Hil took a few glimpses at the pentagram, but even he stayed a very safe, respectable business. Azathoth would devour all souls eventually, but he had no desire to spend the next few aeons in any of the hells.

Hil spoke a few words in Abyssal and gave some brief applause once the ritual was concluded.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Ohhh, a demonic pact! I haven't seen one of those before. Thank you for the most educational show!

---

He switched back to common.


"I suppose we'd better vacate then. I've already packed my favorite teas and my best kettle. I'll try and remember more healing for the rest of you when I prepare my holy invocations tomorrow.

And if any of you are actually undead like our fallen beloved captain, please let me know in advance. I'd hate to hurt you, accidentally."


A grin and slight pause added weight to that last comma.

It was a pity the Captain had died. He'd invited him to channel Azathoths power into him to heal him, which would have been worth a good laugh at least.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

Marcia's eyes went wide at the emergence of the demon. She croaked something that might have sounded like short prayer or plea, but she interposed herself smoothly between Kholt and the demon. Until now she had been shuffling and hunched, but when it came to protecting someone -- she moved smooth and quick like oil in a hot pan. Her hand dropped to her sword when the creature started to reminisce over eating people. She hadn't the least idea what is was -- but eating people and hurting children was something she would not let it do.

She glanced towards the Sergeant. She eased back into a defensive position when he seemed..confident that the horrible creature was not a threat right now.

Marcia crouches down, and draws a flower on the stone next to the goblin. Her raspy voice is gentle. "softly, Kholt.." She hesitates to pat him.  Not everyone likes being touched.  "We clean up, pack, and go."

"Reign, you want to travel together? Fox?" She asks with a rasp. Both of them seemed sane, rational, and unlikely to hurt her or Kholt for fun.

Sorin had at first watched Naeva with interest, recognizing a conjuring circle for what it was. His interest was quickly replaced with concern at the lack of safety measures, and transmuted even more swiftly into a look of horror as he saw the... thing she was calling. He backed away as far as the space would allow with his hand gripping his sword so hard his knuckles began to whiten, mentally adding a third crazy one to look out for.

He didn't take his eyes off the beast, not for a second, but he answered Marcia quickly. "Yeah, I'm in. Ready to go whenever you two are."

Tears begin to flow down the goblins visage. He doesn't react immediatly but when his head is pat, he blinks and looks at Marcia "Kholt scared. Bad kitty. Bad bad." Biting his oversized maw, he seems to focus now. Nodding his head he gets his backpack, watching Naeva again. He tugs the pack and gets it onto his back after getting help from Marcia but it looks very well awkward and odd. The goblin goes back to the odd drawing of the flower and puts his hand on it "Like Kholt? Go now. Boom boom later." He holds his clawed hand towards her, eyes peeled on Naeva and her cat and he attempts to keep as much distance from her as possible "Not crazy. Smart! Very smart!" His body is still very tense. He looks like he's ready to bolt away but keeps Marcia between him and the strange Naeva.

Reign was waiting on an answer to his questions when he noticed Naeva's ritual. He had been raised as a descendant of demon killers, monster hunters, and defenders of divine nobility. To add, he'd spent his life traveling the planes, battling and evading horrors to simply run from the calling of death. The martial musketeer knew a demon summoning when he saw one. Granted most anyone could feel the wrongness of it. What else would anyone have business doing drawing a circle using corpse blood?

Certainly not still life painting.

By the time the hellion was hailed, Reign had displaced himself a distance away. A frown marred his otherwise cold face, a cold accompanied by a literal chill newly infused into his body. A thin layer of frost formed about his neck and along his locs as he took another drag. He was, rather obviously, displeased at the demon's presence. Even a devil would have been more palatable.

There were enough demonic delinquents to deal with. They didn't need a literal one.

By whatever means necessary, huh? It did speak to their country's desperation; the level of depravity his fellow inmates consisted of made him really wonder if he would be alive on this plane much longer. The House of Smiting Flame had certainly fulfilled their wish, sending him and his pops into what was amounting to a literal hell. Neither one of them were saints, but they didn't deserve this treatment as a desire to live.

"Reign, you want to travel together? Fox?"

Reign turned his scowling mien towards Sia, made eyes with Fox, looked towards Kholt with their pleading hand. He exhaled a cloud in gratitude. She had extended an invitation to travel with members of the group that were less prone to...a complete lack of restraints. They'd also been the few he'd interacted with prior to this meeting. While he didn't expect they had much control in choosing who they would work with, he would take any advantage of control that he could.

After Fox answered, Reign followed with, "Sounds like a plan."

Reign punctuated the righteous ring in his voice by chucking the last nub of cigar on to the floor."I imagine Kholt may as well come along too." He snuffed it out under foot, the comment he made just as casual. "Seems he's fond of you," he said to Sia. Unlike some of the others, Reign always referred to the goblin by name. Something told him there was more intelligence to be found behind their chaotic tendencies.

"I am ready to depart." Reign flourished his musket in a spin, sliding it into a long holster at his hip like a sword in its sheath. "It may behoove us to establish a place for accommodations. I'm sure we can discuss more along the way." He reached down to his other hip, pulling off the wide-brim black hat and placing it on his head, at a tilt, as a king adjusting their crown.

"Four seems more than enough for a first scouting foray." Reign moved closer to Sia, picking up the pack that he left by the wall. Nearly empty. With a jerk of his chin to Fox, and a nod to Kholt, he muttered, "I imagine no use dallying any longer with demons..."

And should the time come, Naeva...

Reign vowed to himself. He was the Sixth One, destined to be cast into the positive plane, his life recycled for the good of the Holy Hunt. Despite escaping his fate, there were tenets he still held dear. Despite living in hell, some sacraments were simply a part of who he was.

...I will not hesitate to kill you.

Glitterdale turns to Reign and Fox.
If it is alright with you make that five.  I am happy to be a traveling cook.  I also have an idea about the scarecrows and how to get more information about who are behind them.  But stealth and sub-diffuse will be needed.  That is why we need them  cloaks.  Oh and just in case you did not know.  Like all good cooks.  I am a healer as well.

He turns to Naeva.
I seem it before girl.  Some of my kind have studied what you do in depth.
If I where you I would choose to get your aid from somewhere else.  But I could make an easy wager my words will mean nothing even when it ends they way it always does.
The look on the elf face is one of deep sadness.
He then says something in elvish to himself.

Lastly he turns to Qarley Huinn.
Qarley girl.  You ever wanted to marry a prince.  Word down my end of the prison is he has a list of good time girls from this country to wed and your on the list.  I think you and your group should go and find your fun husband too be.  Also word has it he is into some really kicky stuff.  Your type of stuff.  That why he gone missing where he went missing.  So get him girl, go get your man!
The elf's face has a smirk on it now.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Sun 25 Apr 2021.

"Aye." Marcia said softly. A nod to Reign and Fox and taking Kholt's hand with a gentle squeeze that seemed to answer all their questions in one word. Her expressions were minimal --she was to heart-worn for any kind of enthusiasm -- but the easing of her shoulders and faintest twitch of a smile suggested that she was glad of their company and Kholt's impulsive friendship.

She shouldered her own pack without letting go of Kholt's hand. "I'll ready horses, find us in stables." Her voice cracked, but she ignored it.  Reign nor Fox didn't seem like that they'd care. She trusted them to figure out the details from the Sergeant while she expedited their journey.

If no one stops her, Marcia will lead Kholt towards the stables. This was enough meeting new people for now.

Following the woman, the goblin in turn finds a decent place to well change. He grumbles and goes back to take the hand, looking better then he did before but he's still a goblin. All grimy and whatnot but least he's decent enough. He looks behind, fearful that the cat lady is following behind them and he winces. Occasionally, he looks up at Marcia with a odd look as if puzzled by her. No one really backed him and she had no reason but there she is. And she seemed to defend him but why? He's just a goblin! A light squeeze to her hand as he follows at her side "Kholt smart." He doesn't tell anyone in specific as he lumbers along. He pulls out the pink chalk "Why give this to Kholt? I like it." Its so small but he seems to enjoy it. He looks at the others-Reign and Fox. Maybe Glitter if he's around. A strange look, head tilting as if studying them and he points at Reign "Can I have one?"

In reply to Marcia Winterwood (msg # 85):

(We can change scenes whenever you guys want, just let me know.)

Marcia is silently patient as Kholt sorts himself out. She doesn't seem to mind about the grime, as long as the grime won't give in an infection or wound.

"Aye." She agrees to Kholt's assertion of being smart as though he was telling her the sun was shining. "Makes fine circles," she adds after a moment. She is quiet for a long time as she thinks of a good answer to an important question. And to give her throat a rest. "Should be kind if you can. Don't let scared make you mean." She managed after a long, quiet couple minutes. There was more to that, but that's the best she could manage for now. She's need her chalk and a slate in order to give him a better answer.

Marcia manages to find the stables and gets 3 palfreys ready with a smooth ease of long practice. She is quiet, and visibly relaxes to be around horses and outside. "Take a rest if ye can."  She advises Kholt, indicating some clean hay. She takes care to make sure the saddles fit, the horses are brushed out and everyone will be comfortable. Her interaction with the stable master involves as few words as possible, which seems to suit both of them. Her willing to help get a irritated bull back in his pen, helps produce out some extra liniment (for horses or human unused to a saddle), soap, and extra chalk for Kholt.

A hurried scrub under the pump makes her pinker -- even if quiet a bit of hair comes out with her brushing, at least it's clean and tied back in a scrap of leather.

She manage to indicate the goblin and try to get a suitable mount for him.  "Kholt, if something happens..goat maybe not safe. Maybe kicked. Ride behind me or risk goat?"

She was puzzled about his pointing at Reign, and asking if he can have him. You can't have a person. "Don't understand."

If it is alright with you make that five. I am happy to be a traveling cook.

Reign listened to Glidderdale's proposition, holding his golden gaze on them before moving to the floor in thought. A good cook was never a bad role to fill. Maybe they didn't fill their cookies with flesh. Compared to the company oof the demon summoner, it was a chance Reign was glad to take. "Yeah. Fine by me." He glanced to Fox without the expectation of rejection.

Wordlessly, Reign turned to walk away. He'd see if he could squeeze in one last visit...

"Can I have one?"

Reign paused, the light in his eye twinkling, causing the frown to fade into the shadow of his dark-steel skin. He knew what Kholt was asking for. Sure as shit wasn't his gun. He slipped a long, thin cigar from out of a bandoleer pocket.

"You know they're bad for your health," he warned. It didn't stop him from handing it to them before he continued on down the hall. Maybe pops would be conscious this time.

The demon sniffed the air, and looked at Reign. Even as its mouth slavered, its daemonic grin widened. Naeva paid Chernabog's antics no heed and answered Glitterdale instead.
"Other aid? You mean from someone like you?"
Her raised eyebrows told him what she thought of that idea..

"Come Chernabog, let's see what our good employers can round up in the ways of transportation so we can look at some scarecrows."
She glanced at him.
"And dim your fire, would you? No need to alert the locals."

The demon Chernabog did as he was bid, his inner fire dimming, until he appeared merely as an enormous feline. It still would raise eyebrows, but folk wouldn't be screaming nearly as much.

"You demand so much, delicious flower. But I am yet unrewarded."

Its voice still carried all the menace of the nine hells, but Naeva was unperturbed. She anwered with calm grace.

"Every second you spend on this world is your reward, Chernabog. Don't think I don't know how bored you are with your immortal existence in the abyss. Contain your hunger a bit longer. Strife lies ahead, and with it the things you crave."

The giant black feline mellowed and followed after Naeva, its every movement a ripple of finely toned muscle under fur.

Glitterdale turns back to Naeva just before heading out to the horses.
I have found aid from another always come at a price.  Sometimes it is just a simple kiss or kind word that will do.  Other times it's things you most fear or does most damage to you.  The line between Master and Slave is often a lot thinner than you think.  The switch over will happen too quickly that nobody is ever safe.
Then Glitterdale picks a cookie out of his pouch and looks at it.
As for aid from me.  Never underestimate the power of a good hot meal and a refreshing hot drink.  And aid from me usually comes at a very low price.  The prices in my shop where always reasonable.  Something I prided myself on.

At that the elf heads to the stables.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:40, Mon 26 Apr 2021.

"Circles and triangles add up." Is he nuts? He bites his lip and looks around the stables for a suitable mount. Several times he comes across massive horses-well to him that is. Kholt growls and steps away as one of the horses tilts its head and looks at him as its eating hay. Upon occasion the goblin holds his hand up, not the one with the bombchucker towards Winter as if asking for a cookie "Please?" A goofy grin. He keeps looking around curiously and stops at the hay as Marcia thinks he should relax "No relax. Scared not mean. Kholt can be mean." He lets out a loud growling sound trying to sound menacing and he takes the cigar and puts it into the pocket with the chalk, tapping it lightly "Goat kicks me I kick back...." He grins evilly, a odd side of Kholt few have seen "With fire. Boom boom boom."

Glitterdale hands Winterwood the cookie he just pulled out of his pouch.
I think someone may need this.
He smiles down at the goblin.
Then he looks at the horses.
Well it is a long time since I been on a horse.  Old Banner was a boy back them.  It going to take some time to get the rust off these bones.

He tried very carefully to get up on the horse and sits waiting for the others.

Marcia flinched at the sight of a bomb chucker, touching wood and making a holy sign with her hand to avert harm. "Don't tease me about a stable fire. A stable fire is a great sorrow. Better to perish rather than let a horse burn." Her voice cracks, in part from rough use and part from unhappiness at the thought of such tragedy. "Come away and leave such mean thoughts. There is too much mean already. Pack your goat's saddle bags in the yard."  She shoos him outside to the stable yard -- as far as she can from anything combustable.

Marcia stifled a sigh at the news that Glitterdale was not experienced on a horse. It was optimistic to hope that everyone was an experienced rider. Not that she would ordinarily mind, but it was a complication on her plan: Get Away From Crazy People.  But it was what it was - no use getting excited, or upset. No of them could have planned for...their future comrades. Marcia might invent telecommuting on the spot.

"You want me to lead the horse?" She offers for Glitterdale.

She hands over the cookie to Kholt without hesitation.  She isn't in the mood for cookies, too tense.

The goblin grumbles and takes the cookiee. Oddly he puts it into the pouch with the pink chalk and cigar. Odd. "Not stable nope nope. Burn burn burn. Boom!" He doesn't really help out with Marcia and when he realized she was upset, he frowns and lowers his head "You no like Kholt." He sighs and looks around for his mount. He moves towards it and goes to gently pat its head "Goat! I got a goat!" The goblin takes the reigns "Go now?" He tries to move the goat along as he walks along side of it and attempts to lead it out with one hand on his bombchucker and the other on the reigns.

"You're all ready."

Reign spoke to no one in particular as he waltzed into the stables. The buckler on his arm swayed hard as he approached a readied horse. Looks like she knows what she's doing, Reign thinks, giving the creature some strokes across their mane. He remembered riding more than horses as he and Pops pranced between planes. Even then it wasn't too often they commanded another beast beneath them. Their were other ways to travel besides walking, besides riding. Certainly not as quick but...

Horses had a way of loving him or hating him. They seemed to sense his heritage in different ways. The thought reminded Reign to attune to the air. A gentle breeze lapped at his locs. His body seemed to effervesce. Hopefully the horse would feel him as less of a burden on their back.  He was an amateur rider at best.

He looped his pack from off his shoulders. Before putting his things in the saddlebag he paused and said, "Thanks." He looked to Sia, offering a grateful jerk of his chin, then quickly found himself up on the saddle.

He looked to Kholt, rambling and pulling the goat.

He looked to Glitterdale, no doubt offering him a cookie.

He sighed, pulling his goggles over his eyes and thought, The things I do for love.

If Glitterdale did offer him a cookie, this time, he'd take it.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:54, Tue 27 Apr 2021.

Glitterdale answer Winterwood.
I should be alright.  They let me do a little archery practice now and again.  So my natural skills should be enough.  Just don't ask me to jump any big fences yet.

He turns to Reign.  The two of them nod.  No words need to be said.  Glitterdale hands him a cookie.

A small green figure skitters down a wooden support beam from the rafters, his head lifting towards the group as he clings like an oversized gecko. "Greb has waited. Banner said wait with smelly horses. Greb waited. Greb sailor, not rider. But if Greb can stay steady on a ship,  balancing on horse should be no problem. Greb can ride double. Goblinses don't weigh much." The goblin has a tail not unlike a monkey. He is wearing leather armor and has a number of daggers and a pair of saps around his waist.

The goblin turns as he hears a different person speaking. He tilts his head as he looks up from behind the goat. Kholt's eyes narrow. Another goblin? And this one has a tail. Lovely. Kholt grips his chucker and puts the reigns over a small post. His body tenses up and then he slips into some shadows if any nearbye. Looks like someone is getting stalked. If he knows goblins which he does....this won't end well.

Glitterdale turns to the others.
I think one goblin per group is enough otherwise we draw to much attention to your group.  Also we need to split the groups a bit more even.  I would suggest Greb joins the other group.
He smiles at Greb.  Takes out two cookies.
Two cookies and you wait for Qarley Huinn and Hil Diduem.  Join them and stay with them.  Two more cookies at the end of the mission if you do what I ask.
Holding the cookies height enough that the goblin could not grab them and waits for him to agree or not.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Tue 27 Apr 2021.

Greb leaps from his perch and snatches the cookies as he flips past Glitterdale. The rush of movement obscures his landing, and no one spots him as he stands hidden in the shadows (Stealth 36). A whispered voice says "Greb does what Banner says. But not parading more goblins is smart. Greb will wait unless Banner say no."

Glitterdale smiles.
It is alright Greb.  Banner has said the group can split into two and we can choose which group we are in.  You have got your cookies so just wait for Qarley Huinn or SGT Banner.  You will be fine.

The horses Marcia got for the group looked like experienced palfreys that wouldn't spook in traffic on a major road or city. Even the goat looked like it had been the designated driver for quite a few very drunk halflings. Did she even pack everyone a lunch too?  Yes. She is just that good.  (Hopefully everyone likes apples.)

Marcia gives Reign a squire's bow and checks her girth before mounting her own horse. Almost as surprising as the possibility that she has a sense of humor is the thoughtless grace that moves her from ground to the saddle.

She gives them all a look, even Fox who hurries to join them. "Ready?" She croaks, barely looking for an answer before her horse starts heading for the gate.