Tearlach (Act III)

Template:Tearlach nav Getting to Kurast was going to take time. The city had waypoints, of course -- they were just about everywhere. But none were functional; someone had deactivated them all a few years ago. No ships ever came out of Kurast either, and those which went in never came back. Since Mephisto was imprisoned there, all this told Tearlach he was loose and in control of the land. For once, Cain agreed. Kurast was the holy city of the Zakarum religion, a young upstart faith that had replaced the old ways across all the southern lands. That alone probably made it responsible for most of the south's weakness. It makes you wonder just how long ago Mephisto broke his prison. What demon wouldn't love to secretly be in charge of the forces arrayed against him?

Lord Jerhyn paid for a ship to ferry Tearlach across the Twin Seas. This was his first time on the sea -- and he hoped by all his sacred ancestors it would be the last. From the moment he stepped onto those bobbing planks, his stomach balled up into a tiny knot of spastic pain and squealed "I don't wanna!" to anything even remotely resembling food. Everything he tried to eat went over the side sooner or later, most likely sooner. Thank the Light it was a short trip, or he might have starved.

Lying below decks, clinging to a heaving bunk, gave Tearlach some time to think, when his stomach left his brain alone. Mostly, he thought about how annoying this was. Diablo and his brother escaped him. They didn't even bother fighting him, they just ran off to find their other brother. He had a destiny; great forces had gathered behind him, and The Three were sure to perish by his hand. But those damned demons weren't cooperating. As he thought about it, he began to realize what they were doing. He may be destined to defeat them in combat, there was no guarantee he'd do so before they'd destroyed the world.

"Damn it," he muttered, "I've been doing this wrong."

"What was that?" a voice asked. The old man was in the cabin; he couldn't seem to get rid of that stinky geriatric no matter how hard he tried.

"Those demons are spiting me. I'll kill them, and they know it. They're seeing how much they can destroy before I do it."

Cain nodded. "That is possible... you never did tell me what you found in Baal's tomb. Presumably, Baal was not there."

"Some angel was there, told me Baal was gone with Diablo. Said the world would be ashes if The Three got together. Damn it, I should have been faster."

"Now, now, there's no time for regrets. I know you're doing your best."

"Damn you, wizard, I can't rule a heap of ashes! There has to be something left to rule after I've killed them. They're not too cowardly to fight me -- they know they can't win, so they're going to take my victory from me out of spite!"

Sighing, Cain bowed his head. It wasn't Tearlach's eccentric conclusions (for all he knew, he might be right) but his complete self-assurance that bothered him the most This muscle-headed oaf honestly thought the world revolved around him. "Do you know which angel it was? What did he tell you?"

"An angel is an angel. He barely spoke five words. I should have noticed the scorn. And I deserved it, dallying with lasses while my enemy took my kingdom from me."

"It might have been the archangel Tyrael, ancient patron of the Horadrim. Of all Heaven's brethren, he was always the most compassionate towards mortals. It was he who gave us the Soulstones to imprison The Three."

"Fat lot of good it did. They all broke their prisons."

"It would seem so... though I would never doubt Tyrael's wisdom. There is one more thing I wonder about. You spoke of ruling a kingdom after defeating The Three. I thought that Barbarians did not recognize kings."

"Don't be stupid, if you can help it. Of course I'll be a mighty king. But not at home."

"I would think you'd want to return to your homeland! You've spoken so fondly of it."

Tearlach rolled on his side to face the wall. "I'll not be going back."

After a moment's silence, Cain cleared his throat and said, "I don't suppose --"

"Wizard."

"Yes?"

"Do you want to see how easily you'll fit through that porthole?"

"I'll leave you, then."

With a favorable wind, they reached Kurast in a few days. The city was well up a mighty river, so huge they might as well have still been on the sea. Even when they did get close to the bank, no land was visible: a wall of greenery covered everything. To judge from the crew's reaction, this was not normal. Meshif didn't try for landfall until they found a pier. Here, at least, they might have something solid to stand on. Tearlach was happy to be the first one off. Their welcome was meager; two people stood on the dock, small and slight with dark skin. One carried a bundle of strange yellow things, which he started selling with surprising eagerness. The other greeted Tearlach.

"Welcome to what remains of Kurast, traveler. Your appearance suggests humor to my eye; I hope you brought some wit with you, for it is in very short supply."

"I am Tearlach, son of Grignr, son of Gor, here to rid the world of The Three."

"I am Hratli, smith and enchanter. It is a pleasure to see someone with a use for my skills; I don't have many customers these days."

Looking down at this small, weedy, pathetic excuse of a man, Tearlach couldn't help but sneer. A smith? An enchanter he could see, or some kind of wizard. Oh, well; at least he's male. "Fine. So, give me the details, I haven't got all day. Where's Mephisto?"

"In the heart of the city, in many senses. Kurast was built around the tower where he was buried. Why, you might ask, was a tower built to imprison a being who was buried beneath the earth? It seems that even then there was confusion at Kurast's heart."

Great, he likes to talk in riddles. "Right. What's with all the plants?"

"While Zakarum grew, the jungle fell back. Though the church still stands, the jungle now prospers and is advancing daily, covering the land in a green hell. Only a protective dome I have placed over this dock keeps the growth from consuming us all."

"Plants don't eat anything, wizard. I do not fear trees."

"When trees grow teeth and pursue men, those in the jungle need to fear. The rivers flow red with blood; perhaps they have grown fond of the taste."

"Whatever. I hope you'll be less useless than the last mage." Then, Tearlach noticed the sailors eating the yellow things. He bought what was left of the bundle and chowed down; they tasted terrible, but his stomach calmed immediately.

Hratli smiled thinly. "Already, I see you will bring the gift of laughter to us. Most others choose to peel their bananas before eating them."

"Hlmmgh? Uh... no, this way is better! Gives 'em some chew."

"Already, I am much relieved, knowing one such as you has arrived. Feel free to come by my shop whenever you wish. Your presence and heroic appetite will mitigate the tedium and terror each new day brings."

This one was going to be trouble, Tearlach just knew it. For one thing, he didn't understand half of what he said. Do they train wizards not to make sense? Maybe they have classes in obfuscation and snootiness at wizard school. As he wandered away from the ship, Tearlach saw the jungle surrounded the docks on all sides. If he stood in one place, he could actually watch plants grow. Why didn't that enchanter just say so, instead of babbling about trees eating people? Wizards. To the south, some natives had gathered around a bonfire. They were all dark, weedy little types, except one who didn't look local. She was pale, tall and rangy, with dark hair cut nearly down to her scalp. Rather than loose, draping clothes like everyone else had, she wore tight black leather and a red-lined cape. Not that the look did much for her; her figure was almost boyish.

"Hello, stranger. I've heard of your exploits, and... I must say I'm quite impressed."

"Of course. I am Tearlach, son of Grignr, son of Gor. With your hair like that, you look like a dyke. I don't like it."

After a short pause to stare appraisingly at him, the woman said, "Oh, gosh! I never would have thought of that! How terrible this is! I must immediately change my look to something that might please you more."

"Just telling you, lass. You are a lass, aren't you?"

She grinned. "How badly do you want to find out?"

"Not enough to do anything about it." Damn, who does this ugly, scrawny girl think she is, anyway? He has better taste than that. "What do you do around here?"

"I'm a member of a group dedicated to watching the mage clans."

Tearlach threw his head back and laughed! "Who wants to watch them? All they do is talk in riddles and act like they know everything! Except when they meddle with demons; then you kill them. Best to kill them all, just to be safe."

"Hmm. That halfway made sense, right up to the part where you said 'kill 'em all.' Have you met Hratli?"

"Which one is that? The one who says he's a smith?"

"Hratli is a master craftsman. My order could use someone with his talents. I've tried convincing him to leave, but he won't have anything to do with us."

"I don't care what he's master of. A midget like that can't possibly bend steel; I haven't seen a decent smith since I left the north."

"Oh, no; don't call Hratli a midget if you haven't seen the real ones. They're NASTY."

With a snort, Tearlach left. Did everyone here always make vague threats about terrible things? This country hadn't offered up anything more ominous than the foliage. At least the desert carried the threat of thirst or starvation; water abounded here, and surely a jungle could offer up plenty to eat. They got these strange fruits from somewhere. (Actually, once he tried, Tearlach found they did taste better peeled.)

Near the center of this little riverside hostelry, Cain had finally dragged his ancient carcass off the ship and was talking with some tall man. The local was bald as a mountain, almost as tall as Tearlach, and fairly well-muscled; here might be someone worthy of respect, except that he was willingly talking with the old fart. Best to shoo the old man away and give him someone worthy to talk to.

"Hail, warrior! Don't let this blithering old man bother you."

Impassively, the man rapped his staff on the ground, three times. A staff? Damn, it's another stupid wizard! "You now speak to Ormus!"

Looking around in confusion, Tearlach wondered where Ormus was. "Huh?"

"He once was a great mage, was Ormus. Now he lives like a rat in a sinking vessel."

"Well, la-di-da! Where is he, then?"

"You have questions for Ormus?"

"I might, if he were around. What is he, a soothsayer?"

"You have questions for yourself."

"Bring him out, you pompous fool! How am I supposed to ask him anything if I don't know where he is?"

"Lad..." Cain started to say.

"I grow impatient with this dolt! He and his master can rot in Hell. I've no use for riddles and anyone who won't show their face."

As Tearlach stomped off, Cain shook his head. "He means well, usually. Well, not usually, but little harm comes of him."

"Ormus cannot teach this one. He has no patience. Too much like his fathers he is, full of passion and pride."

"So were we all, if you'll remember. He will try his best."

"Try? Do, or do not. There will be no try."

"I'm sure he will, despite himself. I have seen him face many difficult tasks, with no doubt of his own invulnerability. Ah, to be so young and sure of ourselves again."

"Only the ignorant are sure. Ignorance moves forward, where knowledge quakes in fear."

What a complete waste of time, space, and air, Tearlach thought. He was actually starting to miss that stupid wizard back in Lut Gholein. At least he was smart enough to give you a straight answer. As he wandered, Tearlach came to a house, the biggest one on the docks, and in the best repair. Most everything else was rotting or falling apart. A bunch of armed men stood around outside. They wore robes, but also bore swords and shields. Warriors? Wizards? Who knows? This crazy land had so many mages, they might be both. A woman's voice rose over the throng.

"... and I don't want to see any more in camp. I want the ice mages on the periphery, freeze 'em down to the roots and get 'em out. Not one weed. Got me?"

There was a general mumble of assent. "Great. One more thing: Thadar made employee of the week when his charged bolts made that shaman dance the macarena. Thadar, that was great. Let's give him a hand!"

One of the mages bowed deeply as the others laughed and applauded. After some back-slapping, the crowd dispersed, and Tearlach got a look at the woman in charge. My, my... no wonder she was in charge. It was a distinct pleasure to finally meet a woman who knows how to dress for success. She was short and dark, but he wasn't about to hold that against her. Not while there were other things to hold against her.

The woman noticed Tearlach's open leer, and didn't seem too upset. "So, is that a banana in your hand, or are you just admiring the scenery?"

"It's a banana, all right. Woman, you know how to set a man's blood boiling."

"In more ways than one. I'm Asheara, leader of the Iron Wolves. We're the best damned mercenary mages you'll find anywhere."

Yet another mage? Ah, he found himself in a forgiving mood. "I don't suppose you hire out for anything yourself... or do you choose not to mix business with pleasure?"

As shards of ice and bolts of lightning erupted from the house, two nearby Iron Wolves watched with curiosity. "Who was that guy, anyway?"

"Dunno, never saw him before. Did he ask the boss what I think he just asked the boss?"

"I think he did, and I don't think she liked it."

"You think so, do ya? Wait, here he comes."

Tearlach slowly walked past, clutching at his groin. The first Iron Wolf tsked and shook his head. "Fastest Frozen Orb in the east."

"So, does that mean he's got two frozen orbs now?"

"I think he'll be lucky if he's got any after she --"

He was cut off when Tearlach came back and grabbed them both. After a short interlude of inexcusable violence, Tearlach continued his slow trek to find a healer. One who didn't practice "laying on of hands," preferably.

"Ow," said the first Iron Wolf.

"Ow," the second agreed, spitting out some teeth.

"Remind me never to do that again."

"Sure. Just help me find my nose."