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Suddenly, an ear-shattering
keening was heard over blood-stained Nishnatoba.
All eyes turned skyward to witness a fantastic
sight. Hundreds of huge winged serpents, what
we now know as dragons, filled the sky. Of all
colours and hues and varying in size from huge
to enormous, they were the source of the keening.
As they streaked towards the ground, it became
apparent that upon each dragon's back was a rider.
Both sides wondered what this event portended:
their doom, their victory or a third, heretofore
unknown group of contenders for the kingdom of
Creation? As the dragon flight drew close, another
detail became visible. The lead dragon, an incredible
massive beast of opalescent white, was ridden
by none other than Han-Tolneth. Every other dragon
was ridden by one of Han-Tolneth's erstwhile faction
of Aldar. Han-Tolneth had come at last. Fist raised,
Han-Tolneth wheeled his dragon around and boomed
a challenge to his brother, Han-Silnar.
The Gods, seeing their salvation at hand, quickly
brought down the dome and attacked, concentrating
first on Pazuzu's hordes. The dragons, their Aldar
riders hurling magic and arrows, stormed at Han-Silnar's
Aldar and unleashed their awesome weapons of firebreath
and claws. The Horkval, Scrula, Qui'anar, Dwarves
and mercenaries were filled with an incredible
elation as their anticipated deaths were averted.
Howling battlecries, they charged the Nevaharr
and Kx'Khrah, quickly overrunning them and forcing
them into a frenzied retreat. The Elder Gods were
also furious at their humiliation and turned their
anger on the Inferno hordes, and particularly
Pazuzu. Matsuhama and Aegis raged out of the dome
in a whirlwind of fury, decimating any foe that
dared come near them. Gaia and Vastar threw their
awesome energies at the elementals and Agatheis,
forcing him into a retreat, while Proteus, Daedalus,
Phaestus, Lupus, and Thoth went for Lorielan and
Khalas. Prospero, Aeon, and Lucretius turned their
attentions to assisting their mortal allies and
they quickly exterminated every last Kx'Khrah
and Nevaharr on the battlefield.
Soon, with all their mortal allies slain, most
of the Aldar dead or dying, the Triumvirate was
down to Agatheis, Lorielan, Khalas, and the still-massive
forces of the Inferno. Matsuhama and Aegis had
Pazuzu on the run, but he was not to get far.
Some of the mounted Aldar cut off his escape and
he set about fighting like a cornered rat, felling
many dragons and Aldar before Matsuhama and Aegis
could reach him and subdue him. Proteus, Daedalus,
Lupus, and Thoth caught and beat Khalas to within
an inch of his existence and Lorielan prudently
surrendered under the threat of Phaestus' Hammer.
Han-Silnar proved no match for his brother and
he was on his knees, Han-Tolneth looking at him
sadly. With the leaders of the rebellion captured
and neutralized, it was an easy task to send the
remaining demon hordes and Aldar to the beyond.
Matsuhama and Thoth in particular set about this
task with noteworthy enthusiasm.
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