Tartarus Beckons

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  “Edimmu! Edimmu! Edimmu!” shouted the other guard at the warriors gathered below. The listeners exploded into action. Officers shouted orders and men hurried to grab their weapons and armor from their tents and weapons racks.

  On top of the largest building in the compound, a figure smiled.

  Deep in the bowels of Hades, separating it from the accursed plane of Tartarus, sat a massive round bronze mirror half a mile in diameter. Secured by chains of adamantine to the floor of a vast cavern, the artifact’s surface glowed with eldritch sparks amidst a swirling vortex of blue energy. Flickers of power ran up the metal cables, powering the giant magical orb.

  Around it stood rows of gleaming humanoid constructs, each a hundred feet tall and armed with giant versions of metal weapons. They all bore the mark of Hephaestus, a horizontal hammer above an anvil. The Greek deity of forging had learned a valuable lesson from his experiment with Talos, the huge bronze warrior who had protected Crete back in the First World – colossal forms also make for oversized targets.

  Suddenly, a huge flaming hand, covered with clouds of smoke roiling with immense power, thrust out of the mirror’s surface. The mirror and its chains glowed brightly in response to the intrusion, and flashes of massively powerful energies attacked the unwelcome appendage. The hand became an arm, and the arm revealed a gigantic shoulder. A fiery face contorted by agonizing pain emerged and a great cry shook the vast cavern. The metal constructs started to move.

  Chapter One

  Maljen

  The Gothi of Maljen sat across the small round table, still wearing a happy grin. Andreas Hahn, formerly of the University of Uppsala and known on Adar as Ivar Godfrid, was undeniably delighted to see Tyler. Kobu, wearing his black samurai armor, sat on a chair positioned behind the wooden door, his weapon now in daisho form on his belt. The mage was also glad to see the young man, one of the few visitors from the First World, or Earth, he had met. There was Liam, of course, but that one was already back home. The third First Worlder was a deranged follower of the deity Ares and that encounter was one that Tyler would rather forget.

  The mage did hear stories from some deities about recent First Worlders, or visitors as they were known on Adar. Some came to an unfortunate end, believing to the end that they were dreaming even as giant spiders came calling, dropped into the middle of a vast ocean or an active volcano because of a random encounter with a wayward portal, or became dinner for some tribe of cannibals or one of the ferocious predator packs roaming the continent. Others met worse fates – became human sacrifices, fell in with a dark spirit and found the price to be their flesh and soul. Some did good and many of the non-scientific improvements in the world came from the ideas they had brought with them

  “Man, you don’t know how happy I am to see you,” exclaimed the Gothi.

  “You keep on repeating that, Ivar,” Tyler replied with a wry smile.

  “I know. But knowing what I do now, the few scraps of information obtained from various sources, reluctant deities included, I am sure glad to see you’re alive. Though Kobu here was the least talkative of the lot. All he would say was he’s not at liberty to divulge anything without your permission. I love that get-up though. A samurai! A real live one! In full armor, no less! Without the helmet, of course.”

  Tyler just grinned.

  I wonder what his reaction would be when Tyndur arrives? An einherjar would send him right through the roof, thought the mage.

  The burly warrior and ranger had not yet arrived, and it was providential that Kobu offered no information about Tyler or the party to the Gothi. Their adventures had resulted in discovering secrets better kept from the established pantheons of Adar. It was not that the mage didn’t trust Ivar, but the man was beholden to Odin and such knowledge could be demanded by the deity from his priest. From what Tyler gathered, the exile was instead generous about sharing knowledge about his homeland though not about himself.

  “And I heard you can do magic! And a High Mage at that! I don’t know how you did it, but believe me – I. Don’t. Want. To. Know. Normally I would be envious, but from what I picked up, that’s a job which definitely isn’t me. But I wouldn’t say no to an exhibition later,” continued Ivar with a flippant bow.

  “Of course, man, no problemo,” he laughed. Ivar was one of the few persons or beings he considered as close friends, even if the man was a priest of Odin. It could be their connection as both were from Earth, but he still appreciated Ivar’s attempt to tell him what he could, within the constraints laid down by the head of the Nordic pantheon. But Tyler had to admit his distrust of old eye-patch had considerably lessened.

  “And you got married!”

  “Yep,” the mage confirmed with a shy, though impish smile.

  “I could say that I am not happy with not being invited to the wedding, but I was informed it was an informal affair. Extremely informal and totally exclusive. Nobody was invited,” Ivar chortled loudly.

  “Please keep the information to yourself as much as possible. I don’t want to risk Eira’s safety.”

  “Eira. At least now I know her name. Actually, nobody wanted to tell me any details, except that it’s the Lady of Fossegrim Forest. Maljen is lucky to have a High Mage in its environs. Don’t worry about the information. I’ll keep it to myself. If I hear something bad approaching Fossegrim, I’ll go there myself with what forces I could raise,” said the Gothi.

  “Thanks, Ivar. I really appreciate that. You’ll meet her one of these days. I’ll work out an arrangement for her to send you a message if the forest needs assistance.”

  “So, I guess you’re going to settle here? That your mind is already made up?”

  “Yes. Strangely, that gave me a more stable frame of mind. Accepting Adar for what it, I guess,” replied Tyler.

  “I understand that, Havard. I went through the same confusion and denial period. Trying to work with a First World perspective in a magical and relatively primitive world. I couldn’t accept Adar and its… unique norms for some time. Especially the brutality and questionable moral issues. I guess, like you, I thought there was a chance of going back to Earth, and deep down, I didn’t want to lose my First World sense of reality,” remarked Ivar. “It was only when I accepted that I’d be here for the rest of my life that my wrestling with moral and judgmental issues stopped. Of course, acceptance of the time dilation effect also helped. Even if I were to go back to Earth now, I would be in a strange and unfamiliar world. Your arrival and the information you gave me only reinforced my conclusion that my decision was correct.”

  Tyler nodded and glanced at Ivar.

  “I did find a portal back to Earth. One of those one-way things. But I gave the chance to go back home to another visitor, Liam. An Australian.”

  The look on Ivar’s face was beyond description. The mage wryly smiled as he took in Ivar’s slack-jawed and stupefied expression.

  “Don’t get your hopes up, Ivar. It was a portal of another race. Ancient beings, very powerful, and extremely deadly, as in predatorial, to ordinary humans. They look upon us as mere resources or tools. A source of flesh, bones, and souls. Way beyond most of the pantheons expected or practiced. They were humans once but of a different level now. More like deities. Very dark and more formidable ones. But they are abominably focused on bringing over their revolting gods to this plane of reality. I was just lucky.”

  “Sire.” Tyler heard X’s warning voice and realized he just told Ivar something the mage wanted to keep secret. And Kobu was also in the room.

  Oh, shit. Got carried away.

  “Though I would suggest keeping that bit of information to yourself. I don’t know how the pantheons would react if they knew they have a bigger problem on their hands,” added Tyler quickly. He turned to Kobu.

  “You too, Kobu.” The exile merely bowed in reply.

  Ivar gaped at him.

  “Lovecraft?” was all the Gothi said, though in a low voice.

  Tyler nodded.

  “S
kit!”

  The mage didn’t understand the expression but sympathized with the tone of the priest. The Gothi gave a shudder.

  Oh, he reads Lovecraft too.

  “And you faced off against their kind? As I said, having real, extremely powerful magic is a nice ability, but I don’t think I could handle the kind of responsibility that comes with it. The stress must be intense. Like in your case.”

  “I did learn to live from day-to-day, and I have companions to help me. But you’re right. The job description was outrageously brutal and unforgiving.”

  The Gothi could only shake his head.

  “Anyway, enough bad memories. How’s your plan for a center for magical arts coming along?” Tyler asked, remembering the Gothi’s grand plan.

  “It’s already being implemented. Though the site had been moved to the coast because of one significant consideration,” answered the priest.

  “And that is?”

  “I’ll tell you later. After I show you your surprise,” said Ivar with a secretive, funny grin.

  “It’s not my birthday, Ivar. But I believe your boss mentioned something about a surprise,” countered Tyler.

  “I know. You want to see it?”

  “Of course! What did you think?”

  An hour later, the trio found themselves on a beach some distance from the town. The area was inaccessible by road, and virgin forest greeted Tyler when they waded to the shore from the karve. The water was shallow, and the ship was able to navigate close to the beach.

  “This is the site for the new center,” said Ivar when they stood on the beach, the cold water lapping at their feet.

  “No road?” asked Tyler as he looked around. Virgin forest greeted him.

  “No. I am still thinking about that part – whether to make it relatively out-of-the-way or have a road leading directly to town. Maljen is not far, about five to six miles that way.”

  “A road would be necessary, considering the reality on this world. You might need to help the town,” volunteered Tyler.

  “True. Though the distraction of a town might affect what the center is for – a center for magical studies and regulation.”

  “Worried about mages sneaking off to go whoring or getting plastered?” laughed Tyler. “Speaking from experience?”

  “You got it in one shot. The first part of your question. The second is just nasty. I’ve seen a lot of mages in Skaney, and they’re human, despite the magical abilities,” commented the priest. “Considering that battle magic is going to be one of the areas of specialization of the institution, warriors of both sexes would also be around. It’s bound to be a disciplinary nightmare unless we prepare for potential problems.”

  “The potential issues won’t go away, you know. Remoteness will just turn the focus of the possible temptations inward, and you’ll have to contend with the smuggling of liquor and women into the center. Not to mention watching out for nightly trysts,” added Tyler with a chuckle.

  “You’re right. A road then,” replied Ivar, looking in the direction of the town. Then he turned to the mage.

  “Now then, for your surprise,” the priest grinned broadly. “Care to guess what it is?”

  “Nope. I absolutely have no idea. Though I’d be happy with a revolving-door portal to Earth.”

  “Me, too. But from what lore I’ve read, they’re one-way gates. And rare. Now, turn around,” said the priest.

  Tyler did as the Gothi asked. Kobu followed suit after a final investigative glance at the surrounding area.

  “What do you see?” asked Ivar, excitement palpable in his voice.

  Tyler observed the seascape before him. Only the dark blue of the restless waves and a large flat island about three miles offshore greeted him.

  “What am I supposed to see? The sea?” he eventually asked after a few minutes.

  “The island, idiot. It’s for the High Mage. Leading deities of the Norse and Greek pantheons raised it for you.”

  “Nice.” It was all Tyler said.

  “Nice? It’s an island! Your very own! Made by and given to you by deities! I didn’t even think they had it in them to do such a thing for mortals!” exclaimed the mystified priest. Ivar couldn’t understand Tyler’s reaction. It was bland, to say the least.

  “Well, the first question would be why, then how and what, and finally the question of where?” replied the mage.

  “Huh?”

  “Why did they do it, how are we going to get there and build whatever we want to establish, what’s the purpose of such a place, and where’s the catch?” explained Tyler with a sardonic grin.

  The mage heard the sound of a suppressed laugh escape from Kobu.

  “A rose may be a beautiful gift, but one still has to look out for its thorns,” commented the exile with a grin.

  Ivar looked towards the island, deep in thought.

  “I never thought of it that way, Havard. But twists and turns of such schemes are beyond me. But you know what I thought when I saw the island,” remarked the priest. “A big, fucking island! All yours!”

  “I know, Ivar. It’s flattering in a sense, that I have to admit,” replied Tyler. Secretly, he was extremely flattered and impressed. Who wouldn’t be?

  “No wonder I was asked to tell you that the dwarves might have a solution to the issue of traveling between here and the island.”

  “It only means they want me to go to the dwarven heartlands to solve one of their problems,” laughed Tyler.

  “I don’t have any objection to such a visit, sire, as long as you leave me out of any ceremonies. Tyndur’s comments were discouraging. More of warnings, I think,” commented Kobu. “But I believe it would be an extremely informative adventure. Though as far as this unexpected and impressive gift is concerned, there’s also that advice about keeping your enemies closer than your friends.”

  The young mage didn’t reply, staring at the island. And the longer he gazed, the more he felt the tug of an approaching magical source. It was coming from the open sea. Curious, he cast a scrying spell. The resulting magical feedback staggered him. A tremendous shape, so massive that his magical examination couldn’t give him an idea about the size of it, was in the water, close to the island.

  “What the hell is coming towards us?” Tyler exclaimed as he involuntarily stepped back, quickly shaking his head as he did so.

  Ivar looked at him with shocked surprised.

  “Something’s coming?” the Gothi asked.

  “Humongously massive, man!” cried out Tyler. “Get those men out of the boat!”

  The Gothi immediately ran to the karve, a small trade ship fortunately designed to be moored close to shore. Tyler stood where he was, watching the far horizon. Already, he could see the massive disturbances the incoming creature was making. It wasn’t moving that fast, but the young mage knew that large waves would arrive well ahead of the monster.

  Glancing at the disembarking men, Tyler saw that the crew and the Gothi were already running for the safety of the woods. He turned his attention back to the sea. The tsunami-like wave was well on its way, spanning across the visible horizon.

  “Let’s run for it, Kobu. I don’t think I could manage to stop that massive a wave,” he told the man. As one, they followed on the heels of the fleeing crew. Tyler briefly thought of using his teleportation ability, but decided against it. Kobu did have a similar skill, but he preferred being at the rear to block any immediate threat. He couldn’t stop the entire tidal surge, but Tyler believed he could manage mitigating its effect on their immediate area. Then he changed his mind.

  That’s an incredible amount of water, man. Tons of it.

  When the two reached the edge of the woods, Tyler found everyone else taking cover behind trees.

  “Move farther back!” he shouted. “That wave is going to reach this far!”

  The rest, except for the pair and the Gothi, ran deeper into the woods while Tyler looked back at the incoming threat. Even at a considerable distance, h
e could already see the wall of water ominously rising from the ocean.

  Shit. That must be at least twenty feet high, and bound to gain strength as it heads inland.

  He quickly looked back. The fleeing men couldn’t be seen anymore. To his surprise, Tyler found the Gothi standing beside him.

  “You’re still here?” he asked Ivar.

  “Well, you’re supposed to be a great and mighty mage. I guess you can handle it,” replied the Gothi. “Though my knees are shaking.”

  “It is not only your knees, Gothi,” observed Kobu with amusement. “Your voice is cracking.”

  “Yep. And my pucker, stomach and balls are so tightly wound up that I don’t think I could fart.”

  The three could now hear the deep and continuous rumble of the approaching mountain of water. Strangely, it reminded Tyler of the sound of a freight train.

  He cast another scrying spell. The only reason Tyler stayed was for the chance to find out what exactly was creating such a vast oceanic disturbance. The mage had hoped that the closer distance would reveal more. But the magical tendrils revealed nothing, except what he already knew – its incredible size.

  Fuck. It must have an innate resistance to magical spells. The mage turned to his companions.

  “Time to run, gents.”

  Kobu grabbed the Gothi and vanished. Tyler turned to do the same and immediately realized his problem. Unlike Kobu, he could only teleport in a horizontal direction, and needed to see where he wanted to go. Large trees blocked his vision, and he knew that magically transporting in such unfamiliar terrain would be a dumb and last mistake.