A Hero's Quest: Eye of the Demon Emperor
- Thread starter Birdsie
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- singapore
[X] "Serve me from now on and for all eternity. I will be your new lord."
Chapter 4: Spiral Downward - Part 11: Between Demons and Paladins
Birdsie
Sharp Talons Cleave The Worthy
- Location
- Poland
"Serve me from now on and for all eternity. I will be your new lord."
The demon knight, Antavian, looks at you. His gaze is calm.
You can feel it in his eyes. He calculates your offer and what the outcomes could be.
"Very well," he answers compliantly. Antavian launches himself with his hands, going from lying down to kneeling with his head down. "I swear fealty to Artoria Baragar. I swear to serve her until my end. That is the price for my existence."
You smile. "Now, my servant. Tell me what you know of the demon ruling this place."
"There is no ruler here," he says.
"Then who put the barrier?"
"Vaylekiael. A demon whose fight with a paladin resulted in the explosion of the mana reactor. He became powerful and put the barrier around the dungeon, but would not take it off. We have hunted him ever since."
"Hunted him? I thought he ruled over this place."
"That is not true," Antavian answers sharply. "The Knights of Hell have been guarding this city for the last two-hundred years. There is no ruler. We have hunted Vaylekiael. He is hiding in the catacombs above."
"Come with me," you order.
"Yes, my lady," he approves and stands up. Antavian follows you. Being escorted by him, the city guards let you through the gate. Antavian made a tiny lie that you were being taken to be executed. The two of you proceed back upstairs to one of the rooms of the catacombs.
You enter through the door. You see Tavish, Roland, and the old paladin sitting together on wooden boxes near a campfire, which has a pot of soup over it, slowly being stirred by the paladin. The old man is telling them a story.
"And then, we all charged forth and we split the–––" The paladin looks up and sees Antavian. His face twists.
Antavian draws his sword and jumps at the paladin, wordlessly. His hands move in nearly a blur, cutting through space in a wide curve.
The paladin stands up and leaps at the demon, drawing his sword. The two meet mid-flight.
The two stare at each other with enmity, locking their swords.
"Whoa, stop!" you order.
The two keep fighting. Antavian breaks the sword-lock and tries to disengage, but the paladin charges forward with a roar, his sword slicing across space. Antavian blocks the strike and moves his free hand forward, delivering a powerful punch to the paladin's pancreas. The old man falls over to his back with a dull growl of anger.
Antavian moves fluidly and powerfully. Each of his steps rings out as he steps up to the old man and prepares to stab his sword into him. He looks at you. "Shall I end him rightly?"
You show him a thumbs-down.
"D'aww," he sheathes his sword and walks over to you, flicking his cape at the paladin in a dramatic way with an audible 'hmph.'
He walks over to you.
Tavish and Roland just stare, then look at you, expecting a good explanation for all this. You give it to them. "So, I stumbled upon this guy, beat him, and now he serves me because I spared him." You look at Antavian, who rolls his eyes around.
Roland looks at Antavian. "You're a knight of Hell?"
Antavian looked at Roland. "No, I'm a knight of Candyland," he said with contemptuous sarcasm. Roland smiles. Antavian frowns. "Yes, damn it! I'm a knight of Hell! What did you think I was?"
"Oh," Roland sighed sadly, his expectations averted.
Tavish raises an eyebrow and walks up to the old paladin. "Sir?"
"I'm fine," the old man rises from the ground, slowly and clumsily. He looks up at Antavian. "I will destroy you later, scum."
"For what reason?" Antavian asks.
"Because the Gods command me so."
"Is that a good reason to destroy someone?" Antavian asks, with the voice of a philosopher. "Have you ever considered what our version of the events looked like?"
"More than you can imagine," the paladin answered.
"Everyone," Tavish draws attention with his voice. "Can we focus on finding the demon who's maintaining the barrier?"
"Wait, that's right. I know his true name," you say, in realization. "I can use the scrying compass."
"Excellent," the old paladin smiles widely. "I knew you could be of use. Oh, Goddess, answer my prayer; stultissimus excecant oculos tuos."
Antavian's eyes narrow and he looks at the paladin.
You take out the gift from your pocket. Oh, is this really handy. You whisper the demon's name into the compass. The compass points in the direction of the south-west. You proceed down the elaborate corridors of the dungeon.
You move through the catacombs until you stumble upon some kind of gate. A closed door made out of black-gray stone. It has elaborate, infernal markings on it.
You turn to Antavian. "Translate it."
He looks at the writings. Antavian's eyes flicker. He looks at you in self-disappointment, shaking his head. "I am fluent in Infernal and Abyssal, and many other black tongues, but this particular dialect is unknown to me."
The paladin approaches the door. "It needs a sacrifice in the form of mortal blood. Neither mine or the demon's will work since both of us are immortal creatures. Only one of you three can give this sacrifice."
"How big does it need to be?"
Without a beat, the paladin replies: "Half a cup."
[] Give your blood.
[] Roland will give his blood.
[] Tavish will give his blood.
[] Split the bill.
Time: Evening
Calendar: 1006-08-26
Mana: 174/200
Status Ailments:
- Wounded Hands: -20 Strength when using hands. -20 Agility when using hands.
The demon knight, Antavian, looks at you. His gaze is calm.
You can feel it in his eyes. He calculates your offer and what the outcomes could be.
"Very well," he answers compliantly. Antavian launches himself with his hands, going from lying down to kneeling with his head down. "I swear fealty to Artoria Baragar. I swear to serve her until my end. That is the price for my existence."
You smile. "Now, my servant. Tell me what you know of the demon ruling this place."
"There is no ruler here," he says.
"Then who put the barrier?"
"Vaylekiael. A demon whose fight with a paladin resulted in the explosion of the mana reactor. He became powerful and put the barrier around the dungeon, but would not take it off. We have hunted him ever since."
"Hunted him? I thought he ruled over this place."
"That is not true," Antavian answers sharply. "The Knights of Hell have been guarding this city for the last two-hundred years. There is no ruler. We have hunted Vaylekiael. He is hiding in the catacombs above."
"Come with me," you order.
"Yes, my lady," he approves and stands up. Antavian follows you. Being escorted by him, the city guards let you through the gate. Antavian made a tiny lie that you were being taken to be executed. The two of you proceed back upstairs to one of the rooms of the catacombs.
You enter through the door. You see Tavish, Roland, and the old paladin sitting together on wooden boxes near a campfire, which has a pot of soup over it, slowly being stirred by the paladin. The old man is telling them a story.
"And then, we all charged forth and we split the–––" The paladin looks up and sees Antavian. His face twists.
Antavian draws his sword and jumps at the paladin, wordlessly. His hands move in nearly a blur, cutting through space in a wide curve.
The paladin stands up and leaps at the demon, drawing his sword. The two meet mid-flight.
The two stare at each other with enmity, locking their swords.
"Whoa, stop!" you order.
The two keep fighting. Antavian breaks the sword-lock and tries to disengage, but the paladin charges forward with a roar, his sword slicing across space. Antavian blocks the strike and moves his free hand forward, delivering a powerful punch to the paladin's pancreas. The old man falls over to his back with a dull growl of anger.
Antavian moves fluidly and powerfully. Each of his steps rings out as he steps up to the old man and prepares to stab his sword into him. He looks at you. "Shall I end him rightly?"
You show him a thumbs-down.
"D'aww," he sheathes his sword and walks over to you, flicking his cape at the paladin in a dramatic way with an audible 'hmph.'
He walks over to you.
Tavish and Roland just stare, then look at you, expecting a good explanation for all this. You give it to them. "So, I stumbled upon this guy, beat him, and now he serves me because I spared him." You look at Antavian, who rolls his eyes around.
Roland looks at Antavian. "You're a knight of Hell?"
Antavian looked at Roland. "No, I'm a knight of Candyland," he said with contemptuous sarcasm. Roland smiles. Antavian frowns. "Yes, damn it! I'm a knight of Hell! What did you think I was?"
"Oh," Roland sighed sadly, his expectations averted.
Tavish raises an eyebrow and walks up to the old paladin. "Sir?"
"I'm fine," the old man rises from the ground, slowly and clumsily. He looks up at Antavian. "I will destroy you later, scum."
"For what reason?" Antavian asks.
"Because the Gods command me so."
"Is that a good reason to destroy someone?" Antavian asks, with the voice of a philosopher. "Have you ever considered what our version of the events looked like?"
"More than you can imagine," the paladin answered.
"Everyone," Tavish draws attention with his voice. "Can we focus on finding the demon who's maintaining the barrier?"
"Wait, that's right. I know his true name," you say, in realization. "I can use the scrying compass."
"Excellent," the old paladin smiles widely. "I knew you could be of use. Oh, Goddess, answer my prayer; stultissimus excecant oculos tuos."
Antavian's eyes narrow and he looks at the paladin.
You take out the gift from your pocket. Oh, is this really handy. You whisper the demon's name into the compass. The compass points in the direction of the south-west. You proceed down the elaborate corridors of the dungeon.
You move through the catacombs until you stumble upon some kind of gate. A closed door made out of black-gray stone. It has elaborate, infernal markings on it.
You turn to Antavian. "Translate it."
He looks at the writings. Antavian's eyes flicker. He looks at you in self-disappointment, shaking his head. "I am fluent in Infernal and Abyssal, and many other black tongues, but this particular dialect is unknown to me."
The paladin approaches the door. "It needs a sacrifice in the form of mortal blood. Neither mine or the demon's will work since both of us are immortal creatures. Only one of you three can give this sacrifice."
"How big does it need to be?"
Without a beat, the paladin replies: "Half a cup."
[] Give your blood.
[] Roland will give his blood.
[] Tavish will give his blood.
[] Split the bill.
Time: Evening
Calendar: 1006-08-26
Mana: 174/200
Status Ailments:
- Wounded Hands: -20 Strength when using hands. -20 Agility when using hands.
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
@Birdsie will we be telling Tavish to offer his blood and if so, will we use this explanation or just order him to do it?
- Location
- Southampton, Great Britain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Birdsie
Sharp Talons Cleave The Worthy
- Location
- Poland
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Yup to ordering him or yup to explaining or yup to both?
Birdsie
Sharp Talons Cleave The Worthy
- Location
- Poland
- Location
- singapore
[X] Split the bill.
Chapter 4: Spiral Downward - Part 12: Reactor
Birdsie
Sharp Talons Cleave The Worthy
- Location
- Poland
"Tavish, would you?" You turn to him.
"Wait..." He looks at you. "Why me?!"
"I don't want to give this thing Baragar blood. Besides, I'm bleeding as it is."
"Fine," he huffs. Tavish moves his hand in a triangular gesture, creating a throwing knife of small size. He takes it in his hand and drives it into his wrist. His face contorts in pain as this happens, but he does so without hesitation and faces the pain bravely.
The blood drips from his hand. You see the door unlock in equal proportion to the blood spilled. As soon as it is passable, he heals his wound with magic and lets out a huff of air.
"Let's go," you say. Antavian leads the way. On the way there, Tavish offers to heal your hands, to which you agree. You enter the nest of the evil demon that you presume to have created the barrier around the whole dungeon. You look around.
The chamber is very large. At least twenty meters tall, and forty in width and length. In the middle, there is a stairwell downward. There are four, large, supporting columns made from gray rock. all other paths than the stairwell have since collapsed, so you go down.
You reach a room, which looks to have been some kind of diagnostic chamber. You see magical trinkets and devices from long ago, that have since degraded and turned into useless junk. You can tell this by sensing the odd traces of mana in them.
You walk over to a pane of glass and look out of it. You see a huge, metallic sphere in a giant room, with catwalks above it. The sphere appears destroyed, or at least heavily damaged, but inside of it, you see a faint, blue light that suggests not all machinery is out of work yet.
"Is that the... mana reactor?"
You turn back. The paladin nods. "That thing gave me eternal life."
Antavian scoffs: "Well, jump into it. It might just take it back."
The paladin smiles. "Let's go in there and look around. If the demon is still there, he will reveal himself. We should prepare for a fight."
"We will need a plan," Tavish says.
...
Everyone looks at you. "What?"
...
"Oh, I'm the team leader now?"
Combat Plan:
[] [Artoria] Will go down and fight, using magic and Excalibur.
[] [Artoria] Will remain on the catwalks and fire blasts of holy energy.
[] [Tavish] Will go down and fight, using magic and conjured weapons.
[] [Tavish] Will remain on the catwalks and fire conjured weapons, as well as heal injured teammates.
[] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[] [Roland] Will offer covering fire and try to set up traps.
[] [Antavian] Will set chain traps using magic and act as a combat aide.
[] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[] [Old Paladin] Will cast miracles from afar, as to not tire himself.
[] [Old Paladin] Will act as bait for the demon.
[] Write-in. (For any team member.)
Time: Evening
Calendar: 1006-08-26
Mana: 174/200
"Wait..." He looks at you. "Why me?!"
"I don't want to give this thing Baragar blood. Besides, I'm bleeding as it is."
"Fine," he huffs. Tavish moves his hand in a triangular gesture, creating a throwing knife of small size. He takes it in his hand and drives it into his wrist. His face contorts in pain as this happens, but he does so without hesitation and faces the pain bravely.
The blood drips from his hand. You see the door unlock in equal proportion to the blood spilled. As soon as it is passable, he heals his wound with magic and lets out a huff of air.
"Let's go," you say. Antavian leads the way. On the way there, Tavish offers to heal your hands, to which you agree. You enter the nest of the evil demon that you presume to have created the barrier around the whole dungeon. You look around.
The chamber is very large. At least twenty meters tall, and forty in width and length. In the middle, there is a stairwell downward. There are four, large, supporting columns made from gray rock. all other paths than the stairwell have since collapsed, so you go down.
You reach a room, which looks to have been some kind of diagnostic chamber. You see magical trinkets and devices from long ago, that have since degraded and turned into useless junk. You can tell this by sensing the odd traces of mana in them.
You walk over to a pane of glass and look out of it. You see a huge, metallic sphere in a giant room, with catwalks above it. The sphere appears destroyed, or at least heavily damaged, but inside of it, you see a faint, blue light that suggests not all machinery is out of work yet.
"Is that the... mana reactor?"
You turn back. The paladin nods. "That thing gave me eternal life."
Antavian scoffs: "Well, jump into it. It might just take it back."
The paladin smiles. "Let's go in there and look around. If the demon is still there, he will reveal himself. We should prepare for a fight."
"We will need a plan," Tavish says.
...
Everyone looks at you. "What?"
...
"Oh, I'm the team leader now?"
Combat Plan:
[] [Artoria] Will go down and fight, using magic and Excalibur.
[] [Artoria] Will remain on the catwalks and fire blasts of holy energy.
[] [Tavish] Will go down and fight, using magic and conjured weapons.
[] [Tavish] Will remain on the catwalks and fire conjured weapons, as well as heal injured teammates.
[] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[] [Roland] Will offer covering fire and try to set up traps.
[] [Antavian] Will set chain traps using magic and act as a combat aide.
[] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[] [Old Paladin] Will cast miracles from afar, as to not tire himself.
[] [Old Paladin] Will act as bait for the demon.
[] Write-in. (For any team member.)
Time: Evening
Calendar: 1006-08-26
Mana: 174/200
- Location
- Southampton, Great Britain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan Tactical Strike
[X] [Artoria] Will remain on the catwalks and fire blasts of holy energy.
[X] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[X] [Tavish] Will remain on the catwalks and fire conjured weapons, as well as heal injured teammates.
[X] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[X] [Old Paladin] Will act as bait for the demon.
Artoria is still injured and despite being good at combat, she should stay back. Roland is an archer. Tavish will heal teammates as our only healer and using his archery skills as seen in his introduction. Antavian and the Paladin will act as our frontline fights.
[X] [Artoria] Will remain on the catwalks and fire blasts of holy energy.
[X] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[X] [Tavish] Will remain on the catwalks and fire conjured weapons, as well as heal injured teammates.
[X] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[X] [Old Paladin] Will act as bait for the demon.
Artoria is still injured and despite being good at combat, she should stay back. Roland is an archer. Tavish will heal teammates as our only healer and using his archery skills as seen in his introduction. Antavian and the Paladin will act as our frontline fights.
[x] [Artoria] Will remain on the catwalks and fire blasts of holy energy.
[x] [Tavish] Will go down and fight, using magic and conjured weapons.
[x] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[x] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[x] [Old Paladin] Will cast miracles from afar, as to not tire himself.
[x] [Tavish] Will go down and fight, using magic and conjured weapons.
[x] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[x] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[x] [Old Paladin] Will cast miracles from afar, as to not tire himself.
- Location
- Inside my own head
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[x] [Artoria] Will go down and fight, using magic and Excalibur.
[x] [Tavish] Will go down and fight, using magic and conjured weapons.
[x] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[x] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[x] [Old Paladin] Will cast miracles from afar, as to not tire himself.
Artoria isn't injured anymore from what I can tell. She got healed.
[x] [Tavish] Will go down and fight, using magic and conjured weapons.
[x] [Roland] Will remain on the catwalks and fire arrows.
[x] [Antavian] Will go down and fight, using black magic and his sword.
[x] [Old Paladin] Will cast miracles from afar, as to not tire himself.
Artoria isn't injured anymore from what I can tell. She got healed.
Chapter 4: Spiral Downward - Part 13: A Hopeless Hell
Birdsie
Sharp Talons Cleave The Worthy
- Location
- Poland
"I'm not sure this is going to have a good ending," Tavish mutters. He follows Antavian. The two walk past the ruined magitech devices and unfinished ritual circles, all covered in dust and rubble from ancient times. Tavish looks at them and knows they were intended for demon summoning.
Antavian doesn't respond. He only follows his order of getting to the reactor.
Tavish looks at Antavian. "Why does your kind always have to invade this planet?"
"For souls." Antavian stops Tavish with his arm. Antavian kneels to pick up a piece of black metal from the floor, then examines it, before laying it down again and standing up. The two continue on their way.
"Souls? What do you need so many souls for?"
"Hell's leylines have been extinguished by the Gods long ago," Antavian answered, clenching his fists. He narrowly looks at Tavish, saying nonchalantly: "We are doing the same thing that any of you would do; hunting and eating. Maintaining our civilization. We are hated because we were created by a fake God. A virus on creation: that's what the Gods think of us. That is why we have no hope. No salvation. That is why Hell has none either. And that is why..."
"Antavian," you say, walking from across the corner and up to the two. "What was the name of the demon again?"
"Vaylakiael."
"Got it. You two hurry up now."
Antavian nods and walks away, through the chamber, and toward the reactor. Tavish gives you a brief, emotionless glance, then hurriedly follows after the black knight.
"Is it true?" Tavish asks.
"I just told you. We do what we do out of necessity. The will to survive in a universe set against us. This is the very definition of hopelessness."
"I think it's injustice. You didn't do anything to deserve this, but..."
"It doesn't matter. I wasn't born a demon. I was a paladin in life, but my master decided I would make an excellent warrior."
Tavish looks at the dark knight. "A paladin? How did you go to Hell?"
"I gave my soul to save my comrades from death. Better to have one soul for yourself than to send ten to your enemy," Antavian says melancholically. They walk through an open gate, finally out of the long system of chambers and corridors and at the reactor room, with the catwalks above them. Antavian looks up and sees you, then continues.
"By the way, be prepared to fight that paladin up on the catwalks," Antavian confides glumly, looking up at the catwalks.
"Why?" he queries suspiciously. Tavish squints at Antavian.
"You'll see in a moment," Antavian deflects.
They walk over to the reactor, looking around for the demon. Tavish's fingers release mana, which conjures a silvery longsword into his left hand. He grasps it firmly.
...
...
Roland's bow is drawn. Excalibur shines with bright light, prepared to unleash divine power.
...
...
The old paladin smirks. "Fools."
The catwalks tremble. "What?" you squeak, as the iron metal holding your feet begins to bend.
Roland falls down to the level below, the catwalks collapsing under him. He falls across meters of space. Seeing this, Antavian charges and jumps into the air, releasing his sword which falls to the ground and capturing Roland in his arms. The two land safely thanks to Antavian's superhuman musculature. Once on the ground, Antavian lets go of Roland and reaches out with his hand, his sword flying back to him. The two look at the source of distortion.
You run across the collapsing catwalk, managing to outrun the distortions in metal and jumping to a higher level of catwalks, where you are safe. You look and see the source of the attack. The old man smiles at you smugly from the same level you are on. You are cut-off from the team, so he laughs.
"The day we fell into the reactor was the day I possessed that old fool. But still, thank you for leading me back to the reactor. Now I can absorb all of the remaining power inside of it and tear open a hole into Hell itself, allowing my brethren through. I am sure that Lord Lucifer will reward me richly for this."
"Lucifer is dead, you bastard! He was dead for over a decade! You're late! Satan runs Hell now," you clip angrily from afar. You raise Excalibur in both hands, pointed slightly forward, so that the tip of the blade is on the same height as your vision. You walk forward to the demon.
"It does not matter," Vaylakiael states. "One or another. A master is a master. A reward is a reward. A world burning is a world burning. Now... let me through and I will spare you."
You know demons. They are honest folk, so what he says it true. But that doesn't matter. You don't care about your life. You have to stop him for the very reason that you started this. You ignore his words and continue walking, mentally preparing to fight the demon.
You are fifteen meters apart. You're in range to charge. You prepare to dash, but the demon is quicker.
"Egestas a cruciatu," he incants. The demon holds his open palm out. Something shoots at you. Something that looks like black lightning, but has properties more similar to tendrils. They are sharp and pierce your skin, digging deep beneath your flesh. You fall prone for a moment, incapable of moving and immobilized by a deep, electrifying pain. You regret not having armor with you.
WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH! The tentacles retract, allowing you to stand up instantly. The pain remains, but you can ignore it when it is not actively applied. You look up. WOOSH! WOOSH! Two more arrows are shot by Roland at the demon, who blinks one meter away from them to protect himself. He looks down. He's distracted.
It's your chance. You enhance every faculty of your body and leap at him. He's not expecting it.
SWISH! The holy sword moves in a blur, cutting. You fly past Vaylakiael, then you stop and you spin, looking to confirm the hit.
He stares at you, shaking in pain. The demon's left arm has a huge, cauterized wound on it. Black dust, like blood, seeps from it. The body he is possessing has been long-dead. He kept it in motion and a facsimile of life with black magic.
"Die!" The demon makes an arcane gesture. In a moment, fourteen balls of black energy appear around him.
He makes another, quick gesture of the hand. In a flash, the balls shoot at you like bolts. You jump, hoping to dodge them, although seven of them manage to hit you in various parts of the body. Despite that, the spell is weak. Too weak to be a challenge for your endurance.
The demon stares, blinking. "W-What? What are you? Even seven should have killed an ordinary mortal...!"
"I am no ordinary mortal... I am... Artoria, of house Baragar!"
"Tch... Of course you are!" The demon outstretches his hand. Blackness itself gathers into it, forming a black-purple blade of energy in his hand. Despite your lackluster skill, you can recognize what he is trying to conjure. The blade in his hand is a very poor, chaotic, and evil version of Excalibur. His analysis is incomplete, but he is trying to match you. Regardless, the copy is weak.
As if to make up for it, the demon prepares to cast another spell, but before he can do that, you leap. Your legs gather power and shoot you at him.
SWOOSH! Excalibur rends through the paladin's body, stabbing him in the heart. You thrust it deeper, so that the very crossguard of Excalibur lays on the paladin's chest.
...
He smiles at you, then swings his sword.
You let go of Excalibur and jump back in the nick of time. The demon keeps smiling. "The reason I chose a paladin's body is because unlike my demonic vessel, latching onto it grants me resistance against physical applications of magic. So long as this vessel exists, your radiant attacks are worth very little and they will damage me little more than they would an ordinary human. That said, my magic is more than apt to use a corpse as a vessel. Your fight is hopeless."
Not if you destroy the brain, it's not. Even if rotten, that is where the mind resides. If you cut off the mind from the body, same will happen to the soul. That will force the demon to either flee and allow you to capture and exorcise, or destroy it, or it will force the demon to transfer a part of its spiritual body into the headless corpse as to manifest a proper mind, which will also allow you to destroy it. Regardless, it's a win-win.
You leap, both your feet rising into the air. You aim them for Excalibur's pommel. You nail Excalibur through the demon's body, making it fly out the other way. He lets out a groan of pain, as his decaying nerves still transfer a modicum of deadened pain and he swings his dark sword at you, but you move underneath his legs and grab your holy sword.
But... you sense magical energy. He is a second away from casting some kind of spell.
[] Apply anti-magic to yourself and take his head off.
[] Move back. He is about to cast something powerful.
Time: Evening
Calendar: 1006-08-26
Mana: 172/200
Health: 14/20 (-5 to all rolls at this injury.)
Antavian doesn't respond. He only follows his order of getting to the reactor.
Tavish looks at Antavian. "Why does your kind always have to invade this planet?"
"For souls." Antavian stops Tavish with his arm. Antavian kneels to pick up a piece of black metal from the floor, then examines it, before laying it down again and standing up. The two continue on their way.
"Souls? What do you need so many souls for?"
"Hell's leylines have been extinguished by the Gods long ago," Antavian answered, clenching his fists. He narrowly looks at Tavish, saying nonchalantly: "We are doing the same thing that any of you would do; hunting and eating. Maintaining our civilization. We are hated because we were created by a fake God. A virus on creation: that's what the Gods think of us. That is why we have no hope. No salvation. That is why Hell has none either. And that is why..."
"Antavian," you say, walking from across the corner and up to the two. "What was the name of the demon again?"
"Vaylakiael."
"Got it. You two hurry up now."
Antavian nods and walks away, through the chamber, and toward the reactor. Tavish gives you a brief, emotionless glance, then hurriedly follows after the black knight.
***
"Is it true?" Tavish asks.
"I just told you. We do what we do out of necessity. The will to survive in a universe set against us. This is the very definition of hopelessness."
"I think it's injustice. You didn't do anything to deserve this, but..."
"It doesn't matter. I wasn't born a demon. I was a paladin in life, but my master decided I would make an excellent warrior."
Tavish looks at the dark knight. "A paladin? How did you go to Hell?"
"I gave my soul to save my comrades from death. Better to have one soul for yourself than to send ten to your enemy," Antavian says melancholically. They walk through an open gate, finally out of the long system of chambers and corridors and at the reactor room, with the catwalks above them. Antavian looks up and sees you, then continues.
"By the way, be prepared to fight that paladin up on the catwalks," Antavian confides glumly, looking up at the catwalks.
"Why?" he queries suspiciously. Tavish squints at Antavian.
"You'll see in a moment," Antavian deflects.
They walk over to the reactor, looking around for the demon. Tavish's fingers release mana, which conjures a silvery longsword into his left hand. He grasps it firmly.
...
...
Roland's bow is drawn. Excalibur shines with bright light, prepared to unleash divine power.
...
...
The old paladin smirks. "Fools."
The catwalks tremble. "What?" you squeak, as the iron metal holding your feet begins to bend.
Roland falls down to the level below, the catwalks collapsing under him. He falls across meters of space. Seeing this, Antavian charges and jumps into the air, releasing his sword which falls to the ground and capturing Roland in his arms. The two land safely thanks to Antavian's superhuman musculature. Once on the ground, Antavian lets go of Roland and reaches out with his hand, his sword flying back to him. The two look at the source of distortion.
You run across the collapsing catwalk, managing to outrun the distortions in metal and jumping to a higher level of catwalks, where you are safe. You look and see the source of the attack. The old man smiles at you smugly from the same level you are on. You are cut-off from the team, so he laughs.
"The day we fell into the reactor was the day I possessed that old fool. But still, thank you for leading me back to the reactor. Now I can absorb all of the remaining power inside of it and tear open a hole into Hell itself, allowing my brethren through. I am sure that Lord Lucifer will reward me richly for this."
"Lucifer is dead, you bastard! He was dead for over a decade! You're late! Satan runs Hell now," you clip angrily from afar. You raise Excalibur in both hands, pointed slightly forward, so that the tip of the blade is on the same height as your vision. You walk forward to the demon.
"It does not matter," Vaylakiael states. "One or another. A master is a master. A reward is a reward. A world burning is a world burning. Now... let me through and I will spare you."
You know demons. They are honest folk, so what he says it true. But that doesn't matter. You don't care about your life. You have to stop him for the very reason that you started this. You ignore his words and continue walking, mentally preparing to fight the demon.
You are fifteen meters apart. You're in range to charge. You prepare to dash, but the demon is quicker.
"Egestas a cruciatu," he incants. The demon holds his open palm out. Something shoots at you. Something that looks like black lightning, but has properties more similar to tendrils. They are sharp and pierce your skin, digging deep beneath your flesh. You fall prone for a moment, incapable of moving and immobilized by a deep, electrifying pain. You regret not having armor with you.
WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH! The tentacles retract, allowing you to stand up instantly. The pain remains, but you can ignore it when it is not actively applied. You look up. WOOSH! WOOSH! Two more arrows are shot by Roland at the demon, who blinks one meter away from them to protect himself. He looks down. He's distracted.
It's your chance. You enhance every faculty of your body and leap at him. He's not expecting it.
SWISH! The holy sword moves in a blur, cutting. You fly past Vaylakiael, then you stop and you spin, looking to confirm the hit.
He stares at you, shaking in pain. The demon's left arm has a huge, cauterized wound on it. Black dust, like blood, seeps from it. The body he is possessing has been long-dead. He kept it in motion and a facsimile of life with black magic.
"Die!" The demon makes an arcane gesture. In a moment, fourteen balls of black energy appear around him.
He makes another, quick gesture of the hand. In a flash, the balls shoot at you like bolts. You jump, hoping to dodge them, although seven of them manage to hit you in various parts of the body. Despite that, the spell is weak. Too weak to be a challenge for your endurance.
The demon stares, blinking. "W-What? What are you? Even seven should have killed an ordinary mortal...!"
"I am no ordinary mortal... I am... Artoria, of house Baragar!"
"Tch... Of course you are!" The demon outstretches his hand. Blackness itself gathers into it, forming a black-purple blade of energy in his hand. Despite your lackluster skill, you can recognize what he is trying to conjure. The blade in his hand is a very poor, chaotic, and evil version of Excalibur. His analysis is incomplete, but he is trying to match you. Regardless, the copy is weak.
As if to make up for it, the demon prepares to cast another spell, but before he can do that, you leap. Your legs gather power and shoot you at him.
SWOOSH! Excalibur rends through the paladin's body, stabbing him in the heart. You thrust it deeper, so that the very crossguard of Excalibur lays on the paladin's chest.
...
He smiles at you, then swings his sword.
You let go of Excalibur and jump back in the nick of time. The demon keeps smiling. "The reason I chose a paladin's body is because unlike my demonic vessel, latching onto it grants me resistance against physical applications of magic. So long as this vessel exists, your radiant attacks are worth very little and they will damage me little more than they would an ordinary human. That said, my magic is more than apt to use a corpse as a vessel. Your fight is hopeless."
Not if you destroy the brain, it's not. Even if rotten, that is where the mind resides. If you cut off the mind from the body, same will happen to the soul. That will force the demon to either flee and allow you to capture and exorcise, or destroy it, or it will force the demon to transfer a part of its spiritual body into the headless corpse as to manifest a proper mind, which will also allow you to destroy it. Regardless, it's a win-win.
You leap, both your feet rising into the air. You aim them for Excalibur's pommel. You nail Excalibur through the demon's body, making it fly out the other way. He lets out a groan of pain, as his decaying nerves still transfer a modicum of deadened pain and he swings his dark sword at you, but you move underneath his legs and grab your holy sword.
But... you sense magical energy. He is a second away from casting some kind of spell.
[] Apply anti-magic to yourself and take his head off.
[] Move back. He is about to cast something powerful.
Time: Evening
Calendar: 1006-08-26
Mana: 172/200
Health: 14/20 (-5 to all rolls at this injury.)
Health notes: Lost 5HP at the [Dark Tendril] spell, lost 1HP at the [Arcane Volley] spell.