Sarenith 23, 4713 (morning, Well of Demons)

Our second run at the well was considerably more successful than our first. This time we could prepare our defenses and devise a strategy before finding ourselves dodging blobs of acid, resisting telekinetic shoves, and worrying about who was suffocating. This is the sort of pertinent combat advice that I like to share here, as your time is valuable and you should get value for it in return.

This was about the perfect setup for omoxes: water everywhere, a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot drop to get to it, and a waterfall so loud you can’t think with no way to turn it off. Whoever put them here knew what they were doing. We generally deal with oni, so that’s not something we see a lot of.

So far, the Well of Demons has not disappointed when it comes to names but that is about all it has going for it. Unless your tastes for interior decorating run towards dark and dank. According to Onoko, this is where the less savory emperors of Minkai are allowed to manifest, just in case some future degenerate feels the need to commune with them. Though, personally, I think allowing that is an extraordinarily bad idea. It should really be the acid test for claiming the throne. Like, if you feel the need to come down here for advice, maybe you shouldn’t be on it. But no one asked me for input when they set this whole thing up.

Onoko wasn’t exaggerating when she said something is amiss down here; the omoxes were not mere manifestations, and neither were their hezrou buddies. The obvious question is, how did they get here? Followed closely by, who are “they”? Last time I checked, demons and devils don’t have a strong working relationship. If Maemi is in here, and she’s one of the latter, then who brought the former?

(slightly later morning, Well of Demons)

I have to write quickly as we are moving soon.

The answer to at least one of my questions is “Teikoku Sokai”. According to Dasi, he was one of the first and worst autocrats of Minkai, who preferred the title “shogun” over “emperor”. I am sure that says quite a lot about his management style. It’s certainly in line with his charming personality. He had enough ego for all of us.

We’ve allied with him temporarily because his narcissism is exceeded only by his hatred of Maemi. Why does he hate Maemi? Who knows? Who cares?

The situation is this: she holds the north end of the cavern, and he holds the south. Gids, it’s the damned House of Withered Blossoms all over again, only this time the warring sides are fire-retardant.

The idiot thinks we’re here because his family has finally risen to power and we’re here to pay deference to him. Sometimes it’s like we don’t even have to try. When we told him we were here to kill Maemi, he naturally assumed that was the whole truth. We conveniently left out the part where he’s next on the list.

He’s lending us three hezrou for the assault. I am sure they’ll turn on us as soon as Maemi and her erinyes are evicted, so it’s in our best interest to ensure they die for the cause.

It’s time to go.