Of Gods and Man - Wallace's Gambit Ch.3

It was with due haste that Toren'domir and his group departed the crumbling ruination of his kingdom. Though it was mostly by the guidance of his companions did he find the path, nearly to the point of collapse facing the loss of his beloved and all that he knew, victimized by the oppressive might of monstrous titans that laid waste to all before them. Fortunately, he was not alone. His elder sister, Senera, was captain of the nightwatch in their home, and had the proper experience and authority to lead, especially in times of extreme strife and turmoil. That was why the others trusted her when she advised they should consult with the dragons to the north to try and understand just where their most recent nightmare had emerged from, and what better way to strike it down.
And so their long journey began.

by Even Amundsen

However, the rest of the world marched onwards, and every hoof beat from their steed that carried them to their destiny, a thousand orcish boots pounded the soil. The green scourge were hardly opposed, and their quarry toppled like the towers to their tallest buildings. Those that were not killed outright were taken into slavery, submitted to shackles and forced to work for their orcish captor's amusement.
Dwarves were treated no differently, many humiliated and tormented as they were forcibly stripped of their beards, some even gruesomely scalped, before being chained in a marching line and whipped on their sodden trail. Working the mines and quarries took a different toll...Previously it was a task that meandered between a leisurely hobby and a passionate career choice, but was now forced drudgery. Their whistles were replaced by wails of pain. Their locker room humor made way for prayers of mercy or death. Elves, unfortunately, fared much worse, from being forced to cut down the very trees they venerated to having their ears mutilated for no purpose other than sheer mockery. Many families were split apart, used as bargaining chips to coerce cooperation that the lash could not procure on its own.
Gnomes and Halflings suffered marginally less, if but because of their smaller stature and wily ways. Many were able to hide underground in the mountains or in hills, but this did not account for all of them, and there were just as many hiding as there were being killed or forced into cages. Perhaps it was their charisma or their cooking prowess that allowed Halflings to take the least of the punishment, but Gnomes were spared no indecency. Kicked about for sport, many captive Gnomes did not live long under their new overlords.

Times were certainly dark.

These transgression did not go unnoticed and the Gods watched with worry, concerned with what their next actions should be.
"We cannot sit idly by while justice goes undealt!" Thundered Lodavel, his plated hands thumping atop the table the Gods of Good had gathered around.
"It's true. I could hardly beleaf the amount of destruction. The trees and animals call out. It just breaks my heart." Birchum's words igniting a common nod among the remainder of the group.
"I'm afraid there's little we can do. This is a trial of man, and we cannot play favorites." Eos, who had been in attendance and sitting silently, spoke clarity to the group, yet it was not received well.

"Nonsense! This is the work of Wallace. If he's created this monster and is intervening, then so should we. You shouldn't stand for this!" This impassioned plea caused many to sit in silence, considering the implications of divine intervention, especially on such a large scale, yet many seemed to agree, even Ciel, normally impudent and rash, peered to her sister for guidance. Eos, with a sigh of disappointment from her pale lips, lifted her fingers to ease back her deathly veil, revealing milky, nearly pearl-esque eyes that looked in Solisius's direction to explain.

"I'm afraid I cannot see the souls of these monsters you refer to. I am aware of their presence, but culling is very precise, lest dismay fall to the undeserving."
"And you, Ciel. Surely you must protect this life you value so. Can you not send your Angels to offer some reprieve?"
"I'm afraid not...What Angels could help are predisposed on the battlefront, warring with Azox and his brood."
"I cannot believe that you would all sit by so idly while the people of Ayn suffer! I am disappointed."
His last words before he stormed away from the table, his radiance, once a benevolent, radiant sun, was now a harsh nova, characterized by the reddening and flickering of his otherwise kept mane.
The silence hung in the air, tension like twine strung tightly between two fingers, attempted to be cut only by the quip of Birchum, "I guess we can all be quite the hot head from time to time."
Yet it bore no response. Instead, they sat in silence, watching the space that Solsius once occupied, each lost in their own considerations.

Even the Gods felt the dense uncertainty. What was the fate of Ayn if even the divine could not intervene?