GATES OF DIVINITY. TOI BLASIER
into the Acheron River with pitch forks. Lucifer paid it no mind and approached the sole individual in the room. The individual began to respond with “Greetings, I am…” Lucifer immediately interrupted him. “I don’t care who you are. I want you to tell me where to find Beelzebub.” Ciacco paused for a moment and before he could utter another word, Lucifer threatened to throw his wretched soul into the river if he did not answer right away. Ciacco responded immediately “I have heard he spends his time at the Glabretch Estates.” “I hope for your sake you are right, because if he is not, I will be back to remove your eyes and limbs and toss you into the river to float upon it like excrement.” he said menacingly. There was no time to waste and Lucifer departed Hell’s Kitchen at once.
Lucifer boards the All Sorrows outside Hell’s Kitchen, the free city built on a flotilla of barges that allows travel on the Ruins of Grand Canal. An ambitious project of the expansive canal was meant to link the Acheron and its downward tributaries to the marshes and lakes of the upper Third Circle. A sabotage by The Branded ruined the plans and the Grand Canal as well as the City of Scarreach. The waters of the canal were mucky and filled with sludge. Despite the disgusting appearance of the liquid, it seemed like creatures were moving below the surface, with ripples and bubbles showing their location. Lucifer peered off to the shore and noticed some figures in the distance. They appeared to be fishermen, but every so often a disembodied soul would desperately reach for them to escape the water but would be violently kicked back in by the piscator. After an intermission stop at the midway port of Gall, the All Sorrows continued its path and into port at the Ruined City of Scarreach. Lucifer stepped off All Sorrows and reminisced how Scarreach used to be a glorious city of the Third Circle. The city and its structures have been decaying for eons. The canal project would have revolutionized aquatic trade and travel to Scarreach but since its collapse the city has been in ruins and deteriorating since then. Lucifer saw the shadow creatures crawling through the openings of the ruins, the hauntings that take up space but have no explanation of their existence, even to Lucifer. They are constantly searching for something that will never be. They fall beyond any realm, not soul nor creature, their existence can only be described as a supernatural lie. Just beyond the ruined city lied the Glabretch Estates where he hoped to find Beelzebub. Without hesitation he began to make his way there.
As he drew closer to the Glabretch Estates, his path was obscured by an overgrowth of mold and vegetation. The decline of the buildings matched the stench of rot and decaying flesh. Once he reached the first building, he could see the mass of a figure staring down at him over the ledge of the roof. “Beelzebub.” he whispered under his breath. Lucifer quickly made his way up to the roof and saw that no one was there. “Behind you.” he heard a voice say. Lucifer spun quickly on his heels to be standing face to face with Beelzebub. His long, raven hair shrouded the contours of his face. His eyes had a dull red, luminescence, like his demonic runes tattooed on his body. The paleness of his skin allowed his musculature to be displayed even in the darkest of shadows. His wings bared a resemblance to a dragon, although on a smaller scale, but majestic in comparison to his frame. “My old friend…” Lucifer began to say before being quickly interrupted. “What are you doing here, Lucifer?” “Well, that’s no way to welcome an old friend.” “Who said we were friends? Don’t you think I would have been at the pit to welcome you back if we were “friends”? You’ve got some nerve seeking me out like this, Lucifer.” he said with great contempt. “What’s your problem? Why are you talking to me like this? You are my right hand, remember? You’re in charge when I am not…” Again, Beelzebub interrupts “Does it look like I’m in charge? Look around Lucifer! Did you not see the Great Worm keeping me here?!? I’M NOT IN THIS CIRCLE BY CHOICE!” he shouts. “While you were locked up, it all fell apart. You are right! I am supposed to be in charge in your absence, but your defeat allowed the Heavens to take control. Samael has been running things and he doesn’t work for us.” he explained. “You let us all down when you lost against Michael. Now you think you can just come back, and everything will go back to the way it was? You are delusional! Now leave me be and GET OUT OF HERE!” With that last shouting retort, Beelzebub shoves Lucifer off the roof. In mid-fall, Lucifer spreads his wings and glides back up to the roof. He hovers above Beelzebub for a moment before speaking to him again, but before he can even utter another word, Beelzebub has already leapt into air to tackle Lucifer back on to the floor of the roof. Upon their landing, Beelzebub manages to straddle Lucifer and pound on his chest and head with a double fist. “I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE! WHY WON’T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?” he screamed at him in anger. Lucifer knew he was in trouble now. Beelzebub was chosen to be his second-in-command for good reason, and it was not for his gentle nature. He had to come up with a plan fast. He knew that even for him, Beelzebub was a force to be reckoned with.
Lucifer smacked his wings against the floor to create a small space between himself and Beelzebub. Enough space to get his legs up and kick Beelzebub high up into the air. Lucifer immediately took advantage of his opponent’s vulnerability. Like a streak of light, Beelzebub was being launched even higher in the air with Lucifer’s lightning-like uppercut. A flash shot out across the sky of Tears upon contact of the strike. A shockwave of pain shot through Beelzebub’s entire body, from the tip of his head and all the way to his toes. A rush of pure agony, and it was a reminder to Beelzebub why he would always be second to Lucifer.
Beelzebub began to fall from up high and Lucifer flew in and caught him and began to lower him back to the roof. “I did not come here for a fight, old friend. I’m here to reenlist your services.” he said calmly. Beelzebub grumbled at that statement. He was still dazed from Lucifer’s strike, but still managed to ask, “Why would I want to work for you again?” “It will be different this time, I promise. We will restore Hell back to the old management and then exact our revenge on Heaven and make them pay!” Beelzebub began to laugh despite the pain in his jaw. “Revenge?” he asked rhetorically. “Did you already forget what happened to you the last time you attacked Heaven?” “It will be different this time. I promise. I have had plenty of time…” “Oh, I’m sure you have!” Beelzebub interrupted. “No, listen to me. I promise, it WILL be different this time. My new plan will not fail. I have considered every detail.” Lucifer continued to explain. Beelzebub groaned. “But the prophecies Lucifer…you are not destined to win.” Lucifer felt his temper rise instantly. “Listen to me, you little twerp, prophecies mean nothing! They are propaganda at best! I will have my revenge! Do you understand?” he began to calm again and said coolly, “If you’re not with me, then I must destroy you.” Lucifer’s last statement was enough to change the expression on Beelzebub’s face from mockery to concern. Lucifer waited patiently for Beelzebub to consider his offer. Beelzebub knew there was only one answer he could give. He knew he was not kidding and that it would be an effortless task for Lucifer to destroy him. “You promise we can win this time?” Beelzebub asked. “I promise.” Lucifer assured him. Beelzebub took a knee, “I am yours to command, my king.”
Lucifer helped him back to his feet, “Now, we have much to do. I have already sent Lilith to reenlist the services of Asteroth, but in the meantime, I think we need to pay a little visit to Samael.”
5
Meanwhile, Lilith disembarked the Minotaur Line, a railway system that provides the main transportation through the Nine Circles of Hell. She did not know where Asteroth was, but she had a fairly good idea how to find him. She could see Peak Malice off in the distance and knew she had a long journey ahead of her. Lilith stood atop the ridge of a bare mountain-scape and looked down where she could see the Zethu Estates. She descended the ridge like an opaque shadow in the moonlight.
Lilith wasted no time and moved hastily across the landscape, passing up Zethu Estates as stealthily as possible to avoid any contact with the demonic populous and continuing past Acheron. When she got to Moloch, she had her work cut out for her. There was no way around the fortress. She would have to get inside in order to get out the other side. She was not thrilled about this, for inside Moloch, she would have to face the entity named Moloch and he would no doubt demand a grand sacrifice which she had none to give. She could have easily waited for Lucifer to reenlist the services of Beelzebub so that he could have Moloch grant her passage. She realized that her impatience and overzealousness to please Lucifer had put her in a difficult situation. The fortress had no entrance and