Causing havoc and panic within the northern state, Golgotha's siege continued, his booming laugh echoed across the city as he unleashed wave after wave of minion, fiend, and beast against the Ashtani collaborators. The horrifying form of the Spawn of the Unnamable Horror remained amongst the Emperor's arsenal. Tearing the mansions upon Palace hill to rubble, the child of Chaos laid careless waste to the bolthole of the Shadowsnakes before turning its gaze upon the population.

It was with a profound unease that the Demiurge and Guardian gave their assent to Glaaki's plan, and not without good reason. With those nods one House sacrificed their greatest resource and the other agreed to undo the bindings that gave the Warlocks of the Rising Phoenix their very purpose. But agree they both did, for much more was at stake.

After months of hurried preparation, Mayan soon arrived, and brought with it Ashtan's chance to break the siege of the Emperor Golgotha. Overseer Dunn Lichlord gathered the eager citizenry and spoke of previous obstacles overcome and of his continued faith in the dominance of the Bastion. As his final words trailed off, the Occultists made quick way to their hidden halls. What went on behind the firmly locked doors may only be guessed at, but they soon emerged, bearing dour expressions, and with the Living Book of Eschaton in tow, the solemn scholars made their way to wait in the centre of Lake Balaton.

With the Eschaton and Arditi Ixodes in position, the Warlocks commenced their final blood oath, each of the gathered lighting for the last time one of the warding lanterns. When the cavern heavens gleamed with the multitude of promises and pacts, Guardian Ryldagh Valeth extinguished every lantern ever lit, plunging the sacred space into darkness and releasing the Phoenix beneath from its sustained slumber.

Quakes wracked the Bastion as the legendary bird awoke, a spark of recognition gleamed in its golden eyes as it sensed the amassed power of the Eschaton overhead. After screaming a challenging cry of long-repressed fury the creature tore its way through the earth, through the foundations of the Warlock estate before emerging abruptly, in a violent eruption of magma and shattered obsidian, a swirling mass of fire and smoke and steam to alight amidst the boiling lake.

A cloud of steam hovered over the city as the lava roiling in the wake of the Phoenix's path blasted the lake to cloudform, and melted the surroundings, including the monastery atop Cyclade hill, to a charred slag. Staunch in their duty to Ashtan, the gathered Ashura could only watch from their post readied at the gates, fists clenched as their ancient home slumped into the torrid and bubbling field.

Following fleet feet, the Eschaton was led through the streets towards the Chaos Plane portal waiting at the city gates, an undeniable bait for the Phoenix that followed in tow. Upon reaching its destination, the Occult legacy was summarily consumed, and the great bird turned its attention to the mire of Chaos beyond the humming portal, quickly diving through with a screeched challenge.

The loss of the Living Book of Eschaton, consumed by the Phoenix, preceded the failure of the protective wards about the Occultists' home, and with a quiet rumble the hidden estate collapsed in upon itself.

Lead by their Warlord, Jhui Ta'sa, the army of Ashtan mustered to breach the Chaos Plane and face what waited beyond...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: As the City of Ashtan crumbled before the siege of Emperor Golgotha, a last ditch and plainly foolish effort was made to muster an offence, sacrificing the remaining Houses, the Eschaton, and releasing the long guarded Phoenix in the process.


Penned by My hand on the 23rd of Mayan, in the year 691 AF.