Tweet
A muffled crunch was the only retort as the hammer collided with the demon’s neck, its now-lifeless body crumpling to the stone floor. Altherion let out a grunt of satisfaction, tossing the hammer to the ground after her. A resonating hum echoed throughout the chapel as he drew his blade and turned to confront the others. “Now for the thralls” he thought bitterly, the very idea of killing them seeming to leave a bad taste in his mouth.
He turned only to meet the grinning face of an armoured man, eyes filled with rapt madness. Altherion’s own eyes widened in alarm and he pulled back his arm to strike, but it was already too late. The man’s hand seemed to move in slow motion, a hazy darkness surrounding it. Altherion watched in horror as the hand, impossibly, passed through his wardings as if they didn’t exist. As it touched his chest his breath caught in his throat, a pain like nothing he had felt constricted his chest. The man cackled with glee as the blade dropped from Altherion’s limp fingers and his legs gave out beneath him, his heart giving its last few stuttering beats and then nothing.
His last fading glimpse of the living world was the gibbering priest looking around in confusion for his master, letting out a mournful keening upon spotting her corpse. Then darkness enveloped him.
Suddenly, there was sound. The darkness gave way to a busy clamouring and his vision was encompassed by a bustling sea of creatures and humanoids of every variety imaginable. Looking down at his own hands, Altherion realised his armour was gone, the golden skin of his arms was visible in the pale light of this strange place.
For the first time, a sense of dread began to creep across his consciousness. Towering creatures with bat-like wings slowly traversed the throng, some with small entourages, seemingly arguing with or organising the patchwork collection of petitioners. “Why am I here?” he thought to himself despairingly, “I have served the Seldarine faithfully…is this then my reward?”
And finally, he saw her.
The recognition was instant, like one might recognise a family member returning from a long journey. Her beauty took his breath away, flowing red fair framing a striking Elfin face with large, almond shaped eyes. It was there that similarity ended, for the creature stood taller by far than any Elf, her white feathered wings folded gracefully behind her, a golden light spilling from her eyes.
As he watched in awe, she gently traced the back of her hand across the cheek of a young Silver Elf, an expression of peace suffusing their features as they slowly faded to nothing. Suddenly, as if catching his scent, she looked up directly at him. Then she smiled, and the words came to his mind even though her lips had not moved. It was time to go home.
He turned only to meet the grinning face of an armoured man, eyes filled with rapt madness. Altherion’s own eyes widened in alarm and he pulled back his arm to strike, but it was already too late. The man’s hand seemed to move in slow motion, a hazy darkness surrounding it. Altherion watched in horror as the hand, impossibly, passed through his wardings as if they didn’t exist. As it touched his chest his breath caught in his throat, a pain like nothing he had felt constricted his chest. The man cackled with glee as the blade dropped from Altherion’s limp fingers and his legs gave out beneath him, his heart giving its last few stuttering beats and then nothing.
His last fading glimpse of the living world was the gibbering priest looking around in confusion for his master, letting out a mournful keening upon spotting her corpse. Then darkness enveloped him.
Suddenly, there was sound. The darkness gave way to a busy clamouring and his vision was encompassed by a bustling sea of creatures and humanoids of every variety imaginable. Looking down at his own hands, Altherion realised his armour was gone, the golden skin of his arms was visible in the pale light of this strange place.
For the first time, a sense of dread began to creep across his consciousness. Towering creatures with bat-like wings slowly traversed the throng, some with small entourages, seemingly arguing with or organising the patchwork collection of petitioners. “Why am I here?” he thought to himself despairingly, “I have served the Seldarine faithfully…is this then my reward?”
And finally, he saw her.
The recognition was instant, like one might recognise a family member returning from a long journey. Her beauty took his breath away, flowing red fair framing a striking Elfin face with large, almond shaped eyes. It was there that similarity ended, for the creature stood taller by far than any Elf, her white feathered wings folded gracefully behind her, a golden light spilling from her eyes.
As he watched in awe, she gently traced the back of her hand across the cheek of a young Silver Elf, an expression of peace suffusing their features as they slowly faded to nothing. Suddenly, as if catching his scent, she looked up directly at him. Then she smiled, and the words came to his mind even though her lips had not moved. It was time to go home.
