Liliana stared up at the giants as she exclaimed "I am Liliana, starter of the Grand Quest."
Kanae the Oni grimaced as she glared down at the Demi "What is the meaning of this? The Dezol are not welcome here. We are an Imperial faction!" she exclaimed while reaching back for her sword.
When suddenly a booming voice made each Ogre flinch back as an aura of shadows momentarily engulfed them "Keep calm, we are not here for hostilities." exclaimed Birse as he reined in his aura. Having caught all their attention he continued to speak "We are here to invite the Ogre races to the Chaoz Alliance and to ask you to act as a bridge between us and the Elven Empire. We seek global union, not war."
"You do not?" asked Nuk the Stone Giant with a raised mossy brow "You would make us believe that Demons and Devils wish for peace? You think us foolish enough to even consider allying with a race that since returning from their exile have done nothing else but conquer?"
"Unfair exile…" hissed Lucifer from the side.
"Hmph, unfair it may have been we had nothing to do with that." Now spoke Hefton the Cyclopes "You have brought your vengeance upon the Dwarven race, you have taken over what remains of the Human dominion and the Beastkin are all but gone. Haven't you had enough?"
Birse sighed quietly "The Dezol do not seek war with the Empire, it is the Empire that has been pressuring the Dezol by sea."
"Oh? Is that so? Then let me ask you this, why was the Grand Quest started?" asked Norm the young Hill Giant with an unimpressed sneer.
Birse hid his smirk "I just gave you the reason why. The Grand Quest was started because the Empire would not stop pressuring the Dezol. The inhabitants of Ruk feared invasion if the Dezol moved on with their plans to take over Barik, to retake Tempres. You would say the Empire would not have invaded a defenceless country?"
Before any of the other Ogres could respond and before Birse could answer his own question Nuk spoke, his booming voice cutting off the others "They would have, not only that but they would have followed up by destroying the remaining Dezol forces on Barik after they were done with fighting the Esfeltian Alliance along with what remained of the Alliance itself."
Nuk grinned as he saw his companion's baffled expressions, he turned to face Birse "I have lived through each war that has plagued this world, Human. I know what the Elves are capable of. My people may fear the Empire but I will always speak my mind." He rose to stand straight up "It appears to be a very difficult task to scare a Stone Giant!" he exclaimed before chuckling, the ground shaking below him as he did.
Birse was surprised but continued on nonetheless "As you admit, who is to say the Empire would not have invaded Hasharr afterwards? Who would stop them? Who could?" he glanced around reading their expressions like open books, he had them now…the flow of the conversation was under his control "That is why the Dezol started the Grand Quest, as insurance but…"
He stopped briefly for effect ("Giving Kyle a run for his money here.") he thought in amusement before continuing "But the Dezol were betrayed, the Quest was never properly started."
"What do you mean by that? The Heroes were summoned were they not? How else do you stand here?" asked the Cyclopes Mage, Gorish.
"The Heroes were summoned but the Quest was never given an objective." answered Birse as he took another step forward "Hero of the previous Grand Quest, Scythe the hero of Death who had remained after their Quest's failure…He had struck an accord to assist the Dezol with a new Quest, he did not follow up. Betraying Liliana during the sensitive act of starting the Quest, Scythe stole the Artefact of the Grand Quest and escaped to another realm."
Kanae grimaced as she glared down at Liliana "So the Artefact is gone, the Quest is null and void. So what? Why should we care? What has this anything to do with this talk?"
"The Quest still goes on." said Liliana as she flew up to hover where everyone could see her.
"How is that possible? Without an objective why is the question still active?!" exclaimed Norm.
Liliana raised her right hand forward as a light shone out of her palm "Quest log" she chanted and for everyone watching a window appeared.
Grand Quest Log
Quest Starter: {Demi} Liliana
[Prophecy] Part 1:
The drums of war play, their sound echoing throughout the realms and the veil.
A dark evil scratches away at its cage, The Void is waiting for The Trickster to free it, so it may unleash its rage.
The Trickster betrays and plots, amassing the undead for its army each day.
The Demon of Light travels the realms alone, choosing warriors for The Trickster's throne.
The Fake God bides its time, waiting for The Trickster's sign.
[Prophecy] Part 2:
Three trials will take place, for each Chosen to challenge and face.
The first trial is one of courage, to own one's fear is how to flourish.
The second trial is one of perception, to know one's self is required so they may defeat temptation.
The third trial is one of alignment, unite Chaoz they must and prepare for the war that is sure to test their temperament.
Fail most will until only one stands, the True Hero they are and the only one that can stop The Trickster's plans.
Choose must this Hero, the God that will aid them with this time of conflict.
Rewarded this Hero will be, if reality remains whole a change they may then bring.
[Chosen of Light]
Zeeke
Status: Deceased
[Chosen of Reign]
Reyna
Status: Failed the first trial
[Chosen of Dagger]
SlyOkami
Status: Failed the second trial
[Chosen of Nature]
Taliarissa
Status: Failed the second trial
[Chosen of Blood]
Sharkmeatguy
Status: Failed the first trial
[Dark Chosen of Frost and Void]
Kyllix
Status: ???
The Ogre's eyes widened, some faces paled but Nuk growled angrily as they all read through the window. "This prophecy…" growled Nuk "So…this is what it takes to make Devils and Demons cower in their boots." his voice seemed changed as power was imbued into it.
"Are…Are we even…allowed to see this?!" exclaimed Gorish as he read the prophecy over and over, adding each word to memory as if this was some ancient tome of great knowledge.
"The system cannot be faked, we all know this." Continued Liliana as she slowly hovered back down to the ground "This Prophecy…The Trickster, Scythe is gathering an army to invade Chaoz. He is joined by three other powerful beings we have little to no knowledge of, The Demon of Light and the Fake God we know nothing about but…The Void is true to it's name."
Birse stepped in at that moment to speak "So grand lords of the Ogre races, will you cower in fear and await your destruction by the hand of Undead and other evil monstrosities or will you join us and fight for the survival of all Chaoz?"
The Ogre lords glanced at each other in dismay, the proof they were given was indisputable and at the same time horrible. Then suddenly the ground quaked as Nuk took a step forward, a single step, not even a full one was all he needed to stand in front of the mixed races making up the Chaoz Alliance.
Nuk turned around to face his fellow Ogre lords "Neighbours, we face the apocalypse. The Stone Giants stand with the rest of Chaoz. What say you?"
Gorish straightened himself and took a step forward "The Sorcery and Craft guild has always stood for progress, there can be no progress if there is nobody living. We stand with you."
Kanae glanced back at the mounted knights, slowly she turned around to face her warriors as she unsheathed her sword "We Oni are guardians of this land, the things we have done to take it from the oppressive Beastkin are…" she turned back and took a step forward "The Oni stand with the Alliance of Chaoz." Which was followed by a loud cheer from the mounted Oni warriors.
Hefton grimaced as he also took a step forward "It seems we are left with little choice, the Cyclopes also stand with the Chaoz Alliance and we shall take the lead of communicating between you and the Elven Empire."
Silence briefly fell as everyone turned to stare at the young Hill Giant, Norm was frozen solid with a paper white pale expression as he stared at the prophecy. Until Nuk coughed and slapped him on the back of his head "Ugh! Oh…Uh…The Hill Giants too! Uhm…Stand with you!"
Rej relaxed there and then and whispered to Birse "Well…that went better than expected!" he waited for a humorous reply but when none came he turned to see Birse wide eyed with concern "Is something wrong?" Rej asked him.
Birse briefly glanced at him "Very." then turned to look back at the rest of his guild, each wearing confusion and or concern, each having seen the same notification he returned to stare at.
Co-Founder SlyOkami has left the guild.
Northern Ruk.
Fortress of Underkeep.
7 hours later, morning.
Tania Frei Rain, wife to Satan's son and Devil of Wrath, Val Agni Abysswalker. Mother to Sistine Agni Frei Abysswalker. Even among the Fae -who are known for their beauty- her appearance was only matched by the Godly such as Liliana. She sat over her and her husband's bed brushing her long jade green hair, listening to the magical whispers of three shadows that stood in the room with her.
The shadows were kneeling before her, one so short it must have been Dwarven.
"The disappearances started yesterday Madam." Reported one shadow "Several of our comrades have gone unseen and unheard of. "
"Only two things bind the disappearances together." Continued another "Before each disappearance, another of our comrades would interact with the subject and lure them away before both would disappear."
The shorter shadow spoke now "Also, eyes that saw the interaction spoke of a sudden and unexplainable fear. Like a powerful and invisible aura had engulfed them."
Tania suddenly shattered the brush in her hand as a cold smile washed over her face, her eyes open and glaring coldly down at the shadows "And this all started…after the disappearance of my sister and her loyals?"
The shadows nodded quietly.
"And what…had they been out to do exactly?" she asked with a tone that was as gentle as it was cold.
The bravest of the three shadows answered "Misses Lea had…gathered her loyals to attempt an assassination…"
Tania's eyes widened "Who's assassination?"
"Mine" whispered a hoarse voice in response.
Tania calmly glanced to the side and there he stood, a tall pale Devil with dark green eyes sparking with energy. A thin mist oozed around him, green and sickly it tendrilled around him like many serpents. "And who might you be?" she asked not recognising him. The shadows had also risen to stand, on guard but dared not move closer as they found themselves paralyzed by fear.
The Devil's lips curved up into a wide thin grin "Your reaper." he whispered then suddenly raised his right hand forward and a mass of green mist rushed out of his palm engulfing the entire room within moments "Deamon Make".
The sound of cracking bone and tearing flesh filled the room for a few moments before suddenly the mist dissipated. Tania glanced to her side in horror to find all three of her shadowy followers had changed, their skin now a Demon-like white carapace, their eyes sparking with wicked green energy and leathery wings then a tail. Even the Dwarf had changed to look exactly like the other two, the cracking of bone was his extreme change in height.
She turned to face the Devil, when suddenly it hit her "You…Impossible…Zeokul?" her eyes widened and face paled as Sly's grin expanded revealing his black fangs.
"Strange, it seems you have resisted my spell." Sly mused with a raised brow as each of the three new Deamons appeared in a burst of shadows before him, suddenly small rifts tore open behind each and they were pulled in before each rift shook and dissipated.
"W-what have you…become?" she asked with wide eyes, stepping away from the Devil as an aura of fear pressed on her.
Sly chuckled, a choked sound "I won't waste my time explaining that to you, you don't have long remaining anyway." he said with a sneer.
Tania took another step back, bumping into the wall behind her "No…you don't understand…this is…this…it's a misunderstanding!"
Sly snorted, amused by her pointless words. He already knew everything, how she led the Fae rebels from the shadows, how she controlled the Dwarven rebels under a fake identity. Using her title as Val's wife so her movements remain undetected. Sly chuckled at the irony of it all.
"W-we can join arms!" she suddenly exclaimed pulling Sly out of his thoughts.
"Join arms?" he asked amused by the concept, it was true that if she helped him willingly it would only make his goal that much easier.
"Y-yes! You see how the other Devils treat you! They see you as a failure! A rotten apple in their midst!" with each phrase she stepped closer, her expression pleading "Join us! Help us bring change to this rotten king-" she ended her words there as the glint of a blade shone in her right hand.
Tania lunged at Sly as he stood there unmoving, her dagger digging deep into his chest. No blood splattered out of the wound, no reaction came from Sly as his eyes set on the Fae. He simply stood there smiling at her, as she stared at him baffled.
"Well…it seems you've made your choice." said Sly as his smile faltered, faster than Tania could react to, Sly's right hand suddenly lunged up followed by the sound of tearing flesh and cracking bone. Sly's arm had gone through her chest, opening a gaping hole through her heart.
Tania stared at him horrified, her hand faltering off her dagger as Sly pulled his bloody hand out of her chest. She held onto him, struggling to stay standing as she made choking sounds.
"I wonder." said Sly as he grabbed her by the neck and raised his free hand up to her face "Deamon Make."
Then and there a knock suddenly came at the door "Mother are you alright? I heard…something." asked a worried Sistine from outside.
Sly sighed as Tania began to change in front of him, he let go of her and stepped back ("This could be problematic.").
"Mother…I'm coming in." the door opened before Sly could think up of anything, revealing a worried Sistine who's expression quickly changed to horror. She watched as her mother changed, her skin cracking and expanding, her eyes filling with green energy, her beautiful emerald hair turning white and sickly.
You have created an [Arch Deamon] minion!
This creatures name was once (Tania Frei Rain).
Do you wish to rename this minion?
Sly quickly closed the window ignoring it entirely, returning his attention to Sistine who had noticed him. She stepped back, pale and eyes wide "What…No…Mother…N-no…" yellow lines of mana began to form over her skin, her eyes shone a bright gold as sparks of golden energy surged around her.
Sly recognized the signs and quickly stored his new minion into a pocket dimension, the rift opened and sucked in Tania just as quickly as it closed back up. Sly turned to Sistine as miasma oozed out of her body, moving to envelop her.
He glanced around the room, thinking fast he opened his wings wide and surged through the window. Glass rained behind him as he flew up and away from the city's wall, it was morning outside but inside the massive cave city's lights were still dim. That is until the wall exploded with a blinding golden light that filled the cavern.
"Nooooooooooo!" screamed out a warped voice as the light dissipated revealing a large crated in the wall, several corridors and rooms visible as if a large hole had been cut out of a building. In the very middle a mass of miasma hovered, surging with golden energy.
"You…" the miasma suddenly dissipated revealing the newly ascended Devil. Sistine hovered in place as her leathery golden wings spanned wide behind her, covered by a dazzling blue light. Her silver eye had turned golden and shone brightly, her emerald eye was oozing out a greenish flame. She glared dangerously at Sly.
Sly raised his right hand forward "Wait I can expl"
He wasn't allowed to finish his sentence as Sistine's entire body was enveloped in a golden flame that suddenly rushed up at him before exploding. The cavern's air burned volcanic as the fire spread further and further before suddenly a dark green mist broke through dissipating the flame.
The Dark mist quickly shrunk, as if being sucked in before it completely dissipated revealing the two Devils facing each other again. Only this time the victor was plain for all to see.
"Let me go!" shouted Sistine as she fought against the dark green aura that restricted her, solidified aura that was forming out of Sly's outstretched arms.
Sly sighed and waved his arms to the side, willing his aura to move and slam Sistine to the other wall. She groaned in pain as the air got crushed out of her lungs. "Maybe now I have caught your attention." Said Sly as he hovered closer.
"You don't have to listen to me, but you will listen to her." Said Sly as he stopped in front of her, meeting her cold glare as a rift opened to his side. Tania, his Arch Deamon flew out of the rift and moved to kneel even though there was no ground below them.
Sistine turned to stare at her "Mother…" tears formed and fell as she stared, speechless and confused.
"Tell her, maybe the truth will open her eyes." Said Sly coldly, barely focusing to hold the Devil at bay.
The Arch Deamon stood up and spoke, it's voice unchanged causing Sistine no small amount of heartache "What do you wish me to tell her, Master?"
"Who were you to the Sunrise rebels? Why did you marry into Satan's family? What is she to you?" asked Sly, his expression annoyed.
Tania turned to face Sistine, her face blank and emotionless, her tone monotone and empty as she spoke "I was leader of the Sunrise rebellion, through several fake names and identities I lead each cell from the shadows. I married into the Agni family for the title, the power and to cover for my movements."
"Mother…what are you saying?!" asked Sistine as she lay in tears, the power gone from her voice as she pleaded "Stop this…please…"
The Arch Deamon glanced up at Sly questioningly "Continue. Who is she, your daughter, to you?" he simply said and she turned back to face Sistine.
Tania's expression remained blank, her tone emotionless as she answered his question unable to lie "An abomination, a mistake."
At that moment Sly's form blinked with movement as he spun around with his leg engulfed in aura and kicked Tania in the chest, sending her spiralling down into river causing a massive splash followed by a ground shattering quake. He straightened himself and spat down at her, his expression one of disgust.
He turned to face a baffled Sistine "So, now you know too." She did not respond as she stared at empty space, her eyes streaming tears and unfocused. He pulled her away from the wall and slowly hovered both of them down, landing nearby the river he watched as the Arch Deamon wonkily flew to his side.
Sly immediately put it way, willing a rift open ahead of it's flight path and storing it. He couldn't stand to see that being's face, he had decided it would be on the front lines. He turned back to Sistine as he pulled back his aura, letting her fall to her knees still in shock.
He sighed and glanced back to see several Demon guards rushing around the city, a whole platoon was heading their way. He grimaced and turned to walk away, opening a rift in front of himself when suddenly a hand grabbed hold of his shoulder.
"Where are you going now?" Sistine asked, her head lowered as she trembled to even stand "What are you going to do?" her voice choked as she spoke, forcing it out.
Sly pondered on her question as he removed the dagger that was still embedded inside his heart, he had just remembered it was there and the wound quickly closed on it's own. "Where? Looking for what remains of Sunrise, I will turn each and every one of them." he answered honestly without looking back.
"You're raising an army…" said Sistine, less as a question and more as a statement "Why?"
"Halt!" shouted the Demon guards as they approached them, suddenly stopping in their tracks as their eyes went wide with fear. They had stepped into Sly's range of effect.
Sistine glanced at them briefly before turning to glare up at Sly "Why are you raising an army?"
Sly snorted "Aren't you taking this a bit too-" he had turned around only to meet a cold glare full of hatred "Ah…"
"Answer the damn question." She snapped at him.
Sly's grin faltered as he stared down at her coldly "Do you not see what I am? You think the Empire would ally with an Undead? I left my guild, I am leaving the Dezol. Officially I can no longer assist either, else diplomacy with the Elves will be fruitless."
Sistine raised her free arm and wiped the tears from her face "So you're building up your own army, to do what? Join the fight once it begins? When nobody can question your existence then?"
He sighed in exasperation "You're wasting my time, I'm leaving." he moved to step into the rift when suddenly Sistine appeared blocking his way with arms open wide, her eyes shaking with anger.
"The least…you could do…" she mumbled quietly before looking up to glare at him "Tell me, it is the least you could do!"
Sly growled under his breath, growing more annoyed by the second "Why should I tell you? I could simply kill you where you stand and walk away, hell I could turn you into the same creature I turned your unloving mother into. Take your damn pick."
Sistine continued to glare up at him, unaffected by his threat "You aren't capable of that, you would already have done so if you could."
Miasma, Dread and Aura all converged around Sly as his eyes widened with rage "You do not know what I am capable of. Look at me, I'm a dying monster! How could you understand!?" he clenched his fists as the ground quaked beneath the pressure he was creating "Ever since…I came here…No…"
Sly's aura blasted outwards and Sistine was forced back onto her ass "From the very start I've been fighting a war on each flank, I've been betrayed, I've been used, I've been looked down upon. I never realised until it was too late, the dream I fought to defend…It wasn't this cruel world."
The stone beneath them cracked as rocks began to float up all around him "All I ever wanted…I already had. To smile, to laugh and joke with my friends. I did not realise until I lost it. I did not realise until I became…this." He glared down at Sistine as she stared up at him in horror "So don't you dare tell me what I am capable of."
Sly waved his right arm forward and a blast of dark green aura threw Sistine to the side, she landed several feet away. He stepped forward, his face almost touching the open rift "I have nothing left to lose."
Sly wanted to step into the rift, to leave it all behind him but somewhere inside he felt an emptiness. He didn't know why, he didn't know what compelled him to but…He told her, he told her everything before stepping into the rift.
Sistine watched as she rose from the floor, the rift closing behind him and the pressure suddenly dissipating with, letting all the rocks that had lost gravity to rain back to the ground. She lay there sitting as Demon guards rushed around her, she blocked out their voices, ignored their presence entirely as tears began to fall yet again.
"Fool…"
Central Ruk
Grand Fae City of Orion
A massive rift opened at the city's gate, very little attention was given to this phenomenon as it was commonplace around these parts. Most Devils had this capability after all.
Out of it first stepped out the Devil that had opened the rift, Asmodeus. Followingly closely behind him was the Chariot and each Griffin riding Magek that had flown to Hasharr.
Out of the back of the Chariot stepped out Birse, then each member of his guild. He glanced back at them all, Jacky, Sparta, Cherry, Woody, Seren, Skill, Soren, Death, Steph, Lilior and even CH, Rico, Jane and Vain. Each member except for Kyle and Sly were present, officially member of the guild or not.
Each wore an expression of worry, some hid it but they too felt anxious.
"Find him." Birse told them plainly, hiding his own.