Events post #333: The Second War of Night, Part XXV: Strength in Slaughter

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9/10/2022 at 5:43
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The Second War of Night, Part XXV: Strength in Slaughter

After lengthy and often exasperating sojourns into the heart of Corrupt Chaos (we are reliably informed that Lord Rijetta Alhazrad continues her search for the perfect mirror), securing promises for future armies in the battle against Ohlsana, the Carnifex were surprised to be summoned to the Iron Redoubt by Bamathis for an unexpected meeting. Intrigued by the power of ego displayed by Siphelia, the Warlord informed those present that He had spent some time musing on whether this newfound method of exerting might could be harnessed.

For some time He discussed the possibilities that such a power could hold, and the concept of shaping reality to one's whims solely by sheer force of will. Having devised a crude and primitive method of the self-same 'egotism' displayed by the Chaos Lords, Bamathis instructed the Carnifex on its use and bid them to practice diligently in order to maximise their strength of will. Before He departed, the Warlord made mention of information He had received from the Spymaster as to the plans of General Sanaz, promising to say more when they were sufficiently trained.

Most took to the task with aplomb, with Tina in particular rapidly advancing her skills. As news spread through the Guild of this new development, the rest of the Carnifex soon joined in, each testing their mental strength against the denizens of Corrupt Chaos. While most had modest ambitions at best, Whirran, Rijetta, and Mjoll aimed high. Though it took hundreds of defeats, Whirran claimed the first victory over Empress Xa'azamit herself, with Rijetta and Mjoll - the latter in particular not only taking the fewest attempts by far but also taking on the Empress prior to any of the other lords - following soon after.

Midway through the 11th day of Haernos, after several weeks of practice, Bamathis, carrying word from the Spymaster, called the Carnifex to muster in the courtyard of His fortress near the remnants of Yggdrasil.

Mjoll, Markos, Xenia, Whirran, Galilei, Orhm, Taj, Tetchta, Ehtias, Tina, Rijetta, Akarn, Elene, Mazzion, and Gundor soon gathered, and the Warlord explained the situation. Having unearthed evidence of an attack on the Shadow Keep by General Sanaz, Bamathis went on to detail the Shadow's interest in the master soulstone, theorising that Iosyne must have somehow caught wind of the attack Herself and intervened with Her own heart.

Sanaz, so said Bamathis, had created a pocket realm in the Prime Plane upon her arrival, an infernal hellscape known only as Perdition. Within, countless unfortunate victims had found their deaths at the hands of her questioner, Lieutenant Damendar, and now roamed as tortured souls through its fell halls. The Carnifex were to invade this realm of Perdition and, using their newfound powers of ego and will, wrest it from Sanaz's control into their own. As Whirran passed out silvergrit (allegedly a holy sacrament of the Lord Strife, though this has not been independently confirmed), the Warlord opened a silver gateway, and the Carnifex boldly stepped through, ready to face hellfire and damnation and anything else that may lay in wait.

With manifest brutality and determination, they fanned out through the infernal realm, mercilessly cutting down roaming roves of hellfire and soulflames in the process. Tortured souls fell, with some finding themselves broken by such raw strength and subjugated to the whims of the Carnifex. Ego pressed in all around, and the voice of the Shadow Lieutenant Damendar called out in defiant jeers and boastful declarations. The slaughter went on, heedless of the rakshasa's claims.

Scouring every corner of the realm, the power of ego manifested all around, wrenching free the ties to General Sanaz in favour of the Carnifex's claim. Like dominoes the grounds of Perdition fell in line, the cries of anguish ringing out beside searing pillars of grey-black fire threatening to devour all within reach. Having successfully dominated everything in their sights, the Carnifex came across a snaking passage barred by a series of massive metal doors.

These, of course, proved of little obstacle to the hardened Carnifex. Throwing themselves at it with shoulder, head, legs, and fists as weapons, they laid a brutal siege to each and every doorway, the resolve of Damendar shrinking away with each advancement they made. Though many fell to the blistering hellfire surrounding them on all sides, they rose again, more hard-headed than ever before, and continued launching their own bodies against that which stood in their way.

Roused to terrible anger when at last the final barrier fell, Damendar surged into battle against the invaders, barraging them with lances of flame and demonic energies, and even filling their hearts with contempt for their own allies. Battling through the confusion, the Carnifex threw all their strength at the rakshasa, a furore of blades and magic brought to bear against a truly detestable foe. Its shrieks of defiance punctuated the air, but it soon realised its situation.

As hellish fire poured out of the Warlord's gateway, alerting the world to the conquest of the Carnifex, Damendar fled into the Prime Material, hoping to find sanctuary with Sanaz. From her concealed commandpost somewhere in the south, the General made known her ire in the form of hissing shrieks and the Naga, enraged by Damendar's cowardly reatreat from Perdition, immediately redeployed the rakshasa back to the field.

Shadow and soulflame boiled up around the Yggdrasian hollow, tendrils of animate darkness set ablaze and becoming the monstrous form of the Lieutenant. Dozens flocked to see the demon brought down, adventurers from all of Sapience's city states coming together as a group of some thirty five determined warriors. Many fell to flame and damnation, but Damendar, already weakened, barely found itself able to withstand the assault. As it weakened and grew near death, the Carnifex once again exerted their will, binding the Shadowbound rakshasa to the Guild's will. Enwrapped in argent essence by the Warlord, Bamathis forcibly dragged the captive back to the Iron Redoubt, urging the rest of the Carnifex to follow.

There, they put Damendar to the question, carving at its flesh, severing its fingers, and issuing blow after blow from fist, weapon, and boot, along with the butcher's hook of Wraithlord Gruxmal cutting into its back. Though it utterly refused to give up the location of Sanaz, a decisive punch from the Warlord's own fist sundered its face, the silver essence of Strife restoring it so that Bamathis could land another strike. Under assault and interrogation on all sides, it finally gave up the secrets to Perdition, and Bamathis assured them there would be time to pry more from its mouth in future. Forced into service as slave and tutor both, Damendar parted with the arcane and esoteric knowledge of hellfire, and the Carnifex, bolstered by ego and demonstrating their strength, took up the skills of the Ravager, cruel brawlers anointed in a crucible of carnage.

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 12th of Haernos, in the year 504 MA.