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Back at Lagash Ur, a great change was now taking place. The old fortress' barracks and watch towers were filling with elite Hand troops, who interrogated Covenant army units for any signs of further betrayal. Several companies had vanished during the previous night's events, undoubtedly to join Anfauglir in the mountains. The Black Spire enforcers would ensure no one else dared to do the same. In the great halls of Lagash Ur, the few remaining red and gold Nocturnian banners - which proudly symbolized the strength and determination of Nocturnus' people - were being torn down and replaced with the black and white standard of the Spire. Throughout the fortress the recital of oaths could be heard, an allegiance not just to Senurhem but to a new name as well: Raavage. Try as he may, Raavage could not corrupt Senurhem, but he had broken the old necromancer's will. Senurhem had long ago turned his back on leading the Covenant, instead preferring to spend his days and nights locked deep inside Lagash Ur's catacombs. Here, it is rumored, he practiced his foul and twisted necromancy while governance of the fortress had been left to a group of Senurhem's inner circle - Anfauglir, who had perhaps served his lord longer than any other, had not been included. Long had the Covenant's commanders hungered for conquest, but they found Senurhem too preoccupied with his experiments. Some suggested Senurhem was losing his mind in Lagash Ur's secretive depths. But Raavage - deceitful and ruthless as ever - had promised to quench their bloodthirst and carry them to power as he said they deserved. In this way, Raavage was able to quietly wrest control of the Covenant army. Senurhem, himself blinded by the power Raavage had promised, especially in regards to his research, did not see these events overtake him. Though his presence would still invoke fear in those below him, all knew where the Covenant's allegiance now lay. And later, when Senurhem was to find out how irrelevant he had become among his own army, it would be far too late. For now, however, Raavage needed Senurhem. Raavage's allies had grown thin in recent days, though this concern he shared with no one, save Malicia. Count Basil had only been informed several nights before that he would be recalled to Varlyrio, undoubtedly to deal with the unrest plaguing its population. General Zurn, who knew Raavage had guessed his own deception, had fled during the battle in Lagash Ur's dining hall. In any case, the Drow could hardly be counted on because, as Raavage had recently learned, the bulk of the Drow army had secretly committed itself to conquering Avalonia. The Black Spire was weaker than it had ever been, and Raavage knew it. Senurhem, if anything, would help fill the resulting vacuum. Besides, it would do Raavage no good to get rid of the necromancer just yet. Only he knew how to unlock the evil power kept hidden in the bowels of Lagash Ur. Senurhem had shown Raavage ancient tomes which spoke of this power, a dark magic able to raise the dead. These books rumored of a device which could magnify this necromancy a hundredfold. Nothing within the books detailed what this catalyst would be, but, unlike Anfauglir and the other Nocturnians, Raavage knew where to look for it. Covenant and Hand scouts had already left the fortress in search of the fabled artifact. Raavage and Senurhem had stayed behind to discuss their next move after the previous night's escape. In Senurhem's private chambers, the two meet to finalize their plans before Raavage departs Lagash Ur and returns to his redoubt, the Obsidian Spike. Senurhem: The Zugal Brothers and the Dragon Master fought side-by-side to slip from our noose. Do you not think they will combine their forces against us? The question infuriates Raavage. Though he did not show it, Raavage had been forced to play his hand when he ambushed the delegation during the dinner. Instead of uniting the Zugal and Dragon Masters against Abyssian, his forces were now hunting their leaders throughout the surrounding mountains. Raavage: They will never unite! The Dragon Master is lost without his father's keep, and the Zugal are too proud to ever return it. Their war has only just begun, the Hand will make sure of that. What is left when the dust settles will hardly be a pebble in our way. Raavage would have liked to watch as the Zugal and Dragon Masters hurled themselves against Abyssian's defenses, but now he would see them destroy each other. Their escape the night before, though dramatic, would be inconsequential, thought Raavage. Senurhem: We must not forget that scum, Anfauglir. He has holed up in the mountains like a rat, but he will be a thorn in our side unless crushed. Anfauglir has already convinced several of my finest companies to join him in his treachery. Raavage studies the old necromancer's grimaced face; Senurhem is obviously worried about his traitorous commander. Anfauglir's betrayal had not been expected, and his next moves were unknown. Only guesses could be made at his intentions and whereabouts. Raavage: Anfauglir deludes himself if he hopes to stop the Black Spire. I will furnish you with a company of Hand troops; with these soldiers and your own you will find and destroy him! Senurhem: They are already assembled and only await my word, Raavage... m'lord. Raavage: Good. Send them to crush the rat in his hole. I must return soon to the Obsidian Spike. I have remained far too long in this damp dungeon you call a fortress and have other matters to deal with. We cannot allow the other Nocturnian scum to stand in our way! Senurhem leads Raavage to a balcony overlooking one of Lagash Ur's great halls. Arrayed below is an entire Covenant legion, supported by cruel-looking Hand warriors and a pair of mountain trolls gifted to Senurhem by the Black Spire. url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/94545380@N06/15024713659/] Senurhem moves forward to address the throng but Raavage is the first to speak. Raavage: Warriors of the Covenant, you have been betrayed by your supposed brothers! They have deserted you, and now they slink into the mountains like snakes! Out of fear they hide from your rightful supremacy, and out of jealousy they wish to take it from you. They have forsaken your lord, and it is your rightful duty to show them the error of their ways. The Black Spire knows this treachery must not go unpunished, and it will fight with you. Go forward and do not return until the traitors' heads sit on pikes outside your walls! The hall erupts in blood-curdling cheers as the fortress doors open, unleashing the vicious horde into the surrounding mountains. Long columns of Covenant troops, with the Hand enforcers shadowing closely behind, begin filtering throughout the barren terrain. The light from their torches is visible for many miles as the columns descend the mountains like a great fire-serpent. One who saw this dreadful spectacle erupting across the landscape was a Covenant cavalry commander named Sakarmand. An old friend and lieutenant of Anfauglir, Samarkand was one of the few military leaders who chose to join the insurgency. He and a small group of soldiers had positioned themselves near Lagash Ur to scout the Covenant's movements. His heart sank as the seemingly endless lines of heavily-armed troops filtered from the fortress. They would assuredly find Anfauglir's stronghold in the Panjshir. And, with such strength arrayed against them, they could not hope to holdout long. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some extra pics, including a photo of this group of serious badasses! And a few shots of the MOCs, sans figs: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this MOC: Greetings once again! Here is another installment in the ongoing Hand of Corruption story for Book II in Nocturnus! Before I say any more let me offer yet another round of apologies to you guys for the delay in this installment. Sorry if you guys got a little rusty on this story in the meantime! I must also apologize for the quality of some of these pics - only realized how difficult this would be to photograph after I built four walls and much of a ceiling. Kinda hard to get the camera in there to take some proper pics! I finally gave up on the photo of Senurhem and the glowing orb, and had to go with the one above. It was the best one I got but it still looks like his last known photo or something, like it should be on the back of a milk carton... Any advice you guys can share on taking photos of lighted MOCs would be appreciated. In any case, thanks for taking a peek and, as always, any criticisms or comments are welcome! Other installments of this story: The Hand Book II: Summit at Lagash Ur The Hand Book II: Summit at Lagash Ur Part II The Hand Book II: Escape from Lagash Ur The Hand Book II: Anfauglir's Camp For a refresher on the events leading up to these series of builds, please start here!
