Ling laughs triumphantly when Nikolai threatens Dagon with the house purchase, but as the rest of the conversation unfolds, she becomes more serious and listens carefully. Samael... cast out of Heaven with Lucifer, father of Cain, commander of demons, angel of death. I think it even said something about him hooking up with Lillith - oh and, wasn't he a patron of Edom? That is some father. Ling stares at Nikolai's back. As the buzz wears off, her senses remain heightened and she is inspecting Nikolai very carefully, trying to determine if he really could be a son of Samael. She only briefly glances over her shoulder when she hears Caio come downstairs.
"That's what we're trying to find out, Caio! Some big-deal demon guy called Dagon, apparently. Though he swears on the angel, so how that works..." she shrugs, "don't ask me."
Leaning closer to Nikolai, she whispers: "Is it true? What happens if you release him, won't he just tears us to shreds?"
Nikolai nods his head at Alaris, but keeps quiet for a moment as he processes the information they presented.
Nikolai chuckles a little at Dagon. “True, but just imagine how bored you’d be during those years.” He watches Dagon intently as the fallen angel pulls at whatever power of divination it possessed… and then another name quite literally rocks Nikolai back on his heels. He forgets to correct Dagon as all the thoughts and possibilities begin to swirl violently around his mind. ‘All these years, I finally know! Father… you slippery bastard.’
Nikolai wipes his hand across his face to clear his thoughts and focus on the task at hand. “Well, firstly we should all be aware that he can read your thoughts. There are no secrets in this room at the moment. As to your question, Alaris, yes they can transition if they were one of the original fallen angels. Isn’t that right, Dagon? Alaris, could I ask you a favor? Could you take a photograph of that painting we found and bring it back here to me? Caio, could you please check the house for any signs of a personal journal or notes and bring them here? And as for him tearing us to pieces, I am not concerned about that possibility at this moment. In the future he may come for us, but he isn’t physically present in this circle. I feel this is more of a spiritually binding summons. So when the circles are destroyed, his spirit will be sent back to wherever his body resides…”
A thought hits Nikolai as she stares at the geometric patterns upon the floor. ‘The patterns! The ritual!’ “Ling!! See if you can find me a map of the city! We need to plot out the locations of all these murders! Dagon, is Samael trying the ritual again?”
"Oh shit, he can?" Think of a hippo, think of a hippo! "Well at least the lack of physical claws and things is a relief, I guess?" Regaining her composure, Ling elbows Nikolai. "Son of the angel of death, eh? Of course you'd be the son of like the only big deal demon I was ever interested in." She fishes out her phone, finds a map and plots the locations of the murders. Holding it up, she observes: "We'll need to talk about that Samael thing later, but for now - doesn't look like any kind of pattern to me, you guys?"
"I've held up my end of your 'deal'," he tells Nikolai with a touch of disdain. "This has been fun, so I promise to stick around and chat, but you will need to hold up your end of the bargain now."
Alaris hurries out and snaps a few pictures of the mural with their mobile. Coming back into the room, they hand their phone to Nikolai and peer over his shoulder at the map Ling and the warlock developed. Studiously ignoring Dagon, the paladin murmurs, "Oh... that's interesting..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Caio also returns after a few moments. “It looks like whoever nabbed the books also took any notes or anything like that. Now what’s this about Samael?”
Nikolai examines the photos of the painting and clicks his tongue in annoyance; he’d hoped to find something more there, but only more questions. He turns to Dagon and nods. “So be it. I shall release you on the agreement of mutual cooperation? We help you, you help them more than you have.” He examines the makeup of the runes and notices that they have been scorched into the floor. He begins practicing the patterns with his finger over the top of the runes so as not to make a mistake during the ritual. After a few practice runs he rolls his shoulders and leans in closely. “A little quiet if possible. This will require very precise movements and any distractions could prove catastrophic.”
A bright spark lights up Nikolai’s fingertip before a line of arcane energy lances from it and begins to blast away at the runes; however, after a few movements the amount of energy does not quite seem to be enough and Nikolai pours more into the beam… He almost immediately loses control as the wider beam scours across the circle and nearly burns into the next, but Nikolai is just barely able to regain control of his magic and reel it back as the force whithers to nothing. He lets out the breath he’d been holding as the circle sparks and then flickers away. He looks up at Dagon to gauge his reaction.
Dagon raises an unimpressed eyebrow, but nevertheless smirks with satisfaction as the circle dissipates..
"Don't blow your load all at once, Arkadi..." he chuckles, "but I suppose that's one way to do it. Maybe keep your eyes on the prize next time."
He winks and glances meaningfully at where Ling has popped her hip out while leaning against one of the low stone arches.
"You advertise your assets without even thinking about it, don't you, little one?" Dagon mocks. "You probably can't even help yourself... and you lot claim I'm the sinful one."
He laughs again at his own joke, before coughing and straightening his suit.
"Anyway, to business. You should hurry. If you don't stop the Bastards before they complete their ritual, you won't have a hope in hell of saving this city."
Dagon's eyes sparkle with every tit-bit he reveals. It seems he enjoys drawing this out.
Dagon sighs, and pauses for a moment, as though struggling to articulate something.
"How would you explain to somebody who exists in two dimensions that their motions are beautiful from above? I enjoy seeing the game unfold, and if the Bastards unchain Azazel from the rocks of Duduael, well the results are so predictable. It's a good thing you came here though, you don't stand a chance without that ring on her pretty little finger."
"Well I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds unpleasant."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
"If you've got it, flaunt it!" Ling grins and poses for emphasis. She seems to have impressed at least Nikolai and Alaris, as neither of them appear to have followed Dagon's explanation properly. Pushing off the wall, Ling exclaims: "Guys! Azazel, demon prince of one of those circles of hell? Forever chained to the rocks of Dudael? The one who took happy memories from Clary and Jace when they tried to summon its spirit? No? Come on, fallen angel lore is like the only interesting bit in the whole old demons section! He's right, if they can somehow unchain him, that's BAD!" She thinks for a second. "So they stole the Grimoire to get the spell for the ritual, and the murders are probably ingredients or steps for it. What does the ring do?" She wriggles her finger at Dagon.
Dagon smirks a Cheshire cat smile so wide that his teeth sparkle in the darkness.
"The ring manipulates..." again he searches for the right words in the language of mortals. "You would say 'time and space'. If it's active and passes through the portal, the tear will close."
The once-angel laughs wryly.
"What I can't tell you, is where the wearer will find themselves when it does."
Ling is taken aback by Dagon's explanation. "You like chaos, don't you? How do you activate it?" She turns to the others, trying to keep her voice light but concern clear on her face: "There is no way any of us are going through some random portal to the demon dimension. We could be torn to shreds before we even arrive, and even if we make it, anyone but perhaps Nikolai wouldn't live long there."
"The portal won't take you to its origin point." He explains, rolling his eyes. "Anybody inside when it collapses will be cast adrift between dimensions. They'll emerge... somewhere... but as a parallel version of themselves. They may never even remember the life they once lived in this world."
He gestures theatrically as he narrates, clearly relishing the conundrum he presents the shadowhunters with.
"As for the ring - sit with it a while. Concentrate. It needs you to open yourself to it. You must accept its nature and the role you will play together."
"Is parallel me as fabulous as prime me?" Alaris drawls to Dagon. "It doesn't seem possible... but 'there are more things in heaven and Earth' and all that..."
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Nikolai sat quietly for a few moments as he ponders Dagon’s explanation. After a moment he seems to nod to himself as if the explanation made sense, but such concepts were a little beyond Nikolai’s understanding. He did, however, know somewhere to go for more information; the Seelie Court. They were skilled in such ideas of parallel universes and trans-dimensional travel and he maintained a positive relationship with them given his position within the city. “Dagon, is it possible to activate the ring’s powers and then send it through the gate by itself?” He looks at the fallen angel skeptically immediately after asking the question, not believing he would answer honestly even if he knew the answer.
“Ling, may I borrow the ring briefly? I would like to examine its properties to get a better understanding of its nature.”
"Adrift between dimensions doesn't really sound awesome." Ling grins at Alaris. "Oh I'm sure they're way more fabulous. Maybe we should try it, on second thought! I would love to see an alternate Nikolai. Maybe you'd be a talking frog? Who knows! - Hang on, let me try this "concentrate and open yourself" thing first. How about you make him spit out where that portal even is?" Ling sits down in a yogi pose and closes her eyes, muttering: "Open yourself, pah, I bet that ring is going to mind-control me now or something..." She sighs and tries to silence her thoughts, listening out quietly for the ring.
"If it has to be on someone's finger, we could just get one of those Bastards, force him to put it on and toss him through." Caio says with a shrug. "Uh, Dagon is it? Any advice on how we should attack these warlocks?"
Ling laughs triumphantly when Nikolai threatens Dagon with the house purchase, but as the rest of the conversation unfolds, she becomes more serious and listens carefully. Samael... cast out of Heaven with Lucifer, father of Cain, commander of demons, angel of death. I think it even said something about him hooking up with Lillith - oh and, wasn't he a patron of Edom? That is some father. Ling stares at Nikolai's back. As the buzz wears off, her senses remain heightened and she is inspecting Nikolai very carefully, trying to determine if he really could be a son of Samael. She only briefly glances over her shoulder when she hears Caio come downstairs.
"That's what we're trying to find out, Caio! Some big-deal demon guy called Dagon, apparently. Though he swears on the angel, so how that works..." she shrugs, "don't ask me."
Leaning closer to Nikolai, she whispers: "Is it true? What happens if you release him, won't he just tears us to shreds?"
Nikolai nods his head at Alaris, but keeps quiet for a moment as he processes the information they presented.
Nikolai chuckles a little at Dagon. “True, but just imagine how bored you’d be during those years.” He watches Dagon intently as the fallen angel pulls at whatever power of divination it possessed… and then another name quite literally rocks Nikolai back on his heels. He forgets to correct Dagon as all the thoughts and possibilities begin to swirl violently around his mind. ‘All these years, I finally know! Father… you slippery bastard.’
Nikolai wipes his hand across his face to clear his thoughts and focus on the task at hand. “Well, firstly we should all be aware that he can read your thoughts. There are no secrets in this room at the moment. As to your question, Alaris, yes they can transition if they were one of the original fallen angels. Isn’t that right, Dagon? Alaris, could I ask you a favor? Could you take a photograph of that painting we found and bring it back here to me? Caio, could you please check the house for any signs of a personal journal or notes and bring them here? And as for him tearing us to pieces, I am not concerned about that possibility at this moment. In the future he may come for us, but he isn’t physically present in this circle. I feel this is more of a spiritually binding summons. So when the circles are destroyed, his spirit will be sent back to wherever his body resides…”
A thought hits Nikolai as she stares at the geometric patterns upon the floor. ‘The patterns! The ritual!’ “Ling!! See if you can find me a map of the city! We need to plot out the locations of all these murders! Dagon, is Samael trying the ritual again?”
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
"Oh shit, he can?" Think of a hippo, think of a hippo! "Well at least the lack of physical claws and things is a relief, I guess?" Regaining her composure, Ling elbows Nikolai. "Son of the angel of death, eh? Of course you'd be the son of like the only big deal demon I was ever interested in." She fishes out her phone, finds a map and plots the locations of the murders. Holding it up, she observes: "We'll need to talk about that Samael thing later, but for now - doesn't look like any kind of pattern to me, you guys?"
Dagon chuckles and puffs up his cheeks at Ling.
"I've held up my end of your 'deal'," he tells Nikolai with a touch of disdain. "This has been fun, so I promise to stick around and chat, but you will need to hold up your end of the bargain now."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Alaris hurries out and snaps a few pictures of the mural with their mobile. Coming back into the room, they hand their phone to Nikolai and peer over his shoulder at the map Ling and the warlock developed. Studiously ignoring Dagon, the paladin murmurs, "Oh... that's interesting..."
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Caio also returns after a few moments. “It looks like whoever nabbed the books also took any notes or anything like that. Now what’s this about Samael?”
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Nikolai examines the photos of the painting and clicks his tongue in annoyance; he’d hoped to find something more there, but only more questions. He turns to Dagon and nods. “So be it. I shall release you on the agreement of mutual cooperation? We help you, you help them more than you have.” He examines the makeup of the runes and notices that they have been scorched into the floor. He begins practicing the patterns with his finger over the top of the runes so as not to make a mistake during the ritual. After a few practice runs he rolls his shoulders and leans in closely. “A little quiet if possible. This will require very precise movements and any distractions could prove catastrophic.”
A bright spark lights up Nikolai’s fingertip before a line of arcane energy lances from it and begins to blast away at the runes; however, after a few movements the amount of energy does not quite seem to be enough and Nikolai pours more into the beam… He almost immediately loses control as the wider beam scours across the circle and nearly burns into the next, but Nikolai is just barely able to regain control of his magic and reel it back as the force whithers to nothing. He lets out the breath he’d been holding as the circle sparks and then flickers away. He looks up at Dagon to gauge his reaction.
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Dagon raises an unimpressed eyebrow, but nevertheless smirks with satisfaction as the circle dissipates..
"Don't blow your load all at once, Arkadi..." he chuckles, "but I suppose that's one way to do it. Maybe keep your eyes on the prize next time."
He winks and glances meaningfully at where Ling has popped her hip out while leaning against one of the low stone arches.
"You advertise your assets without even thinking about it, don't you, little one?" Dagon mocks. "You probably can't even help yourself... and you lot claim I'm the sinful one."
He laughs again at his own joke, before coughing and straightening his suit.
"Anyway, to business. You should hurry. If you don't stop the Bastards before they complete their ritual, you won't have a hope in hell of saving this city."
Dagon's eyes sparkle with every tit-bit he reveals. It seems he enjoys drawing this out.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Nikolai nods. “Will you tell us where? And... why do you care? What is it to you exactly?”
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
"What ritual?" Caio says in exasperation, still trying to catch up on all of this unfolding information.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Dagon sighs, and pauses for a moment, as though struggling to articulate something.
"How would you explain to somebody who exists in two dimensions that their motions are beautiful from above? I enjoy seeing the game unfold, and if the Bastards unchain Azazel from the rocks of Duduael, well the results are so predictable. It's a good thing you came here though, you don't stand a chance without that ring on her pretty little finger."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
"Well I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds unpleasant."
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
"If you've got it, flaunt it!" Ling grins and poses for emphasis. She seems to have impressed at least Nikolai and Alaris, as neither of them appear to have followed Dagon's explanation properly. Pushing off the wall, Ling exclaims: "Guys! Azazel, demon prince of one of those circles of hell? Forever chained to the rocks of Dudael? The one who took happy memories from Clary and Jace when they tried to summon its spirit? No? Come on, fallen angel lore is like the only interesting bit in the whole old demons section! He's right, if they can somehow unchain him, that's BAD!" She thinks for a second. "So they stole the Grimoire to get the spell for the ritual, and the murders are probably ingredients or steps for it. What does the ring do?" She wriggles her finger at Dagon.
Dagon smirks a Cheshire cat smile so wide that his teeth sparkle in the darkness.
"The ring manipulates..." again he searches for the right words in the language of mortals. "You would say 'time and space'. If it's active and passes through the portal, the tear will close."
The once-angel laughs wryly.
"What I can't tell you, is where the wearer will find themselves when it does."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Ling is taken aback by Dagon's explanation. "You like chaos, don't you? How do you activate it?" She turns to the others, trying to keep her voice light but concern clear on her face: "There is no way any of us are going through some random portal to the demon dimension. We could be torn to shreds before we even arrive, and even if we make it, anyone but perhaps Nikolai wouldn't live long there."
Dagon sighs.
"The portal won't take you to its origin point." He explains, rolling his eyes. "Anybody inside when it collapses will be cast adrift between dimensions. They'll emerge... somewhere... but as a parallel version of themselves. They may never even remember the life they once lived in this world."
He gestures theatrically as he narrates, clearly relishing the conundrum he presents the shadowhunters with.
"As for the ring - sit with it a while. Concentrate. It needs you to open yourself to it. You must accept its nature and the role you will play together."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
"Is parallel me as fabulous as prime me?" Alaris drawls to Dagon. "It doesn't seem possible... but 'there are more things in heaven and Earth' and all that..."
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Nikolai sat quietly for a few moments as he ponders Dagon’s explanation. After a moment he seems to nod to himself as if the explanation made sense, but such concepts were a little beyond Nikolai’s understanding. He did, however, know somewhere to go for more information; the Seelie Court. They were skilled in such ideas of parallel universes and trans-dimensional travel and he maintained a positive relationship with them given his position within the city. “Dagon, is it possible to activate the ring’s powers and then send it through the gate by itself?” He looks at the fallen angel skeptically immediately after asking the question, not believing he would answer honestly even if he knew the answer.
“Ling, may I borrow the ring briefly? I would like to examine its properties to get a better understanding of its nature.”
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
"Adrift between dimensions doesn't really sound awesome." Ling grins at Alaris. "Oh I'm sure they're way more fabulous. Maybe we should try it, on second thought! I would love to see an alternate Nikolai. Maybe you'd be a talking frog? Who knows! - Hang on, let me try this "concentrate and open yourself" thing first. How about you make him spit out where that portal even is?" Ling sits down in a yogi pose and closes her eyes, muttering: "Open yourself, pah, I bet that ring is going to mind-control me now or something..." She sighs and tries to silence her thoughts, listening out quietly for the ring.
"If it has to be on someone's finger, we could just get one of those Bastards, force him to put it on and toss him through." Caio says with a shrug. "Uh, Dagon is it? Any advice on how we should attack these warlocks?"
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger