Lionel’s breath was hot behind his porcelain mask. He actually hated wearing the damned thing but wasn’t about to voice that opinion now. The leader insisted that his four generals wear them, and Lionel had to admit that the look was intimidating. If the rest of the followers knew how uncomfortable he was under the mask they’d laugh him out of the cave, though.
Well, they’d quickly stop laughing after seeing his new abilities. Lionel stood a little taller thinking of his newly given power and how invincible he felt. Inside the tower he could do nearly anything he wanted. There was a limit to his control, of course, but the leader said it would improve as he grew stronger, similar to how a Climber advances throughout the tiers. He just needed to be patient as their plan continued.
Whatever. Lionel had no interest in these supposed schemes the leader was coming up with. After gifting him power he showed his true colors. He saw them all as pawns in a bigger game, even if Lionel agreed with the cause. The truth was evident. But the man at the top felt… false. Not like the god Aliyar they served.
But it didn’t matter. Lionel had power, and that was all he cared about right now.
“What happened in there?” A muffled voice asked.
Lionel turned to his side to see the masked woman, Yara, beside him. Knowing the woman underneath was a pushover made Lionel’s previous hesitation about her vanish.
Not fear, of course. He was never afraid. Not of her or anyone.
“Seems like The Betrayer wanted to finish his mistake,” another voice said. This one was more masculine, though not by much. Marion never felt like a true warrior to Lionel. He was fast and deadly, sure, but speed only got you so far. Strength was the true measurement of power.
“I only wanted to show them that trying to interfere would be suicide,” Lionel said. Despite his feelings towards their group he knew he still had to choose his words carefully. He made that mistake one too many times already.
“And how did that work out?” Marion asked.
Lionel couldn’t see past the man’s porcelain mask but knew there was a deviously sly smile plastered on his face. The damned fool loved being a prick and sticking his nose where it didn’t belong even more.
“Enough,” a fourth voice said. It came from the woman who Lionel respected the most, even more than the leader. He was powerful, of course, but too much of a schemer. She was fierce and direct, and Lionel decided early on she was the person he wanted to grow alongside the most.
The leader walked into the cavernous room and flippantly waved to the four masked people to follow. He sat on his gaudy throne and had them surround him so the rest of the followers couldn’t see.
“Come, generals, and provide me counsel. Where do we stand in your missions? Betrayer, you first.”
“The portal was a success,” Lionel said. “I could easily travel within the first tier of the tower freely.”
“Alistair. That is her name and you’ll refer to her as such.”
Lionel bowed his head slightly but scrunched his face in annoyance under his mask.
“But that is good,” the leader continued. “We should have access to higher tiers soon. Slayer, what is your progress on that front?”
“Unfortunately the same as before, my Lord,” Marion said. “The second and third tier groups are much harder to influence and manage. It will take time.”
The seated man made a pained face and balled his fist. “Our plans are in motion and time is precious. We must continue to press on. What do you need?”
“People. Fodder, mostly, but enough to weaken their groups so we can clean up.”
The leader nodded his head in agreement. “Good. Now -”
The leader was cut off as a rumble reverberated through the cavern. The four generals looked at each entrance quickly, unsure of what would cause such a quake. The other followers in the cavern acted more irrationally as a few cries of fear filled the air.
“What’s going on?” Lionel asked.
“I don’t know,” Yara said. “This has never happened here before.”
The leader stood at his altar and immediately whirled around and knelt, posturing before them. It was a strange sight seeing their leader bow in submission, only adding to confusion in the room.
Another shaking of the cavern came, more intense and longer as Lionel had to try and keep himself steady on his feet. Several of the people standing around fell to the ground, unable to keep their balance. The candle and torch lights around the room flickered from the shaking, causing the room to fall in shifting shadows. Then a sharp crack resounded like stone being split, and several more gasps came from the crowd.
Standing at the top of the altar above the leader was a strange looking figure, and the first thing Lionel noticed was that it was taller than any humanoid he’d seen, at least nine feet tall. It resembled a snake or lizard mixed with a human, with a scaly hide, rounded snout on its face, and slitted yellow eyes that seemed to fall over everyone all at the same time. It wore a suit of ornate black leather armor that radiated magic and held a twisted black staff in one hand.
The pressure emanating from the being struck Lionel the most. It was hard to stand up straight being so close to it, let alone look directly at it. Lionel felt nauseated just from the brief seconds he dared to look, and immediately began to step backwards to distance himself from it. Apparently the others felt the same as the only one not leaving its presence was their leader.
The room fell silent for a few moments. What in the hells was this creature?
Their leader, kneeling at the creature’s feet, abruptly turned back to the crowd and swept his arm across them. “Kneel, you fools!”
The crowd all varied with their reactions. Most knelt though not all at once - some looked around at each other in confusion, others in outright defiance. Lionel knew better than to question a being of such high power and knelt, along with the other generals beside him.
The creature sighed. “Disappointing, Zarath. Your… flock needs discipline.” Its voice was harsh and commanding, a vibrating hiss mixed with human speech.
A set of intricately green magical runes appeared in front of the creature, nothing Lionel had ever noticed before. It possessed more circles and layers than any spell he’d witnessed. Suddenly the men and women still standing began to cough and sputter as they spat our black sludge. Their bodies began to morph and change color, liquifying on the spot to piles of black goo.
Lionel felt a sickness wash over his body in a rush. Not from the deaths, but likely from whatever magic the mysterious being just used.
The room fell completely silent as no one dared to move or speak. Lionel’s heart raced. Whatever magic it cast was incredibly strong, as it both killed nearly a dozen people in seconds and targeted specific ones spread amongst the group. He didn’t even know that was possible.
The figure still stood with its arms folded as though it was unbothered. This creature was not someone to challenge. It likely could eliminate them all without much effort, and if their leader bowed to it, then it was the right move to do the same.
“Noble Avatar, you bless us with your presence,” Zarath said.
The creature turned its gaze to the leader, its body strangely unmoving. “It is not a blessing to be here today, Zarath. We must discuss certain matters that have come to our attention.”
The leader raised his head but did not stand. “We are following the Great Aliyar’s will, noble Avatar. Are we not moving fast enough?”
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The Avatar chuckled. “You mortals and your misguided goals. No, Zarath, you are mistaken.”
Zarath paused and bowed his again. “I’m sorry, I do not understand.”
“It seems as though you do not. We should speak in private.”
“Of course. If I may, my quarters are not far.”
“Very well.”
The creature followed Zarath, taking care to distance itself enough so its massively long legs and stride wouldn’t stomp out the comparably weaker leader. In fact, in Lionel’s eyes, this figure seemed to be the true leader for their cause. It was odd seeing the previously regal man humbled, though he understood. It felt like the presence of a god-like being in their midst.
Everyone waited for the two to leave before relaxing. Murmurs began to circulate through the crowd, and some started to inspect their former allies who were now piles of black sludge.
Lionel tried to survey the response from the other three generals but the damned masks covered their faces. They were as still as he was, likely shocked at whoever or whatever had just entered their secret domain. And talking to their leader as though he was nothing in their eyes did not look good for their confidence.
Lionel was sure that whatever this encounter meant did not spell good fortune for them.
*****
Zarath closed his personal chamber door behind the figure. The Avatar shrunk itself slightly so it could comfortably stand inside the room, though it was still more than a head taller than him. It searched the room and found a wooden chair sitting at a small table against the wall and pulled it out, sitting casually.
Zarath scoffed and began pacing the room. The Avatar only sat and waited.
“Avatar, what is the meaning of this?” Zarath asked. “You come unannounced and undermine me all in one fell swoop. My hard work of gathering acolytes and showing them my power was shaken just now!”
The serpent-like creature laughed. “My, my. So testy. What happened to that stoic, bullheaded Climber I met not long ago? The one that impaled me with his blade and lopped off my head, cursing my very existence?”
Zarath flinched. “That… was before I knew the truth. You know that, Avatar. Don’t be coy.”
The Avatar’s smile faded into a serious expression. “I’m here because you have been stepping out of line. Or your people have. And all of you need to be reminded of your true purpose.”
Zarath shook his head and walked to the other end of his chambers. The room was relatively small and simple, but it was all that was available for his private study. A cushioned chair sat with its back against the far wall, facing a small wooden desk in the center of the room. The desk was neat and empty of papers or decoration, as though more for staging than actual work. The chair was filled by the Avatar.
“Do you not remember how many times I killed you?” Zarath asked. “I’m far stronger now than I was even then. My power has grown considerably, as well as my understanding. I do this only for Aliyar!”
“You only killed me with the help of your team, and even then it was a struggle. You could not do so alone. And your power is only a gift by Lord Aliyar. What was given can be returned.”
Zarath’s confidence swayed. He knew she was right. But he also believed he was right in his own way.
“I saw the truth,” Zarath said. “His truth. To rid the world of evil! That his Great Tower is the only means of doing so! That’s my goal and my intent! Climbers are misguided and they need direction. They need discipline.”
The Avatar shook its serpent-like head. “No. You are mistaken.”
Zarath paused. “How can you say that?”
“Your reasoning is well-placed but your intentions are wrong. Lord Aliyar’s truth is to rid the world of evil, yes. The Great Tower was the means of doing so, yes. To challenge and guide potential heroes towards the path of gaining power to wield for those who could not wield it themselves. But do not forget that you were given a choice when you met Lord Aliyar. That choice should not, and will not, be used inappropriately. That is why I am here.”
Zarath took a few steps away from the Avatar, never averting his gaze. His mind rattled with different responses but none fit the moment. None that let him escape further ire.
“Good. Think on my words and these as well - if you or your so-called flock step out of line again, that previously given choice will be removed permanently. From all of you.”
The Avatar took its staff and spun it in the air, causing a bright flash of green and yellow light to fill Zarath’s study. He flinched and covered his eyes, and when he was finally able to see again, the Avatar was gone.
*****
The leader and creature were gone for about half an hour, which gave Lionel time to think. Did he make a mistake joining this seemingly doomed group? He received power, yes, but at what cost? When their leader showed him the great might of Aliyar and his intentions for the tower, Lionel believed him. How else could he explain his new strength? Their leader said Aliyar granted him that power when he reached the 20th floor, and that his purpose was to share that power in order for Climbers to see the truth about Alistair. That evil existed in the world, both seen and unseen, and they were to use the tower’s magic to purge it.
It made sense. Climber’s magic all came from Alistair. He had never heard of what, exactly, was the tower’s actual purpose. Only rumors. Aliyar was very much a god figure and deserved to be worshiped, not like their human leader who forced the followers to bow to him instead. If he really was serving Aliyar he lost his way some time ago.
One of the followers in the crowd suddenly threw off their cloak and laughed. It was the same man that brought Lionel to the group. Mathias. Lionel didn’t know what in the hells he was doing, though. He didn’t care nearly as much since he was an asshole, but it was definitely strange.
Mathias looked over towards the generals and paused. Lionel didn’t know what he was planning, but if he was going to attack it would be the stupidest and last thing he ever did. Instead, the bald man just winked in their direction and walked out of the cave.
“Good riddance,” Yara said, her voice pulling Lionel from his thoughts. “Anyone who abandons us now is a traitor to Aliyar’s cause. Right, Jen?”
Lionel tensed. She hated being called by her name. Yara was a fool and should know better.
The fourth general slowly turned her head towards the others, her porcelain mask concealing any emotion. “You know what to call me. Do not use that name.”
Yara bowed her head and took a step back. “Of course. I’m sorry, Gouger.”
Lionel chuckled under his mask. She’d pay for that.
“But I know Mathias,” Jen - the Gouger - continued. “He isn’t a fool. He’s crafty and underhanded, yes, but not dense enough to simply leave without reason. Slayer, can you follow him and find out why he left?”
Marion stepped forward. “Yes. I’ll be sure to get his reasoning without too much bloodshed.”
“Do what you must.”
The sound of a door creaking open pulled everyone’s attention. Their leader was strolling out of his private quarters with purpose.
Lionel cursed under his breath. Whatever those two discussed was not good news. His face was serious and he never walked as fast as he walked now. He was either pissed or worried or both. Hopefully he didn’t take it out on them like last time.
The leader walked straight to his throne and faced the crowd. He raised his hands and quieted the few murmurs in the crowd of people before speaking.
“I must apologize for before. That was… an unexpected occurrence. But a necessary one.”
Lionel scoffed. That was necessary? Some monster coming and just killing people without effort or reason?
“Despite what you may think our visitor is part of our cause. The Avatar of Aliyar in the flesh! His right hand combatant and sentient guardian within Alistair!”
Lionel felt his heart skip a beat. So the display of power was just a taste. Something that strong visited them to speak to their leader? Apparently the man really was who he said he was. He somehow earned the presence of Aliyar’s personal guardian. That was no small feat. Maybe Lionel judged him too quickly as he truly was Aliyar’s chosen.
The crowd gasped as more hushed talked filled the cave. The leader brought his hands down by his side until the people quieted. It didn’t take long, their trust I him restored.
“Some of you were not true followers of Aliyar’s cause. The Avatar purged the traitors and we are better for it. Do not question their intentions.”
He sat on the throne and waved the generals forward. Lionel hesitated, but seeing the Gouger step forward without hesitation gave him confidence. He followed her lead.
The leader leaned forward and kept his voice low so only the four masked people could hear him. “Our plans have not changed but our timeline has been moved up. We must act faster than intended.”
“How fast, sir?” The Gouger asked.
“By the end of the month,” the leader said. “The new season will bring change and we can’t afford a different environment at this critical moment.”
Lionel shook his head. That left hardly any time at all. He said before they had months, but now he’s saying only weeks?
“So, take anyone and anything you need,” the leader continued. “If we are to succeed we need to bridge the gap between the floors of Alistair and the city without going through the portal room at Alistair’s base. There will be too much resistance with other Climbers and the guild’s protection. By releasing the tower’s power into the city itself we can truly purge the evil that has festered so close to our sacred temple.”
“Excellent, my Lord,” Yara said. “For my report, I was able to open a portal with a key and Aliyar’s power in an alley in the housing district. It was unstable but carried me through. I need time to work on a portal that will be larger and more secure for Alistair’s denizens. Some of them are true monsters and quite large.”
The leader smiled for the first time of the night. The sight made Lionel’s skin crawl. It was… unsettling.
“Make sure one of them finds the Betrayer’s friends,” Marion said.
Lionel could have punched the bastard for that comment. He didn’t want to bring up his report right now. Or at all.
The leader looked at Lionel as though he could see straight past his mask. Maybe he could.
“Are they still alive?” The leader asked.
Lionel stepped forward. No sense in lying again. Last time was met with awful repercussions. “Yes. I… tried to handle them. But it was still a second priority to my original task. I assure you.”
The man smiled again making Lionel feel unsure. “I believe you. Maybe it’s time to finish what you started.” He snapped his fingers. “Harold, Roche. Come forward.”
Two of the followers stepped forward in their robes and knelt. One looked to be a thin woman while the other was an absolute brute of a man.
“Lionel, take them and mold them. Do what you must to remove your former team. Set an example for the other Climbers to not challenge the great Aliyar’s will.”
Lionel bowed his head in respect to the leader for the first time since first meeting him. A sinister smile formed under his mask. Finally he’d get rid of that damned Red Mage and earn his moniker in one fell swoop. Aliyar demanded it, after all.