Fire and brimstone....

Mhoried, 1569 HC, Bevalduor (Shieldhaven)

He walked up the long hallway eagerly and nervously with a growing anticipation to confront the Mhor. The boy looked no older than his early 20's, standing up tall wearing a heavy ringed armor made of steel that was attached to his evenly small build. He took in a deep breath every time he got one step closer towards the Mhor, turning his head to the side witnessing the other guards that surrounded him were watching his every move. The young guard got to the end of the hallway and saw the Mhor sitting upon his throne lifting his posture up boldly staring towards him waiting for the guard to bring him the urgent news. The guard stopped for a second thinking about how he was going to word what he was going to say but instead his mind went blank and he walked towards his regent. The guard walked towards the Mhor even more nervous than before and dropped to his right knee waiting for the regent to allow him to stand up. "Please stand" Michael said signaling for the guard to stand up. The guard stood up and took In a deep gulp before he started to speak. "My lord, I have received news to tell you that the huge army of goblins is eagerly preparing to launch an attack on Bevalduor".

The guard closed his mouth and thought to himself If he had said everything correct before looking back up at the Mhor who was staring towards him. He took in another deep breath, holding in the air that was coming into his lungs, making his shoulders became wider so that his stance was that of a high-class guard. Michael’s head tilted slightly and looked back up at the guard,”I see, what is your name my son?" he asked. "My name is Reeve Oudin, sir" he said filled with respect.  The Mhor raised his heed "Oudin you say I've always respected the family of Oudin for what they have done for this kingdom. I'm honored to have you in my presence.” The regent said respectfully. "If the goblins are planning another attack we must gather all the reinforcements so that we will stop them before they cross our borders. Sir Reeve Oudin I ask for your assistance In the fight for our land and so that we can protect; the innocent citizens of the Mhoried and the Empire, I suppose you do abide by your oaths as a guardian." The boy held onto his brash sword gripping It with all the might he could. He always wanted to be like his father strong and fearless. All of these things which Reeve believed he wasn't. Reeve opened his lips and came out with the words "l shall my Mhor" going down to his right knee with no second thought.

Michael nodded "And so for the safety of the of people Shieldhaven, they must be evacuated imminently. I fear that If the goblins have reached so far in our lands,  many Innocent lives could be lost. Sir Reeve please go and tell Commander Greffor that under the orders of the Mhor all citizens must be evacuated from Shieldhaven. Reeve lifted himself up dragging the heavy steel that was equipped to him. He nodded his head towards the Mhor and began to make his way out of the throne room. He stepped out of the throne room and into the gardens that surrounded the throne room and looked up at the sky that was as in its darkest hour. The whole of Mhoried was under a dark fate ever since the assault of the great goblin armies. In this dark hour of the Empire, no one was there to help the Mhor, nor Archduke Boeruine, nor the newly appointed Emperor of the heartland Coalition, and of course no one would expect his ancient enemy to raise a sword on the assistance of the border domain. It was expected by most that Gavin Tael the Lord of Ghoere of the eastern realms, would wait as a vulture to tear the carcass of Mhoried apart, when the goblins were done with their doings.

Just In front of Reeve was Commander Greffor who was upon on his heavy Mhoerian brown steed. Greffor was the second in command of the guards in the city of Shieldhaven, having fought

along the Mhor in numerous battles over the years. his distinctive face is short, partially grey hair looking as if he was balding and a scar above his right eye presumably from previous battle. On his chest plate was an oaken branch, a medal to those that had given over 15 years of service in the lands of Mhoried. "Sir Reeve Oudin" he said. "I was told that you have news to tell me?"

"Yes commander. Under the orders of the Mhor we must evacuate every citizen from Shieldhaven immediately." The order was to the point, the aged Commander knew exactly where to start from.

Hours had passed and many citizens mostly women and children at first were all being escorted one by one out of Shieldhaven’s secret passages. The guards of the city were escorting the people out of the city by one of the mines located somewhere beneath the old hilltop.

Hundreds of guards had amassed outside the great Keep of Bevalduor and waited for the Mhor to appeer. Sir Reeve having fulfilled his duty was already at his post, near the Mhor, just outside the great hall of the Mhor. Shortly as he looked up to see the Mhor walk outside the great hall, down the hill hundreds upon hundreds of guards that were waiting for him to make a speech.

"It's been many dark days for all of us in Mhoried. For over 9 months Mhoried has been under darkness, ever since a name in which many of us feared to say turned its armies against us. For too long we fought our way for the protection of our people, the safety of our lands and to put an end to the greatest enemy our Empire has ever known. And now He has turned his attention upon us and unleashed havoc and ended many Innocent lives. For 9 months we have lived In darkness but not anymore, if the Gorgon wants to destroy our homes we will show no fear, we will make sure that Mhoried will once again be at peace. In honor of our forefathers, those who came and claimed this land taking great pains to make sure it is forged into the realm we all live  in today, we will regain peace and protect this kingdom. We shall prevail”

From the top of the Hills of Kynn a powerful and demonic looking dragon stood. His back scales were frequently overheating with a fiery red color as dark acid was surging from his entire body while it scorched its scales. His eyes were dark red, with a demeaning possessed look in his eyes, full of hatred and evil as he rose up from the highest mountain as he was nesting and waiting for centuries in his dark foreboding cave planning and waiting for its next attack. When he rose into the dark sky it made a loud screech that shook the whole foundation of the land signaling that the attack is underway.

In Shieldhaven the Mhor, Commander Greffor and Sir Reeve Oudin along with the hundreds of valiant warriors listened to the screech that he made and waited for him to head to Shieldhaven. To the side of The Mhor was also a fugitive of the new Empire, the deposed defender of the Empire and Guardian of Mhoried, the elderly Sir Nemetor Aesan.
“Sir Aesan it’s an honor to have you here to fight by my side Michael said respectful. “

"It's an honor to fight for you and these people" Nemetor replied”

 

Michael tumed around to the hundreds of the soldiers  that were nervously waiting for the great army to  attack. Reeve bowed his head down and looked towards the floor trying to hold his nerves together and although he kept telling himself to put on a brave face deep down he knew he was genuinely scared.

"Heroes I stand before you as your Mhor, as one of you, as my title stands for the centuries it had served this land. For years we have battled and fought many enemies, but all of these battles, all of these lives that have been lost have led to this. The Gorgon is coming and he will cause destruction upon our land but I refuse to die in vain so If the Gorgon Is here for a battle, we will give him a battle he will remember the rest of his tormented life. My friends, my people, my brothers it’s been an honor but tonight If we die we will die as heroes that will be remembered many years after this day. Many innocent lives will be lost but we will avenge their lives and defeat Raesene once and for all.

A thundering noise erupted from the sky with a flash of lightning following it just seconds after. The rain quickly began to grow heavy in a matter of seconds creating some-what of a thunderstorm. A fierce growling noise was getting stronger and stronger by each second. The Mhor looked up at the sky and

muttered quietly "He's getting closer". Michael kept a sturdy grip onto his powerful sword known to many as the legendary “Defender”. It had a narrow edge with a thicker point at the tip of the sword. The hilt at the bottom of the sword was long and slender making I easier for Michael to lift it.

Raizhadik was making his way to Shieldhaven flying over the forest that protected since the time of the Elves the ancient fortress.  Due to his sheer force and size trees were torn apart and were flung like small wooden sticks of child play.   In his sight he could see Shieldhaven just ahead. He raised himself further into the sky so he could be seen by the Mhor and the Mhoerian army and made another loud screech to make his fearful presence aware to those who were yet fooling themselves. He flew over towards Shieldhaven with the walls and buildings crumbling due to his force. He looked down towards the Mhor and the rest of the army that stood their ground and waited for the goblins to attack.

"Fools you fear me. You think you can defeat me."

Michael looked up towards the great Dragon and shouted "Beast for 9 long months we have been In darkness but soon you will be nothing but a mere name that will be forgotten about, leave now and go back to your master, and you may live."