The Deacon's hand pauses mid-air as he savours the paucity of information contained in Gathroc's words. "And what then? If you had the book, would any ties linger in my land?"
"We will depart, post haste, provided that is actually the book we seek."
The Deacon holds still as he responds "I would hear their words as well... what say your companions?"
The Deacon holds still as he responds "I would hear their words as well... what say your companions?"
** spoiler omitted **
"I'm only here for the book. I'm happy to take it and leave." Vesta says wearing the body of the guard.
"Though my body is dead I am a seeker of knowledge not a killer, I too have no vested interest here once the book is in our hands."
"I too, have only come for the book. Once we are finished here, I wish to return to my home."
The man watches for a stretch of a few seconds, clearly mulling over what options he has in the situation. Then with a sense of finality, he stands and offers the group an option "I've no love of Nex or Geb, and I care for my own" a pointed look at Vesta as he speaks this line "I offer you a way out of this. Allow me to teleport us from this place to a cove of seclusion on the coast South of Quantium. Once there I will give you the book and watch you depart."
The man then waits for a sign of assent.
"Forgive if I am not readily keen on trusting you. First, how do we know the book you possess is the book we seek? and Secondly, how can we trust you to teleport us some place safe, as opposed to directly into a trap that would easily destroy us?"
Raising an eyebrow at Gathroc's words "You are at my word as much as I am at yours. I swear upon the Dawnflower that the book I have with me holds the history of Thispindix's Order. I similarly swear that the place to which I will send us is as safe for you as it is for me. I won't expect you to return the favor, and I would not hold a prayer to the Pallid Princess in the same regard."
The Vesta in the human suit looks at the man and at Gathroc with a raised eyebrow.
"You can't be seriously considering letting our enemy teleport us somewhere. I don't give a S**t about him or his little tower. Just get the book so we can get the hell out of here."
Vesta says with a sneer, but she's obviously deferring to Gathroc's leadership.Not to mention standing slightly behind him.
Telepathicaly Actually Vesta, this could work to our advantage quite nicely, provided he is telling the truth. If he takes us to some other location, chances are we won't have an entire fortress of warriors and holy men that could destroy us. And if he is lying, get us out of there at the first hint of a betrayal.
"This is agreeable to me, I care not what decision the others come to, I just wish to part with the book."
Telepathicaly Actually Vesta, this could work to our advantage quite nicely, provided he is telling the truth. If he takes us to some other location, chances are we won't have an entire fortress of warriors and holy men that could destroy us. And if he is lying, get us out of there at the first hint of a betrayal.
Telepathically to all,
"I can't truly be killed again. Only temporarily discoporeated. So it's your undead lives that you're wagering with. Take whatever chances you like."
The Deacon stands and fire on his hand snuffs out. Drawing a scroll from his person he starts incanting and the air in the room starts to shimmer. A burst of energy springs out from him to envelop you all. It tugs at your essence, attempting to move you from where you stand.
Spellcraft
spell craft
With a sucking feeling followed by the sound of a explosion in a vacuum, you find yourself in a sheltered cove on the beach. The Deacon still stands before you, book at his side. With a flick of his hand the book flies to land before you in the sand "Take it and leave. Our compact is that you do not return to the Lambent Citadel, I care not for where you go from here" and looking a Vesta directly "You have something of mine, and I would take it back with me."
He then stands ready with scimitar in hand awaiting how you react.
With a sucking feeling followed by the sound of a explosion in a vacuum, you find yourself in a sheltered cove on the beach. The Deacon still stands before you, book at his side. With a flick of his hand the book flies to land before you in the sand "Take it and leave. Our compact is that you do not return to the Lambent Citadel, I care not for where you go from here" and looking a Vesta directly "You have something of mine, and I would take it back with me."
He then stands ready with scimitar in hand awaiting how you react.
The vesta-guard raises an eyebrow and looks at the man. "Tell me truthfully how you knew that this man simply wasn't a traitor who willingly helped your enemy and I shall return him to you?" Vesta says in a tone more curious than anything else.
Assuming he answers truthfully,
Vesta pulls herself from the man's body and while he is still disoriented she waves a hand to telekinetically shove the guard over to the Decon.
"Of course you realize if you've tricked us in some way and that isn't the book we'll return to your little fort in force? I can't say that we'll be so polite if we have to make a second trip." Vesta say's as she makes a small motion toward the book which jumps off the sand and into her hand which she is oddly able to catch solidly in an elbow length gloved hand.
To Vesta's query on the guard: "It matters not what transpired, he is of my flock. I doubt he was traitorous, but even if he was he will be offered a chance for redemption." As the disoriented guard stumbles towards him, the Deacon steadies him and bids him to be quiet.
To Vesta's query on the guard: "It matters not what transpired, he is of my flock. I doubt he was traitorous, but even if he was he will be offered a chance for redemption." As the disoriented guard stumbles towards him, the Deacon steadies him and bids him to be quiet.
Vesta winks sexually at the guard then looks back to the Decon
"I meant how could you tell he was possessed instead of just a turncoat? Call it professional curiosity."
"Your form was not hidden to my sight"
"Your form was not hidden to my sight"
"Ahh." Vesta says understanding.
Then she does this part
"Of course you realize if you've tricked us in some way and that isn't the book we'll return to your little fort in force? I can't say that we'll be so polite if we have to make a second trip." Vesta say's as she makes a small motion toward the book which jumps off the sand and into her hand which she is oddly able to catch solidly in an elbow length gloved hand.
adding
"Before we go is there anything you want to tell us that may keep us from having to make a second trip? Magical traps on the book? It's the wrong book? You ripped out key pages? Things like that?"
Telepathically Do either of you know the magicks that would allow you to speak with him once he's dead?
Telepathically Do either of you know the magicks that would allow you to speak with him once he's dead?
** spoiler omitted **
telepathically; "Not I."
** spoiler omitted **
The Deacons face is resolute "If we need meet a second time you can be sure that I will be significantly less decorous also.... There is no deceit or tricks upon the book, feel free to review it if you must."
The Deacons face is resolute "If we need meet a second time you can be sure that I will be significantly less decorous also.... There is no deceit or tricks upon the book, feel free to review it if you must."
"Naturally." Vesta says casually as she inspects the exterior of the book (detect magic) rotating it in one gloved hand.
Telepathcially, "Gathroc, are we done here?"
The book does not detect as magic to Vesta's enhanced sight.
Do we just take the book and go, or shall we slay him where he stands? If we do kill him, we could always raise him. I wonder though, if this cove is watched or warded. Were it me, I would definitely have set this place up in some way that others would know what was going on here. It could even be as simple as letting an underling know that if he dosen't come back from the cove to launch an investigation."
Do we just take the book and go, or shall we slay him where he stands? If we do kill him, we could always raise him. I wonder though, if this cove is watched or warded. Were it me, I would definitely have set this place up in some way that others would know what was going on here. It could even be as simple as letting an underling know that if he dosen't come back from the cove to launch an investigation."
"If I were teleporting enemies somewhere I would have a backup plan. Probably better to let him live for the moment. We can always slay him later. Or just let the ravages of time do it for us. "
Vesta looks up from her book inspection and casually turns to the Decon, as she tucks the book into a large pocket of her vest. As she does the book loses it's solid appearance and disapears behind the "fabric." She waves the hand dismissively at the decon and with a bored tone says "You may go."
She then turns to look him in the eye. Silently waiting for him to obey.
Ignac stands at parade rest, waiting to leave with the others.
I look hungrily at the book as Vesta thumbs through it, wondering at the knowledge it holds within. I glance at the Deacon curiously, wondering also at the knowledge that he holds within, but waiting to see what the others will do.
Gathroc nods his assent at Vesta's decision. "My companion has spoken, you may leave us. Know that if this is not the book we seek, or if does not contain the information we want, we shall destroy you, raze you fortress to the ground and salt the earth so that nothing will ever grow there again."
The Deacon remains still for a few moments before replying "I have chosen this path as it offered a chance to resolve the conflict without risking the death of innocents. If our path crosses again then you will burn from the light of the Dawnflower." he then closes his eyes momentarily and touches the hilt of his scimitar to brow while his other hand rests on the disoriented guard. The air shimmers slightly and the pair disappear from the cove.
"What do you all say we go somewhere else then discuss our next step? I don't know about you all, but I don't want to hang out where our enemy dropped us off."
I second these thoughts. now where do you think we ought to go?"
"Lets search the area quickly to be sure there aren't any surprises waiting for us. Then we can decide what to do.'
Presumably everyone is amiable we spread out and make sure there are no spies or other enemy forces.
Assuming the area is clear...
"Gabriel can you inspect the book to make sure its not trapped and is in fact the book we seek? If so feel free to update The Shadow Claw of our progress." She say's as she tosses the book to the severed hand.
Of course.
Gabriel takes his time looking for traps...
If he finds nothing dangerous, he will contact his Master.
Gabriel examines the book and finds that it is just that.... a book. It is not locked, there are no arcane sigils within that would explode and no lock to bar it's opening.
The Shadow Claw has bid you to "Come"
We have been summoned... Home. My Master wants the book as soon as possible.
We have been summoned... Home. My Master wants the book as soon as possible.
"looks like we need more undead horses."
"Well let us find a way out of here and then we see about transportation."
Ignac draws a small sigil in the sand below him, pressing his palm into the center once he has finished. The sigil expands, and then rises, with a horse-shaped fiend materializing as it passes. If you look closely, it appears to be the same as the one he summoned days ago.
"Daemon, you can ride with me."