Asheron's Call, The Alternate Story Line
By JJDrakken

Reprinted with permission.
Added 08/04/2002.

The darkness was all around them, the small group of people wandered around in the deep underground labyrinth.

"I dunno, this doesn't seem the right direction," one of the group members said.

"Bah, it's the right way, I've been through these tunnels before!" exclaimed the lead adventurer as he waved his torch ahead of himself. A sudden noise echoed down the halls, sort of a deep groaning. It slowly got louder, the air started getting colder and the torch light flickered into smoke as the air became colder.

"Damn Rex!?" exclaimed one of the men. "Is it supposed to be this cold down here?"

"No, its not," said Rex, looking around quizzically. "Something ain't right." Rex dropped the torch, reached into his bag, and slipped on a gold encrusted ring, ornate with deep blue gems, a bluish aura surrounding him. "I suggest you all get yourselves ready, something ain't right at all."

In that instant several Horripal scurried around the tunnel's bend and assailed the small group.

"Ouch Jeez, frigging!!!" exclaimed one of the adventurers. "So cold!" The Horripals attacks caught the man by surprise, and he fumbled around for a hammer.

"Daven!!" exclaimed a woman, grasping her wand. She mumbled strange words, casting healing magics into her comrade, then worked on casting the proper protections for her friends.

"Thank ye Aryia," smiled Daven, taking his hammer and cracking it against the ground, flames spurting from the Granite Head. "Time to teach these little frosty's a lesson," he said in a impish tone. He swung mightily at the first Horripal the with flames of the hammer, causing it to screech in pain.

"Behind you Kao!" exclaimed Rex as he reached for his new Isparian Sword, swinging it wildly around to keep the Horripals back. The last adventurer turned around, spotting a group of Gelid coming up towards the back of the tunnels. He reached back into his quiver, pulled out a flaming arrow and let it fly with deft precision.

"Ow...damn little things!" exclaimed Aryia as she continued to keep her friends alive and offering as many protection spells as she could. "I thought you said these tunnels were empty Rex!"

"They weren't here the last time I was here!!" he shouted out, cleaving one the Gelids into a mass of frost with his sword. The adventurers quickly made short work of the Horripals, then continued a vicious fight with the Gelids.

"Daven, run behind that one, attack its flank!" screamed Kao, as he let loose arrow after arrow into the ranks of the Gelids.

"I'm trying Kao, I'm trying!" he screamed back, smashing into the frost forms of the Gelids with his Flaming Hammer, hearing their screeches of pain. The group finally cleared out the group of Gelids, and they leaned against the walls, breathing hard, the air still cold. "You know Aryia, even with your wards and protections, it's still cold as a Mattekar's arse in the winter down here!" exclaimed Daven.

"Aye it is," she breathed out in low tone. She then looked at Rex, his eyes seemed glazed over for a minute then he looked back at her and smiled warmly. She felt relaxed whenever he did that and smiled back to him. "Are you sure there was nothing down here the last time you went here?" she asked quizzically.

"Trust me Aryia, I would remember these if they where down here," he said as he looked over his friends. "Well just down this tunnel is that room I found, with the large chest and altar in it." The group gathered themselves back up, this time taking the proper precautions. "Kao, with Aryia's Magics and your nimble fingers, you should be able to open that lock right?"

"I never met a lock I didn't like yet Rex," he grinned as he patted his belt pouch holding his various tools and picks.

"Good," said Rex. "I been wondering what was in that chest."

"So what was the altar Rex?" asked Daven. "Another one them evil Bael'Zharon altars that are scattered all over?"

"No, actually, now that I think about it..." he said and paused, then spoke again. "It was weird, sorta strange design, something I never seen before, that's for sure." The group all looked at each other then continued forward around tunnels that curved into the large room. Upon entering a strange click noise was heard then sounds of two Chaos Wisps appearing in opposite corners of the rooms. "Ohh damn!!" exclaimed Rex as he tumbled to the right, dodging a flaming streak of the wisp's magic.

"Oh boy!!" said Koa, as he quickly lept behind a pillar, rummaging around as fast as he could, and binding together a bundle deadly frog crotch arrowheads to several shafts. Daven dropped his hammer, reached to his back and pulled out a large ornate ax, the blade glowing a deep purple.

"All right ye buggers, time to go back to the abyss!" he yelled as he ran forward, swinging the ax. The blade glowed mightily, a strange hum emanating from it as it slashed into the first wisp. The wisp made a strange noise and the very essence of life ripped out of Daven, drained back into the wisp as it fought back. "Arrgghh!!" screamed Daven in pain as he swung again. Rex dodged another incoming fireball from the other wisp, rolled to Daven, pulled his Isparian Sword and helped his friend tackle the first wisp. Aryia began her incantations on the other wisp. A decertifying energy surrounded the wisp, followed by a Large Whirling Blade. The wisp echoed out what she thought was pain, it returned trying to pull the life out of her as well, but she shrugged it off and smiled at its feeble attempts.

"HA!" screamed Kao in giddy delight as he stepped out from the pillar and let loose an arrow at the wisp, finishing it off. He then turned around and let loose three more shots into the wisp Rex and Daven where fighting, watching it echo out in pain as it dissipated.

"Thanks Kao!" said Daven with a grin on his face as he reached for one of his elixirs of life and drank it down.

"Hey Daven, without me you'd be standing at our Lifestone more often then not!" replied Kao in a light heard tone.

"Bah, damn lifestones," he said, "Great things they are, but they creep me out, every time I die and I see part of me elsewhere and feel that strange empty feeling in my gut."

"Yes, they are a rather annoying device aren't they," said a deep voice. The group spun around to see a tall man enter the room, dressed in deep red robes and a neatly trimmed pointed beard. He walked past them up to the altar. "They seem to always keep the pests around, even after I try to rid them." The group stood stunned, here stood in front of them the man that single handedly destroyed towns of people and caused the Insane Virindi Human, Martine to strike a deadly blow against Asheron.

"You're...You're...", Daven tried to say as he stumbled over his words.

"Yes, Gaerlan," the man replied. "I learned after my generals died to you vermin, that the biggest reasons for all these miscalculations, are those Empyrean Lifestones that Asheron left around for you little creatures to use. He stood next to the altar and moved several pieces on it, then turned around. "How can I continue my plans, if each time I work on killing you pathetic creatures off, you keep coming back. It really is quite a nuisance." He then mumbled something and the gem in the center of it glowed various colors and the room flashed in brilliance of light. The group covered their eyes, then felt a strange pull of energy being ripped out of them, and for that instant they felt true fear. "Hmmm, it worked quite nicely," Gaerlan mumbled to himself, then turned around. "I guess it's time to test my calculations," he said in a callous and wicked voice. He started to mumble words, energy gathering around his hands.

"RRRRAAAWRRR!!" yelled Daven as he charged forward, swinging his Ax towards Gaerlan. He then screeched in pain and fell, twitching on the ground, his body convulsing in the spell released upon him. Kao pulled out an arrow, but never had a chance to let it loose. His body disintegrated as the stream of acid shot forth from Gaerlan.

"Aryia!!!" screamed Rex, as he grabbed her and pushed her out the way, another spell flying across them. They rolled over behind several piles of rubble.

"Rex!" sobbed Aryia, "I can't hear them!! I can't hear them!!" she screamed.

"What!!??" he muttered back, peering over rubble, watching Gaerlan lift up Daven and pull the very life out his friend into his body.

"I can't hear Kao or Daven, the lifestone's magic isn't letting me talk to them!" she sobbed again. "I...I...they're dead Rex. They're really dead!!" she continued to sob, reaching for her orb, as she was preparing an exit portal for her and Rex. Rex continued to watch Gaerlan with a morbid fascination, he then nodded and turned around Aryia as she opened them a portal to home.

"Ary..." he said.

She turned around, and saw that same glazed look in his eyes, but still that smile of his as he walked forward to her.

"It's okay Ary, I realize the truth Ary," he said as he walked forward to her and embraced her.

"What are you talking bout Rex, we need to go...urk!....." she blurted out, blood now spewing from her mouth. She looked down and saw his Isparian Sword shoved through her abdomen. She looked up to him in confusion, his eyes still glazed over, yet that smile...that beautiful smile of his, she stumbled backwards into her portal, feeling her life leave her finally. She laid upon the ground in the dungeon, as various other Isparians stared down at her in shock, seeing one of their more famous comrades laid out in front of them. While the Isparian Sword stuck out of her body, everyone frantically tried to heal her, but she faded away. Everyone stood dumbfounded, not able to hear her voice on the magics of the lifestones and all over Dereth they all felt the final death and a shock of silence was emitted from the residents.

Deep in the tunnels hidden someplace in Dereth, Gaerlan laughed. He felt that he had finally found the way to end the pests that had overridden his homelands. A lone Isparian man stood next to him, his face blank of emotion, following Gaerlan around like a dog. His beloved laid in the dungeon with the others. His sword was buried deep in her, and etched upon its hilt was a message that caused one moment of emotion to show in his eyes. "May My Blade Always Save You Ary."

------

The lighting crashed above the lone cottage, and Asheron stirred in bed slighty, then stood up and fell over. Elysa caught him and looked perplexed.

"Asheron?" she said, "You must rest Ash, you're still hurt from Martine, rest..." she said again. He pushed her away and leaned against the wall.

"I can't Elysa, he has found the means to end your existence here. I must prevent it," he said in a raspy voice. She looked at him again, and helped him sit down upon the bed he laid. He looked at her, his eyes softening.

"I don't understand Ash, I..." she mumbled out, but was stopped by Asheron.

"I don't have time to explain Elysa, you must gather your people," he said. "Gather all that you can, we need to make the final stand now." He coughed and paused then spoke again. "Bring them to the portal to my castle, we shall regroup there." Elysa stared at him, then nodded. She then pulled out a small orb, said few words and disappeared into portal space. He sighed and gathered what strength he could and returned to his castle to make what preparations he could.

------

"Interesting creatures they are, don't you think my little lapdog?" said Gaerlan to the man standing next to him. "Your species is so resilient and always coming back for more," he said again. "Never knowing when to quit, to finally give up to the better race," he said with his voice starting to tinge with anger. "But now! NOW! I have the means to end that," he hissed between clenched teeth. The man stood next to him, not saying anything. His eyes glazed over, he followed Gaerlan everywhere he went. "Hmmm, first, yes FIRST!!" he screeched out, "I will have that babbling fool Martine's head on my table!" He clenched his fist, energy erupting out. "I spent far too long under that fool's supposed leadership," he said as he looked at the man. Gaerlan then opened a portal and pointed for the man to go in. They both walked through and stood on the bridge in Rithwic.

"HOLY JEEZ!!!" screamed a townsfolk. "Gaerlan is here!!!" He then ran off towards the main part of town screaming. Gaerlan chuckled, he soon would have his revenge on all that did him and his people wrong. He would, by the destruction of many, ensure the Worldeater would appear and serve him. He went about mumbling incantations and opened another portal.

"First we stir up some chaos and then return here and end that miserable misbegotten creature's existence." He summoned another portal and both he and the man stepped through it. The townsperson returned with several seasoned warriors and even Celcynd showed up.

"I see no Gaerlan," one warrior said.

"No really, He was here!!!" exclaimed the man.

"Bah, must be drunk and playing pranks," said another warrior. They all agreed and left the poor man to stutter. Celcynd though looked around and felt a strange flow of magic in the portal space in the area. He then shrugged and left, but was still disturbed by the odd feel. Gaerlan and the man ended up in the area known to many as the subway. People were hollering and yelling their wares all over. Talking about this or that and random people following the ways of blood, they chased one another, trying to see who could kill who.

"Uh guys, who is that???" said one the people standing there looking at those who entered the dungeon's main area. At that instance everyone stopped and looked as well.

"Uh oh," said one man. In that instance Gaerlan chuckled and started his incantations, glittering lights starting to swarm around him. The man following him, looked over, and saw a familiar sword still stuck in the subway ground, not removed. He walked over to it and picked it up. It felt familiar as he swung it around with deft precision. He then walked back over to Gaerlan and watched his master prepare the special spell.

"I'm getting the hell out of here!!" screamed another man, as he pulled his wand out and disappeared into portal space. Others did the same, but more stayed, laying down protective wards and spells to defend against Gaerlan.

"Die you gimpy piece of..." said one man as he ran forward waving his sword around. The man stepped forward in front of Gaerlan and thrust the now tainted sword forward and stabbed the poor unprotected fool square in the chest.

"I, Rex, slave and follower to the way, will not allow you to touch my master," he said in a monotonous voice. His sword sparkled and the man's face contorted in pain, his life being drained through the sword into Rex, then into Gaerlan. He fell, gasping for breath, then watched as he reanimated back at the lifestone. Gaerlan finished his incantations, as many spells and attackers fell up them. His slave fought off what he could, but to Gaerlan the attacks that came his way were nothing. The spell unleashed in the room flashed in multi-hued colors. The Isparians felt the protection of Lifestones being ripped from them, then Gaerlan smiled and unleashed a fury of magic. They say as far as Qalabar, you heard the death screams of the many. Many stood chilled to the bone as their comrades' final breath on Dereth ended. Gaerlan stood in the room, the corpses of the annoying creatures laid around him, when more people started to enter the dungeon.

"HOLY SHIT!!" said one of them in shock.

"WTF HAPPEND HERE!!!" exclaimed another. Gaerlan smiled at them and portalled himself and his slave to a distant place. He then sat down and breathed some, the spell took a lot out of him. He needed to rest and ponder how to make the spell's magic more effective. He coughed some and felt the movement of Asheron.

"Finally that old fool has let me see where he is at," he coughed some. "I knew this would make him show his presence to me." He rested and said as he fell into slumber, "I shall get to you soon old fool, soon....".

------

"ASHERON, ASHERON!!" screamed Elsya as she ran up the stairs in his castle, her eyes full of tears. Asheron turned around and knew she finally felt what had happened. She looked at him, dumbfounded at what she felt and what had happened.

"Yes Ely, he has found a way to end even that protection I have given you and your people," he said with a deep sigh. He turned around and mumbled, energies and magics of such strength forming around him. Elsya covered her eyes, slowly backing up, watching Asheron's body being surrounded in energies and then a loud explosion happened, and the ground around her rumbled. She fell and looked around, seeing the very throne of Asheron being ripped usunder and a large crystal like tree ripping its way from under Asheron's Castle. He continued mumbling his incantations, the energy in the air causing Elysa's skin to tingle and her hair to wave violently around her head. Finally it stopped and Asheron fell to the ground, wheezing.

"ASH!!!" she screamed and ran up to him, holding him close, then looked up. In front of her stood a tree of pure crystal, similar in color to the Lifestones found around Dereth. Asheron wheezed again and sat up and leaned against Elysa. "What...what is it Ash??" she asked.

"It's the very lifestone of all of Dereth," he said. "I created the lifestones from it and built my castle over it to guard it. All of Auberean has one in each of its lands. Only a few of us ever figured out how to craft the lifestones from them," he told her. He then looked at her and said, "I need you to bring your people here, it is time for them to bind themselves to the very land they live in, permanently."

------

Martine snapped out of his trance and stood up and looked around. He heard all the screams of final death and felt the magic of life itself being ripped usunder and reformed. He twitched and giggled. "Oh the old fool the old fooool heehee," he said in his twisted voice. "He thinks he can save us all, save us all he thinks!!" he said in a laugh. His comrades in his retreat looked at him warily and watched him pace around. "That fool that fool thinks he can end us all, he thinks he can end ME!!" he screeched and caused the right wall of his chambers to explode. "But wait wait! he can't end me, I am eternal, I am...." he said trailing off and continued to pace. He then turned and looked around. "Yes I will get them, I will get them, they will come, they will serve." He pulled his mask off, feeling the pain surge around his body then he suddenly disappeared.

------

Gaerlan awoke from his slumber and saw his slave dutifully watching over him. He grinned, at least these insects had some use. He then looked into his glowing orb and watched what had happened over several days and cursed that he wasen't able to stop Asheron from bringing the Life Tree up from its underground holdings. He stopped thought for a second then smiled in evil glee. He then went about working on forming his army. Yes it will be a glorious battle, he shall stand above it all, victor and savior of his people. He scurried down halls of his dwellings into the darkness.

------

People started to swarm into Asheron's keep, standing around in awe. They were finally here and ran around like crazed kids in a candy store, wanting to see everything. Elysa and Asheron had a hard time maintaining order in all the chaos but managed to get people to Bind to the Life Tree. Asheron then went about explaining to everyone what had happened. How Gaerlan had found a way to end their existence permanently. But the Life Tree will help prevent that. People all stood amazed at what they heard. Several laughed and called Gaerlan a gimp and how they could own him and all his gimpy friends. Asheron shook his head, in this age the Isparians where getting too cocky for their own good, he hoped they would learn.

"People our first goal is to start slowly evacuating the towns. We need to safeguard as many people as we can," said Elysa. "Asheron feels Gaelran will destroy everything that is remotely Isparian in nature, be it Gharu'ndim, Aluvian, or Sho, he will not stop until all Isparians are dead." People started to listen and agreed they needed to start securing their homes.

"ELYSA, QUEEN ELYSA!!" screamed one of the Arcanum Agents. "He's been spotted again back in Rithwic!! GAERLAN IS IN RITHWIC!!" Elysa nodded and told her people to be ready and they will prevent the monster from harming another soul. The people started their spells of protection. Finally when finished they prepared their routes to Rithwic, when the portal magic failed around them.

"Uh...I know I'm more skilled then this, why won't my magic work??" said a perplexed mage. Many others said the same. Asheron looked around and realized Gaerlan had found a way to hinder the portal space. He stood up and started his spells, but fell back in exhaustion.

"I can't Elysa, he has prevented the portal magic and I'm too weak to counteract it," he said in raspy voice, his eyes holding back tears. She nodded, her face stoic, and she turned to her people.

"Everyone out the front and we will run to save our comrades!" she lead the charge out of Asheron's Castle across the waters to Eastham and onward to Rithwic, people yelling and hollering as they ran.

Gaerlan appeared in Rithwic again and opened a portal. Elementals of all kind funneled out and started attacking local townsfolks and hapless random adventurers. He giggled in glee watching people die around them and reappear at the local lifestones. He then opened another portal and handed his slave a small device.

"Go, do as I instructed," he told him. "The Apocalypse is at hand, it's time the old fool realized who the true master is." The man nodded and entered the portal. Gaelran turned around feeling a strange energy behind him.

"I will not allow this to happen again!" screamed Celcynd. He clenched his fist and energies gathered around him. Gaerlan was amazed that such a fool could manage to bypass his spells and access portal space. He then screamed in pain and opened a portal in middle of Rithwic bridge. "Hurry my people," he said faintly. "Take my portal and save yourselves." Many of the townfolk hurried to the portal, portalling to safety. Celcynd turned around saw Gaerlan forming a spell at him. "Go ahead, I will die knowing, I did not let my mistake happen again." Gaerlan hissed and released his spell at Celcynd, when a sudden burst of energy appeared in front of Celcynd and took the incoming spell, causing it mass to crumble in front of him.

"Oh good, I'm glad he showed," said Gaerlan in amusement. Martine's crumbled body lay before them. Celcynd then was grabbed by a local man and dragged into the portal, his eyes still in shock from what had happened. "What a waste, you die so easily Martine." Gaerlan turned around and watched his elemantals \ destroy Rithwic.

"No no no!" giggled Martine as his body arose and reformed. "I am Martine, I don't die," he said in a high screeching voice. Gaerlan turned around, and a small smile appeared.

"Good, I was hoping you didn't die so easily, I wanted to show you how much pain I can give you Martine," said Gaerlan.

"Pain...Pain...Pain," he said and twitched. "I am pain, I am Virindi, I am Isparian, I am ETERNAL," he giggled and formed electricity around him. Gaerlan erupted a spell of protection around him as Martine's spell hit him in full force. "Ooh stopped it you did, I...I..." he twitched and his eyes flashed in anger. "No YOU WILL NOT!!!" he screamed and released another volley of energy at Gaerlan, who deflected it and unleashed magic of his own upon Martine. They battled over Rithwic, spells flying all over.

------

The lone man entered the the castle and looked at the large Life Tree. He walked up, holding a small black crystal, red swirls circling in it. As he got closer he saw Asheron, leaning against a wall. He continued towards the Life Tree. Asheron looked up and his eyes broke into terror.

"You will stop!" his voice screamed into the man's head, but he continued. His Master told him, he must not stop. Asheron slowly started to move toward the man, mumbling what he could muster in his spells. A small bolt of flame flew out and hit the man, who fell back, his skin charred, but continued to walk forward. "No...stop..." Asheron coughed again, falling down to his knees. "You don't realize what you're doing..." he hacked again and looked up in vain as the man walked up to the tree and placed the small black crystal into it. The tree darkened and finally went black. It rumbled, blood starting to leak from the crystalline structure of the tree. "Noo..." wheezed Asheron, he stood and stumbled forward to a device to click it. A portal opened he looked back, tears running from his eyes and he stepped through. A deep voice laughed out and the tree started to crumble and shatter around the place. The man turned and pulled out the orb his master gave him and returned.

Elysa and the mass of Isparians all stopped and fell, clutching their bodies and howling in pain. The life of Dereth became corrupted and Lifestones around the lands started to explode in the backlash of energy. Gaerlan felt the backlash of energy and howled in pleasure and continued his assault on Martine in renewed vigor, unleashing a fury of spells. Martine countered as many as he could but too many started to ravage him, his body was starting to fail him. Gaerlan stopped, and unleashed a spell he never seen before. The area became covered in prismatic colors and he felt a strange energy surround him, then a final wave of spells landed on him, crumpling him to the ground, not stirring. Gaerlan howled in victory again and stumbled back into a wall, breathing hard.

"Finally, I end your miserable existence you pathetic creature," said Gaerlan in short breaths. He saw his Slave appear in front of him and he smiled. "You did well creature. Your efforts have help destroy your own kinsmen's reign in these lands." The man stood there emotionless and watched his master.

"No no no no, I am one, No we will not die!" screamed Martine as he arose from the ground, his body reshaping, strange energies swirling around him. Gaerlan stood in amazement, he couldn't believe that Martine stood before him. "I am Singularity....I am Quiddity...I AM MARTINE!!!" he screeched out. Several boulders and trees around him exploded at the rage he produced. "You do not know what the Virindi are, Gaerlan, we are not of your world, we are not of your energy. We are one, we are Martine..." he giggled and twitched. Gaerlan shook and quickly opened a portal and he and his slave vanished. "NOOOOOO," screamed Martine in the millions of voices of the Virindi, causing a large explosion to happen in Rithwic. They say they saw the bright flash as far as Shoushi.

Elysa and the rest slowly stood and felt the protection they so took for granted gone finally. Her fellow Isparians started to freak out and shake over the loss of their long and granted protection of the Lifestones. She saw the fear and confusion in all their eyes and decided there what must be done.

"My People!" she yelled. "My Fellow Brother and Sister Isparians!" she yelled again. The mass started to slowly look at her and listen. "We have lost the power we once took for granted for so long. The magics Asheron gave us, so we no longer feared death." Many of them mumbled in agreement and fear. "But we face a danger that will wipe us out of the very lands we call home. That will end us completely!" she yelled over the masses. "We can cower in fear if you like or we can take back our lands, our homes, our lives!" The crowd slowly stirred in agreement. She turned and faced Rithwic and spoke one last time. "I for one will gladly die for you all, to ensure our safety. Will you die for each other, for yourselves?" She then started running to Rithwic. The people milled around starting to agree and slowly the large mass of Isparians moved forward, followed by yells of victory and curses of Gaerlan.

Martine looked around at the crater he caused, the very landscape disintegrated around him, the voices he heard them all, he felt them all. It was time, time to show Dereth the Dominion Power of the Virinidi, that Martine held. He will show them he can save them, he will save them all he thought and disappeared. Elysa and the large masses of Isparians reached what was left of Rithwic. They all stood at the crater edges and looked around and the large barren land around it. Elysa couldn't believe what she saw, her fellow Isparians were shocked in amazement. She then heard a sound of energy next to her and Asheron stumbled out as she caught him again.

"I am sorry Elysa, I couldn't stop it," he said in sorrow.

"Don't be Asheron, we have always depended on you to save us, to guard us. We always took it for granted," she said, hold her tears back. "It is time we stood on our own feet and destroyed that madman. Asheron sighed and shook his head.

"Then here it ends Elysa, your people either stand here and fight for your lands or die trying. We Empyreans are no longer the lords of these lands Elysa," he said. "These are your lands now, it's time," he nodded solemnly. "I shall offer the last of my energies to make sure you win." He then unleashed a spell and around them tents and campfires emerged. "It's time to plan Elysa, its time for the new evolution of Dereth."

------

Gaerlan cursed at himself. How could these pathetic creatures still be alive. How could Martine survive the very spell that stripped life and protection from the lands. He paced back and forth cursing and screaming. He then stopped and looked at his slave. "Fine, these pathetic creatures want a war. Then I shall give them one that will end everything!" he screamed. "I will give them the very thing that has secretly bred fear in them, the very thing that ended my people!!" he said in a mad rage. He turned and left to muster his forces and gather the final act of hate.

Elysa sat in council with many vaunted warriors of the lands, listening to many ideas from them and Asheron. The Arcanum would offer everything they learned from Nuhmudira. The Guilds of the Lands offered her people, arms, and resources for the war. Asheron promised a few surprises as well. She smiled, it amazed her the tenacity her people could bring about. She continued into the night and listened to every detail she could, until she couldn't think anymore. They all called it a night and gathered for their sleep.

In the early morning, a lone howl of a wolf was heard and the Order of Dereth awoke and stirred around, gathering what was needed. Asheron placed as many wards and protections over the area as he could. Elysa over watched the construction of the needed equipment and went over possible battle plans with many. As the day started to turn to dusk, several watchman started shouting.

"Elysa!! Queen Elysa!!" one yelled. She turned and looked at him. "In the distance my queen, Virindi! Tuskers!! MINIONS!!" he yelled. Her face paled, she went and looked, thousands of creatures could be seen slowly moving towards them. Tuskers and Virindi of all types. Minions shambled around and Simulacrums moved around the masses. She sighed, she didn't want deal with Martine yet.

"Hello my pretty Elysa," said a chattering voice behind her. She turned around and saw Martine behind her as she grabbed for her bow. "No No...heehee, no time for foreplay my pretty Elysa," he giggled. "They follow me," he pointed to the large army, its masses stopped near the encampment of the Isparians. Many of the Isparians looked around, ready to fight. "My kind chose to fight...not because we love you pathetic meatbags," he hissed. "These lands are our lands now too Elysa. If you choose to hinder us, I will send my Dominion upon your pathetic Order," he giggled.

"Martine..." said Asheron, his voice trailing off.

"Old Old Fool, Dead Fool," said Martine in a controlled voice of calm. "I will deal with you one of these days Old Man, now I wish to taste the blood of your fellow Empyreans before you," he said. Asheron nodded and took Elsya and the rest of the Isparians back to their camp. Many of them were very uneasily watching their enemies so close to them.

"Elysa, I suggest letting Martine do as he pleases right now. Gaerlan is his target of anger right now and I feel it's best to keep it as that for now," Asheron said. She nodded and told her council members, who then told the rest of the encampment to keep away from them and not to start any fights with Martine's army. The night started to slowly come, and Elysa looked around and saw strange ripples of light appearing around them.

"Ash, what are those?" she asked.

He looked around and looked at her. "The portal space magic is becoming unstable, Gaerlan is doing something, redirecting portals I feel." In that instance a flash of light appeared and a woman fell out. She laid there, twitching and talking to herself. Elysa looked closer and recognized the woman.

"That's Huntress Lilithia!" she exclaimed. "She was last seen trapped by the Virindi." She looked up, and twitched again and tried to stand.

"They hold me, Me, how could they hold me!" Lilithia said in rage, then she recoiled in pain. "Yes yes I will listen." Asheron came over to her, and started to speak soothing words, casting incantations. She screamed loudly in pure rage and pain. Martine then showed next to them and giggled.

"Oooh the lovely lovely scream, more please, so beautiful that was," he said, his voice changing in various pitches of volume. Asheron's spells finally broke through and freed Lilithia of her binds. She stood and looked around and saw Martine, and screaming in rage again she ran forward, grabbing a spear from a nearby rack and swinging it widely at him. Martine giggled and waved his hand and she flew back, the spear shattering in pieces.

"Lilithia, please stop," said Elysa. "Too much has happened, we need to be united here. We..." she said, then was cut off by Lilithia.

"I will not stop, he controlled me, he held me against my will, tortured me. The mouthless ones floating around, hurt me!!" she screeched. "I hate him, I don't care what you say, I will kill you Martine." She then turned around and grabbed a bow and started to leave. "Mark my words Martine, I will hunt you down, I will make you wish you never lived."

"Lilithia, please...we could use your..." said Elysa, again cut again by Lilithia.

"You are not my Queen Elysa and as far I'm concerned you can be Miss Queen Bitch of Nothing." She turned and disappeared into the night. Martine giggled and faded away back to his encampment. Elsya wandered back to hers. Asheron stood there, watching the ripples in portal space and recalled some of it looking vaguely familiar.

------

As the lights of dawn emitted outward, several guards started raising the alarm around the Isparian Encampment, which caused the Dominion Encampment to get riled up, thinking they were attacking them. Elsya and Martine calmed their troops down and one men pointed out over the crater ridge.

"Gaerlan," whispered Elysa. He stood upon an Obsidian Throne and looked over the large crater and smiled.

"It's time Elysa, we fight now for Dereth or we die trying," said Asheron. He summoned mages from himself and the ground around him erupted and reshaped. four Diamond Lords and eight Diamond Golems stood around Elysa and Asheron. Elysa was amazed that Asheron was able to summon them. As she looked at him, she noticed a lot of his fatigue was gone and his eyes blazed with anticipation.

"Is that best you can do Asheron?" yelled Gaerlan across the crater. He waved his hand and around him four Crystal Lords and their Minions emerged from the ground, followed by hundreds of various golems. "It's time Asheron, it's time we ended this finally!" he screamed in rage.

Elysa looked back over her encampment. "My people, we fight now or we lay down and die for him. She yelled and all Isparians cheered in unison. Martine and the Dominion watched over it all, not understanding all this hoopla. He looked over his army as the tuskers moved around, waiting to smash what they could for their masters. The virindi moved around ordering their troops to get ready to fight as one.

Then the battle started. No one really remembered who ran down the crater first or who flung the first spell or shot the first arrow. But the fight started. Isparian and Virindi fought side by side against the hoards of golems and elementals. People screamed in pain and death. Tuskers and Isparians fell side by side, attacking everything that moved. Spells of the great mages flung overhead, destroying what they could. The onslaught of elementals and golems never seemed to stop. Bodies laid everywhere.

"Elysa, we are taking heavy casualties. The Arcanum is ready to let loose their attack force, we need them," yelled one of the Council members. She nodded and he ran over and told the Agents. They pulled and smashed open the large crates that were brought in and out from them. The Bronze Statues of each town shambled down into the fray. The Agents and Tinkerers started hooting and hollering at their work, as the statues waded into the fight, smashing golems aside.

Gaerlan seems angry over this, and ordered his Crystal Lords into the fight. Many Isparian fell back in fear seeing the huge Golems and their Minions wade into the battle, decimating everything they saw. Two of the statues fell to scraps of bronze and Asheron nodded and his Diamond Lords and Golems entered the fight. Hours the fight had lasted, and people started to become exhausted, even the Virindi seemed disarrayed.

"Elysa, we need a moral boost, we're losing too much morale and the death toll on our side is rising quickly," said a council member. She nodded and looking right at Martine and Asheron, put her helmet on and grabbed her bow.

"We all don't live forever, now do we," she said and waded down into the fight, going after one of the Crystal Lords. Martine screeched in laughter and flew down there after her, giggling insanely as she and he took turns attacking and destroying one of the Crystal Lords. A huge roar of victory came from the Isparian and they renewed their efforts with more vigor than before. Gaerlan's eyes grew in anger, he mumbled a spell and huge portal opened up towards the bottom. A familiar chatter came from it, soon funneling out of it. Olthoi of various types entered into the fight, attacking anything that moved. Eviserators, Brood Nobles, and everything down to lowly nymphs kept funneling out.

Elysa hollered back to Asheron. "What hell is he thinking!?!" She turned and shot an Eviserator through the eye, watching it die.

Asheron counldn't understand it either. "He somehow managed to open a portal to Marae Lassel and funnel the Othoi out into this fight!" he yelled back.

"I don't know how long we can keep this up, Ash!!" she screamed back, taking down a Brood Noble. "We're already heavily undermanned now, even Martine's army is failing some."

"Bah, I will kill them all!!" screamed Martine as he waded into the mass of Olthoi unleashing furies of spells and physical blows.

"You cant keep up with them Martine, too many are coming out, they're not stopping!" she screamed back. It was then that in the distance a sound of a horn could be heard and the sounds of hundreds of feet stomping on the ground. A war chant could be heard over the fight, many Isparians looked over their shoulders and saw Lugians, hundreds of Lugians fully armed for war, coming over the hills. Elysa looked up and ran back up to Asheron and looked at the Army of Lugians coming towards the fight. "What? Lugian, Why?? We don't need this now!!" she screamed. Asheron looked at her and smiled.

"Don't worry Ely, I told you I had a few surprises," he said. He turned around and spoke perfect Lugian to the head commander as he came forward. He nodded and looked at Elysa and bowed and spoke in Isparian.

"I am Aurutis, Leader of the Lugian Kingdom of Linvak Tukal," he said, his voice deep and gruff. "I and my kinsmen are here to save the very lands we also dwell in." He turned around and hollered something and his army converged into the crater, yelling Lugian warcrys and helping the rest to keep the swarm of Olthoi and Elementals back. Many of the Isparians felt irony to be standing side by the side of the very race they had spent time fighting against. Soon in the distance drums could be heard and growls of many Tumeroks. Elysa looked saw large group of Auns making their way towards the battle. She then looked at Asheron. He just smiled and shrugged, she almost laughed. The Lead Aun came forward to her.

"I am Aun Hareltah, Chieftain of the Aun. I and my Tribe have come to save our lands as well." With that he turned and many of the tumeroks started to play their drums in a rhythm and the Olthoi in the crater started to screech in terror and slowly tried to go back in the portal. A group of Aun Warriors ran down as well to help aid the fight.

Gaerlan screamed in anger. "It's time to end this. If my people cannot have their lands back, then no one shall!!!" he screamed. Large fiery bolts of flame erupted from sky and started to fill the crater with screams of death and destruction. The armies started to run out of it, to the safety of the edges, avoiding the rain of flames. "This will end now Asheron, I shall bring the Hopeslayer back, he shall end it all!!" he screamed again and started his ritual spell.

"No Gaerlan, you don't know what your doing!!" screamed Asheron back. Before anyone could react, portal space around them warped and portals started to open around them. Red eyes peered out from them, and stepping out of the portals the Shadows appeared, led by Isen Dule himself. He looked around, even Gaerlan was shocked in amazement, then he spoke.

"See, even the vaunted children of the Hopeslayer come to aid me against you!!" he screamed and continued the ritual. The armies looked down at the shadows, already beaten and bruised, many lay dead or dying. They grabbed what strength they could and readied one last charge. Isen Dule raised his hand, holding a large Onyx Blade dripping bluish acid, then turned around to Gaerlan and aim it at the Altar he was at. The Shadows turned around and converged upon the remaining Olthoi and Elementals, destroying all they saw and worked their way up to Gaerlan.

"No No!!" he screamed. "What are you doing, You forsake your own lord!!!" he screamed. Isen Dule reached the Altar, raised his blade and brought it down, destroying the Altar, causing a backlash of energy which knocked Gaerlan off his feet. Gaerlan looked up and Isen Dule spoke in a hollow voice.

"We have no Lord." He then stepped back and the shadows slowly started to return to their portals. He looked up to Martine and Elsya and Asheron and said his final words before he left.

"I have seen the prophecies Asheron, I know what will come, I know what will need to be done in the end," he spoke in his hollow voice. "From the ashes to come three shall rule." He then disappeared into the portal. Gaerlan cursed and stood up and looked across the battlefield.

"Asheron, if I will die, then I will die watching this world be consumed!!" he screamed and started to expend large amounts of energies summoning a portal. Asheron felt the familiarity of it and his eyes got wide.

"No Gaerlan, what have you done!" he screamed. Gaerlan opened a portal, the size of which no one has ever seen. Through it, chittering noise could be heard, then the screech of even larger one. The sight of millions of eyes of the Olthoi could be seen, with a pair that was far larger then any have seen.

"Asheron, what...what is he doing!!" yelled Elysa.

"He has opened a portal to Olthoi Homeworld, Elysa. To The Great Queen herself." She turned and looked, watching all hope in her peoples eyes fade. The man blinked and looked around, he no longer felt the haze. He remembered everything that happened, all the pain, all the death. He turned and looked at Gaerlan and then to his sword hilt and looked over to brave people that gave their lives to save their lands and people. He then whispered.

"I love you Ary," and stepped behind Gaerlan and shoved his Isparian Sword into the back of Gaerlan, who screamed in pain, feeling the blade pierce through his chest. Rex used his vaunted strength and lifted up Gaerlan and walked into the portal, the magic backlash causing the portal to collapse. He turned and looked out and saw them screaming to get out. He just tossed his sword out and yelled one last thing. "I must pay for my sins, I must atone, tell Ary I am sorry." Tears rolled down his eyes and the portal collapsed as he felt the swarm of Olthoi close around him.

Elysa screamed in futile effort, watching the lone man save his people and his lands from the chaos that was brought. She fell to her knees and wept over the death of the many. Asheron held her close and let her cry, let her finally cry.

------

The people of the lands slowly rebuilt Rithwic, with Asheron's and Martine's magics restored. Things slowly became as they were, the inner wars between guilds, the fights with Virindi and Lugians started anew. Elysa was heralded as greatest savior of Dereth, though she kept refusing the honor. She stood alone at her castle and watched the stars, wondering what would happen now. Asheron was slowly rebuilding the Lifestones again. People started to feel that same attitude again, she feared her people may not have fully learned and perhaps another epic tragedy would happen agian. She sighed and returned to her chambers, she needed rest and a lot of it.

------

Martine sat alone in his chambers, when he heard a noise of several of his guards being dispatched. He looked up and saw Lilithia enter his chambers. He saw her rage and hate for him as she picked up her spear and aimed it for his chest. He opened his arms and welcomed the change to finally stop being. She stabbed his chest with all her might, letting all her rage flow out into the strike. Martine dropped to his knees, then fell back against his throne and looked and smiled at her. In that instant she felt all his pain, his sorrow, and she understood why. She pulled the spear out and dropped down and held Martine and whispered into his ears and cried. She understood the pain and rage they shared. Martine's wound healed and he laid there in her arms.

"I told you all he needed to do is remember what love was again." Hibdin Velos remarked as he looked in.

"No all he needed was a woman that had as much rage as him to slap him back to some senses," said Ambrosia Rose with a slight smile. Hibdin let out a small laugh and they shut the doors to give them their quiet time.

------

Nuhmudira stood around a small black altar deep in swamps of the direlands. Several Sclavi hissed a chant as she also chanted. She would show the world the pain she had felt, she would reward those that had tried to save her. She felt the energies surround her, she heard the black voice of, she heard it say.......

The end.