A darkened chamber, wide and spacious in its size and height yet still rather compact; as if a large dome of rock underground. Walls bumpy and climbable to those able, layered with protruding ledges that circled above—capable of being stood upon by those willing. Illuminating light existed in the form of torches and crystals affixed around and high. Two towering points of entry from the center, equally sized with respect to the chamber; darkened abysses of ways devoid of light, one in front and one behind relative to where they stood.
The sound space around was filled with so much noise and bouncing sounds, all of which conveyed…
Chaos and disorder.
Goblins scrambled to check their inventory—their supplies, weapons, and such. Though, many were simply waving their arms in collective panic, running about as if for show, all merely from recently arriving words alone. The armored orcs, of course, stood stoically in their positions.
“[I am telling you!]” so screeched away a prominent goblin with actual hair, a ‘mohawk’, and proper clothing—for goblin standards. “[An attack on Grandberry was NOT in discussion!]” this goblin ‘general’ informatively shrieked, pointing his goblinic staff of ordained authority at she who sat atop that which towered at center.
“This again…” the cloaked crystalan half-elf so muttered… “How can every single one of you be so laughably unprepared for what is supposed to be the revealing reclamation?” she interrogated, voice pointing down and loud.
“[An attack on Grandberry would be suicide! We have not the numbers, supplies, or firepower! None of us do!]” the goblin general shrieked.
She sighed… Ever since arriving to the Fallen’s subterranean holdings beneath Huckleberry, this was the constant sight that greeted her and her bronze legion. Confusion, panic, and baffled bewilderment… She was hoping that arriving to this ‘central outpost’, the connecting head of the Fallen’s subterranean bases underneath Huckleberry, would have given her relieving signs. Yet…
“[I must emphasize heartedly! We are not prepared for a conventional war against the mans above! We are absolutely not!]” the goblin general screeched onwards.
Her ignited ghostly pink eyes snipingly glared down at the goblin general; “Then what have you been preparing for this entire time, goblin?!” she finally snapped.
“[We have just been following the elves’ directions! We were sent here to raid supplies from the war above, capture slaves and lure adventurers, and at most pillage a lesser town! Not besiege the most fortified man capital in this region!!]” the goblin general dancingly screeched; “[We can fight them in ambushes and raids, but not a pitched battle! A siege would be even worse! We would be stuck, starving, and ripe for counterattack!]”
She groaned in quite the sizzling ugh, pinkly ignited eyes turning to that triangular head of the golem lord atop the shoulders of whom she sat… “I do not understand this…” Indeed… Despite that arousing speech, none of the Fallen’s bands operating throughout Huckleberry’s underground were even…aware of any plans to assault Grandberry—the very thing she was sent here to help with.
She had no idea where this absolute failure in communication happened, or why…the elves at be had told them two different things, or…
Ugh! She was struggling to even think, no thanks to the noise from all the goblins running amuck as if fresh grunts. “And I am with that peculiar feeling again…” her thoughts escaped.
“You are too?” she replied to the bronze golem lord whose words she knew despite being unheard… Indeed, it was not only her; the golem lord too was getting…that feeling.
Regardless, the crystalan half-elf scratched her hooded head, annoyed and frustrated. Her eyes lanced their glare back to the goblin general below; “It matters not! I and my”—her voice paused as if abruptly corrected—“His… legion were sent here to prepare for an assault against Grandberry! We do not need to take the city; the act in itself is a message to be delivered! So, that is what we are to do! I do not care if you are not prepared!”
Yet the goblin general snarled almost; “[NUGH!]” He waved his staff angrily; “[The only message that would be sent is a pile of our own corpses! It would be a slaughter of us!]” he shrieked; “[We have been barely withstanding the accursed Trade Company! We were meticulously avoiding provoking their fullest ire… But now our dens are being beset with raids! And now you want us to—]”
“Yes. I know!” she shouted, interrupting; “But I am here now; I have been anointed as your spearhead, and I have both crystal and bronze… This golem legion can resist their guns and fire; they cannot withstand against us!”
“[Would that guns were all they had…]” yet the goblin general merely spoke; “[I am not sure how long it has been since those darkish fiends have left the underworld, but the surface has changed… It is not what it once was!]”
She sighed yet again… This was running in circles… “Hear me: You are confused, and I am confused” her voice…calmed; “But we have one ambition; one reclamation. We have been given our directions with no manners around… So, please, let us work together and achieve them by attempt, goblin” she spoke sincerely.
The goblin general too began to simmer… “[Sometimes I wonder if those elves are desiring our defeat, since that is how it seems…]” he grunted aloud; “[But… You’re right… Maybe the elves are foreseeing what I cannot… Fine, I shall assemble my council and inform them the…change in plans…]”
“We might be unprepared now, but we have until this year’s end to strategize and prepare” she remarked, trying to reassure.
“[Bah… Spearhead or not, you remain naive.]” the goblin general scoffed, before turning around and walking off to consult his others.
“Peh, ‘naive’… I am purely confident…” she muttered. Abruptly, however, the bronze golem lord’s pinkish glowing eyes brightened. Her attention was overtaken, head flinging to the bronze golem’s triangular own. “Huh? Wh-what? What is it?”
The bronze golem lord told despite not telling.
“…”
“What do you mean something is coming?”
Quite rapidly, she carefully stood herself atop that bronze golem’s shoulders, no longer sitting, her ignited eyes fixating onto the entry way directly front and ahead.
“What do you mean many-many things?! Might you be more specific?!”
Indeed… Amidst the filtering noise around, footsteps emerging echoed from beyond that darkened abyss ahead, down which no light pierced deeply. Many of them.
Her breaths sharpened as these echoing steps continued, becoming more audible to her half-pointy ears even if barely. Drawing closer and closer… A strange…feeling began to enter her being, one…unpleasant; for whatever reason, she became increasingly…frozen.
“[What is it?]” the goblin general, having noticed her perturbed standing, returned. Yet, suddenly, his large nose began to snuffle, his long and pointy ears…twitching directionally… Immediately, the goblin general took out a specific bone whistle of sorts and blew it. “[EVERYONE SHUT UP! WE HAVE ARRIVALS!]” he commandingly screeched.
The whistle’s ear-piercing sound penetrated all the goblins around, who instantly froze in sudden startle. The goblins focused their attention on that same entry way, the orcs standing firmer and more alert. Confused, however, they had not any the clue whether this was good or bad; none of them did.
Even so, step by step, those light footsteps continued, before, more sooner than not, out from the shadows of that abyss came an onslaught of many-many steps as if dozens of transparent shades were moving, it almost seemed, spreading out to surround about as if. Yet emerging, however, were only four visible figures, who simply halted in place upon stepping into the chamber’s revealing light.
Hooded and obscured by cloaks rather strange, two being of a pale lavender color and one being of a darkened natural indigo. Their faces were completely hidden by circular masks equally strange of a tannish color, devoid of features and eyes besides a simple painted smile with two triangular fangs.
The figure who stood front and center of them, however, was different. Their cloak was of a silvery-grey most peculiar. Their mask was more of an upside-down triangular shape, sharp and pointed, being of a whitish color. From the mask’s edges, three bands connected to another upside-down triangle at the center, in the middle of which was a single dot.
How these figures even saw through these masks was as enigmatic as they themselves.
Nevertheless, there was a seconds-long silence as the Fallen, confused, stared these figures down whilst they stared back…as if watching and awaiting. “I apologize for this intrusion, but we greet you all…” the peculiar leading figure finally greeted, a feminine voice soft and mellow that sounded almost as if song yet hidden within which were callous embers.
The crystalan half-elf’s focus, however, had only sharpened… Her radiant eyes brightened, the ignited sigil engraved reacting with alert, as a visceral sensation pierced her active and awake essence, her breaths heaving…tensing… “This feeling…” Indeed… That sense of malevolent hunger which bled out from their beings…as if their auras—their very souls—rusted everything around, chewing at her own.
The goblin general’s nasal breaths, meanwhile, snarled as if snuffling; “[This stench…]” Goblins such as he could notice indeed…
“Nightstalkers…” Her hand flung up; “ORCS! SHIELD-LINE, NOW!” she panic-ordered.
Immediately, the acknowledging orcs rapidly formed a long and tight line in front of them, raising shields and pointing spears, separating they from them.
“[WHAT ARE YOU MORONS DOING?! DON’T JUST STAND THERE!]” the goblin general concurrently shrieked in ordering hops.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The goblins too sprung themselves into action, picking up their arms as they frantically joined the orcs’ formation to support as if a whole army had emerged; although, many others lingered well behind. Goblin handgunners already stationed on the ledges above, likewise, readied and aimed down.
“[AND HANDGUNNERS! DON’T BOTHER AIMING UNLESS IT’S THE HEAD! AIM FOR THEIR HEAD!]” the goblin general continued his ordering squeals.
However, amidst their preparatory distractions and clamoring shouts, the leading figure merely approached closer, two pale lavender figures following in a guarded wedge. The indigo figure, meanwhile, remained behind near the corner of that entry way.
The half-elf’s eyes, however, remained locked; “Not another step forward!” she shouted with threat; “The audacity! You dare casually show yourselves to us, vile vampires!”
The figures promptly halted, having arrived at a desirable distance. The leading figure stood there menacingly, her two others standing defensively. This unphased passivity bled absolute confidence, as if they were in control of this situation; as if they were merely allowing them do their vain impulsive doings.
Breaths tense and anxious, the half-elf’s head snapped to the bronze golem’s triangular own, the golem lord itself being remarkably docile. “How did those creatures even get this deep without notice?! I thought you had—”
“What do you mean haven’t the know?!”
“What do you mean our actions are utterly futile?!”
“WHAT do you MEAN we have already been surrounded?! By whom?!! I see nothing!!”
Indeed, she began to loudly interrogate the bronze golem, becoming perhaps…too distracted, unnoticing of the sudden shift in all the others around, both goblin and orc alike, who froze agape in stunned bewildered silence, speechless eyes staring.
“NEUGH! And now why does the back of my neck feel so…tingly! What is this sensation?”
“What do you mean I should pay attention?!”
Her eyes glanced barely to her right, before…seeing…processing… She instantly flinched in an instinctual gasping jerk of surprised spook; “Huh??”—she nearly lost her balance—“What?! When?!”
An object now suddenly floating right before her sight as if having so spontaneously appeared—from her perspective. Silent besides a strange hovering ‘hum’… Angular and geometric; smooth and refined yet rather rough and clunky, being moderately bigger than her own head and certainly pointier; strange in material, being of a peculiar…darkish brown color—one that invoked primeval ancientness and industrial spawning.
Its prominent frontal eye-lens, glowing in gold, stared into her being; threads of weaving light pierced as if assessing her existence, or rather…that which was within the area her head and neck met, lightly glowing in reply though she could not see; though, she could certainly feel the uncomfortable tingles of scanning intrusion.
{UNIA-NTCI registered: indexed. Designated Antagonist marked.} The floating thing spoke in a tongue she knew not, its menacing masculine voice synthetic and artificial. {Overwatch to Deployed: do not target flagged relevant.} Finished, it simply withdrew away to the figures below, hovering overhead.
“Huh…??” The half-elf eyed around… Indeed, that was not the only one, she immediately noticed. Several of these…things were abruptly present, having rapidly arrived and encircled completely… as if monitoring from their hovering positions. These ones were much larger and even more menacing too, being more elongated…as if floating cannons.
“[What even are these?]” a goblin handgunner, staring at that which was now hovering close, mused.
“[Protectors? What are they doing here?]” the goblin general remarked, confused.
“Protectors…?” She was as dumbfounded as the rest, for such were associated with the domain of divines, not… Her attention immediately lanced to that leading figure; “What is this wickedness, vampire? Who are you? What do you want?” she interrogated loudly.
The leading figure stepped closer, the other two remaining behind; the orcs stiffened in clenching reply. “You may call me messenger. And I have come to deliver.” There was a mellow coldness in her songful voice. “I regret to inform. You have been deceived.”
“Deceived? What do you mean?” the half-elf swiftly interrogated.
“You were never designed to win your war against man. Your defeat has been predetermined by Fate.” the messenger thus spoke, turning her sight to that cloaked half-elf standing atop; “And, now, the United Central Trade Company is sending its fullest weight to crush you in retaliation to your recent antics.”
“Humph! Is that your ‘message’, ‘messenger’?” the half-elf immediately scoffed; “We already know that! But those duplicitous invaders know not the full underworld as we do! Let them come and march into their own grave!”
“Yes. Indeed…” the messenger merely agreed; “And we have to come offer our help, for we—”
“Your help?” Yet the goblin general, having climbed atop an orc, interruptingly snarled; “You accursed creatures have seduced enough of our kin, nightling!” he screeched in mimicking tongue, waving his staff aggressively.
“I would caution against hostility, little cousin.” the messenger, however, forewarned.
Indeed, for those floating so-called ‘protectors’ had aimed their sight straight to him, targeting. The goblin general…quickly simmered…
The half-elf only felt more…tense from this situation; she tried keep herself…restrained. “ ‘Help’… So, then, what is this ‘help’?”
“As I was going to say, we know of the perfect lure for a deathly trap.” The messenger’s pale fingers gently pressed something in her left-ear, which blinked with flashing gold. “Floaty…” She gestured at that which hovered above.
The primeval protector hovered lower and forward. Its central eye-light flashed as threads of gold light extended forth as if stitching; a holographic projection, large and wide, suddenly came into formation, displayed upon which for all eyes to see…was a digitized map of the Huckleberry Dutchy, a rather detailed one at that despite the monotone golden hue.
“[What is this arcaneness?]” the goblin general stared at this…sudden ‘magical’ display, having not any the words to describe; the other goblins were even more bemused.
“No… Not magic…” the half-elf remarked… This did not seem to be truly magic or the arcane, even if it…certainly looked as so.
Nevertheless…
{We have identified a priority target of relevance to the United Central Trade Company’s geo-strategic interests within this continent. An adolescent female identified as: Blossom Coastfield-Sunnycloud.} That perfidious synthetic voice began to speak, whilst…
“The United Central Company has been looking for a girl named Blossom Coastfield-Sunnycloud.” the messenger, in synchrony, reconveyed in words understandable.
Generated images of the girl in question appeared in the upper corner of this holographic projection—gold saturated—, a tagged mark concurrently appearing on the digitized map, pulsating with relevance.
“Blossom is important to justify the Company’s presence in Coastfield.” the messenger began to add words her own; “Without her, their occupation would be illegitimate, and they would be forced out. This would hurt them gravely; thus, they need her greatly.”
“Hurt them greatly…” the half-elf mumbled… Indeed, she wanted to do that.
The digitized map then shifted focus, zooming in on Huckleberry’s eastern bulge, particularly that marker of interest, as a holographic depiction of a certain location projected out from the map.
{Blossom is located within the estate property of House Berrybottom. Your forces, preferably your ‘bronze legion’, are to raid this compound and extract the relevant targets. We have an infiltrator and a collaborator already present; they will designate the relevant targets for extraction. All other irrelevants are left to your discretion.}
“…You are to kidnap her and anyone else considered relevant—there are purposes for this… One of our own has already…infiltrated; she will lure those to be taken, and you will know whom is who. Everyone else you may kill or let live as you please.” the messenger followed its flow. “Blossom’s alive capture will give you a suitable lure. The Company will come for her once they discover, and with force.” she added words her own; “The plan is for a trap in which they are defeated, bleedingly and decisively.”
“…decisively defeated…” The half-elf was seeming to be becoming more enticed, against better judgement… Indeed, blooding the Company… Yet, even so, she immediately spotted a problem. “Your…display…points to the rosefield plains. This part of the underworld does not extend past the Big Divide; there is a prominent dark-zone surrounding Huckleberry… We would have to travel on the surface or go completely around through—”
Abruptly, the projected digital map expanded its focus, the surface ‘hollowing’ as the vast under-network became emphasized, underground paths wrapping around much of the Huckleberry Dutchy, although noticeably absent around the dutchy’s gargantuan heart—one of many such ‘dark-zones’, or ‘voids’, in the under-network.
{This continent contains an interconnected network of subterranean routes, pathways, and inhabited areas, colloquially referred to as the ‘underworld’. However, these habitated sectors constitute only approximately 35% of the entire system.}
The projected map was flooded with new expansive pathways that weaved everywhere, as if the veins of a greater organism that was this whole world, even going into dark-zones thought not to have any intersecting routes… Although, a most prominent than not ‘void’ still remained.
{The remainder of the subterranean system is inaccessible to the habitated sectors, with limited connections to the surface through hidden junctures. But we have methods to access them. This restricted subsurface network is designed to permit the transit of both terrestrial and low-altitude aerial forces to and from the surface, thus should be sizable for your forces. We have already identified several routes that lead closest to the target’s location.}
“…These ancient forbidden routes are large enough for your bronze golem lord and its whole legion, allowing for vaster travels, but only we have the means to access them.” the messenger continued to follow along, although…rewording certain details.
“Huh…” the half-elf stared… Truly, most were in awe, indeed… To think that there was much more to their underworld of which they knew not.
{However, these inaccessible pathways have connections to subsurface installations, critical facilities, and other restricted junctions. Improper navigation may alert the automated security apparatus. Our navigation assistance is required to avoid triggering the deployment of system security forces.}
“…These forbidden paths, however, are riddled with extreme dangers. Our help is mandatory to ensure safe traveling and that things best kept asleep do not awaken.”
{Parameters will be expanded contingent to agreement to our operation and subsequent deployment. We have been authorized to provide strategic advisory, material assistance, and limited combat support to your forces.}
“More will be specified provided that you agree to our plan, but you will have our help every step of the way.” messenger thus conveyed; “Suffice it to say, the United Central Company is befaced with controversy. One decisive and bloody defeat, one more disaster, is all it would take to ensure they are liquidated by their already angry masters—which is to say, dissolved…”
“Dissolved…” The half-elf’s interest reached a climax… “…we could destroy the Company?” Vengeance, a desire all-consuming…. To destroy the Company, she would…have that chance. The bronze golem’s own pinkish eyes glowed brighter, as if also interested.
The goblin general, however, looked up at her… “[I know what’s in your voice… Remember, spearhead, the Trade Company alone is not our priority…]” Though, he then looked at the projected map of displayed strategy… “[However, if we are to assault Grandberry, we need to weaken them… And luring them into the underworld gives us homefield advantage…]”
Suddenly, the digital map disappeared, the hologram’s binding threads retracting away. {Briefing over.} The protector began to hover higher, flipping itself around; {Overwatch to Hive: task completed; we are withdrawing.}
One by one, the calamitous protectors began to withdraw back down that entry way they had arrived.
Yet the principal one abruptly paused in its motion, as if receiving… {Acknowledged.} It turned itself to the messenger; {Overwatch to Ariel. Sentinels are synching to you. We have been assigned to your detail.} Its eye-lens flipped to magenta.
“Cool…” the messenger merely acknowledged, retaining focus on all those left baffled in front. She approached closer and more relaxed; “You all detest my kind, but in the end…we are still cousins… And we too are victims of mankind’s sins; our homes burned along with all that we loved… But you will find that there are more sinister things deserving of your ire, buried beneath…” She opened herself up and gave a vampiric bow; “So, will you allow us to help you emerge triumphant against Fate, and deliver your reclamation? We have so much more…to offer…”
The half-elf looked at the goblin general below and then to the triangular head of that golem lord… Despite absolute distrust, all three converged upon the same decision. However, even so, she returned her sight to that perfidious figure… “Answer me this first, messenger: who…is this ‘we’?”
“Hm, ‘we’?” The leading figure returned her sight to the half-elf standing atop… “We are…”
----------------------------------------
…the Cult of the Great Watcher
image [https://i.imgur.com/oY01MDt.png]
[…Whispers from Heaven rumor of our Father’s waning power; that the Great Spirit is shrinking. Not because the faithful have forsook, but because something else has begun taking the space. It is sprouting everywhere. And I fear it watches me now…]