Evil Ascendant

Disclaimer: I don't own the Diablo games or any derivatives there in, etc, etc dingos did not eat my baby, so on and so forth. I do not own the Simpsons either but I did come up with the witty title.

Summary: Rated HB. For Heavy Breathing in the first scene. It goes…..like this…in the entire….first….scene. A bit longer than previous chapters.

Thanks: To Brightbear for fixing my mistakes. Also to those who will very soon lavish mildly extravagant gifts upon me.

Chapter 5

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"I am Lady Jen of the Farr tribe. What is your name, warrior?"

"Duff…….. of the Hills"

"That spearhead punctured your left lung, that's why you are having trouble breathing."

"That is…… kind of…… obvious."

"You have," Lady Farr paused. "Unusual skills."

"I am….. one of…. the druids."

"Truly, yours is a rare kind then."

"We show ourselves……. when needed."

"Why are you travelling with our caravan?"

"I follow……. the Dark Wanderer."

"Then I assume we reach for the same goal?"

"Stopping….. the brothers."

"Indeed. How is it that you came to this mission?"

"My companions…..and I defeated….Andariel."

"Indeed! I am impressed, druid."

"The others…… were slain…. in the attempt."

"I'm sorry."

The copper haired druid merely looked away and the two soldiers rested silently in the caravan. The uncomfortable void was punctured only by Duff's laboured breathing and the creaking of the wagon as it ground along.

"You fight well."

"Thank….. you."

"Do you wish to join us?"

"If it….will help….. defeat the…. brothers than…. I will."

"We are honoured by your company."

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"It's a Horadric scroll," said Salena, breaking the silence.

"A what?"

"A scroll penned by a Horadric mage. The Horadrim order of mages defeated the three infernal brothers."

"The what?"

"Shut up, Wulf, just remember it's important."

"Ok."

"What does it say?"

"I'll have to study this further."

"Does Lucifer know?"

"He will when you go tell him."

"Salena, do you think you can translate it?"

"We will see," Transfixed, Salena did not turn when Wulf stood up and left leaving her alone in the Inn room.

This was an opportunity that demanded her attention. Wulf had been pacified by small morsels of information and had given her plenty of time to come up with any story she wanted. She could stop the barbarians here and twist them around to dance the tune she wanted. Her brother would be proud. The barbarians were a find, Lucifer the Paladin was the icing on the cake. She sighed, working with Lucifer was like having a wart on your back in the desert. It's a real pain and you just wait and wait for the time when you can get rid of it. Finally when you reach your destination and try to remove it you realise it's grown on you. She began sifting through her cover story. The puppet master always had to know what his puppets were going to do.

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The twin sisters Andromache and Androdameia tended to the wounded quickly and quietly. Jaina quickly swept through the camp taking stock of wounds and compiling a report for Lady Farr. Three Amazons needed to be carried to Lut Gholein on litters and two were experienced campaigners. Flace had been speared in the thigh when the Sabre Cats had managed to force a breach head. Ragnaska, an old friend, had rushed to her aid and had her side slashed open from hip to navel by a sabre. The third Djuka, a comparatively inexperienced soldier had been impaled by a spear that had slid under her breast plate and held her up as she bleed to death. When they reached Lut Gholein her body would be disposed of in the manner of her people. Carved up and feed to the shore birds. Her body would continue the cycle of life and death as befit her people. The druid mage had bleed heavily but was mending well. Jaina covered Djuka's body as Kree ran up to her.

"What is it Kree?"

"We found a survivor."

"Who?"

"A man, Molpadia found him in the burned out huts to the South."

"Have the healers look him over."

"Sure thing, Jaina," Kree half shouted breathlessly and quickly banged her fist on her breast plate before sprinting off.

Jaina walked towards where Lady Farr was discussing their next course of action with the caravan's teamsters. Stooping next to Lady Farr she began her report.

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"Well met noble Paladin," called Lucifer.

"And you, Lucifer?" Fara greeted in return.

"Well enough."

"Lucifer, don't start with me."

"What?"

Fara narrowed her eyes at Lucifer, "You should know better."

"Really?"

"What do you want, Lucifer?"

"Repairs," Lucifer stated simply, holding his patched chain mail in a mailed fist.

"It's not good. You know you've really neglected your gear."

"Really?"

"How old is it?"

"Longer than I can remember."

"Don't antagonise me, Lucifer. I'm not your junior here."

"That's your business, Fara, I'm here for repairs. How much will this cost me anyway?"

"It won't be cheap."

"The best never is."

"Tell me, how is old chapter master Flynn?"

"Probably as grumpy as ever," Lucifer grinned broadly, removing his helmet.

"What about Krieg?"

"Probably still stealing horses."

"What do you mean?"

"Renounced his oaths, joined one of the nomadic barbarian tribes."

"Of all people Krieg! But he was so devout and well mannered. I remember him from my training. He would pray for hours each day."

"Well, I have to admit after spending a few years with barbarians you can't help but go a bit feral," Lucifer replied as he began setting various pieces of equipment on Fara's work bench.

"You know enough about that, don't you?" asked Fara.

"You're in a bad mood."

"I wonder why."

"Must be because you're bored."

"Why would I? I have endless hours to pursue my studies."

"There's more to life that religion and knowledge."

"You know why I left Lucifer. Don't ever try to convince me otherwise."

"I'll judge things for myself when I reach Kurast."

"You do that."

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Jaina left the circle of people debating the courses of action to take. She would oversee the wounded and finally get some rest. It was getting harder and harder to get up in the mornings. Walking up to where the twins were attempting to calm down Gheed she waited until Andromache stood rigidly to attention.

"How are they?"

"Ragnaska and Flace will survive and after they receive proper healing in Lut Gholein should be battle ready."

"Good, and Gheed?"

"We are just calming him down now."

Jaina watched as Androdameia yelled at him to shut up and thumped him clean on the temple. Completely bedazzled, Gheed's eyes glazed over. The thing about Amazon medicine Jaina mused as she returned to her sleeping place was that there was a very fine line between a calm patient and an unconscious one.

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"So, this creature is the source of this evil?"

"Well, not really. It's really the servant of something else. Something really bad."

"What else does it say?"

"The evil is from before our time. The Sin Wars even. When the three dark lords walked in Sanctuary."

Lucifer let out a sharp intake of breath. His order it was said guarded along side with the High council of Travincal one of the three lords of death. It was the reaction Salena was hoping for. Lucifer being a Paladin of Zakarum would follow her to hell if need be to protect his heritage. Though he was worldly there were some things that were too strongly drilled into Paladins to change. Broggart's brow had furrowed and he had said nothing. That had disturbed Salena. Lucifer was always silent, always the brains. But the barbarians were always talking, always the mouth. Something was troubling Broggart. Wulf was quiet and respectful to his father like he always was when they discussed serious things.

"What does this evil do?"

"Before the Sin Wars, the forces of hell sent forth an emissary to Sanctuary. He was not a part of this world and waged several bloody wars before he was imprisoned under a great sea by the Three themselves. The Sin wars began and the demon king was forgotten in the dark days of the war. The descendants of the tribes who defeated his armies settled among the mountains and were charged with defending an old secret. Legend has it an ancient guardian, the demon's most trusted champion, waits in the shadow of the top of the world. Lucifer narrowed his eyes behind his shiny helmet.

"Where do we find this evil?"

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Kree sat propped up against her bow, guarding the wounded. Rima, one of her compatriots stood guard to her side. Kree did not know her personally but did know of her. Hugely built with muscles of steel she contrasted deeply to the other Amazons. Particularly well travelled, Rima was about as traditional as a stick in the mud. Using a huge Gothic Bow that was longer than Kree was tall Rima was a formidable archer albeit lacking the usual finesse of her kin. Gheed was whispering to himself again. Rocking backwards and forwards, he would mumble and rant. Halfway through the night Rima had tied him up in a blanket to keep him warm. Kree began to listen in to the ravings.

"Not my fault, definitely not my fault. Did this to me they did. Dead as door bells. All the big uglies come take people away. Big ugly monkey tied me up like a snugly little puppy. Hidden away from the angry man. Don't fight him. Don't make him angry. Run over hill and hide. Hide away. Far away from searching eyes. Big ugly monkeys die like flies. Bones, blood and wailing cries. So I hide away and hope they don't find me. Hurt me. Kill me. Angry at Gheed because he is but another mouth to feed." Gheed continued on with graphic descriptions of unseen horrors and various ways to be eaten by things. The man was insane. That put true fear and terror into Kree. The breaking of a person's mind, weak as this one was is not a pleasant thing to see much less experience.

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"Take his legs will you."

"Ok," Kree wrapped her arms around Gheed's legs and hauled.

Rima lifted his torso up easily and guided Kree over to the caravan where they unwrapped him and tied him to the water tuns.

"What's your name young one?' Rima asked, her resonate voice echoing across the fresh night air.

Kree blushed severely.

"Kree, of the Farr clan," Kree bowed formally as Rima nodded.

"I am Rima of the Wanderers. This is Stout Nail," Rima bowed and hefted a large wooden board with a rusty nail sticking in out of one end.

Rima had carried it around on sentry and it had aroused Kree's curiosity. Noting Kree's confused look Rima explained.

"A relic from my travels. It's an ancient magic weapon of great power."

Kree noted that the battered nail was bent in three places.

"Come Kree, we need to prepare for the journey to Lut Gholein."

"Yes we do," Kree agreed half-heartedly, still looking at the dubious club.

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