Inizii -- Logs

After several moments of waiting for Kyrel to scale the twenty foot pit, Gabriel having little to no problem in making it himself, the five end up atop the pit again. Regin eyes the trap a moment. "That's new," He comments, and a 'click', before the stairs and door reset, closing and springing back to place. "Another of Blackstone's."

Derleth says, "WHo's Blackstone? one of your competitors?"

The Kobold shakes his head. "Nay. Ancient trapmaker. One of the best. Specialized in studing the ways of trapperse across the globe; kobolds, to gnomes, to goblins, to Drow and Illithids. Even produced quite a bit of magical traps, aswell." A gesture to the stairs. "This is tame, compared to what I've heard of."

Kyrel says, a bit drily, "I suppose I should feel terribly honored, then..."

His brow perks up. "More along the lines of lucky. There could've been an umptenth amount of things down there." He simply turns, and continues down the hall, inspecting.

Gabriel fingers the scratch. "Now that you know what style of traps have been newly installed, does this help you with finding the other traps?

Derleth says, "Woudln't that mean this trap must have pre-existed you, then?"

Kyrel says, "Nay. Someone set it up using his plans."

Gabriel says, "***ED: scratch he recieved earlier."

Derleth huhs.

Derleth takes the bolt Kyrel retrieved for him and puts it back in his crossbow, after eying it to make sure it is intact.

A wave of his hand. "Only the process to create it. Doesn't mean someone could have his works. Whoever reinstalled this equipment knows their traps." The kobold inspects the hall, "Hm. Odd..."

Gabriel says, "Another trap, perhaps?"

Derleth looks wryly at Kyrel. "Why does that make me worry?"

"No, actually," He replies in ernest. "Infact... one is missing."

Kyrel says, "Because you've got a well-developed sense of preservation. Hmm. Maybe they got tired of setting it off. Or maybe it's covered with an illusion... just a moment." The mage murmurs another cantrip to detect magic. "Let's see now..."

Gabriel says, "The abscene of something old may indicate the instillation of something new."

The rogue nods, without looking back. "Correct... it's been removed," He comments, curious. His brows scruitenize upon something. "And, that mirror didn't use to be there," He comments, pointing to a seemingly harmless reflective glass mirror hanging on the wall.

Regin considers, rubbing his chin. "There was a bar, here. Simply something to snap down and smack someoen across the side and head; merely a teaching tool, break a shoulder, a rib. The normal guildmen wern't allowed down here, and thus things are made in layers more difficult.;"

Kyrel holds up a hand. "Just a moment... something up near the ceiling, let me get a handle on it."

Derleth just stays back by Sil, watching this goings'on distrustrfully.

Gabriel says, "Careful, friend. If we lose you, we wander these hallways blind, instead of with some rememberence."

Kyrel says, "Okay.. this might be nasty. Some kind of enchantment spell active up there. Not too powerful, but still."

Gabriel says, "A weak enchantment could trigger a deadly mechanical trap, sir."

Kyrel nods. "Or it could be a charm spell, or something on that order."

Derleth looks wryly. "And besides, a spell of paralyzation is weak, in comparison, but still quite effective.

Regin tips his head at this. "Enchantment? That's... new. I have heard tales of some that enduce uncontrollable laughter, then traps triggered by sound." A tsk. He spies the spot, and notes the crack. "But, this could be wary. Removing from his pack the pole again, and adjusting it, then once more placing a stake in it's place. Angling the stick, he shoves the stake inside, and nods to himself, dissasembling it. "Good, then. Should hold up. Shall I proceed, or anyone else feel good to walk beside me?"

Derleth goes quiet at mention of traps triggered by sound.

Gabriel says, "Allow me. I'm less important at the moment."

The two walk across the hall, unminded of the supposed disarmed trap... and then a single click. Regin stiffens a moment, before falling back, as Gabriel, equally sensitive, jumps forward. Between them falls a spiked Porticullis, slamming on the ground and scraping stone. Equally at that moment, the mirror shatters; a bar flipping from the wall to break the glass, not five feet from the monk.

Kyrel nods. "Hold spell, right? Tried to hold you in place while everything fell?"

Derleth winces, flinching back at the cacophany.

A very large yellow spot seems out through the mirror, seeping rapidly along the floor, and soon enveloping Gabriel's feet, from whence it begins to rise up ...

Derleth gacks! "Slime!"

Derleth says, "::is afraid of slimes......:("

*******Editor:Remove pose.

Kyrel mutters the harsh syllables of the magic missile spell, and once again the green bolts flash out at an opponent.

Gabriel jumps up onto the bars. :)

Gabriel says, "***ED: Kill."

Gabriel jumps away from the strange goo, and up onto the bars, hanging from the cross bars.

Silniya, seeing the problem, runs towards the Proticullis, grabbing the bars, and trying to lift... and grunts as Gabriel clings to them. "Hey!"

The yellow mass rears up into a pale luminescent sheet, and slams itself at the bars, covering Gabriel up to the waist. Drops of acid etch paths down the bars.

Derleth lifts the crossbow to his shoulder, aiming for the goop....and lets the divine bolt fly.

The yellow amoeboid is pierced by the crossbow bolt, and is riven asunder, one half of the sheet falling down to the ground whilst the other clings tenaciously to Gabriel's legs.

Regin's eyes widen, as the ochre pool splits in half. He backs away, quickly, and looks quite... ineffective.

Kyrel says, "I suspect that archery is not a good idea..."

Derleth's eyes open wide. "oh dear."

Kyrel growls the syllables of Burning Hands, and a wash of fire spills out across the half on the ground and the half engulfing the monk's legs. Hope it won't burn all the way through...

Silniya dives out of the way.

Kiri squeaks! and wiggles under Kyrel's cloak again.

Kyrel frowns as his familiar hides. "Lovely. Another imp, or something, down at the end. Invisible for now."

Gabriel frowns, the gelly clinging still, and tries the other option. Inhaling, he breathes down on the jells, frost and icy air swirling down.

The jellies both rear up and away from the flames, the one on the floor caught in the full wash of the flames while the one engulfing gabriel stretches higher to keep away from the heat.

The two yellow amoeboids are frozen in place, before slowly cracking under their own weight.

Derleth breathes a sigh of relief. "bad breath saves the day."

Silniya pokes Gabriel in the back. "Ok, Ye Dragon, get down, so I can lift this."

Kyrel nudges Kiri back out from under his cloak. Stop that. You've got to tell me where he is so I can aim.

Derleth blinks a moment in surprise at Sil's comment. Dragon? is *that* what he is?

Gabriel complies, and the swordwoman tries to lift up on the grating... IT creaks, going higher, and then she loses it, nearly spearing her foot. "Damnit! Someone give a hand."

Derleth says, "Hold off a moment, Sil....."

Derleth chants a moment, calling on Lliara for divinely-granted strength.....he glows a moment as it fills him.

Derleth comes over and tries to help Sil lift the porticullis...

With Derleth's help, she lifts it up, and gets an arm between the spikes. "There," She grunts, waving her hand. "Now, get you under it."

Kiri peeks his head, after still more urging, and squeaks back to Kyrel, before clinging.

Derleth looks back at Kyrel. "Didn't you mention something about an imp?

Kyrel is readying the crystal wand. "Hmm.. it's gone again. Kiri heard it. They definitely know we're here, now."

Derleth says, "We were hearing voices in our heads, Ky. I think there was no doubt about that."

Regin, surrying under the porticullis, tips his head back. "I'd like to mention that I'm better at Installing, as aposed to Disarming." He ahems, at that, and heads down the hall.

Derleth grunts. "Now he tells us."

Kyrel says, "Hey, at least he knows where they are."

After a few moments, "The door down here is clean!" Another pause, "As is the second!"

Derleth motions with his crossbow, after reloading it. "let's go on, then."

Kyrel comes down the hall. "Any idea what's supposed to be behind them?"

The foor wander past the frozen jellies, and down, until pausing at a turn at the end of the hall. Two doors, in the small alcove; one facing the right, the other the end of the hall. Regin rubs his chin. "All right. Both are locked. This one," He taps a claw to the one at the end of the hall, "Leads lower." He gestures to the one on the right. "This leads into a room, but it's locked, which is not normal. Oh, and, I disarmed, properly, the sythe. Someone felt need to leave it."

Kyrel says, "Can't hurt to look, I suppose... can you pick the lock?"

He knods. "That, I can do." Removing from a pocket along his armor some picks, the little man sets to work, fiddling about with the lock for a few seconds, twisting wrist and prodding the mechanisms.

The lock pops, easily enough.

Kyrel says, "Shall we, then?"

Derleth watches the kobold work, twitching nervously. His eyes briefly stray to Sil beside him, and absently notes she has very attractive legs under that leather armor. Then he realizes what he's doing and looks away before Sil can catch him.

Gabriel nods. "Let's go. You sure another trap hasn't been added over top the old one?

Regin shakes his head. "I checked. This time I dismantled release mechanism." A creak of the door is given, as it swings open. Darkness, pierced only by Kyrel's torch. The room is windowless, deep in this depth of the building, the torch shedding light over what looks like the edges of a colored circle... a rivlet of red runs along the ground, toward them. The smell of the room is not pleasant. The kobold whistles.

Derleth murmurs, "Hold off a moment..."

Derleth takes the worn stone from his pocket, enchants it with light, and tosses it towards the circle, to get a better look at it.

Kyrel says, "Bozhemoi... Summoning, or sacrifice?"

The stone lands in the center, showing the hideous contents within. A circle marked with glyphs, those oft used within summonings, but the power etched along them suggesting what was ment to be brought forth. In six stakes around the circle, are the dessicated bodies of victims, long has it been since they were even descernible of race and sex. The simple shriveled husks of their bodies not that of age, of decay, more a wilting of the body complete.

Gabriel shivers. "This is...wrong."

Derleth hisses, drawning back. "Bright lady preserve us..."

Silniya swears, looking away.

Derleth suddenly feels filthy, wringing his hands. He steps closer to Sil, as if to draw strength from her.

Kyrel says, "Six bodies... drained. Probably a seventh that the creature is inhabiting now. Whatever it truly is. Probably some kind of Lower Realm creature, and a powerful one. This is not the Rakshasa we're looking at." He shivers. "Aye, Gabriel. This is ... wrong."

Derleth's eyes harden. Thankfully, I asked Her for the right spell, then...

Gabriel says, "All of us?"

Gabriel says, "***ED: You know what to do.""

coInizii spots the paint on her fingers.

+++Editor: Please shoot me.

Gabriel frowns. "This hasn't been used just once. There are at least two layers of blood...":

Derleth looks around warily, chanting an orison to Lliara to detect evil.....

Kyrel looks more closely. "Hmm. Interesting. Unpleasant, but interesting. We'll have to see what they summoned, I suppose."

Regin nods, looking brisk and not looking back into the room. "Well then. The next level leads to the head founders' rooms, and the much more important armory. Even a lab, infact. Beneath that, is the last floor, the Guildmaster's chambers and personal whatnot."

Gabriel says, "We can't leave this... Can we destroy it safely?"

Derleth considers. We might desecrate it....

Derleth says, "But I don't have any consecration spells, or any acid to etch out the summoning sigils."

Gabriel says, "Taking down the bodies, at least..."

Kyrel says, "We can do that later. For now, we need to deal with the Talonites. Taking them down won't help get rid of whatever was summoned."

Derleth nods. "We'll leave this to be cleaned up by the Ilmaterians, hopefully."

Gabriel nods, regretfully.

Derleth retrieves his stone, no matter how it makes his flesh crawl to get close to the dessicated corpses.

Regin unlatches the door. "Beware. There should be another trap, several spears lining the stair, ready to pounce. Aswell, a pit at the bottom."

Kyrel says, "Lovely. Be ready to fly if I fall again, Kiri."

Gabriel says, "I'll go first. Maybe I can catch someone if they slip."

Regin uses his picks again, and works the door open, nodding in satisfaction as a little slit along the door jam stays non-responsive. Pushing the door open, he spies the outlines of the spots where the spears jut. Regin peers back at Gabriel. "You want to go in first, before I undo the traps?"

Gabriel smiles slightly. "Perhaps second."

Rechan nods, and steps out... and steps back in. "On second thought... That may not be the best course."

The sound of batlike wings enter their ears, and only a moment too soon; a small stone comes into view, shattering against the wall. An eruption of sound assauls those at the top of the stairs.

Derleth gahs! and clutches his ears in pain, going to his knees...

Now a shadow of an imp can be seen, moving away. For those who can hear, it giggles.

Silniya staggers a moment, before rubbing her ears. "Ow."

Gabriel covers his ears at the start of the sound, cupping dead air inside, and saving himself the worst of it. His own reply is less noisy, but empathetic draconic swearing.

Kiri chirps in annoyance and then concern at Kyrel.

Kyrel swears, silently to his own damaged ears, and scrabbles for the wand. He aims at the retreating shadow.

Derleth grabs his last healing potion, and drinks it down...

Derleth breathes a sigh of relief as his ears stop bleeding, and he can hear again.

Kyrel's bolt lances down the stairs; having leaned to the side to catch the imp, he hears an infernal curse and an angry squeak. Gabriel simply takes a running shot down the stairs. Said stairs are quite slick, something having greased them to no end, but as Gab's feet squeak across, nearly losing his balance, a spear juts from the wall, hitting across from him, and, rolling over the protrusion. Hooking his foot against the second one, a quick hop, feet nearly sliding down, as the third jumps from the wall, a barrier... which is grabbed, and with body in motion, he swings, kicking off the bend in the wall, sailing over the foot of the stairs with a land of soft booted feet.

The imp, looking none too happy, squeaks! as Gabriel lands safely on the floor, and starts racing toward end of the hall.

Derleth winces as he hears traps going off. "I hope none of those hit him..." he goes to Kyrel, placing his hands on his ears...

Gabriel grins ferally, and charges after the litter beggar. "Rapido," he says, turning on his boots, the magical speed flooding him.

Kyrel shrugs at Derleth, and points to his ears. "Looks like he made it."

As Gabriel steps forward, the ceiling infront of him slips down. A large, heavy wood and iron cylinder swings down, nearly hitting him, if not for a deft dodge; the strike would have sent him surely into the pit. The imp hisses, and tries to fly down the end of the hall.

Silniya glances to Derleth. "Should he be going after whatever's down there without our backup?"

Derleth grimaces. "Likely not." He looks at the kobold. "You first?"

Gabriel frowns, and decides to shoot the sucker down. Quickly limbering an arrow, he lets it fly...

The kobold nods. "All right then... I'll try and disarm the pit, if he didn't set it off."

The arrow sails true, striking the little man in the gut. He spits and hisses and dissappears in the air.

Regin pushes off the top of the stair, and slides, carefully, downward. Meanwhile removing a hook and connecting it to a pole, before macking his way down, he snags the lowest spear, and with the outstretch, moves, before stuffing the stake into a part of the stair, kicking it deftly twice. Unhooking his bar, the rogue slips down, unmolested.

Gabriel says, "He is gone!" he calls up. "Lente."

Derleth makes his way carefully down the steps, following the kobold.

Kyrel follows gingerly down the stairway. Where'd it go, Kiri?

Derleth gets to the last step, and then leaps forward, away from the base.

Kyrel follows suit, jumping past the last step the way the others have. "Another pit?"

Derleth sniffs suddenly. "Caution. Something is afoul in the air."

Derleth gacks! "Spell!"

Derleth's warning reaches, just as a spongy ball of fire comes into existance, bouncing towards them. At that instant, the air is simply fire, exploding in a vicious wave of force; Gabriel managing to dodge behind the hanging block, while Derleth, having detected the explosive gas, gets it full in the face, as it were. As does Kyrel, but his cloak seems to protect him from some of the sting; Kiri, perched on his shoulder, *squeaks!* as fire torches the little bat's body. On impulse, he wings up the stairs. As fire fades from their vision, two things become clear: the spongy ball bounces at Kyrel, who dodges, and at the end of the hall, a hooded robe baring the half-scarred and black-fleshed face of some...infernal reject with baleful eyes points an angry finger at the wizard. "You Killed My Familiar!"

Derleth falls back, screaming in pain as the explosion flash-burns him, leaving his face charred and his breastplate blackened.

Silniya and Regin at once charge the wizard... and as they in unison step on the floor, the ground beneath them kicks into a roll. At the same time, a plate before the balefull figure shifts back, springs and loaded arms full of blades, spears, spinning cutter-wheels, and so forth come up. Silniya falls, as the ground starts, and stands up... then catching a buzz-saw in the chest, as one is hurled from the contraption. It rolls right off of her, but it pisses the woman off to no end. Regin, however, turns tail, tries to run on the treadmill...then takes a rather sharp hurled spike in the back.

Derleth growls and ignores the pain, getting to his knees and aiming his crossbow....letting loose at the wizard....

The crossbow bolt wizzes past his shoulder. Hands rise, a quick chant, pulling forth some materials. Then a gesture, hurling his hand toward Kyrel. Forming forth is a bolt of greenish construction, streaking to him and trailing a sizzling liquid.

The arrow streaks in, and takes Kyrel in the stomach, pumping corrosive fluids into his stomach. The ball of fire rolls along the ground simply scorches his leg.

Gabriel swings out from behind the hammer. "Actually, I killed you familiar." He lets fly with arrows, the first losing a fletching to careen into the wall, but the second solidly thudding into the mage's chest.

The mage lets loose an indignant "Ow! You little Wrymspit!"

Kyrel aims the wand and fires at the enemy magician. "He started it, sunshine. How about if you go join him?"

Derleth drops his crossbow and fumbles for the wand he took from the priest in Grim's place. Maybe this will do some good, here...

The lightning bolt crackles over the blades, and carresses his side, earning an angry hiss from the man. "Bastard!" Silniya is deposited by the rolling treadmill into the blades, letting out a scream as her natural resistance to normal weapons are taken down as the sheer amount of slicing and stabbing is done to her. Regin, rolling forward, spots something. A sneer, as he jams his foot down at the last moment. A click... and the treadmill comes to a stop, Sil rolling out as the floor clicks back into place.

++editor: He slammed his foot down on a section of ground right in front of the blades, btw.

Derleth points the wand at the mage and spits the command word. A blue flail appears out of nothingness and attacks the mage with abandon....

The flail speeds towards the wizard, and it's strikes simply bounce off a shield infront of him. A simple grim smile.

Derleth growls. I hate wizards.

Kyrel collapses as the lightning bolt flashes down the corridor.

Derleth gasps! as Kyrel goes down, and as a result, gets burned by the flaming sphere again.

The wizard raises his hands, and chants out a quick spell, lightning crackling between his fingertips, a sadistic smile on his lips. He outflings hands, and from them spawns a forked bolt of lightning, sprawling the hallway, and dancing down, hitting gab full in the chest, another tongue hittig the mage flat out. As he falls, a happy, sinister laugh, the ball now rolling Derleth's way. "Now, go play with Druzil in the Abyss, Illusion-maker!"

Gabriel grins, and with a feral grin charges in close, limbs blurring as he attacks.

Derleth crawls towards Kyrel, ignoring the mage as Kyrel's life flees his body...

Both attacks are rebounded off a shield of invisible force. A feral grin in return to Gabriel's...until Silniya and Regin charge right in behind Gab. Silniya's blade streaking high, taking a firm chunk out of the mage's shoulder with her magic blade, the gnarled infernal flesh giving a hiss, Regin's shortsword meeting eith equal glee, as it stabs brutally up into his side, ripping a gouge.

Derleth grits his teeth, ignoring his own hurts as he transmutes one of his most powerful prayers to healing energy, hands flat on Ky's chest as the healing power flows into the broken mage...

Derleth's magics flood Kyrel's body, now on the verge of death... and breathe life back into him, flooding it into his system, letting him life again. The flail, still floating by, swings again, and again... and bonks off the invisible shield.

Hood falling back, baring a grotesque face, half-twisted by the demonic skin, he steps back, bleeding porfusely. Hands rise, arcane curses spilling from his lips. Balls of glowing green energy, sloshing in the air, zig towards Regis and Silniya, but both dodge nimbly away... and the orbs strike the walls. An explosion of acid covering a good ten foot swath of the hallway, bathing them all; hissing across even the wizard, shrieking in the acid's brutal kiss.

Gabriel beats futiely at the shield and armor, his strong fists unable to break through the arcance magic. The pain is intense, but he still fights on, acid sizzling on his scales.

Kyrel blinks as Derleth's healing magic brings him back from the brink of collapse. He rolls, getting back to his feet and aiming the lightning wand. "That's it."

*** Edit - delete Kyrel's pose.

Kyrel blinks as Derleth's healing magic brings him back from the brink of collapse. He rolls, getting back to his feet and prepping his bow, since the mage is in close combat with his fellows. "That's it."

The arrow bounces off the magical shielding.

Silniya comes in quick, swords leading and one nearly piercing the mage's protections, but the tough demonic skin deflects her weapon. Regin, scuttling quick to the side, rears back, and simply impales the wizard through the side with his blade, the tip jutting up from his other side, spearing lung and internal organ alike. He shrieks, the sound more hellish then any human throat, and starts to stagger, a headband of crystal, gleaming with amyethist gems, falls from his forehead, as he falls, taking Regin's sword with him, much to the Kobold's complaint.

+++Editor: Complaint/chargin. There we go. :)

Gabriel groans, and collapses on the ground, groaning. "That was a little more...difficult that I had planned."

One of the doors along the hallway opens, the sound of flapping wings slipping inside before it slams.

Derleth rolls onto his back, trying to take air into his seared lungs. "How about I just lay here now." he groans.

The Swordwoman drops to her side, panting and bleeding, skin eaten up by the acid. "After... this is over... I want to go on vacation..."

Kyrel says, "Sounds like a great idea, Sil. I just hope it doesn't blow up like this little trip did."

Kiri squeaks from the stairwell.

Kyrel makes a few odd noises back to his familiar. "Come on back, Kiri. He's dead, and the imp is gone."

Derleth hears Sil in pain, and stops his momentary laxity, pulling himself to his feet and going to Sil's side, sending waves of healing power into her battered body. "If I didn't know better...." he starts, blinks, and then cuts off whatever he was going to say.

Kiri wings down, fur still smoking lightly, and nestles up against Kyrel's neck.

Derleth looks at the others. "I've only got a few spells left...maybe this wasn't such a good idea..."

Gabriel winces, holding his side. "Do you think that there may be anyone or thing more powerful than our wizard?"

Derleth glances at Gab. "The rakshasa."

Derleth says, "Not to mention whatever was summoned in that circle."

Regin takes from a pocket a small vial, downing it quickly, and shuddering, as some of the wounds knit back up. He spies the headband on the ground curiously."

Kyrel says, "Looks like something that might be useful, doesn't it?"

Derleth looks at the others. "I have one major heal and three minor...and that's only if I burn the spell that could send the conjured thing back to its home plane. What do you think?"

Silniya waves a hand. "I suggest the minor. Heal our fist-flailing friend here, he looks the worst off."

Gabriel says, "Perhaps you should save them? If we fall, then it becomes important to heal."

Derleth sighs. "I'm wondering if we can face whatever might be left, in our condition...

Regin, after stepping on the dead wizard's side and yanking the sword out. Slipping it into his sheath, he prods the headband curiously. "Seeng as it's off him," The kobold hazards, "I don't think it's what caused his condition."

Gabriel smiles. "Perhaps I should try it. I do not look all that different from he, I am told.

Kyrel says, "We don't have a lot of time, though. We can press on, and hope for the best - we can hole up right here and now and hope for the best - or we can go back to base and head straight for the Circle tomorrow."

Regin, cautiously, hands the headband to the monk.

Gabriel gingerly holds the headband above his head. "If necessary, knock me out.

Gabriel places the headband on.

Regin casually pulls out his shortsword.

Gabriel's mind is hit with a mental brick...and his mental capacities, atleast to him, feel much more widened.

Gabriel says, "Whoa... Wow. That is...different."

Derleth looks warily at Gabriel. "What?"

Derleth looks around at the others. "Maybe only one of us should go with Regin. and the others retreat to safety...

Gabriel says, "I feel...smarter."

Kyrel says, "Indeed..."

Gabriel says, "It's a headband of...I think the wizard should try wearing this."

Gabriel removes the headband.

Derleth looks at the others, and then picks up his crossbow. "The rest of you go back. I'll clean out this filth myself."

Silniya clears her throat. "I think not, holy man," She grunts and stands up. "I'm not leaving you here to get spell-splattered without me."

Kyrel snorts. "You're not taking on anything left here by yourself. I know you're a devotee of Lady Luck, but she usually prefers you not depend on her that much."

"There's a difference between Dumb luck, and Idiotic luck," Silniya puts in.

Gabriel smiles. "I haven't found this level of combat in years. I have no reason to leave for the moment. Besides, I have a contract, do I still not?" He flips a copper into the air, grinning.

Derleth swallows. "Perhaps. But we're not at full strength, and if the rakshasa has powers anywhere near what that mage had, I might not be able to bring you back...and I don't think I could bear losing anyone right now."

Gabriel smiles, and offers the headband to Derleth. "Would this band be more helpful for you, then?"

Derleth looks at it. "If the mage was wearing it, I think Ky would have more aid from it."

Kyrel says, "And what makes you think that we want to lose you? We'll go on together. More likely for all of us to survive that way."

Silniya waves her hand. "If you had faced this fiend," She kicks the dead wizard, a soft 'clink' rising off the corpse, raising her brow. She goes on, still, "By yourself, we would be scraping you up. You're not at full strenght, either, but we're mostly at half strenght, amid the majority of us, so that's two and a half, nay?" She offers with a grin.

Regin looks back between the bickering. "Hey, *I'm* not going with just one guarding my tail."

Derleth looks down, blushing. He realizes he's being a fool. "A'right, then. Together."

Kiri squeaks, sounding almost annoyed with Derleth. Kyrel translates. "Heh. He says, 'Damn straight, together.'"

Gabriel chuckles.

Derleth coughs. "Right, then..." He goes over to Gabriel, chanting a moment, healing some of the scaled ones wounds.

Derleth then goes to Sil, and does the same for her again.

Derleth says, "There. That's all I can spare."

Gabriel says, "OK, so that puts me at 36."

Gabriel says, "*[D**ED:"

Silniya turns to Kyrel, "So, the headband?"

Kyrel tries it on. "Let's see..."

Kyrel blinks as the headband integrates with his mind. "This is ... most impressive. Things are clearer."

Gabriel nods. "It seemed quite impressive to me."

Derleth chuckles. "Great. Can ye think us through this place, naew?" he drawls, going back to the folsky brogue.

Kyrel grins. "It's increased my intelligence, Derleth. It hasn't made me omniscient. Pity, that..."

Derleth says, "just as well, or we'd never have beaten the spellthrower..."

Kyrel says, "Did he have anything else?"

Gabriel says, "Have you noticed the enxhantment that allows you to look through fur yet, Kyrel?"

Derleth blinks. "Look through fur?"

Regin, seeming to take note of something, simply drops to his knees and starts patting down the wizard's body. Pulling out pouch after pouch, many with spell components. A snort, here or there. His finger dissappears in the wizard's hodded robes. "Hey! There's an extra-dimentional pocket here!"

Kyrel says, "Ah-hah... that's usually a good place to find things." He sorts through the components, taking ones he can use and placing the others in his own extra-dimensional storage space. "Anything in it?"

Gabriel grins. "Just kidding. Anything useful? Or coins?"

A reach inside...and he pulls out a book. Then a second, this one looking much more...morbid then the first. Dark etchings across it, the leather looking more akin to... human skin.

Derleth looks so tired, he doesn't even perk up at the mention of coins.

The kobold kicks a pouch, which chinks. He pulls out a vial. "ANd this."

Kyrel says, "Nasty. Evil spells, it seems. A potion? Healing, or something else?"

Derleth says, "I'm not one to say. Me nostrils are crispy."

He shrugs. "You're the mage." Then simply kicks the body over.

Kyrel takes the first book, the less morbid one. "Let's see what he has in here."

Kyrel nods. "Spellbook. Useful for when I have more time. This one... looks unpleasant. There are books which are ... traps. I'm not going to touch it right now."

Derleth says, "I'll not argue that notion. If we're done looting the bastard, lets go cat-head hunting."

Silniya peers curiously at Kyrel. "What's with that? Him, I mean?" She gestures to the corpse. "I've heard of demonspawn with other races, but that doesn't look... the half of Anything."

Derleth spits. "A thing of evil, and one I'm more than glad is dead."

Kyrel nods. "Yes. Regin, you seem to be able to handle that book safely... would you mind carrying it for now?" He looks more closely at the mage. "Good question. I'll think about it while we go hunting for Rakshasa... it might be important."

Regin nods, and simply slips it into his pouch, the thin gloves having no problem on the book.

Gabriel stretches. "Well, might as well continue our mission to the end..."

Kyrel nods. "Let's continue, then. The more of them we can kill today, the easier it will be later. Defeat in detail is the key."

(Log stopped Sat Mar 2 1902 08:31 PM by "IniziiGM" at "Inizii Soundstage" OOC)

( Listing Complete OOC ) Logfile from RFKyrel ( Starting Cambot Listing MaxChar 2048 Delay 2 OOC ) (OOC) Fri Mar 8 1902 04:45 PM by "IniziiGM" at "Inizii Soundstage" (OOC)

Silniya stands upward, and glances about, before pushing towards one of the doors. "I'm going to change; the natural agility should help with my archery."

Kyrel says, "Don't go far... I doubt he was the last one down here."

Gabriel sighs, quietly, taking the moment to rest. "We should all get ready...

Derleth nods thoughtfully, and then reloads his light crossbow with another blessed bolt.

Regin moves to the door at the end of the hall, checking it quickly. A glance behind his back, "The rooms downstairs are much more nasty. I would suggest that I go ahead, in one of the rooms, and close the door; it's a gas trap, and thus the vapors could reach you."

Derleth frowns. "What if you have to get away?"

Kyrel says, "Wonderful. Explosive, or poison?"

The kobold shakes his head. "I don't believe I've encountered that explosion... That had to have been a spell, or somesuch. Poison." The door Silniya excaped out of opens, the werewolf stepping out in her cloak and weapons dressing.

Kyrel nods to Silniya. "Let's go, then. Be careful, Regin..."

Gabriel blinks, looking at the werewolf...and noticing the general non-reaction of the rest. "Hmmm..." he murmurs, staring despite himself...

Derleth smirks at Gabriel's reaction. "You're not the only odd one about, monk."

Said werewolf gives a snap of teeth at Gabe's staring features, before that muzzle pulls back into a grin. She nods to the others, and notes Regin's stare, aswell, before the little trapmaster pulls the door open, and disappears into darkness.

Kyrel chuckles. "What did you think she meant by going to change?"

Derleth watches the kobold dissapear. "Wonder what we have yet to face..."

Gabriel says, "I admittedly did not consider the comment as much as I could..." Gabe murmurs, looking away, emberassed."

Silniya sheaths her weapons, and unshoulders the bow she'd gotten from Kyrel's pouch, threading an arrow into it's string. After several moments, Regin pushes back through the door. "Stairs are clear."

Derleth chuckles, his eyes flicking over and lingering admiringly on the wolf-woman.

Gabriel smiles. "Too bad. The last set was...interesting."

Kyrel nocks an arrow to his bow. "Let's go, then."

Derleth stands and grunts. "I prefer my hallways to be as uninteresting as possible, readlly."

The five push past the door, and head down yet another curving stairwell, this one absent the spears and pits, albet a wire looking snipped, coiled against the base of a stair. The rogue peers at the door at the base of the stairs, within a small foyer. "This one's the gas trap."

Kyrel says, "We'll wait until you give us the high sign, then."

Derleth looks warily at it. "Where's the gas?"

Jerking a thumb toward the door, "Fills the next chamber," The trapmaster replies.

Gabriel says, "So how do we make our way by this gas?"

Derleth grimaces. "Joy."

Kyrel says, "How is it triggered? So we don't?"

The trapmaster waves a dismissive hand. "I'll disarm it, or get out another way, and wait until it settles.

With that, he pulls open the door, and slips inside.

Gabriel frowns. "I dislike this..."

Derleth waits, grimacing at his sore and slightly singed body.

Kyrel settles down to wait quietly, listening carefully for any indication of problems on the other side.

*****Editor:Make that sore and burned body.

Derleth grunts as he seems to perk. "Sounds promising.

Some scratching, a slight thump, and a creak can be heard faintly from the next room. Then an 'Ah hah!'

Kyrel nods. "So far..."

The door opens, the kobold sliding back out, glancing amid the group a little worriedly. "Trap's disabled. C'mon."

Derleth nods. "right, then..."

Derleth hefts his crossbow upright and comes up beside Regin, waiting for him to open the door.

Kyrel follows along after Silniya and the kobold. "Where next?"

Gabriel nods, falling into the procession.

He gives a nod. "Right this way." Pushing the door open, he leads the four through, Kyrel's torch showing a squat chamber with several doors leading off. Regin points at a door to the left. "This way. That's the treasure chamber," He indicates another room. Walking to the door leading onward, he grasps the handle, and slowly pulls it open.

Kyrel says, "More traps on that one, I'd assume?"

Gabriel looks over at the treasure regretfully. "I do hope we have time to visit that later..."

Derleth grins at Gabriel. "Money is fun."

Kyrel says, "But knowledge is power..."

Nodding to Kyrel, "Right mage..." Said a little submissively, the rogue glancing into the dark room beyond. "This hall has something minor."

Gabriel says, "You can't sleep on a pile of knowledge, though. Books aren't nearly as comfortable."

Gabriel smiles. "Should I lead then? I seem to be lucky..."

Regin glances back to Gabriel. "Ah... sure. The trap is only a hall divider; to block further entry. S

++Editor: Cut that.

Derleth blinks. "Why would you sleep on a pile of gold?

Regin glances back to Gabriel. "Ah... sure. The trap is only a hall divider; to block further entry. Stupid installers didn't think to put anything truelly deadly here."

Gabriel says, "Should we not all enter together, then?"

Derleth says, "Why bother entering at all? Just have Regin fix it so it doesn't go off."

Gabriel nods. "An even better thought.

"Uh... good idea, don't want something getting in the way. Right. Yes sirrah." He pushes into the room; past the door looks like a good sized room, doors on either wall, where the forewall is missing, leading into a narrow hallway. The ceiling is slightly vaulted. Entering, the kobold glances up toward one of the walls, upwards, before quickly looking back toward the hall. Creeping in, he crouches along the floor. Grunting for a few moments, "I got it!"

Derleth hehs. "Come along then..." He lets Sil take the lead, but follows close behind."

Gabriel takes the rear this time...

Regin stands, and turns towards the door to the left, approaching it. He pulls his shortsword, glancing back. "There may be something of interest, in here," Calls the kobold. "The lock is simple; I'll melt it."

Derleth blinks. "Melt locks? What, do you have acid?

"Something better." He lifts his shortsword, the blade glistening in the light, before beginning to weep a blackish green liquid that creates a dripping sheen.

Derleth yucks. "Well, if you have it, use it..."

Gabriel frowns. "That seems...comparatively incautious, compared to earlier..."

Kyrel says, "Indeed. Not to mention irrevocable. I thought you didn't want to damage the traps?"

There's a brief sound of chanting, from the far upper corner of the room. Then, even quicker, the room plunged into total darkness. Regin swears, "Attackers!"

Derleth growls and fumbles in his pocket, trying to pull out the lightstone, still enchanted from before...

Still darkness.

Kyrel growls and chirps at his familiar. "Where are they, Kiri?"

Kiri chirrups!

Silniya growls, sniffing the air. "In the corner," She confirms outloud.

Gabriel waits in the darknees, hands up to attack, but not moving yet, knowing that in the darkness he is at a great disadvantage...

Derleth curses. "Which corner?" He Rolls to one side, so he at least won't be where he was when the lights went out.. He has his crossbwo up, but doesn't fire, afraid of hitting an aly.

Sil's bow comes up, in the darkness, the sound of her nose twitching. "Left corner, near the ceiling." The hum of an arrow, the item thunking into the ceiling. "Bitch," Snaps a hissing voice.

The hum of a bow answers Silniya's fire, the werewoman letting out two yelping barks. "Arrows!" A snarling howl, "Poison... bad poison."

The sound of running feet, before Gabriel experiences the feel of a blade diving into his back, a chuckling hiss sounding behind him. Firy liquid burning his wound further, as the weapon pulls out.

Gabriel gasps at the violent blow and turns to give the attacker a controlled punch...but he's already moved. So confident was the punch that Gabriel almost loses his balance at the lack of resistance.

Derleth drops his crossbow then, and draws two daggers out of arm sleeves, preparing to throw them...

Kyrel aims the crystal wand and speaks the command word, with his familiar helping him aim.

The electricity blares into the darkness, striking wall and earning an annoyed hiss. "Bastard," While a grunt comes from the side near Gabriel.

Gabriel focuses, for a moment, relying more on training and instinct then swinging, before shifting to his side, and kicking outward. His foot lands in a vicious kick of foot's ball, the sound of air wooshing from lungs greet him.

Derleth aims towards the corner and tosses the daggers, one then the other, in the direction he last heard the creature cry out.

The hurled dagger sinks into the wall once more. "Nice," Comments a dry tone, before the air is filled with the thrum of a fired bow, then chanting.

An arrow thunks into Derleth's chest, the thing burning just a scosh, but otherwise fine, despite the sting. A tinge of drowsiness passes over the four, before it's shaken off without problem.

Silniya, snarling, turns, moving in the darkness, inhaling deeply as she draws up her bow again.

Silniya's arrow thunks into the floor, even missing the prone assailent.

Kyrel shifts to get a clear line of fire, aiming with Kiri's help at his opponent's new position. He hisses the spell of lightning this time, his own power greater than the ones stored in the wand.

The air smelling of ozone as the powerful bolt blasts through, connecting once more to the wall. A hissing growl. A swear in abyssal, before, "That stings, little mage."

Derleth perks at the sound of the harsh abyssal language....he doesn't know what it mean, but he does recognize it. Grabbing his medallion, he calls out to Lliara in the sacred tongue, calling on her to banish the foul creature back to its home plane...

Gabriel follows up on his opponent...the first punch misses in the darkness, but he corrects, landing a vicious roundhouse kick that eats up too much area to hide from.

Lliara's energy flows forth in a banishing wave, the air filled with sounds of rolling dice, chinking coins, the hiss and roil of the divine energy pushing it's target back from whense it came. "No! No, you damnable holy man! I'll not be sent b-" A chime, as the air crackles with energy. The darkness lets up, a falling belt, shortbow and quiver. Beside Gabriel, holding the acidic blade, resides something that... looks human. Taller, lankier, eyes slitted, the robes of some cleric, albeit twisted; his holy symbol showing that of a dripping tail. He stares, still paralyzed by Garbiel's attack, but it's beginning to ware off.

Derleth Hisses at the look of the thing attacking Gabriel, but cannot do a thing about it, as he is winded by the holy energy that flowed through him....

It becomes unparalyzed, just before Silniya plants an arrow, nearly point blank, into the creature's chest. It snarls and howls, stepping back. "Arashka, some assistance!" From deeper down the hall, a soft chuckle. "This is your fight, friend." The creature, glancing left to right, turns, fleeing toward the door behind it.

Derleth stares in recognition. "Regin! You foul traitor!" He draws his flail.

Kyrel spins as the darkness fades, in time to see this Arashka running off. "That's not Regin, that's the Rakasha! Get it, quickly!" He turns back to the apparent cleric and casts the Phantasmal Killer, hissing the words of the spell.

The spell launches after the fleeing cleric, a glance over his shoulder, the thing hisses out a screech, turning to hurl his shortsword at the empty air. It flys through the air, before landing harmlessly away, as the body stiffens, and falls backwards... only to begin melting away, in the the ground, hissing pops and sulfuric vapors, as it's sent back to wherever it beget from.

From deeper in the hallway, clapping eminates. "Congradulations," Comes a tone laced with a purr. "Bravo."

Gabriel growls. "Where's Regin?"

Kyrel grins and takes a moment to buff his fingernails. "Two down. One to go? No, more than that... that cleric is still around somewhere."

Derleth does not relax as the serpent-thing dies from fear...because he knows there's still one enemy unaccounted for..and the voice proves him right. "

Derleth looks at Kyrel. "That *wasn't* the rakshasa, Ky."

Kyrel says, "So it wasn't." He turns toward the voice. "Show yourself, demon."

Derleth looks down at his crossbow, still loaded, and considers trying to pick it up...

"I am, agreed," Comes the tone down the hall. "Your... associate, unfortunately, is inside a pit, I believe. And, if I were you, I'd fetch him before the spider is done with him." A snicker, "Ah ah. I'm not an idiot, mage. If I show myself, you shoot me. Or, attempt to. Do not think one such as I has not the powers to protect. I offer to strike a bargain."

Derleth slowly, quietly, picks up his crossbow. He looks at Ky with a look that says, 'Keep him talking.'

Kyrel says, "A bargain of what sort?" He shifts, trying to see the creature or at least see its surroundings. "We wish to stop Talona and her minions. Beyond that is ... negotiable. For now."

Silniya, wary of the voice, pulls to one side, reading her bow... and gasps, her knees growing weak, before face controts in pain. Blood, smoking, bubbles out of the arrow wound left in her hip. "Damned... poison..."

Derleth blinks, and abandons his plan, going to Sill's side. "Hold on, Sil...." He doesn't let go of his crossbow, though.

"Considering how my summoners, the Arkiteks and the Demon Skin are now not on this plane, our contract, and thus mine with the Talonites, are thusly broken. So, any agreement made here would be simply be as steadfast as any. But, I would suggest that you hury; the part of the plot that took place here has been in action; the spell cast. Now that the townsfolk have likely slaughtered the feline populous, with Talonite-payed criers urging htem on, the true affliction, the rats, may bubble up from the streets by their diseased masters."

Kyrel nods. "Thought as much... Can you tell me about the poison on those arrows?"

"Mm... the Arkiteks are masters at poison brewery, as much as magical ones in nature. I believe your friend was struck by a Fireheart; the poison ignithing the blood. Atleast, that was the enchantment upon the spider venom they have milked. Any others are poisoned? I know not. But, about our bargain."

Derleth swears at the Rakshasa's words. "Let me see, Sil...." He takes a moment, and turns his remaining most powerful spell to healing energy, concentrating on the wound...

Kyrel says, "Would a remove curse dispell it? State your proposal."

"A string of spells. But, the exact combination, I will not give, until agreement is reached." He clears his throat, and falls silent into chanting, for a moment. Several forms, looking ethereal, are barely in Kyrel's field of vision. "A safeguard," He assures. "The proposition is this: We leave one another be. I do not kill you, or am sent home in the process, you are left alive, and more informed. Let it slip that you destroyed me, to our suffering-worshiping braggards. I will ensure your safety, and inform you of any traps that may lie hereforth. Oh, and, take the dropped equipment; likely useful, I gather."

Gabriel says, "And Regin?"

The smoke clenses off of Silniya's blood, the hole in her fur knitting somewhat. A nod, to the cleric. "Muscles a tad weaker, but otherwise, I'm good."

"His location disclosed on agreement."

Kyrel looks at his colleagues. "What do you think?"

Derleth breathes a sigh of relief. He glances at the Rakshasa, and then at Kyrel. "I'm not a paladin. I have nothing wrong with making bargains with a lesser evil in the cause of stopping a greater one."

Silniya shrugs her shoulders. "Information. But can we be assured he'll keep his end?"

Kyrel says, "I agree. The Talonites are our primary concern. Rakshasa... generally keep their agreements. To the letter, at least."

Gabriel considers. "If we do not take the agreement, finding Regin before he is overcome would be...less likely.

"Lady Lycanthrope, it has been some time since I was let loose upon this rich playground that is the material plane. I do not look to hazard my stay here from overconfidence. I may be, as you say, evil, but I am by no means stupid."

Kyrel says, "Very well, then, Arashka. Neutrality for now... for, say, a year and a day? In exchange for information. How do we find our little thief, and how can we stop the Talonites?"

"Good. Do not come further, else the trap layed forth will thusly chew you apart and trap you between fallen barriers. Your associate is within the treasure room. Inside the doorstep is a pit; twenty feet down is the spider's web, where your friend was dropped into." He clears his throat, "Arashka is not my true name, so do not attempt to track or summon by it." A glittery smile, "Thus would break the neutrality. The way to fix teh curse brewed by Unhallow, Magical, and Infernal powers must be done in order; the victim protected from unholy forces, an enchantment to remove the curse, a dispelling of the magic, and a disjoining of the disease itself. It was quite the powerful spreading spell," The extra-planar fiend says with quite the prideful smile.

"By the by," He adds, "I would claim the few arrows that was left, if any. Some are magical, but the ones poisoned have notched symbols carved beside the fletchings, so if you're wary of the chemicals, avoid those."

Kyrel says, "That'll keep 'em damn busy..."

****Kill that last.

Derleth looks at Gabriel. "Come on, let's get Regin out of the pit before he gets intimate with a spider..."

"Oh, and, I would beware the vermin-blood. They're likely raising the rats now, and spreading such diseases, as their own. Personal guards of the Talonites, too. Nasty things." A snort. "Not even amusing to hunt."

Gabriel nods, and follows.

Kyrel chuckles. "I don't intend to break my word either, Arashka. Enjoy yourself for now." He nods at that last bit of information. "No surprise, really. Nasty creatures."

Silniya stands up, and stalks towards the dropped shortsword, inspecting it for a moment... and nodding to herself. She removes her own, and slides it into the sheath.

Derleth heads over to the treasure room door, pushing it open to see if the pit is still open.

The werewoman's nose wrinkles. "Wererats." A nerk of her head toward the dropped equipment from the dismissed fiend. "Shall we? Likely Derleth has the ability to handle our trapmaster."

It is not.

Kyrel follows closely behind Derleth. "We'll see." He shakes his head at the closed pit. "Lovely. Just a second..." He casts Flight, and steps out into the room.

Inside the room are cabinets, several paintings, a rolled up tapestry, some statues, and a large treasure chest.

Beneath Kyrel's feet, the floor drops from under, as the trigger on the floor between doorjam pops open, reveiling darkness, light from his torch glittering off the silken threads below, the eight faceted eyes of a redbacked spider, and a slumped, half-cocooned kobold.

Derleth curses, and aims, shooting at the spider.

The arrow plants itself into the 'neck', where legs join behind the head. Chittin cracks, dark fluid bubbling forth. It *hisses*, before running across the web, and actually ducking beneath it, crawling across the bottom.

*****editor:The Spider was hit twice.

The second arrow hits the spider in it's underside, earning a hissing reply. Gabriel's shot ends up stuck to the strands of web.

Derleth growls, wanting to kill the spider before getting Regin. He reloads, with a normal bolt this time.

Silniya, coming forward, bares her bow with everyone...and nearly falls into the pit; she stays on the ledge, but her arrow unleashed, hitting herself in the foot, earning a swearing curse from her. Gabriel's arrow plinks off the wall, but Kyrel and Derleth score hits into the creature's 'neck', it's grip lost on the web. It falls downward. Kyrel and Gabriel can spot the think hitting a spike laiden floor, how it's legs curl over the dead husk. Derleth, of course, can simply hear the satisfying crunch of exoskeleton.

Derleth grunts satisfiedly. "Ky, can you fly down and get our trapmaster? We'll keep the pit open.

Kyrel nods. "Of course." He drifts down into the pit, slinging his bow across his back and pulling out a dagger to cut through the web.

Regin's eyes shift to stare at the wizard, but otherwise, he seems pretty stiff, unmoving. Several puncture wounds line his side, the flesh puffed up. Peering about, Kyrel can see at the bottom of the pit what's left of the spider's earliest meals: dried cocoons, clinging to bones, the shine of trinkets and weapons and thus littering the floor around the spikes.

Derleth growls. "Let me see him..."

Kyrel says, "Have you out of there in a moment, Regin." He cuts through the strands and carries the little kobold back up to the cleric. "I think he looks okay, just needs to recover from the spider venom. There seems to be stuff down there, so let me check."

Derleth grimaces and makes an X with his dagger, and sucks some of the remaining poison out, spitting it on the floor. Afterwards, he crushes some beneficial herbs and applies the poultice to the wound, and finishing off with a bandage. "Sould be fine now..."

The kobold gives a look that shows his gratification, but the earlier bites have played their part, leaving him practically paralyzed, for now.

++Editor: Gratitude, rather.

SIlniya glances at the cabinets and items in the room. "Shall we see what these might be having in them? A little coin for our trouble."

Gabriel nods. "I was promised an equal share..."

She smacks Gabriel in the shoulder. "Then, be my guest; get across the pit and inspect."

Derleth looks up at that after doing all he can for Regin. "Coin is good." he says with a light in his eyes not seen in a while.

Kyrel says, "I think we have time. We'll need to replenish spells before we take on the summoning group, in any event. We're making progress, though."

Gabriel leaps across the pit. "I'll check here, someone go see what was dropped in the other room. It's likely to be strong...

Derleth stands. "I'll go pick up the other things first..." He goes back into the other room, and absently checks to see if the Rakshasa is still there.

Derleth's excivation turns up quite a lot. Some of the arrows in the quiver glimmer with spell-light, the shortbow dropped does aswell. And the belt seems quite...curious. Across it's front are several leather tubes, the ends of parchment showing, a rune or two there glittering: Scrolls. All in all, quite the orginizer of them.

Derleth comes back a moment later, handing the scroll-belt to Kyrel. "Here. A present from the demonic spellcaster.

Gabriel opens the cabinets, discovering small sculptures of gemstones and fine artwork, gem studded cups, one cabinet baring quite the assortment of colored liquids incased in vials, a scroll or two even.

Derleth hands the bow and arrows off to Sil, for now. We'll decide what to do with them later.

Gabriel whistles. "This is definately horde-worthy... Would either of you know what these scrolls and potions are, though?"

Derleth says, "Huh. Apparently so."

****Editor:Delete last pose.

Derleth goes over by Gabriel. "Let me have a look..."

Kyrel finds several bags of coin stuck to the bones, a few discarded gems. A skeleton clutching some vial in long dead fingers. The backpack of another looks quite well crafted.

Kyrel rescues the valuables and the vial, and stuffs it all in the backpack to bring back up. He rises back up from the pit, Kiri chittering happily that his master can fly with him for the moment. "Not bad. What's up there?"

The cleric discovers that they are, indeed, magical. Several glowing with those of the school healing falls under, others of Transmutation, with it's green glow shifting in roiling cracks of mutli-colors, another of Illusion with the veil of magic covering it. Kyrel notes that the backpack...seems quite light.

Derleth eyes a jewelled goblet. "Something really nifty to drink wine in, for one...

Silniya speaks up. "The chest?"

Derleth smiles at the divine scroll and tucks it in his scrollcase.

Kyrel says, "Is the chest trapped, Regin?"

After some work, he replies in a raspy voice, "I can't quite tell from here."

Gabriel hmms. "Stand back, please? I want to try to move it."

Kyrel chuckles. "I thought you might remember it from before. We'll just take it along if it doesn't do anything weird when we move it.

"It looks...new. But I remember a chest, just not this one."

Kyrel says, "The Rakasha might have gotten it, or the wererats. Unless you know about any hidden rooms?"

Gabriel waits for people to stand back and gives the chest a kick. :)

"It's not important," The kobold replies, and tries to sit up, before not getting very far. Gabriel finds the chest is heavy; it doesn't budge but a slight bit.

Derleth eyes the chest warily. After the last box he opened, he's not eager to open this one.

Derleth says, "Too bad we don't have a spear..."

Rechan gives up trying to sit straight. "What about the art? It must be worth something."

Gabriel shrugs. "Seems alright." He goes to pick it up.

Derleth looks at the art. "Probably...but we don't have a case to protect it in..."

Derleth says, "We should probably take the canvas out of the frames..."

Gabriel strains... and gets it a foot or so off the ground. "We need to close the pit," Silniya puts in.

Kyrel says, "Any idea how?"

Derleth takes a moment to strip the canvasses and roll them up carefully.

Gabriel erfs. "This is...heavy..."

Regin grunts. "Leave it, I'll get it another time."

Derleth says, "Ky, can we put these in your magic bag?"

Kyrel nods. "I think so. Pity the frames wouldn't fit through the mouth... Wait, let me check something with this backpack I found in the pit. It seems unusually light..." He checks inside of it.

Derleth hmms. "Okay, then...." He puts the rolled up canvasses aside.

Kyrel's hand dissappears into the extra-dimensional space.

Derleth says, "Nifty. Another bigger-on-the-inside-than-on-the-outside bag."

Kyrel grins. "And so it is. I thought it seemed odd. I wonder what's in it already..."

Silniya glances at the chest. "Let's sort things out later, and just get this done." She angles her longbow, and pulls the pit closed. "Now, where are we going to leave Regin?"

Gabriel smiles. "Makes it easier to take things out of here. If everyone were to take my share, I could carry this chest..."

Kyrel says, "Hmm. Back at the Inn, I'd think. That okay with you, Regin?"

Derleth says, "We'll worry about shares later, like Sil said."

In response, he attempts a shrug, that appears more a spasm. "Good enough."

Kyrel says, "And then we need to get the curative sequence to the Ilmaterians before it's too late."

Sil nods. "Ky, why not stuff all the magical nicknacks and little riches into your bag, and then we head back to the Halfway Inn?"

Kyrel says, "Or into the new one... mine's a bit full. But yes, let's sort this out in safety."

The five, Regin held between Silniya and Derleth, the former still weak from the poison, return to the Halfway Inn, unmolested. The taproom pauses as they come shuftling in, but many turn back to what they were doing, or wisely look elsewhere. The staff simply ignores them as they head up, looking haggard.

Derleth blinks. "Why all the long faces?"

******Editor:Delete my last pose.

Derleth puts Regin in a bed, and then looks for the busty halfling girl.

After putting Regin in a bed to rest, Derleth makes himself look moderately presentable before looking for the perk halfling lass.

Gabriel drops off his chest, then relaxes in his room. It's been a long day...

Kyrel writes a message to the Ilmaterian Temple detailing the series of spells needed to counteract the disease, and warning that rats will be the spreaders of contagion rather than cats. "Let's hope this helps them fight it."

(Log stopped Fri Mar 8 1902 08:41 PM by "IniziiGM" at "Inizii Soundstage" OOC)

(OOC) Fri Mar 15 1902 04:43 PM by "IniziiGM" at "Inizii Soundstage" (OOC)

The quartet had settled down, after midnight, for a rest. Sunlight knocks on their eyes, before conciousness even dares reach. A knock coming to Derleth and Kyrel's room, low on the door but steady. "Sirs?" Calls a voice from the other side.

+++editor: PLace the following before that last pose.

Derleth having washed up a little, looks around for the perky halfling lass. Looks like we'll need that third room....

** Move dawn comment to after Derleth/barmaid sequence.

Walking through the crowds, hand holding a tray of drinks held at ... well, waist height to a human, the barmaid spotted Derleth coming down the stairs. Winking at him, she dropped off the drinks. "And, sirrah, have you changed your mind then?

The barmaid stands, one hand on cocked hip, the other still holding the now empty tray on her shoulder.

Derleth smiles friendly-like. He blushes a little, but is mostly too weary for his body to respond to her teasing. "Ah...my dear, in fact we have changed out minds. We have new friends to consider, and so will need that third room."

The girl smiles. "Not a ... working lady, I hope?"

"After all, for a man of such stature as yours ... But, can I serve you a drink while I inquire about the room?"

Derleth blinks? and this time he blushes full out. "Gah! No! I mean...no, lass. A wounded trapmaster and a warrior mercenary."

Derleth was about to say no, but then, thinking of the coin garnered from the lair. "Apple brandy, if you have it. Please."

The girl looks both happier and disapppointed, as she darts away to the bar. While the halfling behind the bar pours out a drink, she leans forward, expostulating with her hands. Finally she shrugs, and picks up the brandy.

Turning around, she sashays back to Derleth. "Will the room you're requiring be scryproof, sir? And will a single bed suffice?"

Derleth takes the brandy with a smile of thanks. "Please, my dear. And if the bed is big enoguh for two, that's fine...if not, see if you couldn't get a cot..."

She smiles. "Well, sir, surely you and I would be most comfortable, but alas and alack, I am told you require it for others. A blatant pity, sir. Particularly since we have only the one room left. But it's very peaceful. Will you come look?

Derleth manages not to choke on his brandy with some effort. "Aye." he says, somewhat hoarsely.

She moves to the stairs, her skirts swaying with the movement of her hips. "Well, sir, as you will recall, it's just past the rooms you already have."

Derleth's eyes rather quickly get eye level with those swishing hips, and her hits himself internally for not being able to look away. He follows.

Opening up a door, she steps inside, her head cocked as she smiles at Derleth. One eyebrow is raised invitingly. The room is decorated in a restful dark green, with plain but well made wooden furniture, and a lovely escritoire under the window, which is covered in lacy green curtains. There are two simple paintings on the walls, depicting an old old oak, and a village square. "As you can see, sir, this is our forest room. It is much preferred by lovers of the forests. And it is an excellent bed ..."

Moving into the room a little further, she turns down the bed. "And, as all the other rooms in this hall, we guarantee that it is proof from scrying. Which is, of course, why the room is a little more expensive, but I am sure you understand the benefits, sir, of not being watched while you ... ah ... perform?"

Derleth gives the room a perfunctory look. "it will do spendidly...." he starts to say, and then catches the look in her eyes. "Ah...but I fear I will have to give this splendor over to those more needy than I." he offers His face is as red as a ripe beet now, especially at her implications.

She looks dejected. "Well, perhaps when their needs have been satisfied ... But the master tells me the room will cost the customary fifteen coins, a night. And there may be aslight surcharge if the sheets are badly stained. Do you like the sheets? I helped embroider the vines."

Derleth does come over to look at the sheets. "They are a work of art, lass...and money is not as much of a problem, now." He tries to bring his beating heart under control. "You've been very good to us....I never did get your name."

She even turns to point out the little details on the lacy edges. Everything has been done in green on green, so the effect is very subtle. "My name, sir? Well, sir, I do answer to the name Tatiana ... And it's been a pleasure to help you, sir."

Derleth smiles urbanely, taking her hand in his, pleased that he manages to do it without shaking. "Tatiana, then. Thank you for all your hard work." he says gentlemanly, lightly kissing the top of her hand.

Tatiana smiles, looking up from under long lashes. "My pleasure, sir. I must get back to the bar, but you can always find me there evenings. And here is the key."

Derleth takes the key. "Be well, Tatiana."

Tatiana smiles, and sashays back down the hallway, speeding up noticeably at the sound of a bellow from below.

Derleth sits on the bed with a sigh of relief. Now is not the time to worry about bedroom matters...even if I could manage it without fainting.

Derleth rises groggily. "Ye-es?"

"Message, sirs. It came last night but you'd retired."

Kyrel blinks awake. Oh, by the nine hells. I hope it wasn't urgent.

Derleth pulls himself out of bed. As an after thought, he picks up his crossbow and holds in it his hand as he opens the door. "Aye?"

The halfling standing at the door squeaks, seeing the cleric's crossbow. His eyes get rather big, as he holds up the leather scroll case like it's a petition for his life.

Derleth winces and lowers the crossbow. "Sorry, it's beena bad week. It's from the Ilmaterians, then?"

"Yessir." He offers the scroll tube.

Derleth holds up a finger. "Hold off." He goes to his money pouch and gets out five silver, which he tips the man with before taking the tube. "Good morn to ye, neighbor." he says by means of farewell.

The halfling seems to perk up quite enthusiasticly, as the money is exchanged. "Thank you sir!" As he starts to walk away, Derleth notes that there's some red stains on the steward's shoes.

Derleth leans out the door. "Sir? Did you step in something on the way here?"

He turns around. "Oh... Well, we had a rat problem..."

Derleth grimaces. "I hope you managed to take care of it."

Kyrel's eyes open wide at that, and he rolls out of bed. "Where? How many?"

He nods. "Aye. But the pantry's a mess..." This said as though someone in the family has died.

Jumping at Kyrel's voice, the steward creeps back to peek inside. "Ah... well, about a score and ten, sir. It was earlier this morning, just a few before dawn. By the sounds of some of the townspeople for breakfast, it happened other places..."

Kyrel says, "Stage four. Remember what Ashakra said, Derleth. Rats to spread more disease after the cats were gone."

Derleth gets a bad feeling about this. "I assume you've either restocked or purified the remaining food?"

***doublecheck the Rakasha's name.

He tugs on a curly lock of hair. "Ya... well, the city on whole is on shortage of food, but we're getting some; the farms outside of the city were saved! So, we should be getting *some* back. And our liqours and drinks are safe and sound."

Derleth sighs in relief. "Excellent well, then."

He nods. "Will you gentlemen be having lunch."

Kyrel says, "Derleth... would you mind doing a purify on their pantry?"

Derleth glances between the two. "If needs be, yes..."

Kyrel says, "It wouldn't hurt."

The halfling smiles brightly. "Thank you, sirs! It will be most appreciated! I'll personally see that lunch is on the house."

Derleth nods. "Give me a moment to change into my robes, And I'll be right down.

Derleth quickly changes into his casual robes, and follows the messenger downstairs.

Down the hall, the door opens, and Regin comes out, walking a little stiff but otherwise seeming fine. "It's bright," He complains, rubbing his eyes.

"Do you need that chest opened?" The kobold calls, as Derleth decends downstairs.

Kiri chirps enthusiastically, and Kyrel grins. "He agrees with you."

Kyrel nods. "Yes, that would be most helpful."

Regin nods, dissappearing in his room, before remerging with a brace in hands, holding his tools.

Heading into Kyrel's room, Regin simply shuts the curtains, grumbling about daylight and tossing in a few curses in, as he settles down before the chest. Taking a pair wire with odd ends, he adjusts them to a pair of lock picks, carefully probing the lock, first.

A wry chuckle. "Typical," He states, and moves to incept the defenses.

Taking a piece of magnifying glass, he sets it about his head on the adjustable chain, and studies the lock, carefully. Shifting the picks about, he ahs, finally, a barely audible click. "There. Poison needles my scaly ass." After several more moments, the tumbler in the lock turns over. "Ah hah! Good." Another minute, glancing up. "I believe there's a spell on it."

Kyrel says, "You think so? I could dispel it, but it's dangerous to whatever's inside. What do you think?"

IniziiGM rubs his chin. "Well, I could open it, and take a chance, which is pretty stupid. Or, we can get something long and open this thing up."

Kyrel says, "Up to you...."

He breathes out a moment. "All right." Taking a bit of rope from a pouch at his belt, and something from the brace. Placing the rope on the lid's front, the liquid is applied, and, after a few moments, he lets go, the rope held fast. Taking up the lenght, and pushing the chest into the center of the room, as well as shifting things aside so not to be caught in possible range, the kobold has everyone back out of the room. A deft *yank*, and the air around the chest ignites in a sharp explosion, leaving the chest unhindered, but the wooden floor slightly singed, the air smelling of sulpher. "Parlor trick."

A sharp grin, as the kobold gestures to the chest. "Shall you do the honors, or can I sift through it first?"

Kyrel shakes his head at the damage to the room. "That's coming out of your share if they demand repair costs."

He gruffs, but nods. "Fair enough."

Kyrel says, "Go ahead and look through it first. I suspect there may be another line of defenses, no?"

"Not unless they have a viper hiding in the coins or some blast gems." With a shrug, he moves to the chest, and whistles. "Impressive."

Kyrel watches over the kobold's shoulder. "Indeed."

THe chest looks filled with qutie a lot of gold; items stuffed to the hilt, half way deep. The kobold frowns, after a moment. "You're right. The chest's top is inlayed with steel. That's not common, unless they want to keep thieves from bursting through the top." He glances about, claiming Kyrel's boot. "Move back."

Kyrel complies, sending Kiri completely out of the room.

Lifting the boot high, Regin hurls the item down into the chest's interior, sending a few coins skipping. Of course, they have no time to spill out; the brief glint of steel is seen at the lip of the chest's lid, before it snaps downward like a snake's strike, denting a coin caught at the lip beneath quite the sharp looking blade. "Thank you, Kyrel," Regin says after a moment.

Kyrel says, "No charge... Our friends just seemed the type to go to extra trouble to be difficult."

"Apparently." He pushes the lid back open. "I'll disect this chest later; I want to see those mechanisms."

Kyrel opens the scroll while Regin starts to inventory the contents of the chest. Let's see what they have to say...

The message seems to be hastily written. Thank you for the spell chain, Kyrel. Fortunately the plague has not spread too greatly; we don't understand yet why, exactly, it has been created only to effect just ten people. However, with this, we will have them cured. I would like to see you, immediately, when we can; I wish to know exactly where the Talonites are planning to meet, tonight. Signed by the High Healer Thanatos.

Regin, meanwhile, is idly tossing things into the floor, the sound of coins continuing to shift. "Mmm mm. Rich bastards."

Kyrel frowns as he reads the scroll. That's what I get for sending messages when I'm tired. Forgot to mention the rats.... He looks outside to check the sun's angle. No point in sending a message now, we might as well just go over after breakfast.

Kyrel searches through the scrolls to see what spells are there while he waits for Derleth to return from the pantry.

Kyrel finds some paticularly interesting bits. On one scroll, three firmly find themselves. One, which Vane often found of use, that for opening locked doors. Another that summons the protective scales of a dragon named at the casting, offering protection, and resistance to the element of the dragon's bearing. The third being a rather simple novice spell, creating a greater shield of force before the caster, to guard from arcane bolts and attacks from a paticular angle. Another has something he's unfimilar with, only marked Flaming Corrosion, and the spell itself. The last simply an enchantment to dissolve magics.

On the last, holding two spells, one for summoning forth a blade coated with poison for a brief use. The last spell something simular to what they faced: darkness called forth, that allows the caster only to see through.

Player Note: Knock. Shield, caster 6th. Flaming Corrosion, Caster level 7. DIspel Magic, Caster level 6. Blacklight, caster level 6. Note: Kyrel cannot read the dragonskin or Venomblade spells.

Regin's head peeks over the chest's rim. "I have what I want."

Kyrel looks up from the scrolls. "What's still in there?"

Derleth comes trudging around the corner. The first thing he sees is the scorched floor. He looks at the others. "Do I want to know?"

"Gold, gems, a little gem statue, a deck of cards, a ring which I will be keeping," He puts in, "And an iron ball."

Kyrel says, "Fireball trap. I think we're getting a surcharge for this room..."

***Firetrap spell, not fireball.

Derleth sighs. "I'm going to pray, if you two don't mind..."

Kyrel nods. "We'll need to head over to talk to the Ilmaterians again as soon as we eat breakfast.

Regin adds, "And this powder, which I think I'll also be keeping."

Kyrel checks the contents of the chest with a quick cantrip to detect the presence of magic.

Derleth yawns and nods, getting out some incense and burning it, beginning his Rite of Invocation, the prayer required to ask Lliara for spells. His mind is disquiet...he know that everything might come down to today, and he wonders if he is prepared....

Everything not riches glows, under the inspection. The iron ball sitting in one corner, the deck across the ground, even the powder and ring in the kobold's own pile. After a bit of scrutiny, Kyrel discovers the deck shines quite bright of illusion.

After nearly a half a minute, Derleth suddenly feels something unexpected, but something familiar. Her Touch. Not in the sense of Lliara speaking directly to him, but a simple radiance that fills him and dispells his doubts. It is this radiance that imbues all clerics that are steadfast in their faith, a sign that their diety is pleased enough in them to grant them greater powers...this time, it includes a particularly potent prayer that would allow Derleth to banish a summoned evil with a touch. And something else. Once a day, most clerics of Lliara can tap into Her divine luck...but now Derleth has the power to gift another with divine luck in the same fashion. A handful of seconds later, Derleth comes out of his trance, and he seems dizzy from the experience. "Thank you, Bright Lady." he murmurs reverently."

Note: Ring: Illusion. Powder: Abjuration. Ball:? Deck :Illusion

Ball:Evocation

Kyrel nods at the cards and collects them carefully into a pile. He picks up the iron ball and stares at it for a time, the dweomer still active as he tries to divine it's purpose.

Kyrel notes that the ball, roughly three inches in diamater, seems to be a little rusty. After peering closer, he can tell that it's made of many bands of metal, woven smartly together. The power of his sight notes etchings, here and there, among the bands, all in High Draconic. After reading, it seems the word forms 'Gotcha'.

Kyrel mutters to himself in the hissing dragon tongue as he works out the nature of the ball. At last he murmurs, "Ah-hah...." He looks up. "Some kind of snare, I think. Probably unravels on command to trap the creature it's thrown at."

Regin nods, offering, "Gotcha," Repeating Kyrel's hissed words. "By the looks of it, I'd say there's atleast a seven hundred gold, here, counting the more semi-precious gems, but I'm no appraiser for the larger ones. The gem statue, I know not."

Kyrel says, "Doesn't seem to be magic, though. We'll just have to see what we can get for it."

Kyrel waits for Derleth to finish his meditation, and restocks some of his own spells while he has a late brunch. When the cleric is finished, he nods. "Let's get over to the Ilmaterians, shall we?"

Regin nods. "Considering with the rest of what you picked up, I believe we have quite a large sum, which we'll split up later. I'm going back to bed; I don't care much for highsun light."

Derleth suits up in his armor. "I'm ready."

Silniya leans against the doorway, in her leathers as usual. "You boys hungry? I'm famished."

Kyrel nods and retrieves his familiar from where he's sleeping in the rafters. "Let's leave a note for the others and get this done."

Derleth ahs! as Silniya appears. "Saved me having to look for you, dear." he says, quite chipper. "Here, kneel down a moment, would you?"

Silniya eyes Derleth with amusement in her grin. "And here I thought you would enjoy chasing me. Hmph." She complies, however, kneeling down.

Derleth rolls his eyes, only blushing slightly. "Be nice, Sil." he murmurs, reaching out and touching her glands as he did before, calling on the restorattive magics he asked for....

Healing magics surge into the woman's form, and she relaxes, somewhat. "That's much better," She flexes her arms a moment, opening fingers. "The weakness is gone."

Derleth smiles. "Excellent. Why don't you go and have some food, Sil.....Ky and I are just going to trip over to the Ilmaterian temple a moment."

A smirk comes across the woman's lips. "Think you can handle yourselves?"

Kyrel says, "For this trip, yes. You're welcome to come along if you want."

Derleth chuckles. "We managed to stay alive long before you met us, Sil. I'm sure a few minutes without you won't kill us."

She waves a hand. "No need. Going to take your trinkets with you?" Shifting forward, the woman punches Derleth lightly in the shoulder. "Better not. I may need you to lay your healing hands on me later."

Derleth nods absently, and then stops in mid-stride, suddenly realizing he wasn't exactly sure of her meaning.

Deciding to return to meal after the trip, the two head to the Ilmaterians Cathedral. Fortuantely, they're greeted with no defacing grafitti on the church, but the smell of dead animals are heavy in the streets. A haggard looking steward comes to them, in the front room of the Cathedral. "May I help you?"

Kyrel nods. "The High Healer sent for us. Kyrel and Derleth."

He simply nods, and moves tiredly into the church. Two minutes later, High Healer Thanatos comes out, nodding, looking quite exhausted himself. "Gentlemen." Danos walks out behind him, looking ever prepared for battle.

Derleth eyes Danos....last time they saw the paladin, he was distraught and angry. He looks for signs of that now.

Kyrel bows, briefly. "High Lord. I apologize that last night's message was so brief, but we cleaned out a nest of the Talonites in the old Thieves Guild cellars and were ... rather exhausted afterwards. We have additional information now that we've had a chance to examine things.

Kyrel says, "First... the cat plague seems to have been a feint. Enough people were infected to panic the rest into killing cats - and then the final plague is to be spread by rats."

"My thanks, unto you," The High Healer offers forward, "Upon your victory, and assistance with the problems." Danos seems quite well adjusted, now. He nods to the two, stepping into the forefront. "You mentioned something to Father Thanatos about the Talonites' placement, tonight.

Derleth nudges Kyrel at the mention of the Black Mass, trying to catch his gaze.

Thanatos looks somewhat annoyed as the Paladin interrupts them both, but nods none the less. "Given the rather rash uprising of rats, and and ravings of citizens about half rats, we gathered."

Kyrel nods. "Their high priestess and an assassin are still unaccounted for - and there is supposed to be a summoning tonight at the moon's sliver..." He glances to Derleth.

Derleth gives Kyrel this intent look, as if trying to convey 'Don't tell them where.'

Derleth takes up where Kyrel left off. "...but we are not exactly sure as to where, at this place and time. We have some clues, but nothing concrete."

Danos's lips thin. "By the Tears... Where? We must stop them; I've all ready urged the warriors and disciplined Yellow Rose order are ready."

+++Editor: Put that before Derleth's.

The paladin frowns deeply. "Did you mention something about 'The Hub', Earlier?"

Derleth blanches slightly. "Ahh...yes, the, ah, Hub. We've since determined that there are three possible places that could refer to, and we're not such which one. We have an informant who would know the exact location coming to meet us in a couple hours."

The man's lips tighten. "Really? And, I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I accopanied you to this informant, yes? I'm intent on putting this threat down, immediately." Stepping forward, the holy warrior taking paticular point to stand tall over the short cleric, "Or, perhaps give me his name? That I may question him, myself. In the mean time, what are these three places, that we may begin searching, now."

Derleth's look sours. "Oh yes, Danos, I'm sure that our informant will just be brimming with desire to talk with a paladin about. This man is very skittish, and if someone else shows up with us, he might just decide not to show up at all."

Derleth says, "And certainly, I'll give you the locations of the places...if you think it's a wise tactical maunuever to split up your forces when you've few enough men as it is.""

"And if he's unwilling to give information that may leave bring this city on the sword's edge of living or dieing, then perhaps he should not be offered the choice of avoiding you." A pause, for a moment. "It is still worth observing the areas."

Derleth sighs. "Very well. Do you have a map on hand? I'm afraid I left ours back at the inn..."

"Actually, yes, I do; I've been going over it time and again searching for a viable spot for them to amass. If you will excuse me, I will fetch it." He turns, walking through the main hall's doors. Thanatos's face is white, but his lips are tight, brows knitting in annoyance as the paladin walks away. "Forgive Brother Danos. He is... taking this city's protection in his hands, for his earlier mistakes."

Derleth nods with a sigh. "He is a dedicated warrior, if short on tact."

Kyrel frowns. "It still worries me, though... the prophetic dream said something about sacrificers duped into service. I keep thinking that the spell requires someone on our side to kill someone to activate the spell.

Derleth's eyes widen slightly. Oh, Ky, revealing that might not have been the smartest move...

"At this time, tact takes sidewagon to the desperate footrace." He glances to the illusionist. "I believe that was the trickery played on the paladin of our order, into killing six of the seven sacrifices."

Kyrel nods. "That could very well be. I hope that's been dealt with now..."

Derleth relaxes internally.Good. Maybe they'll leave it at that.

Thanatos nods. "Yes, he was part of the ritual, in hopign to win graces with Ilmater."

Danos pushes the doors open again, a small collapsable table and parchment in hand. Setting up the small table, he spreads the map of the city over it. "If you would be so kind, Derleth of Lliara?"

Derleth nods spreading his hands across the table. He points at the dock area. "This is the first area." He traces across the map, looking for and findingthe area close to the Thieves's Guild. "This is the second." And then he looks, and points at the graveyard. "And this is the third."

The paladin seems to take this to heart. "I don't, exactly, see what 'the Hub' has to do with either spot, but they will be inspected, in due haste."

Derleth shakes his head. "The meaning is not supposed to be obvious. They are symbolically special to the Talonites, for one reason or another."

"Point," He replies, and rolls up the map. "Thank you. I'll get ahold of the garrison, immediately." A nod to the HIgh Healer, who returns it tersely, before he exits.

Derleth relaxes again. He bought it.

Thanatos presses his hands together. "I hope you get word to him, on your tattletale's location." Of course, by the sound of his voice, the priest sounds well aware of the lie, and the fact that they were avoiding such descrition.

Derleth blinks in surprise, going pale a moment...

A simple, knowing smile offered forth from the High Healer. "Good luck," He says, tones overlaying much, hinting that he's aware, and doesn't disagree, with the discretion.

Derleth blinks again, and then nods defentially. "To us all, High Lord."

"Gentlemen, I have things I need to take care of. I imagine that Danos will have much of our muscle away, and thus I will be left to prep our healers and abled assistances, incase this is the summoning; we'll be ready to sweep out for the masses, to cure them at all cost. Be wary, and may Ilmater's Hand steady you."

Derleth bows to the High Healer, and then turns to leave with Kyrel.

(Log stopped Fri Mar 15 1902 08:26 PM by "IniziiGM" at "Inizii Soundstage" OOC)

(OOC) Sat Mar 16 1902 05:37 PM by "IniziiGM" at "Inizii Soundstage" (OOC)

Derleth ""little late for that. ;)

*****Editor:Erase that last. :P

Kyrel keeps an eye on the pulse of the city on the way back, wondering if the rat plague is showing up yet. He waits until they've gotten some distance from the Temple before he asks Derleth, "You didn't think that Danos would be helpful either, I gather?"

*** wondering if any plagues caused by the rats...

Derleth shakes his head. "Worse than that, I'm afraid he and his team of zealots could only complicate things. There's a reason why Sashelas gave you that vision...and I expect it's because he knew that the Ilmaterians would be too susceptible to the Talonites treachery."

With a close eye, the wizard can spot that a few people look rather green about the gills, or scratching rather firmly. Of course, with the other plagues having been in motion, such sickness could be carry overs.

Derleth says, "Much as I want an armed squad at my back, we can't control or trust Danos and his chosen men."

Kyrel nods. "Thanatos seems to understand that, at least. Especially after a paladin was either deluded or controlled into killing their own people."

Derleth nods. "It's the Plague of the Soul, I expect...so it's on our heads to stop the Talonites. I just hope we have the right spot."

Kyrel says, "If it's not... we hunt. It has to be close to the city center."

Derleth nods thoughtfully. "Think we can recruit the kobold for tonight?"

The pair, as they move through the streets, notice that someone seems to be traveling behind them, turning on this street or that, with them. Not enough paticulars to get the person's exact description; an earthen tunic, a dust cloak, to move easier through the less clean streets.

Kyrel says, "We're being followed... I'm going to disappear when we go around the next corner."

Derleth nods, who had also noticed the stalker. "Go for it." he says under his breath."

Kyrel turns the corner and immediately starts murmuring the spell of invisibility. A moment later, he and his familiar fade out of sight. "Keep going, I'll wait here at the corner."

Derleth doesn't reply, just keeps going as if he wasn't aware Kyrel had dissapeared. If there are folk about, however, he tries to dodge in front of him, to hide this fact.

*****Editor:In front of them ,even.

Kyrel steps back out of the traffic and waits for their pursuer to show.

The fellow in the cloak and tunic does walk around the corner, but not immediately skirting the wall. Looking about the street, sidling beside a throng of talking teenage citizens as they walk through the street. But, departing from their group, to further shadow Derleth.

Derleth nochalantly takes his crossbow from his weapons belt and eyes it, as if checking it for dust, quietly sliding a bolt into place as he walks along.

Kyrel nods to himself, unseen, and starts to shadow their would-be shadow.

Derleth absently strays in a direction away from the Halfway Inn, just in case, whistling a tune.

Kyrel continues to shadow the individual, and avoids a stumbling drunk who would have bumped into his invisible person. Being thusly wary of making himself known, the wizard continues to move with generally easy grace at avoiding passerbies. The cloaked man starts to turn, as Derleth begins to change his direction, heading down a side street.

Kyrel carefully edges closer to the fellow, trying to get a glimpse of his face.

The procure's face is rather...plain. As if maniqured to fit into the crowd, nothing to truelly be remarkable, distinguishable. Drifting into an alley, Kyrel can get into earshot of him casting a brief spell. Then mumbling words into the air. "Wizard gone. Lliara on Oak street, heading west. GIve eye."

Kyrel nods to himself. Wizard not gone. Wizard right here... So, he is following us. Let's see what else he does.

With little else, he just begins walking away, down the alley.

Kyrel hesitates... He's not following any more? Is he trying to lure me in, or was that bit about the Eye a request to turn the shadowing over to a spell?

Kyrel shrugs and follows for the moment, hoping that something will happen to indicate what's going on.

The fellow pauses, for a moment. The alley is somewhat quiet; the street he'd turned down a less traveled one. He stands there, for several moments, completely still.

Derleth keeps going along, meanwhile, trotting along his merry way, and wondering if the fellow is still behind him.

Kyrel stands still, trying to keep from even breathing loudly.

He turns, quickly, eyes roving the alleyway. They're sharp, scanning the area slowly. A hand drops to his belt, but he's still making no sound, head cocked.

If Derleth were to turn back, he'd note that the fellow is not behind him; quite elsewhere, infact.

Kyrel reaches slowly, painfully slowly, into his bag and retrieves spell components - a Fireball may be needed soon.

Derleth doesn't, however, as that might give him away. He keeps going in the direction he ichose, away from the Inn.

***Lightning, not fireball.

The stalker frowns deeply, his head cocked. The dagger in his fist is hidden mostly under the cloak's material. "Walk away." He says, simply.

The cloak seems to rustle, on the oposite side his hand is, the man making an audible squeak with his lips. A lump forms, shifting up his cloak toward his shoulder. "Walk away," He says again.

Kyrel takes a step back and around the corner, as quietly as he can.

Boots shift, as the stalker does the same, in the oposite direction.

Kyrel murmurs another spell, this time Flight, and moves upward to see if he can relocate the fellow before he gets too far.

The man seems to have disappeared into the surrounding alleyways and backs of the buildings, Kyrel's keen eyes not spotting.

With little effort, Kyrel finds Derleth.

Kyrel's voice comes out of midair. "Lost him. He managed to notice that I was following him, somehow. He knew who we were, and asked for instructions before he broke off the chase."

Kyrel says, "Some kind of communications spell."

Derleth growls, stopping in his tracks. "So what do we do now? We can't afford to have the Talonites following us *now*."

Kyrel says, "He's not. Just a second and I'll check for scrying..."

Kyrel spies around, and does note the existance of a small field, an invisible... 'eye', standing stationary across the street, over the heads of others.

Kyrel says, "Ah, yes... we are being watched. Let's see..."

Derleth sighs and says several unrepeatable things about the watcher's sexual habits.

Several people on the street nearby look at Derleth like he's rather insane, but keep on going.

Derleth says, "Never mind. We'll ditch our watcher the easy way."

Derleth murmurs a prayer to Lliara...and then he too turns invisible.

A few people draw away from the disappearing cleric, but the majority just keep going.

Derleth says, "meet you back at you know where, Kyrel."

Kyrel chuckles. "Okay.. Let's see if he follows us now."

Derleth gets his bearings and heads off down the street, aiming back towards the halfway Inn when he can.

Kiri squeaks.

Kyrel says, "What is it, Kiri?"

Kyrel sighs. "Great. Following Derleth, or maybe us?"

The eye seems to have turn, looking one way, then the next, and simply staying stationary.

Kiri gives a chirp.

***Kiri heard a bat.

Kyrel grins. "Well, let's go for a flight and see if he follows us." He heads up away from the streets and angles to the west. "Let me know if you hear him again."

Kiri chirps once, returning to Kyrel he heard the bat again, but doesn't report anything else, as the two continue their flight.

Derleth continues to head back to the inn, but looking around warily to see if anyone is following, since they can't see him watching anyway.

Kiri squeaks again.

Kyrel says, "Following Derleth?" He indulges in a few of his favorite Draconic epithets. "Let's go intercept. Warn him off, maybe.""

Derleth growls to himself. He's not that far away from the Inn, now, but he's still paranoid. He checks his clothing over as he goes to make sure there's no bugs attached.

No bugs find themselves on Derleth's person. Atleast none he can find. But, his leg does itch.

Derleth stops and itches his leg, peering at the armor.

Kyrel lets Kiri direct him toward Derleth and the other bat. "See if you can warn him off, Kiri. I don't really want to hurt another bat, but this is getting old."

Kiri flies off.

Derleth sighs and keeps on. He really just wants this to be over...and he expects it will be, one way or another. I'd like to ba alive after all of this is done, though.

Kiri comes into view, flying off. After several moments, Kyrel hears his familiar squeaking, calling from a far distance.

Kyrel follows Kiri as closely as he can, since his familiar becomes visible after flying a few feet from his master.

Kiri seems to flit about a paticular space, then has to chase downward... of course, going slower, to let his master keep up with him, thusly hindering the speed.

Derleth considers the situation as he sees the inn. Maybe it doesn't matter if they know we're at the inn...it's well protected, and scry proof anyway...

Kiri seems to be having little success in deturing the invisible bat persuing Derleth. Not to mention having Kyrel needing to keep close, having trouble getting his barings.

Kyrel is getting frustrated. "Okay, Kiri... c'mon back and tell me where he is, okay?"

Kiri squeaks in comply, and lands on Kyrel's shoulder, chittering away.

Derleth looks around at the folk on the street, pondering options.

The crowd spreads out under Kyrel's position. The majority humans, a halfling bustling around the Inn's entrance.

Derleth suddenly calls out. "Look out! The bearded one has the plague!" as loud as he can.

People closest to the bearded man, who is across the street, spread out, others simply turn and stare at him.

Derleth groans internally. "Flee you fools, lest he infect you! Flee, flee!"

More people are moving away, but the bearded man is glancing around. "Who spreads this lies? I am healthy!"

Derleth sighs. Can't count on folk to panic when you need to....

"I am healthy!" He boasts, waving his hands. "Behold, I am vigorious! Step forward any lady, I shall prove so! Or, ho, bring out barrels, I shall lift!"

Derleth abruptly breaks into a run down an alley alongside the inn....

The man continues to make a spectacle of himself, of course, Kiri informs Kyrel that, although the bat seems to be wavering a moment, before darting after the quickly moving fellow.

Derleth races around a corner and hides, looking left, right, and up...

The alley is the one beside the Inn. Surprisingly, it's rather clean, except for the grime and speckles of blood. Kiri informs Kyrel that the bat's dissappeared, along the side of the alley, his view broken.

Kyrel sweeps around the end of the alley while Kiri looks for the other bat. "Derleth, if you're down there, we've still got followers."

Derleth was trying to catch his breath, and then blinks as Kyrel's voice calls out. "Uh? Damn!"

Kiri informs that it's hanging on one of the walls. But, on sound of Kyrel's voice, the bat drops, swooping closer to Derleth.

Kyrel says, "It's a bat, apparently someone's familiar. If you've got a silence spell, I'd say now's the time to use it."

Derleth frowns a moment, and then pulls out the scroll he got earlier, reading from it....

A screen of silence befalls the air, surrounding Derleth. Kyrel can feel his familiar's annoyance as it flitters around, before finding him with their emotional link, and clinging to him.

Three halflings come around the side of the Inn a few minutes later, testing the silence bubble, looking confused.

Derleth thinks a moment....the spell extends out fifteen feet, so if I went back out to the crowd, and then cancelled it a second before dashing inside....just might work...

Kyrel heads straight up again with Kiri, clearing the bubble of silence and having him look for the enemy bat again.

Kiri finds not the bat, reporting so.

Derleth smiles absently at the halflings, and then suddenly runs around the far corner, back towards the street he was on.

Kiri squeaks!

THere's a general panic, atleast, confusion as the silence befalls many of the people outside of the Inn.

Derleth grins. Much better, people. He abruptly cancels the silence spell as people run about, and dashes into the inn.

Kyrel moves quickly when the silence drops, and dashes to land at the back door of the Inn, cautioning Kiri to silence.

Derleth misses the person walking out of the Inn, but his boots scrape across the foyer. Kyrel makes it into the Inn unmolested.

Kyrel drops the invisibility spell once he's inside. "Whew. What a mess."

Derleth slips quickly around the tables, heading up the stairs, and dives into his room, not dispelling his own invisibility dweomer till inside. "Gah."

People inside the Inn seem confused, what with the silence falling, then disappearing. Derleth finds Silniya going through the items and gold, glancing up as the door opens, before Derleth becomes visible. She arches a brow. "Peeking on ladies in the shower, hm?"

Kyrel heads back up to their rooms. "And now to finish working on my spells..." He grins at Silniya's comment. "Hiding from scryers, actually."

Derleth seems confused a moment, and then waves his arms in protest. "What he said."

Derleth hooks a thumb at Kyrel.

She just shakes her head. "Mm. Find anything other then our peeping tom?"

Derleth says, "Nothing to find, Sil...just had to lay a false trail for our would-be ally Danos.""

She mms. "Then, what's the plan now?"

Kyrel says, "We wait until dusk and head for the Hub, I guess."

Derleth says, "Kyrel hits the books, and the we head to the Hub. We're getting close to the final gambit."

"Right, then."

Kyrel nods and heads back to his desk. "I think I've just about got something worked out...."

Derleth blinks at Kyrel. "Oh? How do you mean?"

Kyrel says, "A way to supercharge magic missile and a few other spells I have... and I want to look at the books we got from last night's playmates..."

Kyrel says, "Reminds me... can you try to detect evil on them? Don't want to open a Tome of Vile Darkness by mistake."

Derleth nods a moment and grasps his holy medallion, chanting the prayer to detect evil....

The enchanted vision bares that the indicated tome, that which is wrapped in human skin, does indeed give off the faintest hint of evil. However, the reading is so light, that it would more suggest that the things which lay within - demons' names, or calling them forth, dark rituals or spells of evil nature - lurk within such pages, not a corruptable power which oozes from the book.

Kyrel shrugs. "Well, let's see what's in it, then. Sounds nasty, whatever it is.

Derleth frowns. "Now I have seen a book radiate evil...forgive me if I do not peruse it myself."

After spending a good time skimming through the book, Kyrel has quite the idea of what this vile book suggests. That, there are wizards, so thirsty for power, that they will make pacts with the dark forces. Yet, even worse, are those who wish to harness such demonic forces for their own hunger, to a point to wear that infernal form like their very flesh. The rituals therein speak of ways to call forth a hellish hoste, to allow it to join with the summoner, and allow the fiend to, in fact, live in the hoste's skin, slowly uncovering unholy secrets, offering powers and resistances that are native to creatures living in the underworld.

Derleth glances at Silniya as Kyrel does his reading. "I saw you pick up the acidic blade from the monster in the guild....is your longsword enchanted as well?"

Kyrel shudders and closes the book after a time. "Sounds like their style. All kinds of bargains for power." He shakes his head. "I've got some enchanted arres

She nods. "Indeed. It is; the only weapon I've actually had with magic. Of course, this short blade seems to have some in it."

Derleth hpphs. "Is Regin still about?"

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Last modified: 2001-Apr-19 23:10:57

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