Part 1

Now that was done causing a succession crisis in the Ashen Empire, Xellma decided to look to the elves, and the Avalanche Princess that Xolarand bargained with. She already made sure a warning was delivered to Syndra that she was coming, so all that was left was the main event.

Inserting herself into the mortal plane, she fully formed in the woods not far from Syndra's compound in Ellren Serine, and looked around. Quiet elven woods as usual, but with her enhanced senses, she could hear breathing from not far away, up in a tree. Careful to not look directly at the tree, she glanced in the direction of it, and knew the Ranger's name immediately.

"Ranger Vaeril, present yourself to the Demon Queen immediately." Xellma said, loudly enough for Vaeril to hear.

Unable to disobey Queen's Orders, he jumped down from the tree, and walked directly up to her, a terrified look on his face.

"Well, if it isn't a little ranger." Xellma smiled. She was in her human form, but made sure to pull down her hood as he walked up to her, revealing her curled black horns. "It's not nice to spy on women in the woods, you know?"

Finding his wits, Vaeril finally addressed her.

"You're trespassing in elven lands. State your name and intentions!" He barely managed to stammer out.

"Are you just the cutest? I'm here to see your Princess, I need to talk to her." Xellma answered, patting him on the head. "We promised not to kill any loyalists, so stop trembling so much."

"We?"

"Why, the demons of course!" Xellma sighed, as if it was obvious. Seeing Vaeril continue to shake, she got annoyed. "Vaeril, stop trembling immediately."

Vaeril stopped shaking, and was quite confused that he did. "How did you do that?"

"Ah, that's a secret." Xellma smiled, putting a finger to Vaeril's lips. "Be a good boy and run along."

Vaeril nodded and ran away quite quickly, deeper into the woods, leaving Xellma alone to smirk.

"I hope the rest of her rangers are better than that."

Xellma slowly walked into Ellren Serine, and she noted that once the rangers in the town spotted her, they started keeping their distance, and different ones rotated in to stay closer to her. Noting the different clothing, she quickly came to the conclusion of what was going on. Divine mages. They thought they stood a chance at banishing her, how quaint. Deciding some amusement was in order, she walked directly up to one, who didn't tremble like poor Vaeril, but still looked nervous.

"You won't be able to banish me, you know." Xellma said with a smile. "I could order you all to kill each other before a banishment spell strong enough to work on me could be cast."

"None would be able to say we didn't go down fighting, demon." The ranger replied, stonefaced. "What is better, to surrender your life in the face of overwhelming odds, or to go out swinging?"

Xellma liked this ranger much better. "Oh, very brave words. Don't mistake that for sarcasm, I approve. Could you point me in the direction of Princess Valmaris?"

The ranger nodded, and gestured at the large meeting hall, before briefly saluting.