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* Michelle sits half draped over the bar. Next to her are a book, a hand mirror, a half empty glass of some dark liquor, and a quarter empty bottle of the same. * Moon Dancer walks out of the kitchen, towards the front door of the Hall. On his way there, he stops by the mantle and places his hand on it, looking at the darkened swords there. He smiles faintly, and looks over at the bar, where Michelle is sitting. "Started already? Looks like it's going to be a long night, then." * Moon Dancer opens the front door slightly, announcing, "Hall's open." He then shuts the door, cutting off the draft of cold air that makes the lanterns around the Hall dance. * Michelle is dressed in a white dress with lace trim, over which she is wearing an orange jacket, also with lace trim. Her long hair hangs loose. In her right ear her earring shines like the moon. <Michelle> ::The cold wind rouses Michelle some, she picks up the glass, downs half of it's remaining contents, shudders, then drops her head to the bar.:: * Jaret walks into the bar through the front/side door. He's attired in his usual finery. As he enters he sweeps a long, fur-lined cape from his shoulders and hangs it from the coathooks by the door. "Good evening, everyone." <Moon Dancer> ::walks back to the bar, looking at Michelle as he walks behind the bar:: You know, I never did ask you about that earring... * Zoya sails through the door. Her robes are nominally blue this evening, though careful examination will reveal every color imaginable woven into it. Her white hair is - for the first time in anyone's memory - plaited into an elaborate knot on the top of her head. The remaining purple lock almost seems to form some sort of rune in the plaiting. <Zoya> Good evening, my friends! <Moon Dancer> ::noticing Jaret enter:: Milord Malkier! Good evening to you! Come in, sit down, and keep out of the chill. <Moon Dancer> ::as Zoya enters:: Zoya! My, it seems we're going to have a full house tonight... * Michelle gives MD a blurry eyed stare, then finishes off her drink before going back to her contemplation of the bar. <Jaret> Thank you, Moon Dancer, I will. :he smiles at Michelle as he slides into a seat:: And a good evening to you, fair lady. How has the world at large been treating you? <Jelarthna> ::The door opens slowly, and carefully keeping a hand on the wall to maintain an obviously unsteady balance, Jelarthna staggers in.:: <Zoya> ::gestures, encompassing everyone in the room:: Blessings upon you all. May you find light in the darkness, and color in rainclouds. ::she stops to consider:: I like that one. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel, concerned:: Jelarthna, was it? Gods above, man, sit down before you hurt yourself. * Jaret pops off his stool and goes to assist Jelarthna. "Jelarthna, are you all right?" <Zoya> Enough of that. ::plops onto a stool at the bar:: Let's have an ale. * Michelle lifts her head and blinks several times before finally managing to get her eyes focused on Jaret. She then blushes and hides her face beneath the fall of the hair. <Jelarthna> ::His clothes are disheveled, and while displaying no obvious wounds, he looks like hell warmed over.:: <Moon Dancer> ::nods to Zoya:: As do I. An original? * Jelarthna makes his way unsteadily to the nearest chair. <Zoya> ::turns to Jelarthna:: Jelarthna! What's wrong? <Moon Dancer> ::pours an ale for Zoya, and nudges it towards her:: * Zoya scoops up the mug as she slides off her stool and takes a few steps toward Jel. * Jaret lifts Jelarthna's head gently by the chin, to look into his face. "Jelarthna, are you all right?" <Zoya> Is it your arm? <Jelarthna> ::looks at Zoya, then begins unwrapping a long bandage from his arm. The flesh underneath is an ugly blackish color, fading slightly nearer to rings around his upper arm and wrists:: <Jelarthna> I think I need some very serious help. * Zoya opens her mouth, closes it, then opens it again. <Zoya> Didn't you go see the priests? <Jaret> Dear gods. <Jelarthna> ::shakes head slightly:: Not good at all. I could find no one anywhere that could do anything about my arm. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jel's arm, and frowns:: Aye, it does. Are you being followed? ::walks from behind the bar, towards the front door:: <Jelarthna> No, I don't think I'm being followed. HE knows he doesn't have to do anything else. <Zoya> Have you *any* idea what could cure this, then? His death, perhaps? ::her eyes take on a very un-priestly glimmer:: * Moon Dancer makes sure the door is closed tightly, then locks it. He mumbles something, half-spoken, half-growled, and the door glows slightly for a moment before MD walks back to the bar. "Well, just in case..." * Michelle pours herself another drink, but doesn't taste it. <Jelarthna> Look at this ::points to the rings around his arm:: Rhys put those one there three weeks ago. About one week ago, they changed and have been moving away, almost carrying the black stuff with it. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya, then at Jel:: Whose death? Seems I've missed many things in my... absence. <Jelarthna> ::to Zoya:: Maybe so, I can't tell. This is so far beyond me. The best priests I could find couldn't even tell what it was. A couple of them just looked horrified and asked me to leave. <Zoya> ::not looking away from Jel as she answers:: Jelarthna has an enemy. Completely insane. Had a chunk of the old Tower for a while, and somehow... absorbed its power, corrupted it. We destroyed it, but apparently not fast enough. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya, slightly amazed:: The _old_ Tower? Is there a new one? <Jelarthna> It took me too long to figure it out. ::shakes his head:: He was the one that broke my arm, and obviously did something more. <Zoya> Er... Not new, exactly. But changed. You weren't around for that, either, I suppose. <Moon Dancer> ::looks quickly at Jel:: If there's someone with a bit of the Tower, why did you ever leave here? * Michelle after having made several attempts falls off her stool and onto the floor. <Moon Dancer> ::shakes his head:: Well, it seems you found your Tower then, doesn't it? ::he smiles, then jumps as Michelle falls on the floor:: <Jelarthna> Well, Rhys suggested I find some powerful healers, and after no one here was able to help, I tried further afield. <Zoya> At least. ::turns to look at Michelle:: I have a good sobering spell. Should I...? <Moon Dancer> ::over the bar, to Michelle:: Are you all right? Do you need a hand? ::he extends his across the bar:: <Zoya> ::frowns at Jel:: Further afield? Further afield HOW? <Jelarthna> ::moves his arm slightly:: At least it doesn't seem to hurt as much now. * Michelle takes MD's hand on the third try and stand rather unsteadily. * Jaret quickly moves over to help Michelle back onto her feet, or the barstool, whichever she leans more towards. <Moon Dancer> ::shakes his head:: No, Jelarthna, you misunderstand me. Why, if this magic has the Tower behind it, did you leave the Hall? It's as much of Erdian as the Tower was... * Moon Dancer helps Michelle up onto her seat again. <Jelarthna> I teleported to a couple of larger cities where I know some people. I think that just accelerated the... whatever it is. * Michelle leans heavily against Jaret, it's obvious she doesn't have the balance to stand on her own. <Jelarthna> ::looks at Moon Dancer:: What do you mean? Do you think being here would help protect me? <Zoya> No, 'Dancer, I don't think so. This fellow corrupted the magic he stole. This... Whatever it is - may not spread as quickly here, or in the Tower, but it will still continue. <Zoya> ::sighs:: I suppose I could attempt to summon Erdian - he'd probably be able to figure out what was done to you - but he's no healer. I don't know if he could fix it. * Jaret stands still, supporting Michelle, but obviously very concerned about Jelarthna. <Moon Dancer> ::smiles, almost fatherly:: Better here than wandering around out there. ::makes a gesture with his hand, encompassing the Hall:: This place has so many properties I don't understand, that it couldn't hurt. * Michelle starts muttering what sounds like a rather long list of colorful reprimands about the dangers of getting drunk. <Jelarthna> I wish Rhys was here. I need to know something about what he did to my arm. Or maybe he's be able to figure something out about how it was subverted. <Moon Dancer> ::eyes widen at Z's suggestion:: SUMMON him? I don't think that's such a good idea... <Zoya> Well, the word "summon" may not be quite right... "Petition", perhaps? <Jelarthna> Like you did in the tower? <Moon Dancer> ::to Zoya:: Petition, summon, page, holler for... no matter how you say it, I don't think we need deific intervention just yet... <Zoya> Yes. This place probably has enough of him in it that he'd be able to hear me. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya:: What!?! You summoned Erdian? * Michelle blinks at Zoya a few times, "When did your hair turn white?" <Zoya> ::shrugs:: If you say so, I won't summon him. <Moon Dancer> ::pours himself a mug of dark ale, and walks around the bar to sit beside Zoya:: <Zoya> ::looks around at Michelle:: When Erdian consecrated me, I suppose. ::to MD:: Yes, I summoned him. What did you think I was going to the Tower to do? <Moon Dancer> ::shakes his head:: To be honest, I didn't know. I just chalked it up to the same things those gnomes went for... <Zoya> ::grins at the mention of the gnomes:: Different beginning, same ending. <Jelarthna> Zoya, could you magically examine whatever is in my arm? Whatever it is has to do with Tower-magic, and you're the only one who really knows anything about it. * Michelle starts trying to move in Jel's direction. * Jaret acts as a sort of crutch and assists Michelle in moving towards Jelarthna. "Slowly now, slowly..." <Moon Dancer> ::drinks deeply before continuing:: So, let me make sure I understand... there's a new Tower, Erdian showed back up to 'consecrate' you, whatever that means, and someone stole a piece of the Tower, corrupted it, and now he's going after Jelarthna? <Moon Dancer> ::sighs:: I have been gone a long while... * Michelle starts trying to examine Jel's arm, but has to keep stopping in order to refocus her eyes. <Jelarthna> ::The light around Jelarthna's arms seems to darken for a moment, and the ring near his wrist moves halfway down his hand, darkening the area it passes over.:: * Michelle blinks and leans back, promptly losing her balance. * Jelarthna convulses in pain while this happens. <Jaret> Hey! ::Jaret catches Michelle and tugs her away from Jelarthna:: Whatever you were trying, that *didn't* work! <Zoya> ::to MD:: In order: Jelarthna's enemy found a piece of the Tower and corrupted it by using it as a focus for evil magic. Jelarthna and I battled his enemy, recovered the lost piece of the Tower, and destroyed it. I found the Tower, found the gnomes *in* the Tower, and summoned Erdian. After we had a brief chat, he consecrated me as his high priestess and turned the Tower over to me. <Moon Dancer> ::blinks at Zoya:: High Priestess? * Zoya frowns and turns to Jelarthna. <Michelle> Did't due anysing. <Zoya> ::absently, to MD:: Wait, and I'll answer all your questions. I want to try something for Jelarthna now. <Moon Dancer> ::laughs:: The rest is believable, but Erdian must be getting full of himself if he appointed a High Priestess... <Moon Dancer> ::points his mug to the ceiling, which he winks at, then drinks another gulp of ale:: <Zoya> ::VERY gingerly prods Jelarthna's arm, outside the blackened area:: Does that hurt? <Jaret> Then... then what caused Jelarthna's... I mean, those bands... what happened? <Jelarthna> YES! Dancer, can I have something strong to drink please? <Michelle> Cantsh thinksh. Cantsh see. Cantsh due anysing. <Moon Dancer> ::nods to Jel:: Aye, of course... <Zoya> ::moves her prodding further away from the black area, and lessens the pressure still further:: Tell me when it *stops* hurting. <Jelarthna> ::to Jaret:: I don't know. At first they looked like linked hands around my arm. Now they are clawed hands, and they look like they're clawing to expand or something. <Moon Dancer> ::walks behind the bar, and pours a glass of Arabellan, which he hands to Jaret, and then a shot of Our Favorite Paint Thinner, which he hands to Jelarthna:: <Jelarthna> ::nods to Zoya when she reaches his shoulder, about a foot away from the ring:: <Moon Dancer> ::MD then pours another, taller glass of Sembian brandy, which he also hands to Jelarthna:: * Jaret looks steadily at Michelle, then at MD. "Moon Dancer, do you have anything in there that would have certain *sobering* properties?" He looks curiously at the goblet, but has a sip anyway. <Michelle> [That's the cure, we'll drink him into being Sealgair...wait, we already tried that.] * Jelarthna takes a big swallow from each cup. <Zoya> ::frowns:: Take your shirt off, Jelarthna. <Moon Dancer> [The Full Monty?] <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jaret:: Kaffe? Or something along the lines of Mist of the Peaks? * Jelarthna carefully works his shirt off. The rest of his torso seems robust and healthy, a startling contrast with the blackened arm. <Jaret> ::somewhat sharply, to MD:: Whichever! ::catches himself:: Sorry. I'm frustrated at seeing this and not being able to help. <Moon Dancer> ::nods:: I understand. I just wish I knew what it was I'm seeing... <Jelarthna> ::smiles weakly:: So do I. <Moon Dancer> ::pours Jaret a cup of kaffe, and hands it to him. He places a bowl of sugar near him, and a small pitcher of cream:: * Zoya carefully traces a line around Jelarthna's shoulder, another several inches away from the blackened area than Jelarthna indicated. A glowing green line appears where her finger passes. <Zoya> I assume your entire hand hurts? * Jaret picks up the cup of kaffe and brings it, unaltered, to Michelle's lips. "Here, drink some of this." <Jelarthna> ::nods:: * Michelle drinks some of the kaffe, grimaces, then downs the rest. <Moon Dancer> ::MD looks at Michelle, and pours another cup of kaffe for her. He places this, and a glass of water, on the bar near Jaret:: * Zoya closes her eyes and places her hands over Jelarthna's shoulder, covering the line she drew. She takes a very deep breath, then begins to chant quietly and slowly. * Michelle shakes her head, "Needsh somesing stroner." <Jaret> ::to MD:: Anything else? This isn't going to help enough, apparently. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jaret:: Well, I have something, but I'm rusty... <Michelle> [Do I even WANT to know?] <Moon Dancer> [No.] * Jelarthna closes his eyes and concentrates. * Moon Dancer walks over to his office, opens the door, then closes it behind him. MD walks back out momentarily, a small leather bag in his hand. * Moon Dancer pours the kaffe out of the second cup, and sets it down to his side. He puts the bag on the bar, and opens it, revealing a piece of folded, waxed paper. He opens this, and spreads the herbs inside on the bar. * Zoya 's voice becomes quieter and quieter, and eventually stops. Her eyes remain closed for another several seconds, and as she opens them, she very slowly removes her hands from Jelarthna's shoulder. * Moon Dancer looks at the selection on the bar, and grabs two different leaves, crushes them both in his hands, and drops them in the bottom of the cup. He fills the cup with hot water, places his hand over the cup while mumbling, and hands it to Jaret. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jaret:: Try that... * Jaret moves the cup to Michelle's lips. "Here. Drink this." <Jelarthna> ::looks up at Zoya:: What did you do? Will it work? <Zoya> Does your arm feel any different? * Michelle takes a sip, grimaces, then down the rest, then faints. <Jelarthna> ::Looks at his arm:: I can't move it anymore. <Moon Dancer> ::looks over the bar, at Michelle:: What? ::looks at the herbs on the bar:: I thought for sure that was mugroot... <Zoya> ::VERY gently touches the blackened area:: Does that hurt? * Michelle stirs, blinks a few times, then stands on her own, "Moon Dancer, I'm going to have to get the recipe from you sometime." <Jelarthna> No... not this time. * Moon Dancer walks quickly around the bar, over to Michelle. "All you all right?" * Jaret catches Michelle. <Jaret> [Jaret moves faster than Matt does. Lots faster.] <Jelarthna> So was what you did a temporary thing, or is it supposed to eventually cure this? <Michelle> Yeah, just not used to going from being that drunk to this sober so quickly. <Moon Dancer> ::smiles:: Well, I'm glad it worked. I just need to work on the potency... <Moon Dancer> ::walks back behind the bar:: <Zoya> ::nods:: Good. That much worked, then. I sort of... I worked half of a teleport spell. Your arm is in the Tower now. It hasn't completed the physical move, though - if I did that, it would amputate your arm, and I hope we can fix the problem without such drastic measures. But since your arm isn't *really* connected to your body, the magic shouldn't be able to move past here ::points to the line:: <Zoya> And, since you're not really connected to your arm anymore, either, you won't be able to move it - or feel the pain. <Jelarthna> ::Looks at the line:: More lines around my arm. I sure hope this one works better than the last. * Michelle blinks a few times, "That sounds awfully drastic." <Zoya> I'm hoping, since I've isolated this magic within Erdian's Prime plane, he'll notice it and do something about it. * Michelle walks over to Jelarthna, "Let me take a look at this." <Moon Dancer> ::to Zoya:: You're hoping he'll notice? <Zoya> ::to Michelle:: This has been a fairly desperate situation. If the magic spreads much further, it will reach his heart, and I don't want to even contemplate that. <Zoya> ::to MD:: Yes, I'm hoping he'll notice. If this hasn't cleared up soon, I may attempt to call his attention to it directly. <Jelarthna> ::shudders:: <Moon Dancer> ::shakes his head:: Erdian does house calls... I thought I'd never see the day... <Jelarthna> ::then looks thoughtful:: I may have to start a little hunting. No offense, Zoya, but I can't count on this curing me. It sounds like a delaying tactic, and I can't afford to not cure this. <Zoya> ::laughs:: I don't think this is a disease, exactly, 'Dancer. It's magic, and it's evil. I doubt Erdian would stand for it on his home plane. This is hardly a house call, anyway - I had to take the arm to Erdian. <Jaret> Do you have any idea what could cure it? Or where to start looking? <Moon Dancer> ::reaches across the bar, and puts a hand on Jel's shoulder:: What can we do to help? <Moon Dancer> ::to Zoya:: Still... the idea of Erdian being readily accessible... what's next? Yb returning for good? <Michelle> Zoya, do you still have a piece of the Tower with you? <Zoya> ::to Jel:: Absolutely. I've never seen this before, and I'm not a healer of any sort anyway. If the magic starts to corrupt what I've done ::touches the edges of the glowing line:: get ahold of me *immediately.* No matter what the hour, understand? If it's powerful enough to corrupt this, I'll want to undo my magic before it can turn it against you. <Jelarthna> ::half shrugs, and looks slightly startled at having trouble moving his left shoulder.:: I need to find this bastard first. Any help would be appreciated, but there's not a whole lot I can tell you about him. <Jelarthna> ::nods to Zoya:: If I'm still alive, I will. <Moon Dancer> ::nods:: Anything would help. I have some friends, and we can start looking where most others can't. <Zoya> ::searching her pockets:: I don't think I have any pieces on me, Michelle - the Tower sort of lives in the back of my mind, now. <Jaret> ::to Jelarthna:: I'm helping. With whatever I can do. <Moon Dancer> ::nods to Jaret, and grabs his forearm:: We're helping, Jaret. <Jelarthna> I never have learned his name, but I doubt he'd be using the same one still. He's short, about 5'5",a and balding a little. I know he has been associated with Thay and the Zhents, but I'm not sure to what degree. <Zoya> ::nods:: Of course I'm helping. Whatever I can do. <Michelle> Damn. I was hoping I could separate the Tower's frequency from the rest of them. With you around the Tower becomes something we can deal with, maybe if we could get a look at the rest of it we'd be able to find a cure. <Zoya> He's extremely insecure. Can be very charming when he wants to be, but is fairly transparent even then. <Jelarthna> He's pretty powerful, and seems especially adept with planar travel and summoning. <Moon Dancer> ::half-smiles:: Where's Rhys when you really need him? ::to Jelarthna:: You've met him, recently? <Jelarthna> Yeah. I think he bought me some time, which may be why I'm not dead yet. <Zoya> ::to Michelle:: I've got live power running through there on a constant basis right now. I don't dare let it sit and stagnate, and the movement might cause some dilution. Separating out the Tower magic isn't going to happen unless I remove the block. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel, more intently:: You _did_ meet him? When? Did he touch you? <Jelarthna> ::nods:: Three weeks ago. He made the bands that seem to have been corrupted by whatever's in my arm. ::looks intently at MD:: Why? Is there something about him I should know? <Moon Dancer> ::shakes his head:: No, no... I was hoping he touched your clothes, and much more recently... <Jelarthna> What? Why? <Moon Dancer> It's much easier to track prey when you have their scent. <Zoya> Er... Prey? <Michelle> What I meant, was that I'd like to be able to see through the Tower magic to what else is in there. You yourself said this was done with a corruption of the Tower's magic. If we can cure the corruption then it should be simple enough for you to remove the Tower magic. I'd never suggest removing the Tower magic without knowing what else is in there. <Moon Dancer> ::shrugs:: What else would you call him? <Jelarthna> Why do you want to hunt him down? ::interested:: Was he dipping into the Hall's funds? <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel, confused:: WHAT?!? Who? <Zoya> Jelarthna and I ran into his enemy about, oh... a couple of months ago. He'd set up a trap for Jelarthna and hadn't counted on him bringing along anyone else, otherwise Jelarthna wouldn't be with us tonight, even. <Jelarthna> Rhys! Why do you want to hunt him? He seemed awfully decent. <Jelarthna> ::nods to Zoya:: No kidding. Thanks again, although it's looking like it may not have done much good. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jel like he has two heads, then he gets it:: No! I meant the man who did this to you. Rhys... I have some apologizing to do to Rhys... <Zoya> It did plenty of good. You're here, aren't you? Sanity intact? We'll beat this thing, too - even if we have to beat the cure out of that little toad ourselves. <Jelarthna> ::looks confused:: Okay, sorry. There's so much happening, I got a little confused. <Jelarthna> ::smiles:: That's the spirit. <Moon Dancer> ::smiles:: It's understandable. <Michelle> Jelarthna do you have anything that ever belonged to him? <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jelarthna:: So, when was the last time you had contact with the man who did this to you? <Zoya> He got away from us. We had the Tower piece he corrupted, but we destroyed that. <Moon Dancer> Nothing of his, then? Nothing he touched, or used recently? <Michelle> An unfortunate decencity. If we had that I could probably cure this. <Jelarthna> It was several weeks ago. I've tracked a couple of his minions since then, but I've been sort of distracted from that. ::glances at his arm:: <Michelle> [decencity = necessity Man, you'd think I was the one doing the drinking] <Moon Dancer> ::sighs:: So much for that idea... <Moon Dancer> [You're not? Shame on you!] <Zoya> This problem hadn't been discovered when we destroyed the corrupt stone - at the time, we assumed it was just a broken arm. Otherwise, I'd have taken more precise aural readings from it before I destroyed it. <Michelle> How did you become enemies? <Jelarthna> Do you have a hunting dog or something? That would alter my tactic a bit. But there's a good chance he's hiding out on another plane. He's done it before, and probably has a couple more hidey holes out there somewhere. Not with the same level of control, however. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya, and smiles:: Aural readings? Interesting... <Zoya> ::glances at MD:: What's interesting about aural readings? <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jelarthna:: Hunting dog? Hunting... ::tries to control a small laugh:: Sure, a hunting dog... <Moon Dancer> ::to Zoya:: Do you think that whatever this man did to Jelarthna has the same type of aura as the man himself? If so, that's an easier way to track him than knocking on people's doors... <Jelarthna> ::to Michelle:: A long time ago. I poked my nose into some things he was trying to do and messed them up. there have been a couple of other incidents since then. I seemed to have a knack for finding him just before his latest plan came to fruition. <Jelarthna> ::to MD:: What's so funny? * Jaret picks up the mostly-forgotten about goblet of Arabellan and takes a long swallow. <Michelle> No mementos from any of those encounters? <Jelarthna> ::shakes his head:: No, unfortunately not. <Zoya> ::considers:: Hmm. There would have to be at least a trace of the same aura, anyway - unless he got something else to put this spell in Jelarthna's arm. <Moon Dancer> ::smiles at Michelle, on the right track, and turns to Jel:: If you have anything of his, or something that he touched, it would be extremely helpful for my... dogs... <Moon Dancer> ::to Z:: Still, even with something else, there would have to be traces of his aura _in_ the magic itself, right? * Michelle walks back over to the bar and contemplates her mirror. <Jelarthna> ::to Zoya:: That might be a good tack to try. Could you read any auras through what you did? <Zoya> Probably... ::both to MD and Jel:: <Jelarthna> ::to MD, still wondering what he finds so funny:: I'll keep that in mind. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: You'd have to be magically blind not to read the auras in that thing... <Zoya> Does anyone else want to... ::looks at MD:: You can read the auras on his arm? <Jelarthna> I have to cast a spell to see that sort of thing. <Moon Dancer> ::smiles at Zoya:: Yep, but probably not the same ones you're reading... <Michelle> But picking out a particularly out of that mess is a neat trick. That's why I was asking about the Tower, so I'd know which ones I could ignore. <Moon Dancer> ::to Michelle:: Precisely. I couldn't have said it better myself... <Zoya> ::nods to Jel:: Me, too. Hmm. ::considers, looking around at all the magic-users:: <Zoya> Let's combine our resources. Can you all make what you see visible to the rest of us? <Moon Dancer> ::to Z:: Excuse me? * Jaret sits back and lets those knowledgeable in magic talk shop. <Michelle> Yeah, but it would help if the lights were dimmer. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Michelle, a little confused:: <Jelarthna> ::looks at Jaret in sympathy:: If it makes you feel any better, I'm really poor with magic theory. <Zoya> ::turns to Jaret:: You should watch, too, even if you can't do any magic, Jaret. Once you've seen someone's aura, you can sometimes recognize it again later in them, even if you're not looking at their auras. Call it an intuitive hunch. <Jelarthna> Okay, I'll take your word for it. <Zoya> ::turns to MD:: You see auras without having to cast a spell? * Jaret waves a hand at Jelarthna. "It's of no matter. We all have different talents. Mine just lie in a more physical arena. It doesn't bother me too much." <Jelarthna> Come to think of it, I have identified people by their casting or fighting style... <Jelarthna> Is this similar? <Moon Dancer> ::to Zoya:: Usually. Depends on the creature, but yes. Most of what I can do doesn't require "spells", per se... <Zoya> Precisely. That's all part of the aura. Some of it shows through into the physical world. * Zoya walks into the middle of the room and begins blowing out table-candles and wall-lamps. "Tell me when it's dim enough for you, Michelle." <Jelarthna> Interesting... ::looks thoughtful:: <Moon Dancer> ::to Zoya, laughing:: Hell, you probably wouldn't even consider what I do magic... <Jelarthna> ::helpfully props his arm out on the bar:: <Moon Dancer> ::as Z starts blowing out lamps, MD claps, and all the lanterns go out, save one:: * Michelle proceeds to bank the fire, then rearranges the comfy chairs to further block out the light, "There are a lot of subtle differences in there." <Jelarthna> ::looks quizzically at MD:: Really? What is it, then? <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel, grinning:: A long story... <Michelle> There we are. ::heads back over to the bar.:: <Zoya> ::jumps as the lights go out, then comes back to MD:: We'll start with you, then. It's possible that the aura you can see is going to be the strongest, the most primal. Do you have any psionic ability at all? <Jelarthna> Okay, perhaps you can tell me another day, when things aren't so hectic. * Jaret almost unconsciously loosens the peace-knotting holding his rapier in its hanger. <Moon Dancer> Psionic? Not really, not what you'd call psionic. It's more primal than that, even. <Zoya> Hmm. Do you, Michelle? * Michelle puts her hand on Jaret's, "I always get nervous during joint ventures like this. I'm glad you're here." Kisses Jaret lightly on the cheek. <Michelle> 'Fraid not, though if you're looking for a telepathic link I might be able to cobble something together. * Jaret smiles gently at Michelle. "I'm glad." <Zoya> That would be nice. All we need is for one of us to be able to see what 'Dancer can see. We can create a visible illusion for the rest. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Michelle:: Telepathic link. Now, I hadn't thought of that. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya:: Do you trust me, or should I ask Michelle? <Jelarthna> ::looks thoughtful:: I could help some with that, but would it interfere with the reading? * Michelle moves behind the bar and starts rummaging beneath it. <Michelle> Probably. <Jelarthna> ::nods:: Thought so. I'll just sit quietly and try not to move, then. <Zoya> You can create a link? Then go right ahead. Michelle, preferably - it's not that I don't trust you, but binding Jelarthna's arm took a bit out of me. And if Jelarthna is casting, it will probably just make his aura stronger, which will make it harder to sort out what we're looking for. The Tower is going to be hard enough to sort out as it is. * Michelle comes back up from beneath the bar with an ashtray and some incense. <Moon Dancer> ::to Michelle:: When's the last time you were the target of any Garou gifts? <Michelle> If you actually know how to do it Moon Dancer then go ahead. I normally have someone else handle this part of things so I don't know how good a job I'd manage. <Moon Dancer> ::to Michelle:: I'm rusty, but it seems I've remembered many things I thought I'd forgotten recently. <Jelarthna> What's a Ga-rou? <Michelle> Garou? Never heard of them. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: Another long story. <Jaret> [groo does what groo does best!] <Jelarthna> [cheeze dip!] * Moon Dancer turns to Michelle, and then sits on the floor. He closes his eyes, and gets extremely still. <Jelarthna> You're just full of those, aren't you? <Jelarthna> By the way Dancer, you might want to look up Lion if you haven't already. He's been acting a little funny when I've seen him recently. * Michelle adjusts her stance slightly, then closes her eyes and gets extremely still. * Michelle opens her eyes and looks at Jel's arm, "Moon Dancer sees an oily blackness in Jelarthna's arm. Red and blue tendrils pass through it." Michelle traces a pattern on Jel's arm, leaving red and blue tendrils behind. * Jelarthna looks slightly nauseous. <Michelle> There are also ribbons of light, almost like rainbows. ::Again Michelle traces a pattern and again the rainbow ribbons appear on Jel's arm.:: <Zoya> ::frowns:: That's probably the clean Tower influence. <Michelle> There's also a bright band, like a wall, holding the black waters back. ::Traces a line arm Jel's arm where Zoya placed her spell.:: <Michelle> ::The patterns seem to ripple on Jel's arm, like broken branches and sun light floating on an oil slick.:: <Zoya> [Nice imagery!] All right, Michelle... Can you keep that up and add your own observations to it? * Moon Dancer opens his eyes, and looks at Michelle's handiwork. "That's close. *Very* close. But, it _feels_ wrong. It feels... slick, hard to hold. And it smells like death... <Jelarthna> I *really* don't like this... <Jaret> ::quietly, to Jelarthna:: That's probably a good sign. <Moon Dancer> ::half-smiles at Jelarthna:: I'm sorry. I wish I didn't see what's there... * Michelle points to the blue tendril, "This is Jelarthna." <Jelarthna> It's completely engulfed by the oily stuff. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Michelle:: Are you sure? I'm not too sure myself, but I never was good at interpreting... <Michelle> My problem was I couldn't separate them enough. But this is definitely Jelarthna. It sounds like the rest of him. <Moon Dancer> ::nods, slowly agreeing with Michelle:: <Jelarthna> Sounds? Nevermind... <Zoya> ::sighs, takes a deep breath, and mumbles a short spell. Her eyes cross, then straighten again, and she turns to Jelarthna:: Yes, what you've got marked as blue is Jelarthna. <Michelle> So what's the Tower? And what are the other two? <Zoya> ::frowns:: I think the white rainbow is the Tower, though I was hoping it would be stronger than that. Let me increase the power and we'll see what surges. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at the auras:: From what I felt, I'd say that the prismatic strands are Erdian's magic. They look like him. <Jelarthna> Uh.... * Zoya mutters a bit, and the white rainbows expand slightly, then settle back. <Zoya> Yep. That's the Tower magic. <Jaret> What's the red tendrils? <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jel's arm some more:: And I'd place the black as whatever the core of the magics working on Jelarthna are. * Michelle thinks for a bit, "What if we simultaneously increased the Tower magic and Jelarthna's aura, maybe we could drive the other two out? I'll admit, this is not the way I'd normally recommend treating such a thing. <Jelarthna> ::dubiously:: Increase my aura? <Zoya> No, I don't think we should do that. Whatever that is, it corrupted Rhys' attempts to bind it, if I understand correctly. I don't want to give it any more to feed on. <Moon Dancer> ::shakes his head:: No. Look how the black is trying to consume, overtake the magic Zoya wove. If we did that, I think this spell would just feed... <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya:: Right. Exactly. <Jelarthna> Maybe we could try it later as a last resort. <Moon Dancer> ::smiles:: We could just cut off your arm. <Jelarthna> It may come to that. <Michelle> I'd recommend the opposite approach, but that would require depriving it of Jelarthna's aura as well. Amputation is a much better alternative. <Moon Dancer> ::bares his teeth, ever so slightly:: Not if we can help it, it won't. <Zoya> ::looks soberly at Jelarthna:: My friend, as much as I hate to say this - as strong as this thing is... If we haven't made any progress in the next week or so; if I have to remove that binding - you had better let me summon Erdian, or amputate. <Michelle> I've got one last thing to try. If Jelarthna's willing to take a look into his future. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Zoya and Michelle:: That still leaves this reddish aura. Any thoughts, or is this our culprit? <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Michelle:: What? <Jelarthna> ::soberly:: I know. <Jelarthna> My future? I've always found future divinations to be imprecise and hard to interpret until things have already happened. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: You know your own future? No one knows their own future... <Zoya> [I think the "I know" was in response to my comment, not Michelle's.] <Jelarthna> No, I don't. I've tried that sort of spell, but they never helped much. <Moon Dancer> [Ah.] * Jaret asks again. "What are the red tendrils?" <Zoya> I'm not sure. I think *maybe* the red is Jelarthna's foe, and the black is the actual magic... But I could be wrong. <Michelle> 'Fraid we don't know love. ::thinks for a moment:: Now there's an idea. ::closes her eyes again.:: <Jelarthna> ::Shrugs:: Perhaps that's the remnants of something still attached to the instigator. <Moon Dancer> ::nods, almost to himself:: That's what I'm thinking. ::stares at Jelarthna's arm, almost boring a hole in it with his eyes:: <Michelle> Well if either of those are Jelarthna's foe he's too far away for me to find. <Jelarthna> Like I said, there's a good chance he's not on this plane. <Michelle> That would certainly put him beyond my range. Zoya? <Moon Dancer> ::grins, definitely showing his teeth:: Perhaps I can try. I have some help, and we could look outside the city. I could look inside, too, if it would help. <Moon Dancer> ::looks at Jel:: Not on this plane? <Jelarthna> It might. He still will need to come back once in a while. <Zoya> ::blinks quickly and half-moans, half-sighs:: I'm powered out. I don't think I could look past my nose right now. Maybe tomorrow, after I've had some sleep. <Michelle> I've just checked the entire darkside of Faerun Moon Dancer. He's either not there, or hiding very well. <Zoya> ::to Jel:: What I've done should hold for a few days, anyway, but it will be strongest if you stay either here in the Hall or come with me to the Tower. <Moon Dancer> ::sighs:: I agree. ::looks at Jelarthna:: Are you going to accept a room, or do I have to beat you unconscious? <Jelarthna> Actually, it was foiling him once that got me interested in planar travel. I know a couple of thing that might help i finding him, if I can get a fix on him here first. <Jelarthna> ::smiles:: I think I feel bad enough without being beaten. I'll gladly accept. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: If you rest here, I can start looking. ::to Michelle:: Creatures like him can hide their auras. ::smiles:: I can see through most masks. <Jelarthna> Thanks Zoya. I'll be back in touch with you soon, I think I have an idea or two, but I need to think some more. <Moon Dancer> ::motions to the rooms upstairs:: Take any you wish, save my suite and the room I set aside for Yb. <Michelle> I can see through quite a few, but I have to be a lot closer. <Jaret> I'd be grateful for a room as well, Moon Dancer. I'd like to stay close in case something happens. <Moon Dancer> ::to Michelle, grinning:: Aye. So do I. <Zoya> If *any* feeling comes back to that arm, or that line changes in any way, summon me immediately. ::she fishes in her pocket and hands Jel a small, thin crystal:: Break this; it will get my attention faster than anything else I know. <Jelarthna> :to MD & Michelle:: If we can get a trace of him here, I do think I can find him. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jaret:: Of course! I always enjoy the company, and we do need to catch up since my absence... <Jelarthna> ::Takes the crystal with a smile:: I know this trick... <Michelle> Good. ::Turns to Jaret:: Do you think you could escort me to my home. I want to pick up a few things in case we have to chase after Jelarthna's friend in a hurry. <Jelarthna> Thanks for the help everyone. It's good to have friends. ::smiles broadly:: <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: Yes, it's good to have pack... ::catches himself:: Friends. <Zoya> Of course it is. Take care, Jelarthna. <Jelarthna> ::looks quizzically at MD:: More long stories? <Jelarthna> I will Zoya. * Zoya grips Jelarthna's (healthy) shoulder comfortingly before she heads out the door. <Moon Dancer> ::hands a key to the outside door to Jaret:: Take Michelle home, and come back when you can. I'll leave the fire going, and meet you back here. * Michelle picks up her mirror and book, "We definitely need to talk Moon Dancer." Turns to Jaret. "And I believe I still owe you a dinner." <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: Always long stories, Jelarthna. Those are the only good stories. <Jelarthna> Good night Zoya, Michelle. <Jaret> ::to Michelle:: Well, yes. I assumed you'd been busy. As it looks like we'll be for a while. <Michelle> Oh, I'm coming back, too. I just want to be prepared if we have to chase after this guy in a hurry. <Jelarthna> Well, if I survive this, I'd like to hear a couple. Somehow I think I'm going to end up badly hurt again. * Jaret stands up. "Whenever you're ready." <Moon Dancer> ::nods:: A room for you, too, then. It's good to have a full house. * Michelle takes Jaret's arm and heads out the door. * Jaret leaves the Hall. <Moon Dancer> ::to Jel:: Perhaps. But not alone, and not without going through most of us. G'night, Jelarthna. Get some rest. <Jelarthna> ::Stands up:: Well, hopefully a good night's sleep will clear my head a bit. Thanks Dancer. Good night. * Jelarthna walks upstairs. <Moon Dancer> ::nods:: Any time. <Moon Dancer> ::Moon Dancer stands, shifting into Crinos as he does. He walks to the back door, and leaves. After a few minutes, a piercing howl is heard echoing in the streets, with several more responding, far off:: |
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