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Elren'dor will frown as he head through the hallways slowly, cautiously, his voice a whisper as he nods. "I have my acidic darts I can conjure from my will, just a few of them though. I also have prepared another spell; a spell of sleep. If I'm able to, I may be able to put the talking rats to sleep and end the fight quickly that way. I have to be able to see them, though." He looked at the others, shaking the anxiety from his limbs before nodding. "So...what do you three suggest? Should we strike through the door again and try to disable them? Or shall we go through the garden and explore more? I think...if things go well...we could make short work of those casters and take the library."
Elren'dor takes the crossbow with a frown, it isn't his preferred weapon but it would do in a pinch. Taking a quarrel of bolts, he looked towards Helena and gave a small nod. He was not terribly confident, truthfully, but he was beside his fellows. "With these pearls, Helena, I could make you grow in size once more. If those rat swarms are summoned, perhaps killing the casters would be best. You could easily swipe at them with your blade with that increased height...and strength. Perhaps that would be a better use than me firing this weapon at them and hoping for the best..."
Hey guys! My girlfriend is going to be here this Monday (squee) and I'll be slow on posting. I know we're all dealing with real life, I just wanted to keep you folks updated <3
Elren'dor woke in the morning, stirring and knocking over the spellbook that had fallen onto his lap. It appeared as if he had fallen asleep while practicing new symbols and diagrams, trying to wrap his mind around new arcane designs and possibilities. "It is difficult work trying to put the pieces together Keymys..." He whispers to the cat that bumps into his face, bringing a tired smile to his lips. At least his friend was alright, the memory of his familiar's pain and fear still haunting his mind in the back. Carefully, he would be at the table when the others arrived and would be almost done with the small meal that they offered. The cat ate a small piece of meat that Elren'dor had scooped out for her, stirring the hot stew slowly with a swirl of his finger before lifting it up without touching it and bringing it to his mouth. "I could not come up with any ways to...help deal with the swarm of rats we encountered. I'm afraid that thing of alchemist's fire was all I had left before...well...whatever happened that brought us here." His tone is soft and apologetic, his head bowing to the others. "Thank you all for saving me yesterday. I-I thought that was going to be it." His hand runs along his chest, where the terrible creature had caught him before.
"That thing...was a nightgaunt, an extra-planar creature that feeds on fear, anxiety, emotions like that. It doesn't surprise me that one was drawn here...seeing the tenuous veil between sleep and reality and the fear emanating from this place." A weak smile spreads, Elren'dor feeling more comforted by the fact that he can identify the thing that nearly took his life. "I still hurt...but I should be fine as long as I stay in the back. I-I don't want to hold us anymore than I already do." Captain York then arrives, sitting at the table and letting be known the dilemma that the survivors are no facing. The end of most sieges was starvation, not bloodshed, and the enemies seemed numberless around them and their food was running out of food. The thought sent a chill down Elren'dor's spine. "Where would you suggest we look then Captain York? We don't remember anything, we haven't found a map, or...or...or anything!" He looks down after that small outburst, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I'm just...stressed. I'm sure everyone here understands. Where would a source of supplies be from the library here?" He offers the point of reference, to ease the Captain's explanation and to give each of them an idea of where to go from there.
Elren'dor nods, remaining quiet throughout most of the travel. His paranoia creeps up his spine, not targeting a distrust in his allies but a distrust in himself. He was useless when the rats came and struck after him, torn apart so handily by biting, gnashing teeth. When that creature came and took him, he couldn't even muster up such a will to fight back. Had he been useful at all? Was he more than just a hindrance and a drain on their few and meager resources? These thoughts plagued the aching elf as he half-listened to Winter explain who they should look for and to try and rescue who they could. "How can I rescue anyone when I am the one in need of rescue?" He finished his bowl of stew, frowning before he spoke to the others. "I will be out here for tonight. I...wish for some space as I do my research. I have ideas, of possibilities that I could reach for. Deeper and more powerful magic, but they are difficult to wrap my mind around." He smiles at them for a moment, bowing his head. "Thanks you for rescuing me. Sun, I will help you create a scroll if you require it. If not, I shall work on adding more to my own scroll."
Elren'dor will plummet to the ground with a loud "Oomph!" before rolling over onto his back. Staring up at the yellow fog, he pushes the tail away from his stomach and lets out a sigh. The healing helps seal his wounds across his shoulders well enough but still, they ache and burn. "I should be fine to move, thank you. I...I am sorry to have detracted from our cause so much now." He frowns, looking shamefully at the ground. "What good is my magic if we cannot fight back? Are we doomed and are simply going through our death throes?" He nods without another word in regards to returning back to the safety and protection of the camp, pondering a plan for the next day's excursion. "We shall strike at the rats tomorrow. I...will try to devise a plan of some sort."
Elren'dor began to rise higher into the air, looking down as the yellow fog came closer. "This is it, this is how I die. Narcisa attacked with her sharpened blade, cutting at the creature's flesh, and the proud warrior leapt to try and grab a hold of him as he was held by the beast. "I'm...sorry..." He whispered almost apologetically, the creature's hold preventing him from casting any spell. Yet he had talents that did not require he speak, did not require his arms. "Maybe...maybe I can..."
Through the pain, his mind seemed to concentrate upon coalescing that orb of acid once more. Yet the shaking and the beating of wings around him was too disruptive and the cloud fell apart before the dart could form.
Elren'dor steps out into the courtyard, looking at the spacious place and warily eyeing the yellow fog. "We should be careful..." The elf whispers, moving along towards the pathway through the empty courtyard. "The shadows seem to be moving, this place plays on the nightmares we have. We should move with haste."
The sounds that come in make the wizard jump, his eyes searching the dimness for a threat or a danger with every shuffle of feet, every beat of the wings. Yet Keymys meows curiously up at him and Elren'dor nods, smiling. "You're right, Keymys. We must-" It is the last words the wizard gets out before the thing lands in front of him. A claw and gasp follow and the ground is stained red with the wizard's blood before it begins to rise up into the air with him. The cat shrieks a terrible sound, one of surprise and also fear.
Elren'dor shakes his head, frowning. "My mastery of magic is strong but, alas, I have nothing to protect the mind from that fear. Not yet, anyways. In time, I may devise something to help battle against spells of that nature...or something to deal with the swarms." Taking the pearl of power, he slips it along the other one and nods with a sound of bravery in his voice. "Let us go then, I do not wish to wait here any longer than needed."
Elren'dor watches with both curiosity and fear as the door slams open and the fog rolls in. Watching the strange creature with wide eyes, he finds himself unable to move. As quick as it came, it leaves back into the fog. Cautiously he moves towards the packages, examining them slowly and looking at the others as they begin to examine their presents.
He looks over the pearl and compares it to the one he already has, his head turning towards Narcisa. "I concur...this place is very strange. Still, we'll take the blessings where we can get them. I believe that item is a Pathfinder's Pouch, Narcisa. Quite the useful item. And that sword is made of silver, quite the weapon against strange creatures. It even seems to be enchanted!" Elren'dor actually smiles at their turn of luck before looking back at the door. "Seeing how that...deer...looked, I suggest we go through the other doors and see if there is another way around. Does that sound fair to you all?"
"We'll need to deal with them eventually, I'm sure. They were protecting a treasure trove of knowledge, knowledge we may need." Elren'dor muses, running a finger along his chin for the moment before looking back at Smallest Sun. "Unfortunately, I didn't understand their tongue. Which is impressive and also alarming. I wonder what is was they said..." Again Elren'dor looks down the hallways, checking for any emerging threats, before he speaks to the others. "If we are still able to travel, shall we take the ruined hallway that was near the haunted room? It may show us a way around the library and, perhaps, more tools to defeat the rats with."
"I believe a spell was cast on you, driving you into fear-induced hysteria. As for the rats..." Elren'dor's face remains anxious, as he looks back towards the double doors across the way. "...they pushed us back, everything was going wrong for us and right for them. We retreated, for now, and will try again another time. I'll have to study and attempt some new patterns, see if I can do something to deal with the swarms." "When you are ready, we'll continue onwards. Perhaps we'll find something in our search that can help defeat them." Resettling the backpack on his shoulders, Elren'dor carefully keeps a look out along the corridors for any trouble.
When Helena's eyes seem to center, Elren'dor smiles and stops his singing. Standing back up, he brushes himself off and offers a hand towards the mighty warrior. "Welcome back Helena. Are you alright? We shouldn't stay here waiting for them to press their advantage." He gives a cautious glance back towards the library's doors, wary of even them opening a crack.
Elren'dor will let out a sigh of relief as he feels the most painful of the rat bites seem to fade away from his mind. His body still aches but there will be time for them to heal later. Keymys seems to trot out from under the table, brushing against the cleric's leg for just a moment before returning beside her master. "Shhh...it is okay Helena. Whatever you're seeing, it isn't there. We're here with you, you're safe with us." Elren'dor will struggle to think of what could help gain her focus. Sitting beside her, he began to sing. The notes were soft and not particularly incredible. The Elven flowed elegantly and made up for his lack of skill, the lullaby soft and simple.
Once it is clear that the rats will not be coming after them, Elren'dor waits for just a few moments to catch his breath. An apologetic look comes upon his face as he carefully approached Helena. "Helena...I'm sorry for the fire and that poor, terrible toss. It must've become stagnant since I first received it, it was in the pile of our belongings. Are...are you alright?" He looks towards Sun, smiling at the bald man for a moment. "Sun, I know Keymys and I could use your healing touch. I think we all could. Are you able to do so, my friend?"
Elren'dor will see how Helena reacts and flees from the battle, his eyes widening at the sight. "Sun! We must retreat for now!" This fight was going poorly, too poorly for the wizard's taste. They had to ensure Helena wasn't grabbed by something terrible while they were stuck here. Grabbing Keymys, who moaned pitifully in pain at the sudden motion, Elren'dor would go after Helena.
When the rats come swarming out after them, there is a yowl of pain from the cat and a shout of fear from Elren'dor.
Keymys clings to Elren'dor's robes, hoppin up and holding on tightly as she pitifully meows in pain. Throwing another rat off of himself, Elren'dor shouts to the others. "Everyone! Get away from the rats! Daggers work better than clubs but not by much! I have something for this!" Elren'dor moves away from the door and out of sight of the ratlings, slipping a small, red flask from his coat as he moves.
Elren'dor will follow in behind Smallest Sun carefully, eager to find out what can be of use here but wary of that lingering stench that offends his nostrils.
Elren'dor eyes will widen as the doors open up, revealing the library full of old tomes and printed wisdom. The smell elicits a sense of safeness, like when walks through the door and you know that you are home. Yet there is something wrong in the air too, something that didn't quite belong. "That doesn't smell like a book..." Elren'dor will murmur to himself, looking in carefully. He doesn't enter in first but will after someone else takes the risk. Cautiously, he looks for any dangers or threats that are waiting behind the bookshelves and down the aisles.
Elren'dor slips out from underneath the chair as the last bird goes silent, the crash of the cage making him crawl out even quicker. "Keymys! Keymys! Are you-" The white, furry feline walks over with an arrogant step in her step. She does lick first at the fallen human before her, nudging her with a purr before trekking over to the wizard. "Good girl, very good girl..." Elren'dor whispers with a smile upon his face, his hand playing through the long fur before he steps over and offers a hand to Narcisa. Before they leave the room, he investigates the amulets and potions that the cultists had upon their person. With faintly glowing blue eyes, he examines each one.
"These amulets provide another layer of protection, like a thicker skin upon your own skin. It is unnoticeable though, we should use what we can." Opening one of the potions and taking a quick sniff, Elren'dor takes a small drop of it upon his finger and tastes it. Keymys quickly hops upon the wizard's lap, looking curiously at him. "Do...you want to help?" He asks his familiar, the cat bumping into his hand and licking whatever was left there.
"Well...it has...a sweet taste. Yet burnt, like ash. I think...cinnamon?" Keymys meows excitedly, bumping into the wizard with another purr before he looks to the others. "I believe these to be potions of healing. Not particularly powerful but they should do for us." Gathering their things, he steps alongside with Smallest Sun and gives a nod towards the man. "I agree. It is like a hazy memory but this...this feels familiar. We feel familiar. I don't think this is our first time working together at all." "I concur, let us move to the double doors now and continue our exploration. My magic will protect me for quite some time but it will run out and...I worry what else may be lurking for us here."
Indeed. Elren'dor is a horrible close combatant. He would prefer to buff from the back and throw acid darts at the enemies ahead of the group. In later levels...he'll do the exact same thing but just do it better. Go go conjurationist!
"I would hope so!" Elren'dor shout back over the raucous of hisses, yowls, and snarling meows. "I think I created her!"
Elren'dor feels that force pull along him, his robes lifting as his eyes widen. His fingers grab onto the chair, feeling the wood scrape along the ground before it finally let go of him. "Keymys...anytime now!" Elren'dor yells, an annoyed hiss coming in response. Keymys zeroes in on the stuffed birds, they got away once...not this time.
Elren'dor quickly follows Helena's approach, hiding underneath the chair he as grabbing on to. "If we're able to, we should try catching those who get pulled up with these chairs."
Keymys continues his assault, biting and tearing at the animated birds. Claws and fangs rage against the cage and the creatures, while Elrendor looks around. "Quickly! Try to hold onto something heavy, something to give you an added protection!"
Elren'dor scans the room slowly at the moment, eyes looking out into the yellow mist just beyond the illusion of safety that was the glass window. When the birds began to come to life, the elf's eyes would begin to widen. The door has closed and a sinking feeling begins to stir inside of his stomach. Helena's ascension makes the elf not freeze in terror but instead, focus on what may be going on.
"A..a haunt! It is a haunt!" Elren'dor exclaims, looking towards Smallest Sun. "Your power may weaken or disrupt it, hurry!" At Helena's suggestion, Elren'dor nods. There is a momentary whisper of Draconic and the clasp and door would glow blue before popping open.
"Keymys!" The white cat, her hackles raised, turns her ears towards her master. "Destroy them!" With a fierce growl, Keymys charges forward and leaps in the cage to do battle with the stuffed birds.
"It is strange..." Elren'dor says, looking along the room. With a quick word, he casts a spell and begins to move along the outskirts of the room avoiding the bodies. He'll let the more physically capable deal with those and inspect them after they're sure that there aren't more dopplegangers waiting with a knife.
"How gruesome..." Elren'dor will mutter, looking about the room carefully for a moment before looking towards Smallest Sun. "As strange as it is to say, I hope so. Otherwise, there is dreadfully powerful magic at play or the insanity these disciples are under is more perplexing than I can imagine..."
Elren'dor followed closely behind, observing quietly and mostly watching the shadows for any other danger. The sound of rain was no comfort, hiding whatever wicked things moved throughout the darkness. When he entered into the room on the other side of the consultation scene, the gruesome scene brought a grimace to his face. "I understand now Keymys, this is not a good place at all." The cat seems to meow in agreement, staying close to the wizard as he looks over the bodies that are scattered about. Staff and patients all seemed to meet their end here, beaten to death it appears. "Indeed, it seems a wickedness has possessed his mind. Perhaps we can find the reason that drove a quiet inmate to lead such a violent and terrible uprising and why it coincided with the arrival of these monsters." Elren'dor will move with Helena towards the double doors, nodding towards the others. "Let's take this one room at a time, caution is the best move at the time and I rather leave as little unknown behind us..."
Elren'dor stays behind as Helena tries to force the door open, keeping an eye out for any danger the sound might be creating. Keymys stays nearby, the miscolored eyes watching the blind spots of his master.
"I suppose heading deeper in then. Outside seems rather hazardous..." Elren'dor says, gesturing to the double doors that lead deeper into the asylum.
Elren'dor will walk in behind the others, marveling at the construction of the asylum and the feeling it may have exuded at one point. What was once respect and assurance has been twisted into something dark and terrible, halls full of nightmares and stranger things. The elf first approaches the desk, looking it over for anything of use to him or his comrades.
Not seeing anything immediately of importance, he catches the sight of the words "Consultation" hanging above one of the doors. "Perhaps...there are extra records in there? We would've gone through there, I think."
Elren'dor ponders the aura and the power leaking from it, noticing the waft of yellow mist coming from it. This thing was linked to the fogs outside and it seemed to operate outside the understanding of both arcane and natural workings. When Helena returned with the mirror in hand and the thing seemed to collapse in on itself, Elren'dor's smile seemed to appear. "Brilliant Helena." The elf said, stepping in closer now that it was gone. There was another quick chant and a sheen of shimmering blue coated the elf before fading from view. "Let us delve into the halls and get our answers."
"I don't think cutting through it is going to work..." Elren'dor mumbles, looking over the eye. There is a momentary whisper before the wizard's eyes flash blue, a quick spell cast to analyze the wall.
Elren'dor, upon seeing the fizzle of his acid against the eye and the minimal damage it seems to have taken, moves further away towards the guard whose head is turned away. The wizard yells as it continues to bite at people and Elren'dor's mind begins to look at alternatives. That mouth was bound to get someone if they didn't really start making progress of some sort against it.
Elren'dor will nod, turning his attention to the door. Since they were already attacking it, it seemed prudent to at least test the resistance of it. A cloud of green would form before firing off into the eye.
Elren'dor tries to speak up before the fighter engages into it, striking at the eye. It is too late though and the fighter stabs at it. Elren'dor tries to look over the strange creature, wracking his mind to try and identify more of what it could be. That and the screams, what could they mean? Mindless babble or more?
All the confidence seems to drain from Elren'dor's face as he stares at this monstrosity, his eyes widening as he takes in all of it. The sobbing grows louder as that tear of ammonia seeps downwards to the floor. His mouth opens to speak but no words really form, nothing that would really help solidify what he was seeing there.
It is only after a moment, he clears his throat and turns his head to speak to the guard behind them. "W...when did this thing come into being? And...is it dangerous?" He whisper unconsciously. Even Keymys sits and stares, the cat's hackles rising upwards. He looks back towards Helena, shaking his head. "I'm not that kind of wizard. I bring things into being. That...and my learning is still beginning, it seems. I only remember a few workings of magic..."
Elren'dor looks at the woman as she loses her temper, almost shocked out of the grim mood that was lowering down upon him. A small smile comes to his face as he watches her reaction. "One of the reasons I like having her around." The wizard thinks for a moment, before realizing that he remembered something. Yet the moment is gone, anything else lost in the thick fog of his amnesia. His face sobers up as he gives a nod, moving alongside his companions. "I'll be here behind you, both Keymys and I." The white, cleaned cat meows loudly, sitting at his feet before following along as they made their way to the where this -thing- was growing. Elren'dor moved to the back, motivated but not feeling particularly suicidal enough to get in front.
"Of course Winter, we'll ensure that everyone can get out." His confident demeanor seems shaken when words such as "thing" and "what" are used. He grimaces and gives a nod, turning away from her and towards the others. "Quite. Then again, this seems to be a place of nightmares. The sooner we get to this dirty work, the sooner we can be free of it." He waits until they are out of earshot of survivor or guard, looking at the others. "Helping the others are important but I believe it is paramount to find this doctor's tome. I believe these nightmare could be visions even, though I am unsure how helpful they can be. We should do whatever we can to find it and learn about what happened to us...and whether we should share it with the others." There was another ominous tone in the way he spoke, though it was honest as well. Elren'dor still couldn't shake that feeling that he had done something wrong, something terribly foul before he arrived here in the state he was in.
Elren'dor shakes his head, looking back towards the chaplain's office. "Sadly no, not all of us slept well at all. It seem to be expected, given the nightmare we're in." When she asks him about the files, the wizard's face turns to a frown and he shakes his head. "Unfortunately...there is a folder for every patient that was kept here for treatment. To sort through them all would takes hours, even with my knowledge of catalogs and organization of books and paper. That...and I have a strange feeling that the answers that myself and the others seek will not be there. At least...not adequately..." The frown soon evaporates into a tired smile upon Elren'dor's face as he tries to stand up a bit straighter. "The drawers are unlocked for your perusal, I shall look them over when we return later. We're going to delve in further today, see if we can secure an exit for these people."
Elren'dor's focus sharpens dangerously for a moment when the door opens and the nurse looks in, the wizard's features relaxing afterwards as he gives a small nod and a weak smile. "Of course. Please, just try to keep them from the paper I have collected in the drawer over there. It will be essential to our tasks here." Rising up, he secures the last of his things and looks towards the others with a confident if cautious nod. Keymys follows behind the wizard, moving between his legs with an easy and practiced moveme nt that doesn't threaten the wizard's movements in the slightest. He steps out into the chapel proper, looking between the survivors for Winter. He approaches and lifts his hand in greeting, nodding towards her. "Winter, a moment of your time. I have a question that perhaps you or one of the guards could answer. Where would the majority of the doctor's offices be located?"
Elren'dor listens to the cleric, notating everything the man says in regards to the condition that Helena found herself in. The news is not welcoming though, as the elf's eyes flicker upwards to Sun and he gives a nod. "I did, at least. How the other two reacted seems to be indicative of it." The quill continues to write as Elren'dor relates his story, his voice low as he works to recall every detail he can remember. "I was running, running away from that awful fog. The ground shook and a wall ahead of me split apart, falling away. I leap inside to escape the fog, to find shelter. The room was far smaller than it appeared to be, leaving me face to face with a blind, Keleshite woman. She told me that the past sleeps in the doctor's tome." He stops writing, finish copying his own memories and feelings into the notebook. "I awoke from my meditation with no injuries or pain outside of the usual ache of sore joints and muscles. This...dream though, I believe we need to find this doctor's tome in order to learn what we can. Perhaps Winter would have more information for us?" He looks between the others, frowning as he spoke even softer as those dark eyes focus downwards. "I apologize...I didn't even ask if you were alright. I remember being reprimanded for being too...focused...at times. Are you both okay?"
Elren'dor awakens from his dream, dark eyes opening as if hopeful for a moment that he is somewhere else, somewhere different. Yet the crushing realization that the nightmare is still here and his face settles into one of deep thought. "The past sleeps in the doctor's tome." The elf murmurs to himself for a moment, looking towards the others and noticing the fact that they seem to recovering from their own fearful dreams. At Helena's groan of pain, Keymys hops over onto the pillows and looks over the marks, meowing softly and licking at the wounds that she can to soothe as best as a cat can. Elren'dor's eyes widen seeing the marks on her neck and hands, wherever he can see it. "How...strange." Elren'dor says, leaning in to examine Helena. He whispers for a few moments, those dark eyes flashing with that glowing blue as he examines her and studies the marks. Narcisa's gasp as she sits up and rises from her sleep, looking around with a shocked and confused moment before she grabs onto her sheets like a lifeline. The elf stands taller, looking amongst his friends before he rushes over and grabs his things, pulling out the empty journal and looking at the others. "Did you dream? What did you see? What happened? Tell me everything." The words leave him in a rushed manner, his hand already writing down his own experiences into the journal itself. We must keep track of these things. We must take every vision we see as a clue. The doctor holds our past within their tome, we have to find the tome!
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