I Will Move The Heavens
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.
At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.
Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Acedia 3'4" 39 Lb Goblin Female An ebon-skinned Goblin in leather armor. Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Faranmidahn 3'3" 35 Lb Halfling Female Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider Kira 5'0" 120 Lb Human Female A young blonde woman wearing simple robes. Malik 6'2" 195 Lb Human Male A sandy-haired tsuran with blue eyes. Sabina 5'4" 130 Lb Human Female Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Zeke 6'8" 239 Lb Sith-Makar Male A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
A second passes...
Another second...
Silence. Only the babbling of the fountain as the water splashes away. Is it over? Is he really gone? Did that finally happen?
The echoes of Kol's laughter ring in the mind. His screams, of joyous agonizing pain. The cackles, he truly enjoyed the struggle. Being held under, boiling away, becoming brittle bones and sizzling into nothingness. He enjoyed it, calling everyone his friends, leaving love marks on each. Cuts and bites he called caresses and kisses.
He struggled, nearly escaping once, a collective effort dragging him back down until only smoke remained, and then that blew away...
Kol is dead.
You are victorious.
The soaked wizard feels the body slip between his hands, becoming nothing but water and air. Still on his knees, it takes Malik a second to register what's even happened, looking around at the other faces as strands of soaked hair fall in front of his eyes. He opens his mouth to say something, struggles to find the words, and closes it again, a dreamy expression on his face.
In the odd silence that echoes in the wake of Kol's destruction, and then from the house of Daeus comes a familiar figure to some. A blue-scaled sith-makar in white robes, the sunburst of the Dragonfather emblazoned on his chest. He sees the group of people piled in the fountain and looks in every direction before heading your direction. Step-click, step-click. His crystal foot resounding on the pavement. "Thisss one heard of the dissturbansce. The othersss... they are fearful to come out." His green eyes land on Cryosanthia and he moves instinctively toward her. "Why isss every-one in the water?"
Despite still standing in the waters of the flowing, ruined fountain, Kira feels like she could really use a bath. Between the ooze remnants still on her clothes and person, the fact that she coughed one up, and even the lingering of Kol's words and sounds in her head, she still feels ... unclean.
On the other hand... he's gone! She hopes. It seems that way. Still, though, there is a lot to do. The long day isn't done yet. She looks to those around her, slowly. "Is everyone alright?" A purely subjective question, but a hopeful and optimistic one.
Sabina stares at the sudden quiet and the mass of bodies that she assisted stilling. The drenched woman slides back, letting go of Seldan and splashing as she sits in the wreckage of the fountain. Numb fingers beginning to shake, she draws in knees to forehead and wraps her tires arms about her legs and begins to weep..and then sob.
When there is nothing more to hold, when it is done, Seldan rolls more than climbs out of the fresh running river, hair and face completely drenched, the rest of him that is beneath the armor drying with magical swiftness, although the robe over it is completely soaked still. Crimson blood still flows freely from the gash where he'd sliced it open so deeply, and from a dozen other cuts, bites, and bruises besides. His alabaster-fair skin has turned an alarming ashen color, his hair slicked back from his face behind the headband. "Kol Demontry ... he is destroyed," he tells Zeke very, very briefly, without looking at him, and in the way of one who does not register who speaks.
With an effort, he forces himself to one knee, murmuring a paean of thanksgiving to Eluna, a singsong chant that lauds her wisdom and grace.
As the churning subsides in the water, a black clad little hairball, still seeping crimson into he water from her neck reluctantly releases the death grip she has on somebody's leg and flops free. She crawls to the fountain's edge on threes as she presses a hand to her wound.
"Zeke!" Cryosanthia squirms and wriggles her way out of the fountain, rolling over the edge of it to stand up. She's covered in claw marks, water streams off her, draining away with a pinkish hue as it mixes with her blood. Weariness doesn't show very well on her reptilian frame, just the damage. Lots of damage. She exclaims happily, "Kol is dead! We held him down! You're safe!"
She moves to embrace the blue-scale, then halts, then turns to indicate the group at the fountain, "We need some healing. Faran is sick. And... everyone needs some help..."
Kira didn't forget about the brave lucht, but she did lose sight of her in the pile of people. When Faran climbs out, Kira sloshes luchtwards. "I can tend your wound, if you'll allow me." She knows many are wounded, but those bitten or otherwise worse should get priority. "And any others," she adds aloud. She's among them, but not worse, so not a priority.
Zeke looks around, quickly categorizing your injuries with the eyes of a healer. He looks briefly surprised, and then as Cryosanthia approaches him he thumps his tail abruptly, jerking lightly at the sudden loud sound that echoes in the air. The sith-makar flashes his teeth in a brief grin that is all vicious victory and then he is reaching deep inside himself, soft draconic slipping free from his lips. A thanks to the Dragonfather. Then a pulse of warmth radiates from him. Healing everyone's cuts and scrapes.
The blue-scaled sith reaches out with his crystal claw to touch Cryosanthia's arm in passing, but goes to Seldan and slowly lowers himself to look at the paladin. "You do not look well Sseldan." Faranmidahn is close at hand as well and he glances at her, but Kira seems to be attending to her wounds. "The vampire fed from you?"
The lucht flops onto the edge for support, which hurts certain bits more than others, and breathes slowly, "I don't fe-uuuurhblblrlaaaa!" the infusion of healing magics makes her shudder and wretch up thick, phlegmy tar.
Sabina continues to weep, body trembling in the cold water and left over fear and adrenaline. "I should...I s-s-should.." Her hands reach for her holy symbol and pulls it free just as the healing energy from Zeke hits her. What few injuries and bruises she had from the wrestling fade away and then young priestess sobs again. Still she shakily gets to her feet, looking around with red eyes.
Malik winces as the oozes start to come back up, a look of deepest sympathy on the man's face. Perhaps he has some experience with this. Unlike the others, his scratches bleed a deep and ominous black, looking for all the world like the watery oozes that they just vanquished. Though he seems to snap out of his reverie when Zeke moves to Seldan, mentioning the man's condition. "Sel," he says, moving to the man's side.
"It is yet an improvement over when last ... I baited evil to its destruction." The horrific sound of vomit makes Seldan look up, and he swiftly tries to get to his feet as if to help-
-only to immediately drop back to one knee dizzily, planting a fist into the stone to steady himself. "My mace - it is over there," he tells nobody in particular, staring down at the soaked cobblestones.
Kira winces at Faranmidahn's retching. While the healing energies mitigate her need to tend her, she can still help by at least holding the lucht's hair out of the way? Well, some of it? With one hand, as she tries to stifle her own hacking with her other hand. "It'll. Be. Alright." She tries to assure betwen coughs. "We can. Help you."
Cryosanthia feels a lot of her wounds and ache fade with that burst of warmth, but it is the knowledge what it means that makes her soar. Things are better! Only a little, two steps forward, one step back. "Zeke, she was, and consumed by the plague ooze. I think she's infected as well. Kira is also, I would have been again except... Ahh!"
The sudden appearance of an ooze as Faran coughs one up is enough proof. Cryosanthia leaps across the fountain, landing and scooping up the mace, and then dashes over to the black goop. She takes out her frustration on it, pounding it into the pavement.
"Ssstay down Ssseldan. You need ressstoration." Zeke looks at the paladin firmly then over at Sabina. His green eyes meet hers briefly, and he tries to comfort her with a look, but he is sith-makar and expressions don't travel very well between the species. It's hard to tell really what he's trying to do. Zeke looks up abruptly, watching Cryosanthia slam the ooze into oblivion and shakes his head. He looks at Malik. "Can you help Ssseldan to the temple of the Dragonfather? Thisss one will see Faran in. You all need ressst and... perhapsss ssome warm tea yesss?"
Carefully Zeke rises to his feet and makes his way to Faran, stepping around the body of the ooze that his cihuaa had decimated. "Thissss one would take you to the People Faran, to have you healed. Thisss one hass sseen your sstrength, and believesss that you can be cured." He looks at Cryosanthia. "Could you help her to the temple of the Dragonfather?"
Faranmidahn pants weakly between lingering retchings, but she gives a tiny nod, at least as much as she can with her head resting against the stone, "thhhhank you... Still.... I'mm..... I'm kinda sleepeeee."
Kira catches her breath and nods to... maybe Zeke? Cryo? Or another who commented or asked something. With a moment of thought, she has a possible epiphany... or simply one more in a series of not necessarily the most wise ideas today. "I think I can help her... but we should get away from the fountain." She pauses to take a few more breaths. "And I'll need others' help. With maces... or fire?"
Malik gives Zeke a small nod, looking to the blazing fire on the steps of Eluna's temple. Raising a hand, he utters a few words, and the pile of burning logs simply seems to collapse into itself, a shining bead in the air for a moment as it travels to the tsuran's hand -- though the scorch marks on those steps remain. Someone will likely want words about that later. For the moment, though, he very gently puts an arm around Seldan's waist, taking the paladin's arm over his shoulders as he helps the man to his feet. He pauses just a moment, pressing his forehead against Seldan's temple, then nodding in the direction of the Sun God's sanctuary, attempting to guide the moon goddess's paladin in that direction.
"Of course Zeke, I will." Cryosanthia meets his gaze then crouches beside the lucht. Carefully she reaches out, gently gathering Faran from where she lies on the fountain, taking her up in her arms and holding her close to her chest. She lays her head on top of the lucht's fuzzy ball of hair. "It's Ok Faran, we've got you. You were brave, it's over, it's over. We got him, all together, it wouldn't have happened without you." She stands, carrying her friend, looking back at her cihuaa, then Sabina, "See to her too, She needs help and I know her. I'll tell them more beds, send healers."
The palescale sith carries the albino lucht into the Temple of Daeus, she's concerned, her little friend is an even starker white than she is.
The sound of feet pattering against the feet is the first sign of the Goblin's approach. From the Temple of Tarien, she runs, holding what seems to be a scepter of some kind. Behind her, looking slightly mad, is one of the priests of Tarien. Acedia slows suddenly, at the group of people and their condition. The priest comes up behind her, whatever angry rant he had dying in his throat. She turns and shoves the scepter into his stomach, causing him to grunt. "Stop cowering and do your job!", she snarls.
It is a slow beginning, but soon others begin to venture forward. Priests from the surrounding temples move out to give aid. Likely non-magical, due to the nature of the ooze. And for those who might be freshly emplagued.
There's a squeak and Malik will find the bardic Gobbo at his side, looking both happy and upset to his him and his state. Seldan's appearance causes her energy to drain somewhat. "Seldan!" She moves closer, to help with his assistance.
With Faran now taken, and Seldan being aided, Kira looks for others not yet getting assistance, so that she may correct that oversight.
Sabina shakes her head, hearing the conversations around her like they're far away. "No.. no I'm ok. I'm ok. I'm.." She blinks her reddened eyes and sees Faran's knife in the water where she dropped it. She picks it up and places it in the small pile of things that Cryo had given her earlier. Click..click..the thoughts build and she gasps and looks around wildly. "Emp! Emp! Come back! Bring Zephyr too!" There is an indignant cry of a peacock as the bird flaps clumsily into the air and back to Bina's shoulder, a spider riding in a better spot on it's back this time.
For the first time, Seldan looks up as an arm wraps around his waist, and he is pulled to his feet. Malik gets a wan but warm smile, and he leans most of his weight on Malik, closing his eyes. "Would someone please fetch my weapons, and have them brought me?" he asks, again of nobody in particular, leaning his head on Malik's shoulder, his accent thicker than usual. He sniffs at the black blood marking Malik, frowns, and starts to raise a hand, but thinks better of whatever he had in mind. Instead, he allows Malik to steer him in the desired direction, not yet daring to look at Acedia.
Kira may look... anything but her best, but she can still manage her usual warm smile. Which she now turns to Sabina. "Are you sure? I can help if you'll allow. We should have the healers look to you, just in case?"
Zeke is leading you all away from the fountain, and consequently the curious clerics with their surely prying questions. There's not many of them yet, but if you dawdle long... you might well find yourselves mobbed. The blue-scaled sith moves to the temple, and quickly sets about securing a large space for everyone to gather in. A quiet(ish) section of the temple where everyone can gather together. Zeke directs Seldan to one bed, and Faranmidahn to another, and quickly takes charge of looking them over. Here the sith is ever-practical and clearly in his element, checking to see how badly each of them has been bitten and sighing. "Neither of you hass been infessted by the vampiresss curssse, but Faran... You indeed have caught the plague. Thisss one asssksss your permisssion to sssend for one of the People to attend you." He looks at the pair, sitting down and looking tired. "Thisss one can ressstore you both after thisss one completesss morning absssolutionsss."
Faran shivers as her hair trails like a bone white tendril from her scalp to the surface of the water, her feet shrouded in matted curls of her fetlocks, trailing water like a spigot over her friend. "T-torrr....Torrent.... wh-where's... Torrent...?"
Bina turns to the new voice that is close and finds Kira there. She blinks rapidly. As if Kira had magically appeared there. She's about to shake her head no when Kira's smile strikes her like a blow. A fresh wave of tears starts and she nods, trying hard to smile. "I'll allow..that. ..Thank you. Just let me..find Seldan's weapons.."
Malik offers the small goblin a wan smile. "All is well, for now," he offers, even if the tone of his voice says that he doesn't quite actually believe that. But right now, there are other things on the wizard's mind -- like getting the paladin indoors and to relative safety. As Zeke examines them, Malik simply slides down the wall next to Seldan's bed, finding a comfortable place to sit as he leaves an inky black streak on the wall behind him, exhaustion overtaking him finally. "You missed all the fun," he offers in a weak chuckle to the bard, paying attention to what the blue-scaled Sith is saying.
"Torrent is safe. I left him inside the Temple at the salt bins. I'll get him to come. It's okay, rest. we'll be fine." Cryosanthia says, laying Faran down on the bed where's she's directed to do so, "Let Zeke treat you. He will take care."
She heads out, and when she returns she is leading a giant spider and carefully takes him around the edge of the room. She also seems to have borrowed a tabard of the Temple of Daeus, it doesn't quite fit her, largely sliding off to one side on her back because of her tail, but it's better than nothing and she keeps adjusting it when she stands still. Dropping off Torrent with Faran, she heads over to the tea.
The Gobbo begins splashing about in the fountain, eventually finding Reunion, and actually trips over Seldan's mace. Frowning, with water dribbling down, she moves to catch up with the group as they are sequestered in the Temple of the Sun God. She looks up at Malik and shakes her head. "You two keep going off without me.", she says quietly. Staring at the blade, she eyes Seldan as he's settled onto a bed. "For once your blade has no smartmouth comments. What'd you do?" With that admonishment, she will carefully sheath both his blade and mace back in their proper places.
Faranmidahn smiles gratefully, if a little weak, yet and takes a deep breath to offer a, "Thank you..." Her hand starts to lift to Zeke at the start of his pronouncement, but drops to the bed by the end and she gives a solemn little nod, "I... trust you, my friend... as you... think best." She glances back toward the direction of the courtyard, "Poor Zephyr..." she whispers.
Seldan, having been removed from his armor and shredded shirt in the process of examining his injuries, attempts to prop himself up on one elbow as Zeke mentions morning absolutions. Only an angry red line remains of the relatively deep gash he'd cut in his left forearm, and that will fade. "Morning absolutions? You mean..." He grins weakly, something about that giving him a lift just as it did Cryosanthia.
More interesting, though, the man has a number of tattoos, more than most paladins and more even than most people expect. Of late, he seems to have added a number of new ones, although they have the look of ones that have been there for some time, not new work. They appear almost as a collage of images - faces, places, things. A griffon. A set of arches, flags a-flying. The mountain of Khazad-Duin across one shoulder. Two or three faces. The artwork is amazingly detailed and now covers much of his back and shoulders, and part of a muscular chest as well.
"I thought to use his bloodlust to lure him to that which might destroy him ... and used Reunion to shed my own blood. I ... expect they are angry."
"Well at least it wasn't someone else's blood, right?" Cryosanthia quips, tilting her head and grinning across at Seldan, "Scalesss, with Merek in Veyshan, you now, and Mikilos I am starting to wonder. You all are quick to offer your blood. Just saying. Thanks though."
"Then thisss one will sssend for one of the People quickly." Zeke rises to his feet again and motions to one of the other clerics nearby, sending them off at a run. The blue-scaled sith looks at Faran very seriously. "We will try to heal you before we casssst anything elssse, but the process... isss very painful Faran. We will need every-one here to be sure that no-thing goes wrong in the processs." He looks at Seldan. "Which meansss you healed kin."
Zeke moves toward Seldan and looks at the paladin very seriously, but there's something soft in his gaze as well. "Esscusse thiss one to prayersss, and when thisss one returnsss thisss one will sssee you whole again." There's a promise and reassurance in those words. An answer to Seldan's almost-question. He nods to Seldan and Malik and then slowly vanishes to perform his prayers.
"It's alright," Kira re-assures Sabina as she sloshes back into the waters to look for weapons, belongings, or other things that may have been misplaced during the fray. There are many ways to help, and this is just as good as any other. "We should get these back to their owners, and see how they are faring." Since most all are in the temple, this would also give the clergy a chance to check Sabina. Just in case.
"It's just biding its time," Malik says, eyes closed as he leans back against the wall, resting his head against the cool stone. "It'll Faranmidahn back with a vengeance. Like an irritating grandparent. Expect it." It may even, in fact, -be- an irritating grandparent of some great-great-great variety or another that starts with the scolding, when it comes, if the pattern holds true. Though to Acedia, he can't help but offer a thin, tight smile. "My apologies," he chuckles. "I was expecting to have dinner. Not a fight. Next time, I'll be sure to invoke the rule of 'time out' so that you can arrive," he laughs, offering her a wink, though the wizard looks incredibly tired. "That, or you could jump in the bag, just to be safe, but I can't even tell you what's in there. Probably not wise."
Sabina nods to Kira and lets herself be led along to the others in the temple in silence and dripping. Once there in the space with the others she spies Faran and Seldan on their beds and lets out a shuddering sigh before shuffling to Faran's side and dipping her shoulder to allow Zephyr to rejoin the Lucht. She opens her mouth to say something nad then closes it and steps back towards Kira. "I need to sit. I think."
Faranmidahn closes her eyes, glad at least her throat stopped hurting, anyway, unfastens her longsword so she can get more comfortable, though that takes a couple of tries, and reopens her eyes to seek his, "As you say, my friend." She gives a tired little smile, still really pale, and, "I'm.... glad we managed to keep.... injuries few..." she says aloud.
"I'm thinking I need one of those." Cryo nods to Malik, setting a tray near him which has two bowls of tea, sitting down beside Faran's bed with one. "Zephyr is ok, with Emperor Extravagance. Here, drink this."
The whole thing about sitting up does not seem to agree with Seldan right now, and he lies back down, although he laughs quietly at Malik's and Acedia's remarks. His mirth sobers, though, when his eyes flick to Cryosanthia. "Thrice before this day have I crossed paths with Kol Demontry, and thrice have I seen his wiles. Once before the Dread Lady's Temple, once while defending Menel from him, and once before the altar of the Draco Solis. I know his power, and his speed, and I knew that none of you stood a chance, did you attempt to take him alone. But, I knew something also of his mind." He pauses, but goes on. "Kol Demontry is a creature wild and unstable, whose passions run far deeper than his good judgment. The taste of blood excites him more than anything, and he has tasted mine before. Does one appeal to his bloodlust, one might induce him to risk life and limb to sate himself."
Again, a pause, as one trying to collect his words. "I also remembered a thing that Master Mithralla once told me, that he attempted to slay Kol by holding him in clean running water for the space of several breaths. He thought it effective, but lacked the strength to execute such a thing alone. I ... hoped perhaps that would suffice."
Kira nods to Sabina and aids her to a place to sit. "Please. Rest. I need to check on the others." She has full faith in the healers here, of course, but that doesn't mean she can't try to help. Even if it's only moral support. It would also allay her own concerns to know that all were well, so she goes to see how Seldan and Faranmidahn are faring.
The Gobbo eyes Malik a moment, and snorts. "If they were civilized, they would certainly allow you to have your trusty violinist to play the music you're going to kick their ass by." She laughs a moment, and then falls silent, staring at Seldan. "That is... some tattoo you're wearing, Seldan." Acedia falls silent, her ears moving somewhat as she takes in other voices nearby.
"So you cut yourself with your familial blade in order to tempt the vampire to stay and finish a meal for once? Reckless. Brute stupidity." The Gobbo stomps a foot, and crosses her arms. "Kinda like throwing yourself from a bridge, innit?" She grins toothily, and gestures with a hand. "Did they all pile on then? Is that why they're soaked and torn and ragged? Did the bastard die?"
"Does... that mean... I taste bad, then?" Faran wonders weakly looking over to Seldan as Cryo settles in next to her with tea. The lucht tries to shift some into a better position to drink, but is still a little wobbly. She looks toward Sabina on her return, laden with equipment, and creatures and she smiles gratefully at her new friend, "Thank you... thank yo so much for saving her, miss Sabina!" Her hand reaches out for Cryo's, a warm smile, "Glad... you're ok, Cryo." As far as she can tell, anyway.
"That is useful to know and we won't need it again. Perhaps it will work with other vampires. It was a good plan Seldan." Cryosanthia says. She nods in Acedia's direction. "Yes. Kol is Dead. We held him under until he bubbled away to nothingness."
After a long moment Zeke returns with another sith-makar in tow. He looks refreshed himself, and walks with more confidence in his steps than he had a few moments ago before he left. The sith-makar with him seems tense and uncomfortable. Zeke goes to Seldan first, the magic coming easily to the sith-makar as he lays his crystal claw on Seldan's head. Magic passes between him and the paladin. Restoring the blood lost to the ginger-blonde and giving him back what he had lost to the vampire. "We have need of you Ssseldan, for thissss will be a messs." He motions for the paladin to follow him and then slowly makes his way to Faranmidahn's side. He looks at her, and his expression is serious and slightly sad. "We have ssspoken, and thisss one mussst resstore your health before we begin. You will be sssick. We mussst all be ready to combat your sssickness ass it isss expelled from your body. Then, we will attempt to casst out the sssickness inssside you, and it will be /painful/. You may not sssurvive, but thiss one will heal you. Thisss will alsssso make you ssick, if the ssspell doess not work. We mussst do thisss many timess it isss likely." A soft sigh leaves Zeke's lips. "It will /not/ be pleasant."
Cryosanthia takes Faran's hand, she gazes up at Zeke, at the other sith-makar. Her nostrils flare as she scents, sniffing for the cause behind the hesitation. Her expression for the blue-scale is a little difficult for most to read. "This one would help. This one would take her pain. I can't lose her." <draconic>
Bina hears Faran's thanks and flinches. She turns and gives the Lucht a wane shadow of a smile and a small wave. Remembering she still has other items with her she shuffles back to Cryo and gently hands over the wet things to her, setting Faran's weapon beside her.
Zeke's words try to intrude but they make little sense at first. But then combat is mentioned as if fighting the sickness means for real. Her eyes grow wide again and she gives the priest a small look of growing horror. "Again?" She asks in a small voice.
The spell that Zeke casts on Seldan dramatically and immediately improves the man's complexion, and within seconds, the paladin sits up, scrubbing at drying hair with one hand. "You, and the Draco Solis, have my thanks for the assistance." He simply nods at the description of what will be done with Faran, and seems to understand with no further explanation. "Malik, I will need my armor again for this, will you aid me?" Not an unusual request, for plate mail which needs assistance to don.
As he speaks, he roles out of the bed, gingerly at first and then with more confidence, going first for the torn shirt and not bothering to clean or mend it.
There is a pause, considerate and quiet as Faran mulls that over, and she looks to the ceiling for a good chunk of that, "I'm not longer worthy of the title... but I would face my fate as befits a Knight." A sigh, "This risks... infecting others and... I cannot, will not, risk.... their safety without their consent." The feel of the sith's hand on hers brings a wan but grateful smile to her face before, closing her eyes, "What say you all?"
Kira is pleased to see Seldan sitting up and and being restored, offering him her smile. "It's good to see you faring better..." It's only after that that she realizes he's out of armor, and notices the tattoos... before politely averting her eyes. Look, all the better to check on Faran with the two sith tending her. Then she hears Zeke's words on the details of that treatment. Things like 'very painful' and 'may not survive.'
Seldan muscles and ink are put aside in a gasp and she steps that way briskly. "That sounds horrible..." Not that she questions the efficacy; she just abhors the thought of suffering, and worse, death. "I ... I would bear that for her, if I may?"
Malik reaches out, ruffling Acedia lightly as he gets to his feet. "Next time, singer," he says. "When we go for Kol's master, I'll be sure that you lead the march with whatever tune you wish to play." But the color drains from his face as Zeke starts to talk about what's going to happen, a small shudder running through him, and he reaches for Seldan's armor once more. "I don't think it works like that," he says to Kira. Not that he sounds unsympathetic about it. If anything, there's a note of regret, there.
Acedia doesn't give Malik much time to ruffle her hair, she leans into him and hugs tightly. "Damn straight you will. It'll be the bitch's funeral dirge, and they'll hear it across the planes and know something excellent this way comes!" The Gobbo bounces up at Zeke's announcement and she goes to circle him, chattering quickly. "CanIhelpsmacktheooze!" She pauses to breathe. "I've puked up more of those things than I'd care to remember and I'll help smack it good!"
Zeke looks between Cryosanthia and Kira, and the sith shakes his head. "There isss no known way to do allow one to bear the sssuffering of another. One can not transssfer thisss illnesss to another becaussse it isss not in fact an illnesss at all, but a manner of possesssion. A creature liesss within her, one that mussst be exsspelled." Then he looks at Sabina, and not without a trace of sympathy, though again sith-makar expressions are difficult to read. "If you do not wissh to take the rissskss of remaining, thiss one will not judge you, but thisss one will do thisss for Faran. Thisss one would sssee her healed. If ssshe will allow."
Sabina glances around and obviously feels small and out of place. She sucks in a deep breath and blows it out, eyes sinking back to normal size. "I will help. But I'll need a weapon to use. Mine is far from here and fire inside the temple seems a bad idea." She steps back out of the way. "I'll..help." she repeats.
There seems to be no question of what Seldan's intentions are, as he re-arms with Malik's assistance. Now healed, he seems much sharper, more focused, and even happier than before, although it is to Faranmidahn that he looks, seriously, even as he attaches pieces of armor to himself with no apparent concern for the state of undress he'd only just displayed. "Faranmidahn, I think you not unworthy at all. Unlucky, perhaps, but not unworthy. Your Knighthood, your ideals, shall not turn their back on you, do you not turn your back on it, and do you stand strong, you will show yourself worthier still." He, too, wears real sympathy on his face - there are too many here who know all too well what is about to happen, it seems.
He pauses, but does not pick up the swordbelt, only the mace attached to it. "I will answer to Reunion later, when she is well."
Kira's lips purse and she nods to Zeke, who knows far more of this plague than she. Most everyone likely does. "I see. I thought I might, and couldn't not try." She is still here to assist, regardless, and will do so however she can.
The white-scale sith-makar stares at the blue-scale, and while there's little motion to her, the confidence and exuberance from earlier drain away. She still holds the lucht's hand tightly. The look in Seldan's direction is haunted, and she quickly looks away, at nothing, nosing at her friend, "You can't die, ok? I'll take the tea and chase you down before you get to the Death Singing Dragon, all right? I'm here, don't let go. I'll stick with you." She exhales, "A bucket of salt might help, and a pile of it, to disadvantage the ooze."
Quietly, "Tell me what to do Zeke."
"Let me get some soapy water, perhaps?" the Gobbo asks of Zeke? "Or a big stick at least!" She runs out of the room, and somewhere deeper into the Temple, a shout is heard. A bit of squeaking. And a short time later, Acedia returns, bearing a large bucket. One can see 'Fire Brigade' written on the side, and it is full of water. A few suds and bubbles float about. "Ready!"
Faran gives Cryo's hand a squeeze, trying not to get misty, trying not to betray her brave face, despite the words she must now intone, "If I fail... find Korsandir and Serrendine Waywalker.. . there's a research camp four leagues southwest of the Everstorm. Tell them my story. Tell it true, tell them..." it's starting to break, her voice going first, "I... forgive her... and I... I love both of them and I'm sorry, and I did what I could. And.. please see to Zephyr and Torrent?" Seldan's words slowly draw her eyes and, as he speaks, she slowly latches onto it like a lifeline, hauling her flagging confidence and pride back hand over hand, word over word, back to something prepared to face this potential end with proper grace. "I love you all, thank you for the wonders I've seen and you're warm companionship." She closes her eyes. Takes a breath and starts to gather herself to a proper sitting position, this first part is gonna such, "I'm ready to begin." Reluctantly, the little white spider moves along the bed and up the wall.
Preparations are made. Everyone who doesn't have one is offered a blunt weapon - it's a simple club but better than nothing. You are sectioned off from others who might be at risk. Faran is given a bucket of salty water half-full to throw up in when (not if) she is ill. Zeke warns her quietly to hold tight lest the throws of pain cause her to drop it. He stands very close to the little lucht, one claw helping her hold the bucket, the other crystal claw quietly resting on her head. "Ready yoursssselvess." That is all the warning you get before he casts his spell and sends his magic into Faran's body to heal her of the bloodloss that was caused by the vampire. It's a spell he knows that will make her feel better and worse all at once. His crystal claw pets her head, a soothing presence.
Malik, for his part, mostly just stands by the wall, slightly behind Seldan. It doesn't seem like he's planning on getting into much of a fight unless it becomes absolutely necessary to do so. He gives Zeke a small nod, waiting for the chaos to ensue.
"Malik... the ooze is Universal Magic and there is some unknown function occurring in it that Faran and I have been unable to understand. Someone with wiser eyes needs to watch it. This is not a good time for an experiment, and having the spell up will make it go for you instead of others, but it's something to consider doing. Hopefully, one won't last the time necessary for you to understand it, but these things have had a way of going wrong." Cryosanthia says, taking up a stick but also staying close to Faran for support.
Seldan seems quite prepared to begin, leaving Reunion behind and instead arming with only the mace. The swordbelt has been left in the corner next to Malik, but when Cryosanthia speaks, he nods. "I will defend him, if he will watch." His eyes flick from face to face around the room, and when he reaches first Sabina and then returns to Faranmidahn, his smile brightens, trying to offer a measure of reassurance.
Malik gives a small nod to Cryosanthia, understanding. He whispers the words, and those already-blue eyes glow with a faint, icy light as he prepares to watch the proceedings unfold.
"Zeke and Chay cured me.", Acedia says. "Zeke can cure you, Faranmidahn." The Gobbo hefts up the bucket of sudsy water, waiting for her chance to soak the ooze.
The bucket presented, Faran manages to wrap limbs around it as Zeke prepares to cast the first spell to better shore her up for the second. Ok, deep brea-rglglgllglglglglglg! Thankfully, her little body isn't strong enough to crush wood, but, even as she convulses in response to the fullsome, all encompasing -heave- she manages to get a little squeak of the wood complaining about the pressure she's putting it under.
The ooze struggles to get out of the bucket, clearly trying to crawl up the sides as it quickly dissolves in the solution of salt and water. Still, they're far from done yet and Zeke nods to his sith-makar companion, his claw petting Faran one last time before the unnamed sith casts his spell on the poor lucht. This one does nothing but cause her pain. Pain from the spell setting off the ooze, and pain from the working of the spell itself.
Cryosanthia watches the little lucht with concern, one hand on the centre of her back, for support, a cold comfort. She starts to speak, makes a strange sound in her throat and loses the words. Instead, she starts a quiet, comforting hum and rubs her back, ready in case there's something to smash, worried there's little more she can do. Her words come finally, "Hold on, you're strong. You can endure."
The Gobbo holds off on letting loose with the buck of water. She sniffles a little bit. "I know it's awful.", she says quietly. "Just hold on tightly."
Bina looks away at first, but turns back to watch. The ooze could go anywhere.. do anything and she has to be ready this time.
The little sorceress has a couple of quick, shaky breaths under her belt before the second spell is cast... and goes so very, very wrong. Her body is wracked by even stronger, more violent convulsions as the new spell interacts with the entity that has contaminated her, and with her own, raw magic. There is a sudden ozone-like tingle in the air, as sparkling clouds of arcane sparks and sooty ribbons of inky blackness lash at each other and along her flesh, leaving trails of hoarfrost, of scorch mark of that and more. It's only that her throat is locked into the reactionary expulsion of a second ooze that's keeping the lucht from being able to scream in her agony.
The second expulsion of ooze is bigger and nastier than the first, and it manages to over-fill Faran's bucket and frankly... She's in no condition to deal with it as it slops out of the bucket and onto her bed. It wiggles there momentarily before launching itself at someone who happens to be rather close - namely Cryosanthia who is trying to comfort her friend.
Standing at the ready, Seldan waits, watching closely, trying to shut off his response to Faran long enough to protect the others, but when he is done, he straightens, and looks at Zeke. "Zeke," he says quietly. "This is not how I was cured, and I know of others who have taken a different road. I ... believe there to be another way."
Zeke is distracted for just a minute from Faran by Seldan's words. The sith-makar looks over at him and confusion twists his brow. "What would you have thisss one do?" He jerks away suddenly as the ooze takes form and launches itself. "Cryossanthia!!!"
The Gobbo's eyes widen and she squeaks, "Look out!" Then she hefts the bucket and lets fly with the soapy water. Aimed generally in Cryosanthia and the ooze's direction.
Cryosanthia does not need to be warned twice, although it helps. Leaning in to see if she could assist her friend, she's got a close view of the ooze as it emerges and overflows, then surges for her. She reacts instantly, throwing herself backwards, twisting, diving into a front flip off the bed behind her and kicking a window frame and the wall before spinning to land on the other side of the room. She still has her stick with her, and the tabard. Her little bundle of returned magic things lie on the bed she launched off.
Ack! Kira tries to not be in the way of soapy or salty water. Not for herself, but so it can be effectively used against the hrrked ooze trying to lunge at Cryosanthia. If she gets an opening she'll try to swat at it to keep it down.
Whatever Seldan was about to say gets dropped on the floor like a Lego when the ice cream truck jingles outside, and he immediately takes the mace in both hands, intending to drop the ooze just re-introduced to the world in short order.
Faranmidahn flops to her side on the bed in the aftermath, still writhing in lingering pain as the effects of the first cast make themselves quite known to her and she finally manages to draw in enough, just enough, breath for a wheezy whimper, several spreads of free roaming hair that were burned free from her legs to add ambiance. She's certainly looked better.
The ooze is dealt with swiftly, and without any mercy. First splashed by enough water to make it a mere blob on the floor where it had tried to attach itself to the too-quick Cryosanthia, and then smashed into smithereens by two bludgening weapons. Zeke looks worriedly at Faran, but steps aside from her for a moment to step over to where Seldan stands and lowers his voice. "What do you mean Ssseldan? Isss there sssome other way to do thisss?"
Sabina stands near the back, and lifts her cub waiting. She lets out a small prayer as the things keep emerging from poor Faran. And yet thankful she's not had to press an attack yet.
"Master Mithralla was able to cure himself, using spells of dispelling," Seldan tells Zeke, quietly. "It does not always work, and seldom the first time, but is not so complex a spell, and does not harm the target. He said ... it seems to anger the ooze, but must draw all of it out, for it will regrow swiftly if any is left behind. Will you permit me to try it? The spell is known to me."
"But it does work, Seldan.", the Gobbo says, tugging at the man's arm. "Honestly, every method should be utilized." She looks to Faran a moment, then back to the Paladin. "Trust me if you have to puke that thing up... it's gonna hurt. It's been sitting in your stomach, kinda."
Cryosanthia hesitates at the edge of the room, then approaches closer to Faran again. Ready, in case the ooze shows a particular interest in her once more. "He's in terrible shape Seldan. I don't know what's best."
"Thisss one knowsss ssuch ass well. Perapssss thisss isss divine provincse sssince it doess not alwaysss work the firssst time. Thisss one will permit you to ussse your ssspellsss, and if yoursss do not sssucceed thisss one will ussse what sspellss thiss one hasss before we resssort to..." Zeke's eyes flicker to his fellow sith-makar whom is waiting for the signal to try again. "Whatever we mussst do to sssucceed." His jaw is tight with determination to heal the little lucht, and he offers the paladin a slow nod before leading the man over to Faran's table.
Green eyes look down at the little lucht, and Zeke carefully eases the sweaty hair back from her face with his crysstal claw. "We have a plan Faran, it will be unpleassant, but less painful. In the hopesss that we do not need to return to our other methodsss." He is trying to be comforting, but there's only so much that he can do. "Here, drink ssssome tea before we begin again." He picks up said cup, urging her to drink the taste of foulness from her mouth before Seldan casts his spell.
Malik just keeps watching. Mostly. He's trying to concentrate. But the lucht's suffering isn't an entirely unknown quantity to him either, and some of the color has already drained from his face. Crossing his arms, he leans back against the wall, trying his best to look casual -- but the small shiver that he holds back suggests other reasons for the move.
"Well do I know it, Acedia," Seldan looks down at the Gobbo tugging on his hand, and smiles, though it does not reach his eyes, and he, too, wears a look that recalls unhappy experiences. "But I would spare her as much as I may. If I can spare her that, then how can I not at the least try? If this works ... perhaps may such a method be used on those who would not withstand the other means? No, Acedia. I must at the least try, if Faranmidahn will permit it." He tugs at his hand, trying to pull it loose, and nods to Cryosanthia, but it is Faranmidahn he watches now. "Will you permit me to try it?"
The Gobbo nods to Seldan, and hugs his arm momentarily, before she moves to kneel at Faran's side. "You're still here, and still alive. You'll make it. We'll help you get there."
Faran flinches some at the touch, bot only because everything feels like a fresh wound and she gives a weak nod before she shakily tries to sit up, "...th-thank you.." she says with a swallow and accepts the tea, managing to get some of it into her mouth, though the spillover doesn't add enough pain to really draw a reaction. She lightly touches the crystal arm and forces a tired smile, "As.... as you see fit." she reaffirms, then turns to Seldan, at Acedia, to Cryo and she smiles to them before she nods, "What... do we have to do, Sir?"
Bina lowers her weapon and listens to the choices being made and hoping their outcome is good. She squats down where she stands, finding her muscles stiff and sore from tension and from watching the suffering of the Lucht. And as Faran smiles Sabina does as well. "Bravery. It takes so many forms."
"I mean to attempt to dispel it. This will anger it, and draw it out ... I must get all of it, though, and that is no easy task." Seldan continues to hold his mace in his right hand, but raises his left hand and draws a series of sigils in the air, then speaks an arcane word. To those conversant with _dispel magic_, the method is unconventional, outdated, and yet he manages it readily enough, for all four sigils, simpler than the more modern method, burst into violet fire before him when he speaks.
He speaks a final word, of negation, and slashes through all four sigils; the violet fire at once turns into nothingness - reverses - and attempts to pull the magic within the lucht with it.
GAME: Seldan casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 13 DC: 19 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+13: (19)+13: 32
Cryosanthia slips into her seat beside Faranmidahn and rubs at her back again. She watches Seldan's spell with some curiousity. "You'll beat this Faran."
Faranmidahn closes her eyes and smiles, unable to help the two beads that roll down, slaloming between her facial gems for the pain and the she looks up to face Seldan with renewed determination as his chant begins.... and... and nothing? No... no pain, no urge to purge no.... She draws in a sharp breath and, "I... is it.. it's gone....?"
Zeke too waits, patiently watching Faranmidahn with sharp eyes and then slowly... slowly relaxing. Then he exhales a small sound of relief. "It seems so." He waits a moment longer and then breathes out. "Thisss one sseess no further sign of the plague in you." Green eyes slide around the room, taking everyone in and then landing on Kira. "You have the plague asss well do you not? With all of usss here, now may be the time to sssee it gone from your body."
When Faran does not puke up an ooze, Seldan, too, relaxes, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. All at once, he stares at his hand, as if a great weight was released from his shoulders, and his entire demeanor brightens with sudden, renewed hope, his lips tugging into a smile expressing things that cannot be put into words. It is only Zeke's comment that jars him from his reverie, and he nods. "I will do my best. I cannot promise that it will always go so well, but ...."
Malik looks ready to examine whatever comes up -- and yet nothing does. The wizard seems to not quite know what to do with that, turning his attention back to the others talking. "That was -- efficient. And powerful," he mentions.
Cryosanthia immediately embraces Faranmidahn, tight, cold, hug, "It worked!" She wiggles on her seat happily.
Looking over at Malik, she suggests, "We could get a big glass bowl to trap it under. If it's always going to jump at me...?"
The white-scale looks at Kira and Zeke, "I wouldn't want to risk the treatment, Kira should be helped."
Kira is relieved when Zeke seems to give the lucht an all clear, and she lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She beams to Seldan, Zeke, and everyone else around Faranmidahn. "That was..." well, she can't say 'great' or 'pleasant'... You all did very well!"
At Zeke's comment to her, she nods. "If you can, I would be grateful," though she adds the caveat, "after any others who need it are treated."
Acedia offers Faranmidahn a hug, before standing and giving Seldan one as well. "Can you teach that to others, Seldan? Is it something priests can do? Other paladins too?" She hops from foot to foot in a dance, spinning herself about.
Faran all but wilts into Cryosanthia's arms in relief with a loud expulsion of breath, "Thank Gods...!" She gently pats the sith's scales, and reaches out for Acedia as well, "Thank you!" She sighs to collect herself and wonders, "Might I have something suitably bashy, please? My blades simply won't do for this."
Zeke motions for Kira to come closer. "Your consssern for otherssss ssservesss you well, and we will do what we can to treat othersss, but you mussst let usss aid you while we can. Come, sssit. Let Ssseldan do what he may for you." There's another bed nearby that Kira can be seated upon if she chooses. He is gently insistant that she do so. "Now that we know that thisss worksss, it can be done... with effort. You may find yourssself ssick of courssse, but that isss why we are all here. Faran, the clubs are bessside the cupboard there." He motions with his free claw in the appropriate direction.
Bina stands back up, and stretches for a moment and then goes back to being ready to beat ooze should it appear. The priestess again touching the symbol of Tarien around her neck like a good luck charm. And perhaps it is as everyone is still alive so far and one last person to cure.
While the others settle themselves and prepare for the second healing, Seldan closes his eyes and breathes deeply several times, ignoring all of the chatter and movement around him, mace held dangling from one hand. The lines of his body almost speak of meditation or focusing of some sort, but when all are settled, he looks up and turns to locate Kira. "Would you have me do what I may for you?" he asks the Sentinel, evenly.
Kira can't argue with the logic: she can't help others as well when she's struggling along, herself. She just feels a bit odd as patient rather than healer or attendant. She nods her concession to Zeke and moves to sit down. A single deep breath and then she looks to Seldan, her smile even widening as she nods. "Yes, please. I'm ready."
With Kira's acceptance of Zeke's gentle insistance the blue-scaled sith takes a step back and readies his own staff which looks to be more a walking stick than a weapon and yet... he handles it capably and as it twirls in his claws so that the down-side is up he narrows his gaze and nods to Seldan seriously. "Assss you will Ssseldan. Thisss one iss ready."
Cryosanthia collects her magic ring and sets it down on the floor between Kira and Malik, "It may go for this if no one is too close." She takes up a club and stands beside Faran, ready to assist with the physical part of Kira's cure.
Faranmidahn wiggles loose and scoots over to get the club with a newly reinvigorated, "Thank you!" Then turns and makes her way back to Lady Kira, reaching out to touch her shoulder, "You can do this." Then edges back and two hands the club. She's small and the slimes are big. "Master Malik, could you ready your detection spell, please? Just in case?"
Malik's eyes still have the subtle glow, giving a nod to Faran as he prepares for -- whatever is about to happen here.
When all is ready, Seldan simply nods, turning to face Kira with the mace in one hand, his other hand free, but leaving as much space between her and him as he may safely do. Again, he draws the identical, unusual set of sigils, with lips set in a tight, focused line. Again, the words of power and the violet fire. Again, the negation and reversal, the slash through the sigils, but this time, the target is the Sentinel.
GAME: Seldan casts Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 13 DC: 19 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+13: (18)+13: 31
Kira isn't sure what to expect, but she's ready for it. Then she's still ready. After a long pause, she opens her eyes to look at Seldan and, for a moment, she thinks that she missed his efforts. Then she realizes that he's no longer casting and blinks. "That ..." She takes a deep breath; an easier one, and smiles widely at Seldan. "Thank you. You made that seem effortless, though I'm sure it isn't."
Zeke is ready again, prepared for the eventuality of the spell failing... but it's so simple and he can tell right away that it worked and his staff rotates into standing at his side. The sith's tail thumps loudly behind him and for a change he doesn't jump at the sound which he made purposefully. "Ssseldan! You have done it!" He hums with approval and looks at the paladin with bright green eyes. "Thisss one can finally cure those that are ssssickesst. Thisss may not work with every effort, but it clearly worksss better than what we have tried before!" He sounds so relieved.
And again, there is nothing - and again, Zeke pronounces the patient clear. Instead of turning towards the sith-makar, then, Seldan again stares at his hands, bows his head, and turns away from everyone to stare at the floor - at the walls - at nothing. At his hands. He says nothing, but those with sharp eyes watching might see the broad shoulders within the armor shaking. Just a little.
Bina lets her arms hang down and finally relaxes as the spell works and Kira is cured. She moves back to where she was sitting before and eases down to the floor with her back against the wall looking tired and worn even though she did little to assist. "Does this sort of thing happen often here in Alexandria?" She asks more to Tarien then anyone present.
Seldan acquires a limpet Gobbo once more. She clings to his side. "Seldan? You've done it. In one fell blow, Kol is gone. And you've cured people of the plague." She pulls lightly on his arm. "Next stop, a certain fae in her frigid tower."
Faranmidahn steps forward to gently alight a hand upon his, "Are.... are you alright?" she asks, eyes large with concern. She keeps the club in her other hand just in case, but still, she looks about, smiling to the other newly cured soul and, "Not always.... but maybe we can make better, brighter days to come. Together." That said, she glances to Zeke, to Cryosanthia, knowing they are more closely tied to Seldan than she, then back up to the paladin's face once more.
Cryosanthia is waiting, ready, then... nothing happens. The intriguing spell is cast, Kira seems affected, and then she's cured. The Paladin is making it look easy. Except... she watches him, and there's something wrong. Coldly she stares, thoughts clicking over, putting the pieces together. She leans close to Zeke, whispering, "His mother...?"
Zeke does not understand at first, why Seldan is not looking at him, but he is a healer and he recognizes Seldan's body language right away. He hardly needs Cryosanthia's soft words whispered in his ear but he nods, meets her gaze and nods again. Then he moves to the paladin, places a firm crystal claw on his kin's shoulder and offers comfort. There are so many near the paladin now, their nearness makes Zeke uneasy, but this is his kin. "Ssseldan. We can sssend for your nest-mother. Bring her here to be healed. Thisss one underssstandss. With all of usss here, thisss one isss certain that we can do thisss."
Malik moves to Seldan's other side, putting a hand on the man's shoulder. He looks at Acedia, and then to the others, before looking back to the goblin. "No. There's somewhere else that we need to go first."
Acedia looks to Faran a moment, and then to Zeke. Her eyebrows rise up and she looks then to Malik, and finally Seldan. "Well what are we waiting for!? Let's get this show on the road! We can go to her. We can go to everyone! Let's beat the tar out of the plague right now!"
The hands - one on his hand, one crystal and one so familiar on his shoulder, finally draw Seldan's eyes, and he looks up and around, the ice-blue orbs bright with tears. He draws a deep, shuddering breath, then another, steadier one, and nods to both Malik and Zeke. "I ... this spell is not a new one to me. Had I known...I am such a fool." He looks down at the floor again.
A terrible sympathy blooms on Faran's features as the nature of Seldan's torment is made clear and she gives the hand a bit of a feeble squeeze, "Sir Seldan... Not every use of every tool is apparant. Nore... every answer to a riddle. Think of the fountain. Send for your mother, I will gladly escort her here, Sir Seldan." She really, really means it. Really. She doesn't intent for this to go like the last time she offered. She isn't sure she could take another such incidence. A look to Acedia, to Zeke, to Cryosanthia and the... ohhhhhhhh.....! As a stray cog finally drops into mesh in the lucht's brain, she looks to Mr Malik anew and her eyes are hopeful.
There are not words enough for comfort Zeke knows. Only action will serve. Zeke tightens his grip on Seldan's shoulder, but just briefly. Enough to remind the paladin of his presence. "It iss not a new one to thisss one either. To think of the livesss we might have sssaved, or the sssuffering we might have abated issss inssanity kin. All we can do isss move forward. All we can do isss cure her /now/. Thisss we can do."
"What matters, Seldan, is that you, and others, can now make a massive change in the world. You can turn peoples' lives around. You cannot blame yourself, you WILL NOT blame yourself." The Gobbo looks to Zeke and nods enthusiastically. "He is right. Besides... think about it. We've pushed back on the beings responsible for this. That feeling you are feeling right now? Save it for the creatures responsible for this misery. Right now, we need your mercy. But in future, we will need your wrath."
Bina watches things unfold and gains insight on what is transpiring. She begins to nods slowly. "There is a celebration that needs to happen." She says loud enough to be heard this time. "An evil has already been brought low. A sickness needs to be cured and a loved one saved. I can think of no better reason for celebration then that. Let us see it done so I can...no.. we can find our laughter again."
"Seldan, it was not known to be safe, it wasn't until our friends were desperate and brave, that we were willing to risk it." Cryosanthia says, her voice sympathetic and low, "It will still be dangerous, be prepared for that."
The decision is made, and the group gathers together and heads to the Soldier's Defense. Seldan's mother is /not/ in traveling condition as it turns out, and so it's best if the way is made to her instead. However the moment you step foot in the Soldier's Defense you know something is... wrong. It's cold in here. Very cold. A wicked chill that deepens with every step you take. People, the sick and infirm are frozen stiff in their cots, a few less lucky individuals are statues; frozen in place.
This knowledge sends you toward where Seldan's mother was last laying all the quicker, horror growing at the dawning realization that something horrible happened here and that all these people are now dead. You throw open the door to the room, and the cot is empty, the walls crawling with ice. There's a simple white note with a snowflake emblazoned on the front of it laying on the bed. It flutters in the gentle wind of the door opening, and breath hangs in the chilled air.
Seldan's mother... is gone.
Acedia is exuberant... until the group reaches the Soldier's Defense. The slow realization that everyone here may be dead... has her sticking very close to Malik and Seldan. The empty cot in Seldan's mother's room causes her to gasp. "That. Bitch.", she says, partly under her breath.
Malik simply has no words. His eyes are wide, his face disbelieving, glancing to Seldan as he looks around at all the icy corpses left in the creature's wake. This appears to be overkill, even for him. He glances at the bed, then back to Seldan, something in his face setting, hardening. He simply gives the other man a nod, as if in agreement on something unspoken, then looks to where the letter rests.
Bina summons light to the club she holds when they enter the place. Shivering in the cold and looking at all the dead with a horrid fasination. The cloak she wears is pulled in close and her breath tries to frost. Not completely understanding whats going on but knowing evil has trod where they now stand and left pain behind.
Cryosanthia is worried but hopeful as she travels to the Soldier's Defense. Zeke's cloak is wrapped around, it doesn't quite fit but is better than a human styled tabard. She couldn't risk bringing her magical stuff along. As she walks into the Soldier's Defense, her steps slow. Her head turns, side to side. Unblinking, she stares. She visited some of these people, when she dropped in to see Asmli. The horror of their frozen faces sink in.
As well as who caused it. As well as who is missing. She tucks her left hand out of sight, warily approaching the note. She stands beside it, looking a Seldan.
Like so many others Zeke is utterly speechless. The sith-makar can not help but go to the nearest statue and try... but he can tell immediately that the person within has frozen to death. There is nothing he can do to help any of them. He follows everyone in silence, his green eyes growing darker and darker until they reach Seldan's mother's room and then... His heart simply falls to his feet. He knows how close the relationship is between nest-mother and hatchling among the soft-skinned races. He hums low in his throat, a dirge for Seldan's nest-mother. "Ssseldan..."
GAME: Malik rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (1)+19: 20 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Malik sighs at dice. <OOC> Malik says, "No. I'mma RPP that." <OOC> Malik says, "That is an uncanny number of epic fails in 24 hours and I'm not doing down like that, D20." <OOC> Zeke says, "You can roll now. I have stolen your rpps" GAME: Malik rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (18)+19: 37
Faranmidahn follows the group once she gathered Torrent and Zephyr, but when she enters, the deathly chill, the silence fils her with a dread that only seeing the bodies left behind, the mocking note, can properly transmute to rage, "you dreadful, hollow bitch..." she growls between gnashed teeth, "No more empathy, you overjumped insect. Know the spider seeks you, now." <halfling>
Already vibrating with emotion, Seldan sets foot inside the Soldier's Defense, his eyes widening in disbelief. He takes off at a run down the halls as they get deeper, and stops, his chest heaving with mingled effort and emotion, at the door where his mother had lain. "No." A pause, and then a scream that echoes down the frozen halls, the ice carrying it with eerie precision. It's a word filled with enough fury, frustration, and anguish to bring down a kingdom. "NO!"
Without thinking, without looking, the paladin raises a fist and smashes it with every ounce of strength he possesses into the stone and ice wall, metal creaking amid the sickening crack of multiple bones breaking. "NOOO!"
Curiously, though, that one act seems to help Seldan regain his sanity. While his chest still heaves, and hot fury is still written in every line of his body, his eyes are sane. He cradles the fist that just hit the wall in the other one, looking around. "By Eluna's holy path through the night sky," he snarls, very low, "I will see her thrown down utterly, never to return, and all that she created." There is a solemn, cold promise written in that.
That sound is known to her. The dreadful vibration, the grief dirge of the sith-makar, can Cryo has been very deep in its grip. To hear it from Zeke, to know what it means for Seldan, makes it echo in her throat and she joins beside them as family as family and struggles to keep her own sorrows in check, much as they might like to fly wild. A cold landscape falls across her, as cold as the wall here. This one needs to be able to think.
"Is Mictlan threatened? Did she revenge on all of us?" Cryosanthia asks Zeke quietly, her thoughts coming aloud, "No. This is the second strength for her. How could she."
The white-scale's hands tighten, and she can't help but stare.
"I don't know about the others...", the Gobbo says. "But I'm with you, Seldan. To the end of this, where ever it goes. Too many have died, and more will die yet. I wanna see her meet her fate, Seldan. I wanna see the realization in her eyes. I don't care who, at this point, ends up putting cold steel through her heart, but someone has to." Acedia hugs at his waist. "My blades are yours. My spells. My coin. Whatever I can find, borrow or steal is yours." Acedia pages: Acedia might have a bit of a class change in future.
Sabina flinches at Seldan's screams and then violently so as he breaks his hand against the wall. "Seldan!" She says aloud, as if she had any right to chastise or worry over the enraged paladin. She steps nearer to him. "Shall I heal you hand?" She asks gently and without meeting his eyes.
GAME: Malik rolls Bluff: (14)+16: 30
The thought of Mictlan being in danger sends a second chill through Zeke, but he shakes his head. Does not know. "Perhapssss. Thisss one can not pretend to know her motivesss." He hesitates and then moves forward. Picks up the card from the bed, but does not read it. His claw flexes around it as if he might crush it but he doesn't. Instead he offers it to Seldan. His green eyes hold a world of understanding. "We are, all of usss, with you Sseldan." His jaw is tight. "Ssshe hass made a missstake thisss day, many. But thisss mossst of all."
Kira just. Stares. She has been even since stepping inside. She knew many of these people, including Seldan's mother. Not especially well, but she's spent many days and nights here tending to those in need. And now they're just ...gone. After suffering so much, and a means of cure seems found, only to... She can't even process words to say. Not that her upbringing would allow her to utter, that is.
Malik doesn't move for the note. There's shock and confusion written on the wizard's face... and something very akin to disbelief. Mixed with annoyance. Brows furrow for a moment, and his eyes dart here and there, some rapid mental calculation happening -- before his eyes stop on Cryosanthia. There's a moment that sheer, utter disbelief flashes across his features, there for less than the space of a heartbeat before it disappears once more into the ether, that mask of confusion once again taking hold. "What does the note say?" he asks of the paladin.
Faranmidahn flinches and tucks her chin at the sound of Seldan's grief. There is a soft crunching as her knuckles turn stark white beneath the spiderweb lace, popping staccato under the tension in her fists. She turns her attention toward the aggrieved son, her feet carrying her along the frozen floor toward him and she offers, "What powers are at my command are at your disposal Seldan. I will see the Endless Winter thawed for all time."
Very slowly and very coldly, Cryosanthia turns to face Malik. She has a black cape clutched close, her tail is down against the back of her legs. She stands stiffly, looking at him directly. "Malik. Can you determine if she can Scry through me? To know we were coming here so quickly..."
Absently, Seldan releases the cradled hand, his other hand trembling as he takes the notecard. There is some comfort in the presence of those who had accompanied him, some solace in their staunch and unwavering support. "I shall willingly welcome all of you upon this road." Then, he turns his attention to Sabina. "I will have it seen to at evensong," he tells her quietly, and he seems to with deep breaths be pulling himself under control, bit by bit. That hot fury still hums beneath the accented words, though, lingers in the set of his mouth and the back of his eyes. "You embark upon a dangerous road, faithful of the Bard King, do you choose to continue. I would welcome your aid, but I shall not judge you if you choose to walk away."
Only then does he open the notecard, one-handed, and look down to read it.
GAME: Faranmidahn casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 <OOC> Zeke says, "Make a perception roll for me, and then a k/arcana check"
'She may have moved once Kol was done with his bath.' Faran muses in a distant tone, the sorceress not falling fully into that fugue state she achieved nights past, but wrangling roiling rage and righteous fury along a line that isn't aimed at her immediate company, and she turns at Cryosanthia's question, just in case, and she brings up her hand, begining her most practiced incantation in recent weeks, "bleh blah blrgl sandy beagle sandy blah blah bleep blah beagle bleep blah" that nonetheless sounds... wrong intoned in such a voice as hers right now and her eyes take to their pink light. <unknown>
Acedia peers at Cyrosanthia. "She had a strong bond with Kol. She likely knew when he died. She probably knew that Seldan's mother was here, there are those of the Black Mask still running free. She would not need to scry... As with Seldan, it is not your fault. Do not blame yourself." The Gobbo turns then to stare at Seldan, her mouth open. "I.." Acedia looks to Malik a moment, before glancing back to Seldan. "I would never walk away." She gestures to the frozen morgue around them. "Where could one hide from one who would do this? We are all on a dangerous road. Our only choice is to follow it to the end."
Sabina nods her head to the paladin. "But I would." She says softly and steps back first and then away. The magical lighted club in her hands is raised for Seldan's eas of reading should he need it but the priestess falls silent overwise.
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls perception: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Faranmidahn rolls knowledge/arcana: (20)+6: 26
Malik watches as the Lucht casts her spell, giving an almost imperceptible shake of his head to the smaller woman. "The fae creature could not have cast a scrying portal that I would not have noticed," he answers to Cryosanthia.
Faranmidahn looks to her friend and with a snarl, she smites a frozen shelf with her club, swearing sulphurously in her native language, again, and again, then, "The brand! Anyone with that mark could be a focus!"
"Unless that was her plan all along.." Sabina says quietly and looking around as if the icey shadows might spring to life. "That the attack was to ensure Seldan was kept in one spot and far away." She shakes her head as if to clear the thoughts away of paranoia.
Zeke glances at Faranmidahn. "Pardon?" He seems confused by her sudden agression, looking at Cryosanthia and seeming to put two and two together. He doesn't ask Seldan what is in the letter. But his eyes flicker to it often. He can't seem to settle actually and his discomfort has his tail twitch-twitching behind him. The sith-makar looks at Malik. "Thisss one isss not that knowledgeable about sssuch thingssss."
Seldan shakes his head at Acedia, all trace of smile flown away. "I know that you would not, but this is a very great thing to ask of one but days within the city." He turns again to the notecard in his hand, lowering his eyes and murmuring to someone not present. "Your pain does not excuse creating suffering for others, and most especially it does not excuse using Her holy gifts to do so. I shall still see you thrown down, that the suffering and abuse shall stop. Pray only that she yet lives." Again, the paladin's shoulders shake a little, although he breathes deeply in an effort to control it. He also makes no attempt to use that right hand, silently offering the card to Zeke.
"It might be worse than that, actually.", the Gobbo says softly, eyeing Faranmidahn, and then Seldan. "Anyone infected is also likely a similar focus. I mean, that is a reasonable thing to assume, would it not?" She glances at Zeke and moves to his side then, eyeing him curiously. "Seldan. What does She say?" When the card is handed over, she stands on tiptoe, attempting to reading in Zeke's hand.
Malik turns, moving back to Seldan, but his steps stop short when the lucht woman does exactly what he was hoping she wasn't going to do. Raising a hand to his eyes and rubbing at his face, muscles tensing, he keeps his tone very level. "Yes," he says, "a thing that we could have used to our advantage if she believed that we remained unaware of it. An opportunity probably lost, now. At the very least, one that we cannot trust to be reliable, now that it's been said so openly." Taking a deep, steadying breath, he presses his back to the wall once more, sliding down into a sitting position as he presses his head against the cool ice.
The words are heartening at first, Malik's, but Faran's observation brings her down. Cryo sinks, about to sit on a bed when she realizes it has a frozen occupant. This makes things a lot worse, and she stands again, head bowed. Her voice is flat, "I suspected as much. That she might watch at any time. Too many coincidences."
"I am with you Seldan, as far as you will allow. I am sorry." It seems like she might say more, but Cryosanthia falls silent.
Cautiously Zeke accepts the letter, slowly realizing what the implications of Malik and Faran's words mean. - That those bearing the mark can be /seen/ through. He swallows harshly, breathes deeply and slowly opens the letter as if half expecting to find something noisome inside. "All the magic in the world can not undo tragedy." He reads the words with clear confusion, and even Seldan's words do not explain their meaning. "Doesss thisss have ssome kind of... meaning that thisss one doesss not underssstand?"
Acedia blinks at Zeke. Her jaw hangs open. "Zeheir." She rubs at her cheek. "She means Zeheir. He tried everything to cure his wife." She looks at Seldan. "She doesn't know you too well if she thinks this changes anything."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls wisdom: (3)+0: 3 GAME: Sabina rolls wisdom: (14)+2: 16
Malik looks up from his place on the floor as the note is read. If he has any insight on what the words might mean, he doesn't offer them up for public scrutiny. Instead, he just keeps his eyes on the Myrrish paladin, deep sadness there.
Kira can only imagine what Seldan is going through. Loss is terrible, but missing is... worse? The uncertainty of it all. Still, she sees is as an avenue for hope. She steps up to lay an assuring hand on his shoulder, while also channeling the Healer's Grace for his hand. "We'll find her," she assures him. That much she can do and be certain of.
"On the surface is sounds as if she mocks Eluna and the power of magic. Pointing out it can not change all things all the time. Time and circumstances often intervene. Including the divine. I feel there is more to it then that but.. I am still to new to the path Tarien has set before me, I am sorry." Bina says.
Faranmidahn takes a few more heartbeats to cool out of fullsume, trembling anger and the mage's words make her sag some, "No. She'd figure it out. If there were other branded souls we didn't know about, or, as Acedia says, if the plague victims were also foci. The subterfuge would be morning dew in short order."
Cryosanthia shakes her head slowly, "There is meaning but I can't grasp it. It matches, with Zeheir's tragedy. It matches, with the oozes that breed and spread on magic. It seems a deeper theme, as if she would inflict the consequences of tragedy for using magic. A taunt, perhaps, that when you finally achieve a cure she snatches away the one you would cure most."
"These others here are dead. You mother might live as her prisoner, or not. You won't know until you pursue and the hope will stab your heart the whole time." She tugs at her cloak, standing carefully and not looking at anyone.
"She refers also to herself." Seldan's words also hold deep sadness, and his left hand goes back to cradling his right, hissing and gritting his teeth as they touch. Then, there's a hand on his shoulder, and he gasps again as the bones mend themselves, tendons snapping back into place, the Healer's grace flowing through him to ease the pain he so recklessly caused himself. His eyes go to the floor, then up and to the others as they talk. "Demons attacked her village ... they recruited humans to join them by tricking them. The villagers would not let her protect them." All pretense of even keel is gone, his voice fraught with a gamut of emotions. "Magic cannot bring back what is lost ... but that is no excuse to use it to cause more suffering."
When Cryosanthia speaks, he goes completely silent, looking down at the frozen floor.
"Ass with all thingss from thiss fae woman... there are layersss and layersss to meaning. Layersss and layersss of plansss." Zeke sighs and finally crumples the note in his claw as he wanted to do all along. He ruins the thin paper and the careful, delicate writing. It looks for all the world like it was written by Cryosanthia herself and it unsettles him greatly. Still, he moves forward, lifts his crystal claw to touch Seldan's other shoulder. Every time he odes it, it's a little easier. "Thissss one doess not believe that ssshe /feels/ ass we feel. Ssshe doess not undersstand what it isss to be mortal. Ssshe is /other/. Sshe hass some plan that we can not know, ssssome reassson that we do not undersstand. But we will in time. We /will/."
Zeke looks at Cryosanthia. "You did not do thissss cihuaa. You did not know, and can not change it." He looks at Seldan. "We did not know." It's almost a whisper.
"To what end? To end her, provoke her?" Faran asks, tracing the dents and chips in her club with her other hand, "Would it be someone who knew what she would become? To nudge her specifically to this end?" It doesn't abate her desire for Salina's life. Knowing who started to blaze doesn't make one need to stop fighting the fire. Knowing there may never have anything to do for the Fae Queen makes the loss no less palpable to the Lucht, but makes the need to stop her no less dire, "We saw mention of the ruse in some of the Guild logs Cryo was researching. We can assemble the team and see if they can tell us what they know of their betrayer, perhaps Sally is only the begining of his, or her, plans?"
"She is blinded, then, by her.. whatever this is. She is either working with demons or dancing to their tune. Whether she has some unfathomable plan, or is in thrall to some unfathomable thing, she needs to be stopped." The Gobbo stomps one of her little feet. "Magic cannot bring back what is lost. That's a load of ... The thing about magic is... it's not what it can or cannot do, it's whether or not it should be done." Acedia gestures with a hand. "Anyways. I'm going to the Temple of Daeus to see if they'll have me as a Sunblade." She moves to hug at Seldan's waist. "I'll come and find you again soon."
Malik pushes up from where he's seated, looking as tired as it's possible to look while still staying on his feet. "There isn't anything else we can do here," he says, calmly. "This is work for the gray lady's holy followers. And a dismal place to be." Other people are touching Seldan at the moment, so the wizard refrains. But he does say, "We should go home. There are plans to be made, and we should rest first. Lest we make some graver mistake."
Seldan's shoulders are knots beneath the touch of his friends. "Sabina, faithful of Tarien, if you would aid us, then there is much to this tale. There are people elsewhere that may yet be saved. I am not yet spent." He looks up at Malik, with haunted eyes. "I would sing the evensong before Her altar this evening." That is all he says, but a world of things lie beneath it. It's Acedia's remark, though, that catches him by surprise. "What?"
Sabina looks down and away with a sad smile. "I am not sure I am.. enough. But I can be a small leaf added to the stack that may burry the Queen of Winter. If so I will count myself lucky and will do what I can." She says and her smile actually gains a small bit as Seldan is surprised by Acedia's statement.
"I didn't do anything Zeke, I can't remember anything!" Cryosanthia turns to face her cihuaa, and all her emotions blare loudly in her body language, her scents, the things sith-makar subtle watch for are screaming on her. "She has no emotions, there is only curiosity. Scientific, precise. How does a spell work, how much resistance as a tendon is pulled from muscle? Living or dead tissue, does it make a difference? Everything is a disconnected experiment, it's almost noble in Her indifference, the detachment. She had enough emotion once to get offended and has felt none since. She doesn't care in ways that can't be described. None of this matters to her, none of it."
Cryosanthia stares around with wide black eyes, "She doesn't even find it amusing. There's _nothing_ to her."
Faranmidahn holds up her hand, "No, Master Malik. Before anything else is planned, there is something else that must be done." She sighs and looks down into the frozen face of one of the victims, "But... not here, that is true." She reaches out almost to touch the poor victim's cheek, "So pointless..." and at last, it's finally too much and she turns away, she gives a solemn, forced smile to Acedia, "I expect they will. Walk softly in the Hunter's favored wind." Sabina's words draw her eyes, but she answers, "Sometimes it's the little things that do the most damage, Miss Sabina." She certainly intends to. Cryosanthia's outburst draws her, then a holds her and helps corral her wrath into proper context, away from undue sympathy or pity, like peas from mashed potatoes. There is a growing dread in the back of her mind, the scrying, and her instructions, "Can anyone send a message spell to someone they haven't met?"
Zeke looks from Malik to Seldan. "Thiss one will watch over Sseldan, join him in the effort to heal thossse who might be sssaved. Thisss one will see him to evening prayers." It's a promise to Malik who Zeke senses is close to Seldan. Perhaps even kin of some kind. Sith-makar are sensitive to such things in their fashion. He too, is surprised by Acedia's comment, but that surprise is left to the wayside by Cryosanthia's words. He lifts his claws to calm her, releasing Seldan though he remains close to offer comfort.
"Then... if ssshe feelsss /nothing/ why take Ssseldan's nesst-mother? Iss it curiossity ass to how he will react?" He suddenly grinds the note in his other claw. "Thisss one would /undersstand/. There mussst be /meaning/ to it all!"
"I mean it," the Gobbo says. "I know I am a small creature, but I have watched you bend, Seldan, and not break. You're like a newfound gemstone. Roughly hewn. And the more abuse you take, the shinier you become. At every turn, you grow stronger." Acedia huffs. "I want that too. I want that confidence. I want that strength. And I really would love to shove a nice, shiny sword into her heart."
"My strength is Hers, and my wisdom is Hers." Seldan looks at the floor, as if everything else is positively overwhelming to look at. "May you find that the Draco Solis stands by you as holy Eluna stands by me." His eyes drift up them, gradually, staring at the empty bed for a space of several breaths before he tears them away and turns that haunted, furious, grieving gaze on Malik. "I would have you stay with us, if you can be spared. I would see what you can see ... of these oozes." It is if he fights for words, but there is an appeal there as well.
Malik looks like he's about to respond to Zeke, features flattening almost defensively, but then Seldan is speaking once more, and he simply gives the man a quiet nod. "As if I would be anywhere but by your side," he says, offering a small smile, though one that doesn't hold much joy. Turning to Acedia, he says, "I think that you should consider that decision carefully. The Sun Lord may not be the best fit for someone so -- free-spirited," he mentions, as diplomatically as he can manage. "The reasoning is laudable, but there are other ways by which you can achieve the same ends. Ones without so heavy a price, I think. It's not a decision to be made -- quickly."
A coldness descends upon Cryosanthia. She can feel the anguish draining away, everything disconnecting. Her composure returns, she stands tall, proud, her eyes return to normal. There's a voice in her head, which could answer Zeke's question. She would have to dive deep into the cold and dark. She could, but it would be too much, to answer in detail.
She shakes her head and whispers to Zeke, "I can't, I can't. It's too cruel. Because she can, that's all I can say. Please Zeke, this one needs to be away. Seldan should not stay."
"The decision is not entirely hers, nor is it that of the Sunblades," Seldan answers Malik, then looks to Zeke. "Let us go. I will do what I can, and then I would greet the holy Seeress' face. The Temple of the Dread Lady must be informed, what has happened." He still sounds haunted, furious, hurting, but his tone is somehow even as he looks around at those gathered. "You have my thanks, all of you, and Her blessings on you." With that, he turns to head out.