[ This game of mine glows with an awesome power! It's telling me to entertain you! All right! Here I go! ] [ You've been walking along through the twisted, groaning, rusted iron corrodors that make up Faydra's old fort. It appears to be a relic from some ancient Serioli civilization. ] [ The halls are lined with some odd lighting that may or may not be magical. Some of the lighting flickers on occasion, and a few are out altogether. You'be been fast-walking for close to ten minutes, now; this is a big place. Faydra has told you that you're almost there, now. ] [ SHINIIIING SESSIIIOOON!... I mean, SESSION START! ] Nice scenery. * Ada walks along, a scowl fixed on her face. "Yeah." ... what happens when you live in a place this big, and you need to use the bathroom? [ You hope one is very close. ] * Nebrinel says dryly. "Run." She frowns. "Fyril may be talented, but running ahead..." Want me to smite him when we find him? I think Nebrinel's already called first shot. No. Spleens are very hard to heal. * Nebrinel smirks faintly. * Ethan twirls his glaive. "Way this thing carved through that statue's armor, I could probably take off a coupla fingers no problem." [ So far you've seen several spots where Fyril has left indacations that he has disabled some trap or snare and whatnot. ] ... if he falls into a pit of crocodiles, I think I'm gonna bust out laughing. (No kettledrums?) ( Sorry, no. ) Before or after you try to save him from a grisly death? After, of course. Maybe during. Hard to rib a guy when his rib's sitting in another creature's stomach. Actually, that's a better idea than you might think. A couple of studies have shown that laughter frightens lizards and similar creatures. * Nebrinel hrms, and points right. "We're goin' that way." ( HAHAHA! ;_; ) (Sei the Dragon Spooker?) * Ada glances at Nebrinel, then looks down the hall. "Fine." ... so if we fight a dragon, our best bet is to have me tell jokes and get you all rolling on the floor... iiiiiiiiiinteresting. ( Sure. ) ( Wome dig him! Dragons phear him! ) ( women, even. ) * Ethan munches on a donut. "So what's this Faydra person like?" The problem with your jokes, Ethan, is that they do not get many people rolling on the floor. You proceed down the hall only a short distance before you reach a large, circular door like the others you've come through. ] ( Oh, they get lots of people rolling on the floor. IN PAIN. ^_~ ) Well, there was one time... of course, the people were rolling on the floor because the torch I was using as a prop slipped outta my hands... >_> Something tells me you were more a danger to your own people than the enemy, Ethan. * Nebrinel peers at the door, shrugs, and gets to opening. "She's an elven noble. What more do you want? People have their secrets and all." * Ethan falls silent for a moment. "Yeah, I've been told that before." The doorhandle grinds as Nebrinel turns it, and then the massive hinges shreik as she pulls the door ajar. Some WD-40 could do wonders for this place. Beyond is a living chamber that is almost lavishly appointed. The steel walls are less rusty, and look as though they were scoured clean at some point in the not-too-distant past. At least as elves measure time. * Ada shakes her head at Ethan. "I don't know much about her." She chuckles. "Aside from that she doesn't like me." * Ethan shakes his head. "But don't worry about it. I'll leave the playing with fire to the professionals." *grin* * Ethan raises an eyebrow. "Why not?" * Nebrinel chuckles. "Your confidence is heartening. And have you forgotten that not every elf is, or has been, as tolerant as I?" At the far end of the chamber is a large bed. There is little dust around, as there is little to make dust and no way for outside dust to get in. * Ethan shrugs. "If she has a problem with humans, I can handle myself. She tries anything, and I'll... err... probably get reduced to a small quivering puddle, actually." On either side of the bed is another door. These have bass-relief carvings of Serioli figures on them. There is one on each of the walls to your left and right, as well. For what it's worth, I'll speak up on your behalf. * Sei grins. "Ada's, that is." * Ada takes a look around. "Thank you, Sei." Not a problem. It's the least I can do. ... yeah, of course. Leave the lowly fighter to get turned to mush. *sniff* * Ethan chuckles to himself. * Nebrinel waves her hand as she looks at the room, and turns, walking to the right. "Don't worry. Your glaive will drop a giant food item on you before anyone gets around to killing you." * Ethan downs several cookies. "Can't do giant food... that I know of. That'd be pretty cool, though. Smite my enemies with an enormous turnip." * Ethan closes his eyes, holding his glaive in both hands. "Turnip of Doom, Turnip of Doom..." ( +5 Turnip of smiting. ) * Ada thwaps Ethan upside the head as she walks after Nebrinel. A rotten turnip falls at Ethan's feet. * Nebrinel opens the door to the right of the bed. It is a normal-sized rotten turnip, however. ... ow! Dang, it didn't work. Ah well. * Ethan follows the others. * Sei as well. [ Beyong the door Nebrinel opens is the very large and well-appointed laboratory of, it seems, a highly talented mage. ] * Ada whistles. Oooh... (o/" It's a sinister day in the laboratory, sinister day in the laboratory... o/") [ There are divices everywhere that you can only guess as. Large mobils with maps marked in a variety of languages, charts, sheets of calcularions, alembics, retorts, and who knows what else. At the far end is something more easily recognizeable; a door. ] * Ethan looks around. "I take it this is a really spiffy magic room." Basically. If Faydra doesn't need any of this, may I have it? * Nebrinel reaches her arm backwards, drawing the turnip near her. Before destroying it in a burst of flame. "Somehow, I think she might want it. You can always ask her once we get her out." Fair enough. * Ada starts at that. "Get her out?" ... poor turnip-chan... * Nebrinel walks over to the second door, and looks back at Ada. "Realistically, if you were stuck in a staff, wouldn't you want out?" Yes, I imagine I would. Do you think that, maybe, she was put in a staff for a reason? Yes. And we will be removing her for a reason. Great Weapon pieces. * Ada frowns. "How do you know she'll give them to us?" ("Talk! Tell us, or...I'll lock you in a closet with Sei.") (That's not intimidating enough. Lock you in a closet with Chibi Ethan.) (Wouldn't locking her in a closet with Ethan be more of a threat?) (...granted. Chibi Ethan with coffee. ^_^) (With lots of sugar!) ( The horror. ) * Nebrinel says simply, "A very good question." I'd prefer a good answer before we actually free her. ... is this gonna involve me getting the crap blasted outta me while y'all chuck spells from a safe distance? * Nebrinel furrows her brow, then smiles. * Nebrinel points off to her right. "Do those look good to you?" * Ada glances that way. [ In the general area Nebrinel points is a weapon rack. One of the weapons has an odd blade that seems to be made of mother-of-pearl on one edge and the usual Morganti grey metal on the other. There is also a gleaming, jewel- encrusted pommel with no blade that stands out quite a bit. ] ... pretty, but not especially practical. I see. * Nebrinel hrms. "But interesting nontheless. Would someone like to gather those up, and then we could free Faydra?" * Ada studies Nebrinel for a moment, then goes to do that. Fyril must be losing his touch if those're sill there. * Sei slips his ring onto his finger. * Nebrinel hrms. "The blade is supposed to be both healing and Morganti power." Deathsbane, or Denlar's Healing Blade, are the names she gives. Mmm hmm. ... what, you smack someone with one end, and it heals them? Basically. The odd-edge heals. * Nebrinel gestures to the door. "Good enough to earn a bit of trust, perhaps?" Hmm, nice. * Ethan shrugs. "You haven't steered us wrong thus far. But if she fries me to a crisp, I'm gonna make sure to ooze all over your cloak." * Ada hefts the weapon. "Fine." She doesn't sound happy about it, though. * Nebrinel chuckles. "You seem awfully untrusting. I am supposed to be the hardened cynic." She turns back to the door, and gets to opening. * Ada snorts. "Humans learn fast." She grabs Sei by the arm and pulls him to one side before he can follow Nebrinel. * Ethan shrugs. "I'm not much of a cynic, but I've been bent over the proverbial table enough to not be too trusting." * Sei shrugs, and waits. * Ada shoves the sword into Sei's hands and murmurs a few words to him. [ The door opens fairly easily. Inside is a large, well-illuminated room with what you could swear to be a ruby at the far end. The ruby is set in some ancient device you can't fathom the purpose of, and the ruby itself is an almost cubic cut measureing ten FEET on each side. ] Holy... * Nebrinel stares at the ruby. "... that's one big rock." I'm... inclined to agree with you. * Nebrinel chuckles. ... well there's something you don't see every day. Can I taunt Fyril about this? Please? ... Yes. Please do. Woohoo! * Nebrinel looks back at Ada, and mouths silently, "Be ready." She then walks over to the apparatus. "Actually, she says it's not a Ruby. But we don't have to tell him that." * Ada nods once to Nebrinel and stretches the fingers of her right hand. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't taunt Fyril about it, actually." Taunt is the wrong word, actually. Implies meanspiritedness. I'm going to... aw hell, who'm I kidding. I'm gonna taunt him. *grin* * Ada snickers. * Nebrinel waves her hand back at Ethan. "I'm going to need your help up here." * Ethan steps up. "Need me to hit somethin'?" You'll need to break the staff at a certain point in the process. * Nebrinel hands the staff to him. "It's supposed to be hard, but I'm sure you can manage it." Will chop do? Or does it need to be smashed? A physical break. Okay. *places the staff on the floor a few feet back from Nebby; twirls his glaive* * Nebrinel eyes Ethan. "I meant having to smash it or crack it in half. Chopping won't do." * Ethan displays the blunt end of the glaive, which features a large metal ball. "Ethan smash!" * Nebrinel chuckles. "Alright, then." She turns back to the machine, and pulls a lever. You forgot to grunt. (Pull the lever, and the sixteen-ton weight will drop on his head!) * Ada watches Nebrinel. Ugh. [ The lever creaks as it is pulled. Shortly after that, a thrumming noise begins, and the surface of the ruby begins to ripple, first only slightly, then as a body of water into which a large stone has been thrown. ] * Nebrinel takes the time to quickly remove her heavy cloak from her pack. * Ada just watches. Ethan impressed. [ The liquified ruby parts on either side, revealing an elven form within. The form is female, average height for an elf, and has long, straight hair like spun gold. It is also completely nude. ] * Nebrinel barks, "Break it, Ethan!" * Sei politely averts his eyes. * Nebrinel walks up closer to the ruby, and extends her arms with the cloak in almost a catching motion. Ethan SMASH! *whips his glaive around, bringing the blunt end down onto the staff* [ Ethan shatters the stick neatly, and the area of the break radiates a purple light which streams into the body in the ruby. The body opens it's eyes and gasps loudly. ] [ The body also topples forward; who knows what it is experiencing. ] * Nebrinel reaches forward and envelops the form in the cloak. [ Nebby catches Faydra, who is now spasming and coughing up bits of ruby that float back to the main gem. ] * Ethan hefts his glaive triumphantly. "I Ethan. I smash the staves what releases the mage. Rrargh and stuff." [ After a while, Faydra manages to stand unassisted. She is, indeed, quite tall, very lovely, and even in the pain she is obviously experiencing she holds herself with an elegant, trained grace. ] * Ada doesn't take her eyes off the elven lady. "Good for you." * Ethan notices the Released Mage What Can Turn Him Into a Newt, and adopts a somewhat less demonstrative manner. [ Faydra opens her eyes again. They are a deep violet. She takes a deep breath and manages, "Thank you." ] * Nebrinel nods, and leaves her to hold the cloak herself. "You're welcome." [ Faydra takes a faltering step out of the room, and then manages to right herself. She begins walking slowly back to her room. As she does, she speaks in a slightly hoarse voice. ] ("Wiiiiiiiiiiilber!") "I'm... afraid my hospitality may be a bit lacking, right at the moment. I would offer you something to eat, if there were anything to offer." "Soon, however, I will have a banquet for you. Do not think that I will be sparse in my gratitude." * Ethan munches on a carrot. "Don't worry, I got that covered." (Nobody got my Mr. Ed ref? ;_;) (We got it. :P) (Nobody thought it deserved notice.) (Ah, okie.) [ Faydra makes it to her room, retrives some clothes from a chest of drawers, and begins putting them on. They are all black, and quite well-made. ] * Ada leans against a wall and closes her eyes. She feels a headache coming on. She says, almnost conversationally, "Do not allow the appearance of my stronghold to let you think I cannot repay you. It is within my power to grant nearly anything." * Nebrinel arches an eyebrow. "An impressive power, that." [ Once she is dressed and armed ( you don't know where she retrieved her sword from, but it now hangs sheathed across her back ), she reaches into a pouch at her hip and produces a deck of cards. ] "Of course. But when one is powerful and, moreover, has powerful friends, one can be denied but little." * Ada opens one eye to look at her, but doesn't say a word. "And when one rules an empire... well, one can be denied even less." [ She pulls a card from the deck and focuses intently on it. She seems to be having a conversation with someone, although she says nothing aloud. ] * Nebrinel frowns. "I admit to being confused..." and trails off as she recognizes the Trump system. * Ethan is, for once, content to keep his mouth shut. For the moment. [ Faydra smiles warmly and puts the card away. ] "My adjuntant is making the preparations now. I will be able to hold that banquet for you tomorrow night, and I shall have my forces amassed here within a tenday. ] * Ada opens her other eye and speaks up now. "Your forces?" * Ethan frowns uneasily at the mention of forces. * Sei blinks. * Nebrinel grabs her cloak up off of... well, um, wherever Faydra dropped it, and folds it over her left arm. Faydra looks coldly at Ada. "Yes, my forces. I have a cause that has waited three hundered years, and which grows impatient. I intend to accomplish it swiftly." * Ada doesn't seem particularly put off by Faydra's icy gaze. "And what's this cause?" Faydra smiles at Ada. It isn't a smile you want to be on the wrong side of. "I seek to overthrow my dear mother, of course. I have many dukes and counts within the Empire who wish for her to be overthrown as well, and who have therefore pledged their allegiance to my cause and offer their support." * Ada nods. "I see." Faydra studies Ada for a moment, and then grins wryly. "Yes, I actually believe you do." Overthrow the Empire... forces is something of an understatement, then. * Ada smiles cooly. "Imagine that. And she's not talking about overthrowing the Empire, Ethan." * Nebrinel smiles faintly. Faydra chuckles. "Overthrow the Empire? Why would I wish to do that, silly human?" Oh, my... "I love the Empire dearly, and seek to advance it's cause as far as it can be expanded. This upcoming war will accomplish that quite well." ... no idea. I'm outta my depth, it appears. *chuckles lightly* Someone please explain for the poor hired blade? * Sei rubs his head. "War?" "Yes, war. You are free to scamper off if you wish to avoid the fighting, although I would rather you stay for the banquet at least." * Sei begins turning somewhat pale. * Nebrinel steps forward. "The search for Great Weaponry never ends, Faydra. Waiting too long would hurt our chances." "Oh, it won't be long at all. Scarcely two months out of your life, at the most." She smiles. "We are Elves, Nebrinel. We can afford to wait two months." * Nebrinel chuckles faintly, although her heart isn't in it. "There are other elves out there who aren't willing to wait, and searching as well. We truly cannot afford to wait." * Ada is frowning, now, and watching the exchange between Faydra and Nebrinel. Faydra smiles. "Oh, but I think you can. I have innumerable resources which will be of great aid to your search." ("I seek the Holy Grail!") "I doubtless know people who have fragments just lying around, and they would be happy to turn them over as a favor owed to me." (But we've already got one.) "So. Will you aid me in my quest, in return for me aiding you in yours?" * Nebrinel hrms, and puts her hands up. "It would be hasty to decide this so soon, and without all of our group here." She smiles wryly. "Elves can afford to wait, after all." [ Faydra smirks. "This is true. I can certainly give you a day to think it over." Even as she says this, you can all easily tell that she *knows* she can make good on her promises, and you even feel that she will. ] * Ada speaks up. "I suggest making your decision quickly, Nebrinel." "If you wish, I can show you to some quarters you can stay the night in." She glances at Ada. "Or you can make your decision quickly." She stands there patiently, confidently. She oozes charisma and self-assuredness. * Ethan is staying the HFIL outta this. He is, however, gripping his glaive rather tightly in one hand. * Nebrinel rubs her head, and smiles wanly. "I think I wish to find Fyril, pull him out of any alligator pits he might have fallen in, and think upon the offer." * Ada straightens herself. "Then do it. I'm leaving. You can find me easily enough, I'm sure." * Ethan is now confuzzled. * Ada walks over to Nebrinel and holds out her hand. "Would you mind returning the sword you borrowed?" * Sei bows his head. "I must think. If it's all right, I'll be going with Ada." * Nebrinel frowns, and says, "Very well. Would you mind waiting an hour? I have something else I'm going to need to give you." An hour? * Ada flicks her eyes to Faydra. "Fine. I'll wait." Faydra raises an eyebrow. * Nebrinel bows her head slightly towards Faydra. "If you'll excuse me?" Faydra nods. "You wish me to leave you alone a moment?" * Nebrinel says, "That would be helpful, yes." Faydra nods. "I will go and inspect the hold, then. I do hope nothing load-bearing has given way." She strides her bad self out of the room and down the hall. (*snerk* That's the best pose I've seen in a while.) * Nebrinel turns to Ada, and rubs her forehead. "Loyalties, eh?" She detatches Hunger from her belt looks at her. "I trust you will be willing to create a Trump of me? Or shouold I make you wait the hour?" * Ada takes the sword. "She's likely listening, and I don't want to overstay my welcome. Which expired, oh, before I got here." ... erm, what's going on here? * Sei is still pale, and shaking slightly. * Nebrinel shrugs. "Probably so. Do you plan on making a Trump or not?" * Ada smiles sweetly. "For you, dear Nebrinel? Of course." * Nebrinel bows slightly. "Thank you. That's all I needed to hear. I will keep in touch." She looks Ada directly in the eyes. "Try to stay well. Although I'm sure Ethan will do an excellent job of ensuring that." * Ada nods. "The same to you. I don't need you to die." She reaches into her cloak and withdraws a deck of cards, selects one, and hands it to Nebrinel. Damn straight. * Nebrinel smiles faintly, looks at the card, and pockets it. "Don't you die either, Ethan. I plan on breaking you of your fear of fighting women eventually." She nods towards Sei wordlessly. * Sei bows. You might want to try to bid Fyril farewell as well. I am sure he would appreciate it. * Ada chuckles. "How about I make a Trump of him as well?" She smiles faintly. "After all, wherever you go, he'll follow." Die? Don't worry, Nebrinel. Despite the fact that I'm in way over my head with powers I can't begin to comprehend and have no goddamn idea what's going on here, I'm sure I'll be prepared for any eventuality. ( That's the spirit. ^_^ ) (That's Ethan. ^_^) * Nebrinel chuckles. "If you wish. I can only hope I inspire such devotion." She bows. "Best of luck on your travels." * Ada bows in return. "Good luck to you, as well. Try not to get in over your head." She winks, then heads out. * Nebrinel smiles faintly to herself. * Sei bows once more, and turns to follow Ada. "I wish you well." And you. Remember not to eat any energy balls bigger than your head. * Ethan follows Ada. * Nebrinel would sweatdrop in a less serious series. (Bah. Do it anyway.) (I don't know she can.) (Anyone can sweatdrop! It just takes practice.) ( She can. I shall permit it. ) * Nebrinel will almost sweatdrop, then. (Atta girl.) * Nebrinel rubs her head. Ada, Sei, and Ethan head for the surface. Probably just a little quickly. ^_^ * Nebrinel . o O (If Faydra finds Fyril before I do, there might not be much of him left.) * Nebrinel walks out the door. ( Spending 300 years locked in a gem, a girl can get a little... lonely... ... meep. (... She had better not.) (He'd die of blood loss.) (Eew.) (That's true. His head would explode.) * Sei sighs. "So...it's a few miles to the next town. We've got full packs of supplies, half a hundredweight of Morganti weapons, it's dark, and we're wearing hooded cloaks." (Seduction is a slow business with Fyril.) * Ada nods absently, keeping up with her brisk pace. ( HAR. ^_^ ) (Ethan? Your cue. ^_^) * Ethan strokes his goatee. "Such is life." (THE GONG FALLS ON HIS GODDAMN HEAD.) (YES.) (Hey, I haven't used the Gong in a while. =P) (Shut up and accept your punishment, peon.) (Hey, I'm the one with the whip.) (So? :P) (You only took Hunger.) (He doesn't wound well.) ( OOOOOOHOHOHOHO! ) (...scary. ;_;) * Ada ignores the gong, too, as she walks. You make it out into the large chasm where you fought the golem. [ Session End, for Jesse's sake. c.c; ]