>>41767498

Amazing, really, how quickly you adapted to this new world. Perhaps the demons you're butting heads with are starting to rub off on you, leaving a trace of their wicked ways behind. It's not a thought you like the idea of much, but you're willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Your gloomy thoughts die slowly as you approach the hospital you currently call “home” and see a figure lurking outside.

Sitting atop the blackened husk of a car – the thing looks like something you'd see in Baghdad rather than London – is Leon, although his face isn't quite as you remember it. He's got his nose back, only it isn't a thing of flesh and blood. Rather, it's made of a dull metal – long and curved, like a beak or a dagger – and strapped to his face with a rough leather strap. It's a brutal looking thing, but you can't deny that it suits the violent Scotsman.

“You're awake then?” he calls out when he sees you. Yeah, you nod back, finally slept off that hangover. Laughing to himself, Leon clambers down from the metal wreck he was sitting on and draws closer.

>I'm surprised you're still hanging about
>Hey, can you tell me what happened at the club? Carnby won't tell me a thing
>Can we talk later? I've got some important business

>>41767503
>Hey, can you tell me what happened at the club? Carnby won't tell me a thing

"It sounded like it got bad..."

>>41767503
>Hey, can you tell me what happened at the club? Carnby won't tell me a thing

>>41767503
>>I'm surprised you're still hanging about
>>Hey, can you tell me what happened at the club? Carnby won't tell me a thing

>>41767616
>>41767602
>>41767555

You've got to admit, you were a little surprised when you heard that Leon was still hanging around with the rest of the group. He never seemed like the type to stay in one place for much longer than a week, let alone a whole month. You mention that to him, but the young man only shrugs.

“Aye, I'm a little surprised myself,” he looks around, then, gesturing to the blasted wasteland around you, “But then, where else would I go? I thought about going, I dunno, trekkin' back up home or somethin' but...” he shrugs again, “No point, is there? Nothin' up there, just like there's nothin' down here. It'd just be a lotta walkin' for no reason.”

He makes a lot of sense. There's safety in numbers as well, you add, glancing back at the hospital. Not that you've got an army sleeping under the roof or anything – actually, you do, but it's Forneus' army, not yours – but still. It's better than nothing, right?

“Right,” Leon replies, although his voice has a dubious quality to it that you don't like too much. Perhaps it's best to move on. There was one matter you wanted to ask about – the small matter of what happened in Harry Right-Hand's club after you were shot.

>>41767676

“Ah hell,” Leon reaches up to rub a hand through his tousled hair, not quite meeting your eyes, “I knew you'd ask about that. Been tryin' to think about what I'd tell you, but there ain't much good news.”

C'mon, you ask again, Carnby won't talk about it either. You got shot, but then what happened? There was some kind of, what, disaster? It didn't end well for the prisoners, did it?

“Look,” Leon lets out a heavy breath, “It's no good talkin' about it now, is there?” Arms folded, you glare at the young man until he relents, sighing deeply. “Okay, fine,” he mutters, “But I warned you, right? Aye, where to start...” You wait patiently as he puts his thoughts in order, occasionally scowling at some bitter memory, “You got shot, right, and that's when everythin' went bad. Harry's bodyguards started going crazy, pointin' guns everywhere. That's when...”

What, you ask intently, what happened?

“Sister bloody Cassandra happened,” Leon curses, “She pulled some monster outta that phone of hers and the thing just went mental. Just started cuttin' everyone down and yellin' about “sinners” and “degenerates”. Crazy stuff, y'know?”

Cassandra did that, you shake your head in disbelief, really? That might explain why she was so traumatised when you found her, but... It just doesn't sound like something she'd be capable of doing. Then again, if whatever she summoned got out of control...

“Look, I'm no sayin' she did it deliberately,” Leon stresses as he notices your grim look, “But... she didn't stop it either. If I were you, I'd keep an eye on her, especially if she's fiddlin' with that phone of hers.”

You're really not sure how to respond to that.

>You got it Leon. You watch her as well
>I trust Cassandra. She's not dangerous
>Have you asked HER what happened?

>>41767686
>Have you asked HER what happened?


Dayum Leon, already making moves.

>>41767686
>Have you asked HER what happened?
>I trust Cassandra. She's not dangerous

If I can only choose one then I'll go with the second option though.

Also, can I ask the time at your place that you usually start the quest, Moloch?

>>41767711

I start in the afternoon, usually between 3 and 4.

>>41767722
'kay, just asking since it's late at night at my place when you start the quest so I can only participate in the quest for like an hour or so.

>>41767686
>Have you asked HER what happened?
>I think I can still reach her.

>>41767752
Opposite for me on the American West Coast. Just waking up.

>>41767686
>>Have you asked HER what happened?
Because she summons angels with her phone, that much I saw on her app. For some reason I think that neither angels or demons are accommodating humans now.

>>41767706
>>41767711
>>41767761
>>41767776

No, you shake your head in denial, you can't bring yourself to believe Cassandra is dangerous. You're only just starting to think of the girl as a friend, and now Leon is expecting you to treat her like a ticking time bomb? No deal. You trust Cassandra, you argue, you're not going to start spying on her, or anything ridiculous like that. Leon listens carefully to your denials, a surprisingly calm expression plastered across his features.

“Fair enough,” he says eventually, “You've been warned though. Don't come cryin' to me if that angel of hers tries to take your head off. Damn thing almost got me that way back at ol' Harry's club. That thing is dangerous, even if SHE isn't.”

Really, you ask, have you heard Cassandra's side of the story? She might have a different take on things – a take, perhaps, that doesn't pile quite so much blame on her and her alone. Then, keeping these private thoughts to yourself, you wonder just how much of what Leon told you was the truth. But then, why would he lie? Just to put you on your guard around Cassandra?

“You've spent the last month catchin' up on your beauty sleep, so I won't blame you for not knowin' what's been going on around here,” Leon explains slowly, in the sort of condescending tone your least favourite teachers always seemed to use, “But Sister Cassandra hasn't been much in the mood for talkin' about stuff.

You weren't sleeping, you snap back, you were in a coma! It's not like you wanted to get shot in the chest, damn it! Then, sighing angrily, you fight back another few choice words. You hadn't intended to get into an argument with Leon, especially since you've got plenty of other things to do today.

Whatever, you try and brush off your irritation as best as possible, you've got things to do and places to be.

>>41767807

“Business with the boss, aye?” Leon asks as you're making your way past him. His wording causes you to halt, turning slowly to look him in the eye.

The boss? You ask the question carefully, watching his face for any kind of warning sign, but the young man is as unreadable as ever.

“Aye, king shit of turd mountain,” he explains with a chuckle, “The big fish in there. He's the boss now, ain't he? He's sure got you runnin' about doing his dirty work.” There's a definite edge to Leon's voice now, as though he was pressing to see what kind of reaction he'd get out of you. To report back to Forneus, perhaps, at the slightest hint of disloyalty? The role of faithful minion doesn't suit Leon, not in the slightest.

Well, you keep your voice polite as you answer, that would make Forneus the boss, certainly. Nothing to see here, you think to yourself, move along.

“For now, at least,” the corner of Leon's mouth twitches up in a smirk as he says that. That's when you realise it – and really, you should have guessed sooner – Leon has his own plans for overthrowing Forneus. Or, at least, he thinks he does. You don't know what dark thoughts are circling in that mind of his, but they certainly don't bode well. However, you try and put them out of your mind as best as possible as you continue your retreat into the hospital.

What first?

>See if Cassandra has anything to say about Leon's accusations
>Report back to Forneus
>Check in with Carnby

>>41767820
>Report back to Forneus

>>41767820
>>See if Cassandra has anything to say about Leon's accusations

>>41767820
>Check in with Carnby
Forneus' weaknesses. He can at LEAST warn us about mabufu.

File: good-bad-ugly-standoff2-o.gif (3.73 MB, 320x180)

3.73 MB GIF

>>41767845
>>41767840
>>41767838


>>41767820
>Check in with Carnby

When we get up there summon Undine as well, she had information on BRA she might have info on Forneus.

>>41767845
>>41767895

You want to see if Carnby has got anything to tell you about that little “user error” your phone suffered. He might also have some knowledge about what's going to happen to the world – he knew about the end of the world before that happened, after all. You're not quite sure if you're ready to tell him about your schemes yet – he seems like the kind of guy that would spill his guts at the first suggestion of torture – but you can always test the waters.

So, you take the long winding route through the hospital corridors, avoiding Forneus' “throne room” as you go. When you fumble your way back to the room you had last seen Carnby in, you're not surprised to find him still hunched over his desk. Busy with work, you ask as you arrive, or planning your escape?

“Ah, Amelia!” he spins around in his chair, a strange look of excitement on his face, “Funny you should say that actually.. Close the door, please.”

It was just a joke, you mutter as you obey his instructions. Once the door is closed and you're leaning back against it, the haggard looking man launches into his spiel.

“We've got to get out of here – I don't think there's any dispute there – but we need some kind of protection, some patron that can keep us safe. Now, I've been thinking and I believe I have the perfect solution!” Carnby offers you a victorious grin, “We need to sneak out of here, I'll get to that part later, and make our way to the Court of the Fair Folk.”

Excuse me?

“The fairies! They've always been neutral, standing apart from both angels and devils. They're sure to give us sanctuary, and it'll be a lot safer than hiding out here!”

He really is enthusiastic about this, isn't he? Unfortunately for him, you've already got a plan in the works, and that involves staying right here...

>Tell me more about these fairies
>No can do. I'm staying right here

>>41768021
>Faeries. Fae. The super whimsical creatures who would just as easily torture you as they would invite you over for tea. Is there something I'm missing, here?

Damn thats not a bad deal, but I wish he brought it up before we started making plans.

Faires are fae though, but they weren't too bad in the SMT games.

>>41768055
>>41768021
Sure have him elaborate first.

>>41768021
>Tell me more about these fairies
Do they still kidnap people?

There's also the fact that Carnby wants to hide and ride this thing out when in reality letting angels or devils get there way is less then ideal for humanity.

Not something Amelia would think in character yet, but its a thought.

>>41768100
>>41768080
>>41768055

Okay, you're no expert in this kind of thing, you'll be the first one to admit that. But – and this is a big but – you've heard a lot of pretty nasty things about fairies in your life. Sure, they can take pity on a human once in a while, but they're just as likely to subject you to some kind of artistic torture. Forneus is a pretty lousy boss, sure, but are you really saying that buddying up with an entire kingdom of Fae is a better choice? You pause and take a deep breath. But sure, tell me more.

“Actually, very little of that is true,” Carnby looks... irritated somehow. No, more than irritated, he looks like you've just kicked his beloved pet. “Most of those stories were invented by the church to make the existing pagan spirits less appealing. Propaganda and nothing more. I'm disappointed in you Amelia, for being so easily taken in!”

Okay, okay! Is... is Carnby some kind of fairy fanboy? Are you going to look in his bag and find the world's smallest hugging pillow? You're learning a lot today, but frankly, you'd rather not know some things. Let's just, y'know, calm down and start fresh. You take a deep breath and ask again, tell me more about these fairies.

Carnby looks mollified, at least, and quickly launches into his offer. “As I said, the Fair Folk are traditionally neutral, so we should be same from both angels and devils. They're a force to be reckoned with, as well, so Forneus would never risk chasing after us. Also, and this is a serious advantage, the fairies are said to be the keepers of prophecy. If anyone can tell us what's going to happen to the world, it's them.”

Well, that sounds better, at least. And they don't eat humans?

“Of course not!” Carnby snaps, “Don't be barbaric!”

>>41768240

Okay, you're willing to listen, that's more than you were ten minutes ago. There's a problem though, isn't there? You fold your arms and frown at Carnby. There's still the matter of sneaking past Forneus and escaping to consider. Any great ideas for handling that?

“Well... it wouldn't be too difficult,” Carnby begins, but fails to expand upon that eloquent point, “Ah, perhaps if there was some kind of distraction? Forneus has his enemies – unsurprising, really – so maybe we should wait until one of them launches an attack? We could sneak out in the confusion...”

It's not much of an idea, to be sure, but it's given you something to think about. Some phantom threat to take up all of Forneus' attentions. Like, say, a pair of demons with a young death goddess...

>I've got an idea...
>Sorry, I've got my own plans
>Does anyone else know about this?

>>41768240
>Of course not!” Carnby snaps, “Don't be barbaric!”
He a fairy?

>>41768286
>>Does anyone else know about this?

>>41768286
>I've got an idea...
>Does anyone else know about this?

Honestly, as much as I would like to kill Forneus we really don't need this hospital anymore now that we are out of a coma and the whole 'rescue Harry's slaves' thing fucked up.

>>41768286
>I've got an idea...
Tell me about Alice, god of death, or whatever

What we need right now is clout, enough that we don't need a patron to protect us. We need to fill out our roster and Carby needs to get Fusion.exe working.

Maybe Titania and Oberon can help out if we stay in their good graces.

>>41768357
Considering the setup, I wouldn't be surprised if fusion was solely a privilege given to Cathedral of Shadow cultists and really really good buddies of them.

>>41768311
>>41768344
>>41768309

You MIGHT be able to help with this, you tell Carnby, making sure to keep your voice low. But first, who else knows about this plan of yours? You're fairly sure that Cassandra would be willing to jump ship, but Leon is a problem. You don't want to get everything ready, only to be forced to convince the pair of them at the last minute. Or worse, have Leon running off and telling Forneus everything – one whisper in the demon king's ear, and everything would be for nothing.

“Cassandra isn't going to be a problem. I asked her about moving elsewhere earlier and she seemed fine with the idea. There were no objections, at least...” Carnby shrugs. Did he ask her while she was borderline catatonic? Just what kind of answer did he expect?

Fine. FINE. You shake your head in despair, muttering an insincere prayer for strength. Carnby knows stuff, anything about a demon named Alice? The young goddess of death, she might also be called?

“A powerful demon associated with death, usually the death of children,” Carnby replies almost instantly, “Still, she would be a powerful weapon – IF someone was able to control her. As it stands, most references seem to liken her more to a natural disaster. The best way of dealing with her is to get the hell out of the way. Are you suggesting that Forneus has gained control over her?”

Not at all, you reply with a thin smile. In fact, he just gave her away to some friends of yours. Did he know what he was doing, you wonder, and – if not – what would he be willing to do to get her back?

“This is dangerous ground you're walking on,” Carnby warns, “But... it would serve as a fine distraction.”

>>41768451

Well then, you stand back from the door and clap your hands together with a little more enthusiasm than you're willing to admit, you've got work to do. Seeds to plant, and discontent to stir. Maybe, if all goes well, you might even get the chance to come back here and pick up the pieces once the demons have had their fun.

So, what's the plan now?

>Find Forneus and warn him about Alice
>Ask Leon about Carnby's plan
>Ask Cassandra about Carnby's plan
>Tell Forneus about Carnby's plan

>>41768491
>>Ask Cassandra about Carnby's plan

>>41768491
>Ask Cassandra about Carnby's plan.
We should also see how she's handling things, now that we know what happened.

>>41768491
Talk to Cassandra about the plan, but also make sure she's feeling OK physically and mentally. Prioritize the human allies' health before doing anything dangerous.

>>41768491
>Ask Cassandra about Carnby's plan

So what should we do about Leon guys?

If we leave him here and run off he'll probably be a little salty but more importantly I could easily see him taking down Forneus and getting some power. He has his own plans it seemed like.

If we tell him I'm not sure what he'll do with the information and even if he goes with us who knows if he can play nice with the fairies.

>>41768497
>>41768526
>>41768543
>>41768551

Before you set anything in motion, you should make sure that Cassandra really is on board. You seriously doubt that she was able to give Carnby any kind of real opinion on the matter – Christ, how did the professor even let her get so bad, anyway? - so you want to be sure. As for Leon, well... That's a whole other issue. That's getting into issues you're not even sure you want to be getting into.

Why not leave him here?

The thought – so wicked sounding that it seems to come from outside your own mind – pops suddenly into the front of your brain. You could just leave him here, in the middle of what is soon to be a battlefield, as you make your escape. It's an utterly callous idea, a cold and reprehensible idea that, nevertheless, has a kind of seductive appeal to it. The idea of getting rid of one massive pile of problems without ever dirtying your own hands...

Later. Think about it later. You've got to make sure Cassandra is okay first. Okay to move and, well, just okay in general. Hopefully she got some sleep while you were away, and something good to eat. A grunt of exasperation escapes you as you shake your head – this is no time to be playing nursemaid either. Cassandra doesn't need you bringing her hot soup every minute of the day. Still, you're surprisingly glad when you knock on her door and immediately hear an answer.

“Is that you Amelia? Come on in!”

>>41768661

She's really been busy while you were away. Her room is much tidier than when you last saw it, and she's changed into some clean clothes. It's too early to expect anything on the health front – she's still painfully thin and exhausted looking, but there's a steady warmth in her eyes – but the lively sound of her voice is music to your ears. There's even a little wooden crucifix hanging up on one wall, something that had seemed curiously absent when you first visited her.

Could she really have slaughtered so many people? Could she have just stood by and watched as her angel cut through a crowd of defenceless prisoners?

>Ask about her health
>Ask about Leon's version of events
>Tell her about Carnby's plan and your role in it.

>>41768707
>>Ask about her health

Then
Don't even bring up Leon's accusations, just ask her what happened at the club if she is okay with telling.

One of the key questions here is "Did you hear hellish barking?"

Cause that's what we did hear before we keeled over and it implicates that Leon was also fighting and possibly killing.

Then
>Tell her about Carnby's plan and your role in it.

>>41768753
>>41768707
Second

>>41768707
>>41768753
Thirding

>>41768753
>>41768875
>>41769160

“I feel a lot better, really!” she insists, offering you a grin, “I had a good long nap while you were away. What were you doing, anyway?”

Oh well, you know. Somehow, you're a little reluctant to tell her that you were smuggling a preteen under the direction of a self-proclaimed demon king. Just shifting a box, you tell her eventually, who knows what was inside? It's not your job to open other people's mail after all.

“Oh...” Cassandra's smile dies suddenly as you raise the difficult subject of the club massacre, “I'm not really sure what to tell you. I don't remember much about what happened...”

You're sure – absolutely certain – that you heard a hellish barking sound just before you passed out. Passed away, you think to yourself, but leave unsaid. You're pretty sure that none of Harry's bodyguards had a dog with them, so that means Leon must have summoned his demon. If he did, there's a good chance that a lot of the deaths were on him, rather than Cassandra. But then... Leon never mentioned calling his demon, did he? That's kind of an important thing to mention unless, of course, you were trying to hide something.

“Barking? A dog?” Cassandra pales a little, “Ah, um, like I said, I don't really remember much.” She looks down, refusing to meet your gaze. “No, I don't really remember anything like that.”

That's quite possibly the least sincere answer you've ever heard. Did Leon threaten her, perhaps, or does she genuinely have no memory of events? Or, and this is the option you like the least, perhaps the young man was telling the truth?

“Yes, Professor Carnby did say something about... something,” Cassandra's eyes narrow to slits as she thinks, “Running away to hide out with fairies. Well, it's a better option than staying here, isn't it?”

>>41769253

You're starting to think so too. So she's willing to run like hell if the opportunity arises? Because you've got a plan in the works that should create a window. Forneus will be too busy with managing his “grand army” to pay attention to every single person. We'll just waltz right out of here, you promise her, it'll be easy. Do you really believe that, though? Truth be told, you're not sure. Even without the growing uncertainty about what to do with Leon dogging your steps, you have no idea how a war between Forneus and the Hellfire Club would end.

The last time you saw Alice, she was in no position to fight – no position to do anything but allow herself to be posed and positioned by her two faithful servants. A little bit of inside information might be nice...

>Ask Undine about both sides of the conflict
>Tell Forneus about Alice
>Return to the Hellfire Club and consult with Nebiros and Belial.

>>41769263
>Ask Undine about both sides of the conflict

>>41769263
>Ask Undine about both sides of the conflict

Always best to look before you leap.

>>41769263
>Ask Undine about both sides of the conflict

So we try to coerce Forneus into reclaiming Alice, maybe get a message out to BRA in good faith warning them of the attack if we can.

Then slip out during whatever attack.

That sound about right?

>>41769358

That's what the current plan was going to be, yes. It all depends on who attacks who first, but the end result is largely the same.

>>41769392
Alright.

I think the best way to deal with Leon is to find after the attack already initiated and say "Hey we are leaving this Popsicle stand, you coming or not?"

>>41769289
>>41769332
>>41769358

You step outside Cassandra's room for a moment and pull out your phone, ready to consult with Undine – a demon rapidly becoming one of your most valuable assets. That's it, yes – an asset. Unless... could a human really be friends with such a being, and could those feelings ever be reciprocated? Undine is growing on you, appealing to some part of your better nature, but you have to wonder. At times, it feels like the gulf between your two worlds is too vast for any true understanding.

Woah, get a lot of Professor Bishop over here. You shake your head in disgust – it seems that your mind is dead set on wandering today – and call up the little water sprite. Appearing out of thin air, Undine offers you a bright smile.

“Boss, if you keep asking me out like this, you're gonna have to buy me a ring!” the demon giggles.

>Ask her about Forneus and his army first
>Ask about the Hellfire Club's army first
>How do you know so much, anyway?
>Other

>>41769495
>Ask her about Forneus and his army first

>>41769495
>>Ask her about Forneus and his army first

>>41769495
>>How do you know so much, anyway?

File: Forneus.jpg (326 KB, 2112x1728)

326 KB JPG

>>41769547
>>41769570

“You know, he might be a big idiot, but Forneus has really been making waves lately,” Undine covers her mouth and giggles at her own joke, “He's been drawing in a lot of recruits, and he's no slouch himself. A lot of people look at him and think, “Oh, you're easy to beat” but he's really not! Well, not since last time...”

Last time?

“Rumour has it that Forneus got punched out by a kid and his pixie friend once. Boy, that must be embarrassing. Don't tell him I said that though, or he'll have my tongue for sure!” Undine laughs again, but there's a genuine undercurrent of fear in her voice, “If I was fighting him, he'd squash me like a bug for sure!”

That's good to know. Not particularly reassuring, but still good to know. At least now you'll know to run like hell if you ever see a big pissed off manta ray swooping down at you. Not that you really expect Forneus to take to the battlefield himself. For one thing, the front door is far too small – how did he get into the hospital in the first place?

“Rumours suggest he used the heavy goods entrance,” Undine replies with a cheery laugh.

>Ask about the Hellfire Club's army
>How do you know so much anyway?
>Other

File: Demifiend.png (298 KB, 1024x765)

298 KB PNG

>>41769636
>>Ask about the Hellfire Club's army

>Rumour has it that Forneus got punched out by a kid and his pixie friend once.

Ha! And both those two became badasses.

>>41769636
>Ask about the Hellfire Club's army

>>41769636
>>Ask about the Hellfire Club's army
>>How do you know so much anyway?

>>41769665
>>41769692
>>41769705
>>41769630

“The Hellfire Club – so that's really what they're calling it these days? - doesn't have as big an army as Forneus does, but it's certainly grown,” Undine taps a wet finger against her lips as she thinks, “A lot of demons want to keep Nebiros and Belial around, since they run such a good business. Black market stuff, mostly, but they keep their clubs open so anyone can meet and do business there. Even the fairies won't promise you that!”

So what, if it comes to a straight fight between them and Forneus, they'd win?

“Hell no!” Undine laughs, “Forneus just has too many thugs. Although... If Alice woke up, all bets are off! You wouldn't catch me anywhere near the battlefield if she starts throwing her weight around.”

Interesting. What would it take to wake Alice up? Not that you're definitely going to do it, of course, you stress.

“Who knows? Maybe she just gets bored of sleeping sometimes?” Undine shrugs, “Or maybe all the death of a pitched battle would do it? She IS a death goddess after all!”

One last question – how do you know so much, anyway? You give Undine a curious look. She seems to know something about everything, and you've never once seen her asking around. Is this some demon trick?

“Ah, that would be telling!” Undine winks, “But you're the boss, so I'll let you in on a little secret. I've got contacts in every corner of the Amala Network. If there's a fact out there, you bet there's someone that can dig it up!”

>>41769759
Welp never fusing Undine, holy shit that's useful.

>>41769785
Probably true, but once we get to the Cathedral of Shadows, then we need to ask about how demons view fusion.

>>41769819
Who knows, maybe if we keep her around forever she'll turn into a Super Undine like Demifiend's Pixie.

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>>41769759

Well, that's sort of an answer. You're not exactly sure what the Amala Network is, but your first thought is some kind of demon internet. The thought isn't exactly a pleasant one – the human internet was terrible enough already.

So, it seems that Forneus has the edge in open combat, but the Hellfire Club has the possibility of divine intervention backing them up. Of course, you don't really need one or the other to WIN a fight, just that they're too busy knocking lumps out of each other to pay you any attention. It'd probably be easier to goad Forneus into launching an attack, but the Hellfire Club would have a greater element of surprise. Nebiros and Belial might be more useful to have on your side in the long run as well...

A tough decision.

>Convince Forneus to attack the Hellfire Club
>Convince the Hellfire Club to attack Forneus

>>41769916
Moloch could we warn Hellfire if we convince Forneus to attack. Thats in line of what we told them we'd do.

>>41769916
>>Convince Forneus to attack the Hellfire Club
But give the club forewarning, claim it was already planned by the time you got the info.

>>41769960
>>41769916
>Convince Forneus to attack the Hellfire Club

Hang on a minute.

"Undine can you use your contacts to warn Hellfire of an impending attack?"

>>41769960
>>41769976

That'll be an option, yes, or you could use Undine as >>41770001 suggests

>>41770001
>>41770024
Whichever is less likely to tip Forneus off about us playing him.

Better to get Forneus to do as much of the heavy lifting as possible. Either he'll force you onto the battlefield – at which point you can slip away in the middle of the confusion – or you can stay at the hospital and slip out while his guards are away. There's no perfect solution in a situation like this, but this might just be as close as you're going to get. Of course, that leaves the Hellfire Club in a rather precarious position.

You lean a little closer to Undine and ask her, in a murmured whisper, if she can get word out to the Hellfire Club. There might be an attack soon, you tell her, possibly even tonight.

“You got it,” Undine winks, tapping the side of her nose – your secret is safe with me, that gesture seems to say. A good thing too. If word got around that you were the one behind all this, well, you'd be a dead girl walking.

So, as Undine retreats back into storage to send her message along, you march down towards the foyer, mentally preparing yourself for the battering Forneus' voice will give your poor ears. He's right where you say him last – give or take a little – and it doesn't take long for the demon king to glide through the air until he is facing you.

“Little human!” he roars, “I hear good things about you! A delivery well made, without a single complaint. My soldiers are strong, but they are also brutes without the delicacy to handle such a small package!”

Small package? It was a bloody coffin! Then again, compared with Forneus' fat backside...

>Do you know what you've given away?
>Your majesty, I have a dire warning about the Hellfire Club
>Your majesty, there is treason brewing within your ranks. Not all humans are as loyal as I am.

>>41770257
>>Do you know what you've given away?
>Your majesty, I have a dire warning about the Hellfire Club

>>41770257
>>Do you know what you've given away?
>>Your majesty, I have a dire warning about the Hellfire Club

She is still asleep right now and Hellfire doesn't have the same manpower you do. Surely a prize such as Alice should belong under your rule your Majesty

>>41770257
>>Do you know what you've given away?
>>Your majesty, I have a dire warning about the Hellfire Club

>>41770272
>>41770308
>>41770398

Your majesty, you begin carefully, you fear that his excellence must have been... mislead. You can think of no other reason that the great Forneus would allow an item of such value to fall into the hands of treasonous demons. For a moment, you're left wondering if you laid it on too thick – too many pompous titles and grovelling – but then the demon fish in front of you takes the bait. Hook, line and sinker.

“Mislead? Value?” he bellows, “Explain yourself, human!”

Alice, the young goddess of death, has fallen into the hands of the Hellfire Club. You deliver the announcement simply, but are rewarded by a whooshing gasp as Forneus releases a heavy, revolting breath. A terrible weapon in the wrong hands, you remind him, and there is no doubt that the Hellfire Club intends to harness her power. Great demon king, would you see your kingdom submerged in death and chaos?

“Those two fools... they think to usurp me?” Forneus mutters – although even murmuring his voice easily reaches your ears – to himself, “After everything I've done for them! Ingrates! Craven dogs!”

There is time yet, you insist, Alice is still asleep. Strike now, and strike with overwhelming force! Not only can you crush them before they can fully gather their forces, but you can also seize the ultimate prize! Truth be told, you actually find yourself getting kind of fired up as you deliver the passionate speech. You can see that it's having an effect on Forneus as well, as his long tail lashes furiously.

“Yes... YES!” the demon king roars, “Tonight, we march on the dogs of the Hellfire Club!”

>I shall be on the front line!
>Perhaps I should remain here to guard your palace
>Other

>>41770485
>>Perhaps I should remain here to guard your palace

We can hold the fort from any pathetic mongrels that try to attack in your absence your majesty.

>>41770485
Where do you wish my and my fellows to be? We work better as a group.

>>41770485
>Perhaps I should remain here to guard your palace

>>41770485
>>41770522
Seconding

>>41770507

This.

Then we turn on him

>>41770507
>>41770582
>>41770787

Perhaps you should, ah, remain here? You offer - to guard this magnificent palace against any opportunistic raiders, of course. You estimate that, with most of Forneus' guards storming ahead as part of his grand army, the easiest way of escaping his clutches would be by staying behind. Though, you must admit, there is an element of fear guiding your decision. You can't imagine the kind of slaughter two demonic armies would reap amongst each other, and that's without the possibility of Alice waking up to crash the party.

No, it's far better for a delicate human like yourself to hang back and watch. Forneus, on the other hand, seems to have a different idea. He howls with laughter, bellowing with such mirth that, for a moment, you almost think that he's uncovered your ruse. Was he merely playing along all this time? Perhaps it was Undine's message that was your undoing, skimmed off the Amala Network by some cunning spy and reported straight back to the demon king's eager ears.

“This modesty amuses me!” Forneus shouts, “Already, your companion has told me much about you! He claims that you are three warriors of great renown, a prized asset to any army!”

Oh god FUCKING damn it Leon.

“Tonight, you shall march at the head of my army. Not as generals, but as CHAMPIONS!”

Well, at least you're going to be together as a group. That's not as bad as it could be, right?

>>41770814

It's a little earlier than usual, but I'm probably going to call it there for tonight. The next thread is probably going to be Tuesday or Wednesday. I'll answer any questions as well, for a while.

>>41770814
>He claims that you are three warriors of great renown
Wait how does he know that? Troll maybe, but we've never shown Undine to him.

>>41770864
Wait fuck, misread that I thought he said we had three demons, my bad.

>>41770861
Thanks for running.
>>41770864
Leon was mouthing off.

>>41770864

Yeah, as >>41770906 guessed, Leon was just "talkin' shite" as they say. Or maybe he's luring you out to the front lines so he can stab you in the back!

>>41770930
>Or maybe he's luring you out to the front lines so he can stab you in the back!

Neutral 'Sister' dindu nuffin to him. Yet anyway.

In all seriousness I think he was just talking shit.

>>41770814
Fucking a, Leon.

Anyway, thanks for running, Moloch.