Toasts said and meal ended, Salome turns to Vesh. "I am headed toward the cathedral. It seems like Father Zantus knows a thing or two about quasits. I wonder what he might know about Lamashtu? Shall we ask?"
"Let's," says Vesh.
On the way to see the priest, he is quiet, as if trying to work something out in his head. He leads Salome through a slalom of back alleys, instead of walking through the market, to get to Festival Street. "I like to get to know a place's less-used streets and alleyways," he says by way of explanation.
Finally, they emerge onto Crab Street and take main roads to get to the Cathedral.
"Salome," he says at last, stopping suddenly, "tell me something. What did you mean when you said you had considered taking your journey elsewhere?"
He listens, and does not say anything for some time before asking, "What made you change your mind?"
-------------------------------------
For Dreamer (and JSL) ONLY if Salome admits her true actions at the river to Vesh:
Vesh betrays no hint of surprise at Salome's confession. In fact, she sees something else betrayed in his eyes...recognition (as in familiarity)? Pain?
If appropriate to Salome's affect (i.e. if she seems open or receptive to it, or seeks to make such a connection with Vesh), Vesh simply puts a hand on her shoulder or even awkwardly gives her a hug (again, only if it seems appropriate to how Salome makes her admission--if she is stoic or hard, there's no way he'd be forward enough to touch her).
Either way, he says no words of comfort. Not in an awkward way, as though he doesn't know what to say, but in a way that evokes a feeling that no words can really change what happened.
I'll leave all other details of the scene to you. This is just a way to convey something to you about Vesh.
"What did you mean when you said you had considered taking your journey elsewhere?"
Salome looks at the Varisian's serious, yet boyish face. "Vesh, you are young and far from home. And you carry yourself as one who has had to fend for himself for a long time. I imagine you, of all people, know the need to simply...leave. Sometimes, there is no other way to make it stop."
Vesh betrays no hint of surprise at Salome's confession. In fact, she sees something else betrayed in his eyes...recognition? Pain?
She takes a deep breath. "When I was five, my mother's clan killed my parents. My father's clan abandoned me to the streets where I had to survive by...by whatever means possible. Before I was your age, I had learned that anger is power, people are meant to be used, and the value of life is measured in silver pieces. My life was about to end when Garjjan De rescued and healed me. After that, I dedicated myself to protecting and healing others..."
"...But Vesh, there is so much pain and suffering in the world. I certainly cannot heal it all, but even those who come to me for help--there is so little I can do. After that last fight, I saw once again just how inadequate I am."
Her amber eyes grow distant. "You know, there are other worlds out there, other journeys. There are worlds of hatred and suffering and evil, where djimoni dwell and Lamashtu is queen. But there are also worlds of glory and light, where goodness reigns, where our tears are wiped away and our hearts are mended." Her voice drops to a whisper. "The river this morning was so beautiful, so clear, it called me, and there was nothing else. I could have gone. Left. Stopped...the pain..."
He listens, and does not say anything for some time before asking, "What made you change your mind?"
"I was not even thinking when it happened. I was...elsewhere. But two things brought me back. First, Sarenrae wants me here. She awakened me and sent the cathedral's caretaker to find me."
"Second, for the first time in many, many years, I have a friend." She looks at him seriously. "Everyone I have loved has been taken from me. And you...you..." she shakes her head, "I know how I would feel if you died. I could not do the same to you," her voice breaks.
Vesh
Through the tears of shared pain, Salome begins to laugh. "Besides, I cannot leave! You need your big zostra around to put you back together every time you get hurt!"
"Second, for the first time in many, many years, I have a friend." She looks at him seriously. "Everyone I have loved has been taken from me. And you...you..." she shakes her head, "I know how I would feel if you died. I could not do the same to you," her voice breaks.
Vesh's face wears an expression that Salome has not seen before. It is not so much a frown as it is an expression of pain and sadness. Slowly, but with determination, Vesh put both hands on her shoulders and looks into Salome's eyes.
He holds her at arms-length and in a very small voice, almost a whisper, Vesh says, "I was born one-of-two, as Varisians put it. I had a twin sister, Loiosha." He pauses and swallows. "My family is a disgrace to the disgraceful, outcast among a people of outcasts. We scratched a living as horse traders with the Velashans, the only people that would have anything to do with my clan."
"It was hard for my father. He was a violent man, given to fits of anger, and he took out most of his frustrations on Loiosha and me for our so-called 'talents' with magic. After one particularly vicious fight--my father had raised a welt under Loiosha's eyes (Vesh's hand goes to his face)--she left a note for me, apologizing, and rode out to the Velashu River. I never saw her again. I rode for Riddleport two nights after...that was four years ago."
Tears stream down Vesh's face and he draws Salome towards him for a hug. He holds her for a long time, and they weep into one-another's shoulders. From somewhere muffled in a scarf, Vesh says, "I told you I was not going to let you confine yourself to any dungeons, and you almost take a trip across the dreamlands!"
Through the tears of shared pain, Salome begins to laugh. "I cannot leave! You need your big zostra around to put you back together every time you get hurt!"
"Hmm." Says Vesh, "That will keep you very busy, I'm afraid! Zostra." He laughs and they turn and make their way to the Cathedral in the early evening light.
Slidell waves absentmindedly as the others say their goodbyes and begin to depart the Rusty Dragon. It takes Veran nibbling on his ear to make him look up and realize that he is the last one at the table, and Ameiko is standing over him. "You gonna finish that, or are you done?" She says with a raised eyebrow, indicating his almost untouched ale.
Slidell matches her raised eyebrow, (you can tell by the movement of the bandages,) salutes her, takes a pull, and places the mug on the table.
"I'm good, thank you Ameiko. I'll get out of your way." He says absently as he rises. He pulls the cowl back over his head and turns towards the door. He then scrambles to grab Veran as the bird spreads his wings. They exchange a long look, and at last Slidell releases his hold on Veran and retreats into his cowl as the Familiar wings to the doorway. With a small smile and a smaller half-wave to Ameiko, Slidell exits the Dragon and makes his way towards the Sage of Sandpoint.
Savah offers you a simple knife with a deep black blade and a wooden hilt for 4 gp. She also has a 'fey-forged' dagger with a darkwood and bone handle and silver-inlayed etchings in the blade for 40 gp.
Grumbling only slightly about the price, Malcolm takes the beautiful dagger and hands Savah the bag of coins he brought.
Some fishermen offer you various net scraps for a handful of coppers. You manage to pull togther three nets, each as long as you are tall and as wide as your armspan. Despite their bulk, you are able to wrap the nets up into a bundle that you can tuck under your arm. Larger nets are also available (i.e., large enough to block the arch) but they are heavy and clumsy to carry. (Besides, its not that clear how you would seal a doorway that large.)
"Thanks mates." Mal says, giving a casual salute to his fellow sailors as he walks away. 'Let's see; got my dagger and the nets. Guess I'm ready to go fiend hunting.'. He stops and stares out onto the waters of the bay. He smiles at the scene before him; the docks meeting the water, which glints with the last fading rays of the afternoon sun. His gaze comes to the cliffs where the demoness awaits 'Alright little demon; this time we're ready.'.
After a moment he shakes his head and starts back to the Rusty Dragon to wait for his friends 'And to think a fortnight ago I was being marooned.'.
"Now, Slidell, it would be jolly helpful at this point if you stayed with me and didn't do anything too foolish. Or, at least, more foolish than usual." Ehlissa says.
You are met outside the caverns by Corporal Marsk. He salutes Zieke smartly and bows curtly towards Ehlissa and Salome, but his expression turns mildly distrustful as he takes in the rest of you. He pulls Zieke aside for a few hushed words before motioning you deeper into the caverns.
Zieke goes along quietly with the corporal, half-afraid he and his men may have sighted the quasit.
"What is it, Marsk?" he asks with a confidence that belies his uneasiness.
Zieke:
Spoiler:
Marsk asks how long you intend to be in the caves and at what point they should send someone after you. He nods curtly at your response and then mentions that some workers will be arriving to brick up the passageway the day after tomorrow unless he receives other instructions.
He hesitates and then reaches for his belt and removes a piece of parchment tied with a ribbon from his scroll case. "This...is for Hemlock," he explains, "A report. For his eyes only. It explains what I've learned down here so far...and from conversations with these folks." He nods with his chin towards Slidell and the others. "If we're not back before you brick up this place, make sure Hemlock gets this when he returns from Magnimar."
After making sure you are alone, you retrace your steps to the Alzanist portal and come to a halt under her pernicious gaze.
Zieke draws his sword with a ring of steel.
"Well...this is it," he states, "Everybody on their toes. We know there's at least one more wrathspawn in there. And whatever else that devil can summon up to defend her. There's no telling where we might meet them. So keep a sharp eye."
He glances over at Ehlissa. "Tell us if you sense even the slightest hint of that thing," he requests, "Even a split-second might help us prepare to defend ourselves and get our plan in motion."
"I should also let you know," he shares, "That Corporal Marsk has indicated they'll seal us in here if we don't return in a day or two. I've also left word for the Sheriff so he'll know what's going on once he gets back. Let's do this right so we're all here to greet him when he does..."
Which begs the obvious questions:
1. What are the spawn of Lamashtu?
2. Where, specifically, are they imprisoned?
3. Who was Alzanist's rival?
After returning from his visit to the scribe, Slidell heads quickly upstairs, his spring back in his step and obviously feeling much better.
When the mage comes back downstairs to rejoin the others, He is both familiar and unrecognizable. The tweed of his new traveling cloak clashes with the garish red plaid of his new vest. A frilly white shirt peeks out from his vest, and his heavy brown pants are tucked into thigh-high heavy leather boots, folded down swashbuckler-style. Topping off the extreme ensemble, a new hat, with an even wider brim than the last. (Last seen perched atop the head of the wrathspawn who first confronted Slidell in the Runewell). One side of the enormously wide brim is folded back and pinned with what is immediately recognized as a pinion feather from the familiar perched on his shoulder.
As the mage reaches the bottom of the steps and raises his head, the wide brim clears his face, and you realize Slidell is unwrapped. His face bright pink as if scrubbed hard, but unscarred and healthy as before, though there doesn't seem to be as much hair springing out from under his hat. Veran rides in his 'familiar' place on Slidell's shoulder, wearing a avian expression that clearly states how he feels about being associated with the new ensemble.
After finishing the dinner in near silence, The smiling Mage briefly fills them in on what he managed to glean from his visit with the quirky Sage. "According to Quirt, Right here - the Varisian Gulf - is all that is left of Alzanist's corner of Thassilon. And right here - Sandpoint - is the border between her kingdom and that of her neighbor, Karzoug the Claimer. All this was Alzanist's domain: Bakrakhan. And next door was Shalast - the domain of Karzoug, Runelord of Greed." He tells the others quickly, smiling as he fell comfortably into his role of lecturer.
"As I suspected from my earlier readings, There were seven Runelords, each associated with a different "virtue" of Thassilonian rule. Although, as Quint pointed out, they were all corrupt, so they were really associated with the sins of Thassilonian misrule. But never mind that. The Runes are where they got their power. Xin of the Azlanti was the first master of the Runes. With them, he built a great and powerful society, which he bequeathed to his seven protegee."
Slidell steeples his long slender fingers under his chin.
"The Sage also believes that the old lighthouse at the north end of town isn't really a lighthouse. It was some kind of weapon constructed by Alzanist herself. He's convinced, but as of yet he doesn't really have any proof." He says with a wry grin.
"The Runelords built fantastic monuments to themselves. Some of the sages say that they enslaved races of great giants, taller than castles and strong as the mountains, to build their monuments. The Irespan in Magnimar, the Old Light, and so on. He also says that there is an 'old goblin infested rock up north' - they call it Thistletop - supposed to look like a giant skull. It may date back to ancient Thassilon, too. Something that may bear investigation after this little excursion!" He finishes eagerly.
He quickly gathers his pack, staff and crossbow (newly restrung and otherwise relatively unharmed by it's Runewell soaking,) and follows the others to the cliffs and the now-guarded entrance to the Runelord Tunnel.
After making sure you are alone, you retrace your steps to the Alzanist portal and come to a halt under her pernicious gaze.
"Now, Slidell, it would be jolly helpful at this point if you stayed with me and didn't do anything too foolish. Or, at least, more foolish than usual."
Slidell turns wide-eyed and shocked to face the warrior. "Foolish? ME? Perish the thought dear lady!" He smiles one of his original beaming smiles. "Outrageously foolhardy perhaps, or even exceptionally clumsy, but foolish? Nah!" He mutters as he returns his gaze to the frowning woman on the door.
"I should also let you know," he shares, "That Corporal Marsk has indicated they'll seal us in here if we don't return in a day or two. I've also left word for the Sheriff so he'll know what's going on once he gets back. Let's do this right so we're all here to greet him when he does..."
Slidell snaps his head around. "No! They can't!" He exclaims, then calms down as he realizes what was said. "Oh, if we don't return, right. That might work. It seemed to before." He returns his gaze to the door. "There is too much potential knowledge here, too much lost history, to seal it away. I can see the reason if we fail, but I think we've got her number now." He says softer, then turns around to the others with a smile.
"SO, shall we go see what Queenie has scrambled up to meet us? And do you want I should announce our presence as soon as we enter, or wait until we're in a certain room?"
Slidell nods, looks at everyone to ensure they are ready, then faces the figure on the doorway with a grin.
"Knock, Knock!" He says to the frowning engraving as he raises his finger. "Housecleaners! Thyrori!"
The thin blue beam of light strikes the figure on the forehead, you have just enough time to realize he is tracing a smiley face when the doorway vanishes from view,...
Before entering the caverns, Malcolm hands Slidell his dagger back. "Thanks, I appreciate the loan. I've got my own now and you might be needing this.
...but his expression turns mildly distrustful as he takes in the rest of you.
Malcolm grins at the guard and says "'Scuse me sir; did we take a wrong turn somewhere or is this the way to the Golden City of Greed?"
The thin blue beam of light strikes the figure on the forehead, you have just enough time to realize he is tracing a smiley face when the doorway vanishes from view,...
"It's little things like that that make me feel so heroic and noble." Malcolm comments dryly, drawing his rapier and new dagger. "Zieke, after you."
Once a short distance away from Zieke, he adds "Ladies first after all." under his breath.
"SO, shall we go see what Queenie has scrambled up to meet us? And do you want I should announce our presence as soon as we enter, or wait until we're in a certain room?"
"I can't speak for everyone," says Vesh, "but I don't think we should announce anything until we get close to the hall of the well room. In fact, I think we should stop talking and move as quietly as possible from here on out. Use the hand signals that Zieke showed us, and if we need to speak to one another, we should do so in whispers--right into the person's ear. The noise from our armor and weapons will ring off the walls as it is, but let's not use our voices unless absolutely necessary."
He looks at the others. "Agreed?"
Slidell nods, looks at everyone to ensure they are ready, then faces the figure on the doorway with a grin.
"Knock, Knock!" He says to the frowning engraving as he raises his finger. "Housecleaners! Thyrori!"
Salome nods in agreement and carefully steps into the tilted room, following Zieke.
As they make their way toward Lamashtu's shrine, she keeps her guard up and looks for anything that may have changed since they left. Perception check (1d20+5=9)
"...I think we should stop talking and move as quietly as possible from here on out. Use the hand signals that Zieke showed us, and if we need to speak to one another, we should do so in whispers--right into the person's ear. The noise from our armor and weapons will ring off the walls as it is, but let's not use our voices unless absolutely necessary." He looks at the others. "Agreed?"
"Definitely," Zieke nods, "As tall as I am, the rest of you should be able to see me from the front. I'll raise my hand to give any signals that need passing back to those in the rear."
Light sources and marching order, please. Also, if everyone could make three Stealth checks, which I will use going forward to see how quiet you are.
Salome nods in agreement and carefully steps into the tilted room, following Zieke....As they make their way toward Lamashtu's shrine, she keeps her guard up and looks for anything that may have changed since they left.
When they enter the room, Zieke gestures with his hand out to the side, palm out, to indicate everyone can spread out as they approach the familiar iron doors again. Other than that, he doesn't utter a sound...
Light sources and marching order, please. Also, if everyone could make three Stealth checks, which I will use going forward to see how quiet you are.
Vesh follows Zieke and the others, bow in hand.
Stealth check 1 (1d20+5=22)
Stealth check 2 (1d20+5=12)
Stealth check 3 (1d20+5=23)
Also, if everyone could make three Stealth checks, which I will use going forward to see how quiet you are.
Lamashtu's baleful gaze washes over you, startling you with forgotten memories of pain and sorrow.
Slidell recoils as if struck physically, his memory bringing back things he had thought long-buried, if not forgotten. He then looks quizzical, as if wondering at something he sees, and he smiles. He dreamily takes a step forward,... then blinks. And recoils with a spastic dance as if he had opened his eyes to find he was staring face-to-face with a Wrathspawn.
"What in the name of Nethys,... !?"
Slidell's WILL and FORT saves: (1d20+5=23, 1d20+1=5)
:D
WILL save (1d20+6=20)
FORT save (1d20+5=13)
Salome blinks, shakes her head, and looks around at her companions. Someone is going to need help.
Ehlissa recoils, horrified and pained at having tasted the horrid liquid.
Make a DC 13 Will save followed by a DC 15 Fortitude save...Fortitude save... (1d20+6=11)
Zieke leans back with a distrustful eye on the statue of Lamashtu. "There's something sinister at work here..." he mutters, but shakes off the uneasy vision. He's just in time to see Ehlissa attempting to drink from the pool.
"Ehlissa! NO!" he hisses, trying to keep quiet enough not to give away their presence, but also trying to break through whatever reverie has prompted her to taste the milk of Lamashtu. He hurries forward to pull her back.
"By the gods, woman! What are you doing!"
Ehlissa gags and spits, "I felt compelled to drink it! Agh!"
Ehlissa gags and spits, "I felt compelled to drink it! Agh!"
"Compelled?" Zieke frowns, "So that's what's going on..."
He turns back to warn the others, his eyes catching Salome's.
"Get them back!" he waves, "It's the statue! Don't look at it..."
"Blasted Witch must have cast some kind of compulsion spell, we didn't feel anything the last time here." Slidell mutters, still staring at the statue with a look of disgust on his face,
"But she shouldn't be that powerful, how did she manage such a complicated spell?"
In a daze Malcolm walks to the statue of the radiant godess and cups his hands in the cool, refreshing water in the basin. He takes a long drink from the waters, shaken from his blissful trance by the burning agony of his gut and his throat.
Coughing up the now foul liquid, he manage to sputter out "What Gozreh's name?! That little demoness made me drink Lamashtu's Milk!"
Coughing up the now foul liquid, he manage to sputter out "What Gozreh's name?! That little demoness made me drink Lamashtu's Milk!"
Seeing another fall victim to the compulsion, Zieke leaves Ehlissa and pushes Mal away from the altar towards the others. He then stands with his back to the statue, ready to keep anyone else away from it. But then he notices something odd about Vesh's demeanor...
"Get them back!" he waves, "It's the statue! Don't look at it..."
"Oh Posh!" Slidell whispers back, still examining the statue while his familiar seems to to be trying to get his attention.
"It's an enchantment, nothing more. Stop it Veran. I conjure creatures from other dimensions and harness the energy of the cosmos to hurl bolts at my enemies. Someone of my mental Fortitude has little to fear from such a simple, if admittedly powerful, Charm. Isn't that right Vesh?,... Vesh? By the gods, what IS it Veran?!"
Vesh is on his knees, making a strange choking-screaming-gurgle and gripping his face as if he is trying to rip it off. As he lowers his hands, you see he has gouged his own scalp. Vesh is flushed—almost purple—with rage and hatred. His pupils seem like pinpricks, as if the whites of his eyes are trying the swallow them. The veins bulge in his neck and forehead.
He lunges at Salome like a rabid dog, growling and gurgling and spitting. Lashing out wildly at her face, he connects with bare flesh, rending it with his nails and leaving streaks of blood that run across her cheek.
Salome's eyes grow wide as Vesh lunges toward her. "Vesh! No!" She instinctively raises her arms in defense, but too late. Rather than reach for her scimitar, she tries to push him away from her. "Stop! Get him off me!" she shouts. "Zieke!"
Salome's eyes grow wide as Vesh lunges toward her. "Vesh! No!" She instinctively raises her arms in defense, but too late. Rather than reach for her scimitar, she tries to push him away from her. "Stop! Get him off me!" she shouts. "Zieke!"
At Salome's shout, Zieke explodes into motion. Brushing by Slidell, he shoves the mage towards Mal. "Watch him! Ehlissa, too!" he commands.
Shaking loose his shield and dropping his sword on the move, he charges after Vesh, seeking to tackle and pin him.
At Salome's shout, Zieke explodes into motion. Brushing by Slidell, he shoves the mage towards Mal. "Watch him! Ehlissa, too!" he commands.
Slidell stumbles at the unexpected shove, his raven protesting in his ear. "Huh?!?"
The mage recovers his balance, and rubs at his screech-pained ear. "What am I supposed to watch them do?!?"
The young wizard stops in shock at the sight of Vesh attacking Salome.
His eyes flicker from Vesh, to Ehlissa and Malcolm, who look ill and are still wiping the remains of the Vile, Black liquid from their faces, to the overflowing statue basin, and back to Vesh, who is screaming with rage and attacking Salome with his bare hands. He looks at his familiar with a frown. "Why didn't you say something?!?!"
Veran sputters in disbelief as Slidell's hands automatically begin patting his pockets, looking for something. "Don't hurt him! Hold him! Hold his arms! Don't let him get off a spell!" He shouts as he pulls out and discards various odds and ends. 'Or more importantly, don't let him steal one of MINE!' he adds silently.
"I can stop him! I've got just the thing here! Now where did I put tha, AH! No, that's the recipe for chocolate sauce. The mage mutters, pulling out a piece of paper and throwing it over his shoulder. After another moment of searching he pulls out a rolled scroll. "Yes! Got it!" He cries triumphantly, waving the scroll in the air.
;)
Vesh eyes slip in and out of focus. He sees visions of his father beating his mother and sisters. He is blind with rage--faces rush towards him--they merge--he knows them--they change--his father--they are all his father--they are all his dead sister--his beaten mother--his father again. He lashes out...
Vesh screams a guttural "NO!" and makes to lunge again.
Initiative check... (1d20+2=21)
Vesh screams a guttural "NO!" and makes to lunge again.
Zieke hurtles into Vesh. His hand slides along the arm Vesh is using to hold onto Salome's armor, searching for just the right nerve to numb it and make him let go. At the same time, he rolls his hip around Vesh's body, essentially sliding himself between the two struggling combatants. He bends back one of the rogue's arms, locking both hands around it in a cross-bar maneuver and twists it until he can smash a forearm into Vesh's face.
Zieke's charging grapple attack vs. Vesh's touch AC... (1d20+8+2 = 28 to hit?)
Opposed grapple check with Vesh... (1d20+8+2=22)
Non-lethal damage from Zieke's grapple... (1d6+3 = 6 damage)
"It's the madness of that goddess' statue!" Zieke snarls as they struggle, "Fight it off, Vesh!"
As Zieke attempts to pull Vesh's arm behind him and smash his face, Vesh drops, twists, and nearly slithers out of his grip and away from his attack. However, Zieke holds fast and strikes--smashing a forearm into Vesh's face.
"It's the madness of that goddess' statue!" Zieke snarls as they struggle, "Fight it off, Vesh!"
But Vesh is no longer fighting. His eyes roll upwards and back, his nose pours blood, and he collapses in a heap on the floor.
Slidell looks up triumphantly from his search, waving his scroll in the air,... and sees Zieke lowering a bloody-nosed Vesh to the ground.
"Or, that works too." "If you prefer physical violence over a more civilized solution,..." He mutters. At a reprimanding nip from Veran, Slidell takes a glance to make sure that Mal and Ehlissa are not following Vesh's example, then dashes over to check on the fallen youth.
Wiping her mouth, Ehlissa goes over to check on Vesh. "Well done" she says to Zieke. "Will he be alright?" she asks the group.
Wiping her mouth, Ehlissa goes over to check on Vesh. "Well done" she says to Zieke. "Will he be alright?" she asks the group.
"I'm not sure." Slidell answers, placing a scarf taken from one of his multitudinous pockets under Vesh's head as a pillow. "I think that we've established that isn't my area of expertise. But he went down with one hit. That can't be good." He glances at Zieke with a dirty look.
"What we need is, Salome!" He cries, turning around hastily. "Did Vesh hit her? How bad are you hurt?"
Slidell turns to examine Ehlissa and Malcolm, frowning at the remaining evidence of the Vile Milk on their chins. "How about you two? You drank it too. Although you both seem to have gotten rid of most of it." He wrinkles his nose at the messes on the floor. "How do you feel? Any residual effects? Any sudden urges to attack anyone?" He asks almost eagerly.
"Well, now that you mention it..." Ehlissa replies dryly, "Talkative mages come to mind."
"No, I just feel ill. Vesh are you alright?! What happened?"