Stories of my brain

“Thank god it is you guys, was getting nervous from the skeletons” Livia says when Adaly drops the invisibility. “What the fuck was that?” Amara yells at Sam, but Sam just shakes his head and already starts retreating. Amara clearly wants to follow but Amadeus and Heskeni join them in the main room, making Amara stay with the party “So you succeeded?”

Adaly rubs her head and Amara just looks annoyed. “It was as you described Amadeus, many vaults, also many traps. We triggered one so had to abort before we got your wand. I am sorry, we will try again tomorrow” Adaly lies. Amadeus looks annoyed “You guys are impossible, it wasn’t so hard. But sure, tomorrow is a new day” and he flies off.

“I need a bath” Amara just says, and Adaly still stays in the living area, trying to spy on her siblings and the generals. Her siblings she cannot reach, but the spell reaches Es-Grenalieth. Es-Grenalieth stands in a desert, being escorted by 2 devils. Es-Grenalieth suddenly turns around and executes one of the devils before ripping off the arm of another one “I do NOT like to be treated this way. If Es-Vahelieth survives what comes next, he owes me.” She says frustrated before she lifts off and starts flying again.

Adaly ends the spell and joins Amara in the bathing area.

“So, what happened with Sam that you were giving him shit over?” Adaly asks while the warm water feels nice on her a bit strained muscles. “You didn’t see it? He was covered in black flames, while his eyes turned red.” Amara replies, and Adaly thinks about that.

“I saw some black flames disappearing when I turned the corner, but no I didn’t see what you are describing. What do you think it is?” Adaly asks while Amara dips her head in the water for a second, before continuing. “I don’t know, but he is not a goody two shoes paladin, that shit looked infernal. You are our infernal expert, what do you think?” “Well black skin and red eyes are a bit in Shai-ilar’s domain, but on the other hand black and red is a very common color scheme in the hells. So, if it is infernal, it could basically be anything. We should ask him about it in the morning. Maybe first we should ask Livia, she seems more willing to talk” Adaly says while considering what this implies.

Amara rubs her head “I tried that while you were doing your blood magic. She says it happened before, but with slightly different look, that time he got extra eye and black skin. So, you know more of a mystery. She didn’t want to share anymore or doesn’t know.”

Adaly nods “About that blood magic thing I do… I got to spy on Es-Grenalieth again. She and Es-Vahelieth are having a pissing match. I think that is good for us, keeping them distracted.” Amara nods in agreement.

They finish their baths before returning to their bedchambers, where sleep quickly finds Adaly.

In the morning Adaly sends Jeremy a message ‘Hey Jeremy, both Es-Grenalieth and Es-Vahelieth in Setian, let them fight. Could you share high value auction items. Hope you are okay. Love, Adaly’ and gets back ‘Am okay, no major updates. High value items are: Enchanted half-plate, Ioun stone, Ring of Spell Turning and Sinpiercer.’

The party is at the breakfast table, but Sam is still sleeping “Please just let him rest, he will join us when he is ready” Livia say, causing Adaly to roll her eyes “We are not here on vacation, he needs to step up” “It is okay, we will discuss that at lunch, if he is still sleeping then I will wake him” Amara intervenes with a wicked smile. Adaly secretly hopes he will be sleeping at lunch. Would serve that arrogant prick right.

Amadeus pops up “So good news, they don’t suspect you did anything. Less good news, security is tightened. Also, in other good news, I know you have the wand” Adaly laughs and looks at the floating skull “Of course darling… We are not amateurs. We had the full intent to give it back to you tomorrow. After we leave.”

Amadeus makes a sound, but Amara already intervenes “As a thanks you can help me with my investigations today.” Amadeus, clearly annoyed, does as is requested of him and the party continues their investigations. After about an hour a groggy Sam joins them and helps them. All of them are agreeing, talking is for a later moment.

They enter their large dining area for lunch and Adaly observes Sam while Amara immediately asks, “So what the fuck was up with the whole black fire thing?” “None of your business” Sam reacts grumpy. Livia clearly wanting to say something but keeping her mouth shut, Adaly squints her eyes at Sam, trying to find any indication of what he is.

“Not good enough” Amara says threateningly and she can see Sam wanting to react pissed but Adaly jumps in “Before you say something dumb, I have stopped asking Livia about her thing, because Livia has assured me it is not mission relevant. Your thing is mission relevant… dependent on what it is it could actually be mission breaking.”

Sam looks at Livia who nods in agreement. “Fine… but this information NEVER leaves this room” Adaly smiles and nods in agreement, while Amara is a bit reluctant, but also nods in agreement.

Sam sighs “So does any of you know about Scar?” Adaly and Amara both shake their heads. Sam rubs his face “Scar is a massive mountain in the sixth hell. It is entirely composed of silver, beneath which Vezeheliach is buried. He is also known as the Titan King, the only demon titan to have ever been able to make it past the black gate. In the sixth hell it left a trail of destruction and annihilation in its path, the arch devils combined their power to seal the demon beneath the very fabric of the hells.”

Sam takes a break while looking at them. Amara is rolling her eyes clearly not caring about this story, while Adaly is making notes, this is new information for her about the sixth hell. The hell layer where her father resides.

Sam continues “The scar is the seal. The silver being exposed to one of the most powerful demons ever, started to gain magical properties of its own. Creatures mine this silver and create items that carry a bit of this magic, known as scarred silver. They typically mix it with other metals, because in its pure form if it is left alone for long enough, the abyssal force in it starts gaining sentience of their own. This new formed demon has no corporeal form, but it is capable of speaking to mortals or corrupting them.” Sam grabs something to drink, while Adaly thinks this over. She never really investigated demons, but this scarred silver could be interesting, maybe its magical properties strong enough to kill Ilhoketh.

He looks all the ladies over ones more, clearly not wanting to continue, but Livia urges him to go ahead. “My family found a large chunk of scarred silver, deep underground in a dwarven vault. A demon started forming, named Asmeherieth… It um… They formed a cult to worship it… By the time I was born they were looking for someone who Asmeherieth would inhabit, and I was chosen for this supposed honor.”

Livia lays a hand on Sam’s shoulder, and Adaly observes him. “Well so you are not a full demon, so I assume something went wrong?” she says as a fact, and Sam nods, taking a second. “My whole life I was getting prepared for an eventual transition to Asmeherieth. Slowly more and more of its power was given to me. There was a final ritual that would secure its transition, and on the day, we were doing this, the cult got attacked by paladins of the shadowed blade. Before the ritual was complete, I got rescued. Since then, I have lived with the order, and they have raised me and taught me how to control it. When I get very close to death though, the demon takes over, and I have no control. This is what happened yesterday.”

Amara just replies “Good, so you are a bit more sturdy than you look” Adaly thinks it over a bit “That is why you don’t like the name Matthew, it is your birth name…” Sam politely smiles at Adaly “Also the cult was destroyed, but not all people who knew about the cult. They might know what my parents tried to do to me.”

Adaly stands up and lays her hand on Sam’s shoulder “Thank you for telling us, I know that must have not been easy” she says trying to sound as kind as possible, while also kindly smiling. Sam just nods in thanks. “So enough about me, let’s continue reading some books” Sam says while he stands up. Livia quickly follows and Amara looks at Adaly.

“Do you think he was telling the truth?” Amara asks and Adaly watches the two paladins walk out, just observing before answering “I do… Livia responded as you would expect hearing the story for a second time. So, if he is lying… He is at least also lying to her.” Adaly said observingly. Both of them take a second before following the paladins, to go back to their research.