The Triumvirate of Free People, A year agoThe day was like any other, it was sunny, warm, and somewhat peaceful. A lull in the constant war they had with the Northern clan of orks was few and far between. The men of Arcadia worked with the Dwarven blacksmiths to work and embed magic in the form of runes onto armor, crystals that formed naturally from the foot of the mountain seeped out and were harvested for their richness in pure mana, and the elvish oracles were busy in their studies creating new magic techniques for the
Magus Academe, while the fairies were creating constructs.
Things were about to change drastically. The watchtowers in the eastern side of the mountain strongholds observed a massive tear opening up from the sky. The border ripped open between the Northern Ork territories and the mountain that was suppose to be preventing them from comming through. Thankfully no one was injured as it was an undeveloped part of the mountain range, but that also meant that the Orks were free of harm as well.
Conflict would errupt in this area with the Orks primarily wanting to go through the gate with some never returning. The area was also a massive breakthrough in the defense, as now the Orks can freely attack the Triumvirate in two areas. For the first time in many decades, High King Morias reprises his title,
"The Angel of Death".
One Year LaterThe gate had spurred both Orks and the Triumvirate to redouble their efforts for completely different reasons. The Elvish oracles saw this comming, how could they not? The council of the three stars convene in Arcadia's capital made of metal and stone, the Grey City, also known as Aurelia. The Grey City earned its name for the number of fortifications and high stone walls that are braced with metal supports and plating. The city was once the site of many battles, men and dwarves used to compete for valued resources at the base of the mountains, Orks would often raid dwarven and human farmland. The stretch of territory that many call the Triumvirate, while today may be called beautiful, before it was a bloody and charred battlefield that reeked the smell of death and decay.
Today, in the center of that same city stands a mighty hilltop keep where men, dwarves, and elves convene to decide what they should do about the gate that looms over a now open valley where a section of a tall mighty mountain range once stood. Morias presided over the judgement and decision making of the council.
"Everyone, settle down!" Morias' voice boomed into the large hall, decorated with flags, banners, and red carpets, in the center furnished with a massive round table and several seats for the council of Lords and surrounding them were metal armors of different shapes and sizes displaying different weapons and arms.
The Dwarven Lord and his advisers chimed in with their own loud voices, "Settle!? How can we settle while out there sits a large army of Orks and an open door into our territory? Not to mention this so called Gate responsible for this catastrophe!"
Not long after the Dwarves spoke, one of the Elvish oracles chimed "Patience! The high king of Arcadia wishes to speak."
Morias' eyes glowed for a moment, "Hmm, another foriegner enters our land. It's an Ork party, with Elves and Constructs... An uncommon occurrence." seated in his chair, he took up his cup and sipped its contents, savoring the texture and flavor of the well aged wine. He shot glancing looks at everyone around him, the Elves had sensed it too, the Dwarves and his advisers were perplexed at just the mere mention of Orks and Elves working together, and the advisers that sad beside Morias shot eachother confused looks.
"Escort them here... They're not enemies... Yet." he commanded.
The Dwarves would've risen to protest against this judgement, but knowing Morias for so many years they knew that they could trust his judgement.
A few hours later, near the border
The orc shaman sensed the presence of the great ones, as the convoy continues ever closer to the city. "I believe that we have been discovered. "He mutters as soon as his small group begins to get surrounded by the Triumvirate forces.
"I believe that your ruler has sensed my presense." The shaman declares, as he orders the others to stand down. "I only wish to speak, I am no friend." He continues, as the others quickly lay down their arms. And as Morias said the party were composed of orcs, contructs and elves. But, what was shocking to say the least is who they were.
The orc shaman was known for many deeds and travels. "I am Mentis of the orcs." He introduces himself, as he pulls out his cloack revealing many scars and his iconic glowing green eyes. "But, I am known as the tainted sage." He adds ending his introduction
The elf steps up, and from his silver hair, his missing arm and the legendary staff of the ancients. There was no mistaking it, he was the legendary contruct king. "I am Antalion, the king of contruct f...." He said quickly cut off from an little girl covered from head to toe in silver. She was the acting leader of the sentient constructs. "I am the silver queen." She annouces.
Then soon after various important people followed and introduced themselves, with some being short while others having long extensive speeches in store. It was a gathering of important individuals but, suprisingly under the rule of the tainted sage.
The Triumvirate force was composed of fast moving cavalry, dwarven automobiles, and constructs. One of the men that was on horseback dismounted, he was hooded and had tattered clothing, he was clearly armed but he hadn't drawn his weapons. He pulled his green hood off and spoke.
"My oh my... What magnanimous speeches and titles..." His voice was hoarse and deep, his beared was tirimmed short, and his face marked with multiple scars as well, "I'm afraid however, that none of those titles and other such nonesense matter here in the Triumvirate, to us you're just a job..." he explained straight and plainly whilst he pulled out an order from the King, "By order of the High King of Arcadia and members of Council, you are to be escorted to the city of Aurelia, any and all hostile actions will be considered an active mark of war. Official Order: Summons, which by the way, means YOU are being summoned and we don't have all day." he again explained plain and simply.
Without even waiting for a reply, he pulled his hood on again and mounted his horse, construct wolf packs emerged to flank the cavalry formation of royal knights, archmages, and mounted Rangers. The Dwarven automobiles had their guns at the ready at all times.
The man who relayed the orders spoke again, "Well... What're you waiting for? You wanted to speak didn't you?" he whistled once, and a few horses came to greet the Triumvirate's guests. "If you need the horses to ride, here they are, DO NOT EAT THEM." he stressed.
Mentis felt the stereotypical nonsense that his race has endured in the past. "I see it hasn't died off then." He said as he sighs mounting the horses, in a natural way making it seems that the man's statemate has no bases. They ride and follow the guards to where they would see their master.
Spearheaded by the shaman, the convoy makes steady progress as they transverse the city, seeing buildings neatly organized in rows and crowds of people, still doing their day to day life. A rare place to see, since the start of the apocalyse.
"I see, then a safe zone." he said as he makes his way escorted by the city's defenders. "I sense elves nearby, dear contruct king." One of the elve's remarked looking at the contruct king with challenging eyes.
"I swear Tiara, I will hang you up by the neck for all to see if you keep acting like that." He replies to the elf seemingly displeased with her words. "Oh are you gonna make them join the call to arms just like the rest of us? Its not like more than fifty of us are already dead or missing." She adds not letting him speak.
"I mean I guess you can ask the fairies and their contructs to fight for you." She comments as she sees him speechless. "I SWEAR IF I UNIFY THE ELVES THEN I WON'T SPARE A SECOND TO PUT YOU BEHIND IRON BARS FOR YOUR INSOLENT LITTLE TONGUE!" He replies in an effort to scare her, but in response she snicker in his face.
"Unify the elves!? HAH! What a joke!" She answers as she laughs. "We both know that you don't have the capabilities to do so." She ends laughing at his threat. "Elves." The others said sighing at their brickering and remembering of how they were that close to conquering the world. Soon, the convoy arrives at where they were supposed to go.
As the party entered the city a substantial amount of the escort guard pulled away to return to their duties near the border. The escort that is left to the protection of the party are the mounted knights of Auroria. The Entrance to the Grey Keep is heavily guarded, marching troops some with armor, some with big heavy sheilds, some with rifles from the dwarves, some with arming swords and staves, some with just a simple book, and some among them were dwarves and constructs - who were treated as equals and in that spirit are as equaly heavily equiped - and all of them protect the keep.
The gate behind the party closed without the use of a crew or pulleys, it raised from the ground with the use of clockwork and steam. The people in the generally left alone land of the Triumvirate had technology that they needed, mainly better weapons. However, when they passed by the people in the city, they were given judging looks especially towards the Orks among them. It was quite clear that Ork-Triumvirate relations were quite sour. The towering buildings, bustling markets, and somewhat peaceful countryside was to mask the underlying problems that the Triumvirate faced on almost a daily basis. Ork infiltration and war parties.
The Orks regularly infiltrated and raided settlements across the Triumvirate, as a result, war between them was frequent. Orks regularly adapted and made their own version of Dwarven and Human weaponry causing the Dwarves and Humans to frequently adapt their weapons to their own previous design. Where in most countries across the world have experience a lessened amount of conflict, the Triumvirate and the Northern Ork clans have been locked in battle for many years. Eventually the Elvish oracles and the fairies that occupy the forests within the Triumvirate's borders dabbled in creating constructs again.
Learning from their mistake, constructs are now used for more than a military purpose and openly live a free life within the Triumvirate. Unfortunately, the the Constructs are a highly debated topic amongst the council and the people, whether they are necessary at all and whether they can be considered alive.
The party soon arrives at the gates of the Aurelian keep within the city walls, with an increase of knight statues and guards. The Gate operates the same way as the gate at the walls of the city and standing among the walls were guards armed with rifles, bows, crossbows, staves, and books and with them are cannons that looked like nothing they've ever seen before with ammunition that looked a lot like what many soldiers that return from the battlefield describe in reports of World Eater weapons.
Through the gate they found more guards and a red carpet leading towards a throne; flanking the throne were two staircases that spiraled up towards the upper levels of the keep. Every five steps up these stair cases were guards and the keep was constantly busy as it was the center for politics and law. The stairs lead down towards a lower level where a court can be found that holds trials for the accused.
The grand hall was a sight to behold, as steaks of gold and silver decorates the room. A marvel and a testiment to the might and wealth of the country. The sage was impressed at the display as he examines the walls and the imposing ceiling of the structure. Especially the large stain glass on the sides, which tells numerous stories and tales.
"It reminds me of the high kings chambers but, smaller." One of the dwarfs muttered as he strokes his beard. "Its certainly better than his hamlet." Tiara mischeviouslycomments, which scores her a furious glare from the contruct king.
"I am Mentis, and I have come seeking an audience with you Morias high king of Arcadia." He said as he bows down awaiting his words.
The council acknowledged Mentis' arrival, they looked at his escort and thought of nothing else but amazement. The North was isolated from the rest of the world, this is partly due to the prison that Morias himself guards.
Morias simply nodded in aknowledgement, his clothes looked decent but not out of the ordinary compared to the people in the streets of the Grey City. Morias then said, "Welcome to Aurelia, the legendary fortress that has not fallen in many decades."
The Dwarves in the council then spoke up, "Ah more pointy ears! This'll be a treat." The Elven oracles ignored their words and imediately eyed the Elf and their constructs.
Morias then gestured to the seats that rose in the middle of the room, obviously for most of them to sit. "There is much to discuss and I persume it's about these ominous gates that have sprouted out of nowhere?" He paused awaiting Mentis' response.
Mentis in his famous worned red cloak, comes closer and with each step a thunk as his sandals connects with the white polished surface of the court room. "Indeed, esteemed first one." He omnimously said, grinning as if knowing that he was one of the long lost races of the first ones or the aetherkin to be exact. "I have come bring an alliance the world has never seen before, agaisnt an common enemy." He states his bussiness, rising up after.
"Join us agaisn't this foe and we will see a golden age never before seen." He confidently continues. "We the alliance of Titania have come seeking your aid in liberating our world from the plague that the world eaters have placed." He continues with the same gustav. "Help us save the earth mother." He ends with the same but, more sincere tone.
"Earth Mother...?" Morias was quite surprised anyone would call this world a mother, for true it has provided many with shelter, food, and equal opportunities, but this world was created by someone or something else. "How quaint, I have never referred to our world as a mother, prior experiences have led me to that conclussion..." He paused only to create a raised steeple with his hands, "However, I can understand why you would want to protect it."
The elvish oracles, cloaked head to toe in different colored garments, explained their stance, "The gates however are beyond our realm and thus beyond our jurisdiction, the orks in our region continue small raids into the world beyond our own." The second oracle spoke, "We have seen this future, whether to go into the gate or not will lead to either ruin or prosperity." The third finished their explanation, "There is no telling which is which, but the wiser thing to do is to stay out of the affairs beyond our own."
The dwarves rudely butt in, "Pah! These gates are nothing but trouble! They oppened up a separate front all together, the orks have been raiding more and more these days because of that one bloody gate!"
Morias nodded and again awaited the reply of Mentis' party.
Antalion curious, sneaks a peek at the three. "Elves from the time of the empire." He softly whispered to Titania, which sneakily glares suspiciously at them in return. "I don't like them." She softly replies. "You may not share the same belief, but in this trying times we must help one another for a common enemy has laid siege towards our homes." The sage zelously explained to the king.
"I have already gathered the elves, the contructs, the humans, the orcs, and the dwarfs into an alliance." He continues, maintaing the same tone and zeal which makes one of the dwarfs stand up. "Of course, but all of us are free to do what we want to do." He adds with a hint of frustration in his words. Titania sighs at the bluntness, no matter how much she was dealing with on a daily basic. "
"Of course, all of you are free to do what you want, but you will be expected to aid in the protection of the earth mother." He ends in fear of being lenghtly like last time, waiting to hear your answer.
Morias cocked an eyebrow, "You speak of such a grand alliance and even have most of the representatives here at this table, but the Triumvirate have not felt this so called
'unity'" He then stood from his chair and in the middle of the table danced a colorful whisp of energy that then coalesced into shapes and figures in the middle of the table.
"This is what we've had to endure even most recently." Morias said, as the shapes refined themselves into scenes of battle, devastation, death, and war after the recent appearance of the gate. "The orks have been bringing marching through and around the gate, they've attacked us multiple times, and when their war party returns, they bring rather advanced weaponry from the other side..."
The dwarven king stood up, "This alliance of yours is folly! You can't even bring all of your kind under one banner!" He shouted addressing the ork.
The elvish oracles were quick to remind of the dwarves that stood next to them, "The same could be said about you, there are dwarves that stand right across from you." The dwarf king then said "They abandoned us long ago and forgot that we even existed! They are no dwarf kin of mine!" he fussed, "We made ourselves, we fought for our lands multiple times over, we've spilled OUR blood, spent OUR people, used OUR steel, it was only when Morias arrived when we finally stopped fighting against eachother and even then the orks still see a need to ruin the peace!" slammed his fist down onto the table making it shake furiously with vigor. The elves stood silently, aware of Titania's disdain but feigning ignorance to the matter.
"The point of the matter is, we can't legitimately help you unless you can bring the local clans of orks to heel. This will ensure that no raids will happen upon my people, and that we can continue our progress in technology." Morias then shot a look at the dwarves that accompanied Mentis, "I believe your kind still use blunderbusses and flintlocks correct? We've been using brass cartridges just recently before the gate opened suddenly. It was an innovation we took from our experimental brimstone cannons that are now gradually replacing our old cannons because of their increased efficiency and range." He then took a rifle from one of the guards, "We have repeating versions of these rifles, but they're quite experimental still, for now we are using a bolt-pull mechanism where we load one cartridge at a time, but if you can bring us technology, we can greatly improve our research in terms of balistics." He then demonstrated its usage meticulously and without fail, and presented it onto the table, "This is what WE can do for YOU, we will even offer our own training regiments, but until you can meet our demands, then WE cannot help YOU." Morias concluded his offer.
“I see brave words coming from the cowards that escaped.” One of the dwarves stand up furious, replying to his counterpart with frustration, pointing the finger at them abandoning all respect towards them. “The dwarfs have been proudly under the banner of high king since the elven war but, you and your little expedition escaped out here. After years of searching we have never heard from you ever again, and you dare think that we left you for dead.” He madly adds, pointing at mountain king in disrespect.
“And how dare you think that we are still under technology.” He madly gives a death stare at Morias. “That lit…” He tries to continue before Titania pulls out her trusty sawn-off and fired two shots from it to the roof, releasing a deafening blow with every shot which echoes throughout the room. “Open your mouth again and I’ll make sure it stays opened.” She coldly says with her eyes burning with anger, making the enraged dwarf heed.
“Titania stand down.” Mentis calmly ordered the elven female making her and the dwarven ambassador stand down. “I am sorry for the way my companions have acted.” The sage apologies as he bows his head in shame. But, as he does the silver queen stares at the oracle, observing them from the distance with distaste. “Just like the others, weak.” She mutters softly in an attempt for them not to hear.
“It is true that my kind is at fault, let me do everything I can to solve this issue.” He respectfully proposes, in an effort to save face and to not let talk break down. "For now technology varies between each nation and race but, I ensure you that we are no pushovers." He ends as he waits for his answer .
"I never said quite the remark, you see, I noticed your technology strapped to the hip of that woman with you... Titania was it? It gave me the impression that only recently has your technology improved with the aid of what came through the gate. The orks here have been doing much the same using what they've learned from us..." The lights continue to show the prowess of the orks fighting in the region, "If you can bring the Orks in this region to heel... Then we can help improve your technology, seeing as we've improved it without the help of outsiders for over many years."
The Dwarves next to the elvish oracles were visibly enraged, left behind as an expeditionary force and abandoned, what choice did they have? The dwarves from the south had little to no respect for what they've built on their own, they felt no kinship for them. The elves themselves still feigned their ignorance of the elves that Mentis brought to the table, they simply spoke of the matter at hand "Indeed, if you can bring these orks to heel it would bring legitimacy to your alliance and thus open legitimate discussions between us, until then asking us to join you would be a folly of diplomatic wisdom."
The dwarves then merely shrugged in agreement, then Morias chimed, "There you have your answer... If you wish to find them, they are beyond the dwarven fortressess in the east." the room dimmed as the light faded and the council awaited their reply.
Titania didn't answer the question careful not to give out too much info shrugging off the question still visibily anger at them. "I do hope that you understand but, we do not wish to give out too much information." A kid that had silver skin speaks up calmly. "Technology is hard to come by and it can and will turn the tide of battle, we have already decided that the spoils of war turn to the looters." She continues keeping her stoic tone.
"The dwarfs and the constructs for example have been helping one another in terms of technology but, still keep an eye out on one another so that both sides are still in terms with one another." She further explains as her armor starts to visibly moves into place turning it all into impressive combat armor, which surprises the dwarfs and the others supporting her statement.
"And my pitiful old masters helping with the orcs in acquiring and making their own technology and we believe to have their own secret facilities that deals with this." She ends her explanation still indifferent as she reverts into her original battle wears.
“As for the orcs we will do everything we can to solve the problem.” Mentis said with a sigh of relief to hear that the talks were still up. “I will personally talk to them.” He ends to see his reaction.
Morias smirked, "Then I wish you luck on your journey, the council here will finish up our business, also do watch what you do in our territory, I will be watching you every step of the way." Morias then tapped his table, the tower above them oppened up, "I have arranged for transport..." at that moment, Gryphons flew in and a construct eagle pearched themselves around the open roof.
"Go, the fastest way is by air." he pointed above them, as he again wished them well on their journey.
"I request that I stay here?" The silver queen asks. "This is not my fight and I am not involved in here." She continues as she refuses to board the eagle. "And may I talk with the construct that you have in here.” She adds to her list demands. The orc sage and his selected few departed onto the eagle. Leaving their bodyguards and associates back inside the courtroom.
But, minutes after a tired orcs rushes from the path way. “He's here, and he brings an army.” He quickly announces panting after. Making one of the orcs that’s clad in green armor and seem to be wielding a strange weapon sigh as he quickly commands the guards to scramble to attention, as they mount up their raptors in an attempt to catch up to the eagle. “I hope that my son doesn’t make any mistakes.” The orc says crossing his arms while signs of rage starts to show in his face.
The ground shakes near the eastern dwarven fortress before it opens showing the presences of a great worm, bigger than its cousin, but the difference is that has the ability to travel towards solid ground. Minutes after the worms emerges from the ground, narrowily missing the fortress, it dives yet again, before it surfaces again now further into the territory of the orcs
