I decided to finally post this here, these are the last chapters chronicling the final days of The Holy Searing and rise of Chaotic Warriors from the ashes. Here\'s where the first chapters are located, as written by DepthBlade -
Rise to Ruin and RebirthChapter Thirteen : \"Encounters\" Few years passed since the pilgrimage, out armies were great once more, even greater than in times of Xperto. I stood on a hill, watching as the regiment was securing the area, the marauders stronghold was destroyed, only few remaining bandits were scattered in the area. They would be taken, and brought to justice. I turned and moved towards the tent, it was large and white, with blue flame emblem drawn on it. Inside waited a messenger. I looked at her, she was young and pretty demorian, it was clearly something important, I knew her, the best scout of our army, Olenia Gentalar.
?Lord Thazer, I bring you a report from the eastern army.? - she said, hanging me the paper.
?Thank you, Olenia.? - said I - ?Did you get here alright??
?Yes, my lord. The road was harsh but I got here with no trouble.? - she answered.
?You may go now, Olenia.? - I said.
?Yes, my lord, farewell until we meet again.? - she said.
?Indeed, until we meet again.? - I answered.
I took a look at the report. The news were not good, it seems that the eastern army received heavy attacks during last month. It also said that the attackers were heavily armed, and possessed Red Way magikers. The next bit was as disturbing as the first, the eastern army was cornered in their last stronghold near the river, and was besieged by the mysterious force. They asked for assistance, for they thought not that they could hold forever. I left the tent and called for my Pterosaur, I had to get to meet Mael as soon as possible.
***
I arrived at the outskirts of Hydlaa, and headed to the Guild Hall, which was a majestic mansion built only a year before. There I met with Mael, the Guild Master.
?I am sure you heard of the situation in the east.? - I said, after a glass of Ale - ?Taking in the account the resources and the force of the assailers, I would say our men can hold for another week or so.?
Mael was sitting in his chair, his face was filled with worry, or was it some other emotion? He drank up and looked at the report once more.
?Yes, the situation is known to me.? - he said, putting the papers on the table.
?So what is known of the attackers, Lord Dosforia?? - i asked.
?No, please, John, don\'t call me so, we have always been on friendly terms, haven\'t we? As for the attackers...we know exactly nothing of them, our spies came up with nothing. No one knows where they came from, or who they are. So far none have been captured to be interrogated.? - answered Mael Dosforia.
I signed, this was getting worse with every word I heard. I drank more of my Ale.
?What I have decided that we shall gather most of our armies and march eastwards to meet this threat, we shall move out tomorrow. I expect us be there in three days. We will not let our men fall, with no retaliation!? - continued Mael, I nodded in the agreement. It shall be so.
Chapter Fourteen : \"Path to Glory\"And so it was, the next day the north-east army has been assembled and we moved towards the place where it was reported the eastern army was besieged. The plan was to rendezvous with the other armies a league away from the location. I have sent the most trusted and fast messengers, including Olenia to all Ires, yesterday, ordering them to send all non-essential troops.
We have arrived as planned in three days at the destination. Mael ordered to make camp here and wait for the remaining armies to join, meanwhile I sent scouts to investigate current situation. They have returned few hours later with grim news that did not pleased neither me nor Mael. The situation got worse much quicker than we anticipated. From what the scouts reported, it seemed that the main wall has been already breached and that the eastern army was already dead or that the remainder was holding in the great tower in the middle of the stronghold. The other facts, pleased us even less, the scouts said that the army gathered at the stronghold was trice the size of our own, including the forces that have not arrived yet, not only that but the scout also reported that it was very likely that the enemy has already pin-pointed our position, for they were preparing for battle, the scouts said that it was most likely that they would strike tomorrow. Tomorrow! The rest of the armies wouldn\'t be here until at least for a day.
We talked over our options with the Mael and the Ires, it seemed we had little choice, it was either to retreat and join with the rest of the armies, but then the enemy might notice our movement and strike from behind, or to prepare for battle and try to hold until the rest of armies will join us, yet in the open terrain that seemed unlikely. We had to move to the bastion ruins and try and join whatever left of the eastern army. To achieve that we had to distract the enemy and make them think we are not where we are. This was up to our wizards, they have created a large illusion of us moving westwards, yet making us invisible. We feared the enemy magikers would notice that, but no sign of that was present.
The army was moved into the ruins of our former bastion, there was no sign of the eastern army, there were no one left, only scorched bodies of our once proud warriors. We have set up defences and prepared for battle, it wouldn\'t be long before the enemy would notice us.
And so it was that the enemy army was ranked up and ready for battle. One warrior left his ranks, and he shouted this - ?Surrender and you will die mercifully, fight and you will end up like ones before you!? This was clearly the commander of the army, gold on his shoulder pads clearly signified that. Mael moved to the higher most bit of the bastion and roared - ?Surrender!? Hear me now, fool! What you have done will not go unpunished, for I am DepthBlade, and The Holy Searing fears no one!? The commander gave Mael a cold stare, his eyes widened as if he remembered something. And then then the sign was given, trumpets sounded and the battle has begun.
They moved through the narrow gap in the wall, our archers drew their arrows and let them fly at the enemy. But the arrows stopped in the mid-air as if they hit a wall. Instantly I knew it was a protection spell, I sensed it and I sensed the magiker who was maintaining it. I roared a power word and it was answered by an agonising scream from the middle of the group of enemy warriors. That foolish wizard, he was shielded physically yet he left his mind unprotected. Our archers drew for the arrows once more, and let them fly. The result was more pleasing, dozen of warriors fell, and more will surely. I ordered our warriors to move in and defend the gap, and advise our mages to lookout for these kind of magical walls. I drew my sword and run to meet the enemy.
***
It was sunset and we were still in the heat of the battle. We have suffered substantial losses but I believed we would hold until our reinforcement would hammer the enemy from behind. I saw Mael, we was fight fiercely, slicing enemies one after another. Then what I saw surprised me, a semi-circle was formed around Mael, the the commander appeared, he was armed with an axe and a shield. This was a duel! That DepthBlade, he could get himself killed! I rushed to place of duel, but when Mael noticed me he gave me a sign to stop. The duel started but the fighting around has not seized but none would approach either the commander nor DepthBlade. The two fought fiercely and both matched each other\'s every move. I could not waste any time on this, I had an army to command. I spat out orders to bring reinforcement to the western gap. Then I got a glimpse of the duel, they were still fighting but the commander spoke, he laughed and he spoke again. Whatever the commander said, made Mael stop attacking, he was only defending now, he struck no more blows and even his defending was weak. Something was terribly wrong, Mael was struck down and fell on the ground, the commander laughed, his laughter was great. He spoke once more, and he laughed again. I was DepthBlade\'s face changed, it was filled with rage, he stood and attacked the commander once more, he struck the blows so hard that the commander\'s shield broke in two, the next blow was the end of the commander. At this moment I heard the trumpets sound again, it was not one not two but dozen of them. It were our armies, they came at last and as planned they were behind the enemy. The Hammer struck on the Anvil.
***
The battle was over by the morning, there were countless bodies all around the area. Me and Mael left the battlefield and returned to Hydlaa. All heard now of this victorious victory, we were praised by the people of Hydlaa and greeted by the Octarch when we arrived. All knew now of our deeds, and all knew for certain that the glory of Xperto has returned.
