Sheogh
In the deepest pits of Sheogh lie the pits of bile and hate. It is in these that the most dangerous of the demons live the pit fiends and pit lords. The strongest of the pit lords is given the title of Master of Hate and the ruler of Sheogh, and it here that we start our story.
"My lord" spoke a sensual voice from the shadows, "the maniacs have returned."
"Do they have what I asked for Lilith?" snarled the creature seated on the throne of Sheogh
"Yes my liege, or so they report" replied the succubus "they claim that they have found a portal out of Sheogh that is not guarded by the angels. Supposedly the only things nearby is a hunter's camp similar to what the Elves make but it is abandoned…. My lord."
"How many hell hounds are we breeding that could be used to explore this land?" questioned the Master of Hate
"We can spare a few hundred for exploration, but with that many we may need to send a juggernaut control them." Retorted the master of the kennels
"Do it. See if the hounds can snatch away any of the females of this new land, the lilim are growing tired of each other and need new flesh to play with." The Master of Hate decided
"I will arrange it as you wish ….My lord." Said the succubus as she left to carry out her master's will."
High Temple of Elrath
In contrast to the forces of Urgash the messengers of Elrath live above the capitol of the Holy Empire in a palace blessed by Elrath himself. It is from here that these winged messengers monitor the attempts of the demons to escape Sheogh, and from here that the angels will deploy when they are called upon by the Holy Empire for battle. For this is where the seraphs and celestials make their home.
"Lady Sarah" exclaimed a lesser seraph as he burst into the high celestial's chambers "We have detected a portal being opened from Sheogh!"
"Thank you sir Andrew, do we know where the demons are emerging?" replied a motherly voice from a side room.
"Unfortunately not my lady" answered the seraph Andrew as he caught his breath "the demons have opened their portal outside of Ashan."
"Outside, are you quite sure?" questioned the celestial
Andrew thought he heard water falling when he answered. "Yes my lady, the sisters and glories are already preparing a portal so that we may bring Elrath's light to the demons."
"Good I will be there shortly to lead the expedition myself. Please inform the Holy Emperor that I will be unavailable until my return." Stated lady Sarah
"At once your ladyship." Concluded the seraph as he left the room.
"Why do these things always happen whenever I am taking a bath?" Complained Sarah as she left the side room now revealed to be her bathing chambers. Striding across her room she was consumed in a bright light as she changed into her form fitting battle attire constructed of holy gold and her vail of elegantly embroidered silk. The light rescinded revealing the archangel in her glory, but her thoughts were split the logical part of her brain made plans for the upcoming combat while her emotional self, thought back to the young man that had held her eye and her heart for the past decade, Anton Griffin. While not common it was not unheard of for an angel to court a human, that he was a duke of the Holy Empire just made it easier. The pair had met at Slava's funeral, not the most romantic of locations but when the two had made eye contact there had been something. She had come forth asking to accompany him on his journeys as duke and he hadn't hesitated for a moment in his response. He had finally taken notice of her advances last year, weather it was because he finally finished all the paperwork concerned with running his duchy and had taken a step back and examined his life or because his sister had hit him upside the head with a fish, well Sarah preferred to believe the former was the reason. She would have to pass along a message explaining the situation an apology for missing the ball he was throwing in her honor. Shame that, she thought he might propose to her soon.
As Sarah made her way to the armory she passed the myriad of other seraphs and celestials that would be accompanying her on this mission to confront the demons, she made note of her forces one hundred of Elrath's finest and… was that a sacred Kirin in the back? Huh wonder where that came from she mused. Ah the Eternal Empress had given a pair of them to the Holy Emperor earlier in the month. Well the Kirin alone could probably handle all but the most stubborn of demons. This shouldn't take all that long after all.
"Lady Sarah" the mother superior of the vestal order greeted "the portal is ready we will reopen it after the battle concludes with your victory."
"Thank you mother Alice. May Elrath's light shine on you." Sarah thanked
"And may his blessings be with you" replied Alice
With the sendoff now complete the forces of Elrath marched through the portal to descend not upon Ashan, but for the first time to the defense of the outside. What was found profoundly change the way the people of Ashan viewed the world forever.
Mount Olympus, Empire State Building 500th Floor
It had started as most Olympic Winter Solstice meetings had, Zeus was arguing with Poseidon over the silliest of things. Hermes kept having to leave to make deliveries, Hera was scolding Aphrodite about the divorce rate due to affairs of love, and Apollo kept insisting that he was the eldest child. When the meeting was suddenly interrupted by Hades having a seizure at the same time an Iris message opened in the middle of the chambers.
"Lady Artemis!" exclaimed in a panic my lieutenant Zoe Nightshade through the Iris message.
"Zoe! What is it? Is something wrong?" I calmly replied internally I was panicking Zoe knew that this was an important meeting and she knew better than to interrupt unless it was truly urgent.
"Yes my lady the camp is under attack by unknown beasts but we are unable to harm them at all. We need help now or we will fall before you return!" She shouted.
Now I knew the situation was dire Zoe never raised her voice to me before which meant something was seriously wrong but then I saw, "Zoe behind you!" she spun around just in time to dodge the club that was thrown her way but the club hit the Iris message disrupting it and closing our conversation.