King Xolarand
It had been several weeks since Syndra had returned the Amulet of the Corpse King to the Demon King, and she had assumed she wouldn't hear from the demons ever again, but the unmistakable smell of sulphur filling her nostrils as she paced Ellren Serine told her someone was coming to visit her.
"Well isn't this a surprise. King Xolarand, I presume?" Syndra asked the extremely obese demon who had appeared before her, causing all the Rangers within earshot to level bows at the demon, drawstrings tight.
The demon laughed heartily, black smoke escaping from his mouth. "Princess Syndra Valmaris, how very nice to see you in person. You returned my Amulet without hesitation when my Sergeant asked politely, so I am returning the favour by visiting you personally."
"To what do I owe the pleasure, King Xolarand?" Syndra asked, bowing politely. "My Rangers are understandably nervous, so perhaps you should make your intentions clear."
Xolarand looked around at the three dozen Rangers surrounding him, and chuckled, grey smoke emerging from his nostrils. "I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that I have no intentions of harming Queen Valmaris."
"I'm not Queen yet, Xolarand." Syndra replied with a smirk, hands on her hips. "I got a lot of people to kill yet for that."
"That's where I come in." King Xolarand said, laughing heartily, belching more black smoke from his mouth. "But perhaps, a venue change first?"
Syndra betrayed no expression on her face, but inwardly knew exactly what was going on, the demons wanted to help. Oh, this would be perfect indeed, she thought. She could deflect any accusations of war crimes on rampaging demons, and it's not like the demons would care.
"Fine. My quarters. Rangers, stand down, but triple the guard outside my quarters." Syndra said after thinking for a minute.
King Xolarand nodded and dissolved into a puddle of ink where he stood. Syndra took this as a hint and motioned for the Rangers to focus on her quarters. When she entered, Xolarand was already there, but in a much more human form instead of his demon body. He still stunk unmistakably of sulphur and salt, and his gigantic horns were still visible, but he almost looked human otherwise.
"Dropping the act, Xolarand?" Syndra asked after the door closed.
"I don't need to keep it up for you, Syn." Xolarand replied, smirking. "So, I hear you need people dead."
"Depends on the price, Demon King. I don't have a soul to sell you, even if I wanted to." Syndra said, sitting down in her chair and putting her feet up on the table. "Keep that a secret, actually."
"Oh, for you? There's no cost. Orders from the Royal Void herself." Xolarand answered, using the demon name for Vordea. "I get the feeling you don't want to risk association, though." Xolarand finished, smirking. "So, I can just leave."
"Absolutely not. I can explain away 'rampaging demons'," Syndra began, making air quotes with her hands, "very very easily. So I have an alternative idea, Xol."
Xolarand started laughing heartily as Syndra explained her plan to him. He had royal mandate to do whatever he pleased to any elf not wearing her royal seal within the North. Steal their souls, consume their flesh, use them for any number of horrific experiments, anything he or any of his subordinates wished.
"You are truly a wicked woman, Syndra." Xolarand said, laughing. "Are you sure you're not a demon?"
Syndra laughed at the question. "This is the wrath of all of House Valmaris coming down upon the Usurper and all who supported him. None shall escape." Syndra smiled wickedly as she said this, and laughing menacingly. "I will cleanse the North of filth, Xol. If this means working with demons, so be it."
"There'll be a spot waiting for you in hell at the end of your days, you maniac." Xolarand said, laughing more as he stood. "You know where to find me."
"I'll count on that, Xol. Demon Queen Valmaris has a nice flair, wouldn't you say?" Syndra asked, posing mockingly. "Maybe I'll come for your throne next!"
"I'd like to see you try! I do enjoy talking with you Syndra, but I have damned flesh to torture. Until next time." Xolarand said, before slowly dissolving into a puddle of ink on the floor.
"Until next time." Syndra said, smiling.
It was beyond perfect. First the rusalki consuming his bloodline, now demons to torture and kidnap his supporters. It will be a glorious civil war, Syndra thought to herself. Vordea herself taking a side in the fight really told her a lot, too. Maybe she could convince the Goddess herself to intervene? Nonsense of course, but productive nonsense.