A silver light bursts from the palm of Hadriel’s hand and shines a magical light onto Alexander. His white cloth is torn from his body and his flesh turns into ash, floating away from him in the restless air. He screams while his voice deepens and he starts to grow. With his pale skin gone, his metallic grey scales reveal themselves to the other heroes in the temple. They just stand there, gazing in awe at this theatrical spectacle. Alexander’s eyes turn blue and his short blond hairs rise up in smoke. Dargothoth is revealed.
“What did you do to him?”, Lyssa asks with terror in her voice. She observes the eight and a half foot draconic man, chest heaving and leaning on his knees.
“I did not make him this way, insolent sea witch”, Hadriel’s voice thunders. “I merely revealed what he was hiding for you, for the world. This child-eating worshipper of malice has been playing you.”
The cleric holds his sceptre firmly, its gem coloured with a swirling red storm inside its precious walls. He growls. “I do not hide, angel. I merely choose a preferred form. In this state I tend to scare people and prevent cooperation.”
The emotions on their face reveil everything while observing the intimidating presence. Confusion, fear, anger. “You are not wrong, priest”, Bruq says in a stoic manner. “This certainly reveals a form that suits your personality more than the previous.” His grip around his glaive tightens and his eyes turn black.
(Persuasion 18)
“I don’t believe this appearance makes him evil”, Merodius says as he walks up to Dargothoth. “He aided me when I was wounded retrieving the Enochian Mirror. He has known me for just a couple of hours and already he cares enough to help me. I wouldn’t dare to question your knowledge, holy Seraphim, but maybe we should be less prejudiced.”
With a stern look on his bright face Hadriel stares deep into the artificial eyes of the sorcerer’s mask. “I don’t share your gullibility, puppet. Remain silent until you are spoken to.” His animated face is unable to hide the hurt caused by being put back in his former place as a slave.
“You can call me Dargothoth, sorcerer. Alexander is the name of my human appearance, but I have no need for it anymore.” He turns his attention to the burning angel again. His eyes ache from the angel's radiant presence. “Tell us what it is you want. I have no interest in participating in this charade for much longer.” He roars his words with jaw clenched.
“Maybe it would be wise to calm down a bit”, Lyssa suggests carefully. “He just blew away your cover by only pointing a ray of sunlight at you. Who knows what will come next?” She doesn’t know if she’s supposed to be more frightened by this form of betrayal or by the anger of Hadriel. Probably the latter.
“Even though I can’t fully agree with Dargothoth”, the half-elf speaks with emphasis on this newly learned name, “I would like to know what lies ahead for us. I want to be prepared for whatever awaits.”
The Seraphim remains silent, thinking about what he will do next. “You will retrieve the five Enochian Crystals to fully restore this mirror. And even with the preposterous behavior of your allies, I will spare you for now. We do have the same goal after all.”
This statement frustrates Dargothoth beyond belief, but he finds the power in himself to remain silent, wisely.
“Get them quick and hand them over. I could get them myself, but what would be the fun of taking away the challenge for the heroes of prophecies?”
“So, we don’t have to do this? It is just for the amusement of angels?” Bruq stares at him with disbelief, while Mero still doesn’t dare to speak again.
Oslando takes a step forward, feeling the heat increase as he comes closer to the Seraphim. “I thought this was not a game, Hadriel, but a way to save this world from perishment. Why do you speak with such contradicting riddles? We are here to help, not to be fooled with.”
Hadriel shakes his head. “It is all part of your trial to become the heroes the prophecies speak of. Fetching these five crystals is part of your growth.” A smirk appears on his radiant face. “Besides, you don’t have a choice”, he says and he claps his hands together. He disappears in a bright flash and the building starts to tremble as everything around them goes dark.
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