Erich Grimhelm watched passively as the 11th Auxillery Legion was consumed in flames. A thousand men and women, screaming a perfect symphony of anguish. The Hellish quoir washing over him; he paid it little heed. With a grunt, he looked over at the Signal's Master. 

"We wait," he said. The Signal's Master complied, ordering the musicians to play a monotone tune. The legionnaires of the 16th Legion halted their march, and brought their shields to bear. No one moved, no one spoke. The only sound was the distant battle of Castle Rivergate, and the crackling emerald flames. 

"You [i]can[/i] protect us from this?" he asked, not taking his gaze off the monstrosity storming towards his army. The barbarians tailing behind. 

Antonius stroked his pencil-thin beard, and nodded after putting to rest some inner turmoil, "yes, I can." 

"Tell me, who is the Emperor's Bane? I remember only fledgling reports," Erich enquired curiously. 

The Imperial Wizard shifted uncomfortably in the saddle, "he was a man once. One of His Late Majesty Tiberius II's greatest mages. His name is Rinack. A war hero, really; his history is a rich tapestry of glorious victories in service to Tiberius II." 

"And what happened?" 

Antonius shook his head, "I know not. I was but a boy when, a hundred years ago, the Wizardry Council was ordered to exterminate him on the order of Tiberius II. There was a great battle, and many of my Order were slain in defeating him. The facts surrounding the Emperor's order to execute him have been lost - destroyed, most probably. All I know is broken pieces of his history. A powerful mage. A glorious hero of the Empire. A fugitive. An enemy. Everything else is hear-say." 

Erich mused at this, "could we treat him to a parley? See if we can, come to some kind of compromise? With the Emperor's outlawing of offensive magic, I'm sure we could turn over those responsible for wronging him to his mercy." 

The Wizard shook his head, "I cannot sense what he is thinking." 

"So?"

"I cannot sense anything - it's like he's not even there. This worries me more than anything; no living mortal, no matter how powerful, should represent a void to my mind's eye," replied the Wizard, sweat driving down his forehead in droves. 

Erich shook his head, and clasped his hands. "It matters not, Magnus. Protect my men from his fire, and they'll bring him down. Let him come, just a little closer, in javelin range. We'll see how this Rinack likes the taste of magebane steel." 

"It wont be enough," said Antonius, "this is no amateur hyped up on their new found powers; this is Rinack. He brought the Empire to its knees before he was subdued - your magebane weapons will be of little use." 

"Then we turn back, and let him savage what is left of our people?" 

"No. Let him exhaust himself, I may be able to overcome him. It will cost many, many lives," finished Antonius, dismounting his horse. "Fetch my staff, and pray for the Emperor's swift delivery in this fell-matter."