The next attack occurred just outside Lut Gholein. It was unexpected, but the angelic watch noticed something approaching from afar. It was early morning, too, and the glow of torches was what truly alerted them. Usually the enemy attacked just as the day broke out over the horizon. This was done when it was still darkened with the night sky. The enemy was now testing the watch.
"Send in our warriors from all sides," Imperius said. He was rocking Anaurael in his lap in her rocking chair while she slept. "Let them close in slowly."
"Should they be invisible?" Izual asked.
"Yes. We have that ability on Sanctuary. Then, when the circle is complete, let them reveal themselves and crush the opposition!" Imperius nodded. Tyrael's body was sleeping in Anaurael's bed, but his angelic self was monitoring everything with those that were locked in her mind.
"It doesn't seem to be that large of a group, does it?" Tyrael mused.
"No, it does not," Agrius agreed. They were both going over the reports in Lut Gholein.
"And Bastion's Keep hasn't been touched yet, either. Very interesting to know," Tyrael said.
"We have scouts placed. We will know in time," Agrius chuckled. When Lorath appeared, the hovering angel nodded. "Greetings, mortal. You are well?"
"As well as I can be," Lorath chuckled. "Is Tyrael with you?"
"Yes. Speak your mind," Agrius nodded.
"I want to know if another scouting team can be sent out to the Skovos Isles for a rescue mission," he said seriously. Now Tyrael was alarmed. "I think it's needed."
"The Horadrim we sent out truly haven't returned yet," Tyrael sighed.
"So...the party sent did not return?" Agrius asked for Tyrael.
"Something was sent back in their stead," Lorath grimaced. Tyrael didn't like the sound of that. Agrius now motioned to show what was sent back. What they found was a parchment with inked writing. And the parchment wasn't paper. "Um...this isn't the usual writing paper. Just so you know."
"It is...some form of skin..." Agrius muttered. Tyrael paused at this. "I cannot really tell if it is human or not. And, if it was...well...the only question is who gave over the skin for writing on."
"I don't know," Lorath seemed to shiver.
"What does it say?" Tyrael asked with a carefully controlled bit of rage.
"Have you read the message?" Agrius asked for Tyrael.
"Yes. Our scouts were caught. If we wish them back...we pay a toll," Lorath said. "They want five hundred gold coins per man. For the leader, they want twenty-five hundred."
"That's all they want?" Agrius asked.
"Also..." Lorath said and pointed at one particular line. "they will also exchange them for women. I'd rather go with the gold."
"They will not receive women!" Tyrael scowled. "Agrius, can we consult Greed?"
"I shall call upon Greed," Agrius said and took out the small mirror. When Gurzick appeared, the message was shown to him.
"This is demon skin. The scent proves it," Greed said from the crown. "I can have my minions look for the missing humans. I could even steal them away for fun!"
"Could you?" Lorath asked.
"Let him," Tyrael nodded. "For every man saved, we'll give him the gold for in payment."
"We can pay you for the men saved instead of the ones that took them," Agrius said.
"Oh! That can work!" Greed cackled. Gurzick came to, giggled wickedly, and jumped back out into his portal. Now that those men were being rescued, they could mildly relax and see to the issue at hand. Tyrael thought about everything that was going on carefully.
"Let me see what Anarius thinks. Remain here," Tyrael said. Agrius nodded, and Tyrael went back up to Heaven to stand next to Anarius. A new viewing pool was created as a slight offshoot not far from the Crystal Arch, and the demigod was watching everything very critically.
"FATHER?" Anarius chuckled. "WORRY NOT OF YOUR MORTAL BRETHREN. GREED WILL ASSIST WHEN ABLE. THEY WILL BE FINE. WE SHALL SEE THEIR STATE WHEN THEY ARE FOUND. IF THEY NEED HEALING, I WILL ASK IMPERIUS TO BRING THEM HERE TO THE HIGH HEAVENS. WE SHALL CARE FOR THEM AS NEEDED."
"If you think so," Tyrael sighed. Anarius nodded and flicked his prismatic wings. "Do we know what is trying to attack us?"
"IT IS THE FOUL FILTH CALLED KHAZRA. BUT, I THINK A DIVERSION CAN BE DONE. LOOK HERE CLOSELY," Anarius said and let the viewing pool shift to the forces mustering about. Then he shifted the pool to just a mile off to show another band of demons milling about. "WE COULD GET THEM TO FIGHT THEMSELVES. WHEN THE WINNING PARTY IS WEAKENED SEVERELY..."
"We can go in and finish them off! It's perfect! But, how do we alert them to each other?" Tyrael asked. Anarius thought of this and quickly moved to teleport to Anaurael's chambers.
"SIRE, CAN WE GET ONE TO CONTACT GREED? WE HAVE DISCOVERED ANOTHER GROUP OF DEMON FILTH NOT FAR FROM THE MAIN ATTACK. WE MAY BE ABLE TO LET THE FILTH FIGHT OFF EACH OTHER TO SPARE OUR FORCES," Anarius chuckled. At this news, Imperius thought over it. Tyrael had appeared shortly after and explained the situation.
"I'll call Greed," Izarius said and whispered into his mirror.
"What?" Gurzick asked when he appeared.
"I had just started to transport out the humans of your order," Greed said. "Why do you call me back here? Is there something more?"
"There is," Izarius said. At the new situation laid bare, Greed was laughing like mad. He was all for causing havoc now, and his minions were being sent out to let the two vile groups find each other with carefully placed piles of gold.
"As much as I want to see this, Anaurael still needs rest. She can only sleep deeply when I cradle her now. Just keep me informed of how it goes," Imperius said. Imperael was highly amused at what was going to happen. He was making plans to watch everything unfold for sure.
"I may watch everything with Anarius," Imperael said.
"That is fine," Imperius said. When Anaurael blinked awake, he glanced down at her and squeezed her gently. He kissed her palm when she caressed his cheek under his helm, and she was carefully informed of the situation with the Horadrim in Skovos. She was then informed of the plans with the Khazra and the demons.
"It would be fitting for them to meet. And I do hope our Horadrim brethren are fairing well where they are. If they are brought here, then it should be fine. Just to assess their wounds before sending them down, right?" she asked.
"Yes," Tyrael nodded. "That would be the most that is needed."
"Hmm," Imperius seemed to grumble. "I would say only the most severely wounded. It would be better for them to not come here at all."
"If any are near death, they should come here to not cause alarm to the others," she advised. "They can stay until they are well off."
"MOTHER IS CORRECT IN THIS. WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE ANY HERE THAT APPEAR IN GOOD HEALTH. JUST THE ONES THAT SEVERELY NEED CARE," Anarius nodded.
"I suppose..." Imperius mumbled. At the loving gaze she gave him, he could only nod. "Very well. Only those that are near death. No others. They can go in the building reserved for temporary stays to be assessed properly."
"Thank you," Tyrael said. Greed soon had Gurzick leaving through a portal to see what he could do. His minions were already plotting out where the two opposing groups would meet up.
"Land is clear not far away. We do that?" a scout asked.
"Yes. Set down shiny stuff now," Gurzick nodded. Piles of gold were now neatly set up with a few coins scattered here and there to connect them. When a Khazra scout spotted a solitary coin on the ground, it was quickly claimed. Other Khazra scouts were soon finding the small bits of gold and were quick to report of the riches found. On the opposite end of the field, the unruly Fallen grunts were finding the same coins. They were consumed by the shiny pieces of wealth and now scrambled over each other to find more. When the two groups finally did meet in the center, the fight was intense. There were a good thirty to forty monsters in each group with varying strengths.
"My coin! Mine!" a grunt squealed and charged at a Khazra warrior.
"No! I find first! It mine!" the Khazra brayed back. The once peaceful field was now filled with snarls, braying, whimpers, and choking death sounds. When the demons showed they were the victors, the angelic warriors that were patiently waiting in the background moved in to finish them off. The goblins were quick to reclaim the borrowed wealth. As well as anything else of value the groups had on them.
"Nicely done!" Tyrael nodded from what he saw. "However, we still don't know who is organizing the attacks. I find it odd that a demon party was close to the Khazra group."
"THIS IS TRUE," Anarius thought aloud. "THERE IS A KHAZRA STILL ALIVE."
"Don't kill it. Take it to the Nephalem. Information can be pulled with the champion's help," Tyrael advised. Imperael now insisted to go down to help. Imperius was able to allow it.
"Let the Nephalem pry out the information. You can help ask the questions," Anaurael told him.
"I can do that," Imperael nodded before he left. The wounded goatman was now hauled along roughly and soon dropped before the Nephalem. The champion already knew what needed to be done.
"Who is organizing your attacks?" the Nephalem asked.
"Weak! You weak!" the goatman brayed. A punch to the long, muzzled face was given now.
"Answer!" the champion growled.
"Maybe I need to help?" Imperael asked when he appeared. The goatman saw him and actually seemed to cower with a pitiful expression.
"Don't know," the goatman seemed to whimper. "Told go fight. We fight."
"Who tells you to fight?" Kormac asked now.
"Hidden. Shadows," the goatman cringed.
"So they never see who tells them to go out. Do they meet with you anywhere?" the Nephalem asked. "Is there a gathering?"
"They come. Send out," the beast shivered. It really was all that it knew.
"I'll keep watch," Greed said from Gurzick's crown. "Hmm. Ah! I may have something!"
"What did you find out?" Agrius asked.
"It is not from Azmodan, apparently," Greed mused. "One of my scouts was able to find a departing cloaked figure. The thing stinks of Belial, but we have him quarantined. This is like one of those that wore a cloak from that magic place. They appear to be reviving."
"Maghda," the Nephalem growled out.
"Her soul was trapped?" Eirena blinked at this.
"She was a servant of Belial. It's only obvious. And now I feel that, if we get the stone that has her soul in it, we should merge her with him," the champion snickered lightly. That got coughs and laughs from the others. "I think it would be a fitting punishment."
"We should do that!" Kormac nodded. "Hmm. Would Adria also be out there now?"
"If she is, we should merge her with them, too," Lyndon smirked.
"We would want to be careful, though. Remember. Malthael said that these stones were flawed. We do not know what would happen if too many souls are bound together. They could break free," Agrius said. "As much as the punishment would be justified, we must think of the possible outcomes."
"It's true," Imperael said. "What we could do is see about contacting Malthael to judge the strength of the stones. He would know."
"That he would," Agrius agreed. "I shall consult with Tyrael, too."
"I'm here. I also agree," Tyrael said when appeared in his angelic form.
"We have Tyrael's consent. He is with us in his dream self," Imperael chuckled. "And as for this thing. What do we do with it?"
"If we let it go, it will just destroy something else," Kormac snorted. At the sight of two crossbow bolts suddenly whizzing over and plugging into the Khazra goatman's skull to kill it off, Vincent was seen not far off.
"Then we kill it," the Demon Hunter smirked and shrugged.
"And now we'll have to find another one to give us answers," the Nephalem sighed. "But, it was inevitable, anyways. Anyone want to get rid of this?"
The angelic watch nearby was quick to help with that. Once the offending carcass was removed, Greed was able to tell them where the main reports were coming from.
"So, they're coming from a place near Lut Gholein. And, there are other factions stationed around the areas the attacks are coming from. We need to infiltrate their communication system," Tyrael said.
"If we can find out who is sending the messages, maybe we can send out our own," Imperael said. "If we can send out false messages..."
"We could get them to go after each other," Lyndon said with a small grin.
"That we could," the Nephalem started to grin back.
"Greed, can you see about stealing one of their messages? If there are messages being written out? We want to stir up some trouble," Agrius said. Gurzick was showing complete excitement on this, and he even jumped into a portal to see what he could do. Within the hour, several messages were found. Tyrael was awake up in Heaven to look over the notes with Imperius.
"This one instructs to attack New Tristram," Tyrael said and pointed to it. "This one wants to go after caravans going to Westmarch. How did they get these notes?"
"They were being prepared to be sent. I'm sure that they will be missed and new ones will be made. But, if we get ones to replace the new notes in their stead, my minions can easily swap them out," Greed said from Gurzick's crown.
"Then let's buy us some time before we send out the notices for them to cull each other. Swap the messages around for the wrong group to get the wrong notes. This will force them to travel around. The writing will be the same, and we will not give ourselves away. If one of us can forge the writing perfectly, only then will we make our own notes," Imperius said. That got Tyrael laughing softly, and Greed was quick to have Gurzick do just that. Now that the groups were going to set out to travel to where they had to go within a time frame, new notes were made with careful precision to match the writing. Many of them were instructions to prove their worth and take out any other groups found.
When many of the Khazra were found fighting each other, the ones that sent the notes out were in shock. They didn't know what happened. Then they checked the notes in their satchels to see what went wrong. Greed was able to watch where they went to in order to report this. What he found out was very surprising. And very upsetting.
"This was not what I sent out!" the young girl snapped.
"This is what is being reported..." the follower hissed. A slap to his face was given.
"I know what I sent out! And this is not it! From now on, all notes get checked twice. No exceptions!" she scowled. "Go do your ritual and regain control of those cretins!"
"Yes..." the man simpered and moved off in his cloaked robe. As she muttered to herself, the Soulstone glittered in her hand to show the possession in effect. The girl had to be at least in her late teens. Her brown hair was held back in a tight, coiffed up bun to enhance her thin features. Her pretty face was marred up with an ugly scowl. Even her light blue eyes showed nothing but spite and hatred, as she regarded any others that came to see her. It was easy for Maghda's soul to take control of the curious girl. Once she gained control, she had the girl's innocence used to call forth any and all surviving Coven back to her side.
The same speech was given to any others that came to report to her. When she was alone, Gurzick gave the okay for the Nephalem to appear with Kormac, Lyndon, and Eirena to appear before her. Then Imperael and Agrius showed up. After that, Malthael was sent down to assist. The girl paled.
"You've been causing a lot of trouble," the Nephalem said. "Rather glad we tracked you down. And what an interesting stone you're holding. Care to put that down?"
"You know nothing!" she seethed at them.
"And you don't...?" Malthael taunted back to her trembling form.
"I don't think she really has any powers," Lyndon sighed. "Should we help her put it down?"
"If we take out her limb," Imperael mused. "she'd have no choice."
In a brief moment of reflection, the girl's true thoughts emerged. "Help me! Please...!"
"How good are you at taking something that's not yours when it's held?" Kormac asked Gurzick. At this bit of insight, Gurzick lunged over to her and bit her hand to make her drop the stone. She screeched at this, but the stone's influence was soon gone. She sobbed her relief and blinked when an angelic male had teleported down to gather her up in his arms. Malthael seemed to nod at this, and he retreated. The problem was now solved, and he was no longer required to be there.
"She's mine now," the male said. "I will care for her."
"Good," Agrius nodded. The stressed girl was soon calmed by the protective squeeze she was given. The bite that Gurzick did to her was already healing from the salve being used. She was still in a bit of shock from everything, but the angelic male already spirited her away to help her regain herself.
"That was a pleasant surprise," Kormac admitted. "I'm sure he'll tell us her story?"
"When he is able to. But, we have another dilemma here. The Coven. What do we do?" the Nephalem asked. "Any ideas?"
"I say a nice welcoming party," Kormac said.
"We know where they are going. We can visit each one," Imperael said. At the soft pull to his mind, he sighed. "A correction. I am going back to Heaven. It's up to all of you to end the rest of it."
"I'll tell you what we did," Kormac grinned.
"Just make sure you swing properly. You kept missing me last time," Imperael said. Kormac scowled at him, and Imperael simply chuckled before leaving. Agrius, however, was quick to move over to the table the girl was at before. Tyrael was soon with him to help.
"We are going to research a bit. You all can take care of the rest," Tyrael said. A sack was retrieved to carefully shift the vile Soulstone into to hold it safely. As much as they wanted to merge it with Belial's Soulstone, they agreed it would be too risky in the end.
"I'll have this placed with the others. And you will all enjoy this! I'm hiding them under my throne!" Greed cackled. Tyrael found himself grinning. Even the others were amused at this.
"Well, after you sit on them, I wouldn't want to touch them, either," Lyndon said.
"And they still smell better than you," Greed retorted back. Lyndon pursed his lips together, as the others laughed. Up in Heaven, Anaurael was nursing Mal as she rested in Imperius's lap. She smiled at Imperael when he returned to stand guard over her.
"Is everything well?" Imperael asked.
"Yes. How did everything go?" she asked.
"The one that was tainted was claimed by one of ours when she became free of the taint," he said.
"Truly?" Imperius asked. This was surprising.
"Yes. She begged to be free of the taint while under possession. Whatever was newly made is now being neatly removed," Imperael nodded.
"Good to know," Anaurael smiled. "I would like to know how she became tainted."
"I'm sure we all do," Malthael agreed. When Itherael appeared, she smiled and nodded to him.
"Tyrael and Agrius are researching what is being found in the chamber the female was in. I have sent down one of my own to assist, too," he said. She smiled warmly at him, and he moved to press a gentle hand against her belly to feel the movement there. He was a touch excited that his offspring with her was bound to be next. He was highly curious how it was going to come about, but he knew that Anarius would likely help with that.
"Hopefully there is nothing more to this issue," she said.
"We can only hope with that," Itherael agreed. When Mal finished nursing, Izarius was able to pick him up to help burp him. He was growing rather swiftly. At the wide, toothless grin he gave Izarius, he exposed dimples on each side of his smiling mouth.
"Okay. I think he got even cuter," Izarius said. Mal blinked his mismatched eyes, and Malthael appeared to scowl at them all. Mal laughed and made happy noises when he got lightly bounced. Then he burped and laughed when he felt better.
"Definitely cuter," Imperael agreed. At the sigh and shake of a head that Malthael gave, Anaurael found herself giggling like crazy.
"You cannot argue with yourself," she smiled.
"I know it..." Malthael admitted. Then he paused when the baby looked over at him. He was taken by surprise. "He can...see me?"
"Can he?" Imperius asked.
"Yes. And he...knows who I am. Somewhat. This could make things easier. Or it could complicate things in the long run. We shall have to see," he shrugged.
"But, if you can advise yourself, it may be worthwhile," Izarius said.
"True..." Malthael said and noticed his body was still watching him. As a test, he waved a hand in front of the baby's face and watched the eyes follow it. "Yes. He can see me. And hear me. Very well. You and I are the same. Yet we are not. You will know more, as time allows."
Mal just seemed to blink at this. Then he drooled as his answer. Malthael only sighed, as the others sputtered out small chuckles and laughter. At this, Anaurael said, "He is an infant, Malthael. He does not understand right now. Give him some more time to grow and develop. The more he sees you and knows that you and he are the same, well, you get the idea."
"Yes. I know," he nodded.
"Then that is all you need to remember," Imperius said. She pressed into his armored chest, and he squeezed her gently to comfort her. At a hard shiver she was given from the offspring in her soul, he rocked her gently. "Easy, my ward. Everything is fine."
"I know," she sighed and swallowed, as she closed her eyes. She was feeling queasy again. He pulled her up gently to let her breathe in his scent. It actually did help her greatly.
"If you think you will be ill, we'll go flying. You can purge over wherever we fly over," he muttered to her in a low tone. That got her to laugh softly.
"I love you," she whispered to him.
"I love you," he whispered back. Itherael would always be amazed at the moods that were shown to him. It was still hard to grasp. He continued to rock her and comfort her. When Tyrael appeared with Agrius, Itherael turned to regard him in full. His warrior that he sent down held a small batch of papers.
"You will not believe this," Tyrael sighed. "We found out where the other Soulstones went to."
"You did?" Anaurael asked. Anarius was quick to appear to show he was ready to listen in.
"Yes. We did. A lot of them were made. We need to go to Bastion's Keep next. The Barbarian tribes that linger there are at risk. We need to let Kalgor know. Same with Vincent and the Demon Hunter lands he trained in. Even Ivgorod."
"You're serious, aren't you?" Itherael asked.
"Far more than I care to admit," Tyrael nodded.
"What of the Teganze jungles?" Izarius asked.
"There, too," Agrius said sadly. The notes were carefully laid out on a make-shift table for them to see. "It is doubtful of the Crusaders. They do not have a true sect. But, Greed is informing them all now. Vincent had his fears. They all did."
"After Mai's issue, it is proving true. We need to step in. Fast," Tyrael nodded.
"We cannot let the heroes become corrupted," Anaurael frowned. "They are helping us take care of so many demons! We must assist them."
"Bastion's Keep?" Imperius asked.
"Yes. I'd say all areas at once...but..." Tyrael sighed.
"We'll do what we can..." Malthael muttered. "in what time allows us."
"MOTHER, YOU ARE GOING NOWHERE. AND NEITHER AM I," Anarius stated. She could only nod at this. "WE HAVE PLENTY OF POWERFUL CHAMPIONS NOW. THEY SHALL ASSIST AS NEEDED. AGREED?"
"Very true," Imperius nodded to him. "Keep watch as needed."
Anarius nodded back and gave a warm shoulder squeeze to Anaurael. She rested a hand over his to squeeze lightly. She was getting exhausted a bit too quickly, and he noticed this right away. He looked at Imperius and said, "SIRE, SHE NEEDS YOUR STRENGTH. MOTHER IS WEAKENING."
"Take care of Mal," Imperius said quickly, as he rose up with her. He moved swiftly to his sanctum to seal it. With him preoccupied, Anarius now looked at Itherael.
"YOU WILL GET TO SPEAK WITH HER. I SHALL ENSURE IT WHEN IT IS TIME TO DO SO. WE SHALL SPEAK FURTHER AT LENGTH WHEN TIME PERMITS, AS WELL," he said calmly. There were too many in the room to be open about what was to be discussed, but Itherael nodded with understanding at this. At the feel of Anaurael pressing into his mind to comfort him, he paused. She hadn't done this to him before. He found himself trembling with a form of hidden relief.
"Itherael?" Tyrael asked him.
"Anaurael is able to show me her concern. She reached out to console my mind," he sighed.
"Ah. Yes, she can do that," Malthael nodded. Anarius chuckled softly with his own nod.
"She hasn't really done that to me," Tyrael frowned. Then he blinked when he felt her mind gently nudge into his. "I stand corrected."
"You can thank me later," Malthael mused. Izarius was holding a now sleeping Mal and looked over the notes with Agrius. There was much that needed to be done now. Time was clearly against them with what needed to be seen to. They all had to work swiftly to preserve what they could before corruption fully settled in.