The Purging of the Sundered Part 1 Shadow's Onslaught

Meh. Blogger won't let me log in for the past 2 weeks.
=============================================
The gathered host was of many worlds, of many peoples. Humans stood beside elves, who stood beside dwarves, standing beside orcs who stood beside trolls, Nirvanians, Elendils, Titans, Inferno Dragons, Blizzard Dragons, Storm Dragons and countless others. This gathering, this crusade was formed to counter the renewed attacks of the Shadow's malevolent forces upon the Allied lands.
=============================================
-Several months ago-

They poured in a seemingly endless wave of death, demons, ghouls, monstrosities, juggernauts and other horrors in a ceaseless tide of destruction. They fell upon the lone warrior who stood at the pass, slaying all who challenged him.

Cain the Death Knight, ripping away his shackles of the Shadow's curse, held the vital pass in the Sundered realm, preventing the deathly horde from spilling out into the rest of the torn realm. He and three others had held the pass, while his lieutenant Crystal flew off for reinforcements.

Suddenly the ground erupted in a massive explosion, knocking Cain and his knights were blown back by the destructive spell of a demon-mage. Cursing, Cain sent a deathbolt at the mage, who shriveled up and became a pile of ash. Glancing around, he saw one of his death knights beheaded by a Shadow-death knight, as another knight fell, his chest crushed by a deadly blow from a colossus. The last one was devoured whole by an undead wyvern.

Swearing furiously, Cain fell upon the demons, and succeeded in holding the pass against the Shadow's onslaught, for several hours. Then the sound of rapid flapping wings echoed through the pass, and the demon stalkers of the Crimson Circle flew in the ravine, firing energy bolts, volley after volley with their gunblades, then dropping in among the demons and slicing away rapidly.

Death knights rode up in undead steeds, their glittering blades hewing left and right, slaying Shadow creatures all around. Cain dropped in exhaustion, and was eased to the ground by Scarlet. After receiving a heal spell, he commanded the reinforcements, and eventually the Shadow gave up for the time being. Cain immediately sent Crystal off for the remainders of the Crimson Circle.

=============================================
-Hours later-
Crystal arrived at the portal, weak but functioning still, to Rursus. It was opened by Cain and several other magic-versed members of the Crimson Circle, and led straight to the underground caverns that housed the original portal on Rursus.

Without a second thought, she plunged through.

When she emerged, she darted up the cave opening, and passed through. Spying a passing merchant on a wagon, she leaped on the coach and brandished her curved dualblades at him. He shrieked pathetically, and whimpered, begging not to be killed by what he was absolutely sure was a demon.

'Where is the Alliance leader?' snarled Crystal, the normally calm demon stalker frantic for reinforcements.

The merchant stammered a reply, pointing at the direction of Stormbane Keep, the new Alliance main stronghold. She hissed and flew off at once.

When she reached the mountain fortress, she was momentarily shocked at the keep. It was spread across seven rings or walls, and the innermost three rings were hovering above the ground.

She rose up to the innermost circle, and headed to the castle in the center.
=============================================
Evelyn did her rounds around the queen Felicia's castle. She was sent to be a guard of the castle for three months for training. She highly doubted any training could be found here other than patience training, though, for she was in the citadel of the most powerful city in the world that contained the most powerful defenses and the most powerful defenders.

She was wrong.

A shadow passed over her, and, glancing up, she saw a demon.

'By the creators!' she uttered as she spread her wings, her massive hammer glowing strongly with the aura of the holy power she served. She sped upwards, and with a mighty swing she cleaved an arc in the sky, just barely missing Crystal. The demon stalker gasped. 'Scarlet?!'

'Foulspawn, you will not be suffered to live!' Evelyn cried as she struck again. Crystal parried, certain that this was not the demon stalker Scarlet of the Crimson Circle. But the face...! Similar save for the lack of the scarf that covered Scarlet's fel eyes.

'Cease!' cried another voice, and the queen of the Elendils herself came upon the combatants and forcing them apart with a wind spell. 'Crystal...!' Felicia muttered. 'How...'

'No time for this!' replied Crystal urgently. 'Cain needs reinforcements! The Shadow plans to attack Rursus through the Sundered Realm. He and his Crimson Circle only barely hold the tide. He sent me for aid!' She said all this in one breath.

Felicia considered, gesturing for Evelyn to back down. At this time, Xepher and Kaffleen had come upon the scene, the sounds of combat attracting them.

'Rest easy. I will bring our finest with me as we come to aid you. Return to Cain first. We shall follow once we have mustered our forces.'

Crystal nodded and bowed midair. Then she sped away.

'What was that about?' said Xepher, staring at the dwindling demon stalker in the distance.

Manifestation - Part 3 - Evelyn's Ascension

Evelyn, fourteen years of age, followed the bishop as he led her through the halls of the Holy Cathedral. She gaped in awe at the majestic splendour of the serene halls, the intricate carvings of the history of Rursus on a length of wall, the impressive tapestries depicting scenes of blessing, exorcism and more.

She was to become a paladin of the Light.

Months ago, she had told her decision to Carolyn, who wholeheartedly supported it. And so, with the connections she had, Carolyn had made an application and promptly enrolled Evelyn in the training courses. And so Evelyn had underwent rigorous training in prayers, combat with a whip, and the various disciplines - healing, blessing and more - of the priesthood. She had trained well, and had progressed faster than most other paladins.

She knelt before the archbishop, who smiled benevolently at her, a large tome before him on a plinth. He began to intone the blessings of the Light, and all present - Carolyn, as well as many other soul warriors - felt the soothing touch of the holy presence. Even those of the Union, Shadow-cursed though they were previously, were blessed by the Light. Such was the forgiving nature of the Light, as even those who were damned were forgiven for their past sins as they worked to atone for them.

Before she knew it, the rituals were over. The crowd cheered, and her new brothers- and sisters-in-arms gathered up to her in a rough embrace. But suddenly, they cried in surprise and fell back as one, as Evelyn's ceremonial robes shifted, as if twin appendages were beginning to grow out of her back.

Great, white, feathery, expansive wings sprouted out of her back, a portent of divinity. The crowd gave a collective gasp, and Evelyn fainted dead away at the first glimpse of the wings.
=============================================
Evelyn woke to the warm sunlight upon her face, warm, soothing...and holy?

She sat up and looked around. She was on, of all places, the apex of an incredibly tall mountain, so high that when she looked over the edge, she saw huge clouds so far below they were like the wools of sheep.

Then she felt a presence behind her. Whirling around, she was stunned by the bright aura of a being seemingly composed entirely of Light.

You are destined to be a legend, daughter of summonist and death knight, The radiant being uttered. Evelyn could only gape at the Light creature. Your sister, also. But your paths intertwine although your callings differ enormously. But you will be strong, and prevail against the Shadow. With that, the being waved its hand, and Evelyn woke up in the real world.

'A...dream?' she muttered. Glancing at her mother bending over her, she asked:

'When are you going to tell me I have a sister?'
=============================================
Scarlet was evolved into a part demon, part human hybrid by her blooding ritual to become a demon stalker.

Evelyn was enhanced into an archangel by her ascension to the paladin ranks.

A coincidence, was it? It was far more extraordinary than first imagined...

Manifestation - Part 2 Scarlet's Blooding

Cain, standing in the void darkness of the sundered Shadow realm, watched as Scarlet, merely fourteen years of age but already incredibly skilled with her weapon - a magnificent glaive that shone with bloodred hues - slice at imaginary foes with deadly force and accuracy.

'Scarlet,' Cain beckoned. She obediently glided over, and he grimaced. He looked into her amber eyes, branding the image into his mind. 'It is time for your blooding. You have increased vastly in skill and power over the years, and now I shall guide you to your final destiny.' She merely bowed gracefully, and said, 'I await your orders.'

'Come with me.'
=======================================================
A winged demon flew alone, scouting the area. Pockets of demons remained since the cataclysm of the realm, and they constantly sought to destroy Cain's Crimson Circle and other remaining defenders in the shadow realm.

Cain gestured at it, and an unseen force dragged the hapless demon towards him and Scarlet.

'Use your blade and draw his blood on his chest.' he ordered, and Scarlet swiftly tore a hole in the demon's torso, making it hiss in agony. Cain then directed her to place her palm atop the fresh wound, and he placed his bone-cold hand atop hers. Cain chanted a dark spell, casting the binding ritual of demon and human.

Soon the demon burned into ash, the life essence seeping into Scarlet's hand. She stumbled backwards, and shrieked as incredible heat tore at her from within, searing even Cain's icy touch. He stepped backwards, and Scarlet was engulfed in flames that sprouted from her eyes. Wings of demonic hide grew from her shoulder blades, flexing wide instinctively. Intricate patterns of sorcerous tattoos manifested on her arms, her legs, her torso and even a curved rune around her eyes.

What was left of her eyes. The unholy flames had seared through her very eyes, leaving empty sockets in their place.

But in moments, a faint emerald flame sprouted in the sockets, and she could see. She saw the world as she never imagined, the very flow of magic and auras of the surrounding death knights and demon stalkers in the Crimson Circle visible to her. Reaching to her sleeve, she tore a long strip out, and blindfolded herself. In no way did the fabric inhibit her fel vision.

Cain glanced away, remorse rising within him like boiling lava in an active volcano. But he shoved it aside. To survive in this forsaken world, one must be strong, to the point of being demonically enhanced.

'Arise, Scarlet. Welcome to the Crimson Circle.' intoned Cain, and around them the demon stalkers like Scarlet and the death knights cheered. Scarlet rose, and raised her head to the skies, letting out a screech of exaltation and pride.

Manifestation - Part 1 Scarlet and Evelyn

Carolyn moaned. Alone in the dark forests of Rhae, she lay propped up against a large oak, bringing the first of the twins into the world.

She snorted as she remembered the way she conceived of the children. Such a dishonorable, abominable failure she was, to bear children of a death knight!
============================================
Several months back...

Carolyn peered around, ever wary for any sentry. Really, what had she been thinking, to enter the Shadow camp and seek out their leader? Assassination of any kind was dangerous, let alone to assassinate the death knight Cain.

And when she had snuck behind him, dagger in hand, he had spun around and laid a fist to her temple. After that, she had passed out.

And when she woke up, she was discarded in the wilderness, less than half her clothes still on her. Fearing the worst, she quickly scanned herself with spells and the help of her nine-tailed vixen familiar, Shadowmane. She was...impregnated. She had despaired then, sobbing in horror and sorrow at what had befallen her.

Eventually, she rejoined the Alliance in the war against the Shadow, but deserted and fled when they were about to enter the Shadow realm.
============================================
Shadowmane nuzzled her comfortingly, as she lay there recuperating. The two infants, both girls, wailed the sweet song of life. Soon they quieted, as if they knew that crying would attract wild, hungry beasts.

Carolyn smiled at them, and glanced at Shadowmane. 'I would name them Evelyn and Scarlet...' she said to the vixen, who could understand her because of her special abilities with creatures. Shadowmane merely purred and laid down beside the children, who snuggled against the soft, warm hide of the vixen, falling asleep quickly.

But late in the night, when all were asleep, a shadowy figure dropped silently from the trees, a deadly scythe in one hand. It reached its other, clawed hand to pick up one of the infants, who stirred and awoke. At the sight of the reaper demon, Scarlet cried in fear and went as rigid as a wooden board. Carolyn was awake in an instant, as was Shadowmane, and together they lunged at the demon. But it was too late. The demon vanished into the trees, and when they gave chase, it was gone.
============================================
The Reaper demon brought the child, Scarlet, to Cain, who had retreated into the Shadow realm because the Alliance was winning the battles on Rursus. He took care of the child, even protecting her and the cost of taking deadly wounds during the destruction of the Shadow realm. For he had a use for her...

Eulogy of Forgotten Souls - Chapter 10 The End of the Beginning

Felicia and Candace revived all the soul warriors but Xepher, and together they fled the dark castle. Curiously, Crystal and Cain disappeared.

And as they fled, the darkness that was darker than darkness swelled, and in seconds consumed the dark castle. They fled with the utmost speed they could muster despite their weariness, and reached the host well before they had left the forsaken realm.

Urging the host into the portal, Felicia and Candace turned to face it after the last defender had escaped the sundered world. Together, they brought their hands up, palms facing the gate, and fired a scintillating bolt of sealing at it, shattering the portal and preventing the destruction from following into Rursus.

Felicia turned to Candace, who merely stared back.

'So...what will you do now? The Alliance will never accept you, even though you were merely a pawn of the Shadow.' muttered Felicia. At this moment, Xepher groaned and awoke. Placing a hand to his chest, Kaffleen poured magic into him, healing his injuries.

Candace turned away, and glanced at the rising sun, gloriously brilliant and majestic. 'We will not join the Alliance,' she said, gesturing to the death knights and warriors who were exorcised. 'We will form a Union, and we will take the fight to the Shadow. We will not let what has happened before happen again.'

'The Union, huh.' muttered Kaffleen. Xepher grinned weakly. 'I think...it is not a bad idea,' he said.

Felicia stood straight, her golden, long hair whipping with the wind. 'Very well. As leader of the Alliance, I hereby declare the founding of the Union! May the Union bring an end to the Shadow, as it fights alongside the Alliance!' She turned to the assembled host. 'Now, we begin the task of rebuilding our world!'

Ristaccia looked to the sky. A falcon soared high above, sending an exultant cry all around. It was a cry of faith, a cry of victory.

A cry of hope.
=============================================
The death knight grunted, as he hefted the girl on his shoulder, his other holding his blade. He had barely survived the sundering of the dark realm, and now he stood in the utter darkness, the primal plane of existence before the Creators came to it to shape a world.

Cain glanced around at the gathered force of death knights and demon-enhanced soul warriors. He glanced at the little girl, not even of puberty, next to him.

He let out a scream, curse, oath and promise all in one. The gathered army returned the shout, swearing a wordless oath to follow him in their inevitable battles against the Shadow. Whatever betide, they would have their revenge.

'Soon...' he uttered, and began to craft a new home for the - his - army.

=============================================
The beginning has ended. Only time will tell if the Shadow or the defenders of Rursus and beyond will triumph in this war between the forces of Good and Evil. And no man can say which shall be the victor.