Foxes of War

POV...Penny: One year after the fall of the Tower.

“Oh, Old Four, I pray for guidance In this hour of dread. I am to fight the enemy and wish you to aid my hands…” A Guardian prayed in the seat next to me as we all readied our arms.

The Traveler had been blocked months after we Evacuated, making the Guardians lose a huge advantage against the legion for a time, much to my Chagrin. They could no longer rise from death, or at least the majority couldn't. A few dozens had found shards of the Traveller and used them to gain their powers back, even gaining new ones.

It didn’t replace the loss of Guardians and Ghosts, but it helped moral. Ikora was looking into Andrew Ryan and see if she could gain access to more of my slug’s kin, but I had to warn her of the dangers. Zavala was off-world, having gotten to some planet Soriana, he was using it as the home base for our side, which was helping keep Guardians alive. Cayde was looking into Everlasting dragon tech across the system, even looking into the Diamond Dog and Ponies, he also mentioned looking into the two’s allies.

As for our enemy, the legion had beaten back the Undead horde and the Vex, which I learned was a faction of Dwemer from The Elder Scrolls of all places! That was just unreal, I mean, I was hearing of Hircine, Mola Bal, and even Nocturnal, but I never expected anything like that. I was also hearing of deities from Warhammer 40K but they were rarer.

“They ain't going to help us.” A female Bear, of the black bear variety, huffed.

“Shut up Zoe, don’t mock his beliefs.” Zen-2 snarled at the female as he passed me a drink. “We’re about to go on a suicide mission.”

“I suppose.” I sighed, still feeling bummed about how even after ruining Ghaul’s ship and his weapon, he still captured the Traveller.

“We’re scouting the City, we’re going to die, and no amount of prayers will save us.” Zoe huffed.

“Well, the divines, and maybe the daedra may give us a chance if we do.” I sighed. “Dunno Why Cayde-6 bought a Chicken, though.”

“I think he follows Sheogorath,” Zen-2 said with an eye roll. “That Exo is just crazy.”

“No need to mock the man.” Our Awoken friend said the glowing blue bear was the Titan of the group and a big one.

“Yeah. ‘Sides, it just might be crazy enough to Work.” I chuckled. “How Ghaul had a spare Trap, I have no clue,” I grumbled.

“Reports say he had it built on their homeworld. It was the ship they were going to originally going to use, but it got delayed due to a power issue.” Zoey explained, showing her Warlock side.

“And I burned myself out for weeks, for Fucking nothing,” I growled in frustration.

“You saved us time to get everyone out. A lot more Guardians would be dead if not for you, not to mention Civilians. By the time they had trapped the Traveller and fully taken the city, we had everyone brought to safety with raids.” Zen-2 said, trying to comfort me.

“Didn't save the hundreds of Guardians we lost afterward.” I huffed.

“In War, we have to expect a loss. Even if we want every child who went into the furnace of war to come out unscathed, it will not happen, some will be scared, other will not come out at all.” The Awoken told us.

“Still don't have to like it.” I sighed, turning First Curse over in my hands. It was One of the few guns that survived the attack on the City, and it was One that served me Well.

“He never said you did.” Antwon, the bear who had been praying, told me. “But it is not a good idea to beat yourself up for something out of your control. You did everything you could and saved so many. Almost all of us are still around to fight, and we even have former Civilians joining us in this Op! This is monumental in the fight against the Darkness!”

“I suppose.” I sighed. I had my Slug to thank for that. I had explained to Ikora that my Slug Produced ADAM that I could regurgitate to be processed into Gene Tonics and Plasmids. Of course, Ikora was swift to ensure its use was controlled, So we wouldn't have Splicers prancing around. We have enough problems as is!

“Hey, are we sure we should be moving through Drangleic to get to the city?” Zoey asked.

“Yes, it’s the quickest route, besides if we get to the Throne of Want, we may be able to get Feria’s blessings,” Zen-2 suggested.

“Yeah. I got to the city pretty damn fast after I was saved there.” I told Zoey. I honestly didn’t like her that much.

“Right...well, all the Undead are gone at least, left to the other location...I think it was the Kiln of the First Flame?” She said as we passed empty suits of armor.

“Not surprising. The Traveller was the closest thing they had to a kiln, and with that sealed off, they have nothing to stay sane too, or at least relatively speaking.” I said.

“Well, there's maybe some in the Throne of Want. it’s similar to the Kiln, but not as powerful.” Antwon suggested as we reached a huge stone elevator.

“Okay, So how do we get that started?” I asked, looking around.

“One of us is going to have to keep it lower with that.” The Awoken said, pointing to a huge wheel. “The lever was broken a while ago, by Vex.”

“Maybe I should,” I said. “My Teleportation Plasmid should allow me to get up there when You're done.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Zen-2 said as they all got on the elevator. “We’re ready!”

I nodded before slowly and honestly with a lot of effort, turn the damn wheel to lower the Elevator. It didn’t take long, the path to the Throne was just below us by ten feet of pure stone.

I teleported down, noting that there Wasn't a welcoming party. That was… Worrisome.

“Stay alert!” Zen-2 yelled, turning on flashlights as we walked down the path. After a bit, some very weak undead charged us, not strong enough to even be worth bullets.

I just punched them, not even using my Rapiers or Extractor, the Latter for obvious reasons. They burst like ripe melons.

“Well, this is nothing like how the Raids went...there would normally be turtle knights or huge knights.” Zoey snarled.

We ripped through these guy with ease before we reached the throne room...finding something that was definitely not normal. “Are those people? Like normal people?” Zen-2 asked as we looked at the bodies with their throats slits. There were sigils on the ground that didn’t look like they were from any group we’ve seen before.

“Ritualistic Suicide? Or Were they Sacrifices?” I asked, checking their temperature, as well as some kind of Pulse, stupid as that may seem.

Then there was a thrum and the sigils glowed. Zoey pulled me back and a huge, gray, and hulking Beast appeared with a roar! I immediately remembered the times Todd played Doom 3, the Hell Knight!

“What the Fuck is that?!” Antwon yelled as it charged us, we scattered but the hunter was too slow!

“HELL KNIGHT!” I screamed, firing First Curse at its legs and eyes.

“FOUR, HELP ME!” He screamed as the Hell Knight roared and ripped him in two, before tossing his body away. It actually chuckled in glee at that before turning on the Awoken.

“Did it just laugh?!” Zoey screamed as she fired with an assault rifle. The Titan had brought up this shield buying himself time.

“Oh yes, it Fucking Did!” I yelled. “Zoey, Throw me!” I yelled. “Throw me at it!”

“Got it!” She said throwing me without question as Zen-2 tried sniping its head. It reached for me before I Teleported to Its abdomen and rammed My Extractor needle into its Crotch! It roared and swatted at me as what seemed like lava filled my needle.

I felt a rush of energy fill me and I grabbed it's Crotch, feeling a testicle, before twisting it and ripping it off!

“GRAAAHHHH!” It roared, before rushing at Zoey and got ready to Hit her with a two-fisted slam.

My response? I fired up my Winter Blast and froze its hips. It faces planted into the ground and threw me off as it skidded towards Zoey.

“Shit...that was…” Zoey groaned before firing into its head. I just walked over and rammed my needle into the back of its head, drawing out more Blood.

“Intense? Crazy? Zen-2! Is Antwon rezzed yet?!” I called.

“Yes. Thank the gods.” Zen-2 said as Antwon threw up. “He doesn't look too good though.”

“His Last memory was being ripped in half! Of course, he isn't Okay!” I snapped. “Hmm, damn, that Blood was a rush.” I huffed, shaking myself. “Is it me, or am I a little more buff?”

“Can’t tell...what was that doing here...how?” Zoey asked, shaking a bit.

“The Ritual. The people were sacrificed to summon it, for some reason.” I said.

“Were they trying to get it to fight the Legion? It’s close enough to the City.” Zen-2 theorized.

“Maybe,” I said, fiddling with my extractor. “So how Long till we get there?” I asked.

“Just in the next room. Watch out for the Nashandra. She is a living being of Darkness and revives every few days trying to open the Throne. Luckily, Feria can keep her out long enough for a team to intervene.” The Awoken told me.

“She can permanently kill a team if she downs them all,” Zoey commented.

“Figures.” I sighed, bouncing a fireball in my Hand. “Is this an ‘Off Day’ for her?”

“Hopefully,” Zen-2 said as Antwon walked into the Throne Room, gun at the ready. What we saw was gruesome. This Nasadra has ripped apart and from what I could see, she had been Violated in the act of her death, possibly while awake and screaming. The thing that did it was a Baron and two Hell Knights, who were just bashing a stone dome.

“Okay, she may have been a being of Darkness, but I think even Oryx would have abhorred rape,” I said.

It was then the Baron turned to us and chuckled, summoning a green ball of energy and tossing it. Our Awoken summoned his shield again but the ball just passed through and ripped his head off.

“That should not be possible!” Antwon yelled.

“Ghost. Dead.” I pointed out, referring to the city incident.

“Was that Light?!” Zoey’s ghost yelled as we dodged the Knights.

“It's something else!” I yelled, ramming my needle into the neck of a Knight, drawing out its Blood as it gurgled.

“But it’s not Darkness.” Zen-2 snarled as he shot rockets at the Baron as it barred down on Antwon. I froze its Legs, making it stumble, and allowing Antwon to avoid it. “Not even legion higher-ups take this much!” Zoey yelled as Antwon started shooting the Baron.

“Figures!” I growled as I teleported off the dying Knight and incinerated the leg of the Baron! “Rip and Tear!” I barked out, slashing at it with my Sworn Rapiers.

Zoey finished off the other knight and joined us. We killed it soon after, having lost the Awoken.

“Crap, What the fuck.” Zen-2 huffed.

“Yeah. Wasn't expecting them to be already here.” I sighed.

“Well, who knows how long the Rune Portal was open.” Zoey huffed as she checked The Awoken. “I don’t think he’s coming back.”

“Hmmm, well that is interesting.” We heard a voice said as an HUMAN of all things walked in from the Runic room. He had advanced technology covering him and what looked like ‘1/0 Logistics Manufacture’ on the chest plate. “I’ve only met one other that could really take down a Baron.” He said as he looked over the dead demons with robotic eyes. He walked towards us and looks over our gear, "Hmm, not bad, doesn't use Argent, but is almost as powerful." he commented to the Guardians, "You, on the other hand, look so much like the Slayer, leather, and metal, primitive, but you use it effectively."

“ Who are you!?” I yipped, First Curse out and pointed at him.

“I am Known as the Wretch, I created the Praetor Armor.”

“ The… Praetor armor?” I asked, still watching him as I summoned up my fireball again.

“The Armor of the Slayer. I had helped the Doom Marine after he chooses the path of Eternal Damnation.” He told us.

“I… Wait, you knew anyone Named Todd?” I asked.

“Yes. You know the Slayer?” He asked, getting too close to me.

“I… I did. He was my Brother, back when I was human.” I said, backing up a little. “I don't know what happened to him after I became…” I waved at myself. “This.”

“He is placed in the first age, and had killed the hordes of Hell from their first attempt to invade this world to his first and second sealing.” The Wretch told me.

“I… So he is still alive, but trapped somewhere?” I asked.

“Yes, in the Continent in the south,” he explained as guns and armor rose from the floor, the dome glowing in praise.

“I… What's happening?” I asked at the sight.

“Seems Feria has Decided to give us her blessing,” Zen-2 said as he grabbed the hunter gear. I looked at it, then shrugged, grabbing a Sniper Rifle and a Rocket Launcher.

“Guess I need the guns more,” I said, loading the Rifle.

“Well, I’ll be going. Talk to me when you think you need an upgrade. Also, I sealed the portal.” He said, before vanishing.

“...I can never read that Guy.” I said, loading the Launcher. “Hey, a Shotgun,” I added.

“Have you met him before?” Zoey asked as the room shook. “Okay, what the fuck?”

“Run?” I asked, flipping the Shotgun on it's Lever.

“Is the Throne opening?” Antwon asked. I looked to see it was. I aimed my newest Gun at it, wanting to be prepared in case of attack.

As the opening grew, we set eyes upon an anthro she-wolf in thick black plate armor. She stood up with a groan and walked out, a glowing black blade on her hip. “It is good to walk again.” She sighed, her voice carrying an Aura of Authority.

“Uh… Who are you?” I asked.

“I am Feria, holder of the First Flame.” She told us, as I noted her eyes blazed with a fire unlike any other.

“…Are you friend?” I asked.

“Yes, I have watched you all fight for me for so long. I figure I would aid you in your time of Need.” She explained as she walked past us. “Well, you have a City to save. Do you not?” She asked.

“Yeah. We do.” I said, holstering my new Shotgun. “Which way?” I asked the Guardians.

“Back up the elevator then straight to the city by ship.” He told me as we walked. “Hopefully the wolf will not slow us.”

“Oh I won’t dearie, hurry up now~” She purred before going to...is that a Bonfire? “I’ll see you there~” She purred as she teleported away in a puff of smoke.

“Well, that just happened,” I said.

“Magic is weird.” Zen-2 sighed as we moved on.

It took even less time to leave the catacombs and back to the ships. “So, this was an equipment raid mission?” I asked.

“Pretty much. Easiest one I’ve ever been on.” Zoey sighed. “I’m sad we lost Chewy.”

“Great.” I sighed. The Games were utter bullshit on how easy they made it look. I thought. “So, any snacks? I’m famished.”

“Here,” Zen-2 said, handing me food.