From a lookout on the eastern edge of the keep's walls he had watched and waited for the right moment to react. The devils, alongside numerous orcs and other unsavory surface dwellers were celebrating a victory in their own barbaric ways. There were slaves, captives from the armies of man and elf who were put to the torture to entertain their Baatorian enemies and though he wished to free them all of their binds he knew that not all would live to see their freedom. He wondered if he would live long enough to see the sun once more.
With a cloak covering his dark skin and silver hair the tracker managed to escape behind enemy lines without any fuss, and with only the blood of a few barbed devils and orcs staining his blades. Drizzt was sometimes prone to being, chaotic when it came to these sorts of things, at least that's what Cattie always told him. Though this time his bull-headed sacrifice was not only for a chosen few, but to save the whole of what he held dear to his heart.
He tread lightly as he zig-zagged pass the small bands of evil and only once did his hands even come close to Icingdeath's pommel, though lucky for the elf that devil had merely set a blind eye in his direction, and so Drizzt continued.
Coming around a far corner he had heard a noise behind him so Drizzt turned, but when he turned back the direction he was going he came face to face with a blunt force to his nose cracking him a good one also in the jaw before he fell back against the wall. Ducking Drizzt pulled his blades free and when the devil came in with a high strike Drizzt countered with a low stab. In this the devil gave a gasp, holding his bloody stomach in his hand he growled once before he began to topple forward, to Drizzt's dismay in fact, because the devil was falling right on top of him.
"By the hells." Drizzt muttered slipping backward, only he did not fall back into the wall, but through a hole that was there.
Heredon stood to leave and figure out his next course of action when someone fell into him and both landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. His attacker stood with such speed that the drow was unaware of his location until he felt the sharp point of a sword press against the side of his neck.
"Scream and I'll silence you." the stranger said, his voice young and strong. Placing his finger to the blade Heredon turned his head to look at the one who had so rudely interrupted him, "I don't scream sword bearer, that's for weak women and even weaker men." Heredon noticed the stranger's hands, they were black as coal and he became suddenly curious, "A drow, is that what you are?"
"It is." came the stranger's reply and in a show of respect he circled around so that Heredon could see him face to face. What the drow necromancer saw shocked him, "Your eyes, not so typical of our race.."
"I'm not typical of our race stranger, now explain to me how and why you work with these Hellish beings. Speak quickly and I'll let your end be quick and painless."
Heredon simply looked at Drizzt, "I don't work with these devils Abban, though I hold ties to them." Drizzt somehow believed this stranger, and it wasn't because of his dark skin. Of the drow Drizzt knew just how well trust could be held with them, but this one seemed different, and something told him to show allegiance.
"Are you a slave?" he asked and this caused the necromancer to chuckle slightly beneath his breath. Heredon moved away from the lowering blade and took Drizzt's shoulder, "No, not a slave although once I could have been considered one... not against my will though."
The swords moved upward again so Heredon held his hands up in the air, "No, no not like that. The situation was different, and this is the reason I am here now. To stop these beasts dead in their tracks, and now it seems to rescue my son."
"Your son?" Drizzt asked rather perplexed as he sheathed both his blades and looked at Heredon, "a tiefling perhaps?"
"Yes, his name is..."
"Ravnos?"
"How did you know?" it was Heredon's time to ask the questions.
Drizzt sighed and pulled the hood of his cloak down, "I fought beside him just hours ago, until he was taken by these devils along with a girl of half celestial blood. And now I too am here to get him out of this, and to save these lands before something terrible happens to them."
"I see." Heredon replied as he thought, "With the two of us together we can possibly cause a bit of chaos for these hellish fools, what say you?"
Drizzt gave Heredon an understanding look, and then a slight smirk turned on his lips.
There was a change in him. Anger, impounded with a rage so deep had burned a hole within him even still Ravnos could feel it. But that battle with Ixian it clearly reminded him of something. It reminded him who he was, and what he was not.
Sitting there, watching the flames against the bars of the door Ravnos worried then about Myria.
During the sudden rush that was the release of his darker intentions the tiefling had also allowed some of his dark memories pass through. He wasn't aware of what he had done to Myria.
Beside him he felt a small form shift and wearily he turned his eyes to look at the halfling who had been captured trying to follow Drizzt, though he did not know that.
She did not speak to him at first, knowing what he had done. But then again he was her only ally here in this place, and whether she hated the big brute or not.
He was her only chance and she knew it.
The pit was a large open sand area stained with blood from the many kills that happened in there.
A good distance above spectators waited excited for the next fight, they lived to see the fight and the ending, hoping it to be bloody.
Down in the far corner Ravnos watched them, anger in his eyes and hatred in his heart. He did not fear the fight that him and Renna will soon be facing, his fear was with the halfling at his side, and with both Myria, and Shela. Placing the chain once worn around a good friend's neck into a satchel at his side Ravnos glanced down at the small framed halfling. She was trembling, he knew she feared what was in store, he did also.
Ravnos put his hand on the halfling's shoulder, "Be brave Renna, we'll get through this."
"You say that like you mean it." she responded, the typical halfling stubbornness there but not so outright as normal.
The bars opened and two guards came over, they grabbed both prisoners and led them out into the middle of the pit. Ravnos looked up at the nonsense that surrounded them. Rubbing his sore wrists when they removed the shackles he glared at the chaotic beings that watched them intently. Adriara was going to make this all a game.
"We will get through this Renna." he reminded as he let his claws fall to his sides, "just don't get overwhelmed in the fight, stay behind me no matter what."
"I can't let you take the blow Ravnos." Renna muttered although the tone of her voice hinted her real feelings toward what she was about to do, "besides I can deal a little damage you know."
He looked down at her, and smiled at the cross look on her small features. The tiefling nodded, he couldn't deny Renna her last moment of glory, not when the end was almost home.
"What in the?" Ravnos muttered in shock as the creature was allowed out of his prison and prodded toward the tieflings.
"I didn't want to have it come to this Ravnos, but there is no other way to persuade you.." Adriara called down from her throne above the pit, "look Ravnos, we have both your precious females... Ixian has been having a grand time entertaining our new guests."
Both of them looked up and saw Ixian standing strong with his arms across his chest and with Shela and Myria chained next to him.
Renna grew upset but Ravnos knew that he needed to keep an eye on what was at hand.
Two spears were thrown down before them and the tiefling quickly took one up. Pushing Renna aside Ravnos stepped in front of the charging hell beast, "Come on you ugly beast." he mumbled glancing for a split second up at Myria before he raised the spear before him.
The creature bared down on them, snarling and spitting rage from every pore.
"This shouldn't be too hard."
"Are you insane Ravnos!!?" Renna screeched and he gave her a sly grin in response.
Right at that moment both saw the beast's head raise and open it's mouth, a second later flames hurled at them.
With his reflexes at their quickest Ravnos took Renna up and leaped out of the way. When they landed Ravnos looked at the halfling and then the tall tiefling shrugged his shoulders,
"Okay, maybe it'll be a little challenge."
"Just a little." Renna replied in kind as she stood up and looked at the oncoming creature.
Without any hesitation the creature lunged at the tiefling and halfling knocking Ravnos out of the way and pinning Renna into the wall with one of his strong claws.
Landing from a roll the tiefling stood up and dropped half his spear onto the ground, it was broken from the beast's charge.
Ravnos saw Renna's predicament, in pain from broken bones he grabbed the spear from off the ground and ran at the creature. Once within range he took the spear and pushed it into the creature's side. Wailing in pain from it's gaping wound the beast turned on the larger prey, dropping Renna from the wall.
Down in the pit Ravnos and Renna were getting exhausted, their own blood began to cover their wounds and sweat was pouring down.
Both had managed to back themselves into a corner though it was not of their own will. Glaring at the still enraged beast Ravnos held his side, his breathing was course and rather erratic, but the pain didn't bother him as much as it should.
"This was a lot harder then I had anticipated." he mumbled before spitting blood onto the ground beside him,
"I didn't think that it would end this way." Ravnos said gritting his fangs, "To meet my demise at the jowls of a two headed mutt."
Renna shook her head, the spear she was holding was a few feet taller then her and she had to grimace at her luck, couldn't they have given her a dagger or something more resourceful?
"We don't always get to choose our ends." she replied rather cryptically causing the tiefling to give her a strange look in response, "But I really don't want to die by this things will."
"Agreed." Ravnos added quickly as his bloody hand gripped the tip of the spear he held in preparation for yet another attack.
The beast lurched above them, saliva dripping from his wet maw. Just as it was about to strike at the exhausted pair something caught his attention and he turned away. A glint of metal and the colors of silver and onyx passed by it so fast that they didn't get to see who their savior was but when the drow came around to halt his attack just long enough to cast Ravnos a wry grin the tiefling smiled back.
"How did you know where to find us?" Ravnos asked Drizzt in a raspy voice as the drow looked quickly at the tiefling's wound.
"A friend of yours with a dark look bid me the way. He is there."
Ravnos looked over to where Drizzt pointed and saw a robed figure moving his way towards the two girls. If memory served him correctly, but how did his father know?
Ravnos was shocked to see Heredon. But the moment for surprise was not this one and so the tiefling with Drizzt's help raised his weapon and both warriors charged at the large hell mutt.
Ixian was watching the fight with an new anger as he unfolded his wings to take his weapons up, "Your pet brings more trouble then he's worth mother.." the tiefling hissed as he glared at Adriara's direction. She in turn smirked back at him and stood up, "Take care of this mess Ixian, and I dare you to harm one hair on Ravnos' head. You know the pain I can cause."
Her commands were enough to sway his anger but Ixian wasn't going to forgive so easily.
After ordering his warriors to take Shela away Ixian raised his sword and signaled Heredon to come and get him.
The frightened girl was lead down a long flight of stairs until they were in an empty room, with only an altar in the middle of the room.
One soldier Shela and placed her on the altar.
Just then another guard walked in with somebody in chains before him.
To Shela's dismay if was her brother, or what was left of him anyways. He had been through so much more then even she could imagine, his sight was taken from him days before as his life source was drained slowly day by day.
Not realizing where he was the boy just fell to the ground and stayed still, too weak to struggle against these creatures anymore.
Shela called out to him, for that moment there was a hint of recognition as he looked for her voice again.
"Shela!" he called out in a raspy voice searching for her when the tiefling kicked him hard and knelt down to his level,
"You have not long human, enjoy your last moments." he said laughing as he walked out the door.
Shela lay on the altar as tears began to stream from her eyes, pity welled up in her for her brother. He sat up weakly and felt for the wall.
"Shela are you here?" he asked in vain.
"Yes Drevon I'm here. What did they do to you?" she asked sadly.
He gave a cough, "Never mind me sister, are you okay. The bastard hasn't hurt you has he?"
"No Drevon, we will get you out of here. Help is here."
As she said that a tear fell from his eyes, "I caused all of this, I am suffering for my wrongs Shela, and by doing the things that I did you too suffer."
"Don't trouble yourself now brother." Shela told him strongly, "We will get out of this, we will."
Meanwhile Heredon faced off with Ixian.
"You are like a thorn that won't release itself from the skin elf. Do I have to end your existence to stop you?"
The necromancer just smiled back at the tiefling as he readied his magics for battle, "I get that from allot of wasted individuals devil born. Though I would rather not hear it from my own grandson."
"What is this?" Ixian half gasped as he allowed his claws to loosen just a little, "You're the red haired's father?"
The look Heredon gave was of agreement and Ixian smirked, "So you're the one who's mate was killed, and who's son became a heathen coward."
"A coward?" Heredon answered back his hands raised up as currents of a spell waited upon his fingertips for release, "that bitch of a mother of yours is the coward, and you've received her worst traits it seems." Meant to offend the tiefling the words only angered him more, Ixian stepped forward, "you're quick tongued for a drow."
"And you're small for a devil."
"Then let us finish this!" The tiefling returned charging the drow at full force.
As Ravnos fought against the beasts he caught a glimpse of a Pit Fiend's scales, dodging his attacker's claws he ducked to the left just as the larger devil shot forth some hellfire. Bearing a dripping maw the pit fiend general was about to fire yet another blast when he felt a strong force holding his powers back, to Ravnos's disappointment he watched Adriara glide down into the arena next to her large devil pets. Then from a shadow of darkness came another figure, a tall male stepped up beside her.
The tiefling's teeth clenched tight, "Mephistopheles." Ravnos growled as he felt Drizzt take a place next to him.
"You know him?" the drow asked his tiefling companion.
"I know of him." Ravnos was quick to correct as the devilish lord and his female cohort stopped the fighting in the pit.
"You're mistress tells me many good qualities are spared on you tiefling. I must admit that I'm not all that disappointed in your skills, it's your choices that I find unbearable."
Mephistopheles looked at Drizzt, Ravnos too glanced at the drow but his eyes narrowed as they went back to the devil, "So sorry to disappoint." he said with a casual sarcasm, "though I'd have to admit something myself dark one, it's disappointing to see you fall so low in rank as to wish an alliance with an erinyes devil."
The devil lord smiled his claws tapping against his armor as he looked on at the tiefling, "so bold, and so stupid... Adriara do you wish to begin?"
Her lips quivered and turned an evil grin as Adriara looked upon Ravnos, "Indeed I am."
Drizzt and Ravnos looked on, confused as to what the devils could have in plan for them.
The wall shattered behind the force of power conjured by the well spoken necromancer, but even still the large tiefling kept coming.
"it's gonna take more then small tricks to stop me elf!" Ixian hissed flicking debris from his shoulder as he stepped out of the smoke and flames ready for another attack. Heredon, breathing heavily and slightly weary from his efforts backed away from his grandson, "Thanks to me my boy." he said with a voice dripping of sarcasm, another hand was raised up by the drow as he faced his grandson, "I've got more then tricks for you tiefling."
"Oh do you?"
Heredon smiled and uttered a word beneath his breath. In an instant Ixian felt an odd chill in the air, a stillness that he couldn't quite define. Carefully he raised up his weapon, "Nice touch old man."
Heredon did not answer. Suddenly the darkness grew arms, hands began grabbing at the tiefling causing him to drop his weapon. While the tiefling struggled Heredon waved his hand in the air, uttering an ancient phrase that would be used to send the devil back to his own plane of existence. He could feel the energy coursing through his veins, the portal was to be opened and then came the slight call of a scared female. The drow necromancer halted his spell choosing beyond his own will to aid the one calling for his aid, "If you want to finish this boy, then by all means, track my path."
Ixian hissed swatting the hands away from him as he watched the drow disappear, "I will find you old man." came his response and the tiefling moved away from the fading appendages. Slipping the bloodied sword Hellmight back into his sheath Ixian glared at the place where Heredon once was, the game was on.
Shela was laying on the altar trying her best to remove the shackles that were holding her down. As much as she struggled they would not ease their tension and soon her wrists bled from the cuts they dug into her skin.
It was then that she heard the sounds of a struggle coming from not far away. Two demons flew into the room as if struck by some unseen but deadly force, when the third moved to check the damage his body was instantaneously ripped apart. Her shock only deepened when the girl saw a drow elf standing there looking at her.
"Ask your questions later." he said as he quickly undid her binds.
"There is another girl, we need to help her. and my brother..." she said as he helped her down from the altar, it was then that she accidentally hit a large wound in his stomach and he flinched.
"You're hurt." she groaned as he smiled at her reassuringly. "I'm used to the pain by now." he told her gently as he took her hand and steadied her feet, "The other girl, was her name Myria?"
"Yes." was Shela's response as the drow hinted with a slight grin.
"She's safe, now we have you to worry about. Come let's get out of here."
Heredon led her to the door and after peeking out he looked back at her for a moment.
"But what about the dark one?" she then asked him.
"Ixian?" Heredon uttered back and shook his head, "I took care of him for the moment, but if we don't hurry he'll find us."
Shela was quiet as the drow led her down the hall.
When Heredon and Shela found Drevon he was in the same room with another prisoner, Shela gasped when she saw him he was so broken. So pale.
"Oh Drevin what have you done?" she asked him immediately falling to her knees beside him. The boy weakened and scared looked up at his sister with half dead eyes,
"Leave me here, I'm the cause of this trouble. Please."
"No, we must get out of here. This can wait." Heredon said painfully. Drevin shook his head and it was only when Shela's hands wrapped around his own did he look up once more, "Don't be ashamed." she tried to tell him but he wouldn't listen.
No he was far too taken to be revived, "Shela, the red hair, they have found something within him and they intend to turn him against goodness. He's going to allow them to kill all of us."
"You're wrong, Ravnos would never."
Drevin looked deep into her eyes, "If they get to him..."
"They already have." Heredon added as he stood next to where Shela was kneeling. The girl beside him grabbed his arm, "Did they hurt him? Oh tell me where he is?"
"His wounds aren't fatal but..." the drow would not reveal much. He hated what he saw earlier and knew that the physical wounds Ravnos had taken would heal. But would his heart?
"But what!!? Don't you even care what happens to him?" Shela spat at the drow and almost slapped him if he had not have caught her hand midway and stopped her. The look in his eyes seethed sorrow as Heredon looked at the girl, "My son means more to me then you will ever know but he must do this one on his own."
His words were cryptic.
"You think it's gonna be so easy to lose me elf." came a dark hellish tone and they all turned to see Ixian standing in the doorway, his long black hair in strands down his face and his wings flat behind him. Burning orbs moved from Shela, then to Drevin, "You make quite the motley troupe I'll give you that." he glanced to Heredon and his eyes narrowed as he slowly slid Hellmight from it's sheath, "Now can we finish our game here, I do hate chasing dogs through the maze."
Heredon saw him raise his fist and leaped to the side, pushing Shela out of the path of an oncoming ball of hellfire. To this Ixian smirked and stepped inside the room, "Good reflexes for an elder elf, grandfather."
"I'm not that old." Heredon hissed summoning yet another spell, "Ixian tell me why you wish such ill will toward your father and myself? Jealousy perhaps?"
"Jealousy, you jest." Ixian retorted back as he raised hellmight before him with the obvious intent to kill, from below he felt a sharp tug to his boot and looking down the tiefling growled as a pair of bony hands reached from the dirt and began to pull at him. Another set came, and then another finding Ixian a bit of a predicament. He struggled but the undead hands were powered by magic. And this magic he could not dispel.
"This isn't going to stop me!" Ixian hissed as Heredon stood above him, the tiefling knew that one strike could easily kill him or send him back to the hells less his pride but he was stuck fast and at the mercy of his grandfather.
Heredon knew this as well.
"If I have anything to leave to you Ixian, it's this."
Expecting a sharp swipe to his neck the tiefling was shocked when the drow turned to leave, this only enraged him even more.
"What sort of lesson is that?" he called out to Heredon who turned and smiled back.
"A show of mercy, mercy caused by a thing called love. The dead will return to their graves upon my departure tiefling, and I hope that one day you will understand what this means."
Heredon left his grandson and with the other three traveled the corridors of the ruined keep looking for Ravnos and Drizzt.
Ravnos felt a shudder drop down his spine, quivering the tiefling glanced at Drizzt with a confused look before he could no longer bear his own weight. The drow, concerned for his tiefling companion could not figure out why the sudden loss of strength and then he caught a glimpse of the amulet held by the devilish lord. The insignia was not familiar, but it was ancient.
"Ravnos do you remember when I told you that it wasn't going to be easy for you out of my service?" Adriara asked as she stepped up to the kneeling tiefling. Her fingers slid down his spine as she came closer, "You're a special breed Ravnos. Do you feel it, like a cold chill from the mountains of Stygia it flows through your veins. It wants out Ravnos, it wants to be free."
"What are you talking about?" he gasped eyeing her with spite. The erinyes smiled back at him, "you have an ancient soul Ravnos, and we want to control it."
"You never give up do you?" Ravnos hissed as he tried to stand, but his legs buckled beneath him and he came back down to a knee, "Adriara why can't you just leave me be?"
Her dark eyes narrowed, the sharp features befitting the woman turned manic as the devil woman backed away from him, the charm dangling from her palm.
"Because you're mine Ravnos, it's that simple."
Within his heart Ravnos felt a burning, an ache so defined in it's rage that he almost lost himself in it, but the tiefling did not fall so easily to such urges any longer. Ravnos instead listened to what beckoned him and as all eyes were on him he had formed his own plan.
"It's not me." he growled as Adriara eyed him suspiciously, "This...thing is not me." He beat his hand against his chest and glared at the erinyes, "it never has been, both my parents knew this and you removed them from my life. They knew I wasn't the monster you wanted me to be, they knew I was better then that."
"They deserved their punishments Ravnos..." Adriara responded.
His hand fell before him, palm up revealing the mark of the devils upon his skin. Ravnos despised this brand more then any could ever realize.
With him alive he knew the devils always had a chance at destroying his new home, and those who he cared for. He had to rid himself of this ancient thorn, and there was only one way to do that.
"Is there a killer in your heart Drizzt?" he asked the dark elf. Drizzt who had been a silent witness to what had come before looked at Ravnos in confusion and could only shake his head at the tiefling's remark. What was Ravnos doing?
He couldn't utter a word as the tiefling turned his green eyes on him, but what Ravnos said next was well enough to shock the drow.
"It's all on you elf, their fate is in your hands."
"what do you mean Ravnos?"
Adriara stepped forward, "Ravnos what are you planning."
Looking at the erinyes Ravnos gave a darkened smirk, "The only thing that will help."
The big tiefling said no more as he turned to Drizzt, and without hesitation lunged forward.
Drizzt moved aside and for a second Ravnos stopped, a split second of thought it seemed had halted the tiefling's attack and Ravnos raised his weapon high. A bad mistake, a purpose filled mistake.
He charged and Drizzt plunged Twinkle straight into the tiefling's soft belly, the blade cut through until it's hilt was pressing against the tiefling's skin. Not of the drow's doing, but of the tiefling's.
Drizzt shocked glanced down at the blood that covered his hand, then back up at the tiefling, "Ravnos..I didn't want this." he gasped, "I'm sorry."
"Bid no sorrow to the ill fated, elf." Ravnos said back in a weakened whisper, the blade drawing his blood in quick streams, "Get them out of here."
Drizzt knew the power of sacrifice, a loved one had made such a thing for his sake long ago. With a nod he turned to go.
Ravnos turned to face the devils, he gritted his fangs as he ripped the blade from his gut. From within he felt his body growing cold, as if something was already dead within him. Drizzt's blade had done it's job and now it was meant for Adriara.
She hissed at him, raising her wings outward and holding her palm his direction, "Ravnos you insolent fool, kill the drow as you are instructed.." when he didn't stop she glanced at Mephistopheles who only shook his head before disappearing and leaving her to fend for herself against the enraged tiefling. Adriara was now growling, "Ravnos stay your hand now! Stay your hand or I'll make you suffer!"
"Make me suffer?" he hissed with all evil intention, "Adriara you've already done enough to rend me to suffer, how do you think to cause me even more?" the sword's blade glistened with his blood and though it was unfamiliar to him the big tiefling held it as if he knew the weapon's strengths right at that moment. In his mind he spoke to the blade, it was not his own, "Don't worry." he whispered to it, "You'll find your master once again." then his sight once again fell on Adriara and Ravnos sneered.
"It's your turn to suffer."
"Ravnos!" came a voice so long remembered by not heard in what felt like a millenia. Ravnos saw his father step forward but he didn't drop the weapon, "Father..?"
Heredon nodded, "Do you feel it Ravnos? Your soul, it speaks to you now.."
"Bite that blasphemous tongue Heredon!" the she devil called to the drow with threat before she looked back to Ravnos and sneered
"Such a touching reunion." Adriara hissed as she backed toward the doorway, "But I don't intend on allowing it to continue." her hands touched and a heavy wind blew her long locks of red and black hair back. From behind her came a heated snarl and the form of a horned devil. She motioned toward the two and the big devil moved forward.
Heredon stayed beside his son, "The female thinks highly of you." he said watching the devil closely, "seems you have my touch with the ladies."
Ravnos gave his father a rather unenthused look but the elder drow's clever grin was bold and gave the tiefling another sense of bravery. Ravnos returned the grin, "It seems that way doesn't it."
With a nod the father placed a hand on the son's shoulder, "How do you feel?"
"Just a little dizzy, and not myself."
"Typical Ravnos, you don't understand what is going on do you?" when his son shook his head the drow responded quickly as the devil was advancing, "It's you holding these devils here, what resides within you is the key that Adriara and Mephistopheles needs to take this place to the ground." his smile faded and Ravnos nodded with understanding.
The tiefling gripped Icingdeath's handle tightly, the wound given by the blade was bleeding out and Ravnos felt it's effect greatly, the dark thing within him had died and now he was slowly going to fade away and he knew this. Heredon knew this.
It was he who was meant to sacrifice Shela, he was the key.
"Can you send them back if a portal is opened?"
Looking at his son Heredon gave a nod, "But it is you who will have to open the portal."
"I know."
"And I cannot save you from what will happen..."
"It's not what I ask?" Ravnos replied turning his head forward to face the oncoming devil, he reached into his satchel pulling out a small lupine adorned charm and handed it to his father, "Keep them well, and let them know... that..." his pride would not allow such outright shows of adoration but Heredon knew what his son wanted. Taking up the charm the drow backed away from his son, words began to leave his lips as blackened smoke fizzled from his fingers.
Ravnos sneered, nothing more needed to be said as he lunged for the devil and the two collided with a smash. Adriara then realized her mistake, seeing Ixian come up behind Heredon she smirked and flicked a wrist upward causing the walls of the keep to shake and a ruined one to come downward. Heredon heard the sound behind him seeing Ixian his spell was interrupted but the drow could not react before the larger tiefling slammed a heavy forearm into his chin.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance." Ixian growled, and Heredon could see some disdain in the tiefling's tone. With a sneer Ixian continued as he pinned his grandfather against the wall, "Mercy is for those who deserve such things elf..." his voice grew quiet as Adriara continued her assault on Ravnos.
Ravnos cut his opponent's face not even noticing that his father was no longer uttering the words of banishment, another slice cut down the devil's chest before the debris rolled on top of the two of them. When the smoke cleared Adriara stepped over to the fallen debris, there she found Ravnos broken and gasping for any breath he could gather, it angered her to have seen his fate come to this but she was a devil. And empathy only came to ownership.
"You can still become something Ravnos, I can heal you of this."
The tiefling glanced at her, his eyes growing dim as blood slipped down his parted lips, "I can heal myself." he uttered taking Twinkle and shoving it's blade straight into his heart.
Heredon struggled when he saw Ravnos fall to his knees and even he saw the slight sorrow in Ixian's eyes as the tiefling turned his head to the side. The black haired warrior thought for a moment and as his father's blood stained the earth he looked to his grandfather, "Get out of here now."
Shocked Heredon didn't understand what Ixian was getting at but when the tiefling's grip loosened completely he understood.
The warrior had already lost a father, he did not wish to lose all ties.
With a burning deep in his heart Heredon did not dare look back to where Ravnos had fallen, for his son's sake he had to make it out of here and he had to continue the battle against the devils. If not Ravnos' death would have been in vain.
The blast damaged the very strength of the keep's walls. Debris began falling more plentiful now, the devils would have to seek another fortress to hold. Hellgate Keep was falling.
Adriara knelt down beside Ravnos, her eyes held only a cold stare as she looked upon her fallen general and sneered, "You fool, look at the mess you have made. Why would you make such a foolhardy sacrifice for these weak mortals? What drives you to this?"
His eyelids heavy Ravnos merely glanced up at Adriara and forced a wry smirk on his dark lips, "If you could even comprehend my reasoning Adriara, this would never have happened."
Ravnos's green eyes cast a glance behind Adriara to a tall figure standing above them both, the son he had never known. Ixian gave his father a cold look before his facade took on a hateful glare and he knelt down, "Let the fool die, he is far from saving."
"Ixian don't you dare speak ill of such things!" Adriara hissed in command, "bite that tongue or else."
He just gave his mother an evil look, one of a rebellious nature before Ixian raised his claw above the drow elf's blade. Eyes matching Ravnos's own Ixian saw something familiar in his father's gaze, no remorse but an understanding between sire and get. Whispering words unheard by Adriara he cursed his father, she would not get her general back, and he would not have to dwell in competition. Ixian would be sure to satisfy his brethren's greed for the mortal plane, he would do so without Ravnos' continued interruptions.
"You have angered me long enough, Ravnos. And if it is death you seek, I will not be so giving. for that peace you are far from deserving." the dark tiefling smiled wryly, "We will meet again father, after you walk in darkness."
Ixian hissed and as Ravnos gasped the younger tiefling pushed the blade downward.
The blade pierced through Ravnos's unarmored chest, a fatal wound by all counts if Ixian himself did not utter the spell he had spoken.
By Adriara's observance the red haired tiefling was gone, and as Ixian stood up Adriara followed him, putting a sharp finger to his chest as she threatened him.
"He was our only chance Ixian."
"He was a hindrance Adriara, and I put him out of our way you, should be thrilled he's gone."
"Thrilled?" she spat back with such an annoyance in her tone it made even Ixian cringe, "We needed him Ixian, just because we found ourselves on this plane does not mean our road is safe of all peril. Not only do we have the ancients plotting to send us back to the hells but what of the demons? What if they find a way to this plane? Ravnos was the last link to a dead race, and you destroyed that.."
The look on Ixian's face was one of frustration, and of uncaring. Boastfully the tall tiefling folded his wings to his back and looked to the corpse laying on the ground, "you're link doesn't seem like much any more.. mother. And if the demons find their way to us then they're going to get a rude awakening, but that is something you should of thought about before starting this little crusade in the first place." walking away from her Ixian sneered and looked away from Ravnos, "stop putting up a fuss because your pet is dead and start planning what our next move will be, in the meantime I have some exploring to do."
She watched Ixian leave and shook her head, Adriara knew that this was only one small victory in an even greater battle that was to come.
