Adult-FanFiction.org : Games

Dynasty of Dovak	By : JohnDoe Category: +A through F > Exalted RPG Views: 4983 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: White Wolf, Exalted and Exalted 3rd Edition are all trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and official characters, names, places and text are copyrighted by White Wolf. I do not own Exalted and I'm not making money from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 70
- 71
- 72
Session 65 – War For The Throne – Reya (205XP 164DX, 203/143 spent; 9GP 36SP), Melody (205XP 164DX, 200/146 spent), and Ganan (205XP 164DX, 187/153 spent; 8WhP 53GP 81SP)

The Sun sets on the Dragons as the last day of Descending Air comes to a close.

Berit’s forces have been on the march for a week. Siege towers have been raised, strategies have been laid. Sorcerous co-ordination with V’neef confirms that a naval blockade has been placed upon the Imperial City, and V’neef’s reavers have been harrying the capital as House Tepet marshal their forces in Dragon’s Mouth. Communications with Mnemon have been scant, but House Nellens have marched their legions south to relieve the beleaguered Ledaal, and lay siege to the Cathak holdings to the South West. With the combined forces of Nellens and Ledaal, and one of Mnemon’s Thousand-Forged Dragons, the overstretched Cathak have been all but routed.

“This is the beginning of the end.” Berit confides to Reya and Melody, “After we take the Capital, the only serious resistance will come from Corin Prefecture. House Ragara stands yet unbowed, but Mnemon’s Dragon will turn that soon enough.”

“There’s still the Iselsi threat.” Reya rues, bitterly, “And we’ve not taken the Imperial City yet.”

“And they’ve had all Winter to fortify their position,” Melody adds, “‘Do not besiege walled cities’: so say the Thousand Correct Actions. We should find a way to draw them out into the open field.”

“We have been over this.” Berit’s tone does not leave room for argument.

Indeed, the Dragons have been over this. House Peleps had managed to take the Imperial City in a lightning strike: one backed by overwhelming numbers, explosives, and no doubt Iselsi traitors within the city walls to place the explosives. Advantages that Mnemon’s forces do not have. House Cathak can have no more than three legions encamped in the Imperial City, given their losses across the Blessed Isle, but it is three Legions of disciplined, Cathak, troops holding a fortified position. Berit’s command is a motley bunch – the last dregs of the Sesus legions, a legion of Mnemon’s, peasants and irregulars conscripted to fight and the promise of Tepet and V’neef allies to meet them in coming battle (inauspiciously, the chief asset being the Vermilion Legion – the lowest and least distinguished legion in the entire Realm).

Striking now seemed like certain folly. But the Thousand Correct Actions also say that ‘All Warfare is Deception’.

The siege was winnable. In theory. V’neef’s navy could keep the ports blocked. Berit’s forces could stop the peasants from leaving through the gates. There was still alchemical soil within the Imperial Palace, but not the Gemstone of the Harvest nor V’neef’s skill in cultivating plants. They could be starved out. But the first day of Ascending Water is tomorrow, and the harvest needs planting. And Iselsi assassins could strike at any time.

So instead the siege was to be a distraction. V’neef’s forces will sweep down from the North and East, Berit’s from the South and West. Every gate will find itself under siege, and thus troops will be drawn away from the Palace. And through the secret tunnels of the Iselsi, Berit’s team of handpicked warriors will creep and cut Cathak Cainan down.

****

“I should be part of the strike force!” Melody had argued.

“I agree.” Ganan had spoken, uncharacteristically breaking his silence, “Melody is one of our best warriors, there’s no-one I’d rather have by my side for this.”

Reya looked at her husband askance for a beat, “We would fight better as a coherent unit.”

Berit was unmoved, “Mnemon Melody and Ledaal Ludila will fight with me. Dragonlord Melody will command the cavalry. Sorceress Ludila will be my personal relay. That is final.”

No-one had suggested that the only reason Melody was being kept from the assassination was because she was pregnant.

Reya had been given command of the strike force. Ganan and Aharon would, of course, accompany her. They would be led to the secret Iselsi tunnels that led into the Palace by Righteous River and her Sworn-kin – Kingfisher Swift and Sesus Eshuvar. It was only fitting that House Ledaal and House Sesus both should be a part of the final blow – though if there were any poetry to a Patrician being part of the strike on the Emperor, it was lost on the Dynasts. Added to their numbers would be Berit’s right-hand, Riven Dusk, and a pair of Earth Elementals.

****

Berit’s forces make camp. After weeks of trekking through the melting snow, the walls of the Imperial City are finally insight – the war ends tomorrow.

The Hearth sits around a campfire with the other members of the strike team. Ganan pulls his Dragon-Sigh Wand from the elements, carefully cleans the weapon, and then sets it aside, proceeding to roll a fresh batch of firedust shells, as Sesus Eshuvar looks on with interest (10SP).

“I have a good friend who uses such weapons,” Eshuvar says, gesturing towards the firewand, “May I?”

Ganan nods his quiet ascend and Sesus Eshuvar picks the weapon up, turning it over slowly and looking down the barrel.

“It’s a fine piece. How do you aim without sights?” He asks, passing the weapon back.

Ganan looks at him puzzled and tucks the shells into Burnt Offering’s leather bandoleer, “What are sights?”

A brief conversation about aiming and shooting from the hip follows. Ganan is not convinced that aiming is a vital part of ranged combat.

Melody leans into Reya, “Are you sure I shouldn’t be coming with you on this?”

Reya shakes her head, “He’ll be using his tetsubo. It’ll be fine.”

****

Berit’s forces attack before first light.

Melody is somewhat irritated to find that Berit has divided her Free Company. Those who were best with the short-bow were taught to ride – no matter how poor they might be at such a skill. Of those who were left, the most muscular were given spears and javelins and the weakest given slings.

“The bow is an elegant weapon. A tool for hunting that is lethal on the battlefield,” Melody had argued, “These people won’t be soldiers all their lives, a bow will help them feed their families in a way a spear will not!”

“The bow is a skeleton-warping, high maintenance machine. Spear and sling is the backbone of the army.”

“The long-bow is a skeleton-warping machine,” Melody had huffed, but the morning of a battle was no time to be changing the drill-lines.

Melody leads the cavalry charge to probe the Imperial City’s defenses: the great wall of the city is intact in the South and East. The buildings outside of the City have been abandoned, and House Cathak has placed no field force outside of the walls. As her troops draw closer, skirmishers on the walls rain down stones and arrows. Melody expertly weaves her forces out of range, dipping in and out to probe for weak spots in the Cathak defenses. No legions sally-out to meet her, but her archers are not able to make a meaningful impact on the city’s defenses.

****

Reya and her strike team make their way through the secret Iselsi tunnels leading into the Imperial Palace. Ganan and Kingfisher Swift lead the way – Ganan reaches out with his senses, feeling the tunnel head. They come across several booby-traps – false walls, trap-doors, poison darts, toxic spoors, and sharpened spikes – several of which were not there when Swift and River were making their escape from the Imperial City a few short months ago. But between Swift’s experience and the Dragon-Blooded’s gifts, they defeat the obstacles with little difficulty. At last, they come to the Iselsi Mon, and River speaks:

“On the other side of this door is the V’neef wing of the palace. If no-one else, then House Iselsi knows about this tunnel – as these new traps have proven. If they’ve warned their Cathak allies, we could be facing an army on the other side of this door.”

Ganan lays a hand on the door, “There’s no army on the other side of this.” He pronounces with confidence.

“Unless,” Reya adds, “They’ve used some kind of magic to hide themselves, having had months to prepare for our coming.” She directs the Dragon-Blooded to rank-up.

****

Berit and V’neef’s attack begins as the sun graces the horizon. Imperial Triremes row into port with the sun in the eyes of the defenders. Berit’s Legions advance in the shade of the walls: ladders and rams and siege towers rolling forward. Melody’s mounted company wheels and hits alongside the infantry.

The defenders on the walls fire in earnest now, raining arrows and stones on the attackers. Melody’s bow sings as she snipes projectiles out of the sky. At any moment she expects some dread war-machine of the First Age to be deployed against them, or for an Anathema to sally out to stop them… but then Clapper is at the gates, swinging its powerful tail against them. The great stones of the city gate shudder under the assault, but the gates remain barred.

Udi sends Melody a message telling her to pull her outriders back. For a moment, Melody is annoyed, and then she spots why… a Stormwind Rider rapidly approaching Berit’s position. With a sharp whistle her cavalry peels off and races back to Berit as infantry with log rams take her place battering down the city gates.

****

Udi’s signal comes through to Reya that the battle is enjoined. Reya opens the secret passage and Ganan and Kingfisher Swift charge forward. The V’neef quarters are abandoned.

“I told you there’s nothing here.” Ganan says as they spill out.

Reya turns to River, “What’s the best way to the throne room?”

River points, “We can cross the courtyard there, takes us into the old Regent’s quarters, then we move through the palace.”

Reya nods sharply and turns to the others, “Quickly and quietly. The further we can get before the alarm is raised, the greater our likelihood of success.

****

Berit’s siege engines roll forward as Melody’s mounted troops fall back. The Stormwind Rider races ever closer. Berit’s rearguard has already wheeled round to intercept. Melody curses, knowing that all they’ve done is confirm Berit’s location to the sorcerer.

****

Reya’s strike team moves across the courtyard connecting the Tepet and V’neef (former Iselsi) wings of the Imperial Palace. It takes a terrifying moment for Swift and River to find the hidden entrance into the wing from the outside. Sesus Eshuvar hurries them nervously, and Ganan swings his tetsubo through the air, testingly, expecting trouble… but no trouble comes. Righteous River opens the door and the strike team sneaks inside.

Ganan easily points out the next secret passage, and they sneak through to the Regent’s chambers.

****

Melody’s riders charge past the rearguard and she draws her bow, sighting the rapidly advancing Stormwind: a single figure rides it. A figure wearing white and purple. Melody curses, lowers her weapon, and signals her cavalry to stand-down. She waits for the sorcerer to draw closer, before bellowing to her: “Set down, Nula!”

****

The Hungry Ghost of Regent Tepet Fokuf is a pathetic thing. As the strike team draws close, Ganan senses it and advances, looking carefully in his mirrored bracers. With two quick strikes, he knocks the ravening beast down and smashes it to ectoplasm. Reya kneels at the decomposing body of the Regent, whispers a few words of commemoration, and touches it – consuming it in her mystic fire.

Righteous River wrinkles her nose in disgust, “Why would they not give Fokuf a proper burial?”

She crouches and examines the salt lines placed around the Regent’s quarters. Her foot kicks over a stack of lurid Immaculate Texts, slightly water damaged.

“Don’t underestimate the power of raw contempt.” Ganan intones as he moves on. He creeps out into the hallway and proceeds towards the throne room.

****

Mnemon Alinos Nula drops her Stormwind Rider and approaches Melody on foot with her hands raised.

“Oban wanted Berit to know that the Myion campaign was a success. We’ve taken the capital and driven the Cathak into the sea.” She beams at her aunt, she waivers slightly, giddy with exhaustion.

Melody raises an eyebrow, “So he sent you across the country on a Stormwind Rider?”

Nula shrugs, “He asked me to send word to Berit. It’s possible that he meant with an Infallible Messenger.” She grins from ear-to-ear as she staggers forward, “But I’m not missing this battle. Take me to mother.”

Melody shakes her head, “Hop up, kid.”

****

The strike force makes it to the doors of the throne room without encountering any resistance.

Ganan boots open the door.

A powerful Cathak sits on the Scarlet Throne, young and vital. In his hands are the legendary weapons of that ancient veteran Cathak Cainan, the jade short daiklaves Tempering Wisdom and Inferno Razor. He wears Cainan’s legendary jade armor, Unbowed-by-Armies. Yet where our heroes know Cathak Cainan as a Dragon-Blooded of advanced years, before them is a young man, seemingly freshly Exalted. He does not seem surprised to see them.

A scale of elite bodyguards stands to his left, led by an elite Dragon-Blooded in Cathak colors. A scale of the Legion of Silence stands to his right.

Reya calls targets, “Ganan, Aharon: take the boy-king. Swift, River, Eshuvar: the Cathaks. Riven, you and I have the Legion of Silence.”

“Oh, I have been looking forward to this!” Ganan grins as he charges forward.

The Cathak Bodyguard rushes to block Ganan’s path, but Kingfisher Swift reaches them first and punts them to one side, as Righteous River crashes into the mortal guards. Riven intercepts the Legion of Silence, taking the inhumanly large fighters head-on with her massive weapon.

Ganan lets the flow of combat shift around him as the other fighters find their marks.

Cainan rises from the throne and charges forward. Twin daiklaves smash against Ganan’s tetsubo, turning the heavier weapon aside. Through the opening in Ganan’s defenses, Cainan’s blades hammer of Ganan’s Invulnerable Skin, beating him into Earth Dragon Form as Ganan’s anima fully manifests. Ganan exhales as he is driven back by the assault. Like ice running across hot steel, Cainan strikes again, moving with the speed of a master swordsman, he exploits the gap in Ganan’s defenses to drive home another flurry of attacks.

Aharon charges forward with his halberd. Cainan explodes in a ball of fire: he seems a demon, terror incarnate. But Aharon steels himself and slices into the heart of the flame, his mighty, two-handed weapon smashing into Cainan’s armor, knocking him back half a step and giving Ganan some breathing space.

With her shield at the ready, Reya speaks the burning name, sending a gout of mystical flame over the Legion of Silence. The magically enhanced troops raise their shields against this attack and split their attention between Reya and Riven.

The Cathak bodyguard rises and launches herself at Swift. Eshuvar throws a chakram at them as Swift rushes in again. The elite Cathak troops fall like wheat before a thresher as River plows into them.

Aharon swings his halberd around again, hammering Cainan back on the defensive with punishing diagonal sweeps. Cainan’s anima blasts forth as an explosive bonfire.

Cainan shuffles back against the blows, but every step is measured. He smiles, sees the gap in Aharon’s defenses, and erupts forward, battering his halberd aside and raining blows against Aharon.

Reya takes her attention from the Legion of Silence and throws a blast of flame at Cainan. He plants his feet and throws her a withering look as his anima absorbs the flames without harm.

In the moment of distraction, Ganan rushes forward and slams his tetsubo against the elder. Cainan is thrown backward but the impact as Ganan drives him to the ground, but he immediately rises on a plume of rising heat, recovering from the assault without missing a beat as he settles into a defensive position. Ganan stands shoulder-to-shoulder (well, shoulder-to-mid-torso) with Aharon as they stare the elder down.

“I really hope you have more than one trick,” Cainan grins, clearly enjoying the fight to the death, “This is going to be easier than I thought.”

The Legion of Silence swarms over Riven Dusk, pinning her down as the giant soldiers swarm over her.

Ganan keeps his mouth shut as he barrels into Cainan again. The Emperor waits until Ganan is almost upon him, before neatly stepping to the side, using his blades to guide Ganan’s tetsubo past him. Moving with an Agata's grace, Ganan draws on the power of his crystal bound demon. He twists around Cainan and drives his tetsubo forward again. Cainan reverses his grip, stepping into Ganan’s blow.

Cainan levers Ganan’s blow away from his body and twists his daiklaves round inside Ganan’s guard. Ganan’s anima condenses for a moment into a man made of sand who seems to grab at Cainan’s blades at the last moment… but the elder Cathak slices through Ganan’s anima and hammer against his Invulnerable Skin.

Aharon sees Cainan strike at Ganan and rushes to his side. He strikes with an overhead blow, reasoning there’s no way Cainan can reposition his blades to block it in time. But instead of blocking, Cainan launches his blades forward and catches Aharon in the mid-rift. Cainan’s roaring bonfire of an anima burns less brightly as Aharon’s ribs break under the assault. Aharon spits a glob of blood.

Torn between helping Aharon and helping Riven, Reya runs at Cainan. “Eshuvar, help Riven!” Reya cries as she barrels into Cainan with her shield. Cainan pushes the wounded Aharon aside and slams his blades into Reya’s shield, turning her attack aside.

Cainan follows up his parry with a series of striking blows, putting Reya on the defensive. Reya desperately swings her shield to block Cainan’s whirling blades sagging under the attack.

Eshuvar throws a chakram at the Legion of Silence as their bodies completely encase Riven Dusk. One of the mighty warriors falls under Eshuvar’s assault.

Cainan keeps up his assault on Reya, smashing her shield aside and causing her to miss her footing and stagger. He looms over her, ready to land the killing blow.

“‘And the Daughter of the Empress will not claim the Sword, but it shall fall to another.’” As Cainan monologues. Our heroes become aware of three more figures in the room Ylva Wataru stands to the left of the throne, Amon Mora to the right of the throne, and Ragara sits casually upon the throne. The carved jade dragons seem to leer out threateningly from behind him.

Aharon makes a wild swing at Cainan, who casually blocks the blow with one sword, keeping the other leveled at Reya.

“Spare me your prophecies!” Ganan bellows as he smashes into Cainan. Cainan turns, his anima roaring as he seeks to repeat the same defense he used on Aharon – a good offense – but Ganan is ready for him. Ganan strikes not for Cainan’s body, but for the point where Cainan’s blades would meet his torso, and with the superior reach and weight of his weapon, he delivers a weapon shattering strike. Focusing the power of Earth through his weapon, spiderweb cracks spread through-out Cainan’s blades, rendering them useless.

Cainan drops his broken blades, turns his back on Reya, and settles into a boxing stance – his fists igniting into flame. He seems to notice Ragara sitting on his throne for the first time and pulls a sour face.

River puts the last of the Cathak troops to rout as Swift delivers a punishing blow to Cainan’s bodyguard, and watches with satisfaction as she drops to the ground and does not get up.

Aharon charges at Cainan, who grabs the flaming halberd behind the blade, ripping the weapon from his hands. Cainan turns, spinning the mighty weapon in a broad arc as he circles the Hearth, setting himself between them and the throne.

“‘And they will clash. The one restored to youth who sits upon the throne. And the one who crossed the Isle on the winds-of-storm to stop him. But only one can claim the weapon.’” Cainan bows, “Our Sidereal friend would not help me claim the Realm Defense Grid unless I could prove my worth. Frankly, I was insulted. Even now Berit blunders into my trap, just as I lured you here.”

Righteous River and her Hearth line up behind Reya.

Reya smirks at Cainan, “Yeah, your plan seems to be going really well.” She settles herself behind her shield.

“Riven, kill the spares.” Cainan commands, and the Legion of Silence parts with Riven Dusk at their head.

****

Melody and Nula breach the walls of the Imperial City, and Berit’s troops pour inside.

Clapper wades into the streets, the beast’s mighty tail grazing buildings built too close to the streets. Melody flashes her eyes back and forth, but there are no legions assembled to meet them in battle.

“Take the walls.” Melody commands and the troops break into the internal defenses of the Imperial City and flood the walls.

Melody turns to Nula, “How much resistance did the Nellens legions face in Myion?”

Nula makes a face, “Five dragons of infantry.”

“Half a legion? To defend the Cathak ancestral homelands?” Melody lowers her bow, “And no-one thought that was suspicious?”

Nula shrugs and yawns, “They’re spread across the entire Isle. We assumed the bulk of their forces would be… here… in the capital.” She looks around her, bewildered, “Wait… where the hell are they?”

Melody springs from Clapper’s back, “Nula, Stormwind us to the Palace! Now!”

****

The treacherous Riven Dusk points her Goremaul at River and her Hearth and the Legion of Silence move forward.

“Finish this!” River calls as her comrades charge the sorcerous troops, their animas burning bright as three bonfires.

Ganan stands ready with his tetsubo, moving to Reya’s side. Aharon takes her other flank, turning the wounded side of his body away from Cainan.

Cainan gives the heroes a salute, “The Cathak legions are safely encamped in Corin Prefecture. Alongside the Ragara legions. And the Cynis legions. And our army of mercenaries. Meanwhile, the Sesus legions have been all but destroyed, the Nellens legions marched to the far side of the Isle, and Berit has been obliging enough to march the rest of your forces here – dividing you to the Isle’s two extremes. You will die and the Realm Defense Grid will be mine. I have not left my fate to chance.”

The heroes clash again. Ganan barrels into Cainan and the Emperor turns his stolen halberd. Jade clashes against jade as Cainan throws Ganan’s attack back.

Reya and Aharon charge together. Reya batter’s Cainan with her shield: with his halberd high in the air from parrying Ganan, it takes him a moment to bring it down again to block Reya. As his halberd clangs off Reya’s shield, Aharon reaches him, tackling him about the waist.

Cainan delivers an elbow-strike to the back of Aharon’s head, wrestling his way free.

****

Melody and Nula Stormwind to the gates of the Imperial Palace. They find troops in V’neef colors, putting down a pitiful handful of defenders.

Melody identifies the V’neef commander, “I am Dragonlord Mnemon Melody. How much opposition did you face?”

The V’neef commander eyes Melody suspiciously before answering, “Hardly any. A dragon of wounded Cathak troops, and a few locals. I was expecting stiffer resistance here.” She pauses for a moment, “Trierarch V’neef Bijar.” She says by way of introduction.

V’neef soldiers bring a battering ram to the palace gates and start to break their way inside.

****

The Legion of Silence overwhelms River’s exhausted Hearth. They pin the Dragons down and hold them at knifepoint.

Cainan makes use of the full reach of Aharon’s halberd, keeping the heroes back. Riven makes her way to his side.

Cainan turns and nods at Ragara, beckoning him forward. “As I said, I have not left my fate to chance.”

Ragara rises from the throne. His hair is gray, his face jowly. He is old and stiff, yet every step he takes is laden with power. With his right hand, he ponderously draws a wicked looking reaper daiklave made of black jade and soulsteel. In his left hand, he carries the Starmetal bound walking stick. The palace seems to shake as he strides with slow, deliberate purpose to Cathak Cainan’s side.

“Neither have I.” Ragara declares as he plunges his daiklave through Cainan’s back. The slender, single-edged blade punches through Cainan’s legendary armor, emerging from the front. Cainan stares down at the blade protruding from his body, his mouth working in silent confusion.

Cainan’s anima seems to fall in on itself, drawn into the black jade penetrating his chest. Before our heroes’ eyes, Cainan seems to age. In seconds he is returned to the grizzled appearance he is famed for, but he doesn’t stop aging – the work lines on his face turn to deep wrinkles, his hair turns gray, his body seems to wither, becoming sunken and bloodless. Ragara’s blade seems to radiate darkness, sucking in all light and magic. Cainan’s eyes go dim and close. Ragara kicks the corpse from his blade as the dark energy contained in his blade floods into his body. The skin around Ragara’s face tightens. His gray hair becomes shot through with streaks of flaming red. His joints seem to loosen, and he stands a little taller. Unlike Cainan, he does not appear restored to the prime of youth, but he no longer seems to be on death’s door. He gestures for Riven and her troops to stand down, and the melee breaks apart.

Reya approaches him slowly, “Crossed the Isle on a Stormwind? Restored to youth?”

“I forge my own destiny Mnemon Danireya.” Ragara’s voice is deep and powerful, “The troops in Corin answer to me. As does Riven here.”

****

Melody and the V’neef forces break into the Palace. Nula urges caution, expecting some kind of mystic maze of magical traps. Melody chomps at the bit, but the famed mystic defenses of the Realm’s seat of power are conspicuously absent.

“It’s like…” Nula remarks, “Someone is letting us in?”

****

Amon Mora watches Ragara’s treachery with tacit silence, idly thumbing The First Imperial Seal – the key to the Imperial Palace – between his fingers.

“We are not enemies, Mnemon Danireya.” Ragara booms, “I will be Emperor. Berit will have her Great House. I will honor the promises I made to V’neef before you turned her against me. And I shall honor Cainan’s pledge of aid to Lookshy against Thorns – that ought to please your Ledaal allies.” He pauses, “I know that Mnemon will never forgive me, but my last decades have given me time to reflect on my life. I am ashamed of how I treated her, and I mean her no ill-will. If she will shave her head, and pledge herself to the Immaculate Order, then I will grant her every boon she desires: access to the Heptagram, purging of the Iselsi… I shall move the base of the Immaculate Order to the Imperial City, or to Mnemon-Darjilis if she desires. I will guarantee that her House will stand.”

“Why should we trust you!?” Ganan shoots back at him.

Ragara gestures and the Legion of Silence release River and her Hearth. “My sister will make a poor Empress. She carries grudges like an anchor on her heart, and she crushes the ambitious and the powerful. She will turn on you. I have spent my twilight years in contemplation. I have built an empire based on trade and negotiation, and when my time had passed, I ceded power to the next generation. Can you imagine Mnemon ceding power? Ever?”

Aharon points at the Starmetal walking stick, “If you weren’t wielding the weapons of the Anathema and standing over the dead body of your ally, I might even have believed that.”

Ragara smiles, and looks at Reya, “Don’t believe me, then. But I name you, Mnemon Danireya, as my successor. When I die, you will be Empress. Betray and murder me if you must. But first I will claim the Realm Defense Grid and turn it on the Anathema who are conquering the Threshold.”

Reya falters for just a moment, dropping her guard, and at that moment, Ylva finishes casting a spell: a blazing corona of Essence wraps itself around her, Ragara, Mora, and Riven… and they disappear in a flash of light.

Melody, Nula, and V’neef Bijar burst into the throne room just as the Ragara and the Sidereal disappear into thin air.

Nula looks down on Cainan’s dead body, “Did we win?” She asks.

Amon Mora clears his throat, having not disappeared with the others, “Not yet.”

****

Reya spends 8XP to train Masterful Dragon-Artisan Expertise.
- 70
- 71
- 72
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dynasty of Dovak