A Game of Thrones RPG

It had not taken much effort after acquiring the Elysian throne for Amora to ascend to ruling over Asgard. The city had recovered drastically since von Doom’s siege, and had nearly returned to its ethereal architectural and aesthetic beauty. However the turmoil left behind from Odin’s death had not yet settled. With the Allfather dead and tensions rising between the Nobles, the Asgardian people had been desperate to find a leader as wise and strong as Odin when Amora returned to her home as the Queen of Elysia.

With word of her new title spreading quickly through the Golden City, it did not take long for the gods to admire Amora as their avenger. And those who did not said little otherwise, knowing the Asgardian forces could not stand to fight another war with Elysia so soon after their defeat. With the respect and support of the Asgardian people behind her, and her silver tongue and Valdar to persuade those who weren’t, Amora rose without opposition to sit upon Odin’s throne, Hlidskjalf.

From the moment she became the reigning Queen of the Gods, Amora did not hesitate to begin conditioning Asgard to return to the state of glory and power it was built on. She enlisted new captains to prepare the Imperial Guard, increasing both the length and thoroughness of their training as well as their numbers to ensure her army was meticulously refined to aptly defeat any and all threats found within any of the Nine Realms. These measures included having the Dwarves in Nidavellir forge new weapons for the Guard, made with celestial craftsmanship to ensure peerless lethality and near invulnerability. She dismissed every member of Odin’s previous council members, replacing them with carefully selected Nobles who followed with unyielding faith behind the cold and cunning Enchantress. Amora’s decisions to reshape Asgard in her own vision went unquestioned, as she made her presence on the throne one of absolutely authority.

Throughout the Golden City, the effects of Amora’s reign were quickly noticed. With more gods employed by the Imperial Guard and less lazy Nobles hording the majority of the city’s fortune, the inhabitants of Asgard began to see more wealth, jobs and goods than it in thousands of years. Asgard had always existed as an idyllic city, but under Amora’s rule, it seemed to be radiating with prosperity.

With both the Asgardian and Elysian thrones under her control and the Cosmic Cube in her possession, there seemed no force on Asgard or Midgard who could stand to face the Enchantress’ power. And this is how she planned to keep it.

Amora had never considered returning von Doom’s throne to him, and the thought had never crossed her mind to grant him the Cosmic Cube. It made little difference to her whether or not von Doom had guessed at her true intentions, for now, she held both Asgard and Midgard in the palm of her hand. And she didn’t plan on allowing him to take it from her.

With the Cosmic Cube hidden away safely with her servants on Vanaheim, Amora had given clear and vital instructions to Heimdall, the guard of the Bifrost Bridge, not to allow any mortal access to the City of the Gods. She counseled the Imperial Guard on their duty to stay on constant alert for the presence of intruders within Asgard. And she had fortified every hall and chamber within the Imperial Palace to be prepared for any and all possible attacks. Most importantly, she had Valdar beside her at nearly all times, the Godslayer the most trusted and valuable of all her weapons.

The Enchantress had personally shed light of gold and glory on Asgard, and now she would not allow any threat, mortal or immortal alike, to attempt to take her kingdom from its Queen.

@amora:

No one could have guessed this to happen. Many questioned Doom's executive decisions in allowing a goddess, especially one known for her alluring nature, to ascend to the hallowed throne of Elysia. Some even doubted his strength of character at this point in time, concerned with his mental health after so many years planning in the shadows and beyond the cosmos. But these were of no consequence to Doom. His regality, even in banishment, could not be denied or made mockery of. Amora sat atop the mountain, looking down on the pissants she commanded with unfaltering arrogance and a hypnotizing glimmer in her flawless eyes. She could do anything now.

Or so she thought.

Doom once contacted Anthony Stark during his pilgrimage through the Middle East. There, the future president of the United States of America found the disgraced monarch in a cave, humbled and living in squalor. Yet even then, Doom's will could not be broken. The product of his labor there would be seen shortly, as his armored boots graced the sands of humanity's ancestral homeland once more, the tattered remains of his royal cloak clinging to him as his facemask reflected both the ire of the sun as well as his own defiance of its insufferable heat.

"This should be the place," he mumbled dryly, his throat almost closing due to lack of water. His bloodshot eyes dashed across fragments and details hidden under feet of sand, which soon turned to yards.

But at long last, the object of his determination came into existence. A simple machine, really, but one that secured the reins to an emergency plan for the ages. The main component comprised of a DNA scanner begged for Doom's participation, which he accomplished by jamming his scarred hand palm-down into the registry container. A few seconds passed, and it whirred to life, recognizing the instigator as "Lord Otto von Doom," before disintegrating entirely.

Then, the sands began to shift. Rising from the tides of bloodstained sediment, a mountainous creation took shape.

The ultimate contingency plan of Doom blasted apart the earth upon its entry into reality, its absence from the Vine dimension necessary for its total privacy and secrecy. The Iron Tyrant took the first step towards it in full confidence, and continued this pace without pause or break. Already, his most loyal servants would be teleported to the front gate. Hammerstein, performing at peak capacity, saluted his king with a closed fist, beginning the cycle that continued with Schwarzwald, then Stravinski, then Crawford. Doom's vampiric butler Basil ended the reunion ceremony with a deep bow and a smile on his face.

"I trust that the next phase of the plan is ready to begin?" he spoke out loud, casually opening the door and allowing the others to enter before he did.

"The war was just a facade to gauge the Asgardians. Apparently, burning their city, slaughtering thousands, and destroying one of the Nine Realms is not enough to cause them suitable grief," Doom replied, gesturing for the lights to magically illuminate the innards of the massive tower.

Once Basil closed the entrance with himself, the Four Weapons and Doom already inside, the silent monastery faded once more into the depths of dimensional oblivion, a null spot in the Yggdrasil, where nothing could exist and yet everything existed. At the same time, this intensive cosmic interference would dissuade any and all tracking devices, telepathy included. The tower itself floated in this madness, but its walls were equipped with unique buffers that provided the perfect protection for the brilliant minds at work within.

"Lord Doom, if I may interject," Crawford spoke out. "What exactly is all of this? I did not find anything contained in my files about this place or the next phase of this...plan of yours,"

"Of course you did not. I could not risk anything happening to the tower or its purpose to be revealed until the right moment,"

Doom took a seat at an elevated chair, much in the style of his own throne back in Elysia, while the Four Weapons gathered around a small table with benched inlaid into the floor surrounding it. Basil remained standing, preparing tea as he always did for meetings like this.

"The location of the Cosmic Cube has been something I've been searching for ever since I learned of the Infinity Gems' one flaw: if one is destroyed, then the Gauntlet cannot achieve its full potential. I already knew I could not conquer all of time and space with the Gems in their entirety, let alone with one missing. They were a stepping stone at best. But the Cosmic Cube is something else entirely, and I must have it,"

Basil laid out four saucers and cups before pouring into each one a serving of tea in equal, uninterrupted, measures. Yet, the Four Weapons continued to listen to Doom. Even in rags and old armor, he commanded their absolute attention.

"Right now, Amora is in command of one of the greatest armies ever to see the light of day. They parade around her, day and night, protecting her wishes as if they were their own. And then she has Asgard,"

A violent spit, and Schwarzwald almost choked. Stravinski punched him in the stomach, sending him reeling out onto the floor.

"How dare you mock Lord Doom with your laughing, monkey-boy?!" she shouted, already preparing to continue the attack.

"W-Wait! Lord Doom, was that a joke?" Schwarzwald coughed, trying to find justification for his outburst.

"...No,"

With Anastasia beating Ortaeus into a coma and Basil desperately trying to coax her away, Doom focused on Hammerstein and Crawford, who had remained seated.

"My Unwavering Gaze,"

"I'll do my best." The computer genius stood and bowed.

"My Impenetrable Shield,"

"Yes, my lord!" The giant shot into a standing position, slamming his fist onto his chest in an honorable 'thump.'

During this minor manipulation of ideas, Schwarzwald and Stravinski stopped "fighting" and slid into the line. Ortaeus had a swollen jaw and a black eye, but still managed to find a place on his forehead to salute with. Stravinski did the same, but with a proud little smirk when she realized how much pain she caused the blind samurai.

"My Unbreakable Sword and my Undeniable Voice,"

"Yessir!" Ortaeus bellowed happily.

"Of course, Lord Doom!" Anastasia smirked, purposely trying to aggravate the swordsman even more. Before he could get past an annoyed grumble, Doom's voice dominated all of their thought processes again.

"Then it is decided. Plot a course for Asgard, and bring one of the Celestial Engines online. Operation Burning Crusade has begun."

The goddess' sublime figure lay bare in the glowing light of the morning sun, her ravishing skin wrapped in fine bed sheets beside the similarly exposed figure of her slumbering protector, Valdar. The heavenly light of morning fell in through the room's balcony to rest in her golden head of hair, painting it in colors more seraphic than its naturally marvelous blonde. The image of the gods basking peacefully in the golden light was one of idyllic beauty, a sight to be envied by the greatest artists on both Asgard and Midgard.

Removing herself from the brawny arms of the Godslayer and rising gracefully from her bed, the Enchantress glided from her bedroom to rest on the golden railing of her chambers' balcony. The balcony overlooked all of the Golden City and beyond - to the verdant forests and shimmering lakes of Asgard's wilderness and to the star-speckled lights of the endless Sea of Space which existed beyond the blue skies of the empyrean realm. Her enchantingly-hued azure irises looked out over all the captivating spectacles of her homeland, however behind her mesmerizing eyes held a much less charming vision.

The Enchantress reminisced on the days of her mischievous and often cruel activities. Memories of tricking Imperials Guards to travel on suicide missions to Jotunheim for her own enjoyment, or manipulating Asgard's finest warriors to assist her in her endless pursuits for power throughout all of the Nine Realms.

Since ascending to the throne, the majority of Amora's criminal activities had been replaced by the endless necessity for fairness and diplomacy. These responsibilities tired the cunning sorceress, and tainted the pleasure she gained from the unquestioned power the throne granted her.

Looking back over her shoulder at her sleeping companion, she knew, as she always had, that she would never return the immutable loyalty and love he had for her. Their relationship had taken a moderately romantic ambiance, with Amora allowing the Godslayer to share her bed, a decision she had continued to delightfully enjoy the physical benefits of. But emotionally she could not bring herself to love him, an emotion she had always exclusively reserved for the God of Thunder - Thor.

Growing weary of her own thoughts, Enchantress stepped back into her bedroom to retrieve an ensemble that left the majority of her amorous figure on display. Two golden plates, held in place seemingly on their own, covered only a small portion of her fair-sized chest, and were adorned with ornate green trim. Around her hips she wrapped nothing but a supple green string, with gold and emerald jewels resting along her waist where a flowing strand of green cloth covered specific areas between her legs. A pair of green thigh-high boots, embellished with gold designs, and a single green tiara completed her ensemble, which managed to appear simultaneously provocative and threatening. Having assembling her ensemble for the day the goddess left Valdar to continue sleeping in her bedchamber in solitude, while she paced through the palace's hallways toward its war room.

The war room had been where Odin conducted any and all of his plans and strategies related to threats from outside Asgard. These threats had been many, including the Frost Giants, Dark Elves and even those from Midgard. Its expansive space held a large circular table in the center, from which the center projected a mystically-powered visual of any of the Nine Realms. On the walls surrounding the center of the room, various patterns of magic lights displayed the current activity of the numerous defenses found throughout the city. It was within the walls of the war room and employing the arcane magic technologies used by the Asgardians that Odin had controlled Asgard's forces. And now, in his death, Amora took her seat at the head of the war room's table.

"What news have thee?" she asked directly of the head of the Imperial Guard, his golden armor adorned with a flowing royal blue cape.

Balder Odinson was around Enchantress' own age, with countless experiences and victories on the battle field. His tactfulness and wit outside of combat was matched only by his skill and ferocity during combat. His innate sense of honor had made him weary of Amora during her rise to the throne, but his loyalty to the realm and his father's legacy had made him willingly to lead the Imperial Guard in her name.

"The time may have come, Your Grace. Eyes on Midgard have reported a prolonged absence of Doom within the realm. While we have not been able to locate him elsewhere, we predict he may be preparing to act on taking back Elysia," he informed her, waiting obediently for her response to the report. Enchantress left many of Asgard's war matters solely to Balder, however he had been given strict instruction to inform her of any news regarding the Elysian monarch.

Saying nothing in response to the information, Amora silently made the decision to move forward with actions she had reserved for the day von Doom was once again a present threat to her. Rising from her seat she instructed Balder with calm authority.

“Ready a handful of your most skilled and experienced soldiers. The realm need not be aware of any war. We shall handle this threat quickly and quietly.”

With her command the god and the remaining warriors and councilmen exited the war room, leaving Amora alone for several moments before she rose from her seat to follow behind them.

Striding through the elegant hallways of the palace, the Enchantress reached out telepathically to the minds of those Asgardians whom she had informed of the days to come.

“Valdar, @winter_wolf, @norse_nomad; the mortal worm von Doom has left Midgard. I know not when he may come for Asgard, but I require all of your vigilance for the war to come. Valdar, wait for me in the Throne Room.” With her brief instructions the goddess vanished in a swirl of pink smoke.

Her lithe figure reappeared on one side of a long, thin corridor. She walked with calm confidence down the hallway, an ambiance of malevolent mischievousness radiating from her swaying hips and the subtle smirk dancing across her pillowy lips. At the end of the corridor she stopped, her gaze resting on the luminous Cosmic Cube resting in front of her.

The cube levitated over a single podium, and cast its azure light along the walls of the small corridor. The pure cosmic energy that the cube was comprised of swirled within its center, making the inside appear as though it held its own galaxy.

With the light of the cube reflecting in her own eyes, Enchantress, having previously placed innumerous spells which were removable by only herself, raised a single hand and said nothing as the cube left its hovering position to float toward Amora before she grasped it in her fingers.

Instantly she felt the surge of the cube’s power rushing through her. Her connection to the mystic energies of Asgard felt infinitely multiplied, as though no exertion of energy could tire her. She also felt the electrifying presence of newfound power within herself, knowing her own very thoughts now held the ability to rewrite reality in her own vision.

Tilting her head back she closed her eyes to take in a deep breath, letting the power settle within her as a sinister smile crept over her face. With her forces in place and her own abilities infinity amplified, Amora felt a surge of excitement for the coming humility she would bring to Doom.

With a single glimmer of pink energy the Enchantress appeared within her throne room, where Valdar stood behind the High Seat in the entirety of his Dwarven-crafted battle armor, both his Bloodaxe and Skorn ready to be drawn at any moment. Amora said nothing to him, but instead glided to rest, with arrogant comfort, within her throne. With the light of the Cosmic Cube casting a celestial light across her angelic face, the Enchantress looked straight forward with cunning determination and venomous intent in her azure eyes.

"Let this mortal come try to defeat me. And let him die trying."

The voice of Heimdall carried out a rallying call to the vanguard, the royal guard, and eventually the Praetorians who stood watch over the Hlidskjalf itself. Triumphant trumpets and bugles rang out over the city, but the heart of the commotion did not beat as strongly as the cheering crowds. He smiled and hugged his fellow warriors, their wives, and kissed their children. His hammer stayed in its sheath on his belt, however. He made his way to the ceremonial gates of the citadel and the common masses were forced away. He gave them one last parting glance, a sad wrinkle on his face, and departed leaving the radiance of his golden hair behind.

Without a word he advanced towards the throne, head hanging low, and his knees bent. Only he could have offered the gift he now gestured towards Amora with.

Mjolnir, the genuine article, wielded by the Odinson himself - come to surrender at long last.

---

Many hours earlier...

"He should have had a quiet funeral, buried in the tombs of his forefathers,"

His flowing blonde locks hid a face torn by tears, his infallible hammer resting by his side, the strong arms that normally wielded its insurmountable power hanging uselessly now. The God of Thunder shivered under another tempest of rain, sheets of ice-cold water splashing around him in a futile attempt to quell his burning soul.

As always, a son mourns his father, and few consolations can ever be found. The grave of Odin Borson rested in front of him, a marker on the edge of the Asgardian world that stood as a bulwark - as the Allfather did. But Thor bitterly remembered how the many litanies were sung, almost celebrating Odin's death to an extent, the millions paying their respects like an assembly line. If anything else, he wanted to be alone that day, just as he wanted to be alone on the many days that followed, until the early hours of this very morning cracked over the precipice of the celestial abyss. And still he mourned, finding no light left behind from the father who sacrificed himself for the good of the universe.

There had to have been another way.

As far as he knew, Amora had no interest in Odin or anything else. Even as Queen of Asgard, her attempts at securing the Allfather's justice never seemed to be top priority - if a priority at all. She simply walled herself in the royal chambers, and governed Asgard to her own despicable liking.

"When will Asgard know peace? By what power must I achieve a safe haven for my people?" Thor bellowed angrily over the tumultuous storm brewing overhead, a storm fed by his building rage.

"By a power that is not your own," a voice answered from behind him. He could recognize it anywhere, as it rang just as maliciously as it did during the Siege of Asgard.

---

"My son," the Borson muttered.

This was the final dawn before the battle, Thor could feel it. Everything would change after this.

"Be strong. I want no mercy shown against these Midgardians, as I know you are wont to do,"

"Worry not father. This particular Midgardian eschewed honor long ago when he promised an attack on my city,"

Odin laughed, but not out of entertainment. It was a fatherly laugh. He knew his son's inner strength had finally awoken in this time of dire need, and respected him for it.

"Good. Now go son, rally the warriors. Drive Doom away from Asgard at all costs!"

---

And yet here he stood, bold and undeterred. The Iron Tyrant, an icon of terror and power, never to be moved save by his own jurisdiction. His arms were folded across his barrel chest, and he looked down on the Odinson, condescending to the end of all things.

"God of Thunder," he muttered in a dull roar, betraying his loathing for the being who dared call himself a 'god'.

"By what treachery do you invade my home again, Midgardian? Haven't you done enough to cause my people suffering?"

"Hardly, but that is not why I am here,"

The familiar iron mask of the Ultimate Oppressor cast an eerie shadow over Thor as the rain continued to pelt the two. The ensorcelled storm hid them away from prying eyes, as Doom played a dangerous game by traveling to the only other person whom he knew Amora would be watching. He realized this plot would perhaps not happen in total secrecy, but he accomplished one thing in shielding this meeting. In his many years of creating artificial Cosmic Cubes, he studied their anatomy and learned the structure of the real thing. Perhaps he knew it better than anyone. The end result of this continued practice gave him a myriad of specializations, one of which existed in creating shields against the powers of supposed omniscience provided by the Cube. At least Amora would not find him as long as he maintained this null zone.

"I am here on behalf of Midgard, and on behalf of the Nine Realms in general,"

"You fiend! Do you not remember how you almost destroyed Hel's domain? We had barely the energy and the manpower to return it to normal, and by the end of the ordeal many criminals had already escaped!"

"That is not my concern, Odinson," Doom replied emptily. "Amora cannot sustain the cosmic barriers that support the Realms as Odin did,"

Thor rose to his feet, towering over Doom. Even the monstrous bulk of the Thunder God did little to dissuade the Elysian Monarch from his position. Mjolnir returned to his hand, knuckles clenched white, and it seemed evident that he wanted to splatter Doom's carcass across the canyon into an unfathomable infinity. Yet, just as Doom predicted, Thor's honor held true and he paused his violent tendencies.

"I shall listen, for only this once. You - who murdered my father - know much about the celestial webways as well as the inner workings of reality, while I do not. What did you discover?"

"So the wisdom of Odin did not totally elude you. Very well. Odin had the innate power to hold the Realms in check. Ever since Kiros disappeared, it has fallen to a third party power source to maintain not only Asgard but the entirety of the Yggdrasil as well. Amora may have the Cosmic Cube, but it is a pale imitation of the power required to keep the World Tree from collapsing. Perhaps she has foreseen this, and purposely kept to herself upon Hlidskjalf. The image of power to her is more appealing than its actuality, after all,"

At this point, Thor had enough of Doom's inhuman attitude and grabbed his royal robes by the chest, lifting his armored body a full three feet off the ground.

"I will not hear of this! What proof do you have that Amora will sit idly by and let everything be destroyed? What proof do you have of anything?"

Unafraid of the unlimited strength threatening to destroy him, Doom coldly answered: "Doom is many things, but a liar is not one of them,"

The God of Thunder had a fleeting moment of a berserk wrath boiling in his heart, before it melted away. He released Doom's cloak, an earnestly mortified expression on his face.

"I apologize for my rashness,"

"As you should," Doom almost called him a 'bumbling clod,' but reserved that insult for later. "Go to Asgard, and surrender yourself to Amora. Once she lets her guard down, I am sure you'll think of something theatrical and heroic to do,"

"And what of the Cube?"

"The Cube is mine, as it should have been long ago,"

"What about if Asgard falls due to another ruler gone? Amora wielding the Cosmic Cube is no substitute for Odin, but she is at least trying!"

"Then perhaps that is when the Odinson steps in and assumes his right to rule, don't you think? Stop sulking in the shadows and take what you deserve,"

"You have no interest in the Asgardian throne?"

"Doom only takes what is his. Your throne will be mine in due time, but it does not interest me now. Smashing the aspirations of those who have stolen from me, however, does,"

---

Doom made it possible that their first and only meeting would be unseen and unheard of. Yet, Thor had to make this as legitimately believable as possible. He never grew accustomed to prostration, especially to a foreign dignitary. Yet without this motion of humility, there would be no future for Asgard - nay, for all Nine Realms.

"With your blessing, I shall fight for you. You,"

The next part pained him more than anything.

"My Queen, Amora, have won,"

---

"So you are saying that you need my help?"

"No,"

---

In the many times she hypnotized him, she never once failed to inspect her prize. The Thunder God almost expected this by now, and it would be his opening. Keeping a closed mind like Doom suggested, Thor only stared blankly down at the floor. When he saw her specially-modeled boots entrapping her feet, he would know when to spring the trap. The Cube never left her side.

A short toss of Mjolnir's unstoppable weight towards Valken would bring the beast down temporarily. A simultaneous grab for the Cosmic Cube, and the deceptively simple plan would come to fruition. Trickery was the last thing to expect from the God of Thunder.

---

"Doom needs no one."