Chrysalis

The meeting dragged on for another hour before a reasonable plan of action of attack was determined. We had to consult Al fairly frequently throughout the process, trying to determine exactly what is and isn't allowed in a formal war between demon cities. In the process we got a bit of an overview on the history and practical application of this particular demon tradition. Allocrix doesn't have any idea roughly when it started, the practice is nearly as old as demon kind itself, or at least so he claims.

According to the burning eyeball himself, there was such a time that the third stratum was filled with demons who as of yet didn't have any boundaries or structures as to how to lead their lives. Much as one would expect, it was complete chaos. Or at least, it was more chaotic than things are now supposedly. I did have to ask him one burning question at this point in the conversation.

[Who exactly imposed the rules on you?]

[What do you mean?]

[At one point you had no rules, and then these traditions were… put in place, for want of a better term, then there must be someone who came up with them, right? An individual or group that was the origin point. Or were they just cooked up at some point and spread throughout demon society over time?]

[Ah, you ask who is the origin of our traditions. Arconidem.]

[Arconi-who?]

[Arconidem, the demon god.]

[I didn't realise you demons had a religion?]

I mean, how does that even work? They're literally referred to as demons… or is this why they're referred to as demons? Allocrix stares at me like he's looking at an alien.

[You don't know who Arconidem is?]

I try to think.

[It might ring a bell? I get the feeling I've heard the name before.]

[I believe you might.]

Is that humour I hear in the big eyeball’s voice?! A shocking development.

[Arconidem the demon god is one of the nineteen ancients and the progenitor of the demon race,] he informs me in his usual flat tone.

[Ah.]

Well, dang. I probably should have remembered that. Granin and his apprentices had drilled me on what is known about the nineteen ancients, which isn't much, generally speaking. In fact, from what I understood, most people in Pangera can't name them, and many don't believe that they exist in the first place. Which isn't a ringing endorsement. Although the existence of the Cults throughout the civilised world means that at least some people are keeping the, uh, dream, alive?

a second. He was the progenitor?

the sight, thankfully it's too quick for

the claim. As to the

spawn from the Dungeon? Like, there are millions of demons spawning out

used to pattern the rest of us. Again, who can say? As to the title that Arconidem claimed for himself,

I'm going to

[I have seen him.]

…

[WOT?!]

The big eye nods.

are taken to see Arconidem when they evolve. I would describe it as a type of

[Yeah I bet.]

soul circle a drain and sink down to goodness knows where to speak to someone you don't necessarily want to see. I wonder if the Gandalf I see might end up being one of the ancients as well? They haven't given

in case, I

you can describe what

dims around Al a

this question. Arconidem looks

[Hah!]

gigantic and seated on a throne formed of his own

[… ah.]

I was stuck with the thought of an all-powerful ancient who

never visited anyone

me. Which is an intense experience, let me tell

[Why would you have?]

[Good point! Moving on!]

A pause.

[What's he like?]

don't want

for being curious. We're talking about one of the ancients here

of someone who actually managed to communicate with one of those dudes is freaking me out a little. I always kind of imagined the ancients as being

the upcoming conflict went smoothly enough until everyone knew what they had to do over the coming days. Even

don't understand why I can't be there for the main battle!" Leeroy whined. "You don't want the Immortals at the front, leading the charge, headlong into tier seven demons who will cut us to pieces as fast as they look at

I look at her.

know damn well