(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

"If things get out of hand in the city, it could slide into Carceri and become
one with the plane. Impose too much order, and it ceases to be a border
town by sliding into the Outlands." It shrugged. "That is the way of such
places."
My eyebrows furrowed. I'd heard of such before, and seeing the planes had
strained my sanity time and again. But for an entire city to move was hard to
believe. "You're saying the city could actually be... displaced?"
A mock smile curled on Tek'elach's maw. "Yes..."
"If that were to happen, what could be done about it?"
It shrugged. "Determine which way the city has slid and apply an opposing
force. Too much order? Instigate some chaos. Too little order? Impose more
law. If you were persistent in your efforts you could pull the city back to its
border status... or slide it to the opposite side."
It smiled again. Tek'elach certainly seemed amused, and I was certain I
wasn't going to like the reason for it. "You've been very helpful... Which
brings up another question... Why?"
It gave me a confused look. "Why what?"
"You baatezu are supposed to be the incarnations of evil. So why are you
being so helpful?"
It barked out a laugh. "Do not mistake my help as kindness, nor me as
anything other than evil. I am helping you because it serves my needs...
nothing more."
"How does helping me serve your needs?"
"How indeed..."
For a moment I stared him down, through eyes black as sin and bone-yellow
teeth of a jagged grin. No, I didn't have time for this. I had other things to
do. There was still the hermit and the other man to investigate.
~~~~~
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