Wooden floors fail to creak beneath your feet. Curtains fail to sway in the wind. Huge tears have been made in the walls. A bloodstained knife is stuck into the floor.
The shadows seem solid. They look as hard as a brick wall. You look up at the ceiling. Ghastly skeletons dangle from the darkness, tied to thousands of thin strings like macabre marionettes. Every single skull is facing you.
You spot a shelf covered in strange trinkets and treasures. On the top of the shelf, just slightly out of reach is the mummified corpse of a cat. Its hair is completely missing and its small, sharp teeth are bared.
His gun morphs into a long strange of rope with a noose at the end. Flinging it at the cat, he lassoes it and pulls it toward him.
You are now holding the cat in your arms. Grabbing it has caused a shower of dust to fall upon you. Its corpse is stiff and surprisingly light. Its legs are held under it as if it was standing on all fours.
Deimos hurries out of the house, dusting himself off. “Malaka. That was unnerving.” He goes to look for Seymour.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
"You certainly look thin enough!" Laughs the larger fiend. "How about if you help me, I make you a home-cooked meal for free?"
He gives a crooked grin. “Depends on the task, but I’d love to help. Especially for food.”
Cerius smiles back warmly. "You see, I descend from a very long line of fallen angels. We often get contracts straight from the upper planes to torment particular souls in particular ways. My parents are... less than happy that I quit. But I'm sure I can get a good job here, I can make them proud of me again!... If I could actually find my way around. That's what I need help with. I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm doing. This is my first time outside of the third layer."
“Ah! Easy then! You don’t even have to make me food.” Deimos smiles. “Consider this a favor from a friend. I just dropped off my application at the desk. If you have yours, I can take a look at it. I’m applying for a position as a security guard.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Wooden floors fail to creak beneath your feet. Curtains fail to sway in the wind. Huge tears have been made in the walls. A bloodstained knife is stuck into the floor.
The shadows seem solid. They look as hard as a brick wall. You look up at the ceiling. Ghastly skeletons dangle from the darkness, tied to thousands of thin strings like macabre marionettes. Every single skull is facing you.
You spot a shelf covered in strange trinkets and treasures. On the top of the shelf, just slightly out of reach is the mummified corpse of a cat. Its hair is completely missing and its small, sharp teeth are bared.
His gun morphs into a long strange of rope with a noose at the end. Flinging it at the cat, he lassoes it and pulls it toward him.
You are now holding the cat in your arms. Grabbing it has caused a shower of dust to fall upon you. Its corpse is stiff and surprisingly light. Its legs are held under it as if it was standing on all fours.
Deimos hurries out of the house, dusting himself off. “Malaka. That was unnerving.” He goes to look for Seymour.
Seymund seems to have dragged two coffins out of a pile of refuse. With the help of Crooch he has set them upright so that they are both facing the same direction and they are about fifteen feet apart from each other.
"You certainly look thin enough!" Laughs the larger fiend. "How about if you help me, I make you a home-cooked meal for free?"
He gives a crooked grin. “Depends on the task, but I’d love to help. Especially for food.”
Cerius smiles back warmly. "You see, I descend from a very long line of fallen angels. We often get contracts straight from the upper planes to torment particular souls in particular ways. My parents are... less than happy that I quit. But I'm sure I can get a good job here, I can make them proud of me again!... If I could actually find my way around. That's what I need help with. I have no idea where I'm going or what I'm doing. This is my first time outside of the third layer."
“Ah! Easy then! You don’t even have to make me food.” Deimos smiles. “Consider this a favor from a friend. I just dropped off my application at the desk. If you have yours, I can take a look at it. I’m applying for a position as a security guard.”
"Thank you! I'll cook for you anyway! You don't know how important this is to me!" He hands over a sheet of laminated paper. It is damp and splattered with mud. It is also very, very cold.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
Seymund seems to have dragged two coffins out of a pile of refuse. With the help of Crooch he has set them upright so that they are both facing the same direction and they are about fifteen feet apart from each other.
Deimos frowns, holding the cat close. “What exactly are we doing with these?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
"Thank you! I'll cook for you anyway! You don't know how important this is to me!" He hands over a sheet of laminated paper. It is damp and splattered with mud. It is also very, very cold.
Deimos picks it up and reads it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Seymund seems to have dragged two coffins out of a pile of refuse. With the help of Crooch he has set them upright so that they are both facing the same direction and they are about fifteen feet apart from each other.
Deimos frowns, holding the cat close. “What exactly are we doing with these?”
Seymund turns to you. "Crooch's devil should be here in a few moments. Crooch will get in the coffin on the right, and I will get in the coffin on the left. This is because devils are naturally inclined to choose the left because the left is not right and they never do what is right. I will be holding the whip and the cat while I am in the coffin. The devil can sense the direction of the whip, though it can also sense the direction of Crooch. I will be holding the whip on the left side to make it inclined to choose my coffin. However, this devil is probably more intelligent than to choose what its instinct tells it. You will be outside the coffins, standing inbetween them. He will no doubt ask you which coffin his prey is in. You must trick him into opening the wrong coffin but you cannot make it obvious that you are trying to trick it into opening the wrong coffin. Devils are crafty creatures, but it will not harm you as long as you don't harm it. Do you have any questions?"
Seymund seems to have dragged two coffins out of a pile of refuse. With the help of Crooch he has set them upright so that they are both facing the same direction and they are about fifteen feet apart from each other.
Deimos frowns, holding the cat close. “What exactly are we doing with these?”
Seymund turns to you. "Crooch's devil should be here in a few moments. Crooch will get in the coffin on the right, and I will get in the coffin on the left. This is because devils are naturally inclined to choose the left because the left is not right and they never do what is right. I will be holding the whip and the cat while I am in the coffin. The devil can sense the direction of the whip, though it can also sense the direction of Crooch. I will be holding the whip on the left side to make it inclined to choose my coffin. However, this devil is probably more intelligent than to choose what its instinct tells it. You will be outside the coffins, standing inbetween them. He will no doubt ask you which coffin his prey is in. You must trick him into opening the wrong coffin but you cannot make it obvious that you are trying to trick it into opening the wrong coffin. Devils are crafty creatures, but it will not harm you as long as you don't harm it. Do you have any questions?"
Deimos blinks. “Just one. What does the cat have to do with this?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Seymund seems to have dragged two coffins out of a pile of refuse. With the help of Crooch he has set them upright so that they are both facing the same direction and they are about fifteen feet apart from each other.
Deimos frowns, holding the cat close. “What exactly are we doing with these?”
Seymund turns to you. "Crooch's devil should be here in a few moments. Crooch will get in the coffin on the right, and I will get in the coffin on the left. This is because devils are naturally inclined to choose the left because the left is not right and they never do what is right. I will be holding the whip and the cat while I am in the coffin. The devil can sense the direction of the whip, though it can also sense the direction of Crooch. I will be holding the whip on the left side to make it inclined to choose my coffin. However, this devil is probably more intelligent than to choose what its instinct tells it. You will be outside the coffins, standing inbetween them. He will no doubt ask you which coffin his prey is in. You must trick him into opening the wrong coffin but you cannot make it obvious that you are trying to trick it into opening the wrong coffin. Devils are crafty creatures, but it will not harm you as long as you don't harm it. Do you have any questions?"
Deimos blinks. “Just one. What does the cat have to do with this?”
"The cat is to keep me company. I get lonely when locked in a coffin." He stares straight at you and his face is undiscernible behind his mask.
Then he breaks out laughing which quickly becomes a hacking cough. "Sorry for my poor humor. When the devil tries to get inside the coffin he will be trapped inside the cat's body. I will then tie this red string," He pulls red string from his coat pocket, " around the cat's neck, paralyzing the devil and trapping it in this cat's body. If the cat gets out of the coffin, do not strike it down. The devil will be surprised by its entrapment and it should give us time to defeat it. But if you kill the cat's body then the devil will be freed and he will kill us all. Understand?"
"The cat is to keep me company. I get lonely when locked in a coffin." He stares straight at you and his face is undiscernible behind his mask.
Then he breaks out laughing which quickly becomes a hacking cough. "Sorry for my poor humor. When the devil tries to get inside the coffin he will be trapped inside the cat's body. I will then tie this red string," He pulls red string from his coat pocket, " around the cat's neck, paralyzing the devil and trapping it in this cat's body. If the cat gets out of the coffin, do not strike it down. The devil will be surprised by its entrapment and it should give us time to defeat it. But if you kill the cat's body then the devil will be freed and he will kill us all. Understand?"
Demios gives him a crooked grin and salutes. “Aye-aye sir.” He hands the cat to Seymour and looks at Cooch, winking. “You better bow down and pray to him afterwards. The amount we’re risking for one measly soul is astronomical.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
"The cat is to keep me company. I get lonely when locked in a coffin." He stares straight at you and his face is undiscernible behind his mask.
Then he breaks out laughing which quickly becomes a hacking cough. "Sorry for my poor humor. When the devil tries to get inside the coffin he will be trapped inside the cat's body. I will then tie this red string," He pulls red string from his coat pocket, " around the cat's neck, paralyzing the devil and trapping it in this cat's body. If the cat gets out of the coffin, do not strike it down. The devil will be surprised by its entrapment and it should give us time to defeat it. But if you kill the cat's body then the devil will be freed and he will kill us all. Understand?"
Demios gives him a crooked grin and salutes. “Aye-aye sir.” He hands the cat to Seymour and looks at Cooch, winking. “You better bow down and pray to him afterwards. The amount we’re risking for one measly soul is astronomical.”
Crooch nods, "I am forever in both of your debt. I cannot express the depths of my gratitude..." before he can continue Seymund interrupts.
"There will be time for that later. Listen."
Off in the distance you hear a heavy flapping of wings. Then a faint voice creeps out of a skull that has been lying on the ground, "Barbargaas is approaching. He flies with the hell-crow."
The plague doctor snatches the cat from your hand, and steps into the coffin. He nods to you before closing the lid, shutting himself in.
Crooch gulps. "Well, this is...this is it. Thanks for all you have done." He shakily steps into the coffin and slowly lowers the lid.
You are left standing alone in the center of the square. Two coffins stand upright on either side of you.
Then all the skulls skattered across the ground begins to chant in whispered voices, "Barbargaas... Barbargaas... Barbargaas..."
A distant shape can be seen off in the distance. It gets closer and closer until you can make out its appearance. A massive raven of blood red colour tears through the sky. It bears itself upon bat wings and leaves a trail of crimson feathers behind it. Its beak is shiny, black and jagged. When it lands, a wave of putrid air washes over you. The cobblestones crack under its weight. The crow looks at you with one pale white eye. Then it jerks. It rears its head back and caws a bone rattling screech which suddenly stops as if it was choking. Two broad hands grip the sides of the beak from inside the beasts mouth. The hell-crow shakes and shudders as the hands push its beak farther and farther apart. The fiendish bird is peeled apart from the inside by devilish strength.
A horrific form emerges from its maw. First, a head. The flesh is drawn taught against its skull, and cracked horns stab at the sky from its forehead. Its eyes are black pits, and it lacks lips to conceal its jagged, yellowed teeth. Then shoulders emerge, bony covered in leathery skin the color of dried blood. Two useless wings sprout from the back. The rest of the devil emerges and you discover that its body is ape like, thin, and gangly. It stands at about ten feet tall, and the husk of the bird now seems empty and floats away on the breeze.
"Shall you stand between me and what is rightfully mine?" The fiend speaks without opening its mouth.
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
The demonic figure takes a step back at seeing your transformation but his face betrays no emotion. "Choose with my heart?" he rasps, "I do not have a heart. Who are you to command me and choose my decisions?"
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
The demonic figure takes a step back at seeing your transformation but his face betrays no emotion. "Choose with my heart?" he rasps, "I do not have a heart. Who are you to command me and choose my decisions?"
“I am not commanding. I am suggesting. And we all have something in us, something to house our instincts and our deepest desires. I apologize for offending if I were to insinuate it being a heart- I equivilate it as having a core.” The were-demon grins madly, tilting its head. “But you will have to choose. It’s simple really. A small game, for your and my entertainment. Even if you wish to kill me, you will still need to choose. I’m just here to help you- I enjoy soul reaping as much as the next demon.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
The demonic figure takes a step back at seeing your transformation but his face betrays no emotion. "Choose with my heart?" he rasps, "I do not have a heart. Who are you to command me and choose my decisions?"
“I am not commanding. I am suggesting. And we all have something in us, something to house our instincts and our deepest desires. I apologize for offending if I were to insinuate it being a heart- I equivilate it as having a core.” The were-demon grins madly, tilting its head. “But you will have to choose. It’s simple really. A small game, for your and my entertainment. Even if you wish to kill me, you will still need to choose. I’m just here to help you- I enjoy soul reaping as much as the next demon.”
The fiend lurches forward, "Have it your way, but know that I will bind you with the bones of Ashkarladaz if you steal my soul from me." He surveys the two coffins and you notice he seems to linger on the left one. "What is in the wrong box?" the devil asks.
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
The demonic figure takes a step back at seeing your transformation but his face betrays no emotion. "Choose with my heart?" he rasps, "I do not have a heart. Who are you to command me and choose my decisions?"
“I am not commanding. I am suggesting. And we all have something in us, something to house our instincts and our deepest desires. I apologize for offending if I were to insinuate it being a heart- I equivilate it as having a core.” The were-demon grins madly, tilting its head. “But you will have to choose. It’s simple really. A small game, for your and my entertainment. Even if you wish to kill me, you will still need to choose. I’m just here to help you- I enjoy soul reaping as much as the next demon.”
The fiend lurches forward, "Have it your way, but know that I will bind you with the bones of Ashkarladaz if you steal my soul from me." He surveys the two coffins and you notice he seems to linger on the left one. "What is in the wrong box?" the devil asks.
Deimos’s eyes flicker to the left coffin with an almost worried glance, but he quickly covers it up. “Nothing really. Just a fun surprise.” Deception: 23
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
The demonic figure takes a step back at seeing your transformation but his face betrays no emotion. "Choose with my heart?" he rasps, "I do not have a heart. Who are you to command me and choose my decisions?"
“I am not commanding. I am suggesting. And we all have something in us, something to house our instincts and our deepest desires. I apologize for offending if I were to insinuate it being a heart- I equivilate it as having a core.” The were-demon grins madly, tilting its head. “But you will have to choose. It’s simple really. A small game, for your and my entertainment. Even if you wish to kill me, you will still need to choose. I’m just here to help you- I enjoy soul reaping as much as the next demon.”
The fiend lurches forward, "Have it your way, but know that I will bind you with the bones of Ashkarladaz if you steal my soul from me." He surveys the two coffins and you notice he seems to linger on the left one. "What is in the wrong box?" the devil asks.
Deimos’s eyes flicker to the left coffin with an almost worried glance, but he quickly covers it up. “Nothing really. Just a fun surprise.” Deception: 34
"I do not like surprises." The massive devil begins to reach for the left one, it is hard to tell because its eyes are pools of shadow, but it seems to be watching your reaction.
"I do not like surprises." The massive devil begins to reach for the left one, it is hard to tell because its eyes are pools of shadow, but it seems to be watching your reaction.
Deimos’s smile falters slightly, eyes reflecting worry. “Is.. are you sure that’s your final choice?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fanδ — making a smoothie for meta ——————| EXTENDED SIG |—————— Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Instead of grabbing it, he dissolves into noxious red smoke which pours into the left coffin from the crack between the lid and the coffin. You hear a cat's screech, a banging sound, and some muffled curses and then it all goes silent. The coffin lays still for a few moments and then the box lid slowly slides off. Seymund rises from the coffin like a shadow. On closer inspection you can see that scratch marks run across the beak of his bird mask. He cradles the mummified cat in his arms, and a loop of red string has been tied around its neck. A red fiery glow shines from the cats empty eyes and mouth, but other than that it is exactly the same.
Croocher slowly peaks out of his coffin. He seems to be shaking and his face is as white as if he saw a ghost.
"Is...is it done." He stammers.
Seymund nods.
"Oh, well, thanks. I am forever in your debt..." he trails off, watching the cat. Then he takes a step away, "Well, you can keep the whip as payment," he nods to you, "I...I got to go." He seems to have lost all colour. He is simply black and white, even his clothes are colourless. He gives a little wave before turning and slowly walking away. John Croocher reaches a fork in a road in Hell, stops to consider his choices, and turns right.
Deimos hurries out of the house, dusting himself off. “Malaka. That was unnerving.” He goes to look for Seymour.
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
“Ah! Easy then! You don’t even have to make me food.” Deimos smiles. “Consider this a favor from a friend. I just dropped off my application at the desk. If you have yours, I can take a look at it. I’m applying for a position as a security guard.”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Seymund seems to have dragged two coffins out of a pile of refuse. With the help of Crooch he has set them upright so that they are both facing the same direction and they are about fifteen feet apart from each other.
"Thank you! I'll cook for you anyway! You don't know how important this is to me!" He hands over a sheet of laminated paper. It is damp and splattered with mud. It is also very, very cold.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
Deimos frowns, holding the cat close. “What exactly are we doing with these?”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Deimos picks it up and reads it.
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Seymund turns to you. "Crooch's devil should be here in a few moments. Crooch will get in the coffin on the right, and I will get in the coffin on the left. This is because devils are naturally inclined to choose the left because the left is not right and they never do what is right. I will be holding the whip and the cat while I am in the coffin. The devil can sense the direction of the whip, though it can also sense the direction of Crooch. I will be holding the whip on the left side to make it inclined to choose my coffin. However, this devil is probably more intelligent than to choose what its instinct tells it. You will be outside the coffins, standing inbetween them. He will no doubt ask you which coffin his prey is in. You must trick him into opening the wrong coffin but you cannot make it obvious that you are trying to trick it into opening the wrong coffin. Devils are crafty creatures, but it will not harm you as long as you don't harm it. Do you have any questions?"
Deimos blinks. “Just one. What does the cat have to do with this?”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
"The cat is to keep me company. I get lonely when locked in a coffin." He stares straight at you and his face is undiscernible behind his mask.
Then he breaks out laughing which quickly becomes a hacking cough. "Sorry for my poor humor. When the devil tries to get inside the coffin he will be trapped inside the cat's body. I will then tie this red string," He pulls red string from his coat pocket, " around the cat's neck, paralyzing the devil and trapping it in this cat's body. If the cat gets out of the coffin, do not strike it down. The devil will be surprised by its entrapment and it should give us time to defeat it. But if you kill the cat's body then the devil will be freed and he will kill us all. Understand?"
Demios gives him a crooked grin and salutes. “Aye-aye sir.” He hands the cat to Seymour and looks at Cooch, winking. “You better bow down and pray to him afterwards. The amount we’re risking for one measly soul is astronomical.”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Crooch nods, "I am forever in both of your debt. I cannot express the depths of my gratitude..." before he can continue Seymund interrupts.
"There will be time for that later. Listen."
Off in the distance you hear a heavy flapping of wings. Then a faint voice creeps out of a skull that has been lying on the ground, "Barbargaas is approaching. He flies with the hell-crow."
The plague doctor snatches the cat from your hand, and steps into the coffin. He nods to you before closing the lid, shutting himself in.
Crooch gulps. "Well, this is...this is it. Thanks for all you have done." He shakily steps into the coffin and slowly lowers the lid.
You are left standing alone in the center of the square. Two coffins stand upright on either side of you.
Then all the skulls skattered across the ground begins to chant in whispered voices, "Barbargaas... Barbargaas... Barbargaas..."
A distant shape can be seen off in the distance. It gets closer and closer until you can make out its appearance. A massive raven of blood red colour tears through the sky. It bears itself upon bat wings and leaves a trail of crimson feathers behind it. Its beak is shiny, black and jagged. When it lands, a wave of putrid air washes over you. The cobblestones crack under its weight. The crow looks at you with one pale white eye. Then it jerks. It rears its head back and caws a bone rattling screech which suddenly stops as if it was choking. Two broad hands grip the sides of the beak from inside the beasts mouth. The hell-crow shakes and shudders as the hands push its beak farther and farther apart. The fiendish bird is peeled apart from the inside by devilish strength.
A horrific form emerges from its maw. First, a head. The flesh is drawn taught against its skull, and cracked horns stab at the sky from its forehead. Its eyes are black pits, and it lacks lips to conceal its jagged, yellowed teeth. Then shoulders emerge, bony covered in leathery skin the color of dried blood. Two useless wings sprout from the back. The rest of the devil emerges and you discover that its body is ape like, thin, and gangly. It stands at about ten feet tall, and the husk of the bird now seems empty and floats away on the breeze.
"Shall you stand between me and what is rightfully mine?" The fiend speaks without opening its mouth.
Deimos bend over, placing an open palm against the ground. With a guttural growl, he ducks his head, a snout sprouting from his fave and fur springing from his skin. Deimos arches his back, growing to about 9 feet tall. He’s taken the shape of a massive were-wild dog with fangs protruding unnaturally from its maw, horns sprouting from its forehead cruelly. “I am here to not stand in your way, but to offer you your trial to retrieve the soul that is yours. You are to choose with your heart- to feel and to sense which is rightfully yours.”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
The demonic figure takes a step back at seeing your transformation but his face betrays no emotion. "Choose with my heart?" he rasps, "I do not have a heart. Who are you to command me and choose my decisions?"
“I am not commanding. I am suggesting. And we all have something in us, something to house our instincts and our deepest desires. I apologize for offending if I were to insinuate it being a heart- I equivilate it as having a core.” The were-demon grins madly, tilting its head. “But you will have to choose. It’s simple really. A small game, for your and my entertainment. Even if you wish to kill me, you will still need to choose. I’m just here to help you- I enjoy soul reaping as much as the next demon.”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
The fiend lurches forward, "Have it your way, but know that I will bind you with the bones of Ashkarladaz if you steal my soul from me." He surveys the two coffins and you notice he seems to linger on the left one. "What is in the wrong box?" the devil asks.
Deimos’s eyes flicker to the left coffin with an almost worried glance, but he quickly covers it up. “Nothing really. Just a fun surprise.” Deception: 23
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
"I do not like surprises." The massive devil begins to reach for the left one, it is hard to tell because its eyes are pools of shadow, but it seems to be watching your reaction.
Deimos’s smile falters slightly, eyes reflecting worry. “Is.. are you sure that’s your final choice?”
— δ cyno • he/him • number one paladin fan δ —
making a smoothie for meta
——————| EXTENDED SIG |——————
Φ • redpelt’s biggest fan :) DM, minmaxer, microbiology student, and lover of anything colored red • Φ
Lonely is making a clay statue.
"Is...is it done." He stammers.
Seymund nods.
"Oh, well, thanks. I am forever in your debt..." he trails off, watching the cat. Then he takes a step away, "Well, you can keep the whip as payment," he nods to you, "I...I got to go." He seems to have lost all colour. He is simply black and white, even his clothes are colourless. He gives a little wave before turning and slowly walking away. John Croocher reaches a fork in a road in Hell, stops to consider his choices, and turns right.