The Capital of the Greenwood family was a sight to behold. It was Called "Diligence city" and spanned for miles across the spirit energy filled Plains. Gabe and his group of twelve demons, along with Seygo and the two shielding her behind him hovered in front of a large force of Diety and Avatar Acolytes. "What do you want here.... Dread-song?" The Acolyte in charge said after Gabe introduced himself with his very Theatrical name. He regretted Choosing his title so Rashly, now when he said it it just made him sound pompous. "I've come to speak peacefully with the head of the family. There are things we must discuss." The Acolyte scoffed. "Master Toka does not commune with demons or their affiliates. We know about you taking of our treasure land, and about the use of our Gateway. Leave now before you are eradicated from these skys." The Dark haired, pale Acolyte crossed his arms. Gabe simply smiled his off putting grin. "Sure, I can leave. But know this, I am in full control of the Hell's revenge Demon hoard. And in less than an hour I can bare them down on this city. every single one." The Acolyte tried to keep a straight face but his eyes spoke of fear. An attack like that would be the last thing they needed, it would likely be the end of them all. Even if it was unlikely this lone channeler could actually control such a hoard, maybe he could deceive them in some way. After all he did have twelve Deity demons protecting him already. (Gabe had quickly found a replacement for his lost guard demon) "The Greenwood family does not back down." The Acolyte spoke. Those around him reassured his claim. Gabe nodded. "That is why I have come peacefully. To see the Family head. But you deny me on wrongful grounds. If it is my motives you question I can prove they are not malicious. But if for other reasons you do not let me see her, then I have no choice but to force my way." Gabe paused for a moment, then continued. "Go quickly, send her a message that I am here, and tell her a friend of a friend of Gelgar is offering a treaty." The Acolyte looked surprised, the name Gelgar was not unknown, his family had given more souls to the war effort then most and he was considered one of their wisest generals, the heir of Vernon. "Fine." The man said. "But if she refuses to see you then you will be forced to leave." An Avatar realm Channeler was sent into the city below, and tense silence followed.

Toka was looking through casualty reports and the details of her family Gate being used by demons when the Acolyte knocked loudly. "Come in." She answered and a short but stocky gentleman walked in. "Sorry to bother you mam, but the demons we informed you about..." Toka nodded. "Yes, the small group heading for the city with the masked man. What about them?" The Acolyte shrugged. "The masked Guy, some creep who calls himself Dread-song, Says he wants to talk to you. Said to tell you that a Friend of a friend of Gelgar is offering a treaty." Toka sat up at those words. A treaty... her mind began to crunch numbers. The possibilities ran through her head quickly and none where this was a trap made sense. Which meant it was possibly an opportunity. Of course it would give their family a bad rep to have dealings with demons but she would at least like to see what this man had to offer. The name Gelgar was also a large factor in this as she knew the man personally, and he was a people person. He respected people and in return they respected him. It wasn't impossible that he had made a Friend powerful enough to help them in their situation. Or a Friend who knew this masked demon leader. In any case, she had no reason not to jump on this immediately. Maybe it was a waste of time, but as far as she could tell so was this blasted war. "Help me out of this bed immediately!" She demanded.

As the two groups stared at each other and the air became more and more thick with suspense, Gabe considered just telling them about Seygo, but it seamed unlikely they would believe him. Seygo seamed to think they would, but he'd ordered her to stay quiet. And so far she was playing along, waiting in the back patiently. She seamed very happy to be here, back in a place she knew. Back where her family lived. after a little over two minutes, two People zipped into the sky between them one of them was the Acolyte they had sent with the message the other was a woman with bindings and healing runes all over her. The Acolyte in charge immediately blurted out a curse. "Master Toka! You are not well enough to!?..." She cut him of with a hand gesture from her good hand. Gabe looked the woman up and down, she was slender and dark looking with shoulder length hair and more wounds and scars all over her body then any woman Gabe had ever seen. It was clear she lead from the front In true Greenwood family fashion. He was amazed even with all those brutal marks she still carried an aura of great power and strength. "Now, are you the man looking to speak with me?" She asked Gabe flying with her fists placed firmly on her hips. Gabe's hooded form nodded. "I have two things of Great value to offer you." Toka nodded Slightly. "I assume one of those is our Desert treasure land back?" Gabe grinned. "No, I am fully aware it does not belong to me and to give you your own land back… I would feel dirty. Instead I have two, much more valuable things. Things only I can offer." Toka pursed her lips at his comment about the treasure lands. And rose an eyebrow at the claim of something more valuable. "And in return? What do you want from us?" Gabe gave her his biggest smile yet and he was sure he could see a twinge of the heebie jeebies in her eyes even through her stone like face. He thought it only fitting that his persona be so off putting, he did command a demon hoard after all. Even with a mask the bald headed creep he looked like shone through in spades. "In return I ask for a few things. Firstly, your help finding a valuable treasure I need for something important. Second, at the very least a passive asylum for my hoard. We don't need you to fight for us but at least don't help others against us. Thirdly, your good graces and Relations. I foresee a great Calamity striking Primeway, together we might be able to stop it."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Toka let her face show she was considering his words, they were quite odd all things considered. "And what do you offer?" She asked the cloaked Channeler who was clearly hiding his True realm of power. The man continued his ever constant scary grin as he spoke. "I offer you your long lost daughter." He said with pride, and immediately the two demons behind him came up front and allowed Toka to see past their tented shields. She almost couldn't believe her eyes, it was Seygo. The Family's missing savant. The demons released the shield and Seygo smiled slightly. The Acolytes around started to chatter as those who knew who she was informed those who didn't. "I... how exactly did you find our long lost daughter!?" Toka couldn't have been more surprised if he had presented her the reanimated corpse of her grandfather. But "Dread-song" never stopped grinning. "The Gateway I borrowed from your treasure land. Lets only say, I didn't waste my trip." Seygo was brought forward by the demons and handed off to Toka’s power to keep her in flight. Toka wasted no time and brought the dear girl to her, Embracing her in silence for a full minute. Seygo started to weep, holding her family as tightly as she could. Her strong outward appearance was dropped as two years worth of weeping pored out. Toka was moved as well, she didn’t know Seygo as well as some, but she held a heavy heart for all of her family who had suffered. And when Seygo had been taken, she guiltily did nothing to bring the girl back. A few tears leaked from her eyes as well. "Treaty or not." Dread-song spoke deeply enjoying the scene. "I won't be taking that gift back. It is a favor for the House of Gelgar." his word seamed honest and final, Leaving Toka to fully reconsider this man before her. Moments ago he had seamed like a cold demon himself his mask only hiding what was certainly the cruel face of a wicked man, but circumstances are not always as they seam. He spoke again when Seygo let go of her ancient family member. "The Second thing I offer is the eradication of at least one of your enemies." Toka took a slow concentrating breath finding those words… hard to swallow. "That's quite the offer." She said. And sized him up as best she could in her mind. Could he really do what he said? If he was truly running the whole demon hoard like reports suggested, he could likely do it. Would he? Well that seam to depend on her answer to this treaty. But what about what he wanted, it was all so vague. It sounded like favors to her. Friendship, help, deals not to harm… if he really did destroy one of their enemies than the entire family would owe him… Still she'd rather end this age in debt then in shreds.

Gabe watched as Toka's eyes examined him, surly considering his low level. She showed good sense, as to be expected from this family. Gabe was beginning to respect the Greenwood family even more. He knew he had lost quite a few demons in his last battle, but the actual number was inconsequential when compared to the amount he had. And would be barely felt at all. Especially since most that he had lost were those of the lower Realms. He still had over half a million Deity Realm Demons, and with just that alone he could probably mortally wound an entire league with all their allies to boot. "The Greenwood family is more then interested in your agreement." Toka finally answered. Dealing with demons was a great taboo among the family houses, but so was leaving your allies in the wind to die. If the other families refused to even give the Greenwood family aid in this troubling time then She would show them no respect ether. Making a treaty with a hoard was the least of the things she was willing to do to save her Family name. Reputation be damned. "How is it that you would like to seal the treaty between us?" Gabe considered her question. There was more then one way to make a treaty between great powers, a physical contract could be drawn up this was less binding but allowed for easy evidence of breach. A word binding ritual could be held, this only affected the two leaders that did the ritual. A Spirit contract could be signed. Or even a group or counsel rune binding. Gabe shook his head and then shrugged. "Your word will be enough, simply say that you will try to help me and not hurt me and you will let no'one outside your family sway you from that and I will accept it. The Greenwood family is nothing if not honest." Toka's eyebrows went up, in all her years she had never met such a contradiction of a man. Someone who's both cold and kind, calculating and trusting.... it was unnatural. But acceptable. "Fine, I give you my word. The Greenwood family will try to help you and not hurt you, and no one outside our family will sway us from this promise. As long as you do as you say." Gabe nodded deeply. "Now make your choice, would you have the league taken off your back, or have the Golden-Chaos family driven from your lands." Toka didn't even need to think about it. While the league was larger and presented the greater danger they were still only half in the war, with one foot out the door should it become necessary to abandon their goal which only mildly interested them. A demon attack would only cement their aim and make their effort to steal seam like a righteous war instead of cowardly and cheep act. "The Golden-Chaos family, I want all four of our taken cities back. Can you accomplish this?" Gabe nodded Slightly, deep in thought. "I can."

Thus Concludes Book one.