Phase 2 Release Part 38 THE GAME ENDS

This realisation by all of the three ancient and almighty Elders meant that their existence though thought to be absolute for eons, had shown that they were indeed fallible thus denying the very essence of their power and might. By being proven wrong they could no longer absolute, which was the sole purpose of their existence, they would become nothingness and thus their world was unmade.

There was light no more.

From below, the two Kings momentarily looked skyward to see the mist swirl into a vortex and quickly spin at dizzyingly speed.

In the centre were three figures who appeared to be screaming, the White King recognised thousands of choirs of angels being thrown about around them being ripped apart in the maelstrom.

This was accompanied by a cacophony of sound like a million horns and screaming happening at once.

Then it just stopped.

The silence was a shock.

The two Kings still faced each other, still unable to touch one another, their weapons still in their hands.

They were suspended in nothingness, as far the eye could see in every direction.

Two Kings, unable to touch unable to move locked in stalemate for eternity.

Phase 2 Release Part 37 THE GAME ENDS

Both the White and Black army’s Kings faced each other, weapons raised, veins protruding from forearms, necks and foreheads.
Nothing either could do, no matter how much force they applied, neither could get a millimeter closer to each other to strike.
The were almost nose to nose each staring directly into the other’s eyes, neither though could feel the other’s breath, all types of physical contact was blocked.
The White King wings were at their most extended, they blazed blue white and silver. It was a light of such intensity that it would have blinded his subjects back in his own Kingdom.
The Black King had the madness of countless past Kings screaming in his head driving him to an anger and frustration that bordered on insanity.

High above obscured by the white mist the three ancient Elders looked down in disbelief.

“Didn’t see this coming” said one as he quickly leafed through the large tome resting on his lap.

“Never seen such a battle fought like this one brother, it defied all the rules of common sense” said the other scratching his head with the hourglass he held.

“What happens now brothers?” said the other his staff tapping against his sandal impatiently.
There was silence as each thought about this last enquiry.

“We can’t clear the board, the battle’s not won”

“But there is always a winner brother it is how it should be, it is our rules and our rules by nature of who we are, are infallible”

“But brother, there is your proof that our laws are infallible, look they cannot strike each other, thus no one can fall to be declared beaten. They must remain until someone does. That by my reckoning, should take eternity”

”But that is impossible, infallible is exactly that. There is no contradiction to our laws”

“Well judging by those two warriors standing nose to nose down there, I think you may be mistaken”

The Elder holding the staff suddenly struck by a sudden awareness, dropped it, and as it fell its stone shone brightly.

“I think we have a serious concern brothers”

The Elder holding the hourglass realized that all of a sudden it felt bottom heavy, he held it high to discover all the sand had rested in the bottom chamber and it was now too heavy to turn.

“This is not looking good brothers” he said.

The Elder holding the book started to flick the pages of the book faster and faster, searching for anything to contradict or clause that may negate the situation on the field. Then he slammed the book shut realising, as his brothers had already surmised that the laws off the game were flawed.

“You know what this means don’t you brothers “ he said.

This simple sentence had completed a path.

All three Ancients had admitted that their laws were not absolute.

Phase 2 Release Part 36 THE END GAME

44. Ke7xf6 STALEMATE

Amid all the carnage and destruction the two Kings faced each other. Covered in the dirt and blood of battle ready to fight each other to the death and as they leaped at each other………
Nothing happened.

Neither King could approach the other without putting itself at risk, the rules of the battlefield made this clear.
The battle could have no clear victor.
The battlefield could not be cleared.

Phase 2 Release Part 35 THE END GAME

43. Kd7xe7   43. Ke5xd5
44. Ke7xf6


Amongst the screams of the Queen’s pawn the White King ran down and slaughtered the Muck Golum who had only just had the clearance to make for the other end of the board.

Phase 2 Release Part 34 THE END GAME

43. Kd7xe7          43. Ke5xd5




As the White King cleared the final obstacle for the Queen pawn she was caught by the Black King who had as much joy destroying her as the White King did to his heirs.

Phase 2 Release Part 33 THE END GAME

42. Kc6-d7      42. Kf5-e5
43. Kd7xe7     43. Ke5xd5


As the Black King chased down the Queen pawn, the White King was busy clearing a path for her, but he was also forced to detour due to the actions of the Black King’s guard who also new a little about delaying a King.

Phase 2 Release Part 32 THE END GAME

41. Kc5-c6 41. Kf4xf5




Pawns on both side were under the impression that Kings could not attack only lead but between them the two Kings were ripping holes in each others armies.
This was correct in one sense. The Kings could only attack only when not putting themselves in direct position of attack from a pawn.

Of all pieces to work this out were the Berserkers who called for the skeletal army to protect it’s flank causing the Black King to detour.

The Black King was forced to take a better position to attack due to the Berserkers and the Skeletal armies blocking tactics but they fell one after each other as the Black King made his way towards the Queen’s pawn.

Phase 2 Release Part 31 THE END GAME

37. Kb4-c5 37. Kh7-h6
38. f3-f4 38. Kh6-h5
39. d3-d4 39. Kh5-g4
40. d4-d5 40. Kg4xf4


The Black King made his move up the board to take matters in his own hand , the only one capable of taking out this winged opposition was the Black ruler himself.
The usually reliable Little sisters , Basilisk spawn and the leaderless Steam Golums had been eliminated along with Queen’s personal guard and only his own protective army and the Shaman’s Muck Golums remained. He needed more time.

Phase 2 Release Part 30 THE END GAME

36. Kc5xb4 36. f7-f6




The White King’s plan of sacrifice and attack had proved so successful at taking out the Black King’s outer flank and opening up a gateway for Queen promotion that the Black King was forced to action albeit several moves too late, he had called the actions foolish and was made a fool by them.
Without the King to instruct them directly the Black army was failing.

Phase 2 Release Part 29 THE END GAME

35. Kb4xc5         35. b5-b4


The Black King stood his ground and noting he had the greater number on the field watched to see if the White King’s suicidal strategy would play out. He thought not.
But he had grossly underestimated his rival.

Phase 2 Release Part 28 THE END GAME

34. Kc3xb4     34. c6-c5


The White King’s strategy was simple keep drawing the enemy in to fight and then finish off the weakened enemy.

Phase 2 Release Part 27 THE END GAME

33. b3-b4        33. a5xb4


The Equilord wouldn’t need his wave attack anymore because there was no more Equilord race full stop. They had been made extinct fighting here. The King if he had an ounce of compassion left in his body would have realized he had no compassion left. The ex Angel was fast becoming the poster boy for Demon spawn.

Phase 2 Release Part 26 THE END GAME

32. Kd2xc3     32. c7-c6


The White King’s strategy was simple keep drawing the enemy in to fight and then finish off the weakened enemy.

Phase 2 Release Part 25 THE END GAME

31. c2-c3       31. d4xc3+


The Black King witnessed the White King transformation and saw his defeat of the Basilisk, he too realized the situation and that the battle would be fought between the two ultimate leaders without their lieutenants. He was confident of his charges that were either brought up or created to obey his every word. He would see how good this crazy winged King would do without his subordinates to help him make his decisions.

The Black King proceeded to order his remaining armies up the board.

The White King knew now from experience of earlier failures that he must win and this would be his proof that his return to heaven would be assured. Didn’t the Angel’s unselfish death in battle prove this?
The King’s first move was to sacrifice the University Bishop’s hounds, his game plan to get the Queen’s daughters to the other end and create a new Queen like the ancient’s promised.

SO begins the End Game

SO begins the End Game
The Battle of the Pawns
The field is set, which King will win through?

Phase Two release Part 24

30. Ke3xRd2 30. b6-b5



This left the White King without any regiment leaders, the White King was now a commander of small leaderless groups of men, pawns usually best used as cannon fodder.
The White King pulled himself up from his battle throne and facing the Basilisk threw off his royal robes and burst his wings from their restraints. The King faced the Black monster snake with full wingspan and smote down the beast.

Now things were even both armies were left with a King a leaderless rabble.
The Best King will win through.

Phase Two release Part 23

27. QBh6-d2    27. QRg8-g1+
28. Ke1-e2      28. QRg1-g2+
29. Ke2-e3      29. QRg2xQBd2

The Black King watched as his wife fell to the Bishop but had no time to think about it as the forces moved directly at him. The Bullrok’s parasites had done a fitting job of repelling the attack but fell in the process not before the caused serious damage to the enemy.

He had never suffered such loses and if he came out of the battle the victor there would be many a rebuilding and replacing to do. There had been many glorious deaths today and all of them would be rewarded with trips to the afterworld and glory forever. The King however was immortal and would never know that glory he would just be another screaming voice in his successors head, so losing was not an option.

He called to his dead Queen’s Basilisk.

It was now apparent that both armies had lost their sub leaders and the field was awash with minor armies drifting directionless. The Black King has also noted that the White King had left himself exposed due to the Bullrok’s attack earlier and planned appropriate action.

The Basilisk snaked its way all the way down the battlefield flank, it was on this side that most of the carnage had taken place, it thought nothing of it, it had a task to perform and that was all it had in it’s mind.

The White King watched the serpent approach unchecked and realized too late that the majority of his army were on the opposite flank and positioned himself out of harms way, the Basilisk counter moved placing the King still in danger.


The King then went to seek protection amongst the smaller primary armies knowing all to well that in doing so he left the subordinate but weakened Bishop exposed and the Basilisk struck wiping out the Head of the University and his charges.

Phase Two release Part 22

26. QBf4xh6 26. Kh8-h7

The Bishop’s victory had inspired the White King who had decided that winning at any cost was the only option now. The death of the Angel had shown that this battlefield was a gateway to the heavens by the powerful rays of its life force bursting through the cloud cover above them. The King was sure he caught a glimpse of the three ancients as they watched from high above when the clouds momentarily parted.
The Black King could be seen near the remains of the Titan and steam engine maybe this was the chance to end this for good.
The Bishop took his Kings advice and struck at one the smaller Black army forces who blocked it’s way but the crab like fire shooters took their toll on an already depleted group and the Bishop fell back.

Phase Two release Part 21

25. QBc1xQf4 25. h7-h6

The Black queen’s confidence had grown quite high and seeing the state of her King and the added bonus of the Shaman no longer alive, her ambition of leading the people was a strong possibility.

This White army was loosing out to strategy and it would seem it’s most powerful weapons the Mountain and the steam city were now no longer a threat. She set her eyes on the White army leader.

Having not had to move from his position over looking the board because of his dealings with the Steam Engine, the Bishop wished he still had it running now.

He always knew its effectiveness was a short term proposition but when used to its full capacity – like he had –it was a formidable weapon. The Bishop had been viewing the Black Queen’s movements and had deemed her a willing opponent but as the battle wore on she became over confidant and had left her flank exposed to an attack and this would be his glory moment.

The Black Queen concentrating on a way to penetrate the White King defenses was attacked by the fresh forces of the queen’s Bishop and was ill prepared for a defensive. She died never knowing the ultimate power she craved so much.

Phase Two release Part 20

23. d2-d3 23. QRa8-g8
24. KNg2-f4 24. Qd6xKNf4



The Black King had managed to drive all his collective ancestors from inside his head by the simple action of crying for his beloved Bullrok. Emotional weakness was the most effective way to drive the voices away from his mind, this the King discovered early in his days when the voices left as soon as he played with his mighty Bullrok, It was an attribute despised by those who come before him and he was the first to bring affection to the collective consciousness and they had not yet accepted it and hoped he would grow out of it. While grieving his beast he also took the chance to assess the situation. The Black King may be saddened but he was first and foremost a great leader. He called his Queen and she had already proved herself a capable and good wife by taking her charges and causing enemy casualties on her flank.
The Queen aware of the King’s situation and the hindrance rather than help the ancestors could cause sent her Basilisk to guard her husband and King.
This battle was not lost yet.


The Black Queen had kept her presence well hid and had already destroyed the Horse army will a fair degree of stealth, she surveyed the far flank of the battlefield where the Bullrok had fell and saw some openings.

The Skeleton General and his men were surprised at the ease that it took to dispatch the Elephant monster but felt the need to leave the area quickly as the area in which an Angel passes is home to great sorry an infliction that can cause depression in those that stay too long and they headed up the field.

Straight into the waiting army of the Black Queen who followed them after the attack on the Bullrok and the General Skeleton fell.

Phase Two release Part 19

22. KNf4xKRg2 22. d5-d4

The entire field came to a stand still as the moment the Bullrok struck the Angel head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only best described as magical.

The Bullrok stood stunned, as it’s enemy fell feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

The Skeleton General who had caught the Bullrok attack at the last moment had no idea his movement away earlier had caused so much mayhem and seeing the Angel killed filled him with dread, the irony of a reanimated skeleton General thinking how does one kill the un-killable was lost on him.

He turned his men around and attacked the Bullrok as it had attacked the Angel with full force as it stood unprepared.

The Bullrok offered no resistance and almost seem to give itself to death as the General’s skeletal men chopped it down.

THE THREE ANCIENTS

The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrock struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrock stood stunned as its victim fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.



How many millennia had the game been played?
How many contests?
In every one, a certain outcome had been reached – predictable as they would often be… but this?
From their three thrones, the Ancients could only stare in disbelief at the chaos below…

’What can I say Brothers? It looked like a fair fight on paper , maybe give the current board holder a little bit shorter odds and after only two moves the White Army went out to unbackable.
I don’t think I’ve seen a worse strategy for quite a few millennia.
This, mind you, with an Angel at the helm and another in the ranks.
I was sure this was another Black Army white wash.’

‘Indeed brothers, to show such promise only to collapse into chaos… you’d be given to think that one of the holy host would have better control of its subjects. And their Queen! A sacrifice such as that so early in the game? Aparently an abundance of pride is a common thread that runs through the ranks of the fallen.’

‘By all means and with pride comes a fall, albeit a mighty fiery one, hey Brother.
But to their credit the White Army Generals seem to have much intestinal fortitude, realising only all too well their King and his Angel pet could very well smite them to dust they took matters into their own hands and changed the course of the battle.’

’They certainly did at that. To see such… lesser… beings so brazenly ignore the will of their King, AND meet the Black Spear head-on. It has certainly raised the quality of the entertainment. Even those who have fallen, have done so valiantly.
And that vessel of stone and steam – such destructive power contained within its walls! I would almost have been convinced that it would remain unmatched upon the battlefield.
Of course, doing so would discount the Black King’s pet. Such a shame that there hasn’t been a fortification built that can withstand its hammer…’

‘Or being…. Let’s be realistic here brothers, hands up who thought we were the only ones who knew the secret of disposing of Angels?
Hmmm… I can see that one took you by surprise too….’

‘So, brothers, we’ve seen these two armies test each other on the board, and I for one am left too confused to call the victor. I’d hoped that we may have seen a change of the guard (that Black King has held the board for too long, methinks), but when an opportunity presents itself, this rabble that calls itself the white army sabotages itself in a spectacular fashion.
At the very least, they’ve certainly confused their opposition, yielding some entertaining results – personally I am glad to see the back of those so-called ‘bishops’. Such a shame that the mighty beast who crushed them so effortlessly in turn fell in swift fashion. Perhaps there’ll be more surprises for us before this disaster of a game is through?’

’Disaster, but compelling viewing Brother.
Do You think anyone saw us down there, when the Angel spiked?’

Below the clouds, the battle continued…

THE HALF TIME REPORT

Over at Redbubble.com where the Second Phase is rolling out, it was decided to have a half time breather so the folks could catch up on the quick fire release date of the twenty pieces so far.

So to keep those with their fingers on the pulse happy while the slow coaches catch up the good people at Game of Kings have released some Behind The News Goodies to pacify them.

How the Battle was built -The Bullrok

Ausven profile

How the Battle was built - BMB interview

How the Battle was built - The Steam City & Blasters

How the Battle was built - Interview with Danny

How the Battle was built - the Rock Titan

How the battle was built- The Game so far

Phase Two release Part 18

21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2

The Bullrok knew nothing of this but speed, an unprepared foe and the sole purpose of removing the Angels head from it’s shoulders ticked all the boxes in the right order for dispatching this Angel.
And it was so.
The entire field came to a stand still at the moment the Bullrok struck the Angel’s head and it separated from its body. Streams of blue light burst from the open neck wound and lit the entire field with a radiance that could only be described as magical.
The Bullrok stood stunned, as its enemy fell, feeling as if all the happiness it had ever known had been drained from its very being.

Those who weren’t stunned by the blue light looked skyward and for the briefest of moments thought they saw three bearded, age weary faces peering down at them.

Phase Two release Part 17

21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2




The King had finally made a decision based on his knowledge of winning not losing and the Angel had stop the deadly Leapers from reaching home soil but the many separate battles had obscured his vision and the true state of the battlefield.

The Bullrok having battered and smashed the steam engine kept an eye from its new lofty perch and witnessed the Angel attack on the Leapers. The Angel was undefended from a forward attack and the Bullrok knowing his King was safe plowed into the unsuspecting Bishop.

Usually an Angel fears nothing because only it and it alones knows how it can die.

Phase Two release Part 16

20. KNe2-f4 20. g3-g2
21. KBf1xg2 21. KRg8xKBg2


The Skeleton General impressed by the University Bishop decided he too should take an active role and almost to flaunt his independence rode in front of the King’s battle headquarters.

See the Bone army move out was the moment the patient but blood hungry Black army Leapers were waiting for and moved further to White armies fortifications and the prize all those that served a master craved. Promotion.



The King’s Bishop; the Angel had been in conflict since the very start of the battle. Everything about the field had a familiar air about it, even the King all of a sudden seemed closer in spirit than before. If only he could remember and lose this confusion that had almost made him useless so far. He had visions before reaching this place of leading the army beside the King to an early and easy victory but nothing had been so far from the truth. His King seemed confused and conflicted. Then as if his thoughts were an omen the King ordered the Angel to defend an attack from the Leapers that had taken both his priests and the Bone Generals men. This time he felt his King was right. His King was right and the Angel sought vengeance for all those the Leapers had killed with a deadly hand.

Phase Two release Part 15

18. QRh5-g5 + 18. Kg8-h8
19. QRg5-g8 +        19. KRf8xKRg8



The ever faithful Bullrok moved the King out of position with seconds to spare and as the Monolith sat motionless and exhausted of power the Bullrok took the huge machine apart with it’s massive hammer till everyone inside was destroyed.