The knight raised his left arm slowly, showing the shield he had been carrying to the altar.
    "Behold, the Gem Shield!" He said proudly.  The shield seemed to glow, giving off a soft light blue haze as the light from the room reflected off and through its surface.
    "Very good, very good indeed, Kaale," the voice said again, "I am aware it was no easy task to recover the shield.  But we must work much haste if we are to collect the rest of the Gem items."
    "As well as all the other items," the Orc Shaman added.
    "Very true.  We now have two of the items we need, but there are many more to collect."
    All present nodded in agreement, all but one.  The creature standing beside the Orc Shaman had only moved to watch the proceedings.  The only noise he seemed to make was a soft crackling, as under the helmet of this warrior was not a face.  No eyes to see with, nor mouth to speak.  He was a Chaos Demon, and though the rest of him looked rather human, his face was a torrent of fire, held within the confines of his helm.  These creatures are the servants of only the most powerful entities, for they only serve those who are more powerful than themselves.  Their allies and equals are, at best, tolerated.

    "Noriock," their master's voice called out again.  The Orc Shaman slowly walked toward the alter, as Kaale and the hooded figure turned to allow him passage.
    "I am here to serve, Master," the Orc Shaman said with a crooked, aged smile.
    "The others will be charged with recovering the Gem items.  I put the weight of finding the rest of the items on your shoulders, Noriock.  Use the full resources of your Orcish army, bring those items to me."
    "And what of the army of Ikros, master?  They've stopped my generals several times before."
    "Lead the army personally.  You must not fail.  Leave nothing in your way.  Let nothing stop you."
    "What of the child?" Noriock said quickly.
    "Leave the child to me."
    "Yes, Master," the shaman said, bowing.
    "I must go, my time here is short.  Find me the items.  Gather them quickly.  The time of the awakening draws near!" the voice called out, slowly dying out as it ended, as if it were moving out of the room as it spoke.