The Emperor of the Obsidian Empire, Lord emperor Owain, sent a missive to the Watchers of Titan's Divide, his words woven with chilling threats:
"In a fortnight, I will stand at the River of the Dead, and if you do not undo whatever sorcery that binds your walls and surrender, I will come upon you with a fury that even the coldest winds cannot withstand. I swear by the black flames that consume my enemies, by the icy grip that clutches your land, and by the shadows that will be your only companions. Your flesh will burn in the eternal fires of my wrath, yet the frost will preserve your agony, stretching it beyond the limits of mortal endurance. Your warriors will fall like brittle icicles, shattered and lifeless, and your walls will collapse under the relentless storm I will unleash. Every breath you take will be a struggle, as the very air freezes in your lungs, and the dark flames of House Obsidia scour your soul. There will be no escape, no mercy—only the cold embrace of death and the unending torment that follows. Choose wisely, for in a forthnight, your doom is sealed.
In less than the span of half a day, Frosthold sent back their reply, defiant and unwavering:
"Come."
Records Of War, K.O.T ASTRA (333 AS)
AEMILIUS
Scheme Shaper
The snow whipped past us, a blur of white as we surged forward. Each footfall barely touched the ground before the next followed, our movements a blur against the moonlit landscape. The wind howled in protest, tearing at our cloaks and sending spirals of snow into the air, but we pressed on, cutting through the night like phantoms. The cold bit through our helm into our faces, our breath rasped out in rapid, fleeting puffs that quickly dissipated in the icy air. The world around us seemed to stretch and warp, the trees and terrain flashing by in a dizzying rush as we closed the distance to the Verdant Hollows. Our cloaked armor gleamed under the pale moonlight, casting fleeting reflections across the snow, as if the night itself recoiled from our passage.
As we neared the Verdant Hollows, the tension in the air grew thicker, almost palpable. The snow continued to fall, veiling the ground beneath us in a deceptive calm. Ahead, the hollows—rumored to have been breached—remained eerily undisturbed, their silence more unsettling than any clamor of battle. This was the kingdom's lifeblood, a vast stretch of fertile land where crops thrived in defiance of the harsh northern climate. Yet now, the fields lay in an unnatural stillness, the expansive rows of crops untouched. I signaled for my men to halt, their unease mirrored in the quick, darting glances they cast across the shadowed expanse."
"Legatus, the Verdant Hollows and the wall both seem untouched," Marcus—one of my vanguards said, his voice tinged with confusion. "Are we sure there was a breach? Could the messenger have been drunk?". The uncertainty among my men was palpable. Their breath clouded in the cold air as their eyes darted between the wall and each other, confusion etched on their faces. I remained silent, my gaze sweeping across the untouched expanse of the Verdant Hollows and the imposing Titan's Divide in front it.
Without a word, I signaled for my men to begin the ascent to the main outpost atop the Titan's Divide. The sheer rock face loomed before us, its icy surface a familiar challenge. The cold wind howled around us, tearing at our cloaks and making the climb treacherous, but we moved with practiced ease, our hands and feet finding secure holds in the jagged grooves.
Each step was a calculated maneuver, the stone biting into our gloves and boots, but there was no hesitation, no faltering. The grueling climb that would have broken lesser men was nothing more than routine to us. We ascended swiftly, the distance to the top shrinking with every stride, the outpost above coming into sharper focus against the night sky.
Finally, we reached the peak, a dizzying height where the icy winds howled with unrelenting ferocity, whipping around us like a living force. The cold was relentless, seeping through our cloaked armor and biting into our skin as if we wore nothing at all. Below us, the sheer cliff face seemed to stretch endlessly into the abyss, the depths lost in the swirling snow. The scale of the wall from this height was overwhelming, a vast, towering structure that defied the very elements. The outpost was perched precariously at the edge, buffeted by the winter storm that raged around it. As we emerged from the gloom, the wall watchers, who had been huddled against the cold, looked up in shock. Their eyes widened, momentarily frozen in place by the sight of us—by the sight of me.
After a tense moment, the leader of the outpost, a grizzled veteran with more years on this wall than he likely cared to count, was the first to find his voice.
"Legatus Aemilius!" he finally managed to call out, his voice wavering with a mix of respect and surprise. He struggled to steady himself against the gale, his salute almost lost to the howling wind. "We… we weren't expecting you here. The wall—" he paused, glancing out into the blizzard as if searching for the right words, "—it's holding strong, sir. Nothing has happened… The empire's been really quiet these past couple of weeks."
The man shifted uneasily, clearly unnerved by my unexpected arrival. "You didn't need to come all the way up here, sir. We haven't been slacking off, I assure you. Everything's under control.
I nodded curtly, acknowledging their salute but keeping my focus on the mission. "We received a report of a breach in the Verdant Hollows," I said, my voice steady despite the howling wind. "Clearly, that doesn't seem to be the case. What's going on here?"
The wall watchers exchanged puzzled glances, their confusion evident. One of them, younger than the rest, hesitated before speaking up. "Legatus, we've seen nothing of the sort," he said, shaking his head slowly. "The wall is intact, and—might the person who sent the report have been drunk on ale? Nothing like that has happened, and it never will."
His attempt at levity fell flat as he caught sight of my expression, the faint smirk quickly fading from his lips. He paled, realizing his mistake, and fell silent, staring down at his boots.
I let the silence hang for a moment, the weight of the cold air pressing down on all of us.. "Keep up the good work," I said, my tone neutral. "But remain extra vigilant. I'm heading to the next outpost." The men saluted again, more subdued this time, as I turned to leave
As we moved to a nearby outpost for a brief rest, a cold satisfaction settled over me. They trusted me implicitly, their loyalty unshakable.
None of them suspecting a thing. I paused for a moment, watching as they returned to their posts, confident that nothing would disturb their watch tonight. Their belief in the wall's invincibility was almost laughable—a fortress they thought could never be breached, a task they assumed could never falter. Their complacency was palpable, their guard completely down.
I let the moment stretch, allowing a cold satisfaction to settle over me. These men, so sure of their safety, so convinced that nothing could happen here—it was almost amusing.
And then, without a word, I struck. My hand moved like lightning, unsheathing my blade with a swift, deadly precision. The first watcher fell without a sound, his eyes wide with disbelief as his life drained away.
The others had barely turned their heads when I was upon them, my sword a blur of steel. Their confidence shattered in an instant, their smug sense of security obliterated. The second man managed a gasp, but that was all before my blade found his throat.
Blood sprayed across the stone, a stark contrast to the pristine white snow, as I moved through them like a force of nature. Each strike was calculated, each thrust designed to end their lives before they could even comprehend the betrayal. The wind howled around us, but it couldn't drown out the wet, sickening sounds of flesh being torn by steel.
One by one, they fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground in a gruesome tableau of shattered illusions.
My gaze, then, shifted to my vanguard, the men beside me who still believed they were on a mission. Confusion flickered in their eyes, quickly turning to shock as realization dawned. They were caught off guard, their composure shattering in an instant.
I grinned, a cold, predatory smile that sent a jolt of fear through them. They fumbled for their swords, panic seizing their movements as they struggled to react.
But it was too late.
In a flash, I pounced, closing the distance with lethal intent.
With ruthless determination, I moved along the wall, slipping through the darkness like a shadow. Each outpost I approached met the same fate—watchers barely had time to register my presence before my blade silenced them. Their eyes widened in brief moments of shock, but I offered no mercy. I struck swiftly, cutting down every man before he could raise an alarm or draw his weapon.
One by one, their bodies fell into the abyss below, the howling wind swallowing their silent screams. I made sure to drag each lifeless form to the edge, throwing them into the depths as a final act of erasure. The cold air carried the faint echoes of their demise as I continued my grim task, methodically eliminating every guard stationed along the Divide.
By the time I reached the final outpost, the Titan's Divide had been swept clean by my hand, its guardians erased from existence, leaving nothing but the icy wind to bear witness to the massacre.
With the last watcher's body disappearing into the chasm below, I took a moment to clean the blood from my blade, savoring the silence that now enveloped the Titan's Divide. I held up my sword humming softly in my grip, its edge still gleaming despite the carnage it had wrought.
"Shaper," I murmured, feeling the familiar resonance through the hilt. "Take me to the heart."
It pulsed in response, the vibrations growing stronger, guiding me along the wall. I moved with purpose, following the ebb and flow of the blade's hum, my steps swift and silent on the stone and ice. As I advanced, the hum intensified, leading me to the point where the sound crescendoed, vibrating through my entire arm.
"Found you," I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips as I reached the chosen spot.
With deliberate precision, I positioned the blade against the wall. The stone beneath my hand felt impossibly cold. I took a deep breath, savoring the weight of the moment, then drove Shaper deep into the wall. The impact resonated with a low, mournful groan, as if the wall itself was gasping for air.
The entire structure shuddered violently, a ripple of energy surging through the ancient stone. I could feel it quivering beneath my feet, a vast, lifeless titan breathing its last. Cracks began to spiderweb out from the point of impact, and slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the wall started to lose its color. The once proud, fortified stone turned pale and lifeless, drained of its vitality as Shaper's power consumed it.
The wall seemed to sigh, its strength fading away, leaving nothing but a husk, crumbling in the wake of the sword's dark magic. I watched, satisfied, as the mighty Titan's Divide, the impenetrable shield of the empire, began to wither and die, heralding the chaos that would soon follow.
I climbed back to the top of the wall. The cold wind howled around me, carrying with it the distant echoes of the chasm's depths. I stood at the edge, staring down into the abyss below. The wall, once a symbol of unyielding strength, now seemed frail, its power sapped and crumbling.
For a moment, I simply waited, letting the silence stretch as I gazed into the void. The mist, thick and suffocating, swirled below, a swirling mass of darkness that seemed to breathe with a life of its own. My eyes narrowed as I noticed the mist beginning to shift, its form changing, coalescing into something more ominous.
From the depths of the night's heavy mist, a dark tide emerged. At first, it was just a shadow, indistinct and formless. But then, as the mist parted, the tide took shape. Black-armored soldiers, their armor glistening like obsidian under the pale moonlight, advanced with grim determination. The sight was overwhelming—a vast, undulating sea of warriors numbering in the thousands, their ranks moving with precise coordination.
I watched, still and patient, as the forces assembled below, a massive army rising from the depths. With methodical precision, they began to gain footholds on the wall, scaling its once-impenetrable heights with the ease of seasoned conquerors. The wall, now weakened, offered little resistance to their ascent, its defenses crumbling before the relentless tide. The sight of such a formidable force might have been intimidating to lesser men, but it stirred no fear within me.
At their head were the emperor's sons, their presence unmistakable even as their helms obscured their faces. They led the advancement with cold precision, the weight of their lineage and their dark purpose evident in every step. I remained motionless, my gaze unwavering as they established their hold atop the wall, their black-armored forms now blending with the night.
As the last of the soldiers took their positions, a figure emerged from the ranks, towering above the rest. The supreme commander, a hulking figure clad in menacing armor that seemed to absorb the very light around him, approached me. His presence was suffocating, a palpable force that radiated power and command. The soldiers parted before him, their heads bowed in respect, as he made his way toward me.
I stood firm, meeting his gaze as he drew near. The air between us crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of the moment hanging heavy in the cold night air. The dark tide had risen, and with it, the beginning of the end.
"I've delivered you to the top of the wall, and the kingdom is yours for the taking," I said, my voice nearly lost to the howling wind. "I've provided you with everything you need. This is the weakest the Frostborn will ever be, so ensure you seize the moment. The imperator is yours to claim, Supreme Commander."
The Supreme Commander inclined his head slightly, his eyes as cold and calculating as the steel of his armor. "And what of the Princeps and Princess?". "They are but pups," I said with a dark smile. "Pups that may grow fangs in time. It is in both our interests to ensure they do not see another dawn. The princeps you'll find at Shivers edge"
One of the commanders, a younger man with a commanding presence, stepped forward. His helm obscured most of his features, but the cold intensity of his dark eyes was unmistakable even through the slits in his visor. I knew him as one of the emperor's sons, and the tension between us was palpable, the echoes of past grievances simmering just below the surface.
"And where will you be during all this?" he asked, his voice edged with barely concealed disdain.
I met his fierce gaze with chilling calm. "Watching from above. Ensuring everything unfolds precisely as planned."
Without another word, I turned my back on the commanders and strode to the edge of the wall. The wind howled around me, the chill biting deep, but I welcomed it. The drop was sheer, a thousand feet into darkness, a fall that would be certain death for any ordinary man.
But I was no ordinary man.
With a powerful push, I launched myself off the wall.
Gasps rippled through the ranks below, disbelief spreading like wildfire. I plunged through the air, the icy wind tearing at my cloak as I descended. The fall was impossibly long, the ground rushing up to meet me with lethal speed, yet I remained calm, the thrill of the moment surging through me.
At the last possible instant, I twisted in the air, landing with eagle-like grace on a jagged outcropping far below. The impact was light, as if the very earth had bent to my will. I stood tall, the stunned faces of the Empire's soldiers still staring down at me from the heights above.
I allowed myself a small, mocking smile, knowing that in that single, audacious leap, I had reminded them all just who they were dealing with.
I made my way back to the castle and ascended to the top, donning a dark shroud to blend into the shadows. From my elevated vantage point, I surveyed the entire battlefield with a cold, calculating gaze. Every detail unfolding exactly as I had schemed. The soldiers, the chaos—it all played out like a well-rehearsed performance, each actor in their place, Their fate guided by hands.
As the empire's forces struggled to break through the castle gates, I glanced down at Shaper in my hand. "Shall we lend them a hand?" I murmured, feeling the blade hum in response. A satisfied grin tugged at my lips. "Good boy."
Without hesitation, I leapt high into the air, soaring above the battlefield. As I reached the peak of my ascent, I raised Shaper to the heavens. The blade crackled with energy, and with a swift motion, I unleashed a massive bolt of lightning. It tore through the night, striking the gates with devastating force. A deafening boom erupted as the gates and surrounding walls shattered into rubble, the explosion reverberating across the castle grounds.
As I swiftly returned to my vantage point atop of the castle, I noticed my mother, Gaia, leaving her room and descending the castle steps. The hag was well past her prime, but she remained a force to be reckoned with, she radiated a dangerous presence—a wild card that could unravel everything I had set in motion.
I moved with blinding spped, my blade poised to strike. As she passed, I lunged, Shaper slicing through the air toward her neck. She sensed the attack at the last moment, but it was too late. My blade found its mark, cutting deep and severing arteries. Blood gushed from the wound, splattering the cold stone steps. She crumpled to the ground, her eyes wide with shock and pain, gurgling as she tried to speak, but only a gurgle escaped as her life drained away.
"Goodbye, Mother," I whispered, wiping the blood from my blade.
I turned my attention back to the battlefield just in time to see my brother, the imperator, engaged in a fierce battle with the supreme commander. Their swords clashed with a force that sent sparks flying, each strike a testament to their skill.
I watched, biding my time, as the fight raged on. Cato, unable to prevail, screamed at Jovian to run. His voice was laced with desperation as he gripped the supreme commander, beginning the incantation of the chant of the calling.
My heart skipped a beat as the realization struck—he intended to sacrifice himself to take the supreme commander down with him.
I couldn't let my brother's sacrifice unravel everything I'd meticulously planned. As Cato chanted, his eyes locked in determination on the Supreme Commander, I moved with lightning speed. In a blur, I darted past a fleeing Jovian, so swiftly that he didn't even register my presence.
With a precise, calculated motion, I swept Cato's legs from beneath him, sending him and the Supreme Commander crashing to the ground just as the final words of the chant left his lips. His eyes widened in shock, barely comprehending what was happening. Before he could react, I plunged my blade into his chest, twisting it to ensure he released his hold on the Supreme Commander.
Cato's gaze met mine, filled with horror, disbelief, and the sting of betrayal. The weight of what I'd done was etched in every line of his face as life drained from his eyes. Then, in a final, blinding burst of energy, his body erupted in a violent explosion, consuming him in a flash of light.
I grabbed the supreme commander and darted away from the blast's deadly radius, the explosion's shockwave a distant roar behind me.
When I was sure the Supreme commander was unharmed, I sought out the cave mouth where the castle tunnel led. There, I found General Icecroft locked in a fierce struggle with one of the empire's commanders, their swords clashing with equal ferocity.
I moved in with lethal silence, my blade poised and ready. Amid the chaos of the battle, Icecroft remained unaware of my approach until it was too late. With brutal precision, I struck, my blade finding purchase as it sank deep into his back. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he realized the traitor was the one delivering the fatal blow.
"Why?" he gasped, blood choking his voice.
"Personal reasons," I replied with a dark, unyielding smile, as I watched the light slowly drain from his eyes.
Icecroft had always been insufferable—a pompous fool with delusions of grandeur. His demise was a matter of personal satisfaction, more than necessity.
With Icecroft dead, I cut a bloody swath through the forest, slaying any who dared obstruct me. The noble lords of Frosthold fought with a desperate bravery, but their efforts were futile against my ruthless efficiency. They only succeeded in delaying the inevitable. I carved through them like a reaper through wheat, their screams and the splatter of blood painting the snow red.
At the top of the wall, I finally saw them—Jovian and Selene. They were cornered, nowhere to run. I advanced, my heart pounding with anticipation. Just as I was about to reach them, they clasped hands, muttered something I didn't quite catch and jumped.
I stood at the edge, watching them plummet toward the depths below. The wind howled around me, the snow falling in silent witness to their desperate leap.
"Well, I'll be damned" I muttered to myself, a dark amusement in my voice. "The bastards actually jumped."