Xanthippe (Chapter 13)

Template:Xanthippe nav The Canyon of the Magi was a small, steep-walled gorge, blocked with rock falls at both ends. Some Saber Cats and huge Sand Maggots were in there, but they were everywhere. No human tracks led to any of the tombs; unless Diablo flew through in, he hadn't gotten here yet. Which led to the question, which was the right tomb? There were seven tombs around the canyon walls, that was right. Tal Rasha was in "the square one," but all of these tombs had roughly square entrances. Xanthippe and Kasim stumbled around in the dark, looking for some clue, but couldn't find anything. Finally, Xanthippe decided there was no point looking without some daylight. There was a disused waypoint in the middle of the canyon, so they just went home.

When they arrived at Lut Gholein, the city was on fire. Did the demons invade while she was in the palace? No, there were no demons, just people, and only a couple of buildings were burning. Jerhyn was directing a bucket brigade from the bay, and Drognan was using frost bolts to put out smaller fires before they spread. Still worried that demons might have tried to invade, or take advantage of some other emergency, Xanthippe went to the gates. They were locked tight, but there were a lot of bodies a short distance outside. If the demons never got in, what caused the fires? She stopped to ask Greiz.

"Oh, yeah. There was a bit of a panic when you disappeared into the palace. What were you doing in there so long, anyway?"

"It was just overnight," Xanthippe frowned. "What panic? What happened?"

Greiz looked at her quizzically. "In the first place, you were gone almost two days. Second, everybody heard you screaming about demons in the palace. When you went in and didn't come out, everyone got scared."

Two days? When did... then she remembered Horazon's sanctuary. Time didn't seem to pass in there, she'd lost track of how long it took to get through. "Well, I was OK."

Greiz shrugged. "Doesn't matter. When someone screamed 'demons in the palace,' half the city fled. We've been listening to them getting eaten out there ever since."

"You mean all the bodies out there... ?"

"The demons let them get far enough to be out of arrow shot. Took most of the horses in the city, too. I hate listening to horses scream. Worse noise than people."

Xanthippe stared silently at the burning city. Finally, Kasim spoke up. "Boss? I don't know about you, but I feel like we've been up for two days."

Slowly, Xanthippe nodded. "Yeah. There's nothing we can do now."

Xanthippe went back to Warriv's caravan through the dark alleys behind the palace. If she went by the docks, she'd have to pass the fire brigade, and she did not want to talk to Jerhyn tonight. Not now, not until she'd gotten some sleep. The caravan wagons had all been broken into; a lot of stuff was stolen, and all the horses were gone. Warriv and the other merchants must be gone or at the fire. So, no one would mind if she crawled into Warriv's nice comfy bunk and...

It was morning. Warriv was shaking Xanthippe's shoulder. "Here, you shouldn't be in my bed! Someone might get the wrong impression about us."

"Oh, sorry," Xanthippe mumbled, and got up. Ouch, her back! She'd fallen asleep in the armor. Bad thing to do. "Is Jerhyn all right?"

Warriv smiled. "He's fine, I'm fine. Everything looks much better by the light of day. There are no more demons in the palace, and while I will have some trouble taking my caravan any further, the animals can be replaced."

Nodding, Xanthippe unbuckled her splint mail and bent over to touch her toes, putting her palms on the floor. Every muscle in her back screamed. "Where will you get more horses?"

Warriv looked away. "Many of the local desert tribes have kept their herds intact through the troubles. While they are not trained to harness, I'm sure we can work something out. But you have a bigger concern than horses, my friend. Greiz says the demons are no longer visible outside the walls; they seem to have left us."

That could be very good or very, very bad. "I've got to speak with Jerhyn."

"I think you should. He seems to like you. Be sure to take your things with you."

"I've got everything here."

"What about those things? They certainly aren't mine."

Warriv was pointing at a pile of battle gear next to the bunk. There was a huge gothic shield, an armor-plated belt, a ring, several runestones, and a battle crown set with an absolutely gigantic ruby. Inside the crown was a piece of paper with a note:

"Darlin, you've done so very well! Last night, you really passed a threshold. I am happy to present you with most all of the things I have for you! The runeword is RalOrtTal, the pledge of the Ancient Ones. Oh, and try to work up a little more muscle, that bardiche you're using just won't cut the mustard much longer. It's hard to find a good voulge or scythe, but where you're going next, they sell poleaxes. Work on it, girl! -- The Mule."

Even though part of her brain was urgently insisting she get moving, Xanthippe read the note twice. The presumptuousness of this guy... who the heck does he think he is, giving her wonderful presents without her permission, and wanting nothing in return?! What's his angle, anyway? What in the blinking flaming bejeezus does he want? She went up to the palace, carrying the load of new equipment awkwardly in her arms. Kasim followed behind, wondering why she didn't ask him to help her with it, but glad she hadn't. That stuff looked heavy.

Outside the palace, Jerhyn was speaking reassuringly to a small crowd. "All is well! The emanations of evil from the corrupted sanctuary are no more, and the danger is past. I am so sorry I could not tell you, but with the city so crowded, I feared a panic if word got out."

"But where did the demons go?" someone asked.

"They're not here now, that's all I care about," someone else answered.

"I still think we should have been told."

"Believe me, this was for the best," Jerhyn said. "Drognan the wizard advised me. In the days of old, during the great Sin War, small demons would stow away with travelers fleeing the advance of evil. Once they were in a new place, the small demons summoned their larger brethren, and the war began anew. You would simply have carried your doom with you to new lands."

"But we all could have died here!" someone shouted.

Jerhyn saw Xanthippe, but continued to address the crowd. "And if you had gone elsewhere, would you be any less dead there? The whole world is under a new attack, or will be soon. If we do not fight them, they just grow stronger. Running will only help them to spread. For the good of the world, of all people, not just us, the line had to be drawn! My life was as much at risk as yours. The line had to be drawn here!"

The crowd didn't have an answer to that. "Now go to your homes," Jerhyn said. "There is still much to be done and little time. I must speak with our champion."

Champion? He's got to mean me, Xanthippe thought, but the word felt so strange. "Lord Jerhyn, about the demons outside --"

"The demons are no longer outside; during the night, they left the city walls, and I fear for us all."

"I also want to say I'm sorry for screaming. I was --"

"There is no time! Regrets may come when there is a moment to indulge them, not now."

"Does Drognan know anything about the tomb of Tal Rasha?"

"Only what he has told you, and me, which is almost nothing. What are these things?"

"Uh..." Xanthippe looked down at the bundle she was carrying. "Christmas presents."

Picking up the crown, Jerhyn whistled. "You have generous friends." He unbuckled her helm, and ceremoniously placed the crown on her head. "I dub thee champion of Lut Gholein, and charge thee with the conquest of Diablo. Now hurry, time runs short."

The crown filled Xanthippe with a surge of life. After setting the runes in the shield, putting on the ring and belt, and rearranging her potions, she and Kasim ran to the waypoint and returned to the Canyon of the Magi. The canyon was empty except for a dead camel. Two sets of human footprints led into one of the tombs... which had square decorations carved on its lintel, where they had been invisible in the dark. One set of prints led out of the tomb, to the canyon wall; whoever made those could climb like a monkey. So, Xanthippe thought, two went in, one came out; which to chase?

She led Kasim into the tomb. It was full of the usual complement of evil creatures, which they dispatched with all speed. One monster dropped a legendary ring, the Nagelring. The last chamber held a dais, carved with mystical symbols of protection. A round hole at the apex fit the base of the Horadric staff like a keyhole, and a when she set the staff in its place, a burst of energy shot from the gemstones in its head. One wall of the chamber crumbled, and they went through.

"Looking for Baal?" a horrible voice croaked in greeting, and the smell of rot washed over them. A huge maggot, pulpy and white, reared up its front end. It had arms ending in giant axe blades, and a grinning mouth full of blade-like teeth. The stench of it was overwhelming. Lifting itself off the floor on its arms, it catapulted forward on a thick layer of slime and slammed bodily into Xanthippe; she was glad she'd gone in with her new shield up, but was still knocked back into the wall. Kasim sliced across the thing's soft body with his poleaxe, but it didn't seem to care.

For several minutes, they chopped and slashed at the thing, keeping close to it so it wouldn't vault into them again. It struck swiftly with its axes, grinning with pleasure. Xanthippe switched to the bardiche, her morning star was of little use; the way to kill this thing seemed to be to chop it so full of holes it would bleed to death. Fortunately, though it could speak, it didn't seem to be very smart. After smashing one of them back into the wall, it would turn to the other instead of pressing its advantage, giving them time to recover. It was a hard fight, but Andariel had given her more trouble. Finally, the thing died in an explosion of slime and maggots.

"That was 18 different flavors of disgusting," Kasim opined.

"Yeah," Xanthippe agreed, a feeling of doom creeping over her.

"Hey, look," said Kasim, pointing at the wall paintings, one of which showed a chained man impaled on a giant red crystal. "They took the time to decorate the place."

"If what this thing said is any guide, Baal and Diablo are gone."

"Uh... yeah. We'd better at least look around."

Damn it. She'd had it all figured out, too. Diablo was looking through all the tombs in the desert. So, all she had to do was take Tal Rasha out of the tomb he was supposed to be in, and put him in a tomb Diablo already checked. The old tomb right outside Lut Gholein's gates would have been perfect; it was so obvious, he'd never look there. The best place to hide a book is in a library. But Diablo found the tomb while she was lying in bed asleep.

Deeper in the tomb, great hairy worms were crawling all over the floor. Kasim squished them as he led the way in; Xanthippe just trudged along behind. The tomb had one huge inner chamber, with a pit of molten rock surrounding an island draped with empty chains. Above a bridge over the lava was a strange being. It glowed brightly, yet was eclipsed by its own luminescence. Floating as delicately as the ether, it was encased in heavy golden armor, with a huge sword at its side. Glowing tendrils like wings came from its back, but no bird or beast was ever supported by such things. "Hello," said a voice at once powerful and gentle. If this was a demon, it was the most beautiful demon there ever was, but it didn't attack. Its blade was sheathed.

"H-hello," Xanthippe said.

"I thank you, mortal, for my freedom. Though I did expect you earlier. Diablo and Baal have fled, I was unable to stop them both."

"Who are you?"

"I am the Archangel Tyrael, benefactor of the Horadrim of old. In ages past, the Horadrim pursued the Three Prime Evils to the ends of the earth, allowing my hands to remain clean of them. Now that the Horadrim are gone, I felt I must come to earth to do battle with Diablo, and prevent him from freeing his brother. I have failed."

Slowly, Xanthippe nodded. "You're an angel."

"An Archangel, blessed by the light, benefactor of the Horadrim. You must go, mortal, and continue your pursuit of the Three. I am too weakened by battle to follow."

Staring at this... being, Xanthippe smiled slightly. "Keep chasing them."

"Yes, mortal. Other duties call to me, I must see to them."

"Duties? Oh, yes." Xanthippe grinned. "Heavens, yes. So sorry, great Archangel, to have kept you waiting. Us mortals have to do this thing called SLEEPING!"

Tyrael said nothing. "Oh, yes, us poor weak little mortals," Xanthippe continued. "Lest you might dirty your pure, sanctimonious hands with the tiniest speck, I'll be HAPPY to chase every demon lord in Creation to the ends of the earth! Please, oh great Tyrael, tell me how I might serve you better? Do you like me on my back, or on my knees? Either way, I get the shaft, don't I?! Oh, no, precious angel-kins is too weakened by battle after, what, one fight!? Well, what about ME!?! I had to carve my way across this GODFORSAKEN desert, with no help from YOU or ANYONE ELSE to get to this damned tomb!!"

Looking very pale, Kasim mumbled, "Uh, I helped a little."

"SHUT UP!!" Xanthippe was livid now. "What is up with you angels, anyway!? Sitting up in the heavens, lest the stench of mere mortals offend thy delicate nostrils, telling everybody what's good and what's bad!?! LIKE YOU'D KNOW!! What do you know about ANYTHING?!? You just sit up there, all pure and powerful, with us mortals like some kind of buffer state between you and Hell! Is that it?! This whole SH!TPILE just a layer of insulation between you and Hell?! Or maybe it's the battleground you chose so you wouldn't risk having some icky demon touch his toe to your precious heaven!! EITHER WAY, WE GET SCREWED!!"

Kasim was edging away from Xanthippe, hoping to be out of the blast radius. But Tyrael did not even appear ruffled by her shrieking. His expression was impossible to judge, but when he spoke, all that was in his voice was sadness. "To lose your mother at such a young age, you have suffered greatly. She did not abandon you, as you thought when you were a child. She sent you away so that you might have a better life than she had."

With a clank, Xanthippe's bardiche dropped from her nerveless hand. Tyrael continued, "Your grandmother wanted you to remain, and carry on your family business. When the Zann Esu came, your mother went against her will, and removed you from your grandmother's power. The gift you carry within you made you more than your mother could ever be, and she knew that it must be allowed to flourish for you to have any chance at happiness."

Looking back and forth from Tyrael, impassive and majestic, to Xanthippe, now shivering and crying, Kasim wondered what the hell was going on. "Where is she?" Xanthippe finally whimpered, "Was she ever happy? Can I see her again?"

"Those questions, I cannot answer."

"Please," Xanthippe started sobbing, "I just want to see my mommy again..."

"I cannot help you," Tyrael intoned. "You must put your anger aside. Your world is being invaded, by beings whose goal is your destruction. You are correct, in a way; the mortal realms lie between Heaven and Hell, and Hell's intent is to make the mortal realms a staging point for an assault on Heaven itself. This cannot be allowed, for your sake, and for ours."

Wiping her eyes, Xanthippe nodded. "Where are they going?"

"To Kurast, where the eldest of the Three awaits them. Here is a gate to Lut Gholein. You must travel across the seas, and pray you are not too far behind."

"Can't you just zap me to Kurast?"

Tyrael might have laughed. "My strength is at an ebb. The journey will give you time to recover the strength of spirit you will need as well. Go now."

Everyone in Lut Gholein was sad, and horrified to learn of Baal's escape. "Do not worry," Jerhyn said. "You have done very well. I speak for all of us when I say we would trust you with our very lives. For the sake of all, you must continue your quest." Lysander was far less poetic about it. "It was never going to be easy. Go, and remember us fondly. You know, you bothered me far less than most." She went off to Meshif's ship with her luggage, Kasim... and a handful of licorice.

Concluding thoughts:

1. Thunderstorm is a fairly nice skill, but it would be nicer if it struck more often.
2. Mana Shield is OK, I've never used it before. I'm not sure how it works, though. Seems to absorb a percentage of damage; all kinds of damage?
3. The crown is a rare crown with: 17% faster hit recovery, 26% fire resist, 33% cold resist, +12% enhanced defense, and with the perfect ruby, +74 life.
4. I'm 2 points of strength away from a poleaxe! Aaagh! That bardiche just isn't enough anymore, but I haven't found anything that's a real improvement.