Irawaru looks in disbelief as the warlock continues to wound him.
Hoku jabs viciously at the leader.
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The creature attempts to match Hoku blow for blow, but just misses -- its feral rage harming its accuracy.
The warlock, perhaps buoyed by his success, attempts the same maneuver as before against the still-cursed Irawaru. The outraged barbarian again fails to disrupt the spell as he feel as though every drop of moisture is leaving his boy.
Moving swiftly past Elohir towards her beleaguered companions, Hasnett sends the healing power of Melora towards Irawaru, before spinning on her heel and trying to lend a little aid to Aden and Hoku.
At last she feels some strength returning to her.
Elohir slinks next to the building, and remains cloaked in shadow. With a guttural utterance, purple bolts of eldritch energy blast forth from Elohir's eyes and strike the leader hard. The half-elf's eyes crackle with the dark energy for a moment before returning to normal.
Elohir then notices the missing Irawaru, and realizes, through their link, that his other cursed foe is still in the fight.
"Where did they go?" mutters the warlock.
"Let's try this again", Aden's blade vibrates and swirls with black energy
Irawaru barrels past the warlock to cut off his escape, and growling, swings!
Hoku sees another opportunity to eliminate the leader, and attempts it.
"Geddere, bludger!"
"See if you can catch him Irawaru. He's got questions to answer."
Pat
Elohir's eyes grow wide and glow with purple radiance for a moment as the leader drops and he gets a momentary glimpse into the future.
"Where did the other one go?" wonders Elohir, as he attempts (probably in vain) to use his foresight to boost his perception.
Aden smiles and shakes his head in thanks to Hasnett.
"So what now?" Aden asks uncaring of the fleeing enemies.
Hoku points in the direction taken by the warlock, and begins moving that way.
Elohir, having no other incentive, follows the rest of the group, determined to finish the opposing warlock who bares his curse. At the edge of his movement Elohir spots the warlock and brings up his last reserves to attack him. Though the warlock has cover, Elohir's foresight into the near future allows him to bypass it and anticipate the warlock's movement.
With his eyes glowing faintly purple, Elohir makes a sign of indecipherable runes appear in the air. With a twisted gesture, Elohir shapes them into a seal and sends it after the fleeing warlock. The spell is nearly defeated by the warlock's ample defenses, but Elohir grits his teeth and slips the spell into place, sweat beading on his forehead.
"STAY!" commands Elohir after the curse is finished. "We are not done with you."
Elohir's eyes glow brightly again for a moment before slowly returning to normal, and as they do so tears immediately begin to run down his cheeks. Holding his head, he stumbles towards the nearest building and slinks down sullenly onto the ground, his face held in his hands.
"He is not dead. I did not kill that one. I could have, but I did not. Maybe he will tell us why he did this to me."
He looks up again with a tear-streaked face.
"Where is Aden? Is he alright? I did not mean to hurt him."
Leaving Irawaru to deal with the enemy warlock, Hasnett goes straight to Elohir. Kneeling beside him, she puts one hand to his tear-stained face and looks him carefully in the eye.
"Aden is well and healed. I promised I would heal him and I did. It's a fortune of war, Elohir and he understands that."
Hasnett hopes for the sake of everyone that the last comment is true.
Elohir
One is that you need to tell me what you've done. Not because I'm a priestess, but because we're linked somehow, you and I. The other is that you need to find a way to stop the past hindering the present. We've got to stay together and work together. You'll be a danger again if you don't turn around and deal with what's behind you first."
Taking a moment Aden removes his ripped and pierced top shirt
"Geez, that little spell of his shore ripped me up good. Keh, took more of beating from my party than the guys I was fighting"
Aden smiles a moment and readjusts his armor over his bare skin.
Elohir breathes a sigh of relief at Aden's good spirits, and finally begins to calm down.
He looks up tenderly at Hasnett for a moment until his eyes fall to the leather bound book sitting in his lap. Several tears stain the cover, and Elohir smears them with his hand. The leather quickly begins absorbing the moisture and Elohir readjusts the leather strap that binds the book shut.
Looking up at Hasnett again, Elohir nods.
"I warn you, though. If you get mixed up with this, then there may be no ridding yourself of it. He creeps into your mind, and no matter where you travel or how hard you pray, he may still find you. They all might."
Elohir
She looks at her own wounds for a second.
"We need to talk, but I need to get myself in better shape first. We need to find out what we can from that warlock we captured as well and I don't think we should do any of those things in the open street."
"If we're going to question this man, let's not do it here."
"Gag him and bring him along."
Hasnett heads towards the original object of their outing and enters the temple.
Elohir stands up, clears his throat, and tries to dust off his tattered clothing.
"I am ready."
He will also bow in apology to Aden.
"I apologize, Master Aden. My magic is not always as disciplined as yours."
"Aden, can you help move the bodies? Let's not draw attention to ourselves by leaving them out in the street."
Elohir is surprisingly willing to help with the bodies, though his slim frame isn't really much of a help. He does not ask for any healing, nor does his seem that physically hurt.
"No problem. Where do you want them"
"I'll speak to the temple. They can help, I'm sure. Whether they will depends on how persuasive I can be."
Hasnett makes her way into the temple.
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Elohir helps Aden move the bodies out of the main street into one of the alleys, and Hasnett leads the party, with the unconscious warlock, to the Temple of the Sea.
The first person to greet them is a halfling acolyte, Brother Wertal. He is properly astonished by the circumstance, but quickly regains his composure as Hasnett makes her brief explanation. "Yes, Priestess, of course we will help. Sister Quinna is at home at this hour and the archives closed; do you need us to send someone to wake her? And, pardon me for asking, but do you need a Healer?"
Wertal shows the group to a meeting room in the back, perhaps because the appointments there are less lavish than in the sitting rooms and likely to be less costly to replace or repair from the bloodstains. He then withdraws, promising that temple guards will be sent to fetch the bodies.
Looking at the rather imposing wounds adorning her, Hasnett can only agree with the halfling's assessment of her condition.
"A healer would be helpful Brother. I'm sorry to impose on Sister Quinna, but the need is urgent. The streets don't seem very safe at the moment though. I'd be happier if the good Sister had an escort. Can you provide one, or could some of my friends help?"
"I will go if you ask," says Elohir unexpectedly. At any surprised looks he simply says, "I am one of the least injured."
He has been obviously uncomfortable ever since entering the temple, and seems eager to leave again.