Diablo II: The Epic Behind the Game Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo II, I, or anything else that blizzard created. In fact, some of my dialogue comes directly from the game, for accuracy purposes only. The Characters however are of my own design, directly from my chars on Battle. Net
Seeing as how I am so freaking late with this post, I won't try to explain myself until the end of the chapter. Enjoy.
Rogue Encampment:
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"How long has it been?" Kashya asked, pacing around the flat, strangely cut stone while keeping it surrounded with no less than a dozen of her best archers.
"About two minutes since you last asked, Battle-Eagle." Akara replied, still involuntarily counting her prayer beads. "Are all of these guards completely necessary?"
"Flavie?" Kashya turn her question over to her captain of the guard, rubbing her head as if it would relieve her pounding migraine.
"Two hours, Battle-Eagle." Flavie told her superior.
"How long could it possibly take to stroll though Hell?" Kashya asked herself, still trying to figure out how she could have let this dangerous stone become centered right in the middle of her encampment. "We have a defense to keep up, High Priestess. How much longer must we watch this place?"
"Do not bury them yet, Kashya." Akara shook her head, beginning to grow frustrated with the Battle-Eagle's impatience. "If we are to ever return to our monastery, we can only hope that the sorceress and her party bring Deckard Cain here alive."
"One man will not turn the tides of this war, High Priestess!" Kashya shouted impatiently. "We'd require an army of saviors to retake the monastery, each one armed with steel and magic."
"You are young, Kashya." Akara said flatly, her eyes still closed as her fingers still ran over the prayer beads without thought. "A bit of aged wisdom, my dear child: A wise man is worth two armies of elite solders."
"Well, that is very poetic High Priestess. But I fail to see the point..."
"BATTLE-EAGLE!"
The battle-eagle was cut off as the sudden spar of blue fire ignited over the Waystone, growing and solidifying almost instantly while she turned around.
"ARCHERS READY!" Kashya called out, ready to give the firing order in an instant.
Her surprise was great indeed when a disheveled, dark haired woman that she had never seen before appeared before her, carrying an elderly man thought the portal.
"Who in the name of..." Kashya started.
"Okay... this isn't the first time that I've had this sort of welcoming committee but could it wait?" The Assassin started, stopping for a moment and shifting the sage's arm to better support him.
"PUT THE DAMN BOWS DOWN AND HELP!" Raid shouted, coming though the portal and pushing the burdened assassin forward, seeing the arrows immediately while she dragged the druid. "WE HAVE HURT PEOPLE AND A BUNCHA DEAD GUYS COMING IN!"
Tensing slightly while the paladin jumped though the portal, the sorceress Natthilea in his arms, the eyes of every guard darted for a moment towards the Battle-Eagle, awaiting the order.
Having expected a hoard of monsters to come slipping though this strange Way Portal since the beginning, Kashya hesitated for a second before finally giving her order.
"STAND DOWN!" The Battle-Eagle barked, pushing past her sisters in arms and rushing to the old man's aid. She knew that, even if the dead were to come though the gate, it would take more than arrows to stop them.
The several of the other sisters followed suit, rushing to help the battle wary and exhausted magic users.
"BANZAIII!!!" The largest of the group, the barbarian warrior called Tozam, dove though the blue fire last, holding a companion under each arm.
At least till his feet were firmly on the ground again, then he just dropped them like two lifeless sacks of potatoes before turning about to face the portal.
"BRING YOUR PRETTY BONES TO MY FIST!!" The barbarian shouted out as a skeletal arm reached though the glowing, pulsing gateway. Without hesitation, Tozam grabbed hold of the arm and pulled it sharply to the side, severing it at the edge of portal and likely throwing the owner of the arm to the ground. Even as he did this, Two skeletal warriors bore past the barbarian, obviously making a rush for the portal though which their prey had fled.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Tozam threw himself sideways, grabbing the one farther though the gate and throwing the bag of bones into it's companion, with the force carrying it though the portal.
"ELDER CAIN!" Kassyera shook the sage wildly while Kashya held him up, trying to force the old man awake. "YOU HAVE TO CLOSE IT! YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW!"
"Dammit all..." Cain sputtered for a minute, obviously still fighting to keep his grip on where he was.
"CLOSE THE DAMN THING! NOW!!!!" Tozam called out, now reduced to pushing back skulls and half mutilated heads as he saw them coming, forcing himself wide open for attacks from the many skeletal claws pushing their way though.
"Activation...Termination.... Oh, what was it?" Cain stumbled over himself, obviously straining his already fatigued mind and body to keep himself focused.
"ANY DAY NOW WOULD BE GOOD!!!"
"The way is shut...." Cain started again, using his last ounce of strength to gesture towards the portal. "...The door...is...gone!"
At his words, Tozam jumped back while the blue, glowing portal collapsed on itself, severing several frontal parts of skulls and leaving behind many lifeless skeletal arms on the ground of the Rogue Encampment.
His work finished, Tozam too slumped to the ground, his wounds from the short torture session with Gharbad finally catching up with him.
"Ummmm... We're back..." He managed, before collapsing entirely between the two limp forms of Cathim and Elric.
This warranted pause for a moment before the high priestess of the Sightless Eye put things into order.
"Help them up!" She started weaving in and out from the now moving archers as they rushed to obey the High Priestesses commands. "Bring food and water! Bandages for her shoulder!" Akara looked from one to the other, pausing for a moment when she came to Natalie and smiling when the sorceresses tired eyes opened slightly.
"You've done it, Natthilea Tasslewind!" The high priestess said kindly, a momentary glance going over to Deckard Cain. "You have brought back a powerful and wise man from the depths of all of this horror. You have my thanks, young sorceress, and may yet restore my faith in humanity."
"It was nothing, really, High Priestess." Preen chimed in, several bruises on his shoulder getting immediate attention by one of the bow carrying rogues. "The forces of good were triumphant today, that is all." The paladin forced himself to his feet now, trying his best to ward away the well intending rogue.
"Indeed…" Akara only nodded n the paladin's direction before turning back to giving her orders. "Get them to my tent to rest! The rest of you to your post!"
The moving started with rogues helping the few standing adventurers to get their companions to their feet. Taking three of them to pull up the Barbarian while one was more than able to pick up and carry the necromancer in her arms.
Cathim, forcing off his mana exhaustion for a moment, looked up into the face of the young rogue.
"I'll be damned…" the necromancer thought outloud, "So there s a piece of heaven for mortals…. And they let me in…" Cathim smiled. "I can't wait to rub it in Preen's face."
"Oh, lades, lades." Tozam was nearly as delusional, "Not tonight… I have a massive headache…and the side of my face hurts like hell."
It was not long before the group was being either escorted or carried away to the more restful confines of the High Priestess.
Well, almost of them.
Unsurprisingly missed in the rogue's attempt to make the others more comfortable while being eased away, Elric laid very still on the ground, still unmoving and seemingly unconscious as a shadow passed over him.
Having avoided the rogues (Who obviously didn't want anything to do with the half-breed), Preen had managed to slip by in the chaos to now stand over the abomination, seething in his own, self-justified, righteous fury.
How could he have been so blind, Preen thought. He had felt from the beginning that there was something amiss about this seemingly innocent 'boy'. He should have realized the dark glare in his eyes the moment that they had first shook hands in the tavern. He had felt something, but had foolishly dismissed it as mere imagination. Now, he had seen for himself what sort of creature he and Raid had fallen into consorting with.
How many innocent people had fallen victim to this snake in men's clothes?
How many had died at it's claws?
Cathim had described Elric before as a lizard-like beast. Now, Preen could imagine the smug Elric no other way. Always pulling away from the group like he did… likely consorting with the very monsters that they had later faced. Attempting to kill them all while in the guise of a friend. Had it not been for the amazing wit and foresight of the sage, Deckard Cain, they would have all been overrun by the foul undead, the hated servants of Mephesto. And this beast would have likely finished his task, earning a place alongside the equally foul Maiden of Anguish in the ill-fated monastery as it became a permanent outpost of Hell in the mortal realm.
"No more blood shall be spilled on account of this dark beast…" Preen vowed, reaching for the blade at his side and loosing it from it's scabbard. "And for the honor of all who have gone before me…"
Preen raised the blade up in a warrior's salute to his fallen comrades in arms, those who had fallen before their time at the whims of the monster on the Blood Moor. Then, turning the blade downward, prepared for a final, devastating thrust.
"DIE WELL!" The paladin thrust the blade down .
"NO!" Much to his surprised, a small, yet strong, pair of hands managed to grab hold of his wrist, halting the killing move instantly as the dark haired assassin pushed against the indignant fury of the paladin.
"I won't let you hurt him!" Kassyera strained defiantly, forcing the slightly larger warrior's hands (which were still gripped tightly to the downward pointing sword) up between their faces.
"This creature is a child of an unholy demon…" Preen started, pushing down against the assassin with all of his might, now holding her eyes in a mutual deadlock. "I am simply dong what should have been done long ago when this beast was first found."
"He has saved my life more than once, Zakarum. Now, if you wish to take his, you will have to go though me."
Unbelieving of what he had just heard, Preen pushed away from the assassin, brimming her grip on him and tang a few steps back, taking up battle stance with his blade, the assassin doing the same, save that she had unfortunately lost her last claw weapon in Griswold's back.
"This monster is not worthy of your loyalty, Kassyera." Preen said, pulling his kite shield from his back, "I do not know how he has bewitched you so, but rest assured that I shall not let his blatant lies rule your life."
"If you wish to talk about lies, shall we begin with the Prophecies of Akarat?"
"This monstrosity does not deserve life in this world!" Preen argued, his face flushed. "And if you are so willing to throw your life away for the sake of the beast, then by my own honor, your life is forfeit." Preen brought his blade up in his warrior's salute. "Die well, Kassyera!"
"STOP THIS MADNESS!" The voice of Akara rang above them as the seemingly frail High Priestess of The Sightless Eye came marching back across the otherwise abandoned portion of the encampment. "There shall be no blood spilled here!"
"High Priestess!" Preen turned about, still completely convinced that he had done no wrong. "This creature is not of this world! I implore you to allow me to return this evil to the hells from wince it came!"
The glare that the priestess gave the paladin could have been enough to explode many weaker hearts.
"This is not the Travencal, Son of Zakarum." Akara said, her sharp voice putting to rest any lingering doubts of where she would stand on this matter. "I will not let death and fear of punishment be the rule here. And I shall not allow for murder in my camp."
"It is not murder! It is justice!"
"FOR WHAT!?" Kassyera cried out in her own frustration while Akara pushed past, moving down to attend to the still unmoving Elric.
"IT IS A DEMON! IS THAT NOT REASON ENOUGH!?"
"HE HELPED SAVED OUR LIVES!" Kass shot back, "HE PUT HIMSELF THOUGH MANA BURN SO WE COULD GET BACK HERE!"
Akara knelt down by the half-demon, looking him over.
"You are an assassin. Killing corrupted wizards is all part of your life. A little exhaustion from overusing magic and you trust your life to that thing!? Don't be so sure that it would do the same!"
"He's not exhausted…" Akara said faintly, feeling at Elric's neck and drawing the attention of both warriors.
"He's dying…"
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"YOU DID WHAT!?" Natalie was beside herself with the anger while the stoic paladin sat down in the High Priestesses tent, still completely confident that he had done nothing wrong.
"Bring him in here." Akara told the assassin carrying the half-demon into the quartered off back area of the tent.
"If it weren't for the facts that I'm still suffering from mana burn and I can't lift my arms, I would take you down myself!" Cathim started, still sounding weary from before.
Akara tried to tune it out as she closed the curtains to her private quarters while the now hostile warriors and spell casters began to bicker amongst themselves.
"Lay him face down on the bed." Akara ordered. And Kassyera obeyed, though still trying to understand several things.
"Why not take him to the camp's healer?" She asked.
"Because of what he his." Akara said simply, still trying to tune out the babbling behind the curtain as Preen the paladin attempted to justify himself. "I doubt that the arrogant fool would react any differently than the paladin. Now, cut the back of his tunic."
"Alright..." Kass had to look about for a moment before realizing that she already had a dagger handy and went to the task, carefully sawing thought the surprisingly tough material while avoiding the bandage that she had put over the wound before.
"What happened there?" Akara asked, seeing the bandage as she opened a small chest of healing potions and utensils that she had managed to salvage from her stores in the monastery.
"He was shot with an arrow in the graveyard. I tried to tend it myself but..." Kassyera jumped back slightly as he peeled back the bandage that she had set only a few hours ago. "Oh my..."
What had at one point been a single, rather small infected wound had spread into a sickening, rotting black mass of exposed scales and underlying flesh that seemed to sink deeper into his body.
"How...how..." Kass stuttered for a moment before the High Priestess gently nudged her aside. "How was he still standing with that sort of injury?!'
"I've seen this sort of thing before in my youth, back when I was an acolyte." Akara said, using a silk cloth to press dry some of the infection, drawing some slight twitching and a painful growl from the unconscious half-demon. "Likely he didn't feel a thing unless pressure was put on the wound. This sort of infection festers and eats away at the body until it finally impacts something vital to the system. It usually takes months to develop, though. The fact that it has come on so quickly is a cause for alarm."
"What should I do?" The assassin asked.
"Go outside and shut them up." Akara said flatly, gesturing to the curtain and the still shouting adventurers on the other side. "This will be very difficult enough without them attempting to blow down the walls of my tent."
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"HE'S MY BROTHER!"
"'IT' IS A MONSTER! One that would not hesitate to turn against you f given a chance!" Preen started again, still not allowing himself to get worked up despite the fact that Natalie, Tozam, and Cathim were glaring at him. Raid and Durom on the other hand, sat back, listening to the arguments. "
"How would you know?" Tozam asked harshly, "And where do you get off judging him!?"
"It is the duty of the chosen of the light to destroy the darkness where ever it is found."
"And I suppose you use your mighty brain to tell the difference." Cathim chimed in, still unable to move any of his appendages. "I do have a penchant to disagree with your opinions, Preen. but in this case, I must concur."
Natalie and Tozam turned to face the Necromancer in disbelief as Kassyera came back though the separating curtain.
"Yes. Paladins do have a duty to cleanse the land of darkness." Cathim said again, slyly. "That is why they kill just as many or more people as the so called 'demons' they fight."
"We strive to purify the ranks of humanity for the time ahead." Preen tried to explain. "Those who do not stand against the evil that has come to consume this land can not be allowed to fight on it's side."
"Don't tell me that you actually swallowed that!" Natalie started again before being cut off.
"Can I say something?" Raid asked. "What's different from an hour and a half ago? You know, besides the fact you guys are mana burned and I'm five hundred gold pieces richer?"
"We know now..." Durom chimed in now that he and the Amazon had the others attention. "That's the only difference. Raid and I trusted him enough before knowing anything for certain and I see no difference now."
"You have sent too much time around trees, Druid!" Preen replied violently. "You do not understand true evil."
"None of you do."
The soft, declarative voice that now came from the opening of the tent was a welcome turn of events as the old sage entered the tent.
"None of you have even begun to glimpse the true nature of this evil that you have foolishly set yourselves to face. You all have my gratitude for saving me, however, such things must wait until there is time."
"Master Cain...?" Natalie started, "You should be resting, elder."
"Regrettably, there is no time. I must speak with Elric immediately."
"That monster is a...OW!!!" Preen was cut off after being struck in the back of the head with the sage's staff.
"You will speak of the half-demon with respect, Paladin." Deckard Cain said softly, bringing his staff back to lean on. "Elric Tasslewind is a hero. As true and tried as any who fought in the bowels of Tristram."
"I KNEW IT!" Natalie turned with a smug look to the paladin.
"Well... my mind is put to ease." Tozam nodded. "What did I say, Elric is alright."
"Exactly..." Natalie agreed. " You see, It's not like he tried to kill anybody while we were out there."
This point was very badly punctuated as a sudden gush of liquid struck out against the curtain separating the adventurers from the back of the tent, with a little slipping under the bottom and running thick along the ground.
Even though Kassyera was the only one who was close enough to tell for certain, the others jumped with the first assumption.
"Is that blood?" Raid asked rhetorically.
"HGH PRESTESS AKARA!?" Natalie called out, more than a little concerned as she noticed Preen's hand slipping towards his blade.
"EVERYTHNG'S ALRGHT!!" Akara's voce, strained from an obvious fright. "Apparently... I struck a nerve."
"Do you need anything, high priestess?"
"NO! Stay out there..." Akara's voce carried as much authority as fear. "This... this just became...much more complicated."
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Akara's hands moved delicately, the small metal instruments pulling back on the decaying flesh. Buying herself a few moments, she wiped some of the splattered blood from her brow and tried to slow her spasming heart.
The last thing that she had expected when she started trying to clean this wound and find the source of the infection was that she would be able to trigger such a dramatic transformation. Strangely enough, even though she had known from the moment that she had set eyes on Elric Tasslewind that he was a half-breed spawn, she had never thought that the outer human shell she had seen before could cover such a creature.
What was worse now was that, even if her stomach wasn't turning, she was now uncertain she would even be able to help. Though she was a adequate healer of humans, she knew next to nothing about the anatomy of the more known demons, much less the enigmatic and far more rare half-breeds.
One wrong move with the smooth, metallic pliers could cause another unforeseen effect that could be just as dangerous for her as it was for him.
"Alright..." Akara swallowed, trying her best not to look down as the thing that she and her encampment had become indebted to growled in it's sleep. "Whatever you do, don't try to kill anything in your sleep."
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"This is blasphemy!" Preen shook his head, still gritting his teeth. " Consorting with this demonic refuge is a one way ticket to damnation! As horrific as breaking any of the codes of Akarat."
"Really?" Tozam asked, "Wow... I'll be damned. I blaspheme at least three times a day."
"Sometimes twice after lunch." Cathim followed up.
"Can we please be serious here?" Natalie started up again, turning a glare to the two men.
"No." Cathim answered, finally feeling able to pull himself up. "The situation is serious enough."
"Indeed..." Preen sneered, keeping his arms crossed as he leaned back against the side of the tent. "The very thought that..."
"SHUT-UP PREEN!" Raid hissed, still running coins though her fingers. "You have done nothing but whine and preach for over an hour. Now, in case you haven't noticed, no one is paying attention."
"How long has Durom been sleeping?" Natalie asked.
"Probably as long as those two have been chatting." Tozam pointed out flap the tent where Kassyera and Deckard Cain had gone out shortly after Preen had begun his assault on their ears.
"I wonder what they have to talk about?" Natalie wondered, looking once again to the curtain splitting the large tent of the High Priestess in two.
"I wouldn't worry too much, Natalie." Cathim said, "Akara is a obviously a very competent healer. Otherwise she would not have ascended to High Priestess."
"But what's taking so long?" Natalie pulled herself to her feet again, pacing around for a few minutes before the mana burn came back on her, forcing her to sit down again."
"Well, not much that we can do about it right now, Natalie." Tozam laid back.
"There are many things that we shouldn't do though." Preen sad.
"One more remark like that out of you, paladin, and I will roast you on a spit outside." Natalie snapped.
Silence finally fell again, the snoring of the druid and a slight clinking of gold coins being the only break.
It was not until fifteen minutes later that the high priestess, covered from top to bottom of her robe in blackish red blood, pulled back the curtain. An exhaustion clear on her face.
Natalie jumped up, wringing her hands as she waited for news while Kassyera and Deckard Cain came back into the tent.
"How is he?" Cathim asked carefully, noting how every eye in the room (with the exception of the two that Durom had closed) was now locked on the High Priestess of the Sightless Eye.
"Well..." The High Priestess brought a clenched fist up to her chest. "It will cost me just about ever single healing potion in the encampment. But, the half-breed should recover."
The visible sigh of relief from the sorceress was only outweighed by the paladin's sheer outrage.
"High priestess, you are a leader of a respected military order. How can you justify saving this sort of creature."
"He saved this encampment from an army of zombies..." Kassyera started from her position next to Deckard Cain. "Helped keep us alive at Tristram and, before that, he was the reason that Diablo fell at Tristram."
"Wha..." This was more than enough to get the paladin's attention.
"And I am also the High Priestess of a well known and respected 'Religious' order, Sir Paladin."
"What do you know about all that?" Natalie asked, turning a suspicious eye to the assassin.
"What did you think we were talking about out there, Zann Esu? The weather?" "This is no time." Deckard Can sad leaning heavily on his staff. "We must do everything that we can to get Elric back on his feet."
"All four of them, or just two?" Tozam asked.
"That will take some time, Master Cain." Akara turned her attention away from Preen, who was still flustered by this development. "The damage was quite extensive."
"Damage?" Natalie asked. "From what?"
"This." Akara held out her hand opening her hand for the first time to reveal a minute, silvery scrap of metal that gleamed brightly despite it's size.
"That tiny little thing took down the big bad half-demon?" Tozam asked, surprised as he looked over the piece.
"A tiny little spider could kill you in a matter of seconds , Little Bugga." Cathim said as he examined the small metal scrap. "Was it poisoned?"
"To him it was." Akara said shortly, bringing the metal sliver back up and slipping it into a pocket inside of her robes. "I'll send some rogues around the encampment and have them pick up as many healing potions as they can. To close up that wound, he'll need every one."
"May I see him?" Natalie asked, still wringing her hands.
"Yes, but only you, young sorceress." Akara said after a moment. "Don't try to wake him."
Natalie nodded as she pulled back the separating curtain, understanding the High Priestesses reasoning perfectly.
"The rest of you wait and rest up here." Akara ordered.
"The hell…" Preen got to his feet. "I can not, in good conscience, stay here while the rest of you allow this creature to roam the world. Forgive me, Friend Tozam, but I can no longer travel with you. Raid, we must take our leave!"
"As if…" Raid shook her head, pushing Durom's head off of her shoulder while she turned to face Preen. "I got a hundred percent cut of what I found in Tristram without so much as a single cross word or counter claim. Plus, Tozam was right. That'll be one hell of a story to tell the little sisters back home."
"Then so be it…" Preen said, sounding disappointed at the prospect of parting ways with the Amazon. "I shall keep you in my prayers,."
"Okay, just make sure the prayers involve lots and lots gold." Raid waved the paladin off, going back to counting out the coins.
"What? No prayers for me, Preen?" Cathim smiled, still stuck in his stationary. "Good-bye and good riddance."
"You can't go." Deckard Cain said evenly, stopping the paladin in his tracks as he made for the tent flap. "None of you can. You are already involved in this." Cain looked around the tent. "All of you." This stunned the motley group, drawing all eyes to the elderly sage.
"Say what?" Durom asked, his eyes still closed.
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Natalie mourned for a moment before she found a small wooden stall to sit upon. Her cloth boots now ruined by the blood that still laid all over the ground. Now Natalie understood why Akara had been covered in blood.
"Well, little brother. You still have quite a flare for the dramatic." She said, leaning over and looking over his sleek black scales, pausing for a moment when she saw the gaping hole at the top of Elric's back. "Getting everybody worried like that. Just like the old days." She laughed slightly. "You know, you didn't have to go and get yourself hurt. You could have just gone and gotten lost again. But no, where would the fun have been in that?"
There was no response from the still sleeping half-demon, of course.
Natalie sighed.
She hadn't had much time to think about it until now, but they had really changed a great deal since those old days.
She had been a simple girl, the daughter of a humble farmer, when the Zann Esu came to their home one winter. Elric had only been seven years old then, and barely the size of a full grown cat. And, as usual when anyone from outside the village came to the door, Elric had hidden when the powerful Zann Esu recruitment woman had invited herself to a dinner with the family.
At the time, Natalie had never suspected that she was being tested during the polite dinner conversation. She had been young… and so had Elric.
After she had been offered the apprenticeship, it had taken three days to explain to the little half-demon that she was leaving, likely to never return. At one point, she had even caught him attempting to stow-away in her carrying case.
Memories stirred in her head as she continued to watch her sleeping brother.
She was surprised when she suddenly realized that he was no longer lying still but twitching slightly as he lad face down on the table.
"Rest well, Elric." Natalie sighed, realizing now just how tired she was. "I get a feeling that we are going to be needing you."
The sorceress fell silent then, leaning back and simply watching the half-demon shake and twitch on the table. In that time, she tried to relax like she did back in those old days in Atisar.
Leaning back in the seat, Natalie watched Elric, wondering what he was dreaming about.
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"I was apart of this expedition to discover more about what the connection between the Tree of Inifuss and the Carin stones. I have a duty to report back to Glor-an-Fhaidha to tell them of the…"
"There something far more important here and now, Druid . All seven of you are part of this now. And there s no telling what the result may be if any of you left."
"Okay.. Okay…" Tozam rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out what was happening. " What exactly are you talking about? What is this grand design?"
"That….I do not know." Cain said simply. "However, I do recognize providence when it stares me in the face."
"Oh gods…" Tozam fell back. "It is true. Every man that lives past the age of sixty tries to hide their senility by talking in riddles. And here I thought that was only my people."
"Can you give us a straight answer, Master Cain?" Cathim asked.
"Of course."
Silence held sway for a moment as the small group waited for the elder sage to speak again.
"Well…?"
"I can't give a straight answer without a question." Cain shrugged as thought it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Alright! Here's a question. Why is it that I can't leave these demon-serving wretches behind?" Preen shook his head violently. "What possible incentive is supposed to keep me from striking out on my own to battle with the forces of evil rather than socialize with them?!"
"Because I said that you will. That should prove incentive enough." Cain said flatly, drawing stares from the surrounding warriors while he sat calmly in the center of the tent.
""You could have gotten out of that cage at any time, couldn't you?" Raid asked. "You had the means with that scroll. You were waiting for someone… waiting for us…. to come and rescue you."
"Well, I could have gotten out of the cage, but it would have done me little good. So, I'm out of the cage and out of Tristram. What then, might I ask?" Cain looked up knowingly. "I set off to right the wrongs of the world as the Last son of the Horadrim?" The old man laughed. "I have never been a warrior, young Amazon. I am a scholar . I have spent my life studying ancient legends and prophecy. And I know the difference between coincidence and providence."
The sage looked around the room, smiling at the fact that he had a captive audience.
"The thought that seven mere mortals were able to penetrate the bowls of demon infested Tristram though a gateway that has been sealed for generations s enough to boggle the imagination."
"Well, it wasn't that hard, Old man. All we had to do was…" Tozam was cut off by a elbow from the necromancer.
"What he means, Elder Cain, is that Tristram was not so heavily guarded. And we would have been overwhelmed had it not been for you and your portal."
"You went there, Priest of Rathma. Despite whatever fear you must have felt, despite whatever odds you thought you faced, you came though. And if that is not noble, then I do not know what is."
"In here… In here…" Akara came back though the tent flap, followed closely by two rogues with arms filled with the small glass vials of healing potion. "Take them to the sorceress n the back. Elder Cain, I must consult with you immediately." "Indeed." Cain nodded, hauling himself up out of his position. "We have to gather together the leaders of this camp. The caravan master, the Battle-Eagle… Anyone who has pull and resources. Also, I want them to sit in on the meeting." Cain nodded to the adventurers. "And we must wait until Elric is awake."
"Why?"
"Because I have no intention of repeating myself."
"Okay… but I have one last question though." Tozam said. " How did you manage to survive for so long in that cage without anything to eat or drink?"
"Mage robes, my dear Barbarian… Lots of pockets and good preparation can allow a person to survive damn near anything."
-------------------------------------------
"You've been here for hours. You should get some sleep, sorceress."
Kashya's voice came as a surprise to the drowsing spell-caster, rocking her from her stupor with the shock.
"Battle-Eagle…" Natalie turned to see the red-headed rogue before trying to rub the bags from her eyes. "What do you want? He hasn't done anything."
"Yes he has. Kassyera just told me about what happened n the Burial Grounds." The Battle-Eagle's voice was a strange mixture of apology and awe. "I can hardly believe that he defeated Blood Raven."
"You'll soon learn that he s full of surprises, Kashya."
"Not the least of which…" Kashya made a gesture towards the still sleeping, demonic Elric. "You say it, you think about it, and you hate him for it. But you never really understand what it means when he says that he is half demon until you see it."
"Yeah…" Natalie looked back to her brother while the Battle-Eagle sat down next to her. "You have to admit, he's much more imposing when he's like this."
"Not to mention scarier."
"True enough."
"Listen… I was wanting you to…ummm…" Natalie could tell now that the Battle-Eagle was having trouble putting together her words. "If you could… Thank him for me. And remember… you now have my support… and that of the Rouges."
"Well… That's all well and good but…"
"Keep in mind that still don't trust that creature… But he seems to be a favorite of Master Cain and seeing as how your little party doesn't seem to be ready to move anywhere fast. Don't read anything into it, Just think of it as me letting you all have some support before you are torn apart by the monsters at the monastery."
"Actually… was gong to tell you…."
"And don't try to be taking any of my higher ranking archers on suicide missions… I need them here. And when the beast wakes up, don't tell him that you heard this from me… This was more of a courtesy as it is."
"Battle-Eagle!" Natalie finally cut Kashya off. "He is awake."
"What?" Kashya's eyes moved from the sorceress back to the half-demon, wincing slightly as the half-breed's head rose off the table and one of the four clawed paws came up and waved in a childish 'Hello' motion. "Oh…Well…"
"I think I'll just… give you two the room." Natalie stood up cautiously, stretching out her sleeping muscles as she slowly walked out of the room.
Silence held for several moments while the Battle-Eagle kept her eyes locked on the shining… almost glowing green eyes of Elric Tasslewind.
"So… Blood Raven killed Alisa?" The half-demon said, his voice dry and parched from his slumber.
"Are you going to tell me that it's not true?"
"No, but you should have told me the whole truth."
"if had told you that t was Alisa Malthion in the burial grounds, rising the dead as zombies, you wouldn't have been so eager to go out and kill her."
"I'm never eager to kill…" Elric lied, "I do what has to be done."
"I'm sure you do. But would t have been any easer if you had known beforehand?"
Elric had to think for a moment before solemnly answering.
"No."
Kashya sighed.
"Alisa was once my closest friend, half-demon. But still, I pray that her tortured spirit remains banished forever."
"Amen, Battle-Eagle…Amen."
Another rogue came though the tent flap, jumping for a moment at the sight of Elric and then remembering her training and turning obediently to Kashya.
"Forgive me, Battle-Eagle. They are ready for you."
"Well, that's good, soldier." Elric shook his head. "Now, get me a mana potion before I do something demonic."
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"Some time ago I came across a few survivors of Tristram. As remember it , they said that Cain had gone mad during the invasion and could no longer distinguish fact from fantasy."
"I have spoken with him quite often since his rescue, Warrvie." The assassin told the Caravan Master. "As far as I can tell, he is one of the most sane men that I have ever met."
Durom pulled away from the conversation. Stoic and silent as always while his eyes darted around the secured area surrounding the High Bell.
Aside from the adventuring group there were very few attendees. Akara, Natalie, and Deckard Cain were by themselves quietly discussing something, what he did not now. Cathim was attempting to talk sense into the still reluctant paladin while the larger barbarian held the necromancer (and more importantly the hand holding the necromancer's knife) back. Raid sat off n to the side, apparently giving tips on archer to one of the younger looking rogues standing guard. Among them were also several other important members of the camp, being the camp's blacksmith, a firm, powerful looking young woman with an obvious trace of barbarian blood; Warrvie, the Caravan Master and appointed civilian representative; and Gheed, the pudgy, sleazy self-appointed representative of the Merchant's Guild.
"Given the men around here, Viz-Jaq'taar, that's not so hard to believe."
"True….True…"
"Okay… what's the big emergency!? I had to leave my cart, my merchandise… My dinner… all behind… so this had better be good."
"Stop your squawking, Gheed. We have no time for such nonsense." Warrvie silenced the merchant and putting his conversation with the assassin aside. "We have serious business to attend here."
"Business most serious indeed." Cain said, coming back to the group with Akara and Natalie at each side. "We now stand at a dangerous junction. And every side of the situation must be understood if we are to survive the dark times that lie ahead."
"Then what are we waiting for, Wise-man?" Tozam asked, turning away from the scowling paladin for the first time since the group had gathered together. "Start talking."
"We await only the Battle-Eagle." Akara said softly.
"As well as one or our party members." Natalie reminded the high-priestess forcefully.
"He may have woken up, Sorceress." Akara turned to Natalie. "But the wound he suffered was far too extensive. Mark my words, he won't be going anywhere for a while."
"You wanna make a bet on that, High-Priestess." The entire group looked stunned as the human-like Elric strolled casually up to the high bell area, side by side with the Battle-Eagle.
While Akara, Kassyera, Preen, and the rest of the group gawked for a moment at the supposedly injured Half-demon, Deckard Cain merely smiled, giving a knowing glance over to the sorceress as though he understood something that the others did not comprehend.
"Now then… It is time to begin."
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Now, sitting around the large fire that Akara had summoned into being, all eyes and ears were open as the Last Horadrim began.
"Regrettably, I was the only man in Tristram who knew the truth of the red gem that had been buried for so long beneath the ancient tower. Even when the thrice cursed King Leoric came to the land and decided to make the tower his power base, I used all of the influence had to try and stop them. Unfortunately, the voice of a mere town elder fails to turn the mind of a King. Even so, I had hoped that the blood-red stone that had been buried beneath the Catacombs would go undiscovered. I had hoped that Diablo would remain sleeping in his crystal prison."
The Sage rubbed the bridge of his nose, his expression somewhere between frustration and sadness.
"By Gods, I was so naive."
"And after the heroes defeated the beast, what happened?" Warrive asked, just as interested in the sage's story as the information for which he had been rescued.
"Well, after a week and a half of grand celebration, the people settled, ready to get on with their lives. Some two months went by and both Alisa of the Sisterhood and Vijaha had already left the township leaving only the mighty warrior, Kalin. He had no family and nowhere else to go. With no wars to fight, he stayed in Tristram, where he was welcome. As time passed, a strange change started to come over our hero. He became increasingly aloof and seemed to be falling into a deep, brooding depression. There were many times that I awoke in the dead of night to his crying out in his sleep. Always something about 'The East'. At first had thought that the ordeal below the town had been so devastating as to crush even his mighty spirit. The truth however… was far more horrifying."
"Diablo." Akara shook her head, already coming to realize the terrible end of the sage's story.
"Yes." Cain nodded sadly. "I do not know how it could have happened, but somehow, the Lord of Terror took hold of the hero who sought to slay him. Several days after he first woke me in the night, he simply left without a word, taking only his blade and a simple cloak. Shortly after he left, the demons returned, in greater force that even I could have ever imagined. They ravaged what was left of the city to the ground with hellish brutality. A few of us evaded the foul beasts night after night following the first onslaught. They were distracted then by the plentiful bounty and captives. However, we could not hide forever. Once the minions were bored with their playthings, they sought out new ones. And found us."
Deckard Cain shuttered at the memory of what had happened to those who had hidden away with in in the under-cellar of his home. Of the torment that was wreaked on them while the scarred one simply threw him aside, deciding instead to show his trophy off for as long as he could.
"The others were tortured and mutilated while the two women with us were raped to death by the creatures. The under-lord that had been appointed to watch over the derelict Monastery recognized me for what I am, a Horadrim, and threw me into that cursed cage to slowly starve and rot with my guilt and loss."
"But now you are here, Master Cain." Akara attempted to comfort the elder, "You can help avenge them by striking against the minions of this evil. With your help and wisdom, we can stand against Andariel."
"Andariel is merely a symptom of a much larger problem, High Priestess!!" The sage snapped, turning quickly on the Rouge leader. "None of you truly understand the scope of catastrophe! Do you believe that Tristram and your ancestral monastery were tragic losses!? It is only the beginning! The might of the Hells are aligned behind The Lord of Terror once more, yet he remains in this world." The sage paused for a second, needing time to catch his breath before continuing. "He has taken hold of a powerful mortal. One more powerful than any that could have been found in Tristram before his arrival. This is reason to fear."
The group was silent for a moment.
"So, we're all doomed… what else is new?" Gheed shrugged. "Well, thanks for the warning, pops. Now, I have a bowl of Narse Weed that I've been saving for just such an occasion."
"WE CANNOT SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING!" Kashya was far more outraged by the sage's words than any of the other members of the stunned audience.
"No, we can't." Cain agreed with a nod. "But things must first be taken into perspective. Only fools rush headlong into battle without some form of a plan."
"That much is certainly true, eh, Tozam?" Cathim broke his silence, still attempting to recover from his mana burn.
"Aye!" Tozam answered without thought before something occurred to him. "Wait a sec… I thought that rushing headlong into battle WAS a form of a plan?"
"Infidels." Preen rubbed his pounding temples, trying to relieve the horrible headache that seemed to come on every time that the looked at the creature that was sitting across from him.
"Ahem…" Deckard Cain called the two adventurers attention back to himself. "First things first. Warriv has informed me of this 'Dark Wanderer' who seems to have sown terror and corruption in his wake. Judging by the Wanderer's reaction and destination, it is no great secret that this Dark Wanderer is the Hero of Tristram, Kalin, or, more accurately, the vessel of Diablo. The Prime Evil seeks something in the East. And whatever he seeks can not bode well for the world of Sanctuary. Now, only days after his passage alone though the Rogue's Pass, Andariel rises from her kingdom in the upper levels of Hell to corrupt and slaughter the sisterhood and block the passage. We must ask ourselves: Why?"
"He doesn't wish to be followed." Durom answered the question flatly. "So long as he can stay ahead of his own wake, there is no reason for anyone to resist him as he moves east. However, if he word of his coming were to reach the cities of the Aranoch desert and Lut Gholein. His path could be blocked."
"That is certainly true, young druid. So the only way to combat this evil is to first strike our obstacle. Unfortunately, Diablo chose his guardian well. Andariel shall not be an easy target. Her corrupting anguish has already swallowed most of the Sisterhood and shall threaten more as time passes. In this short time, she has amassed an army of monsters that could well outnumber this encampment more than a hundred to one."
"So it is hopeless." Charsi drooped, her golden hair almost losing luster by the moment.
"No."
All eyes now turned to the new speaker, who had been sitting in brooded silence since the sage had began.
"It is not hopeless." Elric said, opening his dull green eyes for the first time since Master Cain began to talk. "Andariel has made several vital mistakes which have made her vulnerable."
"Andariel is surrounded by an army of unquestioning demon monsters, centuries old stone walls, and possesses all of the might suitable of a Demon Queen. And you have the gall to say that she is vulnerable, Half-Breed?!" Flames seemed to shoot from Kashya's mouth as she spoke.
"She is bound to this world now, Battle-Eagle." Elric replied coolly. "For all intensive purposes, she is mortal now. We can kill her."
"If you can even get close to her, she carries magic far greater than we have here. She may be 'mortal' now, and I do use the word in it's loosest term, but so what? She is still a demon."
"Exactly." Elric shot back. "She is arrogant, self-important, and has lived since the beginning of time. To demons, death only last as long as their master bids it to last. I don't think that she understands what it means to die in our world. She doesn't know what she has given up to move her power to this realm."
"So she can die, Creature." Preen said, refusing to meet the half-demon's eyes. "So can we, and a lot easier I might add."
"And there is still the matter of the army of demons and the magic of a demon bitch queen to worry about." Raid inputted.
"Andariel's forces are based on the thought of a large scale assault. Demons think in terms of sheer numbers and savagery. I don't even have to look at a map of the Monastery to know that there are holes in their defenses. A small group can get in past the front lines and the bulk of the hoard to tear the place apart from the inside out."
"Who in their right mind would try a fool stunt like that?" Warrive asked, looking at the green eyed boy with a slightly different light than he had before. Rumors of the half-breed had swept like wild fire though the camp, but the Caravan Master still could not see this child as a monster.
"I will." Elric answered without hesitation.
"So will I." Natalie answered a moment later.
"The odds are stacked against us and the situation is most grim." Kassyera smiled. "Sounds like fun."
"Well, you know I'm not going to turn down a suicide mission." Cathim shrugged. "And seeing as how little bugga and I are attached at the hip, he'll come to. But I swear… If I suffer mana-burn again, I am never going to let any of you forget it."
"Uhhh, what he said." Tozam looked around at the group. "Minus the mana-burn stuff."
"I will not follow that creature anywhere." Preen crossed his arms indignantly. "However… there s a greater evil at work now. And if t s the will of the Light to vanquish this evil beside that monstrosity… Then so be it."
"Well, seeing as how the alternative would be to wait around and do nothing while others partake in the glory of battle, how can I say no?" Durom lifted his great spear up to use the blade like a mirror. "I might look good with a few new scars."
"Let's see… stay here and count out cons. Or be able to add 'Maiden of Anguish' to the list of things that I've helped kill. Well… That hardly stands up in any debate. I'm game." Raid smiled.
"Good, and we can use every archer we can get. We'll need a distraction to get in, every archer that Kashya can muster, and a map of the Monastery." Elric followed up. "Along with supplies… lots and lots of healing and mana potions."
"My rogues can stage a quick strike at the Monastery gates to buy you time." Kashya nodded, liking the plan that was now beginning to form. "And I can give you the information for an infiltration plan. Potions however…"
"Can be bought through me." Gheed spoke up with a grin, absently rubbing his hands together. " I believe that a reasonable donation of six or seven hundred gold per vial is reasonable."
"Or we can have you thrown to the wolves outside the camp and confiscate all of your merchandise." the annoyed militant's eyes shot daggers at the trader. "You were ordered to turn over all healing potions before, Gheed! The fact that you held back n a pathetic excuse to make a profit would be reason enough to have you hanged."
"I think that I can provide a few wolves if you need them, battle-eagle." Durom smiled as the greasy merchant squirmed under Kashya's fiery red gaze.
"Well…. Uhhh…" Gheed wiggled uneasily in his seat, hating this unfortunate turn n events. "If t helps the war effort… suppose that we could, you know, make another deal."
"Or you could just turn them all over." Cathim smiled grimly, pulling his battle-wand from the carrier at his side and twirling it in his fingers. "After all, good things come to those who give, Gheed. And horrible… terrible things tend to happen to fools who try to make gold on the suffering of others."
Gheed shuttered visually. He remembered that he had a run in with a necromancer once before and, as a result, he now had a large numbers of large, painful boils on his arse. And he had been lucky. Still, Gheed had hoped that he would never have to deal with the priest of Rathma again.
"Right…" Gheed stammered, unable to keep from shaking while Cathim continued to twirled the wand in his fingers. "Their in my wagon… third drawer back on the bottom shelf."
"Than you for your generosity, Gheed." Cathim smiled, loving every minute of it. "Be sure to advise the other traders to cooperate with the Battle-Eagle's rogues."
"Of course." Gheed nodded obediently.
"Well." Deckard Cain allowed a small, superficial chuckle. "I do believe that we have all formulated the beginnings of a plan to tae back the monastery. All ideas are valid, but we must prepare this as carefully as possible. Battle-Eagle: You shall draw up a plan of attack and put together your forces. Lades and gentle men:…" the sage looked to each of the adventurers in turn. " I would suggest that you rest. It will take some time to formulate a strategy. Also, Warrvie prepare you caravan. We must depart immediately after the monastery is opened. Many lives may now depend on it. And… High Priestess:…" Can looked now to Akara, their eyes meeting as they shared the single passing moment. "I would as the you would pray for us again. I get the feeling that we are going to need it."
----------------------------------
Three hours had passed since the meeting and now the entire encampment was alive with activity. Traders and travelers that had be lethargic for days now milled about, preparing to move out at the moment that Warrive's signal was given. The rogues prepared as well, fashioning additional arrows for their bows and readying any salvaged armor and supplies that they had been able to save from their monastery. Charsi worked as quickly as she could, turning out dozens of steel arrowheads in the hour with the help of several caravaners who she had deemed as her temporary apprentices. Kashya and Flavie argued in the command tent, each pointing and counter pointing the different areas of attack that were possible and ran through every possible scenario that they could think of as they formulated their battle plan. Akara on the other hand, lead the rogues in prayers and offered what comforts she could to the dismayed and battle weary archers of the Rogue Sisterhood.
The most essential part of the entire operation: the small group of adventurers who had volunteered to infiltrate and destroy the Demon Queen, did next to nothing. Taking Deckard Cain's advice and resting up for the trials ahead, the group splintered in the camp, each individual doing their own version of 'Relaxing'.
Kassyera spent most of her time with the surviving rogues, helping along as they moved material that would be taken into battle or walking along with them as they made their patrols and soaking up any and all information that she could get about the Monastery itself, from structures to places of greater religious and personal import. Durom, it seemed, isolated himself from the human inhabitants of the encampment, setting himself up by the single largest tree within the walls of the camp and lapsing into what could be described by onlookers as either a very deep meditation or a very light sleep.
Cathim and Tozam stayed together, staying in the makeshift bar and drinking ale until they were finally thrown out by the owners, who promptly took down the mess tent and started to pack their wares away for the trip though the mountain pass. From there, the barbarian and the necromancer wondered about, their jovial manner a stark contrast to the busy, troubled warriors and civilians around them. If either of the companions were concerned about their impending quest, they hid it very well behind a wall of slightly ale-induced laughter and humor.
Like the druid, Preen the Paladin of Kurast secluded himself, sitting in deep prayer as he asked for guidance. Though, for the coming trials or a much closer problem was impossible to determine.
Raid stayed just outside of the tent that she and Preen had set up in the camp several days before, jotting down this and that in a small, red book bearing a golden arrow emblem set in a silver moon. To the few that tried to speak with her, the Amazon seemed distant, almost Zen-like as she continued to move her quill across the book's parchment.
Natalie, as could be expected from any magic user, took her time to look though the notes and books of the Art that Akara had saved from the Monastery. Drawn deep into the black and white type of the tombs, the sorceress took what she could from the writing, expanding her knowledge as much as possible in the short time they had.
Elric Tasslewind on the other hand, despite multiple warnings by Akara to 'Take things easily' actively moved around the encampment, drawing stares from many directions and even several quickly thrown and retrieved insults from various, unseen sources among the many moving people as he continued, deep in thought about what had come to pass and what he had seen.
His true nature was no longer secret.
In reality, he could never expect that such things could be kept quiet for very long.
Finally, Elric saw the man that he had been looking for, the Horadric Sage: Deckard Cain, walk into a tent alone.
Finally, the half-demon saw a chance for some answers.
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"You knew the entire time, didn't you?"
"Yes, Elric." The sage answered, not at all surprised that the half-demon had silently crept into the tent that the Rogues had given to him for rest. "Yes, I did."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Elric asked, sharp pangs of anger in his voice. "Why did you string us along like that, sending us back and forth into the catacombs to find out for ourselves what was down there?"
"It would not have changed anything, little demon."
"The hell it wouldn't have!" Elric had to fight to keep his forked tongue from rolling out of his mouth. "We could have…"
"You, Alisa, Vajiha, and Kalin would all have rushed in just as recklessly as you did before. The only difference would have been that you all might be fool enough to think that since you knew what was down there, you would not need any help defeating the beast."
"You're wrong, Cain."
"You of all people know that I am not, Elric." The sage shot back, his normal, grandfather-like tone becoming more rash and stern by the moment. "The only reason that the others accepted you is because they feared some dark and mysterious force that was a greater evil than you. The bond that you four forged in the caves afterward would not have happened if they had been able to put a name to the horror beneath the Catacombs."
Elric swallowed the foul bile that seemed to be filling his mouth as the two argued. The human part of his brain had to concede to the Elder's point. Had it not been for Natalie, he would certainly not be standing in the encampment, much less being tolerated by the Rogues and others.
"Horadrim…" Elric spat out sourly, "I never would have guessed. Everything that I found in the monastery in Tristram said that the great mages had long since passed away. I was under the impression that the casters and warriors of the Horadric Order had died off centries ago."
"You 'assumed' that we all died off, half-demon. I never denied that I was of the Horadrim. Then again, I was never asked."
Elric sighed. "You knew what I was from the beginning, didn't you?"
"Yes. From the moment you walked into Tristram. I would have blown your cover then and there, but you did something that took me by complete surprise."
"What?"
Cain smiled slightly.
"You let that mercenary live, Elric. You had all of the power and right to kill him on the spot for insulting you as he did, but you let him go. You managed to beat back all of his associates but didn't cause any real harm." The Sage's gaze became rock hard again. "Now, I'll be honest, Elric. I don't much care for you. You are young, impulsive, irrational, and foolishly reckless. None of which are traits that I hold in high regard. You are also half-demon, which most would find as reason enough for your immediate execution."
"And yet you put up with me, both here and in Tristram."
"Yes. Because there is one other, undeniable, fact that seems to work it's way into every detail that I find appalling about you." The old man bowed his head, "You're a hero, plain and simple. I don't care for you, Elric Tasslewind, but understand that I have nothing but the deepest respect for the things that you have done for the people of this world."
"Thanks…I think." Elric felt a bit winded, having come into the tent furious and now finding little reason for such anger. "But I'm no hero, Elder Cain."
"We'll see, Half-Breed. We'll see. Oh, by the way…" Cain's expression became more inquisitive. "What did you do to Gharbad?"
"I ripped his limbs off and nailed him to a tree with his horns." Elric answered quickly, drawing an amused chuckle from the sage.
"And Alisa?"
Elric was knocked back by this one.
"How… how did…?"
"Kassyera. She told me about Blood Raven and what happened. I saw the result all the way in Tristram. I should have known that you were the one who preformed the Unfettering. But, still, the fact that Alisa fell to the corruption as Kalin did is reason for great alarm."
"What about Vajiha?"
"I fear the worse. Vajiha was a mage but still quite susceptible to the temptations of Diablo and the others."
"Others?" Elric's eyes widened as he followed along. "You don't mean…"
"Yes. Andariel's presences proves it. The forces of Hell are aligning behind the Prime Evil once again. And if Andariel is here, then that can only mean that…"
"Azmodan and Belial are dead." Elric shook his head. "The binding of Hell to the mortal realm under Tristram…It was all a ploy, wasn't it?"
"So it would seem, Elric. Diablo used his time there to regain his power in Hell. He was waiting for someone else, someone stronger than Albrecht to possess. Someone with a less that pure soul."
"Kalin. Diablo never intended to drag Sanctuary into Hell. He was trying to get us down there, leaving a trail of bread crumbs with The Butcher, Leoric, and Lazarus."
"Only one man knows for sure and we have to find him."
"I know where he is, Cain." Elric looked the sage in the eye. "And I know which way he is going."
"You know? How?"
"I've seen it."
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Post
See the next chapter for an explanation of what's been going on for the last few weeks... Sorry, but I sould be able to stay regular now that I have several things out of the way.
:::Revamped 10-16-04:::
