User:Wendylblack/biography3

Prologue
Vhex and Aero left their home in the Hamlar Hills, the foothills of the Cloud Peak, to travel north to Neverwinter. Hearing rumors of dragons collecting in the area of Protector's Enclave, the two set out to fulfill their obligation.

Asmodeus sent a representative to Aero reminding her of the pact they made long ago. Still healing in the pit, Asmodeus requires powerful magical energy harvested from souls in order to heal his wounds. What could be more powerful than the souls of dragons themselves? Vhex is loyal to his wife and vows to follow her into the Nine Hells, if need be.

As far as the good people of Neverwinter would know, Aero and her husband would be just more dragon slayers and welcomed by one and all. Aero asked, the demon sent by Asmodeus, "What should we do, if they ask us to kill Asmodeus followers?". The representative hissed a grew darker, "You will kill the Asmodeus worshipers then, for if they die by your hands, then they have failed and will pay the price of failure by feeding the Master.".

Neverdeath
After a ship was attacked off shore, Aero and Vhex pretended to be one of the many passengers. Making their way into Protector's Enclave they started seeking their first dragon for the Master. Reports of a green dragon Charthaxis was being used as a guard dog for Severin's cult activities. Using the Harper information Areo and Vhex managed to find the reason behind the dragon activities. Valindra planned to aquire Azharzel and ritual to make more dracolich. A former high-ranking member of the Waterclock Guild and secret member of the Cult of the Dragon hid Azharzel away in the Waterclock Guild's Crypts along with the ritual to create a dracolich.

Sharandar
After Valindra escaped with Azharzel, the representative of Asmodeus appeared and instructed Aero to pretend to lend aid to the Iliyanbruen of Sharandar to track the blue dragon Fulminorax, as Valindra planned to gift it to King Malabog. During her time with the Iliyanbruen, Aero managed to misappropriate many arcane magics from their Arcane Reservoir using the Dark Fey incursions as a smoke screen. When Gathir Trueshot tasked them to burn ingredient stores for the Fomorian witches' potions, she again used this to her advantage, salvaging many of the potions for her own use. Having no interest in the petty land squabbles between the Dark Fey and the Iliyanbruen, Aero focused on getting close to Fulminorax and in order to do that she would need the aide of either one of the factions to get her into Malabog's castle. She befriended a Redcap Powrie known as Vulgar Fecalfinger and was able to obtain a secret key to enter the castle.

Recruiting the Faithful
Once more Asmodeus sent his representative to Aero. "There is an opportunity in Chult, you will find the Master has made way for you to go there.". Aero questioned the demon, "There are no dragons in the lands of Chult, why are we...". The demon released a foul smelling gas, "Fool! Don't question the Master's orders!". Aero grew hostile, her face darkened and her eyes red with fury, "I never questioned the Master! I questioned you!", she roared. Vhex smiled a little, he often wondered, if she would ever get infuriated enough to dispatch the messenger. The demon withdrew from her and with his posture greatly reduced, "There you will recruit Templars to the cause. It will be most challenging, but the wounded near death are often physically and spiritually weak. Simply remind them that the herald of Asmodeus saved them, while the impotent Torm and Tempus sat idly by to watch them die.". The demon faded away slowly into the shadows. Aero turned to Vhex, "Pack for Chult, we don't need any false identity once we arrive.". Vhex turned to leave, "Also summon Nottingham, maybe he will prove to be of value.". Vhex raise an eyebrow, "Nottingham? Really? Do you plan to do some hunting while we are there?". Aero said nothing but laughed maniacally as she walked away.

Adrift in the Realm of the Undead
Six months after Aero and Vhex return from Chult, the messenger arrived in the Well of Dragons during a successful hunt. Aero and Vhex in the guise of dragon slayer took the demonic representative of Asmodeus behind a large rock. "Are you insane? Showing up during a dragon run with all these slayers present, in daylight hours!?", Aero was livid, "If they had seen you, I would have destroyed you on the spot." The demon took no time, "It is critical, the Master desires you to meet with Lord Neverember and discuss an issue at Wyndrake Manor. Humans from another realm of reality have traveled there. Follow these travelers back to their pocket universe and claim the most powerful souls there for the Master. Move quickly time is your enemy!". Then the demon dissolved back into the tiniest of shadows. "What could it be Vhex?", Aero looked at her husband, "Be quick, we will portal travel to Neverwinter now.". Vhex opened an astral portal and they both disappeared from the hunting grounds. Just as one of the dragon slayers noticed the Ironcrown's absence, "Vhex! Aero! Spread out people! We are missing two of our finest slayers! Search for them they may be injured."

Meanwhile soon after getting the orders from Neverember, Aero and Vhex were on their way to the Demiplane of Dread or as the inhabitants called it Ravenloft. Upon arrival Vhex noticed the Vistani artifact missing from their possessions. Aero search every bag for the amulet given to them by Stanimir. "Vhex are we trapped here? Can you portal us back to Neverwinter?", asked Aero. Her loyal servant cast a portal but it could not breach the barrier of Barovia. "We must find that amulet!", Areo spat.

Deep in the pit the messenger of Asmodeus approached, "What signs of portent from Ironcrown?", boomed Asmodeus. The demon's eyes went dark and replied, "I could not sense the warlock or her demonic lover anywhere Master. I fear they have abandoned us.". "No one can elude me!", bellowed Asmodeus, "It is unlikely Ironcrown has been discovered or captured, keep searching, the dragon souls must continue.". The demon then appeared to acquiesce, "Yes my Master.". After leaving the presence of the Master, the demon dropped the Vistani heirloom in a lava pool and watched melt away.

Life's Hard Lessons
Aero spent much of her time around Barovia learning new magics from the witches. What she could not learn from them, she stole from them. Vhex after failing to create a portal, started to employ the demons of the Demiplane of Dread. However none were helpful in getting word back to Asmodeus about their fate. A possible solution was to create a new amulet from a Vistani soul. The soul would be imprisoned within the amulet and allow travel between realms. However the Vistani body must also remain unharmed or the amulet would fail. Striking a deal with one of the local witches, Aero and Vhex began their search for a Vistani vessel.

Meanwhile, deep in the depths of Cania, the frozen wastes, ruled by Mephistopheles, a lesser demon made its way through ice and snow. It paused momentarly as another demon approached, "What business do you have on this level?". The lesser demon came to attention and answered, "I am bound for Nessus and have word from Vhex Ironcr..." before the demon could finish he was annihilated by the other demon. The demon grew angry and thought to himself, "That one got closer than any of the others. I must put a stop to them sending all these messengers.".

The demon returned to Nessus and headed to the pit where the Overlord rested. Asmodeus asked, "Where have you been, do you have any idea where the Ironcrowns are at this moment?". The demon, doing what he did best, "None what-so-ever Master.", he lied. "That is very odd,", Asmodeus's voice unusually soft, "because they are here standing behind you.". The demon whipped about in surprise to see both Aero and Vhex with toothy grins. "You sent them on an errand to the Demiplane of Dread, on my behalf. Yet, I don't recall giving you such an order.", with a flick of his wrist the demon vanished. "Did you dispatch him Master?", asked Vhex. "No, demoted him, do you remember the demons who stir the boiling fecal matter?", asked Asmodeus. "Oh yes!", Vhex replied. "It will take him a few millennia to work his way back up to acquire that position.", Asmodeus reclined in his throne and coughed up something like bile. "Now I want both of you back on those dragons until you get caught up!", he barked. "Caught up?", Aero looked somewhat puzzled. "You have a contract and you have fallen behind, a forced vacation in the Demiplane of Dread is no excuse.", Asmodeus turned to Vhex, "You both showed great initiative getting back, stick to dragons and once you get back on schedule, see me about another assignment. A personal matter I would like you both to monitor." Vhex and Aero paid tribute and shouted, "Hail Asmodeus!", as they returned to Faerûn.

The Long Shot
As Vhex and Aero entered the Master's chambers, a female devil was just leaving. "Areo and Vhex, how prompt and auspicious you both are for my needs. I have tasked the dragon hunting to another individual for now, I assume you two would like to hear what I have planned?  Vhex and Areo both nodded, Asmodeus gestured them to sit, "I am taking part in a little contest with the Lords of the Nine Hells.". Asmodeus waved a hand across a table and three drinks appeared. He pick up one of the goblets. "The contest will take place in Avernus and each of us will choose a champion to post secret wagers upon.

Asmodeus gazed at his drink, "Can you guess who I want to be my champion?". Vhex smiled and started to say, "Oh, great King Asmodeus we shall...", but Asmodeus smirked and interrupted him, "No. You will enter the competition in pretense as mere mortals. But I expect you to be victorious against all the chosen."

At this point Aero had to ask, "You want us to defeat all nine champions including yours?". "But of course.", Asmodeus continued, "There will also be a great amount of side bets made by demons. I have instructed my demons to place large wagers on the long shot. The two of you will be the long shot, posing in your human guise, you will let no one know that you work for me. I will place a modest wager on my own champion, however more has already been placed, through my hidden side bets, on my long shot to win." Vhex looked at Areo and back at Asmodeus, "Master how much..." Asmodeus, "One moment...", holding a finger skyward, "What is the current odds for the Ironcrowns to win?" A small imp appeared in the room through a portal, "Current odds are 40 to 1 and expected to exceed 50 to 1 by post time.", the imp squeezed back through the portal and disappeared. Asmodeus turned to the Ironcrowns, "With 100 thousand souls on the line, you will win, and I will be owed 5 million souls.", Asmodeus raised his goblet in salute, and Ironcrowns raised theirs, "To your victorious success!", and all drank.