02-23-2015, 11:32 PM
Inlumia bowed slightly to the Demon. "My appologies. So you will know I am honest in my appology, I will allow you to glance into my mind enough to tell if I am lying. You probably can do so easily, but I believe it is best to do this."
He focused his thoughts for a bit and lowered his mental barriers.
"If you wish for me to leave, then that is your right as owner of his mansion. I never meant to control anyone here, just guide them into being more relaxed and having fun. For those who could not resist my magic, I, Inlumia, appologise and plead Harmless Prank. I never dared believe I could command Demons as such as in attendence here; I have enough experiance in the Lower Planes to vanquish any such outlandish delusions.
"If I did, I know from personnel experiance just the kinds of torments I would be risking.
"As to why I dared force such fine actors of a stage, the reason is simple; despite you having great actors and possibly a masterpiece of a play, it was being treated as naught but a sideshow! Most of the people were rarely glancing at it for more then a few seconds in passing, and unless someone's hearing is unnaturally keen, the actor's voices could not be heard with any clarity past 4 feet from the stage! Why, I doubt that except for you and others of your power, who would have taken positions that gave you a clear view, which most lacked, that anyone here can tell what the play has contained so far!"
He looked out over the crowd and no-one refuted his statement.
In a more soothing voice he added, "Plays need to be held in theaters where they are the centerpiece, and the focus, not as a sideshow. Guests were loosing the enjoyment the musician had brought to them, and the party was starting to die off. Something the acting host should have spotted if he had done his duty and circulated amongst the guests instead of holding court with a small group of people as he plotted his next adventure.
"I had hoped to bring life back to the party and make it more enjoyable."
The short man looked into Inlumia while he was speaking and Inlumia could feel the Demon looking for any falsehoods in his words.
"Have you spotted any other flaws with Dio's management of his masquarade so far?"
"Yes. They as in the matter of the security for this party. Firstly, located where we are, there can be no doubt that forces loyal if not to Dracula, then the legacy of Diablo at least, are behind it, thus making every single person here suspected in the eyes of all the other governments, and telling them that if they attacked here, they could weaken Dracula's network a bit. Secondly, they were to make their way here through the Moors, but the Moors contain dangers that would love to devour people and don't care about Dracula. I admit that this far in they are rare, but I passed the remains of 3 groups on my way here, as far as I know. I flew here on a Nightmare, so I may have missed some. Thirdly was the security entering here. It was only a bouncer to keep annoyances out. Anyone could have slipped in here with a Vita Compass and mingled with the crowd, allowing them to track down all except the more powerful beings latter. I should know because I did that myself. They might prove to be useful business contacts. If I had slipped out and sold my help tracking them down to governments, instead of coming up here, no-one would have known better. I will not do that because my duties to my faith require that I remain neutral in all matters except the 3 laws of the Dark, which I am bound to enforce when I can, as I deem best. Lastly is the internal security. Considering the kinds of guests who were expected to come here, I figured there would be wards to prevent things like strong mind control, and other things. After all, a bunch of people who probably have links to Evil groups, masked, able to access knives and surrounded by possible competitors, with booze flowing does not exactly paint a picture of a safe environment.
"When I recently founded the Dark Mage Guild in Dalaran, I made sure I was as well warded as I possibly could be, with some people who had a vested interested in my survival monitoring things."
By now the people were visibly nervous.
Inlumis smiled slightly. "That was another reason for me wanting to keep the party going. If they are having a good time on the dance floor, they are less likely to be backstabing each other. A play, expressly a tragity or Drama, normally contains murders, and that could have gotten them to thinking of the chance they had."
The short man was visibly pissed! He seemed to be restraining himself in order to hear Inlumia's full statement.
"Anything you wish to add?"
"Two things. Those flaws were probably not caused by incompetience, but inexperiance. Dio seems to me to be the kind of person who is more likely to have been invited to functions, then to host them. He probably tried his best, but without training things like this do happen. Secondly, I consider myself in your debt. You shall be able to call on me for any favor you desire, unless it requires me to break my neurality, violate the 3 laws, or cause hinderence to my work. After all, offering you 91 babies as burnt offerings on Beltime Day would cause a lot of problems and possibly break by neutrality where those governments are concerned. I have no doubt you will be able to find me when you want to."
Smiling the Demon asked "What is the most horrible punishment do you think I could give to you and the worst one I could give to Dio?"
Inlumia did not hesitate. "Have me train him in ettiquet and subilty."
Everyone was shocked!
Inlumia continued "Dio's main flaw that I can see is his Pride, but Fear is also there. I think his Fear makes him unable to accept not being the most important being around, and thus driving him to overwhelming Pride. A common fear among some groups and even entire social castes. It can drive people to greatness, and destroy them. I admit I might be wrong. Being subservant to someone he hates and being unable to do anything to hurt them will anger him worse them any beatings could. Being forced to learn will be a horrible admission to himself that I could teach him. Being forced to travel with me, living in hard conditions and helping the poor will be galling for. The humiliation of being forced to be forces to care for those he considered beneigh him may be enough to drive him insane. Wait, I just thought of a refinement for him, which would actually lessen my own. Strip him of all his powers, or seal them, and turn his body into that of an average girl. Say around 15; old enough to lure would be rapists and too young to survive on her own save by prostitution.
"For me, I hate people being arrogant. He will hinder my schemes with his mere prescence. Trying to make him learn anything will be enough to drive some people to suicide in my estimation. Making him realize there is actually stuff to learn might require a miracle! He will be whinning over little things, like not being in a luxery hotel, or not being given restraunt caliber food at an inn.
"Being associated with him would taint my reputation, probably beyound all repair and possible destroy my works! I would prefer to feel the agonies of a thousand death from being tortured by expert Demonlord that accept that punishment. Again I speak from experiance by having those memories shared to me by a sadistic telepath. Sado-masochistic actually. In retrospect I should of found out if he was attacking me, or trying to hit on me before I killed him."
The Demon paused for a bit and said "You truely believe all that, don't you?"
Inlumia smiled sadly. "I have not uttered any falsehoods since I first arrived at the Fountain of Infinity."
--------------------------
In the Stables, thing were getting a bit wild. Wildia spat Hellfire not at the Mummy, but at her quiver while she was distracted shooting a Griffin.
As she dodged aside at the last moment a Spectrial horse who had been brought there dropped ontop of her, and managed to knock her out for a bit. The ghost's harness fell on her, and it had been designed to contain Undead, rendering them unable to oppose whoever had the reins. It was also designed so no undead could escape it on their own.
Wildia had no time to watch that.
As the skeleton was slashing at a Pooka who kept dashing back and forth, Wildia threw herself forwards at the skeleton's feet, side on, and knocked him down as she rolled over him. Getting up she stomped on his skull, but it did not break. The eyes dimmed, though.
In annoyance Wildia released her bladder over the undead skull.
She then stomped on the bow and bit it's string with her fangs.
She did not destroy them because unlike the others she had killed there, these 2 were not just prey. They actually got a little bit of respect for her from that fight
They headed out and Wildia broke the survivors up into 4 groups. Fliers, 2 groups who would work their way around the manor to side doors, killing any guards, and those who would take the front entrance.
Wildia was glad for one main thing. They may not all be natural preditors, but they were all herd or pack animals, and these kinds of manouvers were in their blood!
Wildia went and picked up the mangled remains of a stablehand with her fangs, and put it over the back of one of the fliers. She indicated what to do with it and they smiled as best as they could.
They headed into position near where they could easily launch themselves into the air.
Wildia and her group, which was the largest, went to the garage. They included those who could turn invisible, merge with darkness and more.
Working their way along they killed the pilots and damaged the vehicles there, except for a few AIs they could clearly see how to free, such as removing a harness of wires
Then they got into position. Inlumia was reaching the part of his conversation where he was telling the Demon what his worst punishment would be.
When Inlumis finished his statement about telling only truth, Wildia gave the signal, a ball of Hellfire shot at the doormen.
The fliers swept over the internal courtyard and the corpse was dropped there as a manticore spiked the guests there.
The others broke tiles to rain down on any who went there.
The 3 ground wings moved in, killing as they went.
One thing Inlumia made sure to do was to act very surprised when the Doorman was blasted inwards, and not to say anything that might be considered a falsehood.
--------------------------
What only Inlumia and Wildia there knew was that the screams of the guests would work as a signal for other residents of the Moors they met on the way there who wanted a bit more violent fun.
At the first screams they would move in. They did not care about other members of this bunch dying. In fact, each group was planning to kill the others once their mutal rival was hit hard enough. Some had an agreement to off the followers of Khorne as soon as they, expressly the rogue Space Marines!
Along the path to the manor a few trees waited in ambush.
He focused his thoughts for a bit and lowered his mental barriers.
"If you wish for me to leave, then that is your right as owner of his mansion. I never meant to control anyone here, just guide them into being more relaxed and having fun. For those who could not resist my magic, I, Inlumia, appologise and plead Harmless Prank. I never dared believe I could command Demons as such as in attendence here; I have enough experiance in the Lower Planes to vanquish any such outlandish delusions.
"If I did, I know from personnel experiance just the kinds of torments I would be risking.
"As to why I dared force such fine actors of a stage, the reason is simple; despite you having great actors and possibly a masterpiece of a play, it was being treated as naught but a sideshow! Most of the people were rarely glancing at it for more then a few seconds in passing, and unless someone's hearing is unnaturally keen, the actor's voices could not be heard with any clarity past 4 feet from the stage! Why, I doubt that except for you and others of your power, who would have taken positions that gave you a clear view, which most lacked, that anyone here can tell what the play has contained so far!"
He looked out over the crowd and no-one refuted his statement.
In a more soothing voice he added, "Plays need to be held in theaters where they are the centerpiece, and the focus, not as a sideshow. Guests were loosing the enjoyment the musician had brought to them, and the party was starting to die off. Something the acting host should have spotted if he had done his duty and circulated amongst the guests instead of holding court with a small group of people as he plotted his next adventure.
"I had hoped to bring life back to the party and make it more enjoyable."
The short man looked into Inlumia while he was speaking and Inlumia could feel the Demon looking for any falsehoods in his words.
"Have you spotted any other flaws with Dio's management of his masquarade so far?"
"Yes. They as in the matter of the security for this party. Firstly, located where we are, there can be no doubt that forces loyal if not to Dracula, then the legacy of Diablo at least, are behind it, thus making every single person here suspected in the eyes of all the other governments, and telling them that if they attacked here, they could weaken Dracula's network a bit. Secondly, they were to make their way here through the Moors, but the Moors contain dangers that would love to devour people and don't care about Dracula. I admit that this far in they are rare, but I passed the remains of 3 groups on my way here, as far as I know. I flew here on a Nightmare, so I may have missed some. Thirdly was the security entering here. It was only a bouncer to keep annoyances out. Anyone could have slipped in here with a Vita Compass and mingled with the crowd, allowing them to track down all except the more powerful beings latter. I should know because I did that myself. They might prove to be useful business contacts. If I had slipped out and sold my help tracking them down to governments, instead of coming up here, no-one would have known better. I will not do that because my duties to my faith require that I remain neutral in all matters except the 3 laws of the Dark, which I am bound to enforce when I can, as I deem best. Lastly is the internal security. Considering the kinds of guests who were expected to come here, I figured there would be wards to prevent things like strong mind control, and other things. After all, a bunch of people who probably have links to Evil groups, masked, able to access knives and surrounded by possible competitors, with booze flowing does not exactly paint a picture of a safe environment.
"When I recently founded the Dark Mage Guild in Dalaran, I made sure I was as well warded as I possibly could be, with some people who had a vested interested in my survival monitoring things."
By now the people were visibly nervous.
Inlumis smiled slightly. "That was another reason for me wanting to keep the party going. If they are having a good time on the dance floor, they are less likely to be backstabing each other. A play, expressly a tragity or Drama, normally contains murders, and that could have gotten them to thinking of the chance they had."
The short man was visibly pissed! He seemed to be restraining himself in order to hear Inlumia's full statement.
"Anything you wish to add?"
"Two things. Those flaws were probably not caused by incompetience, but inexperiance. Dio seems to me to be the kind of person who is more likely to have been invited to functions, then to host them. He probably tried his best, but without training things like this do happen. Secondly, I consider myself in your debt. You shall be able to call on me for any favor you desire, unless it requires me to break my neurality, violate the 3 laws, or cause hinderence to my work. After all, offering you 91 babies as burnt offerings on Beltime Day would cause a lot of problems and possibly break by neutrality where those governments are concerned. I have no doubt you will be able to find me when you want to."
Smiling the Demon asked "What is the most horrible punishment do you think I could give to you and the worst one I could give to Dio?"
Inlumia did not hesitate. "Have me train him in ettiquet and subilty."
Everyone was shocked!
Inlumia continued "Dio's main flaw that I can see is his Pride, but Fear is also there. I think his Fear makes him unable to accept not being the most important being around, and thus driving him to overwhelming Pride. A common fear among some groups and even entire social castes. It can drive people to greatness, and destroy them. I admit I might be wrong. Being subservant to someone he hates and being unable to do anything to hurt them will anger him worse them any beatings could. Being forced to learn will be a horrible admission to himself that I could teach him. Being forced to travel with me, living in hard conditions and helping the poor will be galling for. The humiliation of being forced to be forces to care for those he considered beneigh him may be enough to drive him insane. Wait, I just thought of a refinement for him, which would actually lessen my own. Strip him of all his powers, or seal them, and turn his body into that of an average girl. Say around 15; old enough to lure would be rapists and too young to survive on her own save by prostitution.
"For me, I hate people being arrogant. He will hinder my schemes with his mere prescence. Trying to make him learn anything will be enough to drive some people to suicide in my estimation. Making him realize there is actually stuff to learn might require a miracle! He will be whinning over little things, like not being in a luxery hotel, or not being given restraunt caliber food at an inn.
"Being associated with him would taint my reputation, probably beyound all repair and possible destroy my works! I would prefer to feel the agonies of a thousand death from being tortured by expert Demonlord that accept that punishment. Again I speak from experiance by having those memories shared to me by a sadistic telepath. Sado-masochistic actually. In retrospect I should of found out if he was attacking me, or trying to hit on me before I killed him."
The Demon paused for a bit and said "You truely believe all that, don't you?"
Inlumia smiled sadly. "I have not uttered any falsehoods since I first arrived at the Fountain of Infinity."
--------------------------
In the Stables, thing were getting a bit wild. Wildia spat Hellfire not at the Mummy, but at her quiver while she was distracted shooting a Griffin.
As she dodged aside at the last moment a Spectrial horse who had been brought there dropped ontop of her, and managed to knock her out for a bit. The ghost's harness fell on her, and it had been designed to contain Undead, rendering them unable to oppose whoever had the reins. It was also designed so no undead could escape it on their own.
Wildia had no time to watch that.
As the skeleton was slashing at a Pooka who kept dashing back and forth, Wildia threw herself forwards at the skeleton's feet, side on, and knocked him down as she rolled over him. Getting up she stomped on his skull, but it did not break. The eyes dimmed, though.
In annoyance Wildia released her bladder over the undead skull.
She then stomped on the bow and bit it's string with her fangs.
She did not destroy them because unlike the others she had killed there, these 2 were not just prey. They actually got a little bit of respect for her from that fight
They headed out and Wildia broke the survivors up into 4 groups. Fliers, 2 groups who would work their way around the manor to side doors, killing any guards, and those who would take the front entrance.
Wildia was glad for one main thing. They may not all be natural preditors, but they were all herd or pack animals, and these kinds of manouvers were in their blood!
Wildia went and picked up the mangled remains of a stablehand with her fangs, and put it over the back of one of the fliers. She indicated what to do with it and they smiled as best as they could.
They headed into position near where they could easily launch themselves into the air.
Wildia and her group, which was the largest, went to the garage. They included those who could turn invisible, merge with darkness and more.
Working their way along they killed the pilots and damaged the vehicles there, except for a few AIs they could clearly see how to free, such as removing a harness of wires
Then they got into position. Inlumia was reaching the part of his conversation where he was telling the Demon what his worst punishment would be.
When Inlumis finished his statement about telling only truth, Wildia gave the signal, a ball of Hellfire shot at the doormen.
The fliers swept over the internal courtyard and the corpse was dropped there as a manticore spiked the guests there.
The others broke tiles to rain down on any who went there.
The 3 ground wings moved in, killing as they went.
One thing Inlumia made sure to do was to act very surprised when the Doorman was blasted inwards, and not to say anything that might be considered a falsehood.
--------------------------
What only Inlumia and Wildia there knew was that the screams of the guests would work as a signal for other residents of the Moors they met on the way there who wanted a bit more violent fun.
At the first screams they would move in. They did not care about other members of this bunch dying. In fact, each group was planning to kill the others once their mutal rival was hit hard enough. Some had an agreement to off the followers of Khorne as soon as they, expressly the rogue Space Marines!
Along the path to the manor a few trees waited in ambush.
Sometimes the difference between Good and Evil is who is passing judgement.