• [20:02:40] Mholmes: As the expedition flees across the black plain, the fortress behind them seems to refuse to shrink.
• [20:03:26] Mholmes: The bones of the creature that Egani hid in previously loom near.
• [20:04:30] Okhfels: And we're fleeing...
• [20:04:36] Mholmes: Okhfels' sword vibrates.
• [20:05:28] Okhfels: Okhfels looks around to see if something is about to pounce on him.
• [20:06:19] Mholmes: His eyes meet Elle's for a moment, and she looks away uncomfortably.
• [20:07:34] Okhfels: "Right... not out of danger yet. Keep mofvintg"
• [20:22:07] Mholmes: Reverberations echo out from the fortress, and one gets the idea that the tentacled thing continues to thrash about in ever more potent a manner. They reach a crescendo, and as they do a chasm opens up in front of the expedition.
• [20:25:25] Mholmes: Alexander pulls up without a problem, the chasm opening up rather far from him.
• [20:28:24] Mholmes: Okhfels notes that the chasm extends far to the left and right cutting the landscape in two. It might be narrower to the left...
• [20:28:40] Mholmes: At this point it's about 6 meters across.
• [20:29:10] Okhfels: Okhfels turns around. Are we being pursued?
• [20:30:45] Mholmes: Serama shakes her head indicating that she thinks they are safe for the moment.
• [20:30:47] Okhfels: Okhfels is in no mood to be toyed with.
• [20:31:02] Mholmes: "We should go back," says Gennadi.
• [20:31:44] Sebastian: Alexander looks at Gennadi, "Um... I don't think that's a good idea." He turns to Okhfels to hear his decision...
• [20:32:14] Okhfels: Okhfels looks around for something that could be used to bridge the chasm.
• [20:32:53] Mholmes: Off a few hundred meters Okhfels can see the trilthion gate still billowing with smoke.
• [20:33:41] Okhfels: "We're getting out of here. "
• [20:34:13] Mholmes: Okhfels eyes fall on the carcas of the beast rotting under the darkly lit sky.
• [20:35:03] Okhfels: Okhfels guages the ribs of the beast.
• [20:35:50] Mholmes: The longest should span the gap. But not by much.
• [20:36:25] Okhfels: Okhfels yanks a rib free, and tries to find a narrower spot nearby.
• [20:40:45] Mholmes: Finding the best spot, the rib balances across the chasm quite firmly.
• [20:41:33] Mholmes: Amestris looks at the bridge skeptically.
• [20:42:07] Okhfels: "We don't have a lot of choice."
• [20:42:36] Sebastian: Alexander rushes across, "I'll hold it steady from the other side!"
• [20:43:36] Okhfels: "Good job... I'll hold it here. Careful of that bit there, it looks slippery."
• [20:44:01] Mholmes: Okhfels finds a rope in Egani's cart.
• [20:44:31] Mholmes: Egani looks forlornly at his things, realizing that they can't be brought with. "I'm staying behind."
• [20:44:40] Okhfels: "No you're not."
• [20:46:35] Mholmes: "I can't leave all this behind!" he protests.
• [20:46:50] Okhfels: "Pick out what you can't go without, and leave the rest."
• [20:50:56] Okhfels: "I'll carry some things, too."
• [20:51:01] Mholmes: Serama and Elle cross the rib, followed by most of the others.
• [20:51:19] Mholmes: Amestris looks at the chasm and in her weakened condition almost swoons.
• [20:53:18] Mholmes: "Alright, but I need you to carry the most important stuff," he says grabbing what he can carry.
• [20:53:28] Okhfels: "Amestris, here, tie this around you, we'll make sure you don't fall."
• [20:53:57] Mholmes: As he crosses, the rib makes a cracking sound. Egani looks back with some relief at having crossed without incident.
• [20:54:29] Mholmes: But his face says that he doesn't think that the rib is safe anymore.
• [20:54:43] Okhfels: Is Amestris across?
• [20:54:52] Mholmes: None of the rest of the beast's anatomy will suffice, either.
• [20:55:13] Mholmes: Amestris looks at Okhfels as she finishes tying the rope aroud her as ordered.
• [20:55:52] Okhfels: Okhfels takes his sword, ties it to the other end, and throws it to the group on the other side of the chasm. "Grab hold!"
• [20:56:29] Okhfels: "Keep the rope tight... bring it across with her!"
• [20:56:38] Mholmes: Elle and some of the others grab hold.
• [20:57:13] Okhfels: "Amestris... I want you to run across that rib bone as fast as you can. If it breaks... they'll be able to keep you from falling in, haul you up."
• [20:59:31] Mholmes: Amestris dashes across, and falls, dizzy, at the last second, but a quick pull by the others and she's back up on the other side before even really falling.
• [20:59:47] Mholmes: Elle unties the rope, and throws it back to Okhfels
• [21:00:23] Sebastian: Alexander speaks out, "You know... you might be able to brace the bone by tying the rope around it..."
• [21:04:12] Okhfels: "Then I wouldn't be able to tie it around myself."
• [21:04:58] Mholmes: "Don't forget the Skillek Apparatus!" shouts Egani.
• [21:05:11] Okhfels: "What?"
• [21:06:00] Mholmes: "The narrow thingie I left on the top. And the torque valves!" he insists.
• [21:06:40] Okhfels: Okhfels goes back to the wagon and pokes around for something that might be useful.
• [21:07:41] Mholmes: "Yes, that...and that!" says Egani. Soon Okhfels is piled high with equipment.
• [21:11:52] Okhfels: Okhfels takes hold of the rib bone and hauls it back onto his side of the chasm so he can work on it
• [21:13:24] Mholmes: After working on it for a bit, it seems about as sturdy as it's going to get.
• [21:15:43] Okhfels: Okhfels checks over his shoulder again to make sure there's noone coming after him, then makes sure he's securely tied, and everyone on the other side is ready.
• [21:16:26] Okhfels: He slides the bone back into place, and starts across. He hits it at a run, fully expecting it to fail... he just wants to get as far across as possible before it does.
• [21:18:07] Mholmes: He makes it quite a ways before his weight and that of the equipment causes the bone to fail. He smacks into the other side of the chasm, but manages to hold onto most everything.
• [21:18:49] Okhfels: Okhfels climbs up. He pauses but a moment to catch his breath. "Alright, you've had enough of a rest. Let's get out of this crazy place."
• [21:27:05] Okhfels: Okhfels is breathing hard, but pushes on anyways.

• [22:08:28] Mholmes: Archelaus has to step back to avoid being crushed by a tentacle as the black armored woman comes forth to him. "Welcome to the fold, Archelaus of Dinarchis."
• [22:17:49] Mholmes: Your first duty must be to clear this assault on us by the stars of your world. My father has created the yellow aura to protect us from it. But it cannot stand forever before the force of the stars from your world. So you must cease their singing. Teach me the song that will nullify the music of the spheres.
• [22:18:33] Mholmes: To that end, should you need sacrifices, we have many to choose from.
• [22:21:34] Mholmes: A door opens, and a chain of slaves is dragged out. Surely one of the girls is Gennadi's sister, and the tall beautiful amazon - that could only be the famed Alitia.
• [22:36:05] Mholmes: That single star above shining down through the clear roof of the vast fortress cries out to Archelaus not to do this thing.
• [22:42:20] Mholmes: If you'd like to relax first, I understand you've had a long journey, she says to him. She comes to stand close to him, about his height.
• [22:42:35] Mholmes: "I haven't been with a man in centuries," she says.

• [21:33:46] Mholmes: Looking down the black road, Egani says, "Okhfels, how do we get back?"
• [21:35:10] Mholmes: The strange white "grass" and trees dot the plain.
• [21:35:56] Okhfels: Okhfels considers his options.
• [21:36:11] Okhfels: "I don't like trusting that black road, but we may not have much choice."
• [21:36:41] Okhfels: Okhfels checks his telepathic connection with Archelaus. Does it have any information in it at all? Does it "point" towards the gate?
• [21:46:42] Mholmes: Indeed, Okhfels can feel something faint coming from the Trilithion.
• [21:47:26] Sebastian: Alexander waves his hand at Okhfels. "Come on, snap out of it big fella. We need to be getting out of here..."
• [21:47:32] Okhfels: Okhfels looks around the Trilithon. How confident is he, of the general direction of Green Lake?
• [21:48:19] Mholmes: Well, it's to the left of the road....
• [21:48:49] Okhfels: Good enough. Okhfels strikes out in that general direction, using his telepathic link as a compass to keep him going in more-or-less a straight line. "This way."
• [21:49:51] Okhfels: Since all he wants to do is get out of the woods in the general direction of Green Lake, it shouldn't be hard to succeed.
• [21:50:43] Mholmes: After going for about 20 minutes, Okhfels sees the black road coming up again.
• [21:50:51] Mholmes: "I thought so," says Egani.
• [21:51:14] Sebastian: Alexander turns to Egani, "Then why didn't you say something earlier!?"
• [21:52:04] Mholmes: "I thought you'd remember the odd effects from when we were last here," he says, just as he steps into a huge web.
• [21:52:12] Mholmes: "Aaaagh!"
• [21:52:19] Okhfels: Okhfels growls.
• [21:52:39] Okhfels: Okhfels readies his sword and scans around for whatever built the web.
• [21:54:49] Mholmes: From the tangle at the top of the two trees amid which the web hangs, strange things looking like a cross between a man and a spider start descending at odd angles. Three of them. Okhfels' sword vibrates again, violently this time.
• [21:55:19] Okhfels: "Yeah, yeah, I know... a little earlier might have been more useful."
• [21:56:37] Okhfels: Okhfels moves to defend Egani from the creatures.
• [21:57:13] Mholmes: Egani's feeble struggling only entangles him more.
• [21:57:41] Sebastian: Alexander sighs and draws a pair of knives.

• [20:07:34] Mholmes: Sebastian comes tearing into the clearing which served as Zoora's shrine.
• [20:08:22] * Isadora follows just barely behind him.
• [20:18:29] Mholmes: Having taken a while to discover the location of the shrine, Isadora and Fahd found Sebastian looking for it, and followed him there.
• [20:19:39] Mholmes: Jilliams, too, having noticed the flurry of activity enters the clearing having followed Isadora.
• [20:20:08] Fahd_Yazid: The Morak said she is to be found in a pit below the shrine of these interlopers.
• [20:20:36] * Isadora sees Jilliams and lags back enough to speak to him quickly, keeping her eyes on Sebastian. "Things may get sticky here. I have to leave soon, too. Shouldn't be gone long."
• [20:21:22] Sebastian: Sebastian seems to be holding himself in rigid control. His movements are jerky, not at all his regular unassuming grace. He looks around frantically, or as frantically as someone can look while trying to appear calm.
• [20:25:58] * Fahd_Yazid shakes his necklace of teeth. "What's wrong Sebastian? Do the spirits of this place trouble you?"
• [20:27:07] Mholmes: Jilliams replies to Isadora, "What's going on?"
• [20:28:39] Isadora: "Sebastian's woman," Isadora mutters to Jilliams, then holds up her hand to forestall his response. She tilts her head, ears straining.
• [20:32:08] Mholmes: Jilliams nods knowingly.
• [20:42:18] Mholmes: After hours of searching the clearing it seems like perhaps Fahd's information was erroneous.
• [20:42:23] Isadora: Unable to hear anything, Isadora would step aside to quietly fill in Jilliams.
• [20:43:13] Mholmes: Jilliams leans up against the stone pile that serves as the shrine's altar, and listens scratching tiredly.
• [20:43:54] Isadora: "...So, I'll be back soon. If I'm not, and for some reason you have to send back word about it, I'm handling a problem in the flower production."
• [20:46:11] Mholmes: As she says this Elahra steps into the clearing.
• [20:52:45] Mholmes: "I see you have decided to come and face my mistress," she says defiantly.
• [20:53:26] Sebastian: Sebastian freezes at her voice and then turns slowly to face her. "And where is your mistress...?"
• [20:55:06] Isadora: "Why don't you head out, now?" Isadora murmurs to Jilliams. "I wouldn't want you to have to lie about anything later."
• [20:58:33] Mholmes: Jilliams frowns not understanding. But he complies, and slinks away.
• [20:59:22] * Fahd_Yazid cracks his neck with a sound that resounds across the clearing. "Have you come to renounce this vile cult and embrace your ancestors again, girl?"
• [21:00:57] Mholmes: Addressing Sebastian, "She'll be her momentarily, I believe."
• [21:01:18] Mholmes: Then she turns to Fahd, and simply hisses at him in a disturbing manner.
• [21:02:23] * Fahd_Yazid shakes his necklace of teeth and Seven Bone Lance to ward off her ill intentions.
• [21:04:16] Mholmes: The red moon is rising over the horizon. It appears closer than normal.
• [21:05:52] Fahd_Yazid: "Does Rhosiar know you have turned your back on the spirits of swamp and brine?"
• [21:06:32] Mholmes: Elahra spits, "That crone is no mother to me."
• [21:08:16] * Fahd_Yazid gives Elahra a look like a corpse in the grave and reaches out as if to touch her face, a simple gesture filled with terrible menace.
• [21:09:50] Sebastian: Sebastian speaks quietly. His voice is so low that you must strain to hear it. "I am growing impatient Elahra..."
• [21:12:17] Mholmes: As Sebastian says this, from the trees comes a growling sound, like that made by a desert leopard.
• [21:15:27] Mholmes: The night grows silent again as Sebastian detects a smile on Elahra's face in the dark.
• [21:20:29] Fahd_Yazid: Elahra, unable to overcome the ingrained terror of dead flesh born of her life with the Rhiani, shinks in terror from Fahd's cold touch. "You have defied the Ancestor's Elahra, and defiled the bond between mother and daughter! The dead are ANGRY with you child! Turn back from your fallen path now, or they shall drink your blood and gnaw your bones. You will wander the empty plains forever without even a shadow for a friend...
• [21:20:41] Fahd_Yazid: "Turn back now or pay this price! I swear it!"
• [21:24:12] Mholmes: Elahra looks on the verge of buying it, but what really puts her over the edge is the sight of Zoora entering the clearing. A black panther of extraordinary size, but somewhat human in shape as well, enough to tell that it's Zoora, paces in. What is truely disturbing, however, are the burn scars all over her body.
• [21:25:06] * Isadora shoots a look at Sebastian. Wasn't this taken care of?
• [21:26:11] Mholmes: The thing circles Sebastian, Isadora and Fahd, like stalking prey.
• [21:26:29] Fahd_Yazid: "Well well. It's the witch herself."
• [21:32:20] Mholmes: Zoora "stands" with a stoop neccesary due to the catlike form, "My sacrifiysss waitsss for my new apprentisss. But A fresher one would be niysss. Or maybe more than one?"
• [21:36:38] Sebastian: Sebastian smiles dangerously. "Ah, good to see you Zoora. I was hoping you could answer a question or two for me..."
• [21:37:35] Mholmes: "You," she says, "You will be no sacrifice. You, I will keep for my own, so you can suffer. Suffer like I have!"
• [21:41:13] Isadora: "Elahra, dear, my Rhiani-catwoman-speak isn't too sharp. She's threatening my life, correct?"
• [21:46:14] Mholmes: Zoora hisses threateningly.
• [21:46:34] Sebastian: Sebastian continues talking as if Zoora hadn't said anything, "So, I was wondering if you'd be willing to pick up our disusion where it left off. You were telling me about where Laura was and what you had done to her, if I recall correctly."
• [21:49:48] Mholmes: "Hisss. Wouldn't you like to know," she says. "I'll make you a deal. Give me this one, and I'll give her back to you."
• [21:49:52] Mholmes: She points at Isadora.
• [21:50:36] * Isadora laughs. "Come and get whatever you can take," she says, drawing her rapier.
• [21:51:54] Sebastian: Sebastian looks at Isadora consideringly, then he lunges toward Zoora.
• [21:52:18] Fahd_Yazid: "The ancestors call out for your blood Zoora! And this one," he gestures to Isadora, "is bound to us now!"
• [22:02:45] Mholmes: Zoora lunges first at one of the three, and then at another, trying to make sure nobody attacks her back. "Elahra, come to my aid!"
• [22:03:00] Mholmes: Elahra shrinks back into the night worried about whatever might happen here.
• [22:05:12] Mholmes: Isadora keeps Zoora's next attack at bay with her long steel. And the very spirits seem to protect Fahd. She turns at one point not seeing Sebastian, and he takes her momentum and throws her into the ground.
• [22:06:53] Mholmes: As he holds her there, Fahd's spirits helping, Isadora thrusts her blade all the way through Zoora's midsection. She lies there, impaled.
• [22:09:08] Sebastian: Sebastian looks carefully at Zoora. He's killed her before, and she still came back. He smiles almost cruelly and shifts his grip on her arm, putting painful pressure on a number of joints and nerve clusters in the process. "Are you ready to answer some questions now?"
• [22:09:54] Mholmes: Zoora tries to remove the rapier from her, but it's stuck too firmly in the ground underneath her for her to remove it in her current condition.
• [22:11:07] Mholmes: "The demons of the pit take you!" she curses at him.
• [22:11:28] * Isadora keeps pressure on the rapier, quirking a brow at Sebastian--twist it?
• [22:12:51] Fahd_Yazid: "The demons won't answer your call while the ancestors keep them at bay, witch! We will carve you from this land like a boil."
• [22:14:23] Sebastian: Sebastian tilts his head consideringly as he carefully twists Zoora's pinky around until the join dislocates. He mutters to Isadora, "No, this is my duty. It is a bit distasteful, and though I appreciate your assistance, I don't want you to further dirty your hands..."
• [22:16:37] * Fahd_Yazid cracks his neck again and rattles the teeth around his neck. I think you won't turn my help away?"
• [22:16:59] * Isadora shrugs. "Your call. I owe her a bad turn myself, but I'm happy to give you first claim."
• [22:18:30] Sebastian: Sebastian smiles, it's not a very comforting smile. He twists another finger out of socket. "I really recommend that you answer my questions Zoora. My patience is not infinite, but I'm in a very imaginative mood right now, and there are many non-lethal ways of inflicting pain."
• [22:20:30] Mholmes: "My Lord Andaras teaches that pain is our friend! Ha!" she counters.
• [22:29:33] Mholmes: After several creative moments of harrassment, Zoora finally cries, "It's under the stones! They come apart. Pull the first one towards you!"
• [22:31:16] Isadora: "My Lord Andaras seems to have been mistaken," Isadora says with a little smile. Inside, she's a little unhappy--she thought this sort of business would stay behind her, in Kaitaine.
• [22:31:17] Mholmes: "She is sanctified, meant for Gennadi! So he can assume the cat form, too!" she mewls.
• [22:32:07] Sebastian: Sebastian looks down at Zoora sadly, this betrayal will have hurt Laura... "But she was a one of your own, what reason did she give you to turn against her?"
• [22:32:21] Fahd_Yazid: "Silence witch! There is no sanctity in your foul machinations."
• [22:33:07] Mholmes: "She was not pure of heart for Andaras. She loved another!" Zoora spews out, resigned to talking now.
• [22:34:45] Sebastian: Sebastian stands up slowly. He casts a final glance at Zoora, "I truly pity you." He walks toward the stones as Zoora indicated.
• [22:35:18] Mholmes: Sebastian pulls the stone she indicated out, and the whole thing comes apart stone by stone. Underneath, still in the dark is a form at the bottom of a narrow pit.
• [22:36:14] Sebastian: Sebastian lowers himself into the pit slowly, as if he fears what he might find.
• [22:36:56] Mholmes: Checking Laura she's cold, but not cold like the dead. There might be life in her still.
• [22:38:35] Sebastian: Sebastian pulls her to him tightly. A shudder passes through his body. Then another. He kneels quietly shaking in the bottom of the pit.
• [22:39:30] Isadora: "Sebastian?" Isadora calls, not wanting to leave her "post" holding the sword, but unable to see into the pit.
• [22:40:49] * Fahd_Yazid sniffs the air like a panther. "I think she has not yet joined the ancestors."
• [22:41:03] Sebastian: Sebastian is silent. He isn't tracking properly, if he were thinking he would be on his way to find a healer, but he seems to be frozen in indecision.
• [22:49:47] * Fahd_Yazid wrapping his hands in strips of human leather, Fahd slaps Sebastian across the face. Fool! Collect yourself! Help me search if you want her to live. Help me find the flowers in this shape," he draws in the dirt, "witht he purple tips! Hurry!"
• [22:50:16] Fahd_Yazid: "I cannot touch her or she will join me among the dead. You must be my hands."
• [22:51:31] Mholmes: They bring her back to the surface, and Fahd directing the search, Sebastian looks furiously across the entire colony and camp. Near the spot where the clearing between the camp and colony meets the lake, he finds the flower in question. Bringing it back with great speed, and following Fahd's instructions, he makes it into a thin fluid and feed it to her.
• [22:51:53] Mholmes: Moments later, Laura looks up into Sebastian's eyes. "Hi there."
• [22:53:01] Sebastian: Sebastian smiles, the first genuine smile he's smiled in days. A single tear drops onto Laura's face. "Hi there yourself."
• [22:54:55] Isadora: Not wanting to disturb the recently reunited couple, Isadora makes a discreet "Hst" sound at Fahd. She then looks down at Zoora, still impaled, and raises her eyebrows at Fahd inquiringly.
• [22:59:29] * Fahd_Yazid strides forward, unwrapping the human leather that covers his hands and touches her face, almost sensuously. "You belong to the dead now."

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