THE CHECKERED STAGE

A gentle sigh escaped Philip as he put down his pen. Looking again beyond the window. Caylum the flying city was beautiful. Etched with mysteries. In a pensive thought Philp's eyes wondered.

"Azul," he spoke, as the towering man who was leaning against a wall, opened his eyes.

"Yes, master?"

"In your opinion, what would it take to make this city fall?" Philip continued in the same tone.

Azul opened his mouth, then shut it again, looking outside as well.

"Perhaps destroying one of those mana crystals," he said pointing towards the towering jewels that stood across Caylum.

Philip's gaze centered towards one.

"No not just one. You would have to destroy more than half," Philip spoke, "But the problem is, one would require an attack powerful enough that does not rely on magic. Seeing as any magic would be absorbed and any physical attack would first have to pierce that ridiculously strong shield before even encountering the crystal. Which themselves are harder than the mythical metal haiden," In Philip's eyes he could see a revolt age old, probably forgotten, the efforts that resulted in vain. How warriors immensely powerful couldn't even scratch the surface of the crystal. His eyes saw beyond time.

...

"You probably have to stop it working some other way," Azul answered, "That or you could probably crash a dark leviathan into one."

"A dark leviathan. Interesting indeed. How does one get a hold of such an ancient beast?" Philip raised an eyebrow.

"Any knight in my tribe." Azul paused. "In the tribe I belonged to can awaken one."

"Can you?"

"Yes"

Philip nodded. "But we are not entirely sure about that working out as well."

"What about that new weapon that killed Kai?" Azul answered looking at Philip, whose expression grew stern.

"Kai is not dead," His words were measured. But then he calmed down, "I should have gone and seen it for myself."

Azul shook his head, "no, it was fine this way, your life is under a great deal of threat as is."

"Unfortunately, Although, from what I hear, that could probably work," Philip pondered.

"Have you called the captains as I asked?"

"Yes master, they await your instructions."

…

"These other masters align with Master Edgar."

Azmia spoke adding three more pieces on the map,

"I could release the horde."

"No. You will most certainly not release the horde," Philip spoke with an expression of a friend stopping their drunk friend from jumping off a cliff.

"Excuse me for my ignorance master, but what is the Horde?" Nylah spoke, a slight confusion in her expression, she was unaware of several things related to lady Azmia, this being another one.

"The horde..." Philip looked at his captains, "are you aware of the accord of Karna, dear one." he spoke remembering the incidents that had taken place.

"I know of the accord but not particularly regarding its origin or the history behind it, master," Nylah, inquisitive as she was sat upright.

"Well, the story goes that many years ago, some bright minds got together and started working on bringing the dead back to life. Their goal was one step ahead of the typical necromancy." Philip's face held a sad expression as he continued. "They wanted to make the dead alive again, completely alive. Unlike the reanimated corpses that other necromancers would raise." Philip looked around the room briefly before continuing again. "The zombies that a necromancer would raise are inhibited, at most they can reflect the intellect of the puppet master. These individuals wanted to bring the dead back in totality. Undo death if I were to put it in words."

"This was all in secret as the rules governing Illis established by the brothers already prohibited this."

Nylah now genuinely interested, looked at Azul who himself was perhaps listening to the story for the first time, while Azmia with a peaceful expression continued to analyze the map.

"They succeeded in a way and brought back a being from dead. The only problem, the being that came back was not the one they had intended. This being obeyed them as they continued their research, perhaps it was an accidental happening that caused it to work, and they wanted to rediscover what had happened."

Azmia looked up at Philip and smiled, as he smiled back gracefully.

"The being that they had brought back learnt of their technique figuring it out before them and continued to destroy them completely afterwards. He then raised an army, the being itself was perhaps of the time before the Great War. We have no records of his origin or his story. He for as far as we were concerned was immortal. The army he raised close to invincible. This army of the undead conquered and destroyed all in their wake."

"Was their no way to kill them?" Nylah asked curious.

"Oh, you had to stab their heart. Or well the location of the heart, they depended on the energy of their master and the receptor was there."

"Stabbing them sounds easy enough?"

"Unfortunately, they had unusually strong armor, the likes of which I have never seen being reproduced," Philip remarked. "They were making their way towards the throne when five of the grand masters of the order intervened, and after doing what had to be done, the undead monster was defeated. Basically, it sapped the life energy from the planet and its immortality was dependent as such on it." Philip answered looking at Nylah's expression.

"We managed to lock him out of space and at absurdly accelerated time, thanks to Azmia, as so depleted him completely," Nylah curious regarding the details chose to stay silent.

"He was then banished from this realm, and his army, which had become known as the horde, shut down." Philip looked at Azmia once more, "The horde was secured by Azmia, time locked as well, but after several years rather eons by her time, she managed to gain control over it. The horde now serves her."

Nylah looked at Azmia impressed.

"Fearing the return of said monster, the accord of Karna was put in place named after the venue of the final battle. Necromancy was prohibited completely and well within the order, while its prohibition was not in effect it was highly discouraged, as such there are very few necromancers you would come across at all," Philip looked up at Nylah now, "Necromancy upon allies is explicitly prohibited. Owing to several reasons. "Philip finished.

"Are you a necromancer as well?" Nylah asked immediately feeling a bit stupid obviously he was, "rather why can't we employ the horde."

"Dear one, I am perhaps the most well-versed necromancer in Illis today. And we can't employ the horde because, one, the order does not trust it, second, it would cause the Gods and beings that we do not wish to engage, to come after us!"

"I see, so no horde then," Nylah sighed.

"So, I suppose a preemptive strike is off the table then." Azul commented, moving the pieces indicating the attack, away.

"Now now. Let's not be so hasty." Nylah stopped him. "It's only dangerous if it's us who strikes first."

"So, A preemptive strike that isn't preemptive?" Azul questioned confused.

"What if we save up a force ready to strike and wait for them to open the front, and when they do we flood them, all set to attack?" Nylah put forward her troops.

"Not really feasible, if we reserve a strong enough number of troops for this strike. We are compromising on our defense and if we focus primarily on defense, we won't get a troop strong enough to do any real damage," Azul dismissed her idea.

"Fair point." Nylah commented before getting back to her train of thought.

"How about we get some third force to attack?" Azmia gently spoke.

"A third force?" Azul looked at her.

"Yes, that should work. A third faction. That way we can focus on our defense as well." Nylah pipped up again.

Philip with a smile simply observed them, he was found off how these children would plan everything out. Reminded him of his own youth.

"Well, that does work out but it isn't that convenient. We don't have a third faction do we."

Azul mentioned the obvious.

"What about the Garuda surely they can..." Nylah began.

"Already sided with Master Edgar." Azul interrupted

"What about the assassins..." Another suggestion.

"The assassins are a wildcard; we can't be associated with them. The crimson blade is waging a crusade against them and with the recent assassination of one of Master Edgar's captains, we surely do not want to be involved with them... The last thing we want is for the Crimson blade to take Master Edgar's side, she is already at ends with Master Philip." Azul explained.

"That is a problem." Nylah leaned back defeated.

"I can probably ask my clan too..." Azul answered unable to devise a solution.

...

"Dear ones," Philip interrupted, "I think I might have an option that works. Please convey this to those absent."

All three of his captains looked at him.

"If intel is correct. We have a few factors that are in play that we can make use of... First the Goddess Lilith was sighted. Recently." The captains narrowed their eyes.

"Second the kingdom of Neraya in its last move invaded the Wolf before handing over suzerainty to the Empire, third there are rumors of dark assassin's, rouge ones running around and fourth the assassins are planning a funeral. If we can play this right enough. This war with Master Edgar will become but a trivial matter."

The captains all listened in as Philip lay down the ground works of his plan, giving their input and suggestions as they formulated their plan.

"Now then, regardless of the circumstances we have to be prepared. So be diligent and above all be safe," Philip finished up as everyone with a burning resolve nodded.

...