Summon Wrath and Become It!
HELLO, SON OF MINE. NICE TRY, BUT IN VAIN. WELCOME TO MY FORMER REALM. THE THRONE OF BHAAL.
This was the first time Bhaal talked to Sarevok after he had arrived at the Abyss. The chuckling mirth confirmed Sarevok's enraged suspicion. He had been snatched someplace deep in the bowels of the Abyss, and his hard-won plan of escape was ruined. He tried hard to suppress his smouldering rage as to not give Bhaal the pleasure to revel in his frustration, but he had little doubt that the bastard felt it anyway.
Sarevok could see his surroundings shimmering and taking shape as he tried to take the situation in. He also felt another presence beside Bhaal. Peri. He had avoided thinking about his sister, focusing his willpower to escaping and drawing strength from the idea of his mother, but now all the nagging bitterness returned. It was only fitting that she was behind this. Was it not enough to ruin his plans and send him to the pits of Hell? She just had to drag him in here and spoil everything he had worked so hard to achieve. Sarevok snarled of rage.
HER SOUL IS HELD BY ANOTHER, AND SHE IS TETHERED TO IT WITH A TINIEST THREAD, PULLED HERE WHEN IRENICUS DIED. SHE HUNTS HER SOUL BACK, MOULDING THIS PLACE WITH HER WILL.
Naturally. She still held the Bhaal essence inside her, the essence Sarevok had lost. That meant she wasn't really dead, and wouldn't be if she got her soul back. Perhaps she sought to gather all the essence, to be the last remaining sibling and take this place over? She should... she would wield the power Sarevok had died seeking. It was still there to take. The prophecy still held true.
Twisted, gnarled shapes, stony faces in anguish. Sulphurous pools, fiery ponds and dry sand plains. Deep, dark pits, ominous archways. Nothing Sarevok hadn't already seen many times. And then the shifting ceased, and he was standing in a hellish cave. He noticed a shiny tear-shaped obsidian stone in his hand.
A TEAR OF MINE. COUNTLESS TEARS, SHED IN MY NIME. SHE STUMBLES ABOUT, POWERFUL BUT LACKING DIRECTION AS IS THE WONT OF MY CHILDREN. SHE HAS CREATED THESE CAVES TO KNOW HER OWN SOUL BETTER. YOU SEEM TO HAVE A BIG PART IN HER SOUL, ENOUGH THAT SHE SUMMONED YOU HERE.
Sarevok examined the tear. As he held it near his face he could hear a faint humming sound emanating from it. Moans, screams and thuds like he had heard in his dreams when he still was a mortal.
DO WHAT YOU WISH WITH IT. SHE WILL WANT IT. WHETHER SHE GETS HER SOUL BACK OR IS SLAIN MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME... FINALLY ONE OF THE CHILDREN WILL REMAIN, AND IT IS MOST AMUSING TO WATCH.
Sarevok felt a tug of the despair he had fought so hard. He wanted to cry, scream, pound the walls in vain - but then he noticed that his body felt more real than it had felt before. And not only that. He was wearing his old armor, wielding his sword. This was, of course, Peri's influence. That was how she remembered him. She had never seen his true face except the golden eyes gleaming from behind the visor. She seeks to confront me, to test herself... in what manner, I wonder?
What if they fought and Sarevok defeated her? Would she truly die, her essence joining Bhaal and her soul remaining with "Irenicus"? Wouldn't that be true justice? Not that Sarevok had anything to gain... perhaps it, on the other hand, would be interesting if it was this sibling who was the one to ascend? One who had a special link to his soul? The beast was lurking beneath, the Slayer. The part of Peri that was not her at all, but Bhaal. Which would be better? See Peri destroyed and enjoy the revenge? Or see her succeed, and satisfy his curiosity?
The girl entered, her face revealing nothing. She had her companions in tow, but Sarevok wasn't paying attention to them. This was about Peri and him.
- "So we meet again," said Sarevok, still unsure what he hoped would happen.
- "Sarevok. I'm not surprised to see you," answered Peri.
- "It is I. My divine essence joined that of our dead father after you murdered me, as will happen to all children of Bhaal. Save the last one."
- "So... that is what happened to me also? An eternity here. Joy."
- "Fool!" Sarevok's patience started to wear thin. It was infuriating that Peri still had the chances, still could take what he could not any more, and just stumbled blindly about, everything carried to her lap. "You are not truly dead, not yet. Why do you think you are here? That... Irenicus holds your soul, but you are clinging on to it with a tiny thread. Do you think I get to form this place with my will, as I am truly dead and destroyed? No such deal for one lost his divinity... dear Peri," he snarled.
- "Form by my will?" Peri frowned. "Never mind, just tell me where Irenicus is, if you are so informed."
- "Gods, what a buffoon, and you killed me!" snarled Sarevok. "Irenicus is where you want him to be, fool, because the so-called taint of our father's blood is still present in your blood, forming this place as you go. You will meet Irenicus when you are ready to do so, and now you are testing yourself, seeking better knowledge of your own soul!"
- "I didn't ask for this, Sarevok, and I'm not enjoying myself," said Peri quietly. "Do you have one of those tears I have been collecting? Are they the key to finding Irenicus?"
Sarevok waved the stone tear in his hand, mockingly.
- "But I won't hand it over to you. You don't deserve it."
- "What makes you think you can judge me?" asked Peri, the first hint of irritation in her voice. Sarevok felt extremely pleased that he had finally managed to make her angry.
- "If there was any true justice, I would rule this place now! You and your damn blind luck!" Sarevok growled, his eyes narrowing.
- "Great, I've always wanted a too hot place with smell of sulphur and dry sand everywhere!" Peri snapped.
- "That's all you can think of, is it? True power shoved at the reach of one totally devoid of vision! You are a pathetic little worm, a sniveling little cretin!" Suddenly Sarevok knew what would make her totally lose control. "I relished spitting your precious Gorion on my blade! I should only have done the same to you, then!"
- "You dare speak of Gorion?" Peri was pale now, her eyes dark with anger.
- "Oh yes, stoke that infernal wrath of yours. I can feel the anger within you, boiling like a pit of sulphur in the crevices of your heart. So think of me! Think of how I destroyed your precious Gorion! How I plundered the lives of your Candlekeep! Summon your rage, stir the depths of your black heart!" Gleeful, Sarevok was enjoying himself immensely, as Peri was shaking with anger. He didn't know why he felt that way, but the emotion had already taken over.
- "Peri, don't!" shouted the pink-haired girl, but Peri didn't seem to hear. Her form was shifting, her eyes burning with murder.
- "Summon wrath! Summon wrath and *become* it! Because if you cannot, then you are not worthy your destiny! It should have been I! It should have been I! ATTACK ME, WORM, IF YOU DARE!"
And then Peri was not Peri any more, but a hideous corpse of a large humanoid, sinews and blue veins covering the raw flesh. It towered even higher than Sarevok, attacked him in blind fury, nothing but madness in its eyes, and with supernatural strength and speed. So sister had that in her... Sarevok felt pleased. He had made this happen, and now he had a worthy opponent to fight.
- "YES! YOU ARE WORTHY ENOUGH TO BATTLE AGAIN! THE CHILD OF BHAAL INCARNATE!" he bellowed and parried the first strike of the beast.
He had never fought anything that powerful, but he did well. He was even better warrior than he had been in life, for the horrors of the Abyss and the fights with the devils had developed his skills and given him strength. He felt alive, almost like when he truly was that, laughing, jumping, dodging, striking.
They fought for a long time, but the beast just wouldn't go down. Then it managed to rip Sarevok's sword from his grip and grabbed him, throwing him across the cave. Sarevok was slammed against the wall and tried to stand up, panting. The claws of the beast ended the battle, and then there was a while of darkness.
Hurts. Hurts so much. Sarevok felt as if all his bones were broken. And the form, so much shadier than it had been... beaten. Bhaal ripping his soul again. Empty. No one here. Sarevok sat up, grimacing in pain and buried his head in his hands.
