air as gravity decays but Alyx snares them with astral ropes. The air grows too thin for many to breath but Alyx again gathers oxygen from much further around them to help people survive.

Then to everyone's surprise, in the midst of the Chaos, at the height of its power, among the flying rocks, the bubbling rolling terrain and bright firework like flashes of creation unravelling, appears the Supreme Commander Sinsifel, untouched and floating before them with her chest beating full of intense red light.

You appear in a spot of bother she says, her hair crackling with energy, her eyes burning with white light. Would you like some help?

No. Leave us! the Queen says but the Supreme Commander raises her hands and immediately quells the decaying reality, restoring it back to normal.

I cannot alloy you to go any further with the Ark of Law. It has to be destroyed for the good of all the Commander announces.

Wan hears the Commander's thoughts faintly next to his while the Queen rants her reply. Wan, I'm sorry we meet once again in such circumstances but the Ark really does need to be destroyed. If activated it will rewrite this world and the other with nothing able to stop it. I will soon be in control here and I promise you I can prevent Chaos from infecting your Prime. All I ask is that I keep this world and break it permanently away from yours. You know that the two worlds will never be able to be rejoined... Chaos or Law in some form or other will have this Broken Realm regardless. Choose to ally with me rather than the Ark and we can at least negotiate terms.

Over my dead body says Red fiercely before spitting into the wind in disgust. I'll never side with your kind. You brought a Chaos artefact to this world and nearly killed us all. I don't care how nice you're pretending to be. I know what you are. Just crawl off and die a horrible death somewhere.

I thought we left on good terms says the Supreme Commander sadly, while still thinking to Wan.

Maybe with my husband but he's more tolerant of things than me growls Red, moving towards the Ark. If you don't get out of my way right this instant, I'll activate the Ark and wipe all of us off the face of this world!

The Supreme Commander appears to remain calm but Wan observes the aura of Chaos around her intensifying by several magnitudes. I don't think you should do that Sinsifel mutters.

Don't try me! the Queen shouts.

So far I have followed you without question but I now require answers, says Wan sternly, suddenly gripping the Ark within his aura and floating it out of the Queen's reach until it hovers by his side.

Return the Ark to me immediately the queen demands. You have no right to interfere here. You're here only to assist! Then privately to Wan, Red continues... I am threatening to detonate the Ark because it will get this Chaos girl to back off. For god sake, you know I have no intention of detonating it yet! Are you really that stupid!

The Ark is staying with me says Wan unemotionally, keeping it elevated by his side and ready to move in his aura at the slightest provocation.

The situation grows even more tense when the Lost draw their weapons and nock their arrows and bolts in the priest's direction, prompting Godark to step in-between Wan and Alyx and the Queen.

I'm going to give you till the count of ten to return it to me says the Queen, red faced and seething. After that you can consider yourself an enemy and us at war.

Crap! Alyx thinks to Wan and Godark. Wan, what are you doing? What's going on?

Something has not been right for some time the priest explains. And now the Supreme Commander has spoken to me offering her help in return for the destruction of the Ark.

Eight...

Holy.....! Alyx curses. What are we... you going to do? We're not actually going to trust Chaos again are we?

Six....

I haven't decided yet says Wan.

Four, three, two, one... The Queen raises her sword and then slowly lowers it again with a heavy shrug of her shoulders. Fine, you win. The Ark is yours. Good luck trying to do something better with it than me she says bitterly. Red then turns to the Supreme Commander, drops her sword and raises her hands. In return for my surrender I ask one honourable act in return; that I be given transport to the Chaos army so that I can end fighting rather than rot here in betrayal and failure.

The Supreme Commander nods, steps forward and is about to accept the terms when Wan suddenly drops a bombshell.

This isn't the Ark.

Everyone stops and stares at him for a moment, especially the Queen whose eyes burn bright and cold when making contact with his own.

Let me see says the Supreme Commander, bypassing Red to get a closer look at the Ark.

Godark is unsure about that and so are the Lost who stand bewildered by Red's actions but still loyal to her cause. Arrows point, blades level and cries of anger fill the air.

But whatever should happen next doesn't, due entirely to a sudden, bright, blinding flash of supernatural heat and destructive power rivalling that of five hundred ancient dragons breath weaponing an area some 10 miles across to reduce it to a burning, lifeless crater visible from orbit.

Red Dust in the Wind

Makailla...? groans Godark, his body twisting and snapping back together, his sinews and muscles reaching out to each other like the roots of a plant.

She's coming back together says Wan, drawing the dark warrior's attention to a swirling column of dust and atoms. An explosion of that magnitude would normally have scattered Alyx's spirit beyond reclaim but Wan guessed the Makailla in her now had something to do with her immortality; perhaps even to some extent her link to Elondil.

What happened? Godark asks next, watching his legs reform, their bones and flesh knitting back together under the influence of thousands of black worms.

The queen must have activated some sort of suicide spell Wan deduces. But it doesn't make sense he continues thinking to himself.

What a bitch. I knew she was full of gas says Godark dryly.

A minute later the Supreme Commander appears, apparently unharmed and wastes no time explaining just how dire the situation is. We have no idea where the Arkysancture really is. This is bad. Really bad. It means any predications made on its detonation are wrong. Completely wrong!

Godark shrugs as if he's beyond caring and pops an arm back in its joint but Wan begins puzzling things through. There cannot be too many places for it to go undetected he muses.

Sinsifel the Supreme Commander of the Chaos Alliance approaches Wan with a feint glimmer of hope in her eyes. Any deal we might have made over the Ark now seems moot and pointless. However, we can still assist ourselves in saving both the worlds by working together. If you'll help me, I'll help you, so if you have any idea where the Ark is, please, you've got to say.

Wan contemplates to himself. Two possibilities immediately come to mind; that the Ark's power core is with Prescience or that it is more likely within the Sword of Law. Red's son might be the only person to survive the Ark's wave by retreating into his sword so it makes sense that he be the one to carry it. Yet, no matter how Wan weighs what has happened, the speeches given back at the Sanctuary and North's history, he finds it difficult to believe the great King capable of such an action as prematurely activating the Ark before the gates are shut and the Prime safe.

But what if North and Red had planned that all along?

The Ark wave will undoubtedly erase everything on the Broken Realm and if allowed, flood through to the Prime and erase everything there too. No more Ashar, no more Armageddon clock - just a clean solution to getting rid of everyone at once. Could North's struggle against Chaos have pushed him into such a corner? Could his and Red's sacrifices have left them with only one choice - the total condemnation of both worlds?

There are too many loose ends and Wan knows he has to find out why Red killed herself and what is going on as soon as possible. With time already having possibly run out, his only solace is the fact that the Ark hasn't already been activated and that there must be a reason for that.

The Supreme Commander says that the Titan Graveyard is dangerous, even for Chaos and that Wan and his companions should head out of it before doing anything else. While they do that she has to return to the battle against Mor and establish some sort of control over the assembled Lords of Chaos and their servants. She also says that she'll pay a quick visit to Christian, assuming that of course it is still worth allying with Wan?

We are already in an alliance Sinsifel says Wan. We both cannot see what is going to happen with this core of the Ark and it is in our best interests to control that. Wan paces for a moment. The question is, what are they waiting for? Why not explode it now or earlier?

The Supreme Commander doesn't answer but instead moves to one side when some sort of invisible communication reaches her.

Supreme Commander, we have secured the enemy's high temple and are in the process of tearing it down but after reports of several priests fleeing the location with what appeared to be objects of Primal power the Shieldmaiden has taken up pursuit. Fierce resistance from the former Archduke's forces continue along the interworld fault-line in an attempt to gain a minority footfold in both belief systems. Their master may have lost majority control here but loyalists to his cause still believe he can take enough of the Prime to negotiate stakes in any future division of property. Finally we are getting a large number of Mor's courtiers choosing to defect and offer their services and the Mal Superiority requests confirmation from you of their kill order.

Sinsifel barks angrily at the air. Kill them all!

Wan, despite a warning from Godark tells Sinsifel where he thinks the Ark is. We were hurried out of the Sanctuary, given no time to look around, think or react. It has to be there. It would just be too slow and risky for Christian to stop fighting, bring it out of his sword and activate it.

Very well. I'll move forces there as soon as I can says Sinsifel.

And we'll meet you there says Wan, considering astral travel his and Alyx's best bet and that Kranatakyn will take care of its own.

As soon as you're out of the Graveyard I'll return to discuss the next course of action says Sin before vanishing.

Wan, Godark and Alyx have to leave the Graveyard - but in which direction - back the way they came or towards the northern gate and the Evermore Vault? Ultimately it is Wan and the lack of time before the Ark explodes that dicates their destination....

---

Final Farewells

North was bleeding and on his knees when the first explosion shook the Citadel of Souls.

The Archduke of Chaos had long since tired of his entertainment and brought the weight of Chaos to bare upon Need and it's wielder, until spitting blood, the Sword of Kings barely twitching in his hand, North had dragged himself into a corner to surely die.

The ruse had worked though. He had been the perfect distraction and so had his queen. Confronting and defeating Mor had never been a possibility, not for either of them. They simply had their parts to play in protecting their endgame.

When the second explosion hit he barely noticed it. Creatures ran by, terrified by the sky and by the way it cackled but North was far away, listening to the faint magical words of his wife and partner.

The priest is getting suspicious. I'm not sure how much longer I can go on.

He would never understand North replied. He is all about the Source of Life and fighting for humanity. He cannot comprehend what we have faced or the decisions we have had to make to keep our people alive.

How are you?

North coughed and pulled his legs in as something monstrous pounded by. Chaos is eating away at Need. As for me I've had worse. I'll be around for the light show. His hands were shaking with red light under their skin, eating away at his magic and soul but that was something he wouldn't share.

Any word on Christian? Red asked him, the connection between them fluctuating wildly so that for a moment North thought it had gone.

Last I saw, thanks to my host, he was at the gate. He was making us proud. North had smiled at his son's success and wished for some other way.

Should we have... him? The connection continued to fade.

No, we did the right thing. He wouldn't have understood. He's the only one who stands a chance of surviving. Yet another series of explosions began to bring the walls in and ceiling down around him. He covered his mouth as a cloud of dust swept by and sounds of battle rose to a cacophonous crescendo. Something is happening here.

But there came no reply.

Minutes passed and North remembered his life; his first days of adventure in the northern wastes, his banishment to Esium and the colourful characters he met. Queen Kitara, Lord Ross, Bran and the others. So many faces and so many battles. Mirabore, Liaze and his beautiful young red haired bride.

My heart... Her voice was far away but just perceptible. My heart... We've lured the assassin to us. I couldn't have hoped for better. Christian is out of danger.

It shouldn't be long now North thought back, blurred darkness closing across his vision. A few final calibrations, some last tweaks and humanity and the Qual will live again, in peace, as they were always meant to. North reached for a fragment of the Elluvian disk in the rubble next to him and felt the magic of its illusion flicker between his fingers and vanish. We're going to make a new world my love.

And our son will see it Red replied. Reality warping.... I hoped to get closer.... this will have to do. The Ark lost power... quicker than we thought it...

Something slimy grabbed the King's foot but Need, full of blisters of red light still had enough of an edge to send it howling into the gloom.

They know about.... Ark. There's no room.... ..... in the new world. Sin... here.... I'll love you... forever.

Silence. The spell had gone.

I love you... I'll see you in another life. North said softly as the last of the ceiling fell on top of him and friends rose up from the past to catch him.

---

Opposing Forces

Session 09/11/11

After leaving Wan, Alyx and Godark in the Graveyard the first thing Sin does is visit the forces of Mor at the northern gate and call a stop to their offensive. Refusing to give up ground though they position themselves well and truly across the divide between worlds and take up a purely defensive stance.

On the otherside of the gate, Brin, Aran and the assembled Dragon Court are at first puzzled by Chaos' sudden halt but quick to act and take advantage of it. With a concerted push they begin annihilating Chaos around the gate and attempting to force its closure.

Mean while, at the more southernly gate, Sinsifel then appears before Prince Christian and with a deafening voice commands every Chaos creature present to cease fighting and to kill any who disobey. Her voice travels through even the thin fabric of reality seperating the two worlds and reaches the Chaos on the Prime side.

Chaos listens to Maloth's stolen Voice of Command and for a few minutes at least, the fighting comes to a halt.

The Prince is shocked to see her and hesitates for a moment, the thrall of the sword of the Law faltering in his mind. Sinsifel? How? What are you doing here? he asks, signalling his own troops to stand down but remain ready in case of a trick.

I'm taking control of Chaos. In a few minutes the majority of it will be under my command. So you see, there really isn't any need for us to fight. We can work something out she explains, offering a hand. Cease fighting and I'll get Chaos to do the same.

Christian shakes his head, the Blue sword flaming in his grasp. I can't. Chaos cannot be trusted. It just wants to get to Eldahar and from there infect the whole Idiom, the whole Multiverse. It's using you to try and make me surrender.

Chaos isn't using me! Sinsifel exclaims. If anything, I'm using it. You know as well as I do who the true enemy is which is why I'm doing what I'm doing. I'm trying to unite Chaos to battle Tharizden. If you can't trust Chaos, then trust me.

No! Christian shouts sending waves of blue light flooding over the Chaotic corpses around him and making them disintegrate to dust. Chaos cannot be united. You're a foolish girl if you think it can.

Sinsifel's cheeks redden and her voice lowers to more dangerous tone. It can be united and I'm doing it. You've changed Christian. You used to be so open minded and ready to believe. Now you're as cold as that sword of yours.

So leave then Christian challenges. Tell your Chaos friends to leave this world and the Prime alone. If you do that, then I'll believe you. Then I'll stand down and talk.

The Supreme Commander of the Chaos Alliance casts her eyes down and in a soft voice replies... I can't. I need one or both of these worlds to be in a position to proceed. If I fail... there won't be enough of me left to say I ever existed.

That's what happens when you deal with Chaos. Christian takes a step closer to the red haired young woman and their two opposing aura's crackle and ignite into spiritual fireworks. Leave while you can Sin he says sincerely. While you can.

Where is the Ark Christian? It wasn't with your mother. She was escorting a decoy.

The Prince appears shocked again, perhaps moreso than before. You're lying he says angrily. Why say such a thing?

Because it's true Sinsifel continues. I'm sorry, but when Wan discovered it wasn't the real Ark she blew herself up with some sort of spell so we couldn't learn its real location. I think the plan is to destroy this Eldahar and the other.

Christian reels when she says this and almost stumbles over a rock. His Mirror Mir guard move to assist him but he waves them back, removes his helm and wipes his bloodied face.

You know I'm not lying. It's the sort of thing your mother would do isn't it? says Sinsifel. She was a hard nosed fighter when I met her the first time and just as hard nosed when I saw her a few minutes ago. She has settled for taking everyone and everything down with her.

The Prince lowers his sword and fights back a flood of emotions. And what if she did? This world is a hell and from what I've heard the other is no better. Maybe they're both better off being given a fresh start? Free of these wars and the horrors they bring. He wipes his face with the back of a hand and then grips the sword firmly in both.

Do you know where the Ark is? Sinsifel asks, this time moving a little closer herself until the Sword of Law wants to leap for her chest and it is all Christian can manage to keep it pointing downwards.

Why this, now? Christian asks the heavens.

Where is the Ark? Sinsifel asks again, reaching out her hand to just within reach of his.

If I knew, I wouldn't tell you Christian says sadly, his eyes brimming with tears. I'm Law, you're Chaos. And never the twain shall meet. He moves his own hand away and in a sudden blur strikes the Blue sword towards her.

Law and Chaos clash, hurling both of them backwards as an explosion rips the sky and its concussion knocks everyone and everything down within two hundred feet. Then as the energy clears Sinsifel springs to her feet and hides her own tears behind locks of hair.

Christian, his armour twisted but his sword even brighter than before rises to face her. And when he does, Sinsifel turns, barks a command to the Chaos army to resume their assault and vanishes with an angry snap of fire.

---

The stone table had been carved by earth Elementals as a gift for Ischandi the Wise nearly a thousand years ago and gifted to the Star Lodge soon after. Oval and made from more than two dozen rare quartz's it had been called many things by many Kings and Wizards and witnessed many a grand earth shattering decision. Today though it was just something for Ragnek to slam his fist onto.

What's going on over there? he blew, exasperated, his beard crackling with magic.

The magical bowl in front of him showed the Wise Elric, ducking down as a hail of deadly ice bolts shattered overhead as he tried to reply. If I were to hazard a guess I would say something... another explosion of ice... something detonated on the other side of the gate. The worlds are so close now we actually glimpsed it and felt it! Elric yelled.

Must be the Queen doing something Ragnek mused, huffing hair out of his eyes. Press the attack. Now is our chance. I'll coordinate with the Dragons and Brin. Let's get this gate closed!

That's all well and good but we're a little under fire here said Elric, just as an explosion sends soldiers and debris flying in every direction around him. We could do with some aerial support.

Dammit Elric, it's not coming. Another fist hit the table. The Dragons are engaging a whole new bank of artillery that has just respawned from the last lot. You've just got ice giants. Gather your troops and get in there before they shred you at that range.

Ragnek watched Elric for a moment gather some men about him and peer over their trench. If I wasn't tied up trying to mastermind this whole world's defence I'd be there throwing you over myself he growled, perhaps a little too quiet for the other Wise to hear.

Elric suddenly moved back and closer to the magical window with a perplexed look on his face.

You're going the wrong bloody way! Ragnek shouted at him, bringing on a painful bout of indigestion that he couldn't focus enough to will away.

Something weird is happening in the Chaos ranks Elric blurted. There seems some dissidence and confusion, as if their communications are down or something is happening behind their lines.

Elric good chap said Ragnek calmly. You know what this means...

Yes?

GET YOUR ASS IN THERE AND WIPE THE BASTERDS OUT!

---

Carpus Fenrik, High General of Andor, tossed his split helmet to the floor and begrudgingly let his accompanying mage Hawig examine his scalp and lay on some sort of healing spell.

You really should learn to dodge better milord Hawig berated.

I'd like to see you dodge an eight foot long flying axe! Carpus growled, pulling matted sticky lumps of an Orn's face out of his beard.

The battlefield was littered with tens of thousands of dead, from both sides and Carpus had a good view of it's horror from atop his own personal pile of Orn bodies. They turned back, just when we were about to be overrun he said thoughtfully to the mage. I wonder why?

I'm listening to magical announcements now milord There's a lot of confusion but it appears as if... my God, it can't be possible.

What man? Don't choke on it. Give me the worst Carpus snapped.

It appears as if their army is in full scale retreat. Small groups are breaking off to gate elsewhere but the bulk of them are withdrawing to the other world, soon to be pursued by as many as the Elandians can muster.

What are you saying? Carpus grabbed the slender mage by his boney shoulders and shook him.

I think we've won! Hawig squealed.

Impossible! It must be a ruse of some kind Carpus shook his head in disbelief.

Wait, more reports are coming in milord said Hawig, managing to pry himself loose of Carpus' bloodied grip. Some sort of coup on the other side. The Chorus have read the minds of several of the fell ones and apparently they're retreating under orders of a... Chaos Queen?

A Queen! By the Gods, what will these monsters come up with yet? Carpus wailed. It's probably something with tentacles and a hundred eyes of course. Sick soulless monsters!

Of no doubt milord said Hawig, resuming trying to heal Carpus' head.

So what now? That's it? The world is back to where it was before? Full of war, doom sayers and new gods toying with men's fates Carpus yelled bitterly, jabbing his sword into a corpse.

It's never over milord. It's the lot of a soul to suffer in life and remain restless in death said Hawig sagely.

Come Hawig! We'll linger here no longer. Gather the men. We'll teach these demons what happens when they defile our land. We'll not let those Elandian skirt lifters reap all the glory and stamp their crest on victory. For Andor and the Crown of Trees!

---

Ark Hunting

Session 09/11/11

Wan waste no time after the Supreme Commander's departure in going astral and surveying the Graveyard's fragmented reality above him. It looks passable he says to Alyx, who still remains non-material but spiritually better than a minute ago.

Let's go then she replies, taking his hand. Just take things easy on me will you. I'm still not sure I have legs yet, let alone whether I can use them.

Wan tells Godark to follow them using his sword and the warrior nods, getting Kranatakyn to conjure a black sphere around him for super fast travel.

A moment later Wan, with Alyx safely under his astral protection, soars towards the heavens, weaving back and forth to avoid the strange fissures and rifts within the Titan Graveyard until they eventually thin out and vanish.

Upon gaining a high altitude he notices a large concentration of power to the north-west, presumably the gate and Evermore site, and how the patterns there seem under duress from several different battling energy sources.

Upon rising even higher, into low orbit where the astral plane is extremely thin but still just about navigable, he sees even further north west, towards the Citadel of Souls and Mor's seat of power. There he makes out wild fluctuating energies that seem to be exploding against one another. The sky above the citadel and for a hundred miles in every direction also seems full of beings battling and killing one another while level with him, in low orbit, two vast astral signatures hover like satellites overseeing events below.

They pay him no heed so he concentrates on the spiritual signature of the Ark, hoping to use his new found affinity with it to pinpoint its location.

At first nothing pulls at him but then... slowly, a sense of direction presents itself and he soars over the world until he thinks he is above it.

It's somewhere below he mutters, descending like a falling star to get a better look. And sure enough, true to his prediction, he finds himself floating high above the Sanctuary and its well protected central Bastion.

Despite being protected by some sort of powerful Law shield, Wan still senses that the Bastion houses the central power core of the Ark and as such means he has to get in. The problem is the entire structure is surrounded by Chaos troops and he would rather get in relatively unnoticed.

I should be able to bend the shield by attuning my aura to it. Maybe even tunnel through it without breaking it he muses aloud. The Way of the Willow floats up from his memories.

What about me though? asks Alyx. You can't turn me into Law, we've already covered that. Plus she thinks to herself. I'd rather get blown up a thousand times.

Wan explains how he can bend the shield, theoretically around them so that she doesn't have to actually become 'one with the shield' but that it might take a little time, time they won't have before Chaos spots them and attacks.

Godark steps up to the plate, or more correctly floats up in his black sphere. I'll do it. I'll go down and distract them. As long as you, he looks seriously at Alyx, take care of yourself in there and if you need me find a way of calling.

Wan nods and so does Alyx, letting Godark bow before her without pulling a face. Wan then sets his sights on the Bastion, knowing that Kranatakyn and Godark, untempered by his influence will do what they do best.

Godark floats down and lands on the broken bridge leading to the Bastion's heavily fortified front doors. The bridge, broken in the middle and seemingly blasted by some sort of energy weapon is now spanned by some sort of sickly plant creature that Godark has no problem standing on or impaling Kranatakyn into.

Do you serve the Lord Mor? he shouts, letting Kranatakyn get a good look at the creatures trying to climb the Bastion's walls (but failing dismally of course) and at the assembled siege weapons, air and land troops before him.

Mor is our Lord and Master! a Chaotic minion bellows back, brandishing a wickedly shaped axe and three hairy noses. Surrender now to his might lest he crush your bones from afar.

Who is the leader here? Godark asks, telling Kranatakyn to select 'three noses' as a secondary target.

I am! declares a tall and lean soldier, his face and skin from head to feet covered bloodily in nails and pins.

Primary target 'pin-pointed' says Godark with a chuckle as the first of his black spheres swallows both targets and prompts a full on scrum of minions trying to get to him.

---

Distraction in place Wan flies down with Alyx in tow to the side of the Bastion and begins adapting his aura to match that of the shield. It takes several seconds but he feels it start to give under his influence, just enough to bend it and drive a funnel through.

It's a tight fit but Wan and Alyx enter the shield and move as quick as they can to its other side.

Are we here yet mum? asks Alyx, decidedly dizzy and disoriented by both her spiritual reformation and being sheltered by Wan.

Nearly Wan replies with a smile, seeing the shield open up ahead of him and a second later both being suddenly forced to reform physical bodies. Alyx lands with a heavy thump on the floor, her body strangely numb with the sense it doesn't quite belong.

She struggles to rise and with a helping hand from Wan does so but unsteadily leans against a wall, her ordeal reforming from the Queen's explosive spell still taking its toll; as well as the total stilling of the astral plane.

Within the Bastion it seems that the astral plane, normally a confluence of flowing spiritual energy that constantly ebbs and flows reflecting life and creation has been brought to a stop, disabling both Wan's and Alyx's spiritual abilities and severely hampering their ability to use their auras.

Must be some sort of Law effect Alyx thinks to herself.

Wan flexes his aura but it doesn't go far, scarcely an arm's length from the tips of his outstretched hand, which poses a problem but not enough of one to turn back.

The two of them find themselves in a stone tunnel following the natural curvature of the Bastion around to their left and right. Somewhere deep below a deep thrumming sound vibrates up through the stone.

Wan picks a direction deciding to look for a way down and it isn't long before he finds a stairwell leading to a similar corridor. About to step into it though he pauses and holds Alyx back too as a whirring clicking sounds approaches and a strange three foot high hovering entity entirely made of metal and harnessed lightning passes by, its dozen wire-like antennae sparking and swishing around its domed head like branches in a storm.

Once it has passed Wan and Alyx continue the way it came and descend another level to the ground floor of the Bastion. Here they recognise the wide open and high corridors that lead to the central chamber from which they were beamed such a short time ago and continue moving silently and as stealthily as possible around.

Aside from the thrumming that still comes from below the Bastion stands silent and seemingly deserted making both of them wonder where the ten thousand survivors have gone.

Then they come to a door.

Made from solid metal, flush to the wall with no visible hinges or locks of any kind it stands twice as high and twice as thick as any other doors so far. And to make it stand out even further, it has a glowing cube on the wall to its right with the numbers 0 to 9 on it as illuminated buttons.

We're not in Esium anymore (substitute Kansas) says Alyx, perplexed and Wan has to agree. What do you think it is? she asks.

A communication device? A piece of art? An abacus of some kind? Or maybe the way in? Neither of them have any real idea but buttons beg to be pressed and it doesn't take Wan long to gauge with his aura that some of those buttons have been pressed far more often than others.

If only he could distinguish the order they were pressed... but alas that is a little beyond even him.

As Alyx starts to randomly press buttons and Wan tries to detect subtle changes in the energy behind the buttons to try and figure out their purpose the door suddenly breaks its seal and whooshes slowly open towards them.

They step back, peer around it and see, a little disappointingly, no one on the other side, just a long softly illuminated tunnel descending down and around a bend.

Did I do that? Alyx whispers, examining her hand for any sign of Goddess-like powers.

I don't know Wan muses, taking his first step in and down. But this looks like the way we have to go.

At the bottom of the spiralling tunnel is a round room filled floor to ceiling with strange machinery and mysterious mechanical components. The tunnel continues on the other side but both of them stop and pause when a voice emanates from on a box on the ceiling...

01-23-45-32-89-101-162... the voice says unemotionally.

Some sort of countdown? Wan guesses.

It's too quiet says Alyx. I don't like this. Where are the guards?

It isn't long before she gets her answer. A short distance down the next part of the tunnel and they come to a sharp bend and around that bend they see two metal figures guarding the entrance a vast underground room. Humanoid but more like steel skeletons than anything that could be alive, each figure holds a long power staff, similar to the weapons carried by the Mirror Mir guards but thicker, longer and heftier.

Wan tries to flex his aura again, just to see if anything has changed, but the dampening effect of the Bastion remains in place.

Looks like we're going to get shot he says to Alyx with an ever so slight smile.

She shrugs and gives him a definite grin in return. Well, it's not like I'm not used to it.

A moment later the two of them break cover and dash towards the guards, ready to engage in unarmed combat. And a moment after that the two guards step aside to let them pass, forcing them to skid down to a casual walk and pass between the guards with an air of normality.

New World Order

An Ark Guard of Prescience

The room is a few hundred feet across and high, jam packed full of tubes, wires, glowing conduits, pulsing tubes and heavy machinery that throbs, trembles and thrums with power.

Around the outside of the room two dozen coffin-sized canisters with glass fronts stand upright against the walls and in more than half of them floats a human being, in a yellowish liquid, seemingly unconscious.

The center of the room is what most attracts Wan and Alyx's attention though. Seven huge metal arms with spinning cones at their tips hover at equidistant points around a glowing ball of energy some fifteen feet in diameter, pouring energy into it so that its surface shimmers and rolls in waves of varicoloured light, while at its heart, suspended in light is a far more dense and concentrated power that has to be the Ark's power core and next to that a metal spinning disk that Wan recognises as the Elluvian disk North supposedly took with him to face Mor.

Next to this sphere though, between it and Wan, observing several floating windows of energy that shift and change depicting complex patterns, numbers, symbols and shapes, stands a silver man.

Prescience.

The silver man speaks as soon as they enter but doesn't immediately turn around. Standing six foot six inches with perfectly smooth metal limbs but intricate machine-like joints the man, if you can call it that, vaguely resembles a human but clearly isn't. His head shines with pulsing lights, running in maze-like grooves across the surface of his skull and unlike the skeletal figures standing guard at the entrance, he has a fully formed physique more resembling that of a golem; mostly smooth but with unfinished parts.

Welcome, welcome, please come in, I trust you are hear to observe The Event? Prescience says enthusiastically.

Indeed Wan replies, moving closer to the being while Alyx fans out to his side.

Congratulations on passing through my shield barrier. Very well done. I really wasn't expecting any visitors at such a late stage Prescience continues, turning around now to face them. But now that you are here I am happy for you to witness what will happen.

And what might that be? asks Wan, considering power striking the sphere or grappling the metal man.

Why the creation of a new world of course says Prescience proudly. DNA and other material samples have been extracted and injected into the matrix of the Ark. When it activates it will rewrite matter and recreate such races as the Qual and Humanity, placing them in a new world order where they might establish a peaceful and prosperous civilisation.

Wan lets that sink in a moment while Alyx prods cables with a foot. Who says they will live in peace? he asks.

When they are reborn during The Event Prescience explains, they will have no memories of this world or how they came to be. They will have a fresh start, uninfluenced by the wars and bitter rivalries of this world and the Prime. They will have the best chance possible of peace.

Who told you to do this and who can stop it?

Prescience stands completely upright and rigid, as if recalling some important fact or piece of information. I am under orders from the King I can only stop the process by his order.

And if the King is dead?

Then I am under orders from the Queen Prescience continues.

And if the Queen is dead too?

Then the Prince says Prescience. Should he also be dead, then the order can never be rescinded.

The King and Queen are both dead says Wan, (hazarding a guess that North has already bit the biggy.) Can you communicate with Prince Christian from here? Wan gestures to the screens, many of them showing images of the battlefield.

I cannot says Prescience. These only monitor events providing no external contact.

I can't let you do this says Wan, now standing within striking distance of the man. Isn't there a way of doing this without affecting the Prime? With the gates shut the Prime will be safe. Why not just wait a while longer?

Prescience makes a few slight adjustments to one of his floating energy screens. Impossible. Chaos has already entered the Prime and will never willingly withdraw. The Prime is already infected. Simply closing gateways will not change that. Both worlds must be rewritten.

What if I destroy this place? asks Wan.

There is nothing you can do to stop The Event says Prescience confidently. Every system here has several fallback systems to counteract such interference. You can certainly try but you will fail. There is nothing now that can stop it from occurring.

It's already started?

Of course. It started some time ago says Prescience, as Alyx yanks on a cable and watches another attach itself in its stead.

How long until it happens? Wan asks quietly.

6mins and 30seconds from now Prescience announces.

And you're the only one who can stop it? Wan asks again, wondering if killing the metal man is an option.

Yes Prescience confirms, putting pay to that.

I say we just trash this place anyway says Alyx. It might be lying to us.

Wan sort of has the same idea, considering actually tunnelling under the Bastion and lifting the whole thing into orbit. At least up there the Ark wave might not affect the planet below.

You're not serious are you? asks Alyx, when Wan shares his idea.

Wan looks at her and she recognises that look. The look that says nothing is impossible in Wan World. Fine, if that's the only option, go for it. In the meantime though she thinks to herself, slugging Prescience in the jaw. Stupid Law dickhead.

4 mins 18 seconds Prescience announces excitedly, letting his jaw spring back into position.

And Wan, facing perhaps the greatest dilemma of his life, with no clear way to win or survive, mutters to himself, The end of the world is nigh...

---

Future Echoes

Racing between the astral streams, untangling weaves of reality, The Tomorrow Thief could feel himself slipping away, a piece at a time into the ever narrowing cracks between the two worlds and for the first time in many years feared for his life.

There had never been any doubt in his mind that what he was doing was dangerous, but he was, to his knowledge, the only being capable of slowing the inevitable collision of worlds and buying his friends enough time to succeed.

But succeed in what exactly? Shutting Chaos in one world so that it could be wiped out by Law? That had been the plan brought to them by King North and Queen Red and it had seemed an ideal solution at the time. But now, Tomorrow wasn't sure.

They had asked each other questions; what if they were just replacing one threat with another?; could the two worlds ever be truly kept apart or was it their destiny to come back together... just like Orion? But none of them, despite their wisdom and gifts could give a satisfactory answer. And so they had gone along with it, as after all, they had enough to worry about with Ashar and the Armageddon Clock.

Yet here, in the astral confluence of worlds his thoughts remained troubled and subject to unbidden visions; of warring armies, Lords of Mordark fighting one another and of a young red haired she-demon rising above them all cupping a red sun in her hands.

He glimpsed a place of perpetual night and a mountain sized tower coiled into the earth and touching the sky like a titanic serpent. Then a crawling darkness that seemed to erode the sun and wither the lands.

And as he sped faster and faster through the different colliding planes the visions came brighter and clearer. Of six shadows face to face with six others against a backdrop of spiralling stars. Of a winged angel, one half black and the other half white, coming together among those stars and of millions of voices briefly crying out in terror.

Then white light. Intense white light that burned away all other visions to nothingness.

Dazed he slowed his passage and veered away, slipping back to the Prime to plummet exhausted into the side of a hill.

Ragnek, can you hear me? he called, through the doorways of the inner mind.

What is it? the Wizard quickly asked, sensing the younger man's concern.

We have a problem. The Ark is going to activate any moment. I can't see the future anymore.

Hold on, let me consult with the Oracle the Wizard snapped.

Tomorrow lifted himself out of the hill and let his aura vaporize dirt from his face and clothes.

The Wizard's voice returned. Something is blocking any of her future visions. All she sees is light. But why now? How come we haven't sensed this before?

The Ark has been shielded. Something must have changed Tomorrow guessed. Maybe it's exposed now.

Well the Wizard said with a sigh. We knew it was going to go off at some point. No point in having a Law bomb if you're never going to use it. We've a good chance it won't make the jump between worlds or traverse the gateways so let's not panic just yet eh?

I wish I was more confident in that. We're relying on some pretty way out theories here.

Theories that I recall you were instrumental in delivering said the Wizard. Look, we've tried to shut the gates and the way things are going at the moment might still manage to before anything blows up. And if the gates aren't shut and the wave crosses over, well then we deal with it then.

And just how do we propose on doing that? Tomorrow asked, teleporting himself directly to Ragnek's side, bypassing all of the Star Lodges protections. This world my fiend will never allow itself to be erased. It will never bow down to a foreign power and will always find a way of surviving. It's full of life, creation, hope and so long as one being remains alive, it's heart will endure.

And I guess we could always go and ask Ashar for somewhere to hide Tomorrow laughed, making Ragnek frown.

"The world will find a way. Sometimes you've just got to trust in the Will of Fate," Ragnek Stormcrow

The world will find a way. Sometimes you've just got to trust in the Will of Fate the Wizard announced sagely. And in the meantime, while we're waiting for her fickle finger to point somewhere it might be a good idea to find Danae, send a summons to the Baron, Brin, Crow and Orin. I've got a feeling we might need them.

Tomorrow nodded. I'll find Danae, you send the summons.

At that moment another man entered the room dressed in a golden robe and with a waist length white beard.

Begging your pardon the man interrupted, worry plastered across his face.

Rad, let me guess, you can't see the future anymore? asked Ragnek.

Rad Farenhad the Immortal of Time nodded, surprised that the Wizard already knew at least some of what he had to say. Slightly more than that he continued nervously. I sense a blockage in Time, no more than a few minutes away. A blockage unlike anything I've previously come across. I cannot see beyond it and as we move towards it, everything that is happening and meant to happen in the interim is growing fainter and more... liquid. Normally Time this close to an event is pretty much set, unable to be altered, but now...

It isn't Tomorrow finished, casting the Wizard a worried look. I'm getting Danae.

Tomorrow had gone and so had Rad, leaving Ragnek alone. The world will find a way he repeated to himself, before reaching out to the other Crowns.

---

Detonation

The Ark bomb is ticking and in just a few minutes will rewrite creation. Can it be stopped? Can anyone be saved?

Session 30/11/11 @21.30

What to do? Wan puzzles, coming up with half a dozen more questions for the silver man to answer as truthfully as only Law can. Hoping to find and exploit some weakness in the either the shield, the Ark, Prescience's plan or anything else that might prevent or delay the bomb from going off, Wan remains surprisingly cool under pressure.

What has happened to the survivors who came here to be safe? he asks.

They have been assimilated - the more data added to the disk, the better the chance of successful implantation in the newly formed matrix, says Prescience, losing Alyx at 'assimilated'. How remiss of me though. I should offer the two of you the chance to be assimilated too. There is just enough time if you so wish.

Not bloody likely, Alyx first thinks to herself. Why wait until now to 'stimulate' these people? Couldn't you have done it ages ago. I mean, that's what the Qual did with their disk right?

The King and Queen did not just want DNA extrapolated from the survivors. That would have been too easy. They wanted a far more detailed process that could assimilate not only the material patterns of each person but also their energy patterns too, Prescience explains.

Prescience answers very matter-of-factly. It was never their intention to join those on the new world - they only wished to go out fighting, true to their natures. There are now 3m 8secs left.

Wan knows that if he can get inside the Ark or Disk somehow, he might be able to force Prescience to halt the countdown. In a way he imagines inside like a plane, full of spirits or beings but the silver man is quick to squash that notion.

The Core of the Ark and the Elluvian disk have no intelligence. They are storage devices. Devices that I, in my brilliance have managed to link together.

With being beamed inside now sounding like a bad idea, Wan attunes his aura to that of the energy shield around the Ark and begins pushing his hands through it, into the light. At first it tickles but the further he pushes in the more the fierce energy bombards him like a kite in a thunderstorm.

What are you doing? asks Prescience, somewhat agitated. You will be vaporized if you continue.

But Wan pays the silver man no heed and continues passing his body into the shield until he stands completely encompassed by it. The light inside is unbearably bright but with his supernatural vision he makes out the Elluvian disk, suspended in a fine metal web and just touching the core of the Ark; the Ark is spherical, about 6 inches in diameter and akin to a miniature Death Star.

I am going to pass energy into your Ark that is of a Chaotic nature, threatens Wan, his intention to force Prescience to halt the countdown by making his aura mimic Chaos.

You have 2 minutes and 32 seconds remaining, Prescience announces. The Ark and Elluvian Disk are both completely repellant to Chaos in all of its forms. It is impossible to corrupt them in such a way. You really are a strangely stubborn being. I have told you, it is impossible for you to prevent the detonation. Despite saying this though Prescience moves to a console of buttons and lights and begins doing things. Things that provoke Alyx into action.

Jumping onto Prescience's back, Alyx begins pounding the metal man around the head with her fists, throwing him off balance and crashing to the floor.

I've had enough of you! she shouts furiously, grabbing a metal arm and trying to twist it off.

I'm afraid your actions warrant physical subduing, says Prescience, sending an unseen signal to his two far more menacing looking robot guards, who immediately spring into the room whirling their energy staves.

Inside the shield Wan wonders what to do next. If he touches the core he could very well trigger a premature explosion. If he sends his aura into it, it could have exactly the same effect.

Alyx screams in agony as one of the guard robots jabs her with the end of its staff, sending waves of hot pain coursing through her body. She tries to leg sweep it but it remains too quick for her, leaping into the air and then jabbing her again.

At almost this exact moment the walls of the room shudder and a deep rumbling reverberates down from somewhere above, prompting Wan to try a different tact. He steps back out of the energy but remains attuned to it. He then grabs one of the giant metal fingers feeding the shield around the Ark and with his unhindered supernatural strength, bends it's end towards the floor, deeply scoring it with hot energy and creating a burning trench.

He doesn't stop there though. Still bending the metal finger and its deadly energy beam, Wan twists it until the beam slices clean through the two metal guards. The finger, then bent beyond repair suddenly explodes in his hands sending a blast of energy back along its various cables and tubes to start fires on the other side of the room.

Cease and desist! Prescience exclaims. If you continue you will endanger the rebirth of man and such other races as the Qual.

At that moment Alyx jumps back onto Prescience again and wrestles him across the floor. What do you know about birth? she snarls vehemently.

Wan ignores the silver man's warnings and grabs another metal finger, bending its beam to scythe across the ceiling before eventually exploding too. With more fires breaking out by the second and the room quickly filling with smoke and bursts of lightning Wan continues, bending a third finger so that its beam cuts two more and Prescience's control consoles burst into sparks.

With what must be only about 1 minute and 20 seconds left, Wan continues breaking the 7 fingers that feed the shield around the Ark until as he reaches the last one and crushes its end, the shield stutters and vanishes, sending the Ark and Elluvian disk crashing heavily to the floor. The Ark hits the ground with tremendous force, suggesting it weighs hundreds of times more than it appears and the fine metal webbing connecting the Ark to the disk twists and breaks, separating the two.

This is folly! Stop this! There is nothing you can stop the detonation! Prescience exclaims, his left leg malfunctioning and left arm mangled by Alyx's repeated attacks.

Wan senses a flood of spirit returning to him as the shield vanishes and that he has complete control over his aura again. He also staggers as the entire bastion above his head seems to violently shake as if in a sudden ferocious mountain flattening earthquake.

"Put a cork in it tin head," Alyx

Put a cork in it tin head, Alyx growls. Wan's doing his thing. With a burst of rage she summons a spiritual representation of Woethorn (as her spiritual abilities have now returned too) and jams its point into Prescience's wriggling hip.

With less than one minute left, Wan reaches down into the small crater where the Ark now lays and places his hands around its bright pulsing shape. The core of the Ark is heavy, immensely heavy, perhaps several tons in weight, but Wan is no ordinary man with ordinary strength; his strength is fuelled by spirit and faith and as such, with a titanic effort, the plain robed priest lifts it a foot or so into the air.

I've nowhere to send it, thinks Wan, frantic for an option, any option. He calls aloud, Godark! and as if by magic the black void warrior appears, stumbling at a full run out of the corridor and into the room.

Having sensed Alyx's growing distress, Godark had spent half a minute analysing the bastion's protection before letting Kranatakyn cast an other planal tunnelling spell to bypass it.

Despite burning fires, things exploding and lightning arcs dancing wildly between the remains of Prescience's machines, Godark immediately checks on Alyx, only to find her sprawled on top of and beating a silver man to death with a spiritual sword.

Godark, I need you to get rid of this somehow, send me to another a world, even up into space before it explodes. There's less than a minute left! Wan explains without pausing for breath.

Crap, Godark replies, his eyes now taking in the devastation around him. I could maybe use the Skara Axis to contain it but I've never put anything quite like that in there before. I suppose it might not work. And as for shifting you and it to another plane or realm, well there aren't any on this damned world. So that's out. Godark instructs Kranatakyn to release the Skara Axis for him to use and to stand ready to throw up the best protection it can around him, Alyx and Wan, but only to include Wan if he isn't going to weaken the protection and put Alyx in danger of course.

Kranatakyn moans in his mind. This is not a good place to be. We must leave this place... IMMEDIATELY, the sword stresses, applying tremendous psychic pressure, enough to make even someone as stubborn as Godark flounder in his thoughts.

Not... without... Makailla, Godark grimaces through gritted teeth, trying to hide Kranatakyn's painful demand by turning his face away from the others.

It is at that moment that the corridor they came down suddenly melts away in fiery red light and a flaming haired apparition of god-like power floats down it surrounded by waves of reality bending energy. The Supreme Commander Sinsifel arrives, a little late but without a doubt meaning business.

She briefly scowls at Godark for leaving her outside and going in alone but is then quick to gauge the situation.

And Wan is also just as quick to see a way of bringing a newly thought plan to fruition. You need to make a gate to the Master Gate so I can throw this in. We have about half a minute left, he states. The Ark bomb could be his solution to the Hollow and to rejuvenating the Homelands... things may not have gone quite as he had foreseen but there was still time to make the best of the situation and put the bomb to good use.

I came here to help both Eldahars, not hurl a Law bomb into somewhere that could wipe them out and do god knows what damage to the Idiom, Sinsifel responds angrily. There is no way of knowing what will happen if that explodes in there.

It could rejuvenate the homelands, says Wan. Put right a terrible wrong.

It could also spread into the Idiom and erase thousands of populated worlds! Sin responds.

Kranatakyn mulls things over softly into Godark's mind. There is really only one place for it to go as long as these two worlds are linked. The timelessness of the Void will suspend its detonation until it comes out the other side, onto the Prime. And when it does, once it has run its course that world's abundance of energy will be ripe for the taking.

And, Godark asks, what about the Hollow?

It's difficult to say how this wave of creation will effect it and us, Kranatakyn muses. Our energy isn't the opposite of what it seeks to create, but at the same time not something I expect it will accept.

So if we throw it through and shut this side, we're safe but the other Eldahar's fucked? Godark clarifies.

Pretty much, Kranatakyn chuckles wickedly. And the priest will lose his power, driving him mad, freeing Makailla from his spiritual grip and bringing her closer to you.

Godark looks at Alyx, the Ark core, at Wan and the sword, trying to decide what to do and what, if anything, to say.

While Godark and Kranatakyn are privately conversing, Sin and Wan continue to debate the pros and cons of throwing the Ark core into the Master gate.

Open a gate to another world then, Wan suggests.

You know I can't. Every other path from this world has been burned, Sinsifel points out, biting her lip in frustration.

It's going to explode! Wan stresses.

Sinsifel swipes her hand through the air and a shimmering gateway fills one side of the room. On the other side Wan makes out the gigantic black obelisks of the Titan gate and the shimmering black veil that hangs between them.

To the gate! he shouts, staggering forwards at a disappointingly slow walk, the weight of the Ark core painfully stretching his arms and bowing his back.

Godark follows but keeps Alyx from pushing ahead. Behind me, he says spiritually to her and for once she actually listens to him as he uses one hand to help Wan with the core.

Wan goes through the Chaos gate first, arriving fifty feet from the twin obelisks of the Master Gate. Around him lie thousands of bodies, mostly Chaotic in nature but intermingled among them the occasional Mirror Guard and human soldier from some vaguely recognisable country.

It is a scene of carnage, of death and blood. But clearly not all the beings upon this field of battle have fallen as standing between him and the shimmering veil between worlds is Prince Christian and his burning blue Sword of Law.

Halt! Christian bellows. Come no further!

Godark, Alyx and lastly Sinsifel exit the Chaos gate behind Wan. As soon as Godark sees Christian he adopts a dangerous looking sword pose and moves to Wan's side but Christian is too focused on Sinsifel to care.

It's going to explode and kill us all! says Sinsifel with pleading eyes. Don't stand in our way Christian. Please. She raises her left hand and touches a plain gold ring. Don't make me order you killed, she thinks.

Wan gathers momentum, swinging the Ark beneath him until he can not only lift it above his waist but might even be able to throw it a short distance. He prays as he runs, feeling the strength of the Source pour into his being...

He knows what he has to do. But the question is, does Christian?

---

The Oblivion Gate

Session 08/12/12 @21.30

The land around the gate fluctuates between two Chaotic battlefields, both filled with dead bodies and both with Titan Gates, overlapping one another, except one of the gates has a dark mass right in front of it.

Christian wants to see Chaos destroyed by the bomb, but not necessarily the other Eldahar. That part of things has only recently been brought to his attention and he is having a hard time coming to terms with it. However, the more time that passes, the more he is coming to realise that the two worlds are inexplicably linked and that Chaos already has set foot again on the Prime. The only way now to wipe it out entirely does seem to be to erase both.

Now, finding himself faced with a group of people wanting to throw the bomb off of the Broken Realm to God knows where, and thereby let Chaos win, again, he isn't going to back down.

Christian moves right in front of everyone, blocking the path to the Master Gate. Stay where you are! he bellows, his Blue Sword brandished.

Alyx cannot believe what she is seeing. Get out of the way you idiot. Fucking Law pricks. Utterly brainless! she curses.

Are you sure you want to do this? Godark asks Wan, his face extremely serious.

We don't have any options, Wan replies.

Ahh, but there are options, aren't there Master... Kranatakyn whispers into Godark's ear.

This is only way to stop Chaos, says Christian.

By killing both worlds? shouts Alyx.

If I have to, says Christian, determined.

As Wan gets closer to the Master gate and is about to hurl the core in, Christian slams his sword downwards into the ground and brings up a glowing blue shield barring Wan's way.

Godark strikes like a cobra at the shield, his black sword immediately draining it away, thrashing back and forth on the energy like a shark on fresh meat.

But it is already too late. There simply wasn't enough time. The Core bursts into a searing white light and detonates.

The Ark wave flashes outwards at thousands of miles per hour, disintegrating Alyx, Godark, Kranatakyn, Sinsifel and Wan. Nothing stands in its way. Nothing survives its touch. And in its wake it leaves matter reforming like a churning cauldron of primordial soup; cooling, hardening, taking shape and form.

---

The Seventh Crown

At first there is light, intense light and then Wan finds himself in a softly glowing white room being prodded by an old white haired and white bearded man. He remembers a little, the Bastion, a silver man, a glowing device and a gateway guarded by a man with a blue sword, but everything is blurry and indistinct.

Your fixed temporal point is coming around, the man says before moving out of Wan's view.

Seven other figures are in the room, glowing with different hued aura's. Above each of their heads rests a floating halo of light and above each of these halo's, linking them all together, a larger halo of many colours.

Ragnek, Stormcrow, Tomorrow, Orin, Danae, the Baron and Brin, stand around Wan. Ragnek is curt and to the point and so is to a lesser extent Tomorrow, but Danae is just silent, her eyes brimming in darkness, her aura sizzling with unconstrained power.

Of Note - Brin stands wearing dragon greaves and carrying a Living Wood bow while Orin has a floating mini-crown of power above his sword.

Ragnek speaks first. Hello Wan. We have a situation and we don't have time to explain.

Three minutes and twelve seconds to be precise, adds Tomorrow.

Ragnek nods and quickly continues. Fourteen minutes ago something exploded on the Broken Realm; we're assuming it was the Arkysancture of Law but can't be 100% sure. The bomb's effect is now spreading across both Eldahars at a frightening rate. We are racing ahead of it but it is only a matter of minutes before we have no where else to go.

So, as one of our last resorts, we have used our powers to summon an echo of your spirit from what is left of the world. It is only an echo which is why I doubt you remember much but we're hoping its enough.

We know that you were there, somewhere close to the events that led to the artefact's detonation and we're hoping we can use that fact to set things right.

By combining our Crowns of Power we have unlocked the seventh crown, the Crown of Time, with the intention of sending you, the Echo of Wan, back in Time to try and change the outcome of events.

You're the only one we could piece together in time, says Tomorrow with a grin. The only one who was there, close to ground zero. We can't send one of ourselves back as it takes all of us to summon the Time Crown. We either all stay or all go, and all going is out of the question as that will just make things ten times worse.

I don't see how, whispers Danae.

Tomorrow continues. We also can't send just anyone or anything back as whatever we send has to be linked to that point in Time somehow. It's a bitch to explain.

And we're assuming it wasn't you that decided to blow both bloody worlds up, says the Baron gruffly.

So go back and make yourself do something differently, says Ragnek. Find the bomb. Try to stop it. Try to save the world. We're counting on you Wan.

The Heart of the World is counting on you, says Brin.

Oh yeah. We don't know how far back we're going to send you. This is only the second time we've used the 7th Crown and none of us have a real clue how it works, says Tomorrow. But do the best with whatever time you have. Good luck old chap.

And let us hope it is more than a few seconds, eh? the Baron chuckles, or we'll be trying to do this whole blasted conundrum all over again, despite what the old man says can and can't be done.

Quickly, says Ragnek to Wan. Do you have any questions?

Is my plan to throw it into the gateway the best way to get rid of the bomb? Wan asks, stunning the room.

And everyone in the room replies at once.

Danae simply says Fuck! The Baron goes Titan's cocks!, Brin, Oh deary me and Tomorrow goes Ooowee, that's a notion and a half...

Ragnek, spluttering and coughing at Wan's comment is about to say something when suddenly Wan's time is up and his 'Echo' is sent whisking back in Time. How incredibly timely eh?

As soon as the Echo of Wan vanishes, Ragnek collapses wearily back into a conjured leather chair and grabs his beard. Well, it's out of our hands now. Deactivating the bomb would have been the ideal solution but maybe the Gate system will provide something unforeseen.

Yeah, says Danae, yet another bloody time bomb.

Tomorrow paces for a few seconds before raising a finger. If the bomb can't be deactivated, throwing it off world might be his only option, given time constraints and available materials. If that's the case, as the Broken Realm gate only leads back to Eldahar and vice versa, as such is their connection, we can assume Wanny boy is going to end up delivering it right back to us.

Wrapped in a pretty blue bow no doubt, laughs the Baron.

How long will we have to deal with it? asks Brin.

I'd guesstimate travel between the two Eldahar's via the gate system is a minute at most, says Tomorrow.

So when it arrives, throw it down the Hollow's throat, suggests Orin. Kill two birds with one bomb.

Now there's an idea, says Danae. Blast the whole lot to smithereens and deal with the fallout afterwards. I'm with Orin on that one.

It might work, says Tomorrow, but the Hollow is a gateway in itself, a kind of burrowing gateway that has drilled its way into our little bubble world from way beyond. We have no idea where it leads or what damage it might do to both our enemies and Idiom allies at the other end. What's more, we might wind up receiving one huge planal fire back draft. It's too risky in my book.

There is another way of course, says Ragnek, drawing the attention of the others. We permanently break the connection between the two Eldahars before the bomb arrives here. That way the bomb will simply fall into the timeless Void and we'll be free of Law and Chaos.

We've been over this, says Tomorrow. It's just not possible. It would take a tremendous force to do such a thing, a force acting on both sides of the gate at once.

Like Chaos is ever going to let that happen, says Brin.

Maybe, says Ragnek, the situation for Chaos has changed? If the connection isn't broken and the bomb goes off here, the other Eldahar will still be re-written. It's in their best interests now to sever the tie and if our Intel is correct, this new Red Queen they're bowing to might just be willing to do it.

I'll get right on her, says Tomorrow, turning into a wisp of light and all but vanishing before being shouted at.

Not you Tomorrow! Ragnek exclaims. We're going to need you to break the connection.

I'll go, says Stormcrow, unseen words passing between him and his wizard counterpart.

So be it, says Ragnek, nodding slowly. Severing the worlds at the Master Gate won't be possible this side because of the Hollow. Brin, you should go there though and if the bomb arrives, immediately hurl it into the darkness. The rest of us are going to need to go to the Evermore Vault. It's where this nightmare began and where it fittingly should end.

---

Deja Vu

Wan is hovering outside the Bastion, astrally with Alyx when he suddenly feels a little peculiar and experiences a vision; a vision of the future and what is going to happen to the Law Bomb.

What's wrong? asks Alyx.

The Source has shown me what we must do, Wan replies, with no memory of the Crown Wielders or they mysterious white room.

He flies down with Alyx and after a lengthy conversation with Godark about what the warrior should do and when he should come and help them, Wan once again penetrates the Bastion's shielded walls with Alyx in tow; Godark left to his own devices distracting the Chaos force outside.

Moving rapidly down the stairs and along the corridors, via his aura, Wan explains to Alyx what he is going to do - Down below us is a silver man. His name is Prescience - I'm going to bring the 7 beams down that surround the core of the Ark - You must stop him from getting to the machines.

Alyx nods but doesn't really understand. She stares wide-eyed as Wan leads them by a floating machine in a corridor and to a heavy set door with seemingly no way of opening it.

But to her amazement, after mere seconds of Wan fiddling with tiny buttons, the door swings silently outwards, (nothing to do with Wan of course) granting access to a steep staircase beyond.

A large room of pipes and another corridor later and Wan, still rushing, leads Alyx right by two ominous robot guards and into a room filled with pulsing throbbing machines and spectacular glowing lights.

The silver man in the middle of the room turns around. Welcome. I'm surprised to have visitors. What a pleasure. Please do come in.

Wan doesn't speak. Instead he moves straight for the containment shield that holds the Core and starts adjusting his aura to the seven metal fingers providing it power.

My name is Prescience. Who are you, honoured guests? the Silver man continues, intrigued by Wan's lack of response and Alyx's haste to reach him.

Oh, how are you doing that? Prescience asks, as Wan bends the first giant metal finger, aiming its deadly laser beam towards a second finger, causing it to explode.

Oh dear, this is just so primitive. I had hoped for a conversation. Instead I appear to inundated with pests, says Prescience, just as Alyx jumps onto his back and wrestles him to the floor.

Fuck You! she cries, beating his Silver head with her fists. You're not blowing anything up today.

His strange clairvoyant vision of the future serving him well thus far, Wan anticipates the two robot guards joining the fray and manages to direct a second finger to slice one in two. The second however proves more elusive and tries to get Alyx off of Prescience until Wan bends the fourth finger and explodes the back of its head.

You are interfering the creation of new world, the re-genesis of the human and Qual race. A whole new future. This is folly, Prescience cries, managing in the distraction caused by the second robot to reach a button and press it, causing something to happen that Wan doesn't remember from the vision.

Perhaps in the vision different machines exploded first. Perhaps the angles of the laser fingers were different, the damage less. Whatever the difference, this time around a wall at the back of the chamber slides upwards to reveal a corridor full of similar guardian robots.

They begin to advance but before the first can step foot into the room, Wan angles the fifth finger right at them and the roof of the corridor, collapsing it and sealing the entrance in an enormous rumble and crash.

Fuck yeah! Alyx shouts again, punching the air and then punching Prescience.

With what Wan figures is about four minutes left to detonation, is the vision is still on time, he finishes off the seventh and final finger, releasing the suspended Core to crash to the floor.

Spiritual power restored with the Law shield down, Wan grabs Prescience in his aura and stops the Silver man from moving. Godark! Sinsifel! he shouts and as if by magic, Godark arrives, sprinting along the entrance corridor; sounds of something God-like moving a mountain above them suggesting Sinsifel is right behind him.

Sure enough, the corridor melts away and the self proclaimed Red Queen of Chaos floats into the room, raising an eyebrow at the fires and destruction wrought by Wan and his spirited companion.

Alyx picks the disk up and gets her fingers tangled in the delicate wires connected to it. She gives it a tap against the side of one of the burning machines and it rings out like a bell.

Please be careful with that, says Prescience, his voice strained, it contains the rebirth of the Qual race.

Good enough reason to smash it then, mumbles Alyx.

Please let me reconnect it! Prescience pleads. The fate of humanity depends on it.

Sinsifel, tired of all the whining, raises a hand of sizzling energy towards the Silver man and asks Alyx to step aside. This creature must be destroyed before it can do anymore harm.

No, not yet. We may still need him, says Wan practically, interceding on Prescience's behalf. He may yet have his uses.

Then it is under your watch, Sinsifel replies.

We have to throw the Core into the Master gate, Wan explains. There's no way of stopping it from exploding now. The problem is, Christian isn't going to let us do it without a fight.

That's a crazy idea, Sinsifel shakes her head. You have no way of knowing what damage that might cause, to the other Eldahar or to the Idiom.

What other choice do we have? asks Wan. We are passed the point of ideas and plans. We have to act.

Sinsifel looks between Wan and the ever faster beating Core, teetering on an emotional seesaw. Very well, she finally sighs, flicking a hand in the air and opening a gateway to the Master gate and its sprawling battlefield. Let me go first. I'll deal with him.

I have a better idea, interjects Godark, taking both Sin and Wan by surprise. I'll go, engage him and lead him away from the gate. Stay out of sight and give me twenty seconds or so.

With everyone in agreement, Godark rushes through the Chaos gateway and immediately hurls a dark bolt of energy right at Christian's head. The Prince parries it with his sword and takes the bait, rushing to engage the new threat, only realising several seconds later how simple a ruse has undone him.

Wan charges through the Chaos gateway straight up slope towards the Master gate with Sinsifel right behind him to provide cover. Lastly, Alyx brings up the rear dragging Prescience and the Elluvian disk, (that she has so kindly let the Silver man carry so that she can conjure a sword at his back.)

No! yells Christian, trying to raise a barrier to protect the gate but too heavily pressed by Godark's vicious attacks. You'll damn us all to Chaos!

With an almighty hurl and a cry of, yes, you guessed it, WAN!, Let there be Living Light!, the Core flies through the air and disappears into the inky blackness of the World Gates.

There are darker things in this Multiverse than Chaos, snarls Godark, striking blows to kill.

With a sigh of relief, his strange vision and its resulting explosion undone, Wan turns his attention to Prescience. You have a choice, stay or go where it has gone. If you do, you might just have a minute or so to reconnect your disk.

Alyx pouts but Prescience is quick to seize the opportunity Wan has offered. I will go. Without waiting for Alyx to withdraw her sword, the Silver Man, grasping the disk under one arm and its delicate wiring under the other runs up and into the Master gate.

Sinsifel might have argued against Wan's actions, were it not for her attention entirely being on Christian and Godark. They're going to kill one another, she remarks, concerned.

No, Godark is going to kill Christian, corrects Alyx.

In a rush Sinsifel throws herself in between the two battling warriors, both men turning their blades and narrowly missing her by a fraction of an inch. Stop this! It's over. Christian, Law has lost. There's nothing to fight for now. You're just one man. What can you expect to gain now?

Kranatakyn audibly snarls into Sinsifel's face, taking her a aback and writhes to slip around her or through her, if Godark might let it. Which he doesn't.

Christian looks at her as she turns her back to Godark and stares up into his eyes. Law has lost this day. I beg of you, live to win another. Any moment now, the Lords of Chaos I've brought here will gather enough power to see through my "Obscure". When that happens, they will demand your death and I'll be forced to order it. Christian, please, live to avenge your parents. You cannot be destined to die here.

Christian, his face bloodied and beaten tentatively reaches up towards her cheek but the Blue Sword's desire to kill her is too strong and he has to back up. Live it is then, he whispers, before signalling his remaining Mirror guard towards the Master gate.

While this is going on Kranatakyn has its own ideas on how the play should end. She has her back to us. I can impale her, drain her energy and gain a World! What is there to lose? Chaos is no friend of Wan or your precious love.

Godark is tempted, sorely tempted. The more power the sword has, the better he can protect Makailla. It is there, right in front of him for the taking and Alyx wouldn't mind. He knows she has no love for Law or Chaos. But if Sinsifel is dead, the two worlds will still be one and that will upset Wan and Alyx. The sword's will beats at his mind, removing all sense and reason.

Now, strike now! the sword shouts in his mind.

When the Prince is gone, says Godark, eyes black as spades. He cares for the girl and will intervene even if the others don't.

---

A Parting of Worlds

Session 11/01/12

Christian, faced with nowhere else to go, walks towards the Master gate and without looking back, follows his men through it, into darkness.

Oh thank god for that. What a wanker, Alyx sighs, but her sigh is short lived as the moment the Prince is gone, Godark makes his move, thrusting Kranatakyn with supernatural speed into Sinsifel's side.

Sinsifel screams and falls to her knees, the black blade instantly reaching into and through her body with veins of snake-like venom. The sky grows dark, the ground rumbles, immense power strikes Godark from the sky but Kranatakyn just sucks it up in a frenzy of feeding.

Despite being stuck in place, unable to move by the power of the sword, Sinsifel's body swells and reshapes itself into an immense red and yellow dragon, writhing and pounding the ground, stuck in place as a butterfly on a pin.

Alyx and Wan take cover. What the hell?!? she screams. Godark!!! But the dark warrior is lost to her voice, his eyes black as pitch, the sword stimulating and intoxicating his mind with unearthly, immeasurable power.

Wan tries opening an astral portal back to the Prime but fails due to massive interference. You need to use your blood to get through to him, says Wan, but the moment he says it, he sees Alyx has already cut her hand. Behind Wan's shield, the two of them shuffle close to Godark and with one buffeted hand, Alyx lays her blood upon him, reasserting some control.

For several seconds Alyx's eyes turn black, just like Godark's and the warrior turns to gaze blindly in her direction. In his mind Makailla appears, floating in a sphere of light, reaching out to him with soothing words and willowy arms; her voice slips through the darkness and it recoils at her touch.

Makailla? he asks.

Darkmoon, my love, her light replies.

The darkness rears back and rises into a tidal wave, threatening to drown them both but at the last instant hesitates, hanging in the air over their heads as Godark staggers forwards to embrace the light.

Alyx's eyes return to their milky whiteness and Godark, with both hands, pries the sword from Sinsifel's dragon hide. But Kranatakyn isn't happy and cuts off its supply of energy to the warrior's body, allowing it to age and decay before Wan and Alyx's eyes. Despite this though, Godark stumbles towards the Master gate and threatens to throw the sword in.

I will be free of you! he yells at it. I'll no longer be your slave!

What the fuck! screams Sinsifel, returning to her normal form, the wound in her side instantly beginning to close over and Chaotic energy turning her into red sun.

Wan stands beside Alyx watching Sinsifel very closely. He thinks to her, explaining how this is the work of the sword, not of him or Alyx. He states how Godark clearly had no choice but the thoughts disintegrate against Sinsifel's hardened aura.

Do it! Alyx commands Godark. Throw it in. Be free of it.

I... can't, says Godark, his face and body wracked with pain as every muscle fights against itself. I will die. It's power over me is too strong, he shudders, collapsing to the ground and weeping empty tears. Then as Alyx watches, horrified, his face contorts, his skin grows flaky and his body wastes away to little more than some decayed undead, the sword exacting its revenge.

Let me do it then, Alyx volunteers, reaching for the blade.

It would kill you if you touched it, Godark gasps, jerking the blade away from her grasp. It is my burden to bare and mine alone. Only I can wield it without serving it entirely. After uttering those words, the warrior's spirit breaks and he collapses to the ground, Alyx hand resting lightly on one shoulder.

Wan, his attention still locked on Sinsifel and what she might do next, almost doesn't notice the sudden appearance of a familiar robed wizard nearby. When he does, the wizard, some sort of projection between the worlds, pays no attention to the tenseness of the situation and gets right down to business.

Did you throw the bomb into the gate? he asks Wan.

I did, Wan replies.

We don't have much time then, says Stormcrow. You need to sever your connection with my Eldahar, he says to Sinsifel. It will take action on both sides to succeed but its the only way to stop the bomb detonating again, back on the Prime and spilling through to here, damning both worlds. Even as I speak, the others like me are at the Evermore Vault, preparing to act. So please, by the Gods, say you're enough in control here to do it.

I am, says Sinsifel, her voice the low growl of death, her aura expanding and more menacing by the second. Then to Wan - You need to leave. Unless you want to serve me, here, forever.

Time to go, says Wan. Stormcrow vanishes and Wan tries again to split the astral plane and create one of his portals. This time though he succeeds, opening it to the Prime and the Master gate there. With Alyx helping Godark to his feet and him holding her hand, Wan leads the way through, away from the Red Queen of Chaos and her Multiversal kin.

---

Popping out of the portal Wan sees the Crown wearer Brin pacing back and forth in front of the Master gate.

Are you waiting for the bomb? he asks.

The young woman nods. If it comes through I'm gonna throw it in there. She gestures to the Hollow. No where else to lose it really, she shrugs. The others are at the Evermore Vault, trying to do our end of things. Hopefully this new Chaos Queen will do hers. Brin smiles slightly. It's all very desperate last minute isn't it? Doesn't seem to matter what we do, it always comes down to the final seconds. Must be this world; just one big thrill ride.

Wan and Alyx, both helping Godark (who looks like a shrunken corpse), move away from the Master gate. A hundred feet away, Godark, with Alyx's help, sits down to rest.

Wan feels the energy of the Source filling him again but it seems more turbulent and violent than before; a fact that he knows he will have to examine further when he has more time. As for Alyx, when he gazes at her he sees her divine aura radiating like a star, her very footsteps leaving astral pits in the world; it is good to finally be back on their own world.

Wan, a man crossed with an immortal Jixiliah and Alyx, a Living Spirit, Goddess and Creator of Spirits. A strange pair but instrumental in the Fate of the world. And the Crown wearers suddenly know it.

Back at the gate, the Hollow suddenly bucks and moves violently around as if pulled and stretched at by immense unseen forces. All eyes turn to it as the obelisk's glow and their ancient curtain of power squeezes at the Hollow like a cosmic vise, trying to close itself, until something has to give.

And give something does. The Hollow somehow clings on to the gateway, keeping it open and suddenly an unearthly wind picks up in the area, moving towards the gate and in.

Whatever is happening - it doesn't look good.

Tomorrow and Ragnek materialise in front of the gateway, at first looking elated but then perplexed.

Tenacious little bugger isn't it, Tomorrow comments.

With the Broken Realm disconnected, the gateway is now open to the Void. It should have automatically closed but our visitor here seems to have other ideas, mutters Ragnek.

The Hollow is draining energy from everything close to it again, says Brin.

No, not the Hollow, corrects Tomorrow, but the Void inside the gate itself. Unless we can shut this gate down it will drain this world to a crisp, just like it did to the Homelands over two and half thousand years ago.

Even if the Hollow is disposed of, will the gate close now that the force of the Void has hold of it? asks Ragnek, scratching his beard, decidedly worried. Wasn't that the problem in the Homelands? Once the gate opened, it couldn't be closed. The power of the Void kept it open until the end.

Tomorrow consults the knowledge implanted into his mind by the mysterious Doe-Law. Maybe not. The gate is still trying to close - it's received that instruction from us at the Vault so If the Hollow can be pried loose, the pressure to close may just be enough to snap it shut despite the Void. Imagine if you will a ball stuck in a hole. The Void is only leaking through around the very edges of the ball so it's not like we're dealing with the full force of the thing yet.

Got it, says Ragnek nodding, glad that his friend can understand these things when he can't.

Give me a moment, says Tomorrow, I've got an idea.

Wan looks up from Alyx and Godark as Tomorrow approaches them.

We still have a bit of a problem, Tomorrow announces.

Wan looks at the pebbles skipping towards the gateway and the wind that already borders on a gale. The world is being drained.

Yes, says Tomorrow. The Hollow is refusing to budge. I was wondering if you had any ideas?

Wan looks down at Godark. Is there anything that you can do to remove the Hollow? he asks.

Hasn't he done enough? Alyx snaps but Godark lays a hand gently on her arm.

Yes, says Godark. There is something Kranatakyn and I can do. Help me to the gateway.

You don't have to do this. You're too weak, says Alyx.

There is no one else who can, states Godark. Kranatakyn and the Hollow are made of the same stuff.

What's your plan? Tomorrow asks Godark.

I will enter the Hollow, travel to its origin and sever its connection to here. Godark raises his dark sword and runs a hand along its vicious edge.

OK, says Tomorrow Sounds like a plan. A one way plan he thinks to himself.

Kranatakyn whispers to Godark's mind. I don't have enough energy yet to face the Foe.

Then I will find you it and feed you till you burst. I'll see this ended now. I have done what I came here to do, Godark replies. All that remains now is to see you and your creator destroyed.

When Ragnek hears what Godark is planning to do, he gives the warrior a respectful nod of his head. Brin on the other hand seems caught up in the emotions of the moment, wiping her eyes with a hanky.

Godark, his face ashen and sunken, like that of a corpse, looks directly into Alyx's eyes. This world is not for me. If you succeed in recreating it, you'll not want such darkness and violence here. Let me do this thing. Let me return Kranatakyn to its master and thrust it right down its throat.

Alyx, hot tears burning her cheeks, reluctantly nods. I release you, she whispers.

I will not fail, says Godark, before stepping with Kranatakyn into the Hollow.

As soon as he vanishes, Alyx collapses, sobbing, but is quickly swept up in Wan's arms and carried away. With the connection she had with Godark suddenly broken, she feels a deep resounding loss, as if a part of her has been torn away.

Picnic anyone? asks Tomorrow, just after Wan and Alyx are out of earshot.

How bloody long do you think this will take? asks Ragnek. Because if it's going to be hours we're still royally screwed.

Not as screwed as if we didn't have someone going in to sabotage the thing, argues Tomorrow. I expect if he succeeds we'll see an effect pretty quickly. If the Hollow is some sort of hyper-tunnel between worlds, travel should, theoretically, be instantaneous.

Tomorrow takes a shiny red apple out of his pocket and takes a big bite.

I don't know how you can be so calm about all this, Ragnek observes.

With what we've been through already, I don't see any other way to be, Tomorrow grins.

Suddenly the Hollow contracts, shudders and in a loud whoosh, vanishes into the Void between worlds, leaving the Master gate the briefest of moments to slam shut and its obelisks to shut down.

The wind stops, the pebbles skid to a halt and Brin gives a tearful round of applause.

He did it, sobs Alyx. I knew he would.

Tomorrow pats the wizard on the back and then wanders over to where Alyx is crying into Wan's shoulder.

That was an interesting fellow, quite noble acting like that, says Tomorrow quietly. It certainly seems as if he was successful though, whatever happened on the other side.

How long do we have until the end? Wan asks.

6 hours, the Crown wielder replies. A fair bit of time I suppose when you consider what has happened so far, he says grinning. We're immensely grateful for what you've done.

Just how grateful are you? snaps Alyx to Tomorrow. What are you doing to do for us now?

Well, first things first, says Tomorrow, we're inviting you to a gathering of the most powerful shakers and movers left on Eldahar; you have a lot of interesting things to share with us and you've earned your place there as a voice to be heard.

Oh terrific, mocks Alyx. Just what we always wanted; to be in your good books.

Well, with the Hollow and Chaos effectively banished, that just leaves Ashar and the impending Armageddon, which we could all do with a little help with, says Tomorrow, unphazed by Alyx's bitterness. I'll come and fetch you in approximately thirty minutes. Try to get a rest between now and then.

With a courteous bow, Tomorrow Judges it a good time to abandon ship and beams away to rejoin Ragnek. A moment later though Brin speeds over, like a Super-Cheetah on steroids and gives Alyx a massive hug.

Let's be friends, she gasps. After what happened, to Godark, I'm here if you need me, OK?

Yeah, sure, Alyx mumbles, trying to pry herself loose. Whatever.

Brin grins and speeds away again, turning to look back a second or two later to give a wave and fourteen caret smile.

Bloody Crownies, Alyx thinks to Wan. They're all nuts.

Let's go, says Wan. We need to find Cantoninus. Maybe by now Kizzik has located Red and the other half of the Heart.

Alyx nods and with one last glance back at the Master Gate, follows Wan a safe distance away to spirit shift or go astral.

Chaos and the Hollow, both enemies at the threshold,

are now seemingly enemies of the past.

So now, let attention turn to the darkness within.

So ends Chapter 3 of Wan

©2011 Alison Daines - All Rights Reserved