The black cloud over Salenia looked like an underwater thunderstorm, releasing bolts of lightning every now and again, zapping into the tallest spire of the city. It was obviously the result of dark magics being summoned to corrupt the crystal this city guarded, it would be our mission to reach that spire and slay the priests wielding the corruption upon it. It was a long way and many a foe lay between us and our destination – the city seemed to be littered with a huge army, the faint sound of fighting in my ears ringing the reality of what was about to happen into my perception.

The front gate was broken open, I could see its huge doors swayed to each side – the chaos of war behind them in the streets, warriors crashing their weapons upon one another on the ground as well as seemingly floating in mid air – blotches of blood dotting areas of death. It would not take long until we would breathe blood and until our vision would turn a bit crimson.

The caravan halted before the massive walls of this medieval looking city – its white stone walls representing purity – none of which was left now.

We grouped together, Leeza and me side by side – we would do better as a well lead unit, a general of ours called for a blessing of good fortune and the healers cast a spell that warmed our hearts with fortitude. So we charged into battle – a floating ball, for we had arranged ourselves as one to attain a battle formation that would not have any weak spots and as one that would put every fighter in range of the healers. We each had with us potions that would replenish our powers and fruits that would replenish our energy – this way we were able to compensate the loss of power the corruption of the crystal inflicted on our spirits. The evil spell the dark mages were casting upon it was over half way done for it would not take much longer until its exponential effect would have the crystal collapse in on itself and until it did so it would send out vile energy to all of the planets inhabitants – its collapse would give rise to a world more dependent on physical reality, the world the dark ones were masters at. They had the advantage of numbers of corrupted minions and were astute at the art of conjuring energy from sacrificial rituals – they were in allegiance with the darkest of energies that could take any form, furthermore it was near boundless to them for it needed but the siphoning of a victims energy to carry on living, and there was no scarcity of willing subjects. It was this energy that was the source of the evil we wished to relinquish, but a force that strong does not just disappear with a few battles and skirmishes, a force that strong can only be relinquished once it itself decides to become good and that kind of evolution takes aeons. Yet we have taken upon ourselves the task of lessening its power until the fateful day may come for it to give up its wrong doings and pursue a path less harmful. For the time being this battle would have to be the next step in the evils downfall, as we swam as a unit we encountered a group of small demons, many in numbers and nimble in their way of traversing the waterscape – it was as if they were blinking, the way they manoeuvred in short flurries. They had sharp teeth and claws that constantly bounced off of our wards – without them we would be bleeding out by now. One could feel the hatred they brought with them and one could see it in their black and yellow eyes – their red bodies floating hastily between the open water and our congregation. We fought on until the fight swayed in our favour and the swarm of red minions fled to find subjects that were less equipped – our strategy proved superior, yet we could not match the demons speed – for we would have hunted them down to protect our fellow brothers and sisters.

We made our way towards an area with a lot of activity on the ground and slew what we could, taking a more flat approach we could cover more ground and having the advantage of being able to swim we hopelessly outmatched our demonic foes. They were mostly sea monsters and surface folk imbued with gills that were coaxed into service to the dark – their eyes shone red and they had black marks running down their  cheeks from their eyes – as if their tears had burnt black. It was a gruesome sight to behold all the killing, bodies lay scattered across the open once market place.

The battle was a long one and each of us like an angel of death slew many a foe, we hunted down every being below us without remorse, there was no other way for these poor souls had free will ripped from them through dark rituals – the touch of our brilliant blades were their only release – returning them to the aether to give them the opportunity to start again in a new life.

Our party sustained a few wounds and took up hiding in one of the abandoned buildings to recuperate; healers were working tirelessly to mend flesh wounds while the rest indulged in the small fruits we had taken along. We had taken up some new members into our group that were separated from their former groups and were now being rejuvenated so that we were all of the same strength. The next tier would be sweep through the housing district and send any survivors into the direction we came from so that they may be taken to safety by the caravan that had taken us here. We would split up into smaller groups that would cover ground more quickly – the way to the top tower was a long one and we could not risk being attacked from behind – the battle would only get more strenuous for the toughest of rivals will be positioned closer to the tower.

We changed into groups of five, one healer, two melee combatants, a pikeman and an archer, all of us sending out telepathic signals to any left behind and hiding individuals or small groups in their houses. The sounds of warfare and the cling clang of swords on swords and swords on shields alerted some inhabitants and we could send them into the right directions. Our fiendish foes changed faces to corrupted humanoids – spell casters must have been around these parts, temporarily vexing whoever came in their path – we wounded them so that they would not die and left them to wake up to a world less chaotic than what they were temporarily lead to believe.

Going into the houses would waste our time so we stuck the streets, fighting whatever came into our path – we were often attacked by spectres and charging mad men of which we made short work – children and their parents asking for guidance from their balconies after each fight had ended.

Time was not on our side, but we cleared the housing sector quite quickly, meeting up at the foot of the next giant wall. The ground level of the city was cleared – the rest of the vile demons would be taken care of by the cities remaining forces and its defenceless inhabitants would find their way to the evacuation team we had left behind. Now it was time to take on the stronger guards that will undoubtedly be positioned in the next sector – the last before we could reach the tower in the uppermost castle. We once again healed our wounded and made sure that we had no weak spots – any of which would be sent home to help with the defence of the caravan and the cities inhabitants that needed assistance with their way to safety.

The next tier would contain gargantuan beasts that we would have to attack in unison – a massive task since these foes will be more skilled in battle and will be harder to take down – some might even be ethereal so our spell casters will have to do the best they can.

We swam on to the foot of the castle – at its entrance waited two giant black demons, both fat and deathly in appearance – axes in hand. Our group had to split up, valiant and ready our melee fighters charged – swinging their weapons in slow motion through the water – their first attacks were parried and one could see our forces fly in many directions. We were next to try at an attack, I came from behind and Leeza joined me – the only way to beat this gargantuan was by sheer force of numbers – he was flailing round as we attacked as if fending off a swarm of bees. Some of our attacks got through and left the water around the beast black with blood. The beasts four legs were his weak spots, although his tail made them hard to reach – it was like fighting a grounded dragon. Our stabs will eventually bring him down, foiling him. We had to push on. Our archers needed to get closer so that the arrows would penetrate his thick skin – a tricky situation – it was hard not to get trampled or knocked back by either an axe or its tail, but with their nimble nature our archers managed to launch a few successful bursts. We kept slashing his legs and soon we were like a school of piranhas around our enemy – the second team was doing the same – before long the demons were lying on their sides unable to fight back. We left them without their weapons to bleed to death or join our forces as to be healed and returned to a peaceful state of mind – knowing they will most probably choose the former – either way they pass on to a better life.

The gates they guarded were now open to us, we took some time to heal our fallen and send them back to safer grounds and then we moved into the castle. We had to move through the entrance hall and into the gardens, from then on we would reach the dining hall and thereafter we could enter the king’s quarters and gain entry to the tallest tower.

The gardens held our next foe – a white spirit halfway into the physical plane and half ethereal – it had six arms and stood on two legs. Its appearance was that of a bony skeleton wrapped in silk like skin – its head that of a serpent. This creature was three men tall and screeching as it provoked us to join it in fight.

We had to cut off its arms or immobilize them we decided – the mages would bind its arms to the wall behind it with metaphysical chains. We could then gain entrance to the door it was guarding – that way we could prevent it from following us and we would not have to kill it – which would take time we did not have. The dark forces were getting stronger – we could feel the corruption increase in our hearts – the crystal was on its last defences – we had to move fast.

Taking on the monster with a precise attack we pinned it against the wall – our forces dividing into seven, six for each arm and the seventh being the mages forming magical chains. Each arm was sewn to the wall with plasmatic tendons – like glue the monster was stuck and could no longer move – it bellowed and wriggled to no avail. Proud we exited the courtyard with haste.

It had taken the last of our mages energy to wield those binding chains so we had to recharge once again. Each one of us had one fruit left and one potion, which would have to serve us in the last battle.

We made our way to the king’s quarters. We had to make our way through corridors and hallways before we could gain access to the tower – which would be the end of our journey – the dark mages corrupting the crystal will have no energy left to fight and will so make easy opponents. The mystery was what was awaiting us between us and our destination.

Soft light emanated from yellow werelights dotting the hallways, the aura suddenly became spooky – as if something was among us. We were given the order to be vigilant.

Suddenly through a crack in reality a spectre appeared and slashed one of our melee combatants from shoulder to hip bone – he was dead – the spectre disappeared. A rush of water was all that was left as the dark vortex closed.

A moment later the same thing happened again – one could only hear the victim screaming. Suppose it was only a matter of time until we sustained a casualty – good thing our warriors were accustomed to outer body experiences. They would all be reincarnated at base if that is where they chose to go after their death.

Before we could provide a plan we lost a third member of our party. Provisionally we were given the order to run.

The wards that were set on our warriors were not working – this ghost circumvented them somehow and was striking killing blows as if they were not there – the only way to combat this creature was through counter magic.

We would have to factor in the death of its victims – the only idea that came to mind was a spell that would infect the striker.

After another two deaths we all halted in a room and grouped together, the priest summoning his spell was attacked and slowly fell to the floor – the ghost knew that it had to prevent this spell from being cast or it would be rendered useless. Immediately the next spell caster started the incantation, but was also struck down. So all that knew how to cast spells cast together – making the striker of any one of us be crippled and removed from the ethereal plane and thrust into the physical.

As we chanted the lights began to flicker and the dark energy from before could be felt less and less, as the incantation ended with the death of another two of ours the spell was complete.

We were safe.

We had one healer left and we lost a few melee fighters and an archer. There was no point losing any bad emotion over the fallen – we would be reunited once this battle was over.

We made our way to the tallest tower, climbing the steps until we reached the door the crystal was held in. We could hear the chanting. Almost drained from fighting the bad energy that was being pumped into our wonderful crystal we were determined to put an end to it. Our captain kicked open the door and we beheld three dark priests chanting in deep trance – there was no going back for them unless their spell was broken. Our captain slit the throat of one of them at which point the other two were released from the spell they were casting and were now trying to make their getaway. One got away by blinking and the other lost his head by the quick slash of one of our men.

The crystal normally yellow was filled almost to the top with a black and purple energy oozing from its cracks. The floor was drenched in yellow fluid that had escaped the crystal – purple was dotting its surface – a sickening sight. Our healer immediately spent the last energy he had healing as much as he could while help was being sent for. The city had been saved and before long the crystals ethereal power would be restored and the folk of the light would again be able to use their ethereal abilities more easily. The city would be purged of all the bodies and restoration could begin.

A giant victory was held here – with the darks success it could have swayed the tides and put the odds into their favour. This crystal being the amplifier of the world projector, with it broken it would have given rise to a reality darker than one with it in place. The dark knew that a permanent corruption was not possible for they would have had to conquer the city and hold it, but a destruction of the amplifier would give them the edge they needed. This was their last chance, for even they know that the light outweighs the dark in power – the last battle is on the horizon and both armies are preparing for it.

The dark is fighting to survive and the light is fighting for a new world.