Valizar part 2
'Honor is death by stomp, insult is death by slap'
'Be pure of body'
'Judgement for all'
'Listen to the words of Father Haas'
Ruling was easy. Obey or be disciplined. Vass listened, Gatori listened, many others fled Valizar's rule. Haas visited often to make sure things remained in line with Tyrogatore's teachings. To ensure a voice of reason was there, the Vass Gizil was appointed advisor to the warlord at Haas' request. Valizar was content to have another with him that could take care of the meaningless things: talking to other realms, picking out dates, setting values, deciding what coinage was allowed, picking other positions of importance.
Akrak and Valizar met in early 796. They area was filled with thousands of gnolls and lizardfolk it what everyone who heard of the meeting assumed would be a battle. Iott watched from above. Haas mediated the conversation. There was hissing, growling, barking and contests of strength and skill between the two behemoths. Valizar won the wrestling, Akar the Archery, Valizar the eating, Akrak the drinking. Both sides called out challenges the two should attempt to best each other at doing. One disguised fey thought it was particularly clever and funny and yelled out writing. Uncovered, he was deemed a spy and given a death sentence. This led to the closest the meeting got to battle. Death by arrow or slap. To solve the problem, Haas judged that as the judge of the trial, the choice was his, and therefore he would carry out the punishment at his temple. The grumpy warlords agreed and several days of revelry commenced. The world breathed a sign of relief.
Breaking the stones was glorious. Valizar basked in the thought of wizards laid low. When asked if he would join the crusade of the orcs against Iott soon after, not even Haas could convince him to wait. Akrak and this gnolls were to be the second wave. The lizardfolk would arrive before them. Leading a vanguard of 15,000, Valizar moved quickly behind the orcs fast march. The orcs, with help from the clouds, would cross the sea. Valizar and his army would swim across and surprise the Iottians from a flank. Complete victory, the island would be theirs.
When the army reached the sea, Valizar waded in. Knowing sea monster guarded it, he made his presence felt. Beast after beast attacked him, but he crushed them one by one. Clearing a path for his horde, the army swam across. They dragged the serpents bodies with them. A dozen or more died at Valizar's hand. When they reached the island, they set about skinning the serpents and making them into banners, blessed by Tyrogatore. They coated themselves in the blood of the serpents, marking themselves with signs of power and protection. They could not see or communicate with the orcs, but scouts reported the battle had commenced miles away. Seeing a village, Valizar lead them on the attack. Iottians fled before them. Meager spells lashed out and did little to the horde. The village was theirs, it would be the first of many.
Setting up a base, Valizar sent messengers back across the water and to the orcs. He sent scouts to find the next target. The hours passed, none returned. The clerics reported no news. Valizar's eyes narrowed and a hint of worry grew. He ordered defenses be made and the fastest path back across the sea be found. The temperature began to drop. Despite the efforts of the clerics, it did not relent. The water behind them froze. The sky remained clear but a mist surrounded the horde at a distance. Valizar roared that magic seemed to be working. Knowing enough to understand that deception was at play, he ordered the horde retreat. The ice and cold water were better than what he knew the Iottians could bring to bare.
For many, it was too late. The Iottian army, which had rarely needed to take the field of battle, was a force. On the island, lead by Arnold Blockard, no one had yet seen their full might. The captain and his squad or armored casters walked out of the mist towards the village. Spells of all type battered the withdrawing horde. Valizar and his retinue charged forward defiantly. He would crush the leader, break their spirit. Through wind and ice they charged. The armored squad took up its position and readied for the attack. Defensing magic screeched as the two groups collided. Lizardfolk fell victim to all manner of ailments and were unable to fight. Valizar remained unstoppable. Clapped his hands in a mighty strike, instantly destroyed a summoned giant and sending almost all the armored casters to the ground. Arnold alone stood.
Undeterred by smoke, illusion, breaking down the wall of stone, Valizar reached his prey and grabbed hold. The man could not be crushed. He bit Arnold, and he could not be pierced. He slapped him and he stood firm, all the while stabbing with a blade of force. He had enough of this, so Valizar pinned him to the ground and raised the mighty metal foot. "Tyrogatore judges you!" he bellowed and pointed down with his metal hand. The foot came down and shook the earth. Arnold was not there. Incensed, Valizar wanted to rage through the squad and smash them all. The spells were not building upon him, and even mighty Valizar could not withstand their weight. Death to these heathens, these weak men, this would not be then end for Valizar. He withdrew, collecting as many of his kin as he could in his arms, mouth, and tail. They made it back to across the sea. Only a quarter made it back. Warlord Valizar's gloom marred him for several years.