Pride of Silvermoon
GAME: Hun'rar casts Shocking Grasp. Caster Level: 11 DC: 16
Snow falls from the heavens, barely making it through the trees down to your troop which has been traveling through the woods for some time now. There's no way to teleport to Silvermoon so the over-land route is the only way to get there. The air is cold and wet, and generally it's not very pleasant to be outside right now, but you have little choice but to continue onward. It's much closer to your destination now than it is to where you came from. It's dark here beneath the canopy, there's a full moon somewhere, but its lost to the blackness of the clouds that offer you snow. A shudder sends its way up your spine that has nothing to do with the chill as you come to a clearing in the woods that's filled with a fog that shouldn't be there.
From this fog comes a voice, and a pair of figures which stall your horses in their tracks. They refuse to move forward any further and the words that come to you are in the language of the elves. "Turn around. Do not come this way."
Hun'rar luckily is quite comfortable bundled in his armor, layers of padding and adamantine seperate himself from the cold before even considering the enchantments on it. On top of that there are enchantments for comfort, keeping him as snug and happy as a red dragon on fire. "What did they say?" he asks of the others. Fear is not something that particularly gets to him or those near him but is wary of traps and so forth.
Even if Seldan cannot understand the words, the demand to halt is pretty evident, to judge by his horse's response. He is armed and armored, the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna worn openly on cloak and pendant around his neck, and seems untroubled by the chill and the wet. The fog, though, is another matter, and he immediately looks over at Mikilos to answer what is clearly a demand.
Mikilos sighs, having been though this before. "No. I am Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia, Archmage of the 7th circle. I come bearing treatments for the Plague, notes of an imperfect cure, and plans to find and stop the one who caused this mess in th first place." <all in Sildanari, of course>
Toha's mount, already un... Unhappy about bearing the construct on it's back through the snow, stops readily at the flowery gobbledygook that rambles out of the fog to the group. She looks down at the creature with a soft, inquiring note as she lightly touches the horse's neck, and in lieu of clicking her nonexistent tongue, simply strokes the creature's fur with intent to settle it down. She listens to her leader return the babble in kind, and starts to glance around.
Iuitl is here. She looks like a black-scaled swiftclaw that's just tagging along with everyone else. She doesn't make it obvious she's any different from any other mount they have along with them, but she's not trying to be particularly sneaky about what she's up to. She snorts when the horses come to a halt, and pauses to sit there and wait for the group to advance, idly preening at her foreclaws. Witches are weird.
The figures draw slightly closer, but are clearly using the fog as cover to keep you from being able to see them clearly. "Even you are not welcome here."
"Wait, he said something about a cure." A second voice joins the first but far more quietly, someone clearly talking to their superior and trying not to be overheard, but the clearing carries the voice well. "Even an imperfect one would be of use to us."
There's quiet from the pair for a long moment and then they draw closer still. "Do not be alarmed by our appearance, the plague has touched almost all of us in Silvermoon. It has made changes to some of us." The voice sounds sad and then the two appear out of the fog and you are startled by their appearance. One of them has the head of a wolf or some other canid creature, the other looks like an elf but when he speaks his teeth are all sharp and his eyes are pure black. He looks at you with a world of sadness in his eyes. "Are you sure you wish to enter? The plague has stricken our land most foully." <sildanari>
Hun'rar looks at the two elves and then back at Mikilos "Well? What are they saying and why are they like that?" he asks with a measure of concern. "Can you tell them we can help?" he adds to Mikilos and doing his best to appear friendly to the elves. You know, as friendly as a dragon-themed knight ever can be.
Mikilos nods, unsurprised by the appearances "I've been turned away once, I'll not be denied again. I've discovered a tonic, an alchemic mix that stops the body weakening by the Plague. Deaths in Alexandros have dropped to almost none. Among the demon hunters of the Sith'makar, a cure was found, able to rip the Plague from a body. And now I come to to the libraries of House Arcanum, seeking texts on how to stop the Mistress of the Shard Tower." <sil>
Glancing to the others, he offers a short translation. "They're Guards, under orders to stop everyone. But, with a treatment and cure, they might let us pass."
After the first start of surprise, Seldan relaxes, and looks over at Mikilos, and at Hun'rar. "The plague," he answers simply himself, though the Myrrish-laced words carry more than just sadness. Determination. "Master Mithralla, will a spell trouble them, that I might understand your tongue?"
Toha visually is doing no more than trying to make sure her mount isn't too upset. Inwardly, she's glancing around, though, she turns her focus on the... altered elves as the head of this expedition explains what's being said.
Merek has taken the time to put on the white-black attire which he wears, a scarf with the long coat that has a belt cape that upon the hip along to one side while he makes a way with Mikilos, listening.
Duncan brings up the rear of the party, riding his Digger. The mount seems to not notice his weight, or feel discomfort at the snow. The rider certainly notices. Duncan regularly rubs at his arms to get the blood flowing or blows into cupped hand to try and restore feeling. And then always tugs at a heavy cloak to try and cover various parts of exposed skin. He scowls slightly at the Sildanyari being spoken. He really is the worst diplomat.
The elves look around at your party and the wolf-headed elf shrugs while his companion looks you over more suspiciously. He switches to a halting, very heavily accented tradespeak. "If you be willing to face the plague, then come." He looks at you as if you are walking into your deaths then motions to his companion, and the wolf elf moves toward you. "He will check you for foul magics that might be on your persons, and you must peace-bond your weapons in the city. Once this is done we will take you to the temple of Eluna, the clerics there will have interest in your tale."
The animalistic elf moves forward, his hands swaying gracefully as he casts a spell to detect magic, and then suddenly begins to cough and hack. Black ooze pours out of his jaws and he falls to his knees. His companion moves forward worriedly, but it seems its too late. A black ooze is forming at the elf's feet, one that won't stop pouring out of his jaws. The wolf-headed elf slumps forward and his eyes roll back into his head, the black ichor that he coughed up already forming upwards and slodging toward the nearest person - Mikilos. On the ground the wolf-headed elf's body twitches violently.
Mikilos glances to Seldan, frowning thoughtfully. "Cast upon yourself, it should be fine. Theirs is a different strain, so I'm not certain. The canid features are something I've not had a chance to study the effects." And then there's Ooze... because of course there is.
GAME: Mikilos rolls weapon7: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Mikilos rolls damage 7: aliased to +0: (11)++0: 11
Mikilos has a horrible black Ooze squirming towards his face... again. Keeping his mouth firmly shut, and absently thinking about glueing his nostrils closed, the wizard smacks the ooze with his blade. Which may not be the best idea, but these things are almost designed to kill him.
Hun'rar dismounts his ride with a shake of his foot to get the stirrup off and stumbles a bit when he hits the ground but keeps his feet. Shaky dismount aside he closes in on the ooze with sword and shield in hand. "Stand back, especially if you have not had the ooze harm you before. I have already survived its effects and I don't want to see more sick people." he says to warn others, including the elf.
GAME: Toha rolls heal: (17)+1: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (2)+20: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Toha rolls cmb: (10)+12: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (5)+20: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+4: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (2)+24: 26 GAME: Toha rolls fort: (12)+11: 23
Fortunately, if frustratingly bereft of nostrils, Toha decides to dismount, pulling the greatsword from it's scabbard. With a cry of an Orcish word, chased a Kulthian second, the blade is bidden to twist, fold and peel to become a massive hammer. The construct shouts, "Get him out of-d'oh!" as her intended cross-check ends with an onyx tendril bashing the hell out of her just before she bounces away from the threat, leaving the blob quivering like J-E-L-L-O. And looking to nom on her.
The ooze jiggles and uses the fact that Toha is so alluringly close to suddenly lurch upwards and just sort of... fall on top of her. You can barely see the golem through the layer of black ooze that surrounds her. The ooze squelches loudly and prepares to return to its original snack option...
Behind Hun'rar the form of the wolf-headed elf rises to its feet. It moves forward slowly, still dripping black ooze from its maw and it's eyes eerily vacant.
GAME: Duncan RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 22 temporary HP GAME: Duncan rolls 21: (13)+21: 34 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+22: (5)+22: 27 GAME: Seldan casts Shield. Caster Level: 11 DC: 16 GAME: Merek casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17
"Blunt weapons!" Seldan is slow to react as the ooze spills forth, his eyes widening, but once he does, he slides from his mount, drawing the heavy mace at his belt. "No spells! No bladed weapons! Free her if you can!" Even as he does so, his free hand is already raised, drawing sigils in the air. He adds a phrase to that, and they burst into a blue-white life. He makes a final gesture, and they form a shield between him and the creature.
GAME: Mikilos casts Antimagic Field. Caster Level: 13 DC: 25
Duncan reaches behind his back and unclips the battle hammer he keeps there. Tiny arcs of electricity snake down the length of the handle and over the head. His digger breaks into a charge and the two hurtle across the snow. Just as they reach the ooze, Duncan smashes it with his hammer...and then looks stricken at the thought that he's hurting Toha just as much as her captor.
Mikilos considers only a moment, and moves closer to the action, focusing as he pokes a small hole in the Fabric of the Universe, peeling away a small part of a single layer... the part that -is- Magic. The part left behind is... a little duller, a little more worn... it's... not as magical.
And the foes seem okay with this. Damn.
Merek looks about to speak, then it looks like there is ooze. He lifts up a brow, while he begins to make a few gestures with a chant, blessing the team while he takes a moment to spin his longspear.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls cmb: (19)+20: 39 GAME: Toha rolls fort: (10)+11: 21
Hun'rar looks at his sword and back at the slime before sheathing his weapon. "Won't do much good here..." he says instead jamming his armored hand into the ooze to grab Toha by the arm and jank her out of the creature with all his strength. "Thats no place to be, please take a step behind my shield if you have to! My armor will keep it at bay." he says
GAME: Toha RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 20 temporary HP GAME: Toha rolls weapon10: (14)+weapon10: 14 GAME: Toha rolls weapon10-8: (14)+weapon10+-8: 6 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+16: (6)+16: 22 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+16: (10)+16: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (20)+24: 44 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+4: (10)+4: 14
There is a muffled >CLANG!< from inside the slime as the hammerblow carries through to the golem enveloped within. This is followed by the sound of a slightly irritated growl. As she is pulled from the muck, dripping, embarrassed and generally feeling... odd, Toha nods a humbled, "Thank you..." Though to his advice, she turns, and a pinprick of bright ruby light flares into being within her eyeslit, motive straps creaking as they tighten against each other in her rage as she puts two fierce hammer strikes against her previous connoisseur.
GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (2)+20: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (10)+20: 30
The ooze doesn't seem to mind the fact that Toha has escaped it, in fact it ignores her entirely now, slurping after Mikilos intently. The mage is quickly enveloped by the black jelly-like creature and it wiggles intently. Behind Hun'rar the wolf-faced elf lashes out with clawed fingers at the fighter, missing him thanks to his armor, but one of the strikes was a very near miss.
Duncan narrows his eyes as the ooze traps Mikilos now. He shifts his grip uneasily on his warhammer. Then the wolf-headed elf attacks. Duncan turns the hammer slightly in his hands, gaze shifting between the two targets. An unusually crafty look crosses his face. As if sinking into quicksand, Khazad Digger and Khazad disappear into the earth, leaving nothing but churned up snow in their wake.
GAME: Duncan casts Enlarge Person. Caster Level: 6 DC: 12 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon2-4: (7)+14+-4: 17 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon2-4: (6)+14+-4: 16 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+4: (4)+4: 8 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Merek rolls ranged-4: (20)+10+-4: 26 (THREAT) GAME: Merek rolls ranged-4: (10)+10+-4: 16 GAME: Merek rolls 1d12: (6): 6
Merek twirls that longspear back onto his sheath, with both hands maneuvering while he begins to draw his silver-black longarm. He then lifts that up, while he places a finger on that trigger device, a brass slug then swinging into the ooze as well.
GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (9)+10: 19
The prospect of risking a second infection has Seldan hesitating, but he's got to get that thing away from Mikilos, or this will have all been in vain. He strikes out at the ooze, splattering it into small pieces, but with the need to not hit Mikilos, he isn't doing as much damage as he might.
GAME: Mikilos rolls cmb: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Hun'rar rolls cmb+2: (1)+20+2: 23 (EPIC FAIL)
Mikilos claws and struggles, trying to free himself from the Ooze. Not exactly his most dignified effort, nor his most successful. Doesn't help he's trying to keep his mouth closed and not inhale... that's not working so well either.
Hun'rar looks over at Toha "Nice swing, I take it all back. This guy though..." Hun'rar reaches in to try and drag Mikilos out as well but as the ooze moves he is unable to find a handhold on the wizard to pull him out.
GAME: Toha rolls weapon10: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Toha rolls weapon10-8: (4)+15+-8: 11 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+16: (11)+16: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (12)+20: 32 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (2)+20: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+10: (4)+10: 14
Any suspicious Toha would have that the odd feeling in her workings was simply the effect of whatever neutralized her magic and her titan augmentation, were she not under the effect of her rage would be dashed by the black, seeping dribble that bubbles and burbles out of the seams of her mouth. Undeterred and stoked, she makes another pair of savage hammer blows on the splashy menace.
The ooze wobbles, bloated with Mikilos inside of it and makes a somewhat lazy swing at Seldan who deftly avoids its swing. Meanwhile the wolf-headed elf makes his own swings at Hun'rar, and finally connects this time, scratching the man a little with its claw.
GAME: Duncan rolls 17: (16)+17: 33 GAME: Duncan rolls 17: (9)+17: 26 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+26: (5)+26: 31 GAME: Seldan rolls cmb+2: (3)+13+2: 18 GAME: Merek casts Summon Monster IV. Caster Level: 8 DC: 17 GAME: Merek rolls 1d20+9-4: (3)+9+-4: 8 GAME: Merek rolls 1d20+4-4: (1)+4+-4: 1 (EPIC FAIL)
Having nimbly dodged the lazy swing from the ooze - Seldan was ready for that - he looks, and thinks he spots - is that a hand? He grabs for it, only to have it slip away as he grabs.
Duncan's bald pate rises from the ground, and continues to rise as he emerged fully. Only, he keeps rising. And not because he's sitting atop his digger. The mount does not in fact emerge from the ground - it's just Duncan. He's now much taller than when he dove into the earth. As his boots rise into sight he steps out of the ground and swings his now massive hammer, a wide arcing blow that smacks off of the ooze, skillfully angled to clip it rather than smash directly into it. The flow continues without slowing in a great arc that just misses clipping the wolf-elf. "Stand back!" The ten-foot tall Duncan bellows. "I won't hurt them - much!"
GAME: Mikilos rolls cmb: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
Merek lifts up a hand while he twirls that longarm to the side, a summon circle beginning to form while it calls an Archon from the Plane it comes from. Then the being will lift up the blade, while it takes a few swings at the ooze, one of them managing to splatter a bit about!
GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (15)+10: 25
Mikilos struggles inside the ooze... poorly, coughing and sputtering... inside ooze... however bad you think that sounds, it's really quite worse.
GAME: Hun'rar rolls cmb+2: (6)+20+2: 28
Hun'rar reaches back into the ooze, reaching around before finally getting hold of Mikilos and pulling the wizard out. "You will want to stay out of that thing." he says with a grin as he shakes as much residual ooze off of his hand as he can. "Never took you for the up close and personal type."
GAME: Toha rolls weapon10: (14)+15: 29 GAME: Toha rolls weapon10: (18)+15: 33 GAME: Toha rolls weapon10-8: (19)+15+-8: 26 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+16: (10)+16: 26 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+16: (9)+16: 25 GAME: Toha rolls 2d6+16: (8)+16: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (2)+20: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (11)+20: 31
The wolf-headed elf continues to try and attack Hun'rar, but the large man is untouched by those efforts.
GAME: Duncan rolls 17: (11)+17: 28 GAME: Duncan rolls 17: (13)+17: 30 GAME: Duncan rolls 12: (7)+12: 19 GAME: Duncan rolls 7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+26: (6)+26: 32 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+26: (10)+26: 36
Duncan holds his hammer with both hands, one hand choked up near the heavy warhead so he can better control it. Angling it crosswise like a staff, he swings it so the handle glances off the elf's chin. Then before the elf recovers, Duncan jabs the other side forward into the wolf-headed elf's breadbasket, a thumping blow aimed to knock his wind out. "Don't make me do something we'll both regret!" he grates out.
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon2: (16)+14: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+4+1d6: (3)+4+(3): 10 GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (1)+22: 23 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Merek casts Prayer. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16
Merek looks to the fighting elf, thinking about what he can tell him. "You, don't fight us!" Amazing, this is the best diplomacy. He then chants a supplication in Celestial offered up for Eluna, then a sigil upon the ground begins to encircle all, empowering the team, while it draws away from the ability of the wolf elf. He then places a longarm back to a holster while he spins his longspear, like a focus of some kind.
GAME: Mikilos casts Break Enchantment. Caster Level: 13 DC: 24
Mikilos coughs and sputters, struggeling to stand as he nods to Hun'rar. "Oh, you know me. I love to get my hands dirty." The wizards snorts hard, disloding a few tiny black flecks. "Wait... no I don't, I HATE getting my hands dirty... no wonder this went so poorly..." While not exactly fine, the elf at least is making jokes... Taking a deep, if raspy, breath, the wizard moves to the other elf, and murmurs a few quick phrases under his breath, unleashing a spell at the canid cousin... to no apparent effect.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (14)+20: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6+10: (2)+10: 12 GAME: Toha rolls cmb: (8)+12: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (12)+20: 32 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (1)+20: 21 (EPIC FAIL)
After venting more of her hate on the splotchy mess that was the black blob, and still dripping with her erstwhile passenger, Toha sees the man soaking punishment from the elf they'd made contact with and forcibly extinguishes her whitefire, the ruby mote in her eye fading to nothing. With a languid, weary stride, she closes the distance to the lupine elf and tries to restrain him, to little avail but to acquire another dent with a >clunk<.
The wolf-headed elf attacks Seldan suddenly and viciously, but its attacks can't seem to quite catch the warrior. Meanwhile oozes force their way out of Mikilos and Toha, dribbling down chins and forming little round bodies on the ground where they bounce and make ready to scurry away...
GAME: Duncan rolls 18: (20)+18: 38 GAME: Duncan rolls 18: (14)+18: 32 GAME: Duncan rolls 13: (18)+13: 31 GAME: Duncan rolls &: (6)+&: 6 GAME: Duncan rolls 8: (20)+8: 28 GAME: Duncan rolls 14: (17)+14: 31 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+26: (10)+26: 36 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+26: (9)+26: 35 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+26: (6)+26: 32 GAME: Duncan rolls 2d6+26: (8)+26: 34 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon2: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon2-5: (13)+14+-5: 22 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+4: (1)+4: 5 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6
Duncan frown severely at the elf, who despite all of the party's efforts is still fighting gamely. "Grannox!" he bellows. There is a ripple in the earth under the elf's feet. The disturbance moves past it. Then there is a spray of earth as the Digger bursts from the ground to trap the elf between itself and Duncan. Grimly the two batter it with blows from hammer and savage jaws. None of which draw blood - somehow. But by the time the wolf-elf collapses he's already turning blue from bruising.
Those claws scrabble against the blue-white shield that Seldan put up, only sheer good fortune - or blessed spells - keeping them from getting around it and into Seldan's flesh. Breathing a small sigh of relief, and then a bigger one as the wolf-elf drops, he instead spares a glance for the weapon, whose silver-white light promptly dims, and he turns to the ooze that drops from Toha. With two quick, grimly-aimed blows, he crushes the baby into so much splatter, his expression studiously neutral.
Merek looks to what is still on the ground with the ooze, then he nods a bit. "Alright, it's dissipated a bit, I probably can mange this." A motion for folk to back up a bit, while he begins to chant, making the gestures while a magic circle of divine power begins lifting above the people, with waves of clean water coming to wash away the being.
The combat comes to a quiet end - too quiet. The elf you so carefully tried not to kill lies still on the ground, not even breathing now. It seems that he's dead. You don't think it was your own efforts that slew him. You don't have time to determine their exact cause of death however for out of the fog returns the elf with his strange eyes and a cadre of elvish guards with him. They look over you and the splatters of ooze on the ground and nod. Two come forward to pick up the body of their fallen comrade, but no one accuses you of slaying him. Instead the elf that originally greeted you speaks up in his halting tradespeak. "It seems you faired better against the plague than I would have credited you. Come, you will find little welcome in our city, but you are granted entry. Peace-bond your weapons and we will be on our way."
With that you are led into the city of Silvermoon. It's a grand city, the likes of which the mortal races rarely get to see, but the streets are barren, and those people you do see move about huddled as if against the cold and quickly. No one stops to talk to your guard, or stares at the odd group you make. Instead you are left in peace until you reach the temple of Eluna and there you are greeted by their head priest, a surprisingly young-looking elvish woman who to your eyes could be no more than eighteen winters. She bows her head to you and the guards leave you all in her care. "Greetings." Her tradespeak is very good, though she still has an elvish accent. "I have heard that you speak of a cure?"
Mikilos walks, almost in awe... this is his Hometown, but... it's so -different- from when he was here mere months ago. The wizard gathers himself, and nods to the unfamiliar priest. "A sith found it. Inquisitor magic made to end demonic possession. I myself have alchemic treatments to ease the strain on the body. It;s not a cure, but it's helped." The tall elf hesitates. "At least, it's helped the version we have in Alexandros. Here, it seems different, so I'm not positive the results. Of either. I've prepared information scrolls on everything we've found, learned, and experienced about the Plague, treatments, and those who caused it. It's for the later I've come today."
Seldan peacebonds all weapons readily enough, and for those who know him, the blade at his hip is curiously silent, although he's clearly waiting for it to pipe up. His shoulders relax, however, when it does not. The heavy mace he carries gets cleaned with soap and water before being bonded, but he is quick about it before taking his horse's reins and leading the animal after them.
When they are greeted at the Temple, he bows his head to her, rather deeper than she to him, but lets Mikilos do the talking, and only when the sil is done does he speak. "The magic is not without price, and requires strength of soul and body to withstand."
Toha's hand settles against her chest once the others have handled business, setting her earthbreaker headfirst against the ground and leaning subtly against it. Her head pivots slightly with a cant, then the other way as something ratches into place internally with a click. "Somethin's not right...." Of course, the fact that she's dripping with black slime as well as the silvern rivulets of... whatever the hell is seeping from several of her seams could explain it, but.... As the other elf returns, with friends, the golem forces herself up to her normal stature, wonder if she need, if she even can, activate her Titan boosts in her current state. Since violence isn't offered, she allows herself to be led along with the others. The only words she intones are, "Piriona... Shemzu." and the hammer contorts back into a greatsword to be strapped into its sheath once more.
Duncan has long since returned to his normal Khazad height and is astride his Digger once more. The two seem aloof and barely restrained - and only of their own will. In battle the Digger is faster than the swiftest horse. At any moment they can meld into the earth and surface wherever they desire. Duncan's features are stony as they move through the city. But when they are greeted by the youth he looks down at her for only a moment before remembering why they are here. He climbs down off of the stonebeast to stand next to Mikilos, nodding solemnly in agreement with the Wizard's words.
"We will gladly accept the help, but we are expecting that any day the plague will come to an end." She seems impassive at this statement, as if she thinks that there is no need for the elves to ask for outside aid. "However we will gladly accept your tonic which might lessen the suffering of those still waiting." The priestess nods.
Mikilos quirks a brow. "...if you're sure, then it would seem you know something about the plague I do not. Which admittedly, would not be difficult. Despite extensive study, there's a great deal I still don't know."
Merek takes the time to peacebind his weapon, then he nods a bit while following to the cleric. He inclines to the woman, and with the holy symbol which he wears, she will note he is a cleric of the same faith.
"Was there not something you wished to find here, Master Mithralla?" Seldan asks quietly, his bearing retreating into polite impassivity at the greeting from the high priestess.
Toha has her weapons bound by the time they reached the city. Except the gun, that she simply empties, but leaves dangling from her back chains. She bows slightly to the elf lady in charge, but keeps her figurative yap shut.
Duncan begins to gaze about at their immediate surroundings. "Do you speak for all of the people in this city?" he asks suddenly. "We hardly saw any on our way here. I couldn't tell how their mood was. If they are confident the plague will end soon..."
The priestess looks at the others - the non-elvish - members of the group for a moment and then nods to Mikilos. "There was a tower here in Silvermoon for a time that allowed us to transport a trope to the past to... deal with the situation. We believe that this will put an end to the plague and all its effects here in the present."
Mikilos frowns darkly. "The Shard Tower. The White Tower. The Tower of Zeheir. I'm quite familiar with its abilities, and it's current Mistress. I'm not fan. And I'm very skeptical of using it to solve current problems, but I'm willing to listen to what was done."
"Seer," Seldan begins diffidently, still maintaining that impassive bearing, "what is Silvermoon's understanding of the _situation_, and who was sent? We know of the tower of which you speak, and it holds as many puzzles and perils as answers, but ... should we find ourselves there again, knowing what came before may help us understand what it is that we see."
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (13)+15: 28
Merek listens, not speaking, while he watches the Priestess, then looks to the team with him, nodding a bit. He does shift the hip a little with the material maneuvering along, taking a moment to find a book he keeps with him, beginning to write in it in an ancient language, while he takes notes as well.
GAME: Merek rolls profession/scribe: (4)+7: 11
For a moment it seems as though the priestess will relent and inform you of the plans that were laid out, however her eyes flicker to Merek and she frowns. "We are not going to tell outsiders what we did. We have no desire to share our secrets to those who might not understand our reasons or our convictions. We did what we had to do, that should suffice." She looks at Mikilos. "If /you/ wish to know, then that is your right as a Lord and citizen of our nation, but the others have no such connection to our lands."
Merek looks up to the Priestess, "We've assisted your folk many a time, we want what is best for all the world. I am a fellow cleric of Eluna, and I know for sure she isn't fond of people keeping knowledge meant to ASSIST people away from the people." He stands up so his holy symbol can be within full view also.
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (3)+22: 25
Mikilos checks his reply, and nods, slowly. "I understand. I trust them, but they have not been vetted. Perhaps you can suggest someplace-" and then Merek is speaking. Mikilos frowns mildly, but steps slightly back, letting the two cleric-types sort out their own differences.
Duncan's attention is drawn again to the city surrounding them. "Might the rest of us see more of your city, and the citizens? Or the guards perhaps?" He glances about for the guards that escorted them this far. "I find discussion of such mighty magic beyond me."
"Knowing /what/ we did is of no assistance to you what so ever. Don't bring the name of our goddess into this, you besmirch her honor bringing her up in such a way." There's some double-entendre there, but one that is subtle and likely only she understands. She motions to Mikilos to follow her and frowns at the rest of you. "Stay here." Spoken very firmly as if you might be wayward children this is spoken somewhat specifically to Duncan. "Our citizens have no wish to be harrassed. And the guardsmen have their duties." Then she's taking Mikilos away for a brief discussion. When they return neither her nor Mikilos look very happy.
GAME: Merek rolls will: (1)+16: 17 (EPIC FAIL)
Toha is young, yet, and unskilled in the finer arts of diplomacy, on the upside her poker face is pretty good. She considers their hostess in silence, then Merek, then Mikilos and Duncan as they speak, all without moving. Meanwhile, still slathered with black residue, she drips silver on the floor. Once the discussion is taking to the next room to spare the 'kiddies' she intones a soft, flat, "I don't like her."
Before she takes Mikilos to speak with her, Merek offers his words, "You know, you can tell me that when your folk and ours aren't laid in illness. Until then, my duties transcend my need for superiority," he says. "My apologies." With that his long coat shifts while he looks to the team when she's back there with Mikilos, "Well." His eyes smolder with gold-orange while he looks to the place.
Mikilos returns, NOT happy. But... he's keeping his ire checked. Yelling is not going to help matters. "Seer, perhaps... my entourage... could accompany me to the Red Manor. I'm sure Mother has been worried, and Aunt Marith... of House Son'Doriel... would be more than happy to entertain."
GAME: Merek rolls sense motive: (19)+3: 22
"As you will, but they are your responsibility while they are here." She turns dismissively allowing you all to go with Mikilos where he will lead you. She offers just the briefest nod of her head in turn, and then walks away.
-End