CHAPTER XXI: TOWER
The feeling of menace that emanated from the tower was stronger than anything I had ever felt before. I had no doubt that only Lord Baphomet could have cast such a powerful and intricate spell, apparently with the purpose of protecting something of special value. As I tried to expand my senses, I felt that there were other spells interwoven within the very material that was used to build the edifice – a powerful spell of fortification had been cast, and it increased the strength and durability of the iron, to the point at which it was nearly indestructible. Other spells served as shields against any kinds of observation or teleportation spells that an intruder could use. I thought that there would be quite a few traps within the structure, so I reached out with my senses once again. I was right – if every single trap could be a small light, the tower would be lit like a burning tree. Traps, curses, charms of confusion and weakening – the whole place was charged with deadly devices and spells that would destroy anyone who entered it.
I walked around the edifice, thinking. A common demon would be dead within minutes inside this cursed tower. I was far more powerful than most of Hell's denizens, yet I felt that the tower's top floors contained traps powerful enough to hurt even a Gatekeeper. A combination of a few spells of warding that I knew, would allow me to enter the tower without being detected by most of these traps – a kind of useful invisibility. I hoped that such a combination would be stable enough not to dissipate under the influence of the flows of arcane power that permeated the building. I concentrated so that I could shake the overwhelming feeling of menace from my mind and approached the heavy iron door. None of the numerous traps around it was activated and I pushed it lightly. It was unlocked and opened slowly to reveal a short dark corridor...
I entered and closed the door behind me. It was perfectly quiet inside – and the air was completely still. The corridor's walls were ornamented with images of great battles I knew nothing about. Creatures of many shapes and structures clashed upon weird–looking battlefields under skies and suns I had never seen. As I walked forward, I felt the magical flows of traps like light touches upon my skin – my combination of spells worked perfectly and no one would know I was inside. The corridor ended in a small room with an altar in its center. Torches on the wooden walls gave the whole scene an eerie atmosphere. There was nothing on the altar; the five black candles by its sides were not lit. I had decided not to touch anything inside and therefore I moved to the next chamber. I stood in an empty room with a huge image on the wall. It seemed to be a map.
Concentric circles and triangles formed a sophisticated scheme that was covered with many signs and runes I did not recognize. I looked at it more carefully, searching for patterns that would tell me what the map depicted. I concentrated on the small circles of silver that were connected with various colored lines – these markings looked somewhat familiar. I tracked the connections and the configurations; I tried to imagine them as dimensional gateways and energy channels. It made perfect sense – that was indeed a map of dimensions, and the most stable and convenient currents that could be used for opening Gates. Such a map was a valuable asset for any Gatekeeper, yet it was kept locked here, as if Baphomet was reluctant to give it to the Thirteen for some reason. A closer examination of the map revealed this reason.
Among all the silver dots that indicated Worlds, were five golden circles arranged in the shape of a pentagon in one sector of the map. These could only be the four original worlds, and some smaller fifth world that I knew nothing about. The pentagon of the Elder worlds was surrounded by a circle of power that could only mean all gateways to these worlds had been severed and blocked. I realized why Lord Baphomet would not grant us the right to use that map. Even if he created a copy without the Elder worlds, we, the Gatekeepers, would have become suspicious of the strange gap that would exist in the Multiverse. As I thought of that, I beheld a red circle among the myriad worlds. Tracing the channels of energy I found out that it represented Hell. Beside the map were written, on a golden plaque, many gateway parameters and energy variables – it appeared that someone had tried to calculate the possible points of entry into the Elder worlds, if the shield was down. I grinned – my master could keep all this for only one reason: in His quest for ultimate chaos, He would attempt to claim the original worlds and use their power to crush the rest of Existence under His heel. The conquest of the Earth and the control of its unique energy patterns was the key to the penetration of the shield.
I was truly amazed by what I had found. Going back into the room with the altar, I saw a flight of stairs going to the upper floor of the tower. Still, I wanted to know the purpose of the altar before I would go further in my exploration. The strong pain that I felt when I touched it was enough to tell me of its nature – that altar could be used to amplify any spell that would be cast near it. I realized that I did not feel the volatile power of the tower's traps anymore – the altar had enhanced the intensity of my spells when I touched it. I did not know how long the effect would hold so I decided to hurry. As I went up the stairs, I threw one last glance at the altar – I wished to possess such an artifact... The light of candles indicated that my ascent through the dark staircase had ended. My curiosity forced me to take a look around the floor before proceeding up – I already knew that Lord Baphomet kept quite a few precious artifacts hidden within the tower.
The second floor had an oppressive atmosphere, as if the feel of menace outside had somehow managed to leak into that floor. I had the sense that distant voices were calling to me – a feeling that was very familiar... as I entered the next few rooms I already suspected what I would see – a library of souls in crystal containers. The ornamented shelves were covered with containers and their glimmering contents. I took a closer look on the specimens – those were definitely human souls, but they possessed immense magical power. This is why they were able to reach out and speak to me. I was delighted – I realized I had just met humans from the Elder worlds. Baphomet had obviously decided he would need some of humanity's most powerful magi, and kept their souls in his private soul library within the tower. There were many rooms with crystal containers – I did not have time to count how many souls were stashed on that floor. I had to move further, where, beyond any doubt, Elder relics waited to be found.
The next floor had walls of white marble that reflected the light of braziers. A unique feeling of stillness in the air told me what that floor actually was – a mausoleum. There were several sarcophagi in the rooms – their lids were transparent, as if cut in one perfect motion from the finest crystal. Inside them, I saw the remains of human magi and of some alien creatures that I had never seen before. These remains emanated great power, and it was clear to me why Baphomet kept them in the tower. There was also the possibility that He knew them, personally. I felt awkward, looking into my Master's past uninvited. I turned around and left the mausoleum – inside it I felt even worse than outside, where the aura of fear was.
I almost shouted with delight when I saw what the next floor was – a library! There were many tomes that I did not know and would have loved to read. There were enough materials to keep me occupied for a century... Knowing that I only had little time, I decided to only look at one book – one of the few that I could decipher. A big book with bronze-encased covers caught my attention – "Of Elder Demesne and Eternal Secrets of Old." A tome about the Elder world – I could not resist the temptation...
As I read the tome, I found out many things I did not know before. I also discovered that much of my older knowledge was not accurate. It was stated that after the original worlds were created, the Deities retreated beyond the boundaries of the Universe, yet retained contact with humanity, so that they could manipulate it. Humanity was left to live in a world the book depicted as "realm of forefathers" or "Elder World." Humanity lived there, possessing moderate magic abilities, ruled by the Disciples. The Disciples were humans, chosen by the Deities to be the mediator between them and humanity – they were the true magi of great power. Their headquarters was an enormous azure palace, where they communed with the Deities and received their orders. That palace stood in the center of a temple city, Disciples–only territory that could only be entered through a stout guard tower, mentioned as "the fetid tower of despair." The palaces and administrative buildings of that temple city represented the total and merciless control over humanity and its fate. The Elder world grew rich and powerful... but success inevitably brought with it decadence and corruption. The cities, palaces and temples of that realm were depicted as "monuments to the eternal glory and human achievement" – and it was highly possible that much of them remained intact and could be explored if that shield was down.
There were other worlds as well: a world where the magic humans are best attuned for is concentrated – referred to as "realm of earth magic" or "demesne of the doomed." That world was inhabited by very few chosen wizards, non–Disciples. They were to safeguard the flows of human magical power and delve deep into the secrets of the mystic arts. A rune of great power was kept there, under the vigilance of an ancient being. They convened regularly in a mansion called "the gloom keep" and discussed their secret studies, and sometimes, even plans of loosening the Disciples' grip on their brethren. They were not interested in exploring their dimension and no one knows what its mountains, plains, or seas have to offer... There was also the Netherworld – where all who died went. That realm had been ruled by a creature that was referred to as the "Angel of Death." Could it be that same demon that resided within the lower catacombs of Hell? Its fiery pits and dark temples were mentioned, yet not thoroughly depicted because "none of the living may lay eyes upon the wonders of the dead's domain."
Finally, there was a world of calculating evil, a domain known as the "demesne of black magic." That world was the sanctuary of renegade magi who delved into the dark arts of necromancy and witchcraft. These renegades created a society of their own, ruled by a council of the five chosen most powerful dark magi. The foul council extended its power from a place called "the wizard's manse" – a small palace where the five conducted their darkest experiments and controlled their brethren. Though considered renegades and heretics, these black magi were fulfilling the will of the Deities in some cryptic way, and were a part of the greater mechanism for control over humanity... Their shadowy and humid world was mostly unexplored as the wizards preferred to remain in their castles and laboratories. A rune of dark power was kept in a secret place, along with the council's burial grounds and magical library.
The book went on to depict the corruption that took over humanity, the Great Rebellion and the slaughtering of the Disciples, the wars among the dark magi that led to their fall, and the Deities' decision to put an end to it all and seal the Elder worlds forever... It was there that the fifth world was mentioned – a small planet simply named "Quake." It contained a huge underground cathedral, from where the other four worlds could be controlled and attuned by a Deity that had control over that small world. When the original worlds were abandoned, one of the ancient Gods was left in that world to keep watch over the runes and the forbidden realms...
I was truly amazed by what I had just read. I was sure that Lord Baphomet had desires to take possession of the Elder power and fulfill His master plan. Yet, I had little time and I decided to think about all that later – I had to check two more floors of the tower, and I knew that other amazing things were waiting for me to be discovered...
The next floor was a treasury where artifacts, undoubtedly from the Elder worlds, were kept. Of those items, I should mention a collection of magic rings, a set of four precious stones, each of them representing one of the four worlds, a set of potions with unknown effects, and a black box that contained five human skulls emanating great power. The runes on the box stated that those were the skulls of the members of the last council of the Realm of Black Magic. I was strongly tempted to take them, but I remembered my decision not to touch anything.
The last floor contained the greatest treasure of all – something that left an everlasting impression on me, and possibly change my fate.
A small antechamber led me into a chandelier-lit hall that only housed four orbs of energy gently floating in the air. I stepped closer – these were modified Observation Orbs of great power and they showed images from extremely distant places. It was then that I realized the altar on the first floor was set to be exactly within the tower's center, thus empowering these observation orbs. I could not imagine what forgotten locations they could penetrate and display, amplified by the altar's influence. With their specially altered configurations, those orbs could peer beyond even the strongest magical barriers. Each of them showed an entirely different room at unknown scenes. In each room, I beheld a glowing rune.
I realized that I was looking at the Runes of the Elder worlds!
I knelt on the floor, struck with awe. On the top floor of his secret tower, Baphomet kept the greatest treasure of all – specially prepared "windows" that allowed Him to watch the eternal Runes whenever he wanted to! The opportunity was unique – I stepped closer and took a look.
The first orb showed a small balcony over a large pool of lava surrounded by columns and the stone walls of an unknown building. Above the pool hung a strange device, and on the other side was a sealed shaft. On the balcony rested a rune – so simple, I could hardly recognize it, emanating untold power that felt similar to the primal energies I had felt on Earth.
The second orb showed an underground chamber lit by several torches. On an altar of iron, I saw another rune, and it was surrounded by an aura of darkness and malignant evil that could only be the power of black magic. The power felt so sweet and seductive that I understood the reason it was coveted so jealously by the dark magi. Danger I felt about this rune – it was a vessel of power and elusive loss of control...
A bridge over a pit of lava surrounded by smoldering sepulchers led to a small platform where I beheld another rune. The third orb showed me the Netherworld and its rune that emanated power very close and familiar to me – power of the dead and pure chaos. Chaos was the very essence of Hell, and that rune would be a valuable asset for my demonic realm.
The last orb displayed an azure hall, lit by glowing crystal globes. On a dais of sapphire lay the most powerful rune of all – the one that held the energy of the Deities and the power that they had bestowed upon their Disciples. I felt the enormous might that the room exuded – I had no doubts that I saw a room of the azure palace mentioned in the book.
Time was running out and I had to leave in a hurry. I threw one last glance at the runes and hurried down the stairs. In my haste, I nearly disrupted my combination of protective spells but I was able to restore it before any trap could detect me. I went out of the tower, the aura of menace made me look around me in panic, as if someone had just caught me red-handed. There was no one around and I sighed in relief. I quickly opened a Gate and returned to the Unholy Cathedral. I had to wait for a report from my minions to come and check the information that came in during my absence. But my mind was elsewhere – I could not shake the image of the runes out of my mind. I could not forget the mighty artifacts that I had found. I could not stop thinking about what I had learned – things that made me think of a bold plan...
A plan to finally destroy you, marine.