ARIA
Out of all the layers of hell, I had to grow up within the most paranoid layer to exist. It made trying to survive from day to day so much harder on my brother and I. Everyone had incredible perception and weren’t easily fooled. Sadly, I didn’t have my parents around to help us. Therefore, I had to do everything possible to not only feed myself but my brother as well. Scars adorn my body due to fighting for my life to even get a scrap of food.
Thankfully enough, we had our wits on our side and talents as well. Now, how does one get out of the second layer of hell? You climb the ranks all the way to the top until you can be the right hand man of Dis. No, it wasn’t easy and comes at a costly price. Take the souls of innocents to feed to the damned blood war. I don’t enjoy it, however I get to roam the material plane because of it.
Out of all my twenty three years of roaming both planes, I never anticipated I would be right where I am now. Away from my brother and with a ragtag group of strangers. Well, let’s get into answering your stupi—I mean totally cool questions you have.
Why were you in Baldur's Gate?
I never intended to have myself stuck in this shit hole of a situation. I anticipated dipping out of Baldur's Gate as soon as I possibly could without being thrown back into jail again. Well, fate tends to always have other plans for me that screw me over. Never dealt the right cards at the right time, a giant middle finger to the face. Especially realizing in my midst of pact making, I would have a child lurking around the conversation
at the wrong time. A child that would remind me so much of Vylyra that it would lead me to try to save a whole damn city.
It wasn’t as if I wanted to stab the kid when he came around. I was rusty after having two years of solid peace with a newfound fear of what would happen to my brother. We are both the right-hand man of the second ruler of hell Dispater. Pacts that he wants placed upon strong people to help his fight in the blood war is what we go out and get for him. We fucked up majorly by allowing ourselves to get distracted by enjoying the peace alongside the sibling of the next target. What I anticipated being everything falling into place when she saved me from her brother (the next target), ended up being the exact downfall as to why we stalled for so long.
Above is a picture of Vylyra
Infernal blood courses through my veins while she has the divine blood of the God Lathander. I thought I could only ever rely on my brother Dmitri, but her- oh was she so comforting like the gentle breeze I first felt on the mortal plane. To sweep her away from her despicable mother and brother was something I yearned for. However, I did the exact opposite and brought what they needed to destroy that kindness and joy within her. My own book that leads me to our next target was changed and distorted for the sole purpose of forcing a pact with another arch devil of hell— Glasya. I brought the danger to her and caused her life to turn upside down compared to the compassion I was shown.
As much as I wanted to scream, to purge and pummel her brother to the ground like the filth he is, I didn’t get a chance. Immense power would surge after Vylyra had this pact forced upon her with Glasya taking over, to strike me down so I could not say a word. Sadly, for Glasya I still ended up living. It wasn’t until much later that I would remember this turn of events happening. Suppose trauma works in weird ways to try to protect you. Once I woke up restored back to health by a weird elderly lady, she told me to set off to Baldur’s Gate. I made a promise to myself to not reveal myself again, nor put those I get close to in danger. Once again, fate will laugh in my face.
Above is a picture of and Aria
“She was the warmth you get from an open fire, and the exact opposite
the one star that shines bright at night, of everything I am.”
For clarity I do have the ability to disguise myself in two ways. Through magic and from a disguise mask that was given to me by Dis. Once you put on the mask, all you need to do is think of the physical features you wish to portray and you will morph to look as such. However, if you decided to make it appear as though you have wings you couldn’t use them. It’s only for changing physical appearances. In my rush to get to Baldur’s Gate, I adorned a look similar to Vylyra in some aspects. After the panic from the town and my own guilt coursing through me, it would seem that my mask took the physical traits of Vylyra from deep within my subconscious. I decided to stick with this appearance as sadly enough, it brought me some comfort. It was a way to hide my true self from strangers around me.
The mask that I utilize has multiple infernal runes etched into it. These runes make it so I am able to change my appearance. Additionally, the runes make it so it can not be detected by magic to let others know it is a disguise.
A magical book that guides me to a worthy candidate for Dis. You can think of it like a handy GPS except in book form. New names will appear when Dis finds people that are powerful enough to help him in the blood war.
My dagger is what helps me to solidify any pacts that are made for Dis. Once the red gem glows, I know that the pact has been sealed and my job is done.
Why did you try to leave?
Once we figured out that Elturel was dragged down to the first layer of hell, I was already worried. I grew too attached to the kid, whose name is Delta. Delta and I formed a friendship I didn’t anticipate, especially as I tried so hard to not get close. I didn’t want to cause more pain to him when he realized I was the one that caused him to die and have a pact forced upon him. But man, this kid was so persistent to stay by my side compared to everyone else in our party. I was hoping that Vert, a very cocky knight, would take the kid under his wing. It would have made things so much easier if Delta tried to get closer to Vert.
Don’t get me started on Reya. A hell-rider with such a pure heart she reminded me a lot of Vylyra. Yet another person fate decides to taunt in my face. But I take the bait, she is everything I wish I was. Strong, caring, loving, and beautiful- I mean no not that- shit forget it. Anyway, I grew closer with her than I anticipated even more so than Delta. She is my hope. My light that burns at the end of a very long and grueling tunnel, the only light besides my brother. I was hoping to have only shown her who I truly was, as she was so kind and accepting of me. Lay low until we saved Elturel so then I can go back to life as it was and no one in the party needed to know a thing.
To the side is an image of Reya (left) and Aria (right)
“She is my hope. My light that burns at the end of a very long and grueling tunnel...”
“How their harsh words
My own issue to run from my own problems caused this to happen. I waited too long to tell them, fear consumed me. Once we entered Avernus is when I at least should have spoken up. But I thought if I was able to hide it for that long, let’s go longer. If I can hide and spare myself the grief and heartache when they realize what I am, I will take it. I could not bear to think of Delta hating me. I know I caused him to
have the pact, it isn’t like I wished to. I would do everything to take it back now, knowing who he is and how much his friendship means to me. However, I knew the moment he realized who I was he would hate me. Can I blame him though? If the roles were reversed, I would feel the exact same way. When the party had to save me from a Hell Wasp hive, I knew I was screwed. My mask was found by one of them, and no one survived the fight besides Delta and I. The seething look was something I was familiar with from other people, but not him. To save everyone, he made an oath to Asmodeus.
Pictured above is a hell wasp hive
pierced through my heart.”
The cold stare pierced deep within me as he stated, “I pledge an oath to you, Asmodeus. To take back control of my life.” I crumpled internally as this young kid aged up before my eyes.
Innocence turned to steel cold vengeance with an armor made of nothing but the void was bestowed upon him. The Delta that once trusted me was gone and replaced by one focused solely on vengeance. And I knew, there was no one to blame but myself. I started this mess, as I tend to do. Running away was all I ever knew so I thought it would be for the better. I thought that Delta and Vert hated me so much they wouldn’t care. Especially once everyone came back and how their harsh words pierced through my heart. While our other four members deemed no issue with me, I couldn’t bear to be around anymore seeing the anger in Delta’s eyes. Reya wasn’t with us anymore as she stayed to protect the innocent that have been trapped here.
So, I pondered for a long while as we traveled back to Fort Knuckle Bone that held people we could trust, providing us with safety. Once there, I asked for my own bike or Devil’s ride as they’re called. I would head out when everyone else was getting ready to go find further clues on how to stop Zariel. They wouldn’t follow and would be glad I was gone. I lied to protect myself and truthfully, I would do it again.
“The world is cruel, but so am I.”
I understand their feelings of being betrayed, but that doesn’t make it feel any less unbearable. So, I would leave and probably die on my way to find Tiamat’s lair. I knew it was stupid and dangerous, but I felt like I had no other choice. After hopping on a bike, being followed by the group, then Delta swearing he would hunt me down and kill me if I left, I still made the reckless decision.
“I will never be able to repay the kindness she has shown to me...”
Pictured above is Lulu the flying elephant
After hopping on a bike, being followed by the group, then Delta swearing he would hunt me down and kill me if I left, I still made the reckless decision. They gave me a choice yet again, saying I should stay but it didn’t feel right. However, a little elephant friend we have in our group decided to message Reya. They knew how much she meant to me and that she was the only one who could talk sense into me. And that she did. I will never be able to repay the kindness she has shown to me, for making me realize that it is okay to trust them. Going back to the shit life I had before is something I don’t want deep down.
Once I stopped trying to run, we all had a long ass sappy conversation with more secrets revealed. I’d say, we all have a deeper understanding of each other more than we ever have. Truth be told, I don’t know what will happen next. I am unsure if we will succeed in saving this city. But it is nice to know I finally have people that I can rely on besides my brother. It is an odd comfort I feel as though I don’t deserve but am deeply grateful for.
An up close profile picture of Reya Mantlemorn, a Hell-Rider with a heart of gold.
