Demon Portal Test Run[TOH]

>Another Friday night at home, sipping on some coke and relaxing in your chair.
>You thought that growing up you'd be able to do cool shit, see the world, travel and all that fun shit.
>Instead it's more of the same since you were in school, only replaced with annoying dirty work that leaves you tired on your days off.
>Thank God for small mercies like a two day off period, otherwise eh.
>Damn your back is starting to complain about your slouch.
>Start to twist in your chair to pop the ol' back and freeze.
>There is a glowing circle of teal light in your room.
>The fuck is this?
>Then you hear something thud against the floor and rolls away from the circle.
>You're already out of the chair and following the sound finding a baseball-sized orb colored purple come to a stop at the banister.
>You start to reach down to pick it up befuddled as to what the fuck is this shit when the orb turns out to be a fucking eye that grew legs to lift itself up!
>Being a reasonable indivi-
>Nah you picked up a heavy five hundred page book and smashed the fuck out of that thing!
>Rather durable for an eyeball as it wiggled its little legs trying to scurry, but you pounded it harder in reply.
>"You alright up there Anon?" Called your flatmate from downstairs.
"Yeah! Uh, just a spider, really huge one."
>THUD!
>"Alright, keep it down will ya? Trying to finish this game."
"Sure, sure."
>You look over to see your hardened plastic sword you bought on a lark and use it to prod the sticky remains of the eye, it doesn't move aside from your nudging though now your sword's got gross.
"Nasty business that."
>"Indeed."

>Twisting around you swing your sword up at the voice only for the blade to freeze in place in a fel crimson glow.
>Come to think of it you're whole body is stuck.
>Internally screaming you look to see the owner of the voice.
>Standing in front of the circle is a cloaked figure with a freaky beetle mask holding some sci-fi staff that glowed with the same light holding your body.
>"Rather sharp reflexes, for a human. Shame about your perception, or was it common sense? I forget the common sayings your kind hold so dearly."
>You'd like to tell them fuck where he could shove his observations, but you're a tad stuck.
>The beetle man looked over your dirty room, "Rather dismal, isn't it? Hm, still it shall do for a test run at the very least. Oh? You have one of those funny little devices as well, wonderful."
>You were going to eventually clean up your room, besides leaving everything out means it's easier to find later!
>"Rather quiet for a human aren't you?" Beetle-man asked cheerily after using a single clawed finger to tap at your keyboard.
>You can't MOVE you cosplaying chuuni ass fucking fuck!
>At your silence Beetle-Man's face turned to his staff and he has the gall to laugh, "Oh, of course, I forgot."
>Tapping the staff against the floor you complete the swing before bringing your sword up in a guard across your body.
"What, who the fuck are you even? Why are you-"
>"Oh calm yourself human, I'm only here for the Titan's will. You needn't concern yourself overly much."
"I beg to fucking differ, what do you want?"
>The Beetle-Man rose to his full height, you hadn't noticed with him bent over your desk, but man this guy is tall, at least a foot on you.
>"Why, to follow the Titan's will, of course. Part of which involves your wonderful little device over here, so much," You take a step back at the sharp inhale, "knowledge to be had."
>Man, this shit is reminding you some 40k shit, but considering he was able to easily hold you in place...

>Try to bargain for something instead of having your shit taken from you!
Letting your guard lower, you lean on your sword, "Okay, say I let you use the computer there, what's your offer?"
>"While your expertise would be useful, it is not needed. Rather, you appear to be a scholar of some sort." Beetle-Man said, waving his hand at your bookshelves, "What would you say to the offer of traveling in my realm while I study your own? Equivalent knowledge to be shared between two parties is one of the tenets of the Titan's will."
>You're suddenly rather glad he can't read the titles of the copious amounts of fantasy novels you've collected.
"What's the catch? If you're going to just suddenly show up in my room of all places in the world there's a reason behind this kind of shit."
>"No catch, beyond you surviving on your wits and strength, after all, I fully intend to make do with your own realm." Beetle-Man replied leaning on his staff before waving his land in a lackadaisical manner, "As for why you're room specifically? No particular reason, if you truly need a reason you can blame random chance."
>During your conversation the portal behind the stranger flickered like a light suffering from a brownout, at the change in light Beetle-Man turned his head to it, "Oh dear, it seems the portal can only last another three minutes or so, never the less it's a wonderful test run."
>Turning away from you the stranger starts to walk to the portal.
"Wait, I thought you wanted to use my computer?"
>"Oh silly human, that was never the goal, I've already succeeded in my goal, but if you wish to leave this dull existence you call your life, you best make your choice. Tick-Tock human, the clock's already running."
>Before you can say anything else Beetle-Man is through the portal as it begins to flicker and dim.
>You're left there with a hand outstretched before clenching your fist.
>Was...
>Was that it?
>Three minutes, already started do you go or do you stay?

>The portal snapping like a log in the hearth jolts you to action.
>Fuck it, if you don't go you'll always wonder.
>Shit, you don't even have anything prepared.
>You scramble finding an old backpack, stuffing clothes inside, the sleeping bag you sleep with, toothpaste and brush.
>Shit how long has it been?
>Boots! Need your boots and socks at that!
>Your laces are being a bitch as your fingers shake from the adrenaline and all the while the portal is growing dimmer with each passing second.
>Done!
>Food, ought to pack some, you clomp down the stairs bypassing your flatmate as he shoots at aliens, kitchen, can opener, cans of food, chili lasts a long time right?
>Fuck it.
>Some sacks to hold the shit in and you're already back upstairs, some painkillers you keep on the desk.
>What else?
>The teal glow is barely glowing and you gnaw at your lip trying to think what else to take with you.
>Already have your phone, plus charger, why did you waste time on that?
>Wait, journal!
>Grabbing the green leather-bound book you shove it in the top of the bag with a few pens and slung the bag over your shoulder.
>Need protection, only have the bracers you got at a con, but they are leather with silver studs, good enough.
>Retrieving your sword you clench it tightly in your hand as you look at the portal, which looks more like a misty oval than the opaque teal doorway it once was.
>You should say something, you'd be the first human traveling between realms!
>There isn't time to think of anything meaningful and who the hell is going to hear them anyway?
>Damn the words, there is an entirely new world to explore!
>Shaking your head you face the portal and stride through with purpose.
>Not a moment later the portal winked out of reality with a hum.
>"Yo Anon? What's the fire mate?"
>"...Anon?"

>Whoever said that using a portal was as simple as taking a step through a door is full of-
>Your stomach heaved as your foot fell as if you were taking the stairs only to miss the last step.
>The last step being twenty feet up in the sky of all places!
>You're on the ground fingers white around your blade as you're kneeling on metal stairs.
>Breath.
>BREATH DAMN IT!
>Gasping as your lungs suddenly recalled you did need air you greedily suck in that sweet life.
>"My Emperor! An intruder!" Something squeaked in surprise before oh fucking hell that's a HUGE hand grasping for you.
>Crab walking backward you bump into a pillar as the spectral glowing hand reached out for you, great big claws gleaming on the tips of the fingers.
>You reach down grabbing your shitty practice sword ready to do-
>What, you have no idea beyond keeping the fuck huge thing away from you!
>"That's enough Kiki."
>The hand froze in place and then you can see the tiny gremlin with a hand for a hat pause looking back to-
>Oh it's Beetle guy again, grand.
>Oh dear, you might have started to get a touch hysterical here.
>"Emperor Belos? Is this..." The short stack regarded you a narrowed eye, "human involved with the Titan's will?"
>Beetle Man, er, Belos shook his head coming to a stop beside the tiny girl, gremlin thing, "Oh of course not, in the end, this human is of little importance in the Titan's will, although."
>Belos has the gall after insulting you like that to lean on his staff cocking his head to the side looking more like some avian creature studying a new piece of food.
>"I'll admit human, I didn't think you would actually do it."
"Not like you gave me a lot of time to work with, I mean three minutes? That's barely enough time to prepare anything at all!"
>"And yet, you still came, curious."
>Tapping his staff against the ground Belos gestured to the large ominous doors standing on the other side of the room leading deeper or maybe even out of this creepy circus.

>"I still recall our little deal, allow me to show you the door." Belos drawled out sweeping his hand out to the exit.
>You pull yourself up from the ground and sling your backpack over your shoulder from where it had fallen.
"That's it? No grand suggestions? Offer's of employment or even chains to enslave me or something?"
>A low chuckle escaped the bug bird enthusiast, "Dear boy do you think I truly have need of one little human? No, I stand by the deal I offered you, Kiki."
>"My Emperor?"
>"Escort our guest from the castle, I have-"
>The shadows grew longer in the dimly light chamber, the lights around you suddenly flared to an ominous red and Belos leaned upon his staff suddenly a hand to his face.
>Oh fucking hell those shadows have teeth!
>You smack one drawing close with your sword and yelp as it lunged at you!
>Twisting away your blood is flooded with adrenaline letting you duck away from another shadow this one filled with way too many eyes and what fresh hell-
>Just as suddenly as the sudden Lovecraftian horror show had started the rearing shadows settle, the red glow returned to the amber flames of torches and Belos is clearing his throat suddenly.
>"Ah, thank you Kiki, I must have forgotten."
>"My Emperor you need to take better care of yourself!" Kiki the small gremlin fretted beside Belos holding some oil lamp with a glowing green ooze on the tip.
>Belos waved his hand "Enough Kiki. We still have our guest to attend to, after all, let us not be poor hosts."
>At the mention that yes you were in fact still here Kiki glanced at you and you swear you saw a snarl behind the high collar uniform she wore.
>You grimly tighten your grip on your sword in reply.
>"Come now human, relax, you are here as a guest."
"Thought I wasn't worth consideration in your titan's grand plan or whatever."

>"You aren't, but that doesn't mean I can't be civilized." Belos replied plainly standing at his full height before gesturing to Kiki, "Kiki, if you would?"
>"Of course my Emperor, come along now Human."
"I do have a name you know."
>"I find it enthralling you think I actually care."
"Aren't you just a bundle of fun short stuff?"
>"Oh my, it makes jokes. My Emperor, you truly have found an interesting pet."
>You keep your glare on the annoying gnat only to hear deep laughter from Belos, "Ah, such a delight to see you two bonding, never the less goodbye Human, may you find your worth in the Boiling Isles."
>You're tempted to counter getting along with the walking footstool, but you can't just have Belos pulling the civilized card on you like that, so you incline your head.
"May you find what you seek then, Emperor."
>Belos stared at you in reply and you get the impression you best go, turning about you follow the tiny guide.

>You see many wonders as you travel through this castle, for it has to be with the amount of stone used in its construction, from stained glass depicting Belos providing guidance or rebuking small figures below him, a hall of wonders filled with strange artifacts that hummed with power.
>Yet for the keen eye watching you, you know you'd not be able to take what you might need from this place, at least not yet.
>"You're lucky you know."
"How do you figure?"
>"The last human my Emperor had to deal with was quite the pest, yet in his wisdom and the merciful will of the Titan was she allowed to escape. Do try to not make yourself such a nuisance, hm?"
>Oh Kiki you excel in making yourself look so puntable about now, annoying imp.
"I'll keep it in mind, are those the doors?"
>You let out a low whistle at the tall gates which bared the way a thick beam of steel going across the gates.
>"Indeed." You glance down to see Kiki swirl her finger in a small circle, a magenta glow trailing behind to form a circle.

>Confused you hear the crackle of flame and turn to see the steel beam melt into nothing the same color as the briefly formed circle before the doors also grind open leading to a pit of spikes, a landscape that looks more in line with Dante's depiction of hell and a mechanical bridge slam to a stop before the gates.
>"Off you go now human, simply follow the road and you'll find Bonesborough, even you can follow such simple instructions."
>You look from the road and the horizon to the small imp glaring at you.
"Has anyone ever told you that your manners could use some work?"
>"Anyone ever told you that trying to be clever makes you look quite dumb?"
"Right, well then thanks for nothing, and have a nice day kissing up, you're about the right height for it."
>The red-eye you can see narrowed into a pinprick before Kiki twirled her finger causing a ball of flame to erupt above it.
"And that's my cue, peace!"
>You beat steps moving in a zig-zag as small explosions go off around you till you reach the outer walls made of bone.
>Leaping behind the wall you feel embers scatter past you and you stick an eye around the corner before yanking it back behind cover at the rather sharp reminder to not push your luck.