Snippet #1714696

The greatest strength of the Meridian's were that none truly died amongst their rank. The experience of each individual was forever part of the hive collective, and in that sense they were in a state of eternal reincarnation, as the next generation was given the knowledge and experience of their predecessors. It was thanks to this shared consciousness that the Meridians could develop so quickly. Already thrall's and warriors alike was receiving a small amount of training to better defend themselves and as each individual improved with time, so did the hive as a whole. Hordes of soldiers, along with thrall's were sent against Bellegar's warriors, as a new kind of proving. This one focused on fighting in as a group, rather then individuals. Lethal force was absolutely forbidden of course, as in times of war, casualties during training would be unacceptable.

The Soldiers in the meantime was given fine armor, weaponry, and was taught by Bellegar himself how to fight. He instructed them how to use their superior speed as a advantage, to always be on the move, and keep the enemy guessing. He also taught them to fight like Meridian's not men. Men only had four limbs, Meridian's had eight, and they would do well to use them.

The Pretorians was also prepared for battle. As they had the most freedom amongst the Meridian hive, many of them were allowed to leave their nest to join the army. It meant little in the end, as new Pretorians would be born to take their place before they'd climbed down the mountain.

As part of the Army, they were allowed the same rights as everyone else. They were given weapons and armor, and they took part of the proving. Though due to their gigantic size, which even dwarfed the Thorin, they were in a league of their own, fighting against other Pretorians for honor. Though as special treats, groups of warriors would be pitted against single Pretorians within the provings at times.

But as one Pretorian was greater then any one man, Bellegar changed the terms of championship status. To become a champion, one did not need to be the strongest, but the most versatile. Win or lose, if a man proved himself worthy of becoming a champion, they'd be rewarded the title by Bellegar himself. This did not mean Pretorian's were not allowed to be champions, they would simply not achieve the title through brute strength alone.

As for the humans, they continued to think of ways to improve on their armor, and weaponry. Their next advancement in the field of range combat, came to them thanks to Bellegar. The god of flames liked to take refuge in the sky, and so Bellegar had to adapt accordingly. Taking the base design of a ballista, he made himself a crossbow, and showed his people how to make a replica in their own size. The crossbow was far more powerful then a average bow, easier to use, yet slower to reload. Though not for Bellegar, who's divine strength could pull the sting back with ease.

He then began to order his Thrall's to hollow out large boulders. The boulders were then to be filled with acid, and sealed up. The people of the mountain did not have explosives but this would be a suitable substitute. Once launched, the boulder would shatter on impact, releasing large pools of acid. Though unlike a explosion, the danger would still remain long after the initial impact. In theory at least. Until proper field testing, the acid filled boulders would never outnumber the ordinary ones, just in case Bellegar overestimated their effectiveness.

Smaller rocks were also to be hollowed out, and filled with acid to be hurled over the walls by slings and finally cauldrons were to be filled with acid, and stationed near the walls, for when the enemy finally reached that far.

In the mean time, tunnels were already in the process of being made to provide a quick trade route between the various hives and provide a quick means of reinforcement. The mountains were also to be equipped with additional siege weapons at key locations were they ever attacked.
Fort Ordo was to be reinforced further as well, the walls should be built higher and thicker to assure they'd be neither climbed or broken. Furthermore barb wire fences were raised, and ditches were dug around the surrounding fort ground to slow the enemies advance.

To defend the mountains, Bellegar ordered the edges of the mountains to be carved so steep, they were deemed impassable by men. But of course, there was little that could stand in the way of a Meridian.

The Hive Queens in the mean time was busy with the talk of war. Branka and Bellgoth, the two sisters to the east were all in all happy with their assault. Each individual Hive Queen could spawn up to 3,500 eggs per day, so the filthy lives they lost meant little in the long run. Though to sustain such numbers, Bellegar introduced new creatures to the earth. There was the more common worms and insects, which while small contained numberless vital proteins. And the Nugs. Small hairless, fast breeding rodents who dug themselves deep into the earth for food. Further more he declared the Suo-ata beasts, and thus was to be treated as such. Though frowning upon cannibalism, Bellegar allowed his people to feed on Suo-ata flesh from this day on.

Sustenance now dealt with, Bellegar was free to expand. Though much like the common ant, Meridians were not designed for expansion. They fortified one location, and their population never grew beyond the Hive Queen’s control of that location. They could however spawn new Hive Queens to expand in their place.


Veran, and Dalo, daughters of Ashra, and Uro of the western coast, was sent to the mountains near Fort ordo. Veran was to focus her entire hive on soldiers and a unusual large number of praetorians to hold the front line. While Dalo, under Veran's protection, spawned a large number of thrall's to work around the keep, and gather resources, both for Fort ordo and Veran.

Razza, and Sokka, daughters of Bellegoth and Branka of the eastern mountains, were stationed close to Branka to aid her effort against the now fortified Dagga. With the Suo-ata crawling over the land, it was safer for them to create tunnels leading to Dagga. But if they were to go to the effort of digging that far, Bellegar did not intend on wasting that effort on mere raids. Once the Thrall's reached Dagga, they were instead to build a whole series of tunnels around the buildings, until it weakened the structural integrity.

Though Sokka, just like Veran, was to focus her hive on soldiers and praetorians, while her sisters provided the supplies needed to sustain herself.

Meanwhile, Leandra, doughter of Oren of the northen mountain was taken into the tunnels under fort Ordo. What became of her there, only the Hive Queens and Bellegar knew.

Then, one fateful night in Suo-ata land, a man appeared before a party of Suo-ata. The Lizardmen readied for the attack, but the man stopped them. "I was sent here by the great Dragon.“
He said, as his hand went to his cloak. As the cloak fell to the ground, the man revealed the red patterns that marked him as a follower of Cath. In truth it was little more then paint, tough in the dim light it would be next to impossible to tell for sure. "I bring words from our god. The great Dragon." He said in proud tone. Though in truth he brought word from Bellegar. "You have been deceived! The men who now leads you are heretics! Followers of Bellegar." He spat at the last part of his sentence. "You do not honestly believe the great Dragon would send mere men to lead the great Suo-ata, do you?" The man laughed, with a wide grin of amusement on his face, as he shook his head. "We are but pawns to be used in his name. It is you, the Suo-ata who are favored in his eyes, made in his very image. Why else would he send you here alone? Hmmm?" He paused for a moment to let the question sink into their thick heads. "Because Only you could be trusted to forfill such a monumental task. So why would he send men now? He wouldn’t… It is a trick by Bellegar to mislead you. To make you weak!“

All sense of amusement melted from the man, in a instant. "As indeed he have... The great Dragon wants these blasphemous heretic's dead! And any Suo-ata who would think to defend them will face a similar fate. You are then to continue the war with the other tribes. Purge the weak, and let the great Dragon see which one amongst you are the strongest. Only he may be allowed to lead the Suo-ata." The man reached into his pouch for a item given to him by his god. "The great Dragon commands it!“ The item shattered on the ground, followed by a blinding flash. By the time the Suo-ata’s vision returned, the man was gone, leaving only a small burned patch where he had once stood.

Fire was beyond Bellegar’s control. Yet elements of the earth could make a suitable replacement, enough to fool a dimwitted Suo-ata. The man couldn’t help but to smile in amusement as he ran back towards the fort. Only time would tell if the Suo-ata would believe the Prophet who had appeared out of nowhere, with a warning of deception, only to then vanish in a divine fire so bright it blinded the mortal eye.

But regardless the outcome, Bellegar planed to strike against Obsidia itself. The Sau-ata were still in his way but Branka had access to the river, which eventually lead down into Obsidia. If he was to redirect the river, Obsidia would once again run dry, and not only that. He could enlist the aid of his sister to provide another obstacle for his brother.

Gathering the priestesses that was kept in the fort, Bellegar lead them up the mountain, to the fall the river of Obsidia originated from. Some of the women made holy gestures, at the sight. Sense they were stationed in fort Ordo, they'd neither had access to a shrine nor any larger body of water, which was said to be the embodiment of their goddess. “Greetings sister.” Bellegar said, starring down into the the running stream, knowing it would carry his word to Morgana. “I have come to offer you a gift.” He said with a respectful bow. He was standing before her people after all, and so thought he owed her that respect. “I have seen how the people of the desert defies you. But I have come up with a solution, that I believe you will find to your satisfaction.”

With a quick gesture, thrall's appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and began to work on the rock around the fall. “For generations, many of my people have offered you worship. Yet in these lands they lack a shrine, or any sign of your divine virtue. Still they have remained loyal to you, and for filled every duty I have assigned them. As a reward, I will give them this river, as a place where they may offer their worship to their goddess.”

He paused before adding. “There is of course one troublesome little detail. The Suo-ata will not rest until my people and I are dead. Sadly your priestesses will be caught in the middle of this. That is why I believe it would be in your best interest, to send your Wateron's to defend your worshipers and keep the Suo-ata from crossing the river. This would not be an act of war on Cath of course. Merely a means to defend those faithful to you. Surely no one can deny you that right.”

If Morgana answered favorably to Bellegar's request, the dam would be kept open just long enough for the Waterons to travel up the stream, before it was redirected towards the west. And to assure Cath would not simply fly over the mountain and break the dam, Bellegar told Branka to build him a shrine here, which would provide protection from the fire god, and a place where she and her sisters could offer their respect.

It was not long there after, that the message from Arianrhod reached Bellegar. He needed little time for consideration before answering. “Very well, if you stand for the supplies, I shall have Oren build you your fortress, and the shrine you desire, as well as one for myself, so that my warriors there may offer their worship. I will then instruct Oren to lead her brood away from the neighboring mountain of your harpies.“

Bellegar wasted no time putting the archers to work. They were to train his warriors in the way of the bow, and through the Thrall's, the Hive Queens were also to learn the way of archery. Bellegar also wanted his people to compete with their guests, and allowed them to take part of the proving's if they wished. But sense they were better archers then fighters, he implemented a yet another kind of proving, utilizing range weapons. The general goals of these challenges usually evolved, who had the superior aim and who could fire their arrows the quickest and still manage to hit their target.

The thrall's due to their lack of mobility did not make the most ideal of front line fighters. But they still had the keen sight of all Meridian's, and their strong powerful bodies, could make them serve well as defensive archers, and soon unique bows were to be made for the thrall's.

Though these bows looked like any other, aside from their larger size, they were specificity made for the Thrall's and their inhuman strength. Only the best of men could ever hope to pull its string, but the Thrall's had no issue with it, and soon they would be able to rain down righteous vengeance on their enemy. For even if their aim was flawed, a thousand arrows aimed at a large force was bound to hit something.