BOOK ONE
His parents were dead. They died honorably protecting their child from orc bandits who stormed the house. He was a disgrace to his ancestors. His vampire mother was noble by blood and threw her honor of her family away by being in love with a lowly werewolf. A combination of such was never heard of and could outcast one beyond anything even that of a peasant. A friend helped this baby escape as the mother and father gave their life to save him and died fighting the bandits.
The nation of Necria was made of 5 provinces. They had just won a war that now made this nation the most powerful nation of the land. The King sat down with all his generals and lords of the land. They drank blood and toasted to the night and the moon as they had new land and power. The other vampires did not know that this was just step one of his bigger plan and he held it secretly as he drank with his "comrades."
The government system was set up differently. The army belonged to the generals who worked for the lords. The lords worked together with the king. The capital was Shadia whose army was dwarfed by the province of Lunas. Lunas had the biggest army of the nation but was not under direct control of the king. If world conquest was going to happen this must change. It was soon going to be time to begin step 2.
Years later a peasant named Sage came of age to work the trade. Obviously it was working the fields like he done everyday but to become of age was important. His foster family kept from the world that he was a half-breed and his mother was sister to the lord of Lunas. He on his time off he hanged with his human friend Sam and his orc friend Blazer who was a constructor. Sam was very creative and was a blacksmith. They had an odd friendship as many times species don’t become friendly with others.
"Invasion! Sound the horns! Invasion!" the head gargoyle of Lunas cried. The other gargoyles flew around trying to awaken their lord. He awoke and asked who’s attacking. "Sir the banners show that it is one of our armies of Shadia."
"How? That is impossible it doesn’t make sense!" The lord looked out the window half-dressed. The army came with torches and there was no way there would be a counter-attack. "Get out of here and warn the people," the lord commanded Dax (the gargoyle leader.)
"But I cannot leave you to die." was the response. But the lord replied, "I refuse to live in a world were a man is betrayed by his own empire he served faithfully."
The king came personally as the lord was captured in his own castle. The lord looked at the king while being held by the king’s orcish bodyguards.
"Why?"
"A plan with many factors can’t weigh on the decisions of the many. I need your land and your army without hesitation or question from others. Sorry you had the misfortune of being born." were the king’s words as the lord was executed by the guards.
Dax fled with 2 other gargoyles to escort him. The battle was lost. A tear ran from his grey cheek for he knew his masters fate. Gargoyles are supposed to protect their lord and castle that is how it was mean to be. The king had directly invaded one of his own provinces for power. The word must be spread.
The gargoyle went to a noble general whose name was well known as he led the army of Lunas. His name was Draco. He heard the news and was the first to know what happened. The army if they were loyal would follow him to death but he no longer was their master as the land now belonged to the king. Draco left with a portion of his former force, who were honored to join him in what would soon be open rebellion against the crown of blood.
Rumors of the incident went around the lower villages of Lunas. Sage heard the news from some orcs in the tavern who were hoping this would lead to slaughter and war. Sage looked angry at them and asked if they had no shame. The two orcs stood up to this wolf and grunted at him. Sam backed Sage up but had no power against an orc, neither did a wolf, not until the moon was out anyways. They laughed as they drew their axes and blades. But Blazer was behind them and as he called their attention he brawled the two into submission as the two orcs were now knocked out.
The news became a reality as provinces now held close to their army in fear and Draco was looking for an ally but none would join his suicide cause as the king now had the full upper hand. Draco was in hiding in the lower villages of Lunas looking to launch as surprise attack back north. Sage and his friends hoped to enlist in this new army as the facts were confirmed. The others laughed as wolves and humans were too weak to serve in the army and have been a policy not to use them. Sage could take no more and he stood up to a crowd hoping to bring a light into the people to join the cause.
"The King has abused his power and you laugh. Honor and virtue has shown itself clear as day and you mock. I do not want to live in a kingdom where ambition is what makes it turn where sacrificing others is the common good." Such were Sage's words as the crowd was inspired by the rest of his speech as well as the hooded figure of Draco who was personally listening in the audience. Draco read Sage like a book and saw something noble inside him. He did not care if this guy was a werewolf, he found someone who could lead and inspire flocks of men. This werewolf was going to be right below Draco in command and he knew that is how it needed to be. A battle was soon going to be rising. It would determine the fate of the world.
The Kings army was amassed and moved south to quell what may have been a rebellion. The forces were moved south to the province of Solias. There Draco set with Sage, the witch Red, and Dax to meet with the lord of Solias for an alliance and with this they would have a fighting chance if they can come with a push to the king’s forces moving south.
Sam and Blazer used the time to draft new ideas for weaponry. Sam and a bunch of other humans gathered to invent a weapon that would throw off orc waves of attacks. They created a mechanism that could throw rocks using a slingshot that fires and loads automatic at the push of a trigger. This army definitely lacked strength to beat the other army. They needed to depend on strategy.
Dax met with the lords gargoyles and they were set up for a meeting. Red advised the lord to join with them and that the king is soon going to be looking for allies in this war. The witch was wise with her words but that was not enough. Dax then spoke his peace and he got the other gargoyles to advise the lord personally that it would be a good idea. But it was when the lord looked into Sages eyes he saw what resembled a vampire family he once knew. He knew the stars where at work and decided it would be best to join.
There was one vantage point that would hold a strong base for both armies. It is the Tower Of The Stars. It is said to be 1000 years old and is used to determine the future and is a superstitional place for good fortune and luck. On the night the stars are clear as day and a phenomenon of colors light the sky. He who holds this place controls the heavens themselves or so legend goes. This tower is at the bottom of Lunas and has perfect terrain for battle. Both sides thought it key to own that spot. If the rebels would fail here, the invading force would sweep the south and no army would stop it. If the rebels would succeed then they could hold a base into Lunas and start an offensive.
That night the rebellion was officially formed and Necria was now divided into 3 sections, the kings land, the rebels, and those who are neutral. The strategy was set as the human squad was set into the front of the formation. Both armies met at night and the full moon transformed the werewolves into beast who now stood on almost equal grounds with the vampires and orcs. Sage was unaffected by this and stayed in his normal form.
The mountain to the north was occupied by the king’s forces and the mountain to the south was occupied by the rebels. The gargoyles were used as scouts and the armies were 53,000 for the king’s army and 32,000 for the rebels. The gargoyles reported back and at the motion the king’s frontline charged. They got close to the tower when the human frontline of the rebels opened fire with this new weapon and lines of the enemies frontlines were wiped out but as the humans were out of ammo they retreated behind a zombie line up. Zombies are weak but appear human and can only die of the head being cut off. The orcs slaughtered the lines of defense into the middle when the dead arouse from behind and ambushed them. A select few of both sides were able to get into the tower. After fighting their way to the top, Sage and Draco looked into the eyes of the king and his number two man.
Sage took out his mother’s sword as well as his father’s and used both to fight the king’s best friend at the top, while Draco dueled the king. With the 2 blades Sage defeated his adversary as the king inflicted a mortal wound to Draco. The king and Sage both saw what the other had done and stared at each other with hate and as they were both about to go at it a gargoyle came to the king.
"Our army is being driven back! Do not let it end here!" the gargoyle told the king. In anger the king retreated and left the battlefield. Sage looked down at Draco. Draco looked at him and told him that he needed to lead the revolution now before he died. They had won the battle and were on equal grounds in this war!
"The battle has been fought, The battle has been won, The kings cry through the midnight air, Note our names for we are one, LET PEACE BE HEARD!" The King woke up from a nightmare as Sage’s face and voice stayed in his mind.
-End of Book One
Book Two
The battle had been fought, the battle had been won. Now what? Sage was feasting with the lord of Solias. The vampire King was now north of Lunas looking for an ally through duty in Nestas, wich was the northern province. Days have passed since the revolution started and the king was in a strategic stalemate. Sage had no upper hand and his forces were pushed south while the Imperial army was left holding their ground waiting for the opportune moment. The king needed to organize his new found army should he wish to fight a full war.
The rebels had held the Tower and now it was a place of morning. Draco had died and all his advisors, trusted generals, and lieutenants could only morn. Sage brought down his body after the battle. He was buried under the northern gate to the tower. The whole rebel army had shown up, those who lived. The witch Red gave him a hero’s burial and conjured a clear sky so the moon could shine down and his way to the stars would not be blocked. The wolves howled and each vampire knight and soldier walked up and slit their wrists so their blood would forever bless him. Sage himself walked up to the site with Dax, Sam, and Blazer and spoke his words while he too left some of his blood. Dax could not hold back the tears for this was his second master who had met death. And the lord of Solias called the day a holy day for a true hero had died with those before him in glory fighting for his right to be alive and who he was as did the others.
"My king, why have you come?" The king entered the room to speak with the lord of Nestas. The lord was in fear. He continued to bow hoping this was not meaning that they had been invaded and the land of Nestas was lost. "Why you cower so? As you know this is a civil war and I need to know I have you by my side.” The King needed an ally over a stolen army to help him regain full control. The local lord wondered if his army was here or if he just paid him a personal visit.
“Should you remain neutral in this war, war shall not come to your land. As a result the people will lose face and be branded as cowards. You were given this position by right and the king has given you the world. Should you not repay him, you will be outcasted and frowned upon. Should you join the rebels, your villages will be slaughtered and the rebels themselves won’t come in on time to prevent your death. Save faith and join, this is my counsel.” So spoke the witch, Rain, of Nestas. She was the lord’s advisor and one great with words. Many of those high in society saw her as the brains behind the province for the lord never once second guessed her council.
That night the King had not just an army but a new head. Sage and his closest men were traveling west at this point to Corlan, to seek an audience with that lord. Behind he left his army to secure his position. Either he wasted time to inventory his ranks or he jump on growing his forces before it was too late. To his left on horse was the lord of Solias and his three friends. They had a long road ahead of them.
Sage and the lord of Corlan met. Unknown to Sage, there was a traitor in his ranks. An orc and a vampire plotted to lead the rebellion into a trap and hand over Sage's head to the King. Red was left in the south in the province Solias. She would strategize with Sam on a round movement to attack the eastern side of Lunas. This would cut a hole into the imperial army and the hole would hopefully be big enough to flank the capital. It was a fool’s errand as she knew any force could not push that far and the King was only waiting for an attack.
"I see you are of strong presence Sage." The lord of Corlan spoke. He was only impressed that a werewolf could infact be given command of an army and that was it. Dax and Blazer knew this guy was not going to give in soon. Sage knew he had to act fast. "Let me swindle your position in telling you that the King killed the Lord of Lunas in cold blood. He didn’t hesitate nor show remorse when he killed Draco, without questioning himself he took Lunas, and aimed for Solias in mere weeks when he heard only a rumor that we were there. You fought beside Draco, you yourself have dined in victory with the Lord of Lunas and Solias. The People of Solias have put their faith in me, their lord put his faith and me and Draco whom you also know well, has put his faith in me. If that is not enough, then don’t join, but you border our flank, and the King will not hesitate to use your land to attack us. You cannot be neutral in this battle. And should you side with the King, we will fight to protect ourselves and your army is the smallest in the land as of now. You cannot avoid war. Ask your gargoyles, your witches should you have one and your generals and see what they say. I will not further pressure you into a decision, I will head back to camp, then head back to our headquarters, you message me when you have your answer." And like that, a tall proud figure of a filthy peasant wolf left in the awe of the guards who stood in the room. On their way to the horses a gargoyle came up and whispered in Dax's ear. Dax stood and cursed under his breath in contempt. He looked to Sage and Blazer then said, "Nestas has sided with the King, we won’t hold should they attack on our front again."
Red and Sam moved a small force to a mountain in Lunas, it was a small step into the land but they needed it. From there, they hid their banners and their forces in the caves. There were three camps, each just waiting to be called on to move forward into Solias. Judging from the numbers in the camp, they could not last one battle with what they had. An improv plan was in order. They waited till night. Red and two lieutenants would storm one base while calling forth a storm, all the orcs would storm the one on the west, and Sam and his men would set fire to the camp in the middle while waiting to ambush those who ran out and with the fire's smoke, Red's wind would smother the camp being invaded by the orcs.
Sage compiled a secondary force to hit north of the tower and aim for the middle of what was now the imperial Shadia. Lunas and Shadia have merged and Lunas was now apart of the Shadian Province. The Lord of Solias was to gather the people and be the link in betweens sections of forces; he was the home base and supply line. The King and Nestas moved their forces. Nestas and their army bordered Corlan to strike on the Kings command should they be loyal to the rebellion. Sage and the imperial army met. The rebellion fought mere skirmishes and the battle waged on for days. His forces would not be able to fully deploy as his main force was cut from any vantage point and the enemy was in no position to go head first into an unknown enemy. They were at a standstill, no one went for the others head, merely blow for blow as the army built itself in defenses. Meanwhile Sam and Red were forced to retreat after their victory. A wise general was able to trap them into attacking an abandon camp after seeing their strategy. From their, he went around and attacked as they had no mountain or high elevation to see the field. They were able to cut through and return to Solias defeated.
Sage viewed the terrain. An attack on their base would end his campaign. But as he was thinking that, the western forces on the former Lunas Border came as reinforcements and hit Sage. Sage set up two vans, one on each side. They would be comprised of orcs to protect his charge into the center of the army. If they could not break formation he and Dax's unit could act as an arrow and hit the center. The human shooters stood in the front to prevent them from forcing the overall formation of the army from collapsing on itself. They were outnumbered and Sage charged forward. Their flank forced open a hole in the enemy formation and with that little opening, they stuck their foot in the door and Sage met the enemy general in the middle. The General saw the Werewolf and they dueled on their horses. He dismounted the General and as he stumbled to his feet to catch up and get on guard, Sage struck him down dead. From this small victory the rebel group closed in on the other unit and on both sides being attacked, they surrendered in front of their comrades. Disheartened, the rest of the reinforcements soon gave in and surrendered or died in battle. Dax’s forces could not go forward into the base and was pushed to a stalemate. Sage's group would only keep the stalemate and soon they would be overrun either way. Blazer could only keep his aid to Sage and soon they would disperse and be forced back. "This gives me an idea, tell your men to feint a retreat." He told this to his lieutenant. Before the final order was given, the Lord of Corlan came. He was here to support Sage and in a surprise attack hit the enemy camp from the rear. As he went to survey the field, he saw a force equal to which Sage was commanding, fleeing from the rebels with their lives while they still outnumbered the rebels. He was impressed and could not help but feel a little guilt in scolding Sage earlier. That night the enemy encampment surrendered. It was short lived as Sage soon heard of Red and Sam's flight.
"Nestas has invaded us and we lost a portion of the north to them," the Corlan gargoyle came running to his master. Corlan would need to counter, so was the plan. Sage spoke differently and told him to stay south and take his main secondary force attack army to hold off Nestas. "You are a lord, I need you close as possible." From their Corlan split its army and while the lord covered the entrance to Shadia, a third of its army and Sage's former army moved north to push Nestas back. From there they would try to invade Nestas, push stalemate, or get into Shadia. Sage meanwhile headed back to base with his train when from both sides came a squad ready to kill him. They were imperials. Sage said to Dax, "How did they get past the defense and know where to find us?" "Easy ‘MASTER’, we told them were to find us. What makes you think you have what it takes to lead us? I’m a vampire. You’re a pitiful dog and the Orc feels the same way. Have fun dying". The two lieutenant traitors broke out of formation and they were not just out numbered but also been sold out for pride. Sage and his train retreated to a nearby wood and set the place ablaze so they could not be followed. The last thing the two traitors heard from Sage as he retreated, "Your ancestors will regret your decision."
The forces of Corlan were slowly being pushed back. Nestas was fighting a long drawn out battle but soon would hit the capital of the province. The army of Corlan’s defense force was able to hit a stalemate but was outnumbered and slowly fading its army. Rain and the lord of Nestas himself was leading the attack. The rest of his army went to reserves to Shadia’s new capital and would soon try to push south too.
Sage himself was now strategizing a new forward movement. Sage planned on getting a majority of his forces to hit close to Corlan so they could not be separated and with a huge force push towards the center of the former Lunas into what is now Shadia. Should they break through the front which was a given, the imperial army would likely regroup to make a counter to hold them off. Should they do so then the eastern force of the rebellion would move forward on a weaker border while the main group would hold down a defense from a more secure area. The plan wasn’t fool proof or perfect. It was a decent plan though but could lead into failure.
The two traitors where not far from where they last met with Sage and grabbed a force of 100 strong to ambush him. Their job was solely to assassinate the leader of the rebellion. If they did so then they could sneak up back to Shadia and present the king with a “gift. Dax however on a routine patrol snuck up and spotted their location. He quickly went to the nearby camp to inform the lord of Corlan.
Sage was required to meet in a camp near the woods where the traitors where hiding. He was unaware that they were present. Following him was a gargoyle. Sage thought it best to walk and was actually quite exposed. The group got in front of him. There he was confronted by the 100 orc squad. In the front was the Orc and in the middle of the battalion was the Vampire. “So you two finally showed yourselves. It’s kinda sad that even though you have 100 men, they can’t protect you from death.” Sage laughed as he said this. The Vampire retorted, “You are alone, there is no way you can kill me. I shall watch as my friends take your head.” The orc traitor in the front called the charge. As he was ahead of his men, he would have the first chance to attack Sage before the rest would come. He met Sage’s sword as he attacked and the Orc was already dead. The same moment Sage had his father’s sword meet the Orc’s in defense; he had stabbed the orc with his mother’s sword. The traitor fell dead and soon the rest of the army would be on him. He could not beat 100 men. Sage whistled and the gargoyle lifted him in the air and Sage took out his shooter and shot the vampire traitor off his horse. The rock split the former lieutenant’s skull and he was dead on impact.
Sage got to his feet and the battalion stopped. Sage had vowed to kill two of them in their presence and did and they could do nothing to stop it. This monster could point randomly and kill them and they would be defenseless. The look of death stared each one of them in the face and instead of attacking as a team they each saw their mortality. Sage gave this look to the squad as they stood still. Every one thought that he was looking at them. Then Sage took the biggest risk. He stepped forward. The orcs in the middle stepped back. The lord of Corlan came and for the second time was impressed. Here he saw one werewolf forcing 100 soldiers to cower in fear as Sage continued to step forward. He knew then and there that the stars were on his side and he was truly a force in himself. As the lord came back to his senses, he ordered his squad to charge and they took out the confused enemy.
Sage looked to the Corlan lord. The lord held two fingers up in a laugh and Sage acknowledged by saying, “I know, that’s twice you saved my life.” Sage smiled and the two of them laughed. The lord of Corlan knew that it was wise to have Sage as an ally and not an enemy. He was glad he joined the rebellion and was honored to fight by his side.
The meeting revealed Sage’s plan and they went to work. Their forces took the frontlines by surprise and many retreated with not much of a battle. Many of the eastern forces in the front went back to the center to try and reform. The rebellion in the east then moved forward. They did not get far before stalemate but it did manage to confuse the enemy. In three months, much of what was former Lunas in the west was now part of the rebellion. Soon the rebellion bordered Nestas and was intending to fully split the enemy in half. Half of Nestas’s army was spread out through Shadia. The rest were in Corlan. Rain knew Corlans center would not hold. She headed back alone to meet with the king who was planning a great attack against Sage’s main force. The rest of Nestas’s army continued to push for control of Corlan.
Rain met up with the king to give him her counsel. “Should you kill the one called Sage and hold his head up high, the rebels will flea and put up little resistance. The world will be yours. Should Sage defeat you in battle, the country will fall and he will have right as the new leader. Do not let him foul the crown of blood. Nestas shall soon be split in half. From there our strength as an army will be torn. Therefore gather all your men and charge the main force. You beat them; they will be chased back to their home down south and will be crushed.”
Red spoke to Sage, “The final battle is at hand. Nestas will be split; from there we should head our force during the final attack to the center of Lunas and challenge the king to a final battle. Should you kill him, under your true blood you can rule the land. I know who you really are. The final battle shall be where your blood line truly started. You know what you must do.”
They took the top of Nestas as they invaded but that didn’t matter. The land of Corlan belonged to them. The land of the west was too weak to put up an attack and decided to hold. The lord of Corlan was angered. He feared this would come. He looked to his generals as they took the last Nestan stronghold in the north. He felt some satisfaction. He was then told to move his men down into Lunas. He knew the final battle was looming.
It had been 3 years since the beginning. The king’s forces compiled and were now a force to be reckoned with. The majority of the rebellion moved east into Lunas. What was once Lunas, was now equally halved. The rebellion owned the west, the king owned the east. The castle which was owned by the late lord of the land was the center of it all. The final battle would be there. Both forces moved towards it. And there they were. The city in where it all started. Sage, Sam, and Blazer were back home. Sage said to Sam, “My mother was born in that castle. Either I am destined to die there or this night I am invincible.” Blazer responded, “You have their blessing. Your swords shall guide you.”
Rain called the clouds. Red cleared the sky under the full moon. The wolves again began to change into the powerful creatures. It soon began to rain. Dax came back with the count. The imperials had 70,250 soldiers, the rebels had 68,500. It was going to be a battle of both strategy and strength. Sage knew he had to get inside that castle, to stand on top under the moon. Both forces began to move. The battle began.
All the lords of the land were there. Sage told his frontlines of shooters to move in and guard the waves of orcs and wolves. That way they could establish themselves at the foot of the castle. The shooters were able to blast through much of the first line before they had to retreat. The orcs and wolves then waged and even contest with the imperials. Dax and Sage were able to get their men in the castle. The castle was filled with men and would take awhile to firmly get to the top. Blazer outside fought with the enemy orc general in a duel. Sam was getting his men behind to restock on supplies and try for a second strike. The lord of Corlan and Solias each commanded a flank, the north went to Corlan and the south went to Solias. The army of Corlan engaged in a final battle against Netsas.
Rain and Red met. Should Red fall, the power of the wolves would go as well. Should Rain fall the stars guided by the tower to the south would show and moral as well as luck would guide the rebels. They had a fierce battle as the two conjured what they could. Their armies fought and the two witches met in the middle. One conjured wind, the other cold. It got to the point neither side was winning. The two fought with swords in hand and only one would come out of this alive. The Corlan army was beating back Nestas. Solias however was being pushed back. It then happened. Knowing the situation members of Blazer’s front moved and attacked Rains force. They lost the footing but Rain’s group was in confusion then Red stabbed her and Rain soon died and her body disappeared to the heavens. The clouds disappeared and the moon shined bright and so did the night phenomenon of lights. Moral boosted. And soon the rebels retook the footing.
The battle was still even. Sams’ unit came back and fought back the imperial frontlines. It was late as the lord of Solias fell in battle. Sam’s unit was able to clear the area but he was mortally wounded. The lords last words were to Sam “The moon is bright. I will watch the outcome from up there and ask the stars to bless Sage. Tell him I said ‘thank you’ and will greet his mother up there.” The south flank was being overrun but Sam’s force helped to keep its loss drawn out. Blazer had defeated the orc general. He then pushed the center forward. Red then blitzed Nestas’s troop and with that their lord was captured and put before the Corlan lord. He smiled. “Let’s go help Sage take the castle.”
Sage and Dax had moved to the last floor. They were cut off from most of their men but dead imperial bodies were before them as they stood outside the final door. The king and his men had taken the other half and both moved to be under the moon for the final battle. As Sage moved forward, they were outnumbered from behind. Should they stay and fight, they would certainly die. Should the run, they would be caught and killed. “Master go, it is my duty, I will hold them off till the rest of our unit returns. GO!” Sage thanked him and left. He was on the roof. Dax smiled as he pulled out his weapon. “Finally I have saved the life of my lord and will die an honorable death. NONE OF YOU WILL PASS THIS POINT ALIVE!”
Sage stood before the king, alone. He looked out for a second and saw how the battle was going. So did his adversary. Then they looked at each other. This should have ended three years ago. Now they fought under the heavens. Sage took out his two swords representing his father and mother and what he was. The king took out his royal sword and they charged each other. They met and Sage attempted the same move he did to the orc but no avail as the king dodged the second sword. They fought for a good three minutes when Sage put the two swords and they formed one double bladed staff. The fight grew intense and the world around them slowed as these two monsters fought to a standstill. The swords made a final clang and they were locked. They stared into each others eyes. The king responded, “The moon is out why haven’t you changed?” He tried harder to push the momentum towards him. Sage said, “It’s complicated.” The two stayed locked in the middle. “Your pretty strong for a filthy mutt.” “Who said I was a werewolf?” Sage showed his fangs… “You’re a”… and in a surprise of force pushed the king’s blade to the left a bit and bit his fangs down into the kings neck on the right. He had his opening; Sage separated his swords and stabbed him with both at the same time. The king had fallen. “Even though my plan has failed, it was worth the risk. I die regretting nothing.” And so the king died and sage put his swords were they belonged.
Sage picked up the crown and loomed over to the very top of the castle and as they saw him, both sides stood still. The imperials were at this point losing the battle and were close to retreating had it continued. Sage lifted the crown and the rebels cheered. The imperials lost the war. It was all over. After that the survivors of the king’s army surrendered. More bloodshed would have been pointless. Later that week a huge ceremony was held. The land was reunited and in the ceremony they mourned the deaths of those who fought and the same day they buried the lord of Solias, they crowned Sage as king of Necria. Corlan and half of Nestas became one. Solias was ruled by the late lord’s son. The other half of Nestas and Shadia was ruled by a young vampire general who served loyaly under Draco in days of old as well as the rebellion. And finally Lunas was reformed and was ruled by the king Sage. What happened was a new age in Necria.
Days of old breed days of new, The new light gives hope to the future, An era of greed brings an era of hatred, A new era brings understanding and peace. Let the world glow with our new voice.
Necria was not so divided by class, soon after. A half-breed was king in a world formerly ruled by vampires alone. This is the new age.
End of Book Two
Book Three
Days of old breed days of new. And so 13 years had passed since Sage had reunited the land of Necria. Any attempt to resist the throne early on had subsided as quickly and Sage was soon welcomed to the world as its new ruler. All the problems that would plague a nation soon disappeared, as it seemed to reach a golden age.
The rule of the universe is that all good things must come to an end. And while all this happened, three years after the rebellion had succeeded, organized crime in the districts seems to take a new change. It was true that crime was falling and their was more order, but the overall notoriety of the syndicates seemed almost to grow and so did their power.
It seemed Sage was having a bad dream as he woke up breathing heavy. His vampire bride, Shella, whispered in his ear. He called for Red. Soon Red herself came in. "What can I do for you Sage," spoke Red. She still called him by his name as did all of those aquatinted with him during the war of old.
"I dreamt that I was murdering myself and this child watched and laughed. Before that at some point a dreamt I watched myself defeat a vampire king but in a mansion and not a castle." Sage started to tremble over the power and influence the dream before him had on his mind. Red had a simple response. "This is a peculiar dream indeed."
Meanwhile in a small city in lower Nestas, a voice rang from the streets. "It has been found! Hail the new age. The prophecy has arrived!" People would look out their window, the orcs would shake their fists and throw the occasional rock at the runner, the vampires would complain, and the zombies just went back to bed. Oh how the crowds flocked. "As I said, the legendary 'King's Arms' have been found. In Corlan, a youth has found the treasure."
This similar story started to spread throughout Necria. The King's Arms were the weapons of the first King of Necria. It was blessed by 10 witches and was said to be cursed. The first King spilt his blood on it and it created red steel. The second King while using it for practice accidentally cut himself and the sword indeed glowed red. This happened until right after the third king. The fourth before holding possession of it threw it and had it buried. While drunk, he made the decree that "whoever finds the arms, shall have the throne be given to them." He stated this as a joke. But time creates more power to already legends. Now the arms have been found. The kid had proclaimed himself rightful king and challenged the throne on a response.
The Lord of Corlan did indeed inspect the blade as the kid presented it. Red was sent to investigate by Sage and so where Sam and Blazer. It glowed red like that of dark blood. That itself was a miracle. Around the castle, rumors were being spread about the kid and so was the support for him. Even the Lord of Corlan began to question this. Sam and Blazer left quickly. They debated on why the stars would forsake their friend and what they each thought the truth of it was. Red finally reported back to Sage only to say, "The swords a fake, and not a soul in Necria will believe you."
The moon rose high that night. The kid was followed by groups of creatures. All unarmed, but all beleivers of the prophecy. He had them in the palm of his hands and he couldnt help but smile. No one knew where he came from or who he really was. That was his magic power over them. He had the "arms" and he had the power of mystery to support him.
Fact was, he was just another vampire who had a life. More importantly, he had a influental freind. The lot of fools that followed their hero did not know that it was a fake, only its weilder did. That was all that was needed. Up till that point, people debated if they even existed. The kid himself did not know the real answer.
Red watched the crowd from a distance. Corlan was soon going to be up in arms demanding that Sage relinquish his rule as king. She had to do something. Even a little thing would make her feel better. In her own sick humor, she made it rain. A storm would come and the crowd would dispearse. And so it happened. She hoped it would create doubt to the beleivers. However the strength of faith is incorrubtible even by dark omens, even fake ones.
It was at this time period, a new crime wave hit like lightning in the nations capitol city. The plan was simple. Increased crime, increases resolve, soon the land will feel like a dictatorship. However, Sage refused to tighten his grip. He met with the local officials. "I fear that a new wave is hitting us with no sense of direction, find me the heads of these waves, and give me faces, however make yourself scarce to the people. Paranoia must not be in effect." Sage demanded this of his men. With that they left and they themsleves went undercover.
Dark, who was Dax's son and Sage's cheif body guard came in. "My lord, Red has arrived from Corlan. She brings you a urgent report." Sage motioned and in came Red. "His followers are growing. They are like dogs loyal to their master. There is no way me or the Coven Tribunal can disprove the claims that he is a fraud. In fact, I suspect one of our own is in league and helped create the sword."
"What do you recomend we do?" Sage asked his advisor. "Simple, if those are fake, we have to find the real ones." Dark ran in, "We dont even know if they exist! Or where to even find them." "Your forgetting when thing, I am Red the witch. If this is our problem, with me around, we can solve it." Sage was still thinking when, Sam and Blazer busted in the room. "We found this theif hangin around the castle." Blazer pushed in the room the theif. Sam then added "He was lurking about behind your dining room curtain.
Sage jumped up enraged. The poor fool cowarded and spoke "I was sent here as a spy, but I refuse to say by whom." Sage gave Blazer the look. "Why not?" The king asked the peasant. "He will kill me, I dont want to die, he gave me a potion and with that I was able to sneak in here." "Give him some food and a place to rest, tomorrow, you will tell me everything or I will throw you out of here in the morning and announce that you have been a caught spy who was released by telling us everything." Sam guided the spy away.
The next day, feeling protected by harm, he spoke freely to his captors. It turns out that he was hired by a local unknown gang to spy on the king and report back, for that, he would get paid. Things what were thought to be getting better where getting worse. Soon there was a report from a guard, "there is a riot in Corlan, the lord is trying to calm them. So far there are nop casualties but thats not all, local head officals have been disapearing. Everyone we send in never comes back."
The riot was going as plan, the lack of action by Corlan proved what was needed to know about him. The poor pathetic lord did not want conflict. The leader laughed to himself. He owned most of Lunas and Sage didnt even know he existed. With a simple breath, those sent to invistigate never returned. The stooly he sent to get caught by the King did just that. The leader laughed. The kid entered the room and bowed down. "Your late boy!" "Im sorry lord, but the public demands alot of their future master."
"I want you to remember, who is running this scheme. I am the next King of this land, you are my puppet. If you keep thinking on your own, my plan will fail. I want you to remember that." The kid bowed down and apologized. The leader then snatched the weapon from the kids grasp and with that led it to an alter. A witch was there and said a chant. A poor local vampire was above the alter and with a slice of his two blades, the vampires life ended on this plane and with the powers of the chant, the plain steeled blade glowed red again. He threw the blade to the kids feet. The kid lifted it and ran off. "Soon my dear brother, we shall meet. And you shall know your place as a dog." The half breed laughed. Sage and his men set off the next day. They needed to find the true Kings arms, or the throne was gone. Sage looked to the sun, he swore he heard someone call his name and laugh.
The sun and the moon where out this day. An odd omen. Their journey had began, the only problem was they had no where to look. They did not even know if the alegged arms even existed. Red knew. She kept that fact to herself. Along her family lineage was the blessing of the blade. Nine of the ten witches that blessed the sword, their families after the trials of time disapeared with their tradition. Red was a mnember of the surviving family. It was to her, the weapon would reveal itself as it was her ancestor who was one of the original ten. She had been kept up to spped by the generation of oral tradition in the family. When the time came, she would chant the words, and a map would apear. The anceint who summoned this map, was to guide her chosen king to this location and with that, she would be the one to pass the throne to him.
Sage called it a night. The horses were restlesss and Blazer was complaining about the heat. And with that, so where the vampire warriors. "Dark, I want you to run as scout and make sure that there are no parties aproaching as we sleep." The gargoyle saluted the king and left. Dark flew circles into the air, and sure enough, the land was empty. He stayed flying all night until he saw the motion to come back down. The next day had arrived and it was time to move again.
However, back at the capitol, a group of people started to form. They were chanting in fron of the castle. Sam and his personal atttack unit, was holding down the castle. Shella joined up. She wished to be with her husband, but now she needed to protect their home. At a split second the crowd could advance. In Corlan and Solias, the place was packed with protestors. It may have been true that more people supported Sage then the pretender however, the pretender had the right amount of people, in the right amount of places to throw a coupe that could last a day and with that, a new government could form. The evil halfbreed laughed. It took Sage awhile to stand up to a king and his nation, he shall do it in twenty four hours. The Kid just had to make the necessary apearance, and that would be enough.
But there would be no victory, storming a castle without its king or crown would hold not water, he could comeback, and with men. This had to be legitimate. To be the king, you have to kill the king. Sage must die. Although the situation could get worse. The Leader knew Sage and his men were looking for the real arms. If he found them, the whole plan would be ruined. With his connection to the Witched Coven, he knew Red the witch had the means to locate the real arms. If that was so, he would need to go after them. "Boy! Have a hundred locals follow you. We are going to confront the king, and there, you are going to have to kill him. Dont worry, Ill make it look real." The Kid nodded and left.
The moon looked like a boomerang. Now it was time. "Guide me, let the throne bleed on you once more, you crave the blood of your master. Where shall we go to find you?" A cloud surpassed the moon. The wind came and the sand formed litle lines, dips, and hills. It was the land of Necria. The edge of the cloud reflected a path. On the end of that path, was a rock, in the middle of the picture. She knew the place. Sage knew the place, he wouldnt like this.
Dark spotted a caravan move around. It wasnt his freinds, and they apeared to have numbers. The men infront of the castle began to get itchy. Sam called for his men to take out their shooters but not to fire. "King Sage! I am calling you out you coward son of a dog. Give me my rightful throne!" The kid led the van, but Sage distinctly noticed his hand was on the noose of a horse wich rode in a strange looking vampire. Red ran up to her king "We have to get to the Tower of the Stars. Now! We will find what we are looking for their. They wish to kill you. I cant tell you more. I will hold them back. If you fight him here, you will be killing their proffit and in the eyes of many, an innocent. Flee, Dark shall acompany you. Go now! Take your horses and leave!" Someone yelled attack, with that, the castle and the royal Caravan was under attack.
The kid saw him flee as did his master. "What now?" "Now," said the halfbreed, "we follow. Leave this battle to the people. He is alone, we follow him to the true weapons should he find them, and he will die soon after. They hid their own escape as the two small armies clashed.
Blazer didnt like this. For simple folk, they were heavily armed. But even that did not make him want to kill them. Red rose a storm, and the two armies were incapable of fighting eachother. She herself did not know how long she could keep this up, but she refused to let this reach the point of no return. However at the castle, the crowd was getting ancy. They fired volley shots at their feet. Soon after, the crowd was unable to move foreward over the groans that blocked the way. Amaingly, not a soul was lost that day. Shella yelled at the crowd "who started this?" They moved aside, she had the eyes of the devil. one look at her and they feared she would eat them. The first man who was shot groaned. He had a double scar on his face. Self proclaimed killers did that. When the crowd saw this, they felt cheated. They did not know why, but somehow, they felt used. More shots rang out, this time from behind the crowd, they instantly dispearsed. Same smiled as he took cover. The real villains showed themself. A mob of 50 mercenaires, seperated themself from the crowd as the folks ran and hide. They were using the mob as cover to make an attack. Now they would face the real villains. "Men, do not let a single vile beast in here." Shella ordered. "Dont worry Shella, we have you and my brother covered." Sam quickly replied.
The thugs that hid themselves amongst the caravan as well stood out when they saw Red preform her magic. Good she thought. Now all the humbles are away, the grownups can play. The real battle began at both camps. Sage was far away from where he needed to be. By day break, he would be at his desired location. But why there? Why the place where the revolution started along time ago? She had never lied to him. He felt a turn in his stomach, it was the place alright. But how and why?
The night passed and yet again it was day. He was on the mountain when he saw it for the first time. Dark was next to him and said "Is it true you and my dad fought by eachothers sides here." "Yes, this is also the place where a good freind of mine met his ancestors." The memory of the brave vampire Draco quickly struck his memory then passed. On to bussiness. The Tower was there in the clearing and once he stood her long ago, seeing nothing but soldiers as far as he could see, was now empty and vacant.
Where is it? There were no weapons inside the building. Sage knew that as he toured the area. The night began to rise. Full moon. A cold wind roared. And with that Sage walked with it like being possessed. He heard the calling voice of a freind and like that stoped. He was at the northern gate. Any place but here, no, he had to be here. He thought it was odd that the wind stopped at this point. Was it Draco trying to remind him of his buriel. Then he felt a turn in his stomach. His wrist, where he cut himself for the buriel rights of passage began to itch and he felt invisible blood marks flow downwards. It was here. But how? Sage knew the location of the "King's Arms".
"Dark, I want you to dig this up as quick as possible!" The two fo them started to dig when he reached the coffin of his friend. The word "Draco" was written in large letters. However when they opened it, there was no body. Sage laughed to himself. He saw them. A rusted sword and a beautiful sheild in place. "So my freind, you really have left this world and have in return given me this gift to remember you buy. Thank you." Sage went to pick up the sword, as he did, his hand slipped and while he held it, he was cut by the blade on his palm. The blade glowed bright a dark ruby red. "Master it is cursed." "No," Sage said in reply, "It has accepted me. I truly am meant to be King."
At this point the kid had the gall to show his face. "You wolf-monster of a vampire. I shall never let you be king!" Sage turned around while lifting the shield to his own weaponry. "You wish to take my throne, then come!" Sage challenged the boy. The boy fought with his false weapons but the poor vampire child was quickly overcome by the power of the sword and shield. The Sheild itself broke the kids sword on impact. The kid bowed down. "Im sorry, he made me do this. He told me I could have power. Sage dropped the shield in front of the boy. He flinched at the sound of its drop and whimpered. "Who is this 'he' fellow?" Sage did not want to kill him, wich was why he put away his sword as well next to his two twin blades. The he put the shild in front of his fallen foe and said "this is true power, those who suffer from greed like you, will never atain this." As he said this the true villain fired a shot from his shooter, intended on hitting the failure of a child. He needed him no longer. The boy hearing the noise ducked, his knee bumped the shield and as if possessed the shield blocked the rock.
Sage turned around to face the half vampire, half werewolf. "Who are you?" the king said. "I am you. My mother was a simple lowly wolf, who happened to be raped by a nobleman of a vampire. I have no place in this world, that is why I am here. I am everything you are. You are everything I should be. What makes you so special brother? I fought my battles, I killed my share of creatures. But while you were living it up, I was taking over the city. I run the streets, you run your little house. We are the only one of our kinds. We can each classify how many we killed of each catagory of species but for this one, there is only two, me and you. Do I hold a grudge against you? Not really, im just greedy thats all. This world is mine to scorn. Get read!"
Like that the halfbreed took out a two axes. These were the weapons he stole from his father' dead hands and the other axe was an axe mailed to his mother from the perverse father as a sick remembrance gift of him. Sage spoke these words; "Your not worthy of having your blood spilt on my new weapons." With that he took out the two swords didicated to his mother and fathers love for eachother. Here they would go against the axes of the hatred between the halfbreeds parents. The two clashed under the full moon.
Sword to axe and axe to sword. At first the two were going toe to toe. This lasted for about five minutes when Sage decided to kick it into high gear. At the point of a break, he plunged his two blades together into the one double bladed staff. The battle was no longer a stand still. Then the halfbreed moved his axes into one. They formed at the hitl and each ave faced a different direction. The battle went back to a middle ground. Dark, saw this battle, he knew what was on the line, something bigger then the fate of the nation. Every soul must face their biggest demon head on and alone. This was Sage's moment as well as the halfbreed. Sage blocked high and locked the two weapons in the air. He pulled the weapons apart as quick as he could, the halfbreed tried to counter this but Sage put both swords through his enemy before his enemy could move.
The battle was over. The kid stood in amazement and Dark, next to him, cheered. The halfbreed whispered into Sage's ear "let me die here, facing the moon, so my last view of this world can be its guiding face." "Will do." Sage put away his mother and fathers swords and gently laid his brother down. With that, his nemesis passed away.
The Mercenary crew was not able to withstand the skillfully played ambush inside the castle and the mob was stopped before it could get to the throne room. Blazer and Red stood with the surviving officers as they watched the thigs run away. All would be quite in the land of Necria. The kid, disapeared and hid himself for fear of showing his face, with him, he took his broken blade, that no longer glew red. The organized crime died out without its leader and Sage walked back to his castle while carrying the real "Kings Arms." He was greeted with respect and admiration from the people. Even the Lord of Corlan wrote a letter to apologize for not taking action.
Demons come, demons leave. Without a trace of ever existing. The bad times shall be conquered with time. And with this thought comes our true vision of greatness.
End of Book 3
End of Trilogy
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