Snippet #1706441

When Chath approached his brother, Bellegar did not believe he had misjudged Chath intentions. He would not need the aid of their sister, against mere mortals. But Bellegar was ready to listen to his brother, for his offer seemed within reason. “Very well, I shall give you your missionary, but I shall not pay for the life of the other. He trespassed into my land, and paid the price. I hope his sacrifice have reminded you to pay proper respects to your fellow gods.” Bellegar said to his brother. “I shall not march into your land, but in case you plan to deceive me, I shall build a fortress on this ground to stand against your armies. If your intent truly is peaceful, then it will merely be a waste of resources, and will not mind our presence here, correct?”

And so without further negotiation, Chath burned the forest before Bellegar and his army, his actions betraying his words. Had he truly not wished war, he would have let Bellegar waste his time and resources on securing a front, which would never be under siege. He would have taken his missionary, comforting himself with the knowledge there would not be any further bloodshed.

Yet Chath had sought to order Bellegar around like he was just another of his subjects. He never once attempted to compromise, or even admit the fault he had made by challenging Bellegars authority, by not paying the proper respects in his land.

In the end it did not matter, the plan was unchanged…

Bellegar then turned to the missionary of Chath . “You see how my brother is quick to abandon those faithful to him? He runs away to protect his own scales, but leaves his faithful to die. And to think, he would trade the life of one of his missionaries, with that of a single ‘heretic’. Is that all your life is worth to him? Do you see how fickle your god’s loyalty is? There shall be war now… Your people, your friends, your family will be slain, all because of his foolish pride.”

Bellegar then extended a hand, and showed the missionary obsidian, how its people were poisoned, how the archon’s fell before the wateron’s. Bellegar had not seen as much as sensed these events himself, so these were mere images Bellegar manipulated from the missionaries memory of his home. Though there were advantages to this, for he made the assault seem ever more devastating than it had been in reality, yet there was enough proof were the vision ever to be questioned

“Now look at your hands.” The vision vanished within a instant, leaving him to stare wide eyed at the stumps, where had once been hands. “Do you see it now? The monster that you served. Is this the glory you imagined when you worshiped it?

Silance fell as Bellegar allowed the thoughts sink in. “But I offer you a chance, a mercy your god didn’t see fit to give you. Join me, and your kin shall be spared from my wrath, and if you prove your worth to me, I will even return your hands to you.”

Bellegar then left the missionary in the care of his warriors. The seeds of doubt had been planted, but there would be much time before he could undo what his brother had done to the man. Standing before his warriors, Bellegar gestured over the ground behind him.

“Here, in this mountain pass, we will build a stronghold to bring ruin to my brother and all those who would follow him.” He then called forth the people he'd handpicked from the village high cliff, as its people had come to call it. These men and women were constructors and stone carvers, who had been brought along with the warriors for their unrivaled expertise in their field.

Firstly he began teaching how to construct ballista's, a weapon which would be essential in order to slay the fire god, as he was one to retreat into the skies, alongside the catapult, which could make quick work of large groups of soldiers. And secondly he set about the arts of creation once more. The creation of the Thorin had already drained him, but he thought it essential to do this last thing before he could recuperate his powers.

Clencheing his hand into a firm fist, he channeled his power into it. He then released it, and five bright lights suddenly appeared and scattered into the air, and flew into the mountains to the east, west, and a single one went to the far north.... Deep within those mighty peak's, life now stirred.

The Hive Queens had awoken...

The Hive Queen's, which was often referred to as the Wives of Bellegar, due him giving them the same love for the mountain, and creation he possessed, had the ability to control the thrall's, which they spawned and command as they pleased. The Thrall's, were incredibly strong, capable of carrying objects several times their own weight, and best of all, they were next to mindless to ensure their loyalty, even if Bellegar was to work them to death. Then there were the Soldiers, about twice as large as the thrall's, and countless times deadlier. They possessed long powerful clawed hands, Sabre like fangs dripping with poison, and blessed with near perfect sense of sight, and hearing. Though still under the Hive Queen's command, their control was more loose, so that the warriors could adapt to a unexpected situation instantly rather then await new orders. And finally they had the Praetorians, thick shelled, hulking behemoths that served as the personal guard of the queens, and leaders in strike forces at times. Though winged, the Praetorians did not fly, as much as they launched themselves into the air at a high speed to assault targets. In addition If the hive queen was killed, the Praetorians had the ability to evolve to take their place. While incapable of laying eggs, the evolved Praetorian's control of the hive would be greatly increased, to bring order to the hive.

All of these were all created with large formic acid glands within them, which allowed them to spit acid at their enemies, and render their own flesh poisonous to anyone unfortunate enough to attempt to eat them.

Meridians were what the people came to call this race as a whole.

That night Bellegar spoke to his wives, through their minds, telling them of his plans and desires. They were to nest, grow, dig, raise shrines in his honor at the fort, and bring material they find to his people, and aid in the construction of his fortifications in this region. The one sent to the north was further ordered to bring word through one of her thralls, to Arianrhod that he wished two shrines to be raised at their trading outpost, where both gods could be paid tribute. The Wife was then told to spread her Thrall's as quickly as possible. He wanted those mountains claimed in his name, before the Harpies got to them, though he felt satisfied with letting the harpies keep what they already claimed, though nothing more.

“Do this for me, and I promise you eternal glory, and whatever your hearts may desire.” He said to them, before his attention was turned back to his army. Bellegar ordered them to advance past the burned line to drive the tribe of Lizard men who resided there away from the construction of the fort. Many tribes would still remain in the area, but this one was the biggest immediate threat, and there for had to be dealt with.

To do this, the Mammoth's were prepared for war, and by Bellegar's command their tusks became decorated with a thick barb wire before the assault. They were then organized into a wide line, which would be sent charging through the forest, tearing trees into pieces, and crushing Lizardmen as they went. Following behind them would be Bellegar, and his Boar riders to finish off any Suo-ata that was not instantly killed, and not to far behind them, was the rest of the army, who jogged lightly along, wisely saving their strength for the battle to come. They would encircle the Suo-ata tribe, and kill anyone who did not retreat. Even if the entire tribe was to retreat, the army would not follow, as long as they left this land, they did not care.


Regardless of the battles outcome, Bellegar would order the thrall's to dig wells for his people to drink from. He would tell his builders to construct forges, so that they could make fine weaponry and armor from the material the Thrall's found, and continue construction of more siege weapons. He also then suggested that they could use the mammoth to hurl rocks at their enemies to add further devastation onto their ranks. For now Bellegar and his people would stand against the fire god, in a united front, while his fort was being built. But as the Meridians grew, and spread, Bellegar would order many of his people, including the warchief back home to Agron. But Bellegar did not order all his men to leave. He was determined to make this a place that would be more then a simple fort. Fields of food was to be planted, work for both soldier and craftsman was plenty, as he had encouraged his engineers to try to experiment on the siege weapons, and find ways to improve them, and of course you needed people to man them. Then once the Queens to the east had increased their numbers, they were to launch raids on the fire gods city close to that mountain. He did not believe he could completely wipe them out, but he could make life difficult for them. The acid spit could spoil their supplies, and with their inhuman strength they could tear down buildings before they could form a proper structure. It would take lives, but that was the beauty of Thralls. There was always more to take their place.