Manifestation: the Coming Dark/Interlude 3

"Lord The'Galin," the necromancer said deferentially, "we have lost the Water Lord's communicant in the woods."

"Irrelevant. Clearly, he is trying to enter the city without being seen. Our agents in Deren overheard his intention to alert the king. We can be certain that he is already in Drakel territories... We land there and begin felling every tree and making undead every living creature. The Drakel will respond and then we will have their city."

"At once, my lord..."

"Diviara?" the Devourer said pointedly.

"Yes, Lord?"

"Your nephew is not to be spared..."

"Of course, my lord."

"Mark me well... If there is one thing more fearsome than a Brilhado Necromancer, it is a Brilhado Lich Lord. It is for this service that I have chosen Giliara... He shall make up for falling away by being the head of a new army... Select the most powerful of our regular mages to be converted as well."

"I volunteer myself, my lord. All the better to be of service to you."

"Your selfless loyalty is heartwarming, Diviara, but we need normal necromancers as well, and you are the best among them."

"Yes, my lord..."

"What of the other plans?"

"The Fire subsides but the Ice begins... Even while Deren awaits our forces to march, the Elemental Wars rip apart Battleonia and Vandar..."

"Very good. Very, very good."

"May I ask what we need of the war, my lord, if what we seek is in Deren?"

"What we seek, Diviara, is dominion. The Drakel sit upon the source of that power... yet we shall need an upper hand..."

"Of course, my lord."

"We shall gain that upper hand... As the individuals fight these wars, they will be weakened and also tired. The last war will almost destroy them, but not quite... for a hero in their midst shall save them..."

"We shall stop this hero... Crush him ourselves and then they will fall victim to their weakness."

"I like your thinking, Diviara, but no... we shall not destroy their hero... We shall shudder at his advance and quake with terror at his appearing..."

"My lord?"

"Their hero will grow tired of all of the elemental warring... He will point out how divided the elements are, how wicked they are... He will fight a great battle and declare victory over elemental enslavement... He will lead many to a new understanding of magic and escape from the Elemental Lords...."

"Magic without the elements?"

"Many things are possible, Lord Diviara... if a god is doing things for you..."

"A god? So he can perform this magic because he is a communicant?"

"Indeed..."

"I don't understand, my lord. Of whom?"

"Uncreation can do more then merely destroy. It can even do good, save lives, cure disease...."

"My lord?"

"Uncreation, Diviara, is about changing the laws of creation. When vented strongly, this is naturally destructive. When controlled carefully, however... it merely alters and twists natural laws..."

"Are you saying that this hero is your own communicant?"

"Loyally..."

"Brilliant."

"Naturally. Proceed, Diviara, proceed."