Illithid behind the Curtain: Speak softly, and carry a big Stick (Patreon)

Alright. I had to think carefully about this as well as what it entailed.

The first being that in this place, Hell and the Abyss knew about Remnant a long time ago and were only stymied by the efforts of-and I can't believe I'm saying this, the Grimm and those who retained their sanity like Summer. Presumably there were more, but if so, I couldn't see it just yet. Second, the infighting bought time but there was practically nothing keeping the forces of my enemies of Hell from hopping into the material plane of Remnant, something I was well aware of from earlier.

So, my goal then was to fix that. To establish a wall, a guardian or similar into doing that but all of it was requisite on first removing the blight, which would be a tall order. Even for someone like me, powerful though I was.

Perhaps the Positive Material Plane channeled might be a thing. A constant wave of radiant energy sounded like the perfect weapon if I wasn't concerned about the effects the fallout would have here. My forces were all tied up in the material plane and elementals were focused on Patch and Quadling City.

I could go out and try to fight, but the thing about killing the first ten thousand meant the ten thousand and one with the lucky shot ended the game. So, a direct assault was out of order on the front lines. They would have multiple chances, I had only myself. But I was a Wizard and Granny Weatherwax my role model, and with these mindsets instilled I operated as both would. With my arcane knowledge aiding me and the mind of a Witch to cheat.

Summer watched on as I began to sit cross legged in the air, producing scrying tools of my own as magic invocations spilled from my lips.

"Life and death, beginning and end. Even Ororubous the mighty, devours itself. Show me what I seek."

Iron dust spilled from my bag, swirling in the air before suddenly forming a map as the particles formed an up-to-date image of what my sensors could see. Tiny nevermore flying in the air, armies clashing and landscapes, some of which caught my eye as Summer gasped and leaned forward to examine.

"This is... Wow."

"What's this?" I pointed towards what looked like a mass of wrecks and Summer blinked, looking closer before she shook her head. "I don't know, I've never been that far out." She looked at the map before adding.

"This I do know." She tapped what looked like a mountain, my eyes glancing from the map to the distance, where one rested as Summer spoke on.

"The Grimm congregate there around one of the people here before me. He has the form of an Arma Gigas and there's a village he established, just at the foot of it. I hadn't seen him in a while, and he hasn't answered any of my messages. I was going to visit him and see if he needed help, before you showed up."

I nodded at that, turning my gaze to the large portion of hellscape, rotating the map with a thought before I spoke.

"This looks promising."

I could see two encampments, for the devils and demons. One established as some castle fortress, the other as some kind of work camp. On the map, tiny factions of the two dangerous predators seemed to strike each other in gruesome ways, as I thought of ways to approach before blinking.

In the devils' castle, I saw something in the courtyard and expanded my view. The map rippled, the castle grew larger at my will and so did the thing within it. Chained to the ground, thrashing soundlessly was a dragon. An adult one, white if I had to judge from the horns. Teeth gnashed and snapped; the creature pierced from prongs wielded from the hellspawn.

One of the devils suddenly looked up, directly at me and made a gesture. The map was dispelled, and I gathered up my iron dust, returning it to the bag.

"Change of plans. I have to get there, now."

"What?!" Summer looked at me as if I was crazy. "You can't just do that, you'll never make it. And they'll have defenses to counter, you saw what happened to your map. What's wrong?"

I paused, unsure... And then sighed out, speaking. "I think I know that dragon. And if I'm right, then I have to help him. At the least, we'll have another ally if all goes well. He..."

I thought of nights at a table, a player who was more mouth than sense. The sort to leap headfirst into situations, with surprisingly deep tendencies. All reflected in the face of a creature too stubborn to die as I added.

"He's my friend."

Summer blinked. "Oh. You should have just said so. When do we leave?"

It was not a good day to be a devil on the Remnant outpost.

Nevermore covered the sky in swarms, approaching the fortress as siege weapons fired into the flock.

And then as their feathers flung downward, some wizard rando atop one of them began throwing meteors, destruction blossoming upon their walls and towers, discernible for miles. As walls shattered under brute force and devils began to take to the skies, they would be met by a blade of light, the sounds of metal guitar beating in the mind following the Illithid that fell from the sky upon the fortress.

Midair, I intercepted a Campion and tentacles wrenched out, twisting its head as the sound of bones snapping echoed and I dropped the corpse, rolling and floating into position as Summer landed with a crash, weapon out as the devils (what survived) the initial plan began coming out in numbers and among them, what sounded like a champion of theirs as it roared and burst from the rubble.

Summer trembled at the aura it exuded even now, and even I had to metaphorically gird myself against it.

It was a hulking monster, red skinned and armed for battle. A fiery whip cracked and shattered stone, its mace in the other hand was atypical of Hell, iron-black and resembling the maw of some beast as fire formed in its jaws.

Venom, real and metaphorical dripped from the jaws of the Pit Fiend as it hissed and melted the ground, the devil speaking.

"C'gorath and one of the wayward souls. Fallen far from your once-lofty state. Once a ruler, now with only these... Empty vessels to command. Are you here to bend the knee? Or are you here to die, as bereft of sense at the ending of your story?"

The Illithid floated there, weapon out as the music continued to play before the Fiend growled.

"So be it. Then PERISH!" The whip cracked.

The devils swarming in began to stab with glee, their weapons piercing into the two. As they collapsed and the Pit Fiend laughed, the illusions faded.

Beneath them, Cambion corpses were seen.

"ILLUSIONS AND MENTAL TRICKERY!" Roared the Pit Fiend.

There was a sound of shattered metal and he turned around as from the rubble, Summer smirked. "Gotcha."

Did I mention how much I loved not being subject to combat rules and initiative?

As I stood there, there was a sudden growl. The ground rippled, white scales still gleaming despite the scarred and marked wounds began to move as a White Dragon raised their head. A tattoo of Tiamat on their skull, teeth gleaming as a voice like iron gnashing spoke.

"I. Would like..."

The devils rushed forward.

"To RAGE!"

And then, as if we had never been apart, Fang and I leaped into battle. A Barbarian Dragon was a terrifying sight, muscles rippling as Fang howled and roared, seemingly ignoring the weapons as he suddenly sped up, the image of a clock face briefly seen around us both as I cast Haste.

Now he was suddenly a blender, necrotic energies coating his claws and teeth as he roared, continuously and smashed his way like a white battering ram, the Pit Fiend roaring to meet and challenge him before getting a face full of ice breath.

Steam burst and exploded on contact, as the sounds of an army approaching was heard and I yelled mentally.

"TIME TO GO!"

Fang immediately obeyed, wings spread and waiting as usual as we fell to old habits. Summer pulled her weapon out of a devil, rushing over as we took our seats and the dragon flew off. Flying by Grimm that ignored the dragon, attracted to the battle as in the distance, the Abyss took advantage of the attack we did and moved in.

Hell would be de-fanged for a while now. Our only problem now was the Abyss and their more chaotic, destructive plans.

And then there was this, as the cackling of a dragon filled my mind, Fang flying for an area outside of the war zone, aiming for a lake. As we landed, the dragon stomped briefly, turning to look at us as he spoke with relish.

"Of all the people who could had saved my ass. C'gorath! If anyone survived, it would had been you." He laughed again, boisterous before adding. "So, who's the snack? New thrall?"

I hesitated and Fang paused. He was a low int build, deliberately so but he wasn't stupid. The dragon eyed me and sniffed once, as if to ensure it was me and the action only confused him further.

"Yes, its me... And not at the same time. I'm C'gorath, but not the one you know."

Fang squinted, peering closely at me in my Illithid form before asking in utter seriousness.

"Did you do something with your hair?"


He took my explanation far better than I expected. If anything, my change of policy and new lease on life only garnered a sage nod before he spoke.

"No need to explain. You're powerful. Which means you do what you like and anyone who says otherwise, is wrong and also now missing a brain." It was a very draconic mindset, it was also oddly comforting. Fang had no ulterior motives, nor was he very deceptive. If he was going to betray me, he'd just attack and that would be that. I had a few questions of my own too, the first being how exactly, he ended up here.

In hindsight, I should had expected his story.

"I died and the goddess took me to her realm. She then had me go attack devils, I followed em through Hell and they caught me with very cunning tricks."

I stared. He broke his gaze first, as bits of memory flickered over his thoughts, all having to do with a sign in draconic reading 'all you can eat for white dragons.' However, it also brought up something else to my attention.

Tiamat had eyes on Remnant. Fang was the sort of blunt missile you sent for easy missions outside, or plausible deniability. As a Zealot Barbarian, he was one of her champions and it'd be foolish to think she wouldn't know where he was. Add in the presence of the Lightning Horde and now I'd have to think about the presence of more dragons appearing in Remnant, but that was an idea for later.

"Why did you not escape alone? I've seen you shatter stronger bonds."

Fang shrugged, as Summer looked on in awe, her boots off as she sat on the edge of the water and soaked her feet, as Fang himself kept his tail in the water.

"I was going to, but then I was told to stay put, as you were coming."

I froze.

"Someone in the devils camp told you I was coming?"

Fang nodded and glanced over my shoulder. "Yeah, he's over there." He nodded and I turned around, blinking.

I sensed nothing about this person and that more than anything put me on guard. He was human, or at least looked human. Clad in simple traveler robes, ragged pilgrim wear. His boots were old, and his arms exposed were like iron, muscles rippling as he leaned upon a massive oak staff.

Curious, I took a look at his mind and immediately recoiled.

The avatar of Cuthbert smiled and drawled aloud, sounding more like someone from the sticks than any godly voice imagined.

"I've been waiting for you to come here. Took you long enough. Now..."

He clapped his hands and beamed.

"Let's talk, shall we?"