Ishmael on the Run
By Hamish Wilson

	“I will tear your soul apart” Ishmael taunted as a cultist fell to his magic. He had more important things to do than fight the Cabal, the world was dyeing. He had just come back to this world after over a century of being dead, killed by Cerberus the mighty hell hound. Of course Caleb had dealt with him, but now Caleb may become more of a threat than an asset.

	Cerberus was killed along with the majority of the Cabal when Caleb went on his vengeful rampage a hundred years before, to avenge the death of himself and his comrades (including Ishmael). He killed the Cabal's god, the one that binds, devourer of souls, the dark god Tchernobog. That was the problem now. Tchernobog bound the realities together, and with him gone the realities were falling apart. Only Caleb could fix this, having absorbed the gods power when he killed him. If only Caleb realized this.

	Caleb was more concerned with his ongoing vendetta with the Cabal, especially Gideon the Cabal's new leader. He was the man which returned life into the cult, turning it from a doomed religion into a global monopoly on most industries. Gideon wanted Caleb dead so that he could absorb the powers of Tchernobog for himself. Ishmael knew that that would be worse however, he would have more influence over Caleb than Gideon.

	Ishmael was now trying to meet Caleb again, but Caleb was fast and hard  to catch up with. But Ishmael knew where he was going, the crypt underneath New Town. He knew he better hurry however, he must convince Caleb to bind the realities. These Cabal soldiers were not helping however. “You will die a slow, slow, death” the soldiers taunted as Ishmael made his way to the city underground.

	“You will enter a world of pain, and I will be our travel agent” Ishmael replied as he sent of a few burst of his soul staff. The cultist fell to the ground not expecting such a violent attack. Ishmael smiled, always smug about his magical skills.  He entered the underground structural, a decaying maze full of cobwebs and rubble. And now various beasts, visitors from another reality. Caleb can not deny their existence at least. 

	Ishmael could hear the sounds of gunfire in the distance, and realized that Caleb must be nearby. He walked further down the corridor and saw that Caleb had just shot-down a giant beast in a large hall like structure. Ishmael decided that this time he would use a different tactic.

	“You are thinking about Ophelia, how very touching” Ishmael said trying to get Caleb's attention.

	“Oh, I will do more than that” Caleb said with a little smile.

	“There is a permanent rift in Gideon's Temple. It is the focus point for all the damage that is being done, an epicentre if you will. You will find Ophelia there” Ishmael continued.

	“Groovy” Caleb replied. Ishmael decided to try to convince Caleb once again.

	“Tchernobog's destruction opened many doors between the worlds. They must be sealed by the One that Binds, that power lies within you. This reality will perish unless you restore it.”

	“Let it burn, I never liked this place anyway” Caleb responded, obviously not caring.

	“There is another reality trying to force its way into our own, ancient and ravenous. It is neither good or evil it merely is. But it will destroy us all.” Ishmael said in one last chance to convince Caleb. But Caleb was off, probably to find Ophelia. Oh well, Ophelia will probably help Ishmael convince Caleb. For now he needed to find out more about the rifts.

	Ishmael left the Crypt and returned to the surface of New Town. There he saw a pack of Shikari running in the street, he better convince Caleb soon. “Get away you filthy creatures” Ishmael heard as the pack fell to chain gun fire. Seeing who it was Ishmael walked up. “What the hell are these creatures anyway?” Gabriella asked. 

	“They are creatures from another reality” Ishmael said. “Unless Caleb seals the rifts there will be more of them”. 

	“In case you did not notice, he does not seem to want us around” Gabriella said, a tinge of annoyance in her voice.

	“If we cant get through to him Ophelia will. She is our main bargaining chip” Ishmael replied. “Come with me, I could use a little extra fire-power”.

	The two of them approached an old Cabal temple, which seemed to be falling apart under the stress of age. “What are we doing here?” Gabriella asked. Ishmael did not respond, he continued to walk until he reached a large room with many old books.

	“We are here to learn more about Tchernobog's power to seal the realities” Ishmael said, taking out a thick book. It was blinded in gold, and the pages were yellow. Ishmael had to bind the pages together with magic to keep them from falling out. Ishmael looked though the text, and gazed at a certain page. 

	“The One that Binds must preform a certain ritual” Ishmael read, translating from cultist. “Only an incarnation of Tchernobog can preform this ritual. Very little information has been revealed to mortals, but the One that Binds can preform the ritual by instinct” Ishmael closed the book, and turned for the door. “Come, we must find Caleb” he said as both he and Gabriella exited the temple.

	After they returned to New Town, they herd gunfire coming from the rooftop of CabalCo's main office. They quickly fought there way to a lift and ascended the building. There they found Ophelia but no one else. “They went through a singularity, don't know where” Ophelia said annoyed. Ishmael took out a singularity generator and transported the rest of the Chosen into the Ancient One's reality.

	Once there they found signs that Caleb had been there. Various bodies of Cabal and Ancient One creatures were around the place, creating a path for them to follow. They then heard the sounds of gunfire in the distance. As they approached they saw that Caleb had killed a gigantic squid like creature, which Ishmael had identified as the Ancient One.

	“It is not over Caleb, you must seal the rifts. You must rebind the fabric of this reality before it tears itself apart” Ishmael said as he approached Caleb. 

	“I do not know nothing about that kind of stuff” Caleb said, still in denial.

	“The power is within you, it is time you used it” Ishmael said, trying his best to convince Caleb.

	“Okay just shut up, I need to focus” Caleb said, as he prepared for the ritual. He crossed his arms, and put them on his chest. He then spread them wide, and emitted an arc of blue energy as a deep chorus cry was heard from the magic. The rifts were sealed, but the Chosen still had more adventures ahead of them.

Hamish Wilson April 3, 2008. Thanks to Monolith Productions for the Blood Games and Characters