Chronicles of Fardel: The Rise of Syphon -
Siege of Molco
"Luckily Diabolos has always been hasty to act. Had he combined all their strength they would have won." Phex laughed.
"Yeah, but now we have to be sure Kephiyr survives. Or find a way to draw Diabolos out." Cipher sighed.
"That won't happen, Diabolos is a coward, especially in this form; he will be cautious."
"Suggestions would be appreciated."
"My guess, he's going to hold the fort; make them come to him."
"They're already making plans to do so. We should prepare to fight the wraiths as well, so they can't give the enemy strength."
"Can Kephiyr's army defeat Molco and kill Diabolos?"
"One can only hope; if I know Kelpon he won't let this attack go unanswered. He won't risk his own life, so it won't matter much to him."
"What are his numbers at?"
"Fifteen thousand, but he will get some help from the dwarves."
"Hopefully they can spare a fair amount. We need to try and end this quickly."
"Indeed, I've sent word for our troops to be ready. Our next move should be to try and convince the elves to assist."
"Ten thousand of our men dead! I want them squashed! Find a way to do it!" Kelpon shouted. Doon was just beside him looking sheepish next to his golden throne. Doon looked much the same as when he was younger only now he had a blonde goatee.
The throne room had a pearl floor with six golden columns separating an enormous window. Diamonds were set into the columns. Behind the throne was a balcony with a huge red curtain.
"I agree my lord, but we need to plan our attack." Kephiyr replied.
"The dwarves have already leant us thirty thousand troops, what more do we need?"
"With all do respect sire, a battle is won with more than just numbers. Especially where it is located presents a huge difficulty. Their defenses are ominous, and the terrain makes them doubly so."
"How much time do you need?"
"If your grace would allow at least one month, to come up with a strategy and muster our forces. With proper planning I promise you, Molco will burn."
"Very well, you have one month; I expect you to be ready by then."
"Victory doesn't come by accident sire, if you will have patience with your servants I promise you a mighty victory."
"Very well, Feldor; one of the Dwarven jarls sons has agreed to meet with you. They wish to discuss some tactics that may work. You are dismissed." Kelpon waved his hand not noticing the smile on Kephiyr's face. Kephiyr and Doon walked out together.
"Let me guess, you want to see Feldor too?"
"Of course, I haven't seen him in fifteen years."
Feldor met them at the castle entrance and was only slightly taller than before with a very long beard and decidedly heavier. His red beard nearly reached his navel and was in two braids.
"Doon, long time eh, how you doing laddy." Feldor slapped him on the shoulder with a smile and turned to Kephiyr. "N' I suppose you must be Kephiyr, 'eard a lot 'bout ya. Got some ideas to run 'ast ya." Kephiyr slapped Feldor on the shoulder, wincing slightly because of his armor.
"I'm glad you've heard of me, but you'll never guess who I really am."
"Eh, now what's that supposed to mean."
"I'm Syphon." Feldor's eyes widened and then hardened and he growled at Doon.
"Is this some cruel prank 'oung prince. Ye, telling this 'ere soldier to bring memories of me old friend!"
"No, really I'm Syphon. The day after you left I saved Doon from goblins. The king owed me a life debt. Remember a few days before you left... pinging Simon's head off the ground like a ball?"
"Syphon! Oh, I never espected to see you again!" They hugged and then Feldor added. "You'll have to tell me the whole story."
"How 'bout I do it over some drinks, care to join me at the Golan Inn?"
"Aye, that sounds like a plan."
The three of them walked to the Golan Inn and sat down to some pints. The Inn hadn't changed much, even the same waiters though a little older now.
"Lots of memories in this ol' place. Are ye thinkin ye can keep up with me Doon." Feldor laughed.
"No, last time I tried I puked my guts out."
"I remember, they 'ad to clean the room. Ye missed the toilet and then laid there talking depressing to the cupboards, about how horrible it was being the prince of Fardel."
"Yeah, good times. Weren't we here to discuss strategy." Doon blushed.
Feldor threw down a map of Molco and the surrounding area.
"I took the liberty of looking over our enemies strength, which is significant. The terrain outside the wall is a nightmare, I believe the terrain and the walls defenders would be our greatest threats."
"My thoughts exactly how do we storm a fortress in the middle of a swamp."
"We take the terrain and the walls out of the equation, by taking a play out of our enemies book."
"What do you mean?" Doon asked looking confused.
"Molco is above our mines, we can come up from underneath them just as they did." Kephiyr clapped his hands and smiled.
"Brilliant why didn't I think of that. Are you certain we can do it?"
"Well, we've never attempted it before, but I believe properly placed explosives could make it work."
"There's a tower in the midst of the city, could we bring that down while we come up?" Kephiyr asked.
"It's a possibility we'll just have to figure out where to place them."
"Their forces are still formidable, Amy plan on how to deal with the different enemies?"
"Aye, the orcs are easy. We attack in waves and use a phalanx. Archers behind us should deal with the most of the enemy just fine. For the hydra we have explosives. We're quite used to dealing with hydras. Dozers present a unique problem but we've found some interesting ways of dealing with them. Explosives work best for the trolls too other then that you just need brute force. However Wolfmen I have no experience with."
"Think of Wolfmen as bigger stronger orcs who are more proficient at magic and are easier to anger."
"Hmm, easier to anger, we might be able to use that to our advantage. Do they go into a rage, reckless abandon as the orcs do?"
"Yes, though it's far scarier."
"I think I can cook something up."
"Good how long do you need?"
"Give us a month, maybe two and we'll be ready."
"Good, very good. Enough business, let's drink and have some fun."
"Aye, that sounds like a plan."
Phex and Cipher stood looking on inside the Golan Inn. The three of them were pounding back pints and playing pool. Phex looked amused as Kephiyr attempted to beat Feldor at pool. Every time one of them sunk a ball the other took a shot of the hard stuff.
"Well at least we have an idea of how much time we have to prepare. We must keep a closer eye. Our lack of presence in Legionor almost ended tragically. " Cipher said..
"It's always business with you. Aren't you amazed at this? At who He chooses, why Syphon? Why didn't he just abandon these people in the beginning? It would've been easier."
"Love doesn't take the easy path, it takes the right path."
"Yes, but He could've just started over. To create all He had to do was speak, to save them He had to bleed. Not to mention carrying on with a faithless prideful people."
"Yes it is amazing, but do I need to remind you that time is pressing? And the question of how the enemy discovered his importance disturbs me."
"I'm not sure, I suppose we must be on our guard now more then ever. May I have some extra support in guarding Kephiyr?"
"I will send Gorman and Machel to help you. I will go and prepare our army, when I'm done with the preparation I will join you again.
Doon left to the restroom and Feldor stopped the game.
"Kephiyr, I'm going to have to trust you with a secret. If Kelpon still plans to attack us are you on our side?"
"I am on your side my friend."
"I believe you. We have a secret entrance not far from Legionor."
"I can't guarantee anyone else with me will be."
"That's not good news, but I have a solution for that. A potion that you an mix in a regular drink. It causes amnesia within twenty four hours of drinking it. I'll just need to make a lot of it."
"Okay I'll tell Kelpon if he gives us two months we can promise victory."
"To promise victory; that is to ensure defeat." Kephiyr looked at him funny. "Dwarf saying." Feldor said with a laugh.
"Well I guess that makes sense." Kephiyr laughed and bid Feldor goodnight. He walked toward his old home and sat beside his parents graves looking up at the stars.
"I don't know if I can do this. My temptations overwhelm me and circumstances gnaw at my mind. I don't think I can live this close to falling. I thought by now I'd have life under control by now. Yet I struggle every day with the temptation to compromise. Your Word will be a fruitful seed. Help me prepare the soil of my heart. Dig up the stones, pull out the weeds of this imperfect vessel. I can't stand alone, I will fall on my own. Keep me in my trials for I am afraid of my own intentions." There was short silence as the wind rustled through the leaves. Then a still small voice in his heart.
"My grace is sufficient."
"Sometimes my life doesn't make sense at all. The mountains look so big, and my faith just seems so small. And I wake up in the night and feel the dark. It's so hot inside my soul I swear there must be blisters on my heart. Surrender don't come natural to me. I'd rather fight you for something I don't really want; then take what You give that I need. And I've beat my head against so many walls, now I'm falling on my knees. So hold me Lord, cause I'm shaking like that leaf. You've been King of my glory; won't You be my Prince of Peace?" A sudden wave of calm swept over him and he sighed deep and got up to head home. He blew a kiss and waved goodbye to the gravestones.
Diabolos stood on the pinnacle of the castle looking over his army.
"If only it could stay like this, thousands of imps looking at me like a God. Me as the head master." He sneered; as much as he enjoyed being in charge, he despised the orcs. Of course there wasn't much he didn't despise. He hated his now invisible masters, he hated his subjects, he hated his enemy, he hated himself. He loved dealing out pain and misery, and that was the one thing he loved. He looked south of the stinking marsh lands. It had been nearly three months since he failed his first attack. He punched the wall angry at himself.
"Then again if the little imp orc leader had included all their strength and not just what was present... No matter, they all got what they deserved." Just then there was an explosion and one of the towers fell.
Fifteen thousand warriors from Legionor joined the Dwarven troops in the Mira forest.
"Time to kill us some orcs." Feldor said with a laugh. He was wearing full armor and welding a huge Warhammer. His armor was thick and covered nearly his entire body even his hands. His helmet was dome shamed. He lead them to a cliff and knocked three times; suddenly the shape of a huge door appeared etched in the stone. The door slowly opened and the men were met by the smell of roasting pork. Huge columns with hundreds of torches were set along jeweled walls. As they looked down into the vast abyss, rivers of gold and silver and other precious metals ran this way and that. Dozens of ovens with various food were scattered here and there.
"Welcome to Mendenhall, it's about a days journey to the spot where we exit. Keep in file, we shall eat and rest before we attack." Feldor said and lead them on. After a days journey the dwarves set up explosives on the ceiling, and cooked a delicious meal. They gave the men a twenty four hour potion to cause them to forget their secret entrance. After eating a meal of pork and potatoes the men settled in dwarf sized accommodations. They rested that night in order to prepare for battle the next day.
After blowing up the ceiling Kephiyr and Feldor were the first on the battlefield. The tower fell on one of the hydras crushing it to death. Kephiyr severed an orcs leg followed swiftly by his head. Then he took his bow to clear a path. Seven arrows sang, one hit a troll through the eye. Three hit orcs, one through the heart, another in the throat, and another through the temple. The other three hit wolf men striking them through the heart.
An orc flew from above knocking Kephiyr's bow out of his hands. Before he could make his final blow Feldor broke his hip with the hammer. As the orc screamed Feldor made his way slowly up his body hitting him five times with the hammer, before finishing him off.
"A bit excessive don't ya think." Kephiyr said.
"Nah, the little creaton deserved it, plus it intimidates the ones still standing."
"We have to find the wraith and end this."
"We will. But no problem having a little fun in the process."
Feldor tackled another orc and then crushed his hands one at a time. He then let him up and the orc looked at him in fear as he winced.
"Well come on! Yer not givin' up are ye?" Feldor mocked and as the orc turned to run he broke both his legs and his hip. However, he just let the orc lie screaming and broke the skull of a troll with one swing.
Abah charged forward stabbing a Wolfman through the heart. He severed and orc in two and was then attacked by a dozer. His sword flung from his hand, he held the deadly mandibles inches from his face. Abeh was right there for support and stabbed the dozer through the head. His blade coming right between Abah's hands.
"A bit close for comfort, but thanks." Abah said picking up his sword and beheading a goblin.
Abeh sounded a horn calling for the next wave of troops. He surveyed the scene, they were making headway but were also sustaining a fair amount of losses. However just then another hydra came bursting around the corner. The hydra already had five heads, two of which were devouring men. It's heads slithered through the crowds with perdition, snatching up men and devouring them rather quickly.
"Don't cut off the heads!" Abeh shouted and threw a rock at the hydra to get it's attention. He then promptly ran toward the Dwarven demolition squad with the hydra close on his heels.
"Kill it! Kill it now!" Abeh shrieked as he ran. The hydra snatched Abeh from the ground lifting him high into the air. Before the hydra bit down the dwarves struck it with three explosive arrows. The hydra fell dead and Abeh barely escaped with his life.
At the that point Diabolos flew into the battle, taking men into the air and stabbing them several times, before letting them fall. He then tore the throat out of another man with his teeth, before he felt a sudden change in the atmosphere. This worried him, he knew the sentinels had broken through the lines of wraiths.
Phex and Cipher stood outside with a legion of sentinels waiting behind them. They looked on the old city, remembering a time when it had been run by amots. Rather than a swamp a lush forest grew around it. The once white stone now had a black and green hue.
"Are we really waiting until Kephiyr attacks? Why not just attack now?" Phex said perplexed.
"We wait to be sure so we don't loose valuable men." At that moment there was an explosion and a tower fell. Cipher blew a horn and the sentinels charged toward them flying with swords drawn.
Phex cut a wraith in two and dodged a blow from his left. He sliced through the wraith and threw a fireball toward another. Just afterward, Saiyr a very powerful wraith rammed him from behind. He broke his wing off as they landed and Phex screamed in pain. Savoring his kill Saiyr stalked his prey like a wolf would a trapped deer.
"Phex, we will win eventually; there's still time to join us."
"How could I join you, traitor!"
"You're a strong warrior, but we have you beat, you'd have everything."
"What does it profit to gain everything and loose my soul?"
Saiyr cringed at the words but only for a moment. Then he stabbed Phex through the heart sending him back across the void.
"Have it your way." He scoffed.
Cipher used a huge spear skewering three wraiths in one stroke. He then beheaded another and flew to Phex's aide a moment too late. He threw a fireball at Saiyr but he smacked it back at him like a ball knocking Cipher to the ground.
"Send forth all legions! No mercy! Saiyr cried and the wraiths broke rank pursuing sentinels whichever way they could. The sentinels broke lines and flew in several directions. Unknown to Saiyr, Cipher threw a glowing orb into the sky.
Saiyr turned back to Cipher.
"I expected more of you. You come at me with one legion, I completely overprepared. Insulting, I have you outnumbered at least four to one."
Cipher laughed.
"Always looking at only what's right in front of you. Who says I brought just one legion?"
At that moment six more legions emerged from the clouds raining fiery arrows down on the unsuspecting wraiths. They dropped out of the sky one after another and were routed.
The moment the atmosphere changed Diabolos took to the air escaping for his life. He was a bowshot out of the city when an arrow fired by Kephiyr's bow struck his wing. He plummeted to the ground and quickly hid in one of the many pools. Kephiyr wasn't far behind, however he was unable to find him.
"I know I hit him, we have to end this!" Kephiyr exclaimed while they searched.
"Kephiyr the sun is setting it will be pitch black out here soon. We have to seal the hole before the night comes. The beast is wounded, he'll make for Tukor. We will meet him there. Now that he is flightless he'll be like a rat in a trap." Feldor said and they turned aside to the mines.
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