Fallen Moon

Hiding behind some debris as cover, Molly beseeched Selune again for help.

“Selune, please send your guidance and strength, this day is nearly lost! Strike down Eclipse and let us live!”

Nothing, no response. Molly held out her hand and conjured a spark just to ensure her clerical spark wasn’t lost entirely. The sky above darkened again, and Molly pressed herself under the wreckage as far as possible. She heard the crackles of energy burst from above her, as Eclipse floated over, striking down more of Molly’s allies whose cover wasn’t quite as good.

As the light returned behind Eclipse, Molly started looking for an escape route. From the middle of the battleground there were few options. She began to resign herself to waiting out the carnage. Eclipse was several hundred feet away, when Molly heard the crunch of heavy footsteps working their way over the rubble pile. She risked a glance up to see the shining armor of a Paladin. Their mark gave Molly some fresh hope, and she moved to get their attention.

Without looking down, “You may want to stay there a bit longer, unless you want to join us in bringing down Luna.”

Molly bristled at the name, “Eclipse shut us down so quickly, how will you stand against pyre?”

“We’ve fought with and against Luna before. The former was… a long time ago. My friends are around us,” she gestured out and Molly looked around to see a couple other warriors and likely mages. “I know you dare not use pyres name for fear of pyres wrath, but Luna is still only mortal. At least for now.” The Paladin signaled to her party to move up, “It looks like you’re staying here. When you hear us launch our attack - and you will, don’t worry - use the noise and distraction as cover to make a run for it. Good luck.”

The Paladin and her party continued toward Eclipse, and caught pyres attention about 500 feet away.

“LUNA ORICYNE,” Molly could clearly hear the Paladin bellow even from here, “RETURN WITH US PEACEFULLY, WE,”

Eclipse cut off the Paladin by firing three blue silver beams of energy at her. the Paladin reflected one blast with her shield, and dodged the other two. Molly got to her feet and ran, away from the fight, and to the nearest full cover. Behind her, she could hear the crackle of energy and rumble of explosions, but fleeing was the main goal on her mind. Eclipse would probably win, and pyres wrath would take time to cool, and being as far away as possible is the best chance of survival.

—

The Paladin couldn’t get Eclipse down to be restrained. Blasts of fire and lightning, arrows and crossbow bolts, nothings touched pyre. Eclipse rained down blue silver streaks of arcane energy from pyres glaive, and the Paladins party fell one by one, until finally it was just her. Eclipse hovered 30 feet in the air, in front of the Paladin, the sky darkened around them, and turned pyres glaive down at her, pyres solid black eyes staring through the Paladin. She held her shield in front of her, but lowered her sword.

“Luna, please, you must stop this rampage. Think of your friends! We still care about you! Soli wouldn’t have…”

Three more bolts streaked down, the first two tore the shield apart, the last pierced through the Paladin’s heart, and she fell.

Eclipse stared down, and barely whispered, “do not say her name. we are Eclipse.”