in the Old days,” spoke the Valharri High Lord Malthauron in loud voice, “so today, we discuss and lay plans for our future.” It was his turn to do the initial brief ceremonial part of this council. He paused and looked about as the other conversations stopped as he and everyone else bowed ceremonially to the throne area, even though Lord Dormas was not physically in attendance; however, his spiritual presence was felt by many and was centered in the throne area. A few millennia ago, Dormas had been interdicted and banished by several of the greater Guardians working together. They were the disciples of either the Lords of Creation, Balance, or Order. The force of power and the intricacy of the weaving of their interdiction were such that Dormas could manifest physically only a few times a year for short periods.That manifestation was not his true being but a temporary vessel he created.
Today, only a spiritual presence was possible, and there would be no actual voice with the presence. However, his wardens or priors among the dark Alor and the Urshkaar, as well as his chosen favorites, could hear a distant voice with that presence in their minds. The Valharri and many of the Urshkaar lords had begun to come up with a plan to return Lord Dormas to Illúmaril. It was a plan to find the shards of the Sword of Chaos and Entropy, a sword Dormas had forged in an earlier age with guidance from his mentor Sorgoth the Great Lord of Chaos and Entropy.
With the bowing toward the central dais completed, the ceremonial aspect of the council was over. Now the arguing, yelling, and name-calling began. Soon Kerthlutus the mighty was called and he headed to the ring of steps just below the central dais to speak.
“We have found another shard of the sword of Chaos. However, it is inside one of the great elder dragons and he won’t just give it up. We have tried, but his magic is too powerful. It would take a Valharri High Lord or the Great Dormas to pry it forth.”
“It’s in his belly. Can we not just get him to vomit it forth?” asked the Urshkaar Lord Crenthrunt, who had some lesser dragons in his air cavalry units.
“It’s not that simple. It’s lodged and will not easily be removed, and this dragon was also sire to many you use in your air cavalry,” Kerthlutus replied.
“Then we will have to be more patient or wait until Great Dormas returns,” stated Valestran from the gallery. There were grunts of agreement from around the vast hall.
“Very well then,” Malthauron said, “we will continue the search for the remainder of the shards... How is the search for the wielder of the Sword of Order proceeding?”
“As yet, we found no one on our side that got a good look at the Alor, except perhaps Lady Vasha who now lies comatose,” Lord Marshal Balgan stated. “The trail stops, as there was no one left with the skills to gather his scent, so we cannot send any Gorghaun to track him.” There was angry murmurs and grunting around the chamber.
“We have even tried to contact the Chaos Lord Nossus-Thoth who battled the wielder in the Greenway,” interjected Lord Neral. “However, he is too deranged and incoherent for now to be of any help.” The decision to continue to look for the scion of Lith-Gilad was agreed upon, but the consensus was not given the highest precedence, since other pressing actions needed to be dealt with, including securing the borders and finding out more about the rumors that an ancient ally might now be awake.
Topics at the council drifted to other items, including the building of various structures. They discussed expanding tunnels and caverns and reorganizing underground waterways, even plans to extend the Underthaurnan out to the new territories. The Underthaurnan was ancient and was first carved out by Dormas to house his experiments. Later, over millennia, the cavern and tunnels complex was expanded for additional storage and living space for the Darkspawn. In the past several centuries, further tunnels were made to connect territories with underground travel ways so that the Alor and their allies could not easily find where the Urshkaar and other Darkspawn troops were mobilizing. It was important to continue to expand farther beyond the borders, now that they had new outpost lands that had been obtained during the recent battles. Secure expansion would allow a springboard for further strikes against their enemies.
Before the council was over, they discussed a new topic. “Now that we have heard reports of the Twelve having awakened, looking to reestablish their power and lands, what shall be done with this unstable ally?” High Lady Nelendra asked. “My own troops found that Lord Galvarex had awakened and pulled himself out of the muck of the Tharn Sea.”
“It is likely that Thatos has or will awaken soon,” stated Valestran. “In my opinion, he was always unstable and his loyalty to the Dark Lord questionable, especially when Great Dormas was not present to provide him guidance.”
“You may be right, Lord Valestran; however, he was considered equal with the chiefs among the Valharri in ancient days,” Lord Zhelavon said. “I did not work with him then, but I recall that you, Malthauron, and Ammaroth worked with him in the past.”
“Thatos does not work well with anyone,” intoned Ammaroth, the reddish glow intensifying from under his hood and crown. “He tends to believe he is in charge. Great Dormas told him to work alongside the Valharri and so he did.”
“Yes, he is notably independent,” Marshal Balgan said. “I recall he would not always take my advice for tactics, at times believing his own judgment to be better. Not until after the battle did he realize I was correct and adhere, at least for a short time, to my advice.”
“Many of us were able to work with him in the past. As long as the goals were the same,” stated the Valharri Lady Amonella, who had moved to the front of the discussion area. She was dressed in tight-fitting gold and black robes that accentuated her perfect physique. “In order to better serve Great Dormas, then, the appearances of the Twelve at this time can be taken as a good omen.”
“There have been distinct reports recently of the arrival of Thatos’ twelve ancient sorcerer-generals. Reports indicate they have been seen walking the lands, looking to reestablish military forces,” stated the Charachau Lord High Captain Kerthlutus. “Yet with no sign of their master.”
“Thatos is likely remaining hidden,” replied Zehlavon. “Like the lords of Chaos he descended from, they did not reveal their presence until they desired, and then they attacked our enemies.”
“Yes, I recall,” said Lord Eldreth in a deep voice. He was one of the halfdragon half-dark Alor members of the Ruling Council. “Long ago, chaotic entities not allied to us secretly gained entrance to Illúmaril and prepared the way for their leaders. Some of those beings integrated to a degree into the dark Alor societies and some into a few ancient Eldren clans before the chaotic entities were destroyed or banished.”
“We must also remember that they did not directly aid us, since we had no pacts with that group, even though our goals were aligned,” added Valagarth.
“Indeed, even though we have worked with other Lords of Chaos and Entropy in the past when we were weaker,” Lady Nelendra said, “these entities are not all allied, and they have factions. We cannot be sure of Thatos’ faction, since we will need to develop a formal pact if there is to be any enforcement of trust.”
Before the council adjourned, they agreed that some arrangement needed to be made with Thatos and those he might eventually summon. Thatos was actually the only one of the lords of Chaos and Entropy anchored by birth on Illúmaril. He would need to be carefully dealt with, for he could more easily than any of them and more like Great Dormas, call allies from the nether planes. Thatos could perhaps eventually call upon one of the greatest of the lords of Chaos and Entropy, even one such as Lord Sorgoth.
Chapter Seven
TO EARTH AND BACK
It was good to be back