Forgotten Realms:
Angels and Demons
Part XXXII
It was by midday that the Challengers were back at the city, and by that evening they were ready to leave. Lord Wallace was updated about their plans, and that their search would start towards the north. They would then try to cut to the east, coming back at the city afterwards. Then they'd head out again towards the south, just to be certain.
The season was getting late enough that they would probably get to southern regions before the days became too cold and short. They would be able to complete the mission handed to them by the Lord of Altamar, and fit in Lorinda's as well.
They left early enough that many were still in their beds. That was okay with Kirann, he was trying to avoid a grand send off. He as happier doing the work that needed to be done without the spotlight. He could do it in the spotlight, but it came with limits. Things became complicated when all your actions were out there. There were some decisions that were best left to work themselves out.
One of those was trusting in a Drow, when most of her race was known for their wicked and vile ways. Another was looking past a deal made for survival, and seeing the promise of that person. Then there was the worthiness of one who thought he was anything but. Luckily, he had help, a person with a heart of gold, and another who reminded him he wasn't all knowing.
The trail was silent, devoid of even the normal sounds of nature they were used to. This made Lorinda anxious, as she felt an utter lack of Nature's voice. The ground around them had started to brown, with it turning black far into the horizon. The horses were nervous as well, and started to buck at going any further forwards.
Kirann pulled them over, and led them over to one of the few green patches amongst the dying vegetation. Rather than risking it, he pulled some feed bags from their supplies and fed the horses from that. Last thing they needed, were the horses being sickened by whatever was causing this blight.
Lorinda launched from the wagon, nearly returning as she landed on the ground. A deep unabated terror seized her, and she felt the need to run away. However, for one that had faced down an army led by a demon, she didn't scare that easily. The ground though, was wrong, utterly wrong and its song was disharmonized from the rest of nature. This land was sick, sicker than she had seen ever.
Those not attuned to nature, still felt unease as they walked amongst the dying land. Val hadn't moved her hands from the blades on her sides, while Walton cracked his knuckles, a nervous tic. Leilani reached for a hidden pendant, and started to mutter a prayer. None could hear it, but the call to Mielikki was still there. For Kirann, something was wrong with the ki around the devastated area.
He tried to sense the energy, but it came back ill, like it was poisoned. Like a well of stagnant water, the energy here was off. Even just feeling it made the monk want to push it away as far as possible. A long bath in a river would be needed after this, just to get the dirty feeling off.
They searched, and searched, looking for something. They would have taken any sign of life, even the source of the blight. It was not to be that easy though, as the decay stretched everywhere. Eventually the day waned, and they had to get ready to make camp. As none of them wanted to make camp surrounded by death, Lorinda cleansed the area around where their camp would be.
Just as before, it took a lot out of her. Thankfully Kirann had a warm meal for her, and Raven an even warmer blanket to throw around her shoulders. The druid of course grumbled about the special treatment, but those arguments didn't last longer than a few words. Nor did she argue as they helped her to her sleeping mat. In fact a small smile was on her face, though she would argue that with any that brought it up later.
During the night, Raven was visited. As she slumbered, an inky shape moved past the edge of camp. Coming up behind her as she stood watch, the shape used a blind spot to grab her. A patron always has a back door to those they patron, so Raven's patron took her and scrambled away.
The camp was awoken by a scream and instantly Kirann felt something was off. He bolted upright, feeling the foul presence of a devil nearby. He quickly thrust on his boots and cloak before rushing out into the night. The others saw his glow erupt, and tried to follow behind him. Being a monk though, he quickly outpaced them, even fleet footed Val. Lorinda was bringing up the rears, simply because her body still called out for rest.
"It took the work of my other agents to get me to this plane," Raven's old patron growled. "You disappoint me. I gave you power, and didn't interfere much in your life. I even gave you camouflage, yet you throw it away. What for? A man who'll eventually destroy you?"
Before she could answer, he threw her to the ground. She barely moved as a blast of energy threw up the ground beside her. On instinct she moved, just as another blast sent her flying. She landed hard, but managed her knees before she felt resistance.
Her wrists were shackled to the ground, and a choker with chains appeared around her neck. She could not move, nor could she reach her weapon. No matter how much she struggled, the chains would not allow her to. Her old patron looked pleased by this.
His bony hands pointed at her, "Was I too cruel of master?"
"No, but your latest price was too much," she answered. "He is a good man, and he fights for something better."
"He's a damned Aasimar! That is their schtick, but it is all lies," her old patron growled. "Even now he's probably making a list of how to purify you from this plane. Do you really think he cares about you? You're a convenient ally, and a soon to be threat for him to erase."
"You're wrong about him!" Raven said, even as small doubts began to spring up in her mind.
She pushed back against them. He was her friend, and maybe something more. He hadn't batted an eye when she lost her glamour. Instead he treated her just as he always did. Even when all he knew was that she was a warlock, he argued for her. No, he would not betray her. It just wasn't in his nature to be that duplicitous.
"I see the doubt little raven," her old patron sneered. "Matters not, soon we'll be far away. This teleportation spell will take us home."
A blast of pure sunlight smashed into the devil, and it howled in pain. Turning a bright sun illuminated a man in a cloak. His eyes were blue flames and a snarl was on his lips. He unleashed another sunbeam straight at Raven.
"You shall not haunt her for another moment," Kirann proclaimed, his voice echoing supernaturally. "You are done. She decides if your power she wants!"
"You destroyed her fool!" the devil said.
Kiran smiled, "No, only freed her."
From the side Raven pulled her sword, a song on her lips. Anger danced across her face, as broken chains jingled at her wrists. Yet she held her blade, as her patron had been kind for a devil. He hadn't harmed her, and didn't let undo harm come to her. She had to wonder why he had come back for her. Why not just leave her alone?
"Leave now, and never bother me again!" she called out. "I have found a home, friends. I no longer need your power as I have found my own. No ill will is there between us."
The devil roared, "You can never leave me! When I found you, you were nothing."
"She was never nothing," Kirann attacked.
The monk struck the devil with a blow that sent him stumbling back. Kirann followed that up with a savage kick to the devil's chest, but was thrown back when the devil retaliated. The monk rolled, coming back up to his feet and blasted out another sunbeam. This hit the devil again, blasting away at its shell. The devil howled, writhed in pain.
"Come Raven, together we can vanquish it!" Kirann called out.
Reluctantly, Raven joined the battle. The song she sung as one of sadness and determination. She didn't want to destroy the devil, but she also wanted her freedom from him. That life was over for her, it was in her past. Her future was with her friends, the ones she had fought hard for.
"Stand down!" she called out to her old patron. "Leave me be, our time is over."
"You will always be mine, little raven," the devil growled. "I made you!"
Raven swung out with her sword, it missed the first slash. The second connected because Kirann smashed into the devil. He struck it with several of his ki infused punches and kicks. The devil howled, but found itself unable to fight back as Raven's blade dug into its skin. The evil turned to smash her, only for another sunbeam to nearly tear his face off.
Falling to one knee, the devil scratched the ground blindly. He hoped to grab one of them and make them greasy paste. Instead he got a savage blow to the back of the neck, and he collapsed. What happened next surprised him as the monk yanked his head up, but held his next strike.
"Kill me, pitiful bastard," the devil growled. "I will not beg."
"Raven, do you want or need this thing's power any longer?" Kirann asked her.
Softly, sadly she said, "No, I have found my path finally."
"Then devil, this is the deal," he said. "You will not come after her, you will not try to harm her, and you will renounce the pact. Your life is forfeit, so return back to the Hells. Never darken our lives again. Any of us." Turning to Raven, "Can you send him back?"
"Mercy to a devil?" her old patron laughed.
Raven understood, "Devils are bound by their word. If you swear, you can not break it. I would do as he suggests before he decides destroying you is easier."
Her old patron looked stunned for a second, "You are unlike any Aasimar I have ever known."
"Trust me, the urge to eradicate you is there," Kirann said. "Justice is best served on another path."
"Then I swear," the devil growled.
Raven scribed down the runes needed to open the gate. The hellish thing opened, blasting the surrounding area with fiery light. Beyond the portal several imps were skittering about, unsure if they would be able to get through. They didn't have long to decide as Kirann marched the beaten devil over to it. Begrudgingly he stepped through, throwing a very rude hand gesture at Kirann as he did.
"You didn't have to do that," Raven said. "If you had killed him, he would have respawned back in the Hells."
Kirann nodded, "He might have even been demoted. A bigger grudge he would have had then. Now, he must keep his word."
"I know, but that was incredibly merciful," she continued on. "More than he realizes. I'm hoping that doesn't come back to bite you in the ass."
Kirann laughed, which surprised Raven, "Then I guess I'll just need you to watch my back, then."
With that he pulled her close and they began walking back to camp. At first, she was confused, but decided that she like being this close to him. Soon she relaxed, which of course was the moment the rest of their party caught up to them.
A bounding Val collided with Raven and grabbed her into a tight hug. Kirann chuckled as Lorinda gave him a tired and grumpy look. Walton though smiled for the first time in weeks, it quickly vanished.
The whole party went back towards their camp. Behind them was a full bright moon. Their profiles against that illustrious backdrop, made them seem more than mortals. To the devil watching from his throne room, they were. Just two of them had nearly ended him, something that should have taken the power of a god to do. The question was how, and he had just the way to find out. Calling on one of his other agents, he requested any lore on any power that could destroy or harm a devil. He didn't care how arcane or rare the lore was. This could never happen again; he could never be bested by a mortal again.
