Endless Winter
There is a thick mist hanging in the air, obscuring the sky from view and hanging in the air in such a way that it clings to the skin. It clings to everything. In an odd way it feels like Alexandria itself is trying to hold onto you. As if the air itself knows what you're doing and is trying to keep you just a few seconds longer from the danger that you're marching into. There's silence in the air. The temple district itself is empty save you brave souls about to depart.
While the others were talking, Seldan had excused himself for a half-hour or so, and now returns, with Malik in tow. He seems suddenly much warier, more set, more purposeful than he did when he left, all trace of smile now gone. He is fully kitted out, ready to go, and now looks over the others as they assemble.
Mikilos mutters absently to himself, checking, rechecking, and re-rechecking his supplies. All considered, the wizard has come though this unscarred, physically at least. The mark on his arm cut away, the effects of the Plague mostly faded. But the memories, the nervous habits developed, those are going to last a lifetime.
Malik is dressed as he normally is, all earth tones and drab gear that somehow still looks like it cost a small fortune even with no embellishments whatsoever, the bow slung over his shoulder. He seems a bit on the nervous side, however, eyes darting here and there to check for something apparently only he suspects.
Adding to the mist thick in the air comes a dirge, played mournfully on a violin. The player soon makes herself known, appearing near the center of the district. Acedia is dressed in her leathers, gone is the heavy plate. The symbol of Eluna hangs from around her neck, while Tarien's symbol is a small brooch pinned on the left of her chest. A heavy pack is strapped to her back, with the violin's case strapped to that. The Gobbo end up in a small orbit around Malik and Seldan, circling several times before she stops in front of them, and curtseys. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; or close the wall up with our honoured Dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility..."
Cryosanthia looks at those assembled, and especially the lucht knight and her spiders. She's wearing her new kit, which is mithril mail, and a tight leather shirt and leggings as well as a short skirt and short cape to go with it. Primarily white-scale leather, the cape has a satin lining that's pale blue. There are decorative snowflakes and dragon-eyes on some of the panel pieces, and she wears a dark grey dagger and a club on her belt. The sith takes out a device, a gift from Kaelyn, and pushes a button on it. Numerals showing her the exact time float in front of her face. She stares at them. A second artifice is taken out, another button pushed, and a topographical map of Alexandria showing exactly where she is right now, appears in tiny lines. She stares at that as well. Memorizing exactly where and when she is, then puts the devices away. She knows where she's going, it's a place she's been most of her lifetime, and the knowledge of what lies within gives her an odd calm.
The lucht looks questions at her palescaled sister, but deems it wait until after. She spent some time during Seldan's absence trying to get her mind in the game, periodically casting something that made her eyes glow pink, which she would hold for a couple of minutes, then release. Catch her breath and do again. Over and over for the duration. As the paladin returns, deeming this to likely be her last time, whispers a prayer to the Hunter for his favor before she carefully swaps the broach in her cloak... for the fine wrought Purple Rose. Valor. A glance about. Compassion. A look to Cryo and Seldan. Mercy. A look inward.... and she allows herself one tear. Just one tear. Just... Just one.
Her eyes widen as a particular signal appears in her sight and, what else can be said but, "She sees us."
Halani punches her fists together lightly, listening to the clank of metal on metal, and shakes her head ambivalently.. not sure to be satisfied or not with the sound. Her fists drop and she looks again at everyone else, doing her best to place them, and to figure out where in their ranks she might best fit. Cryosanthia's devices get an extended look, and Faranmidahn's spider continues to get a wary glance or two. Malik's arrival gets another one of her fist-bows, and Acedia's song gets a slight, but appreciative smile. A smile that disappears with Faranmidahn's warning. "Well. We're off to a good start, then, yeah?"
"She knows that we come, then," Seldan tells Faranmidahn composedly as he approaches the group, with a glance at Malik that attempts to be reassuring. He watches Mikilos for a moment, sympathetically. This entire experience has changed and shaped him in ways he, too, will carry with him for the rest of his life, however long or short that may be. With the weather as gray and bleak as it is, he has eschewed the thin silver headband, the one he wears much more ornate in clusters of small gemstones. "So be it." The move to the brooch bearing the Purple Rose brings a sudden smile to his features, when she pins it to her cloak. "Stand strong and tall. Are we then prepared?"
"Hello Mistress," Cryosanthia says, holding up her bare left hand and staring at the snowflake marking on the back of it. She has no emotion in her voice, the air is colder around the sith. She sighs and her breath is visible as a small, condensing cloud. "Peace on your nests everyone, peace on your scabbard Sir Seldan. This will be bumpy."
"I'll help where I can once we're there but I can't promise it will be much." The entanglement with Salina brought many changes and completely altered her and the course of her life. So much she's still adapting, painfully. The sith's eyes linger on Faran's rose. She nods at the lucht, glad to see it worn, "Thanks for your friendship everyone. This one is ready."
Mikilos looks to Seldan and smiles. "No, but waiting longer will just make it worse. 'Learn all you can, never assume you've learned everything, never fear to change at learning something new.' We've learned all we're likely to here. Let's go."
Acedia sets to putting her violin carefully in its case while others speak and make ready. Faran's warning causes her to frown at first, but then she giggles, smiling toothily. "Then she knows doom comes. It may come for us all, but it comes mainly for her." The Gobbo draws her new blade. "Hard it is in the world, great whoredom... an axe age, a sword age, shields shall be cloven... a wind age, a wolf age, ere the Bitch sinks!"
Malik gives Halani a slight nod of the head, and Seldan a small smile. The wizard has a new, nasty-looking scar on his neck, and for the most part he simply keeps quiet.
Faranmidahn lets the light leave her eyes, as from here, it would only be a hindrance. She's seen a teleport before, she's caught the warning she's sought, and expects to be blinded by the errant enchantment in the Tower itself looking through such a lense. There is a breath, and the tiny sorceress-knight sits up tall in the saddle, "Hello, Sally." she adds, then a glance to her companions, "It has been... my greatest honor to know such souls as surround me, now. With love, and valor we stand. Let us turn aside the avalanche, friends!" And she, too draws forth cold iron.
"For this, I am your sword, Silverguard. Point me at your enemy, yeah?" Halani has no word of encouragement, no bolstering song or poem, no final words of wisdom. "I am ready." Just a statement of intent, readiness and commitment. She punches on fist into her other hand, hard enough for the smack to punctuate her words.
"She is not only my enemy, Halani." Seldan's expression barely twitches, his tone reserved, even, composed, even ... set. Purposeful. "She is the enemy of all who stand here. All of Ea, even. I would not have us forget those outside of Alexandria who languish in the grips of the plague, some places more viciously so than Alexandria has known. I would remind you that I seek as much to learn how this thing might be reversed, as I do an end to Her cruelty."
Cryosanthia has returned to waiting quietly with her thoughts. She holds her dagger in her right hand, keeps watching the mark on her left. Her head moves as she looks around the district, at the mists. Her voice is quiet, "she may set people we know against us, please try to disable them and not injure them unduly."
Acedia sheathes her blade once more, and moves to stand by Seldan and Malik, leaning against the latter. "Just in case we do not meet again in this life.", she says softly, tugging on Malik's sleeve. "I love you two. It has been a rough ride, that started before I even met you. I am glad that you have been there at various points along the way. If I fall, avenge me. If others fall, let us avenge them."
Malik looks over, smiling down at the little gobber. "Don't worry. I'm too stubborn to die. Seldan is far too pretty to die. And everyone knows that the shortest person in the room always survives. It's a universal law." He gives her an easy wink, putting on his best face.
Mikilos reaches into his pack, pulling out the magical Map that might be technically Demonic. But it's still a Map. "...let's just hope we don't have to cross half the world to get where we're going."
Faranmidahn looks to Cryo, smiling some, though they had said their goodbyes, earlier, then, "I will." she asides to Acedia, then tightens her grip on the sword. Another breath and she lets her tear, crawl it's way down her face. Then reaches a hand out to Acedia in offer, to help her up behind her in the saddle.
Halani nods once to Seldan, unsurprised. "That is why you are the paladin, Ser Seldan, and I am not," she tells him, a small smile forming, then disappearing almost as quickly. She steps away from him, and Malik, when Acedia has her words with them and settles into a relaxed stand, rocking back on her heels as she awaits the transport.
The map itself is currently a map of the realms. Specifically it shows the realms in relation to one another, and for a mage might well be directions of some kind with a little 'x' marked on one of the realms.
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/the planes: (19)+6: 25 GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/the planes: (15)+15: 30
The Gobbo snorts at Malik, grinning toothily. "You'd better not." She squeaks then, and will clamber aboard the giant spider behind Faranmidahn. "I have never ridden a giant spider before. Issit like a giant wolf but with more legs?"
Cryo leans her head to look at the map and the 'x'. "The Fae Realm. This one is not surprised." She watches Mikilos to see what he does next.
Seldan smiles down at Acedia, his mop of hair falling in his eyes. "It has been the greatest of journeys, and I have had the greatest of companions upon my road." He studies the map with the others, but when Cryosanthia speaks, he looks up and frowns. "Have we a means of returning, do we go?"
Mikilos tsks mildly. "I suppose I should have known, yet somehow assumed would lead us to a time and place on -this- plane. I can get us all to the right plane without too much trouble. Getting back may prove interesting, or at least delayed." He considers. "Is there a circle of plants nearby? Not strictly needed, but may help get us closer on the proper plane."
Faranmidahn smiles some as Ace takes her up on her offer, "I've never ridden a wolf, but, his gait shakes more quickly, but with less actual movement than a pony, if that helps? If we go up, you'll have to hold me tight.We... never thought about passengers and getting the most out of Torrent's mobility." She shrugs at the oversight, then looks to Mikilos, "There was a... ring of stones a couple hours outside of the city. It's where I found Zephyr. Might that do?"
"If there is a way to control the Tower we may be able to make it appear somewhere on this plane. The teleportation circle may also still function. Concentrate on a time and a place before stepping onto it. I suggest here, this time, plus 10 minutes." Cryosanthia says. She holds up her arcanist device again. A button push and the current time is shown. Returning, was not on her mind. Getting there and surviving is the faint hope. Her tail lies limp behind her, on the ground. "I expected it would be on this plane also. Perhaps we could go in a temple and arrange some of their potted flowers in a circle."
Seldan shakes his head and straightens, frowning. "I would have a means of return, should disaster strike. Hold, and determine where we go. I shall return as swiftly as I may." With no further commentary, he takes off at a run for the arcanist's guild, to the north.
Malik turns, looking to the others. "I suppose it best that we remember the little things now, rather than once we are there."
Mikilos looks to Faranmidahn. "Trying to avoid a long walk. The circle isn't required, just handy. Do gather close everyone who plans on going, and join hands once we're all gathered again. The Map should update as we get close, but with luck we'll appear close enough to not really need it again." Though he does plan to keep it handy. Was able to guide him to an artifact before, maybe it can be used yet again?
Acedia watches Seldan run off, and then eyes Faranmidahn. "Warn me if you intend to climb the walls or ceilings, so that I can hang on for dear life." She giggles and shakes her head. "Again, I hope some Fae are scared of spiders, it would be nice to see them with fear in their eyes."
"Oh, they ride bugs, and Zephyr is a Fae spider, so I think they wouldn't be." Cryo says, carefully stroking one of Torrent's legs as she watches Seldan bolt off. She adjusts her grip on her dagger. She has everything she owns in her haversack, and couldn't think of anything extra to bring. A small rime of frost is spreading out from where she stands, when she lifts a foot there's a bare stone imprint beneath. She puts her left glove back on, then the heavier leather gauntlets that were made to pair with them. "We know she's seen us. Let me know if you think it's worth checking again Faran."
Presently, Seldan returns, at the run, face flushed and breathing heavily, with a pair of parchment scrolls in hand. He unslings his pack, then carefully divides the scrolls, to show that he has two. The second one, he rolls up and offers to Malik; the first, he rolls up separately and tucks into one of the side pouches in his bag. "Very well. Let us begone. I have what is needed."
Mikilos nods, double checking everyone is ready and holding hands, and grasps the amulet around his neck, focusing the power held into a spell. A spell to Shift Planes.
You find yourselves at once transported, a distinctly unsettling sensation of movement though you know that you're not actually moving. You find yourselves then in a frozen wasteland. Miles and miles of empty snow in every direction. The map itself has changed, becoming a more ordinary map of the fae realm that you now stand in. Off in the distance an 'x' marks the spot once again. The wind howls around you, and it's bitingly cold. Very unlike the springtime that you left behind. And though you don't see anyone, you have the distinct sense that you are being watched.
GAME: Seldan casts Grease. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17 GAME: Seldan casts Grease. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17
"Just like to point out..." the islander monk says after sucking her breath in and immediate hugging herself, the shivering no doubt ready to set in in a few seconds. "Nobody said 'Hey, Halani, maybe you should bring a coat.'" Her huffs come out in very visible puffs, her teeth not quite chattering. Not yet.
GAME: Faranmidahn casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Faranmidahn casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Faranmidahn casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Seldan casts Grease. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17
For his part, when they land, Seldan looks around him, apparently untroubled by the suddenly arctic chill, although his armor glows pale blue for a brief moment after the group appears. "Did I not tell you that our enemy is known as the Endless Winter?" he tells Halani gently. He draws a sigil on top of his new limpet's head, then speaks a word to it. It bursts into red-gold life, a twin color to the glow of the ring on his hand, then fades away, and suddenly the Gobber is much warmer. He follows that up with two more, one on Halani, and one on Malik, then looks to the others. "Let us go." With that, he turns to begin the march across the tundra.
The wind is biting. Cryosanthia is suddenly very aware of the mail against her scales. She inhales a sharp breath, concentrates. Her clothes get fluffier, velvet instead of leather, with fur ruffs. She watches as the others start casting spells, "This is a little colder than I like. I can handle it, just. Moving will help."
The white-scaled, white wearing sith starts off in the direction of the 'x'. After a step she's in danger of vanishing into the white. Her voice calls back, "If we've got a rope we might want to hold on so we stay together."
Mikilos mostly focuses on keeping a tight grip on the Map, his magical equipment keeping him from freezing, if not exactly comfortable. Squinting against the wind and glare, the wizard looks for landmarks against the map to get his bearings, checking twice the unfamiliar terrain as others protect against the natural elements. 'Natural' being questionable under the circumstance.
Faranmidahn smiles thoughtfully and lifts a hand to gently brushes little Zephyr fondly with a forefinger as she considers her familiar, who makes a soft, purrlike sound for a few moments. "As she says.." When Cryo speaks, she nods and, "I'm not sure it matters, now, but I will." There is the shift and.... holy COLD! The little sorceress starts to chatter nearly at once, and franticly starts to cast her environmental abjurations. One for herself at first, to be sure she'll still be able to cast more, and so, to Torrent beneath her, then finally little Zephyr, who at least had the shelter of her hair and body heat to defend her for those few seconds. Seldan is well into so protecting the others by the time she's finished, then, she nods to Cryo's suggestion, "That's a good idea." In pursuance of keeping with the leaders of the expedition, she sets off through the blizzard on a mount with storm's name, it felt good to be chasing the game.
The Gobbo's teeth immediately begin to chatter, and she tries to hide behind the Lucht in front. "W.w.w.why d.d.do these th.th.things never t.take place on n.nice sunny b.b.beaches?!", Acedia complains. She jumps down from the spider-ride, into snow. "WHY!?", she complains, at higher volume. Shortly after, she is having something drawn on her head, possibly made more difficult by her trying to see what it is Seldan is doing. Acedia looks much, much happier once the spell is complete. "I uhm... should have worn boots."
GAME: Acedia rolls will: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Faranmidahn rolls will: (13)+6: 19 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (13)+26: 39 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+3: (8)+5+3: 16 GAME: Mikilos rolls will: (13)+12: 25 GAME: Halani rolls will: (11)+13: 24
Halani's shivering stops almost as soon as it begins as Seldan's enchantment is laid upon her. She opens her mouth to retort.. then closes it. For one, he's right. For two, it's his magic that is protecting her from the cold now. She does mutter under her breath, though. "Someone still could have pointed it out.." That being said, while not freezing, she's certainly not warm, and the wind isn't any more pleasant. So she the troop sets forward, she makes very certain to stay close and not fall behind.
GAME: Malik rolls Will: (3)+10: 13
"It has been my experience, Halani, that it is well to keep that spell on oneself whenever one ventures far from Alexandria," Seldan answers, pausing long enough to fish a spidersilk rope from his pack and allow others to grab it, if they will. "Guild jobs, even the simplest of jobs, oft take place in the most benighted of conditions, be it burning desert or the mountains in winter. Or, possibly, an elemental plane."
Malik lets the others talk. Something seems to have caught the wizard's attention. He turns, off to the right, raising an eyebrow as he starts to wander away -- searching for something, from the look on his face, listening closely.
Cryosanthia feels a lot better once she gets some movement going. She's stepping firmly, this will work. With a hand around the tip of Faran's lance, always good to control that when it's behind her, she strides after Sel... off to the right. Yes! Music. She starts humming in time, casting her Ghost Sounds cantrips to mix some drumbeats in with it. Light flickers along her scales.
Acedia squeezes Seldan's hand, and peers at Malik as he begins to move off. The Gobbo wanders after him, moving to catch up. "What is it you see?", she wonders of the man, squinting into the distance. Her hand reaches for his, tugging firmly. "We can't stay too long, else the others get ahead and we lose them. Don't wanna freeze to death, yanno."
Faranmidahn will never live that down, it seems. The lucht, much more comfortable with the spells in place, and, between blinks, a certain odd glint takes her eye and, she follows Cryo's lead without complaint as they veer off course with a soft, breathless, "....beautiful...!"
Mikilos blinks, eyeing those vering away. Did he miss something? "...oh. Nope. Okay, Cryo, hold still a moment, this may tingle." The wizard murmurs a few moments, putting a protective spell on the White Scale... it worked for vampiric enchantments, hopefully will counter this as well. Hopefully.
GAME: Mikilos casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 13 DC: 20
Halani presses her lips together, but nods her head at Seldan's sound advice.. though the nod is more for herself. She does make sure to place one hand on the rope, refraining from coiling it around her wrist in case she needs to let go suddenly. and she, too, lends her eyes to scanning about as best she can in the wind and the snow.
"Sure Mikilos..." Cryo murmurs, happily enthralled and not really paying attention. Then the spells tingles through her, she laughs and skips a little, but that seems to be the only effect it has. She's still slave to the music.
And then, the rope goes -that way- as several people begin to wander away from the chosen path. Seldan looks up, startled, as several people wander away, and immediately takes off at a run, in their direction. He doesn't run all the way to them, though, instead stopping and swiftly drawing several arcane sigils in the air. A quickly shouted arcane phrase, and a single, complex sigil of ice blue-white-silver appears before him. Lips set, he draws with his finger an arc above himself, and the sigil immediately splits itself into multiples and races outward, the sigils linking together. In seconds, a hemisphere of pure ice has formed around the party, hardening in an instant against the cold wind.
GAME: Seldan attempts to cast Wall of Ice but fails due to ASF. GAME: Seldan rolls 1d100: (91): 91
The wall appears in a matter of moments, but its weight seems to do something... in that it causes a huge chunk of the tundra to simply... collapse in on itself. It's a huge roar of noise as the wall of ice collapses into the chasm that appears right in front of those that were headed for it.
Mikilos tsks and frowns. "The enchantment isn't Evil... or at elast, such protections don't seem to help. Might just be a side effect of teh Plane, and not directly related to our effort."
GAME: Malik rolls Will+4: (2)+10+4: 16 GAME: Faranmidahn rolls will+4: (15)+6+4: 25 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+7: (16)+5+7: 28 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls cmb: (6)+9: 15 GAME: Acedia rolls cmb: (11)+2: 13 GAME: Acedia rolls cmb: (1)+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL)
Malik doesn't seem the least bit bothered by the fact that the wall of ice collapses in front of him, or the chasm currently ahead of him. He just keeps right on walking.
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls cmb: (19)+3: 22
The whitescale is happily striding forward with a bounce in her step. She feels great. Neat, a flying wall of ice! That ... oh... The chasm suddenly snaps her out of it. "Empress! Not again!" She sees Malik, still heading forward. "Malik, stop, no!" The sith grabs at the mage, but he's hard to get a hold of, her gloves slip. "Maugrim resurgent!"
Acedia blinks and tugs harder on Malik's hand. "Malik?" Then the sounds of something arcane can be heard and ice suddenly encircles a large area. The Gobbo squeaks as the ice almost immediately begins to crumble, disappearing downwards over a cliff that is only just now viewable. "Malik, STOP!" She wraps her hands around his belt and pulls... and is simply pulled along as the man keeps walking. "Uh, guys?"
The Lucht is seemingly content to ride along toward the sound , but, with the suddenly collapse, she swears in Halfing with alarm as the spell breaks, and, seeing Malik moving like a resolute juggernaut toward the same doom the ladies just broke free of, she nudges torrent up alongside and tries to grab hold to stop him, "Wait, Malik, stop!"
GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+20+2: (11)+20+2: 33
It takes a moment to figure out that the people wandering off isn't part of the plan. It's not that she isn't swift. It's just that.. her thoughts maybe walk a different path than others do. Still, as efforts start to be made to stop Malik from wandering off, Halani lets go of the rope and dashes towards him. She's nimble, she's quick... and soon she catches up to Malik. It maybe helps that his attention is not on her, yet even so he very nearly slips free when she snakes one arm under his and behind his neck, the other making a grab for his belt. "Hey, hey.. snap out of it, yeah?"
Mikilos hesitates. The first spell didn't take, best see what happens before trying again. But while efforts helped, seems the need is still there. Stepping a little close, the mage murmurs an incantation under his breath, and casts upon the afflicted Malik.
GAME: Mikilos casts Break Enchantment. Caster Level: 13 DC: 24 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+13+2+1+2: (3)+13+2+1+2: 21 GAME: Malik rolls Escape Artist+1+5: (2)+14+1+5: 22
It may be a good thing for all that Seldan's panicked swearing is lost in the mighty roar of collapsing ice, the boyish grin he wore as the spell neatly completed wiped from his face by wide-eyed panic as he realizes that Malik is now walking towards a chasm! He takes off running towards Malik again, dashing towards him, reaching to grab him by the shoulders, and if he can, look him in the eyes. He trails a finger down his face, hoping the gentle motion will get the man's attention. "Mal. You know that these fae play havoc with your mind. Listen to me. Only to me."
Malik is -- not your average wizard, clearly. He fights. He fights -hard-. An elbow comes around, bringing up a knee as he does his very best to get the advantage in this particular grapple, a look of supreme annoyance on his face as he wrestles. He curses in that flowing tsuran tongue, stretching out a foot behind him in what would probably be a truly impressive kick to someone's head -- if he didn't twist his body in such a way that it seems he were pushing off of solid air, somehow, throwing the woman back with his shoulder as he applies pressure at just the right points, turning once again and heading toward the cliff.
GAME: Acedia rolls perform/string: (16)+10: 26
As Malik continues towards his doom, the Gobbo lets go, and drops her pack to the ground. She scrambles to pull the golden violin free from its case, and puts it to her chin. A soft lullaby is played, something old and familiar to many, if not the words, at least the tune is recognizable. Acedia trails along behind him, playing and trying not to stumble in the snow... "Please work please work please work...", she mumbles under her breath.
Malik turns at the sound, listening for a moment, seemingly torn between the two different songs. But eventually, he turns back to Acedia, confusion passing in his eyes as he glances back out at the chasm, taking a surprised step back. "STAY -OUT- of my -HEAD-!" he shouts to -- no one and nothing in particular, voice lost in the wind. He presses a hand to his ears, looking to Halani guiltily, and then to the others, shame on his face as he just heads back over toward Seldan. "Thank you," he says to all of them. Quiet, but heartfelt.
You make your way ever northward. Further and further into the cold and the winter grows ever more harsh around you. The cold wind grows more biting, and the sensation that you're being watched grows ever more prevalent until you feel like you should be stumbling over people with every step. There's more incidents like that one. Where music rises up around you and captivates some of your number. You're wise to it now though and you've got yourselves roped together, and Acedia's music largely keeps you safe. It's not a perfect solution, but you finally, finally come within sight of the tower which you seek. It rises from the winterlands like a sharp, short mountain. In every way like a shard of ice protruding from the snow.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls fortitude: (5)+5: 10
The Gobbo will happily settle in behind the Lucht once more, the violin playing for much of the time. Dirges, dances and pub music, and all of the songs she knows in between. Every so often she takes a break, resting her fingers and arms... and then someone else tries to wander off, and the music is struck up again. "If only the audience knew well enough to toss us coins for the entertainment we provide. We could retire wealthy."
Mikilos tries not to grumble. He's not a complete potato, but he's not the most athletic of wizards either. All this walking is wearing thin.
"Scud.." Halani mutters when Malik manages to squirm free, making to try for another grab.. but then Acedia's song seems to shake the wizard out of whatever lunacy had overtaken him and she relaxes. She returns to the rope, taking it a little more seriously now and looping it about her arm and listening to the diminutive bard's songs as they trek through the snow. And then the tower rises before them. It's her first time seeing such a thing.. and initially she seems.. disappointed? Perhaps she'd been expecting something grandiose. Larger than life. What she sees seems almost.. Practical.
Cryosanthia struggles with the march, but finally there is the Tower. She stares as it draws closer, until it looms as large over her as it does in her mind. Home. Finally. Their destination. Her left hand flips through a series of gestures and light sparkles across her scales. The ones around her eyes start to glow. Then flash brilliantly. "OW! AH! AH. Silver Empress that's bright!"
She cancels the spell instantly, "I can't see. Um... give me a minute. The door should open to Zahier's name, or the Mistress's. It might let me in too, I don't know." She squeezes her eyes shut, waiting for the spots to fade.
Seldan continues to walk, holding onto the rope, setting his teeth grimly against the wind. His own enchantments and resistances are holding, but that doesn't make it pleasant. By the end of the journey, he may well be holding Malik by the collar, the rope with the other hand, and only when the tower comes into view does he drop either one. "I seem to recall that it opened to Zeheir's name," he agrees, coiling up the rope once everyone has let go. It's absolutely coated in snow, and he shakes it off before stowing it in his pack.
Faranmidahn rides in relative comfort with Acedia as Torrent bears the weight well enough. She cants her head as she regards the Tower, one certainly less.... ominous looking than she would have thought. A blink, then her eyes are drawn to the familiar cadence's of Cryo's detection spell and she lifts a hand with a warning tone of, "Wait, Cryo, that's not a-!" and then... yeah, that's what she figured would happen. Ahem, "Sorry, I remembered the last time I used that spell in a faerie's home. The spots should fade shortly."
As soon as the name 'Zeheir' is spoken, a door appears on the tower. This door then resolves open and you can see the entryway. It's a plain stone entry way.
Malik frowns as the small door opens, looking around at the others. "Is ... is it supposed to do that?" The wizard doesn't remember this part from last time, after all. "I thought it would be somehow more -- dramatic."
Mikilos eyes the interior suspiciously, but it's out of the wind, so he's perfectly willing to risk it. "Just wait for the demons and lightning bolts. Those are after the door. The door is just a door. Unless you leave wrong, then its an adventure."
"Did it open? I'm still waiting for my eyes to clear." Cryosanthia says, exhaling. To keep moving she's shifting her weight from foot to foot, energetic bouncing. "There may be explosive runes, I read about those. If there's a magic circle, don't step in it."
The Gobbo winces at Cryosanthia, only able to guess at what has happened. "Kind of like staring into the Sun, innit?", she wonders. She turns and hops down, blinking as the door suddenly appears. Glancing sidelong at Malik, she giggles. "If only she has spent all of her energies on the majesty of her front porch, that we may have a chance to prevail."
The entryway has its own doorway which opens easily enough into a hallway off to your left. The hallway itself has runes written on every surface of the floor, walls, even the ceiling. Carefully carved letters engraved into the stone itself leading down to another door.
GAME: Malik rolls Spellcraft: (4)+21: 25 GAME: Faranmidahn rolls spellcraft: (15)+7: 22
Halani watches the door opens, permitting view of the entry way. She unhitches herself from the rope, flexing that arm a few times. "That's... a lot of writing," she notes, eyeballing the runes that seem to be all over the place. "How're you going to tell the bad ones from the others?"
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls fort: (13)+6: 19 GAME: Mikilos rolls spellcraft: (11)+31: 42 GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (5)+10: 15 GAME: Malik rolls Fortitude: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (3)+20: 23
Faranmidahn reaches a hand out to take Cryo's, "It's alright, this way." she says gently and looks into the doorway a moment, asiding, "Try looking at Sally, sometime. I almost flinched clean off of the bar." to Acedia. Ahem, she considers the runes and remarks, "Ah.... those concern me, some...." she begins to say, even as she tries to decypher their meaning....
Among the last to venture into the tower - probably to keep everyone from straying - Seldan steps inside, then glances around briefly. "Ware, I remember this. These symbols can kill! Blindfold yourselves, and walk straight down the hallway without looking!" he shouts, pulling his hood down over his eyes to demonstrate.
Even as Seldan speaks, one of the symbols flashes /on/ and a circle of light emits from it which hits the paladin square on. It doesn't seem to do anything to him…
Acedia squeaks at Seldan's shout, having slowed at the door. She rummages around her pack, pulling out a small stretchy bit of cloth, which she'll wrap around her eyes. "Anyone want blindfolds?", she asks of those around her.
Mikilos frowns at the series of whatevers, those are likely bad. But then Seldan is offring additional information, and the wizard fights his natural urge towards curiosity in favor of his urge towards survival. A Little fiddling, and his regular circlet transforms, into a nice floppy hat with an oversized brim. The elf could transform himself as well, but that's not nearly so useful at the moment.
Malik steps inside, walking in and watching his step as he moves toward the hall. "Strange," he says to himself, squinting at the runes -- before his eyes go momentarily wide, the beginnings of a soft curse emanating from the man as he covers his eyes, listening to the paladin's words. "Are there any other such things that we might wish to beware of, my love? Preferably before we're staring at them?" Still, he takes the advice, reaching into his pack and taking out one of those scarves, tying it around his eyes.
Cryosanthia closes her hand around Faran's, and waits. She keeps blinking, finally opening her eyes wide. She is able to look into the entrance, at all the runes, at the doors. "Oh yeah, I wasn't allowed to clean this section. Do you have another Wall of ... oh. Or I could have gone earlier."
The sith concentrates and gets a sleeping mask added to her outfit. "Faran, are you going to be ok? Torrent? Keep Zephyr inside your hair."
Halani accepts a blindfold from Acedia and wraps it around her head, over her eyes. She fumbles a bit at tying it behind her head, the leather-and-plate gloves keeping her from doing the finer finger work, but she gets it in place before carefully following the others in.
Faranmidahn jerks her head aside with a gasp at Seldan's warning fast enough that there are little pops in the Lucht's neck, and she takes a moment the get her breath back, then, she unfastens her cloak once more. She drapes it over her belove mount's head with a soft, "I'm sorry, Torrent, just trust me." Even though she knows he can't hear her. She glances at Zephyr with a quiet, "Close to my neck, sweetie!" and she draws her hair forward over her face. There's certainly enough of it. and, trusting that to be good enough, she starts forward with her unique combination of rein and foot tapping.
Walking down the hallway blindfolded is somewhat easier said than done, but you manage to make it to the door and beyond, carefully closing the doorway behind you before doffing the blindfolds and looking around the room that you've stepped into. There is a magic circle inscribed on the floor here. A rather large one in fact.
Mikilos peeks cautiously, making sure there aren't more runes before turning his hat back to normal. "Mmm, not quite the same as I recall. Still, avoid thinking of teleporting yourself, and keep an eye out for demons."
Seldan walks the hallway with the hood of his cloak pulled down over his eyes, eyes closed beneath the hood, fingers trailing along one wall for direction and balance. Only when he finds the door and walks through it does he doof the hood, his back turned to the door, and immediately step aside. "A summoning circle," he tells the others. "I remember this as well, although perhaps cleaner than I recall it. When I was here, there had been a fight in this very room. Ware you the symbols, do not break the circle."
The Gobbo will walk full tilt into Seldan, with a light oof, before she pulls the small strip of cloth from her eyes. "That was the longest room ever." She eyes the circle warily. "How do we get around this?"
Malik stops short when he sees the circle, reaching out and taking hold of Seldan's arm, pulling the man back. His eyes go to the circle as his face pales a bit. Eyes flit back and forth, confirming something as he speaks to the others. "This circle summons someone in particular. I've seen it before. Or one like it. Under Alexandria." He squints, hand tightening on Seldan's arm visibly as the knuckles whiten. "It's for him. Made by a different person -- but for him."
Cryosanthia went along the passage using her tail to track the wall and with her hands out. She enters the room, waving about, and past the doorway concentrates and the mask covering her eyes vanishes. She has a look around, down at the circle. "I wasn't allowed in here. If what you say is correct Malik, He's still here as the guardian, and Zehier bound him. Some other adventurers freed him. Does this put us in the Tower's past of that? I thought it was in Hell when that happened. So, before the Mistress? Wait, it might have fixed itself on its own."
"Don't mind me... I don't have my notes with me."
Halani doesn't quite run into anybody as she joins everyone else in the room... a hand out in front of her, her ears peeled for the others' steps, words. A shred of experience with training with no sight. When people start talking about the new scenery, the magic circle, she takes that as her cue to remove the blindfold.. though she leaves it draped down around her neck. Her eyes blink a few times as she readjusts, then she looks at the circle that has the others' attention. "Can you stop it?"
Faranmidahn and company come in last, softly tapping ahead of the spider with her lance, though she is whispering, "Let me know when to stoooooop~!" The transition is nerve wracking, and she dare not look as she carries along like a bleached haystack on top of a big black spider.
Seldan looks sharply at Malik, as the man digs fingers painfully into his arm. "Mal." His response attempts to be soothing. "Mourner Verna believes that his consort, a being by the name of Maraiel, may be held among the prisoners of this tower. If that is so, that may be part of the reason he serves Salina. Could we free her, among the prisoners, it is in my mind that do we do so, the demon may be less hostile." His ice-blue gaze seeks Malik's. "I mislike the idea of cooperating with a demon, but you had the right of it. Common cause is different from allies."
"Even the Duke has lost family to her. As I said before, I did not expect to feel ... some ... sympathy for the demon." Acedia rubs her cheeks and eyes the circle again. "So what happens if this circle is broken? Is he freed from its control? Are we going to skirt past it for now?"
"Can we free her last, so she doesn't eat the other prisoners? Woaw, woaw Torrent, Faran! You're in the room." Cryosanthia retreats out of the way of the lucht, putting a hand out to slow the giant spider. Having safely intervened, she looks carefully at the circle and the space around it. "Could edge around that, if one is VERY careful. I think he shows up Acedia."
Malik simply nods, swallowing hard as he releases his grip. "I'm sorry," he says. "You're right. If we can find a way to appease him, then I think we should try. Though if we fail, there are two demons loose, rather than one."
Mikilos considers. "Of various places to have demons loose and upset, this is one of the better options. Though it does somewhat depend on just when in the relevant timeline we are. Best leave the circle alone for the moment and try to find something we can work with."
Faranmidahn draws rein at Cryo's words and brushes her hair back, first, making sure she doesn't dislodge poor Zephyr in the process, then, "Thank you." She then reaches out to carefully withdraw her cloak. Once properly squared away once more, she offers, "We can go along the wall, if there's something we need to reach?"
Halani shakes her head firmly upon hearing about the demonic hostage possibility. "I still don't feel sympathy. You heard the way he was in the temple plaza when he showed up there with the little dragon. He might have been annoyed, but he also enjoyed the damage he was doing. I'd be just as happy killing his consort in front of him," she says, her voice hard.
You make your way carefully around the circle, trying not to touch it as you edge to the doorway. This one opens to a MUCH larger room, and a MUCH larger circle. This circle goes all the way to the edge of the room, and you can not enter the room without stepping foot on the circle. To your left rise a set of stairs. And before you, sitting on a seat of stone - is Salina. A small woman, petite and beautiful. Her long white hair falls around her shoulders all the way down to her hips. Her cool blue eyes watch you as the door opens. "I have been expecting you."
Her voice, deeper than it seems that a woman so small should have echoes in the massive room. It sends chills down your spine.
Mikilos was fully expecting to see Salina again on this venture. And maybe he'd even get to remember doing so this time. But of all the rooms he sorta expected to find her in, this was pretty far towards the bottom of the list. So the wizard hesitates a bit, not quite sure what to do at this point. Social gatherings always were his weak point.
Without conscious thought, Seldan steps in front of Malik. He's seen her, once before, and the appearance does not appear to affect him. "We know," he begins simply. "I think it unnecessary, therefore, to waste time with introductions. What do you hope to learn, through your .... work?" He pauses before the last word, a telling pause indeed. His demeanor drops into that impassivity he uses sometimes.
Malik, perhaps wisely, keeps his big mouth shut so that he can't put his foot right in it and leaves the talking to the others, instead looking down at the circle that they may or may not have already stepped in, and the stairs that lead up on the left.
Cryosanthia straightens at the voice, and that chill. It feels just like the Mistress running her fingers down her spine, or more appropriately for her, a scalpel. She's already the tallest present, with only Mikilos near in height. Seeing the room again brings a strange sort of tension and calm to her body. It's not possible for her to relax but it's also so familiar she wants to. There's no point and no way she could hide. Automatically she's casting prestidigitation to wipe herself down, her gloves glow as she performs it, and her voice is devoid of tone, "Hello Mistress."
"Hello Pet." Salina's eyes fall on Cryosanthia briefly, linger over her with something akin to interest before dismissing her entirely. "Do you think that any answer I would give you would satisfy?" She's looking at Seldan now, her face an expressionless mask. "Even if you could understand my reasons - which I doubt - would you leave having gained them?"
The Gobbo crowds in behind Seldan and Malik, peeking from around behind them to eye the woman who has been making a variety of lives a living hell. She says nothing, however, and eyes the circle on the floor.
Faranmidahn carefully negotiates the trap to follow the others... into the lioness's den. Her breath catches on sight of the great Adversary herself, the ill-fitting beauty branded into her mind like a scar. There's a look in the Lucht's eye, baleful and malign, and the leather of Torrent's reins creaks in her grip as her knuckles go stark white under the lace. Cryosanthia's greeting prompts the lowering of her chin, reminded of yet another of the Fae's sins, one that long ago sparked her first, truly murderous instinct. A simple, "Sally." is her 'greeting', a breeze caressing a headstone.
"No, because no answer that you could give justifies the abuse of Eluna's holy gifts, to the suffering of thousands - a thing I think you to ill understand. As understanding will not bring back our loved ones, nor it will not bring back your village. All the magic in the world cannot undo tragedy ... but the tragedy now is of your own creation." Seldan's gaze on her does not waver.
Halani is the last one into the chamber, this time, having navigated the edge of the circle with an eye to help out anyone who might falter. So she's the last one to see the new room, the last one to see the fae queen. She takes in the reactions of the others, noticing the tension, noticing odd reaction that Cryosanthia has. Though honestly, perhaps less a surprise due to some of her earlier behaviour ever since travelling to this plane. So she steps up beside the large sith'makar woman, taps her on the shoulder. "Hey. Stay with us."
"I'm here." Cryo says quietly, as Halani taps on her shoulder. The sith is quite tense, the old habits are there settling on her with the weight of years. The scents, the sights, the walls, her voice. This is everything, has been everything, endured day after day so long she's lost count. Speaking back to the mistress is something she must never do. Even asking a question is inviting punishment. Agonizing punishment. Her pupils widen, her breathing is slow but shallow. The sith stares ahead at the small fae woman. She manages to speak, but even with bland tones it sounds like begging, a hated subservience she can't shake.
Cryosanthia says, "Mistress, I would like to know, for my curiosity's sake. But you had all the time to explain and didn't so I expect I would not understand. I would not leave for the answer anyhow, I'm here for my mate and all the others you've taken."
"If you do not want the answer, then do not ask the question." Salina slowly rises from her chair and it sinks back down into the stone that birthed it without so much as a wayward motion from Salina. "They were your words to me once, and you give them to me again today. You speak as if you have understanding which you lack. You are as a child standing at the foot of a parent demanding answers beyond your ken; pretending that you understand how the world works."
Salina turns her blue eyes on Cryosanthia and shakes her head slowly. "I know why you have come. Why all of you have come. Eclavdran." She says the demon's name, and for a moment there is echoing silence. Then the demon appears behind you, his looming presence impossible to ignore. "Go demon, and kill my test subjects below."
Even as she commands the demon, the floor rises up around several members of your group... and swallows them whole down into the ground.
Seldan starts, as the floor rises up and swallows people whole. Briefly, worry flashes across his face, but he breathes a silent prayer for them and turns back to the waiting fae woman, unmoved by her scorn. "Who believes they know all knows nothing, Salina. You have become the tragedy that no amount of magic can undo, and all unwitting. You leave me no choice." It's not as if he was ever really going to do anything else. Reunion comes free from its sheath in a rasp of leather and metal, and he raises a hand. "By Eluna's holy path through the night sky, I will countenance no more of your depredations. Whether you understand what it is that you do is of no consequence. You will pay for all the lives you have destroyed and the pain you have caused."
Malik, seeing Seldan make the decision, simply nocks an arrow, preparing for what's ahead as he finds his focus, the calm, inner stillness where the magic comes from.
GAME: Mikilos casts Shield. Caster Level: 13 DC: 20
Mikilos considers. Plans, counter plans, actions and reactions, so many possibilities, so many unknowns. So many questions unanswered, so many statements unmade. But, when it's all boiled down, there's really only one way for this all to end. And so the wizard spits an arcane phrase, a field of shimmering force springing up around him. Not much, but surprisingly handy.
GAME: Malik casts Heroism. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17 GAME: Seldan casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20 GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+6+1+2: (7)+15+6+1+2: 31 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+14+4: (3)+14+4: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls reflex: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Mikilos rolls ref: (18)+10: 28 GAME: Malik rolls Reflex+1+2: (8)+11+1+2: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 20d6: (82): 82
Malik whispers a quick word, power flowing through him as he looks to Seldan, not wasting a golden opportunity. He cocks his head the side, cracking his neck, then cranes his head in Seldan's direction. "What he said."
A cold wind expands from Salina, and ice forms over the magic circle she stands in. Mounds of ice rise up in every direction, and one of them rises up directly under Seldan; spearing the paladin with its pointed edge and sending freezing magic all along his flesh. You've never felt this cold before. As if the very heart of the worst winter has climbed up into this room and been set free. It stirs Salina's hair but the woman doesn't move from her spot. "Do as you will Seldan." Her voice echoes into the stillness as Eclavdran disappears. Likely to do her bidding.
GAME: Mikilos rolls ranged: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Mikilos casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 13 DC: 23
Mikilos moves a little to the side fora clear view, murmuring under his breath. A gesture, and an emerald beam fires from his own hand, but somewhat less well aimed.
GAME: Malik casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 18
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+2+1+1+2: (19)+11+6+2+1+1+2: 42
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+14: (19)+14: 33
GAME: {*} Seldan rolls 1d20+reunion+charge+se+2: aliased to 1d20+weapon1+2+charisma+2: (7)+21+2+6+2: 38
Malik watches Seldan cast a spell, watching as she seems to simply absorb it. Mikilos follows, though his own ray goes a bit wide of her shoulder. The tsuran simply shakes his head, bringing the entirety of his focus to bear as he raises his hand, his aim almost impeccable, the green ray striking her with some arcane force as it finally sinks in. "There," he says. "Now she stays."
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d100: (52): 52 GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (22): 22 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+8+2hand+8: aliased to 1d8+8+2+8: (2)+8+2+8: 20
The spike leaves Seldan cold, to say the least, but undaunted once he's done staggering from the force of it. "...Whatever." He pauses a moment to place a hand on his shoulder, silver light flaring beneath both hands, then taking Reunion in both hands, he bears down on the woman at a run, meaning to slice her through. The blow, although well placed and well aimed, seems to fail to penetrate her flesh.
GAME: Malik rolls Will+2: (17)+10+2: 29
Salina stands her ground. Stairing at Seldan as if he is a interesting subject, and then her pale eyes flicker back to Malik. "Are you sure it was wise to bring something you value so much here Seldan?" She's speaking to him, but looking at Malik. "You have let emotion consume you."
GAME: Mikilos casts Contagious Flame. Caster Level: 13 DC: 25 GAME: Mikilos rolls ranged+1: (16)+8+1: 25 GAME: Mikilos rolls ranged+1: (7)+8+1: 16 GAME: Mikilos rolls ranged+1: (18)+8+1: 27 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+13+2+1+2: (17)+13+2+1+2: 35 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+13+2+1+2: (5)+13+2+1+2: 23 GAME: Mikilos rolls 4d6: (15): 15
Mikilos murmurs rapidly, three snakey coils of fire racing from his hands towards the Fae. One simply misses, one simply fades away as it connects, but one, one seems to actually burn the Endless Winter. A little.
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1+2: (10)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1+2: 33 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1+2: (13)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1+2: 36 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1+2: (4)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1+2: 27 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+6+6+5+2+1-2-3+1+2: (20)+6+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1+2: 38 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+1+6+5+2+1-2-3+1+2: (19)+1+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1+2: 32 GAME: Malik rolls 1d100: (86): 86 GAME: Malik rolls 1d100: (92): 92 GAME: Malik rolls 1d100: (5): 5 GAME: Malik rolls 1d100: (65): 65 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+6+6+5+2+1-2-3+1+2: (9)+6+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1+2: 27 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (7)+5+3+6+2+(2): 25 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (6)+5+3+6+2+(2): 24 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (1)+5+3+6+2+(4): 21 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (5)+5+3+6+2+(3): 24 GAME: Malik rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (4)+19: 23
"Bring me?" Malik takes a step forward, firing arrows between staccato words. "I. Am. No. Pet." He narrows his eyes at her. "I came here for my own reasons. Such as, you irritate me." He squints as the shimmering field catches his arrows, frowning. "Fall back, Seldan."
GAME: Seldan casts Wall of Ice. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20
"That is one of the things you fail to understand, Salina. I do not own him, nor do I control him. There is no such need." Stepping back a little ways, Seldan raises a hand again, and again with the blue/white/silver sigils, but in a different configuration. This time, when the wall of ice conjures, it places itself between them, anchoring swiftly to the floor below and the walls beside. "Master Mithralla, it is in my mind that she can do without all the magic, as can I."
GAME: Malik rolls Will+2: (1)+10+2: 13 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Malik rolls Will+2+2: (12)+10+2+2: 26
The wall of ice that Seldan created shifts and moves, moving out of the way of Salina's gaze. She hasn't moved an inch from where she first stood, and she looks at you all with tireless patience. Though her eyes have yet to truly move from Malik. "You are all such fragile creatures."
GAME: Mikilos casts Antimagic Field. Caster Level: 13 DC: 25
Mikilos smiles mildly, glacing to Seldan. "All things considered, 'Mikilos' is fine. But I do agree." One hand reaches into his pack, pulling out a long sword that likely shouldn't fit in there. It's not too special looking, if a bit odd designed. The bone handle is a little weird.
The other hand reaches into his pouch, pulling a handful of simple iron filings flung into the air as he murmurs another spell. The iron hangs for a moment, then moves outward in a sphere, dragging part of the Sea of Mana along with it. Not the -whole- thing, there's still traces of magic left. But enough to disrupt just about everything magical.
GAME: Malik rolls 1d100: (32): 32 GAME: Seldan casts Wall of Force. Caster Level: 14 DC: 21
Salina's look seems to do something to Malik. He shakes his head, looking confused, the bow lowering. The necklace that he wears glows a bright, brilliant white for just a moment, causing the wizard to blink as he looks at her. "Stay out of my h--!" But it's no good. The wizard, for some reason, simply cannot ward his mind from her, and he begins to laugh, muttering things under his breath in that flowing tsuran tongue -- clearly coming unbound, on some level.
Seldan's eyes go wide as Malik clearly loses it under her gaze, and swiftly turns, even as Mikilos approaches, tracing yet another spell. This time, a wall of shimmering force springs up between the archer and the other two, anchoring itself to the walls. "Leave him be, Salina." He turns and strides back towards Mikilos, advancing shoulder to shoulder with the wizard, moving on Salina.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (18)+20: 38
The fae woman shakes her head solemnly at Seldan. "You brought him here, and he came of his own will as you did." Mikilos's antimagic field disappears in a twinkling and she continues to stand there, immovable, unswayed. "You came to my home and attacked me. Why would I leave any of you 'be'. You have all chosen this path."
The wall of force winks out as well, both spells failing for some inexplicable reason.
Mikilos blinks, mildly surprised. -He- knew Antimagic Fields can't be dispelled (master wizard you know), but he recovers swiftly enough, muttering quietly as he holds the sword out towards Seldan. "Vow. Vow to use it -only- against Endless Winter and her minions." And then the stone floor the sitting up and acting cranky.
GAME: Mikilos casts Summon Monster VII. Caster Level: 13 DC: 26
-TBC