In a small guest room, loaned to Tzim at the Kalladar estate, Tzim had set up a small meditation area. Sitting lotus position in the middle of a circle Tzim occasionally twitched and groaned as if under some great burden. Deep in meditation Tzim was unaware that he was showing signs of his mental battle back in the Material Realm.
Just moments before . . .
Tzim drew a small circle of protection around himself and began preparing for his morning meditations. At the last moment Tzim realized he had made a grave error. He had forgotten to recheck the circle as he felt a being of great power and terror grab his soul and pull him uncontrollably to it's domain.
Tzim screamed and fought the creature but was hopelessly overpowered. Dragged screaming for what seemed like years Tzim finally landed in another plane. The plane upon which he had landed was full of fire, ash, and bladed eaves. Tzim knew instantly he had been dragged to the second layer of Hell - Dis. The screams of the tortured damn filled the air and seemed to form a haunting melody that reminded Tzim of regret and disappointment. Tzim felt a shiver of ice cold fear fill his spine as he looked upon one of the orchestra members. Standing only a few feet away an Erinyes with an extraordinary likeness to Azam stood using a whip in time with some unseen composers bidding. The terrifying and beautiful song seemed to last forever to Tzim before finally the dark and fallen angel turned to him and smiled. At the sight of her smile Tzim's legs threatened to buckle and send him to his knees in homage. Such was her beauty and power. Drawing upon his will power Tzim remained standing which brought another smile to the Erinyes's face.
"Welcome mortal. I am sure you know where you are but do you know who you have the pleasure of being addressed by?"
Knowing where he was Tzim decided diplomacy was the wiser choice at least until he understood how and why he had been summoned.
"No I do not have that pleasure. Who am I addressing?"
"Brave and foolish of a question Tzim. I shall not be giving my name away so easily. You may call me Mistress Zoe for now. I am sure you are curious as to why you have been summoned before me."
"Yes the question had been on my mind. Are you responsible for this then? How was this done and for what reason?"
"I will not explain the how except to say that Azam and yourself are two half's of a gate. As to the why? I have been charged to give you a gift from a person of great importance to me and yourself. I will return you to the Material Realm once we are finished here."
"Then please hurry as I am sure I am needed elsewhere."
A brief flicker of irritation crossed the Erinyes's features before she smiled and dipped her head in slight acknowledgement. Tzim knew he was pushing his luck but needed to find the boundaries of this summon quickly. He saw no circles to confine him and knew that devil's as a lawful race would be bound to certain laws and obligations. The reference to a person of great importance only worried Tzim. It was possible it was Azam's true self. Here in her true plane of existence she would be a person of formidable power. Tzim merely summoned a small portion - an avatar of her true existance as his eidolon.
"Recently you defeated a powerful caster. A lich even. This is extremely dangerous. In fact most of your more recent adventures have been of a more dangerous. These men you have allied yourself with for this time have been involved with powers beyond their scope of imagination and understanding. You are literally playing a deadly game of skill without half your pieces and not even knowing the rules. For whatever reason my mistress still seems to believe her investment in you will pay off and so has charged me with your gift."
" What gift is this you keep mentioning and who is this mistress you refer to?"
"The gift is a precious one that we Erinyes wear with pride. You should feel proud to be considered and given such a thing. It has been given so very rarely. I was instructed not to speak of my mistress nor help you discover her identity. Those you will have to discover for yourself."
"Very well then. Please proceed with this gift."
A sinister smile spread across the Erinyes's face as she gestured to something behind Tzim's back. Suddenly two other Erinyes appeared and grabbed Tzim's arms. Surprised by the suddenness of it all Tzim had no time to react as he was quickly dragged to a torture's table and strapped down. Tzim tried to struggle but his efforts were futile once the straps were tightened. Mistress Zoe now carrying two wicked carving knives approached Tzim smiling all the more as Tzim struggled more franticly.
"This may hurt some . . . now let's add your voice to our symphony."
Tzim awoke to find himself still sitting in the small guest room's circle. It appeared as if no time had passed at all since he had first began his morning meditation. The only clue was the now swirling scars upon Tzim's body. The Erinyes consider them beautiful and a badge of honor. Ritual scaring was sacred to them and, if Mistress Zoe was to be believed, provided another benefit as well. The scars glowed with an angry internal fire that seemed to flow much like a liquid lava. Amazed Tzim found he was in no pain . . . any longer. The thing that most bothered Tzim now was the mysterious identity of his investor and the reason of her investment. Asking Azam would not give him any answers. Tzim would need to investigate this on his own. Perhaps the knowledgeable Kalladar would be of assistance.
