[Peter Ebbesen]

�Some Say In Ice: The Mother of Monsters

With the new temple erected to my honour in the old capital of T�ien C�hi, worship now flows to me from Siberia, Hebei, and Ultima Thule. It is a beginning.

I have decided that Hebei, with its stores of ancient wisdom, will be the centre of my magical efforts. I call on Angerboda to take control of the city and to direct my mages in pursuit of the good work. I task her with summoning aid as required. From Siberia the giants will march and from Hebei the magic will flow and create regiments infinite. It will take time, and research, but it will be done. It is my will � and her destiny. The Great Hag, the Mother of Monsters, will bring forth new broods to trouble the world. To help her out, I summon a Sea King from the depths of the sea to provide her with an essential guard of sea trolls and order a Skratti to begin mass-producing clams of astral pearls. It is a beginning.

From the fortress of the Jotuns march new armies to subdue eastern Siberia, while Tjordulf prepares to lead the survivors of the invasion army to subdue the countryside of T�ien C�hi. Despite all his men suffering from multiple battle afflictions, and half of them being diseased, their morale remains high, for I am with them, and who can lay idle when their God has returned?

We march south, conquering all in our path, leaving a trail of blood and ice behind. Fully half of Siberia has been conquered, and it appears that the hoplites of Arcosphale have overrun the western holdings of T�ien C�hi. In front of us lies the mighty citadel of Ankor Wat, under the rule of rule, apparently, of giant lizards.

Most peculiar.

Apart from their outpost in Taiwan, this seems to be the only lizard outpost in the neighbourhood. The defending forces appear small and insignificant, and my army contains eight Niefel giants and twelve lesser Jotuns.

I never did like lizards all that much in the first place.

As we approach the fortress, Tjordulf readies the men for battle and bright battle is offered that overcast morning in the spring � but it is not the battle I expect. The cowardly lizards huddle behind the gates rather than offer battle and as we are unpacking the first tents we hear highly-pitches voices crying on the wind. From the heavens themselves, Caelum forces swoop down to the attack.

Did they intend to attack the lizards or is this a fully intentional attack on me without provocation? I may never know. I brace myself against a swooping Caleum Iceclad, and prepare to bLast the hordes of winged archers with my icy spells, when I realise that they are most likely immune to the powers of cold.

With a sigh I draw my sword and I prepare to stem the tide. We may be outnumbered eight to one, but we are giants and they are midgets. It will have to be enough. It too, is a beginning, of sorts.

[ February 20, 2004, 01:17: Message edited by: Peter Ebbesen ]