Fire burns hot

We destroyed most of their vanguard. Any information to the invading force coming from the west will be severely limited. Satisfied we return to the security of the fortified city and the keep joining up with young von Kalb. Truly remarkable boy this is. Truly a symbol of the cliché “old man trapped in a boy’s body”. He looks like he just started shaving but still his actions and presence radiate a sense of calmness demanding attention and more importantly, respect. He will most likely make a fine ruler. If he survives. Chances are that he will be killed in the next couple of weeks.

Damnation and flames!

If only, there was more time. We must find a way to stall the invaders even more. Not just the ones across the river but also the ones coming north with the fleet. I find Miia and we discuss all that has happened. She is still in utter disbelief concerning the episode where we destroyed the books of Nagash. I grin to myself. This girl! She will make a fine wizard one day! I look over her notes and correct some technicalities concerning the casting and honing the hot wind. She is ready now. Ready for the most elemental castings.

However, like I struggled so will she. Finding a balance will be tricky. Extremely thin and fragile is the line between bravery and foolhardiness. Between success and death. Flames or ashes. Whilst talking to Miia a plan slowly trickles in. We had great luck summoning that fantastic and ferocious element of Aqshy earlier. He successfully gobbled up those evil books like a kid swallowing soft candy. Could he not do the same with the invading Norscans? The mere idea is both intriguing and intoxicating. Logi catches on as he reads my flaming emotions literally emanating from my body and commences at once to flurry madly around me. The court of von Kalb probably likes a show but with gunpowder kegs stacked high, I catch myself and reel it in a bit. I do however share my thoughts with sweet Sunniva who is equally excited, in her own non-fiery way of course.

We are invited in to the war council. Our presence is of great importance to the city’s defenses and they are therefore eager to hear our opinions. Johanna and Sweet Sunniva share with the war council details about the size and capabilities of the army to the west. The rest of us, Torgil, Johan, Wiktor and I stand behind, sort of backing their story. I see us. We must seem quite impressive and I notice that were it not for Von Kalb’s impressive leadership all eyes would be on us to take charge of this situation. Delicate. Very delicate. The enemy army is maybe a few days out. A week tops since they need to trek south to cross the river. They will need to go up into the hills before they can find a shallow spot to cross. Burning that bridge was a good move indeed. Not to mention satisfying. That lazy village and the lack of a functioning bridge will contribute a lot in slowing the enemy. Debating ensues but the council quickly make a vote to stay and fight. There is a narrow window to flee south and join up with the forces In Salzenmund but it is risky. Thousands of civilian’s lives depend on us. We have to make the right decision and we have to protect them from the forces of chaos. Staying our ground is folly but still perhaps the best solution and it seems like the only humane thing to do. Having reached this agreement, we launch our next idea. Harassing the fleet in the north to buy more time for Niske to get here- How do we achieve this? Another fiery friend will be summoned! Another humanoid form of raw unhinged Aqshy scorching flame will again aid us in our quest. This time it will aid in stalling the northern forces. Perhaps not only slowing them down but instilling some fear and respect as well. Wooden ships and men alike all burn nicely when exposed to raw roaring hot flame.

We need a fitting place to perform the ritual. The abandoned bridge city will do nicely. There is no time to waste. We saddle up and ride south. Reaching the remains of the small bridge city, we evacuate any remaining inhabitants. The ritual is thoroughly etched in my memory and I know all the words and all the movements. Still I feel my hands shake a bit. Initially anyway. Confronted with the immense power it is hard not to. I was barely able to control it last time. What now? Will it be the same? I gaze upon my hopeful companions. Innocent naïve friends. I hope that they will still trust me if they are forced to destroy the creature. The town has been cleared. We brought Miia to help in the ritual channeling. They all look to me now. Sweet Sunniva can always sense my emotions so I quickly shrug any doubts off and commence. All too familiar this ritual feels. I have felt this way before. I remember it now. It was when I was wearing the crown of Pallidus. It is laborious to channel. With the city ablaze, it helps but it still takes several long minutes before the ground start to tremble and the big red flames lick and flicker and confluence together. 

Together they weave, tighter and tighter, forming yet once more an enormous Jack O Cinders. Immediately I feel it tugging at me. I do not have control. It wants to lash out. It wants to set things on fire. I know how it feels but one of us must be the responsible one. We wrestle for several long seconds and I feel a searing flash of pain coursing through me as it tries to have his own way. I will though not have any of that. Doubling down I infuse a small piece of my own life essence into the magic and effectively seal the deal. It is bound. It belongs to me. I am its master.

I fall over from exhaustion. Sweet Sunniva helps me up. Miia is unconscious from fatigue. Poor thing. She did well though. Still we have to hurry back in order to catch the fleet before they make landfall along the northern coast. Again we ride. North this time. Big Red, as Logi calls him, follows rather nimbly behind us leaving a wide trail of scorched earth and burning trees, more than 20 yards to each  side. Well so much for subtleness. It was never my forte.

Reaching the city gates again on our way, it dawns on me how terrifying the creature must be to others. Women and children run and soldiers cower behind the walls. I am most of the time blind to see this. However, for all its beautiful golden hot glory I can imagine what a force of destruction it must seem. We try to calm them. Using its presence as a morale enhancer instead. Johanna succeeds somewhat in giving an inspiring speech. Somewhat. We do not linger long.

Continuing north along the coast seems like the only reasonable thing to do. Big Red will only last us for a few days at the most. Making use of it in lieu of the sacrifices made seems like a good idea.

After 2 days, we spot the fleet. They are about a kilometer out and by the looks of it preparing for landfall. Hundreds of harpies take flight to scout inland. We fall back a little and hide behind some sand dunes. Sticking out like a huge sore thumb (on fire!) Big red is soon spotted though. Game on. We brace for impact. Torgil fires a few taunting arrows attempting to draw a bigger crowd of Harpies. They take the bait. Little do they know what awaits them.

As they draw closer Big Red and I both unleash terrible blizzards of flame and cinders. Scores of harpies are suddenly ablaze. Panic ensues as they come close enough to realize what they are dealing with. Inciting real fear and terror, a lot of them flee back to the ships. Some though stay and fight. A glorious battle ensues. I hide between the legs of big red. The intense and unbearable heat exuding from its being discouraging any retaliatory attack on me. After a short while, the few remaining surviving harpies flee as well. We did though decimate their scouting force severely.

Not staying long enough to be within shooting range of their ships ballistae we retreat as well, further inland. Circling back half a day later we see that landfall has been made by several hundred Norscans, More are preparing to come. They are weary, probably looking for our return.

Taking to the skies with great flaming wings of Aqshy, Big Red accompanies me towards the beach. I conjure up yet another enormous blizzard of fire, flame and searing hot cinders in front of it, as we near the enemy. Cloaking its last approach in fire enables it to come right into the enemy midst. Utter chaos and terror ensues. Big Red has clear orders and starts cutting down Norscans as if they were weeds to a farmer holding a scythe. It is truly a glorious sight. Unfortunately, we cannot stay and watch the show. We must return and make preparations.

As we ride away, we see signs of fire and battle and hear the screams of enemy soldiers and things, soldiers and ships alike, being ablaze for a long time. More than 30 minutes out we still see what must be Big Red fighting but the suddenly the light flickers and dies out. Still we put up a good fight. It puts a smile to my face at least and I dare say it emboldened us all to think that we have a chance at surviving this.

Both enemies west and north have been slowed and blinded somewhat.

Upon our return to the city, we tell our stories as best we can to boost morale. Preparations are well underway but there is more to be done. The small town is filled to the brim with soldiers and civilians.

On the 4th day, Niske arrives with his army. Finally. They are all exhausted form the long forced march. He still brings relief to worried civilians. There is a sense of dread among the soldiers in the city though. They know that the end is nigh. With Niske here the Norscan invaders cannot be far behind. Settling in at the already overcrowded fortified city is not easy but somehow we all manage. Johan finds several secret passageways in and around the city. They have to be guarded and shuttered most of them but some can come in handy. The element of surprise can still hurt a cocky enemy. Never underestimate the underdog about to unleash a firestorm. Uncanny. Although I made it up, it makes sense this new idiom.

It is not until the 7th day before we spot scouts on the horizon and slowly throughout the day, they slowly fill up the land surrounding the town. Stretching as far as the eye can see from the river’s edge all the way to the northern shore all that is seen is chaos, chaos and evil chaos. We also hear the sound of drums and guttural screams.

A sickly stench of blood and battle and flesh and fear starts to seep in. Blight suddenly fills the land surrounding the enemy and all living things between them and us turn dark and blacken. I sense the use of Dhar. Enemy wielders of foul magic surely. We spot chaos cannons among the troops. Ill aboding and fear invoking indeed. Impressive. I have never seen them in use but their reputation is that of gruesome devastation.

The battle has come. Not long now. I ready myself. I am prepared to unleash a rain of fire upon the hordes. Things will get hot before this is over.

Very hot.

I for one will not go down easy.