The Fire of Mazda

"The Fire of Mazda" is a short story by Richard L. Tierney, part of his series about the ex-gladiator Simon of Gitta. It was first published in the May/June 1984 issue of Orion's Child. 
Set in Rome in early autumn of 27 AD, "The Fire of Mazda" finds Simon enmeshed in a plot to kill the Roman Emperor Tiberius by provoking the wrath of the Persian fire god Atar against him. The scheme involves the invocation of Azathoth, identified with the Persian demon Azdahak and the gnostic entity Achamoth.
The ritual Sapientia Magorum of Ostanes
==Characters ==
*Simon of Gitta, a former gladiator enlisted to take part in an occult ritual aimed at killing the Roman emperor Tiberius.
*Dositheus, a Samaritan wizard who hopes to invoke Azathoth in order to provoke the wrath of Atar against Tiberius.
*Menander, Dositheus' apprentice.
*Carbo, a crow, Dositheus' familar.
*Helen, soul mate of Simon, whom Dositheus intends to be sacrificed at Simon's hand.
*Junius, a Roman senator in league with Dositheus in hopes of restoring the Roman Republic.
*Ambronius, steward of Junius
Category:Richard L. Tierney works
Category:Expanded Mythos Works