“That was almost too easy,” Sepoto remarked as they made their way back through the demon camp.
“Speak for yourself!” Daelric snapped. “You weren’t the one on the spot, having to wing at as you went along!”
“Halt!” a booming voice called from in front of them.
“I told you so,” Sepoto sighed.
The demon horde before them parted, revealing a strange sight, indeed. Five large figures, mounted on what looked to be black-skinned, white-eyed, emaciated tyrannosaurs, stood arrayed on a low rise before the company. Four where dressed in heavy armor, head to toe. The one who had spoken, however, was a monkey-headed, dragon-tailed blasphemy, with rings of dragon-scales over his rolls of muscle. His helmet was strange…one helm was clearly worn on his head, but the second was empty and welded next to the first. All of the riders bore black lances, and carried heavy swords on their backs.
“We have chased you across the planes for long enough, pests!” the leader called. “Stop your pathetic attempts to defy the Prince of Demons, or we will run you down!”
He then gestured to his followers, and all five began a slow advance down the hill.
“Smoke’em boys!” Mandi called. To her astonishment, however, it was Daelric that acted first! Calling to Shaundekal, he conjured a long wall of whirling blades, catching all four of the armored giants and their mounts in the middle of it. One rider and mount were cut to ribbons instantly. The rest struggled to free themselves, but before they could, Marius hurled a blast of explosive fire into their midst that erupted like a small mushroom cloud. The three remaining giants were roasted in their armor as they were blown bodily from the backs of the T-rex’s. One of the dinosaurs was knocked prone as well by the force of the blast. Even the lead rider was unhorsed. A moment later, a black sphere of crackling energy manifested near the leader, courtesy of Mandi. He rolled to the side as it spun towards him, narrowly evading its deadly touch. His mount, however, was not so fortunate. The sphere reduced it to ash in the span of a heartbeat.
By that time, the remaining three tyrannosaurs had managed to extricate themselves from the blade barrier and bore down on the six companions.
“On me!” Sepoto shouted, spinning his chain and rushing forward. Octurus and Tower Cleaver roared battle cries and followed in his wake. Even Mandi was inspired, shifting her body into that of a giant balor and flapping after her friends. The quartet struck the leader of the riders like a tsunami as he struggled to climb to his feet. In the face of their combined ferocity, he never had a chance. Tower Cleaver then spun on the nearest T-rex, ignoring the sudden chill that went down his spine as he met its blank-eyed gaze. His axe flared with brilliant sunlight as it hewed the dinosaur in two. Another dissolved to dust as Mandi’s sphere rolled into it. The final beast succumbed beneath a sustained barrage of holy fire from Daelric and Marius.
Though the battle was easily won, the fact that Demogorgon’s assassins had tracked them to Bagromar was not lost on the Legionnaires. The Prince of Demons was expecting them, and the longer they delayed, the more time he would have to prepare for them and unleash the Savage Tide. The time had come for a council of war…
_____________________________________________________________
“So where are you planning on holding this little conclave?” Iggwilv had asked them after they had reported that all the pieces were in play.
“I had Sigil in mind,” Mandi had replied. “I know of an inn there, the Azure Iris. It has a reputation as specializing in out-of-the-way meetings.”
“I know of it,” said Iggwilv. “Verden, the proprietress, and I have done business before. Of course you know that the Lady of Pain forbids the entrance into Sigil of any creature that has worshippers. This includes Orcus and Gwynharwyf.”
“I’m aware,” Mandi responded. “I think it might be better if they send proxies anyway…”
That had been two days past. Now the Legionnaires sat in a comfortable, windowless room at the Azure Iris, which could only be reached via a series of well-hidden doors and a maze of hallways. They awaited their guests impatiently, Mandi drumming her fingers constantly against the table as Tower Cleaver paced back and forth restlessly. Abruptly, the door opened and Iggwilv stepped inside, her remaining two arcanaloth apprentices flanking her. They nodded soberly to Mandi. The Witch Queen had just taken her seat when the door opened again. This time it was Celeste, smiling warmly at the Legionnaires, especially Octurus, and then frowning intensely at Iggwilv.
“Always a pleasure to see you too, my dear,” the witch said, smiling sweetly.
“So, what is your ulterior motive in meddling this time?” Celeste asked coldly.
“You are a fine one to talk about meddling,” Iggwilv replied, her eyebrows raised. “Need I remind you what happened to Cauldron, or the debacle that took place in Starmantle?”
Celeste dropped into her seat and folded her arms, brooding silently. It wasn’t long before the door opened again. To the horror and disgust of those assembled, a rotten, shambling, blood-stained cadaver hauled itself into the chamber. Three quasits perched on its skull and shoulders, casually tearing away and consuming small strips of its putrid flesh.
“I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine, Xerivar,” the corpse said, speaking with the voice of Orcus.
“Charming, as ever,” Iggwilv muttered, wrinkling her nose at the stench.
“This is appalling,” Celeste said in disgust. “Must we endure this?”
“I’m sorry to offend your fine sensibilities,” Xerivar/Orcus burbled, and then laughing, sat down squishily right next to the eladrin, the quasits chittering with glee.
“Only one left,” Iggwilv said, almost to herself. “This should be interesting.”
As if on cue, the door opened a final time, and a cloaked figure stepped in. As he moved into the light, he pulled back his hood, causing Sepoto and Marius to gasp, rising half way to their feet.
“Anwar?” the goliath asked, incredulously. “Is it really you?”
“In a manner of speaking,” the half-elf said with a ghost of his former, winning smile. He appeared just as they remembered him, though his skin was paler, his hair more lank, and the arrogant sparkle gone from his eyes.
“The famous Anwar,” Mandi said, nodding. “How the mighty have fallen.”
Anwar did not seem as if he could be baited. He simply smiled again, and nodded in return. “Yes, I am a petitioner…a lost soul. Charon tasked me as his ambassador. He felt that you might be more comfortable seeing a familiar face.”
“We got even with Meravanchi for you,” Sepoto said cheerfully. “You should have seen his face! Lavinia is safe as well.”
Anwar’s face showed no expression. “Such things are beyond my concern now,” he said in a hollow voice. Sepoto sat back down. This was certainly not the man he had known. Unwillingly, his mind began to dredge up the feelings he’d been warring with of late, wondering what his own fate would be in the afterlife.
Once everyone had been seated and accommodated, Mandi stood at the head of the table.
“My thanks to each of you and your patrons for agreeing to this meeting, and for the greater purpose that we have come together to discuss. All of you are aware of what we face, so there is no need to rehash that further. For me and my companions, our goal is simple…we must stop the Savage Tide, no matter what. If Demogorgon can be destroyed in the bargain, then so much the better.”
“Oh, rest assured, he will be destroyed,” Xerivar said, slamming a mushy fist on the table with a wet splat.
“Yes, well,” Mandi continued. “In any event, my colleagues and I are not soldiers. We are specialists, and we are very good at what we do, but what we do does not include leading armies or waging wars. That is where you come in. So, I will open the floor to tactical planning at this point.”
Before any of the others could reply, Iggwilv stood. “Well said,” she replied. “But before we go any further, there is information that I have that should be divulged first. General Bagromar, our contact in Demogorgon’s ranks, sent this to me through various back channels. Demogorgon has seeded thirty-four shadow pearls throughout major cities on the Prime. All of these are linked to one master pearl, which Bagromar says is kept safe within an ancient structure perched on the shores of the Brine Flats…a place called Wat Dagon?”
“A temple to Dagon?” Xerivar snapped. “What ties does that water-logged fool have to Demogorgon?”
“It is my understanding, Lord Orcus,” Iggwilv said testily, irate at being interrupted, “that it was Dagon who in fact taught Demogorgon to craft the shadow pearls centuries ago. Now, as I was saying, this master pearl is the key Demogorgon intends to use to trigger the Savage Tide when a specific planar conjunction occurs. That conjunction will occur two days from now.”
The room flew into an uproar at this, with multiple voices shouting over one another angrily, until, at a nod from Mandi, Tower Cleaver slammed his fist down on the table, cracking it completely in two.
“Gentlemen, Ladies,” the sorceress said, “please. I’m sure Iggwilv can enlighten us further as to how we will be expected to mobilize and transport three armies across the Abyss in under two days time.”
“Indeed,” Iggwilv smiled. “That is my role to play in this endeavor. In my research, I have discovered five points within Gaping Maw where the planar boundaries are weak. Through my magic, I am capable of opening massive Gates at each of these points simultaneously. All your commanders need do is plant a specially prepared scepter that I shall provide, at their end of the Gate. I shall do the rest.”
There was a general murmur of approval at this as Iggwilv unfolded a map of Gaping Maw, illustrating where the five portal points where located. Then Celeste stood.
“In this case, it is Gwynharwyf’s desire to personally lead the Tourbillion Gale Host through the Blood Run portal,” she indicated a point on the western edge of the map, “while I lead the Starry Night Host at Oldclot Cove.” She indicated the opposite side of the map. “Thus we can attack from Demogorgon’s flanks, and then press inward without having to worry about leaving enemies behind us.”
At that point Xerivar stood, chuckling.
“The coward’s approach,” he said. “I shall send in my V Asphyxian legion through the portal point closest to Lemoriax. They should provide an adequate distraction before the IX Exsanguinos follows. They will break Demogorgon’s forces in the region, and we shall establish a beachhead there. Then I shall send my XIII Decapitus legion to march directly on the gates of Lemoriax while I, leading the I Thanatos personally, shall first destroy Demogorgon, and then his vaunted capital.”
Sepoto kept his face carefully neutral during the exchange, though his fists tightened on the armrests of his chair. He had to be present when Demogorgon died. He had to commit the demon lord’s body to Ahazu, or else he and his companions would end up saving the world at the cost of their eternal souls. His attention returned to the situation at hand when he heard Anwar speaking.
“Charon has committed five-thousand marraenoloths,” the bard was saying. “With these, he will run interference against the forces of Demogorgon’s naval commander, Admiral Belcheresk, thus preventing them from providing aid to the land-based assault while at the same time pulling the demon prince’s attention in yet another direction. He will also provide floating platforms for our forces to attack from.”
“Excellent,” Iggwilv said once all of the principles had outlined their plans. “This leaves two portal points still unutilized. One is located deeper within the Screaming Jungle and is rumored not only to be guarded by a legion of demons, but also by Arendagrost, one of Demogorgon’s deadliest spawn. The second is located along the Brine Flats, and although it is fortified by a defensive battery, it is easily the least defended of all the points. Mandi, this is where I recommend that you and your team insert. You should have no problem overwhelming the defenders, thus allowing me to keep that particular portal open. This will not only provide another distraction for Demogorgon, but will also be a permanent and easily accessible extraction point. I warn you once more, however, your role in this game is to reach Wat Dagon and the master pearl, not to fight a war. Conserve your resources as long as you can. You’ll need them.”
As the council broke up, Anwar stepped close to Sepoto, taking the goliath by the elbow.
“I tell you this as a friend,” the bard said. “Don’t end up like me. You can’t begin to imagine what it’s like. Guard yourself in the war to come. Many paths lay before you. Choose the wrong one, and you will wander the Styx for all eternity. It’s never too late for redemption while you still draw breath, and…if you see Lavinia again, tell her I’m sorry.”
He turned and left without another word, leaving the crusader with many things to contemplate.
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
