An Education in Demonism

"Meeting her requires a certain amount of pain tolerance," Kanna informs Isser, reaching up to rub the sleep from his eyes. "As with all of their Demon Lords."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to Kanna, "Thank -you."

Gravely, Isser says to Netra, "I had to design a food recipe for a follower of hers. They really like being gound in chains."

Isser says to Kanna, "Noted."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Ignorance is fine in this case, I suppose. Education is necessary."

Gravely, Isser says to Netra, "Lets go!"

You say, "Who is the Lady?"

You tilt your head curiously.

In a serious tone, Isser says to you, "A Demon Lord. She believes beauty is pain."

"Eh?" Aquifn says curiously.

Illyria quirks her lips, considering that. "Is it?" she asks Netra. "It certainly looks like it hurt you."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente sighs, "Anyone who would like a tour of Nil to meet the Demon Lords, follow me."

Netra tilts her head curiously at you.

Illyria brightens, a curious look lighting her eyes.

You begin to follow Netra.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "And welcome to Nil."

Netra smirks.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "We will start with Gorgulu."

You follow Aspirant Netra D'Cente southeast to before the Pit of a Thousand Hungers.

Illyria looks around in open fascination. "This seems like an unpleasant sort of place," she comments cheerily.

Obvious exctiment in her voice, Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to you, "Just wait."

Illyria does indeed wait, clasping her hands behind her back and gazing around.

Netra gestures to the large pit before her and inhales deeply. "Ahh...the smell of Change." she says mostly to herself and turns to her entourage and grins. "If you're queasy, I suggest holding your nose."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Anyone have any slush? Mine seems to have disappeared."

You give a vial to Aspirant Netra D'Cente.

Netra sips lucidity slush from a vial.

Netra gives a vial to you.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Thank you."

You flash Netra a joyous smile.

Netra clears her throat and dusts herself off. "Now then," she says finally before heading north.

Netra blinks.

The body of Isser appears in a flash and his soul descends to fill it, causing the previously expressionless face to fill with emotion.

Comprehension flashes across Netra's face.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to Isser, "Do try to be stable. Getting lost in here could be deadly."

Gravely, Isser says to Netra, "Where are we?? I apologise. This happens alot. Beetle eats my memories."

Gesturing to Lord Gorgulu, Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Welcome to the Den of a Thousand Abominations."

Isser peers about himself unscrupulously.

Isser shudders violently.

Netra placing her hands behind her back, she straightens. "Now then, Lord Gorgulu may look disgusting and terrifying. But I can assure you he is much more than he seems."

Isser tilts his head and listens intently to Netra.

Illyria looks vaguely ill, an expression of determined politeness fixed onto her face as she nods, offering a strained smile.

Isser offers a small "hmmhmm" in response to Netra. His trunk swivels to face Gorgulu the Devourer of Souls.

Isser focuses his attention back on to Netra, as alert and attentive as only a tree can be.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente laughingly says, "Do we have any questions about him? Or should I just lecture?"

In an attempt to limit the passage of air through her mouth and nose, Illyria doesn't reply in words, simply motioning with her hand for Netra to continue.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Back before Magnagora was...well, Magnagora Lord Gorgulu was actually a King."

"But once he was transformed by the Taint, he became this..." Netra gestures to the many tentacles and the blobiness that is Lord Gorgulu.

Isser nods his head at Netra, showing his acceptance.

Illyria braves the shimmering stench long enough to manage the question, "And you.. prefer him this way?" Closing her mouth with a snap, to contain the bile that floods her mouth as the tangible odor touches her tongue, she lapses into silence again.

Netra pauses a moment to side-step a tentacle that suddenly springs forth, attempting to wrap around Netra. "And since then, his tenets have become rather interesting. On the surface, he seems like a brainless glutton..." she pauses and considers your question "ah, well. Naturally. We didn't really have a choice. But we have certainly learned a lot from him in this form."

"And while he is hungry," Netra continues, "he is also a symbol of great transformation and change. Teaching us to embrace it and even -seek- it out ourselves as change brings power in all things. Not just in strength and ability, but politically and personally." she taps her temple to punctuate her point.

Netra notices the colour of your face and chuckles to herself. "Right then. We won't linger here longer. I could go on and on, but some of us might not have the stomach." she winks at you.

You have emoted: Illyria squints up at Gorgulu the Devourer of Souls thoughtfully, venturing to speak once more. "Butterflies serve the same lesson, and are considerably nicer."

Sniffing and rather bluntly, Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Es, well. Butterflies don't teach it the same way Lord Gorgulu does."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente asks, "Shall we?"

[dropped off Isser]

Aspirant Netra D'Cente asks you, "Do you need to head back as well, or would you like to continue?"

You ponder the situation.

You say, "I think my stomach has recovered."

You give a trillingly melodic laugh.

Netra's eyes sparkle with amusement.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "The other pits and Lords aren't as uh, pungent."

Illyria chuckles. "That's a relief. Although something tells me the pungency might be of a different sort."

Netra's eyes sparkle with amusement at you.

Netra gestures to the pit before her. "Lord Baalphegar.

Illyria looks down at lightless pit, then back up at Netra with a little smile. "I'm not afraid of the dark."
Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "You shouldn't be."

Netra gestures to the book atop the pedestal. "Lord Baalphegar." she turns to you and grins, wondering what your reaction will be.

Illyria blinks, tilting her head. "He is... a book?" she inquires.

"Mm. This is just the form he takes. No one really knows what he actually looks like." she steps up to the pedestal and gestures for you to follow. Netra places her hands on either side of the book and smiles to herself. "Would you like to touch it?"

Making no move to the pedestal just yet, Illyria turns her head to examine the webbed pathway and the gloom around it. Finally, she meets Netra's eyes. "Yes," she answers frankly. "I do. And I don't know why I want to, so I'm not going to."

Netra chuckles to herself and nods.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Well, I think you should. You could learn something."

With a wistful look on her face, Netra touches the Black Tome of Vile Secrets.
Netra opens the Black Book of Vile Secrets and allows her eyes to fall upon the yellowed pages. As she reads, her eyes widen in horror and she screams in abject panic at whatever dark secrets are revealed to her.
You follow Aspirant Netra D'Cente to the Cloisters of the Keeper.
Netra shifts into view, screaming in abject panic.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente laughingly says, "Perhaps you shouldn't."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to you, "But he will speak to you, if you do."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente smiles impishly and says, "And I might've fibbed."

Netra points accusingly at a hideous archdemon.

A hideous archdemon hisses vehemently at Netra, who gags on the stinking breath.

Illyria watches gravely as Netra regains her composition from screaming to laughing, tilting her head like a little bird, then turns to look at the demon with a hint of unbidden trepidation at its monstrous appearance. "Him?" she asks.

Netra nods once and smirks. "Deception and lies," she gestures about "Disguising oneself to hide their true intent. Yet remaining almost non-threatening, concealing true power." she smiles fondly at the archdemon. "Admittedly, only Lord Baalphegar's true prophets or most devout followers really know what he is truly about. I don't have much else to say on this subject."

Illyria lets her eyes linger on the archdemon, tucking away observations, then turns back to Netra. "I see," she says quietly, troubled.

Netra picks up on your sudden shift in demeanor. "You all right?" she asks, tilting her head.

Illyria glances over and laughs lightly. "Oh. Yes. Just... this is very much outside of my realm of experience, and I'm not sure I like any of it," she admits truthfully.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente asks, "Would you rather we not continue?"

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "I would hate to make you uncomfortable."

A hideous archdemon sucks a clot of dried blood from one of his enormous talons.

You have emoted: Illyria thinks for a moment, then smiles ironically. "My stomach says stop, and my curiosity says go. Let us continue."

Gently, Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "F you ever want to stop, just let me know."

You nod your head emphatically.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Lord Ashtorath."

Netra peering down into the pit, she inhales and turns to you. "This one might, um...upset you more than most."

Illyria examines the pit within the sands almost clinically, hiding the nervousness that slips into her eyes at the words. "Well. Best to get it over with?"

Netra nods her head.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "We won't linger long."

Netra pressing a finger gently to her ear, "Feel free to cover your ears if it's too much."

Illyria nibbles at her lower lip and nods.

Netra keeps her eyes downward, she gestures to the horrifying, raging figure. "Lord Ashtorath."

Entering the chamber after Netra, Illyria flinches away involuntarily at the sight of the Demon Lord as instincts carry her backward several steps before she composes herself. Clearing her throat, she steps determinedly back up to her side and studies the imposing figure. "He seems... pissed," she whispers with a hint of irrepressible humor woven through the dread there.

Netra snickers softly to herself.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "He is always pissed."
Tilting her head, Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "You'd be pissed too if your love was unrequited."

Illyria ponders that, lips pursing as she examines the demon in a new light. "I don't know. I think I would be sad, but not angry. Certainly not... murderously so and to be frank, he seems to be."

Ashtorath the Raging suddenly throws back his head and bellows in fury, his eyes becoming balls of fire. His body expands, doubling in size, and his great horns become massive still, spiraling to gargantuan proportions. Muscles bulge and skin ripples with heat, as Ashtorath mutates into a hideously deformed creature with smoke and fire spouting out of his wide nostrils.

Illyria flinches back once more.

Grinning, Aspirant Netra D'Cente asks, "Even if your love was in love with...Lord Gorgulu?"

Illyria blinks. "Uh. Hm. A fascinating pair," she manages, repainting her composure after the sudden violent transformation leaves her startled. "Well," she ventures after a moment, "Given that he's the Lord of hungers, I'd probably be a touch irritated if I wasn't good enough to be enjoyed," she allows.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Yes, well. His rage fuels his power. Obviously. There are more tenets about him, but I haven't really studied them. He kind of, terrifies me."

Netra licks her lips.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to you, "Are you done, um...admiring him?"

Illyria nods to herself. "I see. He scares me too," she admits, "but in a way I can handle. A visible threat. And -admiring- is not the word," she laughs.

Netra giggles happily.

You follow Aspirant Netra D'Cente west to the House of the Iron Maidens.

"Take a moment," Netra begins, "I cannot absorb the Iron Maiden for you. You will have to endure it as well. I will make sure you are ready."

Illyria presses her lips together as she studies the implements of torture. "This is... pain? A pain Lord?"

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Lady."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "And she is...quite beautiful."

Illyria studies the wicked spikes of the coffin-like shape, fear warring with curiosity in her eyes. "Pain passes," she says finally, stepping closer to Netra.

You follow Aspirant Netra D'Cente to inside an iron maiden.
Spikes painfully drive into your flesh. (repeated)

You follow Aspirant Netra D'Cente to before the Weeping Amaranth.
Dripping with blood, Netra appears hovering briefly in the air before being thrown painfully to the ground.

Netra pauses before continuing, looking to you with concern. "You all right?"

Illyria shivers violently, involuntarily, holding still as the memory of the spikes recedes slowly from her active awareness. "Not my idea of a good time," she manages with a weak laugh.

Netra's lips twitch into an almost smirk. "Not for everyone." she nods and turns to the Lady Nifilhema, inhaling deeply as a look of pure admiration spreads across her face. "However, you cannot say she isn't beautiful."

Illyria focuses on the Demon Lady more clearly, blinking as the surpassing loveliness registers. "Oh," she says dumbly, eyes bright, then continues. "She is. I can see why you'd aspire to look like her."

Netra clasps her hands together in front of her chest in an almost girlish fashion as her previous mature air dissipates. "Yes! Oh, I cannot wait to heal from these procedures..." she sighs and stares for a while before shaking her head.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente asks, "Would you like to see the Supreme Master, then?"

Nifilhema, Queen of Insufferable Cruelty says, "Luciphage is the Supreme Master and must be obeyed. He is a good master, strong and wise. And he is so kind! See how he lets me indulge in these pleasantries?"

A wry smile spreads across Netra's face.

Illyria looks back and forth between the two. "Yes," she nods. "I am curious to see."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Grovel before her."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente has lost you.
Netra begins to follow you.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "You must experience this for yourself."

Illyria blinks. "Grovel...?"

"I do not think I could do so with any measure of sincerity," Illyria admits.

Netra waves her hand dismissively.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "I assure you, Lady Nifilhema does not care if it is."

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "It is the only way to get to the Supreme Master."

Illyria considers for a minute, then sighs. With a distinct air of reluctance and insincerity, she plops herself down at Nilfheima's feet and resignedly says, "Oh great Nilfheima, I beg and plead that you take me to look at the august personage of Lord Luciphage. Please please please. And such."

You grovel pathetically in the dirt at Nifilhema, Queen of Insufferable Cruelty's feet.

Nifilhema, Queen of Insufferable Cruelty says, "Does my pretty-pretty wish to visit the Supreme Master? Mmmmm. Perhaps I shall send you to him, you are so tasty-tasty. Mmmmm. But you would like a kiss first, yes?"

Netra laughs joyously.

Nifilhema, Queen of Insufferable Cruelty sensually places a hot hand behind your neck and draws you forward. With a smile, she leans in and kisses you on the lips and white-hot pain explodes throughout your body, which convulses in violent paroxysms. You feel sticky with blood.

The transcendent pain makes you briefly blank out, and when you awake you reel about in the utter darkness.
Netra follows you ether.

Netra stands and waits a moment, watching you carefully as you recover from the kiss.

Illyria blinks after a long moment, climbing to her feet, then wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "That is NOT how I pictured my first kiss going," she declares.

Netra smiles softly.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Don't worry about it too much."

[through the labyrinth!]

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "A practice in patience."

Netra nods her head at Supreme Master Luciphage.

Supreme Master Luciphage says, "It has been a long time since anyone has dared to nod at me. Do you want to know why?"

With a cold smile, Supreme Master Luciphage raises a clenched fist and twists his wrist. Netra collapses in a heap as you hear her bones break.

Netra has been slain by Supreme Master Luciphage.

The soul of Netra D'Cente says, "Ah. I should've known better."

The ghost of Netra turns to a dark, murky miasma, which slowly solidifies into a foul, undead creature.

Netra coughs softly.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Do not acknowledge them directly."

A wry smile spreads across Netra's face.

Illyria blinks, turning to stare obliquely at Luciphage. "I... can see why that would be a bad idea," she says carefully.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente asks, "Any questions about anything you have seen?"

Netra tilts her head curiously.

Illyria shakes her head slowly. "I... no. Thank you for showing me. It was..... an experience."

Netra smirks.

Netra nods her head emphatically.

Netra grovels pathetically at Supreme Master Luciphage's feet.

Supreme Master Luciphage says, "You wish to leave so soon, Netra? Very well, we shall meet again, I'm sure, and further discuss the damnation of your immortal soul. I am, after all, a patient Master."

Supreme Master Luciphage places a thumb on Netra's forehead and she staggers backward, gasping and panting with haunted eyes.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to you, "If you have anything you want to show me in return, I would love to."

Netra's mouth turns up as her face breaks into a smile.

Illyria smiles ruefully. "I'm afraid I'm but a few months through the Portal and know little. But if I come across something, I shall."

Netra blinks.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "You do not seem that young. Wise beyond your years."

Netra's eyes sparkle with amusement.

You have emoted: Illyria's cheeks color and she cocks a half-grin. "I don't know about that, but yes. I've only just helped the gnomes of Newton.. a week ago? Something like that?"

Netra smiles softly.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says, "Well, don't let me keep you. Thank you for indulging me...I hope we can..."

Netra's pause is long and uncomfortable. "...meet again." she says finally, a wry smile.

Illyria gives Netra a brighter smile. "It was.. well, not exactly a pleasure, but appreciated. I will see you around, I hope."

Netra's mouth turns up as her face breaks into a smile.

Aspirant Netra D'Cente says to you, "The company was pleasurable, even if the experience wasn't."