Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 2: The Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar

[The Bashar]

Hrimr stares out of the are slit looking at the burning woods. He begins to stroke his beard as he listens to the discussion.

"If this Indomitability is the cause of the endless flames then I will gladly break my word if ends the flames and allows the forest to restore itself. However, this unnatural situation appears to be sustained by the Seela's song. If we kept our oath, and remove the singers, then the forest would likely be burned to the ground but nature would be able to return eventually. The question is once freed what would Indomitability do? Just leave and do more harm elsewhere? I cannot decide either way.

It as Torrent says, we need to know more. Let us see what this Papuvin has to say. There may be another solution we are not wholly aware of."

 

[fromage67]

Lars says, "The mission we have accepted is to deliver the intelligence to the Lyceum. I have accepted no other mission."

"I just want to get out of this forest alive. But let's walk to the Seela village and find out what we can there. But one thing I'd like to ask of you, be careful with them. Just because they have wings and flit about, doesn't mean that they mean us good."

 

[Adjuntive]

Kirio turns to Alric "I'd say duress was applied, so... if possible to do so and remain alive, we stick your sword" he looks at Bannock and winks "the metal one, as that is most appropriate" back to Alric "right up his rear, yes..."

Alric smiles wolfishly at Kirio. "As always Kirio, your prose and colorful expression are music to mine ears."

"Papuvin awaits. I'm eager to see if he knows of a way to hurt Indominability."

 

[Gregor]

Having reached a majority decision, you check your equipment, ready your weapons and head out of the tower. After a few moments spent climbing down the side of the soot-stained bridge, you begin walking with the flow of the river.

The riverbed is dry and cracked towards the forest's edge where flames burn intensely. The river itself has reduced significantly over the decades, now resembling little more than a slowly moving deep creek. The water steams constantly and your clothes become damp and uncomfortable as you walk on the ash and sand riverbank. Occasionally intense gusts of wind blow down the length of the river sending clouds of lung-choking smoke or blasts of hot cinders shaken loose from the branches above you. Once and a while you struggle for breath, or a cinder sets part of your hair or clothes alight. These trials force you to tie moist strips of fabric around your mouths, or to jump into the scalding river to put out a fire on your person. After a few hours of walking, with nothing more interesting to look at other than scorched riverbed rocks, blazing trees or swirling clouds of dust and ash, you begin to long for rest.

Towards the end of the day, as the river begins to widen and the treeline begins to spread out around a large body of ashy water in the far distance, you stop to sip water and exchange weary glances. As you take your break and try to relax, a large floral burst of flames erupts about 50 feet ahead of you on the riverbed. Startled, you turn in its direction and see your infernal attacker from yesterday.

The bearded devil drives his saw-toothed glaive into the sand, leaving it erect and quivering with the force of the impact. His tattered cloak whips in the wind and his evil eyes stare at you in thought. It then raises its hands, palms raised towards you in a sign of peace and speaks:

“Hail, champions! It is sad that we meet in such a vile place, and under such cruel conditions. You flee Gate Pass, under the descending fist of the Ragesian Empire, toward a temporary safety. You and I both know Ragesia won’t let you escape as easy as that, but we don’t have to have this come to further blows.”

He points to his neck with a gnarled, green finger, showing off an iron collar.

“Indeed, I am one of their dogs, leashed and collared by one of their inquisitors. I am bound to their letter, but I bear them no respect. You, though, you have my respect. You fight well, I’ve seen. I have no desire to throw away more lives than is necessary, particularly not my own, and I share with you the desire to escape this place as soon as possible. I think we can work together, to find a way out of this fiery wood. As nice as it is for me, I do not think you like it so much. Well, do I have your ear? Are you interested in alliance?”

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric fingers the pommel of his silver sword, but does not draw it. His shoulder itches ferociously at the sight of the devil's glaive. Despite this, he attempts to look unperturbed by the devil by wearing a wolfish grin.

"And what do you propose? Do you assume we have the means to free you from that collar? Or do you believe that aiding our goals will lead you to those means?"

 

[Gregor]

The devil returns Alric's grin, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth and a sickly green tongue. His viper-like beard snaps and writhes according to its own volition.

"Nay, I do not expect, nor do I search, to break my contract my dim little friend. As the Elven mage in your party can likely confirm, there is no escape from the type of arrangement I have entered in to until its conditions are completed. As I said, I am bound to the letter of the arrangement, but that does not mean I have no room to maneuver. We creatures of Baator are quite proficient in these dealings."

The devil squats down on his haunches and strokes his revolting beard, causing the snake-like tendrils caress his clawed hands in turn.

"The Ragesians' arrangement with me is to prevent you from leaving the Innenotdar Fire Forest alive, and to retrieve the case of stolen intelligence you possess. Now while I could murder you all and wrench it from your rigormortis grasp, it would involve much risk. On the other hand, were the Fire Forest to no longer be on fire, then I would not have to prevent you from leaving it. The entity that rules here has approached me with an offer: silence the song of the wicked, twisted fey who live here. That will release it and in turn end the fire."

The devil's voice becomes smooth, almost musical as he muses on his final points: "I have seen the fey village, it is just down the river. They are, and remember that this is a denizen of Hell saying this, horrible beings, driven to violent madness by the pain of the forest’s burning. I will pledge to help you fight to silence them, and I will let you go peacefully once the entity is free and the forest has burned itself out. In return, you give me the case that my current masters desire."

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric listens to the devil's words intently, attempting to discern misleading in any of of his statements.

			No matter what happens, he will find out we don't have the case. But if he learns it now, he may already be free of his contract. Can't say I'd miss a devil fighting by my side however... He may not believe me and become violent as well.... hmmm, I have remarkably rotten-log like instincts this very moment.

 

[Bannock]

Bannock, salty from his last encounter with the devil, lets his glaive fall into an aggressive position.

"Looks like murdering us it is, devil, because the Voss family will never help a lapdog of Ragesia!"

 

[Gregor]

The Bearded Devil stands up, narrows his eyes and grips his glaive with one hand.

"Does this boy's opinion equal the decision of your party?"

 

[fromage67]

Lars eyes the devil and licks his lips nervously. His crossbow is armed and pointed at the creature's belly.

He takes a moment to survey the forest around them, trying to spot if the devil has company.