by Jeff Inlo
Reiculf could have torn the answers he desired from Macheve's mind, but he found it more entertaining, more amusing, to question the serp, to trifle with the lesser being's minimal awareness. It was a momentary distraction for the fiend, nothing more.
"You were one of several serps. You formed a council and pooled your manipulative powers. In doing so, you gained influence over pure demons, an impressive task, but one that has earned you your fate. Explain how you managed this!"
Macheve answered robotically.
"We linked ourselves with magic. The connection allowed us to overcome our own deviousness. As individuals, we could not betray the council."
"You used magic to alter your character... to suppress your natural inclination toward deceit?"
"No, we allowed the magical link to bring our deceitful nature to the surface. Our thoughts and plans became intertwined."
"Interesting, but how were you able to combine your manipulative talents?"
"Through the same link."
The demon master's blazing pale eyes probed deeper into the serp, and Reiculf's patience for the game dwindled.
"I know you cannot lie to me, but your answer is deficient. Magical connections are limited. I have such a link with you now. I can command you, but I cannot pass my influence through you. Otherwise, I would have the window I crave to cast my will upon every realm through which you could pass."
Macheve no longer felt overwhelming fear in responding to the demon tyrant. The monster still terrified her, but a growing yearning overcame the dread. While she could still experience pain, and the anguish that went with it, she had become a slave to the master, and as such, she answered with a willingness to please Reiculf.
"It was not a connection born of a magical spell. We each took a slice of pure magic from the core of a single spell caster. We absorbed that magic and became linked. Even as the magic existed in separate entities, it remained bound to its original source. Through the spell caster, the members of the council shared both thoughts and ambitions, but we could also combine our abilities."
Magic was not foreign to the daokiln, but the concept of binding individuals through core slices as opposed to the workings of a spell was unique and surprising.
"A slice of pure magic? Serps joined by congruent magic taken from another's core? Who thought of this?"
"A spell caster named Ansas. He developed the means."
"And where is this Ansas now?"
"He was defeated and taken by the slink ghoul, Baannat."
The tyrant was also well aware of Baannat. Reiculf did not view the ghoul as a threat, but more of an anomaly. The daokiln admitted as much as the entire incident appeared to take on even greater significance.
"I have studied Baannat," the monster admitted. "He is no longer simply a slink ghoul. He has transformed into a being of dual states. He is trapped in a new realm of nonexistence where his influence is restricted. Still, he manages to reach out into physical realms with limited power. His ability was aided by the transformation of his being. Even though I wish to reach into the physical worlds, I am not willing to alter what I am."
Reiculf considered the facets of Macheve's explanation as he peered into the very history of the serp's existence. He knew the loathsome creature could not lie in his presence, but certain inconsistencies remained in her account.
"There is no connection between your council of serps and Baannat," the monster hissed. "And as for the sorcerer, your council formed after Ansas was defeated and taken hostage. With Ansas trapped in Baannat's realm, how did you obtain the knowledge necessary to take magical slices from a spell caster's core?"
"Ansas left detailed notes on many discoveries. We also used a spell caster that had once received a slice of Ansas' own magical core. His name is Neltus. That made the process easier since Neltus was already versed in the process. Based on what we learned from the notes and the spell caster's previous experience, we managed to determine the correct procedure. Every member of the council received a slice of core magic. We were tied together in many ways, ways that allowed us to combine our magical abilities. We were even able to keep track of Enin, the wizard from Connel, through an indirect link."
"Indirect?" the daokiln hissed.
"We did not receive any portion of Enin's magic, but we maneuvered Enin into a difficult position. We forced him to give a portion of his energy to Neltus. It allowed us to keep the wizard in check, at least for a while."
Even in Demonspawn, Reiculf was aware of Enin. The wizard who could cast pure white magic in two perfect circles was one of the most powerful spell casters to shape the history of Uton. Enin, however, meant nothing to the daokiln. Reiculf's energy encompassed an entire dimension of hate and agony, and every wicked flame pulsated through his essence. His magic was beyond that of mortals, but it had always remained trapped in Demonspawn.
The daokiln considered the past events of Uton. Twisted histories flourished in Demonspawn, and the master of the domain picked through each shred. As he began to tie specific pieces together, he took hold of the opportunity at hand.
"Were there other spell casters that received magical slices from this sorcerer... from Ansas?"
"Three others. A woman named Rivira. She is no more. An elf named Scheff Rutlan, and an infern named Gnafil."
"And these notes of Ansas, where are they?"
"Still in a study he created in the dark realm. We studied them carefully, but decided to leave them in their place of origin. It seemed the safest way to proceed. The insight was ingenious, but the concepts were focused entirely on the pure ebony magic that formed Ansas' magical core. Other than utilizing the slices of pure magic, the rest of the notes were useless."
"Useless to those without the proper understanding. I will see these notes... and you will do what is necessary to make that happen."
"Whatever you wish."
Chapter 2
Gnafil spent most of his time in Uton perfecting his spells in the rocky hills surrounding the Lacobian Desert. He had lost the slice of pure ebony magic Ansas once placed in his core, but he remained loyal to the purity of his burnt orange hue. He continued to cast spells based only in fire, but without the amplification of Ansas' black energy, his incantations were but a fraction of their previous intensity.
Despite the reduction in strength, the infern's most powerful spells could still light up the desert sky with unbelievable brilliance. He enjoyed filling the darkness of night with one firestorm after another, and the hard stone and gritty sand of the surrounding lands allowed for several castings without creating a steady burn along the ground. It was not out of a benevolent wish for safety which called for his caution, but rather a desire to remain in seclusion.
After leaving Ansas' side, Gnafil lived in isolation, a setting he preferred. While he found both purpose and distraction in mastering his craft, the half-demon understood its potential hazards. Fire was perhaps the most unpredictable of the elements, and he had no desire to create a disaster which might bring one of Uton's guardians to the grounds of his experimentation.
He could deal with overprotective algors and even a small force of elf guards, but a battle group of dwarves resistant to magic could cause him more trouble than he cared to face. And if his actions caught the attention of the powerful wizard from Connel, he would have a great deal more to worry about than a dwarf axe or mace.
No, he did not wish to face Enin, and so, it was better to stay near the rocks and away from the forest, even though he would enjoy seeing the trees burn. It was not much of a sacrifice, for he could travel great distances with ease. Spells of teleportation, as well as a vast number of portals, allowed him to move around both Uton and various realms for his other needs.
As a half-demon, the non-demonic portion of Gnafil's essence allowed him to cross into other existences as simply as if he stepped across the barren plains of the dark realm. Inferns served as the foot soldiers for their more powerful demon masters, but they also found a level of
independence when engaged in lands of a more orderly nature.
Still, Gnafil retained certain characteristics and capabilities intrinsic to most demons, and as such, he remained linked to Demonspawn. Despite his ability to move freely from one realm to another, he could not mask his presence entirely from Reiculf. With his position easily obtainable to the master of all demons, he was forced to receive an unwelcome visitor.
The serp stepped out from behind a large collection of boulders. In previous times, Macheve might have avoided the half-demon, would have at least offered the infern proper respect, but that was before she had stood in the presence of total demonic fury. Despite Gnafil's magical aptitude, Macheve found Gnafil's powers almost laughable, and she was no longer simply a serp. She was the herald for Reiculf, and she understood without doubt that Gnafil would submit to the will of the demon tyrant.
"Gnafil, your service is required," Macheve announced.
The infern barely glanced toward the serp. Initially, he gave little regard to Macheve and began to speak before comprehending the full weight of the misfortune that had just crashed upon his doorstep.
"Be gone, serp. Your manipulations are useless on..."
Gnafil stopped in mid-sentence. The demon portion of his spirit allowed him to see beyond the boundaries of Macheve's physical presence. He could not ignore the fiery essence burning within the serp.
"You serve Reiculf!" the spell caster muttered in near disbelief.
"As do you," Macheve countered. "He has orders for you."
Gnafil became submissive. He was no longer addressing an irrelevant dark creature. As difficult as it was for the half-demon to conceive, he spoke to Macheve as if Reiculf himself stood directly behind the serp. The infern might have held sway over fire, but the demon tyrant was beyond the elemental forces. All the fire of the sun could not match the force of evil within the daokiln. Gnafil replied with simple acceptance.
"What must I do?"
"You know of the quarters created by Ansas, the meeting place he established when you served the sorcerer... when you shared in his magic?"
"Yes."
"Take us there now."
The half-demon accepted the order. Gnafil knew the command came from Reiculf. He could not decline, and he did not hesitate.
The infern drew upon the basic tenets of fire, the traits that remained essential despite the realm of existence. Fire burned, and as such, it could burn a hole in two realms at once. To create a portal between two existences, Gnafil cast a spell that would scorch through the interconnected layers and create a hole for transport. The portal was erected before the serp, and they both stepped through, out of Uton and into the purely physical region of the dark realm where creatures of mayhem preyed upon each other.
Gnafil led Macheve across the barren and near lifeless grounds. He did so with a quick step and without regard to any dangers lurking in the region. He knew they would not be disturbed. They were both in the service of Reiculf, and just as Macheve's essence smoldered with a deep evil, that same malevolence began to spread across the infern's twisted soul as well.
Macheve fell in behind the half-demon as she also knew they would not be molested in a realm of monsters and fiends. Goblins ran from them. Shags and river rogues took refuge in the hollows behind rocks or at the banks of blood stained rivers. Razor crows and hook hawks soared away over high cliffs. They could sense the presence of the greatest of all evils. Even though the daokiln was bound to Demonspawn and could not physically reach beyond its borders, Reiculf's wickedness raged across the dark realm and no beast would dare oppose his will.
It had been some time since the serp had walked the grounds of her homeland. It was far brighter than she remembered. She looked to the skies, and instead of witnessing the bland gray sameness that once ruled over the entire realm, she saw twinkling dots of light across the heavens.
Stars.
Such beacons had once been totally removed from the dark regions. The land had been covered by a canopy of gray shadow. The empty sameness, however, was no more. It seemed that more than one realm had changed since the magic was set free from Ingar's sphere.
Macheve knew that Ryson Acumen once battled the sorcerer Ansas in the upper regions of the dark realm. The delver had not only won that battle, his actions brought a hint of light into a land of despair.
Macheve shrugged. The thought of the delver did little to relieve her own suffering, did not bring any hope to her future. If anything, considerations of Ryson Acumen stirred a desire for vengeance. It wasn't just the wizard of Connel responsible for her devastation, it was every individual who defeated the serp council, and that included the delver. Not wishing to dwell upon the reasons for her maligned state, she dismissed the stars as irrelevant and continued following the infern with a simple determination to carry out her master's will.
They came upon the abandoned house without incident and found the odd little building intact and untouched. Ansas might have been taken by Baannat into a realm of nonexistence, but the small structure still radiated with the sorcerer's power. The dark creatures of that region dared not venture too near, for the ebony magic that constructed Ansas' modest sanctuary continued to vibrate a warning to intruders.
Gnafil led Macheve through the front door, down a hallway and into the unassuming study. There was a simple desk and chair in the center of the room, but it was the shelves which covered the walls that gained Macheve's attention. Ansas' notes remained undisturbed, piled along every available surface.
The serp plucked a stack of papers and quickly perused the contents. She felt a great wave of relief as she knew she would meet her master's expectations.
"We are to gather all of these notes and bring them to Reiculf."
For the first time, Gnafil faltered.
"I can not return to Demonspawn! Even as a half-demon, I am barred from entering. The breeding grounds have always been separated, always kept beyond the veil. To pass through the barren edges of the dark realm and into Demonspawn would mean the end of my existence."
"Do not be so dramatic," the serp admonished the infern. "Reiculf demands your presence. You will be spared."
Despite the reassurance, Gnafil remained frozen. Demons were bred in Demonspawn and they could stay indefinitely, but once they ventured out into pure physical existence, even into such places as the dark realm, they could not return. Full demons were more restricted in their ability to move from one dimension to another, but even half-demons were forever barred from returning to the inner reaches of Reiculf's sanctuary.
Macheve could not help but notice the infern's reluctance to move.
"Would you rather reject the wishes of Reiculf?" the serp inquired.
"Couldn't you take the notes to the master?"
"Are you trying to make a deal with me... or Reiculf?"
Answering the question was like hoping to catch a massive boulder dropped from a high cliff. It was beyond foolish to bargain with the daokiln.
"I do not wish to make a deal with anyone."
"Then you best decide whether you will accept Reiculf's instructions or refuse them."
There was no choice to be made and Gnafil began gathering up many of the notes.
"Very good," Macheve complimented, and when they had collected all of the parchments from the shelves, she led the infern back outside.
She, just as the other dark creatures, could sense the strong pulse of Ansas' magic within the very walls of the structure. She knew it served as a warning to keep mischievous goblins and other more dangerous beasts clear of Ansas' study. She didn't want the energy to interfere with her next request.
"Teleport us to the inner regions of Demonspawn. Reiculf will summon us when he is ready."
Teleporting was not quite an accurate term. Reaching Demonspawn within the dark realm was similar to swimming through a stream of thick muck only to dive into an ocean of sewage. The demon breeding grounds existed within its own separate layer. It was a part of the dark lands, b
ut it was not bound by conceptual space. Its borders were more like invisible curtains that always lingered far in the distance. They could not be seen or touched, but they were there nonetheless.
To pass into Demonspawn required a deliberate decision to open a passage, to break a seal and venture forward by the will of spirit as opposed to physical motion. One did not simply walk across shadowed grounds to gain entrance into Demonspawn, but rather dove spiritually downward into the abyss.
The breeding grounds themselves were also layered. The center was, of course, dominated by Reiculf, but each surrounding ring represented a step further away or closer to total damnation. Demons moved back and forth from the outer edges to the more internal regions as if tempting annihilation or searching for temporary refuge.
Pure demons could not leave completely without breaking a covenant which allowed for their creation, but they could move through dimensional gaps that tied various planes together in universal existence. As long as they never completely broke the barrier between existences, they could peer into almost any realm. They could dance at the edges of other worlds, wait near the borders to capture unwitting souls without direction, and hope to appease their master by spreading the iniquity which was the very essence of Demonspawn.
To enter the region, Gnafil crafted a spell that mimicked teleportation, but it was more of a spiritual alternative. He used his magic to reach into both his and Macheve's consciousness, to validate their willingness to venture down a dark and twisted path. With their desire to journey into the void confirmed, the infern reached into the very shadows of the dark realm and opened a rift that enveloped them.
There was pain upon entry, and both Macheve and Gnafil shrieked as they broke through the veil that separated the dark realm from Reiculf's domain. They stepped through gray shadows into the interior of Demonspawn. They stood well beyond the outer regions, but not too close to the nightmare's heart to challenge the daokiln's dominance.
