Sacrifice!

[*Selebius]

"This is exactly what I was thinking. The witch, this champion.... and the followers of Xvim on the other side. This whole plane is going to be ground to dust in this conflict.

We need to make haste- try to avoid both sides... there are no allies here.

Lets resupply here, if you find other survivors we take them with us. Lets salvage from this plane what we can... and one day, perhaps... the harrmonium can return in full strenght to bring peace."

[*Krayt]

"Our men are still at the fortress. There is no telling how many there still is of the original forces sent here and how many are still loyal. Or how many this conflict have drawn into it. They could have grown into a army at the fortress by now. Our chances at taking it with this force are slim at best. This Underhell is another concern, Jacaal is based atop of the peaks and it hardly tunes well with that synonym. Thoughts on this Measure? "

Cian reached for the artifact with his gauntleted hands having being silent during the conversations between the elder pair. "Resistance by might is right."

[*Selebius]

He glances at Cian, down at the artifact. "Put that away, officer.", the Half Orc says then takes a deep breath.

"Your assessment is correct but we must not forget our mission. We have our orders, there might be people out there relying on us.

Another priority is to keep our men safe and get them back home."

Giving both of them a glance he then goes on: "However we are also Harmonium- and we should do what er can to bring some peace into this wartorn lands.

We stay true to our mission but... I agree." The last bit is said to Cian. "Resistance by might is right."

[*Krayt]

The priest spoke to Cian. "Think it better if the Measure took careof that for now. Resistance and prideful unyielding is not the same thing. You must be careful with the leavings of these beings. Take any noble thought too far without any temperance and you will find yourself blind to reason just like the man the measure just bested."

"We are Harmonium" Said Cian with some reluctance he lowered his hand.

The priest spoke again while glancing at the young Cian with a slightly accusing gaze. "Many may be misguided even if they not of dark blood as the being you just fought measure. But Lost beyond hope? I think not."

[*Selebius]

"Few things are ever really lost and then it isoften because of a choice made and not because of realities that cannot be overcome.

I hesitate to lend our strenght to either side but it seems it is the followers of Xvim are those who oppose us most directly and so they will suffer the consequences.

Lets reast here today, tomorrow we continue on our way."

[*Krayt]

"So far. I wonder how we will be received at the fortress. Either we are bound in chains or welcomed with open arms. I will need to consult the Vigilant One in prayer before catching a few hours of rest." The priest saluted and left the others.

Cian looked at the artifact in the hand of Hograth but didn't spoke until the priest had left them well beyond hearing range. It was unusual for him to speak as the half-orc had learned during their journey together.
"It could could have been me staying behind and choosing to continue the fight where the commanders sitting at their strategical meetings and conclude a tactical withdrawal without slightest thought about how it affect the people here. How can it be right to abandon them to the rule of this Godson.. this Xvim the Whitehand of his father Blackhand?"

[*Selebius]

"Thank you, cleric." Hograth gives a nod, the Jasidin always respectful to the members of alliied churches.

Listening to Cian he starts to eat himself now, realizing how hungry he is. It is just some stale bread, but better than nothing and he offers the fellow trooper a chunk of it as well. He bought it what seems to be ages ago in that small bakery in the Lady's ward where he and Caterina use to go for a tea and some bisquits.

The memories make him smile but then scolds himself for daydreaming- just another sign of how tired he is.

"I am not happy with this situation here at all. To let a prime slide into war and tyranny means we have failed. Failed as the Harmonium.

Yet we must remember that as it is now we simply lack the strenght to challenge the tyrants- and we are not exactly welcome here as far as the rest of the population is concerned.

Even if we suceed to deal a blow to Xvim chances are good the resistace here would turn against us, seeing us as another oppressor.

So what can we do? As I see it we have three options. The first is to withdraw, learn what we can from the intelligence gained and return with sufficient strenght to bring peace to this plane.

The second is to let both sides grind each other to dust, then we move in to mop up the survivors, bringing this plane under Harmonium rule.

The third.... we ally ourselves with the resistance, work by their side, try to influence them to embrace our way while we do so. Hoping that they can rule this place in peace once this conflict ended, supported by a staff of Harmonium advisors.

This means... Underhell. I prefer this third option myself but nevertheless our mission is clear- we have to make contact with the survivors first- or verify that there are none left.

We cannot abandon them and we might learn something important."

[*Krayt]

"Perhaps that is what the former Harmonium sought to prevent by refusing to yield Jacaal to the forces of tyranny. To recapture it would take many Harmonium lives. Now they see us a threat to their resistence that could unmake all they have achieved during several decades. Tweenty years or more, not sure I would follow that order either in that situation to be frank."

The tall youth rose up and whisked a layer of snow that had built up on his shoulders from his grimson mantle. Lowering the visor on his helmet he walked a few steps past the Measure speaking with his Halberd resting on his shoulder.

"You should get some rest. It was a fierce fight and we have a long march ahead of us in the morrow. I will cover your patrol this night."

The shadows swallowed the soldier as he walked further from the bonfire they had been sitting at. Hograth found himself alone by the fire hearing the footsteps behind him distance themselves for each time they were heard crunching against the ice crusted snow.

((Longer post incoming.))

[*Selebius]

((Ok! No rush, looking forward to it!))

He did not answer the young soldier this time, staring into the fire for a few long minutes, thinking.

Then he gives in to his wearyness and goes to sleep, wrapped up tightly in his bedroll, still wearing his gambeson.

[*Krayt]

He fell asleep immediatelly. There was only the gentle crackling of the bonfire and the whisperhing lulling northern chillwind lingering in his mind as he drifted away.

He awoke in a shadowy landscape. Foreboding purple skies broaded over the firmament. Black rifts ran over the sky as cracks in a glass. Large segments falling from the heavenly doom. Around him was a barren black wasteland with glowing rivers of blood filling the crackled dark grounds greating islands between them. Impaled burning bodies hanging on jagged poles struggling to climb up which further rended their flesh while reaching for the top but only managed to get a few feet before the glode back down. Skinless and bloodied by uncharred by the agonising flames while their thews and entrails hanged from their skeletons getting more lacerated in their futile struggle. Their upstaring globes for eyes set on Hograth as they seemed to become aware of him. He knew these people his men and his loved ones, the dearest placed closest to him. Their faces could be seen in the distorted bleeding flesh as they twisted in anguish.

He sees the boy they just resqued standing infrom of him. But his features are not the same. A broad mouth with uneaven rows of sharp tooths. Flaming eyes which brilliance dominated the dark hellscape. A massive golden scepter in his small hands. He spoke with the power of a howling storm.

"I won. I am the new king of the hill. I am the new champion. I won't let you take it from me. Christos is old, too old he have held the honour beyond his time. You cannot stop me."

A horned helmed harmonium appears from nowhere Hograth recognise the voice ableit heavily altered into a screaming pitch as Cian's. Noticing the artifact affixed on his right knee with the runes dancings across it in crimson flashes of light.

"You are too young and feeble. Unworthy bug ready to be crushed and nothing more. I will be the next choosen and the most glorious of moments will be mine."