With Knowledge Comes Power... Part Three
An hour later, the Apokolipz strode confidently into the Lodge of the Dead, his cold gaze of rage and hate staring before him, his skeletal minion close on his heels. Darkness and death seemed to cling to him and a trail of fresh blood was left in his wake from the hem of his rich black robes and flowing grey cloak.

None stood in his way, not the undead guardians of this place or the students or teachers, as he made his way through the winding halls and up the many stairs to an almost hidden area of the Lodge. Screams of the many experiments sounded in his ears as he passed, but he did not truly hear them. The spirits whispered into his mind, but he did not hear them either. He had his goal firmly set, to visit the first creature he remembered from his past, the Teir?Dal who greeted him after his rebirth?


Talorial D?Estalian?s pained scream echoed through the third floor of the Lodge of the Dead, going unnoticed among the other tortured screams that were a constant occurrence in this place. The necromancer was strapped into one of his own torture racks, his limbs being stretched beyond their normal reach by the contraption. His ears, eyes, and nose had trickles of blood flowing from them, due to the previous tortures he had endured.

A skeletal warrior worked the wheel mechanism of the rack, turning it slowly and forcing another anguished scream from the necromancer?s lips.

'...ssuch mussic...'

?Cease,? came the command from the shadowed corner of the room. The skeleton locked the wheel in place and released its grip on it. Slowly, the necromancer?s scream became pained panting and gasps for air as his body adjusted to the new setting. ?Tell me what I wish to know, Talorial,? ordered a malicious voice from the darkness.

The ancient Teir?Dal strapped into the rack whimpered slightly.

'...he hass grown weak with age...'

'...hiss ussefulnesss iss growing sstagnant...'

From the darkness stepped forth a living shadow, which slowly formed into a grey-cloaked and black-robed individual. The Apokolipz stepped closer to his one-time mentor, the hem of his cloak and robe sliding through the fresh blood on the floor. He stepped to the rack and leaned down to whisper to his victim. ?I so detest physical torture, old one. And, as you know, my minion will never tire; we can do this for months, if need be.? His cold eyes watched the elderly necromancer?s face as he spoke. ?Only the Lodge?s pupils ever come to this area of the Lodge. Do you think anyone will notice their disappearance?? Yes, the Apokolipz was prepared to do whatever it took now. ?I know you helped to perform the ceremony necessary to create the chosen one, a.k.a. me. I know that the chosen ones were prophesized in the ancient tomes you hid among your personal libraries.? He smirked. ?Yes, I found that.? He straightened himself and walked to the doorway, looking out into the larger torture room beyond, which was currently occupied by two screaming halflings and a paladin of Marr. After a moment, he returned to his victim. ?No, I would much prefer to torture your spirit,? he leaned down to the elderly teacher. ?As you well know.?

Talorial?s expression became more pained. ?I... cannot tell...?

The Apokolipz chuckled darkly. ?Of course you can. Am I not the chosen one? Am I not Innoruuk?s Hand of Death?? He leaned within inches of the tortured necromancer?s ear and whispered, ?Am I not doing Innoruuk?s Will, even now??

Talorial whimpered slightly, his mind trying to reason through his pain to retrieve an answer. ?...yes,? he answered eventually.

The Apokolipz stood straight again. ?Then tell me what I wish to know.?

Through much whimpering and pained sobbing, Talorial answered him, every few words he paused to cry or sob some more. A great many things did he tell his torturer, until the Apokolipz was satisfied, which took hours more. Afterwards, he was released, helped off the rack by the skeletal minion, and left to rest in a corner of the room. It was obvious to him that the Apokolipz had grown powerful over the many seasons that had passed since he had last seen him, and, even though he now lay in a crumpled, whimpering heap on the floor, he knew that the Apokolipz is the chosen one of Innoruuk.