Fine Print

This was originally part of a larger piece that gave an overview of Gehenna as a whole, but I'm not sure if that will ever see light, so here's the opening flavor text/fiction for it.

“Why can’t I move? I can’t see anything else either…”

“Why is it so dark here? I don’t remember what I’m doing here… I… powers above I don’t know who I am…”

“I don’t remember anything! What’s going on?!”

“My hands and feet, they burn so horribly, I can barely feel them. My back feels like it’s been torn open. Was I beaten and left for dead? Why does it hurt so much?”

“I… ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!”

The sudden burning, searing pain passed.

“I…I think I remember something, yes… The Baatezu had legions two hundred thousand strong under the command of the Pit Fiend Callorgrist. They were bound for the planes of Oinos, to fight…”

“Why do I remember that so vividly? What does that mean? I can’t remember anything else, not even my name…”

“ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!”

The pain came and went as sudden and quick as before, a burning searing pain that lashed at the mind and body.

“In exchange for the true name of a Gelugon at the gates of Nessus and seven hundred and seventy seven mortal souls entrapped in gems, one hundred and eleven each having committed and been damned for each one of the seven sins of greater damnation…”

“What is this… why do I know this… what does this have to do with the pain… can anyone hear me?!”

Another scream passed unheard from tortured lips, then came and went again, and again.

“The Baatezu will be given the services of one hundred thousand Mezzoloth, and the standard composition of Dergholoth. A regiment of eighty Nycaloth and forty Arcanaloth will accompany them as well to combat suspected use of Arcanist Varrangoin in the coming days to lay siege to their forces by air…”

“How is it I know this? Why is this the only thing I can remember?!…”

One more scream passed from the deformed, stretched, blood flecked lips.

“The contract is agreed to by both Callorgrist and the Keeper of the Tower, the agreement is signed and payment is given, the gems now, the True Name after the coming battle should Callorgrist survive… Please… someone answer me… “

There was no response as Helekanalaith, the Keeper of the Tower of the Arcanaloths nodded to the Pit Fiend and cupped the first gem of many in his hands, examining each with the practiced eye of a greater Yugoloth. He nodded to the other Arcanaloth in the room who concluded the contract with a flourish by branding the sigils of both parties into the twitching, tortured flesh of the petitioner who lay before him, stretched flat atop a steel frame, bound by nails and spells to the metal, mindless except for the details of the contract burned into his body.

“I don’t remember anything, not who I am, or why I’m here. I only know that it hurts so much… I only know the pain and that the Baatezu had legions two hundred thousand strong…”