"ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!", Fetch grunted weakly as the fiery whip , flayed his naked back.
He was drained and his body felt broken. He hung limply from the chains suspending him, as the huge baboon headed balor lashed him again with the flaming whip.
"yahhhhhhhhhhh!", whimpered Fetch again. He had attempted to suppress his screams, but that lasted all of 3 lashes. After 20 lashes he begged for his life, after 30 all he could do was grunt and cry from the pain.
"That's enough , Baboonlor...its a miracle he's still alive after 50 lashes. A new record I think. We'll let him hang there for awhile. I'll let the succubus dig their teeth into him later. ", said a husky feminine voice. "He's not much to look at, but his power is great. He will make a great servant or a worthy sacrifice ."
"ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!", cried Fetch again as the lash continued.
"BABOONLOR! STOP!", commanded the unseen woman.
"He slew my comrades, he will not be made a servant. You said yourself he is not handsome enough to serve you. I shall flay him to an inch of his life. Let him recover then repeat it till his mind breaks. This one is strong...I enjoy breaking the strong ones.", replied a deep echoing demonic voice.
"I am the voice of Myleka , my word is law here. Begone .", commanded the woman. Fetch knew she didn't care about his fate. He could sense his benefactor only responded to the demon because she was challenged.
"GRRRRRRRRRRR! Another time then...", growled the demon. Fetch heard massive footsteps stomp the ground. He suspected his tormentor had left. Although his body was broken , and his magic drained , he still kept some of his wits about him.
"You've earned a reprieve , but you will soon be a feast for my succubus.", the woman said as she walked in front of the chained cleric. Even though his eyes were swollen and filled with tears of pain, Fetch saw she was beautiful. She appeared to be human, was of mildly above average height, had ivory white skin and had long loose bright red hair . She held herself with an air of nobility , similar to Kirrin, but had a dangerous cruel look to her. She looked like a dark princess or something, thought Fetch.
"You and your companions caused us a great deal of grief, but its all over Warmaster. You will be a drained husk by tomorrow. However, know your sacrifice hasn't been in vain. We were going to unleash our full might, and the might of our allies on the city in two weeks. Your trouble making has set us back to three weeks or even a month. ", teased the woman, as she kissed the clerics chest , draining his vitality and sending him spiraling into unconsciousness.
Fetch shuddered and awoke in the dark. He was still chained , his body was still broken, and his magic was gone. Every inch of his body ached, and he felt the wounds on his back tingle from the stale dungeon air. He hoped that it was a nightmare, but the pain wracking his body told him it was real.
"How did it come to this?", he thought to himself.
It started well. After his group entered the shrine, they spent a day clearing the upper lairs of the dungeon. They systematically cleared room after room of corrupted fey creatures. Even though they posed little threat , they were very annoying to fight. A corrupted nymph had permanently blinded Dietrch before Tyris managed to slay her. It took much of Fetch's magic to cure the affliction. A group of fiendish pixies stole Fetch's hammer , and some fell leprechauns briefly turned Trip into a marionette. Henrietta undid the transformation, and Fetch recovered the hammer, but it all took time and more resources. The battles were bizarre as well, they fought sprites around odd underground fairy rings, nixies in swirling pools, and goatmen/satyrs in ever shifting forests. The strangest and most difficult battle was when they wandered into what appeared to be a bar, and were surrounded and rushed by dark unicorns. It was too crowded for the unicorns to effectively fight, but the mighty beasts still managed to sever one of Vanna's arms and trample Dietrch into the ground. Fetch suddenly understood why Sir Hildraxel hated the Fey so much.
After the "fey" levels were cleared, they entered the "proper" baboon levels. They were attacked by hordes of shrieking demon baboons. They would attack from the front, the back, even through the walls. Fetch didn't know much about demons, but he could tell they were all some sort of hybrid crossbreed. Henrietta explained the temple was full of baboon spirits, and the evil within the temple used them as hosts to summon forth demons. Fetch knew the act of summoning or calling an outsider was not easy, so he guessed this method was something much simpler and could be done on a mass scale. Regardless of the difficulty of summoning the demons, they fell to his group easily. Fetch's group managed to slaughter the demons last year in Surry's grove, with Frank at their side the battle was almost trivial.
They vanquished hundreds of the baboon demons, till they made their last stand at the basement level of the temple. The huge baboon demon was there with his "elite" guard of baboon hybrids. Fetch's group rushed them , victory seemed close at hand. However, right before they triumphed, everything fell apart.
Dozens of white furred demons commanded by a strange creature in bandages appeared behind them. Galatea referred to it as a mummy , and it seemed to be a powerful spell caster. On his left flank a portal appeared , and a tide of Xill rushed through it to do battle with the cleric and his band. On his right, a strange looking feral ogre woman appeared. She commanded a large band of red eyed and scaled animals to attack their group. They ranged from baboons, to wolves, and even some monstrous penguins. The room was quite spacious, but the penguins were too big and forced to slide on their bellies to attack their prey.
The tide of the battle had shifted, and they could not escape. Although their foes seemed to be able to use limited travel magic , Fetch and his companions were unable to. Fetch guessed it was a combination of the ruins themselves and powerful defensive spells prepared by their opponents. Despite being outnumbered and outmatched, the adventurers gave a good account of themselves before they were defeated. Frank slew what appeared to be the Xill Warlord and dozens of his guards, before the baboon demons and the remaining Xill tore him apart. Fetch winced as he recalled his brave friend chopping demons merrily as fatal wounds were inflicted on his body. When his friend fell, he could hear him roar, "WE NEVER STOP!"
Dietrch yelled something about, "The false Aspect of Arcturus", as he confronted the feral ogre woman. He inflicted what appeared to be a killing blow on the creature, but it seemed unfazed by his blow. Its terrible claws skewered the knight , ignoring his magical skin, as fell animals began ripping him apart. The animals however were hampered by his tough hide, but that just prolonged the knights suffering. Fetch could hear Dietrch croak "Yasmina...", before he perished under a pile of ravenous beasts.
Trip and Henrietta climbed underneath Vanna's dress, as the damaged golem plowed into the white furred demons. They seemed thinner and less robust then the baboon demons, but seemed more savage and fast. The mummy's spells seem to dissipate off the golem harmlessly, but Vanna was soon overwhelmed by the demons as well. The last Fetch saw of the golem , was several huge white furred boar demons, upending and pummeling the one armed Vanna.
Baalphzon had replaced his silver sheathed tail with a cold iron one when they first entered the temple. He savagely fought the demons, with greater ferocity and skill then Fetch had ever imagined the imp to possess. His familiar tore eyes, and slashed throats with his tail with deadly accuracy and savagery. The imp reminded him , that he shared some of the cleric's skill and power. Despite his battle prowess, Fetch saw his familiar buried from a tide of white furred demons in the end.
Fetch and Tyris were the last to stand. The lethal duo fought back to back. They held their ground at first, and the demons began piling at their feet. Fetch even thought they had a chance of winning when he drove his hammer into the lead baboon balor's face. The creature's face was smashed and it retreated, and the battle seemed to briefly be in their favor. However when Vanna fell, the mummy's magic was redirected at them. Despite being ridiculed by his friends, Fetch's magic was second to none, or so he thought. The mummy's magic was ancient and terrible but Fetch managed to counter and reverse his enchantments. The battle seemed to hang in the balance once more, but a sorceress or wizard of some type appeared, and began cancelling Fetch's spells. The red haired woman seemed to be in charge of the battle and the battle seemed lost.
Before Fetch fell, the cleric nodded at Tyris. The bard shook her head, reluctant to follow Fetch's plan, but the cleric did it anyways. Fetch threw her a small pouch and then unleashed a powerful earthquake centered on himself in the melee. He was unsure if it would work or not, the mystical structure buckled and shook and resisted his spell, but finally gave way to his divine onslaught. Even the red haired wizard was unable to contain his magic as the roof of the temple of the baboon caved in . Fetch wasn't sure how many of his foes he took with him, as a large boulder smashed into him, sending him into darkness.
Fetch bitterly recalled his defeat as he hung limply from his prison. It would be over soon, he tried resisting his torturers but they were too cruel and skilled in their art. He needed to rest, to pray for spells. Maybe he could escape, get Brita, Surry, Ymir, and Clovis to come to join his side. He hoped Tyris escaped , but he wasn't certain. If she had escaped, wouldn't she rescued him by now? He wondered even if he somehow escaped would he rally his friends or would he flee? As an adventurer, he knew he had one foot in death's door all the time, but he didn't expect it to come so quick and brutal. Could he lead another group of his friends to their deaths?
"Cough...cough ..hack...", despite his broken body, Fetch involuntarily tried to spit out some blood . His breath was so weak it dribbled down his mouth down and his chin. He chuckled at his predicament, but that act only hurt his ribs some more.
"This is the price of my arrogance. Kerr warned me, Kirrin warned me, even the shadow of the elven goddess warned me, but I ignored them. I was so confident in my ability to win , I led my friends to their doom. There's nothing left , even if I escaped I'm alone , lost in this dungeon. All I can hope for , is for Tyris to escape , get Hush and leave the city before its too late.", thought the defeated cleric.
The thought of Tyris filled his heart with regret. He had so much time in the world with her, but there were still things he meant to say to her. He always used the excuse she was hard to talk to and she was too distant as his reason for their lack of communication. Even after the affair with Lord Kerr, she was still a maddeningly private person. Fetch rationalized to himself he was just giving her room, but in reality he was afraid of her reaction , and too cowardly to attempt to reach her. He knew she was hurt inside and wasn't sure if he was able to heal her mental scars. He cursed himself for a fool , as he realized he would never get the chance again.
He thought of Hush . He only adopted her 5 months ago, or 6 if you accounted the time he was suspended in the temple . They weren't related by blood, but she was his daughter. Nothing could change that. He understood well what it meant to be an orphan. He was raised by the Innkeeper and oddly he regarded him as a father . Even though the innkeeper never stated it, Fetch knew he regarded him as a son in return. His thoughts hung briefly on his other children. Of Bloodshadow, his daughter from another world. He regretted his treatment of her. He wished he handled her differently. Of Agni and the pride he had of hearing his son taking the mantle of adventuring. Of Surry. She was the most messed up of his children. She was prideful, arrogant, bitter, mean, jealous, ..but he was the closest to her. Outwardly she showed him little respect, but he knew different. When she humbled herself and asked to accompany him on his adventurers he briefly glimpsed into her guarded heart. She had grown quite powerful under his wing, maybe as powerful as her mother. He hoped where ever she was she would be safe from the demons when they break free. Three weeks or a month was what the red haired woman said. He wasn't sure where she was, but hoped that she did not return in that time.
Fetch paused in his train of thought, "Did I just give up? No...I'm not beaten yet. I won't hang around like a side of beef while demons threaten my city, my children. " .The cleric thought angrily to himself.
Fetch looked up and made a visual examination of his bonds. He was suspended by chains, that bit deeply into his wrists. He could not see the roof, it was too dark, but the shackle on his wrists seemed to be very solid and strong. "Much stronger then flesh and bone.", the cleric thought grimly.
He slowly twisted and grinded his wrists again the manacles. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he had to try. It was a long shot, but he had no choice. Fetch winced at the pain as he slowly tore and ripped the flesh from his wrists. He felt like he was going to pass out again, but bit his tongue painfully to shock himself back to consciousness. He wasn't going to give up. Tyris, Hush, Surry...too many people depended on him.
"Oh...how delightful...the worm still struggles. Mistress Cerasum said he was broken, but obviously he still has some fight in him. ", said a deep seductive voice.
" I like it when they struggle, I hate broken toys. Its more fun when we get to break them ourselves.", purred a higher voice.
Fetch saw two bat winged women approach him. Their bodies were lewd but strangely attractive. They wore elaborate armbands , rings and decorative piercings, but little or no real clothing. Just scraps of silk and satin.
The one with the deep voice approached Fetch and touched his body. His body ceased to struggle as a cold shiver ran down his spine. She smiled and began gently licking the blood flowing down his wrists.
The other with the higher voice, walked behind him, and Fetch could feel her kissing and caressing the dried blood off his back. Each touch by these creatures sent shivers of fear and lust into Fetch's heart.
Fetch tried to summon the strength to kick one, but he was too weak. The battle, the cave in, the whippings, and his self inflicted mutilation had drained him to the core. All he could do was meekly hang in his chains, as the succubus began to feast on him.
A crouched shambling creature made its way into the room. The creature's sudden appearance surprised the lust demons.
"What do you want! Can't you see we're busy? Do you want to be next?", challenged the demon as she continued to lick Fetch's back.
"Mrmmrmmmmmrmm", mumbled the hunched back creature as it approached.
"What? Speak up!", demanded the succubus feasting on Fetch's wrists. It stopped its meal, and approached the creature.
Fetch could see the hunchback wore only scraps of clothes, it was smaller then a man, and dragged itself with its misshapen arms and legs. Its back was covered with the scars of the lash, and deep boils. It had stringy dark hair , and every movement seemed to cause it pain. Fetch wondered if that was to be his fate after these creatures were done with him.
The succubus with the deep voice, raised a heeled foot and threatened to stomp the creature before her. "State your buisness and begone!" , she demanded from the grovelling beast.
"AIEEEE!", screamed the demoness as a ball of scale furry jumped on her face. Claws and fangs shredded the succubus's face, as an iron tail wrapped around its neck.
The other succubus roared and rushed to aid her companion, but the hunchback whipped a chain and snared her foot. With uncommon skill and strength it yanked the succubus off balance and the bat winged seductress fell on its face. Before the stunned demon could recover, the hunchback slammed the chain mercilessly onto her head. Fetch could tell that the chain did little damage to its victim, but the blow was expertly timed and placed. The hunchback knocked the demon senseless , before wrapping the chain around the creatures neck and began choking the life out of it. The first succubus fell lifeless to the ground, and the small scaled creature that dispatched her switched its attack to the other demon. Its tail stabbed through one of the succubus's eye sockets, and the demoness briefly shuddered before falling still.
"Missed me?", chuckled Baalphzon as he smiled at Fetch with a gore covered face.
The hunchback struggled to stand straight. It produced some odd wires and picks and quickly unlocked Fetch's manacles. Fetch had managed to damage his wrists extensively but he still felt some vitality returned to them.
The cleric found standing difficult after his ordeal , but the hunchback helped support him.
"Must go...leave now...before they return...", croaked the creature hoarsely as the three silently retreated out of the room.
Fetch was in pain but willed himself to remain conscious. Although the hunchback seemed strong for his size, it was much smaller then Fetch and struggled with Fetch's dead weight. With Fetch limping along, it managed to overcome the size difference and the two slowly hobbled to safety.
Fetch had trouble seeing in the dark, but could tell they were in some sort of cavern or mine. While the upper levels were clearly of elven construction, this new area seemed like some wound in the earth. He wondered if it connected to the underdark , or if it was a closed system.
"Its most likely a pocket dimension, similar to the demi planes you created.", thought Baalphzon as he observed the cleric's thoughts. "It's Myleka's own personal prison world is my guess. "
Fetch was too weak to reply or to think coherently , and the imp recognized that. The hunchback and the imp hobbled through the twisting tunnels, eventually reaching a small tunnel. The hunchback scrambled on all fours and dragged the cleric through as the imp pushed . The small group snaked through the dark tunnels , until they eventually reached a small chamber.
"Thank you...for rescuing me...", Fetch told Baalphzon as his consciousness finally began to fade.
"Oh, don't thank me. Than...", replied Baalphzon, but Fetch had already fallen fast asleep.
"This doesn't make sense.", repeated Trip as he held the flaming torch to Vanna's shoulder. "How can fire make her arm grow back? I can understand if cracks sealed on her, but how does fire create iron?"
Henrietta sighed, "Look, don't ask, just trust me on this. We need to get this done before we're discovered. We were just lucky that I aimed our dimension door in the wrong direction. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure we would not have been able to retreat from that battle. They had the exit sealed, but left the front door open."
Vanna's remaining hand flashed with fire, and she held it to her stump. "We may be the only ones left. We should retreat to the surface and warn Kerr."
Henrietta looked at the golems flaming hand,"How did you do that! I never gave you that power? Its only a minor spell, but...but... its a spell! How did you learn magic?"
Vanna shrugged,"Don't be too surprised. You must have known the consequences of awakening a golem."
Trip agreed,"My people were built for the sole purpose of war. However after the war, many branched out to other pursuits. A great many warforged wizards began showing up. Infact, warforged wizards are considered by many very accomplished arcane casters. Given time , they may even surpass humans, or our halfling creators!"
The gnome/elf sighed,"I just wanted someone to talk to. "
Vanna smiled, "I know. Despite the sentience and freewill you granted me, I will always be your friend and protector. I'm not bound to you by any chains save my loyalty."
Trip nodded as well,"I understand Vanna's sentiments. After the Great War, I was confused and alone. I wandered the world seeking battle and enemies, since war was the only thing I knew. When I joined up with the Warmaster however, I found something else. I found people I care about, people I trust."
Henrietta looked at the small warforged. He was as alien to her , as she was to an orc. Despite this, she found she really enjoyed his company. Of Fetch's companions, Trip was her closest friend. "Are we going to make it out of here Trip? We're in a small cave, most likely in a pocket dimension , surrounded by demons and worse. It doesn't look good."
Trip shrugged,"I think we're going to die. However, I swear by my halfling honor that our foes shall pay dearly for our lives."
"Can we cut it out with the halfling routine. Like really? You're a halfling cuz you're small and go bare foot?", chuckled Henrietta.
"If you can stop with the elf thing. Your ears aren't even that pointed.", replied Trip in a dead pan voice.
Henrietta pretended to be shocked from Trips words, and she giggled lightly. Trip made grinding noises as he attempted to duplicate the laugh.
Vanna however was not impressed, "Can we just concentrate on repairing my arm, or do I have to separate you two?"
Fetch awoke in a cold sweat. "Tyris...", he gasped before he realized where he was.
"You're awake...good.", replied Baalphzon grimly. The imp passed him a crude bowl, and a small stone crudely shaped stone hammer."Drink that, you'll need the strength. And you better start sanctifying that small hammer I made. You'll need your spells."
Fetch nodded and took a sip of the liquid. He knew immediately what it was. It was a mixture of blood and milk. He wasn't sure how he knew it but he did. He hesitated at first , but knew he must keep his strength up. He drank the strange concoction before beginning the rites to sanctify the crude hammer.
"You know it , because I know it. Finally you're sharing some of my knowledge.", smirked the imp. "The Masai drink something like that , and some elven tribes do as well. Although that's the first time I heard it being made with breast milk."
Fetch found the comment odd, but ignored it. He was in the heart of the enemy , he had to escape , find Tyris, and warn the city. His friends would not die in vain.
"I saw you fall in battle, Baalphzon. How did you escape.", asked Fetch as he began praying for his spells. Although it took awhile to do, it did not require all of Fetch's attention. The cleric could still manage minor tasks and conversations.
"I did fall, and they captured and tortured me as well. Some of them recognized who I was, and decided to spare me a merciful death and instead exact some payback.", chuckled the imp. "However...as I was being flayed and beaten, the hunchback woman came. She waited till there was only one guard and struck. As you saw, she's very good at what she does, a demon hunter of some sort I guess. She released me , on the condition I help rescue you. A strange request I know, but she recognized who I was and the link I shared with you . She even recovered my tail spike. "
"Wait?", Fetch said in surprise," The hunchback's a woman?"
"Where do you think the breast milk came from?", snorted the imp.
Tyris curled in a ball in the shadowy realm. She had one eye opened and she stared at the pouch Fetch had given her.
"Take the pouch, he gave it to you. Seize the power...", a familiar commanding voice said in an echoing voice from the shadows.
Tyris did not respond and continued to stare at the pouch. She could sense what was in it. It called to her. For the last 9 months she had resisted its song, she did not need its power . She was free of its grip, free to live her own life. She recalled the death of her unborn child, and the day she was defeated by Lord Kerr. Those events threatened to break her psyche, however she resisted the urge.
"Imagine if you seized what was yours back then? Bel would have been defeated, and Kerr slain. You could be running this city! Everything would be perfect.", said the echoing voice.
Tyris considered the voice's words, but knew it was lies. Despite the lows she suffered, her spirit was also lifted to new highs. Meeting an alternate version of her daughter Fyrisvellir, her growing bond with Fetch, and her adopted daughter Hush. These would all be impossible if she gave into the power, the darkness, the fire.
"You could have had a real daughter, not a copy. Who needs Fetch ? He just holds you back from your destiny. Hush is not your real daughter, she's just adopted. She's not even human.", replied the voice weakly. Even the voice knew those were weak arguments. It would not be able to sway Tyris with those.
Tyris unrolled from her ball, and opened both eyes. She sat upright and spoke clearly in the darkness," Hah! Your arguments are not very persuasive. Sounds like your grip on me is getting slipping. It sounds like you might even prefer what I am now, then what I was before."
A long silence filled the shadowy realm. Then the echoing voice sighed, "Perhaps...perhaps you're right. Its been too long since we've divided. I ...understand that some things can not be changed. I care deeply for Fetch as well, he's awkward and naive but he loves us, more then we know. Sharliss is a fragile gift, one we will always treasure. She's an orphan, but so was Fetch, and us as well. She's part of us now. Someone we will defend at all costs."
Tyris smiled and begun to speak, but the voice interrupted her." However, that still doesn't explain the parting gift Fetch gave us."
Tyris looked at the pouch, and the fabric began to strip away in the shadow. Inside was the chained iron sphere that Clovis fabricated. It held her sword, the Dragon's Flame. Although it appeared she made peace with herself, could she reconcile with her sword. Did Fetch give her the sword, because he knew they needed its power to triumph? Or was it a parting gift ? He knew he was doomed, so he returned her destiny? Did he realize, the power of the blade ? It wasn't like Galatea , it didn't directly speak, but she knew it subtly influenced her thoughts. It shattered her mind once , only Roland's influence prevented her from going truly insane. Would she be able to keep her mind while wielding the blade again?
"What choice do we have?", said the voice," Sharliss, Fetch, Surry, the city depends on us. "
" What if I can't handle the power? If I save them from Myleka, what's to save them from us?", pondered Tyris out loud.
The room fell silent again. Tyris knew she would have to decide by herself. She could leave the shadow realm, and attempt to rescue her friends. Even though she was very deadly, she had already been defeated by the demons, and knew the outcome would not change if they found her again. She could retreat to the city, and save Hush, but it would only be a matter of time before the cult of Myleka tracked her down. There was a chance that adventurers like Surry, Brita, Earl...even Clovis could stop the cult, but she loathed to rely on anyone but herself. Even her best friends , or what passed as friends couldn't be relied on. Except Fetch, she knew she could rely on him. If she took the direct approach and took the blade, she had serious doubts about her ability to control it and to keep her sanity and soul. She already tasted its power and its influence before, and wondered if she was strong enough.
"You aren't strong enough by yourself.", spoke the voice,"However, together we might be . Deep down I care for Fetch and Sharliss as well. Too long have we been apart, we finally found two things that we both care for. Two things that we would both fight for and die for. "
Tyris nodded, and boldly picked up the chained ball. It was constructed from cold iron , its lock had adamant poured into it, and the entire device was dipped in molten steel. The chains warded off magic and were invulnerable. It's original design was to trap fire elementals . Clovis had modified it to seal her blade. Tyris smiled at the challenge before her , despite adopting the role of a bard for the last 5 years, deep down she was a rogue at heart. She took out two pins and a small file hidden in her hair and began to work.
The voice was silent. Tyris wondered if she would hear it again.
Fetch had recovered his spells, and cured his injuries in short order.
"Clerics are like Hydras or trolls . ", noted the imp,"You have to kill them completely or they'll be back the next day."
Fetch thought the statement was odd coming from the imp, despite being tortured and beaten, Baalphzon required no healing. Fetch knew that imps slowly recovered all their wounds, unless they were slain. They were more akin to trolls then he was.
Baalphzon was about to argue, when a shuffling in the tunnel was heard . The hunchback returned, and she brought scraps of armor and a short sword. When she realized that Fetch was awake, and had recovered his strength she dropped the gear and swiftly began to retreat back into the tunnel.
Fetch reached out and grasped her arm, "Thank you, miss. I owe you my life. I'm sure you're trapped as much as we are down here, but can you tell us vaguely where the exits are?"
The creature paused at Fetch's grasp and request. "The great arch...", it gasped. "You must leave soon, they already ...start searching...you must go.I lead you to arch, but you must go.", it said in a gasping gulping voice.
"I know where that is.", nodded Baalphzon. "I saw it as we made our way to rescue you. This entire area is some vast network of caverns with a few odd structures and outposts around it. The arch is near."
The hunchback nodded her head and it slowly turned towards Fetch. Even though it was dark, Fetch's new holy symbol glowed with a slight ambient light. It illuminated the creature's hideous features as it turned to face Fetch . It had tough leathery skin with boils and warts all over its body. Its breasts hung loosely and were misshapen and flaccid. One ear was pointed, while the other appeared ripped or chewed off. Her face was swollen , covered with bruises and welts, and its nose was crooked and hooked. Its face was covered with matted greasy dark hair.
"Thank you...miss?", Fetch inquired about his hostess. He tried to look at her directly but the deformed woman avoided his gaze, conscious of her appearance. From the stories told to him, Fetch assumed she was a victim of the cult of Myleka.
"Fallen...", the creature spoke with a pained voice . Fetch guessed she hadn't spoken in awhile, and her throat and lungs were damaged. Warped not only be her form , but by unhealed beatings she had endured. He had first hand experience with the cruel treatments of the tormentors here and knew their painful wrath.
Fetch began a prayer and reached towards Fallen. The woman cowered from his grasp.
"You're not gonna waste a heal prayer on this creature are you? We don't have the luxury of being altruistic right now. Lets just thank the beast and be on our way.", warned Baalphzon mentally.
Fetch ignored the imp , and touched the cowering woman anyways. She had helped him, possibly saved him. The least he could do would heal her broken bones and skin.
Fallen's limbs and spine seemed to straighten when Fetch's divine power coursed through her. Even one of her bitten ears seemed to heal. She was still not very pleasant to look at , but at least she could walk and talk unimpeded. Fetch assumed that her injuries could be healed, but whatever ritual Myleka used to drain beauty from her victims was much more permanent.
"Thank...thank you.", she said with uncertainty as she looked at her hands and touched her face .
"Lets get a closer look. ", said Fetch, curious at how his patient was transformed.
As he drew near, she turned away again. "No...please...don't look at me."
Fetch stopped and remembered something faintly familiar. Then he honored her request and withdrew. He suspected she was once vain and beautiful, and was devastated when her beauty was stripped from her. She saved him , and he would respect her wishes.
"I wish I could do more about your...affliction...but its beyond my power. ", Fetch apologized.
"We should leave , and soon.", said Baalphzon. "We know where the exit is. Let us make haste."
"No. Not yet.", replied Fetch defiantly." I'm not leaving till I made at least some effort to rescue or at least recover the remains of my friends." He was fairly certain Frank and Dietrch were dead. Their bodies were horribly mauled by the demons. There was a small chance, Trip, Henrietta and Vanna survived though. Although they were overwhelmed, Vanna was an incredibly resilient construct. Perhaps, the demons captured Trip and Henrietta as well. Fetch wasn't sure if Tyris was alive, dead or captured. If captured, he wondered if the cult would bother to drain her, without the circlet she would not be to their specifications. If she was slain, they would have certainly paraded her corpse in front of him to break his spirit when he was still captured.
"There's a chance she could be dead, her corpse buried under the rock . They might not have recovered her body as a trophy.", speculated the imp, but they both knew that would be impossible. Tyris would not be laid low by anything that could be dodged. Be it dragon fire, lightning bolts, or a cave in.
"Its too dangerous to search for your friends, you must leave...", whispered Fallen.
"I can't do that. I don't abandon my friends, not if I can help it. I appreciate the risk you took in rescuing me, and I understand if its too dangerous to continue. Even if my friends are all dead, I must make an effort to find their remains.", Fetch spoke grimly.
Baalphzon shook his head. "I must disagree. We have no idea where our companions or their remains are. We barely know where we are. The best ...the only course of action you have right now, is to fall back to the surface, warn Lord Kerr, and gather allies for another assault. That's the only way you will help your friends, anything else will just get you kill and doom everyone ."
Fetch considered his familiars words for a long time. There was no fault in his logic and the cleric reluctantly conceded . It pained him to leave his friends, but he understood the situation .
Fallen approached Fetch and grabbed his arm, tugging it , indicating they must leave.
"Please, besides needing a guide out , I need some allies right now as well. You seem good at fighting...", Fetch's voice stopped as his eyes met the hunchbacks. One eye was glazed over, clearly blinded by cataracts or some other affliction that was not cured by his prayer. The other was a soft green eye , wet with tears.
"Nara?", asked Fetch in shock and sudden recognition.
The misshapen elf suddenly collapsed as she realized the cleric had discovered her. Fetch broke her fall and held her tight. She softly sobbed as he hugged her. Although her body was no longer recognizable , he instantly knew her touch and spirit.
"What happened?", asked the cleric when the elf's tears were finally spent.
Nara was apprehensive at first, but spoke in short rough sentences, " Priestess...she told me to leave. She paid my debt, told me not to return , else I pay her back. I went to Grom City, made money. I know you have wife...know you love her...but I had to return ...to say good bye. When I returned, demons captured me...took me screaming into their tunnels. Drained me...stole my strength, my beauty... I served them, not sure how long...months, years? I don't know. I heard, big battle, many demons, and their friends killed. Captured Warmaster. I knew it was you. Had to help. Don't know where they kept you , so I rescued your familiar, he's like Cushi...poor Cushi... he fought so hard for me...".
Fetch hugged her deeply , he wanted to vow vengeance against Myleka, but what would be the point. She had to pay for her sacrifices in the city, the death of his friends, and possibly his wife. Now she had to pay for Nara. He remembered the prophecy and wondered if he would be the one to collect the debt.
Zyleraxus hated his humanoid form. It was large and brutish, a fair specimen except for one point, it lacked hair. Zyle lacked the skill to form a full head of hair, and thought his form stood out from the crowd. Not that standing out was a bad thing, but his draconic vanity demanded his form should be handsome and noble. He heard some humans found him handsome, but he knew that most found his appearance more fearsome then charming. If Zyle wanted to look fearsome he would have remained in his dragon form.
Besides his humanoid form , Zyleraxus hated his mistress. At first, he abducted her because that's what dragons do. He was in town trading some of his vast horde for items he fancied, when he spotted the tall blonde woman. His dragon instincts told him instantly she was a princess. He chatted with the girl and his suspicions were confirmed. He gained her confidence and quickly snatched her away to his forest lair. He figured he would just throw her in a cage, and marvel at his "treasure", however that was not to happen. It seemed the princess, Ulla was her name, was also some sort of divine aspect. Worst yet, she possessed the power to influence even control his actions. The next thing he knew, he was serving as her unwitting body guard and mount. Sometimes being under her control was bearable, like watching her defeat her foes in the arena, or bashing her fans that came too close. Other times, her foolish actions resulted in humiliating defeats. Like being captured by a lamia, and his current situation, being lost in some sort of elven ruins.
Zyleraxus could not believe his foul luck. Princesses were rare, but of all the nobility he could have captured he had to abduct one that was more powerful then him. Which was very powerful indeed. Zyle was not only a red dragon, but possessed a deep abyssal bloodline as well. When he first settled by Lower Lueders, he defeated all his draconic rivals . He drove off the annoying green dragon , and ate a foolish shadow drake. He was lord of the forest, but here he was reduced to being a porter to the most annoying creature he had ever met.
"We're lost Kyle! This is all your fault you know.", huffed Ulla. Despite being stuck in the dirty underground tunnels for an indeterminate amount of time, the princess still appeared perfect and clean. She was tall and striking. She had long blond hair that shined like gold, and her features were noble and serene. She wore a bright steel scale tunic, with white fur trimmings, and wielded an over sized silver blade. Zyle carried her other weapons, and he knew she had more powerful ones, but she preferred the sword because it matched her armor.
"Be careful with your voice, we are surrounded by enemies. We are lucky they seem preoccupied with other matters at the moment.", warned the bald man in the red plate armor.
"I hate this place! Why did you lead us here! ", pouted the princess.
Zyleraxus considered transforming and smashing the arrogant human into the wall , but something held him back. He strained against the magic but it was too powerful. The dragon sighed and attempted to explain the situation to his mistress." You lead us here , not I. Do you not remember? You kept talking about , being called, or summoned here. It was just like the elven shrine. We went there, you insulted the guardian, and the next thing you know we were captured. It was a miracle the elven tree keeper rescued us. We should have thanked her , but instead you lead us into the troglodyte sewer, and eventually into this strange dungeon. The denizens here were easy to handle at first, but the further down we go , the more dangerous they've become. I grew up with demons you know, they are not to be trifled with. "
Ulla's eyes glazed over as her companion lectured her, she didn't know why she was summoned here she just knew she hated it . She would have demanded Kyle returned her to the city but the voices would just start again. There were three of them, an old woman's, a warrior maiden's, and a young girl's. She attempted to ignore them at first, but their call was too strong, especially the girl's. The girl's voice confused her , and warped her perceptions. She recalled her former life, and how it all changed when she first heard the voice.
She was always a princess, but Ulla did not conform to her father's wishes. She was always considered an odd girl, too smart for her own good. She rather read then knit. Fight then sing. Explore then cook. Basically everything her father wanted she did the opposite. It entertained her at first, but she eventually found herself in the unenviable role of an old maid. She wondered if she had followed her father's wishes if she would have landed a noble handsome husband, instead she was sent to be married to a Jarl from a distant tribe to the south . She was almost 40 , practically a spinster. The Order of the Walrus, didn't really need the tribe's alliance or wealth, but it was a convenience for both groups. The Walrus tribe got to get rid of an unwanted princess, the Tribe of the Dog or Husky got an alliance with one of the stronger minor orders.
Ulla remembered staring at her waving tribe as the boat carrying her left the harbor. She remembered sighing in resignation at her fate. She had no desire to be a political pawn, but knew it was her destiny. Everything changed when pirates attacked her boat. She felt a rush of exhilaration when she picked up a weapon and slew her first pirate. She had always practiced with weapons, but had never been in a real battle. Her tutors and her fellow students always thought she was a poor fighter, but she slew her attackers effortlessly. That was the first time she heard the voices. She was eventually overwhelmed however, and the next thing she knew she was in some sort of cell. Someone apparently paid a high amount to abduct her, but apparently her kidnappers realized her value and demanded more. She was stuck in her prison awaiting her fate, until rival brigands/adventurer's freed her.
She wasn't sure if her food was drugged, or if some magic was involved, but something changed. She was young, tall , beautiful, and dangerous when she left the prison . She even found her personality had changed. The voices continued to call her, but she ignored them. She was in an exotic port city, far south of any knight hold. She took the opportunity to live wildly . When she needed coin, she fought in the arena. She even gained the services of some weird dragon man. Life was good, but slowly ...the voices grew louder. Eventually she had to follow them, to keep her sanity. She realized that she had changed, the old Ulla was gone. Some part of her screamed at the change, but for the most part she accepted it.
"Ulla? Ulla? ULLA!", barked Zyleraxus,"You're daydreaming again. I need you to concentrate. Follow those voices of yours...what do they say?"
Ulla nodded and concentrated. She could hear the voices, but couldn't understand what they were saying. It was either in a language she couldn't understand or something cryptic. Even though she didn't fully understand them, she had hunches and glimpses of insight. She listened and finally replied." It will be over soon. Death or victory awaits us."
The dragonman shrugged and whispered, "Good...I hope death for you , and victory for me."
"Ahhh, cheer up Dietrch. Everyone eventually dies. Hell , this is my...ummm.. killed by taer, stomped by earth elementals, Tank chopped my head off...4th time dead.", said Frank to his new friend. The pair were slain battling demons, Xill, and feral animals, and now they found themselves outside Rawk's Great Hall.
"Hey, look on the bright side. At least there's no line up. First time I got here, there was a line a mile long. ", smiled Frank.
Dietrch wasn't sure how to take Frank. Despite his buffoonery , he was clearly more experienced and worldly then he was. He wondered how he could take death so lightly." I can't die now. I don't even worship Rawk, I follow Arcturus. I have so much to do still. I still have to find and rescue the Princess of my tribe. I left Yasmina without saying goodbye to her. I didn't get a chance to..."
Frank cut him off ,"Hey settle down, don't make me wuss slap you. There's stuff you didn't do. I get it ? Everyone dies with a few things undone. I forgot to pay my beer tab! Oh noes...I didn't say goodbye to my girl friend ! Boohoo!...I didn't write down the location of my buried treasure! WAhhhh!...Listen , forget about all that stuff. If we get a rez, great! If not...well worrying about it won't change it now. Don't spend eternity living with regret , just move on , OK?"
Dietrch nodded. It was sound advice, but he couldn't simply let go. However, as the pair entered the Hall, he found his curiosity replace his regret. The Walrus knight expected a boisterous rowdy drinking room, however everyone inside was sharpening weapons and checking their gear.
Even Frank seemed surprised at this development. He attempted to ask what was going on, but the people he questioned shrugged and waved him off. Frank returned the shrug , and waved Dietrch to follow him. " My brothers will know what's going on."
The pair continue past more warriors. Their seemed to be bands of warriors of almost all races and eras. Dietrch wondered if there was some sort of competition coming up.
"Yo! Frank, Hank! Guess who's back?", exclaimed Frank to two warriors that looked remarkably like him.
"Frank! What happened this time?", asked a warrior that looked exactly him.
"Well Hank, I got swarmed by Xill and demons. I got one of their leaders though, and slew about 30 of them, but there was too many. ", sighed Frank. "Hey...what are you guys up to? I was expecting more drinking and partying, not drill practice."
Hank frowned,"Hadn't you heard? The Valkyries...they speak of grim tidings. They tell us to be ready. Seems a great battle is brewing in the world of the living. We're gonna make sure, the battle stays there and doesn't spill over into adjoining planes. I guess this battle has caught other "powers" interest. They might send their own armies to tip the tide or something. I guess we'll put an end to that if they do."
"This battle? Is it in Lower Lueders? Are baboons involved?", interrupted Dietrch.
"Who's this?", asked the other warrior who looked like Frank.
"Oh that's Dietrch. Dietrch. These are my brothers..Hank and Frank. Dietrch is cool, but don't keep your eyes off him, he might ass rape you .", smirked Frank as he jested about his friend Fetch's misconceptions.
Hank ignored Frank's jest and took a solemn tone." We're not suppose to know this, but I believe your assumptions are correct. They've cut off our magical viewings, but I saw trouble brewing in the city of Lueders. Armies of demons, Xill mercenaries, packs of hellish animals, even the pharaoh Dow Mow is involved. I don't know what you know of the situation, but I'm assuming by your tone its bad."
Dietrch nodded his head," Will...the people there be safe?"
Hank shook his head,"I doubt it, we're talking about wrath of god type stuff here. We're expecting the whole city , possibly the whole country destroyed. We're just making sure , other dimensions don't take advantage of the situation. If you have any loved ones there...I'm sorry."
Dietrch's shoulders slumped. "Yasmina ", he whispered in vain.
Frank smiled and patted the Walrus knight on the back, Dietrch turned to him and Frank gave him a wink ,"Hey...its not over yet. Fetch isn't here. If anyone can stave off Armageddon , I'm sure our buddy Fetch can. He's probably fighting off a wave of monsters right now trying to save the day."
Fetch and his two companions made their way to the arch. They moved quietly, partially because they required stealth, partially because there was an uneasy atmosphere between Fetch and his guide.
They eventually reached the arch that was described by Nara, and Baalphzon mentally told Fetch to stop. The cleric's eyes were better then most in the darkness, but he was still hindered by his human vision. He could see the arch lit by dim lights, but could not make out any other details.
"Wait...there's some guards .", warned Baalphzon mentally. "There's 4 of them . I can't tell what type of demons they are, with their baboon heads and all. "
"Think we should overpower them?", thought Fetch.
"Nah, they're demons. The worst guards ever created in the great wheel. I'll make a distraction and you 2 sneak through . Wait for my signal", replied the imp as he vanished from sight.
Fetch could not see the imp, but knew he had flown away. The sound of small beating wings, and the disappearance of his scent, indicated he was gone . Although Baalphzon did not have a strong brimstone scent like other infernals he had met, he still had a faint scent that Fetch had begun to recognize.
The cleric felt an uneasy silence between the ranger, and broke the silence. "Baalphzon is going to make a distraction. We'll sneak past when he gives us the signal."
"I didn't think you would bind your soul with an imp.", Nara replied .
Fetch recalled Nara's elven dog Cushi, and the close bond between the two. They seemed like a true duo. He wondered how close he was with his imp. He sometimes offered some advice, fought once in a while, and was a good babysitter. He wondered if he truly needed his abilities.
"Oh I'm pretty sure you need me , more then I need you. I'm just waiting for the big payoff. Then I'll tear off your head and drink your soul.", chuckled the imp mentally.
Fetch knew he was joking and cracked a rare smile. "I didn't think so either. But its worked out so far. He always sticks around when the going gets tough."
Nara turned away almost instantly, and Fetch realized he should have remained silent.
"I'm sorry , for leaving all those times. I'm...I'm not brave like you. Just look at me...I'm the poster girl for the failed adventurer. You're what everyone wants to be, powerful , rich, respected. I'm what happens to everyone else. Bitter, broke, broken. ", replied the misshapen ranger slowly.
An uncomfortable silence settled between the two.
"You know. I left the plateau because of you. If it weren't for you , I'd still be ...fetching ..water for Cook . I wouldn't be who I am without you. ", Fetch finally replied.
"I highly doubt that.", smiled Nara. Despite her crooked and jagged teeth, Fetch found her grin heartening. " Deep down, I knew you would be great some day. I just didn't realize how great."
Fetch was about to reply to her last comment, when suddenly Nara froze and pointed to the arch. Fetch still couldn't see the guards, but knew something was up.
"Move!", Baalphzon commanded mentally.
He nodded to the ranger and the pair scrambled towards the arch.
As he approached the archway , Fetch could tell the guards had indeed abandon their post. There was a faint glow in the middle of the arch, it resembled a small whirlpool Fetch thought. Fetch recalled the portals he created in Hush's pocket dimensions appeared similar to this doorway. This must be the exit.
"Go...Warn your city, gather your friends.", said Nara as she stopped in front of the door.
"You don't have to stay here. Look, we don't have time to argue, just come. We'll get someone to cure your affliction.", Fetch said as he tried in vain to pull the ranger through the archway.
Nara chuckled and shook her head," If the high priest of Rawk can't cure me, I doubt you'll find someone better. I can't return ..I'm much too vain ...much too shallow to be seen like this. Go now."
Before Fetch replied a clawed hand slashed downwards at Nara, slashing her side deeply. Fetch faced his attacker and saw a large chitinous 4 armed creature.
"You evaded the demons, but you will not evade the Xill !", exclaimed the creature as his other arms attacked the cleric.
Fetch saw two more of the creatures step out of thin air, and they hissed a challenge towards him. The cleric pointed at the lead xill, and the creature suddenly collapsed into a small meaty ball. The other Xill seemed undeterred from their allies death, and jumped towards Fetch , claws and swords poised to strike.
Fetch backed up and evaded one Xill, but the other pounced on him and stabbed his arm with a blade while grasping his neck and shoulder with a pair of his claws.
Fetch instinctively rammed his forehead into his grappler's face. It would have stunned a normal opponent, but instead the hard chitinous skull of his attacker resisted the blow. The other Xill leaped towards the cleric. Fetch uttered a holy word to stop his foes , but both of his attackers resisted his power. He vaguely recalled Surry telling him these creatures were very resistant to magic, and realized he was now powerless to stop them.
The second Xill stopped in mid air and crashed heavily in the ground. Fetch saw Nara had recovered from her wound, and had grasped the attacking Xill's foot. She bounded towards Fetch and landed on his attackers back. She gave a savage roar as she bit deeply into the Xill's neck with her teeth. The vicious and unexpected attack , caused Fetch's grappler to release him. Even as the cleric scrambled clear, he saw half a dozen more Xill stepping through the air.
Fetch threw a barrier of blades between the new attackers, but most simply walked through unharmed. The few that were affected hopped back before the blades could wound them seriously.
Fetch grabbed Nara's shoulder and threw the feral ranger through the portal. Fetch then intoned a powerful earthquake before jumping through the other side. Fetch wasn't an expert on magic , but he knew the Xill couldn't use their plane shifting in the temple of the baboon, at least not at full strength . The earthquake he made would slow his attackers, but they would eventually clear it. Hopefully he could gather his allies by then and mount another assault into Myleka's lair. For the first time in a long time Fetch felt optimistic.
A sharp claw shattered his thoughts as it dug into his shoulder. Fetch saw a large armored Xill had made it through the portal. Behind him, he saw several Xill crushed by falling rocks, but this creature had managed to make his way to the exit. Fetch snapped a kick to the creature, but its chitinous shell deflected the blow.
"RAWWWRRR!", roared Nara. The misshapen elf pounced on the large Xill. Her unexpected attack, caught the creature off balance. It released Fetch and stumbled backwards. The elf smashed her fist into creatures throat, causing it to lose its footing. Both fell through the portal.
The portal shuddered for a second, then it abruptly closed.
"Nara? Baalphzon?", Fetch asked the darkness, but there was no reply. Only a long empty silence.