Two men in a bar sat side-by-side drinking. In and of itself, this was not unusual, or even a solitary occurence. That the two were armed with a rather formidable array of weaponry was also not unusual, and even went so far as to help them blend in.
It was, however, odd that not two days ago these two men were single-handedly responsible for breaking the seige that had befallen the town. That these two were capable of smiting an entire unit of enemies who were remarkable in their ability to not stay dead (i.e. zombies), had inspired rather a lot of attention, fear, no small amount of concern.
The town council had offered to empty their coffers into Niklaus and Ulfgar's chests, but it had been Ulfgar who declined the entire coffer in lieu of directions to this tavern that made "heroes."
This was not to say that he declined *every* coin offered, and thus took enough for the both of them to more than get buy.
Rather they would have had enough, but apparantly Ulfgar had planned to stimulate the local economy by pouring their rewards into the taverns without regard for the morrow.
As they stood outside the council manor, Ulfgar split the money equally between them. Sasha was full of her own ideas.
"Actually, I'm kinda looking forward to trying this 'hero' he's always talking about. I've never tasted human food before"
"Seriously?"
"Well, succubus tastes aren't quite suited to human food, we tend to go more for--"
"Okay, I get it," Niklaus interrupted, quite sure he didn't want to know where that was going.
"Aw c'mon! I was going to say Hell's diet! Geez, even succubi need a break, y'know!"
Sasha got to pondering. "Y'know Nik, as long as we're stuck together, you could probably stand to lose a few of those high-handed oaths of yours."
"What! No!" Niklaus exclaimed mentally, "Why?"
"Well," Sasha said, "it's not like you're exactly a Paladin anymore, you're not trying to prove anything to Heaven, since they can't hear you, you may as well enjoy life while you can."
"A Paladin is not just a Paladin because Heaven hears his prayers. A Paladin is so by his deeds--"
"And a little fun is prohibited so fiercely?"
"It's not a matter of fun! It's a matter of spiritual purity--"
"Okay, think very carefully about that last thing you said," Sasha remarked reprovingly.
Niklaus wavered.
"I promise you this is no attempt to lead you to Hell," Sasha said sincerely.
Niklaus, in hindsight, noticed that he did not oppose her suggestion quite so quickly from that moment on.
Which was what lead two men to sitting at a bar. All things considered, it was a rather odd sight.
Specifically, for one who had solemnly taken so many oaths, Niklaus was actually having more fun breaking each and every one of them than anyone had a right to be. Sasha was as good as her word, teaching him everything he now knew about enjoying life. Happily, a large part of Niklaus had rubbed off on Sasha; on making their way to the now-legendary tavern, she had pointed out the beggar that Niklaus had missed, and noted he an extra healing salve that helped soothe the beggar's teeth. Or lack thereof. Truthfully, though, it had done much to settle Niklaus' stomach (and, vicariously, Sasha's).
"Nik, I have a bit of a confession," Sasha said, during part of their meal.
"What's that?"
"In that battle, when my Bloodlust exhausted me, well," Sasha paused, "I could have gone a lot longer," she rushed through.
Niklaus swallowed his hero carefully. "You mean you reigned yourself in?"
"Yeah, something like that," Sasha sounded almost embarrassed.
"Why?"
"Well," Sasha sounded very embarrassed, "I mean, it was great and all, but there were those townspeople there, and I didn't want them dead and--"
"Wait," Niklaus interrupted, "you prevented us from killing a lot of innocent people. Are you well?"
"Yes! No, I don't know," Sasha said, frustrated, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the killing and all, but I didn't want the people dead."
Niklaus smiled to himself. "Don't worry," he said, "I don't think you're losing your touch."
"It's not that," Sasha said, "it's..." she blew out a breath of air, "well...I'm still a little unsatisfied."
Niklaus' eyebrows launched towards his hairline.
"I mean, couldn't you get in a barfight or something?"
"Ah...," Niklaus looked around somewhat wildly. "No, I don't think that would be a very good idea."
Sasha sighed forlornly. Actually, Niklaus felt bad for her.
Though neither of them would admit it, they had developed a genuine friendship, as both moved slowly from their initial hostility to wariness to acceptance to comradeship.
Ulfgar, meanwhile, was talking about his favorite subject: anything that could be digested.
Alcohol, specifically.
Ulfgar had a seemingly endless reservoir devoted to anything fermented. Beer, mead, wine, anything went into the mountainous mass like a drop in a desert. Currently, he was teaching Niklaus the finer points of alcohol.
"Now, mead," he went on, "is shit. Unless you can find someone who can make it the right way."
"You've said that about everything that's passed in front of us," Niklaus pointed out, munching on a turkey leg (Sasha's suggestion).
"And it's all true. Most alcohol is shit. You gotta find someone who has good stock, or you're drinking warm piss."
"Hasn't stopped you."
"Better lukewarm piss than the water in a village." Niklaus couldn't argue this, after seeing what went into the local stream. "'Sides," Ulfgar continued, "piss is an aquired taste, but if you can drink it, you'll survive a lot longer around here."
Niklaus returned to his food and drink. Although he was eating, he had started to feel a litte fuzzy around the edges.
As the hours went on, the two continued drinking, getting themselves royally sloshed. Even Sasha was starting to slur.
"Hay, Nik," she said during one break between drinks, "you know that one wench over there has been eyeing you ever since we came in?"
"Yeah, I wondered if she was eyeing me or my purse-strings."
"Naw, I've flashed that look at too many men not to recognize it in someone else."
"Surely you're not suggesting...."
"Why not? It's not like you've been particularly fond of keeping your paladin oaths. 'Sides," she said affectionately, "you've got me to watch your back and keep your Auras going."
Niklaus thought for a minute. "I've never done this before."
"Just do what I tell you."
Niklaus got to his feet. Surprised, he found he was a good bit steadier on his feet than his drinking partner. "I plan to proposition that woman over there," he announced to Ulfgar.
"Godspeed, my brother," Ulfgar responded solemnly, "and regale us with your acts of heroism upon your return." He finished with a wobbly-handed salute.
Niklaus strode over to the woman, who was now standing by the stairs. Following Sasha's lead, he quickly and smoothly enticed the woman into leading him upstairs. Ulfgar watched them go with a smooth grin.
With a constitution born out of years' endurance in the highlands of Arreat (and eating things that were rather disgusting), the misty look clouding his eyes cleared, and he politely refused another round of drinks. Paying his and Niklaus' bill, he sauntered upstairs.
Passing quietly down the hallway, he listened into the door he had heard Niklaus and the woman enter. Assuring that things were well underway within, Ulfgar made his way into his own room. Although he weighed considerably more than Niklaus, whereas Niklaus' steps were audible through the ceiling, Ulfgar's could not have been heard by the most skilled hunter.
Once in his room, he pulled out his ancestral axe and began inspecting the edge. This he did methodically, absently, his mind on other things.
Specifically Niklaus.
For a paladin, Niklaus was a strange one. Every paladin he had ever met had bedecked themself in gleaming plate armor. Ulfgar had fought with paladins across Westmarch, and even fought against paladins to safeguard his homeland. Only young or untested paladin possessed less than plate; it was almost as if plate armor was a mark of achievement.
Niklaus bore small plate, only covering his torso and thighs. Ulfgar knew this wasn't due to inexperience; he had seen Niklaus dispatch several would-be thugs, without killing a single one. Ulfgar had seen enough combat to realize that restraint, not inability, had left those attackers alive.
Most paladin he had met were arrogant bordering on hubris; any act or feat of any kind was glorified, as if offered up as a sacrifice to the Light. Niklaus acted completely opposite; any act was downplayed, as if he was frightened of drawing attention to himself.
Then there were his Auras. Ulfgar knew what it felt like to fight near a warrior of the Light and be similarly blessed by Heaven's Grace. Grace was infinite, and it was only a matter of tolerance and skill that determined how far a paladin could extend his own blessing to others.
Niklaus fought with Auras; Ulfgar had seen them. Yet he had not felt them move through him as they had from other paladin. It was almost as if Niklaus' Auras benefitted only the warrior. Almost as if Niklaus had lost Grace.
So then why can he still ignite Auras?
Ulfgar broke out of his musings to notice he had cleaned his battleaxe, brace of throwing knives, and had polished his weapons belt. Looking about, he pondered about talking to some of the women downstairs himself.
Then it clicked.
Paladin were extremely awkward in public. All they knew was Light. It was joked that Light could only get a paladin hard, and Ulfgar secretly thought it was true.
Niklaus had sweet-talked a woman into bed without any hesitation, any awkwardness.
Into bed.
Ulfgar reeled. Into bed?!
He picked up his weapons and marched to Niklaus' room. Peering in, he only saw a very dazed and half-asleep woman in bed. He marched downstairs.
Niklaus was busy downing another beer and turkey leg. It was obvious he was very hungry, and very invigorated. In one smooth move, Ulfgar had drawn a knife, aimed, and thrown at the demon posing as a paladin.
Niklaus was busy wolfing down a turkey leg. Sasha was busy making lewd comments.
"In all Hells, boy, were you determined to destroy the inn? It's a wonder there was anything left of her when you finished."
"It was your idea, remember?"
"Yeah, but if I had thought to find out if you were a virgin...."
"I suppose the fabled lust of a succubus had nothing to do with that? I notice you're not 'unsatisfied' and itching for a fight anymore."
"Now you listen he..." Sasha cut off as she heard steel rasp against leather. Niklaus missed it, but Sasha had had centuries of foiled assassination attempts from angel, man, and of course demon.
It was her quick instruction that Niklaus dodged back, saw the knife spinning and caught it by the handle. Succubus senses weren't necessarily more acute, but centuries of honing made them preternatural.
Before Niklaus could sputter a confused remark, Ulfgar was on him. Having leapt over the rail towards Niklaus, hs axe left a whooshing noise right where Niklaus had been.
Niklaus fell off his chair backwards. Landing on his back, he lifted the chair with his feet and kicked it at Ulfgar. Rolling backwards, he picked up another chair and aimed it at the huge barbarian. Ulfgar knew not to advance; every paladin could make a simple tree branch a vicious weapon.
Instead he drew out another knife. Before he could aim though, Niklaus dashed through the door and into the night.
Ulfgar chased the demon through the better part of the night. He only caught up when the paladin, despite his Auras, tired and fell to his knees. Ulfgar caught up, but was too tired to raise his axe to fell the demon. He cursed at himself, willing to push on, but his body refused to cooperate. Instead, he fell panting next to the gasping demon.
"Wh...wh....what....are you?" He managed to gasp. "Wha...kind...demon...gods, my lungs."
Niklaus was in no better shape. "P...p...part...," he had to take a few minutes, "part demon....not fully...."
After many minutes of gasping and panting, Niklaus managed to relate his story to Ulfgar. Ulfgar, after recovering himself, took in as much of the story as he could, interrupting to clarify certain points.
"So," he started cautiously, "due to your weapons, you and the demon...Sasha...merged your souls."
"Well, we're not sure if it was due to the enchantments of our weapons, but essentially yes."
"Oh."
They sat that way for a while. Niklaus had to ask.
"How did you discern that I was different?"
Ulfgar looked at him levely. "A paladin having sex? I could sooner see Diablo in a monk's habit."
Sasha found that uproariously funny, and began cackling in Niklaus' head. A slow grin spread on Niklaus' face, and he joined Sasha. Ulfgar, who hadn't thought it nearly that funny, looked at them oddly. When they finished laughing, they regarded Ulfgar.
"Guess you hadn't heard yet," Niklaus stated. "That band of skeletons you found me with were Champions, and they don't travel in numbers that large. They're born to lead, and thus usually lead in a triumvirate over a unit of more normal demons and undead. They were marching somewhere, and I think it was into Rogue territory. Something's happening."
"Why do you say that?"
"The demon that led them is more suited to desert climates, and the Rogue Pass is the only way to reach the Aranoch."
"And you are familiarized with demons well enough to know their preferred climes?"
"As much, it seems, as you are able to understand the language of Mephisto's chosen," Niklaus countered.
"I wonder, however, if it is your knowledge, or the demon's."
"It's Sasha's," Niklaus acceded.
"And you believe her?"
"You sound much like I did six months ago. Yes, I trust her with my life. She and I are so inextricably tied, were tied even from the start, that we cannot hide anything from each other. Our very minds are laid bare to each other. We tried to use that to our advantage when we first found ourselves in our situation, but any plot is instantly known. And over the months, we've adapted."
"So what do you plan to do?"
"Find out why the demons are being drawn across the desert and destroy that reason."
"And why should a demon want to thwart demonic plans?"
This went on for several hours. In the end, it was Niklaus' character that won Ulfgar over rather than Sasha's.
Before long, they found themselves back in the bar, this time seriously getting drunk. As Ulfgar put it, it's important to forget everything about a quest before going out and doing it.
Sasha wrote it off as some human thing.
It was, however, odd that not two days ago these two men were single-handedly responsible for breaking the seige that had befallen the town. That these two were capable of smiting an entire unit of enemies who were remarkable in their ability to not stay dead (i.e. zombies), had inspired rather a lot of attention, fear, no small amount of concern.
The town council had offered to empty their coffers into Niklaus and Ulfgar's chests, but it had been Ulfgar who declined the entire coffer in lieu of directions to this tavern that made "heroes."
This was not to say that he declined *every* coin offered, and thus took enough for the both of them to more than get buy.
Rather they would have had enough, but apparantly Ulfgar had planned to stimulate the local economy by pouring their rewards into the taverns without regard for the morrow.
As they stood outside the council manor, Ulfgar split the money equally between them. Sasha was full of her own ideas.
"Actually, I'm kinda looking forward to trying this 'hero' he's always talking about. I've never tasted human food before"
"Seriously?"
"Well, succubus tastes aren't quite suited to human food, we tend to go more for--"
"Okay, I get it," Niklaus interrupted, quite sure he didn't want to know where that was going.
"Aw c'mon! I was going to say Hell's diet! Geez, even succubi need a break, y'know!"
Sasha got to pondering. "Y'know Nik, as long as we're stuck together, you could probably stand to lose a few of those high-handed oaths of yours."
"What! No!" Niklaus exclaimed mentally, "Why?"
"Well," Sasha said, "it's not like you're exactly a Paladin anymore, you're not trying to prove anything to Heaven, since they can't hear you, you may as well enjoy life while you can."
"A Paladin is not just a Paladin because Heaven hears his prayers. A Paladin is so by his deeds--"
"And a little fun is prohibited so fiercely?"
"It's not a matter of fun! It's a matter of spiritual purity--"
"Okay, think very carefully about that last thing you said," Sasha remarked reprovingly.
Niklaus wavered.
"I promise you this is no attempt to lead you to Hell," Sasha said sincerely.
Niklaus, in hindsight, noticed that he did not oppose her suggestion quite so quickly from that moment on.
Which was what lead two men to sitting at a bar. All things considered, it was a rather odd sight.
Specifically, for one who had solemnly taken so many oaths, Niklaus was actually having more fun breaking each and every one of them than anyone had a right to be. Sasha was as good as her word, teaching him everything he now knew about enjoying life. Happily, a large part of Niklaus had rubbed off on Sasha; on making their way to the now-legendary tavern, she had pointed out the beggar that Niklaus had missed, and noted he an extra healing salve that helped soothe the beggar's teeth. Or lack thereof. Truthfully, though, it had done much to settle Niklaus' stomach (and, vicariously, Sasha's).
"Nik, I have a bit of a confession," Sasha said, during part of their meal.
"What's that?"
"In that battle, when my Bloodlust exhausted me, well," Sasha paused, "I could have gone a lot longer," she rushed through.
Niklaus swallowed his hero carefully. "You mean you reigned yourself in?"
"Yeah, something like that," Sasha sounded almost embarrassed.
"Why?"
"Well," Sasha sounded very embarrassed, "I mean, it was great and all, but there were those townspeople there, and I didn't want them dead and--"
"Wait," Niklaus interrupted, "you prevented us from killing a lot of innocent people. Are you well?"
"Yes! No, I don't know," Sasha said, frustrated, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the killing and all, but I didn't want the people dead."
Niklaus smiled to himself. "Don't worry," he said, "I don't think you're losing your touch."
"It's not that," Sasha said, "it's..." she blew out a breath of air, "well...I'm still a little unsatisfied."
Niklaus' eyebrows launched towards his hairline.
"I mean, couldn't you get in a barfight or something?"
"Ah...," Niklaus looked around somewhat wildly. "No, I don't think that would be a very good idea."
Sasha sighed forlornly. Actually, Niklaus felt bad for her.
Though neither of them would admit it, they had developed a genuine friendship, as both moved slowly from their initial hostility to wariness to acceptance to comradeship.
Ulfgar, meanwhile, was talking about his favorite subject: anything that could be digested.
Alcohol, specifically.
Ulfgar had a seemingly endless reservoir devoted to anything fermented. Beer, mead, wine, anything went into the mountainous mass like a drop in a desert. Currently, he was teaching Niklaus the finer points of alcohol.
"Now, mead," he went on, "is shit. Unless you can find someone who can make it the right way."
"You've said that about everything that's passed in front of us," Niklaus pointed out, munching on a turkey leg (Sasha's suggestion).
"And it's all true. Most alcohol is shit. You gotta find someone who has good stock, or you're drinking warm piss."
"Hasn't stopped you."
"Better lukewarm piss than the water in a village." Niklaus couldn't argue this, after seeing what went into the local stream. "'Sides," Ulfgar continued, "piss is an aquired taste, but if you can drink it, you'll survive a lot longer around here."
Niklaus returned to his food and drink. Although he was eating, he had started to feel a litte fuzzy around the edges.
As the hours went on, the two continued drinking, getting themselves royally sloshed. Even Sasha was starting to slur.
"Hay, Nik," she said during one break between drinks, "you know that one wench over there has been eyeing you ever since we came in?"
"Yeah, I wondered if she was eyeing me or my purse-strings."
"Naw, I've flashed that look at too many men not to recognize it in someone else."
"Surely you're not suggesting...."
"Why not? It's not like you've been particularly fond of keeping your paladin oaths. 'Sides," she said affectionately, "you've got me to watch your back and keep your Auras going."
Niklaus thought for a minute. "I've never done this before."
"Just do what I tell you."
Niklaus got to his feet. Surprised, he found he was a good bit steadier on his feet than his drinking partner. "I plan to proposition that woman over there," he announced to Ulfgar.
"Godspeed, my brother," Ulfgar responded solemnly, "and regale us with your acts of heroism upon your return." He finished with a wobbly-handed salute.
Niklaus strode over to the woman, who was now standing by the stairs. Following Sasha's lead, he quickly and smoothly enticed the woman into leading him upstairs. Ulfgar watched them go with a smooth grin.
With a constitution born out of years' endurance in the highlands of Arreat (and eating things that were rather disgusting), the misty look clouding his eyes cleared, and he politely refused another round of drinks. Paying his and Niklaus' bill, he sauntered upstairs.
Passing quietly down the hallway, he listened into the door he had heard Niklaus and the woman enter. Assuring that things were well underway within, Ulfgar made his way into his own room. Although he weighed considerably more than Niklaus, whereas Niklaus' steps were audible through the ceiling, Ulfgar's could not have been heard by the most skilled hunter.
Once in his room, he pulled out his ancestral axe and began inspecting the edge. This he did methodically, absently, his mind on other things.
Specifically Niklaus.
For a paladin, Niklaus was a strange one. Every paladin he had ever met had bedecked themself in gleaming plate armor. Ulfgar had fought with paladins across Westmarch, and even fought against paladins to safeguard his homeland. Only young or untested paladin possessed less than plate; it was almost as if plate armor was a mark of achievement.
Niklaus bore small plate, only covering his torso and thighs. Ulfgar knew this wasn't due to inexperience; he had seen Niklaus dispatch several would-be thugs, without killing a single one. Ulfgar had seen enough combat to realize that restraint, not inability, had left those attackers alive.
Most paladin he had met were arrogant bordering on hubris; any act or feat of any kind was glorified, as if offered up as a sacrifice to the Light. Niklaus acted completely opposite; any act was downplayed, as if he was frightened of drawing attention to himself.
Then there were his Auras. Ulfgar knew what it felt like to fight near a warrior of the Light and be similarly blessed by Heaven's Grace. Grace was infinite, and it was only a matter of tolerance and skill that determined how far a paladin could extend his own blessing to others.
Niklaus fought with Auras; Ulfgar had seen them. Yet he had not felt them move through him as they had from other paladin. It was almost as if Niklaus' Auras benefitted only the warrior. Almost as if Niklaus had lost Grace.
So then why can he still ignite Auras?
Ulfgar broke out of his musings to notice he had cleaned his battleaxe, brace of throwing knives, and had polished his weapons belt. Looking about, he pondered about talking to some of the women downstairs himself.
Then it clicked.
Paladin were extremely awkward in public. All they knew was Light. It was joked that Light could only get a paladin hard, and Ulfgar secretly thought it was true.
Niklaus had sweet-talked a woman into bed without any hesitation, any awkwardness.
Into bed.
Ulfgar reeled. Into bed?!
He picked up his weapons and marched to Niklaus' room. Peering in, he only saw a very dazed and half-asleep woman in bed. He marched downstairs.
Niklaus was busy downing another beer and turkey leg. It was obvious he was very hungry, and very invigorated. In one smooth move, Ulfgar had drawn a knife, aimed, and thrown at the demon posing as a paladin.
Niklaus was busy wolfing down a turkey leg. Sasha was busy making lewd comments.
"In all Hells, boy, were you determined to destroy the inn? It's a wonder there was anything left of her when you finished."
"It was your idea, remember?"
"Yeah, but if I had thought to find out if you were a virgin...."
"I suppose the fabled lust of a succubus had nothing to do with that? I notice you're not 'unsatisfied' and itching for a fight anymore."
"Now you listen he..." Sasha cut off as she heard steel rasp against leather. Niklaus missed it, but Sasha had had centuries of foiled assassination attempts from angel, man, and of course demon.
It was her quick instruction that Niklaus dodged back, saw the knife spinning and caught it by the handle. Succubus senses weren't necessarily more acute, but centuries of honing made them preternatural.
Before Niklaus could sputter a confused remark, Ulfgar was on him. Having leapt over the rail towards Niklaus, hs axe left a whooshing noise right where Niklaus had been.
Niklaus fell off his chair backwards. Landing on his back, he lifted the chair with his feet and kicked it at Ulfgar. Rolling backwards, he picked up another chair and aimed it at the huge barbarian. Ulfgar knew not to advance; every paladin could make a simple tree branch a vicious weapon.
Instead he drew out another knife. Before he could aim though, Niklaus dashed through the door and into the night.
Ulfgar chased the demon through the better part of the night. He only caught up when the paladin, despite his Auras, tired and fell to his knees. Ulfgar caught up, but was too tired to raise his axe to fell the demon. He cursed at himself, willing to push on, but his body refused to cooperate. Instead, he fell panting next to the gasping demon.
"Wh...wh....what....are you?" He managed to gasp. "Wha...kind...demon...gods, my lungs."
Niklaus was in no better shape. "P...p...part...," he had to take a few minutes, "part demon....not fully...."
After many minutes of gasping and panting, Niklaus managed to relate his story to Ulfgar. Ulfgar, after recovering himself, took in as much of the story as he could, interrupting to clarify certain points.
"So," he started cautiously, "due to your weapons, you and the demon...Sasha...merged your souls."
"Well, we're not sure if it was due to the enchantments of our weapons, but essentially yes."
"Oh."
They sat that way for a while. Niklaus had to ask.
"How did you discern that I was different?"
Ulfgar looked at him levely. "A paladin having sex? I could sooner see Diablo in a monk's habit."
Sasha found that uproariously funny, and began cackling in Niklaus' head. A slow grin spread on Niklaus' face, and he joined Sasha. Ulfgar, who hadn't thought it nearly that funny, looked at them oddly. When they finished laughing, they regarded Ulfgar.
"Guess you hadn't heard yet," Niklaus stated. "That band of skeletons you found me with were Champions, and they don't travel in numbers that large. They're born to lead, and thus usually lead in a triumvirate over a unit of more normal demons and undead. They were marching somewhere, and I think it was into Rogue territory. Something's happening."
"Why do you say that?"
"The demon that led them is more suited to desert climates, and the Rogue Pass is the only way to reach the Aranoch."
"And you are familiarized with demons well enough to know their preferred climes?"
"As much, it seems, as you are able to understand the language of Mephisto's chosen," Niklaus countered.
"I wonder, however, if it is your knowledge, or the demon's."
"It's Sasha's," Niklaus acceded.
"And you believe her?"
"You sound much like I did six months ago. Yes, I trust her with my life. She and I are so inextricably tied, were tied even from the start, that we cannot hide anything from each other. Our very minds are laid bare to each other. We tried to use that to our advantage when we first found ourselves in our situation, but any plot is instantly known. And over the months, we've adapted."
"So what do you plan to do?"
"Find out why the demons are being drawn across the desert and destroy that reason."
"And why should a demon want to thwart demonic plans?"
This went on for several hours. In the end, it was Niklaus' character that won Ulfgar over rather than Sasha's.
Before long, they found themselves back in the bar, this time seriously getting drunk. As Ulfgar put it, it's important to forget everything about a quest before going out and doing it.
Sasha wrote it off as some human thing.