Fantasy Hunter's Moon: Ascendancy [IC] [CLOSED]

[K0mori]

"Indeed I am!" he responded, motioning with both hands to the stacks of colorful chips on the green topped table before him. "I've won four hands in a row. Lady Luck seems to be favoring me today!" The others sitting at the table didn't too thrilled, considering their tiny stacks of chips before them.

Eventually, he shifted his attention back to Azathor. "If you're wondering where the others are, Vlada is about to perform on stage over in the theatre section of the building. My master, Lucas Konstantinov, is over there." he said, before pointing to a sort of lounge section of the room where some of the other richer patrons were seated. Talking, smoking, drinking. "Zehra, the Eshaxian woman that was with us, had to leave."

He sighed afterwards. "Apparently the civil war in Eshax has grown dire enough that her human family were put in danger. She's returning to her homeland to see that they are escorted safely out of the country as it descends further into chaos."

"It makes me glad the ones I care about are far from the front," Sebastian said, albeit he really only cared for his mother, with the rest of his family being either literally or emotionally too distant to matter to him much at all. He took a sip and thought about everything Kirill had just said, as there was something bothering him. Suddenly it occurred to him: "You said Herr Konstantinov is your 'master.' What did you mean by that?"

 

[Breadman]

The Abyss

"Tis but a simple cut." Tiloc commented as she observed the table in front of her. The blood priestess had pulled a stool forward and was leaning forward while resting her chin in her palms "You're not going to be drawing a lot of blood that way, little Bird."

"I'm not trying to." Colette commented as she directed the next move "Now one here." Tiloc rolled her eyes and flicked a finger to where the shade had pointed

"When you said you needed help with hell beasts, I expected something more...traditional."

"Sorry to disappoint, but we're more interested in keeping the blood hounds alive." She was quiet for a moment "Oh this one is gonna be a mommy of a big pile of teeth." The shade wasted little time and got to work, pulling little pups made of seemingly nothing but skin, hair and teeth. Another shade was picking them up afterwards to place in a special section to be taken care of. Once they gain an idea where they are, their hunger would kick in and they weren't exactly picky on what to eat.

"Oh, its with children ?" Tiloc finally realized why Colette needed the precise cutting with the blood magic droplets "Let me see them." She peeked towards the miracle of childbirth the Abyss could provide "They don't seem very impressive when they're little." She picked one up in her hands and examined it. Instinctively it started snapping its jaws towards her "OH! This one is hungry!" She smiled as the creature tried to bite at her face.

"There's a bucket of meat somewhere. Fetch something to feed it." While the priestess was busy with her new friend, another wraith walked in through the door. "Oh, Constantine." Colette smiled when she saw his form stumble in "Still hungover?"

"You could say that." The cowboy had spend the last several days on his 'feast'. When the dust had settled from the battle, he had collected a number of greed demon heads. All belonging to bastards that had many victims bound to the Abyss. Many shades could finally rest knowing that revenge was theirs. And he would welcome the energy that came with it. Some of the other wraiths had remembered what their obligations were and set to roam the streets and look for anyone that had eluded justice until now. Success could be best described as inconsistent. But all that didn't matter to him. He got his and it was all he needed. "Why are you elbows deep in this thing?" Colette looked at him for a second with a slightly raised eyebrow before she pulled out another little bitter. "These things have babies?" Constantine slightly jumped and looked to the blood hound mother. "I thought they just...grew out of the ground when you didn't want them anywhere near you."

"I can go into a long lecture about Abyssal beasts that would leave my husband at a loss for words, but I'm afraid we don't have the time for that." She turned her head to the pit of fur and teeth "There's a few more mothers waiting and Lozon was looking for you."

"The old man? Why?"

"Didn't tell us anything." She shrugged as she pulled out the last of the pups "Alright, lets sow you up and get the next one ready." Before he left, Constantine saw Tiloc playing with one of the hounds

"What are you gonna do with that?"

"I might just keep it as a pet." She commented as she scratched the abyssal creature behind the ears "They're just like real dogs, Vulture."

"Yeah, you have fun with that." He turned around and left with a brisk pace. One thing that carried over in the Abyss from his life was the dislike of dogs, wolves and jackals. Really anything canine. So of course the powers at be would have him meet more and more of these things. Made sense. The Abyss is for the wicked to suffer after all. He just wished it was minor enough so the Abyss wouldn't bother.

He walked down the street of the conquered city. Making note of the changes the wrath demons and their cohorts have made for the section given to them. Bulk of the army was outside the city of course, but officers and their entourage were allowed to make themselves at home in a few dwellings. Best bet to find Lozon was either a mausoleum or a prison he would repurpose. Either would suit him, given his person. While there was no building to honor the dead nearby, there certainly was a holding pen for the regular troublemakers unfit to be send to a fancy maze like the one they raided some time ago.

"Ah there you are." The patriarch welcomed his wraith as soon as Constantine entered the building. "You've rested well, I hope." He tilted his head to the side to signal for Constantine to follow. The demon walked at a calm pace with his arms crossed behind his back. "So far we're kept in the dark on what the next move of the war should be, so I'm taking the opportunity to give you wraiths a moral boost."

"Mighty fine of you, old man." Constantine looked at the different cells. Some empty, some holding prisoners from either this war or before it. No one he recognized "Don't think you're inviting me for tea party, though."

"Correct. I don't plan to waste your time with anything banal as a celebration of your deeds." Lozon turned his head towards him "Though I hear you've done that plenty on your own." A light chuckle escaped his throat. A few more moments pass before they stop at a locked cell door. "Now, to tell you why you're really here." A parody of a smile was etched on his face "I found one of the names on your list, my boy." Constantine looked to him with confusion. "Since the day you struck our bargain, you've been looking for specific demons and today I bring one of them to you."

"Why?" Constantine eyed Lozon with suspicion "There is no way you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart. What are you getting out of it."

"I do owe you an explanation, I suppose." The 'smile' went away, replaced with the normal grim look "When I struck a deal with you wraiths, I made sure that I'd leave you chasing impossible tasks. I did it to keep you around as long as possible in my service and in turn to the Abyss and its masters. If you were to die doing so, then you would be damning yourselves to what happened next. For you, its the four names on your list. You already have two. The third one is behind the door and he will lead you to the last."

"Well thank you for confirming that the deals you offer are lousy garbage!" Constantine shouted in anger. His hands balled into fists. He wanted nothing more right now but to break the demon's other horn and stab him in the neck "There's more aint there? Out with it."

"It's simple. I want to hold up my end of the bargains. If I am to get anywhere in this new hirearchy we're building, I cannot afford to keep to the old ways. I'm tired Constantine. Tired of all the mindless pain and misery. What are supposed to be the bane of the wicked, I let get corrupt into another tool of madness. What I do here is just the start. I want to mend every wound I can for those I have tricked and bound to this plane. If I am to succeed in bringing you and the shades peace at last, then there might be hope for more."

"...you want redemption?" Constantine squeezed the bridge of his nose as he tried to regain his composure "You want the Gods to take a look at your work as a good little Abysall servant and pat you on the head? Is that it? You want them to just forget what put you here in the first place and what you've done for the blasted how many ages? Am I getting you right you old fuck?"

"I don't expect you to understand or think of me worthy of such a thing as redemption." The demon remained unflinching as the cowbow threw insults at him "What I do want is two things. Cross the last two names off your list and severe your ties with me."

There was an uneasy silence in the air after Lozon spoke. Constantine fought with himself to keep the anger down. This had to be another trick, but why. Eventually the rational side gained some ground. If it was a trick, why would he sever the dominance link between himself and the wraiths back in the Hanging forest? Why would he offer one of the people Constantine had been after like this? Why would he want their bond to be severed and allow for the wraith to move on?

"He's in there?" The gambler tilted his head towards the door? Lozon nodded in confirmation. "Fine." He lit a cigarette before opening the door. Inside he could see the greed demon tied and bound by chains. It was one of them. One of the creatures that made him sell everything he had on that one card game all those years ago. The patriarch wasn't lying about this either. "Did he say where his buddy is hiding?"

"Somewhere in the mortal realm." Lozon gave a curt answer "My interrogation techniques are...inadequate to get more out of him."

"Leave it to me." The wraith entered the cell and shut the door behind him.

 

[Infab]

"You said Herr Konstantinov is your 'master.' What did you mean by that?"

Kirill glanced to Sebastian for a moment, thinking over how to best explain it. "Lucas is one of our bloodline's lords, and thus rules over the house of Konstantinov alongside his two brothers. Julian, the eldest brother, is an ancient vampire and is the bloodline's progenitor. Nicholas is second, and is currently fighting for Atraca in the Highlands somewhere. Lucas is the youngest of the three, but still hold's plenty of power over all of us." he said, soon watching as the table was prepared to deal a new hand of cards. "If he wishes for us to go somewhere and do something, we do it. No questions asked. It's not like that among all the vampire bloodlines, as you have new houses being born out of schisms and such, but its fairly common."


Claire remained silent for a brief moment, shifting her gaze back to the box of hooks on the shelf before her. Barnabas was never one to miss the mark when offering his thoughts or words of encouragement. That was one of the things Claire loved about the dullahan. Eventually she sighed. "You're right, Barnabas. The problem is actually letting go of things. I don't know how."

Barnabas chuckled lightly. "You'll figure it out, in time. Its something that only you can do. We each have our own ways that work for us. You'll find yours." he said, watching her for a moment before looking back down to the journal. Eventually, after a few moments, he spoke again as he looked back up to her. "...Is there something else you needed, Claire? You tend to leave more important questions for the end of our little chats."

Claire smirked, eventually turning and walking back over to the counter. She reached into her coat, drawing out an old folded map. She quietly unfolded it, stretching the paper out on the counter before Barnabas, before tapping on the map near Peltragow. "I need to know where Caleling Reef is. If you recall, its practically the only cove I never visited personally." she stated, eventually looking up to Barnabas as he gazed at the map.

He chuckled again, cutting her a glance. "Yeah, I remember. You and ol' Bartholomew Reid were at each other's throats for the longest time, and that's where he made his home at." he said, his finger soon finding Peltragow and moving north of it slowly. Eventually, he stopped. "Right there." he stated quickly, finding a pencil and marking the location with a small circle. "You can't miss it. There's a trail leading down through the rocky outcrop on the hill to the south, takes you right into it."

Claire smiled fully this time. "Thank you, Barnabas." she said softly, before folding the map up again and tucking it away in her coat. She then motioned to the journal. "Keep it. For the archives." she said. Soon after, she spun about. Moving towards the door.

Barnabas watched her walk, before eventually speaking again as she reached it. "Swing by again anytime. You're more than welcome here. Gods know this old dullahan could use the company of old friends." he said, a more cheerful tone showing through his voice.

She gave him a thumbs up as she glanced back, before soon stepping outside and shutting the door behind.

 

[K0mori]

"Ja, I think I've heard Caire - that vampire we're traveling with, you saw her before - talk about the vampire houses, but I'm like most folk. I don't know much about any of it," Sebastian explained, his thoughts slightly muddled. He swirled the ice at the bottom of his glass around in the remaining ounces of his drink. It was a bit of a novelty to get ice this cheaply, but that was to be expected in a northern, coastal territory. Back in Daristein, beer and other drinks were usually served with whatever chill one could get from storing it in the cellar, but ice was an expensive luxury. "I know something about following orders, though," he added. "Joining the army gave me plenty of skills, decent pay and living conditions, and a sense of direction. Belonging to a group like that makes life seem a little bit simpler. I miss that." He paused to finish the last of his drink and remembered his old friends, wishing them well, wherever they were.

"But I won't go back to just following orders without asking questions, nein," he suddenly said, and quite pointedly. His expression softened again as he knew that Kirill had no idea what he was talking about. "...I've come to learn that the world's leaders aren't so wise, and take their cues from demons without even knowing it." He glanced back at Azathor and snickered. "And the irony isn't lost on me, I promise."

---
​

Across Erebos, messengers traversed the streets in search of the ones Lisykna had chosen for her new unit. Some ran at ground level, while others flew, but in either case they were likely to locate those individuals due to their own innate familiarity with the grand army's ranks. It was one of the most important tools that Annen's scouts could offer: rapid and accurate communication.

In some anonymous corner of the inner city, where a villa compound had become a temporary station for triage and other purposes following the battle, a light-footed demon scout touched down from the neighboring rooftop and immediately locked eyes on Tiloc through the open villa doors. She glanced back and recognized them; Phytraag was more than just a scout, they were one of the most skilled infiltrators at Annen's disposal and a proper assassin. Phytraag strode in, and the two greeted each other respectfully. "Tiloc," the assassin spoke, "I've been sent to gather you and your cohort of wraiths. Lisykna is taking all of you under her command."

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Rajko stood vigilantly. Judging by the direction of the conversation and Barnabas' shrewd observation, he would not need to hang around for so long. He whistled a tune to himself, a folkloric number from his residence in the Atracan highlands. He still maintained an ear to the conversation, noting how the archivist noted down the location of Caleling Reef. Rajko felt to be on the verge of a hunch; a hunch that tells him he won't much enjoy this tarry underwater, but it must be done.

The store's door swung open then close as Claire had stepped out. A thumb had pushed the brim of his tapered hat as Rajko looked to Claire. A thin smile creased Rajko's lips. "So then, off to the reef, ay?" He inferred with a jocular glimmer. He had been ready to depart with Claire the moment she said the word or began walking. If the Enforcer looked to the man's sculpted, half-scarred features, she would see him being in thoughtful reflection.

His thoughts remained theorizing on advice to give, but knew that this is not a conundrum that can be solved easily with a few words. Eluding to the instruction of archivist Barnabas, "You'll figure it out, in time. Its something that only you can do. - - You'll find yours."

 

[Breadman]

Tiloc looked up to the villa's window as she sensed a shift. The smell of blood in the air was heavier and the culprit was right there on a neighboring roof. The purpose of the visit must have been a good one if he intended to be sensed and seen like this. A master assassin like Phytraag was no neophyte to be so clumsy.

"I feared that today's height was going to be these little balls of fury." She commented as Phytraag strode in. Tiloc put the pup down and gently bowed to show their guest their due respect "What do we owe the visit, shadow?"

Tiloc," the assassin spoke, "I've been sent to gather you and your cohort of wraiths. Lisykna is taking all of you under her command."

"Oh my." A toothy grin sparked on her face "The one above the Lady of Blood?" She rapidly clapped with excitement. "It would be foolish for us to decline such an offer. All that rampage and excitement in the last mission has me yearning for more." She giggled "Ah, but we would have to find the rest of them." The priestess started walking to the door then suddenly stopped when she was passing Colette "Hmm, you said wraiths, but nothing about shades." Tiloc moved behind where Colette was sitting and placed her palms on the woman's shoulders "But what of out Little bird here? I've grown quite fond of her and there is another that likes her company. Would the High lady object to bringing her along? She's quite useful you see. The head full of arcane knowledge of hellbeasts, plants and medicine."

 

[K0mori]

Phytraag nodded as Tiloc spoke of gathering the others and made to follow her, but soon she was posing a new question about a shade. The assassin's expression was a mystery, as they were wearing a hooded shawl which cloaked their face in darkness aside from the yellowish glint of their eyes. "...Lisykna is like to take you on your terms," Phytraag replied a bit cryptically. They folded their arms and explained in a quiet, but nonetheless intense tone of voice, "Lady Annen summoned me and six others into the chambers of what was Keggoth's palace, to be the first among those dispatched in search of Lisykna's chosen. She said to the witch, 'these seven are the fastest I have, so make good use of them.' The witch replied that she would have the serpent-calling wraith."

Phytraag looked down at Colette for a moment, perhaps curiously, before turning back to Tiloc. "Annen suggested she take your cohort, as you all know each other, and Lisykna agreed. I was then ordered to 'retrieve the wraiths.' But nonetheless, the fact remains that you were the very first on the witch's mind."

 

[Infab]

"But I won't go back to just following orders without asking questions, nein," he suddenly said, and quite pointedly. His expression softened again as he knew that Kirill had no idea what he was talking about. "...I've come to learn that the world's leaders aren't so wise, and take their cues from demons without even knowing it."

Kirill glanced to him as he held his newly given cards up in front of him. "Ever considered the mercenary life? A gun for hire has control over what they do. You still take orders, but you can choose if you want to follow them or not. Affects your pay, obviously, but it allows you to get out of doing something you don't want to." he asked, "I used to be a mercenary. Got tired of that kind of life after a few decades, though. My employers were never exactly the patient types, but they did pay well."

"So then, off to the reef, ay?"

Claire glanced over in the direction of the voice, cocking a brow before she recognized its source. Then her eyes narrowed. "How long were you listening in on things?" she asked, before quickly shaking her head. "Nevermind, I don't need to ask. You probably heard it all, especially with those ears of yours."

She looked about at the people travelling through the streets. "Yes. Its north of here, along the coast. I have it marked on my map. We can head that way tomorrow morning." she soon responded to his question, before eventually returning her gaze to him. "Let's not tell the others I left the journal here with my friend, alright?"

 

[joshuadim]

The demon prince grunted in acknowledgement to Sebastian's humor and reciprocated a nod of his own. But his own involvement in the conversation grew as it turned elsewhere. Azathor couldn't help but roll his eyes once the conversation between Kirill and Sebastian became about mercenary work, and had to suppress himself from scoffing aloud. To him, the very concept was an insult on integrity as at any given moment their supposed 'loyalty' shifts the moment a larger bag is presented towards them. On the off-chance that Kirill noticed his disdain for the topic, Azathor turned the attention to another topic at hand in order to prevent himself from getting angry: "How do you play this card game? What are the rules?" Azathor then asked, crossing his arms as he looked at the table and the cards strewn about.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

"How long were you listening in on things? Nevermind, I don't need to ask. You probably heard it all, especially with those ears of yours."

"Long enough," Rajko shrugged. True, a lot of privacy is forfeited whenever or wherever the inquisitor is concerned. It isn't a conscious effort a lot of the time. On the way over, sordid details were revealed to him in piecemeal fashion, but as a courtesy, he tried to forget it if possible.

Rajko was looking past her when she answered his first question, but his eyes met hers with a hint of understanding upon her request. "Mum's the word, Claire." He said while touching his index and thumb on his left hand. "Not my purview what you do anyway. Plus he seems like a good friend to have around."

 

[Breadman]

"I feel honored that the High lady has placed me so high on her list." Tiloc glanced to Coletter. The latter had now taken her hands out of the blood hound's belly and was wiping her hands clean. She didn't know what to think. Everything was moving so quickly all of a sudden. The wraiths were being summoned by none other than Lisykna for some grand project and now she's an accessory because they liked her? She had to admit that the idea was frightening, but the consequences of rejecting the offer were more so. "Please Shadow, allow us to show you to the rest of our comrades." The priestess lightly bowed her head, turned around and motioned for the assassin to follow them.

The trio walked outside the repurposed villa and Tiloc breathed in the air around them. It had turned from oppressing to refreshing now that she knew her talents were recognized. It would be rude to keep Lisykna waiting, so she set to find the rest of the wraiths that accompanied her in the vaults. It made sense that they would be the ones that were her 'cohorts'. Connor was easiest to find. He had taken an example from Constantine and went on a journey to find his own heads to exchange. One of the lucky ones...from a certain point of view. Like Constantine, he was hungover from the intoxication from the released energy.

"I'll get him up." Collette said as they approached his lumbering form.

"What are you...AGH!" Connor screamed as Colette jammed something in his arm "What are ya doing woman? I ought to..."

"You'll be quiet, Monkey." Tiloc grabbed his attention "Where is the Bear?"

"Boris?" The wraith rubbed the place where the needle had pierced his arm "Somewhere near the prison last I saw him. He was dragging some demon sod on Lozon's orders." He looked at Colette who was examining the syringe and his arm "What did you stab me with?"

"Oh its a concoction I've been working on. Do you feel anything like itching or sharp pains?"

"No?...Should I?"

"Interesting." The shade put the instrument away and took out a piece of paper to write the answers to her question down. Connor looked to Tiloc with a hint of worry. "You don't feel hunger and thirst like the others, so I wonder if that's part of it?"

"Monkey, the High lady has asked for our presence. What do you say? Join us for some fun?"

"La-Le-Lisykna, right?" Connor guessed the name eventually. "Aye. I can do that if it ends this war quicker." He cracked his neck to let the tension out "Where does she want us?"

"Our friend here will say when we're together." Tiloc moved her arm to motion towards Phytraag "Lets see where Vulture went."

Later at the prison

It was a good few minutes after Constantine had closed the doors behind him. From inside Lozon could hear the screams interrupted by taunts from the wraith as he went to work. This wasn't an interrogation one would expect and the demon knew it. No, Constantine wanted to take his time with the greed demon. He did hunt him for all those years. Biding his time and building up his anger and resentment. Who would blame him? That cur and three others took everything from the gambler. His life, his home, his family and his name. Nothing remained of the man except memories of what he had given up through trickery.

The demon turned around when he heard the heavy footsteps from behind. He was surprised to not only see Boris, but Tiloc and the accompanying entourage with her. Most of all he was surprised to see Phytraag with them.

"To what do we owe this visit, lord?" The demon showed a bow of respect towards the assassin "I assume our assistance is needed in some plan."

"Even better!" Tiloc exclaimed "We have been chosen by the High lady herself. Well, she asked for me, but she also wanted you to come along as well."

"Lady Lisykna has asked for us?" that parody resembling a smile had returned to the demon's face "Our efforts have yielded results."

"Where is Constantine?" Colette asked as she noticed his absence.

"Inside." Lozon motioned with his head to the door behind him "He is busy extracting information for a demon that has escaped to the Mortal realm." As he finished the door swung open. From inside the cowboy wraith emerged. Blood staining his knuckles and a satisfied look on his face. It quickly twisted to confusion once he saw the crowd on the other side of the door.

"What in the Abyss are y'all gawking at?" He finally said something "If you want a turn with him in there, its too late." He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder.

"Vulture, we have great news!" Tiloc was about to explain yet again why they gathered, but she stopped herself. "Shadow, my apologies. I haven't let you speak this entire time. But everyone the High lady has requested is here. Please, speak if there's more for us to know."

 

[K0mori]

Sebastian shrugged at the idea of mercenary work. "Nein... that doesn't solve anything. How much noble work could there even be for someone who kills for the money? And if I spend every day saying no to dirty work, then I'd wind up hungry and homeless. I'd rather learn a trade and put my hands to work, start a family, and get away from all this trouble," he replied. He picked up his empty glass and glanced back at the bar as Azathor asked about the game Kirill was playing, and used the opportunity to excuse himself for a moment so he could get another drink. He could feel the buzz starting to set in, and it felt good. There were plenty of pretty young women around, and Sebastian quietly wondered if any of them would be his company for the night if he flashed enough cash. Perhaps a win at one of the tables could impress them...

---
​

Phytraag shook their head. "It is as simple as you have relayed it. You all are to come with me to the palace of the Icon of Greed, where I will leave you with the rest who have been called upon to join Lisykna. If the Lady has any more names for me to pursue, I will deliver them for her."

The small party traveled quickly across the city to Keggoth's palace, arriving at the grand entrance to find only a small number of other recruits, but this was to be expected since they had been near the beginning of the list. It was so far clear that the witch had placed a strong focus on gathering mages, as she was already keenly aware of their abilities and limitations. A few of them looked in the wraiths' direction with curiosity or even contempt, including Valghem, whose solitary presence warned of his outcast status. Lisykna had chosen him not just for the incredible strength he showed defending the Hoarding Towers, but because getting him far away from those who might resent him in Erebos seemed like a prudent idea.

Inside, Phytraag led the group down a hallway to a bedchamber which had once belonged to one of the palace servants. Inside, the furnishings were somewhat luxurious and had not been removed like in the other rooms, perhaps because the defenders had run out of time. There was also a surprising amount of space for an individual. It was clear that Keggoth held the philosophy that the truly wealthy had enough for their own maids and manservants to live in comfortable excess. At the end of the day, however, all of this belonged to the Icon.

These quarters provided a somewhat private setting for Lisykna to meet her new subordinates, and as they shuffled into the room, they found Lisykna seated next to Cassandra at a small dining table. "Come in, all of you," Lisykna said, beckoning them closer, but without smiling or giving the impression that this was a friendly visit. Colette, meanwhile, immediately recognized Lisykna's thick Escarian accent and remembered crossing her path at some point in the past, although she doubted they had ever spoken before. Cassandra, likewise, was a familiar face. "Lady Tariun has seen fit to begin the construction of a new army, one which will operate under my direct authority. She has her eyes set on the Land of Vainglory, and it is up to me to decide how to decipher the riddle of taking that land. You-" she said, pointing to Tiloc, "I saw what you did outside the gates, and I knew that we needed that in the new force that we're assembling. The rest of you, I do not know, but Lady Annen recommended you."

She paused a moment and judged their reactions, trying to discern if any of them were offended by her statement. When none appeared to react strongly, she spoke up again. "I would like to take a slightly unorthodox approach, if you will humor me. I have been told your names, but please introduce yourselves so I know which of you is which. Once we have that sorted out, I would have you explain to me what each of you seeks of this war. Perhaps I could bring you closer to your goals, so that you will fight hard to bring me closer to my own."

​

 

[Breadman]

The wraiths were silent for a few moments, then they collectively looked to their patriarch. Lozon in turn would step forward and begin the introductions as Lisykna requested.

"I suppose it would be correct for me to begin. I am Lozon of the Hanging forest, you grace. Once mortal like you, but my demonhood was my punishment for the sins I committed in life. Many centuries ago I was wronged by a rival and as retribution I slaughtered his family tree, his castle and surrounding villages. When I was slain, the gods sought fitting I be damned to hunger for revenge in its many forms. It is why I was bound to care for the shades" He motioned with one hand to Colette "But the act can be self-destructive, the powers I gained would leave me empty. I may be a servant of Wrath, but I share some plight with those in Gluttony." He paused to halt himself from deviating from the topic and not waste her time "And the wraiths you see before you are a product of that. Souls I helped damn to the Abyss to suffer as I do. A constant hunger for violence and vengeance. I wish to end the cycle. My sins are not to be forgotten, but instead serve as reason for me to seek redemption. Victory in this war is the only way I see that even being possible." He glanced to the wraiths behind him "And if I were to finally honor my bargains, then I can turn these souls into something more than scavengers. But I believe they should speak for themselves on what they want."

"Very kind of you old man." Constantine commented. It took a split second to realize that now the eyes were on him thanks to his inability to keep quiet. "Right, my turn. The name is Constantine, ma'am. I'm not sure what exactly got lady Annen's attention, but I'm not gonna complain. What I want from this war is for it to end, but that's not gonna work for an answer is it?" The lady didn't look amused by that. "No, its not. Mine is rather simple really. There's a greed demon roaming about in the Mortal realm. He's the last one on my list you see. One thing I learned thanks to our grand master here is that the slippery bastard has possesses a corpse and is working with a fool called Fontaine. They're both hatching schemes on how to profit off of the war that's broken out. I don't need to tell you that a demon freely feasting on his preferred sin over there is bad news for everyone. I want a shot at the bastard and if working for you is how I get it, then I'm at your service." After finishing he looked to the others "Who wants to be next? How 'bout you Boris?"

"Da, my turn." The large wraith spoke. The thick Tsavarian accent didn't get too much in the way of his communication "My name is Boris, madam. Sazak tricked many people thoughout the ages. Me and my sister are both werebear because of that. Fun and games for him, horror and madness for us. We became wraiths because we wanted him dead and...now its just me." He looked to Lisykna with some desperation in his eyes "I cannot touch the bastard. I know this now, but you want to invade Vainglory next? Then I want to join. I want to crush any debil that will stand in your way and crack open the innards of his house. Blood for blood is what I want." Some of those present would notice the fur growing on his exposed arms and his beard growing longer by a few centimeters. "Who's next? Connor?"

"Oh, I'm a simple man. I don't want anything forgiven or forgotten. I've earned my spot here and I'd take a job as a warden of sorts if you'd have me do that." He turned his head to Lozon "But I do want one thing. Him." He pointed to the demon "After the war me and him will have a fight. I don't care how or where. I want him one on one." He grimaced towards the patriarch, who seemed to ignore his taunts and threats. "Anyway, Tiloc? You're the big draw here. Tell the lady what you want."

"I'll miss you when the Old demon smears you across the floor, Monkey." The priestess commented. "I am Tiloc, High lady and I am honored that my talents are recognized by one such as you. Like my dear friend Vulture here" She pointed to Constantine "I too seek specific demons. In life I was a high-priestess of my people. My sister, she was to be queen when our father died. On the day of her coronation, she had me killed and my beating heart sacrificed to our gods." Her normally cheerful voice was now filled with bitter venom as she recounted the event "You see, those gods were in fact demons. My heart was all that was needed for a gate to be opened and for them to feast. I know not how they were fought back, but I know that my sister is responsible for the doom of my people. She is somewhere here in the Abyss as well as the demons she brought though. The Lady of blood has offered to teach me more in the ways of blood, but if I take their hearts, I can do more great deeds." Her toothed smile returned "I ask to learn from the best and for the hearts of my enemies."

"Although different in goals, their wishes seem to have a common theme." Lozon spoke "All seeking a form of revenge. These tasks would have been impossible before and would guarantee their eternal servitude. I wish to end that and to sever the chain to the Abyss. What happens to them next should not be tied to my own fate."

"Are we not forgetting someone? What of Little bird's wishes?"

"You're right." Lozon answered after a pause. His eyes moved to Colette "Speak shade. Your voice is unique among us."

"I...My name is Colette Boivin, lady Lysikna." Not sure of what to do but give a bow of the head, she gave an answer to one of the questions. Collette didn't know where to begin. She looked to Lisykna again. She was familiar and the shade knew why. Then the memory came back. Back on the train when the mortals came for their mission. She remembered a damned vampire among them. The same woman from then. They never spoke, but she remembered the men with her. The demon hunter with a death wish and Jacob. Were they still alive? Would she know? Would she still care? One presumption after the other. "I want out of this place really." She finally gave an answer "But that's not up to the war effort. The man that killed me is still alive and I have no clue where he is. My only hope is for that is that my husband hunts the bastard down. He's an inquisitor now and if what his colleagues that braved the Abyss some time ago are saying, he's a good one, but troubled." She was silent for a second "I'm rambling. I'm sorry my lady."

"Vengeance and some hope." Lozon spoke again. "An odd mixture, but something different from the rest of us." He turned his attention back to their new mistress, awaiting her judgement.
---
The others had long departed off for their own needs, leaving the rest of the party back at the inn. While he didn't need to eat, drink or sleep, Royland would still need to wait like normal. He couldn't just skip the day and night away. But perhaps he needed to spend this time better. He hadn't really spoken to the others in this mission as he should. He walked back inside the inn and noticed that Camille was on her own.

"The seat is free I see." The knight spoke as he pulled a seat next to her "Have these lands changed a lot since your last visit?"

 

[K0mori]

Lisykna sat and patiently listened.

First to speak was Lozon. Once a mortal, it was clear that he was grappling with a conscience that many demons lacked. By restoring proper order to the Abyss, he would feel at least partially redeemed for his many misdeeds. This was a sentiment that Lisykna readily understood. Likewise, Boris and Tiloc both sought revenge which could be attained during the war, although the latter seemed to be seeking something more than just retribution. The way she spoke of great deeds after her vengeance implied that she saw a future in the Abyss for herself.

All three would be self-motivated, it seemed. For the others, things were a bit more complicated. Constantine wanted to track a demon in the mortal realm, and Connor seemed bent on attacking his own ally. Lisykna was about to respond to their requests when the shade was brought forward to speak as well. Her aura seemed familiar, but the witch couldn't place it. As she spoke, however, the truth began to reveal itself- between her Escarian accent, her name, and the fact that her husband was a living inquisitor, Lisykna felt an eerie sense of dread settle over her. Cassandra, whose eyes had glazed over while she waited for the introductions to run their course, suddenly snapped back to attention at the same realization.

Despite this, Mariette resisted the urge to break character. She would address the wraiths first, and then move on to the shade.

"If spilling blood will satisfy you, I am certain that it can be arranged. Lady Tariun does not simply seek to replace Taranoch; she intends to tear his designs out of the Abyss by their roots and burn them all. Should your marks evade you during this conflict, I will personally attend to your continued search until the account is settled," she replied coldly. She looked Constantine and Connor in the eyes, one after another. "There are some matters that will need to wait until the war is finished regardless, but my promise applies equally there as well... Lozon, I expect you to meet Connor's challenge, whether or not the fight is fair. If that is what will grant him peace, then you will honor it."

Finally, there was Colette. Lisykna looked on her with a mixture of confusion and pity. "I want all of you wait outside the palace while we gather the remaining recruits; we will set off for Sheol shortly. Colette, stay here a moment, sil vous plait. I shall have a word with you privately."

 

[Dmaster]

With the heated discussion on philosophy that followed Mariette's revelation on the huntress' supposedly predisposed fate, Camille stayed at the inn and continued to sip her wine at the table. She had little to no motivation or desire to make merry with the others in the town. How could she with what now weighed on her mind? Even then, she was never one to distract herself on these important missions. Such a choice was one she made personally, and she did not fault the others who chose to distract themselves during this downtime. This same glass of wine she was slowly nursing would be her only relaxation for the moment.

Royland returned to the inn and took a seat from her, and Camille did not have anything cold or coy to say to him. "It most certainly is," she replied. It was clear to her that he was no ordinary knight from the hellish chains and flames he conjured, yet of all the people she fought beside she worried the least about him potentially being a threat to her or the mission. The huntress' lip curled slightly as he posed his question. "In some ways a great deal, in others not very much at all," Camille began.

"When we arrived here those years ago I recall a certain malaise and uncertainty that permeated throughout this island. Perhaps that was merely my own perception being biased, however. To an extent, I can still feel it lingering. An encroaching sense of foreboding and dread that I cannot quite shake." A pause as she takes another sip of her wine. "The sun basking the rolling vistas and coasts that surround us can keep it at bay, if one allows themselves to take in such beauty."

"Yet now there are all manner of new faces that are here. Likely as a result of the ongoing wars and those trying to escape it or are posted here. Another conflicting series of feelings, this time of dread and camaraderie..." Swirling her wine about, Camille looks to the contents of the glass with a frown before she weakly shrugs her shoulders. "Hmh, though perhaps I am overthinking things as I am one to do. I recall being called paranoid on several occasions the last time I was here, and in some strange way I do so fondly. Ce'st la vie."

 

[Breadman]

"Rest assured that the duel is set to happen." Lozon answered to Lisykna's command "I gave him my word that once this war is over we would meet. Now its officially approved." His gaze veered to the wraith. Connor had a satisfied look to him. "We thank you for the audience and will await your further instructions." The group started to leave, led by the old demon. Constantine stayed behind for a short moment and looked at Colette. She was curious, but cautious as to why she was asked to stay for a private conversation, but none of them were in a position to decline. After they left, the doors were closed behind them.

"Is there anything specific I can do for you, my lady?" Colette asked still cautious "What is this about?"
---
"Paranoid or not, you aided in cleansing this island." Royland spoke in turn "Even with the pockets of hidden threats that remained, it seems that things have turned for the better. As for new faces, I suspect you also mean us. Safe to say, you've never ventured with most of us before. Cassandra excluded of course. What do you make of us, I wonder? Do we equate the former inquiry or do we surpass it in oddity? For me, I can say that I never traveled with so many different people. Most expeditions are mainly humans, me and an oddity every now and then."

 

[Dmaster]

Camille chuckled and shook her head back and forth, "Well, I hadn't been speaking of those with me - you asked me about the land we find ourselves in, after all. Oui, a new team of misfits to lay down my life with is always a new experience," she answers. "In a way, I've never ventured with Cassandra. Last time I was here we were in pursuit of her. It may come as no surprise to you but I much preferred it that way..." Trailing off coldly, she circles her fingertip along the rimmed edge of the wine glass.

"Oddity is a matter of perspective, I've come to realize. The inquiry was mostly human, when we started. Yet we also had a dullahan, a lich, two vampires... By the end we had many of our human hunters depart, and gained a werewolf," she recounts, a finger tapping into the side of her cheek. "We're much smaller this time around. Though we have you, a saint who is hundreds of years old, a werebat, an oni, a pureblooded vampire, and a young soldier."

After another sip of her wine she comes to her verdict. "I think the dullahan and lich tip the scales of strange, though really it's a tossup."

 

[Breadman]

"We may witness something more strange in the coming days." Royland added "Had I known the lich was going to be among your ranks during that expedition, I would have been present." His voice was more tense as he spoke about the undead "But I had other duties that prevented me from learning that fact in time. New recruits needed to be taught to wield swords as well as the guns they like to wield these days. Though you understand the utility of such weapons when facing supernatural enemies. Doubt I need to remind you of that."

"Speaking of new recruits. The young man, Sebastian. It took him quite a while to notice my and other member's nature. Perhaps we should help educate him on the finer points of this line of work if he is to be with us on this mission. Could be life saving for him and us."

 

[K0mori]

Once the others had left the room, Mariette, no longer trying to put on the act of Lisykna, sunk into her chair a bit and sighed. "Madame, your husband is Theodore Boivin, non? I knew him, when I was a mortal, et mon plus cher, Cassandra, knows him as well. I don't quite understand what it is about fate that keeps dragging me into the paths of those inquisitors' lives, but it is truly exhausting," she muttered. She remembered how she had hexed Theodore, all those years ago, to have a nightmare to punish him for proposing necromancy to be employed in order to reanimate her disembodied head. She hoped he would have visions of someone close to him suffering from such a fate.

Not that it would have made a difference at the time, but Mariette didn't know that he was a widower. It wasn't until she was a servant in Sazak's palace that she learned of the gruesome fates suffered by the inquisitors' families, and how, for Theodore, it was as if Sazak had taken inspiration directly from Mariette's disgraceful acts. Colette's reanimated head had been sent directly to the man, inflicting a trauma that could never be healed, and yet another that the witch felt a hand in causing.

"I must admit that I wronged him terribly, all those years ago, thinking that he had done the same to me. Perhaps he did, but it doesn't matter anymore," Mariette said, miserably. "Cassandra will be returning to the mortal realm tomorrow, Colette. Perhaps you should write your husband a letter so she can carry it back. ...He knows that you are in the Abyss and is searching for your killer as we speak, and I can't imagine-" she started to ramble before shaking her head.

She smiled, softly. "I don't know what all you could even say to him, but I know how terribly the soul fares when years pass without the words 'je vous aime.'"

---
​

"Die Festung!" Sebastian cheered, planting a hand full of chips down onto the roulette table on 23, red. He was now rosy-cheeked and thoroughly oblivious to the growing nationalist anger of some of the other casino-goers. He had been up and down over the last ten minutes, mostly down, but he had a nagging itch that told him that, any minute now, he would hit on his lucky number and walk out of the establishment with a small fortune. He even imagined himself turning in the stolen wallet at the hotel's front counter with the money inside replenished out of his winnings, with some bizarre story of how he stopped a pick pocketer.

He had little concerns about the believability of his tale. He was on a mission from the gods- everything was part of the plan, wasn't it?

 

[Breadman]

Madame, your husband is Theodore Boivin, non?

"Oui..."Colette answered before 'Lisykna' continued and left her stunned at the revelation. "Madam Lisykna, you are Mariette Desrosiers? I...yes, I accept and thank you for the offer, but this is...oh gods, you say you've wronged each other, but that isn't true if what he says and..." She stopped. What was she doing? Why was she acting like a schoolgirl at an exam? She stopped to regain her composure and sighed in frustration with herself "Forgive me you grace. The information is not what I expected to hear. I'm just a shade that was picked to come along. Fate is...exhausting as you said." She made sure to look Mariette in the face and not away like before. This wasn't some merciless demon, not like the rest. "You are not the first to say you knew my husband, not even the second. Two of your companions at the time already spoke with me long ago about him. You might remember the werewolf, Jacob and the hulking brute called Hendereson." She paused for a second to adjust her hair as some strands had come undone.

"From the latter I received a report written by Theodore about the inquiry you were part of. What Henderson was doing with that report, you'd have to ask him. But it was illuminating to know what Theodore was doing. It is where I know your 'mortal' name. I also know of your fate as he described it and his own notes of regret for a heat of the moment suggestion to use necromancy. But there is nothing in the report that said you had wronged him personally. Whether he omitted anything, I cannot say." She could only shrug. "If you wish to look through it yourself, I can leave it with you. Gods know it is not that good of a keepsake in this place." Her attention switched to Cassandra "Of course I know of you as well Madame Bainbridge. Although I would not even think of him working with you after what is written, but nothing is as we expect, non?" She allowed herself a faint smile "I will write him a letter for you to pass on. I thank you both for the offer and time."

 

[Infab]

The Church of Peltragow was simplistic in design, surprising Rebecca as she stood in its rather small courtyard. Sandwiched between two buildings on the northern side of the city, yet still inside the city's inner walls, it had just enough room around it to feature small but beautiful gardens full of flowers. Small stone paths wove through them, circling around the church to its rear. There were a few nuns here and there, tending to the gardens and speaking to visitors. Clad in the typical snow white and silver garb of the Church. Black clothes were rarely seen, reserved for battle priests or nuns working alongside the Inquisition. Both extremely uncommon sights in this modern age, as Inquisitors often learned the blessed arts themselves or simply brought along a standard priest.

She quietly ventured inside, passing a nun and giving her a polite nod of her head. As she entered through the large wooden door, she glanced about. Taking in the equally simplistic design of the church's interior. A red carpet stretched from the door up to the podium, between the long oak pews where patrons would sit. Five moderately sized statues stood upon a pedestal behind the podium, a mural depicting a romanticized version of each of the five gods on the wall behind them. Silver poles stood about the room, a set of three candles standing atop each with only the ones near the statues lit for the time being.

At the moment, Rebecca didn't see a priest to speak with. She wouldn't really need one, but it still would have been nice to chat with one so that she could inform him of her intentions. She walked along the carpet to the podium, moving around behind it to where the statues sat. There, she removed her sword, setting it at the base of the statues as she knelt down. She held her fist out before her, head bowed and eyes shut. Muttering a near silent prayer.

Really, it was less of a prayer and more of a request for an audience. The request was soon answered, as a heavenly voice spoke from beside the Saint. "Ah, Saint Witlocke. It has been quite a long time." said the voice, forcing Rebecca to stand and look to her new guest.

"Karael. It most certainly has been a while." responded Rebecca, smiling. "How are things in Heaven at the moment?"

The long haired angel sighed, brushing a few locks of hair behind his ear. "Its quite a mess. We're trying our best to deal with the flow of new souls entering Heaven from Purgatory, thanks to the war. Lord Raziel is attempting to devise methods of dealing with the Icons when the time comes, so we don't have to resort to sacrificing angels like we did before. Taranoch is the biggest problem, as we don't really know what to do regarding the Demon King. Another banishment might be our only option."

Rebecca shook her head. "I doubt a banishment will work this time. We'll have to kill him, one way or another." she responded. She smiled again afterwards. "But I have a feeling Raziel will come up with something. He always does."

"Indeed. He's the most brilliant of us all, when it comes down to it." replied the angel. Soon, he himself smiled. "But the affairs of Heaven is something you didn't summon an angel for, I assume. My dearest brother, young Cassiel, would have responded to your summons, but Lord Adona has him a bit preoccupied at the moment. Thus, I am here to assist."

Rebecca nodded. "Alright. Well, I need you to pass along the details of our search for the artifact here in Grimtham. We have discovered the cove in which it rests. Caleling Reef, near Peltragow. It's highly likely that it still remains with the captain whom last weilded it."

"Most excellent. I'm sure all three of the remaining gods will be pleased." responded Karael, adding a nod as he finished.

Rebecca's eyes widened. "...The...The three remaining gods?" she said, a tone of utter shock clear in her voice. "W-Which one was..."

"Thiasis. They found him and killed him. His home was obliterated, and his head was..." replied the angel, his voice trailing off.

Rebecca was horrified. That was two gods dead now. All the Icons continued to live, as did Taranoch.

This... this was unacceptable.

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor walked over to where Sebastian was enjoying himself, observing how roulette worked with a neutral face plastered on his visage. A ball was spun around before landing on a number, and people who had bet on that number won a significant payout. A gambling game that held big risk and big reward if someone chose only a single number, because the odds were completely stacked against them. The demon prince observed Sebastian as he played again, and again, on differing numbers in the vain hope that one of them would be his payday. The man was losing a lot of money, and Azathor was tempted to lean towards the soldier and suggest he depart while he had *anything* remaining. However, that's when he noticed an oddity at the table.

The ball spun again, but its movement at the very end was erratic. The way it shifted was almost imperceptible, and Azathor squinted as he got a better look. Rather than the ball land in an expected region of the board, the slightest shift had it move towards another, causing pretty much everyone at the table to lose their chips on that round. This heightened his suspicions as he leaned down to Sebastian: "Do you notice something odd about the ball?" Azathor whispered, nodding his head towards the roulette wheel. "The way it moves is... wrong. I think the House might be cheating."

 

[K0mori]

"Oui..."Colette answered before 'Lisykna' continued and left her stunned at the revelation. "Madam Lisykna, you are Mariette Desrosiers? I...yes, I accept and thank you for the offer, but this is...oh gods, you say you've wronged each other, but that isn't true if what he says and..." She stopped. What was she doing? Why was she acting like a schoolgirl at an exam? She stopped to regain her composure and sighed in frustration with herself "Forgive me you grace. The information is not what I expected to hear. I'm just a shade that was picked to come along. Fate is...exhausting as you said." She made sure to look Mariette in the face and not away like before. This wasn't some merciless demon, not like the rest. "You are not the first to say you knew my husband, not even the second. Two of your companions at the time already spoke with me long ago about him. You might remember the werewolf, Jacob and the hulking brute called Hendereson." She paused for a second to adjust her hair as some strands had come undone.

"Ah, Jakob," Mariette sighed, reminiscing. It was starting to make sense now. She knew she had crossed paths with Colette once before, and now she vaguely remembered the shade making an appearance on Ralvas' abyssal train, where she probably spoke with the two men. "The werewolf was a friend of mine in life who traveled with us in Grimtham, but I did not know the brute until we met in the Abyss. Of course you already know that..." she said, frowning. "Happily, Jakob escaped the Abyss with most of the others who were on that train. Henderson and I were the only ones left behind."

"From the latter I received a report written by Theodore about the inquiry you were part of. What Henderson was doing with that report, you'd have to ask him. But it was illuminating to know what Theodore was doing. It is where I know your 'mortal' name. I also know of your fate as he described it and his own notes of regret for a heat of the moment suggestion to use necromancy. But there is nothing in the report that said you had wronged him personally. Whether he omitted anything, I cannot say." She could only shrug. "If you wish to look through it yourself, I can leave it with you. Gods know it is not that good of a keepsake in this place."

"Your guess is as good as mine of how Henderson came by that report. Frankly, I don't care. I haven't seen him since he became a demon." She paused a moment and considered Colette's offer. "...I cannot imagine that it would offer me any closure," she replied, "but a lack of resolution is a price one pays for amoral acts. It would be well for me to read that report."

Her attention switched to Cassandra "Of course I know of you as well Madame Bainbridge. Although I would not even think of him working with you after what is written, but nothing is as we expect, non?" She allowed herself a faint smile "I will write him a letter for you to pass on. I thank you both for the offer and time."

Mariette nodded. "You are welcome," she said. "Wait with the others, s'il vous plaît; I am meeting with every recruit personally before we depart for Sheol to ensure that none of them are strangers to me."

Colette bowed slightly before leaving the room. Mariette stared at the doorway for a moment before shaking her head, reminding herself of the role she was still expected to play. But as she steeled herself to continue on as Lisykna, Cassandra placed her hand on Mariette's and looked her in the eyes. They wordlessly exchanged a nod, a reminder from the former to the latter that she could suffer in silence, but she did not need to do so alone.

Outside, more scouts returned with other recruits, the majority of which coming from Azathor's own ranks. Lisykna was most familiar with those whom she had fought alongside for months, and she was willing to sacrifice some combat readiness to carry over that familiarity into her new unit. However, there were some new faces, including Valghem, the turncoat who had surrendered himself at the Hoarding Towers, and Phytraag, who would be granted their own scouting unit to command within the new army. At Annen's recommendation, two other blood mages were brought over, while Neroph was able to suggest several demons of wrath who had been like mercenaries to that point, except that they had traveled from unit to unit in search of bloodshed instead of spoils.

---
​

"Hm? Was?" Sebastian asked as Azathor took his attention away from the table for a moment. He was flush in the face and smiling goofily under his bushy beard. "Oh, I don't think so," he replied under his breath, leaning in so that only Azathor could hear him. "...but if they are, do me a favor and help us make our money back with some kinda demon hocus pocus, would you?" He leaned back, snorting as he laughed at his own idea.

 

[Infab]

"You should focus on your objective, Rebecca. Don't worry about the other gods. They're safe in Eternis, surrounded by a literal army as well as the Vigilant Order. The Icons would have a pretty terrible time even getting close to them." said Karael, motioning towards the entrance of the Church. "And if it comes down to it, I'm sure Raziel himself would intervene."

"Why hasn't he intervened already? Or any of the archangels, for that matter?" responded Rebecca, her tone becoming much more serious than before. "Two gods are now dead, a massive war spreads across the realm, the binding has been shattered, and Heaven has yet to lift a finger. Are your hands tied? Or, just like before, are the archangels refusing to allow a full intervention unless Heaven itself is directly threatened?"

She stepped towards the angel, pointing a finger towards the ceiling above. "Because when things are done here, where do you think Taranoch and his Icons will turn their eyes? And Taranoch has already torn a hole through one dimension into another. What's stopping him from doing it again? Isn't that reason enough for Heaven to become more involved in this war?"

Karael didn't respond, simply casting his gaze aside. Avoiding the Saint's unwavering gaze. "Your brother, Cassiel, is the only angel doing anything. The rest, including both you and Raziel, have refused. You create Saints, making them out of us mortals, and make us do your work for you." continued Rebecca, "I understand why so many have lost faith in Heaven. I still believe, but you all make it very hard to do so."

She lowered her hand, letting it drop to her side, but her gaze still stayed fixed on Karael for a few moments. But eventually she sighed and looked past him. "...Go. Tell the gods what I told you. Then you can go home." she muttered just loud enough for him to hear, her eyes soon shifting back to the angel.

One eye blink later, and the angel had vanished. A single golden feather marking the floor where he had stood. Rebecca's eyes dropped to it, eyeing it for a moment. Afterwards, she knelt down and picked it up. Turning about, she laid it down on the altar in place of her sword, which she took and slipped back into its sheath on her hip. Something holy to bless the church with. After another silent prayer, she spun about and moved towards the exit. She had to let the others know what had occurred.


As Sebastian and Azathor spoke, another patron joined them at the table. A young man, wearing a snow colored suit with a black shirt, had arrived. Long hair flowed down to his shoulders, and a near permanent smirk adorned his face. Two or three of the other patrons at the table hushed down as they saw him, eyes locked on this young man as he looked down to where the various bets had been placed. "Still taking bets?" he soon asked, looking to the man operating the roulette. After he was given a nod, he placed his own.

He glanced over towards Azathor and Sebastian, smiling, as he set his chips on the table in the same spots Sebastian had. "Let's hope Lady Luck still favors the bold tonight. She's always been a bit fickle when it comes to these kinds of games, though." he commented, his gaze shifting towards the roulette operator. A visible bead of sweat rolled down the man's forehead, as this young man gazed upon him. Soon, the young man made a motion of his fingers towards the roulette. And a moment later, the ball was put into motion. Round and round it went, spinning around the roulette before it began tap-tap-tapping away. Finding a slot to land in.

And to Azathor's surprise, there were no odd movements this time.

The ball made its selection, falling right into the slot that Sebastian and this mystery man had bet on.

"Not my purview what you do anyway. Plus he seems like a good friend to have around."

"He is." responded Claire. "Always has good advice. And its not often you meet a friendly dullahan. Or a dullahan in general, being as rare as they are."

She motioned for Rajko to follow, shoving her hands into her coat pockets afterwards as she began walking up the street. And as they walked, she glanced back to him and spoke again. "...What do you think we'll find at the cove? Besides the amulet, I mean." she asked, "...I'm thinking zombies. Maybe skeletons. Undead and powerful magical objects always seems to be a popular combination."

 

[joshuadim]

Azathor had considered, in the moment, to intervene in the game by displaying the treachery of the House in the most direct manner that he could: ripping off the wheel and show everyone the mechanism used to cheat, and in turn shame the establishment for cheating people out of their money. However, a newcomer to the table changed the situation as he not only bet on the same place Sebastian had but, much to the demon prince's surprise, won a large sum from it.

Nothing happened with the ball that he could notice, which meant that the house didn't interfere with the spin this time. Was this on purpose? Or did the sudden, coincidental arrival of this mystery man shift something? Azathor, being a non-believer in coincidence, hedged his bets on the latter as he narrowed his eyes at the man and observed for a moment with a still face. "And you are?" he asked flatly, trying to gauge what this man's deal was.