They fought two more battles in and near villages like the first. Thanks to the superior talents and leadership of Morgan, Magnus, Gwidion, Alduin, Beren and Angus - and a little help from Gorm and their seeresses, they managed to prevail. The fairly loose and unorganized nature of Mog's Dark Army made it all the easier to defeat them. They all managed to make it through more or less unscathed, but there would be scars to remind them of these days. So, we come now to what we've all been waiting for - the showdown with Mog himself. There's lots of action here, but most of it will have to be described rather than portrayed. What is shown is the crucial moment of...the final cut. ***** Mog knew he'd been betrayed when the Shade of the Wolf King not only unbolted the door to his sanctum when they came, but stood aside with arms folded across his chest and grinning as they flew down the stairs and over the railing at him. He hadn't pictured it happening like this. It hadn't even occured to him that Connor Madath-Aliuth would betray him. It did sink in briefly, what Connor had previously said about Mog expecting him to slay his own son and his most favorite pupils for him. There was little time to consider it as he threw up his shield against their bolts of sky and earth fire. They were all there - all the ones he'd expected would come for him and a couple he hadn't expected...but there was one missing. That bothered him, because he knew somewhat of what that one could do. He could be anywhere in here, lurking unseen in the shadows or up above in the arches, just waiting for the opportune moment. Even if he tried his disappearing act, that one could follow him wherever he went. This was exactly as they'd planned it, a psychological game. It was agreed upon by many factors that only one of them could and should make the killing stroke. Mog fired back at them, using his most powerful weapons he could summon, but their shielding was strong. Gwidion wore him down with sky-fire, while Magnus and Alduin chipped away at Mog's shield. Mog aimed a few bolts at Angus and Morgan thinking to distract the others by taking them down, but even they seemed to be shielded. Mog felt his strength waning after several volleys, and knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. This was draining everything he had and his fear of the one who wasn't there - the one he had directly tortured and made to suffer - kept interferring with his concentration. The rest of them had been 'sideline casualties' in one way or another - even Morgan, whose father he'd killed - whose shade now stood watching it all. In concert, the three mages fired at him at once, completely shattering what was left of his own protective shield. Mog managed to fire off one last volley of what amounted to sparks, expecting the others to rush him now, or fry him where he stood. But then everything went dark, and an ominous red light illuminated the airs around him. A big hand grabbed firm hold of his hair. In the sudden, eerie silence, he heard the whooshing of the blade as it severed his head from his shoulders. His body slumped to the stone floor and Beren held his head high in the air, glowing like a beacon. Gwidion cast one last sky-bolt at Mog's now lifeless body. It exploded in hot, white flames. Beren needed only to wait a long deep breath before casting Mog's head into the pyre. Mog died in the dark, where he'd chosen to live. Mog burned to ashes where he fell. That too was agreed upon. Burning was too good for him, but it was the only way to be sure he was gone once and for all. ***** Thanks for coming by, your comments and support dear friends! Hope your week is going well so far... Cheers! Rayvn