CHAPTER XXIII: APPROACH
The constant screams of the burning souls, mixed with the roar from the rivers of lava and blood, created a vile cacophony that dominated the smoldering landscape of Hell and its darkest pits. Somewhere within that chaos, a lone human being fought his way through the legions of the damned, having no idea where he was going, or even why he went there... I stared at the mountain, wondering whether there was anything that I could do to aid my Master. I returned to the large hall at the Hell Keep's top and sat down on the floor. A crooked gesture and occult chanting brought into existence an observation orb that showed a panoramic view of the continent beyond the mountain. A small column of smoke rising from the catacombs caught my attention – the little human was obviously trapped within the cryptic passages of the vile sepulchers that were hidden there. Wishing you many visits by the undead that inhabited those dark tunnels, I looked at the other buildings and tried to perceive the energy channels that connected teleports within them. Lord Baphomet had set up an elaborate network with the purpose of taking you through the most dangerous places, ultimately trapping you within His own palace.
I was curious where your perilous journey would take you. The Abandoned Mines, the Monster Condo and the Chasm were some of the areas that awaited you. I had some worries about the damage you could inflict on these glorious edifices of Hell, yet I had faith in my Lord and the grim determination to offer any assistance, if needed. Nothing could be sweeter for an enraged demon than long-awaited vengeance. I hoped my Master would allow me to add your corpse in my personal collection of trophies, and I was sure that it would be my most prized possession.
As the time was not right for pointless distractions, I decided to bide my time making some preparations – my encounters with you, human, had already taught me a harsh lesson. Always concerned with strategy and cunning moves against Hell's enemies, I planned to make sure that you would not survive, if somehow you tried to escape into Inferno. I gathered what troops I had left, and sent them to repair the fortifications at the edge of the Howling Gorge, where the River of Shadows made its way along the mountain, and assume positions there, waiting for further orders. I sent additional warnings to the commanders at the Monster Condo and the Spirits' World about any tricks you could be expected to use in combat, as well as strategic advice on the utilization of your human weaknesses. I was told that Lord Baphomet had cleared the Great Hall in His citadel and it was prepared for your arrival. The great Demonlord was filled with burning passion and determination to punish the mortal who dared challenge Him. Once again, I thought how much my Master had inspired me over the eons...
I went back to the Records Chamber in the Hell Keep, seeking to find any powerful demonic minions that could be brought to aid in your destruction. To my surprise, it seemed that there were missing specimens. I clearly remembered an encounter from the dark past of humanity – a vile Heresiarch, his loyalty to Hell reaching pure insanity. He and his armies of fallen priests, lured to his dark standard caused some quite pleasing atrocities and foul deeds on one of Earth's continents in ages past. I was sure that his soul and those of his followers were taken into Hell as some of its most valuable possessions... Yet, I could not find any of them on the records. The same was with the ancient warlord, and his frenzied warriors who came to Hell after ages of pillaging and murders in some northern regions of your world. You know nothing about those... the amazing past of your species was hidden by many throughout your history, as the truth is very often uncomfortable.
And, indeed, very uncomfortable I felt, finding out about these anomalies. I had no idea where and why Baphomet would send such champions of Hell. Overwhelmed by curiosity, I went to the Unholy Cathedral, looking for some records of Hell's outposts in other worlds. A dark hall, with many chests covered with dust awaited me – I rekindled the spell that would keep the braziers burning and opened some of the chests in this forgotten reliquary. Some old dark relics, scripts of arcane wisdom and maps were the dusty content I discovered. One chest held a tome that would be a reference to Hell's outposts used by the demonic warlocks in ages long past. Everything in that book was familiar... except the reference of one outpost that was noted to be deserted, yet marked as forbidden without an explanation. I looked at the coordinates and gasped with surprise – they were not given in the runic script that Gatekeepers that we used to describe energy channels parameters and time–space variables. It was written in warlock glyphs – the signs that only they could read. I could not imagine why that outpost, small and inactive as it was, would be kept hidden from us, the Gatekeepers. I knew that Lord Baphomet's relations with the warlocks were special – just as his relation with the Gatekeepers, yet I never suspected that they had kept secrets from the rest of the infernal minions. I read further, looking for an answer – there was a name mentioned – the "Ice Weasel."
It sounded very familiar – Ice Weasel was the secret occult name of a great Atlantean mage, experienced in the fields of demonic and frost magic. The latter turned out to be his undoing – his experiments led to an explosion that left only a frozen corpse for his brethren to discover in his ravaged laboratory. Charged with demonic energies, he was cast down into Hell in the form of one of the most hideous creatures I had ever seen in Hell – an Ice Revenant. Glowing with an eerie blue aura and radiating an infernal chill, a skeleton comprised of sapphire and ice roamed the plains of Hell, hunting down the souls of the damned and claiming them as eternal servants. I had met the Ice Weasel on several occasions and I had the opportunity to even get a few words out of him, for the Ice Revenant was mostly silent and brooding. Seeing the reference about him, I remembered that I did not see his name in the records. He was within that mysterious outpost, and I had no doubts that the other missing specimens were there too – stashed there for some mysterious purpose...
I stood up and went out into the long corridor lined with columns and chandeliers. I was astonished – first, the Iron Tower and then a whole secret outpost! I knew that a Deity such as Baphomet had many secrets, yet I never imagined that there would ever be a day for me to feel deceived by my own brethren. I would not allow emotion to interfere with my work, especially in that moment when you were on your approach towards the Icon of Sin. I was sure that you would very soon be there.
I returned to the Hell Keep and waited – the moment of Destiny's turning was close and I wanted to be prepared. There was a possibility that my Lord would break the millennia–old laws and ask us, Gatekeepers, for aid – then we would come in the heat of battle and crush you with our tremendous power. I wanted that moment so much – the moment of the personal encounter... I prepared myself – I chose the spells I would use against you, I put on a physical form of a minotaur–like creature that would allow me to don my burning armor and runic axe that I yearned to use in the dismemberment of your mortal body. I was informed that the other twelve were already in Hell and ready for battle. With a loud roar, I went out on the platform and waited for the signal.
I was not allowed to interfere in the battle directly, yet the Thirteen had to be close to it, as we would not be able to open Gates inside it, once Baphomet assumes His summoning position. I could imagine the way the whole citadel would tremble as Deity and Destiny–led man fought for the ultimate victory. That fight would change Earth's or Hell's fate forever. Everything was at stake; the circle that had begun in the Elder worlds would either be complete or broken forever.
The signal came. A lone human fought against the Cyberdemon who guarded the entrance to Baphomet's citadel. The guardian was losing, and the human – you, my unexpected listener, would enter the throne chamber soon... The Thirteen assumed position within the towers of the citadel and kept watch over the arena of that last fight. The green–clad figure passed through the chamber where gifts of great power were left by demons that had been granted audience with the Demonlord. As you enter the portal, you were quite surprised to find yourself in an enormous hall, standing before a visage that chilled you to the bone...
Baphomet grinned and greeted His enemy with the ancient Formula of Challenge of the Old Gods: Oremor nhoj em llik tsum uoy emag eht niw ot.