Bur Omisace: Aqueducts

Preparations to escort the party to the Temple of Shiva are now complete, Several Paladins of Alexander have joined the group and Marduke, Lee and Silmeria have all quite recovered from their impromptu trip to the Tranquil Gardens for Tea with Alexander. Sister May and Father Mongra have escorted everyone down to the catacombs beneath the Basilica were the two Paldains have joined you Paladin Knight Goarn and Paladin Knight Pepé. "Now then everyone," Sister MAy says with a smile, "I am glad you all chose to visit us, I trust all will go well on your journey from now on."

Marduke glances to the paladins and then around the catacombs for a moment frowning. "The air here feels..." Closing his eyes a moment, "Odd, and old." A touch of a smile and a chuckle. Then nods slowly, "We thank you for your hospitality, I suspect this will not be the last time we meet sister May. Until next time." Tapping his staff into the ground, and looking to the others, "We still have quiet the journey ahead of us."

Ainsley stands to the side, somewhat drawn into her own thoughts once again, though she seems fidgety and impatient. She isn't much for pleasantries, after all, and she only manages a smile and nod at Sister May, and a glance at the rest of the party. She sidles over to stand closer to Lee, though, showing he gives her some comfort

Lee smiles amiably and tips his hat to Sister May, "Would be lyin', Sister, if I said this visit were anythin' less'n quite th' experience. My thanks an' appreciation fer yer hospitality, as well, an' peace be wit' yeh." Another tip of his hat goes to the two paladins, along with an "Afternoon, gents," before he chuckles to Marduke, "'Course it does. It's underground. Most such places feel that way ta most people unaccustomed t'deep places." He rests a comforting hand on Ainsley's shoulder as she sidles near him, smiling, "On t'tha next stop, eh Ains?"

Silmeria, for her part, seems to perk up quite visibly, as they descend into the catacombs. "It's our hope as well, Sister," she says, turning to crouch before the Moombs and offer her hand. "And thank you, too... however... unorthodox your methods, they proved very much appreciated, Father." Once the niceties are returned, she stands, drawing in a deep breath and nodding her welcome to the paladins. "Well, then... onward, friends."

Paladin Goarn smiles, a tall rather lanky burmecian, he rests his halberd on his shoulder and taps the butt of it against the wall in front of them. The bricks ripple and flow back and then part to reveral a set of steps. "Well then everyone, lets get going my good chaps." he starts down the stairs. Pepé waits for you all to be down before bringing up the rear and closing the hidden door. "It shouldn't take us long to get to Shiva's Temple from herer."

Marduke starts along taking the lead right after the first Paladin. his expression while still a smile seems sharp, almost on edge. A shake of his head, "Lee there is more to it then a old feel, a sense of magic in the air. Can't quiet put my finger on it. One of the things some summoners try to due is listen to the world around them. Sometimes you never know what you might catch." Winking back to Lee, then frowning a bit as he follows along, "This city is old after all, already seen one of the things that come from below."

Ainsley is absolutely amazed by the hidden passage's revelation, and leans closer to get a look at the process. "Wonder how..." she trails off before she can finish the sentence, not secure about asking questions right now. She silently follows with the rest of the group. When Marduke mentions magic in the environment, she looks around, scrunching her brow, seeming incredulous about his claim. She wants to know what he's talking about for herself, of course, which is why she's looking around so much.

Lee follows along, chuckling to Marduke, "Aye, or what might catch you, as th'case may be. If it's as y'say, then puttin' yer finger on it might only 'asten the inevitable; Quite sure it'll put it's finger on us, if we leave it go fer long enough. S'usually th' way o'things, anyway."

Silmeria brings up the rear of the party, glancing over her shoulder to nod at Pepe as he slides into step behind her. "It really is quite interesting, Ainsley, isn't it? Perhaps one day, once this business is done, you could see about asking the Temple's permission to make a study of how it was built, mh? I'm sure your findings would be fascinating to read."

The Paldain behind Silmeria chuckles, "I am afraid Miss Ainsley's request would be denied, the art of building the passages beneath the Basilica is a closely guarded secret. We'd be happy to show her some of the other secrets we have at our disposal however." Goarn chuckles and shakes his head, "Oh lighten up Pepé seriously, now then." he steps off the bottom of the stairs and points at a door ahead. "This door leads us out into the main aqueduct beneath the city. We will follow this to the entrance to Shiva's temple."

Marduke continues to follow along with a chuckle, "Indeed I suspect many a request to study the workings and magics in a city like this would be denied. Though I am curious what one would be allowed to study?" Glancing back to Pepé for a moment with a raise of his eyebrows then turns back to follow the lead paladin, "Indeed, this to is a rare sight I suspect for some."

Ainsley frowns over at Pepé a moment or two, but then smiles over at Goarn. The contrast between the two at least keeps her relaxed, and she spends much of the traveling examining her surroundings for any obvious signs of magic. Probably won't find anything. She doesn't offer much of a reply to Silmeria, though, besides a glance and a shrug.

Lee hums a tune to himself as he too treks along, having lapsed to near-silence save for the under-his-breath concerto. He does his fair share of looking around, too, though it's not the architecture or a search for magical evidence, but a search for more mundane items, or creatures, of interest that occupies him, with one ear kept to the conversation as well.

Stepping to one side, Silmeria waits for the Paladin to open the door onward, one hand reaching back to unclasp the main catch keeping her Gunblade in place; a simple precaution, at the mention of underground waterways. "We *are* grateful for your protection, Sirs, and your guidance." One corner of her mouth turns upward, at the door and what lays beyond. "I say this now, just in case we end up... travelling too rapidly to observe the niceties."

There is Magic for Ainsley to enjoy seeing, from the mage-lights to the stones all held together by magic. Sadly as they are walking she can't stop to analyse it. The largest magical object is the door out to the Aqueduct, Goarn taps it with his Halberd again and it flashes. Silver locks thunking out of the stonework, panels rotating around one another until the whole thing slides open to reveal the passage out onto the side of the Aqueduct canal. Pepé meanwhile is frowning at Marduke, "You can learn anything in the public libraries, there are plenty of them in Alexander for you to peruse in your quest to learn more." He then nods to Silmeria and gives her a warm smile, "Thank you Miss Silmeria, now then shall we?" Outside the aqueduct is amazing, vaulted roofs, coloumns, clean clear water flowing along a deep channel.

Marduke lets out a laugh, "Oh you said secrets, those are not secrets but public knowledge, and I am only teasing my friend. Though I will visit again sometime to study at the library, always much to learn and I do like a good book." Grinning playfully for a moment. "Yes and thank you, we are most grateful for your guidance in this matter. My friends and I have had quiet the trip, and it is refreshing to be in such company." He glances out to the aquaducks and smiles at that, "Yet another sight to add to the list of things I have seen that take my breath away."

Ainsley is somewhat frustrated that she can't study it, but she doesn't let that stop her. She also doesn't mention it, of course, and she gives a wary glance over to Marduke, and to the Paladins, not offering any input to their conversation, but it's obvious that she's somewhat displeased with it. She's just not in a very good mood at all, all this stress and new people knowing about her screw-up and mysterious corridors that she can't even study. She frowns and makes a stressed noise, and reaches to grab Lee's hand to help distract her from her worries.

Lee looks to Ainsley as she grabs his hand, curious at first, then smiling and giving her hand a squeeze to help soothe her nerves before returning his attention to the aqueduct, "So, 'bout how far are we from Shiva's temple, anyway? S'it a long walk usin' this route, compared t'tha streets, or is this somethin' of a shortcut by comparison?"

Silmeria keeps her silence, for now, merely ensuring her weapon is ready, eyes cast about the grand vaulted ceiling and chuckling waterflows. Despite the gloom, the Esper seems quite at ease in such surroundings, curious and alert.

Goarn starts along the walk-way. "It is about a fifteen minute walk away through the Aquaduct, we get to avoid the crowds after all." he turns around a corner and starts down the next tunnel. It soon branches out into a large open pumping station. Various machines thrumming away and doing whatever it is they do to keep the water flowing. Pepé suddenly gasps and leaps away from Silmeria, his swords coming out. Goarn is a bit slower byt he leaps forward and grabs a switch and slams it backwards which causes a grate to stop falling. What no one was expecting or sensed were the wards going off. 6 of them in total, each one blossoming into existance beneath the feet of one of the party, all except Ainsley. They cause a wall of force to slam up around them,, a floor to ceiling cage of crackling electrical energy that seems to offer no escape. Ainsley is left unaffected and the Paldains are already chanting something but they are interupted as a figure dressed in black robes steps out of the shadows of the machinery, he pauses to regard the party and smiles at Ainsley. "My Lady... I am so very glad to have found you."

Marduke was walking along his staff not quiet touching the ground as he does so. To keep it a bit quieter after all, yet he just doesn't react in time as the wall of force snaps up around him. A blink at what is going on, his first glance to the paladins thinking they tricked them. Then a even deeper frown as the black robed figure steps his way out. He shakes his head, "This is not good." Muttering under his breath as he whispers a few more words to himself.

Ainsley was quiet, even complacant to the whole trip. Her eyes were lidded, her mouth drooped into a frown. But then she saw the panic when the paladins noticed something that she didn't, and the glow-- she stumbles away from Lee as he's trapped behind a cage of lightning. Her eyes are wide, and her mouth open, but she doesn't shout, her breath caught in her throat. She looks at the rest of the party, and... why isn't she trapped...? The voice cuts through her thoughts, and her wide eyes turn to the figure in the black robes. "... what?" She glances over her shoulder. Okay, maybe she's a little dense? "I don't see your 'Lady' here..." Or maybe she's just being difficult. She looks back at the robed figure, seemingly tired and impatient; in truth, she's absolutely terrified, but she's doing her best to hide it. She knows she'd never be able to go up against someone who could pull off this kind of trap, magic would be a hilariously useless endeavor. "I think you have the wrong group of adventurers, could you release them, please?"

Lee's caught completely by surprise as the barrier springs up around him, the tight confines combined with the abrupt appearance causing him to utter a startled noise that's cut off mid-syllable as he walks right into the barrier wall, and with spectacular results! Crackling and sparking erupt, flinging him back within the narrow space within the barrier, where more crackles and sparks ensue on the opposite side in a painful looking cascade that has him half-falling half-scrambling, amidst yelps and colorful curses, until, breathless and slightly smoking, he finds solace in the middle of the barrier, on one knee, "Bloody fahckin' hell..." It's only at Ainsley's response to the dark figure that he even notices that the figure is there, the barrier having been powerfully distracting, and he turns his gaze to that figure, and he frowns, putting the matter of the barrier aside as, perhaps surprisingly, the young man actually growls. Not an imitation of a growl, but an actual growl, deep and coarse, "Aye, she's got a good idea there. An' that'd be tha safer option, really, if'n y'ask me."

The eruption of energy startles a shout from the Esper, causing her to backpedal... directly into the cage behind her. A pained cry is torn from her throat, and she slumps forward, breathing heavily. As the robed figure approaches, she narrows her eyes. "Ainsley... Ainsley whatever he offers you, *don't listen to him.* It doesn't matter how powerful he seems... You *can* resist him!"

The Iguana had been following the group in complete silence, listening to the conversation while also looking around at various points for signs of trouble. He, like the rest of the group, is caught completely unprepared by this trap and he actually doesn't stop moving when the wall of force appears, running right into it, which has him flying backward into the opposite 'wall' in a shower of sparks, a surprised and pained yelp, and a repeated session as he is thrown forward again. He is face first on the ground after it is all over, going through two more repetitions, trembling from the tremendous shock his body was put through as he ended up becoming a living pinball. He may need some time to get up after that. At least his harness and kilt haven't fused together from all that.

The figure pushes back his hood and smiles at Lee, more of a sardonic grin really, he then dismisses the growling man and turns his gaze back to Ainsley. He is a tall man, over six feet at least with short platinum blonde hair that curls around his shoulders. He has a very formal looking outfot on beneath his cloak, a high collared black tunic lining, silver buttons and an ornate looking gun holstered at his waist. "I am Savourn, Leader of the Knights of Restoration, we have been set by our Lady to bring you home." he smiles and holds out a hand to Ainsley, "Her voice has been heard by those who are uncorrupted by the false gods. You are their saviour, the Key to the Restoration. With your aid the Lady of Whispers can aid us in over-throwing the false pretenders to Creation and we can restore man, knowledge and the world to its proper order. Please Ainsley, come with me we must leave quickly before your false shepherds can gather their wits and break free."

There is something about being a summoner that you learn to grit you teeth sometimes and just take the pain. Marduke prooves that as he steps forward right into the cage before him and takes both hands holding his staff as he pushes through it. "You." Pushing forward as he has the energy ripping up and down his from and a word being gabbled before, "have." comes out. Finnaly he steps out smoke coming off his clothing as he does so, "her." A dark look offered to the man as he stands up tall and slams his staff into the ground and holding up his other hand. A clear attempt to gather magical energy that quickly disipates from the electrical current still disrupting his from. It is only a short matter of time before Marduke has regained his composure completely.

Ainsley opens her mouth, and closes it. The appearance of the man makes her hesitate. She was expecting something less... well, she was expecting something horrifying and evil, not /that/. Her tail thrashes from side to side, and something in her eyes shows that it almost, /almost/ worked. But Silmeria's words crack through, and she just gets really, really annoyed; even flustered, but it looks more annoyed. She snaps at the cultist, "P-piss off you bloody hair modelist," waving her hand at him dismissively. "I didn't ask to be your prissy cult leader, not interested."

Lee tries his hand, and luck, at deliberately forcing through the barrier, slamming both fists against it and pushing even as the crackling electricity erupts over her again, straining with pained effort. He has just as little luck as the first time around, though, forced to stop a short while later, panting and smoking just a little more than before as he gives the pale-haired man a dark, if pained, glare. Ainsley's reply to the offer gets a smirk from him, though, the young man obviously favoring her response, though he remains quiet for the moment.

Even when one is an Esper, that doesn't keep one from choosing actions that are, at best, inadvisable. At worst, such choices end exactly as Silmeria's does; attempting to bull her way through the cage, the crackling flare of energy causes her to simply fold over and collapse on the spot, unconscious, frizzed, and smoking faintly.

Perhaps it was the surge of pain that had accompanied the bouncing around within that electrical cage, or perhaps it was something entirely different. Either way, Mazurek finds a way to break out of that cage, rising to his feet to charge right through that barrier with another howl! Given that the harness is made of leather, the repeated shocks to it causes it to break apart and leave him wearing only the kilt. After the head-first charge out if the thing he is forced to get to his feet and let loose with a howl that echoes throughout the canal. The Monk is not happy, and...the glare that he has leveled at the black robed figure speaks volumes, yet he manages to rasp out, "Touch her and you will regret it." His tail is lashing about like the whip it can become.

Savourn smiles at Marduke, "Well I don't need your permission good master summoner but thank you anyway," he says in response to the man's garbled words. He then casually pulls his gun, it's more of a hand-cannon, a massive .50 calibre by the lock of the thing, incredibly custom made and gleaming with chrome. He points it negligently at Mazurek and focuses on Ainsley again. "My Lady you are not our Leader, you are merely our Profit there is a difference, now please my dear come along with me before I am forced to have words with your friends here, they are proving to be most... impolite." He glances at Paladin Goarn as the knight rips through the electrical shield with his Halberd. The man flicks his hand out from beneath his cloak and the Paldain gags, falling backwards gurgling as as small dart lodges in his neck. "Now please Lady, let us leave this place and these ruffians so we may talk more." he offers her a smile, holding out his free hand to her again......