There might be a day where you're going to have to command all your armies from bed as a sick old man, but today is not that day. As long as you can wield a weapon and move reasonably well, nobody is stopping you from fighting. As far as being on open water, well this is the perfect chance to get over that possible phobia.

Since your own intelligence reports on Delerg have always been hazy at best, you gather your information from less reputable places, namely some of the prisons. Nalin sailors as a rule stayed away from Delerg waters due to the Island League, Still there were always the occasional forays into it for illegal smuggling purposes and you specifically have these types give you any and all information as well as a chance to earn their freedom by enlisting in the navy.

While getting the information on island details isn't too much of a problem due to the threat of violence, you don't get a lot of takers to enlist even with the promise of freedom (or implied threats of conscription); at first you believe it's just a criminal attitude of not wishing to be part of the government, but one fellow by the name of Len tells you it's a little more than that. Len is about your age, probably a little older and is the embodiment of an "old sea dog" with his untidy white hair and beard.

Len says he stopped smuggling years ago when he started to feel uneasy sailing in the waters, let alone dealing with some of the people who had become enamored with a weird religion.

"Religion? What kind of religion?" you ask.
"Not exactly sure, but I'm pretty sure it involved the worship of some water god. I remember finding it strange since it wasn't like any of the inhabitants of Delerg were particularly religious before. When one of my friends came into the docks one night babbling a mad tale about how he barely escaped from an ambush of screaming cultists that was around the time I decided to stop making smuggling runs and go into something less dangerous like burglary, obviously I wasn't as good at that since I got caught." Len replies.
"So where is this friend of yours and what did he see?"
"Not in a jail cell if that's what you're wondering. Last I heard he was committed into an asylum. I think he may have very well killed himself. He never did quite get over it and had a hard time talking about the details, but I do remember him saying that the cultists weren't quite human looking and fully intent on sacrificing him, like they did with the others who weren't so lucky to escape I guess."
"What, like the recent fishmen descriptions?"
"Perhaps not quite that far, but he did say they had unnatural eyes and their skin was slimy looking. The reason why you're not getting many enlistees is probably either due to these stories or from personal experience and I imagine the personal experience is rare given that my own friend went completely mad from his own experience. To be quite honest, I'm sort of surprised the Empire never knew any of this before."
"Wasn't an issue before. A few rumors and tales from mad sailors and criminals isn't going to catch serious attention. In fact before people starting seeing fishmen on the coasts I didn't even know about any of this. Delerg was considered low priority, though that may have been a mistake, then again we're probably in a better position to handle this now. So what is your answer on enlistment?"

Len pauses for a moment.

"Well, I've been a criminal nearly all my life and never had much use for following orders. But as much as I like living, I like freedom a lot more. So if enlistment means possibly getting killed by a bunch of fish monsters but the chance of getting out of those hellholes you call prisons, then I'll take the risk. Besides, I'd say my odds are a lot better now seeing as I'll be travelling with the Empire's navy. I figure I can't get any safer than that."
"Sure you can, you're going to be aboard my own personal ship."
"I am?"
"You were a captain weren't you? According to your record you're probably one of the more experienced ones in the damn Empire. Criminal or otherwise. You're going to be navigator of my personal ship, because I sure as hell don't know anything about steering a ship. Plus you have better knowledge of the area, so you're coming with me directly."

Len isn't sure how to respond except with a hesitant thank you. He probably thought he was going to be able to sneak away at some point, but that will be next to impossible now with him being aboard your ship.

When the time comes, you board your personal ship, which is decked out in the best gear available. Actually it's much slower than the rest of the ships due to its size, but then its meant to fight and take punishment, not outmaneuver a possible enemy. Honestly, you aren't even sure what you'll encounter. If the Island League is indeed completely gone, then you may face no opposition at all as far as other ships are concerned. Maybe you'll have strange fishmen scaling your ships in an attempt to kill you. Whatever you face, you'll be ready.

Since the occupation of the islands is the main priority, you're taking a strong force of orcs with you. Sprog himself has volunteered to come, possibly to prove to the rest of his people of how much of a warrior he is. Crowley sent a letter asking if you needed his assistance or the assistance of any of the Eyes as things are much calmer in Rask nowadays, but you tell him the Eyes are needed at home as they always are.

Within a few days you're in Delerg waters, but you've come across no islands yet. Len remarks about how strange this is since according to his memory you should've come across a couple by now. Even the information you received from others with knowledge of the area would dictate that you would've encountered some sort of landmass by now.

When you sail further out to sea, you still don't find any major landmass. There are small patches of land, but nothing that would support a town or other settlement. At best you might be able to build a small guard tower on them and that would be only if the land was relatively flat and solid, which it doesn't appear to be.

"This is damn odd, that small patch of land right there where the Island League's biggest island was! It even had their largest settlement, Barnacle! It's like the waters just swallowed everything up!" Len remarks.
"I'm getting a vague impression I know what happened to this place. All of Delerg in fact. There's nothing here worth conquering now, we might as well…"

Before you can complete your sentence there is a sudden rumble in the water.

"EVERYONE BRACE THEMSELVES!" you shout and then you see several of your ships fly up off of the waters when a large sea monster spectacularly arises from below. Your own ship is rocked severely with water crashing everywhere. For a moment you think night has fallen, but it's just the sea creature blotting out the sun.

The creature is bigger than anything you've ever faced. Even "Snowtop" would be the size of a gnome compared to this thing. Doesn't help that the creature has two heads and several tentacles already crushing some of your ships that weren't destroyed when it ascended in the first place.

"FIRE EVERYTHING AND DON'T STOP UNTIL THAT THING IS DEAD!" you shout and the cannons roar desperately trying to harm the creature. Fortunately the ships that you have left don't seem to be losing their courage and presumably their captains have the same idea of attacking since you can see cannon fire coming from them. Though given their proximity to the creature, they wouldn't be able to retreat in time for it to crush them anyway.

The beast isn't as invulnerable as it would seem as the cannon fire does its work and delivers wounds but the main problem is, it's just too damn big. You cast frost bolts at its tentacles that are attempting to wrap around the ship, you then order your troops to shatter them while they're still frozen. This works well enough that it keeps your ship afloat, but there's more than just the sea monster to worry about and you fully expected something like this to happen even before you met the leviathan.

Several of the fishmen begin scaling your ship. While your ship is well defended and has the skilled manpower it needs to repel the attack, you get the impression that some of the aquatic attackers are probably trying to put holes in it from underneath.

"Sprog take some of your people, get in the water and kill everything!" you shout. Sprog doesn't argue, he just nods at your command. Assuming if the both of you manage to get out of this alive, you at least know you've got his complete loyalty now. Nothing like fighting side by side against impossible odds to gain respect.

Stripping off what little armor he was wearing in the first place, Sprog goes into full bezerker orc battle frenzy while ordering some of his best to follow him down into the water. You know orcs are tough, but you hope they'll be able to fight these fishmen in their own environment. It is a severe disadvantage after all.

Meanwhile the beast is continuing to destroy the rest of your fleet. You can see people in the water desperately attempting to cling to floating wreckage, only to be pulled underneath the waves by the fishmen who are picking them off. Your own ship has slowly changed direction thanks to Len taking command of the steering wheel.

"We can't fight this monster! We have to retreat!" he shouts pulling the wheel of the ship as hard as he can.

He's probably right and who knows, if you tried right now, you might actually manage to get away while the beast is still primarily occupied. That certainly would be the most sensible thing to do; of course something about this whole experience is making you feel well…good. Your heart is pumping, you're full of energy and you're determined to show this undersea abomination that you're not ready to lie down and accept the fact that you're getting older.

"NO! I can't let this beast beat me! I never lose!" you shout and knock Len off of the wheel who looks at you like you're insane and scurries off to find a hiding spot.

With battle and bloodshed all around you, with the sounds of cannons and swords filling your eardrums, you make your way to the crow's nest to gain the highest vantage point you can. From there you get your best look at the sea monster. The large holes in its body where cannons have blown off chunks of it convince you that it can be defeated. It's just going to take a little magic that's all… or rather a lot of it.

You begin to focus…

You create a lightning storm

As high as you currently are, the beast is still several times higher and should easily be a perfect target.

You concentrate and as you do you begin to feel little charges and sparks around you and the air begins to have a faint smell of electricity. As dark as the sky is with the beast blocking the sun with its size, the sky gets even darker when storm cloud gather.

You directly unleash a blast of lightning right at one of the creature's heads. It must be enough to addle what passes for brains in the creature, because the serpentine head begins to flail back and forth making an incredibly loud bellow and knocking into the other head and taking it off its concentrated effort to destroy your fleet. Then a rumbling comes from the sky and you're nearly blinded by the light show that occurs next.

With the storm clouds, the creature takes several lightning strikes to both of its heads. If the creature wasn't in pain or addled before, it certainly is now. Its roaring of pain is so great that it's practically deafening. You don't let up though, you continue to summon the lightning and that's when you learn that you only have so much control over nature. The lightning strikes begin going all over the place. Some hit your ships, so hit the water and some continue to hit the beast.

You struggle to direct the lightning, but your energy ebbs quickly as you fail to do so and you take a direct bolt yourself. It's a quick and odd feeling. You feel a great deal of pain, followed by a warm sensation and then you briefly realize you've fallen from the crow's nest, which was completely destroyed by the blast.

You then feel extreme agony when you not only crash onto the deck of the ship, but also through it. You land on some barrels though all you know is when you land you heard a snap and a numbness wash over your body.

And that's when you know; you're paralyzed from the neck down.

You hear the sounds of battle continue all around you, some of the crew that were manning the cannons on the lower deck call for help when they see you, but there's nothing anyone can do to help you. Everything's blurry, you've probably got a concussion, and death has never been so close to you since you fought the Emperor.

You're going to fall asleep and your body will sink under the water when the ship is inevitably destroyed. There the fish will eat you or possibly the creatures you're fighting will eat you. Its possible Crowley might step up and take command of the Empire, but after him? You don't see it lasting very long. Your own legacy will eventually be forgotten and that will be the story of you.

That is if you had any intention on dying today.

"Get away from me and get back to fighting, you're not done yet!" You weakly command the crewmembers that are standing around gawking at you.

You remember the lessons the Emperor taught you about healing yourself. At this point you're in dire need of A LOT of healing and you imagine you'll easily be shortening your life span quite a bit in the process, but then you aren't supposed to be alive right now anyway.

You focus again. You will your body to mend itself together. In your weakened state you're drifting in and out of consciousness already, but somehow you manage to push through it and feel the magic doing its work.

You start to feel your body again. You're wracked with pain, but you can feel again. You try to get up, but you're still just too weak and drained. You see a fishman coming down the ship's stairway and alert your crew with a shout. The last thing you see is the thing coming at you before you pass out.

"Lover? Have you finally come to join me?" you hear a voice ask.
"Huh? Who is that?"
"It's me, of course."

You open your eyes and see Semra hovering over you. She looks exactly like you remember well except she happens to be completely naked right now. (Though you remember that too)

"Shit, I'm dead after all." You say. "And given that you're here I must be in some sort of hell."
"Ah, I missed that dry sense of humor. I also missed this." Semra remarks and you feel a hand on your crotch.

Normally you'd probably push her away, but given everything you just went through you figure that if this is your personal hell, you could certainly do worse. Just as you're about to give in completely, Semra's head is cleaved in with a single sword blow. Blood splatters all over you and her body slumps lifelessly onto your own.

"Is this what you fucking want? I thought you were stronger than that! The man I married never gave up!" another familiar voice says.

After pushing Semra's dead body off of you, you look up and see Alison in all her warrior maiden glory. You never thought you'd ever see her again though you wish she were in a happier mood.

"Alison I…"
"Nope, don't even try to make an excuse! I caught you and you're not getting off that easy. I'm doing this for your own good!"

You see Alison's sword coming straight at your head, but you don't attempt to dodge, instead you sit up to meet the sword half way…

And you wake up with a splitting headache and your body still hurting all over.

"Hah, told you he was going to wake up. He's not called an Eternal for no reason you know. You owe me two gold pieces Sprog!" Len exclaims.
"Sprog owes you what?"
"Erm, nevermind. Welcome back to the living Emperor. Everyone wasn't sure if you were going to make it or not, but I had a feeling you might."
"Bah, should've died. Was a glorious battle. Be great honor to die in such a battle." Sprog remarks.
"Oh really? Then why didn't you make more of an effort to die then?" Len asks.
"Sprog still need to produce more children first, now more than ever since three sons died on other ships. Must ensure legacy!" Sprog says and walks away.

You look around and find yourself still on the lower deck of your personal ship. You guess that nobody wanted to move you for fear of doing more damage to you body. It's a mess on the lower deck and there's still a hole from where you crashed through, but obviously the ship survived the battle. As you sit up, you nearly lay back down due to the pain. A volley of expletives soon follows.

"Easy there! While I know you just survived something no man should have, I'm pretty sure taking a direct hit from a lightning bolt and crashing through the deck of a ship from a great height still has to be painful. In fact its odd, but you even look a little older because of the experience."

"You have no idea…" you remark.
"Insisting on fighting that beast had to be the single most insane things I've ever seen, but while I was personally afraid I can't help but admire it. Despite him believing you were going to die, I know Sprog certainly admired it." Len says.
"He probably hoped I was going to die. Still glad to see he's honorable enough that he didn't try to take advantage and kill me while I was unconscious though. Glad to see you didn't either."
"I was a smuggler, not a murderer. Besides I don't think anything I could do would actually kill you anyway after seeing what you just survived."
"So did we win? I can only assume us still being afloat means we won…unless we've retreated…"

Len gives an apprehensive look before answering.

"Well…yes and no. Technically we won, though I'm not sure if we actually killed that sea monster. After you crashed through the deck of the ship, the fishmen continued to scale the ship, but the sea monster continued to be hit by lightning. It eventually sank back beneath the waters, but like I said, I dunno if we killed it or it just swam away. Soon after that happened the fishmen stopped attacking too."
"But?"
"But, other than this ship and a couple of others straggling along side us your fleet is gone, along with all of your people aboard them. We had patch up several holes they managed to put in this ship and we're only sailing at half speed due to all the broken masts, but we'll make it back to Nalin okay barring any other attacks of course."

You curse again, but this time it's more at yourself rather than the pain you're in. You wasted a lot of troops and resources on this endeavor for no real prize. You didn't even acquire any new territory. You think back to Trog's words again about getting old and knowing your limitations, well you certainly learned that lesson today hard.

"Well I suppose it isn't all bad, you did teach those fish creatures that you're not to be trifled with. It was like a battle between gods when you unleashed lightning on that beast's heads. They might think twice about popping up on your shores now." Len says in an attempt to cheer you up.
"We can only hope I suppose." You answer.

The first thing you do when you get back home is try to rest. You do so for as much as you're able for weeks and while you do eventually recover, you're never quite the same again. You've visibly gotten older due to the healing magic and it only did so much, you're still experiencing dull aches and pains on a daily basis. Worse than you did before you went on the mission. You'll never be like you were. Those days are long gone.

On the bright side, there have been no more sightings of fish people on the coasts, so perhaps your venture was fruitful after all, unless they're biding their time and trying to regroup which is exactly what you'd do, so naturally you've ordered the building of a new fleet along with proper naval training for potential sailors.

Of course if the fishy people are no longer a threat that still means Trog's vision of a relentless enemy still looms. Which means it's either the Xi Hive or an as of yet unknown enemy.

More things to look forward to as you approach your twilight years.
Year 555

"Reports as usual say that the Xi have been becoming more frequent in the Arat region and that they have been sighted close to Empire borders, specifically near the city of Regnik." David remarks.
"Well that would be the most logical place for them to attack first seeing as it's the closest. Seeing as the Xi like to attack from underground, have all of our kobold units on alert and have the seventh scaly brigade stationed in Arat. I know they're the best of those little vicious bastards and I'm confident that they can slow down or repel such a Xi attack before the rest of the armies get mobilized. Probably can do some tunnel scouting and digging as well." You remark.
"Very well, but I also have a report stating that the Xi have mostly been focusing on the Arat Confederacy. All four cities have been attacked and apparently Eldolith wants to speak with us about coordinating forces to destroy the threat. Apparently she's also been sending people to speak with the Redcap Kingdom too. No idea if that was successful."
"So Eldy's having a bug problem and now she's begging for help. I'm a little surprised that she swallowed her pride enough that she's willing to talk at all. So when is she due to arrive?"
"She isn't, she claims that if you want to talk that you should meet her on neutral ground between Lenay and Regnik."
"Typical svelk arrogance. Call for help and then insist that it be on their terms. (Sigh)"
"You're aren't thinking about going are you?! Surely it will be some sort of trap."
"Of course it will be a trap. But if I did go I could probably learn more about what she's been up to if I go and in the off chance that this isn't a trap and completely on the up and up then I can still better assess what her situation is and the Xi Hive threat."
"But Emperor, your condition…I mean not to say your aren't a fit man for your um…age…but that battle with the sea beast five years ago…well I just mean I don't want to see you walk into something a tad overwhelming for you again. The Empire needs you."

These are some pretty bold words, though David was as diplomatic as he could've possibly been. Really brave on his part, though he didn't need to fear anything from you. He's right, you're still feeling that battle to this day and will continue to until the day you die.

David's actually been a bit of a surprise to you. When he first groveled for the job of being your top advisor you assumed that like most of the senators of the old Nalin republic he was just looking to save his skin while also looking for the best possible position he could get in the new order of things. He got it because he seemed to be competent and the least annoying at the time. Since then though he's proven himself to be good at his job and genuinely care about his work and the good of the Empire.

"While your concern is noted, I'm not going anywhere. Send a message to her stating that if she really wants to discuss terms of an alliance or something similar she's going to have to drag her svelk ass here."

David nods and leaves your presence.

Seeing as all your major business is concluded today you head back to your personal chambers. You spend a little time reading a new book that Jennifer has written with her new husband. It's all about the old Empire and called "The Glory Before the Fall" Fairly accurate, but then again she did have your input on the thing. Still never told her (or anyone for that matter) about you her ancestor being involved in killing the Emperor which indirectly caused the Cataclysm. You suppose that'll just be one of those secrets lost to history when you die.

As you're reading you begin reflecting on your old relationship with Jennifer. It sometimes seems strange that the two of you have remained friends despite not being romantically involved anymore. Of course the two of you just see one another as much anymore either so that might help.

Really your relationship with her was more due to a young crush on her part and perhaps a bit of loneliness on your own. She saw you as a "pillar of strength" and the pinnacle of a "warrior." Basically someone who got things done which was somewhat lacking with most of the leaders and citizens of the republic. You were different and it was attractive, then she slowly grew out of it.

Now she's happily married to someone more similar to her. A scholar interested in history. She even had a son a couple years ago. And that's all okay with you. You're happy for her. You've got so many more concerns nowadays that you can't be bothered to feel pangs of regret of "what could've been."

Besides, Jennifer was and will always be nice and one of the few people you could consider a friend, but she was no Alison. Nobody ever will be.

All this self-reflection and thoughts about Jennifer's family makes you ponder your own lack of one though. Not so much due to an overwhelming desire to have one, but more of what's going to happen to the Empire after you die?

You've been thinking about that on and off ever since your last brush with death actually. To be quite honest you never really thought about a successor mainly because for a long time you were focused on actually being the Emperor rather than passing the title on. It would be easier of course if you could have children, and then just pass it on that way, but then even if you could, that wouldn't be a guarantee they'd be worthy or show the desire or interest. You were unnaturally molded into the way you were, who is to say how your imaginary children would've turned out even if you attempted to mold them into mirror images of yourself.

That of course just leaves passing the Empire on to someone worthy. You've briefly entertained the idea before and believed that Crowley would potentially be the best candidate. Of course given that he's around your age, he's not likely to live any longer than you are, assuming you die of natural causes which isn't necessarily a given even if you are taking less risks nowadays.

You begin thinking that perhaps you should get some sort of list of the Empire's best and brightest and subject them to a series of tests to see if they're worthy enough to be an apprentice of sorts. Basically what the Emperor did with you except without all the magical alteration and the sadistic svelk taskmasters.

You spend the next few days going over records of various soldiers, Eyes, administrators, technicians, politicians and others, though being a warrior yourself you can't help but be biased toward the military types, but you don't want to overlook anything.

During this time David reports to you that Eldolith is actually in Dalt and demanding an audience. That didn't take long though you're a little surprised she actually showed up in person, you figured she'd send a flunky of some sort.

When you go to meet her she's standing with her personal guard and looking around as if just being in a room full of humans is tainting her svelk "purity."

"Hello Eldy, I'm sure you're anxious to get this over with…"
"Don't address me by a shortened version of my name in an attempt to be condescending, I am Domina Eldolith D'vessa of the Arat Confederacy!"
"Hrm, and I'm sure that sounds very impressive when you tell your subjects in that little nation of yours."
"Yes, a little nation that stood strong against the Xi for years and managed to survive your expansion efforts. A testament that it's the QUALITY of the nation rather than the size."

You chuckle.

"Eldy, the only reason your nation is still around is because I've allowed it and I suggest that YOU do not come here grand standing when you are in no position to do so. We all know you're here to beg for my help with the Xi because they're kicking your ass. Now we can make this as easy OR as humbling as possible. Your choice."

Eldolith gives you a look of absolute burning hatred and is silent. Her personal guards shift uncomfortably and your own soldiers are fondling their rifles looking for an excuse to open fire.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Eldolith remarks.
"Actually not as much as you'd think, mainly because I don't want you here anymore than you want to be here, so how about we get to the point like I originally suggested?"
"Fine, here it is. The Xi are beating on the Confederacy's doors. We've been your buffer zone between them and you. If we fall then you're going to have to face them in full force."
"And? You seem to believe that we aren't going to be able to handle that. Not a very compelling argument Eldy."
"Because you're a short sighted f…" Eldolith stops herself. "What I mean is you haven't let me finish. We have an ancient magic weapon at our disposal that could end this threat completely, but the problem is…(sigh) none of our own mages are powerful enough to tap its full potential. As much as I hate to inflate your ego any more than it is, I believe you magical abilities would be able to. So as you can see, you don't need to marshal armies to our defense or waste any resources. All that is required of you is to get up off your throne for one moment and take a trip to Lenay and we can get started…"

You burst out laughing.

"Oh yes, let me just go walking into a city filled with svelk! That won't be a death sentence at all! You expect me to just trust you at your word? Even if you do have this so called powerful weapon, I still have a hard time believing that there isn't some sort of trick or catch or angle that doesn't involve me dead in some way."
"I thought you were the Emperor? Mr. invincible and fearless? Have you gotten so cow…cautious in your old age that you can't handle being alone?"
"Eldy, if you think this pathetic attempt of character assassination is going to suddenly cause me to behave in some erratic manner and go to Lenay you're sadly mistaken. You never were any good in the art of persuasion. The only way you're going to see me in Lenay is if I'm leading a conquering army through it which given your continued insolence is starting to look more appealing, so who knows maybe you will see me there soon. Now get out of my sight before I put an end to your miserable life before the Xi do!"

"Fuck this, I told her this was futile!" Eldolith exclaims and her personal guards surround her with a magic shield. Bullets from your soldiers are absorbed into the barrier.

"Congratulations, you just made this easier." You say and focus on bringing down the shield, while your soldiers advance with their weapons.
"I think not, a lot of time has passed since I was a mercenary captain and you were an Empire puppet who had not yet cut his master's strings!" Eldolith says and suddenly she floats above her own personal guards followed by a red glow of light from her. Her personal guards at this point all begin screaming in pain. Whatever it is she's doing she's sacrificing her own people to do it. Then a super blast of telekinetic energy repels all of your troops back. You even have a hard time not falling over.

Eldolith casts some sort of spell that literally starts melting your soldiers' weapons. Some manage to drop them before the hot metal scalds them too much. Your own Eye mages lob offensive spells at her, but they aren't penetrating the shield. Some aim for her soldiers, but they aren't moved despite some of them even being on fire. They're already in a living death state anyway.

Eldolith never had any magic abilities, and while its possible she studied and trained herself, but something seems off about all this, not to mention her odd comments.

Just as you bring her shield down, a portal opens up behind you. You have no idea where it's going, but you can feel it pulling you in slightly.

"Time to be reunited!" Eldolith shouts and a red beam of magical energy is thrown in your direction.

You dodge the beam

If you were twenty years younger and not saddled with countless old wounds that cause your body to react much slower nowadays, you'd probably easily dodge the beam, hell if you were just ten or five years younger even.

However, you aren't and your agility isn't what it used to be. When you attempt to duck and roll out of the way, you just succeed in spraining your back with your sudden move, but that's the least of your concerns when Eldolith's red beam hits you directly in the head. You feel a crushing pressure all around your skull for a moment and then a "pop" sound is heard inside our head before your brain is completely scrambled by an overload of…well whatever the hell Eldolith hit you with. All you know is it hurts a lot in the few moments you're actually conscious to experience the pain.

With your brain fried and blood leaking out of your ears you collapse to the floor.

If Eldolith's goal was to get you into that portal, she's going to have to drag your corpse in there now.