The stupid little imp!  Another one of those blinkers and the demon kept trying to poke him with that stinger.  Well, he had warned it.  It was time to make use of that dagger he had.  He pulled out the dagger and prepared to do some imp surgery . . . 

But, then he realized that he was over reacting.  He didn't really want to cut the thing up.  That was out of character for him.  No, he would just let it go and see what it wanted.  That made sense.  Let it go and wait for it to come back.  Just wait.

Somehow, deep inside, soemthing about the situation didn't seem right, but the little imp seemed really sure that he should just wait.  So he waited.

They found themselves before an undulating sea of rats. Scores of the filthy creatures squeaked as they crawled over each other to reach their next victims.

Siréne hissed at the sight of the vermin. Combined together, even the tiniest of creatures could overwhelm the giant when they swarmed. Today, the rats would not have that chance.

“Cover my back,” the witch spoke not sparing a glance away or a moment of distraction.

Magic came to her, flowing through her fey body and emanating outward. Clapping her hands above her head and speaking a deplorable word of power, Siréne released her terrible hex banishing the enemy before her.

Not far behind her, Frag rose into the air and vanished, prepared to defend his new friend behind the veil of invisibility.

 

((OOC: Casts Repulsion, directing affect in the direction of rats))

Ulthok:.....

The small group had joined hands and Sirene cast the spell to teleport them back to St Albans. Joy filled Ulthok's heart as he anticipated returning so he could pamper his small companion. Then as they appeared in the common room of General St. Albans home their senses were attacked by the chaos of the battle that now raged on. The room was filled with rodents boiling toward the stairs that led up to a hallway. He could see they party members engaged in defending themselves. A wall of spinning blades slashed those that  pressed too close. The new Elvin cleric was slashing those that made it around the blades with flaming sword, the acrid smell filled the room.

The hoard was now turning to find another way to get to those above the stairs.

“Cover my back,” Sirene said as she cast a spell.

The mass, of  as if pushed, started to move toward the blades again.

Taking Sirene's lead Ulthok too decide to hurd these creatures away from them and into their death. Raising his hands and spreading his fingers an arch of flame leapt out to five feet in front of him and continued to sweep the swarm into the spinning blades.

( O. O. C. cast Burning Hands)

Valene:....

It had been hard to stand back and do so little to help return Peri  to them.  In this time she had spent with the this man and this little Fey creature her faith had been tested and her beliefs questioned.  It took time realize her feeling were not a betrayal of faith but indeed a proof. Now once again her heart was filled as they returned, the three of them as it should be.

When the clamor of battle reached her ears as she appeared in the room standing between Sirene and Ulthok. It only took a moment to deduce that a battle was in progress . She glanced around the room and saw the mass of rats.  It only took seconds for both Sirene and Ulthok the make decisive moves. Both now forcing the rats to flee into the blade barrier some twenty feet across the room from them.

As the rats pushed and piled in a mass before the spinning blades, with flames behind them and a flaming blade on the other she thought why not add to the toasting. As the rats now concentrated into the area below the stairs Valene released her toss on the flame and call a cloume of flame down on the mass. 

(O.O.C.: casts Flame Strike)

Craggen Core
General St Alban’s home.

The party easily working together had so far kept the rats and Imps at bay. However the tide quickly seemed to turn as Lothor released the imp and it quickly disappeared.

For Cor this was no problem as his spell of true sight was yet in full swing. As he yelled a warning to Sirene and Ulthok, the Dwarf Knight/Cleric moved up quickly and attacked. His strikes on target the imp defenseless Cor watched as the floating creating died, dropping to the floor at the bottom of the barrister.

Almost at once as Ulthok and Sirene readied their spells and Rayden slashed her flaming blade at numerous rats the battle was over. With Cor’s slaying of the invisible imp, the rats no longer seeming under control started to flee back into the shadows and as fast as they had arrived they were gone.

The next few hours were a matter of cleaning up dead rats, telling what had happened to General Alban’s guard commander, and freeing Lothor from the imp’s suggestion spell. They were also able to find the second imp that Arandur had not just hurt, but killed, with his two deadly strikes. Though they searched everywhere in and around the house the third giant rat or imp was not found.

However as Sirene studied the imps she saw they were branded with a symbol that neither she, nor the party once shown, had seen before. A new mystery in a long line of them since this mission had begun……..

(DM OOC: OK battle over and no sigh of third giant rat/imp. Hmmmm and a new mystery, whatya gonna do? Next post next Sunday.)

Arandur let a weary sigh escape from his thin lips, both relieved the battle had finally reached its conclusion and somewhat tired due to all the spells he had cast. But they had been victorious in their duel and Arandur was pleased with his first kill: the imp who had assaulted him with its sharp teeth and claws. The battle had been a confused flurry of activity and it was only thanks to Arandur's inner focus of long days meditating in his home forest that the Ranger had successfully managed to stay calm and not let the fervour of battle overwhelm him.

'The battle was well fought,' Arandur said to Ulthok as he readied his twin rapiers for polishing. Using a soft cloth, he worked methodically to remove all the gore and grime that had accumulated on the rapiers' blades, striving to revert them back to their previous splendour. 'Our enemies have been vanquished.' A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

This meant that Rayden was safe, and that gave him much relief. His sister had aquitted herself honourably during the battle and Arandur was impressed, but he still could not cast aside his deep seated desire to defend her. He doubted he would ever be able to.

'What say you of the mysterious sigil we saw marked upon the imps?' Arandur asked Ulthok, pausing in his work, the cloth hovering an inch or two above one of the rapier's blades. 'Do you think it could be the mark of the Dragon Goddess herself?' He added, dropping his voice to a low whisper in case any unwelcome ears were present.

  With the aif of the sight granted by Odin, Cor made wuick work of the imp.  The arrival of the remainder of the party led to a quick defeat of the rats,  Looking at the brand on the imp Cor spoke his thoughts "Aye lad, I also wonder if it is the sigal is that of the dragon goddess.  If it is she has broken the agreement in my eyes for a minion of hers attacked us.  Perhaps the good dragon can identify the sigil." 

Rayden allowed the spell to release itself as the flaming blade faded into nothing. Sitting down roughly she tilted her head as Brutus came and sat next to her, the bear resting his head upon her leg. Listening to the others she caught sight of her brother and smiled slightly, her muscles relaxing seeing the elf. She may not like his over protective ways but it was a comfort seeing him there none the less. 

She eyed the sigil, curiousity filling her eyes but it wasn't something she remembered seeing or even learning about. 

Arandur felt a presence by his side and glanced down to see the stout and sturdy dwarf, Cor as he halted by the elf and too studied the unfamiliar brand upon the sickly green skin of the slain imps.

'Aye lad,' Cor agreed, 'I also wonder if that sigil is that of the dragon godess. If it is, she has broken the agreement in my eyes for a minion of hers attacked us. Perhaps the good dragon can identify the sigil.'

At the dwarf's words, Arandur's thin brow creased as a worried frown shadowed his face. If Cor and he were correct, then the great Dragon Godess had indeed broken their uneasy oath of refraining from harming the other. If this was the case, then, Arandur reasoned, their side of the bargain was also void and they were free to inform any they wished of the threat of the Evil One. They had to be absolutely certain, however, that it was she who bore this mark and sent the two fiends to assail them. If their theory proved false, the consequences would be most dire. They were treading on broken eggshells with a field of lava below. One poor move and they could meet their doom.
The elf's thin, sharp tipped ears pricked up at Cor's suggestion of presenting the mark to Queen Magnificent in order to see if she could determine its origins. I was a decent plan and Arandur replied with an agreeable nod,

'Yes, let us take one of these creatures and lay it before the Queen and see if she can determine if she has knowledge of such a mark. Your previous remark about the Dragon Godess breaking her word troubles me greatly, Master Dwarf,' Arandur continued. 'If you are right, then none in our party are safe from that monster's wrath and I deeply fear for our wellbeing.' Especially Rayden's he thought and felt his concern shadow his heart. 'I think speculating will not get us very far, however. Facts are what we need and, I pray, that is what we shall hopefully get from the dragon queen.' Sheathing the now gleaming blade he had been lovingly polishing and replacing the rapier on his right hip, he replaced the cloth and polish back in his pack and smoothly rose from the seat upon which he sat. 'If the rest are in agreement,' the elf continued, 'I say we should meet with the queen without further delay. What say you?' He cast his sharp gaze at his companions as he awaited their response.

  Cor chuckled to himself at the animated words of Arandor.  Long ago he himself had such rash thoughts but age had imbued him with wisdom.  "Perhaps lad we should seek out one of the Dragon Queens council and ask them if they recognize the mark and failing that if they would set up a meeting with the Queen.  It might be seen as a wee bit presumptuous and disrespectful ta go barging in on the Dragon Queen and throw a dead imp at her feet."  

As the others voiced their accusations of the Dragon Goddess, Siréne studied the brands seared into the imp flesh. Though she knew not what the brand meant, she did know one thing. This was not the work of Kakaranatha, and Siréne knew this as an indisputable truth. Terrifying though it might be, there was a bond between herself and the ancient dragon. She had felt Kakaranatha’s gaze before, and it was not upon them now.

Turning, Siréne faced her companions with her cerulean gaze. The serenity and absolute infallibility of a fey priestess surrounded her as she regarded each, one by one. It was high time they return to their true quest.

“This is not the work of Kakaranatha,” Siréne began. “Hear my words and know them to be true. The Dragon Goddess might be treacherous and more dangerous than any creature we have ever faced, but she is not our enemy. Where there is light there must be shadow. We would not know the day without the night. That is the balance, and it is the will of the cosmos. It cannot be denied.”

The witch paused a moment to allow the weight of her words to sink into the air. She allowed her gaze to take in the elven siblings that had recently joined them. They stood with a righteousness that was utterly alien to her people. Cousins though they might be, the people of Faerie could not be more different than the elves bound to the light of the mortal world. Among the fey they were known as sun elves, after their stepping out of the twilight to forever stand beneath the sun. The people of Faerie were beyond the concerns of good and evil, such were mortal philosophies. Yet, sun elves had bound themselves to goodness and light long ago. Siréne began to wonder how such differences might play out as they walked together now.

“Our quest has not changed,” the Faerie continued. “There is still the sword and the war we have been fighting. Have we forgotten all that brought us to Craggion Core or the flying castle and the lich queen we faced before our chronal jaunt? If you wish to bring the symbol to Majestic, then let us do so. Knowledge will only help us. However, we must return to our true quest for we have already strayed too long.”

Lothor continued to stand and stare at the spot where the imp had disappeared.  He was sure it would return.  It had told him to wait and he was a good soldier.  Of course he would wait.  And the imp would return.  What would happen then he wasn't sure, but he was sure he needed to wait.

So he stared at the wall where the imp had last been.  The stone in the walls had an interesting grain.You could see lines moving through it at an interesting angle.  And some of the blocks lined up those lines.  It was a nice pattern.  He stared only briefly aware of the conversation aroud him.  The imps had a sign branded on them?  Interesting.  The dragon god?  No.  That made no sense.  If she had wanted them killed she didn't need rats to do it.  Rats would be fitting in this room surrounded by all of this interesting stone.  But servants of the dragon-god?  No.  That made no sense.  But someone had sent them.  Even the imps were sent.  They might even be connected.  Maybe he'd ask the imp when it returned?   But there was soemthing else they needed to be doing.  A sword, maybe.  He patted the sword he held and was sure that wasn't the sword in question.  Maybe the imp would tell him. 

He went back to staring at the wall.  

After a moment, Siréne noticed Lothor persistent staring at the wall and hissed. She should have recognized the beguiling hex for what it was. Raising her hand above her head, the witch slashed downward quickly. With a single word of power the magic of negation was summoned and it burst around the enspelled warrior.

((OOC: Dispel Magic on Lothor))

As the spell gathered Ulthok watched Cor attack empty space. But the result was one dead Imp and the gathering of rats started to disperse. Whatever had been going on was now over.  He feel the tension ease as Sirene and Valene also closed their spells. The rats scattered and the blade barrier vanished. The three gathered themselve and move toward the stairs. Cor and Arandur examined the Imp looking at at a mark on it's wing.

'The battle was well fought, our enemies have been vanquished.' Ulthok had moved close enough to see the mark. 'What say you of the mysterious sigil we saw marked upon the imps?' Arandur asked ,"Do you think it could be the mark of the Dragon Goddess herself?'

Ulthok looked at the but it didn't look like a mark of the Dragon Goddess, but Cor spoke first. "Aye lad, I also wonder if it is the sigal is that of the dragon goddess.  If it is she has broken the agreement in my eyes for a minion of hers attacked us.  Perhaps the good dragon can identify the sigil." 

Once again before he could speak Sirene spoke what he was thinking. “This is not the work of Kakaranatha,” Siréne began. “Hear my words and know them to be true. The Dragon Goddess might be treacherous and more dangerous than any creature we have ever faced, but she is not our enemy. Where there is light there must be shadow. We would not know the day without the night. That is the balance, and it is the will of the cosmos. It cannot be denied.......Our quest has not changed, There is still the sword and the war we have been fighting. Have we forgotten all that brought us to Craggion Core or the flying castle and the lich queen we faced before our chronal jaunt? If you wish to bring the symbol to Majestic, then let us do so. Knowledge will only help us. However, we must return to our true quest for we have already strayed too long.”

Nodding his agreement, "There are others out there that know the power of the sword. We can't assume it is only one enemy. There has been plenty of chances for the sword to have been taken by the Goddess, I don't feel she would have waited for us to return to make her move....now you need to help clean up this mess and prepare to continue our quest. I have an apple pie to bake."

Ulthok slipped away to his room where he and Valene set Peri in her favorite pie tin where she slept as if nothing had happened.

  "Well lass if ye say tis nay the dragon god as ye nay feel the power of her then it is so.  Tis true that we have another quest ta finish and should focus our energy once more on the destruction of the sword.  Ta that end everyone take the rest of the day ta gather supplies or seek council as ye will for with the dawn we set out once more."  Cor believed that the amulet lent certain powers to Sirene but he was concerned by the thought of what powers it lent the dragon god.  For now it seemed there was no ill effect but he would keep an eye open in the future.