Holy wars
an excerpt

In this world, the battle between good and evil is ever constant. People constantly strife for domination over one another while others try to help out where they can to defend human rights. However, with human ethics it's hard to define who is evil and who is not. Opinions on ethics are based on point of view, prone to human error. Thus, in this world normal creatures do not decide on those ethics, because they are flawed. Entities more powerful than mortal kin make the final judgement.
Far above or far below, as in popular believe, there is a heaven and hell. Together they form what's good and what's evil. The purity of their belief shapes the world, and brings the strife to the next level. Each side perfectly balances the other. Where there is good, there is evil, battling their eternal battles beyond mortals ken. Normally these entities exert little influence over the mortal world, only channels minor charms through prayers and invocations. Only in a very, very rare occasion, an entity will manifest itself upon the world, changing its face forever.
One such an occasion we observe today, in a temple at the outskirts of the city of Monoth. Out of view, a group of dark warlocks prepare their ritual...

The temple was only sparsely lighted with oil lamps, further deepening the dark ambience. The light reflected upon red marble walls, showing worn texture. It was a cold evening and with the little shelter the building provided, a thick smoke slowly crept along the floor. Forming a circle, deep reddened bronze braziers slowly burned, spreading the heavy smell of incense. Within this circle there were nine men, each of them wearing a crimson robe. They were chanting, but the words were lost for a normal man. They murmured the ancient tongue of summoning, invented by elder warlocks many generations ago.
While once might and fair, they asked too much of their powers and consequently being consumed by greed demons. The event had shocked the world into abolishing all practices of summoning, leaving magicks to the sky above.
Albeit, some thought them to be better, wiser and more powerful than their ancestors, taking up the old craft again, swearing never to make the same mistake. Therefore,, these nine men had gathered in a cult, proving their worth to the world.
One of them moved to the centre, putting down a little trinket resembling a stock dove. He then returned to his place and motioned the others to stop chanting. When there was silence, he spoke:
'Friends, we all know we have gathered here to prove we are worthy of being warlocks. After years of studying ancient and almost lost tomes of magick, we are now ready to initiate the final step: summoning a demon.'
All the men's faces showed such grim dedication, so confident in their ability. They would succeed, no matter what happened.
'Hearken now, for we are about to summon the great demon earl Halphas. He will provide us with his legions, erect towers and fortresses for us and show us the way to rule this world. We warlocks have the future of this world. We will resurrect the old days, bringing down kingdoms, even empires to create anew.'
He took a deep breathe and looked around.
'I will now allow Halphas to contact us through this trinket, but I will all of you to support me in this. His might will be enormous. If we don't keep him at bay, all will fail and we will be left to oblivion. I do not intend to fail after years of pouring through puzzling texts. Are you with me?'
One by one, all the men nodded. Satisfied, their leader began his spell:
'I do invocate and conjure thee, O Spirit, and being with power armed from the supreme majesty, I do strongly command thee, by us who speak and it is done, and unto whom all creatures be obedient. I do exorcise thee and do powerfully command thee, O thou Spirit, that thou dost forthwith appear unto me here before this Circle in a fair human shape, without any deformity or tortuosity. And by this ineffable name, TETRAGRAMMATON IEHOVAH, do I command thee, at the which being heard the elements are overthrown, the air is shaken, the sea runneth back, the fire is quenched, the earth trembleth, and all the hosts of the celestials, terrestrials, and infernals, do tremble together, and are troubled and confounded. Wherefore come thou, O Spirit, forthwith, and without delay, from any or all parts of the world wherever thou mayest be, and make rational answers unto all things that I shall demand of thee. Come thou peaceably, visibly, and affably, now, and without delay, manifesting that which I shall desire. For thou art conjured by the name of the LIVING and TRUE GOD, HELIOREN, wherefore fulfil thou my commands, and persist thou therein unto the end, and according unto mine interest, visibly and affably speaking unto me with a voice clear and intelligible without any ambiguity.'
There was no answer. The leader called out again, but nothing seemed to happen. In his desperation not to fail the summoning, he poured all of his power in a final outcry for the demon... and He came. Suddenly the warlock stiffened. The others warlocks looked upon him with great concern, had he just expended too much of his power?
His eyes turned away and a hoarse voice came from his mouth.
'Why have you summoned me? Speak to me mortals, Halphas, and I shall listen. I stand commanded.'
Great excitement was showing from the warlocks. It had worked! They had summoned a demon! They didn't care any more about their surroundings, their attention being consumed by pure greed.
'We are in need of legions to dominate our world,' they shouted ', massive weapons of war we desire from you. No one shall be able to resist our might. Grant us a new world.'
A wicked grin appeared from the possessed warlock leader. Still they had not realised their folly in their ignorance.
'I fully agree with you all. We are in need of a new world. New rule to create a perfect world. No one shall be able to stop our mighty infernal legions. It shall be done.'
Beams of light began to shine from the eyes of the warlock leader. In great anticipation, the others awaited the arrival of their legions, but instead their leader began to transform. His nose grew into a beak and his arms burst open, revealing wings. Blood splattered against the shocked warlocks. What was this madness? The legs melted into sickly green bird-like extremities. The rest of remaining body fell to ground, revealing the true form of the demon. It was something like a horned hippogryph, but with a more humanoid head and five-fingered talons.
'I will do what you puny mortals have called me for. I will create a new world, a world filled with demons.'
He then spread out his talons and several dark portals began to open in the temple. When they had reached a mere meter diameter, the first abominations began to pour out. Hideous creatures of deformed flesh compositions slithered towards the hapless humans.
'You should have studied more fools. I was in control from the moment that you summoned me. You don't deserve to rule. Leave ruling to those that are truly worthy. Now, my legions; take these fools as your meal. You will need all your strength to conquer this petty plane of existence.'
The demons were more than willing to obey their master, eagerly falling upon the warlocks, devouring their body and souls.
'This world will not be prepared for the unleashed might of hell' Halphas exclaimed.
'Now march!'
With the sight of his 26 legions marching on the unknowing mortal world, he let loose an infernal laughter that was heard for many leagues...