Diablo II

Lut Gholein

The Race

Warriv found Brigit in the nearly empty common room of The Oasis, sipping from a clay mug.  The merchant sat across from the amazon at the circular table.  Plates of fruit, cheese, and buttered bread were arrayed around Brigit, the scents were enticing, but Brigit merely picked at the food, she appeared to be more exhausted than hungry.

"Back from the depths of the desert, eh?" smiled Warriv, picking up a plump red grape and popping it inside his mouth.

"Aye, I retrieved the Horadric Cube and the two pieces of the Staff, Cain is assembling the Staff now in his room."

"You look like you need a week in bed," chuckled Warriv.

"Time's running out, Warriv, I can feel it," sighed Brigit, draining her cup of ale.

A serving boy quickly rushed up and re-filled Brigit's cup.  The blonde woman smiled down at the boy, then took another sip from her cup.

Before Warriv could inquire further, the common room door opened to admit two Palace guards and an elderly man with a short gray beard and dark, piercing eyes.  The old man wore long, flowing white robes, a fur-framed hat, and wielded an ornate staff of office.

"That's Drogan, chief sorcerer of Jerhyn," whispered Warriv as the three men approached Brigit's table.

"May we join you?" inquired Drogan politely.

Brigit nodded.  Drogan handed one of the guards his staff before sitting down next to Warriv facing Brigit.

"Rumor has it that you were the one who slew the Radament.  You have done Lut Gholein a great service."

"The good woman Atma told me of the tragedy that befell her and her family, I could do no less than kill the foul creature."

"Well spoken, amazon!  As you aided Atma, I hope you will aid me, Jerhyn, and Lut Gholein."

"Go on."

"I know that you've recovered the lost pieces of the Horadric Staff, Deckard Cain was kind enough to inform me of your quest while you were in the desert."

"I see."

"You are in a race, Brigit.  Diablo has passed through Lut Gholein, I sensed a dark, demonic presence within the Palace several nights ago.  I fear that the demon lord has already enlisted Horazon's help to reach Tal Rasha's tomb."

"Horazon?"

"A renegade Vizjerei Summoner.  The Vizjerei sorcerers were dedicated to fighting the demon scourge, they devoted their lives to the study of demons and how to control them.  Most of the Vizjerei used their knowledge and power to fight the demons, but a few, like Horazon, used their magic to create demonic slaves.  Horazon's Arcane Sanctuary lies beneath the Palace, swallowed by the desert centuries before.  I believe that the Sanctuary is still intact, it could have the knowledge you need to find Tal Rasha's tomb."

"Will Jerhyn allow me into the Palace?"

"That is the other reason why I sought you out, Jerhyn wants to meet you, over dinner tonight.  He knows the secrets of the Palace well, perhaps he knows the way beneath the Palace that will take you to the Arcane Sanctuary."

"I will dine with Jerhyn tonight, Drogan."

"Good!  I will inform him immediately," smiled the old wizard, rising from the table.  "I wish you success with your quest, you fight to save us all from a nightmare beyond comprehension."

Brigit nodded again in gratitude.  Drogan and his guards took their leave.  

"Dinner at the Palace?  That should be interesting," smiled Warriv wryly.  "I hear that Jerhyn is quite the lady's man, watch yourself!"

"I wish that a lustful ruler was my only concern," replied Brigit with a wan grin.

***

Brigit knocked at the door to Deckard Cain's room.  The old Horadrim sage unlatched the door after a few moments and invited the amazon inside.

"The Horadric Staff is assembled, now we only have to find the location of the Canyon of the Magi."

"I'm visiting the Palace tonight.  The Palace sorcerer, Drogan, says that there may be some information about Tal Rasha's tomb in a place called the Arcane Sanctuary."

"Horazon's dark lair," frowned Cain.

"I'll investigate, then come back to retrieve the Staff if I discover what I need."

"Do you want me to come with you?  It would save some time."

"I don't know what kinds of guardians the Sanctuary might have, best if I explore the Sanctuary first."

"As you wish," acceded Cain.  He gazed at Brigit intently.  "You know that I'll offer whatever help I can, you don't have to fight alone."

Brigit smiled.  "I know, my friend.  This quest has been hard, harder than I could have imagined, but I will not give up, too many lives depend upon me, too many lives have been sacrificed to get me this far."

"You're referring to Elayne."

"And Akara," sighed the amazon.

"Things have been hard, upon all of us, but we must not lose heart.  The Light will see us through."

"If my home had been destroyed as Tristram was, I would not have your faith."

"The fate of Tristram was inevitable, it was written the day that Diablo's Soulstone was buried beneath the Monastery.  Now we have the chance to finish this, once and for all."

"Aye," agreed Brigit, her eyes fierce with resolve.

***

The Palace seemed to be aflame with golden light when Brigit walked up to its immense golden gates.  The night was clear and cool, the air scented with the salty tang of the sea.  Brigit wore a dress that Warriv had procured for her, a sleek, red silk gown that showed off her long, lithe legs and plunged to display her firm, perfect, orb-shaped breasts.  Brigit's blonde hair had grown since the beginning of her quest, she bound it up and secured it with several slender pins of silver.

"Brigit of the Amazon Islands to see Jerhyn," said the woman to one of the waiting guards dressed in bright silver ceremonial armor.

The guard nodded, and the golden doors opened inward silently.  The guard bowed to Brigit and motioned for her to follow him into the Palace grounds.  They crossed a polished marble courtyard, then entered the Palace proper, long, elegant hallways lit by dozens of beeswax candles set in gleaming silver wall holders.

The Palace guard and Brigit halted before a set of towering, arched doors engraved with a vista of the High Heavens, dominated by the divine Crystal Arch.  The guard pushed the silver doors open, quickly making way for the awe-struck amazon.

Jerhyn was not a tall man.  He was garbed in rich violet robes over a gleaming white shirt and flared pantaloons.  The ruler of Lut Gholein had dark brown skin and a short black mustache and beard, both carefully trimmed and oiled.  Jerhyn rose to his booted feet from a long, low table surrounded by dozens of large pillows for sitting.

"Brigit, please, sit!" bade Jerhyn, indicating a pile of pillows to his right.

Brigit bowed briefly at the waist to acknowledge Jerhyn's office, then took her place upon the indicated set of silk pillows. The amazon was pleasantly surprised when Jerhyn served her himself, pouring rich, red wine into a tall, fluted, crystal glass, then holding up a tray of glistening fruit and figs.  Brigit took a wedge of apple and nibbled on it while Jerhyn filled his own glass with wine and sipped.

"Drogan didn't say how beautiful you are, I must visit these Amazon Islands some day."

"I think you would enjoy it," smiled Brigit, savoring her glass of wine.

"You wish access to the Palace cellars?"

"Drogan and my companion, Deckard Cain, believe that there is an Arcane Sanctuary beneath the Palace, a place where I may find clues regarding the whereabouts of Tal Rasha's tomb."

"Tal Rasha was a great man, he sacrificed himself to protect the world of Sanctuary from the evil of Baal."

"I need to find his tomb and stop Diablo from freeing Baal so that Tal Rasha's sacrifice will not be in vain."

Jerhyn nodded, sipping more wine as he did so.  "You have my leave to enter the cellars.  Do you wish a squad of guards to accompany you?"

"No, I can handle whatever is down there."

"Yes, you have the look of a tigress about you," smiled Jerhyn, his dark eyes smoldering.

Brigit blushed, lowering her face and drinking more wine.

"Let us eat!" declared Jerhyn, clapping his hands twice.

The tall doors to the dining hall opened again, disgorging a file of servants laden with heavy platters of meat, bread, and vegetables.

***

Jerhyn burst through the door of the harem chamber, startling the reclining girls within.

"All but Fara leave!" ordered Jerhyn drunkenly, his body swaying within the doorway.

The scantily-clad harem girls rushed out of the room.  Fara leaned back and took another drag from her water pipe.

Jerhyn held the door open for Brigit, who staggered into the veil-draped room, as inebriated as Jerhyn.  Fara sat up when she recognized the amazon, her spies had informed her that the woman was attempting to find Tal Rasha's tomb.  She watched stiffly as Jerhyn gently pressed Brigit to the doorframe and kissed her.  Brigit returned the lustful embrace, removing the pins from her hair and allowing her golden locks to spill down her shoulders.  Jerhyn slowly parted from Brigit's moist lips and guided the woman by the waist into the harem room.

"This is Fara, one of my concubines," giggled Jerhyn.  "A lovely creature, isn't she?"

"Aye," smiled Brigit languidly.

Jerhyn leaned close to Brigit's ear.  "I've heard rumors that amazon women take female lovers.  Is this true?"

"Aye," sighed Brigit, remembering the young rogue beauty Elayne.

"Go to Fara, show me," purred Jerhyn.

Brigit stumbled over to the pile of cushions where Fara lay.  She collapsed to her knees, panting heavily.  Brigit leaned over Fara and reached out to stroke the astonished concubine's brown cheek.  Brigit lowered herself upon Fara, kissing the woman's throat, her cheek, her chin.  Jerhyn knelt behind Brigit, pulling up the amazon's gown, crouching low to lick Brigit's sleek thighs.  Fara lay still while Brigit fondled her breasts.  Brigit pulled away the silk scarf covering Fara's left breast and pressed her wine-stained lips to the concubine's nipple, kissing and sucking softly upon it.  Fara looked over Brigit's shoulder, she could see Jerhyn's head between Brigit's legs, slurping loudly on the amazon woman's pussy.

Fara slipped her right hand underneath the pillow she rested on.  Slowly, not drawing attention to her movements, Fara withdrew the dagger that she kept with her.  Brigit was busy sucking on Fara's tit, licking the concubine's dark brown nipple to hardness.  Fara snarled and thrust down with the dagger, burying it in Brigit's left shoulder.

Brigit cried out and pulled back from Fara.  Fara held onto the bloody dagger, lunging at the amazon, stabbing at the woman's belly.

Brigit tripped over Jerhyn and toppled onto her back.  Jerhyn noticed Fara's knife and grasped at the woman, seizing her slender arms tightly.  Fara fought wildly, slamming her right knee into Jerhyn's face.  Jerhyn released Fara to clutch his bleeding nose, the concubine leapt past him and dove at Brigit.  

The bleeding amazon lashed out with her right leg, smashing her foot into Fara's stomach.  Fara gasped as she flew back into the far wall, the bloody dagger falling from limp fingers.  Fara used the wall to climb back to her feet, but before she could attack Brigit again, Jerhyn drew out a curved knife from his robes and leveled it at Fara.

"Do not move, woman!" warned Jerhyn.

"Why?" demanded Brigit, rising unsteadily to her feet, applying pressure to her bleeding shoulder.

"You defy the will of my lord, Diablo!" spat Fara.

"Demon worshipper!" grimaced Jerhyn in disgust.

Fara smiled and dove past Jerhyn.  Jerhyn tried to grab Fara, but his drunken reflexes were too slow.  The concubine seized Brigit and threw her at Jerhyn, tangling both of them together.  Laughing shrilly, Fara disappeared through the doorway.

"Guards!  Guards!" roared Jerhyn from underneath Brigit.

Two guards appeared in the doorway within three heartbeats.

"Find Fara!  Take her into custody!" snapped Jerhyn.

"Aye, sir!" saluted both guards before they disappeared in pursuit.

"Fara was in league with Diablo!  She must have helped him enter the Palace!" growled Jerhyn while he helped Brigit to her feet.

"Diablo must have went to the Arcane Sanctuary, he's probably reached the Canyon of the Magi by now," frowned Brigit darkly.

"We must see to your wound, then get you on your way to the Sanctuary," suggested Jerhyn.

"My thanks," smiled Brigit, her gaze hard.

***

Brigit's gaze was still cold as she plunged her Lance into Fire Eye's thin chest.  The Invader didn't make a sound, but his four arms twitched violently as the grasp of death enfolded him.  Jerking the glowing Lance free, Brigit spun on her heel to regard the towering iron doors of the Sanctuary.  She back-pedaled when the doors swung silently open of their own accord.  Brandishing her Lance before her, Brigit tentatively entered the tunnel that led into Horazon's lair.

Reaching the top of the staircase, Brigit's eyes narrowed when she beheld Fara's mutilated body upon the stone floor.  The wizard Horazon stood near the edge of the abyss, smiling like a satiated lion.

"Brigit, Fara has told me all about you," grinned the dark-eyed mage.

"You killed her?"

"No, they did," indicated Horazon casually.

A horde of Scarabs flowed down the cavern wall and skittered towards Brigit, gleaming black bodies snapping at the amazon.  A Scarab clawed at Brigit's left boot, electricity snapped from its body and engulfed the woman's leg.  Brigit staggered and swung down with the Lance, crushing the attacking Scarab.  The dead Scarab was replaced by a dozen, they slashed and clawed at Brigit, ripping her boots to shreds, pouring electricity into her body until every muscle was in agony.

Brigit wheezed for breath.  She grasped her Lance with both hands, offered a prayer to Zerae for aid, and plunged the blade of the Lance into the rock.

Lightning exploded in an expanding ring.  When the ring touched a Scarab, the creature burst apart in a cloud of blood and bone.  The lightning ring washed over the stone dais, slaying all of the Scarabs and catching Horazon.  The wizard howled with pain as the lightning tore his robes and seared his aged flesh.  Horazon recovered long enough to see Brigit pull back her hand, then throw the glowing Lance.  The enchanted projectile punched through Horazon's stomach, the golden tip exploded out of the wizard's back.

Brigit took a moment to drink a healing potion, then she walked up to the moaning wizard who stood doubled over clutching the blood-soaked haft of the Lance.  Brigit violently pulled her weapon free, Horazon screamed and covered his awful wound with his claw-like hands.

"Diablo came to you?" inquired Brigit, setting the tip of her Lance underneath Horazon's chin.

"Yes!  I opened a portal to the Canyon of the Magi!"

"Open one for me and I'll spare you."

Glaring hatefully at the amazon, Horazon performed the spell that summoned a teleportation portal.  When the oval-shaped gateway appeared, Brigit lowered the blade of the Lance.  Seizing his opportunity, Horazon pushed Brigit away and ran to the crackling gateway.

"Stop!" shouted Brigit, launching into a sprint behind the fleeing mage.

Brigit watched helplessly as Horazon was pulled into the portal.  She dove after the wizard, snapping tendrils of magic pulling her into the closing gateway.

*** 

A trail of blood guided Brigit through the Canyon of the Magi.  Night was brightening into dawn, the sky a mixture of dark blue and rose pink.  Still stiff from the electrical attacks of the Scarabs, Brigit swallowed her last healing potion, she had a feeling she would need all of her strength for the coming battle.

A deep rumbling of rock made Brigit hasten her steps.  She jogged to the far end of the Canyon, just in time to see a block of stone close within a tomb entrance.  Brigit panted, approaching an inscription carved into the rock beneath her feet.  This was the Horadric Orifice, the lock to Tal Rasha's tomb.  Brigit reached for the Horadric Staff strapped to her back, recovered when she left the harem room for healing.  The amazon set the butt of the Staff carefully into the Orifice, when it was nestled in place, the block of stone descended again, revealing a long passageway.

The tomb entrance shook violently.  Brigit watched in amazement as lightning and fire flashed within the depths of the passage.  Horazon was battling something, something that did not like visitors.

Brigit hefted her Lance and ran into the stone passageway.  Dust rained down from the shaking walls, thunder reverberated so loudly that Brigit's ears ached.  The lightning and fire grew brighter and brighter as Brigit drew closer to the passageway's end.  Heat blasted across the amazon, when she flinched from it she made out a loud roar, it was not Horazon, it wasn't even human.  At the mouth of the passage, Brigit skidded to a stop when she heard the sound of violent stabbing, as if blades were thrusting into flesh.  She recognized the following scream as Horazon's, then silence descended, an awful, deadly silence.

Brigit raised her Lance and licked dry lips.  She cautiously entered the tomb chamber, and found Horazon's body sprawled before a huge, scythe-armed demon.  The demon raised its head to regard Brigit.  It was deeply wounded, its skin was scorched and black, blood oozed from its slack maw.  

Duriel slowly raised his right claw, the movement drawing a groan of pain from his mouth.  He swung at Brigit, the blade-like appendage hissing through the air as it arced towards her.  Brigit dived underneath the claw, rolling forward, uncoiling, and ramming her Lance into Duriel's stomach.  Hot, black blood gushed over Brigit, she stifled a scream, stabbing the Lance deeper into the demon, twisting it viciously.

Duriel roared in agony.  The demon's entire body shuddered, then became limp when death overtook him.  Brigit freed her Lance and rolled away as Duriel collapsed onto the floor, crushing Horazon's corpse.

Brigit climbed to her feet and oversaw her work.  Nodding in satisfaction, it took a moment for the amazon to notice Tyrael chained to the binding stone.

Brigit gazed at the senseless angel in shock, she had never seen such a being in her life.  She slowly walked up to the huge binding stone, raking her eyes over the glowing chains which seemed to be unbreakable.

Tyrael roused himself, he pried his golden eyes open and looked down at the woman regarding him.

"Brigit, thank the Light!"

"You know my name?" murmured Brigit in awe.

"I was the one who gave the vision to your people's oracles, I was the one who set you on your path," smiled Tyrael sadly.

"You're hurt!" frowned Brigit, her wide eyes upon Tyrael's slashed shoulder.

"I will live.  You must break the binding chains."

"How?"

"Use the Lance of Yaggai, its magic will shatter the chains."

Expression doubtful, Brigit levered the Lance underneath one of the glowing chains and jerked the weapon up.  The chain snapped apart, the binding magic faded along with the chain's glow until it was simply cold, gray iron.  Brigit eagerly severed away the rest of the chains until Tyrael was free.  The angel slid off of the stone and collapsed against Brigit.

"Forgive me, Brigit.  I am still..quite weak," groaned Tyrael.

Brigit sat Tyrael upon the floor.  She knelt beside him and offered him her water flask.  Tyrael smiled and drank greedily from the leather flask, a faint golden glow returned to his skin.

"Baal is free, I assume," said Brigit after she allowed Tyrael a few moments to rest.

"Aye.  Diablo came and freed him, despite my efforts to stop him.  He wields Shadowfang, an evil weapon forged during the Great Conflict, it was created to slay angels."

"And that thing?"

"Duriel, Lord of Pain.  Diablo set him as a guard to insure that I would not interfere in his efforts to free Mephisto."

"Where is Mephisto?"

"In Kurast, the capital city of Kehjistan."

"Can you take me to Kurast?"

"I am too weak.  Ask your friend Warriv, he can get you passage to Kurast."

"I better start back to Lut Gholein," sighed Brigit, rising to her feet.

"Horazon's portal is gone, and you will not survive a trek across the Aranoch.  I have enough strength to teleport you to Lut Gholein."

"Thank you, Tyrael," smiled Brigit warmly.

"Be wary in Kurast.  Mephisto has the entire city within his thrall.  A barrier of magic protects the city from the corrupted creatures of the jungles, but Evil has already achieved a foothold within the very church created to fight it.  This portion of your quest will not be easy," warned the angel.

"Nothing about this quest is easy," retorted Brigit.

"It is almost done.  You have done well, and served the Light with valor and strength," said Tyrael, struggling to his feet.

Impulsively, Brigit drew close to Tyrael and kissed him.  The angel was paralyzed with shock at first, then wrapped the woman within his dove-white wings, embracing her with equal passion.  

Tyrael ended the kiss, opening his wings for Brigit, his skin gleaming gold once more.  He did not say anything more to Brigit, he led her out into the Canyon, which was bright with golden sunshine, the warmth soft and pleasant against Brigit's skin.  Tyrael closed his eyes and extended his right hand, a glowing arch of golden light appeared in front of Brigit, within the arch was a view of Jerhyn's Palace.

"Go, continue to fight for the Light, and do not despair.  I watch over you," smiled Tyrael.

Brigit returned Tyrael's smile.  She turned to face the radiant arch, then calmly stepped inside it, teleported instantly back to Lut Gholein.

Tyrael allowed the arch to collapse.  He lowered his head, dizziness washed over his mind, his legs trembled with weakness.  Gingerly Tyrael probed his shoulder wound.  The ugly slash was closed, but it still felt chill to Tyrael's touch. Shadowfang was not just lethal to angels, its foul touch could poison humans as well.  Brigit would need a stronger weapon than the Lance of Yaggai to fight Diablo, she would need a weapon forged of Heaven.  Discarding weakness in his concern for Brigit, Tyrael opened his wings wide and rose into the air.  He flew towards the bright, golden sun, resolved to aid the brave amazon woman any way he could.

*****