Apostles of Doom

“Well, the link does not go anywhere in the Abyss,” Dante told them looking up and around at the others.

“Where does it go?” Captain Cranshall asked.

“To Nysegard,” Dante replied.

“Nysegard?” Barabus asked. That was one of the last places he’d have expected Talarius to be.

“Yes, so it appears.” The chancellor nodded.

“Are you sure it’s Talarius on the other side?” Heron asked.

“Pretty certain. It is someone associated with Tiernon; I can now recognize that signature fairly easily after the last several days,” Dante explained.

“This is so bizarre.” Barabus glanced at Tamerlane, who was wedged into a corner behind him. The Diocate shook his head, indicating it made no sense to him either.

“You are certain that it goes to Nysegard?” Captain Cranshall said.

“Yes, as I have said a couple of times,” Chancellor Alighieri replied sternly. I have triple-checked the coordinates against every tool I have. Nysegard, being in our own localverse, is not that difficult to identify. It’s not like he was wandering around a random Earth or something.”

“What the…?” The chancellor suddenly exclaimed, staring at the locket intensely.

“What is it?” Heron asked.

“The link just went dead.” Dante began moving the locket around in order to stare at it from multiple directions.

“It went dead?” Barabus asked.

“Yes. It was there just fine, and now the link is simply broken!” Dante exclaimed.

“Did he plane shift?” Sir Samwell asked.

Dante shook his head. “Not unless he went to the Outer Planes; the link should follow him to any other world he could travel to.”

“Well, that would be rather disconcerting,” Melissance said suddenly.

“What do you mean?” Barabus asked.

“Well, you said he is with this mana-stealing demon, yes?”

“Yes.” Barabus nodded. “As far as we know.”

“Well, if Talarius went to an outer plane — the only way he could break such a link, as I understand the chancellor — then he most likely went to Tierhallon,” Melissance said with a shrug.

“And the demon with him,” Salvatore added.

Chancellor Alighieri frowned. “Well, that would not be good.”

Sir Samwell shrugged. “Well, look on the bright side…”

“What bright side?” Barabus asked, suddenly worrying about a war between heaven and hell.

“It could simply be that the demon just killed Talarius and he went to Tierhallon the old-fashioned way,” Sir Samwell replied.

Citadel of Light, Shrine of Doom: Mid Fourth Period

Battle Priestess Karis Crooked Stick sat on one of the stone benches in the Shrine of Doom, staring at the communication stone and worrying. She was awaiting a response from Doom as to whether they could assist, and how many days would it take them to reach the Citadel with whatever forces they could spare. This was her assigned task from the Vicar General himself, but she feared it was a waste of time. Things were so dire that it was doubtful that the Isle of Doom could even arrive before the Storm Lords overran the Citadel. Her time would be better spent leading her squadron in the defense of their home than waiting for word from saviors who could not possibly make it in time.

She did not know whether to laugh or cry. They had been terribly worried about the oncoming attack but had steeled themselves to hold on, even as their ancestors had. Then, suddenly, a few days ago their hopes had surged, culminating yesterday with the assured belief that they would be able to beat back the Storm Lords, perhaps even permanently.

That all came crashing down this morning, and now there was only despair. The rising and dashing of hope in the lead-up to this siege was more emotionally wracking than actual battle with the Storm Lords. Battle, combat — that was what Karis needed to feel better. Even if doomed, no pun intended, to failure, if she could at least be out there and go down fighting, she would feel so much better.

Instead, she was here, watching a spherical stone on a small table in the middle of this shrine to Doom — or more precisely, Orcus. She glanced to the fresco of Lord Orcus in his human form above the old, long-dormant runic gateway to the Isle of Doom. Since Orcus’s death, this shrine was simply a communication point. In the old days, it had been the portal to the Isle of Doom. Legend had it that not only had the gateway been used to move forces between the Citadel and the Isle of Doom, but also for trading and commerce.

It was actually a very large temple, larger than Karis’s small chapel to Tiernon. Legend had it that the giant D’Orcs could march three abreast through the gateway. The shrine also had a very wide passageway up to the old main courtyard and stables. According to legend and a few old alvar, the stables had even had a section dedicated to boarding the mighty D’Wargs. Obviously, like gryphons and hippogriffs, they could not be stabled with horses without the horses revolting in fear.