[IMG]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u79/SharpshooterJack/markerGerald_zps253683a8.png[/IMG]
[h3]Duchy of Pelgaid, secluded pond[/h3]
While Gerald would like to think that he was fairly indifferent about seeing the Grand Master’s ephemeral projection suddenly dispersing, he could not help but to feel a hint of annoyance that the old demon had not been allowed to ramble on longer about the doubtlessly vast amounts of knowledge he had accumulated over the ages. Not that he was going to put too much faith in most of the things he had been told today – aside from the things the Grand Master had been obligated to tell them through their contract with him, everything he had said could easily have been lies – but even having some kind of basis to work from, information that could potentially be proven true or false, was an interesting exercise of the mind, if nothing else.
In truth though, while he would never have admitted it and certainly never agreed to actually make a trade for the information, some of the first things the Ancient One had told them remained on his mind, teasing him for not knowing. One thing was about Jillian’s past, which he was undeniably interested in knowing what related information could possibly be considered valuable, but the other, perhaps even more puzzling thing, was that the Grand Master had claimed to know something interesting about Gerald’s father. Surely the fiend had meant Dennis Remdal, his stepfather... in which case there was likely a huge amount of dark secrets that could have been brought to light in order to destroy the treacherous filth’s reputation and standing in Zerul. Gerald already had a strong suspicion that Dennis killed his first wife, or at least caused her death indirectly somehow... if the Grand Master had proof...
He [I]had[/I] to have meant Dennis Remdal. Surely. Gerald’s real father... he was no one. A worthless peasant with nothing of value but his name, which Gerald had taken to spite his stepfather.
Although... what [I]did[/I] he know about his real father?

“You retained the freedom to refuse,” Crone retorted when Jillian argued that she had no right to force them into making a contract with the Grand Master. “The deal was yours to make or reject; not I nor the Grand Master forced you to agree to the wager and sign the contract. I gave you the option and you took it. The fault, as the consequences, are yours alone.”
“That’s not fair, Crone,” Renold grumbled from his place in the background, surprisingly easy to forget when he was not speaking considering that he was large enough to almost be viewed as part of the scenery. “You did force their hand a bit, you must admit...”
“It was an effective option,” Crone shrugged. “The Grand Master is nothing if not resourceful. He can be... difficult to refuse, I admit. Tempting. I suppose I expected this outcome, so perhaps part of the blame is mine.”

Gerald only raised his gaze from the ground immediately in front of his feet when Jillian addressed him, but did not jolt as one might expect from one deep in thought, instead calmly moving his attention from nowhere in particular to his red-haired companion. His yellow eyes, though intense as always, were calm and unwavering.
“What do I think? Of course we’re going to stop Hazzergash if it’s up to me; the only thing different now compared to before is that you’re risking your soul doing it. Besides, we already established that these two pretty much [I]need[/I] my help to capture Hazzergash.”
He sighed and sat down on a rock. “I am somewhat curious as to how we’re going to accomplish that, though. We will still need to pacify Hazzergash so that he doesn’t kill me while I’m returning him to his prison, and since we’re going to him this time a binding circle is hardly an option. Before we do anything we need a plan, and then we need some sleep... if for no other reason then just to replace the energy I borrowed from Anaxim with proper magical energy.”

[h3]Zerul City, the Drunken Dove[/h3]
“Prerequisites?” Violet repeated at Ixion’s final question, shrugging at it with disinterest. “Nothing official. You do need to be ready to [I]be[/I] a deo’iel, though, and understand that as long as you are one you have the responsibilities of one. You’re expected to hunt monsters and obey orders, and in turn pretty much everything else will be taken care of for you. And if you decide to quit or retire, make [I]absolutely sure[/I] that you do so officially and get confirmation from the seventh circle that they approve of your dismissal... The deo’iel do not take kindly to deserters.”