How to catch a demon

Log Info

• Title: How to catch a demon
• Emitter: Mikilos
• Characters: Mikilos, Sabina, Cesran, Aya
• Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise
• Time: Saturday, September 18, 2021, 11:58 PM
• Summary: Mikilos, Sabina, Cesran and Aya gather in a Mage's Magic Mansion to discuss how to restore Lily, and destroy Eclavdran forever. Neither can easily be accomplished. It's unheard of, reverting someone who has been converted to devils. However, Angels fall, Demons redeem, and people come back from the dead. Individuals who become infernal are dark souls who do it over years after a vile lifetime, to suddenly turn a relatively innocent child in an instant is also unheard of. Aya explains why Lily was targeted. Mikilos and Cesran swap ideas, Mikilos has a couple but both require multiple casters and high level ones are in short supply. A maze, a crystal, a binding. Cesran indicates he will do more research, while Sabina and Aya promise they will be available and want to see this through. Their various infernal compacts are discussed as well, with Aya and Mikilos opining that death likely ended theirs.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A15: Mithralla Merchandise *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Here, a large wooden structure has been built. Its somewhat eccentric yet elegant design suggests its owner may be of the arcane persuasion. To the side of the main structure is a small corral to for horses or wagons. Before the central building, a massive sword emerges from the earth. A sign upon it reads: "MITHRALA MERCHANDISE."

Inside is a small seating area with several comfortable chairs. To the back, an unobtrusive but businesslike sales counter, and two large signs. One asks patrons to please wait here and not disrupt those inside the lab. The other offers a lab rental at a very reasonable rate.

To the left and right are a large set of doors. The doors on the right lead to a large room which takes up most of the building. Several long tables are scattered about, many with small tool racks. A small forge sits off to the side. Unlike the average workshop, maps of celestial bodies and guides to the elemental planes line the walls. Large frameworks of brass, silver, and crystal occupy space between the tables. A large shelf dominates the far wall, the containers upon it sporting such labels as "wyvern bile," "sulfur," "tiger's tears," and other exotic items. A glass-covered hole in the roof, set with mirrors, offers direct sunlight, or moonlight, to shine upon various projects.

The doors to the left lead towards the direction of the mountains and what is reported to be a sildanyari-style ball room. Wizards.

During regular store hours, a young Llyranesi man, Belhan Mithralla, keeps an eye on the shop and the lab. When not cleaning or helping a customer, he can usually be found reading some book from the library.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Mikilos      6'8"     180 Lb     Dawn Elf          Male      Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome.
Cesran       6'1"     185 Lb     Human             Male      A tall dark-skinned man
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes.
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
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Mikilos sits quietly in the front of the shop, a large crystal on the counter before him. Runes flash across the surface of the crystal. Infernal, Celestial, Auran, Ignan, and others. After each sequence, the mage touches a hand to the crystal, speaks a few words, and lets go, only for a fresh sequence to appear.

Cesran gives a polite knock on the door as he's landed outside via carpet. It's been rolled up and stored just under his backpack. He's gotten a message from Mikilos to meet him here at his shop.

Bina opens the door and steps within, her peacock on her face. She grins at Cesran and his mode of transport. "Greetings to you two." She says to the mage and staff. "And greetings to you Mikilos. Thank you for meeting with me." The bird on her shoulder lets out a cry and resettles it's wings.

Aya opens the door not long after Sabina. Invited? Perhaps not. Aware? Yes. Able to track a rather boisterous bird across part of the city? Also yes. Once the path was somewhat predictable, the most likely destination became apparent.

"Evening," she offers as greeting.

Mikilos glances to the arrivals with a smile, leaving his hand on the crystal and speaking a few words of Eldritch, deactivating it. "Greetings and salutations. I hope you are in good health. Was just taking take of some paperwork." For certain standards of 'paper'. "Please, have a seat. Would you care for some tea?"

Cesran moves aside as Bina and Aya moves to open the door and go right in. He follows after them, "Hello." His staff also nods back, "Good to see you again Bina...where is your friend?" The staff asks as Cesran rolls his eyes, "Aya good to see you again. I meant to ask do you think that the Lord Altay has anything to do with the demon that killed Lily?" He asks as he moves to have a seat and nods to Mikilos, "Some tea would be nice." He says as he lets his staff stand up right next to him.

Bina winces as Lily's death is brought up again. "Mikilos. Due to the nature of what I'm going to ask I'd like to be in a spot that can not be scryed upon. Would you mind if we went into one of those mansions of yours? Or is this place warded against such things? I wish to speak of 'E' and an idea."

"Yes, I do," Aya answers Cesran rather flatly, "and I came to see if any sought to take action." She gestures to Sabina. "I recommend following her suggestion. If he still lives, he will likely be seeking me even now."

Mikilos frowns mildly, and nods, moving to a section of plain wall and drawing out a faintly glowing doorway with a cantrip, making entry a little easier. "The shop has wards against casual observation, but nothing to stop a strong caster. We can have tea inside. And cookies... scones, pie, cake, roast beef... the feast part really is something of overkill, but may as well enjoy it." The grand hall inside is set to a number of smaller tables, making for slightly easier conversation than one massive buffet.

Cesran nods, "A good idea." He says as he gets up and goes to take his staff, "I thought as much. You'll have to catch me up on this demon. I've been busy with other projects, but it's made a mistake now and has caught my attention." He says as he moves to head into the doorway.

Aya nods and turns to step through the illuminated doorway. She moves to the nearest table, though doesn't take a seat. Instead, she simply stands to await all to enter.

Bina nods and steps towards the entrance an within after Cesran. "Thank you, Mikilos. Call me paranoid but after all that's happened in the past and present, wisdom and caution needs taken in the extreme." Once inside she takes up a teapot and starts pouring tea for everyone.

Mikilos grabs a couple grapes for himself, settling into a chair. "I have something of a plan. Merely killing the demon just sends his soul back to hell, where his forces there revive him, and his followers here summon him again. But, I recently acquired a spell of binding, meant to task lesser outsiders to a certain spot, or send them into slumber. One version can turn the target into a talking crystal, bond forever. Now I have my pride, but to bind a demon lord in such a way is well beyond my power. Beyond the power of any one wizard, I should think.

But, the ritual allows for others to lend their power to the casting. A few of us working together, think E can be locked away, making his cult and infernal empire easier to destroy."

Cesran takes a seat and he leans back to listen, "I know of this spell although I don't have it. It would be difficult to say the very least, even if we could get the maximum number of assistants allowed by the spell each of them casting. It could be done. I would think that the Hedged Prison effect of the Binding Spell would be our best bet. Otherwise we'd have to kill it here and then within a year go to it's home plane and kill it there. I'd really rather not go to the Iron Hells if I can avoid it. The Sea of Mana was rough enough."

Aya's neutral countenance is twisted into a scowl at the news that death is a delay or minor inconvenience rather than remotely permanent. "So he is immortal." She was not overly hopeful that he was destroyed, before, but this seems to confirm that. "If he is bound, what would that entail? If he can still plot and command, that is of only minor aid."

Bina hands cups out to those that would have them as she speaks. "I'm not sure I know of this spell. Bind spells I have heard of but not this specifically. My research came up with something similar if trickier to pull off. The spell of Traping the Soul? Just as the binding you speak of the creature is bound within a stone. The benefit is if done correctly it would bypass the demon's resistance to magics."

Mikilos nods to Cesran. "I disagree. The Hedged prison is only slightly easier to work, and leaves a large maze for the cult to find. A small gem can be dropped into a small hole in a field and forgotten for a thousand years. And while beyond my powers alone, I think just the two of us would stand a chance. Small chance, but some.

I've talked to the city about harnessing the power of the Magus Point. They are, of course, reluctant, but they didn't give an outright No."

He nods to Sabina. "I am familiar with the spell, but it would require tricking the demon into accepting the stone which he is to be trapped in. I am not confidant in such a ruse."

Cesran shrugs, "I don't know, I have just recently learned about this demon and I have yet to do any research on him. If you think it's safe enough to say his name, which I doubt is his true name, it would give me a place to start." He listens, "Yes I know the spell Trap the Soul. It would be tricky as demons are known for having incredible willpower and it would be even more difficult to trick him into accepting the gem willingly. It might be a good backup plan. Also we should look into having anyone there that can cast feeblemind on him, multiple casting of it at once we might get lucky. Have you thought about talking to Madame Gelfure or Griva about this? They can perhaps lend casters to aid in this endeavor."

Aya is not a magus, thus not familiar with many magics, much less able to utilize them. "What of Cryosanthia, or Zeke? She is healing, but I assume she will recover." At Cesran's comment, she can at least feel somewhat more useful. "His name is Eclavdran. Whether that is his true name or not, I do not know. He has servants within the city, as well, so I would not discuss anything openly. So far as I'm aware, he can command others with a thought, so I have concerns that even binding him will not stop him."

Sabina says, "Thus why I thought it would be tricky to do, trapping the soul." Bina says with a grin as she sits with her tea. "But also why it appeals to me, a Tarienite. Perhaps we could start with that? A distraction while the binding attempt was going on somewhere else? An idea, if dangerous." She looks over to Aya with a raised brow. "He does? Is that what you learned at this party you all went too?" She sighs even though she smiles. "That makes things more difficult."

Mikilos nods to Cesran. "I had, but would prefer to keep this within the Guild of Explorers, if possible. Too much potential for leaks." To Aya, he shakes his head. "The requirements to add power are specific. I don't question their prowess, but doubt they have the spells required."

He nods to Sabina. "I'm not sure is the same group, but was invited to a masked meeting that was set to discredit Adventurers, and their leader conjured demons of no small power, though not Eclavdran himself."

Aya doesn't accept a drink and remains standing. She shakes her head at Sabina. "No. I first learned that he gathered spies within the city when he recruited me weeks past. I never presumed to be the only one, but more were confirmed when another told him of Lily." To Mikilos, she adds, "I would not trust those in the Guild." Despite her words, her overall posture, countenance and tone remain rather neutral.

Cesran takes a sip of his tea now that it's cool. "So perhaps you can tell me more about this demon. Is he here just to try to dominate the city or does he have a specific goal in mind? And why target Lily? Just to show us that anyone is vulnerable or does he have some sort of vendetta against Cryosanthia?" He asks as he's hoping to learn why this demon is doing what he's doing. He nods, "I agree as few people who know about it the better, but that also means fewer people we can recruit to help with this task."

Bina pauses with her cup to her lips, she turns her head over towards Aya. "Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly? He recruited you?" The cup is set down. "Are you working for him now? Are you going to speak to him of what was said here?" She sighs. "Can we even trust if you told us no you wouldn't?"

Mikilos nods to Aya. "Everyone in the Guild, certainly not. Sadly is a narrow path, including enough for victory, but not so many as to bring defeat." He looks to Cesran, and frowns. "He showed up the same time as the White Tower and Endless Winter. I first encountered him as a task by the Guild, to find one who could predict when and where the White Tower would appear. Eclavdran did give us a magic map. Later, the magi of SilverMoon used the power of the time traveling tower to go back many years. In the past they bound Eclavdran to kill the Endless Winter. Which lead to her hateing the city and attacking it in the first place. What became of the demon and fey in the years between I'm unsure, but he killed me trying to obtain Mortal Dread, one of the few weapons that could kill Her." He nods to Bina, and looks to Aya as well.

"No," Aya answers, a firmness and crossing of her arms before her the only shift in tone and posture. "I was forbidden to stand against him. I am quite certain that I voided that agreement the moment I killed him. As for his motives, I know that he sought weaknesses of several. Seldan, Serene, you," she gestures to Cesran, "Zeke, and Cryosanthia. -That- is why he targeted Little Fang. Whether it is a vendetta from the past, or simply to remove those most likely to stand against him, I do not know."

Her head and eyes pan to Mikilos. "Yes, I was present when someone thought it wise to free him. So far as I know, we are still bound by The Wild Hunt to grant him some favor. I do not intend to allow him to collect." Back to the group as a whole. "That or collateral for our more recent bargain. As I now presume he still lives, or shall again, I expect him to come for me. I will not sit idly by awaiting that night."

Cesran listens to the history that he missed out on while he was away. "I see. I'm sorry to hear that he killed you Mikilos. Hopefully we can prevent that. Have we reached out any of the churches to see if they can lend aid against this demon? I am not bound by any of these bargains so I'm at your disposal to help the best I can."

Bina is somewhat subdued now and sets her cup to the side. "If you'll forgive me? If there is anything I can help with you all can feel free to contact me. I will aid as I can. It's good to know others were pondering and planing like I was." She starts to walk towards the door out but stops. "Aya? Why was the back of your neck glowing in the Mana wastes?"

Mikilos frowns, nods to Aya, and sighs. "My debt to Eclavdran is paid. I forgot others are not. I still meet with the Wee Queen that she may feed on my blood, as repayment for her aid." To Cesran he shakes his head. "Not formally. I've spoken with a couple clerics as individuals, but not the Temple leaders."

Aya turns to Sabina at her query, a brow slightly lifting. "My neck? The rings? I was not aware they glowed. I do not know precisely how they appeared, for that matter; only that they did so after the Sea of Mana. Perhaps the presence of mana?" She rolls one shoulder. "You, or they," she dips her head to the others, "know far more of such things than I."

She nods to acknowledge Mikilos. "Mine will be paid when I am dead, and I doubt he would be inclined or obliged to do so quickly."

Cesran nods, "Perhaps we should talk to those in the church that we trust, Serene and Seldan come to mind immediately, they were both amazing help when we went to the Sea of Mana." He hmms, "I have similar rings over the center of my chest Bina. It's a marking from our time in the Sea of Mana besides this lines that I picked up." He motions to the lines that cover his skin extend down under his robe.

She listens to them all and then nods. "Thank you. I will take my leave for now." He offers them a smile then. "And thank you for listening to me."

Mikilos nods to Aya, but frowns. "I would caution avoiding the ire of the Wild Hunt. They are Dreadful in the strictest sense of the word."

Aya waves a hand slightly dismissively. "Whatever minor favor he might ask for that would be nothing..." As she recalls, something not distasteful. Compared to other tasks or events as of late, it would be nothing to complete. Her lips purse as she considers. The trio, now two do know far, far more of magic than she.

"Can either of you..." she looks between them as she considers the term " ... unmake a demon? One that was not born so, but ... slain... twisted ... remade into one..."

Cesran has to think about it for a moment, "Unmake a demon. Only one spell immediately springs to mind and that's a Wish spell, expensive and needs to be worded very carefully, but it can be done. I'd have to do more research into it though. Usually demons and devils fall under more divine knowledge. There could be divine spells to counteract that, but I'd have to see how it was done or at least get a detailed description. I'll add it to my research."

Mikilos frowns. "Lily? I hope so. Fallen angels exist, as do Risen demons. I don't know of an altered soul being restored, but I've never heard of one trying." He nods to Cesran. "A casting of Wish might do it... but as you say, I'm not sure."

Aya's lips purse at Cesran's words and they deepen further into a frown at Mikilos'. Violet eyes harden on Cesran. "Can be done, or -might- be done? How -much- research before you known for certain? Hours? Days? Months?"

Cesran shrugs, "Unfortunately I just don't know yet. I've never even heard of a demon being able to kill someone and then turn them into a demon. Other creatures can do similar things like ghouls or ghasts, but that's usually just the body. Souls are very tricky things and to steal a child's soul and to twist it into a demon. I wouldn't think that would be possible. I would think that the gods would protect an innocent soul, certainly The Grey Harpist's ire would be drawn at such an act, that's worse then creating undead. It's possible that The Black Dream's ire would be drawn as well. This demon if he's got the ability to steal and twist souls, that's very powerful to be denying not just one god from their intended purpose, but two gods."

Mikilos nods in agreement. "I've read of souls that were killed and became demons, but they were deeply tainted and festered in the infernals for many days before changing. A forced, rapid change? Very unexpected."

Aya's visage relaxes and returns to neutral before she nods, accepting the response. "I understand, thank you. From the prophecy on the scroll spoken of and delivered by Endless Winter, Eclavdran's worshippers seek to make him into a god, himself. Perhaps he is now enough their equal to defy them at will. I cannot aid you with your magic, but I will see her returned." She then turns to exit the mansion whose magnificence is lost upon her for the moment.

Cesran rises as well, "I'll start to do research to see what I can turn up. I hope not, but I think all the gods would take action if that happened, he would upset the balance which would have far reaching consequences, although perhaps they are working through us to see that doesn't happen. We must do our best and preserver. Thank you for the tea Mikilos."

Mikilos nods. "The Balance has been upset once in this century, I'd not see it happen again. You are quite welcome. Fare well, and good luck."

Princess Lily
She meets all the criteria for a fairy tale princess. Young innocent maiden, wronged for no reason, needs to be rescued and will be turned back into her original form. No. of course not of hell. Princess of the Kobolds.