Witnessing the Lich's creation, only to fight against a spawn of Hel

[14:19] At this point in his life, the Lich was so used to loss everything he held dear - it had become routine.. Even so, since when was he someone who lowered his head and allowed others do what they wanted with what belonged to him?

No, he would never be like that.

Never allow something like this.

So it was time to make his judgment, for his chains to be stretched beyond the limits of reason - into the depths of helheim tartar, to bring something that belongs to him.. Back.

Someone.

For this, an enormous ritual had been prepared, which for weeks received the lives of countless people captured by the hordes of the Lich - runes created from a stone of Helheim, a tome with the ancient scriptures of binding spirits used for it - in addition to providing a catalyst, one that carried mana from Hecate.. A eye of its champion.

Everything was ready, everything would go well.

As it was the Eternal's will.

"Today.. I welcome everyone who has come to see my show, mainly for everyone who has come to help today - as this is the day we got to say 'Enough!' to the creatures of Helheim who take everything from us!

Yes.. Yes..

Today we will rip from these accursed lands, something that had been taken from me by them a long time ago.." A pause, his arms were outstretched to the side and he prepared for one last speech, "Today is the day that we formally declare the beginning of the war against the Marquise of Helheim, Hecate! And the world shall tremble before us." At last his voice would echo loudly, in a spectral way that penetrated the minds of everyone present..

As everyone should listen.

And now, his mana flowed from his hands.. Invading the bodies of the prisoners he had prepared for this, who now had their lives drained and used as a catalyst in that huge process! In which the lich concentrated all at once on the Third Eye of Marius at the center, which in turn flowed with the putrid energy, which was directed into the center of the circle of runes.

Thus giving start.. To the end.
(Nidaz)
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[14:20] Snow says, "Cool show to look at"
[14:25] Kupi says, "Yea pretty cool"
[14:25] {NARRATION} A split caves through the sands and hollows out the gold, a thin, narrow rapture that pulls apart the stone beneath, the sudden outpoor of fire spilling up from the depths. Hecate had accepted the invitation, and with it dozens of ghastly spirits writhe out of the temporal chasm, dozens of nethradin moving like wild banshees through the humid desert heat, towards the sky, escaping.

Several familiar figures also emerge...

Dimitri, Marius, and the soul the Necromancer had sought to claim... Hina.
[14:26] Snow says, "Wow cool"
[14:32] ". .Shadow, decimate and devour in the name of your Mistress. Do not disappoint." A gloved hand motioned out towards the Shadow as the Master of the Menagerie gently floated out from the portal.

His shadow would skitter out from behind him, the monstrous Arachnid Mortia chittering and snapping out as her multiple maroon eyes took in the assorted. .Docro lackies and over-all nuisances that stood nearby.

A wicked smile would be sent the way of all who were watching him. The spotlight was something the Nethradin was visibly drinking in, black light surging beneath deathly pale 'flesh'.

". .mm- the Mortals decide they wish for a performance? Wonderful. Simply wonderful.

My pets have been growing antsy."

With a shrill cry from the Arachnid at the Nethradin's side, a multitude of different and horrifying beasts would swarm out from the portal, intending the crash into whatever masses.

Slobbering, snarling, laughing, crying- a Menagerie of ones wildest Nightmares marched upon mortal soil this night, and for one night only.

All the while the violinist floated down towards the Lich at the center of his circle, a crooked and vile staff in his hands as he tilted his head. "So- who are you?"
(Dimitri Asimov)
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[14:35] Oh, how long had it been, then, since she had stepped foot onto Essharan soil?

It was hard to remember, really. It was hard to remember anything - months to them were years to her, decades passing by onwards and onwards as, well...

Hina, then, had done her job. Forty-six years to the day, then, is what she remembers; forty-six years since her rebirth within the halls of Hecate, breath stilled and heart unbeating. A bounty claimed from her work, a connection with the Meadow; reaping and sowing, a defensive position in the heart of Her empire.

But...

Of course, that didn't stop them from emerging nonetheless. Dozens of ghastly spirits emerge, wild banshees within the humid desert heat. An outpouring of fire. Of screaming.

At the peak of painful beauty, then, is where the woman sits. A mask whispered away from her face with the unreality of illusions reveals purple eyes that glance over the crowd. A smile comes to her face, as a singular motion treads what the most astute could claim to be something else purple.

Seeds, perhaps.

And then a grin spread across her face, revealing fangs amidst her sparkling white teeth. "Ah. So this is what it looks like. Green... so, so green..."

Just as normal, she is here to watch - although based on the branch that she grasps within her hands, it's debatable whether or not she's unwilling to fight. There's a twirl that carries just a few more of those lilac dots with it onto the breeze before she sits down, a voracious smile having settled in.

"I'm flattered that all of you showed up. That means the Menagerie is going to have such fun today...!"
(Hina Asimov)
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[14:36] The gates of Hel would bust right open.

And from it came countless monstrosities. Demons, Nethradin, banshees, and three unique individuals that Esshar had seen plenty of times before.

Dimitri, the Fiddler. A man who had waged war upon Esshar itself in the name of his lady. A violinist who had spread the name of Hecate across the entire continent.

Hina, the Caretaker. They had been summoned here because of her presence. Nidaz's desire to obtain his ex-wife had grown to the point of penetrating Hel itself. She was the target, the goal. Nidaz wished for nothing more than to regain her soul.

And Marius, the Traitor. He had left his Family behind for this life. His soul had descended into Hecate's realm upon his death at the hands of the Mire dwellers. But ever since then he'd be reunited with his Lady. That's all he ever truly wanted, but now he was drawn back into the world of living to enact her will.

A harrowing melody wouldecho from the portal's maw. A melody many could recognize from either Hina or Dimitri. A melody that Marius would dance to, just as he did while alive. The Ebon Guard would be sent forward on a rampage, unchained and unrestricted in their destruction. Their leader would have other plans, a more targeted focus.

Flaming eyes peered over at the gathered crowd. Many familiar faces, all of which weren't allies anymore.

"It's nice to be back.

I don't remember the last time I've been able to put on a show for the masses.

I dedicate this dance to you..."

His eyes would shift to Nidaz, and a glance was given to Marius' very own third eye that stood in the midst of the ritual circle.

"It's nice to see you again, Nidaz. I hope you're ready for the encore." Unlike Dimitri, Marius knew exactly what this was for and who everyone was that was gathered. This was nothingnew.

Just another waltz.
(Marius)
[14:46] The gates of Hel arose once more.

Once more would he find himself captivated by it's spectacle. Hellish flames arose towards the Lich's called. Golden spectacles stared at the figures ahead, unable to identify any as a collective of responses called from ahead.

Corners of his lips curled, splaying wide as his hands clasped against the other. Enjoying the joyous occasion that the Lich King themselves had granted them all with . A remembrance of fallen magi, individuals that laid claim towards the pyramid of life. Incapable proving their worth while alive, falling captive towards the weakness that plagued them all.

Strength proved dominance. Without it? You were bound to die. It was inevitable factor that ruled over all, even Primordial and Divines.

"Let's get this show started shall we?"
(Acheron Erebus)
[15:27] "Pathetic, you threw away everything you've achieved in life.. Really, a failure." He would shake his head, clearly contemptuous of the Nethradin's words.

And on they would go, as Nidaz went through rifts and appeared close to Dimitri, delivering blows with Aeternuslyn that cut through the fabric of reality! From where beams of cosmic energy were fired towards the Asimov.

What a thing..

"You've become Hecate's mutt! A vermin.. But don't worry, when I'm done with you - I'll put you to better use, and then we'll rip out your mistress's soul.

MMmm.. It will be a nice addition to the resources for my war against the Primordials." More words would echo, before the necromancer advanced again..

Where even if hit by biting winds, in addition to waves of sound - his living armor it received the impact and it just regenerated it over the fight.. Nothing could stop the march of the dead..

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to-u6XCDWrY]]
(Nidaz)
[15:36] His mind could not focus with the Lich's constant blabbering about how he knew of what he did in life, how he is a disappointment- too much noise.

"ENOUGH."

The Lich would be sent flying away from the Nethradin after he was unable to hold back against his advance. Ebon winds went back to begin swirling around Dimitri in an attempt to deflect the incoming blows of the skeletal arches as he collected himself.

". .I- . .don't know what in the Hel you are talking about- and I will have NONE OF IT.

Shut up, and fight."

Irritation. So much of it, for the talk of memories and things he couldn't view past the fog of his mind. Whatever force twisted him took whatever these mortals were discussing about from his mind-

And it was getting on his nerves.

Suddenly, the rather large Arachnid would skitter out from the Violinist's shadow as the music grew louded.

"Mortia, deal with the undead. They're tedious.."
(Dimitri Asimov)
[15:42] With every moment that passed, more and more rifts around the desert appeared - more and more the world was distorted, filled with the dissonant whispers and Their presence.

They are here.. To watch..

Hel against the Avatar of the Void.

And everything was torn apart before the presence of such forces, Hel and Void danced that night - where as always, the Lich was ready to give a great show!

One.. Hel.. Of.. The Show.

"Where is your misstress now, Nethradin." In the end that was the only thing the Lich would say, before continuing his unstoppable advance - which was only powered by the inherent chaos of the battlefield.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsvzP8EO65w]]
(Nidaz)
[15:45] {NARRATION} While the spirits of Rhoynish long since passed continued to battle against the unending waves of Nethradin that spewed forth from the rift like a plague, a new force begins to make their presence known. While the lifestream continued to screech out in pain, a new unfamiliar scream would begin to join in the chorus of madness.

Perhaps scream isn’t an apt way to describe it.

A roar seems more fitting.

From the rift, two massive crimson hands reach out gripping either side of it, and before anyone can utter anything, the beast pulls itself onto Esshar. A massive, amalgamation of flesh takes to the stage. With each step it takes, the ground beneath its feet begins to shake, and when it rears its head back into another roar, pillars of flames sprout up all around it.

It rushes through the ongoing battle between the Nethradin, and Ancestors, tearing through anything unfortunate enough to find their way into its path. Its sights were set on the plethora of magi looking over the battle between the forces of Hecate, and The Family.

It didn’t look too happy.
[15:58] It sounded as if hell was screaming itself.

A rift tore through reality as a Nethradin spewed forth like a plague. Despite the calamity that was going on from the Lich and magi that came back from the dead. Another anomaly pulled itself forward, corrupting the lands as the amalgamation took the stage.

With each step spawned a miniature earthquake, it's essence pulling away from reality as it's very existence wasn't warranted on the physical plane. Pillars of flames erupted from the ground, as hellfire energies tore the peninsula asunder.

"Seems like Esshar will never get a break."

A grin broke out as he opened his arms wide, welcoming the atrocity that came before the several magi that stood nearby.

As rifts tore open, Acheron could feel it's very essence breaking the fabric of reality, calling pleasure to his name as he embraced the mayhem that unleashed itself before their very eyes.

"Let's do this shall we?"
(Acheron Erebus)
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16:38] {NARRATION} With one final Helish roar from the horrific amalgamation of flesh, its assault upon the magi would commence. Pillars of both raw, and occultic flames would burst throughout the desert, tearing into anyone unfortunate enough to be even remotely close to them. All while shadowy tendrils lashed out against the very world.

Yet, this was just one creature. A massive one at that, but he was alone, against an army. There was only so much it could do. Oh, and the army had a mech, so that lowered the chance of the creature succeeding drastically.

The ragtag group of fighters that mustered the courage to face the creature unleashed an unrelenting stream of magic, barraging the fiend until there was very little it could hardly muster a defense. Yet, the creature refused to die, its screams grew louder, and louder, as flames, and shadows alike began to lash out from it.

Which is when a light breaches the darkness, as Ezra arl Ravus manages to land the finishing blow! Which was only possible due to everyone else present’s continuous assault on the monster.

Mere moments later, it topples over.

The beast had been slain.
[16:51] "Pathetic."

The calamity continued to rampage about the lands, rift's tearing in and out of reality as flames corrupted the lands. Several of combinations of magic worked in unison to battle against the amalgamation. Combating it as they tried to shove the beast back into Hel into which depths should never be explored.

Soaring from above, Acheron provided support towards those who stood amongst the ground. Striking the creature with metaphysical blows as the gravitational pull of the world flipped over to bewitch the creatures standings. Forcing it off balance as it pulled it towards it's will combatting against the hellish energies that spewed forward.

Reality shifted and pulled, tearing open from the Erebus's attacks as he continued his onslaught to finally aid in the beast's defeat. Bringing it down once and for all.

His chest rose and fell as his breath dragged.

Sweat fell from his brow as he looked at the mayhem from above, watching it ever closely as the unthinkable had happened once again.

What else was in store for Esshar?
(Acheron Erebus)