Nexus of Worlds- Darkness Rising:

[color=7ea7d8]The Witness Of Agony

Tell me is their still justice to be found in unjust times?
The darkness is reaching out for heaven and we suffer for it the higher it climbs.

I’m grounded a soldier without his wings unable to fight the good fight.
It's seems I was meant to watch it all unfold maybe that's why I write the way I write.

But It all falls back on me the pain and conflict from the war in the sky.
I'm just another casualty to this world it’s a travesty I can't deny.

I see the ones I know and love fall down before me like they were meant to die at my feet.
It kills me inside to no end knowing I could have been the difference because its a constant cycle always on repeat.

If only I could fight and let my sword and shield avenge the lives that have been lost.
But I can only analyze and be witness to the hellstorm. But at what cost?[/color]
-Daniel Springs
[url=http://allpoetry.com/poems/about/Warriors]Allpoetry[/url]


The great onyx throne reflected the sharp blue-white light emanating from the tip of a bone-white staff. For a moment of indeterminable time, nothing happened as the dark of the cavernous throne room slowly revealed itself as the light forced back the gloom. Atop the gigantic throne sat a tall woman dressed in black and crimson. Her face concealed, save for her eyes, or rather the space where her eyes would be. Instead of eyes, deep ruby red lights glowed with a harsh brilliance casting a billowing light around her head. The great bone staff, the Dreaming Staff held in her right hand, pulsated once with a thrum of power felt in the body, in the soul of all who stood before her. 

[color=f9ad81]“My Queen . . .”[/color] a being said as it stepped forward, bowing knee before the elevated throne, the deep blue robes draped loosely, giving an ethereal feel to the being beneath it. A pale yellow light bathed the marble floor around the figure. [color=f9ad81]“The Lord of Nightmares is close to obtaining his release from the oubliette. Once he is free he and his followers will once again wage war against the multiverse.”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“I am aware of that. Until that time comes to pass we shall be what we are, watchers and chroniclers of events and peoples.”
[/color]

[color=f9ad81]“My Queen, we must warn the younger races of the multiverse, we cannot allow them to experience the horror of the Lord of Nightmares and his legions.”
[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Can we not? Since when have we become the protectors and defenders of the lesser races? When have they come to our aid in our struggles against the Forgotten? Our fights have been shroud in the shadows and dreams of others. We’ve been called angels, demons and many other things. We are simply a hazy memory, a fragment of reality that is easily tossed away as a myth.”[/color]

[color=f9ad81]“My Queen, we can expand the Nexus of Worlds tournament to become more than just a way to see and understand the cultures of others. We can use it to being the horror of the Lord of Nightmares and his fearsome horde to the consciousness of others.”[/color]

The Dreaming Queen sat silently for a long time, a millennium perhaps more before she spoke again, [color=ed1c24]“How would we do this? Skallagrim presides over this event for us.”[/color]

[color=f9ad81]“You my Queen, you can assume the position of Games Master any time you wish. Perhaps we allow the young races the opportunity to free the Lord of Nightmares themselves?”[/color] Before the Queen could ask the counselor continued, his voice filling the vast chamber. [color=f9ad81]“Each participant may have a piece of the Forever Key, each winner assumes the losers fragment. In the end the key will be complete and it is up to the winner to choose. Release the Lord of Nightmares and his legions from their prison or become the bearer of the key, keeping the multiverse safe from the destroyer of life.”
[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“You expect much from those who answer the call to the Nexus. You have faith in the younger races to see beyond their own fighting, to see the greater events that will transpire around them?”[/color]

[color=f9ad81]“Yes my Queen. I do have faith in them. I believe the younger races, those who live in the light. Those who seek to be free, seek to understand all that remains unknown to them shall be keen enough to understand why they fight.”
[/color]

Another voice spoke, a deep rumble that filled the chamber with authority immediately, without looking everyone was aware that the Cughtagh, the Walker between Worlds, Skallagrim had arrived.[color=8493ca]“There are many among the younger races that would stand firm against the Dark. Who would sacrifice themselves against the Nightmare Legions and the Forgotten.”[/color]

[color=f9ad81]“Then . . .”[/color] The Gothi began to argue before the amethyst gaze of Skallagrim silenced him.

[color=8493ca]“They are individuals. Some think of themselves, think of glory only. Others would choose to make an alliance with the Lord of Nightmares, willingly sacrificing their worlds for the power the Dark promises.”
[/color]

Skallagrim bowed before the Dreaming Queen, as he did she lifted a hand, summoning her champion to her. [color=ed1c24]“Do you believe that? Do you believe that the winner would release my brother from his prison?”[/color]

Skallagrim chuckled; causing the Dreamers who heard to pause and turn their attention to him, a hundred billion Dreamers across the multiverse listened.

[color=8493ca]“My Queen, I cannot predict the actions of the younger races. However, it would be a worthy test, to see in which races, which individuals present the noble traits. I have watched them for millennium, but I cannot tell you anything more because these races are individuals above all.” [/color]

[color=ed1c24]“Very well my Cughtagh. Let us place the fate of the multiverse in the hands of the victor then. For ill or good, we shall abide by their choice with the Forever Key.”[/color]

So it was that the Nexus of Worlds would open the vast and hoary gates that led to it, summoning forth warriors in their dreams to test their mettle and their honor.