Chapter 3: In Times Like These (continued...)

[phaedrusxy]

The devil follows just after her, pyramid in hand, and the portal behind him turns into what looks like an ordinary elliptical mirror. He says "Whom should I give this to?" holding out the pyramid.

[Bozwevial]

After a lengthy pause, Marlowe extends his hand, taking the pyramid.

[phaedrusxy]

The devil unceremoniously hands over the pyramid, and then says "Now, unless you have other pressing needs, I have duties to attend to." and heads for the portal leading back into Merorem's Castle.

[phaedrusxy]

After only a few minutes, there is a knock at the door leading back into the castle.

[Bozwevial]

Marlowe's pen pauses mid-stroke. "We're all decent, do come in."

[phaedrusxy]

Sammael steps through the portal and says "It seems you have a package, Xuuvosic. I haven't the slightest who it is from. It is addressed to Xuuvosic, slayer of Moloch."

In his hands he has a small wooden box, about a foot long and only 4 or 5 inches wide by a couple of inches deep. It plain, neat letters it indeed says To Xuuvosic, Slayer of Moloch, and nothing else.

[Kuroimaken]

"Who the ever-loving hell is Moloch?"

[phaedrusxy]

Sammael replies "Oh, that's the arch-devil that you killed on your arrival. You know, the one absorbed by ... your ride? I'm sure it's already being talked of in all corners of the Nine Hells, and no doubt news of his death and its circumstances will spread beyond.

You might want to consider relocating the opening to your little hideaway before too many devils start showing up to gawk, or perhaps even allies might show up looking to exact vengeance. Although with devils... well, they definitely like it served cold."

[Bozwevial]

"I take it that the Nine Hells have a decent parcel screening system." Marlowe gives the package a distrustful look, as though it might explode or turn into a kobold. For all he knows, it will.

[VennDygrem]

Cade, too, looked on incredulously. "With devils, gifts rarely come without strings attached. I would be wary, Xuuvosic."

[phaedrusxy]

"We screened the package for magical emanations, but did not find anything. It was not opened, as per our privacy policy."

[HeadofVecna]

"The Lochnar took out an arch-devil coming in? I've seen some crazy shit in my time, but this ... We've got to get the fuck off of this plane. Marlowe, you've got the key. Think you can keep a low profile, outside, long enough for Sammael to get you to the Prime Material? I'll look for someone to open whatever the hell the package is, there. It might be safe, but I don't want to fuck around."

[Bozwevial]

Marlowe nods, somehow stowing the book and rising to his feet without seeming to go to the trouble of actually moving. "And the artifact? I don't know how well it will respond to teleportation, or for that matter being shoved inside an extradimensional apartment."

[Kuroimaken]

"Somehow I'm less worried about the latter than the former. Being of the caliber it is, I doubt it has the desire to destroy us from a simple extradimensional whoopie. I'm more worried about the accidental death of an archfiend from its mere USE. Sammael, can you give us more information on this Moloch? I want to know every implication his death had."

[Bozwevial]

(click to show/hide)

Knowledge (the planes) 1d20+12 : 13 + 12, total 25

[phaedrusxy]

(click to show/hide)

Marlowe knows some of this already, but since Raoul asked Sammael I'm going to have him reply

"Originally a seraph from the upper planes, Moloch chafed at the lack of respect he received up there, and so migrated to Perdition many millenia ago. Eventually rising to the penultimate height of power, he ruled over Malbolge, the 6th Circle of Hell for a time, until joining in the failed coupe to overthrow Asmodeus, the Overlord of Hell. After that, he was kicked out of Hell entirely for a while, but eventually returned as one of the "fief-less" Lords, forever banned from land or title in Hell. He's fumed over that ever since, and I guess he thought this was a good time to stage his return... until you guys showed up.

He had a particular fondness for sacrifices of children, which mortals described as "passing them through the flame to Moloch".

As I said, my Master warned against unnecessary use of... the artifact. I think now you begin to partly understand why."

[Kuroimaken]

"No kidding. If we kill a potential big mover from Hell every time we use it, we could end up causing some serious power vaccuum bloodshed." Raoul commented. "We can't even risk using it with deserted places as destinations. It'll just end up making a stop on the way or something. Makes you wonder who made that thing."

[Bozwevial]

"Then we'll travel the usual way. If we can find some way to stow the artifact or make sure it follows us, I can exit surreptitiously and travel back to the Prime Material with Sammael's help, without killing another Lord of Hell. Xuuvosic, you've piloted it. I don't suppose it has an off switch?"

[HeadofVecna]

"The Lochnar didn't blow our asses off just from walking into this pocket dimension. I doubt that moving the entrance around will cause it to do shit. And the damn thing's sentient, so there ain't no fucking way I'm going to go looking for a motherfucking off switch. Unless I'm feeling suicidal, which, big motherfucking surprise, I'm not."

[Kuroimaken]

"Hey, for what it's worth, I count that as a positive. Some might argue the whole enterprise we're on about is of a suicidal nature, though."