This story was written by me, so you know it wont be great or anything, but expect a nice picture, cant have a story without a picture
The Lords Council: Palermo (before the end of the war)
General Asmodeus arrived in the Arrived in the Royal Court of Admiral Sancho Jimenez the Lords Council meeting was here and it only highlighted Sanchos powerful influence in these meetings. The room was decorated with carvings of past Balearic Victories and on the ceiling was the story of gods and creation of man, The Bodyguards of each lord lined the wall and Asmodeuss were already joining them, but it seemed Asmodeus was late as the 3 other lords already sat around the table discussing something.
(Ordulf Jimenez ruler of Sardinia and Corsica, Edgar Rurikovich ruler of Ibiza and Southern Iberia, Sancho Jimenez ruler of Mallorca, Menora and Sicily
Ordulf BAH you neednt have bothered coming Asmodeus, weve already reached a decision
Sancho Now that the war is over Tangiers shall be ours
Asmodeus Tangiers? What about Portuguese terrorizing France, we must help our allies, how can you turn your back on them now
Ordulf If the French cant protect their own lands thats their problem
Sancho I agree Ordulf, we also have reports that the Ravennans want the Portuguese colony, we cant let them have it
Ordulf Damn right we cant!
Sancho Quite, so we need your men to accompany Ordulfs to Tangiers where you will seize the colony and stop any Ravennan attempts to take it
Asmodeus I shall do no such thing, MY men shall be marching north, where we shall aid our allies in crushing the Portuguese once and for all
Edgar WHAT! All actions must have the approval of the council
Ordulf Aye yar bastard, after all the help we sent to your blasted colonists
Sancho Now now Asmodeus, we always have this trouble when youre voted down, but it always ends the same way
With that Asmodues stormed out of the room along with his relieved bodyguards, it was getting quite ugly in their and they were outnumbered if the worst happened.
Northern Iberia
The Town of Tarroca is the capital of Northern Iberia, Asmodeuss lands, but unlike Palermo it is a small and dismal place the only noteworthy part of the town is the port. Because of the war against Portugal many people in these lands are without food, because the invaders burnt down many farms along the river Ebro. But on Asmodeuss return the towns looked distinctly different many temples to the gods were deserted and some were even partially burnt, when he left on his journey to the Balearics the temples were overflowing with people asking the gods for help in these dark times.
Thats what I wanted to tell you sir, many people have joined this strange cult, this man is telling everyone the gods dont answer their prayers because they are dead or imprisoned by the creator, the Hidden one
. The err
.
Yes I know the stories, I may not be deeply religious but everyone knows the creator doesnt answer anyones prayers, hes not even a real god
I know sir but the people ar..
Bring this heretic to me I will deal with him, I dont want some mad man bringing the wrath of the gods upon my lands
The palace of Tarraco was practically bare except for the throne and the occasional painting or carving, but it was the biggest building in the town that had to count for something, while Asmodeus waited for the heretic to be brought forth he thought about the Structure of the Balearic Empire, Sancho Jimenez basically controlled the empire his word was final, thanks to the pathetic rule of Edgar Rurikovich his lands basically belonged to Sancho but instead of taking them outright he kept Edgar as his puppet an extra vote on the council. He contemplated something that had plagued his thoughts since he began his rule of Northern Iberia lands, Independence. It was then the old man was brought before him, wearing some brown dirty robe and using a cane to help him walk.
Is this the Heretic?
I am no heretic oh great lord, I am a messenger of god
You preach that the gods are dead, so how can you be a messenger from them?
I was sent a vision, a great man covered in metal armour wielding a great sword told me the gods had been slain, that we knew him as the Hidden one and he had returned to his rightful place to guide his people and protect them against evils
So where was your god when we fought the Portuguese? If he protects us from evils why did the war last so long and cost us so much life?
Are you so blind Asmodeus! That was Tiama...
Ive had enough of this, just lock him up
You will see the truth Asmodeus, all of us will in the end
The Preacher was dragged from the room kicking, screaming and damning everyone in the room to eternal suffering.
What should we do with his followers sir?
Send them home
But my Lord they wont take kindly to the news of the heretics imprisonment, they have attempted to burn the temples on numerous occasions
Where is my army? Why didnt they stop these people?
They are returning from Pyrenees sir, they drove the Portuguese into the mountains
Then tell the heretics
. Im being converted, but when my army arrives have them slaughter these blasphemers
Delusions
The Crystal Spire lay just ahead, the awe inspiring home of the gods shining like a beacon of hope before my path. But then a foul many-headed beast emerges from the darkness it is followed by the spirits that Balpheron damned to eternal torment, The Gods descend from the Spire to turn back the beast, the beast is Tiamat I know that now, from the home of the gods.
Savros, Garagos and Bane the three strongest gods lead the army of good against Tiamats foul horde, the great flashes of power make me avert my I eyes and as I look down I can see my people standing fast against the Portuguese hordes, Tiamat isnt content with destroying the gods she wants to destroy their chosen people as well.
Then a great Thunderous noise greet my ears an explosion of awesome strength rocks the battle site of the gods as Garagos the god of war is slain, the Crystal Spire cracks and smashes down upon the battlefield killing some of the Spirits and weaker gods, I can see the gods weakening, Bane falls mortally wounded before the damned spirits tear him apart, but Tiamat only grows in power.
When all seems lost, a Blinding light shines from above driving back the damned spirits, then I great armoured figure steps out of the light, Tiamat is stricken with fear she attempts to take flight and escape back to the shadows, but he is faster and stronger she tries to defend from his mighty sword, but it cuts into her and absorbs her as her dieing screams fade away. The gods think they are saved but it isnt true his booming voice sounds out across the Heavens YOU HAVE FAILED IN YOUR TASK he kills them all like he killed Tiamat .
There was a long silence in the Prison cell before either of the men spoke, Asmodeus had been receiving this same vision whenever he slept since the old man had been imprisoned and now he had come to the 'preacher' perhaps the only one who could help him.
Is that what your vision was like preacher? Was that how you were given the message from god?
. Yes
Yes Asmodeus that is how I was given this task before me, it seems you are destined for something great too
But what do we do, how do we honour him? Must we build a great temple give offerings? What!
The old temples must be burnt down, that is obvious we need no longer honour failures, I believe after this is down we shall receive the next vision in time
Of course
..high priest of
High priest of Helm
But is he not the Hidden one?
In my vision I was given name in which to call him, it was Helm, perhaps it is because he is never without it
Of course high priest, I shall order my men to burn and destroy the temples immediately
