Lady Shyora smiled at me as a pair of succubi wearing a
tabard displaying Malcanthet’s symbol (and little else) came into the arena and
gathered up the now-defiled daughter of Pelor. Not bothering to give the
godling another look, I turned to face the Lilitu. She held up her arms to
silence the crowd, and said, “Well done, well done, Lord Darkmore! The Queen of
Pleasures is pleased with all you have done here this day! As promised, you and
yours shall join the others who have earned the right to visit the Queen’s
Retreat in Shudderwall, but while they shall know pleasures and more at the
hands of some of the Queen’s devoted servants, you shall enjoy the company of
Malcanthet herself for the week you reside within her halls, an honor granted
to very few mortals indeed!”
As she spoke, five large flying creatures were brought into
the arena, along with the other competitors who had earned the trip, and their
attendants, which included my party, of course. Looking at the massive
creatures, they appeared to be some kind of demonic manta ray, and yet they
clearly could fly with ease through the air. Each creature was the size of an
elder dragon and carried a platform with seats upon its back. The platforms and
the harnesses for the demon beasts were all lavishly done in crimson and polished
steel, and bearing the symbol of Malcanthet upon the forehead of each beast,
and upon the back of each chair on the platforms.
Shyora led me to the central of the five creatures, and I climbed
up with my pets. The other contestants and their servants split themselves
between the other creatures. Looking over to Shyora, I said, “I have never heard
of creatures such as these.”
Shyora laughed, and it was a beautiful laugh. One could get
lost in the sound of her laughter, if they did not know who and what she was. “Ah,
this is a Flauvaaxu. I’m not surprised you haven’t seen or heard of them
before. They may look impressive, but they are fairly docile creatures,
enjoying the winds over the mountains near Shudderwall. Something about
Shendilavri sustaines them in a way that no other plane can. They are gentle
creatures, and useful for transporting people to the Queen’s Retreat without
going through the Labryinth or risking the dragon’s ire, but they are ill suited
to life outside this realm.”
I nodded slowly as we rose from the ground with great flaps
of the beasts’ ‘wings’. I noticed a tinge of magic in the air as we flew, showing
that a shield of air covered the platform we rode on, allowing us to breathe
and talk easily enough, even though we were soon speeding along quite fast
through the skies of Shendilavri. “Ah, I see. And the magic to protect the
platforms is well done. Subtle, especially if one didn’t know what to look for.
But then, I expect no less from what must be the Queen’s carriage, for lack of
a better word, when she wishes to transport herself about the layer without the
effort of spellwork?”
Shyora smiled, and nodded to me. “Ah, yes, when the Queen wishes
to be seen, or to convey guests personally to her palace in Rivenheart or the
retreat of Shudderwall, the Flauvaaxu are sent out so that her guests may relax
and observe the beauty of her lands in comfort as they fly.”
“And flying very fast they are, too. It is hard to tell from
the waves below, but looking back, the island is quite a ways behind us
already.” Indeed, Istancion was already fading into the distance as we flew
across the Scarlet Sea, heading into the west. It was receeding at such a pace
that I wouldn’t be surprised if we were outracing many cars on the highways of
the real world.
Shyora giggled, and said, “Well, the route we will fly is
almost three hundred miles long, but we will be there in just shy of three
hours. Tell me, Lord Darkmore, Chosen of Sharess, do you have any idea of what
we might do in those hours while we are flying above the lands of lust and
pleasure?”
I smiled at her, and said, “Well, Lady Shyora, Radiant Sister
of Malcanthet, why don’t you sit upon my lap and I will tell you of what I
might find an interesting diversion as we fly through the skies, hmm?”
“Hah! I told you he wouldn’t wait!”
I ignored the chattering behind me, and the sound of money
exchanging hands as bets were won and lost while Shyora climbed into my chair,
and we began a long discussion on the proper way of traveling in Shendilavri.
Two hours later, I was quite relaxed, as was Shyora. Oh, we
hadn’t gone at it the whole time, but a nice, leisurely ride while riding in
the sky was quite enjoyable, and left me quite relaxed, as I said, when we
passed over Rivenheart, and then turned to the north, passing over a great
hedge maze covering at least a hundred miles. At one point as we flew over, I
saw a dragon in the sky below, circling the maze and looking down for prey.
Shyora leaned over from her chair, and said, “Don’t worry
about Gulmengluum. He’s really a wonderful conversationalist, when you find
something to interest him. He’s taken it upon himself to be the guardian of the
Queen’s maze, ensuring that no one cheats by trying to fly or simply blast
their way through the hedges or going in as a group. It is said that if someone
makes it to the true center, then the Queen will grant them one Wish. Such a
boon is not given lightly, and so Gulmengluum ensures that any who seek it do
so fairly.”
I spent the next hour considering the enormous hedge maze.
This was the Abyss, so it was likely that things were not so simple as just ‘get
to the center of the maze’. No, there were likely to be all kinds of traps down
there, and monsters as well. And going in alone, while being unable to fly out
or cheat? That was an excellent way to find yourself trapped forever within the
maze, until you eventually perished. It was, perhaps, a good metaphor for this
plane in general. The beauty that was everywhere and the pleasures offered in
every corner were merely an enticement, a trap, designed to lure people into
shifting their allegiances and giving themselves over to the Demon Queen of the
Succubi.
Soon, the mountains in the distance began to come into more
detail, with snow-topped peaks that looked no different than those in any part
of the material plane, but likely had all sorts of interesting encounters for
those who thought mountain climbing was a fun diversion. Upon the slopes of one
such mountain, the monotony of grey stone and white snow was broken by the
peach-colored stone walls that rose out of the cliffs on a high shelf. High
towers and long halls marked the areas within the keep. It looked like a
medieval castle, and more like the Neuschwanstein Castle, yet every curve and
line seemed sensual in some way, especially the twin towers with their luscious
domes, conveying a feeling of warmth, welcome, and lust that went beyond simple
architecture. The building was designed and enchanted to make those who saw it
long to be there, to be inside its walls.
The other four flauvaaxu lande upon a shelf clearly designed
for the purpose, just outside the great gate on the outer wall that separated
the palace, for that is what it was, from the outside world. That gate, an upright
oval of a darker pink than the surrounding stone, stood open, a rose quartz nearly
three feet across (and thus perfectly proportioned for its placement at the top
of the arch) glowing brightly as pink light played over those who entered, in
what Shyora told me was a magical scan for ill intent against Malcanthet, but I
did not doubt was more than just that.
Instead of the landing outside the gates of Shudderwall like
the others, we flew low over the keep, passing through the valley between the two
towers until we came to a landing at a tall building in the back, where crimson
rested against the peach stone, forming a pair of luscious lips when viewed
from afar. Above them were two great rounded windows, like eyes, and the black
tiled roof looking ever so much like raven hair falling against the
mountainside. On a landing by the ‘lips’, the great flying creature came to a
rest, and Shyora led us off the platform, so that the flauvaaxu could return to
wherever they stayed when they were not waiting upon the Succubus Queen’s whim
to carry passengers to and from her lair. As we dismounted, another beauty emerged
from a doorway inset in the peach colored walls.
Shyora spoke quickly with the woman, and then turned to us. “I
am afraid that I must leave now, as there are things which must be attended to
back in Rivenheart, and the Queen has trusted me to handle them. This is Ifrana
Shadowmane, the Queen’s personal maid, and the one who truly runs things here
in Shudderwall. She will take you to where the Queen is awaiting your presence
and pleasure. I hope you will come and see me when you next pass through
Rivenheart.” And with a wink, she teleported away in a flash, leaving us with
the new woman.
Ifrana Shadowmane
Godtouched Half-Dragon Succubus Female
Level 200 Chaos Sorceress (Flame Sorceress)
/ Chaos Fist (Monk)
Titles: Magick Seeker, Genius, Polyglot,
Dark Ritualist, Divine Ritualist, Drunken Fist Initiate, Serpent Style
Initiate, Midnight Aesthetician, Sadist, Masochist, Sexecutioner, Chief Maid
of Shudderwall
|
As the maid looked us over, I took a moment to observe her.
She had quite the impressive collection of titles, and a couple advanced
classes I had not heard of before. Perhaps they were demon-exclusives? At any
rate, it was clear that whoever had chosen the ‘uniform’ for the chief maid had
a very lustful eye, and knew best how to emphasize her assets. Picture the
sluttiest ‘French maid’ costume you’ve ever seen, and then remove 10% more fabric
from it. And yet I could see from the aura that the clothes were not mere fabric,
but actually provided some serious protection, as good as any high-level cloth
armor would have a right to expect. It was carefully tailored to hide what
needed to be hidden, though keeping it always on the edge of accessibility,
while offering her freedom of movement and the magical protection enhancing her
defensese more than a suit of plate armor might. Even the feather duster she carried
in one hand was heavily enchanted, to the point I did not doubt that it was
more than just a simple duster.
When she spoke, it was not in a way that would convey ‘lust’
or ‘sexy maid available for your pleasure’, but more the cool, ice queen of the
library kind of tone. “Welcome, honored guests, to Shudderwall. The Gates will
close momentarily, and will remain magically sealed for seven days once they
have been shut unless the Queen herself commands them to open. While you are here,
all manner of pleasures will be available to you. Do what thou wilt shall be
the whole of the law. However, you are not allowed to interfere with the Queen’s
servants who are performing her will.” She pointed out a silk band on her right
arm that had the symbol of Malcanthet upon it. “Any servant wearing a band with
the Queen’s symbol on it like this one is on the Queen’s business, and is not
to be touched until they have completed their task and taken off the band. At
any other point, day or night, anywhere within the palace, anyone you see here
is free for use by anyone, save those who are slaves, and then they must abide
by their Master’s will. Attempting to use a slave belonging to another against
their Master’s will shall be considered a grave offense. The last fool to test
these rules was thrown naked through a portal to Thanatos, the plane ruled by
Orcus, Demon Prince of the Undead, for the roaving bands of the undead to
devour. Do you understand these rules that I have just stated to you?”
When we all nodded, she smiled, more warmly this time, and
said, “Excellent. Then if you will follow me, the Queen awaits.”
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Be sure to read my published works!
Frozen Soul series (Sci-Fi Supervillain story):
Frozen Soul https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R125QT
Tales of the Void Traveler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZ52G37
Rules-Free VRMMO Life (Dark Fantasy GameLit):
Volume 1 - Tutorial
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VPRNDB
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rules-free-vrmmo-life-stuart-grosse/1128941349?ean=2940161995297
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0774T354X
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Book I - Game Start https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071LT5WGL
Omnibus I - Books 1-4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077X2KR7Y
City of Champions Online (Superhero GameLit):
Issue I - Origin Stories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SHXQS1
Lewd Dungeon (Dungeon Core GameLit):
Book 1 - Welcome to the Apocalypse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BB34DHF
Omnibus 1 - Books 1-4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FBPF6HR
The Kalipshae Affair (A First Contact Short Story): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0739V6R6T
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