n

n

nNix traded glances with Semmi; neither was happy about having to go around Chael. He had been a good friend to both of them. He left Inferno for the second time after failing to make up with Nansu; neither had kept tabs on him since then.

nRonnie took a book from her inventory, opened it on the counter.

"It's a Coven sign, of course. It has its roots from the early days of Everspire before the dragons came up from the core.

"

n

"Is this group dangerous? One of the kids that Wind saved had that symbol on her shoulder.

" Semmi pulled up her hud, immediately noticing that Wind's status was listed as unavailable.

"Crap... Check this out.

"

nNix glanced at the hud; he'd already known about the status. It had changed during the night; shortly afterward, Lubo had been summoned from the Thieves Guild.

"Let's give Wind a chance to make his play. If he hasn't reported in by the time we're done, we'll bail him out.

"

nThe blonde officer rubbed her hands together.

"Maybe it will be a prison break.

"

n

/Alpha: Ronnie: I'll help with Chael. We should start now; no one will be expecting a diversion in the middle of the day.

n

/Alpha: Nix: Got an idea? I don't want to fight him or take anything of his.

n

/Alpha: Ronnie: Sure. Chael has his own luxury coach; you should see the team of horses that pull it. They are big, like Clydesdales, and black as coal.

nNix cleared his throat with a cough.

n

/Alpha: Nix: Does he keep them at the mansion?

n

/Alpha: Ronnie: Nope, sends them back to his compound until it's time to pick him up again.

n

/Alpha: Nix: Well... as the lesser of two evils, it seems as if stealing the horses could be a good diversion.

n

/Alpha: Semmi: We won't really take them, though, right? It's just a diversion.

n

/Alpha: Nix: Right. Right, a diversion.

nRonnie glanced over at Bali, who was still writing in the ledger.

"Why don't you put that away, hun. We have some horses to steal.

"

nBali closed the ledger, her blue eyes filled with mischief.

"Finally... Give me the details.

nWhisper: Ronnie to Nix You want me to steal those horses? Or just cause a panic.

nWhisper: Nix to Ronnie Borrow them. I'll return them to Chael when he comes back to Inferno.

n*****************

nThe heavy metal doors swung wide, causing all three group members to squint against the glare. Dozens of lamps adorned the room, causing it to be unnaturally bright. Beyond the doors was a large rectangular room; the sides were lined with pews like the ones you'd see in a church. At the front of the room was a large throne.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: That's made of bones. Can I have it?

n

/Gemini: Wind: No. I'm taking it.

n

/Gemini: Rabi: I was going to ask.

nThe room had one occupant, a pale man, clad in a loincloth, and covered in tattoos. Black antlers extended outward from either side of his head, his eyes were closed, and he seemed unaware of their presence.

n

/Gemini: Wind: I'm guessing that the moment we approach, he's gonna wake up.

n

/Gemini: Rabi: I fought someone like him before. He looks like a summoner.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: I can CC up to three. You'll have to deal with anything more than that.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Understood. Let's go.

nRabi has shared Enemy Information.

nAtilla the Warlock: Summoner

nWeaknesses: Fire Damage.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Fire damage. It figures.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: Huh?

n

/Gemini: Wind: Nothing.

nQuarteredBackstabDouble Strike

nTriple Combination partially Successful.

nAtilla is immune to control effects.

nRabi has landed a critical strike!

nRabi has landed a significant strike x2!

nAtilla's black eye's blinked open as he sprang to the middle of the stage. A long and gnarled wooden staff appeared in his hands before sweeping outward in a wide arc.

nAir Blades

nAtilla has landed a strike against Rabi.

nAtilla has landed a strike against Wind.

nAtilla has landed a strike against Mimi.

nSudden SwitchFirst StrikeBackstab

nTriple Combination Successful.

nWind has landed a critical strike.

nWind has landed a critical strike.

nThe gnarled staff of the Warlock raised upward and then struck the ground with a deafening noise. Atilla has cast Summon Minions.

nMimi has been stunned.

nRabi has resisted stun.

nWind has resisted stun.

nA dozen creatures appeared around the Warlock. Their bodies were covered in brown splotches of fur; the skin beneath was scarred horribly. Man-like hands that ended in claws dragged the ground next to their hooved feet.

n

"KILL THEM, MY CHILDREN!

"

nThe tiny demon darted in, weaving through the minions. Rabi has activated Blood Bond

nAll incoming damage is dispersed equally between any group member possessing demon blood.

nFlareDefensive Strike

nCombination Successful.

nA Disfigured fiend has been blinded.

nA Disfigured fiend has been blinded.

nA Disfigured fiend has been blinded.

nA Disfigured fiend has been blinded.

nA Disfigured fiend has been blinded.

nRabi's strike has delayed Atilla's next attack by 20 seconds.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Fall back.

nWind grabbed Mimi's arm and dragged her toward the door, while Rabi's dual daggers slashed at the pursuing minions.

nMimi has resisted stun.

nDark WellBlood Kin

nA barrier of water surrounds your group; no attacks will land for ten seconds.

nMimi has healed Wind's wounds.

nMimi has healed Rabi's wounds.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: That bitch...

nThe demon moved to the edge of the dark well. An instant later, her whip flashed out with a loud crack and wrapped around Atilla's gnarled staff.

nSuccessful Disarm: Gnarled Staff

nWith a flick of her wrists, it arrived safely in her hands.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Retreat through the doorway; we need to limit their approach.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: I believe Atilla will reset, if we leave the room.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Shit... There's too many for an area this big.

n

/Gemini: Rabi: Demon King! Demon King!

n

/Gemini: Mimi: What?

nThe dark well expired just as the red gecko crawled out of his hiding spot. His dark eyes stared fearlessly at the approaching fiends.

nFear the Demon King

nAtilla is immune to Fear.

nThe horrifying screams of terror echoed in the room as the fur-covered fiends mindlessly tried to escape; within seconds, they had all charged out of the room. Rabi followed behind them, pushing the door shut before bracing against it with his back.

"Give Rabi the staff!

"

n

/Gemini: Wind: Bar the door!

nMimi tossed him the staff, and turned back toward Atilla, who was still standing on the stage. Rabi pushed the staff through the inside handles, holding it in place with both hands.

nFirst StrikePiercing ShadowBackstab

nTriple Combination Successful.

nWind has landed a critical strike.

nWind has used the shadows to strike directly at his enemy's heart.

nWind has landed a significant strike.

nMimi has cast Demon BladeDemon Heart.

nWind's blades have become significantly sharper.

nWind's attack rating has been increased.

nRabi's blades have become significantly sharper.

nRabi's attack rating has been increased.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: Let me hold the door, help him, Rabi!

nMimi switched places with the smaller demon; a single bang against the door seemed to echo inside the room; it was followed by another and then another. The demon held stubbornly onto the staff, keeping it locked in place.

nSudden SwitchBackstabDouble Slash

nTriple Combination Successful.

nRabi has landed a critical strike.

nRabi has landed a damaging blow on Atilla.

nRabi has landed a damaging blow on Atilla.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Get ready for another summons; he's at sixty percent!

nThe strikes against the outside of the Iron Door grew louder, as the fight continued. Atilla stayed close to the stage; whenever Rabi or Wind took damage, they would drop back long enough for Mimi to heal them.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: No, respawn?

n

/Gemini: Rabi: Stupid witch-man can't resummon them!

nThe rest of the battle was relatively easy. With the first round of fiends trapped outside, Atilla couldn't summon anymore. Since the group hadn't left the room, there was no reset.

nDouble StabBackstabMortal Strike

nTriple Combination Successful.

nWind has landed a critical strike x2.

nWind has landed a significant strike.

nWind has landed a fatal strike.

nWind has slain Atilla.

nMessaging has been reestablished with the outside.

nYour reputation in Mocai has been raised to Ally.

nInferno's reputation in Mocai has increased.

nThe House of Tempest's reputation in Mocai has increased.

nWind stepped away from the fallen Warlock.

"Holy crap... The ** was that about?

"

n

"I think I know.

" Mimi walked toward him, her lean hips swaying with each step.

"I'll take this as my cut, if you don't mind.

"

nAtilla's Gnarled Staff

nSummoning Staff: Legendary

nDescription: Summon twelve, tier-one fiends to defend you whenever your health decreases by ten percent. If your fiends survive, you may not summon more. Atilla's Staff will increase the tier of the surviving fiends as your health approaches zero percent.

nMimi held her hand out, waiting for Wind to return the staff.

"The banging on the outside of the door grew substantially as the fight progressed. It was obvious they were getting stronger.

"

nWind handed the staff back to her.

"You still managed to hold the door.

"

nMimi favored him with a sexy smile, her dark eyes flashing with interest.

"I've never seen anything like you.

"

nThe Gemini Thief froze like a deer in the headlights.

"Well... I...

"

nMimi extended a hand toward him, waiting patiently while Lubo stepped onto her dark palm.

"So handsome too.

"

nThe red gecko stood calmly on her hand, his dark eyes watching carefully.

n

"A King of few words. Would you like to come with me?

" Mimi's voice purred forth. Her dark lips frowned slightly when Lubo jumped back to Wind's shoulder.

n

/Gemini: Wind: Don't even think about it. He's my Spirit Companion.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: Fine. Come find me when you get home, Rabi.

n

"Take this, and call me if you get in trouble.

" Mimi handed the heart token to the red gecko, who held it easily.

n

/Gemini: Mimi: I'll play with you again, Wind.

nThe Black Water Mage ported out a few moments later, causing Wind to sigh with relief.

n

"Great Demon King! Please give Rabi the heart token!

" Rabi pleaded shamelessly with the gecko. However, the token was already gone. The tiny demon flopped onto the ground.

"I'm filled with jealousy...

"

nThere was a single black chest sitting in front of the Throne. Wind picked it up and stowed it away.

"We'll split it when we get out of here.

"

nRabi shook his head slightly.

"Let me have the throne, and you can keep the stupid box!

"

nWind considered the request for a moment.

"Fine.

"

n

"Summon me anytime!

" Rabi hugged Wind's legs for a moment and then darted toward the throne. An instant later, they both disappeared.

nWind stared at the empty stage for a moment, before stroking the gecko's tummy with the back of his finger.

"Good job, Lubo.

"

nThe red gecko stared wordlessly at him, his webbed hands holding Wind's finger.

n

"You some sort of ladies man now?

" Wind grinned at the silent Demon King.

"Going to inspect you.

"

nDemon King Lubo

nDescription: A tiny gecko-like

ncreature, may change colors at will.

nSpecial Characteristic: Immune to Fire.

nAttack Rating: None

nDefense Rating: None

nSpecial Ability: Mass Hysteria

nMinions 1

/4

n1: Mimicry Zul

nWind has joined Alpha.

n

/Alpha: Wind: We're back.

n

/Alpha: Nix: About time. Head back to the Thieves Guild, and I'll open a breach.

n

/Alpha: Wind: On it.

n