Created
Status
Ongoing
Watchers
108
Recent readers
0

I badly wrote myself into a corner with the previous one, and have done a bit more background...
It Begins: AGAIN

GreggHL

Engaging hilarity engine/air intake
Location
Daejeon, Republic of Korea
I badly wrote myself into a corner with the previous one, and have done a bit more background planning to hopefully avoid the previous pitfalls while still retaining the same idea: Sometimes, the best Exalted quest protagonists are people who shouldn't be trusted with power.

-
-

Welcome to Ebeli Quest (SFW edition)- Where you play an experienced, Solar Circle Sorcerer who solves every problems with Demons until demons stop solving her problems. Let's give some backstory:

You are Ebeli, formerly of House V'Neef. Unlike every other one of your siblings, you exalted as a Solar Exalted of the Twilight Caste, rather than a proper Dragon Blooded. That was twenty years ago and it's been a ride since. Currently, you are V'Neef's second-least favorite daughter, with that honor going to your twin sister, Bylar.

You are, without a doubt, one of the two greatest demonologists in all of Creation, with the other being Mother's eldest sister. While you exalted in the satrapies of the East, you currently live in the South, near the Lap. Your Circle travels much, but you don't always travel with them- your main constant companion in regards to the circle is Sky, the circle's Dawn Caste. In addition to his more subdued ambitions and willingness to work towards the goals of others, he rather likes being there by your side because of the prospect of you needing to be saved.

You like the eye candy and wait that came out wrong. You like having someone you can rely on, and you certainly aren't a couple but you do have the weighted end of your staff ready for any Realm temptress that tries to get their claws in him like, say, Mother. Or all of your sisters.

Speaking of which, you have managed to mostly repair your relationship with your former House. In that, you can walk into one of their estates without having to fight your way out, and have a working relationship! Which is a lot healthier than when you were part of that family, and all it took was a civil war breaking out on the Blessed Isle.

But enough about that- Demons!

You solve problems with demons and will stop solving problems with demons when demons stop solving your problems. You are one of a handful of Solar Circle Sorcerers, and that's amazing. Not only that, you have an extremely rare and powerful artifact- the Staff of Authority Over the Binding Of Those Who Shall Be Bound, or the Staff of Binding for short- which makes this even easier.

And you have resolved, on this last night of Calibration, to summon up a Third Circle Demon, to bind into your substantial entourage (lots and lots of first circles and a handful of second circles) and serve you for a year and a day. You've done this twice before- first, you summoned up the Manse Eternal, Amalion (who built you this very nice Manse), and later on summoned up Orabillis (who now doesn't like you).

Currently, your circle is planning to destroy the forces of the Walker in Darkness, and as such you have been working for the past year to prepare to summon the Seventh Soul of the Ebon Dragon- That Which Calls to the Shadows, Erembour.




It
is not that you don't appreciate the effort put into it, goodness knows. It's just that the amount of effort, and the sheer scale of it, makes you wonder at times whether or not there are diminishing returns.

The circle, made out of Malfean Brass, was easy enough to get. Summon up a few First Circles and if you know what you're doing- like you do- you have enough for your basic summoning circle.

Your staff, which you found in your tomb- or really the tomb of your past incarnation- makes things easier but it was still a hassle to get. Not nearly the hassle that the Manse is, though. That was a lot of work, a lot of geomancy, and a lot of money. Lots of it.

But! But!

But you have done this before! And besides which even if you hadn't done this song and dance and chant and ridiculous amount of Essence before, you weren't doing it alone. Your best friend, currently nodding off in a supremely comfortable chair just outside of the blast radius, has his sword by his side just in case things go bad.

And besides which- this will help. There's the City of Dead Flowers to deal with, and the raw power of any of the Yozi's lieutenants will be a great asset against them. You've reassured your circle of this, and they agree. This should be done. This must be done. The power of the Solar Exalted leads to consequences such as this.

You have prepared- your friendship with Mara may pay off tonight if you go with Plan A. Plan B is more dangerous but the lack of preparing would pay off if you are correct, and Plan C- well, Plan C is exciting.

There is a part of you that wonders how time works in the demon realm of Malfeas. While standing here, wondering which demon to summon, waiting to make a decision, you realize that the one you choose will have left Malfeas five days ago. No matter which one, that one would have left five days ago. With a nod, you resolve to understand how that works, but that is filed with the other future plans.

Right now, you have made a decision, and you have to break it gently. Turning from the summoning circle, you walk over to Sky and the large, study chair he is napping in. You pat him on the cheek to wake him, and blue eyes flutter open before you drape your arms around his shoulders and drop yourself onto his lap.

To his credit he keeps his eyes on your face, and you smile. Let the buttering begin.

"So, question. Your sword is supposed to be the greatest sword in all Creation, right?"

A questioning grunt. Followed by, "I think we figured it's the first sword, which might be why someone keeps trying to steal it?"

"How do you think it'd measure up against the greatest sword of all?"

You could never accuse Sky of being dim, and he does put the pieces together rather fast.

"You're summoning Ligier."

"I'm summoning Ligier," you say with a nod. His mouth opens and closes like a fish stranded on land, and he closes his eyes and pinches his nose.

"Ebeli...didn't we spend the entire year preparing to summon Erembour?"

You nod, sucking teeth.

"Didn't we go to Great Forks and rescue Mara's daughter so we could summon Erembour?"

"Let's be fair, it was less saving her and more surviving her attempts to kill us before we found the god controlling her and feeding him to Mara."

You look him in the eye, shifting slightly on his lap and leaning in. Wood aspected siblings and parentage lead to techniques handed down through generations, and his face goes bright red. You didn't exactly dress in layers, and it is the South, after all.

"So, we were going to summon Erembour because of her Revelry, because she can basically control the armies of the Dead, but how about just burning them all?"

He blinks, ponders. Furrows his brow and you see the faint flicker of Essence. "That'd work. But we haven't done any preparation."

You shrug, reach up, and adjust your spectacles. "Ligier appreciates audacity, and it doesn't get any more audacious than 'Get over here because I'm a Solar Circle Sorcerer.'"

"Point." He sighs, faint rattle in his throat. "Path's going to have a fit."

With that, you turn, sitting fully on his lap and pushing yourself off. "Then Path ought to learn some sorcery himself and not give me badly worded requests." You turn, hands on your hips. Buttering has been accomplished, in theory. "Can I count on you?"

He nods with a grin. "Always. Just, one thing?"

You nod, and motion him to continue. "Me getting into a sword fight with Ligier wielding the Sword of the Yozi is a terrible idea."

You shrug. "Technically he wouldn't fight you unless it was the entire Circle." Which is true, but the sour look on his face tells you that isn't what he wanted to hear. So instead, you grab his wrist and pull him up.

"Anyway, time to start!"




Brass and orichalcum torches light. From the staff in her hand, her golden hearthstone gripped within the thin fingers at its top, a light pours forth and into the summoning circle, empowering it and the litany of wards surrounding the manse. It flows outwards and inwards- web lattice of preparations writing their names across the dome that expands and rises above them, and inwards-

Into the Demon City, where the Staff lets its magic be known upon its target five days ago. Still, now is not the time to think of odd time shennanigans or impossibilities, but to wrench miracles from the universe's grasp.

Your coat flutters in the chill wind, and the silver sand already pours forth. To lesser sorcerers, this would be intimidating- calling forth a being venerated, worshipped by trillions of beings in the immense Demon City. But you have done this before.

Well, not with him. But you know what you're doing.

"I make the Sign of Separation-" The staff floats before you and you twist your hands, forming the symbol with glowing golden Essence. "And open the gates of the Demon City. Demon Emperor, King of Kings, know me and be made to know me."

You feel it. Pulling back, resisting.

"I make the Mudra of Victory, and remind you of the oaths and pacts to which you have sworn!"

Practiced motion. Hands sliding against each other, twisting the light into the Old Realm symbols of the Oaths of Surrender and Victory over the Primordials.

"I call upon you, King of Kings, Malfeas," you continue, "And I call upon your Burning Heart. I summon forth-"

And when the words leave your lips, so do you. You open your eyes and the manse is gone, the chamber gone, Sky gone. You stand between tick and tock, here and there. In a desert of silver sands and law, before the brass and vitriol.

A sphere larger than Creation will ever be, and with words and spell and sorcery you stand before it. Not as equal.

Never as equal.

As greater. You use their words and their commands and make them your own. In soft voice, with sanity and humanity and empathy they do not possess. Before you, the great sphere rings with intonation, its identity in Old Realm, in First Language.

MALFEAS.

King of Kings.

Demon Emperor.

Bowed and Broken but Authority Without Equal. Brass and Lordship ripples with emerald light.

And before you, the layers of the Demon Emperor Align. With the eyes of Sorcery, of Adamant Circle, of Primordial Workings Handed to Mortals, you understand, and call him forth, through metaphor and action and the green fire issuing forth.

"I summon you, Ligier Shin Giri Malfeas."

And once more in the manse, once more with your friend by your side, you do not blink when the pillar of emerald fire erupts. The spilled silver sand becomes cecylean glass, the brass heated to burning blue, and the wards of the manse catch the emerald fire in beautiful lattice light.

"For an entire age, I have waited. Unbound, unsummoned, for none stood who could call me forth."

You feel it. You can taste it. The raw power you struggle against, eroding will and power with the last reserves of your own.

"And in this brass age, one has come to summon me forth? I, First Amongst Equals!"

You can see him. Two hands resting on the pommel of the weapon without equal. Two arms folded across the bare, ho wow chest.

"The Fixed Point of Malfeas!"

A cloak of finest emerald silk hangs over his bare shoulders, and the emerald fire makes the amber hair flow around him, barely hiding pointed ears- blinding fire but itself dim compared to his own brilliance.

"The Lord of Hell! Green Sun of-"

And then you get a good long look and-

"Good gods you could grind meat on those abs."

The green fire extinguishes. Eyes the color of finely crafted emeralds narrow. Then you realize that yes, you did say that out loud, and grip the staff to lean on it.

"I-" You clear your throat. "I'm sorry, I interrupted. Do you want to start over?"

"No," Ligier says, "No, it's done."

With a deft, still sexy motion, he hefts up the brass daiklave and sheathes it by his side, folding his hands behind him. "So, I win the bet."

You blink. Sky tilts his head with a questioning grunt.

"The bet?" you ask.

"With Amalion. She wagered you were going to summon Erembour. I wagered you would summon me." His form shrinks- two of his arms disappear and he appears almost human, save that your sorcerer's sight, your essence sight, still tells you this is The Green Sun. "So! How may I be of service, O Sorcerer?"

Oh! Right.

"Ligier Shin Giri Malfeas, I bind you to my entourage for a year and a day."

"Excellent. I believe we will negotiate further services, then?"

[ ]'Kay [continues to stare at his abs]

[ ]Negotiate? What do you mean negotiate?

[ ]Wait until the rest of the Circle gets back because you suck at bureaucracy.

[ ]Write in
 
Dramatis Personae: The Circle
The Lap Circle:

V'Neef Ebeli: V'Neef's second-least favorite daughter. Redhead. Carries herself like a Wood Caste. Twilight Caste Solar. Adamant Circle Sorcerer, and best demon summoner in all Creation, complete with a constant crowd of about a thousand de-materialized First Circle Demons surrounding her. Story starts with her summoning Ligier for the first time since the First Age. Has previously summoned Amalion (went great) and Orabillis (went horrible). Has a constant low-level flirtation with Sky. They totally did the sex during a visit to Malfeas when they ended up in the Brass Forest (Hrotsvitha). If she finds out about the Great Curse, will question it's power as she believes the First Age Solars were just assholes. Motivation is to observe an unaltered third circle Deva.

Leaping Sky: Dawn Caste Superhero. First met Ebeli and Ray when he saved them from a group of Lintha. Carries a Sword which has built into it the First Weapon, which holds primacy over all weapons. Someone with a fondness for puzzles and machines keeps trying to steal it. High temperance and his Limit Break has him go off to do sidequests like a JRPG protagonist. Absolutely in love with Ebeli, but doesn't think he's in her league. His adopted sister is the Sidereal handler of the group. Has a tricked out Royal Warstrider which has a habit of doing Dynamic Entry. His Motivation is to cleanse the City of Dead Flowers.

False Ray of Sunshine: Raksha Wrangler. Terrifying Rei given an Eclipse Caste Exaltation. Has many mutations from the Wyld which she reveals at strategic points. As an Eclipse Caste she has learned enough Raksha bullshit to break any game she was theoretically part of. May have learned God Monster. Has a pet Raksha named [Internal Screaming] which she keeps in her shadow, and has a constant low-level flirting with Ebeli. And possibly the Sun. As in, she may have fucked the Sun. No one wants to ask. Her current Motivation is to obtain Carnal Knowledge of all the Incarnae.

Brighter Tomorrow Path: Only sane man of the Circle. Tall, kinda lanky, Night Caste craftsman who does some real bullshit. Has an entire retinue of uplifted tool gods following him around, giving him ridiculous assistant bonuses on all his craft rolls. Devotes himself to reducing or erasing the collateral damage from the antics of the rest of the Circle. Has restored the Lap and refuses to let Ray touch it. If/When Autochthon is encountered and his full assholery is on display, may have to race Shell to be the first person to smack Him.

Telion Lightbringer: Solar Kung Fu Moses. Zenith Caste who has settled down with a fire-caste love interest and has a kid. Learned Prismatic Arrangement in addition to a handful of Celestial MA and Terrestrial styles. Kind of chill and absolutely friendly. The term 'Tactical Telion Situation' is used for when they need someone to make friends with a Deathlord. Also, his daughter is absolutely fricken adorable. Motivation is to win a sparring match against Ragara Myrunn.
 
[X] Why would you need additional negotiations? You have been summoned to obey for a year and a day as is custom. What would you wish for? (hope the rest of the circle comes while we start talking.)
 
[X]'Kay [continues to stare at his abs]
The original is what brought me to SV in the first place. You do great work, man.
 
[x]Negotiate? What do you mean negotiate?

I missed the predecessor quest the first time around, probably because I wasn't into Exalted.
Reading the opening update, I am beginning to suspect I was missing out.
 
The Story Thus Far:
Our Story Thus Far:

20 years ago: Realm Year 769

V'Neef Ebeli exalts when she figures out a repeated error in sorcerous writings that had prevented a series of spells from correctly working. Much to her family's consternation, she does not exalt as a Wood Caste or even a Fire Caste (like her twin sister) and instead as a Twilight Caste. She escapes her family's satrapy in the Scavenger Lands, running into False Ray of Sunlight when she, too, is on the run from a Wyld Hunt.

The two manage to escape and decide to make their way South. Ebeli decides to become a Sorcerer, and sacrifices her shyness to reach the Emerald Circle. Along the way, they pick up Sky when he saves them from an ambush of Lintha pirates.

The three faff about the Scavenger Lands until they run into wandering priest Telion when he, too, is on the run a Wyld Hunt run by his on-and-off Dragonblooded girlfriend. The four of them end up in a village that is secretly run by the criminal organization run by the Night Caste, Brighter Tomorrow Path. For some reason, he decides to join the circle. Thus, the Circle is formed.



Realm Year 771:

After two years of managing events in the Scavenger Lands, the Circle decides to strike out and make some waves. During this time they find out Sky's adopted little sister is a Sidereal and has been managing them a bit, albeit while being as inexperienced as the rest of them. Nonetheless, they decide to unite the Hundred Kingdoms.



Realm Year 772:

They decide to go to Chiascuro instead. Path takes over the criminal underbelly, Telion starts a cult to the Sun, Ray plays market politics and Ebeli starts summoning First Circles as an ablative meat shield. Sky starts leaning martial arts.


Realm Year 776:

Path builds his first airship. Ebeli hits Sapphire Circle, sacrificing her ignorance, and summons up her first Second Circle demon (Aluvea). Telion opens a martial arts school, and they decide to take over the South.



Realm Year 777:

The Circle hijack the Five Metal Shrike and decide to keep it.



Realm Year 779:

Path builds an Alterier Manse in An Teng. They go North, and Ray fucks up the Pearl Court in unspeakable ways and gets the Heart Grace of [Internal Screaming], who becomes her sidekick/special friend. They meet Yurgen Kaneko when he's out hunting, and he introduces them to his great-great-grandfather, Joachim Kaneko, the Bull of the North, who's fucking crazy.

This raises the question of how old they can get.



Realm Year 780:

Ray starts trade routes with House V'Neef, urging Ebeli for reapproachment. Ebeli puts aside her pain about her lost family and acts as their ambassador, forming a professional rapport with the Great House and it's leader. Conversely, this acts as her sacrifice for Solar Circle Sorcery.

In the North, they stop by Whitewall and over one hilarious season repair the city and find out it's a gigantic altar to the Sun. Telion is happy.

They end up getting into the Carnival of Meeting as a result.



Realm Year 781:

Circle meets Lytek. They find out the rough story regarding the Exaltations. Ebeli binges one of Heaven's libraries and resolves on her Motivation- to study the Deva of an unbound Primordial.

Lumi, Sky's sister, introduces them to the Old Man, Chejop Kejak.



Realm Year 782:

Ebeli summons Amalion, who constructs her summoning Manse. Path and Ray upgrade Path's Manse into a Factory Cathedral and they decide to take over the South. Coincidentally, the Realm realizes the Empress is gone and Civil War breaks out.



Realm Year 783:

The Circle takes over the Lap with V'Neef's backing. Ebeli and her mother have a businesslike relationship which is cordial, but gets strained when V'Neef hits on Sky.

The Circle saves Lytek from an assailant who is eventually revealed to be a Sidereal named Rakan Thulio.

Once determining he is in Malfeas, Ebeli uses demons to solve this problem, recovering Lytek's tools, Lytek himself (revealed to be one of the tools), and a trap is set for Rakan Thulio.

Rakan Thulio meets his end when Gem explodes with him in the city, for the good of Creation.



Realm Year 785:

The Circle explores Malfeas. Ebeli and Sky get lost in the Brass Forest (hint hint nudge nudge). Ebeli summons Orabillis and he turns out to be a giant demonic dickbag. Circle solidifies control over the Diamond Road and decides to destroy the City of Dead Flowers.



Realm year 787:

First encounter with an Infernal Exalted, who turns out to be one of Ray's sisters. She has a pirate ship full of demons and a Hellstrider.

It was a good fight.



Realm Year 789-790:

Ebeli summons Ligier.
 
Last edited:
Dem Demon Abs
[X]'Kay [continues to stare at his abs]

It
isn't that you're lust-struck and staring at the impossibly handsome demon lord, craftsman, Prince, swordsman, and so on and so forth. But, in your extensive studies on the denizens of Malfeas, you knew that Ligier was trustworthy, if alien. Noble, if alien. Honorable, if alien.

Maybe a bit patronizing, but all that green fire this was going to net you was a small price to pay, and there's no way he could be as patronizing as Lytek.

"'kay," you say, leaning back and forth on your heels, "Would you like a tour of my Manse? Amalion designed it."

Ligier claps his lower hands, his upper arms still folded over his chest. "I would be delighted to."

Just because he's very, very handsome and very, very awesome doesn't mean you have to spend all your time ogling him. You're not a Cynis, after all.



More than anything, it seemed Ligier was amused. And you had proof, too, because you have a dizzying array of socializing charms and investigative charms which let you dissect every sentence he said and because why not you used Evidence Discerning Method on him while giving him a tour of the manse.

It took you several tries, and you have resolved to learn the second excellency, but you can now read him like a book. A very pretty book.

Currently, the three of you- Sky, Ligier, and yourself- are in the map room of the manse, which like everything in the manse was slightly off key and with a ceiling that really shouldn't fit, but Amalion made it for free so you don't complain. The map- of the area around the City of Dead Flowers- is unfurled on the table, with its artifact nature showing a three dimensional image of the actual dead city itself, but Ligier's attention is focused on Sky's sword.

Ligier, to his credit, hasn't tried to steal the sword. "I remember this weapon," the demon prince says, "What is it called, now?"

"Stone Splitter," Sky answers. His hands are still on his belt, near enough to the sword's hilt to unsheathe it if necessary.

Ligier hums. "During the War, seven Solar Exalted died attempting to wrench the Sword of the Yozi from me. During their age of victorious rule, entire Grand Circles fell in further attempts. Some died, others showed the proper nobility to return to Creation, sufficiently chuffed." He holds his brass daiklave by the sheathe, its form simple, yet elegant. Sublime. "None of them wielded your sword."

"And why is that?" Sky asks.

Ligier shrugs. "I credit it to them knowing better. Or being satisfied with what they had, if such a condition could be be applied to the Exalted." He gestures, and the Sword of the Yozi vanishes.

You watch with a cocked eyebrow, silent and observant.

You know there's no chance of an actual fight- Sky is courteous and humble, and Ligier is noble and would require the entire Circle. Part of it, you understand, is that few things in Creation or beyond are actually capable of killing him. This must give him a level of confidence.

"Still, Sorcerer," Ligier says, turning back to you, "A war against the dead is well and good, but there must be other tasks you would commit my might towards. A solidification of rule over the South? A conquest of Paragon?"

Paragon was on the 'to do' list, but you'd have to ask Path about that. You could stamp your foot down, but he is rather close right now. Also, you know, almost innately, that getting frustrated with him would be a bad thing, because being sudden with restrictions and being petty with them goes against his nature.

So instead, you quickly step back, putting Sky between you while you refocus on the Map. "Well! In addition to the war against the Dead-"

"Pissant ghosts," Ligier adds.

"I am not the one in charge of the infrastructure. That would be Path." You glance, side to side. Normally, when you invoke the name of the resident Night Caste during uncomfortable moments, he appears, unbidden. "But I'm sure, once Path returns he can list off what we would need."

Damn it. The one time you need him to show up and he doesn't. Where is he? Yes, you're a Dynast but you've never even done your taxes much less negotiated the services of Ligier.

"Fascinating, though," Ligier says, stroking his chin, "Do you always prime your Manses for implosions?"

You start. Blink. "I'm sorry?"

"I recognize the handiwork of a Solar craftsman," he says, "If I did not agree to the binding, the Manse would have imploded, presumably to send myself back to Malfeas."

And kill everyone in the Manse, you realize. Your nose crinkles and your fists ball. That does explain where Path is- probably at the control center of the Lap with a geomantic gun to your Manse. You glance at Sky, who gives a reassuring nod, as he probably could have gotten you both out before the Manse imploded.

"Of course, it would not be enough to harm me," Ligier continues, "Perhaps not even banish me."

"That's because the preparations weren't for you," you explain, "We were preparing to summon Erembour."

Ligier stares at you. He folds both sets of arms, nose crinkling slightly.

"In that case, your preparations were immaculate."

"Thank you," the tall, lanky Night Caste says, right next to you where there was noone before. You would say you did not squeak in surprise when Path appeared out of fucking nowhere, but everyone had Judges Ear on and they'd know you were lying.

[ ]Scold Path for priming to blow up your Manse.

[ ]Let Path negotiate services while you take a breather.

[ ]Write in.
 
[X]Let Path negotiate services while you take a breather.

We totally planned to implode the Manse if the summoning went badly. 100% our idea. Yep. Totally.
 
[X]Scold Path for priming to blow up your Manse.
We totally had that! There were a years worth of preparations to summon Erembour, and we're awesome! We didn't actually use any of those preparations, but still!
 
Being the Adult. Ish.
[X]Let Path negotiate services while you take a breather.


Two weeks ago.

You
watch Path rest his head in his hands, as he has for several minutes since you explained your plan to him. He makes a muffled sound, like someone trying to scream into the crook of his elbow, which for him is normal when someone suggests something incredibly dangerous which may be the best idea and something he has plenty of practice reacting to. Sitting around the map table in the Circle's mobile home base, you continue staring at him.

Sky, still sitting, continues to stare. Telion strokes his corded beard, staring at the Night Caste. He glances to you, then back to Path, before tapping his fingers on the table. Ray simply folds her hands in front of her mouth, forming a bridge with her fingers.

"I don't like this idea," Path finally says, "Ebeli, you know what makes Erembour special."

"She doesn't have an escape condition," you respond. You don't even have to think about it, because you know Demons. "For the record, this was imposed on her by the Exalted of the First Age and the Incarnae and I have been vocal on how I think the First Age was a bag of dicks."

You prop your hands on your hips. "And not the kind of bag of dicks they give you in House Cynis."

Sky pointedly coughs.

"Why do you want to summon Erembour?" Telion asks, "I mean, I understand Path's position here. We know you're not just going to summon up an Third Circle for shits and giggles."

You nod. "The biggest advantage that the First and Forsaken Lion has is the army of the Dead," you explain, "Erembour can, through her Revelry, command Creatures of Darkness. She would be able to take the his army from him, allowing us to focus on him and his Abyssals."

Telion nods. He glances at Path, who remains stone faced. "Why not just summon Ligier and have him burn them all?" the Zenith asks.

"Because we have inroads with Erembour," you continue, "Mara's our friend. More importantly, we rescued her daughter in Great Forks, and she agreed to vouch for us with Erembour as a result."

Path takes a deep breath. "Alright. What if the summoning fails?"

You tap your fingers together. He's got you there. "So...if I fail shecanbasicallywalkfree but! She cocoons herself whenever she's hit by sunlight. She'd be easy to contain." You smile, your best winning smile. "There's no way this could go wrong."



Now.

You
clench your fists, take a deep breath, and smile. You take another deep breath, unball your fists, and exhale.

"The Sorcerer is aware that she is the one to negotiate with me, yes?" Ligier asks, "And that negotiation for my services would have been concluded with the binding itself?"

Path nods. "I'm sure that you noticed the wording in the binding," he explains, "I'm here to clarify some things."

Ligier's eyes narrow. So do yours. "Clever, if insulting," the Green Sun says.

"The last Third Circle Demon we summoned was Orabillis."

Ligier raises two hands, palms out. "I understand completely."

Sky sputters. "Did you just try to blow up the Manse?"

Path glances to you, then at the Dawn Caste. You might as well step in. "If Path had to choose between an unbound Erembour and my manse, it's not a hard decision."

The Night Caste points, albeit politely, at the Third Circle Demon opposite him. "And he's not Erembour," he adds. You nod, sighing.

You then cock an eyebrow, hands on your hips. "How was I not going to die if you blew up the Manse?"

"I'd trust Sky to get you both out," Path responds, and shrugs. Sky glares at him. You walk over, take Sky by the wrist, and start walking to the door.

As you walk out, you both hear Ligier asking Path what measures he would take if he knew he was being summoned.



You had Amalion build your Manse, so there's always something off about it. A feeling that one gets when one walks down the hallways, like every painting is slightly tilted. The first few times you explored your Manse you got headaches, but now you're used to it. You're also better at navigating the structure, through its winding stairways and hallways.

"So are you alright?" Sky asks.

"I'm fine." The two of you turn a corner, past a set of walking Gateway pieces carrying scrolls and maps. "You're tense, though."

"Path almost blew us up." Sky says it plainly. Not as angry as before. Which is a good thing.

"Path knew what he was doing." Which is true. Sometimes you mentally compared Path to Mnemon. Both are similar. Both believe they are always right and both live with the steadfast belief that they are the single most competent person of everyone they know.

It's just, in Path's case, he's right. At least, in his fields.

"It was...callous," Sky states.

"Erembour being unrestrained and unbound is a nightmare scenario." You don't turn to Sky as you walk down magical stairs, giving commands to your Hearthstone for the proper level. "It's like Path and I talked about- she has no beckoning conditions. She has no escape clause. Ligier has an escape clause, and she doesn't."

Sky huffs an agreement. The two of you walk into the isolated chamber, lined with needles on the walls and ceilings. Light-lensing, gravity warping quills of the Antarch Stampede. Isidoros. Focused upon the mirror of polished obsidian, linked together with twins in other realms.

You press a hand against it and let your Essence flow. It distorts, flows and ripples out, instead of your reflection you see the hooded woman, with bright blue eyes and deer hooves for feet. You see the white smile beneath the hood.

"Hello, Mara."

"Hey." The Soul Drinker cups her hands and shouts, to someone out of your view. "HEY! IT'S EBELI!"

"Is Erembour there?" you ask.

"Yeah, and wondering why she's still in Hell."

You pinch the bridge of your nose. "Well, last minute decision to summon Ligier instead."

Mara blinks. "Did you pull it off?"

"Path is currently negotiating with him for help with his projects."

Mara's smile goes wider and she gives two thumbs up.

[ ]Ask about happenings in the Demon City.

[ ]Small talk with your BFF.

[ ]Write in.
 
Back
Top