Chapter 1 - The Place I'll Return To Someday

[BigRedRod]

The longest days of winter are behind you, it is the morning of the sixteenth day of Alturiak. A cold morning, the village is covered in a light frosting of snow, as it seems to be for a majority of the year.

Anxiety. For several days now, you have known that today was approaching, the day of your summons to the people, to be addressed by Elder High Summoner Erun. The man who runs the temple and by extension the entire town. It has been only too easy to forsee what the Elder will ask, it is the time for another pilgrimage to start. The entire village has been whispering about this day, although it isn't every day that a student leaves on the path to becoming a high-summoner, this time there is more to it. Why two potential high summoners? Why three guardians, when most simply travel alone or with a single trusted protector?

The song of prayer echos softly around the temple, the main hall is lined with the summoners and students currently studying at the temple. They stand at the edge, dressed in their finest robes, observing the occasion. Erun stands at the end of the hall, holding his grand staff. As the five approach the front the chant becomes slightly louder and then settles back to a soft echo.

Erun speaks adressing the five before him and those at the edge,
"No doubt, each of you understand why you have been called here. Today another pilgrimage will begin, but this will not be like any other."
Erun looks at the five stood before him,
"Luian, Ielenia, you have both reached the point where training here will aid you in your path no longer. As every student here will at some point, and so you must leave and travel the world, experiencing all that you can, and visiting the temples along your path so that you might lean the unique secrets of each."
He takes a breath,
"Triren, Kythrin, Garland, you are charged with joining this pilgrimage, and taking up positions as Guardians to Luian and Ielenia. The High Summoners, are no so arrogant as to believe that they alone hold the power, and so you have each been picked for your skills that you might guide your charges through the world and ensure the completetion of their duty."
Erun looks at the group as a whole,
"But today is unlike any before, for I have been granted a vision by powers beyond my comprehension, and they reveal to me that each of you shares a destiny. I do not know what it is you must do, but I know that you will not achieve what you can and must if you each remain in the village under the wing of the Lunos Temple. And so each of you are sent into the world, both as Potential Summoners and Guardians, and Champions of Fate."
The song becomes louder once again, and in a louder and stronger voice Erun speaks again as the doors at the rear of the hall open to reveal the path down the mountain to the vilage,
"And now I ask that you begin your journey and discover the destiny that binds you!"

Turning, the five walked from the temple, the song getting louder at each step. As you pass down the mountain trail the snow begins again, the small cold flakes dancing in the wind. Upon reaching the village, you find everyone stood outside their home, most wearing a brave smile, all activity in the village has been suspended to wish you well on your journey.

Both Luian and Ielenia, know that the customary first destination for a Summoner from Lunos, is the temple hidden underneath Andrion.

Bidding farewell to their friends and families, the five pass through the village, and down the steep broad path that takes them to the surrounding lowlands, when you finally reach the wide plain below the weather has eased up and the snow has stopped falling, but the freezing chill remains. The pace is slow as the five follow the dirt path that connects to the main road. It speeds a little as they reach the main road and then begin the sixty mile journey towards the city which has served as the cloest thing besides Valence and the church as the region's captial for the past fifteen years.

It's mid-afternoon on the fourth day of travel when the party reach a crude barrier blocking the road, you can see the great gate in the distance and one or two buildings poking out behind. There are a number of caravans and people milling around, the horses graze by the roadside, as the people sit around, looking thoroughly annoyed, drained and in some cases worried, in other cases the people are beyond worry as they sit sobbing at the side of the road.
The barrier is manned by a dozen guards, and they aren't letting anyone past. Occasionally someone will start talking to a guard, you can't hear the guards reply but it normally invovles shaking their head and causing the person to start shouting and finally be moved away by another of the people stuck outside the city.

Directly before the party, there is a man pacing up and down the road muttering to himself, he hasn't noticed the party yet. In fact, whatever is on his mind seems to be fully occupying him

[Tilus]

Ielenia stops and takes a second to look at the barrier blocking their path, and the many people standing in wait near the barrier, and breathes heavily to catch her breath. She had been stopping like this quite frequently - compared to the other 4 travelers, she was embarassingly poorly prepared. It didn't come as a surprise to the others, as with the exception of the occasional miscellaneous errand she never set foot outside of the village, and thus was not as experienced in travel as the others - but her level of unpreparedness was astounding, repeatedly on the receiving end of criticism by the others (and even Shadie, her trusted blob familiar). By the second day her rations had already run out, and she found herself nibbling away at everyone else's rations. The chilly weather didn't help matters much, as throughout the trip she was covering her face and ears in a constant and futile struggle to keep warm. Yet, despite her setbacks, she continued on - to train so hard to become a summoner, partake in a grand departure ceremony, and yet fail so quickly when thrust into the outside world would be a mockery to herself, her family, and the entire Summoner profession.

Having no idea how to go about finding a way through the barrier to reach her destination, she walks up to the man pacing about, Shadie sliding and bouncing about close behind.

"Excuse me, sir..", Ielenia says, to get the man's attention. "Do you know why this road has been closed off?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

KYTHRIN

Kythrin sighs upon seeing the large gates barred from outsiders. Looking around, several people mill about at the wall and even more sit at the sides of the road, a manifestation of the overall hopelessness of getting into this establishment. Looking to the others, he sees Ielenia walk forward, her blob friend following shortly behind.

"That thing is so very odd," Kythrin says, shaking his head at the odd creature. He turns to the follow party members, then breaks from the group, walking to the nearest guard. "Why is the city barred from outsiders?"

[TheDruid20]

Luian stands watching, gently stronking Erren her familiar.
Muttering, "I wonder what has caused all this fuss."

[tyckspoon]

Triren pulls up with the rest of the party, then turns to the side of the road and sits down as two of the group attempt to question the guards. "You just come tell me what's going on if you find out. I'll be over here, out of sight..I've got no love for the authority around here."

[TheDruid20]

"You have no love of authority period. And I bet it kills you that a woman is your superior, doesn't it?"

[SponkleofInfini]

Garland stands by Luian remaining silent, the last thing the people here need is a handful of people throwing a volley of questions at them.

Garland stands vigilant, hands behind his back.

[tyckspoon]

Triren nods lightly at Luain. "It's true enough I don't like authority, but I've got no problem with being commanded by a woman. Never had the time to worry about it. What I don't like is that get Erun at the Temple. Never asked if I wanted to guard you soft Temple folk, just ordered me to come. I'd been planning to leave, but that wasn't the way I wanted." He turns to the city walls and stares at them appraisingly, then speaks again in a softer voice. "And this isn't a place I ever wanted to come back to."

[BigRedRod]

Ielenia approaches the man and begins to speak, the man replies hastily,
"NO ONE KNOWS WHY!"
he throws he arms into the air,
"Oh no they do, but they won't tell us, they just sit there. And she's inside. And they wouldn't close the gate unless it was something serious. And I'm not there! And she is!"
The man continues to pace growing more and more upset as he does so.


...

The barrier guard looks weary, and sighs slightly as Kythrin asks the same question that he has already heard fifty times today,
"I am not at liberty to say why the gate is shut, and why we have blocked the road. However, you can rest assured that help is on it's way and this will all be cleaned up as soon as possible. Until then I have to ask you to remain behind the barrier ... I'm sorry that I can't tell you more ,Father, really I am."

[Tilus]

Ielenia listens to the man as he begins ranting about. A little concerned for his well-being, Ielenia is reluctant to ask any further questions of him, but she needs to know what's going on..

"'She'? Who's 'she'?"

[TheDruid20]

Whispering to her companions, "Oh isn't this interesting. I think someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning as well."

[BigRedRod]

The man looks up at Ielenia and waves his arms in frustration
"Elaine! My wife. We were married less than a month ago. Our home is here, I didn't want to leave here, but it was only for just over a tenday. A friend offered me work in Belbe, he knew we needed the money. I couldn't wait to see her again, and now ... this has happened, and I don't even know what, and they won't even let me try to help her..."
The man has topped walking now, he flops to the floor and places his head in his hands, he's still talking but you can't make out what he is saying

[TheDruid20]

Bending down to comfort the man, "What has happend here? Is yoru wife ok? Perhaps we can try to help we are Summoners."

[BigRedRod]

The man looks up,
"I've already said I don't know. No one does, but they've sealed off the entire city. It can't be good whatever it is, can it!"
The man stands up as his mind works over what Luian has just said, he reaches forward as if to grab her and then pulls back,
"You're High-Summoners? I ... I .... Please go and ask the guards to let you through, and .... would you please see if my Elaine is alright? We live on Rue Belmont. Our house is the one that has a little tiny garden on the roof, Elaine loves her flowers ... please, make sure she's ok, I'm begging you."

[TheDruid20]

Standing up putting on her best summoner face and tryign her best at diplomacy and being commandings, "We ::points to Ielenia:: are High Summoners and these are our gaurdians, we demand to be allowed entrace so we can proceed to the Temple of Andrion."

[BigRedRod]

The guard looks at the ground,
"I'm sorry ma'am, I can't just let you in. I think you should come past the barrier though and speak to the the sergeant."

The guard allows the five past the barrier and takes them back almost to the gate, a few minutes later another of the guards arrives,
He is a middle-aged man who is nowy overweight, but no doubt once was quite good looking. He speaks directly to the two summoners
"I'm in charge of the sealing at the moment. I am sergeant Blackthorn, allow me to explain what's going on here. Myself and my men were on standard patrol last night. We arrived back in the late-morning and found chaos. Somethig has eaten the very minds of the population, some just sit on the street like vegetables, others are wild animals. I knew that I couldn't do anything with so few men, so we shut the gate, sent out one of my men to let people know that Andrion was off limits, and to head toward Belbe for more men and instructions, and set the baricade up. These people are just those who have arrived since then. So the short of it all is that something has driven an entire city to madness, and we're just holding out best we can and stopping anyone going in, from this side anyhow."

The man pauses to rub a hankerchief across his face
"We haven't told them what's going on to avoid a panic, but I get the feeling that as more people arrive it's only going to get worse and we could have a riot on our hands. I respect your position and authority, I'll allow you into the city, and it isn't my position to make demands of you, but Andrion is in trouble, and when Andrion is in trouble , eveyone is in trouble."

The sergeant begins to walk towards the gate,
"As soon as go in you are going to have to be on your guard, the people are insane and violently so in some cases. I've never seen anything like this before, so I don't know what to tell you, but do you have any questions before we open the gate?"

[Tilus]

Ielenia wasn't completely willing to play 'high summoner', but with Luian's actions she had little choice in the matter.. besides, it succeeded in getting the group into the city. In addition, if the Andrion temple was infected with this same mysterious disease, they couldn't proceed until this problem was remedied anyways. Sighing, she looks up and begins to join in in the act, attempting to look as 'official' as possible.

"It's okay.. it is our duty as high summoners to help those in need. We're more than willing to take up the task. I only have one question - Is this.. disease contagious?"

[BigRedRod]

"I have no idea what it is, or if it's possible to spread, but in the brief time myself and the men where inside we didn't seem to display any madness, neither has anyone started to show signs since. Although we didn't actually make close contact with anyone suffering."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Looking over towards Blackthorn, Kythrin rubs the silver ring on his finger softly.

"So, is there anything we need to do while in there?" Smiling he continues, "And is there anything this party can get to help us in our little quest?"


OOC: Diplomacy is +29. :fun:

[BigRedRod]

"No sir, it isn't my position to be telling a Summoner of the guardian of a Summoner, his or her place. I don't think there is anything that myself or my men can offer you, If the situation was different I would offer you support, but I can't just leave the post unguarded and allow all these civilians into the city."

[tyckspoon]

Triren stays to the back of the group, trying not to catch the attention of any of the guards. As he listens to the conversation, he begins trying to work out a route to the temple from his memories of the city so he can have an alternate plan ready if the guard's suggestion turns out to be dangerous.

[SponkleofInfini]

"This is more serious then I had first thought. How long have the citizens been afflicted with this condition? Perhaps there could be an incubation period, which could still put your men at risk."

States Garland, curious about this serious event. He is concerned, but his main concern is his mandate to protect the summoners. Entering the city could possibly put them all at risk, something Garland wishes to lower the chances of if possible.

[BigRedRod]

"The madness could have started as soon as we left, which was just before midnight,. I hadn't thought about that ... if it starts to look like my men are becoming infected then we'll seal ourselves inside the gatehouse, hopefully by the time anyone manages to break inside reinforcements will have arrived."
Blackthorn looks back towards his men as he says this, perhaps looking for any signs of them losing their minds

[TheDruid20]

"We will do our best to figure out what is afoot here, but it is not our main goal, if we are forced to move on without helping you solve this we will relay any information we do gather to you, so perhaps you can solve this."

[tyckspoon]

Wonderful. Altruists. I can tell this is going to be an interesting trip already. Triren holds his thoughts to himself, figuring the rest of the group wouldn't be interested in a cynical view at this point.

[BigRedRod]

Blackthorn opens a small door by the main gate, to the naked eye it would be almost invisible, the interior of the gate is crampt and small. Moving into the main chamber which contains nothing but a window looking between the two huge sets of gates, a door which must lead into Andrion and a table and chair.

He procedes to remove the two iron bars, and unlock the door, then he remains till for a moment,
"I can't hear anything"
Pulling a small panel sideways on the door reveals a grate that allows him limited vision into Andrion
"It looks to be deserted, I'll leave a man waiting in here, he'll most likely be asleep, so make sure you bang loudly if you want letting back through. My men are going to need to sleep sometime, hopefully this won't drag on too long. It's going to slowly exhaust them and that will lead to problems."
The man shakes his head and looks back at the party,
"Good luck"
And he opens the door, revealing a wide cobbled road flanked by inns around the gate, the building density is thick, but it is deserted, possibly the cold chill drove even the mindless to seek shelter.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Let us head to the temple then, the less we linger here the better."

Says Garland, folding his arm to help warm himself from the cold.

[tyckspoon]

"Certainly. Let's move on. We'd better figure out a walking order, since this might turn out dangerous. I suggest me on far point, Garland in front of the main group, Ielania and Luain behind him, and Kythrin on rearguard." Triren moves up and a little way out the gate, trying to convince the others to adopt his plan by putting it into action before other suggestions come up.

[TheDruid20]

"Yes, although Ielania and I are potent weapons, we cannot react as rapidly as some of you, nor do we have the easiest time when being assulted."

[Tilus]

"I have no objections to that walking order, though may I suggest that I be placed closer to the center of the group than Luian? As she said, the both of us aren't as adept at combat as the rest of you. I know not well what magic Luian is adept at outside of summoning, but my magic is centered only around enhancing the abilities of my companions and summons. I have only my bow to defend myself with."

[tyckspoon]

"Suit yourself. My only concern is that the two of you are as protected as we can manage, and that I be far enough ahead that the rest of you don't spoil my sneaking."

[SponkleofInfini]

"Enough, while we sit and debate like this, we may be drawing attention we don't wish to. But not only that possibly heightening our exposure. So lets just move on and walk in any order you feel most comfortable."

(OOC: Who cares, lets just move on, if it needs to be discussed further do it in the OOC thread. Sitting around in the street debating about such a trivial issue seems pointless to me.)

[BigRedRod]

The door slams shut behind the party and is quickly barred and bolted from the otherside.
Walking down the central road is a rather disturbing expereince, Andrion is a major city and as such should normally be throned with people at all times of day, but today there is nothing.

Turning down a side street reveals some signs of life, a body lies face down in the road, a pool of blood oozing from under it.

The sound of a child singing distracts the five from the grizzly sight, up on the wall running along the street there is a small girl sat on the wall. She clutches a doll, and is singing some children's rhyme aobut nothing in particular. As she sings she watches the group with interest, but says nothing, just continues her song.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Ignore them, they're not part of our objective. Being around them may cause more harm then good. Until we know more, we should move on, come back and help when we know more."

Says Garland wishing to move on.

[TheDruid20]

"She is not real so worry not, but it does mean there is an inteligence here to control or create her."

[tyckspoon]

"Yes. Wonderful. Not real. So someone's playing with magic around here, is that it? Wonderful." Triren moves off ahead, continuing to scout, making no noise aside from the occasional rustle of his clothing.


(Move Silently, taking penalty to go full speed. +15 check, if it matters.)

[LuneMoonshadow]

"How pleasant..."

Looking about, Kythrin sighs.

Nothing like a walk in a city driven to insanity.

He shrugs to himself, ignoring the little girl on the wall, knowing she is isn't real. But, the thought of someone creating her is disturbing.

"My the Core guide our steps." And with that small prayer, he makes a small motion with his hands, symbolizing his loyalty to the gods.

[BigRedRod]

The journey through the city takes the group past several other bodies, and a few live member sof the population, mostly sat in the road talking or shouting to themselves, although a few are wandering paying very little attention to the party passing through.

Eventually the group reach the sewer enterance set into an almost vertical cliff face that the mountains have formed. Opening the iron gate and heading down the steep stone slope that leads to the sewers proper the group slowly edge closer to their destination. Even thought the tunnel isn't an actual sewer the smell is quite awful and it isn't hard to realise just how close you are to raw sewage and whatever else the sewer of a city gone mad holds.

At the second turn in the sloping path, under the guidance of the two summoners, one by one the five step through what turns out to be an illusionary wall and into a long tunnel heading northwards.

The further the five head northwards the less of the sewer they can smell. Until after almost a full hour of walking in total, the passageway suddenly opens out to reveal the open front of the Andrion Temple

The passageway was constructed to lead to the temple which was discovered here and occupied by the Summoners at some point in the distant past, but it opens out sufficently for you to marvel at the huge pillars and fine construction work. The temple is oddly quiet, most temples are normally filled with chanting and the sound of people moving between chambers and conversing, and sometimes the sound of the summoned creatures either just being shown off or in battle with one another. But the temple is almost silent.

The five stand at the bottom of the steps leading past the pillars and up into the mainhall of Andrion's temple, where the Elder Summoner should be waiting for new students to petition for training.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Wow. This sure is one happy place." Looking about, Kythrin arches an eyebrow. "I'd say we go in a plunder the temple." And seeing the looks he recieves from the others, he quickly speaks again. "I am kidding! Just trying to lighten up the situation..."

He folds his arms over his chest, waiting for the others to state what we are doing.

[tyckspoon]

"I don't know. Plunder sounds good to me..What? Obviously there's nobody here to make use of whatever is still around."

[SponkleofInfini]

Garland bows his head, disgusted to hear such things uttered.

"Perhaps you need a refresher as to our duty? Do not dare defile the temple in such a way."

Garland is digusted at the mere thought of his companions thinking in such a way, even if they were joking. Garland heads up the steps, gripping at his katana beneath his cloak.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Shaking his head, Kythrin follows, now silent.

Humor has been lost on those who trust in only themselves. Trust in the gods, mortals, for they guide our every step. Kythrin sighs at his thoughts, knowing they are true.

[TheDruid20]

"We are High Summoners, what is here could easily be dangerous if we leave it. Ielania and I make sure nothing has been left out that could be harmful. What is here belongs to us as mucha s the former residents. Hopefully we can make this a safe retreat for us and possibly figure out what has happend here. For Ielania and I cannot learn the lessons of this temple from empty rooms."

[tyckspoon]

"Oh, did I say 'plunder'? I meant 'search carefully for such items as may be useful to us as we attempt to solve the mysteries of this place'...for surely Summoners may take aid from any Temple they may be in. I see no difference between whether the Temple's occupants are able to greet us and give formal permission or not. Oh..Ielania, Luian, are the Summoners in the habit of trapping their temples?"

[SponkleofInfini]

Garland chooses to ignore what the others are dicussing. The less he knew about it the better.

If there are items which may prove useful within the temple, we are not in need of them, nor have permission to have them. I will take no part in this.

[Tilus]

Ielenia follows along with the group, watching what the others are doing closely, but lacks the courage to speak up.. She doesn't know much about adventuring, and trusts the others know what they are doing. Yet, this talk of plundering the temple unsettles her - surely they do not intend on desecrating one of the sacred temples of the summoners?

Her attention is grabbed by the question that is asked of her by Triren.

"Let me think for a second.."

(OOC: BRR, surely I have this knowledge.. are these temples/are temples typically rigged with traps?)

[Tilus]

"Besides door shave locks, there are no traps worth noting in these temples. The summoners themselves provide enough of a deterrant to protect our home. Anything of importance to us will be protected by more than lock and key, however.."

[tyckspoon]

"Alright. I suppose we should just find what we were supposed to come here for, then. That'd be the Temple's copy of the scriptures, wouldn't it? Somebody come find me when you need em, I'm going to explore this place some." Triren turns off from the group and wanders to the sides of the main hall, looking for unlocked rooms to poke his head into.

[BigRedRod]

Leaving his companions to wait outside for the moment, Triren stalks through the magnificent pillars and into the mail hall of the temple.

The main hall is not as large as the Lunos temple, but the architecture is grand and looks to have been created by the most talented of artisans. As he reaches the first door on the left side of the hall, Triren stops to examine his surroundings
The doors that line the sides are made from stone, and currently are all closed. As the rogue looks to the end of the hall he notices a large figure slumped in a large throne. The figure looks to be somewhat dazed and wears splendid robes, although the rogue isn't too knowledgable aobut the inns and outs of the High Summoners and their temples, he assumes that whoever occupies the throne holds a powerful position in this particlualr temple. Possibly being an elder or some other rank which he doesn't know the name for.
The temple does not seem to be as silent as the rogue previously believed, through the door by his side, he can hear very muffled noises, but the rogue's hearing is not sensitive enough to be able to work out exactly what is creating the noise.

[tyckspoon]

Hmm. Sound in a supposedly abandoned place. Go back, or open the door..choices, choices.. Triren shrugs, does a quick check of the door for locks and basic traps, then heads back to the group to report his findings. "This place isn't as dead as it looks. I heard something behind one of the doors in there..oh yeah, there's some git in fancy robes sitting on a chair. Nothing dangerous in the main hall, though."

[SponkleofInfini]

Garland remains silent, however is sure to keep close to his mandate.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Looking about to his fellow companions, Kythrin draws his weapon, wanting to be ready for anything that decides to surprise them. Being in a town driven to the brink of insanity by an unknown cause isn't the most settling of thoughts.

"So, shall we check it out? Or, do we wish to leave it alone and wander out of this place?"

[tyckspoon]

"Check it out. I just wanted to have the rest of you as backup if there were something dangerous behind that door. Besides, that man in the chair was still alive, I think...I figured our Summoners here might want to talk to him."

[TheDruid20]

Luian rushs forward to help the man in the chair. She looks for any obvious wounds.

[BigRedRod]

As Luian draws near the seated man pulls back for a moment and then he relaxes,
"You haven't ... You're ... Thank the Gods,"
The summoner laughs but without much conviction,
"A temple Elder thanking the Gods, what would the people say?"
The large man struggles into a more appropriate sitting position for a man of his position,
"And who would you be, my girl? All alone in the Andrion Temple when madness is walking through it's halls."

[TheDruid20]

"I am Luian, High Summoner of Lunos, here to learn your secrets on my great trek. But now it looks like we may be your savoirs."

[BigRedRod]

"Ah a new student. Well as you see, now isn't the time to begin your instruction. Although I believe that you can help. The temple has become infectected with something, it seems to have driven everyone but me insane. I managed to resist it ... or at least partially. It struck this early this morning, before most of the residents of the temple were awake. I was giving a lesson to a pair of students when it came."

The main coughs and pauses for a moment

"Images and feelings just flashed through my mind. I haven't felt anything like it before, but I resisted the insanity as it tried to burrow into me. It lasted for an eternity, and when it stopped I knew that something must be done, both of the students had lost the battle. One lay on the ground laughing, while the other began to shout and attack one of the pillars. It wasn't easy, but I managed to get both of them out of the main hall without hurting them, and I locked the doors leading here. And then I say down for a moment to recompose myself... I must have expended more of my energy than I thought trying to keep hold of my mind. I'm not currently in a fit state to do very much as you can no doubt tell, but I need you to go back to the surface. Eventually one of them will either figure out ho to use a key and unlock the doors, or they'll come through it. I won't have my temple destroyed. Go ... find help and hurry, we have to put things right."

He pauses again and then gives another fairly forced laugh,

"I think you can consider this your test to see if you are worthy."
He smiles, but Luian can see how much resisting the attack and securing the main hall, took out of him, the Templ Elder is far from healthy.

[TheDruid20]

Witht he tone of cursing, "What the Core, you were supposed to help us cure the others. Where is the scroll room and tell me you have some divinations scribed there?"

Her anger is obviously masking a great deal of fear.

[BigRedRod]

"Don't be impudent, Girl"
The Elder is clearly deeply offended by a student taking any kind of tone with him
"Now explain yourself. What others?"

[TheDruid20]

"Every person in the city has been effected. They have it quarintined. It took every ouce of charisma I have to convince them to let us in."

[BigRedRod]

"Then the situation is much worse. I thought this was localised to the Temple. It looks like it will just be the two of us then, the temple does have extensive resources, but the problem lies in the former summoners."
He reaches into his robe and pulls out a key
"Take this key, open that door"
He indicates one to his right
"It leads to the library, scolls are of course held there. Return with scrolls of Analyze Deomer, Contact other plane, Legend Lore and any other which may be able to help us find something about what has happened."

"Just follow the passage beyond the door until you reach the library, but be careful, the side-passages are connected to the sleeping quarters in places, so it could be very crowded. It would also help if you can subdue one of those afflicted and bring them back. But just go ... we will do what we can. I'll remain behind and try to regain my strength"

[tyckspoon]

Triren saunters back in after allowing Luian some time to speak to the Elder. He speaks directly to Luian, once again ignoring the man completely. "So he is alive. That's nice. Is he insane? And did he tell you anything useful?"

[BigRedRod]

The Elder looks with disgust at Triren, and speaks to Luian,
"I take it that he is a guardian? ..."
The Elder bites back what he was about to say,
"We shall have to talk later, his behaviour reflects badly on you as a Summoner. But at least you will not be alone in your task. Are there any more who you , perhaps wisely, you left waiting outside?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Hearing the cue to come in, Kythrin sheaths his weapon as he steps in the door. Seeing the man in the chair, he links the face with the voice, flashing him a smile, he quickly gives a low bow.

"May the Core be praised that another sane person doth exist." Walking over to his allies, Kythrin clasps his arms behind his back, keeping in mind the previous statement about behavior. "Kind sir, I also am one of the guardians sent to aid our summoners in their trials to come. Forgive us of our rudeness, for our travels have been long and tiring, and our minds are at constant battle with an unseen enemy - fear."

Smiling to the man, Kythrin bows again in forgiveness.


(OOC: Diplomacy +29)

[SponkleofInfini]

"Speak for yourself!"

States Garland, not to far away from Kythrin, bowing his head to the fatigued summoner.

"What is required Luian?"

(OOC: I mentioned in an earlier post that I would stay close to my mandate [the summoners]. Assume if I am not with one I am with the other, Garland takes their safety very seriously.)

[TheDruid20]

"We must make our way tot he library, however the path may be blocked with others who are such afflicted. It would help if we could subdue one and brign them back here to study further. Kythrin, see what help magical aid you can offer the Elder here. Perhaps one of us should stay with him. Or atleast leave him with some additional protection. Perhaps Erren could stay and let me know if anything goes wrong. (My Famaliar) Better yet ::casts Leomund's Secure Shelter:: Stay in here it will offer some protection as well as an Alarm. We will go an secure the library and the scrolls we need."

Luian helps the man into the shelter and locks the door. "Erren just send me a message if you need help, I will fly in an instant if you need me."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Raising and eyebrow, Kythrin watches as the elder walks into a magical safehouse. Turning to its caster, he speaks.

"So, your plan is for us to capture one of these people and bring him back here for studying? Looking for a cure, maybe?"

[TheDruid20]

"Well we also need to get the scrolls fromt h library but yes."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Nodding, Kythrin reaches into his belt pouch and pulls forth a platinum ring. He holds it out to Luian.

"Wear it. When we encounter danger, it will help you."

Nodding again, Kythrin raises his right hand and motions at another platinum ring on his own finger.

[TheDruid20]

"Good, Are we ready to go?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

"You know it."

Kythrin smiles and bows to his charge, then rises lowers his hand to his weapon.

"Let's go."

[tyckspoon]

"Hmm. He did give you the keys, didn't he? I'd rather not have to destroy any of the locks here..I could get them open, but I can't guarantee they'd lock again. And we might need them to. Anyway..which door are we looking at?"

[SponkleofInfini]

"Indeed."

Replies Garland to Luian's question.

[BigRedRod]

The Elder thanks Luian for her thoughtfulness as he enters the magical stone lodge which materialised in the main hall, with the Elder safely behind locked doors that should be far beyond the capacity of the insane to invade, the five head towards the library.

Unlocking the door and passing through into the slightly down-sloping narrow pasage beyond the group can all hear the sounds of the madness at work. Ranting and Raving echos down the passage, sounds of destruction and noises which possuibly it is best not to identify, fill the interior the temple, sounds far from befitting such the noble order.

The side doors all ppear to be firmly closed, and none of the temple members are encountered by the party until they reach the library.

The five emerge on the upper level of the library, a level which contains very few book-shelves (apart from those set into the actual walls), instead it has been cut away so that it is possible to look down on the floor below. The lower level of this chamber is a scene of chaos, entire book shelves have been forced from their upright positions and now lie on top of heaps of damaged books and the bodies of the former temple occupants. The area below looks to have only contained books, rather than have been a spell scroll store

The group can clearly see three of the insane on the lower level, two of them mindlessly running about over the fallen bookcases and their fallen companions, shouting and screaming as they do so, the third sits by a fallen bookcase and appears to be eaten one of those who was trapped underneath. The three either do not care about your approach or they have yet to notice

At each corner of the opening which reveals the floor below there is a narrow spiral staircase built from painted metal, all appear to be sturdy enough to be used. The upper level contains a single other door off to the left of the group. The door hangs open by a single hinge. That passage appears to lead upwards, most likely away from the library

[LuneMoonshadow]

Looking down on the man eating another, Kythrin looks away and back to his party.

"So, are we to subdue these three men and take them back? And how are we supposed to find what we are looking for in this mess?"

[SponkleofInfini]

"Lets do one thing at a time, if we can avoid confrontation it is all the better. Let the summoner/s get what is required for now, the rest of us should remain on guard."

Says Garland, nursing the handle of his daisho.

[TheDruid20]

"Ielenia, why don't you summon a swarm of insects to distract them and I will fly down and see what I can find. That should keep them busy enough to not bother me without hurting them to much."

OOC: This is based on the assumptiont hat Luian thinks that the scrolls are down below or the way to them is down that way.

[Tilus]

Ielenia takes a look at the three men, then at Luian.

"A swarm of insects? Hmm, yes, I can do that. Everyone, keep me covered while I cast the spell."

Ielenia begins to concentrate, attempting to bring forth a swarm of insects..

(Casting "Summon Swarm" at level 2)

[BigRedRod]

From under the books and debris of the lower floor, hordes of spiders pour out and eventually form into a large group around the feet of the cloest former summoner, the tiny spiders quickly spread upwards, climbing on and under his robe, eventually covering his entire body. The man falls to the ground as they continue to bite him, he screams in pain and rolls ineffectually to remove them.
The second victim of the insanity is now stood in a corner facing the wall, her arms stifly be her sides. She's very quietly talking to herself, altohugh the words or language can't be made out under the screaming of the first. And the third remains unaffected by anything aorund him and continues to eat his fallen companion.

[tyckspoon]

Triren stares down at the assorted people in the spiders, noting all their varied reactions. "How strange. I had no idea people could completely ignore a swarm of spiders. Powerful stuff, this insanity..so. Who's going after the scrolls, then?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

"How about all of us?"

Looking around to his companions, Kythrin nods.

"This is about quests and guardianship, anyway."

[Tilus]

Ielenia nods in agreement. "I agree. I'm going too."

[TheDruid20]

"Well can you fly down and back easily? No you need to get down among them. I have greatly mobility. I will not be far if anything goes wrong. I plan on staying out of their reach."

[SponkleofInfini]

"I agree with Luian, we don't wish to hurt them anymore then we need to. If we go down, we risk hurting them or worse, and nontheless we will probably only get in the way."

Add Garland

[tyckspoon]

"If you're that determined to go alone, Luian, then go. Just scream or something if you run into trouble. As for me, I'm going to see if I can find out what's in the other room. I'm not an expert, but what's here doesn't look like scrolls." Triren rearranges his chain at his waist to ensure it is ready to draw, then pulls out his wand of Light, just in case there's no light source. He strides off towards the door on the upper level, not bothering to quiet his steps, since anything that hasn't been alerted by either the party or the screaming is too deaf for it to make a difference.

[BigRedRod]

With the party seemingly in agreement, Luian begins the mystic chanting and motions broadly with her arms (which holding a feather in her right hand very tightly). There is a brief sound like the rushing of air, and the summoner begins to float up over the railing and down toward the lower level.

The three victims on the level pay no attention to the floating wizard, although the screaming of the man covered in the spiders becomes a little louder. There is a single door on each wall of this library section, two are similar to the doors on the upper level (Although both are currently closed). The door directly in front of Luian is blocked by a fallen bookcase, it may be possible for her to move it enough to slip through, but doing so will take a great deal of time alone. The door behind Luian, is very sturdy looking and broad, the wood has an odd colour to it (although upon reflection, it would seem that all the doors connected to the library share this odd colour, possible it is the result of a protective treatment or somesuch), the door is firmly closed and has a keyhole beneatht he handle


....


With Luian on her way to locating the scroll-store and retrieving the spells that should help them find out what has happened to Andrion, Triren walks toward the hanging door and passes through into the passage beyond. The floor has the same slope to the one which led into the library, and the rogue can make out several doors a little further up the passage from where he is stood

[tyckspoon]

Triren slowly paces up the hall, stopping to listen at each door and give it a quick once-over for locks and traps. More doors. Why can't anyone build a place with nice scenic open arches? I hate not being able to see what's coming.

[TheDruid20]

"O fiddle faddle, time to get my hands dirty."

In a matter of seconds Luian glows chants repeatedly form glowing and fadeing, her arms begin to stretch her already tight robes.

Casts Mage Armor, Shield, Expeditous Retreat, From Staff Endurance and Bulls Strength. And Summons a Celestial Badger Summon 1

To the badger, "Make sure the crazy people don't get near me, but try not to hurt them." Luian dashes toward the door under the party and opens it to find out what is there, if not what she wants she makes a mad dash to each of the doors tryign to find the right one."

[BigRedRod]

Luian glides toward the unblocked door, giving off light of all colours from the multitude of spells, the door is locked but thankfully the key provided by the elder fits the lock. With a shove the door opens and reveals a room no more than six feet high, split into two lanes. At first glance it looks very much like a large wine cellar, but the shelves contain racks of scroll casea rather than bottles. Each has a few celestial runes on the cap, which would seem to explain which spell scroll is held in each case. The room is long enough to be positively awe-inspiring, with potential for copies of more spells than Luina can comfortably imagine.

...

The doors lining the corridor are all rather sturdy looking, and more importantly lack any hndy grates for peering through.
Triren containues down the passage, the first few doors were silent and locked. However he reaches one which appears to currently be unlocked, and through the door he can her, what sounds like, a boy, perhaps not quite a teenager, crying.

[TheDruid20]

I look for some sort of markers dividing the spells by level or school, if not luian starts to look for the ones she needs, drooling over the others but not touching them.

[tyckspoon]

Triren fiddles with the lock and door handle for a few seconds, then shrugs and steps to one side of the doorway before giving the door a light shove, throwing it about halfway open. He sticks his head around the doorjamb to get a better look, ready to pull back immediately if anything even remotely resembling danger is pointed at him.

[SponkleofInfini]

Garland stands anxiously, these people have become unpredicdable. Although he didn't want to see the crazed people come to harm, he did not want either of the summoners to get hurt either.

[BigRedRod]

Luian quickly finds the system by which the scrolls are arranged, and within ten minutes or so has located all of the spell-scrolls which the Elder mentioned, and has made the pleasant discover that each scroll case seems to contain from two to five copies of each spell, and sometimes multiple cases for the same spell exist. It is indeed a very well stocked library.

[ooc: taken two scrolls of Analyze Deomer, Contact other plane and Legend Lore each]

...

Peering into the room reveals a small room containing two beds, no doubt it was the sleeping quarters for junior students, a youth clad in simple robes is hunched on one of the beds crying, another youth lies on the floor next to his bed unmoving

[tyckspoon]

Students, I guess. Hope he's not violent. Triren steps around the doorway and into the room. Figuring a gentle approach might yield best results, he carefully approaches the youth on the bed. After giving the presumably-dead youth on the floor a once-over for signs of injury, he offers the crying one a greeting. ...Damn. What did they use around here? "umm..Hi?"

[BigRedRod]

The youth on the floor has a pol of dried blood under his head, and he is clearly very much dead.

The living youth screams at Triren's greeting
"Get way from me!"
and pushes himself into the far corner of his bed against the wall

[TheDruid20]

Luian quickly exits and returns up to her companions.

[BigRedRod]

Luian leaves the scroll archive and floats back up to her companions, to find that Triren is not present.

The three victims downstairs remain seemingly oblivious as to the presence of the Summoners and guardians on the higher level. The man who was being attacked by the swarm has now fallen to the ground, his attempts to flee and remove the horde of spiders seems to have allowed for of them to bite him, his body shakes slightly as the poison runs through him and causes convulsions, or possibly it's just an illusion cast by the myriad of spiders crawling across him. The other two remains in roughly the same positions they previously occupied, although the man feasting on the fallen summoner seems to have almost completed his meal

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin stares down over the side to the lower level, shaking his head.

"Let's leave this place before that one eating the dead finishes. I don't want to be the next meal. And we still have to find Triren. Walked off someplace... anyone see where?"

[tyckspoon]

Triren backs out of the room trying to look non-threatening and closes the door behind him. As he walks back to the group, he counts the doors he passes to make sure he can locate the room again. As he comes back into the main library room, he waves to the group and calls out in a soft voice pitched to carry. "Hey. Miss me?"

[TheDruid20]

"Not realy I was busy getting the scrolls. Now we just need to get one of them and take them back with us. The one in convulsions should be best. Who has some rope?"

[SponkleofInfini]

"Here."

Says Garland, grabing the pack off his back and retrieving 50ft of hemp rope, tossing it over to the summoner.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"I have a spell that may help." Smiling to himself, pleased with his spell selection, he moves closer to the staircase.

[Tilus]

Ielenia continues watching with a depressed look on her face, not sure of what she should do. This temple is unfamiliar to her, and she finds that she doesn't really know where she should go. She has found that she is unable to contribute much to the group's efforts of solving the mystery of the people who have gone mad - it seems that everyone else is far more prepared for this adventuring stuff than she is. She looks down at Shadie, almost hoping for some encouraging words from the familiar, or maybe some advice as to how she could help the group more..

(OOC: Obligatory "I'm still here" post. Not like I really can do much more with my shotty, hopelessly ineffective character anyways.. -_-)

[tyckspoon]

Triren walks back to the main group. "Let's see..we sent down someone flying..so you must be trying to capture somebody. I think I found someone to take back. A younger boy, I would guess one of the students here. He seemed kind of paranoid, and I think he may have killed someone..but he also seemed weak enough for us to easily subdue, if needed." Triren glances down at the floor. "And we wouldn't have to drag him up from the floor."

[SponkleofInfini]

"Hmm sounds like our best option...but if he is a summoner, physical strength is not something we should be worrying about."

Says Garland

[TheDruid20]

"Very true, even then it is unlike a young child could summon more then a small mammal, but you never know. Are you sure he is insane, and not just effected by what he has seen around him?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

"No, I am not sure," Kythrin says, shaking his head. He glances over the side once again. "But I'd rather do it like this to begin with than take chances and something go wrong."

[tyckspoon]

Triren offers a shrug in response to Luian's question, figuring it could have been directed at anyone. "I don't know if the kid's really insane or just scared. Either way, he didn't want me too near him. But, even considering the strange factors here, he'd probably be the easiest to capture."

[TheDruid20]

"If we tie his hands the one down there would be best. We know he is insane. I can even try to see if I can stop it. I have a spell or two that might work. Even if he managed to get a spell off while tied it would be a weak one and nothing we couldn't handle, and if we pay attention not hard at all to prevent. I don't want to have to come back here more then neccesary."

[SponkleofInfini]

"If that is what you feel is best, then I shall aid you in anyway required."

Says Garland eyeing the rope, which is quite new, barely a fray.

[TheDruid20]

"Hmm, well Let me try something first."

Cast Charm Monster on one of the conscience people, then invites them up the stairs.

[BigRedRod]

The spells seems to work and the woman lopes up the metal spiral-stairbase, she looks confused and wary. The spiral-staircase clangs and rattles as she climbs with her odd gait. Although it's clear that the morning of insanity hasn't been kind to any of it's victims, and the haggered summoner is no exception, she carries an almost feral look. As she arrives, the insane summoner spits out a quick jumble of words at Luian. But it's impossible to understand them, they seem to be random words from a variety of langauges.

[Tilus]

(OOC: Here's a post. Meh. Trying one last time to jumpstart my character and throw her into the action before this becomes a lost cause..)

Ielenia continues watching events unfold before her very eyes - things had been happening so rapidly that by the time she was able to figure out something had gone on something else was already in progress. Seeing all these insane people around her confused her and saddened her - she had no idea how to deal with any of them. Her companions seemed to know how to handle the situation far better than she does, and the farther she travels into this temple the quicker she begins to lose her will to continue on the path to become a high summoner.. Maybe this isn't the path for her, after all? Maybe it would be better just to sit back in her comfortable little village and lead a normal life of an iron crafter, occasionally chipping in the fight to protect her village when necessary..

No.. why is she starting to have such thoughts now? Abandoning the many years of training to become a summoner now would be an incredible waste. However, she needs to find a way to help out the others, and soon, before they abandon her first..

Suddenly, she gets an idea!

Ielenia eyes one of her Potions of Comprehend Languages, opens it up and quaffs it, and approaches the insane summoner, and tries to talk to her..

"Excuse me, could you tell me who did this to you?", she says, in as gentle a manner as she can.

[BigRedRod]

The woman begins to talk again, her jumbled words spilling out. To the others it sounds just like the ravings of any other of the insane. But Ielenia hears something vaguely intelligable,
"...Just too FULL! Seeing, Hearing, Tasting, all of it at once ... LIKE A WAVE!? it hurt ... the others? WHY IS IT OPEN? ... look at them!!!! I can't think ... evil, or wrong, or maybe ... ancient ... it's her and not just her ... like animals ... the constant stinging pain ... like blood ... the taste ... memories! MEMORIES FROM HER ... all sealed up"
The woman seems to constantly be rambling, but it seems to revolve around variations on these themes, but it's impossible to tell how her broken statements connect, or if they actually hold any real meaning

[Tilus]

Ielenia bends down on her knees, and edges a little closer to the insane summoner woman, but also making sure to stay a safe enough distance. She still doesn't understand her much better, but she now has something to work with..

"Don't worry, we're here to help. Your suffering will be over soon.", she says, gently. "But, do you know who 'her' is, or what she looks like?"

[BigRedRod]

The woman drops to her knees mirroring Ielenia's actions and clutches at her head,
"Vvvvv, vvvvv, vvvv. ARGGGGGG. Vvvvvvv. "
She starts to scream in pain, and digs her fingernails into her scalp
"Vvvvv... Blood ... Blood taste"
She stops her mumbling for a moment and looks at Ielenia with pleading eyes

[Tilus]

"Alright, you be good and stay out of trouble, okay?"

Ielenia nods to the woman, looking in her eyes, before getting up and looks to the others.

"It doesn't look like I'll be able to get any more out of her. Even being able to understand what she's saying didn't make much more sense.. She kept mumbling on about being in pain that tastes like blood, and being flooded by 'memories of 'her''.. rather, that's the most sense I could make of her aimless ramblings.."

[SponkleofInfini]

Her...Blood...could it be?

Garland looks questionally at Ielenia;

"Perhaps not so aimless, we should take her back. Perhaps her meanderings will reveal more."

Says Garland fingering the rope, holding it in a nice and neat bundle.

"Are you confident we can get her back without need for this?"

Ask Garland

[TheDruid20]

"She veiws me as a friend, that should help, she is obviously in no condition to cast spells, and summoners are not known for their physichal strength. I think we will be fine."

[BigRedRod]

The jumbled summoner follows Luian and the rest of the group as they head back towards the main hall. The sounds of the insane travel through the passage and seem far louder than on your descent toward the library, but still all of the doors remain firmly closed and you don't catch sight of any more of the afflicted.

The main hall seems to have remained undisturbed, and the odd magical little home remains in the centre of it all. Re-entering the shelter reveals the Elder lying , rather unregaly, on one of the beds, before anyone can speak the Elder does so, while still appearing to remain asleep,
"Very good, you seem to have found a subject for the investigation. I take it you managed to locate the scrolls?"
His eyes open and he sits up as much as he can on the lower bunk, he looks marginally better off for his short rest, and he looks at the pair of summoners, occasionally glancing at the insane woman who has started gibbering again,
"It's so tragic to see, such a promising girl reduced to this."

"The morning wave! Biting ... but they're all ... so old ... the blood ... her memories breaking ... screaming ... SO HARD TO ... the taste, the smell, the warmth"

[Tilus]

Ielenia looks down at the insane summoner girl then turns to face the Elder.

"Unfortunately, she's no easier to comprehend even when you know what she's saying.. She keeps rambling on about 'blood' and 'her memories'. Does this make any sense to you?"

[BigRedRod]

"Possibly .... although if you are getting any sense at all out of her words then perhaps she isn't as badly affected as most. She doesn't appear to be violent by any means, and that can only be good, I just hope she will cooperate. I think that out best bet here, will involve young ... Sara, yes Sara"
The woman reacts to her name and looks directly at the Elder in a state of bewilderment
"And Analyze Dweomer, I assume you managed to locate a scroll? In my current state, the spell would be too draining for me to use."
He looks directly at the two summoners stood before him,
"Do either of you have the power needed to use the scroll?"

[ooc: ok Billy, we'll do it the 3.5 way, I'm sure we will most likely be switching over at some point anyways. But he still has that 1-8 hours of fatigue to worry about in his already weakened state]

[TheDruid20]

"I am more then willing to try. But I make no promises and it is best I do it with no one around incase something goes wrong. Perhaps you could give me some pointers to help?"

OOC: Doubt it will give much if any numbers benifit for the role but tutalige should help me somewhat. ::Prays for good roll::

[Tilus]

(OOC: You'd better not switch over to 3.5, at least if you expect me to stay in the campaign, even if my character gets really good. =P I'm not about to go memorize a completely new set of rules halfway through just to keep playing.)

"I'm also willing to give it a try. I won't be able to cast it any better than Luian, however if you need another person to cast the spell should Luian's attempt fail, I'm here for you."

[BigRedRod]

"I'm grateful you are both so grateful, I suppose if the one fails and ruins the scroll, then we can allow the other to make another attempt with the remaining scrool. One of you should manage to complete the invocation. Now then ... Sara would you sit, please?"

The woman takes a seat on one of the stools surrounding the table and continues to stare around the room in utter confusion, she continues to mutter a constant stream of jumbled words.

"Well then ... Luian wasn't it? I think you have the honour of the first, and hopefully only attempt. I'll provide what support I can during the casting, hopefully I'll be able to set you straight if you make a mistake, other than that, you have to rely on your own power"

Luian takes the scroll in her hands and begins to read, mystical streamers of energy leak from the scroll and roll around her body, eventually forming into a complex circular diagram on the floor that constantly moves. A few seconds later the diagram vanishes. For a few moments Luian's eyes look to made from pure gold and she stares directly at Sara, and then a white pulse of energy radiates outwards from her and she drops to the ground.
Or almost, Garland moves with unparalleled speed and catches her long before she hits the stone floor.
Sara remains seated on the stool, looking wary of Luian and the magical light effects she seems able to produce. However the distraction seems to have stopped for mumbling, at least for a short period.

The Elder smiles,
"Success! Although possibly I should have told her to take a seat for the spell, it takes it out of anyone that uses it."

[ooc : Sara is cursed. The curse is linked to an object of somekind which is located somewhere within the afflicted area. The exact nature of the curse is linked to an individual, but exactly how or who is unknown. It is permanent, unless a spell such as Remove Curse is used. Those of Strong will can resist the effects of the curse, either completely or at least partially]

[LuneMoonshadow]

Tilting his head, Kythrin stared at the small girl as the spell consumed her. Then, he turned to his summoner friend as the spell finished.

"So, what is wrong with her?"

OOC: Sorry for the lack of posting, I was on vacation. Forgot to tell you guys... And for 3.5, I'm not buying new books. So if you guys switch, I'm going to have to drop out.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Are you okay, Luian?"

Says Garland laying her down on the floor.

[TheDruid20]

Looking up weakly at Garland, "Ouch" Luian blacks out.

[Tilus]

"That.. must have been a very exhausting spell. It's very rare to see her pass out so quickly from a casting.."

Ielenia looks down at the unconscious Luian, and helps lift her onto one of the beds, making sure she's resting on it comfortably, before turning back to the Elder.

"Elder, is there anything else you need immediately from any of us, before we rest and plan our strategy?"

[BigRedRod]

"I think it would be best, if we all rest for now. Hopefully Luian gained enough information so we can make some useful steps forward. Although it may be an idea to restrain Sara, otherwise we should be perfectly safe here until the spell ends"

[SponkleofInfini]

"Agreed, I would also like to keep watch, if one thing I have come to expect is the unpredictability of the afflicted."

Says Garland, placing his pack to the floor, ready to retrive the rope.

[TheDruid20]

Several hours later Luian awakens holding her head grumbling about elephants and small spaces.

"I think I figured out what is effectiong them. It is a curse. Anyone got remove curse handy? If not there is some item that is associated with this curse, it is within the city. It is probably best if we try to heal the elder before we leave, and if possible prepare as many remove curse/dispel magic as possible."

[BigRedRod]

"Less haste, my girl, more speed. You don't have enough information to be setting out into the city. Based on what the spell told you, and our subject here, I think it's best that we cast another spell. With knowledge of an item being involved, hopefully a legend lore would be of use."
The Elder looks toward Ielenia with a smile,
"I would ask you to do this, but Luian has more knowledge for the moment, and hopefully any impressions the analysis left on her will aid this spell."

Seeing Sara sat in a corner squirming against her ropes the Elder looks troubled,
"I'm sorry my dear. Soon we will be able to restore your mind and let you rest."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"If our quest out into the city can wait until tomorrow, I can rid the girl of the curse. But, I shall have to pray to the Core for the strength to do so."

Kythrin nods, the prayer already forming in his mind.

[TheDruid20]

"Alright let me rest a few more then I will try."

Luian rests nibbling on some rations and drinking somethign then sits down this time to try and cast the spell.

[Tilus]

As Luian begins casting the spell, Ielenia sits in her bed, keeping an eye on Sara and maintaining eye contact with her, making sure she stays calm while the spell is being cast.

[BigRedRod]

Luian begins the chat and all colour drains from her face. The chanting continues for what seems an eternity and then a burst of green energy spreads outwards before dissapearing from sight. A ghostly voice echos inside the summoner head,


The Lady of the Sarcophagus waits,
That which is most unholy, in faith's centre,
Her inner thoughts projected by her prison,
Fatigued until it's destruction,


The Elder looks at Luian as the spell completes,
"Well?"

[TheDruid20]

The Lady of the Sarcophagus waits,
That which is most unholy, in faith's centre,
Her inner thoughts projected by her prison,
Fatigued until it's destruction,

"That is what I got. Any clue?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin nods some, and sits down on the floor, listening to the poem-like thing the summoner recites.

"Sounds like we have some undead we have to face. Just my opinion, however..."

[BigRedRod]

"It does indeed appear that the curse of undeath may be involved. I would like to research this further, but the time is draining away and it can only be getting worse in the city."

"Our first task is to secure the temple. We've learnt something about the threat, and it sounds like removing the curse should be quite simple. However, this temple has around twenty-five occupants ... or had, I have to face the reality that some will have been killed in the madness. In my current state I'm unable to use magic, or at least my own. The library should hold around half a dozen copies of remove curse, Guardian Kythrin has already assured us that the Gods will provide him the power to lift the curse"

The elder straightens himself a little, it looks like he was attempting to stand but simply realised he didn't have the energy

"Those who we can't be cured will need holding until such a time as we can cure them. I lack the energy to move, but this shelter should hold for long enough for yourselves to return to the library and cure any along the way. Upon your return we can assess our resources."

The elder sags a little,
"I shall rest and attempt to recover my strength, despite my own teachings of humility it pains me to be in this state."

[TheDruid20]

"Perhaps we should make sure you are healed before we leave you alone. Kythrin can you heal him soon? Or must you wait till the morrow?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin nods to his charge and speaks. "I can heal him now." With those words, he steps towards the high summoner, his lips moving in a near-silent prayer to the gods, asking for the power to heal this man.

OOC: My character will judge how bad the wounds are and will use the appropriate level cure spell. Or, if it is a lowe level spell, I will use one of my wands.

[Tilus]

"I remembered to bring some Potions of Cure Light Wounds with me. Is it possible one of those may suffice?"

[BigRedRod]

The Elder appears to be unwounded, his difficulty moving and concentrating clearly stems from a less visible source

[TheDruid20]

"His wounds are of the mind and require the curse to be lifted. You can help Kythrin, can't you?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin shakes his head, looking at the ground.

"I have no such power to cure exhaustion." Kythrin nods, looking to the older man. "He needs to sleep. That, and to be assured whatever evil is afoot in this place is put down."

Kythrin lays his hand on the shaft of the halfspear, a physical manifestation of his desire to rid the town of the insanity.

[Tilus]

"I am unable to cast the 'remove curse' spell without the assistance of scrolls.. I don't know the 'hold person' spell either. I'm willing and able to assist Kythrin, but it will require that I stop by the library and gather as many copies of both spells as are available."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"High Summoner, would it be alright if our group accessed the library and used some of the scrolls for our protection and aid if we so need them."

Kythrin nods to him, not asking him to take advantage of the situation, but sincere in his duty of protection.

[SponkleofInfini]

"Before we leave, what of the girl, Sara? Will the elder be safe alone with her? Perhaps if we cannot find a safe place for her, perhaps one of us should stay behind to keep watch."

Says Garland

[BigRedRod]

The elder silently nods to Kythrin's request
Then he looks at the foreign man
"Guardian, you seemed quite able to keep her secured in the past with your rope. I would suggest that you do so again, in any case she doesn't appear to be violent."

[TheDruid20]

"My spell seams to have peirced the insanity. If any where to stay behind it would be me. I have used up much of my power already. Though I am not without resources. Rest would do me well Ienenia, you should lead them I will stay here and study the scrolls and perhaps try to gain some more information and rest. You have many more castings left this day. Erren will accompany you and send me telepathic word if my help is needed, I can be there in a jiffy if the need is great."

[SponkleofInfini]

"Yes...I am only concerned with your saftey elder, she may seem harmless. But when our backs are turned, what may she be capable of? But if you feel safe in her presence then I will trust in your jusgement."

Says Garland

[Tilus]

"Very well. I'm prepared to leave, those who are coming with me please tell me when you are ready."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Ready when you are..."

Kythrin nods, preparing in his mind the simple prayer for guidance of his steps.

[tyckspoon]

Triren shrugs, having been ready to do something the entire time the others have been talking. "Any time."

[SponkleofInfini]

"I will stay here."

Replies Garland

[BigRedRod]

Ielenia, Triren, Kythrin and Erren the hedgehog proceed down the passage once again toward the library. The short walk is again without any incident and the four arrive at the top tier of the library without sight of any of the afflicted. Looking down on to the lower level reveals that the two remaining cursed are still down there.

The first has now finished eating his former companion and lies on the ground noisly sleeping, every few seconds he suddenly turns and makes an odd primal noise. The cursed man who was attacked by the swarm lies motionless almost where he was left by the party.

The door to the scroll archive is located under the party' s current position, it's door unlocked.

***

Garland watches dutifully as the elder and Luian rest. Sara sits on a stool, bound at her hands and feet looking quite upset, and mumbling just below a whsiper making it impossible to hear what she is saying. not that anyone would unerstand it

[Tilus]

Ielenia looks down at the two surviving cursed people are still there, and blocking their passage to the door to the library.

"Looks like we will need to find a way around those two in order to pass. I could attempt to cloud their vision with an 'Obscuring Mist' spell and then we can sneak into the library, but I'm not sure how well it would work. Does anyone have any better options?"

[tyckspoon]

"Go right by them. We can match them physically easily enough, and they aren't in a condition to use magic. A spell to silence them would make certain, if you have such."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin turns to his companions.

"If need be, I can try and stop them non-violently. And if that doesn't work, I can protect and heal you all."

[Tilus]

"It's better to avoid combat altogether than to try to take our chances..", Ielenia says, then looks to Kythrin. "Are0 you able to cast your spells from this distance?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin nots to Ielenia. "I can cast these spells from a distance, yes. But I do not want to waste my spells. We should see if they are hostile and pose a threat, first."

[tyckspoon]

"Sounds like my job.." Triren walks around the upper lip, looking for a path that is easily climbable, like an upright bookshelf bolted to the wall. If nothing presents itself, he creates one with a rope.

[BigRedRod]

Triren notices ths spiral staircases at each corner of the upper tier, all are still very sturdy. In fact the nearest was the one which Sara climbed.

[ooc: couldn't help myself ... if you are going to try and slip down without risking a metallic clang of the stairs( Although +20 move silently isn't to sniffed at when only the only ones who could hear you are either asleep or possibly dead) you could tie a rope to the top of one of the stair cases and slide down.]

[tyckspoon]

(heh. I deserved that. Nah, not gonna bother moving silently. More fun to climb a bookcase, though)

Finally coming aware of the fact that the place was built so that people could easily go between levels, Triren decides to just use a staircase. He saunters down it, not bothering to silence his steps, so that the noise will help indicate whether the insane people on the floor even care about his presence.

[BigRedRod]

As the thief moves down the staircase it doesn't clang as much as it ought. The painted metal seems to have been created cleverly (either thorugh engineering know-how or mystic involvement) so that a person ascending or descending produces much less noise than one would expect.
The slight metallic footsteps have no effect on the two "slumbering" afflicted. They remain in their previous states, one lying still, while the other shifts occasionally in his rest. He rolls his head toward the rogue as he descends, his face is covered in blood from his former companion. A grizzly sight indeed.

[Tilus]

Ielenia keeps watch on Triren and the two afflicted people, keeping watch to see if either of them would be distracted by Triren's descent down the staircase. Seeing that this may not be as difficult as it once appeared, Ielenia follows suit, though stepping carefully as a mere precaution.

[BigRedRod]

The summoner and guardian stand on the lower level, the door beneaeth their enterance appears to have been the one Luian visited in the first trip to the scroll archive. The door has been left open revealing a highly impressive low long room containing more scroll cases than you should have ever seen in one place at a time. Lunos had an extensive collection, but it simply does not compare.

[ooc: Ielenia, just post collecting whatever scrolls it is you want. Lune feel free to have Kyth trot down too if you want a look]

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin slowly walks down the strairs, keeping a close eye on the inflicted people laying on the floor. Once inside the scroll room, his eyes grow wide in astonishment, and very much unable to speak.

Once Kythrin gains his tongue back, he quitely says, "We could use some scrolls of Remove Curse and other support spells that will keep us safe."

[Tilus]

Ielenia takes a long look at the almost dizzying array of shelves before her, struggling to take it all in. She begins to look back and forth, attempting to get a better idea of just what spells are located where in the vast sea of scrolls.

"That's an excellent idea. Now, the challenge is having to find out where they are in here.."

Ielenia quickly gets to work, briefly skimming through the shelves, weaving back and forth while collecting the scrolls that she will likely use. She clears the library of its' stock of Remove Curse and Hold Person, and also takes a couple scrolls of Cure Light Wounds, Dispel Magic, Dominate Person, Invisibility, and Wall of Force.

She returns to Kythrin carrying the scrolls, and shows him what she picked up. "Are there any other scrolls you think we might need, or will this be enough?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin looks through the scrolls shown to him, smiling.

"Good selection, but I fear these might not be enough. Scrolls of Cure Critical Wounds would suit us better, and we could even use a scroll of Greater Dispelling if the nature is dire enough. Grab one scroll of Deeper Darkness and a few scrolls of Magic Circle against Chaos and Evil. I am taking no chances. And any of these scrolls we don't use, we return here."

[BigRedRod]

The group find six copies of Remove Curse (arcane), three Remove curse (divine), four Hold Person (Arcane), two Hold Person (divine), seven Cure Light Wounds, seven Dispel Magic (Arcane), five Dispel Magic (Divine), two Dominate Person, nine Invisibility, five Wall of Force, eight cure critical wounds, five Greater Dispelling (arcane), three Greater Dispelling (divine), two Deeper Darkness, eleven Magic circle against Chaos (arcane), five Magic circle against chaos (divine), ten Magic circle against Evil (arcane), six Magic circle against evil (divine) in the long room


From the extensive scroll collection the summoner's preference for arcane magic is very clear. Although there are decent stocks of scrolls for the rare occasion that a potential summoner is a servant of the Gods

[ooc: those are the maximum's, take what you want from them. Just make sure that only one of you adds the haul to your sheet. I don't want any accidental scroll duplication. It looks like Ielenia is the one grabbing, so Tilus, you can bang them on your sheet, or you may want to split the divine]

[tyckspoon]

Since the insane people in the library proper don't appear to be a threat, Triren slips inside the scroll room for his own quick search. He moves through the aisles rapidly, looking for lower-level scrolls that he might be able to activate sort of easily and any other miscellaneous items or, indeed, other exits to the room.

(Perhaps the summoners keep a potion or wand stock around as well? Pots of cure wound spells would be better than scrolls.)

[BigRedRod]

The scroll archive seems to be a store-house for scrolls alone. If there is a storage area for other items then it is either hidden beyond Triren's talents or it is in another section of the temple

[tyckspoon]

After circuiting the room and finding nothing particularly useful to him, Triren comes back to the two who dug out the other scrolls. "I don't think there's enough to cure the entire temple, is there? It would probably be best to hunt down the temple's masters and cure them first. Once they're healed, they should be able to get the temple back under control and we can move on."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"I must agree. High clerics would be able to cure this much easier than we would. And with them in control of themselves, we can more easily get control of the city. Now to only find them."

[BigRedRod]

The trio return to the main hall, leaving the two inflicted lying on the ground, and paying no heed to the vague sounds of anguish as theyascend to the central chamber.

Garland and Luian are both sat in the magical structure, while Sara slumps in a corner and the Elder continues to rest. A spark of life dances through him as the party is reformed and he begins to speak,
"Excellent, I assume all went well? Now if you would be as so kind to attempt to lift the curse which holds Sara, we can consider our next step in this task"

[TheDruid20]

Luian interjects, "You will be cured first Elder."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder shakes his head,
"No, we shouldn't waste one of the precious few scrolls. I would rather see the spell cast on Sara, this will allow us to see exactly what the spell can do. From our limited insight I think that the insanity and fatigue are connected but not the same."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Nodding, Kythrin pulls out a scroll of Remove Curse. "Shall I proceed, then?"

[TheDruid20]

"Elder I must insist. Your skills alone will be enough to hold this temple as a safe place in the city. We have enough to help both you and Sara I am sure. In yoru right mind you can help cure many others."

Diplomacy check +7 and hopefully modified by the fact that what I am sayign makes sense....

[BigRedRod]

The Elder is suddenly very stern,
"NO!"
And then he coughs,
"You will attempt to cure Sara first, then we can think about whether it would be a waste to use one of the remaining scrolls on my myself"
The Elder nods to the priest,
"Guardian, begin the spell"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin nods in return, undoing the scroll, the words dancing about the page in front of him. His lips move quietly as the prayer is prayed to not one god, but the many gods of the core, asking for the power and strength to heal this girl, along with the words to activate the scroll.

OOC: I'll stop there in case something needs to be done. Feel free to fill in the rest.

[TheDruid20]

"use the one that is certain. The Elder needs to be himself is behavoir obviously reflects that he is not totally uneffected by the plague." Luian is very stern.

[BigRedRod]

The Elder scowls at Luian,
"I may be far from my full strength girl, but you need to learn your place. As of right now it seems highly likely that using one of the scrolls in an attempt to cure me would result in little to no effect. The insanity would appear to come in two sections, the madness itself and my overwhelming fatigue ..."

The Elder shuffles and coughs

"The afflicted would appear to be free from the fatigue, and yet as I managed to resist it's effects I find myself barely able to walk. Whether a remove curse will fully restore one is unknown, our initial magical investigations would have us believe they do, but we were examining one with no signs of the fatigue."

The Elder shakes his head,
"If you are determined to ignore my words, then you may try. I lack the strength to fight your bullheadedness. But as I have waited, I have reached two courses of action. Firstly we remove the curse on Sara, if we are lucky she will be freed from the insanity and any signs of fatigue, if not we are left with a choice between a temple of insane summoners and a temple of drained shells. We can use further magics to investigate the nature of the fatigue, but I see the temple full of possibly dangerous lunatics as being of far more concern."

[SponkleofInfini]

"I agree, Luian perhaps it would be best to cure Sara first. With a bit of luck those who we free from the insanity will be able to aid us in curing the rest of the town. Afterall the needs of many outweigh the few...I am sorry Elder."

Says Garland placing his hand upon Luian's shoulder.

"It is in the best interest of all if you heed the Elder's request."

[TheDruid20]

Obviously disgusted (PMS), "No go on I will not stop you. But the elder is next."

[BigRedRod]

With the others finally in agreement, Kythrin begins casting the spell, ancient runes and glyphs fill the air around him, as he pleads with the Gods to use their divine majesty and take away the curse which has burrowed inside Sara. As the floating symbols vanish, Sara exhales black mist which quickly fades. And then she fades into unconciousness against the wall

The Elder breathes a sigh of relief,
"Finally she can rest. Someone help her onto one of the beds, we shall have to see her state when she re-awakens. Until then ... there is nothing productive we can do."

Ielenia sits on one of the stools as the curse is removed,
"We have only eight scrolls of remove curse left, however we also found eight scrolls of greater dispelling, those should also allow us to remove the curse. We took any scroll which we thought might help. Elder, the collection of scrolls that is kept here is truely wonderous"
The Summoner places the scroll cases on the table

The Elder glances over,
"And it looks like you brought a majority of it with you"

Scrolls on the table
six Remove Curse (arcane),
two Remove curse (divine),
four Hold Person (Arcane),
two Hold Person (divine),
seven Cure Light Wounds,
seven Dispel Magic (Arcane),
five Dispel Magic (Divine),
two Dominate Person,
nine Invisibility,
five Wall of Force,
eight cure critical wounds,
five Greater Dispelling (arcane),
three Greater Dispelling (divine),
two Deeper Darkness,
eleven Magic circle against Chaos (arcane),
five Magic circle against chaos (divine),
ten Magic circle against Evil (arcane),
six Magic circle against evil (divine)

[SponkleofInfini]

Garland helps Sara onto a bed while the others discuss their magic and how to ration it. Such things were beyond Garland and he paid little heed to it.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"I mean no offense, High Summoner, but if we are to take on whatever it is that has the power to drive an entire city insane, I think we should have an appropriate selection of spells. But, I severely doubt such scrolls will be used up, and the remains will be returned to the temple, along with any assistance we can give in the restoration of order."

Kythrin looks down at the table, making a mental note of how many of each scroll there are.

[BigRedRod]

The high summoner grins,
"Someone the gravity of the situation has robbed us of humour"
The Elder closes his eyes,
"Including myself and Sara, there are twenty-five in this temple. And we have sixteen attempts at removing this foul curse. Hopefully those few will be enough to at least secure the temple."

[TheDruid20]

"I do not thing we shoudl waste them so readily. I know That I can scribe some into my spellbook allowign me to cast and recast without the limit of the scrolls. As High summoner obviously you should be able to do the same, and there must be others in the temple with the same skill or or already have knowledge that woudl be useful. We should perhaps select those we cure carefully. Cureing master spellcasters who can cast remove curse or greater dispelling on their own will help us alot more then healing the kitchen maids. Do not get me wrong they will be healed but we must look at the whole picture and how many can we help not just help the first person that we see."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder nods,
"Spreading the scrolls between us as you say would be ideal. The problem is that currently I am not sure I have the focus to perform any work of magic, of course we shall see once Sara awakens."

[TheDruid20]

"When we see how she is we will see whatit takes to cure the exhustion. A temple full of sleeping Sumoners is not much better then one full of insane summoners. Hopefully we can atleast cure some of you totally so we can send those that are well and those we heal to here to be safe. We will need to find this focus. DO you have any reccomendations for a spell that is within our ability to cast?"

[BigRedRod]

The Elder pauses,
"I think the best solution is also the most straight-forward. The cause of the affliction will be surrounded by a lingering magical aura, something of that power will no doubt leave the an aura throughout the entire city. With a detect magic spell you should simply be able to walk towards the area with the strongest aura."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin bows, his right hand sweeping out to the side in his low bow.

"Use what powers I have, for any cause of a summoner is one of a guardian."

[BigRedRod]

Time grinds by, the entire room feeling powerless until Sara awakens. After almost half an hour of pensive waiting, her eyes open and she notices the Elder,
"Elder!?"
She quickly attempts to move and almost falls out of the bed but Ielenia, who had spent the time dutiffully attending the Elder, catchs hold of her as the fatigue stops her from getting up
"I ... ungh ... apologise Elder for my state in ... your presence."
The girl fades out of conciousness again

The Elder sighs and with his eyes half open slowly begins to speak,
"It is as I feared. But perhaps all is not lost, the fatigue requires investigation, as the two are linked I doubt an additional legend lore would reveal much, if anything, more. Analyse Dweomer will hopefully provide us with enough detail to attempt a cure."

[BigRedRod]

Ielenia takes the original scroll from the initial trip to the library scroll archive, her hand shakes slightly as she opens it, and seats herself on a stool opposite the sleeping Sara
She begins the incantation, her eyes filling with gold as her fellow summoner's did on the previous casting, and the strnage shifting circular diagram appearing on the floor. The room fills with a painful tension and then it explodes and white radiates outwards from the summoner. Ielenia drops backwards, but the support of the table behind keeps her upright.

For Ielenia the world becomes a dark and painful place and she passes out.
The elder smiles,
"Ah! It worked, I was worried the girl's lack of confidence would be her undoing. Let's just hope the spell was useful."

Another hour grinds past, the magic weave supporting the shelter slowly fading when Ielenia comes back to the waking world in a dramatic gasp for Air,
"Uh! ... It worked"
A smile dances on her face and then quickly fades,
"The Fatigue is caused by the same thing. But it isn't curable, at least not very effectively. The only way to end it, is to destroy whatever caused this ... I think"
She looks confused but hopefully at the others,
"What next?"

The Elder is quick to speak despite his bed ridden state,
"I should think that would be clear my girl. We need to secure the temple. Having a number of dormant summoners is far more preferable than potentially murderous lunatics roaming freely throughout. Then we can move back out of the main hall and secure ourselves against any potential incoming threats. The city won't be saved in a single step, we need to ... to act logically, and not risk what little we have"
The Elder coughs a few times,
"It shames me to be like this, it shames us all."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Elder, if it would aid our cause, we could seek help from any surrounding cities. It may take a bit of time, but aid would be helpful in a time like this. But if that isn't plausible, we can take the first steps of ridding this temple of its illness - the elders."

[tyckspoon]

"Our next job is to get the temple folk cured, ya say? Well, are we going to find them and heal 'em where they are, or bring them here?" Triren slides his sap out of a pocket and lays it into a palm. "I would think bringing them here would be easier and safer, as long as the magic is ready to fix them before they can decide to attack. And they shouldn't be able to attack if they're sleeping at the time, right?"

[BigRedRod]

The Elder sighs,
"A large enough town to be of any help is too far away. I'm sure someone will have already seen what has happened and is doing their best to alert the world. You are not common folk, you are currently the best bet are freeing the city, I'd rather not idly wait for a week allowing things to worsen."
The Elder coughs and begins to speak again at a much slower rate,
"I think it is for the best if you split into two groups. I assume most of temple students will be in the living quarters. There are two wings, east an west, both meet up in the dining hall. I think that would be the most secure region for use to bring the afflicted. The two groups can move through from opposite directions ... Luian, you will take the first group, Cleric, you will ead the second. Myself, Sara and Ielenia will make our way directly the dining halls, hopefully when we arrive you will be ready to recieve us and we should be in a better state than most to help. Take the scrolls, cure any you can along the way, and then take them to the dining hall. There are a number of storage rooms accessable through the kitchen, the supplies may be useful in making people comfortable."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"As you so wish, High Summoner."

Kythrin turns to the group, looking them over.

"How do we want to split up?"

[BigRedRod]

"I'll let you decide. All that matters is that youself and Luian are split between the groups to ensure you can cure the insanity of any you meet"

Ielenia chirps in, clearly quite impressed that the Elder chose her,
"I think you should split all of the remove curse and greater dispelling scrolls between you. There is no point in me holding onto them, your headstart should give us clear passage and I'm confident that I can deal with any strays who insist on crossing our path"

[SponkleofInfini]

"I shall go with Luian."

Adds Garland, ready to accept any order she may ask of him.

[tyckspoon]

"Each group might need someone who can subdue the ones who don't wanna come along. Garland can do that for Luian, if needed. I'll go with Kythrin and see if I can knock those who won't come quiet."

[TheDruid20]

"Unfortuantly I will require some rest before I am at my full strength. This day has taken much out of me. It woudl be wise for me to scribe the needed spells to my spell book then for me to rest. I could heal many more that way and be a more potent force to be dealt with. Not that my staff isn't already."

[BigRedRod]

"It would be productive to scribe the scrolls, but every minute you spend resting is another potential loss of a life. But you can not go about this half-cocked."

[TheDruid20]

"Exactly elder. Perhaps we can send the other out to subdue a few that are less dangerous to be brouht back here were we can cure them while we re relax and get ready to sleep."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Luian can rest here while I lead the others to secure key points in the temple, then we can rest overnight, in which I can gain more strength also. Plus, if we heal the High Summoners, and the weariness wears off in rest, they may be able to lend us a helping hand in the restoration of the temple in the marrow."

[TheDruid20]

"Very good point. I will stay here and scribe the spells we found into my spell book. That way I can know many more versions of them tomorrow as well as rescribe the ones we used for the library after this is all over."

[BigRedRod]

Ielenia shakes her head,
"No, you can't cure the fatigue, Kythrin ... or not fully. I think that rest might help, but not enough so that the afflicted can do much more than a slow walk. Weaving a spell takes inner focus, the fatigue could make even the simplest cantrip beyond the power of any mage ... But the Elder is strong, and a master of the mystic world, perhaps he can prove my ... instincts wrong."
She pauses,
"I'm sorry, I just don't mean for anyone to get their hopes up that we may be able to diectly cure these people. The spell was very clear in citing the destruction of the source as the only method."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Then we better get moving. The more time we wait, the more people are rooted by the insanity."

Kythrin turns to the doorways in the room. "Which way is it we should go?"

OOC: Does Kythrin have the Divine versions of the spells, or not yet?

[tyckspoon]

"We'll likely need the library again, so we should probably secure that. Aside from that.."Triren spreads his hands, indicating his lack of knowledge. "Sara and the Elder are the only ones who know how to get around this place."

[SponkleofInfini]

"Well we cannot bring them with us...now can we. It was also be impractical to continually ask them directions. Let us make for the library first and work out from there."

Says Garland looking down at the floor.

[BigRedRod]

Leaving the two summoners to tend to the two "cured" victims and rest, the remaining three head down to the library for the third time. The route seems so very much longer this time and the odd echoing moans transmit feelings of true agony. Eventually arriving at the upper tier once more the three look down. The two afflicted remains

The one attacked bythe swarm lies on his back staring upwards, he sees the party and looks toward them with pleasing eyes, occasionally his body spasms. The second remains asleep next to the devoured corpse.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"We need to save the High Summoners. I personally do not know how to find them. So, do we subdue these two and bring them back, as with anyone else we find? Or do we cure as we go?"

Kythrin stares at the two afflicted, feeling sympathy for them and their sanity.

[tyckspoon]

"Cure the ones here, take them back to base. Then, while you magic folk rest, perhaps Garland or me can come back here and see if there's something useful among the books? Anyway, I suggest curing these two so we have free access to the library."

[SponkleofInfini]

"I agree, we should not take back any who back who have not been cured of the affliction, they could prove a liability."

Says Garland as he stares down upon the afflicted.

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Shall I get both, then?"

Kythrin pulls out a scroll from his pack, looking over it, and gauging how difficult this will be.

[BigRedRod]

With both of the afflicted lying near unmoving, and the convient staircase downwards, Kythrin moves down the metal steps and approaches the man with the pleading eyes. The air is filled with floating glyphs as the prayer begins, altohugh the priest notices he hushes his own words to avoid waking the other afflicted. As the spell is completed and the priest lays a hand on the cursed man, he breathes a sigh of black mist which quickly dissapates and his eyes close.

The second barely moves throughout the spell, but his curse seems to have a much greater grip on him. As the second spell completes he rolls to his side and begins to vomit uncontrollably for a few seconds before lapsing into unconciousness

The room is seemingly free from any maddened indiviudals now, the door into what is most likely an additional library chamber is blocked by a huge bookcase which may be beyond the warrior, thief and priest to move. There is a lapse in the general temple noise, and for a moment the three can no longer hear the noise of the insane


[ooc: no more scrolls of divine remove curse]

[TheDruid20]

Luinan sit silently studying the school trying to master their casting and copies them into here spell book.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin looks at his companions and then about the room.

"Now do we take them back, or continue forward?"

[tyckspoon]

"Take them back. They'll be safer with the others then they will be here." Triren moves along the bookshelves, scanning titles. "I used to dream of robbing a place like this. People'll pay very well for rare books.."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin walks over to the second individual who was vomitting. He bends over and checks to make sure the man is okay.

"Let's not deface the temple. We are guardians, protectors of our charges. To do so would be blasphemous to our title and cause," he says, not looking up, but concentrating on his new subject.

[BigRedRod]

The cleric rolls the man to his side and another mouthful of foul waste spills from his mouth on to the ground, luckily Kythrin had expected this and managed to avoid becoming soiled. After applying a little basic medical knowledge, Kythrin is confident that the man will not die before he wakes, and can be moved with minimum upset. However, the stench of the vomit remains and is really quite sickening, as are the clear traces of blood and partially digested chunks of meat in the thick spreading pool on the tiled floor

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin picks up the man, careful to keep himself clean, and ignores the stench. he begins walking off towards the room where the others wait.

"Get the other one and follow me. Quickly."

[tyckspoon]

Triren hefts the other unconscious Summoner into a fireman's carry and follows Kythrin out of the area. Grunting under the weight, he mutters "I said used to dream..I'm honest now. None of those books are of personal interest to me, anyways."

[BigRedRod]

The two walk while Garland moves in front, behind and between them. He seems quite on edge, almost sure that something is either stalking the trio or waiting to ambush up ahead. But as usual he remains silent.

The walk back to the main hall seems to be infinte, carrying the weight of a man over such a distance drains the energy meaning that about half way there Kythrin looks ready to topple. The foreign swordsman offers to carry the man as soon as he notices and the slow return to the main hall continues.

After much hard work, they return. Ielenia looks up at them as they enter the magical abode, she is seated between the bunks containing the Elder and Sara on one of the stools. The sight of a high-summoner elder in such a way seems to be testing Ielenia to her limits. However, she remains silent. The Elder and Sara seem to have both entered a fitful sleep, occasionaly they shudder or moan, the sight is truely disheartening

Luian is seated at the table with her spellbook. The scolls are stacked towards the other end of the table, all except one which is out of it's case and unrolled on the table next to an ink-pen

[tyckspoon]

Triren dumps his body onto a handy seat, then finds one for himself. "Any luck, Ielania? Kythrin burned the last of the godscrolls, so I hope you've managed to learn the spell. Lots of people who still need it here."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"We still have other means of dispelling the curse, and I could always pray for guidance. But that would take the night to have any effect. I'd recommend trying to subdue as many people as we can and contain them within small rooms where they have little chance of hurting themselves. That way, we can come back for them tomorrow with more Remove Curse spells."

[BigRedRod]

Sat in the tiny magical house the hours grind past as everyone strives to keep their mind on the upcoming problems, the three cured temple-folk resting with them, the state of the Elder, the state of the entire city, and even how much longer the protection of the shelter will last.

The spell holding the shelter intact has mere minutes remaining, Luian can feel the energy of her spell slowly wearing away and approaching the critical junction where the pressure of reality will force the tiny house to no longer exist.

The Elder is awake and sits up in his narrow bunk, after a long silence in the room he simply speaks,
"Kythrin, Luian, it is time."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin nods to the elder, rising from his resting place and stretching himself out.

"I am ready to undertake any task so given to me."

His lips move in a silent prayer, asking for guidance and protection during these dark times. He knows if there is anyone he can trust, it would be the gods.

[BigRedRod]

[ooc: going for a big jump here, I Don't see much to gain from playing out a room by room search of an enourmous temple

Also with the memorisation of remove curse exact track of the amount of spells remaining isn't really needed. You can just assume that between each group you have one or two attewmpted cures remaining should you need them]

With their duty clear and as fully rested as possible the two groups depart from the main hall, leaving Ielenia in charge of the care of the Elders and the three cured temple-members.

The temple's long twisting passages are from being a perfect circle. Occasionally they spread out to reveal small communal areas with clusters of chairs with several rooms branching off, at other times the corridor is just a randomly moving passageway with doors every dozen feet or so.

The Elder claimed that the temple held twenty-five. Including himself, Sara and the two men from the library, it left twenty-one. Two of which have already been lost to the madness.

Each sighting of one of the afflicted led to another facet of madness revealing itself. The majority however seemed to simply to be muttering and almost completely unaware of the world around them. And as each was cured they would exhale a small cloud of blackness and fall forward, as if the cursed madness was all that kept their bodies from moving. Perhaps the madness only twists people into what they really are. The temple of Summoners seems to contain very few who would even act in a mildly hostile or agreesive manner.

A well built middle-aged man with an elegant beard was the only one showing such agression in Kythrin and Triren's tour. Standing over the bodies of two much younger men and clutching a tall brass candelabra in both hands. The two younger men had clearly both been beaten to deeath, most likely by the heavy improvised weapon the man was holding like a staff. With his eyes focused on the priest however, he neglected to notice the skilled rogue moving around behind him. With a swift sap blow the man was brought down and then quickly had the curse lifted.

The travels of Luian and Garland were far less exciting. With the pair of them stumbling across several of the cursed who already seemed to have collapsed from exhaustion. The pair only encountered a single body, the older woman seemed to have tripped and fallen down a flight of stone stairs, shortly after the grizzly sight the two emerged into the dining room which Ielenia had already arrived at via some alternate network of passages. The Elder was stood with Sara making a rather feeble attempt at setting up blankets on the floor to create a number of uncomfortable beds. The sight of the two of them moving around though is a great burden lifted. The two other men recovered from the library lie on two of these beds. Ielenia is carrying a large bundle of blankets and prompty begins creation of further beds, she looks up and relief floods over her face at the sight of the pair,
"I'm glad you seem to have made it unscathed. Move those you managed to find and cure onto the blankets, after Guardian Maldune and Guardian Triren return we should be able to lock the area down and move on to removing all trace of the vile disease."

The nine individuals are quickly laid out, with Ielenia even involving herself in carrying the temple dwellers to their resting places.

...

Kythrin and Triren arrive at a room which the rogue has visted before, peering through the door once again reveals the boy sat on his bed staring down at the corpse of a boy roughly his age. The boy cries no longer, just stares intently. He seems unaware of the priest and thief, but he also doesn't seem to be like the others. The signs of madness which you have become adept in seeing in your travel through the temple are not present.

So far the pair have cured seven of the afflicted and moved them as far towards the dining hall as they could while moving. Which has now slowed them considerablly and the unconcious bodies await in the main passage a few dozen feet from the door. With the time the two guardians have been walking, they can only guess the dining hall is close by

[tyckspoon]

Triren slumps back against a wall, looking almost as exhausted as the cured temple citizens. "That dining hall can't be too far away, can it? We've done everything but circle around the other direction. Now I've not got the energy to carry more of these folk, so I'd be happy to see the others coming out to help..think one of us should go see if we're close enough to ask them?"

[LuneMoonshadow]

"I guess we could," Kythrin says, lowering himself down to the floor. "Though I'd like to sit here a moment first."

He looks around, then sighs. "Why did we have to take the long way?"

[BigRedRod]

Hearing the two guardians speaking outside, the boy yells,
"Go away!"
and moves himself to the furthest corner of the room from them, at no point looking at the corpse which lies on the floor

[TheDruid20]

The Summoner continues to help the recovering get comfortable then turns to her companions, "Should we go and see what is taking Kythrin and Triren so long?"

[BigRedRod]

Ielenia shakes her head,
"I will remain here. Leaving so many opf the fatigued in one place with no one fully abled body is too much of a risk"
Garland, however, silently nods

The pair leave via one of the doors which the Elder insists joins to the main living quarters ring. It doesn't take more than a few minutes of wandering through corridors and peering down side-passages before the pair of them see the rogue and priest stood in the passageway beside an open door. Exactly why the two are stood outside the door isn't exaclty clear

[tyckspoon]

Triren looks up and down the hall, and is pleasantly surprised to see Luian and Garland. "Hey..nice ta see you two again. We could use some help moving these people, we're worn out.." He gestures at the assorted dead weight 'cured' temple folk. "And there's a weird kid in this room. Not talking, not moving. Same kid I found when I came up this hall earlier..he didn't want me around. Maybe he'll be better with one of the people who belong to this temple?"

[TheDruid20]

"Well lets carry these people back and see if any of the healed are up for a little walk. With help of course."

[tyckspoon]

Triren levers himself off the wall. "Praise the Core, fresh arms! We dragged these people most of the way through the temple.." He bends down and prepares to lift of them. "It's not far to the dining hall, right?"

[BigRedRod]

It isn't long before all of the unconcious members of the Temple have been moved down into the Dining Hall. All of the afflicted seem soundly asleep, no doubt it will be a good many hours before they begin to awaken. The Elder and Sara sit at one of the tables speaking in hushed voices. Of Ielenia there is no sign
It doesn't take long for the four of them to have moved the rest of the afflicted inside. Seventeen ... including the Elder, Sara and the Boy left in his room, it makes twenty. In the brief time in which madness reigned the glorious summoners has turned on themselves and life had been lost.
The Elder looks up and speaks in a slightly shakey voice,
"That is all?"

[tyckspoon]

"There is one boy who we determined best to leave where he was, but otherwise the ones we bought in were the only ones we found. I assume it was the same for Luian and Garland."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder looks slighlty annoyed at Triren's reply,
"You were to gather all those you found. Not pick and choose, leaving those who might be trouble."
The Elder looks directly at Luian,
"Summoner, I suggest that you take your guardians and go and retrieve this boy .. and any others that you decided weren't worth the effort"

[tyckspoon]

"With all due respect, Elder, perhaps you should wait to hear the full story. The boy is either not affected by this curse or he responded in a new way. He was not visibly insane, nor fatigued. Merely quiet, but he insisted quite fervently that I leave him alone. I supposed perhaps he might respond better to more familiar faces from this temple. As he was not injuring himself, it did not seem right to force him to come when he had not the desire."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder looks agast that Triren answered back,
"It seems all the more reason that you should have brought him here for our attention. Do not make excuses for your actions, simply see that they are rectified"

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin steps up to Triren and lays a hand on his shoulder.

"Let's go get the boy. I'm sure the elder would be happy to see him."

The cleric takes a step back and begins walking off towards where they had left the boy.

[tyckspoon]

Triren offers the slightest shrug, fairly certain now that the Temple Elder won't seriously consider the words of someone so patently not part of the temple system. "Certainly. Obviously he must be bought back to the flock." Although having little hope the boy will react any better, he follows Kythrin to the room.

[TheDruid20]

Obviously pissed, "Listen Elder you may be older but obviously not wiser. These are my gaurdians not yours and they followed my commands. If you have a problem with their actions direct them to me. And if you are so short sighted that you cannot see we did what was best for the child perhaps I have nothing of value to learn from an old man so used to getting his way that independant thought is frowned upon."

[BigRedRod]

Ielenia looks enraged,
"How dar-"
But the Elder raises a hand,
"My girl, you should learn to control your temper. Now, I am not myself, perhaps I was overly harsh. And it has been a tiring period for you and your guardians. This does not mean you should defend their mistakes, simply deal with the problem and bring the boy. Leaving him because you believe him different is nonsense, if there is another force at work then we need to investigate. Now go, there is no matter to debate here"