Fragments of Truth and Fiction: Lethal Ladies

 Elyn von Sturm, one of the best Panzerzeppelin-commanders of the OUT, is a first generation Argonian. It is said that she is more at home in the air than on the ground. She often volunteers her dirigible, the Himmelwulf, for long-range scouting missions. She is known to be particularly interested in arcane phenomena, and lately it has been commented that perhaps her methods are a little too dynamic for the Thulist establishment.

Fragments of Truth and Fiction IV

Despite the war drawing nearer, or perhaps because of it, the citizens of Apeldoorn gathered for Freeday games on the frozen channel. The cold air was filled with laughter and happy voices, and for those afternoon-hours they were as happy as they had ever been. At least the children were -- few of the adults were able to wholly forget the Year of Crisis, and the fear of it merely being the beginning.

Fragments of Truth and Fiction III

When he had descended the stairs from the Wise Man's pagoda on the mountain's top, he came to the River of Time. Here he sat for a while, and Golden Arrow came to his side. Perhaps she already knew that her fate was set, and perhaps he too saw his own destiny in the murky waters of the river.

"Autumn is supposed to be a time of peace and reflection! Can you blame me for being a mite irritable, Master Raven? You birds do not seem to acknowledge the fact that there are other interests involved here as well. No, with you it's always, "you need to see this at once, Sir M." or "I need your signature on this piece of paper right away, Sir M.""

As the Empire collapses under the weight of war, the lands turn to martial law, where law retains any foothold at all. Bands of deserters, brigands, mercenaries, and local militia is the only power in large areas. As those living there are becoming only to aware of, might is the only thing that makes right once civilization crumbles.

Many fell creatures are drawn into light as the war between North and South rages on. Some follow the armies like carrion-birds, preying on the weak and the wayward. Others have a stake in the game itself.

The rivers of the Underworld are dark and empty places now that the King of the Dead has fallen. Many are those who lose their way; some are drawn down into the Deep, others are doomed to wander the lands of the living. Some also say that creatures who were held at bay by the Ferrymen are now creeping back into the realm of the dead.




[Picture source: 1 Håvard Legreid; 2 BibliOdyssey; 3 Onlinekunst.de;4 Keith Thompson; 5 Eleni Tsami]

Fragments of Truth and Fiction II

"I'm told we won the Battle of Radhof, but how anyone could call what happened on that field a victory I cannot understand. We fight for truth and humanity, they tell us. I saw neither that day. What I saw was fear and terror, hatred and rage, suffering and death. But they tell us we won, and I guess that's better than the alternative."

"Lord Rector, the factories are at full capacity, and I'm informed that the new student-regiment has performed better than expected. I believe we are ready to teach His Majesty the Emperor a lesson quite soon now."

Again the alarm sounded. Falangist Arham rushed to his post, a shallow trench in the grey and lifeless soil west of the settlement. They were drilling harder than ever, and rumours had it that the witchmasters of the Pius Cabal could appear any day now. They had been told that the dogs would be able to detect the warlocks in advance, and Arham could only hope that was true -- he had heard stories.

Beloved Catherine,
I do not know when or if you will receive this letter, but still I write to you each week. Since we arrived on Argos, we've been training and exercising almost each day. We hear little from the outside, but they tell us that soon now we will see some action. I hope that is the case, Catherine, for I've grown weary from the long months of waiting. I think of you each day, and I dream of seeing you again.

With love,

Richard

"Aeons ago, when a great and terrible darkness seemed to smother all the lands, and the Enemy appeared to be undefeatable, three great kings led their people to new worlds. They left their homes behind, and sailed across the vast and empty spaces between the stars. At long last they arrived at strange and virgin shores, and there they settled. This, my son, was how our forefathers left Argos, our home."




[Picture source: 1, 3 & 4 unknown; 2 Jeffrey M. de Guzman; 5 Svet Mateev]

Fragments of Truth and Fiction I

"In dark chambers beneath the streets they meet every night. During the days they walk among the populace, masking their marks of devotion. They know the truths the others strive hard to ignore, they are the harbingers of the final awakening. Theirs are the secrets of the Drowned Man."

"None are as feared on the battlefields of the Enlightenment War as the Livonian cuirassiers; their very appearance on the field can be enough to break the will of the mislead and the corrupted. They are truly invincible, for in their hearts burns the True Light of Creation!"

"Deep in the bogs he found what he had sought for so long, but in finding it, he also sealed his fate. The price demanded was such as would damn the one who paid to torment and despair, and the treacherous path he was on led only further into the mire."

"I have been walking for so long. That is my destiny. To walk forever. There are so many things to witness, so many roads to walk. Staff in hand, I press on on paths both deep and aloft. Ever since that fateful day when the seal was broken, ever since that fateful day I have been walking. My only hope is that I wont be too late."

[Picture source: 1 Gino Caspari on CGSociety; 2 unknown; 3 Alexander Deruchenko on CGSociety; 4 Ramses Melendez]