Astranil focused on the water. An image formed of flecked white clouds, pink and blue sky and a sea of motionless waves, amber and dappled black in the rising sun. In the centre of this land-sea a tower stood, megalithic and partially ruinous. It was a tower top - truly its true extent must be hidden beneath the sands.
With her wych sense she could experience the real reason for her journey in her inner eye; a bright amethyst jewel set in a hallowed chamber of that ancient tower. A vortex of shyish magic spiralled from deep within the earth and up and through the crystal. It was a focusing stone capable of channelling incredible power.
No wonder my Lady Morathi covets it so.
Astranil intended the vision forward to the tower but the moving image froze as two titanic wills collided suddenly with her own. Their diaphanous aetheric forms occluded the image, bright green unlife pulsing through their aether shades and shining out balefully from their aether eyes.
They knew she was here, they knew for what she was coming and they resolutely opposed.
Astranil had heard of the dhar-children before. That the cast off powers of weakling and outcast Druchii could corrupt and then raise whole civilisations of lesser beings was a source of endless mirth in the halls of the Dark Convent. It was yet more and fitting proof of Druchii true superiority and destiny to enslave the world. But she had not expected that these corrupt beings could match her in magical power and will. She also had not expected to find two of such stature together.
But great missions require great opposition, she reminded herself.
These liche priests, old even unto an elf, openly projected their hatred and disdain for her. Through the mind-contact of the scrying pool she could feel them beginning to raise their army of the dead. They made no attempt to hide their plans, though they could have. They wanted her to know of their strength, and they wanted her to know they were invoking something even more ancient than the race of man to deny her. An image flashed into the pool of a mighty gilded blade of titanic proportions set upon a monsterous stone arm. Runes on the great blade crackled with purple nimbus - it was an instrument of pure Death, enchanted with her very name.
Enraged, Astranil hurled her attention from the bowl and ended her spell.
Perspiration ran down from her hairline. She had not faced such opposition even in the trials of the halls of training.
So, these lesser creatures would dare to destroy me?
Wiping her brow and composing herself, she summoned her lieutenant.
Llithandro knocked at the door of her chamber within moments.
A chill shot to her core as she opened the doorway. The touch of the Dark Prince. She hoped her lieutenant would not notice the weakness.
“Your orders my Lady?”
“Tell the Lord of the Ark to prepare the landing vessel. The given will of Her Majesty Morathi obedes it.”
Llithandro departed. She was glad to be out of his immediate presence; although he had proven himself a trusted and capable underling, both he and others of his cursed brotherhood brought unease into every Druchii heart. With so much magical power blazing through their bodies that even the wych-blind could see it, the Warlocks were Elves of supernatural nous. But that power came at too high a price, and they were slaves to the blood sacrifice needed to sustain it.
Army List: http://www.druchii.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=73344
Lords
Astranil Lifebane
Supreme Sorceress Lv4 Death
Dark Steed
Black Amulet, Dispel Scroll
Heroes
Kuron
BSB Master
Full mundane, Cold One, Lance
Ring of Hotek
Core
Haaldrak's Raiders
5 Dark Riders Sh, Rxb, muso
Granil's Raiders
5 Dark Riders Sh, Rxb, muso
Zhaka's Raiders
5 Dark Riders Sh, Rxb, muso
Elleria's Darkshards
13 Rxb FC (BoeF)
Special
Reaper Battery
3 x RBT
Harbhui
5 Harpies
Iagho's Reavers
5 Cold One Knights FC (Gleaming Pennant, Sword of Might)
Kuron's Reavers
9 Cold One Knights FC (Razor Standard, Warrior Bane)
Rare
Llithandro's Coven
5 Warlocks
Opposition:
Liche Lord Lv4 Nekehara
Liche Lord Lv4 Light
Skeleton Archers
Skeleton Warriors
Skeleton Horsemen
Skeleton Chariots
Warsphinx
Necropolis Knights
Necrosphinx
Casket of Souls
Points: 2000