September 9th is partly cloudy and mild. A steady breeze blows up out of the south.
As you continue on your journey, you try to make a plan.
Aldarin: "I think it would at least be worth while to check out the Vampire's fortress to see how difficult an assault it would be, and then decide."
Farad agrees. "And I can probably scout the thing out safely enough from the ethereal plane."
"Isn't that risky? At least last time you tried it, there were problems." says Illyana.
"The ethereal plane, not the astral. And there were no problems last time. The first time the only problem was running into something I didn't think it was wise to attack. That risk is minimized by staying only on the ethereal."
Banquo cautions, "I wouldn't be too sure of that as a Vampire spends a lot of time in the ethereal plane and may be able to sense things there."
Farad gives Banquo a look. "You sure of that? I've never heard anything of the sort. Ghosts yes, but not vampires."
Banquo says, "I would be cautious, he is an undead so may be closer to ethereal then you think and is a cleric besides so he has double the possible contacts with the spirit world."
"In any case, it should be safe enough during daylight hours."
"This is true, in daylight you should be ok."
"I could take two people with me." Farad gives the new priestess a look. "Would you be interested?"
Banquo says, "Since I know the city, I should be one. The other should be someone with either spells or skills that will let us escape. Anybody have a teleport or invisibility just in case the ethereality does not protect us?"
"I can get us out with both spells, although etherealness is pretty much the same as invisibility as far as protection. If one fails, the other will not help much. As for teleportation, I have two scrolls with that spell written upon it. We can spare one, but even so, if we are in the ethereal teleportation will not get us out as it does not function across the planes I do not believe. I thought a cleric might be best because of the chance of encountering other forms of undead. But you are right, either you or Raz for his spells should be the other one."
Farad then considers. "You know the city, but it doesn't take much knowlege to find the tall building that is undoubtably the palace or keep. How much knowlege could you have of the internals of that structure though? It might be safer to have Raz along with me."
He turns to Sharone. "Can you cast dispel magic?"
Aldarin offers, "Surely, not all were destroyed. Some must have escaped. If not then when it is investigated by a priest the dead will tell the tale."
Farad says to Illyana, "Most mages realize that battles are places where one can easily be killed. That is not very condusive to research. Also often the opposing army finds ways to eliminate any mages before taking the field; either by treaty, assassination, or preventative magics. But you are right, when armies do face each other its often a bloody scene if mages take to the field on both sides."
Concerning the attack on Vile Orc Hold...
Farad shrugs. "Who cares who they blame, so long as it is not us. We can recharge our magics, and Aldarin, Raz and I can cast invisibilities upon ourselves. That way the rest of you will truly look like merchants, with only mercenaries hired for protection. no spell casters capable of such destruction to be found amongst you. Also that way we enter at dawn, when a vampire is weakest and thus have the day to hunt him down."
"That is also when he has the most bodyguards, of course. I wouldn't be surprised if his dwelling would be as difficult to get into as a castle is during a seige."
"As for the vampire ...his magic resistance will more than cope with your spells. Only Gods and cold steel can handle a vampire , especially in its lair," says Sharone.
"I know of only one sure way to kill a vampire. And that is to find its sleeping place during the day. Once we have its body, we have to pierce its heart with a wooden stake to immobilize it. Then we must drag the body to sunlight, or immerse it in running water.
"So this is why I think we should go in only in the day. Fighting the vampire at any other time might slay its body, but that body will reform unless the above actions are taken. Our only chance is to find it during daylight. And if we act only during such times, we will not have to actually fight the vampire, only his minions. I think we can handle it."
While everyone is discussing what to do, Kelar picks up the scimitar and examines it.
Farad says, "So shall we try it? At least scout the place out? McTavish, you said we have to go through the city in any case. I take it natural terrain prohibits going around it? But Banquo mentioned a blood tax. If we are forced to travel through the city, then it seems likely that we will also be forced to pay this tax, which I will not, as long as this vampire exists."
"Am I right so far? Are those of you who do not wish to fight this vampire willing to pay this tax?"
The morning's ride is uneventful...until shortly before noon, when you see a cloud of dust ahead on the road...indicating approaching riders.
You pause, and after a few minutes make out the forms of more than half a dozen large humanoids, riding large horses.
They are less than half a mile away.
With a quick word, you see Raz make a gesture and suddenly vanish.
Aldarin follows suit and turn invisible also. Farad is also invisible...though his horse is not.
Britan looks around and as everyone starts to vanish he says, " Well now would be a good time to check out our Merchant cover up, So who wants to be the Merchant? or do we find a place to hide??"
"Bit late for that," replies McTavish, as you see that the patrol has noticed you.
You make them out to be eight ogres, dressed in the livery of the army of Nolthen, riding large balck draft horses.
Humphrey volunteers.
"Well I have met enough Merchants and such that I believe that I can do a good job of pretending to be a merchant. McTavish, here, I hired to judge the quality of the brew we carry. Of course I need the rest of you to protect the cargo, that we are carrying. We better not lose any of this cargo or it will come out of you own paychecks... Sorry, got carried away there for a minute."
A short time passes, as you stop and wait for the ogres to reach you.
At last they do, reining their large slow mounts to a halt...surrounding you and the wagon, resting their large hands on the large clubs that they carry.
"Duhhh, what's your businek - ahhh - biznu - ummm - watcha doin?" asks one of them.
Kelar slowly moves his horse over towards Farad's and takes the bridle in hand so it looks like he is leading it.
Sitting quietly in the wagon Sharone makes no movement. She studies the ogres trying to decide which one is leading the group.
None of the ogres are obviously the leader.
Britan looks around at the Ogres that have surrounded them and pretends to be the body guard, protecting Humphrey by not letting the ogres get too close to him but giving him time to speak.
Humphrey smiles over at the ogres,
"Why I am a merchant and these people I have hired to protect my wares. I am transporting beer and plan to sell it when we hit the next city on this road.
"Tell me how safe are the roads? You patrol has been doing its job hasn't it? I like to know that my taxes are being well spent."
Right as the Ogre is about to answer Humphrey continues,
"There are some important people waiting for this beer. Need to get going you know. By the way, what's your name, so that I may report the wonderful job that you are doing. My reccomendations have already caused at three people that I know off to get promotions and you look like your are ready for a promotion yourself are you not?"
When Humphrey finally runs out of steam, the ogres look at each other.
"Wow, he uses big words, don't he?" says one to the others.
"Me no like smart humans," says another.
"Me might like him better if he gave us barrel of beer to let him pass," says a third, and the rest nod affirmatively.
They look at Humphrey expectantly.
Still invisible, Raz readies himself to cast magic missle if need be.
Britan watches and listens as Humphrey weaves his story of deception, and in case anything goes wrong is prepared to run the Lead Ogre in with his Lance.
Humphrey looks over to the Ogres.
"Hmmm, Well I would not want you mad at me once you sampled my beer. From what I was told about it, only a dwarf would like it and someone else referred to it as dwarf piss, so if you want some dwarf piss, well I guess we can give some."
The last he says with a big grin on his face.
McTavish glares at him anyway.
Illyana whispers, "These are ogres, they could drink anything.."
Britan shutters and says. "Woooo Nasty stuff that dwarf piss."
"Let's have some!" says an ogre.
Grumping to himself, McTavish unties a barrel, lifts it off the wagon and rolls it over to the foot of the horse of the closest ogre.
The ogres jump down and pull out the bung, as McTavish stands back. Their horses wander off and begin to graze.
"Not bad for dwarf piss!" says an ogre, getting foam all over his ugly mug.
Taking that as the all clear, you ride on, leaving the ogres to drink.
You continue your discussion.
" I would be honoured to help with the destruction of the foul creature. And if me entering the ether will help then lead on...." Sharone speaks to Farad. She takes a deep breath " I have studied the undead as part of my training, and a vampire is quite capable of reaching into the ether. Also invisibility offers little protection from its sight."
"Then as I said, we will need to try and do what we have to do in the daylight only." says Farad.
Britan watches Sharone as she talks about the undead and when she finishes he says. " Well I tend to agree that night time is deffentally not the time to go after a Vampire but just what is the best plan to try to accomplish this task in lets say 12 hours of daylight?"
" No creature of the negative plane has a right to charge a priestess of Idun for right of passage. I'll not be paying the blood tax, " The look on Sharones face says no comprimise.
The afternoon's ride is uneventful.
Two hours before sunset the road crests a low rise and a shallow valley opens up before you. It runs roughly north - southeast, and a small river flows through it. The Great Western Road winds southeastward down to the river, and crosses it on a bridge. On this side of the river is a walled village: Brach Prol. Directly over the bridge from Brach Prol is a small walled castle with keep: Castle Ugel. The Great Western Road climbs up the far side of the valley, curving east-northeast.
Coming down from the north along the west bank of the river is a small road. It enters Brach Prol through a gate. Exiting the village on the south side is another Great Road. It runs south, slowly climbing the west side of the valley where the stream curves east.
Brach Prol is surrounded by small, ill-kept farms and peasant holdings. The fields are weedy, and skinny cattle graze in the pastures.
From your vantage point you are some five miles from the village. About midway between Brach Prol and yourselves, wending its way slowly up the road towards you, is a large group of carts and pack animals, escorted by people both mounted and afoot.
"Caravan," says McTavish, not sounding too concerned. He turns to the rest of you. "So, what's the plan? None of us are too eager to pay this tax, so we have to bypass this village. I assume that the vampire is in the castle across the river. How do we cross it? Farad, how close do we have to be before you can do your other-planar scouting?"
"Well, to actually scout I'm going to have to go on in. But no need for the rest of you to enter with me."
"What are the objectives? To try and find the vampires lair?"
Banquo tells you that the vampire resides in the castle.
"We should set up the plans beforehand so we can excute them all quickly without problems." says Illyana, adding, "The blood tax sounds a bit painful to me. Could one of us pay the tax to get inside the city to look around? It would give us some surveilence as opposed to none."
"I'm going in ethereally. Right through the walls" says Farad.
"Well Illyana it sounds like you must be the willing participant to give the blood tax. Everyone else is very against it," says Kelar with a smile.
"I never said that I was willing, I was just curious what everyone thought about the idea."
Banquo pipes in, "If you are game for it we could bypass the town and head straight for the keep. I know a ford a little upstream that we could try though it is not without risk. that would get around the blood tax."
"I was just curious how helpful it would be to check the town out."
"Wouldn't the local militia also know of this ford? They are sure to have it watched." says Farad.
"That I do not know but doubt the militia would either be able to stop us or detect us if we don't want them to." replies Banquo.
Britan: "So what's the plan do we find a place to camp and stay out of view while you go Ethereal and check thing out, because we do not have much more time before he comes out hungry."
"I suggest spending a day scouting, and the next morning we can do whatever based on what I find out. I plan on being back though by dark."
You hear the voice of Raz reply, "I still have a 'polymorph other' spell memorized..perhaps I could use it on someone you allow them safe passage into the city..."
Britan says: "Sure Raz but that isn't going to stop him because he will still be able to change into his gaseous form and a bat. Besides what will you change him into, and will he still susceptible to sunlight and the other downfalls of being a Vampire or will that cure him of all of that?"
"I don't think he's planning on using it on the vampire, dummy!" says McTavish.
"By the way, if any of you feel a sudden cold chill up your spine repeatedly, then that is probably me in the ethereal. Not that I'm expecting to get stuck there, but it would be nice for you to recognize the signals of what my presence on the ethereal would feel like if I touched you."
Britan says. " Hey no problem and hope you don't get stuck also!"
"So we'll know your stuck. How are supposed to 'unstick' you then?" asks Illyana.
"Don't worry about it. I was just letting you know for future reference. There might be a time when I will simply wish to stay in the Ethereal for the time being. In that case, wait for that sensation and you know that I'm ok at least."
You wait until the caravan has passed before taking actions. It is heavily armed with orcs and half-orcs guarding the mules and wagons. They regard you in wary silence as they pass.
Once they are gone and out of sight, you retreat behind the ridge, move off of the road, and set up camp in a copse of scrubby bushes.
It is an hour before twilight.
Farad prepares for his scouting mission.
The rest of you settle down.
Banquo says, regarding Britan's fears of the vampire coming out at night, "This is not likely to happen, Umboth prefers to have his meals brought to him."
You hear some minor commotion behind you has the still invisible Raz searches through his bag looking for something that will occupy his time. "Ah-ha! there it is", you hear him exclaim quietly at one point. After a few more seconds the rumminging sound ends and all is quite once gain.
When he is ready, Farad concentrates...and then slowly fades out of sight...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You enter the border ethereal, and move down the road to the western gate of Brach Prol.
All is quiet, there. A few guards - all orcs or half orcs - loiter about.
You wait and watch.
Just after sunset a mounted man comes through the village to the gate. He speaks to the sergeant of the guard, who then goes into the gate house, returning a moment later with a small, sealed urn.
The horseman takes this and turns his steed before riding away. You follow, as the horse proceeds at a walk through Brach Prol.
Brach Prol has clearly seen better days. Many of the buildings are abandoned and falling into decay, while the ones that are occupied are run-down. You pass few people on the street, and the ones that you do see tend to avoid the horseman. The populace, you note, seems to include a large proportion of people with orcish blood in their veins. You pass several inns and a tavern, and at the centre of town is a large square, ringed with temples. You recognise only two of the deities...Frigga and Untamo. The others look as if they are devoted to evil deities, demon and devil worship.
Off the square roads run off to the north and south, and there is a signpost -
The Great Western Road: E: To Castle Ugel, Fort of the Bloody Hand and Shruddup.
W: To Vile Orchold, Black Gate and Derextar.
Interstate Seveny Five: S: To the Nameless Ruin and Atlantia.
N: To Castle Ford.
The rider continues east, and after a short time passes through another gate, over the bridge spanning the river, and stops before Castle Ugel on the other side.
You note that two other riders with sealed urns follow him up to the gate.
A guard comes out of the gatehouse, opens the door in the main gate and lets them through.
They enter the castle and you try to follow. However, before you can enter, the guard closes the door in your face.
Farad thinks: ethereal beings can pass through doors, unless they've been impregnated with gorgon blood or the like.
So right on through...
You hurt your nose on the apparently solid door.
This structure seems to be quite ancient.
You wait for a short time, and finally the door is opened again.
As several soldiers come out, you duck through the doorway and find yourself in a wide passage sloping steeply upwards. It runs for about 50', passes through a pair of open doors, and enters the courtyard of the castle. There are murder holes in the ceiling and arrow slits in the walls.
You move ahead and enter the courtyard.
It is dark...only a few guttering oil lanterns provide a faint illumination. Wood and stone buildings line three of the inner walls of the castle - store houses, barracks, stables and whatnot. Before you is the main keep...accessed by a pair of large, iron-bound doors at the top of a broad flight of stairs. The keep has one tower in the centre...the top of it is illuminated by the light of the rising harvest moon shining through breaks in the clouds. A few narrow windows are seen in the walls of the keep...none at ground level. All of the windows are dark.
Farad considers the situation. While enclosed by these walls he can't simply push himself into the deep ethereal and escape I don't imagine.
Farad will feel the walls and see if they are made of the same substance as the outside.
You wait for two hours...and finally, the main door opens into the keep. Five ghouls step out...sniffing the air tentatively.
You move up the steps past them and through the door.
You find yourself in an entrance foyer. Once well decorated, it is now falling into decay. Three doors lead off of it.
You try them all, and find that you can pass through them with ease.
The door to the right leads to a cloakroom.
The door to the left opens into a passageway. It turns around a corner to the right after a short distance.
The door in the opposite wall opens into a fancy reception chamber. Also falling into decay, the tapestries and furnishings have seen better days. There is a set of double doors at the far end...and from underneath them comes a faint light.
You stick your head through the door and see a large dining room beyond. Zombie servants are laying a large table with fine china and silver cutlery. In a corner a trio of musicians are setting up their instruments. The musicians are wights, you think.
Two doors open off of this room. One is open, and goes into a kitchen. The other is closed.
After a time, the servants leave.
A short time later a five women enter the dining room via the closed door.
The women are all young, very beautiful and of deathly pallor. They are clad in formal silken gowns that conceal little. One of them - among the youngest of the five - appears to be extremely nervous...verging on panic-stricken. Her eyes are wide. She looks around constantly, like a trapped animal looking for a place to escape to.
She has two neat, fresh holes in her fair neck.
The others range from calm and serene, to laughing and happy.
A zombie enters with a tray of crystal glasses of red wine (you think) and moves from lady to lady. Each takes a glass.
Finally, a tuxedo-clad man enters the room. He is middle-aged and handsome, well built and muscular. Perhaps in an earlier life he was a great warrior. Now, he stands in the dinner chamber and regards the women with an appreciative eye.
The nervous woman grows even more uneasy as he gazes at her.
Umboth takes a drink, and raises his glass in a toast. The ladies salute him. He regards the nervous one and says something to her with a smile. You cannot hear his words but they do not calm her.
He moves over and joins the women, making small talk. The nervous one hangs back, though he speaks to her more frequently than to the others.
At last a white-clad ghoul appears in the kitchen doorway.
Umboth and the ladies take their seats at the table.
The trio of wights in the corner begin to play.
The kitchen door opens again, and the cook and several helpers wheel dinner in on a four-wheeled trolley, placing it on the table. Upon a large silver platter rests a young man, alive, bound and naked. He has an apple stuck in his mouth, and held in place with a gag. He struggles mightily against his bonds but to no avail.
Four of the women look upon him with unconcealed hunger.
The fifth woman looks as if she is going to be ill.
Umboth stands again, and says grace...
You continue to watch...as Umboth suddenly bares his fangs and bites off a bloody chunk of the man's living flesh out of his chest. The man writhes in agony...as Umboth - his face now smeared with blood - chews thoughtfully for a moment, savouring the flavour and texture of the meat.
Finally, he swallows, and, with a smile, motions for the ladies to sample his table.
Four of the women bare their fangs and tear into the man, taking an almost sensual delight in feasting on him as he struggles and strains.
The fifth woman has turned away...but as the feeding continues and Umboth joins the repast, she slowly turns about and watches with increasing fascination. You see a look of hunger slowly come over her features...then...almost against her will...she joins the feeding frenzy.
Umboth looks up at her and smiles.
You watch as if through a faint curtain as the vampires feed on the man. His struggles grow weaker...and finally cease. The feast continues...until at last they sit back...engorged with flesh and blood. They dining room has been transformed into something resembling an abbotior: the table is covered with sticky wet blood, bones and gore...the fine china and crystal pushed aside and some of it smashed on the floor. More blood and offal lie on the floor, and even the walls are splattered.
The vampires themselves are red with blood...their formal attire ruined. They look happy, though...even the young one.
Finally, the servant returns with another tray of glasses...filled with blood.
Umboth takes one...as do the others.
Delicately, they sip at the contents as they make after dinner small talk.
It is well after midnight.
Finally, Umboth rises, and bids the ladies goodnight.
He exits through the door that he came through...while the ladies remain.
You follow him...passing through the closed door with ease...down a number of winding passages and stairs, and into Umboth's suite. There, a bath awaits him. He strips, and you see that he bears many scars on his body.
You watch as he bathes, and as a zombie servant then towels him dry and helps him to dress.
You follow him out of the suite...along more winding passages and upstairs, to an office.
He seats himself behind a desk and begins reading reports.
After a time a man - a living man - enters with a pile of papers. Umboth takes them, glances at them, and signs them. He has a brief conversation with the man, who then leaves with the signed papers.
During the course of the next two hours a number of people - both living and undead - come and go, as Umboth works in his office. The last visitors are an orc (with only one eye) and the first man again...who you judge to be some sort of secretary. The orc's robes are singed. The orc-cleric tells a tale to Umboth using many animated gestures. The vampire questions him closely...then says something to the man, and dismisses them both.
Umboth rises from his desk, pulls back some long curtains behind him...opens a glass door, and steps outside onto a windswept balcony. His office, you realise, is near the top of the tower and faces east. All is dark outside, now, for it is completely overcast. He regards the desolate darkness...alone but for you. After a bit, though, a chilly grey light begins to filter down through the clouds. Umboth retreats before the approaching dawn, back into his office...and from there you follow him back down into the depths of his keep to the suite again.
He heads into his bedchamber. It is richly furnished, with an enormous coffin dominating the place.
Waiting for him here is the young woman.
All signs of her earlier discomfort are gone, now, as she helps him to disrobe.
They climb into the coffin together, naked, and begin to copulate atop the fresh graveyard dirt.
Farad waits and watches.
After an hour they finish...and drop off to sleep in the coffin...intertwined in each other's arms.
Farad waits another hour...then acts:
Pulling out the wooden stake I prepared, I move beside the coffin and drive it into the vampire's chest.
You do so.
Umboth jerks awake as the stake goes through his heart...holding him fast.
The woman also awakens, screams a bloodcurdling cry and lunges at your jugular. Her fangs scrape down your armour.
Umboth's gaping eyes glaze over.
You grab Umboth and then make for the ethereal again. This takes a moment for you to do, and the female vampire lunges at you again during this time.
This time she grabs you as the three of you fade into the ethereal, and plunges her fangs into your neck.
You take 9 hit points of damage...as you feel a terrible cold flood through your body...
Farad loses a level in both his classes...to 5F / 4MU. Worse yet...you lose the ability to probability travel...
You have made it to the border ethereal...with Umboth and a very unhappy female vampire in tow...
The lady vampire releases her hold on you in surprise, and looks about. Her eyes widen, and she utters a feral sob.
You let go of Umboth and take the opportunity to launch two magic missiles into her.
You hurt her slightly.
She turns, hisses at you and attacks, as you reach for your holy water.
Again she tears into your neck...for 9 more hit points. You feel more chilled...as you are drained to level 4F/3MU. You have 16 hit points remaining.
You have a vial out, now.
I toss the vial to force her back and grab Umboth and force both of us myself into the deep ethereal.
You miss her badly but she recoils all the same.
As you flee deeper into the ethereal, though, she comes after you.
"Get me out of this place!" she shrieks at you. "Or you will share with me my fate...for all eternity!"
She does not attack you, though you can feel her cold breath on the back of your neck...heavy with the smell of your own blood.
Farad pauses, and holds from attacking further. "Agreed. Only my magics can return us, but be warned. If you slay me here, there is no soil for me to lie upon to be reborn as a vampire. I will remain dead until you find a way to return both of us. And given the place we are, I find it likely that others would rather kill you than let that happen."
"And I know that the moment I return you, you will slay me. There I would become your vampire slave. Here on this plane, I know my soul is damned, but have hope that I shall never rise again."
"Plane?" she asks, wide eyed. "Where are we?"
"Another place, that holds a shadowy mirror of our own world. No more will I tell you though until we return."
"Thus I think we can bargain... Let me tell you what is happening."
"My companions should have already killed the other vampires by now. You are a new vampire. We saw the change in you tonight. You can still be saved if you so wish. Otherwise you surely will have the same fate as him when, and if, you are ever able to return."
She seems pleased to hear that the others are probably already dead.
"Good. I'm glad that you feel this way."
"And then again, with no vampires left in Brach Pol, you might find power in the new order as a normal woman again. This land is under attack. Already outposts have been destroyed and the city is next. You may have heard of the closest being annihilated just this day. Your master is finished, and so are all of your race. For the other women who shared the feast tonight it is too late, but you are young still, and the change is not irreversable."
She looks at you, doubts in her eyes.
"And if you doubt that you are finished, look at your master. I made a mistake attacking alone. If I had not thought you would not awaken, both of you would be dead now as I could have called my companions to strike simultaneously. We watched you all night, and we can do it again."
"I care not if Umboth is finished," the woman replies. "He made me into - this - took me against his will. As long as he was undead then I was his slave. Now," she says, with a smile, "I am free."
Farad describes some of the scenes he has witnessed that she would remember.
"So you see, you are not safe. Even in the heart of his power your master was vulnerable to my whims. So do you wish to slay me, and forever be trapped here in this land of mists and nothing, or do you wish to become human again and I shall return us to our homes?"
"So what will it be?"
She looks away into the discomforting distance...and perhaps the future, too.
"Your blood and your body...attract me..." she says, looking back at you. "But I have feasted well on both blood and flesh tonight already. I will...try...to restrain myself.
"To be alive again would be pointless...for my father would again consign me to the fate that Umboth gave me. But...if what you say is true..." she adds thoughtfully, "...then there is a power vacuum in Brach Prol right now...one that perhaps we could fill..?"
She regards you.
"Get us back from this place, then!"
Farad gives the vampire a look. "Very well then. But don't touch me again or you'll be stuck here for eternity."
Farad returns to the palace, entering the border ethereal at the same place he left it.
You pass back through the open door from Umboth's office balcony.
Even the dim light filtering through the clouds from the Prime makes the lady vampire spit and curse.
He then pulls out the scroll of teleportation, but also the vials of holy water he has left.
"Don't try anything funny, or you'll be drinking this water. Now stand back and let me cast my magics."
Farad will then read the scroll, making sure that him and Umboth, and ONLY them, get teleported to Sandas, outside of Ray Jay's tower (the ethereal equivalent that is).
The spell disappears from the scroll...
...but nothing else happens.
"Hurry up!" she hisses. "What are you up to?"
She edges closer.
"You drained my strength some. This spell failed to work. Its normally beyond my strength in any case, but now it is more so. Let me try again."
Farad takes out the other scroll.
You read it...the spell disappears...
...and suddenly you find yourself in the border ethereal in the street outside of Ray Jay's tower, with the corpse of Umboth.
You almost think you hear the vampire's shriek of dismay as you leave her behind...
It is just becoming light in Sandas. Dawn has yet to arrive. The street is deserted.
Farad waits.
Just before dawn a horsedrawn cart comes down the street. The driver stops before the door to the tower, gets down, and leaves a pint of milk by the door. Getting back in his cart, he moves on.
A short time later the door opens and a middle-aged lady takes the milk.
You try to get in before she closes the door again...and suddenly you are not there anymore...but rather are locked in a very small cage on the astral plane...
You sit there for what seems to be an eternity...before you see a small figure approaching.
It grows as it gets closer...and you make out the features of Ray Jay.
"Farad, isn't it?" she asks suspiciously, when she comes within hailing distance. "What do you think you're up to?"
"Trying to catch Ming's attention, sir. I've noted that he has been able to see invisible people before, and I needed your help."
Farad begins to explain. He tells Ray Jay about scouting out Brach Pol and slaying Umboth. "I did not think the other vampire could or would awaken, it being daylight. But she attacked me and followed me back to the ethereal plane. But by then I could no longer return."
"Thus I hoped Ming could bring me back. I have enough money for that. And then perhaps I could see if the priests could restore my lost strength, or perhaps you may know how to accomplish this?."
Farad then looks at the body of Umboth. "Any chance of a reward for this fellow? Nasty sort these vampires."
"Not likely in Sandas," the arch-mage replies. "Perhaps there is a price on his head somewhere in the eastern lands, though."
She speaks a word and suddenly you are standing in Ray Jay's study...free of the cage.
Ming stands nearby.
"Back so soon?" he asks Farad.
"Drag that vampire over by the window, Ming," Ray Jay says, taking out a cigar and biting the tip of it off.
Ming reluctantly takes the corpse over to the window, which is open, and through which the morning sun streams.
As soon as the sunlight touches the body, Umboth starts to decay.
"Now...as for restoring yourself, I could do it by a wish, but I doubt if you have 100,000gp on you," says Ray Jay, as she lights up. "So perhaps you had better visit a temple instead."
Farad nods. "Such was my plan."
"Do I owe you anything for getting me back to this plane? I always like to settle my debts. It is for this reason I am travelling with McTavish after all."
"You owe me nothing," says the elf maiden, puffing on her stogie.
"Also Ming, I'd like to purchase two more of those teleport scrolls. Quite useful in a jam, such as when bargaining with a vampire intent only on sucking your blood."
Ming looks over from where he has been watching Umboth decay to dust.
"Yes...yes," he says. "Another 3000gp, then."
Farad pays for that. "Thank you for the help. I'll not disturb you any further. Well, one quick question. Do you happen to know if that Wizard is still in the Astral watching Sandas? Do you know what Wizard it is?"
"No to both questions," says Ray Jay. "Wizards have ways of protecting themselves against observation or discovery...even by one such as myself."
Farad asks, "BTW, how long was I kept in the Astral cage of yours? Just wondering what how much time passed."
"Just enough time for me finish my breakfast," replies the arch-mage.
He'll then depart for the temple.
Verona does not seem to be particularily pleased to see you.
"Restorations are indeed 10,000gp each," she says. "But no, I cannot command Tyr to run over to your campsite for the money as if he were an errand boy. I can summon an aerial servant to fetch the money if you like...for a further donation of 4000gp."
Farad sighs. "Then I shall purchase one such spell, so that I have a little more magic ability."
"Are you still a member of the party that was to clear that old house and the dungeons connected to it, or have you deserted them in the same manner that they deserted me?"
"In no manner has anyone been deserted. We plan on finishing the house when we have enough skill to do so. The last time we tried, several of us died. I'm sure your temple enjoyed the constant income our group provided, but we could no longer afford it, either physically or financially. This group was cursed with bad luck and a lack of cohesiveness. Now we are gaining both of those again on our current mission for Yuri."
"The house will simply have to wait until our current quest is completed. As it is, the house proper _was_ completed. Its the temple grounds that remain. I am not certain our group has any business meddling in a war between two different churches. Perhaps when a cleric of your order graced our band it was one thing, but Sasha no longer travels with us. Not that I will not do it. I dislike such churches myself. But our group is lacking in clerical help, and we'd need it when we do return. If I'm going to attack a church you oppose, I'd like a bit more direct representation from your own church. I'll not become an outlaw or something such."
But if you wish, feel free to let some other group try it again. I'll assure you that none of my party will fret too long over the missed opportunity."
Verona's expression hardens as she hears you out in silence.
"I do not like the accusations that you are making," she replies. "As for sacrificing members of your party so that my church may derive an income, while your patron may indulge in such actions, Tyr and his servants do not. In fact, I no longer feel any goodwill towards you whatsoever, and suggest that you find someone else to restore you."
"Accusations? What accusations? I made none, and find it insulting that you would think so. The only thing I remotely said that would be insulting was that your temple may have enjoyed our money. I did not say that it was not well spent on our part, mearly that we could no longer afford the cost of continuing on a mission that spelled the doom of so many of our group. Now if you find this insulting, then why not offer your services for a cheaper rate if you know your followers are strapped for cash. To do otherwise DOES make it seem that you are only out for the money."
"As for the problems that your party endured...and is still enduring, I would say...if you are a representative member then I have no doubts that the problems are well deserved."
Farad frowns. "Again you insult me."
"As for the house, it is no longer the concern of your group. It was sold some three months past, and the new owner cleared the area promptly."
"Then why bring the subject up? That was the only project you gave us, and yet you indicate that we abandoned it."
"And, for your information, Sasha was a cleric of Isis, not Tyr," Verona turns away, and speaks to an acolyte hovering nearby. "Show this person out, please."
"Whatever."
She leaves, and you soon find yourself back on the street.