[Darksider]

(OOC: Rettick, what happened was Drake left Pyke three days ago and is now caught up in defending the homeland that wants to torture him to death. Nothing to do with Pyke yet.)

The first wave of Magma-men hit the front defenders, armed with pikes and lances. The Magma warriors died that day, impaled on lances their smiths had wrought, and enchanted to be resistant to their bretheren. However, this was only the first onslaught. More magma men came pouring over the walls, to die the same death as their bretheren. Finally, they ran out.

Marbul: thats all for today, but they'll be back tomorrer.

Drake: how long has this gone on?

Marbul: three long weeks. The bastards attack daily, and they get stronger each day. we wont hold out much longer, and then they have a clear road on up instead of blazing a trail through dense woods, where we can ambush them and kill their troops. Very effective, any of my seven knives works. But...

He was cut off by an explosion. The wall was destroyed! In a split second the whole thing collapsed, the necromancers losing their hold when the wall was breached. Screaming legions of Magma men hit unsuspecting pike and lance wielding warriors, cutting them apart.

Marbul: Drake, you use magic, Sligit, take up a weapon!

With that he leapt into the fray. Tuning out all thoughts of his cousin, Drake began to think about the bell-motions he knew. Which was the proper way, this and that. Forget it. Summoning a demon to attack would not help, there were at least thirty already, half were down. He began making the Spread Mark for a simple lightning bolt. Then he made another one without finishing the first. Again and again he repeated this, until he was encircled by them. Then he cried out the final words of magic, the ones he had left out of the individual spells. All the marks exploded into a frenzy of lightning, hitting each a seperate enemy, slaying all in their path. Sligit's fletcher was raising hell in the enemy ranks, and his pistols, of which he had two, were now empty at his feet. A sniper rifle was picking off the enemy one by one, and they died screaming as the bullets passed through to hit another enemy behind them. But it was too much. They were being overwhelmed. Just then, the battle was turned by Drake's action.

Drake: Form a summoning circle. Bring out Kibeth, and Sanareth! Ki in right and San in left! The summoning circle!

Every necromancer knew what he proposed. It was rare that all the necromancer tribes combined, and even more rare to use a summoning circle to summon a common god, but what he seemed to want to do was ludicrus! He wanted to summon forth the wrath of Leorum upon the invaders. Hopefully this wrath would not also descend upon them. But they circled anyway. Everyone on the battlefield heard the call that day, they heard the sweet ring of Sanareth, willing them to obey the ringers. They heard the deep, throaty voice of Kibeth, willing them to walk into death, but they resisted, and still they battled. Then, with a flash, all of the enemy fell dead. Every Necromancer in the summoning circle fell, unconcious from the drain of their energies and the strain on their minds that this summoning had taken. All except Drake. He stood, amazed at his survival, and his not feinting. Panting, he went over to sligit.

Drake: it seems my people have found a new friend. Sligit, I am ever in your debt.

Sligit: lets just say we are friends. But we will have to lead the removal of these fools now.

Just then, Marbul came rushing up. He looked exhilerated.

Marbul: haha! Drake, you did it. They dont give you enough credit, when they say you are strong enough to cast the spells without a belt. With just two seperate bells you and your buddies summoned the Wrath of Leorum! Come on, there is a victory feast to attened, im sure the wife and kids will wanna see ya home! And yer friend as well! Come on home, my wife should be done conjurin' a feast by now.

Returning to Marbul's home, they had no idea someone was watching. Someone who served Orbrion. A Hidden.