053: Fighting to survive in a world with the darkest powers

[Sierra]

<El-Cideon> Your abyssal escorts lead you out of town and up to the manor perched upon the overlooking hill. Though constructed superficially in the style of a mortal dwelling, the building is made out of tightly stretched leather just like the rest of town, lending the whole structure a somewhat dilapidated, melting quality when viewed up close. You pass along a lane wending through a garden lined with trees of hissing snakes before entering the manor proper and crossing a long hall decorated with trophy skulls both mortal and monstrous in size and shape.
<El-Cideon> The tyrant's throne room itself is on the far end of this hall. You find her reclining on a jet black throne perched upon a dais. Her upper body is basically human in appearance, but for the array of six arms. Her face has a sharp-featured, exotic cast to it, potentially beautiful but given to wicked grins, and her golden skin shines in the dim, smoky torchlight of the hall. Her hair is a beautifully cared-for tumble of deepest night. Sprawling across and down the dais away from her throne, however, is the lower body of a vast and monstrous snake. She wears nothing more than a belt of gold medallions, a broad array of clattering jewelry, and a collection of piercings in delicate places.
<El-Cideon> Her court, such as it is, sprawls about the throne room around her. Standing to her left is a blond human man dressed in a black silk robe that carefully highlights the supple musculature of his body; he should be handsome but for the mark of a black, six-fingered hand tattooed across his face. To the tyrant's right stands a svelte, humorless elf with a long braid of midnight hair, wearing glossy midnight mail and with a rapier at his side; his face too bears the same brand.
<El-Cideon> On the lowest foot of the dais sits a naked human woman. Her dirty blond hair is so long that it could not have been cut for years, falling in a tangled canopy around her. She looks altogether unwashed, unkempt and wild, but observes the newcomers with an air of preternatural alertness.
<El-Cideon> Elsewhere about the hall are a trio of serpent-women only slightly less bizarre in appearance than their overlord--these three retain only the standard human allotment of two arms, but otherwise their physical resemblance to their tyrant is striking. One to your right is very pale and with a spill of crimson hair; she is playing a harp and singing a dissonant melody as you enter; her golden, black-haired sister nearby writhes sinuously to the tune until you enter; finally a third sister, obsidian-skinned, white-haired and with elven ears, dallies romantically in a far corner with some partner thankfully hidden from view under her copious coils. She barely deigns to note the party's appearance before returning to her amorous pursuits.
<El-Cideon> The pale serpent's performance cuts off at a wave of the tyrant's hand. "Welcome to my home, mortal visitors," she announces in a richly knowing, sinuous drawl. "Do be so good as to introduce yourselves formally," she insists.
<El-Cideon> One squadron of four demonic centaur warriors takes up station with two to either side of the door, but the rest disperse back to town at a gesture from the tyrant.
<El-Cideon> Despite obvious discomfort at her surroundings and host, Rosemund manages a formal bow. "Rosemund Whitefall your--your Tyrantness," she manages eventually.
<Franceska> Her pride refuses her to do less than Rosemund had, and Franceska pointedly ignores the elf while focusing on the tyrant as she supplies her own name with a matching formal bow.
<Julia> Why would a demon care about formality? Still, Julia clambers off of her mount and bows, "Julia Astin, my lady. With me are Battersby and Leslie," she indicates the obvious wyvern and the less obvious shadow. "A pleasure, I'm sure."
<Steph> This is marginally better than being torn apart by demonic hands from the sky, leading Stephanie to conclude that chances are they're about to receive an offer of employment- or, at the very least, an offer of forced servitude. Coming here was a terrible idea! And now she's about to giggle at Rosemund's faux pas. She refuses to bow to a demoness, however. "Stephanie Sundown. No living
<Steph> relations," she says, instead.
<Julia> Still riding merrily about on his demon ape skeleton, Thing forces it into an obsequious bow as he squeaks, "Vyy'xxlourryx The Calamitous, glorious tyrant!"
<El-Cideon> Tyrant Hekubah raises an eyebrow in obvious recognition at the Calamitous one's current mount. "Of course you know why I have summoned you here," she says. "It could hardly be otherwise when you have ridden your prize into my very hall." She sounds amused at the presumption, but less so as she continues: "I'd no love for the oaf, but all the same he *was* a skilled craftsman that brought a modicum of professional respectability to this rustic little backwater sewer I preside over. Imagine my glee at being informed my domain is even duller and more predictable than it was when I arrived." She sighs dramatically, then leans forward with interest. "I will know why you did it. Did he insult you, assault you, attempt to requisition your body for use in a fine pair of moccasins? Hm?"
<Franceska> "He looked like the strongest one around," Franceska responds curtly.
<Julia> "Really, he just barged in when we were killing some slimy demons outside his shop," Julia admits with a shrug. "They were quite presumptuous before we killed them though."
<El-Cideon> "And anyway," Rosemund adds boldly, "freeing people from suffering and servitude was only the right thing to do when we found opportunity for it."
<Steph> "Especially when we could be next! Didn't see any humans-not-about-to-be-skinned around!"
<El-Cideon> The tyrant gives these varied responses careful appraisal--particularly smiling at Rosemund's assertion--before announcing simply: "You are here for the sorceress." It isn't a question.
<Franceska> "Ah, so she is here?"
<El-Cideon> "She was here," Hekubah says. "She had questions about one my counterparts in our Dark Prince's hierarchy, which I answered in exchange for a rather fine sword. I am in a position to tell you where she has gone and which quarry she seeks in Azzagrat...if it pleases me to do so."
<Julia> "Well, I can give you your tanner back, even if he's perhaps not as skilled as he used to be," Julia begins bargaining. "Also I have a mask of the demon princess Aldinach if that's of any interest to you."
<El-Cideon> "Oh, there's no pride to be had in retaining the trophy of someone I did not kill myself," she says with a dismissive wave for the late tanner's skeleton. "I'd be pleased to accept this mask of yours as well, but no, what I have in mind is a rather more fitting exchange of services, I think. You killed someone of standing in lands under my sway. This is of passing inconvenience to me. I should by way of reparation see you kill someone I *want* dead." With a chuckle, she adds to Rosemund: "Why, if justice and light are you concern, you should even enjoy this one."
<Franceska> "There is no harm in hearing the terms," Franceska muses. "Who is it that you want dead?"
<Steph> Ah, demonic justice! The punishment for murder is more murder. Stephanie's tail whips in delight.
<Julia> Hopefully it won't be too extensive a detour. In the meantime she plucks the mask off of Battersby's head and gives it to Thing who will go and present it to the large and dangerous demon.
<El-Cideon> A series of passionate moans rises from the black serpent's corner of the hall. Rosemund blushes vividly and with commendable effort keeps her gaze locked on your host. Hekubah herself merely raises her voice to speak over the commotion: "No doubt our local temple did not fail to escape your notice on your way into town," she says. "Its priestess Reinafiel has been an obstacle to me ever since her arrival, abusing the cheap tawdriness of her ecclesiastical position to undermine my authority at every opportunity. I would gleefully decapitate her myself, but this earns me ever more adversaries in our Dark Prince's priesthood. However, if a band of just and intrepid *heroes* from another plane should do so in the interest of all that's good and righteous and etcetera and so on, then at the end of the day we are all happier, are we not? Manufacture one of your righteous mortal excuses for murder and make an example of her. Bring me her head and I shall tell you whatever you wish to know."
<El-Cideon> The mailed elf strides down the dais to take the mask from Thing, examining it carefully and handing it up to his mistress with an approving nod.
<El-Cideon> Hekubah turns the mask over in her hands. "Ah, it does ever please me to see a rival's acolytes come to grief." She sighs happily.
<Julia> Task done, Thing scurries back to Julia's side. For her part Julia can't help but respect the tyrant's bluntness in phrasing things. "Well, I suppose we'll be off to kill an evil priestess then."
<Steph> Stephanie scratches her head. Didn't they undermine her authority by committing murder? Won't it be even more undermined if they commit more murder, then cheerfully pay another visit to her house- and, more importantly, leave alive? And are they really getting the good end of the deal, here? They just gave away a demonic mask of indeterminate value! "What kind of powers does she have? Aside
<Steph> from, uh, the usual?"
* Franceska nods curtly, finding that agreeable. In either case, it would get them away from here.
<El-Cideon> "Most excellent!" she replies, drawing herself up in eager anticipation. "I look forward to good tidings and a grisly trophy!" To Stephanie: "Reinafiel and the bulk of her congregation are succubi. They will no doubt wish to ensnare you in a passionate yet most terminal embrace. I recommend that you not give them opportunity. Reinafiel herself should exhibit some divine capacity as a mark our patron's favor. And I gather there's some manner of living garbage disposal on site to deal with the leftovers of their various sacrifices? Unfortunately I could not tell you what this might be. Oh!" Almost as an afterthought, she adds: "You will find the shrine itself shrouded in the most impenetrable blackness. The task may be easier for you if you can find the priestess when she is not at work...but of course, I would appreciate a most public demonstration of the priesthood's inability to protect their own." Her tail lashes irritably.
<Julia> "What does she do when not working?" Julia asks to see how feasible that would be.
<Steph> Stephanie wonders if the priestess does house calls. "When we get this done, can we meet you or an emissary outside the town?"
<El-Cideon> "You will return to *me* with Reinafiel's head once the work is complete," she says to Stephanie with a sharp look. "Only then will I personally relate to you that which you must know." To Julia: "I understand she chiefly concerns herself with rewarding her stalwart followers with exhausting trysts when not engaged in any official capacity. Although of course sometimes these functions coincide. You may check with the brothel in town? I understand passing mortals foolish enough to visit are oft passed on to the temple for formal sacrifice."
<El-Cideon> Tyrant Hekubah sends you on your way with a courteous wave. "I do prize martial vigor. Impress me sufficiently, my mortal friends, and I may find it in my good graces to send you on your way with a proper prize to aid in your little quest. It is somewhat in my interest to see your sorceress succeeds in her little act of vengeance...ah, but that's for later to speak of." The audience concluded, the remaining squad of demonic knights escorts back outside beyond the snake-tree garden.
<El-Cideon> "Will anyone still be alive in this town by the time we leave?" Rosemund wonders aloud once your guards have dispersed.
<Steph> "Technically, everyone here is made up of souls that died," points out Stephanie. "'cept us!"
<Franceska> "Few deserve to die as much as those in this town," Franceska reasons. "That said, we can just keep on going if you like."
<El-Cideon> "Where do we go next?" Rosemund wonders.
<Steph> "So, upside. Possibly the good graces of a demonic patron who incidentally wants the same stuff we want. Chance to kill demonic whores." Stephanie frowns. "Downside. Implicitly trusting a demon. Implicitly trusting a demon who can then kill us to show she maintains order over the town. Have to fight demonic whores."
<Julia> "Upside, if we have to fight Hekubah she'd make a fantastic minion," Julia adds brightly.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: :(
<Franceska> "If anything, I'm mildly concerned that with so many demon whores, one will eventually get lucky," Franceska notes, eyeing Stephanie.
<El-Cideon> "Perhaps we wait by the temple until she comes out?" Rosemund thinks aloud. "Instead of attacking all of them at once. I, ah, am not sure I wish to know what goes on inside anyway."
<Franceska> "The whores kill people through sex."
<El-Cideon> Rosemund turns bright red. "Franceska, I was making a very powerful effort not to think about that!"
<Franceska> "It was clearly not powerful enough," Franceska muses.
<Steph> "Do we have the right sort of protective spells?"
<Franceska> "I don't believe so, unfortunately."
<El-Cideon> "I just have my usual blessings," Rosemund admits. "But that much always helps too, does it not?"
<Julia> "My spells aren't much for protection, no."
<Steph> Stephanie scratches her head. "It's not the sex that's dangerous for us. It's the mind control that would immediately precipitate it." She shrugs. "Ok, so... how can we look into this chick's comings and goings? Emphasis on goings. I don't think a stakeout would work so well for us. Maybe ask those quasits?"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund frowns. "Could we trust anything they told us?"
<Julia> roll 1d20+13 planes for Agrazarabah
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+13 planes for Agrazarabah and gets 20."12 [1d20=7]
<Julia> "No, they bad demons!" Thing agrees with Rosemund.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund gives Thing a highly skeptical look.
<Franceska> "Is there even any spot in this horrible place where we can wait?"
<Steph> "No, we're way too conspicuous," replies Stephanie, before her eyes turn to Thing. "Except you! You can do the dangerous legwork!"
<El-Cideon> Rosemund considers this. "The demons do not like the fog. We could wait down there? Presuming we do not enter the fog, of course."
<Julia> "Thing can do all kinds of legwork with sucky-succubus..." the bad little demon snickers.
<Franceska> "Can you send it to ask her for information?" Franceska asks Julia. "Perhaps, to arrange a meeting? If she tells us what we need to know, that works. If not, we'll kill her."
<Julia> "Yes, you heard Franceska Thing. Go and speak to Reinafiel and ask her to meet us out by the fog. Try not to become magically infatuated, will you?" Julia tells her familiar, who nods eagerly and flies off to do her bidding. "Hmm... Leslie, you go after Thing, make sure he doesn't become the latest sacrifice," she orders her shadow to discreetly tail her familiar.
<Steph> "Oh, good idea. Hey, Julia, can a shadow take on a succubus?"
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll a...Bluff or Diplo check for Thing, whichever you prefer, while he's away?
<Julia> "Well... not a succubus priestess, actually," Julia says, hoping she doesn't lose control of Leslie so soon.
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 Thing bluff
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 Thing bluff and gets 33."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> In relatively short order, Thing returns with a gang of demons in tow: the leader is a pale blond succubus, delicate-looking and of ravishing, unearthly beauty, dressed in a clinging black silk gown threaded through with whorls of gold; to her immediate left and right are male and female succubus counterparts dressed in similarly sheer black gowns, both looking supremely fit and agile. Trailing behind this trio is a contingent of half a dozen succubi in less glamorous attire; it's a mixed group, male and female, and of various complexions and builds, but any of them could no doubt stop an ambitious portraitist's heart at a glance from sheer beauty. "Ah, greetings, mortals," the priestess says in a rich and seductive voice. She addresses Julia. "Your familiar informs me you represent a contingent of our Dark Prince's order from the Prime. A most unexpected arrival, but it's always welcome to interact with our mortal hands from afar. What news have you of your cadre's business?"
<Julia> My. Friday must have been a rather plain succubus when she was alive going by what Julia's seeing now. Unsure if they're just going to attack or try and string the demons along further, she decides just to start talking and wait for some sort of signal. "Yesss... we hail from Solata, which was a haven to demons many years ago, until accursed 'heroes' drove them all out. But since then those
<Julia> heroes have all vanished, and we believe the time is right for the Abyss to return in force, to create a new vassal state for our Dark Prince."
<El-Cideon> OOC: bluff?
<Julia> roll 1d20+20
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 23."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> Her smile remains in place, but it adopts a decidedly more predatory air. "Brethren, we have imposters among us," she announces to her flock. "Try and take them alive. They look delicious."
<El-Cideon> OOC: init
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Julia
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 Julia and gets 8."12 [1d20=6]
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 Thing
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 Thing and gets 21."12 [1d20=14]
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Battersby
<Steph> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 Battersby and gets 6."12 [1d20=4]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+9 and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Reinafiel
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Reinafiel and gets 18."12 [1d20=16]
<Julia> roll 1d20+2 Leslie
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+2 Leslie and gets 3."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#d20+4 acolytes
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#d20+4 acolytes and gets 23."12 [2#d20+4 = 17, 6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+1 congregation
<Franceska> roll 1d20+1
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+1 and gets 4."12 [1d20=3]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+1 congregation and gets 6."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Rosey and gets 8."12 [1d20=6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Reinafiel (18) > male acolyte (17) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte = congregation x6 (6) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing is up first!
<Julia> "Down with the Dark Prince, up with the Prince of Undeath!" Thing cries out, before just turning invisible and scurrying away from the no longer so nice succubi.
<El-Cideon> "You dare utter that accursed name here!" the no longer serene demon priestess screams. "An eternity of torment awaits you for such blasphemy!" She draws a sword for her own defense, then points one long finger of her free hand towards the party and utters an abyssal curse--whereupon flame erupts around Julia and all her friends!
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref saves all, evasion applies if you got it.
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 Julia
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 Julia and gets 10."12 [1d20=5]
<Julia> roll 1d20+5 Battersby
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+5 Battersby and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 Rosey and gets 22."12 [1d20=11]
<Franceska> roll 1d20+4
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+4 and gets 19."12 [1d20=15]
<Steph> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+19 and gets 33."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 10d6 half fire/half divine, Steph halves this
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 10d6 half fire/half divine, Steph halves this and gets 36."12 [10d6=4, 6, 5, 5, 5, 1, 3, 4, 2, 1]
<El-Cideon> Reinafiel's male bodyguard glides forward and reaches out towards Rosemund--"Sweet child, you must be untutored in our dark ways after all. Let us educate you!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18 CMB
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 CMB and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund nimbly evades this unwanted embrace!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> "Hey, you wanna do this the easy way after all!" exclaims Stephanie, flickering out of sight as she rushes towards Reinafiel, and then delivers a pair of precise blows towards the succubi's neck! "When we're done I'm gonna make a jacket from your wings, cousin!"
<Steph> roll 1d20+17
<Steph> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+17 and gets 35."12 [1d20=18]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+18 and gets 20."12 [1d20=2]
<Steph> roll 1d20+17 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+17 crit? and gets 25."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first hits, no crit
<Steph> roll 1d6+7+2d6+6d6 this is a good attack!
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+7+2d6+6d6 this is a good attack! and gets 42."12 [1d6=4][2d6=6, 4][6d6=1, 4, 5, 5, 4, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: wait, crit makes it minus her DEX bonus because of invis
<El-Cideon> OOC: so go ahead and reroll
<Steph> roll 1d6+7 add this onto it? feel the power.
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+7 add this onto it? feel the power. and gets 9."12 [1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: noted! Julia/Rosey are up
<El-Cideon> "I know all that I need to know about you and your kind!" Rosemund challenges her assailant, swinging her mace twice at his all-too-handsome face.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 and gets 30."12 [1d20=16]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+9 and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+5+2d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+5+2d6 and gets 17."12 [1d8=1][2d6=6, 5]
<Julia> "Despair fools!" Julia cries shrilly, unleashing a cone of sadness and depression over the crowd of sultry demons!
<Julia> roll 1d20+14 SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+14 SR and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
<Julia> OOC: DC 19 will or despaired
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+23 Reinafiel
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+23 Reinafiel and gets 33."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+10 acolytes
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+10 acolytes and gets 25."12 [2#1d20+10 = 12, 13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 congregation rolled as one
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 congregation rolled as one and gets 11."12 [1d20=4]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Reinafiel (18) > male acolyte (17, despair!) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (despair!) = congregation x6 (6, despair!)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> Rosemund's would-be partner takes a solid thwack to the face, yet somehow retains his unholy allure even with a bloody nose. Meanwhile, he and the rest of the crowd save the priestess herself quail in fright of the mortals they oppose!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Battersby up alongside female bodyguard and succubus gang
<Julia> Battersby trundles forward to take a piece out of the demon that set him on fire!
<Julia> roll 1d20+19 charge talons
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+19 charge talons and gets 38."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Julia> roll 3d6+8 and improved grab
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 3d6+8 and improved grab and gets 13."12 [3d6=2, 2, 1]
<Julia> roll 1d20+17 grapple
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+17 grapple and gets 21."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: whiff
<El-Cideon> Battersby's claws hardly make a dent in Reinafiel's fiendish hide, but she looks less than pleased at having such a beast interpolate itself between her and her fury! Meanwhile, Reinafiel's female companion slides forward to reach out a welcoming embrace for Franceska! Of the congregation, three of them focus their will and supernatural allure on each of the visible human opponents, while the other three split off--two to crowd around Rosemund and one more for Franceska.
<El-Cideon> OOC: will, Rosey/Fran/Julia
<El-Cideon> OOC: also AoO for Fran for the regular succubus grabbing at her
<Julia> roll 1d20+11 will
<Franceska> roll 1d20+11 will
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 will and gets 31."12 [1d20=20]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+11 will and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 Rosey and gets 17."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18-2 acolyte CMB vs Fran
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18-2 acolyte CMB vs Fran and gets 22."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8-2 regular succubus CMB vs Fran
<Franceska> OOC: CMD 19
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8-2 regular succubus CMB vs Fran and gets 20."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> Reinafiel's black-clad attendant succeeds in drawing Franceska into her arms for a passionate embrace--whereupon the demon's kiss drains away a touch of Franceska's essence and seeks to sap at her very will!
<El-Cideon> OOC: -1 NL and roll will
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: pass! You still don't like it.
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d20+8-2 CMB vs Rosey
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d20+8-2 CMB vs Rosey and gets 49."12 [2#1d20+8-2 = 26, 23]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund's copious defenses deter the grabby hands all around her--but it looks as though she may be less resistant against future attempts! Her righteous anger fades, her eyes cloud and she begins to look upon those around her with an alarming degree of interest...
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran then Leslie
<Franceska> "Let go of me, you filthy demon whore!" Franceska shrieks, losing her composure and slapping at the succubus while she tries to muster her magic to cast her strongest spell!
<Franceska> roll 1d20+10+7+8 hero pointing to try and cast Bite of the Werebear, DC26
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+10+7+8 hero pointing to try and cast Bite of the Werebear, DC26 and gets 43."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> OOC: very heroic!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Leslie!
<Julia> Rising up out of the ground behind the congregation, Leslie reaches out to grab one with just as much eagerness as any amorous succubus might muster!
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 touch and gets 12."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Julia> roll 1d8 str damage
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d8 str damage and gets 3."12 [1d8=3]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Reinafiel (18) > male acolyte (17, despair!) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (despair!) = congregation x6 (6, despair!, -3 STR on 1)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> A surprised yelp from the afflicted demon as an attacker materializes behind and dishes out some of their own brand of wickedness!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing
<Julia> Thing just watches and waits for now...
<El-Cideon> Not able to see the invisible foe most powerfully threatening her, the priestess points towards Julia and croons at her: "You! You will climb down from that beast this instant and instruct it to cease attacking me! This I bid you!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: will
<Steph> OOC: AoO?
<Julia> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+11 and gets 25."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: perhaps, concentration first!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 concentration
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 concentration and gets 17."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: yep, AoO
<El-Cideon> OOC: and pass, Julia
<Julia> roll 1d20+17 battersby bite aoo
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+17 battersby bite aoo and gets 29."12 [1d20=12]
<Steph> OOC: I think her spell just fails if she flunks the concentration check...
<El-Cideon> OOC: yes, it should. Anyway, hit Julia
<Steph> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: also hit
<Julia> roll 3d8+12
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 3d8+12 and gets 21."12 [3d8=4, 1, 4]
<Steph> roll 1d6+2d6+7+6d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+2d6+7+6d6 and gets 36."12 [1d6=1][2d6=6, 5][6d6=4, 1, 6, 2, 2, 2]
<Steph> OOC: good attack
<Julia> "No, in fact, attack her even more Battersby!" Julia retorts.
<El-Cideon> The priestess is stabbed and savaged to within an inch of her life--yet at the last second, some burst of dark magic flares up and partially heals her of her direst wounds! She glares up at Julia with renewed ferocity! Meanwhile, Rosemund's partner is easily able to sweep her into his embrace now that her will to fight has been stolen from her. Not only does he take her into his embrace for a deep and passionate kiss without resistance, but she appears to respond in kind!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph then Julia. Rosey's charmed and grappled.
<Steph> "Still here? Wrong move," whispers Stephanie, dancing to flank the succubus with Battersby before going in for the kill.
<Steph> roll 1d20+15 (flashing sun)
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+15 (flashing sun) and gets 27."12 [1d20=12]
<Steph> roll 1d20+15
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+15 and gets 30."12 [1d20=15]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+16 and gets 30."12 [1d20=14]
<Steph> roll 1d20+110
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+110 and gets 113."12 [1d20=3]
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21."12 [1d20=11]
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+11 and gets 15."12 [1d20=4]
<Steph> OOC: let's ignore my godlike roll
<El-Cideon> OOC: all but 15 hit without DEX bonuses
<Steph> OOC: I'm not invisible anymore, sorry
<El-Cideon> OOC: first three only then
<Steph> OOC: I'm flanking with battersby to get my SA in
<Steph> roll 1d6+2d6+7+6d6 (good)
<Steph> roll 1d6+2d6+7+6d6 (good)
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+2d6+7+6d6 (good) and gets 42."12 [1d6=1][2d6=2, 5][6d6=6, 6, 2, 2, 6, 5]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+2d6+7+6d6 (good) and gets 42."12 [1d6=5][2d6=5, 3][6d6=6, 2, 4, 6, 3, 1]
<Steph> roll 1d4+5+1d8+6d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+5+1d8+6d6 and gets 35."12 [1d4=4][1d8=4][6d6=4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > male acolyte (17, despair!) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (despair!) = congregation x6 (6, despair!, -3 STR on 1)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> The demonic priestess goes down with a wrenching scream as Stephanie's flashing blades spill her vile demonic ichor all across the ground!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Steph> "What do you know? Yer insides ain't as pretty, wenches!"
<Julia> "Don't Rosemund, he's bad for you!" Julia warns her friend, deciding to try and exhaust her would-be paramour before their activities can go any further!
<Julia> roll 1d20+7 ranged touch, ray of exhaustion
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+7 ranged touch, ray of exhaustion and gets 27."12 [1d20=20]
<Julia> roll 1d20+15 SR
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 19."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: passes SR, roll crit check?
<El-Cideon> OOC: oh, exhaustion never mind!
<Julia> OOC: DC 22 fort or exhausted. fatigued if passes
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > male acolyte (17, fatigued, despair!) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (despair!) = congregation x6 (6, despair!, -3 STR on 1)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: Battersby and various baddies are up
<Julia> Battersby goes charging into the congregation between it and Leslie!
<Julia> roll 1d20+19 bite
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+19 bite and gets 33."12 [1d20=14]
<Julia> roll 3d8+12
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 3d8+12 and gets 28."12 [3d8=8, 6, 2]
<El-Cideon> Rosemund's paramour sags with tiredness, but this doesn't cause him to relinquish his grasp. He merely looks back at Julia for a moment with sleepy eyes and croons: "You should know better than to deprive a man of his vigor at such an important moment!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: very hit, yes
<El-Cideon> As Battersby's target shrieks as she's pierced badly even through her fiendish resilience, Franceska's partner's hands roam wildly as she tries to continue clutching her partner to drain her spiritual energies--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18-2 CMB to maintain grapple, -1NL and roll will if it succeeds
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18-2 CMB to maintain grapple, -1NL and roll will if it succeeds and gets 31."12 [1d20=15]
<Franceska> OOC: Geez, even with the bite's boost it still passes
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+9 and gets 26."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: pass. Fran is difficult to seduce!
<El-Cideon> "Brothers, sisters, bring down that great beast! We have these ladies well in hand," Rosemund's paramour advises. The congregation peels away to surround Battersby and slash at him with their claws!
<El-Cideon> roll 6#1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 6#1d20+7 and gets 123."12 [6#1d20+7 = 21, 24, 24, 19, 19, 16]
<Julia> OOC: AC 18
<El-Cideon> OOC: -1 to second of those rolls to due -3 STR, not that it matters
<El-Cideon> roll 4#1d6+1
<El-Cideon> roll 1d6
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4#1d6+1 and gets 21."12 [4#1d6+1 = 5, 6, 4, 6]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d6 and gets 5."12 [1d6=5]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Fran then Leslie
* Franceska bites on the succubus's tongue before punching her away! "Let go, you demon slut! Let me go already!"
<Franceska> roll 1d20+16-2 CMB
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+16-2 CMB and gets 31."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> At least, Franceska manages to wriggle free from the unwanted affections of her demonic partner!
* Franceska steps away, a spear fit for a devil appearing in her hand and pointed at the succubus's chest!
<Julia> "Leslie, go and help Rosemund will you?" Julia tells her shadow, which promptly peels off and attacks the man making out with innocent chaste Rosemund!
<Julia> roll 1d20+6 touch
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+6 touch and gets 10."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: whiff, alas
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing!
<Julia> Thing keeps on watching!
<El-Cideon> Apathetic of all outside threats, Rosemund's partner continues to encourage her to greater heights of lascivity, and by this point she eagerly returns that lethal kiss.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Steph
<Steph> Stephanie pounces towards Rosemund and her paramour, and sets about him- aiming to plunge her dagger into his shoulder, and use that to hold him still whilst she carves him off from Rosemund.
<Steph> roll 1d20+15
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+15 and gets 31."12 [1d20=16]
<Steph> roll 1d20+16
<Steph> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+16 and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
<Steph> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+11 and gets 27."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all but 19 hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+7+2d6+6d6 (good)
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+7+2d6+6d6 (good) and gets 35."12 [1d6=1][2d6=3, 6][6d6=2, 4, 5, 2, 1, 4]
<Steph> roll 1d4+5+1d8+6d6
<Steph> roll 1d4+5+1d8+6d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+5+1d8+6d6 and gets 40."12 [1d4=1][1d8=7][6d6=3, 6, 4, 6, 6, 2]
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d4+5+1d8+6d6 and gets 30."12 [1d4=1][1d8=1][6d6=2, 3, 1, 6, 5, 6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (despair!) = congregation x6 (6, despair!, -3 STR on 1)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> At last Rosemund is free once again! Though with her mind in shackles she only stands dumbly in place, looking forlorn at the sudden interruption.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Julia
<Julia> To heal both Battersby and herself, as well as upset those demons around her, Julia bursts forth with a wave of deadly/lovely negative energy!
<Julia> roll 11d4 DC 21 fort half
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 11d4 DC 21 fort half and gets 27."12 [11d4=2, 4, 4, 1, 3, 3, 1, 2, 1, 4, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-2 group roll
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-2 group roll and gets 13."12 [1d20=9]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (despair!) = congregation x5 (6, despair!, -3 STR on 1)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> As negative energy sears away the beatiful flesh of the demons alla round Julia, the remaining acolyte finally countermands her dead male counterpart's final order: "Enough! Retreat for today, brethren! And YOU, mortals, you have made more dire enemies today than you could understand. In time we will know your names and we will have your souls! Rest your despair upon this vow!" So saying, herself and her maimed congregation immediately focus their willpower on warping away to safety--
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 concentration for acolyte
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 concentration for acolyte and gets 15."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10 concentration for congregation
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 concentration for congregation and gets 11."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all fail. Fran & Leslie up
* Franceska finally gets a chance to strike at her tormentor, which she does with great pleasure!
<Julia> Picking a new target, Leslie goes for the juicy target of the apparent leader, positioning itself opposite Franceska.
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14-2
<Franceska> roll 1d20+9-2
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14-2 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+9-2 and gets 12."12 [1d20=5]
<Julia> roll 1d20+8 flanking touch
<Franceska> roll 1d20+14-2 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+8 flanking touch and gets 21."12 [1d20=13]
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 1d20+14-2 crit? and gets 27."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first hits and crits, Fran. And hit Julia
<Julia> roll 1d8 str damage
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d8 str damage and gets 2."12 [1d8=2]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (-2 STR, despair!) = congregation x5 (6, despair!, -3 STR on 1)) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<Franceska> roll 3d8+45 cold iron, bitch!
* Hatbot --> "Franceska rolls 3d8+45 cold iron, bitch! and gets 56."12 [3d8=7, 2, 2]
<El-Cideon> The acolyte shrieks in dismay, but remains standing despite a dreadful gash across her midsection that pours out foul fiendish blood.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Thing & Steph & Julia
<Franceska> "Die in the gutter like the whore you are!"
<Julia> Sensing weakness, Thing dives at the acolyte, clawing at her face and chest as he appears!
<Julia> roll 1d20+10 claw
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 1d20+10 claw and gets 18."12 [1d20=8]
<Franceska> OOC: Infernal wound, 2 damage per round to her!
<El-Cideon> OOC: miss
<El-Cideon> OOC: noted!
<Julia> Meanwhile Julia sees Battersby is still in need of a bit of touching up, so she lets loose another wave of negative energy all around herself!
<Julia> roll 11d4 DC 21 fort half
* Hatbot --> "Julia rolls 11d4 DC 21 fort half and gets 36."12 [11d4=3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 1, 3, 4, 2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+6-4 fort academic
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+6-4 fort academic and gets 19."12 [1d20=17]
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Current planar traits: -2 to CHA-based checks for Lawful and Good characters | Thing (21) > Steph (10) > Julia = Rosey (8) > Battersby = female acolyte (-2 STR, despair!) > Fran (4) Leslie (3)'
<El-Cideon> The late Reinafiel's congregation withers to dust and follows her into oblivion!
<Steph> "Any last words, honey?" calls Stephanie, pointing her rapier at the last remaining succubus.
<El-Cideon> "Your soul will burn in pits of the bitterest acid!" the succubus spits vengefully.
<Steph> She's heard better. Stephanie rushes towards the woman to strike her through the heart!
<Steph> roll 1d20+21 chargeflank
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d20+21 chargeflank and gets 35."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Steph> roll 1d6+7+2d6+6d6
* Hatbot --> "Steph rolls 1d6+7+2d6+6d6 and gets 46."12 [1d6=6][2d6=5, 6][6d6=4, 6, 3, 3, 1, 5]
<Steph> OOC: (good)
<El-Cideon> Pierced through the heart--such as demons have, at any rate--the last demon wails and melts away to nothingness, leaving the hillside still and quiet once again. Reinafiel's corpse, at the least, appears to have weathered death intact.
<El-Cideon> OOC: free act
* Franceska spits on the ashes, looking decidedly miserable.
<Julia> Dismounting Battersby, Julia approaches Rosemund. "Are you alright, dear?" she asks worriedly.
<Steph> Stephanie wipes her sword clean, but then rushes over to Rosemund. "Rosemund! Here, uh, I don't got any holy water but I got some vodka. Did that creep tongue you?" she asks, fumbling for her bottle.
<El-Cideon> Rosemund continues to stare off longingly into the distance for some time after the battle proper has concluded. Eventually, she comes to, shakes her head vigorously and stares at the ground in utter dejection. "Oh, I feel as though I should rinse my mouth with acid. To think that I should give away my first kiss in such a way!" Rosemund eagerly accepts the drink, rinsing her mouth and spitting before taking a longer drink and swallowing it.
<Julia> Julia gasps. "Oh, you poor dear!" she says, hugging her no longer innocent friend.
<El-Cideon> "We should never speak of that again," she vows quietly.
<Franceska> "This is the worst plane," Franceska says fatalistically.
<El-Cideon> "It is! It really is!"
<El-Cideon> Despite her drained state, Rosemund does at least retain enough magics to restore her own condition and Franceska's before in turn patching up wounds from the priestess's spellfire.
<Steph> "It, uh, doesn't count. 'cos it's magic. Those rapist shitheels! We should go burn down their temple as well!" swears Stephanie, nodding in agreement. Another flask of unidentified alcohol is tossed Franceska's way, before Stephanie decides to go and claim her head before it melts away, too.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Restoration on Rosey and Fran
* Franceska drinks it in long, miserable sips.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d10+20 Fran heals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d10+20 Fran heals and gets 53."12 [4d10=10, 7, 10, 6]
<El-Cideon> roll 2d10+14 Rosey heals
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2d10+14 Rosey heals and gets 25."12 [2d10=3, 8]
<El-Cideon> Finally, Rosemund looks back at the battleground with one final shudder and says, "Shall we deliver our awful prize and be gone from this town already?"
* Franceska gives Rosemund a hug, empty alcohol flash tossed aside.
<Julia> "Yes, lets go," she pats Rosemund on the back one last time before getting back aboard Battersby.
<Steph> The head is rapidly wrapped up, and Stephanie does take a moment to appropriate the late succubus' jewelry before straightening, ready to head back.
<El-Cideon> Hekubah's elven bodyguard is on hand outside the manor to recognize the returning guests and their prize and escort them back inside to see the tyrant. "So it's done?" Hekuba asks. She leans forward, one set of hands planted on the arms of her throne. "Tell me all about it. Every detail! Tell me how sweetly you ripped out her vile beating heart."
<Julia> "Well, Battersby bit her and kicked her a bit, but most of it was Stephanie's work," Julia says perhaps less than impressively.
<Steph> "Now, now! We'd never have got her in position if we hadn't tricked her, and that was all you, Julia!" chimes in Stephanie. She leans forward. "She thought we were converts!" she whispers, with a giggle. "Wannabe succubi! But she didn't like what I stuck up her, not one bit!"
<Julia> Well, it was Thing really, but the familiar's actions reflect on the mage. Which bodes ill for when she returns home and finds out what he and Friday were really doing...
<El-Cideon> Hekubah gives Stephanie an appraising look. "You've a taste for blood, yes? Oh yes, I recognized that within you when you arrived. It does you credit to demonstrate such eager capacity for violence. The only proper way to deal with those who trouble you is permanently, yes?" Handed the late Reinafiel's head, Hekubah smiles at it sweetly for a moment before wrapping the grisly trophy in her coils and crushing it like an egg. "Now...I owe you information about your wayward sorceress, do I not? Ah, but I would like you to consider one further, more personal request before you leave today. Oh, of course, I shall tell you what I have promised, but you will listen to my offer afterwards, yes? I may be disposed to give you something of some minor assistance in your little quest if so."
* Franceska has a solid certainty that nothing can possibly make this day any worse, and gives Hekubah a curt nod.
<Steph> "I don't have any enemies after me. Because I'm a practical person," agrees Stephanie. "Yes, let's keep a good working relationship, shall we? One good deal deserves another, as they say."
<Julia> "It can't hurt to listen," Julia says, watching in fascination at how easily she pulps that head.
<El-Cideon> She nods happily. "Good, good! Ah, but first your information: this Aria Granville came to Azzagrat in search of one Maeandar. I do know of him, and have had the misfortune to be in his company some scant times. He was once one of your angels--" this prompts the expected gasp of dismay and shock from Rosemund. "I couldn't rightly say *what* he is now, but I'd hardly call him one of us. He plays his little games with mortal souls both near and afar, but near is your concern, yes? You should find him at home in his labyrinth. Head east from my home, through the serpent woods. Maintain sight of the black monolith one of my predecessors erected as monument to his own virility; once you have passed this, the first furnace gate you find shall take to our neighboring layer. Follow the cobbleskull road along the lake of acid and you should see a green dome adorning a spit of land out in the lake. This where your sorceress seeks her quarry. It would bring me pleasure to hear of his gruesome demise as well, I must admit."
<Steph> What's a furnace gate, Stephanie wants to ask so badly... "We'll act as the situation requires," replies Stephanie, with a shrug. "Or is that the favour you're looking for?"
<Julia> She doesn't like the sound of labyrinth, but otherwise the directions sound easy enough to follow.
<El-Cideon> "I simply presume you seek his death for your sorceress does the same," Hekubah admits. "No, my favor is merely a matter of...information. Which I have difficulty obtaining through my ordinary channels." She gives the robed human at her side a disapproving glance.
<Julia> "What would you like to know?"
<Steph> "Oh?" That's not nearly as good as slaying demons...
<El-Cideon> She sits upright, crosses her various hands together beneath her chin. "Attendants, daughters? Leave us," she orders her entourage. Once they've all filed out of the hall in various degrees of sulkiness, she addresses you again: "Tell me, do you concern yourselves in anyway with celestial matters? Or consort with those that do?" She nods to Rosemund. "The child's response to my earlier question about your motive for murdering our late tanner raises suspicion that you do to some extent."
<Franceska> "To some extent," Franceska agrees. "Then the information you are interested in concerns such matters?"
<El-Cideon> "If you are capable of accessing such channels--and I have reason to believe that only such entities could resolve my questions--I would be pleased to reward you for your efforts. No doubt you have seen the fog that loiters around Tenterground? The thralls I have sent within all confirm the fog constitutes the memories of one Griselda Harcourt. I would know why she torments us for years on end! No one in town has more knowledge of this person than those that go within the fog, and they come back...broken. But with enough recollection to tell me that the answer lies outside of my brethren's ability to locate."
<Steph> "Who or what is Griselda Harcourt?"
<Julia> "I don't recognise the name," Julia says apologetically.
* Franceska looks quite incredulous at the question. Why wouldn't someone want to torment demons for years on end if they could?
<El-Cideon> "I don't know!" Hekubah snaps in an echoing cry. "That is what I task you with uncovering! I have only pieces, enough to tell me she was once a priestess in service to some great heavenly power...but not WHY her presence would linger on here, judging us spitefully as though she had the right! Her voice drives those subject to it beyond their senses, and I would have no more of my chattels wasted in such a manner. I must know what might dispel her ire, and after constant failure of my own thralls it seems obvious that only her former masters should know this."
<Julia> "Well, we can ask around. We can't promise much more than that, since she's just one person in a very big world." Though if she's anything like Aria Granville it won't be hard at all.
<Steph> "Well, if her spirit is here it certainly doesn't belong here," reflects Stephanie, unpertubed by the marilith's rage. "Do you know of any non-demons who've been in there?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, mortal fodder passes through Tenterground all the time," she says dismissively. "But most are simply Blood War captives being traded about. Most mortals who willingly come to Azzagrat are drawn more to the pleasure pits of Zelatar than my little town." She shrugs, a rather elaborate gesture for one with six arms. "I had my pet mage pry into the cloud magically but he conjured up little of use." Her tail lashes irritably. To Julia: "If you would swear a binding vow to this extent, I should offer in return some small favor to aid you in murdering Maeandar." She looks thoughtful. "I do have this old crusader sword that's of no use to me, or perhaps you'd like one of my thralls to accompany you for assistance? It would please me much to hear of the pompous git's violent demise."
<Julia> A sword isn't much use to Julia either, and she doesn't want someone elses minion cramping her style. "Any of you want anything like that?" she asks her friends.
* Franceska shakes her head in answer.
<El-Cideon> "Ah, swords are not my favored form of arms," Rosemund admits. "Do we know anyone else that could use it?"
<Steph> "We can't commit to it," points out Stephanie. "Our travels aren't taking us to Celestia soon, so while we'll keep this in mind in hopes of a future trade, we certainly can't agree to a geas at present."
<El-Cideon> "We could ask Vigilia's little friends perhaps?" Rosemund suggests.
<Steph> Stephanie shrugs. "Yes. Still. 'We'll see what we can do' is, unfortunately, the only response we can give."
<El-Cideon> "You would make these inquiries...on your own, for no promised reward?" Hekubah concludes with evident incomprehension and a note of suspicion.
<El-Cideon> "Er, it does not cost us anything to ask questions of people we already know," Rosemund admits.
<Steph> "Oh, no," replies Stephanie, tilting her head. "No, if we gather any information we'll charge you upon delivery. We simply can't commit to success."
<El-Cideon> She nods in renewed understanding! "That shall suffice. I await my explanations with all due anticipation! Now, all this talk of murder has left me in a most excited mood. I feel bound to...indulge myself for the rest of the evening. I bid you farewell, and may you kill capably and copiously in your travels."
<El-Cideon> ~