[DonCorazon]

Kauthuga's mead hall glowed through the wintery mist. The Nemedian scout gazed down from the high peak, the raucous laughter and howls of the wolven warriors drifting up from the snow covered valley. He spat, rubbing his hands together in an effort to revive the cold deadened nerves. The moonlight gleamed and danced upon his bronze armor, then shimmered as he vanished into the mists, leaving only red droplets that fell from his side to mark his passing.

Gathered below in the ancient hall were the mightiest reavers of Utgard. Those whose victims numbered in the thousands, the destroyers of civilizations, merciless and cruel. Hanging upon their belts were the heads of those who had once ruled great kingdoms: The High Astrologers of Arcos, the Sidhe Queens of Eriu, and the Celestial Ministers of Tien Chi. With twisted limbs, scarred faces, and eyes that burned with hatred, the berserkers bellowed and roared, and cursed the gods.

The Nemedian smiled.

A flash of light and the barbarian wolfkin drew silent in an instant - nothing could be heard but the snapping flames in the hearth. A lone Nemedian stood at the far end of the hall, one hand bearing a crystal staff, the other concealed within his cloak.

"Utgard, your age of destruction is eclipsed. We give answer to your savagery" and in an explosion of movement, the Nemedian vanished and in his place lie a pile of heads, Utgardian scouts and messengers, all of whom had vanished in the last months on missions to the northern wastes.

The thanes howled in rage but the Nemedian was gone. They reached for their giant rune-scripted blades and roared out through the wintery night.

War had found Utgard again.

Beneath the din and clamor, the bonecasters whisper this will be the last.