Fiend Like Me
Fikiri, a shorter man with short black curly hair and an odd little flat hat had offered introductions of himself and Su’mina. They’ve both got fine horses to ride on the path to the Mythwood, and Fikiri kindly offers a choice of horses and swiftscales to those gathered as well. He explains in short, that there have been many threats of late to Lady Su’mina’s life. That someone is very upset about her upcoming nuptials to a noble family. Not because of her own bloodline, which he assures you is just as noble as her husband-to-be.
No, it simply seems that she has a secret admirer who is disinclined to reveal himself, or to allow the marriage to proceed apace. To the point of threatening to kill her if she goes through with it. Normally, Fikiri informs you, it is his job to investigate such things, but he’s had no luck in tracking down the culprit and there’s no longer any time. The wedding is to take place in a lovely location in the Mythwood where he is due to take her as soon as he can.
He explains even further that the trip from Rune had been far more turbulent than expected, and that they nearly hadn’t made it due to issues with their airship, but it had been an exciting and interesting thing to travel by such amazing technology. In fact, Fikiri has been so gregarious and talkative that it’s almost unnoticed that the woman he’s guarding hasn’t said a single, solitary word at all.
Shin has been hired for guarding duty. The man's powerful build showed that he was more or less all about strength over anything else. That, and he had an interesting companion. The regular sized white tiger was anything but ordinary. It was dressed in studded leather barding and for some reason there was a neck bow wrapped around it's neck with a pretty bow on the back. Shin himself was carrying around extra weapons as he sat near his companion and listened to the talk. His eyes did drift to the woman they were guarding, a small frown on his lips as he seems to be considering a few things.
Harkashan is most quiet, for a Speaker. He'd been asked to watch over this particular exchange, and patiently watching the interactions between the Softskins. Red eyes, sunking in black sclera, practically seem to smolder much like the strange way his scales seem to almost 'flow' over his body.
Fikiri has his attention of course, as he explains the problem at hand. But he can't help but glance towards the woman from time to time. He isn't one who is the most familiar with noble habits, but when it comes to the Mythwood, he at least knows what Leirune has told him in the past.
And that has him wondering about some of the statements being made. Unwanted advances, a royal marriage, sabotages. Of course, the declaration of being after this woman's life would seem to rule out a secret suitor or the likes.
He's sunken in thought, letting the others engage with Fikiri more, but there's these subtle 'rumbles' from his breath now and again that seems almost like he might be about to speak, only to mlem his tongue out to lick at his own snoot or the likes. Making eyecontact at least once with Shin, who similarly seems to be considering the situation in silence.
"Secret admirer? More like openly full of shit," Andelena murmurs. The redhead Sunguard, who is apparently not above some not-so-Sunguardly language, has her white cloak on over her recently repaired mithral armor as she travels with the group. Her steel-gray eyes scan the horizons as they travel. "That's what I think of anyone who's decided 'if I can't have you, nobody can.'"
"Maintain some decorum, please, Andelena," a maternal voice comes from the beautiful longsword on Andelenea's swordbelt. She sounds mildly exasperated.
That gets a little pat on the hilt. Andelena looks around the group. "Don't worry about a thing," she tells the adventurers she doesn't much recognize. "The Deathsinger Harkashan and I have you both covered."
Sabina is along for the guarding trip as well, dressed as she always is, in a dark dress and a black and red feathered cloak. Emp, her peacock familiar, rides on her shoulder. His bright tail of feathers trailing down her back like a second cloak atop the first.
She watches the byplay of her new guard members as well as Fikiri and the bride to be. Her eyes and smile bright, nodding as the situation is explained.
For her part she shuffles nearer to the lady, making sure to flash her smile at the bride in an attempt to start conversation some time soon.
Lokir clomps along, his borrowed nutmeg steed striding far more elegantly than his rider. Beneath a wide brimmed hat and practical overcoat, Lokir most closely resembles a well-balanced sack of vegetables. Which is perhaps an apt description, as a well-dressed medium sized potato and an elegantly begowned carrot appear to silently mime a courtship play. Floating and weaving upon his shoulders and across the brim of Lokir's hat, the spud and the carrot make a convincing display of love and fidelity across major food groups. As his vegan actors put on their display, Lokir dutifully keeps an eye out for drama among the surrounding woods and path.
The woman seems amused with Andelena, and smiles warmly enough at Sabina, but continues to say nothing. Instead, her bodyguard Fikiri seems more than happy to regale all with stories of their trip.
For hours.
Time slips on and on, and so far the only thing you've caught a scent of danger from is dying of boredom from Fikiri's stories. Not that he's boring, more that he just doesn't shut up. Now he's on the topic of how airships are the grand romantic thing of the future, quite like the little area in the Mythwood that you are all headed to. Now that the woods have taken shape around you and dimmed the light above, you get the impression that just about anything is pleasant enough in Fikiri's eyes. Except this troublesome business with the one who's sending love-hate letters to Su'mina.
GAME: Andelena rolls Perception: (20)+13: 33 GAME: Shin rolls Perception: (16)+1: 17 GAME: Lokir rolls perception: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Sabina rolls perception: (14)+5: 19 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Sabina rolls sense motive: (5)+9: 14
"Hrrrm." Harkashan rumbles when Andelena mentions him, nodding his head somewhat idly. His attention seems elsewhere. Deep in thought. The red marks upon his body lightly glowing for a moment as he seems to just... 'go elsewhere' for a moment. Drifting away as the stories fill the room, for hours on end.
Harkashan is not a Keeper, but he has respect for the oratory capabilities of someone who can literally talk for hours on end. At some point even going out of his way to draw a waterskin from his bag, and offering it up to Fikiri so he doesn't get a sore throat.
GAME: Andelena casts Detect Evil. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14
Shin is currently oblivious to the horse sounds, doing his best to pay attention to Fikiri. And somewhat keep him occupied, even asking a few questions here and there to clarify some of the stories. The white tiger is likewise more concerned with simply staying close to Shin and watching their charge for the moment.
Something in the noise of horses approaching tips Andelena off. Her steel-gray eyes narrow and she looks over her shoulder, trying to discern something more about them.
Then finally, Andelena calls out. "Those hoofbeats are fast _and_ close." She murmurs a prayer under her breath to Daeus. "I'm not detecting anything evil yet coming into range. I'd get ready just in case, everyone."
Lokir 's potato pauses mid-proposal and bravely moved in front of the carrot, shielding it from an off-stage danger. Lokir's head cocks slightly as one hand drifts to his slung longbow and a second finds its way to his rapier's hilt. "Sounds like a heavy audience approaches on horseback, m'lady. Perhaps we've attracted some new patrons to our traveling production? Places, everyone! Look alive and break a...well, perhaps don't break a leg..."
Sabina can hear the hoof beats but little else as she studies the bride and guard with only one ear for the distracting stories. Activating her magical sleeves her clothing begins to shift and copy the bride's as she rides nearby. She does not turn about yet, preparing to cast as spell soon after.
Still, she chuckles as Lokir asks for everyone to get to their places. She nods with a wide smile, "Of course I will."
As others begin to mention something or someone approaching rapidly on horseback and seem concerned by this, Harkashan lifts his body a bit. He's facing towards the front, so he can't easily lean out and look behind. Instead, he lifts a single clawed finger towards his armor. Tracing over one of the Lava-stones and then snapping his finger.
A little 'pulse' of red-grey light flickers outwards almost immediately, enhancing those present and bolstering them a bit.
"It need not be evil, to be a threat." Harkashan rumbles, before he looks specifically towards the lady they're meant to protect. Trying to read her expression about all of this.
GAME: Harkashan rolls Sense Motive: (9)+19: 28
On the edge of your sight through the trees you can see two... swiftclaws? With riders bearing down on you as fast as the mounts can move. Their riders are difficult to make out, but the swiftclaws look... Wrong. Angry and red beasts, their bodies stretched out in anticipation.
GAME: Andelena casts Prayer. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16 GAME: Sabina casts Disguise Self. Caster Level: 9 DC: 14
"What the shit--those are _not_ ordinary swiftclaws!" Andelena informs the group. "I'm reading evil off them--they might be something else in disguise. And things are approaching from above!"
She draws her sword and murmurs a prayer once more. "Shining Knight, bless and defend our group from the evil that our enemies seek to do." It's answered in the form of a shimmering holy energy that graces herself and her allies.
GAME: Harkashan casts Bless. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16
Sabina concentrates and casts her spell before things truely get crazy. Already in clothing that matches the bride to be she calls forth the magics to disguise her appearance to match that of the lady as well. A hand then nudges Emp from her shoulder to the back of the beast she rides as she tries to mimic Su'mina's actions and expressions. Two targets are better then one.
GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/The Planes+Ancestor+Otherworldlyknowledge+5: aliased to Knowledge/The Planes+2+2+5: (6)+8+2+2+5: 23
Swiftclaws? In the Mythwoods? Harkashan recognizes the creatures immediately at first, but then takes note of the strange redness of the creatures.
"Bearded Devils, Andelena." He remarks to the woman, uncertain the others would be familiar with that name. With the blessing pulsing onto his allies, he takes a moment to strike up a conversation with the lady.
"You don't particularly look frightened. Are you that confident we can protect you?"
GAME: Shin rolls weapon2: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Shin rolls 1d8+5: (6)+5: 11
Shin steps back, glancing to his companion and calling to her, "Mirai, guard." He brings out his composite bow before drawing an arrow from his side and notching it. Taking aim, he fires off at a descending fiend to hit it pretty solidly. "I recognize swiftclaws and riders. What is coming down on us and what's good against them?"
GAME: Lokir spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
Su'mina looks at Harkashan in confusion even as her guard moves his horse to get quickly between her and the advancing not-swiftclaws. She makes a gentle motion with her hand and her bodyguard speaks up. "Su'mina has perfect confidence that we will defend her!"
The not-swiftclaws close the remaining distance between the the group and themselves and above the little red 'balloons' are falling rapidly as well.
GAME: Andelena spends ONE use of CHANNEL ENERGY. GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+1+1: (1)+14+1+1+1+1: 19 (EPIC FAIL)
Lokir 's potato and carrot shake with rage. The spudly groom seems to grow in stature, while the sprightly carrot points and thrusts her sharp edge at the incoming riders and floating red party crashers--decorum be damned. "To arms, to arms, let's put on a good show!"
GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+1+1: (20)+14+1+1+1+1: 38 (THREAT) GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+1+1: (14)+14+1+1+1+1: 32 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+1+1+1+damage9+1+1d6: aliased to 1d8+5+1+1+1+1d8+5+1+1d6: (3)+5+1+1+1+(4)+5+1+(2): 23
"I'll make sure your faith's not misplaced! If these are bearded devils, you want silver!" Andelena shouts over to Su'mina and to Shin both. Blade drawn, those steel-gray eyes lock onto one of the swiftclaws. "Livvie, you with me?"
"I am with you," the maternal voice from within her longsword responds.
"Good. Holy Knight, may I be the servant that delivers your judgment," Andelena intones, Deliverance responding in step with her voice. Silvered flame ushers forth from her blade, and she rushes forward to attack the swiftclaws. She strikes one brutal blow onto the beast, lopping off an arm from the creature in the process. The Sunguard will not suffer a fiend to live in her presence.
GAME: Harkashan casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19
Harkashan tilts his head. The lady has been quiet this entire time. Certainly, none of them have addressed her so far. But now she's just motioning her hand when directly addressed. Which draw a bit of confusion from him, before realizing she was using a pattern of motions.
He hand-motions back; "Understood." He's a Deathsinger. Faith is kind of what he does.
The Sith-makar then rumbles to the team... and his own Swiftclaw; "Let's speed this up." As he incants a longer spell. Drifting red light spreading from him, like a string of fate. Connecting each and every person near him. A red wave of light emanating from within their bodies for a moment, as if their veins were glow...
And then, a sense of celerity! Perception, speed, it all enhances.
The disguised Sabina urges her mount faster and along side Su'mina, head lifting up to take in the sight of the airborne foes. Just as calm as the real Su'mina, Sabina has to keep her laughter from burbling upwards from her throat and spoil the suprises in store and her magical disguise.
GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (20)+9: 29 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (11)+9: 20 GAME: Shin rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Lokir casts Grease. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (12)+10: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (11)+5: 16
Lokir reaches beneath his traveling cloak and threateningly pulls out a...stick of butter. With a sickening squelch, an oily stream arcs into the sky and lands squarely on an unlucky swiftclaw. Lokir deposits the remaining greasy residue on his hand with an affectionate pats of the potato, which nods appreciatively. As Lokir slips his bow off his shoulder with practiced (gr)ease, he smiles grimly. "Order up! One greased beast!"
The one-armed not-swiftclaw moves tactically away from Andelena and toward Su'mina, grabbing her with its remaining arm and dragging her off her horse. She struggles a little, but is ineffectual against the large creature. The not-swiftclaw on the ground wiggles uselessly, unable to get up while the balloon-like creatures in the sky grab and toy with a disguised Sabina's hair.
Across the clearing that you were attacked in, a voice calls out. "SU'MINA! MY DARLING! Don't marry that fool! Marry me!" A man walks out from behind a tree and... well he looks like some manner of fiend himself.
GAME: Andelena casts Liberating Command. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+1+2: (4)+14+1+1+1+2: 23 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+1+1+6: aliased to 1d8+5+1+1+6: (7)+5+1+1+6: 20 GAME: Andelena rolls 1d6: (1): 1 GAME: Sabina casts Hideous Laughter. Caster Level: 9 DC: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Sabina rolls bluff: (16)+19: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (10)+13: 23
"Damn it!" Andelena curses as she sees Su'mina being grappled by a not-swiftclaw. She points a finger at the woman she's bound by a duty, even temporary, to protect. "Daeus, Shining Knight, grant this woman her freedom!"
Daeus responds. Su'mina's freedom is purchased in the form of a little bit of radiant magic and the woman slips free. In the precious opening that Su'mina's escape has created, Andelena steps forward, silvered-flame blade ablaze, and she goes to try and carve Daeus's justice into the fiend. "You're not trying that shit again if I can help it!" she growls.
GAME: Harkashan casts Burst of Radiance. Caster Level: 9 DC: 17 GAME: Harkashan rolls 5d4: (9): 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (2)+9: 11
Sabina remains calm as she ducks under the balloon creature, her hands moving under cover of clothing as she gives loverboy by the trees a neutral stare. The magic buffed by Harks' spell is cast without words and yet seems to wash over the devilman without effect. Inwardly she sighs but gives nothing away in her disguise as the other woman.
GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d4: (1): 1
With Su'mina suddenly getting grabbed, Harkashan redirects his Swiftclaw towards the Bearded Devil Swiftclaw that is trying to pin her down. A motion of his hand, a swift sudden burst of light carving over their body, before Harkashan positions his Swiftclaw and himself between the Bearded Dragon and Su'mina, and lowers a hand towards her.
"Good job breaking her loose, Andelena!" Harkashan calls out, before motioning his fingers at Su'mina. "Get on!"
GAME: Shin rolls weapon9: (18)+9: 27 GAME: Shin rolls 2d6+11: (8)+11: 19
Shin and Mirai move to flank the standing swiftclaw as Shin hefts his living steel greatsword. A hard swing comes around and takes it out. Shin glares at the corpse before turning to look for another target.
GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (15)+9: 24 GAME: Shin rolls 1d6+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Lokir rolls weapon2+3: (15)+6+3: 24 GAME: Lokir rolls damage2+2: aliased to 1d8+1+2: (5)+1+2: 8 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Harkashan rolls Will+2: (10)+14+2: 26
Lokir 's horse mysteriously decides to examine an interesting patch of grass a safe distance away from the prone beast-grease, floating balloons, crazed lover, and his charge he should be protecting. After his retrea...tactical relocation, Lokir finds the view much more to his liking. With a flick and a strum, an arrow finds its way whistling true towards a not-so-festive balloon. "Good show, comrades!"
The remaining not-swiftclaw on the ground continues its useless wiggling while the floating creatures fiddle with Sabina's hair. "SU'MINA! Don't deny our love! Please! BE WITH ME!"
GAME: Lokir rolls stealth: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+1: (9)+14+1+1+1: 26 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+5+1+1: aliased to 1d8+5+5+1+1: (2)+5+5+1+1: 14 GAME: Sabina rolls knowledge/the planes: (16)+8: 24
One not-swiftclaw down, one not-swiftclaw on the ground, some balloons trying to play patty-cake with Sabina--err, Su'mina's hair... They probably have it covered, and Andelena doesn't like the look of that man pining. "You dense motherfucker," she says. "When a woman says no, she means no, and since she can't tell you verbally, I'll tell you in a language you _can_ understand."
The Sunguard charges forward, holy flame still licking away at her blade. She scores a strike, drawing blood from the fiendish man's arm. "And I'll say it again for good measure! _NO_."
GAME: Sabina casts Deep Slumber. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16 GAME: Sabina casts Deep Slumber. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16 GAME: Harkashan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18
Su'mina-Bina gets off her mount with an eye on the balloons. Her hands weave and flow as the magic is cast. The invisible spell moving off to ..again slide off the devil-man's person. Inwardly another sigh and a tamping down of frustrations. But she's still in character. Trying to play it as cool as the Lady behind Hark has.
GAME: Harkashan casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16
Harkashan winces for a moment, as Su'mina gets onto the Swiftclaw. There's a slow shift of his head. Gritting his teeth. His hands tremble for a moment...
And then he suddenly relaxes and lets out a huff and stares towards the Fiend and...
"She doesn't want anything to do with you! Please reconsider your ways, you're being a Stalker and a Predator at this point! This may work amongst your own race, but please read up on softskin mating rituals and courting practices!"
Before using the fact that he's cast Blessing of Fervor on his Swiftclaw already, and gets off of his steed, before making it run off as fast as it can towards the destination in Mythwood.
He himself fast-walks towards the Fiend and while touching his chest, and letting out a growl; "You tried to control my mind. You have until I get over there to apologize profusely!"
GAME: Shin rolls weapon9+4: (6)+9+4: 19 GAME: Shin rolls 2d6+11: (10)+11: 21 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Shin rolls 1d6+6: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Shin rolls 1d4+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Lokir rolls weapon2+3: (15)+6+3: 24 GAME: Lokir rolls damage2+2: aliased to 1d8+1+2: (2)+1+2: 5 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Andelena rolls Will: (11)+11: 22
Lokir takes careful aim and knocks another arrow. With the benefit of a century of practice, Lokir bends the bowstring to his cheek and looses another arrow. THWACK! With a second arrow protruding from its flank, Lokir suspects the balloons are not filled with air. "Great show! Consensual relationships are the law of the land! Although...are we sure Lady Su'mina doesn't wish to consider the propos..." The begowned carrot floats disapprovingly in front of the Elvish bard's face, silencing the rest of his sentence.
The not-swiftclaw stands up, finally, and yet the balloon-figures bothering Sabina hardly seem capable of doing more than irritating her hair.
The figure in front of Andelena steps back, his hand going to his arm and looking at her with a hurt expression. Suddenly what's standing before her is not a demon or a devil... But Dolan. "Babe?" He says, his voice full of shock that she'd attack him. "Don't let these bastard fiends trick you. We have to fight them!" He points toward the enraged Harkashan tracking toward them. "I've got your back babe; you, me, and..."
He leaves the last for her to finish.
GAME: Sabina rolls knowledge/the planes: (13)+8: 21
"The Knight," Andelena finishes with a nod and a wide, wide grin. She's not thinking about how her husband just showed up in the middle of the woods. Thanks to the fiend's trick of mental persuasion, it's somehow incredibly reasonable that he's here in the woods and that she's here with them... And that all of her allies are fiends trying to trick her.
"Come at me you fiends!" the Sunguard yells at her allies. "I'm ready! I stand in the Knight's graces!"
The sword in her hands is sighing. "Andelena..."
But Andelena just shushes her. She knows what she's doing.
GAME: Sabina casts Ear-Piercing Scream. Caster Level: 9 DC: 14 GAME: Sabina rolls 5d6: (17): 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Andelena rolls weapon9+1+1+1: (12)+14+1+1+1: 29 GAME: Andelena rolls damage9+1+1: aliased to 1d8+5+1+1: (1)+5+1+1: 8
Again Bina casts under the cover of her cloak using Harks blessing to cast silently in order to hide her magic making. A ripple in the air around loverboy is all that can be seen, yet the man hears a scream all alone for him. Sound racking his form but it's still not as effective as Bina would like.
GAME: Harkashan rolls 1d20+10+5: (8)+10+5: 23 GAME: Harkashan rolls Will+2+2: (15)+14+2+2: 33
Harkashan continues to pace forward, staring towards the fiend, when Andelena suddenly turns towards him and her own allies. "I see." He rumbles, staring past Andelena and at the fiend.
So he walks at her. And as the blade comes down, he grabs at the blade. Letting it bite into his hand, into his scales and palm.
Blood drips down onto the ground. Dripping and spreading out. The blood forming a circle as the magic incantation triggers, and a circle suddenly spreads.
"Andelena, it is me, Harkashan. The fiend is controlling your mind." Some of his blood drools down her blade onto her hand. "Snap out of it." He growls at her fiercely.
GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12 GAME: Shin rolls 1d20+9: (8)+9: 17 GAME: Shin rolls 1d6+9: (6)+9: 15 GAME: Shin rolls weapon9+1+1+1: (17)+9+1+1+1: 29 GAME: Shin rolls 2d6+7+2+1+1: (7)+7+2+1+1: 18 GAME: Lokir rolls weapon2+3: (16)+6+3: 25 GAME: Lokir rolls damage2+2: aliased to 1d8+1+2: (6)+1+2: 9
Shin charges in, bringing his sword around to slash into the wannabe lover boy. "Stop with the illusions!" He says as he stops after the massive slash.
Lokir draws a third arrow from his quiver and takes careful aim. With a grim smile, he tracks the balloon across the sky and....BAM! "Splash one!" As the inflatable bursts, it rains an unexpected bounty. "Oof...sorry down there!"
As Shin appears seemingly out of nowhere to wound the fiend-in-Dolan-shape, the fiend takes a step back. "That should be enough time." He says cryptically, and steps backwards smoothly. Then he turns and... Vanishes.
Gone.
You turn back toward the horses, who've been very good in spite of all the fighting, and notice that Fikiri is gone. Presumably chasing off after the mount that Harkashan sent Su'mina off on.
Su'mina! She's been sent off ahead! Surely the fiend can't catch up with her that quickly?!?
Bina lets her disguise fall away and curses under her breath as the fiend teleports away.
"He's an incubus! He can teleport wherever he wants to. And how an incubus comes to command a group of devils I can't begin to guess!"
She tries to pull some of the goop out of her hair and then quickly mounts up. "We have to catch up with them. There's a deeper story going on then what we were told."
Andelena comes to and stares at the fiend. It takes her a moment for her to understand what the fiend meant, and when it seems to finally click for her, her steel-gray eyes widen, and she stomps a plate-clad boot to the ground, especially with Sabina's explanation.
"Shit. An incubus. _Shit_. Su'mina!" The Sunguard yells. "We have to look for her. Let's go!"
She's already charging over to her horse and climbs on, muttering all the way about fiends wearing the disguises of handsome husbands.
Lokir turns apologetically to Sabina as she nears. "I'm so sorry! Who would have thought the balloon would be filled with anything but air..." With some heavy finger waiving and slight squeegee noises, Lokir uses his prestidigitation skills to slowly unsoil his comrade.
Harkashan immediately gets on the back of Andelena's horse, grabbing onto her shoulders and lays his tail flat along the back of the horse to stabilize himself.
"Damnit, I sent her forward on my Swiftclaw. It should be able to outrun him for a bit if he doesn't teleport exactly to her. But it won't be for long!" He growls.
What's worse, they won't have a chance to outrun his mount at this rate!
Shin just looks a little confused, then frowns. "I do not know what an incubus is, but our hurrying would be a good thing." He moves to mount up, "Mirai, come!" You come upon the scene just as Su’mina rides into another - strange clearing in the woods. The incubus appears just behind her, flinging out a hand just so that the swiftclaw trips and falls. She lands safely on the ground in the clearing, and the fiend stands at the edge of it as if held back by some force unseen. “Come to me Su’mina!”
She shakes her head violently, and he screams as he sees you all advancing upon him. Her guard reaches the location first, turning his horse to draw you to a stop before you can reach her. You watch as she pants on the ground silently before regally drawing herself to her feet and petting the recovered swiftclaw with her hand.
It’s him that explains the details. That she’s not actually a mortal, but rather a genie. That the incubus had been sent to tempt her, but had been unsuccessful and instead it had fallen for her. Her father had in fact promised her in marriage to a fiend named Jal’gorath, but she’d fled instead to marry another. Only her bodyguard as protection until she could reach this sacred place where the fiend would not be able to touch her.
He offers his words of gratitude, and explains that she can’t talk, or she’d offer her own, and she steps forward, her thoughts reaching out to touch each of your minds.
“I offer thanks. I owe you all.” She looks at Harkashan. “But you most of all. If you ever face a fiend again, I offer you a boon. A gift. Call upon me and it will answer.”
-End