The Demon You Know

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GAME: Cesran casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Verna casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 18 DC: 17
GAME: Cesran casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Cesran casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Cesran casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Cesran casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Cesran casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Cesran casts False Vision. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28
GAME: Cesran casts Mage's Magnificent Mansion. Caster Level: 20 DC: 30
GAME: Serene casts Resist Energy. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Cesran casts Dimensional Lock. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31
GAME: Cesran casts Dimensional Lock. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31
GAME: Cesran casts Dimensional Lock. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Corruption Resistance.
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Corruption Resistance.
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Corruption Resistance.
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Corruption Resistance.
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Corruption Resistance.
GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Death Ward.
GAME: Serene casts Undetectable Alignment/A1. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Cesran casts Mind Blank. Caster Level: 20 DC: 31

Cesran has spent the day in the Prestigious Moon setting everything up. Under the protection of Mind Blank he came in and set up the False Image of the shop going about the normal day. From there he proceeded to put up Mage's Magnificent Mansion so that the door was flushed with the shop and opening up the door would lead into the Mansion itself not the shop. The inside of the Mansion has been set up to look exactly like the Prestigious Moon down to the very last detail, but it's all a ruse as it's just a room within a room. Outside has been set up with a 40' x 40' x 10' room of stone. On the walls are the symbols of all the good and neutral gods. Once it's been set up Cesran invited the others in and set the mansion so that only Seldan, Serene, Verna, Mei and of course the Demon Eclavdran. Cesran after having cast his protective spells upon the rest of the party now stands in a corner of the shop poised waiting for the Demon to enter the shop, he's the only one who can.

Verna may be nigh-unrecognizable to most, perhaps nearly all. There are no gray cloaks, gray hoods, nor even gray robes. In fact, the only gray is that of her exposed visage, bare arms, and one shoulder. This is a secondary color, however, as her primary is the bright violet of the one-shoulder dress she wears. Tailored and well-fit, her lack of illusory bulk is absent, possibly further making her less recognizable, and less conspicuous in a dress shop. Her haversack still hangs over the violet shoulder, and her other accessories remain present.

For subterfuge? Perhaps. On the other hand, it may be the fact that someone complimented her in it. As well she might not have the opportunity to wear it again. At the worst, she shall greet her Mistress well-dressed?

Bringing Silver along may have made things overly crowded.. but on this night, for this fight, Serene wouldn't have considered otherwise. Neither would he. So she waits, dressed no differently than her usual, and at this point perhaps iconic, slightly worn adventuring gear. Her shield is strapped to her arm, her sword arm's gauntlet for the moment buried in the feathers of Silver's neck, and her eyes are closed. Relying on her ears to tell her when the demon has arrived, when it is time to spring the trap. Eluna's moon slowly orbits around her.

Seldan has opted for - his usual outfit. After all, he's been here before, in that self-same outfit, the simple appearance of slightly scuffed boots, shirt and trousers, and open-front robe over all. Of course, any who see with magical sight well know the truth - he actually wears armor, its polish a quiet moonlit sheen, and a full panoply of accessories, Reunion at his hip and Guiding Star waiting quietly in the corner, with its accompanying odd quiver of arrows. The freed Eluna's moon orbits his head as well, a thing he had not chosen to wear openly as a rule, but this time might prove useful.

He waits in a makeshift, apparently-ramshackle chair to one side of the shop, Guiding Star within reach, his lips moving as he murmurs rote prayers,

There was no set time on when Eclavdran was expected to arrive. So you're waiting. Not long, but... longer than you are comfortable with. The seconds tick by with each one seeming longer than the one that came before it. Eventually however, the little bell above the door rings, and Eclavdran enters the room. His eyes slide over the shop Cesran, Verna, and land neatly on Seldan. He frowns. Lazily he pads a few inches into the room. Eclavdran is in his human form, which makes him look so ordinary. Like a casual gentleman out to buy a nice new set of vestments for his closet. Not a Duke of Hell. "Seldan. What brings you here?"

See? Casual.

Yet his eyes flicker upwards to the orb floating above Seldan's head and his smile slides away. "Nice accessory, I have one _just_ like it."

GAME: Cesran casts Time Stop. Caster Level: 20 DC: 32
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2
GAME: Cesran casts Wall of Force. Caster Level: 20 DC: 30
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+2+2: (7)+20+2+2: 31
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+2+2: (15)+20+2+2: 39
GAME: Cesran rolls spellcraft: (1)+42: 43 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Cesran rolls spellcraft: (16)+42: 58
GAME: Cesran casts Wall of Stone. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28

Cesran is able to get the spell off as it just take a word in the spidery eldritch language. Time slows down, but Cesran knows that his spell, be it by the demon's presence or luck, is weak and he has the minimum amount of time. His mind races and his skin lights up as he starts to cast. He puts up a wall of force behind the demon to lock him into the mansion and then casts another spell in rapid succession. He tries to bring down a dimensional lock on the only part of the mansion that doesn't have one, this room, but his efforts are for not as the demon has made preparations of his own. His spell to lock the demon into this plane is unraveled and Cesran swears as he continues on. He quickly casts the Wall of Stone spell and molds it so that a cage forms around the demon. He layers it on on thick, but not too thick as they can't see what he's doing. Finally Cesran stands ready to cast greater dispel magic as a counterspell should the demon try to get away.

GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12: (12)+20+5+1+12: 50
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+5+20: (3)+1+5+20: 29

Eclavdran takes the hit from Serene with a grim little light in his eyes. "This is foolish beyond measure! What do you hope to accomplish by attacking me like this?" Even as he speaks his voice gets deeper and deeper until he's exploding in size and shape. Hunched over in the short space allowed for his demonic form Eclavdran nonetheless scowls at the lot of you. A small orb zooms out from around him even as he manifests a massive blade and equally wicked-looking whip of flames. The orb reaches Seldan and begins to cross-orbit with the orb that is already in Seldan's possession.

"We plan to destroy you Eclavdran!" Says Mei, coming up behind Serene and Eclavdran scowls at the man even as he utters something foul in his natural abyssal tongue. This causes the orb orbiting Seldan's head to emit a sharp electric light.

"The best you can manage when you betray me is this lot Mei? Do they know what you are? That they can't trust you?" Eclavdran laughs and his whip crackles. "This time I'll destroy the lot of you." He stops laughing.

GAME: Verna casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 18 DC: 20
GAME: Verna casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 17 DC: 20
GAME: Verna rolls ranged-4: (4)+11+-4: 11
GAME: Verna rolls ranged-4: (13)+11+-4: 20
GAME: Verna rolls ranged-4: (14)+11+-4: 21
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+18+2+4: (18)+18+2+4: 42
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (8)+18: 26

Verna promptly lifts gloved hands while focused on the now-enlarged and true Demon Duke. Her only initial words to him are incantations AT him rather than to him. Both hands gesture in stereo, one with the scale pendant grasped. From each springs a green ray, both loosed in his direction. One is too far afield attempting to avoid Serene or Silver, but one strikes Eclavdran and takes hold. "You have claimed such before; do remain, so we might witness you attempt to make good on a threat for once." Admittedly, she states this whilst stepping nearer to Serene, yet preferably with the Silverguard yet between her and the big red one.

GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of Mage's Disjunction
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d100: (34): 34
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (2)+31: 33
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (14)+31: 45

"Many do I ally with that scarcely do I trust, Eclavdran. Perhaps you have seen the Guild of late." Seldan's tone is cool, even, and brooking none of any nonsense. More, though, he does not get to say, and he is standing and halfway gone for Reunion when the orb flies over to him and cross-orbits his. Attacking Her holy artifact. That can't be good - for him, or for it.

Oh, _hell_ no.

Remembering a thing he had seen once before, in bright golden dragonfire, his mind frantically searches - and remembers a scroll, purchased long ago for use against an ice queen. Not needed - but sure needed now. Quick and half-shaking hands reach for the pile of scrolls at his feet, and he finds it swiftly enough. A stentorian chant, the words that come off of it, commanding words of power that threaten to tear all the magic that surrounds them to nothingness -

But it touches nothing, save the stone-walled orb. He locks eyes with it, and shouts the final word of the spell. The scroll crumbles to dust in his hand, and - the stone around the orb shatters, crumbling to the floor in a hundred million pieces of fine dust. A blinding white flash that leaves afterimages on the eyeballs combines with the massive power overload that once before burned him nearly to death in the Sea of Mana, threatening to tear mind and soul apart in turn.

He resisted that, he resists this, and while the ice-blue eyes flash with power absorbed and grounded. He'll feel _that_ in the morning, but now, he has eyes only for the tiny golden dragon that *popped* in in the middle of that blinding white flash. He blinks a few times _hard_, clearing the afterimages from seared eyeballs, and by the time he can see, Tanith has settled down on his shoulder, wrapped her tail around his neck, and nuzzles the side of his face happily.

GAME: Cesran casts Stoneskin. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27

Cesran watches as Seldan pulls out a scroll and his eyes go wide as he knows what Seldan is going to cast. This could be very good or very bad. He shields his eyes from the bright flash of light and he winches as the glow doesn't go away, but it's familiar if painful glow to once who's eyes have been altered by magic. "Tanith..." He whispers reverently as he sees the small gold dragon. He reaches in for some granite and dust and casts stone skin on himself using up the last charge of his rod of normal quickening. He moves over and behind Serene, "That was unexpected,” as he keeps ready to dispel any spell that Eclavdran might try to cast.

GAME: Serene casts Righteous Vigor. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+1+5+12: (12)+20+1+5+12: 50
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+1+5+12-5: (19)+20+1+5+12+-5: 52
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+1+5+12-10: (4)+20+1+5+12+-10: 32
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+1+5+12-15: (7)+20+1+5+12+-15: 30
GAME: Serene spends THREE uses of SMITE EVIL.
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+5+20: (3)+1+5+20: 29
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+5+20: (3)+1+5+20: 29
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+19+12: (13)+19+12: 44
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+37: (16)+37: 53
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (10)+13: 23
GAME: Serene rolls 2d8: (8): 8
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+1+12: (19)+20+5+1+12: 57
GAME: Serene rolls 1d3+1+5+20: (2)+1+5+20: 28
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17+12: (4)+17+12: 33
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+37: (20)+37: 57
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+37: (12)+37: 49
GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+17: (3)+17: 20
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+13: (9)+13: 22
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (4)+27: 31

"Focus, Mei!" Serene barks, business like. If the business is demon killing, anyways. Then, whether by battlefield awareness, divine providence, or just dumb luck, her gaze averts from the flash of blinding light. Being that she's elbow deep in demon combat, however, she doesn't take the time to figure out what it means, trusting in her companions to deal with it.. or capitalize on it. Instead, a slender, silver wand appears in her spiked gauntlet, and she uses it to swiftly channel a small incantation through it, then she proceeds to drive her shield into Eclavdran's flank two more times.

Promise and Discord, notably, remain sheathed.

Silver rears up, then comes down upon the demon lord, attempting to meet bulk with bulk to bear Eclavdran down, but the demon lord shrugs him off and cuts a streak along the griffon's shoulder.

Eclavdran laughs, a short bark of amusement at Seldan's words. "Weren't you in the guild Mei?" He snarks at the man. He casually swings his blade at Serene, nearly decapitating the woman with his effort. The blow is a feint though as he pours a vial of some liquid down his throat. He makes a disgusted noise in the back of his throat as the liquid goes down his throat and his eyes burn with pleasure as his wounds... begin to heal.

This is when he opens his mouth, sucking in a huge breath that drops Seldan to his knees almost immediately. The man's eyes gray as his soul begins to leave his body.

Mei jumps between the pair, opening his own mouth and drawing in a breath as well. The trio locked now in a contest.

GAME: Verna rolls perception: (9)+26: 35

Verna is both oddly fascinated and, of course, quite disgusted as Eclavdran appears to mend himself with ... whatever it is, the oily blackness of it cannot but remind her of The Plague/Curse. Her revulsion shifts sharply as he then inhales, Seldan crumples.. and then Mei proves true to his word by intervening.

"It has begun!" she calls to the others as the true trap is sprung. Whatever her intent a moment past, it is now the time. She moves promptly to Mei's side, placing a hand about him. Now unlike his support of her in the tower past in gesture, though her will is to bolster him on levels beyond the physical.

Seldan's voice is half-choked, forced, from where he is crumpled on the ground in that half-limbo state. His eyes are near colorless, but he shouts as best he can, "All of you! Join - with me! If we all focus - as one ... we can destroy it instead of consuming it! Mei! Destroy it!"

He is struggling to speak, forcing the words out. "Destroy it! Don't consume, destroy! As one! Tanith, you ... can help too! Touch me, all of you, and will it destroyed!" With that, he squeezes his eyes shut and *pulls* with every ounce of will left to him, willing it destroyed for all he is worth.

Cesran frowns as Eclavdran appears to have healed himself, but he made a mistake in trying to consume Seldan's soul. He hears Seldan's voice and moves over to stand with him. He places his hand on Seldan's shoulder as he starts to add his will to help out. Ral'sara's eyes light up, "You have my support too." She says as they both lend there effort into helping Seldan, "Mei do not be deceived focus on destroying it. It's not worth it. You don't want to end up like him." Cesran tries to help convince Mei to now destroy.

GAME: Serene rolls sense motive: (9)+28: 37

There is a brief moment of hesitation. Perhaps wrought by the very near repeat of that other fateful encounter with Eclavdran.. only Silver's ever watchful eye on her well being, a feathery interference literally keeping Serene's head on her shoulders as Eclavdran's blade skitters off of her shoulder, leaving a wet, red line in its wake. Perhaps the worry, one that had been buried deep down, that Eclavdran might succeed with his soul swap far faster than anyone had anticipated.. that the Seldan on the ground is Seldan no longer. But the hesitation is brief. Any option besides Mei consuming Eclavdran's soul is far, far more palatable.. thoughts had already been entertained of having to hunt the man down should his father's power prove too much for him. And the faith she has held in her fellow Silverguard has always been high.. a faith she clings to now. And so she darts forward, joining Cesran at Seldan's side, raising her shield to grant cover against any other attacks that Eclavdran might yet manage to launch as her sword arm seeks out Seldan's other shoulder. Even Silver comes forth, screeching defiance at the demon lord, spreading his wings as if to shelter the pronen paladin and those beside him.

Mei stands where he is, looking at you all with dawning horror. "I can devour his soul. You don't understand what you're doing! If he fails to destroy the soul; you'll all die and he will be destroyed utterly. He's going to be the end of us all if we don't act quickly! I can do this!" He seems unwilling to join you in your efforts, his words are clear and it's obvious that he knows what he's talking about here, but the question is:

Is your faith in Seldan stronger?

Verna blinks at Seldan's words. First, they are a sign of his resilience and focus of will. Second... destruction is an option? That would be the best option, rather than risk corruption, contamination, and the chance the Eclavdran's vileness might continue on in any fashion.

"Mei, you do not need his power, you do not want it. We will destroy it!" She knows something of hubris, even unintended, and reaches back for Seldan with her free hand. Perhaps she might bridge the two somewhat, attempting to urge Mei both physically and mentally in that direction.

GAME: Seldan rolls will: (3)+31: 34
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (11)+31: 42

It's a scene to make any demon cry.

All of you stand by Seldan as the orbs circle above you, shining their light down upon you all. Tanith hums low in her throat. Standing by her people. Sitting on Seldan's shoulder with her little claws dug in so that nothing can dislodge her. The soul of Eclavdran is driven into Seldan's mouth and the man takes a breath. Just one.

Then you can feel it. The evil of Eclavdran's very being seeping into you. Trying to find purchase. Just as aptly you can feel Seldan's spirit battling it. Your own surges in response. Pulsing with power and trying to chase that evil out.

Darkness overtakes the room, but through it you can see Eclavdran crumbling. Crumbling into dust while Mei stands outside your circle watching. Waiting.

It's almost not enough. There's _so_ much evil. So much power. Yet there's light breaking out over Seldan's skin. Light pulsing through your veins. It feels right. You close your eyes against the battle and when its over a moment later you find that Mei is gone.

In his place floats Tanith, glowing with a faint light as the orbs float over to hover around her tiny head. She grins toothily at you, all of you, and finally speaks. "Youaregoodpeoples. Verygood. Iknewmypeopleswouldwin, butIALWAYShelpwhenI'mcalled. Alwaysthereformypeoples. Myverygoodpeoples."

She disappears then. Gone without a trace, and Seldan falls face-first onto the ground, or rather, he starts to and all of you reach out to catch him in the same moment. Gentle hands lower the paladin to the ground. Gentle hands that pull away and leave him unbreathing. Unaware of the world around him. You know then that you've won this day...

But at what cost?

GAME: Serene rolls heal: (19)+13: 32

Cesran can see the darkness of Eclavdran's soul, darkness that is so black that it seems to swallows any and all light. He grips Seldan's shoulder as he feels his own soul, a soul not as bright as the others, filled with doubt, a questioning soul, but still whatever aid Cesran can lend he does so. He watches as light once more fills his veins, something he has strangely become used to. He closes his eyes to dig deep, go remember what he has faith in, his magic and his friends. He trusts Seldan as he gives everything he can to help him. He opens his eyes to see Tanith there, "Thank you Tanith." He says before she disappears and he goes to help Seldan down to the ground, "Gods your armor is heavy." He jokingly complains and the blinks, "Seldan?"

One might wonder why, when one has access to the very font of healing energy, Serene does what she does.. but upon recognizing that Seldan's breath has stopped, instead of relying upon those divine gifts, she falls back upon old training. Of days when she was expected to take up the mantle of house calls and assisted childbirth. Tilting the man's head back.. well, if he won't breathe, she does it for him. Until his body resumes taking breath on its own.. and though he doesn't rouse, the tightness in Serene's shoulders retreats a little bit.

Is creeping, slivering, vileness a surprising correlation for a demonic soul (such as it is?)? Verna certainly did not expect to see rainbows and unicorns. When the darkness slides over her, she wonders if it might mark a trip to her Mistress, or to ...nowhere, and yet, watching Eclavdran crumble makes that darkness no longer threatening to her.

Then the light flashes back, leaving her blinking. She notices the collapsed Seldan even as Serene already works to breathe lift back into him. And Mei is gone. She is still attempting to process... all of.. That.

It doesn't take too long to get Seldan breathing again, but getting him to rouse proves impossible, magic or no. He is completely unresponsive, a thing underlined by the nasally old woman's voice from the scabbard at his side. "Seldan?"

“Seldan?”

"Seldan is... resting, Reunion," Serene tells the sword, even as she starts gathering the man up. "We will get him the help he needs." She has no idea if the sword can hear her, and she certainly doesn't know the names of the different personalities within it. But.. it feels right.

-End