The Devine Demon {Chapter 102}
Chapter 102
The Abyss, Layer 500, The Crimson Forest, Outside the Temple of Hope, 5 minutes later.
Rezeros and his legion emerged from the Crimson Forest to find that they were too late. There was only blood stained grass and bits of hooves left scattered about the temple grounds. It had been a slaughter of epic proportions and he licked his lips, the scent of blood still thick in the air. The outcast god Kali had put up a fight but it was nothing that the ferocity of Yeenoghu couldn’t overcome. Even with his army losing a few thousand gnolls he still commanded at least ten thousand more of the wretched creatures. Their ranks were now scattered, most following the Demon Lord as he tried to collect the souls still hiding amongst the trees and mountains of his new land.
“Spread out look for places they could be hiding. Those jackals are bound to miss some.” the Balor said as he took to the wing and began to scout the forest, looking for the distinctive red glow of the delectable souls still hiding. Even though they glowed they were cloaked in the near ethereal and only a few of the demons could actually see them, and even fewer of the gnolls. Making things more difficult were the bright red leaves that gave them some cover, even from his eyes.
‘Really its too bad there was nothing left to eat by the time we got here. Even the body of that goddess disappeared into the ethereal when it fell.’ Rezeros lamented as he wondered what the flesh of a goddess would taste like. ‘Perhaps it would be worth it. Taking the risk to approach Yeenoghu’ he thought remembering that he was clearly seen chewing on one of the ebony colored arms of an avatar before he strode off into the woods.
‘What was he doing anyways?’ The Balor wondered as he swooped down on an unsuspecting soul that was hiding at the top of a tree amongst the smallest of branches. ‘Probably the same thing I am doing I suppose.’ the demon thought as he grabbed the red orb and sunk his teeth into it causing it to break like candy in his mouth. As he took in the energy from the soul he got a brief glimpse of its life, its death and its recovery here in this forest. The memories filling his senses with pleasure and warmth as the fires of his body began to burn hotter and faster. His massive muscles bulged and he felt his wings grow even larger. “Invigorating!” he said out loud as he hovered over the canopy. He then began to gain altitude flying over the treetops looking for his next meal.
The Abyss, Layer 600, The Land of Bryan, inside Buckingham Palace.
Lilith sat there, her hips resting on her tail, using herself as a seat while she held her head in her hands sobbing uncontrollably. She was dead. She was just looking at her only minutes ago… and now she was…. gone. Shame and grief filled her mind as the tears poured between her fingers. Shame for running away and grief at the finality of the words she heard spoken by AO.
‘Some conquest. She never stood a chance. She’s a god and she never stood a chance. What kind of a monster is this Lord of Savagery?’ she wondered as she wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up to see some of the orbs flying in front of her as if they were trying to get a look at her face.
Lilith smiled for just a second before the emotion was replaced with worry. ‘Did that orb just squeeze out through the crack in in the doors?’ She asked herself as she noticed several more do the same thing.
“Crap.” she said out loud as she ‘stood’ and moved over to the door to try and block any more from escaping.
It was of course, a futile effort. They were souls, they had no length nor width. They went around her and disappeared into the hall as others went into the air vents in the kitchen. Before she knew it the room only had about a third of the souls it contained two minutes prior. A good number were still following her but the rest seemed to be on a search for something and were probing any exit they could find, leaving her sight.
“Damn it come back…” Lilith exclaimed as she opened the door to see a stream of souls going down the hall and towards the back exit.
The Abyss, Layer 600, The Land of Bryan, outside Schlitterbahn Waterpark.
Rund was at his post at the entrance to the park. There were metal turn styles at the gate that he blocked with both his body and his great maul. It was mid afternoon and while the flood of guests that morning had turned into a slow trickle he still had to point to the sign that said “Deposit your ticket or show me your pass” and look friendly as the occasional guest came down the path. He was getting better at looking friendly. He had even drawn a smiley face on one side of his giant hammer.
Anyone that had a season pass already knew to show it to him while the new guests took a while to pull out their iridescent cloth slips that they used as tickets. He didn’t have to say much. Which was good because talking had never been his strong suit. The day was just starting to drag along as he settled into the monotony. He was under an awning, out of the sun and he could order food and drink as needed since there always seemed to be one of those invisible servants within ear shot.
Rund was enjoying this job. It had few risks and good pay and the scantily clad guests were also easy on the eyes. His normal work day was then interrupted as the 12’ tall and 50’ long owner of their business came barreling down the garden path from the palace, seeming to be waving and yelling at the air above her. Luckily she teleported past the turn styles as he had no idea how a snake would navigate those. But she continued going into the park yelling commands at the sky, something about ‘get back here’ or ‘returning to the palace’.
Seeing this spectacle, Rund reached into his bag and pulled out a sending stone. “Hey Lesin, you had better gather the boys here at the entrance. I think the boss lady has gone coo coo.”
“Wait was she at the entrance? I just saw her go by me.” The reply came back from the confused bard.
It took a few minutes but Lesin had gathered the four of them that were in the park at the entrance. Rund was telling new guests that they were closed for the day and sending them back down the tunnel the way they came. There was still frantic yelling coming from the park and a few guests had asked about Lilith in particular as she continued yelling at thin air. The adventurers did the best they could telling guests that were already inside that there was nothing to worry about while telling new guests to go back to Waterdeep as they were experiencing ‘magical difficulties’ with the park rides.
After a few minutes word must have gotten back to Keshin, because no more guests were coming down the path. The four of them then began discussing amongst themselves each one daring the other to try and talk to the giant demoness who seemed to be one card short of a full deck. Just as Lesin was volunteering Bruce, the demon herself showed up in a puff of gray mist and began speaking faster than Rund could follow.
“They’re too spread out and they are following too many different people. We are going to have to close the park. Keep everyone here but keep them calm. I’m going to shut the portal back to my shop.” Their boss said before she closed her eyes for a second and then looked at them with an odd expression, a mixture of desperation and hope.
“Whats going on Lilith? Are you alright?” The bard asked as he looked her over, seeing her hair was a mess and her eyes were glowing brighter than usual.
“No!” she said before shaking her head. “I’m not alright. Kali is dead and the army that killed her might come here too. I can’t let them get the souls. She gave them to me to protect. And now they are all over the place following people.”
“Lilith you’re scaring me. Can you please start making some sense? Who’s Kali?”
“My friend! She was here yesterday, the one with the dark skin.” She asked with her hands open to her sides in exasperation.
“Oh ya, the one who came to the park in a dress.” Rund added in a helpful tone.
“Yes, she was just killed by a demon lord and I fled here, with all her lost souls and I have to protect them but they won’t listen to me its like trying to herd flying cats.” She sighed letting out a breath and giving them a tired look.
“Souls?” three of the four men asked in unison. Rund being too slow on the draw.
“Lesin you can see invisible stuff can’t you?” she asked looking down at him with a look of desperation.
“Yes its a spell. Is there something invisible I should be looking for?” The bard asked.
“Yes just cast it. Cast it on everyone.” Lilith said motioning to the rest of his party.
With that the bard swung his instrument around bringing it in front and strummed it a few times casting See Invisibility on the four mortals present. Immediately they were all looking up at the hundreds of red, glowing orbs circling above the demoness before they noticed a few flying around them too.
“Ok, you see them now?” She asked.
“Ya, what are they boss?” Bruce asked as he backed away from the group to look up over their heads at the swirling mass of orbs.
“They are mortal souls and they have been entrusted to my care, but they won’t freaking listen to anything I say!” Lilith exclaimed throwing both her hands up in exasperation.
“Well they all seem to be following someone. I don’t see any moving on their own. Is that why you don’t want anyone leaving?” Lesin asked pointing upward with one finger.
“Yes! Exactly. Look, I’m going to get on the loud speaker and tell everyone to come to the dining hall. From there we can get them assigned rooms for the night. But the bottom line is I need every soul living or otherwise inside the palace before Yeenoghu and his army get here. Otherwise I can’t protect them. Hell I still might not be able to stop him but at least I have a chance this way.”
“Ok, Rund you are with me lets go to the Palace and get everyone into the dining hall. Dorn, Bruce stay here and direct everyone up the hill to us.”
With that the five of them split up, each going their separate ways as Lilith went into the main office to find the PA system she used each day to close the park.
“Attention K-Mart shoppers, The park is now closed. Please report to the palace dining hall for a full refund and other assorted prizes and gifts. There will be free food and drinks upon request. You have 15 minutes to vacate the park before the waters will be filled with poisonous snakes. Again please leave the park and proceed up the hill to the Palace or else there will be snakes. Oh so many snakes.” Lilith said over the loud speaker. She then hit the master power switch that turned off every pump for every ride in the park. Looking at the camera feeds in the security office she saw that most guests were picking up their things and moving to the entrance while a few kids had gone to the river to play due to all the rides shutting down.
Thinking quickly Lilith contacted the Noodles and asked them to talk to the kids while she used her mental map to search the park for anyone else who wasn’t moving to the entrance. “Freaking tourists!” Lilith muttered to herself before she teleported to the dining area of the Blastenhoff park where she found a couple, half way through a meal, that were still seated without a care in the world.
“What are you doing? The park is closing I need everyone to get inside the palace.” Lilith said to the couple who were wearing swimsuits and eating slices from a supreme pizza as the woman sprinkled parmigiana cheese onto yet another slice.
“Its ok, we will go as soon as we finish this.” The woman said the blonde woman said as she took another bite.
“The food inside the dining hall is free. Didn’t you hear about the poisonous snakes?” Lilith asked as she recognized the couple as one of the first to buy a season pass from her 4 days ago.
“Its fine Lilith we have met the snakes before they are quite nice.” The man said as the woman finished chewing a bite adding “Ya they are very friendly.”
“I am sorry I should have been more specific. These snakes are not the nice kind.” Lilith said as her eyes began to glow. A sudden gust of wind blew away the food napkins and plates on the table. Seeing their food scattered to the wind and the angry expression and glowing eyes, the couple began to reach for their towels and bags blindly, while not daring to take their eyes off the 12’ tall demon standing over them.
As they continued to stare, Lilith conjured purple energy into her hands that expanded outward in a fast moving pulse as she cast Mirage Arcane on the entire park. Purple lightning bolts then shot from her hands up to the clouds with loud claps of thunder causing the couple to jump out of their seats but they just stood there transfixed by her glowing eyes. More bolts of lightning and thunder jumped overhead as the clouds turned dark and angry. They roiled and boomed signaling the start of a terrible storm. The couple now backed up slowly, articles in hand, still not taking their eyes off her. But then they did as they heard several thumps. The sound of a soft but solid object falling began to repeat around them and they looked at the source of the impacts. They were snakes, but they were unlike any snakes they had seen before. They had black and white diamond patterns on their backs and seemed to be coated with rough, tan scales. They continued to fall from the sky, landing on the umbrellas, the roofs and the pools. And then there was a new sound. The sound of a rapid rasping noise as the snake’s tails came to life.
Finally turning to run the couple began to head for the entrance as the illusions continued to fall. The clouds continued the thunder and spark the purple and blue bolts as Lilith began checking her map satisfied that everyone including the noodles were now heading to the palace.
The raining rattlesnakes continued to fall as Lilith moved to the park entrance staying well behind any of the guests. The illusions were now chasing people out the park but stopped and dispersed at the gate where Dorn and Bruce were now joined by the Noodles. Bruce waved one arm in a circle while the other was pointed at the Palace, directing the guests like a traffic cop.
Finally entering the office area Lilith approached the entrance gate where they were, only to stop for a second and check her map one last time. With a sigh of relief she then approached them and pointed towards the palace. Ahead she could see the last few guests, including the couple she had motivated, entering the back entrance where Rund was holding the door open.
They moved quickly without much discussion while both of the snakes perched on her shoulders.
“Raining snakes? Really?” Bruce asked as they were about half way across the garden.
“Oh ya I guess I can cancel that now.” Lilith said as the sky went back to its usual blue dotted with white clouds.
Entering the palace the four of them now joined by Dorn continued to the dining room where all 300 guests were milling about while Lesin was speaking to them.
“Feel free to order whatever food or drink you like while we resolve the safety related issue with the park.”
“Issue! It was raining snakes. Now there was talk of a refund! I want my money back.” One man said from the front of the group.
Lilith pulled her full length into the room and then closed the doors behind her. Many of the guests let out gasps and moved away from her, while others continued to yell at Lesin or Bruce.
“Attention everyone!” She said in a commanding voice as she waited for the guests to look at her. “Sorry to have chased you all in here, those snakes were just illusions, they weren’t real. I would never intentionally put you in any danger in fact I am trying to keep you safe.” She said in a loud voice with an even tone.
The crowd began to yell back at her mostly about wanting to know what was going on.
“Quiet! Let me finish.” She bellowed, her eyes glowing all the brighter. “There is a hostile army on its way here so I have brought all of you inside my palace to protect you. I wish that I could send you back to Waterdeep, but due to a complicated divine issue, I can’t let you go. I simply do not know what would happen so at this time I have to ask all of YOU, to stay here inside my Palace until I can get this matter resolved.”
“What do you mean divine issue?” One of the men asked
“Why can’t we leave?” Asked another.
Lilith held up her hands indicating that she was going to answer but that she didn’t want to yell over them. Once they quieted down she spoke. “I was in a near by land with a god when we were attacked by this demonic army. I think you all must have heard the announcement in that strange accent. It was announcing her death. She died so that I could get away and they are going to come here next.” She could hear the crowd begin to balk at that so she spoke up quickly. “But I am going to fight and stop them from getting in here. I will protect you with my life.” Lilith said as her eyes swept across the crowd and the hundreds of souls floating above them.
“Yes but why do we have to stay here? Why can’t we leave now? You should come with us.” A woman asked who sounded a bit frightened and desperate.
“Because there are other lives at stake. The souls that that goddess was taking care of, they are here now, and they are following us around. I don’t know what will happen if they enter the mortal plane. So, they have to stay here and that means each of us, myself included, have to stay here. We can’t run.”
“What souls? I don’t see anything here.” One man shouted out.
“I can see them. She is right, there are hundreds of them, maybe even thousands circling over our heads.” Bruce said with a nod at the crowd.
“All of you. You are still my guests and I won’t let anything happen to you. Please stay in here until this is all over.” Lilith said before she noticed a knock at the door.
The crowd was still shouting questions at her but they didn’t seem nearly as agitated as Lesin began answering them.
Meanwhile Lilith moved back to the door opening it to find a familiar face.
“Whats going on? I heard the announcement.” Kevin asked as he came through the door closing it behind him.
Lilith lowered herself and immediately gave him a hug, picking him up nearly six feet off the ground in her arms.
“Easy… Easy..” He managed until she loosened her grip. She held him in her embrace, breathing heavily for a second before she quickly put him down.
“Sorry its been….. Kevin…... Kali is dead. We were attacked by a Demon Lord and an army of demons…”
“Calm down. Where is that army?” He asked as he smoothed out the wrinkles on his shirt.
“They are still on the 500th level I think but there is a portal that leads directly here. It is about 3 miles away from the palace so they could be here in an hour if they wanted to.” She said making sure to keep her voice low so that only he could hear it.
“Ok, but why are all the guests in here? Why didn’t you send them back to Waterdeep?”
“They have to stay. The souls that Kali was taking care of, I brought them here with me and they are following different people and …..they won’t listen to me. So they have to stay.” She said sounding a bit disappointed with that necessity.
“Where is Bindi? Wasn’t she with you?” He asked his voice ticking up a bit as he had previously been keeping quiet to match her tone.
“I sent her to Waterdeep first thing to alert Father Trendel. Oh god I should call him.” She said pulling on some of her red hair in frustration.
“Stay calm. I’m going to go get my armor on I am assuming I can’t leave either.”
“No there are already twenty of them following you. But do you want to leave?” Lilith asked her face turning sullen for the first time since Kevin had arrived.
“Only to return with help. Remember I told you I was already on my way back.” He said reaching for her hand which was about twice the size
“So we’re good? Even if I’m about to be eaten by a savage Demon Lord and his demonic army.”
“We’re good. And I doubt that army is going to make it to the Palace.” He said with a nod and then a sly look.
“What do you mean?” Lilith asked with a smile her voice still hushed so that others couldn’t hear them.
“Lets just say that we are going to have to make a few more cattle runs to Pazunia after this.”
“Cattle runs?…. Oh… OH!” She exclaimed loudly as she remembered the special property of her domain. There was something else in the back of her mind that she couldn’t quite remember as she began thinking about all those demons turning into heifers and then the thought of a Demon Lord surrounded by an army of cattle. Despite her best efforts she began to laugh uncontrollably at this vision. The echoing laughter caused a bit of a stir as the crowd who had dispersed and begun ordering food and drinks at the kitchen window suddenly went quiet and began staring at the 12’ tall demon laughing maniacally.
“Muahahha muahahahahhahhahaha!….. ahhh. Thanks Kevin… I needed that.” She said finally settling down.
Kevin looked around and began to smile and wave at the four adventurers and the 400 or so guests around the room. “So what now?” He asked after waving at a few more people to signal that everything was alright.
“You go get your armor on. I am going to call Father Trendel and maybe a few others. We might actually stand a chance of surviving this.” Lilith said the weight and worry seeming to have melted away her expression changing to a familiar smile.
Seeing her mood improve, Kevin motioned for her to come closer. After she bent down to his level he grabbed part of her armor and pulled her in for a kiss. It was an odd kiss given the size disparity between them but a passionate kiss none the less. Releasing her he then turned and left the room.
Lilith absentmindedly brought her hand to her lips as if to savor the feeling for a second before she turned to room and said. “Good news everyone. I don’t think the demon army will be much of a problem. Kevin reminded me that I enchanted this land against them, so really we only have to worry about one Demon Lord.”
The guests were silent for a moment before a few of them began to cheer. Lilith spent a bit of time waving at a few of the guests that she recognized some of them already eating at the table before a gentle tap was felt on her side.
“Lilith, I know you are powerful and all but can you really take on a Demon Lord?” Lesin asked as he looked over his shoulder, making sure no one was within earshot.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet?” She asked as he stared back blankly. “I am a Demon Lord.” She confirmed with a toothy smile. With a pat on his shoulder she turned and went out into the hallway motioning for her familiars to follow. She then closed and locked the doors and went a ways down the hall to the conference room where the last portal to the Grass Farm was still open.
Setting herself down at the end of the table she cast Sending while thinking of Father Trendel and his funny hat. “So Kali just died at the hands of Yeenoghu and a large demonic army. I am back in the land of Bryan but I expect them to be here in the next hour or two.” She said her mind straining as she focused to send the full message.
“I’m glad you are safe. Bindi is here. We are organizing some volunteers but we are not having much luck. Lathander is busy.” He said in a tone that was a mix of relief and stress at the same time.
“Of course he is busy.” She said to herself as she once again pulled on some of her red hair only to smooth it out again with her fingers.
“Please be here in an hour with however many you can bring. Its ok if Bindi comes just keep her with you. I might have an idea.” She said into his mind casting the spell once again.
“I will be there in an hour, and don’t worry he has a plan and you are part of it.” the reply came back.
Lilith thought about that for a moment. Was this going according to plan? She did run just like Lathander had warned her but it had cost her the life of her friend. But then again Kali wanted her to run too. Was having this battle here his real objective. How could he have known? ‘Did he know I would ask for this land to turn demons into cows? Or was it just something he was aware of and working with? Ahh this makes my head hurt. How can he know the future? Does he see it or does he predict it?’ Lilith wondered to herself, as her finger nails clacked rhythmically on the conference room table.
Shaking her head Lilith set that conundrum aside and cast Sending again while thinking of the perfect men for the job but more specifically, their leader.
The Abyss layer 113, Thanatos. Throne room of Everlost Palace, thirty minutes later.
Orcus was busy calling his generals and getting Yeenoghu back under control. He was watching them through a scrying orb while using many different sending stones to talk to them. The opportunity to feast on pure souls had caused them to scatter and spread out. They had spent the last 45 minutes searching the forest but only a few of the souls had been found. “Its a diversion. She told them to scatter to delay you. Now get everyone in formation and head to the 600th layer. That traitorous demon is going to pay.”
“Finally something I can sink my teeth into. She will make a good corpse.” a raspy and salivating voice said over the sending stone.
“Yes she is all yours. As long as you kill her. She killed her last mate so don’t let her talk… who am I kidding you are going to attack her before she can bat even one pretty eye at you. That's why I like you Yeenoghu. You kill things and I raise them from the dead.”
“This has been a fruitful conquest. We will conquer two layers today. Can I keep the forest? I like the forest.”
“Yes its yours, just bring me her body. I don’t’ care if you take a few bites of it first just bring it to me. I have a special fate in store for those that defile my symbols.” Orcus said with a sickening smile that turned into deep laughter. His voice reverberated through the palace prompting sympathetic laughs from both his generals and his servants.
Behind him on a perch above a row of sending stones Agy didn’t feel like laughing. He didn’t feel much any more. All he had was the will of his master and a hunger for flesh. He was lonely though. He was the only skeleton, imp, human or otherwise in all of Thanatos. ‘Perhaps they will bring a few more skeletons back after this campaign is over.’ He thought to himself. ‘It would be nice to have someone else to shamble around with’.
Through the scrying orb he watched looking over the Demon Lord’s shoulder as the demons and undead of his army assembled around the temple and then began to march south as Yeenoghu issued commands and whipped his minions. It looked like they had to march a little ways through the forest but the next portal was already in sight, the large purple aperture visible above the tree tops.
The Abyss, Layer 600, The Land of Bryan, inside Buckingham Palace.
Lilith and Kevin were in the craft room as she was finishing up the last of the enchantments on his armor.
“Are you sure I need an enchantment to resist fear? I never thought of myself as the skittish type.” he said narrowing his eyes as he looked up at her.
“Look I heard this thing scream from 2 miles away and it made my scales stand on end. Besides there is tons of room on this armor and I have plenty of gold.”
“Ya, we really should have done this sooner. I mean I can put this on in six seconds flat now.”
“Better yet, you can take it off in six seconds too.” She said while giving him a knowing look.
“Huh. Even now. With a Demon Lord on the way, you are still crazy about me aren’t you?” Kevin asked as he watched her work from the opposite side of the table.
“Crazy? Maybe. Isn’t everyone a little crazy to be in love in the first place? Isn’t it a bit weird to give over your heart and your body to someone else?” She asked as she looked back down at her work where she was etching the last bit of the warding into the underside of the breast plate.
“No. It felt natural, the crazy part was finding out that you used to be a guy. That was a bit of a shock. Sorry for freaking out like that.”
“No, I get it. Just imagine my surprise when I got here.” She said as they both began to laugh at the absurdity of her situation and this day in particular. “But its been good. All of it. I don’t regret a single minute here and I don’t think I want to go back, even if I could.” She mused in a soft voice as she canceled the fabricate spell seeming to have finished her work.
“You mean it?” He asked moving a bit closer.
“Yep, even if Lathander himself tells me to go back, I’m staying.” She said with a nod as she picked up his armor and handed it back to him.
Taking the piece he said the rune word to equip it causing the set of half plate to instantly form around him. “Is there anything else we should do?”
“Yes but first I need you to promise me something.” she said placing a large hand on his shoulder.
“Sure what?” Kevin asked as he moved closer to her.
“The whole being a guy thing, its done. I’m Lilith now and that's all there is to it.” She said tilting her head slightly as she looked at his face to try and judge his reaction.
In response he nodded. “I understand. Your my evil temptress after all.” He said before he gave her a smack on the butt. It was a dull thud, his small hand not having much effect on her massive size as she still towered over him.
“Alright now are you ready to make a pact with your temptress?”
“Ok, but whats it going to cost me this time?”
“Two platinum and a date.”
“I think that can be arranged.” He said in a smug voice.
The Mortal Plane, Spires of the Morning Cathedral 10 minutes later.
Bindi and Father Trendel had been expecting more volunteers. It ends up that even paladins and clerics of Lathander aren’t in a rush to go into the abyss to fight a demon lord who just got done killing a god.
‘I mean I appreciate that the Morninglord is honest but did he really have to be THAT honest when asking for volunteers?’ Bindi thought to herself as she waited in formation in the courtyard in the middle of the campus. So far there was just the usual suspects. Herself, Father Trendel, Amon and Feldin, Celeste and no one else.
Dawnbringer Hass was back in Daggerford along with Wendel and she didn’t imagine calling the Blackstaff tower would see any results. As curious as they were about Lilith they wouldn’t put their life on the line for her.
‘At least he is trying’ Bindi thought as she saw Father Trendel close his eyes again, likely communicating with someone else to try and find more volunteers. He then looked back at her shaking his head after the conversation was done. ‘Damn it. We need to go soon’ She cursed to herself feeling a bit let down before she saw a lone figure walking towards them from the tower of rest.
It was the old cleric who was with them in the wagon as they traveled to Daggerford a couple weeks ago, although she now knew his as Dawnbringer Davis. Bindi waved at him as he approached, his slow steady walk told of the many years of experience he had helping others and serving Lathander. His steps were steady and sure… just slow. His hair was gray but his eyes were blue. They reminded her of Kevin’s eyes a bit but otherwise he was nothing like him. Rather than his usual white and gold vestments the old man was wearing chainmail armor, an enchanted helmet and a warhammer that seemed to glow even in the mid day sun. As he drew closer he waved back and looked at their small formation with a puzzled expression that turned brighter as he looked at Father Trendel. “Ready for another one, old friend?”
“Almost, we need to head out in about ten minutes so you are right on time.” Trendel said shaking his hand as the others made room for the Dawnbringer to stand next to him.
“Thanks for coming.” Bindi said as she leaned forward to smile at him to her left on the other side of the Morninglord.
“Oh I wouldn’t miss this. I have never been to the abyss you know.” Dawnbringer Davis said in a kind voice as he leaned forward slightly to return her gaze.
“Its not so bad its her home after all so it reflects her personality.” Celeste offered a smile drawing across her face as she spoke.
“Yes, Bindi has told me about it. Lots of trees and hills and something she called a water park. Too bad it is connected to the rest of that infernal place.”
After that no one spoke for a good minute as they each reflected on the warning that Father Trendel had given them in the Cathedral. ‘One of the most viscous and vile of the Demon Lords Yeenoghu’s hunger is only surpassed by his savagery. While he may look like a giant Gnoll, his giant maw is said to be able to consume a person whole although he seldom does. Instead he takes fatal bites out of his victims turning their remains into his undead minions.’ ‘Seriously, he could have left that last bit out.’ Celeste thought as the silence carried on.
Then there was movement at the gate. First one then four then ten. It was an entire formation of paladins but they weren’t from the order of Lathander. As they entered the courtyard they could see 20 in total, the formation led by an imposing figure in polished plate armor. His helmet had an extra frill made of white horse hair setting him apart from the other men wear wearing matching plate mail.
The formation moved to stand across from them in a parallel line. It was only after he had ordered his men to stop and turn left that he broke rank and approached Father Trendel. The paladin then raised his visor and extended a hand to the senior Dawnbringer.
Father Trendel stepped forward and shook his hand. “Sir Bentin, good to see you but how? I never called.”
“Lilith did. She said that there were mortal souls in danger in her realm and I thought it would be a bad idea for us to lose our little foot hold there. So the order of Helm is here to be your shield.” The paladin explained while trying to hide the smile on his face that kept creeping up.
“I don’t know what to say? How can I thank you?” Father Trendel managed the words coming out in two bursts in stark contrast to his normal smooth manner of speech.
“Oh don’t sweat it. That look of surprise on your faces was priceless. Besides the watcher sent us with a message.” He managed still stifling his own laughter as he looked at the slack jaws of the formation opposite him.
“For Lathander? Yes lets hear it.” the Morninglord replied shaking his head vigorously.
“Lets see, ‘She is with Anubis now you can find it there.’” he reported with a nod.
“What does that mean?” Celeste asked before she realized Father Trendel was already casting a spell most likely to contact Lathander.
“Hell if I know, its a message between gods. I would be more worried if we did understand it.”
“He understood and seemed pleased.” Father Trendel reassured them, his eyes now open again as he nodded at the paladin across from him.
“Well how are we getting there? I hope its not a long walk, she said not to bring our horses. Something about the carpets.”
“Its right this way.” Brother Amon signaled as he led the two formations into the Tower of Rest and down to the basement below.
“Heh… Forget the carpets. I don’t think they could have made these stairs.” The Helmite said as the sound of metal clad warriors resonated in confined space of the stairway.
“Oh nice chairs. Are these new?” Father Trendel asked before he spotted an odd look on Celeste’s face.
Deciding not to ask anything further, the Morninglord led the group of Celeste, Bindi Amon, Feldin, Davis and 20 Helmites into the Grass farm and the Abyss beyond.
Unofficial Fan Fiction, Not Endorsed by WOTC
Map of Waterdeep Waterdeep is the most important port city on the sword coast also called the City of Splendors.
Map of Faerun
Daggerford is on the Sword Coast, South East of Waterdeep and south of the Sword Mountains
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P.S.
Sorry for the delay, I have had to focus on work a bit more this week. Those ISOs aren’t going to generate themselves.
As you can probably guess, there will be a battle next chapter. So here is some hype music.
Posted Mar 24, 2022, 2:07 PM UTC · edited
Ha. Raining snakes. I hope Yeenoghu doesn’t make any undead cows.