TALES FROM THE RENGE: THE PROPHECY FULFILLED

THE FALL OF THE DEMON-KING

Beyond the river, the Demon-King watched for an opening. But the spells that held his armies at bay still held. Though they were weakened, they were still strong enough to keep him from his prize. In anger, he watched as a massive army assembled along the banks on the other side of the river. Soon, there would be enough there to hold him for a while.

Why had the old fool not died? Why hadn’t his spells ceased? They fed from the evil power he’d been granted for the price of his soul, did they not? If they held any longer, the gods would have a chance to return. Then, he would lose…

From the north came the sound of drums. Out of the northern mists rose a sight never before seen. These were the Anunnaku, the mist-lords. Long ago, they had moved north of the great inlands seas into the ice-mists and the northern mountains. Since their self-induced banishment from the four lands, none of the Renge ever ventured north.

But now, they seemed to have ended their long self-exile and begun to return to their native lands. Their banners waved proudly in the breezes that blew the sweet scent of fremlir flowers from one nose to another. A change was indeed in the air. The lands had seen the return of their original lords…

To the east, another great army amassed. Twas a cavalry of great and immense size, that grew there. These were the Anunna, the great horse-warriors of the eastern mountains. None had ever seen them in the Rengelands before. They had only heard the tales that spread about them.

The Renge was about to meet some old allies. But the gods still remained absent. Where were the great gods who once wandered the lands among their worshipers? Where were the immortals that once ruled the Renge?

To the west, the warriors of the Dark Ring gathered for the approaching war. At their head, a red-haired giant paced like a caged tiger. They still lacked enough warriors to defeat the demons beyond the river. They wouldn’t be able to hold back the invasion long.

To their south, yet another army amassed. These were the hordes that the demon army had forced to retreat. Among them, a small number of members of the Holsatian Order. Incredibly, they’d been able to escape after near capture by the Demon-King’s army. Among them, though wounded, was Aphraistia and Gullon’s sister Cilliana. All those, including the rest of the tribe that the Holsatians had come from, thought to be dead were there.