Despite his agents placed where they need to be most effective; Nergal was having a hard time keeping up to date on the unrest going in Dis and in the other municipalities throughout the nine circles of hell. Even he had accepted the fact the civil unrest and riots going on are making situations fluid. So fluid that he has at times been unable to quickly react or anticipate to the changing situation. While he has managed to forge a tentative alliance with the rebellion leader Louis-Gaston; Nergal was still suspicious with the former Frenchman’s position.
Nergal was loathe to agree to put Tammuz Morningstar on the throne. He had orders from Beelzebub to kill every one of that family. Yet Louis would not budge; Nergal’s agent said as much. Refusing to even consider Senator Orobas Smokemist as the new devil. So Nergal was forced to do what he despised; make concessions. He was already making plans to have Tammuz suffer an unfortunate accident and then swiftly put his preferred puppet in place when one of his agent’s came to him to report the sudden death of Orobas Smokemist. In fact several of the hard line senators have been the victims of what human’s colloquially refer to as mob mentality. The site of the senator; being strung up and left hanging by the neck outside of his residence left Nergal feeling apoplectic with rage. He wanted to send a message to Louis, to get him to steer his rabble to the senators and nobles who he feels are more expendable; yet all of his missives have been rebuffed. Nergal has a sneaky suspicion that he has been played.
“Sir,” a heavily armored demon huffing to what has become Nergal’s forward command post; the burnt out remains of a brothel in the 6th level of Dis.
“Report,” Nergal not wanting to hear more bad news; “what headache do I have to deal with now.”
“Agents have spotted lady Astaroth Morningstar,” the agent trembling; “she is on a warpath in a prison complex.”
“Well she was and still is a general and brilliant fighter,” Nergal sighing; “So it stands to reason that she would be able to break out of a prison. But why is she still alive? Why didn’t Louis have her killed?”
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Astaroth stood at the gates of the outer bailey of the prison she was being held in. Pissed off that her niece started this whole affair with her proposition 13666; she was even more enraged when she and Atargatis where captured and then promptly separated. The only thing that has so far held her from an outright murderous rage was the fact that Atargatis’s slave collar was lying on the ground.
‘No blood,’ Astaroth thinking; ‘that means you are still alive. But where did you go my love? Miasma and Tenebra is the most likely place,’ Astaroth nodding as she spreads her wings and takes flight.
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“Please,” the senator begging as he was dragged through the streets by a bull headed demon; “I have friends, they can reward you for my safety!”
The rebel sneered as he tossed the senator on a makeshift gallows, watching as his fellow compatriots begin to string him up. “What makes you think I’m going to listen to your pleas?”
“Because I’m a senator,” The demon begging; “I’m worth more to you alive then dead.”
“You know what I was before you voted in decree 13666,” the bull demon glaring; “I was a judge. Sentencing human souls based on the sins they committed through life. I can’t do that no more because the law states human-born demons have no rights. So consider this the consequences to your actions,” the bull headed demon snorting as he signals a fellow rebel to pull the switch; watching the senator twitch as the rope tied around his neck goes taught causing him to slowly suffocate.
“Get the next one,” the demon grunting; but before he could turn around, he is stunned to see a serrated blade poking through his body. Turning around to see a frog faced demon puffing on a cigar before another armored demon swoops in from the sky and lops of his head.
“Stop playing with them Baal,” Alecto hovering over the commander as he collects his sword.
“You think he was an agent for Nergal,” Baal looking at the now lifeless senator that they failed to save.
“If he was,” Alecto responding; “then it’s one less traitor to deal with. Soldiers who are still loyal to Lucifer,” Alecto booming as she turns to face a squad that has quickly stopped this group of rebel's killing spree; “you are to help restore order. Only kill if absolutely necessary. If you spot any of Nergal’s police officers you are to arrest them on site!”
“And if you find Nergal,” Commander Baal pausing as he sucks on his cigar; “feel free to shove a spear up his arse before you arrest him.”
The squad of 300 solders; men and women who were trained fighters and loyal to both Baal and Alecto; two military commanders who earned their rank through deed and not by nepotism all salute in unison before peeling off in two man squads. Each armed with truncheons to knock out rioters; they all also have equipped short swords and spears if the situation warrants a more lethal response.
“It would be so much simpler if we could just portal into the palace instead of fighting our way there,” Baal putting out his cigar after smoking it to the nub.
“True, Alecto nodding; “but the rebels have witches that have managed to put up wards preventing such actions.”
“Which mean more walking,” Baal readying his sword; “I just hope we get to Lamashtu in time.”
“You and me both,” Alecto nodding as the see several buildings on the 8th level on fire.
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“Sir,” the agent approaching Nergal; “we have a message from Louis-Gaston.
“Finally some news,” Nergal taking the scrap of paper from the agent; scanning it he plops down in a chair that still isn’t broken when the brothel he was in revolted. “Fucking balls,” Nergal swearing; “Lamashtu has somehow managed to broker a meeting with Gaston. Something regarding a demon bill of rights,” Nergal going silent as he process this bit of news.
“Orders sir,” the agent looking at his commander.
Nergal remained quiet. Thinking on the last word’s Beelzebub said. ‘Be ready to go forward with a conventional coup.’
“Round up the men,” Nergal getting up; “it’s time we take matters into our hands.”
“What are their orders,” the agent bowing, as Nergal starts putting on armor and readying his sword.
“We assault the palace,” Nergal looking outside from the blown out wall; affording a view of the structure in the distance. “Kill Gaston and the puppet Morningstar King. I will be the new ruler of Hell!”