Apostles of Doom

The knight suddenly felt dizzy, as if he might swoon. “D’Orcs have fought alongside the forces of Tiernon?” His voice sounded weak, even to himself.

Timeron made some sort of shrugging expression. “According to the tales told by the D’Orcs who were there. We’ve even fought alongside the Los Alfar, and believe you me, that’s one crazy alliance.” He shook his head in wonder. “Apparently it was all both sides could do — orc, D’Orc and the Los Sidhe — not to kill each other. However, given the overwhelming threat of the Forces of Darkness… well, strange bedfellows and all that.”

“Yes,” Talarius said, feeling quite dazed. “Orcus, Champion of Light?” he mumbled to himself, but Timeron apparently heard him.

“Indeed, that is how he is known in Nysegard.” Timeron shook his head. “Things got very, very bad when he perished.” He gestured to the ruins. “The Unlife nearly overran the Isle of Doom. All of our major cities were flattened. Tens of thousands lost their lives to the Unlife.”

Talarius felt a cold shiver run down his spine at that thought. Naturally, it reminded him of Melissance. He had to block that memory from his mind, lest he sink once more into despair. He looked sadly at the soldier. “Cleaning up after the undead is no easy task.”

Timeron closed his eyes briefly. “Indeed; I fear the ‘clean up’ is worse than the actual battle.”

“It is far more heartbreaking,” Talarius said with a small catch in his voice.

“You’ve lost loved ones to the Unlife?” Timeron asked sympathetically.

Talarius nodded, trying not to get moist-eyed. “I have. More than I can count.”

Timeron gave a sad laugh. “On Nysegard, such is Life, as we say.” Timeron intentionally stressed the word life to emphasize the dark truth that came with living surrounded by Unlife.

Talarius turned his attention back to the students, trying to get his mind off his own thoughts. “Clearly, training is critical here on this world of perpetual war.”

Timeron nodded. “It is, and they shall be tested soon.”

Talarius looked at him. “You have word? Or is it just that common?”

“No word, but the Storm Lords will not sit idly by as we try to restore the Peace of Doom to our lands. They will attack harder and more viciously than they have in centuries — perhaps millennia,” Timeron said grimly.

The Courts of Chaos: Fourth Period

“So, you have our bait here in the palace now?” Lilith asked Asmodeus as they sat in front of the coldfire blaze in the fireplace, chilling their sweaty bones on a typically balmy night in the Courts of Chaos.

“Yes, indeed I do. Hesseforthalus brought her to the Courts earlier today,” Asmodeus replied before taking a sip of blood wine. “Hmm, a thirteen-year-old male virgin. How tart and refreshing!”

“It is, is it not?” Lilith agreed with a smile, then tilted her head in sudden remembrance. “Before I forget…” she switched the glass from one hand to the other and reached down beside her to retrieve a small satchel. “It is too risky to keep our bait here in the city; Sammael or others would eventually discover her. So here are maps, codes and instructions as to where I wish to store her until we can decide on how best to use her.” She handed the packet to Asmodeus, who took it from her with a nod of acknowledgement.

Asmodeus looked at the packet for a second. “I trust that if I assign Hesseforthalus to principal guardianship, that will be fine?”

Lilith shrugged. “Your vassal; if you trust him, fine.”

“I do,” Asmodeus said, nodding. “Apparently, she is one of his prized possessions or something.”

Lilith rolled her eyes and waved the thought away. “So what was the story again? Vampires, corruption?” she asked, returning to their earlier conversation.

“Well, it turns out it’s a bit more complicated,” Asmodeus replied. “The vampires were not so much agents as colleagues, and they were the leads in a more complicated Unlife plot not particularly related to Hesseforthalus. Turns out they infected a large number of local Tiernon followers with ghoulism.”

Lilith grimaced. “Never cared for ghouls. No table manners.”

“Truly,” Asmodeus agreed. “However, their high priestess went after the vampires directly, trying to stop them. Well one thing led to another, a number of very juicy betrayals on the part of her staff, and well, as these things typically go, she ends up getting infected herself.”

“Mmmm.” Lilith pursed her lips. “I assume a half-dead, Unlife-infected high priestess doesn’t go over really well with the boys Upstairs.”

“Indeed. She was immediately cut off from Tierhallon and was unable to heal either herself or her flock of devoted followers,” Asmodeus said.

“And Talarius comes into play how?” Lilith asked.

“Turns out they were romantically involved,” Asmodeus said.

“Ah, yes, I recall you mentioning that.” Lilith nodded.

“Yes, and the vampires asked for a few favors in return for releasing her. Talarius, however, believing that Melissance had succumbed to ghoulism of her own free will, was none too amused.”