I have always found other races fascinating. Even when the three tribes were at war (I fear we are being influenced by outside forces.) I found races such as the Griffons and Yaks intriguing. Yes we're not on the greatest terms, but even in the middle of a three tribe war, I wanted to be an ambassador of sorts. The other Chancellors called me a fool. I simply wanted to have allies in case something worse came along while Ponykind tried to wipe itself out. (They then called me a paranoid fool.) I admit I had always wanted to meet a Griffon and a Yak in person.

Pages turned.

It was a miracle from the Earth Mother that neither of the groups I'd contacted had killed me on the spot.

The Griffon's outpost of Griffonstone was a ways to the Southeast, It was a stopgap between the lands to the west and their Empire to the East. Thankfully, they allowed me in (I had forgotten what green grass looked like.), I couldn't help but note that their archers were trained on me during the entire visit. I had to convince the Guard Captain that I was not a Pegasus spy. (No wings, obviously.) It was the knowledge that we were actively at war that did it. (I regret having to share that information, it could come back to bite us later.) Their leader, a pudgy griffon named Gellert, demanded both land and money in return for an Alliance. I did not have the authority to offer either. He did not take kindly to that, and swiftly told me to leave. I was quite surprised (Though in hindsight I shouldn't have been.) when they had asked me to pay to leave the "Protection of the Aerie." I had left with a lighter purse than I had come with. The trip home was a cold one.

I had a brief stop back home. I'd learned that in the time I'd been away the war had gotten worse. King Terra refused to back down. Worse, the Pegasi were pushing into our lands as we pushed into the Unicorn's. This war sickened me to my soul. This wasn't right. Ponies were not supposed to fight like this. This winter is getting worse. The Pegasi do nothing to stop this snow. (If they even can.)

I had to travel north into the mountains to meet with the Yaks. They lived in a high valley, at the center was a single hill on top of which was built a large longhouse. Smaller houses were built around it and the whole hill was ringed by a tall wood wall. I was surprised when they let me enter without issue. Though they quickly shut the gates behind me, as if they feared something would follow me in. It turned out that they had a name for their valley, Stormheim, due to the regular thunderstorms. (Funny, I would have expected blizzards similar to what we were experiencing.) The Yaks were a brutish and warlike people. They spoke in hushed voices about a race to the north that lived beneath the "Shimmering Eternal Night Sky" (Whatever that meant.) They refused to speak it's name. They also stubbornly refused an alliance. Sharing information was all well and good, but asking for help was a show of weakness for the Yak. I stayed for a couple more days afterwords. They were excellent craftspeople, Their Shaman carved runes into their weapons, armor, and even homes. (I'm sure a Unicorn would find this more fascinating.) I dreaded what I'd find when I returned home.

Pages turned.

It had gotten much worse since I'd left. The way home was slowed by heavy blizzards. (I swore that I could hear voices on the wind.) On reaching home I was ordered to take a full regiment of guards and scouts and head south. (I was quite thankful to have Smart Cookie accompany me.) King Terra demanded that we find a new home.

We were going to abandon our home.

What could I do but comply? I already knew an easy way south thanks to my trip to Griffonstone. It made travel much easier, especially with such a large force with me. I was more a glorified guide rather than any kind of leader.

There was a break in the mountains that I'd used to get to Griffonstone. I shared in the awe of the other ponies on seeing a land not covered in snow.
A land of trees, fresh grass, fields that would make for excellent farmland.

Unfortunately, we were not the only ones there.

A strong scent of burning filled the chill air. Sounds of battle, war cries, and cries of victory echoed faintly on the wind. The pages of a tattered journal turned, held within dirty cream-colored hooves. They were careful, making sure the pages didn't tear. Tired orange eyes scanned a page.

I didn't know what to expect when the Council had received its own ambassador. A tall, thin, bipedal snake with mottled-brown-scales, and yellow-eyed. She was a female by the name of Tin'Vaakin. (Aparently it had taken them months to trek north.) The king of Hiimdolok, Gramdrog ['May his soul find peace' was scribbled hastily above his name] had proposed an alliance between the young Nation of Equestria and the ancient Empire of Struunkiir. The king had proposed an ambassador be sent to Hiimdolok to experience all that the Vith could offer.

From just what Tin' had said of her home, I couldn't wait to go. A civilization that had been around for a thousand years at least, far longer than ponies had existed as separate tribes. It was so exciting!

More pages turned.

"You read your jour-nal. Why isss that?" A pair of slit, yellow eyes peered down at the book

"I intend to turn it into a book eventually... Hopefully. A recording of history from my perspective. That is... if we survive..." Orange eyes wearily met yellow. There was more than a hint of fear in those orange eyes.

"The Forgotten God will ssssave us. Have Faith."

"I've never really been one for Gods or faith. Though that might change." The orange eyes returned to the journal.

I arrived in Hiimdolok a little over a week ago, sent as an ambassador from Ponykind to the bipedal, serpent-like race known as the Vith. The voyage, thankfully, hadn't taken as long as I thought it would. The travel to the vast deserts south of Equestria had been easy enough with an airship.

The city had come into few as the Sun rose over the horizon.
Within a valley of red rock, great golden Ziggurats sparkled in the dawning light. Streets of marble teemed with Vith. A large, covered Market District dominated a whole corner of the city. In the center of the city was a large Ziggurat, taller than all the others. Atop the Ziggurat was a great spire. At the tip of the spire was massive glowing sapphire that crackled with electricity. A ring of gray-ish clouds swirled around the sapphire, occasionally crackling with electricity themselves.

The city itself seemed to shine. The sight took my breath away.

As it turned out, that Ziggurat with the rather grand spire was the Temple to Strun (pronounced with a long u sound), the God over all other Vith Gods, and the God of the Storm. (I find the concept of Pantheism quite fascinating.) There were many smaller temples strewn about the city, but none as great as the Great Temple. As it turned out, in ages past the Struunkiir Empire spanned quite a bit of land. Yet a civil war in the past split the Vith, leading to smaller Empires that occasionally warred with one another. (Mainly due to arguments on how to worship, who to worship, and what God to put above the others.) Over time, the smaller Empires settled down, keeping to themselves and worshiping their chosen deity. Such as those that primarilly worshiped Krein'fil, the God of the Sun, in the jungles to the north. Eventually the different empire feased contact all together.

On arrival to the city proper, I could immediately tell that there was something... off. There we groups of Vith that were protesting, denying the Gods. It appeared that the faction had popped up somewhat recently. (A year or two ago.) Seemingly, as a result of the new faction's "lack of faith," the Priest's and Cleric's "Acts of Faith" (Their form of magic. Basically fancy spells.) were either less powerful or would flat out not work.

This worried the Priesthoods of the different Temples. They were worried that something had happened to their Gods. (Others thought that the "Godless" we're angering the Gods and thus the Gods were punishing the Vith.) With their God's. Ever growing lack of response, the number of Godless grew. They had become a Movement claiming that the Vith did not need the Gods to prosper. Worse, they believed that they didn't need other races help either. (I did not like the looks I got from the Godless I'd seen.)

In spite of the worries of the Godless, my tour of the city was wonderful. The Market district always seemed to be bustling. The shopkeepers were friendly enough, though he needed Tin' to translate for me. Most Vith did not speak Equestrian. (Not that I expected them to. Tin' aparently had an "Act" cast on her to allow her to communicate.)

Their food was exotic. Most meals appeared to consist of rice (which was grown in terraces on the northern edge of the city, along a somewhat rocky, foothill-like ridge that, thankfully, had enough dirt to support plant growth). The rice was served with different kinds of sauce mixed with vegetables (Also grown in fields around the edges of the city.), or various meats (The source, I never asked about. I also politely declined.) depending on the recipe.

I had learned that they "normally" got water through clouds that their Priests and Clerics (specifically referred to as Skycallers) "called." Being a ground-bound species, they had a strange reverence and connection to the sky. Much in the same way Pegasi did. Tin' had explained that it was a feeling within most Vith, with a few exceptions. There were stories passed down by the priests tales that explained the reliefs carved into the walls of their temples. Tales spoke that the Vith could fly in ages past. I had no idea how that was possible. Vith didn't have wings. However I never voiced such thoughts. I felt that that would severely strain his relationship with his hosts.

With the "powers" of the Stormcallers waning, their normal source of water was cut off. However the city did have a backup in cases of extreme drought. It was an aqueduct that ran from the Great Temple all the way to the mountains to the north. This allowed for the various field around the cities, and the fountains within the city proper, to function.

I am very thankful that there was little political talk. Tin' stated that they wanted to see the best of their home before any plans were formed. The only downside I could see at the time was the simmering tensions between the Priesthood (Many of which were old wizened serpents, with the occasional young one.) and the Godless. (Which was almost entirely the younger generation, from teens to early thirties. Barely even adults by my standards.)

I had the honor of meeting King Gramdrog. He was an old wizened serpent or green scales, gold eyes, and rich robes of whites and violets. His palace was at the southernmost end of the city. It was a rather open complex of grand halls, with marble pillars and floors, and gold ceilings. I honestly (and shamefully) expected the king to be arrogant and haughty, like the Lords of the Griffons. Yet, Gramdrog was a quiet, kind individual who simply enjoyed the peace and prosperity of his city. He felt like a grandfather who just wanted the best for his children and his children's children. However, I could see in his eyes that he feared for his people. The unrest did not sit well with him. His advisers, High Stormcaller Stiildus'hah, Trade Prince Solgaaz and General Ruvsos, appeared to agree that things were going well despite the unrest of caused by the Godless. If there were any riots or open revolts, Ruvsos ensured that they would be quelled quickly and with as little violence as possible. For Ruvsos controlled Hiimdolok's standing army and active Guard. That did put everyone's minds at ease.

It did not take a genius to see that the Vith had hierarchy similar to a caste system. Lowest was the farmers and merchants, above them were the guards and military, then the nobility, then the Priesthood, and finally the King. The king held a reverence of the Priesthood, yet ensured that the common serpent was well taken care of. Gramdrog's love for his people warmed my heart. If only the three tribe's ancestor's could've found such peace. I couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt. It wasn't long ago that the three tribes warred, brought destruction on themselves. (And it was happening again.) Yet, I tried to not let such thoughts sour my visit.

Something that I didn't expect, was to be staying with Tin'. As an ambassador, she had her own small estate on the northern end of the city, complete with house guards. She also owned a couple of fields which her servants worked. It turned out that Vith roomed together. They would sleep around a large brazier, tending to cuddle together for warmth on cold nights (which most were). It was a surprise the first morning to find Tin' wrapped around me, much to the her embarrassment upon waking. I had to explain that I didn't mind. Ponies used to do much of the same when they still lived in the north.

The following days would be much the same. We would sleep on opposite sides of the brazier, and wake to find ourselves quite close together. I admit, Iactually grew to enjoy waking in such a position. (Though I never said so aloud. It wouldn't be proper.)

A few days into my stay, we visited the Temple of Strun. The architecture was remarkable as was the imagery chizelled into the walls.

Of note, the Priests explained the Vith's death rituals (A burning of the corpse [or Shell as they put it] so the Soul could rise and join Strun in his home in the sky.) when we came upon an ancient etching deep in the temple. The Priests scoffed, saying that it was simply the writings of a madsnake. The etching were of a prophecy. (I rarely paid heed to any prophsies.) The Priests left when I asked Tin' to translate it.

I wanted to record it for posterity. It was the history of a potential ally, even if the Priesthood looked down on it. Tin' had to state the some of the wording did not translate into Equian, thus she would have to substitute certain words.

"When the Chosen Vith turn from their Gods..."

Flan Puddinghead jumped, nearly dropping his journal. His head snapped up at Tin', the serpent seemed lost in thought as she spoke. His orange eyes watered and his cream-colored coat was covered in ash and soot.
Flan quickly stuffed away his tattered journal into an equally tattered saddlebag, and returned to looking at his taller friend. Tin' looked exhausted. (Flan felt much the same.) Her normally pristine, white nightdress was now a more grayish-black, as was the brown scales on her arms and head.

"...and Sister turns against Sister.
The City of Gold will be stained Red."
The Chosen will remember."
The Forgotten God will Rise."
He will name himself."
And Death will Inherit the World."

Tin' finished speaking with a sigh and a small cough. She rubbed her claws over her bare arms, clearly chilled by the breeze.

"And this is the God your Priests intend to summon?" Flan asked with more than a hint of fear. He didn't know what was worse. The thought of dying by the blades of the Godless, or dying by some forgotten, and probably angry, God. 'At least Death by God would be quick.' He hoped.

Shaking himself, he looked around. He needed distraction from his darkening thoughts.

The small band of Vith, and ponies were in a ravine north of the city. Flan hoped that it was hidden enough. At its entrance, the few surviving Temple Guard gripped bronze shields and ornate, bronze, curved swords called kopesh. Their armor and weapons looked battered. Flan's personal guards weren't much better. They wore gray armor and spears. (Though the ravine made it difficult for the few pegasi to fly.) The surviving crew of the airship, including Captain Stoneheart (an ornery, gruff earth pony stallion) supported the guards with whatever weapons they could find. They'd need all the help they could get if the Godless found them.

Beyond them were the surviving civilians. Vith from all trots of life, now equal in fear and desparation. This included Tin' and Flan himself.

Beyond their cluster was the Priesthood. There could have been more than a dozen or so. They knelt before a strange building that had clearly been forgotten to time and the elements. The building was some kind of white stone. It was circular with only six main pillars, connecting walls a dome of silver metal, and a single shadowy archway inside.

It was the entrance to the building that made Flan uneasy. There was something about it that made his fur stand on end. There was something... otherwirldly about it. He did not want to know what was inside.

As the Priests had bugun praying, a fog of shadow seeped from the archway. Over the past... Flan didn't know how long. A strange and uncomfortable-sounding buzz filled the air. The scent of ozone had started to fill the air.

Flan wasn't surprised to see more and more Vith moving up to pray with the Priests. They were all desparate. Even going so far as to pray to a God that, if prophecy was true, could end the world.

A commotion made Flan jump. The guards at the ravine's entrance shouted and clustered together, locking their shields in a phalanx as shouts and cries echoed in from beyond the entance. Ponies moved up and readied spears behind them.

They had heen found.

Civilians screamed and began to back towards the Priests.

At the same time the ground began to rumble and shake. Shadows poured from the building's archway. The Priests stood, raising their claws towards the building. The buzzing turned into a painful, high-pitched whine.

Flan's heart pounded in his flattened ears. He noticed that he was shaking. Tin' huddled closer and knelt to hold him.

The war cries grew as the guards were pushed back.

Flan looked back. Godless poared into the gap in the guards. He almost vomited as he watched a Vith guard get cut down in a spray of blood by a crazed-looking Godless. Tin' dragged him back towards the crowd.

The whine became a scream.

Black fog poared from the archway.

When it touched Flan he shook and gagged. He felt frozen stiff. At the same time itbfelt like insects were crawling all over him.

This was madness. No... This was Tartarus.

A Godless knocked a young stallion's spear away. The stunned pony didn't have a chance to recover. Flan snapped his eyes shut. He didn't want to see this.

Then, everything seemed the still. The feeling of the fog was gone. The scream died.

The sounds of combat stopped. As did the prayers.

There was an unnatural calm.

Flan dared to open his eyes the fog was frozn in mid-air. Everycreature was looking around in a tense silence, even the Godless. There was... A presence that Flan couldn't quite place.

Suddenly there was a great wind. The fog was sucked back towards the archway. Vith had to hold onto each other to not be dragged towards it. When all of the fog was sucked back in everything froze once again. Only for inky black tendrils that looked like water to slowly seep from the solid darkness of the archway. They curved around the pillars and arch around it and froze.

Something was inside the building, Flan could feel it.

There was a scream. Flan's head whipped around. One of the Godless had cut down one of the guards.

An almighty bang, like a crack of thunder, made Flan jump. A streak of red orange flashed across his sight and the Godless disappeared in an explosion of flame.

There was another bang. Another Godless died.

Another bang. And another.

One-by-one the Godless died.

Until...

Silence.

Flan didn't know what was happening. A loud rumble snapped his attention back towards the archway. Something moved within.

A massive, bulky, black claw of metal erupted from the archway. On the back of the claw was a gold symbol. One part sun. One part moon. Ringed by a snake eating its tail. It slammed into the rocky ground, digging furrows into the rock as it seemed to pull.

Something began to emerge.

Beyond the massive claw was a rounded shoulder of red. It was trimmed in bright silver, and bore a bronze skull of some kind of creature. A head like a collosal, crimson-scaled, king cobra followed. Green eyes scanned the crowd. Its chest was the same black metal, and bore the same sun, moon, and snake symbol that its claw did. However there was a notable pattern of scales on it. Its left shoulder was also rounded and bore the same symbol. Its left arm, as opposed to its right was smaller and less bulky. However, a strange box was on its forearm. At its waist was a massivevsword of bone, as well as another, slightly rounded, but boxy device that glowed with a purple light. From the waist down, it was a massive black-and-gold-scaled serpent tail.

It fully emerged, towering over everycreature in the ravine. Taller even than the building itself. It seemed to take a breath. Suddenly oil-black smoke erupted from its back. It twisted and formed into a pair of massive smokey wings.

"You have called me." It rumbled in a deep, gravelly voice that vibrated the very ground beneath it.

"The Forgotten God." Somecreature spoke in fear and awe.

It seemed to notice who spoke. "My name." It began. "Is Astelan."

"He will name himself." Tin' spoke in barely a whisper.

Flan couldn't stop himself from shaking.

"And Death will Inherit the World...."

Author's Note

Another alignment of stars!

Seriously thpugh, it felt great to write this again. I originally had this planned for one chapter but decided to break it into two parts. 3000-some words is a tad draining for me. And it had a good ending I think.

Part 2 coming hopefully soon!