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From: [e-mail] (Lance Dooly)
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Subject: STORY: The Tales of Dark Haven (Chapter 31)
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Date: 30 Nov 1995 08:14:17 -0500
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------- The Tales of Dark Haven ---------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-                                                                            -
- These stories are from an on-going E-mail campaign, and are currently      -
- maintained by Lance Dooly ([e-mail]).  New stories will be  -
- posted in rec.games.frp.archives and are available for anonymous FTP       -
- at tfnet.ils.unc.edu in /pub/dark.                                         -
-                                                                            -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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-------- Chapter 31: Saicha Returns ... Decision Time for the Eidolon --------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(DM:)
You all get back towards the broken down double door, some more
reluctant than others. Some stare away in the flames at the side,
contemplating the grave and difficult situation you are all in.

When the hour is up, the room in front of you shimmers slightly, as if
an enchantment has been lifted, and you see a secret door standing
open behind the altar on the far end of the wall. Through it steps
Saicha. She seems in conversation, and you look to as more of the
strange aliens come forth.

Seven in all, including Saicha. There are three more women, dressed
similarly to Saicha, also with long hair, but two are blond with pale
green eyes, and one has black hair and deep dark brown eyes. The men
all have short cropped hair, but no beards or mustaches. One of the
males, the tallest of them and with dark hair and dark eyes, has a
small circlet on his head. He seems to be the leader, and Saicha is
talking to him in hushed tones that you cannot hear nor understand.
None are visibly armed, and all are tall and thin, dressed in a simple
robe with a metallic looking belt.

The one with the circlet turns to look at you, and you see he also
wears an amulet, an octagonal thing with strange colors and designs
all over it, involving swirls and stars, hanging off of a silverish
chain.

He looks at the others of his group one last time, and speaks warily/
tiredly to you. He speaks in perfect normal common.

(Alien Leader:)
"So. You are the foretold ones. You are the ones sent by your gods to
set us free and avenge our brethren lost to your savage forefathers."

His voice is rich and deep, but suffers from him seeming extremely
tired, physically as well as emotionally and mentally.

"I have been told that Saicha has made clear our needs. We must be set
free from the constraints put around us by the treacherous minions of
the Ildinarzherdar, so we may take command of our Faithful and avoid
an unnecessary disaster. We must also be able to free the others, by
rooting up the barriers set up about the other Houses of Faith."

He looks at his own companions, and makes a sweeping hand gesture.

"My friends and I are grateful for your coming. Long have we awaited
and prepared for this day. But let us delay no further, let us get to
the task of breaking the barrier."

At that, the Ardanarzherdar await a response from you guys!

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana didn't hesitate.  This was history in the making, and she knew
what the others had decided.  She wanted the words to be immortalized
by her.

She stepped forward.

"We have discussed it amongst ourselves.  Though our history has lost
the legend you speak of, we have decided it is the best thing to do.
The mistakes of our forefathers will not be repeated by us."

"We will do as you request, and remove a pole thus breaking the
barrier that binds you."

(Arlon:)
Tatiana moves forward to accept the mission for everyone, again his
love is quicker to speak than he.

(Tatiana:)
She paused to see how the announcement was received.

(Alien Leader:)
The tall man with the circlet nods, accepting the answer as though
expecting it.

(Tatiana:)
"We have a request to ask of you as well.  It is not a requirement
just a request.  We were sent here to make contact with you, and to
recover our fallen friend's belongings.  If you could assist us in
returning their belongings and us back to Dark Haven in one piece, we
would be deeply appreciative."

She fell silent to see what they would say.

(Alien Leader:)
Again the man nods. "Of course. Such we could do. As to the items you
speak of, I cannot guarantee they can be found easily, but if they
can, we will bring those too. We will surely ensure you in your return
to Dark Haven, that we can do without problem and surely."

(Arlon:)
After Tatiana is finished, Arlon will give her a solid smack on the
butt         'SMACK'

He will be smiling if she looks at him.  He then speaks to the
Ardanarzherdar. "Are you able to give us any information about this
barrier that could help us bring it down - is there a weak point, a
keypole ? Will our magic be reflected as theirs was ? Will a conjured
creature such as an elemental be able to pass through it?"

(Alien Leader:)
The same man replies, and all the while the others are completely
silent, and move not.

"It matters not. The integrity must be broken, and the entire barrier
will collapse. Any pole will do. Yes, I would expect your magic to be
reflected as well, and I doubt conjured creatures could pass through.
The reason we will need your help is thus. Once the barrier goes down,
our minds will be flooded with the perceptions and knowledge of all
that passes outside. Currently our awarenesses have been bound to this
small patch of the continent. Once that flood of information hits us,
we will be stunned for some time, in which the traitorous Gur Rakhar
could slaughter us. We need you to form a shield for us during our
moments of weakness. Once you leave this House of Faith, we will
barricade ourselves inside, so the natives cannot reach us during our
weakness, while you go forth and break the barrier. You will be on
your own for some time then, and as soon as we have recuperated, we
will come forth to aid you. Once the traitorous ones have been
defeated, we will send you home, with any items that you seek that we
can locate."

(Arlon:)
"It looks like we need to come up with a plan.  Dithion, your strength
could be useful in removing a pole - are you willing to help?"

(Dithion:)
Dithion seems deep in thought, and seemingly ignores Arlon.  He says,
"So, we will be in the same situation either way.  Hmm."  He asks the
'leader' "You will be weakened when the barrier is taken down?  For
how long will you be stunned?"  He pauses and then adds, "So that we
will know how long we will be on our own against the natives."

(Alien Leader:)
The man stares at you for a minute, as if looking for something, and
then replies.

"We would be stunned for approximately ten to thirty minutes as you
count the time. Some of us are more receptive to the change, and some
of us also have more resilience than others. During that stretch of
time, our minds will be overflooded with information, and it will take
some time to get used to that effect again, and assimilate it all. We
will be aware of what is going on, but will be unable to aid you
effectively. Should we try to throw some destructive magic to aid you,
we could not guarantee whether it would hit the Gur Rakhar or
yourselves, as our perceptions will be too hazy and confused.  Rest
assured that you have only to worry about your own safety, we can
still defend ourselves within the limited constraints of the temple.
Outside, we could be slaughtered, as the Gur Rakhar come at us from
all sides, and overwhelm us. Once we barricade the temple, only shaman
with special traveling powers can enter here, and thus be easily
dispatched. Also, they will not be very willing to come at us, knowing
that they have such short time."

(Silver:)
Silver looks sideways at Dithion and frowns. After the tall alien has
finished speaking, Silver says "A moment more to discuss one more
thing, if you would allow it ..." Pausing, she then says in quite a
forceful voice "Dithion - I need a word with you. Now." and walks back
down the corridor to the statue room, out of sight of the others.




Silver marches to the statue room to talk to Dithion, who follows ...

(Silver:)
When she arrives there she spins around, pointing one hand at Dithion
in an accusing manner. "Ok, my friend, just _what_ is going on ? Don't
think I haven't guessed what you meant back there. Just _why_ do you
object to what the others have decided ? What is going on here ?"

"This is no time for deception or keeping things to yourself. What
connection do you have with the Demon Lord behind the wall back in
Dark Haven ? Come now - what are you keeping from me ? Tell me,
dammit !" and she stands, hands on hips, waiting for a reply that she
can believe.

OOC: Dithion may notice a slight tone of desperation in her voice at
     the end. She _knows_ what he is planning, but needs to know why.

(Dithion:)
Dithion says, "Silver, I don't know what I am planning...I just have a
really bad feeling about this...really bad.  We are in way over our
heads."

Dithion then sighs and says, "I don't trust them."

(Silver:)
Silver still looks at Dithion with a suspicious look. "I can
understand that you don't trust them - I don't either. But there is
one who I trust with my soul. I asked Her for guidance, and She said
that I should help them. That I will do without question."

"You have kept some parts of yourself hidden from me, Dithion, which I
respect. Yet I feel I can trust your word, even if not your motives."
This is said in quite a matter-of-fact tone.

"So I ask you plainly. Will you attempt to cause them hurt in any form
while they are in a weakened state ? And will you try to prevent any
of us from helping them ?"

Silver waits for a response.

(Dithion:)
Dithion sighs and says, "Nay, I will stand with my friends to the end."

(Silver:)
Silver searches Dithion's face intently for a long moment, as if
searching for the hidden truths in his mind, then nods tersely toward
Dithion as if satisfied - for the moment.

Next, she asks Dithion "And what of the Demon Lord trapped back in
Dark Haven ?  What is the truth about that ?"

(Dithion:)
His face tightens at this and he says, "That is a story for another
time...maybe if we survive this."  He walks back to the others without
another word.

(Silver:)
Silver breathes deeply, then says "Well now, time to return I think"
and moves to go back to the others.



As Silver and Dithion rejoin the others, the rest of the group
continue to talk to the tall alien ....

(Arlon:)
"I think it is time to use our potions of flying and invisibility."

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana looks sharply at Arlon thinking *Should we be making a plan in
front of the aliens ?*

Aloud, she says "I don't think that will be necessary.  The natives
can do nothing more than shoot heartseeker grubs at you.  They cannot
cross the boundary for it destroys them.  As you know, I myself have
already been outside and approached the barrier with the aid of a
missile protection spell.  I stayed out of range of their heartseeker
grubs and blow guns of course.  And the spell doesn't do any good
against magical missiles but the barrier stops all other magical
attacks while it is intact."

"However once the barrier is down, the natives can attack us freely.
That is when whoever knocks it down would like to be invisible, and
perhaps fly."

"Then again the natives may flee in panic when they see what we are
trying to do.  But I doubt it."

(Arlon:)
"That is my point my dear.  Those who go to breech the barrier will be
invisible and able to fly, this way they should be undetectable until
the last second - while the rest are creating a diversion.  Here are
my thoughts.

"We split into two groups. One group will remove a stake while the
others create the diversion. The stake group will use the invisibility
and fly potions so they can make their way to the poles while the
native's attention is diverted to the other group.  And your idea,
Silver, of one of us pretending to be Saicha, could be a good
diversion.  Tatiana, if Tuft could give us any idea where the greatest
concentration of Shaman are - we should choose a stake on the other
side of that.

"The two groups I had in mind were: Keilan, Dithion, Silver and Falrun
as the pole group and Tatiana, Shade and myself as the diversion
group.  As we emerge from the temple, the pole group would fly slowly
to the target pole.  This will allow time for the natives to react to
the diversion group.  We should know the pole is out by the reaction
of the natives.  When the pole is out, the pole group should make it
back to us quickly, then we defend together.  Some of the details
still need to be worked out; but that is the bulk of it."

(Tatiana:)
"As to the diversion, I think it would be best for 'Saicha' to show up.
That should strike terror into their hearts.  I could loan my magical
gloves that help you snare missiles shot at you.  And a protection
from missile spell should guarantee you won't be hurt by a missed one.
And as Silver said, the ring she found can shoot bolt of magical
energy much like Saicha.  The illusion would be perfect."

"As you say, the others can fly invisibly to the other end of the
compound and wrest a pole from the ground.  Then retreat back to the
Temple for defensible ground."

Nodding, she adds "I suggest that we target their spell casters so
when the barrier falls we can attack them first, thus preventing them
from casting a fire ball or a bolt of lighting at us.  We can't stand
up to that kind of power."

"Hmm. Then again, maybe someone should take the ring invisibly to the
shamans and blast them in their midst before they can rain down balls
of fire and lightning while we huddle in the Temple.  Looks grim."

"I volunteer for either mission.  Saicha imitator or the Shaman
killer. I don't think I'm strong enough to pull up a pole though."

"Arlon, Do you think that your 'globe of protection' spell would stop
some of the damage their spells could do to us in the Temple ..."

(Silver:)
Silver will agree to the emerging plan. She has little to contribute
beyond the original impersonation idea, but tries to look interested
as others fill in the details.

(Keilan:)
All in all, Keilan seems to be in a rather noncommittal mood.  At
Ana's proposed plan: "Fine.  Your antics may prove of no benefit, but
at least it'll keep you mages out of the way.  Mostly", looking at
Falrun.

(Silver:)
Silver's eyes roll upwards a little and she puts her head in one hand,
shaking it slowly. When she looks back up, she is half-smiling.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana turned to talk to the aliens again.  "How much time do we have
to accomplish the destruction of the barrier?  The more the better
chance we survive the after effects."

(Alien Leader:)
The leader of the band of Ardanarzherdar looks at you and speaks. "To
me it matters little how much time you need to plan and prepare, for
you it might. The Faithful are now only two days away from the place
you call Dark Haven, and already events there are unfolding that will
require your immediate attention. I suggest you get going within the
hour, so we may send you on your way to Dark Haven, hopefully with any
items we will be able to find that once belonged to your friends.

"Trust me, there are many things going on that you will only understand
when you get to Dark Haven, and the information about your past and
our presence will need to be communicated to the right people at Dark
Haven with greatest haste, lest much be lost. We will eventually win
the war, for your Gods have admitted guilt and promised to send aid
until the task is done."

(Silver:)
Silver pipes up at this and says "What do you know of our Gods ? And
of mine in particular ? What have they said - what information can you
give us of them ?"

(Alien Leader:)
Silver questions the man about the Gods, and the circleted man answers
"When the Ildinarzherdar came to our shores, we felt that they had
escaped the claws of divine justice. Their arrogance and speech
smelled of it.  Your Gods had let these people escape the punishments
on their own continent, and allowed these to escape, and shove their
problem on us. We were not prepared for violence, and many of us were
slaughtered and terrorized. In anger we sent a delegation to the
Council of Powers, to complain with your Gods about their negligence
and fault at letting their charges escape them and fail to aid and
notify us. They admitted guilt, and agreed to aid us in the punishment
of the Ildinarzherdar, as they were meant to have been punished in
what you call the Azithian Race Wars. All your Gods are part of the
agreement, even your Goddess of Nature."

(Silver:)
Silver nods tersely, her question answered.

(Alien Speaker:)
"As I was saying, we will eventually win the war. How much destruction
the process takes however is the question.  The Ildinarzherdar are
powerful, and as far as we know, may already have set plans in motion
across the known spheres. Already forces are directing the Demon
Hordes and sending them to bang on the very Gates of the Seven
Heavens; Legions from the lowest pits of Hell have been charmed to
besiege the Elysium.  Demon Lords are murdered in their Fortresses,
and Gods are fending off invasions of their planes. The allies of the
Ildinarzherdar are stirring the outer planes as we speak, to redirect
the divine attentions of your Gods. On this plane, their treacherous
allies are arming for war, and the standard of death has been raised
in the Yuan-Ti Empire. Also the misguided Dinilzherdar are preparing
for war. With luck, our timely arrival will sway them to our side.
Realize that much more is at stake than you think. What is happening
cannot be stopped anymore.  Should we fail to break free, eventually
the Faithful will set us free, but by then, Dark Haven will have been
lost, and many of the Faithful slaughtered. Our task would be that
much more difficult."



Their course of action decided, the party work out exactly what each
should do ....

(Arlon:)
"Tatiana, you could use Alter Self to make you appear as Saicha.  I'll
use Change Self to appear heavily injured.  You can appear to throw us
out of the entrance to the temple and Shade and I will roll and crawl
a bit to get behind some cover.  Then Tatiana can move to the edge of
the steps and look around in disdain at the natives.  At this point
the plan gets fuzzy about what else Tatiana should do, Shade and I
will be preparing spells."

(Tatiana:)
"Arlon, could you cast a fly on me?  I don't have the energy, and it
would look more impressive if I came hovering out."

(Arlon:)
"Certainly my sweet."

(Tatiana:)
"I think the other invisible ones should move out quickly to a pole
they choose before I make my appearance.  Whoever would like to be
tossed around by me step forward.  I'm going to cast levitate on you
to make the task a bit easier."

(Arlon:)
"That would be Shade and myself, do you have enough for both of us ?"

(Shade:)
"Keep your spells 'Ana, I can levitate by myself. Thanks anyway."

(Arlon:)
"Don't forget to cancel the levitate when you toss me so I look
realistic, also don't throw me from too high" he smiles.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana looked at the new ring on her finger and felt its power. She
cast a spell and her features change to look like Saicha's. "My
protection spell was cast about an hour ago, so it will last for maybe
another twenty minutes.  This spell will also last about twenty
minutes."

(Arlon:)
"Do you know how to use the powers of the ring Tatiana?"

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana nodded.  "Yes, in imparted knowledge to me when I put it on.
All I have to do is concentrate."

(Arlon:)
To Keilan, Falrun, Silver and Dithion who will soon be taking the
invisibility potions, he says "Remember you only need to drink about
one third of the potion. That should give you each a couple hours of
invisibility, unless dispelled."

(Tatiana:)
"I'm going to cast a wall of fog to provide cover for retreating
individuals as well."

(Arlon:)
"Wait on that Tatiana, the pole team will not be going after a pole
that is in front of us.  The Wall of Fog would not help them, plus it
would block our view.  I want to see what the drow and shaman are up
to.  I may need to cast a force wall to protect us."

"The invisible people can just say to us when they have cleared the
entrance. The natives could not hear them talk to us."




And so the plan comes to reality ... but will it work ?

(Silver:)
Silver will take the flying potion before the invisibility potion and
try it out.  She leaps forward, like a bird taking off, her arms
spread wide to catch the air, but hits one of the walls with her
flailing arm.  "Wow, I think this is going to take a little getting
used to - there's no effort involved at all ..." Landing more
gracefully, she takes the invisibility potion.

(Falrun:)
Falrun will take a swig of the invisibility and fly potions as
planned.  After the rest of the pole team has done the same, he will
say, "Ok, we will fly up to just under the anti-magic shell and see
where the weakest concentration of natives is.  Then let's all head
for that spot.  As Arlon pointed out, in the midst of all the
commotion, we should be able to talk to each other so that nobody runs
into each other."

(Silver:)
"You had better decide where that spot is, Falrun, and tell us. Wait
till we all answer before going down there."

(Falrun:)
"Let's go."  With that, he flies out the door, quietly calling
directions as he goes so that everyone else may follow.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana then took position at the entrance to the Temple waiting for
the cue that the invisible ones had left.  She then started her play
acting.

"So the game begins. Be careful all. I have decided it would be best
to cast a wall of fog to provide cover for retreating individuals as
well."

She cast the spell to produce the fog, and a billowing mass of mist
gushed from around her feet.  She lifted off the ground and moved out
into the courtyard bellowing. She lifted Arlon off the ground with a
display of great strength.

(Silver:)
As they take off, Silver looks down to where Tatiana emerges amid
roiling smoke and bolts of light, arms outstretched. Just a bit of
enhanced music would really make her name as a bard with stage
presence, thought Silver. Look at those effects !  ;-)

(Tatiana:)
She let out a scream and bellowed her rage. She hoped the natives were
falling for it.



While Tatiana provides the distraction by throwing Arlon and Shade
around, the rest head off for a pole ...

(Falrun:)
After getting airborne, he scans the rear half of the circle for a
weak area of the line of poles.  Once he discovers one, he will call
quietly, "There, let's head for the one in the (twelve o'clock, one
o'clock, eleven o'clock etc... what ever it may be as the rear of the
circle will be the noon position) position."  He will continue to call
out directions for guidance until they get close to the poles, at
which time they will join up and link hands in order to avoid
confusion.

(DM:)
Shade and Arlon are the first to crawl out of the opening of the
temple complex, crawling away as though scared, quickly followed by
Tatiana/Saicha.  Tatiana/Saicha 'hurls' the badly beaten looking Shade
and Arlon, who huddle among the broken pillars and fallen stone blocks
of the temple area. Meanwhile, Falrun, Silver, Dithion and Keilan rush
outside invisibly, and look around at an opportune point in the native
defenses.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana put on her best acting skills as she exited the Temple, and
"threw" Arlon and Shade out into the open courtyard.  She prayed to
Lanthander that the fog she had conjured would help the others get
back to the shelter of the Temple.  She wasn't sure what to expect
when the barrier fell.

She ranted and raved to the best of her abilities trying not to look in
the direction she knew her invisible friends flew.

(DM:)
While a fog arises inside the temple grounds, and Tatiana/Saicha
growls and shouts at the cowering Shade and Arlon, Keilan and Falrun
quickly spot that the lightest defense is opposite the direction you
came, the Gur Rakhar 'HQ' seems to be right between you and Dark
Haven, and that is where most of the Shamen etc are.

Flying invisibly toward one of the poles, you notice the natives
getting agitated, and standing by with spears, machete type weapons,
clubs with wicked teeth set in, and here and there with blow pipes,
unsure what to do with the current situation. While flying towards the
stake, the 'pole-pulling' team will feel very uncanny, both at not
being able to see each other, as well as having natives stare right
through you. Falrun guides the group by continuously talking softly,
his voice a guidance.

(Falrun:)
When the pole is reached, we will try to pull it out.

(Silver:)
When the pole is reached, Silver will reach for the top of the pole,
just under the skeleton impaled upon it. She will be alert for
anything to suggest that the skeletal figures are anything but
naturally dead. At Falrun's whispered command she pulls the stake
towards her and upwards. If the stake does not come immediately free,
she will push it away to loosen the base.

(DM:)
After some few seconds, you reach the grisly totem, and you notice
that the pole's surface is drenched in blood and inscribed with
strange runes.  Deciding it is now or never, at a single command by
Falrun, your fearless leader, all grasp towards the pole. You
yourself, and more notably the natives are quite shocked to see
yourselves become visible and lose the flying abilities upon touching
the pole/crossing the boundary (which you cannot avoid, at the least
your hand grasping the pole will partly breach the barrier).

(Silver:)
As Silver's hand grasps the pole, she stops, stunned, looking at her
own hand. She couldn't understand for a brief moment, then understood
- the barrier had removed the effects of the invisibility. She only
broke free of her thoughts when Keilan muttered "Pull, damn you !"

(DM:)
Though shocked, the down to earth Keilan, shouts to 'heave' the pole,
and all put their strength behind it. For all it's magical prowess,
the staff comes free from the ground quite easily, but by now a whole
bunch of surprised and not too happy looking natives brandishing
weapons rush you, and those with missile weapons prepare to fire even
as the pole with the bloody skeleton falls to the earth, destroying
the barrier....

(Tatiana:)
Then the reaction of the natives as they looked behind her told her
the assault on the pole had begun.  She turned to see the four of them
pulling at the base of the pole.  She was surprised to see it lift so
easily.

She watched as the natives rushed towards the heroes as the pole fell
to the ground.  Thank Lathander her friends turned and ran towards the
Temple.

"Arlon, Shade! back to the Temple now!" she shouted without taking her
eyes off of the action occurring by the other four.

She concentrated on her ring and prayed it did what she wanted it to
do.  She looked across the courtyard and scanned it for the shamans.
She pointed her ring at them and as the first natives crossed the
boundary without turning into a puddle of goo, indicating the barrier
was down, she concentrated on a blue bolt of power.

'Please hit the Shamans with all the force you can and miss my friends!'

(DM:)
As soon as the barrier goes down and the commotion begins on the
'back' side, Tatiana begins to launch bolts of blue energy into the
Shamen who stand around directing the Gur Rakhar warriors. A first
bolt slams into a powerful looking shamen, who shrugs it off with a
painful grimace, then others hit him and fellow Shamen. Some get hit
but absorb the bolts (some even glancing off suggesting protective
spells of sorts), a few others go down hard.

In all twelve bolts get fired, by which time the ring goes cold and
turns to dust. The Shamen mill around aimlessly for a moment, and
decide to flee rather than possibly face another such onslaught, the
warriors take heed and follow the Shamen quickly. Those looking at the
retreat notice it is orderly, and the camps had already been struck
down. In mere seconds, the Gur Rakhar disappear in the forest, only
the grisly stakes a token of their earlier presence.

(Arlon:)
After Tatiana started firing her bolts Arlon started to get his
components in order so he could cast spells in quick succession.  He
gave a quick peek to see what effect Tatiana's bombardment was having.
He saw trouble when some of the shaman were able to withstand the
bolts.  He was then surprised to see the natives make somewhat of an
orderly retreat.  He takes a quick scan to see if the drow Tatiana
mentioned was around.  He'll also take a quick scan around where he,
Shade and Tatiana were, just in case some shaman popped in for a
visit.

(Silver:)
The pole came free much easier than she thought. She kept hold of the
pole as she leapt upwards, arms slightly out from her sides,
attempting to invoke these strange powers of flight that the potion
gave her. It was only her automatic reflexes that saved her from
falling flat on the ground. Clenching her hands in frustration at her
own stupidity, she thinks * Damn ! Critical time lost being stupid
_again_ ! *

(Falrun:)
After freeing the pole and becoming visible again you can hear Falrun
mutter, "It figures...".

(Silver:)
Silver looks at the pole in her hands, and backs hurriedly away from
the approaching natives a few steps, gathering what few wits she has
left. Her thoughts go to Shade on the other side of the ruins. They
should be together right now. Shouting "Back to the others .. !" she
will turn and run with all her speed and strength across the rubble,
toward the figure of Tatiana with arms outstretched.

OOC: Oh no. I have a _bad_ feeling about all this ...

(Keilan:)
As the pole team completes its half-baked plan, Keilan sprints back
toward the other group along with (at least) Silver, staff in hand.
"If the gods owe you any favors, now is the time!"

OOC: Hopefully the (ick) Eidolon can at least die together....

(Silver:)
"When we get there, Keilan" is all she can manage to reply, running as
fast as she can.

(Falrun:)
Pulling his blades free of their scabbards, Falrun takes a defensive
posture and tries to slip into the rubble where he'll make his stand.
Using the remains of the building as cover, he'll try to avoid the
missile fire while making the natives come to him and hopefully fight
them on more even terms.

Falrun can already tell, this is going to be the longest 30 minutes of
his life.

(Dithion:)
Dithion backs into the rubble with Falrun....he can also tell this is
going to be the longest 30 minutes of the rest of his life.  He brings
his club out, and gives a grim smile as the natives rush in.....

(Falrun:)
"Well, Dithion, if you have any good defensive spells, I think now
would be a good time to use them."

(Dithion:)
Dithion says, "Aye, I think ye are right, my friend."

He chants briefly,

    "A wanderer's path is filled with danger
     from happy forested hill to hoary hell anger
     What lurks beneath the dark earth is unknown
     show these before me what I have been shown"

(DM:)
When the barrier goes down and the natives rush the 'pole-team',
Silver and Keilan haul outta there as fast as they can, while Dithion
and Falrun delay and retreat more orderly.

(Silver:)
With a dawning realization, she slows enough to look back without
danger of falling flat, and sees Falrun and Dithion making a stand.
She turns, growling in frustration.

"Dammit, come _on_ ! FALRUN ! DITHION ! TO ME !" Silver screams at her
two outnumbered friends. Standing on top of an overturned pillar, she
can see the natives rushing at them. Hurriedly, she begins to chant

    "Mielikki, Your trials are deserved and just,
     yet I ask no favour for undertaking them,
     as Your love is the only reward I need.
     Yet the humblest token of Your power may aid us greatly"

OOC: Dust Devil, In front of Falrun/Dithion, weaving back and forth as
     if to distract the natives, occasionally lashing out at one who
     comes near (blinding them for a moment).

Silver looks at how this affects the natives, and also how Tatiana is
doing. If it seems like it might help, she will cast another dust
devil spell, trying to blind natives closing for the attack.

(DM:)
Meanwhile in the 'back' side, some Gur Rakhar rush Dithion and Falrun,
but after Dithion muttered a quickly uttered spell, a patch filled
with wavy black tentacles springs into existence, and several manage
to snag a native.  The natives slash desperately at the vines, as they
rip at their flesh. To add to that confusion, suddenly a small
whirlwind-like air-elemental appears on the scene, and begins to weave
a path of obstruction between the fleeing Falrun and Dithion and the
now halted and confused natives.

It seems the natives give up, and similar to those at the 'front' of
the Temple complex, they slink away into the forest, and disappear in
no time, leaving three fellows to die in the clutches of the wildly
weaving tentacles.

(Tatiana:)
*Tuft!*

*Yes, I can follow them for a ways.*

*Don't be obvious about it!  Don't even be slightly subtle.  Follow
different groups when you can.  And if you get noticed then get out of
there all together.*

*<sigh> You must think I'm clumsy or something.  I will be very high
in the trees and flying quietly.  Only a very lucky individual will
see me.  And then he would have to be very smart to figure out I'm
more than just your typical owl.*

*Tuft have you seen any other screech owls around on this continent?*

A long pause followed

*I'll be careful* he thought back with more respect and a slight bit
of fear.

(Silver:)
Silver sees most of the natives retreat from Dithion and Falrun, so
does not ask for any more gifts from her goddess. Instead, she runs to
catch up with Keilan as he moves toward Tatiana, Shade and Arlon.

(DM:)
The group assembles around the Temple, and sigh in relief. By the time
you catch your breath, you realize all this took place in the mere
timespan of one or two minutes, maybe four at the most.

(Arlon:)
After the natives disappear into the forest and the pole team started
to return, Arlon will stand.  "You were beautiful Tatiana!"  Then he
looks out into the forest.  "I don't like the looks of this, that was
too easy."

(Keilan:)
Sitting down wearily and leaning against a stone, "Well, what would
you have done, Arlon, if one of the creatures you had worked so hard
to imprison were free and slaying your comrades with ease?  I think
they showed good judgment.  This isn't the only battle in the war.
Saicha said so herself."  Keilan takes his pack and puts it on the
ground, then lays his head down on the makeshift pillow.  And rests.

(Tatiana:)
Tatiana stood with a better than though stance and tried to looked as
godly as she could.  With out looking at Arlon she talked to him.  Her
arms made gestures as if she were giving him a command to do something.

"It was too easy.  And I don't like it.  I get the feeling eyes are
watching to see what we will do.  If I were Saicha, what do you think
I would do?"

(Silver:)
Arriving next to Shade, Silver starts shaking, almost uncontrollably.
"Sorry about this" she says. "I was expecting a full scale battle
here, yet it seems the Gur Rakhar no longer have any heart for it."

Slowly, Silver will calm down and be ready to talk with the others.

She greets Falrun and Dithion as they arrive, then asks "So what now ?
Do we see how Saicha and the others fare ? Search for traces of the
items that the DD left behind ? Or flee to Dark Haven ?"

(Arlon:)
"I think we should stay here and prepare for a large onslaught.  Their
retreat was too orderly, not hysterical like you would expect if they
were fearful.  I think our attack took them by surprise and they are
just regrouping.  I don't think it is over yet.

"Tatiana, keep up the act that you are Saicha just in case they are
watching.  The rest of you gather around me, I don't want them to see
what I am doing."  Arlon starts to pull out some spell components.

(Tatiana:)
"Don't forget to bow to me as if I were Saicha having cowed you."

(Arlon:)
OOC: As Tatiana keeps up her Saicha act, Arlon will try to be a
     groveling, pathetic .. uh .. thing.

Arlon will speak with his face towards the ground: "I think you are
doing fine, just go with it."

(Tatiana:)
She then looked at Arlon in a condescending manner.  "I think I will
check on our hosts to see how they fare.  If we made a mistake, then
now is the time to correct it."

Tatiana turned and went into the Temple.

(Silver:)
Silver smirked a little at Tatiana's haughty pose, thinking to herself
*she plays the part so well .. mind you, Arlon deserved that !*

Aloud, she says "You're right, 'Ana. But I think at least one other
ought to go with you."

Turning to Shade, she adds "Ebu ? The real Saicha seemed interested in
you. How about you go with her ?"

Turning back to Arlon, she asks "Is there any way we could get word to
Mendahl and the others about what has happened here ?"



And so Tatiana and Shade descend back into the temple to check on the
Aliens, to see if they have recovered. The rest wait above ....

(DM:)
To those of you who re-enter the temple complex, you walk down the
steps, smack into a straight jet black granite wall. There is nothing
you can do to remove it. It is obvious that this is how the
Ardanarzherdar have sealed off the complex.



(Falrun:)
After the commotion has died down, Falrun will return to the main
group in front of the temple.  In reply to Silver's question on what
to do and Arlon's actions, Falrun will say, "I think Arlon is right.
We should stand guard and wait for our new 'friends' to regain their
senses."

Falrun will then try to find a high point from which to view the
surrounding area from.

(Silver:)
Silver gladly moves back into the ruins slightly with the others while
Arlon prepares himself. She glances over at Falrun, and is struck by
the almost regal pose he assumes atop the rubble as he peers at the
surrounding forest. *He assumes that stance quite naturally. I wonder
about his heritage*

Shrugging off the thought, Silver moves up next to Shade. Still
looking around the area, she will ask Dithion "Do you think Des might
grant you knowledge of where the DD's items might be now the barrier
has gone ?"

(Arlon:)
As whoever is standing around Arlon to block any searching eyes, you
see him pull out some glittering dust - the dust itself looks black.
He then makes some hand gestures and speaks some arcane words.  When
he is done he says: "That should stop any surprises from in front of
us.  Oh, by the way, I wouldn't walk to far forward unless you want to
smash your nose."

(Silver:)
Silver tentatively puts out a hand, feels it pressing up against
something she can't see, and presses harder. Still no give. She looks
questioningly at Arlon.

(Arlon:)
"Ohh, just a little spell I recently picked up.  Lets just say if
Dithion tried with all his might he couldn't put a dent in it."

(Silver:)
Silver seems quietly amused by Arlon's answer, more by the tone of
assumed modesty than by the comment about Dithion. She smiles slightly
as she turns back from Arlon.




The group take a short moment to rest from the brief but frantic
battle ....

Silver looks at each of her companions closely. The stress and worry
was beginning to show on some ... and on herself as well, she guessed.
She felt curiously empty inside. Perhaps it was ordinary hunger, but
she suspected it was due more to the waiting they were having to
endure.

Going to her pack, she rummaged round and brought out some cheese and
an unleavened loaf. Breaking off some, she handed pieces to each of
her friends, then sat leaning against some of the rubble, deep in
thought, eating.

Catching Shade's eye, she smiles thinly at him. When the food is
finished, she will stand once more, looking out at the forest.

(Shade:)
Shade steps close to her and hugs Silver tightly "We are together,
dear" - he whispers soothingly in her ear - "together and alive. You,
our friends and me.  That's enough for now, we shall see what's next."

(Silver:)
Silver returns the hug briefly but with great feeling. "Thanks, Ebu"
she whispers, her voice breaking slightly.

(DM:)
You guys wait around, and after some twenty minutes, you hear a
grinding noise from inside the temple.



The ominous grating sound issues from the tunnel leading down to the
temple complex. The party look round with great trepidation ....
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------------------------------ End of Chapter 31 -----------------------------
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--
*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*,..,*'``'*
Lance Dooly
[e-mail]                               "Not I," said the cat.