EdwardDewey98
Professional Argentine
The dark waters of the ocean crashed against the vessels that dared the brave waters of the Sea of Lohrasahr, spraying many of their travelers with harsh salts as the clouds above swirled and tumbled with a dark, foreboding presence. A great many sailors would have avoided traversing the waves in these conditions, but those approaching the isle of the Dark Lord were motivated. The towers that jutted into the sky like daggers looked like insurmountable peaks to the ships below, led by a great row galley with deep purple sails and flags depicting the Eye of Darkness. In their depths, thousands of thralls rowed while their cruel masters lorded over them with barbed whips. Standing at the front of the deck were several figures, all heeding the call of Darkness.
In the front was Thalarion, who had been a great time away from the Obsidian Throne. But he diligently continued his task as the Voice of Darkness, receiving orders from the Dark Lord's sorceress. But if the rumors were true, then he would witness the rise of the Dark Lord once more. Behind him was Voyka, the most infamous Herald of the Dark Lord, whose name stirs great fear across the realms of all Kine. Her presence was not a surprise as she heeded the calls of Darkness once more. Behind her was Izaak Rosach, the Voivode of Skulls, accompanied by a couple of skeletal guardsmen. He had been to Lohrsahr before, but it would be his first time witnessing the Dark Lord rise from the Obsidian Throne.
At the ship's rear was a strange, colorful woman that neither of the three veterans had ever seen in their lives. A clown or entertainer of some kind that seemed to have the ability to phase in and out of perception accompanied with a deranged personality. She introduced herself as Yz, and was currently throwing little paper boats into the waters below. Somehow, these little boats followed the galley despite the treacherous weather. Left to the galley was a dark, elegant vessel with the front sail depicting the symbol of House Zeldorra. Running about the ship were several little Luachra, small lizard folk who delve in the depths of the earth of whom many have become slaves to other races that delve in the Depths. Watching over these little menaces were several warriors of the House, but the majority were standing beside their commander and the newest addition to the First Betrayer's Court: Sharyx Valghemora.
The warriors nearby assumed Sharyx must have impressed the Matriarch greatly if she was being sent as a representative of House Zeldorra, but what was going through her mind? The young, ambitious warrioress looked ahead to the monolithic towers with great anticipation as a new destiny called to her. Would she be able to cleanse her family name by spreading the word of Darkness throughout all Kine? Only time would tell. Sitting atop a barrel nearby was her companion Seith Voidsinger, a wood elf that had followed Sharyx after her harrowing and victorious escape. He was mysterious, and not liked by the Dark Elves or even their Lauchra slaves. There was something wrong with him, and yet he continued to smil while his blindfolded eyes kept staring at the towers ahead of him.
Right to the galley was another galleon, however this one differed from the elegance on display by House Zeldorra. This monstrous vessel soared through the savage waters of this accursed sea, its black sails flapping violently in the wind. And the one manning the helm was none other than Captain Cordia, the infamous banshee of the sea, as she shouted at her undead crew to work even harder. All the while, her beloved husband - Lord Illifis Blightspreader - stood by her side, grabbing at her sometimes at the waist in a tender and loving way.
Sailing before the galley was an equally large, but even more extravagent looking ship; not made for war, but for luxurious travelling through the open seas. It was painted in gold, black and white with the golden busts of two Vestati angels carved by each side of this decadent behemoth. Thousands of human slaves roweed while several Yakal and Satyr warriors patrolled the ship to keep an eye on the chattel. Sitting comfortably in his private quarters, surrounded by extravagant wealth and lovers holding trays with delicacies was the Redeemer Prince himself, Lucafiel sa Helendal.
Behind Cordia's galleon was a rather small but impressive longboat of Northern design, jumping up and down using ropes to control the sail. Rowing relentlessly were several Saukkonen, singing a crass sailors song while their captain, the intrepid mercenary commander Rekko the River Warrior, looked at Lohrsahr with some doubts. He knew that those who served the Darkness were shifty, but we all had to take dirty deals sometimes...
Sailing close to Lucafiel's vessel was another galleon, one of Avalionesse design, with the tattered banner of the Duchy of Nassau hanging beneath a newer purple banner of House von Kappelburg. Its crew consisted of undead servants, handmaidens, musicians, knights, and a host of vampiric abominations all loyal to their master: the exiled priestess of Light, Hildegard von Kappelburg, who sat comfortably behind a desk that belonged to the captain of the previous crew.
Lagging behind them was a three mast ship of Indraj design, with the symbol of Clan Kohar drawn upon the sails, lent to its current crew by the Raj of Indraj. Rakhsha sailors were manning their stations, with several fearsome warriors of great skill standing in front of the deck as they observed Lohrsahr grow closer in the distance. Leading them was none other than the Marshal of Indraj, the Iron Fist himself, Jagvir Kohar.
There were a great many other ships surrounding the fleet, either mercenaries trying to get more gold in exchange of fighting a war that they don't fully understand or loyal followers of the Lord of Darkness and First Sinner willing to die for the cause. But as they neared the keep, the monstrous beasts inhabiting the murky waters began to make themselves known. A kraken wrapped its tentacles around a galleon full of mercenaries, crushing the ship and dragging its crew down to the bottom of the sea. Another vessel crashed onto the jagged rocks jutting out from the base of the island itself, a dire reminder of the dangers that surrounded this accursed keep.
The port of Lohrsahr was ghastly in appearance, as starved thralls were forced to fish from the shores or use nets and harpoons to kill large fishes and clams that were just as deadly as the monsters that delved beneath the sea. The first ship to disembark was the one carrying Voyka, Izaak, Thalarion, and Yz. They were followed by the other vessels soon after and the Heralds, alongside their bodyguards and other important folowers, were asked to follow a dark clad knight towards the entrance of the Dark Lord's keep.
This gave the Heralds the opportunity to survey their new comrades and study the island itself. People like Voyka and Thalarion would notice how derelict everything appeared, alongside the scant number of thralls working the war forges and fields compared to conflicts past. The death of the Dark Lord at the hands of the Wood Elves dealt a serious blow towards the forces of Darkness, and it was more apparent than ever how much of a disadvantage they were at. But as the realms of Kine fight amongst one another, the Dark Lord will rise again.
Once they had arrived at the castle courtyard, they were asked by the Dark Knight to wait until the Dark Lord's most trusted companion arrived to gret them. The Heralds noticed that even the castle and its many towers looked worse for wear. The courtyard had wild bushes of black and purple roses growing all over it, and it appeared that their nature was sorcerous as some of the bushes twitched in erratic manners. When the doors to the keep opened, a few more Dark Knights emerged and behind them was Alexandra Rhomavion who was known by many names: the Temptress of Kureau, the Destroyer of Merkat, but her most famous title was the Witch Queen of Lohrsahr which she bore with pride.
She looked down at the Heralds, recognizing a few and assuming the identity of one. But she was curious about the many new faces that appeared before her; the sorceress walked down the dark steps of the castle and approached them with a serious and slightly distant demeanour. "Welcome, Heralds of Darkness! You have heard and heeded the call of our Dark Mistress. I see many new faces... but also several old ones. It pleases me to see that we still have loyal subjects in the mainland beyond our entrusted Voice. You've been summoned not by me, but by the First Sinner herself. For the Dark Lord is close to awakening once more, and we will begin a new war."
