Fiction:Crimsonstone's Fate

Fort Crimsonstone; once but one of many Imperial holds that dotted the border between the Eastern Plains and the Sea of Sand. A town that despite its more than threatening fortification has not known war for decades.

Now, a hellish wasteland, torn by madess and corruption.

Few of its still sane inhabitants understood what had happened on that fateful night when the shadow clouded it, but one thing was certain; Crimsonstone was beyond saving now. Hellish creatures now roamed its walls, creatures that were once human but now were twisted by some force outside - was it their own sin or something else?

One man seeked to find out.

That man, his tall frame wrapped up in a heavy travelling cloak, took in the sights from as far a distance as he could. He could see into the souls of men, but this supernatural sight was unneeded to see the corruption emanating from the city. Sighing, he palmed his sword and pressed on. The city's walls still held true, and the door was intact, but the ramparts were being watched by vile creatures inhuman in aspect. Beneath his hood, his flat gaze betrayed his intentions: this city was tainted. Its inhabitants would be purged. This mindset pained him, but dedication to his cause drove him on. As he came up to the walls, he let his cloak fall aside to reveal his gleaming plate armour. Celestial runes alongs its plates glowed faintly as he readied himself for battle.

The sight of the once human beasts inside the hellish town instantly brought about feelings of revulsion to the paladin. Most of them looked almost human - almost, exactly - if not for their warped, emanciated bodies and dumb, mindless looks on their faces they had when they shambled aimlessly from place to place. Ignorant, thoughtless, like sheep. Among those foul creatures there were others more animalistic - four-armed, like insects, they crawled in the shadows, greedily gathering whatever the former denizens of the city had left and then absorbing it into their own bodies. Bastion simply shook his head, and placed his hand on the city door. He uttered a phrase in the celestial tongue, and the door swung open with a loud creak and clang. A soft aura of light emanated from the sigil on his armour, as he waded into the throng of mutants.

Almost immediately he was beset, the shambling horde rushing him like moths drawn to a flame. Taking his sword up in both hands, he worked the blade through like an old-time war God. Where the weapon touched corrupted flesh it burned, its strikes singing songs of old fury. Though attacked on all sides, the paladin held firm. His armour bore the brunt of the mutants' desperate flailing, as his blade dashed in and through again, cutting down more of the corrupted monsters with every stroke. Where the foul insects crawled forward, he spoke a litany of wrath through his sacred weapon, finding the joints and vulnerabilities in their cursed carapaces. Though a mortal man would find himself exhausted by even a few minutes of such a struggle, the power of the divine sustained him throughout the battle, until mounds of tainted flesh lay still at his feet.

The empty screams of the fallen demons resounded - no longer human, but rather porcine or lupine now - in the narrow streets as Bation cut his way into the center of the town - the greystone keep that stood like a dark rook above the fallen fortress, its shadow comforting the dark creatures that now crawled outside it. His blade dripping with cursed blood, Bastion spoke another phrase in celestial- this time summoning a wave of glowing motes that flew out from his reach, lighting the darkness before him. His enemies revealed he set about again, his rage kept bound by iron-forged discipline as he cut his way into the keep.

Once inside, he traded one sword for another- his greatsword for an arming blade, and fought on through the winding corridors. Though designed to resist assault, the keep was no longer defended by regiments of soldiers, instead simply swarming with diseased and corrupted mockeries of human flesh. Inch by inch, the paladin plunged on, taking tainted blood with every step.

...He was not alone, though. Once he strode into the upper corridors, he saw a bloody trail of mutilated mutant corpses laying on the floor, their yellowish blood splattered the red elven carpets that once belonged to Crimsonstone nobility - and at the end of that trail, a woman clad in black, clenching a scimitar in her hand. The only uncorrupted human in Crimsonstone outside Bastion himself. As he found her, his gaze narrowed. He could see into the hearts of the living, and search them for evil. Her heart was no darker than any, and she was untouched by the taint of this place.

Bastion - Identify yourself. ??? - ''Serani. Serani. Serani.'' - the woman turned back and stared into Bastion. As the paladin looked closer at her harsh, sharp features and the insignia she wore on her black leather coat made him understand; she belonged to the Inquisition, an order not unlike his own. The woman herself too understood Bastion's cause - tipping her hat in the show of respect.'' - Inquisitor Javina Desertsun, here on a mission on the Empire. And you... a paladin of some sort, I assume?'' Bastion - ''Naturally. Since you book worms tend to have a way of this sort of thing, what's your take on the situation?'' Javina - One word: Serani. - the inquisitor's face contorted into a snarl of anger as she clutched her scimitar stronger in her palm.'' Bastion - ''Demons are demons, hit them hard enough with a big enough celestial hammer, they stop being a problem sooner or later. Any clues as to where said otherworldly bitch currently is?'' Javina - ''She usually amuses herself by staying in the places she devastates for a while. She might be somewhere inside this keep, laughing and... - the inquisitor cursed in her native tongue - ...But first, we have to find the one she seduced first. The one who began all of this.'' Bastion - ''Five Aural says whoever ran this keep. Crimsonstone, if memory serves.'' Javina - ''Lord Salazar Crimsonstone? It's true, he has always been an arrogant fool, but... this? Truly Serani's deviousness knows no limits...'' Bastion - ''Men are like horses, dangle a carrot in front of their eyes and they'll pull anybody's cart. Javina - ''Yes. Men. - Javina frowned and then took a torch from a sheath on her hip, igniting it with a whisper - Carlini - Let's see what he'll do when he sees this.'' Bastion - ''Stunned in fear is always nice. Let's go, follow me.'' Javina - Very well.

Wasting no more time, Bastion and Javina pressed forward, slashing through the hellish creatures that were once the noble protectors of the keep. Scimitar and arming sword slashed like beams of light, leaving behind mounds of dead bodies that quickly rotted and dissolved with sulfurous stench. Floor after floor, hall after hall. More monstrosities. More corpses. Then, finally, came the lord's chambers.

In the stark contrast to the rest of the hall and the rest of the city, they were strangely pristine. Its opulent ivory furniture and gilded amaranthine carpets still stood unharmed, and the lovely statues of petite angels still adorned its walls. Javina raised her eyebrows, but then saw it - Salazar Crimsonstone, or rather the creature that was him. Serpentine, grossly misshapen and gigantic, he rested coiling peacefully atop his bed, his head adorned with golden markings that seemed to have fused in his skin. Comforting him were several winged, demonic female figures, almost succubine but much more cruel-looking - inhuman, but with faces vaguely resembling his former wives, lovers and daughters.

Javina - By Pheonas... Bastion - ''Right then, this is where I come in. Apart from all the other times I came in.'' - letting his disgust turn to action, Bastion uttered a curse in celestial. Dropping his sword, he instead grasped the handle of a large hammer, formed from celestial magic at his command. Salazar - ''Now, who comes here? Peasants? Rebels? Bah! You are insubstantial compared to me. Find a way to pleasure me or leave. Bastion - ''The blindness of those who fall to evil still astounds me. As a Paladin of Elysium, I commit your soul to the fires you deserve. Make your peace, for today you die.'' Salazar - ''Bah! Preposterous. Then again... I never fought a paladin before...''

Bastion wasted no more time on words. He shouted forth a flash of light, and was upon the serpentine abomination in moments despite his armour. The celestial hammer swung out from below, smashing into the monster's sternum with force like a holy thunderbolt. The beast screeched in a twisted, low-pitched growl - more like the sound of metal scratching than anything else - and was raised from his couch, his arms flailing like huge maces. His concubines soon followed suit, their visages becoming even more inhuman as they grew claws and spikes on their voluptous bodies - all while chanting.

Lilim - ''Mine. Mine. MINE. MINE. MINE!''

Bastion took the blows on his armour, the sigil of protection on his shoulder glowing bright. This was what Paladins lived for- while Inquisitors fought corruption of the mind, only the Paladins had might enough to face true demons in the fire of close combat. Bringing his hammer around, he swung it hard into the ground, creating a shockwave of holy energy.

Javina - ''Impressive. Impressive. But let me show what I can do. Numquam cademus! - Javina rushed into the fray to the paladin's aid, slashing her scimitar in arcs. Whereas Bastion had strength and fortitude, she had agility, cunning and wit; she attacked not strongly but swiftly and precisely, her blade cutting the weak points on the creatures' bodies where the dark energy that fed their bodies was the strongest. Her first strike - right at the lilim's neck - incapacitated the she-demon and made her fall on the ground lifeless. The second one - now with her torch - incinerated another. Doing his best to stay clear of the inquisitor's strikes, Bastion reached out with one hand and grasped another she-demon. The monster burned at his touch, as he channeled celestial energy into her corpse. Javina - ''You're skilled with luxomancy, I'll give you that. You remind me of a... friend of mine.'' Bastion - If you want to call it that. - releasing the demon, Bastion turned his attention to the remains of Salazar again. Bringing his hammer up high, he slammed it down onto the demon's head, then again into his chest and arms. Javina - ''I'd recommend commencing a rite of exorcism to purify the place but... fort Crimsonstone is already beyond redemption. Let us dispose of this body.'' Bastion - Give me a moment.

The paladin raised his hammer, uttering a prayer in celestial. The hammer glowed bright, and when it fell the body of Salazar burst into white flame. The body burned until nothing was left but a faint stain on the ground, no ashes remained to betray his existence.

Javina - ''Hmph. Magic. You're a warrior, not a scholar. Why do you feel need to rely on something that does not belong to you?'' Bastion - ''It's not something a book worm like you would understand. Honestly I'm a little disappointed in you. Now then, this Serani. Where do you suppose she would be?'' Javina - ''I understand. There was a... mage I knew. So far, most mages that weren't her were either megalomaniac, or insane... but one. - Javina coughed - Serani should be somewhere nearby. In the lord's spouse's chamber, perhaps?''

Bastion simply nodded and gestured towards his guess of the right door, as if to ask her opinion.

Javina - ''Yes. That must be it. - Javina narrowed her eyes - Tread carefully. Serani is a devious, devious creature...''

Not saving time for subtlety, Bastion swung his hammer at the door, smashing through the lock on the second swing. He was in the room in a heartbeat. The spouse's room, in comparison to the chamber of the lord, was quite spartan. There were no golden angels or exotic carpets, no paintings - nothing beyond bare living commodities. It was clear that the lord who once owned the place did not care about her wife much - other than a source of pleasure, perhaps. The new owner that now lied on the wife's plain couch was like a jewel among a pile of rocks - a stunning beauty, almost unearthly... or, rather, actually unearthly. Undressed save for a few bands, bracelets and necklaces that adorned her body, her pale skin bare and glistening in the dim light of the candles. An angel, she was... if not for her eyes, that is. Catlike, yellow, burning like little lumps of coal.

The devilish woman smiled, revealing her shard, predatory tooth, and then rose from the bed. Javina was boiling on the inside from hatred, raising her torch - yet, she still had common sense, and it told her to stay away.

Bastion - ''If looks could kill… yeah I'm still smiting your finely-shaped arse. Serani - ''New guests, I see! Coming to join the fun? A paladin of the Choir of Angels, and, of course, my dear Javina of house Desertsun! Darling, you look so lovely when you seethe hatred for me - or is it hatred or just...'' Javina - ''Shut up, wench. I am going to burn that... lascivious... shapely body of yours. And then... and then!'' - Bastion chuckled and hefted his hammer, dashing a few steps and taking a carefully aimed swing to judge her reaction. Serani - ''We all know what you want - I know your secrets. There's a grave in l'Ammanori that you visit so often, and... you want to know the truth? Do you want to know the truth about your sweet Carlini?'' Javina - I've heard enough of your lies. Serani - ''Ah. Very well then.'' - Serani chuckled and materialised a cane at her hand, strolling aroud - still naked - while keeping distance from Bastion and Javina. - ''But before things get hot... can I ask you a question? Why do we fight?'' Bastion - ''You are possibly the most stupid demon I've ever met if you're asking me that. And I say that having met an imp spawned from a lame mute.'' Serani - ''You question my intelligence? Enlighten me then: are you capable of answering this question? Tell me, paladin. What is the fire that burns inside you, the fire that makes you hurt me so much? Answers, answers, answers...'' Bastion - ''Now you're surprising me. If you really don't know the answer to that, you need to go back to demon school again.'' Serani - ''Very well... shall I answer this question for you then? You think me guilty of the chaos that now clouds this accursed town. Of the demons, the monsters. - Serani slammed her cane and then pointed it at Bastion; the images of burning Crimsonstone appeared in his mind - Wondrous, isn't it? It shows who you truly are.'' Bastion - ''No, it shows you what you can become if you are twisted and taken to extremes. If that was who we truly were, that is who we would be. Human society exists the way it is for a reason.'' Serani - Allow me to show you how pious you were before I came then. - once again visions pierced Bastion's head, this time showing Crimsonstone as it was - shining, peaceful, serene - Welcome to ye Olde Crimstone; bastion of beauty and purity. - Serani laughed - Well, not exactly... Bastion - ''I'm gonna stop you there. You're not gonna break my spirit by showing me how crap most humans are at being good little boys and girls. Serani - ''Oh, oh, oh! And now I am a demoness! How hilarious it is, isn't it? The lord - the one you just killed - well, he liked to know people. His wife Aaina Crimstone, of course, but then there was also Carmilla Bronzeshield, and Lucretia Whitewing, and Aolenia Fentharia, and Centanio da'Thal, and Tondess Inaturi, and Arya Crimsonstone, and Aiina Crimsonstone II! Isn't it magnificent? Humans, such pure creatures! - Javina was growing restless, fire growing in her heart, as Serani continued speaking - There were no saints here. All of them, sinners, rapists and murderers and thieves and misers and, of course, the ignorant. I made them what they truly are. Who are to blame here? Me, or those in the town?'' Bastion - ''The lot of you. The difference is, they could be redeemed. You're just gonna look really pretty when someone draws you on the pages of the Liber Daemonica.'' Serani - Oh, would I? I am honoured! - Serani stroke a sensual pose, while keeping a sarcastic smile on her face - ''Those truly innocent, I spared. There was but one. A girl. Feli, was her name...'' Javina - What did you do to her? Serani - ''I let her leave, of course! Do you think I am truly that heartless? - Serani turned back to Bastion - Now, you. Shall you make your bid? Shall you strike?'' Bastion - Thought you'd never ask.

Bastion feigned a heavy, over-sighted swing with his hammer, deliberately missing and using the momentum to bring his hand around to deliver a pulse of celestial energy. Serani's skin became charred, quickly losing any resemblance to a human being. In a moment, Serani revealed her true form; a horned, winged feline humanoid creature with black fur and bright golden eyes, as well as twisted, bladed claws. Strangely, her figure and face still retained her elegance - seerily beautiful deespite being inhuman.

Serani - ''Now, that wasn't very nice. I broke my nail, you know! Thankfully, I always have these.'' - still clenching her cane, Serani clawed Bastion's armour, leaving huge scar-like dents on its surface. She shrieked like a cat. As Serani's claws dug into his armour, Bastion brought his arm up and around, locking hers in a solid hold. He changed to a close-head grip on his hammer and pummelled it straight into her face. The demoness stepped away, her body still burning from the celestial energies, only to be struck once more, this time by Javina's blade. Her corrupted blood seeped from the wounds; despite this, she still maintained her arrogant composure and looked at her enemies once again with a venomous smile.

Serani - ''Very well then! Enjoy yourselves - not that you're the kind of person Javina prefers, paladin - and live your self-righteous lives! The truth is, Kalisearan lives in you as well. Desire is your lifesblood, no matter how hard you try to conceal it. Avidyā. Raga. Dvesha. Māna. Irshya. Have fun!''

And then, Serani was gone - just that, gone - in a cloud of black smoke. Bastion, having not encountered the Queen of Lies before, was confused, whereas Javina was merely very, very frustrated.

Bastion - ''Someone remind me why I wasn't hammering her from the start? Demons get on my nerves the moment they open their mouths.'' Javina - ''I agree. She lies a lot, that she-demon... Do not believe the word she says. Nothing. Not about the town, not about... me... not about anything.'' - Javina looked at Bastion again. - ''I admit, I was... impressed by your skills, paladin. Whether a mage or not, you're a master of your art.'' Bastion - ''Eh, it's my job. Atah Auriel, Inquisitor. See you on the front line.'' Javina - Semper praevalē.