Apostles of Doom

“Gentlemen, may we introduce Leighton, priest of Krinna,” Rasmeth said.

The saints both held out their hands to shake with the priest. Leighton, for his part, looked a bit taken aback to be shaking hands with actual saints, but quickly overcame it and made a quick genuflection before shaking their hands.

“Leighton explained that these are the Horns of Gathering, ordering everyone in the outer regions to evacuate to the Citadel. For them to have sounded, significant forces of darkness must have been spotted in at least three, and we suspect four directions. This is the first time in centuries, Leighton informed us,” Teragdor explained.

“We are going now to seek more information from the vicar general and others,” Rasmeth added.

“Indeed, that sounds like a very good idea.” Rasmeth nodded, gesturing for Leighton to lead on.

They followed the corridor in the opposite direction from which the saints had come until they reached a large door. Leighton opened it, ushering the others into another, much busier corridor. This corridor was filled with what appeared to be couriers, Rangers and soldiers hustling to and fro, clearly working to get messages and orders out.

“Arch-Diocate Asferóth!” Leighton called down the hall.

Teragdor blinked and widened his eyes in surprise when a large winged human suddenly stood up straight. He had been bending over, speaking into the ear of a hearthean. Teragdor realized that this man (an Arch-Diocate of Krinna?) must be one of the legendary aetós! He had never met one before, which was why he thought them to be legendary, beings of myth. He probably needed to narrow his definition of what was mythological. He was meeting way too many extremely strange people lately; not only saints and archons, but elves that worked with orc priests of Tiernon? The world, or, more accurately, he supposed, worlds, were spinning out of control around him.

“Leighton!” The Arch-Diocate replied in a very resonant voice that could easily be heard over the din of the room, and through Leighton’s sound barrier. Actually, Teragdor realized, Leighton’s sound barrier was quite interesting in that the Arch-Diocate had heard him through the dampening barrier and over the din of the horns. Clearly an amazing little ritual. He wondered if it was possible to adapt a ritual of Krinna for Tiernon?

The aetóên cut quickly through the crowd to join them. It was only when he came through the sound barrier that he blinked in surprise, realizing there were two saints and two apostles with the priest. The Diocate shook his head and smiled before nodding to the four off-worlders.

“I see you have improved your social circle lately,” The aetóên joked, patting Leighton on the shoulder.

Leighton grinned back. “Asferóth, may I introduce you to Saint Stevos Delastros, Saint Timbly of Cossembly, the Apostle Rasmeth of Torean and the Apostle Teragdor of Tiernon.” He gestured to Teragdor’s party and then turned to them. “And gentlemen, may I introduce to you Asferóth, Arch-Diocate of Krinna for the Citadel.”

All parties nodded and shook hands, and then Leighton asked the Arch-Diocate, “What news have you?”

Asferóth shook his head. “No more than you. I was heading to the command center when I stopped to instruct Hafnerth”—he gestured back to where he had been, apparently referring to the hearthean—“to get word to the other arch-diocates of Krinna. Hopefully the skies are not fully blocked as well.”

“How would Unlife block the skies?” Teragdor asked, puzzled.

Asferóth chuckled. “In oh, so many ways. The Storm Lords themselves are fond of riding ice dragons, but there are also undead dragons, pterosaurs, harpies, and yes, even aetós; among many others.”

Stevos shook his head in wonder. “I am not sure I have ever heard of such beings in Astlan. I suppose Unlife aetós make perfect sense, but the others? Truly bizarre!”

Asferóth nodded. “Nysegard has been so long afflicted by Unlife that they’ve established their own ecosystem, or as we refer to it, a necrosystem. There are entire disciplines dedicated to understanding it; for example, necronomology studies the reasoning, logic and thought process of the Unlife, and necrotony studies the various species and taxonomy of Unlife.” The aetóên shook his head. “Yet I digress, as is my wont.” He smiled. “We need to see Grob, Rassnon and Elden.” He gestured for them to follow him.

“I know Grob Darkness Slayer, but am unfamiliar with Rassnon and Elden,” Teragdor said to Leighton.

“Rassnon is the Holy Lord Ranger of Torean upon Nysegard, and Elden No Tracks is Vicar-Warden of the Citadel. He is in charge of the Sky Wardens of Krinna at the Citadel. Ach-Vicar Admiral Avalea Stormfront, who commands Namora’s Navy upon Nysegard, is currently at sea,” Leighton replied.

Teragdor nodded, as did Rasmeth.