Aibek nodded in agreement to Ayreth before quietly moving carefully up the staircase to the next floor.
The 9th floor is the scene of another fight. This, however, happened hours, maybe even minutes before. Gnolls dressed in similar garments to the Shattered Glass and other humanoids were cut down brutally. Almost all of them fell to blows from the rear or sides, long harsh slices.
At the base of the stairs is the largest group you can see. Interspersed among them are the broken remains of several Tower Guard units, maybe in eight in total. It's hard to tell given how thoroughly smashed the machines have been.
"Well, looks like we know where we're going." Azri said as she moved through the destruction while keeping an eye out, just to make sure nothing nasty was waiting for them as she tried to follow their tracks and go where they'd gone. "Man, these gnolls don't know when to quit, do they?"
Nigrum looked over the slashes, he let out a breath.
"Anyone else get the feeling that annoying parasite is going to show up yet again."
At the mention of the wounds, Mihara looks around intently. "These folk were taken off guard, that's for sure. It's sloppy work, but it's most likely someone who's trained in techniques not unlike mine. Be on your guard."
She pops into fox shape for a moment, and sniffs at the air for any hidden foes.
Aibek nodded to Nigrum, quietly commenting, "I would not be surprised if that was involved, would explain a few things as well." as the witchwolf looked around the room with their typical meandering pattern...
The tracks are odd, with the attackers tracks stopping and starting suddenly, suggesting great leaps of movement.
Although you can't see a weapon on the Tower Guard, or in fact any of the others you've seen, the wounds on the attackers was made with a long, heavy blade - a great sword or something similar.
Moving up to the 9th floor (Yes, the previous one was a mistype) the center is dominated by what appears to have been a war room, with smaller rooms for storing files, taking naps and private meetings making up the rest of the level.
Above you, the bells peel out once more, crystalline notes resonating sharply in the air.
Azri continued looking around, trying to see if she could find a way to get closer to that bell. She still wasn't quite sure why it was ringing, but she did want to find out sooner instead of later...
Aibek worried a moment over the odd tracks though schooled their features as they moved on to the 9th floor. The swirling thoughts were spinning in the witchwolf's mind were broken by the sharp sound of the strange bells that caused the shadow archon to suddenly stop, head tilting, eyes up.
Clearly focusing on the sound, uneasiness growing on Aibek's features as they gripped the shadows swirling around their hands tightly, Aibek began moving again once the ringing had finished, different thoughts began to grow as Aibek looked around the rooms...
"Yes, there'll be time for minute exploration later on." Mihara nods, pressing ahead.
Selena nods to Ayreth, keeping her eyes open to spot any traces of traces of the slavers or the mysterious greatsword wielder.
"I wonder if any of the Shattered Glass even made it up here..."
Unlike the previous rooms, the stairs open onto a small waiting room, a massive pair of double doors face the East, and a much smaller set are in the West. The double doors to the East are open, however, and you can see inside what appears to be the the council chambers.
The walls are covered in huge bronze cogs and machinery, arcane sigils inscribed in precious metals. It all sits still, coated in dusts, a massive and rusted blade jammed between two of the wheels. A huge, dull chunk of blue crystal sits above a massive table of aged darkened wood, both covered in silver sigils and runes.
However, it is the group of blank-faced armed warriors surrounding the chamber, watching you without blinking that draws your eyes. Two more stand back, flanking a chair at the round table. Sitting in it is a hulking, hooded figure. "Why hello again. How are you finding your stay? I still find the air here a little dry, even compared to home, but..."
Mihara observes the group curiously, and listens to the figure. When the man pauses, she raises a question
"Please pardon my interruption," Mihara says, bowing politely, "you said 'again'. Have we met before?"
"My oh my, a new body and none of you recognize me?" The creature laughed, and unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt to reveal a swollen, weeping red mass covering his chest. "Need I say more? But...since you have come so far, a boon? I am refered to by most as Khaul."
Aibek glanced to Nigrum before saying with mirth dancing along every clearly fed up word as the calm on their face threatened to snap, "Khaul? I thought it was 'that annoying parasite' among other things. There are interplanar issues that are currently top priority at the moment but if you'd like, I can add hearing what you are up to again and dealing with you again to the end of the growing list of tasks...".
The shadow archon took a few immaterial steps forward, shadows in hand, looking bored around the room while taking it all in to find the best way to where they needed to be as quickly as possible. Aibek just wanted to ensure that the ringing wasn't going to bring something horrible like an umbral dragon on their heads, make sure the apparently parasite assisted shattered glass hadn't done anything in the Towers of real concern, make sure the others had their needs met and then get a few minutes or hours or whatever of quiet to deal with whatever had changed in their shadows before dealing the rest of the things nagging at the back of Aibek's mind.
But now dealing with the annoying parasite was at the top of the list...again.
Nigrum studied the latest hapless creature the parasite had taken. He unsheathed Tsui.
"An honorable opponent would know when he is defeated and submit to his betters if they are honorable. How many times must I beat you. Come then foolish Khaul. Fight me again, lose again. It seems you do not learn easily. What will you offer this time? Another trade? Truthfully these employers you have spoken of in the past must be witless to employ one who fails them so often. What is your price? Whatever it is, it is to much for services unfulfilled."
Azri watched from behind her mortal mask... but her eyes glittered with just a hint of energy. How very... interesting... this was. And if she was right, hmm... well, they'd just have to deal with it.
|
Ayreth readies herself, confident that this situation would only resolve itself in the usual way. Perhaps they could glean a little more information first, but violence seemed to be this creature's way.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
HP: 35/42
MP: 3/7
TL: 1/2
1st: 5/8
2nd: 6/6
Aibek glanced to Nigrum before saying with mirth dancing along every clearly fed up word as the calm on their face threatened to snap, "Khaul? I thought it was 'that annoying parasite' among other things."
"What Aibek said: it was getting pretty annoying calling you 'That A~~++~*': we know a couple of them, and we were mixing you up." Selena grins "So, found what you were looking for? Looks like you lost some of your men on the way here."
He has found already another host? We just kicked his ass yesterday, and he's already here: how do we get rid of him once and for all?
The creature laughed. "Well, I did say 'most'. And yes, I have found what I'm looking for." Khaul patted something beneath the voluminous robes. "If it costs me a few sentient beings...well, one should enjoy their work, should they not?"
Nodding to Nigrum, he added, "But yes, one more deal. It is, after all, my nature to offer such things. And such as I can hardly defy our natures. This one is so easy, though - I have the last Symbol you need. But as these things work out, I don't need the Towers themselves to achieve my goals. I'll happily give you the Symbol, and withdraw to a location in the basements for...oh, a time. I'm not sure how long it will take, to be quite honest. Allow me to complete my work, and I shall leave, and you will have your little dominion. Everyone wins. Well, except the dead, but they get the Afterlife they deserve."
He didn't break his stance or stop looking upon the foul thing.
"Explain yourself. What is your work and goal?"
He could venture a guess he would not like it. Still he could be wrong, though he doubted he was. In any case he could always counter the deal with one of his own.
Aibek sighed as the annoying parasite gave the expected speech on what it wanted. "The Tower basement known to store many items, possibly another Symbol among other things, how could that possibly be a bad deal beside their usual goals and methods..." said quietly, the mix of mirth and beyond-done-with-this still in the shadow archon's voice.
The witchwolf took a few immaterial steps to the right, eyes flitting over the enemies in the room as the shadows around Aibek's hand oscillated and swirled. Stopping and solidifying while doing so, Aibek looked to others before speaking up in the same mixed tone, "Other issues, including interplanar bells ringing and cloth shopping, are far more pressing and interesting issues than you. While my voice is the least of us, I would sooner make a deal with an umbral dragon for loved ones than an annoying death loving parasite who obviously takes us for sun-addled brain bleached fools..."
"I get a feeling there's more to that deal than you're letting on." Mihara chuckles.
"Do not take us for fools."
Azri continued to keep quiet, not wanting to play her hand quite yet. She had to think about the long view, after all... and somebody like this? She didn't want to give them any more information than she had to.
"For all we know, you could just be bluffing about having the symbol." Selena comments.
Maybe if we could get him to show us the symbol...I think I can snatch it away from him.
"And if you needed to get into the basement and do whatever you wanted to do, why wait for us up here and not just go there?"
"Have I ever lied to you? Indeed, I suspect I'm the only person in all this who has been as honest as I can be." Khaul snorted in amusement. "As for what I'm doing...well, it's a little complicated, but this place was built here for a reason, a place where the planes are thinner than usual. While it's too thick for my kind to invade - the Worldwound has caused all sorts of hiccups in that regard - you can access a few places that are difficult to get to, otherwise. Where is not really relevant. Its name would be meaningless to you...but not to others who might be listening."
Rising from the chair, he rolled his shoulders. "That, and since I don't think you'll take my deal, it really doesn't benefit me to say it. There are other ways, if I lose here. Must think of the long term repercussions when you can leap from soul to soul, you know?"
Aibek's wandering eyes and mind snapped to the possessed person as Khaul mentioned the planes. The shadow archon's blood went cold and the balls of shadows around Aibek now tight fists spun aggressively.
Thinner...invade...access...everything saved for them all through everything lost for... Aibek shook off the incoming swirling thoughts and tried to remind themself that there are many ways to thicken the barriers and prevent access as well, ways less extreme than what the witchwolf had needed to use then...
Aibek held their tongue from speaking further to the annoying parasite though could not keep a frustrated sigh from escaping their lips or the edge that the shadow archon's body language had taken as Aibek pulled their eyes from the person Khaul had taken over to space between them, considering it carefully.
Azri didn't bother with a threat - no need to encourage people to plot against you, after all. "You really should consider your long-term interests." she agreed. "Including the fact that we have something of a... vested interest... in the symbols. Rather than risk a future confrontation at a time that would be inconvenient for you, you could always try making an offer we'd actually find acceptable."
"Oh?" the creature replied, sounding bemused but interested. "Well, after your shadowpup declared she would not work with me, I did not expect any kind of deal. Alright - what terms would you suggest then? I am open to negotiations."
"Our claim is to the entirety of the city - above and below." the immortal lichling said. "And I don't believe I've heard you define what, exactly, your 'work' is. We will not be accepting a deal where someone is free to ignore our laws while calling it their work. So, at the risk of repeating myself... make us an offer we'd actually be willing to accept. Otherwise, we'll gladly take no offer over a bad one."
"You do realize that you're supposed to give me something I want as part of a negotiation? I mean, you're not exactly negotiating from a position of strength here. Ask the dog with two tails - I'm sure she knows something about negotiating, given her family history, hmmm?" The devil shrugged. "I've told you what I am allowed about my work - that it is to access a place I normally could not. Although I doubt it violates any little rules you have. I don't even need a virgin sacrifice! Not that any of you qualify. Except the Swordsman, I mean. If you require more details, well, that's unfortunate, but I can speak no more of it." He considered. "About my mission, that is. I'm reasonably sure I can supply more about your sex lives, if you want?"
Nigrum snorts.
"Your lies are as hollow as your knowledge. As I see it, your position is weak. We have defeated you twice and yet you seek to make an enemy of us after we have proven greater. Have we rattled your wits, you must present your case. Then we proceed, no agreement can be reached without full knowledge. Even fiends state their ill intentions upon an agreement, though they attempt to trick or hide it in wordplay. Do you lack that skill? Perhaps that is the reason you avoid it."
The parasite could insult him endlessly, it would not distract him. It had already given away what was vital, the location it sought. They could disturb, disrupt, or destroy it now that they knew. It's only hope was an agreement. If it was truly barred from speaking it's mission, then it would fail that mission. Any unknown from such a creature was a danger he would not ignore. He hoped his companions would agree.
Mihara huffs, taking offence at the number before anything else.
Two? Can this man count to three?
Instinctively fanning her three tails out into view, she opts to speak up and back Nigrum's position.
"You've made the offer clear, but you're obscuring the cost. I see you've heard of my clan. You must know by now that I'm not foolish enough to pay a price I've not studied. We may yet be agreeable to a deal, but with your evasive attitude and the entourage you've brought, it's sounding more like a demand to me."
A growl rose in the witchwolf at the phrase 'shadowpup', but died as the next syllable came out of the possessed man. Rigid, Aibek stood frozen to the spot as Azri and Khaul continued whatever they were doing as the shadow archon tried to figure out if the devil was trying to hint at what they knew about Aibek or was just trying to wind them up.
At the comments of sex life, Aibek's fear broke for a moment as a chuckle and incredulous look escaped on the still slightly panicked witchwolf. Slightly more relaxed, Aibek moves forward a few more steps. "If you're trying to shock, I doubt it would work...and with the discrepancies of your information so far, I doubt anyone would believe you..." Aibek commented with amusement and a glance to Mihara and her three tails, before going quiet again. The witchwolf saw that the others desired more information from Khaul and didn't want to intrude on that they wanted even if Aibek would rather get the inevitable out of the way as soon as possible.
"I'm sorry, among devils it doesn't really count unless everyone comes away satisfied..." Chuckling, the devil shrugged. "I admit, my sources on you are out of date. I'm sure there was only a pair of tails last time I checked. But, well, shocking isn't the word I'd use. Shocking would be mentioning which of you had three girlfriends...at once. And no, it wasn't the Half-Blood Succubus - I'm not sure she qualifies as actually having had a lover, rather than clients."
The creature shrugged again. "But since you've made it abundantly clear we cannot reach a deal without information I've made it clear I can't give you..."
The bells above pealed out.
Aibek growls though most of it is covered by those bells. Those interplanar bells that should have been the shadow archon's main focus rather than too slowly figuring out that the devil had both been studying their pasts and knew far more than before and was mocking them. Even with the out of date and inaccurate information, this was a new concern to add to the list -- another threat, another time, more at risk -- but first to get through Khaul and figure out those bells.
The shadow archon began moving forward, shadows rippling out of the balls in Aibek's hands. Trying to keep their face and tone in bored annoyance, "I said trying to shock wouldn't work, and if that is the best you can do, you must have a rather boring past...how sad, but not a priority nor a good negotiating place..."
The shadows around one of Aibek's hand shot out towards Kharl, a cone of twisting darkness growing from the shadow archon. Aibek could feel the broken shadows flowing from them like a sticky overly sweet rush...just slow them down, just block what they can see...the shadows reached out. The shadow archon wanted the situation ended now and their shadows followed their lead...
Both Kaul and the Caster near him are slowed, covered in shadows and darkness. There movements look they are mired in thick, deep water.
"So it has come to this, then... BEGONE!"
He's been a fearsome foe in our previous two encounters. I need to end this, and fast. I think it's time to see just what this robe can do.
Mihara leaps and flies over the table, whizzing pass Soldier 5 with blazing speed. She draws her short swords as she moves, and unleashes a flurry of rapid stabs, hoping to put the fiend down before he has a chance to strike.
Azri watched with some amusement as Mihara simply went berserk on their devilish foe... although she did make a mental note to learn some banishment powers. For now, though, she focused on her powers so she could start helping her friends.
"Shocking would be mentioning which of you had three girlfriends...at once. And no, it wasn't the Half-Blood Succubus - I'm not sure she qualifies as actually having had a lover, rather than clients."
"Hey, I had a boyfriend when I was 13! For, like, 2 weeks." Selena grins, before taking flight toward Khaul.
I want to know who had three girlfriends, now...Leaping over the table near the table, Selena clenches her fists and seems ready to strike, but instead gently jumps off the table and puts her arms around Khaul's shoulders.
"Speaking of girlfriends...you have one?" the half-succubus says, quickly kissing the devil on the lips before stepping away, the golden wisps of the Hopeful Eye ominously pulsing red for a moment.
Mihara's first strike hits Khaul, although only because he isn't yet in motion, slowed by Aibek's shadowplay. The second blow is absorbed by the armour he wears beneath the robes, and the third, but the bite lands as well. The two attacks do considerable damage, neat but deep wounds leaking a vile black liquid that might, once, have been blood.
Although Selena manages to drain some of Khaul's strength, the Devil smirks. "No girlfriends, but I keep...Succubi...as concubines. Incubi too. I...don't...discriminate."
The possessed creature lashed out, a heavy mace-like weapon with a five foot long shaft and a head made of dark stone or metal appearing in his hands as he swung, although it move slower that it might have.
Despite being blind, the massive weapon slammed into Selena with a sickening level of force.
The first caster called up a sphere of magical force, and hurled it at Selena's back.
The second caster, still moving slowly, raises it's hand and casts something on itself. The shadows fall away from the face, revealing a blank-eyed woman beneath them, but shadows still cling to her limbs, keeping them slow.
The soldiers also moved into motion, each picking a target and heading for it.
The soldier on the table, calmly and patiently, focused on Mihara...and unleashed a pair of arrows at her while she was distrated by Khaul.
He side steps the over balanced blow. Nigrum studies the soldier before bring down Tsui.
He jumps back to get closer to his comrades. Someone had to protect them from these puppets.
Azri spat out an unladylike phrase as she stepped back, her mortal mask damaged, and gestured curtly at the soldier who'd struck her. Proud of his blow, was he? Well, maybe it would be better if he just didn't see anything at all... so that way he'd have a much harder time hitting something ever again.
...Yes, she may have been a bit vindictive.