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[Knightfall]

The Nether Lands
Hiisi started to tear apart everything in sight when he learned that his son had let Jalivier defeat him. Amand hadn’t been Hiisi’s most intelligent godchild, but he was the strongest.

The Gods of Swords stood back as Hiisi continued to tear roots out of the earth ceiling and scream and rant about ‘that stupid bastard’ and ‘I should have killed him myself.’ There wasn’t any reasoning with him when he was like this. Of course, he was almost always like this.

The Goddess of Violence watched her Dark Father with scorn. He was wasting valuable time brooding over her no good brother. Amand was terrible as the God of War and she was positive that eventually Hiisi would grant her his place. There was no one else strong enough in the pantheon and if he did give it to someone else, she’d just kill the unfortunate godling and take it. Yes, Thera, Goddess of War and Violence! She liked that; the universe would tremble at the mere mention of her name!

The dark goddess smiled at the thought of the joy it would bring her to add Hiisi’s power to her own. Her Father wouldn’t be able to stop her. None of them would. Not even Mussin or Nether would stand against her after that. She’d have to kill them both eventually of course, just to consolidate her power in the pantheon.

The God of Decay would be the first to feel her wrath. Nether could wait. She might even be able to use him when the glorious day came. Yes, the God of Hate and Tyranny could be useful, as long as he remembered his place.

“Hiisi, darling.”

Thera looked over into the dark alcove where Hiisi’s black consort, Thera’s mother, sat. Hidden by the shadows she always remained distant from the rest of the pantheon. Thera hated her, of course Thera hated everyone but the cow will die a slow and painful death. Thera would drink her godsoul, slowly.

“Amand is gone. There’s no sense ranting about it. We must prepare to strike back a Cronn’s brood before they have a chance to prepare.”

Hiisi turned to look at the red eyes staring out from the darkness of the alcove. “I will decide when it is time to strike!” He continued to stare her down as he slowly moved towards her. “Do not forget your place!”

“My humblest apologies, dear one. You are right of course.”

Hiisi smiled believing he had won. He turned his head toward the rest of the pantheon. “Does anyone else wish to make a suggestion?”

His tone stated simply that the next god to suggest something would lose their godsoul. No one spoke, no one even moved. Not even Mussin would openly defy him when he was like this.

“Good,” Hiisi turned his back them all. “We will attack Cronn and his vile pantheon of weaklings but only after a little spying. I’m not going to just thunder into the Upper Planes without some sort of plan. Vespin!”

The God of Thieves and Assassins stepped forward and kneeled in front of Hiisi. “Yes Dark Father.”

Thera hated how submissive he was. He’d have to die as well.

“Send you best proxy spies into the Upper Planes and have them locate where each of Cronn’s brood is hiding. I want to know where they all are at every moment from now on. No more surprises. No more incidents like Gaoterlog, understood?”

“It will be as you command, Father.” Vespin immediately shifted his Avatar back to his own realm, eager to please his Lord.

“Teve, step forward.”

The Dark Warrior knelt in front of his father as Vespin had done before him.

Thera didn’t like the looks of this.

“I need a new War God,” In Thera’s mind Teve was already dead. “You will take Amand’s place on the field of battle.”

“I will make you proud Dark Father, I swear.”

Hiisi was proud of his choice, unlike Amand before him; Teve was totally loyal to him. He noticed that Thera was visibly upset. “I see you think I choose wrong, my dear. Do you wish to make a suggestion.”

Thera ground her teeth and turned away from he father. She made no sound.

“As I thought,” Hiisi grinned in triumph so that everyone could see. “Never forget your place Thera or I will pass your portfolio to another and demote you to the Goddess of Scullery Maids! Now get out of my sight!”

Thera was seething inside, humiliated. As she shifted to her realm in the Abyss she swore to herself that she’d make him pay for this.

Teve took his place amongst the dark gods. Hiisi continued.

“Druaga, I want an army of fiends! Hordes of them! I don’t care if you have to steal larvae from the Dark Eight themselves, I want an army not even the Old Gods would want to face!”

“It will be done, Dark One.” The God of Vile Summoning left his master’s realm to do as he was bid. Nothing would stand in his way.

“Emcey!”

The God of Lawbreakers took one step forward and bowed to his father. “I am at your service, Dark Father.”

“Always,” Hiisi was especially proud of this one. He was both loyal and yet loved to cause trouble. “Send whoever you can throughout the planes and have them the recruit the most vile revolutionaries and mercenaries they can find.”

“As you command father.” Emcey stepped into the darkness and vanished to his realm.

“Deltum, Enduma! Hiisi turned to his twin godsons. “I want you to go to Harqual and stir up trouble. I want Cronn’s people scurrying around confused like ants without a hill. Destruction and mayhem understood!”

The Gods of Disaster and Suffering smiled at each other and swore an oath to their Dark Father that when they were done, the lands of Cronn’s people would be unliveable. They then shifted out of their father’s realm to perform their evil work.

“Teve,” Hiisi addressed his godson again. “Prepare your followers for war!”

“Yes Dark Father.” Teve saluted and shifted to his realm in Baator.

All of his lesser gods now had something to do and Hiisi’s rage had subsided. Only the more powerful dark gods were left in his presence: Mussin, Nether, and Xuar. Ah Xuar, the only one of Cronn’s kin that he could stand. The Jealous Arcane, the greatest ally in his pantheon.

Of course, being the God of Jealousy and Forbidden Magic meant that Xuar would give anything to keep his place amongst the dark gods, even tolerating Hiisi himself. Yes, Xuar wanted his power, Hiisi knew that – they all did. But Xuar was so jealous of everyone else that he would do almost anything to please the Lord of Darkness.

It was this thought that gave Hiisi an idea. “Nether! One of my spies has told me that Cronn’s grandchild Euphoria is currently residing with Damh in the Seelie Court.”

“What do you want me to do?” Nether bared all his teeth and then licked his lips in anticipation.

“I want you to bring her here.” Hiisi looked at Xuar and saw his jealousy rise; he had wanted to take Euphoria for his own. “She is to be a prize for my consort to do with as she pleases.”

“Can I hurt her a little first?”

“Whatever you wish, just make sure her godsoul is still intact when she arrives.”

“It will be as you command Hiisi.” Without moving, Nether left to find the Seelie Court.

Hiisi noticed that the Jealous Arcane was fuming inside at what he was being denied. “As for you Xuar, I have no use for you at this time. I will call on you when I need you.”

“Yes Dark One,” Xuar felt as though someone had torn out his godsoul. What had he done to deserve this dishonor? He must try to make amends to his Lord. “I have something that I need to take care of anyway.”

A small smile crept over Hiisi’s face and he knew that Nether would never get a chance too bring Euphoria to him. Xuar would find her first and present her to Hiisi before Nether even knew he’d been duped. And Xuar would hurt her even more than Nether would. This was something that would not sit well with the God of Hate and Tyranny; more than likely he’ll take his frustration out on Damh or one of the other Sylvan Gods.

“Brilliant,” Mussin knew him so well. “Playing one against the other like that. I am glad that we are allies Hiisi, I hate to think what you’d do to me if we weren’t.”

“Yes Mussin be glad I tolerate your wagging tongue as well.”

Mussin’s eyes burned red with anger. “Do not forget Dark One that I am not one of your obedient children. We are allies; I am not your servant. Xuar might be loyal to you now, but Nether is totally loyal to me. If I told him what you just did, he’d swear revenge. Druaga would also follow me if I promised him the magic that Xuar wields. And your daughter would gladly betray you just for what you did here today.”

Hiisi locked eyes with the God of Decay. “Tell me why do I put up with you? At every moment you challenge my power and spit in my face in defiance when doing so. Why shouldn’t I just take your godsoul and be done with it?”

“You are welcome to try Hiisi. But never forget that without me you’ll never drink from Cronn’s godsoul and corrupt his brood. Never forget the secret I hold.”

With that, Mussin vanished from the Nether Lands leaving Hiisi alone with his consort. Hiisi immediately started ranting again and his consort left him to his tantrum.