Snippet #1489439

North-Ridge

His thoughts coming clearer now, Wrath rubbed the his temples and tried to soothe his pulsing brain. Neira's mental intrusion left something behind that made the young halfbreed's teeth ache. With a wary look, he took the nightmarian's measure. "What are you? On your dossier, it said 'monk' as your fighting style...I have worked with a couple pugilists. They don't mind-fuck people." his anger quickly waned in the realization that sounds were eminating from all around the outside of the tent. Wrath loosed a muttered curse and moved up and past Neira to begin donning his equipment. The silence between them strectched on for some time. Just before Wrath pulled up the tent flap to leave, he cast a sidelong glance at Neira. "I...do not feel..." he stuggled to verbalize his feelings. "I don't hear any call...at least, not in the way you are thinking. What I feel is you. Still. I shall consider your offer. Dismissed."

---

"A shame indeed." Sid mulled that over shortly before smirking and patting Alistair's shoulder. "But maybe it's for the greater good. I mean, if we do survive the whole 'dragon' thing, the world will be a more unified place having faced such adversity together. Or something." the halfling hopped off of her seat and turned back to pat Alistair again. She smiled brightly, looking towards the gray skies and allowing raindrops to fall on her face. "I thank you, my feathered friend. I needed that! Expect some covering fire tommorow!" she might've said more but a magically amplified voice echoed across the field.

"Good morning. This is your general speaking. Those of you who do not have hauling, packing or preparatory duties are to refrain from any strenuous activities for the day. We need you well rested for tommorow's march. That is all."

---

The next day, Sunrise

Most of the army turned in early that night, and were rewarded for their efforts the next morning. Daybreak came quickly and the camp was already alive with the familiar drone of clanging metal and shouted orders. The tents were all but empty at this point, the majority of the soldiers lined up in a great mass of armored men and women. The army was slowly funneling into the portal building from which the fortieth legion had arrived barely two-weeks ago. It was here that Wrath took stock of his units. Five commanders stood before him, plus Sid.

"Sound off. Commander Wrynne, leader of the tenth legion." a petite lamia with a bow as large as she was tall strapped to her back saluted. "Commander Genki, of the seventh legion." an unusually large orc encase in black plate came to attention. "Commanders Hellione and Charis, of the twenty-fifth legion." two nightmarians, one beetle and the other moth raised their hands. As Hellione was male and heavily armored with natural plating, a hulk of a man, Charis was female, delicate and beautiful with her pearl-colored wings. "Horus, leader of the artemis legion." the last commander was a harpy whose skin was inked in a maze of crimson tattoos that danced with magical light. "Good. We are all here. Report to your sections of the army and await further orders. I will begin the march through the portal."

The commanders dispersed and made their way to their respective forces. Wrath turned to Sid and smiled. The halfling, her great crossbow strapped to her back, couldn't contain a smirk. "You first, oh general."

Wrath called for order and waved for the first rank--the Black Guard--to follow him through the portal. The platform on which he stood began to glow with eldritch radiance as the spell within activated. Wrath took a step forward and began the sojourn that would take them to the heart of the dragon's territory.

---

Terra, The Akaldai Pass

His first footfall came down with an oddly dry crunch. Wrath inhaled deeply, squeezing his eyes shut for a few moments to allow the nausea of translocation to pass. Upon opening them, he was met with a cloudless blue sky and a wide valley surrounded by cliff faces. Twenty miles down the green of a field could be seen at the end of the pass. Sid came through next, stumbling a few feet behind him and righting herself before--or so she thought--Wrath noticed. Over the next few minutes the rest of the Black Guard, their animated golems and the first battle carts arrived. The rest of the army slowly began trickling through the magical gate and the march got under way. Within hours they would be upon the cultists...

"Here, the dragons began anew their blight upon Norr. Here, begins their extinction."