Kingslayers: Wild Magic of the Seekers

[kariokie]

"Wait, hold on, wait," Cassy hollers before delving back into the silence. Worldlessly she reaches out and touches her companions, then closes her eyes and moves them across the room.

She wouldn't've gone that far into the room before. All she needed was to get out of the silence and into LoS.

Dimension Door (using Silent Spell if needed) Cara, Taros and Anthony (if he wants) next to the wizard. Try to get them to hold their attacks/etc until they're right there and can unload on him.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- Cassy will have the nasty wall appear right before her! Blocking her off from the other side of the room.

Round 2:
Silvas will try to hit the priestess as she frees herself with his Red 'Fortgetful' Arrow. Unfortunately the arrow is deflected in evil magic encircling her.

Cara makes Taros feel a lot better. {Taros: hp to 69 dude!}

Anthony can move through the silence crawling on the ceiling and into the room invisibly. He will get near Cassy and ready for transport through the ooze wall. Cassy can see him right there before her.

Taros holds his ground... {OOC- Unsure on target, but priestess is near death, and can be cut down quickly...}

Cassy D-Doors her friends... {OOC- Due to confusion of my lack of maps, and the cleverness of your plan it will only risk in Cassy casting defensively, and Taros pushing by... it will be a simul-move, and linked through the months of kinship, Taros can begin his charge at Cassy, and end it with his smite on the evil priestess...}
Taros is critically struck by the long sword of the young brother, but it won't deter him from the death blow he will lay. {d:21 :smalleek: }

Taros amazes himself with his timed magicked maneuver. It works perfectly and he stabs the priestess directly in the heart as she fights off Cassy's telekinesis! The priestess gasps in horror and her last image is of Taros coming down on her and executing her with his sword. Her youth and beauty immediately disappear, and she fades to greyness and old. She dies as a warted, deformed old hag, screaming as she shrivels. The priestess is dead!

The wizard throws himself on the table and begins reading a scroll as he does. He ports away, and takes many potions with him.

The eldest brother invisibly tries to slink away toward the vault. He is in armor, and trying to move slowly now with the odds against him in the ooze wall. With no apparent exits.

The other two brothers are alone on the door side of the ooze wall.

End Round 2------------------------------------------>

Initiatives:
Silvas 7+9
Cara 15+1 d:18
Anthony 12+3 d:37
official round ends-->
Cassy d:18
Taros 48/82
Villains!

[Idiotbox90]

OOC: I'd like to retro to immediately after Anthony got struck. When this occurred, he would have activated his Fiendish Resilience, gaining Fast Healing 1.

One of the things Anthony has always been amazed by is how little he ever got hurt for this "heroism" business. Cassy would be stupified, Taros would be nearly killed, and Abbie would burnt to a crisp. Yet, Anthony almost never seems to get injured. Thus, when this does occur, his reactions tends to be more extreme than most.

"&^@*! That &^@*ing hurts like &^@*ing-" The warlock loses himself a bit, slipping into Infernal for the rest of the sentence. Although his exact words are unknown to most, he gets his meaning across with a blast aimed at the invisible brothers.

((AB: +11, Dmg: 9d6, Target must make a DC 16 Reflex Save or take 2d6 fire dmg the following round. Second Target: Dmg is 1/2 original dmg. Must also make DC 16 Reflex Save. If the save fails, he takes 1/2 the fire damage of the original.))

[dauphinous]

"What is this muck?" Cara curls her lip in distaste as she has time to actually absorb the surroundings here. "Can we get through it or get rid of it?" She takes the respite, however long or short it might end up being, to cast a spell. Everyone but Silvas is hurt, so it seems prudent to call enough power to heal all four of them at once.

{Cast CLW, Mass for Cassy, Cara, Taros, and Anthony: [roll0]}

[BlueWizard]

OOC- More confusion? My fault.:smallredface:
Cara and Anthony are with the others on the side of the ooze wall with the eldest bro, who is invisible. Anthony's blast can hit him. Everyone was able to get to Cassy with movement. I will retro the damage on Taros, and Fiendish Healing can be activated!:smallsmile:

[kariokie]

"It'll go away in a bit, Cara. Running low on juice, you really need to get through right now? Anyhow, man who needs ass-kicking is right here, 'bout to stab one of us." Cassy quiets herself, draws her right hand across her eyes, then flings the imaginary sight towards the invisible figure. He might be invisible to some, but certainly not to her.

Silent Spell of Phantasmal Killer, DC 21.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros knows there's another invisible foe, but there was nothing he could do about that. He had to focus on the two men remaining. "Your compatriots flee, and your own ruin is visited upon you for your wicked ways. Come, face your fate in battle, or lay down your arms."

Taros advances towards the two men at the door, on the other side of the wall. If they surrender, he takes their weapons, and guards them from any rash actions. Otherwise, he attacks. If they flee...let them go, as there's that wall in the way still?

{
Attack: +15 Damage 1d8+6
Activate Shield: +8/+3 Damage 2d6
29 AC
}

[BlueWizard]

Silvas can flit over to the vault door, and block it... the eldest brother not aware of him.

Cara makes everyone feel a lot better. {+11}

Anthony {OOC- Man, I rolled another 1.:smalleek: No negative fumble. I do allow player rolls now.:smallcool: } nearly hits Cara with this blast as she positions herself to heal all of the group.

Cassy silently casts her spell, and a shadowy form surrounds the man and he collapses with a horrible scream. He will become visible to you all as he lashes in vain at the phantasm and dies from shock! He clatters to the ground in his mithral chain armor. He has a belt of little green vials, and a blade of his dagger covered with the wicked nasty stuff. {OOC-That silent version is particularly difficult. He nearly made it though!}


End Combat?----------------------------->

OOC- No more opponents on this side of the Ooze wall, and you will fall out of initiatives, unless you go right back after the brothers, who are not making any noises on the other side of the wall. You cannot see through the ooze wall, and it blocks the way to the door. You are on side with vault.

Status:
Silvas 7+9
Cara 15+1 d:7
Anthony 12+3 d:26
Cassy d:7
Taros 59/82

[kariokie]

Cassy looks at the dead body for a long while, just blinking and chewing her lip. Slowly the knuckle of her left thumb makes its way to her mouth and she chews on it a while longer, still regarding the body. The hood of her cloak masks her face in darkness, but her silence makes it easy enough to determine her mood. That never feels good.

There was no use moping, Cara seemed to be having some sort of confusing problem, and Taros was lopping off hands, and Silvas wasn't making jokes, and... well, Anthony was at least being Anthony. The chipper tone returns, "So, you want to get through that wall and kick those guys around, or what? Come on, time's a-wasting."

[dauphinous]

Cara taps Taros with her wand to heal him, not looking at him, just watching the wand so she doesn't accidentally break it. "Whenever you're ready, let's go. Bryce is still over there."

{CLW for Taros from the wand: [roll0]}

[BlueWizard]

Silvas will let it be known he is invisible by the vault, and will join the group on a jaunt to the other side of the ooze wall, by the stairs down. The clerk room is all shouts and screams below.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Sheathing his sword, Taros casts one last glance towards the ooze wall, before turning back to the vault. "Aye, m'lady. Let's be done with this place." He offers her a brief smile.

[BlueWizard]

OOC-
Stairs- door {to lower levels}

/oozewall/

potionlab- altar of little heads-vault {dead priestess and eldest}

Now I have you on the stairs side, unless you were not going to go after the other two. Were you going to loot the vault?

[kariokie]

Cassy brushes the others with her fingers, closes her eyes and concentrates. She doesn't speak. They appear at the bottom of the stairs, in the room on the floor below, where the clerks were.

[BlueWizard]

The group will appear behind the youngest brother who is now shooing the remnants of the clerks and thugs in the mid-room to the ground floor stairway. There is no sign of the middle brother.

The younger brother will notice you quickly, but you all have a moment of surprise on him. I'll keep you at your same initiatives.

[dauphinous]

Cara
AC 27 HP 68/75

Everyone is still hurt. Cara steps away from anyone who might want to stop her from casting if she needs to and offers more healing to her friends. It is mildly heartening that these men are not killing the clerks and such. A little surprising, actually. Had she known that they would not be popping into the middle of a senseless bloodbath, she might have taken the time to heal everyone a little more.

{CLW, Mass again: [roll0] for everyone!}

[kariokie]

Cassy looks more frustrated than anything at the presence of the brother. Does no one know when to run like hell? "Oh, just surrender, jackass. We've toasted everyone else. I promise Choppy McStabsALot won't even take off your grubby little paws with his mighty sword-of-crabbiness."

If he doesn't surrender, back up and hit him with Magic Missile. 5d4 damage.

[BlueWizard]

The younger brother looks healed from his earlier wounds. He turns and snarls. "What do I get if I surrender? You killed my father. I am not living in a dungeon!" He backs away a little frightened, but ready to fight by the rear doorway.

When Cassy hits him with the magic missiles to warn him, he will flee down the stairs toward the ground floor! {d:18}

[Idiotbox90]

Due to Cara's spells, as well as his warlock talents, Anthony seems to have healed well from his earlier injury. Second by second, his wounds close as new skin grows over his burns.

"Thank you, Lady Cara. You're one of favorite spellcasters in the entire world. Yay, sun god!" He seems oddly cheerful. "Now, are we going to finish this?"

Anthony gives chase after the brother, trying to get the runner in his sights.

[dauphinous]

Cara was turned the wrong way and started casting a spell when Cassy cast her own. She finishes her spell and turns to look as Anthony's position in her mind changes with his movement. Before following him, though, she checks the activity where she is. Whatever reason Cassy had for shooting, she's sure it must have been a good one, but she wasn't looking and has no real idea what's going on. Spending a moment to take stock seems like the prudent thing to do.

{Cast Lesser Restoration on Cara: [roll0]}

[BlueWizard]

The younger brother had threatened the group on the middle level, but Cassy's missiles sent him fleeing!

You can all give chase to the entry hall that was blocked earlier, there are people of all sorts here running about with sacks of coins and gems, and basically what looks like the coinage wealth of Thesnick from the basement. All sorts of slave types are without collars here.

The middle brother stands in a bloodbath, and looks like he's been trying to stop the masses from looting the lower level. Several bloody dead people lay about the top of these stairs, clerks and thugs a like. Even random people from another area are in here running madly about, as the middle brother can't kill enough of the looters.

The youngest brother will go to him and aid him, but the looting will continue as scores of people go up and down the basement stairs, and out the front and back doors. The people you all aided who were good are long gone now. These are just the desperate looters now grabbing anything they can. The brothers have lost their minds now as thousands and thousands of gold coins pour by them in handfuls or in backpacks. Many coins are dropped on the ground so this area is glittering gold, silver, and copper, as piles of it form falling through fingers, and even off of full wheelbarrows. {OOC- Though the middle brother is currently killing two wheelbarrow men.}

[kariokie]

Cassy bolts down the stairs after Anthony. When she sees the scene below, she yells back up the stairs, "Oi, slowpokes, bloodbath down here and the slaves ain't on the winning side." She holds up her hand towards the two men, "I killed your brother with one spell upstairs. Scared him right to death. You wanna drop the weapons now and surrender. Or I'll be killing one of you next."

She points her hand towards one, and then the other, and back again as she speaks the next words in a frightening sing-song, "Eenie, meanie, minie, mo, catch a villain by the toe, if he hollers... well, good I guess. You deserve it."

Bluff/Intimidate/whatever them into surrendering. If they don't, Magic Missile the one she hit before.

[dauphinous]

At Cassy's words, Cara pauses momentarily. She casts a spell, then great glowing white wings sprout form her back and she flies down the stairs, turning on her inner glow as she goes. She turns on the full force of Temple Voice to address the room from above. "Everyone stop! By the glory of Pelor, cease this insanity! There is more than enough for everyone."

Cast Celestial Aspect: deva wings (Sanctified spell from BoED)
Cara takes [roll0] temp Str damage
initiate Nimbus of Light
Oh, and Temple Voice isn't any special ability, just doing the priest thing. :smallsmile:

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony, eyes taking on a glow, addresses the brothers.

"Listen to the ladies. If you don't surrender..." A flame appears in Anthony's hand. "Have any of you ever been set aflame?"

((OOC: Intimidate check.))

[BlueWizard]

The brothers glance at each other. The youngest lowers his weapon, and watches Cassy. He looks at his middle brother in disbelief as the he makes a dash for the door, trying to blend in with the fleeing looters. "What do you want of me?" says the youngest to Cassy and Anthony.

When Cara appears with full wings all who see fall to their knees in amazement. The youngest brother drops his sword. But, the fleeing middle brother will pay no attention to those behind him. "Sweet Lady! Who are you!" Taros will literally see the man's evil fade, and the youngest brother begins to weep.

The middle brother is trying to make his way into the crowd of looters, who are mostly turning to gawk at Cara. This brother is still VERY evil!

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

At the discovery of the looting, Taros is a little taken aback. It was hubris, surely. They went in, expecting to be met with slaves striving for freedom, and eager to help them. For the most part, that was true, but in the wake of their liberation was left chaos and lawlessness; evil begat evil as looters descended upon the domecile, filling the power vacuum.

Would what they left behind be better than what they destroyed? Only time would tell; their course was set.

The man setting about the looters itself didn't trouble Taros; evil would always war with itself. However, the man was clearly of the basest sort, with no honor. He was attacking unarmed men solely for their death. Even thieves and brigands deserved more than that.

"That is the Angel of Redemption. Pelor's own herald, she is also the Angel of Mercy. Lay down your arms and avail yourself to her presence, and you shall be saved."

Drawing his blade, Taros steps forward, "Or avail yourself to the Angel of Justice and the hellfires of Retribution. The choice is yours."

Taros strides forward, towards the fleeing brother.

[kariokie]

Well, Cassy could certainly appreciate Taros' flair for drama, if not his wordy manner of communicating a rather simple idea. "To put it in terms you bozos can understand -- surrender or win a shiny new asskicking!" She points her hand towards the middle brother, and waggles her fingers like she's waving. She then straightens them, and prepares a spell.

Magic Missile if he decides he needs an ass-kicking.

[dauphinous]

Cara lands in front of the fleeing brother if she can, hooking her mace back on her belt as she goes. As soon as her feet touch the ground, the wings disappear and flames erupt around her mace hand, engulfing it to the elbow, as the shape of her arm changes to that of a sword, which she is more than willing to plunge into his belly.

Fly speed is 100, so I'd like to think she can get ahead of him with just a move.
Switching aspects from wings to sword arm is a free action.
If he doesn't stop and surrender immediately, Cara hits him with the sword, which is essentially a +1 flaming longsword.
+9 to hit, 1d8+3+1d6 fire damage

[Idiotbox90]

The fire in Anthony's hand intensifies.

"Pick Retribution, please. I'll make it worth your while."

The warlock prepares himself to release the flame, should a retreat occur.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- To initiatives.... He needs an ass-kicking. :smallsmile:

The Chase:
The brother is not gonna stop! And Cassy pelts him hard right in the arse with her five missiles as he flees and keeps on going, trying to duck into the masses. {d:21}

Anthony can see this man intends to leave the building, it will be a difficult shot with all the people, but he will aim to miss high... which he does, and burns a bit of the entryway's stone facade.

The middle brother is slowed by the crowd, but able to make it outside.

Taros makes his way to the doorway after the fleeing brother...

Silvas will dart invisibly after and try shooting a green arrow, and pricks the man, but fails to make him sleep.

Cara spreads her wings and flies over everyone's head, with many ooo's and aahs! She will be over the man's head as the middle brother is trying to run down the crowded steps outside.

End Round 1------------------------------------>

Cassy 20+6
Anthony 18+3
Middle Bro
Taros 17+1
Silvas 6+9
Cara 10+1

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

It had been a long night so far. And of course the man would run. Realizing he had little hopes of catching the man, amidst the crowd of former-slaves and looters, he opts to direct traffic and get these people out of harm's way.

"You, you, and you, move over there! You lot, stay down, by all that is holy! I...said...MOVE!" Taros brandishes his sword about, careful not to accidentally lop anyone's limbs off, to direct the crowd. If the opportunity presents itself, he will then continue the chase after the man, and to Cara's aid.

[kariokie]

"Why you gotta run? These shoes are no good for running. And I'm tired. And I have a moral objection about running after people, instead of running away from them. It just ain't natural!" Cassy's mouth runs faster than she does, chasing after the brother. Stopping, she casts a spell and sends more missiles towards the man, then starts to run again.

Run 30', Magic Missile.

[BlueWizard]

Cassy moves up near the doorway and can spy the man in the crowd. Her unerring magic missiles hurt him a little more. {d:16 :smallfrown: }

Anthony will move as well, but his shot may be too dangerous with all the people standing around. He holds the shot and moves to the top of stairway outside. {DM action}

The middle brother struggles harder to flee, and also drinks a potion as the peasants try to flee from this tyrant's path.

Taros clears things up fast, but is delayed as people move at his words, respecting him gratefully. They, and even the younger brother, will act in silence and obedience to Taros.

Cara has no trouble swooping in on the evil man trying to heal himself, which he seemed to do a good job of.

Cara glides down on the armored man and causes him great pain with her fiery blade of Pelor! {d:16} He howls, and will turn to Cara now face-to-face. He looks crazed and wants to kill Cara. "These people have no minds! They can't think for themselves. They are all foolish! They need us! They need me!!! I am their god!!!"

End Round 2---------------------------------------->
Cara and the middle brother are facing off in th streets off in the streets of Thesnick's compound.

Cassy 20+6
Anthony 18+3
Middle Bro
Taros 17+1
Silvas 6+9
Cara 10+1

[kariokie]

"Cara, you big goon, that guy's crazier than you. Be careful." Cassy runs down the steps and points her hand at the brother one more time. "You keep this up and I'm gonna have to use something nastier, mister."

Cassy's end goal is to get within 50' of this guy, but no closer. Magic Missile, 5d4+5.

[dauphinous]

Cara
AC 27 HP 75/75

"You are not a god." She says the words with calm and clarity. And she takes another stab with her arm, marveling at the sensation. It is both repulsive and wonderful at the same time. The holy fires of Pelor are warm and invigorating...comforting, even. And yet, the idea of punching her own arm through a man's body is a little disturbing. It's also a little weird to not be able to wiggle her fingers.

To hit with the flaming arm of death!: +9/+4
damage: 1d8+3+1d6 fire

Active spells:
Status (Anthony)
Greater Status (Cassy, Silvas, Taros)
Magic Circle vs. Evil
Bull's Strength

(I think all the rest would have worn off by now)

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Seeing the people move slowly out of the way tests Taros's patience. Couldn't they see they were in danger? "For the Gods' sake...MOVE!"

Taros charges towards the man facing Cara now, pushing any other slow movers out of the way.

{
Move to attack, if able.
Charge: +16 (18 if flanking) Attack, 1d8+6
}

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony tries to maneuver into an area where he can get a shot at the fleeing brother.

"Everyone who doesn't desire pain, please get out of the way."

((Range: 250 ft, AB: +7, Dmg: 5d6, Target must make a DC 16 Reflex Save or take 2d6 fire dmg the following round.))

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

Unseen, Silvas zips forward and fires off a spell to try to stop the fleeing brother.


Cast Entangle if there is any vegetation nearby to support it. DC 17

Otherwise, he casts Lesser Confusion (no save)

[BlueWizard]

Cassy pelts the man with more pain, and he groans and howls as he looks at her. "I'll see you in Hell!" d:17

Anthony fries the man, singeing him badly! "Aarrghhhh!"

He barely stands as he madly attacks Cara. Cara feels a little pain, but can tell even without the help this man is no match for her. His brother likely would have killed her alone though. He does luckily, cause her a little pain. {d:10 high roll}

Taros can move to the combat scene at the bottom of the stairs, and can continue to charge next round if needed...

Silvas casts his confusing spell... and the middle bro acts normally.

Cara knocks the man down with her blow. He lives, but is dying at her feet. {d:9}

{If a baritone angel chorus could sing out a long chord, it would be now. The masses gather slowly, stopping what they are doing to get a glimpse of Cara, and her companions. Even the younger brother comes out to see what has happened. He will stabilize his brother unless prevented. He does not fight any of you, when he comes out. }

[dauphinous]

As soon as the man before her falls, Cara wills the spell to change again. The flames die back and the wings re-emerge as he hits the ground. She drops to one knee beside him and casts a spell to prevent his death. Because his death wasn't really what she wanted. With that done, she stands again and looks directly at the younger brother.

She speaks loudly enough to be heard by anyone around who cares to listen. "Though he never offered it, mercy is given, and freely. The Fist is not a band of cutthroats and brigands. The Fist is people who have had enough. Enough of the taking from one to satisfy another. Enough of oppression for the sake of pleasure. Enough of greed over humane sensibilities. We did not come here to kill anyone. We came to free people. That deaths were necessary to achieve this end is a tragedy."

She reaches out and puts a hand on the man's shoulder if he lets her. "There is forgiveness for anyone brave enough to ask. One man can make a difference. One soul can hold back the darkness if he believes it enough." Somehow, it just seems appropriate to follow through on the angel thing, so Cara looks up and takes to the air. She starts heading upwards and towards the front gate.

{Cast CMiW on the dying brother}

[kariokie]

Cassy watches the scene with Cara in confusion. At some point while she was sailing across the seas the whole world had gone topsy-turvy. Cara was -- well, she wasn't this. She wasn't forgiving and merciful to people who had done wrong. Maybe if they'd done wrong on accident. All Cassy had to do is remember the shock of the mace striking the Void priest's face, or the snapping sounds she was so sure were orc prisoners, or the gleam in Cara's eyes when she fought, to know that this wasn't exactly the Cara she'd known just a few months before.

And, of course, Cassy had her own bone to pick with slavers. While she felt sympathy towards orcs -- they couldn't help that they were born orcs, after all -- she had little towards slavers. They were rich, and they had a choice. She didn't have the stomach for lopping off hands, sure, but that didn't mean she thought there was anything redeemable about those who worked for slavers. And killing made her squeamish, yes, but over time she'd realized that if she ever became comfortable with killing that it would be a very, very dangerous thing. It made her take her power seriously. And right now, the best use of her power seemed to be to kill this man who had twice refused to surrender.

Staff in hand, Cassy jogs over to Cara, keeping pace with her. Pulling back her hood, she looks up and says -- seemingly without any regard for the angelic form of her friend -- "I don't see why you're letting him live. He'll just get up to the same nonsense. And it won't be you that suffers for it. It'll be these people. An' you can't keep a watch on him forever. You just don't know, Cara. You just don't." Whether she's talking about if the man can be redeemed, or if she's talking about the crimes he's committed, it's not clear.

[dauphinous]

As her departure is apparently not going to happen, Cara lands next to Cassy before she really gets very far. She sighs heavily and massages her temple briefly with two fingers. "Cassy," she pauses, not certain how to put this into words. She had been willing to kill downed enemies before, and now she isn't. She'd changed. Over time, the way she thought and felt had changed. Mostly, anyway. Cassy, of all people, deserves an explanation. Or as much of one as she is able to give, anyway. She pulls off her helm, which clearly shows that the usual smile is gone, replaced with a drawn, serious expression.

"When you kill a man who has fallen, who kneels before you, who has been defeated already, it says something about who you are. I've become some kind of f---ing symbol to people. Every time I glow, I make wings like this, I call down the fires of Pelor, whatever, people look. They see. They watch. They take it all in. I have to be an example. If they see someone that they think is an angel or consorts with angels, or whatever they damn well think, then they apply 'acceptable' to whatever I do.

You think I don't know he's rotten to the core and will probably try something else? I know that. I haven't dumped my brain here someplace. I know it would take months, maybe years, to make him actually change. I also know that if these people watch us finish them off, then they think that's the way things are done. They think it's okay to kill people who do things you don't like. They think that, deep down, we're the same. Good, evil, it doesn't matter, because death is the punishment for disagreeing. I haven't shown mercy to that man for his benefit. I've done it for everyone else."

By the time she stops talking, there is a single tear sliding down her cheek, A lament for a time when things were simpler, really. A wish to just be Cara, not The Radiant Servant of The Shining Hand, or whatever damn title they're calling her these days. An expression of the fear that somehow, her sense of self is losing out to her sense of duty.

[kariokie]

The first words to come out of Cassy's mouth are typically absurd. "You said 'f---ing'. Angels don't say 'f---ing'. I'm pretty sure it's against the rules."

She looks up at Cara, feeling sad her friend is in this situation – though not really understanding what "this situation" exactly is. Cassy's never been an example to anyone, except in the "what not to do" sort of way. And it's not as if she's been hailed as much of a hero, no matter their exploits, not like Cara has been. So she can't really think about it in the way of what other people will do because of her actions. She just has to think about whether her actions are right or wrong – and it seems wrong to leave someone who could hurt other people free. "I used to think like you do now, Cara. That what makes good guys good isn't just who they kill, but how and when and stuff. Remember how upset I got when we first went out and killed those orcs? And all the other fights? 'Cos I thought – well, they probably don't know any better. They were probably like me, and you can't help what you were born into, you know? And I thought that if there was a chance we could make people better, killing them was wrong. Because that's final – and they're going to go someplace really, really bad when they're dead, and they'll never be able to get out of it." Like I'm going to, for all the bad stuff.

"Anyhow. That was wrong, because it just meant people kept coming back to hurt me – like Helena and Selma. I might not be very thoughtful, but I learned eventually. The reason people did so many bad things to me is because they knew I wouldn't fight back. Because they knew I wouldn't kill them. Maybe it's a good idea for these slaves to learn that killing solves problems -- because that's been the only thing that's solved my problems. And maybe it's a good idea that their masters get scared that someone's gonna kill them and they'll go someplace bad."

"I learned it by watching you!"

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros approaches the two women, listening to their discussion. Something about it strikes him as missing the point. Tentatively, he adds his own voice, "Doing right, or being good does not equate to pacifism. If someone tries to do you harm, you have every right to fight back, to resist. In some instances, pacifism can be just as evil as murder, if you do not rise up to protect your neighbor, for instance."

Taros glances to Cassy, but then looks to Cara in her exasperation, "But as Cara said, killing someone when they have already been defeated may seem expedient, or even wise, one thing that differentiates those who fight for all that is good, and those that fight for greed, power, and all that is evil, is that we offer mercy, compassion, and most of all, forgiveness. Would it be wrong to kill this man, who has committed so many crimes? It would not. He is an evil man, and he has done wrong. But would it not be better, by sparing him this once, to perhaps instill the glimmer of hope, the seed of change that his ways are wrong? It is hope, and kindness, that are our greatest weapons in the fight against evil."

[kariokie]

Cassy shakes her head. "No, it wouldn't be better. A glimmer of hope means very little to the next slave he rapes. A seed of whateverness doesn't feed any of the slaves he's starved, or could starve again. 'Cos you know he's going to get off. You guys don't know how it is. You really don't. You have no idea what they do-" Cassy chews her lip, then shrugs. "But y'all the bosses. Apparently lopping off some lackey's hands is a-okay if you're a mighty light of righteousness. Heaven help you if you actually want to simply kill one of the ringleaders, though, so he can't hurt anyone else."

[dauphinous]

Cara puts a hand up, and closes her eyes for a moment, looking like she's trying to push something back into her head through her eyebrows. "Cassy, let me be plain." The hand comes away from her head and her eyes open. "My relationship with Pelor has grown stronger than it once was. The closer I get to Him, the more He grants to me, and the more He asks of me. I can call down a column of holy fires. In return, I am now bound by my oath to Him to not strike a downed foe without offering the chance to repent. I think Voidites are exempt from that requirement. I know that demons and such, and undead are, as well. If I do what you suggest, or allow one of you to, then I have broken my oath. And I do not think I could bear that." She turns to look at Taros. "That is really the heart of the matter."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros makes to respond, but closes his mouth, his jaw flexing. Sometimes it was best not to say what was on your mind.

After the merest of pauses, he does add, "For someone not devoted to religious study, Cassy, you have indeed discovered how difficult matters of ethics can become. How does one measure a life? Under who's authority does that fall?"

Taros shrugs, and holds his hands out placatingly, "My own actions you refer to may not have been the best choice. I can explain my reasoning for the actions I chose, but know simply that my actions were not out of malice, or vengeance, but a desire to cause the man to change his lot in life. Perhaps it was faulty reasoning; it is not unknown for me to have lapses of judgement."

[kariokie]

Cassy first looks at Cara. "Man, Pelor is bossy." She's kept her head down for a lot of the discussion, but looks back up at her friend's face now. Her expression is serious, but also a little sympathetic. "I guess it must suck. To not do what you want to." That had described Cassy's life for a couple of years. "Alright. I don't think it's right. But it's important to you, so I'll respect it." It came to the individual relationship to her -- even though she didn't agree with Cara, it was vital to her best friend that this man live. Whereas, to Cassy, it would just be very nice if he didn't. Therefore, what Cara wanted won.

Regarding Taros, her face continues to be what passes for thoughtful on the beautiful girl: her eyes narrowed and screwed-up tight and her teeth gnawing on her lower lip. "You're using a lot of big words to say you're just as confused as me. I don't think what you did with the hands is okay, no matter why you did it. It makes my stomach feel wrong, so I know it's wrong. I hope I don't ever think it's right." She looks between the two of them, "Okay. I guess now isn't the best time to fight or whatever. If you're not going to kill that guy, then we need to make sure he goes to prison. I'm not going to leave this job half-done. What about all those papers?"

[dauphinous]

Cara nods and smiles gratefully at Cassy. "I can live with that. It shouldn't take too long to collect the materials we need and those men. We should probably get to that before they manage to spirit themselves away." She looks at Taros again, then takes his hand and squeezes it. They could talk in private later.

Plan of action! Step 1: take the brothers into custody. Step 2: gather evidence against them. Step 3: deliver both to some sort of authority. Step 4: fail to be recognized. :smallbiggrin:

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros smiles genuinely to Cara, saying good-naturedly, "Let's do this. By the by, whatever happened to the day when arcanists left the ethics to the theists, and the theists left the mysteries of the universe to the arcanists?"

Step 5: PROFIT!

[kariokie]

Cassy snorts and taps Taros on the breastplate with her staff. "That went out the window the first time I saw Cara drunkenly hit on some meaty goon. You people aren't any smarter than me half the time."

Step Six: BEER!

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony stays out of the conversation. Since leaving the Guild, he has developed something resembling a conscious. Still, his moral code remains based merely on what does or does not make him squeamish. Thus, killing a truly evil person is something he can support. Assuming, of course, the man is not begging for his life.

The warlock is sometimes confused by his companions. He generally understands Cassy. He views her as a younger version of himself, minus the masculinity and demonic influence. Anthony agrees with her on whether or not to grant the slaver mercy. Did we not come here, after all, to put fear in their hearts? Why can we cut off hands, but not kill painlessly?

Taros and Cara, in Anthony's eyes, are a confusing pair. Cara, formerly fierce, now is merciful. Taros has gone from a stick-in-the-mud paladin to a judge and jury. Maybe he has always been like this. It's just only now that he's shown that part of himself. Now, he sides with Cara. Perhaps, he's just doing it to impress the lady. Such a romantic, our Taros is.

The warlock raises his hood and approaches the group.

"Taros, remind me later to ask about your justification. It doesn't feel quite right, but as you said before, my kind's profession is not matters of right or wrong."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros nods to the warlock. "Of course, good sir. Perhaps you are right, and I was wrong to do as I did. We can discuss it over a tankard of ale, perhaps."

Taros had, when they'd first met, taken Anthony to be a mercenary, thru and thru, with no concerns but for wealth and power. He had been surprised, time and again, with the warlock's choices which belied something...else.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- I had plans to try and burn at least some of the evidence in the desk room combat, but all of it is mostly untouched, due to a successful assault.


The youngest brother will have tears in his eyes when he walks up as the private heroic conversation ends. He saw Cara heal the middle brother. He will go willingly and carry his unconscious brother.

There is so much evidence that you could fill vaults with it. The secret alliance can help, and in no time Silvas' allies can come to help ferry away books and paperwork. It will have to go quickly, for the chaos has attracted wizard patrols, which Anthony will see flying over the complex invisibly. Casting sleep on some, and enchantments on the more powerful ones. Basically these wizards in black hooded robes, are acting as crowd control, and fly around in groups of 3.

They will be working their way toward you all as evidence is gathered.

Only imperial authority will even care for this men's crimes, and Silvas knows that the alliance might help in transporting them to the imperial center to stand trial. Kandorians will merely laugh, and in fact, will eventually supply a wizard-lawyer for their defense. Kandor will want to try the Fist.

If you all get out quickly, and let the Secret Alliance take over, you can get out, and much evidence will be gathered before the Seeker Wizards find you all.
{My question is what method do you want to leave? Also, I remind you that though Cara has calmed and 'enlightened' those who witnessed her, much of the complex is still in chaos.}

Looting the building could be good, but again this should be done quick, because you all could handle some Seeker patrols, if they get their masters and commanders on you, you will be in trouble. In the basement there is still thousands of coins mostly in open spilled chests.

Upstairs in the trapped vault, Silvas will find the magical riches and art of the Thesnick family.

{OOC- This score should catch you up, and probably pass you in what standard PCs at your level have. Hope you don't mind the big haul, I'll get the list this weekend, but I do want to see what exactly you guys plan to do. The elven lady and Nymph will eventually find you, and provide the necessary Alliance resources. I may cause a Seeker encounter... so beware. :smallwink: }

Beer can be had at your first stop... Kandor, or the North? Maybe Robero's ship.

[dauphinous]

Cara gratefully hands off the thorny matter of the two brothers to the Alliance. She does make sure to point out to them that the younger one is going willingly, and should be given every opportunity to show his true worth.

On the matter of treasure, Cara is very much the same person she has always been. She would rather just move on quickly before anyone has a chance to discover their presence than risk being detected and possibly attacked just for treasure. It's funny how no one else ever seems to share that opinion, though, and she is easily overruled on it so long as no one expects her to actually take anything herself.

"Any thought on our exit strategy? I have a feeling that just walking out the front door is out of the question."

[kariokie]

Her eyes can also see the invisible, and Cassy watches the wizard patrols swoop overhead nervously. "I got one more spell to pop us out of here. 'Course, we do have three hats of disguise. Might be easier to blend and stroll right out. And it'll leave me less of a sitting duck if, you know, um." She glances up into the air again. "One spell won't make much of a difference, though, I guess."

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

Silvas will pocket any lightweight valuables, jewels, or art, he encounters on his survey of the compound, but he too will be willing to forgo detailed plundering in favor of a quick escape. He's happy to point the Secret Alliance agents to various items and areas and turn the issue over to them.

"Back to Robero's ship? At least as a first stop?" Silvas asks.

[kariokie]

Cassy looks up from prying a diamond (always start with the best, that's her motto) off of a gem-encrusted table with a crowbar long enough to respond to Silvas, "Oh yeah, I've got- ergh -those scrolls -errrrrgh -of teleport." The gem pops off and skitters across the room. Cassy flicks her hand towards it and floats it slowly back, too lazy to actually walk over and get it herself. "Right, just let me stuff a few more things into my bag and I'll see if I can get the scroll to work." She sets to work jamming as many coins as possible in her haversack. A rolled-up painting (cut unceremoniously from its frame with her dagger) already sticks out of the backpack.

Loot, loot, loot.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

As the others loot, Taros keeps an eye on the crowds, and of course their prisoners. He also takes the time to draw a small slender wand from a sleeve on the back of his shield. Walking over to Cara, he taps her gently with it, saying, "Even Pelor's servants need a little help sometime. That magic you're using is potent, but must be considerably tiring."


Tap Cara with the Eternal Wand of Lesser Restoration: [roll0]
Second time if needed: [roll1]

[dauphinous]

Cara doesn't offer even a mild protest. She just stands still and takes it. "My whole being is tired, but yes, thank you. That helps." She lets go of the spell that created the wings. They hardly seem necessary anymore. Although she has stayed apart from the 'looting', she can't help but watch the others indulge. They have every right to, really. When one risks one's life for something, wanting to get paid is perfectly reasonable. Not that she's ever felt that particular want, but it's reasonable.

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony opens up his handy haversack and stuffs in a handful of gold. He then grabs a nearby emerald, followed by an electrum necklace. The warlock seems like a child in a candy store, trying to get a little bit of everything before the owner returns. Still, he keeps an eye out for the best bits, using his talents to look for magic in the area.

[BlueWizard]

OOC- Computer difficulties, sorry about delay. Internet even ate the post I had written! :smallannoyed:

The vault seemed like too much trouble for the party at tjhe moment, but here a few small gems and many gold and silver coins can be scooped from the ground amid the chaos. Alliance wizards will take the brothers to be tried by their own imperial laws. They will also gather and compile the evidence, and give you all a report. The Seekers are coming and all this paperwork may not be gathered.

OOC- If you are all ready to leave that is cool. We can can also explore opening the Vault upstairs.

Outside the treasury city guards are gathering prisoners and taking names.

The elves will also say that the brave Seraglio girls made their way out on Thesnick's yacht and have the aid of some elven nautical wizards to guide them to a safe-haven for refugees.

[BlueWizard]

Laden with coin and gems, the group would have trouble fleeing the guards coming. Cassy and Anthony will have recognized the black opals scattered about the ground. Dark stones worth a lot, but to commoners, their worth was nothing due to their unimpressive initial look. This was why the guild dealt in these gems often as trade or in the casinos. Cassy would've seen her rich boyfriends play with this type of gem as a base value token on the gambling tables. {Worth 1000 gp each!}

Anyway, the Alliance is also in the process of leaving and the last of their men will be in the evidence area, but many have left taking slaves with them. One of Silvas' friends will inform the heroes that a refugee camp is forming in the East of Slaynor. {The Northern Kingdom's older name, though Queen Allanna's secretly gay husband, King Finn, doesn't use that, he's been calling it all Finnland, but many of his good wizard staff find that too silly yet.}


AFTER CASSY CASTS TELEPORT:
Before all of you know what is happening, the Thesnick compound is left behind, and Cassy's words have transported you to fresh, clean sea air. You will have forgotten what a stench the city of Old Galorine had.

The crew of the Crusty Bucket, will be frightened at the sudden appearance, but erupt in a cheer when they realize their champions have returned!
The want-a-be dashing Lord de la Cramme, will even try to kiss Cassy during the rush to greet all of you.

Young Robero will calm everyone, and Helmav will pull Cramme away from Cassy, and smack him. "This is Northern Royalty boy, not your low-life whoring girlfriend!"

Robero will push to Cara and Taros through the masses trying to pull them to the command deck, talking as he goes. "My lord and lady, I must show you this...." He points to the east on the horizon, behind you. A wall of black clouds covers the horizon. "New Galorine is burning. My wizards say that... the Kingdom of Kandor holds you responsible. We barely made it through customs... only my mother's influence got us through the imperial gates in New Galorine... it was awful there, all chaos, and many ships storming for the coast... war is breaking out here." He pulls in close and begins to whisper, "I need to speak with you in private... we are being watched out here."
He looks about nervously.

[kariokie]

Cassy retreats quickly, putting her back to a wall, when Lord de la Cramme closes in on her. Energy cracks and sparkles across her palms. "Back off or you die." It's probably an overreaction to everyone but Cassy – to her it's a simple matter of staying safe. Their mission had brought a lot of memories out of the carefully stacked boxes, and they were tumbling out the door of the tightly-packed closet in her mind, spilling out everywhere. Her brain was full of bad things, and she couldn't make it stop.

Breathing heavily, she looks at the rest of the crew through narrowed eyes. "He got lucky. You touch me, you'll die quick. You've seen what I can do." She leans back against the wooden ship, allowing it to bear her weight for the time, holding her staff across her chest. Chulyen, hopping from her shoulder to the staff, puts his wings out from his body and puffs out his feathers. His black, beady eyes dart from one person to another, suspecting everyone.

[BlueWizard]

As Cassy creates a stir, and Helmav gives Cramme demerits, Anthony and Cassy will notice that Robero is trying to wave them to follow Cara and Taros into the Captain's chamber.

Robero is hurried and nervous, and will try to speak quickly once you are all gathered. "My mother..." He can't even finish for appearing before all of you is an attractive dark haired woman with blue eyes. She is young looking, but judging by her demeanor, is another older noble lady with a lot of work done. This one Cassy actually remembers {sort of} from school. The woman seems to remember Cassy alright. She wears a dark black robe, with a bit of red whisp designs in the felt. Her hood is down.

"Hello Cassy, a little crafty one you are. I always thought they should keep an eye on you. Now you gone and involved my son in all this. Just got a report the Thesnick arrangement with the Collesium will have to change, you know anything about that. Sigh... I am sure you are frightened, but I am more worried for you all than myself. Robero knows what he know is in, but I cannot do any more than I have. Please, look after him... at least until the ship reaches the North. The Queen will look after him there." She is a little overwhelmed.

[dauphinous]

Cara does not stand idly by while Cassy feels threatened by anyone, and she certainly doesn't allow herself to be hustled off. Despite the fact that the "aggressor" in question has been pulled off and threatened already, Cara delivers a right hook straight to his face. She says nothing and waits for Cassy to precede her.

"So, we have added Kandor to the list of places that would like our heads on pikes. We must have done something right."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

The man's unwanted advances on Cassy cause Taros's hand to go to the hilt of his sword, but he realizes she has the situation well under control.

In the captain's quarters, Taros nods at Cara's summary, "What news from that front? Who caused New Galorine to burn - rebellion? Do you expect Kandor to muster? To where would they march?"

[Idiotbox90]

Cassy just threatened to kill a lecher. Cara just punched him in the face. That woman loves punching people, I swear. Am I the only sane one? No, we still have Silvas. It will be an awful day when the possessed guy is the voice of reason. Let's pray that never happens.

The warlock enters the Captain's chamber along with the others, but not before giving a wave to Elise.

Once inside, he leans against a wall and takes a bottle out of his haversack. He removes the cork with his dagger, then takes a sip.

"Oh, where are my manners? Does anyone else want some?"

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

In his Latigo guise, Silvas watches the potential fracas and the appearing woman with a sort of detachment. They had accomplished much of what they intended at Thesnick's little city, and they had done so with relative ease. Still, he couldn't help feeling like they'd let too much undone.

Return to the North now or continue our struggle. I doubt our rebellion has yet taken hold, though there are fires in New Galorine...

He shakes his head at Anthony's offer of a drink. The dark man seems lost in thought.

[kariokie]

It's not difficult to distract Cassy long enough for the boxes to magically refill themselves and hop back in the closet. As quickly as she was a dangerous animal backed into a corner, she returns to normal. She taps Cara's breastplate with her staff: "There's the Cara I've been missing. Where the hell you been hiding, huh?" It had seemed to her that her friend had just been drifting further and further away, becoming an entirely different person with a completely different life, and Cassy wasn't sure how she really fit in anymore. She didn't begrudge Cara the followers or the temple or the town or Taros, but it certainly didn't leave much room for Cassy. Anyhow, Cara had punched someone on her behalf, so it seemed business as usual. Stability was really all the runaway sorceress needed or expected.

Cassy doesn't seem that aware of why this is all important enough to drag them beneath deck to discuss, but it's possible she's missing some huge consequence of having a kingdom that hates her hate her some more. Her ignorance, as always, doesn't prevent her from speaking up. "So, blah, blah, people hate us, whatever. Kandor can stuff their annoyance up their as- uh, asinine idea of justice and social equality."

[BlueWizard]

The situation in the Captain's chamber is odd with the sudden appearance of Lady Alandra, Robero's mother.
{OOC- I am assuming most of what was said was done without her visible...}

Alandra will speak before her scared and nervous son can say a word, she apparently answers what Taros' has said showing that she may have been around in some form or another. Cassy and Anthony were beginning to feel as if they were being watched anyway, before the sudden appearance of Alandra in the Captain's quarters. Taros can see she radiates no evil, as she speaks. "Word from the front is closer to home than your priestess friend would like. The fire was started by a little ruckus near a lesser port in New Galorine, where my son's new ship was seen. If my understanding is correct the fire was 'fed' by the very people now blaming you for it. The fire has spread and is killing thousands stranded on this floating city. You are not to blame, but that won't stop my associates from doing so. In the North should be safe, all they want is the rabble rousing away from their lands. As far as mustering armies... I'm not sure what is happening, but the desertion rate is growing since the rise of this underground resistance group. The slaves without mind-bands, are definitely spreading the word. The Seekers aren't used to this guerilla type warfare, they are used to the straight forward tactics used by the elves in resistance. Anyway, I am sorry I had to blow any thought of secrecy you have, but really in this magical world you must be more careful. There is a balance we have here. Evil is so deeply imbedded in this empire, you might be forced to kill everyone, if you aren't wary. You are all protected by epic magics of the Northern good wizards, but it still doesn't prevent everything from getting to you. And finding you. The more... 'obnoxious' you become the more chances you will have of raising the Seeker's ire. This... 'Fist' I have heard spoken of is spreading like wildfire, among the people. Somehow I know you are related. I cannot and will not help you directly, but to make sure my... rabble-rousing children don't get executed, I will try my best to cover things up. The evil of Kandor, should not go unpunished, and for whatever part any of you have in this... I thank you. I do have a little bit of my dad's old noblism in me." {OOC- Her father is some old Archduke in the Empire, with much prestige, and has been around since the days before the Dragon-Kings took over the empire. Only a few of you might even have heard of him.}

OOC- The journey home, after Alandra teleports away will be uneventful, but I had to put up this very important {in my mind} encounter before the North was reached. Please feel free to exhaust ALandra for any other info, you might think useful.

PS: Anthony- Elise will be hot and ready for your bed tonight! :smallwink:

[kariokie]

"So, what you're saying is that we pretty much can never accomplish any good and everything we attempt to do will just upset some sort of stupid 'delicate balance' and even if we don't care about the stupid balance we're just gonna get crushed by super powerful armies of the apparent hordes of spare wizards the Empire has floating around?" Cassy shrugs. "Good to know. Uh, if you need me, I'll be having a drink."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros listens to Cassy's outburst, his own anger welling inside him. Calmly, he adds, "So you're saying we should do nothing, because we may draw the attention of those ultimately responsible for these evils? And that because they cannot strike at us, the lay to waste a city far from here, killing hundreds if not thousands of innocents?"

Taros glances around at his companions, who have gone through fire and war in the name of good, "This balance does nothing for the slaves who live their lives facing depravities and injustices that would make any common villain blanche. This balance is nothing more than an excuse for those who are comfortable with their status quo to sit back, and let thousands suffer at the hands of evil men and women, and in doing so are as guilty as the actual perpetrators. I'm sorry, but I cannot abide the thought that we should do nothing because, heaven forbid, we might draw their ire. I say: bring it."

[Idiotbox90]

"Balance? Oh, how lovely. One of my cousins, a wizard like you, once talked to me about balance. Jocelyn, she had this whole wonderful analogy about how good mages know to be frugal with their magic. I'm not going to repeat it, but it involved a house of cards. Have you ever built one? It takes a gentle touch, or you'll knock it down. But you also have to be quick. If not, it will collapse on its own."

The warlock puts the bottle back in his haversack, done drinking for now.

"Tearing one down, though, is easy as can be. But you have to burn the cards afterwards. Otherwise, some jerk may come back around and rebuild the house. Tonight, we just demolished a house of cards. Now, you want us to stop before the job is done? We don't care about this... what was Taros's word... this status quo. Stopping is not an option. Until every last bit of the whole, blasted business is destroyed, we cannot relent. To do so, would be to surrender."

[dauphinous]

"I fail to see any reason to stop what we've started. I will not go home and cower because of what might happen if I continue on the path of Light." She smiles a little. That all her friends are of the same mind as she on the subject is heartening. "I will not cease in my efforts to brighten the darkness until I am dead. To deny that duty would be to deny who and what I am. I do see something in your warning, though, Lady Alandra. We need to put more effort into disguising our identities."

[kariokie]

Cassy's about to walk out and find a drink when Taros actually backs her up. More surprisingly, Anthony does. And then, even more shockingly, Cara as well -- no, actually, Cara was pretty much expected. And her words were pretty typically Cara as well. "What was the rule on the 'dead' word, huh?" Cassy says, jabbing her staff at her friend.

She looks at Alandra. "Listen, we go back North, everyone's gonna tell us to go shut up and sit down and do nothing for a really long time. No offense, 'specially to you, Cara, but I was 'bout to tear my own damn pretty hair out hanging around in that podunk Pelor town there. It's just not my style. My plan is to live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse. No, wait, that's not my plan at all. Live fast, live a long time, oh, I remember: but kick a lot of ass while I'm young and pretty 'fore I have to have heaps of work done like you, lady." Cassy points her finger at Robero's mother, grinning.

[dauphinous]

At Cassy's admonishment on the 'dead' word, Cara laughs. A real laugh, like hadn't seemed possible to come again just a half hour ago. "Indeed. I take no offense at all, Cassy. It is incredibly boring there for someone who is single and has no responsibilities." She sticks out her tongue at Cassy, just a little. "And only slightly less boring when that is not the case. We did come here because we were not overly engaged. Besides, fighting evil is good for the mind, body, and soul. I haven't had such clear sinuses in months." To illustrate this, she takes a deep breath in through her nose, and lets it back out.

[BlueWizard]

The wizardess Alandra shakes her head and blushes a little at what all say about her delicate balance, "No.. No not that... You are now entering a realm where great powers will begin to take notice of your actions. You have powerful allies and they look after you. In fact, I had to pay one, Nautilus, a visit just to get through the good magical barrier that surrounds this ship."
Anthony will have noticed a lot of magic about 100 feet out from the ship out the window.

She looks out the rear captain's window at the open sea behind, dark clouds form in the distance toward burning New Galorine. "There are Seekers who are with you. But, we cannot openly ally ourselves to you. It would be our death. My son, Robero, has openly been written out of my will... though he can rest assured he is cared for in the future. His sisters won't neglect him.

A war has started. It has been brewing for sometime... but you may have been the trigger. If you want to help, than best you stay near Kandor. I do what I can to stay defensive, but you are welsome in my home in the Imperial Isles. In the North you have the protection of Master Fenbrooke and the elves. They maintain a dome over the Northern Kingdom that has kept the lands there safe from epic darkness nearly 200 years. Many evil priests have tried over the years to corrupt it, but the sturdy north has fought off their armies. It may be time for the North to help. I would suggest, priestess, that you return home and tell your reclusive King and Queen to unleash their hidden armies, and use their allies, the metallic dragons to some use other than defense. Only King Finn knows what he's keeping them in reserve for."

Alandra has no interest in staying, her presence may draw attention, and she will leave as quickly as possible with her warning. Young Captain Robero will be more determined than ever once his mother is gone. "I am with you to the end. If I can get the King's Navy to aid, perhaps we can help free Kandor from tyranny and pirate-kings. I am sorry, for what my presence may have done... to jeopardize all of you. I believe you can trust my mother... but you can't trust what my mother's enemies will do to extract information..." He is saddened and serious, and is taking 1st officer Helmav's instructions well.

[BlueWizard]

The Crusty Bucket will take about 3 weeks to sail to the North, with magic, the sleek ship can cut through the waters faster than most!

Robero will spy the eastern shores, and see the masses of Galorite refugees arriving.

He will choose the big trade city to the South of Slaynor, called Rivermouth. Away from this chaos, which will involve a few more days at sea. This is a big city, and will be able to handle any influx of refugees here. The eastern cities are flooded, but thanks to Silvas' allied help this population boom can be dealt with. Silvas is called away, and the Bucket can safely dock.

Elise will have distracted Anthony as much as she could, and even offered to look him up if she ever passes through Sunhaven. For now she and the crew will stay with Captain Robero as he will attempt to rally the Kingdom's Navy.

Sunhaven is doing fine, and in fact, Priestess Beth has moved in to keep watch. She'll say something about less of Fenbrooke's wizards around, keeping an eye on military spots and what-not.

Sunhaven is run by a council and committee, and Cara can be a mere figurehead if she wants. Her laws and plans are in place and this area is doing great.

By the time the group arrives in Sunhaven, and before your first night of partying can even start, the elves will arrive and insist on meeting in private.

Once all are gathered, having just traveled long and hard to get good ole Cara back to her flock. {This can be as you like, but from Rivermouth it would mostly be overland, some river travel if you wanted to ride in the ferries.}

Taros will find that his sister is doing quite well in school, and rumor has it that she is signing an anti-Seeker bill, passed by Fist members. His brother is currently dealing with the remaining Galorites. {Not just him, but he is a commanding officer in Kandors army. He's been drafted from the imperial soldier ranks.}

The elves will provide a long list of nobles and merchants involved or connected with the slave trade. Already Thesnick's boys are let off, and their assets have been claimed by the empire. The laws that punish the father are not done to the sons. The Alliance will watch them. Though they have returned to Kandor.

The empire has moved to war, because of the revelation and obvious proof. By the time you reach the Northern Kingdom, the emperor has already launched his armies toward Kandor. Flocks of red and green wizards lead the fleet, and the elves say the Kandorian King is ready and waiting with an equally sized and powered army.

This will all lead to the real secrecy of the problem. This particular contact, a pixie friend of Silvas who sent your old companion on his merry way was named Ryx, and he had pink hair with bluish skin, and wore a frilly pinkish suit. His eyes bright gold. "There is a lot of evil here, and you could all spend a lifetime slaying the slavers of Kandor. Armies are being formed you have done your part. You want to fight the slavers, and we have information on something quite scary. Above our earth live many things, some in the planes, others in orbit. You can't even see most of them. Since the awakening more of these alien forces has been drawn to our planet. One of the most dangerous are the illithids." The little pixie sighs, "This may be hard for you to fathom, but there are technologies in this universe, that have taken magic and psionics to another level. These illithids are here to use our planet as their own farm. They feed upon us. Once long ago, a group of heroes destroyed an underground base, but we now know that they have an orbiting palace. Some massive ship that houses thousands and thousands of slaves. All bred in captivity. They use it as a processing center. All the slavers know of this, but would never dare speak of it, it is even too horrible for them to consider. We are thinking, that if you truly seek to disrupt the slave-trade, striking this would be good. A small team, may be able to get to the power core, and destroy the whole thing. It is surely dangerous, but I daresay, a most import act."

Also, among local new arrivals to the burgeoning town will be one Raven. He will be said to be the greatest warriors the Asgardian priests have ever seen. Raven and his mysterious wife have a local farm here. {OOC- I will be introducing Raven shortly, but for now he's living out with his wife.}

[dauphinous]

Once Cara had offered a prayer for the ship, a benediction mean to ease minds, she all but disappeared from the sight of the crew for the trip. There had been time before to contemplate the direction her life had taken, but things change, and things happen, and she just needed a little time to reflect again.

By the time they all reach Sunhaven again, the moving with no action is already wearing thin and the elves and their news are quite welcome as far as Cara is concerned. She has a little trouble wrapping her mind around the concept of an orbital ship used as a headquarters, especially since someone has to explain the concept of 'orbital' to her, but she just moves past that and gets on to the more important things.

"How are we going to gain access to this ship?"

[kariokie]

"So what you're telling me is that we're gonna be fighting brain-sucking space squids?" Cassy looks to her companions for support. "Someone tell these bozos that calamari's an appetizer, not an enemy."

Grinning at her wit, Cassy takes a seat, and then jumps back up again. Something horrible just occurred to her. "Wait! They eat smart people's brains?" Cassy points her finger at her friends in turn, thinking the problem through. Whatever conclusion she comes to isn't one she likes from the way her face falls. "Crap, you people aren't very clever at all. I'm so gonna get my brains sucked out." She crosses her arms. "Can't we go fight something that, like, feeds on stubborn self-righteousness? Holiness? Oh, I know, meatheadness!"

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

The trip home had been long, but it had been fruitful. Long discussions with Anthony and Cara concerning the events around the raid on Thesnick's compound - in particular his own actions meting out punishment - had shown Taros just how barbaric he had been. It was a dangerous slope, he realized, that he had been headed down. One many a despot or tyrant or self-righteous murderer had no doubt gone down.

Now, they faced a greater enemy. Hopefully the slave revolt would continue with the work they had done. It was, however, an enemy Taros was wholly unfamiliar with.

"Space...squids? Orbiting fortress? Is that like an airship? Can't we just fly up to it, or something? I'm sure we could acquire a few hippogriffs or griffins even."

[kariokie]

Cassy looks at Taros as he asks his questions. "See what I mean? I'm dead! My poor brain."

[BlueWizard]

Ryx the pixie smiles, "Well, you can't fly there normally, for you'll run out of breathable air. Luckily these creatures need similar air to us humanoids, you'll be able to breath once you got on-board. I am not saying to go, but it is an idea to fight slavers. If you do go, an elven representative will teleport you in. You will all need and be provided with mind protective devices or assurances, for the illithids will be harmless with their mind powers. And there will be many. The whole orbiting ship is protected from dimensional portation, except the garbage hull which dumps waste every day. As well as the 'landing pad', but that may be too guarded to hit first."
The Pixie will return to the woods, and probably not be seen by any of you again, after he makes the report. If you are interested in this line of adventure, an elven contact will come.

There are also other things brewing in the immediate world. Apparently drow and giants in the mountains are grumbling, and reports say they may involve themselves in world affairs soon.
{OOC- Yes, nothing is ever quiet in the world...}

[kariokie]

Cassy joins them late for drinks (as always) to discuss their next move. She plants herself in a chair at the tavern and waves her hand until someone brings her a drink -- though if it takes too long she'll have 'the usual' and pop behind the counter to steal whatever bottle she can reach. "So, brain-sucking squids, or we want to deal with the drow and the giants? I mean, we could just sit around here watching Cara get older..." Her eyes scan across the others and then fall on Cara. "Are those laugh-lines? We better get moving before you're too old to lift that mace. You're not getting any younger."

[dauphinous]

Cara brings Cassy a bottle, along with one for herself. "Alas, yes. I am getting old. You should hear my mother. 'Cara, by the time I was your age, I had five already. Grab yourself a man and get to work. You can still catch up.'" She thumps the bottle on the table and sits down next to Cassy heavily with a grin, taking a drink from her own.

"I like the idea of taking on these squid things. It is still about freeing slaves."

[Idiotbox90]

"Illithillithid? Ithillithillid? The name is so fun to mispronounce. I don't know much about them. I think my magic crossbow without a bow and my hovering platform thing were made by them. Or maybe it was the Gith. I forget."

The warlock takes a sip of wine.

"So, we get to wipe out some tentacle things? Fun, fun. Cara, you should know the drill by now. You point me at a target and I blast it. Call me the fire of Pelor or something."

Being back in the Kingdom of the North has a positive effect on Anthony. The climate is closer to what he prefers. More importantly, he is not bored of his surroundings. Yet.

OOC: I'd like to make a Knowledge: The Planes check to see if Anthony knows anything about Illithids. +8 bonus.

[dauphinous]

This makes Cara chuckle. "I could surely call you the fires of Pelor. Or the Wrathful Finger of Fiery Doom. Though all of the Shining Hand's fingers are already named. Each one is an angel of the highest order" She holds up her hand, palm outwards and fingers extended. For just a moment, it looks like she is going to offer the name of each one, but she stops with a grin and uses the hand instead to pick her bottle back up. "Not that any of you care. So, we go in with the garbage, then? How appropriate."

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

Silvas shows up in his Northern human guise, Bryce Golden, both late and looking somewhat troubled. He had departed quickly after Ryx's initial message with promises to catch up with you all later. He pauses in the doorway as Cara appears to be about to give some kind of benediction. As she reaches again for her drink, he enters and shuffles to the bar. He orders up a bottle of the best local wine and takes up a seat near the others and listens in to find out where in their planning he's come in.

[kariokie]

Apparently Silvas has come in at the "make fun of Cara" portion of the planning. Not surprising, considering how long it usually lasts. "No, no, I'm interested, Cara. What's this one called?" Cassy flips Cara the bird. "I kid! No smiting! No smiting!" She throws up her hands in defense.

"So, squiddies. Fine by me. They said we'd get some protective magic? I wouldn't mind picking up a few scrolls before we go, either."

[BlueWizard]

The wizard salesmen will be available for any purchases.

The whole kingdom will be aware of your return, it will be evident, by the many people in Sunhaven that come to look or even see you... let alone interrupt you in your every day life.

Your time in the tavern will only draw more of a crowd, and the innkeeper, Egbert will be quite happy. The dark beer is flowing heavily.

Outside Silvas will find the hidden eyes of Cobweb waiting anxiously in the forest in the distance for his departure.

Anthony knows a lot of illithids, for a human, these beasts came to earth in the distance past... or was it the future? They have in their time on the planet formed a secret trade network with other planar beings as well as with the power centers of the planet. A lot of them is not known, but that is because the noble-classes just accept that they are there and pay what ever demands are asked of them. These illithids have strong mind powers, some greater than others. And it should be noted that psionic powers can overcome magical barriers, just as magic can overcome many psionic barriers. Anthony is unsure exactly who built his flying scooter.

Sunhaven will be just fine... for now. All the dangers in the world seem so far away in this growing town.

When the elves get a chance in private, they will insist that Cara meet the town's new greatest warrior. The man is Raven, and has recently bought a sizeable piece of land on Ocamally's property. His wife, Illanee, appears human, but the elves say there is more to meet the eye with her {though she is GOOD}. They have a small staff of VERY well paid servants that Illanee manages, and who help with the care-taking of their fine vineyard.

[dauphinous]

Cara's first instinct is to frown at Cassy's joke, but she quickly twists it into a smirk and flips Cassy off right back while taking another long drink. "Bryce, you look positively dour. We are making with the merry. Nothing says 'fun' like planning to smite some evil. Aside from actually smiting it, that is."

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

"Sorry about that, I have some personal news. Not so much bad, but certainly a buzzkill. I won't be able to join you on your daring illithid hunt.

My parent's have 'asked' for me to return to the homeland. Which either means, I'm forgiven and my exile cancelled...or I've upset them even more and face a punishment worse than exile. I'm not sure which, but our recent actions, and my involvement, may have forced their hand, but I think its for the greater good. So it could go either way." He manages a wan smile.

"Who knows it may be something altogether different. But the bad news is, I'll have to leave you all for a while. And given the way my people measure time, it could be quite a while."

[BlueWizard]

What acts for city guard in Sunhaven, mostly the Queen's Men in blue with the silver dragon coat-of-arms, will arrive to calm the burgeoning crowd at the Sturdy Oak. They will only allow a certain number people in, much to proprietor Egbert's disappointment. The soldiers are worried about safety hazards.

A few mediocre bards will play to the tavern, mostly trying to listen in on stories after they are done. They will come to try and drink with the heroes of Sunhaven. Trying to weasel in to what ever corner you all will sit. In all the crowd is tame and respectful, but is quite large. Egbert's family will try to keep the hoards away to respect your privacy.

[kariokie]

Cassy flips her middle finger up once again, sharing the holy bird with Silvas. "Finger angel says: unacceptable!"

With a quick glance to Cara, Cassy ceases the Pelorian humor. "That sucks, Sil-uh-Bryce. Plus, like, aren't you a bazillion years old? How can your parents still tell you what to do? And it's not fair, 'cos we were winning. We had three fun people and two sticks in the mu- erm, upstanding church-attending citizens. Now Anthony and I are going to have to work harder to goof off. This is completely inconvenient. I'm with finger angel. This is unacceptable."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Bryce-***-Silvas the Fey had been a valuable ally, and his wit and verve would be missed. Taros bows his head, adding, "If this is what you must do, then by the grace of the Gods, good journeys. It has been an honor to fight with you. If perchance we're not old and grey when you can once again venture this way, by all means seek us out."

[dauphinous]

Giving a snort at Cassy's complaint, Cara nods to Bryce. "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it turns out well for you." She lifts her bottle to him, apparently intending to deliver something like a toast. "You've been full of surprises, a valuable ally," she pauses and smiles at him, "and a good friend. You will be missed."

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

"Thank you all, you've been wonderful companions and allies. I spent a great deal of time waiting for such promising and good heroes. I'm sorry to have to leave you now, just when it seems as if we were really making progress on fighting the real evil and changing things for the better."

Bryce smiles and raises a bottle toward Cassy, "and kicking evil in the jewels while drinking its wine and dating its sister."

He seems startled. "Oh, speaking of wine and jewels, that reminds me, we made a killing on that whole wine expedition." He rummages through pockets as he rises over to Cassy and Anthony. "I know it wasn't as exciting as I probably led you to believe - except for that last part - but I really appreciated having you onboard the whole way."

He deposits a handful of very valuable gems into Cassy's hand and then Anthony's. "Shinies for your troubles. Don't spend it all in one bar," he adds with a wink.

He turns and gives over a handful to Cara as well. "After giving Captain Robero and his crew a healthy share, I still have some profits left over. Perhaps you can use it to help with your assault on the slavers or in your protection of Sunhaven."

"And you too," he adds to Taros, "you won't have me around to protect you any more, so you should buy yourself some new armor or something." He looks positively impish as he jokes with Taros, but he hands over some gems to him as well.

"Seriously, though," the pixie in human form says with a straight face as he takes another swig off his wine bottle, "you guys are going to need a new bruiser to take my place."

"And it really has been fantastic being with you all." Silvas has said his piece and feels a bit better about leaving. He'll spend the rest of the evening recounting stories of fun and danger, ever wary of the listening bards and public, and careful not to give anything important away.

[BlueWizard]

Sunhaven as a whole is bustling with life, and in areas is actually getting crowded. A few priests and wizards make a little money conjuring up building supplies, but a few forests will need to be cleared. This project has all been on hold, pending governor approval. The druids are asking for towers and apartments to be built to reduce living space, but of course, people are people, and they want land and space.

Ocamally's lands sold high and are still spacious, but everywhere farmhouses are popping up. All pitching in a little of their crop to pay the taxes of the land.

The night at the crowded Sturdy Oak will be a little rowdy, but not dangerous. A few off-duty soldiers will also be seen here trying to meet a local lady 'out-on-the-town'.

Any purchases of strange and exotic magic items {non-weapons, armor, potions, or scrolls} will have to be sought through your wizard friends, or the planar-gnome, Ootinay, that literally has everything.

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony eyes one of the gems, a fine ruby.

"Thanks for the gifts, Bryce. Without your muscle, how will we ever survive. I'm certainly not going to do any heavy lifting. It looks like the job will go to Cara." The warlock smiles and pats the disguised pixie on the back. "We'll miss you, friend"

[kariokie]

"See! Bryce knows the value of evil-jewel-kicking-and-drink-stealing-and-sister-dating. I suppose Anthony knows the drink stealing part. That'll have to do. But I'm still mad you're leaving." Cassy seems genuinely glum that the pixie will be leaving them... for about five seconds until the gems are handed to her. "Oh, shiny! Okay, I forgive you. But you better come back and visit. Taros and Cara aren't getting any younger." Cassy looks at Taros and deadpans, "What're you, like thirty?"

Cassy tells a few tales of her own that evening, of the various (progressively outrageous) scams she pulled on nobles after she'd made her escape from the Guild and Vito and before she met Cara. And, of course, she details the numerous ways they fell apart because she just couldn't help adding one more clever flourish. The best stories come from her wild escapes from the consequences of her failed plots -- from climbing out the window of a tower in a ball gown ("Why I have a ring of feather fall now!") to stowing away in a hill giant's bag ("You don't wanna know what else was in there!"). The entire time she abuses her magics to fetch her drinks, illustrate aspects of the stories with illusions, and sometimes just to pop behind people and yell "Boo!" at a particularly suspenseful part of one of her tales to elicit what she feels is an appropriate reaction.

[BlueWizard]

{OOC- Ah yes, that ruby Anthony found is among the pricer gems of bulk. Valued at 500 gp.}

Cassy's antics only cause more to gather and watch, and those she scares are laughed at with ridicule and enjoyment. Cassy can already see some of the bards taking notes. Some bards need new material, and you guys are providing the world with a lot of it already. The stories of young Cassy will some day be told in the elven kingdom beyond the Great Sea.

Bryce's stories unless new and original may be passed-on by the bards, but they will listen for any new material provides.

[Roland St. Jude]

Silvas

After most of an evening of revelry, Silvas will wish his friends well and express hopes that they see each other again soon. He'll settle his debt at the bar, slip out through the front door, wander into a nearby shadow, and neither Bryce Golden nor Latigo Black will be seen around this parts for some time to come.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

After their long journey, Taros yearns for nothing more than a nice, soft, landside, non-tavern, lice-free bed. And some privacy, so he can reacquaint with Cara. But Silva's tales are entertaining, and the mood is infectious. The parting is joyful, with hope for journeys to come instead of sorrow over parting.

Afterwards, Taros parts, tired from the travels, and still stiff from the Thesnick fighting despite the magical healing. He hopes to find out how his parents have been faring, and more about these strange 'spaceship' people that were too high to fly to.

How high is that? What would happen, he wonders, if he fell off the ship? What kind of wind was up that high? Cannons or carronades?

[BlueWizard]

As the night draws to a close and the group leaves among the throngs of people trying to get a glimpse or view of you all, a large man will present himself.

{OOC- Roland, you can pick the appropriate time to reveal yourself this evening. The PCs will be quite crowded around until the temple of Pelor. Raven would be allowed access to the main entry hall for waiting and could be here. For ease of RP, Illanee will be at home with the new born lil' one. Go ahead and describe him as they see him now. This also reminds me once purchases are made everyone should update how they look to the other PCs after purchases are made. Some of you have some cool items coming.}

[dauphinous]

Cara drinks. And drinks. And drinks, drinks, drinks, drinks. It is too good an opportunity to waste away with being sensible and sedate. She gets plastered and giggly, finding everything Incredibly Humorous, even the stories Cassy has told before. Fully ready to start peeling off Taros' clothes in public, she ends up sitting in his lap, then hanging off his neck for the walk home. She makes the walk difficult, as she spends so much of it getting in his way.

Sorry, been reading how the Grinch Stole Christmas here. :smallbiggrin:

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros drank, but moderately. Cara, on the other hand...she was going to be a handful tonight, and in need of some magic in the morning. Helping her walk home was, while an exercise in patience, also endearing. Finally, though, he's had enough of her falling down and laughing, and just picks her up and slings her over his shoulder.

Waving to the others as the group breaks up, he lingers momentarily to give Bryce a salute, before seeing his inebriated partner home.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven had heard the lord - or rather lady - of the land had returned and had hurried out the door to meet her. Kissing his wife and child goodbye, he threw on his dark robe, cinching its blue tie across his waist, and headed down the road. He spotted the crowd around Egbert's place, but gave it wide berth and headed to the temple.

Told that the Lady of the temple wasn't there yet, Raven obtained permission to wait. Less through any sort of negotiation and more through sheer, though inadvertant, physical intimidation. Raven stands six-foot-three with broad shoulders and an almost impossibly muscled physique. His straight blue-black hair is tied back in a black leather thong. He has emerald green eyes and an attractive face, marred by a thin gash running from chin to hairline, an old scar. In a black leather jumpsuit and some sort of blue and black robe or mantle, Raven seems at once exotic and familiar.

Raven entered the temple and took up a spot nearby where he could watch the approach. Well into the evening he spotted a small group staggering toward the temple. He recognized them each from their descriptions; they were a distinctive lot. Especially the woman, who had to be the priestess of Pelor he'd heard about, leaning heavily on her companion.

Is she injured?

Raven moves swiftly out the front door and leaps down the front steps, tumbling as he hits the ground. He moves surprisingly quickly but pulls up short when he sees the true state of things. Not injured. Straightening himself out and slowing his gait, he approaches the group. At a respectful distance, he hails them.

"Lady Cara, I presume? I am Milraven Els, one of your new citizens. It is an honor to meet you."

I picture Raven as Duncan McLeod from Highlander built like a Conan-era Arnold Scwartzenegger.

[kariokie]

Despite sometimes seeming to be half Cara's size, Cassy keeps up with her friend's drinking admirably. She seems goofy, but altogether more composed than she has any right to be considering she might have drunk half her body weight by this point. Chulyen seems to be taking it a little worse than Cassy, and falls off of her shoulder several times through the evening. "Chulyen not drunk. Chulyen like floor," the bird says defensively the third time he falls.

She sadly bids Silvas farewell. "Yeah, come back soon or maybe we'll come looking for ya!"

When it's time for the group to finally head to bed, Cassy waves her hand and, still sitting, she blinks out of existence. Quite possibly she intends to end up in her room.

Instead, finds herself sitting on the roof of the inn. Spying Cara and Taros walking away (well, Taros walking, Cara doing something that seems like anti-walking) she yells down, "Hey! I'm on the roof! This isn't my room!" Laughing, Cassy walks to the edge of the roof, throws out her arms, and falls off.

She gently floats down through the air. "Oh good, I DID wear my ring of feather falling! Sometimes I forget," she shouts.

Cassy's about to pop back to her room when she spies a figure tumbling out of the temple and intercepting Cara and Taros. "A ninja!" she says, unreasonably excited about an impossible thing in the way only a drunk person can be. Another word, and she appears next to Cara and Taros, looking at the tall man. "Are you a ninja?" she asks, and then starts giggling, almost falling over.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

"No, m'lady. I'm a farmer." Raven says with a smile to the giggling Cassy before returning his eyes to Lady Cara.

Something about this line strikes me as very Star Trek IV. "No ma'am, I'm from Iowa. I just work in outer space." :smallbiggrin:

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros looks at the newcomer, then to his partner whom he's still supporting, then back to the newcomer. "Ah, well met, sir. This is Lady Cara. Unfortunately...she may not be in the best of states to meet with petitioners. Is there something we can help you with?"

The man's simple garb - colorful and exotic as it was - did not suppress the obvious evidence of battle hardened experience. Either he was a bold assassin (perhaps stupid) or a potential ally.

[dauphinous]

From her perch, slung over Taros' shoulder, Cara laughs. She can't see anything through her blonde hair that has grown a little to now brush the tops of her shoulders (or it would, if she wasn't hanging upside down). Currently, she's dressed in plain cotton shirt and pants and brown boots, with her holy symbol dangling in front of her face.

"We have help aplenny for ninja farmers." She squirms a little in Taros' grip, lifting herself up a little and twisting around to try to see who they're talking to. Failing completely, she giggles. "Didn't we fight ninjas once, Cassy? Or were those goons in black? Did I punch one? Was it a fruit punch? Did I ever tell you about the time we buried that cow with fruit?"

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

"I see I've picked a bad time," Raven says with a wry smile, and speaking toward Taros who seems the most, well, vertical. "I have traveled far to wind up here, and I am better with a blade than with a plow. If I can be of service, please let me know."

With that he steps out of the group's way, pivoting on one foot and opening the way for them as if he was a door. When he reaches fully "open" position, he disappears from sight.

How overly dramatic. Oh well. He had wanted to impress upon them that he was no mere farmer or warrior, and he supposed that'd been accomplished. At least for those who'd remember it in the morning. With a wry smile and shrug, both of which were far more familiar to Raven than that bit of theater he'd just pulled, he heads home to his family.

dimension hop to somewhere behind them and out of sight. Then Raven goes home.

[kariokie]

Raven's attempt to throw Cassy off the trail of his secret ninja-ness is met with, "A farmer, huh? That's exactly what a ninja would say!" She stabs her finger in the air, as if she's made a marvelously insightful declaration.

Unlike the others, Cassy is dressed in her usual black velvet robes, with a jade and bone choker around her neck. Her usually well-kept pixie haircut has tufts of hair sticking up, as if she ruffled her hair the wrong way.

Cassy walks around behind Taros to address Cara. Deciding the angle is too inconvenient, she casts a spell and begins floating, ending up on her side in the air looking at Cara. She pushes back her friend's hair so she can actually see her. "We're always fighting ninjas. They're everywhere. But nowhere. All at once. Like... ninjas!"

Looking around, trying to remember exactly what she wanted to say next, Cassy suddenly notices Raven is gone. She, of course, has a simple theory: "He disappeared. Like a ninja!"

[Idiotbox90]

Aside from his usual glass of wine, Anthony stays sober. He laughs at the antics of the others, particularly Chulyen's moments on the floor. When Cara and Taros leaves, he offers to walk with them until they reach their destination. Although this may seem like politeness, Anthony has an ulterior motive, seeing if Cara will do something funny.

When Raven leaves, Anthony tilts his head to the side.

"So, he's a farmer who can teleport? Taros, did you by any chance do your little detection trick? Just in case, you know."

[BlueWizard]

Cara's young cousin, the priestess Greta will greet the group at the temple door, at hearing the noisy approach.{After Raven departs.} Greta will see Raven is gone, and smile, barely catching how drunk they are she speaks mostly to Cassy. The married Greta is clearly quite enamored with Raven. "I hope you met Raven. He's quite nice. He was here, I told him, tonight might not be the best night, but the elves say he has fought great evil in the kingdom of Zhe. I met his wife, she's really sweet." Greta will sound like a prattling school girl as she helps the drunk party into the temple.

Anthony will sense the eerie invisible eyes of fey and likely the elves watching over him. The more in tune and developed he got with his powers, the more he felt the sense of being watched even here in the North. With the 'protection' of good magic Anthony cannot shake the feeling of being watched since he got here. Cassy senses this a little, but in her experience this is part of things.

As time passes...
Some of your items are special and only the planar gnome, Ootinay, could find them. His surcharge is 10% to the normal price, but the quality is good, and ancient white bearded Ootinay is reliable. {OOC- I will tell you which ones.}
For everything purchased, you could probably have it within 2 weeks.

{OOC- Which in my time-line puts you into early December. There was a little time spent in Kandor rabble-rousing. Every culture/tribe uses different languages for the months, I use our modern months to make it easier.}

Officer Basvarti of Jamestown will be in contact, and will have Cara updated on all the issues of the land. There was more trouble out there than meets the eye. Despite all the magical protection on the lands, it apparently didn't always reach to the wilderness, and many bandits continued to be rounded up, as these fertile lands draw population. At the same time goblin-scavengers are coming down from the higher hills. Right now General James has his hands full transporting illegal goblins back to the higher hills.

In the far northwestern mountains is known a goblin city, it is filthy by human standards. This will become a military outpost as the North begins to try to deal with the goblin problem with a modern approach, by NOT trying to wipe them out.

The most frightening discovery in the hills North of Jamestown, happened while the Crusty Bucket was returning you to the North. James and his best men found another suspicious lair. They battled many umber hulks, strange confusing aberrations and lost several skilled men. The King and Queen are looking into this, as well as taking notice of the greater events of the world.

All of you will become aware of the bigger world around you, even those who considered themselves worthy. As you secretly rub elbows with the elves and wise ones of the North you will see that the Empire does not rule the world. There are many good kingdoms in the world, and even great many good sea kingdoms and empires. The world is populated by things the empire would rather its people didn't know about.

The Northern peasant is considered a loon, by imperial common-folk with all his talks of dragons, fairies, and lights-in-the-forest. In the world of the empire it is mostly human magic, and the rest is myth, even the elves to some. Though varieties of humanoids do wander the vast lands to remind the empire of a very diverse past. {Orcs, goblins, ogres, and other humanoid races are quite well-known of course.} {OOC- The wise and the nobles know differently of course.}

Anthony's parents have joined a planar war, and are fighting evil wizards with Master Fenbrooke in the Astral. They tell him he will have a nice plot of land in the mountains to inherit should anything happen to them.

Taros will hear continued reports of his family being safe. but still the sibs are being indoctrinated into the imperial culture.

Raven will be getting this information but through his own personal and elven sources that live about the good lands of Sunhaven. Greta will make sure that Cara is alerted to his presence the next morning {okay late afternoon}after he greeted her, and will arrange a time to have the two meet formally, or whenever Cara begins to formally greet the adoring public. Raven won't have to make it through the layers of bureaucratic tape, and whenever Cara is ready she can meet Raven sober. Illanee {the better half} will offer up a dinner at her place to meet the family and Els' staff. Cara's {sober-time} information will say this is an illustrious couple is special indeed. Illanee is some form of royalty and Raven is said to have slain a dragon with ONE blow! Truly perhaps the greatest warrior in Sunhaven.

Cassy will have all the time she needs, not once feeling any imperial presence, and probably lots of Cara time if needed to help in the building of any magic items. There is also a lot of downtime, since you have a community willing to work together. Plenty of downtime for enjoyment and relaxation {maybe not Cassy}. She may get creeped out as she too becomes more aware of fairies and elves in the woods around her at all times. {OOC- Think about the Strieber movie, Communion, but with elves not aliens, many of them stay invisible and hidden, even in the north.}

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros offers Anthony a wry smile, with a shake of his head. "Alas, I did not have the time. But he seemed polite, and well meaning. If he meant harm, now I would imagine would be an opportune time to attack."

Taros turns, and glances to the church, and the sky, speaking more quietly to no one in particular, "I think fate has introduced a new ally to us, perchance. That was no farmer."

[kariokie]

Cassy floats up, her feet more than a foot off the ground, so she can look Taros in the eyes. "Uh, ninja! Duh." She throws up her hands, frustrated that Taros couldn't seem to get her astute observation through his thick skull. Unfortunately the energy expended sets Cassy's floating form off-balance, and she begins to wobble. "Oooh. I think I'm gonna be sick."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros smiles congenially towards Cassy. It was going to be a long night, it seemed. "He was no farmer, but a ninja? Seriously, everyone knows ninjas don't really exist. They're just stories people make up - like gremlins - for normal thieves and brigands. No one's ever even seen an honest-to-the-Gods Ninja."

[Idiotbox90]

"Well duh, Taros. All real ninjas are unseeable. If anyone were to ever see one, it would prove they don't exist." Anthony sees logic like a sculptor sees clay, a substance to be shaped and molded into something unrecognizable. "We could be surrounded by ninjas right now and we wouldn't be able to tell." The warlock reaches out into the air next to him and moves his hand back and forth. A look of surprise appears on his face. He slowly backs away, feigning fear."Ninja!"

[dauphinous]

Continuing to giggle, Cara smacks Taros on the rump. "I believe I've been claimed in the name of Heironeous. Ninja or no ninja, I expect to be treated like the tramp I am, mister." There is a pause as he giggles a little too much to say anything else for a moment. "Ninja cows." Then she breaks into giggles again.

[kariokie]

Regaining her balance, Cassy looks at Taros, Anthony and Cara, shaking her head as Taros and Anthony attempt to convince her of the ways of ninjas. Like they know anything 'bout that. She crosses her arms and screws up her face in an attempt to look serious -- her green eyes narrowed and her lips pursed into a disapproving look. "You people are drunk."

With a wave of her hand, she sets off to fly back to her room in the inn. First, though, she falls the final foot from the air, landing heavily on her feet. Chulyen squawks his protest, flapping his wings. "Up, not down! Up!" Cassy mutters to herself before taking off into the air and heading to her room for a nice, long sleep.

[BlueWizard]

Chulyen will probably want to sleep close to Cassy this first night in. It will be quite cold, and in the morning there will be a frosting of snow on the ground, and a little whiteness to the air and trees, as the cool morning clings to the earth into the afternoon.

Time passes until the winter solstice party. {Celebrated in many ways, but a great Sun mourning will be performed, and gifts exchanged by loved ones.}
These times people will be not working, and reveling often. All of you will be here for the Winter Solstice party.

A good time to be in a good open-minded kingdom for peasants.

Sun decorations will be made to remind everyone of the warm sun, as clouds also become more prominent in the sky.

In the time passing, among those Cara meets, will be a drow prince named Gazzrath. She will be sent a secret message, and the drow will want to meet privately with Cara's associates. He will want to set-up a trade with a tribe of drow in the Arctic Moutains.
{Raven will not know of these drow.}
The 'official' Raven meeting is open to be set-up by the two PCs, and can occur as you want. Illanee will be suspicious of Gazzrath, if somehow she comes to know of this dark elf. :smallamused: }


Info space in this world:
{A bit long, and will give you a greater view of an extended possible arc of the game.}
The illithids need breathable atmosphere in their ship, similar to earth, and to be habitable for their non-slave workers, usually other humanoids. So travel in the ship should be fine, but the elves will allow you to be prepared.

In the elves planar missions, they have found the illithids use easy-to-manipulate, but intelligent locals for their projects. So there could be orcs, humans, and a vast hoard of other humanoids on-board. The elves have not penetrated the psionic and magical shields to detect more than orc workers, but do not be deceived, these orcs probably have superior intelligence to most smart humans.

All aspects and knowledge of Real Life space will be given to the PCs by the elves. The elves understand the planets and flow of stars and celestial bodies in new ways that still might be unfathomable by your PCs. To make it convenient I have the same solar system as our own, and you can name them as you like. Jupiter, is Zeus, Odin, even Horus-Ra, and other god or king! names. Imperial laws use the Roman names.

The solar system is binary, the sun's partner is an invisble brown dwarf. Well, nearly invisible, mostly by infrared vision. Every so often {few thousand years or so} a cataclysm occurs when the dark star comes close to the sun during what is a yearly solar-cycle.

In these time beings of evil will use the chaos time to grab their power from the scrambling masses. In ancient days the passing has wiped out full species. Depending how close the passing of the star happens, the more dangerous it could be to the environment. The elves know within a couple years this binary star will be visible to all in the southern horizon. It will reflect as red glow from the sun as it nears.

When on the illithid space-craft, you may see the approaching star as a tiny red reflection coming from beneath the solar system.

This is what epic level magic people are dealing with, and many planar parties have gathered and a literal invisible war is happening in your very heavens. Many evil demons want this catastrophe to occur.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven will extend an invitation for Cara, Cassy, Taros, and Anthony to join him and his family for a humble evening meal at their farmhouse. The invitation comes by runner the afternoon after their initial meeting. The invitation date is for one week hence, though the invitation suggests that it could easily be moved to accomodate them. Given the upcoming festival, he expects all involved to be busy.

His place is located on a sizeable chunk of Ocamally's former estate.

Blue, did Raven buy Ocamally's home? Or just a chunk of his land?

[BlueWizard]

Raven's dealing with the Ocamally's staff, can negotiate parcel size amounts. The wizard, Norwal Nergal, and Bernedilofer the official owner/head share-holder would be willing to sell a lot of the lands.
{County laws prevent too much of a monopoly.}
Illanee theoretically could purchase the whole mansion, but then most of Raven's money for now will be wrapped up in the estate itself, and most future profits will be replacing some of Illanee's family's investors' money.

Immediately, regardless of how large the new vinters were, the house of Els was open and easier to deal with, say all of Cara's reports, than the old mainstays of the Ocamally house. It is the off-season, and the investment of the lands would be in next spring, since they had just moved in about November.

Bernie and Nergal are getting out, and were liquidating the estate of Ocamally. It won't take much to nudge them out of the fancy stone mansion.

Already the county of Sunhaven was forming 4 distinct town centers. Central Sunhaven by far the largest, and already attracted many temples and shrines. Central Sunhaven was in constant building and growth. For masons, business was good.

Officially Nergal would be mayor of this small populated region of Ocamally, and the other two vinters would answer to most of the other regions' repairs, and will do this to maintain their positions and status. They will even help pay for part of the roadway advancements in the next two years.

A project to link Helmswood to Sunhaven with a stone road is even underway, but with war and chaos in the midst some things will be slower projects. Lesser skilled construction men will be employed and it will be a prosperous time for citizens-peasants of this region of the North.

As the population booms, Cara will find many wives of soldiers will come to Sunhaven, as their husbands can now afford small farms and even laborers. Once again goblinoids are employed, but always disguise themselves or stay hooded.

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony Faucet is not like most people.

Most people read in bright light. Anthony reads in near absolute darkness, using a candle when he wishes to view a picture.

It is when reading that the warlock moves his sleeve too close to the flame. Although both the cloth and his skin catch aflame, Anthony does not notice. Only the smell of smoke alerts him to what has happened. He is shocked not by the sight of fire, but by his own lack of pain. Still, part of him is not surprised. This is the part of him that is the source of his power.

The Demon in Anthony is no longer contained. It is now under the arcanist's control. The warlock is able to skim through the creature's memories, as it once did with his. Much can be seen, but little is comprehensible. Most is just random glimpses of violence. Still, the warlock has learned much.

Anthony is no longer content to merely toss bolts of the eldritch energy at his enemies. He has seen its potential, what can be done with it if he applies himself to the task.

Tendrils of the energy emerge from his shoulderblades. They stretch blindly, waving in lazy motion. He focuses himself and the tendrils condense, forming twin patterns that resemble wings.

For several days he has been able to perform this technique. Tonight is the night he intends to test it. Neither the winter chill nor the burning flame affect him as they should. He has become something more than human.

Emerging from his room's window, he takes flight over Sunhaven.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros spent much of their time after they had returned (and he and Cara had made their own communion) in the church, praying to the pantheons above for guidance. The injustices imposed on those slaves and servants caused a great burning anger within, and thru prayer Taros sought to quell the dragon within.

Taros could feel the numinous around him, as if he were an agent of Heironeous, sent to punish the wicked and smite the fell and evil foes of this world. His time in quiet meditation taught him to direct his anger and his ire - to the weak and ignoble, the cruel and injust, the vile and wicked. He would rain down fire on his enemies.

He could not help but think that this feeling - this exaltation - was what Cara must have felt every day thru her faith and believing. Taros was sure he felt but a small part of the connection, and it heartened him in his resolve to bring down vengeance upon those who would harm this world.

Exiting the shrine in his plated armor, which he wore almost always, he clenches a mailed glove. Glancing upwards, a grin escapes his lips as he sees a dark shadow flitting across the moon. It looked like he was not the only one harnessing the power within themselves.

----

Taros gladly accepts the invitation to dinner, coordinating with Cara with regards to a welcome gift or proper decorum in her village for welcoming new tenants. He'd heard of customs bringing food, drink, or strangely enough plants to the new domecile.

The man obviously was of means, having taken over the Occamaly estates. His having a family here - and inviting the group to meet said family - spoke well of him. Unless of course he was using his family for show. He doubted that, however, giving their initial, though brief, encounter.

[kariokie]

Frankly, it hadn't been her, anyhow, Cassy thinks as she hands the charred wooden staff over to the gnome. At some point she'd been fooled into thinking that being powerful meant laying waste to swaths of people, incinerating them. That wasn't who she was, though. Perhaps she had to kill. The world was a dangerous place for her. But fireball? That was just tacky.

And the staff didn't go with her shoes, anyhow.

It's a week before the new staff shows up. Unlike the other staff, which was runed and black and frankly very snappy, this one is plain, rough wood with a single silver Draconic rune on it.

* * *

The burst of new magic came from tributaries, different sources throughout the world so wide and varied Cassy has trouble tracking them all down in her head. Spells she'd seen, or wanted to be able to do, scrolls she'd cast, curses that had targeted her.

At first, they were difficult to control – she was only twenty, and there was just so much power. People who came too close to Cassy found themselves trapped in amber globes, unable to escape. A child's errant ball struck her and she flung it over the temple. Only afterwards did Cassy realize she could have done – and almost did – the same to the child. The innkeeper made the mistake of waking her up before noon and was turned into a monkey before Cassy even knew what she was doing.

It was dangerous. Well, the monkey thing was actually kind of funny. But a dangerous kind of funny, Cassy admonishes herself. She'd been able to break the spell easily enough, but still.

She was getting powerful much more quickly than she was getting older and it didn't seem to be stopping.

* * *

She is getting older, though, just not fast enough. Age is doing nothing but making her more beautiful and magnetic. Always stunning, always dynamic, and always a great party guest, Cassy now has an unmistakable power about her. In any room she's the heaviest emotional object, radiating power, drawing normal people into her orbit whether she wishes it or not. She hides herself away as much as she can, working on the item of power Cara asked of her. Whenever she emerges, Cassy cuts a swath through town, flipping the magnet of her personality over and using it to push others away rather than draw them near.

It's that Cassy – black-robed and carrying a staff, intimidating in her beauty and sheer force – who shows up at Raven's for dinner.

[dauphinous]

Cara doesn't even remember meeting this Raven person when she gets the invitation. There is a vague memory of a discussion about ninja cows, but nothing more. She drops it onto the pile with the rest of the things she needs to deal with and forgets about it until Taros brings it up. "In Skaarsvard, when someone moved into a new house, the village got together and painted it for them, or put up a fence, or did something of that ilk. That hardly seems appropriate here." She shrugs and has someone make up a dessert the folk of Skaarsvard are fond of, though she has to use three Sendings to her mother to get the recipe correctly for the cook.

At the end of the week, she appears for the dinner in a white dress with fur-lined boots, gloves, and cloak to guard against the chill for the walk there. Now that she's gotten used to the idea of servants (though she still finds herself thanking them and leaving tips for them from time to time), she's started to enjoy some of the actual luxury of her wealth and position. The clothes, higher quality than she would normally wear, are the most obvious manifestation of this.

So she wouldn't have to carry it, she had sent ahead a bouquet of flowers in orange, yellow, and white, along with a custard pie.

[Idiotbox90]

The warlock found flight to be a thrilling experience. Soaring above the town, circling over the vineyards, Anthony covered as large of an area as he could that night. He tried to remain unseen, but was far too excited to do well at the task. Taros saw him and it is likely others did as well.

***

Anthony arrives at the dinner, walking with grace that can be matched by few. He does not wear robes, but blue garments of fine quality.

This man, Raven, was not just another background figure to be ignored. Sudden arrivals in town are usually not Anthony's concern. However, Raven has made himself impossible for the warlock to ignore. He hopes to learn more about this enigma. Once he does, his opinion on the man will be clear to all.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

As you approach the former Ocamally estate, you see a place that is the same yet changes. The structure is familiar to those who have been here before, but the place now has a quiet, understated, elegance. That impression remains as Raven himself answers the door to greet you. "Welcome, welcome, come on in, have a seat. Welcome to our home. I am Milraven Els, but please call me Raven." He gestures you in to a small sitting room. The entire place is far less garishly decorated than under Ocamally. The sense of wealth here is subtle and simple fine things take precedent over showy items.

After a few moments, a beautiful woman appears, with a young child perhaps a year or so old, and Raven introduces them. "Please allow me to introduce my wife, Illanee, and our son Bleys." Illanee says a brief greeting to each of you and then excuses herself to oversee the kitchen.

He takes up a seat in the sitting room and sits relaxed and with a slight, friendly smile. "It is a wonderful community you've built here," he says to Cara.

[BlueWizard]

Anthony:
The warlock will be respected openly, but if he is ever alone with or near any of the residents of Sunhaven, even the priests, he will notice the true feelings they have towards him. There is a fear of him that comes from more than just the power he wields, and that is the sense people get from him anytime his powers are in use.

In Sunhaven, Anthony will feel very alone, and may miss the anonymousness of a city, but somehow he may feel that this may no longer be an option anywhere he went. With his parents aiding the elves, they were in direct conflict with the empire, he may never get the chance to go home safely.


Taros:
He will find that being friends with the local elves in the woods keeps him abreast of almost all world events. Especially those concerning his family.

If he wants they will even allow him to scry out and look at them. His brother is out at sea, and seems to be an important officer aboard one of the imperial ships. He seems to be aboard an important ship, few crewmen not as many rank-and-file soldiers. He seems very serious young man, and definitely intelligent. This shouldn't surprise Taros, Terris, looked up to his brother, and wanted to be disciplined in the same way. Unfortunately, Terris was blessed with more strength and intelligence, and made for a great officer. There is a bit in him that is jealous of Taros' pure goodness.

Tirana is just as serious, but only in classrooms. She is right in the midst of the wizard university's activities, and has been having fun and partying behind the RA's and school-master's backs. She seems well adjusted, too well adjusted, and Taros may wonder if she even knows what has happened to her family.

Taros may also note that this is the same university that Cassy{may have mentioned and} attended not too long ago. The elves will give Tirana some privacy in the scrying especially in the sorority house, and when she hangs out with a skinny wizard teen guy. Taros may feel his protective brother mode come over when he sees the dark young man moving closer to her in the park, but the elves will dissolve that scene in the scry-pool, when it might get too much for the older brother.
"He is not evil. " Says the elven wizard that will be running the scry screen for Taros.

OOC- Many elves have no trouble aiding you all for the aid you've given them.


Cassy:
Cassy causes a disturbance the morning she polymorphed the morning innkeeper, Worgeo, Egbert's new son-in-law. This scruffy, bearded blonde, former dockman had no manners and loved to give the pretty girls' wake-up calls. He also pretended to stumble in rooms unannounced, that may not happen any more.
Egbert the owner will only laugh heartily when he wakes up and briefly sees the monkey, 'Ook-ooking' about.

The sorceress draws plenty of attention and stares, everyone clears out of her path. Out of sheer awe, Cassy will walk, and a path will clear, even at busy times in the now crowded Sunhaven marketplace. Her new appearance draws gasps as she passes, and more than a few young folk will beg Cassy to train them in her naturally arcane ways, if they get a chance or build up the courage to speak to her. Even the queen's wizards now steer clear of Cassy, but all them will jump to help her should she but ask.


Cara:
The priestess her own system going here, a church organization that even amazes old Beth, who adds that she will be heading off to Skaarsgard after the Winter Festival. She feels Greta has things under way, Cara's young cousin is advancing quickly as she stays busy in doing church duties, marrying, blessing, and various other tasks that come with running a religious-type governmental building. Greta can already cure medium wounds with some skill.

The city as a whole exists, and does its own thing. In the North with the great military protection in the land now people feel safe and happy. Any talk of the Kandorian or even more distant Zhean Civil war is distant. No-one is too keen on fighting for or against the imperials. Cara can see the elves' hope to draft the entire Northern Kingdom to fight the greater war may fall on deaf ears.

Even King Finn feels the emperor should fight his own wars, but the elves feel not enough will be done to pacify the evils of the Kingdom of Kandor. Cara will also meet the Ra-conglomorate, a spooky organization based out of the empire. They are a neutral sun co-operative, and it is through this church in the past, that evil sun religions were able to rise in power. Beth and her branch of Pelor, was a direct response to these types. The temple of Ra will seek to make Cara lead Sun priest in the North, and will offer to build a Sun temple-pyramid.
This will also mean more sun priest presence... Cara will have full control over the priests in her temple.

Cara will also have meetings with priests of the Asgardian gods, Bahamut, various local healing or love goddesses, and even imperial Egypto-gods. The more settled Cara becomes, the more she will find other priests trying to meet her. Already she will have met the elven priests of Ehlonna and Correllion, though they also worship elven forms of the Olympic gods.
Most peasants worship the Olympic gods, and this for the most part is true throughout the whole old empire, which includes the North. Evil priests go no where near the North unless they bring trouble.

Raven:
Illanee wants to live in style among the Northern humans. She will buy-out every interest Nergal and Bernie had of Ocamally's. The two foul men once paid were on their way to the empire faster than you can say lickety-split. Illanee paid them very high, and took a loss, but she didn't like them, and wanted the old stone mansion and grounds. {OOC- There's still a bit of princess in her.:smallsmile: } The servants were retained if they were good or of use, and the entire grounds were rebuilt. This also took a lot of money, and Illanee even hired the staff wizards that grow the exquisite wine that Ocamally grew.

Illanee will insist they give the wine they barrel up next year Els, after Ravens family. She can tell that these lands needed a change. Her ranger-senses guiding her naturally to the druids and rangers of the land.

Raven will also find much of the furnishings and staff will leave, but some good locals will stay since this estate is all they know. Some of the servants were small families.


Dinner with the ELS':
The new Els estate is the same stone walls that were once old man Ocamally's walls. They are now decorated in deep dark colors, usually not seen in the North or even human lands...
The greeting you receive from the well-dress and mannered gate staff is a lot more humble and honorable. In fact the man is not armed with more than a club. The Els' seem satisfied with the queen's guard and the peasant militia, and no threating men at the gate were needed that new owners seem to say.

When you all arrive Illanee will be right there to greet you with Raven. She appears to be a tanned imperial lady, beautiful and strong. She would even look imposing next to sturdy Cara, and stood a couple inches taller than her, but leaner, and meaner with a look of war in her eyes. She is good as an angel, but has seen or felt horrors no mortal should. She can't hide it, but she is kind, welcoming, and polite.

{OOC- It is a new born, the elf is normally over double the term length, but due to the nature of Raven's heritage the baby's development was speeded up.}

Illanee will smile and once you are alone in the sitting room, and before dinner begins, she will give you all a closer look at the child. The first thing you see is the dark grey hew to the child's skin, and little pointed ears. Illanee will smile. "Do not be frightened."
She will suddenly blink and transform before your eyes. Already Cassy and Anthony's magic sensors would be going haywire as they viewed this illusory image of a human woman. When she is there is the fine dark gown before you she stands as a smaller woman, still just as strong, and agile, but as a full blooded drow. Her skin black as coal, with sivlery hair. Her silver eyes sheen a bit of red, and you can tell she has taken some light protection off. She squints a bit then, puts on dark sunglasses, which might look odd to some of you. "Forgive the deception. I have sought approval with the queen before I came. Her wizard staff told me it was best if I used this magic to hide my appearance. I am aware of the past wars with the drow here. You will have no fear from me siding with them. I trust only my people of Eilistraee. I am Illanee, my training is as a dungeon and wilderness tracker, and if my duties keep me close to home and child, I will be glad to be of service.
But, trust me, it will be my husbands' sword that will wrench him from me. We know of much of the evil in the empire, and the alliance elves have informed us of the plight of the world. We want to aid you, but we also think that keeping hearth and home safe is wise too. Raven and I have agreed to help. I will fight with my life should anyone invade your domain Cara, but any action against the greater world evil... I... I insist Raven go. He has.. there is greatness in him, and I know he won't realize it staying at home here. Believe me I want to go, but now that I know more about Raven, I have confidence in him and the future." She gives her husband a silvery smile, then back to you all. "The wizards can only protect us from so much, and eventually this evilness of Kandor will come for you all... like it will come for us. When my husband slew the dragon with one blow, he angered many among the draconic ranks in the imperial armies. This evil is not over in the North, these elves have only delayed it."

[Idiotbox90]

The warlock bows before the couple.

"It is a pleasure to meet such... interesting people." The transformation threw Anthony off a bit, but he seems to care little about Raven's wife being a Drow. "May I ask why Sunhaven was chosen as your new home?"

[dauphinous]

As she and Taros are greeted, Cara looks Raven over appraisingly from head to toe, but then she gives him a mildly confused second look. There is something familiar about his voice, but she just doesn't remember him at all, so she shakes her head a little and smiles cheerfully. "You've improved this place immeasurably," she offers pleasantly. Simply being here is more than enough for that to be true.

She nods to greet Illanee and sits with Taros, letting his arm go to do so. Her smile fades into something a little less bright as Illanee reveals herself and her child. There is just something about this place that seems to require the inhabitants to lie to me in one way or another. Cara gives a light sigh, but she smiles brightly again as Illanee finishes. "I've heard of Eilistraee. It is a joy to meet you and have you here among us."

[kariokie]

Cassy inclines her head a little when Raven greets them, looking at the large man, but it's not until his wife reveals that she's a drow that Cassy actually remembers who he is. Why would a ninja invite us to dinner? Cassy asks herself, before delving into the more important question, Why do I think he's a ninja? Then, finally, her mind latches onto what should have been her first thought, Oh, she's a drow. Then, of course, her mind takes the typical left turn: Hot.

Shaking off her normal fascination with anyone dangerous, her eyes slide sideways and up to take in Cara's expression. Her friend had only once encountered a drow as far as Cassy could recall, and that one time had left her… out of sorts. She seemed fine, though.

Cassy takes a seat, sliding into a plush chair. It's clear from his wife's little speech that Raven intends to become involved with their do-gooding, no matter what "howdy neighbor!" pretense the dinner invitation was actually extended under. She doesn't have a particular problem with that, so long as the man kept out of her business. Sitting back in her seat, Cassy crosses one leg over the other under her velvet robes and leans her staff against the arm of the chair, waiting to see what happens next.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros frowns when the illusion is dismissed. He states, "M'lady, good sir, such duplicity is unnecessary here. We judge by actions, not by the color of one's skin. Welcome to Sunhaven."

Turning to the man Raven, he nods, sizing him up. "Why do you seek us out? I must say, we would welcome a brother in arms to aid us in our fights, but you have a family here; a wife. Is this what you want."

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

"We came here to establish a new life for our family. Which we've done. But something so worth having must be defended and protected. Sometimes you must seek out the threats to that happiness, or you find it one day on your doorstep.

As my wife says, I am on a path, one that requires me to get out there and actively seek my destiny. Tales of your recent adventures have been told and retold since you arrived. I assume that you will be heading out on some similar mission soon. I'd like to join you."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros cross to the man, offering his hand. "Welcome, then. As I said, we welcome any brothers-in-arms in our fight. It seems your destiny and ours lies along the same path."

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven clasps Taros' hand with a smile. It was a fitting beginning, especially for here in Sunhaven. In the shadows of the mountain where he grew up, or under them with Illanee's people, things seemed far less forthright, even among the good folk. He liked that about this place; he suspected he would like this man for much the same reason. And his deeds at Thesnick the slavers compound were impressive, too, if the tales were to be believed.

[dauphinous]

If Taros feels that this Raven can be taken at face value, Cara has no reason to object to it. Well, no good reasons, anyway. "The entire purpose of Sunhaven is to act as a refuge. We welcome those who need such a thing, along with those who would pledge to defend it. But enough of this boring stuff. Cassy will fall asleep in her chair if we keep talking about oaths and such things. We do, indeed, plan to 'do something' in the near future."

[kariokie]

"Hey, who said Raven gets to join the club just because Taros said he could?" As always, it didn't matter to Cassy until she was not asked for her opinion. The second that happens, though, she's up in arms and objecting on principle, sitting up in her chair and jabbing her finger at Cara and Taros. "This isn't a Taros-and-Cara-opoly. I have opinions too. And I bet Anthony has one or two as well."

[dauphinous]

Cara almost smirks. Almost. Cassy is serious, and smirking at her isn't the right thing to do. "I didn't think we'd gotten to the part where we give out the secret club handshake yet." Sounding a trifle shocked and dismayed, she looks over at Taros and gazes at his suspiciously for a moment. "Taros, you didn't do that just now without Cassy's permission, did you?" She winks at Taros, just enough to get the message across without letting Cassy see it.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros blinks once, twice, before catching on. "Oh, oh, right. I thought you said it was alright. That other night, didn't you mention we needed more ninjas? And I figured Anthony would let us know if he saw anything dire of the man."

Smiling, now, he asks, "Say, isn't that a new staff?"

[kariokie]

There were two choices. Either Cassy could let herself see that Cara and Taros were putting her on – and didn't realize that actually infringing on her freedom and right to make decisions about a group she's a part of was a serious affair, even if it's something she didn't care about until just then and probably wouldn't care about in five minutes.

Or she could just pretend it didn't happen.

Cassy had spent the time since they'd returned from the desert reflecting on a lot of things, and strangely as she looked at herself more, she began to understand other people. A little, at least. So, while she didn't know exactly what was going on, she knew she wasn't being taken seriously.

However, that didn't feel very good to think about. So she does what she does best: she pretends something unpleasant just didn't happen.

"Yeah. It's a new staff," she says, leaning back in her seat.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

"It's quite striking," Raven says oblivious to the pun or very good at deadpan humor. He seems somewhat unnerved by the interpersonal conflict, however, subtly portrayed.

"But now that you have all arrived, why don't we sit down to dinner. There are few things more comforting than a warm meal and a bottle of fine wine." He addresses Cassy, who was obviously upset about something, and the quiet one who was apparently evaluating him silently for anything untoward, "please come, and ask me anything you'd like to establish my bona fides, personal or professional. If, after this evening, any of you wish me not to join. I will retract my offer."

He looks forlorn for a moment. "I have had quite enough of seeing friends at odds and small differences become big ones. I'd want no part of interfering with what is obviously a close and powerful alliance of friends."

With that he ushers you in to dinner where the conversation can continue. The dining hall is quite nice, tastefully decorated. Many of the finest things are of drow design.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Inwardly, Taros sighs. What he had thought had been a fairly straightforward transaction of welcoming a new ally - who seemed to raise no flags of danger other than his odd choice in mates - had the potential to turn into something...difficult.

The here and now was likely the worst place to show team disunion: when in the room of a new, potential ally. But then, Anthony and Cassy were just the types to go against unity at the worst possible time. Didn't Cassy know that of course her opinion mattered? That if she said the man smelled funny, it was enough for them to think twice?

He started to blame it on her youth, this petulant attitude. But that wasn't fair: she was at least 20 now, and had faced far more horrors than perhaps even he had. Her first outburst he had taken for Cassy's typical irascible humor, but her sullen surrender seemed to bely something else.

Anthony was the wildcard in the situation. The pair of them were as unpredictable as a rabid fox. Anthony could side with welcoming the man, or he could take Cassy's stance and turn the thing into a drama-fest.

Their host however deftly works to defuse the situation, and provides the opening, "Young Cassy has the right of it here. We are a team, first and foremost. We look out for one another."

Following their host to the table, Taros continues, "As a group, we have to work together. Have you experience in group combat? You seem to know quite a lot about us; perhaps you would regale us with some of your own tales? For example: how did you and your wife come to meet?" Taros offers the woman a nod and smile, only briefly taking his eyes off of Raven.

[dauphinous]

Cara stands up and offers Cassy a hand. She ahs to say something. Despite her ability to sway people to the banner of Pelor, she always seems to stick her foot in it with Cassy at odd times. Her sense of timing is poor, perhaps. "Oh, Cassy," she says quietly, "I'm only joking. It happens sometimes, remember? I should leave that to you. You're much better at it."

[kariokie]

Cassy looks at Raven with a dislike that wasn't there a few minutes ago. Skepticism had always been present, of course, but she was skeptical about almost everyone. That was due caution in a world of people who tried to hurt her, not outright dislike. But if Taros and Cara were going to tease her, then somehow it was his fault, too, so she didn't like him. Just because. Holding her staff, she crosses the other arm over her chest where she sits, a defensive posture against a room full of enemies.

Then Cara offers her hand. For a long moment she looks at it doubtfully. "It's okay. Just don't do it again." Cassy seems not to feel the need to explain what "it" is, and after a moment of a very stern expression, she smiles and takes Cara's hand, rising from her seat. "Leave the jokes to the professionals." She points her staff at herself, "Wisecracking sidekick," then she points the staff at Cara, "Humorless hero. Got it?" It doesn’t address anything – how lonely or out of place she feels in this town in the middle of nowhere, how her magic frightens her, how she can never go back to the cities she loves, how she can never manage to get Cara to talk to her anymore because she's busy being holy. But an implied apology born of confusion is good enough, and good enough is what Cassy is always smart enough to take.

Her entire demeanor changes, because it has to or else she knows she could destroy this entire room with her will, demolish everyone's personality with her own. She follows the others into the dining room and takes her seat. Flipping on a winning smile like turning on a light, she says to Raven, "Yes, tell us a story."

[BlueWizard]

Illanee speaks up, "Let me explain, I meant no harm in hiding, and it was at the advice of your queen's wizards. There is a lot of tension with the Northern drow, and paranoia even among good men. They have told me there is an unsteady truce, but the wizards think the drow of Lolth are still up to no good here in the Finn mountains."

She smiles looking at Raven as dinner in a large hall is set-up, she remains in drow-form as the servants come about, none of them bothered by her appearance. "I developed a dislike for the underground a long time ago. Don't worry no mushroom, fungoid meals here. I am strictly on human diets, after years on the surface I lost my taste for my people's dank fare. It was about that time I was thinking there was no good in surface Man, when I met Raven in my wanderings. We went about the kingdom of Zhe some, but we also visited a few of the other human kingdoms about the empire. We saw many sites, and had a few adventures. Upon returning 'home' to the kingdom of Zhe we got involved in a priestly chase for artifacts in Zhe. That was a sticky business with the Guild, they have their fingers all over the Asgardian churches. I had thought Raven and I might like going back to the old Underdark, but it isn't the same. Living in one city can't match the diversity of the world. When legends of the Northern borders opening up came to us, we had to come. Here the leaders won't attempt to use their powers over you.
Raven and I married at my mother's city, and she married us, under the dancing goddess."

The meal is delicious, and Illanee hired some of the local vendors to cook up the best a local meal could provide, from steaks, to fine breads, and even fresh vegetables from the Els' garden.

[kariokie]

Cassy knows what she would have said just a year ago. So, your name is Raven, too, then? She holds her tongue, though, knowing that the comment on Illanee jumping in would be taken as an insult. Which it probably was, but a harmless one on the scale of insults Cassy was likely to offer over a dinner where she didn't feel at ease.

Frankly, Cassy didn't care much about if the man knew about fighting, or how he met his wife. All she cared about was if he would hurt her (or her friends) or not, and if he'd keep his nose out of her business or not. Breaking in Taros was enough of a pain – in the first few days the paladin had accused her of wrong-doing (and she damn well knew she was doing wrong but there was no right answer) and tried to boss her around (without knowing anything about her powers). It had been easier with Anthony – he was paid to not piss her off, at least to start, and had done a pretty good job of it. And Cara usually had the good sense to leave Cassy be – if she didn't, a good swift kick in the ass worked well.

But here was someone new. New was bad, as far as Cassy was concerned, at least as far as people went. New meant danger. Better to go straight at it, then. Cassy's impulsive behavior hid a keen, manipulative mind that had managed to survive (for a time) in a noble world where her parents were nothing but jokes (if they were known at all). She'd learned at least one important thing: always go for the weak spots. Poke the wounds and see what they do. "What did you mean by seeing 'friends at differences', Raven?" She could be discussing the weather for all the weight she puts on the words, and her manner is completely serene compared to just a few minutes before. Her eyes, though, watch Raven carefully, a simple question in them: Are you a threat?

[dauphinous]

"Got it." Cara nods and wipes the grin off her face. "Humorless, check." She follows Cassy in to sit down at takes a seat next to Taros. As she watches Cassy, though, it occurs to her that it's been a while since they talked. About much of anything, really. They seem to be more like a pair of chickens that happen to be living in the same coop, but are too busy eating and laying eggs to actually spend any time just clucking. And it's Cara's fault.

That realization makes her frown a little, but she covers it up with a pleasant look of polite interest.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

"Ah, yes," his brow furrows as he takes his place at the table. He seems distinctly less comfortable at the head of the table then he was mingling in a group in the parlor. Or maybe it's the subject matter - or both. He somewhat nervously delivers the following; despite his charming nature thus far, he's clearly not a person accustomed to speaking a lot or about himself.

"I had traveled alone for a long time near the mountains of Zhe, just after a stint in the army. Though my martial skill was much appreciated by the army, my magical talents were looked on with great fear and suspicion. So the more the grew they more, the more I needed to be elsewhere to use them. So I set off on a walkabout, into the mountains alone. There, I met Illanee," he laughs lightly, "in a way that doesn't really recommend me as an ally."

He then tells a charming vignette about how he got trapped in a box canyon by a trio of unruly hill giants and was rescued by the lovely good drow princess who is now his wife. He makes himself entirely the helpless, bumbling sword-carrier of the tale and describes Illanee as bathed in light firing arrows like lightning while taunting and bedeviling the hill giants to get them off him.

"Then, as Illanee said, we traveled together for quite some time thoughout the surrounding area, and then into the underdark where her people live. There we met a group of people, as we were asked to join their quest to find certain artifacts before they fell into evil hands.

These were nice enough people, doing their jobs, but it was a rocky meeting at first - as many first meetings with new folk are. But over the course of our adventures, I considered them friends - my first friends really since I had gone on walkabout, and more friends all at once that I had had altogether through the rest of my life. We risked our lives for each other.

He pauses briefly to look at his guests, figuring they would understand all that he meant by this last comment.

But events conspired to change these people - 'power reveals the true person' they say. Little disagreements about what best to do with the artifacts we'd retrieved blossomed into a greater rift about whose benefit we were acting for. It seems some of these friends were out only for their own benefit with little regard for the rest of us, or those they claimed to be helping. I am far from holy, though I did once wield the Hammer of Thor and speak with Him, but I try to do what is right.

I'd rather not get into the details, but things got worse. There was one man who was turned into a wraith, and though he was changed back he retained many dark aspects. Another involved herself willfully in sexual congress with a demon - as part of some foul bargain to make a powerful child. Other things, too. Though I'll not describe the horrors I endured at their whim.

Everyone must follow their own path, I believe, and if that is where their path leads them, so be it. I tried to change their minds. I checked to see if they were being influenced by magic. But beyond that, each person's fate is their own.

I set out on a different path; one that brought me here to start over. I'll have no part in coming between friends, as I have lost all mine."

Raven's emerald eyes gleam from welling tears that do not fall. He swallows hard. That someone might not accept him was fine, it had been that way with him since he was a boy, cast out on the streets for having sorcerous powers. But losing those he considered friends obviously meant a great deal to the man.

[BlueWizard]

Illanee is silent and a little sad, she closes her eyes to block tears, "Yes, we did lose many friends there... some to death, and others to well, as you said, Raven..."

She looks at Cara, "Now that I am officially outed as a princess... I must say, I did give that title up." She gives her husband a long look and grin, to return a little lightness to the table. She then looks more serious to Cara again, "Powerful artifacts are being sought the world over, and are being used for evil. Raven freed Thor's hammer from evil's grasp. Few will ever know of this, but it is because this must be kept secret. We had to wrest it from an evil human noble living in the underdark to get it. The powerful artifact is now safe with your Northern dwarves, but the danger from the other artifacts being in evil hands is still there. Lord Devos had killed many with the artifact of good. He met an unfortunate end."

OOC- Cassy will recall this minor noble, from a once great family line. She probably encountered the handsome older gentleman at one of the elder Vito's lavish parties. Devos' death would give Cassy no sad feelings.

Edit:
"I say this because... my mother informed me that there may be evil using artifacts in the North, to disguise themselves under the great protective sphere of the North. I told the wizards and even our friend, princess Aswynn, but the wizards are too busy and Aswynn is one girl... now obligated to her father the King."

{OOC- The Orc-slayers may be acquainted with Aswynn, but only in brief passing as one of Queen Allanna's daughters.}

[dauphinous]

Cara blinks several times. Whatever she expected to hear, this certainly was not it. She nods to Illanee, then looks back to Raven. She'd like very much to offer to him that she's there for anyone who wants to talk, but that applies to everyone, and she hasn't been taking the time for it lately. Her gaze finally settles back on Cassy. That has to change.

The open book that is Cara offers up to Cassy the guilt she feels. For taking this parcel of land, when they could have all just put their homes on the land James now manages. For letting herself get caught up with the whole 'in charge' thing. For dragging Cassy into all of this in the first place. For losing sight of what she already has. Not to make Cassy feel bad about it, but to show that she knows. All it took was some stranger telling a story of how it can all go horribly wrong.

[BlueWizard]

The dinner can go as long as you please, and Illanee will even offer a sunset tour of the lands. She will wear a hood, and cover her face when in the open, if this path is taken. "You never know who is watching outside."

She would love to show you the environmental changes made, and introduce new druids to Cara. Many druids seek groves to care for, and with a surplus of druids in the North there was less open grove for them to care for. Many just lived in communities or with other forest folk.

There is also a small community of wealthier land owners in this region of the county of Sunhaven.

[kariokie]

"Hrnn." That's all she really says to Raven in response to his story. The fact that it's a simple reaction, rather than a witty barb or another flat-toned question, speaks volumes. Cassy's buying whatever he's selling. She's fooled often – she was called Cassara the Unwise for good reason, after all – but if she's being fooled about Raven it's at least a clever trick. And it's always less embarrassing to fall prey to a clever trick.

She takes a sip of her wine, eyes moving from Raven to Cara. Her friend was trying to communicate something. Cassy wasn't sure exactly what, but she'd seen that look on Cara's face before. When she'd tried to command her to shore and Cassy had rebelled. That pained look when Cara realized who Helena was. When Cara stopped humming.

Her right hand goes up and Cassy nearly starts to chew on the knuckle of her thumb, a childish habit no expensive robes nor mind-bendingly powerful staff could break her of. She pulls the hand away, placing it flat on the table. "Fine. You can show him the secret handshake so's far as I'm concerned. But he doesn't get the secret knock yet." It's the only gift she can offer Cara. Shutting up and playing nice while she tries to figure out what's made Cara stop humming.

[BlueWizard]

Illanee will smirk when this is said, "I can even leave the room. Though there are usually no secrets between Raven and I. I think Raven will like you Cassy." She smirks.
Illanee will leave to go attend to house things, if Raven would like to be alone with the group. This could easily be done out on the estate or in the mansion.

In the world: {as the month passes...}
There is war all over the empire as many of its kingdoms are falling into Civil War. Only the central part of the empire had stability, and not many in the North wanted to be involved. Many good priests of Bahamut, saw it all as punishment for the empire's hubris and debauchery.

There were many young Northern lads and ladies who were running off to the Secret Alliance and the elves of the forest as word of the Fist spreads like a wildfire.

Raven won't know the source of the Fist, but will see it as a more proactive arm of the Alliance. More and more people were going to fight the good fight in Kandor. The people there really had no-one, only warring city-kings, now exploiting the chaos for power-grabs.

Greta's brother-in-law Karl Skaar is long gone by this time. Disappearing the elves say somewhere at Port Carmen. {Not dead, just out of visual contact. Greta's last Sending scroll says he's alive.}

The Kingdom of Zhe had long been in Civil War, but this was such a distant war from where you've been in the last year. Even as some people protested the imperial wars, more 'heroes' felt called.

The lines of war were vague in the empire. In one kingdom, you might actually be rooting for the imperial support; in others it is the rebel group that is wanted. In Kandor, there really was no good choice. Even if King Omar was killed, one of the lesser city-kings of this foul evil land would take his place.

Many youths in the North felt that it was time to reclaim the old land of the Northern ancestors.
{OOC- Legends of yore and maybe two thousand years, say the Northerners came from the land that is now called Kandor.}

Winter Festivals:
There is a public gathering for the more festive folk, but most of this holiday is indoor with friends and family. The group will see each other some.
Raven and Illanee may be busy with their own estate, and the many people there.

Anthony will actually get to visit the folks new county in the mountains. They have a fine modern tower with observatory.

Cara's family in 2 days may seem like a year for some.

Taros will get a surprise message from his sister, who somehow tracked him down with priests. In her sending she asks if she can visit. Though since Taros is in the North her wizard-porter and her would need also to purchase Visa's from the Queen to properly enter magical teleport zones of the north.
The sister can meet Cara and family {to make this go easily}, she just wants to speak with Taros in person. Tirrana does get Winter Break, and has no family in the empire.

Cassy will have plenty alone time for her projects, with eager people trying to stay out of her way. This year Cassy will realize it has been a long time since she got one of those unanswered Sending from her folks. Often they would try to cajol her into revealing where she was. Especially when it became known she was alive. But, now that stopped, and had stopped actually since the Spring Fest.

OOC- Feel free to explore the conversation in at the Els'. I just left it open for you guys to control the time in this month.

[Idiotbox90]

Let's see, what shall we do? Side with Cassy and cause trouble? Side with the couple? Choices, choices

Remaining silent, the warlock listens to Raven's speech.

Sexual congress? That's pretty funny. Disgusting, but funny. Anyway, what was he saying? Power reveals a person's true nature? Whatever.

"If he wishes to join this little group without a name, I won't complain. I won't seriously complain, I mean. I might gripe in order to amuse myself. However, he's yet to tell us about how he killed a dragon in one blow. Or, what he means by his magical talents. Actually, there's a lot about him we don't know. Why don't we find out?"

Anthony nods his head toward Raven. The warlock has yet to make up his mind about Raven, but does not dislike him. He merely wants to learn more.

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven considers where to begin in explaining his magical powers. After a brief moment, he begins. "My father was an angry, petty drunkard, who didn't treat my mother very well. When I was less than ten years, I stood up to him - yelling and waving my hands in his face as I commanded him to stop. Apparently, I did some manner of magic, because he did stop. Then he called me a demon and threatened to turn me in to the church. - I was born in a very suspicious, backwards part of Zhe. To avoid that, my mother sent me away to join the army. That very night she sent me out. There, I explored what magic I could do, mostly by trying things, willing things, and seeing what I could will to happen. But the things I willed were hidden, you see. Things like striking more true or imbuing my blade or jumping farther. As I grew more powerful, the things I could do were more showy. And when you can do something to defeat and enemy or save an ally in battle, you do it, so I began to do more showy things, because they had to be done. While the army was more tolerant than my father, it wasn't a place for being a magician. While I wasn't run out, I left before it became an issue. That is where this tale leads into my walkabout, I mentioned before.

What can I do now? Jump high. Climb like a spider. Various things that help me strike truer or harder. Oh, and several protective things, by the grace of Thor. I'd be happy to explain more, or demonstrate. If the tales of your adventures are even half true, my magic is far less than yours - any of yours, but it aids me in what I do."

Raven smiles at the mention of the dragon-killing. This was a story he had told more times than he could count; it was the thing people always wanted to hear about. Again, with only a bit of nervousness in his voice, he begins what seems to be a very practiced tale.

"I should tell you about the dragon, as everyone always asks about that.

We had turned over the Hammer of Thor to a very old, incredibly powerful dwarven priest from the north, and had been sent out to find another artifact called "The Eye." We found ourselves on a mountaintop with a strange but not harmful mist pooling about our feet. As we considered it, we were beset upon by a pink dragon carrying a pink-clad woman warrior. This would have been amusing, I think, except that the dragon was flying in fast and breathed great gouts of painfully hot steam. Still, a pink dragon?

We beat them off by charming the rider using another artifact in our hands, the Mirror of Freya. The dragon bore her off into the sky, but not before we learned who she was. The daughter of Lord Devos, who Illanee mentioned before. Lord Devos was the noble cur who we found in possession of the Hammer of Thor. I had beheaded him with a single blow, and she had sworn revenge. I yelled taunts at her as she fled into the sky, but she was not able to convince the dragon to return to finish me. She had already finished poor Redgar by then, though.

Later, as we sought the eye beneath the earth, we came upon the dragon in a large cavern. We fell back, but it followed us, suprisingly nimble within the caves. She cooked one of our allies with her steamy breath. Valimar. My allies took up sniping positions and threw spells and missiles that deflected off the dragon's scaly hide. I lept directly into the face of the dragon and my greatsword cut a huge gash across her vain face. She howled, and I knew I had become her main target. At the end of my leap, I stood right next to her head; I could have reached out an touched it with my blade. As soon as I had my footing, I lept again, this time directly over her head, from the left side to the right, as I did, I brought my blade down with all my might into her neck. And, as luck would have it, cleaved her head clean off.

That tale about defeating a dragon with a single blow is of course an exaggeration." He grins a wry grin. "I hit her twice."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros listens to Raven's tales with interest. Raven's accounting of his time as a mercenary was not surprising: most men-at-arms were superstitious men, and any hint of sorcery or spellcraft would be sure to put them on edge.

The man's telling of the defeat of the dragon was impressive. He believed the man was no braggadocio, and Taros had been around more than his fair share of dragons. Even the smallest were a force unto themselves to be reckoned with, and this sounded like a powerful example. Even if it was pink.

As the man finishes his tale, Taros thumps the table with his fist. "That's a fine tale, and a fine battle."

---

Taros of course desires very much to see his sister, whom he has not laid eyes upon in almost half a decade. He does what he can to insure the proper paper work is filed, and the visas are issued, attending to every detail to the annoyance of most anyone involved.

[kariokie]

"I- we- saw a pink dragon once. Remember, Cara? Some stupid bitchy woman came to kill that captain with the wandering hands on the ship before we freed that village. Personally, I thought the dragon was lame. Who makes a pink dragon? So I guess it's good you killed one." Cassy realizes she's slipped up in two different ways – offering information and letting her speech get too informal. Both were weapons she had basically just handed other people at the table, and at a noble dinner she would have suffered the rest of the night for it. Her stomach drops a little at the memory.

The man didn't seem interested in looking for weapons, though, just for allies. She pushes the food around her plate, eating little as always. Some stories about a tough childhood wouldn't make Cassy trust him. She'd had her fair share of knocks, and known worse stories than hers. Usually the people who'd suffered just turned out nasty, doing the same bad things to others that had been done to them. Cassy certainly had been… anyhow. Stories about chopping up a dragon wouldn’t impress her, either, except that at least he had the good sense to kill an ugly dragon.

There was little Raven could accomplish at this dinner with Cassy aside from not make mistakes, and he was doing that as best as anyone could. Trust came with time – or not at all.

[Idiotbox90]

"I once helped kill a dragon. That was during the assignment I had before I was ordered to protect Cassy. Mine was red, not pink." Anthony shakes his head. "Why would someone breed a pink dragon? That sounds like a little girl's fantasy. Did it by any chance have feathered wings and a horn?"

Raven seems like an alright fellow to Anthony, although he wishes that Taros use his gaze on the newcomer. The warlock has no intention of placing his trust in the man, but he will certainly allow him to risk his life fighting evil alongside the group.

[dauphinous]

The mild surprise Cara feels at the mention of anything surrounding that event failed to include mention of the ship is shown clearly on her face. She turns that into a soft smile, though. "I do remember that dragon, yes. The one we saw did not have feathery wings, nor did it have a 'cute' look about it in the slightest. It would be nice to think that was the same dragon, as the one we saw surely deserved to have its head removed. As did its rider."

I just want to say at some point here that Cara isn't looking for a Ra-pyramid, and vetoes that idea flat.

[BlueWizard]

At the Els'
Taros sensed no evil at all since he entered the old Ocamally estate. This was a major change from much of the staff that worked here before.
Taros and Cara would recognize tastefully nude art of Eilistraee the goddess of dance. Which to Cassy and Anthony looks like semi-precious statues of a beautiful human or elven dancing girl artfully in many forms about the home, with other more manly styles in some regions of the home and estate.
{OOC- Here's where I allow Raven to put in his flair. :smallcool: }

This art is nice, and priceless. Wedding gifts and heirlooms of Illanee, they are nothing like the lewd art you have all seen in the empire with its nobles.

Winter Festivities:
Winter is when trouble will begin to happen in the land. James' soldiers were hoping for some time with the family. But, almost as if the goblins and bandits had it planned, more battles are being reported.
Mostly: slaughtered patrols, and destroyed bandit camps.
The caves of the goblins and hideouts of the bandits, are ever-movable, and James' men will find they need reinforcements to keep up patrols.

So far citizens of Sunhaven have been safe, but a few local merchants have lost their lives and livelihood. Most of the attacks are in Jamestown, a few Havenites have wandered too far to the Jamestown villages for trade and disappeared into the hills.

This is what was alarming General James, and now his troops had kingdom support, so this also will slowly increase the wealth and population of Sunhaven, as soldiers found their love for good country livin'.

The county of Sunhaven felt safe with their local heroes, and the nearby threat seemed far away. The military and wizard power of the North was famed, and they currently fought to keep the citizens safe.
At the same time, peaceful goblin communities are not discriminated against... usually, but it gets confusing in their chaotic dens. The biggest goblin city was Goblinden far away in the Northern {Finn} Mountains... though most folk don't know even about this place. It would scare them too much.

What this all amounts to is mostly property maintenance, as well as a growing influx of Galorites.
Alliance rumors say the fire empress and her wizard army burned most of the Galorites. Topping her Yuanese death toll by a factor of ten. Estimates say a million died, with all Rebel bases in the sea city being burnt to ash.

Many Galorite-refugees will be slowly galvanizing the Northern populous to join the Alliance, but this is a slow process. Galorites are a mixed people, with a Multi-European look to them. Many have light eyes with brownish hair.

The Secret in the Secret Aliiance is pretty much long been dropped by all outside the empire. Outside the empire the Alliance is a major fact known by many. In the empire it seeks to control all information, so it will likely seek to oppress the Fist, once Kandor is contained.

There is no structure to the Alliance, only people fleeing to the elven forests for answers, or funding their own 'privateering' effort. In Kandor there were underground militia forces, but no official state or even fortress.
The militia men are usually wronged imperials. Only in the outer kingdoms are rebel militias even able to exist.
In the central imperial continent isles the empress' wizard armies stop them before they begin. Apparently, she sought the same answer with all of New Galorine and its residents.

Taros' Sis:
Tirrana is out for a little time in the Winter solstice, so timing-wise it will likely coincide with Cara's visit to the folks. I am sure Taros' will be a part of this. Tirrana won't have time to stay more than a few hours, she is paying a visa-wizard.
{OOC- I thought it might be interesting to introduce her to Cara as well. :smallcool:}

The Ra priests will sigh, and be disappointed, and ask if they might in any way take part in the city. If not associated with Pelor, they would like to petition for a Ra temple of their own. A few local nature and good god shrines have already found a home about the county, but it is Pelor's laws that are themed in all 4 forming townships.

Pink Dragons:
Cassy would know enough to tell that the pink dragon she saw was a male, the rider could've been a strong woman.
Raven and Illanee will find that their dragon was female, and much smaller than the older even 'meaner looking dragon' {Cassy might say}
that Cassy and Cara saw.

{Roland: Hey, nice recap, by the way.:smallsmile: }

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

After a brief lull from meaningful talk, as dinner progresses, Raven asks, "so I believe you mentioned that you are already planning something new?"


[OOC: Thanks. I tried to make all the exposition/recap at least somewhat interesting. :smallamused: ]

[dauphinous]

There's no logical reason to reject Raven's interest in their plans, or to keep him outside their - for lack of a better term - circle. But Cara does it anyway. For now. "What an unpleasant topic of discussion to pursue over such a fine meal. We do have some plans in formation, but I think it would be best served as a full meal rather than an appetizer. We should have an actual strategy discussion for that, which is hardly becoming at a time like this. Suffice to say for now that we intend to continue in our pursuit to leech away the poisonous wounds that infect our world. A daunting task to digest, best done in small bites." She pauses to sip the wine, choosing to actually taste it tonight rather than indulge.

"Stop by the temple sometime next week, a much more proper location for such a thing. I will instruct my keepers," she smirks at her use of this term, "to not give you a hard time."

[Idiotbox90]

After the meeting with Raven, the warlock leaves to see McEwan, the vintner who Anthony has business connections with. He is interested in seeing how his investment is prospering. Friendly with few people, Anthony seems fond of McEwan. Anyone willing to ask a warlock for a loan has to be either crazy or brave, he believes. Both are qualities that Anthony admires.

"So, how's business?"

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven smiles at the rebuff, he had sort of expected it. But as she had mentioned it, he thought he should inquire. This was already more parlay than he was used to, though he'd be more verbose since coming to the North. Something in the air? Or part of the gift? He brushes a hand across his chest briefly.

He finishes his meal in the tone his guests prefer. If that is light conversation about the weather, land, and folk, so be it. They were pleasant enough topics around here. After dinner, Raven walks them to the edge of the estate, "thank you for gracing our new home with your presence. I look forward to speaking with you all again."

[dauphinous]

Cara is polite and pleasant through the meal and expresses her invitation to her temple again as they leave. She turns to Cassy once they are far enough away to not be heard by anyone at the estate. "Cassy, when can I stop by tomorrow? Any time is fine. I'll clear whatever I have to clear."

*****

Cara gives the priest of Ra a stern near-glare. In her fullplate at the time (without helm and shield, though), she glows a bit, a gentle reminder mostly to herself to not punch the guy in the face. Not without a good reason, anyway. The armor isn't exactly comfortable, but getting Taros to help put it on and take it back off is certainly a nice way to start and end the day.

In an effort to make the Ra-priest as uncomfortable as possible, Cara insists upon speaking with him at the altar in the center of her glowing dome, not long after services, so some of the other priests are around, along with anyone else who wants to talk to her.

"The priesthood of Ra is a fair sized part of why I am not a priest of Ra. This place is called Sunhaven, not Suncorruption. If you want to move here, fine. I do not turn people away just because I disagree with their religious beliefs. I do, however, hold the right to decide what temples get built and where. No pyramids. No enclaves, no communes, no whatever else you want to call them. This is a place for people to get away from the kind of crap that made the church of Ra a vile, contemptible tool of darkness that tried to make everyone believe it was light. You want to worship quietly here? Fine, do it. You want to build a temple here? Absolutely not."

[kariokie]

Cassy remains quiet throughout the rest of dinner, sometimes adding a little bit of information, but otherwise not speaking unless directly addressed. She just watches the others for a while, then eventually loses track of the conversation and just watches the wine swirl around in her wine glass before she drinks it.

She seems surprised by Cara's question when they leave. It had been a while since her friend had sought her out. "Huh-what? Oh, I guess afternoon. Whenever works for you. Morning is, you know. Not that good." Cassy brightens a little. "I can show you what I've been working on."

* * *

Cassy returns "home" to her room in the inn. It hadn't occurred to her to find a better place to live, partially because she had no idea how someone set about getting a better place to live. Inns were easy – you gave people money, and you had a place to stay. Anything more permanent was completely foreign – really, owning anything she couldn't throw in her haversack or wear was confusing.

What Cassy could fit in a haversack might astound some, though. The floors and every other flat surface are covered with books, beakers, vials, papers, dresses, scrolls, jewelry, and an odd assortment of "adventuring tools": a crowbar, a ball of twine, bells, a whistle, caltrops, and other bits of metal, rope and string. If Chulyen was Cassy-sized, this is probably how he would keep his nest.

The window is open, letting in cold air, but she leaves it open a few more minutes until Chulyen returns, landing on the sill and then hopping on to her crowded desk. "Chulyen here, yes, yes." She waves her hand and the window shuts behind him. Shoving aside some items on her bed to make enough room for herself, she climbs onto it, pulling some of the covers free and over herself. Chulyen flaps and hops his way to the bed, landing on the headboard. He looks straight down at her, tilting his head back and forth, looking at her with his beady eyes.

"Tell me a story, Chulyen," her voice is quiet and full of sleep.

"Yes, yes. Chulyen has good story, yes. Once upon a time – you like stories that begin like that, yes, yes – once upon a time, Chulyen say, then. Once upon a time there was a giant who…" And that's all Cassy hears before she falls asleep. Exhausted by something – she has no idea what – she does not wake until the next day when Cara comes to find her.

[dauphinous]

Cara stops by the inn to see Cassy in a pretty good mood. She's decked out in her armor, because if she stays long enough, she'll have to go straight to the evening services. Which would be perfectly fine, as far as she's concerned. All these stupid little details are starting to get annoying. Every time she finds one of her flock who is well suited to a task she isn't, another one seems to pop up. And the emergencies, and the people who will only talk to her, and on and on. I need a clone.

It is after lunch that she knocks on Cassy's door. She takes one look inside the room, stuffed and homey despite the actual impermanence of it, and grins. She could offer Cassy the 'if you're busy...' out, but she instead says, "Sorry about the armor. Petitioners. Makes them more in awe of my glorious self. They shut up faster."

[kariokie]

Cassy's still asleep when Cara knocks and it takes her a moment to open the door and let her friend inside. During that time Cara can hear, in order: an alarmed yelp, an equally alarmed squawk, a crash, several thumps, the sound of a tall stack of paper sliding off a surface, a window opening, another alarmed squawk, a window slamming shut, and then another yelp as Cassy stubs her toe on her way to the door.

Finally, a bleary-eyed and rumpled-looking Cassy finally opens the door and invites Cara inside. An indignant Chulyen hops outside the window for a few seconds before ruffling his feathers in irritation and flying off.

"I could make you bigger. A twelve foot tall Cara would prolly be extra glorious." Cassy climbs back on to her bed and motions at a chair for Cara to sit in. Realizing it's filled with books and papers, she waves her hand, intending to merely have her magic shove the items to the already-messy floor.

Instead, the books fly straight up, crashing into the ceiling with enough force to splinter it. Just as quickly they rain back down into the chair. The papers scatter to the far ends of the room and slowly flutter to the ground. Cassy watches all of this, a little out of sorts. "Huh."

[dauphinous]

Cara watches the books go up and back down like a cat would: her head moves instead of her eyes. Then she turns to look at Cassy with her head tilted a little to one side. "I'm sorry to have woken you. Are you..." She leaves the pause hanging there like she isn't sure exactly what she wants to ask, before she finishes it with, "okay?"

[kariokie]

"I needed to wake up. Better you do it than that creepy guy I turned into a monkey accidentally on purpose." Cassy draws her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her cheek on her robed knees. A mere thought sends a spell – this time in control – smoothing down her hair and removing the creases from her robe.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just... nevermind. It's not a big deal. Umm." She looks at Cara, at a loss about how actually to talk to her friend one-on-one when they're not planning to kill something, in the process of killing something, recovering from killing something, or celebrating killing something. It had been some time since they had actually spoken, and while Cassy could keep a lively conversation up with a rock, she still found herself without a clue how about what to speak about now. "How's, you know, Pelor doing?"

[dauphinous]

"Oh, you know, Light and all." Cara sits down in the chair and leans back in it. She purses her lips a little, trying to decide how to start this conversation. Because it has been a while since they really talked, and she's not sure what exactly is going on with Cassy anymore. She mostly came over to just to be here, to hang out, for lack of a better way to put it, but something seems more amiss than just a silly resentment about feeling out of the loop on decisions. She'd thought it was just Cassy being Cassy, but it feels like maybe it was a symptom of something else.

"I came over to say something, I think. I know all of this wasn't what you had in mind when I asked you to come help me check out a village that had been attacked. I'm not sure that I made the right choice taking this land. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Setting up a place for people who needed a home, that sort of thing, but it's a lot of work. Boring, mind-numbing work. I think I kind of got lost in it all. Lost sight of what's really important to me. I got some of it back by letting Taros move in with me, but that doesn't leave a whole lot of space for you. And I've never had a better friend than you, Cassy."

[kariokie]

Cassy tilts her head a little, placing her chin on her knees. "I never regretted going with you, you know. Well, no, that's, like, a total lie. I regretted it when the dragon bit me and when I ended up with boils all over my face and my eyes full of blood and when Tunia stabbed me and when you left me in Serapi's house and a bunch of other times, too. I'm still glad I went with you, though. I never would have done anything good. I can't make up for- anyhow, you know."

She chews her lip before continuing. "But, like, I can… okay, so you know how Pelor lets you kill bad guys and you're going to rip a hole in the universe to go home and all of that? But if you screw up, then he takes it away. You can't be bad and still do that stuff." Cassy lets go of her legs and instead sits cross-legged on the bed, looking at her friend. "I can be, though. I can do whatever I like, and I'm powerful enough to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it. And I wasn't a very nice person before, when I didn't have much power. So what am I going to do- I mean- If I-" Cassy shakes her head, unwilling to continue down that path.

She's talking quickly now, and can't really stop. Like rolling down a hill. "So, it's totally sucked that you've been not talking to me at all. I know all those people need your help and whatever, and they follow Pelor, so that's like bonus points for them. But they can't scare people to death. Or break someone's neck without even touching them. Or turn people into snails or fish or whatever I feel like. I can do whatever I want, and I don't really think I should be able to. And you were supposed to be around so I knew what to do."

[dauphinous]

The more Cassy talks, the more the armor feels like a lead weight. Like something she'd like to just shuck and be out of. In a way, it represents the problem. An impenetrable wall that people have to pry their way through to get to her. Cara takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "And I failed you. Yesterday and the day before, and the day before that. Not today, though. Not tomorrow. I promise. I'm ready to beat people if they don't give me more time away from all of it. I think I can cause minor bodily harm and still be okay." It might be a joke, but she isn't smiling. She seems dead serious.

She takes another look around and changes the subject. Sort of. "What do you want to do, Cassy? I mean, we go off once in a while and smite things that need to be smited. Smote. Smitten? Smattered? Anyway, but we come back and then...you live in an inn." Cara wracks her brain trying to think of something she knows Cassy could do, be good at, get fulfillment out of, and enjoy. She comes up completely blank, mostly because of the final requirement. "Is there anything you like to do that maybe would help other people out in some fashion? I don't mean going all sacrificial and do-gooder on me, just something that you could lend your expertise to and see how it makes a difference to other people. I help people because of what I get back from them, really. Satisfaction, joy, that warm fuzzy feeling, whatever you want to call it."

[kariokie]

That wasn't why Cassy helped people. She helped people because she hoped that somehow it would make up for what had happened before. She didn't really get to feel good about it, she just got to feel less bad. It didn't seem like something she could explain, though. Not to Cara, really.

She falls sideways on the bed, curled up, looking at Cara still. "I dunno. Other natural talents have been asking me to teach them. I don't think that's a good idea, though. I don't think I'd be good at it." She rolls onto her back and looks up at the ceiling. "I just wish I could be in a city. I wish all those stupid people weren't hunting me so I could, I dunno, open up an inn. Or just go to a lot of parties."

After a moment of looking wistfully up at the slightly splintered ceiling, she speaks again. "I'm tired of thinking. Want to go up on the roof and throw snowballs at people who walk by? Extra points if we hit Taros or Anthony."

[dauphinous]

It's frustrating to be in such a different place from someone you love. Cara frowns briefly, but loses it just as quickly. "Maybe you should try teaching one of them for a little while. Offer it as a trial sort of thing. Tell them that you're not sure it's what you want to do, but you're willing to try and see if it works out. Anyone who can't handle that will go away. And who knows, it might even be something you're very good at. You have away with people that I can't even fathom."

She stands up. "Snowball sniping sounds like a good time right about now."

[BlueWizard]

Faucet-McEwan Winery:
McEwan is an ambitious man, but farming is not his forte. The community around Oakfellow, which has now been absorbed into the greater central Sunhaven is where this man plies his skills.

Anthony will find McEwan has minor arcane abilities, and would be considered a modern chemist. McEwan had given up on the farming aspect, and instead went into buying. Even trading with neighboring counties to bring in a variety of grapes. He then sought to make the most amazing blends. All the wines are in barreling-process right now, and all of Anthony's money is all tied up, but Anthony can see progress with McEwan's greater vision.

McEwan had bought a sizable piece of land, and now had smaller farmers growing his own grapes, as well as developing a major center of Oenology, in Sunhaven's own backyard. Right now the wine-trade post was a little chaotic, as people from all over were wandering in trading with McEwan. This man mixing grapes and other flavorful fruits and berries was making a name for himself locally.

The wines will be ready in next summer. In time for the Summer wine taste test.

Temple of Pelor:
The priests of Ra will leave. Utterly shocked, and threaten to take this matter to King Finn.

Sturdy Oak:
The maid-staff of the Inn will quickly learn NEVER to come to Cassy's room to clean up. The tale of the monkey will quickly be the buzz of the entertainment hub of the county. And the monkey tale becomes bigger the farther you get away from Egbert the Innkeeper-owner.

If Cassy wants parties, the youths of the towns are always running off with a keg to some where in the woods. Unfortunately, the Northern Queen doesn't have daily Balls like the imperialists. Though Cassy will hear {through the grape-vine} that the Lady of Slaynor on the coast, has extravagant parties quite often, with all sorts of unusual folk showing up.

Tirrana:
When Taros sees his athletic dark hair and eyed sister, he can tell she is probably taller than most of the other wizard girls, and in her dark black dress-robe and heels looks Taros eye to eye. She looks ready to graduate to full wizard.
{OOC- This can happen in a place of your choosing.}
Where ever Tirrana appears with her wizard escort, she will first find and look for Taros, and size him up suspiciously with her intelligent brown eyes.
She will stride boldly up to Taros, with one arm outstretched and one might think she would be moving to hug him. This is not the case.
She will suddenly scowl and slap him firmly across the face, leaving her red palm mark on his face. She will do this in front of Cara, the congregation, or Cara's whole family depending on where she is.
"How dare you kill our parents! She suddenly comes alive with a hidden anger and poses strongly on her dress heels. She would be ready to wrestle Taros should he move to attack. Likely she could do no more magic right now than zap him with a cold ray, or flashing lights.

Els' Estate:
He will become aware of the many attempts the Alliance will make to recruit his eager young staff men. Many will run off to become heroes, and many of Raven's staff will become the hard-working wives of soldiers.



When you are ready.... No rush: :smallsmile:

The elves will meet you in secret. Likely they will send a wizard and you will be taken to the elven city for space transport and prep.

Your wizard contacts vary since Trillo's disappearance. And magical divination say he is either dead or not on the plane any more.

[kariokie]

She looks thoughtful -- well as thoughtful as Cassy can look while curled up on her bed surrounded by piles of random stuff, chewing on her lip. "Okay." There's not much indication of what "okay" means, but to Cassy it means that if Cara says she can do something, that she probably can do it but just hasn't been smart enough yet to realize she could. "Now let's go cause some trouble before you have to be all responsible again."

Cassy can't have a snowball fight like a normal person. She slaps her ring of featherfall on Cara, casts fly on both of them, and heads up to the roof. Using telekinesis, she launches snowballs astounding distances with deadly accuracy. Fortunately, she seems to know her own strength and the snowballs hit with minimal force.

The afternoon of talking to Cara and mucking about does wonders for Cassy's magic and her attitude. She still stays distant from most of the people in town, but most of the uncontrolled bursts of magic start to wane.

* * *

"Okay, I'll teach you stuff. But if I get sick of it, you have to go away. And if I'm not good at it, you have to go away. And I'm not teaching anyone anything before noon. And if you, like, use it for evil or to hurt people or whatever I'll turn you into a trout." Her offer to any who ask for teaching is hardly appealing, but Cassy does her best to help other people understand their talents. Sometimes it's a little misguided – like the time she thought people could learn to fly more quickly if they were dropped from heights (fortunately she always managed to catch her students before they hit the ground) – but other times it's surprisingly insightful about how natural talents develop their magic – like when she teaches her students all her best pickup lines to increase their confidence.

All in all, her teaching methods are unorthodox and probably highly distressing to any wizards who witness or hear of them. And that turns out to be Cassy's favorite part about teaching.

* * *

The low class parties of the town's youth hold no interest for Cassy, and she's still too concerned about her own safety after the events of the past year to travel too far from Sunhaven without friends. Instead she spends her time teaching, studying, and keeping up her end of the friendship with Cara. While she rarely goes in the temple, it's also rare that a day passes without her at least catching Cara for a few minutes, bending her ear with complaints, stories, ideas and jokes.

So, it's a happier, more controlled Cassy that meets the others with the elves when it comes time to start their mission.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

When his sister strikes him, Taros calmly rubs his face. Looking his sister in her eyes, he states, "Is that what they told you? Did they tell you how they had imprisoned our parents in a vile dungeon, visiting untold horrors on them? Did they tell you of the other prisoners they were torturing? Did they tell you of how we rescued our parents? They are alive, and well. I'm doing what I can to rebuild our family's honor and estates. What are you doing? Believing any and every lie they toss you? After what happened to us, I would think your eyes would've opened a little. The Empire is corrupt, Tirana. You cannot trust those in power. They care for one thing, and one thing only: how best they can use you."

Standing upright and remaining calm, he adds, "That you would even consider for a moment that I would do such a thing hurts."

[dauphinous]

Cara's idea of snowball fighting is more predictable than Cassy's, though she does like the aerial attack form a great deal. She avoids the tactics she once used on her brothers, having no real interest in overly annoying or harassing the regular folk of Sunhaven. When she returns to the temple later to deliver the evening services, she finds a way to make it such that she has her afternoons free as often as possible. Maybe not every single day, but at least three or four times a week. Just nights isn't good enough anymore.

****

When Taros asks Cara to be there to meet Tirana, she is a little excited. The meeting with his parents hadn't exactly gone in a way that one expects such a meeting to go, and there is some hope that this one will be more...routine. She is smiling pleasantly at Tirana, right up until the slap. There is a fleeting dollop of possessive outrage that makes her want to hit Tirana back. The intensity of it makes her glow come out, and it surprises her, as she didn't realize she felt that for him. Both emotions flicker across her face briefly, then she just frowns with a light sigh. Yet another heart and mind stolen by the Empire.

She puts a hand on Taros' shoulder, a reminder that she is there, at his back. her other hand seems to move of its own accord to rest at her hip, a posture that generally conveys that she won't put up with much of this sort of crap.

[BlueWizard]

Cassy's Antics:
The snowball fight will become a site many come to see and later talk about, as a few children will try to throw up at the flying snowballers, but none will hit. Many are amazed to see magic so openly used. Usually it is the parlor magicians who showed of their prestidigitations to the youths and onlookers of the common people's world.
As to the youths with real natural 'talent' there were only three in Sunhaven county to reveal themself to Cassy, but one wasn't a sorcerer, and actually a warlock kid. The rest are likely wanna-be wizards and Cassy can direct them to the Queen's wizards in their secluded tower. They needed a taste of the country folk from time to time, and Cassy can send the real knuckle-heads to the wizards' door if she wants.
The two sorcerer youths are teen sisters. Cassy will suspect some arcane talents of their mother, but she is so in 'non-belief' in natural magic that she seems to miss the illusions and simple parlor tricks of her daughters. Blaming goblins and fairies.
The wizards of the queen will secretly watch from time to time when Cassy takes the girls and possibly boy out on exploration excursions to maybe hunt a wild boar gone mad, or other quests harmful to commoners, but with Cassy around no-one was in danger... {OOC- Kariokie can lay out actual plans for her students, and can even take along warlock-boy, the best way to develop his powers is to use them, right? :smallamused: }

Taros and his sister:
Tirana looks in blank horror at her brother. She looks at his outfit dedicated to Heironeous. She then looks back to her brother's serene paladin-shining face. She loses all composure, and appears as the youthful woman she is weeping and collapsing in her brother's arms. "I knew it couldn't be true! I knew it!" She falls to her knees and screams at the wizard, standing by with a disapproving glare. "I'm not going back!"

"You won't be given full-fledge wizard status if you leave. You don't want to be like the 'Unwise One'. And YOU are in your last year of study! You don't want to miss magic missile studies...."

"I don't care leave! Leave now! Go! I never want to see your ugly mug ever again!"

The wizard will look in disdain at the weeping girl, whose make-up is streaming horribly. He then looks at others, but mostly Taros. "She is your responsibility now. The empress gave her a chance. A full scholarship. But, she'd rather live as a barbarian. I knew her intelligence was limited." He will spit on the ground he is at, then teleport away. "No refunds!"

She has no care for her surroundings as she speaking pulling out an emblem of Hecate, the Setting Moon! "Lies! Lies! Lies!" She rips the holy symbol from her chest and as she tries to throw it from her, lightning strikes her hand, she drops it before her, and stares at the silver emblem before her. She holds her pained hand out before her.
Taros will see a black scar burn her hand. It is the shape of the setting moon, and then Tirana collapses to her back, and speaks softly as if mad, or possessed like the oracle girls in the mountains. "No... No... I..I...I see now! Yes! Yes.... There is good AND evil in Hecate... Return the balance.... Yes! That's it...reru... balanssssss..." She will pass out, and will need a lot of rest. This is an epic effect upon her.

Taros is not sure what happened in the school, but Hecate is worshiped openly by most headmistresses of the wizard universities about the empire. The empress' own university is likely no different, even if the empress followed the fire god.

Pelor's Temple:
Cara will have no problem making a schedule, and the rapidly advancing Greta was also a big help around the temple. She will take on 'office hours' to fill time Cara is gone, and also provide Pelor with another face, so it becomes less of the miracles of Cara, and more of miracles from Pelor. Being an expectant mother now, Greta was liking the home life of being a temple priestess.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros is at first stunned by his sister's collapse after her defiance. Kneeling down to her, he gently takes her hand, willing Heironeous's power thru him to ease the pains of her body.

The pains of her mind and soul would be much harder to soothe.

Taros glances up at Cara, beseechingly. He was glad she had come; he couldn't've imagined not inviting her to meet his family; his kid sister.

He had been worried many a night over how to break the Empire's hold on his siblings, and now one was delivered right into his hands. He was tempted to remain here in Sunhaven, or even to venture to his family in the Queen's citadel, and see to her recuperation. But the safety they would enjoy would surely be a false veneer if what the elves had been telling them was true.

He implores to Cara, "Is there someplace where she can recover until we can reunite her with our parents? It seems the population of your burgh has increased by one, temporarily."

[dauphinous]

"Of course. There is always room for one more." Cara kneels beside Tirana and looks at the young woman's hand. "You know, Taros, when you met my family, they were all whole, and perfectly fine. Do you think I might be able to meet anyone in your family under such circumstances?" She smiles at him, and puts a hand on his, squeezing it gently.

[BlueWizard]

Taros' sister:
The priests of Pelor will gladly take in Taros' stricken sister. Taros is held in HIGH esteem around Cara's temple. Tirana is becoming good say, the young priests examining her to enhance their magic through practice. They will say she is glowing stronger 'goodness' the longer she sleeps. There is divine and arcane magical auras about her. Nothing dangerous, just strange powers within her focusing and honing themselves down.

Cara as the most experienced person on the temple staff, will recognize this magical energy influx as a similar experience to her own, when she was awakened to Pelor's powers those many moons ago out in the woods with old Beth. Though Tirana's 'transition' and communion with her goddess might've been different.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

It's only been two days since her arrival and transformation, but already his sister is looking...healthier. Perhaps even happier. Tracking down Cara away from her many petitioners is difficult, but they've always managed to set aside time together.

"My dear, I wanted to thank you again. My sister, she's...well, I think she's taking to these preachings. Far be it from me to sing the praises of Pelor, but the environment I think has done wonders for her."

Taros takes the mighty priestess's hand in his own, "She was always a good person, if a bit naive. In a way, Cassy always reminded me of her. Though I wouldn't call Cassy naive; she's got streetsmarts."

Taros shakes his head, as if rearranging his train of thoughts, "Speaking of which, how is Cassy doing? She seemed...I don't know...perturbed...at Raven's dinner? Everything alright between you two?"

[dauphinous]

"Cassy is good. We just needed to...reconnect, I suppose. She's taking on some students now. Get ready for reports of strange goings-on and mild disturbances." Cara grins at that. Partly because she's arranged for someone else to take care of such things, and partly because the idea is just funny. "I'm glad that Tirana had someplace to go, and that- That she has a wonderful brother to help her out." This last is followed up with a kiss. When it ends, she looks into his eyes and smiles. "Make sure to tell her from me that she isn't allowed to slap you anymore. That's my demesne."

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros barks out a laugh, "And that you do with much aplomb, my love. Like a veritable ray of Pelor's grace thou dost smote my cheek."

[dauphinous]

When it comes time to meet with the elves and actually get to the assaulting of the space ship (a concept her brain still isn't fully wrapped around), Cara makes sure to send someone to fetch Raven for it. There isn't any good reason not to invite him, especially with James firmly ensconced in his own problems and unwilling to leave his land 'undefended' for any length of time. Having a person like who Raven claims to be around would be better for them all.

She waits patiently in her shiny fullplate, with matching shiny spiked shield at her side, and a brand new, also shiny mace at her belt. The sharp corners of this mace have spikes, and the tips have little curves to them that almost look like dancing flames. The old, battered, well loved mace remains in its place of honor on her bookshelf at home. It's not as if she has any books to put there.

[BlueWizard]

The winter festival is a time of family and friends, and all of you will get to see a little of each other, and Cara will definitely notice the many charitable acts by Illanee as Raven's wife makes sure poorer families have plenty to eat. Pelor's people were taking care of it, but the temple coffers always like wealthy aid. Something imperial churches almost never get.

It'll be just past your New Year's hang-over recovery, but not too far into the year, when this meeting is set up.

To the Elves:
An elf will meet you in the frosty woods. Yet another elf that can teleport, and another elf that decided to keep his elven name to make it near impossible for humans to pronounce. Some of you who have not gone to the elven city will be surprised at the amount of elves you'll have met in Sunhaven.

The elf will wait as you all arrive and politely greet you. His common-tongue is rough, and you can barely understand him through his accent, but he is to take you to the elven queen.

You will be teleported to a waiting room with amethyst crystal walls, and comfy stylish colored sitting-floor mats. Several elves will be in here, most of old age {for an elf, they look youthful still} with a bit of silver or gray to them. Cassy would guess these elves to be thousands of years old.

The old ones all meditate, and look very focused on something with their eyes closed and legs crossed. They look like well-dressed yogis.

The youngest looking elf is one many will recognize if old friend, Abbie, ever described the elf queen. She is beautiful with brown hair, not a hint of age shows on her face, but the green eyes show centuries of wisdom. There are flowers artfully decorating her hair in shades of green, gold, and white. Humming about her head are a few tiny insect-like orbs of colorful light.

"Welcome. I am Shallandara. The elven queen. Welcome all of you. Your friend, Abbie has told me much of some of you. I am sorry to say she isn't here to speak with you. She is aiding the king's military with tracking the goblin hoards. As you can see we meet under important historic events. The elven council has gathered to make sure that no-one scries our meeting. You are safer in this chamber than you have ever before been in your life. The reason is because the great evil high in the sky has been watching you. Already their psionic minds know that they are being sought for destruction. You are finding that this world is full of great dangers. We can protect most of the North, but not all of the North. And active powers can sometimes break through our ancient defenses.

We will prepare you as we can. We can even reward you for doing such a dangerous task, but you must bring and use the mind-block ichor. It will be your life-saver while on-board the illithid ship."

She will pause to see if there are any questions, and anything else that she might help with.

[kariokie]

So, perhaps Cassy's teaching hadn't gone exactly as planned. There were mishaps, and narrow escapes and – oh, who was she kidding? That was exactly how her teaching had been planned. The education developed into full-fledged antics, with those most deserving their noses tweaked by arcane might finding their noses mightily tweaked. The cranky and the greedy and just plain unpleasant found their chickens walking on the walls of their coop as if they were the floor, their cows flying, or giant-sized underwear flying from their chimney like a banner. And there were few bullies in town to start with, but there were none by the time Cassy's first round of "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" lessons finished.

On the flip side, sometimes the sad and lonely found exquisitely crafted light sculptures outside their homes, their chores done, fences mended, and various other troubles dealt with. Magical and wondrous things happened from time to time in Sunhaven, strange noises and visions, all beautiful to behold. Illusionary reenactments of ancient stories would appear, sometimes for many, and sometimes they were just a special show put on for one person lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time.

In general, and as always, Cassy was both a boon and a bane.

* * *

Then it's time to gear up and head out. Or at least roll out of bed before noon, stuff most of her possessions in her haversack, and shuffle over to meet Cara and be teleported to wherever the hell the elves were dragging them to next.

Cassy blinks, trying to keep up with the elven queen, then finally gives in and latches on the only important thing. "Uh, wait, the squiddies have been reading my mind? Wish I woulda known, I woulda thought about calamari more." She sleepily smacks her lips a little, "Anyone bring lemon wedges?"

[BlueWizard]

The elven queen is politely entertained by Cassy's comment, and more than a few of the silvering elves smirk through closed eyes, and soft magical oms.
"It is not your minds we are worried about. It is the great elder brain of the illithid's homeworld. It somehow uses the lesser-brain ichor pool on the space-ship to channel its powers and observe us. This one has sought the extinction of the elves for some time, and has been a major part in eliminating most of the hobbits and forest gnomes. They recognize this squid aspect of themselves, and have brought many accursed Kraken to our earthly seas.
You are going into a VERY dangerous zone, and there is a chance that illithid wild magic could foul up retreat. If possible, and you manage to figure it out, you may be able to use one of the landing or escape pods we have observed leaving from various stations on the massive space-ship."

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony is pleased by McEwan's progress. Innovation excites him, after all.

***

Being in a room full of elves would have once made Anthony uncomfortable. The fact that elves are so long-lived is what affects him the most. After being around Bryce, however, the warlock no longer finds such beings to be intimidating. Nonetheless, he is somewhat politer that he would be around humans.

"Tentacles. Nothing good ever has them. It must be some sort of universal law." Anthony rolls his eyes. "May I ask how long this mind-block stuff will last?"

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven patiently awaits Cara's summonses spending the interim meeting with experts about maximizing the benefits of his new estate and improving on the wine produced there. Well, that and helping Illanee with her various missions of mercy. The Els also spend a fair bit of time helping their neighbors and rewarding their employees, vendors, and buyers well - with genuine concern.

When summoned by Cara, Raven appears much as at his initial meeting, clad in black with hints of blues and greens. It's an elegant, slightly flowing style, though now he bears a pack and a large, very simple but very well-made greatsword slung across his back.

He frowns at the mention of illithids. Though his last encounter with one ended well, it was really quite deadly and difficult. Tevrier was lost in an instant.
Falling into his familiar place as a quiet apparent brute, Raven stands and listens to the Elven Queen's exchange with his new companions.

[BlueWizard]

Shalandra regards Anthony with curiosity, but seems to trust him, "At least ten hours each dosage. We will send spare bottles for emergency, but we hope this doesn't take too long. These can be dispelled.
The longer your mission takes the more the space-ship will be able to mobilize its defenses. We don't know what these are, but we pray you don't meet them. If you do, we pray to the gods you have the strength to defeat or escape them. Your objective is to destroy the ship's power source. It will likely be the most protected area on the ship. After you do this leave immediately, for destroying the power source of the lesser elder brain will start a chain reaction that will destroy the great starcraft. It is this elder brain that holds the ship psionically together. We only pray you have enough time to get out. Anything on-board will be killed."
She seems to regret saying this, but it is said nonetheless.
"Years ago there were others who destroyed a land-based compound. The illithids built this space-based one hoping we'd ignore it. We have only watched it carefully until now. For the future of your humankind I wish you well."

[kariokie]

Well, Cassy was making what she'd made of every deadly mission before, and what she'd make about every deadly mission to come, until one finally killed her: a joke. "So we go to the whoseit, find the whatsit, blow the bejeebus out of it, then find the thingamajig and use it to get the hell out of there? Sounds like a plan. I just have one mission-critical question: there's going to be wine when I get back, right? White, please, goes with seafood better." With a cockiness she perhaps didn't feel all the way down to her toes, Cassy spins her staff and gives the queen a jaunty, somewhat mocking bow. "Start chilling the chardonnay now, or it won't be cold by the time we get back."

[dauphinous]

Cara gives a snort. "I daresay that sums it up. If anyone forgot to bring anything, now is the time to remember it and retrieve it." Never one to have the all important questions that probably should be asked handy, Cara is fully ready to go get some sushi.

Autobots, transform and roll out!

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Taros nods in agreement, "Aye, let's do this. Raven, are you prepared to risk life and limb for the salvation of this world?" Taros adds with a slight grin.

We're more than meets the eye!

[BlueWizard]

The elves will give you 3 ichor vials each. On the market they are worth 5000 gp or more each, depending on the locale. This mission more than calls for them. The ichor will make you immune to the mind blast and some psionics.

When the time is right and you are all gathered you will be given environmental potions as well, to counteract any vacuum space or non-livable atmosphere encountered. You will be given 3 of these each as well, they also have a 10 hour time limit.

These are all special items and not normally encountered in an imperial bazaar.

An old elf will stand and will be transferring you to the space-ship through a shimmering blue portal, that he will make appear in the room. When you are ready, he and others will chant to make the GATE appear, and then wait for you to step through. It is advised to drink the foul bitter ichor and environment potion before entering.

If there are no more questions, then you are ready... :smallcool:

[Idiotbox90]

"Life and limb? When I signed on for this, I was told I should be ready to sacrifice life or limb." Anthony eyes the area, looking for an exit. "Wait, this is the new guy. He doesn't get the options we veterans get, I suppose."

Before stepping through the gate, Anthony refreshes his invocations and refocuses himself. Violet tendrils extend from his back, forming a pair of wings. Floating a foot above the ground, he downs the potions and passes through the gate.

[BlueWizard]

The ichor is foul, gag inducing, and tastes something like fermented pickled brains.
OOC- Or what you'd imagine it to taste like.

"Don't think about it. Completely harmless." Shalandra says kindly.

[dauphinous]

Cara quaffs the gross potions with a squick face, then casts a couple of spells, tapping everyone on the shoulder at least once. She moves up, ready to be taken straight to the gates of hell. Or whatever you want to call the place.

Cast:
Magic Circle vs. Evil with rod of extend: 240 minutes
Greater Status (Cassy, Taros, Raven): 11 hours
Status (Anthony): 11 hours
Shield Other (Cassy): 11 hours
Crown of Smiting (Taros): 11 hours
Crown of Might (Raven): 11 hours

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven quaffs the potions quickly - he's tasted their foulness before. He smiles at Taros and Anthony's banter and nods. "Beats watching the wine age. He draws his greatsword, slipping his hand through a leather loop tied to the hilt, before grasping the pommel. Another lesson learned at great cost, though the ichor should prevent that this time.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Quickly imbibing the foul potions, Taros calls upon the might of Heironeous to aid him in the battles forthcoming. His burnished steel armor begins to glow brightly.

Since everyone else is buffing:
Luminous Armor 5 hours
Magic Circle vs. Evil 50 minutes

[kariokie]

Cassy drinks whatever is handed to her -- much like usual. She shoots the potions down with barely a grimace, and then grins, "Lime? Salt? No? This party is lame."

She casts a spell on herself, drawing her hand over her eyes, then starts complaining again. "Let's go, let's go, before I have second thoughts and claim I'm too young to have my brilliant brain sucked out by squiddies." Recalling her earlier concerns regarding her intelligence versus the others, she gives Raven an appraising look. "What's seven times forty three minus ten?"


Darkvision on Cassy.

[BlueWizard]

The elves are serious, and Shalandra shows every bit of concern for each of you. "Your lives will be different when you return. You will see things that are not of this world. Anthony has seen some of their forces in action. As has Raven."

You be gathered together and all the elven council members will come to aid and look from around the meditation chamber. The elf who teleported you here will step waaaaay into the background since this is beyond his powers.

SPACE-SHIP TRASH DUCT:
The space you appear in is dark and smelly.

When light is brought forth you will all become aware that you are in a large tube shaped passage, with no real flat area to walk. You will all be disoriented, and then realize you are floating in the passage. You can move yourself about by pushing yourself along the walls, but this is not like your ordinary FLY spell. Though FLYing works if that is available.

You have all been prepped this might happen, but it is still a funny feeling being weightless.

Below you is a large slit door with no handles. The elves described this, and it was toward the exterior of the space ship. Don't go this way, but not to fear since you at least have the atmosphere potions activated.

Above you in this weightless passage would be the trash dump shoots, and perhaps entrance into an inner area?

It did not look like much crap was gathered in the air here, as the elves divined a good time to put you in the duct, when it would not be dumping it's load. Much to your earth-based minds' comfort, you will be glad to see remains of food stuff, even if some of it is human-bones. Fecal remains and other nasty stuff also float around in here.

It would be good to get out of here before it gets sanitized.

The passage is large, about 20 feet in diameter, and goes into darkness up. {Below being out, and into space.}

[kariokie]

Cassy does a comical stage whisper after the queen speaks her final warning about coming back different. "Pssst! Someone should tell her I'm too shallow to change."

* * *

She peers ahead through the darkness, seeing clearly, then draws out a sunrod and strikes it for the others. Only after that does she realize she's floating. There's an immediate grin, despite their dangerous situation. Cassy, unable to pass up any new experience, kicks off from one wall of the tube, bounces off the other side, and rebounds back. In a quiet, but gleeful voice, she exclaims, "Whee!" It's as if she's instantly worked out how to move herself in this new environment.

[dauphinous]

Cara just floats, a little disoriented. It's strange to suddenly not feel the weight of everything. She has to watch Cassy for a moment before she figures it out, but then she just starts upwards with a silent chuckle at the sorceress. She stops herself on the brink of going through any sort of door to wait for Taros and Raven to go first. "Boys first," she whispers with a grin, "I insist."

[BlueWizard]

The passage goes up for a long time. Miles if the elves guess correctly. It could go through the whole way through the ship. You will go several hundred feet before you come to a ledge and a sort of access door. Clearly they made plans to send people in here from time to time for maintenance. The door is locked, and sealed from the other side.

{A Knock will take care of this door with no trouble, and it will slide open to a small white-metallic room. It has crates, and cleaning buckets, and even some odd looking metal boxes that look like they have eyes. There is a door out of this one, that will only open if the trash duct access door is shut. Even in the case of knock being used to open it, the duct door will shut behind you. There is an easy to figure out button mechanism which will open this door {and others about the ship}. Either way the thin metal door will swoosh open, and disappear into the wall.}

Beyond the access door/storage room is a hallway, which will lead to more halls and gangplanks, and the whole place here will seem empty.

You will feel as if you are in side a giant suit of metal. With no windows here. You are in the lower or rear area.

It won't be long before you will feel the hall vibrate as if the walls lived, and you will feel strange as something tries to probe your mind, but is blocked. It is still a very odd sensation, and you will want to keep moving.

You also get the sneaking suspicion that something is already coming, as you all step out of this small room off the trash duct.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

"What foul magick is this?!" Taros exclaims at the weightlessness. He had been warned, but he had not believed it. Taros flails his arms about, sending him into a sort-of corkscrew spin. After several revolutions, he sort of gets the hang of it, and begins drifting - and corkscrewing - 'up' the passageway.

By the time they pass thru the disappearing door Taros has collected a small orbiting body of trash and refuse.

Feeling the impending danger, Taros utters an oath, and invokes his deity while drawing his sword. "Stand ready."


Divine Vigor: +22 HP +10 MR for 4 minutes

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven's emerald eyes narrow briefly at Cassy's impromptu math quiz, he pauses in his answer and shakes his sword in her direction, "Raven smash." He grins.

Once on the ship, Raven grasps out with a hand as if to grab something, and then again as if about to cast a spell. He ends up doing neither but after a moment of flailing, he begins to pick his way nimbly along the passageway. Still it might be nice to fly. I wish that spell lasted longer.

As he moves, wisps of shadow seem to swirl about him, though when he stands still they fade after a moment. He stands ready to head through the next door, but defers a half-step to Taros.


Child of Shadow Stance - Move 10' and gain concealment (20% miss chance) until start of next turn.

This is only stance Raven has, so he stays in it. :smallsmile:

[kariokie]

Cassy uses a scroll to cast an opening spell to get them in the first door, then quickly works out the button mechanism to get them through the second. "Man, I gotta stop being so smart. Gonna end up a squiddy appetizer. Cassy-calamari consumption should go the other way, you know?" She laughs a little at her own joke, then looks down the metal corridors, nervous, before following the others.

Ready: If something jumps out at us, Haste on everyone.

[BlueWizard]

You will leave the access-door room, and be in the large 10 foot wide white-metallic corridor when the strange vibration shakes you all. There are passages that you can see from this hall, into great chambers with scaffolding like structures. Far at the ends of this hall, about 200 feet down you will become aware of a strange floating orb coming at you from your left and right. There are also many ways to go in-between, as many corridors connect away from this hall that may run along the central trash duct.

The orb is not exactly an 'orb', but is roughly 4 feet in diameter. There is strange snake-like stalks writhing around on top of both 'orbs'. There appears to be a giant eye over a huge mouth with dagger-like teeth, but your earthly minds doesn't want to believe what you are seeing.

Only Cassy and Raven will have any idea of what this is, and then they won't believe {or want to believe} they see, when they do see it. If the legends they heard are true, then there are an awful alien race of Beholder-kin. This is a lesser one, hopefully, since these 2 are not as big as the legends say. A normal one would fill the hallway! Cassy and Raven don't know much about the aberrations, but the stalks have eyes, and they can kill you with rays {or worse!}.
Any Beholder is extremely dangerous, and all encounter-stories are horror-filled tales of solo survivors driven mad. They are said to be hurt by damage like any monster, and it makes them very mad. :smallcool:

Cassy's haste is on! The monsters are about to become aware of you as their large eye's are turning toward you around a corner. To your left is the rear of the ship, the right would be up toward the front.

More elf ship notes:
The power source is probably in the middle, the propulsion device is in the rear, and near the area you are in. This could also be a possible area to look for sabotage. {So, left or right after this, are both viable for adventure.}

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

"Eye tyrant" Raven mutters despite himself. Then he says what sounds ridiculous, but it's what he's heard, "they shoot magic from their many eyes. All kinds of magic."

As he speaks he crouches and moves forward surprisingly quickly, looking as if he's about to launch himself at the things.

They're 200 feet away and just turning a corner into sight? Raven moves forward 60'.

Stance: Child of Shadow

[BlueWizard]

OOC- You will have a round of prep, so as they turn and the initiatives begin Raven will be in shadow stance 60 feet down. This is the surprise round.

[Idiotbox90]

The warlock draws a wand and points it at his back. The tendrils knot themselves into coils, which then blend together. The two shapes widen, forming a pair of broad wings, resembling those of a dragon.

"Shall we attack or evade?"

Over the past few days, Anthony had taken to walking with a cane topped with the skull of a small demon. He points the cane in the direction of the eye tyrants, preparing himself to attack.

OOC: Using Wings of Swift Flying to increase Anthony's flight speed.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Seeing Raven move ahead, Taros does likewise, commenting to Anthony as he does so, "What do you think?" The armored paladin charges down the hallway, intent on engaging these foul abominations. They'd surely already spotted them, and would sound the alarm if they got away.

{
MR 20'+10' Divine Vigor+30' Haste = 60' alongside Raven
AC 30+1 Haste, enemies have a -4 to hit in melee (Luminous Armor)
HP 130/108
}

[dauphinous]

Noting that Raven is moving up, Cara starts forward herself, but walks, taking the time to cast a spell. She unhooks her mace as the blast of Pelor's grace blows away from her.

Move enough so Cara can affect everyone with a Bless. She has a status spell on everyone, so she should be able to do this without issue unless someone decides to go all crazy and run like a banshee.
Ready shiny new weapon.

[BlueWizard]

There is one Eye Tyrant to the left and one to the right. Raven went right. {?}

Anthony has swift flight, Taros follows Raven, Cara can time her BLESS to get all before they disperse, and Cassy has HASTED everyone.

The beasts notice you in the corridor and are now turning. Raven will be able to react before they turn and move on you! You could also duck into other passages or rooms between you and the monsters.

Initiatives:
Raven 19+4
BEHOLDER-KIN
Anthony 12+3
Cara 14+1
Cassy 9+6
Taros 9+1

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

As Raven picks his way along the corridor, setting down as firmly as possible before launching himself toward the creature. Shadows wisp around him as he hurtles down the passageway, his mightly blade scribes a series of blindly quick arcs that seem impossible with such a large weapon.

Charge 120' Leap Attack/Power Attack (10)/Shock Trooper (Hasted Full Attack Pounce)

[roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2] x2 due to Valorous Blade [112]

[roll3]
[roll4] x2 due to Valorous Blade [102]

[roll5]
[roll6] x2 due to Valorous Blade [112]

AC: 16
Child of Shadow Stance: 20% miss chance
HP: 65
Hasted
Blessed

[BlueWizard]

{OOC- 3 attacks on hasted leap now!!! :smalleek: Are you sure you need don't need clearance for your jumps?}

Raven charges down the hall and slices and dices the round orb, and it clumps to the ground in a squishy mess.

The other one 200 feet away in the other direction turns to face you and slowly moves down the hall toward you. Its large menacing eye looking at all of you!

Anthony's up!

Round 1 paused-------------------------------->

Initiatives:
Raven 19+4
BEHOLDER-KIN
Anthony 12+3
Cara 14+1
Cassy 9+6
Taros 9+1

[kariokie]

"Eeeew. He splattered that. Uh. Gonna save my strength if this is gonna be a cakewalk. And save my ass." Cassy turns and flicks her hand towards the remaining eye, then tries to find some cover should it decide to return fire.


Magic Missile, 5d4+5

[Idiotbox90]

"So that's how the dragon-slayer uses a sword. Magic's better, but that was still pretty impressive."

The warlock points his cane in the direction of the final beholder. Out of it pours eldritch energy, shooting in the monster's direction.

AB: +14, Dmg: 11d6, Enemy must make DC 16 Reflex Save or take 2d6 fire damage the next round. Note: Paying a charge from the warlock's scepter to gain 2d6 extra damage.

[dauphinous]

Cara just stops moving, mouth lightly agape. She blinks twice as Raven recovers from his devastating attack. "I'll just be over here, then. Saving what I've got in case of actual emergency." She hangs back at that, staying well clear of the remaining foe.

Holy splatterfest, batman.
Cara will just hang out with Cassy, and be all holy and wise and pretty and stuff.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

{If they were in opposite directions, Taros would've gone for the one Raven was not}

Charging towards the floating bag of eyestalks, Taros thinks momentarily that trusting the strange warrior to the other flank was perhaps a bit rash. But there was little to do for it now. With an oath to Heironeous, Taros strikes.


Attack - Smite Charge 1/5 up to 120': [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] + [roll2] Electricity = 31
AC 31, Enemies have a -4 to hit in melee

Holy Frijole, Raven smushed it good!

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven struggles to right himself after hurtling at, and through, the strange orb-creature. Some kind of lesser tyrant?. After a moment or two of pinwheeling, he gets himself turned around and returns toward the group through the floating chunks of flesh and blobs of ichor. How foul.

Move up to 120' toward the group.

I'm not sure what the rules are for weightless combat. A leap attack seemed plausible - throw yourself at your opponent with reckless abandon. :smallamused:

AC: 26
Child of Shadow Stance: 20% miss chance
HP: 65
Hasted
Blessed

[BlueWizard]

OOC- Got it... Taros went the other way and will have heard the splatter and slaughter of the strange floating orb beast behind him.

Round 1:
Anthony sends a ray of eldritch energy over Taros' shoulder and fries the monster, and he can see that it catches on fire! {d:35 + more} It roars strangely.

Cara holds back staying over a 150 feet away from the living monster.

Cassy pelts the next with 5 magic missiles and destroys the large center eye, and sending the beast to the white-metal ground with a sick thud. The beast stinks horribly as Anthony's fire sizzles and pops the flesh.

End Combat---------------------------->

{OOC- Sorry, about the delay. Just a warm-up battle. :smallcool: Didn't fully realize what Raven could do now....}

OOC2- From here I will need to know the basic direction you will go. Towards the front of the ship, or towards the back. Since I am still mapless and map-incapable, I allow a little fudging... ie giving Raven an extra 20 feet on the leap charge. This is a large ship, and I will try to get to important encounters, or areas where the PCs can make more choices as to where to go.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

Sliding along the wall to slow himself, Taros arrives at the smoldering corpse. Tentatively toeing it, he only utters, "Huh."

Making his weightless way back to the rest of the group, he announces, "If you all are just going to blast it to smithereens before I get there, at least let me know so I don't go flying all the way down there," with a smirk.

[BlueWizard]

:smallredface: OOC- Forgot to mention...

Gravity will return to normal once you leave the trash duct. There is an artificial pull in the ship.

[dauphinous]

"Well, that was certainly an unexpected turn." Cara looks one direction, then the other, then at Cassy. "I think I am glad to have Raven for us rather than against us. If we head for the propulsion area, we could have more fun, I think, but we'd alert them to our presence. So, I suppose I must cast my mace forward, to the power source. Any objections?"

[kariokie]

"No objections here, ma'am!" Cassy gives a jaunty salute that ends in yet another obscene gesture. "And Anthony, I think we should take Taros' concerns under advisement. Or, better yet! Let's wait until he's run all the way over and then blast the enemies into little bits the second before he tries to hit them. It's funnier that way, and we can be sure he gets plenty of exercise."

With a suddenly solemn expression, she says to Taros, "I only have your physical fitness in mind, of course. I'm not at all thinking how funny it is to watch you skid to a halt when running. Or how extra funny it would be if you were to hit a wall."

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven makes his way back to the group just in time to see Cassy's faux salute. "I don't think those were real eye tyrants. Not that we gave them much chance to do anything." Raven smiles. "Where to next?"

[BlueWizard]

The Hall you are in will run for some time toward the front of the ship. Most of the corridors are to your left off this passage; {first entered out of the first Trash Duct-room}. The Trash Duct is still a safe internal marker inside of this oddly shaped space ship.

To your left are other long corridors or large chambers, some looking out a great window {or screen?:smallcool: } at some large blue-green orb with whisps of white. Many of you will see the great map of the North, and the great continent isles of the empire stretching out towards the equator. You map-knowledged ones, will spookily know where you are and realize you are flying miles and miles above Earth. Most of you will agree Earth is round now
In these great open areas orc-workers in silver suits, making repairs or monitoring strange screens and panels. You will be able to sneak past these, in the smaller hall. But, you will feel the strange vibration pass over you a few times as you advance towards the power source. You can feel it attempting to probe your minds and failing.

All the orcs have mind control devices here, and seem very involved in their tasks.

Your whole experience on this strange ship in this strange white-metal hall seems completely improbable.

To the right are possible bunk and storage rooms, all with push button doors. Most are white buttons, but a few have colored slots, that look to take some card or another.

Anyone of these rooms can be explored. The colored slots vary in the rainbow from blue to red, you will get the feeling that red doors guard important stuff, judging by the heavy make of door or other dangerous looking illithid symbols. Strange symbols label everything, and cover the walls in some areas, but no-one understands the alien language.

The long halls and cavernous chambers to your left could take endless hours of exploration. This path seems like a maintenance corridor. Something knows you are here, but it likely knows not what, yet.

[kariokie]

"Continue on, huh?" Cassy says, looking first to the right and then the left. "Don't see any need to poke around where there's nothing to blow up."

[dauphinous]

Nodding, Cara just keeps going. "No obvious reason to stop here. As much as I enjoy smiting things that ought to be smited, I'd rather not be in this particular smiting location for any longer than we need to be. I didn't really understand what was meant by 'orbital', but now I do, and I don't really care for it. If you fall off the side of a ship in the ocean, you can still try to swim." She makes a funny half-shrug, half-shiver. "People were not meant to see the world from this high up."

[Idiotbox90]

"That map, it's covered with white smudges. You'd think these guys would... wait." Anthony's eyes widen. "The elves teleported us... wow." The warlock is somewhat awed by what he sees, but quickly gets a hold of himself. "Let's keep moving. I don't want to look at that."

[BlueWizard]

You will travel for perhaps a mile along this central hall on the left side of the Trash Duct. You can tell there are levels above, below, and really all around you. You will reach one stretch of colored slot-locked doors, when a horrible numbing scream tries to burn into your protected minds.

Stepping out of what looks to be thin air, since no invisible creatures appeared, are 4 illithids. They wear black robes, and all have the head of Cthulhu about their neck. The holy symbol of the foul Abyssal demon. Their purple skin sickly and alien, as well as their white eyes, and mouth tentacles. Cassy and Antony will believe they stepped out of the Ethereal. 2 are in front, and two are behind. They appeared 60 feet in front and behind you. Their stark white eyes, widen with fear as they realize their mind blasts are not working. The open their mouths and hiss, through spread tentacles.

They shimmer with a strange glowing blue light, that reminds Cassy Raven, and Anthony of the Fireshield spell, only this is a different source effect. Perhaps Psionic?

Phasing in about 10 feet in front of you is a horrifying sight. All of you might check into a mental institution, had you been from modern Earth. What you see is a twisted rock-looking creature. A giant red eye is in the center of this 9 foot tall stalagmite monster. Cassy Raven, and Anthony will have heard of the strange creature known as the Roper, but this one has an evil illithid look to it, with large long tentacles. There is a large gaping maw with rings of teeth. It slobbers and snarls at it comes, it is slowly pulling itself toward you, as the 4 illithids keep their distance. Their white eyes wide in fear at all the failed mind blasts.

No-one will know what this other thing is, but a future bard may dub this beast, Urophion. This beast is clearly the illithids' front-line fighter. It's just ugly-scary!


Initiatives:
Cassy 20+6
Raven 16+4
Anthony 14+3
Taros 15+1
Cara 12+1
4 illithids
Urophion

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony lashes out at the roper, blasting it. At the same time he moves away, trying to put some distance between him and the beast.

"Calamari time, Cassy. We just have to kill this rock thing first."

((AB: +13, Dmg: 11d6+1, Enemy must make DC 16 Reflex Save or take 2d6 fire damage the next round. Note: Paying a charge from the warlock's scepter to gain 2d6 extra damage. +1 Bonus from Point-Blank Shot))

[kariokie]

Cassy flicks her hand sideways and then down as she says three words in Draconic, speeding up the fight. She's careful to interpose the others between her and the mindflayers behind and the whatever-it-is and the mindflayers ahead. "Yeah, you be all happy 'bout it Anthony, they're coming for me first. You were dumb enough to work for Vito, no brains to snack on there!"

Haste. 1 Extra attack when you do a full attack, +1 ac, to hit, reflex save, double move.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

"Raven - can you get in amongst those squid-heads?" Taros asks, remembering how the warrior had seemed to blend into the shadows. Taros himself moves up to face the alien rock creature, his sword already slashing at the misshapen creature.


Attack: [roll0]
Damage (Using Crown of Smiting): [roll1]+[roll2] Electricity= 16
AC: 31, Opponents have a -4 to hit in melee.
Active spells: Luminous Armor, Magic Circle vs. Evil?

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Reluctant to leave the roper-beast to the others, Raven nonetheless peels off and hurls himself at the rear pair of illithids. His cloak swirls around him as do shadows as he almost seems to fly through the air.



Charge Leap Attack/Power Attack (10) (Hasted)
[roll0]

[roll1]
[roll2] due to Valorous Blade [120]
[roll3]
[roll4] due to Valorous Blade [110]

AC: 24
Child of Shadow Stance: 20% miss chance
HP: 65
Hasted
Blessed

[dauphinous]

Cara
AC 28 HP 83

"Foul worshipers of the darkest of evils," Cara spits out. She pulls her mace and moves up to stand with Taros, not certain if any of her spells will be needed, or even truly effective here.

To hit: Mace/mace/mace/shield: 23/18/9/22 (http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=3759) (mistake on the bonus for the second attack - it should be +9, not +8 - it's correct here)
Damage: I rolled damage, but I screwed it up. It's 1d8+3 +1d6(fire) for the mace, and 1d4+2 for the shield.

Active Spells:
Magic Circle vs. Evil (Cara)
Status(Anthony)
Greater Status(Cassy, Taros, Raven)
Shield Other(Cassy)
Bless (maybe? It only lasts 11 minutes. No idea how much time has passed.)

[BlueWizard]

OOC- Bless should be over, unless you were jogging the last mile through the inner corridor. :smallbiggrin:

Cassy casts HASTE!

Raven charges the rear illithids, and is deflected off the strange glowing shield before them. He feels the freeze of whatever strange psi-fire-shield surrounds them, and can see that these illithids didn't like the might of that swing one bit. {d:14}

Anthony's fire blast fizzles against incredible spell resistance!

Taros moves in to the strange beast, and suddenly a tentacle shoots out stretching to reach Taros and wraps about him, slowly pulling the paladin toward it. He also feels the freezing of his muscles, as he is weakened. {-11 Str damage!} This monster has a strong hold of him, and is pulling him towards its other tentacles and great maw.

Cara can charge up by Taros as he is pulled in, and she can use her attacks to free him. {OOC- Can be changed, but all attack will fail! } Unfortunately, her battering of the strands and even the body of the creature itself go unnoticed and Taros is continued to be dragged toward its mouth!

The illithids all plane shift away! The two near Raven back away before using their powers, but the illithids leave this area.

Taros continues to be pulled toward the monster's maw. Cara can see its other tentacles stay in close as Taros tries to fight the monster, but can do nothing as it pulls him to its mouth and tries to bite Taros' head open!
Thank goodness for helmets for Taros feels the monster clamp down onto his head and dent his metal helmet, but is unable to rip the top of his head open. Cara can see the monster is not happy, she is inside the range of the long tentacles, she will see the monster flex its tentacles, ready to possibly use them all soon! Cara thinks she has not yet seen the full extent that these tentacles can stretch to.

End Round 1------------------------>
{Taros is in trouble, with his head literally in the mouth of this thing!}


Initiatives:
Cassy 20+6 HASTE cast round 1
Raven 16+6 d:14
Anthony 14+3
Taros 15+1 {-11 strength damage}
Cara 12+1
Urophion

[kariokie]

"Dragoncrap!" Cassy backpedals, moving towards Raven and away from the monster. "Gimmie a minute. Make sure he doesn't eat me too, huh?" She stops and begins a spell -- one much longer and more complex than her usual quick incantations.


Had to edit. Stupid AoOs!

Move back so she's 50' from the monster.

Cast Spell Vulnerability. Casting time is one round. At the end, the creature will have a -11 to their SR. Fortitude save to negate, DC 20.

[dauphinous]

Cara
AC 28 HP 83/83

"Taros!" It's all she can manage to get out of her mouth. For a moment, anyway. As her attacks seem fruitless to free him, she takes a stance to do what she can to smite this unholy beast-thing. The distraction of watching Taros helpless and knowing that it is sapping his strength is too great for her to cut through.


Cast defensively: 17 (http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=3765)
&*^%$#@!
Was casting a 4th level spell, so that's a fail.

[Eratosthenes]

Taros

As the tentacles wrap around him, Taros feels his arms and legs turn to jelly. The weight of his armor becomes unbearable; he can barely keep a grasp on his sword and shield. He struggles feebly against the creature trying to consume him, pushing the shield into it. "Is that...the best...you can do, stupid pile of offal?"

Activate shield (Free Action):
Attack: [roll0] Damage: [roll1]
Attack: [roll2] Damage: [roll3]

Move Action: Goad: If creature can understand me, it needs a DC 19 Will save or it can only attack me in melee
Standard Action: Free myself? Grapple check? [roll4]

Currently at a 7 strength. I think Cassy could beat me up. :D

[Roland St. Jude]

Raven

Raven curses as his blow is deflected. He had expected the cold, but he thought he'd at least get a blow in. With a grimace, he moves next to Cassy as she works her spell. He works one of his own.

Move to about 55' from the thing near Cassy. Cast True Strike.

AC: 26
Child of Shadow Stance: 20% miss chance
HP: 51/65
Hasted

[Idiotbox90]

Anthony is undeterred by his failure. He continues to move away, before lashing out with another blast.

"I hate it when we have to face things like this. Why won't it just burn like everything else. Offal, indeed."

((AB: +13, Dmg: 5d6, Enemy must make DC 16 Reflex Save or take 2d6 fire damage the next round.))