Death is the Beginning

Security has been tightened in the dungeons. The guards are searching everything that comes in throughly, and with an air of displeasure that makes their conversation short and to the point. In the dungeons themselves there's a guard as well, standing just outside the new cell that is Menel's home. It's remarkably like the last one that he kept himself to. Really there's just not that much difference between one and another one. The swordsman sits on his bed, a little goblin lass rolled over his lap and a small card passing between his fingers thoughtfully.

The Gobbo dozes lightly, coming awake randomly throughout the night and day. She wakes, then, suddenly, her ears straightening. Her hands stretches out as she attempts to take the card from Menel's hand. "What's that?", she wonders. A sniff. "Someone's burning something again."

Some people's personal security has also gotten tightened, from the state of Seldan's attire when he finally arrives early afternoon of the next day. The guards may wonder at the paladin's apparent need for full armor and weapons, but he is his usual self, even somewhat cheerful, divesting without complaint. He does inquire after Acedia while there, but keeps that short, and is patient with the protocols before turning to head down in that cell's direction.

Embarrassment flashes across Menel's face as he holds the card away from Acedia, even going so far as to quickly shove it into his vest so that she can't get to it. "It's just... the card from that basket last night." His embarrassment is clearly born of guilt and he holds his hand against his chest so that she can't try to steal the card from him. "It's fine Acedia. It's not like someone can kill me with a /card/."

Acedia stands up in his lap, which pretty much brings her eyes level with his, her expression quickly one of anger. "What does it say? And how did you get it?", she growls. "People can kill with a look, you know this, so yes, they damn well can kill with a card. You are very foolish." She crosses her arms, and huffs.

Voices floating down the hall may or may not disguise Seldan's footfalls, although his stride is swift and purposeful, it is not angry. When he reaches the cell with the guard at it, he flashes a grin at the guard. "I would ask your forgiveness for the need to be down here alone. I am certain it is a burden."

The guard blinks at Seldan, but gives him a half-smile. "The burden is that little goblin, she's a bit..." He makes a motion with his hand to indicate that she's crazy then glances toward the cell as if to be sure that he's not been overheard. "It's alright sir, Menel's a nice guy and none of us want anything to happen to him."

Menel is slightly flushed now, but there's a stubborn look on his face. "Don't blame Jaxiom, I told him I'd take responsibility for it." He's about to explain it seems when he realizes that Seldan's arrived and his expression clears into one of pleasure "Seldan! Dear stars! I had thought you were dead for sure!"

"I heard that!", 'that little goblin' says, with a huff. She looks to Menel. "I most certainly will blame him, he was supposed to take it away. And don't think that I am trying to make Zeke out to be some monster... She is in his head, somehow, got there while he was trying to help Cryosanthia get Her out. That bitch knows many ways to hurt and kill people, as I am sure you are aware of."

Her mood changes almost instantly, however, and she is there at the door, hopping back and forth from foot to foot, her wooden sandals clacking on the cell's floor. "Did you stake out that vampire for holy Daeus to send on to the netherworld?"

"Truly did holy Eluna hold me in the palm of her hand yestereven," Seldan answers Menel first, although he flashes an understanding look at the guard. "Acedia came, when Zeke disappeared, and I could not do so. I knew not his intentions, and thought to have her warn you. I had not expected her to stay. No, I fear not, Acedia, the shadows took him first, and in truth I was hard-put to hold my own against him. He is not a foe to be taken lightly, and yet did I learn a few things. I think that he can be brought down, do we have the people and tools to hand." He nods to the door. "Might I?"

Menel stands and motions for Seldan to come inside. "Come in, come in! Man, I'm glad to see you. I was worried when you didn't show up last night. Thought that Kol must have..." He falls silent and shakes his head a little. "Acedia took it upon herself to be my guard and make sure that... Zeke? Didn't come down here to kill me. We haven't seen him though."

The moment Seldan steps foot inside the cell, the Gobbo attaches herself to his leg. A lengthy hug follows. Then her face reverts from a smile to a frown. "The guards and Menel aren't taking things seriously. They wanted to have him eat whatever it was that Zeke left behind! I had to get upset for them to take it away. And Menel somehow got the card out of the basket." Acedia crosses her arms. "If SHE even had a guess as to what was going on right this moment, Zeke could have probably killed Menel without the guards even understanding how. I mean, hello, I can't be the only one that knows that poison and magic exists..." She looks to Seldan, plaintively. "Tell me I'm not wrong."

"It was in my mind to come down yestereven," Seldan agrees, although entering is made more difficult by the limpet he seems to have acquired from somewhere. He smiles down at Acedia, somehow cheerful and at peace, and reaches to pick the gobber up if she'll let him. "Would that I could, Acedia, but Zeke did tell me that he would not and could not stop. I had thought to see what you could offer him ...." He trails off. We know how that turned out. "He did not come here?" That steals his smile, and replaces it with a pensive frown.

"Once Kol was gone, and those Sunguards still in their minds had tended the injured, I had to break his mind control over Cryosanthia. I took her to Eluna's Temple, as I was also in need of their aid. I am unsure what happened, but I awoke perhaps an hour past? I would ask your forgiveness for making you wait."

"I think he /was/ here, but he didn't stay for very long." Menel corrects Seldan before motioning for the man to take a seat. He takes one himself on the edge of his bed and sits there pensively. "He left a gift basket with the guards that Acedia didn't let in lest it be poisoned. I talked to Jaxiom while she was sleeping and they don't think it was, so I asked them to give me the card that came with it."

The white-haired swordsman sighs and watches Seldan. "It's alright, I'm just glad you seem well enough after your run-in with Kol."

Acedia does indeed allow Seldan to pick her up, and she is content to stay there until he seats himself, where she will wriggle free and move to sit between the two. "Again, you are very foolish.", she says to Menel, with a sigh. "So what did it say, then? Was it worth the risk?" The Gobbo looks to Seldan then.

"Were you successful in breaking their hold over Cryosanthia?"

Seldan does indeed seat himself, and let the Gobbo wriggle free readily enough, considering what Menel has said. "Strange," he murmurs, but the frown deepens at Acedia's question, his entire face pursing as he thinks. After a few breaths, he rests elbows on knees and rubs at temples, in the way of one thinking hard. "I do not recall, Acedia. Forgive me. We reached the Temple, and I was able to offer thanksgiving to her ... and I remember little after that. I remember asking it of them - I think. The Seers wished to know what happened...." He shakes his head.

Menel half-lifts a hand toward his chest but doesn't quite. "It's just... an apology." He murmurs the words and sighs. Watches Seldan. "I'm sure they took care of Cryosanthia for you Seldan. Are you feeling alright yourself?"

He seems about to say more but the guard interrupts, bringing in a tray of food and setting it on the table in the center of the room and eyeing Aceida before leaving again. It's a bit of breakfast and tea, clearly meant for the swordsman who offers the guard a grateful smile. "Can I offer you guys anything?"

The Gobbo is distracted momentarily by the guard, giving him the evil eye until he is out of the cell. "No.", she says with a huff. "I am fine." The noisy gurgle and growl from her stomach might contradict her, somewhat. "Thank you, though." She looks to Seldan a moment. "Were you wounded in the battle, Seldan? Have you been tended to?"

Seldan, though, looks up, wearing a definite look of interest. "If it would be no trouble, I fear that I missed supper last night in all the excitement." His stomach, too, is growling, but he waits for a moment before returning to the topic. He hesitates before answering, wearing the caught look that says only too clearly, _yes, and I didn't want to say that_. "I am certain that they did," he agrees, still thinking. "Nothing that could not be mended. When I awoke, I was well, and my hurts mended, fear not for me. A minor headache only."

Menel pours a round of tea for everyone, and divides the food up into /three/ portions. The kitchen knows that the swordsman has a hefty appetite, so there's enough food to go around. With that done he picks up his tea cup and breathes over it to cool it. "Please, have some. You too Acedia, I insist. I don't need all this food." He flashes a grin. "And if I'm really hungry Jaxiom's nice enough to go get us some more aren't you?"

The guard at the door confirms his question with a little laugh and a nod, he's trying not to evesdrop on their conversation but there's only so much that one can do when one is stationed outside an open room. Menel chuckles and drinks a bit of the tea while it's still hot, motioning for everyone else to join him.

GAME: Menel rolls fortitude: (6)+4: 10

The Gobbo looks away, and crosses her arms. "I am good, thank you, though. You'll need it more than I." She looks to Seldan a moment, and hops off the bed to begin pacing back and forth in the cell.

GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (4)+18: 22
GAME: Menel rolls 3d6: (12): 12

Seldan also tends towards a hefty appetite - it seems to be a thing among the warrior types - and he accepts some of the tea with a small chuckle. "Acedia, I have not seen you turn down food before, and too often do you thieve mine. Now you refuse? Are you certain you are well?" He picks up his own teacup and takes a sip, thoughtfully.

The Gobbo shakes her head. "The guards did not make that meal for me, nor have they offered me anything. I am not going to take any of it. I bring news of a potential danger, and they treat it lightly, and ignore basic hospitality? I'm not interested, then." Acedia looks to Seldan. "I am quite well, I seem to be the only one who has not taken leave of their senses."

Menel chuckles as well, clearly agreeing with Seldan. Then, the tea cup falls out of Menel's hands and the swordsman lets out a horrid wheeze. In the space of a few seconds his body goes rigid and he tilts face-first onto the floor; unconscious and clearly unable to breathe. The sound of the teacup shattering echoes in the little room, but worse is the rattle of the swordsman's breath caught in his throat...

GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20: (18): 18
GAME: Seldan rolls heal: (13)+10: 23

Seldan immediately shoots to his feet as Menel crumples to the floor, only to drop to one knee as well as dizziness overtakes him at the sudden movement. "Poisoned!" he gasps, although he seems to have enough air to talk, and snaps a look at the guard. "Bring help. Now." With an effort, he crawls over to the crumpled Menel, feeling for a pulse. "Gods, this is nasty," he mutters, searching frantically. "Acedia, you were right. I would have your forgiveness. We need to delay this, -now-, if he is to live." His own voice is strained, although the black skin that he shows openly down here makes it difficult to tell how badly he is affected.

Acedia stares as Menel crumples, worry etching lines in her forehead, and she moves to Seldan as he, too, has difficulties. "Guards, we need to move Menel to the surface now! Send for clerics!" She looks to Seldan. "The only way he is to live is if we get him out of here. The one who has done this knows this is what we will do. The attack will come soon. I will help you carry him."

The guard moves into the room rather than listening to Seldan's exact command, or maybe he's listening to Acedia. "I can carry him." Jaxiom leans down and picks Menel up, lifting him into his arms with some difficulty but managing to do it. He then looks at Seldan, offering a short nod of understanding before taking the stairs as quickly as he can while bearing a man in his arms. The last rattle that comes out of the swordsman sounds like a promise of death.

"I-I can stand." With some difficulty, Seldan gets to his feet. "I must, if we are to fight. Come. I will need your help to arm." He starts towards the door after the guard, one hand out for balance and gritting his teeth.

The Gobbo nods to the guard. "Call ahead, get some of your squad here with you. You will be vulnerable. Allow me to assist Seldan and we will move ahead of you. Menel's life depends on you, now." Acedia moves to Seldan's side, and she wraps an arm behind his waist. "Lean on me a little, I'll help you get up top."

It's a long trek up the stairs, or at least... this time it seems that it is. Really it's the same number of steps it always is until you're clamoring out into the light of day and the guard is met by his fellows. They form a little group around Menel, setting his body on the ground and calling for a cleric. There's one on duty for the prisoners in case any of them need emergency healing, and she comes in a rush of robes to see what the ruckus is. She falls to Menel's side, to see if anything can be done for him.

Seldan accepts the assistance, placing a hand on Acedia's shoulder for balance. With the Gobber steadying him, he's able to reach the top of the stairs and make his way through the archway - only to spot a large group of strangers, including one in robes. Suddenly wary, he hangs back from the crowd, eyes on the group clustered around Menel, looking as if torn between Menel and Acedia.

The Gobbo looks to Seldan, and tsks. "Let her heal him, and then she can help you, Seldan. Though... can you heal yourself, at this point, we are outside the barrier against magic." She looks to Jaxiom. "Are there more guards, another shift, perhaps? I know you house some dangerous people, you might want to do a thorough search of the cell area. I will assist you if needed, and we might see if some of the Temples might lend a few of their own for extra security." Acedia lets out a breath and calls out to the priest. "The tea was poisoned. Menel and Seldan both drank only a mouthful, hardly that, a sip. Seldan seems to have avoided the worst of it."

Too soon the cleric leaves Menel's side, moving through the guards who watch her anxiously. Jaxiom nods to Acedia, heading down into the dungeon to check the area himself for anyone that might be there that shouldn't. Meanwhile the cleric joins you. She looks from Acedia to Seldan, finally addressing you both. "He's dead, and there's nothing that I can do for him now. If you drank the poison as well though, I can heal you." The cleric moves toward Seldan to do just that.

Seldan shakes his head at Acedia, slowly, distracted from the group. "No. The battle against Kol Demontry took most of my strength and grace." The cleric may or may not have heard that comment in her approach. "I shall-" He looks over at the cleric, warily at first given his blackened skin, and it is then that her words sink in. "No. NO!" He turns and slams his bare fist into the stone of the archway at his back, then leans against it, forearm on the archway, head on forearm, shoulders slumped, every line of his body screaming defeat, the hand that slammed into the wall left to hang.

The tears come quickly, and the Gobbo closes her eyes, shaking her head. "No. He is not yet gone." She opens her eyes to look to the cleric. "We will resurrect him, we will bring him back, it is NOT yet HIS time!" She stomps one of her little feet, causing a loud clack sound to echo. Then Seldan acquires a limpet Gobbo once more as she clings to him. "And yes, miss... Seldan is poisoned, you should help him."

The cleric seems... more reluctant now to approach Seldan, but understanding. "I'm sure." It's a comforting reply to Acedia, of the sort that healers give when they're anything but certain but don't want their patients to know. She moves in though, to lay her prayer on Seldan and remove the poison from his body. "I'm sorry for your loss."

GAME: Seldan rolls will: (11)+22: 33

Seldan's shoulders are tense and tight, almost shaking. "I knew. I -knew- there would be yet another attempt ... I am a fool." The prayer washes through him, removing dizziness and nausea and leaving relief in its wake, it is enough of a jolt to get him to drop the arm and turn - limpet and all - to face the cleric, his eyes haunted and hurting, but the set of shoulders and jaw determined. "You will have the body sent to the Dread Lady's faithful?" he asks in a low, flat, dead tone, placing a hand on Acedia's head as if for comfort. "There are no guarantees, but I must try."

"I've done it once already. I paid to have Chay brought back, and now I will have Menel returned.", the Gobbo says firmly. She goes silent for a few moments when Seldan places his hand on her head. "This is another crime that She will pay for, Seldan. Maybe I cannot face her. Maybe I am too small. Too weak. But I can defy her by restoring those she attempts to take from us. I can hide people. I can put coin where it needs to be. I will use my voice and make sure everyone hears me. Hears what She has done. And tell everyone that She can, and must, be beaten."

The cleric nods her head low to Seldan. "As you say it shall be done." She moves away from the pair towards Menel's body. Directing one of the guards to call a runner to bring a cart and take him away. Jaxiom returns from below to quietly inform you that there's no one below to worry about. The prisons are clear.

Once the cleric has gone, Seldan looks down at Acedia. "We intercept the body at the Dread Lady's Temple. I have the coin, available to me. We shall do this swiftly, that as few as may be know the truth, whatever that truth may be. Eluna grant that it is a better truth than the one now." He still looks haunted, aching, angry, but he is keeping his voice low, even, with a force of will. When Jaxiom returns from his sweep, he simply nods. "Then there is no more purpose for us to be here. We shall arm and be on our way. You have my thanks for the healing, fool that I was." He gently pulls at Acedia, as if to remove her from him so that they can arm and go.

The Gobbo nods to Seldan's words, but he has to pull at her a bit more forcefully to get her to start moving. She clings to his arm and practically trudges along. "I should go and get my gear. I will join you there, alright?"

-End