Clang! The sound of steel on steel echoed across the battlefield. Renvarin sidestepped the naked golem and slashed. His sword bit deep carving a chasm into the dead flesh of the creature. 

“Ut patiamini.” Xa’raven spoke calmly, as a burst of eldritch energy erupted from his outstretched hand. A sickly green beam followed by a lurid purple beam struck the monster in succession, forcing it back some twenty feet. 

“For Pelor!” Tobias yelled. The paladin closed the distance and swung wildly with his blade. Unfortunately the lunge offset the balance of his feet. His sword missed its mark, instead striking a nearby wall. Rock and dust filled the air but his eyes were drawn to an orange spark where metal hit stone, that as he stared, grew into a torrent of flame. Hellfire. He knew it. Naomi basked in its heat nearly forgetting to chastise Tobias for his failure… nearly.

“Idiot! Must I do everything?!” The angry voice berated him in his mind.

“I’m sorry, I… Where are we?” He questioned as a mighty citadel came into focus.

Built up around a crater, sat a fortress, a place of paradoxical splendor and bleakness. The high parapets of the structure cast dark shadows over the burnt landscape. It was surrounded by featureless plains with jagged edges extending for miles, floating in an endless red void. The grounds were scarred by chasms and ravines, ravaged by fiery storm winds.

“Nessus.” The Erinyes answered.

Tobias turned his head in the direction of the disembodied voice to see a strikingly beautiful woman with alabaster white skin and ink black hair that cascaded below her waist. Piercing blue eyes, malevolent and devoid of compassion, regarded him coldly. Black feathered wings with hints of blue highlights extended behind her. Scaled leather armor, ebon and azure bearing the coat of arms of the Tenth Lord hugged her alluring shape.

“Naomi?”

“Did you expect someone else? Is there someone whom you hold more fondness for than me perhaps?”

“No. I mean. I’m not sure. I never expected…”

“To see me? I thought after all we had been through there’d be a warmer welcome when we did. I’ve shown you benevolence Tobias, shared my power with you and the best you can do is stare mouth agape waiting for hell flies to flutter in?”

Tobias straightened himself. “How are we here?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” She paused, turning away from him toward the citadel. “But as long as we are, there’s something you should see, visions of what could be.”

She reached out for his hand. Tobias stared at the gesture for a long moment.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“Should I?”

“I’d say I’m wounded but I’m not in the habit of telling falsehoods.” She measured him for a second. “How about this? Trust I need you alive.”

The paladin nodded and took her hand.

Black wings enveloped him, drawing him tightly against her. There was a whoosh of fire scorched wind and he could feel his feet leave the ground. When they touched stone again he was inside the structure. Every surface was decorated with precious metals, rare fabrics, and gems of astonishing size, but Tobias couldn’t shake an overwhelming sense of regret and despair that seemed to permeate its well-appointed hallways. The corridors appeared to stretch for miles, and muffled noises echoed emptily through the corridors. Despite its apparent lack of residents, however, the sound of weeping constantly seeped through the walls. The longer he stood there the more a feeling of melancholy threatened to consume him.

“You feel that? I do, so you must.” Naomi asked. “This is life under the rule of Asmodeus, darkness, sadness and regret. Come follow me.”

He wasn’t sure why but Tobias trailed after the comely devil until she reached a massive set of golden doors. Here, behind these doors is the future I can promise you, a future we can build with your help.”

She pushed the doors open revealing a brightly lit throne room. The marble floors had been cracked but repaired with gold and other precious metals along the fault lines. Atop a gilded throne sat a man, fiendishly handsome. Some 8 ft tall, the mustached man of noble visage spoke with a voice that was deep and low.

“Welcome Tobias. Enter and be welcome. I’ve heard tales of your valor and courageous deeds. The words of your loyalty did not go unheard nor shall they be unheeded. You have a place here in this new world where those who engage in evil atrocities are met with the penance they deserve, where their victims have their day of vengeance. Look out into the world and see what I have wrought with your help.” 

Tobias found himself led to a window by Naomi.

“Go on Toby. Look.” She cooed.

The landscape was no longer scarred and burnt. The angry winds and oppressive heat had gone. In its place was a serene landscape of gentle peace. The soft light of the sun kissed the verdant scene and the people, no longer afraid of those who would wish them ill, lived happily together in harmony. A sense of happiness and fulfillment washed over him and he smiled. 

“Beautiful.” Was all he could say.

A blink later he was back on the hill overlooking the citadel. It was magnificent. There was a glorious light emanating from the marvelous high towers that cast spectacular illumination throughout the land.

“Tobias!”

He heard the voice but it seemed so far away. How could he separate himself from the feelings of delight this vision had filled him with.

“Tobias!”

The voice was louder but still far away, as if a dragon were roaring in the distance.

“TOBIAS! We need you!”

The sounds of battle could be heard, voices yelling over other voices. 

“It’s no use. He’s gone. It’s…”

“TOBIAS!”  Raven shoved him as he yelled his name.

“Beautiful” The paladin muttered.

“What?” Raven asked, annoyed.

“Hell. It’s beautiful.” He said again in the infernal tongue.

“Not where I’m from. Wake up Tobias. We could use your help.”

“What?” He asked confused as the vision fell away.

“Ut patiamini!” Xa’raven yelled, casting two more eldritch blasts across the battlefield. “Move!”

Tobias leaned out of the way just in time to avoid being struck. He looked wide eyed at the warlock. “I think we should talk.”

“Fine, yeah. Can we do that after?” He asked, casting two more of the green and purple blasts of energy.

His wits returned, Tobias nodded. “Yeah.” He readied his sword. “Later is fine.”

That evening they found themselves once again quietly speaking in Raven’s room. Z’beksiya had resumed her impish form.

“It was so real Raven.” Tobias shook his head like he was trying to clear his mind. “She was so real.” He gulped hard. “So was he.”

“You saw them?” Raven asked with obvious concern.

“Yeah, Naomi and Gargauth both. They wanted me to see… what could be?” He wasn’t sure of that was the right explanation for it but it was the best words he had.

“Did they say anything?” Z’beksiya asked.

“It’s kind of hazy but yeah, something about my courageous deeds and my loyalty, that I had a place in his new world. I can’t explain it but everything was so perfect.”

“Everything?” Raven asked incredulously.

“Well not at first. I was on a hill in Nessus, there was a crater and massive fortress, and sorrow, deep seeded and crushing.”

The two denizens of hell shared a knowing look at each other.

“But then I saw Naomi, I mean I’ve heard tales of the beauty of Erinyes but she…” His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed a bit. “She had an ethereal beauty, the likes I’ve never seen or imagined.”

“I did say she was an angel.” Z’beksiya scoffed dismissively.

“Then she asked me to trust her. I wasn’t sure that was a good idea.”

“Probably not.” Z’beksiya said out of the corner of her mouth.

“So she said trust I want to keep you alive.”

“She has a purpose for you my friend.”

“Yeah, I kind of got that too. That’s when she showed me the vision of how glorious hell… the world would be if Gargauth rose to power.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah. She called me Toby. Nobody calls me Toby. Not for a long time at least.” His eyes wandered off as thoughts of his master, the valiant knight and paladin Sir Arthur Hallowspirit invaded his mind. He twitched as a presence buried deep within cringed at the memory.

“Tobias.” Raven placed a hand on his shoulder. “You ok?”

“Oh. Yeah.” He was startled for a moment. “What do you think caused all that?”  

“I’m not sure. It could be a strengthening of your connection with Naomi or…”

“A peek into her desires or dreams.” Z’beksiya finished for him.

“Maybe.” The paladin agreed. “I’m not sure how I feel about either of those ideas.”

“Well at least you know she wants you alive. I mean that has to count for something right?” Z’beksiya offered, shrugging her shoulders.

“You really suck at this Bex.” Raven said.

The imp shrugged her shoulders again.

“I think I should get some sleep, maybe pray a bit to Pelor for guidance. Maybe there are answers there.” He suggested optimistically.

“Maybe.” Raven agreed.

“I doubt it.” Bex said moving further into the bed to lie down more comfortably.

Raven admonished her with a look.

“What?” She feigned insult.

“It’s ok. Thanks again. And thanks for keeping this between us, I’m afraid… I’m not sure the others would understand.”

“No worries my friend, and no judgment here.”

“Nope, none.” The imp echoed.

“I appreciate that. Good night.”

“Good night Tobias.”

Raven watched him leave.

“We should keep an eye on him, Bex.”

“You think?” She said irritated. “As if looking after you wasn’t trouble enough.”

“Hey thanks.” He said sarcastically. 

“You know what I mean.”

“I know. I appreciate you Bex.” 

“I should hope so. But just to be sure, maybe show some of that appreciation to my shoulders.” She said as rolled onto her belly. ”Flying about as much as I do for you makes my muscles sore.”

“Sure thing.” He obliged.

“He’s getting worse.” She offered in not so quiet contemplation.

“I know.”