Chapter 4
Izual's Rebirth
When Cain, Glacian, and Griswold returned no one seemed to notice. Everyone was still cheerful of the news of Blood Raven's defeat. The only one who seemed curious about Cain and Griswold was Kayasha. After explaining his situation to her, she agreed to let Griswold rest in the encampment and let Glacian and Cain visit Akara. Winding his way through the scores of rogues, he finally found Akara's tent.
"Akara?" Glacian asked, opening the flap of her tent.
"You have returned, paladin." Came a faint reply from Akara, who was sitting at her desk, her back turned to Glacian and Cain.
"Yes."
"With Deckard Cain?"
"Yes."
"I sense another, did you return with anyone else?"
"Yes, Griswold, the blacksmith from Tristram."
Akara jumped up and faced Glacian. Her face was filled with shock and horror.
"With WHO?!"
"Gris-." Glacian was cut off by Cain.
"Griswold, the blacksmith of Tristram. Our good friend here seemed to talk some sense into him," explained Cain, "may I have a private word with you?"
"Yes, Glacian?" she nodded towards the door, Glacian bowed slightly and walked out. He stood just outside the door for a good fifteen minutes until Akara called him back in.
"Yes?" asked Glacian, eagerly, for he was hungry for another quest, a step closer to his means of end, defeating Diablo.
"I have a very dark quest for you. Diablo's highest minion, Izual is said to be presiding in the dungeons just south of the Cold Plains of Despair. He is the one who has been sending monsters to attack us and he is the one who tainted Blood Raven. It all started long ago when the Archangel, Izual watched over this place. He was a great friend to all of us, but when Diablo came through, on his way to the Chaos Sanctuary, he chained Izual's soul. Imagine that, a power strong enough to convert even an Archangel. You had the power to convert Griswold and defeat Blood Raven. If you travel to the dungeons and defeat Izual, his soul will be returned and the albatross, which has burdened these rogues for three years now, will be lifted from their shoulders. Will you go find Izual? Will you save these rogues from certain doom?"
Glacian sat thinking for nearly five minutes.
"Yes," he finally said, "yes I will, but I need potions and great armor. I have an aura, Holy Light, which might be able to lift the chains without a fight. It is designed to purify its target. I only hope it is strong enough to lift a curse this thick."
"Charsi can give you a breast plate, I can open a portal to the entrance of the dungeons, but I can't help you from there."
"Fine, I will go tomorrow, after a night's rest" said Glacian, yawning.
When he walked out he headed towards the main tent. Griswold, who had heard the conversation inside Akara's quarters, soon greeted him.
"Umm. Glacian, to thank you for helping me back there, I could make you some armor. I have an extra plate, back in Tristram, if I could travel there I could imbune it with a magical property." Said Griswold
"No, Griswold, it's ok, save you strength, Charsi is a good blacksmith, I'm sure she can come up with something good."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now get some rest."
Griswold headed to Warriv and Glacian went to talk to Charsi and Kayasha. He soon found the two sitting by the fire, eating dinner.
"Ah! Glacian, how are ya?" asked Charsi gleefully.
"Great, how are you two?" replied Glacian
"Fine." said Kayasha, obviously speaking for both of them, as Charsi had a chicken leg in her mouth.
"Listen, I have a favor to ask of you Charsi."
"Yes?" came the reply.
"Could you make me a strong plate, one with magical powers like my mail?"
"Sure, but I'd need you mail back, you know, to retrieve its powers?"
"Right, ok, I'll be right back."
Glacian trotted to his tent and grabbed his mail, returning to the two rogues he saw Akara with them.
"Here you go." said Glacian, handing Charsi the mail.
"I see, Akara just explained to us about your new quest." said Charsi, laying the mail on the ground next to her.
"Yes, well, it will definitely not be easy." replied Glacian, accepting a piece of bread and a jug of water from a rogue.
"I want to go with you." stated Kayasha, rather bluntly.
"What?"
"I want to go with you, I hate what Diablo has done to the peaceful Izual and I want to help him. I'm sick of waking up every morning knowing that my best friend is dead at the hands of Izual, who is practically dead at the hands of Diablo. Killing Izual will bring us one step closer to killing Diablo." she looked , bloodthirsty and obviously frustrated with the present situation.
Glacian couldn't blame her. She had been through a lot in the last few years and she was right, Izual's defeat would weaken Diablo drastically.
"But-."
"I don't care what you say, Glacian, I'm going with you, or I'm going alone."
Glacian looked to Akara who was sadly shaking her head.
"The rogues cannot afford to loose you Kayasha, you have to stay and look after them."
"I've looked after them enough, they can get along on their own. I must go with you and rid us all of Izual. What use am I to them if Izual's forces constantly pound us? It's either fight and die, or stay back and become overrun. I choose to die in honor and at least have a fighting chance."
"Fine, you can go, but stay back. If I'm killed, you have to promise me you will return to the encampment and continue to lead these rogues."
"Deal."
Glacian headed back to his tent, his head hung and his eyes drooping. Tomorrow was to be a long day, a very long day indeed.
***********
When Glacian awoke, he found a brass breastplate beside him, just like his mail in the past. He rose and carried his plate outside. He grabbed some meat and bread and began to eat breakfast. When he was finished he headed to Akara's quarters, he wanted to go through the portal before Kayasha knew it was closed. To his surprise he found Kayasha and Akara talking when he entered the tent.
"Ah, Glacian, are you ready?" asked Akara in a smooth tone.
"Ready as I will be."
"Well, then." Akara read a scroll aloud in an ancient language and a bright blue portal opened in front of them. Glacian hurried through and found himself standing in front of a large dark gate.
"This must be it." he said to himself.
"Let's go." said Kayasha, who had entered to portal just behind him.
The two set off through the door. The dungeons were deserted, dark and gloomy the halls were lit by dying torches and the ground was covered with bones. Small rats scurried around under their feet. Every time they'd get to an end of a passageway, they'd find a short staircase down. When it began to get too dark to see and to musty to breath they saw a dim light at the end of an adjacent passageway.
"Down there." whispered Glacian.
"I got your back." replied Kayasha.
They headed down the hall slowly and silently. When they neared the end, they heard a deep voice.
"WHAT? Blood Raven? How could she be? Who did this!" asked the voice.
"I, I don't know sir, it was a paladin, hsssss, and two rogues." came a softer, serpent-like voice.
"There will be a price to pay! ARGHHHH! Find them, bring them to me, for I will show them what suffering is about."
"Yesssss sir."
The subordinate slipped into the hall where Glacian and Kayasha were standing, stunned by what they'd heard.
"Hurry, go back." whispered Glacian anxiously.
The serpent warrior was only feet away when Glacian and Kayasha ducked around a corner. It slithered right past.
"You take care of him before he spreads the news, I'll g after Izual."
"No, I'll get the serpent while you wait here, then we both get Izual."
"Fine." agreed Glacian, not really wanting to face Izual alone.
Kayasha wandered off, following the serpent. Nearly ten minutes had passed and Glacian was becoming worried. Finally, Kayasha returned.
"Done." she simply said.
"All right, let's move on."
They creped silently through the hall until the came to the corner connecting Izual's chamber to their hall. Glacian peeked quickly around the corner. There, in the middle of the room, was a huge golden chair; standing in front of it was Izual. Dressed in a huge plate that stretched from his neck to his ankles (a span of nearly 10 feet) he stood, a blue-gray aura surrounding him. He looked frustrated, like he was struggling within himself. His sword was nearly as tall as Glacian himself and his shield could protect at least three men.
Ducking back he told Kayasha of what he saw, she confirmed it was Izual.
"If I am to use Holy Light, he must be looking in my direction, but not at me. That's the only downside to it." Glacian told Kayasha.
"I have an idea. On your mark, I'll shoot an arrow on the ground over there." Kayasha pointed to the other corner connecting the halls. "When you hear him turn, you can quickly hit him with your aura, we can only hope it is strong enough."
"It's worth a try." said Glacian "1...2...3...MARK!"
In a split-second an arrow flew, Izual turned, Glacian aimed his scepter and a blinding light hit Izual right between the eyes.
"AARRRGGGGG!!" Izual fell to his knees, a green light emerging from his shoulders. This light hung over his head for a few seconds and finally dissipated. Izual lay panting on his knees. While he did this, a white light began emerging from his sides and bright fluorescent wings emerged. Izual stood up at stared down at Glacian.
In a deep, but different tone he said, "Thank you, you are a truly powerful mortal. I don't know how to thank you, but I do."
"You are welcome, I was told of your wrath and decided to come after you." replied Glacian, grateful to have the approbation of an Archangel.
"And a good thing you did, I was about to go crazy, what with all the attacks of quill rats and zombies." Kayasha stated, and for the first time ever, Glacian saw her smile.
"We'd better return, the rogues will be happy to hear the news."
"No, wait!" said Izual. "I will tell them, I need you two to go to the Pandemonium Fortress and find Diablo. That is where he is hiding. Take his soulstone, the stone imbedded within his forehead and smash it at the forge you find in the Chaos Sanctuary. Take this." Izual handed Glacian a map showing the Pandemonium Fortress and its surroundings. "You will need it, find your way through the Maze of Ith and get to the seals. My brother, Tyreal, will give you more information when you reach the fortress, hurry, I fear time is running out! I am too weak to fight him, he's already conquered me once, but you broke his curse. Here, go now!" he opened a red portal, similar to the one Glacian traveled through to get to Tristram.
"Glacian!" Kayasha yelled, but it was too late, he'd already stepped into the portal. Fearing for him, she followed.
Izual's Rebirth
When Cain, Glacian, and Griswold returned no one seemed to notice. Everyone was still cheerful of the news of Blood Raven's defeat. The only one who seemed curious about Cain and Griswold was Kayasha. After explaining his situation to her, she agreed to let Griswold rest in the encampment and let Glacian and Cain visit Akara. Winding his way through the scores of rogues, he finally found Akara's tent.
"Akara?" Glacian asked, opening the flap of her tent.
"You have returned, paladin." Came a faint reply from Akara, who was sitting at her desk, her back turned to Glacian and Cain.
"Yes."
"With Deckard Cain?"
"Yes."
"I sense another, did you return with anyone else?"
"Yes, Griswold, the blacksmith from Tristram."
Akara jumped up and faced Glacian. Her face was filled with shock and horror.
"With WHO?!"
"Gris-." Glacian was cut off by Cain.
"Griswold, the blacksmith of Tristram. Our good friend here seemed to talk some sense into him," explained Cain, "may I have a private word with you?"
"Yes, Glacian?" she nodded towards the door, Glacian bowed slightly and walked out. He stood just outside the door for a good fifteen minutes until Akara called him back in.
"Yes?" asked Glacian, eagerly, for he was hungry for another quest, a step closer to his means of end, defeating Diablo.
"I have a very dark quest for you. Diablo's highest minion, Izual is said to be presiding in the dungeons just south of the Cold Plains of Despair. He is the one who has been sending monsters to attack us and he is the one who tainted Blood Raven. It all started long ago when the Archangel, Izual watched over this place. He was a great friend to all of us, but when Diablo came through, on his way to the Chaos Sanctuary, he chained Izual's soul. Imagine that, a power strong enough to convert even an Archangel. You had the power to convert Griswold and defeat Blood Raven. If you travel to the dungeons and defeat Izual, his soul will be returned and the albatross, which has burdened these rogues for three years now, will be lifted from their shoulders. Will you go find Izual? Will you save these rogues from certain doom?"
Glacian sat thinking for nearly five minutes.
"Yes," he finally said, "yes I will, but I need potions and great armor. I have an aura, Holy Light, which might be able to lift the chains without a fight. It is designed to purify its target. I only hope it is strong enough to lift a curse this thick."
"Charsi can give you a breast plate, I can open a portal to the entrance of the dungeons, but I can't help you from there."
"Fine, I will go tomorrow, after a night's rest" said Glacian, yawning.
When he walked out he headed towards the main tent. Griswold, who had heard the conversation inside Akara's quarters, soon greeted him.
"Umm. Glacian, to thank you for helping me back there, I could make you some armor. I have an extra plate, back in Tristram, if I could travel there I could imbune it with a magical property." Said Griswold
"No, Griswold, it's ok, save you strength, Charsi is a good blacksmith, I'm sure she can come up with something good."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, now get some rest."
Griswold headed to Warriv and Glacian went to talk to Charsi and Kayasha. He soon found the two sitting by the fire, eating dinner.
"Ah! Glacian, how are ya?" asked Charsi gleefully.
"Great, how are you two?" replied Glacian
"Fine." said Kayasha, obviously speaking for both of them, as Charsi had a chicken leg in her mouth.
"Listen, I have a favor to ask of you Charsi."
"Yes?" came the reply.
"Could you make me a strong plate, one with magical powers like my mail?"
"Sure, but I'd need you mail back, you know, to retrieve its powers?"
"Right, ok, I'll be right back."
Glacian trotted to his tent and grabbed his mail, returning to the two rogues he saw Akara with them.
"Here you go." said Glacian, handing Charsi the mail.
"I see, Akara just explained to us about your new quest." said Charsi, laying the mail on the ground next to her.
"Yes, well, it will definitely not be easy." replied Glacian, accepting a piece of bread and a jug of water from a rogue.
"I want to go with you." stated Kayasha, rather bluntly.
"What?"
"I want to go with you, I hate what Diablo has done to the peaceful Izual and I want to help him. I'm sick of waking up every morning knowing that my best friend is dead at the hands of Izual, who is practically dead at the hands of Diablo. Killing Izual will bring us one step closer to killing Diablo." she looked , bloodthirsty and obviously frustrated with the present situation.
Glacian couldn't blame her. She had been through a lot in the last few years and she was right, Izual's defeat would weaken Diablo drastically.
"But-."
"I don't care what you say, Glacian, I'm going with you, or I'm going alone."
Glacian looked to Akara who was sadly shaking her head.
"The rogues cannot afford to loose you Kayasha, you have to stay and look after them."
"I've looked after them enough, they can get along on their own. I must go with you and rid us all of Izual. What use am I to them if Izual's forces constantly pound us? It's either fight and die, or stay back and become overrun. I choose to die in honor and at least have a fighting chance."
"Fine, you can go, but stay back. If I'm killed, you have to promise me you will return to the encampment and continue to lead these rogues."
"Deal."
Glacian headed back to his tent, his head hung and his eyes drooping. Tomorrow was to be a long day, a very long day indeed.
***********
When Glacian awoke, he found a brass breastplate beside him, just like his mail in the past. He rose and carried his plate outside. He grabbed some meat and bread and began to eat breakfast. When he was finished he headed to Akara's quarters, he wanted to go through the portal before Kayasha knew it was closed. To his surprise he found Kayasha and Akara talking when he entered the tent.
"Ah, Glacian, are you ready?" asked Akara in a smooth tone.
"Ready as I will be."
"Well, then." Akara read a scroll aloud in an ancient language and a bright blue portal opened in front of them. Glacian hurried through and found himself standing in front of a large dark gate.
"This must be it." he said to himself.
"Let's go." said Kayasha, who had entered to portal just behind him.
The two set off through the door. The dungeons were deserted, dark and gloomy the halls were lit by dying torches and the ground was covered with bones. Small rats scurried around under their feet. Every time they'd get to an end of a passageway, they'd find a short staircase down. When it began to get too dark to see and to musty to breath they saw a dim light at the end of an adjacent passageway.
"Down there." whispered Glacian.
"I got your back." replied Kayasha.
They headed down the hall slowly and silently. When they neared the end, they heard a deep voice.
"WHAT? Blood Raven? How could she be? Who did this!" asked the voice.
"I, I don't know sir, it was a paladin, hsssss, and two rogues." came a softer, serpent-like voice.
"There will be a price to pay! ARGHHHH! Find them, bring them to me, for I will show them what suffering is about."
"Yesssss sir."
The subordinate slipped into the hall where Glacian and Kayasha were standing, stunned by what they'd heard.
"Hurry, go back." whispered Glacian anxiously.
The serpent warrior was only feet away when Glacian and Kayasha ducked around a corner. It slithered right past.
"You take care of him before he spreads the news, I'll g after Izual."
"No, I'll get the serpent while you wait here, then we both get Izual."
"Fine." agreed Glacian, not really wanting to face Izual alone.
Kayasha wandered off, following the serpent. Nearly ten minutes had passed and Glacian was becoming worried. Finally, Kayasha returned.
"Done." she simply said.
"All right, let's move on."
They creped silently through the hall until the came to the corner connecting Izual's chamber to their hall. Glacian peeked quickly around the corner. There, in the middle of the room, was a huge golden chair; standing in front of it was Izual. Dressed in a huge plate that stretched from his neck to his ankles (a span of nearly 10 feet) he stood, a blue-gray aura surrounding him. He looked frustrated, like he was struggling within himself. His sword was nearly as tall as Glacian himself and his shield could protect at least three men.
Ducking back he told Kayasha of what he saw, she confirmed it was Izual.
"If I am to use Holy Light, he must be looking in my direction, but not at me. That's the only downside to it." Glacian told Kayasha.
"I have an idea. On your mark, I'll shoot an arrow on the ground over there." Kayasha pointed to the other corner connecting the halls. "When you hear him turn, you can quickly hit him with your aura, we can only hope it is strong enough."
"It's worth a try." said Glacian "1...2...3...MARK!"
In a split-second an arrow flew, Izual turned, Glacian aimed his scepter and a blinding light hit Izual right between the eyes.
"AARRRGGGGG!!" Izual fell to his knees, a green light emerging from his shoulders. This light hung over his head for a few seconds and finally dissipated. Izual lay panting on his knees. While he did this, a white light began emerging from his sides and bright fluorescent wings emerged. Izual stood up at stared down at Glacian.
In a deep, but different tone he said, "Thank you, you are a truly powerful mortal. I don't know how to thank you, but I do."
"You are welcome, I was told of your wrath and decided to come after you." replied Glacian, grateful to have the approbation of an Archangel.
"And a good thing you did, I was about to go crazy, what with all the attacks of quill rats and zombies." Kayasha stated, and for the first time ever, Glacian saw her smile.
"We'd better return, the rogues will be happy to hear the news."
"No, wait!" said Izual. "I will tell them, I need you two to go to the Pandemonium Fortress and find Diablo. That is where he is hiding. Take his soulstone, the stone imbedded within his forehead and smash it at the forge you find in the Chaos Sanctuary. Take this." Izual handed Glacian a map showing the Pandemonium Fortress and its surroundings. "You will need it, find your way through the Maze of Ith and get to the seals. My brother, Tyreal, will give you more information when you reach the fortress, hurry, I fear time is running out! I am too weak to fight him, he's already conquered me once, but you broke his curse. Here, go now!" he opened a red portal, similar to the one Glacian traveled through to get to Tristram.
"Glacian!" Kayasha yelled, but it was too late, he'd already stepped into the portal. Fearing for him, she followed.