The Last Hunter
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Illithid behind the Curtain: Will you serve in Heaven? Or rule in Hell?
🕑 Added 2024-04-09 15:26:06 +0000 UTCDessiter was dangerous, not because he was a Devil but rather because he was a Contract Devil. As the name implies, his kind was responsible for the deals and image of trickery such creatures implied with stakes ranging from simple toys like a magic weapon at the right time, the ability to play beautiful music or even for the souls of an entire Kingdom. A smiling face and silver tongue that had honed itself manipulating all manner of mortals and would continue to do so, long after. More to the point, he represented something else as well to me and to the essence of C'gorath that knew him.
When Thorn needed information on the dark arts, it was Dessiter who provided them. When he was crawling, barely alive from the stake the Church had burned him for his dealings, it was Dessiter who appeared with a ready-made contract. When Thorn had ascended to Lichdom, it was by the whispers and nudges of Dessiter and when Thorn failed to live up to expectations, it was Dessiter who came to me and my party.
Dessiter was dangerous all on his own for his connections, one in particular and if he was here then I could only conclude so was he. Unaware of my thoughts, or perhaps uncaring, Dessiter just hummed in thought as he looked me over before smiling briefly.
"Well, aren't you domesticated now. Who would have thought that the great C'gorath would find such bliss in a white picket fence and dog? Perhaps even a partner and some children?"
My fingers flexed. I began to levitate as my eyes glowed and immediately, Dessiter laughed and held up his hands. "Peace, peace! It was only an observation! I surely would not have expected it, nor would your enemies, of which you have many O'chiefest and greatest of calamities!"
I was halfway tempted to just discard words and kill him now, but then he spoke.
"I am here to warn you actually, as... A courtesy between old friends."
I grimaced internally and then I dropped to the ground. As my hands smoothed my skirt, Dessiter let out a theatrical sigh of relief as he wiped his brow with a handkerchief, stuffing it into his sleeve after.
"We need not be enemies. In fact, I do believe we're allies still. Did not my masters forces come to aid you at Taringarde? I do not know where this hostility is coming from, I truly don't."
"It's because you're nothing." I said and Dessiter made a miming motion of getting his heart pierced as I continued. "I could kill you now, and there'd be another just like you in every respect, ready to pop up and claim whatever tools and equipment you have on you. No, I'm hostile because I've found something new. I've created something different. Hell has no place in it, and from my own actions I've forged it. Its not you I take umbrage to."
I float and lean in. My head splits open, skin sloughs off with hair, revealing the features of the Illithid beneath as I take my true form, my mind voice vibrating in his own head.
"It's to the one holding your leash. Whatever words, warning or gifts that he may have, I want none of them. Tell Naburus our contract is now void and paid in full. And so long as he stays out of Remnant, I won't have a problem with him."
His smile vanished, his scowl suddenly appearing as he hissed. "You think you can escape Hell's grace just like that? You, of all people?! Bearer of the Masters Blessing?! Your soul is damned and it was out of courtesy that I had begged, yes BEGGED our master to approach you kindly! Now, you will get NONE of our blessing and shall soon see Hell's wrath unleashed." He hissed and I laughed and extended my arms.
"Then prove it. I was under contract, yes? Then command me to do something. Cast me down, take my magic. Show me that my soul is tied to your pretty rules and petty feelings. Show me Hell if you dare and if you cannot...."
My eyes glow again as I take out my sunblade, unactivated which has him hiss and lean back.
"Then it will be MY turn."
There was silence. Dessiter scowled but did nothing before sniffing as he straightened up. At the cue, I did the same. His voice was lower now, much more darker and guttural as a bit of his true nature was seen.
"I don't know how you did it. How you managed to avoid the hooks the contract should have had. But Lord Naburus sees all, and he will take his property back with interest." He faded away into smoke, the illusion vanishing as his words died out slowly into the air.
"You should had taken my words to heart."
My response was to turn to the left, make a gesture and watch as a spectral, armored gauntlet my size formed and flew in a fist for seemingly empty air, smashing something invisible as the cursing in Infernal came to my ears and Dissiter vanished from this plane before I could do more.
I transformed back, adjusted my clothing and sat back as my Bigby's Hand formed an impromptu chair as I considered my options. Perhaps I shouldn't had done that, but it wasn't a serious spell. More, a final middle finger but it was a very serious matter.
Naburus was the man behind the man, a Pit Fiend and very powerful in his own right. Enough to own his own court and to come himself, in the final battle. So he was around.... I scowled and tapped my fingers, trying to think.
Now in addition to homegrown problems, I had to contend with planar ones and I'd be disadvantaged. There were boundaries on Sphere's, so Hell could not simply come and do whatever they wanted. Where they moved, so did Demons and so did the Gods and their followers.
But there wasn't really anything like that, was there? Hell would move in as they please, unchecked by local gods because said gods had left long ago. There was nothing to defend Remnant.
..... Or was there?
I thought for a moment, looked guiltily towards the Vytal Festival direction and then finally began my incantations.
"I'm so sorry children."
And as I plane shifted away, I added. "But if I don't do something about this now, it's possible that there won't BE a Remnant for you all."
