Apostles of Doom

Reggie frowned at him. “Well, that too, but since you guys said you built it, I didn’t want to imply doubt.”

Phaestus laughed. “Both took tremendous resources and thousands of years. However, it was Tartarus that provided the resources.”

“What do you mean?” Talarius asked the god.

Phaestus grinned. “It took a lot of mana, a lot of technology, lots of money and lots of labor. The building and then operation of Tartarus is how we got those resources. We did presentations before various deities and got them to back us in the construction of Tartarus. And, of course, we charge per prisoner. With all of this, we had the resources to eventually build everything here.”

“I was wondering about that. Given how resource constrained the Abyss is, and how much more sophisticated Doom appears compared to the Courts, I was curious as to how Orcus and you guys managed all of this.” Tom said.

“I wouldn’t take the sophistication or complexity of the Courts at face value. The underlying infrastructure is very impressive and sophisticated. It appears the way it does for a purpose and it’s all carefully crafted,” Antefalken said. “As are its defenses.”

“Indeed,” Phaestus agreed.

Murgatroy

Vaselle groaned as a loud pounding came at the door. He was pretty sure some demon was trying to crawl out of his skull. That nasty ale left one horrible hangover!

“Are you expecting anyone?” Damien asked, looking up in surprise from his book.

Vaselle tried to shake his head no, but it hurt way too much. “No.”

“Wizard Vaselle, open the door. I am looking for Edwyrd!” A young woman’s voice came from the other side of the door.

Damien rolled his eyes and then stared at Vaselle. “What did you say to people in the bar?” the inquisitor asked.

Vaselle grimaced, trying to remember.

“That’s Jenn, Gastropé’s companion,” Damien said. “She can’t find me here. I am going to teleport back to yesterday’s campsite. Come get me when you get rid of her.”

Damien stood, closing his book and putting it in a large pocket. He quickly whispered the verbal components while gesturing the semantic components of the Teleport spell, and vanished in a brilliant flash of light.

“What was that light?” Jenn’s voice yelled through the door. “Did you just teleport out of there?”

Vaselle groaned and said, “Give me a bit, I’m coming! I don’t feel well.” He got out of bed and made his way to the door, an incredibly distant four feet, and opened it. Gastropé, Zed and a young woman dressed as a thaumaturge were standing outside the door. The woman was the one talking and knocking.

“Gastropé, Zed,” Vaselle said, nodding to them. He stared at Jenn. “I’m afraid I haven’t had the pleasure…” He squinted at them. There was way too much light in the dim hallway.

“Jenn Rean. I work for Councilors Lenamare and Trevin D’Vils of Freehold. I am looking for an animage named Edwyrd, whom Zed tells me you work for,” Jenn said, trying to peer into the room behind him.

Vaselle stepped back, gesturing for her to enter the seven-by-eight room. “As you can see, he’s not here. I haven’t seen him in several days.”

“What about Rupert?” Jenn asked.

Vaselle was not in any good condition to improvise, but he had to try. “Last I saw him, he was studying with a friend of his named Fer-Rog at Edwyrd’s home.”

Jenn stared at him as if she did not believe him. “Edwyrd’s home? What? In Eton someplace? He’s never mentioned having a home.” She turned to inspect the room, as if looking for holes in Vaselle’s story.

“No, it’s off-plane, and he just moved in a few days back.” Vaselle had to think fast. “He felt that Astlan was getting too dangerous for Rupert, what with the Rod, the Oorstemothians and all the other insanity that has been going on recently.”

“And how exactly are they plane-hopping?” Jenn demanded.

“Uhm…” Vaselle was at a loss for an answer.

The silence built, as no one had an answer. Finally Gastropé spoke up. “The demon Tom is assisting them.”

“What? That thing? What would have possessed them to summon that monster after he kidnapped that Knight and possessed all those people?” Jenn demanded.

Gastropé shrugged. “He’s still the same demon we knew.”

“Aghh!” Jenn vented raising her hands in the air. “Why is everyone around me insane!” She started to turn away and then spun back to stare at Gastropé, arching an eyebrow. “Wait! You knew this and didn’t tell me? Why would you not tell me this? You know I’ve been worried sick about Rupert!” she demanded.

Gastropé gulped and winced. “Because I knew you’d be angry that Edwyrd and Rupert were involved with the demon Tom again.”

Jenn growled, “You think? Am I like the only person who thinks that trying to utilize a greater demon, or maybe an archdemon even, as your personal stagecoach is insanely stupid?”

“Well, Tom seems like a reasonable guy,” Gastropé said.