Or'do sighed, leaning heavily against the braided iron lamp, which he had long ago discovered. He cast about, taking in the towering bonfire below, and the dark clad figures tending to it, or knelt in various postures of reverence around it.

"Where is he?" Referring to Aleorn, he spoke this softly, fearing that the horde lurking below his outcropping would take notice. "I pray he is alright." A distant peal of thunder drew his attention to the bleak, yet cloudless horizon. Before he could so much as inhale in shock, the sky had turned black, the stars becoming bloodied streaks that wept across the heavens and struck the earth with solemn, hollow notes.

Leaping to his feet, Or'do drew his blade, closing fingers of steel around his rugged pommel and pivoting as he rose, bringing it into diagonal guard. Around him, the earth seethed, fissures of blackness blazing through the flagstones, and from their stygian depths crawled unspeakable horrors; bodies of men twisted and fouled, arms sprouting like grotesque wings from hunched backs, bleeding coils lashing and curling around hidden legs, eyes of deep scarlet blazing as heads misshapen, craggy and ruined as the stones, turned toward him.

Too many horrors had he seen for such things to trouble him, at least in appearance, yet when Or'do felt their eyes upon him, he knew that these were not creatures he could fight. The nearest among them lunged, and instantly the memory of Vicar Amelia flashed through his mind, her crumpled form etched in tones of ash and flame. Startled, he barely managed to deflect its twisted hand, yet all the same its foul aura washed over him, and within his breast the Cinder shivered. He lunged away, sprinting across that pitted field, toward the fortress upon its peak, where the Which of Hemwick Charnel Lane waited. She was formidable, yet those at his back, were far more than he could possibly vanquish. If he was right, they like most, could not traverse the gate of fog. Death closed from all sides now, yet he had faith.

"Come on, Aleorn. I know you're there, waiting for some dramatic entrance." He grunted, ducking as a withered arm lashed overhead. "Help me, Aleorn. Come back to my side before its too late." Glancing skyward, he murmured: "For us all."