So you might be wondering exactly who I might be well alright I am not of course the brains of this outfit but I am the one who makes sure that my Master adheres to a code. My name is Morgath and I am a Baatezu Imp the bonded and loyal servant and familiar to the Cambion Lord Armand Quickshar. I was summoned by Lord Quickshar with the primary function being to serve as his ally and conduit to knowledge held by my Ancient Race. Lord Quickshar explained my role simply my function was to assist in overall maintenance of my Masters interests which included apprentices, business interests, magical investments, undead servants, and various lovers many tied to different identities. My secondary and in my perception the more important mission was to be for all intents and purposes a legal aid to remind my Master to keep his word and not lie. While reminding my Master that misleading or withholding information is well within bounds.
Time enough on my interests and time to move on to explaining how this new journey in my Masters life began. It had begun at my Masters secret laboratory located near the Realm of Under adjacent to the founding location of Darkholm Emporium called The Dark Retreat. Perhaps I should note for the record that my Master has an affinity for necromancy. I believe it might be what had attracted him to his primary lover and business partner Yasriia Alet’tar the female Drow Elf Half-Vampire or even his first apprentice the male Drow Elf Half-Vampire Kal’Rath Alet’tar. So moving on my Master was at the moment that the alert came in from his simulacrum named Shar about a threat to his cousin Kameron the Changling Half- Chaos Dragon been otherwise occupied in a personal dimensional space created by his lover in order for them to shall we say catch up.
I had of course been busy helping Kal’Rath with some research he was working on for our Master on the creation of a Mirror of Mental Prowess. Don’t get me wrong Kal’Rath is no slouch having been the first of my Masters apprentices to graduate as it were and being of the Eleventh Circle as Mages call it. The endeavor was actually so important that my Masters second graduate the female Warforged Markessa Nogar of the Seventh Circle who was of course a rare specimen of her construct species having an unarmored body and all but it had helped her with her magic after all was in attendance as well. Of course my Masters current apprentice the female Silthilar Voltana Arcana who was still only of the First Circle was in attendance as well. Let me assure you her natural gifts more than made up for her lack of magical ability when it came to magical endeavors. So when Shar had informed me telepathically that we had a situation I had informed the others to continue on.
It was always up to me to deliver bad news to my Master since while he was fond of killing the messenger if he did not care for the message. We had an arrangement after all and the image that Shar had seen had been a message I was sure my Master would not care for. Making a long story short Kameron had been slain by his comrades the Gang known as Justice. Honestly when considering Kameron’s temper I had been surprised it had taken him this long to die again. His last death had been the straw I had needed to convince my Master to create a clone and place it in his vault. I of course had to contact my Master after only two hours with his beloved since the interplanar telepathic bond he had created would soon be expiring. That and fact that the preserved clone had failed to activate which could mean only one thing his soul had been trapped.
My Master was of course not pleased and Yasriia had bid him good hunting and departed for parts known only to her. Master had arrived with Armana and Mandy in tow as usual two other simulacra in female form got to love those Changelings. Shar had already given me the Masters Crystal Ball and he used it to scan for his cousin Kameron and found him in some dimensional prison. My Master wasted little time he transported Armana along with Watcher his eyes and ears a magical construct Serpentine Owl to the scene of his death a ship on the ocean heading to Center.
Her mission was simple to ascertain if once her intentions were made known that she might board the ship and speak with their leader to discuss a matter of grave importance. Watcher noticed a Gargoyle who I would learn was named Tye had taken aim upon her with a bow. Another who looked like a Monk or Wizard had introduced himself as Drago who had seemed quite intelligent had been speaking for their leader who turned out to be Mordalfus. Armana was able to negotiate a truce and was allowed to approach and summon the Master.
We had arrived and my Master had brought along Mandy, Vas and Gal who were bound Spellstitched Ghouls and I in a familiar pocket of course. Armana had already viewed the crew and passengers on board with her Mindsight and with the exception of the Gargoyle, Fey, Awakened Animal, Awakened Plant and Living Construct the remaining were human. My Master had arrived trusting the leader because he had intelligence that no one had a right to know except someone from the Island of Mystery relying on his many contingencies to protect him. Armana had been communicating with Drago by telepathy and my Master had continued to do so and was even aware of the many magical sensors watching the ship. He therefore recommended that they go below and he could ward a chamber from magical or even mundane detection.
Once in a room below and after my Master had placed a ward to protect the room the others who were not human started to arrive as well as Mordalfus himself. The matter at hand was explained with Mordalfus relating how Kameron had disobeyed orders for the third time and finally he had paid the price when his actions would have jeopardized a truce that Justice valued and needed. At first Mordalfus was opposed to just giving my Master the soul for reasons which soon became apparent. Not only had they captured his soul but they had already replaced him with a spy who they needed to obtain important information to insure the safety of Justice. So there would need to be a price for is Kameron was to return someone would have to stay and watch over him for it seemed having become a member of Justice he was somehow bound to them. Sounded to the Master like some kind of Companion Spirit something he had never really looked into being mostly a loner well with the exception of magical servants bonded undead and apprentices of course. In addition he would need to be convinced to abide by a condition to adapt a new identity until the spy who was to impersonating him had completed its mission.
One might have thought the task put before my Master would have been easy for one of his intellect and power. Suffice to say if you would ever believe that then you have never met or had to pleasure of having to deal with the arrogant, self-righteous, and pompous High Priest of Ares. Don’t get me wrong for what it’s worth I think Kameron is a great guy and pretty easy to get along with but on the other hand if you are a drug dealer, slaver or even stand in his way for that matter then look out. Let me not sell my Masters cousin short Kameron had recently liberated and renamed an entire Island now called Spearhead. Not only that but his diplomatic and intimidation skills were legendary and now Spearhead was a colony of Ares worshipers loyal to Lord Kameron. He had even more recently started diplomatic relations with Perciphea dealing with the Republic Islands as well as the Cabal of Underwater Entities. Quite impressive for a worshipper of Ares of course my Master blamed it on his Changling heritage I of course had my own thoughts.
There was of course the matter of restoring Kameron since his companions had already it seemed destroyed his body well actually some of them even seemed to be eating his body. I will not dwell on that since my Master had not noticed it as he had been intend on dealing with Mordalfus. He even discussed with Drago how he had a cloned body handy and since his soul had never really departed he might be able to with a major magical ritual as his spirit was released bond it with the cloned body while simulating a revivify ritual. If all went as planned then he would be restored in full health as if he had never been harmed. It only remained to speak with Kameron to make sure he would go along with the deal that had been proposed by the defacto leader of Justice Mordalfus. Again for the record I say defacto since the actual leader was said to be insane and the only impressive thing he had done before vanishing who I would later learn was named Krueger Condail it seemed was to form the group which would later become Justice.
My Master was able to with relative ease with his knowledge of arcana and his telepathic gifts forge a link with Kameron who it seemed was in a prison realm of sorts which contained his soul. To put it mildly it took quite some time to convince Kameron to go along with the deal there was even a point where it seemed my Master might have needed to arrange the mass deaths of the inhabitants of Spearhead Island. In the end it seemed the beauty was indeed needed to calm the savage beast and she took the form of a former Guardian of the Waste named Eagle a powerful creature whom it seemed that Kameron fancied. It had been of course Kameron’s condition before he be brought back to life that she be present.
My Master therefore sent the following message the Eagle with instruction from Mordalfus and of course a little more added for his own benefit. He sent this message “Mordalfus would like to speak with you before Kameron is brought back. I am Armand his cousin. I need their help and yours.” She replied “I am on my way.” My Master informed Justice that she would soon arrive. My Master also made note of another fact it seemed that Eagle had been actually searching for Kameron and had not seemed too happy to learn that he had died. For the moment it did not make a difference but it was worth noting that Mordalfus respected her power.
She arrived Kameron was informed and he was restored and soon he had taken the form of a male Dwarf and informed everyone to call him Ulfgar Dankil. If I had not known better I would have sworn that Eagle had cast a domination spell on Ulfgar he was so calm it was unbelievable. With everything seeming to be in had I should note there was a brief magical flare up that had occurred right when Kameron’s soul had been merged with his new body. His entire body had been covered at least ninety percent in a dark mass of magical tattoos which had formed on his clone. As Mordalfus had begun to explain the nature of their companion spirits one benign and one malevolent.
It seemed that one of the spirits which I shall call benign had been with the group since its formation and allowed the others to share thoughts and images within ten feet. They even had the ability to know the status of the others in the link of the Justice Spirit as well as sense their emotions from a great distance. Thankfully it seemed they could even cloak themselves from the link when they wanted to with mental effort. Now the other force the malevolent one actually seemed to communicate with them offering to claim part of their souls for favors in percentages. It also seemed that if one was not guilty and could resist the temptation then one percentage would be cleansed per day.
Suddenly my Master and I were drawn into the link and the feelings of the others were suddenly apparent to me. My Master was for a moment perplexed since he had never been in such a bond and my orders came next. Morgath he told me telepathically “You shall never ask this malevolent spirit for anything unless all of my safeguards have failed and even then only to save my life!” I had of course replied as you wish my Master and while Mordalfus had left for a moment to check the ship it was decided that it was time to leave.
Kameron it seemed had established a shrine at the Justice Safehouse a public place of operation in Center located within Pacifica. Master had actually offered to teleport them all to their base by with the aid of a portable hole provided by Mordalfus they jumped inside while Armana and Mandy joined Mordalfus and the others. Kameron called out to Ares while the Master placed an arm on his shoulder and along with Eagle we all transported to the public base of Justice which they shared with another Gang called the Fist.
I of course knew the city as my Master who was also the consort as Yasriia Alet’tar as well as silent business partner had established a Darkholm Import & Exports within the city. Looking back it’s a good thing that my Master and Yasriia had decided long ago to keep their relationship a secret as they had already deduced that one day my Master might reunite with his cousin or one day join a group that might have enemies. So my Masters cover was safe as he was known to be a freelance operator one of many who could be contacted by Darkholm to assist in matters of a magical nature.
After our arrival Mordalfus it seemed had decided since Master was now an official member of Justice it was time to see their Hidden Base. My Master took a few moments and gathered a few more of his Zombie servants in order to carry his carriage throughout the City. I realized my Master was making an investment in Justice so he was making an effort to make his presence known in order to scare off the weak who might be thinking about coming after the contract on Mordalfus.
Alas I must digress in order to remain clear on the matter of Mordalfus and the contract. I should begin by mentioning the primary members of Justice who it seemed were also responsible for reigning in Kameron when he had lost his temper which of course what had gotten us into this situation to begin with.
Mordalfus the Elan and as far as I can figure one of the founders of the Mysterious Island was a Psychic Warlock. As far as the Master was concerned he upheld the values his Mother the Changling Archmage and Sage of the Island held dear. So to say the Master was perhaps more at ease than I had ever seen him would be an understatement. While he did not shall we say worship Mordalfus who had to be at least a century old he did respect him like he did his Mother. I am sure he realized that if it had not been for the Mysterious Island his life would have been very different indeed. It seemed that somehow a rumor that Mordalfus wore a pair of pants that were reputed to be Relics of Power but the power bestowed upon him could only be gained by removing the pants from his dead body.
Kameron’s best friend and of course I jest was the Warforged Tiberius who was unlike any of the Warforged I had ever seen before. It seemed that the crafty Warforged who also seemed to have the abilities of a shapechanger had run afoul of Mordalfus and Kameron in the past and been stranded in the Waste left to the mercy of Kameron’s Mother. Somehow not only did the Chaos Dragon not destroy the Warforged but she mated with him and even now a new clutch of eggs are waiting to be born. Not only that but in anger for being stranded in the Waste Tiberius has somehow managed to set in motion the events that led to the Assassins even now seeking to claim bounty on Mordalfus and claim for themselves his Artifact Pants.
Drago a Human was more subdued and seemed more a Monk than a Mage to me for while he was obviously intelligent he seemed to be possessed by a spirit of extremes charity as well as greed. An interesting conundrum to be sure but which left predicting him not exactly a logical task. Perhaps him familiar Jim the weasel might provide insight to bad he could not speak. Then there was his apparent consort the Human Wizard Sara who seemed in her mid twenties and an adopted child the six year old Human child and Wizard apprentice known as Alma. I should also mention that within in Pacifica he had also raised an orphanage which saw to children and which housed a number which had been infected by lycanthropy.
Ti the Gargoyle was an interesting mystery moderately intelligent and by all means an Archer and Psion. Perhaps even an Adept as well for he possessed a Psi-Crystal named Killerog as well as a familiar Bat named Deataur. He seemed more than willing to follow the orders of Mordalfus and as long as he did I saw no need to be overly worried.
The journey to the sewers was relatively quick and after a few minutes we were lead to a large tunnel and asked to look around. Mordalfus was curious if my Master was able to locate the base by observation alone. Neither I nor my Master could locate since the entire interior of the lower sewer was stone laced with iron. Mordalfus seemed pleased and showed the Master a key and even that was not apparent for the entrance key was located in yet another hidden location as was the actual door.
Once inside their base which for the most part consisted of rooms and an extensive magical laboratory and alchemy lab not to mention a dungeon was I shall say interesting. Neither I nor the Master felt exactly safe even thought there layered forbiddance wards within the interior. One might have thought the night would have passed at this point but another interesting chain of events occurred which are worth noting.
Tiberius it would seem had been sent away from the base even thought it was in the middle of the night to attend some kind Templar supervised counseling to deal with a supposed mental imbalance. To clarify it seemed in the past it seemed Tiberius had rampaged through town with a child he had kidnapped. It would seem that Justice had enough influence with the local authorities to arrange the sessions in order to prevent any further incidents.
I should note that Ti another member of Justice who had not need to sleep also left that evening on a mission which would eventually lead on events that would make the next morning quite interesting.
Getting back to Tiberius it would seem that Mordalfus was keeping an eye on him with a remote sensor and noticed that he and a number of comrades one of which was actually a female Templar were heading to the Drago’s orphanage and shall we also say aspiring magical college. When Drago and Kameron found out about it they both became excited and stormed out to confront their fellow Justice member.
Of course Mandy had been assigned to accompany Kameron but of course what can one expect from a worshiper of a chaotic evil deity he breeched boundary of the base doorway and transported himself away. My Master sought out Mordalfus and spoke with him for he could not really understand why there was so much commotion since Tiberius had a Templar escort. Meanwhile with the aid of the Masters Crystal Ball Mandy failed who had failed to locate Kameron so she passed it to Armana who was able to locate Kameron back at the Justice Safehouse.
Mordalfus informed the Master that this was an example of what he had implied regarding the fragile nature of Kameron’s temper. For while Kameron continued on to discipline Tiberius it seemed that Drago had arrived and was alright with aiding with the Warforge’s therapy. Kameron although would not be deterred even when Drago informed him that it was alright or even after Drago went after him physically it proved useless.
It did not end until Kameron after over an hour of relentless pursuit finally cornered Tiberius at an Ice Cream Shop and pounded him almost senseless with his Mace. In my mind what an utter waste and the Master thought so as well and decided it was time to rest for the night. He chose to create a temporary magical dimension or mansion for him to rest and had informed Mandy and Armana to keep an eye on Kameron.
Well no sooner had Kameron returned that Mandy went to his side to confer with him and followed him to what had to have been his room when the pleasant smell of a wonderful weed called cannabis or marijuana a mild narcotic. Who knew that Kameron with all of his boasting about slavery and protection children for Ares was a closet drug user if only that were true actually he might be easier to get along with. It’s no wonder that the Master had informed all of comrades if they ever encountered Kameron or any of those allied or loyal to him to withdraw immediately until conferring with him under penalty of destruction.
Perhaps a moment just a quick moment to clear the air as they say I never said my Master was good but it’s best to say that his form of evil as it were rarely caused problems for other. Well of course unless they crossed him of course. I have long known that Kameron had a Dragon’s tendency to devour his enemies. My Masters perhaps was best seen in his actions for while he would often murder for gain it was rarely for pleasure. On the other hand the price for crossing him often led to becoming an Undead servant which I am sure some might call evil I suppose. Or perhaps his use of evil magics and trafficking with many unsavory types even a few Slavers and Smugglers. But I have found it’s his Fiendish nature which often leads him to these actions and using others for his own personal gain.
On the other hand the Cult of Hecate which he had established suited him well for it fit in well with the philosophies he had learned on the Island. For while he was not honorable evil or for that matter dishonorable evil he fit somewhere in the middle like Hecate the Goddess of the Moon, Magic, Abundance and Undead in addition to being the provider of food, riches, desirable things and the defender of children. Her colors of Blue and White suited my Master and the holy symbol the setting moon well as well her most profound teachings could have been directly written for my Master. She tells her followers that magic is the key that unlocks wealth, power and all desirable things. She also advises them to seek the joys of abundance but to be wary of folly of waste.
Well Kameron not sooner had opened his door than he had cast neutralize poison into the room then slammed the door and stormed out with Eagle at his arm and vanished. Armana and Mandy had tried to console him but he was inconsolable. Finally in frustration they had turned to me and Kameron had almost bitten my head off so I left him to the comfort of his woman and let the Master rest.
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