"This verdict is erroneous! It is a well-known fact that our Cabal fared the best upon the fields!" shouted the Ur'Vampire Tizane as she made her displeasure known.

Radiating anger, the voice of the Ur'Vampire Zigana rose in agreement, "This is true, sister. United in might, they dominated their opponents and carved through claimed territories with ease."

Joining their voices in disagreement, the adventurers contested the verdict of Lord Aegis, God of War.

For countless days, the twins of undeath watched as their followers rose above adversity and overwhelming odds to push back those who would seek to wrest Modyara Obelisk and the hard-won Abhal Tornu Desert from them. Every victory demonstrated the fact that they were not to be underestimated. Thus, it was an unpleasant surprise when it was not they who had won, but the Ur'Vampires Prioska and Asztrik and their apprentices.

Insults flew freely as the victorious Prioska laid thick her scorn, calling all who had gone against her faction to be insufferable and inferior, while encouraging a follower of Gerzson and Kemnast to exterminate the Death Knights for their failure.

Cutting through the clamour, an inexpressible cry of wordless rage echoed from Belladona as she learnt of her crushing defeat and deemed her followers to be altogether useless.

"Come now, Belladona. Quit making a scene. Your faction barely numbered past a full set of ten fingers. You cannot expect to win," boomed the Ur'Vampire Asztrik, humoured by the tantrum.

Adding his voice to Asztrik's was Zsarachnor, the Vampire Lord: "You embarrass yourself, Belladona. Save your dramatic scenes for the inhabitants in your fens, or at least be honest." Bringing up the abilities of his own faction, he questioned their offensive stratagems before continuing arrogantly, "Regardless of the verdict, Slith and I maintain historical ties heralding back to the War of Humanity. I highly doubt that he would accept anyone else as his advisor."

"Lord Aegis has made His decree known, who are we to determine what the War God knows of His realm?" Gerzson, the Strategist said drily, making known his opinion of the matter, "Whoever you might be to King Slith, your place has never been in the unholy kingdom."

The sound of steel being drawn entwined around the words of Death Knight Lord Kemnast as he rumbled, "Get out of the Underworld, Zsarachnor, or I will be forced to do so by splitting you into half."

A roar of rage reverberated from the Underworld as tensions spiked, the fragile after-war peace threatening to end.

Divulging little to no lasting consequences of his punishments from the Pantheon, a cold and emotionless voice slithered through minds to utter a single word, his first since the Gods' Moot.

"Silence."

Continuing on with the expectation of being obeyed, Slith introduced himself as the new King of the Underworld. Set upon his father's vacated throne by the grace of the Gods, he confirmed of his eternal rule under Their watchful gazes. Turning his attention to the disgruntled leaders of each faction, he cautioned them to heed his word for they are now law.

In a voice that brook no argument, he deemed, "The Supreme Commander has declared the Ur'Vampires Prioska and Asztrik as the victors of the rebellion and so shall they be raised to sit as my left and right hands, to serve as valuable council."

His tone ran icier as he shared his observations of the toll the undead kingdom had taken as a result of the war; much would need to be rebuilt. For the briefest of moments, it had appeared like the Ur'Vampires would argue, their voices swirling up in furious dissent, but then the moment passed them by and their discord melted away.

Leaving no room for favouritism in his new regime, King Slith ordered Death Knight Lord Kemnast to see to the immediate departures of Belladona and Zsarachnor from the boundaries of the Underworld.

The thrum of ordered marching filled the air as Kemnast's knights escorted the two vampiric outsiders to the large, grey root of Yggdrasil. The incensed shrieks of Belladona and the disapproval of the Vampire Lord radiated loud and clear as they were forced to touch it, returning them to face their defeat in the overland.

What changes will await the Underworld, now that the power of the Soulbleed Nexus lies in the new King's hands? Under the counsel of his new advisors, the Ur'Vampires Prioska and Asztrik, much remains uncertain.

~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: Discord rose between the Ur'Vampires and Lord Kemnast following Lord Aegis' verdict on the war. Insults flew thick and fast, until Slith stepped in to quell the altercation. Coolly addressing his subjects as the Lord of the Undead, he acknowledged the Ur'Vampires Prioska and Asztrik as his new advisors and called for the Underworld to be rebuilt, citing the toll it had taken during their rebellion. Leaving no room for favouritism, Slith ordered Kemnast to return the opportunistic Belladona and Zsarachnor to Sapience.

Penned by My hand on the 22nd of Mayan, in the year 718 AF.