Blood from Stone (Part 2)
Telamon and Lana lead the two guards out of the room, with Critias following in their wake looking after Lana a bit like a lost pup might. Aryia stays with Seldan and Tanith however, leaving them alone. Eventually however Seldan approaches one of the containers which holds one of the items and... The moment that his hand lays upon the item there's a rumble in the room. The door to the dungeon slams open, and a being enters the room.
Whatever it is it's in a sorry state. Once-emerald skin is blackened and torn. Bruised and clearly smeared with silvery blood. Once this being had wings, but now they are plucked clean of feathers, leaving a wreck in its wake. The creature looks horribly wilted, but it strides through the door and Aryia and Seldan can _feel_ its power. This is no small being - whatever it is - it may be wounded, it may have even been tortured, but it is not something to be overlooked.
"LEAVE NOW. OR DIE." It's voice echoes in the mind.
The wreck of what should be a glorious creature - for in a bare instant, Seldan knows what it is that he sees before him - instills no fear in him. He can feel its power, yes, but power he has felt before, and in this moment, the only thing that crosses his mind is a soul-deep, crushing heartbreak, and a rising fury at what monster would do this to _anyone_. Still, it's definitely angry, and perhaps the greatest mercy that can be offered it is to release it, be it fallen or compelled.
Swiftly, he turns instead to Tanith. "Little one, you can help me now, if you go and fetch the others, and swiftly." This is muttered, and he turns back to the tortured creature, studying it with sudden focus. "May Eluna's holy light release you from your torment, and Her wisdom guide your path home," he whispers.
Aryia watches Seldan with tension in her shoulders, side eyeing the others as they leave the room. The things in this room seemed... powerful? Powerful enough for the paladin to need a moment to inspect.
As if they'd even get the time. She almost jumps out of her boots as the door slams open from the dungeon. Her wheeling around with her hands half-raised- her eyes grow wide as dinner plates. There wasn't exactly time to count her sins (which was probably enough to get smote), but she holds up ten fingers to count- rather, offer surrender? A glance to Seldan and his blessings of- wait, that kind of mercy?
The mute gives him a look of 'we're doing this??' A little tremble shakes her frame, but she squares up beside the Silverguard.
Tanith disappears in a moment, vanishing without a trace with only a nod of her head very firmly. She appears a moment later with a very confused looking Cor'lana and Telamon just in time for a wave of pure.... exhaustion? To pour outward from the obviously tormented creature before you.
Everyone is suddenly tired, exhausted even. Tanith falls out of the air outright, collapsing on the ground with a little bounce as the creature draws a sword from thin air and levels it at you all.
GAME: Aryia rolls will: (8)+19: 27 GAME: Telamon rolls Will+3: (8)+19+3: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (15)+34: 49 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (2)+19: 21 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (16)+19: 35
A wave of compulsion pulses from the creature, and you feel for an instant a desire to leave. To be gone from this place, but you shake it off easily enough.
GAME: Seldan casts Divine Favor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (19)+34: 53 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (10)+27: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+17: (15)+17: 32 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3: aliased to weapon0+2-3: (15)+26+2+-3: 40 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3: aliased to weapon0+2-3: (4)+26+2+-3: 29 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3: aliased to weapon0+2-3: (9)+26+2+-3: 34 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3-5: aliased to weapon0+2-3-5: (7)+26+2+-3+-5: 27 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3-10: aliased to weapon0+2-3-10: (13)+26+2+-3+-10: 28 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3-15: aliased to weapon0+2-3-15: (7)+26+2+-3+-15: 17 GAME: Aryia rolls crunch-3: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+1-3: (14)+3+2+1+-3: 17 GAME: Aryia rolls crunch-3: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+1-3: (12)+3+2+1+-3: 15
Seldan only inclines his head to Aryia. "It is deserving of mercy and release, but it will find none here," is all he says before the waves of exhaustion hit, spreading through the room like poison. They are almost enough to put Seldan on his knees, and he drops to one knee, but in a swift, unthinking action, he draws Reunion and plants the point of the blade into the stone, using it to force himself to his feet.
"You will not be rid of me so easily," he counters, the defiance almost going unheard in the cacophony of hundreds of voices that immediately burst back into being. "Shut - _up_!" he snarls suddenly, seemingly apropos of nothing, reaching for the crescent and sphere around his neck and touching it to his lips. "Holy Dreamer, be my shield, my sword and my guide. Grant me your power."
For a moment, there's a flash of silvery light around him, and he leans heavily on the point of the blade once again, but finally manages to adopt a ready stance.
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Haste. Caster Level: 17 DC: 21 GAME: Ravenstongue casts Lightning Bolt/Quicken. Caster Level: 17 DC: 25
Aryia grits her teeth she's tempted to leave this place, but she shakes herself off and nods towards sharply towards Seldan-- only to fall to her hands. She makes gouges in the ground as her fingers clench, and staggers to her feet. A wince coming from her as Reunion spills hundreds of yelling voices. Well, we're doing this.
The pugilist cracks her knuckles and bows her head, moonlit lines of energy washing over her skin before she quite literally throws herself into the angel. She takes a rough hit into the side for her advancement, but a hail of punches into its torso come land and-- she staggers back, shaking her fists off. "Oh-- I'm going to BREAK that stone!" <Handspeech>
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (6)+11: 17 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 10d6: (39): 39 GAME: Telamon casts Telekinetic Sphere. Caster Level: 19 DC: 26 GAME: Telamon casts Haste/Quicken. Caster Level: 19 DC: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (3)+27: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (6)+20: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL)
"Hhhh--" Cor'lana manages to get out, a hand on her head as she realizes where she is and what's...
That.
That's a--
"Ang--" She doesn't bother completing it as Seldan and Aryia both engage in the matter of combat. Violet eyes are wide with thought and recognition. "Okay! Well! I guess I'm trying--"
She weaves magic in her hands, something that makes even her hand gestures seem lighter and quicker than anything, but the magic--doesn't go off, doesn't settle. Cor'lana curses quietly. "Tel! Haste them! The leyline's not being nice!"
Cor'lana fires off a lightning bolt instead, something that actually connects with the planetar. She looks dismayed as it doesn't seem to have much of an effect.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20: (14): 14
Telamon is shocked to suddenly appear, with Lana, back in the vault. "I -say-, Tanith--" And then he sees the hulking green-skinned figure, and his eyes go wide. "Oh shit." When the wave of exhaustion slams into him, he staggers, slamming up against one of the plinths although he's wise enough to not try to grab anything on top. "Agh," he groans, before hauling himself to his feet again. "Sir... sir... are you aware you are green?" he says a bit lamely. His head is foggy with charm, fatigue, and confusion. Opting for a nonviolent approach, he begins incanting, trying to weave a sphere of force around it -- but nothing happens.
For a moment he's shocked, but Lana's words penetrate the fog and he nods. "Wait, let me think..." He grabs onto a tiny scrap of Time, shoving it into his spell. "Lukas, sa-i'iz!" Suddenly silver light springs to life, limning Telamon before jumping to Lana, then Seldan, Aryia, and even the recumbent Tanith. "I think... maybe..."
The celestial swings its weapon almost reluctantly at Aryia, its attacks almost telegraphed so that she can easily avoid them. Yet there's surprising strength behind the blows from this green-skinned being. Wearily it looks Telamon. "PLEASE. LEAVE." It's voice is laced with the exhaustion that it has set upon you in turn.
On the floor Tanith shakes off the lethargy and peers up. "Whatisgoingonhere? Help?" She peers up and launches herself - too fast - into the air and almost crashes into the ceiling. She stops just shy and peers down at the ongoing battle curiously.
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (2)+34: 36 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (15)+34: 49 GAME: Aryia rolls grapple-3: aliased to : (11)+25+2+2+-3: 37
Seeing the telegraphed attacks, Seldan forces himself to move forward, Reunion still positively shrieking as he closes with the green-skinned creature. "Well do you know that I cannot - cannot do so," he gets out, driving the heel of his hand into his temple in frustration, then dropping it. "There is evil beyond you, evil that you defend. I cannot leave, and well do you know this." There's still something gentle about the words. "Can you be released from your torment?"
Aryia has a mild panic as the green skinned angel swings at her, the pugilist barely ducking under and over the swings. Even telegraphed, those swings were beyond painful, and they still whiffed by mere inches. She's about to lay into the exhausted being, but seeing Seldan come up and offer words.
Instead the mute tiredly leaps up to try and wrestle an arm into submission, but gets thrown off, the exhaustion in her bones making this quite difficult to get a proper hold.
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Diplomacy: (11)+31: 42 GAME: Telamon rolls talky: aliased to diplomacy+5: (13)+32+5: 50
Lana purses her lips when she sees Seldan talking to the angel. It reminds her of something. Something once that she knows...
"I'll do for him what I should have done for you, Zal," Lana murmurs. She stands up as tall as she can. Violet eyes on the planetar.
"Noble one," she calls out to the planetar. "Wounded soul. I see great pain in you, a pain that I can not ignore. You are trapped in a cage and I--I do not abide cages."
She takes a breath before she says, "If you are capable of doing so--we can help free you should you cooperate with us. We did not come here specifically to seek your end. We came here for another matter entirely. This does not have to end this way."
Telamon leans against Lana, weary, one hand held out -- in supplication, or to defend himself, it's not quite clear. But when he speaks, it's with absolute conviction, absolute certainty. "This is not -right-. It is not given to us, to -any- mortal, to bear the accouterments of the divine. Nor is it right to bind one of Draco Solis's servants, to abuse them as you have been abused. We came here to reclaim the Star of Tears; but this..."
He gestures at the plinths, each bearing an object that is clearly more than just a 'mere' item or weapon.
"This is wrong. These should not be here. None of them should. Please, let us free you, and return these things to their proper owners."
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (18)+25: 43 GAME: Aryia rolls spellcraft: (12)+3: 15 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Spellcraft: (12)+26: 38 GAME: Telamon rolls Spellcraft: (8)+23: 31 GAME: Aryia rolls will: (11)+19: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (10)+34: 44
The celestial steps back, casting yet another spell, and this one forces several images into your minds, those of you that accept them that is. Aryia, stubbornly shuts out the celestial, not trusting its magics. It is perhaps just as well because the images are far from pleasant.
There is a image, of appearing in a circle of summoning, a man with bright eyes peering, smiling.
An image of the same man watching as others pluck feather after feather after feather...
Pain. Blood. Agony.
A man that looks like Seldan, but... different reaches out and cuffs the person in the memory. Says bitter words that hurt like knives.
Green skin soaked in blood, blood pouring into a vial.
Agony, sickness, a million thunderous voices inside and out before blackness consumes everything.
Betrayal. A familiar man, a lover, a husband turning his eyes on a woman so beautiful that she's clearly unnatural. Knowing that you're not enough. Never enough.
A crystal of red shinning. A part of you taken, stolen. An empty ache where part of you SHOULD be.
Failure. The stinging cold and corpses frozen in the corners. People you should have protected. People who trusted you. Knowing that they're dead because of you. Finding that someone you love is gone, taken. The empty ache where they should be is a darkness in your chest.
Seldan drops to his knees with a cry in a clatter of armor, the useless rags that had covered it beforehand falling away to reveal armor covered in black cloth, the vision clearly overwhelming him and hitting him like an earth elemental gone rogue. He is left to crumple into a fetal position on the floor of the stones, shaking as everything seems to hit at once.
GAME: Aryia spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (15)+19: 34 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Spellcraft: (9)+26: 35
Aryia snarls as she feels and overwhelming presence try and invade her mind, but she throws it off and away. Demons, angels, why do keep trying this?! Turning around, her eyes widen as she sees her friends stammered and staggered, Seldan dropping to the floor in a crumple.
She huffs, slowly ambles in front of her friends. And raises her fists. The glowing hue on her skin flares. And points at the angel.
"I don't know what you did, but whatever it is, I'm going to kick your holy ass for it!" she sharply signs before stamping into a deep stance. And goes stock still, coiled. <Handspeech>
GAME: Telamon rolls Will+3: (12)+19+3: 34 GAME: Telamon rolls spellcraft: (11)+23: 34
Lana's reeling. In pain. In misery. The vision is so much. The pain shared is a pain she feels now. The planetar's and now hers. A summoning and a binding but--
Her violet eyes are dark, like the abyss she finds herself in.
"A winter day," she begins quietly. "A winter day where I'm small. The world is beautiful and covered in white snow. I'm excited. I ask Mother to let me play in the snow. She says I should go outside and have fun. I go outside. My hands are wrapped in tiny mittens. I go and I scoop up the snow and I start to play, but it's not long before a human girl, bigger than I am, finds me. She laughs at me. Calls me a name. I don't understand what it means but it doesn't make me happy. It was the first time I understood I was... different. Different in a bad way."
She takes a breath. "Another winter day. I'm bigger but still so small. I try to go outside and to play in the woods, but there's an elf boy, bigger than me, and his friends. Before I know it, I'm being shoved into the snow, and I'm held down so hard, and I have to beg to make them let me go. I can feel my face getting number and number until they finally let me free. It was the first time I was tortured. It wasn't the last time."
Another breath. "Another winter day. I'm bigger. A man comes to the door. He asks for my mother. I tell him she's in the woods, foraging. He looks at me and asks me if I have any talent with magic. I tell him no. No, I don't. I've never cast a single spell. And he laughs at me. Turns around and says he'll come back when the real woman is here to help him. It was..."
She draws a sharp and ragged breath. "I think more than anything, I want to be like Mother," she says, "because I never want to--I never want to feel any of that ever again. I want to be her. The woman who always had a plan. Who always had the ability to prevail. Even her death was... her choice in the end."
Her head hangs.
"I will never be my Mother."
The memories pour into Telamon, and he stiffens and goes to his hands and knees once more. Only the knowledge that they're not -his- memories keeps his head figuratively above water, and there's a small part of him that's clear enough to recognize certain things. Like how this angel was called, bound here. Perhaps he can't leave.
As the pain and sickness of the memories recede, they drag images from his mind as well, pulled to Lana, Seldan, and the celestial creature itself. Of finding Cor'lana kidnapped, and the terror and pain of chasing after Karan'taara, fearing for the worse. Of when he was cursed by Zalgiman, forced to spend time apart from his wife, lest her touch and presence kill him. Trailing on that, the touch of angry embarrassment and humiliation over being taken by surprise by Zalgiman's minions, spirited away, even if it was temporary.
Yet, through all the anguish, like a fist punching up through snow, Telamon's spirit blazes. "I am... more than just... memories!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (13)+27: 40 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (5)+20: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (18)+17: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15-4: (15)+15+-4: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15-4: (7)+15+-4: 18
The celestial seems less phased by the memories that everyone is sharing, - it included - than are the mortals who are doing so. It steps forward toward Aryia and swings its weapon again in those slow lazy arcs, but this time they're deceptive in their movements and she finds herself bleeding from two new wounds. "I AM IMMORTAL." It says, sounding sad.
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (2)+34: 36 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (18)+34: 52 GAME: Seldan rolls athletics: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+pa+haste+2-3: aliased to weapon1-4+1+2-3: (7)+27+-4+1+2+-3: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+pa+haste+2-3-5: aliased to weapon1-4+1+2-3-5: (6)+27+-4+1+2+-3+-5: 24 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+pa+haste+2-3-10: aliased to weapon1-4+1+2-3-10: (15)+27+-4+1+2+-3+-10: 28 GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+pa+haste+2-3: aliased to weapon1-4+1+2-3: (9)+27+-4+1+2+-3: 32 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+13+1+2-3+padmg: aliased to 1d8+13+1+2-3+8: (1)+13+1+2+-3+8: 22
In bare moments, Seldan's shuddering stills - perhaps too abruptly. His expression shifts entirely into grim fury, an expression that looks - off - on his usually steady and even demeanor. With a quick word in the sildanyari tongue, he rolls to his feet with the easy grace of a warrior, and lashes out with the blade, a blade that has continued its thunderous chatter without cease since it was drawn. Now, though, the background chatter takes on a note of remonstrance and alarm, and Fallia's voice rings out clearly through the voices raised in sudden objection.
"Tedric, I do not care how tired you are of this, that is forbidden! You stop and let him go, right now!"
Seldan's voice as he lashes out, attack after attack that skates just wide of the green skin of the bound celestial, is not his own. The timbre is different, deeper, angrier. "Enough of this, Fallia. If he will not kill this thing and be about the business he came to do, then I damn well will! Someone has to!"
The last strike connects, a glancing blow but one with still enough sauce behind it to lay the creature open. "Ahhh, finally to have a body again!"
GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-3+1: aliased to : (20)+25+2+1+-3+1: 46 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (5)+34: 39 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3+1: aliased to weapon0+2-3+1: (7)+26+2+-3+1: 33 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (14)+19: 33 GAME: Aryia spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Aryia rolls disarm+1-3: aliased to : (9)+25+2+1+1+-3: 35 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-3+1: aliased to : (17)+25+2+1+-3+1: 43 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3+1-5: aliased to weapon0+2-3+1-5: (2)+26+2+-3+1+-5: 23 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3+1-10: aliased to weapon0+2-3+1-10: (12)+26+2+-3+1+-10: 28 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3+1-15: aliased to weapon0+2-3+1-15: (3)+26+2+-3+1+-15: 14 GAME: Aryia rolls crunch: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+1: (13)+3+2+1: 19 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (17)+19: 36 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (19)+19: 38 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Spellcraft: (14)+26: 40
Aryia holds her stance firm and unwavering, but her face scrawls into a fury as she hears the lamentations of her friends behind her. The celestial doesn't garner more magics, nor step around to assail her helpless friends. But instead it advances towards her! Her stance doesn't lend itself too well to avoiding blows, only able to barely slink under one as her arms start to leak.
She saddles up with Seldan, grimacing at all the voices-- she blinks at Seldan. Huffs heavily before making a snap decision and twisting around, kicking Reunion by the flat of the blade slamming it down into the ground, wrenching it out of his grip. "Hey! Renunion! This isn't the fucking TIME to be fucking with us! Seldan, focus!"
She turns back to the angel. Coils, and springs up, barely missing the arm, but manages to catch it on the down swing. A kick flies to slam into the angels face before Aryia rolls off and grabs the pommel of the massive greatsword and rips it free of the angel's grasp!
The sheer size of the weapon makes her other strikes go wide, but she clutches on it, frame trembling as the scars on her skin flare with pain. <Handspeech/Tongues>
Cor'lana struggles. Continues to struggle. But her hand trembles. Something that goes up to the needle buried in her sleeve and draws blood, the bleeding finger going up to the mark on her chest. Violet-hued magic surrounds her then, wicking off of her in an aura, but... So, so, _so_ much more powerful than it's ever been. Her eyes glow just as brightly.
The magic then wheels off of her and behind her. A rift tears open to a beautiful scene. A sweet scent fills the room.
But so does the sound of laughter through the rift that makes Cor'lana's eyes go wide. It's a sound that cuts right down to the bottom of her soul. And yet she stands.
"Corpse-Eater," she snarls.
GAME: Telamon casts Banishment. Caster Level: 19 DC: 24 GAME: Telamon casts Gate. Caster Level: 19 DC: 27 GAME: Telamon rolls sorcerer+8: (14)+19+8: 41 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (15)+20: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (20)+20: 40 GAME: Aryia rolls reflex: (7)+23: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (6)+24: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (7)+24: 31
"For Ni'essa's sake..." Telamon coughs, pushing himself back up off the ground. Everything is crazy, Lana is doing things (that have opened a rift to -Quelynos- of all things), Seldan appears to be having a nervous breakdown, Aryia has stolen the angel's sword... alright.
"By all that is holy, my lord, will you just... GO HOME?!" Telamon weaves his magic with Cor'lana's, reaching for the complex locks and chains that hold the angel on this plane. "BEGONE! RETURN TO THE HEAVENS! This is not your place!"
Sadly, the angel refuses to comply, and Telamon's expression is the very epitome of frustration. "...Hells."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (14)+20: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+13: (8)+13: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (3): 3
The angel swings twice at Seldan, but again the attacks are lazy things, not terribly difficult to avoid. At least not for a man in armor and ready for a fight.
What Aryia is not ready for however are the chains that wrap around her wrists, binding her to the weapon that she's holding, sinking slowly into her flesh...
Lana feels cool fingers wrap around her shoulders, and the slow easy pain of teeth in her flesh. Blood hot and quick fleeing down her chest. It silences the giggling for a moment - but when she looks the Corpse Eater is not there. Just a wound on her neck. A claiming mark. The mark of someone who wants to eat her. Alive or dead. (Preferably dead)
GAME: Seldan rolls will: (5)+34: 39 GAME: Seldan rolls will: (14)+34: 48 GAME: Aryia rolls spellcraft-2: (9)+3+-2: 10 GAME: Aryia rolls spellcraft-2: (17)+3+-2: 18
Does Seldan put up with this much noise all the time? Can't possibly be. What sounds like an angry mob all yelling at Seldan is still carrying on, even as the blade clatters to the stone floor at his feet.
For a moment, it looks like the disarm had no effect. The grim fury and somewhat nasty glee remains on the even features, and he starts to raise a fist, but suddenly, his features twist again, and there's a snarl that is much closer to Seldan's timbre. "How _dare_ you."
_That_ is Seldan. The grim fury is no more, and Reunion's tone on the floor at his feet barely changes. "Tedric, you stupid bastard, get back in here!" That is a deep, dark khazadi voice that many here will have heard before.
"Little one. Tanithariairisixchel." Seldan's words are back to even, but full of pain, humiliation, and a host of other things. "Go down into the dungeon. You will find the circle binding this angel there!" The words are quick, punctuated by lazy swings of a gauntleted fist as he steps between the angel and the door as best he can. "Take a claw and break its edge!"
So a portal opened up to some kind of woodsy place behind Aryia, and now there's someone laughing. She looks behind her, on edge, and gives an exasperated look of 'oh come the fuck on!' And then- chains suddenly wrap around her arms, locking the weapon in!
There is a distinct, disturbing shift in the pugilist's demeanor. Aryia loses her cool and begins panicking as several years of healing are temporarily stripped away. Haphazard throws and swings try to remove it, but it doesn't go anywhere! She needs help-- and she looks to Seldan, hyper ventilating. Downstairs? Tanith going? "F-ck th-s, f-ck m-, f-ck th-s c-stl-, f-ck th-s pl-c-," she seethes, breaking off to chase after the little golden wonder.
Clonk. Clonk. Clonk. The massive greatsword thuds against each stair on the way down.
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Power Word Stun. Caster Level: 17 DC: 28 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+17+4: (15)+17+4: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (2)+20: 22 GAME: Telamon casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 19 DC: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (13)+11: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (11)+11: 22 GAME: Telamon casts Horrid Wilting. Caster Level: 19 DC: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+11: (2)+11: 13
The bleeding from Cor'lana's neck and the horrible feeling is enough to tell Cor'lana that her worst nightmare has come true. Especially as the Corpse-Eater's voice croons into her ear.
"You've not your beloved Grandfather to keep you safe here," he purrs, passing his dark tongue over his teeth stained with her blood. "You'll taste sweeter when you're _dead_. Has Telamon found out yet? That your baby isn't--" He smiles like he expects her to crumple in despair.
Lana should be scared. _Should_ be scared. But instead fury explodes inside every fiber of her being. She steps back from her beloved grandfather's horrible cousin and draws blood again from her finger, smearing it on her chest where the pact mark sits. Magic flows through her again, and Lana lifts her chin as she feels suddenly so much taller than she's ever felt.
"_Begone._"
The Corpse-Eater howls in anguish as he's warped from reality, until... POP. He's gone.
Blood still flowing from Cor'lana's wound, the sorceress pants. "Someone--that... angel--its essence was taken out of its body..." She points to the planetar. Telamon's widen in horror as Lana is attacked! But before he can take any action, Cor'lana incants the words of dismissal, and suddenly the Corpse-Eater is -gone-.
One crisis averted. But they need to stop the angel from accidentally (or intentionally) murdering all of them. Plus, Tel's pretty sure stealing his sword is going to annoy the angel. So... the solution is to put him in the bubble. Crackles of force snap up, and dissipate, as Seldan swings at the angel, trying not to trap the paladin in the bubble with the angel (that would be kind of bad). But finally they break apart for a split second, and the bubble snaps up around the angel. "Just... stop fighting, we'll -free- you for the love of the Dreamer!"
Reunion goes silent suddenly as the celestial works a spell inside of the sphere that Telamon summoned to keep it trapped. As quickly as that work is done, it is undone by the layline's inability to hold magic properly. "I HAVE NO CHOICE. I AM COMPELLED TO DESTROY THOSE WHO ENTER HERE." It doesn't seem as though it has much of a choice.
GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/religion: (18)+13: 31 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (7)+22: 29 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/Religion: (20)+10: 30 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (5): 5 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (16)+24: 40 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d8+12: (6)+12: 18 GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (2)+25: 27 GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (17)+25: 42
Still staggered from revelation after revelation, Seldan freezes a moment too long, and the planetar's fist crashes across his cheekbone with a sickening crack as he turns to follow Tanith and Aryia downstairs. A million thoughts swirl in his head, and among them is just one that sings forth, even as Reunion goes blessedly silent. _Free this thing!_
Even as he races past the planetar and down the stairs after Aryia and Tanith, his entire side of his face where it had been pummeled is abruptly _covered_ in a black, glittery substance that crawls across his skin with frightening speed. He barely seems to notice, though, as he stops at the top of the stairs and _stares_ at the red gem that lies in the middle of the circle. "Touch the gem and command the angel!" he shouts, clutching at and leaning against the edge of the door.
Aryia gets into the chamber, panting, exhausted, scanning around and finding some kind of magic circle thing. She looks up to Tanith, utterly at a loss before shaking her head and hefting the blade to get ready to destroy the edge of the circle.
But then Seldan comes down. She looks to him for panicked guidance. This is not her wheelhouse.
Just... touch it. Her hands are bound. Without thinking, she runs across the circle, hops up to the floating gem and...
Thunks her head against it. "Ssst-p..!" she hisses at before starting to cough. "St-p f-ght-ng..!"
Tanith lands neatly on Aryia's shoulder, trying to be helpful, but uncertain as to what to do.
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Diplomacy: (20)+31: 51 GAME: Aryia rolls punch-3+1-2: aliased to weapon0+2-3+1-2: (14)+26+2+-3+1+-2: 38
Cor'lana is with Telamon, bleeding still from the neck. He's tending to her. "Magic's not working," she murmurs. "I don't think even my potions I brought will help for the wound."
She turns her violet eyes to the planetar. "I--I know you don't want to do this," she says. "None of this. Please don't hurt Telamon and I--if you can abstain. We didn't come here to hurt you."
It's all she has. A little glimmer of hope.
Telamon stands silently at Lana's side, his hand helping keep her wound as closed as possible. There's little more he can add to that.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (6)+19: 25 GAME: Aryia rolls crunch-3: aliased to 2d10+strength+2+1-3: (12)+3+2+1+-3: 15
The celestial meets Lana's eyes. "THERE IS ONE THING HE WANTS MORE THAN DEATH." It says, turning and hurrying past Seldan. It's longer stride carries it all the way to Aryia, where it neatly grabs Tanith off of her shoulder. Tanith screeches her fury at being grabbed up in such a way. Her little claws flailing.
"Lemmegolemmego!" She can't do anything against the larger being, her tiny bouts of flame doing nothing. The celestial holds her tightly in one fist, a sorrowful look on its face.
"I HAVE HER, MASTER." The celestial says, shuddering in resignation.
GAME: Seldan rolls spellcraft: (13)+25: 38
Seldan is nearly spent. Too many memories. Too many emotions, coalescing and swirling in chaos between his ears, but still that one goal remains, like a lighthouse in a deep, dank fog. _Free this creature._ Without thinking, he races down the stairs after the celestial, scraping a boot along the edge of the drawn magical circle to leave a mark behind, and a hand along the razor edge of the blade chained to Aryia's hands. With that bloodied hand, he grabs for the gem, reaching to snatch it out of the air. "Release her! Now!"
Without waiting to see if that had had any effect, he then hurls the bloodied gem to the ground, and grinds it to dust with a gauntleted fist, between a magical gauntlet and stone.
GAME: Aryia rolls sense motive-2: (4)+27+-2: 29 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-2-3: aliased to : (16)+25+2+1+-2+-3: 39 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-2-3: aliased to : (11)+25+2+1+-2+-3: 34 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-2-3: aliased to : (8)+25+2+1+-2+-3: 31 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-2-3: aliased to : (4)+25+2+1+-2+-3: 27 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-2-3+1: aliased to : (3)+25+2+1+-2+-3+1: 27 GAME: Aryia rolls disarm-2-3: aliased to : (20)+25+2+1+-2+-3: 43
Aryia watches as little Tanith lands on her shoulder and-- she's grabbed. Sheer panic crosses her features. Her breath haggard as she watches Seldan try to command it down. The angel looks relieved.
Tanith has not been relieved.
There's a hissing choking noise that erupts from Aryia's mouth as she slams the massive greatsword into the ground. Using it as a fulcrum, she pivots up and around to get her legs wrapped around the angel's wrists.
She twists. It's not working. Again. Nothing. Why is there tears? The scrabbling looks hopeless.
And she sees those deep, golden eyes. Aryia takes a deep breath. "P-PL-S H-R-!" she hisses loudly through her teeth, contorting her body to pryyyyy the hands apart just enough for Tanith to pop out!
The pugilist pops down to the floor. And hacks up blood, dribbling down her chin.
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/Religion: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/religion: (3)+13: 16 GAME: Telamon rolls Will+3: (2)+19+3: 24 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (5)+19: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (5)+24: 29 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (6)+24: 30
"Ni'essa guide me, so that I may find the right one," Cor'lana murmurs, eyeing the artifacts in the room now that she and Telamon have been left alone.
The two half-sil sorcerers, husband and wife, sometimes don't even really need their bond to communicate. Eyes go wandering for the artifacts and they both settle on the glowing star.
They approach together, silently. They take it in their hands, together, and... something flashes between the two of them. It's something that results in a mutual pain, a mutual sadness.
A thing that the Corpse-Eater would have delighted to see.
But the light turns into a star-knife, just as many Elunans carry. Ni'essa's weapon in their very hands.
Tanith hunkers down on Aryia's shoulder, her eyes doing the long blink even as she offers a comforting thrum to the woman she's seated upon. "Goodpeoples. Nicepeoples." She purrs.
Meanwhile the Celestial earnestly tries to recapture Tanith. "YOU HAVE FREED MY MATE." It seems overwrought with emotion and gratitude. "BUT I REMAIN BOUND." Grateful, but still your enemy it seems.
"Tanithariairisixchel." Seldan draws a shaky, weary breath, on seeing that that didn't quite work as intended. "Aryia. Both of you, run back to Lord and Lady Lupecyll-Atlon. Get what we came for. I shall aid this one as I may, and meet you. Swiftly now. I shall see to myself."
He begins to back away towards the door, to cover their retreat. "I shall not leave him bound, and it is in my mind that his mate shall come to his aid. It is for me to ensure that that is possible. Go!"
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/Religion: (15)+10: 25
Aryia holds Tanith close as the angel tries to grab at the little dragon. The mute bobs and weaves, glancing from the holy being to Seldan. Run? Run! That's something Aryia can certainly do! She gives Seldan a firm stare, and a sharp nod.
She smushes her face against the little dragon to keep her on her shoulder as slides under the angel's legs, her running back up the stairs.
The greatsword goes >thunk thunk thunk< on each step.
The pugilist pops out from the dungeon, her eyes wide as she approaches the half-sil couple. Which grows even wider as she sees what they have. "G- g- g- *cough cough* g-!"
GAME: Telamon rolls will+3: (13)+19+3: 35
Cor'lana lets Telamon have the knife. He is the one explicitly a follower of Eluna, after all, and she is not. As much as she venerates both Ni'essa and Vaire... This is not hers to hold.
Her eyes turn to the mirror. Focusing on it for a moment. "I think that's--the Mirror of the Way? I think I've heard something like... maybe it's Rada, or Tarien, or Angoron's? A god of travel--"
And then Aryia appears. "Magic's not working right now, or we would," she says. "Tel, I think we're getting out of here the old-fashioned way."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (5)+27: 32 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL)
Telamon has been privy to many things. Knowledge of strange worlds, of strange places, of planes beyond Aeryth. But none of it is effective against the deluge of horror and anguish. Dead, dead, dead. It's leaking through the link to Lana, the absolute conviction that she is dead and it is all Telamon's fault. A horrifying image having formed in his thoughts, of Tel kneeling in the rain before a gray tombstone, despondent, empty. His world crashing down as tears run unbidden down his face.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (1)+20: 21 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (12)+15: 27
Seldan stands between the celestial and Tanith. It stares at him for a moment but then attacks, managing at least one cut on the man who is currently unarmed. "PLEASE LEAVE." It intones, trying to convince Seldan to go away.
Tanith looks at the despondent Telamon. The uncertain peoples gathered and whirrs worriedly. "Peoplesokay?" It doesn't seem so to HER. Her eyes drop to the hand holding the Star of Tears and she instantly flits from Aryia's shoulder to Telamon's. "Giveme? Feelbetter."
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Perform/Oratory: (19)+28: 47
From the bottom of the stairs, Seldan fairly roars, his voice echoing on the stone. "FLY! NOW! I SHALL NOT HOLD HIM FOR LONG!" His eyes wide as saucers at the sudden onslaught, he begins to back slowly away towards the stairs, a familiar searing line sinking in along his side where the blade connects. He ignores it for now, not noticing that the sparkly blackness does not appear, and shifts to a defensive mode, using the gauntlet to block blows as best he may.
GAME: Telamon rolls Will+3+2: (13)+19+3+2: 37 GAME: Telamon rolls Will+3+2: (19)+19+3+2: 43
Cor'lana looks at Telamon with her heart in her eyes when she sees what's going on, her sorrow a wound more horrible in some fashion than the one the Corpse-Eater gave her.
Her lips part.
"I am alive, Telamon; I am here, Still as your happily-chosen bride, Still the match to your soul's form, Still here by your side in all things. A kiss on the wind and know I am here: Our future awaits in a world beyond, Where we will retire in ancient woods: Where the wind is breath and wave and form Where we listen to Grandfather's birds And are content as we think on our life: Four children, and nestlings of their own, A story to span across generations to come."
She takes a heavy breath. "Tel, it's okay, I'm here." She smiles so sweetly at him. The gods know so often that it's often been the other way around. She will not let him be alone in his despair.
He's drowning. There's only the dull, dolorous gray of despair, of pain, of never seeing her again, never hearing her voice...
And then Telamon hears her. Her soft voice, the poetry that blazes in her heart as a daughter of Vaire, like a lighthouse in the fog pushing back the gloom. Gradually he claws his way to the surface, and with a choking gasp he holds the divine weapon to Tanith.
"Take it," he gulps, feeling the wetness on his cheeks. "For the love of the gods, Tanith, please take this! I do not want it!" It seems Telamon has found his limits, for now, and has no desire to try and plumb them further.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (19)+27: 46 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (8)+17: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (20)+27: 47 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (11)+20: 31
Aryia holds her position, watching Lana give her prose. Tapping her foot, tense and bound. And-- the sword comes off! Freedom! The mute rubs her arms as watches Seldan hold his ground across the way. "If you don't make it back I'm going to kick your ass!" she signs to him before sighing in relief that Tel gets his bearings.
Some fucky mirror that lets people travel? Shit, might have to use that to get the hell out of here. The mute grabs it, and books it after the couple and Tanith. <Handspeech>
GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (11)+15: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (17)+15: 32 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (8)+15: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d4: (3): 3
The celestial redoubles its efforts at last, attacking Seldan's defensive hand over and over until... The hand is cut free of the paladin's body and flops lifelessly to the floor. The wound is a grievous one, and worse for Seldan, a second celestial appears behind him, uttering a powerful word that locks the paladin in place as Seldan picks up the hand and reattaches it to his body…
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (13)+22: 35
Tanith looks at Telamon, nudging him gently and takes the Star of Tears from his grasp and... Vanishes. The last thing that he hears before she leaves is a quiet, gentle encouragement. "Goodpeoples."
Seldan screams as the defensive maneuver costs him the hand he was desperately using to defend himself from the onslaught. Bleeding from a handful of deep wounds, crimson mingling with the sparkly black - whatever it is that suddenly oozes from his skin, blackening every inch of skin, he reaches down to grab the gauntlet that still has his hand on it, but before he can do more than place it against his arm, he freezes, held immobile, stunned by the second celestial's appearance.
His heart pounds against his chest. Many times has he thought of laying down his blade and returning to Her halls in peace - but not now. He cannot. A task yet remains to him - more than one, in fact. He gasps out, agony lancing through every sinew. "Stay your blade, in the name of the Holy Dreamer!" he pleads, desperation in his tone. "I am not your enemy! Your mate is bound to my destruction - free him! Please! Free him where I cannot!"
Cor'lana scurries over, as best as she can, to the fallen sword and picks up Reunion in her hands. She shudders a little. She'd hoped never to hold a sword again after Mortal Dread.
But this is a friend's sword. And that friend's in trouble.
"Seldan!" She grits her teeth together as she looks at Telamon and Aryia. "I don't want to leave without him!"
GAME: Telamon rolls talky: aliased to diplomacy+5: (18)+32+5: 55
The horror is gone, the despair is gone, just a fading memory along with Tanith's warm benediction. Telamon wipes his face on his sleeve, his eyes blazing, as he surfaces to realize they're still in danger.
"ENOUGH!" he thunders, his voice rolling. For a long time, he has preferred not to force his will this way, but it's clear this is no time to be calm, relaxed, retiring. Now is the time to show strength. "Stay your hands, celestials! This is a good man, a Silverguard, and to strike him down, even if you are bound, is to court damnation. In the name of the Most High, Eli, I do not -request-, but I command you to cease this attack!" The words of Celestial, of the voice of the spheres, rolling out from his throat, as he draws himself up to regard the two angels sternly.
Aryia grits her teeth as she hears others doubling back to get Seldan. Aw hell. Boots screech to a stop, and she turns around to leap back into the room. A.. second celestial?!
Hearing Tealmon's words, she looks to Seldan-- holy fuck he looks terrible. Shit!
The mute looks to the mirror, jaw flexing as her mind's eye fills with that starry clearing outside the Alexandrian wards. Everyone holding hands to zip off and away.
She runs towarsd the stunned Seldan, closes her eyes, and pictures that beautiful, starry clearing.
She attempts to pass the mirror over the Silverguard. He doesn't have to do this alone.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (6)+27: 33 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+20: (18)+20: 38 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (10)+17: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (11)+15: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 3d6+15: (15)+15: 30
The second celestial meets Seldan's eyes as the man vanishes in the wake of the mirror that Aryia passes over him. Then it turns its gaze on its mate. "I WILL FREE YOU." It promises and there's tears in both their eyes as the one that has been here the whole time attacks the mirror-wielding monk. Then, the second one vanishes.
Cor'lana doesn't have to wait. Upon seeing the mirror do its work, she takes that route.
There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's--
It occurs to Lana at only the last second that she really has no clue where this will take her. She just hopes it's to safety.
Time's up. It seems Aryia has rescued Seldan from the wrath of the celestials, but one of them is just too stubborn to try and subvert his binding. As Telamon follows Lana, he makes damn sure to say something important.
"Wherever we go," he says, as they jump in, "Remember I love you."
And then they're vanishing off to truly who knows where...
Aryia grimaces as the sword slashes into her side, a hissing sound escaping her as she holds the mirror up for her friends. That clearing, glittering stars arranged just like that. Another stab. Her knees wobble.
She looks up to the green planetar. Two signs. "Stay strong." Shudders.
And she spins herself into the mirror. It swirls on a corner from the inertia before clattering to the ground. <Handspeech/Tongues>
You find yourselves... elsewhere. On a path in the dark. A crossroads of stone disappearing into the empty nothingness. There's nothing in the dark that you can see. No sense of anyone being here... ever. The vast emptiness into which the road leads... to nowhere.
GAME: Aryia rolls knowledge/the planes: (19)+3: 22 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (10)+19: 29 GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/the planes: (19)+17: 36 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Knowledge/The Planes+2: (2)+19+2: 23 GAME: Telamon used a Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds. GAME: Telamon rolls 2d8+3: (9)+3: 12 GAME: Telamon rolls heal: (10)+20: 30 GAME: Seldan rolls heal: (9)+13: 22
Lana gathers her breath and... "Mmmngh." Now that the adrenaline of staring down an angel isn't pumping through her, she looks absolutely... Worn down. Her neck wound bleeding.
"I feel..." She searches for the words. "Exhausted. Tired. Like I could lay down and..."
She shakes her head. "No. No, I'm not doing that."
Telamon shakes his head, feeling fuzzy, but... "This isn't the worst place we've been." Now he looks at Lana, and realizes the wound on her neck... hasn't stopped bleeding. Staining her dress. Swiftly, he pulls a potion out, uncapping it and getting her to drink. "Not just yet, love. We've still got a ways to go..."
He trails off as the bleeding doesn't stop the wound doesn't close. "Oh no," he whispers. "Seldan! Aryia! Something's wrong, I need you!" He holds Lana up, to keep her from collapsing. "Come on, love, stay with me. Remember what you told me with your poem."
Aryia all but crumbles to her knees, panting from the exertion and exhaustion from before. But she closes her eyes. Takes a deeeeep breath. One hand drips with shade, the other, shining bright. One touches her throat, the other, her torso. And traces a circle with them before thudding herself with it.
It absorbs into her. And the exhaustion in her shoulders lifts.
She whips around, trying to look around in the dark, but finds her friends. Her eyes widen, and she scrabbles forward, pulling out a healer's kit from her bag and passing it to someone more qualified.
GAME: Seldan attempts to cast Remove Curse but fails due to ASF. GAME: Seldan attempts to cast Remove Curse but fails due to ASF. GAME: Seldan casts Remove Curse. Caster Level: 16 DC: 23
When the others arrived, Seldan was already crumpled on the stone at their feet, curled up in a fetal ball, breathing hard and apparently in a good deal of pain. Still, when Telamon calls frantically, he looks up, and forces himself to his feet, left hand still holding his right wrist in place. He is nearly entirely black, now, the sparkly ooze mingling with the blackness that covers his armor, the bootblack in his hair combined with loss of blood lending him a deathly pallor.
Still, he is on his feet, albeit with an effort, and drops to one knee next to her. Needles still lance through his body with every movement, but he lets go of his right wrist to raise his left hand. Amazingly, it remains attached, but he leaves it to hang, opting instead to use the free hand. "The wound is - cursed. A moment." He raises that hand again, and begins to, shakily, draw several sigils in the air.
It takes him multiple tries to get the sigils right, and he is clearly struggling, but in the end, he gets the spell off, the sigils surrounding Cor'lana in a blue-silver glow, reaching into the wound.
The wound closes, and Cor'lana sighs in relief. "You are a many-times-over beloved friend, Seldan," she says. "It--really not needs saying, but... You are always welcome in our home."
And then she blinks. She realizes she has Reunion still in her hand. "Err. Umm. Here--I hope Kanian isn't upset that I held the sword for so long." She smiles sheepishly before she looks at Telamon. "Take us home, my love?"
GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (8)+30: 38 GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (24): 24 GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (21): 21 GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (27): 27 GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (14): 14 GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (11): 11
Once Lana is healed, Telamon hugs her tightly, sniffling a bit. It's been a long day, after all, with a lot of ups and downs. But at her request, he nods, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping his face. "Thank you, Sir Seldan," he says, his voice only ever so slightly shaky. "As Lana says, you're always welcome. As are you, Aryia." He offers the mute monk a grin.
Only when Lana is steady on her feet does Tel step away a pace or so. And then he begins to cast, drawing a circle, and widening it -- the trail of stars expanding into a portal leading to that familiar meadow outside Alexandria.
"Wh-t th- f-ck...?" Aryia hoarse hisses at seeing Seldan covered in glittering black, and his hand... oh no he's been- WAIT. IT'S STILL ATTACHED?! What the hell is going on?!
Her head whips back and forth from each of her friends and the dangling hand. The magic getting shaky and failing.
Then the wound closes. The mute sighs intensely, falling to her hands with her head thudding against the aimless ground. Just panting and staring at the dangling hand. "I have several questions, including why the fuck you aren't bleeding red. But that's for later."
Blessed healing suturing her cuts, Aryia sighs in relief as she gets to her feet. "Thank you. I'm glad we got you out."
She looks to the gate back home. And holds her hands out to help Cor'lana and Seldan to their feet. "Let's get the fuck out of here."<Handspeech>
While Telamon is casting, Seldan turns to Aryia, without getting up. "Was anyone able to retrieve the Star of Tears?" he asks, ven as he reaches out with a black-gauntleted hand. "The black will not harm you, and I would heal your wounds." When the work is done, he pulls away. "It is - complex." The hand may be attached, but he seems loath to use it, and he sets Reunion down rather than hold anything in it for any length of time. "My thanks for rescuing them, my lady, and you honor me with your welcome. It is more than I deserve."
In the end, he takes the hand, staggers shakily to his feet, and takes up the weapon in its sheath.
"Seldan?" That's the nasally grandmother, and the tone is almost - apologetic.
Seldan doesn't answer, merely walks wordlessly towards the gate, shoulders slumped, head held low.
-End