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So, 10.000 years? Maybe not the best time or place for a history lesson or a couple of dozen more likely.
The devil calms down
Huh, odd though, you Lady Merixia look, as far as facial features are concerned very very much alike a Gylou I have the... dubious privilige of knowing. Or maybe the multiverse was just and she bote the dust, but I doubt it, her philosophy of never having a remotely fair fight, if she has any fight at all, likely did wonders for her life expectancy.
Obviously, you got horns, and she got tentacles, and her eyes are like, cold and very very dead but you get the idea. That one is also on the other side of the *fight vs torture* spectrum from me, and at least 10.000 years ago was one of Doloras main *researchers*
She pauses
Possible ancestries aside, Allright, there is clearly a war going on, Baphomet is clearly a thing, and I really need to get some armor, a good axe, and a few restoration spells.
The traditional reward for freeing a devil from adversarial imprisonment is that said devil serves you for a year and a day. I serve Ragathiel, who commandeth *No b%~%!@@@* in dealing with good aligned mortals, so if you employ me in my area of expertize, which is violence against challenging foes, training troops and improveing troops alchemically, I will bear you none of that stupid
She pauses again and rolls her eyes
Bwhahaha Mortal! The service time is up and I will now try to kill you!!! She says in an over the top fashion
Dretchcrap, but if you like, force me to serve in a brothel all bets are off She shrugs
Desna is like, in the top 10 of my favorite non-Proteans! Her forces and the burning spiral are solid allies! And unlike all of these limpwrested nerds claim, she did nothing wrong when she invaded the Abyss and kicked... what's her name, Aolar's rear end out of existence!
There were 2 lillends imprisoned, one was alas devoured, but the other is in this soul gem! I am already contacting my good old research buddy Lissdrxis for soul from soul gem exfiltration!
The traditional reward for freeing a devil from adversarial imprisonment is that said devil serves you for a year and a day. [...] but if you like, force me to serve in a brothel all bets are off. She shrugs.
"I think I can speak for us all when I say you do not owe us your servitude. However, we would of course welcome your help in fighting the demons," Verene says cautiously, with another glance at Merixia. She takes one of the strange drinks from the reptilian protean and drinks just a sip as she begins looking over the bisected kalavakus for any things of value. In fact she is not at all sure that Merixia will want the help of a representative of Hell. "Merixia, do you think it would be possible to free this remaining lillend and the creature in the black gem right away, with a spell to grant the souls freedom of movement?"
To the protean she says, "I am sorry, but I do not think I caught your name. What are you called?"
Azira, meanwhile, accepts cleaning of her sword and person from Wulfric through a few quick words of a spell, and if no cultists or demons remain to pursue, takes up a guard position facing where they disappeared.
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---------Protean--------:
The Protean chirps:
You can call me Xyraxherax, or X-H, or Xyrax, as its a bit awkward to speak Protean. Without being one!
Which is honestly a bit annoying, these annoying Nocticulan demons keep winning art contests, because their Abyssal is actually a fairly mortal-pronounceable language, at least in the Alyushinyrran dialect.
The Protean continues
-----Munagola----------------:
To be frank, I have requirements of things such as equipment, restoration spells to deal with the degree of drain and... I cant currently contact anyone in my chain of command but my codes are probably out of date by far.
But you expending these resources on me means you dont expend them on your own forces, and then there is the value I assign to myself for freeing me. We can setup a mercenary contract for a very low nominal sum/services rendered. Empty night I cant even contact my Phistophillus, lets see if Mr. Noodlyhorns has perhaps has the calling coin on him.
The Munagola says as she starts searching the Kalavakus
Huh, found 3 empty soul gems in its ars... I mean anal cavity.
She mentions as she is indeed very thorough.
----Thesius----------------------------------------
Is it possible... that I will be free? You are a faithfull of our song of stars... I was with her when we invaded the Abyss to slay Aolar, but it got very messy and I was captured! the inhabitant of the soul gem says.
--------Elliot---------------------------------
Something stirs in Radiant eclipse
I think I met the one in your soul gem... but my memory is shaky... something in the boneyard? I went from one pair of evil hands to another pair of evil hands, who was both more and less evil then the previous.
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Thesius gives a smile as he playfully responds. "Funny, she's in my top 10 as well. I'd love to hear more about that once we get to a better spot. Unfortunately there are yet foes about."
Turning his attention to the group, he adds, "I think opening the gates would be a good call so the rest of the crusade can take control of this area."
Upon hearing the voice from the gem, he responds in turn. "And who might you be? To have stood next to her must have been quite the honor."
Elliot turns to his gem as well. "More and less? How so?" He finds himself hesitant to release something that may cause more harm.
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Merixia accepts the devil's proffered hand and shakes it, glad of her gauntlets. She doesn't want to be rude and cause an unnecessary fight, but... devil. If her plan is to work, though, she'll have to get used to Irathiel's presence.
Pleasantries done, she leans back against Elliot's shoulder for a few moments (careful not to poke him with her horns) and wraps her tail around his waist in a uniquely tiefling gesture of affection.
"Huh, odd though, you Lady Merixia look, as far as facial features are concerned very very much alike a Gylou I have the... dubious privilige of knowing. Or maybe the multiverse was just and she bote the dust, but I doubt it, her philosophy of never having a remotely fair fight, if she has any fight at all, likely did wonders for her life expectancy.
"Obviously, you got horns, and she got tentacles, and her eyes are like, cold and very very dead but you get the idea. That one is also on the other side of the *fight vs torture* spectrum from me, and at least 10.000 years ago was one of Doloras main *researchers*."
"Ugh, really?" The cleric heaves a heartfelt sigh. "I thought for sure my infernal ancestor was an erinyes, maybe even a munagola. I didn't get any of the 'clever and manipulative' infernal tendencies. What I got was the craving for battle and destruction." And the anger issues, of course. "If I have to be part devil, why couldn't it be a warrior devil instead of a coward who hides behind her minions?" She might be whining. Just a tiny bit. But really, a gylou?
"I think I can speak for us all when I say you do not owe us your servitude. However, we would of course welcome your help in fighting the demons," Verene says cautiously, with another glance at Merixia. She takes one of the strange drinks from the reptilian protean and drinks just a sip as she begins looking over the bisected kalavakus for any things of value. In fact she is not at all sure that Merixia will want the help of a representative of Hell. "Merixia, do you think it would be possible to free this remaining lillend and the creature in the black gem right away, with a spell to grant the souls freedom of movement?"
"I honestly have no idea. I'd have to try it and see." Alas, duty calls. Somebody has to break the news about Ragathiel to the oddly friendly munagola, and Merixia is his cleric. She steps away from her boyfriend and accepts a mystery cocktail from Xyraxherax. If it was dangerous, Verene wouldn't be drinking it, and she wants some fortification for this conversation. Taking a sip- ooh, that's tasty- she straightens up and looks Irathiel in the eye.
"Okay, now for the news I mentioned earlier. Ragathiel defected from Hell millennia ago at the very least. I hadn't known that he ever served Asmodeus, as a matter of fact. He is now known as the General of Vengeance, the empyreal lord of chivalry, duty, and righteous vengeance, and he commands one of the armies of Heaven. It took countless heroic deeds on his part to prove himself- and atone for his actions under Hell's command, I'm guessing- including a fight with Dispater in which Ragathiel lost a wing. He fought his father to a draw, though, which is impressive. Upon accepting him into their ranks, the gods of Heaven transformed him into an angel." Merixia knocks back a good half of her drink.
"I know that this is quite a shock for you. You are not obligated to serve us, but I would hold off on going back to Hell, at least for now. I can't imagine that they would welcome one of Ragathiel's commanders back with open arms. They can't get to him, but they might decide to take their anger with him out on you." She studies Irathiel's reaction for a moment. "So. You have several paths before you. You could maintain your loyalty to Hell, return and take your chances. You could make your way on your own, elsewhere in the planes. One of the powers of Axis might be willing to hire you as a mercenary, for example, or perhaps one of the genie kingdoms would. Or... you could maintain your loyalty to your lord and follow Ragathiel's example. He's proven that an outsider can change if they want it badly enough." Merixia offers her a small but sympathetic smile. "While you decide, you're more than welcome to stick around and kill demons."
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------Before revelation--------
For what its worth, Gylou are the absolutely worst infernal ancestors to have, maybe barring torture devils, their offspring is nearly always the opposite of what they were in terms attitude, which is one reason why Gylou are typically big on murdering/enslaving/etc. them
As such, you have the polar opposite of that Gylou is unsurprising.
The devil says in an upbeat manner.
-----------------------------
Well... f%*$. My pretty good instincts tell me you are really bad at lying, and you would have no benefit from telling me that lie, so you must be speaking the truth.
As the revelation happens the devil is... surprisingly thoughtfull, little of that rage and denial that you would expect.
I am less surprised then you may think. Lord Ragathiel was in quite a mood to strike down Moloch due to his f!*#ery with our supply routes, which got especially our mortal auxillaries killed in record numbers, and to change a fair bit of hell itself. After dealing with Xar-Azmask. He got even more livid when, before our final assault on Xar-Azmasks final fortress, a unit from Dispater palace guard arrived to congratulate him on his recently arranged betrothal to... Dolaras. Said unit then refused to participate in the assault because of course, and it was also well known that he hated Dolaras guts.
That arranged betrothal was a *cover our asses* play because Moloch and Dispater wanted to stop him from allying with Lady Eiseth.
She pauses
Lord Ragathiel openly said that he would sleep with either Nocticula or preferably Luralune before being within 2 miles of Dolaras without his armor on, if heaven made him an offer...
Although I would have bet on a defection back to his mothers side, on the elemental plane of fire, or towards Lady Callistria, who offered some clandestine support during our invasion of the Abyss.
Its interesting that she refers to Eiseth and Callistria as "Lady Eiseth" and "Lady Callistria", but Doloras and Moloch are just Dolaras and Moloch.
A long dead demonlord of song, forgotten valley, Banshees, evil Fey and also seduction. Killed by Nocticula, millenia ago. Was however a major power while she was alive.
Was likely a powerful fey noble who lost a clash with the Fey Eldest known as the green mother. Retreated into the Abyss as a result, where she staked out her own realm eventually becoming a demonlord, her realm of Eilinithis became something between the nicest place in the Abyss and the worst place in the first world. Had ties to the Erlking.
I am quite willing to act as a mercenary for you, for now, if you would have me that is.
I need to think on where exactly to defect though. Given that I sometimes sat on Ragathiels war council, I would, in the eyes of hell, be Socii Traitoris, an associate of a traitor, and face punishment the same as what would happen to Ragathiel if hell would catch him.
The devil speaks, pacing around the entryway.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Elliot
I was wielded by someone very evil when I was plunged into the body of the one now in the soul gem, because she was a witness or in the way, not because she was a threat
Radiant eclipse speaks in your mind
The the actual target, yes, my wielder at that time was an assasin! That explains it! Appeared and killed my wielder. That actual target was both... more evil, as she was more powerful and had a stronger aura of evil then the assassin that was wielding me, but also... less evil? She claimed me as spoils, but didnt kill anyone with me, and just traded me to... Psychopomps? Interesting, seconds ago I didnt know I could remember this!
----------------Thesius----------------
---------Protean--------:
The Protean chirps:
You can call me Xyraxherax, or X-H, or Xyrax, as its a bit awkward to speak Protean. Without being one!
-----Munagola----------------:
To be frank, I have requirements of things such as equipment, restoration spells to deal with the degree of drain and... I cant currently contact anyone in my chain of command but my codes are probably out of date by far.
But you expending these resources on me means you don't expend them on your own forces, and then there is the value I assign to myself for freeing me. We can set up a mercenary contract for a very low nominal sum/services rendered.
"It is very nice to meet you, Xyraxherax." Verene has a talent for languages, and she thinks she does a reasonable job of saying the protean's name exactly as it had said it. She has listened keenly to Merixia's conversation with the munagola, but does not interfere except now to offer her support. "You seem a very capable and... creatively anarchic sort of being, so the same offer Merixia and all of us would make to Lady Irathiel extends to you. If you wish to leave immediately, you are of course free to go; but if you need time to think, wish to join the Crusade against the Worldwound, or just generally to make a nuisance of yourself to the Abyssal forces and not to us, we will be glad to restore your strength and outfit you to the best of our abilities. If you would like to draw that up as a mercenary contract, Lady Irathiel, it is fine with me.
"I do have a question for all of you who were trapped in the gems before we move on further into the fortress. I believe you said you were mostly not aware of the passage of time while you were imprisoned. I assume that is not true now, as you were communicating with us even before being freed. My question is this: what, if anything, did you learn during your captivity of Nahyndrian crystal? More specifically, why this particular kalavakus might have been here, where an elixir made of powdered Nahyndrian crystal was lately given to at least two creatures and caused them to grow immensely in power?"
"Funny, she's in my top 10 as well. I'd love to hear more about that once we get to a better spot. Unfortunately there are yet foes about."
Turning his attention to the group, he adds, "I think opening the gates would be a good call so the rest of the crusade can take control of this area."
Azira moves forward with Wulfric in tow to open the gates of the gatehouse. She makes a graceful signal with Radiance's flashing blade, so the watching crusaders in the outer bailey of the fortress will know it is her.
-----Thesius----------
I am Liandrill the Liliend, my sister Sariniel was devoured
We werent very important, you see, Lady Desna didnt quite plan her invasion, it was more of an impulse... but it made the demons really surprised. And this "Aolar" was very concerned, after Desna killed Aolar once on the material plane, that a demonlord known as Nocticula would kill her again. They had like... anti demon defenses, in spite of being demons themselfs, and a very crafty Raelis managed to turn these anti demon defenses against themselfs!
-----------------------------------------------
Verene
Oh The Protean beamed
I managed to use, kind of but not really, my mocking touch ability while imprisoned, and kind of spell pilfering the ability to see and perceive things outside of the soul gems from the Mr. Noodlyhorns! Which I could then extend to the other prisoners, bit by bit, until they were able to even do telepathic chats! Who cares about whats written in the supposed rules of reality when you are a Protean, TADAAA!
The creature chirps enthusiastically
I know a fair bit of Nahyndri, he was a demonlord of slavery, treasure, riches, and also the first Kalavakus made in the Abyss. Booo!
The protean announces as it manifests a professors outfit
Then he had the really cunning plan to enslave and rape Nocticula, the first Succubus, which gets a yaaaay from me because he is a boooo and this could only turn out one way
the protean conjures some... not exactly lewd illusions illustrating what he says, as the demons he is referencing are drawn in a kids cartoon style and have comically oversized heads.
Nocticula tied up and strangled Nahyndri with the very chains supposed to bind her, and drained his entire essence, killing him twice, you see, major demonlords get resurrected once if they die, typically in their throne room. But she killed him in his throne room, so when he reappeared he was exactly where he was, still tied up, and still with a presumably very very smug demonlord of Succubi on top of him. Kind of yaaay, but really overpriced for a pay per view. First Kalavakus 0, first Succubus 2.
His illusions do exactly what he is describing
She also made his dead body into a midnight isle and used this as her at that time Abyssal realm, marking her ascendance as a major demonlord. Although she was a power before that, just not an Abyssal great power.
Oh, there is this thing with Nahyndris supposed great hidden treasure, the *True One Piece*, it is hidden somewhere in the Abyss, but nobody knows where exactly. If you ask me, which shows you have taste and style and intelligence, you should not be a stupid Besmaran and go looking for it, because I am like 95% certain that this treasure possesses you and is driven by a fragment of him, potentially reviving/resurrecting him. Also, Nocticula sends really good assassins after anyone who gets close to finding it, for very obvious reasons.
Of Nahyndrian crystals I know nothing as of now, but I can make inquiries. In Abyssal parlance, Nahyndrian means desireable/high status/rich, so a Nahyndrian crystal may not neccessarily have something to do with Nahyndri specifically.
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Thesius makes a mental note of the descriptors their newly acquainted devil as he nods his thanks to Azira and Wulfric for moving to grant the crusaders access to the fort.
Finally, he turns his attention once more back to the gem in hand. "I am truly sorry for your loss. I wish we had managed to save you all. I doubt Desna would have seen any of your as not important. Hopefully we will be able to find a way to release you soon."
Thesius takes some time to ponder the question of how to free them...
- It occurred to me after I meant to use Lore Master on this for a 20 if you'll allow it. That would be a 41.
Elliot smiles as Merixia uses him for support and wraps him within her tail, appreciating the moment before it ends all too quickly. A supportive smile on his face as she moves forward to confront the situation as hand. His own attention returning to Righteous Eclipse's words. Learning from it's mannerisms and thoughts in this moment. "Is the one that resides in this gem someone you believe can be trusted? It sounds like the interaction may have been to brief to know."