"And now we burn away this mist. Everyone stand back, these flames have a tendency to go a little wild."
Shalastar channels the unnatural heat of his body into lustful flames of passion, which are real enough outside of the colorful metaphor, and releases the flame with a zealous frenzy.
Tragen stands in the entryway, shaking his head as the others move to shatter the orb of darkness. Unnecessary... but I suppose the others cannot see in the dark...
Tragen is taken aback at the strange mist seeming to attack those in the room. He takes his glaive and tries to find an area of the mist, not occupied by his allies, that seems more concentrated, before swinging at that area.
"The fires seem to work on it... Strike again!"
(Bump)
As usual, Malak had been bringing up the rear and had paused at the doorway with the appearance of the mist. He raised a bushy eyebrow at the effectiveness of Shal's fire and realized he would be of little help during this test.
My apologies, I have no fire at my disposal and I doubt very seriously if steel will harm such a thing.
Feeling slightly weakened by the cold mist draining his warmth, Shalastar again releases riotous flame at it.
Tragen tries to attack the mist with his glaive, but his stroke goes wide.
The suddenness, as well as pain, from the attack caused Sotha to drop to his knees, clutching his chest. He could not die like this, not after going through so much. With gritted teeth, he rose from his knees, chanting a spell as he did so. His hand erupted into electrical discharges, and when he touched his hand to the back of his blade, the effect transferred to his sword. With the spell discharged, he swung a second time.
There was a small part of Malak that was lamenting his life's complacencies at this time. If he had applied himself more over the years he might have an answer for helping his comrades with this current test. As it was though he just didn't. He kept his eyes on the mist and more importantly his beloved self out of harm's way as much as possible.
"That icy cold mist is not my cup of tea. And I feel slightly peckish from that frigid going straight through me." Shalastar says charmingly.
Sotha's eyes shot to Malak, disgust clear in his expression. He'd done nothing?! At least the brute had flailed fruitlessly! "Heal me priest, if you are not too busy!" He announced loudly, just short of a shout.
Malak raised an eyebrow at the magus's outburst and replied calmly.
Im sure you meant to request healing Sotha although that didn't sound like a question. Don't forget the oath we took.
With the threat of the mist gone; the priest moved slowly into the room but made no move towards the elf. He did grin at the fetchlings comments.
That was quite impressive Shal. Once again the clues have paved the way to success.
Sotha's eyes flashed with rage at the cleric's response. "The oath we took?!" He roared in disbelief. "You wish to cite for me the oath we took? The one that says we are to treat each other fairly and honorably? Perhaps you might explain your definition of fair and honorable that includes standing aside and watching as we fight for our lives?" Sotha was very clearly minding the oath. It was all he could do to not raise his sword at the corpulent priest. If he hadn't sworn an oath of brotherhood with this fool, Sotha would have cut him down at the first sound of disobedience.
Pursing his lips in surprise that the elf had actually remembered their oath; Malak was nonplussed by Sotha's vehemence... still, he's not as dumb as he's sounding... that rage is quite unbecoming though...
You'd have rather that I flailed about with this mace like an idiot? What would that have accomplished? We were told it would take fire and unfortunately I have none at my disposal. Do you really think we will each have a part to play in every test? We have completed three of the nine and I'd suggest not expending all of our resources before we are done. And if you think screaming like an abusive parent is fair and honorable then you have much to learn and perhaps little time to do it.
Folding his hands across his healthy midriff the priest continued
Now, can we move forward?
"This petty fighting accomplishes nothing. We should move forward, all remaining alert, and cooperative for the time being. I do have ways of making you cooperate, enjoyable and not so enjoyable, but I would prefer to save my skills for when they are needed."
The barely veiled threat (seductive promise) sounds mostly bored, as though Shalastar were not at all interested in the argument the other two are sharing.
"Indeed, it accomplishes nothing. So, heal me so that we can continue, unless you would prefer to lead the way? Since you were so keen to point out the oath, I would note that you have progressed from doing nothing, to actually with holding needed support. Shall we continue down this road?" Sotha glanced meaningfully at his sword, and seemed to whisper something to it, before returning his gaze to his obstinate companion.
Malak thought it over and realized that they had indeed not progressed any further into the conversation. And with Shal jumping in the priest was starting to feel bullied and he had had enough of that as a child... I will not stand for it as a man...
So, you lot have gone from ordering to threatening and then back to ordering? Interesting... you are so quick to point out my lack of assistance during that very brief exchange and yet now you seem to be of need of my talents. Yet still you insist on the use of hostility over civility... very interesting indeed.
With a shrug and arms now tucked behind his back; the stout man wandered the room looking for the next door and hopefully a clue to go along with it.
Shalastar takes on a more feline appearance, contorting his body slightly in unusual ways more in line with his racial abilities. Suave, smooth, and sophisticated, he approaches the barrister with sensual movements that could make a prostitute blush.
"Malak, do be a dear, and heal Sotha, won't you?" With a graceful wave of his arm, a swift breeze of silk and some maddeningly unidentifiable sheer fabric brushes against Malak's arm and head.
At any other time Malak might have been taken by Shal's flirtations but this would not be one of them. The priest had had enough of being bullied and cajoling wouldn't do the trick either. He stopped his pacing and fixed the fetchling with a blank gaze.
Do you speak for Sotha now? So when bullying and threatening don't work you next try charm? When all I asked for was civility. To think we are considered the evolved races...
With a small shake of his head, Malak dismissed the sorcerer by walking around him to face the wounded elf.
If you require healing then you can ask for it... and at this point I'd suggest doing so nicely. You will not demand anything of me again....or of any of the others. You are not in charge here. There will be no more accusations of anyone of us not carrying their weight. We burned Brandescar down together and now we are involved in the plot to end all plots together. Acting like a spoiled child will get us no where nearer that end. Do you agree or not agree?
"No need to get all huffy with me. I am only doing what is required to move us forward." Finding the entire argument boring and substantially beneath him, Shalastar moves towards the other exit in the room.
Sotha stood tall to face the man, refusing to acknowledge his pain while being confronted in this manner. When he spoke, it was through gritted teeth, it was clear that he was trying to control his anger, and was only succeeding in the barest of meanings. "If you don't wish to face accusations of not pulling your weight, then comport yourself in such a way that the accusation never reaches our lips. I give orders because someone must, and the other worthy is not." Sotha's eyes flashed to Tragen for an instant at that, "I will grant that you are correct, this is an important endeavor, one that would be best served being conducted in a military manner, as I have been conducting myself, as the rest of you would do well to."
The rest of what Sotha had to say was not spoken so much as spit, as though the words were poison, and he was attempting to rid himself of it. "Now, if you would heal me, I would appreciate it greatly. You will not get better than that, so I suggest you take it."
Malak was unperturbed by the tall elf's vehemence. He sighed deep out of frustration and waved a thick fingered hand.
Very well. Although your tone betrays the intent of your words. So in the spirit of moving forward I'll cooperate.
The priest extended the hand he waved and rested in on the magus's shoulder and spat a few hissing words.
Sotha sighed, apparently relieved of something, pain perhaps. "Thank you," He said, a good deal of anger drained from his voice. He took this new opportunity to look around the room. When he'd located a way forward, he announced, "Shall we move on?"
Shalastar nods. "Whenever you two are done.... doing whatever it is you are doing over there. No judgments here."
North!
"Oh look, another one of those clue-things. I don't really get it."
Another clue indeed. It would appear that we are on the right track. Should we check our other option before daring this door?
Malak knew that time was sliding by and that they had a schedule to keep but he didnt want to leave something of import behind them.
Sotha read the plaque carefully, wondering how the message would factor into what awaited them. He considered drawing a parallel between the message an Malak's previous behaviour, but that would be petty. The cleric would learn the lesson sooner or later, and there was no need to point it out until that moment.
"Hmm, shall we find ourselves a servant?" He said, as he headed nto the room. He watched carefully, as he had in the previous rooms. Sotha didn't feel good about missing important details.
Tragen looks around at the implements of torture. "Cruelty is a tool... I had not expected the words to be so literal. But something does seem to be missing. Why have a rack with none to occupy it?"
"Ooh. I'll try it out!" Shalastar says angelically, his eyes widening in a strange sense of pleasure as he looks over the device.
"Except that it is unlikely that you are the 'enemy' referred to. Perhaps it is someone we meet somewhere else and bring back here?" Tragen looks around to see if there are other exits.
There is another hallway. Back the way we came and left.
Malak could hardly believe that Shal was willing to sit in the chair... then again, some derive pleasure from feeling anything at all...
"Do you think we're supposed to get someone from that other door?" Shalastar asks innocently.
There is but one way to find out. Unless someone has a better idea. The clues have been pretty much quite literal thus far. We need an 'enemy' to be cruel to and that chair looks quite cruel.
Shrugging as though he could care either way, Shalastar moves towards the opposite door and opens it.
Malak waddled over to where Sotha had indicated there was a hidden door.
Lets see what we have here first and not forget our first lessons in doing so.
"Hmm. Perhaps they keep other implements similar to the chair through here," he says as he approaches the area indicated by Sotha. He awaits for the results of Malak's spell before waving the others back, in case of a trap, and then moves to open the door. "Let's find out..."