Cor gave Rayne the "ok" sign and moved to tend to Kenji who was still unconscious. "I should be able to fix him up as long as the mirror's evil has not affected him too badly." Cor swung his hammer and began to pray, "Oh my god grant me the power I deserve that I might bring this one to his rightful state."

To Nimu

No Nimu, the mirrors are not the answer to this test. they are a trap set to kill those who gazed in there. What I experience mentally was something that first try to lure me to trust it. When I remains wary It attacked me by trying to paralyzes me. It then change into a copy of me and I was fighting myself ever thing I did it did I tried to reason with it once but it tried to paralyze me again. It was no illusion in there I tried that as well. after our ongoing battle I was finally paralyzed Then the entity tried to possess me. An illusion cannot do that. Those mirrors are at the very least hostile perhaps evil but I could not take the time to cast that spell.

"What was that. I just saw a shadow over there in the corner, It moved." She turned to try to spot the shadow's movement but could not see it now. "Be careful everyone."

Without a target yet only having a momentary glimpse of shadowy movement in the corner of the room. Rayne held her bow with a arrow notched then took a moment to ask Guidance from Kith-Jora. In quiet commune with her Deity, Rayne asks, "What will help us to finish this test without losing any more companions and advancing our quest to defeat the evil sword."

The cleric suddenly lifted her head and moved not to the corner but over towards Maggot's Following the guidance she had received from her Deity. That it went the contrary to her thoughts after Cor had told her what happened when he tried to bring Maggot back from the dead made no difference now. Following what she was sure was what Kith-Jora'a words intimated.

Kneeling by Maggot, Kith-Jora, I humbly call on your power and grace to raise this man to life" she casts Raise Dead confident in Kith-Jora's guidance. That it was a veiled response, as such things always were. Nonetheless she knew with a certainty that this was the right thing to do.

The party had been freed of the mirrors, yet somehow the room was not finished. There must be something else in this room which is not being accounted for... But what?

Conall was greatly saddened by the fact that Cor's attempt at healing Maggot only caused him to die. This was troubling, as it meant perhaps his Cynil would not be coming back until the room was cleared. And if they never solved that, then she was gone forever... But Conall knew he must never give up hope, lest it be the downfall of him.

"One mirror broke while the others stayed intact when they were all released. Cor, you know what you saw, and what the last thing was before you were released. Try to use your magic to speak with Maggot's corpse, and find out what was different about his experience in the mirrors from yours, and maybe that's what caused the mirror to break. If we truly do desire to break the mirrors, then things will go much easier if we know why his broke and your didn't."

The elf narrowed her eyes as both Cor and Rayne walked off seemingly ignoring her words. Siréne shook her head silently and turned her attention to the surrounding room. The phantom cockatrices might now be gone but this trial was far from over, the magic of two mirrors yet still remained. She had not gazed into the mirrors herself and it might now be that the magic of the mirrors would work only for those who had already glanced within.

With the elven and dwarven clerics both tending to the wounded there was little for her to do now but wait. Even so Siréne would not sit idle. The elf stood ready searching the room for any sign of a threat. Perhaps she would catch something that her arcane talents could easily eliminate...

With some members of the party moving to ready themselves for whatever would happen next, others were in healing mode.
With Rayne headed towards Maggot and Cor seemingly headed for Kenji, Conall did speak up.

"One mirror broke while the others stayed intact when they were all released. Cor, you know what you saw, and what the last thing was before you were released. Try to use your magic to speak with Maggot's corpse, and find out what was different about his experience in the mirrors from yours, and maybe that's what caused the mirror to break. If we truly do desire to break the mirrors, then things will go much easier if we know why his broke and your didn't."

Cor pausing before attempting to heal Kenji heard the Paladins words and nodded in agreement. Turning he moved away from the downed Samurai to stand just behind and to the right of Rayne as she began to chant, leading to the casting of Raise Dead.

It was here that something so unthinkable happened and only Siréne had a second’s glimpse of the evil in Cor’s eyes, and smile on his face, before the once holy Dwarf Knight Cleric placed his hand on Rayne’s shoulder, brought his hammer crashing down to smash her head wide open, and cast not the spell of Heal but that of Harm.

In the matter of 2 seconds, Rayne Fireheart, Elvin Ranger/Cleric was dead.

And in the shadows of the room the shadows laughed...............


(OK there is my 2 day delayed post sorry for it but I had to get confirmation from Keeper of just what he was doing. Ok it's round 1 of a new combat and the enemy is Cor once good now evil and looking to perhaps kill everyone here.
Please if your character is still active, POST, as what happens from this point on could see a major shift in the game.
Next post next Sunday/Monday)

Halia had watched the others come out of their dance with the mirrors still cloaked in the swaths of invisibility. She had watched as the others ran to assist those fallen, and even with the flying creatures no longer a threat, as not believing in them had stopped their attacks (but not the blood running down her arm), she was still tense. Something was still coming, she could feel it, could almost see it in the shadows that gathered in the corners of the room.

But even in her state of hightened awareness she had not caught the change in Cor. She had trusted him, he was their leader and if anything should attack them it would not be him. Cor was one of those she was working to protect.

So when the ax slammed into Rayne's skull, meeting flesh and bone with an impact that thundered through the room, she at first could not believe that Cor held the instrument of death. The cry that wrenched from her lungs came from the darkest pits of her soul as she watched. Everything moved slowly at first. Rayne's head caving in and then her body slumping forward, the fires burning in Cor's eyes... but then it all came rushing back in quickly.

Halia did not bother consulting with the others, she simply acted upon an instinct. Her feet carried her quickly toward Cor, sword raised high, prepared to strike, or kill if necessary.

((Run and swing... first thought is to simply maime but if things look like lethal force will be the only way to bring him down she will not hesitate to use lethal force))

The elf watched the room closely and as her gaze fell once again on Cor she saw the light of evil flash in his eyes. Siréne opened her mouth to warn Rayne but she was too late. No sooner did she draw breath to speak the dwarf's hammer smashed into Rayne's skull.

Siréne narrowed her eyes to focus on the treacherous cleric. She knew little of these companions but she had never expected such a violent treason. Still shock did not claim her. Without wasting breath the enchantress sprung into action. Her hands moved in a flurry of gestures and arcane chanting rose from her lips. The darkest of magicks of the unseen world flowed through her and the enchantress spun the compulsion directly into the clerics mind.

From the corner of her eye she saw Haila rush at Cor and a half smile traced itself along her face. Let them attack him, distract him. With his focus broken he would have little chance to fend off the power of her spell and once the compulsion took hold she would make Cor pay. She would make him pay dearly.

((OOC: Casts Domination targeting Cor))

Alasdair draws forth Purifier from its jeweled scabbard and steps forward between his love and the betraying cleric.

"Once my friend, I would have counted you as a great ally. But the mirror has poisoned your mind, and brought forth betrayal from its depths. The choices you make now are made freely, and will not be forgiven."

He slowly advanced forward, meanwhile focusing an intense blast of mental energy towards the mind of the betrayer.

"May Odin purify your once noble soul. You will be meeting him shortly."

((OOC: Uses psionic blast on Cor, draws his sword and advances defensively.))

Cor looked around and took stock of the odds; they did not seem to be in his favor. He could of course attack and try to take out as many as he could but where was the sense in that for he would likely end up dead in the end. He could try to cast a spell and hope it offered him protection but there was a pretty good chance an attack would spoil that. So in the end he played the only card remaining in his hand; the one he had so carefully set up in the previous few moments.

"If you ever want to see your friends alive again I would hold stay your hands. Seems I am the only one left who can raise them. Perhaps a bargin in in order. Alasdair you are free to check my alignment and I believe you will find that I will indeed keep my word and honor any agreements. I know how to get out of this room and am more than able to brign back your companions. I will give you the key to the first immediately if we strike an accord and will perform the second when I have a solemn vow that I will not be harmed by any of you from each of you especially the paladins and of course of dear Althena. In return I simply ask that I continue with you until we are clear of these wretched tests and then I shall go my own way. I give my word that I shall not actively seek to harm any of you. Of course you could decline my offer and kill me and take your chances getting out of here alive with three less party members, or more depending on how lucky I get, and a marked lack of healing ability beyond the basics. So, what say you?" Cor waited for an answer.

OOC: Assuming someone will detect alignment the new Cor is Lawful Evil

Conall stood in disbelief... His friend, his mentor... His new foe, Cor, stood before him. So that was what had happened. Cor had been released peacefully, because he was now evil. Evil. Cor. The thought burned through Conall, and set of a series of bells, saying that this must be wrong, there was no way that Cor could be evil. Cor was always the light of truth, of justice.

But not anymore. The Cor he knew was gone. Conall's detect evil ability told him that. And now, the evil Cor was trying to bargain with him and the party. Trying to fight for survival. Trying desperately to infect all that he knew before to conform to his evil ways. Conall could not allow that to happen... But dammit, why did it have to be Cor?

Hoisting his sword and shield, Conall spoke. "Foul demon. You claim to be someone you're not. The man you claim to be was a righteous man. He was a good man. He was my teacher, my mentor. He was my friend."

Conall felt hot liquid coming out of his eyes, as tears streamed down his cheeks. He felt the sadness coming over him as he knew what he was about to do, but he could not stop it.

"You may have stolen Cor's body, and maybe even his mind. But you will never steal Cor's legacy. I don't know who you are, or who you think you are. But I know this. Cor would not want his body to become an instrument of evil. And as Cor's student, and as his friend, I must hold true to my friend. I will save Cor's body from being one that is bastardized, and used for evil. I will save him from your mind control. Even if it means I-"

Conall caught himself in his throat, unable to speak. The tears continued to roll down his face, and he let out a small sob. He glanced at the statue of Cynil recently made. And for a brief instant, he swore he saw a smile. Cynil knew this was right. She knew it was what Cor would want.

"I won't let you harm Cor's legacy, even if I have to kill you to stop that! Everyone, I want you all to stay back! This is my fight. If I die... Then it doesn't matter what I think, does it?"

Conall hefted his sword menacingly, and moved forward to challenge the beast inhabiting Cor's body. He would not let his mentor's image be destroyed. Not like this. Not while Conall still drew breath. He advanced, seeing how Cor's host would react, and how everyone else would.

And so it had come to pass In front of mirrors made of glass that one once thought holy was in reality anything but. The reason for his easy release from the mirrors grasp, the truth of it now all could see. Where once Cor the Knight Cleric of Odin had once stood now only evil remained.

The first to act this first round of combat against the once party leader was its former leader the Paladin Alasdair, his psionic blast like a fist striking into Cor’s mind. Only to have no effect as the stronger mind of the possessing evil creature, it itself a having a strong psionic strength, was able to defend.

The next to attempt to take down the evil Cor was Haila. Forgoing the use of spells in favor of melee she attacked with her sword in rage…. Only to have her attack miss though Cor had not moved one inch, his cloak all the protection he needed for her first attack.

Siréne was the next to act and her means of doing so the spell of Domination. With Cor unmoving as if unafraid the spell was cast without error and was dead on target. At first it seemed that Siréne had been successful, however just like Alasdair’s attempt the controlling mind and the bonus of Cor’s high wisdom were enough to fight off the Elfin enchantress’s attempt.

Althena trying to determine just how to defeat this latest test, was just as the rest of the still standing party members thrown into a momentary state of shock. Knowing the protections of Cor’s gear and armor she alone knew she had the weapons that would be able to bypass his defenses and hurt, maybe if lucky, even kill the now evil Cleric.
But did she want too?? Cor had been with the party from the beginning, had both saved her, and volunteered to journey with her to recover a great evil. Surely there had to be some way to bring him back. Lost in thought her chance to act this round was gone, but the weapons were drawn.

Then almost fitting in a fated sort of way the last to act this first round was the Paladin Conall. Before him his mentor, his friend, his closet ally was no more now the Knight Cleric Cor to him was gone and in his place a creature of evil. His sword drawn and shield ready he advanced towards the now evil Cleric.

The creature controlling Cor seeing that to this point it had been very, very lucky due to a high wisdom, a strong psionic strength and a Cloak of Displacement. With the approach of a Paladin with shield and sword held ready and pain and murder in his eyes decided to try another tactic to keep itself alive.

“If you ever want to see your friends alive again I would hold stay your hands. Seems I am the only one left who can raise them. Perhaps a bargain is in order. Alasdair you are free to check my alignment and I believe you will find that I will indeed keep my word and honor any agreements. I know how to get out of this room and am more than able to bring back your companions. I will give you the key to the first immediately if we strike an accord and will perform the second when I have a solemn vow that I will not be harmed by any of you from each of you especially the paladins and of course of dear Althena. In return I simply ask that I continue with you until we are clear of these wretched tests and then I shall go my own way. I give my word that I shall not actively seek to harm any of you. Of course you could decline my offer and kill me and take your chances getting out of here alive with three less party members, or more depending on how lucky I get, and a marked lack of healing ability beyond the basics. So, what say you?”
Cor’s statement though very, very true seemed to the evil Cleric to hold no weight to the approaching Paladin as Conall, speaking his own words, continued to advance, ready to do battle with the creature before him.

"Foul demon. You claim to be someone you're not. The man you claim to be was a righteous man. He was a good man. He was my teacher, my mentor. He was my friend.
You may have stolen Cor's body, and maybe even his mind. But you will never steal Cor's legacy. I don't know who you are, or who you think you are. But I know this. Cor would not want his body to become an instrument of evil. And as Cor's student, and as his friend, I must hold true to my friend. I will save Cor's body from being one that is bastardized, and used for evil. I will save him from your mind control. Even if it means I- (” A gulped pause)...I won't let you harm Cor's legacy, even if I have to kill you to stop that! Everyone, I want you all to stay back! This is my fight. If I die... Then it doesn't matter what I think, does it?"
In the laughing shadows, someone disappeared from sight........


DM OOC: Otayy now its getting exciting my playa's and I can't wait to see how this all ends LOl.
Ok next post next Sunday and for all of you that posted very good job. And to those that could not post due to your current character situation please be patient ok hopefully this will be resolved in your favor if not there's always new character creation and a game restart.........)

Cor managed to avoid the attacks thrust upon him by will and luck. Now Connell issued a challenge. Cor smiled a wicked smile, "My offer to the rest of you still stands. As for you Connell I accept your challenge. I can only hope that the others will have the same honor as you and respect the offered duel." Cor looked to the others for a moment before looking back at Connel, "All these years I have travled with you as judge and jury over your advancement as a paladin. It seems that lately you are not even good enough to retain your true abilities in that regard. As for friendship; I was never your friend but simply a hammer sent to beat you upon the anvil of life and shape you into weapon of those above you who weild you. You have been weighed, you have been measured and I fear that in the end you will be found most wanting."

Cor broke his bipedal axe in two and readied himself for a duel. Hoping his words had an impact he did not wait but rather took the offensive attempting to catch Connel by surprise.

"I apologize Conall, but I cannot stand aside. For the crimes the demon within Cor has committed, his sentence is death. I will not leave this justice to your hands alone, though your reasoning is righteous."

He turns to face the now evil cleric (unleashing another psionic blast at him as he does). "By slaying you, we condemn our friends to prolonged death, but their souls will rest with the gods, as they were meant to. You, however, will decend into the realms of hell, where I promise you, you will find an eternity you will not enjoy." He raises his sword and moves around to flank Cor.

"Ahh Alasadir, I see I will not have to worry about corrupting you for you have already gone down the dark path on your own. A paladin that refuses to honor a duely offered and accepted challenge and then moves to flank and seeks to avoid honorable combat; what kind of paladin is that? Most interesting to see if your god forgives such indiscretions. Were I judging you I would certainly recommend you be stripped of your paladinhood for such cowardly and honorless actions. I hope you reap the fruits of your corruption of your title."

"And who are you to talk of corruption? I am amazed your god even continues to grant you the priviledge of divine magic. True Justice is more important than a single man's honor. If the sacrifice I make is losing the gifts and blessings of Odin for pursuing that justice and ridding the mortal plane of an evil such as yourself, then so be it. Our world is black and white no longer, my time in hell taught me that. And one so honorless as to slay a dying man, an ally and then murder another in cold blood does not deserve the benefit of grace or forgiveness. They deserve only the priviledge of the sword, and the gods will judge you righteously!"