Zevlor gives an ironic little smile that dissolves into a weak laugh. "Ah. Then we're a similar thing, you and I, merely from different planes and in different orders. Hellriders are the elite cavalry of Elturel. Were, I fear, since the city's fall. We swear a sacred oath to serve the city, the overseer, and the innocent within the realm."
He trails off, the flickering flames in his eyes dulling for a moment. "We were betrayed. I will continue to do my duty, of course, no matter what, but I hope that you are oathbound to something more worthy of you."
"I must have taken out a dozen Orthons in the last forty-eight hours, but I fear an Archdemon is well beyond my capabilities. We may or may not be talking about the same thing, though. I do not think the Archdevils or Archdemons I'm aware of can die. Just get shunted to lesser circles of the Hells, perhaps." Still, if they are talking about beings of similar capabilities, he could be looking at the greatest potential ally he's ever seen in his life, and that doesn't escape him.
He nods, looking him over curiously. "I've had many elves among my comrades, so at least we have that knowledge in common. Tieflings are born of ordinary folk--usually humans, but sometimes also elves, dwarves, and other races. An ordinary couple will birth a creature like myself. Sometimes they have made a bargain or dabbled in magic, but other times there is nothing upon which to immediately blame the emergence of a tiefling."
"Over time, tieflings have found one another and joined together in families. Two tieflings may have a child that appears human, but it's far more common for us to produce more of ourselves. There is, alas, a devil's influence in our blood, though none of us asked for it. Asmodeus sought to use us as a tool to conquer the Material Plane, a long while ago. That he has thus far failed, and that most of us would rather see him or ourselves annihilated than serve his will, makes little difference to the people around us."
"So it does sting a bit to be reminded I'm an abomination, but I cannot blame you for the assumption." He shrugs. "It is what it is. I am, distantly, devil-spawn. But my heart is the same as yours."
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branchandroot
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Date: 2026-01-11 05:26 pm (UTC)He trails off, the flickering flames in his eyes dulling for a moment. "We were betrayed. I will continue to do my duty, of course, no matter what, but I hope that you are oathbound to something more worthy of you."
"I must have taken out a dozen Orthons in the last forty-eight hours, but I fear an Archdemon is well beyond my capabilities. We may or may not be talking about the same thing, though. I do not think the Archdevils or Archdemons I'm aware of can die. Just get shunted to lesser circles of the Hells, perhaps." Still, if they are talking about beings of similar capabilities, he could be looking at the greatest potential ally he's ever seen in his life, and that doesn't escape him.
He nods, looking him over curiously. "I've had many elves among my comrades, so at least we have that knowledge in common. Tieflings are born of ordinary folk--usually humans, but sometimes also elves, dwarves, and other races. An ordinary couple will birth a creature like myself. Sometimes they have made a bargain or dabbled in magic, but other times there is nothing upon which to immediately blame the emergence of a tiefling."
"Over time, tieflings have found one another and joined together in families. Two tieflings may have a child that appears human, but it's far more common for us to produce more of ourselves. There is, alas, a devil's influence in our blood, though none of us asked for it. Asmodeus sought to use us as a tool to conquer the Material Plane, a long while ago. That he has thus far failed, and that most of us would rather see him or ourselves annihilated than serve his will, makes little difference to the people around us."
"So it does sting a bit to be reminded I'm an abomination, but I cannot blame you for the assumption." He shrugs. "It is what it is. I am, distantly, devil-spawn. But my heart is the same as yours."