Overlord Rising

Two long days had quietly passed. Over six-hundred reptilian warriors marched through the land. They stomped the earth, leaving a trail of heavy footprints. Their steps bellowed into the distance, like bolts of thunder announcing the arrival of a violent storm. With spears raised high, and eyes thirsty for blood, the army of lizard folk warded off all manner of beasts and animals from their presence. Not even ogres dared to attack them.

On the third day, the army had arrived upon a vast and spacious field. Blades of brown and green grass quietly swayed to the west, while various crooked rock formations stood about like sentinels keeping watch. Animals grazed on the land, but quickly fled from the area, upon seeing the large company that had just arrived.

At the far end of this field, the enemy stood. An equally massive force of Allosaur and Kompos warriors assembled for battle. These warriors themselves emitted an equally ferocious and violent aura.

Ragosh quietly stared at the enemy. His jaw slightly dropped. He then swallowed. A shiver ran down his scales. Never before had he seen so many Allosaur warriors in one spot. He had already fought the Allosaur once, and survived many vicious battles to get this point. Despite all this, Ragosh still found himself quivering a little bit.

"Something troubles you, whelp?" Sidra whispered.

Ragosh looked to the Apotos exile beside him. Sidra remained calm and composed, but Ragosh noticed something a bit different with the warrior. His nostrils flared, while the usual grin on his face looked a little weaker. Ragosh also took notice of Sidra's fingers, which softly tapped on the handle of his hook.

"A little, yes," Ragosh admitted without much hesitation. "I thought myself prepared for this confrontation, but now I find my tail shrinking."

Sidra grunted. He laid one eye on the youngling, before setting it back to the enemy in the distance. "Well, shrink no further," he replied. "For you are son of the Ovoo chieftain, as well as the warrior representing the Ovoo. It'd be shameful to show soft nerves. What hope would the Ovoo have, if their own leader trembles?"

Ragosh frowned and glared a moment. Before responding, he held back his teeth and sighed. "What about you?" he then asked. "You appear rather off from your brazen self."

Rather than replying with equal jeer, Sidra coughed a smirk and chuckle. "Survive this battle, whelp, for I will have to teach you a lesson about humility right after," he replied. "For now, go on ahead. It seems our leader requires you."

Ragosh turned to the front. There, he found Uriel accompanied with Mycelia, Jotun and Sonpra, her three advisers. Uriel glared at Ragosh, and gestured him to come forward.

The young Ovoo knew better than to keep his master waiting. He stepped out of the Ovoo ranks, and joined the four. "You have need of me, Lady Overlord?" he asked.

"The enemy wishes to convene with us," Uriel answered. On the other side of the field, a few Allosaur warriors began to approach.

"Has reason finally set in their heads?" Ragosh remarked with astonishment. "They had always refused our please for dialogue. So why now?"

"Let us find out," Uriel muttered.

The five of them descended down the hill, and trekked towards the center of the field, where they soon met four Allosaur. Three of them had large bodies and the build of warriors, while the fourth seemed quite lanky and even frail for a member of such a mighty clan.

Both sides stared at one another in silence. Despite saying nothing, their eyes scoured everywhere, sizing up the ones who stood before them. A long moment of silence passed. A breeze passed by, making the first sound between them. Eventually, Uriel gave the first word.

"So… you must be Keshrak," Uriel assumed, her attention drawn to the thinnest Allosaur. "I would say that it is a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to finally meet you in person, but we know that would be a lie."

"A sharp tongue," Keshrak grinned, showing his small, but pointed teeth. "I would expect nothing less from the Overlord."

Sonpra then stepped forward. "We meet again, Chieftain Gargos," he sneered. "The last time we spoke, you threatened my clan with war. It seems that we are now at opposite ends."

"Cease your hollow bravado, you shriveled leaf," Gargos sneered, his fist clenching tightly around his weapon. "You may be on the advance, but against the Allosaur, the results would not differ."

"If that is true, then what have you come forward for?" Uriel asked. "If you've come to demand for our surrender, then I'm afraid you shall be most disappointed."

"Indeed, I would expect no less," Keshrak smirked. "However, I have come to bargain. We will not ask for you to surrender or submit, but instead once again demand you to hand over the prize we seek."

Uriel glanced over at Mycelia, who had the tome strapped to her waist. "And to what end would you use this tome?" she asked.

"I made my intention clear when we last spoke," Keshrak answered. "To build our strength and challenge the demons that fight beyond these Dark Lands."

"You know full well the folly of such ambitions," Uriel hissed. "Rather than send your kind to war, why not attempt to reach out and make peace with those outside Ebonus?"

Keshrak laughed in a deep voice. "Do you actually think peace with your kind is possible?" he chuckled. "You cannot even make peace with your own kind. What more with the likes of us, whom your kind would be quick to judge as monsters?"

Uriel grimaced and grumbled softly. She could not deny his reasoning. "Then what if I can offer you a chance?" she asked. "Side with me, and I will help you become stronger, as well as help make a way for peace with your kind and the humans."

Keshrak's eyes sprung open. He clearly did not expect this. The Allosaur gave pause to contemplate the matter. As he did, the sapphire on his necklace faintly glowed a few times. After the fourth, Keshrak turned back to Uriel with a more determined gaze.

"I will not fall for the petty ticks and promises of one who calls herself Overlord," he hissed. "I know of the evil you have caused your own people, and the danger that you pose to all."

Uriel frowned. "I am not my predecessor," she sneered. "I have no intention of bringing ruin and destruction."

"So you say, yet look at what you have accomplished thus far," Keshrak hissed. "Several clans have fallen and been placed under your foot. How are you no different from your predecessor?"

"I gave them the option to either join or stand aside," Uriel scornfully responded. "Instead of choosing impartiality, they took up arms and attacked us. We responded in kind."

"I would expect no less of the Overlord," Keshrak mocked. "Go back to your warriors. Tell them to pray to their ancestors and ready for battle, for we have come to humble you for your disobedience."

"It shall be the Allosaur that will be humbled," Uriel spat.

Discussions ended. Both sides turned around and marched back to their warriors.

"That went well," Jotun shrugged sarcastically. "Although I must say that Keshrak knew a lot more than most lizard folk."

"True, very true," Mycelia agreed, remembering the time that Keshrak had possessed her. "My lady, did you notice that trinket around his neck?"

"Yes, I did," Uriel replied with a nod. "It appears to be of magical origin. Could it have belonged to the previous Overlord, or any of his cohorts?"

"Perhaps," Mycelia muttered softly. "Or it could belong to someone else, a traveler who had died in these Dark Lands. Regardless, I suspect the jewel has given him knowledge and power far beyond the capability of these lizard folk."

Ragosh heard them speak, but did not understand the conversation. He wanted to ask questions, but chose to keep silent on the matter. The young Ovoo had the sinking suspicion that the answers would only cause more confusion.

Upon returning to their side of the field, Ragosh found bits of anxiety in some of his Ovoo brethren, as well as the warriors that had volunteered. It had finally dawned upon them that they would fight one of the Greater Clans of the land, as well as one of the fiercest, second only to their rivals, the Triceran.

An ounce of fear also fluttered around the young Ovoo's stomach, but he then remembered what Sidra had told him. As the representative of the Ovoo, he needed to show courage and strength before his own brethren.

"Fear not!" he declared. "Our ancestors have granted their blessing to our War Master!" Ragosh turned to Uriel for some source of inspiration.

The Overlord smiled. She patted Ragosh's back and then turned to the warriors with a stern expression on her face.

"The Allosaur stand before you, waiting to put you back in your place!" Uriel declared aloud. "For too long, have you obeyed the Allosaur and given to their demands! For too long, have they ignored reason and have terrorized you with their power! They have abused their authority, and wish to continue doing so! Will you allow them to do so?!"

"NAY!" the army shouted in unison, raising their weapons and spears.

"Look, the enemy stands before us!" Uriel yelled, point out into the horizon. "It is not our intent to destroy and wreak havoc, but bring order and justice to those who deny it! The Allosaur do not wish to listen to reason or dialogue! So we shall instead respond with the only way they understand! You WILL put an end to these old ways, and start a new age for the land!"

The lizard folk cried out to the sky, pounding their c.h.e.s.t, slamming their tails and clapping their weapons, so that the enemy and entire land would hear their conviction.

A fire burned brightly in Ragosh's c.h.e.s.t. He tightly gripped his weapons and roared to the top of his lungs, not wanting to lose this feeling. Power and energy just surged through his veins, encouraging him to pour everything he had into this battle. He felt his scales tremble, not out of fear, but out of determination to fight to the very end, and see that they would stand victorious.

"Vanguard, begin your advance!" Uriel ordered. "Be the first to show the Allosaur your resolve!"

One Ovoo took a horn and blew. A loud noise blasted into the air. Ragosh and Sidra took the first company of warriors and marched down into the field. They started off at a slow and steady pace, conserving a bit more energy for the actual fighting.

As they marched, the enemy made their move. The Kompos and a portion of the Allosaur advanced at the same time. They rushed forward without any formation or line. A rather sloppy assault, but it was to be expected. These lizard folk did not know or understand basic battle tactics. They only knew of reaching the enemy and tearing them to shreds.

The Allosaur and Kompos began to close the distance, but Ragosh and the other warriors remained calm, and maintained a steady pace. From the many battles they fought, they knew better than to just run off into the fray. They moved slowly, and waited for the opportunity.

Suddenly, it happened. Behind them, a sharp sound whistled into the air. A volley of arrows flew towards the sun. These obviously belonged to the number of Drow that had joined them in this campaign.

For a moment, the arrows disappeared into the sunlight, but soon reappeared and rained upon the very land, striking all those unfortunate enough to come into their spot.

Several Kompos dropped to the ground in an instant. They gurgled and grunted, as the arrows pierced their scales, and made quick work of them. Many died, while others found themselves laying on the ground in pain and agony. The injured who had fallen received the worst of luck.

As they grumbled and g.r.o.a.n.e.d in pain, they found themselves trampled and crushed by their own allies, who ignored their cries, and continued on with the charge. These injured wheezed in agony, as they consciously felt some of their bones shatter.

A few Allosaur also found themselves struck by arrows, but only a few died from the injury. Those still alive, simply returned to their feet and limped forward.

Ragosh frowned. He had hoped that more Allosaur would have fallen. However, he found no surprise in this. His elders have always described the Allosaur to be warriors of intense might and strength. Surviving the arrows with little effort proved to be a testament to their strength.

As soon as the arrows had finished raining upon the enemy, Ragosh and his allies made their move. They quickened their pace and charged to meet with their adversaries. Spears pointed forward, as the warriors roared with fury.

The gap between the armies grew ever smaller. Before long, they had finally met. The two armies crashed violently into one another. A stream of noises and cries erupted from the center of the field, as smears of blood painted the ground red.

Ragosh skewered five Kompos, before discarding his spear for his sword. He took down a few more Kompos warriors, but soon found himself confronting a few Allosaur adversaries.

Gathering his courage, Ragosh faced these red monsters. These ones proved to be almost as strong and as vicious as the ones who had attacked their village. His opponents had an advantage in size and strength. Fighting them directly would have been folly. Fortunately, training against Uriel had forced him to focus his senses in a fight.

Dodging and avoiding every attack thrown at him, the young Ovoo slipped past his opponents like a wasp, and struck them in areas they had left vulnerable.

Before long, Ragosh had already taken the lives of three Allosaur warriors. However, he didn't stop to celebrate or savor his kills. He knew better than to just pause in the middle of the fight. Seeing many foes still before him, Ragosh rushed forward to claim his fourth victim.

He slashed and swung with a fervor that he had never felt before. His c.h.e.s.t burned with a blaze that rivaled that of stun. Even with the dirt and blood smudged across his face, Ragosh carried on, determined to finally defeat the Allosaur, and prove that Ovoo would not be trampled on any further.

However, just as he pulled his sword out of his latest foe, something happened. The ground began to tremble. Loud footsteps echoed nearby. The whole battle came to a complete halt, as everyone turned their attention to the west.

A loud horn blew. From behind one of the hills, several large figures emerged. Ragosh's eyes widened, while his jaw dropped almost dropped from his mouth.

Two warrior groups had arrived. One of the warrior groups composed of massive and stout lizard folk with three horns, and a plate around their skulls. The second group had warriors similar mass, but with longer necks, and great tails that could send three Ovoo flying off their feet.

"It can't be…," one Ovoo warrior stammered. "Those are… the Triceran and Brachius, two other Greater Clans!"

"B-but what are they doing here?!" another Ovoo cried nervously.

They soon received an answer. A Triceran warrior stepped forward to address all those in the field.

"Behold, you lesser clans!" he bellowed in a loud and deep voice. "We of the Triceran and Brachius have come to aid the Allosaur, in their time of need!"

Ragosh and many of his other brethren turned pale with shock and horror, upon hearing this. Not only did they have to contend with one Greater Clan, but now they had to face two others. None of them had expected such a turn of events, for the Greater Clans had no sense camaraderie amongst them.

"Warriors… assist the… Allosaur!" a Brachius warrior commanded, raising his hand to the battlefield.

At that moment, they descended from the hill and charged forth into battle. These Brachius and Triceran carried not spears or axes, but simple clubs of wood and bone. Each step one of their steps caused the surround pebbles to tap. Their numbers may have not been many, but their great size caused much panic among the Ovoo warriors.

Ragosh nervously took a step back. Other members of the vanguard did the same as well. The chieftain's son felt as if he had just been consumed by a pit hopelessness. They could not win this. Ragosh believed that they had a chance to defeat one Greater Clan, not three of them.

As he took another step back, an Allosaur appeared before him, ready to sink his teeth into Ragosh's neck. Ragosh realized this, but could not find it in himself to react. He stood petrified on the spot. He wanted to scream, but could not find his voice.

Just as Ragosh had accepted his fate as the Allosaur's next meal, Sidra stepped into the scene. The exile swung his hook, sending the Allosaur crashing to the ground with a missing jaw.

"S-Sidra," Ragosh stammered. Parts of his senses returned to him.

"The battle is not over," he sneered, easily fending off a Kompos warrior. "Now we face the Triceran and Brachius, two Greater Clans that have rivaled even the Allosaur."

"R-right…," he swallowed. Ragosh's sword throbbed nervously in his hands. His eyes wandered off to opposite end of the battlefield, a perfect place to escape this carnage.

Sidra frowned at Ragosh. The exile had something to say, but chose not to spare him any words. Instead, he turned his attention over to the new enemies advancing. With a fierce howl, Sidra firmly held his weapon and charged over to meet the coming foes. The other exiles and a handful of Chamael followed him into battle.

Ragosh stared. Morsels of shame filled his c.h.e.s.t. These warriors, these exiles, did not have the same goal or purpose as the Ovoo or Chamael, who sought to humble the Allosaur. In fact, they did not even have to take part in this battle.

Despite this, these exiles had not yet given into despair. Instead of falling prey to fear or dread, they embraced this coming problem with greater determination.

Just what drove these exiles to go to such lengths? Was it courage? Loyalty? Or even madness? Ragosh could not think of a proper answer himself. Regardless of the question, Ragosh knew that Sidra was right about one thing. The battle was not yet over.

The trembling in his hand continued a little. With a frustrate scowl, he grabbed his arm and pressed his claws into his scales. Drops of blood squeezed out, but the trembling had lessened. Having calmed down a little, he turned his attention to the foes nearest, and engaged them in battle.

The young Ovoo's faith and determination had shattered slightly, but not completely. Somewhere within himself, Ragosh found the will to continue fighting. He could not just let things end there.

As the exiles and Chamael clashed with the Brachius and Triceran, Ragosh and the rest of the vanguard dealt with the Allosaur and Kompos. For now, the battle amongst the clans continued.