Angelus/Everto Quero (RPG thread)

[Nefieslab]

The thread title is latin for 'The Angelic/Demonic Enquiry'. Terrible name I know but I don't care. This is the RPG thread. The affairs thread is titled 'The Old Breed Strikes Anew!'.


The city of Dis lies in the fires of the Sixth circle, its silver walls blackened by the constant flames that lick along the surface.

It is said that the city was raised from the rock and fire by Satan himself, its many towers and spires a magnificent sight to behold. When raised, the stone city was said to be a glimmering silver that rivalled the gates of heaven in terms of beauty. Guarded night and day by the roaming beasts of the Lord Leviathan, it was in unconquerable walled city in the same way that Troy once boasted. However, just like the Trojan city, the City of Dis was both hated and lusted by the enemies of Satan.

Several archangels, angered by the way that Satan seemed to challenge the beauty of heaven, laid seige to the city with their legions of heavenly host. Death flowed freely as the archangels attacked the glittering walls again and again, each time being repelled by the besieged forces of Satan. After many years of siege, it became apparent to the angels that the siege would become a never ending struggle that would affect their war effort negatively in other areas. Holding onto their old hate, they acted out of spite as they withdrew. As they departed they opened up the earth surrounding the city to let the hellfire spew forth and dash itself against the coveted walls. And so Dis became the scorched city of the sixth circle.

Despite such devastation, the City of Dis is still widely considered to be the capital of Hell. Although The Devil (Means 'council' in the demonic tongue) meets in an icy palace in the depths of the ninth circle, the scorched city of Dis is populated by all manner of demons and fallen angels. Because of its reputation as a city of differences, the city of Dis was chosen by both the Archangels and the Demon Lords to be the first meeting place for the Angelus/Everto Quero.

It is for this reason that the Archangel Azrael, neutral Angel of Death and Demon Lord of hate, sits in the highest room in the second tallest tower within the city limits. The tower of the Demon of Wealth, Balthazar, is set to be the meeting place as Lucifer has seen to it that the members of the Quero are given a large budget for expenses. So this is how it comes to be that the grey angel of death sits at the head of Balthazar's table.

The high-back chairs are crafted of a strange, red, metal to resemble the faces of the damned in their punishment. Likewise, the table itself is made from a red metal and is carved with the faces of the damned. Azrael runs a hand through his hair as his wings instinctively twitch as Balthazar enters the room. Having no doors, the walls of the room tear themselves open in places to allow entry before sealing themselves again. And despite seeing this happen several times, Azrael flinches as the walls pull themselves back together with a sucking sound that is far too organic for walls in his mind. He glances at the demon.

Balthazar was one of the strange demons in terms of appearance. To look at him from a distance was like looking at a human man from a distance, he was tall and dressed religiously in an expensive looking suit. However, upon closer inspection he was revealed as the sickening demon that he was. His human skin had remained when he'd taken on the role as Balthazar, but it had melted due to the heat of the hellfire. Angry red lumps of skin clung to the muscular system of the demon. His black hair is combed and greased back but it does little to distract from the bulging eyes and half-melted face of the demon.

Said demon was busy playing with a single silver coin as he entered the room. He cast a glance at Azrael, as the angel had done to him, and his eyes moved wetly to examine the other being quickly. With a gutteral sound, between a sigh and a cry, Balthazar sat down at the table, seating himself directly to the left of his guest. Reaching into his suit pocket he produced a packet of cigarettes, one sticking out of the packet ever so slightly,

"May I offer you a cigarette? They are of the finest quality, I can assure you." he offered; his words silky and smooth but his voice rough and croaky. Azrael nodded politely and took the offered cigarette,

"The finest money can buy, I assume." he joked lightly, trying desperately to avoid showing his disgust at Balthazar's appearance. Balthazar smiled, an ugly sight of exposed muscle and jawbone,

"Exactly right." he agreed as he held out a small lighter, "May I light your cigarette?"

Azrael smiled himself, the expression forced and small,

"No thank you..." he clicked his fingers under the cigarette and a thin, white, flame of Holy fire danced above his thumb, lighting the cigarette, "I have my own."

With no small amount of satisfaction, Azrael noticed how Balthazar flinched at the sight of the Holy fire. He resisted the urge to chuckle to himself as he waved his hand to extinguish the fire. Balthazar visibly relaxed as Azrael began to enjoy his cigarette. The demon smiled a wide and obviously fake smile,

"Now, is there any other... business that I can do for you?" he tried to make his voice silky to match his words but it instead came out as a demented purring sound. Azrael chose to respond to the aggravating demon the way that Metatron had suggested when he'd first been told about the meeting. He drew his sword and slammed it into the table; point first, in one swift movement. Balthazar's eyes widened and darted from the sword buried in the table to Azrael's now scowling visage,
"You're annoying me." he commented darkly. Balthazar stood up, trying not to look at least slightly shaken,

"Perhaps the others with have better manners than you." he spat, making sure that he was out of sword range before he spoke. Azrael raised an eyebrow,

"Better manners overall? Perhaps. Better manners concerning you?" he chuckled, "Unlikely."

[SoNickSays...]

Outside the high tower within the refines of the City of Dis, a tall, slim figure rapped a thin, pitiful fist on the large doors. Balan's eyes were a grim blue that held a stern authority one would not question when gazing upon his grotesque face. The great door creaked and groaned when another figure opened it, exposing his broken features to the Demon Lord.

"Balthazar. You yet live free." Balan's voice was quiet, and held little care for any words it uttered. No emotion was spared to these tainted ears.

The pitiful being chuckled lightly "If you call this living! Azrael is waiting for you."

Balan lifted an eyebrow to indicate a curiosity he should have.

"Then why are you not in his presence, offering him comforts? What else are you useful for?"

Balthazar seemed somewhat hurt for a moment, before he regained his composure with a nod his head, opening his mouth to let the gasping voice escape:

"I was. He threw me out for 'being rude'."

Balan immediately asked in a bored voice: "Were you rude?"

Ten minutes after these events, Balan strode into a large room on the highest level of the tower. Inside he saw the cloaked features of Azrael. Balan regarded this Archangel with interest, raising his eyebrows symbolically. Azrael was a being that had Balan partially confused - a sensation the Demon Lord hadn't experienced in a long time. It was obvious that Azrael was adjusting to his new afterlife, but he was also very unpredictable with his quick mood swings and erratic behaviour. A lot of the time Balan could predict which mood would follow, and when the mood swing would be, but still at some points even he could not estimate the severity of the behavioural change.

"I heard Balthazar was rude to you. I have him beating himself outside of the tower - that is why he has not come to offer you a false apology."

Balan sat down at his designated seat without another word, nor any words of greeting to the young Archangel. He rested his elbows on the armrests and positioned his hands beneath his chin while the large volume he carried with him on the large wooden table ahead of him, creating a loud, muffled sound.

[Nefieslab]

Azrael frowned a little as he tried to place the strange little demon. He was not the overly muscular type of demon, instead he seemed to be rather, if the expression could be excused, rather bookish.

I heard Balthazar was rude to you. I have him beating himself outside of the tower - that is why he has not come to offer you a false apology

That made Azrael chuckle. Mainly because the false apology bit was totally true, he doubted that Balthazar had ever said anything, in this life and his former life, that had been completely true. He sighed a little at the thought of Balthazar beating himself at the demon's command,

"It is in the nature of the beast to sin." he put on his best Gabriel voice, high and mighty while at the same time aloof, "We cannot punish him for what he is. If we do, we may as well punish the birds for flying and the pigs for rolling around in their own filth."

He chuckled lightly as he imagined how annoyed Gabriel would be at being mocked. He turned to the demon, Balan he now remembered, before turning his attention to the book before him. His senses were screaming at him that the book was... 'wrong'. With a frowned he pointed to the book,

"That book... feels wrong." he said, totally oblivious to the way it sounded like an accusation.

[SoNickSays...]

Balan did not crack a smile as the Archangel chuckled, nor broke any form of expression on his face other than an inquisitive one when he regarded Azrael.

"It is in the nature of the beast to sin. We cannot punish him for what he is. If we do, we may as well punish the birds for flying and the pigs for rolling around in their own filth."

"Humans are violent and aggressive in nature, yet they are punished for such a thing." Balan's voice was small, and held the experience and intellect that lathered his mind.

"That book... feels wrong."

Balan was impressed by the advanced senses of Azrael, but was not surprised as to why he felt such a way. He looked to the floor, before regarding the Archangel with the look of an adult telling a child something important.

"That is because you have the capability for good, and this particular volume is not one that aligns itself with 'good'. Why do you have such capabilities?"

[Nefieslab]

Humans are violent and aggressive in nature, yet they are punished for such a thing

Azrael clapped a few times,

"And there lies the flaw in Gabriel's all-knowing logic." he noted dryly. He'd only been on this plane of existance for four days now and yet he already felt a strong desire to punch Gabriel in the face. Being the only one to hear God's voice didn't give him the right to be such a stuck up prick in Azrael's mind.

That is because you have the capability for good, and this particular volume is not one that aligns itself with 'good'. Why do you have such capabilities?

Azrael's eyes narrowed slightly,

"I am neutral. I have the capability for evil greater than most demons as well. I seem to have remained the most human. I seem to have been 'blessed' with yet another series of choices." he sighed before pointing at the book again, "It feels the same as Razriel's book and his damned owl. It feels wrong."

He shrugged,

"But this is becoming a bit of a long topic. Let us converse about other topics."

[SoNickSays...]

Balan did not seem surprised at the word of Azrael's neutrality. Instead, he lowered his body further into his seat, his hands meeting in the air.

"So you have not yet been rewarded with alignment. You are but new; your loyalties are raw. Such prize shall come... Eventually."

Balan's eyes twitched for a moment - the only change of feature as of yet on his twisted stone face - when Razriel's name was mentioned.

"Razriel is my opposite, so they say. It would only make sense if he held a book of the light, as this is a book of the dark."

"But this is becoming a bit of a long topic. Let us converse about other topics."

Balan's chuckle that followed such words was one completely lacking of humour. It stopped shortly after a quick burst of deep rambling, leaving an eerie echo of silence in it's wake.

"When you have experienced as much as I, you will find idle conversation lacking interest, and that all topics have been well explored. If you do happen to have a topic I will care to hear, I may decide to listen."

[Mistique]

It was entirely too early, for Lilith’s taste, when the four demons gathered outside her room and in fact Lilith was still sleeping. Well technically she was awake, but she remained in her bed. She loved the way the black satin sheets of her hugely oversized bed felt on her skin, like the gentle touch of a lover, and she had wanted to stay for just a bit longer. Well, she had been doing that for the past hour. She had known about the first meeting for the Angelus/Everto quero, but well how could she resist softness like that.

Soon after one of the demons, clearly the bravest, had made his way into her room. Lilith did not respond. Nervously he scraped his throat and said “Milady” Lilith still ignored him as she liked this little game wondering how far he would go. She could hear him move and moments later she felt his soft touch on her shoulder. “It is time to wake up, Milady.”

“Said’s who?” Lilith grabbed his hand and looked him over with contempt. “A useless little man like you?” The anger she faked in her eyes did not miss it’s effect.

“No, Milady. I would not dare. It is almost time for the first meeting for the Angelus/Everto Quero. I was ordered to escort you there.” He said with a shaky voice. Lilith raised her eyebrow impressed with his persistence. With a shrug she got up. She chuckled to herself when he quickly looked away as her nakedness had him confused.

Provocatively slow she got herself ready picking a deep black dress that was too sultry for the occasion, as she usually would, and brushing her hair in a pattern that seem to go on forever. When she stepped out of her room she noticed the other three. “Oh did they think you couldn’t do it on your own?” Lilith smiled at the demon that had woken her, but he avoided all eye contact.

On the way to Balthazar’s tower Lilith chatted lightly with three of the demons as the fourth, and the one who woke her, ignored her. She smiled sweetly at them, touched her hair and face repeatedly and even giggled when one of them made a clumsy attempt at a joke. Without even using her skill she had managed to persuade them to let her go. The forth however was resolute and that was why she entered the room only slightly too late.

Lilith looked at Balan who puzzled her a bit. His face was far from attractive, but his eyes were of a color and depth that was rare for a demon lord. She frowned at his outfit, but then nodded politely. Next Lilith turned to Azrael. She found dark hair combined with the blue eyes of an angel quite appealing, but like always she found looking in the eyes of an Archangel somewhat unnerving. She smiled and looked away as she sat down. “Hello gentlemen, nice to meet you both.”

[SoNickSays...]

Balan's head turned to regard the beautiful, petite figure that was the Lady of Lust. Her long, wavy red hair and modern dress sense made her image unnatural to Balan's eyes, and he regarded her with the certainty that he felt no want for her. That was, without her trying. He peered at her down his hooked nose, before speaking in the bland voice of a croaking old man.

"Lilith. You look technically beautiful, as always. Would it pain you to vary your monotony and dress yourself against the taste of men?"

[Mistique]

“Thank you”, Lilith smiled sweetly at Balan. “I’m asuming that is a compliment.” She thought about his question for a moment. “Actually it might do just that. I am not sure.” A wrinkle appeared on her face as she gave it some more tought.

“I could give it a try, although I doubt that anything I would wear would be against the taste of men. But who knows, I am always up for a bit of experimenting. What would you suggest I wear?”

[SoNickSays...]

Balan wrinkled his nose, turning away from the demoness. Her bubbly personality and her need to be speaking too much frustrated him, and he found himself quickly disliking her presence.

"Perhaps a little dignity."

[Mistique]

“Clothes don’t determine dignity.”

Lilith noticed the wrinkle and him looking away, but said nothing of it. If he hadn’t wanted her to talk he should not have asked. She adjusted to his needs just the same, as she usually would, and refrained from saying anything else.

[SoNickSays...]

Balan let a short chuckle escape his throat, with the clear meaning of 'poor child' pushed through the patronising, sympathising laugh. Instead of contradicting her and forcing himself into an argument he couldn't care to win, the old Demon Lord pulled the large volume in front of him closer; resting the book on his lap. He then proceeded to place his palm flat on the front cover of the volume, close his eyes, and inhale deeply, a look of deep concentration scarring his face.

[Nefieslab]

Azrael chuckled at the exchange between the two demons,

"You are being most rude Balan." he shook his head as he openly looked Lilith up and down, "A gentleman never uses such venom when commenting on a Lady's clothes. No matter how... expressive said clothes are."

He stood from his chair and walked closer to Lilith. Casually he took her left hand and brought it up to kiss it,

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Lilith."


(working by iPhone sucks... Will be able to post properly later.)

[SoNickSays...]

Balan opened his eyes to responsive Azrael, before letting out a gentle snort.

"Should a lady enter our presence, I will be most courteous," The old Demon rose to his feet, placing the volume with utmost care - as if handling a holy relic - on the table once again, before he turned to the Demoness and the Archangel, "however you both - like other young and foolish baby cherubs, floating ignorantly on cotton clouds - seem to be forgetting your status. Demons. We are not granted gifts by the Underworld, we simply serve it. Should we stop, we will be imprisoned and punished for our lawless lives just as every other poor soul is beneath the depths of mortality. Act as if you are a being being punished with the humility to be silent and humble."

Without another word, nor breath (despite the lengthy rant, spoken in a calm manner), Balan sat himself down on his chair once more, resting deeply into it's curved frame.

[Mistique]

Lilith ignored Balan’s chuckle, even if it did annoy her, as he obviously wasn’t in the mood to talk to her. She focused her attention on Azrael instead. Lilith sighed, as much as she loved being a demon, she found angels far more pleasant to deal with.

She gave him a charming smile as he spoke to Balan and it pleased her that he got closer. As far as Lilith was concerned closer was always better. Her smile deepened when he took her hand. “I am sure the pleasure is mine, Lord Azrael.”

Lilith frowned as Balan spoke again finding it increasingly hard to ignore him, but doing so just the same. Silent and humble, hardly qualitíes she possessed or that could be expected of a Lady of Lust.