Archduke Mephistopheles's page

The Archduke Mephistopheles attends Walpurgisnacht on the Blocksberg as well, signing unspeakable pacts with witches and warlocks...

Telepathically, to Levinson (and Wormwood and Kepler):I hope you weren't thinking of cheating me of my prize by becoming immortal on the path of undeath, my sweet Circe.... That would make our bargain rather.... Stagnant.... Hollow.... I would indefinitely be delayed in receiving what you have signed over to me.... How is that fair, my sweet lady?

The imp uses his tail to give a military style salute to the tiny figure in the crystal.

"Good day to you sir, Tempter Third Class Wormwood here, and well, I had a few questions that needed answered on behalf of my charge, the Lady Arcanist.

Are you aware of Hell Hounds and Barbed Devils being dispatched to the mortal plane?

Of course.... Nothing concerning the Nine Hells escapes my notice, imp....

It seems these are of Asmodeus's private kennel, is that true?

You are correct.

If so did the Lord of the Nine himself dispatch these?

No, His Infernal Majesty did not dispatch them.

Also, are we to assume a treaty between the Ninth and the Abominations? Because, I find such a pact to be most unbecoming of the honorable Nine.

Your instincts are correct, imp. Never would The Lord of the Ninth consent to a pact with the Chaotic and alien Old Ones.... The abominations are anathema to the Lawful tenets of our kind of Evil....

We are of course still adamently opposed to these creatures on Unholy Eighth, correct my Liege?

Never doubt it, imp. I would sooner join forces with the cloying angels of the Seven Heavens, who can at least be held to their word! *Snort*

Or is it possible they were stolen? Could someone ever breach our security such as to steal the prized hounds of Lord Asmodeus?

Indeed, they were stolen by the cult of the Old One, who have in their possession an artifact of great power, capable of calling and binding to service nearly any kind of fiend, daemon, demon, or devil, called The Spinning Dodecahedron.... It is a 12-sided polyhedron fashioned of a crimson crystal shot through with hellfire and Stygian shadows, roughly the diameter of a tavern table, which spins clockwise in midair when functioning, and creates a droning vibration in its vicinity....

Oh! Or could these devils be acting against the wishes of the Nine?

Yes, these devils are forced to obey the cult by The Spinning Dodecahedron....

The image of Mephistopheles fades from the purple gem....

Levinson takes the Rod of Faust and carefully begins to examine it while avoiding prolonged eye contact with Koran. As the only two known survivors of R'lyeh, she wasn't quite prepared to deal with discussion of it coming up again.

The professor sits back down on the ground before reaching out with her arcane senses to detect the magical properties of the rod.
[dice=Spellcraft to identify properties]1d20+13

A chillingly familiar voice, searingly evil, sounds in Levinson's head....

Oh, my sweet mortal treasure.... This cosmic tapestry never ceases to amaze and amuse me.... How fitting--and so swiftly!--that the Rod I crafted six centuries ago for another favored mortal--my dear Doktor Faust--should now fall into the hands of my most recent prize.... I shall tell you what it does, my sweetling.... 'Tis your special gift from your master while you walk the mortal world....

The Rod of Faust: +5 dancing defending light mace; acts as all types of greater metamagic rod, each kind 3/day; 1/day can summon a horned devil as if by a summon monster spell (standard action for summoners); 3/day (CL 20th)--fireball (DC 18), wall of fire; 1/day--flame strike (DC 20)