AChapter 7
Things are not going well for the party! Their trip through the mist shrouded canals of the Palace of Rabanastre is not off to a great start! Problem 1: Ainsley has been kidnapped and worse Shemhazzi is speaking through the lizard girl, something she is having to fight off nearly constantly. 2: Silmeria just got round housed by a Viera boot to the head and is in a dazed and rather badly injured state with a concerned Marduke and Lee standing over her. 3: The Mist is still filling the canals, their plan to get rid of it has not taken place yet and of course 4: The Building full of magically imbued elemental Imps about 200 yards away is as useless to them as a wet paper bag full of sugar as none of them will come into the canals due to "The Rules...."
"Whz..." Squeezing her eyes shut, Silmeria gropes her way to a standing position, leaning heavily against the wall of the canal. "Where'd.... Ow. Gotta go... Get outta th' Mist...." Head injury or no, Silmeria seems to be locked in on what they have to do, and is determined to accomplish it... whether or not she can keep her balance.
Lee gives Silmeria a hand up, though the bulk of his attention is on something else, namely the absence of a certain scholar, the lack of said scholar bringing forth an edge of anxiety in him as he looks around as best he can, "Where is she? Silmeria, d'ja see where she went? Where *is* she?!" He can't stay down in the mist too long, of course; even in his anxiety, that fact doesn't escape him, damp cloth over his face or not, and he can't see much through the mists anyway, leaving him to climb back out of the cannal a couple moments later, where he paces along the bank, muttering to himself before he starts calling out, "Ainsley! AINSLEEEY!! Can y'hear me??"
Marduke is already moving up to Silmeria as Lee starts taking off to search for Ainsley. Marduke just shakes his head, "Lets see here.." Holding up a hand as he chants softly a blue glow circling his hand and then tapping his finger to Silmerias forehead sending the healing energies her way, "We need you Silmeria, and we need to move quickly. Else we will lose each other." POinting to the way Lee went and moving to follow after.
Ainsley meanwhile can feel Shemhazzi, a dark presence in the back of your mind as Savourn carries you along. You can feel her speaking through you. "We must make haste, this one seeks to complete the puzzle. We must enter the Queen's chambers and go below." You can't stop her saying that but you DO feel her trying to warn them about the "Danger in the Dark" that is down there as per the prophecy. Somehow you are able to hold that back! Hold and lash out with a fist at Savourn."
While Ainsley is carried off, she can tell something is being said in her own voice. Despite the intense confusion this gives, she does realize that Shemhazai is the one doing it, and before Shemhazai can properly convey all of the information to Savourn, her voice is choked off, and Ainsley tries to strike Savourn right in his prettyboy face with her fist with a flash of hate in her eyes.
The pretty boy sadly for Ainsley catches her hand and frowns down at her as he walks along through the mist shrouded canal. His Burmecian and Viera companions out to either side watching the mist for anything untoward! He shakes his head and turns down a side canal. Ainsley can see the walls of the brickwork channel drawing in close as he moves further away from her companions! For Lee there is sadly no answer, the mist is a silent wall of roiling and flowing clinging dampness! Marduke's spell has Silmeria back in workig order but the use of such powerful magic in this place has stirred up all the mist. It is agitated and darkening and not at all friendly... the mist... is their enemy more then AInsley's kidnappers!
Silmeria shakes her head as the healing magics soothe her wounds, driving the last of the cobwebs from her thoughts. "We don't have *time,* we're going... to... lose..." Trailing off as she looks left, and right, the Esper's shoulders slump. "...I don't know where they went. And the Mist is stirring. We need to take care of this, first. Um... Does anyone remember which way we were supposed to go to the switch?"
Lee pauses his calling-out and frowns at the change in the mist, tugging at the rope tied to his waist, linking him to Marduke, from where he stands on the canal bank to get the summoner's attention, "Silmeria's right, th' mist looks t'be turnin' rather foul, Marduke, an I dun much like th'look of et." Kneeling on the bank, he offers Marduke and Silmeria each a hand up, "Best be up outta there, I think." In answer to Silmeria's question about the direction, he says, "Nearest is likely t'be North, somewhere aroun' tha direction we were headed to begin with'."
Marduke shakes his head, "We didn't know which direction for sure to begin with, we were guessing north." Turning to start climbing out with Lee's help, "Well that was my using magic, to heal Silmeria. Kinda of needed it." Sighing as he makes his way back to the top, "Then we hurry, and keep going north, the sooner we lesson the Mist, the sooner we actually stand a chance." Glancing around with a shiver, "Lets go."
Try as she might Ainsley sadly you just cannot fight back against the dark presence in her mind. It has hold of her, whispering words to Savorn you can't quite hear. You are struggling to break free though refusing to give in which is good! You can feel the effect it is having, something is Slipping and Savorn is starting to walk faster as the walls slip past you on either side and then he starts up a slope and you can see what looks like a large machine to the left! One of the sluice gate controls if only you could break free enbough to kick that lever!" to Ainsley.
The hold Shemhazai has on Ainsley is very, very hard for her to fight against, and her awareness of what the Lucavi is saying through her wanes. She gets a grip on where they're going, trying to spot something of use... and sees an important lever. She tries to struggle free of control, and more importantly, struggle free of Savourn to get to that lever.
The party are soon up on the Northern Side of the Canal, the Mist is less thick up there, easier to move through though just as thick an impedement to sight as before. It is not easy going and the party have very little to go on as they look and strive to see through the thick mist! Lee is distracted, looking out toward the fog and sees nothing but Marduke and Silmeria spot something whirling in the mist.
"There," Silmeria says, pointing further along their path, catching Lee's hand and pulling him after her. "That's what we're looking for, I *know* it. Come on! Even if we can't catch up to Ainsley, we *know* where she's going eventually."
Lee blinks as his gloved hand is caught and he's pulled along by Silmeria, "Huh? Wha? Whussat?" He catches on quick enough, relieving Silmeria of the need to pull him along by engaging his legs in her direction of travel, squinting ahead, "I dun see nuffin', you sure?" But he nods at Silmeria's logic, even if his grimace says he finds it unappealing to his current personal concerns, "Aye, s'pose yer right on that... Tough pill, it is, but I can't argue et." He makes a strangling motion with his hands, or at least his free hand, as the case may be, "Swear ta m'Lord an' Father, I get m'hands on that pustulent fop..."
"Then we will take that bridge right there!" Marduke offers from behind Lee and Silmeria, "This way, will lead us right across im sure." Motioning to them both as he moves to get past them and lead them to what it is he see's. "If this is the right spot that will make it easier, lets us set a quick trap maybe." Glancing back and nodding to Lee, "Don't let your anger distract you much my friend." Turning to continue leading the way to the bridge.
The situation is dire. The dainty lizard girl can't break free of Savourn's grip. Ainsley has found a minor solution to this predicament that she doesn't have any practical means to perform, but instead she weakly raises her hand, and tries to do something to spit right in Shemhazai's face... she tries to channel Shemhazai's power to hit the lever, hoping that she can lift these mists and sever the Lucavi's control on her, at least for now.
Marduke's Bridge will indeed be useful AFTER the mist has lifted, right now it just arches off over the canal into the thick of it. There is a problem though as they hurry to the Machinery. It is a mangle mass of ruin... twisted pipes and cogs and huge chunks of rock fill the base of the canal half blocking the door from sight. The sluice gate is ruined and will never open and then something does happen! There is an almighty BOOM that reaches through the mist and shatters it with the roaring rushing cascade of running water as the river roars into the canals and over-powers it! The mist slams upwards as well as if something had hit it and then breaks apart revealing for the first time in centuries the splendour of the canal and the buildings that adorn it islands! They must truly have been beautiful once before the mist twisted them and stripped them of their flora but what is truly important to all of those who just moments ago had hope shattered by the destroyed state of the sluice gate can see the glittering white haired form of Savourn on the far side of the Canals. He is over half a mile away in a straight line a glowing speck in the distance who can just about be seen to dump a dark figure onto the floor before he starts running with his companions toward one of the bridges....
"*NO!*" Silmeria cries upon reaching the wreckage, "We have to get--" Whatever else she was going to say is lost is the heart-shaking roar of the sudden flood, causing the Esper to press against the wall to make sure she isn't swept away. Once the Mists begin to clear, she lets out a soft breath. "Oh... Father, it's *beautiful!* I had no--THERE THEY ARE!" And with scythe in hand, Silmeria pelts off down the canals after Savourn and the discarded figure.
Lee pulls up short with Silmeria and Marduke, a groan of supreme frustration escaping him at the state the sluice gate is found in, the pale man looking as if he would happily murder stone, if only it could bleed. The explosion, sudden as it is, makes him stumble slightly in it's unexpectedness, and, by it's nature, catches his attention immediately, and his head whips around to the direction it came from as the flooding of the canals begins and the mist is swept away... Silmeria's cry comes just as his own eyes spy the glint of silver hair, and from him comes such a growl, deep, feral, and altogether inhuman, his lip curling in a snarl that reveals a sharp fang as his narrowed eyes take on a crimson glow noticeable even in the daylight. There's no attention paid to the former beauty of the canals as they stand revealed; he's got only one thing on his mind, and by the look of it, that thing is murder, or something quite close to it, and he's quick on Silmeria's heels as she takes off towards Savourn and the dropped figure, his black cloak whipping behind him!
Marduke stops as they find the gate, staring at it for a long moment, "No..." Shaking his head, "Maybe we could blast it..." Cutting off as he jumps out of the way to a safer spot as the explosion hits. Turning to watch the water rush past and blinking, "It open?" tilting his head and glancing around offering a soft, 'Ahh it was very... hey wait isn't that the one ass we are after?" Pointing down the way and jumping back to his feet to follow after.
Ainsley wakes up, getting up to a stand. She gets up relatively quickly, her senses returning to her. A shiver climbs up her spine, and her eyes close. Then she turns, and holds out her hand, and seeks out Savourn. When she spots him fleeing, she tries to pelt him in the back with a fireball for his trouble. She's grinning like a lunatic, though, without realizing it.
Ainsley hurls that fire-ball and it i beautiful! A firey rage of anger and annoyance, all her pent up rage and anguish and he spins.... that white hair flows out, his sword comes up and he cuts the flaming ball of fire in twain! One half careens off into his Burmecian companion who falls screaming and writhing as he burns and the other FIZZLES into the water of the canal. He stands there and eyes the lizard girl then looks toward the others running toward him and laughs gently. "Oh this is such fun! My Lady Conduit... fear not! I know what the Lady told us... and we shall meet again soon!" He turns and grabs the Viera's hand and the two of them seem to turn sideways and vanish with a faint POP Just as Marduke and Lee crest the bridge that would be in range of doing something! Silmeria is a bit further behind slower then the rest but the Knights of Restoration have fled the scene... or at least moved elsewhere..... the day is quite clearly Ainsleys.
"Ainsley?" Silmeria manages, between gasps for breath; Espers, apparently, are not endurance runners by nature. "Ainsley! Are you okay?" Lagging behind the mortals as she is, she concentrates simply on reaching the scholar, leaving the fight where it belongs, for the near future.
Lee crests the bridge just as Savourn and his surviving accomplice vanish, leaving him to lope his way to a stop at the last place they stood. The glow of his eyes fades, but the angry snarl remains, and he nudges the burnt burmecian corpse with an air of combined distaste and disappointment. Looking at Marduke, he grumps, "Well, weren't that jus' completely unsatisfyin' an' anti-climatic, wouldn' y'say?" Seems he was really looking forward to perpetrating some savagery on somebody... But, he takes a breath, calms himself down, and locks the rage he evidently feels towards Savourn and crew back in it's cage somewhere inside himself before turning and making his way quickly towards Ainsley and Silmeria, apparently eager to rejoin the company of the formerly-kidnapped scholar.
Marduke is running as fast as he can jumping over things that get in his way and over all making good time. As runs up on Ainsley and the burnt corpse he just comes to a slow stop and looks around with a frown. Shaking his head slowly as he considers. Closing his eyes he takes a moment to think and perhaps trying to clear his head, "It is Lee." Is all he offers and walks over to the burnt corpse and hmming a moment then shakes his head, "No victory, no defeat here. We should get to looking for the place we need. I suspect this kidnapping wasn't to keep her, but for some other purpose. Don't know what though. They dropped her to easily."
Ainsley watches the burmecian smolder. Her smile fades. It wasn't the one she was aiming for, but boy if she didn't just knock one of the Knights of Restoration out of the picture. This is about when what she did hits her properly, and she slouches and puts her hands over her face. "The mist," she tells Marduke, "It was the mist. Her hold was too strong..." She then mumbles to herself, "I had to... I had to..." As if reassuring herself. She sniiiffs in and lets out a shaky sigh. "Let's go," she says, sternly.
Ainsley is back with the party, the mists have cleared and the canals are full of water. Even without vegetation they are beautiful. Crystal columns, fluted buildings and soaring towers rise up into the sky. They can see the building they need as described in the literature Ainsley red. A building of rose crystal walls... small compared to the others but in its own charming it has a beauty all its own, waiting for them. The childhood rooms of Queen Ashe...... ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]
The mist has cleared, for the first time in centuries the canals can be seen, even in their ruinous state they are beautiful. The buildings are marvels, carven stone, crystal windows and tapering spires. Only one of those buildings really interest the group, the small, rather neat looking house on an island of its own that Savourn and his Knights were running for. It has a single dome of Rose Quartz and sparkles in the late afternoon sunshine....
'Let's go,' Ainsley said with a gungho attitude, when no one really addressed the peculiar little episode she had when they caught up to her. She turns and starts walking at a steady march, pretty much silent, to get to the house, taking the lead if the party lets her. She has a frown on her lizardy face, and her walk suggests she would break out into a run at any second if she had reason to, very agitated and quick. She's pretty sure she knows where they're supposed to go now.
Lee follows along after Ainsley, adjusting his hat a little as he slows his breathing from his breakneck run just minutes before. He sticks close to her, as well, looking Ainsley up and down, checking for cuts, bruises, injuries, askew feathers, "Y'all right, Ains? They didn't 'urt ya, did'ey?" A look to Silmeria next, "They didn't 'urt 'er, did'ey, what you kin tell?" Pulling one of his water skins from under his cloak, he uncorks it and takes a long sip, after the question.
Marduke just shakes his head as he takes a moment to look around and sighs softly, "To of seen these times as they were once." A touch of a half smile then turns to follow along hurrying to catchup. He doesn't offer anything else making his way towards the rose colored house with the rest. His staff held at the ready though should something decide to jump out at them.
"Not... that I can *tell,*" Silmeria murmurs to Lee, narrowing her eyes for a moment. "A bit eager, but... I would be too, I suppose, were I in her shoes..." Shouldering her Gunblade, she picks up her pace, following after the others at a trot. "I'm sure it really *would* have been beautiful, Marduke, in their days of glory. Perhaps, some day, we can find a decent accounting of those times, hm?"
Nothing jumps out at them, there are no fiends boiling out of the water filled canals, it is almost peaceful and then they reach the island with the Rose Dome topped house. It is quite beautiful really and the doors are large and oak and off to one side. It is neglected but still sturdy and just beyond the party can see the entrance hall filled with warm rose light. Inviting, friendly and chisseled over the doorway the name "Ashe"
Ainsley doesn't let Lee's concern go unanswered. "No, I'm not hurt. But I feel absolutely filthy for what just happened," she tells Lee, and then hesitates in her step. "They didn't do anything to me, exactly." The elaboration is quieter, with a shrug. She manages to keep up her walk. In a moment uncharacteristic of her, she spares only momentary halts to look around, as if scouting for trickery or ambushes and not appreciating her environment at all. She almost seems to be fighting back a scowl, only managing it because there is nothing to scowl /at/.
Lee nods at Ainsley's answer to his concern, briefly laying a hand on her shoulder in response; such a thing can't be done for too long while walking, after all. He does his share of looking around, as well, partially for the same reasons as Ainsley: mild paranoia and hyper-vigilance. But also, it seems, to do his best to match his surroundings to what he remembers, and what could be seen, from the overhead 'map' view they were all given before entering the city. Until the rose-colored building is reached, at least; once that happens, the building, and it's entrance, have his full attention, and he gives a low whistle, "Man, when they build somefin' fancy, they sure don' kid around." He sticks his head through the doorway, without stepping in, looking around the entrance hall, a brief check for anything untoward or dangerous, and giving a short call, "'Allo?" Not that he seems to honestly expect any kind of answer from within.
Marduke just shakes his head towards Silmeria, "You can read about things, even look at pictures, but to see it. Even when it is like this is amazing." Eyes glancing to Ainsley as he turns a shade sour and shakes his head, "They didn't try to keep you that hard Ainsley. I am sure they have another reason for grabbing you, information, something on you, to try to pick one of us off, I don't know. Their methods are never direct." Eyes looking to the door and to lee as he steps in, "Lee I doubt they will make themselves so obvious." Then moves torwards the door himself. "We are about to." Cutting himself off and shaking his head taking a deep breath, "To step into a very big part of history."
"That we are, Marduke," Silmeria murmurs, eyes moving to Ainsley, her worried gaze long and appraising. "Remember who they serve... The Whisperer is never so at home as when she works to drive wedges into the cracks between friends and allies. If we're to face her and her servitors, we *must* be stronger than that. No matter what." Finally taking her eyes off the scholar, she slips to the other side of the door, leaning her back against the wall of the building and drawing in a deep breath. "If we end up not fighting them within... be assured, they'll be waiting when we emerge."
As everyone peers through the doorway cautiously they have maybe a couple of seconds to react as two figures come charging out of one of the doors that lead off the hall way. Lee is a master as is Marduke the pair of men spinning into the doorway with Ninjaesque skill to block the passage of Savourn and his Viera companion. Lee is even fast enough to light up a nice big ball of flame and toss it at the pair of them. Savourn cuts it in half again sadly but he does at least stop and his Viera does as well. Silmeria and Ainsley are slower to react and so get to watch it unfold by peering around the Summoner and Dragon in Disguise but they would notice that neither of them look quite as pristine and well turned out as normal and if anything are rather wild about the eyes. The long haired knight tips his cap at the party and smiles. "So sorry not to stay and play. Urgent business elsewhere, it's all yours bye now!" They turn and dash through another door and you hear the faint tinkling crash of a window breaking and those who are magically inclined feel the sudden POP of a powerful spell translocating them elsewhere.
Ainsley glances off to Lee, her scowly demeanor fading momentarily. This results in her directing a mild gaze off toward Silmeria, eyes lidded faintly. Marduke's the only one that gets a direct verbal reply, "The Whisperer used the mists to strengthen her grip on me, and speak through me to instruct Savourn. This hasn't happened before, so it means that it's unlikely he's getting enough information without resorting to trickery like--" And then Savourn and his Viera companion come charging out of the trouble they had gotten themselves into. Ainsley stares at the sight. She reaches up and rubs her chin. "Oh good. I might've pulled that off, at least." She gives a chipper explanation to the others, "I think I managed to conceal the /guardian/ that they would have to deal with. It seems like it may have scared them half to death." She seems all too amused by this. "Well... Time to face certain death again, I suppose." Aaand her smile's gone again, moving to enter and find the way to where they're supposed to go.
Lee lowers his hand from fire-slinging-position with a brief spat of some remarkably foul and ribald language above and beyond any he's used before, involving mothers and lewd sexual acts and some other less savory topics, the flight of the object of his ire making good an escape despite the pale young man's quick reaction. He grumps and looks at the door Savourn and his lackey *came* from, keeping himself ready, "Guardian, eh? Certain death, indeed, luv. Anyone wanna make odds on whether r'not they jus' left us wi'a very pissed off Guardian ta subdue? I'm thinkin' 5:1 for, m'self..."
Marduke is nodding to Ainsley as she explains, only to turn as something catches the corner of his eye. Twisting he spins to block the path of the two along with Lee. Eyes narrowing as they use another area to escape with and shaking his head slowly, "Even those fools would think that there would be some kind of guardian, still worries me it is beyond their ability to handle so easily. I hope we can simply ask it permission and prove ourselves someway instead of having to fight it." Shaking his head, "Heh, could always try that rainbow drop on it." Reaching up to rub his chin thoughtfully and shrugs. "Thats a fools bet Lee, the question is if we can calm it down or not, so maybe 7:1?"
"I doubt it," Silmeria sighs, stepping away from the door and lowering her Gunblade in a two-handed grip, "but I hope so. The *real* question, though, is whether they left with the compass in hand or not... And on *that,* we do rather *need* to gamble on, no matter the odds." Throwing one, last, dirty look in the direction the Knights disappeared off to, she raises an eyebrow. "Still... whatever happens from here on out, Ainsley? You should be proud of yourself. You've just managed to put one over on the Damned Deceiver herself."
The party move forward through the small house, every room is open to the dome, the rose light filtering down making everything enchanted. It is like walking through a fairy story, a wonderland where everything i slightly rose tinted. It is easy enough to find the Queen' Bedroom and it soon becomes obvious that the compass the party are seeking i actually the mosaic "Compass Rose" embedded in the floor. It is also open... a large rectangular part of it has slid open and revealed stairs leading down....
Ainsley leads the way to the Compass Rose. She looks to Silmeria and motions to the floor, "Seems awful large to take away in their pockets," she says, cheekily, and then turns to approach the stairs. She gives a cursory check before she even tries going down... and then glances to the others, and waits for people more capable of handling a melee battle to go in first. "S-sorry. I'll try to support with fire from back here, if it gets sticky down there, I think." She double checks the surroundings, though, to make sure she's not missing anything before they descend.
Lee follows along, looking around the room the group eventually finds themselves in, the hole in the floor an obvious point for his attention to end up on. He stops next to the hole, and the stairs down, nodding to Ainsley with a smile, "Aye, Ains, you an' Marduke, yer our artillery." He looks to Silmeria, "Guess we're up, then, eh?" Flexing his hands in his brawling gauntlets, which give a small, almost eager-sounding creak as the leather stretches, he begins to descend the stairs...
Marduke just shakes his head as he looks to the open stairs, "Finding it, opening it, even with their speed. To get down there, unless the Tomb is like ten feet below us I would say is nearly impossible. I doubt they have it, but we cannot discount the possibility." Shaking his head as he motions over to Lee, "Shall we?" Moving to follow Lee down the stairs.
"It certainly is that," Silmeria says in answer to Ainsley, a smile touching her lips, before she nods to Lee, slipping around Marduke to take up her position in the line. "Let's do, then... And if we can't get out of this stairwell... well, then I suppose you and Ainsley will be the lucky ones. Keep her safe, Marduke, alright?"
As the party advance down the stairs slowly something moves in the darkness... a shape stepping forth. It is short and has bright red scales and piercing Amber eyes that seem to rove over all of them. It's dressed in just a black loincloth held up by a belt with a rather intricate Belt-Buckle and two daggers made from red metal. He regards the quartet solemnly for a moment, tasting the air with his tongue then growls softly in a rather low voice. "Yes? Can I help? Or do I have to kick your arses too?"
"No, no, we're here for a good reason! Yes, you can help! Thank you for scaring them away, by the way," Ainsley says to the lizardy creature that approaches the group, pretty cheery about her reply, "We're here looking for something important for thwarting their master, and they just tried to use trickery to get to it before we could." She waves from back there, trying to seem friendly as opposed to threatening. Might as well try to be diplomatic. "I have to admit, you are not what I expected us to find down here. I have too active of an imagination, sometimes. I believe we're looking for something called the Obsidian Mirror."
Lee blinks as the lizard figure steps into view, eyebrows arching as he gives it a brief once-over, evaluating Friend-Or-Foe as it speaks. Given that there was no immediate perpetration of violence upon himself or the others, and the generally civil-ish query, he comes to the conclusion of 'Nominally The Former', though his hands stay ready as Ainsley speaks up from the rear in answer to the red lizard, standing somewhat to one side so he's not blocking the scholar's view, and speaking up himself once Ainsley is finished, "So, y'did meet Mr. Prettyboy an' his sidekick, then? An' kicked 'is arse, t'boot? I like you already, good sir... Assumin', then, he didn't take nuthin' from ya? 'Ope that's th'case; tha less he gets 'is grubby li'l mitts on, tha better..."
Marduke just stares at Ainsley for a good long moment from the back of the group, then just shakes his head slowly. "I.. we.." Then shakes his head again and motions over to Silmeria, "You are far better with words then most of us. We seek the Tomb of Queen Ash for the Obisidan Hand Mirror, maybe a look at her memoirs, but that is a personal goal of mine." Shaking his head as he looks to the creature, and clearly hoping there will not be a fight.
Silmeria lowers her 'blade, resting the point against the ground and standing straight. "They speak the truth," she says, nodding slowly. "And as the Esper of Lord Hades, I vouch for the honor of their quest, sir... The artifact is the only thing we truly need, and nothing more. The ones who came before us... it's quite likely they'll be dogging our steps for longer than we'd prefer, so I can say it's more than likely you'll be left in peace, once we've gone." He laughs right in Marduke's face and flips a clawed finger at him, "You can suck on it if you think I am letting a summoner paw through the Lady Ashe's Diaries," he shakes his head then turns to eye Ainsley and snorts and shakes his head, "You speak true Esper of Hades but this one," he points a claw at Ainsley, "She stinks of Shemhazzi... like those who came before. I can dispose of her now and let you carry on with your quest. If of course you carry the appropriate proof to show you seek the Obsidian Mirror."
Ainsley balks at the suggestion this creature makes. "Pardon, but killing me would defeat the entire purpose of us being here," she says, sounding awkward and moderately offended, and then she digs through her person, and produces the two pieces of the star map, showing them to the guardian. "We are looking for three objects: The Mirror of Obsidian, the Starsong Key, and the Torque of Entropy, hidden ... here, the Galactic Plain and the Catacombs of the King of Kharma, respectively." Then she pulls out a note, "And as a friend provided for me, here's the information I got for here: 'Beware the Silent Corridor, Watch the Chill... When water dries out and footsteps no longer echo, beware the hidden darkness that bars the way.'" She looks at the figure. "I really wish people would stop wanting to stab me," she quietly complains.
Lee nods along as Ainsley explains, adding when she finishes, crossing his arms, "Yeah, killin' her would kinda defeat tha purpose of tryin' t'eject Shem-holistic from 'er soul, as we all find that bitch's presence there highly objectionable, an'," he frowns mightily, "I'd be a fair bit more'n cross should she end up dead, I might add." He gestures back to Ainsley, "Aside from all that she jus' showed, tha map an' tha verse an' all, what other proof would be needed t'satisfy yer responsibility 'ere?"
Marduke plants his staff and leans into it with a smile, "Is that how it is?" Tilting his head, "A pity, I may have to make this trip again sometime when I can prove myself better. Oh much work to do." Shrugging his shoulders and hmming to himself thoughtfully. A glance to Ainsley, "Ahh good the map, I was wondering where that went off to. As for stabbing, well curiosity here can be a problem yes?" Shaking his head slowly and going back to silent contemplation.
"They do sort of have a point, sir," Silmeria says, raising an eyebrow. "Ainsley here is the one charged with this quest, killing her would make this entire journey moot. But, Lee does ask a fair question. What can we do to satisfy your duty, and allow us *all* to leave in peace?"
The creature folds his arms and regards Ainsley and sniffs, "Well you have my Master's Map... that's a start and you know of the three keys so fair enough. I am the Darkness... the servant of the Attractor the Shadow Flame the Mystery Master...." he looks around at the party and then grins at Marduke, "You can try and prove you are worthy this trip... as you aren't a bunch of fakers I won't kill you all and you can try my riddles instead." He turns and starts to walk down the dark corridor. "Come along then, if you want access to the Tomb of Lady Ashe you can follow me back to my nest and pass some riddles or get eaten. It's all the same to me... oh and mind you follow my footsteps exactly. I'd hate... well ok I'd not hate, you all look rather tasty. But I'd probably get lectured if you turned out to be genuine and I ate you."
Ainsley laughs uncertainly at what the creature says, and nods a couple times at him. "W-well. At least it's not /certain/ death," she mumbles, as if to reassure herself at this point. She turns to follow after him. "So I'll just call you Darkness, then. I think that's reasonable." She manages the friendly tone, as she stuffs the proof of their quest back away in her robes and begins to follow this red-scaled creature. In a comical display, she tries to mimic his gait exactly, taking what he says literally at first, at least until something informs her otherwise.
Lee nods as the proof offered thus far seems too satisfy the red reptile, falling into step next to Ainsley, smiling widely, "So, let's recap... He kicked Savourn's arse, *and* seems he's got somefin' of a sense o'humor, or a sort... Yeah, def'nitely like this bloke, I do, not countin' all this talk o'eatin' people an' th'like. A bit brightly colored fer Darkness, though, but that might jus' be me."
Marduke follows along as they start to be lead, his eyebrows raising and hmming a moment. "I belive I will." Tilting his head and glancing to Ainsley, "It is riddles, we have a chance here. It is something we are both moderatly good at, though I suspect these will be some of the hardest we have faced yet." Shaking his head and glancing to Silmeria and then Lee with a hmm, "Still we shall see, darkness he?"
"He's a servant of Lord Diabolos," Silmeria says with a mild shrug, watching the kobold's footsteps closely, and doing her utmost to match him, step for step. "There is, after all, a very good reason why some secrets remain so. It is good that he has a sense of humor, though, I'd caution you all, whether I need to or not... humor doesn't mean leniency. If he says we stand to be eaten, that is a *very* real possibility. This is a truly serious challenge, and I hope our minds are sharper now than they ever have been before."
"Ah cheer up girl, I won't be eating you, if you wind up dead I'll just kick your sorry behind back into the Abyss and Hades can throw you a tea party or something." he hops and skips over a series of flagstones and then kicks open a door and idly scratches at one of his ear fins. "And My name isn't your business, though it sure ain't Darkness. There is power in a name when you work for the big boss! Now then in you come n lets sit down and talk!" He motions you all into his chambers, which are actually rather nice, there are bookcases and large rugs and HUGE fluffy cushions and silk hangings and a natural spring fed basin in one corner for water. He flops onto a cushion and idly flicks a hand at the fire-place which ignites. "Now come on sit down, sit down and we can talk and you can all mess up the riddles and I can have fresh Dragon, Lizard and well Human for dinner and stick one to the Lord of the Dead." He grins and settles down comfortably. "Well dun just stand there like a bunch of girlies come and sit down."
"Well I know that it isn't my business, it's a name of convenience," Ainsley assures the red lizard-like creature. She follows along in a similar manner to the guardian, and steps into the room... then walks over to find a seat at a cushion, and cozies into it. She looks around idly, eyes momentarily stopping to look at the books. "Huh." She looks over to the 'Darkness' and smiles at him in anticipation. She fidgets, evidently nervous, but she does wait for the riddle. "Nice room, for a place in the middle of a mist-drenched ruin. An oasis, of sorts," she mentions, not really to anyone in particular, sparing a look around.
Lee frowns at the red lizard's words, careful about following the creature's and Ainsley's steps over the flagstones. Just in case. "Dragon? Thought those were only legend, 'less yer talkin' bout those beady-eyed little buggers that're naught more than walkin' balls o'hatred an' anger wrapped in scales what wander th'mists..." Following Ainsley in and making his way to a comfortable-looking place to sit, he casts "Darkness" a dark glance with his crimson eyes, grumbling with a bit less volume, and accent turning a bit thicker, "'Sides, jus' cause y'might know somethin' what one might think ought be a secret dun' mean you've right ta go blabbin' it about an' all." Taking his chosen seat, and making sure there's a spot for Ainsley as well once she finishes oggling the bountiful shelves, he proceeds to lounge lazily, hat coming off and hand running through his unkempt black hair.
Marduke raises his eyebrows as he looks around the room and shakes his head slowly considering and hmms to himself. A glance to Lee as he talks about dragons and just shakes his head. "Oh there are mysteries everywhere Lee, sometimes hiding them becomes a losing battle." Shrugging his shoulders as he moves over to get himself a seat, "It is a nice place here, though I suspect you have been here a very long time to."
Silmeria chooses her seat in silence, arranging herself behind the party and to their right. The Gunblade, laid to rest across her lap, an oiled cloth produced from a hidden pocket as she begins to clean the weapon. "We do thank you for your hospitality, sir, and your den is really quite lovely. However... we've little time for pleasantries, I'm afraid. With every step, our road grows less easy."
The Kobold smiles at Lee, "Whoever said I was talking about you? I might have been refering to the Summoner," he points a paw at Marduke and smiles winningly at Lee, "I mean can't you see the traces of Mist clinging to him? He's been to the Dragon Mount and has a soul touched by Mist herself." The books are all in a language that not even Ainsley with all her wordly knowledge recognizes and each case has a nice glas door on it and a lock, "Oh I've had this home down here for year," He says sprawling onto his back and tilting his head over the pillow to stair up at Marduke, "But I'm not alone, people drop by to visit from time to time, we have a fun time it's all good. I get to eat the occasional adventuring party. Keeps me happy... now then about those riddles..." he grins at Silmeria and winks at her, "You have all the time possible here...."
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