The Lady’s Hand (A Dickings & Dalliances Adventure) - (Closed Except By Invitation)

[justspitballing]

At this point Sprite was quite a bit up in the sky so was only getting the highlights of the conversation. Something about masturbation through butt play. She highly doubted she would be seeing any of that so it just seemed like more teasing. She gave her clit a rub, but she really wasn't pushing her own buttons and this was going to be more like just lazy jerking off to let off stress instead of the actual fun kind. If she wanted to let off stress she could always kill a devil.

She snapped back her armor into place and pushed back down her skirt. After that she got her axe ready. She knew if she flew down she could do the smart thing like talk out battle strategies, but she didn't feel like taking the time. She sped up, moving her full speed, almost one-hundred feet every few seconds. She would reach the temple in no time and see the threat that lay before them.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

There are varied reactions from the group.

Maritia snickers under her hand.
Amie rolls her eyes, but smiles.
Wylo tries to catch a bug.
The other cleric smiles, amused. “Yendalaritz is no prude, but she saves herself for Draager.”

Meanwhile, Sprite, who is nearly out of sight of the group, is finally able to see the temple ahead. A crowd has gathered, a handful of wounded cluster around a pair of clerics dressed much like the man who fetched them. A handful of soldiers in the same uniforms as the men who fought Sprite and Arx on the mountain hold back the crowd. The temple appears undisturbed.

 

[ICM8781]

"Sounds like a prude to me. Eh, no offense. It's one thing to be for someone, but to just wait not even knowing they're alive? Not for me thank you, I'd grieve and then start enjoying myself. Hell, I'd be enjoying myself while grieving." Chasen never understood the monogamous group. He shook his head hoping he didn't offend, but also can't help but speak his mind.

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite flies down, landing, softly, just before the soldiers.

"I have been sent to deal with the evil inside of the temple. My adventuring mates will be here in just a moment. Maritia demanded the best of the best be here, so we are here," Sprite explained but at the same time felt like building herself up.

She really didn't feel like being pushed away but realized these soliders maybe trying to make things worse due to the captain. If need be she would fly around them, but for now she would try talking.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The soldiers are scared and preoccupied with the chaos of the growing crowd. “Ma’am, please stay behind the barrier,” one says, but none of them move to actually stop Sprite.

Further back, the cleric nods to Chasen. “That’s why neither you nor I are divine,” he concludes beatifically.

 

[ICM8781]

Further back, the cleric nods to Chasen. “That’s why neither you nor I are divine,” he concludes beatifically.

Chasen just gives him a thumbs up. Not wanting to think about it too hard.

"Is it smart for Sprite to rush that far ahead on her own. I've been hired by a Devil before, but never faced one. Even still I figure it isn't something we should face alone or without some plan."

 

[justspitballing]

"Of course you would say that," Sprite spits back.

She draws out her wings and flies back slightly. The rest of the group should reach her any moment, and to push on would be foolish. She huffs with slight anger and turns around, spying her friends as they get closer.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The group reaches the door of the temple amid half-hearted objections from the soldiers maintaining a perimeter, but otherwise unmolested.

The door is ajar, and through the open doorway can be seen what appears to be an empty, if mildly ransacked, sanctuary. Light streams in through the windows, and open books and broken wood litter the aisle. A statue of a feminine figure in a long, elegant dress can be seen behind the pulpit.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx ignored the feeble protests of the soldiers and poked her head into the door to look around. It gave off the vibe that the only reason it wasn’t more of a mess was because it didn’t have much to loot. The devil would probably have gotten more satisfaction jerking it to the goddess’s statue than from he small baubles this temple likely held. “Noble” and “pure” gods who didn’t shell out to their followings likely weren’t offered a lot of gold themselves.

“If anyone wants to take the lead, they are more than welcome to do so. I dare not take the honor from my esteemed and brave companions.” She bowed and gestured toward the door with a playful smirk. Devils with spikes we’re likely more Sprite’s forte, and perhaps the new guy as well.

 

[ICM8781]

"Sprite is obviously ready to take charge, I'll back her up." Chasen releases the clasp on the bow's holster and let's it rest in the holster so it can be ready.

He doesn't want to seem threatening, but wants to be ready for anything. He'd want to speak to the summoner or even the Devil itself to see exactly what's going on.

"The untouched statue seems important. Let's start there."

 

[justspitballing]

"Right!" Sprite agrees.

She charges in, putting herself out front, and flies up, getting herself as high off the ground as she can while still being able to fly back down quickly. She then moves towards the statue.

"I'm sure your payment for this task is high, but collecting will be hard when I send you back to Hell!" Sprite then calls out. Stealth for her was always an impossibility, but if someone else wanted to sneak by maybe her boasting could act as a distraction.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Behind the statue of Yendalaritz, a long, spiny tail curls around the stonework as a barbed devil stands up into view. With a long, deadly claw, it picks at its broken, gnashing teeth.

As the group enters the temple, the fiend looks up and winks at the harpy, then smiles at Amie and Maritia. “The man who summoned me is waiting for you upstairs,” it says.

Amie stops and blinks. “What are you talking ab—“

“Better hurry,” he teases. “If you catch him, you can ask him where your Lady is.”

The wizard’s eyes get wide. She looks at Maritia, who nods. Then she meets Arx and Chasen’s eyes, and glances up at Sprite. “Can yoh handle him?”

“Sure they can,” the devil croons insincerely.

 

[Poprockz]

The changeling got a good look at the devil and couldn’t help but be impressed. The red skin, horns, nails… she found him kind of hot. Even though his teeth weren’t the best, the same could be said of a lot of people. She gave the wizard a sharp nod, not taking her eyes off their red opponent.

“It’s a shame we have to fight.” Arx took out her daggers and gave them a little twirl. “If you and I met in a bar, I’d be on your dick by the end of the night.”

 

[ICM8781]

As chasen sees the devil and hears his threats, relizing that this is just the way they talk, he places one last try to calm the situation down a bit. He takes his bow in his hands stepping back to keep distance enough not to let anyone else get hit by an area attack.

"What's your stake in all this Devil? It's not usual that any inferanal would risk the ethereal knowing they are on this plane. This seems a little petty for someone of your power and a bit too boisterous for the risk." Chasen hastened for one last deal before heading behind some cover.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The devil smiles hungrily at Arx, looking at her body and not her eyes, but addresses Chasen. "You are not mentioned in the contract. Leave or die. Choose now."

 

[ICM8781]

"Oh, come now. You know there are ways to bypass and loophole these contracts. Lesser Devils I know have done it. The person who sommoned you can't be smarter than you are."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Amie points at Maritia. "Stay with them. Banish that fucker. I'll find the summoner." She walks past him to the stairway behind the pulpit.

The devil smiles as she leaves and clenches a fist, deadly claws shining in the indirect light. "Oh well, time's up."

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite knows full well these talks with this beast will go nowhere, but if this lets her get closer in the mean time, so be it. She drifts slowly towards the devil not saying anymore, letting Chasen take all the attention. She moves into a spot well within range of her quick speed. Though the devil looks immensely intimidating, Sprite is not phased at all by the thing. She knows she has the strength to send him back to the Nine Hells.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx's fists glowed as she summoned two psionic daggers and hurled them at the devil. Perhaps she didn't really want to fuck him up, as both daggers flew shy of their mark. It seemed more like a warning shot, a threat of what was to come. It occurred to her that devils didn't like silver though, so she tucked one of her daggers back in its holster and started fiddling with her whip and the silver dagger.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The cleric of Yendalartiz, standing near the back of the sanctuary, places his palm on the ground and cradles the holy symbol of Yendalaritz in the other hand. His eyes emit a soft silver glow, and ethereal, angelic shades begin to flitter in and out of form around him. "Come close!" he shouts to the group.

The devil does not wait for anyone else to react, jumping in between Arx and Chasen, lashing out with his claws and tail. One of the claw swipes goes over Arx's ducking head, but the other catches her in the arm, leaving behind three deep gashes. The creature's tail catches Chasen in the side, barbs sinking into his skin. It hums in malicious joy. "Yes, I can almost taste it."

 

[justspitballing]

Sprite spat on the ground and shrieked out.

"Death from above!" she screeched and then flew down, her dress spinning out at the devil, fallowed quickly by her axe.

It was all a wild haze, but given her broad swings she felt the creature had to be wounded. Then she flew forward and up, towards the statue and near the ceiling, drawing the devil away from her team mates. She landed on the shoulder of the thing and then checked her weapons. No black ichor. Had it moved so quick that she hadn't hit it? Or was she just to caught up in the fight to strike it down?

"Ummm,... death from above on the way?" Sprite then said sheepishly.

 

[ICM8781]

The devil slashes at Chasen with his tail. The world around him tunnels and all he can do is focus on the target. He rises over the debri and takes a shot from his longbow. A powerful hit impacts against the devil's back as he blocks the shots from Sprite.

"You're doing fine, Harpy," He manages as he moves towards a pilllar he can use as another cover. Knowing her distraction might have given him this perfect opportunity.

He draws back quickly before he attempts to obscure himself again, and lets it go. The shot landing perfectly in the creature's ass, next to that dangerous tail.

As he waits for his next moment to attack, Chasen can't help but compare Amie abandoning him now with his last employer abandoning him to be arrested. It's a thought for another more spacious time, and a long conversation about priorities to that witch, if she's still alive before he can get to her.

"Bet you guys are happy you freed me, huh." He boasts, giving his more free spirited obnoxiousness through for a moment while he readies his next shots.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Maritia steps up behind Chasen's pillar and slides her hand up to his shoulder. He feels a radiance, a holy warmth emanate from her touch, and then the cleric peeks out from cover to conjure a mighty spear of golden light that stabs out at the devil, drawing foul, black blood.

 

[Poprockz]

Arx hissed and quickly examined the gash in her arm. It looked like shit, but it wasn’t too bad considering the circumstances. Just another scar to add to the canvas of her true body.

“Ha!” She playfully rolled her eyes at their newest member. “Yeah yeah, less gloating more fighting!” It was true- they may not have been able to inflict as much damage without his help. Sprite was a force to be reckoned with, but it was good to have someone else to balance out their attacks.

Her knife-tipped whip was ready and she didn’t hesitate in using it. Twirling while crouching, she held the whip aloft and twisted her wrist around to get the perfect wind-up to an attack. The whip was a streak of black and silver as it struck the demon. The blade bit into him and just as quickly it was flicked back to her so she could poise for another strike.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The whip crashes into the devil’s side, cutting deeper than Chasen’s arrows, deeper than Arx’s daggers, and he cries out in pain and frustration. He quickly glances around the room, less confident than he’d appeared at first.

The cleric fires a bolt of light at him, but it sails over one shoulder. “Stand next to me!” the man yells.

With a growl at the flying harpy, the demon dives toward the changeling, his fresh wounds fueling his infernal rage. He swipes wide with one claw, but the other cuts deep into Arx’s thigh, drawing her to him for his tail to stick its barbs in her back.