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11.27.22

Faith, Truth, and Peace

by Steel Claw

The Pledge


 
Murg's part of the bargain was his faith: Dispater would want him to give up his faith and his gathering of followers to Abadar, to instead form a cult of Dispater on the plane material. The cleric believes it to be a transaction, a founding of a neutral shrine or church, but this reeks of Dispater corrupting our existence.
 
My part of the bargain was truth: I would give Dispater the gift Vrianna had bestowed upon me, to see the absolute truth in a situation. Maybe I am wrong, but Dispater believes the gift is more powerful than what I myself have experienced. Too, I do not know if it is for me to give: if Vrianna is as I think they are, they could simply rescind the gift.
 
And, as a group, we would pledge to bargain our peace: that when Dispater would interfere with the material plane, we would not interfere.
 
From Milo, Dispater wanted only a joke -- satisfied with the rest of the bargain.
 
From Nord, the archdevil wanted to know why: why descend into the hells to save M'Crush?
 
 

Secrets and Truth


Without hesitation, Dispater cast a scry to speak with Vrianna. He laid out my sight, my deal, and Vrianna spoke highly of us: "I trust my followers."
 
I nearly wept on the spot. Dispater, on the other hand, laughed.
 
Before I could speak, golden-scripted writing flooded my vision and covered my eyes. As it left me, it wound its way to Dispater. Like that, it was gone.
 

The Name


Dispater explained that Asmodeus' true name would, in practicality, weaken Asmodeus and make him appear -- or at least, become corporeal. It would, therefore, work once. More than a true name, more than a god's name, this was a level of power that could cripple or kill a feeble mortal.
 
"Maleauseth."
 
All in company, save myself reeled back in fear -- wracked by pain and agony of the mind. It was the name, the true name. And we had it
 


 

Vengeful Daughter


Done with Dispater, we returned -- unwillingly -- to Glasya in her throneroom.
 
She asked that she be released from the Nine Hells, especially if her father is destroyed -- as her existence is tied to his. Murg agreed, and they wrote the contract on their very hearts.
 
Oh gods, how I am tired of these dealings.
 
Theo asked the hellish queen for any advice, and she relented: she could not offer words here in the hells, but her erinyes would find us in the material plane and give us what we need.
 


 

A return


And so we returned to the material plane: Varunmund and Dazeem were still waiting for us in the cold. They were excited to see our weary forms, but wasted no time working with Theo to teleport the vanguard to his study in the GCC offices in Bezia.
 
And there, in the shadows, greeting first his cat and then his friends, Dannerick welcomed us home.
 
Everything happened all at once. Yrna rushed in, embraced Nord, and then began to see to M'Crush's recovery.
 
I ran to Sapphire, to make her swear to me that she and my progeny will do what I will not be able to -- defeat Dispater. She did, and we relaxed to converse before I returned to the GCC.
 
Theo teleported to the Hallowfen, to ask the avatar of the elven god Andorum Ysildar at the foot of the tree Quess'Ar'Teranthvar: if our victory against Asmodeus was certain. The answer came affirmative.
 
Dannerick and Nord reunited with the group, then with Brendyrion -- "the boy!" -- and brought Francis with them to the late night discussion and eating.

Continue reading...

  1. To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
    10.22.19
  2. To Waylay Arcadia
    10.29.19
  3. As the Gods Watch
    11.12.19
  4. Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
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  5. Honor Returns to the Redtails
    12.03.19
  6. Honor and Innocence
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  7. What Ends & What Begins
    01.07.20
  8. Night Before the Report
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  10. Fairytale's End
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  11. CSI: Abominable Charges
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  12. Stones in the Basement
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  13. Saviors
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  14. A Night To Remember
    03.24.20
  15. The End Draws Near
    03.31.20
  16. Black Reckoning
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  17. Argyle's End
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  22. Puzzling the Way Forward
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  24. Band through the Woods
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  25. Cold Claws of Death
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  26. Another Shot in the Dark
    06.16.20
  27. More To Learn
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  28. The Heart of Varunmund
    07.10.20
  29. Arcane Mishap
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  30. The Treasure of Weave-Steel
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  31. Rolling Bones
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  32. A New Land
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  33. Ice and Storm
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  34. Up Rocks
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  35. At the Top of the World
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  36. Beware the Depths
    09.08.20
  37. Granting Repose
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  38. Trial by Crystal
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  39. Cries of the Pained
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  40. Old Friends
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  41. Watch and Tower
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  42. The Death of a Gate and an Alhoon
    10.20.20
  43. Joy in Many a Reunion
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  44. A New Line of Questioning
    01.05.20
  45. Renewing the Offense
    6th of February, 2022
  46. The Last Vanguard
    02.13.22
  47. Portals
    02.20.22
  48. Heed the Changing Winds
    03.13.22
  49. Champions of the Winds
    03.27.22
  50. The Epicenter of Truth
    04.03.22
  51. It Begins Again
    04.10.22
  52. Stratagem to the Winds
    04.24.22
  53. Wet Cat
    05.01.22
  54. Another Hot Time
    05.15.22
  55. The Aegon Assault
    07.31.22
  56. Unfavorably Familiar
    08.07.22
  57. Cloaked in Red
    09.11.22
  58. Forged After War
    09.18.22
  59. Truthseeking
    10.02.22
  60. Two-Parters
    11.12.22
  61. Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
    11.20.22
  62. Faith, Truth, and Peace
    11.27.22
  63. Act as you know, and you will never shame me
    12.04.22
  64. The Stringing of the Bow
    01.08.23
  65. A Clashing of Fangs
    01.15.23
  66. Nleyke [v. To Wish]
    01.29.23

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 14:38, Nov 8 2024