Act XIX: Deliverance / Aftermath
Tresdin stared dumbfounded as the Ancients collapsed into the dust. As one, the creeps of both sides suddenly collapsed and fell. In mute shock, she knelt down to check the pulse of one.
Nothing. As if they had been switched off, she thought darkly.
"What happened?" she asked. Lyralei shrugged. Tresdin glanced across to look at the assembled Dire heroes, who were in as much shock as she was. For some reason, she felt no impetus to fight them.
Deciding to set an example, she strode forward. "Who is your leader?" she announced, in a tone that brooked an immediate reply.
One of them, recognisable as Magnus, a giant rhinocerous-like creature from the mountains, tossed his head. "The demon lords of Hell had assumed control, but where they are…"
Never trust a demon. "Then I will make my peace with those of you that are here. Now, can somebody tell me what just happened?!"
"I believe I can," a voice cut in, throbbing with dark powers. Tresdin turned to behold a demon only slightly taller than she was, his head a flaming skull and his form twisted with dark energies. Nonetheless, he walked with a sure stride as befit a being of his fel nobility.
"Eredar," she acknowledged.
The demon smiled, the expression genuine but considering the visage it was plastered across none the less horrific. "You are aware that both Ancients have fallen and are asking why. Very well, I can answer that."
And then he recounted it all, the schemes of Arash, the fall of the Black Rook, the death of the Shadow Fiend, and the shattering of the Mad Moon's dark goals. It was hard to believe, but given everything made about as much sense as anything.
"Doom returned to the Seventh Hell, Nevermore dead… where is the other? The Marauder?" Tresdin asked. Few mortals dare to spoke the hunter-demon's true name, for it was said he heard every utterance and brought his wrath down upon those with the audacity to personify his terror.
"He currently speaks to the Skywrath and their leader, for their part to play in this was not inconsiderate. No doubt Dragonus wishes to return to his newly-restored queen in the Ghastly Aerie."
"And Arash?" The death warrant of the Psychomancer was still well and truly active, for he was one of the few from the Seven Hells that mortal hands could touch. Tresdin had lost friends and allies to the bastard's schemes, and the fact that Lanaya had died while he remained to plague the world rankled with her.
Eredar grinned, though a skull didn't have much choice. "Our little schemer has a much greater part to play than having his head decorate a noble's wall. There may come a time when you are glad of his presence, for now that he is free of the darkness, you may realise that he was an ally all along. Now, I believe you wanted to talk peace…"
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So we succeeded after all. Dragonus breathed a sigh of relief. Up until the end, he had not truly believed Arash's theory of the Ancient's wicked dominance, but when he was supported by Fundamentals and demons it was almost certain his mistrust had been unfounded.
The last trace of the crackling portal Terrorblade had left through winked out of existence. Dragonus grimaced, gazing again at the tumbled pillars and broken pit of lava that was all that remained of the evil sentience of an Ancient. His troops milled about, squawking at various things that caught their attention. Silent creeps lay all around, many unmarked, simply released from life as their masters fell.
"Would you call this a draw?" a heavily accented voice demanded. The Skywrath shrugged.
"I don't know, Lady Moonfang," he replied. Luna was as always mounted upon Nova, her beloved feline. "Perhaps both sides lost."
"You seem to know a lot about this war that the rest of us don't," she grunted, twirling her glaive in her hand. "Does this mean the fighting stops now?" Nova purred, one giant paw batting at the head of a creep that had rolled near him.
Dragonus unfurled his wings, flying higher above the ground. "We shall see," he told his companion. "I am done with mortal wars, now, and for me the Ghastly Aerie awaits."
"Give my regards to the queen," Luna answered, pressing her heels into Nova's sides. The cat stepped back, then resumed licking its front paws.
Dragonus let out a loud caw, and his Skywrath brethren answered the cry. The air was split by the triumphant sounds, and as one they took off, leaving the ground far behind them and soaring onwards, onwards, to where the Ghastly Aerie waited in readiness.
Luna shaded her eyes with her hand, looking up to watch the Skywrath leave. The question of what-now did not enter her mind, for those in service of Selemene always had much to do.
So many dead, she thought darkly. Precious few of either side had survived - even those who had power beyond mortal understanding, the Weaver chief among them, had found their death here. She supposed it was a good thing that the fate of the realm now lay in the hands of mortals rather than ancient beings of dreams and nightmares.
Well, by and large, anyway.
"Still stalking, Balanar?" she laughed. The batlike Night Stalker cringed from the glare of the sun.
"I have been here since the First Day, and shall remain here until the Last Day," he hissed. "When even the moon fades away into darkness."
Luna smiled coyly at him, fingering her glaive. "Ah, Balanar, how I dearly love our little disagreements. Your time long passed. I am the true creature of the night now." On cue, Nova stretched and yawned. Luna waved her hand at the Night Stalker in farewell, and the feline licked its lips before they left together.
"Until next time," Balanar hissed, his hands closing into fists, before he too skulked back into the shadows.
Now empty, the Dire fortress gave up the fight, its structures crumbling and falling into the lava, until the emptiness took the lanes and silence claimed the war.
Just wow! :D
take my 10/10!