The Empire
From and age long passed, songs are still sung; a story still told.
A shadow: blotting even the Sun, darkening all the desert the eye could behold. Descending, in terror, and madness.
Writhing through the air, with callous hate born against all who stood fast or turned. Nothing found before it was spared from the flood, leaving nothing but waste in it's wake.
For all its fury, it seemed the desert herself was unleashing its vengeance against all that had tainted her, stirred by the taste of spilt blood. Angered by the presence of the unholy. And only after all within its reach had been consumed did it assuage, and then finally, vanish.
Of all the world's foulest creatures, Aqra could certainly be counted amongst their number. A foul thing, a mixture of man and insect by his appearance. But far more than his shape made him what he was, for only bitterness survived in him, and from it his hatred boiled and seared.The Demons of Tel Madu
From and age long passed, songs are still sung; a story still told.
A shadow: blotting even the Sun, darkening all the desert the eye could behold. Descending, in terror, and madness.
Writhing through the air, with callous hate born against all who stood fast or turned. Nothing found before it was spared from the flood, leaving nothing but waste in it's wake.
For all its fury, it seemed the desert herself was unleashing its vengeance against all that had tainted her, stirred by the taste of spilt blood. Angered by the presence of the unholy. And only after all within its reach had been consumed did it assuage, and then finally, vanish.
The Scorpion King
The changes that had transpired over the last few years: the coming of the Empire, and the supposed "God Emperor" Gerra's rise, only added to the scores of disdain that marked him.
That grand place, that title, belonged to him. And he would have it.
And while the wretch from the west played his games of war, Aqra had sought out another avenue. There were many secrets the desert still kept close to herself, with only a dwindling few still sharing it's knowledge. He had found what he needed to know, and made it his own. And now, the pieces so evenly fell into place, and beneath the very nose of the Empire his truth would be made known.
Akrep
He was not so greedy as some would choose to believe. He did not send his faithful to foolishly into the fray, pushing farther against boundaries that had stood for centuries. Instead he had drawn the lines forcefully with his own finger, and the fire of his being demanded a chill into every opposer's spine.
We, are here.
And of course, the responsibility of enforcement of these borders fell particularly on one's shoulders. Ashuanar, Vizier of the Imperial Army, saw to this duty. But, one could never have expected what was to come: while his eyes had been fixed upon the invisible walls of their great kingdom, the sight of that which was behind him, had been blurred. And he himself would bare witness to this folly, only all too late.
Too little...
Following a recent conflict near the south western regions, the Vizier was en route back to Ragash. There was to be a meeting of the Imperial Divan in the coming week, there were now others who had been brought into the fold during Ashuanar's time at the border, and there was likely much to discuss.
Al'Daim, now a general under Ashuanar, rode at the point of a long spear of Abtati horsemen, leaving a thick cloud of dust in their wake. Their pace was brisk, but comfortable. His eyes were straight ahead, fixed on their goal that was the city, and the Vizier's punctuality. But as they rose over a subtle incline, the light from ahead grew dimmer. They crested, and before them travelling perpendicular to them was another group. Unknown at first, but as they pressed forward their colour's were seen with his elven eyes.
They bore the mark of Aqra.
He hollered word back, and the order of pursuit was given. And they gave chase, seeking to obliterate this small cell of pests before any harm could be done by their wretched hands.
They drove on until nearly nightfall...
Above, each moon risen into the sky, and at their back the red Sun poured out the last glimpses of it's light. Al'Daim first bore witness, followed by the next, and then another...
Ahead of them in a vast valley, a great host. Thousands of Aqra's loyalist followers, and he, set at an altar at the farthest reach of their number. And then, a terrible light began to shine, and beyond them a great spire sprang forth from the ground, trembling all of Arethil it seemed, and reached up into the now darkened skies.
And all those of Ashuanar's men were frozen still in dreadful awe, their eyes reaching high into the night to behold the structure's magnificience. But it looked, twisted and mishapen. It was riddled with holes and imperfections. It resonated a grotesque emenace. But it was yet dormant, whatever effect it was to bring having not yet taken effect. But beneath their feet, they felt a... resonance. A constant hum.
...too late.
With most of Aqra's followers far more immersed in the event than any of his men, Ashuanar and his contingent were able to elude any conflict and depart without incident. However, following the spire's appearance it was quite clear he could no longer return to the city. So instead Ashuanar sent word to Ragash, and also back to his captains along the border:
Orders to mobilize. Immediately. For it was only the following day with the morning light did they come, and once again as had been in ages passed their number blotted the Sun. And there they descended upon the host of Aqra's men, and devoured them and retrieved them unto their young, still yet to be hatched.
Had it not been for the sacrifice to be fulfilled, the Abtati whose eyes bore witness may never have lived to speak of the tale - to give warning, a blessing that in times come before had never been afforded...for all the good it could do now.
Mamsis
The warm stone to his back was a welcome comfort. Many had fallen, and few were the eyes that could be counted to keep watch. He turned his head. Across the street, Al'Daim, and several other Sipahi warriors, likewise tucked out of sight. For the moment.
Then... that horrid clicking... a flutter of wings, and a scurrying.
Ashuanar lunged out, his polearm shooting forward with the force of a ballista, plunging deep through the exoskeleton of his foe. The Locust: tall and thin, with long limbs, translucent wings, and the most ghastly of faces. And when the Vizier's weapon found purchase, it did not scream. Instead it clicked, and hissed, and gnashed and spit. But with an exertion of his strength Ashuanar tored the polearm loose and drove it upward into it's head, silencing it.
And then he attacked another. And around him, dozens of his soldiers fought against the beasts. In streets nearby, there were yet more who fought. All across the city, the few remaining Sipahi, the city's guard, and even the people; the women; the children, they all fought desperately against the beasts. But for each one that was fell, two more descended from the sky. But they had to hold out here - to flee into the desert was suicide, only the cover of these structures allowed them to survive even this long.
But word had been sent...
The Empire, was coming.
