(following content applies in two sections to the city group, and the last section to the "dragon quest" group, running low on time so proper mentions may come later)
Zargon had almost completed the energy transfer when he felt other entities of demon power arise from all directions. What is this? He was expecting no reinforcements and had left no command along those lines-
Jeltheor. It must have been. Zargon's alliance had obviously paid off, and as it was, he would be able to execute the last portion of his maneuver with much less effort.
With most of his energies contained in the sword, and his physical form currently deserted, damaged and disconnected when his sword hand was cut by a newcomer to the close quarters fight, he would be able to either make an escape or engage using the concentration he had made. He opted the former.
The sword righted itself as it fell to the ground, embedding into cracks in the road. It seemed to absorb the unused shadow being, drawing its energies in through the hilt. It was still for a few seconds.
A bright flash erupted in the ground where the sword was stuck, knocking back all combatants. When the flash died down, only a hole in the stones would remain.
---
Artholath bent his knees to where he almost touched the ground and stepped sideways to just barely miss the retaliation volley. This shouldn't be happening! He knew his prey wouldn't be weak, but he didn't expect the prey to fire balls of energy back.
He saw Ionathan come up to him and pull out a longsword, taunting him to show the what passed for fury in demonkind. Not my target. Engaging the one guard who had not only survived the onslaught, but had actually come up to engage him, would take too long and allow other enemies present to engage as well. He saw shadow beings begin to form ahead of him, engaging combatants that were out of sight to Artholath, but ones that he knew had been fighting Zargon. He took advantage of the following flash to charge into Ionathan's side, attempting to knock him down and sprint towards Genevieve and complete his job quickly and effectively.
---
"Zargon is still on the field, Artholath is missing... I need you to-"
"I am present."
Grhesus dropped the bowl of swirling energies he used to communicate with one of his agents and twirled around, preparing his limbs for attack. In front of him, embedded between the dark red cracks of the castle floor, was Zargon's sword.
Shadows rose from the hilt, slowly forming into a humanoid figure behind the sword. A dark, shadowy hand pulled the sword from the floor with no effort and tucked the sword into the folds of dark energies.
"The enemy is stronger than expected and has resources that I had not anticipated to come into play. I want you to bind an Abyssal and prepare the forces for retaliation."
Grhesus could only stare at Zargon.
"Abyssal? You realize we can't control those things any more than you can control an archangel?"
"Do it, Grhesus. I will gather my energies from the storage places; I will show my demon bretheren I am not to be undone, and I will advance things to the next level.
This is war. War requires risks. I will risk an abyssal.
Also, prepare an extra division of Blood Knights. I wish to cement our relations with Jeltheor."
Zargon began to fade out of the room, seeping into faint cracks into the walls.
Grhesus sighed and looked at the ceiling, wondering why he ever joined Zargon, and knowing full well why at the same time.
---
When the cave's entrance was finally clear of the heros, all was silent.
A hand came over one of the nearby rock formations, pulling up an armored corpse. A zombie, at first glance.
At second glance, the zombie, while not walking perfectly, held itself up quite well and pulled a short sword from a still intact sheathe.
From other nearby formations, other limbs appeared, bringing up other shambling bodies. They moved quickly, settling in position in front of the cave, assuming positions outside the cave, some disappearing behind closer rocks, a few disappearing below random ledges outside the cave. Any who looked out would see nothing.
Above the cave, a shimmering form watched the proceedings. The form was a demon, and the 'zombies' were his elite warriors. It watched with an almost fatherly pride as they assumed their positions as planned. If their skill would not suffice, the total crew of 20 would make up for it.
The demon settled into the rocks, vanishing between cracks, and waited along with its minions.
When its targets came out, it would be ready.
Zargon had almost completed the energy transfer when he felt other entities of demon power arise from all directions. What is this? He was expecting no reinforcements and had left no command along those lines-
Jeltheor. It must have been. Zargon's alliance had obviously paid off, and as it was, he would be able to execute the last portion of his maneuver with much less effort.
With most of his energies contained in the sword, and his physical form currently deserted, damaged and disconnected when his sword hand was cut by a newcomer to the close quarters fight, he would be able to either make an escape or engage using the concentration he had made. He opted the former.
The sword righted itself as it fell to the ground, embedding into cracks in the road. It seemed to absorb the unused shadow being, drawing its energies in through the hilt. It was still for a few seconds.
A bright flash erupted in the ground where the sword was stuck, knocking back all combatants. When the flash died down, only a hole in the stones would remain.
---
Artholath bent his knees to where he almost touched the ground and stepped sideways to just barely miss the retaliation volley. This shouldn't be happening! He knew his prey wouldn't be weak, but he didn't expect the prey to fire balls of energy back.
He saw Ionathan come up to him and pull out a longsword, taunting him to show the what passed for fury in demonkind. Not my target. Engaging the one guard who had not only survived the onslaught, but had actually come up to engage him, would take too long and allow other enemies present to engage as well. He saw shadow beings begin to form ahead of him, engaging combatants that were out of sight to Artholath, but ones that he knew had been fighting Zargon. He took advantage of the following flash to charge into Ionathan's side, attempting to knock him down and sprint towards Genevieve and complete his job quickly and effectively.
---
"Zargon is still on the field, Artholath is missing... I need you to-"
"I am present."
Grhesus dropped the bowl of swirling energies he used to communicate with one of his agents and twirled around, preparing his limbs for attack. In front of him, embedded between the dark red cracks of the castle floor, was Zargon's sword.
Shadows rose from the hilt, slowly forming into a humanoid figure behind the sword. A dark, shadowy hand pulled the sword from the floor with no effort and tucked the sword into the folds of dark energies.
"The enemy is stronger than expected and has resources that I had not anticipated to come into play. I want you to bind an Abyssal and prepare the forces for retaliation."
Grhesus could only stare at Zargon.
"Abyssal? You realize we can't control those things any more than you can control an archangel?"
"Do it, Grhesus. I will gather my energies from the storage places; I will show my demon bretheren I am not to be undone, and I will advance things to the next level.
This is war. War requires risks. I will risk an abyssal.
Also, prepare an extra division of Blood Knights. I wish to cement our relations with Jeltheor."
Zargon began to fade out of the room, seeping into faint cracks into the walls.
Grhesus sighed and looked at the ceiling, wondering why he ever joined Zargon, and knowing full well why at the same time.
---
When the cave's entrance was finally clear of the heros, all was silent.
A hand came over one of the nearby rock formations, pulling up an armored corpse. A zombie, at first glance.
At second glance, the zombie, while not walking perfectly, held itself up quite well and pulled a short sword from a still intact sheathe.
From other nearby formations, other limbs appeared, bringing up other shambling bodies. They moved quickly, settling in position in front of the cave, assuming positions outside the cave, some disappearing behind closer rocks, a few disappearing below random ledges outside the cave. Any who looked out would see nothing.
Above the cave, a shimmering form watched the proceedings. The form was a demon, and the 'zombies' were his elite warriors. It watched with an almost fatherly pride as they assumed their positions as planned. If their skill would not suffice, the total crew of 20 would make up for it.
The demon settled into the rocks, vanishing between cracks, and waited along with its minions.
When its targets came out, it would be ready.