The Creation

[Sardinal]

Creation
Act One: A Bridge to Nowhere

At the highest point of a gently arching bridge stood a man. Arms folded on the white marble railing before him, Thelin stared with kind cerulean eyes into an endless stretch of misty grey skies. A small chuckle escaped him at the thought of calling the eternal nothingness he peered into "Skies" That would imply there was earth for those skies to soar above, and no such thing existed in this place. Though a sun warmed breeze tousled his short platinum hair, no actual sun lit the colorless reaches above him. He new that despite the presence of massive marble columns supporting the bridge he stood on, if he could but peer down far enough, those immense beams would eventually fade into nothing. No rock supported the structure, no water flowed beneath it. In this place, this nowhere between the real and the possible, all that existed was his will.

He turned from the railing and took in the expanse of the bridge he had created with a simple thought. In either direction it stretched into the distance without end. Gleaming white marble, all veined with blues and greens, it was a thing of rare beauty. Every hundred yards a graceful tower rose from the walkway, each covered in exquisite carvings of vines and leaves and flowers and all manner of growing things. At the top of these towers flew pennons, alternating between the purple dragon on white of the homeland he was leaving behind, and the purple phoenix of his own incredible accomplishments. With a small smile, Thelin shifted his desires and watched the bridge shift with them. The towers expanded, covering the breadth of the walkway, and grew arching tunnels that would shield those upon the bridge from rain or snow, if such things were possible here. It was marvelously easy to create almost anything in this place.

He turned again and began a casual stroll down the bridge, musing idly about what would happen if the mortal mages of the world he was leaving ever found this place. Though many were powerful and adept enough to travel the many planes of existence, this place was much different. It was a realm between universes, a place of pure thought made reality. No mortal had ever discovered it, and to be truthful, he was uncertain if the mortal mind was capable of handling endless and boundless possibilities. His fine charcoal long-coat flapped in the errant breeze, though only because he wanted it to. Simple things like the wind, or the sunlight warming his face reminded him of what it was like when he was but a mortal man. A welcome reminder, considering why he was here. He and his companions had decided on a new course of action. An undertaking so incredible, with ramifications and consequences so far reaching, even his powerful immortal mind balked at the scale. Pure creation, a new Universe would be born this day and He and His two closest allies among the Gods of his old world would create it.

As if his very thought had summoned them, he watched as his friends faded into view, strolling down the bridge together deep in conversation. The ever enigmatic Sardinal strode with a quick, almost irritated gait, as if he knew that he was above the simple act of walking. His strange gleaming golden eyes, however, betrayed the excitement of their new goal. Long metallic gold hair draped across his soft grey robed shoulders and spilled down his back. The points of his elven ears peaked out from beneath his mane. He was an incredibly old being, who had seen countless worlds over many millennia, and he had swiftly become one of Thelins closest allies after Thelin had ascended to Godhood. Curious, Thelin aligned his senses to the elven god. The beautiful marble expanse of his bridge faded from view, to be replaced with Sardinal's view of their surroundings. Another chuckle escaped him, for Sardinals bridge managed both simple pragmatism and ostentatious power at the same time. A flat walkway of faintly glowing topaz force extended under them. Transparent, aside from the glow, it was bone strait and unadorned, raw power focused to a simple solution.

Thelin turned his gaze to his second companion. Tall for a Dark Elf, Katdoral strode forward with all the tightly coiled grace and power of a predator on the hunt. Thelin frowned at the changes that had come over his friend. Just a short time ago, They had fought together to rid their world of a dark God that had plagued it for millennia. But the evil and darkness of that God's power could not be destroyed. After slaying the being, Katdoral had been forced to absorb that vile darkness, and it had been slowly changing him ever since. Katdorals once loosely tied ivory hair was now tightly bound into a single long braid that snaked down his back. His night black skin blended almost too well with his black leather armor and his hands, when not gesticulating to emphasize a point, rested eternally on the hilts of his deadly scimitars. But mostly Thelin saw the changes in Katdorals face. Almost all trace of genuine joy and humor had fled, replaced with a stern appraising countenance. He still saw his friend there, but it was a friend who had become cold and calculating to the rest of the world, and he feared what further changes might come.

Thelin shifted his perceptions again, and Katdorals bridge slid into view. Formed of massive blocks of black and grey granite, it was a severe and intimidating structure. Each side had fully enclosed stone walkways lined with arrow slits and spear holes to defend the open walkway in the center. Like his own, Katdorals black bridge had towers evenly spaced along its length, yet instead of rippling pennons, these bastions were topped alternatively with ballista and catapults with which to assault vessels on nonexistent ships below. With a sigh, Thelin allowed his sight to slip back to his own reality. He knew Katdoral could not stop the new power inside him from changing him, but refused to believe that He and Sardinal could not find a way to reverse them. All would be right again, and the first step was the creation of a new world. A world where they would never be held back by the powers that truly ruled the one they were leaving.

Thelin lifted a hand in greeting as the two approached him. "What thoughts give cause for argument now?" he asked, flashing them an inhumanly charming grin.

"Sardinal moves toward further delay" Katdoral answered, giving Thelin a simple nod in greeting. "He speaks of endless permutations that have need for serious analysis."

"Time is our ally in this," Sardinal responded, "None among us need fear the passing of years. Proper contemplation of all possibilities seems the responsible course."

Thelin smiled, "Was it not you that said even for beings such as us, understanding all possible hindrances would be impossible?"

"Which gives cause towards fully understanding those we can." Sardinal quipped.

Thelin laughed. "Come, my friend, an entire generation of mortals has come and gone since the planning of this began. It is time to set foot to path."

"I concur" Katdoral said, his gaze scanning the ever present grey mists. "It is past time. Through passing millennia and countless worlds, we two have never attempted a feat such a this. My thoughts are towards starting."

"Then let us begin" Sardinal nodded, "But mistakes are likely."

"Then corrections will follow." answered Thelin.

'Resistance will also be likely." Sardinal followed.

"Anticipated even, to be crushed and forgotten when it occurs." Katdoral answered with a grim smile.

Sardinal nodded, "The we go."

Thelin nodded as well. He took in another sweeping look of his magnificent bridge. His gaze shifted to the pennons flying atop the towers, rippling symbols of his old life. He would never be able to come back, he knew. This was a one way trip into the infinite unknown. Steeling himself for whatever was about to happen, he joined his friends in moving to the very edge to the bridge. Then, each in turn eager, curious, and trepidatious, the Gods Katdoral, Sardinal, and Thelin jumped off into the eternal nothingness.

[Sardinal]

Creation
Act 2: An Ocean of Chaos

Far out side the boundaries of all known worlds, Chaos rages. An infinite wash of raw potential crashes and surges against itself. Mountains of flaming ice form spontaneously, only to collapse into sand moments later. Swirling colors never before seen slam into walls of sound then crystallize into shards of stone and glass. Stars burst into life and fade to darkness in seconds. Seething energies lash out in all directions, matter forms and disintegrates without purpose. Within this insane sea time is meaningless, the chain of cause and effect is broken. And through this Ocean of Chaos monsters swim freely.

Some as small as gnats, some as larges as moons, these alien beings fly, crawl, and swim through this sea of untapped power. They brazenly cavort, drinking in the raw energies, feasting on the ever shifting matter. Their bizarre minds, lacking anything resembling reason, find joy in this rambling Chaos. In never ending play, they devour and regurgitate each other. This place, eons away from the far realms that spawned them, is their paradise.

Three shafts of pure energy, one black shot through with white and purple, one gleaming gold, the third swirling cobalt and emerald, pierce the churning Chaos like spears of light. In moments they converge, slamming together with the force of whole suns and sending an incredible rippling shock wave through the entire insane realm. A great keening wail erupts from the horde of monstrosities at play, for floating where the lances of energy struck are three beings of Divine Power.

Katdoral, Sardinal, and Thelin float, each one side of a Holy triangle, arms outstretched, fingers barely touching. As one they raise their heads and speak a single Word. A sphere of crackling blue energy erupts from them, expanding outwards at the speed of light. At the touch of this sphere, Chaos give way to Order. Raw potential is set to purpose and random seething mass becomes structured. Within the expanding sphere, causality and time are born.

The wail of the bizarre creatures turns to screams of terror and rage. Most turn and flee from the rushing wall of Order expanding towards them. Many of the more powerful tear holes in reality itself and flee back to their homes in far off realms. Many more are swept up in the wave of restructuring and are ripped apart, their bodies, minds, and essences rendered down to base components and used in the birthing of this new universe. Some, however, fight back. Rushing together, thousands of these ancient monsters begin consuming each other. A terrifying ball of swarming frenzied alien creatures devouring themselves in a fit of pure rage. They feed themselves to their brethren, each allowing the next to take in its power, until finally only one remains. It is a titanic beast, swollen with its own gluttonous power, bursting with the purest of Chaos and the sincerest of hatred. It stares with a thousand misshaped eyes at the onrushing wave of power. Uncountable claws and tentacles ball up in anger and the massive nightmare being lunges forward to meet it. A hundred and one horrid mouths stretch wide and bellow forth its name, belching with it a raging torrent of uncontrollable energy.

"ABYSS"

The crackling sphere of Order rushes outwards and slams into the chaotic blast from the Titanic Beast called Abyss. Where Eternal Power and Perfect Order meet Infinite Rage and Pure Chaos, the newly forming Universe buckles.

[Sardinal]

Creation
Chapter2, Part 2: Abyss

Three Gods float together in a realm of pure energy. The edge of the sphere of Order they had unleashed was already light-years away, expanding ever outward, inflating their new Universe. In the center of the triangle they formed with their bodies, an orb of radiant white light was growing. shimmering rainbows arcing from its surface.

"The Ever-Soul grows", said Thelin, beaming with satisfaction.

"Indeed", responded Katdoral, "and from it, we shall form all the many mortal races that will populate our new world." For a moment, his stern, cold face softened, and a look of warmth and wonderment passed over it. Thelin smiled at the sight.

"Much still needs done", Sardinal interjected. "We cannot....." His statement was suddenly interrupted by a powerful explosion of energy, coming from the far off boundary of their growing domain. Each felt the expansion of that boundary come to a groaning halt.

"Have we erred already?", asked Thelin, as each God sent their sight flying across the intervening light-years to scan the edges for what had happened. Several moments passed as each searched for the cause of the sudden cessation of growth.

"There," Katdoral growled, directing his allies to what he had found. "It is no mistake, but instead our first run in with resistance." Thelin and Sardinal followed Katdoral's gaze. Far away, at the edge of this new space, a great tear had formed in the sphere of Order unleashed by their Word. Ribbons of blue energy lashed out from the side of the tear like immense whips of lightning. They spasmed about, coiling and snapping with the force of supernovae. At the center of the tear, a terrible black swirling vortex had formed. The hot, churning energy of their new universe poured into it. Just outside the tear, an unbelievably massive monstrosity clawed and chewed at the fraying sphere.

"AAAAAABBBBBBBBYYYYYYYYYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS" The creatures bellow, stretched out over the distance, finally reached them.

'What, by all the Gods of all Worlds, is that thing?" Thelin asked. He glanced at Katdoral, then both turned to Sardinal for an explanation.

"I know not." Sardinal replied, confusion and consternation plain on his face.

A deep laugh burst from Katdoral, "My friend, I believe it has been nigh 3000 years since I last heard you utter such words. I leave it for you two to discern its nature. I am for keeping it occupied, and the excitement such battle brings." With that, he launched himself forward, streaking towards the planet sized behemoth. Like an obsidian comet, he plowed through the intervening space. As he moved, he called forth such power as only gods know, and began growing. First to the size of a city, then a mountain, then at last to size of the massive comet he resembled. Katdoral slammed into the creature with the strength of colliding moons, pushing it back from the tear. Despite his incredible size, he was still dwarfed by the Titan Abyss, so he jumped upon its slimy surface. A dervish of destruction, he moved across the entity. With each step he sent forth spells, blistering detonations of stone and flame and arctic blasts of cold and ice springing from his mind. His twin scimitars leaped to his hands. Katdoral slid from place to place, so fast he seemed but a blur, here sundering a clawed arm from its body, there gouging a baleful eye from its socket. Abyss roared in rage, and attacked the God with unbridled ferocity. Claws and tentacles tore at Katdoral, and fanged maws opened beneath him, gnashing and slobbering fountains of acidic saliva.

"Where shall we begin?", asked Thelin, staring in awe at the display before him.

"Help Katdoral", Sardinal replied, "and be ready. I go to discover what this entity is truly made of." With that Sardinal's form shifted back into a beam of pure golden light and he lanced forward. He accelerated to speeds even gods fear to travel at, condensing his light-form as tightly as possible. Sardinal hit the beast like a tiny golden needle, sliding through its grime covered scaly hide and bursting into it innards, where he resumed his natural form.

Katdoral continued his dance among the calumnious arms and tentacles, attacking every portion of the creature that came within his reach. He was not unscathed, however. Terrible rents covered his armor, and many bloody wounds riddled his divine body. The creatures attacks came more swiftly then he could heal himself. He had left a virtual river of blood running over the surface of the planet-monster. Above him, Katdoral spied the blue and green streak of Thelins arrival.

"Join me, my Brother!", Katdoral called. "This damnable beast will not stay our act of Creation over-long!"

Thelin laughed at his comrade's enthusiasm. With a glance and a flicker of his will, Thelin turned every inch of the creature coated with Katdorals blood to granite, with a clap he then ground all of that new stone to dust. He raised his hands above him and a storm of Holy Light cascaded across the surface of Abyss, searing it with pure Divine power and healing Katdorals wounds. Abyss shuddered and screamed in agony.

Inside the creature, Sardinals eyes glowed, flashing through various hues and colors as he used every divination at his disposal to understand the monsters nature. Slowly, he began to see the truth of Abyss. The seams and bindings that held its myriad components together. The forms and names of the horde that combined to create it. Swiftly, he joined his mind to that of Katdoral and Thelin.

"It is not a single entity", he told them, "but a multitude. Beings of the Far Realms, held together through Hate and Purpose. Constantly feeding each others Rage, they act together as a dynamo, endlessly cycling up their own power."

"This gives me nothing useful, Sardinal", Katdoral grunted, leaping a viscous suckered tentacle and cleaving the fingers from a massive clawed hand.

Thelin flashed him a triumphant smile. "It gives me everything, Brother. Sardinal, can you attempt disjoinings to weaken their bonds?"

"I see your plan forming, Thelin.", the elven God replied. "I will begin, but you will need Katdorals aid."

'Then he shall have it. Do what you must." Katdoral said, stomping his foot through the pupil of a huge crimson eye.

Thelin launched himself into action, his blue and green light-form streaking so fast it blended to shimmering turquoise. He traced a massive circle around the planetoid monster, leaving hazy, semi-transparent duplicates of himself in his wake. Sardinal is right, he thought. At this distance, covering this much area, even his power would be stretched thin.

Sardinal, still inside the beast, began reshaping the spells in his mind. Even as a mortal, eons ago, he had been an uncommonly accomplished wizard. His knowledge and mastery of the arcane was unsurpassed. Tying is spells together in his mind, he began radiating disjoining magic. He poured spell after spell into that disjoiing, pushing the aura out as far as he could. The seams and binding holding Abyss together weakened.

Outside, Thelin finished his incredible orbit. An unbroken circle of turquoise light ringed the great beast, held together by his misty duplicates.

"Now, Katdoral!" Thelin yelled. Katdoral twisted himself out of the way of an oncoming claw and then jumped, blasting from the creatures surface. Higher and higher he rocketed, until he was out of Abyss's angry reach. Locking eyes with Thelin, Katdoral uttered a single Word, temporarily joining his power to Thelin's will.

"I Abjure Thee, Abomination!" Thelin intoned. With his and Katdorals combined strength, he summoned forth an immense cerulean sigil within the circle. The lines of this seal burst through Abyss's flesh, boring gargantuan tunnels through his entire body. The golden light of Sardinals disjoining began leaking through the cracks and gouges on its horrid surface. With a final groaning shudder, the beast disintegrated into its individual creatures. Thousands burst into blue-green fire and died in agony from Thelin's great seal. Thousands more were crushed by a wave of utter blackness released by Katdoral. The rest fled, screaming in fear and hatred. They rushed in a chaotic river, disappearing into the swirling suck of the black vortex left in the wake of the creatures initial attack.

[Sardinal]

Creation
Act 3: The Planes

"I found that invigorating", said Katdoral. He sheathed his scimitars and drifted over to Thelin, who was watching the last bits of his enormous sigil fade away.

"You would", Thelin responded sardonically. He smiled at his friend and then turned his gaze to the rent in the Order sphere. "Come Brothers, this wound must be healed if our world is to form". Sardinal flew over to join them. The three Gods merged their wills again and the violent threads of the sphere slowly bent to their power. Glowing blue lines of energy knotted together, sealing the great tear. When all were back in place, the sphere gave a brief shudder, then shot forward to continue the inflation of the infant universe.

"All is well again", Thelin sighed in relief.

"Not all", Sardinal responded. His eyes locked upon the black whirlpool spinning not far from them. "Now we must examine this hole the creature created." The three Gods moved closer to the vortex. Each began casting divinations to determine what they were looking at.

"It is a portal of some kind", Thelin determined swiftly, "though I know not where it leads."

"A new Plane of Existence, I believe." Sardinal said, frowning in thought.

"Time is yours to command in our new world, Sardinal." Katdoral reminded him. "Peer into the future for us and spy out the nature of this new Plane." Sardinal nodded and stepped near to the portal. His eyes lit golden, the lines in his irises moved each independent of the others and at different speeds, like a clock with a hundred hands.

"Not just one Plane, but an infinity of infinite Planes. It is a bottomless hole in our universe, shot with layers each more vile then the next. Born of the anger and insanity of Abyss, it is attuned to the forces of Chaos and Evil." Sardinal's voice wavered a bit, his eyes widened in alarm. "It will spew forth an endless array of twisted evil creatures. They will vary greatly in power and intellect, but buried within each will be a seed of its creator. A burning desire to destroy all that we create and return this realm to the unbridled Chaos that it was."

"It must be destroyed", Katdoral growled, "I'll not have such insanity disturbing our work."

"It cannot be destroyed." Sardinal's frown deepened. "It is a part of our world now, to destroy it is to destroy all, and we have not the power to begin again."

"Then containment and defense must be our course." Thelin said. He turned and sent his sight flying back to look at the shimmering white orb at the heart of this creation. "They will come for the Ever Soul, or those we create from it. Sooner or later, the brightest among them will realize that this world is nothing without souls to populate it."

"Then we should break words concerning creating other Planes. Ones of natures conflicting with those of this Abyss to birth opposing force." Katdoral smiled grimly.

"Perhaps a better course would to create a Plane within the Ever Soul? One to bolster and defend those born of it from within." Thelin responded. "Also we should consider binding beings of a nature foreign to the Prime Plane so that they may not freely enter or invade the Prime."

Katdoral nodded, "I agree with the second proposal, though mortals of the Prime will eventually find ways to summon forth these beings and open paths to the Planes."

Sardinal looked up from his study of the vortex. "You misunderstand, Brothers," he said gravely. "This new Plane is infinite in all dimensionality's. The hordes it will vomit forth are unimaginable. We cannot simply pick those options we like best. To hold back this tide, all options must be undertaken."

Katdoral grimaced, his stern face turning colder. "Then I am for starting. We must divide ourselves to achieve all our goals. Already the Primes inflation slows towards more gentle expansion and the seeds of the six Energy Planes begin sprouting. All will need defending and more Planes must be created." Sardinal and Thelin both nodded, then all three took several steps backwards, leaving a perfect replica of themselves behind with each step. Swiftly, one of each moved to the Ever Soul and vanished within its Opaline depths. Another set took up position around it to guide the growth of the Prime and its Transitive Planes. Yet another set departed for the Planes of Energy that would soon provide the building blocks of all that will exist within the Prime. The final Trinity moved off to create new Planes outside those of the Prime and its Energy Planes.

[Sardinal]

Creation: Act III, Part II
Celestia

The three Gods floated together inside the Eversoul. All around them the very air radiated a soft white light and shimmering motes of color flitted randomly about like fireflies.

"New souls", Thelin said, pointing at the motes, "they but wait for us to create them a world and life to inhabit."

Katdoral smiled, "Indeed, brother. Soon they shall have all they require and more, but first other work calls for our attention."

"How shall we proceed?", asked Sardinal. "What manner of plane shall we create here to stand as bastion against the coming hordes?"

"To counter their Evil, it must be a plane of utter Good." Thelin replied, a grin lit his features.

Katdoral's smile soured slightly, "It seems a likely course, but to counter their Chaos it must also be of Order and Law." Sardinal and Thelin both nodded.

"We'll not have time to monitor this realm once the three worlds are created, our attention, of necessity, will be on them.", Sardinal pondered aloud. "Perhaps we should consider creating a ruler of some kind for this plane. A creature of power and endurance to marshal the forces we create for him."

"Instead let it be two rulers", interjected Katdoral, "One to stand Sentry and rule here, and one to Crusade against our enemies, weakening and destroying them before they ever reach this place."

Thelin nodded again, 'I agree, but before we create our Sword and Shield, let us give this place the beginning of substance that its ruler can shape to his will. Bowing their heads, the three creators again spoke a Word. Slowly, the white brilliance faded, revealing an endless plain of lush grass covering gently rolling hills. Deep blue skies flew overhead without a cloud to mar them.

Sardinal glanced around briefly, then, seemingly satisfied with the results, turned back to the others. "First to our Shield", he said. He closed his eyes and reached far into the future, into the very hearts and dreams of creatures not yet born and drew forth an idea. Katdoral and Thelin examined the idea and then all three closed their eyes again and spoke a Word of Life. Slowly, a being began to take shape before them. He was tall, broad shouldered and heavily muscled. Lightly tanned skin covered his perfectly symmetrical form. His features were finely chiseled, his eyes glowed cobalt, and a crop of dark blond hair topped his head. Massive wings erupted from his back, covered in pristine white feathers. The three god opened their eyes and inspected their creation. The being before them knelt to one knee. "Fathers" he spoke, his voice clear and strong, "what is your Will?"

Thelin stepped forward and placed a hand on the Angel's shoulder. "There is no need for such posturing, our son. Rise Nikael, the Eternal Angel, Shield of the Eversoul!" Nikael rose to his full height, towering several feet above the Gods before him.

"You understand your Purpose?" Katdoral asked.

"Yes Father" Nikael responded. "I am to defend this realm from the relentless hordes of the Abyss. I am to create from this place an army of beings of Order and Goodness to light the mortal soul from within so that as long as one Angel stands to defend it, the Eversoul shall never fall."

"Indeed", Sardinal replied, beaming with satisfaction. "To aid you in this, we now give you leave and power to shape this plane to your needs."

"Then it shall be done, Fathers." Nikael turned and strode seven paces away. He knelt once more, running his hand over the soft grasses, then balled his fist and slammed it into the ground. His arm sank up to the elbow and he paused, shifting slightly as if grasping for something. Then, with a mighty leap and a beat of his massive wings, he soared skyward dragging the earth behind him. His hand emerged from the ground, grasping a small pyramid of diamond and attached to the bottom of the diamond was rock. Flying strait up, Nikael carried the rock higher and higher, literally pulling a mountain out of the gentle hills beneath him. Soaring above it, he began six slow clockwise circles, twisting the mountain as it grew and forming seven distinct layers upon it.

The three Gods marveled at Nikaels creation as it grew. A mountain of near infinite proportion grew around them. Finally, from somewhere high above them, Nikaels voice boomed and echoed down the mountain. "Fathers!", he exclaimed, "I give unto you Celestia, the Seven Heavens!" Flying down the mountain again, Nikael landed near the Gods, then turned to examine his work.

"Excellent work, Son." Thelin's pride thick in his voice. "Already you impress us."

"I concur," said Sardinal, "but now we must make you a Brother." Once again Sardinal reached into the future, plucking a new idea from the dreams of those yet to live. The three creator Deities examined this thought, then once again breathed Life into it. Another being began to form. Taking shape before them was another Angel. Equal to Nikael in size and proportion, this being was fair of skin. His eyes were gleaming black and lit with a hundred points of light like stars in a dark sky. His hair was raven and soft ebon feathers adorned his massive wings. He, like Nikael, turned and knelt before the Gods. "Fathers," he spoke, "What is your will?"

"Rise Asmodeus," Intoned Katdoral, "Angelic Crusader. Sword of the Eversoul!" Asmodeus rose easily to his feet. "You understand your Purpose?" Katdoral continued.

"Yes Father," the Angel replied. "I am to forge a host from this realm. I am to seek out those of the Abyss that would do harm to the Eversoul and the mortals it shall create and destroy them before they can. I am to wage unceasing war upon the Abyss itself and bring the searing light of Order and Goodness to our enemies. I am to return to my Brother's side to defend Celestia when it is needed."

"Excellent," Thelin said, once again very pleased. "To aid you in this, we give unto you leave and power to mold a demi-plane at the foot of Mt. Celestia to create and house your heavenly Host." Asmodeus nodded and turned, striding towards the mountain. As he walked, a shining metal breastplate, a black crested helm, a Pteruges of crimson and black leather, and a cape of deep crimson appeared on him. A gleaming ruby mace materialized in his hand. Standing at the foot of the mountain, he raised the mace high and bellowed "Fathers, I give you Baator, Hold-fast of the Heavenly Host!" Around him, and around the entire base of the mountain, barracks and buildings of all sorts sprung into being. "From here I shall defend Heaven itself, and strike out into the Planes to destroy the monstrous hordes of the Abyss!"

"Nikael, Asmodeus, attend your Fathers." Sardinal spoke. The two Angels turned, awaiting his words. "You have much work ahead, and already the Abyss has a head start. We three have much work as well, but you must never fear calling upon us if there is need. Whatever our differences, the three of us will always agree that your mission is of paramount importance to this universe."

"Yes," Interjected Katdoral. "There is no more important task in all the worlds. Do not fail us."

"Yes Fathers", Nikael and Asmodeus spoke as one.

"Then we leave you to your work. Be vigilant, be courageous, and be victorious." Thelin replied. The two Angels turned to begin their mighty works and the three Gods vanished, moving on to other needs.