Midway through your meal you look outside and see Sasha crossing the square. She comes into the Inn and joins you.
Finishing your breakfast, you hurry back to the house. The streets are already crowded with people, but the crowds thin as you approach your destination. Pillar makes you stop at the small shop that he found yesterday to buy a lantern or torches (let me know which).
The house appears deserted again this morning. It appears that the majority of you favour going in through the front door, so you ascend the steps, move carefully around the hole that Jaramir fell through, and open the door.
Beyond is the entrance foyer...a 20' square room (10' west, 20' north; door in north wall, east corner; door in west, wall south corner). Once richly furnished, now everything in here is in poor shape. You see several chairs, a couch, a small mahoghany table - the only completely intact piece in the room - a broken vase and a slashed painting...the latter being a portrait of a middle aged, formally dressed woman.
Taking the painting down, all that Jaramir sees behind it is wall. The colour of the wallpaper is not so faded behind.
You open the door in the north wall, east corner. Beyond is a passageway, running east - west for 30' in total. This door is in the centre section. Directly across from you is another door. At either end the passage turns north (ie. the north wall is only 10' long and has a door in it). There is a second door in the south wall immediately to your right, and a third door in the west wall.
You step out and look around the corners.
Going east and looking north, you see that the hallway runs for 60' from the south wall, and ends at a door facing you. There are additional doors in the east wall, 10' - 20' section, 30' - 40' section, and 40' - 50' section. There is one more door in the west wall, across from the last door in the east wall.
Going west and looking north, you see that the hallway immediately turns west again...ie. from south wall to north wall is 20'.
J'Harast moves out into the hallway and listens at each of the doors in turn, but hears nothing at any of them. Returning to the door directly across from the foyer, he inspects it for anything suspicious. Nothing.
He opens it, revealing a flight of stairs leading up to the second floor, you presume.
J'Harast cautiously moves up the stairs. The risers creak loudly but that is all.
The rest of you follow when he gives the all clear.
At the top of the stairs is a passage running east - west...10' in either direction. There is a door in the south wall immediately to your right, a door across the hall in front of you, a door beside that one to the left, and another door in the west wall.
Decorating the hall are two small oak tables, in good condition. The entire place is rather dusty...and the dust has been disturbed on the floor by numerous smudged footprints going to all of the doors.
As you stand there taking all of this in, you hear what sound to be footsteps on a creaking floor above you...
Flintheart moves quietly across the hall as the sounds of footsteps stop. Putting his ear to the door, he hears nothing and so he opens it. Beyond is a room...but he has no time to note the details because suddenly he is hit in the face by a projectile!
He staggers back in surprise and the door slams in his face. Lying on the floor next to him is the missile that hit him: a plush teddy bear, minus one button eye.
Sasha snatches up the teddy bear and goes to the door. She opens the door - but stands to the side, against the wall - and looks inside.
She beholds a nursery, 20' square (10' east, 20' north, windows in north and east walls). The walls are painted pink, now faded. In here are two cribs, made up with rotted coverings, some small chairs, two tables, a playpen and a chest of drawers. Toys are scattered about everywhere...more stuffed animals, blocks, dolls and much more.
As she looks, a doll rises up off of the floor seemingly of its own accord, and then sails towards her! It flies past her, and strikes the wall of the passage.
Immediately thereafter a wooden block does the same thing. Sasha ducks, and J'Harast behind her dodges as well, as it sails down the stairs.
"Okay this is not cool," says Athmyr, switching to infravision to see if he can make anything out.
He sees nothing. Infravision doesn't function around a source of light, such as a window that is admitting even diffuse light...
Checking out the ceiling, he sees nothing strange up there but for some cracked plaster.
Sasha pulls out her holy symbol and holds it high. She steps into the room and prepares to duck...
For her efforts she takes a Barbie doll in the kisser, for 1 hit point of damage. This is too much for her as she screams and flees in terror in a random direction...in this case through the door at the west end of the passage.
Simultaneously, Pillar leaps into the room shield held in front of him holy symbol in the other hand.
"A ghost I think." Peers around the room, ducking and blocking flying debris "Quick, turn it Sasha, or consecrate it" before the teddy bear gets me."
Dodging out of the way of another teddy bear Pillar grunts as a fluffy doll hits him in the face, crumpling Pillar says "Dammit, that hurt".
It does more than hurt, as a fit of fear takes hold of him. The cleric wets himself and runs away as well, after Sasha.
Illyana looks baffled at the flying toys, but manages to duck out of the way. She asks,"How can we fight something we can't see?" She then proceeds to enter the room, looking around for anyone hiding anywhere.
She sees nothing, but that doesn't stop her. As Ken flies past her head she swings her two-handed sword in a graceful arc, but strikes nothing.
A toy wagon grazes her ear as she swings again. She does no more than stir up a breeze in here. A string of beads sails by. She swings again, and this time connects with something.
She swings again as the crib starts to slide across the floor towards her...and again hits something!
The crib stops moving, and all is still in the room.
[The party goes after Sasha and Pillar, to find them in another room, with a shadowy form hovering over the former...]
The brothers enter the room together, Jaramir brandishing his holy symbol, J'Harast hurling a gleaming axe, at the shadowy form.
The holy symbol has no effect. The axe flies right through the figure, and imbeds itself in the wall behind with a THWACK!
This seems to bring Sasha and Pillar to their senses. Shaking off their unnatural feelings of terror, they look about them, as Jaramir moves foreward and attacks the thing by her.
His attacks pass right through it...whatever it is.
"Foul beast" words flow slowly from Pillar's fear ridden face, hefting his newly aquired flail "Take this" Pillar swings at it "and this" keeps on having a go at it. If his weapon has no effect he will try to turn it... but Pillar will keep a small eye on J'Hrast and Jaramir in case he gets an axe in the back.
Nothing Pillar does has the slightest effect on the thing, which continues to hover close by Sasha.
"STOP IT" Sasha shrieks.
She turns to the creature, "Please...we are here to help you...I know you were wrongfully killed...let us help you..."
She walks to it, arms outstretched, still pleading for understanding.
It moves rapidly around behind her, and floats about a foot or so away from her.
As you watch, it slowly begins to assume her shape...as if it were her shadow...
Seeing that these two are back to themselves, Jaramir shouts "Lets flee, we can't hit this ghost, if that is what it is. Move!" He then moves, pulling J'Harast with him if possible.
Meanwhile, back in the nursery...
Having survived the attack from the mutant dolls Flintheart enters the room. Looking at Illyana he asks
"Did you hit anything?"
He then starts to look around the room to see if he can find anything out of the ordinary. If there seems to be nothing of interest in the room he suggests to Illyana that they should follow the others.
The fighter and the gnome find nothing of interest or value in here, so they move to join the rest of the party.
And, back with the others...
You rush back into the hall at the top of the stairs and stop. The shadow-thing remains right behind the cleric of Isis, but does not seem to be doing anything hostile.
Sasha and Pillar now realize that in their panic-stricken flight from the nursery they ran through the door at the west end of this hallway and into another running south, and then through another door at the end of this second hall which led into a living room.
Your fears subsiding, you realize that there are several more doors left to open in the east-west hall at the top of the stairs.
You look into the second, south running hall.
It is 60' long...with many doors. There is a door in the first 10' section of the west wall...open now, for it leads into the living room. There is another door immediately to the south of this door. There are additional doors in the 30' - 40' section as well as the last 10' section of the west wall. There is a door at the south end. On this (the east) side, there are doors in the 20' - 30' and 40' - 50' sections.
You go back and look into the living room. It measures 30' X 40' (20' north, 40' west, door in south wall east corner, windows in north and west walls). It is nicely furnished with chairs, couches, tables and bookshelves...though the tables are littered with pieces of broken china.
J'Harast enters and retrieves his axe.
"If we're gonna clean this house we should do it methodically that's either top to bottom or bottom to top. I would suggest top to bottom as that seems the easiest."
With that Flintheart walks to door opposite the stairs going up if the others seem to prefer top to bottom or they don't say anything he opens the door.
There are two doors opposite the stairs that you climbed to get to this floor. One of them opened into the nursery...the second is unopened.
Flintheart opens the second door.
He looks into a nother room...20' square (10' west, 20' north, window in north wall). This is a bed / sitting room. In here is a bed (very rumpled), a chest of drawers, a table and two chairs.
You search this room.
In the chest of drawers you find a colection of womens clothes...frocks, skirts, blouses, undergarmnets, etc. They seem to be cut and styled for an older person.
Pulling back the bedcovers you find the well decomposed body of a woman in a nightgown. It has obviously been here for a long time, for little remains but the bones.
You note that the mattress of the bed is very lumpy, and so you cut it open. Out pours a massive number of coins...it is obvious to you that the bed was full of money.
You count 2000cp, 2000sp, 400ep, 300gp, and four necklaces which you suspect are of some small value.
You take what you want of this treasure trove and open the last door in the hallway...the one in the south wall at the east end. Here at last you find a flight of stairs heading up to another floor.
Again J'Harast leads the way up.
You come out on a landing, 10' X 20' (10' west, 10' south). There is another flight of stairs to your right in the north wall, heading up again. There is a door in the west wall.
You continue up the next flight of stairs.
At last you come out into an "L" shaped room...the wall on your left runs north for 10'. then east for 20', south for 20', west for 10', and north for 10'. There are windows in each wall, though they are shuttered, and so the room is but dimly lit by dim light filtering in through the wooden slats. There is little in this room but for a few armchairs, facing the windows, but you take a walk around anyway.
You find nothing else in here but a loose floorboard that creaks loudly every time someone steps on it.
> Illyana will open the shutters and look outside. "Assuming we're in the >attic and there aren't any secret doors or somesuch here, I think we >should go back downstairs and try the door we passed on the way up here."
You have a commanding view through the windows in all directions. To the north is a church; to the east the graveyard, wreathed in light mist; to the west and south are neighbouring houses. Farther afield, to the north and northeast you see the bulk of the city, while to the south the buildings soon end, to be replaced by farmlands and forests. To the west are more farms and forests, and beyond that the mountains, hidden by clouds.
It is midmorning.
> Illyana will attempt to look for secret doors.. She will tap on the >walls to see if any sound different or something.
The only place in the room from which a hollow sound emanates is that floorboard...
> Illyana gives the floorboard a good yank.
Up it comes, revealing a space underneath filled with coins.
You start counting...and tally up 9000sp, 6000gp, and a gem...a cut diamond the size of your fist.
Jaramir, J'Harast, Illyana and Athmyr count out their share of the treasure and leave the house.
Flintheart, Sasha and Pillar take what remains and hide it in the nursery, before resuming the exploration.
You head back upstairs to the floor above the nursery, and open the door on the landing.
Revealed is a store room, 20' X 40' (10' north, 40' west, door in north wall east corner, door in south wall east corner). The place is piled high with junk...boxes, abrrels, furnishings, carpets, drapes, pots, china, towels, clothes...you name it.
You start to search the room.
Suddenly the north door opens, and in rush 7 creatures. You have never seen the likes of them before...they seem to be a mishmash of different species. One has the head of an orc attached to the body of a lizard, while another has a face half human, half kobold, etc.
Two of them hold the east door, while the rest rush you, broadswords bared.
Sasha screams in surprise and glances around quickly to see if there is an escape possible.
Pillar scans the room assessing the situation he decides discretion os the beter part of valour and moves to the south east door to retreat through it "Hey people, this way".
The three of you move that way, as the creatures attack. Each of you have one of them on you to start.
The thing on Sasha swings his broadsword and just misses her. She crashes her staff into its skull. There is a crunch as its skull shatters, and it drops, spraying her with blood and brains. She hurries to the door to the south.
Flintheart tries to escape to the door unnoticed, but it is not to be. A sword chops into him, but strangely enough, he seems unhurt. He in turn misses with his shortsword.
Opening the door as quickly as he can while wielding his mace in the other hand to try to keep his attacker at bay, Pillar gets the door open but takes a hit for 6 hit points of damage. A nasty gash is opened across his abdomen and blood pours out.
With Pillar holding the door, Sasha and Flintheart rush through.
You get the door closed, though the monsters are pounding on it to reopen it.
You have no respite, however.
This is another junk filled room, with no other visible exits.
You hear a noise...and suddenly a creature like a large cockroach appears out of the garbage and bears down on you.
"Pillar, shall I heal you or can you do it?" Sasha asks hurriedly. She glances at Flintheart.
Pillar lays hands on himself, and his wounds heal.
"Get the feeling that staying was a bad career move? Let's find the fastest way out of here after we deal with this thing...."
"Out of the frying pan into the fire. Still things are not hopeless yet."
Flintheart faces the cockroach-thing. It is about 2' long, with two long antennae and grasping claws.
The gnome darts in and his shortsword flashes. A hit! Greenish goo oozes from the wound. It lashes out, and a bloody welt appears across Flintheart's face, for 2 hit points of damage.
There is a crash at the door, as the mongrelmen try to break in. The door holds, for now...
Sasha has wrapped another cloth around her staff and is trying to light it with her flint and steel, as Pillar, healthy now, moves over to help Flintheart.
He needs it, too, as an antenna whips out again and lays open a bloody wound across his chest, for 4 hit points of damage.
The gnome drops, unconscious, bleeding.
Pillar jumps over the body of the gnome, flail swinging.
It crunches into the creatures shell, shattering it. The monster lies still.
There is another crash at the door, as Sasha, her staff flaming, stands ready to meet them.
> "Oh bugger, it seems that we are severly outnumbered here". Turning to > the fallen gnome Pillar lays hands, healing him.
There is a third crash at the door. You hear urgent voices cursing from the other side.
Quickly Pillar finds old smashed furniture > to brace the door. The banging continues, but the door, now sealed more securely, continues to foil them.
> Succeeding, he sits down and breaths a sigh of relief "That was > close".
The mongrelmen outside cease in their attempts to break in, but you can still hear them, muttering to themselves. The appear to be settling down to wait you out.
With Sasha's staff as a torch, you look about you. This is a large room, 20' X 60' (20' east, 30' west, 20' south, no visible exits). It too is piled high with junk and old furniture.
Sasha searches while Pillar watches the door.
Most of the items are of no value, but under a pile of old draperies that she suspects was the lair of the cockroach thing, she finds 2gp and a gem.
After waiting in silence for an hour you suddenly hear the sounds of a battle erupt from the other room.
You hear someone shouting, but you cannot make out the words. It sounds like Jaramir.
The sounds of battle continue for several minutes. Sasha and Pillar start moving furniture away from the door.
At last the sounds end.
You open the door, to see Jaramir, J'Harast, Illyana, Athmyr and the wolf standing before you. The fighters swords are bloodied, but the half-elf is wearing a nice suit of plate mail, and Illyana has traded in her studded for a suit of chain.
You help Flintheart to his feet and make your exit from the house, stopping only long enough to pick up the remaining treasure from the nursery.
That night you head for the common room. You find a table by a window, prop Flintheart up in a corner with a mug of beer, and settle in.
There are the usual number of mercenaries and transient adventurers in here tonight. Athmyr spots the magic user that he and Sasha had spoken to the previous night, at a table over by the fireplace. This time he is not alone...but rather in the company of an elf. The two are talking in low voices, and the magic user looks a lot happier now than he did the night before.
Athmyr excuses himself and goes over to join them.
"Oh look, Ming is here - you remember, Ray Jay's assistant. I think I will join Athmyr. Be right back!" Sasha says as she hurries to catch up with Athmyr.
Jaramir does likewise.
"Athmyr, what are your friends names? You seem pretty interested in their business. Might I ask why?"
Athmyr replies that the human is named Goodgulf (this is NOT Ming...). He does not know the elf.
"Good evening, Athmyr, Sasha, and..?" says the magic user when you get over to his table. "I am Goodgulf, and my companion here - "
"- Would rather remain anonymous," cuts in the elf in a low voice. He is a nondescript looking high elf, in leathers, with a longsword at his side, and a number of pouches tied to his belt. He eyes each of you in turn, and then resumes scanning the rest of the room.
"As you wish," says Goodgulf, "Though you are quite safe, here. Now," he says to you, "What can I do for you?"
"Jaramir. The name is Jaramir. Might I give you a bit of advice? If you wish to avoid attention, give a false name rather than no name at all. You have only intrigued me further, for you must have something to hide if you can not even brave uttering your own name in public."
Jaramir pulls up a stool. "Come, tell us. What have you to fear? Did you commit murder, and are a hunted man? Perhaps I am best served by calling the guard over, after all, you might have a reward out on you."
"And making threats like that will be your demise," the elf replies, and suddenly Jaramir feels five magic missiles tear into his flesh, blowing a considerable hole in his abdomen and spraying blood across a fair bit of the common room.
The half elf collapses to the floor with a groan, as five more missiles finish the job, blowing pieces of Jaramir hither and yon.
The wolf launches himself across the room at the elf, but suddenly his target is not there.
"Oh, now look what's happened," Goodgulf says, rolling his eyes.
Then, he slowly fades away...
The wolf lands amidst the remains of his master. He sniffs a few pieces of meat, selects a tender morsel, and eats it.
Before your eyes, the wolf starts to change...into a small, demonic looking creature about 18" long, with a long tail, horns...and a bloody little mouth.
Its beady eyes sweep the room.
"His soul is mine, now," it says, as you draw back in horror. "A fine little trinket it will make...for my *real* master..."
Then, a small portal opens up in the air before it. You glimpse a look at a parched, flaming landscape beyond, and the stench of brimstone and carrion blows into the room.
The creature steps through to the other side, and the the Gate closes.
All hell breaks loose in the common room.
Sasha gasps and nearly faints. She looks around the room stunned at what has just occured. "I can't believe this...that this could happen...here...like this. It can't be true..."
Illyana blinks.. "What in the name of Odin?" She rushes over to Jaramir, and looks down at him, checking for any signs of life. She then looks up at Sasha and Athmyr. "What did you three do to warrant such a nasty response?"
Illyana sighs. "Well, it looks like you three have made a new enemy. And a pretty powerful one at that. So do you expect more assults to happen in the future or was this a one time strike?"
Sasha turns to leave, and mumbles, "I've got to get some air...and I think .... " but never finishes the sentence as she leaves the inn.
You hurry out of the Inn of the Drunken Dwarf, stomach churning. The soles of your shoes are sticky with Jaramir's blood. Other patrons have come out as well, crying out for the City watch. From inside you hear the innkeeper yelling.
>From across the square you see a half a dozen uniformed men running your way.
You step aside as they pass, and wander off through the dimly lit streets, into quieter areas.
After a time you find yourself at Ray Jay's tower, knocking at his door.
It opens after a bit, and you see Ming standing there. He smiles when he recognises you.
"Come in, Sasha, come in? A drink, perhaps? You look as if you could use one."
> "Yes, thank you please..." Sasha replies, still trembling.
> > "We were at the Inn...and one of my companions...was killed..." Sasha > collects her thoughts and begins from the beginning.
> > "We were sitting at our table, when we saw a mage we had seen yesterday - > he was with an elf that wouldn't give his name. We went over to talk to > him and Jararmir...the one that was killed...was very rude, I'm afraid. > Made a big fuss about the elf not giving his name...I guess he took > exception to that ... which I can understand - but them he fired magic > missiles - ten of them into Jaramir..." Sasha shudders and takes a huge > gulp of the drink.
> > "And then an even odder thing happened...Jaramir's wolf...
[snip]
> Sasha sighs when she finishes and again takes a long gulp from the > goblet. "What does it mean? I can only imagine that Jarimar was > possessed from the beginning...or he was somehow 'infected' from when we > were in the house...and what did Goodgulf have to do with it? Do you > know of him? He was awaiting Ray Jay yesterday - I did not think him to > be evil...though of course I have no basis for my conclusion...*hiccup*" > Sasha blushes and covers her mouth. "Excuse me..." and takes another gulp.
Ming has listened quietly, his face showing little expression, though his eyes hardened at the mention of the demon, and widened a bit at the mention of Goodgulf's name.
"Yes, I know Goodgulf...slightly. He was in this tower yesterday seeking Master. He is not evil, I am sure of that, for he has associated with a powerful ranger and a paladin for many years...and he is seeking to rejoin them.
"As for this elf...I heard yesterday that there had been a big commotion in Strabath recently. A renegade thief - an elf - had tried to take over the thieves guild there by killing the current guildmaster. The attempt failed, but many were killed, and the local authorities got involved. He fled the city for parts unknown. Could this be the same elf?
"But why would Goodgulf and this elf be together...unless it was..." his voice trails off.
>"What? You always do that...just drop these little innuendos...unless it >was what? Please tell me..." tears form in her eyes, and slowly, one by >one, they fall.
"I am sorry...I was thinking aloud...it is a bad habit of mine..."
"I wish Master were here," he says with a sigh.
"As for the demon, it sounds like a quasit...a small creature that sometimes serve a spellcaster as a familiar. They are evil...quite evil...though that does not mean that Jaramir was. They can also change themselves into the form of a wolf.
"As for Jaramir's death, if you can retrieve some small part of his body then you could have him resurrected. The problem is, it sounds like the quasit has taken Jaramir's soul to its master. If you brought back Jaramir without his soul then he would be little more than an automaton.
"If you want to have your friend back I'm afraid you would have to rescue his soul, too."
Suddenly there comes a knock at the door. "Now who could that be..?"
He leaves you to find out.
A moment later he returns with Athmyr and Illyana.
"As I was saying to Sasha," Ming continues, as he pours everyone some wine, "I have a suspicion as to the identity of Jaramir's murderer. But what to do with my suspicion? This person visited Master this past spring...in the company of a Ranger, a Paladin and a High Preistess of Tyr. Ray Jay was pleased and impressed with them all, and saw them as being powerful weapons for the cause of Good."
Ming looks at all of you, before resting his eyes on Sasha.
"What do you want to do about this situation?" he asks at last. "Do you seek vengeance for Jaramir's death; do you wish to have him brought back to life; or did you merely come here to seek a shoulder to cry on?"
> Illyana shrugs. "If its possible, I'd like to get the person responsible >for his death, but seeing as he was probably a high level magic user, I >don't really know if I'm capable of even hurting him yet. I don't want to >foolishly throw my life away even if I could find him."
"A wise observation, miss," Ming replies, eying Illyana with approval. "If this elf is the one I suspect, then he has many talents. As well...he is an ally of my Master's...though an unpredictable one, I would say, if this is any indication. Regardless, Ray Jay is loyal to his allies, no matter how foolish they may be. It is a small but possibly expensive matter to resurrect Jaramir. Getting his soul back will be more of a challenge."
>"Well...I would like to investigate further...there is much going on here >that I do not understand. I would like to find those responsible for >Jarimir's death - and perhaps even return his soul to him if we can...but >there are larger, more dangerous things happening here.
"Such as..?"
>"ummm, Ming. Do you see anything strange about me?" She will move into >the light, where the shadow will be visible.
> >"My shadow didn't used to be like this...*hiccup* ummm...excuse me..."
"Ah...you have acquired a tween!" he says, looking at it with interest. "That is good news for you...bad news for everyone else around you...friend or enemy alike."
>"What do you mean? Are my companions in danger from me then?" Sasha >looks even more woebegone at this prospect.
"In a way...yes. A tween can see a moment or so into the future, and can adjust events such that they favour you, but at the expense of those around you.
"Who knows? Perhaps it was the presence of the tween that caused matters to go so badly for Jaramir..."
Sasha blanches and looks stunned at the news. "Oh no...not again..." Sasha cries out.
Tears streaming down her face, she looks at Ming pleadingly, "Is there anything I can do...I cannot be responsible for harming anyone...that Jarimir's death is my fault..."
"This is too much for me," says Ming. "I am out of my depth. Ray Jay will probably be angry, but..."
Out of the folds of his robes he pulls out a small, rectangular box, that fits into the palm of his hand. Flipping open the lid, he speaks words of arcane power into it...
"Kirk to Enterprise..."
A moment passes.
"WHAT??" says a distorted, metallic-sounding voice from the box.
"Four to beam up..."
Another pause.
"ALRIGHT...GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES. THIS HAD BETTER BE GOOD, MING..."
"Kirk out."
Ming closes the box up and it disappears into his robe again.
>Puzzled, Sasha replies, "Well, it seems to me that we are but characters >in a larger game."
"Of course we are...pawns of the gods," Ming replies.
"Goodgulf, the elf, and all. You yourself said it was >strange that they are together...their reaction to Jarimir...though I >guess you did explain that..." Sasha sighs and runs a hand through her >hair, the weariness catching up with her.
"I suspect that this was an unfortunate act of fate...that you should meet up with them...though surely your tween did not help matters."
> >"I'm sorry...I'm tired...I guess we should begin with finding Jarimir's >killers, and maybe return his soul to him...that will begin the process >of unraveling the bigger picture ... as I still don't know why his soul >was taken that way...was it past involvement, something that happened >since we met...I confess these kinds of happenings are new to me...at the >Temple...we were concerned with more ... ummm...simple matters - life and >the continuation of it...the study of magic arts..." With a sigh, Sasha >looks to the others.
> >"So, I will seek avenge Jarimir then? I feel I must - but you have no >need to continue with me...as I may pose a severe danger to you both..."
> >"I will seek justice for Jarimir...I feel I must...but you have no need to >continue with me...as I may pose a severe danger to you both...
"Do you realize the magnitude of the task you are setting out for yourself?" Ming asks. "Dealing with demons...I don't know. Still, Master should be able to advise you."
A moment passes, then suddenly you are standing in a forest clearing under a starry sky. The air is cool but not uncomfortable. Around you, ancient tree clad hills enclose a valley. You hear the sound of a river flowing somewhere nearby. Three deer graze nearby.
Standing 20' away from you is a beautiful elf-maiden, clad in a translucent gossamer gown, her hair floating around her perfectly formed features in the starlight like a glowing halo.
She moves towards you, all grace and feminine beauty...then trips and staggers.
"Damn high heels...I'll never figure them out," she mutters. "And look, now I've got a run. Ming, this is all your doing!"
Ming looks abashed.
"Master, I present the cleric Sasha, the warrior Illyana, and I beleive this elf is Athmyr," he glances at the three of you. "This is my Master, the Arch Mage Ray Jay."
Illyana smirks at this. "Thats what you get for wearing those kinds of shoes in this kind of terrain. Personally, I won't go near the things, but thats my opinion."
Ray Jay eyes Illyana curiously.
"Kids..." she mutters.
"Wow..." Sasha whispers upon seeing the elf maiden and surroundings.
Sasha stands tall during the introduction, and nods towards Ray Jay. "I am most pleased and humbled to meet you..."
"Please do not be angry with Ming...he disturbed you on my behalf...we have had the most extraordinary things occur and would seek your counsel."
"About what? Let's hear it, then..."
Illyana bows and says, "I'm not one for flowery introductions. I spent most of my life being trained by my father so unfortuanetly I lack some skills in that area."
"I know you! The last time I saw you, your father was marching you around the parade ground at Castle Yuri with a wooden sword in your hand! He'll be home soon, you know."
"So what do you know of this mage who killed Jaramir? Do you know how powerful he is? Where he lives? Any powerful allies he may have? Any details at all?"
"Who? What? Fill me in, someone!"
Illyana looks at Sasha. "This little side quest could deter us from cleaning out the house like we promised to do. I don't like the fact that Jaramir was killed so ruthlessly, but I'm worried that we may be no match for the killer and his allies. To put it truthfully, I'm a little frightened at the idea."
Sasha quickly and quietly replies, "You do not have to come with me - I will do this...because I must. Someone lost their life and their soul because of me...I must redress that...it is more important to me than 'cleaning' the house right now...though working on the house may be our ulitmate aim if the evil orginated from there..."
Illyana looks at Ming for a second.. "Demons? Ohboy, now I know I'm in over my head.."
"Demons? Ahhh...the plot thickens..."
Ray Jay materializes a chair out of thin air, seats herself, and settles back to listen...
>Sasha takes this as permission to sit also, and sits cross-legged on the >ground facing Ray Jay.
> >"It began simply enough - The Sandos Town and Development Committee or >some such asked us to 'clean' house. The house of Melnar, some past evil >mage was infested with creatures, theives, and the like.
"Melnar? He never had a house in Sandas!"
Verona - who >was our contact - seemed to be omitting information - but we went >anyway.
"I wonder why she would do that?"
We went through the house - dispatched various creatures - a >bugbear, some slugs, and then a giant roach, and some mongrels. But just >before this, we encountered some ghosts I guess...or this tween..." >Shasha points to her shadow.
"Ahhh...a tween...they can be a real pest if you are not careful."
> >"We did find what I believe to be the bodies of the family that was >cursed by the mage."
"Okay, so it was not the house of Melnar! He cursed the house! That would be like him..."
before we fought the mongrels and such. Anyway, we >went back to the inn, seeking more information about the house and such - >we were trying to find out who Verona actually was and all...she seemed >much more than a merchant...
"Of course. She is a High Preistess of Tyr. Why would she try to pass herself off as a common merchant? Ming?"
"She told me that she suspected that there was more to this house than just a derelict serving as a lair for a few unorganized monsters. She feared that the Thieves Guild was involved...and that perhaps another church in the City was trying to stir things up..."
"So she effected this little disguise in order to hide her true identity...and went out and recruited some young adventurers who wouldn't know any better. That was wise of her, I suppose...the City would be torn to pieces if the various churches resorted to open warfare..."
Upon arriving at the inn, we saw Goodgulf -"
"Goodgulf! So he has finally turned up, has he?"
" - with the elf. I had spoken to Goodgulf the previous evening - thinking >him to be..." Sasha blushes, "no offense please...but I had thought he >might be the great arch mage Ray Jay...I'm sorry. He merely replied that >no, he was not that mage, but was waiting to seek council with Ray Jay. >So, of course, I and my companions approached him again, to speak with >him. The elf with him was abrupt and did not wish to give his name."
"Ming?"
"I suspect that it is Vardui, Master."
"Drat."
"...and >that was when Jarimir got a little rude and then suddenly, Jarimir was >destroyed."
"I always took Vardui to be a little unpredictable."
His wolf turned into a quasit...and said something about >taking his soul to his 'real' master. Then Goodgulf and the elf >disappeared and you could smell and see the sulfar, fires, parched >landscape...that is about it..."
"Vardui did that? Or the quasit? Ahhh, the quasit. Well, Jaramir is in hot water now, isn't he? Getting his soul back could be a challenge...depending on who the quasit's master is..."
Ray Jay pulls a cigar out of her bodice, bites the tip off and lights it.
"Anyway, this Jaramir sounds to be something of a shit to me," she says, puffing. "But of course the fault lies with Vardui...Jaramir must have caught him on a bad day."
"I think that Vardui has been running amok of the law, lately, Master," Ming says, and quickly explains to the arch mage what he has heard about the goings on in Strabath.
Ray Jay chuckles.
"So, let me get this straight. Vardui tries to take over the thieves guild in Strabath, fails, and flees that city with Lord Morg's men hot on his tail. He arrives in Sandas, goes to the Inn of the Drunken Dwarf, and meets up with his old friend Goodgulf Greyteeth. While there, you," he says, motioning to Sasha, "Athmyr and this Jaramir character go over to talk to them. Vardui refuses to give his name, and Jaramir says something about calling the City Watch about him. Vardui blows him to smithereens as a result, and he and Goodgulf flee.
"Makes perfect sense to me. I'd probably have blown Jaramir to bits as well, if I were Vardui. But, the fact remains that a mistake was made, and Vardui should not have flown off the handle."
"That is, if it was Vardui, Master," puts in Ming. "It was only a suspicion of mine."
"Easy enough to find out," says Ray Jay, standing.
"I wish Vardui were here."
Suddenly a galloping horse materializes out of thin air. On it is a cloaked rider.
The horse skids to a halt before the arch mage, and you get a look at the rider.
"Hello, Vardui," says Ray Jay. "Killed anyone today?"
It is the elf from the inn.
>Sasha gasps and cringes away from the elf. "That is him..." she manages >to whisper.
Vardui slowly raises his magic missile finger .
"Perhaps," he replies.
"Don't think to try anything foolish, Vardui. I am as far above you as you were above that poor fool that you did in tonight in Sandas," Ray Jay warns, eyes flashing.
Vardui lowers his finger.
"So what if I did? He threatened me."
He looks at Sasha and Athmyr.
"You heard him," he says to you.
Sasha, angry now and a little bolder, "Yes, he did threaten you - but what could he have done? You had the demons of guilt riding you - that provoked your response - not any action of Jarimir. He threatened you with words only!!! Were people to be killed purely for their words, I would dare say many of us would not be standing here today. You are evil and putrid, a little man of no worth - for that is how you treate others! A man that has so little regard for life is of little regard!"
> "The words you speak are true," he replies with a shrug. "Except that I am > an elf, not a man. So this person who threatened to call the watch out > against me is dead...well? I am sorry. Here," he unhitches a pouch from his > belt and tosses it. It lands at Sasha's feet with a heavy, metallic clink. > "Go and get him resurrected."
> > He glances at Ray Jay.
> > "Can I go now?"
> > "No you cannot, you fool. It is not so simple as that. He had a quasit as > his familiar, and now that little demon has carried his soul off to the > Abyss."
> > Vardui sits up in his saddle.
> > "And..?"
Sasha stares at Vardui for a long moment. She then bends down and picks up the pouch and ties it to her belt.
Her voice shaking a little, she says, "Well...would you help me get it back?"
"Sure. Where do we start?"
The elf glances at Ray Jay.
The arch mage looks satisfied.
"He's not really that bad...or so I've been told," she says to Sasha, Illyana and Athmyr. "Just a little impulsive and more than a little reckless. And, if what Leslie and Laurie have told me is true, then he is quite an old hand at rescuing imprisoned souls from the lower planes. Right, Vardui?"
Vardui rolls his eyes.
Athmyr speaks up.
"Well I can see that you are not very smart for being an elf are you. And don't go pointing that finger at me.
"I think that if you hadn't done what you did we would have talked our friend from calling the guard even if he was actually going to do it, but instead you blow him away and are on the run again.... REAL SMART. If you don't come up with something really helpful really soon By Kodian I will hunt you down and kill you and your friend Goodgulf.
Vardui glances at him.
"Stuff a sock in it," he says. "You people accuse me of acting without thinking, or without knowing the nature of the threat. This guy is even more rash than I am."
Vardui smiles at him.
"I like you."
"Yes yes," says Ray Jay. "Vardui is not one to cross unneccessarily, Athmyr. Now, he has offered to make amends, so let's leave matters at that. First, you must get this Jaramir resurrected. Have you a piece of his body? If not, get one fast before they bury it or cremate it or whatever. Then, go to the temple of Tyr in Sandas and get him resurrected. Put the guilt trip on Verona...I'm sure you'll get a discount. Now, Jaramir's soul is imprisoned so his body will be little more than an automaton, but you'll have to take it with you when you go after his soul. There's this affinity between a body and its soul, you see.
"Now, as for finding out the whereabouts of Jaramir's soul. I could do it myself, but I am too busy right now. Ming, is Valdar still exploring my library? Good. You and he will be so kind as to track down which plane of the Abyss that quasit took off to. Vardui can assist you. He can stay in my tower...and he had better keep a low profile!
"Now all of this may take some time, but what will be will be. I am sure that you will be able to keep yourselves amused in the meantime. Are you all trained? Equipped? A trip to the lower planes is not to be made without preparations...
"Any other questions?"
>"What training or equipment can we get? I have little but this leather >armor and my staff...and can cast only one spell per day." Sasha looks >over to Illyana, "I think I am beginning to feel the way you do...this is >a very serious prospect..."
"Are you fully trained in your area of expertise, which I assume is as a cleric?" asks Ray Jay.
"Better armour may help you," says Vardui.
"This is a serious undertaking," says the arch mage. "A trip to the outer planes is never anything less. This is your decision, though...Jaramir was your friend - was he not? You could always leave his soul in the Abyss, consigned to an eternity of torment. I mean, it wasn't your fault that the fool summoned a quasit for his familiar, now was it?
"Nevertheless, let Ming and Valdar do their searching and locate his soul. Once we have a better idea as to where it is, you can decide whether you want to go through with it.
"Perhaps you should discuss this with the rest of your party, too."
> Illyana shrugs. "Constant torment you say? If Jaramir can wait a while..."
Vardui shrugs again.
"Sure he can. Time runs differently in the lower planes. A day for us could only be a minute for him...or is it vice versa..?"
>"Perhaps we should go through the rest of the house first to see if we >find anything else of interest there first. We may learn some more while >we are there and we might even find something that could help us out with >the trip.
"Excellent point," says Ray Jay. "You should continue exploring the place while we are seeking out the location of Jaramir's soul."
"Besides which, we have to go back anyway since not everyone >came with us and we need to talk to them first. I don't know what a >'quasit' is."
"A quasit is a very minor demon that is usually seen on the Prime serving as a magic users familiar," Vardui replies. "They give the magic user some good powers - regeneration and magic resistance - but the price the magic user pays is the risk that his or her soul will be carried off to the quasits real master if he should be killed."
"So I don't have any idea why it took his soul, nor do I like >the idea of foolishly charging into the abyss when Flintheart couldn't >handle a simple cockroach. He has to rest either way we look at it, so if >we go now we have to leave him behind or wait a week for him to heal. On >the other hand, I don't like the idea of someone's soul being in torment >so in reality I have no decision as of yet until I learn more >information. Question: if Jaramir does come back, does this quasit come >with him? It would be really bad if we resurrected him only to have him >die again and have his soul yanked away yet again.. Yet from what I >remember since he is linked to the stupid thing, we can't just kill it >without hurting him in the process."
"Jaramir is already dead, though," says Ray Jay. "Death usually breaks any bonds such as this. I do not think that bringing him back to life will renew the bond...unless both wish to renew it...
"I do imagine that you will have to battle the quasit and its master to get his soul back, though...unless you can resort to subterfuge to regain it."
She pauses and puffs on her cigar.
"Isn't that how you retrieved Goodgulf's soul from that greater titan, Vardui?"
The elf nods but says nothing.
> > Illyana then looks up at Ray Jay and asks, "You have information on my >father? Something about him coming home early? Do you know when? This >might be important later on for me.."
"Well, you know that he accompanied Yuri - his liege - into the North this past spring when he went to help the Ranger Lady Leslie establish a stronghold up there. I know that Yuri wished to be home before the snow flies, and that he was planning on sending your father on ahead to prepare the Keep for him...so I should expect to see him in Sandas in a few weeks.
"When last I spoke to them in July, your father was well and healthy."
>Sasha stands, looking energized now. "So, shall we go back then and >prepare for this? We can find the rest of the party, rest, and tackle >the house tomorrow. Maybe they have even discovered something in our >absense! Lady Ray Jay, I thank you kindly for all your assistance - and >you will let us know about Jarimir?"
"Keep in touch with Ming...I'm sure he would like that," Ray Jay says with a bawdy wink. "Very well. You have much to do, and I must return to the Library. Ming, I shall return at the end of the month. Farewell."
Suddenly you are back in the small sitting room in Ray Jay's tower, accompanied by Vardui and his horse.
"Wow...that was quick!" Sasha remarks when they arrive at the tower.
Startled, Sasha looks at Vardui and his horse. "Ummm, is your horse housebroken?"
"We'll soon find out," Vardui replies, watching his steed in anticipation.
"Well, Illyana, Amythr - shall we go then and rejoin our companions?"
Suddenly, Sasha looks a little crestfallen and complains, "Ray Jay never did tell me where I might train in this city. Darnit! I guess I will go door to door at all the temples and find a suitable one...though...Verona did say something about the Temple of Tyr at least having healing for us...perhaps I will try there first."
"There is no temple devoted to Isis in this city...it is not a popular faith in Nlad," MIng explains. "It fell into disfavour when our ancestors threw out the Empire of Saltar. However, occasionally a cleric passes through. Or, you could always return to your home church and train."
She turns to Illyana, "You know the city, could you point me to the Tyr Temple?"
She does so. It is near the Inn.
You take your leave, and return to the Inn of the Drunken Dwarf. An hour has passed since you left.
A very eventful hour...