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Arianwyn grits his teeth and stabs hard into the grotesque parody of Narissa.
The creature's arms uncoil slowly, stretching, stretching out to surround the nearest figures. Your eyes are unable to break away from the horror of the enveloping arms. With a little smile, the hands meet and the Muse smiles as you succomb to her charms. Kia alone shrugs and glowers at the abominable thing. She is not impressed.
Sweetly scented mist rises from the Muse's feet, and climbs sluggishly up Arianwyn and Whiteclaw's legs. The first impact is not unpleasant, but it takes only half a breath to realise this is a demonic trick as it lowers their defenses and brings memories they would rather leave behind to the forefront of their minds.
A single bolt of power skews towards Kia, but the eladrin's reflexes are too good and she ducks contemptuously aside. A repetition of the attack meets the same fate and the Muse curls its lip.
Vel's flame flickers and dies. Save v ongoing fire (1d20=15)
Reason strides closer to the Muse, his face a mingled mask of curiosity and revulsion. Raising his symbol, he fires Ioun's light at the monstrosity, inmbuing Gobi with fresh vigour.
Lance of Faith (Ref) v Muse (1d20 9=26, 1d8 5=6)
Gobi looks around for anything he can use as he is slightly defenseless at the moment, he sees a potted plant and tries to get a grip on it.
Strength (No Armor Penalty) (1d20+6=10)
Once he has the plant he moves forward to hurl it.
Vel shudders at the chill embrace, and it throws off her aim as a red mote flies from her orb through the insubstantial muse, igniting some curtains on the far side of the room. Vel concentrates further, and matches the insubstantial creation with a nonexistent attack, hampering the muse.
Gobi is a picture of incongruous menace as he edges his way between the chairs, wielding a potted plant. Dazed as she is, Roswitha watches him hopefully, before letting out an involuntary gasp as Vel sets fire to the curtains.
The mage's aim is better with her second attempt and the misty fists clench in obvious pain as the attack hits home.
Exerting all her force of personality, Narissa maintains her social poise and continues to usher the guests out.
"Yes, an evening of wonders indeed. It may be that I can prevail upon our friends for an encore, but as you see, not all is working as it should."
Somehow she manages to keep order and the guests leave, rapidly, but in an orderly enough manner. As the last one goes through the doors, she spins towards the battle, calling in a quite different tone to Roswitha, "Get back here, quickly." The dazed dwarf takes the advice and takes refuge behind her desk.
"We can't fight in a hotel atrium! It's most indecorous. Let's finish this off now, if we can. We can do it! I have every faith in both of you, Arianwyn and Whiteclaw!"
Arianwyn Attacking the muse. (1d20+10=12, 1d8+3+1d6=13)
Whiteclaw vs the muse (1d20+10=16, 1d10+4=13)
"Well, maybe my faith was a bit misplaced. No, no... it's alright, heat of battle. Sorry for that outbreak. Just do what you can."
Lead the attack. (1d20+10=22, 3d8+3=13)
Sun Strike attack vs. Ref 1d20+8=26, Damage (Radiant) 1d8+6=11
"The cleansing light of the righteous burn away your taint!"
Still dazed 1d20=1
The efficient demolition of the Muse continues as Kia's leadership inspires the group to new heights.
Riordan recovers from his wounds enough to register what is going on and and looks from Narissa to her parody with undisguised horror. Narissa herself stays calm, keeping a watchful eye on the monster, her breathing slightly quickened as the facsimile of her face and body shrinks away from the blows.
Beset on all sides, the Muse flickers and vanishes only to reappear a short distance from Whiteclaw. Seemingly aware that the gnoll has marked it, all the attacks are aimed at the warden. With dizzying speed, burst of psychic power blast from the Muse, battering at Whiteclaw's defenses.
Fatal attraction v Whiteclaw (Ref) - primary attack (1d20 6=25, 1d8 3=9).
Fatal attraction v Whiteclaw (Will) - Secondary attack (1d20 6=23, 1d6 2=5).
Fatal attraction v Whiteclaw (Fort) - Tertiary attack (1d20 6=19, 1d4 2=5).
Faint triumph crosses the thing's face as it reaches out again towards the gnoll. This time, it cannot do enough.
Fatal attraction v Whiteclaw (Ref) - primary attack (1d20 6=21, 1d8 3=4).
Fatal attraction v Whiteclaw (Will) - secondary attack (1d20 6=11, 1d2 2=4).
Reason strides purposefully onwards, intrigued by the Muse, yet determined to end its earthly term. Even aided by Kia, his shot goes wide and Roswitha visibly winces as yet more soft furnishings start to smoulder. Reason smiles apologetically.
LoF v Muse (1d20 11=15, 1d8 5/2=7)
Gobi grunts as he carries the potted plant under his arm, he moves back towards his target of his botanical wrath.
Gobi hurls the plant as hard as he can
Gobi's improvised weapon crashes into the Muse and with an anguished writhe the arms uncoil from their loathsome embrace and the thing simply dissiaptes. The smell of earth and gardenia replaces the sultry musk of the Muse and bits of pot crack on the ground sounding extremely loud in the silence that follows.
Narissa, Roswitha and Riordan realise they've all been holding their breath and exhale. Emerging from behind her desk, Roswitha rushes over to Gobi and hugs him, before pulling away blushing furiously. In contrast, Narissa goes completely white as for the first time her composure fails her. Riordan looks from the companions, to the book and to the potted plant that caused the monster's downfall and laughs uncontrollably. Between bursts of near hysteria he calls to Arianwyn,
"Help our lady," before sitting down and laughing again.
Whiteclaw is renewed by Kia's exhortations and then laughs so hard she falls onto her butt when a plant kills the ghostly monster. She rises after a few moment, still laughing softly. "That thing was a nice, relaxing workout." she says, then shuts the cold aura of her axe off and returns it to her belt.
Roswitha smiles at Gobi and shakes her head. "No - don't worry. I'm sure there's another one somewhere. You're amazing. You all are."
She looks around her, eyes like stars and clearly ecstatic. Quite suddenly she hugs Gobi again. "I'm so glad you came here. In spite of the curtains and the carpet and the plant ..."
Narissa allows herself to be guided to a chair and sits gratefully. Keeping hold of Arianwyn's hand, she invites him to sit beside her and lowers her voice under the sound of the cathartic laughter filling the room.
Arianwyn
"Dear love. This is only a respite. The thing was weakened. You did not see it at full strength. I felt it as it passed me, your efforts to save me prevented it from fully forming. That was a shadow. No more."
She shudders slightly and meets his eyes.
"I don't know what made this trap, but it wanted me. Very specifically, me. My darling, I'm not often frightened. Well, you know that," there is a ghost of her familiar laugh in her voice, "but now, I'm terrified."
Narissa
Arianwyn
Deep brown eyes meet the warlock's icy blue gaze unflinchingly.
"I will heed your warning. You have never broken faith with me or I with you. A rarity, my love. I cherish it as the greatest gift given me. Know that."
Restored, she releases Arianwyn's hand and joins the group.
Bowing gracefully to Vel and Reason, who are as yet strangers to her, Narissa encompasses the whole group with unmistakable gratitude in her voice.
"I owe you my life and maybe more. I was going to say I wish we had met under less trying circumstances, but I realise that these circumstances are as familiar to you as they are alien to me. However, I too have my areas of expertise. Know that I am Narissa Sul-Malla and if it lies within my power to aid you in Namarth, I will most surely do so."
Less formally, she adds, turning to Roswitha, "Let me help you with the cleaning, but first, do you have any brandy? I think we all need a drink. Riordan - when will you learn not to be so impulsive? We walk with heroes."
She casts a loving glance at the poet as he sits, laughing on the floor.
Nodding in agreement, Roswitha busies herself find glasses and an interestingly crusty looking bottle.
"Dad won't mind if we drink this. He says it's very special and brings good dreams."
Riordan picks himself up and wraps his arms around Narissa. "Where your safety is concerned, I will always be impulsive. You know that." Very tenderly he strokes her face before turning to the others.
"Why is something attacking our lady? More to the point, what is attacking her and how can it be stopped?"
"Why is something attacking our lady? More to the point, what is attacking her and how can it be stopped?"
"To answer your questions, your lady was attacked because she is needed to fuel the arcane device that is the book. The immediate attacker is a Muse and we have stopped it. But the identity of the mastermind is something we must discover. The one who delivered the book did not strike me as capable of weaving a plot like this."
Arianwyn speaks up, "This is another of Kyleth's schemes. I heard that witch's laugh as I wrestled with the creature in the arcane space between our world and the book. Whether this is a prior scheme or one that has come into play upon her demise is unknown to me."
"The witch required or requires someone with great force of personality. For what fell purpose remains to be seen."
Whiteclaw had found a nice place to sit and stretch her legs out while the others talking, letting those versed in the arcane speak as she listened. Kyleth's name, though, brings her head up.
"Kyleth was behind that? I find that hard to believe, for all of her evil she was competent, and her minions were as well. That muse was well below the standards of her forces. Are you sure it was her you heard, and even if so, are you sure it wasn't just the hope that the foe would be challenging?"
While Whiteclaw seems skeptical the Muse was Kyleth's doing, it's clear she'd not be suprised at all if Kyleth were still alive.
Arianwyn pinches the bridge of his nose and calmly explains to Whiteclaw, "I... received a vision of Kyleth when we were undertook the spirit challenges. I have what you might call a 'connection' to her in some way now. I am certain it was her. The creature was not that powerful, you are correct, but this is only because Seraphiel, Vel and I were able to contain the majority of its power in the book and prevent its full manifestation. Had we not done so, it would have been a truly deadly foe, on the level of a dragon for its power."
"So, in conclusion, yes, this is Kyleth's work."
"You're not seriously telling me that that tiresome woman is still somehow alive. Well really. I need to think."
Kia turns as if to leave for her room and then reconsiders.
"But I'll have that brandy first, my thanks Roswitha."
"Actually, I think I always knew that this business with the blight and all wasn't over. I just didn't want to think that Kyleth had somehow survived in some form or other. Still there is lots to ponder. We were sent here to see someone about the shards who was worrying Hroaldr weren't we? Pierette or something? Perhaps we should start by trying to find him."
Arianwyn holds up his hands, "Kia... I at no point said that Kyleth is still alive. It may well be a plan that we have, by coincidence (if such a thing exists), intercepted that was concurrent with her scheme with the Blight, and it is still being played out after her death. It may well also be that she has returned in some form of undeath, and this is part of her revenge. Or, she may indeed, be alive. There is no way to tell at this point." he says to head off any more speculation.