Chapter 20-498: Epilogue IX, Part Two: The Divan of the Azzar (2/2)

“If you would be willing to accept the Duty of Fire, if you dare to think you might become an Ashbringer, then come with me.

“Worlds await us to be Burned. Mighty foes await to be cast down. Empires will fall, those who think they are masters of worlds will burn on a pyre of the defiled and corrupted, and those heroes who were not allowed to stay dead will be rendered unto ash, as is their duty and right.

“Come with me now, if you would be more than you have imagined. Leave your wealth behind, the spoils of worlds entire wait for you... and you will need them all.”

His gaze raked them all, grand and imposing, a Warlord baptized in the flames of Burning worlds.

Was there a greater thing a Warlord could aspire to for themselves? Battle to serve the Sultan, probably dying at the hands of rivals for those positions... or becoming a Warlord and Ashbringer themselves?

Efreet who never dared indulge their hot-bloodedness in this ruthlessly competitive realm suddenly found themselves looking at a new burning road in front of them, beckoning them with martial accomplishment, glory, power, influence, and a place in legend.

Ashbringers for Heaven itself...!

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Ashbringer Garar floated out of the Divan of the Azzar at the side of Legion. Behind him flew dozens of young efreet with dreams of their own, mostly young males, but even a few of the scarce females of the clan, eager flames in their eyes to raise their status beyond being protected on the arm of a male.

When they exited the Saray Azzar, Legion simply swept her hand forth, and a pulse of energy pushed back the Interdiction effect of the City of Brass for a moment. A Rift was sliced open in midair to somewhere in the mortal plane.

Ashbringer, Grandmaster Warlock, and dozens of new efreet and their closest servants hurried after them, and the Rift closed tracelessly behind them as those behind them looked on.

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It would be a very long time before those children of Azzar returned, and when they did, there would indeed be far more than one Ashbringer among their grim numbers. The rise of the Clan Azzar, Ashbringers for Heaven, was in the future, and in time all of the City of Brass, and many Realms beyond, would know the name of this efreet House...

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Saray = Palace

Divan = Court

Atargold is Fire-Energized Gold.

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The Black Crusade

See now that blue sky, and the golden orb shining there?

Aye now, a gift it is, earned us in toil fair.

Blood, sweat, and tears, and nights of fear, souls wrapped in a great grand lie,

Still they call, and only all of mortals can hear them cry.

Yer grandfather is in torment there, and the gods, they cannot hear.

Yer grandmother twists in agony, aye, that’s truth now, pure and clear.

A billion souls each ten thousand worlds, sacrificed to Death,

Never forget! And never permit those who let go of breath

To steal the innocent and damn them all, only we can hear them wail,

Lost in Doom, lost to Pain, lost to madness beyond the pale.

Rise up!

Rise up!

Ye’ve Weapons in hand what kill the Dead, and save them from the Shroud.

Realm after Realm, green and fair ‘tis said, where Life grows wild and proud.

Be saved they can, by the ready hand of mortal steel and grim hard will.

Set boots on the soil and be ready to toil where the Dead walk about still.

A Black Crusade, we declare!

Against the Shroud!

For the souls of the bound!

For the lives of the worlds!

For Life, and For Creation!

If there be a Holy War, then Black and Grim this Crusade truly be,

For Heaven and Hell come not with thee,

Only Endless Mortal Will!

Rise UP!

Ye battle Death itself!

Ye Walk the Road to the Eternal!

Ye kill in the name of Life!

The Black Crusade calls,

Voices ring in the Halls,

Rise up, and free the Damned!