Apostles of Doom

“Yeah, and remember, Doom is a very long haul from everywhere,” Reggie added from the rear seat.

“Very intentionally,” Tamarin added.

“We don’t like visitors,” Vargg Agnoth agreed. “I think your Oorstemothian friends have learned that lesson.”

Tom chuckled. They were a rather odd lot, he reflected. Phaestus was basically the bridge between the two groups. Tom’s retinue included Reggie, who had binding relations with the Nyjyr Ennead’s followers, and Vargg as the D’Orc representative. Tamarin had been very interested in attending, and Tom valued her advice. Surprisingly, or maybe not, Antefalken had also wanted to come. It would be the bard’s first break from his composing in days.

It would be nice to get some interaction time with Vargg. He needed to get to know his various commanders better. He had previously focused his attention on the most senior commanders, Darg-Krallnom and Arg-nargoloth; however, both were occupied. Darg-Krallnom was focused on finishing up at Nysegard; Arg-nargoloth had some personal plans, which seemed unusual; and Roth Tar Gorefest was on duty this evening in the DCC. Thus, Vargg Agnoth was the next ranking commander, followed by Delg Narmoloth from Earth.

“We should be there before long.” Phaestus said with a smile.

“I never knew you could expand the Boom Tunnels to get a chariot through them,” Antefalken said.

“Yes; it is critical if you want to move large objects. It is not well advertised, for obvious reasons,” Phaestus replied. “However, all the demon princes know how, as do many, if not most, of the archdemons. So it is not quite the secret it used to be.”

“The Boom Tunnels were built after Doom, yes?” Reggie asked.

“Much later.” Phaestus nodded. “They have only been around for about twenty-five thousand years.”

“So how did you get all the construction materials to Mount Doom?” Reggie asked.

Phaestus snorted. “That was a bit of logistics. And the Boom Tunnels would not have helped; we were purposefully operating below the radar, away from Lilith and Sammael. All materials were either local or brought in from off-plane. Actually, Doom was relatively easy, as by that point, Tartarus was complete and we could use the Oubliette to ship stuff directly to Doom from anywhere in the multiverse. And then, after the World Gate was built, things were even easier. Tartarus, on the other hand — that took some work!”

“Do your fellow gods in the Outpost know of Tartarus?” Tamarin asked.

“Good point. Sekhmet obviously knows. The rest know of its existence, and most suspect I am involved with it. They do not, however, know where it is, nor that Tom or the D’Orcs are involved with it, and we all prefer to keep it that way, so that is a topic we will want to avoid!” Phaestus said.

“So who will be at this dinner this evening?” Antefalken asked.

“Well, I know for certain that Sekhmet and Bastet will be there. Bastet asked for the meeting and is leading our efforts in the Abyss. I suspect that Astet will be there as well. I would not be surprised if Usiris shows up. What with being the god of rebirth and resurrection, I suspect he will want to see for himself how Tom may or may not be related to Orcus.”

“Usiris? As in Osiris?” Tom asked, raking his brain for mythology.

“Indeed.” Phaestus nodded.

“He is married to Isis?” Tom stated rather questioningly.

Phaestus nodded. “Astet is what she currently goes by. As I mentioned, she will most likely be there.”

Tom shook his head in awe. He was about to have dinner with the mighty Isis?

Fort Murgatroid: Mid Sixth Period

Iskerus stood on the wall of Fort Murgatroid, leaning on the parapet as he watched Fierd lower itself below the horizon. His debriefing, or whatever one wanted to call it, had ended not that long ago and he’d had to get out and clear his mind. To say it had been a surreal and deeply unsettling and uncomfortable experience would certainly be an understatement.

It had borne little resemblance to the Intercessions of lore. These saints had seemed to have most of the answers before the questioning had ever begun. It had felt less like a discovery process, and more like a trial. A very pleasant, and genial trial, but a trial nonetheless.

They had begun by reviewing the scrying. Much to Iskerus’s incredulity, their focus had been less on the actions of the mana-stealing demon than on the actions of Talarius, Barabus and himself. It made no sense; they should have been pursuing the vile demon that had stolen Tiernon’s Holy Mana and abducted the preeminent Knight Rampant of Tiernon in Astlan!

Instead, they were concerned about Talarius’s word of honor, and the fact that his priests and Barabus’s Rod members had assisted — nay, supported Talarius in his single combat. For some reason, they had seemed quite disturbed by the fact that they had not abided Talarius’s word of honor to a demon? A very deadly Greater Demon?