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."
Mahariel does not know what an Orthon is, but twenty minutes ago he didn't know what a Tiefling was, either. Probably an Ogre, or something similar? Who can say. A big, mean thing, regardless. But he listens amiably, reaching to stir up the fire and add more fuel as Zevlor speaks, the better to lay on something edible for the both of them, time willing. But he does snort a laugh, when Zevlor offers his opinion on the questionable mortality of Archdemons.
"See, that's the thing about Archdemons. If just any fool comes and puts a few feet of steel through their brains, the don't die. You have it exactly right, it's just off to the next place," This pointed out with the hand holding the stick, "But that's the point of we Wardens; rhey only die when one of us does it. There's a trick to it, obviously, and it usually does kill the Warden too, in the process... but hey, who's counting?"
Not many. Not even him, truth be told; Theron had not known if their little gambit would work, until it had. Wardens were meant to die heroically, after all, and he'd borrowed more than his fair share of time already.
"...Demons can reproduce. I really hate that news," He informs Zevlor, with cheerful candor, "But I suppose if the result is just people, that's different. Still.
Zevlor tilts his head, processing the information, and makes a faint humming noise. "It's a rare person who can even get close enough to one to put steel through them, I assume. But you said you had slain one and survived? Is this proprietary information, or may I ask for details?"
He shakes his head then. "Demons and devils are different entities, to my knowledge. One is Abyssal and of chaos, the other is Infernal and follows its own wicked laws. They are at constant war with one another, lucky for the rest of us, because either side turning its attention toward mortals could be disastrous."
"I have heard both devilish and demonic influence can appear in an innocent bloodline, but demons are far rarer. Perhaps their attention span is lacking."
"Most people think of me as a pretty lax Warden, but I am sworn to secrecy. Unless you wanna join up and become a fellow-Warden, of course," He says, in tones indicating that it's a joke— but not enough of one that he'll not take it seriously, if Zevlor does, "Though I won't lie, you're a better candidate for hiding truths than most, if I'm any judge."
Because nobody is going to talk to you, Zevlor. Because of how you look, and how people are... and because the secret really is just that terrible, when you get down to it. It does sound like something a demon would say.
"I've heard people call everything that isn't human some variation on all that. But I'm no scholar— as you can see. What isn't trying to kill or chain me, I can let live. Otherwise..." Theron shrugs, easy nonchalance, "I kill it instead. No matter how big or powerful. It's a policy that's worked well, so far."
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branchandroot
no subject
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."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-12 08:21 pm (UTC)"See, that's the thing about Archdemons. If just any fool comes and puts a few feet of steel through their brains, the don't die. You have it exactly right, it's just off to the next place," This pointed out with the hand holding the stick, "But that's the point of we Wardens; rhey only die when one of us does it. There's a trick to it, obviously, and it usually does kill the Warden too, in the process... but hey, who's counting?"
Not many. Not even him, truth be told; Theron had not known if their little gambit would work, until it had. Wardens were meant to die heroically, after all, and he'd borrowed more than his fair share of time already.
"...Demons can reproduce. I really hate that news," He informs Zevlor, with cheerful candor, "But I suppose if the result is just people, that's different. Still.
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 04:58 pm (UTC)He shakes his head then. "Demons and devils are different entities, to my knowledge. One is Abyssal and of chaos, the other is Infernal and follows its own wicked laws. They are at constant war with one another, lucky for the rest of us, because either side turning its attention toward mortals could be disastrous."
"I have heard both devilish and demonic influence can appear in an innocent bloodline, but demons are far rarer. Perhaps their attention span is lacking."
no subject
Date: 2026-02-21 05:08 pm (UTC)Because nobody is going to talk to you, Zevlor. Because of how you look, and how people are... and because the secret really is just that terrible, when you get down to it. It does sound like something a demon would say.
"I've heard people call everything that isn't human some variation on all that. But I'm no scholar— as you can see. What isn't trying to kill or chain me, I can let live. Otherwise..." Theron shrugs, easy nonchalance, "I kill it instead. No matter how big or powerful. It's a policy that's worked well, so far."