[Pluto]

“You are all DAMNED!”

Those were the words the Master Sergeant had said to her after she had declared herself the new Tribune of the Priador and sent him packing with that declaration to Ihsahn. She smiled at his defiance. She would keep him around long enough to see that there would be no salvation for himself or his city of Bezantur. And then, when it was all done and the opposition destroyed, she would see to it personally that he be remade into one of the undead of the growing legion of her Lord.

Mirabela came here often now, to the High Road Escarpment, to watch the crows feast on the bodies of her foes from the back of her nightmare steed. Following the battle, she had instructed her trusted Shadow to a twofold task of delivering the body of Zulkir Lauzoril to Ihsahn’s doorstep and to see to it that the bodies –those that were not turned to ash by their tainted wands— were all impaled on spears along the High Road from here to Tyraturos to serve as reminder that death comes for them all.

She laughed wickedly. Ihsahn must be beside himself with rage.

She had begged her Lord for permission to seek the Red Wizard and his allies out and speak His terrible name to them all, to watch the darkness grow around their bodies until the light of their lives was no more!

But, He had caressed her cheek with His skeletal hand and soothingly told her to have patience. That it was not their time, but soon. Her Vaunted Lord was wise in all things, His whispers of power most seductive. She was a fool to deny Him for as long as she had and forever gracious that He was forgiving of her slight.

The battle had seen many join her Lord’s cause. The Shadow was once Alice Blackstone, a trusted spy of Ihsahn’s. Now she served the Vengeful willingly, perhaps she as well had some grudge to settle with the Red Wizard, something that transcended even death that she felt had to be done, a score to be settled.

Calhoun Maher, upon his transformation, was only concerned with the need to hunt. She had given him direction to hunt the Red Wizards and their allies now and find good sport in it. His eagerness to perform this task was evident, as he immediately set out to do so.

Karaz Dragonheart seemed to be adapting to his transformation, even though at times she did note some remorse over his choice. This will have to be addressed, she reminded herself, like she did with the last recruit.

Anastashia Shadoe was horribly conflicted over her transformation; she was concerned about the safety of her children and about her status as a Thayan Knight. Of the first, she was informed that she can never die and will now always be there to protect her children. Of the last, she was informed that she now served Ythazz Buvaar, the one true Zulkir and founder of Thay and that no other knight could boast such a claim. Furthermore, she was told that meant any other Knight that did not serve the Vengeful was a false one and should be put to the sword for their arrogance. Mirabela tasked her with doing so and she eagerly accepted the order.

Mirabela reflected and smirked; she honestly did not care for any of them. As far as she could tell they only joined the Vengeful in undeath out of a fear of being forever dead. How little esteem they must have held for their false gods to chose such an existence. They were not true believers of her Lord like she was, but they would be useful tools to deliver His Name nonetheless. The only one she held in regard was Sargatha, who --like herself—had made the decision of servitude before the embarrassment of death.

Mirabela gazed upon the Escarpment battlefield, the putrid sight and smell of death pleasant to her senses, and sighed. She nudged her steed and rode back to Bezantur slowly. There was much work to be done.

“You are all DAMNED!”

Why did the words of the Master Sergeant keep coming back to her now?