The Battle for the Gateway of Lost Souls

"Oathbreakers" cursed Gromnir under his breath as the Elves advanced through the morning's mist. The War had dragged on for as long as anyone cared to remember and many Elves and Dwarves had perished. This meeting under truce had the potential to begin to bring the War to an end.

The two sides drew up in parallel opposite each other. With a melodic voice the Elven emmisary began to address the Dwarves in an almost patronising tone.

"The Phoenix King salutes the proud, heroic and honourable Dwarves and is pleased to listen to a request for a cessation of hostilities."

With that, two bolts swept out the mist and scythed into the Dragon Princes and Dwarves marched on the rear of the Elf column.

"Truce breakers!" sang the Elves as they charged the Dwarf lines. The Dwarves, surprised by the actions of the Elves broke and fled. The Dwarves, surprised and shocked levelled their crossbows at the Elves only to catch a glimpse of the Dwarves that had ambushed the Elves. The large pointed hats and style of beard were unmistakable. The Fallen Kin!

The crossbows found their mark and the Chaos Dwarves cried out. But the quarrellers were not enough to slow the advance of the Chaos Dwarves and they withdrew to tell the main force of the day's events. The Elves decided too to withdraw but as they did, the Chaos Dwarf sorceror took out a vial that pulsated with dark magic from within his robes. Speaking words in a dark and evil tongue, dark energy flowed involuntary out of the Elf Emissary's mouth to the vial. The Emissary dropped, lifeless. The Elves cried out in anguish and fled, leaving the field to the Chaos Dwarves.

"We have work to do". hissed the Chaos Dwarf sorceror.

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The Chaos Dwarves approached the ancient and crumbling temple.

"Hurry! We must not displease the Dark One."

Dust was rising on both horizon to the front and rear of the temple. The Elves and Weaklings would be here soon thought the Sorceror. They would surely know what we mean to do to the Elf-souls. We must not disappoint them as he glanced over his force within the temple.

Slowly and trance-like the Sorceror began the chanting that would allow the sacrifice of souls to Hashut. The runes of the Gateway began to glow and pulsate.

Shots sounded from Earthshaker and Stone Throwers alike. The Chaos forces deployed around the temple charged out to meet the Elf and Dwarf lines. Above the din, the chanting resonated and dark clouds began to swirl around the Gateway.

The Phoenix King and Dwarf High King had sent their best warriors to combat this mortal and spiritual threat. Suddenly the Chaos line gave way to the Elves. The White Lions dashed like quicksilver into the Chaos artillery within the Temple.

For a split second, the Sorceror became aware of his mortal situation and lost concentration. Sparks flew from the Gateway and shocked the Sorceror. Stunned and mentally drained from his exertions, the Sorceror stumbled to the crest of the ruins, gasping out as he felt his body start to solidify. Seizing the opportunity, the Dwarf artillery rang out and an Organ Gun founds its mark. The Sorceror exploded in a shower of crystal rock.

As the last pockets of Chaos resistance were surrounded and destroyed the bloodied armies of Elf and Dwarf drew up against each other once again. This War would continue, but not today. Today's blood reaving was over and the horrors witnessed that day would not easily be forgotten.