SoSS 1.7

***DESERTER!*** is the seventh episode of the first book of *Stories on the Subjugated Straits*, and the seventh overall.

## Plot

In the middle of its murder, the devil notices Cassandra and attacks her. It pursues her down to in front of its victim's house, where the rest of the party is arriving. Together, they manage to temporarily subdue the devil, both through use of spells, and Voy spilling his own blood to take advantage of its compulsive cleanliness. Detonia, compelled to find another victim of her own, breaks from the group, and an onlooking Kaseos labels her a deserter. However, she stumbles upon the occultist who summoned the devil, and uses the opportunity to kill him, furthering both her goals and the party's.

Despite the party's success at holding off the devil, it proves tough enough to withstand most of their attacks. Eventually, it breaks free from their bindings and diversions, and goes on the offensive, wreaking massive damage. The party is plagued by bad luck in return: Silence loses a spear trying to attack the devil, Cassandra's trick shot misses entirely and nearly hits Grey instead, and Voy is unable to harm the devil with two consecutive point-blank spells. Kaseos climbs through the open window into the victim's bedroom, and uses Cure Wounds to prevent them from bleeding out.

With the party severely injured, the devil notices that the magic binding it to this plane has dissipated with its summoner's death. Seeing no point in continuing to fight, it leaves the group with a warning to beware the return of Roxy, the devil lord who reigned during the Infernal Crisis, and the purported "true queen of the hells."

The devil disappears, leaving the party conflicted. Though Oz is now ostensibly safe, with the devil's message having been passed on in full, the return of Roxy spells great danger in the future. An agitated Voy admits that there's nothing more to be done, and directs the party back to the tavern while he reports the news to the bishop. He asks Nati to come with him, under the guise of having her teleportation as a backup plan should they be attacked again.

On the way there, Voy again voices regret for leading the party straight to the devil, and resolves to lead them out of Oz in the morning and complete the prophecy with no further sidetracks. Nati responds that, given that no one died, she had fun engaging in battle with the devil, and likens it to stories from the adventure novel she picked up in the library. Voy chides her for comparing reality to fiction, reminding her that in real life, anyone can die any time if they're not careful. He urges her to follow him to the bishop, silently hoping that restoring her memories will also restore her sense of caution.

They arrive at the bishop's office and inform him of their success and findings. Voy introduces Nati as the one he'd spoken about before, and then explains to her his intent to restore her memory. The bishop's own magic seemingly has no effect, prompting he and Voy to take her to the altar of Drolene. Nati feels an inexplicable aversion to the shrine, but with Voy's encouragement, she shakes it off and steps on the altar. The bishop closes the curtains around the altar, and Nati lies down and falls asleep. Minutes later, unbeknownst to all present, she vanishes in a shimmering light.

Back at the tavern, Lynx is almost immediately bombarded by mental messages from Drolene. Hours later, in the middle of the night, Kaseos is awoken by countless messages on his phone, telling of a "massive problem" sensed by Oyja.

## Characters

### Main

* Cassandra Dunewatcher
* Detonia
* Kaseos
* Lynx
* Nati
* Silence
* Voy Graves

### Supporting

* Grey
* Val
* Unnamed devil
* Bishop of Oz