Sandy beaches and burning manes

"Watch out for this one. She's in it for herself and pretty open about that. Still, she's a lot better than Henreid." Warning issued, you step through the portal.

Purple overtakes your vision as the world fades, then a shimmering blue washes it away as your destination comes into view. Magical crystals stud a huge cavern's walls and suffuse the air with a warm, yellowish light. The floor is dominated by pristine pools of nearly-clear water, only small sandbars allowing land access. Vesperia sits at the other end in a coral throne, a man and a woman with gills and fins fanning her with palm fronds, while the pools are full of nymphs and mermaids basking in the clear waters. A dashing bard plays a cheerful, lazy tone on a flute. Some of the fae are alone or in groups, while others have humans, elves, and dwarves fawning over them. Most of the mortals fan them, massage them, stare in adoration, while one or two lucky men and women embrace or kiss their fae companions, seemingly lost in blissful ecstasy.

"Welcome, my lord. Please, feel free to make yourselves at home." Mariel jumps into the nearest pool with a huge splash and Tlax follows her a moment later, spraying you and Ari with droplets of water. Arialle looks somewhat wistfully after them, but takes your hand and tugs you in the direction of the nereid's throne.

"Greetings, duchess, and thank you for inviting us into your home." Ari slightly inclines her head. "Would you be so kind as to show us around?"

"Why, I would be honoured!" Your nereid vassal delicately pushes herself to her feet, then walks straight for a small cave across the room: her bare feet glide over the water as if it's solid ground. "This is my little slice of paradise. As you can see, the denizens of my dungeon are quite lucky to be here." She pauses at the exit as the two of you make your way across the room: the winding sandbars make for slow going. "Through here is our industry. Unlike many monsters, I actually like to maintain a healthy relationship with adventurers. We still face invasions like everyone else, but we also sell quite a lot of items for the use of friendlier visitors. I apologize for the walk," she gestures to the long tunnel ahead, "but some of it can get quite dirty and loud, and I don't wish to spoil the atmosphere of my court." You turn a corner and can just faintly hear the clanging of metal on metal in the distance. "Say, my dear, I apologize if I am being rude, but you didn't happen to be an adventurer, did you?"

"You have a good eye," Ari smiles at the nymph. "I used to be a priestess of Enileve, although it seems like such a long time ago now."

"Enileve, eh? Oh my, how scandalous! And an angel as well! You really do have a collection, don't you Azazel?" She gives you a fawning grin. "I'm glad to see we share hobbies."

"Two angels, actually, although Sera is a bit less social. But yes, my talents lie in dealings with adventurers, something I—and they—very much enjoy." You squeeze Ari into your side and she smiles, although she looks somewhat uneasily at your vassal.

"Oh yes, they do, they do indeed. I can't remember how many men and women have asked me to run away with them." The nymph fakes a swoon. "Of course, I'm already taken: the sea is my mistress. Many of them still demand to be close to me, though, and they have such charming ways of showing their affection." She turns another corner and the clanging grows nearly deafening. The cave opens up into a sooty workshop: dozens of humans, elves, and dwarves alike hammer away at weapons and armour, set jewellery, and weave enchantments. The room is only lit by the glow of the forges, and the air just above your head is filled with acrid smog. When the nereid steps into the room, the closest ones throw themselves to the ground and crawl up to her, tenderly kissing her feet. "Mmm, I'm glad to see you too, my loves."

After fawning in the adoration of her workers for a moment, Vesperia claps her hands twice and all of her workers get back to their jobs, dazed smiles on their faces. She turns to take your free hand, pulling you back the way you came. "Come, let's return to my chambers; this smog is awful for my complexion." You follow her silently, waiting for the clanging to quiet and her minions to be out of earshot.

"They all work for you because they... love you?" At the time you hadn't understood Darran's warning, but the tour has made it abundantly clear. "Where did they all come from?"

"Some are just minions, like the ones you no doubt have been able to summon," she waves dismissively, a bored frown on her face. "Mmm, but the others," she licks her lips, "some are townsfolk who came to trade, and a prize few are adventurers who sought me out or invaded my home. They resisted, at first, but they've come to enjoy their place here. They're convinced that they can win my love and favour; it's really quite adorable." She gives a condescending laugh. "Of course, none are quite so delicious as your pet here... what did you say her name was?" She steps up to Ari and gently caresses her cheek with the back of a hand, a hungry expression on her face.

"I'm Ari—erm, Arialle. I can speak for myself." The faeri looks incredibly uneasy at the nymph who's come face-to-face with her.

"Of course you can, my dear. I apologize for implying otherwise: how terribly rude of me! I hope you'll forgive me." The nymph takes a step back and clutches her heart with an exaggerated gasp, an expression of profound regret on her face.

"Don't mention it. This is all truly impressive, and I can see Azazel chose wisely in choosing you to be our vassal." Ari clutches your arm possessively as she speaks, and although she wears a warm smile on her face her expression is somewhat guarded. "I look forward to seeing how you can help us in our fight against Aura."

"As do I, my dear, as do I." The pale blue-skinned woman suddenly perks up at the mention of her lady's name, a predatory expression on her face. "I'm sure we will play such delightful games when it's time to pounce." The clanging is almost gone now, replaced by splashing, music, and laughter. Your toes once again sink into the soft sand that covers the cave near Vesperia's court. "Now, I have several floors above this, but they're all terribly dull affairs: places where my underlings live to keep out the riffraff. Will you be staying any longer? Remember, my door is always open, and I'd love to meet the rest of your... collection."

"I think we need to be going, unfortunately. I still need to finish organizing my dungeon before we set out on the first raid of what you called our little dance." You take her hand to your lips and kiss it, and her radiant smile confirms you did the right thing. "Thank you for the tour, duchess."

"Of course. Please let me know when you next plan to arrive, and I shall arrange a celebration for the occasion." She gives you a deep curtsy. "Thank you once again for your patronage and your visit, lord Azazel." The nymph then turns and steps back into the room, walking effortlessly over the water to her throne, not so much as a ripple in her wake.

It takes another few minutes to make your way back to where you came in: the winding sandbars seem to lead wherever you least want to go, and flying doesn't feel polite. "Mary, Tlax, ready to head out?" The two give you simultaneous pouts and muster a huge wave of water before hopping out of the pool, and a moment later the four of you are back in the portal room, a small puddle forming below you.

Ari shivers a bit. "In a way she was worse than Henreid. I know she's a good choice as an ally and vassal, but..." she trails off and you give her a hug.

"Why? I liked her." Mariel shakes herself violently, sending droplets of water spraying everywhere.

"Yesss, we should visssit again. It wasss beautiful."

"Maybe just leave me at home next time. Tina as well." Ari gives you another squeeze, then the four of you step back into your throne room. The thunder of dozens of voices assaults your ears the moment you exit the portal, even before you step down the stairs. "Ugh, what now?"

"If you could all please stay put for a few minutes, the boss will be here to greet you shortly." Sera's commanding voice overpowers the others. "Minions are welcome, but only minions who can behave!"

"It's good to see you're all so enthusiastic to see Annie and Cindy again," Aethane's laughing voice joins the angel's. "However," her tone shifts, suddenly ice-cold, "the next one who tries anything gets to find out whether they can fuck while trapped in an ice cube."

The roar resumes somewhat when you step into view, then quiets nearly immediately from the deathly glares of your two champions. Your throne room is filled with all manner of monsters. Targuk stands with what look like a whole clan of orcs. a number of goblins roil about, one or two looking vaguely familiar from your recent trip. Finally, three centaurs look uneasily around: all are painted like the one you spoke to at the Wyrm's lair, yet he isn't among them.

"Thank you Sera, thank you Aethane," you nod to your two champions who prevented the near-riot, "and thank you to all of you for your patience. I'm thrilled to see that you wish to enter into my service, and I'm sure you'll look back on this as an excellent decision. I know some of you went so far as to give up your lairs to be here." You nod to Targuk, then at the goblins in general: presumably one of them is the boss. "You'll remember this as the day when you traded uncertainty and fear for security, leisure, and a fulfilling role in one of the leading dungeons in this part of Arkus."

"Now, if you'll follow me, we just need to get you situated." Sera and Aethane herd the rabble into following you as you step into your altar room. "We like to grant everyone who joins this dungeon a boon as a reward for signing up. If the goblins could please step forth and pledge their loyalty."

The horde of small green-skinned monsters step forward after a bit of coaxing, then an older goblin with a staff steps forth and shouts "long live Annie 'n Cinny!" The others cheer and you raise an eyebrow. "Uh, right... long live Zazle!" Another cheer, and you grin and feel the mana flow from their offering of loyalty, modest though it may be. The goblins hoot as they're consumed in flame, and soon a group of newly minted fallen ones stands in front of you.

"I already have many of your kin in my service: I'm sure you'll enjoy their company." You designate their new home and the ex-goblins disappear into a large puff of smoke.

When the smoke clears, Targuk steps up. "I regret that I could not convince you to take me as a vassal. I hope that placing my trust in you is wise. The stonetusk clan is in your hands." He steps forward and kneels in front of the altar, his eyes closed, and the rest of his clan steps up in perfectly synchronized formation. They don't even blink as the flames consume them, and a moment later the fire clears to reveal large, bulky red-skinned daemons with bulging muscles, pronounced fangs, and long, straight, oily hair. They suddenly roar fall to the ground, writhing in pain. Large, batlike wings shoot out of their backs, extending to 6-foot wingspans.

Targuk, Level 19
Monster, Daemon, Cambion, Explicit
Cambions are one of the many forms of daemons that result in the mixing of mortal and daemon parentage, especially when daemons mix with orcs. They are feared both as powerful fighters and cunning sorcerers.

After a moment the roars subside, and Targuk stands up from the ground, looking down at his new form. "Hmm... for a moment I feared we had been betrayed." He flexes his wings, then briefly lifts off the ground with a single, powerful beat. "I apologize for doubting your honour, master. Where would you have us?"

"I think you'll fit in with the other angels and daemons under Baelzann's command, but we'll check in on you later to see how you like it." You open the menu and assign them to Shattered Elysium.

"So be it." Smoke boils up around the leader of the newly-minted Cambions, and a moment later they disappear along with the acrid fog.

With the orcs gone, only the three centaurs remain. One of them, a woman whose wrinkled face and grey hair is reminiscent of a human in their 60s, steps forward. "I regret that more of the clan did not heed your summons. Jorth is a stubborn fool: what good are our mothers' lands if we are to be turned into experiments for some sick wizard? We pledge our loyalty, master, and wish to ascend." She crosses her arms over her chest, and the man and woman behind her step up and do the same.

More tongues of flame swirl from the altar and reach out to consume the centaurs. This time, as the fire rages up their bodies, not all of it dissipates. When the largest plumes vanish, the centaurs are gone: three horses stand in their place, each black as night. Their hooves glow molten red, as if made of lava, and flicker with flames: as the horses paw, their hoofprints burn for a few moments before extinguishing. Farther up, their manes and tails are made of pure flame, flicking and flickering urgently from side to side.

Lesser Nightmare
Monster, Daemon
Nightmares serve as the steeds of hell's elite cavalry. Incredibly intelligent beasts, nightmares bond with riders for life and can telepathically communicate with them. Lesser nightmares are younger steeds which have not yet grown the distinctive fiery wings of their more powerful kin.

"Well, that's interesting." You walk up to the lead horse and stroke her flaming mane, and she snorts and nuzzles her head against you. "I'm afraid I don't have jobs for you three quite yet, so you can stay on this level for now." You designate an empty room to be carved out as a stable, and the horses trot off to wait for the abishai to complete their new quarters.

"You know, that makes me think," you pace after they leave, not sure if you're talking to yourself or to your champions. "I wonder if I could create things other than daemons? I'm sure Selena's group could use some steeds of their own, but there are four of them. Besides, I'm not quite sure flaming daemon horses would fit them..."

"What are you going to do with them?" Aethane stares absentmindedly at the flaming hoofprints the three beasts left behind. "I wouldn't mind a steed of my own, but I'm not sure how much use it would actually be."

"Well, we could give them to the maids. In addition to a nice gift for loyalty, it'd give the nightmares a purpose. I'm sure they'd appreciate it: based on their description the minds of those centaurs are still in there. Besides, if I plan to use them as messengers more often, it'd make them much more effective."

"What about Alastra's group?" Selena walks into the room. "Nice horses, by the way. But yeah, Alastra: if they go through with the deal they could take over more dangerous excursions, and it would be a nice sign-on bonus for such powerful minions."

"That would also be a great idea. Hopefully I can convince some more centaurs to join me so I don't have to decide. Oh, and don't you want one?" You look up at her and she grins.

"Maybe one that's less... on fire, but yeah, I've always wanted a horse, and I'm sure it'd be useful too. Let me know when you figure something out and I'm sure I can think of a way to thank you." She winks and lounges against the wall, curiosity sated.

"Well, that's officially everything that we needed to do. Say, Vesperia got me thinking: it's been a while since I lazed about in the pool. Anyone care to join me?"

"I should really get back to my reading. Enjoy yourselves!" Mariel steps out.

"Hey Tlax, best two of three sleeps outside tonight?" The snake-woman laughs at Sera's challenge and charges at her, leaving only Aethane and Ari in the room.

"Hoping to get rid of me as well? 'Fraid it won't be that easy, mister. I think this old lady earned a bit of R&R after herding all of those weaklings about. You coming, Ri?" Aethane walks up to Ari and takes her hand, and you follow the two of them into your tower for a bit of respite from the breakneck pace of your current mission.