Book 2 Ch. 17

Helimar Dusksorrow listened to the ongoing war council with the utmost focus, which was expected of him as the official liaison between Sanctuary and the Redtoof Tribe. He took a sip of the ice cold “Sweet Tea” provided by his allies as a refreshment and set it back down on the table, using the provided coaster to prevent condensation damage. Despite being a newly integrated world, Earth had managed to maintain a fair degree of their culture and native sustenance.

Earth wasn’t the first newly integrated world he’d been sent to, and many of his previous experiences had seen the natives revert to almost stone-age societies, where barbarism and basic survival took center stage. Helimar was pleased to find that his clan’s new allies were in a far better position. He was certain that the protection provided to the settlement by the Primordial of Death had a major role in its success, but he was also pleased to learn that the native leadership was both competent and friendly as well. It boded well for the long-term relationship between their peoples.

“Our defenses have been hit twice this week. Both attacks were easily repelled due to the Valkyries, but we’re not sure why they’d risk pissing off Drew’s boss.” Mark said, looking over his notes as he gave Helimar and Raz’zat updated information.

“Probing attacks.” Helimar replied, noting Mark’s nod of agreement.

“That’s our thoughts as well. But the question is why? Why risk pissing off an all-powerful being?” Mark shook his head.

“Forgeborn do not think like we do. The Redtoof Tribe has dealt with those tin cans, as you call them, many times. They do things that don’t make sense. Dangers they should avoid they poke with a stick, and minor inconveniences they will avoid like a plague. Fighting them means you either do so on your own terms, or you’ll be forced into a reactionary position. Trying to rationalize their actions is a waste of time.” Raz’zat said seriously. Out of all the allies, the Goblins had fought against the warriors of the Forgeborn the most.

Mark sighed and nodded his head.

“Additionally, we’ve lost two scouting parties this week. We believe that ambushes are either in place, or what we believe to be more likely, the tin cans have a great number of their people nearby. If it’s the latter, we don’t know if they’re extracting resources, or planning a siege, we’re unable to gather any intelligence.” Mark voiced with a fair amount of anger leaking through.

“How many presumed casualties has Sanctuary taken from the loss of the two scouting parties, and what were their levels?” Helimar asked, hoping to get an idea of what they were facing. Sanctuary had entered a defensive pact with both his own Dusksorrow clan, and the Redtoof Tribe. As much as his Matron was loath to lose clan warriors to fighting, the Dusksorrow were people of their word, and they would take up arms against their mutual enemies.

“Only one person, thankfully. Both parties set out at the same time, and other than the single necromancer, the rest were all undead minions.” Mark flipped through his notepad, looking for details. “The necromancer was level thirty-one, but the minions were all in their high thirties or early forties.” Mark finished, closing the book and looking towards Helimar.

“I see. The levels are concerning, as I don’t believe one or two Forgeborn scouts would have the power to wipe them out.” Helimar said, looking to Raz’zat for his expertise.

“Elf boy is right, Bub. Your woods are likely infested with the blighted Forgeborn.” Raz’zat said, agreeing with Helimar’s prognosis.

The door to the war council’s chambers opened as Raz’zat finished his statement, and a giant of a man strode in like he owned the place. All heads turned to see the intruder. Refreshments were already served, and they weren’t expecting anyone else to join the meeting. The man was covered in darkened silver armor that looked fit for a king. The detail work on the armor alone was breathtaking, and wouldn’t be out of place in the personal armory of a B Grade powerhouse. The man had silver-gray hair, a chiseled jawline lightly covered in stubble, and his heterochromic eyes of piercing blue and raging red seemed to pierce through Helimar’s very soul.

“Drew! Thank God you’re back!” Mark jumped up out of his chair and hugged the man.

So, this is the Lady’s Champion… I wonder why he has such strange facial tattoos…

The armored man hugged Mark back.

“It’s damn good to see you man, it’s been far too long.” Drew said, grinning and patting Mark’s back.

Helimar and Raz’zat remained seated, still taking in the odd man.

“You’re telling me, it’s been ten weeks! Did you lose track of time or what?” Mark exclaimed in what Helimar believed was good-natured fun. Clearly the two men had a close personal relationship. Hopefully the respectful treatment the Dusksorrow clan and Redtoof Tribe had given to Mark would earn political dividends now that the leader was back, and they had such a close relationship.

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“Ten weeks huh? Sorry about that man, The Lady threw us into a hyperbolic time chamber of a dungeon, and we couldn’t tell how much time had passed out here.” Drew said in apology.

“No shit? DBZ style and all?” Mark asked, taken aback.

“Yeah man, we were in there for over nine years. Trust me, it’s good to be back.” Drew said.

Nine years? What is he talking about? Helimar thought to himself, his brows furrowed.

“Nine years?! You don’t look a day older than when you left.” Mark practically yelled.

“Beats the hell out of me man, I think we age way slower when we evolve. Plus race stuff, remember we’re not human anymore.” The armored man shrugged.

He’s not human? He looks human though…

“Anyways, Sindra said there was a diplomatic war council or something going on, and I figured I better join in now that I’m back.” Drew added, quickly changing the subject. “The Baleful Lady has kept me up to date with the Forgeborn stuff, but maybe it’ll be better if you give me a run down of recent events.”

“Of course, please take my seat, I have another in my inventory. The Dark Elf here is Helimar Dusksorrow, and the Goblin is Raz’zat Shinkick, they’re our new allies.” Mark said, motioning towards Helimar and his Goblin peer.

“Pleasure to meet you both, my name is Drew Wright and I’m the leader of Sanctuary as well as the Champion of The Baleful Lady.” The man said, extending his hand in friendship to each of the delegates.

Over the next hour, the leader was filled in with all the details of Sanctuary’s progress, including the income generation of the crystal mine, the food situation, and the general census of Sanctuary’s citizens. Then the conversation moved onto the Forgeborn, their attacks, weaknesses, and finally rounding things up with the most recent information the allies had.

That crystal mine is going to push Sanctuary to become an economical powerhouse on this planet. My clan really did well by forming an alliance and trade agreement…

“That pretty much brings us to this week. Our walls were hit with two attacks and the enemies were quickly killed by the Valkyries. We also lost two scouting parties made up of mostly level thirty and forty minions, along with their necromancer controller.” Mark said, going over the same information for the leader.

A massive pressure hit Helimar, forcing him from his previous position sitting upright in his chair, to his face being smashed into the table. His heart was beating uncontrollably, and he saw Raz’zat struggling as well. Across from him, Mark was crumpled on the floor in the fetal position, as he’d been standing up when the pressure hit. Helimar’s brow and chest was drenched in sweat, and everything within his very soul screamed at him to get away as fast as possible.

Try as he might, Helimar was unable to move anything other than his eyes. He felt like the gravity of the planet had suddenly increased more than a hundredfold, and as he focused his will, he was barely able to flex the end of his fingertips. Just as quickly as the pressure came, it relented, leaving Helimar in a puddle of his own perspiration. Finally able to breathe again, he gasped for air, trying to fill his lungs and calm his heart.

“Ah, sorry about that y’all. Hearing that we had a death pissed me off, and I lost control briefly.” Drew said apologetically.

It took several minutes before normalcy returned, but Helimar was still shaken to his core. In the aftermath while recovering, he’d finally released what had happened, but it made no sense. Even the Matron isn’t that…

“What’s the big idea Bub?! Why did you hit us all with an aura attack, we’re supposed to be allies here!” Raz’zat demanded.

“Attack?” Drew asked, his head tilted to the side. “I didn’t attack anyone, I just lost control of my aura and a bit flowed out. Again, I apologize. I’m still learning to keep it under tight control, and I slipped in my focus when I learned that someone died.” Drew said, bowing his head slightly in apology.

“It… wasn’t an… attack?” Raz’zat asked, mouth agape at the absurdity of the man’s statement. Drew shook his head in the negative.

If it wasn’t an attack, and that was just him losing control then… monster. He’s an absolute monster.

“Can you not do that again man? It felt like I was kicked in the balls while being held down against the floor by a whale.” Mark chided the leader.

“Yeah, sorry… again. I think I know everything I need to know though. The Forgeborn continue to attack our settlement, harass our scouts, and killed one of our citizens. There can be no peace between our peoples, the Forgeborn must be removed, roots and all.” Drew said with certainty.

“I will let my Chieftan know, and we will prepare our army for war.” Raz’zat said.

“As will…” Helimar began.

Drew held up his hand.

“There’s no need to endanger your people in this fight, I will take care of it.” Drew stated as a matter of fact.

“I mean no disrespect, but I do not believe the people of Sanctuary are sufficient to ward off the Forgeborn incursion. It would be in their best interest to combine our forces to eliminate the threat together. I’m afraid that if you were to rely on your people alone, that the casualties would be very high, if they managed to do it to begin with.” Helimar said with concern.

“You misunderstand Helimar, I will be personally taking care of the Forgeborn. I’d prefer it if our Goblin and Dark Elf allies instead focused on creating search and rescue teams. We’re in a rural area, and traveling to nearby towns will take awhile for most people. Sanctuary needs more citizens, and the people out there are in far more danger. So, I would appreciate it if you focused your aid on helping nearby people. I’m only one person, and I can only be in so many places at once.” Drew finished, resolute in what he was saying.

He thinks he can take out an entire incursion himself?! Just how powerful is this Champion? His aura is monstrous, but it could be a fluke. There’s no way a native would be that powerful so quickly. Even if he did manage to train for nine years somehow…

“The Goblins of the Redtoof Tribe will be happy to assist in providing aid to your people.” Raz’zat said diplomatically.

Probably a good call on his end. Worst case scenario, the Champion gets himself killed, and then we’re left to deal with Mark, who is at least competent and sane.

“Clan Dusksorrow will also provide aid. We’ll begin organizing scouting and rescue parties, however we will require knowledge of the local geography and where native towns and cities may be located.” Helimar added. If the man wanted to get himself injured or killed taking the Forgeborn himself, that was his choice. His clan would make backup plans to come to his aid if needed. Still, the rescuing of the native humans would buy much goodwill with Sanctuary, and boost the settlement’s economic prospects.

“Good, thank you both for your people’s assistance.” Drew nodded and smiled.

“Mark, hold down the fort. I’ll be back soon.” Drew said to his friend.

“But… you just got… anddd he’s gone.” Mark finished with a sigh, as Drew had left the building in a flash of movement that Mark was barely able to comprehend.