A Raven's Blessing | Vax'ildan x OC | TLOVM

Hell to Pay

Warnings: Strong and Sexual Language; Violence, Gore (lots of it in this chapter) & Death. 

"Pike... Pike," Grog called. The group had taken a momentary pause looking over the city of Dis, which now felt like the brightest summer day with the heat. Athena could feel sweat pool on her back as she looked at the massive swirl of bodies, demons, and fire. 

"Pike?" Grog placed his hand on Pike's shoulder causing a sudden jolt from her body as she gasped. "Pike? I was calling your name." Grog looked at her worriedly. 

"Oh, I-I was just...," she shook her hand before smiling back at Grog, "Making sure we're being looked out for." 

"Oh. Your goddess got our backs?" Grog grinned as he pounded his fists together.

"Yeah. Sure does," she said but she looked back worriedly at the city letting out a deep sigh.

"Good. 'Cause to pull this off...," he chuckled as he looked where she was, "We're gonna need all kinds of miracles."

The group continued to navigate the masses of floating rocks as they descended toward the heart of the fire and the city. Athena jumped onto Keyleth's back in her eagle form when they reached a large gap. Demons screeched, and the wails of souls echoed around them—a heavy feeling weighed in Athena's stomach at the sight of all the suffering. The gnomes were placed on Grog's shoulders as he took a massive leap, landing on the rocks below. Keyleth and Vax glided down beside him. Athena slid off Keyleth as she transformed back into her original form. They all stood at the edge of the city.

"There it is. The City of Dis," Vax announced.

"Um, okay, how are we gonna do this? Everyone down there is either a demon or is getting eaten by one," Keyleth asked. As if on cue, a group of people cried out as demons tore into their flesh. The squish of the flesh reverberated through the air.

"Well, we certainly don't look like we belong in Hell." 

"Unless we did," Athena stated looking to Scanlan, "Scanlan, can you transform us?" 

"I got us," he said pulling his lute from his back. "Let's get in costumes, let's get in makeup, let's get scary as hell!" 

Clouds of purple magic surrounded them. While Athena didn't feel a physical change, she looked at her hands which to her eyes were now made of stone. In fact, her entire body looked like it was stone. As her eyes trailed her body she noticed at the top of her vision, horns were now poking out of her head. The rest of the group were similarly demonified. Keyleth resembled a demonic deer with larger antlers, Pike was a small version of a yeti, Scanlan was wickedly impish with small, pointed horns jutting from his forehead, Vax was now a monstrous humanoid raven, and Grog was...

"Wha... A bunny? Come on!" he cried out. He was rather adorable, especially with his pink bow on top of his head.

" Hey, just kidding. Just kidding, buddy." Scanlan snapped his fingers as the same purple magic surrounded Grog changing him into a mix of a brutous orge with horns and wings. Scanlan: "How's this feel?"

Grog let out a low growl, "Wicked." 

However, the group's attention was diverted as the sound of a whimper came from Pike. More screaming was heard in the distance. The horror of the place seemed to be affecting Pike the most. She was almost in a trance-like state floating between being in the present and somewhere else.

"Pike, uh, you okay?" Scanlan asked. 

"Those souls... I wish I could help them. Maybe Keyleth was right. Is going through Hell worth it for one vestige?"