Fighting Fire with Fire – Sheryl the Fae-Touched – 16.6.2020
Jun 17, 2020 23:39:03 GMT
BB, Markas Virnala, and 3 more like this
Post by Merla, the Daughter of Summer on Jun 17, 2020 23:39:03 GMT
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The Rift War
Part I | Part II | Part III
Follow Tome of Tales on Spotify to listen to this and other write-ups written and read by me.
The Rift War
Part I | Part II | Part III
The largest tables from Daring Academy and the Town Hall had been brought out to Portal Plaza, many of the adventurers who would be going on one of the three key missions outlined in Aurelia’s announcement helping with the process. Pieni and Khazifa together summoned the mightiest of feasts for all, mounts and familiars included. The townsfolk of Daring looked on, but all at the table were too absorbed in the meal, in sharing these final moments together. For some it may well be their last meal with friends and loved ones, for others, it could be the boost they need to see them home.
For Sheryl it was her way of immortalising every person’s face in her memory, engraving them in her heart. She vowed to herself she would not shed any tears, not until the task was done, but that did not mean to any who looked to her would say she was unfeeling. She made sure to laugh, smile, and spread love to all around her with each word and gesture. They were all going to need it.
As the Heroes Feast draws to a close, Sheryl sees Varis stand and look around at them all. Her heart pounds against the cage of her ribs as he begins to speak.
“My Friends. Once again we find ourselves here, together on the eve of battle. Once again, we teeter on the precipice of utter destruction. Once again, we will face it united, side by side. Most of you know me. I have fought beside you, toiled with you, bled with you, met victory and defeat in equal measure. We have not always seen eye to eye. But freedom, justice, peace – these are not absolutes. They are mutable, living things, their form hammered out anew each day on the anvil of civil discourse. Whatever our differences, on some things we agree – this place is our home, these people, our people, and we will do what we must to protect them.
“Against us is arrayed the might of hell, led by one of the greatest military minds in all creation. Our numbers are few, our position fraught and our time rapidly dwindling. In the face of such odds, what hope can we have?
“Enough.
“Enough that the Archduchess of Avernus knows our names. Enough that her agents fear us. Enough to know we do not fight in vain. For we must never doubt, my friends, that a small group of courageous souls can change the fate of worlds. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.
“Go then, and know that beside you walk fellow citizens of Daring, that you fight for our city, for our people, for our very world.
“Be bold, and may the Light watch over you all.”
Blue eyes linger on the pale warrior’s face after his speech, the fiery, imperial topaz gem above them glowing brighter.
If eyes could speak, what would these ones say?
Turning back to her friends, Astra behind her speaking to Pieni, Sheryl pushes her plate away only to see the last vestiges of it already disappearing. So much is at stake and the risks are so high, and yet she feels an inner tranquility she was not expecting, an acceptance of where her place is on this three tiered chess board. Glancing at Markas she can see from the set of his brow his thoughts are similar to hers; worry for those going to face Zariel. To face an Archduke of Hell and live to tell the tale is a feat no mere mortal can do. Not to mention those planning on infiltrating the Tower itself. The bravery, the steel needed to do that is not easy to possess.
But all of them are more than just paladins, soldiers, theifs, monks, or mages. They are carrying the hope of all of us. Just like we will be carrying the hope for them.
From the corner of her eye she sees Arkadius step into the square, head held high, lyre in hand. She smiles up to her best friend as he joins her at the end of the long table where she sits with BB, Taz, and Irgainne. Markas joins them a moment later, eyes lingering on Sunday’s back as she joins Varis, Baine, Pieni and Taffeta.
An expectant quiet falls across the six of them. They do not have to wait long.
Aurelia, along with Senator Rhodes, approaches their group and they all come to attention. Finally, the show is about to begin… Sheryl thinks, but what Aurelia tells them surprises her. They are not going to the frontlines – at least, not yet.
“Even with the combined forces of Daring First, the augmented cavalry of soldiers from the Crimson Fist, the Republic’s own forces, and the Gotresham Elves now coming down from their mountains, we are still underpowered.”
“Have you tried reaching out to the giants?” BB asks the Senator.
“We have, but our messengers have not returned. I think it’s safe to say that option is a dead end. There is the Shunned, although,” he hesitates and they all see a slight twitch to his eye as he continues, “they only seem to be on the fringes at the moment, protecting their own settlements. We have been assured they will not attack our cities should we pull our forces back and focus on the Portal.” He glances to Aurelia who nods.
“Then who else is there to ask?” Sheryl inquires, head tilting slightly.
“We have a contact in Sigil, Lady Vermilion,” Aurelia answers, glancing at Markas. “I believe you may know her.” The grey monk nods but his brows are furrowed. “She can give you information that can help us get a distraction for Zariel’s army.”
“So whilst everyone else is going to fight we are going on a diplomatic mission?” Markas asks, clearly perturbed. Sheryl rests a hand on his arm. He’s as stiff as stone.
“You will be able to join our forces once you have done this task,” Aurelia says to them all, but with a pointed look to the half elf. “We are short on time, but if you can do this, it will help everyone.”
“How do we get to Avernus then from Sigil?” Arkadius asks leaning forward.
Senator Rhodes hands over a badge. “This is a family heirloom from General Cassius Razorback. It won’t allow you to Plane Shift to Avernus, but I’ve been told when casting such teleportation spells, you will be able to get to where he is because of how important it is to him. Sort of like a homing beacon.”
Sheryl looks between the council woman and the senator and then to her friends. “Well, we have our mission. Let’s get to it.”
Everyone gets up and starts heading towards the teleportation circle.
“Good luck, and may Light protect and watch over you all,” Aurelia calls after them. Sheryl waves her gratitude with a half smile as she climbs onto Astra’s back, notices Markas is moving forward, closely followed by Taz. The Grey Monk does not look back.
“We must make sure they all come back, Astra. As much as we will try to end this swiftly, that is just as, if not more important.”
“Together we will be able to achieve this, Merla. I give my word to you and Your Song that I will do everything in my power to make it so,” the winged unicorn reassures the Daughter of Summer, voice strong through their telepathic link. Sheryl feels her heart swell and breathes in deep, her head held a little higher. Astra starts following the others.
“You will see the Grandmaster again, too,” she adds, softer, knowingly.
Sheryl does not reply, but lays a warm hand on her friend’s neck in gratitude.
“We are short on time. Cut to the chase.” Taz’s eyes gleam as he stares down the Yuan-ti pureblood.
Lady Vermillion inclines her head and one corner of her mouth lifts in a slight smile. “As I was saying, there is a demon lord, Bal’taz’narr, at the House of Wondrous Pleasures. Such a place is accessible by invitation only, and I have managed to secure you some. You will be going in as cultists of Zariel, which brings me to the next part…” She trails off, eyeing each of them in turn before settling on Arkadius. “With the exception of one, none of you match the, how do you say… aesthetic.”
Glances are exchanged between the others but Sheryl is nodding, understanding where this is leading. “Can you make me look like a goblin?”
Lady Vermillion nods her head.
“Merla, what about me?”
“Astra will need a disguise as well,” Sheryl says, gesturing to the winged unicorn standing behind her. "I hear there are such things called Nightmares in the Hells. Would you be able to disguise her to look like one of them?” There’s a sparkle to Sheryl’s eyes as her role starts to form in her mind.
This is but a small part in a larger play.
“Hmm, I suppose I could, but she will not be allowed to go in. But I can-… Hmm, yes. I will do that for you,” Lady Vermillion finishes before she turns to the others. Taz asks to be disguised as a red tiefling like Arkadius whilst Markas asks to be a grey one – A little inconspicuous but on brand. – and BB suggests she become a minotaur as she has the height for it. Igrainne doesn’t say anything.
“I am afraid your drow appearance would not go unnoticed,” the yuan-ti cautions.
There is a long pause. “Make me look human,” was the quiet begrudging response from the half-drow.
With that, Lady Vermillion casts her spell, making them appear as they each had requested, with Astra being disguised to look like one of Hell’s very own mighty steeds before she got shrunk down small enough to fit in Sheryl’s pocket. Picking her up carefully, she can sense Astra’s discomfort.
Sheryl attempts to console her. “This is not permanent Astra, you will look like yourself again.”
“It is not how I look that discomforts me. It is my size! I am smaller than you and the tiefling is laughing at me!” Astra hrumphs, rearing back and batting her tiny hooves up in Arkadius’ direction.
“Ha! Not so big now are you!”
“Arkadius! That’s rude. Astra could kick your ass and I won’t even stop her.”
The tiefling’s grin is smug. “Sure, but not right now she can’t.”
“Remember, do not start any major upheaval,” Lady Vermillion says, cutting through their banter. “You do not want the Lady of Pain to come anywhere near you. If you see her, run, as far and as fast as you can.”
They start to make their way to the House of Wondrous Pleasures, everyone’s face in disguise except Arkadius. Sheryl had pointed out that doing so might be risky but he didn’t seem to care, which concerned her. On the way, they subtly and quietly discussed what they could do to entice Bal’taz’narr into leading an assault on Avernus.
Lady Vermillion told them he is a demon of pleasure and excess. But what did he desire? What gave him the most pleasure? What would send him over the edge? Demons by nature are destructive and it would be great to have that directed at Zariel’s army so they had a fighting chance. But how to do it.
“Whatever we do, we cannot mention the Material Plane or the group going to the Tower,” Markas cautioned, Sheryl nodding in agreement.
“But how do we get him to want to launch an assault? This is a demon that is all about pleasure, maybe we should appeal to his desire for power?” Taz suggests.
“Love and War are two sides of the same coin,” Sheryl counters. “I think we should try to listen in on what he says and from there,” she grins, wicked and wolfish, her disguised goblin face making it even more nefarious, “we can exploit it for all its worth.”
The group was greeted by Za’zymm, a djinn draped in many small gold chains that had wind chimes on the ends that kept up a constant sound of pleasing music as they undulated through space, the owner and proprietor of the House of Wondrous Pleasures. They advised the group that the place was theirs to explore. Any pleasure they desired could be found within, all they had to do was ask.
“I will caution you all on one thing: Violence, offensive use of magic and generally creating a disturbance will not be tolerated within the resort. Any infringements upon this rule may attract the attention of the Lady of Pain, and we all know what the Lady is like.”
They all nodded and decided to start in the bar to see what they could find there, if anything.
Arkadius was the one to spot Bal’taz’narr first. Sheryl got distracted by the band playing on the stage – their music stirred something in her and it wasn’t until she saw the band was composed of pixies that she realised who rather than what it made her think of: Kruxeral. She shook her head, chiding herself for her wayward thoughts.
Focus. You have a part to play and you have to make damn sure it’s believable.
Whilst the others were ordering drinks at the bar, Taz, already with a drink in hand, did a walk around the room, passing by the demon lord to listen in on him. The demon was with two companions that Sheryl instantly recognised as a succubus and an incubus. When he came back the dragonborn tells them the demon lord is going down to the steam room. Taz and Arkadius offer to go down to eavesdrop some more.
When the two return Taz is ready with a plan.
It was simple: Bal’taz’narr really enjoyed the Soul Wine and was sending up the succubus to get some more. Some of them would go down to the steam room and oversell how the Soul Wine sold at the House of Wondrous Pleasures was swamp water compared to the truly exquisite stuff Zariel receives, whilst insulting the demon lord in the process. Easy.
But would it be enough?
“Didn’t he say, ‘Hurry back Amunet. I cannot stand to be parted from you for longer than necessary’?” Sheryl asks Taz who nods. Arkadius and Sheryl share a look and they both grin. “I think we should have a Plan B as well,” she says, looking at BB. Sheryl explained what she had in mind and the others seemed to think it would work.
“Then let’s get to it.”
BB, Igrainne and Arkadius stay in the bar listening to the pixie band whilst they keep an eye out for the succubus. Meanwhile, Sheryl, Taz and Markas head down to the steam room, a new bottle of Soul Wine in hand. They enter, making sure to let out plenty of steam in the process and start to bicker. Dropping hints that Zariel is planning something big but they were the lucky ones to get some time off.
Putting on a bit more of an act and a growly voice Sheryl really gets into her role of a goblin cultist of Zariel with Taz and Markas.
“I hear this Soul Wine is ‘the best’ in Sigil. Pfff,” she scoffs. “Giv‘er here. Let's see if this swill can hol’ up.”
They pour a glass each, share a look and then kick back their cups. The notes of decay, over ripe and meaty fruit that’s excessively sweet, hits the back of her throat and she swallows the wine before she can think about it. Thankfully, the other two also keep their portions down.
Sheryl smacks her lips together. “You know what I think? That’s a righ’ shit drink. Can’t even call that Soul Wine!”
“Yeah, we get way better stuff from Zariel’s stash. Isn’t there a fresh shipment coming in?” Taz asks, getting into it too.
“Hey not in front of the demon turd over there,” Sheryl stage whispers.
Markas gets up and walks over to the fire elemental in the room that is generating the steam and pours the rest of the bottle’s contents over them, making them light up. He says, “We are too good for such swill as this.”
Bal’taz’narr shouts at him, looking like he was about to attack her friend but the incubus manages to hold him back. Sheryl can see his skin, which had been blue before, had shifted to a red colour and decides to really push it home. She stands, Taz backing her up and starts to insult him.
“Of course you’d probably think it’s the shit, demon,” she sneers. “You ain’t got no taste, so I bet it’s just fine for the likes of you!”
Bal’taz’narr hisses at them and gets up. “This place is too crowded. I think I could do with a swim. Come,” he says to the incubus and they go to leave.
“You really are a pussy demon lord aren’t’cha!” Goblin-Sheryl jeers after him. Bal’taz’narr whirls around and growls at her.
“You are lucky we are in an establishment such as this. Or else-”
“Oh sweet cheeks, I am always lucky,” Sheryl interrupts and does a crude gesture that implies more than one way to get lucky.
Clearly unable to stand another second being insulted, the demon lord stomps off, the incubus following hastily. Sheryl looks back at Markas who nods and sends a Message to Arkadius that Plan B is a-go.
The three of them return to the bar just as BB, who had been speaking to the succubus on her own, Polymorphed the unsuspecting fiend into a badger. Tucking her into the folds of her cultist cloak, Arkadius and Igrainne take their cue to go down to the swimming pool and sow the final seeds of dissent.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be in line of sight when he comes storming out?” Taz suggests. They all agree and subtly retreat to a meditation room. Arkadius sends Sheryl a short message letting her know Bal’taz’narr took the bait and she in turn tells him where to meet them. A few minutes later they are all together once more.
“We did it. We actually managed to pull it off!” Sheryl says excitedly to Astra.
“Though I could see nothing of what you did, I am sure the Queen would be proud of you, Merla.”
Agreeing it would be best for them to return to Lady Vermillion’s as soon as possible they begin to make their way to the exit. Za’zymm sees them on their way out, commenting about the curious manner in which one of the guests seemingly left in a hurry and a huff, but Sheryl and Arkadius assuage any suspicions about there being a connection.
“And did you find the pleasures you sought within?” Za’zymm asks them.
“Yes, and then some,” Sheryl responds with a grin and a wink.
Once back out on the street, Sheryl took Astra out from her pocket – who seemed to grow in size as she did so. Then she and BB flew back poste haste, the others following below on the streets.
“Just in time too,” BB said, passing the badger to Lady Vermillion.
“Do not worry, I will take care of this for you,” the yuan-ti assures the group. “Come, I will prepare the portal to your next destination.”
Sheryl steps through the portal, Astra by her side, both still disguised as a goblin and a Nightmare, into the first layer of the Nine Hells of Baator.
Avernus.
It is a plane of dark rock and extremely hot air. Around them is the forward war camp of General Cassisus Razorback. No one has taken notice of them yet but as the sun starts to dip to the horizon in a bloody end to the day, Sheryl feels something soft land on her face. She brushes at it and her fingers come away smeared with grey. The fae-bard looks up and she realises what is falling through the air.
Ash.
“We’re not in Kantas anymore,” Igrainne says quietly.
The others look at the ranger, a few of them even chuckle. For Sheryl she is not smiling. Instead, words are stringing themselves together into lyrics, unexpectedly. As the others step farther into the camp she stays where she is, looking out across the charred wasteland, starting to hum to herself, her features becoming her own and then hardening into sharper fey-like lines.
The sky is dyed red by the ebony darkness,
And the distant stardust is swallowed up,
In this transient moment as the ashes fall like snow…
