Apostles of Doom

“I think that’s the last of the dirt!” Tamarin exclaimed, holding her “vacuum bag” up for his inspection. Tamarin had found a long tube and heavy-duty cloth sack, and wrapped the opening of the sack very tightly around one end of the tube to create a very unique contraption. Using her djinn powers, she created a low-pressure region inside the tube, and when she ran the open end of the tube across the floor, dirt and small debris were sucked up the tube and then expelled into the sack. While doing this, the cloth sack inflated with the air that was being sucked up, and there was a continuous whooshing noise. It was far more effective than sweeping.

“If I ever get the spare time, I am going to have to figure out how to make one of those with conventional wizardry,” Vaselle said, smiling in appreciation. “I am sure I could sell a lot of them.”

“I’ve got lots of great ideas!” Tamarin said. “I’ve spent my life studying so many things that as an immaterial djinni, I could only imagine. Now that I’m in a material world, there are so many fun things I would like to try out.”

“Well, you know, I need to be building stuff for our master, like coolers and portal beacons, but that’s only the beginning. I think we worked well together on the D’Orcing, so if you want to work with me here in the lab, that would be fun.”

“Wow, thanks! I’d love to — at least, when our master doesn’t need me,” Tamarin said. “My first job is to serve him.”

“Oh, of course! No,it’s just whenever you have time. I’m the same way; if the master needs me to go on a mission or smite some of his enemies, that takes priority,” Vaselle agreed.

“Excellent!” Tamarin clapped her hands together before running over and giving Vaselle a great big hug.

Chapter 140

Citadel of Light: DOA + 15, Shortly after Dawn

“This place is really filling up,” Timbly observed from one of the inner walls, which straddled the first inner courtyard and the outer courtyard. They were watching a huge stream of refugees coming through the northern outer gate and across the mighty wood and steel bridge that spanned the outer courtyard, which was actually about forty feet below the two sets of gates.

“If we get everyone in, it will be over two hundred and fifty thousand people,” Leighton told them.

Teragdor shook his head in awe. “And you have the supplies for a siege?”

Leighton shrugged. “The Siblings willing. Supply trains are bringing in stored grains, meats and anything that has been harvested. This is not huge, given the time of year, but far better than at the end of winter. They are bringing in all readily available livestock as well; no sense in leaving them to the Unlife to slaughter. We have longer-term base supplies, of course; things that keep well, if not digest well. Beyond that, we will rely on food and water replication spells.”

“That is one advantage to having a large clerical contingent,” Timbly said.

“Hendel’s people are often quite taxed. Being of our earth god, they not only have the best nourishment rituals, but also, obviously, the most powerful healers,” Leighton said.

“I have no experience working with priests of the other Five Siblings. I assume the priests of Krinna will focus on aerial defense?” Teragdor asked the priest of Krinna.

“Indeed. We also work with enchantments. Defensive enchantments, particularly glamour protections and such, are very important against certain types of undead.” Leighton smiled. “But the most excitement comes from blowing clouds of vampire bats out of the sky!”

Timbly shook his head. “Vampires can actually turn into bats? I thought that was a myth.”

Leighton chuckled. “It is a myth. Some of the most powerful vampires can take on winged, batlike forms, but they are not actual bats. No, vampire bats are very large, extremely vicious and deadly bats under the control of vampires. They fly in large swarms and swoop down upon victims from the sky en masse.”

“What do Namora’s people do against the undead?” Teragdor asked.

“Well, for one thing, they are very good at turning water into wine.” Leighton grinned. “Far better than any of the rest of us.”

They all laughed at that. It was well known that water-to-wine rituals were generally only good for salad dressing, or if one was exceedingly drunk.

“More seriously, many undead have problems with running water,” Leighton told them. “Namora’s people can channel streams, rivers and even floods of water to wash out undead forces. They are also the first line in maintaining the Holy Water supplies. Beyond that, they handle all liquids; acids and alkaloids can be very effective against undead. Really nice for dissolving both zombies, skeletons and other animated dead, who aren’t smart enough to get out of the way.”

“This will definitely be interesting,” Teragdor said, taking a deep breath. He was actually feeling excitement in his blood at the thought of the forthcoming conflict. He was not sure if that was due to his orc blood or his priestly calling.