Hellyrion - The acursed Inner Circle

by Archmagistrate Allondor Calaharis of Esthalcor

Beyond the Mist of Talatha lies Hellyrion, the Inner Circle of Yoruta. It is here that our broken souls go after our mortal shells are shed. It is not the glorious paradise many expect, but a rather hellish landscape instead. When I, in my foolishness, travelled here, I arrived on an open plane of dust and bones. I saw countless souls wandering across the dry ground, their wails of torment still ringing in mine hears to this very day. Therefore I call this place the Wailing Fields.
Mine eyes were drawn north and there I looked upon a massiv pyramid of bones atop which sat the Skull of Antigoron, the ever-watching eye of Kogos, the Corpse-Lord. I could not bear his gaze upon me and thus I fled east, for there I saw smoke and fire rising to the ashen sky.
What I found was a network of pits, smelteries and mines with countless souls working day and night. I stayed in hiding for a while and watched. The Smiths of Baratur, finest craftsmen of Garatak, Lord of Metal, worked the giant anvils, the sound of their hammers echoing through the pits as they made tools of torture and war. Haradau, Lord of Earth, was supplying a steady stream of ore from his Mines of Agony.
To the northeast is a group of mountains, one of them being the volcano of Infuros, Lord of Fire. He sends his streams of hot lava down to the smithies. However the biggest of the mountains is Mount Krak, home of Ultorok, Lord of Giants.
Curious as to where the Lords could need all these crafted things, I followed the Road of Steel southwards. There I came to the Fields of Battle. Screams of victory and defeat filled the air as I watched the giant, never-ending battle unfold. It was Agos, Lord of Splendor, who marched his army out of Fort Kahr against the forces of Yeras, Lord of Poverty, and his base at Fort Lor'Faras. To make things more entertaining Behethos, Lord of Beasts, send giant bats and behemoths forth from his pits. Fearing that they might sense my presence, I retreaded further south.
There the barren soil made way for a stinking swamp, but not daring to go back, I made my way through it. The further inward I went, the harder it became to breath and a panic rose within mine heart. It was amplified, when suddenly I saw at a distance a giant Frog sitting on a rock. His skin was of a sickish green, his eyes half blind and his flesh reeking of rot. As harmless as it may look, I did not want to get near it, for it could eat me whole. Thus I hastened my steps and ventured on.
The swamp made way for a forest of pines under silvry light. As beautiful as it looked, I dared not to stay, for I heard the hungry howling of wolves in the distance and I knew I was in the realm of Wovrin, Lord of Werewolves. As I went on I noticed blue, purple and white crystals growing out of the ground and the further west I went the larger they got. I found a path between the pines, leading to a hill atop which stood a Tower, pulsing with magic and shining like a white star. I freaked out when I saw Lumira standing on its balcony, her intrigued gaze on me, but something within me made my worries grow to new heights and thus I ran away.
After a while I came across a big lake, its waters so clear I could see right to the bottom. The most wonderous of fish and coral did I see, but none could match the beauty of the women who swam among them. To my joy one of them, the most beautiful of all the women in the world, came out of the water and towards me. We sat upon a sunny rock and talked. She told me her name was Pinara, Lady of Water, and that my presence intrigued her. Eager to tell her more about myself, we talked for hours. "I have a surprise for you.", she told me after a while and lead me by mine hand, her skin soft and wet. We walked through a small garden to finely decorated house of marble. Its interior was gloomy, but comfortable, for there were many carpets and silken seats, one of which I took as mine as Pinara vanished behind a curtain.
A moment later a different woman, much older and much wiser, exited. She came towards me, her eyes fixated on mine, and layed her hands upon mine heart. She did not speak - and she didn't have to - for she filled mine mind with images of the future, among them a chance for me to escape Hellyrion. Thus I knew her to be Vegara, Lady of Prophecies and this house to be the Oracle of Gora.
I left the Oracle with renewed hope and joy, the second of which increased furthermore when outside I met Pinara once more. She took mine hand again and lead me away to a group of trees. My joy turned into horror when there I was taken by the Knights of Arbinor, for Pinara revealed herself to be Derishfûr, Lord of Trickery.
My attempts to flee were in vain as I was taken to the Dungeons of Evermoon, seat of Tar'Danur, Lord of Torture and Pain. I went nearly insane under the torturer's grim visage, but alas I remembered the visions of Vegara.
A Janubor appeared at the court of Tar'Danur and requested me to be taken to the Library of Ktar, for Al'Myra, Lady of Knowledge, wished to see me. But as I was taken a group of Vampires, servants of Lady Sarsana, attacked, intenting to bring me to their Lady of Blood. The Janubor was not without defenses tho and as they fought I managed to slip away.
Free once more I wasted no time and went to the Well of Eternal Bondage, in which the Heart of Karnas, Lord of Hellyrion, was imprisoned. Using the power of the Well, I cast a portal back to Yoruta. How great was my joy when I heard the screaming rage of Karnas ring out behind me!