A Vision of the Serpent

[Bayne]

In every direction flames flickered and danced, lighting up the horizons, sweeping across the plains. With this relentless inferno came the roaring crescendo of the marching legions, barbarians from the far reaches, foreigners from distant lands, thought unknown. Thought harmless. Now united under the same banner, a banner of fear, of hatred and of evil.

From above the skies parted, colossal clouds of black and midnight blue, stained with the tearing flashes of silver, the final useless struggles of light as the brooding, inevitable blackness swamped across sky above and land below like ink carelessly spilt and smeared over parchment. And as the rain fell, so came with it not the water, essence of purity and life, but blood. Blood of the fallen and blood of the dying.

To the distant south the once great nation of Yew lay shattered, its once magnificent trees now fuelling the massive war engines that slowly tumbled forwards through the lands. A little further north the huge cities of Trinsic and Britain lay besieged, once great capitals of trade and prosperity, now little more than smouldering wrecks, hopelessly awaiting the fall of the final few lines of defence, left in the hope to create some time for the fleeing crown. Only the alliance of Cove and Vesper still stood, the final bastion of hope.

An eerie ringing of steel echoed through the air as the Templi drew swords and advanced. All were silent. Only the shouts and calls of the Bishop’s blessing could be heard, each Latin word strengthening resolve, invigorating courage. The land before them was but a black stain; countless thousands of his foul minions. Death was certain, as was glory.

And in that second he appeared. A final flash of silver from above, a snarling visage of pure evil, towering above the amassed rank and file, slithering across the plain. The vision of the serpent in its true form, the form of the Guardian itself. With an inhuman roar it slithered forward; devout Templi, sworn to their religion, turned and fled before this new enemy, preferring to face the wrath of the Avatar than the evil before them. For it was true that no mortal could stand against the defiance of the guardian, this was a battle of Demons, of Devils and of Gods.

The squire awoke with a gasp, his thick hair matted to his forehead with cold sweat. Shivering uncontrollably he slid from his bunk and collapsed at the foot of the small ankh statue beside it, freely weeping as he muttered a prayer in Latin. This evil had to be stopped he knew, Cove would journey to the foreign lands and destroy the Dark Ones’ chosen form before it was too late.

[Bayne]

The events that Transpired, Twenty eighth of the fifth month, year of the unstrung harp, eighth hour past zenith.

It was with baited breath that I set forth from our glorious church to look upon the millitia men and women who had heeded the tower-bell. Little did they know what foe opposed them, I dared not explain anything other than our destination, lest they fled before the unholy terror that the serpent inspired to all men.

And so it was that we set off towards our destination, first marching to the moongate of Minoc where we paused to gather breath and check weapons. Once we entered the foreign lands there would be no time for such luxuries...

And so we arrived in Homare-Jima, the beauty of the pink blossoming trees acting a facade for the true evil that stained that foul landscape. An evil that would consume the whole of Sosaria if left unchecked.
Readying arms we pressed north, into terrain where the grass and trees had died, leaving the land a baron wasteland, frequented with huge undead lions and rogue Samurai. Fighting hard, we pressed through these encounters and then suddenly, as if from nowhere, the serpent was upon us, hacking left and right with it's claws and biting with ferocious maw. The girl Moon fell instantly to this savage attack and the rest of us were forced to flee back towards the gate.

After regrouping and healing we resumed the attack upon the foul creature, invigorated as the Avatar smiled down upon our glorious fight. A local Shaolin master joined our fight as the combat grew intense. Many of the millitia and indeed myself were knocked on several occassions but as soon as our wounds were bandaged, we resumed the fight, unwilling to let this monstrosity of the Guardian defeat us!

Eventually, after trapping the serpent in a copse of trees, we were able to finally slay it, the combined force of church and millitia proving too much for its evil.

Heading back to the barracks I commended the millitia for their hard work before heading off to rest.

[Gregor Eason]

A glorious triumph for the Church!
Well done, Squire Mikael!

Commander Eason,
Covian Guards & Baronship Council