"Yes, well," Bruendor says sheepishly. "You get used to it."
Kel takes her time examining the runes.
Touching the glyph, Kelendra felt a burst of life rush through her. She instinctively understood that this glyph of renewal was the first in the chain that must be destroyed, and that only a true healer could deactivate it safely. The life energies must be manipulated to negate themselves, an act of surgery if you will. Once the negation process is begun, it cannot be interrupted in any way or the process must begin anew in 24 hours.
Calla grunts at the news and offers Calistria's blessing to Kelendra as she attempts the feat .
She does what she can to help, pointing out where Kelndra may be about to go wrong.
Lefrik stands guard ready to protect Kel while she does her delicate work.
Anklebiter likewise assists where he can.
Kel works with surgical precision to negate the magics.
Kelendra's manipulation of the healing energies begins to thwart the glyph's natural inclinations, turning the energies against each other. At one point, her concentration slipped, and she barely managed to avoid being crippled in the magical backlash.
"Hang in there, Kelendra," Anklebiter says, one green hand briefly touching the Half-Elf's slender hand. "You can do it!"
Like Lefrik, Bruendor was out of his depth, and keeps his eyes peeled for further attacks, be they from abyssal terrors or more terrestrial sources.
"CAREFUL!" Calla snaps.
Kel focuses on the final negation as the pressure increases.
With sweaty hands she keeps fumbling at it...
...and keeps fumbling at it.
Sweat beading from her brow, Kelendra tries to hold the whiplashing energies in check. It was almost as if the glyph was fighting her, not wanting its healing energies to be put to such a use. Finally, she wrested the fields into alignment, and the glyph grew still. Then, with one last pulse of power, a wave of healing energy flashed over the site, forging onward beyond the range of your vision. The pulse brought tears to your eyes as a combination of heat and cold assaulted you, invigorated you. You could feel all the bumps, bruises, and cuts mending, and your skin practically glowed with health. Then, as if in farewell, another lance of energy flew from the glyph, this one an arcing ribbon that trailed off into the dark, angling almost due north across the seas labeled as The Caltherium on your map, towards the Hanging Forest.
The glyph was silent now, it's arcane symbols still and dark. You have deactivated the first of the glyph wards.
Honed nerves alert Bruendor to a change in the air - the hairs on his arm begin to stand on end, and he is already preparing to move when the runes flash and disperse their power. His reflexes are keen, but serve no purpose, as the energy is harmless and even mends a few of his wounds. "Well done, Kel!", Bruendor says with a nod of approval. "One down, then. Think we should follow that to its source?", he asks, pointing towards the northern horizons in the direction of the crackling energy wave.
"I think so...though they may know we're coming now."
"Mayhap we should also destroy the physical manifestation of this glyph, lest its creator return to find an easy job of recreating it," the deva suggests.
"No worries about them knowing we're here, anyway. That Drow who trapped the Keeper of Orv already said she was going to tell the creeps from Azrinae and their boss that we were coming," Anklebiter says, shrugging.
Then he gives Kelendra a quick hug about the hips.
"You did so well, sister Kel! So very well."
Calla nods.
"That way is as good as any. We got lucky picking this site first and who knows what order the others need to be done in," she says.
Before the group departs, Anklebiter uses one of his Pearls of Power to regain the use of Mirror image.
Lefrik eyes the physical manifestation, "I can try to break it if you like. Is it going to blow up?"
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Kel considers Lefrik's question. "It seems likely that energy could be released from its destruction."
"Well, let me know if you all wish me to break it or not, but otherwise we best be on our way" Lefrik says
Calla shrugs.
"They said it could be dangerous, but they've also lied through their teeth. Now that the glyphs appear to be deactivated, it might be worth it."
Still, she backs well away before Lefrik does his damage.
Lefrik switches weapons, and tries to smash the damn object after everyone has backed away. He lets his rage fly and...
plus electricity
As the group flies towards their next target, Bruendor floats over to the angel accompanying them. "So, um," Bruendor inquires. "What's the afterlife like?"
The deva smiles at Bruendor. "That depends on where you are sent."
"Well, sure," Bruendor says. "But let's say someone like me is judged worthy to be sent on to Heaven. What's it like?"
The deva smiles -- and reaches out, placing one index finger on Bruendor's upper lip.
"Shh," is all she says before flying on, and she refuses to further discuss the subject.
"It's spun sugar and rainbows," Calla says with her usual tact. "Dwarven lasses in little corsets, dancing through the daffodils, and every one with a beard long enough to make you blush."
"I hope Dwarf heaven IS like that.. Brue deserves a break. Works his ass off." The Ulfen is nothing if not supportive of his friend.
"We all do, Lef," Bruendor says, a bit uncomfortable at the praise. "Every one of us has bled for this work. I just...I just want to know that at the end of all of this, that it meant something more than the planet keeps spinning with all of us on it. I've got no problem risking my life, but dammit, I don't even know if Torag will let me in once this is all done. I just wanted to hear what it would be like - if I make it in, then I know what to expect, and if I don't, then I know what I missed."
"Hmm. I am obligated not to reveal certain things," the deva muses, "but this much should be alright: It would always be a surprise. And you are not beholden to Torag for your eternal reward, nor is it he who shall judge your deeds. Does this provide comfort?"
Lefrik hacked at the now-inert stone with his sword, cracking it substantially and leaving a small nick in his blade. Nothing else happened. No explosion of power, not even a whimper.
Meanwhile, Bruendor took up a discussion on the vagaries of the afterlife with the deva, who held true to its nature not to divulge such information. Its allusion to Pharasma, Lady of Graves and ultimate judge of the souls from the Material Plane gave more hint than it might have considered.
"Mmmph" He nods at the crack "Well, it didn't explode. SOmehow I'll have to make that good news sound more exciting in the saga."
Calla nods.
"So are we ready to get going then? Maybe before they drop another moon on us?"
Calla nods.
"So are we ready to get going then? Maybe before they drop another moon on us?"
"Surely, but only because it will make YOU feel better if we save the world." The Ulfen says with a flash of good natured sarcasm. Gee, wonder what company he's been keeping taught him that skill?
Gliding over a dark sea in total darkness, with only Bruendor's natural ability to sense direction underground, was an eerie experience. The monotony of the travel sapped your energy and the constant expectation of a possible attack in the darkness had you all on edge. More than once you considered what would occur if Anklebiter's spell was dismissed while you were over that sea.
After hours of travel, you reach landfall, and comparing your map with the landmarks you see you find that you are a little shy of your target, maybe another hour of walking (or 30 minutes of flight). You are tired, exhausted both mentally and physically, but the next glyph is just ahead.
"Take five," Anklebiter says as the group angles for land. "Let's eat some rations, drink some water, rekindle our fires."
Lefrik drops down on the earth, "I'll keep watch"
Calla nods, and will settle down to rest, taking her own watch when the time comes.
Kel settles on the ground with relief after the long flight over the sea. "I miss the stars already, the sooner we're done here the better."
"We're on the case! We don't need no stinkin' sleep!" Duchess says, saluting for good measure.
"We don't need no shinin' stars, neither!" Magpie adds.