Chapter 3: One Foot in Hell



One year has passed…

It's been one year since you made an alliance with Velzix, and so far it has paid off. With your combined might, you both have successfully held off the Grand Alliance. You haven't gained too much ground, but that's looking like it's about to change.

Everyday Velzix has somehow been managing to attract "free demons" from other nations to join him, though its not as if they have too many other options as mere suspicion has turned into hatred and they are to be rounded up and killed as possible enemies. Though again, thanks to mortal failings and greed, there are those few nations that are still letting their small demonic populations run free. Not surprisingly Velzix has been attempting to convince the leaders of these governments into joining him in exchange for even greater power. Velzix has also been attempting to open portals to his own infernal realm on a permanent basis. Right now he can summon in a few reinforcements to replace battle losses, but nothing on a major scale.

As for you, things could be worse, but they could be better. All your potential "acolytes" reverted back to being demonologist when the merge came, though many of them were purged by Velzix himself, as he still remembered their attempts to imprison him before during their days in the Dark Order, not to mention if they were so quick to change allegiances so quickly, then they obviously weren't to be trusted.

Your magic powers in other branches of magic have somewhat improved, though this might be due your infernal dealings. Necromancy is still your area of expertise obviously and as it stands, you're the only true necromancer allied with Velzix. You sort of hold a unique position, but you question its importance in the scheme of things. You've been basically put on defense duty. Your undead troops are nothing more than meat shields for the most part, and while that is what they are there for, you'd rather they be YOUR meat shields than some asshole demons, (or worse mortals). You feel like your talents are being wasted to a degree, like you've got a lot of untapped potential that's dying to get out.

However, open rebellion against Velzix isn't likely to happen, but there's nothing stopping you from setting the stage. You still have Aftermath under your control, even if you do have to put up with the demons and mortals stationed there now. One night in your study while you're contemplating how to go about all this, you figure there are two ways.

You've actually got a lot of troops at your immediate disposal. You believe you could probably take over the nearby Brot Kingdom by yourself without any help. They have a weak military and most of the Grand Alliance armies are busy elsewhere. You could build up a bigger power base. You might piss off Velzix by doing this by yourself, but you could take the chance that he might over look it if you're successful as it's also increasing his own territory.

The other option is to remain doing what you're doing and engage in a more secret assassination conspiracy against Velzix. You already know that tons of others are probably doing it, why not you? The problem is, individually most of you are fairly weak against him; though together you'd be more successful. Of course getting a bunch of demonic assassinating liars to trust one another is probably even more difficult than the attempt itself.

You engage in conspiracy

You decide that military conquest would be too risky and would draw too much attention to your desires for power. You need to be sneakier about it.

After thinking on it, you decide to go for Sinthinia. She's in the best position to help you, so you send a message telling her that you need to see her since it's an important matter vital to security.

A few days later she arrives in Aftermath with a small group of guards. Of course the pair of you talk in your study in private. Her attitude is one of interest and playfulness.

"Brrr, it's really cold in this place. It's not nice and warm like in other parts of Velzix's Realm. See how hard my nipples are?"
"Yes, I see. Perhaps I can warm you up after we discuss business."
"Mmmm, I like the sound of that, but only if this business is worth my time. So what is this security matter?"
"Assassination."
"On who?"
"On Velzix."
"Well it was bound to happen eventually, though I'm surprised I haven't heard about this yet. Who is planning it and how did you come across this information?"

You take a deep breath.

"I came across this information quite easily because it's me."

Sinthinia is silent for a moment before giving a little chuckle.

"Ha ha, very funny."
"I'm serious."
"I know and that's why I find it funny. You do not have the means."
"I know that's why I'm proposing an alliance between us to set Velzix up."
"I see…and you believed that I would just go along with this?"
"Well it's a gamble. But I KNOW you truly have no loyalty to Velzix, surely you must already be plotting against him."
"And even if I was doing such a thing…hypothetically speaking of course. I fail to see why I'd need your help to do so."
"Because somewhere deep down Velzix fears me, I know it. He wants me as an underling to take advantage of my powers. But he doesn't allow me to do too much since he wants to keep me weak and have an eye on me. I have more power than he's willing to admit and if I unleashed it completely on him, he'd be hurting. I dare say I might be able to kill him. I just can't fight all of his minions obviously. I would need your help."

Once again Sinthinia is silent for a moment before speaking.

"…I must say you have always intrigued me mortal. You do have a lot of desire in you to come to me like this with such a plan, knowing that I could turn you in and have Velzix deal with you…fortunately for you I have no such plan." Sinthinia says and begins to get closer to you. Her movements begin to grind up against you.

"So tell me, do you really feel you have that much power?" she asks.
"Yes."
"More power than Velzix?"
"Yes."
"Then show me lover." She says and the pair of you fall to the floor in a zealous embrace.



While you're enjoying Sinthinia's sexual skills, she begins to get more aggressive. In fact she begins to get abusive. You tell her to stop, but at this point she's transformed into something a lot less appealing, and you're lying underneath her helpless as she pins your arms down and begins sucking out your life force.

"Yes, mortal you DID have much power within you. It will certainly come in handy for Velzix's eventual overthrow." She growls and you become nothing more than an empty husk.