Prologue: Awakening

A red moon hung in a dark sky, covered in craters visible to the naked eye, watching over a land torn by conflict.

The most apparent evidence of this was in the deep gullies that scarred the ground, carrying deep and fast-flowing water shimmering in the crimson light. They sped towards unknown destinations crossing over one another, knotted together, so great in number that they split the surface, making it resemble a network of islands rather than the valley that it once was.

Surrounding this were mountains, their peaks lost in black clouds that had once stood tall and proud, but the time spent here had worn heavily on them, and they bore signs of decay. It was a sad sight, like viewing an ancient palace that quivered in a state of disrepair that you knew – within an enclave of your own heart - would never be repaired. Some were missing entire sides of themselves, lost in giant landslides that the terrible impacts of war had created, and many looked ready to collapse as they struggled under the pressure of holding up the sky that they mercilessly stabbed into.

As it was night, and no stars shone to clear the mists that blanketed this arena (these refused to allow any vision beyond a few hundred feet), it could easily have been thought that a place like this would be abandoned. Simply put: it was not. It was teeming with life, unspeakable life, which was the sort that you would be wise to avoid should you place any value on your own.

Through the depths of the waters swam reptilian creatures, three times the length of any man and with snouts so long that they could open them wide enough for a man to walk inside, never to be seen again. Through the air flew huge monsters whose skin was pulled so tight over the surface of their wings that the whites of bones were visible beneath it. Their colossal size allowed each flap to produce a hurricane and each of their shrieks to be enough to deafen a listener, attacking and rupturing holes through their ears.

Never think for even one perilous moment that - should you find yourself here - you could trust a plant enough to eat it. Approach just one, sitting alone atop its island between the ravines that looks edible with a spherical purplish ball sat atop its green stem, and you would find yourself swallowed up. The land around you would break apart, exposing roots that - acting like chains - would drag you inwards to be suffocated beneath them as fertiliser.

Never think, for even one foolish moment, that any creature could be trusted. Follow just one innocent-looking fluffy white hare, and, having led you to a hundred of its friends, they would pile together, forming one seamless creature. This would tower above you with a human's face and a demon's eyes to consume you, gnawing you up just like a dog might a bone and twisting your own around you. Therefore, the most dangerous of these monsters often turned out to be the most harmless-looking as the great vultures of the sky hardly ever descended upon this forsaken earth.

This was a most unusual night because all of the valley's residents were, for once, keeping to themselves, and their usual cries were not being made. Instead, there was an ominous silence which weighed heavily on all present, and the quiet moon watched, ever dutiful, with a new kind of emotion. It looked to be experiencing fear, hiding behind clouds - the curtains of the sky. This feeling was infectious, permeating through all of the watchers and making them unconsciously gather.

Some flew, others swam, many slithered, and the trees marched, and the smaller plants ran so that they were all in one grouping, surrounding a central region, the epicentre of everything. A grand compound of buildings sat there, squatting atop the land, with a degree of confidence appearing untouched after all the time since its creation. It was as though an invisible wall protected it. And maybe one did because the gathered things had stopped along a wide radius around it.

This was because they had all felt something. Each of them had predatory instincts, but now they were shaking as prey. Perhaps it was because of their own strength that they could sense what was coming, and they knew that the time for a shift in the balance of power had come. They fretted and squirmed in anticipation, with the braver ones probably telling themselves that there was no way they could be defeated should they only choose to test their strength against the newcomer. However, the uncertainty in their ranks was obvious, and they erupted with noise - howls and shrill calls - when they spotted movement.

Before them was a hooded figure; it moved steadily along a street that separated two rows of shed-like constructs. They were hooded because of a cloak drawn up to cover their face that was long enough to be dragging on the ground behind them. It was dark blue and contained twisted strands of gold. In its day, it must have once been wonderful to behold, but now it was faded and eaten away so that some of their other garments could be seen beneath it. Still, it did an excellent job of shrouding any of their features in a darkness that was difficult to dispel.

They moved slowly but methodically, partially relying on an ivory cane that they held before themselves in an elderly hand. It was evident that they had been waiting for this event for a very long time, spanning many ages, and they did not allow themselves to be put off by the audience that had congregated around them.

Towards the end of the buildings sat one which appeared to be the entrance to an old mine. Even so, it was built high to stand several times taller than any of the others around its base. Its entrance was covered by a stone overhang supported by thick pillars evenly spaced across a wide staircase leading to its gate. It was to this iron door that the person now arrived, and they pushed upon it causing it, something many times as heavy as any ordinary person could lift, to creak open shuddering violently as it did so.

Inside there was a long hallway with a marbled floor that gently sloped downwards into the depths that existed beneath this realm. Not allowing any sense of anxiety to slow their progress, this person moved onwards: deeper, ever deeper, and deeper still, always confidently choosing a direction when they arrived at any junction. It might have been thought that it would be impossible to see so far underground, but it was not as torches lighted everything from metal holsters, which burst into life, emitting a translucent blue flame as they were passed.

One particular branch from the central passage had an arched inscription that ran around the walls, just before a steep set of stairs. It was a warning, a warning from whoever had occupied this place before to not go any further, lest anything be awoken or disturbed, but it was far too late for that now. This was the channel through which the foreboding feeling had come, and that was now drawing the guardian in and, as they went through it, they noted that it read J-A-E-G-E-R. The name of what was held within.

However, just ahead, there was a problem. Many of the ceilings had deep cracks running through them that looked to be widening at a near-visible rate and part of it had given way, blocking any progression towards the tomb. Seeing this, the hooded creature let out a cry of anguish and ran forwards, flinging their walking stick aside in the process to scramble against the cold rock. They ferociously tore at it, bludgeoning their fingers and tearing off their nails, throwing back the smaller pieces of stone that they were able to separate. Soon enough, sufficient progress had been made for them to see through the blockage and a slight gap allowed gentle winds to come through from the other side.

On them was carried a scent that made the servant stop in their hurried work and, trying to quieten their panting, they listened, ears primed, to see if anything could be heard. For the longest while, there was nothing; silence ruled absolute, then there came a noise like a drip. It was far in the distance, but there soon came another and then another until they rhythmically grew louder. When what they really were became distinguishable, the footsteps stopped. Uncertain, the person stayed still - wavering in their resolve - as they sensed just what the monsters outside had, but they steadied themselves and opened their mouth to speak.

"Master," they said, tentative in their choice of words, for they still did not know what to expect, "I have waited a long time for you to awaken, the outside is much changed…" but he, the voice sounded to be male, trailed off.

There came no reply, and he continued, "I am still loyal…" perhaps wanting some sort of reassurance in response, but, once again, there came no reply.

Instead of an ear, wondering if he had mistakenly believed that he was listening to someone approaching, the servant put one of their eyes to the gap in the rock, peering into the darkness beyond it. It was hard to make anything out as, when leaning close enough to look through, he kept blocking off the light from behind that would be needed to see past it. Eventually, they found the perfect position to make it work. On the other side was the figure of a man.

Unlike the rest of the surroundings, time's passing had clearly not worn heavily upon them as they still carried a muscular frame with their strength being felt even through the solid stone. They were tall and had silver hair, long enough to reach down behind them to their waist, but this was not the feature that required attention. Instead, all thought would be drawn to their eyes, their terrifying eyes. One would rather be compelled to fight a hundred demons than be stared down by them, and this held true for the person observing them now.

With his courage finally broken, he realized the danger he was in and took several steps back, preparing to flee, but still hesitated. Even as he felt the man's aura expanding to surround their own, and as he felt its destructive intent, ticking away towards an inevitable conclusion. He then turned to run only a moment before a dreadful cracking noise echoed through the chamber after him, and several shards of stone that had once held the creature at bay cascaded past.

Gasping with the effort, he ran back up the stairs towards the light, hoping for the safety that came from being with the number of beasts assembled outside. However, when he fell over the last step, landing on his knees, for he had misjudged the final distances, his master was already there; he stood before him. He had not sensed them passing by and could do little else than crumple onto the ground at their feet and gape up at them, into their deep red eyes.

This was when Jaeger spoke for the first time, "Your service is not required." he stated, with a voice that held beautiful clarity and could have belonged to the greatest emperors of history, whilst kicking the quivering mess before him back down into the abyss.

He then moved onwards, without a shred of remorse, as he already had a defined objective. Jaeger had been woken because something had called for him, quietly arriving within his swirling mess of dreams, and he had decided to answer. It wasn't as though he had much else to be doing, and he thought that it might end up being a rather fun journey, simply not caring about the possibility that it may end up being a trap. Besides, what use was his strength if it was not put to use?

Arriving into the view of all the beasts outside, he looked up to the horizon and deeply breathed in the first fresh air that he had accessed in years, unperturbed by the war cries that surrounded him.

When the producers of the cacophony that could had taken to the skies and the others made their charges across the ground, they all had the single intent of disposing of this newcomer who would alter the balance of power. Jaeger smiled towards them, his eyes shining, and, in due time, their blood would rain from the sky.