Aelaria has always lived in fear of herself. A deep rage has always boiled within her heart, threatening to consume her. Knowing that it will one day destroy her and and anyone who gets close to her, she has always kept herself apart from other people.
Fate intervened, and despite her best intentions, she allowed herself to grow fond of several people. However, no matter how close she got to them, she never revealed the true nature of her pain and shame: She has always been the unwilling slave of Ahriman, the Archduke of Hell.
When a freak accident dumps Aelaria and her companions on Ahriman’s doorstep, she realizes the time is ripe. She makes sure everyone else is safe, and then sacrifices everything to confront Ahriman. Determined to win her freedom once and for all, she fights her way through hell.
This is the tale she tells…
Tales of Exterminis
Aelaria in Hell
On the Shores of the River Styx
Watching them sail away was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I don't know why. I don't know why tears are streaming down my face, but for some reason, I am glad they can't see them from this distance. I don't know who they are, but I know I love them. I don't...
Into the Darkness
The air gets colder as I go deeper into the cave, and the condensation on the walls slowly turns to ice. With no other food to be had, I start eating ice chips to keep hunger at bay. They don’t help. I continue moving through the cave, always moving down...deeper into...
Visions in the Dark
My eyes have fully adjusted to the darkness of the caves, and I have become quite the hunter. I’ve moved on from rotting corpses and rats to bats in flight. I’m down to six arrows now, though, so I’ve learned to be more conservative with them. All these hunting skills...
Allies At Last
I awaken, coughing and gasping for breath. I try to speak and sit up, but I can’t seem to remember how to do either one. Someone puts their hand against my forehead, and a voice says “Sleep, dog. I’ll get my answers out of you once your body has healed.” The blackness...
Aelaria 2.0
I awaken, and sit up. Lyari is sitting across the fire from me with her eyes closed. She looks like she is deep in thought, so I don’t want to disturb her. I get up as quietly as I can, get dressed, and eat some of the food they left beside me during the night....
Assault on Kivutar
Several weeks pass, and I become a deadly hunter. Thanks to Lyari, I am one with the darkness now, and thanks to Tanithil, I am one with my weapons. As we move deeper and deeper into hell, we come across more and more peri patrols. We deal with them quickly and...
Finally Free
I wake up, and try to move. Moving brings white-hot pain to my arms and legs, so I open my eyes. I’m chained to the altar, and the hooks are buried deep into my wrists and ankles. A peri priestess is standing over me, holding a sacrificial dagger and praying loudly. I...