In spite of the provocative dancing and the powerful magic behind it, Lady Ilvaria's efforts were, for the most part, in vain, as well as those of Ariel. The axe had given a shudder upon contact of the dispulsion, though the magic was not suppressed. As well, the other spell had not managed to reach the desired effect, though by the end of the various failed enchantments that had been cast upon him, the fiend had a raging hard-on that was attempting to grasp freedom from its tight, linen boundaries. The hyena's silver eyes met Ilvaria's, and he gave a lick of his lips before taking hold of the axe, its dancing ability ceasing. '<span style="color: darkred"><i>Oh, yes, we </i>will <i>meet again. Hopefully on less hostile terms, as I would hate to spoil something so rewarding as your voice,</i></span>' the beast again told her telepathically. Its words being honest in the desire for less violence and more singing was a dubious concept at best, though perhaps he was indeed being sincere.<br/><br/>In the meantime, rather than continue the fighting, there was a flash of chaotic energy, radiating the colors of madness, and the demon had disappeared, a bout of howling laughter echoing throughout the area. Orlando kicked the dirt angrily, a small puff of reddish sand floating about, catching in the wind and drifting away as he gritted his teeth. As much as it may have been Ariel's fault that she was taken like that, he was not about to just let her be degraded and objectified here in The Abyss. She was a comrade, albeit an overzealous one, and if there was ever a chance to save someone he knew, the black monitor would never pass it up. Once everyone had regrouped, Orlando shouldered his sword and put a fist on his hip. His breathing suggested more suppressed anger than fatigue, as well as his pursed lips and furrowed brow. A moment of thought later, and Orlando said to them all, "Right! It seems we're going to make a little detour. I know of a special door that Himmel and I had discovered that leads to an alleyway in Gallenghast, one of the neighborhoods of Graz'zt's triple-city Zelatar. She may have brought it on herself, but I have no intention of leaving her behind."<br/><br/>His words said, Orlando led the party to the rim of the Grand Abyss without further incident, and searched about until a rather slim and roughly hewn set of stairs had been found that hugged the walls of the cliff's face until a stone bridge had been reached. 'We may have to make a few jumps through here to reach the place, but we should not be hurt very much, if at all," he informed them, looking over the edge of the twenty-foot wide bridge before continuing into a cavern that forked directly east and west. Orlando walked to the east, and their path began to spiral downward and into the cliff. It was almost ten minutes of walking downhill before they all reached the next opening, and found a bridge with a gap of about ten feet. Wordlessly, the large man made a running start and leapt over the gap, making it easily enough to the other side. "If you cannot fly," he called out, "I can catch you if you'd rather."<br/><br/>------------<br/><br/>Forty-two layers down, things were far different. Ariel could see that she was in a palace that was most grand, made of dark gray stone. The flames of torches and braziers burned what must have been a bluish color, as they were a striking violet through the redness of the gem. The fiend that held her captive did not say anything until he had reached a large, decorative door made of iron with electrum rings for handles. The molydeus gave it a push, and it opened wide to reveal a huge chamber, still made of the same gray stone as the rest of the place. The main difference, however, was that it was lit quite vividly by braziers that lined all of the walls, and many people were either walking or laying around the place. Directly in front of them, about forty feet away, there was a huge throne, and sitting in it a very tall, very,<i>very</i>dark man. In his lap sat a bastard sword nearly the size of Orlando's own fullblade, and it glistened with some kind of slightly greenish fluid. The man's hair was slightly feathery and just as black as his skin, six small horns protruding from his head. With a red cloak over his right shoulder that looped under his left arm, he stood to his full height of almost nine feet. He made a smile most sinister, his luminous, lime green eyes squinting ever so slightly as he bared his sharp, yellow teeth. "<span style="color: green">So, my good servant, it seems that you have brought me a gift!</span>" As the man approached the molydeus, the lesser fiend immediatley dropped to one knee, bowing his heads and telling Ariel telepathically, '<i><span style="color: darkred">You will show nothing but the utmost respect and utter fear to your new master, The Dark Prince Graz'zt, you near-worthless slave,</span></i>' before setting his axe on the floor in front of him.<br/><br/>"<span style="color: darkred">Indeed, I bring to you a powerful elf, one who deludes herself into thinking that she could best me, and deserves to be put in her place,</span>" the molydeus answered to his overlord. "<span style="color: darkred">She was accompanied by a group of fellows, consisting of two men, an illithid, and a drow priestess.</span>" Graz'zt's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of the elf. "<span style="color: green">And what has become of them?</span>" he inquired, seemingly intrigued by this news.<br/><br/>"They had attacked me, and though I was able to fend them off for a time, that I was unaided prevented my victory," replied the molydeus.<br/><br/>Graz'zt's face turned into a slight frown for just a second before he swung his sword and struck the molydeus across the chest. The wound was deep, and the acidic fluids sizzled and popped over the cut; even though the wound closed very soon, it was still obviously painful, though the molydeus kept his mouth shut, refusing to show weakness in front of his lord. "<span style="color: green"><i>That</i> is for your failure to slay the invaders!</span>" he barked. He then reached into his belt, drawing from it a large pouch, one that writhed a bit while it rested on the floor. "<span style="color: green">And <i>that</i> is for bringing me this maiden.</span>" The molydeus snatched up the bag graciously, though he did not raise any of his head. "<span style="color: sienna">Many thanks, Your Majesty.</span>"<br/>Graz'zt then looked down at the ruby in the hilt of the axe. '<span style="color: green"><i>Tell me your name, whore,</i></span>' he sneered at Ariel telepathically, '<i><span style="color: green">and what you are doing here. Doing so without incident is in your best interests.</span></i>'<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>