Book 3 - Interlude 4 - Vesuvius - Cronus

Book 3 - Interlude 4 - Vesuvius - Cronus

His people were spotted over the ridge, and the creatures turned towards his people. The creatures were mostly raptors being ridden, but there were dimetrodons and more lizard like giant auril beasts capable of climbing.

The dozens of creatures stopped a distance away from where Vesuvius, Roxo, Darris and Jarrix were standing in front of their army on the ridge. In the front, was a larger dimetrodon, with two fins at angles on top instead of one, allowing the large man to sit in the middle.

The man was a large lizard beastkin, his scales the color of red. His amount of gods blood must have been high, because he was very much like Vesuvius, with the face of a lizard. Vesuvius could feel the mans taint, but he was certainly at the auril hero level. He wasnt sure who was stronger between the two of them, but he knew it would be close.

The man didnt start with the beastkin greeting. Greetings! I am Cronus. What are you doing in the world above, brother? Dont tell me you were clearing a rift?

The mans words felt like knives on his own heart. He could tell his brethren felt the same thing, their songs wary.

Vesuvius said, I am Vesuvius, Chief of the Tribe of the Sleeping God, and we were. The unliving were spilling from it, destroying our land, our world.

The Tribe of the Sleeping God? We were just headed for the Tribe of Roxo, what are you doing so far north? Well, I come bearing good news. You mustnt worry about that any longer. Our gods have returned! I have received a divine message, and I am bringing it to all Tribes, our brethren in hiding. We must rally together and serve our gods once more!

You have seen our gods? On Highlands?

The man smiled. Ive seen them. They require us to rally, and kill the beastkin living above ground once and for all! We will reclaim our homes, and the sky will be covered with our gods, just like the foretelling! They will rule, and we will serve them for all time.

It was just as seen on the murals. But the wrongness in the mans words made Vesuvius know that he was lying. There was something missing, that the man was not telling him. Vesuvius could see that Roxo and his people showed doubt, but his own stood firm, denying the mans lies.

They were already serving a goddess, what do they care about another?

Vesuvius slammed the butt of his spear on the ground, his heart singing a hymn of righteous retribution. His peoples hearts began beating in the cadence of his song, and they prepared for battle. Roxo looked confused, but he drew his blades.

We serve our goddess, Fhesiah. She showed her flame, and our hearts know that it was true. We will not fight against the other beastkin, but beside them. Our hearts remain pure, able to serve both the world and our goddess. Your people are tainted, and you serve a false god. You should join us, instead. We have joined the Framework, and we cannot die. Join us, and you may be spared.New novel chapters are published on

The Framework? You fool! Now there is no saving you! The man made some clicking sounds, the mounts forming up and preparing for battle, and an arrow blazed from the side of Vesuvius, the attacker unseen.

But his people had long since been prepared for battle. Darris manifested a shield of water, blocking the arrow, and Vesuvius roared, as he finished growing to his full height once more.

He took loping strides at his enemy, who leaped off the dimetrodon and began doing the same. Vesuvius was worried, as the many auril beasts would be difficult to kill without significant losses. With few healers among his people and being only the out of combat sorts, many would die here. The enemy only had a single auril hero, but many of the auril beasts they had were of that level.

Vesuvius and Jarrix went out to meet the man and his large mount, while Darris and Roxo moved to aid, defending the weakest of the tribe from being overwhelmed with ease. Vesuvius met with the tainted man, him having a bone glaive of his own.

His auril was filled with black taint, his swings vicious. Vesuvius matched his swings, and while he was stronger and larger, he was slower than his enemy. He brought his glaive down with his superior weight, and used his tail to spring forward unexpectedly, to try to knock the man off balance.

Jarrix had cut into the dimetrodon, but it bowled into him, trying to bite him despite its wound. Jarrix was filled with green auril, his cuts vicious. But the creature healed its wound quickly, its skin sturdy besides. The cuts would not be very deep.

Darris and Roxo protected the weaker beastkin as they rained attacks on the creatures, but the tainted beastkin were able to get ranged attacks through. They wielded wicked bows and arrows, that while they didnt have auril, pierced through his peoples defenses just the same. The raptors wore armor, and were a challenge to best with their tainted red auril.

Vesuvius was about to be quite worried about his people and himself being able to make it out of this alive, when he heard a howl of wolves from the right of the battlefield.

Many howls joined the first, before Vesuvius was sure he heard hundreds. Before he could even see what caused the howl, dozens of arrows rained down on their enemies from the trees.

The arrows were filled with auril, and cut deep into the auril beasts and tainted beastkin alike. Some auril beasts went down, and a few of their riders were taken out.

The leader made a few clicks with his throat, and a tainted auril filled himself and the rest, the beasts becoming more fierce and filled with rage. They became stronger, and the taint pulled in auril from the surrounding area and twisted it into their purpose. At the same time, their enemies became sickly looking, as if a price was paid to accomplish this.

The energies blocked the auril-filled attacks, and the creatures moved with greater fervor. The man in front of Vesuvius became more bestial, going straight for his vitals with speed and power. Vesuvius could barely keep up with blocking and countering Cronus, stirring all his auril for matching his attacks.

When the dragon was near and about to swipe its claws, a ball of flame slammed into Cronus and knocked him back slightly with a small explosion.

Vesuvius heard a loud snap and a feminine sigh from the sky. Despite it feeling far away and the large amount of attacks happening, it was heard clearly, and even the dragon stopped in confusion.

You know, I was in such a good mood. I had a wonderful night, then I thought I was just going to enjoy a party with my people, meeting up together with their lost brethren. But then I find this disgusting lizard, attacking them.

Vesuvius heart beat with fervor. He could feel it their goddess had arrived! He saw her floating in the sky above the battlefield holding a fan in her hand, a torch floating near, andstanding on alarge sword? Just why? The disappointment in her voice was palatable.

Cronus shouted in rage, Lizard? I have taken on our gods visage! You will pay for your insolence!

Cronus began rearing back, preparing a breath attack once again. The tainted auril within the creature stirred, and Vesuvius was glad the creatures rage was directed at the goddess He knew that she was capable.

Fhesiah raised her hand above her head, mysterious scripts appearing. A flame was borne, the same that appeared in his cavern. It began to grow as she spoke, growing into a powerful sun, brightening the sky.

You have taken on a dragons visage, true. But you are still a lizard, and disgusting.

The sun above her head grew to be as large as an auril beast, the torch adding even more flames, before she sent it toward Cronus. He reared back and released his tainted flames toward their goddess.

The giant sun collided with the black flames, and Vesuvius was surprised to see that if anything, the sun grew in size, as it consumed the black. He could feel the power of creation, of dragons changing reality to fit their desires.

The larger ball of flame from their goddess pushed through the black flames of Cronus, and engulfed him as he screamed in pain and anguish. The dragon melted down, its visage shrinking, until eventually, the creature was dead.

Fhesiah sighed, as she floated down in front of them. I suppose none are left alive for questioning? It would have been wonderful to know where they came from, or where they were going.

Vesuvius said, They did say they were hoping to meet Roxos tribe here, then perhaps ours. We only just arrived in time.

Fhesiah smiled at Roxo. I see you have joined the Framework. Welcome.

Roxo bowed. Our goddess! Our people have waitedso long.

There were shouts and exclamations of happiness, of finally meeting the goddess in the flesh. Vesuvius understood Roxos dilemma. It was hard to find words to express just how happy they were to meet and serve their gods once more.

Rookard walked over. I hate to interrupt, but Some people do need healing. Are any of Clan Hart coming?

Fhesiah nodded. They are now, since I spotted the dragon and the fighting. It may be a bit, but I can help with the first aid efforts.

She was brought to a wounded reptile beastkin, that was swiped by a large set of claws. The auril healers were doing what they could, but the amount of blood loss was immense. For the reptile beastkin, the most likely healers were oddly the snake. The snake parentage often used deathly venom, but would sometimes be able to inject auril healing into anothers body with a bite, instead.

The torch flared, and a golden flame shot into the warrior. Vesuvius watched as the flames burned and knit the flesh closed, as the body was restored. His people were filled with excitement as they watched their goddess save her people.

I can only do that once every few minutes, but I have some other measures. Lets continue?

Vesuvius then watched as she pulled out odd scrolls and crystals, adding some healing to those that needed it. His people all looked on with fervor as she worked, their goddess restoring her people with a smile.

Eventually, Jake, Bloodberri, and Ophelia arrived. They finished up healing the remaining wounded, and to his and his peoples shock, they witnessed a miracle. The snake woman was able to resurrect those that were dead!

His people watched on with fervor, feeling something similar from her that they feel from their gods. It was different, but maybe she, too, was a goddess? Her powers were from a true goddess named Echidna, they learned.

Vesuvius was sure. Some of his people would worship Echidna in addition to the Goddess Fhesiah.