Salvas Awakens Options

[Forefallen]

The war on Salvas had been at a stalemate for more than a year with the lines ebbing and flowing, Ground would be lost here, some gained there, a ritual scuppered for every ritual successfully cast. No real progress made for anyone, save for Humanity now having a steady supply of food, equipment and hope from those Heroes that ventured to Humanities Hold so many moons ago.

Over at Humanities Hold things had changed dramatically. Where before people were devoid of hope there now seems to be a sense that things can get better, that the war can be won and Salvas saved. The people living there aren't just surviving, but planning for what's next. No longer are their lives devoted to the next wave of enemies to crash against the ramparts, people are being proactive, looking to wherever they can to improve their lot in life, even if it's not just in aim of fighting Corruption and the forces of Talenarax, people look to learn crafts, how to farm, even the faint sound of a Bard can be heard attempting to play a crudely put together lute, gone are the constant murmured voices speaking of the end of all things of life being nought but despair.

Overlooking the Heart of Innocence is Temples Watch, the now rebuilt Fort that holds key strategic advantage on Salvas. Fires burn bright on the turrets but it's clear that this is a hotly contested vantage point. The land around the Watch is harshly scarred with little life able to grow close by, such is the ruinous and corrupting nature of the enemy here. Still, despite daily attacks for months on end those standing Guard from Humanity, The Shadow Legion and Knights of the Land stand stalwart and hopeful against the forces of corruption, some even revelling in the prowess they now have in battle after such a long war.

But the night grows colder and darker. Something malign lingers in the air and an oh-so-familiar shadowfog descends across Salvas. The rain begins to fall leaving nothing but the sounds of raindrops against steel armour as the mood begins to dim...

A thunderous crash towards the South East, near the coast. Towards one of the last remaining healthy ley-lines previously cleansed by Heroes, a thick, shadowy pillar of pure darkness and smoke crashing from an imperceivably great height for a few moments before vanishing once again.

Again to the South, but this time an Island to the west another great pillar of Smoke and Shadow, but this time a faint glow lingers once the beam vanishes, those taking watch at the Fort for just a moment see great runes carve themself in the world around the Island before vanishing once more, though the unmistakable glow associated with ritual magics lingers.

Humanities Hold quietens, things are not so cheery. Something in this war has just changed. The familar sounds of beast and monster can be heard emerging from the distance around those sacred safe spaces held by Humanity on Salvas once more and all begins anew...

[Forefallen]

The ground rumbles, a large beast perhaps? A ritual strike? More like an earthquake thought those on Watch at the Fort, but in the late orange glow of the sunset something could be seen to the South West, from the island now glowing with ritual magics.

At first it looked like a mountain of Onyx, stone and shadow erupting from the ground, but as the hours passed it appeared to carve itself away bit by bit. The steep jagged inclines becoming clearly defined turrets and walkways, the base gaining a great portcullis, the summit flattening out and becoming the tip of a great spire with a black flame flickering at its centre.

The runes originally seen as the pillar crashed down once again flared, lingering for a few minutes before fading once more.

The quake dies down and all returned to normal, at least Salvas normal, save for the new and imposing fortress on the horizon.