Part 22: Who Mourns for Dremargor?

Chapter 15: Who Mourns for Dremargor?



„Brethren! It appears that the Dremer world is not immune to our lord‘s power! Look how it twists and changes to form familiar lands!“

“First, we‘ll kill Dremargor, and then, we’ll settle this place for good! Plains will roll with grass and wheat, cities will rise into the sky, and women will frolic in the gentle hills, getting bronze tans under the sun. For the future, my brothers! For Ardania!”

“For Ardania”

_{“Is he talking about human women again? What a freak”}



“Omligin’s ‘Fiery Shitslapper’ might come in useful… one day. Now, I don’t even have mana to cast Resurrection”

King Lich spoke the truth. Vaults that used to be stacked with barrels of mana were almost empty. A great deal of magic had been used in the last few weeks, a far greater amount that all the mana collectors could replenish in time. Only a few barrels have left, abandoning the rest of warehouses to scurrying (and teleporting) mana infused rats.

“My lord, I have this proposition. We could lash the goblins workers more, and maybe take younger workers…”



“That mongrel has been at my throat from the very beginning! This will not stand! Fight with me, you coward!”

“I don’t understand why are you so determined to fight him… and, if you haven’t picked it up with your feeble mage sense, I am conducting an invasion of the Dremer world. I’m the one saving Ardania so you and Sol could kill each other”





"Sky Ships of Arethi are more than just war machines - they are the sign of magical superiority of the elves and the manifestation of the High Truth."
- From the "Servants of truth" by High Keeper Teyaran the Rigorous

“The Eclipse-class is far superior to Shadow-class, which was already far ahead of the flying ships that the Undead can make. Eclipse-class features an enlarged magic-driver which can be spun in overdrive mode to produce and impressive magical pulse. A Shylar CIWS – Close-In Warlock System – is installed to prevent threats from getting near the ship”

“With two r’lyehactor gems, it has a much higher power output than Shadow-class, with negligible increase in loss of sanity to ground onlookers. It also offers the option for ship teleportation, but it has to be made ready by a veteran crew.”

“Eclipse-class also features two additional wingtips, making the ship that much more attractive to younglings and high-maintenance females”

_{“How does Lucius put up with this shit…”}



“A shimmering bubble of hexagons descends on the target of the casting, radiating warmth and golden in color. This shield protects the wearer from all elements and sometimes even deflects them, with a sort of ‘pew-pew’ sound…”

“I swear, whoever wrote this must have been drunk”



“As you can see, the engines only need some prodding with the soul-prods and if chief navigator’s concentration holds, the ship successfully slips through space between planes and onto another spot. Not very far, mind you, but still usually out of harm’s way”

“What happens if concentration doesn’t hold?”

“Then there’s an opening for the chief navigator position and an opening where chief navigator’s cranium used to be”



“Arrows can’t fly against the wind”

“ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WIND IS ON FIRE”

“NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH”



“Sire, I know that maintaining the siege of the Dremer world is tasking, but could you find another way to relax? Using Helia’s power to blind goblins as they’re crossing bridges and chasms seems a little… profane”

“What are you talking about? Look, that wagon just went over a cliff and onto shack”

“Well, I agree, that was a bit funny”



“Sire, demons are appearing all over the realm!”

“Are we having a double end of the world?”

“No, just a regular oblivion crisis, so it seems. Well, the demons seem to be shouting something about Riften, but they are demons”

“True. Well, Agr probably doesn’t have anything better to do and I suspect I’ll soon have to resurrect some of the invasion forces. Those demons can consider themselves already banished”



“In truth, the overcharged blast would work better against non-Dremer targets, I think. Same with our regular shot, which would be better used against buildings: we’re using a softer kind of rock that smushes and spreads on the walls, thus covering a bigger target area before the magic explosive – and the goblin shaman – triggers”



Something was bombarding the forces with frightening magic and the elites (now with embedded Lucius and under the cover of an invisibility spell) were sent to scout it out what they found was…
Dremargor





"Your Lordship! You requested that I deliver any information I have about Dremargor. I've gathered all knowledge on the matter, and in fact there is only bad news. The Dremargor is extremely strong, and it hasn't any "weak points" to speak of. It appears that it can adapt to any kinds of attack - but here my experience tells me that there should be some limits to such adaptation, Frightfully, with a single attack it can impact the same area that you can with your Armageddon spell. In short, my advice to you now is more urgent than ever: do not play a hero! There is no need for personal magic duels. You are a Great Mage after all, not some landless knight, and Ardania needs you. So please, let your troops fight Dremargor - but be sure to provide them with full magical support!"
(From His Lordship's Advisor's address speech)

“And I though regular Dremer looked like bastards conceived by a goblin and a toad”

“This one is even uglier”

“And larger”

“At least he has two bone blades, not like those lopsided warriors”.

“Ugliness aside, we still have to kill him”



“After all this is over, I should really get Agnett to visit Temple of Helia. They seem to like burning things down, maybe they’d strike a common chord”



“Isn’t this a little…”

“Defiant?”

“Hubris?”

“Overconfident?”

“Those are all good descriptions, sire.”

“Well, it might help to lure the Dremargor into a position we like… for example, where the land itself doesn’t heal him”



“And if that doesn’t happen, we’ll have a fall back point and maybe even the first city on the Dremer world”.



“It says ‘Blast Earth, Moran Gor’, a short incantation indeed! But seeing how most of my rivals have their lands covered in corruption, using it might even improve their odds”



Finally, the trap was sprung! It was too late to save Squeeks (who was now awaiting the more mundane resurrection, rather than one granted by a god) and his paladins, but the others managed well.
The werewolves were well spread out and laid in ambush around Dremlin. Once the monster neared the city, they jump up and dashed to encircle the Prime Dremer. Completing the ambush were the Paladins of Dauros, gifted for completing his temple in an ashen field near the mountains, in a far off demiplane. Even Agniett shoved up.

The giant monster glowered at the surrounding forces and hid behind his giant bone claws.



The Dremargor was already well protected against most that would do it ill. And his supernatural protection would change depending on who attacked him. As werewolf learned really fast, this was the first opponent that managed to be totally immune to both real and spiritual claws.

Fortunately, research into crumbling tomes and wizen old koatls showed that Dremargor couldn’t become immune to everything, nor be immune indefinitely (else he would have probably invaded Ardania himself).

To diversify the range of attacks raining on the monster, King Lich metateleported more forces into the fray.



Back in the real world, a very different siege was happening. A dragon appeared out of nowhere and attacked Golddale. Peasants ran to their huts screaming in horror (because of the dragon) and glee (because some of the insufferable goblin garrison would die) while goblins were marshalled for the defense.

Luckily, they feared King Lich more than they did the dragon and defense was well under way.



Even if that meant that some of the goblins got well cooked.



On the other side of the continent, Trolls managed to burts through Sol’s territory and explore a landmass that was to the west. Apparently, that landmass was very poorly kept, as whatever lands that had not been blasted by Dremer were contaminated.



“The creature’s immunity! Can you not feel how it changes?”

“I curse ya, Dremma foo! I curse wid da curse of DEATH!”



“Did you notice the change, brothers? Let us plan the attacks and we’ll kill this monster in no time!”



“Well, I won’t say that fighting him didn’t bring any benefits. I feel like I could dodge anything right now”





"Monsieur, I have received news most dire... This must be passed to the Council immediately! The Dremers... they transform captured Great Mages into mindless slaves! Though they become fully obedient, they still wield all their terrible powers! This has happened already, and will happen again if the Dremer manage to capture another Great Mage's capital. I beg you, monsieur - ensure that the Great Mates understand the terrible threat they face! They must forget their quarrels and unite their forces, or soon not only the Council but all the world will be gone forever."
(From "The Secret Report to the Adviser of His Grace")

“Abomination spotted! Alert the king! Alert the armies! We have a fallen great mage! We must end the Dremers NOW!”



And so, while the trolls slowly pushed through a blasted continent…



While the newly resurrected forces banded with heroes and goblins to destroy threats to common citizens…



While elven sky ships with inscrutable engines scoured the seas…

“Now is the time, brethren! Strike the final blow!”



With tooth and claw of the werewolf did the threat of Dremer passed forever from the universe.