The Unknown Path (Part 2)
The Bookshelf, late afternoon
Scudding clouds race overhead, and a cold breeze blows over the monastery as the heroines finish their preparations. One of the breaches in the wall has been put back together, sealed with goblin muscle, sweat, and a little divine assistance. Two of the brothers from the monastery come back out now, toting a crate of light ballista bolts. "Nothing with cold iron or silver," one says a bit ruefully. "Then again, it IS a museum piece..."
There's something in the air, it feels like the world's holding its breath -- or that you're being watched.
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (14)+10: 24 GAME: Auranar rolls Perception: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Simony rolls perception: (14)+14: 28
The worst part about imminent attacks is, they're barely ever as imminent as they're made out to be.
For the fifth time since preparations were made, Magpie has climbed up onto the wall, to scout for the oncoming fiend-and-undead salad that's supposed to be heading their way. And for the fifth time, she sees nothing, but *feels* like she ought to be.
"Brrr," she says, as a shiver runs up her spine. "...Would be, like... blasphemous if I wished they'd just show up already so we can kick their faces in?"
After a little bit of a rest, the Goblin is soon up on the wall, looking around. With Magpie previously looking for cover up on the wall, Simony helps by pulling unused rubble up into place for the Gnome to (hopefully) rain death down upon those below.
She also offers the same for those setting up the ballistae, giving them what extra cover they need.
It's when she is at the ballistae station when she squints, peering out at nearby rock piles. The Gobbo pulls off her pince-nez, huffs her breath upon it, polishes it upon her robe's sleeves, and replaces it on the bridge of her nose. "Erm... psst!" She gestures to Magpie and Auranar. "Over there... near that rock pile with the discarded wooden poles... something's slinking around over there. Can you see it?" She glances sideways at the Gnome. "Blasphemous? No. Understandable feeling, though. Waiting is the worst.", she whispers.
Auranar doesn't actually move forward to investigate like Magpie does, but rather stands back and rifles through the spells that she knows and frowns. "I feel rather like we should be taking the fight to them... not waiting for them to attack us." She says bitterly, then shivers uncomfortably.
She perks a bit when Simony says something about movement. "That's probably what we're waiting for, seems they're trying a more stealthy approach this time."
GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Magpie rolls perception: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Auranar rolls Perception: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Auranar rolls Perception: (18)+5: 23
It takes a moment, as Auranar and Magpie stare out at the pile... but you know, sometimes there's only so much you can do to hide. Motion. Furtive motion. The glare of an eye, the flash of a blade.
And then an angry snarl. "They've seen us! ATTACK!" And suddenly a pair of bearded devils, twins to the one meditating in the monastery, rise up from behind rubble piles. Their wicked glaives flash in the light, as their eyes blaze with the prospect of battle.
Unsurprisingly, a number of the monks retreat back into the monastery's sound walls, though a few remain to man the ballista. One yells, "By the Historian, you'll find nothing here but His wrath!" Well, someone's got some nerve.
GAME: Auranar casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 GAME: Simony casts Bless. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15
The devil that Simony spotted curses softly, and clenches its fist. A crackle of seething energy forms around that hand, and there's a ripple in the air around it, like something is trying to push its way into existence…
GAME: Simony casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 18 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+5+1+1+1: (12)+5+1+1+1: 20 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+5+1+1+1: (2)+5+1+1+1: 10 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d8+1+1: (4)+1+1: 6
With the attack underway, the Goblin reaches for her ever-present holy symbol around her neck. A quick blessing is spoken in hushed tones, calling upon her deity to provide guidance for her companion's weapons, and to keep fear from their hearts. As a devil begins to summon something into existence, she grits her teeth, a second prayer being said a little more slowly, the patterns in the air traced more precisely. "Those who would stand against the darkness, stride forward with confidence and speed, and fear not!"
Auranar narrows her eyes at the devil that is using magic and there's a little twist in her gut that suggests what it's probably up to. "Looks like we might be getting extra company!" She warns the others, pulling her bow string to her ear and loosing two arrows in quick succession.
GAME: Magpie casts Distracting Cacophony. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18 GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26
It's really, really hard to follow someone else's line of sight. So it's not until the devil actually steps out from behind cover, and begins to cast a spell -- presumably a summoning spell, owing to how much stupid chanting it's doing -- Magpie *lights up.* She has *prepared* for just such an eventuality!
Rolling up her sleeves, and ignoring the crinkling sound of a dozen paste-soaked scrolls in her sleevs, Magpie launches CASTER RESPONSE PLAN ALPHA.
A hush grows over the area around the demon. Then...
Screaming babies.
Mating cats.
The flatulence after a thirty-attandee bean supper.
Magpie reading Crimson Pen novels at the very top of her voice.
Under the fresh hell that is Magpie's idea of sonic torture, what spellcaster could possibly do anything but succumb?
...And this is how she prepared for this eventuality.
The other devil comes charging out, glaive at the ready. Sprinting past its brother, past the rock piles, running right up into the breach as it lets out a blood-chilling, ululating war cry. Clearly looking forward to the slaughter it thinks it will enjoy.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (10): 10
There is a loud PWONK from the ballista, and suddenly there's a large ballista bolt sticking out of the pile in front of the devil who's casting a spell. "Higher! We need to aim higher!" yells one of the monks.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d100: (32): 32
Auranar's arrow strikes the devil, doing a little damage, but it doesn't stop him. Then Magpie commits auditory terrorism on his ears, and if this devil hadn't been doing time in the Hells he might think he was back there. But he keeps summoning, and summoning, and then...
There's a sad little sound, like the world's smallest pig's bladder being emptied of air. And the devil's eyes bug out. You can't quite hear what he's saying over Magpie's spell, but it appears to be some flavor of 'ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!' as he runs forward.
GAME: Simony casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17 GAME: Simony rolls acrobatics: (13)+-1: 12 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d6: (6): 6 GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+8+1+1+1: (18)+8+1+1+1: 29 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+8+1+1+1: (3)+8+1+1+1: 14 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d8+1+1: (5)+1+1: 7
Simony momentarily covers her ears as the cacophony of noise can be heard, and she snorts and laughs. Her cheeks colour slightly, and she hollers over to Magpie. "The Crimson Pen reading is rather inspired, nice touch! Is that baked beans? Oh girl we need to get you some smells to go with that, how horrible would that be?!" Chortling still, as the summoning fizzles out, she eyes the devils' approach with some concern.
Clasping her hourglass holy symbol once more, she calls upon the Raven to protect her from these fiends and allow her to defend the monastery. As the spells nears completion, she leaps from the precipice, descending behind the gap in the wall.
YOU
SHALL
NOT
PASS!!
A faint, shimmering sphere surrounds the Goblin, the circle stretching from one side of the hole to the other, and try as they might, the devils find themselves stymied.
Auranar narrows her eyes at the devils. Her arrows are hitting only half the time, and doing only a little damage. Mentally she curses. Against devils like this a holy enchantment would work better, but she doesn't have access to such magics. All she can do is what she's been doing…
GAME: Magpie casts Fly. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+13: (14)+13: 27
"Hey Chuckles the Stabby Clown!" Magpie hollers, as the devil charges the breech, and Simony immediately moves to counter. "That was a pretty weak summon! It didn't even do anything worthwhile! Now if you wanna see a *real* summon, I can show you! Check *this* shit out!"
And she immediately starts hopping in a circle, hooting and hollering like a baboon climbing out of a barrel of mead. And while she *seems* to be acting completely without sense, every time her feet touch ground, they scuff out a new line in a surprisingly complex magical circle. A *summoning* circle.
...Uh-oh.
The first devil bounces off Simony's ward, and hisses spitefully at her. Then it glances at the ragged wall, and lifts its glaive, clasping the shaft in its teeth like a ridiculously oversized knife. Then with smooth, lethal motions, it climbs right up the rough wall face, clambering up to find... mortals! And a strange... is that a siege engine? Hurriedly, it pulls its glaive free, stalking towards the monks…
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+2: (6)+2: 8
The monks fire one more shot, but it goes wide and high, zipping over Magpie and Auranar and flying off to who-knows-where. Opting for discretion being the better part of valor, they immediately flee from the irritated fiend.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+13: (13)+13: 26
The second devil glances over, and then follows his brethren, scrambling up the broken wall onto the surface. It sneers at the mortals fleeing, and barks something in Infernal at its partner -- possibly discouraging it from breaking the ballista.
GAME: Simony casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4: (2)+8+4: 14 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4: (13)+8+4: 25 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2-5+4: (11)+8+-5+4: 18 GAME: Simony rolls 1d8+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+8+1+1: (19)+8+1+1: 29 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d4+4: (3)+4: 7
The Goblin looked mighty concerned as the devils tested her circle, and while allowing herself a small smile, it vanishes as both of the fiends turn, and begin to climb the wall. "RUN!", she yells out to the ballistae crew, waving her hands at them. To their credit, the monks get one more shot off, and retreat in good order. "We'll never find out where that one went.", Simony quips, as she begins another spell, calling down her deity's holy weapon. After a bright flash from her holy symbol, a giant, glowing, translucent hand springs forth. With a grunt, the Gobbo gestures at one of the Devils. Balling into fist, the holy weapon zips forward to smash the devil in the side, eliciting a grunt of pain. The backhand misses, sadly, as the fiend ducked away.
Frustrated with her lack of success with the arrows, Auranar focus her magical power inside herself and the warmth builds in her chest. "Try this on for size." She mutters to herself, forcing the warmth out her hand and watches the magic arch out across the battlefield to strike the devil she targets. She smiles a little meanly when it strikes true.
GAME: Magpie rolls 2d6: (8): 8 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+9: (20)+9: 29 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+9: (12)+9: 21
And as the devils gain the wall and the ballista crew flees like the smart monks they are, Magpie scuffs one final arc in the summoning circle, and striked a pose. "OOK OOK, TIME TO MAKE THIS CLOWN SHOW INTO A *REAL* CIRCUS!"
And the air above the devils opens up, and literally *hundreds* of furious monkeys drop down upon the attackers. "RIP EM APART, BOYS! LEAVE NOTHIN' BUT PEANUT SHELLS!"
Which he monkeys immediately set out to do, screaming and hollering and scratching with hundreds of dozens of little monkey fingers, and biting with little monkey teeth, clawing and gnawing and screaming and gnashing and--
Magpie is so happy, she's forgotten to drop the torrent of noise in the distance. Fart noises abound.
GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7+5: (5)+7+5: 17
The screeching horde of monkeys is disconcerting, but it doesn't stop the first devil from hefting his glaive and bringing it down on the antique ballista -- smashing it to pieces with loud curses only slightly muffled by angry monkey noises from the swarm.
GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7+5: (12)+7+5: 24 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d6: (5): 5 GAME: Simony rolls will: (9)+12: 21
The other fiend snarls, but then... realizes his glaive is not in his hand! Furiously he tries to grab it back, but the monkeys are already carrying it off. A malevolent hiss comes from the bearded devil's lips as he stares at Auranar and Magpie, and he starts to run, sprinting, intent on clearing the edge and landing in their midst.
At least, that was the plan.
A monkey grabs the devil's hoof at a critical moment, causing him to break stride. Just for a second. And then his next step lands not on the wall top, but on empty air... causing him to fall downward. And yet, Simony still stands there, as impenetrable as a wall of force thanks to her magic circle of protection -- the devil actually caroms -off- the ward, bouncing to a landing outside the wall again.
GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4: (11)+8+4: 23 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4: (14)+8+4: 26 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4-5: (8)+8+4+-5: 15 GAME: Simony rolls 1d8+2+1d8+2: (2)+2+(3)+2: 9 GAME: Auranar casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 8 DC: 18
Simony watches as the two devils, after destroyed the ballistae, have to contended with the large wild pack of monkeys as well as the cacophony of noise from Magpie's original spell. She flinches as the devil makes a non-graceful tumble from the wall, bounces off of her circle, and rolls away from the hole in the wall.
Those who know the Goblin recognize her expression, as she fights back as grin and possible giggle.
"EAT HOLY FIST!", she yells, the holy fist of Navos pummeling the devil still on the wall in the face, once, twice... only then does he manage to duck the last assault.
Watching the catastrophic events of the bearded devil reminds Auranar that... they might actually be able to (eventually) reach her. Highly undesirable. Quickly her hands move in a complex motion she once learned from Seldan. A spell of protection against evil.
GAME: Magpie rolls 2d6: (9): 9 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+9: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Magpie used a Scroll of Lightning Bolt. GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9
The devil that remains on the wall very likely wishes he wasn't there anymore. The monkeys continue to brutalize his infernal flesh, and one climbs up the backs of its fellows, grabs the devil's head, and S C R E E E E E C H E S into his ear.
Smugly pleased that her spell has added a profusion of confusion to ruin the days of the hell-sent, Magpie casually digs into the sleeve of her robe, and peels away a scroll. Shaking it out, she reads aloud from it... and actinic light gathers in front of the paper, as her reading reaches a crescendo. When the last word is spoken, the writing disappears from the paper, and a lance of eye-searing blue light SNAPS out--
--And fizzles against the devil's flesh, its magic dissipating before it can do anything worthwhile.
"What the--" Magpie says, shaking this scroll. "How did-- was this a *student project?!* Was it written on *butt-wipes?!*"
GAME: Magpie rolls 1d20+7+5: (14)+7+5: 26
The first devil staggers out of the swarm, missing his glaive as well, coughing and gagging as he knocks the monkey clutching at his shoulder off. Stumbling down the stairs, skirting the ward around Magpie as the fiend stumbles to a stop just outside the monastery's outer building, gagging loudly.
The second devil sits up suddenly from where he landed, eyes ablaze with anger. His gaze floats up to meet Auranar and Magpie's, and he hisses, "You will pay a stiff price for your insolence, mortals." This would be slightly more intimidating if he hadn't lost his glaive and fallen off the wall. Still, he scrambles to his feet, and jogs along the exterior, looking for a good place to climb up.
GAME: Simony casts Burst of Radiance. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16 GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Simony rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4: (12)+8+4: 24 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4: (18)+8+4: 30 GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4-5: (20)+8+4+-5: 27 (THREAT) GAME: Simony rolls weapon2+4-5: (12)+8+4+-5: 19 GAME: Simony rolls 1d8+2+1d8+2+2d8+4: (3)+2+(5)+2+(13)+4: 29 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+8+1+1: (17)+8+1+1: 27 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d4+4: (2)+4: 6
The Goblin sighs as the two devils begin to split up. "I'll go after the one heading for the building! Are you two alright dealing with Graceful Monkey Bait there?" She turns to follow the movement of the devil that's been monkey'd with, as well as being beaten by her spiritual weapon.
Another prayer comes to her lips, the spells focusing a bright light into one, tiny point. Simony punches out, and the point of light zips across the intervening distance, and explodes in front of the Devil.
Simony pouts deeply as the Devil seems unaffected. 'FINE, we'll do this the old fashioned way! You, me and the FIST OF NAVOS!"
The shiny, translucent fist continues the beating unabated, landing several successive blows, the last of which breaks something in the Devil, making a nasty crunching sound.
Auranar can no longer see one of the devils with the wall in the way, but she knows it'll eventually find a way up. So she quickly retreats toward the door, hoping that her spell will hold the creatures at bay. If she can stop them from making their way in the easy route... well, that'll be something.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+10: (3)+10: 13 GAME: Magpie casts Grease. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Magpie rolls 2d6: (10): 10 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+2: (18)+2: 20
As the devils split up, Magpie locks eyes with probably a couple dozen of the swarm, and points at the one that passed the wall. "*Go my children.*"
Hooting and hollering and carrying on, the swarm bumbles off the wall, seethes across the field, and like a wave of fur and spite, crashes down on the devil.
What happens next really is not fit for publication, but at the end of it the devil lies, still and dead.
Meanwhile, Magpie turns her attention to the other side of the wall, and leeeeans over to spot the other brother, seeking a weakness in the structure. "Oh, nuh-uh," she says, gathering ambient magic from the air -- and plucking stray fluffs of power from the blessing cast on her, oddly enough -- and rolls it into a dun-colored, wibbly ball of magic. This, she hurls in a looping, underarm toss that catches the corner of the wall, before hitting the devil's feet, making magical grease splash just *everywhere.*
"*You,* buddy, did *not* say the magic word.
The remaining fiend, bereft of weapon, support, and partner, makes a command decision. To wit, flee. He scrabbles through the magically conjured grease, cursing, as he reaches solid ground. Running until he's clear of the teleportation ward, casting one angry glare back before he vanishes in a puff of sulfur and failure.
Well, that was humiliating.
After a few moments of quiet, the heavy doors creak open, and one of the monks sticks his head out nervously. "Um... are they gone? We heard a lot of noises..."
Simony has bent over, and is laughing maniacally, tears flowing down her cheeks. She gestures at the monk sticking his head out. "S.s.sorry about the ballistae.", she says between gasps. "Is everyone inside okay? And your guest, is he untroubled?"
"One of the fiends will not be back for some time, and the other fled, tail between his legs." She chortles a little more, turning around to yell, "THAT WAS GLORIOUS!!"
Auranar relaxes only somewhat in the wake of the other devil fleeing, looking toward her allies to be sure it is true. "You may need to prepare for the other to return." She says gently. Then smiles a small smile at Simony and Magpie. "You two were great."
As the monks call out to see if they're safe, Magpie turns around to look that way. "Huh? Noises?"
IN THE DISTANCE-----
AAAAAAAAAA*frt frt frrrrrrrt*THE MAIDEN'S FIRST BLUSH OF SPRING, IT WAS MAGICAREEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAWRRRRRRRRRRRR*FRRRRBTLHLTRHLHBLRHBLPTTTTT*SHE TURNS TO FIX HER AMETHYST ORBS UPON HIS MASCULINEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BACK NEARBY-----
"...Oh right." With a snap of her fingers, the monkeys are banished, and the patch of *thunderous* distraction ceases, and final, blessed quiet falls over the Bookshelves.
"So uh... yeah I don't think they like it much around here. Too uh, whaddayacallit-- intellectually stimulating?"
At Auranar, Magpie shakes her head. "Naw, I was *obnoxious.* You guys, without your wards this'd never have works nearly so well."
The monks come out of the compound once the coast is clear. There's a small amount of sadness over the wrecked ballista, but it's a small price to pay.
A little later, as cleanup is progressing, the Abbot approaches the trio. "You're right about the prospect of a return visit," he says soberly. "Which is why we're arranging for Belies to be moved from here. He's agreed to be transported, under guard, to a more remote, secure monastery." The Abbot pauses, looking thoughtful. "He'll be even further from civilized lands, but... maybe that's what he wants. A place to reflect. And to be left alone."
His eyes meet all three of yours. "One other thing. He's asked to speak with you, if you want. You don't have to, of course -- and he'll understand if you don't wish to do so."
"Wait! I can fix it!" The Goblin smacks her forehead and goes running up the stairs to the top of the wall. Her holy symbol is proffered once more, and after a little flash of light, the ballistae begins to reassemble itself. "You'll have to go and find that missed shot, though, might need it.", she says as she returns, dusting her hands off.
Looking to her two companion, she shakes her head. "We all did well, no one panicked, we held the line, dared them to cross, and made them pay for attempting to do so. I'd face them again if I had you both at my side."
her grin is slowly rubbed away though, at the mention of the remaining fiend wishing to speak to them. The Gobbo draws a heavy breath and lets it out slowly. "Fine. I will see what he has to say." She glances to Magpie and Auranar, to see their answers.
Auranar's smile fades at the mention of the fact that the fiend wishes to speak to them. A flash of fear dashes across her black eyes. They look over to Magpie uncertainly, and then... she silently holds her hand out to her friend.
Magpie looks from Simony to Auranar, her own good humor fading -- just a bit -- at the interview to come. It is, after all, one thing to muse on the *philosophy* of talking to a partially-redeemed devil, and another thing entirely to actually *do* it.
So as she takes Auranar's hand, she may tell herself it's because Auranar deserves to have the support of a friend... There's a not-very-small part of her that is glad for the comfort as well.
"...Yeah okay," she says. "Let's do this."
And so the three heroines trek back into the monastery once more, led by the Abbot. Down the halls, to the secure door with the silver traceries imbedded in it, and the paladin of Navos standing there. He offers the trio a smile, before sliding the port open, and speaking. "They're here."
For a moment, there's silence. If they look inside, they can see the devil, still kneeling in that meditative posture, holding a string of prayer beads between his fingers with a contemplative expression. "They said my brothers tried to 'rescue' me." Sulfur-yellow eyes flick up to stare at the slit. "I see they weren't successful." The voice isn't charming, or seductive. It's rough, harsh, like stone on metal. "I... thank you." It's like the words are foreign to it, like it's not sure how they work yet.
As they draw closer to the devil's chamber, the Goblin grows more and more passive, her face becoming a calm mask. "No, they were unsuccessful. One has been sent back forcibly, the other ran and teleported out on his own." It is difficult for her to say it, but Simony manages to say, "You're... welcome."
She frowns, eyeing the beads. "To whom do you pray?", she wonders, her voice even once more. Auranar stares at the devil. The truth is, she's terrified of this creature. Illogically. It's sourced deep inside her, in a memory in which changed her life once upon a time. "Arcanists compendium. The Arcane Composition. Animals of the Planes." The list goes on. She lists every book she's ever read. Every, single, one of them. She lists the books that she loves. The ones that bored her to tears. The books that taught her and the ones that she's never been able to put down even though sleep threatened. She lists the books of her lonely childhood, sitting in the orphanage. She lists the books in Grandfather's library.
She talks herself breathless and until her hand is shaking in Magpies. "Read them all." She says quietly at the end, her voice hoarse. "If you wish to thank me, you'll read every, single, one." One hundred and thirty-three years of books. Maybe it'll be enough.
Simony asks about his relationship with the gods, and Auranar sets him a reading list that may outlive any single paladin standing guard outside his door. And Magpie is quiet, thoughtful, as she squeezes Auranar's hand to reassure her fellow arcanist that she is, indeed, still here. And the answers to her friends' questions are listened to, very carefully... enough that she'll probably be good to take them down as notes tonight.
But for herself... she only has one question. And like the questioner herself, it's a little thing with impact all out of proportion.
"...What's it like? Leaving behind your everything, and turning yourself into... I guess a new kind of *being?* Just... what's it like?"
Three responses. The fiend continues to play the prayer beads through his fingers, now mottled so strangely. "I don't know yet," it says to Simony. "I wonder who will answer, in time." Evidently like many devils, he's very patient.
He listens patiently to Auranar's slightly shaky listing of books, and a faint smile appears on his face. "That seems a fair trade." Perhaps he picks up on Auranar's distress, though, and says nothing further to her before turning his thoughts to Magpie's question.
"I didn't intend to do so. I was here to turn them from ... their god. To drive them off the road of their devotion. But somehow... I was the one who found the unknown path, the way untraveled." For a moment there's an expression that looks utterly alien on the fiend's face. One that should not be there.
Fear.
"...I don't know what will happen next," he admits. "But... I am too curious. I want to see." With that, he returns to his contemplation of the prayer beads, falling silent. The paladin carefully slides the hatch shut again.
-End