Be the BEG [Quest] Chapter 24

what about a huge statute that acts as a golem in times of peril?

You hold back the torrent of intense and searing emotion welling up in your chest, and turn away from the starry sky in an attempt to contain your pain. But a single tear escapes your eye, trailing down your cheek to your chin, and falling from your helmet to the stone floor of the parapet.

Sophia sees the twinkle of the moonlight in the tear, and follows it's path to your face. She can't know why, but she must sense your grief, and asks the others in the group to return to their business, even Vanessa, who has taken up learning what little magic she can from your study since returning home.

You are left alone to watch the night sky, and relive your dearest memories of Ray. After some time, you silently go to bed.

cont

We're gonna name him today

The morning of Ray's ceremony is a gloomy one, just as he would have wanted. The sun is blocked completely by thick and rolling clouds, each fit to burst with torrential rain at a moment's notice. Joining you to grieve is your daughter, Sophia, your son, and Caitlyn each draped in purest black and solemnly trodding across a lush and verdant field of grass toward the site where Ray requested to be laid to rest in his last will and testament.

Not more than a minute after arriving nearby, Caitlyn begins to sniffle and mist. Vanessa does her best to comfort her, but upon spying the plot of upturned earth and peering down into the deep gash that will soon be Ray's final home, she begins sobbing uncontrollably.

>Calm her
>Have Vanessa calm her
>Tell her to be strong
>Other

>Tell her to be strong because Ray was proud of her. And that dones't happen often?

>>Calm her

>>Tell her to be strong because Ray was proud of her.

>Other
Remember our old master? Remember his spiel about fists? Remember our response?

We clench our fist, raise it to the sky and promise we will pry Ray from the cold claws of death itself, preferably while shouting "MY FIST IS THE BIGGEST FIST! THERE SHALL BE NO BIGGER FIST!"

You tell Caitlyn to keep herself together, for the sake of her master. You tell her that if she wishes to honor him, she must flatter his taciturn and stoic facade. She hears and understands, drying her tears and running nose on a handkerchief, before doing her best to hold back further outburst, instead electing to observe the remainder of the ceremony in silent remembrance.

Soon after, more attendees begin to arrive. Former companions, such as Creighton the Sneak, William "Burner" Barnes, and of course old Ten-Fingers Terrance himself, in all his hideousness.

No more than two dozen or so mourners arrive, a testament to Ray's seductiveness when making friends, and of course the lethality of your trade. Last, but certainly not least, comes rolling along a black and dreadful carriage, pulled by twin nightmares in full flaming manes. They whiny and screech as their hooves scorch the grass beneath them, coming to a slow stop about a dozen meters away from the site. On the back, lashed to the carriage with iron chains, is a coffin. Even you have to choke back your sadness at the sight of it.

As the nightmares calm, a man in a black suit opens the door of the car and steps down onto the ground holding it open for the owner of the vehicle. Slowly, a grey and wrinkled old woman in black with a large hat steps down, planting her twisted cane in the dirt to support her weight. The other mourners bow.

>Bow
>Remain stoic
>Approach
>Other

>>Approach

>Approach

Clearly she wants a helping hand from Ray's best friend.

>Bow
Let's not pull this "say nothing" shit on Ray's funeral.

>>Bow
she seems like someone important.

>Approch

You take a few steps toward the carriage, ignoring the confused looks from those around you. Just a meter out of arm's reach, you feel a pressure as intense as the depths of the darkest sea hold you back. The old woman leers up at you, and with a twitch of her nose sends a shiver down your spine that makes you legs wobble until you nearly collapse. But you hold firm, and a smile cuts across her thin lips.

"You always were stubborn, little raging bull. Between you and Ray, I never had to worry about something going undestroyed."

"Madam Vald, would you like me to unchain the deceased?" whispers the man in the black suit. No doubt the sorcerer's newest pet.

"Please do. It pains me to see my loyal retainer dragged behind us like a common convict."

>Speak to the old woman
>Help unlash Ray
>Other

>Help unlash Ray

So this Madam Vald, is she our old employer or the wife of our old employer?

i think is the wife? if i remember correcly vald was addressed several times as a man.

>Help unlash Ray

You move to help the suited man, but you feel the pressure hold you back once more. You turn to Madam Vald, and see her leering once again.

"He's dead, I'm alive. Help me to the plot, these old bones don't have the same spring they did when I was still wearing skintight suits and flashing my cute little tummy at Paladins." You think, but eventually agree to go along with her. You assist her across the grass and toward the empty hole, which she peers into briefly.

"Awful. Why he'd choose such a dull and dreary place to be buried I'm sure I don't know. And hello?" she says, turning to your group. She eyeballs the women and the babe equally meanly.

"If I didn't know better I'd say this tart with the pouting lips and jiggling bust was Vanessa, but last I remember she was a whining larva begging for milk at her mother's teats."

"It's good to see you, Madam," Vanessa responds calmly, bowing her head and allowing her long hair to fall over her shoulder. Madam Vald smiles for just a moment, then turns to Sophia.

"And you? You'd bring a suckling babe to such an event, knowing the crowd that would gather here?"

"His father wouldn't let the most rabid fiend lay so much as a finger on him, I assure you."

Madam Vald is taken aback by both her tone and her explanation, then looks over her shoulder at you with wide and terrifying eyes.

>"Yes, he is my blood."
>Say nothing
>Change the subject
>Other

>"You know how protective I am of my blood Madam. "

this.

What?

She's the Sorcerer Vald, in the flesh. She prefers the title over Sorceress or Witch, for complicated reasons.

I see. Thanks m8.

>>"You know how protective I am of my blood Madam. "

Vald seems disconcerted, but tries to swallow her confusion in the face of the event.

"I see. And here I'd hoped you'd limit your pollution of the universal gene pool to one whelp. I suppose it was a pipe dream, especially with your appetite for flesh." She chortles to herself quietly, then looks up at Caitlyn. The two lock eyes for a few moments, until Caitlyn can't bare the intensity of Vald's icy blue irises any longer, and looks away.

"This girl must be the student he wrote to me about. Scrawny. Scraggly. Utterly without poise. Why when I was her age I had already launched two wars and a genocide with my curves. Study and diligence are no excuse to starve yourself or go without bathes, child."

Caitlyn starts to tear up again.

>Step in for Caitlyn
>Divert Vald's attention
>Reassure Vald of Caitlyn's potential
>Other

>Reassure Vald of Caitlyn's potential

>Divert Vald's attention
"So.. about that airplane food..."

>>Reassure Vald of Caitlyn's potential
"not everyone reaches their true potential at the same time, Madam"

>>Step in for Caitlyn

"Harumph. Fatherhood made you soft. Ah, but our guest is here now. Go, Bull. Your brother in battle awaits your hand."

You turn your head and see the coffin laying on the grass now, a few feet from the carriage. Some of the other mourners have begun gathering around and taking the golden bars on each side in hand, ready to hoist it. You join them at the head of the pack, and begin the slow march to the hole.

>Sing a dirge
>Sing a requiem
>Sing a ballad
>Remain silent
>Other

>Sing a dirge

>>Sing a ballad
Fuck you Ray his is at you get for dieing before me.

You begin a slow, soft song in remembrance of your friend. The other pallbearers join in, and you commence the ceremony to lay Ray to rest.

After lowering the coffin but before sealing it with magic to prevent necromancy, Vald asks you what you plan to do with Ray's immortal soul.

"You know as well as I do that he'll burn. We all will. But once he's served his time, he'll be allowed to dissipate and return to the world, though never the same man. Would you let him endure his just reward?"

>"We all must. It's the only way to know he'll have peace."
>"I'll take his soul. I have a place for it."
>"Do as you wish. I won't decide for him."
>Other

>>"We all must. It's the only way to know he'll have peace."
But as you've already decided
>>"Do as you wish. I won't decide for him."

>"You make it sound like you have something in mind Madam. "

>"We all must. It's the only way to know he'll have peace."

>>"Do as you wish. I won't decide for him."

>"I'll take his soul. I have a place for it."

"It's not as though I've made up my mind quite yet. Rather, my sentimentality and nostalgia disallow me from surrendering such a mighty hand to the pits just yet. My time is long past, and I remain on this plane merely as a jape of the gods, to watch as what I once built slowly crumbles as all things do. But that does not mean I am powerless. If you would hear my advice, take the poor man's soul and use it to augment your strength. How exactly you do this is for you to decide."

The ceremony closes, and the mourners begin to disperse back to their homes and hideaways. You and your group remain behind to give one last farewell to the mound of loamy earth tucking away your old friend. In that moment, you make your choice.

>Leave Ray to rest
>Have Vanessa dig out his soul (She won't enjoy this)
>Other

>How about we dig it out ourselves?
>If not have Vanessa help out.

She ain't just gonna tell us this and then fuck us over.

>Leave Ray to rest
Let the man rest. We're not going to use our friend as a tool.

>No rest for the wicked, dig him up.

You shrug, and step forward onto the mound. Sophia, rightfully confused, asks what you're doing. You simply state that you're borrowing something from your friend one last time.

>Feed the soul to Vanessa
>Give the soul to Caitlyn
>Add the soul to your own weapon
>Bottle it and keep it safe for now

>Bottle it and keep it safe for now

What happens if we put it in our weapon?

Probably something super cool

Changing my vote here to
>Add the soul to our own weapon and/or armor... Maybe our own soul if possible?

i'm feeling evil today.

You return to the fortress, and the normal machinations of your empire. Caitlyn retires to her room to grieve, and Sophia must tend to the babe, but Vanessa asks that you allow her to fetch Legion, who has recently sent word that the Solari forces have routed.

>Send her
>Let Legion return on his own
>Other

>Send her with an escort.

You send as few of the Hellraisers along with Vanessa to keep her safe in the worst case, then turn your attention south.

The location of the Fire Pinion has been narrowed to a small enough area that Duncan believe it feasible to begin a direct search. He requests permission to go himself, but doing so would weaken your information network at home.

>Send Duncan
>Send troops
>Send Caitlyn
>Other

>Send kyle? his still being trained/training at this and it can be his first real out outing sense he came back.

Where is everybody else?

You inform Kyle that tracking down the exact location of the Fire Pinion will be his duty, and he agrees without question. He only asks that you lend him a handful of Hellraisers to act as enforcers should things get rough.

>Allow it
>Refuse

Lurking and doing important things, I'm sure

I'm sorry, I recently stopped being a NEET so my sleep schedule corrected itself. I'm pretty tired so I'm going to sleep soon.

Allow it

allow it

I have to admit, I cannot believe we just bottled Ray's soul. Surely his spirit will not find being used like this pleasant. Capturing our best friend's soul with the intent to use it as a magic battery or enchantment for equipment, or really anything at all, is the most evil thing we have ever done.

>allow it

No rest for the wicked user

You agree to his request and send some of the Hellraisers to aid him.

With things in motion for the time being, you have a brief moment to check in on your spawn, who is still in the lesser stage of his life. Unlike Vanessa, who was half demon, his aging will not be accelerated or or stagnated in its own. Like you, he will need to grow and slow as normal, unless he also finds a way to alter his natural processes.

You find him in the training yard with Morgan and his mother, observing Marigold and her troupe hard at work improving their minds and bodies as a unit. Amidst the sweat and blood of the yard, he sits on Sophia's lap with wide eyes and a curious expression.

>"Should he be watching this?"
>"I'm glad to see he takes an interest in combat."
>"How has he been today?"
>Other

Yeah, but it's not like it's our job to enforce that. I would expect us to act in Ray's best interests because the BBEG here seems semi-tacitly willing to do anything for Ray. Why desecrate him now instead of sending him off to the rest he wanted?

>"How has he been today?"
referring to the baby as just "he" is a good opener for choosing a name

>>"Should he be watching this?"
but really
>>"How has he been today?"

>How has today been
>I'm glad he seems to have taken an interest in his Father's job.

"He's very intent on the sparring. But I fear his presence is driving the Hellraisers and Marigold to push themselves even harder than usual. They haven't so much as stopped to breath since we arrived, only moved into exercise after exercise. Oh, but there is the matter of naming him. In Theonite tradition, a child is named first for his mother, than his father, then a name for good fortune, and his given name is given by a priest of the goddesses. I suppose the last one can be counted out, though."

>"We can do something like that." (Sophia will love this.)
>"We'll come up with something later."
>"He already has a name."
>Other

>"We can do something like that." (Sophia will love this.)
>Name of good Fortune or given name, 'Ray'

>>"We can do something like that."
But can't we just name him though? Thei it's tradition is nice and all but they are part of a greater whole now.

>Roll for the baby's name
Raymond Sophia Malicious ______ Rex

1d100, if you please

Rolled 88 (1d100)

Rolled 9 (1d100)

Ray

We can give Ray's soul to our kids weapon.

Not gonna actually pick a name?

His name is already Ray

88. A good strong name. Didn't know what to do ya just said roll.

Ferid? Skald? Luca Blight?

Rolled 36 (1d100)

Doom.

You choose a rather obscure and frankly strange name for the child, which Sophia seems to only go along with to get the conversation to move forward. Morgan is neutral, but secretly wishes you'd name it something tough, like her saucy romance novels.

After about an hour of watching the Hellraisrs spar, you notice they are completely out of energy, and running on muscle memory and what little moisture isn't spilled into the training mats. Marigold is quite nimble still, but you can see the bags forming under her eyes.

You order them to rest, causing each and every one to collapse from exhaustion into a pile of heaving corpses desperate for air.

>"You needn't push yourselves to impress an infant."
>"I admire your passion, but I need you alive."
>"Fifteen minute water break, then back to it."
>Other

>"I admire your passion, but I need you alive."

>>"I admire your passion, but I need you alive."

>There's a difference between training and hurting yourself. One is useful to me, the other is punishable stupidity.

Marigold struggles back to her feet and stumbles toward the wall, where several waterskins hang bloated with cool, refreshing liquid to sate the dry throat and soothe the hot skin. She takes a long gulp, then pour a bit on her ginger hair, tied into a pair of braids. That done, she turns back to you and speaks, still somewhat hunched with exhaustion.

"My dark lord, we must be ready to defend the heir at a moment's notice. And also..." she blushes, barely apparent due to her already reddened skin,and turns away. You catch her glancing just a bit at your son, who is now busy suckling at Sophia's breast.

>"Something you like there, kiddo?"
>"You were saying?"
>"Some defenders, who can't even stand on their own legs after training."
>Other

>"Something you like there, kiddo?"

Sassy BBEG, I like.

>>"Some defenders, who can't even stand on their own legs after training."

"What? N-no! I just... it's so intimidating to see our Prince of Darkness in such an empowered state. To watch him take nourishment, it's as if we are intruding on his moment of triumph."

You look over and see a baby nursing. Whatever those slimes are doing to these people's brains is a bit wackier than you first assumed. But either way, it's been a benefit to you.

>"Whatever, just stop the death training."
>"If you like, you can hold him a moment." (This may kill Marigold)
>"Stop staring."
>Other

>"If you like, you can hold him a moment. But you must promise not to die." (This may kill Marigold)

>>"If you like, you can hold him a moment." (This may kill Marigold)
But honestly
>>"Stop staring."

>>"If you like, you can hold him a moment." (This may kill Marigold)

what's the worse that could happen?

You tell Marigold that once he has had his fill, she may hold him. Her body visibly shakes, and the Hellraisers all flip over and turn their heads in shock.

The lot of them crawl over eagerly to watch the display as Sophia cleans the babe's mouth and burps him. That done, she straightens him back out, and holds him in gently extended arms. Marigold takes him as carefully as one might carry a castle built from cards. When at last he is fully in her hands, Marigold can no longer form words, only watch his small face move and contort in utter awe.

The Hellraisers sit with legs crossed and observe as Marigold cautiously presents her finger to the babe, and allows him to grip it in his small hand, delighting her to no end.

"My Dark Prince, my body is yours to use as you see fit. Do no hesitate to abuse it for your own amusement."

>"Okay, enough of that."
>Watch calmly
>Other

>>"Okay, enough of that."

>>"Okay, enough of that."
"he's a week old, i doubt he could understand or even remember it."

>"Okay, enough of that. Till his like 10, Can't have his ego massive."

>ok enough of that

This is a bit creepy.

You take the child from her and give her back to Sophia, asking Marigold to refrain from saying anything like that ever again. She seems rightfully ashamed, until a sudden burst of courage overtakes her.

"My dark lord! I was too meek to speak my mind before, but after holding our dark prince in my own two arms I feel a new resolve! Please, allow myself and the Hellraisers to oversee the training of your heir! Your duties are numerous and demanding, and we will dedicate ourselves to seeing his strength grow as he does!"

The other Hellraisers find their feet suddenly, and salute in unison as Marigold gives her proposal. It's impressively bold, you must admit.

>"No."
>"I'll consider it."
>Other

>>"No."
At this moment you are more of a liability than an assest around him. Temper your zeal and THEN maybe.

>>"No."

"he's a week old. wait until he's ten and then we'll talk. right now he needs to train his mind (and other motor abilities), not his body."

>No, His a week old woman. Give him a few years.

The rejection is a cutting blow to Marigold and the Hellraisers, but they do not weep or moan. Instead, Marigold orders them back to their work.

"We will prove our worthiness to our Dark Lord if it means we must fell every army on this planet! Drink from your waterskins and then meet in the courtyard for formation drills!"

And with that, the lot of them are off. You shrug, and go back to your normal work.

Legion returns before the afternoon is out, with Vanessa and the Hellraisers in tow. He reports to you directly, a shambling mess of loosely connected flesh and shredded armor with arrows, blades, and splinters protruding from his form, as well as a dull and chipped longsword gripped in one ragged hand. Despite his nearly destroyed state, he salues and begins his recounting of the events to the south.

"The Solari made for the mountain paths, but I was able to out maneuver them at each turn. They were formidable, and there were moments I prepared fall in the name of my lord, but they routed after so long, and gave me the chance to return to you.

>"Good work."
>"You look like shit."
>"You didn't finish them off?"
>Other

>"Good work."
>"You didn't finish them off? That is surpsing, you usually would attempt to. What made you change your mind."

this