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“Alan . . .” Dolah trails off as you sip your morning coffee. “It's not even evil. It's just stupid.”

You nod your head and tap your finger on her table. Dolah's room in the chapel makes for a cozy meeting place in the early morn. It also provides you with some privacy from Calloway's congregation. Admittedly, despite yesterday's trials, he still has received a large number of parishioners. He's been getting a lot more faithfuls recently.

“I understand it's risky. But that's why I'm telling you about it. Quissonce is going to take the time to make sure we summon that thing as safely as possible and I want you right there ready to smite the sucker if something does go wrong. We discover the original summoner and then send it back to whence it came. If there was a viable alternative, I'd choose it.”

Dolah sits contemplatively in silence. The grim countenance she wears does not falter and neither does her stare. You doubt you could beat her in a blinking contest. Eventually Dolah adjusts herself and comes to some inward conclusion.

“Fine. I'll agree to this on one condition. Once this is over we destroy that book and any others on demonology or diabolism the Circle has access to.”

>Accept Dolah's ultimatum
>No dice
>Something else? (write-in)

>>45112746
Uhull Best quest is here.

>>45112781
>>Something else? (write-in)
I wouldn't go so far as destroying all of them, but how about the church takes custody of the books and safeguards them instead?

>>45112781
>Something else? (write-in)
Dolah i understand what your saying. Demons aren't something the church or any person with a soul would like to get involved or know it existed. And they ask for more then it's worth, for what they give. However...this is knowledge, this is wisdom you can't know how to fight something if you don't study it. It would be the same as limiting the knowledge of the Great Will only to the church and it's members.

But i do agree there is good knowledge and bad knowledge. We don't need to destroy it just make it secure, evne double secure. What if somethign happens and we don't have a way to fight it? Or worse if were out in the field and somethign happens to the town? I ask of you to think calmly on this.

>>45112781
>No dice
"Destroying knowledge like that would eliminate someone using that specific book to learn to summon devils, yes. But it would also destroy knowledge used to find such practitioners and implement countermeasures.
"Don't act like people won't go looking for this kind of knowledge just because you destroyed easy access to it, or that demons and devils won't just whisper such knowledge into the sleeping minds of people who want their power."

>>45112908
>>45112905
I would agree with a mix of these two.

>>45112963
I don't think the mage cicle would like or allow this. But we could always ask nicely...

I'm seeing what looks to be a consensus that the books shouldn't be destroyed but access to them should be limited. So,

>Suggest Calloway take custody of the books
>Suggest Blackburn take custody of the books
>Something else? (write-in)

>>45113095
>Suggest Blackburn take custody of the books

>>45113095
>>Suggest Blackburn take custody of the books

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>>45113095
>Something else? (write-in)
Have Blackburn and Calloway coordinate this.

Blackburn for the security. Calloway for the expertise.

>>45113224
Not really possible.

Writing!

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“Dolah, destroying them now would be futile. Who knows how many members of the Circle have read and memorized their contents? All book-burning does is reinforce that the Church is anti-intellectual and denies us access to knowledge about our enemies if another one of these things show up.”

Dolah sighs in exasperation. “Yes. The big bad Church wants to keep the how-to manuals on demon enlistment out of the local lending library. I mean, all it does is tell magic-users that . .” she begins to flip through the pages of Diabolical Acts. “The best way to attract the eye of a Barbazu is to offer a restrained victim for its bloody use. The more innocent the victim the more enjoyable the prospect of cruelly torturing the target will be for the devil. Clearly I'm just resistant to new ways of thinking.” She looks back up at you.

You laugh and hold your hands up. “I get it. You're right. Right now anybody with the gold and a modicum of magical talent has access to this information. Let's give the books to Blackburn for safekeeping. That way if we need to know something we can take a gander at them.”

Dolah leans forward and clasps her hands together, elbows on the table. “Do you really trust Blackburn with access to henchmen from Hell?”

>Yes
>No
>Are we even sure they're actually from Hell?
>Something else? (write-in)

>>45113619
>>Are we even sure they're actually from Hell?

>>45113619
>Are we even sure they're actually from Hell?
>Yes
"Because Blackburn is pragmatic, and every single instance of demon-summoning has ultimately lead to the summoner's death and the unmaking of all that they worked for."

>>45113619
>Yes
"Because Blackburn is this city protector. These books make it unsafe so as the law on this colony he has the rightto keep unsafe material far from the public. And he would never endager anyone.

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>>45113665
>>45113648
Do you guys really wanna make the paladin fall? We are not a bard.

Writing!

“Yes. Because if there's one thing I know about Blackburn it is that the safety of Seaside is of the utmost importance to him. He's smart, cautious, cunning. And pragmatic.”

“Pragmatic enough to use a dubious asset when he thought it could be useful.” Dolah offers.

“And pragmatic enough to realize that allowing a demonic creature knowledge of our city endangers this colony and is therefore unreliable. Pragmatic enough to realize every single instance of demon summoning has ultimately lead to the summoner's death and the unmaking of all that they worked for.”

“And yet despite knowing that ourselves we're summoning one because . . .” Dolah trails off. You frown. She does have you there.

“Well, it's different for us –”

“said every practitioner of the dark arts ever.” Dolah interjects.

The two of you stare each other down in tense silence. You sigh out.

“Dolah, are we even sure they're actually from Hell?” you ask. It is a rather disconcerting idea. That there could actually be a realm filled with agony, torture and the souls of the damned. “The writer of this books makes that claim, but he also made the cover of his book look like the snarling face of a demon. It doesn't lend credence to the idea this man was or is sane.”

Dolah thinks for a bit. “Do you think it is The Great Will who grants us our powers Alan?” You nod your head yes. “Well, where Gabby's fists barely hurt that creature, my own weapons, armor and Calloway's enchantments granted us an advantage. Not to mention the aura of evil radiating off that creature was unlike anything I've sensed before. It made Gabby look like a devout nun by comparison. And even without all of that, something in my soul urged me to destroy it. It felt unnatural and unclean. Granted, before coming here I believed practitioners of magic like Eve and Quissonce were unnatural and moved by devilish forces. But, this experience has granted me some perspective. What we fought yesterday was [True] evil. Everything else has been a pale imitation. And if The Great Will is absolute good, then whatever is absolute evil holds the best claim of being classified as the anthropomorphic representation of Hell. Which is why I think it's really stupid that you and Quissonce want to summon one of these things, let alone the one in specific we sent back.”

The tense silence settles in again.

“Just, promise me this is it Alan. Okay? For you and Quissonce. I don't want . . .” Dolah trails off looking for her words. “I don't want this to lead anywhere unpleasant, that's all.”

>I promise
>I can't make a promise for Quissonce
>I don't promise

AND

>Anything in particular you would like to do after this? (write-in)

>>45114630
>I can't make a promise for Quissonce
>Look for Kyra and if she's noticed any disappearances lately.

>>45114630
>>I promise
First hint of trouble, we'll shut it down.

>>45114630
>I promise

>>45114630
>>Anything in particular you would like to do after this? (write-in)
get a drink with the rest of the team, plan out precautions for summoning?

>>45114630
>I promise
But...
>I can't make a promise for Quissonce

"You will need to talk to her about this. I can come along and support you if you want."

Writing!

Also

>Drinks with team, discuss summoning precautions and life stuff
>Look for Kyra, talk about potential disappearances

>>45114882
>>Drinks with team, discuss summoning precautions and life stuff
>>Look for Kyra, talk about potential disappearances
why not both?

>>45114882
>Look for Kyra, talk about potential disappearances
Sacrifices help to summon devils. Whoever summoned one probably kidnapped someone.

>>45114882
>Look for Kyra, talk about potential disappearances

>>45114882
>Look for Kyra, talk about potential disappearances

“I promise Dolah. Trust me, when Quissonce pitched the idea I was very reluctant. I don't want to ever have to do this again. But, I can't make a promise for her. You'll need to talk to her about this. I can come along and support you if you want.”

Dolah raises her hand. “That won't be necessary. I believe I can voice my concerns eloquently enough. I'll go do that now I suppose.” Dolah gets up from where she was sitting and picks up the Barbazu's glaive – the only evidence left to prove he was actually in this world. “I'll show this to her as well. It may help her process in ensuring our safety.” Dolah leaves her room and you show common courtesy by exiting as well.

As Dolah makes her way to The Circle, you find yourself heading to The Sword and Shield looking for your favorite thief. Now that you think about it you haven't seen Kyra in quite a long while. Was New Years the last time the two of you talked?

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>>45115665
Dropped my trip.

Anyway, you spot Kyra sitting in your usual spot chatting with Rowe. The two of them seem to be enjoying their conversation thoroughly. As they spot you their conversation quickly quiets and Kyra's face returns to a neutral state. Rowe smiles at you and the two of you share a kiss before you sit down next to her. Kyra rolls her eyes at the public display of affection.

“So, Kyra.” you begin. Kyra, who had been sliding down her seat, pretending to be melting, returns to her upright sitting position and looks at you intently.

“Yes.” she acknowledges curtly.

“Are you aware that a creature attacked Gabby and –”

“Yes.”

“Alright, so we think it's a demon –”

“Devil.”

“Yeah, devil. And this book that the summoner most likely read says the best way to get this particular demon's attention is through the offering of a victim. The more innocent the better. I was wonder . . .” you trail off as you see Kyra's eyes go quickly to shock and then to what looks like, you don't know, sullen disgust? It's weirdly expressive of her. She looks down at her flagon as if she can't manage to look up at you right now. Rowe picks up on it as well. “Kyra?” you ask concerned.

She takes some time to respond. “Disappearances?” You nod your head.

She takes even longer before she says the next sentence, finally managing to look into your eyes. “Remember the orc children we brought back?”

It takes you a few moments to register the implication. Rowe scoffs in disgust.

“How many?” she asks a moment later, simply.

“Only two before we realized it was kidnapping. They're watched constantly and under armed guard now." Kyra takes some time before trying to add something positive. "Good to know the motive, at least.”

You. . .

You think Dolah might be a little off on her view of what true evil is.

>Well what do you want to do now, Alan? (write-in)

>>45115726
>>Well what do you want to do now, Alan? (write-in)
Drinks with team, discuss summoning precautions and life stuff

>>45115726
Update Blackburn.

>>45115726
Any leads on the kidnapper or where the kids were taken?

Also, we've got two dogs now. Though not specially bred for tracking, they might be able to help.
Tell Blackburn, then get to tracking the scent trails of the missing kids.

Some ass human is sacrificing orc childrento summon demons because 'they're just orcs'? This guy is a pussy he should be killing humans.

Alright, informing Blackburn of the sitrep is easy and will be included.

>Gather the team, discuss summoning
>Try to track the scent trails of the orc kids

Either way, roll me 1d100 + 15.

Rolled 80 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>45115998
>Gather the team, discuss summoning

Rolled 67 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>45115998
>Gather the team, discuss summoning

Rolled 51 + 15 (1d100 + 15)

>>45115998
>Try to track the scent trails of the orc kids

>>45115998
>Try to track the scent trails of the orc kids

Writing!

“Alright. Kyra. Go inform Blackburn about exactly what's going on. Let him know that the kidnappings might be linked to the devil that attacked us and that there are some Circle books we're going to want him to safeguard.” Kyra nods her head. You turn to Rowe.

(You want me to take the dogs and see if I can track the scent trail of those kids.)

“I thought you weren't able to read my mind anymore?” She winks at you before getting up.

“How long ago did these kids disappear, Kyra?” Rowe asks as she downs the last of her beverage.

“Two weeks.” she answers curtly. Rowe grimaces.

(In a city? Yeah, this has a snowball's chance in . . . I'm not finishing that thought.) Rowe and Kyra exit after you tell them to come back when they've finished their tasks.

You grab Gabby first, who brings her puppies with her. That bookish wizard who gave you a hard time when you first tried to join the Circle attempts to bar Gabby's entrance. But she persuades him to make an exception. You interrupt the quite loud argument Dolah and Quissonce are having, much to Eve's dismay. You make your way back to the tavern with your pack of bitches. Also your female compatriots.

You set up at your usual table, Dolah awkwardly holding the demonic, er, devilish glaive. You quickly explain the situation and the new developments. With the knowledge of the fate of those children comes the unleashing of a grand argument.

“See Quissonce!” Dolah huffs. “Even if you wouldn't do anything nefarious the temptation is too great.”

Quissonce holds up a finger to Dolah before inquiring further. “Wait. Alan, you said two children?” You nod your head yes. “Woah, that does change things.” She puts her hands to her forehead. “The book specifically says that more than one sacrifice doesn't alter the chances of baiting a Barbazu. If this wizard only summoned one devil that we know of there's a chance that other kid is still alive. We could save that second kid. But we'd need to forego the safety shit and act now!” Quissonce seems quite agitated.

Dolah shakes her head. “No. If we aren't sure we can keep it secure we will end up doing much more harm than good.”

Quissonce laughs ruefully. “Are you serious? We could save this kid if we do this tonight. The longer we wait the more likely it is that he summons another Barbazu. And this time it might come for us in our sleep or an even more compromising situation. We're risking just as many lives by sitting on our asses, Dolah.”

Dolah stares down Quissonce. “You said you'd need time to ensure we summon the right one. What if we summon the wrong one?”

Quissonce points to the glaive. “We have its weapon. That's enough of a calling card.”

Dolah shakes her head. “Too risky.”

“I'm trying to save kids here, Dolah. I figure that would be something you could relate to!”

“By summoning a devil from Hell! A place to which the path is paved with –”

“Good intentions. Yeah yeah yeah Dolah, we've heard the fucking saying. Here's a better one. The only thing capable of stopping a bad wizard is a good wizard.”

“Good wizards don't consort with devils.” Dolah finishes. Dolah and Quissonce glare daggers at each other.

Gabby leans over to you and whispers in your ear. “There she goes, trying to make me jealous.”

>We need to proceed urgently
>We need to proceed cautiously
>Something else? (write-in)

>>45117276
>We need to proceed urgently
"Dolah if we can save someone's life we should do it. Trust in Quissonce to do this right and trust in the rest of us to help you put the thing down if it comes to that."

>>45117276
>>We need to proceed cautiously
>>Something else? (write-in)
"I never figured you to be the jealous type."
"Also, you want to wear some armor this time around?"

>>45117276
>We need to proceed urgently
"We should be cautious about making a decision, but once it's been made, we should act swiftly on it."

Writing!

>>45117276
>The only thing capable of stopping a bad wizard is a good wizard.

Damn you 3.pf

>>45117572
Be sure to have Calloway bless our weapons before we do this. Get Gabby some knuckledusters.

>>45117276
>We need to proceed cautiously

And a good wizard Quissonsse would also know that magic isn't something that can be rushed.

Let me finish. You do know that if we fail this attemp there will be more then one or two children dead right? We need to make it safe for us and for other people.

>>45117700
Stop predicting my posts.

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“I never figured you to be the jealous type.” you whisper back.

Gabby chuckles. “You'd be surprised. I can get pretty possessive.” She moves her hands up for you to see. “Check these out, Al.” You spot the tool on her hand and their little skull designs. “You've heard of brass knuckles? Well these here are silver knuckles. Dipped in holy water for good measure.” You nod your head in approval.

You are unfortunately forced to turn back to the tense argument and give your own opinion, since Gabby seems to not care and Eve is too enthralled watching. “I agree with Quissonce here, Dolah. If we can save someone's life we should do it. We've already decided to take the risk of summoning a devil, I don't see how waiting a month makes it much more scrupulous.”

Dolah sighs. “Fine. We summon a devil tonight. Where are we doing this?” You really wish Quissonce didn't look so smug right now.

>Calloway's Chapel, surrounded by holy water and with access to Calloway's blessings
>Inside Quissonce's mirror dimension, where it will be easiest to contain if things go wrong
>Somewhere else? (write-in)

>>45118159
>>Calloway's Chapel, surrounded by holy water and with access to Calloway's blessings

>>45118159
>Inside Quissonce's mirror dimension, where it will be easiest to contain if things go wrong
Also get a barrel of blessed holy water, too.
And silver chains, and some rags.

We're going to waterboard this fucker.

And having holy water on standby can only help otherwise.

>>45118159
>>45118305
This.

Writing!

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You decide to do this inside Quissonce's mirror world. It should provide you with a relatively out of the way space to do the summoning. If the worst comes to pass, there will be no bystanders in immediate danger.

You ask Dolah and Gabby to go get a barrel of holy water from the Chapel and rags if they can, along with some silver chains if at all possible. The two of them set off to aid your task while Eve volunteers to stay behind and wait for Kyra and Rowe. Quissonce and yourself head to the mirror on the fourth floor of the Circle and Quissonce casts the necessary spell to allow you both entry. Quissonce begins the lengthy process of setting up the circle she will trap the Barbazu inside. She says it will take at least three hours.

You exit and go downstairs, waiting for your compatriots to arrive. Kyra, Gabby, Eve and Dolah all show up with the gear you asked them to acquire in tow. Rowe can get in by herself, so you head upstairs with the rest of the gang and one by one you enter the mirror and the site of your summoning.

A few hours of waiting in boredom and Quissonce says it's prepared. It does look elaborate. Quissonce warns you all not do distrube the circle in the slightest. The rest of your team readies themselves. Once you're all in agreement, Quissonce begins the chant.

>Roll 1d100, best of 3. This is for how well the summoning goes

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>45119255

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>45119255

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>45119255

Writing!

Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>45119255

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After ten minutes of Quissonce chanting you finally feel a sense of dread fill your breast as you sense the magic pulsing in the binding circle.

Your team readies itself. And . . . nothing happens. Quissonce looks around and scratches her head.

“Crap.” She utters. Gabby is exasperated. Eve is disappointed. Dolah looks rather relieved. “Well, I guess that's that then. If it resisted my call, I'll need to time to find a way to make the draw stronger.”

Before you can comment, suddenly a trussed up man sails through the mirror's entryway. He lands with an “oof” that is muffled by his gag. As all of you stare at him in confusion, Rowe steps through the mirror.

“Hello everybody. Who wants to meet our new friend, Gunther?” Rowe jovially begins. Eve raises her hand. “Gunther here is a guardsman who decided it was alright to take a mysterious stranger's money in exchange for delivering him innocent orc kiddies. No questions asked. I've worked him over and I'm certain he's neither our summoner nor does he know who the summoner is. The trail on the children goes cold after him. The summoner was probably much smarter than this rube. And that is Gunther's story.”

The rest of you stand there watching Rowe, still confused.

“Why did you bring him here?” Quissonce asks.

“I told him he was helping us one way or the other. He hasn't given me information on the summoner or the kids, so I figure. . .” Rowe shrugs. “I wouldn't say he's innocent. But don't sacrifices make this work better?” Rowe clicks her tongue. Gunther screams into his gag.

Dolah and Quissonce share a look.

"We can't do that." Dolah states simply.

"It's him or the kid he sold down the river. Either way, someone's getting tortured to death by a devil." Quissonce responds.

"Betsy said he was to be executed anyway." Rowe offers.

Well, this is a doozy.

>Offer this guy up as a victim
>No, that's morally repugnant, no matter his crimes
>Something else? (write-in)

>>45120061
>>No, that's morally repugnant, no matter his crimes

>>45120061
>>Something else? (write-in)
Just because I'm still curious, does Gabby consider this ok or morally iffy?

>>45120061
>>Offer this guy up as a victim

>>45120061
>other
Eh, the guy has already been tried and sentenced.
We just put him in the barrel of holy water.

The devil doesn't have to be gold that his victim isn't covered in blessed water.

Then we jump the devil and water board him.

Writing!

Douse Gunther in holy water? Y/N

>>45120489
>Y

>>45120489
Y

>>45120489
y

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“Look, maybe we can pull the wool over this thing's eyes. What if we cover him in holy water first and then offer him up as a victim. Gunther here doesn't get tortured and we get our devil.”

“Let's just keep pushing the envelope.” Dolah says sarcastically. “Fine. Let's just get this over with.” Gabby goes and pries open the lid of the holy water barrel and pours it over him. He is absolutely drenched in the stuff. Gabby picks him up and gingerly lays him in the circle that Quissonce has drawn, barely managing to avoid disturbing the diagram.

Quissonce breathes out. She begins the chant once more. Almost instantly, to the surprise of all of you, the sense of dread and the burst of magic returns once more and you are taken back by the sudden appearance of a barbazu, accompanied by the smell of rotten eggs. The creature is unarmed. It lunges for Gunther, who screams as it grabs hold of him.

You see the smoke rising from the barbazu's hands before it begins screaming itself, louder than Gunther. It reels back from his prone form, dropping him. It clutches its burnt hands before it notices all of you standing around it. It grits its teeth and breathes heavily.

“Triiiiiicks.” It seethes at you, the human tongue spoken in an eerily disturbing bass tone. The devil raises its foot and stomps once on Gunther's neck, ending his life and his screaming in one motion.

Dolah gasps and the rest of you stare in shock. Smoke trails from the bottom of the devil's foot. A deep, evil laugh emanates from the bearded monstrosity as it shakes in mirth. “Waaas Iiii not supposed to dooo that.”

Gabby lunges forward. Quissonce stops her before she makes it to the circle.

“If you disturb the binding at this point by passing through the diagram you free it. It can teleport anywhere it wants to.” She lectures.

“Whaaat deeeeal dooo you wiiish to make?” It asks you all, stalking the confines of its magical prison like a caged tiger.

“We want to know who summoned you previously, to attack us.” Quissonce states. As it looks like the barbazu is about to respond, Quissonce continues to speak. “And don't act like you're not the same one. Your kind wouldn't be caught dead without your glaive unless you lost it.” Quissonce holds up the weapon. You watch the devil's eyes grow bigger before it growls low in its throat. “If you want this back, you have to tell us the name of the person who ordered you to kill us.”

It looks between you malevolently. Although, when it sees Dolah, you swear you see a hint of fear. “Triiicks. Poiiiiisoned ooooofferings. Moooooore.” It snaps at you afterwards, the tendrils of its beard lashing out in multiple directions as if each strand was sentient.

Seems this devil thinks the deal isn't sweet enough for it to comply.

>Offer something more than the glaive? (write-in)
>No, that's the deal
>Something else? (write-in)

>>45121504
>>No, that's the deal

>>45121504
>No, that's the deal
Though we could create a secondary binding circle outside of the first, activate that, break the inner circle, wrestle the devil with the silver chains, and then water board it, as well as subjecting it to the entirety of the Inquisitor's Heretic Interrogation Handbook.

>>45121504
>Offer something more than the glaive? (write-in)
Not to toss Holy Water in his face every couple of minutes? That's the deal bud. Take it or take it later after getting burned in the face.

>>45121631
>We get in a splash fight with a devil.
Wut

>>45121504
>Something else?
>create a secondary binding circle outside of the first, activate that, break the inner circle, wrestle the devil with the silver chains, and then water board it

Writing!

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“Wait one moment. Quissonce, can you put up a second binding circle around all of us now that you've managed to summon this thing?”

Quissonce thinks about it for a moment. “I suppose I could, as long as I make sure to attach a dimensional anchor. Although it traps us in with the barbazu.”

Gabby laughs and starts to dunk her fists into the water remaining in the barrel. “Other way round there, elf!”

You take this as your chance to stare into the eyes of your failed assassin. He looks from you, to the gleeful Gabby to Dolah already unslinging her lucerne hammer. Oh yeah. If that was fear before. This is terror you see in his face.

“So you want to take the first deal or do we need to 'negotiate' a bit more here.”

The devil shakes its head from side to side. “Nooooooooooo. Chaaaaaant Haaaaavelove iiiiis hiiiis name.”

Quissonce looks pensive. “Hmmmm. Don't think I've heard that name before. Guess he hasn't written anything I've read. Well finding him should be easy.” Quissonce picks up the glaive and prepares to approach the circle.

“Oh fuck!” Eve utters. You all look at her, to see her staring out the mirror entryway into Quissonce's extra-dimensional room. You follow her gaze to see it resting upon an older looking wizard who appears to be staring into the mirror all of you are inside. His eyes are entirely white, with no pupils. You finally notice the revolver in his hand.

Quissonce gasps. She rushes to where she's bound the devil and attempts to hand the glaive to the barbazu. “Here, take the weapon. Deal is accepted. Contract complete!”

The barbazu merely grins menacingly at her. “Nooooooooo.”

The wizard raises the gun and fire. The mirror shatters.

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You guess you're lucky you aren't dead. There's no reason to believe that shouldn't have killed you. You don't know the rules to being inside an extra-dimensional space when it is destroyed. You all could have blinked out of existence just then.

Instead, you're dumped into the hallway feeling like your ass, your stomach, your head and your lungs all switched place multiple times, rapidly.

You feel like you're going to vomit everything you've eaten in the past year and the rest of your companions who have hit the ground seem ready to do the same. As you struggle with getting your feet under you, you notice the barbazu has been dumped outside the mirror too. It cackles even as it suffers the same nauseating effect you just have.

There is also a deranged wizard gunman in this small cramped space and . . .yep, that's a grizzly bear. And it is already attempting to maul Gabby.

Fuck.

>Go for the wizard
>Attack the bear
>Don't let that barbazu teleport away

>>45122724
>Don't let that barbazu teleport away

>>45122724
>Don't let that barbazu teleport away
Gabby vs Bear. I'll bet on Gabby any day.

>>45122724
>>Attack the bear

>>45122724
>Don't let that barbazu teleport away
Holy water gag!
And silver chains!

>>45122724
>Caster
Eve
Quissonce

>Bear
Rowe
Gabby

>Devil
Alan
Dolah.

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>>45122905
Kyra.jpeg

>>45122959
>>45122905
Christ I can't believe I forgot. Have her attack the caster too. Get martial up in his face.

>>45122999
Or in his back. You know what i mean.

Alright, roll me 2d100.

Also,

>Stab the Barbazu
>Grapple the Barbazu

Rolled 44, 78 = 122 (2d100)

>>45123108
>Stab the Barbazu

Rolled 53, 15 = 68 (2d100)

>>45123108
Stab and try to pin him to a wall.

Rolled 42, 36 = 78 (2d100)

>>45123108
>Grapple the Barbazu
The Power of the Great Will compels you!

Alright, writing!

As the wizard prepares to fire again, Kyra quickly chucks a throwing dagger into his wrist. He makes a pained sound and misses his shot. Quissonce and Eve, unable to get their bearings in time to cast spells simply rush him and grab ahold of him. Suddenly, he utters a word, disappearing with both your casters in tow.

Rowe grabs her bow from where it fell from her hands in the forced evacuation of the mirrorverse. She hoarsely whispers “maelstrom, scourge” and you see her bow crackle with lightning and seethe with what appears to be some sort of green, acidic pulse. She nocks an arrow from where she's lying on the ground and looses into the bear as it swipes at Gabby. It growls but does not relent. Gabby, for someone disoriented and being mauled by a bear is doing rather OK. Guess she's used to having strong hairy beasts atop her.

You leave behind the bear wrestling and your sexual innuendo to skewer that devil. You stumble to your feet, picking up your saber, still coated in holy water and rush at the barbazu, swinging as you approach. At the last moment you watch it poof and see it gathering its bearings dozens of feet down the hallway.

“THE FUCK!” you hear a familiar, male, orcish voice shout. Dolah gets up and rushes down the hallway after the monster.

You prepare to chase the thing down, urging your feet to move as fast as possible despite how the world seems to sway and spin. God, it's like you're drunk. You quickly cast Expeditious Retreat on yourself to help close the distance, quickly outpacing Dolah. Still, if it is able to teleport again, who knows where it will go?

>Shout to Ed to stop the thing
>Shout to Ed to get out of the way

AND

>Tackle the Barbazu
>Don't tackle the Barbazu

>>45123813
>>Shout to Ed to get out of the way

>Tackle the Barbazu

>>45123813
>Shout to Ed to get out of the way
>Tackle the Barbazu

>>45123813
>>Shout to Ed to stop the thing
>>Tackle the Barbazu

Maybe he has some spell. Or maybe he'll use those muscles of his.

>>45123813
>Shout to Ed to stop the thing

>Tackle the Barbazu

Alright, writing!

Roll me 1d100 + 16

Rolled 35 + 16 (1d100 + 16)

>>45124413

Rolled 40 + 16 (1d100 + 16)

>>45124413

Rolled 51 + 16 (1d100 + 16)

>>45124413
Lucky fucking Devil

Rolled 60 + 16 (1d100 + 16)

>>45124413
Tonight's just not our night.

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>>45124462
>>45124517
>>45124562

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This thing teleports again and who knows what mischief or wanton destruction it can get up to. You bolt after it as fast as your magically empowered super legs can take you.

“Ed, you need to stop that thing!” you shout at him.

“Fuck, shit!” he shouts back. He drops the book he was holding and lunges for the devil. He manages to grab a hold of it as you practically jump at the barbazu's back. As you manage to touch the bearded monster it teleports. Bringing you along with it.

You're falling. You fall past the top of the eighth floor of the Circle. The barbazu laughs to himself. You're all going to die together, falling. You lose your grip on your saber and watch it drift from you as you enter freefall.

You're too far away from the walls of the tower to slow your descent and even if you could it's still too long a drop for you to survive. You think maybe you can glide yourself out of this situation before Muffin reminds you that's stupid and not going to work. At least open up the container so your trusty familiar can live. Oh shit, you just got Ed killed too, didn't you. You look over to him, expecting him to be yelling at the top of his lungs.

Ed, instead of screaming, however, utters an incantation in Draconic that you think roughly translates to 'falling with style'.

Suddenly the three of you start to fall at a much slower pace, your saber unfortunately still hurtling towards the ground. The devil's laugh and smile quickly changes to a frown.

Oh god, he's going to teleport again isn't he?

>Let go, fuck this bullshit
>Try to beat him up while falling

>>45125101
>Try to beat him up while falling

>>45125101
>Try to beat him up while falling
It worked for Captain Titus.

>>45125101
>>Try to beat him up while falling

>>45125101
>Try to beat him up while falling
In for a penny...

I'd usually hold the vote for longer, but we know which one you're doing.

Roll me 2d100, best of 3.

>>45125101
>Try to beat him up while falling
I'm trying to remember, but didn't some holy water get spilled into our magic quiver?
Is it still in there?

Rolled 98, 91 = 189 (2d100)

>>45125326
in for a pound.

Rolled 51, 74 = 125 (2d100)

>>45125326

>>45125366
More like that devil is in for a pounding.

Rolled 30, 54 = 84 (2d100)

>>45125326

Writing!

>>45125376
Gabby would be proud.

In for a penny, in for a pound. You grab a hold of the devil's horn and pull either him to you or you to him. You're not sure which. You proceed to use your other hand to punch him in his face and his gut. When that seems to only annoy him, you stick your hand in your quiver and imagine that holy water that Father Calloway poured into it. Sure enough, you find your hand grow moist inside your quiver. You pull it out and punch the devil twice more in the face, watching his skin burn. He roars and swipes at you with his claws. You catch one by readjusting the hand that was holding his horn and clamp down on it. The other claw you jerk your head to avoid as it aims for your neck.

His first two attacks failed, the barbazu decides to strike you with a weapon you weren't expecting. His beard. The tendrils lash at you like dozens of tiny serpents. You repress your initial instincts to pull away to avoid them. That would involve letting go of this asshole. Instead you strike forward with your holy water enriched hand and grasp all of them at once, tightly. The steam that rises from between your hand and his beard hairs screams, like each follicle is in massive amounts of pain. Looking at his surprised face. wracked with torture and you think that is an accurate assessment. Not the textbook definition of literally having someone by the short and curly's, but it's close. And you're not done yet.

You quickly wrap his beard around your hand and pull. With one tough yank you rip out a large chunk of his beard. He looks almost as humiliated as he is in excruciating pain. You throw the shriveling strands into the air.

“Not getting those back either, asshole.” You tell him before punching him once more in the jaw, stunning him, a burned imprint of your fist left on his face. His eyes spin in his head.

You let go and watch the barbazu's descent increase rapidly. He goes splat. You look at Ed, who shifted his grip and position to be holding onto you rather than the hell spawn. He answers you promptly.

“Feather Fall only affects you if you remain in contact with either the caster or someone the caster is touching.” As the two of you gently drift to the earth, you spot the barbazu's corpse dissolving. You also notice your broken saber a couple feet away.

You pick up the broken pieces of your saber and throw them in your backpack. You and Ed make your way back up to the fourth floor.

“Wow, you do that all the time?” Ed asks, amped from his first real fight.

“Well, that's the first time I've fought something while falling. But, yeah. We do that a lot.”

You meet Dolah on the way up, who is glad to hear you killed the really evil thing.

As you make it back onto the fourth floor, you see all your companions have gathered. Gabby is on the verge of tears and Eve is practically dancing while she spins a revolver around her finger, much to Quissonce's chagrin.

“I swear, I almost had it tamed!” Gabby laments, as she sits down, back against the wall of the hallway.

“It was a magically summoned bear, Gabby. It was going to disappear. There was no way to keep it here.” Rowe consoles. Kyra stands to the side, shaking her head.

“Hell yeah, sickest mage duel of all time.” Eve cheers.

“I don't believe you can call it a mage duel when we simply grappled on the floor for the gun until it accidentally went off in his face. That's more of a wrestling match. With a loaded gun.” Quissonce brings up.

“Eh, we still won.” Eve shrugs.

Dolah makes her way over to the annoyed Quissonce and the two of them look at each other.

Dolah coughs. “We're done summoning devils?”

Quissonce laughs. “We're done summoning devils.”

>End of Thread
I will most likely run this next Friday. https://twitter.com/TrickQM

>>45126556
Thanks for running