* 6 * 4/8/12

As Casavir came upon what seemed to be the women's village - though there was no damage to be seen as of yet - the sinking in his stomach grew. He couldn't understand what made him feel so uneasy, until he stopped before setting foot inside the village and gazed inside. There appeared to be ruins, very out-of-place ruins at that; the rest of the visible plane seemed in near-perfect shape.

"Is this...?"

"Where they razed the village? Yep."

Why was she speaking so nonchalantly about it?

"There's a demon in the midst of those ruins that's been working with a necromancer." She sighed. "Between the fires and the undead, we haven't been able to rest well at night, and we're all very weak and exhausted..."

Casavir eyed her. She was...pouting?

"Will you please rid us of them? We'd like to get back to our safe, warm beds and not have to worry about sleeping alone..."

"What is their number? I assume there aren't many, given that you asked for my aid alone."

"Oh no, no, not many at all. There are only about six undead left along with the demon and the necromancer. The rest our townsmen were able to dispose of before getting slaughtered."

"I see. I'm sorry for your loss. They shall not harm you any longer."

The women grinned and their eyes brightened. "Thank you, Holy One."

"There is no need for such titles. I will return when it is finished." Casavir ran off into the fray, but not before casting Bless and Regenerate on himself. He wasn't entirely sure what kind of undead he was up against, be they casters or fighters, but the numbers didn't sound too different from the masses he would tank while traveling with his Leader. He let his thoughts drift off for just one moment, and when his vision cleared he saw a Shadow Priest casting Circle of Death while pointing his finger directly toward the paladin.

"Agh!" He leapt far to the left, hitting the ground and dragging his silver armor through the mud. The spell was avoided, however, and he abruptly rose back to his feet. He composed himself quickly, lest he get distracted again. Recalling that the women had mentioned six undead, he considered that this lone priest might be a lure to get him to come closer to the wide opening in the ruins. He stood his ground, choosing instead to cast healing spells at a distance as offense.

Just then, the demon he had been warned of appeared in front of him, absorbing the heal. A quick slash of blood in the eyes was all it took to blind the paladin temporarily. He stumbled back and furiously tried to blink away the red. He was surprised not to be attacked during this time, and when he finally regained his vision, he partly understood why.

Blooden stood before him, the demon who had mercilessly defaced and embarrassed him before the eyes of his Leader. He scowled.

"Now, now, Holy One, don't get so emotional." Casavir heard a sound from behind him, and when he looked over his shoulder, the innocent women were nowhere to be found; instead, their facial features were beginning to horribly disfigure into something far more sinister and unclean, starting with their teeth, and ending with their bosoms. Three succubi gradually took the women's place. They began pacing toward him.

So it had been a trap.

"Did you miss us?" Blooden oozed in a succulent and sultry voice, but Casavir only grimaced.

"What do you want? We have already set you free. Leave us alone."

"Actually, Shandra set me free, the silly girl. And you speak as if you have your little friends with you."

She was right. He had gotten used to being in a group with his companions. When it was time for him to fight, he almost didn't remember how without getting some buffs from his Leader or teaming up at the front lines with Khelgar. But he wouldn't call himself alone defenseless, either.

"I am plenty enough to take care of you. You simply surprised me. State your business now or I'll finish you and return to my companions." He wasn't accustomed to being so cutting, but he had already run out of patience with Blooden only a few minutes after meeting her the first time.

"Oh, wouldn't that be nice? Then you'd be able to ogle your wonderful, noble leader, waiting for her to tire so you could watch her sleep so very peacefully, daydreaming that you're the reason she feels safe at night and that she might eventually call you in..."

"SILENCE! You insult me, make me sound like I am a creature of nothing but lust!"

"So that's not the reason you follow her so loyally? You don't wish even a little to be asked into her bedroom?"

Casavir made to retort, but was suddenly struck by Solipsism. He didn't know where it came from or who had cast it, but while somewhere in the back of his head he was aware that it was just a spell, he still couldn't break away from the thought that everything before him was just an illusion. He stood still.

"Tell me, Brave One, wouldn't you accept if she earnestly entreated you?"

"I..." Casavir faltered.

"...She would not..." He found himself responding to the very thing he thought unreal. The spell couldn't have been that powerful, just something to loosen his lips. At the very least, however, it was going to hold him for awhile longer.

"Oh, but she would. Let me show you just how she would, in fact. But first, let's go someplace more...private." The next second, Casavir felt himself lose focus entirely, spinning, spinning...