"Shattered Hands, Volume III"

Chapter 6: Reunions

19th of Gorgani, in the 543rd year of the Imperial Empire.
One day after the recovery of the Cosmic Hope Expedition.

The Great Pyramids glowed against the sky of the new moon, as the streets of
Gaudiguch were illuminated neatly by pyromantic magics. But the city's
brightness did not extend to the desert. Unnoticed by the sentries on the
walls, a team of black-clad shapes dashed over the sands with the lightest of
footfalls, their hulking bodies venturing forth with remarkable stealth.
Finally finding a high sand dune, the figures looked up into the air as three
stars suddenly blinked against the night sky. A shimmering field faded out
around the war machines as they drew closer, a gentle thrumming emanating from
them as they landed in the dunes far away from the city. The loading ramps
started to open, just when a sinister figure born of shadows materialized, its
ruby red eyes glittering.

Emperor Ladantine VII glided to the exhausted orclach who had descended the
ramp, inclining his ethereal visage towards the senior officer. "Gruvar... what
have you to report?" he hissed. The elder orclach's back stiffened as he shot a
glance to the largest of the shadowy warriors. One of the figures set its jaw
underneath a mask of a black skull, its face perpetually grinning as the figure
spoke in the distinctive rumble of Commandant Korath. "The Emperor has gained
the transcendent glory of undeath, Gruvar- but the craft! Does this mean-"
"Yes," the other orclach said in resignation. "We've lost Shallach, Commandant.
The walls held, but a strange force descended on the upper levels, slaughtering
our forces and raising them as dim-witted brutes, or even worse. We locked down
the fortress and evacuated the few soldiers that survived." Korath stifled a
gasp underneath the metal face, voice hollow as he asked, "Soldiers? What about
the technicians? The Senior Tech?" Gruvar closed his eyes in pain, shaking his
head as he quietly said, "They didn't make it, sir. We couldn't recover the
Senior Technician, but she- died a hero." The skull-masked figure bowed his
head for less than a second, his expression unreadable under the skull's
hideous grin before it continued, voice held firmly in check,"A death we may
all aspire to. What are we looking at for the craft status, CMO?" The orclach
shaman let out part of a breath as he explained, "Same problem we've always
had, sir. The technology of the Ancients run smooth as ever, and while
nothing's broken, we don't have the first clue how to find or make replacement
parts. They're capable of atmospheric maneuver, but these vehicles aren't the
legends of old, the ones that could pass between the planes- they're just
atmospheric craft. Even so, if they break on us, they're down forever."

Two orclach brought down the body of the young orclach who had perished in the
battle, his armor torn and shredded, laying him to rest as they looked to
Korath and Gruvar for instruction. But it was the shade of the Emperor that
moved forwards, reflecting upon the corpse before turning his terrible eyes on
Gruvar. "Young. Strong. This soldier, Gruvar- did he die a hero? Was he a true
credit to his race?" Gruvar nodded his head stiffly, bearing stoic as he
explained, "Yes, Emperor. Without him, the monsters would captured the base
before we could lock down its secrets." Ladantine gravely turned back to the
young body, kneeling over it as he let his insubstantial hand rest on the young
warrior's face.

What is your name, boy? Ladantine's echo resounded as it made contact with the
young orclach's spirit.

The voice came back, sounding uncertain and groggy, as if disturbed from a
rest. Avarath, sir.

Awaken.

The corpse's skin became dark grey, his incisors grew and became sharper, and
his sinewy muscles started to swell with power as his eyelids flickered open,
revealing eyes blacker than obsidian as First Private Avarath rose from the
dead. The young orclach stood up, facing Korath as he brought his arm up into a
salute. "First Private Avarath, reporting for duty once more, sir." Korath only
barely kept the shock from his voice as he inclined his head towards the
younger undead, narrowing his eyes as he assessed the orclach's new body.
"Right- glad to have you back among the ready, Private," he intoned, crushing
the doubt that had suddenly risen within him, doubting whether one so young
would have a mind prepared for the power and majesty that undeath granted.
Turning slowly to Ladantine as he shook his head slightly, casting the thought
from his mind, the Commandant continued speaking. "My Lord, how shall we
proceed from here? If Marilynth is the ruler of Celest, as the fat dracnari
says, then we cannot rely on the Celestian forces carrying out your orders."
"No," Ladantine agreed softly, "no we cannot. So we shall need to make other...
arrangements. Head for Stewartsville. I will ask my daughter to send the Second
Fleet to rendezvous with the Ur'Guard, and you will meet me there. Hurry!"
Ladantine's last word was a command as his spirit faded, the glowing red eyes
disappearing last. Korath nodded with determination as he turned his eyes
towards the other soldiers there, setting his jaw. "I must meditate. Start
running to Stewartsville, lads. I'll be joining you there shortly." Avarath
suddenly broke in, piping up as he focused on Korath, "Sir, I'm sorry about the
Senior Technician-" Korath cut him off, voice icy as he said, "She was a good
friend and loyal soldier. I meditate to free myself of the distraction created
when her counsel was lost to me. Don't ask questions, boy. Just move."

Avarath nodded once, turning on his heel as the shapes broke into a fast run to
the east, leaving the Commandant behind to stare up at the stars. It would only
occur to Avarath later, as the orclach team pelted along the Great Southern
Highway, that Commandant Korath may not have been entirely truthful about his
feelings for Muja. It was not a thought he dwelt on, however. An orclach's
demeanour must be harder than stone, or his troops would not be loyal to him.
Such was the way of the People. Feelings were a burden that a warrior could not
afford. Even so, Avarath privately wondered what might have been, as the orclach
passed the sign to enter into Stewartsville, and a jagged rift opened up around
them as Korath and Ladantine, wearing the illusion of the grace and life he had
once possessed as ruler of Celest, rejoined the group. Brusquely, Korath pointed
across to the great warships across in the distance, suddenly smiling underneath
his mask. "Right, men. Let's have some fun."

The great ship Emperor's Glory pulled up to the sand east of Stewartsville,
lowering a gangplank down to an unmasked Korath and his Emperor. The pair
ascended onto the ship easily, smiling beatifically at the simple sailor who
bowed low in greetings. "Welcome aboard the Emperor's Glory, Your Highness.
It's truly an honour. The captain is waiting up by the steering wheel for you."
Politely making their way towards the steering wheel, isolated from the crew
maintaining the sails, they greeted the well-dressed Commodore with artificial
smiles. "Warm tidings, Emperor!" the merian gushed, sweeping off his great hat
as he addressed his ruler. "What may we do for you this fine night?" "We are in
a great hurry, Shapob," Ladantine chided, pressing his hands together as he
acknowledged the other man, walking towards the stern of the boat as he leaned
his arms over the railing. "My friend and I require speedy passage to the
Shallach Fortress. I believe that the secret to this horrible tragedy can be
found there, and we will need the help of brave men to discover it." "But,
Emperor," the Commodore's smile faltered nervously, clearly embarrassed as he
joined Ladantine at the railing, "the orders from the Star Palace are that no
ships are to go anywhere near the tainted lands! None we have sent there have
come out of that cursed place." Ladantine sighed, looking over the commodore's
shoulder to Korath as he tapped his nose, watching the orclach interpose his
vast bulk between the hapless Shapob and the cheerfully oblivious crew as they
tended the ship. "That is truly a shame, Commodore. Plan B it is, Korath."

The large orclach clamped a meaty hand over the commodore's mouth as the blue
eyes went wide, producing a colossal blade as he wordlessly started sawing at
the man's right shoulder, muffling the officer's terrified screams. Finally
producing a bloody, disembodied limb, the cruel orclach leaned over the edge
and dropped the severed arm into the water. It barely broke the surface before
a large white shape lunged out from the deeps, snapping up the treat before
falling back down. Commodore Shapob's eyes rolled up in the back of his head,
wheezing as Korath let him sag to the deck. "Highness- please? What are you
doing? Surely a loyal sailor is worth more to you alive than dead?" the
desperate man asked in a weak rasp.

"I beg to differ," Ladantine responded coldly as he stretched his hand forth,
covering the younger man's face with his hand as he had done to Avarath. The
skin started to shudder and distend, sizzling as the evil magic burned the
right side of the merian's face to a crisp. Finally, Ladantine withdrew his
hand to reveal the cold, sightless eyes of a zombie, who nodded dumbly towards
the pair. "I hear... and obey, Emperor." Ladantine sighed theatrically, jerking
a thumb backwards at the rest of the crew. "And so we shall have a crew for
whatever task that comes next. Take all the ships, spare no one, and bring me
the bodies." Korath walked to the gangplank as the first mate started walking
towards them, the orclach Commandant giving a meaningful nod towards the
shadows on the shoreline.

And then the shadows poured onto the deck.

Chapter 7: In the Dreamtime

The boots of Lord General Dolph Inalai softly crushed the gravel of the path as
he walked past the great Temple, surveying the spectacular sunrise with a calm
eye. Inhaling the rich, salty scent of the sea, he smiled broadly as he thanked
the Supernals for another glorious day. Making his way down the path, his smile
faded as he saw three old women, hunched over in a line next to a bench. Their
patched, voluminous cloaks covered their bodies, revealing only bony hands
outstretched for alms, and their hair. One figure had faded, straw colored
hair, the other a tangled mess of jet black hair, and white strands peeked from
beneath the hood of the last of them. His heart moved to pity as he approached
them, he dug deep into his pouch, and withdrew some coins. As the gold was
pressed into their hands, one by one, the women turned their gazes upon the
merian, only their glittering eyes visible underneath their cloak.

"He comes, sisters!" the one with white hair said in a high-pitched, icy voice.
"The child of the Paladin Lords! Child of Ledor Inalai! Child of death!" The
black-haired one stared at him, focusing on him as she dispassionately
remarked, "Of death, yet not of death. He denies his heritage so long, that
perhaps he has forgotten it." The blond-haired one answered them in a gentle
tone, "He is compassionate, sisters. He is the scholar in a clan of killers. He
learns wisdom, so as to see what is true and untrue, in the way the others could
not." Lord General Inalai took a step backwards from them, face becoming wary as
he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "By Light, I know not of what you
speak. I am a Paladin. Strength is my blade, and Wisdom my shield, and without
one the other is useless," he faithfully intoned as he looked over the women.
The white-haired one barked with derisive laughter. "Ha! Do you convince us,
Wise One, or convince yourself? Perhaps you cannot see the anger flash inside
your eyes?" The black-haired one glanced at her in reply, her voice even as she
said, "Sister, this one's anger is righteous. His mind is clear, and his
conscience firm. He will be ready for the path he must take." The blond-haired
one looked back to Inalai as she inclined her head respectfully. "Anger is not
the worst emotion, he who would be a scholar. Let your eye discern illusion, so
that your blade may speak for those you defend." The three women stood up in a
single fluid motion as the Lord General took one more step back, fingers
clenched around his sword as a thought rushed through his mind:

Do these women speak of the threads of Fate? Of my thread?

A flash of light. Now Dolph Inalai stood in a grassy field, his big-made form
turning towards two men that approached him. Emperor Ladantine, and Korath. The
orclach snarled, a low and savage tone as his hand brushed against the handle of
a great axe. But Ladantine smiled towards Lord General Inalai, beckoning for him
to approach as he said, "Ah, Dolph, my friend. I have searched high and low for
you. You look surprised to see us together. Come, will you not speak with us
about the re-ordering of the world?" The gold-armored merian took a step closer
to the noble Emperor, inclining his head to his ruler respectfully. "I would, my
Lord," he told Ladantine as relief flooded his features. "I believed that you
were displeased with the Paladins, and that you would forget the old bargain
between royal and faithful: to lead this world, and all its people, into a
future of Light."

Ladantine looked at Inalai with a fond smile, his eyes misting briefly with
pity before he nodded to Korath. The orclach roared, yanking his terrible axe
from its harness as he lunged over the field to the shocked Paladin. As Inalai
drew his silvery longswords with a ringing echo, Ladantine continued
thoughtfully, "In truth, my good and loyal servant, it is that future that I
wish to discuss." The Emperor chuckled as the two leaders engaged in mortal
combat, the Paladin raising his swords in a defensive posture as his opposite
number swung through the air with wicked sweeps of his axe. "For you see, Lord
General, I have had a thought- a revelation really, about the nature of
strength," he continued as his features began to distort and blur. Korath's
drooling maw locked in a psychopath's grin as the grey-skinned killer forced
Inalai back with his brutal swings, the dark iron of the greataxe whistling
through the air even as the putrid stench of old blood on the weapon carried to
the younger man's nostrils. "You see, Dolph: bloodline is a good consideration
for raising a racehorse, but it really does not breed the best soldiers. Your
lack of exceptional martial talent is well known, especially by yourself," as
the Lord General ducked beneath a mighty strike from the Ur'Guard leader's axe,
receiving a shallow cut across the cheek from the orclach in payment. "In truth,
Dolph, you should have been a noble academic- like myself. You aren't strong
enough. Tough enough," he regretfully stated as Korath began cutting into the
merian's breastplate, drawing blood as Dolph Inalai gasped for air, frantically
shoving his blade against the haft of the axe to force it away.

"Even if you were, you lack the instinct of a true killer. Quite unlike our
veteran Commandant over there," Ladantine's smile became far less friendly as
his eyes started to glow crimson. Korath's face gloated as he toyed with his
prey, kicking at the Lord General's legs until the young Inalai stumbled,
rewarding the Paladin with a brutal slash to the thigh that ripped his leg at
the kneecap, sending the other warrior pitching to the turf. The merian thrust
his swords into the air wildly, desperately looking for any purchase on
Korath's armour as his enemy powerfully stomped down on Inalai's stomach,
hacking viciously at the Lord General's face and chest. "I think, my friend,
that you understand," Ladantine concluded as his face took on an unwholesome
shade of gray, a cruel smirk twisting his undead features as he looked down to
Dolph Inalai. "You understand that you just don't have what it takes to kill a
warrior who was slitting throats before you had mastered your juice cup."
Emperor Ladantine VII, revealed in all his diabolical glory, grinned down to
the Inalai's crumpled body while Korath Cho'kuul loomed over him, the blast of
hot, fetid air from his mouth washing over the Paladin's face. "I just want you
to know, boy, that the last thing Princess Marilynth feels will be my tender
mercies." An axe descended with a final sickening thud, chopping the merian's
body in twain, and Lord General Dolph Inalai's vision went black.

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Princess Marilynth strode underneath the domes of the Star Palace, her warm
eyes gazing down to the great marble steps that led there from the turf.
Smiling happily at the idyllic scenes of merians enjoying life in the heart of
Celest, she daintily began descending the staircase, waving out to the two men
who were making their up to her. Finally beaming as she approached Lord General
Dolph Inalai and her father, she curtsied gracefully. "Good morning, Father,
Lord General!" "Greetings, daughter," Ladantine offered as his own face smiled
in response to Marilynth's infectious goodness, Dolph nodding curtly in her
direction. Ladantine looked upon the heir of the Inalai name with a slight
frown, before refocusing his attention on Marilynth. "You brighten all my
mornings, my perfect pearl. I've just been speaking with the Lord General here
about how well our venture to the Supra Plane went... despite all the
disturbances we have heard about on the Prime plane, it seems we have
discovered one of the greatest sources of energies in history. The Ur'Guard are
already doing an excellent job in aiding the extraction efforts, and I was
hoping you would come with me to the Supra Plane to observe the process." "No
Paladins needed then, Emperor?" Dolph asked, face blank even as he remained
unable to completely keep the sneer from his voice. "Is this going to become a
regular complaint, Lord General? That I cannot over-stretch our elite Corps
across all the planes, and must therefore be damned for it?" Ladantine asked
wearily, now focusing on the other man, as if truly seeing him for the first
time. "Perish the thought, Great One," the younger Paladin's voice bristled
with sarcasm, raising his hand as Ladantine's eyes shifted to notice a Paladin
in a full helm walking up behind Marilynth. "I'm quite sure you'll go to
Celestia." The Lord General of the Paladins, faster than blinking, unsheathed
his silver longsword and plunged it deep through the heart of Emperor Ladantine
VII, watching the older man gasp in shock and betrayal.

Marilynth screamed in grief, clutching her face in despair until the
nondescript warrior behind her grabbed her waist bodily, flinging her youthful
form to bounce down the great flight of stairs. The citizens below began
shouting "Treason! Regicide!" in horror until a company of Paladins, faces
hidden by their helmets and bearing wicked polearms, rushed the stairs in
precisely ordered ranks. Roughly beating resisters with the shafts of their
weapons, the mutinous warriors started to round up the innocent citizens into
cages that had seemed to appear out of nowhere. The Princess pulled herself
onto her elbows, staring in mute terror as the Lord General descended the
stairs to stand over her, lunatic exultation written over his features.
"Ladantine has used us for the last time, little girl! The world must be ruled
without regard for ignorant, plains-dwelling savages like the orclach- the
Paladins shall take their rightful place at the seat of all mortal power!"
Marilynth forced herself onto her knees as she shuddered, trying desperately to
hold back her physical illness at this insane rebellion. "Have you learned
nothing, my love? Did not the Ascetics teach us the folly of defying Light?" "I
took those lessons to heart, my LOVE," he snarled back down to her, a grin
coming over his features as he concluded, "which is why I will first receive my
crown, before I rule."

A male trill stepped from the Palace, clad in only golden sandals and a simple,
silken robe. He stepped down the stairs with billowing wings, arms swaying as
his firm chest and rock hard abdominal muscles glowed with a perfect tan
underneath his toga. Rudely pulling the crown of office from the shocked face
of the fallen Emperor, Malin Bladewing took his place at the side of Dolph
Inalai. The beautiful trill wrapped his arm sensuously around the Paladin
leaders's neck, pressing his sculpted body against the merian's armour with
lust shining in his eyes. "Long live the King," the winged one crooned,
reverently placing the crown of the Empire atop the brow of the new Emperor,
before kissing him full on the mouth. Dolph Inalai responded enthusiastically,
clutching his friend to him in their passionate embrace before they both turned
to look at Marilynth's aghast face. "Please," Dolph told her coldly, "surely you
didn't think i was using you because I was hot for you. You should have known
better." With a terribly casual air, completely disregarding the tears that
streamed from the eyes of his ex-fiancee, Emperor Adolphus I pierced the
slender throat of the former Princess with his blade, and Marilynth saw no
more.

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Within the Great Pyramid of Gaudiguch, the frozen form of Lolly Pringle staring
at him like a stuffed animal. Emperor Ladantine VII woke with a gleeful
expression, red eyes dancing happily. "I can't believe I was going to trust my
kingdom to either of those idiots. Let us see if this works, my furred little
friend," he cackled hellishly at Lolly, ignoring the single tear that was
slowly making its way down the face of the hapless correspondent.

Chapter 8: Best Laid Plans

22nd of Gorgani, in the 543rd year of the Imperial Empire.
Four hours before Marilynth's meeting with the Emperor.

Princess Marilynth stepped from her chambers, aboard the ship bound for the
western coast, in her shimmering white dress. Diamonds glittering around the
curves of her body, and her face was as fair as ever. The most noticeable
difference in her appearance was her eyes, ringed as they were with deep-blue
bags, and her omnipresent smile was missing, replaced with a frown of worry and
despair as she thought of her horrible dreams. Stumbling along the interior of
the ship as she heard the loud cries that signalled the presence of land, she
bumped into a large figure. Craning her neck up to look, she saw Lord General
Inalai, his face sorrowing and greatly tired above his golden armour as he
stood next to Colonel Bladewing. "Hello, angel," she offered, subdued and
gentle. Her fiance fixed his gaze on her, swallowing hard before saying,
"Dearest. You look like you've been through the pits of torment. Is there
anything I can do?" "No! I mean, no, Dolph," she snapped before her expression
softened, "I don't- don't need anything right now." The trill next to the
Inalai raised an eyebrow in surprise, his friend appearing stung before the
Lord General bit back, "Well, that's good. You are leader of the Empire, and
everyone is counting on you." "I am no leader, Dolph, I'm just filling in for
my father," she glared at him as he hotly responded, "Marilynth, if he even got
half of what happened to Magnagora-" "He is NOT dying," Marilynth's eyes blazed
as she looked over to the other man, drawing herself to her full height as she
looked up to the Paladins. "Just prepare to get to the deck. The angels will
carry us the rest of the way to Gaudiguch. I'll meet both of you in the city,"
she stated flatly, turning her back on her lover and his friend before striding
off in the other direction, towards the stairs. The Lord General swore
violently, rubbing the bridge of his nose between his fingers as Colonel
Bladewing laid a hand on his back.

I knew it! Malin's thoughts called excitedly. She just can't appreciate him at
all. Tell him how much you support him, and surely he'll remember how you're
always there for him.

Oh, certainly, his own cynical voice answered him back. Maybe after we nuzzle
our way through a bloody crisis in succession, we can eat butterscotch ice
cream by the shoreline. We might even get to hold hands! Idiot. Just
concentrate on your work, and we'll find a better time to address the point.

Instead, the Colonel looked to his friend and told him gently, "It's just
nerves, Dolph... you told me you had horrible dreams as well. I bet it was just
that boat rocking all night that kept you up, eh? You'll both forget about this
soon." "Thanks, Malin," the other man told him in a drained voice, "but this
incident is starting to take its toll on all of us. I don't know what I'll do
without Marilynth... but I can't let my personal feelings get in the way of my
duty. Let's just head out to Gaudiguch, and maybe Ladantine will have a plan to
deal with this burden." The Lord General walked ahead, Malin following behind
with a carefully neutral face. Yet his heart secretly exulted in the chance for
love that he had never been able to claim before, even as he loathed himself for
thinking of such matters when his friend needed him the most.

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The Paladins held guard inside the Chamber of Flame, General Inalai's form
stiff and tense as he watched Marilynth's meeting with the Emperor. He was
distracted, eyes roving over the other members of the Cosmic Hope Expedition as
he willed his gaze to look beneath their great hoods, but was unable to pierce
the darkness surrounding them. Yet as Ladantine spoke ever more loudly,
suddenly advancing on the Princess as she started to take cautious steps
backwards, Dolph beckoned two of his guards forwards as he rushed to her side.
The Emperor shot him a look that could have burned through steel, a gaze that
lasted for less than an instant, before he suddenly slumped, looking defeated
and sad as he sighed dramatically. Marilynth started forwards to be with him,
and the Lord General raised a hand to stop her-

If you try to force her away from her father, she'll never forgive you, the
thought echoed in his mind. He dropped his arm by his side, gazing to Marilynth
with trepidation as she gave him a smile of gratitude for his concern, turning
her eyes back to her father as he gently explained his plan to stop the
disaster that had befallen them-

"NO!" screamed a cowled figure, his scaled hands revealing razor-sharp talons
as he clenched his fists in front of him. "The Eternal Flame is mine! It was
promised to me!"

Ladantine whirled on the figure, incandescent fury roaring into his eyes as
Marilynth gasped. "Goodbye, father!" she cried before hastening to the door,
the Paladins rushing to form a protective circle around her, instantly drawing
their weapons as they escorted the true ruler of Celest to the chamber doors.
"Oh, beautiful Light, Dolph my love, I am so-" she quavered before Dolph
sheathed his longsword, wrapping an arm gently underneath her shoulder. "Love
does not demand apologies, dearest, and anyways we were both in poor condition
to respond to pressure. I'm so proud of you. Let's head back to Celest
immediately, and figure out our next plan." "Dolph," her face turned pale blue
from a sudden realization, "my darling, I ordered the Second Fleet to
rendezvous with my father and the Ur'Guard. If he's no longer himself-" The
leader of the Paladins gritted his teeth as he shook his head in response. "If
he's not himself, we've lost half our fleet. It's a terrible blow, but as long
as Shallach Fortress and Magnagora can't give Ladantine the use of their docks,
we'll survive as a nation." He kissed her chastely on the cheek, supporting her
frame as they burst from the Pyramids at full speed, desperate to get back to
the Star Palace.

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Tlochaka Chum fell to the ground of the great argosy as the Emperor struck him,
staring up at the undead merian through bleary, fear-filled eyes. "My Emperor,
I-" Ladantine pulled Chum up by the collar of his robes, shaking him violently
as he growled, "If you've put my efforts in doubt, you witless salamander, I'll
lock you in ice for a year!" Throwing the ex-Grand Cipher to the floor of the
argosy as he glared around to the rest of the Dark Council, he brusquely
ordered Captain Galvorg, "Assemble a war council, Captain. Speak with the
Commandant so that we can make new plans! Celest will outright war with us
shortly, and we must not permit that!"

Galvorg leapt from the great argosy, sprinting past legions of marching
orclach, before jumping aboard the wagon they surrounded. Pushing a flap aside
as he entered the transport, its roof stitched together with leather, Galvorg
looked upon the senior Ur'Guard officers- Krangar, Korath, and Merkun- gathered
around a table covered in maps. Standing ramrod straight, he addressed Korath
with Ladantine's demand. The orclach Commandant scowled, stroking his chin as
he considered his next action. "The Emperor's actions are our law, no doubt.
Gentlemen, we're running out of time and out of options. We bleeding well need
something to offer him!" Merkun scowled as he thought, forming his words
slowly, "The krokani are whispering that their Castle is unaffected,
Commandant. The Claw of Shanth is defending them." Krangar whipped his head
around to look over at Merkun, before sharply addressing Korath. "There's no
way. The few strike teams we sent during our time in Gaudiguch never reported
back- the mindless couldn't have killed them, so it would have to be this
Taint! Anyone we send in, we'll lose, Commandant." Korath looked over the other
men, lines creasing his forehead as he thought. "Galvorg, persuade the Emperor
to give us some of the ships. We'll send a team to the borders of the Taint,
then wait until... something changes. Even one of the artifacts returning to
our possession could change the course of this war." Galvorg bowed deeply to
Korath, then pushed his way past the wagon's entrance and leapt back into the
rush of soldiers. Korath looked over at Krangar, murmuring, "So even if we
could just teleport to the shores of Celest-" "Which we won't, because the
Inalai has two spoons worth of brains instead of one and will probably line the
coasts with monolith sigils," Krangar added sourly. Korath nodded as he
continued, "And if we had the ships to mount the assault on the coastal
defense-" "which we won't get, because Celest controls the only shipyards left
working in the world." Korath stared daggers at Krangar, coldly asking, "Do you
have a better idea, Captain?" Krangar's eyes gleamed as he explained, leaning
across the table as he pointed to the island of Celest on the map. "We use the
suborbital craft to blast them! We go in firing, and we can reduce the lines of
Aquamancers on the coast to ash, soften them up before we send in the landing
ships. Celest only has the advantage for as long as the monolith sigils are up-
we start frying the enchantments I know the Celestines will be placing around
the obelisk, and we can warp in thousands of troops before they know what hit
them."

Commandant Korath grinned as he steepled his fingers, lounging back in a
makeshift seat of furs. "It's time like this I remember why I keep you around,
Krangar, you boneheaded smartass."

"Celest will fall."