Infernal Interruption (Part 2)

His pace accelerated by magics, the gnome scrabbles out of the protected room and into the hall. Jinks catches sight of Seldan's trailing cloaks and follows-- catching himself on the doorframe to keep from overrunning it. His black-on-black eyes bulge at the confrontation unfolding and he waits...

When the researcher slips the mul'niessa's grasp he sings, reaching forward and curling his fingers as he pulls back. The outline of this Aya facsimile comes into sharper focus and stutters but no auras or shadows pull away for his efforts. He's crestfallen.

"Just subdue her! We can fix this, tallman!" So pleads the bard.

The woman unhinges her jaw and _eats_ the book. The pages grotesquely shift her mouth and throat and then disappear into her maw. It's disgusting. At the same moment she grabs a second time at the researcher but his friend grabs his arm and pulls him away to safety.

Seldan's cry is having some effect however, and several of the researchers are giving Aya nasty and considering looks. If she weren't against a wall of books at the moment... Well she'd probably be suffering from a multitude of spells.

"Their deaths are on your head Seldan." She warns. As if she intends to kill all the researchers _first_.

Verna's legs may be longer than Jinks', but not by so much. The accelerando aids her, but she is the last to catch the others and round the corner. Assuming Seldan's accusations are true, she only just learned further details of the situation a day or so past. Which shortly thereafter to led to-no. No. She cannot analyze and deconstruct this. The only rational, logical course she can discern is that she should not attempt to properly discern a logical course of action.

GAME: Seldan casts Wall of Force. Caster Level: 16 DC: 23
GAME: Verna casts Prayer. Caster Level: 17 DC: 20

"Nay, Aya. It matters not what I have done, or not done, it is your hand that will move against them this day, and none other, and thus is any harm solely upon you." Seldan's features have settled into intent focus, dismissing all outside influences and striding over to block the demon-monk's access to the tower entryway. Even as he moves, his hands already move, first in a swift gesture of dismissal, and then in a repeat of the spell he'd cast into the hall. This time, the sigils form and expand in the room, rippling out to place a barrier of pure magic between Aya and the researchers. "Go!" he shouts! "Run! Raise the alarm! My sword is in the main hall, have it brought me!"

"Subdual is easier said than done," Verna notes to Jinks as she takes up position in the doorway they recently arrived through. She then echoes Seldan's directive to the researchers with an adamant "Go!" She does not point out directions, hands instead split between gesture and clasping the scales at her neck. Thereby she calls for The Harpist's judgment upon those worthy and note.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (1)+27: 28 (EPIC FAIL)

The woman moves away from Seldan cautiously. Perhaps too cautiously for as she reaches out for the moving researcher she yet again fails to find him. Irritated, she sneers at Seldan. "Are you so sure silverguard?" The words are filled with subtle malice, and she turns her eyes then on Jinks. As if only just now realizing he's there. "Oh, you're still breathing? I'd assumed you'd been drawn and quartered for your treachery... or would it be eighthed? Even that is more than your soul is worth. To anyone."

GAME: Jinks casts Major Image. Caster Level: 10 DC: 21
GAME: Seldan casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 16 DC: 24
GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1+1: (3)+19+1+1: 24
GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1+1: (17)+19+1+1: 38
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (1)+22: 23 (EPIC FAIL)

"We can be damned or redeemed together, Aya, regardless of our souls' going rate. Remember, you did this for Lily. She wants her Tia Ay-ays." Jinks insists, not surprised at all by the accusation.

The gnome begins to sing, narrowing his eyes as he finds Hymn and Weave, both, to push at the former with his diaphragm while his fingers draw across and through the latter. The melody resolves itself to bring everything into sharper focus as the bard closes his outstretched hands into fists and pulls them close.

Gossamer stands of glittering thread glitter and glint across the room and pull the shelves in with impossible strength. The racks go end-over-end, spiraling and loosing books in the process. They fall across the room with a cacophonous racket and explosion of dust and loose pages. It's haphazard and chaotic but, generally speaking, a sort of funnel-y V-shape that leaves Aya with the three mercenaries to deal with.

GAME: Seldan rolls 32d6: (130): 130
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4: (17)+16+4: 37
GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
GAME: Verna casts Enervation. Caster Level: 18 DC: 22
GAME: Verna rolls ranged+1: (11)+11+1: 23
GAME: Jinks casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 10 DC: 19
GAME: Jinks rolls 2d4: (4): 4
GAME: Verna rolls spellcraft: (8)+34: 42

Those words - _are you sure?_ - spark something within Seldan. The ice-blue gaze, so deeply focus and half-twisted in anger, suddenly stills, and the anger melts away, only focus remaining as words on an autumn night echo through his mind. The feel of the wind, the stone at his back, the feel of the dry leaves, the bushes poking beneath the plates of armor as he listened to those words. Those who spoke them, and those they were spoken to, had not known he was there, but now, he cannot forget.

_Tell the Silverguards to strike me d-_.

In that moment, all doubt, all conscience, resolves, and all that is left is sadness, amid focus. _The time has come. The need is here. I shall do as she asked. For her, and for the safety of all._

He raises his hands again, swiftly drawing a complex series of sigils, harsh arcane chants echoing amid them. A final word is spoken, and they all burst into a sickly green light before him. "It is as you, and I foresaw," he says quietly, then stabs his finger through the sigils before him with a final shouted phrase.

The sickly green light gathers, collapses into his hand, then shoots out from it to slam into her chest, opening terrible wounds. Part of her is just - gone.

GAME: Jinks rolls Spellcraft: (18)+8: 26
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (17)+18: 35

Whatever Verna may have expected from Seldan, that particular spell was not it. "Mind the-" Books? Body? Bystanders? In the end, her worry is unnecessary: the books remain, no research assistants were harmed in the making of this spell, and ... yes, even the mul remains intact. Well, mostly so.

Verna then sends a black ray of her own at the woman, managing to hit only by the grace(?) of the gnome. Even then, then results are less than expected. She takes a moment to process what was witnessed. "She is protected from many of my efforts..."

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (2)+24: 26

The woman is grievously wounded. A hole is in the middle of her chest. Dripping blood and bits of burned material from her clothes. She gasps for air and then... Flees from Seldan. It seems that her action is only a feint however, for once she is behind the paladin's wall of force she picks Jinks up and holds him to eye-level. "At least I can send you where you belong."

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10+7: (13)+10+7: 30
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10+7: (11)+10+7: 28
GAME: Jinks casts Grease. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18

With the demon-tainted mul'niessa busied snatching up the over-decorated dandy, the researchers and wizards take this as their cue to exit. Skirts and robes are hiked up as they hustle with all the vigor and alacrity career academics can muster.

Jinks squirms in Aya's grip, losing his song. The gnome tries to find the notes of the next spell but they're choked out by the pugilist even as she uses her other hand to crush the bard's fingers reaching into a component pouch at his belt.

What a fucking day to be sober.

GAME: Seldan rolls cmb+1+1: (12)+20+1+1: 34
GAME: Verna casts Suffocation. Caster Level: 18 DC: 23
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+18+4: (2)+18+4: 24
GAME: Verna rolls 1d20+18+4: (15)+18+4: 37
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (14)+22: 36

"No!" With one quick slash of the hand, the wall of force vanishes as if it had never been, and Seldan lunges for the demon-bound mul'niessa, but she's entirely too quick for one unused to fighting unarmed, and his hands simply slide off of her, leaving him to stumble.

It seems Seldan holds nothing back. Verna cannot fault him, and even moreso now that Jinks is ... 'gnapped. Bringing one hand to her hood to exhale into it, the other gesturing to include a drawing or 'come-hither' motion of gloved fingers as she seeks to draw the very breath from the fleeing woman.

GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (13)+24: 37
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+10+7: (4)+10+7: 21
GAME: Jinks casts Grease. Caster Level: 10 DC: 18

The woman holds the gnome up off his feet in one hand, holding him close to her body and deftly avoiding Seldan's counterstrike. Yet Verna's spell has her gasping, its enough to prevent her from attacking again so quickly, but she doesn't release Jinks. Her grip on him is an obvious threat.

With one hand pinned at his belt and the other trying feebly to pull Aya's hand away from his throat, Jinks is quickly losing the battle to keep a level head. The toes of his fine boots kick and strain towards some purchase to aid in his struggling but his hand is looking ever more fit for folding. The bard tries again to reach in for the wax-wrapped nugget of butter but gurgles and grimaces when the mul'niessa tightens her grip.

GAME: Seldan casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 16 DC: 24
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4: (13)+16+4: 33
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (14)+22: 36
GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1+1+1: (6)+19+1+1+1: 28
GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1+1+1: (11)+19+1+1+1: 33
GAME: Seldan rolls 5d6: (22): 22
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (20)+18: 38
GAME: Verna rolls spellcraft: (12)+34: 46
GAME: Jinks rolls Spellcraft: (6)+8: 14

_Enough._ In that grip does Seldan see his chance to end her, and the threat, and not for one moment does he hesitate. Not even bothering to step back, his hands move once again, sickly green sigils forming before him. Again, the ray forms before him with a shouted word, and slams into the demon-woman, penetrating all movement and all defenses. Without warning, the fingers around the bard's throat crumble, not into dust, but into blackened snow and ice, a pile of something viscous holding all of the muck together.

Almost as soon as the mess hits the floor, his eyes go wide in alarm. "Jinks, get out of there!" he shouts, suddenly alarmed, then calming down. "Do not breathe that, and if you cannot clean it, I shall do so. Do not permit that into your lungs," he warns, taking his own advice and backpedaling a step or two.

GAME: Jinks rolls Reflex: (19)+11: 30

Jinks is still trying to pull Aya's hand away from his throat when she starts to come apart at the seams. He falls, suddenly, and kicks with a squawk of surprise, but lands on the balls of his feet and skitters away from the crumbling pile. He realizes he's still holding crumbling fingers and gags, tossing them towards the rest of the pile as he gives a few dry heaves for good measure as he tries to shake the residue off his person.

"Is the spell-- *'ck*-- supposed to do that?" Asks the gnome, choking and coughing as he speaks before bothering to catch his breath. He staggers back a few more steps for good measure, on the off-chance the pile of snowmush and ichor decides to animate and make a grab for any nearby, unsuspecting People.

Verna watches as the woman disintegrates. That, in itself, is not surprising. The remains and their appearance, however, are a concern. She takes a step or two forward for a better line of sight, though remains well away otherwise. Pursed lips deepen to a scowl. "I do not believe that was, in fact, her body, but a copy. A simulacra of some form, and apparently a quite potent one, at that. This would explain why much of the magics used had less or no effect as expected."

A few of the researchers huddle in the hall, but the one that Seldan sent from the room initially returns bearing up his sword. The weapon is proffered to the paladin uncertainly. "Where... Did the woman go?" Asks the researcher, not realizing that the pile of snow and blackened gunk is all that remains of her. In the midst of that gunk, a book. Which is... much the worse for wear being quite wet and somewhat stained by black ooze.

GAME: Seldan casts Mage Hand. Caster Level: 16 DC: 18

"Even so," Seldan agrees. Now that he has stepped back, the immediate alarm fading from him, he is able to survey it with more detachment, and he takes the sword from the researcher with a word of thanks, holding it in one hand.

It pipes up almost at once, the voice of a crotchety old man. "What in all of the hells is -that-?"

"It is all that remains of her. A simulacrum, as the Mourner has said, crafted in the likeness of Mistress Aya, that she may walk in the city unopposed." The point drifts towards the floor as his shoulders relax. "It is crafted in the likeness of one bound to the demon Eclavdran, ere his fall," he adds for the researchers' benefit. "Do not touch the mess, but it is in my mind that it may be cleaned with magic."

Suiting actions to words, he casts a quick cantrip, and gestures at the book, lifting it slowly from the gunk and moving it to a clean place on the floor.

There's another look around the room to make sure the threat is-- at least for the time being-- dealt with and Jinks just falls onto his rump with a sigh. He rubs his throat, black eyes scanning the illusory racks even as they begin to go thin, transparent, and blink out of existence entirely. The fallen books and pages go, too, and the hall returns to its previously-tidy state.

"Ah," goes the gnome as he considers the pile of gunk. There's a momentary distraction as the book is loosed but then he goes back to narrowing his eyes at the simulacrumble.

"The information appears to have survived. This is fortunate," Verna shares her scholarly view. Any tome saved is a boon. This one, in particular, perhaps even moreso. "That it is obviously desired that we not possess it lends further credence of its importance."

The wizard who offered Seldan his sword nods and begins to use simple spells to clean up the mess while the others return to their research. The first spell however has more oomph than expected and makes the whole room sparkle with cleanliness. Everyone will find that they are quite spiffily clean now. The wizard blinks in surprise, but shrugs and starts off down the hall to return to his research.

"That's what you get for leaving us behind, boy." The sword in Seldan's hand is scolding him now, still in that crotchety old-man voice. "Next time don't leave us behind."

"He's right, Seldan. That could have been messy for you. What if the spells hadn't worked? Who might have gotten hurt?" This voice is a deeper, younger, female voice.

The paladin doesn't answer immediately, instead lowering his eyes, letting the point drift to the floor. He had been fortunate this time, and he knows it, but without warning, he and everything else in the room are spiffily clean! "What-" He looks up and around, and smiles, a very small thing tinged with sadness. "There will be another attempt. We must be cautious. Moreover, it says that Aya is yet within the grasp of his minions." The eyes lower again. "The time has come to do as she asked of us," he murmurs.

Jinks rubs a hand down his face and sighs, looking up from the pile to Seldan. A grunt and he's standing back up, dusting his pants and tugging down to straighten his coat. "A footrace, then," the bard challenges as he affects an easy smirk.

"I'll give you a headstart, though..." The gnome tilts his head as he walks past Seldan, raising a hand to wave at Verna en route, too. "Promises can get stuffed; I need a drink."

Verna considers the Silverguard's words with some thought. "Indeed. If this contains clues they do not wish known, and another attempt is probably, then the book may grant us additional boon." She looks to Jinks. "A race may not be necessary. The information, or acting upon such might well serve as bait to draw them, or her, to us."

Seldan doesn't answer at once, his eyes still lowered, and at length, he sighs. _Reunion is right. I relaxed my vigilance, and once again have innocents nearly paid for it._ He doesn't answer Jinks as the gnome heads for the door, beyond an "As you will it," absent call.

"The information is something needed, and our task is not yet done. Shall we continue?" He looks up, questioningly, at Verna, tilting his head meaningfully towards the door.

-End