The Massacre of Alumelith

[Leo Fenrir]

Tyen winced as the Astral whistle let off a quick succession of piercing shrills. He looked over to Fido, or at least the glowing ball that represented Fido. Though there were no eyes to meet, a sudden sense of connection told him he had heard the whistle too. Leo had told them that he would warn them in this fashion when the Ikol was launched. Time was almost up.

He scanned the small group of Ohl'Tar that were still arriving judging how many remained. "The missile has been launched! We must hurry." he shouted above the surrounding noise. A fearful wave of babble followed his announcement and the last wave of Ohl'Tar rushed forwards vanishing from sight. The numbers dwindled from a hundred, to fifty, to ten, then none. Tyen looked slightly surprised. It had been several hours now that he had been focusing on shifting these people and now that he had reached the end he felt at a slight loss.

But the job wasn't done yet. The platoons that had been airlifted to the shift zones for perimeter protection had to be evacuated and the Count Agnesia was not in sight. A series of what could only be described as ripples made their way across the Astral plane, announcing Andreas' departure. They had heard of the launch it seems. Good. he thought. That a few less people to worry about. "Fido. Go shift the permitter guards to the Horus I will find the Count and Rodger."

A shout accompanied by several gunshots announced the arrival of a large group of rebels. Fido had already disappeared and the guards were presumably several kilometers in the air by now or would be very soon. He was on his own on this one. He bared his teeth and rushed at them. Several bullets sped by his head and other burst into flame seconds before hitting him. The rebels shouted in fury and one pulled out a bar that could pass for a sword of sorts. That is at least how he was wielding it. Tyen had reach the group as was plowing through when suddenly the Ohl'Tar wielding the pipe connected a blow then sent him sprawling.

Winded Tyen fought off shock. A silver bar?! Why in the name of the holy sheeplets would an Ohl'Tar be carrying a silver bar? A few more rounds were shot at the fallen mage with the same effect as before. It was the silver that his magic couldn't block. A shadow raised above him as the creature prepared to deal a final blow when a shot went off and the Ohl'Tar slumped over dead. Deprived of their leader the remaining bugs scattered.

Cho'Gal emerged from an alley followed by Rodger and some other nameless Ohl'Tar. "Thats right mutt. You owe me big time." Tyen was beyond anger though by this point. He quickly motioned for him to follow and the Count continued. "This is the last of them Tyen, at least from the ones we could find."

"We don't have any more time Count. The Ikol has been lunched." The Count shouted some obscene words to describe what he though of Leo and the Khan, all the while keeping a steady pace. The small group emerged into a smaller square enclosed by taller buildings where a staggering six hundred Ohl'Tar stood. Tyen stared in disbelief. "I won't be able to transport them all in time!"

There were fearful muttering from the gathered crowed. "You have to try mutt! I cant just let them die." It didn't take much coaxing before row upon row of the Ohl'Tar were disappearing into thin air. There was an air of frantic need as the creatures pushed forwards and the Count shouted orders. The crowd has shrunk to a mere twenty Ohl'Tar when a deep rumble began to shake the very air. The Count shouted in a panic to the last civilians who promptly disappeared.

A dark shape blocked out the sun right above the remaining three people. In a moment that seemed to drag out over several days Tyen twisted and leapt, catching Cho'Gall and Rodger in his arms and activated the shifting spell just as a hot wind singed the hairs on the back of his neck.

The sudden silence was almost as deafening as the uproar of the city had been. Tyen got up along with the human and Ohl'Tar and watched as a cloud of fire and smoke consumed the city.