Mizor (Chapter 19)

Template:Mizor nav Well, that's that. All hope is lost. Mizor knew far too much to think otherwise. The college of Druids was certain, inside Mount Arreat is the Worldstone, the very soul of Nature herself. How it was, no one could say, but it was, and that was the only thing that was important. Very soon, it would no longer be. Baal would enter unchallenged, leaving hordes of demons behind him to slow any pursuit to a crawl, and then... if the Worldstone was a soulstone, like the small ones used to contain the Three, Baal would corrupt it. Corrupting Nature at her very heart... the world was doomed, utterly doomed.

Sitting in Harrogath, drawing a bucket of icy water from their well, Mizor wondered if there was anything stronger to drink in town. When the end came, he didn't want to be awake and aware for it. He'd seen so much terror since he began the quest, surely he was entitled to a little peaceful oblivion before death swept over them all. Paige didn't seem to think so, she kept prodding him with her bow and telling him they had to go get Baal. Mizor explained that there was no point, but she just wouldn't listen; it was beginning to irritate him. They had nearly come to blows when Cain wandered by.

Cain: "Hello! I have been speaking with Anya. Ah, what a fine example of feminine strength. She reminds me of the priestesses of Zakarum I knew in my youth. They don't take vows of chastity, you know."

Mizor: "Wumph." (Whatever.)

Paige: "Cain, please, tell him we need to go! Baal has to be stopped."

Cain: "Of course he must be stopped. Even if Baal is able to pass the summit of Mount Arreat, he must not be given time within it. Though neither Anya nor you will tell me exactly what is inside Mount Arreat, surely, Baal will need time to do what he wants." Mizor: "Hmmm..."

Cain: "Baal has not had so much time as Diablo, and it is possible that even now, you will be able to catch him before he reaches his goal. You have been no more than one step behind him for so long, surely, you can overtake him with a little more effort."

Mizor: (Stands up.) "Rrrassoreaie!" (It's that or sit here and die!)

Paige: "Yeah! Come on!"

Off to the waypoint they went. Through the crystalline passage, they found a narrow trail under the glacier, which led out onto a high frozen tundra. They were all running now, shooting and mauling and chomping their way through hordes of monsters. There were big frozen creeping things that chilled them with their breath, more minotaurs and icy-cold zombies, and more imps than you could smash in one lifetime, though Mizor tried. Some of the little ones wound up getting eaten alive, literally, Mizor was that upset. Maybe Mizor, Paige, and everyone else in all creation would die. But what was the point of sitting and waiting for it? This way, there was a chance, and even if he didn't make it in time, Mizor could still smash Baal for fun, or revenge.

Another tunnel under a second glacier led steeply upwards. On a trip back to town, Qual-kehk spoke with Mizor, to warn him of what was ahead. The Ancient Ones would surely test him, before allowing him into the Worldstone chamber, and they were mighty indeed. While Qual-kehk had never dared venture to the summit himself, a very few others had; some now served within the Worldstone Keep, others, no one ever heard from again. The Ancients were the ancestors, and the gods, of all the Barbarian clans; only honorable combat would prove Mizor worthy to enter their realm.

Mizor: (Looks at Paige.)

Paige: "Should I stay home?"

Qual-kehk: "What do you mean?"

Paige: "You said honorable combat. Is hired help honorable?"

Qual-kehk: (Laughs.) "Your presence will make little difference to the Ancient Ones."

Paige: "Gee, thanks a lot."

Qual-kehk: "You are entirely welcome. Now go, and die bravely, if that is your fate."

How reassuring. After clawing their way through the tunnel, they came out onto the summit of Mount Arreat. The view from the summit was awesome; rings of fortifications surrounded the mountain on all sides, covering hundreds of square miles. On the summit, there was a gate, closed and locked, and an altar. Surrounding the altar were three statues, covered with snow; they looked like they were made out of solid metal, tarnished with incredible age. If these were the Ancients, Baal hadn't even taken the time to stop and spit in their faces. No, wait, he did. Blech.

There was writing on top of the altar; Mizor moved to brush away the snow, but when he touched the altar, three deep voices suddenly spoke up. "We are the spirits of the Nephalem, the Ancient Ones. We have been chose to guard sacred Mount Arreat, wherein the Worldstone rests. Few are worthy to stand in its presence; fewer still can comprehend its true purpose. Before you enter, you must defeat us." With that, the three statues burst open in a flash of golden fire, and three huge Barbarians leapt to the attack.

Mizor sighed. The name is Nephilim! Barbarians. Even their gods can't spell their own name right. But, gods or not, they were rather large and fast, and as the one with the sword spun through like a wolverine on speed, it seemed to Mizor that these guys were serious. Bear squared off with one swinging a halberd. Paige was being targeted by Mr. Cuisinart, so Mizor tossed her a potion and moved to distract him. A maul to the noggin makes for a good distraction. The other Ancient stood to one side, screaming and tossing tiny little axes.

After a short time, it became obvious that the axe thrower was the brains of the outfit, and his screaming was having some positive effect on the other two. Of course, being a weak support unit is about the same as painting a nice, big, fat bullseye on yourself. Mizor made him his new special friend, and Mr. Yelper ran like a scared little bunny. Barbarians. All this talk of honorable combat, and they scamper all over the place. Mizor pounded his head in. The swordsman went spinning through again, so Paige needed another potion, but he went down quickly once Mizor could afford to give him his full attention. And Bear beat the fellow with the halberd to death while Mizor wasn't looking. Good Bear!

The Nephilim (no matter what they say) congratulated Mizor, and told him Baal was in the Worldstone Keep, on his way to corrupt the Worldstone. So why didn't you do anything about it when you had a chance, Mizor snarled under his breath. Some gods you are, paying attention to some stupid little totem when a demon lord is strolling by, for crying out loud. Mortals, at least, have more sense. The gates to the keep opened, and Mizor went in.