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* Rhys walks in from the back door, lights the wall sconces, and unlocks the front (side) door. "Hall's open." * Rhys returns behind the bar. * Zoya enters, carrying a medium-weight book studded with bookmarks. She puts it on the bar and nods cordially to Rhys. "Good evening!" <Rhys> Evening, Zoya. Cider? * Bai walks in the side/front door. He is a human, standing over six feet tall, with short brown hair and bright blue eyes. His beard is flame red under the line of his jaw, and snow white around his lips. He is dressed in sky blue robes and carries a staff that appears to be made from bone. <Zoya> Cider, indeed, please. I- ::She sees Bai come in and stands to greet him:: Bai! You got my messages? * Bai walks towards the bar. "You were looking for me Zoya?" <Zoya> Yes, I was. Please, come sit, and I'll tell you all about it. * Bai leans his staff against the wall and sits on a stool, unconsciously moving to keep his red sheathed katana from bumping into anything. * Meghan walks in wearing a burgundy long dress with a green sash and tie holding back her hair. She has a book in one hand. <Rhys> Evening Bai. Water? <Bai> Yes please Rhys. <Rhys> Well met, Meghan. What can I get you? Wine? * Meghan smiles * Rhys pours Zoya a mug of cider, and Bai a mug of water, and hands each mug to its respective owner. <Meghan> Wine would be great thanks Rhys * Bai sips his water. * Rhys pours Meghan a goblet of fine red wine. "Here you are." <Zoya> Let's see... Where to start? ::she nods to Rhys as she takes the cider and sips it thoughtfully:: <Meghan> Thanks Rhys <Rhys> You're welcome. It's my job, I hope I can manage to pour people drinks when they ask for them. * Meghan turns and smiles at Zoya "Evening Zoya" Hops up onto a barstool and places her book on the bar * Lisl enters, wolfskin drawn up over her shoulders against the chill, her slightly uneven gait giving her the impression of a sailor's swagger. "'Evening, all. Starting to get a little nippy out there. Mulled wine, please, Rhys?" * Bai quirks an eyebrow at Lisl, "That must have been some fight Lisl. Did we lose anyone?" <Zoya> Hmm. Well, the short of it is that I'd like to know everything you can tell me about Yb's staff. Lisl's having some... interesting magical problems, and I'm beginning to suspect that they're complicated by an injury inflicted by Yb's staff about... ::looks at Lisl as she enters:: Three months ago, was it, Lisl? Four? * Bai looks quizzically at Zoya, "Yb's staff?" <Zoya> ::nods:: * Rhys pours Lisl a glass of wine, sifts some spices into it, and then stirs it with the spoon he retrieves from a sleeve. "Here you are." <Lisl> ::raising her eyebrows at Bai:: Fight? Did I miss something here? ::turning to Zoya:: Not even that long, I think...two and a half, three at the outside, I think. * Bai sips his water and thinks for a few moments, "Now that is a difficult question." <Zoya> Yb came in here without it, and was talking almost sanely, and then... ::shrugs:: It appeared. Lisl tried to kick it away from Yb, and it burned her foot right through her boot. Took weeks to heal. <Bai> Damn! <Lisl> Oh, *that*...::shakes her head:: Sorry. You're right... more like four months. ::frowning:: Rhys, could I get a bit of venison to go with that? <Rhys> Rarer than rare, I assume? <Lisl> ::grinning at Rhys:: You know what I like. * Bai sighs, "Zoya, how familiar are you with the actual techniques Yb employs to cast her spells?" <Zoya> ::shakes her head:: Not very. I haven't watched her that closely before except with an eye to protecting innocent bystanders. ::smiles wryly:: <Rhys> That's what I thought. ::he disappears into the kitchen, is gone for a few minutes, and re-emerges in a few minutes carrying a plate with steaming chunks of venison on it:: Here you go. I took the liberty of raising it to a... "natural" temperature. ::sets the plate down in front of Lisl:: * Lisl beams a smile at Rhys. "Thanks." * Lisl pulls her bootknife from her right boot and sets to with a will. * Bai chuckles dryly, "I can sympathize with that." * Meghan takes her wine and goes to a table. She pulls out a pencil and begins writing in her book * Tyl walks in. She is wearing a grey outfit and a long hooded black cloak. <Rhys> Evening Tyl. You're looking... muted... this evening. <Lisl> ::looking over her shoulder as the door opens:: 'Evening, Tyl. How goes it? <Zoya> ::glances up:: Tyl! Good to see you again! <Tyl> It's going very well. ::smiles:: I've actually got my own psionic powers back. <Zoya> Congratulations! <Lisl> ::smile widening as she picks up her wine mug and takes a sip:: That's great! <Tyl> ::laughs somewhat ruefully as she pushes her hood back and sits down at the bar:: Of course, I'm a bit weak at the moment. <Rhys> Can I get you anything? <Bai> Yb's staff is a focus for elemental Chaos. I never got the chance to examine Erdian's surge ball, but from what I've heard the surge ball is to Yb's staff what a sword with a light spell on it is to Kirilan here. ::Pats his katana.:: <Tyl> Ice and rum would be lovely, Rhys * Rhys pours Tyl some rum and ice. * Bai quirks an eyebrow at Tyl, "Apparently I've missed quite a bit." <Tyl> ::makes a face:: I had to give up the psionics for a while. Got a bit overpanicked with some attacks that were going on and turned to an artificial source of power, which sort of wiped me out. * Bai shakes his head, "I'm going to have to set something up so that I can keep in better touch with all of you." <Lisl> ::raising an eyebrow and looking from Zoya to Bai:: Wait a second-- you mean you think Yb's staff is stronger that the guy who's now the god of wild magic? <Zoya> ::considers Bai's description of Yb's staff:: Hmm. ::to Lisl:: No, he said Yb's staff is stronger than Erdian's holy symbol. Bit of difference, I should think... <Bai> One would hope. <Zoya> Do you know of any previous instances of its magic *lingering* like this? Strange things cropping up months after the magic appeared to have dissipated? <Lisl> Ah. ::letting out a sigh of relief:: Okay. For a moment there you had me thinking I'd incurred the wrath of an Artifact. <Bai> Not specifically in regard to Yb's staff. But we are discussing Chaos magic. It's very nature makes its results unpredictable. <Zoya> ::laughs:: Well... But certain trends can usually be determined, if you watch carefully for long enough. * Lisl licks off her fingers, picks up her plate, and carries it and her mug to Bai and Zoya's table, propping her oversized boot up on a chair. "You neglected to mention, Zoya, that Yb's staff isn't the *only* thing I've come in contact with in the past few months.... <Zoya> No, but it's what I wanted to ask Bai about. If you want to do the full rundown for him, by all means go ahead. ::grins:: <Bai> Yb's staff tends to be very reflexive. An instantaneous response to a specific stimuli, and then nothing. Course the stimuli and the response change almost at random, and if Yb's actually doing something with it then you've added a whole new set of variables. <Zoya> ::nods:: Well, the occasion in mind, Yb wasn't acting - just the staff, so that's avoided, at least. But you and Yb are the only people I can think of who'd know whether I'm chasing a will-o-wisp even considering it as a factor, and I don't think asking Yb would be terribly productive. ::grins:: <Bai> The only instance I can think of immediately where the effects of the staff took a while to wear off, as opposed to having to be dispelled, was once when Yb or the staff, I'm not sure which, threw a growth spell on Moon Dancer. He returned to his normal form in about an hour, but he did it one limb at a time. * Bai shakes his head, "Unfortunately you are correct in your assessment." <Zoya> ::laughs:: Really? He hasn't told me that story yet. Lisl has quit IRC (No route to host) * Tyl takes a sip of her drink * Meghan closes up her book and deposits her empty wine glass on the bartop with a few coins "Night Rhys. Good to see you" <Bai> Well it was about the time that he tried to get Yb off his back by marrying her. I suspect he doesn't like to think back on it much. <Rhys> Good night, Meghan. Sleep well. <Zoya> ::chuckles, then sighs:: But this is very different. This would be some magic that laid dormant for weeks or months before interacting with a new magic. I think. * Meghan smiles and heads out into the night * Lisl takes a bite of meat, and swallows. <Lisl> I'm not so certain that that staff is as "reflexive" as all that, Bai, but as I said, that's not all that's tried to do me a bad turn in the last couple of months. Did you hear anything about that whole mess with Tyl's relative in the desert dimension? <Tyl> Sorry about that, by the way. <Bai> All I heard was what Tyl said a few minutes ago about overdosing on some psionic stimulant while she was involved in some quarrel. <Lisl> ::waves her hand dismissively:: Not your fault at all, Tyl, no need for you to apologize. ::grinning a little savagely:: We extracted satisfaction from the guilty party already. <Lisl> ::shakes her head:: I swear, we're going to have to start an in-house newsletter.... Well, the long and short of it is, one of Tyl's relatives-- brother? cousin? uncle? was responsible for the drug she got hooked on... he wanted to use her boosted psionics to break through to another dimension, sacrifice her and her mother, and turn into some sort of super-dragon. At least, that's what I *think* happened. <Lisl> ::glances from Tyl to Rhys for confirmation of her summary:: <Tyl> brother. <Tyl> and that pretty much sums it up... <Lisl> ::nods:: Brother. ::making a face:: I hope there aren't any more like him in your family? <Tyl> I hope not. <Bai> Alright. And how does that bring us to your foot? <Tyl> In any case, with the death of my mother, there aren't likely to be any more. Amazing though, how all of us are psionically active... <Zoya> ::cocks her head at Tyl's comment:: Perhaps it's a family trait, or caused by the combination of traits held by your mother's and father's families. <Lisl> Okay. Well. ::taking a deep breath and another swallow of wine:: In the course of stopping Tyl's brother from destroying the world... now *that's* a sentence you don't hear everyday... anyway, we killed him, and as a door prize, he grabbed my foot, smeared his blood on it, and gave me his death curse. ::grinning:: <Tyl> Charming fellow. I used to feel badly about having shoved him off a balcony when I was sixty-three. Now, I think he probably deserved it, even then. * Lisl bends over and makes and oomfing noise as she pulls off her oversized boot, propping her green-scaled, clawed dragon-foot back on the chair. * Bai quirks an eyebrow at Lisl's foot, "So Zoya, your theory is that this curse combined with residual chaos magic left over from Yb's staff to transform Lisl's foot?" <Zoya> ::nods:: It's one of my theories, anyway. If it was only the death curse, I should have been able to get a handle on it by now. But it keeps slipping out from underneath me. <Bai> Does anyone remember the exact wording of the curse? <Lisl> Heh. I was too busy escaping before the place collapsed, and thinking up an appropriately sneering reply. <Lisl> Honestly, I didn't think the curse would do anything. I tend to be pretty resistant to that sort of thing. <Zoya> ::frowns, thinking:: It was fairly simple. Just, "A curse on you". But he had lots of power to back it. <Bai> Yes, but if this guy was as powerful as you've painted him to be then you really shouldn't be surprised that he could cast a curse that would effect you. Particularly if he was powering the curse with his own life force. <Bai> "A curse on you." Figures he couldn't have been a TAD more specific. * Bai looks at Lisl's foot again, "Is it spreading?" <Zoya> I expected the curse to be fairly powerful, if he'd shoved his deathwish into it, but as I said, if that was *all* there was to it, I should have been able to get a handle on it, at least, if not a cure. And I can't get anything. That's why I thought Yb's staff might have been involved. It's the same foot, and Yb's magic is so... Well. <Lisl> By the way, Zoya... ::pulling up the cuff of her breeches and showing the border between the scales and her regular skin, where Zoya experimented last week:: The scales grew back. You can barely see the difference now, they're just a little lighter-colored. * Tyl looks over at Lisl's foot. <Zoya> ::examines Lisl's scales:: Hmph. Oh, well, it was worth a try. <Tyl> That is totally weird. Can I try something? <Lisl> ::throwing up her hands:: Be my guest, Tyl. I've already been Zoya's guinea pig. * Tyl walks over and looks at the reptilian claw carefully. <Tyl> Does it bite? Meaning to say, have you lost any control over it? Beyond the shape, I mean? <Lisl> No... I was worried about that, too, the first few weeks. I slept with it tied to the end of the bed...which was damned uncomfortable, let me tell you. But unless it's being crafty and just trying to lull my paranoid suspicions, it's just a foot. <Bai> So, is it spreading? <Tyl> ::grins:: I'll bet. <Tyl> ::places her hands over the ankle:: I'm just going to see what I can feel here... <Lisl> ::making a face:: Not having any control over its shape is bad enough. I can cover it up well enough like this, but a dragon-footed wolf is just a *wee* bit conspicuous. ::taking another large bite of steak:: <Lisl> Not spreading. The scales have gotten tougher over time-- a drop of 'kick tarnished them, but didn't corrode through-- but otherwise, same-same. * Bai frowns, "I suppose we could try amputating and see if a normal leg grows back, but that seems a bit extreme." <Zoya> ::chuckles:: Given Lisl's usual recuperative abilities, we actually considered it - but decided we'd wait until there were no other avenues to explore. Even if it worked, it would take her weeks to grow back a whole foot. <Lisl> ::quirking one corner of her mouth up:: That's what *I* suggested. <Tyl> ::opens her eyes:: Well, I've got some good news. It isn't what I most feared. <Zoya> ::grins:: If that's what you want, Lisl, I'm sure Rhys would be happy to loan us a nice big knife from the kitchen. <Bai> What did you most fear? * Rhys glares at Zoya. "Dull your own cutlery." <Tyl> Well, I recently was reading some old texts on some advanced psionic masters and it turns out that there is a way to store your essence somewhere else. Sort of like what I did with the Tyl-doll, but on a more permanent basis. It would be very bad if Nilgarthor had put his essence into Lisl <Zoya> ::grins at Rhys:: If you insist. I'm sure I have a bone-saw somewhere up my sleeve... <Lisl> ::chuckling:: What, a decent meat cleaver could probably do it, Rhys. * Bai nods his head, "I had similar fears, though I admit, that possibility had escaped me." <Bai> Was anyone else targeted for this curse? * Rhys humphs at Lisl. <Zoya> ::shakes her head:: Lisl delivered the death-blow. <Lisl> Tho' honestly, I'd rather save that one as last resort. Regenerating a limb isn't exactly a walk in the park. 'Scuse the pun. <Tyl> I think most of the rest of us were out of grabbing range too... I know I was... arguing with my dearest about whether or not to loot the place... Old habits die hard... <Lisl> And smearing his blood on me looked pretty deliberate. <Zoya> And for all we know, the death-curse may not be the biggest part of this. She might have stepped in something, for all I know. <Lisl> ::looking somewhat offended:: STEPPED in something?? <Zoya> ::blinks:: Well, can you rule out the possibility? <Tyl> Perhaps some of the spell components? I mean he was trying to turn himself into a dragon... <Lisl> I'm not *that* clumsy... there was a lot of blood down there, but Adam and Zoya stepped in that, too. * Bai sighs, "Unfortunately magic isn't my strong suit. If it can't be circumvented or over come by a massive application of force then it's pretty much beyond what I'm capable of." <Zoya> ::laughs:: Magic *is* my strong suit, and I'm almost stumped. * Bai gets a look in his eyes, "Why did he want to become a dragon. Usually mages seeking greater power transform themselves to liches." <Zoya> This was... Combined psionics and magic, Bai. I've never seen a more terrible magic. <Lisl> ::looking over at Rhys:: If Rhys was right, these things are *far* more powerful than any lich. * Bai looks at Rhys. <Lisl> ::frowning:: Maybe it's the psionics angle that did something...? <Rhys> I don't want to get too deep into the metamagical theory behind it all, but, basically, it's a psionic-magic amalgamation. It's essentially destruction and decay made incarnate. <Zoya> Could be. I've been waiting for Tyl to recover to ask her assistance. ::looks over at Tyl:: Any idea how long it will take you to get back to full strength? <Tyl> Maybe another few weeks. Right now, Vallel's been knocking down my mind shields every time he calls to ask when his homework is due <Zoya> ::nods:: All right. <Lisl> ::chuckling:: He was in here studying last week. I think he's really eager to get back to school. *Strange* boy. <Bai> Hmm...Psionics, Chaos, Destruction, Decay, Death Curse... <Tyl> He's a smart kid. Eager to prove himself. <Lisl> By Aerdrie, Bai, when you say it like that you make me wonder why *all* of me isn't scaly. <Zoya> ::grins wryly at Bai:: Lots of combinations to check. <Bai> I suspect that if you were anyone else you would be. <Bai> Lisl, how resistant are you to psionics? <Lisl> ::shrugs:: As far as I know, no more than the next person. About the only thing going for me is that I'm... occasionally of two minds. ::grinning:: <Lisl> I'm pretty sure he wanted me either dead or seriously hurting... I don't think even *he* quite intended this. <Bai> Okay. Try this on Zoya. This guys dying. He uses the last of his life force to curse Lisl. Because he doesn't actually specify anything concerning the curse it corrupts the nearest, convenient magical source to fulfill the curse, namely his transformation spell. Now normally Lisl's nature would have made this a one or the other situation. But could the addition of the psionic component have somehow found a way to fuse the two results into one. <Zoya> ::sighs:: You could be right, Bai. I've thought about it. But until I have a strong psionic at full strength ::grins wryly at Tyl:: I can't test the theory. <Tyl> I'm working on it... ::grins and finishes off her drink:: <Lisl> Heh. ::sighs and leans back:: So, 'til then, I'm still a freak, right? <Zoya> Unless you want to try that drastic measure. * Lisl toys with the handle of her mug before picking it up and taking another swallow. "Nah. Another time, perhaps." <Zoya> Okay. Just let me know. ::grins and finishes her cider:: Tyl has quit IRC (Connection reset by peer) <Zoya> In the meantime, I need to get home and make some notes based on what Bai's told me tonight about Yb's staff. * Lisl nods and works at polishing off the remains of her plate of venison. <Bai> If I come up with any more ideas I'll let someone know. <Lisl> Thanks, Bai. ::grinning a little:: So, where *do* you go when you disappear on us like that? You're not working with Jaret, are you? <Bai> Not that I'm aware of. I divide my time between cleaning up after Yb and looking for your cousin. <Zoya> Ah, well. Good night, friends! ::picks up her book and heads for the door:: <Rhys> Good night, Zoya. <Lisl> Night, Zoya! <Lisl> ::raising an eyebrow:: If you're looking for Lini, you must be ranging pretty far afield. The last letter I got from her was from Chult. <Tyl> Ah well... If I'm going to power up, I need some sleep. I'll see ya, Lisl... Oh, that reminds me, I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing a guest lecture... * Bai smacks his head, "Chult. I didn't think to look there." <Lisl> ::nodding:: Guest lecture? ::looking slightly dubious:: What sort of guest lecture? <Lisl> ::grins:: If it's nasty and full of misogynists, you can expect to find my cousin there. Or evidence of her wake, at least. <Tyl> ::drops a few coins on the bar:: Yeah. I need someone to talk with my students about integrating magical, psionic and physical talents into a working cohesive unit... since we've all had some experience with that recently... * Lisl tilts her head back and drains her mug, washing down the last of the steak. * Bai finishes his water. <Lisl> ::still looking dubious as she puts plate and mug on the floor, cleans her knife, and sheathes it:: In Common, Tyl? <Lisl> I don't have any psionic talents. Unless there's something you're not telling me. <Tyl> ::grins:: sorry... fell into lecture mode there. I mean, a "normal" working together with a psionic... * Rhys scoops up Lisl's mug and plate as they toddle past and moves them over toward the kitchen. <Lisl> Normal? ::grinning:: You know I'm not normal, Tyl. But I don't exactly want to broadcast that. <Tyl> "Normals" is a slang term my students started using to describe non- psionics. <Tyl> And you are certainly one of the more physically talented people I know. <Lisl> ::embarrassed grin:: You sure you're not confusing me with the girls down on the Street of Veils? <Bai> Talented's one word for it. ::Bai smiles.:: * Lisl sticks her tongue out at Bai. <Tyl> Not that sort of talented, silly. I mean more like twisting bars of metal into pretzels. * Rhys coughs quietly. <Tyl> Oh, sorry Rhys... walk me home, Lisl, and we'll talk about it. I'll compensate you for your time, naturally <Lisl> So... you don't need a guest lecturer so much as a demonstrator? ::frowning as she mentally works it through:: That I could do, I think. * Bai shoos his mug towards the kitchen and retrieves his staff. "Lisl, will you be requiring an escort home, or can you still adequately defend yourself?" <Lisl> ::grinning:: I may be a little slower and freakish-looking, Bai, but I can still hold my own. At least, when I haven't been drinking too much and made the damn thing numb. * Lisl picks up her discarded boot and stuffs her taloned foot back into it, stomping down firmly. <Bai> Goodnight to all of you then. <Rhys> Good night. * Bai heads up the stairs. * Tyl leaves the Hall <Lisl> I'll walk Tyl home. Night, you two. Thanks again, Rhys. * Lisl follows Tyl out. <Rhys> Anytime, Lisl. * Rhys follows Tyl and Lisl to the door, and locks it behind them. He heads into the kitchen, the lights dimming as he walks by. |
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