The Last Paladin IC - Part III

[Frosty]

"Thank you. I can do so given enough time and luck. How long do I have before...permanent damage is done? What will happen to her if the larvae remain? Let's see...if you wish to let my search be more likely to succeed, then the one known as Lyanna should be immediately released to me and cleansed if possible. She is the one best at searching through ruins. I speak only the truth."

[Maquise]

"Very well... we will return them... to the inn. This form... has very limited time... before permanent damage."

You realize that, even at your strongest, your ability to remove disease will likely only remove one or two at a time, not all at once.

I think I might be of assistance...

[Frosty]

"No time to waste then, let's go. Grembler, save your fire for now. Timson, you come too, friend."

Karrin goes through the options she has. Maybe Tamoq can perform some sort of surgery-type procedure or he can brew something to kill the larvae. But, is there enough time to get back?

"Speak, Ns'karra. Speak while I am still too focused at the task at hand to be angry with you. You KNEW this was going to happen, didn't you? So tell me indeed...how can you "assist" me?"

[Maquise]

Look at her. Look at your precious Mira. You know she won't last until you get back to Whiteveil. All of those nasty things wriggling around inside of her. If only there was some way to get them out...

You feel a tentacle extend out from between your lower lips and slide over them.

[Frosty]

"Speak CLEARLY! What are you proposing?"

[Maquise]

Wow, you are dense. To cure Mira, I reach in and pull the larvae out. It really is as simple as that. Now I know what you're thinking. I swear to you by Aruoudiodoth, I won't leave anything unpleasant behind.

[Frosty]

"And doing so won't leave her under your influence or more susceptible to demon influence in general?"

[Maquise]

Not at all, I promise.

[Frosty]

Karrin dresses Mira before taking her along. Does Mira follow?

"What's your angle here? Why're you being so helpful? What's it going to cost *me*?"

(I'm gone for about 2 hours. Maybe a bit less if lucky)

[Maquise]

Mirabelle curls up on herself, seemingly in too much pain to act on her own.

Why do I need to get something out of it? And if I did, why would I tell you?

[Frosty]

"If the price is anything like the price I had to pay the LAST time you gave me help...then it is too high. If you help like this, will I lose even more protection from the Thrones?"

Karrin can barely stand to see Mira like this. "Grembler, would it be possible to burn the larvae away without killing Mira if I applied healing very very quickly? Maybe we can cut part of the stomach..."

[Maquise]

That damage is done. Nothing will happen beyond Mira being freed. I don't really need your cooperation, but I would appreciate it.

Grembler shrugs. "Many things might go wrong. The wound might get infected, or the grubs might give off poison when killed. Best way, finding some way to remove them without cutting open."

Dirklegs crawls out of Grembler's robe, causing Anita to start. While the princess curses under her breath, Grembler seems to listen to something the centipede says. "That be... one way to do it. Dirklegs says, he could follow grubs, go in and eat them."


(Something to keep in mind; Karrin is still suffering from charisma damage, so her self-confidence is at a low. Not trying to tell you how to play your character or anything, just reminding you.)

[Frosty]

"Don't be alarmed, Anita. I think that's the equivalent of some sort of wizard's familiar, except the teacher/student relationship is sort of reversed. It teaches Grembler spells from time to time."

The paladin doesn't have a lot of time to decide, as Mira doesn't have long. And as disgusting as letting Dirklegs crawl up into Mira is, it's either that or rely on the demon yet again. Without much confidence in her ability to resist the same temptation in the future, Karrin says, "Grembler, do it quickly. I'm in your debt. I'll be right outside this room."

As she walks outside, she thinks to Ns'Karra, "Fine. I believe you. You can assist us if Grembler's plan fails."

Sitting down and hugging herself, Karrin fights the urge to cry. "Damnit it's always my fault...my friends get hurt...and sometimes die...but I seem to scrape by. I should never have left mIra alone. NEVER! My fault!"

[Maquise]

You hear N'skarra give an unpleasant chuckle. You might end up wishing you went with me first, before this is done.

As you wait, you hear Mira cry out suddenly, groaning in pain. This continues for a while, before Grembler returns. "I think it worked, but you might want to come and help Mirabelle in the last part."

You return to the chamber. Mira is doubled over, one hand clutching her stomache, the other gingerly rubbing her rear hole. As you watch, Dirklegs, swollen to several times his normal size, begins to crawl out her rear, eliciting another pained moan.

[Frosty]

Uhhhg! This is like...childbirth out the rear, with just as much pain! "Mira, don't worry...I'm here for you...I'm here for you. Grembler, will Dirklegs need help to get out?"

Karrin emits a soft, soothing light, healing everyone. She does everything she can to make Mira more comfortable. She hold Mira's hands, letting Mira squeeze as much as she wants.

[Maquise]

Grembler extends his staff, and the centipede grabs on. Slowly, he pulls Dirklegs out, producing a wet sucking sound. Mira gets particularly vocal when the largest part of Dirklegs forces itself through her stretched end, but the rest comes out fairly smoothly, leaving a sticky trail of clear slime. Mira lies there gasping, trying in vain to push her ruined hole back into its proper shape.

[Frosty]

Karrin's healing: (4d6)[16]

"Mira, can you hear me? Can you speak?"

[Maquise]

"Ughhhh... that really, really sucked." She crawls up, hugging your neck. "I don't know which was worse, the larvae or Grembler's pet. I swear, of all the things I thought I'd be fighting, I never thought it'd be bugs that get into your head by crawling up your ass."

[Frosty]

Karrin hugs her lover back. "Please don't scare me like this again. the next time I suggest you guard something along, just smack me for being stupid. I almost had to...make some really bad choices."

After a few seconds, she asks, "Do you remember everything?"

[Maquise]

"I will, believe me." She kisses you for a moment. "And I do remember everything. Karrin, they're lying. They're waiting for us to find the sword, then they plan to kill us and take it for themselves."

[Frosty]

"So we find it, and then bust out quickly? Think it's a good idea to try to rest for a day? We're all pretty beat up, and they'll keep up the...farce until we find the weapon. Besides, I want to try to have enough juice to cure the others."

[Maquise]

"We don't have a choice, I think. I'm in no shape to fight as of now." She shivers, huddling up and trying to cover herself. "My clothes were destroyed, but my armor looks intact. Good thing too, that was expensive." She looks around. "By the way, I lost my sword. Don't say anything, I know what you're thinking."

[Frosty]

"Thinking? Yes, I'm thinking you heroically defended yourself, cutting an arm off from one of those things. Timson, please give me the sword. Thank you. Mira, we'll get you some spare clothes back at the inn where out stuff is. Here's your sword back. There, you now feel less naked." A warrior without a weapon is naked indeed.

[Maquise]

Grasping her sword, she pulls herself to her feet. You help her gather up her armor, and return to the inn. As you leave the tunnels, you can feel the gaze of the aberrations coming from the darkness.

You arrive at the inn's cellars, and head upstairs. You note that the innkeeper has not yet returned, and was probably taken prisoner by the creatures when they abducted Mirabelle. Mira heads to your room and throws herself naked onto the bed, quickly falling asleep. Her sword doesn't leave her hand, and you get the distinct impression she's used to sleeping armed.

[Frosty]

"Alright. While she's sleeping, let's try to cure Skeever at least. Tomorrow, or whenever the rest of my infected friends show up, I'll try to cure them as well."

Keeping the unconscious Skeever still tied up and having Anita basically kneeling (pinning) Skeever, Karrin injects some healing into the kobold, hoping to get rid of the parasite.

Spoiler

Show

LoH check: (1d20+8)[25]

[Maquise]

With this burst of energy, Skeever is freed.

"Oww, dat really 'urt. I went up ta scout dat ladder like ya said, when some giant bug jumped on me, and stuck something in me bum. Then I couldn't think or nuthin', it just made me do whatever it wanted."

[Frosty]

Karrin smirks. "Still confident that you don't need the ring at *all*, Skeever? Well, what you went through is no laughing matter. I'm just glad I could heal you. What I don't understand is how parasites got into Lyanna and Kensin. I thought you two were following them back in the wilderness? They got the parasite before we ever entered the city."

[Maquise]

"It be their strange powers. They can hide themselves, somehow. Make you not see them. They knew we were following them, so they must've waited 'till we weren't around to hit."

[Frosty]

"It is magical invisibility, you think? Also, I wonder if we can concoct some sort of brew to make ourselves resistant or immune to being invaded like that. Between your knowledge of poison and Grembler's knowledge of alchemy...what do you two think?"

[Maquise]

"Not same way we be used to, methinks. It's all really strange. More like, they make you not see them. Your eye sees, but ya don't get that they be there. I talk to da goblin. Mebbe we work sumthin' out soon."