"The 1st circle of h.e.l.l, Limbo, has fallen," Daario announced, one pale hand and one ashen black clasped behind his back, straight in as an arrow and bound in a tweed suit. Just below him stood the monstrous senior executives of Gravitas, each a member of the 18.Further below still, was the conference room filled with the finest demons to make it through the selection process. Their power, charm, magic and knowledge was at the most extreme of their speciality, and their remuneration the best in h.e.l.l.
"Next, we invade the second circle, l.u.s.t. Procurement teams, what have you discovered?"
A tall green-skinned imp sitting on a flaming skull floated upward and bowed.
"The Incubus Prince that rules that realm is far more powerful an opponent than the scattered demons of Limbo, Mr Daario. We best act with caution, or else his armies will overwhelm ours. But we have identified several Succubi and lessor Incubus" that might be willing to betray him, eh, I mean that we could "poach" for our own talent pool," the imp grinned a smile filled with green fire.
"The espionage team is to contact these individuals, and form relations. Start off as merchants, offer good prices and attempt to affix yourself in their inner cirlce. I can work from there, some way or another. What has the strategy team to say on this matter?"
One of the executives floated upward, his three crow black wings attacked to a heavenly frame. Even Daario had impressed that Nocturne had managed to be reborn in this world as a Fallen Angel, and more so that he had then descended even further into the very pits of this world"s h.e.l.l to find Daario.
"The second circle is filled with magics, lore, and material that would all be useful for our continued acquisitions. Their magic to charm individuals, compel them, and invoke an intense desire would be crucial to our infilitration teams. Their lore on the ma.s.s sp.a.w.ning of minor demons would similarly prove useful in our manufacturing sector, as well as expendable units in times of conflict. But it is their material that is our most pressing need, the second circle of h.e.l.l having far greater quanitieis of steel and leather, even if only so that the Incubus and their sordid Harems can conduct their disgusting s.e.x rituals. Point being, the scale that they produce leather and steel would be enough to arm and armour an army, and they have the craftsmen to do it too."
"They have war columns," Ranarium spat, a flurry of red lightning rippling across his muscular frame and down the side of an ancient demonic axe. "Solid Demon Steel, filled with wrathful spirits and bound by their treaty with the Sixth circle, Heresy."
"And you know of this how?" Daario said, turning to stare at the troublesome 3rd in command within the 18 executives of Gravitas. Even if only a handful had both managed to survive the initial weeks after being reborn in this world while still making it to Daario"s side.
"I went in and fought a little, no flags of course. Not that I left anything alive enough to mention that fact," Ranrium chuckled. And while usually that behaviour would deserve punishment, Daario nodded. He understood that Ranarium"s species could swallow souls, thus preventing the ressurection and interrogation of the killed, while his ability in combat was such that even by himself it would be quite unlikely he would be defeated.
"You will inform me before any other such actions, you have been warned," Daario said, and flexed the devil"s contract that bound them together. Ranarium"s heart squeezed, his grasp over the chaos lightning faded and for a moment he was sent screaming as his own magic ate away at his body from the inside out. After a moment, Daario released him and returned to survying the grand strategy map between those at the strategy table.
"Yes...you are correct, it will not happen again," Ranarium said in a hoa.r.s.e voice with steam shooting out his nose in plumes as he bowed his head. The d.a.m.ned fool still grinned though, this punishment not enough to reduce his glee at that axe. Then again he had still found useful information, and that was the only reason at all he still held it with a hand.
Daario did catch Ranarium subtly taunting Nocturne by dangling the thing, but such level of childishness as that was well below Daario.
"The above world then, how goes the world undermining the human defences along with the wastes?"
"They won"t see us coming, Mr Daario," chuckled the blood-curdling voice of a red ice armoured lich. Vagabond had been a s.a.d.i.s.t in his past life, and now that he was an undead the 7th had developed a new level of inhumane cruelty in him. "I admit the magicians of the border lords are strong, their armies similarly powerful when compared to the rest of Alandria. But they won"t expect us, they"re too used to common demons or little breakouts started by warlocks. Isn"t that right 8th?"
8th was a wispy little man with some rather menacing books growling at his belt. Behind him trudged a pair of the Obsidian Guard, demon"s not of even this world. Bringing them through a portal had cost a monumental sum in resources, yet each were specifically designed to destroy demons and their magic, while being a powerhouse in most other thigns besides.
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"The warlocks are slowly falling under our control. Moving resources between the first circle and the wastelands is difficult however, and the enemy Templar constantly arrive to shatter our portals. Yet some are succeeding, evidence it seems that the enemy wards can be bent, and that our corruption of their ranks are slowly proving themselves. If not for those meddlesome priests using their d.a.m.ned "Everseeing" to root out our supporters...bah - things continue as they do, Mr Daario."
"4th, is this bending of the wards anything to do with you?"
4th was a small woman with almond eyes and a knack of getting under the skin of others. She had two lithe humanoid arms fit for all things a human would, and two huge crystalline ones that jut of her shoulders and were very much weapons of war. Ranarium ogled at her openly, his fascination with her has led him to several instances where he very nearly crossed the line.
Yet while always so close, Ranarium was a natural and dancing just close enough to get what he wanted without falling right over.
"We"ve been working slowly. I create a portal, we send an imp through, and if it comes back then we know it hasn"t been diverted into a Templar"s prison. In this way, we have been scouting out the network of defensive wards, and small avenues that we can actually make portals through. We are nearly ready to start sending our first agents into the Kingdom, just say the word," going so far as to kneel, Hen the 4th stared at Daario with a level of loyalty even Nocturne could not quite match.
"Then have it be so. Turn the Lord"s to our side, contact the oppressed and opposed races by humanity alike, and contact those of the 18 who have failed to arrive. If they are willing, bring them here with as many of their forces as is possible without reducing the effectiveness of their own operations, a.s.suming they have benefit to Gravitas as a whole."
"And the fake 18th?" Hena hissed, having been the one tricked by the charlatan"s words.
"Bring him in. Alive. I need to know exactly who he is, what he wants, and if there are any other beings bar Gravitas that have been reborn in this world. It is critical this information be obtained, so Hena, killing this person is completely unacceptable. Do you understand?"
Nodding gravely, Hena curled all four hands into fists.
"I understand. I will not fail you, Mr Daario. No matter where the roach might crawl, no matter where he tries to hide. I will track him down."