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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 4108497" data-attributes="member: 9546">Crimson stood before Malcanthet, motionless, rooted to the spot by the succubus queen’s hypnotic gaze.  The latter still lounged upon her fleshy throne, but the rest of the hall was empty, save for the Legionnaires and the twelve other Radiant Sisters, who were arrayed in a semi-circle behind Crimson.  No word was spoken, yet something passed between the lilitu and Malcanthet.  Telepathy?  Pure hate?  Reconciliation?  The answer was made abundantly apparent as, with a barely perceptible nod, Malcanthet sent the other Sisters to work.Crimson’s death was not quick, and by the time her sisters had reduced her to gory ribbons, both Sepoto and Tower Cleaver had left the throne room.  Malcanthet’s derisive stare followed them, especially the crusader.  The lilitus’ task complete, they bowed to their queen and, with a few sly looks and winks to the remaining Legionnaires, teleported away.  Malcanthet then turned her attention back to her guests as a small army of deformed rutterkin servants skittered into the chamber to clean the bloody mess with their tongues.“You may have the mad wizard’s flask,” she said in a voice that sounded almost tired.  With a flick of her wrist, she carelessly tossed the artifact across the room.  It clanged as it struck the floor, bounced, and then finally rolled to a stop.“A pity,” the succubus continued.  “I’ll miss Crimson, but she had it coming.  I’m sure the Sisters will find a replacement for me to try out soon enough.”  She smiled again.  “You might not want to be here when they get back.  You’re too fragile to get caught up in that.  I’m sure you have other things to take care of before you head up to Gaping Maw, now don’t you my dearies?  Move along now.  We’ll have a chance to talk again later.  In the meantime, I’m sure your friend Iggwilv will have a few nominees to use that flask on, hmm?”________________________________________________________________“I see you made quite the impression,” the Witch Queen said with a smirk as she noticed Sepoto’s new tattoo.  The goliath cleared his throat and pulled his collar higher.“In any event, you have the flask, and that is what’s important.”“Yes, but what exactly is it that we have?”  Mandi asked.  “That simple looking flask that you hold was crafted long ago by the wizard tyrant Tuerny,” Iggwilv explained as if lecturing a child.  “He promptly used it to capture an aspect of Graz’zt and forced him to ravage the armies and holdings of his enemies.  During one battle, the aspect turned the tables and captured Tuerny in the flask.  After returning to the Abyss, he transformed the wizard into a dretch as a slave.  In time, Tuerny gained power by successfully leading the demonic forces in the Blood War, and became a nalfeshnee demon.  Miraculously, he maintained his personality and wizardly skills throughout this evolution, but during that time, he lost track of his flask.  The artifact became the blueprint for countless lesser versions, but the original remains the most potent of them all.  You see, the flask was designed to capture and command demons.  It can hold up to one-hundred of them at once, or it can contain one aspect.  Which brings us to your next quest.  Mandi, I know that you and Marius have heard of the fate of Obox-ob.”The pair nodded.“But I will enlighten your companions,” she continued.  “Long ago, Obox-ob, an obyrith lord, was himself the Prince of Demons.  His reign came to an end, however, when he was killed by the Queen of Chaos.  She also hunted down and destroyed any of his aspects she could find, but she missed one.  That one retreated to the depths of the Abyss, to the 663rd layer, and there on Zionyn it has slowly returned to its previous power.  However, what is not common knowledge is that a second aspect also escaped the Queen’s notice by entering a state of imprisonment at the heart of the Blood Shallows, the 81st Abyssal layer.  I’m not certain exactly where this aspect’s resting place is, but I do know that Demogorgon has seized one of the largest hills on the plane, a place called Feedgut, to serve as the site for a storehouse and depot for war supplies.  It is my belief that Obox-ob’s aspect lies beneath this hill, and that by casting a Freedom spell at that site, it may be released.  At that point, Tuerney’s flask could be used to capture it, allowing it to be transported to Gaping Maw, where it can do the most damage to Demogorgon.  There is only a slight problem, however.  The flask already contains several demons.  It must be emptied before it can hold Obox-ob’s aspect.  I would be happy to take care of this matter for you, if you wish.”Mandi looked at her companions, and then nodded, handing the crystal stoppered iron flask to Iggwilv.  The Witch Queen pulled the stopper free, and instantly smoke began to pour from the open lip.  The mist rapidly coalesced into the shapes of seven figures:  three vrocks, one nalfeshnee, two mariliths and a balor.  They all roared in rage and anger when they saw the Legionnaires around them, but then their eyes met Iggwilv’s.  Their faces fell in horror, and they quickly bowed their heads in obeisance.“Mistress,” they said in unison.“You are dismissed,” she replied, “but you will all make yourselves available at my call.”They all nodded vigorously and promptly vanished.“Now,” Iggwilv said, handing the empty flask back to Mandi, “you have more business to attend to.”</blockquote>

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