Raising Hell [Storyline Post]|Naurorod

[Skittlebug]

Pentarius is glad that he'd decided to stay kneeling where he was and had avoided attention. Certainly better Weiss than him, that was for sure. Now that the demon pair is taking off he starts pushing himself up off the ground, and getting ready to start throwing in more of the slaves. If there was a chance of attracting a 'big boy' they were certainly going to try.

[Kender Bard]

Dare beamed at the prospect. "Chuck them all in!" he declared, eagerly surging for the remaining slaves.

Once that resource had been depleted, he returned to Die, wiping his forehead with the back of a sleeve and panting. "We're out of slaves," he told the high priest. "The volcano's doing some funny stuff but still no sign that we're drawing anyone else out. Though for what it's worth I think I saw some more ghosts and little demons crawling out."

[Darastrix]

"Well, then," Die murmured, glancing around the remaining priests. It was a pity Weiss had fallen to the succubus. His signs might have helped at that point. "There is one more thing we can do. Caudius, Pentarius." He snapped his fingers and let a find mist of melting snow jump into the air. "Join me and we'll try pouring in some of our own power."

When they're suitably distracted, Dare, help them into the volcano, would you?

[Skittlebug]

Pentarius draws his lips into a thin line, but doesn't disobey, approaching the edge he begins to do as Die asked.

[Kender Bard]

~Gladly!~ Dare thought back with glee.

Caudius frowned but bowed his head; he was tired and wanted to rest, but oh well. Making his way to Pentarius's side, he shared a brief glance with his fellow priest before beginning to direct his element down into the volcano.

Dare waits a moment before, beaming, he touches his sigh, teleports right up behind Caudius, and knocks him into the volcano with a powerful kick. "Tell Etaf 'thanks' for the death!"

[Skittlebug]

So that's how it was. Self preservation kicking in, he quickly turns his stream of ice on Dare.

[Darastrix]

"Ah, ah, ah...." Die used his own Ice sign to intercept Pentarius' ice and knock it off-target. "Be a good little soldier and hop on in. You're the last of the Ices and Waters who doesn't have a firey second sign."

The other priests exchanged looks with one another. That meant that they, for the moment, were safe. At least from being thrown into the volcano, anyway. And Pentarius was a nobody, really. Saving him gained them nothing, while going along with their High Priest could gain them a good deal.

Sparton was the first to act, sending a charge through his whip and sending it crackling through the air at Pentarius.

[Skittlebug]

Seriously outnumbered and with no chance of escape, Pentarius soon succumbs and falls into the volcano.

[Kender Bard]

"Ha!" Dare laughed. The volcano shuddered beneath them all, like before, but longer this time. The Curious priest actually looked a bit apprehensive at that and started moving farther down the slopes.

Lava bubbled up over the edge rather than spew upward, and the liquid fire dribbled down the slopes. Rising up from the depths of the magma, a large, muscular form began to appear, levitating.

Two horns swept out from the sides of its head and bowed forward together across its forehead, forming a kind of circlet or crown. Pure red eyes, flame flickering from their depths, blinked as lava dripped into them. A pair of giant bat-like wings, mottled bright red and black, spread out behind it, fanning and flicking bits of magma off like water. A black, spiked armor clad the powerful man-like body. Gripped in both hands were wide, curved--almost hooked--swords glowing red-hot.

The demon lord hovered a moment before flying up and circling around the volcano. After making a couple passes, he landed heavily and surveyed the area before him critically, breathing heavily.

[Darastrix]

Yes. Hell yes. Literally. Teeheehee. Die was nearly beside himself with glee, though not so much so that he neglected to fold his hands together and give the hulking demon a respectful bow. He hadn't lasted this long not knowing when to leave his good humour restricted to his head. The other priests were quick to follow suit; as far as opponents went, this demon seemed to be beyond their combined abilities.

[Kender Bard]

The demon gave a small snort; so these were those to be subjugated. He approached one; the impudent one, grinning like a fool.

Dare continued to do so, even as the demon lord approached him. "Wow," he breathed, awed. "What's your name?"

"Master," the demon lord growled.

Sure, why not? Everyone has at least one master. He could have worse ones. "Yes, Master."

"Better," the demon lord growled. "You freed me from the Abyss."

"Actually," Dare said, pointing at Die, "He did."

Karau turned and stomped over towards Die. "Why? How?"

[Darastrix]

"As to the how," Die replied, "sacrifices of Water and Ice in the volcano. Apparently the deaths of enough elementals in its opposite throws things out of balance enough to open a portal, tear a hole in some part of the Veil, whatever you wish to call it. As to the why...general spread of evil, spread of death, spread of chaos. The question now is, what do you wish, my lord?"

[Kender Bard]

Karau was not slow in answering that. "Power." He peered around. "I need to re-establish my power base. But I know I was the first one through. Unfortunately you were not able to bring Tertra through... That will need to be remedied. But later. I need thralls."

[Darastrix]

Die wanted to sigh at that. Power. It was so...pedestrian. Everybody and their brother wanted power. He'd hoped a demon's desire would be a little more interesting. "How will you need to gain these thralls, my lord?"

[Kender Bard]

Karau considered that. He peered around again, frowned. "Most of the lesser demons have fled from here. I still feel the presence of a few." He took off in another flight, longer this time, and when he returned he had five demons trailing him. "Pathetic," he snorted. "But it's a start. Where's the nearest mortal settlement that I can raid?"