The Child of War

Upon the field of battle was brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron once the battle had won his throne.

As the appointed time approached, there did appear upon the hill four riders. The Child did hear a great horn bellow and the armies did surge forth in battle.

The beasts rode off in four directions and each did bring low the enemy, and planted their flag in the red ground.

The Child did not follow but instead stood upon the hill and proclaimed: “Why dost thou not rush the bridge? These base and callous creatures will cost me my victory yet again!”

Then a cry rang out, as if a beast of haven was calling in the language of men. The beast cried out “Come and see!”

The Child did then abandon the bridge like his fellows, and followed the path unto the first rider.

He beheld a white horse, a horn crudely attached. Upon which a rider carried a bow; and a crown was given unto him from his conquests.

At the rider’s side crouched an immense wolf, bearing the name Azazu in flaming letters. The beast’s teeth dripped with blood, and glowed from within, for it had tasted the sun.

“Help me Child! For the enemy approaches upon my seal in force. Surely I will fall to them if I face them alone.”

The Child laughed, “Thou art like a new born babe, who hath entered unto battle on his first day.”

“You have brought a beast unto this fight, you are unclean! You spread the plague of the demon, whose blood I smell upon you.”

“You will surely fall against the assembled host, and I will laugh at your misfortune.”

The sky blazed red as the second seal was opened. A horn sounded once more, and a rider’s voice rang out, “Come and see!”

And there went out another mount that was red, with the haunches of a lion and the head of a ram. A power was given to her that sat upon this mount to take peace from the world, the rider was dressed like the harlot of Scion, and she wielded a great sword.

“Help me Child! The enemy comes cloaked in the veil of darkness. They scurry like the snake and will surely catch me unaware! Together we may strike them down and the seal will be our glory.”

The Child grew angry. “I have marked that beast upon which you sit, harlot of Scion. You have purchased it with the blood of the righteous and brought ruin to all the land!”

“I will not fight beside you, though our purpose would be the same I mark thee enemy. You are untrained in the art of war, and I will not teach thee!”

The sky blazed once more, and the third seal was opened. A new voice rang out over the battle, it cried out “Come and see!”

The Child approached the seal, and lo he beheld a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in hand.

The Child heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, “Whence comes the dragon? Surely it is in the morn to decimate the Ward. I name him Akylios and weep for his prophet Journaru.”

The Child sneered at the rider. “Art thou a puppet whose strings are pulled upon the fae stage? Speak plainly in the tongue of men and do not dance for the pleasure of the base few learned scribes.”

The Child left the rider of the black horse behind, he rode out into the wilderness and did cry out unto heaven.

“Gods of the Vigil! Condemn these soldiers who would fight at my side into the flaming pit. They are not deserving of victory!”

“Base and callous creatures! They will cost me my victory yet again! Why do you plague me with their presence? I, who am most deserving?”

The Child did then stomp his feet and attempt to rend the ground with great leaps of anger so as not to be cast out of the battlefield.

Then did the sky turn black as night, and the ground was corrupted by plague. The fourth seal had opened and the Child heard a cry over the battle, “Come and see!”

And the Child looked, and beheld a pale horse: and the name that blazed above him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the battle, to kill with the sword.

The Child saw under the altar the souls them that were slain, and for the testimony which they held:

The souls cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Child, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon this world?”

The Child sneered at their pain. “Art thou angered my brothers? Weep and despair, for thou hast lost the battle. You are but unskilled babes, abominations before my holy majesty.”

And the Child saw the dead, small and great, stand before the pale rider, whose name was Death; and the seal remained opened: and the dead found their
resurrection.

And Death reared upon his horse and cried, “Victory is at hand for the faithful! The third part of the sea will run with blood! Mark yourselves my brethren, so that the healer may mend your wounds!”

The Child cried out “Death I am here! I am greatly skilled in slaughter! Why will you not mark me? Why travel with these low born souls?”

Death regarded the wails and cries of the Child. “Oh Child. Thou art the bad seed in the host of the faithful. The faults of the army are numerous, but it is but an ember next to the radiance of sin you posses.”

The Child did throw his sword upon the ground and a great cry was uttered unto heaven.

Death rode out to victory with the army of souls, leaving the Child behind. “We all agree that this apocalypse would be improved if you contracted the
plague! Preferably in your tongue!”

And thus did Scion fall.