Hello and welcome back to another chapter of Dark Changes! I will now offer up a sincere apology for both splitting the last chapter into a two parter, and that cause I posted the last chapter via the app the text became standard instead of bold when I was typing up the author's notes section(I'll go back and fix that). Now that we're done with that notice I'll just answer the review.

Also apologies for not updating sooner, school, sports, all that jazz, but now that I'm stuck in Quarantine I figure I have all the time in the world.

DashingxRogue thank you kind sir.

Guest: Nurgle is a great chap, but he's not the best.

And now onto the next chapter!

Chapter 3: The Vision of What's to Come

Foul

That was the only word Azraq could use to describe the smell that hung in the air of the building as he was escorted ever deeper into its corridors. Of course a foul smell was to be expected of a sewage treatment plant, this was where the waste of a city state was separated from the water needed by every natural living creature on Remnant. The smell that emanated from the very concrete was the smell of the natural cycle being pushed into overdrive for far too long.

This was the smell of the worshippers of Nurgle, it was the smell of tradition and depression, it was the very antithesis of all that Azraq had worshipped since the truth was revealed to him all those years ago, but for now he decided it would be better for him to keep his mouth shut and follow the men armed with guns a lot more advanced than the flintlock he left at the warehouse.

As he was led into the facility the champion that met him out front kept shooting him wary glances, as if begging Azraq to start a fight so that he had a reason to use the flail he was holding so hard his knuckles were turning white.

"You know I would at least like to know the name of the person who's going to try to kill me before I incinerate him." Azraq muttered, just loud enough for the other champion to hear.

"... Taeun the Penitent at your service?" The now named Taeun responded, "And I wouldn't "try" to kill you mister?"

"Azraq Iahab."

"A pleasure mister Iahab," Taeun joyfully said with the seemingly bipolar switch from his previous grim feeling the worshippers of Nurgle were known for, "and might I ask what business you have with lord Carrionskin?"

Azraq barely held in a snort, Nurgle's children: so loyal to the old ways of chivalry and feudalism, it was damn near pathetic. "Merely the whispers of opportunity for many individuals to advance themselves upon The Path."

Now that caught Taeun's attention "Truly?" His voice trying to hide the hopeful undertone, after all it was rare for someone to ascend in a world desperate to maintain such a fragile facade of peace and harmony. There was no room for bloodthirsty warlords and their warbands, nor for the plague and famine that could follow in their wake, there was no room for the common man to scheme his way to the top as so called "Nobles" secured their position through law and tradition, and who needed a den of perverse pleasures in a world dedicated to making it's people subdued?

In short, the Gods gave few chances for eternal glory in this day and age, it made sense to question anyone who said they knew a way to do so, even more so when that person was a devout worshipper of the god whose domain included lies and betrayal.

Soon the group came across a makeshift laboratory filled with the sounds of hissing liquids and classical music as a priest worshipped his god in the only way he knew how.

Rustigan Carrionskin was a rather bloated husk of a man, seemingly towering over the unnaturally tall Tauen, a tattered lab coat barely containing his pustule covered body. His namesake became clear as soon as one took a closer look at his skin, which was riddled with wounds that would never heal, the cells no longer regenerating. "I take it you've brought me the vulture who was flying around upstairs Tauen?"

"Indeed my lord," Tauen said as he lowered his head in difference. "He claims to have a way to advance on The Path."

"Oh, this bird brings a prophecy?" Rustigan chuckled

"It appears so my lord."

"Is that right, little bird?" Rustigan said as he turned towards the small follower of the trickster god, his voice filling with mockery "Did you trade a part of your soul away to your untrustworthy god for a little poem?"

Though he didn't show it on his face in any noticeable way, Azraq was starting to become angry. Insult his faith? That was normal amongst the servants of the Pantheon, have him surrounded by armed guards? Smart move, taking everything he said with a grain of salt? Gods that's just common sense, but mock his craft? That was pushing it.

"... Sorry I do not have "a little poem" today," he shot back "I do however, have clues from the Realm Immaterial, as well as information gathered by those loyal to The Great Changer."

"And pray tell, what does this information tell you?"

Azraq waited a few moments before speaking again "War is coming, it will start here in Vale and will spread to consume all of Remnant." He began to look around at everyone in the room, his eyes igniting with the faintest hint of spectral fire.

"Already the stage is set for such an event: the people are afraid, not of the ravenous hordes that pound at the gates and hide in the shadows waiting to strike, but of the neighbor whose only crime was to be touched by the Gods." It was clear to most of the room that he was referring to the Faunus. Azraq had started to pace around the room, building up the tension that had formed the moment he had been escorted into the depths of the building.

"Surely your shamans have seen the signs? The Black Queen, that delusional upstart who believes herself a Goddess, has been sending her pawns to create havoc in each of the Kingdoms. The White Fang has begun to stain its fangs with the blood of the innocent: be they Human or Faunus!"

The room was filled with murmurs and grunts as the various cultists began to argue amongst themselves, Tauen's face was unreadable behind his gasmask, but it was becoming clear that he was starting to believe in what Azraq was preaching.

"And what do the Gods wish for us to do?" he asked his audience, " It's simple really, they want us to speed it along! This so-called world of "Bloody Evolution" has become soft and tame since that pathetic excuse of a conflict the heathens call The Great War!"

"But most of all," the blue haired teen whispered, almost to the point one might have mistaken it for the wind "The Four who reign supreme and all the daemons and demigods who fall under their Eightfold banner want us to spread the word… the average person of any of the Kingdoms is a skeptic at best and an atheist at worse, the Gods wish for those souls going to the False Twins and the void to belong only to them, in short the Gods want a bloody Black Crusade."

He now spoke only to Rustigan, who wore a scowl that had deepened with each word that spilled from Azraq's lips "You doubt my words and believe me to have a hidden agenda? Of course I do, I am a sorcerer of Tzeentch, who is also known as T'char, Tahoth, The Whisperer in The Dark, The Bronze Vulture, The Beast With Many Forms, and nine hundred and ninety three other names! But know now that I speak only the truth, and if that is not so then may the Flesh Curse take me now."

The room fell silent at that dreadful oath, for no soul no matter how tainted would risk spawndom while walking upon the Path to Daemonhood. Soon all eyes turned to face Rustigan, waiting to see what the senior champion would say about such a promising prophecy.

The rotting giant merely laughed.

"Is that all you have to say little vulture?" He muttered "Would you believe that your pretty little sermon and your very dangerous oath would convince me to bring about change?"

At this Azraq allowed a viscous grin to form on his face "No, but I believe it convinced mister Tauen."

It was at the exact moment that Rustigan realized he wasn't Azraq's target audience that Tauen made his move. The so called Penitent swung his flail in a wide arc, hoping to bash in the older champion's head. Instead the plagued giant lifted his left arm, letting the chains wrap around the thick flesh while his right arm delivered a heavy hook to Tauen's left side.

"You dare boy?!" Rutsigan roared, "I bring you to the Grandfather's embrace and this is how you repay my generosity?!"

"You would turn down a gift from the divine because it comes from the mouth of our Lord's rival?!" Tauen screamed "HOW CAN YOU BE SO FOOLISH?!"

"Foolish?! I'll show you who is foo-" his response was stopped midway through by a pair of knives being slammed into his lungs, courtesy of one servant of the God of Treachery.

Silence once again filled the room, interrupted only by the dying gurgles of the usurped champion.

It was Tauen who reinitiated conversation between the two of them "I just killed the man who taught me the glory of the Plague Lord, who saved me in my darkest hour, so you better have been telling the truth about this upcoming war, or so help me I'll infect you with diseases so brutal spawndom will look pleasant."

Once again Azraq felt a smile creeping onto his face "It's already in motion my new friend."

Downtown Vale, Junior's Club

Roman Torchwick was many things, a gangster, a thief, a gentleman, an admittedly racist person, but he was not an idiot. That was why when he was reached out to by one of the oldest criminals in Vale with a job, well he'd be an idiot not to take it, and he'd be even more of an idiot not to come with a bodyguard.

This was why he was sitting in the corner of Junior's place, Neo by his side, with the Tattered Scholar sitting across from him.

"Thank you for meeting with me ," The cloaked figure spoke with a whisper-like voice, "I was quite pleased when you accepted my invitation."

"Well what can I say? When one of the… let's say most accomplished criminals in the history of the kingdom seeks you out, it's not smart to turn them down." Roman replied as he shot a quick glance towards Neo, who was shaking her head in agreement, "So what can I do for you today ?"

The Scholar took a few moments to think before answering his question "Nothing too grand….. I find that as I grow older I turn my eyes away from running my business to what comes after this life."

"As you may guess from your own experiences I have made many enemies in the decades I've been in this treacherous game of ours, in particular I've made enemies of those who share a similar religion as my own."

Roman nodded in understanding, while he couldn't get the part religion played in any of this, he knew the feeling of having to look over your shoulder. "And how will I be able to figure out who these enemies of yours are?"

A soft sound that could have been a laugh escaped the ragged cloak "Oh it won't be too hard, our faith has us incorporate chains and locks into our everyday appearances….. A sign that we must always keep our true selves hidden until the Chosen Day. I wish you to find out where my enemies call home, and how many people are under their banners."

Now Roman was confused, "Forgive my rudeness sir, but wouldn't you know exactly who your enemies are?"

"I find that one of the first things to go after my strength is my memory, young man." \

Roman nodded "Don't worry sir, I'll hunt down your old foes."

And with that they shook hands and went their separate ways, it wasn't until they were out of eyesight that Neo "spoke".

"Why are we taking on what is essentially a wild goose chase? We already have that Cinder bitch breathing down our backs, now we have to deal with the old geezer."

Roman simply ran his hand through her hair "Because my elegant little friend, the old coot is…. Was the greatest spymaster in all of the Four Kingdoms and beyond, it's better for us to give him a reason not to look at us too closely, less he discovers our new boss." WIth that said the criminal duo continued to walk on home, unaware of the creature wearing the skin of the man they were working for was following them from the shadows…

Things are starting to shape up rather nicely if I do say so myself, and I do!

Once again I apologize for taking too long with this story, rest assured that the current quarantine has given me more than enough time to work on all of my stories, and that another chapter will appear relatively soon, until then please leave a review and stay healthy.