Legends of Amacia Srandi: Last Bastion of the Caverias

Hannibal charged thirty feet into the cavernous room and stopped dead in his tracks at what faced him. His eyes widened in utter astonishment as Nemesis and Tau took up positions to his left and right while Samantha approached Hannibal’s right side in numbed awe, stopping right beside him with her mouth hanging open in amazement at the ruined magnificence lying before them. Enoch and Andrew moved in on Hannibal’s left side, staring in muted wonder at the scene lying before them. Even Nemesis and Tau stared agape at the scene, marveling at what everyone now knew without a doubt was the seat of all Caverias power.

Hannibal slowly lifted the scepter and set it gently on the floor amidst the ruins of the nearly countless ancient dead that covered nearly every square foot of the floor. Bones of humans, aliens, demons, Grimm, and other mutated humanoid creatures lay shattered on the floor, many of them violently ripped apart. The armor and weapons of these combatants lay corroded, shattered, and broken with those who utilized them. Violent icy chills racked Hannibal’s frame as he instantly recognized this place as the same one he’d seen when Enoch showed everyone the record of Thoth’s betrayal of the Yetis. Slowly taking in every detail, he saw the titan chamber was oval in structure, shaped almost like an eye. It spanned six hundred feet in length by two hundred fifty feet wide at its widest point across its short axis. The ceiling rose two hundred feet in a magnificent arch along both of the room’s axes terminating with a smaller eye-shaped hole seventy feet long and twenty feet wide above the very center of the chamber. Transparent crystal of extraordinary clarity filled the aperture, allowing light from the outside the fortress to illuminate the entirety of the throne room.

Great flying buttresses seven feet wide and twelve feet thick rose from the floor and walls at intervals of seventy feet, following the walls up to the eye-shaped crystal window in the peak of the arched roof. Hannibal instantly noticed these support members were not made of individual blocks of polished stone, but seemed to be one rib of solid rock that had grown directly from the stone of the walls and roof. He couldn’t see a single seam in these mysterious structures. What he did notice was at regular intervals, large bluish-white octagonal crystals two feet thick and six feet long sprouted from the very body of these odd stone ribs. The placement of these crystals reminded Hannibal of the crystals he and his team saw in the Great Hall, causing him to surmise they may be some sort of light source.

When he began to take note of the actual stone used in the construction of the chamber, he noticed polished white marble, along with the same white andesitic granite he noted in the Great Hall. However, much of it lay scorched and pockmarked, pitted and cratered from energy weapons and explosive ordinance. Like in the Great Hall, the floor was cratered in many places, with the remains of the ancient dead thrown from the detonations that created them.

Next, he saw many demolished statues of lying between the stone ribs that held up the ceiling. A number of them had been completely pulverized so nothing but large gravel and dust remained. However, a handful of them escaped complete annihilation, though they were badly damaged with some irreparably damaged. A grim sigh escaped his lips as he saw the destruction of all manner of arcane artwork etched into the walls and lower portions of the roof supports, just as he saw in the Great Hall. The attackers had gone out of their way to obliterate as much of it as they could. The ripped, tattered and burned residues of great tapestries dangled from the walls with much of the stories they told long since destroyed and crumbled to dust.

Finally, Hannibal’s eye fell on the far end of the coliseum-sized throne room. There sat a parabolic dais that filled the entire end of the chamber rising ten feet above the main floor with a wide set of steps that allowed access to it. Sitting atop the dais sat two enormous thrones large enough for someone fourteen to sixteen feet in height to sit comfortably on them. Each throne appeared to be carved from a gigantic flawless ice-blue sapphire of exceptional purity. Above the thrones on the back wall of white andesitic granite laid a gigantic replica of the Caverias Seal carved in deep bas-relief. The circular image easily spanned forty feet with the Roc being formed of the purest silver Hannibal had ever seen. The Roc also boasted milky-white crystal eyes with what appeared to be ruby pupils in the center of those eyes. The gold of its crown feathers was just as pure as the silver of its body. A strange crust of blood-colored scarlet crystals marked its heart. Even after twelve and a half thousand years and the obvious attempt to forcibly destroy the icon during the sacking of the fortress, the Roc image remained surprisingly intact with the silver and gold of the icon retained its luster. Only dust and scorch marks indicated where the image had been attacked. The overall layout of the throne room caused all attention to be drawn to the thrones and the Roc image on the wall behind the throne.

It did indeed draw all attention to it, especially the thrones, for a skeleton of gigantic stature clad in golden armor occupied one of them. The skeleton sat there upright on the throne, looking to the doors gazing into eternity. Its arms lay on the throne’s armrests with its skeletal right hand wrapped around the handle of a colossal broadsword leaning against the throne’s right hand armrest. The weapon had a six-foot long double-edged blade seven inches wide with a two-foot long handle and an ornate draken hilt and pummel. The blade lay etched with mysterious alien runes from hilt to point in its center blood groove. The armored skeletal figure sitting on the throne drew all attention to itself as it ruled the throne room in death by its very presence and force of will from beyond the grave.

“Hannibal, who is that,” Samantha asked fearfully, pointing with her armored finger while stepping up beside Hannibal. Her declaration caused Nemesis and Tau to look as well after they deemed the throne room safe.

“Dad, is that who I think it is?” Andrew whispered in fearful awe to Enoch. “Is that Thoth Caverias? I recognize the armor. It’s just like the set you have only his is badly damaged.”

“I suspect so much, son,” Enoch replied in an awed whisper. “It very well may be him, but we’ll have to get a closer look to know for sure.”

“By the Great Ancient of Days Himself,” Nemesis breathed in reverential awe, “Is that who I think it is?”

“I don’t know,” Tau rumbled solemnly, “but I suspect so much. There is no account of Thoth’s final disposition in the records. Is that Thoth himself? It may very well be him for this is his throne room.”

“That it is,” Nemesis confirmed in awe, “It’s an exact match of what Enoch showed us from the record depicting Thoth’s betrayal of the Yetis and Beowulf’s attempt to mend that breech. It has to be Thoth for that’s the self-same armor I saw in the record. Would you agree, Hannibal?”

Hannibal stared at the skeleton on the throne in fearful muted awe. His blood burned at the sight, causing icy chills to wrack his frame. The voices of those who spoke felt hollow and distant as Hannibal locked eyes with the ancient warrior king. When Samantha touched him on the shoulder with a fearful look, it shook him from his trance.

“Are you okay,” Samantha asked shakily in fearful awe. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I...don’t know, maybe,” Hannibal whispered hoarsely. “I’m shaken to my core at what I see here, and my blood burns with recognition at the sight of that mighty man of valor on the throne.”

“Is it Thoth Caverias?” Samantha asked as Selina appeared at Hannibal’s left side, ignoring the pleas of Assad, Leila, and Josephine to stay back until called.

Selina grabbed Hannibal’s free hand and looked him in the eye without saying a word. A knowing sober expression filled her face as she nodded to him, before saying, “I’m here, my prince. You know what to do. We’ll face him together as we did the other Kings of Amacia.”

Just having Selina at his side settled Hannibal’s raging mind and emotions, allowing him to focus his intents to the point he could start comprehending what lay around him. “Right,” he answered Selina, “Thanks for the save, princess. I was drowning in the memory of this place for a few moments, especially when I saw HIM.” He pointed to the skeleton on the throne and Selina gasped in astonishment.

“Is that really him?” Selina asked, fearfully clinging to Hannibal’s arm.

“I think so,” Hannibal replied soberly, now focusing intellectually on the skeleton along with everything else around him. “It’s as both Andrew and Nemesis said. This guy is wearing Thoth’s armor...the same type of armor Enoch used in our raids on the Black Fortress and Kartoom. It has to be him for my blood burns like fire at seeing him. Furthermore, that mighty warrior appears to be the source of the call I’ve felt since coming into this place. The call centers in this giant warrior. I may have been mistaken about the call coming from Ragnar. It may have actually been Thoth’s voice I heard.”

“Do you suppose Leila would be able to identify our fallen friend on the throne?” Tau asked softly.

“Yes,” Hannibal answered quickly. “She very well may be able to confirm his identity.” Turning around and looking to the entrance, he called out, “It’s okay to come in now. There’s nothing obviously hostile in here, though everyone should keep their guards up. I still don’t trust my senses here. There may still be other restless spirits lurking about.”

Everyone slowly filed in and marveled at the place. Soft swears and gasps escaped their lips as Hannibal said, “Jo, bring Leila over here. I need her to confirm something for me.”

“Of course,” Josephine said distantly, overwhelmed by the power of the ruined charnel scene before her as she walked up carrying Leila.

Before Hannibal could even ask, Leila’s eyes grew wide at seeing the armored skeletal warrior on the throne and a wail of intense sorrow escaped her lips. “Oh no, no, no, no,” she sobbed hysterically, “Why, Thoth...why did you end like this?”

When it registered on everyone Leila knew exactly who sat on the throne, louder gasps and swears rose from the team. Josephine wept openly with soft sobs, crying, “My dear friend; look what Bolthor did to you, but where is my husband? Did you finally stop his rampage with your life, or did he end yours?”

Hannibal stepped up to Josephine and Leila, touching Leila on the arm with a sober compassionate expression. “He is Thoth, isn’t he Leila,” he said softly, trying to keep his roiling emotions under control.

Leila managed to compose herself enough to answer. “Yes, brother,” she whimpered, “I recognize his armor and the scar on his skull where Bolthor tried but failed to kill him in the coup. It’s over the left eye and cheek, almost in the same place as your scars. It’s so hard to see him like this. I have lived far too long to see him in such a state. It makes me wish I’d never awakened in this world.”

Hannibal grabbed her hand firmly with his palm to hers. Interlocking her fingers with his in the Lynxian grief-sharing ritual, he leaned in, looking her in the eye. “Please don’t say such things, Leila,” he rebuked gently with great compassion and worry in his voice. “It’s your grief speaking. The Lord brought you back to us so you could see His justice on the Emperor for the evil he’s committed. You will see that justice with your own eyes. That I promise, so get a grip. You knew what we may find entering this tomb, just as we all did. Yes, it’s a shock to see our venerable ancestor in such a sad state of being, but if you look at the way he sits there, you’ll see he’s not sitting there as a victim, but a conqueror just as your husband Ezra sat at the head of the table in the Watchtower as a conqueror too. Thoth won the fight here and killed Bolthor in this very room. I’m sure of it for I can hear the dark echoes of the fight whispering from the structure around all us, so calm down and settle your spirit. You needed this. Seeing this will allow you to get final closure and let you finally become part of our family and world for whatever time the Lord may allow us. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Tau walked up and looked down at Leila cradled in Josephine’s arms, purring, “You should hear what Beowulf says, milady. He understands your grief far better than you can imagine. He will not steer you wrong. Release your grief and accept your place in all of this. You will find your life so much more fulfilling if you do so. Remember, you are not alone in this. We’re all with you to help you bear this heinous burden.” He then touched Leila on the shoulder with a warm compassionate smile of support.

The words of both Hannibal and Tau together with Hannibal engaging the Lynxian grief-sharing ritual broke through Leila’s grief, causing her to calm down significantly. A relieved smile slowly crossed her lips as her courage surged. “Thank you, my friends,” she whimpered emotionally, wiping the tears from her eyes after letting go of Hannibal’s hand. “I’m so blessed to have such caring friends and family to help me bear this burden.” She looked up into Josephine’s eyes as her smile widened. “Having old friends and family in this place of death makes this atrocity bearable.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Josephine replied, smiling soberly. “We sisters of the old line must stick together in these dark times.”

“That we do,” Leila answered somberly. “I sincerely pray we get to see the Emperor finally pay for everything he’s done.”

“Amen to that,” Josephine agreed wholeheartedly, “Even though I loved him, Bolthor must answer for his crimes against all life. Still, I would like to know if Bolthor’s bones are here for the last transmission I got from him was while he fought Thoth in this very room. It would give me true closure to know what actually happened to my husband.”

“That’s why we’re here, Jo...to find answers,” Hannibal stated, touching her on her organic arm while she cradled Leila. “If Bolthor’s remains are here, we will find them. Come, my friends. Since we have invaded Thoth resting place, let’s go and honor his sacrifice and memory.” He promptly turned towards the throne and started walking carrying the scepter casually as if he were using it as a walking stick. Everyone else fell in behind Hannibal, following him across the vast floor to the base of the dais. Selina and Samantha flanked him with Josephine and Leila right behind them as they picked their way through the ancient dead lying where they fell in battle.

Upon reaching the stairs to the throne, Hannibal immediately strode up them to the Sapphire Thrones of Amacia where Thoth sat in desiccated bony death. The rest of the team followed, but kept a discreet distance from the thrones, which actually sat back twenty feet from the top step of the dais. However, Hannibal approached the thrones cautiously from the front, eyeing Thoth’s remains sitting on the throne with great interest and reverence. At this distance, no one could deny the evidence of the cataclysmic battle that took Thoth’s life. His golden armor exhibited evidence of powerful hits from both energy and edged weapons. Blackened scorch marks dotted the full golden plate and chainmail armor with melted pits where the energy blasts hit. He also had many breeches and punctures in various places on his chest, abdomen, arms, and legs...the armor literally pierced and sliced open with three prominent sword punctures on his chest and belly. Two of the sword strikes lay dangerously close to his heart. Dried crimson stains splattered Thoth’s armor with prominent stains where his armor had been breached. Hannibal instantly noticed in spite of the heavy damage Thoth took in the fight, he had no broken bones and that his posture on the throne showed he was alive when he sat down on it for the last time.

“My god,” Ned blurted out softly at seeing Thoth’s ruined skeletal form. “This guy is gigantic. Just look at how much damage he took. He must have been one real badass fighter to have taken that much punishment and been the last man standing.”

“I agree,” Thomas breathed in numbed amazement. “I’m without words at what I’m seeing here. He certainly must have been one mighty fellow to have survived such an onslaught.”

“Yes, but he didn’t survive his wounds long,” Nemesis observed reverently. “Thoth was obviously the winner of this fight, but he died right here on this throne shortly afterwards as he watched the world crumble around him from the Kragonar. I can’t even guess what he may have been thinking at the end.”

“I guess no one will ever know that,” Enoch murmured softly in great respect. “It does make you wonder if he ever turned from the darkness that caused him to betray the Yetis in the end.”

“I’m sure he did,” Selina commented solemnly as she and the rest of the team watched Hannibal slowly circle the throne, examining every detail of Thoth and the thrones from all sides. “But I agree with Enoch in that we may never find out what he did in the end.”

“I don’t know about that,” Hannibal stated cryptically as he finished his circuit of the throne, standing directly in front of Thoth. “We may eventually find out, especially if Srandi’s archives are intact. Any record of what happened would be there. All we need to do is find it.” With that, he turned his attention back to Thoth and declared, “But first, we need to pay homage to our venerable grandfather for his sacrifice to keep the Emperor contained.”

Dropping to one knee and placing his free fist over his heart, Hannibal said reverently, “Most venerable grandfather Thoth, I have answered your call and finally come home to relieve you from your eternal vigil. Please be at peace and fly to your rest with your beloved wife, Ariel. She awaits you beyond the gates of Paradise with open arms. May your spirit find its way to her and be a peace forevermore.” Hannibal bowed his head as he finished speaking to the ancient king while everyone else either bowed their heads or took a knee in homage to Thoth and his sacrifice. All saluted him by placing their fists over their hearts. Silence reigned for exactly seventy seconds with the only sounds being the breathing of Hannibal and his team and Leila and Josephine sobbing softly over the death of their cherished patriarch.

Hannibal sighed deeply and rose at the end of the seventy seconds of silence. “Be at peace, mighty Thoth,” he said sincerely, “I will avenge your claim at long last just as the prophecies of your time foretold. The restoration of the Caverias line has finally arrived.” The moment Hannibal stood and spoke to Thoth’s cadaver, the rest of the team rose, standing at attention before the old king.

“The day has finally arrived,” Assad declared forcefully. “The Emperor’s fate is sealed and everything he’s done will be undone as the prophecies declared back to the time of the legendary and venerable Ragnar Omicron. The time of justice and vengeance of our God against the Dark Powers is finally here. All the Emperor and his foul demon lord spirit have done will be undone. Thus says the Almighty Ancient of Days.”

Hannibal heard Assad’s words echoing with supernatural strength throughout the entire throne room and knew the Almighty had spoken through Assad. “Yes, Lord,” Hannibal agreed, looking up, “The time of your justice and vengeance against the Emperor and his Dark Backers is here. I see your will clearly and it will be done. Only you can show us how to proceed in your will, Lord. Open the way for us. Reveal your will, might, and mercy to us this day so we may be ready for what’s to come, in the name of Jesus, Amen.” A chorus of agreement rose from those present.

Turing back to his team and sitting the pummel end of the scepter forcefully on the floor, Hannibal said soberly, “Thank you for the great word of encouragement, Assad. It did my heart good to hear the Lord speak to us in such a timely manner.”

“Such is my place,” Assad stated, “When the Almighty wishes for me to speak, I speak His words, not my own. I too was strengthened and heartened by His timely word.”