Prophecy or Self Fulfillment

I don't believe in fate. I subscribe to each individual controlling their own destiny. Others, believe in Fate. I wonder, does that belief catalyze the end? Does it lead to fulfillment, because one's belief drives to it.
 
We stand in the midst of a Dwarven prophecy. King Firebeard believes that the return of their magical ax has signaled his end. It is my experience, when you believe you will die, you do, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.
 
I can see the look in the King's eyes. He has succumb to the prophecy, before the fight even begins. Why does he seek death? Can he not see he controls his own fate?
 
We join the King in the main hall. The Terror, a Balor from a plane of the Hells stands in the midst of protective magic dome. The dome is fed via energy from 2 individuals. Hundreds of undead and chaos forces crowd the hall. The dwarves stubborn resilience will be tested this battle. The forces clash. The clanking of metal fills the halls as the battle ensues.
 
I immediately call out to the group, "We must disrupt those energy beams or we will lose this fight before it has begun!"
 
Freya call out, I am opening a portal to that location. Arcane words and gesticulation opens our gateway. As she does this, the party casts protective magics and we step through. Freya must concentrate on the portals, protecting her is key to our victory.
 
Normally, I am I join Rory on the front, but I feel that my battle strategies managing the Dwarves, our party, timing of effects are more important to victory. A Skeletal Knight is the source of the energy font. Rory and Kemurial nd King Firebeard make quick work of this energy font. His magical hammer has a concussive effect that deals damage in an area. I can see the value of this weapon. His hammer is the killing blow on the energy font.
 
I call out that we must reposition to the other font, and retreat back the way we came. As the others follow, Freya, allows the current portal to close. Some dwarves are left behind, but that is the way or war. They engage the wall of Chaos Warriors from their rear.
 
As Freya begins casting to open a portal to the second energy font, I review our fores. The dwarven army is fighting, but they are losing. Many have fallen. In large scale battles such as this, numbers are key, and the chaos forces have them in spades. The only way to win this is a Morale Rout. Killing The Terror is our only hope.
 
We portal to the next font and we find a Mage as the energy source here. Her perimeter is surrounded by other mages. This will not be easy. Our concentration spells will be tested. It takes a moment to drop this font, but heavy damage is done. Kemurial, Rory and I take big hits. Rory has been soaking up damage. The mage drops, but the font does not disappear as before. It coalesces into an orb and levitates.
 
The Terror calls out, "Themgrim Firebeard, do you wish to die so soon?"
 
As we look up strategizing on what to do, King Firebeard throws his hammer. It flies to the orb, shattering it. The hammer's magics return the hammer to his hand. I have heard of these hammers, but I have never seen one. Impressive.
 
I look over to the king. His face has death written all over it. Has he given in to the prophecy already!!!!!????? We need him and his hammer!
 
The Balor teleports to our position. Using his firewhip, he lashes onto the King. Bringing him high into the air, he strikes the king with his massive blade, bisecting his body. The Balor drops the King unceremoniously to the floor. a palor falls over the room. The Kings entourage immediately begin to gather his remains and scuttle him back to the throne room.
 
Kemurial picks up the hammer. I presume he is going to use it. I move to the mage circle to disrupt their spells. To my chagrin, Kemurial puts the hammer into his bag of holding. My one error could cost us. I should have yelled to use it before moving to the mages. I presumed Kemurial understood the hammers significance. I was wrong.
 
Freya, Rory and Kemurial are whittling away at the Balor. I, in the meantime and killing off the mages. The Balor teleports behind a pilar. This allows Rory a moment to heal a bit. He was on his last breath. I watch the Balor heal himself. I call out, "HE IS HEALING HIMSELF!"
 
Rory then sprouts wings and advance. Freya focuses her magic on the Balor. Kemurial begins to fly as well to advance.
 
Then a cacophony of voices, including my own yell out to Kemurial, "USE THE HAMMER!"
 
Kemurial reached into his bag, and draws the hammer. But, he is not a dwarf, so the hammer lashes out at Kemurial electrically. Rory and Freya's attack damage the Balor. Kemurial drinks a potion of speed, then throws the hammer and lands a blow into the chest of the Balor. A Dwarven Rune burns into the chest and it screams in pain. Kemurial repeats the attack, and the Balor falls to the ground, writhing. He then explodes into a huge concussive force. The damage destroys the greater majority of the chaos forces, and Rory as well.
 
The remaining forces see the Balor defeated, and turn to run.
 
We won a battle, but not the war. We still have our original goal to obtain the Dwarven Relics to defeat the army's of Chaos. The Balor was not killed, merely banished back to its plane for 99 years. That time will not be spent leisurely. Demonic leaders will not take his defeat lightly.
 
Friar Karl immediately attends to Rory. His medical administrations return him to our presence.
 
The losses of the Dwarven forces are heavy along with their King. This is the cost of war, but the cost of prophecy's are not self fulfilling. Did the King need to die? As the Demon held the King in the air, he didn't even seem to struggle. He just accepted his death.
 
As we return to the throne room, A shadow, an echo in the shadows is overheard. Two figures, dwarves, seem to be talking. But the echo changes from Dwarves, into wizards, pale, frail as if they are scrying us, watching us. They seem to be highly interested in this battle. They call the event, The First Echo. They wonder, "Do they even understand what they have done?". The images then fade.
 
First Echo? This seems to indicate there are more, but how much more? And what have we done?
 
As I consider what I have heard, we are richly rewarded for the help given. We also get a much deserved rest. The remaining dwarves seem to hold Kemurial in high regard. His wielding of their Relic has impressed them. Hopefully, this will work to our advantage in obtaining the Relic for what is to some.
 
And, what is to come? More Echos?