A/N:WHAT'S UP MUCKACHUNGAS!? It's Travez, and here I am to bring you another big chapter, and the first chapter in Damosarion's Character Arc, which we will come back to another time after this! However, I have come to realize something about the story that I have been writing… I swear to you all that I am not trying to make each and every combat encounter a slaughterfest in favor of the party! I've been trying to find stronger and stronger opponents to put up a decent challenge for the group, including a huge number of opponents and a massively powerful opponent that they shouldn't be ready for!
In any case, if the party survives what I have planned for this episode, then I will, begrudgingly, give them a Level Up… In any case, I am exhausted from work as I write this Author's Note, so I'm just going to let you guys read the chapter, so I guess that is enough out of me! Please be sure to Follow, Favorite, Review, and Share this story with everyone you know who loves Dungeons and Dragons Content! Catch ya on the Flipside! NAT 20!
Session 6: Into the City of Hate
The morning following the group's stop in Soroca, the group makes their way to the Ruined City of Kurast, and, unlike what has been happening since Vapnyarka, Damos is actually in the Driver's seat with Eryn… After hearing the tale by the bard yesterday about the Four Horsemen, he wanted to be the first to see Kurast, as he shares blood with the Horsemen, he would be able to sense the Aura of Hate his brother would give off.
Thinking back to his childhood, his brothers were heroes in the Nine Hells, having stopped the Blood War from flooding into the Material Realm too much, and though there was one part of the Bard's story that they got wrong, the Devils weren't killed by the Horsemen, at least not fully. Any demon or devil "killed" on the Material Plane will just rise again in their home planes, harder and stronger than before. The only way to kill a demon or devil permanently is in their home plane, and even that is dangerous. As such, when the Horsemen rode, the devils rallied around the greatest warriors the Nine Hells ever saw and pushed the demons back into Avernus to seal the portals behind them. He remembers growing up with his brothers around when they weren't on missions, though lawful evil in all senses of the word, they still loved their family, in private anyway. The only reason why Mephisto was named the Lord of Hatred was because of the effects his Oath of Conquest inspired in his victims' hatred. People fear what they don't understand, and they hate what they fear, as such he uses Fear to Inspire Hatred in his enemies, then uses his charisma to turn his enemies against each other, thus turning their hate against their own allies. Not only that, Mephisto was a powerful Necromancer alongside his abilities as a Paladin, able to summon undead to aid him in battle.
At home, when he was around, he was actually the most loving and wisest of his brothers, and thus he often gave Damos advice that he still holds onto to this day. As such, when the news reached him and his family that his brothers had died, he was devastated, to the point he openly swore vengeance upon those that killed them, unknowing that Zariel had been listening, and revealed that she had killed them, and this caused him and his younger siblings to flee to the Material Realm with their mothers.
Now, however, he has learned that Mephisto is alive and, more than likely if the bard is to be believed, trapped in Kurast, the city having fallen to ruin after the destruction of his order by Zariel's treachery. Thanks to this spark of hope, Damosarion feels a spark of hope to save his brother from his Imprisonment and possibly reunite his family. Thanks to Durgaul following the instructions of the Eryn, the group obtains visual contact with Kurast by noon, and as they approach, Eryn holds his nose. "Ugh, what is that smell?" Eryn asks, to which Durgaul and Damos take a whiff… Durgaul has to stop because he is hacking and coughing at this, trying to adjust to the smell, but Damos… Tears flow down his cheek as he smiles…
"That my friend is the smell of Hate…!" After a few minutes, Durgaul gets used to the stench, never knowing that a single emotion could have such a smell if given one… When one looks at the city of Kurast, Durgaul compares the city to pictures he had seen of the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan in the country of India, only with something the size of Kodiak City in Alaska built around it with the same architecture, only to be covered in the skeletal remains of Paladins, corpses that hold a very faint, almost practically faded away, Stench of Hatred in them, as well as what appear to be the decaying corpses of what appear to be the abandoned vessels of Devil's, to which Damos examines one… And finds it is indeed engraved with the symbol of the Nine Hells, particularly those loyal to Zariel. Damos clenches his teeth, paralyzed with rage… Thankfully, a hand on his shoulder brings him back to reality, it is the hand of Evolyne, who looks at him with compassion and empathy, to which Damos looks down and stands up. Everyone begins to look around…
Checking out the gate and the edge of the ruins, the group notices the terrain, once a verdant hill land has actually turned into something of a swamp, which Durgaul gets a bad feeling about this place. He is smelling another Dragon, one that is sexually mature, and he is feeling nervous about the acrid smell about the place. "This place feels like Black Dragon Territory…" Durgaul says, looking around, everyone pinching the bridge of their noses.
"Crap…" Everyone says.
"What is it with us blundering into the territory of dragons and fiends?" Mina asks, exasperated, but then Damos feels a sense of dread flow over him as the Aura of Hate begins to fill some of the skeletons.
"Mina, NO!"
"Why can't we fight some undead for once!?"
"Ask and you shall receive…" A voice dripping with an acidic undertone says as in an echo as several skeletons rise off the ground, and a diabolic scream echoes through the city.
"Brother!" Damos shouts in Infernal.
"Damo'Saurion!?" The Diabolic Voice answers back, shocked. "Flee brother, this dragon is too powerful for you!"
"Oh so a family reunion, huh? Well then let me show our guests the proper hospitality, Dul'Mephisto…!" The Dragon's voice says.
"I'LL KILL YOU AND TURN YOUR HIDE INTO ARMOR, DRAGON!" Damos shouts in his fury.
"I would like to see you try after this!" The Dragon's voice echoes out as the skeletons on the ground begin to rise all of them spiraling in the air as they converge into one great mass of bones then splitting off into 9 Skeletal Swarms… Longclaw was the first to act, deciding that the First of the Skeletal Swarms to form would be his target, as he slashes at it with his acid bearing claws, leaving a scar on it's bones so that he can follow it's scent and focus entirely on that. Following him is Ghost, and Durgaul says something in Draconic.
"Ghost, use your tail!" Durgaul recommends loudly, to which the Drake, seeing the wisdom in the dragon's words, decides to test out that theory, landing his strike right onto Longclaw's mark, the skeleton reeling from the bashing it had just received. As the little dragon lands on the ground, two bolts of radiant energy fly past Ghost and strike the Swarm a good bit, causing it's bones to turn into radiant dust, but the initial impact doesn't make it far into the swarm. This particular swarm then targets the one who caused it so much pain, raising it's arm, which carries a rusted sword and brings it down upon Longclaw, who groans in pain from the strike, but remains standing. The Sixth Swarm moves as quickly as it can to Durgaul, the dragon ready for it, but out of nowhere, Nevermore takes his opportunity to lash out at the skeleton with his fist, which, much to the surprise of the Kenku, finds his fist dealing great damage to this undead, even though it appears to shrug off the blow. Durgaul seeing this, decides to do a little test, swinging his tail, he deals a great blow, but on the backswing, his tail begins to glow with energy around it, Nevermore noticing it along with Durgaul, in which the tail shatters the swarm in front of Durgal.
"That was… a Double Critical!" Nevermore says, shocked.
"Double Critical?" Durgaul asks.
"They are rare instances in combat, but Double Criticals double the amount of damage you are capable of doing! We have been performing them a few times throughout our journey but the visual effects only happen when some people reach certain levels of power, and thus a Double Critical will cause a visual effect unique to the user. However, Brutal Failures are also a thing, in which things end so badly for a person that the world itself lashes out at them, and the Severity of such is determined at random by the gods…" Nevermore explains, taking his stance again. "Be very careful of what happens from this point onwards!"
"Right!" Durgaul says, processing this information as fast as he can. Nevermore, for his part, rushes to where Longclaw is and swings his fist into the Swarm before the ranger, killing it with a mighty blow.
"Thanks for the save!" Longclaw says, to which Ghost chirps thankfully.
"It is no trouble…!" Nevermore says, looking to a perfect line up of the swarms and takes his Javelin off his back, aiming it carefully. "VAJRA!" He shouts as he throws it, the javelin turning into lightning once it flies from his hand, and electrocutes the 4th, 8th, and 9th Swarms as it bolts past them, whilst piercing the chest of his target, the 5th Swarm. The initial piercing doesn't allow it to pierce through without resistance, but the moment it does, the Javelin pierces through and electrocutes the swarm, dealing a powerful blow to the creature. Fiona, knowing she won't be of much use at the moment, decides to fall back to Damos and Mina's position, a point where she can reinforce either team within a good distance if need be.
The 4th Swarm charges at Nevermore in retaliation for being electrocuted, however, it's blade misses it's mark, whilst the 8th, 9th, and 5th swarms attempt to attack Durgaul, only for the Dragon's Sapphire Tail be raised and blocking the attack with it's heavily armored underside. Evolyne smirks as she sheathers her Rapier into a Lute she has on hand, revealing a scabbard built into it as she begins strumming the strings, and begins singing a song that is all too familiar to Durgaul, who remembers it from his past life.
Overwhelming Passion breaks through my body!
Time starts to melt into the Next Stage…!
Evolyne plays the song, and Durgaul smiles as a spark fills deep in his soul, and the others feel it as well, tapping their feet to the beat of the song, and Durgaul can hear the entire set of instrumentation joining her, and with a quick glance at her Lute… Though he is not one to understand the ways of magic, he can sense the Lute is actually drawing upon the enchantment of the rapier to passive class Prestidigitation, mixing it with her lute's strumming to bring out the full band effect for the song. 'Clever girl…!' Durgaul thinks. Damos, hearing the music, feels his fury burn brighter as he charges towards the 4th Swarm, and lands a powerful blow of radiant energy on the Swarm.
I am always lacking…
It's like I hide behind my excuses and abandonment!
Eryn, taps his foot as he raises a hand, casting Catapult on a good five pound rock and throwing it at the 7th Swarm, smirking as he looks out at the group, in which Ana smirks as she then snaps her finger at the 2nd Swarm and sets the pieces of metal on it's body glowing red hot with heat. The 7th Swarm, seeing Durgaul as the greatest threat, charges at the Dragon, it's rusted blade finding a weakpoint between the scales and digging in, dealing some minor damage to Durgaul who hisses in pain. The 2nd Swarm looks to Damos…
"Yes my child, kill the Devil! I command you!" The Black Dragon commands the Swarm, to which the creature charges with it's rusted sword, only for the radiant blade of Damos to block it and knock it aside.
'I love this thing!' Damos thinks, just as the 3rd Swarm makes an attempt on Durgaul, only for the blade to glance off his scales.
This Scenery that you're gazing at…
Is suddenly crumbling in your hands…!
Tell me where these feelings should belong!
Longclaw and Ghost both land mighty blows upon the 2nd Swarm, bringing it to the point it collapses, Longclaw's claws and Ghost's scales sparking as they hit metal bits on the swarm. As this is going on, Mina decides to see if she can do some chip damage on the 3rd Swarm, seeing how it is a bit untouched, and it would make things easier to take it out later, landing her shots with a smirk on her face.
I cannot restrain this searing flame!
It burns away all my doubts!
It helps me forget… everything… I've felt… Till Today!
No one ever knows the Sound in my Soul!
I everlastingly change!
An unknown part of me is waking up!
SUPERNOVA!
As Evolyne goes into an instrumental break, Durgaul smiles as he breathes in and unleashes his breath weapon upon the 7th, 8th, and 9th Swarms, seeing as they are in front of him and all, unleashing his newly empowered breath on them, killing the 7th whilst severely wounding the 8th and 9th… Nevermore smirking as he then feels black Ki Surrounding him, the Kenku Monk jumps into the air and lands a powerful kick to the 4th Swarm's chest, a Double Critical sending the Ki into the Undead Abomination, causing it to spark violently before exploding… Riding the remaining Energy of the Double Critical he has, he uses his newly found speed to charge toward Durgaul's position to provide assistance. Channeling some of what is left of the Black Ki, he lands a brutal punch upon the 8th Swarm, causing it to be sent flying as before it explodes. However, as he turns to attack the 9th Swarm, he feels it, a voice cackling in the back of his mind, and a pair of red glowing eyes staring into the back of his head.
"You really thought you could find the Imperial Regalia? What a foolish notion, little do you know that they will never be found… Especially since you have yet to find them…" The voice taunts, "But I am also sure you are afraid… Afraid to Fail, because if you do, it will not be you who is punished, it will be that woman who suffers for your failures… Your dear… Little… Froppy…"
"SILENCE!" Nevermore shouts, rearing his hand back to attack the presence taunting him, only to hear a draconic snarl of pain as Durgaul's nose begins to bleed from the impact Nevermore landed on him.
"Dude! What the hell!?" Durgaul shouts indignantly!"
"I apologize, I…" Nevermore says, realizing he had suffered a Brutal Failure, but then he hears Durgaul gasp.
"NEVERMORE, LOOK OUT!" Durgaul shouts, to which everyone turns to see the 9th Swarm raise it's blade, and time slows down as the rusted metal descends upon the Monk, whose eyes widen in terror… And then images of those he left behind in Yamato to win back his honor… He thinks of pink tiefling who brought joy, and acid, to everyone she knew… He thinks of an emerald haired warrior who was fascinated with his manipulation of Ki and how it formed the Dark Shadow. However, the one who fills most of his mind is a beautiful young Grung, an experiment by a mad mage who turned her into a human-shaped version of her race, and how the two shared their feelings for one another, just before… All of this… She is all Nevermore can think about, and… He wants to go back to her… By the gods he wants to return to her and marry her once he gets back… But…
That is when suddenly the Black Ki of Dark Shadow erupts from Tokoyami's back, creating the upper body of his Astral Self, who catches the Swarm's blade and punches it… The Black Ki flows into the Swarm, and Tokoyami then realizes the creature also suffered a Brutal Failure, and it has awoken his ki to lash out at the offender. Everyone but Longclaw, Fiona, Eryn, and Anastasia could see the creature before them, and they were shocked as it retreated into Nevermore's back. However, this doesn't stop Evolyne from playing, in fact, it spurs her on…
Overflowing Passion Fills my body…
There is no need to escape…!
Right now I'm changing…
Like a little star born in the Shadows of Destiny!
The 5th Swarm, seeing a new real threat, charges at Nevermore, but as the undead swings, his attack is captured by a pair of black arms that form out of the Kenku by themselves.
I cannot restrain this searing flame!
It burns away all my doubts!
It helps me forget… everything… I've felt… Till Today!
As Evolyne looks at the Fifth Swarm, she takes a brief moment between the lyrics of her song to spit out some Vicious Mockery at the Skeleton, so fast that even the author can't catch it, and even so, it causes the bones on the skulls in the swarm to crack violently.
No one ever knows the Sound in my Soul!
I everlastingly change!
An unknown part of me is waking up!
SUPERNOVA!
At the sound of the Lyric "Supernova" Damos, casually walks up to the 5th Swarm and simply prods it with the tip of his Sun Blade, causing the entire creature to turn into luminous dust. Eryn smirks as he calls on Venom, calling on his Twin Spell Metamagic to cast Catapult twice in one move, upcast at 3rd level, and raises two large boulders off the ground…
Deep in the Darkness that is too thick to see…
A little light is being born for only you and me…!
Eryn smiles as he grabs both boulders and launches them at their targets, flinging them high into the air before, as Evolyne is finishing the last of the outro, letting his hands fall limp as the two giant rocks fall down on top of the swarms. Dusting his hands off, everyone smirks as they take a breather at this.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" The Black Dragon calls out in fury from her hiding place. "HOW THE HELL DID YOU NINE MANAGE TO BEAT MY SWARMS!?"
"Very Simple, you scaly bitch!" Damos shouts, smirking at the Dragon's outrage, he holds a hand behind him… and Durgaul notices him making mudras with his said hand, and Durgaul… Thinking back on some historical texts, realizes that Damos is signaling for everyone to drink some healing potions. He looks at the others, and they nod, to which Evolyne and Ana patch up Durgaul and Longclaw, in which the former of the men hands the latter a greater healing potion, as the two of them took the worst hits of the group at that point. With the two of them fully healed up, everyone gets ready, "We're just too stubborn, and I'm too angry to just lie down and drop dead! And I'm going to keep my promise! I will find you and turn your scaly hide into Armor you bitch!"
"Well then find me in this city if you can! Just know that the longer you take, the greater the chance I'll get bored and have some fun with your big brother here!"
"Don't fall for her taunting, Damo'Saurion! Just get out of here!"
"I am not!" Damos shouts angrily, "Hang in there big brother, I'm coming!" Durgaul looks at his friend and decides that they should all head out, knowing that the longer they take, the worse things would get for Mephisto. Deciding to press on, they seem to find an old, but fairly worn, map of the city, in which they learn of the only possible place they could find that could house a dragon would be the Cathedral of Light, built by the Zakarum Priesthood and the Haradrim Brotherhood, a group of Clerics and Paladins who decided to work alongside the Horsemen to ensure that the Blood War didn't spill into the Material Realm again. The Temple of Light, despite it's name, according to a book written by a traveling priest, was actually developed as neutral ground between the Cultists of the Nine Hells and the Priests of the Divines, a point where they could work together, share information, and even get aid in dealing with more extreme members of both sides to prevent any "accidents'' from happening.
The Temple is actually hosted right next to the palace at the northern end of the city, but Durgaul feels like something is off… And it only grows as the group decides to make their way to the Temple, and in a few hours, they manage to find something both shocking and horrifying… the Skeleton of a Fiend, pinned to what appears to be a giant crucifix. The fiend has several horns on it's head, with two large prominent ones flowing from the side, it appears to have the skeletal upper body of a Tiefling, but with only it's spine being the visible part of it's lower body, as well as having two pairs of arms and massive pair of skeletal wings. Everyone looks in shock as Damos's eyes glow with hate and rage. However that is when the skull lifts it's head, "I thought I told you to flee!" The Skeleton says.
"You know I can't do that brother!" Damos says, "You're one of the Horsemen, but more importantly, you're family! I'm not abandoning you!"
"Foolish boy, you're dealing with an Adult Black Dragon that is using me as a power source to summon undead minions to her beck and call!" The Skeleton says, "I'm already using what little power I have left to communicate with you without alerting her!"
"Save your energy brother, I'm going to free you!" Damos says with passion, to which the Skeleton looks at him and sighs.
"You were always the most stubborn out of all of us, even more so than Baal…" Mephisto says, "Alright then… There is somebody here who might be able to help, a Lich who is imprisoned in the Palace. She was to become my bride had Hydrochlora not killed her in her first attack."
"You were getting married!?" Damos says, smiling wide. "Why didn't you tell us!?"
"At the time Zariel had told you that we had been killed, in order to scatter our family and prevent us from reinforcing each other." Mephisto explains, "Also I sent you invitations weeks before it happened!" Damos gives his brother a look… The same look his father gave him when he attempted to lie… However, Mephisto just snickers… "Nice try, little brother, but your attempt at giving me "The Look" isn't going to work on me. Besides, I'm telling the truth!" Damos looks into his brother's glowing eye holes… And sighs, unable to pick up any deceit… "In any case, this Lich is my wife, Kurastha, and she will help you if you free her, but be wary… Kurastha may not harm family, but her imprisonment, as I have imagined, has not done well for her mind. However…" He looks at his brother's hand…
"Mephisto?" Damos asks, to which… He sees the gaze his brother is looking at. "Oh this? I forged it myself!"
"What a splendid work of art!" Mephisto says, to which Durgaul looks at the Fiend Skeleton.. And can see it barely hiding the Avarice in it's glowing eyes, to which Durgaul snarls and swipes at the skeletal fiend, who barely dodges. "Control your Dragon, brother!"
"You are a coward, Hydrochlora!" Durgaul says angrily, to which Damos looks at the Skeleton with shock, but then fury.
"You damned bitch!" Damos shouts, "How dare you!"
"You are more Perceptive than I gave you credit for, Wyrmling!" Hydrochlora says, "Too bad you're still a Wyrmling."
"Sorry but I'm already taken, you old hag!" Durgaul says, snarling at the Skeleton being manipulated by a Black Dragon.
"Oh I will have so much fun breaking you…!" She says, smiling, only for the dragon to roar in anger and pain. "Who the hell are you!?"
That is when suddenly, with the Shattering of Glass, everyone looks up in shock to see a creature fly above them, the cloud-blocked sun showing it's image, causing Fiona to have her eyes widened in horror… "Werk…!" Fiona says with anger as the Owlin dives down towards the group, revealing he is an Eurasian Eagle Owl. The Owling flies past them but drops a lantern at their feet.
"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE THIEF!" Hydrochlora roars in anger as the Temple of light explodes as a Great Black Dragon rises into the air, foaming at the mouth, literally, with angry-looking acidic foam. The Owlin lands near the group, on a building nearby, "So you are aligned with these intruders then? I'm really going to enjoy this now!" That is when Damos examines the Lantern… and he knows what the hell that is!
"So that's the vessel my brother is trapped in, a Ghost Lantern!" Damos says, shocked.
"Correct…" The Dragon says, "Only that one was designed to hold the souls of creatures equal in power to a Pit Fiend, a gift from Zariel!"
"Damn her!" Damos says.
"She already is, as are all of you…!" Hydrochlora says, snarling as the group scatters across the battlefield, with Damos ducking behind a bit of cover whilst taking the Lantern with him. Mina, with Half-Cover behind her, rises from it briefly as she takes aim with her hand crossbows and fire a pair of bolts that strike the Dragon hard in the chest.
"If you were really such a mighty dragon and could kill us on your own, then why do you accept a Devil's help in securing your territory? Seems like you're taking the coward's way to power!" Evolyne says, standing out in the open, taunting the dragon, whose nose begins to bleed at the Vicious Mockery being spouted at her.
"Watch your tongue, you insignificant worm!" Hydrochlora shouts, angrily. Fiona, having barely dodged out of sight of the dragon, reaches into her pack, and carefully rolls out some ball bearings in front of the dragon so that, even if it doesn't slip, the ball bearings, due to the dragons' weight, will get stuck in it's scales, then either Evolyne or Anastasiya, will be able to heat it up. Ana notices this but then notices something out of the corner of her eye, and smirks, she sees something shiny in the dragon's back, a pair of daggers embedded into it's hide, and the young Genasi smiles as she concentrates, sending out a wave of magic that heats up the dagger embedded into the dragon's hide. The Dragon yelps in pain as it bounces up a bit, causing the ground to shake.
"HELP! ME TAIL'S ON FIRE!" The Dragon shouts, with what Durgaul can swear are anime tears coming out of it's eyes. Despite wanting to just laugh at the hilariousness of it all, the Black Sapphire Dragon takes to the air and right up to the Black Dragon's face, and breathes in deeply, before unleashing the full might of his newly empowered Breath Weapon. The Black Dragon, distracted by the sudden pain, doesn't get a chance to brace herself against the breath weapon in her face, and gets the full blast of it, her internal ears ringing, becoming light-headed and dizzy. Durgaul smiles as he looks at this and gives Damos a nod.
Damos, looking at the Lantern, lifts it up, "Are you with me brother?" Damos asks.
(NAT 20!)
"To the death, Damos'Saurion!" The Pit Fiend says, to which the Tiefling stands and holds up his ring up to the Lantern. The two devils begin to speak their oath together, a Double Critical flowing between them as they channel each other's energies into one.
"With the Blood War's Rage of Crimson Red,
we fill black souls with darkest Dread!
And twist your minds with Painand Hate!
We'll Destroyyou all! THAT IS YOUR FATE!"
"GUIDING BOLT!" Damos shouts, swinging his ring crowned fist and sending a bolt of blue radiant energy into the dragon, the energy transforming into Dul'Mephistos' Spirit as it glides to the dragon, slamming into the dragon on impact. The Dragon screams in agony as the radiant energy rips through her like a Ballista Bolt, only this one made of radiant energy and it rips through her veins like fire, leaving a tender scar on her chest. Nevermore, seeing an opening rushes forward and channels his power to swing faster and harder than he has in a while, the energy filling his muscles as he unleashes a Flurry of Blows. Though all four strikes connect, two of them don't deal any damage as they had struck unscarred scales, thus they couldn't deal their damage. He then kicks off, landing back on the ground and rushes into cover. Eryn, utilizing a portion of his maximum power, he unleashes a barrage of Magic Missiles, dealing some significant damage to the Dragon.
'Damn it, how is this happening!? I can't even retreat thanks to that damn brat!' Hydrochlora thinks, anger and shame filling her being as she tries to shake off the effects. 'How are that Brat and those worms so strong!?'
(*Rolls for Longclaw* OH NO! NAT 1! I need to Roll Severity… *Rolls* A ONE! A FUCKING ONE!)
Longclaw, thinking he sees an opportunity, unleashes his true Shifter Form, and charges at the Dragon, but neglects to notice Fiona's Ball Bearings, and at the same time, after those attacks, Hydrochlora is lowering her head… Longclaw slips on the ball bearings, falling forward into the Black Dragon's Mouth, his falling onto the dragon's tongue and Hydrochlora, too dazed to realize what is going on, lifts her head to try and shake off the effects, and Longclaw begins to slip down her throat… Trying to see if he can stop himself, Longclaw tries to reach for one of the dragon's fangs…
(*Rolls* ANOTHER NAT ONE! *Rolls Severity* ANOTHER NAT ONE ON A D100! THAT'S FOUR NAT ONES IN THIS ENCOUNTER! OH MY FUCKING GOD!)
His hand misses his target and he slips down her throat, and, due to not getting a chance to stop himself, he slips down her esophagus… 'NO! DAMN IT!' Longclaw shouts internally, knowing that for a dragon this size, it will take six seconds for him to reach the stomach, then he's done for. "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" Longclaw's voice shouts, to which Ghost's eyes widen with horror as he jumps to his master's aid the second the dragon lowers it's head again and tries to rescue him…
(*Rolls for Ghost* OOOOH NOOOO! Another NAT 1! *Rolls Severity* DAMN IT THAT'S SIX NAT ONES THIS ENCOUNTER! WHAT'S WITH MY LUCK!?)
Only to slip down the same tube as his master, screeching in fear. Mina, shocked at the fact that both Longclaw and Ghost just got eaten, screams in horror. "OH MY GOD! SHE KILLED LONGCLAW AND GHOOSTIE!"
"YOU BASTARD!" Durgaul shouts in fury, to which Mina takes aim with her Handcrossbows and fires, taking out both of the dragon's eyes, who screams in agony as her eyes spill out blood and a strange liquid from within it. Evolyne, having seen the other dagger thanks to her compatriot, draws her rapier and points to the other dagger, heating it up, causing the dragon to scream in pain. Seeing as the battle has been decided, Fiona just kicks back and relaxes, but on the off chance what happens next doesn't finish the dragon off, she readies one of her psychic blades to be thrown to deal the finishing blow. Anastasiya smirks as she notices this and snaps her fingers, causing the dagger she set ablaze to burn brighter and the Dragon's screams as it's body begins to bulge from it's blood reaching the boiling point. Ghost and Longclaw reunite in the esophagus, and both see the sphincter coming up on them and they both brace for the end, only to hear something ignite.
'Well fuck…' The two think before being blinded by the light as they get sent flying across the battlefield and crashing onto stone, the Black Dragon having exploded from gas in it's stomach being ignited and it's blood turning to vapor, and now everyone looks to see the mess left behind with a smile on his face.
"I don't fucking believe it…" Dul'Mephisto says, shocked, "That creature and Zariel gave me such a hard time, and yet you brats managed to kill it in 9 seconds! Little brother, how, in the name of Baator, did you get so strong!?"
"Very Carefully, Edvywz Brazmyr!" Damo'Saurion says, smiling at his big brother, then he brings the lantern to his brother's corpse, and raises it to the corpse. "Is there a way for you to get back to your body."
"Not this one, it's too far gone, luckily I had a Clone Prepared, and fortunately, I had hid something nearby to deal with this, so if you will take me to that building over there. The rest of you, Hydrochlora's hoard is yours to collect from! Please help yourself to the treasure!" Durgaul's internal ears perk up and the dragon is already rushing into the temple. Ana shakes her head fondly and rushes after her lover, and the group follows close behind. Everyone opens the door and are immediately hit by a flash of scintillating light that gleams as sunlight reflects off of the massive hoard that the Dragon has:
- 4,500 Copper Coins
- 19,000 Silver Coins
- 38,000 Gold Coins
- 3,700 Platinum Coins
- 9 Mundane Items:
1) A sketchbook from another world of the Material Plane, depicting unfamiliar creatures and one very familiar dragon
2) A treatise on alchemy etched on steel cylinders
3) A set of irregular polyhedral dice (with 9, 13, 25, and 34 sides)
4) A hogshead (large cask) containing 65 gallons of clean drinking water
5) A set of seven candlesticks bearing a god's holy symbol
6) A tarnished brazier with pleasant-smelling ash (Rosemary)
7) A stuffed Monstrosity appropriate to the local terrain (Hydra)
8) A tarnished brazier with pleasant-smelling ash (Lavender)
9) A large, noisy wind chime
- 23 Gems:
5 Black Sapphires
5 Rubies
5 Star Sapphires
5 Star Rubies
3 Diamonds
- 12 Art Objects
A Ceremonial electrum dagger with a black pearl in the pommel
A Carved harp of exotic wood with ivory inlay and zircon gems
An Obsidian statuette with gold fittings and inlay
A Box of turquoise animal figurines
A Gold music box
A Gold circlet set with four aquamarines
A Jade game board with solid gold playing pieces
A A necklace string of small pink pearls
A Large well-made tapestry
A Copper chalice with silver filigree
A Silver-plated steel longsword with jet set in hilt (Key to Kurastha's Prison)
A Jeweled platinum ring (Kurastha's wedding ring and phylactery)
When it came to the Silver Plated Sword and the Jeweled Platinum Ring… Durgaul can feel some sort of magic emanating off them, and not more than a few moments later, Damos returns, and behind him is a massive pit fiend, who barely looks better than the skeleton they saw on the cross, it is a completely emaciated devil covered in blue scales, though it seems Damos is completely fine with it. "Ah, it seems you found what I would've gone for initially, my wife's wedding ring and the Keyblade to the Mansion! If I may have those!"
"Of course, sir!" Durgaul says, smiling as he carefully hands the items over, to which they then go to find the magic items of the hoard, and Durgaul notices what appears to be a pot, and… Thanks to his knowledge as a Dungeon Master in his world, he knows exactly what it is. "Hey Damos! Over here!" Damos walks over to the dragon, who smirks as he looks at him. "I think you might want this!"
"What is it?"
"Molten Bronze Skin… Attune to it and you shall have a skin tight armor made of bronze that will allow you to fly! Plus, it won't impede any chances of you breaking stealth should we need it!" Durgaul explains, smiling, to which Damos looks shocked. Damos smirks as he looks at the pot, whilst Durgaul makes his way to the rest of the group, with Ana smiling big as she finds a Staff of Withering, Longclaw finds scimitar with a crystalline blade, Eryn finds himself a Ring of Spell Storing, Nevermore finds a pair of Bracers of Defense, and Fiona finds an Immovable Rod. Looking to see Mina not finding any luck, Durgaul moves to her and takes his elven form. "Mina…" he takes off his mantle and hands it to her. "Here…!"
"But that is yours…!"
"True but I was human once, and I had this enchanted to be a Cloak of Displacement… I think our sharpshooter will get more use out of it than I will." Durgaul says, smiling at her. The woman smiles as she looks at the dragon as he breaks attunement to it and he begins digging around as well… Finding something interesting hidden amongst the Treasure Hoard… It appears to be a giant sword, a 7ft long Greatsword that looks practically simple, but Durgaul can feel the magic flowing through it, and he can feel something deep in his soul when he looks upon that weapon: Fear.
He then opens his mouth and wraps his teeth and bites down tightly upon the sword's grip, and picks it up, causing his allies to turn to him. Mephisto can only smile as he sees the Greatsword's magical disguise fade from it's body, revealing it's true appearance… The True form of the sword is that of a weapon that was massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. Indeed it is too big to be called a sword, more like a heap of wrought iron forged in dragonfire and quenched in the blood of seventy times seventy dragons to grant it the power to kill them… Thus it has gained it's name: Dragon Slayer…