UWoF

    The Captain’s spear passed through the man’s skull with relative ease, gore and brain matter splatter the stones behind. Seven more fell to his men. The Imperial Librarian passed through the mangled corpses without so much as a look.

    “Time to go, Captain.” He said.

    The Captain twisted his spear loose and pulled it free of his opponent’s face. Damned courtiers always believe they’re so much better than the rank and file, he thought, Arrogant bastard.

    The Captain had hated the man since their first meeting in his General’s tent. He had been called back from the frontlines, where his men had been the first to push back against the heathens to the east. The Imperial Librarian was there at the time, looking slightly above and to the left of the Captain, as though direct eye contact was below his station.

   “Markus!” The general exclaimed with joy in his eyes, as he moved close and firmly grasped the captain's arm, “I can only assume this means, you’ve done it, you’ve taken Tarkus.”

   Through a swelling of pride, Markus tried to remain formal, “Yes, sir. Tarkus has rejoined the empire.”

   “Good man, good man,” said the General patting Markus on the back congenially. “The Emperor has sent up a medal for you.”

    A gleaming object sat on the General’s map sitting near an Imperial marker placed on the city of Tarkus. The Captain gave General Thaddius a puzzled look, “Sir, I just returned with my report, how did you know I would take Tarkus.”

    Casting a conspiratorial look at Markus, “I’ve seen your record, Markus, I knew you would succeed. The Emperor himself has taken notice of you.” The General indicated the Librarian. “He’s given you a special mission.”

    “Sir?” The Librarian’s presence made Markus uneasy.

    “This man has come from the Imperial Court. Apparently he has discovered the location of an artifact capable of giving us absolute victory. It is deep in the heart of The Aristos territory to the west. You will take a few of your best men, the rest can stay hold Tarkus. I’ll send Captain Cassius to support them, we won’t lose Tarkus again.”

    “Sir, I find it hard to believe anything could offer that much power. What is this artifact?”

“Something far beyond what your primitive ape-like mind could understand simpleton.” said the Librarian.

    “Watch your tone,” The General snapped, “Markus is the best Captain the Empire has ever seen, and since his success at Tarkus, he’s been promoted to my second.” Thaddius turned to Markus, “After you’ve returned from your mission, The Hensukar front is yours, Markus.”

    Markus was stunned, he hadn’t been sure such a promotion was coming. He wasn’t sure he deserved it. “I, uh, Thank you, Sir! I’ll not let you down.”

   “I know Markus,” The General returns to the war map, not before sending a scowl to the Librarian. His eyes were drawn to a star shaped marker in the west marking Markus’ destination. “Be careful out there Markus, the Aristeia are not likely to make this mission easy on you.”

   Markus Clapped his heels together and saluted, “Sir.”

   The Hensukar servile rebellion was caused when a religiously fervent governor, started sentencing Hensukar Slavers to death on trumped up charges. Slavery was against the Imperial religion of God and his messengers, but not against the Hensukar belief system. As the Capital became more and more hostile towards other religions, the Hensukar suffered. Unrest began, The slaves didn’t know what to do with their new found freedom, and many fell into slavery with other Hensukar masters. The Governor over Hensukar issued a decree that Slaves were inherently servile and needed to be wiped out to remove temptation from those who would be masters.

   The Hensukar assaulted the  Governor’s estate and placed his head and those of his staff on pikes outside the Estate. The Empire sent a senator with a military escort to try and salvage the situation. No one knows what happened next, but within a fortnight Hensukar was in full rebellion. Their sheer numbers allowed them to push forward and take Tarkus and much of the eastern Imperial territory.

   Tarkus was Markus’ home. His family fled as refugees before the raving Hensukar descended upon the city. Re-taking the City had been Markus’ only goal when he joined the Imperial army in his youth. In so doing, he has given himself a future. He was to have command against the Hensukar. First he had to head west, where he would face the Aristos, the best fighting men ever born.

   He chose his men and had moved to the western front to meet with General Antonia. Her tent was utilitarian and sparse, similar to Antonia herself; never wore her honors or medals on her armor. She was tall, muscular tan skin and blonde hair. A severe expression greeted the newcomers to her camp. Her expression twisted into a scowl when she saw the Librarian.

   On the journey west, the Librarian said little, rarely had he even acknowledged the Captain or his men. Markus’ dislike for the man grew the more time spent with him. There was some satisfaction to the fact Antonia disliked him instantly.

   Antonia’s eye’s locked on Markus, and he saw the war-wary gaze of one who had seen battles without victory, and soldiers die causes they didn’t believe in. The Captain respected her, many soldiers in the Empire knew Antonia, who was an Aristeia from birth. She was the one who presented the Emperor and the Imperial Senate with The Aristeia declaration of secession. Senator rose from their seats demanding the guards seize her immediately, but the Emperor silenced them all. He regarded her with mercy in his eyes, he told her she could return to Aristos, serve her people if that was her wish, the Empire would accept their secession allow the Aristos to exist in peace. He did not want a war on multiple fronts, and the Aristeia had served the Empire loyally for centuries. The Empire was falling to pieces, and the Emperor just wanted to hold onto what he had left.

   Antonia looked the Emperor straight in the eye and told him simply, “Aristos has joined the war against you.”

   “What?!” The Emperor was shocked. Murmurs went through the senate and a few called for her arrest again.

   “They cannot win, both their best generals have been removed.”

   The Emperor silenced another outburst from the senate, as he tried to gauge Antonia’s meaning.

   “I’ve Decided to remain with the Empire,” she said, reaching for a small pouch she wore on her belt. A dark spot forming on its underside. “And I’ve killed the other.” She tossed the pouch to the floor where it squelched and left a red mark.

   Antonia had also heard of Markus, few people in the Empire have not heard of the Hero of Tarkus by now.

   The Captain saluted the Aristeia General, “Sir.”

   “At ease Captain Markus, you’ve done work in the east.” There was the impression that this was her form of a compliment. At least the Captain took it as such.

   “Thank you, sir.”

    The right corner of Antonia’s right lip raised ever so slightly. Markus took it as a smile.

    “I’d like to know more about your mission before I let you go in Aristos.”

    “You’ve been told all you need to know.” Replied the Librarian with undisguised enmity.

    “I’ve been told next to nothing. I don’t know how things work in the Capital but out here, I’m in charge. I’ve got Aristos where I want it, their morale is falling, and they will surrender soon. Last thing I need is a group of unprepared men, rushing in and getting themselves killed. Why can’t it wait?”

    The Librarian looked Antonia straight in the eye. “You’re one of them,” he said indicating with his head the general direction of Aristos. “You’re at worst an enemy, and at best a turncloak, I’ll not trust you with sensitive information of state.”

    You would expect anger, maybe even fury, but what you got was indifference, somehow, it was worse. “You and the captain’s men will wait at the edge of my camp for captain Markus, then you will leave and not return. Even if you succeed my camp will not be a place for you on your way back to the Capital.”

    The Librarian raised his chin and left, Markus noted a flare of anger as he left. When he was standing alone in Antonia’s tent she slammed a fist into the table cracking it. Markus merely stood at attention and waited for her to address him.

    The General looked Markus square in the eye, “I assume, you can’t tell me what you’re after either.”

    Markus could only offer a shrug, he had orders, only he, General Thaddius and the Librarian were to know what they were after, but even though, Markus knew next to nothing of the artifact they were after or how it was to help them in the war.

    “I was warned you would not like it, General, but my order are orders.”

    Antonia straightened and looked over her map, “The Aristeia are not like the Hensukar in the east. We’re raised against pain, we’re taught with spear and shield from the moment we stand upright. Few on this world can match an Aristeia in combat. We bear the blood of Lilim runs through our veins.”

    There it was, the great Aristeia heresy, their claim to be connected to the divine by the bastard child of a mortal and a messenger. The view that a messenger could sully itself to mate with a mortal has recently become unpopular in the capital. A rise in religious fervor is to blame for the tensions between the Imperial Capital and Aristos that caused the secession.

    “If you still cling to your people’s belief, why side with the Empire against them?” Markus asked. He didn’t think too much of the Imperial religion, he was a soldier, it wasn’t his place. If he fought for God or not, meant little, he fought to protect people from the Hensukar, and others that would threaten the livelihood of Imperial citizens. The Aristeia heresy was only important in that it made Aristos an enemy of the Empire, but not all Aristeia chose that path.

    She let out a long heavy sigh, “The other Generals took a stance I couldn’t support. Staying with the Empire was the only hope I saw for my people.”

    “Even as we are surrounded, fighting wars on all fronts, more than we could possibly hope to win?”

    A faint smile touched her lips, “There is always hope for salvation in the Empire, you still believe God is looking out for you. The Aristeia know better, but sometimes we are surprised.” When she looked Markus in the eye there was something about it he couldn’t quite place, something almost sad. “For many in the Empire, Markus, you are that hope. You’ve given your people a dream of what they can achieve. If you can succeed out here against my people. Then they’ll likely declare you a messenger living.”

    Markus would ponder her words as he lead his men out into Aristos. It would still be on his mind as they were ambushed by bandits believing they were refugees. They had little time to contemplate their mistake.

   As he moved past the dead Markus thought of the state Aristos had fallen that bandits risked harrying refugees. A small group of Aristeia would easily have dispatched the fools. He thought, Had Antonia’s betrayal hurt Aristos that severely?

   The Librarian waited at the crest of the next hill waiting for Markus and his men, he shouted back at them, “Looks like the Aristeia aren’t as tough as they would like us to believe.”

   Markus was puzzled, until he crested the hill. The great city-state of Aristos loomed before him, its crumbling walls and ruined structures. “What happened here?”

   There was no army in the field, no guards at the gate. inside the city refugees cowered in alleyways and street corners, they appeared to be Imperial citizens with nowhere else to go. No Aristeia anywhere in sight. Looters raided the nearby buildings, they stopped momentarily when they saw Markus and their men. Waiting to see if The Empire’s soldiers intended to stop them. The looters resumed their work when Markus and his men made no efforts against them.

   The city appeared as a ruin, collapsing buildings and broken statues. If not for the refugees and looters roaming the city, you’d be tempted to think it was an ancient civilization lost to time.

   Markus was incredulous, “What could have done this? Where are the Aristeia?”

   “Does it matter?” asked the Librarian, more than a little annoyed. “Come, our objective is in sight.”

   Before them stood the only intact statue, a sculpture of Lilim, her Lythe figure stood naked and proud before them. Beneath it there were wide stone stairs leading downward to an ornately carved marble door. It seemed a sort of temple to their progenitor. The door was ajar.

   As Markus and his men neared the structure he approached a refugee hiding nearby, “Do you know what happened here? Where are the Aristeia? Why are our citizens here?”

   He looked at Markus, there was anger and fear in his eyes, “We fled from the north, the Aristeia offered shelter when the Empire abandoned us. The other day they went in there.” he indicated the structure ahead. “There was a quake after that, half the city collapsed.” His face filled with worry, “We’ve got nowhere else to go. They didn’t leave us with much, many are looting what we can find, others have resorted to banditry”

   Markus pointed back the way he came, “Less than two days march to the east you’ll find The camp of General Antonia. Bring word of what happened here, tell everyone you can find the same, and don’t worry about the bandits, they’re no more.” Markus gaze was drawn back to the door before him, then down to the spear in his hand. “Let’s go!”

   The refugee watched silently as Markus and his men disappeared into the darkness behind the door. He didn’t talk to anyone on his way out of the city, he just ran and ran, whatever was under that temple was terrible, It was holy ground to the Aristeia, he’d not wait around to see what happened when foreigners tread on holy ground.

   He would arrive at Antonia’s camp half a day after one of her scouts brought news of Aristos. His collapsing form confirmed the almost unbelievable story her scout had given. Fearing the worst, she immediately assembled her troops and marched on Aristos, even in her haste, they would arrive far too late.

   As Markus moved past the door he noted the disturbance in the dust, The Aristeia hadn’t opened this door for years, what got them to open it now? There were tracks leading down a hallway lined with statues. Women on the left, men on the right, all of them naked with round orbs in place of their heads, and a star emblem behind. The end of the hallway was a light devouring void. He found a torch on the side of the wall, the sconce on the other side was empty.

    Lighting the torch, Markus moved down the hall the Librarian close behind and his men further back, two remained at the doorway to keep guard. When the Librarian would later run from the structure, the two guards rushed in to help their captain, they would also be too late.

    The Librarian skirted around Antonia’s army, only narrowly being missed by her scouts. He would arrive at the Imperial

   Capital about the same time Antonia would reach Aristos, she would find only corpses. The door to Lilim’s temple was left open, her stomach turned at the idea of what had been let loose on the world.

    The Librarian’s return was almost unnoticed, but after he washed up and made himself presentable, he sought an audience with the Emperor. Though he returned triumphant, general Thaddius was insistent on knowing the details of what happened to captain Markus. The Librarian told him he fought valiantly against Aristeia soldiers, so the Librarian could escape with the artifact. He claimed to be unsure about the specifics beyond that, the story sounded believable enough for Thaddius to stop asking.

    The Emperor promoted the Librarian to his chief advisor, with the power of the UWoF the Empire crushed the Hensukar rebellion, and moved against the savages to the north. Capitalising on power-hungry courtiers, the Librarian used the UWoF to one by one remove the Emperor’s supported from positions of power, and once he was ready he staged a coup and seizing the Imperial crown for himself.

    Thaddius was assassinated in his sleep, on the Librarian’s rise to power.

    Antonia was give governorship of Aristos, for her efforts, she politely refused. This, unbeknownst to her, saved her life. Secretly she gathered allies and went to hunt down what the Librarian let loose on the world. However, that is a story for another day.

    Markus’ body was never found. Presumed dead, the Emperor posthumously named him Grand Marshal of the Empire, the highest rank in the Imperial army, in honor of his achievements. Markus was the first in over a century, and the last to ever be named. A statue of his likeness was erected in the Capital. In light of popular opinion, they would name him God’s messenger made flesh, a hero to guide the Empire in it’s darkest hour. He was said to become the messenger of war, and guardian of the faithful. They would be surprised, with how close they came to the truth of his ultimate fate.

    Markus and his men moved through the hallway past the statues, there was a deep stairwell at the other end. The torch light became less effective as they moved into the bowels of the structure, and only illuminated the area directly around Markus at the stairwell base. A massive stone door greeted them at the bottom. There was a mechanism for opening it, seemed to also lock it automatically when closed. Anyone entering did not intend to leave. On the right side there was a rod connected to the mechanism, Markus pulled it toward him and the mechanism groaned and released dust into the air. Slowly and loudly the door swung open, once it was completely open it began to shut again slowly with a clicking noise. Markus jammed his spear into the mechanism and the door stopped. A dead silence filled the void, broken only by the wing beat of a bird trapped in the chamber beyond.

    Markus tried to look ahead but the torch seemed even less effective in the chamber, he could not see the size of the room beyond, all he could see was a single shaft of light near what he assumed to be the center. The light was broken briefly as the bird brushed it. As markus entered he looked upward, but only caught a glimpse of a vague pale shape in the distance.

    Markus almost tripped over a large soft mound in front of him, he leaned down to see if he could tell what it was. To is morbid fascination he discovered it was a corpse, it had the tan skin and blonde hair of the Aristeia. Waving the torch around he noted the floor was covered with them, “I guess we found the Aristeia. What could have done this?”

    The Librarian clambered over the corpses toward the shaft of light, becoming little more than a silhouette before the captain. After a moment of trying to see clearly he turned to Markus, “That’s what we’re after.” he resumed his progress toward what appeared to be a pedestal in the center.

    Markus heard the bird swoop close behind, followed by a soft thud, he turned but could only see the back of the soldier immediately behind him, who also turned toward the noise. There was nothing but black, there was movement and then Markus could see the dim light filtering down from the starwell. A spear, little more than a shadow against the light, shifted position. Must have just tripped, Markus thought, “Keep close and watch your footing,” He heard the soldier behind him turn away from the door, they progressed forward when a thought stuck in Markus’ head. If he tripped, what blocked the door?

    A moment later he heard the flap of the birds wings again, he once again looked up to try and see, but saw nothing. He looked back toward the door, the spear hadn’t moved. A chill moved down his spine as he realized with mounting horror, the soldier who was directly behind him was no longer there.

   Markus once again looked sharply up to find the bird, the chamber distorted sound, it sounded massive, bigger than any bird Markus had ever seen. What’s happening here? Quickly he turned on his heel and saw the Librarian standing alone in the shaft of light from the ceiling far above. Markus scrambled over the corpses to the Librarian’s side.

   As he approached the Librarian turned to him, his face near manic, it seemed as though he didn’t care about what was happening behind him. On the pedestal there was a massive tome, the Librarian stroked it reverently. “This is it, the UWoF, we’ve got it.”

    Markus just stared in disbelief, the bird swooped in behind him again, he was only vaguely aware of this. “A book?!” The Captain turned red with fury, “We came all this way for a BOOK?!”

    The Librarian laughed, “Not just any book, this is a book written by God himself!” he proclaimed with triumph, “With this we can learn the ways of the messengers, we can equip our soldiers with skills and armaments far beyond what has been seen by mortal eyes.” he raised a fist “We can crush our enemies low and-” suddenly stopped his attention arrested by something over Markus’ shoulder.

    Behind Markus came a lilting voice, distinctly feminine and playful, “Did mother send you?” it asked.

    Fear gripped the Captain like a vice, he slowly turned expecting some horror, some terrible twisted creature. What stood before him was a beautiful, naked woman, skin the color of pale moonlight, silver blonde hair, eyes that captured ocean, and lips the color of wet blood. Something about her was horribly familiar, Markus couldn’t find the words to voice it, he just stared blankly. She looked curiously at him awaiting an answer.

    “Er,” the Librarian stammered, “Y-yes, your mother send us.” he managed.

    Did he know what was happening? Markus thought, did he anticipate this?

    She smiled sweetly, “So many gifts! Mother has been so generous lately.”

   “Yes, yes,” the Librarian said quickly seizing on what he saw as an escape, “Your mother sent Markus here to serve you.”

   Markus tried to protest, he tried to resist, but he couldn’t he was trapped gazing at the woman before him. I’ve seen her somewhere before.

    The woman appeared ecstatic, “Mother never sends me servants!” She shot a questioning gaze at the Librarian “You’re sure that’s what she said you’re not teasing me, are you? I don’t like it when people tease me.”

    “No,” said the Librarian quickly, “I mean, yes! that is what she said, I’m not teasing you.”

    “Oh, Goodie!” she exclaimed in glee, she moved in a way that sent blood rushing to The Captain’s face. Her hand brushed his skin, it was cold as ice.

   After she moved close to Markus, he noticed the light from the stairwell being visible again, something behind her was blocking it. Some deeper darkness he couldn’t see. Suddenly he knew where he had seen her face, It was before we entered the temple.

    She looked puzzled for a second, then turned to the Librarian, “What are you doing here?” Her eyes are pulled to the tome now clutched desperately to his chest.

    “I- er, I mean, your mother sent me to make sure Markus could get here safely, and er,” he indicated the Book in his arms, “to get this for her.”

    The woman stared at him for a long time, seeming to doubt what he claimed. After an uncomfortable silence that made the Librarian sweat, she smiled and shrugged, “Okay then,” and turned her attention back to Markus.

    The Librarian waited a cautious moment before stumbling out of the chamber and running up the stairs, leaving the captain’s spear jammed in the mechanism, a mistake that would cost the lives of everyone in Aristos.

    Lilim moved closer and put her other hand on his face, “Will you love me, my servant?”

    Markus for a moment was puzzled, standing there in her chilling grip, he realized that was what he wanted. Somewhere deep inside, he wanted to love her, didn’t he? He wrapped his arms around her, his touch brushing something that felt not unlike feathers. Not a bird. Who thought that? he wondered. was it me or someone else? He was no longer sure.

    Her lips touched his neck and he thought he heard his soldiers, but they were gone weren’t they? Were there others? The two at the door! Why would they come here? Danger! who was that? He wondered again, he couldn’t quite place what was supposed to be dangerous, not anymore, not even as her teeth tore into his flesh and his life wasted away.