As Darvesch moves to grab Sasha, he casts a curative spell on her, hoping she hasn't expired. "Got her! Let's go!"
Ieana's groaning is quickly cut short by a shout of surprise as she dodge a falling block twice her size. She looks around anxiously and cries out, "MY STAFF!"
Looking around, you realize that all of you who got blown away in the tsumani don't have anything left in hand that wasn't strapped on.
Sasha groans weakly and staggers to her feet with Darvesch's help.
"Uuugh... The room is still moving..."
Alis looks at Ieana like she's half-cocked.
As Mal rushes out the door, he turns and shouts,
"Let's get a move on people! Forget what you lost, items can be replaced, you cannot!"
"Govern–?"
Ieana's eyes go wide as the whole western side of the room collapses exposing briefly exposing the empty lagoon outside before it is lost in a landslide.
"Life. Right!"
All of you run for your lives, Sasha quickly recovering her sense as huge blocks of stone and gigantic boulders rain down around you. In the cleansing chamber the giant, bladed pendulum crashes down thru the ceiling even as the dome cracks and collapses. The pit trap Alis jury-rigged groans ominously, and Darvesch just barely makes it across before it breaks free of the wall and tumbles down into darkness. In your haste, you take the northern hallway leading to the bridge.
[bigger]"I'll featherfall us down!" Alis shouts, leading the way.
Suddenly the floor drops away just ahead of you revealing another pit trap, without time to react, you all jump!
"DARV!"
Whether it's Lady Luck, Kahn, or sheer determination, Darvesch clears the gap with a whole body length to spare! With no time to congratulate him, you continue running and just have time to make it thru the doors before the hallway behind you is swept away in a tide of earth!
The bridge and columns in the outer sanctum immediately topple, but above the din you hear Alis shout, "FEATHERFALL!" You land hard, but safely, Ieana right behind you as she snakes thru the air via her flight spell.
Very nearly outpacing Alis' dancing lights, you rush northward towards the exit only to find that the doors are still closed from earlier.
With a curse, Mal dashes towards the corner, Priyya still in his arms.
As he runs off, a falling chunk of stone cracks Sasha across the back very nearly knocking her out again.
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"SASHA!"
The doors to the outside grind and creak, the machinery controlling the eastern door destroyed while the western one clanks and grinds in protest, opening only half-way before the crash of shearing metal greets your ears.
Keeping her curses to herself, Ieana erects a wall of force to hold back a torrent of mud, stone, and bloody water that suddenly bursts from the south doors and spills over the ruined bridge. The wall holds, but you can see cracks quickly beginning for form along its arcane surface.
As Sasha staggers, the wizardess yells, "RUN!" She doesn't need to repeat herself.
Alis and Lureene quickly race outside, easily able to slip through the two-foot gap. Sasha staggers behind them before falling as more debris hits her. Yet she doesn't go down.
Instead there is a flash of light and you see Priyya looking up, one eye open, as she shakes her head, still clutched in Mal's arms in the corner of the room.
"Can't a girl get run-thru without everything going to pieces?"
With a grunt Darvesch helps Sasha out the door before squeezing through after her. He shrugs off a ceiling tile cracks him across the across skull. The tile shatters, his head does not.
evasion
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"Always a joke with you, isn't it?" Mal grumbles, clearly relieved that his lover yet lives.
"If you can't laugh at death–"
Priyya hops down from his arms and the two race for the doors, Ieana just behind them as her barrier buckles dangerously.
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Priyya ducks out the door, easily able to fit through, but Mal is another story. The big man gets wedged in the gap, unable to fit thru.
"What are you waiting for?!"
"TRYing!"
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There is an ominous groan behind them and a sound not unlike glass cracking.
"Try HARDER!"
Pushing up her sleeves, Ieana rams Mal with her shoulder just as a spray of sweet-smelling golden oil splashes over Mal. The two topple outside just as there is a loud crash and the force of the earth and water slams the doors shut for good.
For a moment the two lie atop one another fumbling hopelessly on the ground even as a plume of dust, blood, ash, and steam erupts from the atop the bluff to the south as it collapses, redirecting the river that once fell into the lagoon into its dark, shattered depths.
"Tsk, tsk." Priyya clucks looking down at the two. "I'm not even almost-dead for two minutes and you're already looking for more tail than you can handle."
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Mal simply groans and collapses on the ground, Ieana still atop him, a large hand covering his face.
"Alis?" He calls out, "I QUIT!"
Even as Ieana and Priyya get into a war of wits over the current sticky situation, Alis breathes a sigh of relief, glad that she got her spell off in time.
Under her breath, she replies softly, far too quietly for Mal to hear. "You can't quit Mal..." She gulps down a few more breaths of the cool, early morning air, "I'm reassigning your hairy hide!"
With that, she motions Sasha over and cradles her head gently against herself as she breaks out her well-loved healing wand.
In a quiet voice, she softly sings to Lureene, Sasha, and the short blue water mephit that stands, mouth agape by her side...
"You might forget your manners,
You might refuse to stay,
And so the best that I can do is pray.
Luck be a lady tonight..."
Lureene barely remembers anything about the mad dash out of the former Temple of Charelle. She lays back down next to the shipwreck and thinks to herself,
I am glad I was able to make a difference here, I just wish I could find out what Sheakatri meant about my Mother. I wonder...still if it had not been for Ieana loaning her wand out, I may not have been able to help destroy the altar. Which reminds me...
She reaches to her belt, intending to return Ieana's wand to her, but her face falls as she realizes she cannot find it...
Oh NO!
She rises to her feet and appraches Ieana and says quietly, tears brimming in her eyes, "Ieana, I..I am sorry, but I think I LOST your wand! Please don't be mad..."
She also notes with a sense of bitterness her rapier is also lost back in that forsaken hellhole.
By the GODS, I HATE this place!
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Ieana stands looking at the vandalized doors, fists on her hips and grumbling to herself as she absentmindedly cleans the oil off herself with a prestidigitation. Upon hearing Lureene's voice, she turns around, an incredulous look on her face.
"You lost the wand?" She looks at the curvy young woman for a moment before a look of realization dawns on her face. "OH! Well I have a whole pouch full of nearly depleted wands. I just picked the first one out I grabbed..."
She approaches, evidently still not used to how to slither and lays a hand on the succubus' shoulder. "Now, now, don't cry. I lost my staff and my field journal in there you know. It seems that Yarzoth also misplaced my legs somewhere which I am decidedly NOT happy about. Tell me, do you keep a spellbook or are you one of those 'free-form' one-trick-pony spellcasters?"
Lureene stares at Ieana while brushing the tears out of her eyes, several questions flooding in her mind about what had happened to her. She restrains herself, realizing there would be a time later to get the whole story from her.
”No, Ieana, I am a true wizard and I do have a spellbook you may look at later. I must admit though I am not as skilled a caster as you are.” She yawns and stretches her wings out, then belatedly realizes Ieana had said something about her legs. She was not a serpent folk by birth!
”Ieana, what do you mean by Yarzoth replacing your legs? What happened to them?” As she looks at Ieana’s tail, she feels a sense of sympathy for the fellow spellcaster.
"My legs? I'm not entirely certain. While I have studied a great deal about ancient civilizations and their magical and religious traditions, I am no priestess like Yarzoth was. At first I thought it to be some mere low-level transmutation to suit her aesthetics, but it seems to be a bit more permanent than that. Of course," she winks and pokes Lureene in the side, "you and your companions wouldn't know anything about long-duration alter self effects now would you?"
"Aaas for spellbooks," she turns around and looks back at the crumbling bluff, a glum expression on her face, "Now that we have successfully destroyed at least one major archaeological discovery on this island, I suppose I should have time to look spells over with you, just not tonight."
"Oh! I might investigate those ghoul caves further! Yarzoth was in a terrible hurry, and–"
She pauses for a moment and her face falls. "Captain Kovack, did you... did he...?"
"Sooo..." Ekubus scratches his head before replacing his ridiculously over-sized bicorn. "I don't be supposin' yer strange new friend what's got the tail be havin' a ship o' her own, now does she?"
Alis raises an eyebrow at the little mephit.
"Well jus' 'at now that ol' Cap'n Ekubus 'as the good Admiral's sextant and 'is revenge 'as been seen to, mayhap it be time to weigh anchor an' set sail..."
Lureene laughs at Ieana’s statement, ”Yeah, I guess we have quite some experience with that sort of magic!” She glances towards Alis, who is currently talking with Ekubus, ”Maybe ‘Lis can help you with that, she might know how to reverse the transformation!” As she pats her pack with her precious spellbooks, she nods "We can go over spells at a later time. Righ now, I can barely keep my eyes open!"
When Ieana mentions Captain Kovack, she cannot help but shudder when she remembers his fate, not to mention his close encounter with her. Tears welling up in her eyes again, she responds softly ”Ieana…he…he did not survive…but he is…is no longer suffering now.”
"Well..." she takes a deep breath and forces a smile, "I am... grateful that he's not suffering. I'm also thankful that your buxom and energetic friend was able to able to get the Soul Crown off of me."
Turning to Alis, she asks, "Pardon me, but it's been a very long week. It sounded like your tall friend implied you were the Governor of Dafar. I presume that was a euphamism for... something else?"
Her eyes stray up from Alis' blue-violet eyes to the circlet resting just above them. "Hmmm..."
Alis gives a short laugh. "If that's a euphemism, then I'm afraid to ask what for."
She gives Sasha a pat on the back and whispers, "You should be fine now. I'm not a pillow, remember?"
"Wish you were..." The huntress gives a deep yawn and hugs Alis before standing.
"We should get out of this gulch before the water comes back." She points to the Tidestones, "Those stones should make a good spot to camp for the night. Easy to defend, and I can put a tarp over the stones for shelter."
While Sasha is speaking, Mal walks up with Priyya by his side snickering slightly at his unsuccessful efforts at getting the rest of the grease spell off himself. "Alis, you mind?"
Alis nods absent-mindedly to Sasha while still trying to pay attention to Ekubus and Ieana. At Mal's inquiry she says, "Oh, right!" She snaps her fingers and dismisses the effect, the remaining oil quickly evaporating.
"We should get out of this gulch before the water comes back." She points to the Tidestones, "Those stones should make a good spot to camp for the night. Easy to defend, and I can put a tarp over the stones for shelter."
Lureene nods at her friend, ”Yeah, I think getting drenched in blood is quite enough for me!” She give a huge yawn, "Sash, I think I could sleep on a block of sharp nails and not feel a thing, I am THAT tired!"
She turns to Ekubus, ”Was there anything else you needed from us? Will you be ok here now that the Temple has been washed away?”
"If not, he can tag along with us. But, let's focus on either finding a place to rest, or getting off this island for now." Darvesch coughs up a suggestion after recovering from the devastation that preceeded.
Ekubus perks up at Darvesch's words and picks up a stick with a checkered stick full of bulky objects knotted to one end.
"Dat be mighty big o' ye. The Salty Strumpet don't look likely to e'er sail ag'in and these here extra-low tides 'ave done a number on 'er bulwarks..."
He flaps up into the air to land on the ship's railing before looking back down. "I jes need a few moments to say some words to me crew. If'n ye'll be bunkin' by them stones what stand on that bluff then I'll be seein' ya shortly."
With that, he begins addressing the crew in a tongue that only Alis seems to understand, judging by her amused (or perhaps concerned) expression.
Diverting her attention away from Ieana for a moment, Alis nods to Darvesch, a sudden yawn taking her. "Yes, let's encamp by the Tide Stones for the night. Sasha, if you'll handle the preparations, I'll take first watch — I'd like to be up to see the sea when it returns..."
At the mention of the sea returning, an almost pained expression crosses Ieana's face, even as she yawns deeply.
"Damn, I'll be up in a few minutes. I lost my journal in the–" her shoulders slump at the thought, "ruins. I should at least take a rubbing of the doors and collect this portion that has been pried free. Excuse me, Hellhammer was it? I'm sorry, in all the excitement I didn't catch everyone's names. Would you be a dear and help me carry this?"
Excitement indeed!
"Forgive me, where are my manners!" Alis says, getting back to your feet. "I believe you and my retainer, Lady Lureene Ourson, already introduced yourselves to one another during the battle. You'll recall her as 'Ellie' from the voyage. Sergeant Malandraenas Tylalaes, whom you knew as Andre, is the tall fellow with the friendly demeanor you encountered by the exit. The warrior-priestess, our very own Surya-ka-Vahaak, is Priyya, a friend whose calling has coincided with mine for these past few months. On our voyage, she was disguised as 'Sarah', my nurse. The red head is Miss Sasha Nevah, I'm sure you remember her. My dwarven cousin is Darvesch Hellhammer. He was not aboard The White Pearl, but as fate would have it, he was shipwrecked on Reaver's Shiv a few weeks before us while attempting to come to my aid."
She pauses for a moment and notices Ieana look at her intently as if she's forgotten someone. "Oh yes! And the mephit is Ekubus, Captain Ekubus as it were. This is what's left of his ship... or at least the ship of the 'Admiral' he sailed under."
Ieana chuckles a bit and says, "I appreciate the introductions. I take it that you were Mrs. Lisa Bambiano, but you haven't introduced yourself."
Lureene stifles her own yawns, as a nagging feeling struck her that Alis forgot someone. Then it struck her, Alis did not introduce herself! Ieana’s response only confirmed it. She could also feel the Princess looking at her expectantly.
Oookay? IS this what a retainer does? So what exactly am I supposed to say here?
She tries to remember how others have formally introduced the Princess but currently is drawing a blank. She then decides to just wing it, so to speak. She inclines her head in a gesture of respect, and with a gleam in her eyes, waves her arms in a wide flourish! As everyone stares at the winged succubus she then announces, ”And the one who thinks she is in charge here is Alissariel Kirmoon, Princess of Silverwake, and Governor of Darfar!”
"Well it's Dafar actually, but yes. Oh!" She scoops up the sleepy monkey on her back and waves his hand, "This little fellow is King Tut, say hello Tut! And the big black cat over there is Mal's 'Little Sister', Talvyra."
"Ooo?" King Tut looks up at Alis' introduction before running a hand down his face and shaking his head. "Ooo!"
He gives a little wave and holds his hand out for Ieana to shake.
"Oh! Ah..." Ieana tilts her head to the side looking from Alis to Lureene to Tut then Alis and back to Tut. She hesistantly extends a finger and shakes his hand for a rather long, awkward moment.
"Um?" After a laugh, Alis recovers her pet monkey and puts him back on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Ieana says, "did you say princess?"
Alis nods.
"Of Silverwake?"
"That's right."
"And we're talking about the Silverwake in Ilmarond, correct?"
Alis blinks twice, removes her circlet and shines it with a soft cloth from her backpack. "Yes, that's the one. Is there another one I should know about?"
She reseats it on her forehead and looks up at the taller wizardess with a bemused smile on her face.
"Tsk, tsk," Alis clucks, "I see how it is. You were obviously thinking I must be six feet tall, built like a reed, and that *ahem* we would only speak in the third person plural."
Ieana's lower lip puffs out a big as she gives a series of short, shallow nods. "Yes, well something like that I suppose. I must admit, I've never met royalty before. Ah,"
She looks about, blushing and tries to figure out how to curtsy without legs. "Ieana d'Adora, Professor of Archaeology with the Academy of Starsha. How do you do, your Highness?
Alis laughs lightly, amused at Ieana's response. She nods her head in return.
"We," she circles her finger in the air to indicate everyone present, "are doing much better now that we have figured out what was going on. That said, it is very late and this has been a very long day. I propose we continue this discussion later, agreed?"
With nods all around, you gather up your belongings, Darvesch and Mal help Ieana to recover the missing section of the temple door, and you retire to the camp Sasha has started preparing for a quick repast before sleep takes you.
Darvesch starts to help Ieana replying to Alis, "Agreed. I'll help finish up here, and I'll be with you shortly." He carries the portion of doors that Ieana directs him to, "Yes, I'm Darvesch, son of Morgaard, of Clan Hellhammer. Just call me Darvesch."
When he finishes with his duty, he speaks to Alis briefly, "Wake me for second watch. See you in a couple hours." He pats her on the back as he walks away toward where the others have made camp.
It wasn't long after you exited the lagoon that the rain began once more. Thankfully, little could dim your spirits after the tremendous victory you just won. Seeing that Darvesch was without a weapon, Malandraenas gave him his battle axe before setting himself to collecting some of the crabs scuttling about the lagoon for dinner. Meanwhile, it didn't take Sasha long to build a suitable campsite using some rope, a tarp, at the tops of the tidestones for support.
In short order, you were enjoying crab legs (albeit without melted butter) even as a veritable gale tore across Reaver's Shiv. Thankfully, by the time you were finished, a break was coming in the storm and most of you bedded down for the night. Priyya ended up nodding off with her head on Mal's shoulder, Sasha sitting upright against a stone with Lureene's blonde head in her lap. Darvesch meanwhile simply lay down, arms folded across his shield and fell into sleep like a stone slipping beneath the water. The little blue water mephit, Ekubus, was content to lay in the grass feeling the rain upon him.
For some time, Ieana remained up, talking quietly with Alis even as King Tut napped in the princess' lap. While the wizardess had an encyclopedic knowledge of ancient history, she was not by any means well acquainted with current events. The murder of Governor Gweniel Taurion, the machinations of the Ruby coil, and the state of affairs in Dafar were entirely unknown to her. It was not entirely to Alis' chagrin when the snake-tailed spellcaster eventually nodded-off in the middle of an explanation on protectorates.
Alis gazed out across the empty lagoon, looking up through a break in the clouds at the red quarter-moon high above.
I have to know for certain...
Thinking on her tarot cards for a moment, she reached into her small backpack to find them right at the top. Yet just as she is about to remove them, she spied a familiar darkwood case just below.
She gave a slight shudder, less from the cool dampness of the evening air as for the inclination that struck her. Without hesitation, she put the cards away, instead snatching her mirror from its water-tight, velvet cushioned, darkwood case.
The device was a thing of beauty, a placid mermaid, her upper body, crafted from ivory, held the mirror in her arms from the left, her hair wrought from gold and copper wire, spilling across the back surface of the mithril hand glass where it formed a pattern of golden waves upon the ocean before a setting citrine sun. The mermaid's tail was carved from jade and ended in a sweeping tail veined with gold. Around the platinum-backed glass itself were set twelve luminous pearls each flanked by a pair of trillion-cut emeralds.
It had been a betrothal gift from Duke Kirmoon to Countess Rowan, now a memento of her late mother...
Closing her eyes, Alis concentrated on her twin sister, and in a soft voice intoning purest elvish spoke, "Within this glass held in my hand, what now transpires beyond this land?"
Within the mirror's surface, a mist blows past revealing two familiar figures sitting in the crows nest of a graceful white ship sailing westward towards the falling sun. One, a sun-bronze, well-muscled man with either a bald or clean-shaven head sits on crossed legs next to a slightly-built elf girl in a fancy, sea-blue dress, lovely face framed by waves of short golden hair.
The broad back man speaks, white teeth standing in sharp contrast to his dark skin. "Climbing is getting very good Rajkumari Alexis. Not hurt that you fly now like gold-crowned bird."