AN: Thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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It seems I had underestimated the resolve of such creatures, especially when it came to the rescuing of their kin from the clutches of those of whom held them in tight bonds. For you see, the entirety of the populace, which neared close to three hundred, turned out in order to receive my gifts. However, I had to explain to them, "Not everyone will be able to receive such gifts, as they are chosen by my abilities, not my person."

"What do you mean, Lord?" Asked a male Dragonock whose head was draconic, whilst the rest of his body was covered in thin, translucent scales.

"This is a spell to conjure up the long fallen beings who were once heralded as the greatest in the time. These beings, once summoned and released, will choose who will take up their mantle and continue their legacy forevermore." As I spoke these words, my body flowed above their heads, as my staff shot out from its resting place within the earth, and into my clawed hands. Gripping it with both, I raised the staff high until the skull attached to it was a head higher than my own. Once done, the orbs within its sockets changed from emerald colour to scarlet, as I intoned the spell, "<>."

This spell conjured up my own lightnings of crimson, which then latched themselves onto my arms, and struck the skull upon my staff of bone. This then caused the skull's jaw to open, as a river of scarlet mist fell from such heights and onto the forest floor below. The torrent of mists would continue, whilst silhouettes with outlines of the mist formed below. These forms took the shape of a variety of warriors, some with weapon and shields, great swords upon their back, and other weapons. The armour situated about their person came in their own sort of variety, from heavy iron armours to leather and cloth.

Each of these beings then roared a silent battlecry, charging towards the startled crowd. Of whom seemed to be in a panic, whereas a small percentage's eyes glowed with a fierce crimson and opened their arms to receive the impalement of these silhouette's weapons. Those who were "chosen" this way did not cry out, even as their bodies staggered and blood flood freely from their maws and mouths. No. They said nothing, but stepped forward to embrace these warriors as though in a trance. Of which caused the area around their wounds to widen greatly until they finally held the warriors in their arms. This then caused the forms of the warriors to flow into their bodies, healing them enough to only have a scar of where they had been pierced. Afterwards, those of whom had been "chosen" collapsed upon the ground with contented smiles.

The screams began soon afterwards, as these warriors had chosen to impale and flow into a little over one third of the populace. However, many of those thirds died under such a ritual, of which caused their bodies to disintegrate into ash. Unfortunately for them, I had only begun.

"<>," I intoned, causing those still not chosen to widen their eyes with fear. Many desired to flee from such a place, but noticed my own servants surrounding them with glowing eyes of emerald and sapphire. "<>," this time, emerald energies cackled about my person before striking the skull upon my staff of bone. Of which caused a river of jade coloured mists to flow out unceasingly. Once it pooled upon the ground, however, the silhouettes which flowed out of such a pool came in the guise of a dozen elves with varying degrees of chainmail and leather armours. These then held out their right arms, of which the mists condensed into their hands large bows, and upon their backs were a quiver with about twenty and five arrows within it. However, they did not expend all of them.

No, but these elves would then point their bows into the crowd, and let loose their torrent of arrows into the hysteric populace before them. Just like those of whom were chosen by the warriors before, many within the large mass of Draconians and Dragonocks held out their arms with eyes glowing of jade. As they did so, each were struck in the chest where their hearts resided, then pushed the arrows deeper into their flesh.

One would note, however, the lack of an arrow point jutting out of their backside. Well, a few bore such a wound, of which killed their bodies whilst reducing them to ash. Unlike the warriors before, of whom had chosen those who are of adult age, the "Wild Hunters" had chosen a few children to carry on their legacy. Why this was so, however, was beyond my person at the time, as well as of today. Therefore, you would need to ask those of whom were there.

In any case, the next to be summoned up was, "<>." Violet energies crackled about the crown of my head, before latching onto the skull as the others have. Just like the others, a torrent of mists fell from its gaping maw. However, unlike the others, this one seemed thicker, as it continuously flowed into a puddle. This puddle flowed upwards into a single, hooded being with a great beard flowing down to the ground, a thick robe made up of my own violet energies, and a plain staff. Of which it raised to point out towards the crowd.

Much like before, there were those within such a crowd whose eyes glowed a fierce violet, as a torrent of energies launched itself from the old mage and struck the heads of those of whom had such eyes. However, unlike the others who were silent during this incursion, those of whom were chosen released a howl of pain and anguish, as the energies sank deeply into their beings. Later, many would profess they had come to endure such torments, as an old being seemingly beat each and every one of them with its staff until they learned the necessary basics to its magicks.

However, there weren't any casualties, as they would also profess that the old mage took care of those it had chosen, protecting them from failing as the others had not. Truly, such a creature was amazing, but I would never greet it. This was so, as I did not have a desire to learn slowly, and instead preferred to simply take what I desire. Yes. Such methods were frowned upon by others, but it was effective nonetheless.

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"<>," I intoned. Instead of energies crackling about my person, shadows condensed upon my arms and clawed hands. Of which were sucked into the skull atop my staff of bone, before pouring out of its maw, and onto the forest floor below. This then created a puddle of shadows, of which became a large collection of wickedly carved daggers. Those of whom had not been chosen, and had eyes of inking darkness, surged forward to take up such weapons. Once they had done this, however, they then took it upon themselves to slit their own throats.

Yes. There were children amongst their numbers, and many of them perished from the ritual which took place beneath my still floating body above. Those of whom had done so, and did not move on from this life, had scars about their necks from the cutting of their necks. Whereas those of whom had failed became ash as their fronts were coated in the crimson liquid of their blood. Just like the others before them, those of whom had survived fell to the ground with contented smiles about their features.

"<>." This time, I had to shield my eyes, as a brilliant light engulfed my being as it fell to the earth. Once it receded, there stood an unearthly beauty which held a wand of some sort, and pointed it into the crowd. More of the brilliant light flowed out of such a tool, striking the chests of those it had decided to give its mantle to. However, there were only ten who were chosen for such a thing. This creature then vanished almost immediately after it had blessed its chosen, as my own chorus of devils grew unceasingly restless and whispered into my ear to kill it and devour its flesh.

Of course, I ignored such whisperings, even though it was very tempting to do so, and continued with my final spell. However, instead of simply conjuring up the knowledge of ages past, I simply flowed towards the earth to look upon those of whom had yet to be chosen.

In essence, there were forty and three confirmed dead, whilst the remaining populace who were not chosen by any means were twenty and nine. Which means, the number of chosen were two hundred twenty and eight. Quite the sizable force, in my own opinion. Of which would only grow as more of their respectable races were added on in the coming sennights.

For now, though, I merely walked amongst the fallen which were being helped by the ten of whom were chosen to become priests. Each of them still had retained the glow or inking darkness about their eyes, of which would dissipate with time until only their irises held the colour. Even as they tended to the fallen, the first to recover were the warriors. Many of whom had shrugged off the touch of the priests with a stubborn pride fit only for fools.

To this, I merely chuckled as I continued on with my search for those who would become something more with my final spell of the turn. For you see, the spell I was about to cast is called "Apprenticeship". Of which would mark those I had chosen to become followers of my own twisted path. They would then stay by my side, even after death, in order to become whatever I desired them to become.

One of these beings was Siuun, of whom had not been chosen by the others, whereas her own mother had become a priest. The second was an adolescent male, Draconian by the name of Umok. This one seemed slow in the head, whilst the rest of its body was full of muscle. Later on, another will inform my person of this one's fate. Of which was destined to the Arena within the city. He would then go on to continuously fight until his own demise.

The final apprentice chosen to follow down my own path was an old Dragonock by the name of San'yuu. As to my reasoning why I had chosen such a being? Well, there was something about his eyes I had taken to enjoy. For you see, this one seemed to have given up all hope, as each of these gifts had passed him by without a second glance. Whereas they sparkled greatly, as his body fell to the floor in worship the moment I chose him as my third apprentice.

However, "My Lord High God," he exclaimed as I began to conjure up my magicks in order to bless the three I had chosen before my person, "I thank you for choosing my old body for such a gift, but I must ask why you desire my failing, old body."

"It is in your eyes, that I desire you to follow in my footsteps, San'yuu," my reply was calm, even as the chorus of devils echoed my words about our persons maniacally, "Your eyes were what drew me to you in the first place. However, I have with me something which will grant you a youthful body once more." My own hand reached out and sank into the air in front of my person. This action boggled their minds, and desired to speak a multitude of questions as to what I had just accomplished. However, they were quelled as I pulled out a thin vial of a clear and viscous fluid trapped within.

"This tincture is called the 'Elixir of Extended Mortality'. Once drunk by someone as old as you, San'yuu, will that being gain a body of youth once more. Whereas if a youth or adolescent were to drink such a tincture, then that one would retain their body of youth. However," I raised up a single foreclaw to halt their advances, "each of these vials are to be earned before they are freely given."

My foreclaw then pointed itself towards the old Dragonock, whose eyes widened greatly upon my next words, "You, San'yuu, are to journey to this land's main city. Whereby you will leave a message for their rulers of my coming to claim everything they hold. Once you have done this, you will be given a vial to drink and regain your youth once more. However, this will have to wait. As we still have to attack this caravan full of your people."

Upon these words, I stepped back and intoned my spell of apprenticeship upon their persons. With this, they would gain a lesser form of my own abilities over time, and even my own mannerisms.