A Drow's Dilemma Ep. 97: Succubus

This subdued Caleldir. "Why... why had you not told me this? I mean, I thought that you were just desperate for offspring from me because Succubi reproduce very strangely so Rubella would be childless. But to have her disappear..."

R.I.S.A. shook her head. -She had a... family. Then they disappeared. Maybe they were all killed, maybe the Neverborn just turned off all teleports in Deusterra and stopped communications so I lost contact with her. I have no idea. But I have long feared she was dead.-

"Rubella was a canny survivor as a Cambion. As a Succubus, I am sure that she is fine. You should try calling her again," Caleldir said after a moment.

-I suppose I will try... but not right now. Even if I did call her, she cannot help us here, as I already said.- R.I.S.A. took a long breath and recovered her spirits. -Back to the topic at hand?- she said with a smile.

Caleldir nodded. He would think about his old peer later.

Selene listened to the rest of their exchange with a ghost of an amused grin still on her features. That grin turned cruel when the A.I. suggested offering some of the rebel's souls to said succubi. In some ways, the rusalka would have been able to get revenge in the short-term. But it seemed just a little bit more fitting to force their souls to be in the possession of demons. It was just more... permanent that way.

And they wouldn't have to worry about any of them coming back after being resurrected by some fool. Selene (and the rest of Duskhaven) would be safe from them forever.

"Alright," Selene said after taking a moment to mull things over while the two Deusterrans chattered about something irrelevant in their native tongue. "If you and my father really think that you can control one of them, I will trust you. We need to get Ashyr back, and that really seems like the best way to at least find out where she is. If we stay in your realm, R.I.S.A, they will have to follow your rules. No succubus I know of can overcome a goddess, no matter how powerful that succubus is. I suppose the question is now: How are we going to make her do what we want her to do? If we try to bind her by force, then she'll look for every opportunity to wriggle free. But we can't trust her word, either, if we go the route of tempting her with something she wants."

-We can definitely control one. And you are right, as long as they are in here, I can control any number. But more than one may be needed to effectively search the Infernal planes, and they cannot stay here under my control while they do so.- R.I.S.A. paused, the moment full of thought. -Except for the whole promising to deliver the Duskhaven rebels' souls to them, I cannot think of a reward that they might want that we would be willing to give them. If we offered Caleldir, they would do anything for us, but we are not willing to offer them that.-

"No, we are not," Caleldir said sharply. "I am not succubus food. That is immoral."

-Everyone's gotta eat,- R.I.S.A. simpered. -Anyway, we need to summon one in order to negotiate with her anyway. If you are amenable, Selene, I can talk to your sire about the details.-

"Go ahead and do so, Risa. And no, Caleldir. We are not offering you up to succubi." Selene assured Caleldir. "The Rusalka were already too much. And I barely tolerated that Dryad. Not to mention all the women you were forced to breed with recently. You are for Duskhaven. Ours." As she said this, she finally rose from her bed. Still naked, she stepped closer to Caleldir and twined her fingers with him for a second.

Selene's words calmed Caleldir down a bit. He gave Selene a smile. "Thank you. That means a lot to me." He gave her fingers a slight squeeze and smiled.

Then Selene blinked, coughed, then muttered something about going to find her clothes.

Sidhriia smiled at her sister. -She really loves you,- the pale drow signed to Caleldir. Then she also stood and picked up her diaphanous dress to make herself decent again.

Caleldir chuckled and looked over to Sidhriia. -I know. I love her too. Do not tell Selene any of that, though. She pretends not to know either of those things.-

That done, she stood next to Caleldir, biting her lip. Then on a whim, she rose to her toes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. He sighed happily, and gave her one on her head, pulling her into a quick hug.

Selene affected not to notice the communication and affection. "I suppose it's time to summon a Succubus. Let's go talk to my father, see what sort of ritual needs to be set up. I understand a sacrifice is usually offered? Or at least an implication of a sacrifice? Someone beautiful, young and good and/or a virgin? There are such slaves available at the market."

-Or you could just use me- Sidhriia signed with a shrug. -If it's just an implied sacrifice rather than an actual one-

"So, I guess we are actually doing this," he said resignedly. "Let it be known that I am protesting events. And we are not sacrificing anyone."

-Of course not!- R.I.S.A. said indignantly. -You do not sacrifice people to succubi. What use do succubi have for dead people? You offer them up interesting morsels to have sex with. They do like virgins, definitely prefer the beautiful, and really like the Good. The more Good the better.-

R.I.S.A. manifested in the room. Slowly, so that it was not startling. The A.I. looked over Sidhriia with interest. -Actually, yes, you would be a great offering. If you are willing to have sex with a succubus, you would be a really, really great meal for her. It would be tiring, but not harm you. Heck, if you had a looooooot of sex with several succubi, we could partly succubize you. That might help cure some of your genetic defects...-

Selene turned a bit ashen. As if it wasn't bad enough that her albinism gave her so many problems. The older drow looked over to see the younger's reaction and saw that she was frowning a bit at that part, about to object.

Before either drow could speak up, the A.I. considered this, then shrugged. -No, I suppose that House Duskhaven does not need you succubized. You are far more useful as a drow. But still, you are Good enough that you would be safe having sex with a succubus. They cannot suck out a soul as pure as yours. Usually. At least any we would be summoning could not.-

"That does not sound like a good idea," Caleldir said, still signing every word. "But it is Sidhriia's decision."

"I'm going to have to give the idea of Sidhriia being out bait a definite 'no,'" Selene spoke and thought firmly. "She is too young to subject to that sort of thing." She ignored the fact that she had gotten up to that sort of thing and worse when she was her age. But, with Sidhriia, it was... different somehow, in ways that Selene didn't care to understand at that moment.

-I don't want to involve a slave in this- Riia signed firmly, to Selene's apparent surprise. -So, if Caleldir won't do it, I will-

The older drow let out a long huff and gave Caleldir an extremely conflicted look. Neither option was appealing. And it was true that involving a slave wouldn't have been ideal anyway. Beautiful, good-aligned creatures were hard to come by in the slave auctions. They would likely be able to find one, but the price would likely have been prohibitively expensive. "Um. Let's just go to Father. Maybe he knows a way where we don't have to let them 'borrow' either of you."

"There are definitely ways that we can summon a succubus without a sacrifice," Caleldir said pointedly. "My fellow apprentice was a Cambion, a half-succubus. She was an expert on that sort of thing.."

R.I.S.A. blinked. -Well, yes. There are several ways to summon succubi. Call on one you know, send out a general call for any in a certain region, or grab a random one with certain qualities and force her to you.-

"Well, that last one will not work for us," Caleldir sighed. "Because if we force one to show, she will not want to help us."

-Maybe. Or maybe we can persuade her,- R.I.S.A. added.

"With what?" Caleldir asked. "Not me or Sidhriia." He followed after Selene, who was leaving the dimension. "We will ask Sornamal. I am sorry, Risa, but despite your knowledge on the topic, your logic is a bit faulty on this topic. You have been too comprised by..." he was going to mention Rubella, but decided not to. " By your centuries of dalliances."

"Not my logic, just my sense of perspective and sexual morality," Risa yawned as she joined up with the group in the flesh. She gave Sidhriia a wink.

Once Selene had contacted her father and explained the issue - after she took a quick moment to arrange for breakfast first, of course - Sornamal let out a long breath. "Coaxing a succubus using bait is merely the easiest way to summon such creatures. It is well within my power to force one here instead. But we would have to give her a good deal of freedom for her to be actually useful to us. It would be unwise to begin our dealings with her so rudely." He looked over to his youngest daughter, who had sat between her brother and sister at the table. "As... unsettling as the fact is, Riia would be a tempting candidate for an offering." His expression hardened as he looked away toward Caleldir. "But I will not assist with a ritual that involves my youngest daughter. Her's is not the most durable soul here."

The old drow signed as he spoke so that his pale offspring could be part of the conversation. Other than that, he didn't give her any special greeting or consideration. Not that he had the chance to; his eldest living daughter was too focused on enacting the plan to get her cousin back.

At first misinterpreting what Sornamal's gaze meant, Caleldir shrugged. "I am with you on this. Thoroughly against Sidhriia being used as bait. Of course, I am still against the idea of succubi being involved at all." Noticing Risa's expression he hastily amended his words. "Present company excluded. Yes, I know that you sort of count as a succubus, Risa, even more so now that you are physical."

Glancing over at Sidhriia, Caleldir pursed his lips. "Unless you are dreadfully curious about being with a succubus for some reason, there is no need to volunteer. If we absolutely must have a succubus, then Risa can just offer herself."

"I am not really tempting to a succubus," Risa explained. "Succubi can technically feed off each other, but the taste is like snack food. Nice for here and there, and one can survive indefinitely on them, but not ultimately filling or satisfying. And succubi have loooooots of other succubi around to fill that particular craving. Granted, I could call one to me without forcing her because I am unique enough to spike curiosity, but that does not help with convincing her to assist. Not without other incentives."

Sidhriia looked down at her plate and began poking at her scrambled eggs with a fork. Then the fork dropped from her hand with a clatter to free both her hands. -It's not that I want to be succubus bait. I just don't want someone who isn't even a part of this to suffer-

Selene unhappily rubbed at her stomach, an almost pout forming at her lips. "It's a long-standing tradition with drow to use slaves as sacrifices. I don't see what the problem is. It's not like we'll let the demon suck their souls too much. The slave would probably even like it."

"You are well-aware that you have a more powerful tool at your disposal," Sornamal said in a firmer tone than he usually used with his female relatives. "There is someone you can offer up that will put legions of succubi under your power. If you want your Matron discovered and recovered, you know what you must do." He took another breath as if to say something more, but thought better of it. That breath was slowly expelled, and Sornamal's intensity deflated with it. "But I have no say in your affairs. I will help, whatever your decision is. As long as it doesn't involve Riia."

Caleldir paled. Obviously, Sornamal was referring to him. "Are we really going with the succubus plan? Really? Can't we think of something else?"

"Every other feasible plan would take muuuuccchhh longer," Risa said. "With little guarantee of results. My biases aside, if Ashyr is in one of the fiendish nether realms, then a succubus will be able to find her. And we cannot." She smiled somewhat wryly, a bit of discomfort leaking out. A break in the facade. It seemed that underneath, she was not happy about causing Caleldir this sort of distress, nor about the reminders of the missing Rubella. "For... for what it is worth, if Caleldir were the type to want to have sex with succubi, he would not be nearly so alluring to them." She sighed. "Perhaps it is best if I just call one. Not force, simply call. Then we can negotiate with her. We have little leverage, but the conversation could be helpful all the same."

"For some reason, I didn't realize that you could just summon one, Risa," Selene said.

"It is a voluntary summon," Risa said. "I simply put out a call, and a curious succubus should show up. Possibly. There is no real guarantee that one would. All I would be doing is saying 'Greetings Fellow Succubi! I, an unusually powerful and unique member of your race, want to talk to someone about a job'. We are most likely to get some bored mid-powered succubus showing up out of pure curiosity. Most likely."

"I suppose we can start with that. No need to promise anyone's body away. Yet. If we can't get her to stay, then we will step things up." Though it was succubi they were dealing with, so sex with them was probably an inevitability. She was convinced by then that it was necessary to summon the demons, and she also knew what else might be necessary. Both were clear by the expression of distaste on her lips.

Sornamal crossed his arms in front of him and nodded. His expression had gone completely passive and unreadable.

"We should go back to the pocket dimension, then, unless you can only get a succubus to come to you if you're in this realm?" Selene asked.

"Perhaps." Risa said guiltily. "I could force a succubus to come to my realm, but I consider it terribly, terribly unlikely that one would. Because they would be completely under my power. They would shy away from that. Here would be much better. Here in a simple protection circle. Not that one would be that necessary. She is unlikely to try anything while I am here. Honestly, the protection circle would be to protect her, rather than us. Having one would be an enticement to appear: a guarantee that we are not going to attack her."

"That makes sense," Caleldir mused. "I know a few such circles that would work quite well. As I am sure both Selene and Sornamal would."

Risa nodded. "Then please set up such a circle. In the nicest guest bedroom on the estate."

The two arcanists did indeed know some secure circles to set up in the bedroom that Sornamal led them to - which was Sornamal's bedroom, of course. It was by far the one with the most floor space and luxurious bed far too large for a single drow.

Sornamal, Tsabdrin, Sidhriia, and Selene all insisted on attending and setting up the circle. All were some degree of interested in what the demon would have to say. All were also cautious. Even in the Underdark succubus summoning was not to be taken lightly. They might decide to enact their bizarre sort of justice if the summoner and those around her did not guard herself well enough. Sidhriia stuck just as close to Caleldir as Selene did, each on either side of him. Tsabdrin stood by his father's side with his hands on his weapons.

Risa summoned a succubus. Called out to the depths of the fiendish nether.

Risa called. No one answered.

Five minutes passed. No one answered - but Selene put her hand up whenever someone wanted to give up. Not yet. She wanted to wait. She wanted this to work, because she knew what the alternative was.

Risa seemed more patient than the rest. She was quite unperturbed by how long the summons were taking. "We are talking completely voluntary non-compulsion," Risa explained at the five minute mark. "One will show when the call reaches one who is interested. There are a lot of succubi in the multiverse."

"Do to their reproductive habits, I am not surprised." Caleldir said dryly.

... But Selene only had so much stubborn patience. Finally, after ten minutes had passed, she took a deep breath and-

A flash of crimson fire filled the circle in front of the bed. It caused the drow (save for Sidhriia) to wince in pain. For the rest of the observers, the light of the fire was not bright enough to cause pain. That had not been their visitor's intention, otherwise, the room would have been awash with bright light. It was a minor enough party trick. Then, the flames were gone. In their place was the tall form of what could only be a succubus.

Caleldir squinted slightly against the light, while Risa just chuckled to herself a little, recognizing the theatricality for what it was.

As were most of her kind when they weren't shape-shifted into some other female form, she was almost as tall as Caleldir in his natural form. Her slightly red-tinted pale body was proudly on display, all nearly impossibly feminine curves. She made Selene, curvaceous by drow standards, look almost boyish. But she could not pass as elf or human - not with her long, spaded tail curled around her left leg and certainly not with the dragonlike wings folded neatly against her back.

The creature flipped her long, straight, bright red hair and inhaled the warm scent of the room. A smile spread across her full lips as her completely black eyes scanned the room. "Terribly sorry to be late," She said in a rich voice, in clear Undercommon. To the very sensitive ear, whispers of a more demonic language echoed at the wake of her words. Her hand casually slipped between her legs, dipped into her aroused sex, and then lifted to her mouth so she could suck on them for a moment. "I was... busy."

Caleldir's eyes goggled for a moment before he forcefully retook control of himself. "I suppose that I should not be surprised that she is naked," he muttered. He had sort of figured that she would show up in some skimpy black or red leather or something. Apparently not.

"Of course 'she is naked'," the succubus said with an amused roll of her eyes. "I was 'finishing' up a little side-project of mine. He was tasty, I suppose, for a serial rapist. But I've been looking for an excuse to end his suffering. He was beginning to -ugh- age. Not like a fine wine, that one."

Caleldir shuddered a bit at the succubus's words. So, she had just sucked the soul of a serial rapist. Well, on one hand, he probably deserved it. On the other hand, that was still horrible. They were dealing with a creature that killed through and fed on sex. Which was creepy enough, but succubi were also reasonably competent fighters and supremely skilled sorceresses. At least he could take comfort in his immunity to their most potent enchantment spells.

"Tanitha Succubus - a Denizen of the Hells - I see. Perfect." Risa nodded approvingly. Understandably, despite an appreciation for the view, Risa was completely unaffected by the succubus's display. "I am Risa. If you could give us the name you go by?" As opposed to her true name, of course, which of course the succubus would not give. Risa continued. "My friends and I are looking for a task we need to have done, and wish to discuss a contract. Selene? I defer to you for the moment."

Her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip and brought that lip into her mouth to bite lightly. It slowly popped back into place as she seemed to be mulling something over. "You can call me Dahlia - it's a flower; you probably haven't heard of it down here."

"I am aware of the Dahlia flower," Caleldir said quietly. "It is used in quite a few potions, as I recall."

"Dahlia," Selene said with a slight tilt of her head in greeting. Her expression had long since gone full drow professional: somewhat haughty, but otherwise flat and emotionless. "I am Selene of Duskhaven-"