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The village before the Great Hall was bustling with activity. Wagons were loaded with provisions as well as simple house gear. Everyone knew what to do, as all Immortals knew this day could come. Also, last year before councillor Vadrigald disappeared he had organised several practice evacuations. Everyone missed him since his disappearance, certainly now, but it was commonly believed he was one of the first victims of the growing influences of the Dark in this land. Count Freedom and Lord Mystic overlooked the evacuation giving orders and making notes on some scrolls. Suddenly they heard screaming from the distance and quickly looked to the north. Over the bridge to their town they saw an army coming their way. And they wore the banner of the king. Some villagers close to the bridge started to walk towards them but stood still suddenly, then dropped to the ground. The trained eyes of Mystic widened “Oh no it has begun”. Now also Freedom could see the villagers being shot down with arrows. “To arms, to arms!” He started to shout. And the few soldiers in the village grabbed their weapons as quickly as they could. “We have no chance outside, look its ten to one” lord Mystic said to Freedom. “Then we need to move inside, give the order,” he shouted to a herald standing next to him. The herald blew his horn and villagers and soldiers alike rushed towards the Great Hall.
Two hours later Freedom looked around him. On the floor many dead and injured clan people. While the Great Hall did not fall yet, the aerie glow outside of the burning village below it almost made the night look like day. The kings soldiers were methodical in destroying all they encountered and that made them slow. “They want to eradicate us permanently,” Lord Mystic said when entering the room. “What is the situation milord? Are any other Immortals coming our way to help from the front? What is our alliance doing?” he asked Lord Mystic. “I truly do not know, but I do not expect that either will be able to help. Because any Immortal at the front will be alone and easily dispatched. And our allies either face the same problem as we at this moment or is in that cave.” “Well we are surrounded and have few warriors, we can hold out somewhat longer but soon they will set fire to this building as well and we have no where to go.” And as if the enemy overheard their conversation both men heard the trebuchets going off in the distance, they briefly held their breath, then an enormous bang betrayed the Great Hall being under siege. Soon fires were spreading and the smoke inside made breathing more difficult. “Well staying here is no option, we need to break out. I will tell our people.” Lord Mystic said.
Downstairs in the survivors both villagers and defenders stood silent when Mystic walked down the stairs. He stopped half way and began to speak. “My people, fellow Immortals. Only the very old remember me being your councillor, but all know who I am. Today the Republic is leaving this realm. We have been betrayed by the very one that we served for so many years. Now we have to flee once more. We are surrounded and no help is coming, but lets make a valiant rush out, once more Immortals, perhaps for the last time lets face our real enemy today!” Long live the Republic!. All Immortals there shouted with him. Long live the Republic! To battle! to victory! Away with the king!”

Paragraph 23: The Demon Lord

Only a few Albions made it trough the portal. Albertus and Dennizon and Healingfeary were among them. “I am Sinsmerc.” A short but sturdy looking mercenary introduced himself. “Hail Sinsmerc, I am Dennizon and he is Albertus we are both from the same clan.” “And I am Healingfeary and I am glad to see another of my friends made it, namely Cheli.” “I am a cabalist.” Cheli added from guild Incognito. A huge half ogre stood up. “I am Foxdom, also a mercenary. All were still panting and some even sitting on the floor. “So this small band is all that made it trough that portal” Albertus broke his silence. Dennizon thought about his friends and allies on the other side. He looked around and saw he was not the only one. All there realised that they most probably lost them all. “Lets move forward, so their sacrifice is not in vain” Albertus continued. “Its amazing how often he seems to know what others think or feel’ Dennizon thought to himself. While he knew Albertus for many years and both men had become the best of friends to the point of family. There was still something concerning the death of Albertus grandson and the story involved that gave room for the realisation that there was still a part he did not know fully. That in no way though affected their friendship. Dennizon replied “Indeed lets move forward into this cave, we came here to kill evil so lets do it”. The little group started to move further in. Some minor demons were dispatched easily until the group entered a larger cave with in the centre a platform, on it the remnants of a temple of sorts. In it the largest demon they ever meet before, giant olive branch wings almost crossing the whole room, with a large horned head in between. Sitting there, looking at them not reacting at all at first. Then, when he saw the small group his grotesque face put something on it that could only be an attempt of a smile and the creature spoke. “I am Azazel, the demon lord. And you are soon dead!” I believe you meet my minions before?” All of a sudden a shape of one of the lieutenants the Albion army killed days before came their way. “We already killed you” Sinsmerc yelled. The spirit of the demon tried to grasp Healingfeary but the shield of Dennizon protected her. While keeping his shield upwards he swung his axe upwards with his other hand. Somewhat to his surprise it made contact with the sprit. “They can be hit!” he yelled to the others. Albertus standing on a little hill started to cast his damage spells at it. Cheli send her golem at the creature as well. Soon all were fighting the spirit. Sinsmerc and Foxdom tried to attack the spirit from behind while Dennizon kept slamming his shield into the phantom creature. All of a sudden Azazel laughed again and Sinsmerc disappeared from sight. However the spirit started to vanish as well as the small team kept on fighting and it soon disappeared fully. Azazel hissed and spoke to the team with an angry voice “Fools do you think this will be so easy”. To the little groups horror they saw yet another spirit approaching them. Then suddenly Cheli yelled. “There behind us Sinsmerc.” And the moment the spirit reached the team he was able to rejoin the fight. “What happened? Albertus asked. “I do not know, I found myself at Legions feet again but fortunately was quick enough to hurl myself into the portal again.” The second spirit was defeated more easily then the first. Azazel hissed again, and an incantation was heard. Again Sinsmerc disappeared. Three times more Azazel conjured up the spirits of his dead henchmen and three times more Sinsmerc was ported to Legion and managed to get back into the portal. But after a straight forty-five minutes fight an aerie silence as Azazel and the Albion group stared at each other.
“So little ones, you defeated my henchmen twice. But do you really think you are able to win a fight with me? And even with my death nothing is gained as we are in power everywhere. Your beloved king is our puppet.” “You talk nonsense. Sinsmerc replied. “Really? Small mercenary how do you think I am able to cast you outside, did you not get a weapon of the king himself? The others are smart enough not to wield it but you do…” Azazel started to laugh again. Its this weapon that enables me to cast you aside little one, as its cursed.” “Enough of this!” Dennizon shouted and sprinted forward. With him the two mercenaries. Albertus veered to the side, trying to pick a position where he could hit Azazel. As the three fighters entered the platform a heavy magic area f effect spell hit them however Healingfeary managed to keep their wounds manageable. “He can not move as he is bound to his spot by magic”. Cheli yelled. So the three fighters pressed on to bring the fight to him. Dennizon was the first to reach Azazel. The air was dense with the fabric of magic, he hid his face behind his shield, scrambled and slammed it into Azazel’s face. Even though Azazel was many times the size of the paladin, the well-placed hit stunned it for a moment. Sinsmerc and Foxdom used that time to manoeuvre to the side and started to hack into the demon lord. Regaining his composure Azazel looked down and with one strong hit pushed Dennizon aside. However the paladin had anticipated retaliation and had prepared for the blow and while being pushed away remained standing. With Dennizon out of the way temporarily Azazel looked at Sinsmerc again and the same incantation he uttered before could be heard. “Throw away that weapon, throw it away!” Cheli yelled at Sinsmerc but it was already too late as Sinsmerc disappeared again. With Sinsmerc gone both fighters that were left realized their predicament was not getting any better. While some wounds could be seen on the large Demon it was no way defeated yet. However both men were veterans and knew each other from the front. Dennizon knew he his shield was his asset more then doing damage while for the mercenary it was just the other way around. Almost instinctively both men took up positions next to each other. Azazel in the mean time finished another area of effect spell and this time its damage could be felt. Both men screamed as their skin burned however saw the blue glance of healing spells soothing their pain soon after. In a desperate ditch Foxdom jumped forward and hit Azazel in one of its eyes. The huge half ogre stood there for a second trying to pull his weapon out but had to let go as Azazel, in pain lifted himself up. At that time they all heard Cheli yell again. “Sinsmerc is back, there he is! Albertus saw Sinsmerc coming back from behind them as he apparently had managed to get in the portal in time again. However not unharmed as a big wound was seen on his left leg. “Its nothing!” Sinsmerc said while making his way to the platform again. With only one eye Azazel was not aware of the return of Sinsmerc and started to scream and curse as the mercenary was hitting into him from the blind side and it felt the blades of Sinsmerc in in its side. Then Azazel made a fatal mistake. Trying to see what was hitting him Azazel had to turn his head all the way. Wile trying to glance below with his only good eye, Dennizon jumped forward again and slammed his shield on the backside of Azazels head. The blow was so hard that the demon started to struggle to keep standing. This was not lost on Foxdom who with one massive swing cut of the demons head. With Azazel's body lying dead on the floor the small Albion group started to celebrate their victory.

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