Suddenly the island begins to shake and the ground splits open. A gout of white-hot sparks and billowing red smoke issues forth. From within it, a playful voice calls out, "You didn't think you'd be rid of me that easily did you t1ts?"
A familiar figure appears, beaming a big smile at Lureene. Without wasting any time, she draws her sword and shouts, "Rasp, Flame Tongue!"
Instantly, the obsidian blade flares with hellfire and the skies above roil with black clouds. Before the young succubus can even react, Lucia leaps forward slashing with cruel laughter. There is the sound of rending flesh and bones charred to ash. The sense of loss fills Lureene's mind although she realizes that she herself is still alive. Opening her eyes, she looks up to see Grak disintegrate in hellfire.
Lucia gives a final laugh and says, "Guess you need to be careful not to tick off the gods, blondie, they OK'd a special visitor's pass just for that. Don't worry though, I'll be back for you at some point. Oh, and let Sasha know that her great grandmother is going to kick her ass for hanging out with you guys. Ciao!"
In a burst of smoke and ash, the ground belches forth a bubble of lava sealing its vile wound and the sky slowly begins to clear again.
With preternatural speed, Mal rushes forward and his powerful beak tears out the blackguard's windpipe. As air and blood fill the water the man tenses in his death throes before exploding a shockwave of foul chilling energy that wracks you to the core. As the wave of energy clears, the empty shell of the man's armor topples to the floor of the harbor basin.
Mal's sense are left reeling from his proximity to the blast. As his vision clears, he looks up to see Sasha's fall into the water above him. Turning around, Alis is once more floating lifelessly in the water. Both of them are ghostly pale and it is not difficult to see that she and possibly Sasha are both at death's door...
Rolls:
Will Saves DC 16 A 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 M 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14 negative P 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Although she attempts to pursue, Priyya's lack of swimming experience gets the better of her and she's unable to do more than just thrash about keeping her head above water. In spite of it, she is still able to get off another channel attempt.
Mal immediate follows-up, attempting to distract the man with a flurry of unsuccessful trip attempts, but he doesn't take the bait, at all times keeping an eye on Alis. When Alis swims around, to attempt to finish him off with a backstab, he makes his move. Striking with the speed of a viper, he wheels about, thrusting with his dagger and quite simply overpowering her careful defense. His blade finds its mark just left of her sternum and she drops her rapier, becoming still in the water as her blood pours out into the harbor.
The man then continues his southward march seeming daring the all too intelligent squid to detain him.
Mal clamps down harder still on the man's arm before he is finally shaken loose.
As soon as he has trudged further forward, the blackguard unleashes another blast of darkness this time injuring Lureene, Mal, and Sasha rather badly and destroying the two wasps guarding the ladder.
Rolls:
Will Saves DC 17 A 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 L 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 M 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 negative P 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Although she's not certain if she can outlast the blackguard's ability to channel energy, Priyya is well aware that it would be a moot point if they were defeated her or if they could finish the enemy off first. Once more, she restores her companion's health with Alíta's holy light even as she injures her mortal foe.
No sooner does the light clear than does Mal set upon the evil knight, his rock hard beak finding purchase even against the tough armor. Although the attack has surely injured the man given the taste of blood in the water, he forgoes an attack intent upon moving south past the squid.
Ben: If you want to make an AoO then please do so. The remainder of the BG's action is pending.
Mal dashes on ahead of Alis and the blackguard, waiting beneath the pier to block his advance. Once more, the man rises to his feet. Alis tries to wound him with her rapier but this time he evades the attack.
Looking about at the shadows above him on the pier and the shapes around him in the water, the blackguard flexes his arms and unleashes another wave of negative energy.
Rolls:
AoO 1/5 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 4 = 17 prone
Will Saves DC 17 A 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 L 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 M 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21 negative P 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Sasha, Sorsha and the wasps are just out of range when factoring in depth/height.
dmg 5d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 5, 5, 5) = 23
A hp:22 - 11 = 11/22 L hp:33 - 11 = 22/33 M hp:51 - 11 = 40/51 P hp:20 - 11 = 9/31
As the blackguard attempts to stand, Mal snakes a tentacle forward hoping to disarm the man. Not totally unaware of the attempt, the armor-clad foe retaliates but the water once again denies him his attack even as the squid wrests the blade from his hands and jets off, all the way to the edge of the harbor basin.
No sooner does he regain his feet than he is forced to resist a wave of holy energy that strikes him from the cleric who just swam a bit closer to benefit her friends and new assassin ally. Rather than attacking, the blackguard makes his way directly underneath the pier and begins walking south.
Ben: If you want to cast touch of the sea on yourself as your 4th 1st-level spell then go for it. Otherwise, swim checks will be necessary since Mal can't take 10.
The blackguard drops his shield and swings at Alis, both hands on the hilt as he tries to ward her off. However, the agile water child has no trouble at all evading the blow and counters with one of her own, but his armor negates the attack. When he sees someone else jump in, he starts plodding towards the pier, hoping to climb back out. Slowed down by his heavy armor, he is unable to walk more than about 10 feet.
Alis shakes her head and swims back to the surface for a breath of air then ahead of the man, above his path. She pauses for a moment to cast a spell and once again, her blade begins to glow with a pale light.
Using same rolls as before for the actions that would remain unchanged (i.e. those directed at Mal). Making new rolls for the actions that did not occur previously.
Mal shoulders his way past the women to come at the blackguard on the sword-side, hoping to restrict the man's options by grabbing onto him. Unable to move, but still quite capable of using his weapons one-handed, he makes his displeasure known.
First, he attempts to skewer Mal on his sword but is unable to do so effectively with the equally large man grappling him. Undaunted, he raises his shield into the air and brings it down in an arcing swing that sends Mal flying backwards. Although the soldier makes a valiant effort to stay on his feet, between the collapsed tables on the floor and chairs strewn about, he is unable to keep his feet and hits the floor not.
Knowing an opportunity when he sees it, he rushes forward thru the opening created by Mal's flight placing him alongside the aging priestess. With a look of cold determination in his eyes, he thrusts thru her guard plunging at least two feet of adamant thru her chest, the icy grip of unbridled evil driving the life from her.
Her fiery aura fades as she slips into unconsciousness, perilously close to death's door.
Eric: Remember, you need to be in a position to make a melee attack against the enemy you are aiding against. That means unless he is in J21/23, you won't be able to AA.
Mal leaps forward hoping to restrict the blackguard's options and grabs onto him. Unable to move but still quite capable of using his weapons one-handed, he makes his displeasure known.
First he attempts to skewer Mal on his sword but is unable to do so effectively with the equally large man grappling him. Undaunted, he raises his shield into the air and brings it down in an arcing swing that sends Mal flying backwards into Alton knocking both men to the ground as the door behind the sailor bursts inward.
Not wasting the opportunity for a follow-up attack, he rushes forward, and thrusts his sword into the soldier's side unleashing a burst of destructive force that seems to damage even himself.
With a deafening roar, Mal spins and rips the head off the last cultist showering Alton with a spray of blood. Once more, the man's body dissolves, healing the knight.
Maintaining his momentum, the blood-crazed soldier tears at the their leader. While it surely would have been a grievous blow against any other man, the knight drops his stance at the last moment so Mal's claws impact the thick metal of his helm rather than his gorget. Even still, the blow sheers clear thru the bone faceplate leaving bloody gashes across the man's clean-shaven jaw.
In a hollow voice, the knight says, "Commendable."
With suprising speed for a man of his size, he rushes forward catching Mal under the chin with the top edge of his shield and hurling him backwards a good 10 feet. He moves forward with the attack bringing him face-to-face with Priyya. His black blade erupts with shadowy blue flames and the blade screams with unholy fervor as it descends upon her.
In an instant, Priyya knows that this is the end. Even were she still uninjured, there is little that she could do. At least she was able to take many of the cultists with her and walk the path of the Surya-ka-Vahaak this long. She takes one last breath, knowing that she will soon be with Alíta in the after-life.
She can see Alis and Alton shouting for her, trying to reach the anti-paladin, but their words are too slow to distinguish...
The knight nods to Priyya and responds. "Death is the fate of all who are born. I shall instruct you on this universal truth personally."
When Mal issues his challenge and steps in his path, the armored man replies dispassionately, "Regret plagues only the living. Your choice shall not burden you for long."
When a stream of grease from Lureene's hand suddenly coats the floor before him, the dark champion shakes his head. Turning toward the ashen form of the slain devil, he steps forward unperturbed, his movement causing her remains to crumble away into a pile of soot.
With a steady, unhurried gait, the knight walks around the grease and up to Mal, sword in hand. Gazing past him at Sarah, the knight's eyes glow red and shadows begins to play across the surface of his blade and armor.
Beads of sweat roll down the hunter's back and even Priyya knows fear as her aura of courage is shattered like a glass sphere by the man's very presence.
With Priyya's attack, the man before her falls the the ground mortally wounded. The moment the burst of light clears, his body and the one over which Mal is standing dissolve into a cloud of black fog that seems to seem into their associates, reversing some of the wounds done unto them.
The knight breathes in the vapors, and gives a satisfied exhale as if he were smelling the aroma of a fine wine. "Aaah, another soul for our lord. One step closer to oblivion."
He turns his gaze upon Priyya and you can almost sense his laughter, "A priestess of the shining one allied with the Coil? A lightbringer deceived by the Lightbringers? My my, desperation creates ironic allies."
The priest Mal attacked is badly injured and falls to his knees. He looks like he'll fall at the slightest touch.
Justin: Yes, he has the same sort of shadowy aura, although it appears much denser.
The moment Lureene and Sasha fly up from below and stoop to reclaim their weapons, the unholy knight points his sword at the red-head. He remarks calmly, "Ah, Sorsha. You would have done well to equip your armor whilst your companion kept me occupied. Let us end this."
Before you can contemplate what an erinyes is doing here and who Sorsha is, the sound of a heavily-armored man running reaches you. A huge man clad in glossy black plate charges the woman. In one powerful blow, his crackling black blade pushes thru her defense and sends her head flying. He carries a heavy black shield that looks like a roaring demon skull in relief. It along with his sword and helm are all made of the same black metal as his armor. The only contrast being the bleached, skull-like visor on his horned helm.
In a booming voice, the dark knight calls out, "SORSHA! Your pet is finished. Come out and face the fate of all who oppose the great Demon King!"
He begins to scan the tavern with his gaze seemingly ignoring your conflict with the evil priests.
Priyya's slash bites deep into the side of Axchard's neck. (End of round 505.) The man's eyes go wide like those of a crazed animal. He aims one last crushing punch at her head, cracking hard into the jaw. However, the movement tears the wound open even further.
Boss Axchard's momentum carries him forward one step further before he falls, dead before he can even hit the floor.
Axchard seems confused with Lureene blinks away but sneers at her crazed screaming. "Guess you'll find out when I skull-rape you, huh?"
He grin disappears however when she hits him with yet another magic missile, and he coughs blood when the unlikely drunk actually manages to stab him in the guts with his flaming blade. Although the man looks like he should be on the ground bleeding out, somehow he remains on his feet.
After everyone else has entered the room, Mal follow suit and immediately smells Axchard standing in the middle of your group. He immediately begins casting his spell.
No sooner does he do so than are his legs swept out from under him and he falls to the ground. In spite of it, he gets his spell off and Axchard is limned in blue flames as his invisibility fades.
Immediately, Lureene blasts him with her wand even as Alis strikes him in the side with her rapier. Priyya turns and expertly sends an arrow flying at the man's heart, but he once again deflects it with ease.
End of Round 504
With nowhere left to run, Axchard proceeds to follow up his prior attack on Mal with a powerful kick to the solar plexus. As the big warrior gasps for air, Axchard taunts, "I'm gonna put my boot thru your fu<king face, freak!"
Even with the warning, Mal is unable to avoid what comes next. Axchard delivers a round-house kick to his head that puts the big man out cold and covers the floor and his face in blood.
The mob boss then turns on the woman who has been pelting him with magic missiles the entire fight. In seemingly one move, he catches her wrist crushing the wand from her grasp and drives an elbow into her jaw. With his barrage of attacks completed, he puts his back to the wall beside Lureene and braces himself for your attacks.
It's ever so faint, but outside and further north, Priyya can just barely make out a familiar sound — someone popping the stopper on a potion and drinking it. Mal then notices the smell of Axchard slipping past him to the south, but he simply cannot see or hear the man.
Further south, Alis bides her time with crossbow in one hand and rapier in the other, waiting for the enemy to make a mistake.
Rolls:
X 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 Y 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 Z 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Priyya stands over Felmor and raises her hand bestowing the healing grace of Alíta upon her friends. Instantly, the stars vanish from Mal's eyes, the swelling in Alis' face fades, and Felmor no longer feels like he got stepped on. Axchard's eyes narrow. "Nice trick, guess I get to beat on your friends even more..."
A hp:9 + 10 = 19/22 F hp:25 + 10 = 35/39 L hp:33 + 0 = 33/33 SR 12, ER5: Cold Fire Shock
M hp:5 + 10 = 15/47 P hp:31 + 0 = 31/31 ER5: Acid Fire Shock
Axchard weather's Mal's attack and says to Priyya, "You'll have to wait your turn, toots."
With that, he delivers a crushing uppercut to Mal's jaw that makes him see stars. "How's that for jawing, tough guy?"
His foot then lashes out sweeping Fel's legs from underneath of him, quickly followed by a powerful kick to the downed sailor's guts. "Stick to singing, boy."
He then sidesteps to place himself closer to Alis. "Don't go anywhere, Princess, I'm gonna give you a matching bruise for the other side."
Lureene's magic missile impacts him in the chest and he laughs. "On second thought, maybe I'll do her first. Gonna shove that stick in her eye..."
Outside, you continue to hear the sounds of combat, and observe that there are a couple of marksmen fighting on the stairs just north of the barracks.
Outside, the surviving members of the Tar Dog shout in confusion and start running away. They don't get far before you hear the sound of combat coming from elsewhere in the complex.
Although Mal's blow hits, it fails to reach its intended target when Axchard catches the edge of the axe in his meaty hand. "Gonna have to do better than that, kid."
With that, he feints twice at Mal's head with an uppercut and a jab before grinning and delivering a powerful knee to his abdomen.
Priyya's first arrow practically screams as it flies towards Axchard's right eye. Just when she's certain she'll have ended the fight before it can even start, he reaches up with blinding speed and catches it an inch from his face snapping it into spliters with an iron grip.
Without flinching as her second arrow sticks in his forearm, he tears the shaft free and flicks it aside like it was a mere tick. "Best listen to the woman, Jarvis, I want to kill you myself..."
Jarvis merely nods at the two looming figures and doesn't budge even when Trisa recovers her wits and dives under the bed beneath him. Outside, the Tar Dogs look at each other and shrug their shoulders uncertain as to what to do and having no wish to get in their Boss' way.
"Idiot!" Axchard's face is so red he looks like he could burst.
"She," he jabs Alis in the chest with a beefy finger so hard she's nearly knocked back against the wall, "is the princess of Ilmarond, and that is her fu<king bodyguard! How many seven foot tall mooks that look like they are more animal than man go hanging around with short, busty elf girls?!"
From behind the leader of the Tar Dogs, the gang leader Mal knocked out earlier cries out, "Yeah Boss, it's the same ones alr–"
"Shaddap!"
"First," he cracks his knuckles, "I'm going to knock all of their asses out. THEN, I'm going to [i]beat you to within an inch of death before I force you to watch me bend her over that table there!"
With that, he lunges at Felmor, catching him in the gut with his shoulder and laying him out on the table.
Rolls:
bullrush 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 4 = 21 Fel is drunk
Next Up: Priyya, Jar & Tri, Enemies, Alis, Mal, Lureene, Felmor; Axchard
MAP: Dunwaar Streets, (Round 500b)
The big man eyes Mal, Alis, and the rest and growls, "What the hell are they doing standing in my office? This one," he jerks a thumb at Alis, "is supposed to be our hostage, and the rest are supposed to be DEAD! Where the hell is that scrawny b1tch, Chivane?"
An explosive force hits the door shattering the bolt, breaking the hinges and knocking Mal back and nearly into Lureene as the door flies from its frame. The drunken gang leader sits bolt upright so quickly that Trisa is knocked off the foot of the bed with a yelp.
Standing in the doorway is a man huge not so much for his height but for the sheer breadth of his shoulders, depth of his chest and girth of his arms and thews. His grey hair is cropped short and he bears the scars of countless brawls on his ugly face. His beady eyes regard the lot of you and he spits tobacco chew at Felmor's feet as if he were not there.
Alis holds a finger up before waving the rest of you over to listen...
"WHERE THE HELL IS JARVIS?!" booms a loud, commanding voice.
"Boss!!!" comes the collective reply.
"Stow it! Topside is swarming with pigs and– why the fu<k are you guys all busted up?!"
"Um, well uh... Jay-man made some new contacts and there was a little misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? I leave that boy in charge for a couple days and–" There's a pause, "Is that Nial the mage over there in that bunk?"
A moment of silence follows and then the 'boss' roars out, "IDIOTS! THERE'S A POOL OF BLOOD BELOW HERE YOU COULD DROWN A DONKEY IN. HE'S FU<KING DEAD!!!"
The sound of calamity follows as tables are overturned, and chairs and men go flying.
"Boss, BOSS!!!"
"WHAT?!?!"
"The back office, they're all back there with Jarvis."
You hear a scream and a thud that puts you in mind of a man being hurled across the room into furniture and heavy footsteps approaching the room you're in...
As a ball of electricity forms in Lord Alex's hand, she sees Alis standing by his side, and recognizes the spell she just cast. Lucia grits her and mutters, "Oh hell..."
The orb of electrical energy flies from Alex' hand striking Lucia in the chest.
"Noooooo!!!" Lucia's cry shakes the panes of glass in the windows as her form on this plane is finally rendered into ash which quickly crumbles away soon leaving only a sooty film over the bodies piled beneath her. Her infernal sword clatters loudly on the floor and its flames go dormant, a faint hiss escaping from the blade as it cools.
Mal ducks to the side and catches Lucia across the face and neck with his claws leaving bloody gashes. The she-devil's blood sizzles on his claws and she says, "So when you visit a brothel, do they just charge you more up-front, or do you settle-up after you've sliced the girl up?"
"While you're there, tell Chivane that the dexterity provided by her boots is overrated."
Lucia sees that the Surya-ka-Vahaak is just as beat-up as she is and smirks, "So what you're really saying is that walking a mile in someone else's shoes is easier said than done, huh?"
"Ya know, fer a beauty that ye says should be seen 'n not heard, ye sure do flap yer gums a lot,"
Lucia parries Felmor's longsword but gets caught in the hip by his dagger. She laughs at his comment and retorts, "Well, I'm flattered that you find me attractive. Yet I assure you, unlike your buxom friends, it is incidental, not principal, to my capabilities..."
She flashes a big grin even as her form begins to glow with a blinding red light. "Good, now that you've all gathered around, let me demonstrate the folly of that tactic!"
Looking north she smiles at Lureene, Alis, and Alex and says merrily, "Don't worry, I have orders to keep you three blondes alive. It's just your friends that I get to kill!"
With that, she takes a step south and discharges the infernal energy she's built up into a shockwave of unholy power!
As the blast fades away, a look of annoyance crosses her face when she sees that no one has fallen. "Well, I guess that says a lot about the piety of this lot, doesn't it Vincent?"
As Mal tries to maneuver past Lucia before making his attack, she wheels about from having struck Talvyra and stabs him with the tip of her blade. "Don't worry, I'm not taking you lightly either after that stunt you pulled last time."
Priyya's attack connects, tracing an arc of burning flames across the devil's sword arm. The devil seems almost a bit surprised by the two hits she has just taken. She remarks, "Ah, I see you wised up and decided to fight me with the power of not one, or two, but three deities backing you! I really am quite honored, Light-Bearer."
"Quit yer yapping, ye mangy cur, afer I plant me boot in yer arse. B!tches shoul'na be heard!"
"Oh my, so authoritative! Is that how you keep that feisty woman of yours in line?"
The fury watches with a bemused look on her face as Felmor very nearly stumbles up to her. However, when he swings for her blade, she is not quite as forgiving and counter-attacks...
Struck hard by Lucia's blade, Felmor's attack misses so badly he nearly gives Father Vincent a heart attack. Behind him, Monroe swears, "Dammit, boy you make a better door than an archway! Get the hell out of my way!" (Monroe is forced to delay since his path is now blocked.)
"Ah the impetuousness of youth," Lucia sighs. "Tell you what," Lucia takes her left hand off her sword casually swats at Castellan Farris...
"Given the ease with which you were transformed into a drooling, mongrel, b!tch - I figured that was your true form, whelp. I wonder if your panderer Homeku will spay you when we send you back to Hell in failure yet again."
"Well, why don't we just see who goes to the outer planes in failure and who has their way here in the world of the living, shall we?"
Lureene wrote:
"I am sorry to disappoint you, Lucia. Perhaps you can tell your master Homeku, if he wishes to settle your debt, I can teach you proper manners, as every one here would agree a trollop like me is well mannered, and not uncouth, like yourself!"
"Blah, blah, blah! Don't you know, mortals keep pretty playthings around to look at, not to listen to. Oh and try not to stretch Chivane's armor out of shape. She's going to want that back."
Alex wrote:
"What did you do with my father, demon?"
Lucia sighs, "Why is it that you mortals always get us confused? I suppose I shall have to complete the lessons you failed to learn at the academy, dear boy. Oh, that's right, I've been around here for some time. It was convenient to infiltrate this estate with Lorenzo's aid while you were off at school. Don't worry, dear old dad fetched a good price at least."
Father Vincent wrote:
"Gods save us!"
"Right, like that's going to hap–"
Lucia's taunts are cut off when the eyes of the six gods portrayed in the windows, and those on the statue of Khorus by the altar flare to light. A burst of holy energy radiates throughout the room, and Lucia's infernal aura seems to lessen a bit even as the rest of you feel a tingle of divine power.
Prayer: +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks. Foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.
"Oh please," the count's form shift into that of a familiar black-winged beauty with glowing eyes and crimson hair, "Did you really know your father so poorly that you would mistake me for him?"
Lucia turns her gaze on Priyya and Mal and says, "You know, I really was quite fortunate not to be left in the state that your wizard friend left me in. However, it would seem that since the trollop partially countered the aid I was due that my noble lord, Homeku, saw fit to repay our debt in another fashion."
"Now then," she says, drawing a flaming blade seemingly from out of thin air, "I suppose it will complicate our plans somewhat having to kill Lucius Ayer's sole heir, but so long everyone else dies, I suppose that too can be simulated. By Mephisto you mortals are so easy to deceive. CHIVANE, time to play!"
Priyya moves into position between Felmor and Alis, scimitar at the ready. Mal casts a dubious gaze at both the hound in his arms and the batty wizard before him. I hope he knows what he's doing. He then takes up position between Alis and the bishop.
A split second later, the portal finishes forming and a red-skinned devil with a twitching beard, great horns and spiked armor steps thru holding a wicked looking talwar in both hands. Taking in the scene around him, he swears in the tongue of the nine hells and attacks Bishop Tredônia...
The bishop reels from the attack, but is not felled. The rest of you then return the devil's blows...
Felmor's blade glances off the creature's armor without effect, the rest of you then launch your attacks... i.e. let's see some rolls, people! Everyone gets a flanking bonus.
From seemingly out of nowhere, Felmor moves in on the old man and shoves flaming steel between his ribs.
"AAAH! You cur!" he gasps. "Lucia, help!"
Lucia growls something in a dark tongue that makes your skin crawl at the very sound...
Concentration DC 23 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Infernal:
"Homeku, hear my call and settle our debt by repaying my favor!"
Two points within the room on either side of Felmor crackle with dark energy as the barrier between this plane and another far more heinous grow thin. You have the feeling you are going to have company very soon now...
Priyya dashes in between Tredônia and Lureene and slashes wildly at Lucia. Her blade makes a screeching sound as it sweeps across the infernal woman's abdomen without leaving so much as a scratch.
"Tch! You didn't even manage to cut my skin!" Lucia sounds more disappointed than anything. "What happened to all that vigor in your eyes, are you even trying? Our contract does not require any of your deaths, but if you insist on this foolishness, accidents have been known to happen..."
Lucia's disguise fades and you see her revert to her true form: a slender beauty with fiery hair, glowing eyes, and jet-black wings. She glares at Immerstal and says, "You should mind your tongue, mortal."
Seeing what she takes for melodrama, she says to Lureene, "Oh get over yourself! Our business here had nothing to do with you. Delivering that trinket was just a professional courtesy for an affiliate of ours."
Gazing at Priyya's scimitar, Lucia's eyes narrow. "I wonder if I'll be calling in that favor already..."
Lureene:
Lucia looks nothing like the demoness from your dream. In fact, you're pretty certain that she's actually a devil and not a demon... not that you expect many of the people in the room would care about that technicality.
