Chapter XXXVI

The tunnel was dank, smelly and—after it collapsed at the other end—unbearably dark. Geldar emitted what light he could through his Thorns aura, but it was precious little.

Finally they came to a vast chamber at the end of the tunnel, there was a doorway at the far end but Geldar stayed where he was until the others were around him. There was no one there, could Diablo have already come and gone?

"Looking for Baal?" leered a voice out of the dark.

If it wasn't for Talina's fast reflexes Geldar would have been killed then and there, she pulled him back just as large and grotesque creature charged at him. Geldar reacted by knocking it out with his shield, while it was stunned he had a proper look at it.

What they faced was tall, taller than even Barak and wider as well. It looked rather like a one of the demons they had faced in the desert—a Dune Beast to be exact—sitting on top of a large beetle. Though to do the…whatever it was justice it didn't look like a Dune Beast, it had mandibles with deadly talons and large hooks on either side of its body.

But no matter what it was or how it got there, Geldar was going to make sure it wasn't around tell the tale. It came to life a moment later and charged again, Barak managed to knock it back even further than Geldar with his double-attack, but they were disorganised.

"We need to surround it," Talina panted, she had a long scratch on her cheek where it had touched her. "Stop it from charging."

But as soon as it did just that the creature struck out with a different attack, one that left Talina reeling and moving as of her limbs had turned to lead. Geldar and Barak distracted it while Norleche helped her.

"Perhaps that's the way," she whispered to him, she picked up one of her spears. "Hey! Ugly!" the creature paused to look at her. "Yes, I'm talking to you!" And with that she threw a lightning bolt directly at the creature's abdomen, it drew blood, it was not much but it was something.

Geldar and Barak took her cue and withdrew, another lightning bolt sent the creature towards Norleche and Talina. The Necromancer quickly cursed it with Amplify Damage, nothing else would have helped, and they tried to confuse it. Running in different directions so it didn't know who to attack

In the momentary distraction Barak and Geldar came on the attack again, this time from the rear with Geldar in support. The Barbarian gave a yell and leaped straight on the creature's back, stabbing it in the back of the neck and causing it to twitch wildly, trying to hit him.

Norleche quickly poisoned it, the dagger find its mark in the creature's chest, but still it fought on. It was wearying, slowly but surely.

After one more attack Barak jumped from its back, making another hit for good measure before retreating. Geldar charged into it with his shield before him, then spinning out beyond the creature's reach.

"Scatter!" Talina said, and they went to different parts of the chamber. The creature stood in the middle, thrashing about but not knowing who to attack. Then on Talina's signal they all attacked at once, the creature yowled horrible as it was stabbed multiple times. They changed back to distraction, then charged again but this time it ended differently.

With one fell swoop the creature knocked back Barak, he fell against the fall, senseless. With a second it flattened both Geldar and Talina then aimed a third blow at Norleche. Yet somehow, Talina never figured out exactly how, the swipe missed and Norleche was still on his feet.

Suddenly he threw away his shield and bone wand, standing before the creature defenceless. It seemed to sense this, and pressed in for the kill.

"NO!" Talina screamed, jumping to her feed and rushing to intercede.

A silvery-blue ball of light was cast from Norleche's fingers, the effort of it showing strain on his face. It erupted against the chest of the creature, it howled with such volume that the stones shook in their foundations. It gave a final, savage stab at Norleche then fell to the ground with a gurgle.

Norleche smiled, then collapsed also. Talina knelt beside him and touched where the creature had wounded him, blood was gushing out at a rapid place.

"There's nothing you can do," Norleche said in a thin voice as Barak and Geldar walked over. "I'm bleeding to death, this is how it is supposed to end."

"Don't be so stupid," Talina said in a rebuking voice, but Norleche only smiled.

"As a Priest of Rathma I know the secrets of death," he replied, "don't you think I would accept my own, when it came?"

Talina didn't say anything, yet Geldar touched his hand.

"Put in a good word for me," the Paladin said, "wherever it is you're going."

"I will," Norleche promised, his eyes glassing over.

Barak didn't say anything, but made some sort of sign with his hand as Norleche closed his eyes. A long silence, that not even wind or movement marred, fell over the room for a moment. Yet when the moment passed Geldar got to his feet.

"We have to get moving," Geldar said.

"What are you talking about?" Talina spat. "Can't you feel?"

"Of course," Geldar said, "but he wants us to go on, he accepted his destiny and we have to accept ours. We have to find out what happened here."

"He's right," Barak agreed. "It is hard to admit but life must go on."

"So we just leave him here?" Talina asked, her voice getting slowly controlled.

"I doubt that he saw his body as a little more than an abode," Geldar said solemnly, "an abode he would eventually leave."

Talina allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and followed them past the creature's worm-covered corpse to the doorway.

The doorway led into an antechamber, which led to a vast room that Geldar knew as soon as he stepped in that few mortal eyes had seen it. Before them was a bridge across a river of fire, and beyond that a great stone where the remains of chains still were.

But that was not what was noticeable. In front of the stone stood something that Geldar—nor any of them—had ever seen before. It was a bright figure, yet the light seemed to come from within. It wore armour so resplendent that it was hard to look at, a helmet with the visor up but no face within. But what was the most prominent were the long, silver tendrils that extended from the figures shoulders, they seemed to move with a life of their own. They looked like what in fact they were—wings.

Whoever or whatever this was they were not from this world, and once they crossed the bridge Geldar fell immediately to his knees. At a signal from the figure he rose to stand beside the others.

"I thank you mortals for my freedom, but I did expect you earlier.," he said in a deep, resonating voice. I am the Archangel Tyrael. I came here to prevent Diablo from freeing his brother Baal, the Lord of Destruction." He pronounced his words clearly and solemnly, but then his tone turned sad. "But I have failed. Now, Terror and Destruction roam free throughout your world." Geldar heard Talina gasp, so they were too late! Tyrael continued. "Even now, as they head towards the Eastern capital of Kurast – to the very heart of the Zakarum temple." He seemed to address this remark to Geldar, the Paladin found himself almost reeling. "There, they hope to find their eldest brother, Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred who was imprisoned there ages ago. If the Three Prime Evils unite, they will be invincible." He looked at all of them solemnly, and though his gaze was without eyes it was penetrating. "Though it is unclear as to what their aims are, it is certain that they must be stopped at all costs. I am broken," he admitted, "and the energies that tie me to this world are diminishing rapidly. You three must take up the quest and prevent the Three Brothers from reuniting. You must cross the sea and search for Diablo and Baal in Kurast. Now hurry mortal… Time is running out for all of us!"

He moved a hand and a blue portal appeared from nowhere, then he made a flourish and disappeared in a flash of silver light.

Geldar blinked, wondering if what he had saw had been real, or was it delirium?

"It was real," Talina said in a shaking voice. "By Athulua it was real. The Archangel Tyrael, heard of him?"

"Norleche talked about angels," Geldar said, but concluded sadly. "I didn't believe him. I do now."

"Of course," Barak said, "I guess we are all bound to this now, even you." He finished with a hard look at Talina.

"It seems so," Talina said, still stunned by the encounter. "Do you think this portal takes us outside, or back to town?"

"There's only one way to find out," Geldar said, laughing in spite of himself and stepping through.