Fiction:Forgotten Foundations/1

"In times of peace, the sons bury their fathers. In times of war, the fathers bury their sons."

The Entrance and the aftermath of a climatic and disastrous battle
From all the enemies the powerful city-state of Reneath ever battled, Okaima and its magic rooting minions were the worst. The Maern'Ren feared the powerful fist of vengeance the ancient tree had. And right they were to fear the powerful spirit of the forest, for when the evil armies of the south brought destruction and a corrupting power over the dense woods, Okaima awakened from a dormant state to destroy those who brought devastation upon his rule.

For his roots penetrated the city's armored walls. Swords and common weapons were useless against the tree's magic. It was then when the shapeless spirit, Runa and her followers intervened, countering with a wave of incredible arcane magic, refraining Okaima's wrath.

Now the tree understood Reneath's terms, yet the roots stood there and never retreated, never advanced.

The defensive walls of the shinning city were shattered, embraced by magical roots. Workers were forced to repair Reneath's defenses in a more elaborated way.

The Maern'Ren will never recover from this fatal wound to the heart.

But just as the warriors were cleaning what they could from the ruins of the walls, the ground sinked, leaving a deep hole of blackness. The Arks argued for days because of this hole. The Third was informed by a Runa'a that a world dwelled beneath the city. And so the leader of Reneath's armies prepared to descend with his forces.

Yet the Second opposed this movement, stating that they could not afford sending troops outside the city while Reneath's walls were bending. He also stated that the land beneath was a land of darkness, of unimaginable dangers for the Maern'Ren.

And so, the Third sent in secret his most loyal apprentice: Zetos, alongside a group of 500 Maern'Ren to the underworld in order to explore.

From Zetos and the 500
As Zetos secretly summoned forces, behind the Second Ark's sight, there were many who answered the call for adventure.

The First to arrive to Zetos side were the house of the General Corkii, as well as those serfs who were born in Corkii's house, they summed 140 warriors. Following the house of Corkii the Runa'a dwelling in the south-west congregation of the city appeared with swords at hand, ready to explore a whole new world, they summed 100. Behind the peaceful Runa'a were a third of the elitist guard of the third Ark, a group Zetos himself was part of, they arrived being 218. The 42 spots were filled with common warriors attracted by the sound of exploration.

And with his army of five hundred assembled, he marched towards the hole-gate.

Dare to defy me?
Zetos marched ahead, with his silver helmet in hand and his weapons carried by his squire, a Maern'Ren warrior dedicated to the servitude of Zetos, her name was Irea.

As they approached the ruins of the eastern walls, where the hole appeared, collapsing part of the wall, the noise from local citizens and shops were less frequent, until a strong silence invaded the place. Only the heavy armor of the 500 hundred was heard, echoing across the structures of Reneath.

Zetos ignored this silence, as he spotted the Third Ark, his master and adoptive father, waiting for him on the edge of the hole. There were enormous crates surrounding the hole. Zetos counted ten.

They met finally, Zetos saluted his leader, as well as his troops. The Ark was glaring at him with proud eyes.

"Well my son" said the Third, "This is will be the last time we will talk in a long time."

"I know sir" answered Zetos, coldly, opposing the Third's warm and familiar tone of voice.

The Ark looked towards the enormous crates, "These will be your transports to the surface of whatever you will find down there, ten pods, 50 warriors on each."

The crates opened to reveal a structure of magnificent design, heptagonal, with its borders well sharpened. Zetos instructed his warriors to board them, only Irea remained with him.

"Remember Zetos, you will not be able to ask for any reinforcements until you find a way to get back here, these pods won't bring you back, their arcane energy only works for placing you safely down there."

"Understood my lord."

"The Second is aware of this activity, he agreed to it only because you were overseeing it, do not fail me child."

"I will not"

The Ark smiled, and embraced his adopted child. Zetos then walked with Irea by his side, he entered the first of the pods.