16506/Shattering Heaven and Razing Hell

Shattering Heaven and Razing Hell
Date of Scene:	24 August 2024
Location:	Club Lux, Melville
Synopsis:	Lucifer takes a trip to Hell with Spawn and Nick Drago. Angels attack. Spawn raises a Hell army to combat back. Portals are closed. All in all - a good time!
Cast of Characters:	Lucifer, Phantasm (Drago), Spawn

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Lucifer has posed:
The club is dark. Like completely closed for the night, everyone has gone home and only the residents remain dark. Sure there's security lights lit up around that maybe cast a faint glow, but that does not help to outline much but lighter shadow against darker shadow.

Lucifer stands in the spot where the piano usually is. He's pushed the piano aside which gives him more room on the wooden floor to do the work he's set out to do. It's not his normal way. In fact, he's not even sure this is going to work at the end of things - but he has a mission and he's prepared to do what he can to actually fulfill it. But how does one try to reach another corner of Hell? Or as Nathaniel had suggested - the other side of Lucifer's rental space that a tenant happens to be abusing?

And what if someone walks in that isn't Nathaniel and sees what's going on? Some people have only seen minor things. Little tricks. They haven't seen what Lucifer can ACTUALLY do when he puts his mind to something. When he reaches into the depths of his power and opens the gates to his domain.

In a flash of hellfire the visage that he uses upon Earth is gone and he now stands there as Satan. Beelzebub. The Lord of Lies. The King of Hell. His body appearing like it's been burned, healed, and burned again until there is nothing but red flesh that flakes in spots. Eyes gone black and burn with hellfire. Wings emerge - all three pairs - and seem to drip with blood and not look as pristine as they are in his human or Angelic form. Then he kicks at the flooring three times and a groan seems to emit from the floor itself - as if it's resisting.

"I said OPEN, you fool of a domain! You answer to me!"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
And this brings up the question. Just what is Nick doing in the club at this hour? Is he assisting in such matters?

Well. The simple answer is... He's not.

Nick is not in the club. He is instead above the club. Trying to sleep. And being the club is closed, that should be a simple feat, right?

Tiredly, Nick opens his eyes up as the yelling below disturbs his slumber.

What now?

Spawn has posed:
The Hellspawn had been on a routine patrol over Bludhaven when he *felt* something. It wasn't the constant thrumming flow of human emotions in the area and it wasn't even the sharp pounding of cruel intentions or malicious intent -- it was the sudden seductive pull of Hell itself, dragging at every fiber of the monster's being like a magnetic field working on powdered iron.

Already in the sky, on the move, gliding on his bloodlike cape which formed itself into a batlike wing shape, the giant thing leans to one side and lets the wind push him around until he's facing toward the source. He continues to glide languidly for another minute, before the pull gets stronger, and then he leans into a steep dive and gives one powerful flex of those wings. The sound of it is like a mainsail snapping tight on a gale-force-wind, which means it sounds more like a whipcrack than a gunshot but the sound of it spreads out for miles and echoes up and down city streets.

By the time Nick starts to struggle himself to consciousness, the descending Hellspawn is traveling at full speed. Without slowing down the giant slips through the roof of Club Lux, through the furniture in whatever room he passes through, then through the floor, and the next, until he emerges from the ceiling almost directly above Lucifer and his portal. Then, as if there were still a heavy wind blowing right inside the club, Spawn's wings spread wide like a drag-chute to bring him to a sudden stop. It hovers there, its balefire green eyes staring down at the King of Hell and his... broken doorway?

Lucifer has posed:
It's not that it's *broken*, it's just being *stubborn* and Lucifer isn't having it right now. He is not aware that anyone within the club has heard him shouting, and as much as he should likely be aware of the blood-cape-bat-like creature coming at his club like a speeding bullet - he's also unaware of that. It may not seem like it, but when one is dealing with a stubborn doorway it can take a lot of effort to finally get it to crack open. He's just about got it though and at a pin drop's time after Spawn appears just above his head, staring down at him.

And a 'door' that isn't really a door as much as it's a peeled back section of wooden flooring that leads to a staircase which is -definitely- going in a downward direction into a space that is outside the world's time. He looks up at those balefire green eyes and cracks a very toothy grin. In a voice deeper than his human visage and riddled with the rasp of one who has - indeed - spent a millenia caring for the realm of Hell, he speaks. "I should have known you would appear. Is this proof enough now that I am who I say I am or do you wish to descend into the pit with me?" Course, Spawn isn't aware of what Lucifer's plan HAD been, so he might need to re-think this whole ordeal for a moment. Either way. Welcome to Hell's Gates.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
If Nick was entertaining the temptation to go back to sleep, that thought is soon picked up and booted out the window. No matter how tired one be, there is something mildly upsetting about a dark figure falling through your ceiling and plummeting down towards you.

Ok, maybe more than Mildly.

Either way the visual is sufficient to half-assedly kick start the defenses as his form reverses to his phantasmed form.

Unfortunately with the half asleep nature of his mind. When Spawn starts to 'come in contact' with him, he ends up being dragged along with the descent through the bed, the floor, "WAI-"

And then he lands on the club floor. "-iiit."

Nick remains lying on the floor. No. He's not going to look around yet. He's... just going to lie here for a few moments and count to ten.

Slowly.

Spawn has posed:
"I never questioned your word," the Hellspawn's physical voice is a deep-throated, dry rasp. It sounds like a gurgling death rattle that was somehow formed into words, without losing any of the utter ick factor. It's not particularly loud, but then how loud does a seven foot tall, four hundred pound monster speak when he thinks he's using his inside voice? Relatively, that is.

The giant thing regards Lucifer's hole in the floor for a moment before his cape suddenly wraps around him and he drops from near the ceiling to hit the floor a respectable distance back from Lucifer's demonic form and therefore from his staircase into the Abyss. The landing is surprisingly light, without damage to the hardwood in spite of the sudden drop and full-weight impact, and unlike most "super-hero drops" the Hellspawn lands standing fully upright and completely shrouded in that dark red cape that continually flows like a river of blood.

At this point the monster turns its glowing green glare on Nick and stares silently. He might intend for that glare to be intimidating, or accusing, or maybe he's just eyeing the other phase-shifter who hitched a ride on him as he passed through the upper layers of the physical building.

Finally, Spawn looks from Nick back to Lucifer, then makes a subtle gesture with his head toward the staircase, as if to invite him to "go to Hell" first.

Lucifer has posed:
"I never actually said I was questioning you. I simply asked if you further believe me now..." Lucifer replies with a wide smile before he glances over towards Nick, concern in his eyes for a moment. The fact that the man hasn't moved since he crashed onto the floor is a bit concerning...but also if he was dragged here then...well he had to of not been in his fleshy form, right? Too many things to consider, so he looks back to Spawn and then to the staircase leading downwards.

"Well. We can go. But I cannot stay long. If Nick follows us down, I will need to keep an eye on him to make sure he's alright and if he begins to not be alright....I'll be exiting in a hurry." He offers this much. "Also, next time, maybe don't come crashing into my domain like you did tonight. I'm not saying you have to leave now, since you're here and I can almost feel the wanton in your entire presence to descend the steps... but remember you asked a favor of me. I cannot perform my part of that favor if you are with me." Unless, of course, Spawn wants to say fuck it and risk it all while Lucifer attempts to talk to Mangoblin. Mangonad. Goblinman. Whomsteverthe fuck.

Either way, and without another moment wasted, Lucifer shifts to fold his wings back against himself and begins to descend into Hell's Mouth.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Spawn loos over to him, Nick grumbles. After a brief glance around, He pivots from the floor onto his feet.

"I'm fine." Nick responds, "Just was...adjusting to the unannounced change of venue-"

He pauses, looking to the portal and then Lucifer's work attire. With the added warnings he tilts his head. "...Do you want me to come along or stay here?"

Spawn has posed:
While the negotiation takes place between Lucifer and Nick, and based on Lucifer's caveat about Nick going along, Spawn hangs back. The monster stands there, statuesque except for what looks like the fluid flowing of his cape and the burning flicker of his smoking eyes. The most intensely bright little circle in those eyes seems to move from one of them to the other and back again.

Finally, after a long consideration, the giant monster gives a gesture with his gauntleted right hand. "Go on," that rasping voice emits from behind the leathery mask. "Stay between us."

Lucifer has posed:
"I want you to make your own decision, Nick. We aren't going anywhere that you'll see anything you'll want to unsee. I promise." And a promise from Lucifer is like gold. He cannot lie - despite being called the King of them. So he's not descending anywhere that would show any active tortures going on. Once things seem to get squared away, he nods his head and begins to descend the stairs. One at a time. Down...

...down...

........down........

..........down...........

Until they're at the bottom of the staircase. There's all this fire and brimstone and everything is burning and there's a million souls all screaming out in torturous unison!

Just kidding. It's a hallway. Literally. It seems to go on forever and there are doors every few feet. Lucifer just shifts forward a bit to wait for the others to join him. "Could you get out of Hell if I left you here, Spawn?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It's not much of a negotiation really. With Lucifer not picking an option and deferring to Nick. When Spawn instructs him to get between them, there's a momentary urge to protest. But common sense intervenes.

Of the three of them. Who hasn't live in Hell for a time?

...

No. Hell's Kitchen doesn't count. No matter how shitty the experience.

... Fine. Nick then.

"Alright. I'm going."

And that's it. As Nick follows down, Spawn is given the view of the mirrored musician gradually shift in appearance with each step. The clothes shift, becoming more of a cloak, hood covering over the head. By the time Lucifer turns around to look to them, the devil is greeted to the view of the face under the hood.

Well, the shadow where the face would be.

It seems that while Nick was ok with following, the Phantasm had some qualms about it.

Spawn has posed:
Having descended behind Nick, as if keeping the humanoid in a tactical box even as it shapeshifts into... what is that exactly? A spirit? The monster starts probing at the Phantasm's psyche almost as soon as the change begins, and continues even as Lucifer speaks.

The giant rasps, "Never had to, on my own," as he steps off the bottom step to the hallway floor. "Worst case scenario," the not-quite-dead-but-eternally-getting-there voice croaks next, "I'll find your favorite minion and torture it until it opens a gate."

Impossible to tell if the giant thing was trying its hand at comedy or not. Harder still to imagine it might be serious, right? The Hellspawn may have been created and equipped for the express purpose of destroying hordes of Angels and tearing down the gates of Heaven, but that doesn't mean that it knows that... or has even unlocked its full potential yet.

Now the glowing green eyes regard the hallway, the doors, the floor and the ceiling. Without looking at Nick-turned-Phantasm, the Hellspawn directs a telepathic broadcast only toward his mind. The auditory hallucination is a more human-sounding voice, deep and smooth: "Nothing here is what it seems. Remember this." Just because he intended for only the Phantasm to receive it doesn't mean Lucifer might not have a facility for eavesdropping, or that the Phantasm might not have a facility for resisting telepathy, that's just what Spawn did.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer isn't telepathic. Not in general. He has his mind linked to one person and that's because THEY are a telepath. A strong one. Among other things. So they can read each others thoughts and have conversations while not in the same room and without the use of a telephone. There's more to it, but Lucifer doesn't know he needs to get into it so his writer doesn't either.

He steps forward, walking down the neverending hallway. Why did he comes down here in the first place? What was his purpose? Technically something he cannot do now, not without breaking part of the favor that he was given by Spawn. So, for now, it's just a small trip home. Well. Home is a loose term when it comes to Hell, but it's still his none the less.

At some point, he stops in front of a door. It's labeled '666' - how apropos - and he reaches to the handle, gives it a quick turn and opens the door to....

A very expansive room of black. Onyx to be precise. Some staglamites here and there, but in the middle of the room, rising from the ground as if it grew from there. Is the Obsidian Throne. "We won't stay long, really... My purpose of coming here no longer is to be done... but I figured since you decided to come all the way from wherever you had been..." He looks back and directly to Spawn as he speaks. "Figured I'd give you a little tour. Nick as well. He's only heard of my throne room up to this point."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The prodding gets a bit of a bit of an inconsistency to it. More of a wisping, dreamlike muddle of things that may not make sense to an outside observer, but to the beholder- it is perfectly clear.

Nick isn't exactly a telepath. But he has spent a lot of time around a very strong one. So as he has advice thought his way, he responds somewhat in kind. Although, his response is slightly less directed.

.oO(Like dreams.) It is a familiar tone, that thought.

The trek does take awhile. General thoughts wondering if there are any eternal punishments where someone needing to pee has to wander this hallway to reach a bathroom at the other end of it only to find it out of order. But as they arrive to Luci's throne room, that thought dies away as Nick glances around the room. His head tilts up, looking to the tall seat. "...I hope that's more comfortable than it looks." Nick comments. Standing to the side of the throne and turning around to look back towards the door.

Spawn has posed:
The Hellspawn pads silently along after Lucifer and Nick, eyeing the doors and mostly oblivious to Nick's wonderings. It was the emotional state, the intentions toward the world at large, that this soul collector really wanted a peek at. If the monster did read Nick's idea of a torture worthy of Hell, he would probably approve.

As the door ominously labeled 666 is opened, Spawn leans forward at the doorframe to look into and around the throne room. After a quiet moment of considering the Obsidian Throne he croaks, "Must be Hell for rich people. I suppose all the other rooms emulate a fleabag motel with mystery stains on the sheets, carpet, and curtains. Then you bring the Damned in here and let them watch while you sit in the big, shiny chair." That has to be the monster's attempt at comedy, right?

Lucifer has posed:
"No. This is just my throne room. I can make Hell appear just about any way I want to...so you're not seeing Hell the way people have always explained it to you. I -could- show you that Hell. At some point." Lucifer says this as he continues to walk towards the throne. "It is more comfortable than it looks... but I won't be sitting in it today. This is just...probably the safest room down here. Neither of you will be mistaken as....new arrivals." A thought which makes him smirk as he considers the newest arrivals might be processing at this very moment. He'll have to remember to check on them later.

"Nathaniel might lecture me when he gets back. For letting you come here in the first place, Nick. But at least now you can say 'been there, done that' when someone tells you to go to Hell." He chuckles at this and then turns his attention to Spawn. "I have been thinking. Why do you think the demon, or supposed Hell Lord, erased your memories -after- giving you some sort of deal? That's not really how we should be doing business. How else would you be able to know you're fulfilling your terms if you've forgotten what they were?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Well, considering how many PSTD fueled nightmares I have treked through and I spent a sizeable time of my childhood being raised in Hell's Kitchen, I could technically already say that." Nick replies, giving a bit of a smirk to mirror Lucifer's. "But this does add to the authenticity of the statement."

When the conversation gets moved towards Spawn, he looks over to him, giving a curious look. "...Does that mean Spawn is the only name you know?"

Spawn has posed:
Since Hell itself is the source of all of Spawn's power, fed on by his suit and the rotting husk of a corpse inside it, the Hellspawn really is "at home" here. When addressed by Lucifer and then by the Phantasm, the monster's cape wraps around him while the high collar pulls over his head like a hood, and then the thing begins to shrink in height and width while that crimson material flows around him like a column of blood.

When it's over, meaning when the crawling fluid has solidified into flesh and hair and blood, the guy standing there still looks almost as intimidating. He's a black guy of average height, athletic build, with a tight fade and a carefully-trimmed goatee. Black jeans, white sneakers, and a tee shirt bearing that famous image of a white, long-haired Jesus poised to rap his knuckles on a door fit him well enough to show off that physique. It's not his appearance that looks intimidating, but the look in his eyes and the determined set of his lips.

"There's a clown," he answers in that deep, smooth, measured voice that usually speaks only as an auditory hallucination. "I mean a real, actual clown, who calls himself Clown on Earth and Violator in Hell. He's always telling me about 'the bargain,'" and Al Simmons uses both hands to put quotation-fingers around that phrase as he says it, "and reminding me that I need to collect souls to keep it."

Those dead-set eyes cast to one side, regarding the Phantasm for a long moment before he adds, "I was Al before I was Spawn. I remember my life, and my death, and some sparse flashbacks from Hell. Nothing of the deal."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer watches as the 7 foot tall monstronsity turns into an average sized male. There's still a level of intimidation there sure - even Lucifer can appear intimidating in his human visage - but at least this way Lucifer feels he can be a bit more...conversational. "You clean up nice for a soul eater." He comments there before looking around the room once more - ears giving a bit of a twitch which may look odd in his demonic form.

"So a clown comes to you and tells you to continue eating souls to fulfill a bargain you supposedly made to a Hell Lord..." Lucifer always emphasizes a use of quotation marks around 'Hell Lord' even if he doesn't visually use them. "Who erased any memory you have of making the deal with him so you're not even sure of the terms, conditions, or what the end result of this deal will be." Pretty much re-emphasizing his understanding of it. "And you've come to me, to try and figure out what this deal is, but also making sure this creature doesn't know that I am doing it for you, or going to tell you what I learn of it... My next question is this... why? What has you so...concerned.." He didn't want to use the word 'afraid'... "About their learning of you asking for this information."

Something stirs. The staglamites shimmer and briefly - almost a breath's length - shake before going still again. Nick likely hears cackling in his mind, but it's not clear if only Nick can hear it or if these sounds are what Lucifer is slightly reacting to. Al "Spawn" will likely feel the rising of a presence that should very much NOT be in Hell. Creeping, seeping into the shadows as if to limit the alert of their presence.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The phantasm's own hood tilts curiously to the sight. It's interesting how many parallels can be found between two different types of creatures. More the fixation is made upon the shape changing.

But as Al stands before them, Nick takes a moment to remember the general details.

"Sorry it's taken so long to get around to asking that but- Which name do you prefe-"

As the shimmering and the cackle within the mind are registered, the question is abandoned. Head turning, Nick glances about the room.

You know, there are some SERIOUS drawbacks when dealing with shadowy intruders in darkly ornamented rooms.

Spawn has posed:
"Your own throne room may not be so safe as you think, Morningstar," Al answers with a sardonic twist of his mouth and an amused light dancing in his eyes. That presence, sneaking in for an ambush, seems to excite him more than unnerve him.

He says next, "Maybe not knowing the details is part of the deal. Would you risk your existence to know whether some fat little pig in face paint is lying to you or not?"

The little humanoid bubbles over with roiling red again, as if the blood seeped out of his pores until it was pouring down around him in a fountain, and that fluid expands almost instantly until it solidifies back into the Hellspawned form. Now the monster reaches out with its mind, actively seeking the intruder while it stands there glaring with those glowing balefire eyes.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer shrugs. "I have to think of that in the idea that I would be mortal enough for it to fucking matter... I don't--" Even the Morningstar pauses, eyes narrowing as he scans the area. The growl that emits from him is low, as if a warning....primal as it can be while he takes steps further into the room as if to even dare the intruder to make its presence known.

Intruders. It would seem. As whatever was sneaking, cackling, seeping into the throne room of Hell becomes two, three, five...and then in a flash of steel and glimmer they all break off from the ceiling and walls, landing just before the Devil and company.

"Finally. Took forever to get that portal to actually work. And an auspicious moment as well! To arrive when the Devil appears to be trying to re-claim his throne. No no. We'll take it from here. Tired of you not doing your due diligence, Filth." Says the one who seems to be in charge. All white, no halo, but the wings of pristine white are a giveaway. Looks like a handful of wannabes trying to make names for themselves.

Pathetic. At least in Lucifer's eyes.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Well, this is somewhat interesting timing. Had the conversation not drifted back over to Spawn's unknown deal, Nick may have eventually crossed into the 'Any other relatives down here?' question.

And well...

Kind of- yes.

This seems almost like something that the false gra-

Wait a minute.

The hood tilts to the other side questionably at the invading angels. "Is Michael aware of what you are doing?"

Spawn has posed:
Five? As the intruders make themselves known, probably sensing that the Hellspawn in the room was about to root them out anyway, the giant reaches out both hands as if grasping for the nearest one (who is still a good distance out of his physical reach) and then the chains erupt from the palms of the Hellspawn's hands, the middle of his forearms, and out of his abdomen at the same time. They look like black metal, impossibly black, maybe even blacker than the onyx throne, and each is tipped with a sharp little dagger at the business end. All of them soar through the air like striking snakes.

Six chains, but all of them are only for the "intruder" closest to Spawn himself. Two go for each arm and two more go for the neck, all seeking to wrap around, entrap, and constrict.

Lucifer has posed:
"Michael? That dimwit? No! We're making names for ourselves. Going to be the first to infiltrate and take ov--" The one who spoke before, speaks again. At least before the chains that shoot from Spawn begin to wrap themselves around arms and neck rendering him unable to speak...

Lucifer takes advantage of this and his own method of entrapment comes up from the ground of Hell itself. It's right below his feet after all. Tendrils of Hellfire snaking out of the ground and wrapping around the waists of the other four. This seems too easy, so he's keeping a sense out for some sort of ring leader to make themselves known later.

"Oooh. So trying to get on Father's good graces and thinking that coming and...what were you going to say? Take over? As if He'd be so terribly thrilled with such an excursion..." He glances over towards Spawn and Nick after a moment. "I think you'll find yourselves outnumbered. Or maybe the term is overpowered? I mean two against five does -seem- like an unfair fight... What do you think, Spawn?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"...Ah." The Phantasm gives a slow nod of the hood as the angel answers his question. As the chains come out, he takes a step back to ensure he's not standing in the way of Spawn's actions.

As Lucifer covers the remaining four, all that's left for the dream construct to do is to fold his arms, glancing about the room for any other problems.

And maybe distract the Angels through less flashy means.

"It's probably Overpowered, Lucifer. And... it does seem a bit unfair. I'll do my best to make it less so by stepping back from this."

With yet another step back, he turns his head to look to the Angels still capable of speaking.

"Seriously? To come down here behind everyone's backs to try and stir up shit? At what point do you think they'll be happy with you? Are you SURE you want to go back?"

Spawn has posed:
In answer to Lucifer, the chains wrapped around Spawn's captive angel draw tighter at the throat and around the arms, then begin to gently pull apart. That is to say that the Hellspawn flexes his chains so that each arm is pulled outward from the body and downward, while the one around the throat pulls straight up. It's not meant to be hard enough to dismember, but it's hard enough to see if this one in his grasp has enough strength to even really resist.

The Phantasm's step out of the way, and his remarks to the wayward angels, prompts a low, dark rumbling sound that might not be obvious for the laughter that it is until one realizes the Hellspawn is making that sound.

Finally the Hellspawn's death-rattle voice groans out, "Fair is a lie told to children."

Lucifer has posed:
As the chained angel feels those chains pull his arms down and neck up, he grimaces and attemps to pull back against the chains - at least with his arms. It's a struggle, but he does make an effort to try and not have his arms dismembered or his neck broken. He still can't speak due to the pressure on his neck but that doesn't seem to stop his spirit.

"You'd do well not to harm us any further." Says one of the others. "Think of all the shit you'll be in if it's known that you killed your own kind." As if this is a threat by any means, but it does gain a response. In the form of a very forced sigh that shows signs of being tired. Or bored. Or both.

Lucifer then speaks. "You'll do well to notice that I've only got you bound. I am not the one even planning on harming you." He then shifts his gaze to Spawn. "My companion here. Owes nothing to anyone...certainly not to God, god, or any other divine claimed being. So. If he wants to kill you all and then let someone else sort you out... That's on him...I think I might just enjoy the show."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"And I'm not even lifting up a finger to you guys." Nick throws in. "Also you're not even factoring in you're doing the equivalent of a home invasion. When all other recourse is unavailable. Killing someone is a Biblical right for defending self AND property."

There's a glow of a jagged smile appearing from the shadow of the hood. Red eyes starting to illuminate. "So, do you REALLY want to cross over to where the other recourses don't work?"

Spawn has posed:
Now that he's determined that the fight really is unfair, and which way it's stilted, Spawn's chains give one powerful yank in each of the three directions they had already been testing.

"Home invasion," the monster gurgles in reply to Phantasm, as he takes one step to turn himself and his chains reach for the next rogue angel in the pack. "This was war for fun. Murder for notoriety." Even in that dry, rotten corpse's throat, the death rattle seems to take on a tone of gleeful amusement as he concludes, "Assassination without sanction."

Lucifer has posed:
One tiny problem is that whatever portal was opened to allow these five to come into...is still open. So five has now become eight with three more appearing from the ceiling, blades flashing as they're actually drawn and the three of them all try to land down at Spawn.

Lucifer is quick enough to move and slam into one of the three, rolling with them and immediately twisting their neck before standing and looking up towards the ceiling.

"Nick, can you give me a hand if I get you up there?" Asking this as he looks over, figuring Spawn likely has the other two who are attempting to attack him handled. The other four still caught by the Hellfire and slowly being reduced to nothing but puddled messes and if Lucifer really wanted to he could end them right there. Still, he also doesn't need MORE coming in from wherever that portal is and he'll need some help to get it taken care of.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Lucifer looks up, Nick does as well, taking note of the portal.

Right. More can come through. Apparently there were more idiots than initially thought.

"I can try Azrael's spell on it." Nick replies. It's not a concrete yes or no. It's a try.

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS PEOPLE.

Quickly stepping over, the shadow, cloak and all fade away leading to a non-mirrored, and somewhat squishable Nick heading over to Lucifer to be helped up.

Spawn has posed:
Spawn isn't really known for breaking the 4th wall, but Macfarlane did it in issue #10 so here goes: Spawn is overpowered on Earth. Not just a little bit. Image comics was brand-spanking new, and this was their Superman. The body of Al Simmons is rotting in the cold ground in the Arlington graveyard, and the dessicated and decaying husk wearing the leathery armor and sweet cape is just a mockery of his body emulated by Hellfire as a corruption of the deal Al made with Malbolge, which was to put him back on Earth as he was in life. The last second of his life, when he was burning alive. The suit he wears, and even his cape, are part of a living parasite native to Hell itself and it constantly feeds on the Hellfire inside. The soul of Al Simmons may drive the thing, appearing to be in control, but every fiber of the being that is Spawn is literally the cosmic fabric of Hell itself and that has its own sentient will and then K7-Leetha, the suit surrounding the phony flesh, has its own sentient will too. So this isn't just where Spawn feels the most at home, this place is literally what Spawn is. As overpowered as he is on Earth, well...

The stalactites above start melting to drop molten Hellfire magma on the angels already in the room. It's very selective, not just dripping only where the Angels are but it's *aiming* for sensitive spots like behind the ears.

The monster's cape sweeps to one side, curls around an armored leg, and then spirals up like a snake ascending a pole until it can wrap around the heavy-gauntleted right hand at which point the crimson fluid flares into a huge axe-head with a shape like the white streaks on the monster's mask and a handle as long as Spawn is tall.

At the same time, for each angel emerging through the portal, a soul that should be under Lucifer's "tender" ministrations in the torture chambers rises screaming and writhing out of the floor itself. As they materialize in the room they begin to grow, their tortured flesh turning black like the Hellspawn's own suit, but they lack the red cape and the gigantic axe.

While the monster stands there, watching the enemy surge into Lucifer's throne room and paying very little attention to what Lucifer and Phantasm-turned-back-to-Nick are up to, his borrowed army of Spawn-lookalikes stop screaming and start staring at their own hands as if in amazement. There is no speech. No orders are given. There's just a sudden snap-to-attention by each of those tortured souls, whose green eyes suddenly lock onto their counterpart angelic foe, and now it really *is* a war with armies on both sides.

Lucifer has posed:
The angels held by hellfire, now with more hellfire dripping onto their bodies in strategic places only scream out in pain with added moans of desperate wanton to be released from this prison be given to them. Not a chance in Hell (pun certainly intended) but... can you blame angels for trying? Regardless, there are the few who attempted to strike Spawn directly are given pause when the man wields a giant axe. They land arms length away from the man and turn to the others of their ilk bound as they are.

"Release them! NOW!" Cries one who brandishes a sword and stands at the ready as the army that Spawn creates begins to build and build. A dozen on each side. With Lucifer sort of gawking at the scene for a moment. Thankful - in some ways - that Spawn is on 'his side' and in other ways wishing he could simply end them all with a quick sweep of hellfire.

But he has another mission to finish first.

Quickly, he moves over to Nick who has left his Phantasm'd form and quickly takes off to the ceiling of the Throne Room where the portal seems to be. "Can you do this whilst I hold you, or shall I give you a perch to sit upon?" Asking this even as he tries to find a spot he might be able to set Nick upon for the duration of whatever the man is about to do.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Perch or hold, I need to get close." Nick replies matter of factly. As they get close, Nick takes a deep breath, blocking out the chaos going on below.

He's got to focus on the task at hand. Hand reaching up in the direction of the portal he thinks to the closest thing in his arsenal that might work for this and when they get close enough...

\<span style="color:xterm220"\>    "We understand that all things must end
    And with this you lend a helping hand.
    Let this action spun anew,
    Complete its course, moments few.

    With your blade we ask you to cut
    This portal out of its neverending rut.
    Of its ending we need to tell,
    With your help Azrael. "\</span\>

Considering the audacity of the angels that chose to invade hell, there is a question to if they'd even realize that Nick just invoked the angel of death in assistance. Would they laugh? Dismiss the words? Perhaps.

But as a glow emanates from the palm of the cupped hand directed towards the portal. Or that the portal starts to shrink down in size once the light hits it...

Maybe that'll slow the laughter a little?

Spawn has posed:
Is a dozen really an army though? More like a gang. The gang of Hellspawns sets on the gang of renegade angels. Some of them are so eager to use their new claws that they rush in slashing, only to be cut down or impaled on those Holy swords.

The angels who try to face Spawn himself, though, get pounced on from behind by the souls borrowed from Lucifer's own torture chambers. Those damned souls turned unholy warriors cut deep slashes into the backs of the invaders, who turn to face them only to find that the foes are already too close for the swords to do them any good.

Those who were cut down, naturally, returned immediately to the Hell from which they came. Whether it's the same souls or new ones that rise out of the onyx floor to replace them is perhaps known to Lucifer or to Spawn himself, but all that really matters is that when one is slain another rises to take its place. The respawn rate is almost instantaneous, and now there is no moment of disorientation -- the summoned soldiers rise and leap into the fight without hesitation.

The original Hellspawn doesn't move and doesn't speak. It just stands there, towering over some of the combatants, axe at the ready.

The monster is more like a battlefield standard, or a statue brought to rally the troops. It remains like that while Lucifer and Nick negotiate their plan of attack against the portal, at which point an angel who cut down two of the damned souls rushes at Spawn with his sword held high! While Nick performs his invocation, Spawn finally moves to defend himself. It moves fast, but that angel who came at him is just as fast. A dozen strikes are parried, dodged and exchanged between the first and third lines. Just five more before the end of the first stanza, as the angel realizes it may be outmatched. It's when the heavenly deserter takes a moment to consider what to do next that Spawn's axe swings wide, lops off the angel's arm at the elbow, and bites deep into its chest.

Spawn pulls the suddenly dying angel closer to him by lifting his axe and drawing it near, so that the victim has nothing to look at but that malevolent face painted on his mask, around those glowing green Hellfire eyes.

Lucifer has posed:
The renegade angels may laugh or scoff at the use of invoking the Angel of Death - but how little they realize that as much as she is a neutral party. Lucifer is one of her favorites. Suck on that, Angel Scum. The invocation works like a charm and the portal shrinks, then shrinks a little more, and then shatters completely on both ends. "Good. Good. Now how about you Phantasm back so Hell doesn't kill you?" Lucifer says this, looking down at the carnage below. Hellspawn attacking angel attacking hellspawn and attacking Spawn himself. "That doesn't look like it was the most healthy of choices..." Lucifer says this much more and then swoops down to set Nick onto the ground behind Spawn.

He then shifts forward to stand and Spawn's side. Spawn has a huge axe. Lucifer draws his own sword. This one - a polar opposite of his Seraphim Blade - drips with black, surges with dark power and the blade is jagged on both sides. He looks aside towards Spawn and gives a little grin. "We could end this together, you and I... like wolves attacking sheep...."

Then he takes a stance, one of those, 'Get ready bitch' stances. He also grins. Just waiting for someone to give him the word 'Go'.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick gives a bit of a nod to Lucifer's suggestion but as he's set down upon the ground. He doesn't quite shift over yet. The thing about spells is that sometimes it takes a moment to gain one's senses.

And sometimes, when one isn't afforded that moment- well-

When he does end up phantasming back, he doesn't become the simple hooded silhouette. The expression is back glowing eyes and jagged teeth. But with the hands comes an addition. Claws jut out from the fingertips.

The eyes scan the assortment of angel combatants, looking for one not otherwise engaged.

Spawn has posed:
When Lucifer hits the floor nearby him, and draws his own Unholy blade, then the Phantasm returns and sprouts clawed hands of his own, there are only four or five of the angelic invaders left. There were the three or four who Lucifer trapped, all torn apart by the risen damned. Then the two or three more who tried to attack Spawn, and were, well, all torn apart by the risen damned. Then the one who actually came at Spawn, and matched the giant thing blow-for-blow for almost a full 2 seconds...

Spawn is still busy enjoying the look in the eyes of the victim presently suspended on his axe, or maybe he's enjoying the victim's horror at the thought that he might actually be *mortal* after all, or at least *destructible.* So instead of answering Lucifer's cheerful bid to join the fray, the monster intended to become General of Hell's Army simply dispels his gang. Each of the spawn-copies suddenly stops attacking, and defending, and starts screaming as the agony of their Hellish existence is returned at a whim. A couple of them are cut down by the angels they were still engaged with, but that's only a merciful end for the people *in this room* who don't have to hear them screaming anymore, since they are just returned to their pits anyway.

That leaves plenty of the enemy for Lucifer and Phantasm to play with!

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer just grins. In his demonic form, with his Unholy Blade and an angel in need of a strike down. Which would leave one or two left for the Phantasm to play with. The Devil shifts forward without another word said and goes blade against blade with the angel he targeted. Much like the fight that Spawn had. These angels aren't incompetent when it comes to wielding weapons. They're just stupid when it comes to deciding when and where they're going to attack.

Had Hell been empty - or at least the Throne Room without it's King - this would have ended a little differently. Or went a little differrently. The Devil would hace had to come down and stop a potential war. Which likely would have been more fun than dispatching a dozen of Heaven's stupid wannabes itching for a Bad Time(tm).

Strike, parry, thrust, parry, strike, parry... Lucifer and the angel match blow for blow against each other until the Devil decides to NOT thrust when he may have been thought to and waits. Then thrusts. And his blade cuts right through the angel's chest. Angels do bleed. They scream in pain. They writhe when a divine weapon is used against them. Lucifer just grins. Then he twists the blade and pulls it back through, the angel falling to the ground in a lump of broken.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Finding one unengaged but on its way to go towards Lucifer, the angel instead finds a lump of shadow tackling it from the side.

One could argue bad form but that's likely not going to be the angel that got tackled as the Phantasm's power is briefly loaned out long enough to shove the angel headfirst through the floor. Letting go, the Angel becomes solid once more, leaving the still figure somewhat propped up. Legs acting like a flagless staff.

With a growl, it becomes apparent that Nick is not driving at the moment as the shadowman leaps at the other angel. Jagged teeth latch around the being's neck before the head jerks back to make a tearing motion from it.

Ewww.

Well.

Nightmares ARE a type of dream after all...

Spawn has posed:
Lucifer and Phantasm have their first targets well in hand. Two more down, two left. They're uneasy. Their swords are still brandished, but now held out in front of them in the uncertain way a child points an unfamiliar gun at an intruder. They look at each other, then look where the portal should be but isn't, then look back at the forces of Hell who just ended their invasion and killed their friends so fast that God barely had time to blink His eye.

Spawn's single angelic victim finally expires, so the monster hefts his axe and gives a vicious kick to dislodge the renegade from his axe's bit. The angel falls to the floor like a rag doll, face still twisted in his death mask. The balefire eyes regard the remaining two.

"You shouldn't have come here," the monster's death-rattle voice snarls.

Lucifer has posed:
"And now you have no where to go. No means of escape. What did you -actually- hope to accomplish here, hmm? I've already made my peace with above. Struck a deal where I could do as I wish. Exist between Earth and Hell both. No one gets my realm. Not without going through me..." Lucifer snarls at the two angels who are poised in panic. One of them goes to speak and Lucifer reaches a hand out to shoot a tendril of hellfire up from the ground and wrap around the angel's throat.

"That was a rhetorical question. Truth be told, I don't really give a fuck what your answer is either way. You made the wrong choice. Coming here. Threatening me and my domain..." He steps up to one, giving an ending grin. "Don't worry....your death will be quick..."

And down comes the Executioner's Blade, severing the head from the body in such a swift and clean manner it takes the body a moment to catch up before falling over, limp and lifeless.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As for the second Angel the Phantasm tore the throat out of. It wasn't...as quick. As the Angel lay gurgling, it got to watch the phantasm spit out the chunk of neck over to the side.

Stepping forward, there is a slight pause before the claws are swiped down, doing its part to sever the remaining connection.

A low...somewhat pleased sounding growl rumbles from the creature as it takes in the handiwork before glancing around. Finding no more. The rumble sounds...

Almost disappointed.

Spawn has posed:
Spawn's crimson cape bleeds down his arm until it makes contact with the oversized axe, and then the axe slowly disintegrates into the same fluid-seeming red material until it simply isn't there anymore. The cape, having reclaimed the fragment of itself, falls back down the giant's back and then just sort of swirls as if in a breeze that isn't there.

The monster itself peers around Lucifer's throne room, regarding the fallen angels and their weapons in turn. "What happens to them when they die?" it croaks.

Lucifer has posed:
"They go back up. Just like when a demon dies - or if I ever die - I would come back here. They just cannot come back down unless they make another portal. However.." Lucifer glances up, glares for a moment and then looks back between the two with him. "I might have words with someone from above to help alleviate that issue. I do still have friends in Heaven - believe it or not..." He offers this much and then lets out a sigh.

The angels - all of them - seem to shimmer away into nothingness as time goes one. The first ones dead being first, until the last dead one finally disappears. "Well. Not at all the action I thought we would get down here...and I suppose now is the best time to go back...unless any of you have someone you'd like to visit while down here?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As the conflict brings about a moment of silence, the shadowman takes part in the ambiance. Watching as the results of the aftermath fades away from view.

There's no real response from the creature as Lucifer brings up the possibility of visiting someone down here. There's a low grumble and a shake of the head.

Spawn has posed:
Lucifer's reply as the angels fade from view leaves the Hellspawn disappointed. It doesn't really show on his "face" since he doesn't exactly have one, but it is expressed in the disgruntled swish of his red cape. He was hoping to claim those souls for his own army!

"I'm good," the Hellspawn's death-rattle voice croaks. "Everyone I need to kill is back on Earth."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer gives a scoff and then nods his head. Heaven has to claim their own back somehow and even angels who descend into Hell to cause chaos are still redeemed souls. Balance of the scales. Or some other blah blah nonsense his Father's come up with time and again.

He leads them to the exit of the throne room. It leads to an expanse view of Hell as it usually is. A sea of various pits, lakes of fire, torments that extend well beyond the horizon. And the screams. The screams comfort the Devil - but likely do little else for any other.

He turns and heads away from the scene, a staircase revealing itself that they now have to climb up. With each step taken, Lucifer's devil changes back to the visage he uses on Earth. It's not the longest stairway (the one to Heaven is longer) and the door on the other end leads back to where they began. Coming out of the wooden floor back into Lux proper.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Phantasm's head tilts to Spawn's comment but commentary is not offered.

As the group make their way back, the red glow that serves for eyes look to the pits and lakes of fire. Another bob of the head occurs as the screams reach them, but if it was bothered by such things, it doesn't give such indication.

The long staircase does give a bit of time to allow for things to calm down. But while Lucifer changes back, The shadowman does not.

It is a good thing the club is long since closed.

Spawn has posed:
Spawn seems unaffected by the view of Hell, and even by the screams of the tortured damned, as he follows along behind Lucifer and Phantasm on the way out. A reasoning entity might think that's because he spends every moment of existence resisting the urge to scream the same way. Unlike Lucifer, the monster doesn't shapeshift on its way up the stairs. The invasion of rogue angels, so recently defeated, serves the giant thing as a reminder of why shapeshifting into something humanoid isn't the best idea ever, at least for Spawn. It remains on high alert, glowing green eyes frequently turning to look back down the stairs the way they came.

Emerging back onto the Earth seems to give the thing a sense of relief, or at least it finally lets its arms hang at its sides so the crimson cape can close around it. The monster steps up and out of the portal entirely, then gives it a good few paces' of distance, before it looks between the others.

Lucifer has posed:
After the three emerge, Lucifer closes the doors and the floor melds back into place as if it was never ripped asunder to begin with. He does glance over to Nick for a moment - or not Nick. Some other form that's decided to use Nick as a host? That's a bit interesting. "Well. There you have it. One quick tour of Hell. Again, not how it usually goes...but..." He shrugs. He'll have to come up with another way of getting home without alerting anyone. There is a way, he was just having a bit of fun.

His wings can take him. No portal necessary.

"I should likely head upstairs. See if I can make contact with Nathaniel and give him an update on what's happened. And a few other conversations that we need to have. So." Awkward partings. He hates them. But he can't rightly just tell Spawn to get the fuck out of his club. Nick...well...partly lives here. So. There's that too.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The Shadowman looks over to Lucifer as he starts to give his good nights. There is a bob of the hood towards him before the creature stomps down and just launches himself upwards. Without so much as a thunk, the creature passes through with no issue as it travels up to the room Nick had been so unceremoniously dumped out of earlier that evening.

Once Millie comes into view, the figure halts in the air. Falling back down.

As the form shifts back the bed gives up a creak of protest from the forced landing, leaving a very much out cold Nick to sleep off the rest of the evening.

Spawn has posed:
Since nobody has anything more to say to him, and he had shown up following the pull of that portal's opening, Spawn turns toward the nearest exterior wall and strides toward it. The monster phases out of sync with physical matter as he goes, so simply walks through it and into the night.