Tie me Down

Eluna's Temple. Seldan's second home and Verna's current temporary residence as a guest. There have been several notes in recent days on topics "best discussed in another time and place." Given the growing urgency, the time has come, as Seldan stated (albeit for a slightly different context).

The place was easily determined, with precautions specifically taken and to be taken. A small, solid room with singular access and a sturdy door. Furniture, decor, and anything not solidly attached removed. While conspicuously sparse by Elunan standards, it is not terribly difference from Verna's vault within her own temple, save that this room is larger and far brighter in hue.

Zeke stands in one corner of the room, he looks as though he might start pacing at any moment. The sith-makar is clearly discomforted by the idea of what is about to take place. He is however, also resolute in that he should be here. He wishes to be of aid to his kin, and in this he can help.

For this purpose, Seldan has removed all weapons from his person, and left them in another place within the temple, not within the room or reachable, but close enough that they may be had, should an outside threat intervene. The armor and the various magical items he keeps remain, but no magical item that would be of any use to the Mourner is anywhere within the rooms. The only thing that is remotely sharp in the room is the pen that goes with the ink and parchment, set to one side near Zeke.

There had been some discussion of this, which one would be the questioner, and which the questioned. It was in the end decided that Seldan could more readily restrain Verna, than the reverse, and so the paladin now draws several deep breaths to compose his mind, and begins to trace the sigils of a spell that all here know, several interlinked ones draw through with the crescent and sphere of Eluna, placing the whole spell under Her holy aegis. The sigils burst to life as the incantation completes, and he gestures, commanding them with lowering hands to lay at his feet. They do so, forming into a circle at his command, then at a final word, flash blue-silver before settling into quiet life around all of them.

GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21

It is perhaps the most logical option, between the two of them, if all relied upon mere physical might and/or martial skill. Perhaps somewhat less logical, Verna also holds no small personal motivation to see the matter through, if not conquer it. She is a student and collector of knowledge, afterall... and yet, in this context, seeking knowledge can very well, and inadvertently, subsume one's own self. It is an uncomfortable, if not nigh-untenable position.

She divested herself of all spell materials, items, and weaponry upon her guest status here, as a precaution. Now her vestment robes are absent, leaving her in a rather simple shift and possibly a loaned additional covering. All that remains at present is the scale pendant about her neck. This she reverently removes and offers to one or the other for safekeeping. "It may be best that my hands bound, as well, at the least." Zeke accepts the holy item. It seems fitting that a cleric take such a thing. He will hold it in safe-keeping for her. The sith-makar then stands ready by the parchment and the writing implements. He at least is ready. He will leave tying the Mourner up to Seldan, who has more experience in such matters than does he. Should the other man want it done at all. It is his job to take note of everything uttered, so that there is a record of it later.

Not being exactly experienced in the restraining of anyone, Seldan swallows at the idea, but looks around. He had brought a length of silken rope for the purpose, and his eyes fall on it, resting near Zeke's feet. "As you will it, Mourner," he says finally. "I shall endeavor to not be overly harsh." he walks over, picks up the length of rope, and starts back towards Verna. "Behind you, or before you?"

"Be secure, if you would," Verna explains to Seldan. "I much prefer some discomfort to the possibility of slipping the bonds and causing..." she pauses and her lips purse, "worse. My concern is the use of magic, rather than fisticuffs." She lifts her hands and wrists to him, held together before her, if only out of convenience.

Zeke has not offered any discourse up until now, and yet he feels a need here to step toward Verna as her hands are bound before her, and touch her on the shoulder gently. "We will act with care. There isss only the two of usss in here, and ssilverguardsss in number out the door. It will be well." He nods once to Seldan as if to reiterate those words without speaking, then steps back to his place.

"So it will." Seldan's shoulders relax a little at both of their words, then places both hands together, palms flat together. "Do as I do," he instructs, then waits for her to do as he instructs. Assuming she does, he folds the rope in half, then wraps it around her fingers placed together and pulls it through securely, wrapping both hands so joined, then around each wrist separately before securing them together with a firm knot that does not unduly pull her arms painfully, but does utterly deny her the use of her fingers.

He then steps back, to let her test her bonds.

Verna does as instructed and remains still for the process. Whether for her own edification or due to pre-emptive thoughts of his request, she attempts to move her fingers as he steps back. This continues for several moments as she attempts the most basic of gestures to confirm the results (or, rather, the desired lack thereof). "This is sufficient."

She takes another pause for a few breaths and thoughts before she looks to them both. "I am prepared. I will act as directed."

Zeke picks up the inked pen and settles it above the paper. He is as ready as he will ever be for what is to come.

Satisfied, Seldan takes one more step back, then seats himself in the middle of the floor, as comfortably as one can in armor. On padded marble, _as comfortable as possible_ is not especially so. He has placed himself such that the spell of warding he cast covers all three of them, never taking his eyes from Verna. "Signal me, would you stop," he tells her.

A deep, indrawn, steadying breath, and a slow release, and his eyes open, the ice-blue gaze steady and even. "Tell me of the sword in the well."

GAME: Verna rolls will: (3)+20: 23

Verna acknowledges Seldan's request with a nod. After he steps back and the question is uttered, Verna gives a slight shudder at the sensation of familiarity. She is aware of what it signifies, and realizing this session is for precisely that ... does not make it any more pleasant. An exhale and she closes her eyes before following the proverbial the proverbial rabbit down its hole.

Her brows furrow some as she does so, and then her eyes re-open to regard Seldan. Nay, stare at him. Glower, even, as if the heat from her gaze might burn him to a cinder at her whim. Then her lips curl as she answers his request.

"No."

Zeke blinks in surprise at Verna's quick turn-around. He dutifully scratches her negation on the paper, then looks between her and Seldan. "Already?" He questions of the pair.

GAME: Seldan rolls cmb: (7)+20: 27

"The pull is not easy to resist," is all the explanation Seldan offers Zeke, in this moment. He caught that look, the stare of hatred, and it tells him all he needs to know of what has happened. Lips set themselves into a grim line, and his features slide into the look of the alabaster pillar, as he gets smoothly to his feet and strides over to Verna. In one quick move, he wraps one arm around her throat, and pinches her nose closed with the other, biceps bulging as he squeezes - and waits.

GAME: Verna rolls fort: (16)+12: 28

Verna startles as Seldan steps forward. She scoffs, though the noise and her following words are quite nasally due to his actions. "Fool! Do you think you can-rk!" Ego over logic means that wasting one's oxygen on powerless words is a thing. She struggles against him, still, though, to free herself, to breathe, and to remain conscious. Verna is successful at the last, at least, for the moment, as she continues to squirm.

Zeke frowns, his tail lashing behind him. "It ssseemsss sso." He looks at Sseldan however, the pair of them struggling for Verna's ability to breathe. "Thisss wasss not wholly unexected wasss it kin? Perhapsss we can pull her from the darknessss. It isss worth a try, to sssee if thesse memoriesss can be defeated isss it not?"

"No, kin." Seldan utterly ignores Verna's struggling and insults, continuing to hold her firmly. "It is as you said before. There must be a means to access the memory and its knowledge without pulling our souls into his pit, and that shall I find a way to do, ere I attempt this again. There must be another way." He continues to wait.

-End