Heh, Evan's grin turned back up at that question, rather vibrantly. He wasn't even bothered by the man ignoring his previous question, because this was entirely too fun. He was going to get to brag.
"The Demon Queen and I have an arrangement~" Evan nearly purred as he leaned down towards the man again, loving how uncomfortable it had made him the first time and thrilled to see what effect it would have now. His cock throbbed again, and a part of Evan wanted to undo his pants to show off his cock ring for how unnerving this man would probably find it. Hah. He refrained, but the thought was entertaining as fuck.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
The paladin grimaced as Evan started leaning down to him again, disgusted that Evan appeared to be enjoying himself even more somehow. He didn't want to imagine the type of arrangement the Demon Queen would have with this vile and brutish man, but as he looked down to avoid Evan's eyes, he saw the obvious bulge in Evan's pants and shivered, especially as he swore he saw it undulate momentarily as if Evan knew exactly where the man was going to look. Surely the soldier's mind had been taken over and he was a thrall to her service, carrying out her wishes. Surely he was only an extension of her demonic hand. Suddenly the paladin wanted to assassinate this man much more than he ever wanted to get rid of the priestess, which was saying something.
"The kingdom is better off without the likes of you," the paladin said, spitting on the wooden floor. "I hope you die and your flesh rots in a nameless grave, you who dare to help the Queen of Demons."
Though Mizu knew exactly what Evan sounded like when he was bragging, she couldn't bring herself to scold him given the situation. The tactic seemed to be working to some extent, although she highly doubted they were going to get much more useful information out of him.
"Prevent us from forcing you into her service as well and tell us what the king does know about our location," Mizu said. She was still uncomfortable relying on the idea of the goddess as their ally this heavily, but again, it did seem effective. And if the goddess hated the king as much as the king's special force seemed to despise the goddess, then maybe she really would kill him without complaint. Plus, maybe this rift explained more of the king's change in behavior more than she had previously thought.
The man groaned and shot a look of utter disgust at Evan while Mizu spoke.
"I sent a correspondence the day I came upon your camp with a map and coordinates. What you have there in your hand is simply a more detailed version," the paladin said, "I hope the king's army lays waste to each of you!" The man was becoming more agitated, and the chair rocked back and forth, threatening to tip over. The crone stared on expressionless at the man, knowing what would soon be in store for him.
Mizu's hand twitched on her hilt. She had had enough of this man. One run through with her sword and this would be over. Then she could sort out the business of whether it would be prudent to move the camp.
((OOC: Um, I suppose Mizu's ready to get rid of him on the spot, but we wanted to give Evan one more chance to make some snarky comments or take point on running him through, I suppose. Lol. Meta-Martin has consented.))
"The kingdom is better off without the likes of you," the paladin said, spitting on the wooden floor. "I hope you die and your flesh rots in a nameless grave, you who dare to help the Queen of Demons."
Though Mizu knew exactly what Evan sounded like when he was bragging, she couldn't bring herself to scold him given the situation. The tactic seemed to be working to some extent, although she highly doubted they were going to get much more useful information out of him.
"Prevent us from forcing you into her service as well and tell us what the king does know about our location," Mizu said. She was still uncomfortable relying on the idea of the goddess as their ally this heavily, but again, it did seem effective. And if the goddess hated the king as much as the king's special force seemed to despise the goddess, then maybe she really would kill him without complaint. Plus, maybe this rift explained more of the king's change in behavior more than she had previously thought.
The man groaned and shot a look of utter disgust at Evan while Mizu spoke.
"I sent a correspondence the day I came upon your camp with a map and coordinates. What you have there in your hand is simply a more detailed version," the paladin said, "I hope the king's army lays waste to each of you!" The man was becoming more agitated, and the chair rocked back and forth, threatening to tip over. The crone stared on expressionless at the man, knowing what would soon be in store for him.
Mizu's hand twitched on her hilt. She had had enough of this man. One run through with her sword and this would be over. Then she could sort out the business of whether it would be prudent to move the camp.
((OOC: Um, I suppose Mizu's ready to get rid of him on the spot, but we wanted to give Evan one more chance to make some snarky comments or take point on running him through, I suppose. Lol. Meta-Martin has consented.))
Re: Part 1
Evan was, admittedly, loving every second of this. The man's disgust was exhilarating, and his discomfort intoxicating. Evan felt powerful, and his grin only continued to widen each time the man turned his eyes towards him. This likely wasn't the first time Mizu had seen Evan enjoy this kind of role in hostile interactions - he liked being the intimidating wildcard that cooperating with Mizu kept at bay - but this was certainly the first time their enemy had experienced this level of disgust towards him, and likewise the first time Mizu had seen him revel in that particular thing.
Some part of his mind certainly registered that the man saying he had already sent the king a map and coordinates was alarming, but that absolutely got filed away for later processing and didn't stir any response in him at present, other than perhaps gratification that he seemed to be complying in no small part thanks to Evan's posturing.
Evan turned his gaze back to Mizu once the man was reverting to agitated insults again, curious to see where she seemed to be at with the situation. By the looks of it, she was done. Evan raised his eyebrow slightly, his fingers silently uncurling and re-curling around the hilt of his own sword. If Mizu wanted to finish this herself he'd certainly let her, but if she gave him a signal to finish it for her, he'd certainly oblige.
((OOC: Seems he's interested in following her lead still lol. Feel free to hand-wave it next post? Like, if Mizu catches Evan's openness and gives him a signal, he'll kill poor ole Martin in whatever standard quick way and Mizu can carry on as desired; I don't think I need to write a post of Evan killing him lol. Or obvs Mizu is welcome to take care of it herself and move on as well.))
Some part of his mind certainly registered that the man saying he had already sent the king a map and coordinates was alarming, but that absolutely got filed away for later processing and didn't stir any response in him at present, other than perhaps gratification that he seemed to be complying in no small part thanks to Evan's posturing.
Evan turned his gaze back to Mizu once the man was reverting to agitated insults again, curious to see where she seemed to be at with the situation. By the looks of it, she was done. Evan raised his eyebrow slightly, his fingers silently uncurling and re-curling around the hilt of his own sword. If Mizu wanted to finish this herself he'd certainly let her, but if she gave him a signal to finish it for her, he'd certainly oblige.
((OOC: Seems he's interested in following her lead still lol. Feel free to hand-wave it next post? Like, if Mizu catches Evan's openness and gives him a signal, he'll kill poor ole Martin in whatever standard quick way and Mizu can carry on as desired; I don't think I need to write a post of Evan killing him lol. Or obvs Mizu is welcome to take care of it herself and move on as well.))
Re: Part 1
Seeing Evan curling his fingers around his hilt, Mizu came to the conclusion that Evan might actually enjoy dispatching the man, and while Mizu herself would do it, she didn't care for the process. Plus, it was possible that getting Evan's blood to rise would calm him down overall, which would be advantageous for later negotiations with the goddess. The army's overall restlessness could have even accounted for Evan's desire to approach the goddess so immediately. She needed him to keep his head on his shoulders if any of this precariousness was going to come out in their favor.
Mizu looked at Evan until he noticed her, and then her eyes fell to his hilt, and she gave a very slight nod before turning toward the paladin and saying, "For your cooperation, we can only offer you a swift death." Before the man could hardly react or reply, Evan's sword had plunged into his heart, and the man's brief outcry quickly faded to silence.
Before addressing the crone, Mizu found herself watching the man as the life faded from him, one of many who had fallen under her command and direction. She watched him with an odd fascination, knowing that there truly was no other cause of action but simultaneously not feeling the need to justify her actions in the slightest. Perhaps some part of her should feel more horrified about this, but she had little time to worry that it was not present, and looking at Evan, she was also not concerned that he would feel guilt about it later.
With that situation sorted, Mizu prepared to speak to the crone, but the old woman spoke first.
"If you help me bring the body to the edge of the forest, I'll perform the final rites once you leave. I already planned to deal with this part myself; you just saved me from having blood on my hands." Mizu nodded and expected Evan to follow as the three of them untied the man from the chair and carried him out to the forest behind the hut. There was already a four-feet deep hole there, and Mizu found herself surprised that the crone had gone to so much preparatory work. The three of them laid the body in the grave, and the crone moved some forest floor debris--leaves, twigs, moss--on top of the man to cover the body for the time being. She promised the spirits she would come back to the body later to guide his soul where it needed to go.
Afterward, the three of them went back into the cottage where the crone immediately began scrubbing the floor and the chair where the man's blood had fallen. Mizu stood patiently, prepared to wait until the crone was finished to launch into their actual purpose for being there, but again, the crone did not hesitate to transition.
"You obviously didn't come for the paladin, so why is it you have visited again?" she asked without looking at either of the people in her company. Mizu decided to let Evan answer as this was his idea in the first place.
Mizu looked at Evan until he noticed her, and then her eyes fell to his hilt, and she gave a very slight nod before turning toward the paladin and saying, "For your cooperation, we can only offer you a swift death." Before the man could hardly react or reply, Evan's sword had plunged into his heart, and the man's brief outcry quickly faded to silence.
Before addressing the crone, Mizu found herself watching the man as the life faded from him, one of many who had fallen under her command and direction. She watched him with an odd fascination, knowing that there truly was no other cause of action but simultaneously not feeling the need to justify her actions in the slightest. Perhaps some part of her should feel more horrified about this, but she had little time to worry that it was not present, and looking at Evan, she was also not concerned that he would feel guilt about it later.
With that situation sorted, Mizu prepared to speak to the crone, but the old woman spoke first.
"If you help me bring the body to the edge of the forest, I'll perform the final rites once you leave. I already planned to deal with this part myself; you just saved me from having blood on my hands." Mizu nodded and expected Evan to follow as the three of them untied the man from the chair and carried him out to the forest behind the hut. There was already a four-feet deep hole there, and Mizu found herself surprised that the crone had gone to so much preparatory work. The three of them laid the body in the grave, and the crone moved some forest floor debris--leaves, twigs, moss--on top of the man to cover the body for the time being. She promised the spirits she would come back to the body later to guide his soul where it needed to go.
Afterward, the three of them went back into the cottage where the crone immediately began scrubbing the floor and the chair where the man's blood had fallen. Mizu stood patiently, prepared to wait until the crone was finished to launch into their actual purpose for being there, but again, the crone did not hesitate to transition.
"You obviously didn't come for the paladin, so why is it you have visited again?" she asked without looking at either of the people in her company. Mizu decided to let Evan answer as this was his idea in the first place.
Re: Part 1
Evan followed Mizu's lead effortlessly, the cocky sinister persona that had come out fading in favor of a much more stoic, nearly business-like poise as he drew his sword to carry out his task. There was certainly some amount of gratification he felt in wielding his sword, and having power over another's very life. But the gratification didn't play into his expression, except perhaps the part of it that was borne of a well-executed strike. He gave the man the swift death he had earned, and then set about to cleaning his sword on his shirt before returning it to its sheath. If any part of this process bothered the captain in the slightest, it certainly didn't show.
About when he'd gotten his sword cleaned and put away the crone spoke up, and Evan glanced to Mizu before once again following his commander's lead and helping with the body. He supposed some mixed feelings surfaced about the crone performing 'rites' for the man - Evan had, prior to a few days ago, considered such things the realm of superstition. Dead bodies were dead bodies, as far as he was concerned, although he had to admit that the existence of gods brought that a little more into question. After all, current trajectory had Evan going to the Underworld himself in not too terribly long. If he accepted the existence of such a place... heh, could he feasibly meet this man again there? Gods, that was a strange thought. Perhaps it was good, for the crone to show the man some respect even after his death, especially since he really had cooperated with them about as much as he could have, given all the context present in the situation.
When they returned and the crone began cleaning, Evan felt slightly awkward. Should... he help? Or offer to, at least? He had been the one to run the guy through and make a mess in the middle of her home. But she spoke up shortly, and Evan once again glanced to Mizu, whom he gathered was yielding to him at least for this initial response.
"Figured there were a few more things worth asking before I'm with the goddess again," he said matter-of-factly as he fished the talisman out of his pocket.
"For starters, I could stand to know how this actually works."
About when he'd gotten his sword cleaned and put away the crone spoke up, and Evan glanced to Mizu before once again following his commander's lead and helping with the body. He supposed some mixed feelings surfaced about the crone performing 'rites' for the man - Evan had, prior to a few days ago, considered such things the realm of superstition. Dead bodies were dead bodies, as far as he was concerned, although he had to admit that the existence of gods brought that a little more into question. After all, current trajectory had Evan going to the Underworld himself in not too terribly long. If he accepted the existence of such a place... heh, could he feasibly meet this man again there? Gods, that was a strange thought. Perhaps it was good, for the crone to show the man some respect even after his death, especially since he really had cooperated with them about as much as he could have, given all the context present in the situation.
When they returned and the crone began cleaning, Evan felt slightly awkward. Should... he help? Or offer to, at least? He had been the one to run the guy through and make a mess in the middle of her home. But she spoke up shortly, and Evan once again glanced to Mizu, whom he gathered was yielding to him at least for this initial response.
"Figured there were a few more things worth asking before I'm with the goddess again," he said matter-of-factly as he fished the talisman out of his pocket.
"For starters, I could stand to know how this actually works."
Re: Part 1
The crone took her time getting up after she finished cleaning and looked at the talisman in Evan's hand.
"Hmm. So she sent you back then. Here," she said, holding out her hold so Evan could give it to her. "It slides out here," she said as she slid the carved part away from the bottom of the talisman. There was a tiny depression in the center of the flat piece of wood and bone, and she made a circle in the air with the talisman open.
"In her realm, doing that will open a portal back, but it doesn't do anything here," the crone said. At that, she took the cloths she used to scrub the floor and chair to a washbasin in the corner of the cottage.
Mizu put together that Evan was telling the truth this morning when he said the goddess sent him back, albeit straight into Mizu's tent. Mizu wondered if that had been the goddess' idea of a joke. Was she toying with Mizu now, too? The thought angered and horrified her, but still there was little Mizu could do except continue to go along with this for the time being since each piece of the story thus far had checked out.
She hesitated to believe that the tiny object the crone held would transport a person from one realm to another, but she supposed the device Phantom gave her that transmits their voices wasn't all that different. Maybe that meant there was a logic to all this; she just hadn't seen the whole picture yet.
"Hmm. So she sent you back then. Here," she said, holding out her hold so Evan could give it to her. "It slides out here," she said as she slid the carved part away from the bottom of the talisman. There was a tiny depression in the center of the flat piece of wood and bone, and she made a circle in the air with the talisman open.
"In her realm, doing that will open a portal back, but it doesn't do anything here," the crone said. At that, she took the cloths she used to scrub the floor and chair to a washbasin in the corner of the cottage.
Mizu put together that Evan was telling the truth this morning when he said the goddess sent him back, albeit straight into Mizu's tent. Mizu wondered if that had been the goddess' idea of a joke. Was she toying with Mizu now, too? The thought angered and horrified her, but still there was little Mizu could do except continue to go along with this for the time being since each piece of the story thus far had checked out.
She hesitated to believe that the tiny object the crone held would transport a person from one realm to another, but she supposed the device Phantom gave her that transmits their voices wasn't all that different. Maybe that meant there was a logic to all this; she just hadn't seen the whole picture yet.
Re: Part 1
Evan nodded in understanding and appreciation as the crone explained how the talisman worked. Seemed simple enough. He was a little embarrassed at not having just figured it out himself, but he hadn't exactly gotten much time with it before now.
That done, he went ahead and moved on to the next issue, which would be a bit more nuanced.
"Other than that were some questions about the goddess herself."
He paused just briefly to glance to Mizu again. He did have his own questions he could ask, but he was happy to let Mizu ask first if she wanted to. When she didn't immediately take him up on it, he went ahead and returned his attention to the crone.
"She's indicated an intention to return to the upper realms shortly after she kills the king, but realistically, from the point of view of running the kingdom going forward, what would that look like? She clearly currently gets something out of having men enthralled aside from her recent search for a vessel; how was this handled before the king trapped her? Or was her need for that lower when she was free?"
That done, he went ahead and moved on to the next issue, which would be a bit more nuanced.
"Other than that were some questions about the goddess herself."
He paused just briefly to glance to Mizu again. He did have his own questions he could ask, but he was happy to let Mizu ask first if she wanted to. When she didn't immediately take him up on it, he went ahead and returned his attention to the crone.
"She's indicated an intention to return to the upper realms shortly after she kills the king, but realistically, from the point of view of running the kingdom going forward, what would that look like? She clearly currently gets something out of having men enthralled aside from her recent search for a vessel; how was this handled before the king trapped her? Or was her need for that lower when she was free?"
Re: Part 1
The crone took a minute to contemplate the the question, having a difficult time deciphering it through its complexity.
"Before she was bound by the king," the crone began, "she took men as thralls, but they weren't all from the same location. And when the temples were present and fully equipped, there were opportunities for offering people who were willing to fill that role. But, yes, it does seem that more men before affected when the goddess is idle."
Mizu nodded at this; it seemed doable. It sounded like, whether the goddess was an ally or not, men would be affected. Perhaps they could still negotiate their kingdom out of that practice, though. She didn't want to think about what would happen if they run out of volunteers, and the idea that people would essentially sacrifice themselves to a deity was absurd to her in the first place.
"So I take it that the king did not bind the goddess to keep her from attacking his men. If so, it seems to have actually worsened the problem to some degree."
"Correct. The king was terrified that the goddess would retaliate. The king stole a great deal of power from her."
Mizu nodded. Perhaps that was, in fact, what had changed the king's behavior.
"What is it that he took from her?" Mizu asked.
"There's a reason he's been king for so long," the crone answered cryptically, but it did not look like she was about to say any more about that.
"Before she was bound by the king," the crone began, "she took men as thralls, but they weren't all from the same location. And when the temples were present and fully equipped, there were opportunities for offering people who were willing to fill that role. But, yes, it does seem that more men before affected when the goddess is idle."
Mizu nodded at this; it seemed doable. It sounded like, whether the goddess was an ally or not, men would be affected. Perhaps they could still negotiate their kingdom out of that practice, though. She didn't want to think about what would happen if they run out of volunteers, and the idea that people would essentially sacrifice themselves to a deity was absurd to her in the first place.
"So I take it that the king did not bind the goddess to keep her from attacking his men. If so, it seems to have actually worsened the problem to some degree."
"Correct. The king was terrified that the goddess would retaliate. The king stole a great deal of power from her."
Mizu nodded. Perhaps that was, in fact, what had changed the king's behavior.
"What is it that he took from her?" Mizu asked.
"There's a reason he's been king for so long," the crone answered cryptically, but it did not look like she was about to say any more about that.
Re: Part 1
Evan raised an eyebrow, curiosity spiking at the crone's last comment. He'd never really given much thought to the king's longevity; somehow, it just seemed like an obvious constant, or only natural that a king should live an unnaturally long life. It was intriguing, to say the least, to stumble upon some other explanation for it.
"She said something about him betraying her- or, I think, 'the immortals'?" He was tempted to leave it at that, but acknowledged there wasn't exactly a question there, and he hastened to find the wording for an actual question to pose to her.
"Betrayal implies some kind of allyship. What had been their previous arrangement, and in what way did he break it?"
He'd certainly caught that the crone had been inclined to answer Mizu cryptically on a very related question; he was bracing for an equally cryptic reply, and calculating how to push the crone for more information without coming across as hostile. The more data she could give them, the better Evan would be able to navigate his relationship with the goddess, which Evan wanted to believe the crone would want... but then again, obviously she had more loyalty to the goddess than either he or Mizu did; maybe she wanted them flying blind to some extent? Hmm, perhaps he could offer more context which may help.
"I only ask because I need to navigate these next nights successfully, and the more I know about the goddess the better chance I'll have at that. She's obviously invested in getting free and killing the king, which is great, but she also seems interested in pushing her luck in ways that could go sideways for all of us. The better I know the landscape, the better the outcome I can steer us all towards."
His expression as he spoke was fairly neutral and business-like, but near the end he did raise his eyebrows slightly, almost as if to say 'please'.
"She said something about him betraying her- or, I think, 'the immortals'?" He was tempted to leave it at that, but acknowledged there wasn't exactly a question there, and he hastened to find the wording for an actual question to pose to her.
"Betrayal implies some kind of allyship. What had been their previous arrangement, and in what way did he break it?"
He'd certainly caught that the crone had been inclined to answer Mizu cryptically on a very related question; he was bracing for an equally cryptic reply, and calculating how to push the crone for more information without coming across as hostile. The more data she could give them, the better Evan would be able to navigate his relationship with the goddess, which Evan wanted to believe the crone would want... but then again, obviously she had more loyalty to the goddess than either he or Mizu did; maybe she wanted them flying blind to some extent? Hmm, perhaps he could offer more context which may help.
"I only ask because I need to navigate these next nights successfully, and the more I know about the goddess the better chance I'll have at that. She's obviously invested in getting free and killing the king, which is great, but she also seems interested in pushing her luck in ways that could go sideways for all of us. The better I know the landscape, the better the outcome I can steer us all towards."
His expression as he spoke was fairly neutral and business-like, but near the end he did raise his eyebrows slightly, almost as if to say 'please'.
Re: Part 1
The crone nodded, somewhat irritated that Evan didn't think she understood the gravity of the situation, but she didn't let it show in her expression. She did, however, let a small smile out on her face when Evan talked about how the goddess enjoyed pushing her luck. Perhaps he was going to make it through the next few nights. At least, he seemed more prepared at present than any of the others she had sent to the goddess.
"I'll be honest with you; I don't know what the initial nature of their agreement was, but..." the crone trailed off for a moment before returning to the thought, "there was a time when the goddess was... content. As far as I understand, the goddess and the king spent a great deal of time together before things turned sour."
"I'll be honest with you; I don't know what the initial nature of their agreement was, but..." the crone trailed off for a moment before returning to the thought, "there was a time when the goddess was... content. As far as I understand, the goddess and the king spent a great deal of time together before things turned sour."