Hells Armada

[The_Sadukar]

(by the gods can't you go plauge the Izuck, insted of me?)

Even thuogh the king's order the set up millitas had be excicuatet swiftly , the king knew that it would not stop the demons alone, so he had to divise another plan, so he sent out messengerne the king of Izuck asking him for aid, and offering him friendship.

Ragnar's kingdom

Civilian population

99.950 on Sealand

1.500 huskarls

20.000 militia warriors

And a fleet of 200 longboats

Treasury:

90.000 mark silver (10.000 spent on the millitas)

[ExSPlug]

Meanwhile, the Fenris Riders are travelling around Izuck to draft Tulan refugees into their ranks, as well as gather information on the demons' activities.

3 post until recruitment and training completes.

[Anathema]

Brutus was dead tired, but chose to continue this battle against his fatigue for a few hours more. He had been riding his horse for days, and only rested when the tiredness almost made him fall of his horse. He was riding west, trying to find the kingdom of Izuck and see if there was anyting left of it after the demon invasion.

He wasn't very optimistic, however. He had already crossed the border, and still had to spot any sign of humans. He only found abandoned villages whos occupants had presumably left for safer grounds.

He rode on. Very tired as he was, he didn't see the Izuck patrol that was observing him from above a ridge...

[GhostHunter]

(O.C.C - Always has to come back to the guy with the biggest army, doesn't it? ;D Anyways, I'm going to update the rules so check'em out (Though there's nothing big, just no God modding spells cast, flying armies, undead legions etc).

---

The lone rider had been moving fast for the last several hours, but the Izuck horses were still faster. The patrol group had broken off beforehand but was now reunited in the number of a few hundred, the men and namely their Commander watched the lone armed horseman continue his trip through the lands.

There was a river the man moved by and he began to descend further and further down the trails until his horse skidded to a stop and wouldn't budge, it became screaming in warning, but of what? To late, there was a THUD and he looked up to a nearby cliff to be greeted by the site of four heavily armed men he quickly grabbed the controls in an attempt to escape the Demon forces but he gazed around him realizing he was surrounded from every single way by hordes of them. Grabbing his sword he anticipated the Demons attack, he was not sure weather or not to be calmed when he heard a deep, human male

[Seal89999]

The Ardenian troops marched onward tword the Izuck capitol city*

Once they arrived at the gates of the city the gate guard told them to hault*

Guard: Identify yourselfs and state your intentions in the city.

Commander Garek of Arden , joining the fight agains the demons.

We are here to set up a base camp and await for battle.

The Guard nodded and gave the signal to open the gate, the huge gates opened and the forces marched forward.

Finding an open field on the outskirts of the city , the forces pitched tents and set up camp.

Commander Garek: M'lord, camp is almost set up.

Meathos: Very good Commander, Now I think it time to go visit my dear cousin...

The King, Commander Garek and 4 guards mounted horses and rode off to the palace.

King Baleck was sitting on his throne in deep thought*

Just then the throne room doors opened and in walked King Meathos followed by Commander Garek*

Baleck did not look up*

Meathos approached the throne and stopped*

King Meathos: Good to see you again cousin......

[GhostHunter]

Sighing the King looked up slightly. I really, really do have to figure this damn door thing out... He looked upon the man, he knew him from somewhere, ah he was his cousin; King Meathos.

There was a few silent moments before Baleck spoke; "Welcome dear cousin, it has been a long time since we last saw each other. How have things been?" There was yet another pause before Baleck spoke in a low and harsh tone; "You did bring your forces, right?"

[Seal89999]

Ofcourse I brought my troops cousin.

They are setting up camp on the outskirts

What did you think , I would come empty handed?

The King grinned*

Meathos: Ah yes its been a long time since I saw you last, we were only kids.

And im doing fine, all was peaceful until these evil creatures arose...but it aswell as been a long time, i can barely rember a time of peacefulness....but i do still rember a time of peace....

Anyways,

Its good to see you again cousin...

Baleck got up from his throne and the men gave a quick handshake/hug and meathos patted baleck on the back.

Meathos: So fill me in , whats the latest?

[GhostHunter]

The King only sighed and returned back to his seat. "The Demons have succesfully managed to destroy countless human Empires, there's little left in a form of resistence except my forces. I have how ever, begun to collect the forces of the remaining human Kingdoms into one power house and the war will soon begin, hopefully we can successfully push back the invaders but if the forces of Izuck fail...." Meathos nodded.

[Seal89999]

Well than we must not fail....

Listen cousin i must be leaving i have things i must attend to. I will return soon....

If you need to find me just look near the forest on the western outskirts.

And with that Meathos turned his cape flipping and he ,followed by Commander Garek left for the camp.

[ExSPlug]

The number of recruits increased steadily as the Riders travelled around Eastern Izuck. Now it would be time to train them, and the riders have set up a base camp in an abondoned village. At the same time, they hand sent out scout to other parts of Izuck...

2 post still new recruits are finishes training...

[Dante]

"Democratic vote!"

"No more monarchism!"

The protestors outside the palace in Sealand chanted and waved wooden placards at the high walls and slightly embarassed guards. They presented a charter to the King's messenger.

It demands a democratic parliment with a vote by the people to elect a leader. It also demands the King's immediate abdication due to 'treason towards the country and allying with the forces of darkness.' If their terms are not met, the people apparantly do not mind becoming martyrs to their cause. They refuse to move from the spot, only leaving in pairs or small groups to bring food to the others. Soon tents arrive, as more and more of the population filter in and join the protest, signing the petition and creating more placards.

Sitting on his throne, the King is forced to wonder what could have caused his previously happy people to rebel against him...

"It is hopeless, your majesty." The King looks up to see a young priest, with one swollen purple foot free of even a sock, supported by a crutch.

"Do not bother fighting. The gods have decried, your fall is inevitable. You have not been faithful they say. Your fate is ordained and you life is pointless. Give up now."

[The_Sadukar]

As king Ragnar appeared on the walls the crowd became silent

"I know, you are no longer happy with my rule, I know you would rather live under a government for the people, by the people, not just for for the people. I will not rule over a people that rather live without me, so from this day forth I am no longer your king, I will leave for Izuck, with all those huskarls who will follow me"

As the king went inside the crowd began cheering loudly

(I suppose Dusty now controls Sealand)

This includes

Ragnar's kingdom

Civilian population

99.950 on Sealand

20.000 militia warriors

And a fleet of 50 longboats

Treasury:

75.000 mark silver

(Ragnar took 1.500 huskarls, 150 longboats, and 15.000 mark silver, with him into his exile in Izuck)

[GhostHunter]

The 350,000 Imperial troops arrived at the Ragnar Kingdom.

[ExSPlug]

The scouts had returned. A scroll regrading the intellgence report hand been presented to Qilan.

~Uprise in Sealand, rumored that the king had been removed from the throne. Situation of Sealand is now unknown, since all ports in Sealand hand been closed.

~Sightings of small scale demon groups had increased at the east. The size of the groups are getting larger also. A sign of the hell's armada getting closer...

~Cases of people missing in northern port cities. It's slowly spreading inland.

Qilan shakes his head after reading the report. Not a piece of good news.

"Would humanity really fall under the forces of the evil...?" thought Qilan.

Qilan is now leading 50 of his men into the steppes again, hoping to find more of the wolves to mount his troops.

[Dante]

Right, my old post somehow didn't work so here I am for the FOURTH time, trying to sort it out.

The people of Sealand, Ragnar's old Kingdom, were drifting. They were leaderless. They had always had a King, never even considered a democracy. But they were simple folk mostly, and the subtle voices in their ears had sounded promising. They had driven out their King, and now had little idea what to do.

The government slowly drifted apart. Taxes weren't collected, guards and workers in the palace lounged around, since they had nothing else to do.

The workers kept working, but trade had stopped without anyone to oversee it. Soon there was little money, and the people found themselves starving.

But still nobody did anything, nobody knew what they could do.

It was slightly more than a week after the abdication. The Kingdom had all but collapsed already. The people lay about, idle. The gates were unattended, and so the man in black armour had no trouble getting in. He dashed down the main street, leading to the gates of the palace. Unprotesting civilians were shoved out of his way as he cleared the dirt track of all obstructions. Only when the street was cleared, and the people stood to one side to watch, did he call for the carriage.

It was huge, ornate and black. Stylised webs were carved across it's exterior, and black curtinas hid the shadowy occupant from the masses. All they saw was a glimpse of a pale hand, waving. The carriage, drawn by two massive, black horses, rattled along the street and through the opened gates of the palace, which slammed shut behind it.

Within a week, everything had changed. Seland was deserted. Mangy cats and stray dogs wandered around, feeding on scraps and each other. But only during the day. The buildings were empty, the narrow streets and paths all covered by giant webs, stretched from house to house. Only the main street to the palace was free, and it was now paved with large, smooth black stones that shone in the little light. The sun was rarely seen. During both night and day black clouds covered the sky from one horizon to the other, but it never rained, and the wind never blew. Everything was still.

The palace, once a magnificant light stone sonstruction, was changed beyond recognition. It was taller, narrower, and black. It's turrets pointed at the sky like knives, and the whole structure was covered in iron, stone and real spider webs. The walls had expanded to surround the entire island, with an inner wall around the palace as well. Neither had any gates, and both were constructed from huge, cast iron spikes, like thorns.

Underneath, everything was different (If you dislike gore, you are advised not to read this).

A labyrinth of tunnels echoed constantly with the screams of the dying. And occasionally the dead. The humans of Sealand toiled day and night, not that they could tell the difference, they never saw the surface. They worked constantly in deep mines, excavating more tunnels and bringing up more minerals and metals. They worked huge forges, creating weapons and armour in... not quite human shapes.

They were kept in pens, and bred like animals. Strength was favoured in the breeding programs of the captors, and no relationships were permitted. All those too old or sick or weak to work were sent deeper down the tunnels, into the vast torture chambers. Here the deadly arts of pain were practiced and perfected. The victims that were merely there for the enjoyment of the half-demons always survived, there was no release of death. Those that were suppoed to die, did so. Slowly and painfully, before being fed to the workers. Of course sometimes they weren't quite dead... The human were no more than working, breeding animals; unclothed and underfed, tortured for the enjoyment of their new masters.

Nearer the surface, the experiments took place. Particularly promising humans were forcibly bred with demons, spiders, and anything else the captors found amusing. The results were sometimes kept, sometimes re-bred for a result. Or just for fun.

Spiders scuttled everywhere. There were those as small as dots, ranging to gargantuan monstrosities as large as ten feet across. Or larger... They ate random humans alive.

In the small portion of the palace that was above ground, a large chamber held what used to be the throne room. It was now the central planning and strategics room, the headquarters of the vampires. Nagos, had not yet returned. The upper rooms were more or less theirs, to do with as they pleased.

Deep below, sitting on her tall, stately throne, the spider demoness Latarodectus Hesperus watches through the eyes of a tiny spider, as the forces of Izuck arrive. She made a mental note to destroy them. But first...

The three humans hung in front of her, each suspended by a razor-thin but iron-strong wire wrapped around their wrists. The blood ran down their naked bodies, to pool in a shallow basin in the centre of the throne room, where gigantic spiders came to drink.

They had screamed at first, the one female and two males. Each had been chosen on the basis that since they were young, they would be healthy and have plenty of blood. None were over the age of twenty years. They had writhed deliciously, making their lifeblood leave very interesting patterns over the flesh. With a final shudder, the youngest male began to die. He was immediately cut down, in order to be brought back to reasonable health to continue working. His companions dangled still.

Her eight legs walked silently across the stone floor, the demoness approached the female, who seemed to be muttering.

"Wh-wh-wh-wh..." She repreated over and over again.

"Why?" Latarodectus Hesperus grinned, revealing long, pointed, jet-black teeth. "Because I can."

The new Kingdom of Arinaedi prospered. In it's own way.

[GhostHunter]

 Twelve horsemen gazed upon the large fortification of walls and defenses, noting there was no easy way to get into Ragnar.

"Damnable creature..." Muttered one of them before they started heading back to the man formation only a few miles away now.

---

"M'lord" spoke one of the men talking to his commander after he had returned.

"Yes?" Spoke the man still slowly riding his horse to the encampment.

"We have a...situation..." The Commander raised his eyebrow as the man spoke of the horrors.

"We must plan more accordingly then..."

[Dante]

Message scrawled on the walls around Arinaedi (formerly Sealand):

Leave us. We rule this land and have built walls not just to keep you out but to keep us in. We have no intentions of leaving, so you have no reason to attack us. We have everything we need right here. Leave the little sisters alone.

[cobrajc]

Nagos walked out of the Abbot's room, slowly buttoning up her bodice. She had had a...wonderful... meal in the Abbot. His soul was quite delicious and had a surprise as well.

The secret to opening a portal to the other realm.

Spreading her great wings she flew back towards Arinaedi. She was tired and ready for a good rest.

[ExSPlug]

"Khan Qilan! A message from King Baleck!"

A eagle carrying the message lands on the arm of Qilan.

Khan Qilan,

By the time you're reading this, my men would be siegeing Sealand. Ragnar's Kingdom hand fallen into the hands of the demons. Send all you men available to support the siege.

King Baleck

"Return to base camp, and give this message to my men. Now go!"

Qilan then turn towards his men.

"Luster, lead you brothers and find the wolves! Be swift! This would mean difference between life and death of our men!"

"Yes Khan! Brothers, follow me!"

---

If everything went on smoothly, his men would now be boarding the transport ships. Meanwhile, under the moonlight, Qilan and 10 of his men are riding at their full speed, hoping to reach Sealand as soon as possible...

---

"Ambu...arrg!"

Luster and his men had been ambushed by a group of demons in the Steppes. They were outnumbered and surrounded. A shower of arrows heads straight towards them...

"Stay in formation! Go!"

The riders charges towards the demon archers in a stirrup. More of the riders fall, but they managed to get the archers and send them back to hell.

"Don't slow down! Keep moving!" yelled Luster as he maimed two orcs in his way with his halberd. Usually the tactic would work, but they're too less in numbers. Soon they're surrounded again. By now only not more then half of the riders survived.

"Am I dying like this? Damn it! Khan! Forgive me!"

Howls suddendly erupted from everywhere...

---

100 Fenris riders, 650 horsemen arriving Sealand in next post.

Khan Qilan arriving in 2 posts

Luster and wolves arriving in 4 posts.

[GhostHunter]

As to give everyone here a clear idea:

Blue - Izuck Controlled Lands

White - Lands Controlled By Various Remaining Human Kingdoms

Red - Demon Controlled Lands

Gray - Rotask, Second Largest Human Kingdom

Black Dot - Izuck Capitol

[attachment archived by Gobalopper]

[The_Sadukar]

When Ragnar heard about the fate of his people he was enraged, they should have known better than to let the demons into their hearts, and now they were under the dominion of the demons, and the sadistic demons were most likey torturing them at this very moment. He could not stand the thought, but he knew that there was nothing his huskarls could do dispite their strengh and valour, they would not matter in a war where the Izucks had already sendt 350.000 men, insted he had taken his 1.500 huskarls and his ships and sailed down the great rivers of what used to be the land of Rus, hoping to find any trace of the legenday Exercitus Lex

Ragnar's followers

1 hero Orm

1.500 huskarls

150 ships

[GhostHunter]

The Izuck forces began collecting wood and tearing down everything that could be used. 350,000 men's production rate is immense.

[cobrajc]

Nagos sat in her huge room in the Arinaedi Palace and worked her magic flows. She needed to break through a single item of importance. Just a single one.

As the flows weaved and meshed together a hole formed in the air and out of that hole floated a book. She closed the hole up and grabbed the book.

After reading through the book a few times she went off to find the Spider-Queen.

[The_Sadukar]

After a week of searching Ragnar had found the lands of the Exercitus Lex. His men had pitched camp on the banks of a nearby river, while Ragnar and Orm were heading towards the Citadel.

Ragnar's followers

1 hero, Orm

1.500 huskarls

150 ships

[Anathema]

Brutus sighed of relief to find out these men were from the kingdom of Izuck- maybe there was a glimmer of hope for humanity after all. He lowered his sword and adressed the leader of the patrol.

"My name is Brutus. I come from the order Exercitus Lex from the east in search of your kingdom. In these times, when the forces of hell itself have come to try us it is important that all of humanity combines its effort in purging this demonic infestation from this world. Our leader, archbishop Justanius has sent me on an errand to the Izuck kingdom and negotiate an alliance. I ask you, direct me to where I may find your king, or have someone escort me.