Waiting for Fellus, Under Pelor's Eye, Kasen at the Farm, The Paths of the Dead, Meeting Up With Kasen, Black Magic in the Camp
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
Awesomeawesomeawesomeawesome!
You guys rock!
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
"Our desperation should show that we know how serious this is. If Elise has Sir Danbury's confidence so firmly we have no hope of justice through the guard if we do not have allies of our own. Isn't there some way you can confirm the truth of our words? We have seen the evil inside Elise. Surely the servants of Pelor can make her evil reveal itself!" He pauses, realizing he is speaking too loudly and too fast. "Forgive me," he says, bowing his head before Dominic. "I mean no disrespect. We are hopeless without your assistance."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; Something hits the fan...
FYI - I was reading Ty's writeup this morning over breakfast. I got to:
He points at the two wizards, "You are the accused here, not her, or the guards would not pursue you."
and the power went out at my house. I've been on edge the whole drive to work thinking I was gonna find out he'd thrown us to the guard.
This story would make a great book. Think we could get Peter Jackson to do the movie version??
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
To his credit, the priest Dominic listens to the two wizards without interrupting, and his grim expression shows that he weighs their words carefully.
"I do not know what to do. Only the Sunmaster may give final judgment on so weighty a matter." Turning to Sa'id, he adds, "However, there is a room here in the temple that will allow only truth to be spoken. It is a holy place; the place where acolytes speak the final vows to enter into Pelor's service. A lie spoken in that room would bring instant judgment from Him, and the deceiver would be burned with His holy fire. Would you repeat what you have said here, while kneeling before the justice of my mighty Lord?"
Sa'id can't help but gulp. But after a moments pause, he replies, "Yes. My words have no falsehood in them."
Dominic just stares at him for several minutes. His gaze makes the wizard very uncomfortable, and Sa'id fights the urge to fidget. After some time has passed, Dominic gets up and says, "Follow me."
He leads the two wizards down a long stone stairway deep under the temple. They pass many store rooms and small chambers. The temple of Pelor is the largest in all of Huss, and once below the temple level, it becomes apparent that it is almost a small town in its own right. After ten minutes of taking a dizzying number of twists and turns, Dominic stops at a plain oak door, with a small stylized sun in worked gold hanging on it. He takes out a large key and opens the door, ushering the two wizards inside.
The room they enter is some sort of foyer, with a bench on each wall, and a curtained hallway facing them. Dominic steps in behind them, and locks the door from inside.
"This is a holy place. One of the most holy in this temple. Our God is active here, and his judgments swift. Do not blaspheme. Do not attempt to use sorcery. Speak only truth at all times, or speak not at all." He points his finger for emphasis after each statement, and Farron and Sa'id find themselves nodding seriously in return. "Remove your shoes here, and leave them. Also, if you have items of magic, leave them here. If they pass into the next room, they will never work again. Do you understand?"
The wizards nod again, afraid to speak. They sit at the benches and remove their shoes, along with the pouches containing their magical components, and what magic items they might carry. When they are ready, Dominic steps to the curtain, and kneels before it. Sa'id immediately drops to his knees as well, and after a brief pause, Farron does too. Dominic prays, and then stands and opens the curtain.
Beyond is not the lavish gold of the temple above, or the elaborate fixtures of the Halfling temple. It is a simple stone room, with pillows on the floor for kneeling, and the symbol of Pelor on one wall.
But there can be no mistaking the presence in the room. It is pervasive, almost mind numbing in its power. Something vast and ancient is paying attention to this place. Farron can feel his scalp crawl and the hair on the back of his arms stand straight up.
Dominic leads the two wizards into the room, and bids them kneel on the pillows. After a moment of reflection, he says to both of them in a quiet voice, "Speak what you would have me hear, but speak only truth."
There is no more threat in his voice. Just simple statement of fact. The threat need not be spoken when the weight of Pelor's gaze lays so heavily on them.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
"We did not murder Sir Conal," Sa'id says, and despite his effort to sound confident there is a slight tremor in his voice.
But he does not die. Neither does Farron. The room -- the god -- does know truth from falsehood. Sa'id smiles, and begins to speak more quickly. One does not waste a god's time.
"There is a being known to the halflings as Kor Garesh and to humans as Melancthnagesh, the Devourer. We are certain that the Devourer is imprisoned in a black pillar in the temple in Mount Kessel. His prison is weakening and he is trying to break free. We are trying to stop this from happening. Elise is working against us."
A thought occurs to the Sa'id. He has just been handed a perfect chance to avenge Cadfael's death. To prove, beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt, that Elise is guilty of murder. But if I am wrong, he thinks, I burn.
He takes a deep breath.
I am not wrong.
"Elise, possibly with one or more accomplices, murdered both Sir Conal and Brother Cadfael," he says to the room and the god.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
If Pelor is a just god at all, he'll only judge Sa'id on what Sa'id thinks is the truth. . . not what actually is fact.
:-)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Is this in response to something Ty sent out? If so, I didn't get it. What's this about burning?
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I just forwarded that turn to you. I can't figure out why this keeps happening...
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
No, if I'm wrong I'm dead. At least that's what Ty told me when I was thinking about it aloud. :P
If I wanted to be a wimp I'd have qualified it with "I believe," like I did with the bit about the Devourer, because that isn't 100% certain. But this is a huge chance, since we can't kill Elise in a fair fight.
Also, Sa'id is very confident in his brain.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Sa'id lets out an explosive exhalation. He had been holding his breath for several minutes.
Farron is staring at him wide eyed as a child. Dominic's frown could crack stone.
There is no fire. Sa'id suppresses a mad impulse to giggle. He takes another deep breath, then says, "These things are true."
Dominic nods. "Indeed, they are, or at the very least you believe they are. Nothing and no one could shield you from Pelor's judgment in this place. I have no choice but to believe you, and shield you from the Duke's men."
The cleric stands, and holds out his hands to Farron and Sa'id. "Please, my friends. Forgive me for mistrusting you. Pelor has shown me my error, and I ask that you forgive me. You are safe within this temple as long as I have strength to defend you."
As the three of them walk slowly back up the stairs, Dominic speaks again. "I will send a messenger to my lord Fellus immediately. We will bring him back to the protection of this temple as soon as possible."
He stops in the hallway and places one hand on each of their shoulders. "Is there anything else I can do to aid you until then? I will have someone take you to rooms, to rest and refresh yourselves."
He turns away, his face grown hard and frightening. "And we will see to this, Elise. We will see to her very well. Pelor's fire is reserved in judgment for the murderer of my brother Cadfael. She will burn through all eternity under his fierce gaze."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Karl, respond if you get this.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I forwarded it to him just in case. And I'm alive! :D Turn forthcoming. :)
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
"No forgiveness is needed," Sa'id says quietly. "You acted prudently, and did not condemn us without evidence. You gave us the chance to prove the truth of our words. I am deeply grateful."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I got this.
From: Ty
Subject: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Much to Farron's surprise, Sa'id immediately falls asleep when he lies down on the bed in their room at the temple. Farron wonders if he would fall asleep so easily had he just risked eternal damnation. Maybe he would. The human body can only handle so much stress. At some point, it just wants to curl up and be left alone.
Farron wanders over to the bookshelf, and looks over the titles. Religious works. Farron snorts. He's seen an awful lot, but not enough to make him want to start reading religious tomes. He eventually finds a book on the fauna of Huss and takes it back to his chair. Moments later, he too is asleep.
A gentle knock at the door wakes both wizards in a panic. Sa'id nearly falls off the bed, and Farron jumps up so fast he bruises his knee on the table. There is a second knock, more insistent this time.
Farron opens the door to a frowning Dominic. "There is trouble, though only one who knows of the treachery would see it."
Sa'id rubs his eyes. "What? What is it? Is the Sunmaster safe?"
Dominic clenches his hands. "I don't know. I am told he is fine, but that the Duke has chosen to keep him in his manse for the time being. 'For his protection', they say. The messenger said that the Duke suspects the work of hidden subversives in the city, and that the Sunmaster may be a target. Elise's handywork is quite apparent, now that I know her black heart. She has had Danbury convince the Duke to keep my lord Fellus sequestered. She knows that Fellus has both the will and the means to face her down, should he learn of her treachery.
"She also moves more quickly against us. The messenger informed me that the Duke has ordered me to turn you two over to the guards immediately. Because I can not speak to the Sunmaster, I am left with little authority to refuse him."
Farron starts, but Dominic places a reassuring hand on his arm. "I have no intention of turning you over now. They would have to storm this temple by force to take you, and even the Duke would fear such outrageous blasphemy as that. We are at a stalemate, or so the Duke will believe.
"I must get you out of the city. Once you are gone, I believe that Elise will turn her attention elsewhere, and the Sunmaster will be allowed to return to the temple. Colin and I will then make arrangements to get him out of the city, and to a meeting place. Is this acceptable?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Karl, feel free to do retroactive stuff as well. There is NO problem with that, when the turns are moving as quickly as this.
I am rushing to get you guys back with the rest of the gang. I apologize if I am going too fast.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
OOC: A little halfling voice yells, No, faster, faster, bring the magic users and Paladins and high level clerics to us. :)
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
No, not at all Ty!
faster
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Farron sits in awe in the room. There is definitely a presence here. He listens as Sa'id repeats their story, remembering the fire with which the dark god burned his follower back in the tower. These guys didn't play around, that's for sure.
"Please, my friends. Forgive me for mistrusting you. . . " Dominic says, leading them from the room. Farron is just all to glad to be back in less judgmental territory.
"I understand," he says. "I ask that you please forgive me if I implied any doubt about the power or justice of you god earlier."
Back when the guard was chasing them into the temple, Farron's mind had oddly returned to the vision he received back in the dark temple when they were in the presence of the chosen child. He had seen so many paths, so many possibilities in his future. Suddenly, with the guard at their heels and Elise standing as accuser, all those paths seemed to have been cut off with all remaining paths ending in a cold wet cell. Now it seemed that the paths had multiplied again. Most still seemed dark and fearsome, but many again had light at the end. Farron is surprised to find himself making a small prayer of thanks to Pelor for this most recent turn of events.
At Dominic's question of whether there was anything else he could do for them, Farron responds, "We have one ally who even now is preparing to help us at risk of his own reputation and indeed his own life. His name is Kasen and he is, or will be, waiting at a farm outside the city for us to join him. We were hoping to meet him soon. If we are detained here very long could you get a message to him letting him know what has happened?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
Not too fast. I can keep up today I think. (IF I get all the dang turns!!!!!)
rable-fraskin' technology not working like it's s'posed to . . . .
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
[added to the end of my last turn]
Dominic adds, "It should be possible for me to smuggle you out to the farm where your friend waits."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
"Acceptable?" Farron asks incredulously. "He wants to know if that's 'acceptable', Sa'id." His voice practically squeaking as relief fills his whole body.
"Absolutely! We can't thank you enough for helping us. We will go to meet Kasen and rejoin our friends. We will fill them in on all that has happened and wait for word from you or the Sunmaster. Bless you!"
Bless you? . . . . Bless you? Well, what else was he supposed to say to a priest of Pelor?
"But how will you get us out of the city unnoticed?"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; waiting for Fellus
I just want to say that I've felt some very palpable "Oh Shit!" and "Whew" more than once over the past few turns. Ty, you're really outdoing yourself on this second chapter.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Sa'id nods at both Dominic and Farron. "That should work. Brother Dominic, are you familiar with a lodge run by a man named Gully? We have arranged to meet our companions -- the ones who guided us to the temple the first time -- there. If that is too far, we can wait closer to Nesalin."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Dominic shakes his head. "I fear that my duties keep me inside Nesalin most of the time. I know little of the forest areas. But there will be those who serve here who do know of it. Fear not, if that is the place we must meet you, then neither Elise nor her demon lord will stop us."
"Now, let me make arrangements. I hope that you are not uncomfortable, and can remain here in this room until I am done. We want to have as few people interact with you as possible."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Sa'id smiles. "We'll try to get some more rest."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Farron for his part isn't too sure, but withholds his reservations until Dominic is gone, saying only, "Please be careful" by way of goodbye. "For your own sake, I mean, as well as ours." he adds as Dominic turns to leave.
"The last time someone offered to help us and left our sight he ended up locked in the Duke's house," he says to Sa'id when they are alone again. "Do you think he'll be able to help us? I mean *really*? It seems Elise is *everywhere* and always one jump ahead."
He sits back down and nurses his knee, which throbs uncomfortably now that he has time to think about it. "I'm glad you spoke, back there. . . in the room, I mean. I'm not sure I could have opened my mouth without being struck down." He looks at his friend silently for a few minutes. Sa'id has lain back down and closed his eyes. Is he sleeping again already? Farron thinks. After a minute he continues, "You and Pelor seem to be getting along pretty well though, these days. . . no?" He doesn't mean that as a jab, but it comes out sounding that way a little, at least to Farron. Maybe Sa'id won't notice he thinks vaguely. Maybe he's already asleep.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
"Elise thinks we're going to try to rescue the Sunmaster," Sa'id says softly, keeping his eyes closed. "Think about it. What good can we accomplish without him? We'd be fools to let him out of our sight." He chuckles softly.
"She doesn't know that we have been vindicated. This time, we are ahead of her. My fear..." the wizard sighs, eyes still closed. "My fear is that we are leaving Nesalin to its doom."
At Farron's mention of Pelor, Sa'id frowns, but does not speak further.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; geting the hell out of Nesalin
Don't come crying to me if she breaks Nesalin. I wanted to stay ;)
From: Ty
Subject: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
It is early evening, and the two wizards sit at dinner with Dominic in their room. Around a mouthful of roast beef, the cleric says, "It will not be easy. There are guards around the temple, and I spotted at least two people that look like your peers. Wizards, or their apprentices, perhaps. I would guess they will be ready for magical tricks."
Farron, who is just happy that for once someone made it back to help them, nods. "The college will have no way to know we are innocent. With the serious charges against us, they would surely put all their resources at the disposal of the Duke." He cringes to think what Master Thaddeus might think of him now.
Dominic says, "So, we are going to have to use other means. Unfortunately, this temple is only a century old. It does not have the ancient escape tunnels many of the older temples on the mainland have. We've never had need of one, until now."
Here he wipes his face with the back of one sleeve, and grins. Even the man's grin is frightening. "But we have ways of getting around that. Using some of the implements stored here at the temple, and with Pelor's grace called down by powerful prayers, we have the ability to move earth and stone. There are tunnels here that pass under the great graveyard to the east of the temple. It may be possible for us to open a shaft up to the graveyard and into one of the crypts there. The soldiers are guarding the road between the temple and the graveyard, but are not in the graveyard itself. It is holy ground.
"Once we get you into the crypt, we will create a diversion here, at the temple. Hopefully we will draw the attention of all the guards. You can use this diversion, and the cover of night, to escape to the docks. We have a brother waiting for you at the fisherman's dock with a small craft to take you outside the city walls. You must escape on foot from there.
"What do you think?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
"This plan has a better chance of success than anything we could come up with alone," Sa'id says. "But what will happen once we are gone? With Elise still free to act in the city, she could do great harm."
"We must return to the temple, obviously; that's the greater threat. But she is powerful and evil, and when she finds out we are gone she will be angry."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
"I'm not sure she cares about us, specifically. If she still thinks the Sunmaster is here, and we are still wanted fugitives, well, what can we do on our own?"
He shudders at the thought of a tunnel under a graveyard, remembering all too well another tunnel and other dead - or *un*dead - bodies. "We have to try this. Have you heard anything else about the Sunmaster? When do you think he will be able to meet us?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Retro RP:
Sa'id remains lying still, eyes closed. "You're more powerful than you think, my friend," he says quietly. A pause, then: "I believe we are doing what we must, but I no longer feel manipulated." He sits up, and turns to look at his friend. "Think of it this way: our purposes just so happen to align with those of Pelor. We are working with the god, not for him."
He grins. "Presumptuous though that is, right at this moment it feels wonderful just being alive."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Farron thinks on this. He's right, of course, about Elise. As for Nesalin, well, "If Nesalin is doomed it is doomed with or without *us*. This city is filled with wizards and priests, warriors and merchants, and all manner of administrators, guards, and officers with far more power, prestige, and resources than either of us. Or both of us put together for that matter." He looks at Sa'id's frown, sorry now that he had mentioned Pelor at all. "If the city falls at this point it won't be for lack of our being here."
He sits back quietly and stares into the book of fauna he was reading earlier, but he doesn't see the words. "I'm sorry about the 'Pelor' comment," he says still looking into the book, afraid to look up in case Sa'id is looking at him. He can feel a change in Sa'id. He's felt it ever since the witch's attack in the jungle. He always was a little quiet, but that was because he's always *thinking*. Farron admired that. Now though, it was more like he was. . . what? Well, just *changing*, maybe. It was like when he went quiet he was rearranging things inside and Farron feared it was going to be a change he didn't like.
He exhales heavily. "I'm getting tired of all this," he says softly, more to himself than anything. "I just want to go back to work where I'm better qualified? I mean, really, I'm not a body guard. I'm not a jungle guide. I'm certainly nowhere near holy. How did I get caught up in this anyway." He snaps the books shut, throws his head back and closes his eyes. "I *hate* feeling like a pawn! You'd think Pel-- " He stops himself short, too close to uttering something that might be considered blasphemy. "Maybe this isn't the best place to talk about this."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Dominic pushes his plate away and sits back. "I've heard nothing else from him. But I do not think he has been there long enough to become alarmed. If he feels threatened or coerced, he can draw upon... substantial reserves. He can contact me through spiritual means if that is the case, much in the way he intends to contact your friends this evening. In fact, he may already have done so, as he told me he would wait until after sundown to do it."
After a moment's pause to let his dinner settle, Dominic stands up. "No time for an after dinner pipe tonight, my friends. There is much to do."
The cleric leads the two wizards back down the long staircase into the underground labyrinth beneath the temple. Once again, the wizards find themselves having difficulty keeping track of the many twists and turns, before they finally end up in what looks like a storage room. Several other men and women are waiting for them.
"Did it work?" Dominic asks.
One of the women replies, "We are just below the flat stones of the crypt floor. We sent William up to try and pry them up. He's the strongest."
"Where is it?"
The woman grins, "You'll like this." She moves over to a large wooden crate. Pushing on something at the top of it causes on face to fall open, revealing that it is empty inside. A ladder goes down into a hole in the middle. "The tunnel goes down ten feet, then east twenty five or so, then up into the crypt. It's fifty feet up to the crypt, and it's a tough climb. Can't get a ladder in there, so we've been using rods driven into the side."
Dominic smiles at the woman, and then the others in the room. "This is extraordinary work on such short notice. We keep this to ourselves. If things get worse, we may ALL need use of this escape. If anyone that isn't in this room right now finds out about the tunnel, I'll flay the hide from every one of you."
His words are harsh, but the group smiles at the earlier compliment. "Now get out of here. I'll send William up as soon as he comes out." Dominic says.
The wizards wait with Dominic for another ten or fifteen minutes, and then loud huffing can be heard from the tunnel below. A sturdy looking man with tousled blond hair and filthy clothes comes climbing up the ladder. He is looking down into the tunnel below when his head first appears, and he starts saying, "That floor stone was a Bastar-" When he sees Dominic, the word dies on his lips. "A very heavy stone, Father Dominic. Very heavy."
Dominic widens his eyes, "Indeed, acolyte. Heavy enough to make us forget we are in the holy temple of our God, even. Perhaps tonight a dozen recitations of the Litany instead of supper would help us remember."
William winces. "Of course, Father Dominic. Thank you for your guidance." After Dominic swears him to secrecy, he runs from the room.
"Up you go," Dominic says to the wizards, "It is cramped and dirty, but it will get you safely into one of the crypts above. Wait by the door, and move out when you see the guards drawn to the temple. Do not use a light, as any light coming from the crypt will be very noticeable."
He shakes hands with both wizards and says, "Pelor guide and protect you, as you act in his service. I think Him that I was able to discern your goodness before I made a terrible mistake. It is with his eyes that the true nature of a man is revealed, not with mortal eyes. I will use this lesson you have taught me." He steps away and bows from the waist.
"Now go. I hope to see you again soon. Wait at the trading post till we get word to you, or meet you there."
After the wizards go down the ladder, he closes the crate above, and seals them in blackness.
From: Ty
Subject: Kasen at the farm
It has grown very late, and Kasen sits on the porch of the empty farmhouse waiting for the two wizards to arrive. He has begun to speculate on how long he should wait before returning to see if they got themselves arrested. Should he wait all night? If they have been arrested, what then? Should he return and demand that they be allowed to speak against Elise?
He remembers his one practice spar against Elise in the training grounds and shudders. If she demanded a trial of honor at his accusations, if he had to defend them at sword point, he was done. Not even his master, Sir Conal, was her equal with sword and shield, though he claimed to be better with the lance. She would cut him to pieces, and put his accusations in his grave with him. He spits. To think he had spent more than one cold night in his cell imagining what it would be like to break his vows in her bed. Now he knows. It would be like bedding a viper. He pushes away a flash of memory; Sir Danbury in naked embrace with her, violating everything they vowed to uphold with his secret lusts. The sight of her long pale flank, and a river of red hair, and the thought that he might've made the same trade if she'd come to him?
No. No he wouldn't. And if it came to that, he'd cross swords with her too, and pray that Helm guided his hand. Some things you do *not* betray, no matter the temptation.
He would return to the city in the morning, and face whatever consequences may come.
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards about town; the path of the dead
It is black as the bottom of the sea, once the crate is closed. Fortunately, it is impossible to get lost, since the tunnel is barely wide enough for a man to move in. Farron reaches the bottom of the ladder, and realizes that the side tunnel is so low he will have to crawl. Sa'id steps on his back. "Sorry."
"We will have to crawl," is Farron's answer.
It is only ten feet, but it is a long ten feet with so much earth above, and not a glimmer of light to see by. Farron imagines the earth collapsing and pinning him, and the moment of his death stretching out to eternity as he screams and no one hears.
And then his head hits a wooden bar. "Dammit."
From behind, Sa'id says, "Are you all right? Is something wrong?"
Farron just laughs, "I am just beating the hell out of myself today. First my knee, now my head?"
The climb up to the crypt is long, especially using the muddy wooden rods that have been driven into the wall, not all of them at right angles to it. Eventually though, Farron's hands hit a layer of canvas, and pushing it aside he climbs into the nearly black vault of a crypt. Sa'id quickly follows. There are small openings to the outside in the upper walls of the crypt, and very little light gets in, but the wizard's eyes have adapted to the blackness below, and they are able to make out the interior of the room. In the center, is a large stone tomb. Just past it is a metal door to the outside. A quick check shows that it is not locked.
Farron opens it a crack and peeks out to get his bearings. Off to the right and several hundred feet away is the temple of Pelor, lit up at night by yellow glass globes blessed with eternal light by the priests. All around the temple, city guardsman stand alert. Farron says to Sa'id behind him, "Nothing yet."
Nearly an hour passes with the two wizards huddled in the dark crypt before Dominic finally walks boldly out the front door of the temple. Behind him is a line of priests and acolytes, all in armor, all armed. Behind them are two men in dark robes with the hoods up to hide their faces.
A guard captain moves up the steps of the temple to confront Dominic, though Farron can not hear what he says. Father Dominic though, responds in a voice like thunder. "Our destination, and the names of the men with me, are of no concern to you, captain."
After the captain replies, Dominic booms out, "We will not be deterred. My authority comes from a higher source than any man. If you attempt to stop us, you endanger your immortal soul!"
All around the temple, guards have begun to converge, backing up their captain. Farron says to Sa'id, "Father Dominic is putting on quite the performance. Every guard in the city is going over to see what he'll do."
Sa'id chuckles, "I have come to think that Dominic might be an extraordinary man to know." Farron nods, "Indeed. I hope nothing bad happens to him because of this."
Farron pushes the door open further. "And we should go now. I am assuming this is our diversion."
The wizards slip through the graveyard to the dark city streets beyond. Less than fifteen minutes later, they are on the fisherman's dock, looking for their contact. A short man in a canvas longcoat comes up to them. "Father Dominic's friends?" Farron nods. "Then follow me, lads, and we'll get right out of here."
The man leads them to a small skiff, and as soon as everyone is aboard, tosses the lines and begins rowing out onto the harbor. Sa'id notices they are only two oars, and so they can not help the man with the rowing. He tries to engage the man in friendly conversation, but gets only a curt, "You'll want to stay quiet, lad," in return. It takes several hours for the man to row them up the north side of the bay, and past the city walls. He never seems to tire, his arms pulling the oars like some powerful machine. When the boat finally scraps bottom a couple miles north of Nesalin's walls, the man says, "All right, out you go."
Once the two wizards are out, he immediately pushes the boat back into the water and begins to row away.
From: Ty
Subject: Kasen at the farm
Kasen wakes from a disturbing dream involving fire to the sound of horses coming down the road. His own charger is hidden around back, and he himself is lying on the dark porch of the empty house. There is no way he could have been spotted yet, he thinks, but the night is so black with the unnatural cloud cover, and he can't see who's coming either.
From the sound, he thinks it is two, or maybe three horses, several hundred yards away at this point.
[need an action from Dan]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Hey Ty, are you going to put Kasen's sheet on Sakeriver? No rush, of course, I'm just curious to see who our new companion is.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
I already asked Dan about that and he said he was still thinking of a name for his horse. :)
MY guess is a Paladin of mid levels. Wooo Hooo, another LG member of the party.
Melani is going to have to do something Chaotic to balance the group out.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
I probably should, yeah.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline
"Wonderful as long as it lasts" he says with a weak grin he hopes shows stronger in his voice. "Working with him. Right," he says. Of course, we wouldn't have to be working with him on this if someone had kept a better eye on the black pillar in the first place, he thinks, glad that -- at least so far -- Pelor doesn't strike him down for his thoughts.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
He thought this day would be different, now that he had met men who could confirm his fears about Elise. Not that they had needed confirming, really, but every voice he could add to his was a weapon he'd need when the time came. But, at the end of it, this day came to a close the same was as all the others -- unsatisfying. It's been all afternoon and all evening and still no sign of his weapons.
Surely they wouldn't have abandoned him, not when he carried both of their spellbooks. He didn't know much about mages but he knew they needed to review the rites and rituals within these tomes every evening or the power they would die for, had already given their lives for, would dissipate like so much smoke. He knew that much. Kasen liked to think he understood men, and a man does not give so much of his life to a book only to turn that book over to a stranger without a second thought.
Night comes. Or at least the day fades. Whatever force has hidden the sun seems no more fond of the moon and stars. Whatever Gods they represented were just collateral damage in this conflict. He wonders, "Just what Elise's master is a demon of? Does darkness bring him power in some way or is it just a convenient tool when your army is made from soulless bodies of the living and their husks?"
Soon he falls into a light sleep. It was perhaps the most valuable thing to have come to him from his time on the lines, the ability to fall into a light sleep anywhere, any time. He's often thought that many dignitaries and religious men would kill for such a skill, though perhaps they earned it through softer means. Nonetheless, it serves him as well now as ever.
His body launches into autopilot while his mind wakes. Sword in hand, whetstone tucked back into his belt, one leg drawn beneath his body to launch him into a standing position if need be. 2 riders. Maybe 3. Farron did not have a horse, he'd have seen it at his apartments, and it is much harder to sneak out of a city when you're seated several feet higher than the crowd. Who then? He shifts his grip on his greatsword, thankful that he can make use of the demon's darkness, and comforted by that fact. There was always something satisfying about using the enemy's strategies against him. In normal lighting he would have to keep Conal's sword sheathed, the blade glittered like a diamond set on a ring -- in a way no metal should. You couldn't actually see through the blade, but sometimes, when the light spilled over it, you felt like you should. He'd lost many hours of his life over the years doing just that. In truth he should not be wielding the sword or wearing the armour until he was knighted. He would probably be in a great deal of trouble for it when Danbury found out. But what a thing to be worrying about now, given his conspiracy with accused murderers that charge might even be overlooked.
Whoever was coming, if they found him it would be a slaughter if they belonged to the demon. Elise certainly knew his strengths and weaknesses and would not send someone he was a match for if she had found out about this farm. If not, well, they may just be here for the night and could be dealt with later. Either way, best not to be on this porch. He slips down the steps as quietly as he is able, trusting the riders will not hear him over their horses' hooves and feels his way around the house to Stormcloud. In this darkness hard riding would be life threatening, and he doubted Stormcloud would be able to outrun them anyway, loaded as he is. He strokes the charger's muzzle and whispers for him to stay quiet. The extra gear would make mounted combat difficult, but Stormcloud was worth several other men in a fight.
And so he waits, hoping for the riders to pass by.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two Wizards about town; getting out of Nesaline... alive?
Farron pauses before going down the ladder. There is much he wants to say to Dominic, but time is short. "Father Dominic, " he begins, hoping the title is acceptable from one not of the order. "I've never been a very religious man, but I try to do what's right. I don't understand the powers that have created this situation or even how we've gotten in the middle of it, but I thank you with all my soul for your assistance and your trust. I promise you that I will do all in my power to see the Sunmaster safely to then end of this journey and back to you." He pauses, wanting to say more, feeling that there is more to be said, but the words fail him. He turns and disappears down the tunnel. As he feels his eyes tearing up, he is grateful -- for once -- to be in the dark.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; the path of the dead
So much water, rolling, rocking the boat back and forth... back... forth... ugh. Sa'id gags, swallowing back a mouthful of bile. Intellectually he knows that the waves are very gentle and that there is no danger of the boat tipping, but ...
Suddenly he's under, the water filthy in his mouth, the rotted body of an ancient zombie pressing down on him. He can't move, can't... breathe... breathe. Don't forget to breathe.
Sa'id's grip on the boat's rail is white-knuckled. Glancing up, quickly, he sees Farron looking at him. His friend's expression is concerned. Farron was a man of the sea, didn't have these kinds of problems, was probably a born swimmer, would be like a fish out of water on arid Ammar. He smiles weakly, tries to talk to the boatman to distract himself, but the stocky rower is having none of it. He catches a glimpse of the ocean and quickly shifts his gaze back to the bottom of the boat. It's all relative motion anyway, he thinks. If the tide cycles once per day, based on the beach distance between high tide and low tide the water must swell at a rate of... ah, yes. But then the waves ...
Waves. Rocking the boat. Up, down, back, forth. The wizard swallows again.
...the waves travel faster than the swell rate. He sneaks a quick glance at the approaching shore. It's been three or four hours. So that's... carry the one... hmmmmm... and the boatman is pulling the oars about once per second, imparting a fair amount of momentum. If you sum the sides of the motion triangle...
And then they're off the boat, he's staggering up the rocky beach, retching but not vomiting, just glad to be both alive and with his feet on the ground again. He stumbles up the beach to where the grass starts and collapses to his knees, pressing his hands and forehead to the dirt, breathing -- no, gasping -- until his stomach stops rolling back and forth.
"I shouldn't... shouldn't have had so much at dinner," he says ruefully to Farron. "Can you find your way to the farm from here? I'll just..." he gags, then calms himself, "I'll just follow you."
Taking a deep breath, he forces a smile and says "If you need some light, I can make a fire."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Two wizards about town; the path of the dead
Farron says a quiet "Thank you" to the boatman and walks up to his friend who is retching on the shore. He rubs his hand in the wet, cold grass and gently places it on the back of Sa'id's neck. "Don't jump. This will help."
The randomness of seasickness never fails to amaze him. A man can be the greatest warrior or most fearless explorer, but if he's not at home on a boat, he's like a little baby.
"Can you find your way to the farm?" Sa'id asks.
"I'm fairly sure I can," he says, turning back toward the shore line to get a bearing from the stars.
But there are no stars. Of course. He stares hard into the clouds but can't find even the tiniest break in them anywhere. No stars, no moon. No compass, either. He looks back with embarrassment at Sa'id, but he appears to be still preoccupied with keeping his dinner down, periodically rubbing his hand in the grass and putting the cold dew on the back of his neck, apparently getting some relief.
Farron turns back to the shore and studies the shoreline in the darkness. He looks to the North, but there is nothing visible in the blackness. To the south, he can just make out the familiar outline of an outcropping of rock backlit from the glow of the distant city. "From the time we were on the boat, we must have only gone about two miles," he figures. "We should head this way. I don't think the farm is far."
He helps Sa'id to his feet and together they head off into the darkness.
From: Ty
Subject: Two wizards outside of town
Farron helps Sa'id walk until the faintly greenish wizard gets his land legs back. "Forgive me, I dislike sea travel a great deal?" Sa'di begins, but stops when his dinner tries to come up on him.
The wizards have only walked a short distance, Farron trying to get his bearings and aim for the main north south road, when a nearby horse nickers and stamps a hoof. The wizards freeze, Farron quickly running through his spell selection for one that will work well in near darkness.
"Is it the two wizards then?" comes a gruff voice.
"Aye, and white as a sheet too. You've scared the stuffing out of them, ya mutt." There is a scratching sound, and then a lamp is lit nearby. In the light of the lamp, the wizards can see two men in dark clothes, and three horses.
The man with the lamp steps forward. "We're friends of Father Dominic. He asked that we wait for you here with horses and travel gear." He steps to one side to point at the three horses. "They're not the finest mounts, but healthy. The third has a tent, some bedrolls, food, and whatever other gear we could scrape up at the last minute."
He pauses, clearly expecting some sort of response. It takes Farron a minute to get over the initial surprise and the sudden flash of fear that comes from "I'm caught!"
He steps forward and does a slight bow. "Thank you, good sirs. Your aid is appreciated more than I can possibly express. You did take us by surprise?"
Sa'id also steps forward, nodding. "The resources of the temple of Pelor continue to astound. How did they arrange this?"
The first man laughs, "You've not met the good Father then? He did what'ee allus does. Said, 'make it happen, or someone'll lose some skin.' So, we makes it happen."
Moments later, the two wizards are riding down the road toward the rendezvous.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Two wizards outside of town
Well, if Kasen doesn't ambush us in the dark, looks like we're golden. ;)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
The riders do not pass by. They stop not too far from the porch, and someone calls out in a quiet voice, "Kasen?"
[Can do any RP or whatever you want. Where to from here, boys?]
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Thank the Unsleeping Eye, they had found themselves horses. Escaping the city seemed too simple, too perfect. But perhaps one is rewarded with moments like these when the Gods take interest in your work.
He offers a prayer to Helm then, for seeing them through the gates, and begs forgiveness for his half-truths and for the fact that he is about to ride far from Nesalin and leave Elise to find her own justice. Perhaps Helm can see fit for another to find out about her wicked ways and hold her in check until he returns. But she would not be brought down without him, justice demanded he be there for her fall.
Sliding Truth back in its scabbard he guides stormcloud around to the porch. "Do I need to know why you're late or shall we be off?" he whispers, dropping their packs before them.
From: Ty
Subject: The Exodus; black magic
Garyth dreams of the demon.
In his dream he sees the terrible figure that appeared on the battlefield and drove the army of Nesalin to flight. But now, it does not disappear in an instant, it roves around freely, snatching up all who stand in its path with terrible claws and flailing tentacles. Those grabbed are torn and sundered and the red maw of the demon drinks their life while they scream horribly. Garyth looks down at the sword in his hand and wonders, what was I going to do with this?
But the screams grow louder, and closer, and when Garyth finally wakes up, they are still happening. He sits up, pivoting his head to find the source. The center of the camp.
Around him, the Falcons were jumping up and grabbing weapons. A small figure darts in from the brush, and Garyth almost stabs it before he recognizes Rennik. The Halfling snorts at the implied threat, then says, "Something in the camp."
He and Garyth begin running toward the noise, with Osred, Pensive, and the Falcons closing ranks behind them. Garyth's mind whirls. How did it get in? Past the pickets and the guards and right to the middle of the camp. It didn't make sense.
The closer they get to the sound, the more they run into Overlook citizens headed in the opposite direction. Garyth pushes his way past a knot of fleeing townsfolk, and into a clearing filled with tentacles.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, all of the are currently occupied, and they do not attack him. Each black tentacle has a citizen wrapped in it, most of them dead, but the tentacles continue to squeeze and batter the corpses.
At his side, Rennik hisses, "The witch!"
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
"Let's be off," Farron replies. "We can fill you in on the way. Were you able to bring our spellbooks?" he asks with more than a little concern in his voice.
When Kasen produces the packs Farron's relief is obvious. "Thank all that is good!" he says. What would he have done if Kasen hadn't been able to retrieve them? It was too terrible to imagine.
Farron then tells Kasen all he remembers about the path they took to get to Gully's outpost on their previous trip to the dark temple. He explains that they are to meet their friends there and wait for the Sunmaster to arrive.
"We should leave now and ride as far as we can before we camp."
(Ty, how long will the trip take from where we are? What are the rules for mages and taking watches, etc? If Sa'id and Farron take the first and last watch will that be enough uninterrupted rest to be able to replenish our spell lists?)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Actually, it's the middle of the night right now. Like, 2am. So how far do you want to ride before camping?
According to the rules:
Rest: To prepare her daily spells, a wizard must first sleep for 8 hours. The wizard does not have to slumber for every minute of the time, but she must refrain from movement, combat, spellcasting, skill use, conversation, or any other fairly demanding physical or mental task during the rest period. If her rest is interrupted, each interruption adds 1 hour to the total amount of time she has to rest in order to clear her mind, and she must have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted rest immediately prior to preparing her spells. If the character does not need to sleep for some reason, she still must have 8 hours of restful calm before preparing any spells.
So, tough for them to take watches and still memorize spells.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Kasen at the farm
Oh, and you guys are a good three days from Gully's.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Exodus; black magic
Osred looks at the tentacles in bewilderment. "Wha--but they're coming out of the ground," he thinks, his mind still thick with sleep. "What are they? The demon back again?" His sword is drawn, and Osred is glancing from tentacle to tentacle, deciding which one to attack when he hears Rennick hiss "The witch!"
"The witch," he thinks, shaking his head to clear it. "Should have known she'd be back." He backpedals away from the camp's fires, shields his eyes with one hand, and scans the sky for a glimpse of her, cursing the darkness as he does so.