We were both in shock by what had just transpired...How had we been so careless, how didn't we notice it?

We've underestimated the strength of our foes, and nearly paid for it. We can't make that mistake again.



I turned to head back for the Rogue Encampment, to return the Horadric Malus, but Isolde stopped me. She said that there is a stone we can use to teleport back the camp up ahead, we just have to make it through the Monastery jail. There is risk, but I fear time is a luxury we can no longer afford to waste. The jail it is.

These old somber chambers are filled with strange devices of pain and torture. What sort of cruel, dark deeds took place down here, out of sight from the people...



Yet another floor to suffer through. Skeletal Archers lie in wait around every corner, and some even in idle barrels.



At long last, reprieve from these claustrophobic halls.

Shortly after we escaped the jail, we found the "Waypoint" and were able to activate it. It looks as though a rogue had tried, but was struck down short.



We returned the Malus to Charsi. Now she will be able to forge even stronger equipment for the sisters. When we gave her the tool, she informed us that Cain has asked for our presence once we returned.

At once, we found Cain; he revealed to us the Horadric lore of Andariel and the other Great Evils of hell. Andariel and the other Lesser Evils had once betrayed Diablo and his brothers. Cain suspects that Andariel's presence here could mean that the Lesser Evils have once again aligned behind Diablo and the other Prime Evils.

This does not bode well for Sanctuary. He has implored us to slay the Demon Queen Andariel before the Monastery becomes a permanent outpost of Hell and the way East is lost forever.

He also had discovered one last key piece of information about Andariel.



Despite being a demon of Hell, she loathes fire.

With some of the runes we had found within the forgotten tower he had Charsi craft for us a weapon to use against her.

With a nights rest behind us and the use of the waypoint, our campaign to take back the Monastery from Andariel had begun.



What sort of blasphemous demonic rituals have been performed upon this sacred alter?



I could see the mental toll the destruction of this once holy cathedral had on Isolde. She stopped and gazed at the broken glass windows, tears swelling in her eyes, perhaps thinking of a memory long past.

I tapped her on the shoulder and nodded in the direction we must head. As I passed her I simply said "They will pay."

The spiraling stairs to the catacombs below, where Andariel resides.



Will this be our final resting place, like the so many others within this tomb.

No...we mustn't fail.

I wonder who they were? A king?, A priest?, A father? Does their spirit still become one with nature or trapped within this dank harrowing crypt?



Deeper we delved into the dungeon; our only source of light were the few torches that line the halls and stairways.



Demons lay in wait through every doorway within this forsaken labyrinth.

...and blood boils beneath the floor.



Another tier for us to endure...These halls are filled with contagious sorrow.



How much more must we suffer through, let us be rid of this torment.

What sort of vile...gruesome sacrilege have we bore witness to. I feel sick to my stomach...



I can sense her; her aura of anguish. These feelings of dolor, it's her, she fills these halls with grief.

These emotions of pain and heartache, it's terrible, it's overwhelming. How can we go on?

I caught myself "STOP! FOCUS!"...we must fight these emotions, we must fight Andariel.

Before I could succumb to despair once more I burst forth into the room and there she was awaiting our arrival.



I lunged for her and found purchase on her stomach, but she did not react. As I recoiled our eyes met, "FEAR ME" she said, as she plunged her stinger into my side.

Dazed, I stumbled backwards, my vision blurred. I tried to orient myself, but the room spun around me. I hear sobbing, Isolde? Where is she? I can't find her! ISOLDE!

THUD

Wha...? What happened? Wh...where am I? Why am I bleeding? What is this?...This torment I feel?

What is that...crying...? ISOLDE!

Suddenly I came to! Just in time to dodge Andariel's next blow. But I'm so weak, my muscles ache, I can hardly move. Is this how it ends?

NO! It can't end like this, we can't die here. I have to fight...I have to kill Andariel...I have to kill...kill...kill...KILL!



I could feel the feral rage coursing through me, taking over control. I let out an unrelenting flurry of blows, raking at her flesh. My claws imbued by the fiery weapon.

Driven by instincts, I managed to dodge most of her blows and rest only fed my anger.

Eventually she collapsed, exhausted from exsanguination. I watched as the life faded from her eyes.

The deed is done, the Demon Queen Andariel has been slain.

I turned from her to look for Isolde but as I did the ground began to shake. I returned my gaze to Andariel once more; her once dead body now an inferno. When the flames subsided her body was gone.

When I found Isolde she was lying fetal on the ground, still crying though her voice had since given way.

With my last remaining strength I grabbed Isolde, and what I could of Andariel's treasures, and portaled us to town.





This post was edited by Kenorwox on Mar 19 2018 04:43pm

Exhausted from our battle and what we had endured, the poison still flowing through my veins, I collapsed forthwith after making it through the portal.