>>5323897Like any decent instructional material, the High Scholar begins with a visual aid!
“What you see here,” she explains, gesturing to the loud, scary-looking portal behind her, “Ees where eet will all begin: my freedom from that impudent fool <span class="mu-r">TIBIUS</span> and the end of thees insipid planet!”
“Didn’t he revive you, though?” Art asks impatiently! “As far as the other <span class="mu-r">LIEUTENANTS</span> go, you’re pretty independent.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, but I thank you.” Izitha replies with a coquettish wink! “And while I do owe my unlife to that wretched druid, it was my patron… my partner, who set me free!”
The <span class="mu-r">DEMON,</span> huh? What, did he suck all the <span class="mu-b">MARROW</span> out, or something? You were kinda looking forward to that!
“No, idiot, he merely overpowered the lich’s energy with his own!” Groans the High Scholar! “Do you see what that means, preemitive!? Even if you <span class="mu-i">do</span> defeat Lord <span class="mu-r">TIBIUS,</span> I will continue to live… and without the need of sleep or sustenance, either! My reign will be… <span class="mu-s">ETERNAL!</span>”
“Wait, did you hear dat’, Stan?”
Yea, you nod, she actually <span class="mu-i">paused</span> before saying eternal. What a ham, right?
“So wait,” Talbot asks, clearly still confused, “You <span class="mu-s">DON’T</span> want to team up with <span class="mu-r">TIM</span> anymore?”
“It’s <span class="mu-s">TIBIUS,</span> you repulsive apes!” The witch roars as she fires a blast of energy into a nearby slab of rubble! “And what ‘<span class="mu-i">team</span>’ are you referrink to!? That fool hasn’t given anyone instructions since ordering us to ‘<span class="mu-i">collect life energy!</span>’ Can you imagine how repugnantly <span class="mu-i">DULL</span> that became!?”
“Then why work with someone else?!” Shouts Sybil! “What do you gain from destroying this plane!?”
“Theenk of eet as a, well, ‘<span class="mu-i">signink on boneus.</span>’” Replies the High Scholar. “In return for breenging <span class="mu-r">THE DWELLER EEN THE DEEP</span> to this ripe and juicy dimension, I will receive anything and <span class="mu-i">every</span>thing I could ever desire!”
You can’t help but giggle at that–everything, huh? She ever think that deal might be a little too good to be true?
“Don’t be jealous, now, Stanley…” The witch coos as she stares down at you. “You could have brokered the same deal eef your preemitive species was capable of communicateenk with <span class="mu-r">DEMONS</span> like us… and don’t try to conveence me you deedn’t theenk of eet when banishing <span class="mu-r">THE COLLECTOR OF SECRETS…</span>”
Pfft, you scoff, you’d <span class="mu-i">never</span> ask a demon for anything, especially when the world’s on the li-
“Let me guess:” The witch mutters as you feel an unnerving scraping in the back of your mind, “A more attractive body? Eternal fame? A living, breathing… what ees thees name? <span class="mu-i">Gamugo</span>?”
Uhh….n-no…
>CONTD. 