First Things First (Part Three)

Oh dear reader you have come for part 3 because I have side tracked from the original intent of this story: that of Duke Nightmare visiting Grand Ma-ma after accepting the position of Proxy for the New Dark God. Where our story was last at, Duke Nightmare was in the City of Doors learning of Hiddukel, Jay Oaker, and the Master of the Past and Present. So dear reader, let us along with Duke Nightmare take our leave of Sigil and head for the Court of the Unseelie.

Duke Nightmare rides into the Court of the Unseelie on his namesake steed and is greeted by his Grand Ma-ma. But Grand Ma-ma is taken back by Duke Nightmare’s new pedant: revealing him as agent of the New Dark God. Grand Ma-ma takes her seat on her throne and has Duke Nightmare stand before her. Grand Ma-ma uses dark magic to explore Duke Nightmare’s very soul and finds some interesting things.

Duke Nightmare’s soul has a black spot from where the god Cuiraecen stripped Duke Nightmare of his cleric powers. Duke Nightmare also trace amounts of evil left over from the magical geas placed by the Sword Mage. Grand Ma-ma can also see that an outsider has a claim on Duke Nightmare’s soul (that of the favor Duke Nightmare owes Firebeard Blackaxe). Grand Ma-ma can also point out several unique intersections on Duke Nightmare’s soul: one that goes from the worship of the demi-god known as Deth that flows out into the pure evil of Azari. But the most important change on Duke Nightmare’s soul is that of the investiture into Raphael Saberstrike and how that continues on into the proxy-servitude of the New Dark God.

All this information confuses and angers Duke Nightmare and asks what if anything him or Grand Ma-ma can do to change or improve Duke Nightmare’s situation. Grand Ma-ma tells him that any deal with any devil is dangerous but they must be completed. Duke Nightmare must complete the favor for Firebeard Blackaxe and the seven unnamed vile deeds for Jay Oaker. Duke Nightmare informs Grand Ma-ma that Jay Oaker would like to meet her and Grand Ma-ma is interested to meet the New Dark God as well.

But what else does Duke Nightmare learn, what else does he discuss with Grand Ma-ma, and what about the taint of Azari upon Duke Nightmare’s blood. Well dear reader, those things and much more are still yet to come for Duke Nightmare. A whole new world of evil opportunities and adventures has opened up for Duke Nightmare and what lies ahead is hard to see.