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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1974150" data-attributes="member: 1210">A Chat With a Demon Prince8/1/370 O.L.G., 2 a.m., near the Field of BattleDeep in the trance that is his peoples’ equivalent of sleep, the mind of Drelvin the Archer tosses and turns.  His dreams are... tainted.  A presence seems to have shouldered its way into his head.  A dark-skinned, extraordinarily handsome face centers itself in the archer’s dream.  A smile like the slash of a blade across a neck; delicately pointed teeth, like a baby piranha’s.  Long, six-fingered hands steeple together, delicate as glass flowers.  Drelvin has met many powerful evil entities in his time- even gods.  He has slain more dragons than anyone else alive in Cydra, and that is no hyperbole.  He has met and defeated the devil Mezzoloch, traitor to his own kind.  He has brought down a gargantuan.  He has gotten away with snarling at the god of cowardice and rape.  But never has a gaze filled him with such disquiet.The others, he knew, were enemies.  This one... this one smiles, beneficially.  And he asks Drelvin a question.Would you champion Chaos? It echoes and reverberates through the archer’s mind and soul.  There is a sweet promise in the question; it is an offer as well as a task.  Something hazy, some weird offering, seems behind the question.No, Drelvin thinks to himself, I won’t.  This whole affair of Law vs. Chaos is stupid.  It serves no purpose.  It’s not about territory, or money, or even really religion- though that’s getting closer.  Whatever the hell it’s all about, Drelvin wants no part of it. He wakes up suddenly.  Shaking, he looks around wildly.  Proto is on guard; faithfully watching for trouble; and none is apparent.  Taking a deep breath, the archer settles back into his trance.***10 a.m.Gerontius sighs and stretches.  “Now that was breakfast,” he says happily, then frowns.  Sybele seems... distracted.  And she mumbles to herself for a moment, as if-“Hey, guys,” she blurts, “I think we’re being watched by someone.  Someone powerful, on the side of Chaos.  We may have a visitor.”Veil glances at her, full of interest.  “I just received a sending,” she continues, “asking if I wanted to become a champion of Chaos.”“I thought you already were,” comments Lillamere.“No, I’m a warrior of Chaos.*  It’s different.  I guess.”  She shrugs.  “I guess I don’t really know, but hey, whatever.”“I had a dream last night,” Drelvin says, “that I think might be connected.”  When he describes the figure from his dream, Horbin purses his lips grimly.“That sounds like Graz’zt,” the cleric groans.“Where do I know that name from?” asks Gerontius.”That’s the demon prince that the general wants us to kill,” Horbin sighs.“Oh.”  The halfling considers for a moment.  “Sounds like a bad idea, if he wants to help us out.”“It sounds to me,” says Lillamere, “like both sides are playing for our support.”“We could see who has more to offer!” Gerontius suggests.”We’re not joining anyone,” Horbin states firmly.  “Or at least, I’m not.  I’m certainly not a fan of the forces of Law, but I can’t fight against Forinthia.”**“So what did you tell him?” Lillamere asks Sybele, but before she has a chance to answer our heroes have a visitor.“Greetings,” comes a voice.  Everyone turns to see him there, just a few score feet away.  He smiles: Graz’zt, demon prince and Lord of Chaos.  He stands, beautiful and aloof, with that smile- is it mocking?- lingering on his lips like an aftertaste.  “Begone, demon!” cries Horbin.“Peace,” Graz’zt says soothingly.  “I mean no harm.  I bring you gifts.”“We want no gifts from your kind!” the cleric retorts.“Gifts?” asks Gerontius.Graz’zt glances away from Horbin at the halfling.  He nods respectfully.  “Indeed.  Great gifts, and great power- should you choose to accept it.”“Can we change our mind later?” asks Sybele cheerily.“No.”“Oh.  Well, that just seemed kinda chaotic to me...”Graz’zt, sweet as a kitten, hands out some highly unusual arrows.  They aren’t even close to straight, but he assures them that they will fly true.***  He clearly favors Sybele; possibly because she is a warrior of Chaos already.“Would you accept the mantle of a Champion of Chaos?” the demon prince demands.“I’ll think it over,” she replies blithely. Graz’zt’s eyes sweep over the group.  “You are strongly allied with Chaos, and have powerful enemies on the side of Law.  You are fools if you believe that you do not need aid.”Horbin cries, “Not the aid of demons!”Graz’zt sighs.  “No, Horbin the MFKG Holy, not the aid of demons at all.  The aid of Chaos.  Just because we have our philosophical differences does not mean that we cannot have common interests.  Look at your long friendship with Sheva and Angelfire.”  Horbin stiffens.  “Certainly you are not- and probably never were- friends; but you traveled together for long months and years and worked together against common foes.  That is all I suggest.”“Let’s get to the point,” Lillamere interjects.  “What do you want from us?  Specifically?”“Nothing at all,” Graz’zt answers sincerely.Our heroes absorb this for a moment.  “Nothing at all?” demands Inoke.  “What does that mean?  Nothing at all, or nothing until you have something you need?”“It means nothing at all.  I will demand no recompense, ever.  I wish you to continue as you are.  If you do so, our foes will remain common and you will aid my cause, whether you realize it or no.  And I... encourage any of you that wish to to champion Chaos.  Should any of you do so” -that smile again- “I have a special gift.”“But at what cost?” Drelvin snorts.  “No matter what you say, I know there’s a cost.”“Not to mention that Chaos is dangerous,” adds Horbin.Graz’zt shrugs.  “So is passion.  Would you live without it?”“I’ll do it,” Veil says suddenly.  “I’ll be the champion you seek.”Graz’zt smiles broadly, showing his teeth, and says, ”Good,”, and suddenly there’s a whirling, overwhelming giddiness that tears at Veil until he gives a warbling cry of mixed wonder, pleasure and shock.  Then Veil is shaking, giving off purple-green smoke; and Graz’zt, with a nod, hands him the shield.It’s a heavy shield with a hand spiked to it.  Veil stares at it mutely for a moment, then bows; then, taking it a step further, he bows. “Farewell,” Graz’zt says.  “You will go on to great things.”“What do you mean, great things?” asks Inoke, but the demon is gone.  “Nice guy,” comments Veil.  Horbin looks at him like he’s crazy.Next Time: Back to the ruins of Ostraghan!  There’s lots more going on there, that’s for sure!*Warrior of Chaos is a prestige class in my campaign.**A long time ago, our heroes found themselves at the Battle of Pesh, when an immense fleet of Chaos vessels attacked a major concentration of Forinthian forces laying siege to Pesh City.  Horbin received a pretty unmistakable signal that he was erring in his ways when his spells failed to take effect against Forinthian forces.  A commune later confirmed that he was not to attack them.***iirc, these were +2 anarchic arrows.</blockquote>

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