“Hm. There are… fewer here than I expected.”
The Doom Drums inspected a series of screens, all of which were showing a security feed from a large meeting hall. These three beings were the leaders of the Pentathax, an ancient Decay Lord eradicator sect that specialized in destroying Corruption. However, they were also a mobile sect, and travelled from eniapent to eniapent, through various pentaclusters, tracking down and chasing particularly dangerous strains of Corruption, namely the old, harsher ones. As they travelled, they would often host meetings with the leaders of Decay Lord sects who lived in each eniapent, for diplomatic and data-gathering reasons.
However, this was their first time properly visiting the Phevonic Eniapent, and, consisting that most Eniapents contained anywhere between three and nine pentaclusters (this one contained four), the fact that only eight sect leaders had turned up was… concerning.
“The last time we passed by, I recall there being six sects in the Kentarasa Pentacluster alone…” Permafrost grunted.
“Two Kentarasan sects, three Patagenic sects, two Vionic sects and one Tennorokan sect. None at all from the Phtharaospitesio Pentacluster, and that is an utterly massive area that takes up most of this Eniapent…” Pentaflame tutted. “Very disappointing.”
“Not disappointing. Understandable. According to the data from our previous meeting, Deathven Overall has been tearing apart smaller sects, and the Phtharaospitesio Pentacluster has been overrun by Corruption since forever…” Galeforce also tutted, but mostly because Pentaflame had tutted.
The Doom Drums weren’t that ancient, not compared to some older Sect Trios, but they had been around long enough. Pentaflame, a creature formerly only known as Praeliator Prime, was a colossal, fiery, draconic entity standing at nearly 5m tall, literally fire and lava contained within a rocky outer shell, with three jaws and two sets of arms. Galeforce, also known as Lokmahro, the Vast Sky Balancer, was also draconic, but much more of a traditional wyvern than anything else, but one that stood on two legs and had two pairs of wings. Both sets of wings had specially adapted fingers at the end of them, allowing Galeforce to manipulate objects, but he preferred to use telekinesis and his mastery of air to move things instead.
Permafrost on the other hand was rather small. At least, in comparison with his companions. He was a 3m tall, bulky humanoid with no obvious face, more of a horned helmet, somehow made out of flesh and metal at the same time, wrapped up in a coat that was made of sword steel. However, Permafrost was also capable of somehow ejecting his spirit out of his own body, revealing a much smaller, very human, child-like form. This ‘Controller’, despite looking weak, was nigh indestructible and basically phased in and out of reality, but he required his metallic 3m suit to actually be able to interact with most things. The Controller called himself Ordas Kryanan, and the suit did sometimes seem to have a mind of its own, so Ordas occasionally referred to it as just Frost.
“Well, we ought to go and greet them. No point standing around and prolonging things!” Permafrost smiled, but no one could really tell. “Shall we, friends?”
Pentaflame and Galeforce both nodded, then followed Permafrost out of the room. As they walked, they nodded to each Pentathax Decay Lord they passed. The Pentathax were quite a varied sect, but many of them were Enclosed Elemental Entities, the same way Pentaflame was, animalistic beings that represented various elements, contained within rocky or metallic shells, with bits of their elements floating around them. Those who weren’t Triple Es were mostly draconic entities similar to Galeforce, or much more random beings from distant eniapents that had joined the sect as they travelled by.
Eventually, the three of them made it to the meeting hall where everyone else was waiting. Galeforce thrust open the massive, stone doors, and Pentaflame stepped forward, both arms open.
“Welcome, Sect Leaders of the Phevonic Eniapent! We are the Doom Drums, and it is a pleasure to meet you all!”
The Decay Lords all glanced at each other, then muttered between themselves. Already, the Doom Drums noticed there was some tension in the room, but that seemed to be nervousness. Most of these Sect Leaders didn’t really know each other, and some of them were pretty young and fresh. Four of them also seemed to be of similar species, but that was somewhat common as Life Goddesses in certain eniapents would often uplift an entire species and make them into Divine Guardians, and some of those would always break away and become Decay Lords.
Permafrost raised his hands and a table with eight chairs and three thrones exploded out of the ground, all made of ice. Several Pentathax soldiers rushed in, covered everything in cushions and cloth for comfort, placed a special magic chalice that was filled with whatever the Decay Lords wanted in front of each of them, then disappeared again. The Decay Lords all glanced at each other, then sat down.
“So! Before we do anything, an introduction is required!” Pentaflame announced. “I am Praeliator Prime, Pentaflame. These are my cohorts, Ordas Kryanan, Permafrost, and Lokmahro, Galeforce. We are the Doom Drums, a Named Sect Trio, and the leaders and founders of the Pentathax Mobile Decay Lord Sect. As is tradition, we shall go around the table and introduce ourselves, starting with our left. Please state your name, Trio name, sect and a brief description of what your sect does.”
The first being, a Matanaiai, a heavily armoured, green and silver mechanical humanoid being wearing a sleek mask, sighed loudly and cursed under their breath, not expecting to be the first to speak. “Oof. I am Mutau, Guardian of the Howling Abyss, codename Windchaser. I’m one of the Weathered Three, also one of the six leaders of the Nuvox Decay Lord sect. We are a general peacekeeping sect that works in the Matanesian Void, providing backup to the local Divine Guardian groups there.”
The next being was mechanical the same way Mutau was, but it was very differently shaped. Very long legs, but a short torso and arms, as well a heavy, hunched upper body with a large row of spikes and a somewhat snake-like head, with a duller silver and white patches instead of green. It seemed to be completely mechanical apart from something within its mouth, that could only be seen when it spoke. “I am Kuuraa, ofs the Mind Chainsss, codename Angersssoul, leadersss ofs the Kssshana Decay Lord Sssect. We are alssso ofs the Matanesssian Void, we isss killersss of Corruptsssion.”
Up next was another humanoid, one that was quite small, not much more than 2m tall, but made of steel-skin similar to Permafrost, but it was very blatantly female and seemed to be missing an appendage, her left arm having been replaced with a robotic one. “Heya, happy to be here, I’m Sysasa Toxatocritin, cheerfully known locally as the Lady of Former War Crimes. Me and my Bewitched run the Aniko Sect, we busy ourselves by keeping the Voidways clear while offering safe passage and resting places for anyone passing through the Oraka Straights trying to get through our god-forsaken pentacluster.”
Sysasa was followed by someone who looked like a blue-armoured Beh’evok, but seemed a little too skinny, and their crown of horns was very messy. He also oddly had four red eyes. “I am Tahnaiious Theoskotonos, Mimicblade, of the Exalted Shifters. I am the leader of the Ekthris Decay Lord sect, we are also Corruption Purgers, to our last breath.”
Next to Tahnaiious was a black, draconic being. “Hello! I guess most of us here are military sects, I am Mavriir, Stormshade, one of the Black Storm, the friendly, apporachable member, and we are in charge of the Alsyr Decay Lord sect. Used to fight both Voidborns and Corruption, but all the Voidborns seemed to have vanished and we just kill that horrible cursed stuff now.”
Galeforce smiled at Mavriir, always happy to see someone draconic. After Mavriir were the two other early arrivals.
“I am Psehon Panton, Soulblade, the Control Core of the Phantai and the Spirit of the Great Blades. Us Phantai are an eradicator sect, focusing on Voidborns but we are now working in general peacekeeping in the Goldtorn Remains after the extinction of the local Voidborn cults!” the colossal, powerful, purple and gold Beh’evok proudly announced.
The smaller being, which didn’t quite seem to be a Beh’evok, with grey skin, red plating and gold armour, wasn’t quite as loud and boastful. “My name is Retvik Rethianos, Flamebearer, one of the Missing, and the new leaders of the Thantir Decay Lord sect. We work in purification, both from Corruption infections and Kenic Spore removal, while also providing assistance for other sects.”
Pentaflame eyed Flamebearer. “You are of a Hidden Named Trio?”
“I am, yes.”
“Curious… Anyway, next, please.”
The last being was also a Beh’evok, but it was utterly huge, nearly as large as Pentaflame was. And it was covered in nothing but heavy gold and silver armour. On its back were a pair of wings made out of swords, which made its codename and title somewhat odd. “I am Erin Foros, Peacebringer, the Shield Guard of the Justar and one of the Claws of Justice. We maintain the Justarian Circle, keeping it safe from all negative outside influence, while providing protection for the universes that exist within our sector.”
“Well, well, well!” Pentaflame seemed absolutely thrilled. “It is an honour to meet you all! I can already see what the common uplifted species are around here, and it is good to know that you are all already well-versed in your duties. However, I do also see that many of you are as foreign between yourselves as we are to you. So, in order to start things off, let us all share a hearty drink and a warm meal and get to learn a bit more about each other. Doubly so since we have some new sects that weren’t here when we last passed through, and we have a Hidden Named Trio member among us today!”
Pentaflame paused and scanned the room, until his fiery eyes landed on Flamebearer again. Flamebearer, the youngling that he was, sighed ever so slightly, then awkwardly sipped his drink. Pentaflame knew he’d like this one, as Flamebearer had chosen mead as his beverage of choice.
“We will look after you all, and we all have a lot to learn!” Galeforce announced. “We cannot wait to get to know you all!”
More Pentathax soldiers appeared, bringing in plates of various foods, a strange mixture of cookies, muffins, cheeses, sausages and sliced meats.
“Enjoy, new friends. And welcome to the caring embrace of the mighty Pentathax.”