Rise & Ruin History

Chapter 6: Hallowed Decree

At the commands of Lord Simargl and Chief Giobhniu, the Keldei and Ralak charged, and so began the exchange of blow after blow; the sound of steel ringing against wood. A music Gaia had never heard. War cries escaped the battlefield, alerting the jix'Su, who quickened their already feverish preparations under the demanding eye of Queen Enyo. jix'Su agents rushed to take advantage of the opportune moment. Led by the stealth assassin, Aphroridae, the jix'Su forged into distinct ranks. Adorned by sleek battle armour, they moved towards the planet's surface. Aphroridae was under implicit instructions to return only if victorious.

Early in the Rulers' game, the jix'Su had been a formidable force, fiercely overtaking new worlds through guile and their immaculate precision as assassins. However, the jix'Su's desire to curry favour with their Queen, and the resulting internecine conflicts, had led to the species' near-demise. Since their fall from grace, the jix'Su had only rarely risked leaving the safe confines of their Abyssal Hive. On this day they stood together, ready again for battle, and eager to regain their glory.

Free of the ocean's surface, the jix'Su ranks divided and crept into the thick forests of Gaia. Circling the battlefield, they were astonished by the destruction lying before them. The once vibrant countryside of Gaia, lush with delicate flowers and extraordinary shrubbery, had been replaced by the chaos of battle.

Intent on besting each other, neither the Keldei nor the Ralak noticed the assembly of jix'Su forming around them. The conflict was only hours old but the devastation was overwhelming. Each time the advantage appeared to shift, Lord Simargl or Chief Giobhniu would strike back bold and hard, rebalancing the fight. The Ralak were unused to such resistance but their resolve remained strong. They would prevail. They always did. But the fierceness of the Keldei's response had seeded doubt in their innermost thoughts.

The Keldei had been forced to battle with heavy hearts, but felt that no sacrifice was too large when the future of Gaia was at stake. If the Ralaks wanted Gaia, they would have to fight through each and every Keldei warrior. Surrendering was simply not an option the Keldei, or their Chief, would accept.

The jix'Su kept a watchful eye on the melee before them, waiting for the moment Queen Enyo had predicted would arise. In an earlier battle, an overambitious jix'Su, Septu, had prematurely launched an advance in a pathetic attempt to distinguish himself from the others. This hardly impressed Queen Enyo and Septu had been banished. Today, however, was an entirely different matter. A collective bond filled the jix'Su's ranks and the battle lines were held until the exact order was given.

Aphroridae studied the situation closely, the exact events that his Queen had predicted had begun to transpire. The Keldei and Ralak were succumbing to their fatigue, rendering them susceptible to third party attack. Aphrophridae ordered the jix'Su forward and they shot out of the Gaian forest to join the battle. The Ralaks and Keldei, with their depleted ranks, were no match for such an abrupt and surprising assault.