Griselda blustered through the jungle clumsily, mildly annoyed. Her wings kept getting caught on tree branches, something she had never experienced in the city she grew up in. Thinking angry thoughts about fire and pesticides, Griselda continued onward.
Griselda was only here because her boss, Hildegarde, told her to come. According to one of Hildegarde's informants there was some sort of magic bell miles beneath the the ground, hidden in a maze of catacombs. Said bell was rumored to amplify the magical power of whoever rang it, so naturally, Hildegarde wanted it. However, the informant also claimed that the temple the catacombs were connected to was inhabited by a strange religious group. In order to avoid being seen by them, Griselda had been instructed to find an alternative entrance that was supposedly hidden beneath a tree shaped like the letter "H".
Finally, she found it. At least, she assumed this was it. Griselda couldn't read very well, and had trouble remembering which letters looked like what. "H" was the one that looked like two people holding hands, right? Shrugging, she began poking around on the ground looking for a opening of some sort...
Gawfy had been trudging through the forest for a while now. After hearing about strange people inhabiting a temple with palpable demonic intent. So the solution was simple he was to go in and put a stop to what they where doing. However on the way his luck bit him in the ass as he found himself lost. After wandering he Saw a strange woman with wings Stumbling around looking for something. Gawfy saw a branch on the ground and stepped on it to make his presence known.
Griselda finally found something- a rusted trapdoor hidden under some leaves. She was about to open it when she heard a loud *CRUNCH*. Startled, she looked up to see a large man in full plate watching her. Instinctively she took a defensive position, but something held her back from attacking. The man didn't look like what she imagined a cultist would look like, and he seemed to be a bit weary. Hesitantly, Griselda pointed at the man, a quizzical expression on her face.
Gawfy Noticed now that he was close she was Tall, Really tall, Almost as tall as him. Hey have you seen anything that might look like a temple around here? He asked as she was now in a fighting stance. but then seemed to point at him.
Griselda gave the man a sly smile. This was likely some adventurer who had been tasked with bringing down the cult, and having him along would make Griselda's retrieval mission easier. Nodding enthusiastically, she pulled open the trapdoor and pointed at the opening. Motioning for the man to follow, she began to descend into the catacombs...
Gawfy Descended down the ladder and followed the Woman downwards. "Was she a local? or did she have business at the temple?, Guess it doesnt matter" Gawfy thought as he reached the bottom. He then looked at the woman standing waiting for him he noticed she had a sort of pin or button on it. Hello. Im Griselda? He read aloud.
Upon hearing the man say her name, Griselda beamed and waved her hand in greetings. Her boss was right, the button made things a lot easier for her. Griselda remembered when she had to carry around a piece of paper with her name and an explanation for why she couldn't talk written on it, and that had always been a bit awkward. Griselda then pointed to the man, hoping he would introduce himself in turn.
Oh Gawfy looked up so see her waving. Well hello Griselda.He figured if she wore her name on her chest she might not talk much. then waved back. He figured he should introduce himself after she did. Im Gawfy. He held out his hand for a shake. Im a mercenary of sorts, but im sure you figured that out. Gawfy eyed her up and down. For such a pretty name she had lots of scars and muscle. I dont see any swords or other weapons on you.. He said aloud. He then noticed her Knuckles where Thick, Ridged and powerful. Ah i see you punch things.
"Ah I was hoping others would be in search of the cult." said a voice from behind the two adventures. The voice belonged to one Faustus Moore, and he had just told his first lie of the day. He had very much wanted no one to be on the hunt for the cult as it would be much easier to take the bell without any competition. He now was thinking whether to kill them as they dealt with the cultists or right after.
"Allow me to introduce myself: I am Faustus Moore, an occultist of minor repute. I can clearly see your name madame, but I am unfamiliar with you sir."
Griselda whirled around when she heard the voice coming from behind her. It came from a man who looked familiar to Griselda, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Was he from a wanted poster? Griselda shook her head, it didn't matter. What mattered is that with the amount of noise the two people who could speak were making would likely attract unwanted attention. She raised a finger to her lips. "Be quiet" was one of the two things she could say in sign language, the other being "I love you" (She never had much use for the second one though). Hoping the two men would understand her, she pulled the crude map of the catacombs she had brought with her out of her rucksack and tried to figure out where they were on it.
Gawfy spun around as he grabbed for his crossbow. All he saw was a bald man speaking rather softly.
He nodded As Griselda motioned for them to be quiet and watched as she pulled out a map. Listen we can exchange names later. Gawfy said in a quiet whisper then turned his attention to the map
He nodded and mouthed "later than" before reaching into his robes and pulling a vial of yellow powder. It was brimstone he had collected on one of his many trips to hell. A common ingredient in demonic rituals and alchemical concoctions, alone, however, it would naturally float towards sources of demonic energy. He opened the vial and poured a small amount onto his hand and flung the dust into the air. He followed the sulfur as it floated forwards, down the catacombs.
Griselda watched the man go, curious as to where he could be headed. She still felt she had seen him somewhere, but she didn't let it get to her. Instead, she focused on the map. She figured out where they where, and marked the location with a bit of red wax. She then located where the bell supposedly was located, a small trophy room to the east of here. The bald man was going the wrong way, it would seem. Griselda motioned for Gawfy to follow her, and then started heading in the opposite direction of Faustus.
Gawfy nodded and followed Griselda without a sound. Whats the plan if we run into anyone? He said in a quiet whisper . It would be smart to have a plan for ahead of time. They then weaved around in the dark catacombs.
As Faustus followed the Brimstone he noticed he was splitting off from the group. At first, he was concerned but if the Brimstone detected something of more demonic power then that is where he would go. Entering a large room illuminated by torches to both his sides and what looked to be a rudimentary camping ground. Materials for cooking and bedding were strewn about along with more unusual materials. Ornate knives, fetishes, and scrolls were just as numerous.
Lovely, thought Faustus, the cult appears to be quite prepared for whatever they want from this place. He walked toward the end of the room looking at a wall with ancient markings. He felt the wall as he looked at what was probably a long dead language. His hand suddenly felt a marking press inward followed by a rumbling deep within the depths of the catacombs. Before he had time to process this, footsteps could be heard on his left along with murmuring. Faustus quickly sprinted out of the room and in the direction of the adventurers he had encountered, wanting no part of a fight he wasn't prepared for.
Upon hearing Gawfy's question, she looked at him and smiled. She hoped that would be a sufficient answer, as she had no way of telling him any actual plan.
Griselda suddenly heard footsteps behind her and braced herself for a fight, only to see the bald man run past her with an expression of fear on his face. Then Griselda saw... something that sent a shiver down her spine. It's seven legs were in all the wrong places, and it had one eye too many for Griselda's liking. Greselda had to stop looking at it, she felt as if she gazed at it any longer she may lose her sanity. The safest option seemed to be following the man, so Griselda barreled down the corridor after him.
Gawfy watched as both the man from before and Griselda Ran ahead of him as fast as their legs could take them. He turned around and was met with a mountain of flesh. With a smirk he Took his sword in his hand as his helm came over his head. He then let out a yell as he charged at the Demon.
The walls near where they entered where now Stained Red as chunks of meat now stuck to them.The mountain of flesh was no more. Gawfy took his sword out of the little bit of remaining flesh the beast had as it drew its last breath. He turned around and Ran in the direction Griselda ran in pursuit
Still running through the dark corridors, Faustus was alarmed to hear fighting behind him. He took a moment to look back to see Gawfy now stained with blood trying to catch up. Faustus stops motioning to the mute to stop.
"Well, I guess that take cares of th-" before he could finish his sentence the entire temple shook as a blinding green light came from the direction of the now dead demon. Faustus's eyes widened in understanding as laughter now echoed through the halls.
"Don't talk just run." He said trying his best not to show too much fear. Not waiting for a response he sprinted down the same direction as before.
Gawfy caught up before they took off again after hearing the mans words. Im guessing they summoned again? He said as he caught up. He debated on Staying back again but he did not know what he was up against. so he stayed with the group.
Griselda heard a *SQUELCH*, and turned her head to see Gawfy covered in blood. Her respect for the man rose exponentially, then plummeted when then catacombs began to rumble with sinister laughter. It would appear that all Gawfy had done was make matters worse. Griselda didn't stop running until she saw what appeared to be a small door in the side of the wall. Hoping to regroup and form a new plan, she bolted into the dark room and motioned for the others to follow her.
Faustus quickly bolted through the door and as soon as the armored one was through he slammed the door shut. Working quickly, he took a vial of salt and a red berry from his robes, pouring the salt in a semicircle around the door and muttering to himself in a long forgotten language. He then took the berry and crushed it against the center of the door, painting a small rune on the door with the juices.
"That should hold it, at least for now..." Faustus said, tired and a bit annoyed. "Unfortunately the entity you killed was more or less a prison for something more powerful." He said to Gawfy. "Oftentimes Greater demons will trap their rivals in flesh constructs. Such creatures are often nothing more than raging masses of limbs and teeth, which would explain the being from earlier. Hopefully, whatever was trapped inside it hasn't gone insane due to its stay in the creature."
Insane or sane my mission is still the same. He said as he opened up his bulky gauntlet and poured even more flash power inside. Doesnt matter how powerful the spirit is if the flesh inst willing. Gawfy had slain his fair share of demons but most of them did not revive. He turned his attention to the door. When the demon gets close to the door You open it, ill let him have it with the cannon and make an opening this time ill kill it dead. he said as he hefted his sword over his shoulder now producing a purple aura
((So sorry about the wait guys, forgot it was my turn to post))