James Ward: The Paladins

"Never again," returned Rejik.

"Report," commanded General Raachaak, appearing out of nowhere and ringing their brains with the ferocity of his thoughts. They shrieked in surprise and trembled before the gigantic, winged tanar'ri.

"We discovered a gate within the city of the bloodforge, and learned its other side lay in another part of the world, called Undermountain," thought Shaakat hastily.

"A slice of the Abyss, it was," added Rejik. "A wondrous place!"

"I know of it, and Skullport as well. Continue."

"We found the gate in Undermountain, but it was defended by paladins of Tyr!"

"Tyr! A greater power of Mount Celestia! Perhaps the upper planars are planning to acquire the bloodforge!" The general gritted his fangs in consternation. "Did you destroy the paladins?"

"Yes, indeed!" cried Shaakat. "But they destroyed the gate before they died!"

The balor reared his head and bellowed in rage, filling the vast emptiness with his terrifying cry. "Miserable failures!" he snarled, gazing upon the vrocks.

"Not failures! Not failures!" insisted Shaakat. 'You ordered us to discover a way into the city of the bloodforge, and we did! We can find another way in!"

"The gate was a bad way in anyhow!" cried Rejik. "The side in the city of the bloodforge was surrounded by many, many powerful fighters!"

"I will find a way into that city!" declared Raachaak, freeing his whip, "but you will not!"

The sixty-fifth level of the Abyss is an empty, infinite place, but at that moment it was filled to its borders with the sound of cracking leather and piteous screaming.