6/6 Marn 2023/03/13(Mon)19:33 No. 1058493 ID: f581d4
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When the spell burns itself out, you examine the final shape of the seal. There is some cause for alarm. With a human sacrifice involved, you might be trapped in this basement for the next century. You can’t be certain without referencing some material in your private library.

You ignore the humans, who have quieted down for the time being, and walk from one side of the seal to the other, examining it from all angles. You aren’t trapped inside anymore. Logan’s blood broke the boundary at some point.

In that case, what exactly are you bound to?

You turn, and one of the humans stumbles to a halt behind you. You cock your head at him. He doesn’t look like he particularly wants to be standing three feet away from you. His eyes are as wide as dinner plates.

“Uh,” he says, and raises his wrist.

I love problems and this looks like a big one :) Good luck Eligos. Ask who the twerp is

Naturally the only solution is to eat this boy too. The nerve.

that is your new buddy! flirt with him immediately. youre stuck w him you may as well

insult hunter c. on his apparent ruthlessness on throwing another frat boy to the wiles of the evidently frat-boy-hungry demon, and then ask the boy his name. can't hurt to know it, especially if just eating him won't solve this problem

"See, Hunter, that is what happens when you use 'get offered to one of the demon princes of hell but then withhold them like a gigantic tease' as a hazing ritual. It doesn't turn out well for the offering." Turn to the guy you're now bound to. "And now that I've got that bit of frustration out of my system, what's your name?"

well, now you have a +1 for the party

Maybe flirt with him a bit and then eat him? One should always leave room for dessert

>>1058493
Oh fun. So, what are the rules of the binding?

1/4 Marn 2023/03/16(Thu)21:51 No. 1058772 ID: f581d4
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You look down at your own wrist, then back at the unfortunate young man before you. You decide to pull up a chair and have a sit down. The human bound to you is forced to trail every step as you cross to the stack of folding chairs leaning against the basement wall. Presumably the binding spell can also drag you after him, depending on which of your wills is stronger.

This is not good for you.

2/4 Marn 2023/03/16(Thu)21:51 No. 1058773 ID: f581d4
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“Kid, what’s your name?” you say.

No one else is paying attention. The other humans have formed a huddle to strategize.

“Grayson,” the human says miserably. “I’m a psych major.”

You don’t precisely know what that means, and for now, you don’t care to.

3/4 Marn 2023/03/16(Thu)21:52 No. 1058774 ID: f581d4
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“Hunter C.,” you say, and a shiver runs through the huddle.

Hunter C. obeys your summons. A sheen of sweat is the only indication that he understands the precarity of his position. He still wears that self-important smirk.

You would demand that he reverse the spell, but you’re well aware that is beyond him.

“Hunter C… if you can’t come up with a good reason for summoning me tonight, I’m going to be very unhappy with you.”

Hunter C. crosses his arms over his chest.

“Hey, man. Nobody told you to eat Logan.”

4/4 Marn 2023/03/16(Thu)21:52 No. 1058775 ID: f581d4
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“Shut the fuck up, Hunter,” snaps a familiar voice from the far wall. Mason is glaring at you. “Eligos, we summoned you because Brooks is missing. You’re supposed to be good at finding things.”

You take in this new information with mild interest. It’s true–you have a gift for finding hidden things. It’s endlessly aggravating. Rather than serve any practical purpose, your ‘gift’ mostly leads you to find your party date making out with his ex when he’s supposed to be getting you a drink. For example.

It’s been a while since anyone has summoned you for this knack of yours.

Mason gives you a hard stare before peeling himself from the wall and stomping up the basement steps.

> Recall which one is Brooks
> Hit the bricks
> Something else?

explain that its hardly your fault that you ate logan. like, they summon you with no warning and have a blindfolded human right there? what else were you supposed to think??

but fine, whatever, maybe you can help them with this brooks guy. it might get grayson off your back with the binding. if hes smart enough to bind you, hes smart enough to unbind you.

Are these boys important enough to remember which one is Brooks? Worth a shot, I guess.

>>1058775
Well, they fed you. You owe them, after a fashion. Recall Brooks.

Chastise Hunter C. for dangling an obvious human sacrifice in front of you - that he then withheld him only made things worse - then recall Brooks. Maybe also ask about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance; even for a demon of your particular talents, earth is a big place to search without any leads.

you appear to be stuck here for at least a little bit. might as well try to remember who brooks is

1/4 Marn 2023/03/18(Sat)19:18 No. 1058992 ID: f581d4
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> Recall Brooks.

Brooks is indeed a young man of your acquaintance. He was vaguely present when the fraternity first summoned you by accident, though he made it clear he was not directly involved in the attempt to summon “demon milfs.”

“I just think it’s disrespectful to women,” Brooks said, stopping the vibrato of his guitar with the palm of his hand. “The whole summoning circle situation. Like, just invite some girls to the party, you know?”

“I would never disrespect a milf,” Mason replied. “So get that straight.”

This was the scene onto which you first arrived. A lot of shouting followed as the smoke cleared and you came into view, but ultimately the party setting and free-flowing liquor placated everyone involved.

2/4 Marn 2023/03/18(Sat)19:18 No. 1058993 ID: f581d4
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You spent the night talking to Mason and his friends Max and Lauren, for the most part. Answering questions about Hell, flicking your tail at them to make them scream, that kind of thing. They found it especially amusing how much human alcohol you could put away without feeling any ill effects. You had a good time, so you didn’t mind them summoning you back every so often.

3/4 Marn 2023/03/18(Sat)19:18 No. 1058995 ID: f581d4
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Brooks, on the other hand, you’ve always found slightly annoying. He is always talking about his conquests among the young ladies at his school, and the guitar comes with him everywhere.

You are not a fan of human music. No matter how you have tried to appreciate its cultural value, you simply have no patience for “Twenty-One Pilots”.

All the same, he should probably be found.

“When’s the last time any of you saw Brooks?” you ask.

“Three weeks ago,” Hunter C. replies. “We crowdsourced his homework according to the frat precepts. But it’s getting kind of old. My man is taking astronomy.”

You’ve been summoned to help Brooks with his classwork before, and you agree with Hunter C. It does get old.

4/4 Marn 2023/03/18(Sat)19:19 No. 1058996 ID: f581d4
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“And the circumstances surrounding his disappearance?” you ask.

This time, Grayson pipes up from beside you. You’d already forgotten about him.

“It was our spring break bash,” he says. “Last time any of us saw him, Brooks had his guitar out on the lawn, surrounded by girls. But the place was packed, and it’s not like we had eyes on him the whole time, so anyone could have kidnapped him.”

“Kidnapped?” You think that’s a curious leap of logic. If Brooks has been kidnapped, you’re the most likely suspect, considering you’re the most dangerous person with whom these humans interact.

“That’s been our assumption,” Hunter C. says without a trace of concern.

“He left the guitar behind,” Grayson adds. “So there’s no other explanation.”

> Question the frat boys further.
> Ask to examine Brooks’s room.
> Hit the bricks.
> Something else?

Examine his room for clues.

"Who was he talking to? If you can't name them, describe them."

"Anybody who would want to spirit him away?" If they bring you up, just answer with: "Aside from the fact that I'd need to be summoned to do anything here, that's fair. Anyone else?"

And yeah, examine his room to find out what he wasn't telling his bros.

consider: has brooks gotten himself kidnapped by a demon milf? like who besides a demon would kidnap this guy? and also he clearly knows how to summon demons AND the frat thinks its a kidnapping so just saying. begin questioning. hey frat did one of you idiots leave the demon summoning books out

Is there anything of value we can extort out of these frat boys in exchange for helping their friend?

what's more interesting, playing detective, or going back to the party with a human in tow?

>>1059003
>>1059004
I mean, we ate a guy - presumably a new friend of theirs - in what Eligos himself admits was a severe lapse in judgement. Given he was ostensibly a human sacrifice, asking for more or just dipping after "accepting" it would probably be a dick move by demon etiquette standards, much less human ones, assuming it's even possible. Demons have to have some standards...

1/3 Marn 2023/03/27(Mon)19:40 No. 1059661 ID: f581d4
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> what's more interesting, playing detective, or going back to the party with a human in tow?
> examine his room to find out what he wasn't telling his bros.

You sigh. There’s not much point in continuing to investigate. Too bad about Brooks, but that kid is definitely dead. These humans take the death of their own so personally, and you really don’t want to stir up another fracas after eating Logan.

There’s still time for a second entrance to Jasper’s party. If you show up with a human as your date, everyone will be jealous of you and possibly stop calling you an angelfucker for five fucking minutes. And unlike Marax, Grayson conveniently cannot ditch you in front of all your friends.

But then you remember that Jasper entertains a rough crowd and Grayson would probably be eaten. Would that be a dealbreaker?

You stare intently at Grayson, considering his demise. It occurs to you that you have yet to test the limits of the spell binding you to each other. It would be best not to let Grayson die. Looks like you’ll play detective for a little longer.

“Take me to Brooks’s bedroom,” you say.

2/3 Marn 2023/03/27(Mon)19:40 No. 1059662 ID: f581d4
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The humans lead the way up from the basement. It’s the middle of the day, but no one on the first floor is dressed. That’s one of the things you find endearing about these humans. You are less endeared when you realize you are being flanked on all sides–as if they think you’re their prisoner.

“No need to be on edge,” you breathe into Hunter C.’s ear. “Aren’t I playing along?”

Hunter C. scowls and rubs his ear.

“Here we are,” he mutters. “Brooks’s room.”

It’s the size of a small closet, but this doesn’t shock you–you’re aware of this human custom. You step into the room and turn slowly in a circle. The only one who joins you past the threshold is Grayson.

3/3 Marn 2023/03/27(Mon)19:40 No. 1059663 ID: f581d4
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“Who was with Brooks the night of the…spring bash?” you ask idly. “Did any of the young ladies have a reputation for killing?”

Max snorts. “Come on, Eligos, what do you take us for? I can summon Azza if you’re not up for it.”

You turn an icy stare on Max. He has adapted to summoning magic like a fish to water. His particular favorite happens to be Lord Azza, a guy you can’t stand. For humans whose purported interest in demons is “milfs,” they have certainly put a lot of energy toward domineering men.

“It was a mix of sorority girls and the lacrosse team,” Grayson answers. “Does that mean anything?”

Probably not. You sigh. Looks like you’ll be looking through Brooks’s things. Where do you start?

under the bed! its going to be hidden things or dirty laundry 50/50 shot of being useful

>>1059662
What's that under the bed? Behind the shelves? Under the clothes?

Lacrosse could betray killing intent. But probably not.

Check under the bed. Classic hiding spot.

"Look, even with my (and others') talents, and supposing he wasn't spirited away from the township area, earth is still a big place to search without any leads. And talking while I work gets twice as much investigating done for free, at the moment." (Essentially: "Talking is a free action, dingus.")

Of course, you're saying all this while at the same time looking under the bed and behind the shelf (moving any dirty laundry you find aside - they may hardly ever do their laundry, but a hiding spot that is at all temporary is also a poor one).

"Oh, hello," you say as you inevitably find something interesting. "Now, with all that said: can you say with certainty that each of the girls he was last seen with were from one of the two groups you mentioned? Hell, even if they were, they're still suspects I can look into if all other paths dead-end - if you can't name them, at least describe them to me. Maybe name the specific sorority houses involved. If nothing else, these 'babes' may be the actual ones who last witnessed Brooks. Or have you already canvased them?"

see if you can find his weed

1/3 Marn 2023/04/20(Thu)20:20 No. 1061804 ID: f581d4
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> Check under the bed. Classic hiding spot.

You kneel down and peer underneath the bed. Do you really want to stick your hand in there? No, of course not. But you have a feeling there’s something down there that will indicate what happened to Brooks. You extend one graceful hand, stopping short just before your fingertips brush against a discarded gym sock.

“Grayson,” you say. “Pull everything out from under the bed.”

Grayson gives you an offended look. You smile at him just widely enough to show off one white canine.

Grayson gets on his hands and knees and starts tossing garbage out into the center of the room.

2/3 Marn 2023/04/20(Thu)20:20 No. 1061805 ID: f581d4
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Grayson successfully fills Brooks’s entire bedroom with trash. He coughs and gestures to one of the other humans while you examine the pile. Socks, tissues, towels, a suitcase, three pairs of shoes…and a computer.

The computer, or ‘laptop’ in common parlance, is an invention of the modern era. The device allows humans to send ‘electronic mail’. It’s an act of hubris against God that rivals the Tower of Babel. You’ve never had unrestricted access to one before.

You open the laptop, which prompts you for a password.

“What is Brooks’s password?” you ask.

Max has returned from an errand to another part of the house and tosses something to Grayson. Grayson shortly stops coughing.

Max then squats next to you and types a series of characters.

3/3 Marn 2023/04/20(Thu)20:21 No. 1061806 ID: f581d4
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You’re in.

What do you do with the power of the World Wide Web?

job applications. this is vital.

Lets start with his files - anything juicy in "photos"?

go to coolmathgames dot com

i vote for photos but also check his browser history because you are an asshole like that

Check his Discord - the blue icon to the right of the other blue icon on the taskbar. His private messages may contain clues.

... There's also the green chat icon that's clearly an icon disguise for something else, given this isn't a phone.

1/3 Marn 2023/08/27(Sun)21:45 No. 1071059 ID: f581d4
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You open the ‘photos’ folder.

Grayson hovers over your shoulder. You’re pretty good at using the computer; you have always been adept at the magic arts, and pick up on new magical practices easily. The cursor is an avatar for the self which is controlled by the fingertip and commands the laptop to access inscribed knowledge.

Fucking easy. Magic for babies.

You open the first photo.

2/3 Marn 2023/08/27(Sun)21:45 No. 1071060 ID: f581d4
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Over your shoulder, Grayson groans.

“Brooks…” he sighs, burying his face in his hands. The other boys gather around.

“Nice,” says Max.

You move to the next photo.

3/3 Marn 2023/08/27(Sun)21:46 No. 1071061 ID: f581d4
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“Oh, that’s from–” Grayson begins.

“Spring break bash,” Hunter C. says. “I know those girls. That’s Faith. And the one with her hair in the high-pony is Kaci. She’s on the lax team and she’s strong as shit–you saw her do the keg stand, right Max?”

You look through several photos of the same setting and the same people in the same clothes. The photos become more blurry, showing the progression of the night.

“Does Brooks’s phone automatically upload to his computer or something?” Grayson mutters. “Why keep these?”

> Ask about the girls.
> Search another folder.
> Something else?

Ask about the girls while searching another folder

check for any signs of demonic influence in the pictures. anyone drawing weird sigils as the night goes on? who was your foolish human last seen with before he disappeared? and is the phone trackable?

take another look at that first photo. yknow just to be thorough