Into The Abyss (Demons of Astlan) (25 page)

Jehenna’s brow furrowed. “
It is entirely possible, there was certainly enough fire for it to build its own gateway."

"Shit, if  it's in Astlan, there isn't a hell of a lot that we can do to get it here, unless we find out where exactly it's at.  If I knew that, I could force it to come to me
..."

"But," she finished, "we don't know where it is."

"It could have gone anywhere in the world, after leaving the battle.  Goddess rot in the Abyss!"  Lenamare shouted in frustration.

"So, what do we do next?" Jehenna asked.

"We think; we think and plan.  We also keep trying to summon the damn demon."

"We also have to present our case before the guild in three days."

"I know, I know.  I'd just prefer to know exactly where we stand with that damn book before facing Exador in court."

Classification of Demons

Curriculum Obtestatus: College of Wizardry

University of the Council States

Demons are generally classified in six different categories. These categories are roughly based on the relative power and strength of the demons. The lower the classification level, the lower the power and consequently the more common the demon. One important thing to keep in mind is that all demons are unique and the following is only a rough guideline.

Class I: Imps, Sprites and Shadows.

These are certainly the most common of demons. Most are smaller than man size. Most are wingless without the power of flight, althou
gh some can teleport. Imps are generally the only class I demons to have any wings and usually look something like small gargoyles with wings. Sprites generally are the most human appearing of all demons and often appear nearly completely human except for their perfectly proportioned miniature stature, 1' to 3' high, and the fact that most are red skinned. Some Sprites even wear clothes occasionally. Shadows do not appear humanoid at all and in fact have the least physical form of all. Shadows appear simply as impenetrably dark regions in corners and dimly lit regions.

Class II
:  Fiends

Fiends a
re more powerful demons and range in size from dwarven up to man-size. Some Class II demons have extremely bizarre forms with multiple sets of arms and legs, occasionally with humming-bird type wings rather than the more traditional bat-like wings. Appearance of these demons, despite often being man sized, is often the least man like of all the demons.  Fiends are relatively common in wizardly circles.

Class III
: Major Demons

Major D
emons range in size from just under man sized to slightly larger than man sized (5' to 7' tall). While often appearing somewhat more human than Class II they usually have bat-like wings, horns (like almost all demons), red, scaly skin, perhaps a tail, and usually cloven hooves. Succubi and Incubi are generally examples of Class III that look very human except for small exotic differences such as small horns and maybe red skin color or other similar small but noticeable difference.  Class III demons are typically the most powerful demons summoned for any but the direst of uses. Often summoned to fight in wars or battles they are usually only seen in small number and usually not on lesser errands.

Class IV: Greater Demons

Greater
Demons are truly horrific in the terror they inspire. They are rarely seen on the planes of men and are always sources of dread and fear. Only the bravest and strongest of Conjurers would summon Class IV demons. Class IV demons are the epitome of the demonic nightmare. Generally around 11' tall or larger, with goat legs and cloven hooves, two or three times the size of those of a large bull.

Those which have wings (and almost all the sighted ones have them) have wings spans on the order of 20'. In addition to their absolutely unbelievable fighting prowess, they are also powerful wielders of magical energy, and can be expected to toss lightning bolts and fireballs around with glee.

Class V: Arch-Demons

Arch-Demons
have not been openly seen on the planes of men for nearly a thousand years. If any wizard knows the name of a class V demon, it surely must be one of the most closely guarded secrets in existence. Only the greatest wizards from ancient times were capable of summoning these dread beings, and even they did so with the greatest of trepidation. Since so few have been seen, little is known of what these beings look like, other than they surely must be horrors beyond description.

Class VI: 
Demon Princes

Demon Princes
have never been known to have been seen on the planes of men. They have only been described to wizards as the absolute rulers of the Abyss. The other demons hold these unspeakable beings in such fear and dread that not even the gravest of tortures and punishments has ever induced any demon to divulge the name of a class VI demon.

A few unlucky beings in the last three millennia have reportedly managed, or been allowed to escape from unexpected visits to the Abyss where some have reported seeing the Unimaginably Hellish Palaces of these beings. The one or two who rumor states actually managed to see a Demon Prince were forever
-after irrevocably insane. The power of such beings is incalculable but surely nearly rival to the lesser gods.

It is believed that the primary reason that no Demon Princes travel to the planes of men is that their manifestation requires so much mana that the resultant disruption would alert the god
s and their avatars.  Such an alert would likely trigger confrontations that would not be beneficial to any parties.

It had been a tense ride
.  Gastropé wasn't looking forward to his upcoming interview.  Exador wasn't known for patience with people who failed him.  Gastropé’s only hope was to try and convince the wizard that he, Gastropé, had not failed in his part and had been in fact continuing to do his job.  Not that he thought he had an incredible chance of success, but it was all he had.

The carpet
finally came over the edge of the forest in sight of the school, or what should have been the school.  Gastropé had to look twice.  The force dome was gone, as was the school.  In fact, as the carpet zoomed in closer and closer, it became apparent that there wasn't much of anything left.  Where the school had been was a giant crater, or almost a crater.  It would have been a big round crater with a diameter of about a twenty minute horse ride, except for the far side, where a peninsula of normal plain jutted into the crater. 

Within the crater, there was nothing
. It looked like a barren grayish desert from the carpet's altitude.  The peninsula had Exador's army camped upon it.  But not the same army Gastropé had last seen.  The army camped on the peninsula was literally the part of the army that had been camped on that piece of ground.  The edges of the peninsula looked as if they'd been subjected to a great destructive fire.  The center of the peninsula looked unharmed, physically.  It did, however, look like a giant hospital zone though.  What could have caused this sort of destruction?

It must have been,
Gastropé thought, that brilliant flash of light and windstorm he'd noticed at sunset.  He hadn't paid it a whole lot of attention because he'd still been in shock from his encounter with the demon. 
At least,
Gastropé thought,
I'm not the only one who's failed to succeed.
  The problem was that it was Exador's failure.  Gastropé had a bad feeling that any of Exador's own failures would simply cause him to look even more harshly at others'.  Thus it was with great trepidation on Gastrope's part that the carpet landed with him and his two escorts. 

They led him, one in front, the other in back
, through the tents of wounded and apparently sick people to a man in a major's uniform.  "We found this guy, one Gastropé, wizard in our lord's service, on the mountain pass to Freehold.  Apparently the only one of our people to survive an ambush, laid by us, on a refugee wagon train."

The major looked
Gastropé over hard and finally said, "Very well, hold him here. His Excellency will probably want to see him shortly."  With that the man turned and went off to a large tent about four hundred feet away.  Obviously the tent was Exador's current headquarters.

It took several minutes, but eventually the major returned.  "Bring him in."  He motioned for
Gastropé's escort to follow.  Gastropé quickly began rehearsing the story he'd prepared on the few hours journey from where he'd been picked up.

As the major reached the tent, a guard standing beside it opened a flap for the major to enter.  The major ducked and went in. 
Gastropé's lead escort glanced back to make sure he was following and then went in himself.  Gastrope' bowed his head and entered the tent of Exador, a slight prayer on his lips.

His eyes had to adjust to the dark
interior of the tent.  He stood for a few moments getting his bearings, and had to be pushed forward by the soldier following him.  The tent was lit by four glowing yellow globes suspended from the roof in each corner of the tent.  The floor was covered in thick rich red Argonil Furs.  At the far end of the tent was a large throne, positioned atop a raised platform and between two large glowing braziers.

On the throne, leaning back in a slouched position was Exador.  His right hand hanging over the edge of the throne and resting on the top of his famous war
helm.  The large helm was on the floor beside the throne. Exador's fingers were rhythmically tapping out a small beat of impatience.  He was looking straight at Gastropé; his facial expression was that of studied nonchalance, but his eyes seemed to bore right into the depths of Gastrope's frightened soul.

"What is your excuse?" Exador stated, rather than questioned, coming straight to the point.

Gastropé gulped, audibly, and stammered, "Um, gracious lord, we...ah . . we did everything as you ordered, just like you instructed.  We, uhm, we laid ambush along all the possible routes of exit and waited.  We really didn't think it likely they'd come our way, but, but they did.  So, we ambushed them, they had no warning.  At first it went well, the fireballs took out several wagons.  But..."

"But you failed me anyway," Exador inserted impatiently, "why?"

"Lord they apparently had loaded this caravan with all of their most powerful wizards, suddenly lighting began to fall amongst our men, and then one of their lead wizards caused the very plants around me to rise up and halt my spells. They tried to strangle me, naturally I used counter measures, but the enemy wizard was too strong, at first.  Eventually I broke free, but by this time it was too late...I...stepped out into sight to get a better view, and lord..." Gastropé's face was pale with remembrance of the frightful scene.

"Spit it out already
...what did you see!"

"Lord, all
of our people...dead, horribly dead.  Apparently Lenamare was with them, or something, they, somehow, in the heat of battle...well I don't know for sure...but..."

"But what
?...you are really beginning to try my patience."  Exador said testily.

Gastropé
gathered himself together to make the unbelievable statement.  "M'lord somehow they summoned an archdemon...at least fifth order or so, perhaps a demon prince...I don't know how...all I know, is that I had to once again use all of my power and knowledge to escape it relatively unharmed,"  Gastropé finished.

Gastropé
fidgeted nervously as Exador just stared at him thoughtfully. The room was silent, Exador had stopped tapping on his helmet and simply stared through Gastropé.  It really made the young wizard nervous, it was as if Exador had temporarily decided he didn't exist.

Eventually, Exador's eyes came back into focus, and he looked at
Gastropé himself for a moment then looked around at his men.  "Possible, unlikely but possible, they do have that type four running around, it could have been that."  He looked at Gastropé, "Not a demon prince, or even an archdemon, you never would have escaped, I don't even see how you could have escaped from a type four.  That, I find suspicious..."

Gastrope turned even whiter, "M'lord I swear," he fell to his knees, "all that I've told you is true, I escaped using my skills and magic, it was all I could do, but I did."  He really didn't like the tone of Exador's voice.

Exador stared a moment longer, as if assessing Gastrope's sincerity, then said, "Be that as it may, you've still failed me.  I reward those who succeed, those who fail..."

"Please lord, there was nothing we could do
...no normal mortal can stand up to a demon of that power, and I honestly admit that I'm not a good enough wizard to defeat one in combat...what could I have done to change things?"  Tears were starting to come to Gastropé's eyes.

Exador just looked at him sourly, "
Take him to the prisoner tent; it’s empty at the moment. I'll decide what he'll be...later."

The guards moved in and picked up Gastrope.  He was too scared to protest; Exador's words
...
what he'll be
...frightened him.  He might be a corpse; he might be a mindless slave; he might be a frog; he might be a toadstool; he might be anything.  Exador was notorious for his nasty shape change spells, and for killing people that failed him; there were just too many possibilities--all of them bad.

~

As Gastropé was carried out, Exador turned to one of his higher ranking aides, "Send out a sufficient number of three's to try to intercept the remainder of that party, and bring them back here. Then hold them for me till I get back."

"Back?  M'lord?" the aid asked.

"Back.  Apparently Lenamare has somehow made it to Freehold and is petitioning against me, for invading his lands.  I've got to go keep an eye on him, if he spills too much, all of my plans could be in jeopardy."  The aide nodded sagely in agreement.  Without saying anything more Exador stood up from his throne, and surveyed his tent.  Satisfied that his lieutenants could probably manage what little was left of his army while he was away; he raised his hand in a casual gesture, making a few arcane gestures for show, and vanished.