The Festival came to an end and all the royal families gathered in the stadium. Feemnaf took her place at the podium and cleared her throat. \u201cWith the day winding down, so too does the Over-union Festival,\u201d she began. \u201cI must say, this is one for the books. In all honesty, I wish I saw Uncle Yentil\u2019s ghost. Still, I\u2019m glad he\u2019s moved on and is in a better place. On top of that, Lardeth\u2019s tour of duty ended this week, so that\u2019s the entire Felompha family that proudly had their command skills tested out! But, it looks like Lar\u2019s been bitten by the travel bug and is going with his fianc\u00e9s, one of them on her tour, to go across the Realms again. To that, I say best of luck to you, my favorite cousin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou say that to every single one of your cousins!\u201d called Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t make it any less true,\u201d countered Feemnaf. \u201cNow, all that\u2019s left is to close the day out by lighting the Closing Torch and setting off the fireworks! If all the heads of the royal families may stand, please tell us your name and what kingdom you rule as you donate your mana to light that sucker!\u201d Larana was the first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Queen Larana Ignarsen and I rule the Blasarda Desert,\u201d she purred as she and her family let their mana drift to the torch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Elm Stonewood and I rule the Rooka Forest,\u201d rumbled Elm as he and his family did the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Empress Rellmeer Almaydia and I rule the Drelda Forest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Queen Glanmaj Janfo and I rule the Chromanian Sea Merfolk Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Lektem Yantoru and I rule the Coliamdii Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Queen Ulumeye Yantefa and I rule the Lunarimba Sea Merfolk Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Hekcho Tolandah and I rule the Falchineve Drider Colony.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Gekshar Stonefoot and I rule the Altiam Mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Heenda Untarfu and I rule the Ralandren Plains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Jeltam Yalunai and I rule the Regalin Sea Merfolk Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Queen Yalmu Ilmator and I rule the Calando Merfolk Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Henjar Yerumal and I rule Dwalna City.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Queen Keelma Maropwem and I rule the Sacchrinda Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am King Belnki Lorpeth and I rule Vorkath, on top of being a new daddy!\u201d Belnki showed off his new daughter. The crowd cheered as they congratulated Belnki and Balma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought Balma looked pregnant!\u201d chuckled Arsha to Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince Feemnaf\u2019s going to be spared saying all of our names,\u201d called Roomef, \u201cI am Queen Roomef Felompha and I rule Wysper City.\u201d Once all of the mana had been donated, the torch leapt into the air with the largest flame imaginable and lit the fireworks surrounding it. They sailed into the sky, whistling as they traveled, then exploded in a spectacular array of colors. Once the fireworks show ended, the royal families filed back to their ships. Arsha and her lovers led the Felomphas to the Endeavor<\/em> so Lardeth could give his goodbyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow you call us as much as you can, you hear me?!\u201d asked Olmarfa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLoud and clear, Mama,\u201d promised Lardeth. After all of his family got him in an embrace, he had to wiggle out to get some breathing room and finally say his goodbyes. \u201cI shall return!\u201d he called. Once he and his lovers got inside, the ramp closed behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on, all of you,\u201d invited Arsha. \u201cIt\u2019s time for us all to be on the bridge.\u201d They made their way to the bridge to see everyone at their station. Lardeth, Malnar, and Falnii gasped in amazement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo…pretty!\u201d breathed Falnii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s a sight, ain\u2019t she?\u201d agreed Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFeels better now that your visit IS authorized?\u201d asked Malak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…What\u2019s THAT supposed to mean?\u201d quizzed Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNothing!\u201d yelped Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRemember when I told you guys about my hairpiece and what happened while it was being drained off?\u201d reminded Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat about it?\u201d asked Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThose two knuckleheads,\u201d answered Arsha as she pointed to Foresna and Gorfanth, \u201cdecided to tour the bridge while I was napping!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoys!\u201d admonished Falnii as she, Malnar, and Lardeth glared at them with their hands on their hips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe wanted to see the bridge!\u201d wailed Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, let\u2019s not rib on them anymore,\u201d advised Arsha. \u201cShalvey, do we have a mission?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOver-splitter activity has increased by the Drelda Forest,\u201d replied Shalvey. \u201cSomething\u2019s making them desperate enough to attack any ship trying to get into it, even Fae ships. Rellmeer\u2019s requested an escort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell the Majestic<\/em>,\u201d ordered Arsha, \u201cthat we\u2019ll be happy to escort them safely to the Capital Tree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Majestic<\/em>\u2019s acknowledged the offer,\u201d reported Shalvey, \u201c…correction, they\u2019ve accepted the offer. Rellmeer wants me to extend her personal thanks to you, Captain. She\u2019s suggested that they\u2019ll go first and we bring up the rear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell her we\u2019ll be right behind her,\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cNazay, once the Majestic<\/em> is cleared for launch and is high enough in the air, follow her, nice and easy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood, Captain,\u201d replied Nazay. After the Majestic<\/em> took off, the Endeavor<\/em> followed suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What caused the Over-splitters to attack? Simple, Dr. Borg\u2019s Realm Trinity Empire. They had received word that associates of hers had left prison and were after them. An Over-splitter ship concealed itself as a Realmfleet prison ship appeared. Inside the ship\u2019s bridge were four people, three of them Arsha personally knew: Jargoon, Reb, and Melgem! The woman in the Captain\u2019s chair was a Succubus\/Zephyr Blender with no wings or tail. \u201cAaaand, we\u2019re clear!\u201d cheered Jargoon. \u201cSay goodbye to Realmfleet Max, say goodbye to security guards with personalities like broken coral, say goodbye to boring routine, and say hello to freedom!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf a sort, Jargoon,\u201d corrected the Blender woman, \u201cvictory of a sort. You work for me now, all of you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd I, for one,\u201d praised Reb, \u201cam IMMENSELY grateful for the opportunity to work with you, Remsu! Together, we can achieve EXCELLENT things! Together, we shall show those HORRID Realmfleet idiots what we can do against those VILE Splitters!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSplitters, Realmfleet,\u201d dismissed the Blender woman, Remsu, \u201cmy organization\u2019s plans reach far beyond both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, well, not to sound ungrateful,\u201d remarked Melgem, \u201cbut, for a member of a shadowy organization with such overweening ambitions, you\u2019ve picked decidedly underwhelming crewmates. I fail to see why you insisted on the likes of Hanthar staying behind, but letting the likes of Fenfir and Jargoon coming with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRemsu, you\u2019ve been hailed, Ma\u2019am,\u201d called Jargoon as he snarled at Melgem. \u201cSays he wants to talk to you privately. Patching him through now.\u201d Remsu picked up a communicator and held it to her ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell? Who is it?\u201d asked Remsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m known by many names,\u201d answered a deep, intimidating male voice. \u201cToday, however, today you can call me Death!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I think I\u2019ll stick to your real name of Oltor,\u201d muttered Remsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs you wish,\u201d chuckled the voice of the Supreme Over-splitter, Oltor. \u201cIt makes no difference, mud-blood. Your odds aren\u2019t good. Your time has come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou expect me to be surprised,\u201d mused Remsu. \u201cDid you expect me to not know about this? Word about me making it onto your hit-list, at the top, I must add, reached me while I was still in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s not trying to talk to Oltor, is she?\u201d Melgem gulped to Jargoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to listen in!\u201d hissed Jargoon. \u201cIt sounds like she IS talking to Oltor, but don\u2019t panic. He\u2019s not after us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour chances of survival are negligible,\u201d taunted Oltor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou talk about chances as if I can\u2019t control how this plays out,\u201d purred Remsu. \u201cScan this whole ship and run a life-form check against your list. You\u2019ll find that the entire crew is made up of people on your list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you proposing?\u201d asked Oltor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn exchange,\u201d answered Remsu. \u201cTheir lives for mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe b***h\u2019s selling us out!\u201d hissed Jargoon to Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDisengage, now!\u201d Melgem hissed back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?! Why?!\u201d demanded Jargoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause Reb and I know from personal experience,\u201d answered Melgem, \u201cthat the Splitter Branches DON\u2019T negotiate and this isn\u2019t a good time to eavesdrop!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo deal,\u201d Oltor scoffed to Remsu. \u201cI work my way through the list in order, no deviations. Rest assured, I\u2019ll hunt down the others in due course, but, today, mud-blood, is all about you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile I can\u2019t say that response was unexpected, that\u2019s still incredibly inefficient,\u201d sighed Remsu. \u201cThe amount of wasted effort involved is…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSssshhh, now it\u2019s MY turn to talk and your turn to…\u201d Remsu wasn\u2019t having it as she crushed the communicator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe line\u2019s dead,\u201d remarked a scarred, white-furred Inu, Oltor, \u201cbut Remsu isn\u2019t. Could it be she knew what I was trying to…?\u201d His musing was interrupted as the ship rocked. \u201cReport!\u201d he barked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Borg\u2019s ship just decloaked and fired!\u201d reported his Pixie First Officer. \u201cOur ship\u2019s about to blow! The engine core can\u2019t be ejected!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cABANDON SHIP!\u201d ordered Oltor. \u201cALL HANDS, ABANDON…!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oltor\u2019s ship exploded before any escape pods could be launched. Meanwhile, the Scorpion<\/em> moved towards the prison ship. \u201cReb!\u201d called Melgem. \u201cThe Scorpion<\/em>\u2019s coming at us at attack speed! We\u2019ve got to get out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJargoon, where\u2019s the escape pod?\u201d asked Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese kinds of ships don\u2019t HAVE escape pods!\u201d answered Jargoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you have any suggestions?\u201d quizzed Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suggest that we use a teleportation spell,\u201d Jargoon went on, \u201cand get to the ground!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know a good spot!\u201d called Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen get us there,\u201d ordered Reb. As the three vanished in one teleport spell, Remsu was caught up in another as the Scorpion<\/em> prepared its weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remsu ended up on the Scorpion<\/em>\u2019s bridge next to Dr. Borg. A Merman and a male Cecaelia stood by her as well. Yulduk and Jansha were at their stations and Scorpo was in the First Officer\u2019s seat. Dr. Borg keyed in a command and the Captain\u2019s chair widened to allow for four people to sit in it. The Merman, Cecaelia, and Remsu sat next to Dr. Borg with the two ladies in the middle of the men. \u201cMuch better,\u201d purred Remsu. \u201cI see that Shefarn and Tensam evaded capture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlways, my lovely, blended bride,\u201d replied the Cecaelia, Tensam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, we\u2019ve missed you,\u201d sighed the Merman, Shefarn, as he pulled Remsu into an embrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, Cy,\u201d mused Tensam, \u201cwhen do we strike? I wish to see the Eternal Age of Unity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHave patience, Tenny,\u201d replied Dr. Borg as she took one of his tentacles and placed in her lap, giving him a sign to coil her in it. \u201cWe shall start when our armies are built up. When the time is right, we shall take our rightful place as rulers of the Realms, the eternal rule of Cytanek, Remsu, Tensam, and Shefarn Borg!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Festival came to an end and all the royal families gathered in the stadium. Feemnaf took her place at the podium and cleared her throat. \u201cWith the day winding down, so too does the Over-union Festival,\u201d she began. \u201cI must say, this is one for the books. In all honesty, I wish I saw […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1374,"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-2830","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\/2830","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=2830"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2832,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2830\/revisions\/2832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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