Whilst You Lay Dreaming

The Temple of Vardama keeps healers on staff that are quite thorough, enough to the point that, once Corey has been healed, the man is at least urged to stay for a period of observation. The Warden of Gilead declines, however, and he vacates the chamber, entering the foyer to start asking around with the guards to inquire about Karasu's appearance.

"Excuse me," he says, inquiring with one posted not far from the doorway where he'd entered into the wider Temple. "Have you seen a man? Xian heritage, black hair, dark eyes, a couple of inches taller than me--might have a raven with him? Karasu and Wuya are their names. I'm told Karasu comes here often." He doesn't mention that he'd heard _someone_ say that Karasu wasn't in the Temple earlier, but that was when he'd been carried into the Temple with poison coursing through his veins. His mind's already doing that curious trick of not letting him remember much from after the jab that'd given him the poison.

Off the main foyer is a cloakroom to leave coats, hats, and the like. And there can be seen a dapper half-elf man, collecting a rather distinctive broad brimmed hat with an outrageously purple feather tucked into the band. Dressed in a ruffled white silk shirt, leather trousers, and elaborately worked boots, he cuts the kind of figure you wouldn't expect in the temple.

Some soft words between the cloakroom attendant and the half-elf, and a smile given. For all that the Temple can be a somber place, there is still room for peace and joy. With that, the half-elven man turns towards the doors, quirking an eyebrow as he sees the elven man asking about someone.

The individual approached looks at Corey with a trace of confusion. "I've not seen him." The man says, but then shrugs. "But I just took up the post. You should ask those who are having their meal now since they'd have been at the door earlier."

Here the man looks at his companion and she seems to be thinking. "Raven... I think I've seen someone with a raven here a time or two. Making offerings to the dead. They're usually black birds but this one is white. Chatty. I keep snacks for him sometimes. I thought his name was Posh?" She shrugs.

"A white raven?" Corey raises a dark brow. His mind races back to his family rookery in Llyranost. Once, there was a little hatchling who came out with white feathers, but the little bird did not make it to adulthood. Despite his father's efforts, the bird was neglected by its parents, and it died soon of malnutrition. Animals, just like people, can be cruel--especially when they perceive their cruelty to be kindness, as a white-feathered raven might not be long for the world once it leaves the nest. "I've never seen an adult one," Corey finally finishes.

He smiles a little. "I appreciate you helping me," he says. "I suppose a white raven's a bit more memorable than just a regular raven." Despite the fact he's worried, Corey is trying to be a bit personable. It's one of the things that Karasu seems to like about him--that he's so willing to talk to people and fill the silence that the assassin is disinclined to break in most cases, unless called for.

Then Corey's eyes wander over to the half-sil man in the very nice hat. It's hard to miss such a... purple? feather. Yes, that's purple, all right. Then Corey's silver eyes widen. Is that the man whose likeness is sold in dolls and other goods at the markets? "Excuse me," Cor'ethil calls out to Telamon. "Are you perhaps... The Archmage Lupecyll-Atlon?"

And then he wracks his brain. What's his name again? He remembers the pack of giggling ladies from a couple of days ago, gushing over books with crimson spines. "Delamon? If I remember correctly?" Gods, Corey hopes that's right.

He was about to don his hat, and head out into the bright sunshine -- whatever propitiations that needed to be done, now it's time to savor the spring. But when someone calls out to him, Telamon pauses, still holding his hat. Indeed, there are more than a few heroically-painted posters of the elegant half-sil for sale in the market, not to mention the books which Telamon resolutely tries to ignore.

So being recognized is nothing new, but... his starry eyes flick towards Corey, examining the elven man with a politely welcoming smile. At the mistake in his name, though, he never loses stride.

"Telamon, actually. Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon at your service, sir. I'm afraid you have the advantage, though?" He lifts one eyebrow inquisitively.

The woman who Corey had been talking to pokes her companion in the ribs. "Is that REALLY the Archmage?! He comes in all the time with that raven fellow!"

Her companion pales a bit. "That must be the Temptress! I heard he's married to her! And she has a raven you know!"

The woman looks confused. "I could have sworn that he came in with a guy." She motions to her chest. "I didn't notice... you know."

"How could she be the temptress if she..." The conversation is now a heated discussion fading into the background.

Corey blinks at the conversation happening behind him. He wonders what the woman meant by motioning to her chest--oh, the Temptress must be generously... _blessed_. That would make sense. He smiles at Telamon. "You are apparently blessed to be wedded to a lovely lady," he says, "although I haven't ever met her."

He places his hand to his chest in greeting of Telamon, in the sort of salute that soldiers often give to each other. "I am called Cor'ethil Cari'thana, but you may call me Corey for short," he says. "I hail from Llyranost, where I have served as a Warden of Gilead for the past century. I might have remained there if I hadn't had my eyes opened to the world by my beloved--a man called Karasu. Who is... not where he is supposed to be."

A frown settles on Corey's face. "I was brought here after being attacked by someone who seemed to be in the employ of Karasu's brother. Karasu has been... foretold of his death by his brother's hands, and he seems to have accepted this fate as punishment for an act he did long ago to prevent a massacre. I hate to trouble someone I've just met, but... I would gladly appreciate it if you could help me find my nightingale."

Telamon gives the door-guards a mildly perturbed look, before turning his eyes back to Corey. "Marriage is a blessing, yes. It has its own complications, but ones I welcome fully." He offers Corey a bow. "A pleasure, Warden Cor'ethil. I know few followers of Gilead, but find them to be pleasant enough company." He furrows his brow at the mention of Karasu being missing.

"The man is known to me, if only briefly -- I was unaware he was in danger though. He may have 'gone to ground' as the saying goes, to evade pursuit. Few men truly chase death, even when their hearts are heavy." His eyes narrow at the news of an attack. "And of course, there are always those who will take offense no matter the situation. Hm." He tilts his head. "I might be able to find him. I will make no guarantees though."

There's a light in Corey's eyes that spreads rapidly to the rest of the man's face. "You know Karasu?" he asks, before laughing a little in an almost giddy way. "The gods find odd ways to put people together, do they not. Joyous coincidence."

The light doesn't leave those silver eyes as he walks a little away from the door-guards, leaving them to their chatter about temptresses. "It seems complicated, the situation at home with his brother," Corey says. "Karasu has eyes and ears in the area that keep him appraised. His brother seems bent on taking revenge. Yet if his brother knew the truth about why Karasu did what he did... I feel he wouldn't want to take Karasu's life anymore."

He sighs. "I'm sorry, this must be a lot to take in. I'm just... I'm just _worried_. Anything at all you could help with would be... I'd be in your debt. I'd even pay if you wanted coin." Corey seems solemnly serious on that motion. "I'm no seer of Eluna. Far-sight of the future is beyond me. My place is that of patrolling the wilds."

"Only in passing." Telamon gestures for Corey to walk with him. "But that is probably enough. Family can complicate things, and moreso, the Tsuran courts can be... complex. A man might find his life forfeit for something we would consider barely worth bothering about."

"I do not wish your coin, Warden. But there are events in play that I need not just eyes, but hands to work with. I would have you act at my request in such an endeavor." His lips quirk. "Fear not that I'd ask you to betray your oaths. The moon and the wood are hardly at odds. But there are certain... magicians that have recently staged an escape from their prison. Some are only dangerous to themselves, but others must be recaptured lest they wreak havoc."

Corey walks alongside Telamon, nodding as he listens to the archmage's words. "I'd heard a little about magicians escaping from dungeons," he says. "That's concerning to me. I say this with not an ounce of disrespect, Archmage, as my own family has mages in their number, but many Wardens are trained with a certain amount of healthy suspicion towards those who practice the arcane. Some feel the call of the Void and give into the temptation to summon aberrations that blight the world. Others simply see it fit to rewrite nature into their own designs. It is why some Hunters of Gilead take up special training to deal with mages."

He smiles. "So consider it a call I would happily answer," Corey says. "And once Karasu is found... I'll bring him along too. He's incredibly capable in battle." There's a wistful note on the end of his words.

It's a short walk to the Temple of Eluna, and Telamon's name opens a number of doors -- in particular, a meditation cell where he can work undisturbed. His instructions to Corey are crisp and uncompromising; the man is to remain outside the cell, and Telamon will let him know when he's done. There's a surprising snap of command in his tone; clearly this is his element.

Once he's inside the cell, Telamon swiftly scribes the ritual circle on the floor in powdered silver, anointing it with holy water blessed by Ni'essa's faithful. That done, he lies down in the center of the pattern. "Ni'essa Sky-Singer, I seek the footsteps of one called Karasu, Cor'ethil's beloved. Please take me to the Dreamlands so that I might find the trail."

The dream takes Telamon almost instantly and with a thrum of insistence that tells Telamon that this is what he is meant to be doing in this moment. He closes his eyes and opens them to find himself watching Karasu. The dream is one of ordinary domesticity in a way. The ease of waking in the morning at the side of one beloved. Telamon watches Cor'ethil call up for breakfast while Karasu dresses and arms himself. Watches Karasu aid Cor'ethil in putting on his armor. The simple gentleness that they treat one another with which is so anathema to the Karasu he sees later.

Karasu without Cor'ethil is a man about his business, and though Karasu's smiles are always restrained there are none of them at all when Cor'ethil is not present. Karasu traverses the city, speaking here and there to various individuals about information from Xian. He never asks about anyone specifically, but rather gathers every bit of even casual information which he might be able to glean. Karasu seems as interested in the weather as he is with the political climate or what goods are being trafficked between Alexandria and Xian.

Then Karasu goes where he had told Cor'ethil he intended to go - the Temple of Vardama. He slips inside largely unnoticed - this is something that Telamon notes about Karasu as well. When the man chooses to he can be wholly unremarkable. He moves into one of the prayer chambers and sets himself down, allowing Wuya - the raven - to sit in a space before himself and he enters a meditative trance that allows him to commune with Vardama through the raven (though the process is far less connective than that which Telamon himself is familiar with).

Enter an assassin into the room. Karasu notes the other presence immediately, and though the assassin claims to be Karasu's brother, Karasu attacks and proves that the assassin is not his brother at all. The two exchange further blows with Karasu managing to nearly dispatch the assassin when a guardsman enters the room.

Here things become complicated and before Karasu can explain the situation the guard attacks him and facing two foes at once is harder than one. Karasu manages to dispatch the assassin. The guardsman presses for an advantage then, and Wuya flies in the guard's face; earning a harsh blow that strikes the poor raven to the ground. Karasu presses his own momentary advantage and strikes the guardsman down, pulling the man's helmet off and revealing another Xian face. Another assassin.

Here Karasu collapses to his knees, his hand lifting to his throat. He seems to be having trouble breathing? He falls to the ground, unable to move and Wuya unable to call for aid even as he himself is.

The dream ends abruptly.

Telamon sits up suddenly. A gesture sweeps the ritual circle away, as the sorcerer leaps to his feet. He unlocks the door to the cell, yanking it open and probably startling Corey. "The Temple of Vardama. He -may- still be there -- and may still live. He was attacked there." Tel's not waiting for Corey to engage his brain. He just grabs the Warden by the arm and tugs to get him moving.

"Two assassins. Karasu was having trouble breathing at the end -- possibly poisoned. Move! The faster we get there the better our chances are of picking up the trail if there is one."

Corey, being a paladin sworn to his own god, has treated the place with the respect and solemnity it deserves, not making a single noise outside of the meditation cell. Indeed, when Telamon yanks open the door, he blinks, and if it weren't for him being covered in armor, he might have jumped. "Ah--" he starts when Telamon takes him by the arm--but then his brain's catching up.

Karasu was poisoned.

His silver eyes narrow as he nods, and he picks up the pace with Telamon's steps. "Same tactics," he comments rapidly. Chattering like the pace of his steps, in some regards. "I was with some others--I believe most, if not all, were adventurers; a half-sil named Leirune, a sith-makar named Aelwyn, a golem named Thoth, and a lucht named Rhar. We were observing a man with a wagon with a broken wheel when I was approached by someone who seemed to have... a shifting image? I felt their aura was evil, as well as the wagon-owner's aura, in addition to two other evil auras who were unseen to me."

Corey continues talking rapidly. "The wagon was trapped. They tried to convince me to go with them for a conversation or the wagon would blow up. Leirune disabled the trap, and the person who seemed to be in charge asked me one question--how I was related to Karasu. Then they left, but... One of the hidden assassins stabbed me. The blade was poisoned. I felt like I was dying--"

He looks at Telamon. "He said something, the assassin who stabbed me. 'Strike the Heart, with Tears of Death'. Did you hear those words?"

The trip back to the temple of Vardama is quickly made, and when they arrive... Even from the entrance it is clear that something has taken place. The guards are more alert and yet talking to one another in quiet voices while the more priestly of the Vardaman faithful scurry about to important tasks.

Telamon and Corey advance toward the room that Telamon saw Karasu within but are blockaded from it within sight of it. Two guards stand between them and it while priests carry out not one, not two, but three white-clad bodies from the room with all due decorum. The door that Telamon recognizes closes.

Telamon comes up short at the guard detail, but he's not going to be dissuaded that easily. "What has transpired here? I come seeking one Karasu, who was supposed to be meditating here." He gestures to the bodies. "Is he among those? If not, I request that we be allowed to seek clues as to his whereabouts. He is in danger."

Cor'ethil is right next to Telamon, hoping that the archmage's presence will at least help open the metaphorical doors to learning what's happened here. "Karasu is my beloved," he explains. "I'm a Warden of Gilead; my name is Cor'ethil Cari'thana. If something's happened to him... I would like to help in some way." He tries not to think about the fact that the dead are often covered with shrouds. Karasu can't be dead. He just... can't be. Not in the space of Cor'ethil's mind where he lives.

The two guards frown a bit, but then one brightens a little and grins at Telamon. "Archmage! My sister is auditing your class this year! Fine to meet you sir! Ah right..." She lowers her voice a little. "Three dead. I can't confirm identities but... If a friend of yours was in that room then they're probably pulling them out to take to the catacombs now."

Indeed, the bodies are being carried down the hall as they speak.

GAME: Telamon rolls perception: (13)+33: 46
GAME: Corey rolls Perception: (17)+15: 32

"What was that noise?" Telamon's eyes lock onto the guard, and there's no sign of the avuncular, charming fellow. His eyes glow with starlight. "Think very hard about what you're going to do next. You may find yourself explaining it to the Harpist in person."

Not turning his eyes from the guard, Telamon says, "Corey, stop them from removing those bodies. I want to inspect them. I've picked up enough from my sister that I can treat them with dignity."

GAME: Telamon rolls glare: aliased to Intimidate: (12)+34: 46

Even Corey stands a little straighter with Telamon's turn, and there's a look in his eyes that says he's rather glad he's on Telamon's side. He goes down the hall, a hand going for the hilt of his rapier just in case--the way that the archmage is acting is telling him that something very well might happen that's not going to end pleasantly... for the opposition.

"Stop! The Archmage wants to inspect the bodies." He's not nearly so imposing as the archmage. But he draws on his own sense of authority as a Warden of Gilead with the shout.

The female guard on the right looks utterly and completely appalled to have the Archmage of Alexandria so upset with her. So much so that she all but squeaks her reply. "Noise?" She looks around. "W-what noise? Sir... I'm j-just doing my job."

One should never meet their heroes.

The other guard however though afraid seems to feed this fear into action and quickly lets out a sharp whistle. The priests in the hall take this as their cue and... Run. With the bodies. Just high-tailing it down the hallway. Cor'ethil is close enough to the room now to hear a little pained squeak from within.

At the whistle, Telamon turns and traces an elegant rune in the air, speaking swiftly. The rune rockets down the hall, past the hightailing priests and their burdens, and suddenly expands into a wall of shimmering hexagons in front of them. "STOP!" his voice lashes all assembled with that hard authority. "Some of you are not who you seem to be. Do not force my hand. You!"

He points to the hapless female guard. "Open the door to the cell. Now. Corey, check the bodies. By Ni'essa's silver light, I -will- have the truth in this matter."

GAME: Telamon casts Wall of Force/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28
GAME: Corey rolls Athletics: (10)+1: 11

Cor'ethil blinks as he looks at the magic wall that's suddenly formed in front of the priests, but that noise doesn't escape his notice. He gestures to the door. "Archmage, there's _someone_ in there," he says. He hopes it's Wuya trying to get someone's attention. He also hopes it's... not Wuya. Yet the fact remains it's horrible no matter what.

The noise inspires him to perceive. He draws on that gift that paladins are given: the ability to detect evil. He perceives several things that draw him to alarm. "Archmage, half of the priests with the bodies have an aura of evil!" he says. "There's two evil entities that are _doing_ something in that room!"

He doesn't often disobey a command given to him by someone in authority--which he considers Telamon to be--but as a paladin, he's focused on rising up to meet evil. The rapier, an unusual weapon for such a position, gets drawn, and he kicks in the door. Or... Tries to. He succeeds in denting it and kicking a hole into it. "We have to get in there!"

The woman guard is certainly willing and able to listen to Telamon. Particularly when a paladin tells her that there's evil afoot. She turns to aid Cor'ethil in opening the door but goes down in a slump to one knee when her fellow guard slams the hilt of their own weapon into the back of her head. "What are you doing?" She looks up at her fellow guard who glares down at her in turn. "Acting for the Lord of Tears."

The second blow slams into the guards face and she's down for the count. Down the hallway the priests have erupted into chaos upon realizing that they've been had and that their jig is up respectively. Fighting breaks out between both sides trying to claim the bodies and outright chaos.

Inside the room there's another painful noise and then, "Cor-AHHHHHH!" The noise is almost certainly Wuya, and then a grunt.

GAME: Telamon casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 20 DC: 25
GAME: Telamon casts Telekinesis/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28

Yeah, that's about what Telamon expected. What is it with the Temple of Vardama and infiltrators? He's going to have some words with the priests about this. Later, though.

In the meantime, though, there's work to be done. Corey's jammed his foot into the door without opening it and someone's calling for help. So Telamon incants a string of syllables, the air around him growing cold and crackles of corposant flickering around him. A beam of blue-white energy strikes the door, and it simply crumbles to dust, freeing Corey and opening the way into the room.

As the scrum kicks off with the priests, Telamon locks his gaze onto the one body that was still breathing. "I hope this is Karasu," he mutters, as he rapidly spits out another spell, before making a hooking gesture. Sparkles of light swirl around the form, and suddenly it's being dragged back towards the sorcerer. "ALARM! ALARM!" he yells out. "INFILTRATORS! VAMPIRES!" He's pretty sure yelling 'vampires' is going to piss off a whole lot of Vardamen, but the more attention they get here, the better.

GAME: Corey rolls weapon1: (6)+22: 28
GAME: Corey casts Liberating Command. Caster Level: 13 DC: 15
GAME: Karasu rolls 1d20+20: (20)+20: 40

The door disintegrates, and Corey sees a new scene that he immediately dislikes. There's two men with Wuya. One's got his foot on the bird, and the other has a cage, clearly intending to capture the bird. Corey's even more displeased when he notices that the bird's missing feathers.

The paladin of Gilead is called into action against this slight of nature.

His rapier lashes out against the guard who had knocked out the woman, piercing into the man's form and finding purchase somewhere in the man's torso, not in a terribly lethal spot, but still one powerful enough to have pinned the man a bit on the cold iron rapier. Silver eyes lock onto Wuya, and with his free hand gesturing at the raven in spellcasting, Cor'ethil shouts, "Beast King grant you freedom! Escape your bonds, flee the enemy!"

Wuya, who had been pinned, had looked very much like a child being tormented by grown adults. Yet in the instant of Cor'ethil's spell the bird slips free his bonds and immediately flees out the doorway and into the hall. He lands in fact, on Cor'ethil's shoulder, shuddering and seeking the comfort of the presence of a known person. He seems not much the worse for wear, but his flight was not totally steady - even if that had somewhat aided him in evading attacks from the men trying to keep him held in captivity.

Those two come pouring out of the door in the wake of Wuya with weapons drawn but seem surprised by the chaos that is only growing with Telamon's call to aid. More Vardaman have entered the scene and are looking for... vampires who are not here; but finding enemies all the same.

The guard who remains standing seems injured by Cor'ethil's weapon, but doesn't bother to try and deal with the injury. Instead when Karasu's body slides to Telamon's feet; unveiled from its white cloth... The assassin in disguise thrusts his weapon at the prone Karasu.

GAME: Telamon casts Telekinetic Sphere. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
GAME: Telamon casts Suffocation/Quicken. Caster Level: 20 DC: 28

It's not a perfect situation, but Telamon knows that the Vardamen priesthood won't take kindly to infiltrators. He'll take his chances with annoyed priests over murderous assassins any day of the week. Besides, he's already given his word to help Corey, after all.

Speaking of which, Corey's swift spell breaks Karasu's raven familiar out from under the thug's foot, which solves one problem. The other comes sliding to a halt next to Telamon, and then the sorcerer realizes the assassins are -still after Karasu-. "You lot are seriously annoying me," he mutters. Before the wounded assassin can bring his weapon down on Karasu's prone form, there's a quick chant, and a soft 'popping' sound as a shimmering bubble encapsulates Karasu's body. "That should keep you safe," he says sagely. Seeing the two more assassins come boiling out of the cell, Telamon just shakes his head.

"Not today, you curs," he snarls. Quickly, he involves the killing magic, clenching his fist... causing one to drop his weapon, and claw at his throat as Telamon coldly strangles him with sorcery.

GAME: Corey rolls weapon1: (20)+22: 42 (THREAT)

Corey's silver eyes burn as he looks at the guard who'd tried to attack Karasu. No one hurts his nightingale--just as no one hurts Wuya, who will be receiving some love and care once everything is handled. He draws his rapier out and sinks it back in.

This time, he doesn't miss. Right through the heart. Dead as they come.

The paladin of Gilead pulls his blade back and wheels to face the other assailant, whose sordid pair has fallen to the floor. "I stand in defense of this sacred place!" Cor'ethil calls out. It is his solemn duty as a paladin. "Archmage, deal with the priests if they haven't already dealt with the issue!" He hasn't forgotten there were evil among their number.

With so many of their allies fallen, the assassin's know that they don't have much hope of accomplishing their goal here and now. So they vanish. The only ones of them that remain visible are those that were already dead. The others use the cover of invisibility to make good an escape under the confusion of those trying to find them.

Turning invisible wasn't a bright move. After all, -priests- wouldn't necessarily turn invisible to run away. And Telamon can pick them out easily. "Mulan ukum," he invokes as his eyes lock onto something only he can see. There's a flash and a stream of blue and silver sparkling dust that washes over a spot... neatly outlining the two false priests and blinding them.

At which point Telamon smiles at the genuine Mourners. "They're all yours, Mourners. Have fun." With that, Telamon straightens his tunic, turning to regard Corey and Wuya. "Well. That was unfortunate. But at least we caught them before they could get him out of the city."

GAME: Telamon casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 20 DC: 21

Corey, meanwhile, concerns himself with assessing the female guard and tending to her wounds, giving her a little bit of healing from his divine-granted powers to help her along. "So sorry to get you mixed up in all of this," he murmurs to her, before he turns to Karasu caught in the bubble. "May you please let him out so I can tend to him? If he's poisoned, we'll need to bring him to a healer--a _real_ one--to be treated."

He looks at Wuya briefly on his shoulder and offers the raven a loving scritch on the throat feathers. "I've not made the appropriate preparations to expel poison today," he explains.

The woman, tended by Corey manages to sit up, but quickly waves him off to tend to someone else. The priests set about wrestling with the last two of the assassins and the bird on Corey's shoulder whirrs worriedly. Looking around and making worried-sounds that a raven might make. Though they sound a bit odd to Telamon who is more used to Pothy's voice than the sounds that a raven might make in their natural state. Not even mentioning that Pothy was more prone to mimicry than to raven noises on his best day.

Karasu remains prone and unmoving in the bubble, but his eyes are set on Corey and Wuya. He seems quite conscious, but still exhibiting some difficulty in breathing. He has a few small injuries, but none that seem to be lethal.

Telamon smoothly disperses his spells, releasing Karasu from his safety bubble and bringing down the wall of force. "Well, we -are- in a temple full of priests. I'm sure after we've explained ourselves they'll be happy to tend to Karasu."

He pauses, then reaches around to fish into his haversack. "Come to think of it... ah, there you are." Telamon removes a small vial, neatly labeled, 'For Dispellation of Paralytic Effects'. He offers it to the Warden. "Here, Corey, use this. That might break the poison's effects." He pauses, and his expression tightens a bit. "Not a good sign that they wanted him alive, you know."

Corey catches and cradles Karasu in his arms, holding the other man like he might be the most precious cargo in the world. "I've got you, love," he says softly, silver eyes gentle and sweet until he looks at Telamon with the offered vial.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me," he says very seriously, taking the vial and opening it. There's the urge to taste it first before Karasu does, as the assassin does so often for him, but Cor'ethil has not lived the life that Karasu has had. He wouldn't be able to tell. Instead he tips the vial's contents into Karasu's mouth, helping him swallow it safely.

He looks back up at Telamon. "I'm beginning to wonder if this is not just... Karasu's brother that we're worried about," he says. "That fake guard mentioned the Lord of Tears." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "I wonder..."

GAME: Telamon used a Potion of Remove Paralysis.

It doesn't take long for the potion to take effect, and soon Karasu is breathing better. He can move, and he manages to take up some of his own weight though he seems a bit unstable just yet. Likely due to moving before he is fully ready to do so. A cleric down the hall is making their way toward their group. Likely to find out what the heck is going on.

Karasu pats Cor'ethil gently and shakes his head to indicate that such things are not so wisely spoken out loud and where other ears might hear them. A wise precaution given the most recent series of events it seems.

Telamon seems pleased that the potion is taking effect, and Karasu is recovering if slowly. Tel gets to his feet as the cleric approaches, and he glances at the two. "Best let me handle this." He looks rueful. "I imagine I will have to pay for a new door, but we shouldn't have too many problems."

The half-sil sorcerer gives the priest a winning smile, and spreads his hands. "Well, Mourner, it's a long story. Have we met? I'm not sure if you know my sister-by-bond, Mourner Verna. But you see, it starts with the gentleman with the raven back there. It seems he has enemies, but that's where his significant other and myself come in..."

When all is said and done, it's clear Telamon is paving the way for everything to be smoothed over. Doubtless someone will be annoyed, but isn't that always how it works out? But life goes on in Alexandria.

-End