Battle of Mount Ila'Alnar part 15
It was a rare meeting of high clerics that was taking place during the battle. Lukius, high cleric of The Oldest Orc was aiding the battle with spells and blessings as directed by Dourvan. But his presence meant far more than those simple spells. Him being there indicated to the powers of Habololy that this was a time for intervention, perhaps even interference. It meant that the rules were suspended, forever briefly. In that short time, around the world, a deity can accomplish a great deal. But here, at the mountain near the battle one other deity chose to send its high cleric. Valen Tracenkall, rarest seen of the Counsel deities, ever in a new form, now took the shape of an orcish child, a female one at that. Had the battle not been raging, Haas and many others would have sensed its presence. As it was, only Ajax noticed out of the corner of his eye and gave a pouting face. His sight revealed nothing static. A changing mass in constant motion and he sensed Compture at play.
“This is fun.†Ajax heard. Directing for its lord, pointing in amusement, a giant each round was turned into another type of creature. A moth, a beetle, a toad, a giant Icefian molted hare.
The battle was hard but hoped swelled among the allies. Guardians and heroes defeated more fiends each round. Giants failed again and again to break any of the blocks of soldiers. Songs began to fill the air, piercing the ears of the fiends and uplifting the hearts of the allies. The winds sang and the sun’s rays seemed to burn a bit less. Arion, at the head of the Icefians, now moving them up the slope, stowed the hammer and brought out the gemblade. The first of any of the blocks to do so, they left the fiends behind and the giants fell back.
Not hearing the calls of the guardians in the rear guard, Arion waved the gemblade in an arc in front of him and cut a burning light through the fiends in front of him. They did not flinch and he paused, but too late. The creatures, giant planar creatures armed and adorned like the rest were not fiends. Why they were here and what they were Arion did not know, but he sensed the jeopardy of the situation. With the captains of the knights at his sides, he attacked. The Icefians followed.
Calls went out around the mountain. A fey sent up a yellow flare near the Icefians calling for aid. One of the planar giants quickly extinguished it. With axes and sword, the ten doubled to twenty in a blink. The giants that had fallen to the sides, still dozens of them cut off a retreat. Darkwind answered the call, but even he could not get there instantly. Solaris soared in, but he stalled in his descent seemingly unable to engage these creatures. Arion watched as his knights were cut down. Realizing that he was the target and not the soldiers he charged forward, drawing their attention. Up the mountain he raced, leaving the soldiers behind, hoping to save them.
Ajax could not see the distance, and did not know what was happening. He sensed something was wrong and the flare concerned him. “Your king is in jeopardy.†Said Valen, “you may want to relieve him.†Ajax started off, and then heard, “But if Dourvan dies, the whole plan is in jeopardy. What to do?†Lukius murmured in response, “Stay Ajax, help nears Arion faster than you.â€
A thunderous boulder smashing his leg, Arion fell to the ground. Propping himself up, he faced the creatures. A valiant death was not a terrible thing. For a cause as worthy as this, he could do far worse. A hammer crashed down into the head of the leading planar giant, driving it into the ground. Landing on the creature was a giant of a different type. Arion had spent only a short time talking the old half orc, but he smiled at Koth’s appearance, above him, briefly, he saw a dragon. Every bit the warrior Arion was, and not exhausted and wounded, Koth kept the creatures at bay. Darkwind arrived and drove them farther back. Enough for the Icefians to gather around the king.
“You okay?†Koth asked. “No†replied Arion. His leg shattered, badly wounded and feeling the effects of some planar sickness, the last captain demanded the king withdraw to find a healer. Arion begrudging agreed. Koth whistled and an invisible hand carried Arion. Before he left, he looked to Koth and said, “Would you like to borrow another hammer for a few minutes?â€