The Endless Cycle of Fate

[Papa Rock 2400]

 

Art by Gram

Fate Cannot Be Changed

The Grand King Ulfar witnesses the Reigns of the Grand Kings before him

 

 

The mountain ravens croak as they sit perched along the cavern walls. The noise of a bustling city echoes up to the throne room. 

 

Ulfar sits upon the Obsidian Throne in thought, contemplating matters of external threats and the future of the Grand Kingdom. The advisors at his side warn him of the coming danger, the rise of the Holy Empire and the great betrayal that will come with it.

 

Advisor 1: “Grand King, the Empire grows uncontrollably.”

 

Advisor 2: “They have conquered the elves of the east. Caurost and the Vale have bent the knee to Emperor Hadrian.”

 

Advisor 1: “They have the Grand Kingdom surrounded from both sides. Once they slaughter the Urukhim, we will be at their mercy.”

 

The Grand King, Ulfar, remains silent as he listens to the endless council of his advisors. Eventually, he raises his hand.

 

Ulfar: “Oi’ve heard enough. The Tiberias family will not betray us, they are our friends.”

 

Ulfar: “We’ve fought side by side in countless battles, our blood shares the same battlefield.”

 

Ulfar: “I do not recall the Khazadmar being oath breakers. Why would we shatter our vows over paranoia and suspicion of a corrupt Empire?”

 

He doesn’t seem convinced. Ulfar leans back into the throne in thought, unsure of how to proceed. 

 

Ulfar: “You are dismissed, leave me to contemplate this further on my own.” 

 

His hand is waved, gesturing the dismissal of the Advisors. 

 

Time passes as Ulfar sits upon the throne, he has had enough and stands, moving to descend the steps and begins his walk through the halls of Kal’Baraz. 

 

Upon his third step, the world around him shifted- the stone floors turned to soil, blood painted the green grassy fields red. 

 

Dwarf Soldier: “Ready your bows!”

 

Soldiers clash against each other as arrows fly through the air, blood splattering everywhere while death litters the field of battle. 

 

Confused and startled by the sudden scene shift, Ulfar looks down at his hands. . . They are white, and his beard ginger and brown. As his gaze raises back up, the sun had vanished and was replaced by the moon- 

 

Dwarf Admiral: “Nae fall back!”

 

Bodies drop to the ground under the cover of night, the stars shining bright above. Ulfar stands at the first war of Urguan against the Humans. . . Against the Holy Empire, through the eyes of Thorin Grandaxe, the Grand King.

 

The field battles are lost, the dwarven soldiers dwindling in numbers as they are met to fight the force of the ever growing Empire.

 

Then- Ulfar finds himself as Thorin, within a room offering the Empire terms of peace.

 

However, he sees himself grasp upon the document and light it aflame- and as it bursts into fire, he hears the dwarven voices roar, “KAVIR OZ UMROS, KAVIR OZ OREN!”. Soon, this gaze shifts to look upon a burning Empire as Oren accepts defeat and submits to the Grand Kingdom of Urguan.

 

He stumbles forward, tripping over a loose stone brick as his mind snaps back to reality. Ulfar finds himself within Kal’Baraz once more, standing within the market area.

 

Ulfar: “What was that. . .” 

 

He comments. 

 

His day continues as he manages the Workforce stocks and wares, he grasps his ledger and raises it up into the light. 

 

????: “Ulfar!”

 

A dwarf calls out- and as such he turns, looking to see Narvi calling his name.

 

Narvi: “When can we settle a ranch up north, Ulfar?”

 

Narvi: “I’ve been waiting for the availability.”

 

Narvi: “Can y-. . Blah. .. . Blah. . .Blah. . “

 

Ulfar stares at Narvi as he speaks, watching his mouth flap as his mind leaves the present and finds itself in the past once more.

 

????: “We must ally together to destroy the Orenian Empire.”

 

????: “It is the only way we can stop them.”

 

????: “Then it’s War.”

 

Through the eyes of Wulfgar Grandaxe, Ulfar witnesses the Dwarves ally with the Orcs and Elves to declare war upon the Human Empire of Oren. His gaze shifts between battles, standing upon the walls of a fortress, to cut down enemy humans upon golden sands. 

 

A weapon rests in his hands gripped tightly, as the body of King Heinrick lays dead at his feet, shattering the resolve of the Orenian Empire.

 

Ulfar: “Why am I seeing th-”

 

Narvi: “Blah. . . Blah. . . Bla- Ulfar.. ULFAR!?”

 

The Grand King’s gaze returns to focus, looking upon Narvi waving a hand in front of his face, trying to get his attention. 

 

Narvi: “Ulfar? Did you hear anything I said?”

 

Ulfar seems to sigh internally, still going through mental shock as his mind is forced along a path of memories. He nods his head. 

 

Ulfar: “Yes, Narvi- I’ll get right to it.”

 

Ulfar: “I’ll send you a letter when it is ready.”

 

He then gestures Narvi along, the Jewelbeard grunts and grumbles as he walks off. 

 

The day moves along, morning becomes mid-day as Ulfar walks along the cavern roads, arriving at the port to get some fresh sea air he very much needs. His eyes set upon the crashing waves as seagulls fly overhead. 

 

Suddenly, a rushing breeze of sea air flows over him, his beard waving in the wind as he raises his hand to grasp the crown upon his head-

 

The scene shifts when the waves crash again, Ulfar finds himself upon a dwarven warship. 

 

Dwarven Captain: “Fire!”

 

The Grand King’s fingers are stuck into his ears as black powder lights and cannons fire with a thunderous boom, launching iron shots into Orenian Imperial ships! 

 

Dwarven Sailor: “We’ve sustained damage! The engineers died in enemy artillery fire!”

 

He turns his head to look over to the shouting dwarf, his ears unplugged as he tries to listen to the dialog being muffled by the roaring winds and heavy rain.

 

BOOM! CRASH!

 

The warship shakes and tilts as it takes on heavy projectiles, causing the Grand King to sustain bolts to the chest as he falls off the side and plummets into the ocean waters. His hand extends out, trying to reach for air, perhaps trying to swim up- but something continues to pull him under as he watches, through the eyes of Hodir Doomforged, the warships burn. It’s light becoming dimmer the deeper he descends.

 

At some point, all light is gone, and Ulfar wakes up in the body of Balek Irongut rallying the dwarven clans to form a powerful defense that causes the Orenian Empire to fold.

 

CRASH!

 

Lightning strikes and thunder booms as Ulfar’s mind is forced back into the present, looking to the sun as it sets into the sea. 

 

Ulfar: “You will not twist my mind with memories that are not my own!” 

 

The Grand King yells out into the sky, trying to fight off the memories of war and slaughter. He grunts and kicks a pebble into the water as he walks off, making his way across the mountain landscape until he reaches the trail that ascends the mountain side. Walking along the path, he finally feels a sense of calm reach his nerves. His head is only filled with his own memories, his own thoughts, and his own will. Until he reaches the peak of the mountain and looks onwards in awe over the vast valley and mountain ranges that extend great distances.

 

Everything is set aflame in a mere blink of his golemantic eyes.

 

A large human force of hundred thousand men or more marched upon the mountain lands, their banners raised. . . The Holy Orenian Empire once again. He witnesses the pain of war through the eyes of Midgor Ireheart, his weapon in hand and body drenched in both human and dwarven blood as he is suddenly on the field of battle, routing away the Imperial soldiers from the fortress walls, the air brushing against his bare torso as Ulfar is no longer within the safety of his Starbreaker armor. The Grand King Midgor swings his fist into an Imperial’s skull, leading to Ulfar returning to the present with his fist embedded into the snowy stone ground beneath him, finding himself on his knees staring into it.

Blood drips from his nose, staining the white cover of snow with splotches of red ichor.

 

Tears well up at the base of his stone eyes. . .
 

Ulfar: “So much death. . . So many are gone.”

 

Ulfar: “I see their faces- why can’t we ever find eternal peace. .”

 

His hand reaches up to grasp the Iron Crown, a moment of hesitation as he contemplates taking it off. Though as he sets himself down onto his knees and sits back, he raises his head up only for the scene to shift once more.

 

The Grand King sits kneeled, battle-worn and bloodied. His dwarven soldiers died around him as his eyes stared up into those of a man, the High King of the Orenian Empire. He finds himself surrounded by soldiers as they spew out insults and hatred, preaching the pride of the Empire and its glory.

 

The frosted winds set into his bones as he mutters. . .

 

Grand King Algoda: “This changes nothing.”

 

Those are the last words he says as human steel comes down and strikes him dead, executing the life from his body only to be re-awoken in the eyes of Bastion Ireheart as the Empire is hit in the distance with a city leveling thanium explosion.

 

Ulfar then finds himself in a room of his own mind, stone walls surrounding him. 

 

???? [1]: “So, do you understand now, Ulfar?”

 

A voice speaks out, a shadow bearing the Iron Crown upon its head shows itself. 

 

???? [2]: “No matter what you do or what you try to achieve, it changes nothing.”

 

A second voice rises as another shadow bearing the Iron crown forms.

 

???? [3]: “You do not control what was never designed for you to grasp.”

 

Ulfar denies such, gesturing out as he speaks. 

 

Ulfar: “Who is to say that this Empire is the same as the rest!?”

 

Ulfar: “You cannot say the Royal family of Tiberias would betray me!”

 

The voices speak after one another, several shadows bearing the Iron crown now forming as several Grand Kings gather. 

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “That is why we did not tell you, we showed you.”

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “You witnessed the betrayal of the Empire across several continents, several lifetimes.”

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “You cannot change Fate, just as we could not. You are bound to the same wheel of time as we are, forever turning as Yemekar intended.”

 

Ulfar goes silent as he listens to them all speak, they grasp at his mind trying to tear it apart to shatter his delusions so that he may see the truth.

 

He then speaks-

 

Ulfar: “I am not you. I do not want war. I have seen all of our Kin-”

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “Die? Yes, you have as we all have. You wear the crown not because you chose to become the Grand King, but because the People decided it so. The Ancestors have seen it, and the Brathmordakin intended it.”

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “You were chosen by Fate itself, just as we all were. For there must always stand a King who is Grand against the enemies of Freedom and Prosperity.”

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “You guide our people now, and we guide you, as you are not just the King of Urguan, but the King of many Kings- the Grand King. We reside within your mind, just as you will reside within the mind of the next who wears the crown.”

 

Ancestral Grand Kings: “Do what is fated for you to do. We did our duty, now it is yours.”

 

. . . . “Fate cannot be changed.”

 

Ulfar wakes up in cold sweat at the base of the mountain, finding himself accompanied by Gallio as the Grandaxe was travelling the rocky terrain. 

 

Gallio: “Ulfar, are yeh stupid?! You are not supposed to take naps on mountain peaks!”

 

Gallio: "That's how you get yourself eaten by mountain lions or wild wyverns, you block of coal!”

 

The Grand King sighs internally, leaning up as he brings his hand to his head- the crown still upon it. 

 

Ulfar: “The days to come will be blood ridden, Gallio. Khorvad’s ambition will tightly grasp at the hearts of men. . .”

 

The two stand as Ulfar regains his strength, and they return to Kal’Baraz, where he shall wait, watching and observing the events of external activities until the moment presents itself. The canon event that can never be changed.

 

Years later, Ulfar’s gaze darkens as his kin rally to him.

 

“Grand King! The Empire- they’ve taken dwarven lives! Defenseless kin slaughtered within elven lands!”

 

And so it has happened. The catalyst that shall trigger the unchanging series of events Ulfar has seen happen countless times before, from the eyes of the Grand Kings before him.

 

The people gather, dwarves and vassals alike:

 

“The Empire has grown too large! They have greatly outnumbered us, they’ve grown their confidence into an unbreakable shield!”

 

The Grand King Ulfar Starbreaker raises his hand to silence the voices of paranoia and hysteria.

 

“It changes nothing, for all Empires before have spoken the same words, yet all lay dead.”

 

 

Edited January 1 by Papa Rock

[Jamwill 211]

Gallio is not racist! This is Starbreaker propaganda!

[Britannicvs 2508]

"Blah... blah... blah..." Narvi's response to the missive came. 

[Beardicuss 488]

NARVAK OZ URGUAN 

[lemonke 6014]

Spoiler

 

 

A squirrel turned, bearing a sunflower of hope within its paws. @DragonofTaters

 

A fox did likewise; it returned. Its gentle steps carried a quiet sense of strength and renown. @craneia

 

A snowflake flung into the air beneath the bright moon, reaching the youth. @Adelemphii

 

Drums of liberation echoed across the ruined temple of Rokudo Haven to offer determination. @PolarLoLs

 

A single, familiar voice of a pink-hued figure carried all. @_xMika

 

“I will fight for our future.”

 

And so, a choice was made to stand and fight alongside the dwarves. @JoeyTheGhost

[ArgentEra 459]

Somewhere in the Urguan wilderness, a musin continues to gather medicinal herbs for the coming storm.

[Xergarok 811]

The Gnome Chef could sense a manifold increase in wisdom... Had the Grand King finally tapped into the Ancient Memories? About time...

[Spellblades 754]

A Maehr from the South clenched his jaw as he got news from a close family member

 

"Do not head to the Empire, they're murdering Elves." 

 

So he didn't, for his own safety, as the rally bell rang through his ears, he knew what would be asked of him and others. Aelyn turned to his fellow 'Ker and said 

Lo laht malar lu la?

@Vecho0

[Cpt_Noobman 1954]

"Kraviil, ov Narvak." states Barundin firmly.

[Tide1 4535]

Tiberias, first of his name, would loose an arrow into his target. Then another, and once again. He practiced, though not for war nor any of its ventures - he shot because he enjoyed the pastime, nor was he skilled at it. The once Emperor looked then to the unblinking Sun; "And so the hasty actions of a few shall doom many, once again. I fear I could still prevent it all. But this cycle is not for an Emperor to break," he would conclude, and levied his one-eyed gaze upon the target once more. He found solace in that he would have no hand in it, and let loose another arrow.

[_RoyalCrafter_ 5285]

Spoiler

 

[Terry 2680]

The 33rd Grand King sat as he often had in the warmth of his abode, far away from the machinations of Urguan or Azuras. He hadn't cared of Urguan since his back and forth with Ulfar a long while ago, and the following 'Excoriation' he published soon after. He knew he would not receive a warm welcome back, nor did he think anyone would recognize or care about him, and he were far too old for new friends.

 

Nevertheless he oft kept tabs on this new Empire, and it always brought flashbacks, to the Orenians, to Philip II and Philip III and the countless battles and death. If there were one constant, it would always be the untold rivalry between Man and Dwarf, no matter how 'friendly' they would portray themselves to be. 

 

Alas, the call to return was not yet made, and thus he did as he always had in the centuries since his retirement, and spent the evenings with his family.

[Vecho0 29]

29 minutes ago, ShadowSlashYT said:

A Maehr from the South clenched his jaw as he got news from a close family member

 

"Do not head to the Empire, they're murdering Elves." 

 

So he didn't, for his own safety, as the rally bell rang through his ears, he knew what would be asked of him and others. Aelyn turned to his fellow 'Ker and said 

Lo laht malar lu la?

@Vecho0

The Maehr's ears would twitch. The purple skin glistening in the sun as the rally bell rang. He would then proceed to take his cigar out of his mouth to put it out on the bottom of his shoe before looking over to the Mali'ker beside him with a tired face. He'd nod

He would then proceed to speak in his mothers tongue
"Helun-Velulaeya tom uhv’lye honyr" 

[Epicethan4 948]

"Narvak oz Urguan." Morroick Starbreaker would state simply

[Reece Nolan 996]

"Ulfar, cahn ye PLEASE stohp talkin' tae yurself en dah smiffy? Oi'm tryin' tae sleep!" Balas yelled, fluffing his pillow and pulling the blanket back over himself and the anvil he rested upon.