Chapter 6 : Chasing the Black-Caped Man

[BigRedRod]

The horses have stopped running now, seemingly more focused on attempting to eat the rough, dry undergrowth which covers the ground in this area.
The sky is pink tinged with the blue-black of night, and to the north you can still make out your former companion flying as quickly as he physically can, northward.

Eron lies around seventy miles to the east, and the foothills of the misty mountains can't be more than forty miles northward. The great Vodalian Army will have started it's invasion and eastward push by now, no doubt, although it will be many days before they have conquered the major cities of Eastern Dauthim and made it as far into enemy territory as you now stand. Assuming that all has gone well of course.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Borrowing Unknown's horse, Collin saddles up and makes ready to ride. As he waits for the others, his attention is focused toward the distant northern mountain range where the fiend flew. "If we push on and force our mounts to their limits, we may still have a chance to catch up to Batman. With the aid of the healing stick, exhaustion won't be nearly as severe. But if he reaches the mountains, we'll probably lose him. So, should we go after him, or abandon this ridiculous quest?"

A frown of anger and despair passes over his face. The priest spits on the ground as if the earth below his horse is Unknown. "I'm really starting to hate this job. There are traitors in every cell, and leaders who only fix their sights on the far future. When will they learn, you can't walk a mile before taking that first step. Why in the world would they even think about using a soulless fiend? He should never have been trusted."

[WhoNAN]

Tolven hops on the horse which he now has grown to not despise so much. And with a twinkle in his eye, not an elven glimmer but a spark of Drow fire. He speaks.

"We shall not fail. Not because of trechory."

He checks his gear and prepares to fly out across the deserted wasteland.

"Our mission has not changed, we recover the tome, from a dead ones grasp." The tone is even, but the words boiling over with his intent.

He checks with his keen vision the direction... and calculates an approximate destination.

[Gnarsh]

"Let's be on our way, then. I'll relish any chance to get back at that hell-spawned bastard." Lynores says, climbing on his horse. He begins rustling through his bags and pulls out a bottle. "Wine, anyone? We're hunting for an ex-ally in the desert, sounds like the perfect time to get drunk to me." He says, popping the cork and taking a swig.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Nodding his head to the chase, Collin asks as they move out, "Who was it that had that wand of healing? I'd be my guess our mounts will need a refresher after today's hard ride."

To Lynores' question about the wine, Collin shakes his head. "No thank-you, it'll only make you thirstier the further we travel. Why not save it until after we ride that fiendish dog down? We'll celebrate his disembowelment!"

[Gnarsh]

"Don't you worry, I've got another bottle for when we catch the traitor" Lynores says to Collin. He then begins rummaging through his backpack, and pulls out a slender wand, tossing it to Collin. "There's the healing wand. Keep it. I know a bit about working such things, but you can use it much more efficiently than me, I'm sure"

[Cadrius]

Varidiir nods to Gnarsh. "It might not be ale, but it'll do the job. 'sides, I always fight better when I'm a little pissed." Taking the bottle, he tilts it back once, taking a deep draught before passing it back.

He jumps up and down a couple times, stretching his already warm muscles for the chase to come.

[BigRedRod]

And the remaining four f the special forces team set off as fast as their horses can move in the srub, heading at first after the shape of the nameless one in the sky, and as the sun fully sets they head northwards.
It's been about two hours since you set off from the vault and now it is officially full-dark, even the keenest guys belonging to the squad can no longer make out the shape of the bat-wibnged traitor

[ooc: just gonna give anyone with any bright ideas aobut ensuring you are still following him the chance to shine, and checking that you are going to keep riding until the first horse/flaming dwarf stops being able to move]

[WhoNAN]

OOC: This is really dependant on some character knowledge, that honestly I am too lazy to look up, but depending on the range will occur.

Tolven stares up to the sky, and thinks for a moment invoking a spell to attempt to detect any magic the fiend would be putting off, with the open sky and terrain the auras would hopefully stand out like soar thumbs in the night, even more so than the darkvision of the drow.

[WhoNAN]

He motions and makes the thought happen.

His hair and gleaming eyes becoming the only visible portion of the Soceror/Rogue, his black cloak flaring in the night breeze... and his senses becoming even keener with the fall of night.

((Cast Detect Magic))

[BigRedRod]

The night sky above the drow lights up with an intense white aura, the limited range of his detection spell still manages to pick up on the trail, but only in his immediate locality.
The best that the few minutes of aided travel will reveal are if the traitor alterted his course as soon as he could no longer be seen. From the trail's current position he is still flying in a straight line toward some point on the Mist Mountains.

[ooc: whoops, only just noticed the tiny detection range and 2 minutes duration]

[BigRedRod]

Before any member of the group can suggest a method of tracking the traitor though the night, it becomes apparant that the special forces team is no longer alone.
Seven grey-cloaked humanoids surround the ground, how they managed to get so close without detection is a mystery. The humanoid cloest to Tolven, takes down her hood.
Beneath is a beautiful human woman, although her features have a noticable slight elven cast. Her long dark hair spills out behind her, she smiles and begins to speak. Her voice is light and strange
"Greetings. You have recently come into possession of an item which does not belong to you, we have been searching for some time and would greatly appreciate it's return."

[WhoNAN]

"... And you are?"

Tolven remarks in response, returning to his calm collected nature from the fury that was present before.

[BigRedRod]

"We are but servants of he-who-watches."
Her voice remains cool and calm, her six companions remains silent but sway slightly

[Gnarsh]

"Well, can you offer us more for it than our current employers? They have a tendency to pay quite well, you see, and failing to complete our mission likely wouldn't look very good in their eyes, Miss ...?" Lynores says, his hand working its way towards his sword. (just in case)

[BigRedRod]

The leader turns her head towards Lynores, in a smooth, almost dance-like way,
"It does not belong to you, you are in no position to sell what isn't yours"
She states this not in a spiteful or angry way, but keeping the same level, reasonable tone. She is simply stating the facts as she sees them

[WhoNAN]

"...And -it- belongs to he-who-watches?"

Tolven maintains his affectless composer, toe in toe with the lady, returning the dance of words and motions, not unlike hers on the surface.

[BigRedRod]

"It is his rightful property"

[WhoNAN]

"Excuse my ignorance, but exactly who is this he-who-watches, and by what right is -it- his property, if you don't mind me asking."

He says in a slightly respectful voice, still affectless, but more on the side of calm than uninterested... in a manner to come across as non-hostile to the woman.

[BigRedRod]

"Our master, that who is simply He-who-watches. It belongs to him, and it was taken, you have found it, and now we would like to be able to return it."

The first question seemed to throw the girl off for a moment, and her expression to dropped to one of puzzlement. But she made a quick recovery back to her flowing voice and slight smile.

[WhoNAN]

"I am affraid I did not comprehend your answer as stated... as you do see if everyone went around laying claim to whatever they wanted without justifying it, and I obliged, I would have nothing, even that is rightfully mine. So I must insist and ask for clarrification. I am unfamiliar with your master, by that name, who is he, what of his reputation, and why does he believe -it- belongs to him... or did he not share that information with you?"

Tolven now begins to attempt to slowly build repour, and perhaps persuade more information from the woman, then it seems she would like to surrender at first contact.

((OOC: What Language are we speaking, are there any accents?))

[BigRedRod]

[ooc: sh'es speaking vodalian, and yes you are still in Dauthim. Her accent is completly unplacable, but distinctive. It's not familiar to tolven from his drow origins or from any of the surface countries]

The face of the girl flows back to puzzlement,
"He is my master, I do not know if he-how-watches uses any other name. I am at a loss as to how to justify my master and his ownership ..."
Speaking with the girl is strange, she seems rather shallow and almost unable to grasp certain concepts

[WhoNAN]

Tolven turns his face to the others.

A look of concern crosses his face and is very noticeable to the others.

He returns his clance to the woman.

"May we speak with him?" He speaks now kindly... or what could be considered as such, suspecting now that the woman is merely a summoned being, or other directly influenced minion, as opposed to one of own will.

If any of the others make as if to speak, he will gesture for them to wait, until he might share his suspicions.

[BigRedRod]

The girl resumes her previous form of slow floaty movement and speech,
"We have been sent to discuss the items return. We lack the ability to return to he-who-watches and have you accompany us"

[WhoNAN]

"Thats dissappointing. So you can't tell me who he is, or why -it- belongs to him and should be returned, what else is there to discuss, what information do you have that you can share with us, perhaps who you all are?"

Tolven continues calmly and kindly, although inside he is about to boil with the lack of answers, and the continued delays in their pursuit.

[BigRedRod]

The girl is puzzeled once again,
"Your questions are irrelevant. It does not belong to you, and we shall return it to the rightful owner"

[Gnarsh]

"Look, woman. Unless you can tell us exactly who or what this 'he-who-watches' fellow is, I'm afraid we're just going to have to leave." Lynores says to the leader. Suddenly, he grasps his wrist, seemingly in pain, and mutters what seems to be a curse. "My apologies, an old injury. Now why don't you take your little band and ride back where you came from?" He says, smiling, hoping his hidden spell worked.

OOC-the curse is a disguised suggestion

[WhoNAN]

Tolven's dissappointment has now manifested silently into annoyance, his hand and mind are tuned, to loose a dagger at once, as he hesitates for a final opportunity to settle this. He waits patiently and looks to Lynores and his actions for there consequences. And prepares a quick comment.

"You do realize you have yet to tell us what it is you are after... We do not even know what you seek from us."

[Cadrius]

"Whoa!" Varidiir exclaims as the cloaked figures suddenly meld into existance. "Sheesh madam-" his fists ball reflexively "-you shouldn't sneak up on people like that. All you need is a high strung mage and poof!"

As the others begin to speak though, the azer falls silent. There's something odd about these seven gray-clad strangers. Having a leader is fine, but the others seem so dead. It's enough to raise Varidiir's suspicion several notches. He frowns, trying to grasp He-Who-Watches, and more importantly how it's now become He-Who-Owns-A-Very-Powerful-Book-But-Won't-Offer-Evidence-To-Prove-He-Own-The-Damn-Thing. He chuckles to himself at the thought, and if he wasn't so creeped out by the seven he might have said it out loud.

His gaze shifts between the three of them; from Tolven, to Lynores, to the woman, he isn't sure where this is all going, and more importantly, he isn't sure if he wants to. Anyone who refuses to take a normal name is usually bad news.

[BigRedRod]

The leader glances at Lynores,
"You aren't going to leave, until we have what we are searching for"
In response to Tolven, she again looks slightly confused,
"A knife, crafted from a blue-ish stone, with glyphs running along it's length."

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Squinting through the darkness at the speaking shadows, Collin sighs in frustration. "This is silly," he mumbles to himself before calling out loud, "Light come forth!" At that instant, the face of his shield bursts into a glowing brilliance.

Now able to see through the growing darkness, he takes care to analyze the forms that he was only recently able to guess at. In order to stall off any hostilities, he manages a weak apology, "Sorry about that, but I tend to enjoy seeing who it is we're dealing with. Call it professional courtesy if you like."

[WhoNAN]

"Even if we had what you are searching for, you have yet to provide any substantial explanation of WHO it belongs to and WHY, I am affraid it would be foolish for us to consider helping you recover this item without a satisfactory explanation."

Tolven prepares his nerves and his senses, he recalls the exact position of the dagger, for if it is so desired it might be useful in dispatching of these oddities.

"I implore you to offer us a more substantial explanation or offer to take us to someone who can, if not, we must be on our way."

[BigRedRod]

"I tire of this conversation. You have it, it belongs, not to you, but to, as I have explained, our master he-who-watches. I do not understand what you expect from asking me why it belongs to him, the item is his."
The girl is noticably restless

[WhoNAN]

"And under the same explanation, the cloak on you back belongs to us. As you can see, without justification any claim is ridiculous. We are anxious as well, for you have interupted our travels and continue to do so. Why do you think we have possession of the item anyways... or have you been stopping everyone who passes?"

((Diplomacy))

[BigRedRod]

"But this cloak does not belong to you. We do not think you have the item, we know you do, else we would not have approached you."

[WhoNAN]

"... But I say it does, as you stake claim on the object you seek, because you were told so, I was told that that cloak does not belong to you, but to my master, this is the innate flaw in your logic... and you -know- we have what you seek because thats what your master told you?"

He probes inquesitivly, now very frustrated, flashing a glance at the others to assess their attitude and status.

((Diplomacy))

[Cadrius]

As the two groups progress, arguing over the ownership, potential ownership, rights to an object, and more, Varidiir becomes increasingly bored. Initially he keeps his attention sharp, but it quickly becomes a circular argument. The gray figures claim it belongs to their master, his companions say it doesn't, there isn't much more to the dispute than that. He drums thick, bronzed fingers against his leg rolling his eyes at each bland counter-argument.

"Bloody dagger," he mutters to himself, "what's so important about it anyway?"

[BigRedRod]

The girl looks as bored as the flaming dwarf and at the same time as frustrating as the elf
"You dance with words, should I take this as I sign that I need to take it?"
To the flaming azer the girl answers,
"He-who-watches wants his property returned. I do not think that it is unreasonable or some kind of special treatment for only the most valuable of objects"

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Seeing that these talks are not getting them anywhere and allowing Unknown to continue on his way, Collin clears his throat and speaks, "Look, we're looking for something as well. The thief ran off with it and we're on his trail, which is growing colder the longer we parley. So I tell you what, you help us find the thief and obtain the stolen property, and we'll give you this thing that so-and-so desires. In the end, everybody gains and is happy."

[WhoNAN]

Tolven's nerves remain ready to throw two daggers and pull the newly found one at a moments notice, but remains quiet.

[BigRedRod]

"It is not of our concern what you have managed to lose. But surely if you have had something stolen yourselves you will understand how my master feels about having his propertyu returned. If you would simply hand it over, we can be off and no longer cause you to be held up."

[Gnarsh]

"This is getting us nowhere. Tolven, give them the dagger. We have no use of it, and we're losing quite a bit of ground on our old friend by sitting here having the same argument over and over," Lynores says to his drow companion.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

"Ah, but we never stolen anything from any unknown master. Everything we have, we've earned." Collin snaps back at the worman. "Now if you had something to exchange for this dagger, such as the item we seek, then I'm sure we'd hand it over with all due haste. Until then, the dagger remains in our keeping."

[WhoNAN]

Tolvens eyes flash, and the circumstances of the day finally build, and for once in the teams semblance he snaps.

"No." And with the words shoot two daggers and the one they seek appears in his hand, ready for combat.

"I have had enough."

[BigRedRod]

[ooc: Tolven get's a suprise action, which is partial, which doesn't allow him to throw two daggers and draw an additional weapon. I'll be nice as I think you mentioned readying your daggers to be thrown and allow you to have drawn and thrown a single dagger]

"We didn't want it to come to this"
The girl dodges the dagger. She seems to have almost perfectly anticipated both of the drow's moves, continuing the movement she removes her cloak, tossing it to the ground as she does so, her body changes. Her milky-white skin darkens, in some places becoming more like black mottled hide. Two stubby horns extend from her head abnd her hands become powerful claws. The most significant change is the long tail with a wicked looking barb sitting on the end. The tail thrashes about in the air.

Two of her companions also shed their cloaks and transform before any of the party can react

Initiative
D3 [transformed]
D6 [transformed]
DL [transformed]
Tolven
D5
Varidiir
Collin
D1
Lynores
D2
D4

[ooc: DL is the "leader" you spoke to, the other DX creatures are her companions]
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[Gnarsh]

Lynores draws his rapier and readies an action to attack the first one that comes into melee range.

[WhoNAN]

Tolven draws the rune encrusted dagger, with a ferocious look in his eyes, in the other hand lies one of his personal daggers. And prepares to strike at the lead .... thing.

[BigRedRod]

In a single fluid movement Tolven draws his weapons, steps forward and slashes at the lead creature with the rune dagger. The creature pulls back to dogde but the blade catches her lower left arm, the cut is quite shallow but oozes a thick black "blood"

Another of the creatures goes through the same odd transformation, tossing it's cloak intot he darkness behind it and glaring toward the flaming dwarf

Initiative
D3 [transformed]
D6 [transformed]
DL [transformed]
Tolven
D5 [transformed]
Varidiir
Collin
D1
Lynores
D2
D4

map
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[Cadrius]

Varidiir sighs as the dark elf begins hurling daggers toward the woman. The fact that they change into ugly, horned monsters is only the icing on the cake. To be honest, he prefers the fight to the mindless bantering that had been taking place, neither side were making good claims. Sometimes violence was the answer, or the easiest one anyway.

As one of the things glares at him, Varidiir raises one flaming eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? Where I come from those are fighting words," the fact that the beast hasn't said anything is not lost on the azer. Words, handshakes, basically anything was cause for a brawl back home.

He rushes forward, launching a kick at the demon.

((OOC: assign dodge to D5 and attack))

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Calling forth the power of Gul'ren, Collin charges forth, his hand glowing with divine energy. He bellows out his war cry to the lead monster. But instead of strking her, he aims his attack at the beast that stands to her right (D2).

"You bar our way, may Gul'ren strike down my foes...show no mercy!"

(OOC - spontaneously casts Inflict Critical Wounds using his Restoration spell to power it. In addition, he uses his Destruction domain power to add some more punch to his attack.)

[BigRedRod]

The azer's powerful kick misses the demoness, her amazing speed allows her to dodge at the last moment

Collin channels the power of his God into his open palm and reaches toward the creature, it attempts to dodge but Collin pushes his hand against it's cloak and the soft skin behind. The creature howls in pain and turns to dust as Gul'ren's wrath fills it's body, the cloak remains however, and falls to the floor spilling it's dust to the wind

The remaining pair of human-looking creatures complete their own transformations while Lynores hold back awaiting one of them to close the gap with him.

...

Seeing it's comrade fall to the touch of the Holy Man the nearest beast rushes toward him, hoping to catch him unawares. It lashes with it's claws, both digging into Collin and spilling his blood on the dry ground. The barbed tail lashes toward him but the force is repelled by his sturdy breastplate

Clearly not considering it's own safety one of the she-beasts darts toward Lynores. With one hand behind him, to aid his balance he thrusts one penetrating it's armoured skin, his second strike however is deflected by the creature as she strikes him twice with her deadly claws. She hisses as the thick black blood oozes out of her

The Leader hisses some ancient and unrepeatable draconic curse at Tolven, as she sees him holding the dagger. She grasps forward with both clawed hands toward the dagger, Tolven attempts to turn the blade so that it might slize the beasts hand in the attempt but he fails to move before her hands are upon the blade. With a shift shift of weight and twist the drow forces the monster to release it's grip on the blade.


Initiative
D3 [transformed]
D6 [transformed]
DL [transformed]
Tolven
D5 [transformed]
Varidiir
Collin
D1 [transformed]
Lynores
D4 [transformed]

map
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@D4 *s -3 6t 9u rs 0 *s -3 5k 97 rs 0 D5 *s -3 7f 77 rs 0 D6
*END -c09fsw

[WhoNAN]

Tolven relishing the glory, attacks the same creature with the blade it so desires...

"Let it be the end of you."

[BigRedRod]

The leader of the creatures dodges as Tolven becomes a moving wind of dagger strokes.

The creature engaged with Varidiir strikes quickly with both claws and it's tail, but the short monk easily dodges each attack, the infuriated beast snarls at him

Initiative
D3 [transformed]
D6 [transformed]
DL [transformed]
Tolven
D5 [transformed]
Varidiir
Collin
D1 [transformed]
Lynores
D4 [transformed]

[Cadrius]

"Come now, beastie," Varidiir taunts, as he spins and dodges the demon's attempt to rend him, "if you wanted to dance, all ya had to do was ask."

In one fluid motion Varidiir moves from dodging to attacking, his fists, elbows, feet, and forehead all weapons in his arsenal.

((OOC: full attack on D5))

[Gnarsh]

Lynores thrusts his rapier twice at the creature attacking him. "Try not to get that blood of yours on my clothes, if you don't mind. It looks like it would be rather difficult to get out."

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Seeing the effects of his god's divine energy, Collin thinks to himself, Well now, that worked once, why not try it again!

The glancing blow from the fanged monster does cause some unrest. Better watch it, else I might end up becoming dinner for these beasties. Thank Gul'Ren that my armor protected me!

Moving to the side, Collin once again evokes the power of his god. "Hear me Gul'Ren! Help me smite this foe who would draw the blood of one of your faithful followers!" With his hand once again glowing in the pale blue flame of his god, Collin reaches out to channel unholy energy into his foe.

(OOC - cast on the defensive (+15 Concentration check against a DC 18), spontaneously casting Inflict Serious Wounds using his Prayer spell. Not sure if the Retribution domain power can be used with this. If so, let fly! Damage is 3d8+8, or a flat 32 if Retribution can be used.)

[BigRedRod]

[ooc: no retribution for you mi'laddo, I'm ruling it needs to be a proper melee attack for that]

Varidiir connects a devasting series of blows to the snarling beasts, despite the intense heat and strength of the blows the creature still manages to remain upright and angy

Collin pushes his hand against another of the armoured fiends and calls to his God to smite another of the infidels. The energy pours into the creature and turns it to dust which blows away in the wind
[ooc: for some evil reason, I seem to roll massive damage for Collin's damage. Damn you!]

One of the unengaged beasts charges toward Tolven and tears at him, the drow steps backwards a fraction to avoid the first clawed fist, but in doing so he allows the second to rake across his back. A careful spin allows the deadly tail to be avoided however

Still maintaing near perfect combat form Lynores thrusts again, but the creature easily dodges, his second stroke however strikes the creature and penetrates it's torso, causing more of the thick blood to seep out. The cuts are deep and the demon is clearly on it's last wind

Another of the demons joins the attack on the Fiendish Fencer, who was far from unaware of the charge. With an expert step and rotation, the charging beast lands on the ground at Lynores' feet
[ooc : D4 critical failure and prone]

...

Even with the added pressure of another of the beasts being so close Lynores remains calm and avoids the clawing and swining tail of the monster

As Tolven moves to avoid the additional foe, the leader grasps at the dagger once again with both it's clawed hands. Put off balance by the approach of the second the leader manages to pry it free and steps backward holding it's prize tightly in it's "hands"

Initiative
D6 [transformed]
DL [transformed]
Tolven
D5 [transformed]
Varidiir
Collin
D1 [transformed]
Lynores
D4 [transformed]

map
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@rs 0 D1 *s -3 4u 56 rs 0 *s -3 85 6j rs 0 D4 *s -3 6t 9u rs 0 *s
@-3 5k 97 rs 0 D5 *s -3 7f 77 rs 0 D6

[Gnarsh]

"Two of you, eh? I might consider this a challenge, but with one almost dead and one tripping over itself, it's a wonder you lot managed to make it this far!" Lynores taunts, attacking his opponents.

(first attack on the wounded one. If the attack drops it, second attack on the new one. If not, second attack also on the first one.)

[WhoNAN]

Tolven instantly replaces the emptyness in his hand with another dagger, weaving it quickly in front of the beast, in the attempt to now distract it, and furriously burry the other it where it might cause additional damage.

((Feint QttE Bluff +15, single attack))

[BigRedRod]

Tolven strides forward, a fresh weapon in his hand, managing to distract the creature with it's weaving he plunges the dagger deeply into the creature's arm. More of the thick black ooze seeps from the wound, the creature frimaces in pain but clutches the dagger tightly in it's hand

The monster fighting Varidiir lashes once again with it's terrible claws, the flaming warrior dodges easily, but it's swinging barbed tail strikes the monk on the shoulder, slicing deeply into his bronze skin

Initiative
D6 [transformed]
DL [transformed]
Tolven
D5 [transformed]
Varidiir
Collin
D1 [transformed]
Lynores
D4 [transformed]

map
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@-3 5k 97 rs 0 D5 *s -3 7f 77 rs 0 D6
*END 4dgkk

[Cadrius]

"Is that the best you can do?" Varidiir yells, dodging the less-than-fearsome claws of the beast. It feels good to be in a fight; the rush of it, the sensation of connecting a blow, everything about it makes the azer feel more alive.

"Bah, maybe you should head on back to the abyss or wherever you came from. Ya couldn't hit the broad side of a--umph," Varidiir's taunt is cut short by a rather wickedly barbed tail ripping its way through his shoulder.

"Or maybe I should keep my big mouth shut," he mutters, spinning back to face the beast and going on the offensive once more.

((OOC: Full attack on D5 again))

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

With his two foes vanquished, Collin appraises the scene. Looking at the leader and the treasure she holds in her hands, he races to a conclusion. Dagger...that fiend has it, but not for long!

Once again, the priest calls forth the power of his god, "My Lord, the fiend steals from you and your devoted servant! Let her feel thy wrath!"

Hand glowing aflame with divine energy, he moves up in an attempt to flank the creature. But halfway to her, he realizes that his armor won't allow him to move far enough. Never the less, he makes the best attempt he can.

(OOC - Spontaneously casts Inflict Critical Wounds (4d8+8 touch attack) using his Cure Critical Wounds spell to power it. Moves to the upper left hand corner of the fiend, 20 feet away (up 3 squares, diagonal 1 square).)

[BigRedRod]

Varidiir spins and weaves throwing the creature off balance and then with a single powerful punch which penetrates straight through it's armoured skin and deep inside the creature. The demoness shudders and falls limply to the ground as the bronze monk pulls his fist from it's corpse. The thick black blood clings to his hand and arm, and quickly dries due to the heat of his body. The corpse on the ground before him continues to ooze for a short while and then gradually begins to turn to dust

Collin summons the wrath of his Lord to destroy another of the foes, but even with the added distractions of Tolven's constant attacking and clutching the dagger closely to it, it manages to easily dodge the glowing palm of the Cleric

The second demoness adjust her position and lashes at Tolven with claws and Tail. Tolven moves in an attempt to fend off the creature but it rakes with it's claws down his back and it's tail stabs into his leg.
[ooc : Tolven is just under half health]

Lynores slashes at the vile creatuire which stands before him oozing, but the hide of the creature deflects the blow. The second strike penetrates again, and as Lynores withdraws his blood-coated blade the creature limply falls backwards and it's features dissolve into dust.

The creature recovers from it's position sprawled on the ground with a smooth snake-like shift. Lynores however sees his chance and thrusts toward the creature, his blow catches a glancing blow on the shoulder of the demon. Not deterred the demon lashes with one of her claws and catches the side of the tiefling's face leaving two red lines on his left cheek

...

With it's prize in hand the creature moves away with unparalled speed, ignoring it's own safety for speed. Collin reaches for the creature with his glowing palm but the creature is much too fast for the reactions of the Priest, Tolven is too distracted with the creature behind to manage an attack of his own as the beats flees
[ooc: hopefully I actually got the AOOs right there]

Initiative
DL [transformed]
Tolven
Varidiir
Collin
D1 [transformed]
Lynores
D4 [transformed]

map
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -3 6v 4e rs 0 T *s -3 67 34 rs 0 C *s -3 7k 6i rs 0 L *s -3
@67 8j rs 0 V *s -3 6v 4k rs 0 *s -3 6v h rs 0 DL *s -3 6r 56 rs
@0 D1 *s -3 4u 56 rs 0 *s -3 85 6j rs 0 D4 *s -3 6t 9u rs 0 *s
@-3 7o g rs 0 It's an additional 75ft "up"
*END nvu05

[WhoNAN]

Tolven makes a very interesting noise, followed by a motion of activity, replacing one of his daggers with a potion of expeditous retreat, while diving forward, the potion is swallowed, the bottle lie empty on the ground, and the drow rolling forward and back to his feet in pursuit of the dagger thief.

((Tumble to attempt to avoid AoO's, if critical failure please entertain me by making the potion a complete mishap.))

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Screaming in rage, the cleric can only shake his glowing fist at the fleeing fiend. Shouting and taunting, he screams at it, "Ya worse than goblin dung, ya poor excuse for a fiend! Watch what'll happen to you when we get our hands on you!"

Turning about, he moves to assist Tolven. With his shield up to fend away the vicious tail sweeps, he makes his way for a killing blow. "Back to the abyss! May you return only in my master's service!"

(OOC - With held Inflict Critical Wounds spell, Collin moves diagonally down and to the left one square (5' move), down one more square (5' move) and back diagonally to the right (10' move), ending his movement to the left of D1 (20' total move). Once again, trying his best to setup flanks.)

[Cadrius]

"How's this?!" Varidiir shouts, unleashing a feint before driving his fist into the abdomen of the beast. It works well, a little too well. The azer's fist continues its path and sinks into the demon's chest cavity. A black ichor coats his knuckles causing him to twist his face into a grimace.

"Ew! Demon blood!" He yells, flailing his fist, sending little spatters of black blood flying.

There's a commotion ahead of him, as one of the demons looks to be fleeing, but two still remain.

"Eenie, meenie--" he starts, but shrugs and then charges forward. Short legs pumping, he covers the distance quite quickly and launches himself headfirst at the demon, creating a living missile, using his skull as a weapon.

"aaaAAAAAAHHHHH!" He bellows, if it's a battle-cry it's not a comprehensible one.

((OOC: Charge, even though I don't think he needs it and attack D4))

[BigRedRod]

The drow singlemindly moves away from his remaining foe, weaving through the air in a graceful cartwheeld uring which he quaffs a potion and begins to move with unparalled speed as his feet touched the floor. All the nearby demon can do is a pathetic claw swipe that falls long short of the nimble elf.
The landscape remains almost as barren, with tolven just able to make out a withered tree and what looks to be a rift in the ground up ahead

Head down, and feet moving quickly the firey azer battering ram charges toward where the Fencer and Demon continue their battle. Varidiir strikes the creature seemingly unawares with his skull. It stumbles backwards and adjusts it's position to account for it's two opponenets and possibly broken bones.

Collin extends his palm towards naother of the hellish creatures, and once again manages to make contact. The creature barely has time to scream in agony before her forms turns to dust and is carried by the gentle breeze

initiative
DL [transformed]
Tolven
Varidiir
Collin
Lynores
D4 [transformed]

Map 1
[ooc: The red line is the cut off point to the next map]
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -3 5i f rs 0 T *s -3 68 57 rs 0 C *s -3 7k 6i rs 0 L *s -3 7m
@74 rs 0 V *s -3 6v 4k rs 0 *s -3 6v h rs 0 DL *s -3 4u 56 rs 0
@*s -3 85 6j rs 0 D4 *s -3 6t 9u rs 0 *s -1 7g c rs 0 9y6tc 7g c
@-7g c
*END gtu7i2

Map 2
[ooc: The scale on this one is 10ft/square rather than the usual 5]
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 6o rs 0 9y6tc -7c 6o 7c 6o *s -3 7j 8g rs 0 DL *s -3 7k
@bu rs 0 *s -3 7m bu rs 0 *s -3 7l bs rs 0 T *s -1 48 2w rs 0 0
@48 14 3c 1c 2o 20 20 28 1c 2w 28 2o 2w 2g 3k 20 40 1k 48 14 *s b
@bm 7q rs 0
*END -eznmlp

[Gnarsh]

The Demonic Duelist manuevers to flank the creature with Varidiir, tumbling to avoid any attacks o' oppurtunity. Once in position, he sneak attacks the now-distracted fiend.

[WhoNAN]

Tolven continues what looks like odd acrobatics, blasting forward, tumbling past the fiend and returning to his feet between the Demon and the rift, loosing a MW Dagger directly at one of its vital organs.

OOC: Let me know what of this I can do if not all: Move, Tumbling through DL threaten area, setting up 10' away Thrown dagger, hopefully for a sneak attack with a charge bonus :-).

[BigRedRod]

Lynores wheels around the creature while it remains off-balance from Varidiir's assault, with an adept stroke the creature falls forward, the rapier is pushed straight-through the creature, and the black blood pours onto the ground as the creature gradually turns to dust

...

With Tolven racing after it, the Demon leader dashes toward the rift in the earth, not stopping as it approaches the edge and dissapearing from Tolven's view into rift

[ooc: I'm ignoring Tolven's post and therefore Collin's too, as he can't try and get between it when it's already there]

initiative
DL [transformed]
Tolven
Varidiir
Collin
Lynores

Map 1
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -3 5i f rs 0 T *s -3 68 57 rs 0 C *s -3 8x 5v rs 0 L *s -3 7m
@74 rs 0 V *s -3 6v 4k rs 0 *s -3 6v h rs 0 DL *s -3 4u 56 rs 0
@*s -3 6t 9u rs 0 *s -1 7g c rs 0 9y6tc 7g c -7g c
*END epggrm

Map 2
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 6o rs 0 9y6tc -7c 6o 7c 6o *s -3 7k bu rs 0 *s -3 7m
@bu rs 0 *s -3 7l bs rs 0 T *s -1 48 2w rs 0 0 48 14 3c 1c 2o 20
@20 28 1c 2w 28 2o 2w 2g 3k 20 40 1k 48 14 *s b bm 7q rs 0 *s -3
@7m 4l rs 0 ?
*END gguz8t

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," Collin prays over the the disintegrating demon. "May you come to serve Gul'ren better, ya bloody bastard."

Turning around to deal with the last minion, he begins to exclaim, "Take it alive! Take it a..." He doesn't quite finish as Lynores dusts it.

Swearing and cursing from the loss, he kicks a loose rock across the ground in frustration. Turning back towards the mounts, he makes ready to move out and follow the one demon that got away. "This is all Batman's fault! I hope he doesn't turns to dust when I kill him."

[Cadrius]

"At least you didn't get demon goo on you," Varidiir says, rubbing at the knuckles on his hand.

"Now what?" he asks, looking around.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

"Well, we continue to go after Batman," replies Collin. "From there, we complete our mission and deliver the damn book to our superiors." He gives the word "superiors" a snear and a snarl as he says it.

Finding his mount without injury, he checks that the others are doing the same, but when he completes his head count, Tolven seems to be missing. "Not another one," he groans. "Where's the drow? Where's Tolven? He didn't get carried away did he?"

After giving it some thought, he stops and begins to check over Varidiir and Lynores for any signs of injury. It's at that time he realizes that he sustained a minor scrape. "Damn, the bugger got a lucky swipe in on me. Did either of you take a hit?"

(OOC - Begins making healing checks on everyone present to determine if a healing spell is required. Currently has a cure light (1d8+5), cure moderate (2d8+8) and a remedy wounds spell (fast healing 2 for 14 rounds, or 28 HP). Healing check is a +10.)

[WhoNAN]

Tolven stands and peers into the rift, daggers in hand.

[Gnarsh]

Lynores pulls a silk handkerchief from his pocket, wiping the blood from the cuts on his face, then cleaning his sword. "I hope Tolven isn't in too much trouble. With our luck, the second we're without a thief, we'll all be killed by a trap."

[BigRedRod]

Tolven races to the edge of the rift, as he does so he hears a strange trickling noise. Peering into the inky blackness reveals a spring of water ouring out of the sides of one of the rifts, ther eis a tiny stream which dissapears into the ground and many large puddles of water which will no doubt dry up quickly in the arid environment. His keen vision reveals no sign of the demoness

[ooc: For collin's sake: Collin 40/46, Varidiir 50/60, Lynores 26/46, Tolven (once he gets back and you check) 9/22

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Turning Lynores' head to the side, Collin grimaces at the sight of the wound. "You're going to need more than a hankie. Those wounds will require cleaning and stitching. Or if you'd prefer not having any scars, divine healing."

Taking out his holy symbol, he lays his free hand on the fighter's face. He then hums and chants to his god for blessed healing. Moments later the wound begins to knit back together leaving the feintest evidence of any scar.

Addressing everyone present, "Does anyone know what they were? After thinking about it, I doubt that they were working for Batman."

(OOC - casts remedy moderate wounds on Lynores. Will cure 2 hp/round for 14 round, or 28 hp.)

[Gnarsh]

After staring off into space for what seemed like several days, Lynores suddenly looks up and around. "I'm going to go check on Tolven. I saw him get wounded during the battle, I doubt he'll be able to hold his own in a fight. Follow if you wish." With this, Lynores mounts his horse and heads North, following as best he can the trail left by Tolven and the were-demon-thingy.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Collin gathers the reins to Tolven's horse and brings it along with his spare mount.

"Are you sure he went this way?" He asks as they move out into the gloom. "I don't remember seeing him go this way. Then again, it was rather dark and my shield's light only faces one way..."

[BigRedRod]

It doesn't take long to find Tolven. He stands motionless at the edge of a small sudden rift in the ground, staring into the inky black depths. There is no sign of the demon-leader he was chasing, although their kind have the odd talent of turning to dust when destroyed ...
Th Rift itself contains a small spring in one wall, which spurts out water into a small trickle which quickly dissapears under the ground. The rest of the ground is covered with rocks and several large puddles

[Cadrius]

Jogging alongside the horses Varidiir looks around furtively. The original demons, demonesses, or whatever they were, had arrived seemingly out of nowhere. He doesn't want to be surprised again. Still, there's no sign of anything besides Tolven when they arrive at the ravine.

Standing by the abyss, Varidiir looks down and watches the spring for a moment before looking over at the drow and then back again at the spring.

"You thirsty, lad?" he asks, joking, "Or did you friend drop down there for a drink?"

[WhoNAN]

Tolven examines the rift, thinking, tasting the rage of his youth,which he had thought was behind him, thinking with two minds, or more accuratly one mind and his anger.

He continues to be silent for a moment in thought.

((OOC:Ok, kinda confused on the rift, can we see the bottum, or does it just continue on into darkness, how far from the surface is the floor of the rift, how large is the stream, does it come from how high on the wall, how large is the rift., can it be traversed easily.?))

[BigRedRod]

The rift is a craggy opening in the ground, around twenty feet to it's uneven bottom. The spring i nthe wall is located around ten feet from the surface and spits out an arc of water which spreads and splashes, leaving most of the western end wet. The strem is more of a trickle, being up to a foot wide and never more than a few inches deep, it travels for barely twenty geet before it meets the north wall and continues it's journey out of sight.
In total the rift is about fifty feet long, it's sides are uneven and craggy towards the eastern end, but generally more smooth and slippery to the west.
The small pools of water are mainly in the west, formed in recesses in the uneven ground

The onlt other terrain feature besides the rift is a grey withered tree surrounded by a basket of old dead undergrowth. The effects of the desert's weather systems aren't as intense here but they still make anything work harder to llive

map
This one is ten feet per square. The X is the spring origin in the rift and the blue line traces the tiny stream. Around the stream and spring are the puddles of water
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 7c 6o rs 0 9y6tc -7c 6o 7c 6o *s -3 7k bu rs 0 *s -3 7m
@bu rs 0 *s -3 8b 53 rs 0 T *s -1 48 2v rs 0 0 48 14 3c 1c 2o 20
@20 28 1c 2w 28 2o 2w 2g 3k 20 40 1k 48 14 *s b bm 7q rs 0 *s -3
@87 5w rs 0 C *s -3 7i 5y rs 0 V *s -3 6d 6e rs 0 L *s -3 7y 48
@rs 0 X *s -1 40 2c rs 0 73 40 1o 3s 24 34 2c
*END mqrgl5

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

As Collin approaches the silent Tolven from behind, he can see the dark patches that tarnish the mithril armor, signifying blood. Bending down for a closer examination, he finds another wound on the elf's leg.

"I'll need to clean out these wounds," he says. "Who knows what sort of pestilence those fiends carry under their claws."

Whispering a pray to his god, he places a hand over each open wound. Divine energery helps to speed the recovery of his injured teammate. Prayers complete, he re-examines the slashed skin, checking for signs of possible infection, and the results of his healing magic.

(OOC - casts Cure Moderate Wounds for 2d8+8 hit points.)

[WhoNAN]

With only words to confirm his awareness of Colin's presence.

"Thank you."

He whispers something, indistinguishable, turns, and walks back to the group.

Again he turns to the sky, examining it for the trail of the former party member.

[BigRedRod]

The night sky remains the cloak of blackness with tinges of blue. Dawn remains a long way off, and without the light to pick out the form of the traitor there is insight to be gained about his location or direction by simply staring at the sky

Tolven once again weaves a simple cantrip to allow his drow eyes to follow the trail the grimoire has taken. The sky above glows slightly, clearly the group are stood off the trail, but for a few more moments they will be able to resume the chase

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Collin stares at the silent drow for several minutes before heading over to the withered tree. Reaching up, he snaps off several branches, but leaves one or two for the purpose of tethering the horses. Setting the wood down, he returns to the mounts, removing their saddles and retrieving his rations and bedroll. With the small supply of wood, he begins to setup camp around the small fire he's building.

"We'll have better luck in the morning," he says mainly to himself. "Can't distinguish the dark from the night. Things will look better with the coming of the day."

As he lies down, using a saddle as a pillow, he removes a ring from his pocket and eyes it in the firelight. Turning it over and over in his fingers, he examines the details, rubbing away any dirt and blood that may have tried to gain a grip on the precious metal. In the end, he places it around his thumb and falls asleep.

[BigRedRod]

The party have a restless night. The packed events of the previous day rush through their minds and haunt their dreams. That one of them had been a traitor, and possibly orchestrated things for some time to put the party in the position to recover the book, could any of the others also be as disloyal and backstabbing? The demon-women too, they appeared from nowhere took the liberator's dagger and then the leader simply vanished in the rift.
The orange-grey light of dawn floods over the horizon and the night begins to release it's hold on the sky. The air is dry and hot, no doubt due to just how close the party are to the desert

[WhoNAN]

Tolven doesn't sleep, just stays and greets the comment from the night before immediatly, as the sun rises, pulling the large hood over his face, so that he is nothing but the black of his clothing.

"Speak for yourself."

He notes the direction to his best ability, looks at the rift in dismay. And shrugs.

He is anxious to leave and continue the chase.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Troubled by recent events, Collin manages to push aside his fears and doubts by praying to his one and true lord. Following his morning ritual, he awakens fresher than after his sleep.

When the rest of the group gathers together, he asks them their opinion about two courses of action. "Now that it's a new day, I can begin a sending to our leaders. Edgley might have new instructions for us to follow. At the very least, we can inform them of our progress, or lack thereof and Nightwing's treachery."

He waits to see if anyone objects before asking his second question, "I might also suggest that we look for some divine guidance in our next course of action if we don't get any instructions from Edgley. I'm no tracker, but to me, this trail looks cold."

(OOC - BRR, I updated Collin's spell selection.)

[Cadrius]

Varidiir yawns and stretches, grateful for the morning light should any more bizarre demonesses choose to waylay them. He's still troubled by their appearance and subsequent deaths. Black ichor coupled with a corpse that turned to dust doesn't sit well with him. He only hopes that they're satisfied now that they have the dagger. Besides, what's one blade compared to the tome Unknown now possesses?

He nods to Collin, their chance of catching the fiend had faded with each passing minute. By now he could be anywhere and making a random stab would likely lead them nowhere.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Hearing no objections, Collin begins his spellcasting preparations. Sitting comfortably on the ground, he reaches out to Sub-Commander Edgley. His thoughts forming a short message,

Collin reporting, halfling dead... Unknown stole book... fled north... can't track... fiends ambushed us for halfling's knife... instruct, continue course or return?

Then all Collin can do is wait to see if Edgley responds.

[BigRedRod]

A few moments later the reply arrives, the nature of the spell makes the words disjointed but they each come out as clearly as if they had just been spoken to the cleric,

Abort to Eron for immediate return to Vodan ... Hurry

[WhoNAN]

Tolven stands patient and collected but very grumpy, his displeasure radiating around him, from underneath his large hood cloack and gear.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Collin comes out of his trance and blinks away the fuzziness. With a clear head, he informs the others on the instructions given to him. "We're to return to Eron," he says with a slightly happy tone. "From there we're going home. So let's make haste."

Stretching his legs, he saddles his mounts and makes preparations to depart. As an after thought, he has everyone gather their waterskins together so he can fill them with his divine create water spell. When everything is ready, he mounts up and begins the trek back towards home.

[Gnarsh]

"Back to town and home again it is, then! About time, too...I hope this ichor doesn't stain..."

Lynores gives his waterskin to Collin for a refill, mounts up, and heads out.

[WhoNAN]

Failure does not wear well on the Drow, so he says nothing and stays in toe with the others in c conjunction with their orders.

[Cadrius]

Vardiir sighs at the mention of going home. He had enjoyed this climate a great deal more than most of the other ones they had experienced. Still, they were more or less wandering blindly and would likely do more good at home. The fact that their mission failed doesn't seem to bother him. Indeed, there seems to be little other than boredom that can affect the azer.

"Home--" he asks, stretching "--sounds good to me."

[BigRedRod]

The four ride away from the sight of the looming misty mountains and back toward the road and Eron, the capital beyond. Every minute no doubt takes them further from the traitor. The thoughts of him laughing as he pours over the lost lore of the Grimoire Ira Scientifica are deeply haunting.
The journey is uneventful, once back o nthe road they notice an increase in traffic toward the capital. It looks mainly like peasants moving with as many of their belongings as they can, the invasion must be underway. Whether these are survivors from the attacks, or simply families who know that outside the city walls they could be cut down in their sleep, is a discussions that can wait for another day.

Pushing their mounts (and legs) far beyond what they would normally wish to, it is the evening of the second day of travel when the group arrive at the great Walled City of Eron. The great city gates are firmly closed and you can make out a large number of guards patrolling the walls, remaining ever watchful for the approaching army.
Around the city the incoming families have had to set down until the follwoing dawn. For such a large amount of people the area is oddly quiet.

A cloaked man approaches you as you slow down, before you have a chance to dismiss him he has thrown back his hood. Xaemar stands before you,
"It is good to see you have made it so quickly. We won't be able to get into the city tonight. Ever since word reached of the invasion the gates have been closed Dusk till Dawn. There is nothing we can do but wait, in the morning it will be possible to slip in, one of the Guard Sargeant's is quite fond of bribes"
The Psion looks at the remainer of the Vodalian Special Forces Team, and indicates a small fire set away from the majority of the campers

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Safely tucked away back in what could loosely be deemed civilization, Collin takes the time to clean up his mess of an appearance. Sitting close to the fire, he begins by washing away the road dust from his armor and traveling gear. When completed, he extracts the dead ogre's hide armor. Still smelling of foulness, he walks away from the camp to clean and mend it.

While performing his chores, he absentmindedly plays with his new thumb ring. I wonder if it does anything? Sneaking a glance around, making sure he isn't watched, he quickly performs a bit of magic to confirm his suspicions. He whispers to his god, "Reveal to me, the magical secrets..."

(OOC - will use a create water to help wash the hide armor. If needed, a mending or make whole spell too. Finally, Collin does a detect magic on the ring and armor as he does his washing.)

[BigRedRod]

The freshly mended and cleaned hide armour is dissapointingly plain and lacking in any magical aura. It seems to be little more than a set of hide armour built for an ogre rather than a man.

The ring, however, radiates faint abjuration magic. Although such a basic prayer offers no further insight into the function of the item.

Xaemar sits staring into the fire, he closes his eyes in pain briefly and continues his thoughtful gaze, looking unaware of the patriots who join him at the fire

[Gnarsh]

Lynores dismounts and removes his mount's saddle, giving his horse a well-deserved break. He moves to sit next to the fire.

"So how goes the invasion, Xaemar? Does it look good for us?"

[BigRedRod]

Xaemar looks up,
"It's hard to get reliable information from around the line of Vodalian forces marching through here, but yes, what we have recieved indicates that we are winning. Although Edgley seems concerned about the lack of resistance, he doesn't think we could have caught them this unprepared. But it's hard to say, maybe the reports are just glorifing what is happening"

[WhoNAN]

Tolven remains more quite then when joining the group, many thoughts no doubtedly race through his head, until he approaches the Psion, to inqure of things so that they may be pushed aside until a vendeta may be laid.

He asks of the Demons, and of the one who watches, and of the tome. Solemly awaiting the response.

[BigRedRod]

Xaemar smirks when Tolven mentions the Grimoire,
"Yes, I feel this is the beginning of the end for the forces. Or at the very least a time of upheaval..."
But at the mention of he-who-watches colour drains from the psion's face,
"You're sure that is what they called it? When you came to find me in the desert, and I told you about a something that was bending everything to it's plan. That was it's name .... he, it ... it's trapped I think, but clearly not totally as it can excercise it's will on this plane of existence. The minions will have been creatures he spawned to serve him on this plane. The voices, it's all very like the world is just "going through the motions" that all this is meant to happen, but now we now a fraction more knowledge perhaps we can some information on it. I just don't know"

[WhoNAN]

"I have a few theories... I don't believe the ancient evil is far from a return, all these signs, they speak of something greater than anyone is admitting. I refuse to be that foolish."

He returns to his quiet contemplation, solem, and introspective.

[BigRedRod]

The morning slowly arrives, and Xaemar guides the others into the main gatehouse. The queue of immigrants has already formed and is being split into smaller lines so that guards can question and search those entering the city. Some are allowed in through the gate, others are rejected, the sight is not a pleasant one. The rejected walk out of the gatehouse and either cry, shout or just stare like zombies trying to think of another option.

Xaemar confidently walks past the queue, approaches a Guard and shakes his hand smiling, the guard smiles back and shows him directly through the barriers and into the capital beyond. The party follows and no one attempts to stop them. Once you are safely away form the gate guards Xaemar speaks again in your native tongue,
"Welcome to Eron, the Capital of Dauthim. A beautiful city, a shame to think what will become of it. And now to the Pohil residence."
The city is indeed beautiful, low flat-roofed adobe buildings line the paved streets. Many are plastered white, although some are bright and refreshing in the ir colour. Small green areas are dotted throughout the city. Most seem to contain a well or fountain, it is quite odd to see so very many water sources in such an arid area. The smell is shockingly pleasant, with so many people and the heat you would have expected a constant stench, but the air seems pure.

Eventually you reach Aishen's Market, you can see the temple built on a slightly raised plateau overlooking the entire market. Xaemar guides you through the crowded area and toward a row of oddly shaped houses, each has a small garden built before it and steps leading up to the main door. Heading through the gate of one such house Xaemar walks around the steps and knocks on what looks to be a smaller servants door. The door quickly opens a fraction and then fully, as Xaemar and the unseen man exchange a few quick Dauth words which are nothing more than a simple friendly greeting. A man emerges to take the mounts of the party, and Xaemar leads the party inside.

The building is cool and dark, the passages are also very narrow but Xaemar navigates themwith ease and you stumble out into a large basement room. Sub-Commander Edgley sits at a table, the man looks sleep-deprived and pours over the documents o nthe table,
"It's good to see you. Xaemar thank you, the rest of you sit down. I recieved your message, but I'd like a full report before I send you on your way. The Academy will no odubt want to know how this was possible, all of you should have been vetted to ensure that this kind of act was simply beyond you. As you can no doubt guess this is the worst time for an event like this to occur, we are in the middle of an invasion, we cannot have liabilties such as this. So, explain exactly what happened."
As Edgley begins to speak Xaemar exits through another door

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

"The Academy will no doubt want to know how this was possible..."

Collin chuckles and responds, "Well what did you expect when you tried to use a fiend in your schemes?" Glancing over at Lynores, he adds off-handedly, "No offense, I'll exclude the present company for now."

"Seriously though, you should have seen this happening. For the past several months I've had it in the back of my mind to off Batboy." Brooding now, he mumbles more to himself than to those present, "I should have saved us the trouble and killed him on our first assignment."

Returning from his thoughts, he continues his report. "As I said before, we located the ruins and explored them to the vault. It was then that the Darkone stole the book. He brushed by us while unseen and took to the air where we couldn't follow. I'm not sure that an experienced ranger could have followed his trail."

"We did have an idea on which way he initially traveled, but then we were set upon by the minions of He Who Watches or some similar nonsense. The lead fiend demanded the halfling's dagger, which was apparently recovered in the vault. The end result of this confrontation was the defeat of all the minions with one exception, the lead fiend. That one managed to lay her hands on the dagger and disappear into a vast rift."

"Taxed by the pursuit, the vault and the ambush, we couldn't follow either trail. The next morning, I contacted you and now here we are before you."

Finished with his report, Collin folds his hands before him and asks his first question, "Now what is it you wish for us to do? And if you say track Batboy, I'll politely request a reassignment. I've no more interest in following that one. Although if our paths ever cross again, I'll show him some personal gratitude."

[BigRedRod]

Edgley shakes his head,
"The whole concept of the special forces seems so ill-concieved with hindsight."
He makes several notes on a sheet of paper,
"Frankly I don't know your next assignment. You will be back at the academy and I don't know what is going to happen, we have a fiend who played us all for fools and is now carrying what we are led to believe, potentially the most powerful magical tome in Ku'Zul, a war which could be thrown off by this, and what is this about someone watching?"

[Cadrius]

Varidiir remains silent during the report, his hands clasped behind his back and his body at ease. Yet something bothers him while the two men speak. A question plagues him, making the azer feel a bit uneasy.

Why am I doing this?

It's a good question, really, and he certainly doesn't have an easy answer for it. Certainly the pay is decent, and it lets him wander the land within reason, but he doesn't feel any particular allegiance to his superiors, or the country they work for. Indeed, he could care less about their current invasion. So why bother? Why risk his neck?

Is it for his comrades? He doesn't think so. Collin and Lynores seem all right, but he's never found much liking for the quiet drow, and certainly none for the nameless fiend. He should be furious at Unknown's betrayal, but instead he's apathetic. Ut doesn't even seem all that surprising. Either the tome made him go insane, or he simply had a better offer from someone else. He can't really hold Unknown at fault. He might not have liked the fiend, but there seems little to keep them there.

I do get to crack some skulls, he thinks, almost smiling and perhaps that's it. Perhaps it's the violence; pitting himself against whatever foes might cross their path. Could he do it elsewhere? Probably, but at least this way he has the approval of a government.

Lost in thought, Varidiir only half-listens when Xaemar confesses that he doesn't know what their next assignment will be.

[WhoNAN]

"I do feel it is my place to right this situation, I would like to continue a pursuit of the traitor."

Tolven continues.

"It is not in my nature to leave unfinished business, I plan to live too long to have ghosts haunt me."

His face looks grim as he pulls the hood from his face.

"He might have the tome, but he is not beyond our ability, or the scope of this war. Surely we can take a single foe, if we plan on taking countless others?"

The drow speaks with the rarest hint of affect to the situation. Whether it be because of the personal nature of this, or some other unknown force working behind his eyes, in his cunning mind.

[BigRedRod]

Edgley sighs loudly,
"I'll take a report, you will return to Vodan. Then you can talk to Commander Sacorn about any new missions you might be given. But first I need a complete report, and that invovles this watcher Collin mentioned"

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Collin shakes his head in disapproval at the drow's insistance for tracking the traitor. While the priest enjoys retirubtion, there are other thoughts and ideas on how things should be done, Revenge is something that needs to be cured, like fine wine. It'd be much sweeter to find him when he feels safe, sheltered and protected than going on a fiend-hunt.

"But first I need a complete report, and that invovles this watcher Collin mentioned"

His attention refocused, Collin says to the sub-commander, "I'm sorry, but I do not have anything to report on who that is. The Watcher's minions weren't too forthcoming with any details. However, it should be noted that the fiends who say they work for this character are vile creatures of darkness. They seem to disolve into dust when killed."

[BigRedRod]

Edgley sighs again,
"I will never understand why you resist simple process so much ..."
He makes a few more notes,
"Are there any thoughts you believe should be part of the report to command?"

[WhoNAN]

"The demonlike creatures, insisted that we should know who "He-who-watches" was... they seemed conjured, almost puppetlike, as there scope of thought was extremely limited... they were unable to think freely or reason. None the less the dagger which the Liberator carried was stolen property no doubt of this being, how old or whether it was directly stolen is not aparent. But he did not succeed through the tomes trials."

Tolven pauses.

"Does the Vodan executive understand the scope of things, beyond politics? This is not subordination, nor mockery, candidly in your opinion has a contigent for the scope of these matters been considered? I have concern for our nation, that while we attempt to conquer this land, this land will then conquer whole what is on it. Just thoughts, you are in a position of more respect than I, and I mention these things to you in confidence due to my respect for you."

He finishes, replaces his hood.

"I will do as ordered. But I believe there is nothing more of relevance to this report."

[BigRedRod]

The man scribbles a few notes as Tolven dicusses the demons, then he looks up,
"Thank you Tolven"
And steeples his fingers and looks directly into his eyes as he responds to his further questions,
"You may always request my confidence. To those who claim to the run Vodalia there is little more than Politics. Unknown's traitorous actions are simply a change in his alliance. I am horrified that such an event has taken place, it goes against the long periods of study and vetting which took place. To plainly speak, it could not have happened."

He looks toward the door through which Xaemar left
"Communication has been rather limited since the invasion began, but Xaemar's actions have sent more than ripples through the entire military structure of Vodalia. His actions lacked any malice but it highlighted that he had not be handled as he should have. The two teams had rather different purposes, the first team is made from individual's who would work alone for long periods towards common goals. Your own team was just that, a team, a single unit of specialised members working together toward a common goal.
A fracture in the first team was ... not inevitable but far more likely, and yet far worse has taken place in the supposed single unit. Such an event will have a lasting impact upon any rigid structures above."

Edgley lifts his hands,
"My apologises, I do not speak ill of the Vodalian Military. I am assured that there are indeed plans already in motion to prevent a spiral of disaster, and that the invasion will have been planned to ensure that land captured does not fall in our wake."

[BigRedRod]

Azure emerges from a previously unseen door behind Edgley, she has a sour look on her face but before she can speak Edgley turns,
"Ready? We're finished here."
She nods and returns to the darkness of the room beyond

Edgley stands folding his papers and pushing them into an envelope as he does so
"I'm going to be tied up here until after the invasion is complete. So I wish you luck in your dealings with home base. Sadly you shall have to leave your mounts in our care."
The sub-commander walks into the room,
"Follow me"

The room beyond is plain and lacks any sign of it's previous use, but it contains another doorway on the opposite side, both have levels beside them. The floor is dominated by a large arcane circular pattern, the gear from your mounts has been placed in the circle. Edgley hands the envelope to Collin,
"Give this to the Commander"

Azure is holding a book with one hand and points toward the mystic chalk floor markings,
"Stand in the circle, you may find this a little disorientating."

After the group are stood inside the chalk barrier, Azure chants a few words that are lost to the sudden rushing air. The world begins to rotate and the world becomes lightless and sickening. There is a sudden flash and the team and their gear are stood in an identical circle composed of rapidly fading mystic energy in the familiar Vodalian Academy Labs.

Crusad stands before the circle looking quite excited,
"It worked!"
He claps his hands together

Experience

Collin 2,112
Tolven 1,989
Lynores 1,805
Varidiir 1,882