*The mist lifts, his hands still clenched in a fist. Teeth grit, next twist, to look for who's coming next. But there's none left, all around I'm surrounded by death, save a Doge kneeling down in respect*

"Lord lieutenant, why have you done this thing and made war against your own people?"
"I did this for the people, excellency, far more than you, the council or the merchants were willing to do."
"What will you do with me now?"
"Now? Now you ill order your men to stand down. Then you shall decide to retire from public life, as will the council"

*Before the Doge can answer a siege bolt flies through his head, sending him hurtling across the Palazzo de Venezzia. Alixenus turns to see who fired the shot. It was Armok, who casts down the siege bow and draws his weapon*

"Venezzia is mine you peasant!"
"No, Venezzia is for Venezzians. As you will soon find out."
"What? Are you going to kill me? Alone? The Doge's men still hold this square, the fact that you and your fellows got through to drag the Doge out is a testament to the incompetence of your people"
"Yes, I am going to kill you"

*Alixenus draws his Hamaxe and starts walking toward Armok, but falls due to his injured leg. Armok laughs, but abruptly stops when Alixenus picks himself up and builds to an almighty charge toward him*

Alixenus struggles to reply whilst locked in combat with Armok

"No! He killed my Doge! Turned my nation...against itself! He has killed my people and is...in my city! He is....Mine!"

He pauses to duck a savage blow which causes him to fall over. Alixenus then rolls to evade more strikes before getting to his feet.

"Your honour may demand that you kill him, but so does mine!"

Alixenus then unslings his tower shield and flings it at Armok. Before Armok can recover Alixenus charges in and breaks the front legs of his steed with his hamaxe. Whilst Armok struggles from his fallen mount, the weary Lord lieutenant turns to Sandromin.

"What are you even doing here? I didn't send for reinforcements, I was trapped in the command post."

"We are here... because there's much more dire things to heed attention to. Hurry this quickly, if you can. We have worse things to worry about, like the Archnecromancer and the Logizombies... and we'll need your support."

Meanwhile, Xavier at his palace, 4.00PM

*Xavier speaking with his advisors*

"Yes... yes... but if we do this, then..."

*Door bursts open. The two spies walk in.*

Xavier stands and looks surprised. He motions to his advisors.

"Leave, Now."

The Advisors swiftly get up and leave.

Xavier looks into the Spies' eyes. "What of Armok?"

"Dead."

"Hmmmm. I see. Armok is dead. That, complicates things. Dismissed."

The two spies quickly scuttle away.

*Xavier screams in a fit of rage, banging his hand on the table.*

"Now, what? Armok was a brilliant strategist. He could of helped me... Why, he could of helped me take down Sandromin!"

*Bangs hand again*

"No matter, there are others." He looks to the Logipriest Islands.

"No, too...unpredictable."

SPOILER ALERT: IT'S XAVIER'S EVIL TWIN BROTHER!

PLOT TWIST: XAVIER DOESN'T HAVE SIBLINGS!

But erm... very... yes...

[OutofCharacter]Please not that none of you actually heard this; this is just to flesh out my character more.[/OutofCharacter]

Fear not Sandromin, I have initiated emergency muster protocols. All soldiers still capable of fighting are being embarked on everyone ship to make sail for the badlands. We will be ready to depart in 36 hours. The civilian militias will guard the city while we are gone.

*hands a letter to Xavier's officer telling him to have his privateers cease attacking and to begin maneuvering them to be 'captured'

If anyone cares to look at Armok his broken frame is hanging from the montagne gatehouse.

Dwarves are manning the ships? Dwarves have ships? I thought you'd hired human pirates! No matter, as far as the people will know, these 'barbarous raiders' are spending the rest of their lives in the city prison.

By the time you read this I will have set sail for the badlands. I do not know when I will arrive, or where on that continent I will land, save for it being somewhere on the nothern half. This necromancer had better be as grave a threat as you say, or else I am putting Venezzia in great peril for no reason at all!.

Sandromin's battle turns up less epic than he had expected when a piercing blue light flashes blinding both him and his troops. By the time they regain their sight they see only a man wearing an astonishing complex armor of white. Many components being crystal that emit a blue aura similar to before. He silently approaches.

What brings you to the edge of the earth? Well I suppose you can't perceive what is truly around you. However before any proper introductions I must ask a question. Do you come with intentions of peace or hostility? A fair warning, if you were to choose the latter, you would soon regret your decision.

It very well depends. Are you the archnecromancer? Furthermore, am I able to negotiate? And beyond that, what are your intentions?

Archnecromancer? Ah I see. You must be misinformed. The Archnecromancer has been dead for quite sometime now. I'm also guessing you haven't ventured this far west before. You may not realize it but you've endangered yourself and anyone who has followed you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am King Thanatos of Diyad. If you'd do me the pleasure of accompanying me to my kingdom I could better explain your situation. Also if you would excuse my earlier threat. You see people don't tread these lands anymore and when I see you approaching with an army, plus your allies parading in from the distance. It's only logical that I'd take an aggressive stance.

Archnecromancer? Ah I see. You must be misinformed. The Archnecromancer has been dead for quite sometime now. I'm also guessing you haven't ventured this far west before. You may not realize it but you've endangered yourself and anyone who has followed you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am King Thanatos of Diyad. If you'd do me the pleasure of accompanying me to my kingdom I could better explain your situation. Also if you would excuse my earlier threat. You see people don't tread these lands anymore and when I see you approaching with an army, plus your allies parading in from the distance. It's only logical that I'd take an aggressive stance.

Unbeknownst to Thanatos and Sandromin, Venezzians make themselves as obvious as possible when marching so that their scouts and skirmishers can prepare ambushes. And the scouts themselves are tragically unaware that the Sandmen are accompanying Thanatos of their own free will. After reporting the situation to Alixenus, he ordered that the entire army fall silent and proceed at double time whilst he rode ahead to command the Ambush.

"Sandromin may be enchanted, or this is some form of elaborate trap. Either way, we will get to the bottom of this. Concentrate fire upon the newcommer, if any sandmen get in the way, shoot to wound. Fire on my lead"

Perched in an outcrop, his armour smeared in ash for camoflage, the Lord Lieutenant brings his Ash-wood siege crossbow to his shoulder, aims at Thanatos' heart...

And pulls the trigger.