Apostles of Doom

Samwell turned to stare at the chancellor. “You do know that the only difference between an angel and a demon is which side they play for?” Samwell asked rather incredulously. “He’s admitted he plays for Hesseforthalus, the lady’s husband. That makes him a demon.”

“Well, yes, but as the servant of an archdemon, he must be only a greater demon. I should point out that Talarius nearly beat a greater demon by himself; you single-handedly chased an archdemon into the Abyss and survived. We not only have you, but three Knights Rampant, and a ship full of priests and Rod members, all sorts of magical protections built into the ship, and a signed contract.” The Chancellor raised his shoulders in a shrug. “What more could one want?”

“To not knowingly invite a demon onboard a magically sealed vessel?” Samwell replied.

Isle of Doom, Agnothnon: Mid Sixth Period

“You seem very down this evening, Sir Talarius,” Thrinarv noted as he set his mug down.

“Indeed, you seem quite dour,” Stainsberry agreed.

“I fear my sword and I”—Talarius patted Ruiden resting against his chair—“are having a bit of a crisis of conscience.”

“I’m sorry, but did you say your sword is having a crisis of conscience?” Thrinarv asked, his brow furrowing in puzzlement. He glanced sideways at Stainsberry, who simply smiled.

“Ruiden, my sword, is intelligent, and at times autonomous, and we talk mind to mind,” Talarius said.

“Really?” Thrinarv asked somewhat skeptically.

Talarius frowned. “Yes. He was forged as a demon-slaying sword by Völund the Smith. He can also transform into a sword golem. He actually came searching for me in the Abyss.”

Thrinarv raised his bushy eyebrows in surprise. “Völund, you say? In that case, I shall accede to the assertion.” The priest raised his mug and gave Talarius a bright smile before taking a swig.

“So what are you having a crisis about?” Stainsberry asked.

“It is this D’Orcing business, and the demon-summoning business,” Talarius said.

“Still in shock about demons originating as mortals, bound against their will?” Stainsberry asked.

“Yes, but not as before. I have confirmed it with multiple demons, including Lord Tommus,” Talarius said. “I am concerned about how I could have been so wrong for so long.”

“Well, you have the consolation that, unlike most people outside of the Isle of Doom, you long ago accepted that demons were not intrinsically evil,” Stainsberry noted.

“Well…” Talarius said slowly.

“Indeed. Traveling to the Abyss to fight alongside a demon prince?” Thrinarv asked rhetorically. “Not many would do that. Very few actually could, in fact.” Thrinarv furrowed his brow in thought. “Hmmm.”

“What?” Talarius asked.

“Given that as a mortal, you were able to stand side by side with a demon prince and a goddess to slay Knights of Chaos, you would probably be a worthy candidate someday for D’Orcing yourself,” Thrinarv said.

Stainsberry nodded. “I would drink to that!” He raised his glass to toast with Thrinarv, but paused when Talarius did not join in. He turned to look at the knight. “Talarius?” he asked in concern.

“I think he’s about to throw up!” Thrinarv yelled. “Someone find us a bucket!”

The Abyss, Ramses’ Estate: Late Sixth Period

“A toast!” Ramses said, raising a glass of blood wine towards Exador.

“A toast to finally finishing up a marathon session!” Exador agreed, clinking his glass to Ramses’.

“I don’t think I have put in that much continuous effort without a break in a millennium,” Ramses said, shaking his head.

“Agreed. That was a lot of work, but worth it to secure their assistance against Lenamare and the Council,” Exador said.

“Yes, about that. Are you not the least bit anxious about providing our allies with this magineering?” Ramses asked. “No fear of them using it against us someday?”

Exador chuckled. “Of course I am.”

Ramses tilted his head questioningly.

“A good part of my effort was in creating what I would call an escape hatch.” Exador pulled two amulets from his robe’s deep pocket, setting them on the table. “One for you, one for me, and I am going to have my people create some more for our other allies.”

“What exactly does it do?” Ramses asked, picking one up.

“The trick was to find something that was not an obvious defect in the system. This is not a defect, but rather the exploitation of a loophole. Without a deeper understanding of the spellcraft than any of their people possess, it is an undetectable loophole,” Exador said.

“So one wearing the amulet is not subject to the warding?” Ramses asked.

“Indeed; a get-out-of-jail-free card.” Exador chuckled.

“This will certainly work in Nysegard, should it be needed, but what if they should use this system against us in Freehold? We will have our demon armies; I am not enthused by the thought of losing all of mine permanently,” Ramses said.