Apostles of Doom

“Who in their right mind would do that?” Lilith interrupted. “Be a vampire?” She shrugged, indicating “perhaps,” and then said, “But never a ghoul or even a ghast.”

“Yes,” Asmodeus agreed, “however, I doubt the knight was thinking this sort of thing through at the time. In any event, he refused.”

“So then how did she end up in Hesseforthalus’ possession?” Lilith asked. “One would expect she would have simply endured a very long living hell as a ghoul, or died of starvation, or be killed by some holier-than-thou type.”

“Well, it turns out that Hesseforthalus was negotiating with the vampires. He was somehow involved in the corruption as well — not so much as the master, but as an ally. I really don’t know, nor do I care. The man is an always wrapped up in some crazy machination, way too taxing to follow the details… in any event, the ghoul Melissance found a Calling Token of Hesseforthalus’s that the vampires possessed, and used it to summon him and strike a bargain.”

“The plot is getting a bit twisted.” Lilith frowned.

“Indeed. In any event, she wanted her flock cured of ghoulism, which she could no longer do, having been effectively excommunicated. So she made a bargain with Hesseforthalus that if he cured her flock, he could have her soul.”

“Ahh, now I see!” Lilith said. “And by taking her soul into the Abyss, she would be cured of ghoulism herself.”

“Precisely. She would only have to suffer eternal torment at Hesseforthalus’ hand,” Asmodeus nodded.

Lilith wrinkled her nose. “I think I would have chosen the ghoulism. Your servant is a bit of a pervert, even by this place’s standards.”

“Yes, well, we should not judge. Different cultures, you know. Remember, he was originally a Denubian.”

“Ah, right. Hmm, not sure I knew that; however, it does explain all the mouths.” She shrugged, now gaining more insight into the archdemon.

“Indeed. However, she wanted to save her people,” Asmodeus said.

“So naturally, Hesseforthalus cured them. A bargain is a bargain,” Lilith said.

“Oh, of course. Naturally! And as soon as they were cured, in burst the vampires’ ghoul squad and reinfected them, right before her eyes!” Asmodeus said, beaming.

“Ah, yes, demonic justice! It warms the heart.” Lilith raised her glass towards Asmodeus in a toast.

He reciprocated with his glass, allowing them to clink. “And chills the soul…” He gave Lilith one his more endearing evil grins.

The Inferno

Barabus, Captain Cranshall, Chancellor Alighieri and Sir Samwell stood on the walkway overlooking the work area where the priests of Tiernon and Oorstemothian wizards were working on the Ritual of Seeking. The three Knights Rampant, along with four Paladins, stood at the Seven Points of Holy Protection surrounding the working. The room was quiet except for multiple groups of chanting individuals, composed of both wizards and priests. Each of the thirteen groups were chanting spells, rituals or mantras that were part of the very complex multidisciplinary effort that Diocate Temerlain and CSO Halferth had devised.

“A very interesting effort, if I do say so myself,” Sir Samwell said softly to the others.

“Indeed,” the chancellor agreed.

“What do they expect the range to be at current power levels?” Sir Samwell asked.

“Temerlain has said they should be able to cover a radius of about three hundred leagues,” Barabus replied.

“An eighteen-hundred-mile diameter — that is quite impressive,” Sir Samwell said, frowning.

“It is indeed, particularly given the unexpected limitations the priests are facing,” Chancellor Alighieri agreed.

“Of course, given that the Abyss is, as far as anyone knows, infinitely large,” Sir Samwell continued wryly, “this might take us a few thousand years.”

Chancellor Alighieri made a choking noise, even as Barabus and the rest turned to stare at the knight.

“I hope you were not in a hurry to get home?” asked Sir Samwell.

“Well, obviously we cannot physically spend that much time!” the chancellor exclaimed.

Sir Samwell shrugged. “You have a deadline back in Oorstemoth? Otherwise, given how long I’ve been here, we can certainly stick around.” He shook his head sadly. “I cannot tell you how saddening it was to realize, the other day, that all my friends, family and colleagues in Oorstemoth are long dead.”

The others on the walkway looked at each other, trepidation at their undertaking finally starting to sink in.

Mount Doom: Early Sixth Period

Tom sat staring into the coldfire blazing in the fireplace of his sitting room. It was strangely hypnotic and helped him concentrate on trying to locate any traces of foreign animus that might be the source of his dream last night. He had been close to freaking out most of the day. Fortunately, he had had a respite during the oath-taking in Krallnomton this afternoon.