TALES FROM THE RENGE: THE PROPHECY FULFILLED

THE REBIRTH OF THE DARK RING

Olgath stood watching his citadel burn. The old Ring had died. Whatever it was that would rise in its place, he didn’t know. All he knew was that his mages had suddenly rebelled and it was the giant’s fault. He now turned his attention to the approaching figure. Con would pay dearly for his treachery, Olgath swore to it.

Con spotted the ancient mage from a considerable distance. For someone who was all-powerful, Olgath seemed to be in a hurry to escape the oncoming juggernaut that was the remnants of the old Ring. The end had come, and he knew it, Con was sure of it. So the giant chased after the old mage without hesitation.

Olgath was furious. He’d expected to get the jump on the giant. Instead, the giant had surprised him by turning the Ring against him. He wasn’t about to let the giant savor any victory. He wasn’t about to cede his throne without a battle. So he headed for a battleground he was sure on. He headed for the dianocht, a large dais near the edge of his beloved city. Here, his magicks would be at their strongest. Here, he would be able to defeat the usurper.

He grinned at the thought. Victory would be sweet. His first battle in centuries would be his triumph. He would make sure of it…

In Valthrid, the Ashashinidii pressed forward. As they surged through the city, they spread death as if it were jam on bread. No Seeker escaped their attention. Demons ceased to exist where they tread. And so onward they pressed. The city fell as they went. Buildings blazed. Bodies fell. Arrows filled the air like birds, felling all they found.

Golmagug felt the ever-tightening grip of fear as the Ashashinidii armies closed in on his citadel. His madness could not still his intuition. He knew his end had finally come. He could see the small group of warriors approaching. He knew what lay in store.

For millennia, he had dealt death and destruction in the name of power and glory. Now, he was nothing more than a raving lunatic who couldn’t save his own soul. It was too late for that anyway. The Demon-King already had his soul, that was the reason for his madness. He had made a deal with the devil and lost.