After this, there's going to be six short chapters that might be posted together and might not, and then a chapter documenting each generals fall. I was going to put them all in the same chapter, but that didn't seem right. I haven't played BO1 so I can't do the Fall of Malek, although I really want to.

Before the Fall

It felt odd, walking willingly to your deaths. I mean, what did you do for the last few hours while your blue assassin wandered across Nosgoth with not a care in the world except swift, brutal revenge and perhaps the occasional sightseeing detour? They shed their armour and played one last ceremonial game of cards, without their hearts in it, running over past memories, some amusing, some horrific, some glorious. They had nothing to do except wait-their affairs were settled long since, and all they had to do was await their end, and reminisce until Moebius came for them.

"There is another option, my lords. You could flee, and not one of us would raise a hand to hunt you, if Moebius burnt us at the stake." This from the Knight pouring the drinks.

"Flee? To where? The demon would find us, or seek out Mortanius and take the Heart. And if the demon did not, Moebius would. No, we are tied to the stake, we must fight the course, wherever it leads." Raziel had frozen upon seeing his future self, and then had unfrozen into a different man, despondent but imbued with iron resolve.

"Well, if I cannot bid you to alter your opinion, I wish thee well, my lords."

A messenger trotted into the room-he'd been stationed to tell them when Moebius was coming, though if caught that was his death. Men made sacrifices for their lords daily-the time had come for their lords to make the sacrifice, and none would fault them.

"Moebius comes."

Dumah rose, raising his glass. "Brethren, I could not have asked for worthier fellows. To a quick end." He did not say 'A glorious end.' They had spent too long in battle to speak of glory without visions of intestines.

Moebius came silently taking them to his time streaming chamber for some final words.

"My lords, forgive me for doing this to you."

"Forgiveness? Moebius, your deeds are beyond forgiveness, and have been long since. We tire of manipulations." They had no other alternative, and he had long spent time manipulating them so this was so, and they all knew it. But Dumah dared give it voice. He'd also called Moebius by name.

Moebius was stunned.

"Be silent! Or-"

"What? Slay us? Try, my lord, try. We are no vampires, and you can do nothing more to us."

"Malek!"

Malek appeared, heavy hearted as they were.

"Farewell, friends. May you find your rest, though it be after you rise as vampires."

"And you also" the other Generals intoned, with the respect they never had for Moebius.

"I have the misfortune to know my fate, and it seems unlikely I shall. Armour does not rest. It merely exists."

Dumah, knowing this knowledge was from Moebius when discovering the fate of the Sarafan and not merely sympathy, was about to query this when another messenger arrived.

"The demon draws close."

"Very well, rest assured, I make no speech to you this day. But know this-Whatever your fate, once you are free of your corpses, I wish you well. As this is your last day, I have brought your closest kin here to fare thee well. Though you ensured they were gone this day, I believed you would nonetheless regret this when the demon drew close, and brought them here." He vanished, along with Malek.

"Well

And, as always, his surmise was correct, and as the wives and sometimes children of the generals entered the room, they were gladdened, despite the pain they knew the parting would bring. They spread out into their assigned positions, as time was short, and made their final farewells in the same rooms they would die in.