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[20:14:55] Mholmes: Sebastian is laying down, wondering if help is coming. He'd heard Isadora saying something about getting someone as she'd left him. Soon, a voice comes up. "I could get the ship's surgeon, Sebastian."
[20:15:08] Mholmes: It's captain Kaltrain from the skyship.
[20:15:55] Sebastian: Sebastian looks up. "Oh, that would be nice... Have you seen Laura around? I think I'd like to speak to her too..."
[20:16:15] Mholmes: "I'll see if I can fetch her, too."
[20:16:42] Mholmes: A bit later, Kaltrain returns. "I've got people going for Laura and the doc."
[20:17:37] Sebastian: "Thank you, Kaltrain. What's your itenerary when you finally manage to lift?"
[20:20:41] Mholmes: "We're heading back to Kaitaine since we're low on supplies. While I've got you here, I have a to ask you some questions," he says.
[20:21:17] Sebastian: "Sure, I don't have any pressing business elsewhere at the moment. I'll answer what I can."
[20:24:12] Mholmes: Kaltrain's eyes seem to smile understanding Sebastian's urban sense of humor.
[20:25:48] Mholmes: "I've been in this camp long enough to know that there are some crazy things going on. I can't go back to the Ullizi's without letting them know. You have to tell me what's going on," he says candidly.
[20:26:53] Sebastian: Sebastian arches his eyebrows and winces. "There are a good number of crazy things going on. Anything specific you want to know about, or do you have a couple of hours for the full account?
[20:40:54] Mholmes: "Heh," he chuckles. "We seem to have plenty of time."
[20:42:25] Sebastian: "Well, I guess we'll start at the beginning... This will take a while, would you be kind enough to pour me a glass from that decanter?" Sebastian points at a crystal decanter on the table with his chin.
[20:46:42] Mholmes: Kaltrain obliges Sebastian. "What's the situation with the drugs?"
[20:47:36] Sebastian: Sebastian takes a sip, "Well, production is about where predictions say it should be, perhaps a bit higher," he pauses, "Oh come now! I can't drink this alone, pour yourself a glass."
[20:49:48] Mholmes: Kaltrain pours himself some as well. "I suppose Isadora won't mind? Her supply is running low, you know."
[20:52:15] Mholmes: "OK, the supply is good, that's fine. But what happend to the advisor?" he asks. "That Salast character?"
[20:53:12] Sebastian: "What do you mean what happened to him? He's still doing the same thing he's been doing for the past couple of days..."

[21:01:52] Mholmes: In another part of the camp, Isadora finds Fazeris talking to her sister. "I hear that the ship might be leaving soon, Leuta."
[21:03:25] Isadora: "Goddamn right it's leaving soon, one way or another." Isadora looks like she's barely keeping her temper under control.
[21:03:33] Isadora: ...As she strides up.
[21:05:19] Mholmes: Fazeris turns to her, "Ah, Isadora, good to see you. What do you know about the ship's departure?"
[21:06:40] Isadora: "Nothing new. We're working to lift the fog, then they've got to go." She takes a few long breaths, still simmering, then says to Fazeris, "I need to talk to you." She shoots a look at Leuta. "Alone."
[21:16:51] Mholmes: Leuta shoots a look back that says, "like I care" and she leaves. Fazeris smiles watching her go before turning to Isadora.
[21:17:48] Isadora: Isadora doesn't even seem to notice. She says, "I've been gone for months. I'm distant from events at home. What can you tell me about Marvars?"
[21:18:14] Isadora: She starts to pace, fingers drumming on the hilt of her rapier.
[21:24:47] Mholmes: "Marvars?" he says. "Well, he's gotten himself involved with the Marquis of Greensward. Some big business deal. I'm not sure what it's about. But if I know Marvars at all, he probably owes the Marquis big. And the Marquis is about as no-nonsense as they come."
[21:25:13] Mholmes: "Basically it would be no time to cross him," says Fazeris with some insight.
[21:25:20] Mholmes: He grins.
[21:26:54] * Isadora shoots a hard look at Fazeris, and actually smiles, very briefly. "Let's say I already had. Let's say I wanted to know what would happen to this place once a skyship full of bad news sailed in."
[21:30:03] Isadora: "I need to provide for the camp. To make those plans, I need to know how he'll react."
[21:31:37] Mholmes: "Well, depends on who he has here on who he can count, I suppose? Who do you count as more your ally than his?" he says. "I don't think he could afford another army to send to attack this one."
[21:31:56] Mholmes: "But I can't say about the Sel-kai backers."
[21:33:48] * Isadora shrugs. "Half of the men are starting to go native, anyway. The Sel-kai backers I might be able to pause." She thinks of Sebastian and grimaces. "Or not. But the hammer is unlikely to fall immediately, you're saying."
[21:37:46] Mholmes: "Well, given how far out this damn place is, nothing is going to get here soon without the skyships..." he frowns. "You're really thinking of ...what, exactly are you thinking of, Isadora?"
[21:40:08] Isadora: "That's the question, isn't it?" She turns and looks in the direction of the lake for a second, though it's hidden by tents. Turning back, she laughs a little. "I suppose I'm thinking about trying to break away. Fancy that."
[21:42:22] Mholmes: "That's just a bit...crazy, isn't it? What do you hope to accomplish? Marvars won't be able to attack you here, likely. But, well, you'll never be able to go back to Kaitaine, that's sure," he ponders. "But then you told me you never were going back, didn't you."
[21:42:26] Mholmes: He shakes his head.
[21:42:53] Mholmes: "What's out here for you, Isadora?" he has a genuine look of concern on his face.
[21:43:07] Mholmes: "I could give you a home back in Kaitaine, you know."
[21:45:37] Isadora: Isadora's face gets a faraway look. "What's out here? I don't know. You saw how I fit back in Kaitaine, though." She frowns, unconsciously looking in the direction of the lake again. "I feel like I've been asleep all my life, and I'm starting to wake up."
[21:46:09] Isadora: "I never thought I'd be having this conversation first with you, of all people," she adds with a crooked grin.
[21:46:55] Mholmes: "But I could teach you," he says. "You would be my protege in not only fencing, but in style. Soon you'd be the envy of every woman in the city!"
[21:47:15] Mholmes: He seems to be enthusiastically envisioning it.
[21:48:16] Isadora: "Until the next time I lose my temper and go after someone important? I'm not out here by accident, you know." She sounds wistful, though, letting herself imagine it.
[21:51:32] Mholmes: "We could work on that. Not get you into those circumstances. If you were just to act like a lady once in a while..." he trails off, thinking, looking out toward the lake.
[21:52:29] Isadora: "If I were to turn myself into a different person, you mean? You sound like you've been talking to Sebastian." Her voice has an edge, now.
[21:59:11] Mholmes: Fazeris frowns, "Well, what's the alternative? Live in this filth for the rest of your life? However long that is, with those murdering barbarians just across the clearing? That's not realistic, is it?"
[22:01:47] Isadora: "I don't know, damn it. I feel like there's a chance to really build something here, and I want to seize it. But to do that, to even have a chance at holding back the enemy, I'll need time, breathing room." She takes a deep breath. "So, I came for your advice, about Marvars. And I suppose I'll ask for your help, though I've just admitted I have nothing to offer for it."
[22:05:19] Mholmes: "You have plenty to offer," says Fazeris. "But, I am a man of honor. I will help you on principle. What would you have me do?"
[22:06:43] Isadora: "That's an excellent question, for which I hope to have an answer soon. Now that I have a guess as to Marvars' reaction, I need to speak to Dhazari to see if this whole mess is even possible." She hesitates, then adds, "Thank you."
[22:08:40] Mholmes: Fazeris bows wordlessly.
[22:09:30] Mholmes: A bit later, Isadora sees Dhazari heading across the clearing with a woman walking next to him.
[22:20:57] Mholmes: It occurs to her that the woman is one of the refugees. And that from the way they're walking that they must be in courtship.
[22:24:32] Isadora: Isadora, now cooled down enough to have her usual shreds of tact, will pass them by at a discreet distance and give Dhazari a meaningful look--she wants to talk to him, but it's not yet urgent enough to interrupt.
[22:29:59] Mholmes: After a bit, Dhazari dismisses his companion and approaches Isadora. "Yes, lady. What would you say to me?"
[22:31:21] Isadora: "I have a big dose of truth for you. I hope I didn't interrupt a happy moment, but... I need your counsel."
[22:35:01] Mholmes: "I will do my best to help you," says Dhazari in an almost overly formal way.
[22:37:05] Isadora: "Right, then. I'm told you wanted to talk to me about relations with Kaitaine; I have to tell you that they're likely to sour once the skyship returns with news. I can call some favors to mitigate that, however."
[22:45:30] Mholmes: "Relations with Kaitaine?" says Dhazari perplexed. "Damn that Sebastian for a fool. No, I want to ally with you. And your men."
[22:45:42] Mholmes: "Rather, the tribe.."
[22:46:34] * Isadora stops for a second, looking stunned, then laughs. "Not the city? So, if I were thinking of trying to break away from Kaitaine, I wouldn't need to give you the news gently?"
[22:58:23] Mholmes: "No, not at all," he says, pleased.
[22:59:48] Isadora: "Fantastic. We can start talking practicalities, then. And... I think I woke up some big spirits in the lake. You should tell me who I should talk to so I can find out how to apologize."
[23:16:22] Mholmes: Dhazari looks at her quizically, "Perhaps I can help. I know some spirits..."

[20:20:10] Mholmes: Okhfels slogs along through the marsh at the north end of the lake. To the west, the trees of the White Wood loom large though he knows that they are distant.
[20:21:28] * Okhfels hefts a heavy pack, with food, water, and camping gear, and a good axe. On his hip, a sword hangs loose in its scabbard. Somehow, it looks small...
[20:21:58] Okhfels: Though he is moving with purposeful stride, he is watchful. He knows there are still enemies about that want his blood.
[20:26:57] Mholmes: As he stops, suddenly there are hands around his face, covering his eyes. Feminine hands.
[20:27:45] Okhfels: Hm.
[20:29:17] Okhfels: Okhfels grabs the unknown wrists and attempts to do a wrestling throw that will bring his ambusher over his back and into the muck in front of him.
[20:31:51] Mholmes: As he does so, his ambusher takes a step back using Okhfels size against him. Before he knows it he's face down in the muck with his assailant on his back.
[20:33:38] Okhfels: Okhfels struggles to keep from getting drowned. S Hifting ? his stance, he attempts to simply lift the burden, along with himself and his pack, praying that the ground is solid enough.
[20:38:40] Mholmes: His assailant shifts and uses the muck to her advantage. Somehow Okhfels can't shake her.
[20:39:19] Mholmes: She laughs. "I didn't come to play, Okhfels."
[20:39:26] Okhfels: Surprised that he hasn't gotten a knife in the ribs, Okfhels tries to shift around so that he can at least get a look at who it is.
[20:39:37] Mholmes: Looing back, it's Elle.
[20:39:43] Okhfels: "Elle?"
[20:39:54] Okhfels: "Ash and Smoke! What are you doing out here?"
[20:40:19] Mholmes: As he asks, she reaches down and give Okhfels a big kiss holding his head with both hands.
[20:40:35] Okhfels: Assuming she lets him up, Okhfels picks himself up out of the mud and makes sure he hasn't lost anything.
[20:41:46] Mholmes: She stands back as he rises, also half covered in mud, and trying to shake some off.
[20:42:01] Mholmes: She's got a very large smile on her face.
[20:44:46] Okhfels: "Why did you come out here?" Okhfels is serious.
[20:45:55] Mholmes: "I wanted to talk," she replies her smile fading. "This seemed to be a chance to get you alone when I saw you heading out."
[20:46:36] Okhfels: "I'm in a bit of a rush."
[20:48:26] Okhfels: "Can this wait?"
[20:53:56] Mholmes: "I suppose," she says a bit dejectedly. And then, "Well, no. I think that my kiss deserves some answer."
[20:55:32] Okhfels: Okhfels shakes his head, looking around to make sure the commotion hasn't drawn any attention. "You're a warrior, so I'll give it to you straight. I love Isadora."
[20:57:41] Mholmes: Elle seems to consider this for a while. "I'm aware of that. It doesn't bother me."
[20:59:01] Okhfels: "Oh. Okay."
[20:59:48] Mholmes: Elle starts approaching Okhfels with the smile returning on her face.
[21:02:11] Okhfels: Okhfels holds out a hand, palm out. "And I think you're a fine warrior."
[21:13:41] Okhfels: Something occurs to Okhfels. "It turns out, I could use someone to watch my back. Since we're more than halfway there, it'd be a bad thing to send you back, so what do you say you come along, and watch my back?"
[21:15:59] Mholmes: Elle seems slightly dissapointed. She takes his hand and replies, "Fine, I'll come along. But you can't put me off indefinitely."
[21:16:02] Mholmes: She smiles.
[21:23:13] Okhfels: Okhfels regards her grimly. "Come on..." He gets himself put back together and strikes off towards the ruins again.
[21:24:03] Sebastian: Elle holds onto his hand and keeps one eye on their surroundings and one eye on Okhfels.
[21:25:01] Okhfels: Okhfels knows you can't cover ground efficiently while holding hands. This isn't a romantic walk by the lake.
[21:27:29] Okhfels: He is willing to talk, quietly, however. "You should know what's going on. You know that Archelaus and I have a link, ever since we shared that altar-thing in the ruins."
[21:27:37] Okhfels: "Right?"
[21:27:59] Sebastian: She nods, a curious look in her eyes. "Yes..."
[21:28:16] Okhfels: "Well, he used it to attack me, back there in the camp. Take over my body."
[21:28:34] Sebastian: "Why would he do that?"
[21:28:52] Okhfels: "You were there. He pledged himself to that evil god-thing in the White Wood."
[21:29:03] Sebastian: Elle looks deeply into Okhfel's eyes, perhaps trying to ensure that he really is Okhfels.
[21:30:56] Okhfels: Okhfels goes on explaining. "I don't know anything else to do to try to break that link, but to go back to the ruins."
[21:31:38] Sebastian: Elle thinks for a moment, "Oh... I suppose that does make sense."
[21:31:56] Okhfels: "It's crazy, but I don't have a lot of choice."
[21:33:18] Sebastian: Even slowed by Elle, Okhfels has made it into the ruins. Up ahead he can see the dome.
[21:34:28] Okhfels: Still wary, Okhfels plunges into the ruins, making straight for the dome.
[21:35:16] Sebastian: Okhfels gets a strange feeling of anticipation as he approaches. It's not danger, just a sense of... waiting. It grows stronger the closer he gets.
[21:37:09] Okhfels: (is the door open?)
[21:39:21] Sebastian: The door stands open, just as the party left it before entering the White Wood.
[21:39:33] Okhfels: Okhfels turns to Elle, and looks at her a moment. "She... she'd follow me anywhere... "
[21:39:38] Okhfels: (thinking)
[21:40:10] Okhfels: Okfhels says, "Come on inside. Best you're in here, where you won't be spotted."
[21:40:26] Okhfels: Okhfels drops his pack, and fishes out the crown of white metal from it.
[21:42:03] Sebastian: Elle follows Okhfels inside, as she passes through the doorway she brushes her face as if to wipe something from it.
[21:42:55] Okhfels: "I don't know what's going to happen... maybe nothing. But if it all goes bad... well... you'll know what to do."
[21:43:22] Okhfels: Okhfels puts his sword down by his pack, then moves over to the altar.
[21:44:07] Sebastian: Okhfels here's a soft scraping from above.
[21:44:14] Okhfels: Okhfels looks up.
[21:45:17] Sebastian: Okhfels has just a moment to recognize a giant mountain spider dropping from the celing. It must have moved in since the door was left open.
[21:46:30] Sebastian: The spider drops from the ceiling falling straight toward Okhfels.
[21:46:32] Okhfels: Okhfels dives across the altar to avoid the enormous vermin.
[21:50:55] Sebastian: Okhfels rolls accross the altar as the spider lands with a thump. Okhfels lands on his feet facing the now-hissing spider. It seems a bit put off that it's prey escaped.
[21:51:34] Okhfels: "Throw me my sword!" Okhfels shouts, and then uses the only weapon he has available to him... Mind Shout. He tries to focus it on the spider.
[21:54:14] Sebastian: The spider seems momentarily distracted by Okhfels' mind shout. It pauses just long enough for Elle to grab the sword and toss it to Okhfels.
[21:56:41] Okhfels: Okhfels catches the sword in midair, and as the spider tries to come around the altar, Okhfels deals a mighty blow.
[21:57:08] Okhfels: Okhfels shoves the twitching body away from the gruesome head.
[21:57:20] Okhfels: "That'll teach me to leave my sword behind."
[21:57:37] Sebastian: Elle rushes up to Okhfels and throws her arms around him. "Are you alright?"
[21:59:05] Okhfels: "Oh, please... I'm fine. Go on..." He gently peels her off of him.
[22:00:25] Sebastian: Elle reluctantly release him. "So... why did we come here again?"
[22:00:44] Okhfels: "To try to shut Archelaus out of my head for good."
[22:01:15] Sebastian: "Oh. Is there anything I can do to help? Do you even know where we should start?"
[22:01:38] Okhfels: Okhfels puts the Crown of White Metal on his head, the last of his resistance to the act gone. "No idea. All I know is that this dome is the key."
[22:03:51] Sebastian: Elle looks at Okhfels a bit anxiously. "So... now what? You lay down on the altar?"
[22:04:29] Okhfels: "Yeah. That's how it works. So just keep an eye out for me... I wouldn't want another of those things getting me while I'm out."
[22:04:55] Okhfels: Okhfels climbs up on the altar, and lies back down in the depression where he had lain what seems like weeks ago.
[22:05:17] Sebastian: Elle nods determinedly. "Don't worry, I'll watch out for you." She draws her sword and stands ready.
[22:05:37] Okhfels: Okhfels sets his jaw, closes his eyes, and lies down in the depression.
[22:27:03] Sebastian: Okhfels concentrates. Slowly a ghostly thread seems to come into focus behind his eyelids. He can "feel" that it's the thing binding him to Archelaus. He mentally pulls at it, but it resists tearing. Okhfels focuses for a moment and imagines a sword cutting through the thread. It parts with a mental snap, snapping his eyes open. He's... free.
[22:27:54] Okhfels: Okhfels lets out a low groan as the tension is released from his body.
[22:28:53] Sebastian: Elle hurries over and cups his face, "Are you alright?"
[22:29:24] Okhfels: He smiles, "Yes... it's done. I'm free of that madman."
[22:29:52] Sebastian: She smiles, leans over, and kisses him quickly. "Thank goodness."
[22:30:23] Okhfels: Okfhels quickly slips the crown off his head as he climbs down off the altar-thing.
[22:30:50] Sebastian: Elle looks up at him, "So, now what?"
[22:31:24] Okhfels: "Now I can go back..." Okfhels looks around the dome.
[22:36:11] Sebastian: Okhfels senses a sort of kinship with the dome, he can tell that he is now permanently connected to it somehow.
[22:36:55] Okhfels: "Or maybe..."
[22:41:31] Mholmes: Okhfels remembers seeing what Archelaus was seeing just then, and thinking. He was in the temple on the island. And he was going to take a gem...
[22:41:54] Okhfels: "Ohh..." it dawns on Okhfels where Archelaus is, and WHO he is.
[22:42:28] Okhfels: "I'm going back in, Elle. Archelaus is messing about on the island."
[22:43:01] Sebastian: "And that's bad?"
[22:43:21] Okhfels: "Very bad. Archelaus has gone evil."
[22:43:31] Okhfels: Okhfels considers going to the island in person, or using the dome...
[22:53:00] Okhfels: Okhfels lies back down in the altar.
[22:54:39] Egani: <<Okhfels? Why shouldn't he go?>>
[22:55:55] Okhfels: <<Because then he'll be free to work his magic elsewhere.>>
[22:56:56] Egani: <<Delay him with conversation.>>

[20:07:58] Mholmes: Everyone stands on the island now, having exited the boat. The temple, up close, is crumbling. The fact that this cannot be seen from afar is a testament to it's massiveness.
[20:08:29] Tamul: That looks like an excellent place to explore.
[20:08:53] * Egani helps Marcia out of the boat and stands, gazing raptly at the ruins. "Where is Haik?"
[20:09:03] Arch-Aaron: "Has anyone ever noticed how testy warriors get when the subject of body switching comes up?"
[20:09:18] * Arch-Aaron is trying to figure out the geometry of this place.
[20:09:32] Tamul: It's almost as if they've put all their eggs in one basket.
[20:09:38] Tamul: Warriors, that is.
[20:10:03] Tamul: The life of the mind garners much longer lasting rewards.
[20:10:14] *** Ice_Weasel is now known as Ice_Weasel_AFK.
[20:12:37] * Tamul will start examining the walls of the ruined temple, in hopes of sigils, symbols, etc.
[20:19:06] Mholmes: Neither Tamul nor Archelaus can make any sense of the symbology on the temple. Odd for Archelaus, who can at least usually tell if it's theist in nature.
[20:20:24] Tamul: Oh hell, this thing needs some study. Did anyone else bring rubbing paper? *Pulls some out and commences to acquire the most interesting clusters of symbols.
[20:21:13] Egani: Dropping into Symbolic Sight, Egani begins studying essense flows about the complex, looking for power centers and anomalies.
[20:21:45] Mholmes: The one obvious thing about the symbology is that some of the shapes look to be faceted objects. Like worked gems.
[20:22:54] Mholmes: Egani has the same trouble that the others have. There's essence here, and lots of it. But it is all blurred by the power of the channeling beings that are involved with the place. Egani might guess gods. But Archelaus knows this isn't the case...
[20:24:10] Tamul: Tamul, oblivious as usual to incalculable wealth, will hum as he traces around something priceless and faceted.
[20:30:16] Mholmes: The entrance to the place is huge, beckoning. And also intimidating.
[20:31:30] * Egani enters, looking around.
[20:34:27] * Arch-Aaron follows him
[20:35:14] Egani: "By the way Archelaus, what's Aaron doing with your body?"
[20:36:01] Tamul: Absently, /me makes an idle comment.
[20:36:07] Arch-Aaron: "Hmm, I hadn't really considered that in any great detail"
[20:36:51] Tamul: Receiving no answer, you hear Tamul yelping, "Hey, guys, wait up!" as he comes trotting in.
[20:36:54] Egani: "And what happens if one body dies? Or if the soul is trapped? Can you talk to your exchangee?"
[20:39:14] Egani: "Which of you can induct new members into the Brotherhood of Knowledge? Is Aaron recruiting members of your new psychotic chaos family or could you, for instance, recruit yourself? Your situation leaves much to ponder."
[20:39:27] Arch-Aaron: "I've never really tried. I usually fairly manic when I attempt this little trick."
[20:40:15] Tamul: It's cause you use Speed to cast spells, isn't it? My old master couldn't go a day without using magic.
[20:42:11] Tamul: I find a nice cup of tea will often calm things right down, though.
[20:42:23] Arch-Aaron: "More possessed by chaos demons actually, but I can see how speed would do much the same thing."
[20:43:06] Mholmes: The inside gallery seems to take up a vast space, but not nearly the whole of the temple.
[20:44:40] Egani: Egani calls out into the echoing gallery, "Knock, knock! Anyone in here?"
[20:45:01] Tamul: Shh, you'll scare the bats!
[20:45:35] Arch-Aaron: "And the demons--they can be surprisingly timid."
[20:46:10] Tamul: "They're just looking for a way to get off this rock, same as the rest of us."
[20:48:09] Arch-Aaron: "I think I should cast about a bit and find out what used to go on here."
[20:49:02] Mholmes: From the other end of the chamber, a light starts up...two lights actually, that burn bright enough to make it hard to look in that direction.
[20:49:45] Tamul: "Could you turn the lights down? They're a little bright."
[20:49:57] * Arch-Aaron strides towards them.
[20:50:09] Arch-Aaron: chanting as he goes
[20:50:26] * Egani unconciously checks the essence to see if anything intelligible is happening.
[20:50:39] Mholmes: The symbolic sight of all of the wizards is going bonkers with that familiar sense that this is magic, but not that which they can understand.
[20:51:26] * Egani follows Aarolaus, using his bulk to block the worst of the light sources.
[20:51:28] Tamul: "Also, will you present your essential form in an intelligible way? This just wasn't covered in my tradition."
[20:52:12] Arch-Aaron: Egani notices a field of essence growing around Aaron's body. A protection of some sort.
[20:52:34] * Tamul , ever last, pulls his sword and joins the other two. He checks behind for sneaky demon children.
[20:55:52] Mholmes: As they approach, looking at the sources of the light through shading fingers reveals that the objects so glowing are two massive gemstones. About the size of Egani's head.
[20:56:13] Tamul: "Oh." He sounds dejected.
[20:56:29] Tamul: "Wait, are those the source of the essence!"
[20:57:39] Tamul: "?"
[21:00:43] * Arch-Aaron takes hold of one of the stones
[21:01:58] * Egani swings open the cover of one of his large books and finds the words to chant for finding spirits.
[21:03:48] * Tamul pokes the other gemstone with his sword.
[21:14:07] Mholmes: An emanation seems to come out of the light. It seems to look like an animal, huge, towering over the group. It seems to have a questioning look on it's face.
[21:15:19] * Egani smiles and spreads hands out to sides. "Hello?"
[21:15:25] * Tamul puts up his sword and bows. "Hello, my name is Tamul."
[21:16:20] Tamul: From the side of his mouth "Aaron, I think you shouldn't provoke that person."
[21:18:56] Mholmes: The thing still seems unsatisfied, looking for answers as to who it is who holds it's gem.
[21:19:57] Arch-Aaron: "I am Archelaus of Danarchus, High Pr..."
[21:20:17] * Egani points at Aaron, "This construct is named Aaron. It is currently possessed by a man named Archelaus who is living in another world."
[21:20:37] Arch-Aaron: Archelaus long habits of secrecy take hold and he stops speaking just in time.
[21:20:49] Egani: "Archie, maybe you should let go of the gem."
[21:21:25] Tamul: "Or try to placate it. Stroking?"
[21:22:21] Mholmes: The thing gets a look on it's face like it's not really getting what's going on, and that just stomping on everybody might solve the problem.
[21:22:38] Egani: "Marcia, get in the boat."
[21:24:48] Tamul: Addressing the majestic spirit, "Mighty one, we have brought you this construct as a symbol of peace. Will you accept it, and honor us?"
[21:26:37] * Egani begins painting in the air with essences, like happiness-day fireworks back home, but not visible to all.
[21:26:47] * Arch-Aaron stands as still as he can, attempting to imitate a mindless construct.
[21:56:46] Mholmes: Magic fills the air as Egani tries to improvise. Tamul helps him by offering his Pact Wine. The spirit doesn't take this (it seems likely it can't), but it smiles at the offering. Nor the offered essence, really. In fact, it seems somewhat bemused by all of this. It's face is no longer a threatening one. Though not precisely friendly either.
[21:59:41] * Tamul pours out some of the wine as a libation on the ground for the spirit's part and partakes of what remains.
[22:00:36] Mholmes: It would also seem that the thing seems not to have accepted Aaron, either. It seems unimpressed with gifts.
[22:02:14] * Egani backs away and out of the room and to the boat.
[22:02:50] Tamul: "May we aid you before we go, spirit of the depths?"
[22:11:49] * Egani waits thirty seconds and begins rowing for Haikain's camp.
[22:19:06] Mholmes: Tamul, watching back into the temple sees Aaron start to shake a bit.
[22:20:06] Tamul: Tamul gently removes the gemstone from Archie-Aaron's palsied hand and sets it down.
[22:28:10] Mholmes: Aaron, still shaking grabs it back up before it even hits the stone. He's still shaking all over, however. Then suddenly it stops, and Tamul could swear that Aaron looks a little tired.
[22:33:41] Tamul: "Well, Aaron, ready to head back to civilization?"
[22:43:29] Arch-Aaron: "I...think this gem would be really ... useful"
[22:44:19] Tamul: "Hmmm, well I can take it off your hands if you want, Aaron, but I'd rather just leave it here."
[22:44:24] Arch-Aaron: "Why don't you go back, Tamul? I have something I...need to do."
[22:45:01] Arch-Aaron: "No, I need to give it to someo...thing."
[22:45:11] Tamul: "I could never leave my brother all alone in a dark and spooky ruined temple."
[22:45:35] Tamul: "I think it's best if we just go back home and have a nice cup of tea."
[22:49:51] Arch-Aaron: "No! leave me, I'm on a mission fom my God!" a wild look comes over Aaron's usually tranquil face which now seems, to Tamul's trained eyes, to be covered by a blood-red mask.
[22:52:24] Okhfels: <<Tamul! Egani! You have to stop Aaron, somehow... he's got Archelaus's mind inside, a servant of an evil god! I don't know what you can do, but you can't let him switch back to where he came from!"
[22:54:02] Tamul: "I see that that's very important to you, Archelaus. Now give up that gem, and I won't banish you to the hell from whence you came!"
[22:57:15] * Egani leaves the boat once more, returning to the main gallery.
[23:16:10] Egani: Egani stalks purposely across the gallery with small relics clutched in one raised hand, chanting loudly and presses his opposite spread palm against Aaron's brass-barred torso.
[23:28:20] Mholmes: Archelaus manages to somehow ignore the psychic noise, and Tamul's chatter as well. But they're almost enough for a moment that he can't seem to break through the wall that Egani is forming for his soul. But then the power of his spell breaks through, and the wall crashes down. Suddenly he's propelled back to the eye and his own body.
[23:28:25] Mholmes: Fahja laughs.

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