Monsterous Memory

At the mouth of the Temple of Eluna stands a blue-scaled sith-makar. He has in fact been standing there weathering the cold all day. Occasionally he paces back and forth. Many of the residents of the temple have come up to him for various reasons, but he has not turned aside from this location at all. He waits, looking out from the temple often, searching for those that he has sent messages to.

Cesran does not seem to be bothered by the cold at all as he makes his way towards the Temple of Eluna. Staff in hand he gives a polite nod to those that he passes. As he gets closer he spots Zeke and gives him a way as he starts to make his way towards the blue-scaled sith-makar. "Peace on your nest." He says politely as his staff bows her head. "Peace on your nest."

Seldan stands behind Zeke, openly wearing armor, Reunion on his hip. He has adopted a parade-rest stance, gauntleted hands behind his back, and although he appears focused and well-rested, he is entirely serious, sober even, adopting something of the alabaster pillar he often does when he is displeased. "Her light upon your path, Archmage," he greets seriously.

Zeke relaxes slightly at Cesran's approach, nodding low to him. "Peassce on your nessst." He replies in kind. He waits for Seldan to give his own greeting before beginning. "There isss a sssubject that thisss one wisshess to sspeak to you about, but thisss one isss unscertain how to broach it."

He is quiet a moment. "It ssseemsss that the effectsss of Eclavdran have not faded, and thossse that fasced him are... all reacting badly to a particular memory."

Cesran nods politely to Seldan as he leans a little against his staff, "And her light upon your path as well, Silver Guard." He looks around at the mention of Eclavdran, "I'd be happy to speak on it and help any way that I can. I'm sorry to hear that the effects of Eclavdran are still being felt after his destruction. I had hopes that they would fade."

"He may be gone, but the things he wrought yet remain." Seldan answers stonily, inclining his head politely at the response. "What know you of a boy named Hotaru?" He draws a deep breath, and waits for the answer.

GAME: Cesran rolls will: (10)+24: 34
GAME: Cesran rolls will: (10)+24: 34
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d100: (39): 39

At the mention of the name Cesran's hand grips his staff tightly as memories flood back to him. A snare curls on his lips as he eyes both Seldan and Zeke. He's tired of always being question and accused by these so called Paladins of Elune. What would they know about magic and the power that wielding magic can bring. They know nothing. He suddenly points this staff at Zeke as Ral'sara's mouth opens and a gout of flame springs forth intending to bath Zeke in it's fiery touch.

The last thing that Zeke was expecting was for _fire_ to come out of Ral'sara's maw. The expression yes. The knowledge that the other man is seeing something _else_ yes. But the flames? He gapes in surprise and stands there in shock as the flames hurl toward him.

Seldan, on the other hand, well remembers what flooded him the previous evening, and had been balanced on the balls of his feet, ready and waiting for anything. Thus, when the fire emerges from Ral-Sara's maw, he's quicker. "Dreamer preserve!" he shouts, turning heads on the steps of the temple as the fire washes over the bluescale - and leaves burns on the armor and fair skin of the paladin instead. He seems unconcerned, though, the searing fire vanishing in its turn.

Instead, he reaches into the knapsack he is seldom without, and produces a scroll. A quick read, and he shouts the words of a spell that is sure to ruin the archmage's day.

Sorry, dude.

GAME: Seldan used a Scroll of antimagic field.

Cesran glare at Seldan as he instantly knows what spell is being cast and starts to back away outside of the field's effects away from him. "Always getting in the way Seldan." His face is contorted with barely contained rage. Once out of the sphere he points his staff behind Seldan and Zeke and casts Mage's Disjunction. He aims it so that it will hit both of them and the field of anti-magic, but not him.

GAME: Zeke casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (5)+32: 37 
GAME: Zeke casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17
GAME: Zeke rolls will: (8)+13: 21
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (7)+32: 39
GAME: Zeke rolls will: (9)+13: 22
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (11)+32: 43
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (9)+32: 41
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (5)+32: 37
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (15)+32: 47
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (12)+32: 44
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (9)+32: 41
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (9)+32: 41
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (9)+32: 41
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (13)+32: 45
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (6)+32: 38
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (17)+32: 49
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (9)+32: 41
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (1)+32: 33 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Zeke rolls will: (13)+13: 26
GAME: Zeke rolls will: (17)+13: 30

Zeke steps behind Seldan, knowing that he is the other man's weakness in a fight. He casts a magic circle against evil on the paladin as the disjunction sweeps over him and makes every magical item he's wearing go inert. Thankfully he's not wearing that much nor reliant on any of it. "We need to bring him back to himssself Ssseldan."

Those nearest Cesran turn and flee as the mage whips out his flame-wielding staff, and a messenger runs off to get some aid for the pair standing against him....

Seldan, on the other hand, has a somewhat more spectacular and nasty reaction. Although most of his gear does not appear to be affected, the knapsack over his back shatters and vanishes into nothingness, depositing a collection of scrolls, weapons, a healer's kit, and a variety of other small and traveling items with a clatter to the marble floor of Eluna's Temple.

His expression twists in stone-cold fury, for just a moment, then stabilizes and goes cold as ice as the sith-makar blood brother's words wash over him. Stop him. Yes. Without warning, he leaps over the pile of gear suddenly at his feet and charges for Cesran bare-handed, seeking to tackle the mage to the floor and prevent any further magic.

GAME: Seldan rolls cmb+1: (14)+20+1: 35
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d20+20+13+4+2: (10)+20+13+4+2: 49
GAME: Cesran casts Shapechange. Caster Level: 20 DC: 32
GAME: Cesran casts Haste. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26
GAME: Cesran casts Greater Invisibility. Caster Level: 20 DC: 27
GAME: Cesran casts Spell Turning. Caster Level: 20 DC: 30
GAME: Cesran rolls 1d4+6: (4)+6: 10

Cesran easily elude's Seldan's attempt to grab him and casts Time Stop. The world slows as Cesran moves away and then to the left of Seldan as he casts spells on himself, first Shapechange, then Haste, then Greater Invisibility and finally Spell Turning.

Zeke stays where he is, trying to locate Cesran, but unable to suss out where the mage is. He prepares a spell, but holds it ready rather than casting it. "Cesssran?" He questions. It gets no response and he looks around for aid which has not yet reached them.

GAME: Seldan casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 16 DC: 20
GAME: Cesran rolls Stealth+20: (1)+25+20: 46 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (18)+25: 43
GAME: Cesran rolls will: (13)+24: 37
GAME: Zeke casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20

Aaaand then the mage is gone. Seldan's lips set in a thin line, and his eyes lower. "Holy Dreamer, shield Your holy place and Your people from the influence of evil." His eyes snap up, then, his fingers tracing a simple enough spell, a pair of sigils that link side by side and send a burst of shimmering sparkles towards the entrance to the temple. "Archmage, come back to yourself! He does not own you!"

GAME: Cesran rolls will: (16)+24: 40

Cesran is about to cast another spell as he's upset that he was so easily spotted even under greater invisibility. He blinks to clear the glitterdust away from his eyes and he shakes his head as Seldan's words ring true to him. Seldan is his friend and boon companion, even if they disagree. He remembers something about Charn and is feeling the power begins to fade. He holds up a hand as he goes down on one knee. "Wait stop… something is not right… something is trying to control me… no fill me with memories that are not my own… are they my own… no… yes..." Ral'sara looks at Cesran concerned, "Cesran please stop whatever you are doing… please don't make me fight our friends." The staff pleads.

Zeke sags in relief as Cesran falls to one knee. He remembers this from Seldan too. The way he'd fallen after the memories had faded. As if they'd rent something from the man. He moves to Cesran. Cautiously yes, but greater certainty with each step. People are running toward them and Zeke motions them back. Not wanting anyone to be hurt by any lingering effects. "Are you with ussss again Cesssran?"

Once again, Seldan's call does not go unanswered. Never since he has come to Alexandria has She failed him, and the knowledge of that washes over him like a balm to a weary soul. He sags in relief, and while Zeke goes to Cesran, he, too, drops to his armored knees on the cold marble floor, a prayer and paean of thanksgiving on his burnt lips. He was the only one hurt, and that is of no consequence. _A dangerous thing, provoking that memory_, he muses. _I can withstand it, if I must, but none other may be asked to do so._

GAME: Cesran casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26

Cesran is starting to come back to himself slowly as he focuses on the here and now. He casts a spell of protection on himself, hoping that his own spell will give him protection against whatever happened to him. He sits down and takes a deep breath, "When I heard that name, something came over me. I remembered the boy. I remembered kidnapping him from his temple when he was just a baby. I felt as if you two were fools and should have bowed down before my power. I… I felt as if I was the one who slaughtered the entire temple in order to bring the boy into my hand… mine… not those that served the light." He tells what he remembers.. ."Seldan, do you think when we destroyed or thought we destroyed Esclavdran's soul that we didn't get it all that silvers of his soul are now within us?"

It's a good question, but unfortunately for the moment, it is not one that anyone here has an answer to. Zeke reaches Seldan and pours healing magic into his wounds, restoring the man in his entirety. It's easy enough for the cleric to do. What isn't so easy, is healing these wounds of the soul.

-End