Forgesburgh and the Five Rings of Divinty.

Part VII: The Final Ring

Woe was on those who dwelled in Forgesburgh at that time. Many had turned their back on the God of the Hearth, some proclaiming that he never existed at all.

Nay, while the legend stated that great prosperity and joy would be bestowed upon those who found his five Rings of Divinity and brought them to his chosen temple, some wondered if the fifth and final ring was nothing more than a just that, a legend.

However, during the second decade of the rule of Emperor Cah’R, he announced to his beleaguered peoples, “ I have had a vision! The Father of Runes, the chosen emissary of the God of the Hearth had proclaimed that the final Ring hath been found! It lies to the west in the walled city of Frod the Lionhearted! The God of the Hearth has proclaimed that our Warriors of the Forge will advance there and reclaim his glory! Sing his praises!”

The people rejoiced and thus sang the praises of the God of the Hearth in their ancient tongue.

Hear Ye’goh Sti’lahz, Hear Ye’Gooo-OOH-ooh.

But whilst the faith of the people was strong, the faith of the Warriors of the Forge was shaken. They knew that with the proclamation that the final ring had been found, many armies would seek it out, if nothing else than to prevent Forgesburgh from being the paradise on earth that the legend of the Five Rings of Divinity promised.

But they were a strong force and would not let self-doubt shake them. Led by Rah’lathes-burgh of the Great Stature, who wielded a weapon whose name has been forgotten with time, but it is said that when opposing forces saw him wield it, a malaise settled in any opposing ranks.

Then there was Bay’tas , an aging warrior who was looking to find glory of his own on the battlefield before his body betrayed him and he could no longer serve the God of the Hearth or the proud Emperor.

As had been feared, opposing forces sought to attack Forgesburgh and to prevent the Warriors of the Forge from mounting their great campaign to the City of Frod the Lionhearted.

They faced attacks from the dreaded Birdmen of the East Bay and Jaguar Cat-warriors from the Southern Swamps. Even the Dog-Beasts from the provinces of the Lake of Blades tried to take advantage of the opportunity to steal glory from their greatest enemies.

Alas, Rah’lathes-burgh and Bay’tas rallied their men and held back their opportunistic foes. As winter approached, Cah’R gathered his warriors and began his campaign to reclaim long delayed paradise.

But there were quiet rumblings that disturbed the Emperor greatly. Scouts he had sent westward returned with news. In the western frontier of Forgesburgh’s empire there had been an uprising.

A young warrior had rallied the barbarian tribes of the near west and rejected the rule of Cah’R the Powerful. Cah’R brought his trusted lieutenants into his tent and had the scouts them of their discoveries.

“They say he wears a Tigerskin and though he is as young as our beloved General Rah’lathes-burgh, they say that he is even more skilled. He has brought forth a false hope to the barbarians and proclaims that their new kingdom is the chosen temple of the God of the Hearth.”

“Why have we not heard of this blaspheming Warrior before?” the Emperor demanded.

“They say he came to them from the far west, from the land of Hollysylvania,” The scout answered.

The Emperor had heard of this far off land. They had a great military academy there and their warriors had earned much honor throughout the land. Even one of his trusted lieutenants had been schooled there. A fierce warrior from the Far, Far West, amongst the islands. A primal half-beast named Pahlahmahloo.

“Pahlahmahloo, do you know of this warrior of which they speak?” the Emperor questioned.

The quiet savage nodded and spoke, “Aye, M’lord. We were schooled together in the art of war. He is a worthy adversary. If we do not put this uprising down quickly, I fear he may raise the other provinces against us and delay us from fulfilling the wishes of the God of the Hearth.”

The Emperor took this in and nodded. Before they could reclaim the Fifth Ring of Divinity, this uprising had to be quelled and thus the Warriors of the Forge marched onward to the Near West to show the Barbarians that while they may be fierce warriors, the chosen cannot be stopped.

On the cold plane of battle, Rah’lathes-burgh looked out and saw the warrior, clad in tigerskin. Indeed, he was fiercesome, and the Barbarians of the Near West were confident.

Until the battle began and the God of Hearth smiled favor down upon his children. For while they were tenacious fighters, their great warrior, clad in tigerskin was killed in the first charge. Felled by Warrior Keem’oh’s sling.

Without their false messiah, the Barbarians were put down and forced into retreat. The day had been won and now they could march onto the City of Frod, the Lionhearted.

As the Emperor surveyed his troops, the scouts he sent ahead returned and they bore grim news. Cavalries from the two largest nations, The Kingdom of the 500-mile Plains and the Kingdom of the Mile-high Snowy Peaks were converging on them.

Cah’R knew what treachery this was. It was a brilliant bit of manipulation that they had purported. The two rival kingdoms had forged a alliance and subtly started the revolt in the Near West to delay the Warriors of the Forge long enough for them to be surrounded.

Bay’tas looked to his Emperor, “What is your command, Lord?”

The Emperor scratched his chin and mused. Knowing that the Kingdom of the 500-mile Plains was closer than the Kingdom of the Mile-high Snowy Peaks, they would have to wait for the other’s Cavalry to arrive before they could surround them and attack. They had one chance, and that was to go on the offensive and attack the Kingdom of the 500-mile Plains before the Cavalry from the Kingdom of the Mile-high Snowy Peaks arrived.

Emperor Cah’R looked to his men and motioned for them to move out. The Father of the Runes would not lie to him. The battles were merely detours from their ultimate goal, and he knew that before the day was out, he would be tasting victory.

Continued in Part VIII:

Horses of a Bloody Color and their Pale Riders

Ok, I'm outs for tonight, but before I turn in, New iconage for all to leech and celebrate what's really important...