"Well, I'm glad our new leader has sorted out our priorities, but he has yet neglected to return our ally to the realm of the living. I'm sure your banter is important, but not as important as he life. Which you took from her, may I remind you."

Kenji hears the others talking of the effects of the creatures and the lack of 'effects' of the zombie and Skeletons and using them to cross if necessary.

"If I may speak," Kenji says and then proceeds assuming permission will be give, "when I stepped on the square it was as if I was struck by the creature pictured on the stone. I was injured as well as paralyzed. I suggest you consider that the creatures that have no 'effect' might still damage you severely if you attempt to cross those squares."

With that said he goes back to resting and recovering his strength and mobility after the paralysis.

Cor shook his head, "Still teh same old thing huh? I say what i want done and everyone stands around making their own plans. But Odin forbid that those making the plans and not following mine take a go at leading." Looking at Ulthok, "Feel free to try you suggested route if you wish we will wait." Turning to Alasdair, "Yes Rayne is still amoung the dead as right now I see no urgent reason to revive her before we finish this test. She has no skills not duplicated by another. If she is raised and then happens to die again during this test her system make not take the strain and she will be truely gone. Can we focus on getting past this test please?"

"You usurped command mighty Cor. But I ask you, if you do not raise her, and you die, then what chance do we have at finishing the tests beyond this one with no clerical aid? But then again, I apparently am dishonorable and not fit to lead. So perhaps you should just do what you think you should instead of complaining that no one is listening to you hmmm?"

Cor glared at Alasdair, "Usurped? Do lies now flow from your mouth as easy as truths such that you do not know the differance? I said we had two leaders and needed to choose to avoid conflict and your reply was 'Take leadership if you will master dwarf. For I never truly cared for the title.' And now you try to claim I stole it? You words and actions have been as much a devisive factor as were those of the creature that controlled my body. As for raising Rayne if you want the real reason, one I kept to myself to avoid pointing fingers, I cannot raise her now as you would not allow the party to rest and restore spells even when several magic users suggested it saying we had plenty of healing." Cor looked to the group, "Shall we wrok together or simply be a bunch of individuals trying whatever suits us? Right now the sword is likely laughing at the uncoordinated, bickering bunch who are supposedly the world's last hope."

"Despite your attempts at profound wisdom Cor, I'm afraid no one seems to be buying what your selling." Ulthok chuckled. "Perhaps a more cordial tone might help.. that and perhaps you should prove with actions what your words fail to convince us of. That you not only truly have the group's best interests at heart but that you are as willing to serve this party as you are to lead it."

You know some spider bites can cause necrosis.." Ulthok spoke conspiratorially to Sirene just loud enough for the others to hear him. "Makes one wonder if our little imposter over there could still drone on incessantly with his lips rotted off.."

The elven enchantress cast a glance to her side at the once invisible halfling and smiled. She had not expected to see him yet not with Rayne still held in death's sleep but here he was and the time to act had come. Power from the darkest depths of the unseen world began to rise up through Siréne as she rose to lock eyes with the dwarf.

"Necrosis is such a nasty thing," she replied still holding her gaze on the dwarf. "But the dwarf is stubborn. Perhaps we should find another way to silence him?"

With that the enchantress focused her full attention on Algrek. Incandescent elven eyes bored into the dwarf with the promise of retribution but just as Siréne was about to speak a word of power chaos exploded in the room. Alasdair and the dwarf fell suddenly to the floor and soon after Althena collapsed to the floor with the two men.

A frenetic buzz filled the room as all those still standing sought to make sense of what had come to pass. Siréne merely stared at the three unconscious bodies, it did not take long for them to move once more. The dwarf was the first to rise claiming to be free of the dark being that once held his will.

It soon became clear that possessed or not Cor was poison. Without any word of remorse or the slightest shred of humility he began shouting demands and accusations. Siréne but narrowed her eyes and watched as both Alasdair and Ulthok faced off the arrogant dwarf. There was no reasoning with him and with his every word the enchantress found anger rising within her.

Cor still stood spewing venom, "Right now the sword is likely laughing at the uncoordinated, bickering bunch who are supposedly the world's last hope..."

At these words the enchantress could take no more. With a dangerous light in her eyes Siréne stepped forward to join Alasdair and Ulthok.

"Enough!" the single word left her lips as she focused her full attention on the dwarf. "If there is any the sword laughs at it is you Cor. You claim to be free of the evil that controlled you but I see no difference between your actions and those of Algrek. You see yourself as some wise leader but all I see before me is an arrogant tyrant and I will not stand for it. Not one moment longer."

Cynil moves up toe Conall's side and whispers in his ear "Conall, will you please do a detect evil on all three of them, Cor, Alasdair, and Althena. That entity might had tried to infect them all." Then she moved off a few few towards those arguing with each other. effectively block sight of conall as best as she can.

"Thank you, Sirene, I couldn't have said it better myself." Cybil speaks up. This bickering must stop. Alasdair I cannot believe you would go after Cor for what happened while Cor was possessed. Conall, will you please do a detect evil on all three of them, Cor, Alasdair, and Althena. That entity might had tried to infect them all. Until they are cleared or any sign of a taint, I will follow none of them. Never have I heard such bickering amongst this party, a few disagreements to difference of options but that was all. We need to listen to each other and weigh our options careful. We have had two new suggestions both have merit."

"If Cor was freed of all taint then he is still our chosen leader and will remain so until Another is chosen. A leader should listen to suggestions made by those who follow him. The options should be weighed for the best chance of success for all of us to finish this test, and that options should be tried first. Then that is what we must try first. There are no easy answers in these test, that much has been proven time and time again to our own cost. We tried the first reasonable answer we thought of and that did not work. we will need to think clearly and WORK TOGETHER."

"i would also like to offer a thought for consideration. I was wondering if we step on the tile that Kenji stepped on would it repeat what happened to Kenji to the next person to step on it or would it have been disarmed and rendered harmless. Kenji, how badly were you hurt by that tile? Do you need healing for you injuries? I can offer you that at least."

With the return of the real Cor to the party, what should have been a cause to rejoice, had instead turned into a shouting match between Cor and the rest of the party.
The gruff Dwarves manner the same almost as when he was under evil control, Cynil called to Conall to use his innate power of Detect Evil intent to make sure that none of the three involved in the releasing of Cor’s soul had turned. Looking towards first Cor, then Alasdair and final Althena he saw no traces of evil in any of the three.

It was then as he revealed his findings to all that Althena, with the help of Maggot, who had moved to her side when Cor had engaged in the ongoing argument, slowly regained conciseness. Hearing the tail end of the argument and both Sirene’s and Cynil’s words and then Conall’s declaration of no evil slowly, again with Maggot’s help, stood and addressed the party.

“All this talk of tests and swords and saving the world means nothing if we do not stand together united.

Alasdair was first leader of the group that started out from Shann’Tara, and though it gained and lost members along the way he remained so till saving most of us from a life in Hell at what we thought then was at the cost of his and Magma’s lives.

Then we ALL decided on Cor to replace him and Cor, though at times we disagreed with you, yet we did follow you. Then evil you became and Alasdair once more returned to us through the favor of Odin once more did lead us for a short time until he, risking his faith as a Paladin, did save you from forever remaining evil.

Yet you return to us, not thankful to be back among us, not thankful to Alasdair for the risk he took, not wanting to rest and revive Rayne, but to demand that we continue to face this test at half strength in the healing arts. I say NO we will not continue until Rayne is once more among us and the party is made whole. Once again it is clear we have a leadership choice before us and again through votes I ask of each of you to settle the issue of who is to be the leader of this party once and for all.... Cor or Alasdair...

Unless, of course, another of you wishes to be considered, Maggot, Kenji, Conall? Or how about you Sirene, Cynil, Haila? Have any of you thought on being leader. I myself will not vote as my relationship with Alasdair is well known but I call all of you to do so. For I tell you this in all honesty, together, united as one we will stand and prevail, divided, as we are now we are doomed to die in failure and the Dark King will rule over all the lands as victor.”
With her words once more spoken she hoped they would carry weight as now was not the time to bicker among themselves.....


THE MOUNTAIN DEEP
The sword watched in its way and if it could have would have laughed out load at the “heroes” sent to retrieve it. Even though it was still unable to enter the dreams of them it could tell that its emanations of evil that had bathed its mountain prison for a dozen centuries was as yet having an effect, causing its retrievers to fight amongst themselves. Oh how wonderful it had been to see the one called Cor become evil and it had so hoped to claim him as a minion once closer. But even in a return to his true self he still remained to act as if evil. Oh what a show, what a show.

And as the “heroes” argued its two newly created undead minions came closer and ever nearer having found another way.....................


(DM OOC: Ok here’s tonight’s post. I must say good posting Ladies and Gentleman I have enjoyed reading them this week. Very good interaction by all and I must say some very good postings by our newset member Dreen.

As for the leader vote called for by Althena please, when casting your vote or stepping forward as a choice, do so in character. Ok next post as always next Sunday)

Ulthok snorted and shaking his head replied, "I never voted for Cor, and I certainly wouldn't vote for him now."

Seeing Althena raise an eyebrow at his comment Ulthok decided quickly that discretion is the better part of valor. Schooling his face into a more diplomatic expression Ulthok stated the obvious, "While I could honestly care less about who claims the title of leader, the success of our quest is all that matters in the end, and as not a one of you can deny that Alasdair has already proven himself willing to do what is needed to ensure the completion of our task I see no one more worthy of our trust. He literally sacrificed himself so that we all might live to continue on this quest, what greater service could be asked for from a leader? Unless a new leader will increase our chances of success I see no reason to change now what we established in the beginning of this journey."

"I shall make it easy fo you all, I remove myslef for consideration as leader for it is apparent that none of you will follow anyway. I asked for our shapeshifters to make their way across so we could try to at least gain the other side of the room and we still sit and make other plans and noone has moved. I will sit quitely in the corner and pray so I can raise Rayne as soon as possible. I will not vote for Alasdair but I will not veto him either. Whoever is chosen I wish them luck for I know that at least one of the group has no interest in coorperation but is soley out for their own goals and will not truely follow anyone except himself." Cor took a look at Ulthok and then moved to begin praying.

"Though the leadership issue is still up for debate, may I suggest that we close the door behind us, bar it with whatever we have available and rest for a while? It seems we may have to puzzle over the way to solve this room, and I think we could all benefit from a little rest. I did not want to rest before not because I wanted to rush through the tests, but to prevent the creature possessing Cor from gaining any stronger hold on him than he already had, thus making it impossible to free him. That no longer being an issue, I don't see any reason we shouldn't rest now provided we can seal the door well enough. Once rested Cor can return our friend Rayne to us and we can get a relatively fresh start. Anyone have anything against that?"

Ulthok stopped making funny faces at Cor behind his back long enough to acknowledge Alasdair.

"I'm all for seeing Rayne returned to us sooner rather then later. Not to mention that we could all benefit from a meal at this point as well. Besides, we can always continue this discussion as we make camp, not as if anyone in this group is too shy to speak up and cast a vote if they decide they want to." Ulthok reasoned while grinning broadly and rubbing his grumbling belly. "I'll even volunteer for first watch if necessary."

Not expecting any arguments Ulthok made to find a comfortable spot against the wall were he could ready a meal and eventually get some sleep.

The samurai rolled his eyes slightly at all the conflict at the leadership debate.. he truely cared not as long as they were accomplishing their mission.. but at the moment they stood here doing nothing but arguing about who would lead.

He silently stood guard watching the back of the group from the way they came in case any of those small creatures decided to pursue them.

He added nothing to the debate.. as his opinion was of no importance.. he knew that they needed to rest and if possible.. raise the dead Lady Rayne.. he still was uncomfortable with this whole idea of raising dead people .. it all seemed evil to him.. but since joining this group he had learned to accept many things he would have long thought wrong and unnatural.

To Lady Cynil he nodded to her slightly at her questions; "I was injured but not too severely. Save your limited powers of healing for those that are more injured than me."

Though he wouldnt show it, the hit had taken when stepping on the stone had hurt him more than he let on.. he had the ability to channel his mind and bury his pain and weakness when needed. Now was not the time for such things... actually never was the time to show weakness in the Samurai's opinion.

"Well this is one big love fest," Maggot said as he helped steady the Lady Althena after her words. "Very well done Cor, removing yourself from the fray of leadership. Alasdair now that it seems you have the mantel of leadership do well with it." Maggot pointed to a spot of the room that would be somewhat out of the way and safe, "Lady, would you take rest? Oh and Uthlok one day your face will stay that way. Or so I have heard mothers tell their heathen brats from time to time." A smile fell on the old man's face as he crinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue at Uthlok.