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Voting closed: November 04, 2022, 09:24:51 am

[kesperan]

You'll make light work of those steam demons!

[King Zultan]

Hopefully they're all made of steam so they can be dealt with quickly.

[Maloy]

The presence of demons is enough to send terror down anyone's spine, but especially dwarves.

During the last war it took a combined effort of elves, dwarves, men and the armies of the dead to defeat the horde that rose from hell and at great cost. Now, there were less than 50 dwarves versus a new horde.

Added to the fact was what happened to survivors, and all dwarves knew what happened to survivors: Anyone unlucky enough to survive battles against the demons were tortured, shaved, flayed, crucified and left out for carrion birds to feast on while you still lived. Body left to rot and never properly entombed that your spirit might forever be doomed to wander and suffer.

Knowing this; the force still coming down from the stairs fell into anarchy as some began to try and flee while others behind them tried to press forward leading to a large argument and fight on the stair case. The palpable dread the demons emitted didn't seem to bother Kanil though.

Kivish had disappeared completely, unfortunate considering he was the strongest person by far present, Ingiz tugged Kanil's sleeve "He went west deeper into the room, but not towards the demons?"
"What is that insane rhino up to?" Kanil asked drawing Cloudfought
"I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to stab us in the back once we're exhausted. I'll take some lads and find him. Maybe herd him back into the fight"
Kanil knew Ingiz stood no chance if the rhino decided he wanted to fight, but the demons were pressing and he had no time to think of alternatives. He took off Rong Tod from his wrist and his iron shield and threw both to Ingiz "Stay alive"
Ingiz caught them and looked questioningly at Kanil "Won't you need a shield?"
"I swing faster with two hands. And harder."
Ingiz put on the legendary Rong Tod and Matkan began to glow baleful light with its reuniting with its prophesied companion.
Kanil whistled "Really was a cursed Axe after all!"
Ingiz looked at dwarf doom in his hands fearfully, spit on the floor, and trudged off in the direction Kivish had went with a few dwarves in tow behind him.

Kanil charged south roaring a battle cry



The creatures kicked and beat at the throng of dwarves, but it had little effect of anyone. In fact, bare skin seemed able to stop the aggressive steam monsters.
Regardless, the creatures were insanely swift. They dodged each blow easily.

Above the battle on the bridge the feuding dwarves had accidentally caused some dwarves to fall off. These dwarves desperately clung to the sides. Some dwarves successfully ran back up the stairs while the rest were now unimpeded and began charging down.

Kanil scored the first kill


On death the creature exploded and the exploding steam knocked Kanil back a step, disoriented and created a cloud of coverage that made spotting others difficult.
The fiends seemed to be held together by a thin veil that kept their bodies in tact. Once popped the steam that made them rushed out like water from a waterskin with a hole in it.

"This is doable" Kanil thought


The creatures continued to explode and throw the heroes around and cause confusion and even more fiends had arrived and had floated above Kanil's group to land amongst those still arriving and cut the force in two.


Still, despite the beasts they were making very little progress on Kanil or the dwarves





If this was all the demons had to offer then Kanil and the dwarves would very easily lodge themselves into the legends of this world. Yet, as Kanil fought nearby he heard a sickening and wet thud as a bridge dwarf fell to his demise





Battle fought on. For every fiend dead one would hear a loud BOOM and a gush of steam that threw all back


With all the steam covering visibility and the heroes now thoroughly split up, only Kanil and his small vanguard saw the beast that rose from the depths now


The terrifying monster laughed as it rose and within a split second of doing so it punched a dwarf and pulped his arm into a mess of bloody meat. The dwarf passed out immediately from shock


"Did I break it already? So fragile" It trilled in a disturbing voice that promised horror

It tore the dwarf's head off with it's teeth.

Kanil looked around to see if support was coming as there were too few of them to defeat this monster.

He heard the swish of an axe and looked in time to see the Cold Hunter Iteb assisting the rear group in battle. The Cold Hunters had joined. Hopefully they'd quickly kill the swift steam fiends and help him, but until then Kanil needed to buy time.
Kanil began making his way to melee range with the blind fiend. With every passing moment two things happened:

First, the creature would at speeds faster than any, but the most experienced fighters would be unable to see, would brutally crush a dwarf in a way that caused them to suffer longer
Second, would emit a burst of liquid extract that would explode from its body on all sides and blast people back. Some could hold their ground, but it would still leave one feeling slower and disoriented.

Kanil, desperately wanted that aid now, but they still had a few fiends left to fight.


Kanil saw Kivish running full speed his way

The human swordsman smiled knowing Ingiz must have succeeded and finally he would have help, but this only proved fruitless too as the Rhino stopped and stared quizzically at the demon.
The demon left Kanil no time to think about it.

Both demon and swordsman had moved at superhuman speed
it dodged away from him



Seeing a dwarf collapse from exhaustion the purpose of the steam fiends became clear: They were dividing the dwarves into smaller groups and exhausting them. Only hours ago the dwarves had just fought one of the largest battles in their history and now they were divided and fighting against a tireless enemy. One could see dwarves lazily throwing blows as their bodies threatened to give out.

Kanil tried to kill a fiend of steam while he moved east towards the blind fiend that had dodged. He only cut off a leg, but hoped that would slow it down for the others to finish



Visibility was terrible and the blind fiend continued beating dwarves to death while laughing




Finally, Kanil got in range and stabbed


and again

the creature sprayed goo everywhere despite how superficial the wounding was. It's form was strange too. It seemed like in place of muscles, nerves and bones it instead just had goo. Like the body it had was just a sack, like the fiend demons, to hold it together so it could hurt others.

Kanil dodged away


At this point the demon had killed and killed again and now it trilled what only could be a name as it laughed "Bornsoaked! Bornsoaked" It laughed as it used a deceased dwarf's sandal to beat another dwarf to death "Don't worry, children. I'll have time to punish you all"

The force behind them were finishing the last steam fiends


More collapsing dwarves. More dying dwarves as a limitless enemy fought a limited force of heroes
Now some dwarves were fleeing across the room and steam fiends eagerly chased them


Dwarves fought fiends and the battlefield became a confused mess as the, significantly larger, blind fiend reaped a harvest and killed the last of the royal bloodline named Udib, but created an opening for Kanil to stab straight into its body causing goo to gush and spray out on all around. The smell was that of rotten eggs

Kanil briefly looked behind him; reinforcements should have already arrived, but none had yet. What was happening?

Another blind fiend was here and it was holding up the main body of dwarves to the north. It appeared to have circled around from the west from where Kivish and Ingiz had been. So what had happened to Ingiz?
More importantly now Kanil and the vanguard had very little hope. Kanil was the only one landing any blows and the creature was entirely unphased. At the very least dwarves of this era were some of the most mentally tough beings to ever walk the earth. Even as certain death loomed they still laughed and joked

Kanil shook his head and smiled at the madness of these stout folk.

Bornsoaked lifted its neck readying to lunge and bite into Kanil when a rumble from below shook everyone around off-balance. From the abyssal doorway, now entirely shattered, came a greater threat:




The beast loomed higher than any other. Its terrifying voice boomed and shook the room. Seeing Kivish the rhino deity in the distance it chased off after the rhino man who caught a fireball directly on himself and proceeded to fall back and lure the monster away. What did it want with the rhino? Who could say, perhaps his legend is known even in hell after slaying another demon and god in this world.
Kanil dearly hoped Ingiz was okay and that the tortoise would not kill him, but a growing smoke cloud now engulfed the western side of the room.

So, battle returned. Kanil and the Vanguard fought a losing battle to the south that was quickly becoming decorated in gore and severed limbs.
Cold Hunters and the rest of the dwarves battle another blind fiend to the north and somewhere within the smoke of the west the great demon tortoise likely fought with Ingiz, Kivish and a small band of other dwarves.



Kanil thrust Cloudfought once more tearing a gash, as he turned it into a swing, across the fiend's guts. White goo sprayed from virtually every point of the beast and even though it clearly could feel no pain it looked at Kanil with rage. It  screamed
"I tire of you, human!"

"Come on then! Let's finish it!" Kanil roared back
He charged at the beast and swung with all his might, but the beast was more swift.
It's fist came in at the side and struck Kanil's right fist! The human hand could not withstand the massive blow and exploded into gore. This threw off Kanil's swing as well and the beast easily dodged away.

For Kanil, this was the worst injury he could recall sustaining, and likely this spelt his doom. He lifted Cloudfought with his left hand, an easy task with his muscles, but looked at the lump that was his right hand. He would now swing slower than he could with two hands against this swift monster who emitted an extract that was constantly disorienting and pushing him back.

Still, Kanil did not get this far by fearing defeat. He needed to back up and reassess. There were enough dwarves left to cover him. Yet, just as he thought this the beast seemed to sense the human's desire for it immediately charged into Kanil and bowled him over now standing over the fallen human.

To the north the dwarves had made less progress than Kanil against their own blind fiend, but the Cold Hunters were faster than it was



It was a moment frozen in terror in the minds of watchers:
Kanil, one of the few who could even fight this beast, pinned underneath it as it loomed and smiled mockingly.
It lifted the dwarven sandal it held and prepared to use it to mockingly beat the human hero to death in some twisted parody of child punishment.
Kanil screamed as he lifted Cloudfought again and swung with all his speed


The beast roared in frustration and Kanil used the moment to roll away and get his bearings.
Kivish ran out of a smoke cloud nearby now actively melting from the flame

He clearly had not been successful though for the monster still roared in the smoke! Was the coward running?

Kanil needed to get the group more support and he rolled again and then jumped to his feet. Bornsoaked mocked him from a distance
The human ran to the nearest fiend of steam and slew it and began to run after the others that were keeping stray dwarves preoccupied. He had to get whatever men they could to help wear this beast down.
He couldn't even begin to think about what to do with the tortoise demon that was likely devouring his friend.


Imgur kind of messed up on the upload so I am gonna add more pictures in later when I get time. The demon moves so fast I could not afford to switch away from Kanil to see how the battle was going elsewhere or to control anyone else

[King Zultan]

Things aren't looking good for Kanil with the loss of a hand.

How many dwarves are left in the world, I couldn't think there were that many given how many have died recently.

[Maloy]

Like 50 when we started heading downwards?

That loyalty cascade was HUGE in scale and killed almost everyone

That's also why I had to hurry and refused to really rest after lol. Dwarves were already threatening each other and a couple fights broke out and I was already worried we lacked the manpower to fight the hordes of hell!

Kanil giving me a heart attack too! My actual gameplay style was far less noble than my writing implies. I'd wait for one of the mindless dwarf NPCs to simply aggro the demon and then start attacking and dodge away when I drew the aggro

[King Zultan]

Dang, starting to look like this might be the end of the dwarves at this rate, especially sense they're fighting demons.

Also I see nothing wrong with letting someone else keep the things attention so you can stab it in the back.

[Maloy]

Here's hoping lol

I wanna add some details on some people who aren't major characters in this story, but were major players in these two battles. The scale of the dwarf v dwarf fight was around the size of Tumam's last battle I just went through it faster than I did his lol.


Heroes of the Last Stand of Mergedjackal
A study on notable figures by Poplar Whitemane
Its not an exaggeration to say that the last battle of the dwarven civil war as well as the last stand against the demons were two of the most historic conflicts of the century.

Although dwarves were tight lipped about the traitors of their own race it was always a sore point and an unresolved problem. Now historians understand why: Dwarven honor and oath-keeping demanded satisfaction in the stout culture. The civil war's final day escalated to its most nightmarish state, even if artificially induced by Cor's remaining Cold Hunters. When a traitor was killed anyone related to that traitor was required by honor to seek vengeance on the killer leading to a vicious cycle of dwarven killing that by itself almost wiped out the species.
Our understanding of this now answers our ancestors frustrations about why our bearded allies always seemed to be avoiding the issue of goblin-raised dwarven raiders attacking settlements

The Last Stand of the surviving dwarves against the demonic incursion was also crucial. It is no exaggeration to say the original demonic invasion of Adelaathira changed the map:
The dwarven heartland was shattered, the majority of the race became mercenaries and refugees. All nations, even the loathsome undead, joined together in an alliance to fight this threat and it still nearly wiped out the planet and reduced the population manyfold.

A second invasion would destroy everything and even one demon's escape into the surface world would lead to countless deaths as it could declare itself a new tyrant of dark civilizations like the Elder Hell.


Let us take note of those heroes whose stories we've been able to find and uncover and pray to Buh that we are unable to uncover more.

Iton Faithmanor the Hateful Carnality of Spires

source:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/577657089678990828/

Iton was kidnapped by goblins when he was a newborn. He was taken to Mergedjackal in the year 52 when it was still the capital of a vicious goblin nation. Most babies, even dwarven ones, will allow their environments to shape them as they grow and so babies that are kidnapped simply accept the culture of the goblins and live as they are taught.

Iton did not. Four years after his abduction Iton and several other dwarves broke out of the prisons of Mergedjackal during the final battle to conquer it. The confused children and prisoners of war did not know it was an alliance of elves, dwarves and men who were defeating the goblins and instead chose to flee into the wilderness and spent years as refugees in the Entangled Plains.

Iton grew to become a mercenary and skilled with the lash, but a couple of decades after doing mercenary work he would eventually use the outer edges of Mergedjackal as a base and storage for supplies. The abandoned city was certainly large enough for him to quietly enter and exit without angering the many owners it would have over the years. Iton had two dear childhood friends who escaped prison with him: Mafol and Kadol
Mafol was a preacher in Oarpassionate and after spending some years with Iton and Kadol he would return to dwarven lands to preach the word of Avuz against the spreading religion of the Spry. Later when the dwarf capital was taken by the Cold Hunters he would live as a prisoner once more until released. He then spent his remaining years adventuring in the elven lands until the call of the final battle reached him and he was duty bound to head south-west to join his kin.
Kadol had gone to the elven forests many years before Mafol although it was in the name of adventure; Historians have reason to believe he worked as a spy instead as he was known to consort with many famous elven spies. Kadol would live there many years and had a dwarven lover, but when visiting dwarven lands he would be captured by the armies of Cor as they conquered Goadmalign. He would be imprisoned for many years, only receiving one letter from his lover informing him that she had moved on, and despite the crashing of Cor's empire he was never freed.

We believe this was Iton's motivation for taking on very little mercenary work. The dwarf worked tirelessly to locate and free his lost friend. Iton was one of the last to answer the call put out by Ingiz and although this likely caused much grumbling by his kin, we know that he entered the battlefield with his friend Kadol in tow. He had succeeded.

Iton would go on to slay many traitors. He also struck the final blow against Itha the elven master of the beak dog army in hopes that it would pacify the beasts.
Kivish the rhino demigod would slay Kadol and Mafol was killed by a traitor dwarf that later died in the same battle. Iton would swear an oath of vengeance against the rhino deity and plan his revenge.

Stinthad Glazedworks the Diamond Thorns of Swaying

source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xwloY

Stinthad had deceived his people for decades. He was a traitor through and through.
The dwarf had served as a mercenary for decades, and unlike most dwarves, had no scruples about killing his own. He fought in the siege to take MergedJackal from the dwarves and give it to the would be goddess: Cor.
He enjoyed many lovers in his years of life, but his mercenary days were cut short. His next major battle would be in the war against the demon invasion. He and many others would be slaughtered in the forests of Cults.

Impressed by his skills and desperate for more soldiers; Cor resurrected Stinthad as a Cold Hunter. Now super-dwarven in all respects, but unable to enjoy the pleasures of life. All he had now was hate.

His dream was to bathe the world in chaos and he assisted Cor for many years to accomplish just this, until he went his own way.
The selfish dwarf left her army and joined a group of Tin Doctrine monks. Now, why would a sociopath join monks?

These dwarves followed the Gorge of Amethyst the god of wealth and jewels and were actually equal parts prospectors and gem finders as well as monks. His service to them eventually earned him recognition in the Silver of Staves, which had forgotten the name of the dwarf that had fought them many decades ago. Stinthad was offered to become Sheriff of a small dwarven village bordering dwarven, human and human tribal lands. An important trade point!

This suited him fine. He stole many items of wealth that would pass through the village of Callworks including an ancient artifact tome. He also indulged his other dark desire: Murder.
He would regularly strangle people to death and the serial killer would kill almost 50 people by strangulation alone.
When Tumam's horde invaded the zombies recognized a fellow undead and refused to attack him. Stinthad, the sworn protector of the village, merely watched as two generations of dwarves he had lived with were torn limb from limb and raised as mindless undead.

He would leave the destroyed village after and perform more killings before showing up in the final battle with the Cold Hunters. Yet, he was known to the rhino deity. Kivish found the serial killer and the two dueled. Stinthad had super reflexes, strength, and a pike. Yet, the rhino deity was in a class of its own and slew the serial killer by shattering his spine.

Deduk Squeezestockades the Common

source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3o1noD

Deduk is one of histories mysteries. We know very little about her before she became a hero of dwarves. She was in Whisperletter during the final battle against Tumam and was one of the only survivors! She slew many with an iron sword and wore the armor of the Silver of Staves. We can deduce from this information that she was likely a refugee from the demonic invasion and living in the Entangled Plain with countless other dwarven mercenaries and refugees.
Her heroics earned her distinguishment and she would be declared the new Outpost Liaison of the Silver of Staves. She moved to the farm capital of Figuretrade, as there weren't enough dwarves left to even mount an expedition to the old capital.

In the final battle she rallied the dwarven loyalists and cut a swathe of dwarven heads and limbs through the chaos. After the battle with the traitors she was declared to be a baroness and joined the last of the warriors to stop the demons at the bottom of Mergedjackal

[Maloy]

Kanil's arm was broken. Shattered even. Blood gushed out of the exploded ruined hand and many nerve endings screamed as if on fire.

He had managed to slay a few steam demons and collect the dwarves they were harassing, but the majority remained tied down with the other blind demon. There was nothing he could do to help the main force now, not especially as his own vanguard were dying brutally. Not a single dwarf could lay a blow on the creature and now that he had left they stood no chance.

Kanil spent a moment looking west to see the smoke engulfing that side of the room his best friend was in and knew there was little he could do at all in this state other than the next right thing.
He ran back to face the blind fiend once again.

As he neared the laughing monstrosity the entire room shook violently and a large booming crash came from the west carrying on for several seconds until the sound of water could be heard. "What in Buh's name is happening there?" he thought

The demon, for once, seemed similarly distracted by the crash. Kanil hefted Cloudfought one handed and staked his life on the next swing. He charged in and stabbed with all his might against the beast


It screamed and roared in rage turning its full attention back to the puny human before it.
"You! You would kill me?!" It screamed and began to swing at him "You pathetic gnat! Fly on a dung heap!"



Despite its heart being pierced and blood gushing it didn't show signs of dying. The creature seemed unable to feel pain, and was more enraged at the indignity of the fatal blow. "It might die soon, but not soon enough" Kanil thought as he dodged away and it crushed a dwarf's spine instantly killing her.

The blind fiend kicked with a foot and punted a dwarf named Bosa into the air and away as it screamed defiance against the mortals. Kanil was slower due to pain, and thus substantially more likely to die, but he had little choice but to stand with the dwarves and try to bleed the monster as much as he could to speed its demise.





It dodged and killed again and again, but it was clearly diminishing. Not in power, but in presence as if the goo that made up its blood was its anchor to reality.
Kanil slashed once more

"I will find you, Kanil Inchwhip. No matter where in this world you go I shall find you one day and make you beg for an end I shall never give, and when you finally die I shall be waiting for you in the pits of hell!" Egulod yelled as it finished fading
It fell to the ground and Kanil slashed its stomach.
Kanil stared at the beast with cold eyes "Then I'll kill you again each time. If, for some reason, I end up in the underworld with you then I'll kill you there too. Your kind never stood a chance against us, and you never will."


After he was sure it was dead Kanil let out a sigh around the surviving dwarves "That was awful!" the dwarves laughed and began to cheer the human on, but Kanil was mostly blustering at the beast so it couldn't have the last laugh. "Nemo is far better at verbally striking down enemies" Kanil thought.


The rest of the dwarves fought the other blind fiend who had now been named Packseas. The creature was killing many, but also being driven back. It had several cold hunters running around it, including Iteb with her legendary steel axe, and they were bleeding it. The conclusion would have been the same as Kanil's battle, but was interrupted. Out of the smoke of the west came running a dwarf. Yet, this dwarf was on fire and screaming. It ran and ran as it melted alive. Ingiz came out ran after this dwarf. Swinging the cursed axe of Matkan he slew fiends of steam left and right as he ran for the main force, because of what came behind him.

Out of the smoke came the tortoise devil, larger than even the blind fiends, as it roared and charged after Ingiz heading for the main body of dwarves.


It threw a fireball at the throng which exploded on the ground near Kivish the rhino as well as other dwarves.
It turned the blood pool of a dead dwarf into a deadly projectile was boiling hot blood splattered everywhere and burned people. The steam then separated everyone in the immediate area.


Kivish was still melting. The rhino was losing pools of blood as half his body continued melting from the earlier flames that were now out. The rhino did not stop to fight the tortoise or the blind fiend, but instead ran the perimeter of the room until he found a point and climbed to the top.
As battle raged below and the tortoise met the throng Kivish heaved with all his might and tore abyssal stone from walls and a great crash came again as water gushed out and began to pour into the room.




Kanil and the surviving vanguard turned back north to assist the brethren and left the underworld portal. There was no way to close it they could see and so could do little, but rejoin their forces and rely on strength in numbers.
They fought Packseas as the great tortoise devil tore into the western flank


Kanil soon realized that Packseas would bleed to death like the other blind devil. Knowing this, and being awed by the work of several cold hunters working together, he decided to focus on the tortoise.
Water lapped around Kanil's ankle as the newly made waterfall let loose into the room.


Iton the legendary hateful carnality of spires fought the beast. Kanil recognized the mercenary hero, but failed to join him in time



The blow struck his head so hard nerves in the spine were forever separated. Iton would never wield weapons again, but he likely wouldn't survive either.
The tortoise threw another fireball towards Kanil, but it exploded upon the shallow water and instead caused an explosion of steam that threw the human back.

It reached Kanil as the human stood up and the, currently one handed, human deftly parried a fist many times the size of his own head.
The tortoise dodged another blow from Kanil and jumped away only to then strike a blow at a dwarf. Despite the punch missing the dwarf's head the pressure of the blow was so intense the dwarf's head still collapsed into bloody gore.


"Your struggle is in vain, mortals. I am Nadirdepressed and this world is mine now as are your souls."


The tortoise picked up a dead dwarf's cloak and began to strangle another dwarf with it as it dodged and blocked blows from the angry throng.



"No! You die here today, you overgrown pond turtle! We'll be making soup of you before the day's end!" Ingiz yelled pointing the cursed axe at the demon
Kanil struck and stabbed the distracted beast in it's skull


It hisses at Kanil and throws a fireball that hits directly


Kanil is thrown to the ground and quickly rolls around in the water to try and put it out
The tortoise advances on the human, but a beakdog, one of the only ones that did not fight the dwarves earlier, charges in and attacks the devil
Nadirdepressed kicks it and sends it flying across the room


Kanil just barely dodges out of the way of the flying beakdog


Nadir looms over Kanil and the human lashes out on instinct and strikes it, but is too slow to roll away. His foot is reduced to a pile of gore


Kanil collapses only a moment before the beakdog finishes its descent and similarly explodes into gore.

Unable to stand, significantly slower than before, and with water rising around him now: Kanil was worried. He didn't have time to look for Ingiz or anyone else to save him, but desperately rolled away from blow after blow from the tortoise demon.

"Dodge this" a voice said
Instantly the demon was surrounded by cold hunters and a living dwarf warrior. They punched and stabbed at it from all angles and Iteb, the greatest of them, hacked the beast in the belly

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I say this every time I share a moment when cold hunters are on screen, but these dudes are insane! I contemplated playing one earlier in the series, but also there'd be zero challenge. They are only ever defeatable, because they spawn in without armor or weapons. That is what makes Iteb scary. She has both!

[King Zultan]

Seems like the only thing that will save Kanil at this point is for the cold hunters and the turtle demon to kill each other.

[Maloy]

Water gushed in from the eastern and western sides of the room. Although it was only ankle deep and the room was vast it was still in the process of flooding. Kanil was keenly aware of this with his inability to stand; He was forced to crouch or crawl about in the water that was mixed so thickly with dwarven blood and demonic goo.

The other blind devil was slain, although the swordmaster had not seen it. Now he had his next few moments of still being alive to thank the Cold Hunters for. There was a grim sense of gratitude, but both sides were aware that when the battle against the hordes of hell was over the living and the dead would have to finish settling accounts.

Doubt filled the human's mind for a moment as he watched the Cold Hunters surround and savage the devil: Kanil came to honor and observe his friend's people in their last glorious battles. He wasn't required or expected to go toe-to-toe with these great beasts himself. He could leave and he would be within his rights to observe, especially as he was now almost incapable of any attempt at dodging from these beasts.

Still...as he watched the beast roar, rage, and kill hapless living dwarves who were slower than the Cold Hunters he felt something tug at his heart: He needed to be in this battle.

His right hand still a bloody ruin and now his foot a broken mess Kanil tightened his grip on Cloudfought with his left hand and crawled in range to the beast.



 

The beast roared and killed! It threw fireballs and crushed dwarves, but it seemed to have fallen into the same trap the blind fiend likely fell into.
Namely, that it was too slow to reach the Cold Hunters and so focused its attention on the insignificant living dwarves around it. This was an error, because the Cold Hunters were actually capable of damaging it and knives and a great and powerful axe of legend cut and stabbed into the beast severing arteries and breaking its shell open. Still, it was a grim battle. Nadirpressed lifted a dwarf, a former traitor that had returned to fight with his kin named Ngulsu, and shook him around until his body ruptured and his guts came spilling out. Then the demon dropped the dying dwarf to bleed out.

Kanil crawled into range and struck at it occasionally, but devastatingly. The beast would stampede off after another victim and the human would crawl through blood and water to reach it again. Iton had done the same. The dwarf's earlier injuries were graver than it had appeared. He could not stand or use his arms and his breathing was clearly obstructed.
The dwarf's eyes had rolled back! The mercenary was pushed forward by pure rage and martial instinct as he inched forward to seek vengeance on the beast that had dealt him the lethal wound.


Iton latches onto the devil biting into flesh and dwarves, like a swarm of wasps, crawl all over the beast stabbing and attacking despite comrades dying left or right.

The Cold Hunter assassin named Goden silently runs up Nadir's back and stabs his knife into the beasts neck reaching all the way into the spine! Were it a natural creature it would have fallen limp like Iton, but the demon's body was more its vessel to commit carnage than its actual self and continued past such disabling injuries.



Iton bit and bit as the enraged beast carried him and others around and it continued to crush dwarves. Kanil had yet to catch back up to it, but it seemed victory was inevitable. In the distance the water that was pouring into the room had begun to fill the demonic portal It formed a whirlpool around it like a drain whose cork had been pulled and demonic energies clashed and sparkled against water.

A great beast climbed from it now and behind it a new swarm of steam demons cackling and crackling as they flew across the room to cause mayhem. This new devil looked like a great devourer of legend and its protective fur could clearly ward blows.

As this new doom entered the portal behind it finally failed and sealed itself as it flooded with water.

Within this moment Iteb struck.


was a great crash and roar the legendary warrior swung her axe down and beheaded the building sized tortoise demon. Kanil watched mouth agape for his strength had not accomplished anywhere near an injury on these monsters! Iton couldn't even laugh or had the consciousness to even think about it likely. He reminded Kanil of the stories of a snake with its head severed still biting at everything around it on instinct alone. The legendary warrior opened and closed his mouth again and again at an attempt at breathing, but could gain no air, and within moments he joined his slain foe in death's embrace.

As it collapsed to the floor the fiends of steam spread amongst dwarven ranks and sowed chaos before the Ivory Devil arrived.
A gauntleted hand grabbed Kanil by the scruff of his chainmail shirt and lifted him up and the human looked into the eyes of his best friend: Ingiz

"Time for you to go, Oath Brother" the dwarf said gruffly
"I still got strength in my arm, Ingiz" Kanil attempted to push himself out of the dwarf's grip
"Doesn't matter. Look around you; this place is flooding."
It was. Kanil had to prop himself with his blade to a crouching position to keep his head consistently above water.
Ingiz shook his head and didn't wait for a response "You'll drown and that is a stupid death for you since your oath was to observe and assist and not die with us!"
Kanil finally felt a thrust of deep grief in his heart when he heard Ingiz use the word "die". He didn't want this
"I don't want to let you die, Ingiz" he croaked
The dwarf smiled sadly "I don't want to be the last of my kind, Kanil. I'm sorry brother, but that'll be for the others if I have anything to say about it." Ingiz pulled the faceplate of his helmet down and adjusted Kanil's shield that he wore and turned to the battle "Save those who you can, Kanil Inchwhip. There are others here who are too injured to fight. See them out. Watch our glory from the upper ramparts of the room and then leave yourself" he said and then with a brief glance back at the human he had lived with for years and then a nod. Ingiz Laboredgirders marched towards the approaching devil along with the small band of remaining dwarves.

Kanil felt tears rolling down his face. Rage at his helplessness, pride for his friend, and grief over his losses all swarmed in his heart. It was only his great discipline that gave himself the ability to obey Ingiz's final request of him. He turned to the ramps leading upwards. He'd have to cross the flooding room in time before the water covered him. He saw countless bodies being pushed to and fro by the water: How many were simply unconscious and would drown? Kanil couldn't guess. He pulled himself along with Cloudfought and looked for injured survivors.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

With the portal sealed I'm hoping to finish the battle with the very next entry! I know its been long, but man has it been wild!

[kesperan]

That was certainly an epic battle.

I’d love to know more about Iteb’s cursed axe! Maybe a lore deep dive when you’ve finished your current plans?

[King Zultan]

I to would like to see a lore dive after the battle concludes.

[Maloy]

Beneath a magical dark fortress once ruled by a mighty demon lord sat a portal to hell itself and this room, now decorated with bodies of demons and dwarves, was flooding to be sealed away forever.

Ingiz waded south through the onrushing water and met up with the living dwarves. There was even a child present, ancestors only knew how he had survived so long, but the child must have snuck into the warband after the others had left. He looked terrified, but was trying to keep a stiff upper lip. No one was able to convince the young lad to leave as many couldn't even draw enough energy to do anything other than focus on breathing; many were holding each other up and only one other dwarf was a warrior: Deduk Squeezedstockades

She was a modern day hero alongside Ingiz. Famous for being one of two only survivors of Tumam's final battle as well as slaying that foul necromancer god. She had rallied the dwarves earlier today during the ambush and cut a swathe with her iron sword through traitors. Before this battle had begun the last living dwarf king had declared her a baroness and officially made her part of the royal selection: That is a dwarf that is capable of being chosen as queen or king

That king was now dead: Shaken around in the maw of a blind devil until his entire body collapsed from the pressure.

"Can you swim, master laboredgirders?" Deduk asked Ingiz. Her tone and question seemed a joke, but her face was deadly serious and covered in sweat
"Yeah. Kanil always insisted on swimming across rivers instead of walking around. You?"
"No." she turned towards the approaching demon worm "Just one of those things nearly destroyed the entire world in my ma's days"
"Doubt it will drown either" Ingiz replied and he spit at the beast "It needs to die" and he hefted Matkan which glowed eerily. The axe seemed almost gleeful during the entirety of the battle. Ingiz could hear it whispering promises of sweet death to him
"Agreed." Deduk said and her grip on her sword tightened.

The dwarves advanced and they sang. They sang of victory and the destruction of evil.

The dwarves came from the north.
From the west and the mist produced from the onrushing tide came the Cold Hunters. Some of the most ruthless killers in dwarven history, some of them were even heroes when they were alive, but now just killers. Led by the greatest of them all. Iteb Gorgeship the Abysmal Modesty of Seals. Covered head to toe in armor and her face wrapped to hide her state of decay so that all that could be seen is supernaturally glowing blue eyes. Iteb was the greatest warrior in dwarven history. Her gaggle of silent killers walked unbothered through water towards the demon as silent as death itself.

And from the west came the god of war: The blood soaked demi-god known as Kivish Abbeymysteries. Destroyer of goblin kind and smasher of their empire and demon master. He said nothing. He was covered in scars, half his flesh melted by the demon tortoise, and his weapons chained to his arms so they wouldn't fall off even if his arms broke.
Ingiz knew the rhino was watching him. The two had traded blows briefly during the battle. That was the sad truth of this battle: No matter if they survived they'd all fight to the death after, because neither of these three groups could abide each other.

Yet, still a greater threat loomed in front. The Ivory devil was a nematode the size of a large building. It could devour a caravan whole and it was surrounded by demons of steam that cackled and floated in the air.

The greatest dwarves in living memory, the greatest dwarves in ancient history, the demi-god of war, and the last greatest devil that hell itself could throw at them met at the bottom of Adelaathira.



The forces clashed: The devil struck first tearing a leg off Bosa a cold hunter

The battle began in earnest as blows were struck and the beast bled like those before it, but with every lash of its tail or bite of its mouth bodies were torn. It grabbed one dwarf by his cheek, and as it bit down his entire head exploded.
Ingiz struck at it in one turn and would roll and hack at Kivish with the next. Both the rhino and the demon were supernaturally fast and Ingiz found few blows finding purchase. Kivish's skin was as thick as armor and even when the cursed axe did strike Ingiz would barely tear through it.
Kivish lashed and hacked at the demon itself as it rampaged

It seemed to have a better strategy than the tortoise devil: Instead of being bogged down by the living dwarves it focused its attention on cold hunters as it would just barely catch dodging arms or legs and tear them off.

"I feel no vengeance towards you mortals, but still you must all die here today" boomed the devil "For I am Thunderedshoves the Reticent"

Toxic blood gushed from the beast's wounds and into the water and those fighting it had to only hope that the water would dissipate it enough that it wouldn't kill them.

Ingiz hamstringed Kivish with Matkan and quickly moved out of range of the rhino, catching a lash upon Kanil's shield, and moved ahead towards the demon that had moved east towards the cold hunters.

Iteb had hacked again and again at the beast's shell! It seemed a waste of time as the shell did crack and break in areas, but it wasn't the creature's vital parts.
Yet, as it moved towards the undead dwarf one of her own stabbed the beast in it's maw and it reared back exactly where she needed it. She jumped and slammed her axe against shell once more and this mighty blow caused the entire shell to shatter and fall off the beast leaving its entire body vulnerable.

The water had risen now to where the drowning had begun: Those in deeper parts of the room had begun floundering and those passed out were already under. Deduk slashed again and again at the beast, but it dodged most of her attacks. It was driven back and seeing its shell gone and blood gushing from it, the demon roared and began to crawl up along the wall. It was seeking to flee! "If it escapes the world's doomed!" Deduk shouted
Ingiz jumped into the creature's path and swung Matkan at it mid-air. The blow missed as the creature pulled back its movement to dodge and stopped retreating for the moment. It struck in an instant headbutting Ingiz. The dwarf was too slow and the contact of this immense being's skull caused him to pass out.

In those moments of falling it struck him again and again tearing his body apart, ripping limbs off, and slamming him past gushing tides into the slade floor where the legendary hero died.

The beast had turned around and was no longer retreating. Iteb struck it again and drew a new fount of blood from it, but the beast was in a frenzy now! It grabbed Iteb in its mouth and latched onto the slippery warrior.  It shook and shook the legendary axe-wielder about before she could even swing again.
Cold Hunters can survive without air, food, water, sleep, blood, limbs, etc. Only two things can result in their death: Beheading or destruction of the spine.

In that moment of intense shaking and swinging about the immense pressure of it all immediately crushed Iteb's spine and the greatest dwarf warrior of history died. Thunderedshoves threw her body into the water and roared.

There were three cold hunters left, Kivish, Deduk and a few dwarves trying not to drown as they fought steam demons.

The beast's injuries were nowhere close to fatal and victory was near. It surged toward them.


The group tried to form a rhythm between them of moving around the beast. Kivish's body could bear insane amounts of damage and he attempted to take the beast on with lash and axe of legendary copper.
Thikut and Kutsmob, two cold hunters, used supernatural agility to dodge around and stab at it again and again with knives while Deduk swung her blade.

The beast killed yet more cold hunters and drowning dwarves. Kivish put himself between the beast and deeper waters as it sought to herd the group into an area where Deduk wouldn't be able to fight.

Soon the exit ramp would be underwater and any living dwarves would be unable to reach it before drowing.
The ivory devil killed a cold hunter and Thikut stabbed its maw with such strength that its mouth was entirely shattered and it was unable to use it.

It pushed its head with supernatural force against its enemies. Deduk was sent flying across the room as well as Thikut. It pushed another dwarf against the floor again and again as her body collapsed completely.

Kivish caught the blows on his armored body, but he wouldn't be able to hold up for long.

They had bled the beast deeply and could only hope that it would lose enough blood to die soon and the demon blood in the water would not kill them all anyway.

Thikut stabbed his knife into the beast as it hit him again. He was sent flying and crashed into the ground with explosive force that killed him and left his knife in the beast.

The beast lashed out and hit Deduk's foot as she attempted to get away. The force caused the armored foot to explode into gore and knocking her to the ground in the water. Any hope of leaving this chamber was now ended for her.

She struck the beast once more as it pushed the last cold hunter, Kutsmob, in the head and caused his head to explode into gore killing him.

It turned toward her as Kivish ravaged its body. The beast was more wounds than flesh now!

Thunderedshoves looked to the drowning Deduk and the dervish Kivish and boomed "I feel nothing towards you mortals. You are nothing. You have done nothing and you shall now return to nothing."
Deduk was on the ground as the water reached her face and she forced a bloody smile onto her face "A god of death told us that right before he died too. I'll tell you what we told him: We win" she laughed in spite of her doom.


The beast lashed out and tore her leg off and she screamed in pain, but before it could torment her further Kivish was upon it driving the demon back.

Its body seemed to deflate entirely as the last of its blood left it and it finally collapsed before the bleeding rhino.
Deduk died only a moment before the devil.


The room was shaking. Kivish's damage to the foundations had been more thorough than intended as cracks ran up and down the walls letting water in. A few dwarves attempted to run or crawl towards the exit ramp as the water filled. A few even made it to the ramp as a fresh tide of water crashed into them and drove all, but one back into the water.
 

All around him were the drowning and the dead, but Kivish refused to move as this world seemed to end around him. What was the deity's purpose? Why did it come here? Why did it care? Why did it kill dwarves as well as demons?

Kanil had watched it all from the top of the ramp. Had seen his best friend die and had screamed in rage and grief at this. Now seeing only Kivish left standing in a room that would soon be underwater he wondered all those things about him. Kanil knew he would never know the truth and maybe that was fair. All he wanted was for that monster to drown in here with the rest of Ingiz's people.

Kanil and the few dwarves who had got out had to escape before they all drowned.

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This room is littered with dwarven artifacts its crazy to think they're, lore wise, gone forever until some spelunker in the far future decides to risk this demon blood contaminated cistern

I to would like to see a lore dive after the battle concludes.

That was certainly an epic battle.

I’d love to know more about Iteb’s cursed axe! Maybe a lore deep dive when you’ve finished your current plans?

Absolutely!

also I appreciate you guys reading! I have fun doing all this, but it does mean a lot knowing someone else is also seeing it and enjoying it

[King Zultan]

An epic conclusion to an epic battle, that last demon must have been incredibly powerful if it was able to take out that many cold hunters in the same fight, at least it bleed out before it could escape.

Now that the battle is over how many of the people that were involved survived?

[Maloy]

Very few! And Kanil and the survivors weren't quite out of trouble yet even though the demons were dealt with!

Next post should just be the actual conclusion of this whole arc and then we can do some lore posts and a summary of statistics and world state! and the next plan!