Age of Darkness

Game Master Mothman

We are in a bit of a rules limbo at the moment whilst people are converting, so I’m not going to worry too much about it.

Laithe returns with a brace of rabbits, some edible roots and herbs, and half a cloak-full of small but sweet apples for dessert.

"Of course, Wij' will be glad to help!" Nicholai replies to Laithe's inquiry. After a brief time ensuring that Wij understood that he needed to bring any rabbits he caught to Laithe, and not eat them himself, the golden-tinted eagle takes wing and circles above the hunting druid,...

"Great place, Laithe. Just what I needed."

Pharris throws off her weapons and armour, cloak and various other pieces of gear. Then she starts off towards the river, humming as she goes, wearing a thin white and rust stained shirt and pair of brief panties.

Just when Pharris reaches the edge of the clearing, she flicks a look over her shoulder at the men. "Now boys, no peeking!"

Nicholai's grin threatens to engulf his entire face. He clutches his chest in mock agony.

"You wound me Pharris! I am a gentleman! I never 'peek'!" The dandy replies in affected indignation. With a melodramatic sniff of disdain Nicholai turns his back on the scantily clad Pharris and, still grinning, waggles his eyebrows at Keildrithe.

"I never peek, I 'gaze longingly'!" He adds in a stage whisper that Pharris can plainly hear.

Nicholai seems in better spirits as they make camp, and has a small smile on his face as he divests himself of his nearly ruined half-cape and jacket, and helps set camp.

True to his word, Nicholai never tries, (overtly), to peek at the bathing beauty, but is caught a couple of times casting longing glances in the direction of the splashing and singing,...

Thanks Kaj. I actually lucked out with the 20 roll (as opposed to taking 20). However, the skill still requires considerably more time than I has allowed. Moth, can we assume Laithe had been foraging throughout the day? Doing so in wolf form (base movement 50ft) should allow him to forage without slowing down the pace of the group considerably (and the fact he's only foraging for 5)?

In my head I had typed that you could still move faster than me and Alton and forage for food, but it obviously never made it as far as the fingers.

Kajetan watches the disrobing, fleeing Pharris until she disappears from sight. Lying on his side with his mouth slightly open and a blank look on his face, it is not until she disappears from sight that he realises what he was doing. "I was just thinking my self about going for a swim, but now I feel like some sort of perverted stalker, I'll wait until she returns."

He flops his head back on the grass and lies their listening to the sound of the wilderness and smelling the cooking food. "I feel different since the crypt," he suddenly announces, "I don't mean just the effects of the grave touch, but different in me, like..." he falters to find a word that fits, "like I suddenly got smarter and connected more with my magic," he picks up the timber wand and waves it around as he speaks, using it to emphasise his words. "I can still feel the negative energy of the undead flowing in my veins and throbbing in my temple and my chest still hurts and my breathing is difficult from the poison and I feel so tired I could sleep for a year, yet despite all that, I feel more alive than I have in a long time...." His words come fast as they do when he has an idea that he cannot express as fast as his mind thinks it. He looks around sheepishly, suddenly aware he has been talking out loud to no one in particular.

To shore up the silence he suddenly announces "Deprehensio veneficus," and begins to study the timber wand.

Cast Detect Magic on the wand and then study it with spell craft if it is indeed magical.
Spellcraft: +12 (+5 Int, 4 ranks, +3 class skill) 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Kajetan invokes his cantrip and intently studies the timber wand, looking for the strength and school of any magic that may be trapped within it. He soon realizes that he was correct; somehow, whether through practice, time, or something to do with the ancient cairn, his magic has grown in power. Not only can he see the flow of magic within the wand, he gets a clear mental idea of what specific spell the item holds, how many charges it has remaining, and the command word – ‘Rethinis’ – to activate it … something that he was previously only able to do with the help of a rather time consuming and draining spell of identification – not a simple detect magic cantrip.

It is a wand of cat’s grace at Caster Level 5 with 23 charges remaining.

Regarding the black veins and black eyes that some of you have suffered from the level drain – very nice cosmetic touch by the way – with a little time having passed, and with another level gained, you can begin to have that fade away or go away completely if you want. Entirely up to you and it might well be different for different individuals. Let me know either way. If you choose to have that ‘scar’ stick around in any obvious fashion, I will probably impose a penalty (-1 or -2) on diplomacy checks and an equivalent bonus on intimidate checks. A very faint remaining ‘scar’ will not impose any such modifiers.

Kajetan is marvelled as he studies the piece of timber and can see the magic words of power flowing around the wand and discern the powers embedded with in. Suddenly he lets out a yelp and drops the wand rubbing his hand furiously, "what the...." he trails off as he suddenly feels a disconnection from his magic. Cautiously he prods the wand as it lies on the grass, a shudder passes across his shoulders as he makes contact with it. Kajetan looks up at the others, his face betraying his confusion and concern, "I think that wand just stole my magic!" He warns the others to stay clear and grabs the wand, gasping in amazement as he watches the lines of magic from the wand coil and wrap around his arm. he is still under the effects of detect magic at the moment.
"I'm okay," he mutters to the others, the look of concern on his face slowly changes to one of child-like awe. "I'm not sure what happened, but I think that wand has been waiting for me all this time, I feel connected to it some how, like it is part of me, but separate at the same time."

Using the wand as my bonded item.

With regards to the black veins and eye, if it is okay with you, I intend to have them fade from Kajetan, but have them boil back to the surface when he is angry, scared or suffering from a negative emotion like envy.

Kajetan's spirits are initially lifted by the bards words and he asks him to recite them several times during the morning so he can commit them to paper during some of the many stops that he has to call to their progress for rest. He apologises repeatedly for slowing their progress, even the diminutive legs of Alton can out pace his snail like crawl.

Retro...

Keildrithe is only too happy to repeat the song over and over again, glad that his words are striking such a powerful chord with his companions. "I wish I could take credit for them," he says wistfully, "but the tune was old when my grandfather first sang the words to me when I was but a boy."

The bard does his best to reassure Kajetan that he needs not apologize for his pace, and graciously extends a hand up whenever the scholar stumbles . Despite knowing that the Inquisitor may not be far behind, Keildrithe is clearly in the best mood he has been in a long while. Leaving the tomb and heading out on this "gypsy road" towards the freedom of the hills seems to have lifted a heavy weight from his soul. At this point, it seems that nothing can faze him...

"You wound me Pharris! I am a gentleman! I never 'peek'!" The dandy replies in affected indignation. With a melodramatic sniff of disdain Nicholai turns his back on the scantily clad Pharris and, still grinning, waggles his eyebrows at Keildrithe.

"I never peek, I 'gaze longingly'!" He adds in a stage whisper that Pharris can plainly hear.

Keildrithe nods back at Nicolai, clearly feeling a sense of longing himself. His gaze clouds somewhat as it lingers on the dandy for a moment, but then he looks away and busies himself with other tasks. The hedilye's light heart seems troubled again...

Kajetan is marvelled as he studies the piece of timber and can see the magic words of power flowing around the wand and discern the powers embedded with in. Suddenly he lets out a yelp and drops the wand rubbing his hand furiously, "what the...." he trails off as he suddenly feels a disconnection from his magic. Cautiously he prods the wand as it lies on the grass, a shudder passes across his shoulders as he makes contact with it. Kajetan looks up at the others, his face betraying his confusion and concern, "I think that wand just stole my magic!" He warns the others to stay clear and grabs the wand, gasping in amazement as he watches the lines of magic from the wand coil and wrap around his arm. he is still under the effects of detect magic at the moment.

"I'm okay," he mutters to the others, the look of concern on his face slowly changes to one of child-like awe. "I'm not sure what happened, but I think that wand has been waiting for me all this time, I feel connected to it some how, like it is part of me, but separate at the same time."

Keildrithe raises an eyebrow in shock and wonder when Kajetan describes his connection with the newly discovered rod. Once it is clear that the scholar has not been harmed by the device, he asks: "what does it do? Can I come closer and take a look?" Whatever weighed on the bard's mind mere moments ago seems to have faded as quickly as it came, replaced now by a sense of profound curiosity...

Kajetan looks like a child who has just had all his Christmas and Birthday presents at once. He holds the wand out to Keildrithe to examine, "The wand currently allows me to make people more agile, increasing their balance and reactions for a short time, but I believe I can make it do other things with enough time and effort, possible putting any spell I know into it."

At 5th level.

"Such magic is more common in my home land, but here with the God Squad and their dislike of magic, much of it has gone. Which is a pity as magic is no more evil than a sword or suit of armour, it is who is using them that makes them evil." he pauses before starting to rabbit on again, "actually that is a lie, certain magic is inherently evil, some of it I have heard can bring the dead back to life as walking mockeries of their past selves, bound to the wizards will. Then again, divine casters or obscure deities of evil can do that as well." He stops talking suddenly before adding, "but listen to me rabbit on," and gives a sheepish grin. He pauses, and tilts his head to one side as he listens to Pharris singing in the distance.

Let me know when you are ready to settle in for the night and / or move on the next day. That can be as soon or as long as you like, I don’t want to interrupt the banter, discussion and character development.

"The way you establish connections with arcane objects fascinates me, Kaj, as does the way you unlock some of their secrets," says Keildrithe as he examines the rod. "Do you think you would be able to teach me some of your techniques one day? Not necessarily with this rod, mind you..."

Heh... I'm trying to acquire the training that would justify me potentially investing ranks into use magic device in the future... :-)

There is a sudden end to the elven singing followed by a loud scream of "my eye!" and then a splash and silence.

DM

There is a sudden end to the elven singing followed by a loud scream of "my eye!" and then a splash and silence.

DM
** spoiler omitted **

Keildrithe jerks to attention when he hears Pharris's scream, tosses the rod back at Kajetan without waiting for the scholar's reply to his question, then draws his sword and runs to the spot where Pharris was seen disrobing.

Perception: 10 + 7 = 17...

Pharris:

Keildrithe, racing towards the stream you see Pharris lying naked on the bank, wet and shivering. She is face down, with her legs in the water, her perfect white buttocks and slender back seeming to shine white in the fading sunlight. There are no obvious signs of danger or injury to the woman.

DM

Kajetan scrambles to his feet, grabbing the wand and follows Keildrithe.

Keildrithe, racing towards the stream you see Pharris lying naked on the bank, wet and shivering. She is face down, with her legs in the water, her perfect white buttocks and slender back seeming to shine white in the fading sunlight. There are no obvious signs of danger or injury to the woman.

Keildrithe runs and kneels beside Pharris, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Pharris, what is it? Are you alright? Please, speak to me...," he says with deep concern evident in his voice. He scans quickly for wounds then gently tries to turn her over so that he can see her face while casting furtive glances at the water and nearby vegetation for signs of danger.

But really hoping she's just faking and will take her in his embrace instead! ;-). Perception: 6 + 7 = 13; Initiative, if necessary: 20 + 1 = 21... ready to go, whoo-hoo!

Pharris is like a dead fish in his hands - cold, wet and limp. Her eyes are closed and mouth open.

The rest of her I shall leave to the imagination.

Kajetan's charge to the waters edge ends up with him taking an early bath when his momentum takes him down the grass embankment and into the water.

He disappears under the waters surface in a tumble of robes and flailing limbs. He burst from the water, wand in hand and looks around for danger, screeching like a banshee.

Keildrithe, Pharris is out cold – dead or unconscious it is difficult to see at a glance, although she seemed to have been shivering or twitching slightly before you rolled her over. A Heal check might reveal her status. A cut at her hairline washes blood over her face.

Pharris:

Kajetan, the small pool off the main stream where Pharris has been bathing has rather slippery banks. The icy cold water is a little more than waist deep near the bank, but drops off after a short distance, chest deep to you.

Kajetan:

Alton also sprints over to the waters edge at the sound of trouble, though his little legs take him a while longer to get there.
'Whats going on? Lets get her away from the waters edge.' So saying he takes a hold under one of Pharris' underarms and with help will drag her fully out of the water.

Woot! I'd better catch up!

Nicholai listens to Kajetan's fast and furious explanations with a look between amusement and jealously. He shakes his head as the slight mage waves his new wand about, brandishing it like a child with a new wooden sword.

"That's amazing Kaj'. I've heard of such things before of course, but I haven't seen it until now. My own abilities are,... more of a family tradition, a gift I guess you might say. At least I try to look at it that way." Nicholai shrugs. He opens his mouth to continue, and a scream comes out. He snaps his mouth shut in surprise, and the realization dawns that it wasn't him.

"Pharris?" He half says, half calls as he looks towards the river. Keildrithe's leap into action jolts him out of his shock, and he runs for the river only steps behind the bard.

HE slides to a stop next to Keildrithe as the bard kneels next to the elvin warrior and turns her carefully over. He raises an eyebrow in appreciation of what is revealed, and still manages to step out of the way of Kajetan as the mage staggers by in an uncontroled charge to end up in the river himself.

The dandy shakes his head as he reaches out to assist Kajeatan. "Come along lad. You can't expect to woo women if you trip all over your own feet the first time you see one naked!" He laughs as he helps the mage to his feet. Smile aside, there is concern in the dandy;s eyes as he returns to Keidrithe and Pharris and kneels next to the still elf himself.

"What happened? Did she slip? Was she attacked?" He asks Keildrithe as he looks over Pharris' graceful form, looking for wounds,... as far as you know!

Laithe is the last to arrive at the scene, having stopped to scoop up his pack (including medical supplies) and looking for signs of danger on the way down to the river.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

When he arrives on the scene, he kneels next to Pharris and tries to assess her condition, and what it is exactly that has caused her injury.

Heal check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Laithe, you don’t see any signs of danger on the way down to the river and pool. An examination of Pharris reveals that she is breathing – very faintly – and that her heart is beating (very faintly). There are no obvious signs of physical injury apart from a superficial and shallow cut to her head. There is quite a lot of blood, as is the nature of head wounds, but the cut is minor and should heal without leaving a scar. It does not appear to be the cause of her condition, more likely an injury sustained when she (apparently) collapsed onto the bank.

Her eyes (when held open) are non-responsive. Her skin is very, very cold, but this might be due to the icy water she was bathing in (the fact that the chill of the water did not appear to at all hamper the woman’s obvious pleasure at bathing in it is likely a fact of differences in elven and human physiology and temperature thresholds).

With Laithe's help, Keildrithe carefully pulls Pharris higher up on the shore, then reaches for the clothes she hung on nearby bushes (and her towel, if she had one). "Pharris, wake up," he whispers in her ear gently, "please, stay with us." His mind races as he tries to figure out what could have affected the elf maiden in this way.

Knowledge (arcana): 19 + 6 = 25; Knowledge (nature): 2 + 6 = 8; Spellcraft: 18 + 4 = 22; Heal: 13 + 2 = 15.

With Laithe's help, Keildrithe carefully pulls Pharris higher up on the shore, then reaches for the clothes she hung on nearby bushes (and her towel, if she had one). "Pharris, wake up," he whispers in her ear gently, "please, stay with us." His mind races as he tries to figure out what could have affected the elf maiden in this way.

The look Laithe throws his companions reveals much worry in his eyes at not finding anything to explain her condition.

"She's alive, but her pulse is faint. Any ideas Keildrithe?" he asks his kinsman, taking her cloak from him as he returns with her clothes and spreading it out over her. "I think we should get her back to the fire and at least warm her up." He picks her up in his arms and hurries back up the slope towards the fire.

Kajetan ignores or doesn't notice Nicolai's offered hand, he is too busy yelling "There's someone in here!" as he thrashes around in the water, the colour rapidly draining from his face and lips as he pushes in the direction he last saw the 'face'.

Keildrithe, you know that powerful magics could well affect a person in such a way … but so far as you can tell Pharris does not appear to be under an active spell (though her state might be the result of a spell). You also believe their may be poisons that could have this result, but you don’t know any off hand.

As Laithe picks Pharris up, wrapped in her cloak, and beginning to carry her back up the hill to the campsite, Kajetan finally spits out the water in his mouth and calls out.

"She's alive, but her pulse is faint. Any ideas Keildrithe?" he asks his kinsman, taking her cloak from him as he returns with her clothes and spreading it out over her. "I think we should get her back to the fire and at least warm her up." He picks her up in his arms and hurries back up the slope towards the fire.

Keildrithe mutters something about "maybe some sort of spell or poison... but gods only know which. She's not under the effect of any spell or poison I'm familiar with."

As Laithe walks away with Pharris in his arms and Kajetan yells about the face in the water, Keildrithe rushes over to the scholar's side and peers intently into the creek, scanning the surface with the point of his grandfather's sword. "Where?!"

Perception: 1 + 7 = 8.

Kajetan ignores or doesn't notice Nicolai's offered hand, he is too busy yelling "There's someone in here!" as he thrashes around in the water, the colour rapidly draining from his face and lips as he pushes in the direction he last saw the 'face'.

"What? Where?" Nicholai asks, spreading his hands in a warding gesture as he looks at the water.

Per: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Kaj', are you sure you didn't hit your head too? I don't see anything,..." Nicholai mutters as he futilely scans the water.

"C'mon Kaj', at least step out of the water. Whether it was a body, or a water-fairie, it's probably safer on the bank." He adds, motioning for the wizard to join him.

"What, exactly, did you see?" He asks calmly once the initial excitement has passed.

Kajetan wades several yards towards the stream, searching the water before he finally gives up. "I saw a face in the water," he says through chattering teeth, "but its gone now." He makes his way back to the bank shivering and finding it hard to catch his breath due to the cold. "I didn't imagine it, someone was down there with me," he lets the others help him out the water and up the bank, shuddering uncontrollably from the cold.

"I believe you. But whatever it was is gone now. Come on, let's get you dried off and warmed up, and check on Pharris. What did the face look like? Maybe it attacked Pharris?" Nicholai asks as he users Kajetan away from the river and back to their small campsite.

Once back at he camp tosses Kajetan his blanket, and moves over with Laithe and Keildrithe to check on Pharris.

"How is she doing?" He asks softly, looking at the elvin woman's face. His brow furrows when he sees the cut on her forehead.

"Kaj' swears that he saw something, a face, in the water. Did it do this?" He asks quietly, his voice thick with concern, or anger. Instinctively Nicholai reaches out to gently touch the scar on Pharris forehead, and a flash of flame blossoms from his hand.

"Holy Arton!" Nicholai cries out in surprise, hurling himself backwards and landing on his bum and elbows in the dirt. Wide-eyed, The dandy snaps his head to look at his hand, where a final wisp of flame flickers and dies like a candle being snuffed. He hastily looks at Pharris, where the matching cool blue flame can be seen dancing along the cut on her forehead. The flame flickers and dies, leaving behind no burn, and no cut. Only a thin, pink line of newly healed flesh is visible.

Slowly Nicholai returns the others wide-eyed stare.

"Well,... Don't look at me! THAT'S new!"

First use of Heavenly Fire, Celestial Bloodline ability. Pharris healed for 1d4+2 pts dmg.

1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Kajetan is so cold he is finding hard to strip his clothing off and dry himself. He swears out loud when Nicolai touches Pharris, "What the f%&k is going on with us all?" He sounds alarmed and worried.

The blue flames from Nicolai’s hand completely heal Pharris’s cut, and appear to warm her flesh too. After a moment, her eyelids flutter.

Pharris:

Kajetan:

"Holy Arton!" Nicholai cries out in surprise, hurling himself backwards and landing on his bum and elbows in the dirt. Wide-eyed, The dandy snaps his head to look at his hand, where a final wisp of flame flickers and dies like a candle being snuffed. He hastily looks at Pharris, where the matching cool blue flame can be seen dancing along the cut on her forehead. The flame flickers and dies, leaving behind no burn, and no cut. Only a thin, pink line of newly healed flesh is visible.

Slowly Nicholai returns the others wide-eyed stare.

"Well,... Don't look at me! THAT'S new!"

Laithe hesitates as Kaj calls out about the face in the water, but continues up towards the campsite with Pharris once he see's the scholar pulled safely from the stream. As he moves, he thinks back to his upbringing and any stories of water spirits he may have heard as a child.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Laying her gently by the fire, he is shocked when Nicolai arrives and heals the cut to Pharris' forehead in a spectacular fashion. He looks at the dandy, one eye-brow raised in question.

"Well ,whatever the case it seems to have helped, and is timely as I have not yet had a chance to restore my resources of healing magic." Seeing Pharris' eyelids fluttering, he leans back and adds "You should try and wake her."

Water spirits, hmmm … you’ve certainly heard tales of water spirits. Aughiskys, Kelpies, Ceffyl Dwr, Morgens, Nixies, Undine, Naiads, Nereids, Sirens, Vodyanoi, Rusalka, Veela … amongst others.

Then the green eyes close again. Pharris loses consciousness again.

Alton paces up and down beside the group clustered around Pharris, wishing there was more he could do but knowing that his companions are better suited to helping her than he.
After a few moments he settles for keeping watch for anything that may cause the group harm.
perception check 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Then the green eyes close again. Pharris loses consciousness again.

Laithe curses quietly as he sees Pharris' lose consciousness once more. He quickly leans forward and checks her pulse to make sure she is still breathing. He then inspects her to thoroughly, to try and find if there is anything they missed which might be causing her condition.

Heal check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

(Assuming he is confident she is stable) Laithe stands and bids Keildrithe, Kajetan and Alton to his side.

"Nicolai, are you ok to watch over her?" He starts back down towards the river. "Kaj, you said you saw a face in the water? Keildrithe, if it is some form of water spirit then perhaps we can talk to it? We need to find out if it is poison or magic we are dealing with."

Pharris:

Laithe, Pharris is breathing normally, her temperature appears to be normal, and her eyelids flutter slightly from time to time, although she remains mainly unresponsive to stimuli. She appears to be in a very deep sleep, rather than the almost coma-like state she was in before. What the cause of the sleep is you don’t know – there’s nothing to indicate she has been poisoned (no obvious bite marks or punctures or anything, though it is somewhat difficult to be sure amongst her various half-healed injuries) and her colour and breathing is normal. If it is poison, it appears the only effect at this stage is to induce sleep. More likely there is some magical or mystical cause. Maybe she just needs rest to heal properly.

You did notice, when her eyes opened (and when you check them again for response) that her eyes are now their typical green, not the black that they had gone after she suffered Tamiach’s touch.

Alton, nothing about that you can see.

Catching up,... again! ;P

"Well ,whatever the case it seems to have helped, and is timely as I have not yet had a chance to restore my resources of healing magic." Seeing Pharris' eyelids fluttering, he leans back and adds "You should try and wake her."

"Yeah, sure,..." Nicholai replies absently, still looking at his hand as if it might burst into flame again at any moment.

"What the f%&k is going on with us all?" He sounds alarmed and worried.

Nicholai looks at Kajetan. The outburst and expression on the slight mage's face is too much for the dandy. He busts out laughing.

There is a definite note of tension in the laughter, but primarily it is the sound of sweet stress release.

"Sorry Kaj', It's not you!" Nicholai wheezes as he calms down, waving his arm about in a dismissive gesture. (WHich may cause some to duck instinctively.) "Remember, you were excited about you newfound abilities a moment ago." He reminds Kajetan as he picks himself back up.

"But I think I know what this is. I hope. If I'm right, I can't use it on Pharris again, at least not for a while,... I wonder,..." NIcholai mutters off, still looking at his hand. Then, as if trying to get it done before he changes his mind, he places his hand over his own bruised and bandaged side. For a moment nothing happens, then once again a flame blossoms in his hand and leaps to his wounded side. He jumps in surprise, but makes no sound. Once again the flames swiftly die out. Nicholai looks at the others and raises an eyebrow, obviously uninjured. He takes a deep breath and smiles when the pain isn't as bad. A quick inspection shows that the bruise is still there, but not as bad as before.

"When I was in the orphanage, there was this old caretaker, he used to tell me stories. As I got older I suspected that he knew my secret, but if he did he never told anyone or let on. But the stories he used to tell me were always about magic, and sorcery. I think, I think that he was trying to help me, to teach me, and let me know that it was alright that I was different,..." Nicholai stares into the small fire for a moment, lost in the past, but quickly returns.

"Anyway, I realize now that he was teaching me the basic theories of sorcery, about bloodlines, and how even the same bloodlines can manifest differently. IF I'm right, he called this power 'Soulfire'. It's flame, but it only harms those who are evil. It heals those who are not." He looks up and grins like a kid.

"This proves that Wij'kan didn't just choose me on a whim!" He whispers with a small smile. He blinks away a tear,... then concentrates on Pharris as Laithe examines her.

Nicholai Watches as Laithe checks Pharris' condition, and nods in agreement.

"Of course! I shall be delighted to stand guard over the maiden!" Nicholai responds with a grin, obviously feeling,... invigorated, at his latest discovery.