\u201cYou evade my questions, Sprite,\u201d growled Intrag once everyone was in a safe place. \u201cI routed the Gamfinar jungle, burned this particular Fae hive, yet you aid me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m simply doing our Lord\u2019s bidding,\u201d replied Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour Majesty, forgive any impudence,\u201d urged Torsko, \u201cbut I must beg you to heed my advice; do NOT trust her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you can explain why, I WILL forgive your impudence,\u201d replied Intrag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI made the mistake of trusting her,\u201d answered Torsko, \u201cand she practically sold me out to Realmfleet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018Realmfleet!\u2019\u201d growled Intrag. \u201cHow is it that the Realms put aside their differences?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow much do you remember before you died?\u201d asked Torsko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll I can remember,\u201d answered Intrag, \u201cis that stupid so-called \u2018message\u2019 from the Divine Ones and knowing it to be a trick from one of the other Realms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou publicly challenged the message\u2019s authenticity,\u201d explained Torsko, recalling history. \u201cThe Divine Ones intervened and the High Orc Chieftain, Juggshu, killed you. That\u2019s when your wife took command of the Under-realm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJuggshu killed me?!\u201d snarled Intrag. \u201cAfter all I did to make all of the Orc breeds powerful?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour wife tried everything to bring you back,\u201d continued Torsko, \u201ceven sacrificing Juggshu for a ritual, but she still failed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy ancestors were once assassins,\u201d interjected Dr. Borg. \u201cYour son hired one of my ancestors out to kill your wife. After the assassin completed his work and was paid, your son claimed the throne.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour ancestor killed my wife?!\u201d roared Intrag. \u201cIf this is true, you will be the one to pay their debt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI invite you to make me!\u201d challenged Dr. Borg as the two charged at each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cENOUGH!\u201d boomed a voice. A huge cloud of black mist exploded into being, knocking everyone off their feet. As they picked themselves up, the cloud parted to reveal the upper torso of a man clothed in black. He had the palest of skin and his eyes were nothing more than black orbs with mist constantly seeping out of them. He wore a hat that was simplistic in its design. Everyone stopped fighting and knelt in the man\u2019s presence. \u201cDr. Cytanek Yavenag Borg is under my protection, Intrag Emboramii,\u201d rumbled the man, \u201cas are you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLord Oyed,\u201d greeted Intrag. \u201cForgive my impudence, Oh Titan and Father of Gods! I was unaware of the Sprite\u2019s involvement in your plans!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI shall overlook this for now,\u201d answered the man, Oyed the Destroyer. \u201cI must say, after seeing the Realms\u2019 current state, I\u2019m still displeased with how my children do not truly repair them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo you intend to start the Final War?\u201d asked Intrag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot yet,\u201d corrected Oyed. \u201cDr. Borg has not yet built our armies up to do so. The Splitters remain a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSplitters, Oh Terrible Oyed?\u201d quizzed Intrag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose who\u2019ve abandoned the Divine Ones and think as you do,\u201d explained Dr. Borg. \u201cThey\u2019re divided by Realm and are determined to claim their Realm\u2019s \u2018supremacy\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever,\u201d remarked Oyed, \u201cthey declared you weak early in their founding, Intrag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…They WHAT?!\u201d roared Intrag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou see the dilemma,\u201d observed Oyed. \u201cI need them gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy Lord, forgive me,\u201d called Intrag, \u201cbut how will fighting your battles benefit me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI offer a greater empire in the Final Age of Unity,\u201d promised Oyed. \u201cYou will live eternally and be the undisputed ruler of the Under-realm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…You can make me an immortal king?\u201d asked Intrag. Tormo gave a sideways glance to Intrag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is an immense task,\u201d replied Oyed, \u201cone where I cannot afford to be distracted. That\u2019s why I need you. The Splitters must be broken.\u201d He turned to everyone. \u201cYou must each gather those within the Splitters that do not fully agree with the organizations\u2019 goals and bring them to our side,\u201d he commanded. \u201cCan you try this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do more than try!\u201d declared Intrag. \u201cI\u2019ll succeed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSplendid,\u201d praised Oyed. \u201cIn the meantime, I must make my presence known. A fleet of ships is coming and I must put them in their place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaptain on the bridge!\u201d called Malak as Arsha entered the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs you were,\u201d directed Arsha as she sat in the Captain\u2019s chair. \u201cShalvey, open a channel to the fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChannel open, Captain,\u201d reported Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll ships, report status,\u201d Arsha called over the channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRegatim<\/em>, standing by,\u201d replied the Regatim<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a male Naga named Yantar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMorkal<\/em>, standing by,\u201d called the Morkal<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a female Troll name Gekthoo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBolmola<\/em>, standing by,\u201d reported the Bomola<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a female Zephyr named Shumfam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHammer of Tongu<\/em>, standing by,\u201d answered the Hammer of Tongu<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a male Sprite named Ilmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTwelegar<\/em>, standing by,\u201d relayed the Twelegar<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a male Orc named Jonshu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBelsnath<\/em>, standing by,\u201d called the Belsnath<\/em>\u2019s Captain, an Alraune named Orchid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRealmtrail<\/em>, standing by,\u201d reported the Realmtrail<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a male Centaur named Lentha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cForge<\/em>, standing by,\u201d answered Roozay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSkyshell<\/em>, standing by,\u201d called the Skyshell<\/em>\u2019s Captain, Marianes\u2019 sister, Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDrelda<\/em>, standing by,\u201d finished the Drelda<\/em>\u2019s Captain, a male Elf\/Cecaelia Blender named Antorma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs this all?!\u201d protested Roozay. \u201c11 ships?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomehow, Realmfleet felt it couldn\u2019t afford more,\u201d muttered Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was there when the order came down,\u201d replied Lentha. \u201cThe only reason we have 11 ships is because we\u2019re getting help from the Divine Ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo a Wraith is so dangerous,\u201d remarked Arsha, \u201cit needs divine attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvidently, yes,\u201d answered Lentha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, which Ones are coming?\u201d asked Orchid. Five pillars of red mist, five of yellow, and one of black appearing on the Endeavor<\/em>\u2019s bridge answered her question. \u201cAll five of the Fire and Lightning Ones and one of the Ending Ones?\u201d The mist dissipated to reveal a male Dwarf in red, Mordek, a male Elf in red, Enfor, a male Human in red, Glaktem, a male Centaur in red, Shenfia, a male Kitsune in red, Pecktar, a Dryad in yellow, Morkal, a male Cecaelia in yellow, Entralg, a female Elf in yellow, Zalkii, a male Minotaur in yellow, Oldramor, a female Centaur in yellow, Foltrim, and a female Fairy in black, Falheem. Everyone knelt in their presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have no time to stand on ceremony,\u201d called Entralg. \u201cWe have a dark matter to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Captains and Divine Ones assembled in the Endeavor<\/em>\u2019s conference room. A display of the island near the eastern edge of the Over-realm\u2019s northern continent was projected on the table. \u201cSo, what intel do we have?\u201d asked Arsha. Enfor stepped forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Borg\u2019s small army has set up shop in a cathedral dedicated to Oyed on the island,\u201d he began. \u201cThey\u2019ve set up a supply chain for mana extraction from the Gamfinar jungle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s a pretty risky move,\u201d remarked Ilmar. \u201cThey need vessels to cross the water between the island and the continent. Skyships are too exposed and boats will be easily bombarded from the air.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot to mention the dangers inside the jungle,\u201d rumbled Gekthoo. \u201cCarnivorous plants that would eat a person of any size, bears that will only gore you then bury you to eat later, and let\u2019s not forget that Intrag brought a horde of Giant Spiders to colonize the jungle during the War of the Realms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd the Spiders are Sentina Spiders,\u201d shuddered Lentha. \u201cIf Intrag\u2019s involved, he\u2019ll definitely get them to his side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Spiders\u2019 ancestors, yes,\u201d countered Roozay. \u201cBut we don\u2019t know if the modern Giant Spiders would listen to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBesides, ghosts of all types can\u2019t really manifest outside the Under-ream,\u201d supplied Jonshu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the ghost is using Oyed\u2019s power, it can,\u201d corrected Mordek. \u201cIf the Spiders see him, they\u2019ll rally to him. Their ancestors deified him and made a whole religion around his return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn appearance from him of any kind will inspire the Spiders to obey him,\u201d supplied Entralg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHas he attempted a dialogue with them?\u201d asked Yantar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThankfully, he has not,\u201d answered Mordek, \u201cand he won\u2019t be able to do so before the fleet gets to the island.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo we need to keep him occupied,\u201d mused Orchid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHim AND Oyed,\u201d explained Enfor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour father\u2019s manifested?!\u201d gulped Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d replied Enfor. \u201cAs long as a worshipper of his makes contact, he can freely escape his prison from the After-realm\u2019s Depths. That is why we\u2019re going with you on this mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll occupy Oyed and Intrag while the fleet destroys the cathedral,\u201d declared Pecktar. \u201cWith any luck, Oyed will be banished back to the After-realm and Intrag\u2019s soul will finally fade into nothingness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cathedral\u2019s sure to have ground forces,\u201d remarked Shumfam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen we need to use drone fighters to occupy the enemy,\u201d called Arsha, \u201cwhile our own ground forces destroy the cathedral from within.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf they get pinned down in there,\u201d muttered Orchid, \u201cthere\u2019s no way out for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo ensure the Realms\u2019 survival and to make sure the Final War does not start so soon,\u201d remarked Mordek, \u201cwe must all be willing to sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019M the Black Divine One here,\u201d interjected Falheem. \u201cI\u2019M supposed to say that when I need to. It\u2019s been 5,000 years too long since your grim and gritty makeover, droning on about sacrifice. Unlike the mortals in this fleet, we don\u2019t exactly have families to lose if we fail.\u201d Mordek\u2019s face assumed a scowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know loss, Falheem,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLord Mordek\u2019s right, Lady Falheem,\u201d called Arsha. \u201cwe can\u2019t afford to go through the Final War. We need to strike now before the Realms fall to Oyed\u2019s design.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over in the jungle, an Elf woman ran through the trees, stopping to examine a plant that looked sickly. \u201cThat\u2019s no good!\u201d she griped. She ran through the trees again and found mushrooms that were liquifying. \u201cAnother Tomnar mushroom patch gone!\u201d she grumbled. Just then, a bird flew by and tweeted something at her. It took a bit of her hair in its feet and pulled it in one direction. \u201cEasy! Let go!\u201d she snapped at the bird. She followed it to a clearing where a small monkey coughed. \u201cJohgo!\u201d she yelped as she dashed towards the monkey. The monkey opened his eyes and held his hand to the Elf\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorsha,\u201d he coughed. \u201cI don\u2019t…I don\u2019t think…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t talk!\u201d directed the Elf, Sorsha. \u201cI\u2019ll get you home!\u201d She scooped the monkey, Johgo, into her arms and dashed towards a small sled. She placed him in a small basket, then grabbed the handlebars and channeled magic into the sled, making it propel itself through the jungle to a small cottage. She stopped the sled, then brought Johgo inside. A bunch of birds clustered around Johgo as Sorsha gathered healing materials. \u201cHEY! CLEAR OFF! GIVE THE POOR GUY SOME AIR!\u201d she shouted. The birds scattered and Sorsha got to work brewing up potions. She checked over her notes repeatedly after several failed attempts. When she made a glowing, green potion, she held the flask up to her face. \u201cIf this doesn\u2019t work, nothing will,\u201d she muttered grimly. She held the flask\u2019s opening to Johgo\u2019s mouth and tipped it so the contents came out slowly. The monkey\u2019s eyes then went wide and he shoved the flask aside before throwing up. The bile took a dark purple color as it landed on Sorsha\u2019s floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was disgusting!\u201d gagged Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you complaining about?\u201d grumbled Sorsha as she sighed in relief. \u201cYou\u2019re alive, ain\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, but my throat\u2019s burning!\u201d replied Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know where the water is,\u201d answered Sorsha. Johgo clambered his way to a small water cooler and got himself a cup. He opened the tap and filled the cup, then shut the tap off and drank the water. Sorsha got out a small dome and placed it over the mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI swear,\u201d muttered Johgo, \u201call I did was eat a small apple and it blighted in my mouth and made me sick! Name me one piece of magic that does that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot any natural magic,\u201d mused Sorsha as she got a reading from the small screen on the dome. Her eyes widened in fear. \u201c…Oh my, but it IS! It\u2019s natural magic all right, but an old form of it. A dark, powerful, angry, EVIL magic.\u201d At that moment, she became aware of footsteps outside her cottage. Though the windows were shuttered, the shapes of human-sized spiders were seen scuttling around her home! \u201c…He\u2019s coming back!\u201d realized Sorsha. \u201cJohgo, when I\u2019ve made a path, you make a break for your troop!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut, what about you?!\u201d protested Johgo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve got ways of getting out of this! Now get ready to go when I say so!\u201d ordered Sorsha as she charged out of her cottage and fired concussive spells at the Giant Spiders. After a few minutes of combat, a path was cleared. \u201cGO!\u201d shouted Sorsha. Johgo scampered off at top speed and made his way to the canopy. After a few more minutes, the Giant Spiders surrounded Sorsha, daring her to make a move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLittle monkey all alone!\u201d taunted a Giant Spider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSending your kid away?!\u201d laughed another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe had a treaty!\u201d snarled Sorsha. \u201cYou would leave me and my friends alone and I wouldn\u2019t interfere in your business!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike we\u2019re going to keep a treaty with feculent monkeys,\u201d argued a third Giant Spider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpell \u2018feculent\u2019,\u201d snarked Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cF-E-C…\u201d began the second Spider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuiet!\u201d snapped the third as he smacked the second\u2019s head with his pedipalps. He turned to Sorsha. \u201cWith Intrag returning, our treaty is null and void! The Final War\u2019s coming and there ain\u2019t a thing you can do to stop it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, but I can make sure my faction wins!\u201d snarled Sorsha. The Spiders laughed at that statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have the firepower to do so!\u201d taunted the first Spider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t she?\u201d asked a voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo away, boy,\u201d hissed the first Spider, not turning around to face the voice. \u201cDon\u2019t interfere in matters that don\u2019t concern you.\u201d The voice\u2019s owner then smacked the Spider\u2019s rear, angering the Spider and making him turn around. His angry demeanor changed to a fearful one as he saw a Forest Dragon in humanoid form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho are you calling \u2018boy\u2019?\u201d snarled the Forest Dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, Jokorah\u2019s looking where you are!\u201d gulped the third Spider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou mean he\u2019s looking where I WAS!\u201d yelped the first Spider. \u201cAM-SCRAY!\u201d The Spider army ran into the jungle, nearly tripping over each other in fear. Once it was just the Forest Dragon and Sorsha, they spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNoticed anything recently?\u201d asked the Forest Dragon, Jokorah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had Johgo complain that an apple he was eating blighted in his mouth and made him sick,\u201d replied Sorsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHis whole troop managed to get the same results,\u201d revealed Jokorah. \u201cI healed them all, but couldn\u2019t find Johgo. I take it you healed him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYep,\u201d confirmed Sorsha. \u201cI also learned that the blight\u2019s evil in origin. Given what I\u2019ve heard from the Spiders, I\u2019d say it\u2019s the work of Oyed manifesting and bringing Intrag back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll do what I can to slow the spread of the blight,\u201d declared Jokorah, \u201cbut we need a large source of mana to purge it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll see what I can scrounge up,\u201d affirmed Sorsha as she dashed back into her cottage to grab her book, then dashed into the jungle to begin her search.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou evade my questions, Sprite,\u201d growled Intrag once everyone was in a safe place. \u201cI routed the Gamfinar jungle, burned this particular Fae hive, yet you aid me.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m simply doing our Lord\u2019s bidding,\u201d replied Dr. Borg. \u201cYour Majesty, forgive any impudence,\u201d urged Torsko, \u201cbut I must beg you to heed my advice; do NOT […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2713"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2738,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2713\/revisions\/2738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n