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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Canaan" data-source="post: 3343228" data-attributes="member: 40239">Chapter 34: The SphincterThe angelic serenity of her face rivaled the most delicate of sculptures in The Great Temple of Soliel, even in death.  Lilian Evenshire could have been sleeping.  But the unmistakable rigidity of her limbs and the stillness of her breast, devoid of the deep rhythmic tempo of sleep, disabused me of that illusion, ripping me from fond reverie into the stark reality of the present.  And all I saw was death.For the second time in as many months, my light, my friend, Lilian Evenshire, was dead.  And despite my most desperate desires, I knew in my heart that even if the Voice and Will were willing to return her to me, Lilian would never again walk in Turgos.  Few people have received the miracle of resurrection.  And none have been recorded as having received the miracle twice.  Lilian Evenshire lay dead; she was Champion of Canaan, Heroine of Goldfire Glen, Baroness of Tyrond and dear friend.  No gravestone would be sufficient to capture the person and deeds that were Lilian Evenshire, such selfless, patience and piety I had never before seen in one person.  I openly wept.  Canaan forgive my impudence, but why wreak such agony?  To return life to Lilian only to take it away again just as swiftly and without purpose is cruel.  Can life truly be so insignificant?It was silent for some time before anyone spoke.  Talon’s sandal scraped against the rough stone floor as he adjusted his sitting position.  “Lilian meant a lot to all of us.” He said as he got up, wiped a tear from his eye and walked away to sit apart from us, staring at the dark cavern wall."Why do you cry?" Rin, the Dark-Sider, questioned me.  It was incongruous, his tone and question against his physical appearance.  Rin adjusted his stance slightly, with his cloven feet shoulder width apart and his tail swishing side to side.  This caused his charred skin, not unlike volcanic rock, to ripple revealing a reddish glow between the dry charcoal skin-like slabs that seeped between its cracks like a recent lava floe.  His horns, mere stubs of obsidian, protruded slightly from his forehead under which his brow was raised in genuine concern, which could be mistaken for malice if one focused too much on his yellow eyes that glowed like embers. It was laughable, but Rin had a childlike innocence about him.  Perhaps it was the shock of all that had just happened, but I was beginning to feel that this half-demon who had lived a life of treachery and evil, could be redeemed.  "I am very sad.  Lilian was a good friend." I responded with a patient smile.“She died with honor and glory.”  Rin responded.  What a profound thing coming from this creature!  He must have noticed the open-mouthed expression of shock on my face.“We have a saying among my people.  ‘Death does not discriminate.  It is neither good, nor evil.  It is merely inevitable.  The manner of death is all that matters.  No greater honor exists than to die serving that which you hold most sacred.’”  Rin placed a hand on my shoulder and walked past to examine the black pool.Shallahai was there, gazing into its waters.  He heard the hard clacking of Rin’s approach.  “You know what evil lays in the depths of this pool.”  It was a statement more than a question.  By the cold emotionlessness of his tone, I was yet again reminded that the creature known as Shallahai was no longer human.  He was a force of nature as mutable as the weather.  “Are we safe here?” He accused the Warlock.“From what lays in that pool, yes—unless you and your friends kill the other two High Priests of the Axis.”  Rin responded with a smirk.  Shallahai nodded.  The cavernous chamber was silent as we sat in near darkness, each lost in thought, dwelling on our own inner demons or contemplating what step to take next.  A faint drip of water echoed off of one of the walls and faint torch light filtered in from above the hole in the ceiling at the top of the lift and at the doors to each of the three temples.  My staff added what little light it could to the dreary cave; it was just enough to keep the darkness from overwhelming that place.“What does that mean?” I interrupted brusquely.  At my tone, Rin’s head turned toward me quickly.  I hadn’t meant for it to sound so harsh.  “It is merely a rumor.”“What?” I asked.“It is said that If all three high priests are slain The Ebon Aspect will rise from this pool and exact vengeance on their slayers.”  Rin responded.I nodded.Fer’inj stood arms akimbo looking toward the ceiling at the lift.  "You need lift?  I get lift for you." He announced in his thick Shuuthian accent.  Closing his eyes and spreading his arms and fingers he morphed into the form of an eagle and flew to the top of the lift.  After a few moments the lift started back down. We loaded Lilian's corpse and the rest of us onto the lift and started raising it with the mechanism.  "Perhaps Allustan will have some advice on what to do." I stated to nobody in particular on the way up.  Once again, I found myself relying on an arcanist.  But in these circumstances, I desperately hoped there was something he could do.  For I don't think I could bear it if Lilian Evenshire forever passed from my life.* * * *"How can this be?" Allustan asked incredulously as he waved us into his foyer.  "Lilian Evenshire has again passed from our reach." He continued, sad and perplexed as Talon carried her lifeless corpse and set it down on the flagstone.  Austin, who had been standing in the foyer, hastened to assist Talon.Allustan glanced at the newcomers.  When he saw Rin, his face darkened."You!" Allustan said accusingly, pointing at Rin.  "I know what you are.  Your kind are not welcome in my tower." Allustan finished firmly, face flushed.  Austin, taken aback at his master’s sudden change in tone, glanced at the half-fiend and nearly dropped Lilian, eyes widening as the realization that a fiendish creature was on his doorstep.  “Be careful!” Talon warned."This is Rin, Allustan.  He saved our lives.  But for his intervention, more of us would have died today." I hurriedly explained in an effort to diffuse Allustan's anger.  I felt the need to protect Rin from such discrimination.  I suppose it was my idealism, my belief that even the most debauched individual could be redeemed.  Sometimes when I reflected on this idealistic streak, I found it awkward against my experience in the church as a young priest.  The Curia tolerated no slights against Canaan.  No sin was too small to punish.  So oppressive those days had felt.  And what freedom it was to approach absolution with acceptance—a path of love and peace.  It brought clarity to my life that lifted the haze of guilt the Curia instilled into me.  Even now, when I go to Soliel the ghosts of my past life haunt me.  Perhaps that’s why I felt so nearly paralyzed when last I saw Tagavarius.  Hmph.  And what simple poetry it was that the first thing he did was have me imprisoned.Allustan opened his mouth to reply when we all heard a familiar voice for the second time in as many days echo in through the chamber.Oh Bah, Allustan! Let it go.  I need that one, too.  Gather together in Allustan's foyer everyone.  It is time to fulfill your oath.  Come quickly.  The sphincter will remain open for but a few seconds.  Mind not what you see on the other side.  Pay it no heed, lest you go mad.That shrill voice, as piercing as a trumpet’s clarion call, was unmistakable.  Balian had once again found us.  It startled me.  I could see it had a similar effect on the others.  Hu Li collapsed to the ground in a quivering heap.  Shallahai started.  Even Talon winced.I recovered quickly.  "Lilian has fallen, Master Balian.  We must find a way to return her to us."  I couldn’t see the withered old mage, but I knew something of magic.  There were certain holy water fonts in Soliel that allowed priests to speak with other priests in other large cities across Turgos with some regularity.  Wizards, I knew had access to some similar divinations.  I shouted to the empty air hoping that where ever he was Balian could hear me.  Despite my protestations, I knew that Lilian would have wanted us to keep our oath to Balian.  And whatever my own personal desires, I intended to do so.  But Balian's timing was--well inconvenient was the nicest thing I could think of.There is no time, Priest! Balian retorted peremptorily.  It must be done now or never.  And never is NOT an option.  What was it that was so damn time sensitive that it could not at least await the burial of a good friend and comrade? What was so damned pressing that I could not be allowed the time to mourn?  Dammit, Balian.Hu Li was once again fetal, rocking on the foyer's flagstone floor.  "I am ready, Master.  Come and claim me.  I shall wriggle through the Sphincter of Unnamed Torment and crawl through the Pulsing Tunnel of Amoebic Juices and make my way to you, my Master!"  Hu Li cried, tears streaming down his face, as he rocked back and forth."Hu Li, enough!" Shallahai whispered harshly.  "What are you talking about?  Have you gone mad?"Hu Li paused in his sycophantic praises long enough to meet Shallahai's gaze.  Shallahai added, “again.”Hu Li's eyes were wet and wide with terror as he shook his head back and forth slowly.  "You don’t know what he intends, the Master.”“Tell me!” Shallahai whispered.“No. No. No. No. No. No.”  Hu Li was shaking his head back and forth, his hands covering his ears, eyes closed.  “What is it you know, Wizard!” Shallahai’s eyes blazed with fierce blackness.Hu Li sensed the danger in Shallahai’s tone and stopped rocking.  Bringing his hands down from his ears and opening his eyes, Hu Li craned his neck toward Shallahai and with lip quivering he explained.  “He will pull us through the veil that separates this world from the world beyond reality, a place of madness and terror.  In that Far Realm space and time work differently.  But a moment will pass here and in the blink of an eye we will arrive in Balian’s tower.  But our perception will be much different.  We will travel through a dimension few have ever gone to incarnate; it is a place of terror and madness.  We will be lucky to survive the journey and if we do, it will not likely be with our minds intact!”  Hu Li paused for effect.I must admit that Hu Li’s words left a sour pit in my stomach.  Even knowing the wizard’s penchant for embellishment, there was something about his tone—something deeply disturbed and sincere—that made me shudder.  Even Shallahai seemed affected by Hu Li’s words, eyes wide as he stood up from his bent over position over Hu Li.Hu Li continued crying and rocked back and forth more vigorously."Fascinating." Talon considered Hu Li's words.This was ridiculous and I had no time for it.  But Allustan proved more diplomatic than I."Balian, must it be by this method that they come to you?  Wouldn't a teleportation circle be more appropriate under the circumstances?  They have been through much already."  Allustan was aghast.  No!  Stop interfering, Allustan!  And oh shut up, Hu Li!  Take it like a man, instead of the drooling sycophantic pile of dung that you are!  Balian's harsh retort reverberated up the foyer.  Look, there is no time and they cannot have the taint of 'impure' arcanery on them when they arrive.  It is imperative for the ritual that they be clean.  It MUST be done this way."Ritual?" I asked.Allustan's eyes widened in recognition.  Fear crept into his mien.  "Yes, Balian, what ritual?"It is none of YOUR business, Allustan.  Come now!  The sphincter opens.  It beckons you!Just then, a fleshy glob of proto-matter appeared in the center of the foyer.  Light effused from within it, rays penetrating the flickering light of Allustan's foyer.  It was almost celestial in its brilliance, but its color was off, a bit like split pea soup.  The proto-matter spun slowly, then more vigorously.  I felt a tug from the bottom of my stomach, toward the spinning glob.  I looked at the others.  They clearly felt it, too.Wide-eyed and white-faced, Allustan backed quickly away, reaching for a stunned Austin.  Grapping his tunic, he pulled the boy to him as he opened the door to his hall, pushing Austin into the hall and backing in after.  “May Canaan protect you, my friends.”  The mage said, fear evident in his voice.  He closed the door behind him and was gone.Rin, who also appeared to be affected by the tugging sensation, took a step or two inside the foyer.  The tower door slammed behind him.  “This is just great.” He said. Suddenly, Lilian's corpse lifted off of the floor and was sucked into the spinning sphincter, with a distinctively organic slurping noise.Hu Li fainted.</blockquote>

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