Rowhaine was dwarfed by the massive form of Graveclaw, and before his ascension the champion would have been ridiculously outmatched against the Strigoi. However as things stood now, in his demi-god state he was relatively sure he could stop the raging vampire. The question was; should he?
No. Your gifts were provided to enable you to be our chosen voice in the world, to defend yourself and to be used only the direst of circumstances. Asaph's warning was clear as it rang through his head. Their foolishness is certainly not a reason.
Rowhaine felt his anger flare for a moment, frustration mixed resentment at the control being placed upon him. As he did Asaph's voice dimmed for a second before returning as he mastered his anger.....though not before a long lost but familiar feeling briefly flittered in his mind.
What happened? I could not feel you then for a moment?
Rowhaine ignored the Goddess, forced to focus as Graveclaw moved towards him. Though his stance didn't speak of an attack, it was clear the vampire planned to move through him whether he liked it or not. The Strigoi was therefore caught completely offguard when the Champion's holy power became apparent, holding his ground against Graveclaw's renowned strength. Surprise swiftly turned to anger and he reared upwards again, massive claws raising before he stopped, nose sniffing at the air.
Seconds passed and Rowhaine realised something was wrong as Graveclaw's eyes narrowed, peering into the swirling clouds of sound that clouded the hills to their west.
"Idiot boy!" he hissed, "isssss an ambush! The stench of chaossssss issss all around!"
Alarm raced along Rowhaine's nerves like fire as he extended his supernatural senses to the limit, but he could find nothing at first. Then the more he focused, the more something in the sand started to take shape. It was so well shielded that even with knowing what he was looking for, all he could make out was a large formless force was nearby.
We have been deceived! But how....we are Gods! We cannot-
"There is time to apportion the blame later," Rowhaine muttered under this breath, "now is certainly not the time." Not waiting for a reply he turned back to Graveclaw,
"We don't have the time for this. I can sense what you smell, they don't yet realise we know but I am sure they will do in a moment. The force is large and even we, even you, cannot succeed against an entire army. We have to retreat whilst we still can."
Graveclaw simply glared in response and Rowhaine made a decision.
"Fine, it is your choice to commit suicide, I will have no part of it." His words said Rowhaine took off at a hard run, Asaph's vigour turning him into a blur as he returned back to where the rest of the vampires remained. He felt no guilt for no checking if Graveclaw followed him, the nobility and cunning that Mistress Lesa had once spoke of seemed to have long left the beast.
Phahotep and rest of the Ushabti stood to attention as their master drew to a standstill, but before they could speak Rowhaine cut them off,
"We must retreat, and quickly," he said, "we have somehow been deceived and a force waits to ambush us. I suggest that Master Nekhilor creates a portal to return us to Drakenhof as soon as possible, and then-"
His words went silent as booming horns echoed from what seemed to be everywhere. A second later the wind blew bloody murder, sand blasting those assembled like a furnace before it died down as quickly as it began. As his sight cleared Rowhaine looked back to where he knew he would see their ambushers, and had a moment of shock as he saw the force arrayed against them. It was clear that unlike their overconfident actions, the forces of the enemy were not willing to underestimate them. In the distance thousands of black armour plated warriors strode forward, supported by frenzied barbarians and flickering bodies of light that would no doubt prove to be daemons.
The more concerning element however was the riders at the fore. Over a thousand Chaos knights thundered towards them, with a score of champions at their lead. Supporting them were chariots and more daemonic forces that were swift enough to keep up with the cavalry.
Without an army of their own this was an un-winnable battle for the Council. Whilst they would take a heavy toll, in the end they would be overrun.
Rowhaine took this all in a second and calculated they had minutes before the enemy was upon then.
"Nekhilor! Create a portal! Now!"