Lin looks to the remaining Liberator's saddened to see there numbers had dwindled so, but she seas glad to see they were still fighting the good fight. She bowed her head to the new members of Dantoor's group. "Merry meet, new friends are a blessing in these dark days. We just arrived and as much as I would wish to lend, it is not my choice to make. Give me time to give this news to my fellows as I am sure they will want to hear this. If we must we will follow after, but right now we are scattered... Ormiria has fallen to the Red Dragonflight as well. It is a sore day Liberator's, but we will return."
She holds a moment longer before taking back to the air and heading back towards the university.
@Mai: The shadow-thing that is apparently Servais turns to face you. "Magus. I chose to travel with you because of the strength I sensed in your spirit after the trials you faced at the hands of Veriala. Do not let me down in the days to come."
The Man in the Hat smirks, his mouth and chin still the only parts of his face that are visible. "Don't listen to him, Aellar. Your kind are meant to fly free, not with the chains his kind bind around you. Be free of him now, this may be your only chance. Leave him here on the deck of my ship. The Sunderer will come for him, and he will be helpless before his fate, the fate he deserves."
"SILENCE!!" thunders Servais, but the Man in the Hat only laughs wickedly. "You know the price, Servais; you need to bring him one leaf from the Snow Bud, or the appropriate tithe. You think this...vessel, this...skinny elf-thing is going to tolerate your b$*@+~*% for that long? You're doomed, Shadowguard. You've made too many mistakes, and now comes time to atone."
The rain continues to wash down over you all. The boat creaks and moans like a dying man.
** spoiler omitted **
Maiathreen nods as he listens to both the man in black and Servais he puts his hand on Servais' hilt. He feels the intricate hilt the cold metal handguard against his wrist. He slowly draws Servais from his sheath the cool whisper of metal on oiled metal as Servais slides out slowly. "If my intentions were to leave Servais I would have just left him in Izmir when I first heard of all this. If our kind were made to be free I wouldn't have these tattoos or my scales. So what's one more chain? What about you? I've noticed your blade reacts like Servais so speak of your chains to this skinny elf-thing."
He says as he holds Servais' blade horizontally with his right hand and his left hand held against his arm. "So what say you Servais? Will you continue to fight? Fight against fate and anyone who tries to contain us?"
Aylaeth nods her thanks at Van Haera's apology and expression of commiseration. When the paladine jogs up and delivers his remarkable story, Aylaeth beams with excitement and relief and the incredibly welcome news "Why this is wonderful! Bless you!" she smiles at the soldier "You may have very well just played a very important part in helping to save the Land!" she takes an eager step to go with the soldier but then stops and looks back at Min. Only pausing a moment to think she addressing the great Brass "Lady, I can hardly express how wonderful this news is to me and my eagerness to get my hands on those papers, yet they have remained where they are for some time and a few more moments won't hurt them. By your leave, I ask for but a short while to aid my companions in a quick duty first before going to investigate the papers left by Pike DePhazz."
While waiting for a reply she steps back over to Min, and seeing him about to enter the tapestry alone places a gentle hand on his shoulder to stop him, saying quietly "Peace my friend, but a moment more. I understand your eagerness yet please do not follow Mai's poor example. We must remember that one of the main reasons the Skyknights are so effective is that we operate as one cohesive unit, led by our appointed leader, Captain Damian, a man blessed by the very Inheritor herself! More than once! If we all start constantly operating independently, without his inspired leadership, we shall lose our unity, our edge, our effectiveness, and shall be Skyknights no more. We would be no better than any other band of common adventurers." as she says this, she seems to be completely unaware of any offence this may cause any others present.
"With the Captain's permission I shall join you in this duty, for where two or more of us are united, and following orders, then Skyknights we shall be! Sir? May we proceed?" this last directed at the Captain.
If there are no dissenting orders, Aylaeth enters into the prison with Min. Just before she steps inside, Ada'an flutters back over to take his accustomed position on her head.
Once inside the hallway Aylaeth turns to Min and stops him once again "Min, I feel it important we discuss this a bit further. Your intentions and passion are, as always, without fault. Yet I fear your logic may have some gaps regarding the prisoners. Justahl escaped his prison almost immediately, because he was able to. If the demon was able to escape on it's own, surely it would have done so by now, yes? The Wyverling was only freed by the action initiated by that rogue tying his rope to it's gem and then by the efforts of you and I. Had those things not transpired, the dragonling would still be within it's gem prison. Finally, should we decide to free the demon, how would you propose to capture or contain it? For recall, most demons can teleport at will, so what would stop this one from doing so the moment it is free of the gem? I shall gladly help you free the other two, but I strongly recommend that, for now, we leave the demon where it is, secure within it's gem prison. Perhaps forever." she is looking earnestly at her companion and friend as she speaks, hoping to get through to him with her reasoning.
Tora'an lands gracefully, nodding his head to the others in greeting. As the celestial steed hears of demons and devils, his natural and sworn hated enemies, attacking the town, his nostrils flare and his eyes blaze with holy fury. His first instinct is to eagerly dive into battle alongside these brave and holy warriors.
Yet when Lin speaks he is quickly reminded of his duty and bond to his Andaieu and as Lin explains their position, he give a soft shake of his head in agreement. When he launches into the air again, heading back, he immediately joins her, yet he is not able to resist a glace or two back over his shoulder, his celestial blood still boiling.
Jorzan smiles his thanks to the beautiful Brass as he quickly divides the items, setting aside one scroll of Greater Teleport, two scrolls of Teleport and one of the wands, which he indicates are for Captain Damian to take. Explaining himself he says "I know not all that you must do Captian, yet, after all your help, I would not feel right if we were to take all this bounty for ourselves. Hopefully my companions agree." as he looks the question to those he just mentioned.
If there is no disagreement, he then hands a scroll each of greater teleport to Karthan and the Boy, the two of them being the most accomplished arcane casters in their group, and then two scrolls of teleport to Kelne and one for himself (plus the leftover one they had from before), and finally the wand to Karthan, again explaining "With all of us capable of using these scrolls having at least one of them on our person, this way should our group become separated at all, we all have a better chance of getting out of there safely. If any of you see a better arrangement though, speak up."
He continues "Gray, if you can use those wands to hide us from the undead and protect our minds and bodies from their evil? And if any of you paladine care to cast the Inheritor's blessing on us, it wouldn't go amiss. Other than that, let's go!"
He was assuming that by her lack of dissent Van Haera was agreeing take care of Cassandra. No matter what though, he knew the girl was safe while the Brass and all the Paladine were around.
Where he found his...
When he continued his voice was hard as he crushed down his emotion, his frustrations, his past. None of it was getting the point across. "The Wyverling too I bet. It saw me Aylaeth, it looked up long enough to see me and gain a glimmer of hope and pull itself out of its pit of despair. I tried to tell it to hold on and they got impatient because of the endless bickering. I would to if I was stuck in hell like that,I wouldn't wait a minute longer. Trapped and Caged while others decide my fate and I would be angry as hell when I found out they couldn't take a moment to free me. Let's hope they are not our enemy when we meet them again, you saw how it took off. Now, that demon saw me as well, so it is a matter of time before it breaks free and I won't wait a minute longer while it thrashes at its prison."
He turned and started walking towards the room, his mothers sword in hand, its massive blade barely avoided scrapping the wall. He was done talking, they needed to keep moving.
With that settled, he moves on to the prisoners. "I would prefer to leave the demon to its eternal prison. First, we deal with the children in need of our assistance. Once they are safe, we can turn our eyes to the gemstone prisons and determine what to do with them."
"Alright. Tactics," Kelne said, "I believe fireballs, flamestrike arrows and positive energy to deal with those undead present will be the order of the day. That should open up a path for Justahl and I to reach Ormir and deal with him." Ormir ought to be helpless, but best commit two people to the task in case of complications. There might well be some last ditch defense to protect the vampire's resting place.
Aylaeth smiles brightly at Damian's decision and pronouncement, clapping Min heartily on the shoulder. She completely agreed with the Captian's reasoning, for she and he were too much alike to make her an effective second for him. Min was perfect for the role and she would follow his lead nearly as readily as she did Damian's. For the present though, and hopefully for a long time to come, Captain Lamorak was still their leader and so his decision decided their next course of action.
"Excellent choice sir, and I agree with your reasoning completely. The children are suffering now and so we must do what all we can to help them. These prisoners aren't going anywhere and aren't in harm's way at all so a little more time won't hurt them any. Besides, Lieutenant" again grinning Min's way "You can use the time to figure out exactly how we might secure that demon 'the best we can' should the decision be made to free it after all." she was sure the half-elf would agree that tortured children took precedence over unharmed prisoners so she considered that matter settled for now.
She turns back to the Damian "Sir, my only suggestion now is, if we bring the tapestry that leads to the children back out into the gazebo, and unroll it there, then Lin and Tora'an will be ale to join us, and I'm quite sure they would both wish to do so for such an important mission."
Gray nodding to Belsarious as he packs up his book and stands.
"I see it... Should we investigate? I have a feeling the city is in much more danger then we assumed."
"I fear we must look, tha task of lookin oft falls upon those who see."
"Have you tha ability tah fly?"
Once Min drags the chests and other objects into position around the crystal he starts rummaging through the chests and trying to determine what may be useful for their group in the coming endeavor.
I will post the rolls when I am near my comp, sorry :(
Shaking his head to Belsarious. "Sorry flying is not something i can do by myself."
Glancing to Jorzan from the sky amd back he nods and reaches into his bags removing two wands.
Looking to Jorzan and Kelne and pointing in the sky at the obelisk "Don't you see that! The city could be in terrible danger.
If Belsarious is correct it maybe something only him and Gray can do together. A grim look crosses his face as the once mortician faces the reality that he has become an adventurer.
And Sir Justhal, I see you wield a hammer, perhaps you will have more use for this then I will..." Min unlatches the +1 Silver Disruption Warhammer and offers it to the Paladin. "Or someone else, but if your facing undead this may help.
Sir Justahl raises his hand to forstall the offer.
"I thank you Sir Knight for your offer, but I already have one. Keep it. You may yet have a need."He walks over to kneel beside Cassandra, and puts an arm around her.
"Cassandra, the Inheritors orders were very clear. I am to escort and defend you wherever you go. But the Baron has designs on you, and has pursued and harried us across half the land. So I must go and help put him down. If you insist, I will carry you with me, but I urge you to stay here with the lords of this place. I will come back for you, one way or another. I swear it on my soul."
Jorzan steps forward so the Pharasmian priest can more easily cast the spells on him. When he asks his question, Jorzan looks in the direction indicated for some time, squinting, until finally looking back and replying "No, nothing out of the ordinary that hasn't already been brought up. What do you see?"
He pauses a beat before adding, squinting again "You sure you're alright bub?" after all, he hardly knows the man, in fact he'd only met him a hour or two ago. Who knew how crazy he might be.
Seeing that Min was not to be deterred in his caution over the demon or sorting through the armor, Aylaeth sighs and helps him move the chests and then uses her magical vision and knowledge to help him identify the armor as quickly as possible.
Edit to previous post~
Min pins the new insignia to his tabard, looking a little unsure as he wasn't sure he was doing it right. Finally satisfied with how it looks he nods at the tapestry Aylaeth and Damian point out before delving into the box of armor and trying to piece together some useful armor. Once he had a few sets on the floor he pulled strength from the bond and looked over the sets on the floor with glowing eyes. He could see the magic that
@Mai: The shadow thing that is Servais nods to you in thanks, then turns back to the Man in the Hat. "Mark his words, Seneferu. For as surely as your master will continue to punish you, I will continue to seek that which is mine. The Confluence nears, and with it more than enough strength to free the rest of the Shadowguards and raise the Cities Under. The Queen of Light walks the Land, and portents gather."
That word again. You have never heard of Shadowguards before, but now it's been mentioned twice in the last minute.
Seneferu, The Man in the Hat, is silent for a long second, then he begins to chortle. "Ah heh. Heh. Heh-heh-heh-hahahahaaa! Servais, you still think you fight for freedom, but this I swear; if you persist on this path, Kalaroth will come and the underfolk will be destroyed or subjugated just like the overdwellers. You can't see beyond your greed."
Servais snorts. "I see more than you know."
"Oh, but I see everything!" Seneferu raises his face then, so you can see his eyes, or rather the gouged and scarred remains of where his eyes used to be, but where now there exists only horrid and scarred flaps of skin sewn shut with rough and bloody leather thongs, dried viscera and gore on his cheeks like obscene tears. "Without my eyes, Servais, I cannot be fooled by surface glamer and pretense. I can feel the anger in this magus' heart, but I can also feel the love; love for his partner. He still has a chance to regain his freedom, while for you there can only be death. Don't drag another innocent down."
"You keep using that word, 'Freedom', Seneferu, but you don't know what it means. You serve one who gives a gift no one wants. And don't insult Maiathreen with innocence. He's endured more than you could imagine at the hands of an archmage's henchmen. Now. We have business, you and I, and I tire of your petty threats. There is the matter of a chasmal rend...and a bridge...and a stone in the sun..."
"SILENCE! SILENCE! I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Seneferu leaps into the air and giant raven-like wings sprout from his back and bear him aloft, his rapier practically leaping into his hand.
Servais growls and turns to you. "Maiathreen, he is powerful. I may have pushed him too far. I do not ask you to fight this fight; he could destroy you. If you retreat, I do not believe he will pursue you..."
As if to prove the point, Seneferu draws his ivory-handled rapier, the blade of which promptly bursts into silver flame. He yells a series of words in celestial and sends holy energy slamming down into you. Both of you feel the power of the heavens hammering you.
Servais dematerializes, but is still there with you in the blade. Seneferu growls low in his throat when he realizes his smite did not do near as much damage as he'd hoped.
"Mother, please stash Cassandra in someplace...safe. Like where I used to hide when I needed to avoid chores." He grins. Van Haera had learned (eventually) to hide excess bits of rope from her son...
"I sincerely hope your scholars can do something for Kevin."
He focuses on the scrying he did earlier, and calls the group to him, as soon as any benefictions and aids can be accomplished. He will cast Haste - using the last use of the Rod of Extend Spell - the round before using the Scroll of Greater Teleport.
@Gray and @Belsarious: As you watch, and as everyone else ignores you, you see the bizarre shadowy obelisk grow. It's difficult to tell exactly how far away it is, but it doesn't seem to long of a walk. On the other hand, there are all these teleport scrolls here, now...
Belsarious, you don't get exactly the same sensation from this as you do from the abominations, but it is related. Perhaps another incursion by creatures or artifacts from the plane of shadow?
Van Haera chuckles. "Of course, Karthan. We'll keep them both safe. You keep yourself safe, my son."
Just as Lin and Tora'an are about to take off, Dantoor shouts up at them. "Wait, Lin; if you're going, make sure to tell Sir Damian and the other Skyknights I need to speak with them, if at all possible, before you depart. I have news..."
Suddenly the Kuthite inquisitor, Koreth, jerks upright. "Kendal is in deep trouble. A devil -- a Ghaddar -- just took him captive. This looks bad."
Meanwhile, out the door of the warehouse, you see a black-winged figure rocket up into the air off the boat that Mai is on, and cast down a spiral of cascading celestial silver fire. There is a distant booming noise.
[ooc]This is why I get the big bucks. Hahahahaa! Or...not. :-p
Lin looked pained as she barely had time to respond before being distracted by the celestial fire. She growled as the bond was still, lifeless. Min must have delved back into the tapestry, to free the prisoners. Stubborn fool. It wouldn't have done her any good as she would have had to injure herself to make him aware of the danger down at the dock. They were on their own now. As she circled above the warehouse she shouted to Tora'an "Tora'an, please go to tell the others what is happening here, tell them that the Liberators need to speak with them and that Mai is in trouble. Your faster then I am, so go quickly my friend." Min will not be happy with me after this, although he deserves a sound smack for being absent...
Lin landed back in the warehouse, looking at Dantoor as she spoke. "Is there anything I can do for you? I don't know much of demons but I can throw my weight at them long enough to help. Our friend is on that ship out there and I don't know what peril he is in. Decide Dantoor." She looked to the warrior now, two lives hung in the balance but she had hope that Mai was strong enough to prevail for now.
He had too...
Maiathreen feels the remaining energy from Ablative Barrier disappear as it shields him from some of the energy. "What happened to fighting anyone or anything that tries to contain us Servais? No I will not run from him or anyone. I'd rather I have died under Veriala than live in fear. Let him understand the mistake of fighting the two of us. Maiathreen says as he draws on his arcane abilities and casts bears endurance increasing his own life force. He then rushes towards Seneferu intent on running him through.
"Maybe a rift betwixt our plane an tha plane o shadows."
"Obtain flight an follow. I must investigate immediatly."
Belsarious takes flight immediately for a closer look at the change within the sky....
Seeing Belsarious take of so suddenly, Gray becomes even more frustrated.
Looking Jorzan up and down he speaks. "You know how to use these wands yourself don't you? Take them, Use them as needed. I need to stay here and watch whatever is going on in the sky. And I'll try to keep this area safe for every ones return. And watch the tapestries if needed. He hands the Shadow Dancer the wands.
Starting to pace and mumble to himself about the teleport scrolls and not wanting to take them in case they are needed for emergency reasons. He once again sits on the grass.
Removing his ledger again and placing it on the grass, closed, cover side down. He stabs his ritual dagger into the grass and digs up a small handful of fresh dirt and covers the book with it. Once the book is covered. it looks like a newly dug grave. He places the thurible of smoking incense on book as well.
Gray begins enter his trance and starts to pray to himself.
"Lady of Graves. I show you the souls I have sent to you. I have done as your asked and watched your child, and I will still protect her until i am in your warm embrace. But there seems to be a greater power at work here. Show me, guide me, whisper to me. What is this obelisk? Why can no others see it. Point me as I am your finger, Use me as I am your hand. Fill me with your wise Prophecies as I am your ears and eyes to this world. I am your shovel your tool to this mortal grave. Guide me and fill me with your visions.
Faith Check
@Jorzan: You are about to reply to Gray when a strange wavering catches your eye. You see Zan float past you, starting to follow Belsarious. Rather than telling him to stop, you are transfixed by the appearance of a massive obelisk in the sky, towering up 500ft. or more, and appearing to built entirely of shadow, of the very night itself.
In your mind, you hear music.
A melody soft as velvet, comforting as a warm bed on a cold night, and as much a part of your very being as the shadows themselves, enters your heart. You cannot look away, even though you realize the obelisk...the obelisk-thing is nearly identical in construct to the towers of Bal-Zat, like the one you saw south of Crystal Lake.
@Gray: As if in immediate answer to your prayer, Jorzan suddenly blinks and looks up directly at where you see the shadowy tower. It seems as if the young shadowdancer suddenly is sharing your vision.
You also feel a heavy presence at your back, like a headstone or the marble door to a mausoleum, and the shadow-thing in the distance resolves itself in your eyes. You see that it is not a solid thing, but composed of hundreds and hundreds of lost souls, sould that should go to the Lady of Graves, but are stuck Between and being used for some foul arcane purpose, some necromancy. Many of the souls are those of children.
A great many.
They need peace, they need the final judgment of the Lady. Whatever foul magic is afoot there must be undone, and in Her name.
@Mai:
Seneferu flies up and away, forcing you -- daring you -- to follow him. He casts a spell as he goes, encasing himself in a bubble of writhing and swirling silver celestial fire.
@Lin: Dantoor walks up and speaks quietly so only you can hear. "Come with us, my friend. The paladine will fight all the harder with a Silver dragon behind them, and we may have need of your talents. We know not what is down there, but if devils of such power are involved, it must be something very significant and dangerous, indeed."
With that, he steps back and shouts to the others to suit up, and down they all go, down into the elevator shaft.
@Min, @Damian, @Aylaeth: After stepping into the "southern" tapestry, you find yourselves in a 15'x15' hallway. Behind you is bare rock wall marked only with a sloppily-painted red "X", to your left and right alike are big iron doors like the one depicted in the tapestry you just pressed on. Each door is fairly large; about 14' high and 10' wide and set on gigantic steel or iron hinges riveted right into the bare rock, and both are equidistant from your current position, with one 50' to your left and one 50' to your right. In front of you is the bare rock wall of this cavern. The floor is rock covered with dirt and a smattering of bones, dried blood, and rotted viscera. You are suddenly made aware of a terrible, terrible smell. You also realize that the temperature in this hallway is unbearably hot, to the extent that the very ground is practically burning your feet, or feels like it.
From behind the right door you hear nothing, but from behind the left door gruff voices can be heard yelling in Infernal and Abyssal, along with the sound of whips cracking and many voices mumbling and shouting and yelling and wailing incoherently. Above it all is the sound of arcane tongues incanting spells, and the distinctive keening scream of very young children crying.
@Justahl, @Karthan, @Kelne:The three of you are about to teleport when you notice Jorzan standing by Gray Moribund, both men looking off into the sky to the south, where Belsarious and Zan are flying away towards...something? You can see nothing worth their attention.
Gray speaks out loud to himself so everyone can hear, as he gazes in almost horror of what has his attention.
it's not shadows its constructed from but souls....children's souls..we need to destroy that abomination. Cassandra may not be safe in the city.
Detect magic active.....
Perception
Knowledge arcane
"May I find a way to pierce an undo the magic tha holds an compells tha spirits within....."
"Mah hope is tha magic is stretched thin tah do thus an tha whole might be ended wit a burst here!"
Karthan looks at Kelne and Justahl. He looks at Jorzan. "We can go now, and solve the problem of Ormir, or we can waste time trying to get them to come along."
He looks for the Feral Boy and Monster. "You coming?"
Maiathreen's growls a curse in elvish when he watches Seneferu cast an antimagic field spell. He decides that retreat might be the better decision or at least regrouping with everyone else and he flies back towards shore.
Lin looks away from Dantoor staring up towards where she last felt Min. The bond was still and inert but she focused her thoughts in a futile attempt to contact him. Forgive me rider, I will return. She then turns to look at the elevator shaft and plunges in behind the Paladine and The Liberators.
Frowning at the delay and worrying about the apparent dissolution of their combat power, Sir Justahl snaps at Jorzan.
"Jorzan! Focus soldier! We need to deal with the Baron RIGHT NOW!"
"We're going," Kelne said, "Gray seems to think there's a substantial threat at play here, and I'm not going to second-guess him by asking him to ignore it and come with us. Between the Skyknights and the garrison though, I imagine he can round up enough people to combat it without us."
"Jorzan!" he called, raising his voice so the rogue could hear, "Hustle if you're coming." He'd be very annoyed indeed if, after pushing for instant action, Jorzan remained behind, but he wasn't going to waste time trying to talk him round. Whatever Gray's threat was, they weren't going to be able to deal with it before Ormir recovered, so better to deal with him now and return quickly.
Belsarious considers the souls caught in the vortex in front of his eyes….
Are these souls headed to a soul cage a soul vault, with they become shackled or just consumed?
The straw man once held such sacrifices and was whispered the colossus once held spirits within itself.
Belsarious recalls the sacrifices and tales of great woe…
Perhaps it is Rovagug whose restless stirrings only seek to destroy creation and the gods, perhaps his domicile lies within the shadow plane and that is where his spawn such as the Tarrasque enter from.
If battling Rovagug then in that lies the temptation to attempt to harness the power of the artifacts, to quell the fear, fear which is the mind killer. Oh yes the artifacts must be destroyed!
Waiting patiently for an Elven Soul to float past he calls out in Elven:
”By the Ancestors I Belsarious last of my kin call unto you the restless spirit. Come forward and identify yourself unto me, answer whence you came and where you are going and what magic or force compells you such.”
”Come! Attend and give me knowledge that I might attempt your release.”
For the moment Jorzan continues staring at the tower and doesn't immediately reply to Justahl or Kelne. Whether he is thinking or something else entirely is going on is not easily discernible.
Jorzan
I did indeed leave grey alone to his prayers,
I flew up to investigate, and was talking aloud to myself...
I guess I assumed I could tell what it was as I got closer.....
and then as close as I dared get I attempt to yell to those souls trapped within......
not sure where you are to respond or hear me or what....
Knowing that Damian's magical cloak offered him many of the same protections as he spell, the magus casts a spell of protection on both Mai and herself. But also, knowing the brave Knight was likely to be the one most in the thick of things, she uses magic to increase the Captain's health and vitality. On all three of them she grants the ability to communicate even over distance with but a whisper.
Once inside, she concentrates on the infernal words she hears, trying to see if she can make out any of their meaning. She also listens to the incantations, to see if she can determine any of the magics being cast. Finally, while doing all of this, she activates her magical vision looking to see what, if any, magical auras resonate from their surroundings.
Perception:
Spellcraft:
Cast Protection from Evil (Min & her) Bear's Endurance (Damian), Message (all), Detect Magic
Meanwhile Ada'an, knowing they are going into a dangerous situation, grants a small divine aid on his mistress.
Once inside the tapestry, they tiny angel also looks carefully around, scanning for the strongest emmenations of evil and thinking to recall what, of any of this area or any of the words spoken, may seem familiar to him.
Perception:
Casts Aid on Aylaeth
'Bal-Zat! Curse his name! Can he be here?? And this music that haunts me so, what can it be? Where does it come from??'
Lost in thought for a moment Jorzan continues to stare at the tower. Then, suddenly seeming to hear the shouts of Justhal and Kelne, a few moments after they yelled them, as if the words had to travel some distance first, Jorzan shakes himself and takes a step towards his friends.
But then the last words of Grey suddenly seem to register in him and he stops and turns to look at the tower again 'Wait. What?? Souls of Children! Bal-Zat! You monster! You Demon!' then a look of pure pain and loss flashes over the young man's face 'Kianna...'
The torn shadowdancer, a fierce desire to destroy the Baron and protect Cassandra boiling through his blood but at the same time deeply moved and affected by the strange music filling him, his hatred for Bal-Zat, and his love for a long lost friend, looks back and forth between the two possible paths ahead of him.
Will Save DC16 (pass Ormir, Fail Tower):
Shaking himself though, a look of pained determination settles on his features as he says firmly No! The Baron must be dealt with Now, that's the simple truth. I..I don't exactly know what's going on over there" he falters for a moment, looking over at the tower. But regains his strength a few seconds later, and address his next words to Grey "But we can deal with it after. Grey, come with us! The more quickly we deal with Ormir, the faster we can return to deal with that." He says pointing at the tower without looking at it.
He gives the priest a few more moments to respond then yells "Zan!" calling his Shadow back to him. Moving over to his companions, he silently hands one of the wands to Karthan and then uses the other to cast it's protective magics over those heading to deal with the Baron.
Tora'an hovers in the air for a few moments as he carefully considers Lin's last words and request. His powerful wings easily keeping him aloft and in place he thinks furiously, knowing much could hang on his decision.
He clearly sees the simple wisdom of Lin's words. Aylaeth and the others needed to know what was going on here. Plus, she had given him very explicit order. On the other hoof, since the Paladine were already here, that seemed to clearly indicate that the city already knew of this danger here. Then there was Lin. She had already bravely dove into the pit to the Abyss and the brave and loyal steed was not inclined to let her face the horrors down there without any back-up from a friend. Finally, and perhaps most tellingly, he was Tora'an! a Pegasus Lord from birth and a Celestial Warrior! And directly down below him were hordes of his sworn and mortal enemies! He could not simply fly away from such, leaving other to battle them without him!
Decision made, the great beast looks up briefly and notices Mai flying back towards the shore. Neighing once loudly to get his attention, he then folds his wings and dives down into the hole after his silver scaled comrade.
Livain follows the rest of the group into the tapestry saying a prayer for Maiathreen 's safety. She worries but knows the children can't wait.
Buffeted by Aylaeth's magical spell, Damian feels stronger and more vital than ever before, enough to steady his heart when they arrive at the He'll that awaits the. He feels the heat that radiates through wherever they are, and gives his thanks to Iomedae for blessing him with armor that shields him from the worst of the heat. 'Truly, in her wisdom, the goddess foresaw my moment of need and equipped me thusly, he thinks to himself. He closes his eyes for a moment, just listening. He silently prays for wisdom to lead his troops into battle safely, and to know what they will face.
"Let him stay, Jorzan," Kelne said, "Since precious few people can even see the threat, I'd feel more comfortable knowing Gray was here keeping an eye on it and gathering information for an assault. Now let's get moving." He had a feeling that if they delayed much longer, events might conspire to prevent them leaving at all.
Min stood shocked at the area they came to be standing in, it wasn't long though before his face twisted into an angry glare towards the door where the children could be heard. He was carrying the darkwood buckler he'd found and was gripping Avenaada so hard his knuckles were white. He could feel every scar burn in the heat as if they were still fresh and puffy, a reminder of blood days. Days he'd never forget, nor allow to happen again if he could help it.
He was feeling tired though, he taxed the bond plenty and hoped that this would be easy. He nocked a masterwork arrow to Avenaada's string. He whispered quietly to himself. "I haven't forgotten my oath... Time to back it up..." He raise's the bow as he indicated his intent with a quick nod towards the door with no noise coming from it.
[I]"Could be another prison, I'll check it out..."[/b] He whispered under his breath as he quietly made his way towards the door.