Iuz repsonse
Out of Character: I will be offline until 9:30 Central Standard Time
The smell of brimstone fills the air of the small, dark room. There, within the room's skull covered walls, a decrepit, wretched old man, sits upon a large throne-like chair made from the skulls of a myriad of races - human, dwarven, elven, orc, and many others. Standing beside the throne is a woman clad in full plate. She has straw-blonde hair and gray eyes. In front of both of them, hovering in mid-air, is the broken and beaten body of a human male. He wears the vestments of priest of St. Cuthbert. A halo of red surrounds the nearly unconscious man. The light of halo is the only illumination in the room. A scream comes from the priest with each sudden and short-lived increase in the halo's brightness.
"It doesn't have to be like this," cackles the old man. While his voice is course and harsh, there is an unsettling soothing quality to it. "I can make the pain stop, if you let me. It is all up to you, really. Simply renounce your faith and take up my cause, and all of this unpleasantness can end."
The red halo dims. The priest of St. Cuthbert, mustering what little strength he has left, raises his head to look at the old man.
"Never," he wheezes.
A grin creeps across the old man's face. "I was so hoping you would say that, " he says with a slight giggle. The halo's brightness intensifies and the cleric screams echo off the walls. So loud are his cries, that the sound of knocking at the door to the room is barely heard. "Answer that my dear," says the old man to the woman standing at his side, "I am a little occupied at the moment."
The woman, who's eyes, are lust-filled at the sight of the pain being inflicted, walks past the tortured man - momentarily pausing to bask in the sound of the man's screams.
She quickly returns, accompanied by a Paynim female - wearing the flowing robes of a desert dweller.
"Ah, Elav, " says the old man not taking his attention off of the pain that he is inflicting, "for what do we owe the honor of the presence of the Voice of the Bright Lands in my private throne room. A place where no one is allowed with my expressed permission, " he finishes with a slight snarl.
"Mighty Iuz," says Elav formally and calmly. She has done this dance before with the Old One. While they did not like each other, Iuz’s “arrangement with her master Rary afforded her some leeway in her dealings with the cambion turned demigod - as long as she remained polite. "I am sure you witnessed the Sending?"
"Yes, Elav, I witnessed it."
" And I am also sure that you are aware of Vecna's and Kas's return to Oerth.
"Yes, Voice of Rary, I am aware of that as well. That is why I am engaging in a 'conversation' with Stev'endor here. I find that a little torture always helps me think, and Stev'endor is one of my favorite victims. Aren't you Stev'endor?"
Stev'endor's screams are his only response.
"While I would not normally seek to intrude on your private distractions, mighty Iuz, I have been instructed by Rary to ask if your preparations are ready "
With a small wave of Iuz's hand, the body of Stev'endor is flung across the room. It crashes into the wall and then falls crumpled to the floor. Iuz then turns his attention toward the Voice of the Bright Lands.
"Our preparations are as ready as they will be, I would have preferred this to happen latter, but it can’t be helped. Already, I have sent messengers to the hated Kevolland Alliance and the Baklunish West… we shall see what transpires, Remember, Vecna is the real threat. We shall be contacting Kas soon enough…."
"I will convey your words, mighty Iuz." Elav then bowed formally and then left the room.
Iuz then turned toward the woman at his side, "It appears that The Time is growing closer. What is the state of my plans, Halga (That would be the email that I sent to you Edena)?"
Halga looks back at her master sheepishly, "I'm...um...not sure, my Master."
Iuz grows enraged, his decrepit, old body transforms. It takes the form a large-red and black skinned demon, "WHAT!" he bellows as his large hand slaps Halga across the face, sending her sprawling to the floor.
"I...I...I am sorry my Master, I didn't think we would need to be prepared for a couple of weeks yet."
"WELL, GET ON IT! I NEED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF MY PLANS!"
"Yes, yes my Master," said Halga timidly as she scurries out of the room.
After Halga leaves, Iuz starts to calm down - his body slowly reverting to that of a small old man. He mutters to himself about the incompetence of those around him. Then out of the corner of his eye, he spies Stev'endor trying pathetically to crawl away.
An evil grin creeps across Iuz's face. "Ah, yes Stev'endor, where were we...?"
