Abyssal Road Trip

The axe slicing down, chopped deep into stone as it struck where she’d been an instant earlier. Danger Sense no longer calling Julia struck from behind her foe. Ki Strike causing an echoing thump against the thick leg towering before her. As it whirled in place, she kept time with its motion, and metal chimed from her kick. Yet the high kick barely rang its metal cup before she had to move from between its legs.

Julia rolled away from a knee that it dropped towards her back. Battle Trance kept her unruffled as her back kick smashed against shin bone, and then Teleport put her on its shoulder. Snapping the extended leg forward in a knee strike, the blow cracked bone beside its boar shaped ear. Screams of pain and rage roared out as it tried to swat her away. Only for its allies’ attempt to gouge her from the shoulder left its hand impaled by a tusk. Well, clear of both Mana into form and thetw spell settled in Ki’s hold.

Flesh and bone ripped apart as the tusk wrenched clear. The wounded foe turned in rage, ignoring its ruined hand. Julia flickered again, and Flight held her aloft even as the strike landed true. Ki Strike breached its defence, and the Spatial bolt expanded reality through it. The Bãrftiz, still twisting with its momentum, continued towards the ground. The splatter of blood and brains had the second’s attention even before the body hit.

Will pushed Jade Court Mana into Ki Infusion, and as power blazed, Julia smiled. The strobing energy boiled under the Heat’s veneer, swirling flesh between dark living flame and a blazing red sun. When the survivor looked over the remains of its platoon, it finally fled. A dark flame exploding in its path before the passage’s first turn consumed its battered flesh.

[Combat Summary:

Contribution:-

Bãrftiz x2

Succubus (driven off) x 1 (20% exp)

Lesser Hümsi x 10

Hümsi x 8

Demonic Shards Gained: 20

Total-experience distributed between classes: 35,640

Blood Monk : +20,560

Wizard: +9,060

Succubus: +6,020

Shock Bolt [J](36->37)

Dominion [Ad](3->4)

Ki Armour [Ad](41->42)

Ki Strike [Ad] (42->43)

Danger Sense [Ad](50) -> [M](1)

Unarmed Combat [Ad](48->49)]

Julia was still looting the convoy when words tickled at the edge of her hearing.

“Viper, you’ve been out playing a while now. I’ve got buyers lined up. I thought you’d bring in shipments more evenly than this youngling. It’s been over a hundred cycles already since you left. The Zôhma brothel is running strong. Your little minion is wondering when she gets her due. Did you want her in our debt instead?”

Usd’ghi’s voice wasn’t edged as when Julia had heard it directed towards Uelian’ghi. Yet she wasn’t jovial like she’d been when last they’d spoken. Raised fists relaxed as Julia stepped away from the wall that instinct had set her against. Palms scrubbed over her face for a moment while she considered the options.

She doesn’t sound happy with me. Fuck, I can’t believe it’s already been a hundred cycles. How did time disappear like that?

This place traps the mind—the never-ending gloom. I need to level Time Sense more. But really, how did months go by?

Teleport to Zôhma, and then I’ll go see if I can use Analysis on the Mass Graves now. First things first, spend points to push Unarmed combat up to mastery and take time to loot.

[Unarmed Combat [Ad](49) -> [M](1)]

Eventually, when she’d discovered hopefully everything of value, Julia reviewed her Profile for a moment before she Teleported away.

Spoiler

Fog clung to the surrounding air and barely stirred aside as Julia pushed through its embrace. Noise, more sound than a song called from somewhere ahead. Its volume a shock after so long spent hunting through the tunnels. Still, Greater Teleport had delivered her without issue.

At last, shooed out of the tunnels of Ternòx, it made Julia consider her situation. Demonic flesh didn’t prompt for rest, and time had lost meaning. It had been one fight after another with a retreat to her refuge, an unused option for peace. The places she’d travelled hadn’t allowed for respite, as things hunted her presence even while she prowled their tunnels. The crackling discharges from the cube of memories gave them a warning and called those near to hunt. In the tunnels, Danger Sense and Perception were on constant alert, the difference between injury and avoidance often measured in the slightest motion.

Though looking over the illusion painting the wall ahead, Julia had to wonder whose goal it was to piss her off.

“The Viper’s Hollow,” Julia said softly in Abyssal, surprised by the sound of her own voice. So much of herself lost, now even her voice sounded changed from last she’d heard it. It purred even in annoyance, the tones of it licking the air about her with a come hither to play.

They’d set a sign written in the Abyssal script along the wall. Above was an illusion of spread legs, with a serpent looped in a coil between them, and left the Succubus’s vagina clearly visible. Whether the name referenced the serpent’s coil or the Succubus’ entry was anyone’s guess. Considering the poisonous serpent matched the name Lêdhins had given her, Julia wasn’t happy in either case.

If Lêdhins put her up to that, I swear I’m going to hurt him. I didn’t even tell her my name.

{{We could let them play in our hollow. Suppose you’d just spread them for a bit. There is more to existence than fighting.}}

The memory of relaxing in a bath and allowing herself the release of masturbation came to mind. Remembered orgasms had hips twitching as Julia strode forward with quiet gliding motions. The deadly erotic grace made the door guard jump as she breached the fog. A movement to its weapon halted, and it nodded with a hesitant awkwardness. A frown crossing her face made it jump to open the door, its hand well away from the weapon’s haft.

Though it was hardly helpless, the solid yellow of its eyes set back deep above a fanged gargoyle maw. It had the build and more muscles than a super heavyweight, covered by thick rough hide, its long arms and legs ended in clawed talons. Despite its appearance, her Sense Motive conveyed the concern it felt clearly. Though slightly smaller, a second guard appeared to be the same species, and curious Julia used Analysis on the one holding the door.

Analysis

[Name: Iblät

Demonic Species: Fraz-gòn

Class: Miner / Fighter

Level: 16 / 15/ 25

Health: 1,835

Mana: 0

Melee Attack Power: 81

Defence: 89

Combat Skills: Claws [Ad] (2), War Hammer [Ad] (14)

Condition: Pacified]

Its level is a lot below mine now, but it’s a tier higher.

“The boss’ isn’t here, but Klipyl is within,” said Iblät, its growling tone breaking as it strained for politeness.

“What’s your boss’ name?” Julia asked, wondering how the club was being managed between Klipyl and the Coven.

“I’ve never met her. Klipyl or the Hags give her orders. Anyone behind the bar can take word to Klipyl,” Iblät said.

“Why would I be here for your boss?” asked Julia, looking straight at it.

“What else would bring someone like you here,” said Iblät, shrugging in obvious confusion.

{{We’re the boss, little yappy bitch. The boss is the Succubus who never fucks, the ghost who never cums.}}

Julia stepped forward, Ki’s calm wrapped through her flesh, as it tried to calm her vagina still twitching from the unbidden sensations. The guard licked its lips in desire as Ki Armour’s flames flickered over her skin.

“I’m never getting enough coin to spawn with one like her,” said Iblät to the other guard. The mutter barely audible as the door clunked closed made Julia’s eyebrow raise unseen. The entryway empty of any witnesses, but the ‘music’ within even more jarring to her ears.

The gliding steps took Julia among drinking patrons, and those nearby turned in her direction. Their attention only just beating the ping of a notification. As it did, she saw their auras and desires light up in her awareness, the effect of her aura rippling as rock into a pond. Her eyes took in the large number of Succubi scattered about among the patrons.

[Dominion [Ad](4->6)]

Screw it; they’ve already felt it might as well level it more. Fuck, I’m what a little fish in the tiny pond of Zôhma?

Did she hire every Succubus in the town to lock down the competition? Or did I start a co-op of Demonic pussy?

When her strides headed her in the bar's direction, the yowling humanoid that had been brutalising music closed its mouth with a snap. Its posture shrank, futilely trying to escape notice since it was out in the open on stage. When Julia fixed its shifting movements with a look, it flattened itself, playing dead for all she knew.

“I will see Klipyl,” Julia said. Words directed to the closest Succubus behind the bar. It's clothing little more than panels there to accent what wasn’t yet accessible.

“If you’ll wait by that door. I’ll let her know,” she replied, gesturing towards the end of the bar, near where the yowling singer still cowed.

With a nod, Julia moved towards the door, aware of it disappearing in the same instant. As she drew close to the stage, the humanoid whimpered, prompting Julia to take another look. The lithe male Demon was at least fully clothed, and what flesh was exposed yellowish black scales covered. Atop its head, a circle of red-crested horns called attention to its angular skull. While she thought it was a Cambion, she wasn’t completely sure.

Analysis

[Name: Moke aka Mokilian

Species: Cambion (in appearance actually a cursed Human - Egyptian)

Class: Bard / Fighter

Level: 35 / 5

Health: 480

Mana: 315

Melee Attack Power: 37

Defence : 32

Combat Skills: Short Blade [M](1), Short Bow [J] (14), Assorted illusionary spell forms

Condition: Abyssal blight (minor), Cowed (severe), Cursed

Details: A famed performer in Thebes, he ended up in the Abyss after offending a High Priest of Set. The current appearance is because of a curse inflicted by said Priest but provides no racial benefits to help survive planar conditions. ]

What the fuck! I really hate priests of Set.

Julia stopped and put a hand to its cheek. Though his eyes widened at the heatless flames that trickled along her flesh, they managed not to scream.

“You’ll come with me Pet; your song amused me,” Julia said, her voice purring in the air set the ‘Cambion’ quivering.

“That pathetic halfbreed is not worthy of your time. I should escort you,” a snarling Demon interjected, stone scraping on stone as a chair pushed back and it rose to its feet.

{{So rude. Kill them, then torture the human.}}

((Another seeks destruction. ))

Anger, pity and contempt bubbled under the Ki as Julia glanced towards the speaker. Demonic Lore was quick to identify its species as Hymadan. The species was clear with its distinctive hyena shaped head the humanoid body, all covered in rotting fur. Force of her will backing Stimulation had it thrashing on the floor a moment later, and jaws clenched tight in soundless pain.

[Stimulation (Critical Success) boosted by Dominion

Willpower 82 vs 18

Level Totals: 128 vs 52

Do you wish to amplify the sensory experience?]

Yes

[Stimulation[J](32 -> 33)]

The agony she’d felt in the grotto when the Heat had felt near to snuffed out wracked its body and multiplied by the moment.

{{Make it scream.}}

((Just kill them. ))

“Kill them,” Julia said, not sure why she even bothered to respond.

The words had hit the silent air of the bar, and a wet sound quickly punctuated them as its soundless thrashing ceased. A sword wielded by another Hymadan having taken its head from its writhing shoulders.

“May I serve mistress?” the Hymadan asked, bowing low to her Demonic blood still dripping from the blade.

[A demon has offered you service. Do you wish to be their patron?]

Analysis

[Name: Khalrzo

Demonic Species: Lesser Hymadan

Class: Miner / Gladiator

Level: 3 / 15 / 25

Health: 720

Mana: 0

Melee Attack Power: 75

Defence : 45

Combat Skills: Long blade [Ad] (4), Short Blade [Ad] (12), Pole arms [Ad] (1)]

Fucked if I know what I’m doing, but its power. I’ll need everything I can find to get my friends out of hell.

“Yes, but relax for now,” Julia said. Taking a blood-red fury coin from inventory, she flicked it to Khalrzo.

Like giving them platinum in a place where drinks cost copper. It should get them a lot of drinks, and other fun.

[Your actions have unlocked the Assassin class for the Hymadan: Khalrzo]

The words brought a pleased grunting noise from Khalrzo as two Succubi nearby moved over to him.

“When you call, I will kill,” said Khalrzo, bowing again to her before turning its attention to the Succubi.

It killed a helpless demon for me, and it got a class unlocked?

“What about the blood?” asked Succubus, her voice quivering as she spoke.

“What about it?” asked Julia shrugging. “I know it’s not the first spilt in this building. Would you like to add to it?” Julia’s voice didn’t grow angry, but its cold convinced the Succubus elsewhere was a good place to be right then. Another whistled, and a Dretch approached from clearing a nearby table. Its motions and bowed head showed its focus was purely on the body.

The door near Julia opened, and the first bartender appeared to usher her in. Julia grabbed the back of Mokilian’s shirt and dragged him upright.

“Walk.”

I know you’re afraid; just move it. If I take it easy on you, they’ll know something is up.

Telepathy is getting nothing from him. Some sort of shielding item or illusion? That might be the only reason he's alive.

As he got to shaking feet, Julia considered what Soul sight revealed. Although very erratic and wounded by a mesh-work of serrated Abyssal filaments, the colours within were brilliant.

Guess that makes sense. Good bard annoys the crap out of a dark power’s priest. I need to get him somewhere safe to talk.

Safe please, we’re in the Abyss.

I can’t take them straight to the material plane. My species prevents me from opening the conduit there directly.

Could I convince them to do it? Maybe they’ll be desperate enough that I won’t have to explain.

If they don’t take them to the grey fields? Yeah, then what?

A Cambion and a Succubus walk into grey fields with no Souls to deliver. Even with a punchline, I don’t think the patrols would just laugh it off.

[Acting [Ap](20->22)]

Cool acting, you level your little safety net arse.

The rooms they’d passed were loud with activity, but when the door to Klipyl’s office shut, the sounds had also cut out. Julia looked over the furnishing, noting the Succubus’s taste in finer things. Her gaze took in the polished stone desk, the ornate chairs, and erotically carved cupboards lining the office walls. The rug underfoot seemed thick fur, and Julia figured blue light could be a bad thing.

Klipyl’s eyes had widened as Dominion’s effect rolled over her and rose as Julia entered. Julia could feel Klipyl’s eyes drinking in the sight of her. Their focus lingering on the flickering flames of Ki Armour’s aura.

“I knew you were hiding more,” Klipyl said before bowing deeply, “Mistress.”

“This is the boss?” asked the escort, her voice rising in surprise.

“You can leave now,” Julia said, wanting to cut off the discussion.

“Yes, Mistress,” said the Succubus and promptly disappeared.

So what’s the difference between Khalrzo and these? One offering service while these are standard employees?

“Would you like something to eat, drink or just space for fun?”

“You look prosperous,” Julia said.

“My share of profits lets me get a few decent things,” said Klipyl, gesturing almost neglectfully towards the furnishings.

“You’re dealing with the Coven directly?” Julia asked, gesturing for Mokilian to sit on a plain-looking chair near the door.

You might feel you’re in the naughty corner, but it’s safer for you.

“Given what you said, I contacted them,”

“Good. What terms did you settle?”

“After costs one coin in ten for me, three for you, and the rest for their services. Your share is held by the Treasury branch here,”

“Who will run things with you absent?”

“The Coven hag Palia’nitr’ghi is my contact point and drops in regularly. They’ll gain my share while I’m away. She’s the assistant at the local branch,” Klipyl said, interest and excitement lighting up her eyes.

Not going to tell you I’ve almost zero experience with this. I don’t know if I even can. Things that make you go, Boom!

“Your home plane is Hrz’Styrn?” asked Julia.

“Yes, but how did you know?”

“I don’t know how much time your Ascending will require,” Julia said, ignoring the question.

Did I get more from her imprint than others see? Does profile control do more than it says?

“Of course,”

“I’m going to tell you something, and you will heed it. If I’m not impressed when next we meet, things will need to change,”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“You will surrender your will to me so I can force you to Ascend. When you go through the inferno, focus your increased energy on your mind and will. Beauty makes you but a toy, if that is all you have. I need useful assistants to run things here and in other places. If it is not you, it will be someone else,”

“Yes, Mistress,” said Klipyl, greed lighting up her eyes.

[Sense Motive [Ap](7->8)]

“Stand there,” Julia said, gesturing with the same neglect before watching Klipyl follow the instruction. The succubus was so similar, yet different to Julia’s own form. Her features sharper than Julia’s heart-shaped face; they’d provided the foundation for Julia’s disguise when visiting Usd’ghi. The clothing she wore still as minimal as the last time Julia had seen her, even though her status had changed.

Does she wear it by choice or expectation?

Harmony allowed Julia to feel the Succubus’ power and became aware of the Abyssal Heat with flesh. The Demonic shards shimmered away beneath the barrier of form that no longer stopped Julia from touching them. The fingers of her will trickle against them, drawing through the mists of power as Klipyl moaned with unheeded pleasure. Lust given flesh, desires normal and depraved alike rolled over Julia’s awareness. When her will snagged the end of a misty thread, Julia started it spinning in circles.

Slowly, at first but with increasing ease, the power churned and compressed. Each loop pressed in with the image of vapour squeezing into a gem, and more power followed in its wake. The gravity well of power drew more and more shards into the circling energy. The power manipulating far easier than Julia remembered from working on her own. At last, the whole compressed like rock flared and burned to her senses. A maelstrom of Abyssal power ripped open reality and swallowed Klipyl whole, the edge of it brushing Julia’s hold and breaking it free.

[Demonic Shards gained: 5]

Either it worked, or I blew her out of existence.

Did I steal some from her by accident? Or was that the Abyssal power brushing against me?

Still, after all the hunting, I’m already over the max for tier now. How far do I dare push it before I Ascend?

“Come here, Mokilian,” Julia said, hearing the bard flinch.

Their steps were light and slow, and Julia’s ears picked up the hitch in his breathing.

“I wonder if the soundproofing in here goes both ways.”

“Why, Mistress?” asked Mokilian.

“Because we need to talk,”

“Talk?”

“It doesn’t matter, and the Coven likely put the spells in place. Speak no further unless I ask you direct questions, little Cambion,” Julia said, noticing the tension in his limbs easy slightly.

“That yowling was appalling. Why were you singing that?” asked Julia after considering the patched state of his clothing.

“Its popular here; the patrons give coin for it. You said it amused you.”

“I lied. You will wait here. If you aren’t here when I get back, I’ll hunt you down. If anyone tells you to leave this office, you will tell them you are under my orders to remain. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Mokilian said, a forked tongue licking his lips with obvious nerves.

Julia gestured them to a more comfortable chair than before and vanished. Since the wards were still in place, she’d only shifted to the entryway. As she exited, Iblät and his companion turned at the sound, the effect of Dominion obvious in their posture change.

“Guide me to the Treasury branch Iblät,” Julia said, eyes spearing him before she looked at his companion. “Do you need an assistant, or will you be enough to guard till he returns?”

“We have two for security; someone is always playing some stunt,” said the other Fraz-gòn, their eyes flicking between Julia and Iblät.

Julia used Telepathy and reached for the minds she could feel behind the bar.

#Send another guard to the front door. I’m borrowing Iblät as a guide#

Telepathy let Julia feel the Succubi behind the bar jump in surprise at her words in their minds.

“I’ve asked them to send someone to assist. Now lead the way, Iblät,” Julia said, her tone cold even as it purred against the air.

Julia nodded dismissively at Iblät before stepping inside the reinforced door. The layout inside was different in a few ways than the one in Ùeqräka. Instead of a gated wall, a grilled counter split the room, with a black metal doorway at one end. To Julia, it appeared like an old-style movie’s wild west bank, compared to the prison block vibe of Usd’ghi’s store. Also, the back of the store had a visible pair of solid doors instead of the stone archway. When the door clanged shut, the hag behind the counter glanced up; and the ledger in front of her closed with a snap as she focused on Julia.

This hag was quite different to the ones she’d seen before. Julia looked it over even as its hollow sockets regarded her in return. Where the ones in the city all appeared old, this one appeared young. While its eye sockets were in the same hollow state set with motes of light. Its skin was smooth, and it had thick oily hair instead of scraggly wisps. The way its lips didn’t bow inwards showed it actually had its teeth as well.

“What do you need?” asked the Hag.

Julia flicked Analysis over her and discovering it wasn’t the Hag that Klipyl had named, continued as planned.

“Is Palia’nitr’ghi around to speak with Salia’nitr’ghi?” asked Julia, enjoying the way using the Hag’s name made its brows twitch in surprise.

“I don’t know you,” Salia’nitr’ghi stated, tapping nails sharply on stone.

“We’ve not met before. Klipyl said I’d need to contact Palia’nitr’ghi, is she about or not?”

“Who’s asking?” asked Salia’nitr’ghi.

“Viper,” said Julia, frost laying hard across her voice.

Salia’nitr’ghi looked her over sceptically and for an instance, her gaze seemed distracted. “You don’t match the description they gave me. You’re too old to be her,”

“I am Viper,” Julia said, letting battle focus edge into her voice.

“If you waste my sister’s time, she’ll boil you down Succubus. Best go elsewhere with your lies,”

“Can you send a flit across planes?” Julia asked, the continued coldness of her voice drawing a scowl from the Hag.

“Yes, can’t you?” Salia’nitr’ghi sneered.

“Flit Usd’ghi tell her I got her message. She’ll be able to give you a way to verify, I’m sure,” Julia said, lips thinning as her voice cut into the air.

“If I disturb Usd’ghi, and you aren’t who you claim. You won’t need to worry about my sister,”

Julia said nothing further, just taking the purple coin from inventory and holding it up so the skull was visible.

The hag’s hollows just regarded it before looking at Julia again.

“Sorrows, that is interesting, but not quite enough. I’ll ask her for a way to verify who you are then,”

Julia watched the spell form that the Hag’s will shaped. Woven together the spatial and fire mana energies rippled into existence behind the barrier’s wards then vanished as quickly. They waited for long minutes in silence before Julia saw another return, and its energy pulsed in the Hag’s direction.

“Who introduced you to her?” interrogated Salia’nitr’ghi.

{{The bitch!!!}}

“A bitch named Naz’ricla,” Julia said, watching the expression of the Hag change. The ice of Ki strangled the surge of rage that tried to burn through its grasp. With the way the hag swallowed at the words, Julia wondered what threat Usd’ghi had issued, not feeling the ice shining in her own gaze.

“I also told Usd’ghi you appeared too strong. She said your delay is now understandable and excused. I’ll get my sister,” said Salia’nitr’ghi, begrudgingly.

“There are also some enchanted items I need to sell and wizard spells I want,” declared Julia.

“Come through,” said Salia’nitr’ghi. A gesture and wisp of mana caused the door to click open.