• A valley of golden grass sat beneath a sky filled with soft, white, lazy clouds. In every direction but north east, an immense mountain range dominated the far horizon. A cool breeze sailed in from the sea far to the west, gently herding the clouds across an azure sky. The breeze flowed over the field, dark ripples forming in the grass behind it. The ripples approached a rocky hill, smoothly breaking on the barren ground and reforming on the far side.
    A lone tree stood mute against the wind, no leaves to rustle in its branches. It was as dead as the hill it guarded. A man sat beneath the tree, white hair blowing in the wind, fingers tracing memories in the dirt. He watched as the wind carried the memories into the sky, a solemn expression on his face. He pushed himself to his feet and rested a hand on the trunk of the tree; his black cloak ruffled out beside him with the wind. The wind shifted, blowing his hair into his eyes. He brushed it away from his face and tucked it behind his ears, which like all members of the Great Arc were rounded on top like a human’s, but tapered to a fine point instead of rounding on the bottom. More memories floated to the surface of his thoughts. He watched them flow from moment to moment, his emotions changing with every memory. Finally, he released them, and the wind carried them away.
    He knelt, and touched his forehead to the top of a memorial. He closed his eyes and let his fingers wander over the scene forever frozen in time. A beautiful old tree wrapped in a cloak of green vines. Long grass dotted with small flowers covering a small hill. A field of golden grass stretching as far as the eye can see, rimmed with majestic mountains. Although the carving held no colors, he remembered them as they were that day: cold and lifeless.
    A single tear fell onto the stone. He leaned away, and placed a bouquet of red and black roses at the foot of the memorial. He looked to the base of the stone where a single word was inscribed: Mustahmaaseal. He stood and looked towards the horizon, his brown eyes reflecting the world around him. A cloud lazily drifted across the sun, casting a shadow over the earth.
    A young man approached the hill, a path of bent and broken grass trailed behind him. He paused at the base, black cloak flowing behind him; a subconscious feeling of reverence prevented him from climbing. The man on the hill turned and descended the side, coming to a stop in front of the younger man. The young man saluted his leader. The man on the hill no longer wore a solemn expression. In its place was a neutral face that gave nothing away. He acknowledged the messenger with a nod of his head.
    The young man spoke, his voice hesitant. He had never seen his leader like this. “Ah, Commander Solstice, sir, I, um, bring news from the front lines.” Commander Solstice stared at the horizon over the young man’s head. The sound of wind blowing through the tall grass and black cloaks rustling in the breeze filled the gap between the two men. The young man spoke again, with a bit more courage. “A platoon under the command of General Guura Arc Warscythe has taken the eastern garrison. General Fholsok and Major General Kyle are moving their platoons to retake it.”
    He paused, the leader motioned for him to continue. The messenger nodded, “Major General Hallsoor has succeeded in beating back Lieutenant Sushami Arc Warscythe’s assault on the southern garrison. Scouts report that Lieutenant Sushami is withdrawing from the battle.” The silver haired man chose this moment to speak. His voice was calm and emotionless, “Tell Major Generals Sasha and Karin to join General Black Rose at the west garrison. Then tell all remaining officers to fall back to the field just north of the town.”
    The messenger saluted again, “As you wish, sir.”
    Commander Solstice dismissed the messenger, and watched as he left at a run. Now alone on the hill, he gave the memorial one last look, and began walking towards the arranged meeting place. With every step he took, black cloaked soldiers rose in his wake to follow him. Commander Solstice sensed their excitement rising in anticipation of the coming battle. His people were always ready to fight.
    A cool breeze blew in from the sea far to the west. It flowed across the golden plains and whistled over hills. Dark ripples followed in its wake, creating an illusion of waves on a golden sea. The wind rushed between thousands of men and women, soldiers marching in the wake of their commander. It ruffled their black cloaks, distorting the symbol on the backs: Two crossed swords under a gold arc, the symbol of Arc Twinblade.


    Two Days Later…

    Pre-dawn light filtered through a cloud-filled sky over the valley of the Great Arc. It was an hour in which most people would still be sleeping. The military town of Arc Twinblade, however, was still bustling with activity. A major victory resulting in the end of a skirmish with Arc Warscythe two days prior had given the townspeople an excuse for celebration. The taverns were full of boisterous singers; the streets were crowded with people moving from tavern to tavern, a happy drunken smile was on the face of almost everyone.
    Inside of a subterranean complex directly beneath the town, a more serious mood countered the joviality of the people above. The leaders of the Wraith Faction were meeting to discuss recent events. Solstice Rain, the leader of Arc Twinblade, was hosting the meeting. He waited in a circular chamber, furnished only, by a round table which took up most of the room. Eight carved chairs sat around the table, one for each Commander. Solstice stood facing the wall, studying the large tapestry that covered all surfaces except the door.
    The tapestry depicted the origins of the Great Arc and Arc Twinblade. Solstice smiled when he saw his stature sewn into the story. He turned at the feeling of an abnormal air movement. The door had opened soundlessly to admit the equally soundless arrival of the first of his guests, Commander Bastion Bayslee Arc Hammer.
    At nine feet eleven inches he was tall, even for Arc soldiers, who were usually between seven and eight feet tall. He wore the solid white cloak and uniform of his army, which was only slightly off-put by his long blue-grey hair. Solstice greeted him with a smile, “Welcome Commander Bayslee, I take it that the journey over was pleasant?” Bastion grinned widely as he bear-hugged Solstice; his voice was deep and gravelly.
    “Pleasant by your standards would be a welcome change of pace. Tell me, Commander Solstice, have the Warscythes grown stronger since we last faced them?”
    Solstice grimaced, massaging his sides, “Only marginally.”
    “Good, I would not like to face a weak opponent in the next skirmish.”
    The door opened again, Commander Vivian Smith Arc Arbalest walked into the room. She nodded her head in Solstice and Bastion’s direction, and then walked over to stand behind a chair. Small green vines meandered their way around the sleeves of her cloak and uniform, which were both the color of dark earth. Light blue eyes accented her blond hair, which was held back by a simple gold ribbon, revealing sapphire earrings dangling from the point of her ears.
    Solstice inclined his head, “Welcome Commander Smith. Please be patient, the others will be here soon.”
    Vivian’s voice was neutral, “We could end this meeting swiftly if the others cared to show their faces on time.”
    “The Great Arc is vast. Not many move with the fleetness of Arc Arbalest.” Solstice replied.
    She pulled the chair out and sat, crossing her legs. She folded her hands in her lap, “Your compliment is accepted, Solstice.”
    Bastion played with a pendant around his neck as he walked over to a chair opposite Vivian. “What news from the central Shield, Vivian?” He inquired as he sat.
    “The Imperialists have launched yet another futile expedition.” She stated.
    “I take it your people have given them another reason to fear the Shield?”
    “Commander Draygo’s Greataxes will be hard pressed to find targets for their bloodlust.”
    Bastion threw his head back and laughed.
    The door flew open with a bang as Commander Erika Halcyon Arc Halberd strode in with a grin on her face, dragging Commander Seth Foundry Arc Glaive by the arm behind her. Erika wore the forest green colors of her army, matching with Seth’s dark purple and black uniform. Erika called out, “Look who I found skulkin’ ‘round the door!”
    Seth was panicking, “Wait! I mustn’t go through doors without performing the proper ceremonies!” he sputtered.
    Erika laughed, “Your superstitions are silly, man! C’mon!”
    “The ceremony must be completed before I can enter!”
    “Sol, can’t you do somthin’ to shut ‘im up?”
    Solstice walked past the pair, “Commander Halcyon, I would ask you not to kick the door open, but I know my words would fall on deaf ears.” He traced runes in the air near the door and whispered a few words. The door glowed green for a second, and Seth calmed down. Erika let go of Seth’s arm. “Ya’ happy now?” She inquired.
    Seth brushed invisible dust off his sleeve, “Ah, thank you.” He turned to Solstice, “Good morning, Commander Solstice.”
    “Good morning, Commander Foundry.”
    Solstice shifted his weight and dodged a punch from Erika. She grimaced, “Damn, I missed. Try this one!” Solstice caught her fist in both hands and threw her at Bastion, who by this time was standing. Bastion’s bear-like arms engulfed Erika’s slender, 7’9” frame, pinning her to his chest. She struggled for a second then gave up. She blew her black hair out of her eyes, “Phooey. I’ll get you next time Sol!”
    Solstice shook his head, “Let her go when she calms down, Commander Bayslee.”
    Bastion nodded, “Will do, Commander Solstice.”
    Seth checked his chair thoroughly before he sat down next to Vivian, “Ah, Commander Vivian, so nice to see you again.”
    Vivian glared at him, “You’re late.”
    Seth sputtered, “The ceremonies kept me, I had no choice!”
    Vivian turned away from him. Seth sighed and fidgeted with a lucky charm hanging around his neck.
    A ripple appeared in the air next to Solstice. A tall, black cloaked woman with a coal-black claymore on her back suddenly appeared. Her short dark hair was molded into spikes, her solid black eyes darted around the room before settling on Solstice. At a glance, she looked like a Twinblade, but closer inspection would reveal slim silver tracings on the edges of her cloak and uniform. The back of her cloak bore the insignia of the Arc Claymores: a golden arc cutting through the blade of a claymore.
    She nodded at Solstice, her voice was emotionless, “Solstice.”
    He nodded back, “Welcome, Annette.”
    Annette walked over to one of the chairs surrounding the table and slammed her sword into a slot designed exactly for that purpose. Seth, focusing on his lucky charm, failed to notice her arrival and jumped at the sound. He looked around wildly for the source, and sighed in relief when he saw Annette.
    “Ah, it’s just you. Greetings Commander De’Laan.” He said.
    She stared at him with a blank expression as she took her place at the table. Seth held her gaze for a few seconds and then looked away, fidgeting with the charm once more.
    Solstice looked around the room, “Two more…” He thought. Erika tapped Bastion’s side, “Hey, Bast. Can ya let me down now?” She asked.
    Bastion looked down at her, “I don’t know Erika, can you control yourself?”
    “Maybe?”
    “Then no.”
    Erika started rubbing her head on Bastion’s chest, “C’mon, Bast. Please?”
    “Do not release elemental energy in here!”
    Little arcs of electricity started to jump from Erika’s hair to Bastion. Bastion dropped her on the floor, and backed away with his hands up defensively. “Calm yourself, Erika!”
    Erika stood in a crouch, sparks jumping from her body. Her eyes had turned solid white. The air around her was humming with electricity, rising in pitch and volume. Annette jumped up, drew, and threw her claymore in one fluid motion at Erika, who was now suspended in the middle of the room.
    The sword snagged on Erika’s cloak and pinned her to a metal plate on the wall. The electric current jumped to the plate, discharging her body. Annette walked over and reached up to retrieve her sword when Solstice stopped her.
    “Annette, give Commander Halcyon some time to regain her senses.” He said.
    Annette stopped, “As you wish, Solstice.”
    At that moment, the door opened. Commander Arya Marras Arc Longsword strode into the room, tan cloak swirling around her.
    “Good morning all, Arya has arrived!” She called out.
    She stopped when she saw Erika, pinned to the wall, and demanded from Solstice, “Okay Solstice. What did I miss?” Solstice walked over to Arya, “Nothing, Commander Marras. The meeting has not yet begun.” He said.
    “I see that. But why is Erika speared to the wall?”
    “She lost control of her element, Annette discharged her.”
    Arya snorted, “I’ll say.”
    She walked over to an empty chair directly across from Seth and plopped into it.
    “Hey Seth, how did you get in before me?” She said teasingly.
    Seth frowned, “Commander Halcyon dragged me in.”
    Arya’s green eyes sparkled with merriment as she laughed.
    Seth sputtered, “This is not a laughing matter! I was unable to complete the ceremony because of her!”
    “Oh really?”
    “Yes!” He paused, “Commander Solstice completed it in my stead.”
    Arya called over to Solstice, “Why do you humor this guy, Solstice?”
    Solstice took his seat, “This meeting’s efficiency would decrease if I did not.”
    Bastion sat down next to Arya, “Stop teasing Commander Foundry, Commander Marras. We have better things to discuss.”
    “Fine, fine.” She waved dismissively, “so when do we start?”
    Erika pulled the claymore out of the wall and dropped to the floor. She rubbed the back of her head. “Damn it all, that hurt!” She shouted. She threw the sword at Annette, who calmly caught it by the hilt and slid it back into its slot. Erika staggered over to her chair, cursing under her breath as she sat.
    Vivian stared at the remaining empty seat. She looked pointedly at Solstice, “Did you defeat Arc Warscythe so soundly that they dare not show their face?”
    “Patience, Commander Smith. Commander Hunter will be here soon.”
    Arya kicked her legs up onto the table and crossed them. Her fingers beat a tattoo into the arm rest of the chair. She waved a hand at the door absently, “If there’s any chance that a meeting will involve conflict, that violent freak will be here.”
    Seth spoke up, “Speaking ill of people will bring bad luck.”
    Erika retorted, “Speakin’ at all will bring you bad luck.”
    Bastion and Arya laughed. Solstice clapped his hands together, everyone looked at him. He regarded Erika and Seth with cold eyes, “Save your taunts for the battlefield, Commanders.”
    They answered him simultaneously.
    “Sorry Sol.”
    “I am terribly sorry, Commander Solstice.”
    Solstice looked at the door as it opened. A tall man clad in the same fashion as the seven already seated strode into the room. His blood red cloak accented his black and red hair, which was tied back in a long ponytail. Sunken eyes gleamed like rubies set into skin as pale as bone, his mouth was set in a permanent sneer. He stepped up to the remaining chair and sat down in a theatrical fashion.
    Solstice nodded at him, “Greetings, Commander Hunter Arc Warscythe.”
    Banshee Hunter’s voice was fluid and sonorous, “Greetings, Commander Solstice Arc Twinblade. Shall we begin?”


    Outside of the meeting chamber, two Twinblades ignored their orders to stand guard and stood crouched by the door, listening to the conversation within.
    “They’ve been at it for hours. Do you think there’s been a dispute?”
    The other guard shushed his partner, “Shh, I think they just mentioned Dragons!”
    “Dragons? What would they be talking about Dragons for?”
    “Beats me, I’ll listen some more, you watch the other end of the hall.”
    The murmurs in the chamber escalated, a chair fell over as a woman started shouting.
    “What’s going on?”
    “The commanders are arguing!”
    “Do you think they will fight like last time?”
    The shouting diminished, the murmurs continued.
    “They stopped shouting.”
    The other guard heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s a good sign. I don’t like cleaning up blood.”
    The guard by the door held up a hand for silence. One voice was speaking now. The voice stopped. The entire room was silent.
    “They all just went silent.”
    “What happened?”
    “Commander Solstice said something, and then they all just went silent.”
    “That’s not a good sign for us.”
    “Definitely not.”
    Commander Solstice began speaking again.
    “Jukil’s blades preserve us!”
    “What happened?”
    “Solstice just said that the Dragons are requesting an alliance!”
    “With us?”
    “Not just with us, with the whole Great Arc!”
    The other guard was silent.
    “They’re talking again. I think they’re calling for a vote.”
    Solstice’s voice murmured through the door. A unanimous word followed it. The guard watching the hall spoke, “What just happened?”
    The guard listening stood. His face was pale. He walked over to the other guard and stood stock-still. “The Commanders of the Wraith Faction have just unanimously agreed to join the Dragon’s Alliance.”
    “Jukil’s blades…” The other guard whispered. They looked around wildly, “We have to tell everyone!”
    “I’ll take the East quarter, you take the West.”
    “Agreed.”
    The two guards left the hall at a run.


    The eight commanders sat around the table inside of the meeting chamber. Annette stood and drew her claymore from the chair. She sheathed it on her back and bowed. “I will go ahead and secure a location, Solstice.”
    Solstice nodded his head. “See that you are not discovered.”
    She nodded. The air around her grew thick, it rippled and she was gone. Bastion stood, “As agreed, I will direct my people to arrive exactly a day late.”
    Solstice stood, “My people will arrive one day after.”
    Banshee stood with a smug look on his face, “Those Dragon bastards will get their alliance all right. I hope they take my people’s late arrival as an insult to their hospitality.”
    Arya grinned as she stood, “I will oversee the securing of the southern border then.”
    Solstice bowed, “My people will lend you assistance.” She left with Banshee and Bastion. Seth stood and bowed, “Commander Solstice, I doubt that the Demon Hunters will allow us near a portal, but I will attempt to sway their minds.”
    “See that you do, Commander Seth.”
    Seth stepped up to the door and mumbled a few words before passing through it. Vivian stood. She brushed invisible dust off her coat, “My people will arrive early.”
    “And the Aerians?”
    “I will send an emissary.”
    “Very well, I will see you at the appointed place.”
    Vivian stepped out the door. Solstice was left in the room with Erika. He walked over to the tapestry and stood looking at it. Erika walked to stand behind him. She spoke to the back of his head. “Sol, if ya follo’ through with this plan…”
    He turned and looked down at her, “The Dragons should be able to easily take care of the Imperialists without our help.”
    She looked into his eyes, “Ya think that there may be somthin’ else in the shadows?”
    “I have a feeling, yes.”
    She walked backwards to the door, “Follow your feelin’s, Sol. They’re usually right anyways.” She turned and stopped just in front of the door. “Don’ worry ‘bout my opinion, Sol. I’ll be loyal to ya, even if your gone a thousan’ years.”
    The room was empty, except for Solstice and his thoughts. He knew that the following days would just be quiet skirmishes leading up to a final bloodbath. He had thrown the dice by accepting the Dragons’ alliance. Now it was up to fate to decide where they land.