"Well that was impressive lover." Rue says playfully with a twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her lips. Then more somberly she adds, "But you are right, we had best get on with this, and that means I need to get to the other side. I will be with all of you through my blessing should you need my help. Be safe my loves, and come back to me."
She waves her hand once in a sort of mock salute, smiles at the team briefly and quickly leaps through the rift.
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Weathering the energies of the rift with sheer fortitude, Rue shrugs off the nauseating feeling and says to the Queen, "Well your Majesty, I am ready if you are!"
<---***--->
Once everyone is in position and ready to begin the ritual...
"Alright everyone, let's close this rift for real this time!" and with that she thrusts her copper page into the rift...
...at which point the rift itself begins to shudder and darken.
As soon as she see's the legs of the huge arachnids, she knows what they are. As a young succubi, she witnessed several demon's lives end slowly to these creatures, and she respected their skill and cunning.
Knowing she has just a moment at best before the bebiliths will notice her, she darts forward and crouches among the sharp crystals of the 20 foot tall central mound. She shifts form to that of a dark slayer, a much smaller creature that allows her to fit more easily among the varied lengths of the crystals. She can feel her agility rise as a result of the shift and she holds her Starbow at the ready should an opportunity arise to use it.
She can feel the bebiliths move even though she can't see them. They are so very close. They don't advance, they merely shift, as if waiting for something. Did they notice me? she wonders to herself. If so, why have they not attacked?
Knowing Irion is among the cavern's crystals high above, silently watching and doing his best to remain hidden while also ready to shoot at a moments threat, gives her comfort. Suddenly she realizes something, "Why did they come out, if they didn't notice me? They noticed YOU!" the last comes out as a mental blast to Irion and the others. "They are intelligent, but don't trust them. They are very cunning."
Almost before she finishes her thought, a new mental voice registers in the minds of the party, this one both alien and menacing. "Say your prayer and pass through."
Everyone knows the new voice is that of one of the bebiliths.
Sickened from the crossing, Rue still moves forward as she fights to shake of the bile rising in the back of her throat. She stops to gather herself before leaving the group for deeper investigation. As she rest herself just at the mouth of the passage leading out of the arrival cavern, she notices 8 web filled alcoves at various heights along the crystal covered walls. She relates this new information to her group silently through her mental link.
'Rue feels the pain from her friends as they are collectively shocked by the vicious attacks that felled Vanthor. Quick as she can, she flies through the curtain with no thought for her self. As she appears on the other side she instantly sets her sights on the giant Nalfeshnee towering over the fallen from of Vanthor and the brave fighting stance of Bergitta. She spreads her wings wide and proceeds to spin about in place causing shadows to ripple across her body in ways that confuse and confound the enemy demon.
The giant demon is so caught of guard by her wild movements he falls back into the rift unprepared and is instantly shunted to the other side.
She recognizes the demon as a worshiper of Baphomet, Ibaheniel. She knows he is quite powerful, but he seems even more powerful than she remembers. He must have benefited from a Nahyndrian elixir she thinks to the group.
The power of Desna flows from the risen succubus and Vanthor's eyes flutter open.
Mythic point to move after travelling through the rift, gets in position to Bullrush the demon through the rift, BAM! Then her aura of perseverance kicks in and wakes Vanthor up. She spends another Mythic to let anyone that falls bellow 0 still act normally.
With a swift kiss on the lips to each of the heroes, even the Queen(who is surprised at first but not resistant), 'Rue at last comes to Irion, "Well dear heart, if this is to be our last kiss, I do hope you will remember me fondly." she says with a wry smile. Not allowing him time for a response, she crushes him in an embrace and forces him to surrender to a much more lingering kiss.
As the moments pass and the kiss continues, the rest of the party just begins to feel uncomfortable, when slowly she begins to draw away from Irion. "I know you worry, but I will be fine." she says in her sultry voice.
She quickly takes to the air and wings her way to the portal. She lands just before the crackling curtain of chaotic energy, and she tentatively stretches out a hand to touch it. The black and red fire and electricity doesn't seem to hurt her, though there is a brief flash of uneasiness as she feels great evil wash over her. Forcing herself past the fear of returning to a place she dreads, she steps through the curtain and disappears... only to be immediately shunted to the opposite side and into the Abyss.
As she looks around her arrival destination she notices the walls and ceiling of this natural cavern are encrusted with a tangle of razor sharp purple crystals, each of which shimmers with a soft, nauseating glow.
She can also see beyond her arrival cavern, where it leads through a short tunneled opening, into a vast domed cavern with more tangles of purple crystals. A mound of crystals towers twenty feet high in what appears to be the center of the other chamber.
Well my loves, it seems empty here. I'm going to try to come back now.
Fort Save:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Steps back through, instantly appearing on the material side, again feeling just a moment of discomfort as the evil of the curtain threatens to seep into her body upon contact.
"It looks like we are ready to go from my point of view." she says with a satisfied smirk, her hands resting on comfortably on her hips.
Seeing as everyone was distracted by their own thoughts, Rue decided to peak one more time at the room with the legendary paladin, but she also wanted another look at the Midnight Fane so she traveled through that room first while on her way.
She floated into the massive room with the floor to ceiling contraption and the huge curtain of energy. She was surprised to see Ursathella there, pacing in the air back and forth, talking to herself. The lamia matriarch didn't seem to notice her, and Rue sighed a little sigh of relief. She didn't want to give things away just yet.
Sounds being somewhat muffled from the material to the ethereal, Rue had to concentrate to hear Ursathellas words in detail. She had to silence her friends to do so... Be still a moment my loves she purred mentally. I am trying to listen to something and your thoughts are a bit distracting at the moment.
The lamia's voice became clearer... "They should be here...They must be here...I am the Commander of the Midnight Fane! They are here...The should be here...They must be here...They are here..." came the loud mutterings from Ursathella.
This went on for some time, until she turned abruptly with her weapon at the read, though not toward Rue but away from her.
"HaHA!There you are!" exclaimed the lamia with a wild grin. Almost as quickly as it appeared, the grin disappeared and the loud mutterings returned, "They should be here...They must be here...I am the Commander of the Midnight Fane! They are here...The should be here...They must be here...I am the most trusted Harem Guardian for Areelu Vorlesh herself! My Mistress is BUSY!?!They are here..."
How curious. thought Rue, bemused by the odd behavior of her new enemy. I have a bit of news lovers! Listen to this... and she proceeds to pass on all she has seen and heard.
While the other heroes work out their different opinions, Rue floats north east to another unexplored area of the Fane.
A9 on the map
The north wall of this otherwise empty room is covered by a strange contraption. Two three-foot-diameter discs of glass float amid a network of glowing metal rods extending from the walls, while between the discs sits a small table covered with glowing runes.
DC25 Spellcraft:
Manipulating the runes on the table in a precise manner causes a long-lasting floating disc to rise up from one of the two glass discs, at which point the floating disc’s motions can be programmed. It is likely that there is a limit to the range of the discs, but there is nothing of note here to tell what that range is.
Perception:1d20 + 30 ⇒ (12) + 30 = 42
Despite the murky nature of the ethereal, Rue spots something of interest in the table. It seems to be a secret compartment, though her sharp eyes pick it out after just a moment. She silently shifts back to the material plane and carefully opens the compartment, sure it is devoid of traps.
Stealth:1d20 + 32 ⇒ (11) + 32 = 43
Inside the compartment, wedged tightly, is a ring. She closes the compartment, leaving the ring where it was, but making note of it to her friends once they are done discussing things through her mental link.
Oh lover, I don't have that connection with her since we haven't shared the blessing. Also I would have to shift back to the material to reach her mind without the blessing. I will move back into the other room, and try top contact her from there.
Rue floats back into the room with the empty chests and attempts contact with Yaniel.
What specifically would you like her to ask? She can't detect evil, but she can try detect thoughts. If she steers the thoughts to a certain direction with communication it can help.
Hearing the Queen's thoughts, 'Rue decides to move on, back through a room they had only briefly been in, where the Incubi had been stationed. (On the map room A3)
Room A3:
A stone balcony—five feet wide to the north and west and ten feet wide to the south—winds around the bulk of this room, providing a view of a workspace with several stone tables below.
Each table contains several iron chests. A set of double doors leads southeast from the balcony, with a smaller door providing a balcony exit to the northwest. On the ground level, three doors provide exits from the room—the doors to the west and south are set under short tunnels below the balcony.
Stealth:1d20 + 27 ⇒ (19) + 27 = 46
Silently dropping back into the material realm, her vision clears and she softly sets foot upon solid ground once again. She looks closer at the iron chests, some open, and sees that each is lined with lead and thickly padded with what she recognizes as demon fur. Complex sifting machines sit on other tables.
Perception:1d20 + 30 ⇒ (3) + 30 = 33
She thinks these chests are identical to the chests that were found in the Ivory Sanctum with Nahyndrian residue inside. Confident there are no traps on the chests, she inspects the closed ones and finds them all empty.
She then returns to the Ethereal realm and passes through to an adjoining chamber (A4) that seems to be a store room of sorts.
Room A4:
Several alcoves, each containing shelves filled with tools and alchemical supplies, components and reagents are stored here. She doesn't know what they could be used for so she briefly confers with her friends and with everyone's assistance, Dojen realizes they are all supplies for crafting powerful elixirs.
She then moves on to another room (A5), this one with occupants.
Room A5:
The ceiling of this large chamber rises up to what appears to be a vaulted height of about forty feet, although exact distances are hard to judge because of the purple, miasmic haze that lingers in the room’s upper reaches. The walls are lined with worktables covered with alchemical experiments and tools. The center of the room features a large stone slab; atop the slab, what appears to be a five-foot-diameter fishbowl sits within a complex metal-and-crystal framework over an open fire. Inside the bowl bubbles a thick purple sludge, the vapors of which waft up to join the haze above. No fewer than eight snaking tubes extend from below the glass cauldron, each attached to a smaller alchemical contraption at the edge of the table.
There are only three visible occupants.
First there is a tall, handsome,cambion male, dressed in loose fitting pants and an open vest to show off his intricately tattooed flesh. He seems fixated on tending to the cauldron. Upon his left hip rests a well made longsword of unusual design.
Second, there is a human woman dressed in worn plate armor and carrying an even more worn longsword. Her armor bears the symbol of Iomedae, and her face looks battered and her hair matted and dirty. She is not shackled though and paces back and forth in the southern part of the room.
And lastly , floating 30 or so feet in the air is a large, bulbous, tumor-riddled mass with numerous arms, though no legs, and a leering, three-eyed face.
On the south wall of the room, there is a single door.
With no further comments from her friends, Rue floats through the closed doors in her insubstantial form, and beyond she is surprised by what she sees...
The ceiling of this vast chamber rises to a height of sixty feet. An immense machine of some sort occupies the center of the room—a frightening-looking contraption of grinding gears, crushing teeth, twisting belts of leather, and shrieking metal that looks almost organic in places.
Yet even this strange machine is overshadowed by the spectacle to the east. Here, the room is sheered off by an immense, floor-to-ceiling curtain of churning crimson-and-black fire and electricity that fills the room with a disconcertingly soft whispering sound.
'Rue uses telepathy to pass this imagery to everyone.
Shifting into the Ethereal, 'Rue's view changes and her surroundings become hazy and indistinct, almost as if looking through a frosted pane of glass. Her own form becomes weightless and silent and she knows she is invisible to those on the Material.
She glides slowly forward scouting ahead as planned, and she signals telepathically that all seems clear in the large room ahead. She then moves to the next doors at the far south, and as she closes in, she hears the muted, rhythmic sounds of what can only be described as rocks crushing rocks. She passes this information to her party.
She hesitates at the door, before going through it...
The entrance room is clear, at least from what I can sense. Travel quickly before she can bring reinforcements to bear. says 'Rue to everyone's mind.
She knows Irion has his carpet, Argos can carry two, and Bergitta can fly carrying another so the group shouldn't take longer no to get to the Fane. Now what additional magic would they prepare on the way, she could only guess.
Saves for Bergitta from when she was hit by Ursa 2 rounds ago, D'oh! Will save:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23Will save:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18<<==Ouch! Two mythic drain.
While far away from Irion and the rest of the group, Arueshalae hovers proudly. She brazenly taunts the snake woman, fully aware of the cunning nature of her opponent. She is buying time for her friends to either escape, knowing she will follow, or come to her and face the lamia. She listens for their thoughts on the matter, trying to keep the voices from overlapping so she can understand them all. She has no choice but to split her focus...
...knowing the lamia is spell caster of sorts she watches for the tell tale signs of a spell being cast, or a spell like ability if that is the case. 'Rue reads her opponent's intent in less than the blink of an eye.
"Hello there, I know you can hear me." 'Rue says to the mind of the lamia. "Since you seem to know me already please introduce yourself so I can know who it was that I bested." Smiling broadly she flicks her tail over her shoulder playfully waving it at her opponent for best effect.
Trailing silvery light, like shooting stars, Aruesalae's arrows fly but the creature's tough hide deflects most of them away. The arrows that were able to do damage glow brightly in it's flesh and the creature does seem bloodied by the combined attacks of the elf and succubus.
"Well that certainly got its attention." she says to Irion.
Noticing the creature skid to a stop and then look in her direction, she smiles wide and says with a shout, "Oh that's right big boy! I did all that! Come and get me!"
Calmly taking a quick step to her left, to get a better view of the howling giant, Arueshalae activates her boots of speed, feeling the rush as the world slows down for her. She calls upon her mythic well of power and finds the giant's weak spot, much like her lover did but a moment before. She aims for that spot before loosing her other deadly arrows.
The giant first giant falls, and without hesitation, she switches targets to the other giant but only manages to sink one or two arrows into its bulbous hide while the other arrows break upon impact. Arueshalae then launches herself up and backward, as fast as her wings will carry her, gaining as much distance as she can from the charging hulks before her. Another mythic spent to activate Amazing Initiative allowing her to escape
... and your blessing. with those final mental words, it is was if the world fell open to her, for the second time.
She could feel Irion in a way no mortal could, for that was truly her gift now.
She could feel what he wanted... Irion's mind was a low growl I want this moment to last forever, I want to savor it, to take it all in.
She could feel what he needed... as his thoughts drifted to I don’t know if there will be enough nights in all eternity for me to share myself with you the way I want to, the way I need to. Tonight is just the beginning.
They become lost in a tangle of limbs, hair and wings. As Irion's body finally releases his pent up passion for her, his soul does as well This is lovemaking Arueshalae! This feeling is what we are fighting for, where we draw our strength. Not for the physical pleasure, but for the bolstering of the souls! Now she could truly feel what he felt.
As Irion finally collapses into blissful exhaustion, Arushalea slides gently to his side and lays her head upon his still heaving chest. Her eyes glisten and close as a smile grows across her beautiful face.
Not only can demons dream it seems... they can also love.
Arueshalae had spent countless centuries as an instrument of corruption, and wickedness was all too familiar to her. True affection and kindness, on the other hand, were something she had very little experience with and she was justifiably guarded whenever meeting anyone new.
She was keenly aware of how easily a person could be manipulated, and she wanted nothing to do with that kind of behavior when she could avoid it. That was what made Irion and his friends so dear to her.
They were easy and honest in all they did. There were nuances of course, but each of them truly believed what they said whenever they spoke, and they never tried to manipulate those around them with half truths or other types of chicanery. They were kind and hardworking, always willing to help another wherever it was needed. Where previously she might have found weakness in this, now she found only strength. This made it easy to like them, especially Irion.
His patronage of the Black Butterfly aside, Arueshalae felt Irion was much like her, outwardly calm and quiet but with extremely passionate inner thoughts. He had quite a sense of humor, that was almost wicked at times, but he mostly kept it to himself. She felt guilty for “overhearing” his thoughts and she had to make an active effort not to, for more and more she would find herself stifling laughter at some thought she had heard from his mind.
In an effort to honor Irion’s privacy, she had offered her blessing to Vanthor, for she new it allowed for a greater telepathic connection and she hoped that would help keep her from “overhearing” any more of Irion’s private thoughts. It worked for a time. Shortly after defeating the last of the denizens of the Sanctum, she felt the access to her abilities return, though not through the connection to the abyss she had felt previously. This connection was good and pure, and she could tell it was with Desna. It filled her heart in a way she had never known before. She wanted nothing more than to shout it to the world when she first felt it.
But after all her years of guardedness, she stifled that shout and found herself rushing back to Irion, whom she wanted to tell first. She had avoided closeness with another for so long because she knew her natural hungers were deadly, as merely a kiss could steal years and life from a mortal. She felt that had changed now, and she was desperate to find out. That first kiss, however fleeting, was all the proof she needed.
She had thought of little else the entire Kirin ride back to Drezen. She had thought of little else the next few days and weeks in Drezen, where she passed her days in the form of an elf among the other crusaders and her nights telepathically teaching Irion the many languages she was familiar with. Always close in her mind, was the thought of that kiss. She had not drained his life.
With each passing day she grew closer to Irion, for his insights and clever actions, his remarkable thoughtfulness and his inner light, yet still she never brought up the kiss or the implied continuance. She had played this game with all manner of lover before, but she wanted Irion to bring it up first, not from some sense of control but because she wanted him to feel safe enough to do so. It was important. She knew she was a predator. She didn’t want him to feel like prey.
One night, after hours of intellectual stimulation, Irion fills Arue’s glass with wine. ”You are quite a gifted teacher. Are there any other lessons you have for me? I thought there was something you wanted to …finish just before Argos returned." Irion steps up next to Arueshalae, feeling the heat smoldering between their bodies. "Perhaps you would like to expand on what you had in mind?”
In response, Arue gives Irion a brilliant and sincere smile. She slowly reaches up toward his face and gently brushes an errant strand of hair behind his sharply pointed ear. It is a caress, as intimate as any ever felt. Her eyes never waiver from his. Her lips part as she slowly moves closer.
Then she touches his mind. ”I offer you my blessing, a gift to you from me. It comes with only one condition. You must accept it for it to be yours. Do you accept my gift, Irion of the true heart?”
Out of the darkness, Arueshalae stood and slid around Irion to position herself between Argos and her male companion.
No longer in her normal form, she currently resembled a tall, beautiful elven woman with jet black shoulder length hair and eyes of deepest green.
With only passing acknowlegment of Argos, she slowly leveled her gaze back toward Irion and spoke softly "This..." gesturing back and forth between them "is far from over."
She then spun to face the bowing kirin, her eyes bright and her smile wide, "I've heard much about you. My name is Arueshalae. I'm glad to finally meet you."
Arue's eyes grew large for a moment as Irion directed her gaze. Her breath quickened and a slight flush rose to her cheeks. Her lips parted slighly, but no sound uttered forth.
I am deeply sorry to have both worried you and to have weakened your trust in me. Arue's mental voice whispered directly into Irion's mind.
Then her eyes drew narrow and a wry grin crept upon her lips... which Irion couldn't help but notice were especially full and inviting... and somehow very close.
As for the purity of my soul...well I am not exactly looking for purity, but I will settle for good...and at the moment I feel...very...very good. she mentally purred.
With their faces already drawn close, she quickly pressed forward, kissing Irion full upon his lips!
Arue quickly recoiled. A rush of emotions seemed to flitter across her face, ranging from worry, to interest, to excitement, before finally settling on a steady and very hungry look.
Irion feels perfectly fine, with no indication of any life drain, which Arue had previously expressed great concern about. In fact, he feels quite invigorated.
I hope Irion isn't too mad that I went with Vanthor to investigate the Sanctum and left him sleeping alone...
Arue thought to herself as she slinked quietly back into camp.
She turned the thought over in her mind, churning with guilt, and she began to silently hope...
Maybe they won't even notice we left!
