Drekazra has killed whatever was being created in an egg beneath Neolotl. He then corrupted the remains and has since birthed a creature of both Ghur and Shyish, beast and death, amber and amethyst. The creature isn’t nearly as big as Neolotl, but it is still massive, a creature that dwarfs all that it comes across.
As it has climbed up the inside curve of Neolotl it has killed all in its path, devouring souls and burning anything with a purple fire that casts a deathly glow into the sky. Now, it descends on the city atop Neolotle, and all who choose to ignore him will now pay the ultimate price.
Missive from Haldeburh Coldpath and Drythgren to Lady Beliania Fauncrest
“My lady Fauncrest, I pray to Sigmar that this message finds you well in this tumultuous time. I regret to inform you that the foray into the Nagashite’s forces was of little success. While many of the foul creatures fell to our blades, the Nagashites were too great for my warriors. The Dead-Beast seemed to give their necromancers and magicians untold power, and certainly bolstered the already unnatural resilience of their servants.
We were able to withdraw in good order, and I can only hope you were able to make use of the distraction we supplied. Attached are a number of reports from my followers.
Your Fervent Allies
Haldeburgh
Drythgren
Charred skeleton fell to the ground. Duke Alfrik, servant of Drekazra, suffered final death. Calva’s Thunderers cheered.
For now, everything was going well, but it was not over – undead beast and its master still threatened the lives of Nassolotyl’s citizens. But maybe killing this wretched ghoulcaller would end the spell reanimating the dragon. Calva loaded her gun and aimed. This one shot could decide the fate of Nassolotyl….
Result – Order’s victory.
Beliana,
It has been many years since you saved me from loss of life and financial ruin, and although I was but one of few surviving arkanauts of no rank, I have never forgotten. Your heroic intervention allowed me to reunite with my twin brother and make my fortune.
My captains tell me they’ve been working in coordination with defensive skyvessels of your city. They also say that atop one of the metaliths, you’ve already constructed a fortress in readiness. Allow me command of both your fleet and this floating fort. Since we last met, I have earned my commission and have seen battles of the sky no one not Kharadron could imagine. Your aerial forces need my leadership, and I could do much with the toolbox you’ve prepared.
You rescued me and returned me to all I hold dearest. Allow me this chance to repay all debts.
Sincerely,
Alflef Bugmansbur, Admiral of the Sons of Bugman AEC
P.S. If any of my officers or our ship doctor try tell you of how unwise it is for me to re-assume my command, tell them I will ask for them names of you later so that I may dock their shares.
—————
Alflef knew her officers disapproved, and none more than Endrinmaster Andersson (VII) who found constant excuse to fly back to the Poetic Mead and check in on her like he was a roosting hen, but she would not deprive Beliana Fauncrest the service of a proper admiral when three settlements on this codeforsaken land burned. No, the Code would never be satisfied if she had lain in convalescence and left the payment of this debt to others, and so instead she stood defiantly on the deck of her flagship, racing to cut off and restrict the movements of the undead beast determined to claim dominion of the skies.
But before she could array the many frigates of Nassollotyl into an effective blockade, they would need to cut through the recently raised shades of Ghur that now surged towards them. She has seen nighthaunt before, but never of this magnitude. At least two of their number were the size of gargants, and she did not want to test their ghostly strength against her hulls. Peeling off only with her personal fleet, she commanded the duardin of the Sons of Bugman AEC to commit themselves to battle whilst the city frigates soared on into position.
It was difficult to use their mobility to maintain maximum distance against an intangible force while holding the enemy away from the rest of the fleet; not all weapons would be effective either, but still they pelted the gargantuan spirits with drill, carbine, and sky cannon. The most effective assault was when the Frosty Mug II had been caught in close quarters: the crew, ever proud of their claw-arm great endrinwork, cried out the name of the duardin god of the dead, Gazul, for whom the Gazul’s Grip was named, and as if the god himself responded (Honour the Gods, Just In Case), the claw made contact with the spirit and held it in place for the crew to unleash volley upon volley of aethershot upon it. Alflef herself dealt the finishing blow, her skalfhammer infused with a new concoction of her brother’s that utilised the blood of Ghurish manticore. The creature’s death throes unnerved all present, but could not hold back the battle cheer and relief of those aboard when the ship was freed again to reposition away from the breaking tide of nighthaunt which was no longer a threat to the blockade.
Her ships now back with the main fleet, Alflef gripped the gunwale unsteadily, winded from battle exertion. But when Anders Anderson VII approached, she held up a fist commanding him to be silent. “No. “We shall keep that thing from the cities, by Bugman, by Gazul, and by every ancestor that will hear us,” she declared, her aether-lenses zooming in and fixing on the massive winged monstrosity that remained their primary target. “This debt shall be paid in full today.”
Neolotl was fast becoming a place of shadows. A dozen or so more made little difference, most tall, slender, swiftly flickering, one menacing and hobbling, the lasr small and feline.
The frames of these shades in life had named themselves phantasms. Whether this bold mockery had demanded a fitting punishment, or some other devilry was now at work, remained to be seen.
Raedheil, once of Excelsis, now Shorehaunter in truth and leader of Phantasms indeed, surveyed his last and most inseparable command. His Corsair kinsman, hot-tempered in life, cool and collected at last for a final stratagem. The Azyrite Assassin, in truth scarcely changed. The Wanderer scout, his particoloured costume now a strange motley of subtly dappling pearls and greys. The Feastmaster whirling faster than ever; the one-legged Vurm-tai headman bright with vengeance contemplated; the witchsighted cat calm but taut, and the Shadow Warriors earning their title more tenebrously than ever before.
“True Aelves. True Phantasms. A purpose is left to us,” Raedheil whispered in a murmur that carried to each of the twelve. “We find it in the heart of the beast of Ghur-Shyish.”
Eerie bow-strings sang, ice-gleaming edges alit, as the fallen True Aelves ran amok through the ghouls, deathrattle, deadwalkers, wights, spectres and Bonereapers of the enemy, intent upon their last and largest prey. Sometimes an aelven revenant was struck and seemed to dissipate, but always later in the fight it reformed itself, and the thirteen revengers cut harder and more delicately towards their quarry, their truly final reckoning.
“Go, my brave knights. Stand and let none approach Drekazra. You are immortal, and your service is eternal. Mortal blades and shot mean nothing to you. Forward!” Inquisitor Sinestor gestured in a sweeping motion, towards the approaching Kharadron airships.
“Fly and slay them in their ships. The sky will be no safe haven to them.”
The Champions Unremembered, elite shock troops of the Inquisition Templars, moved swiftly through the streets and rubble of Neolotl, evading the bombardments and arrows from the defenders of the city. Just like in Umberspire, they would slink through the shadows… and slay their enemies in silence, wherever they lay.
Sinestor turned and studied his Keeper. The gheist-mage was deep in trance, his staff following the movements of Drekazra’s gigantic realmbeast. Pulsing green flame spiraling out of its headpiece lantern… pulsing like a heartbeat.
“Soon. We just need a little longer. This is a technique worth coming here for. Drekazra has our thanks indeed, hehe. It is truly a beautiful creation, this beast. We apreciate this innovative prototype. We’ll make sure this method gets put into good use.”
———
The Inquisition of Umberspire supports Drekazra’s Alliance.
pictures: https://twitter.com/WH_Narratives/status/1443080888817012736?s=20
The Inqusition of Umberspire: https://thegreatweave.com/the-inquisition-of-umberspire/