Post by asmodeus on Jan 22, 2018 19:34:32 GMT
The moon shone steadily down upon Shandalar, as the two armored figures paced in the throneroom of the unfinished castle. The figure in the lead, his face flickering in the firelight, half aglow, half in darkness paused to look out the window, staring at the tranquil scene below. Shopkeeps shouted their wares, as fresh faced adventurers began the arduous climb into the crypts, hoping to make a name for themselves. Behind him, his champion Brute waited a minute, then two, before coughing politely.
Asmodeus, first of his name, and honored of Bhaal himself, glanced at his champion. A fire lit in his eye as he continued his previous topic.
“And so, beloved cousin, Bhaal has spoken. The world and its inhabitants are to be divided into three. We two have been chosen to lead Chimera to greatness, or ruination as the gods will. Shining, shimmering Eclipse to lead the righteous to whatever bright end awaits them, and dark and devious Kindred to delight in the blood of innocents as has ever been their wont.”
Brute, the ever unscarred Champion of Chimera laughed at that. “And so our path is to what? Police the balance? Domination? What is our ultimate goal, coz?”
Asmodeus replied with a grin, “Our own self interest of course.”
They shared a laugh at that, as Asmodeus continued.
“Beyond our own coffers enriched, which will take a bit of time, this castle needs its defenses upgraded posthaste. To aid in that we will have to begin a recruitment drive cousin. Draft a proclamation, ‘The many headed Chimera seeks all those who would forsake the eternal battle of good and evil for a better future for all of Salvation. Strength through unity, harmony through struggle. Etcera, etcera.’ That should do for now I would think.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the horizon. “There is something else. A storm is coming, coz. Evil beyond that of Kindred’s petty murdering or the rigid and stifling rules of Eclipse. Mephistopheles and his legions are coming. And if we do not unify this world, we will end as surely as the worlds of Redemption and Salvation-that were. You know, in the far flung past, I have been the champion of Kindred, and the righteous leader of Eclipse both?”
Brute nodded. In truth he wondered why they were not in one or the other now.
“Then you know that in either role, much blood was spilt, many lives were lost. As leader of Eclipse I brought death to all who would not bow before the righteousness of our cause. This saved the world, for a time. And yet in that tyranny, chaos was born and all was lost. As champion of Kindred I strove to bring the darkness of men’s souls to the fore, to join the brotherhood, and slay all who would deny our bid for supremacy. And yet in that, eventually failure won out as well. In previous lives I have walked with legends and Gods, killed and been killed by both. And yet Chimera, and its goal of the balance over all seems to ring truest to me now.” His hand waved dismissively, “That slithering and spitting Prophet, those four pretenders at the bottom of the sea, even that mutant dragon who hates magic, all of them, they are nothing to the overall scheme. Dust. But Mephisto will burn this world and turn our souls to dust, should we fail. Unity, in the face of annihilation.”
Brute nodded. “And should the chaste or the murderous attack us?”
“Then kill them. Yet today’s enemy may well be tomorrow’s ally. Resurrect them after, and take no offense should they manage to kill you unawares. Let it rest there. Should they continue in belligerence then we shall look to their opposites to aid in vengeance. But peace should be our general watchword for the nonce.”
Brute feathered the hilt of his blade as a bumbling guard crossed into the room. The guard bowed dimly, and backed away slowly as the champion bared his teeth at him. He shook his head at the guard’s cowardice. “We’ll be needing new guards as well.”
“All in due time. There is another matter I wish to discuss.” Asmodeus spun his hands slowly and began to mutter an incantation. A vortex of particles and latent magic began to whirl about in the air. “Bhaal indicated we two would need the assistance of another in administering our great cause. And so I have reached through the veil of time, and plucked one who was of great assistance in the past.” The magic swirled into a small maelstrom in front of the duo. A figure, blurred at first, slowly began to coalesce in the spellstorm hanging in the air. Long hair drifted in the aether, as Brute smiled in recognition.
“And so we are three?”
“And so we are.”
Asmodeus, first of his name, and honored of Bhaal himself, glanced at his champion. A fire lit in his eye as he continued his previous topic.
“And so, beloved cousin, Bhaal has spoken. The world and its inhabitants are to be divided into three. We two have been chosen to lead Chimera to greatness, or ruination as the gods will. Shining, shimmering Eclipse to lead the righteous to whatever bright end awaits them, and dark and devious Kindred to delight in the blood of innocents as has ever been their wont.”
Brute, the ever unscarred Champion of Chimera laughed at that. “And so our path is to what? Police the balance? Domination? What is our ultimate goal, coz?”
Asmodeus replied with a grin, “Our own self interest of course.”
They shared a laugh at that, as Asmodeus continued.
“Beyond our own coffers enriched, which will take a bit of time, this castle needs its defenses upgraded posthaste. To aid in that we will have to begin a recruitment drive cousin. Draft a proclamation, ‘The many headed Chimera seeks all those who would forsake the eternal battle of good and evil for a better future for all of Salvation. Strength through unity, harmony through struggle. Etcera, etcera.’ That should do for now I would think.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the horizon. “There is something else. A storm is coming, coz. Evil beyond that of Kindred’s petty murdering or the rigid and stifling rules of Eclipse. Mephistopheles and his legions are coming. And if we do not unify this world, we will end as surely as the worlds of Redemption and Salvation-that were. You know, in the far flung past, I have been the champion of Kindred, and the righteous leader of Eclipse both?”
Brute nodded. In truth he wondered why they were not in one or the other now.
“Then you know that in either role, much blood was spilt, many lives were lost. As leader of Eclipse I brought death to all who would not bow before the righteousness of our cause. This saved the world, for a time. And yet in that tyranny, chaos was born and all was lost. As champion of Kindred I strove to bring the darkness of men’s souls to the fore, to join the brotherhood, and slay all who would deny our bid for supremacy. And yet in that, eventually failure won out as well. In previous lives I have walked with legends and Gods, killed and been killed by both. And yet Chimera, and its goal of the balance over all seems to ring truest to me now.” His hand waved dismissively, “That slithering and spitting Prophet, those four pretenders at the bottom of the sea, even that mutant dragon who hates magic, all of them, they are nothing to the overall scheme. Dust. But Mephisto will burn this world and turn our souls to dust, should we fail. Unity, in the face of annihilation.”
Brute nodded. “And should the chaste or the murderous attack us?”
“Then kill them. Yet today’s enemy may well be tomorrow’s ally. Resurrect them after, and take no offense should they manage to kill you unawares. Let it rest there. Should they continue in belligerence then we shall look to their opposites to aid in vengeance. But peace should be our general watchword for the nonce.”
Brute feathered the hilt of his blade as a bumbling guard crossed into the room. The guard bowed dimly, and backed away slowly as the champion bared his teeth at him. He shook his head at the guard’s cowardice. “We’ll be needing new guards as well.”
“All in due time. There is another matter I wish to discuss.” Asmodeus spun his hands slowly and began to mutter an incantation. A vortex of particles and latent magic began to whirl about in the air. “Bhaal indicated we two would need the assistance of another in administering our great cause. And so I have reached through the veil of time, and plucked one who was of great assistance in the past.” The magic swirled into a small maelstrom in front of the duo. A figure, blurred at first, slowly began to coalesce in the spellstorm hanging in the air. Long hair drifted in the aether, as Brute smiled in recognition.
“And so we are three?”
“And so we are.”
