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[Mairsil]

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Darkness blanketed the Valley of Stonegate as the Wolf King spoke behind great stone walls. Each warrior of the kingdom looked upon Myrddin Ab'Arawn as he spoke, words of Luna, the protectorate, and the enemy that was Umbra filling the hall.

In days past Myrddin had released his decree unto Sosaria, and while some supported his efforts against the Lich's army, others questioned his motives and doubted his intentions. It was clear to everyone in the room that though such a reaction had been anticipated, and that it really had no bearing on what was to come.






Typically, Myrddin was not long winded, but he could speak to his soldiers with purpose. His purpose this evening was so much so that it caused concern with some of them when his speech stopped, his eyes drifting from the crowd toward the back of the room. At first he only noticed the movement, but with concentration, the Wolf King soon realized that something moved over his very walls. It was as if water streamed down the seems of the Stone in a place where most water froze almost instantly.

Drawing his blade he called his soldiers to arms, and they burst out of the heart of the keep, scaling the stairs with speed.

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The gray liquid that had penetrated his walls lay in pools around the Lycan stone, reflecting the confusion in Myrddin's eyes. He knelt and touched the stuff, willing it to take the familiar shape in which it often stood...But something was different. It felt sluggish, his connection to the stone impeded, he could feel that something else was pulling at the magic of the stone. The feeling intensified suddenly sending a rippling warning through the Wolf King's skin, and he whirled at the ready just as the gathered soldiers of Stonegate took stance behind him.





The ghostly image of the Dragon took slow steps forward, its eyes locked with that of the warrior audience. There was a long silence as the Guardians of Stonegate prepared to engage this enemy that they did not know. At another time they might have wondered why such a creature would come bringing death to their lands, but that time wasn't now. Days, months, years, and decades of training and discipline held them steadfast, Myrddin's thoughts only on how he would kill this challenger.

It was the dragon who broke the silence, with simple unexpected words of submission.

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She named herself the Herald, and though Myrddin had previously known the fallen guardian as a different name, he acknowledged the obviously deserved title. In a humanoid form much more familiar, Mira explained her return to be the work of the Original Wolf King. It seemed that the prophecies which had helped to guide the course of Stonegate, once more directly intervened with those involved.

A lycan was returned to life in the service of the new king, but she was only the beginning...






The newly arrived Herald had spoken clearly, the Guardians of Old would serve Myrddin as Mira did.

Regaining full control of the stone, he bade his soldier Scar to cut him, Lycan blood falling into the snow and rock beneath him. He did not know how or why it worked, only that it did. He could feel it in the blood that ran through his veins, that this power earned by rite was his to command.

He concentrated on the ground, and as his eyes flaired, the earth started to shake.

One by one, soldiers of stone and iron began to burst from the ground...


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The Wolf King was not the sort to receive gifts for his station, but this gift of fate was one he would not ignore. Every man and woman that stood with him was now mirrored by a stone giant. These avatars of solid strength were a fitting representation of what he would see in every one of his soldiers. Myrddin Ab'Arawn wasted no time on deliberation.

The Order was given.



WE MARCH TO LUNA






Lined before the East entrance to Luna, Myrddin's direction was sharp and quick. They were well prepared and knew the most strategically important locations the city had to offer, they knew what defending the city would mean, and lastly they knew what it would take to hold it should they find their opposition standing in the way of Umbra.


The Guardians of Stoengate, both flesh and stone, filed into the busy city past merchants, citizens, and on lookers all. Their formations were tight, splitting at every intersection to circle the city so that all would see and know who they were. Stonegate had arrived and would make itself known to the people, and as they did the new stone soldiers were positioned at every entrance, every choke point, every tower and defensive position.


Myrddin Ab'Arawn, the Wolf King, had decreed this. He'd warned them of this. Some of them would understand and others would be fearful, but the cause outweighed concerns.


The time had come to act.






When the City had been circled and every lane explored, they gathered above the bank and he stood before the Throne.


There was little left to say, but very much work to do.
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"You see I can not be forsaken, because I'm not the only one. We walk amongst you, beating, r#ping, must we hide from everyone?" - Jon Davis

[Merci d'Rue]

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So the gate doth open wide,
Let no man look within its divide,
The Guardians harken to its call,
The weak of Sosaria begin to fall,



One by one, nation by nation, they will prey
Let there be no hand they will stay.
Against enemy and foe they stand united
Till all of Sosaria they have blighted.



The outcasts, forsaken, shall open deaths gate,
The chosen will lead the undead who wait.
Wolf King upon his bloody throne,
Of that which was holy, now crushes their bones.



Let Luna's light be quelled at last,
Let Umbra's might be fullfilled and cast,
Malas is their mountain home,
Yet from it this army begins to roam.



At last the power will be known,
At last in retribution they will moan,
May destiny guide you,
May Strength keep you,



Now is the time to take thy stand.
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May destiny guide you...