On the 11th of Daedalan 923 AF, the citizens of Mhaldor gathered within the Black Cathedral for a dark communion and an even darker purpose. Blood flowed in rivers from their freshly slit throats, soaking into a pentagram of their own make as they performed a profane ritual: the summoning of Lord Malortis, the Portal Master.

The scholars of Mhaldor understood well that this ancient daemon never acted without a price, for his loyalty was first and foremost to himself. A bargain had to be struck to secure his services, and what could tempt him more than a taste of Divinity? With a quake that rumbled Sapience, Cooper Ikari rose as an Avatar of Malevolence and offered his blood, heart, and body to the slavering Lord Malortis. Tooth sank into flesh as claw tore apart skin, and when the flurry of crimson abated, the Portal Master was satisfied.

The price was paid.

Ascending out of the Black Cathedral to the cursed city of Kasmarkin, the Daemon Lord fulfilled his end of the bargain. A portal to the Inferno was opened, and Mhaldor was allowed to strike at Pazuzu's forces. Steel poised and magic crackling, the armies of the Baelgrim marched in, tearing apart the wasteland's demons before charging at their newest foe: Spall, the Gnarled Hand.

Panicked and flighty, the greasy demon threw flame after burning flame at the encroaching army of Black Hand and Sartanic devout, melting the overly brave and foolish into puddles of bubbling pitch. But any effort was meaningless in the face of such an overwhelming force, and it was not long before the Avatar of Evil stood atop a foul, rotting corpse. It took only minutes before the effects of Spall's demise were felt on the Prime Material Plane. Without the Gnarled Hand's ritualism to sustain it, the rift above Kasmarkin wavered and collapsed inwards, freeing Sapience from the ceaseless onslaught of the Infernal Legion's hordes.

With the violent closure of the Infernal portal came a promise sealed by Mhaldor. Born of Malortis' daemonic hand, their own flame-wrought rift to the Inferno would remain intact and afire on the Prime, allowing them to return the Legion's gift of endless slaughter to the demons waiting within.

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Summary: Mhaldor performed a ritual to summon Lord Malortis, the Portal Master. In exchange for the blood of an Avatar, the Daemon Lord opened a rift to the Inferno, allowing the Baelgrim armies to slay the demon responsible for the Infernal Legion's transportation to Sapience.

Penned by My hand on the 11th of Aeguary, in the year 923 AF.