The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Herod Westwood: LVIII

Unfinished Dreams: LVIII

"No.. no.." Herod muttered, this.. This wasn't right.. Something was off.. He tried to thrash and move, confused about what was going on. The forest.. It was so far away yet so very close. "Vulity.. I can't reach it, I can't reach us. Where?.." He whispered again. He was standing at the edge of a forest. His forest, the location where he had once met his god. But something was wrong, Herod couldn't see it, but he felt it. He heard a crackling fire somewhere around him, a beating warmth that broke against his back.

'Behind you!' Vulity's voice screamed in terror, Herod spun on his heels at an instant like Vulity's voice had given him agency. The scorching hot flames engulfed his face with heat as hot as hellfire.

"No.." Herod whispered, he did not find his home town, instead sprawling before him was the city of Waterdeep, a vision he had seen once before. The city was ablaze with different colored fires in every direction. Herod saw soaring creatures above. Red, bat-like wings attached to humanoid bodies with long snouts and spiky tails. "Demons." Herod remarked. The last time he saw this vision there had only been purple winged spined covered demons. Not he saw creatures vile made of bone and steel with insect wings hurling pikes, there were small barbed creatures duel wielding axes as they tore into human flesh devouring everything around them.

At the center of town he glimpsed a familiar sight, two elven figures standing atop a hill of bodies piled so high he couldn't help but recoil from the sight. The hideous laughter echoed across Waterdeep just as it had before except now.. With the bannisters of every church burning the vision did not stop. It was at that moment the drow figure atop the bodies.. Turned. His psychotic purple eyes glared into Herod's soul he began elegantly walking down the mound, his cloak billowing behind him with a dagger poised on one hand. He had seen this drow before, over and over, its face broke out into a vicious grin sliding upward too far for any normal person. His face looked tight, and had the texture of oil; too smooth. Every fiber of Herod's being told him this.. Thing. Wasn't real. It wasn't even drow to him. His uncanny valley began to trigger what the hell was it? "Vulity.." Herod cursed, his body shivered like a naked child within a tundra despite the warmth of blazing shops.

"Why hello there." The drow began to chuckle. That hideous amusement, the one he heard from the forest when Puderis contacted him, the same laughter he heard the first time he encountered this vision. Herod was not in control of his actions. His mind.. Or this vision. "Its so nice to meet you.. Or.. formally meet you that is." The drow paused looking up at the sky. "Herod.. That's your name."

"What the fuck.." Herod shook, reaching his hand down for Vulity.

"Where are my manners?" The drow held a hand to his chest, chuckling lightly.

"We have yet to even be introduced! I.. am Ant'tran.. Auvryrret Naïlo. It's a pleasure to meet you Herod, Cervos Westwood." A cold breeze ran up his spine. He was stunned by his full name.. No one.. He hasn't told anyone. How? Herod twisted on his legs eying this 'Ant'tran' carefully

"How.. Do you know my name?" Herod growled. For once in this nightmare he felt in control, he took a step forward drawing Vulity, Herod leveled the blade against Ant'tran the drow creature. Ant'tran grinned even more, not that Herod thought that was even possible.

"Your name? That was simple.. Things to go over another time.. Boring really!" Ant'tran spun around seemingly admiring his work of Waterdeep. "What is interesting.." Ant'tran waved a hand; instantaneously an image of Puderis, the giant haloed stag appeared. "Such.. a minor god.. Why, why work for a weakling? When you could work for me?" Ant'tran turned, displaying his vicious smile. A creepy grin that felt less than real. "I assure you.. I'm much more powerful than that.. Thing you work for now. What's their name?" The drow paused, placing his left hand against his chin like he was contemplating a memory. "Ha! I don't even know.. They're so minute."