Session 9: The Long Road Home Part 2

The Path of Lightning

Having returned from the Dragons Cave one task still remains to Azhanti. He must face the current Voice in the Ring of Fire and walk the Path of Lightning. No voice has ever simply stepped down for a successor, the title must be won by force of arms.

The Priests of Vulcan gather around the sacred circle. Their ceremonial axes crash against the hard volcanic rock and a pillar of lightning arcs down from the sky to stand in the centre of the circle. Azhanti waits patiently as Nihlil makes his slow and painful way down the steps, age weakening his steps. As he reaches the bottom he casts away his staff and lets his robe slip to the ground. As he takes the ceremonial axe the years slip away from him and he is, once again, the young warrior who fought many times in the arena. He raises his axe to his old pupil, “defend yourself, you will receive no quarter” and he surges to attack.

The two circle each other and their axes clash again and again. As they do lightning courses through the circle enveloping them both. Each time it strikes a new vision is shown to Azhanti. First, his meeting with Nihlil in the arena who would teach him so much; second his long days training in the temple; third his first meeting with Humans who tried to cheat him of what was rightfully his; fourthly a vision of the future where the Primordials loom large in the background and five indistinct figures walk before them. Lightning pours through the circle, Nihlil’s axe bites again and again and only Azhanti’s faith and magic sustain him. As the vision of the future fades he turns and strikes, Nihlil slips, age betraying his limbs and the axe buries itself in his chest. As he falls away into death he whispers one last piece of advice to his old student, “only you can stop the Warlord now, remember your training.”

Lightning takes hold of him for one last time and a vision of the far future opens up. Azhanti makes his slow way up a winding mountain path to a Temple. The last stage of his quest for Godhood is before him, he must face Vulcan in his First Temple and wrest control of the winds from him. As he makes his way up the mountain he passes an old man leaning on a staff who calls to him as passes. “Think about what you are doing my young friend, are you sure it is worth it...” He ignores him and walks on.

As the last spark of lightning fades Azhanti finds himself alone in the Circle. All around the Caldera the thunder of Vulcan rumbles proclaiming his new Voice but to Azhanti it sounds hollow and powerless. The body of Nihlil is gone, only the Mantle of the Prophet remains. The Priests of the Temple kneel silently surrounding him.