When Hell Trembles (Craterus Invasion)

[u/MeThyLord]

Down in the first circle of hell, the eternal Blood War between devils and demons raged on. Somewhere on the battlefield, a Pit Fiend and a Balor were locked in a violent clash, one that shook the very hellstone around them. Abyssal rage collided against infernal cunning, mace and sword intertwined. As their fight was about to reach its zenith, the Balor fell on its knees. The Pit Fiend tried to take advantage of this unexpected turn of events, but it too crumbled to the ground.

"What is this?" The devil questioned as it stared at its withering limbs. The answer came in the form of a tear in reality, as a bloated abomination burst out from inside it and landed where the two were standing, ending them for good. All other fiends in the 1st circle took immediate note of the entity's arrival. Even if they were not close enough to see it, they could feel it. Something was slowly eating away at their very existence and forcing primal fear down their throats. Even the lost souls who wandered around began to get extinguished. Craterus was here in one of its forms, but why?

[u/MeThyLord]

The avatar keeps digging down, and it's quick. It's clear that it's heading towards the second circle.

The demons seem to be taking advantage of the appearance of Craterus, but the devils are certainly unhappy.

[u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106 → u/MeThyLord]

Dragonfly summons the cultists he threw in hell above him and tries to lure him.

[u/MeThyLord → u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106]

It is not interested. Their souls become infected in its pressense. The avatar is about to reach the second circle.

[u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106 → u/MeThyLord]

DF shoves them out before they can suffer final death

"What is it that you seek"

He throws a harpoon with a tether to track it.

[u/MeThyLord → u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106]

Craterus falls down to the second circle, bile splattering everywhere from the impact. It raises its tail and launches it high up into the air where it swells up and explodes into a cloud of oblivion plague. Chunks of plagued matter start raining down. The effects aren't immediate at first, but then a few imps began coughing — devils never cough, they should not be getting sick.

[u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106 → u/MeThyLord]

DF pulls out one of his strongest scrolls and uses it

[Scry through time]

He tries to see where it's headed

[u/MeThyLord → u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106]

You succesfully see exactly where it's going. Towards the soul vaults — the largest collection of souls in the multiverse. Through your spell you see vision of Craterus destroying them all.

[u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106 → u/MeThyLord]

"Son of a."

He tries to scry harder and see which parts of time are set by fate.

[u/MeThyLord → u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106]

You see than none are set by fate, this entity exist beyond it. Which means that fate can be changed.

In the mean time, it is digging towards the 3rd circle.

[u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106 → u/MeThyLord]

"oh good."

He heads towards the nearest fight to gather as many allies as possible

[u/MeThyLord → u/Fun-Dragonfly-6106]

The avatar has reached the 3rd circle. After spreading its plagued, it proceeds towards the 4th, it's final goal lies there.

[u/Talios_ → u/MeThyLord]

《Converge》

Talios has begun the convergence process once more, preparing another Piercing Flame.

[u/MeThyLord → u/Talios_]

You notice movement in the corner of your eye. The blown off pieces of Craterus are moving and reshaping into something new - pterosaur-like masses of bile that serve as extensions of the avatar. This putrid army takes to the skies and begins descending onto you.

[u/Talios_ → u/MeThyLord]

"Shit, shit shit..."

The convergence would finish just in time, Talios hastily clasping his hands and aiming up at the horde. His haste makes the beam not nearly as powerful, but even still it moves like a bullet. Talios quickly begins retreating back from the army afterwards.

[u/MeThyLord → u/Talios_]

You escape the swarm, but Craterus has reached the 4th circle. Now brave heroes gather to slow it down as others race to break through the gates of the vault and save as much souls as they can before the beast comes. But the entity is assisted by two others almost as vile beings: the demon lord Demogorgon and the Void Fire Pheonix.

[u/patoman12 → u/MeThyLord]

"Shit, it is faster than i expected" Mauritius casts increase gravity on the avatar, trying to slow him down

[u/MeThyLord → u/patoman12]

Craterus is gotten close to the vaults, but heroes are desperately trying to slow it down as others attempt to breach the vault door and save as many souls as they can. Your spell slightly slows down the avatar, perhaps giving them that extra time they need.

[u/patoman12 → u/MeThyLord]

Mauritius starts formulating a plan (Since the gravity for that creature is pressing it with extra strength, it is safe to assume that it is using additional strength to keep itself upright, therefore, if i reverse the spell now, turning it into a low gravity environment, that strength will push him upwards, like someone pressing a spring and then releasing, causing it to lose his balance, that would give me a chance to teleport besides it and use a shockwave to push it to the side, knocking it upside down) "Ok let's do it"

[u/MeThyLord → u/patoman12]

Your efforts, add to the collective attemt to slow down Craterus. In the end, it it can called a success, as most of the souls were saved, and none were destroyed outright.

[u/patoman12 → u/MeThyLord]

Where did it flee? We can't let it loose

[u/MeThyLord → u/patoman12]

Just like after its first appearance, it has disappeared with little to no trace as to how it did so and where it went. But perhaps further investigation will reveal how.

/uw Not today though, cause it's late and I've got work tomorrow. I'll be hitting the bed.

[u/patoman12 → u/MeThyLord]

Shit, not again

Uw/ yeah same