"Just take this as my contribution to warm you up." she says with a laugh and a twinkle in her eye.

Rayne turns to regard the self-proclaim and in true knight-cleric of Odin. His appreciation of her as she changed into dry garment did not upset her in the least no quite the opposite. Rayne viewed his comments and the ideas of the others as positive signs. They all still had the spirit and willingness to carry on and had not be beaten down by the recent tests even though they had been close and they had escape them barely. Such tribulations piled up one after another could be lowering to the spirit and their need to carry on.

Rayne makes a quick meal of elven journey cakes, rich with multiple grains, honey, dried fruits, and nuts. Would anyone like one of my journey cakes, not meat but very nutritios,

"Corellon" she prays softly, I will serve you faithfully, now and forever. Guide me, and grant me your divine favor so that I may continue to do so and aid my companions in this dark place that tries us all."

"Thank you all for taking the watches so Ulthok, Haila, and I can rest. Cynil, thank you for being our gear rug but remember you must sleep too." Rayne prepares to rest by wrapping her cloak about her and when Cynil changes into a bear she lies down next to her and huddles in close to the massive form. Come on Ulthok cuddle up, small bodies tend to lose heat faster so tuck yourself between Cynil and I.

Bears even if their are druids shape changed, still smell like bears.

And so the question of when to rest, where to rest, and just how the party planned to go about resting was solved at last.

Cor using the Helm of Walls proceeded to cast a wall unlike any other, though iron, he placed it not upright but on its side thus creating an island of dryness in a sea of ice-cold water.

With this large area of dry iron in place and the decision not to build a fire Cynil changed herself into an extra large bear and the party huddled close beside her. This time Conall was not the only one so very greatfull of her shared warmth.

< Come to me as you set me free so shall I set you free. Take me to hand and everything you dream and pray for I shall give you. Wealth it is yours, peace I shall make it so, power all that I have will be yours, love I will fill your heart with it and find it for you in mortal form. Think me not a bad thing but a thing of freedom, your freedom to be the savior of this world. Release me and together the Dark King shall we defeat. Take that which has always been rightfully yours, come to me, come to me, come to me, COME to me, COME TO me, COME TO ME!! >
Haila’s eyes snapped open, awake yet asleep, the voice strong in her mind urging her to move towards it.

< Come to me gentle lady I have that which you seek, I am love, all the love you will ever need, but you must claim me >
Ignoring her pack and weapons, she lightly jumped off the wall of iron, much to the surprise of Conall and Divot. Though both had seen her wake neither had expected her to move off towards the open north door and before they could stop her, thanks to her Boots of Speed, she was already there. But she paused, her head cocked, as if listening to someone speak.

< Protect yourself for they will not let you leave, Spell them, SPELL THEM NOW!! >
Her hand raised, her finger pointed, unheard words spoken, a streak flashed from her pointing finger and attaining the prescribed range, the center of the iron wall, blossomed into a fireball. Conall taking the fireballs full force was blasted off the iron island to land backward in the icy water, Divot lucky in only taking half was able to remain on one knee. Pain, heat, flames those of the party sleeping, some, like Conall, taking the fireballs full force, some like Divot only half, awoke to find themselves under attack yet who had attacked them unclear. The attacker already out the door and headed away..........

(OOC: OK everyone check your sheets as to what damage you took. As your ‘attacker’ has left the room we are not in combat rounds so just post as normal w/o worrying about # of actions allowed.

NOTE!! Until Conall or Divot post who attacked you, everyone has no clue, so please do not post anything relating to Haila as the attacker. Also spellcasters you did not get a full 8 hours of sleep so no new spells were prayed for or memorized. Ok N.P.N.S then after that my next post will be as stated in the Q/A January 3rd)

Cor slept the sleep of the tired; that is until he awoke in a burning pain. His newly opened eyes took in the site of a party smoldering and charred. On his feet in an instant, the dwarf looked to Connel and Divot who were standing guard. "Report!! What happened? Are we under attack?" Without waiting for a reply Cor began to don his gear and ready his axe.

'If this continues and we don't get some sleep soon none of us will see the end of the blasted tests.' he thought as he took mental note of everyones condition and remembered the limited amount of healing available.

It was not a welcome warmth Rayne felt but searing pain hat roused out of needed sleep. Instinct set her to rolling off the wall where she dropped to her feet crouching behind the wall raised above the floor. Pain had her clenching her lips to smoother a cry of pain.

Hearing Cor cry out for answers, her question remained unasked = behind tighlty compressed lips. Rayne searched for the source of that blast of heat but saw nothing but members of her own party suffering fro the fiery effect. It could have been a breath weapon, a cone of fire, or a fireball, something like that was her best quess, but from where. She scanned around should her but saw or heard nothing but those close to her but no foe

Rayne pulled out her med kit. this was going to have to be the hard way. except for the few doses of potion she had left. Not one healing spell did she have left after yesterday and though she had prayed, it seemed she had not had enough time to gain new spells for this day. healing would have to be mundane as best and she could do for now.

The search of the area found Conall on the ground and badly burned. Immediate she grabbed up her backpack and went to aid him, hurrying to his side. She took out one of her positions of extra healing he certainly was going to need a dose atl least, so was she.

Moving hurt, hurt a lot seared flesh resisted movement and then gave only with pain. gritting her teeth she forced herself to Conall side. slipping a hand under his head to support it and flipping off the top the potion bottle to give him one dose for now. She would have to dole out the remaining doses to the most injured, first.

Cynil will change back into her true form. (Not sure if doing so will cause the healing that comes with changing shape.) She will take out a potion that has one dose left and use it if she is not partially healed by her shape change.

"Remind me not to be a bear when there is fire about." She sniffs the acrid air smelling of burn bear fur.

"Now what happened?" she looks about to seen if anyone is in need of healing.

Haila not stopping to check if her fireball spell had hurt or killed anyone moved as quickly as she could around the hallways corner and came to the next wooden door.
Without a check for traps or to see if the door was locked without hesitation grabbed the handle and was through, the door quickly closing behind her.

In the room she had left the party now all awake yet still very unsure of what had just happened noticed without being told that Haila was missing from among them. As to the why of that and the cause of the attack neither Conall or Divot had yet spoken the speed and source of the attack still a daze to both Halfling Fighter and human Paladin. While Rayne moved to heal, Cynil regained her health with her change back from being a bear and Cor yelling to know what had just happened the party stood around unclear of what to do next............

(OOC: Ok to everyone have a Merry Christmas hope to see you all back here in Jan.)

Seeing Connall down Cynil hurries to him, though not before Rayne got to him.

"Is he alive?" she voice quivered with concern. She knelt by him assisting Rayne in anyway she could.

She also looked about for others needing help, she counted heads and came up short.

"Is Haila down too?"

"Treat the injured first," Rayne tells Cynil. Use what ever you have sparingly. I don't know how badly the others werw injured but I have been and Conall too.

"We are all injured and have precious few spells left. None of us will be in great shape when we leave this room but we must do what we can while saving at least a bit for later. Unless we find a way to recharge spells we will likely fail this task."

“I am alive.” Conall spoke, his voice still shaky. With help Conall moved to his feet. “Haila is not down she is gone.” Conall moved from the water back to the iron island. “She awoke and was gathering her things. I looked away for just a moment when I heard her mumble something I did not understand. When I looked back the magic was already around her and the ball of fire moved past me and exploded.” Conall shook his head, “She is the daughter of Hell itself and mark my words the next time her and I meet it will be at the pearl of her life.” Conall then moved to his things and made ready to move on. He then turned to Rayne, “See to the others, I am fine.” He then looked at Cynil, “Be at easy, I am fine and will walk for another day by your side.”

Cor listened to Connel and knew immediately what had happened, as it had been told such could occur. The power of the sword had seduced her and she was now in it's control. "The sword has taken her. If we can capture her we might be able to break its hold on her; however, we cannot and will not endanger the greater mission for her sake. With the limited healing we have remaining she could kill half of us at least with the spells still at her disposal. She sees us as the enemy and no longer as her companions. For now we must view her in the same light. If she is taken by surprise we can make one attempt to subdue her but no more. If she sees us or makes a single move that even looks like a spell she must die. If not then some or all of us will and the sword will have won. I know many of you will disagree with me on this but I warned you all that putting me in charge had its hazards. My word stands in this. Now get the healing done quickly and gather your thigns; we cannot let her find the sword first."

Cor cast a cure serious wounds on himself then asked, "Who else in in great need of healing?"

The party awake, confused, and wondering upon the nature of the attack finally gained knowledge of the who and the what. This information from Conall as he regained his feet, hearing of Cynil‘s worry of Haila.

“I am alive, Haila is not down she is gone. She awoke and was gathering her things. I looked away for just a moment when I heard her mumble something I did not understand. When I looked back the magic was already around her and the ball of fire moved past me and exploded.”
Conall shook his head,
“She is the daughter of Hell itself and mark my words the next time her and I meet it will be at the pearl of her life.”

“Nay Conall she did not gather her things as they still lay as she left them.”
This from Divot having heard the Paladin’s words of vengeance.
“She awoke, ran to the door and before exiting, as if listening to some voice, turned to release a ball of fire. I do not believe she did this out of malice as that is not the Haila I know, perhaps the dreams returned, and she was overpowered. Tell me, did any of you dream once again of the “Voice” in your heads?”

Clear to any of the party with a sense of things that Divot defended Haila due to the connection between them. Though she had attacked the party in truth, perhaps it had not been her at all, but the “Voice” of the sword within this maze.

Conall having said his piece and told all of his intentions then moved to his things and made ready to move on speaking to both Rayne and Cynil of his wounds. As he shouldered his pack, he was the first to notice Niamedris sprawled just below Haila’s pack. The Elvin cat breathing but clearly hurt and for the moment unconscious. With this fact relayed, it seemed to power Divots argument that Haila had not been herself.

“See there lies prove of what I say, would she attack and do harm to her familiar if she was of herself and not entranced?”

His words having an effect on Cor the dwarf agreed with the halfling fighter, yet made no qualms about what was to be done if no choice was left.

"The sword has taken her. If we can capture her, we might be able to break its hold on her; however, we cannot and will not endanger the greater mission for her sake. With the limited healing we have remaining she could kill half of us at least with the spells still at her disposal. She sees us as the enemy and no longer as her companions. For now, we must view her in the same light. If she is taken by surprise, we can make one attempt to subdue her but no more. If she sees us or makes a single move that even looks like a spell she must die. If not then some or all of us will and the sword will have won. I know many of you will disagree with me on this but I warned you all that putting me in charge had its hazards. My word stands in this. Now get the healing done quickly and gather your things; we cannot let her find the sword first."

With the casting of a Cure Serious wounds upon himself his next question was if any others needed the precious few spells left to him. For the next few minutes, the party took what healing was left to them, a decision made as to Naimedris’s fate, and all packed and ready to go, after Haila they followed, to either save a friend and fellow companion or to kill her.

With Ulthok once more in the lead, they passed out of the room and into a corridor the same as the ones before with a turn to the West 50 feet before them. Though knee deep in water the party quickly covered the distance to the turn and then beyond, seeing another 60 feet of corridor, a same type wooden door at its end. As they reached it, they found that unlike the others before this one was slightly ajar, Haila clearly having moved through beyond it. The same task once again before them on opening it or not, was mute for if to move forward they had no choice but to pass. With a quick scan for traps by Ulthok coming up negative the halfling opened the door and followed by the rest entered to find….Nothing!. The party stood in a totally empty room, no Globe, no statue, no items of any sort, a single wooden door of wood, open, on the far wall.


(DM OOC: Ok welcome back everyone I hope your holidays were as enjoyable as mine were, old friends come to visit and 1 returned for good brought many a smile to my face.

Well there you have it the games restart I hope this year will be a good one for people posting and the game to continue strong. As for whatever healing is taking by whom and of what, please to post of it in game or at least in the Q/A so I can mark off damage + spells or items used. Ok next post next Sat so EVERYONE who is still in the game PLEASE post.)

Conall shouldered his pack he saw something out of the corner of his eye. He took a better look and stepping over to Haila’s things, “Niamedris?!” he spoke with a question and some sadness. “Cynil! Quickly!” Conall picked up Niamedris in his arms, “Please do what you can for him.” Handing Niamedris to Cynil he looked at the cat, “I do not hold you in guilt for what your master has done. And I would burden myself with your load but I will need both hands to avenge the wrong you have felt this day.” Conall then looked at Cynil, “Care for him as if he were our own.” Conall then moved to the door way and falling in to his place the party continued down the hall.

Standing in the next room Conall scanned the room looking for anything. Movement, sound, light Conall was on the edge of his senses.

“I do not hold you in guilt for what your master has done. And I would burden myself with your load but I will need both hands to avenge the wrong you have felt this day.”
Althena had to this point remained silent, as the only one of the party to not be affected by the swords power she unlike any sleeping did not hear its “Voice”. However with Conall’s latest statement of harm to Haila she had, had enough. All the anger from Conall’s reaction to her and Alasdair’s pairing all the pain from Alasdair’s death, all the fear of what lay before them rose up and she let it out.

“Conall Glendower of the House Glendower!! How dare you continue to voice the harm you will do to one of our own. She who has been a member of this party for longer then I. She who has saved this party from death and failure not once, not twice, but 3 TIMES!!. It was one thing to belittle Alasdair and I when you learned of our love but to turn on Haila, whose fault this is not, that is too much!!
I cannot stand here and listen to you speak as such, what mayhap if it had been you and not her to have fallen under the swords spell, do you think she would speak of you as such, no she would seek a way to free you!! “

Facing the party full on she continued to speak allowing no one to stop her from finishing.

“Trust me all when I say this, the sword is evil pure, untainted by any good, morals it has NONE or anything resembling faith its soul purpose is to allow the Shadow King to rule. None of you are immune to its power it is only by your force of will, you who stand here now, that has so far protected you. The closer we get the more power its “Voice” will have over you every time we attempt to sleep, whose to say Conall Glendower of the House Glendower that you will not be the next to succumb to its power.
You call yourself a Knight of Odin, a Paladin in his service, all I see right now before me is a man so full of anger he has lost his honor and faith in friendship, and that Conall makes you more susceptible to the swords charm.”

Turning away she grabbed her back pack and made to jump off the platform of iron, turning to Cynil as she did so.

“Watch him my lady Druid for you well may have to save him from himself one day soon.”

With that and without another word she took her place in line and moved as the party did......

“You pompous, argent, little witch! Do you not see that our Haila is no longer OUR HAILA, but a minion of the Dark Lord himself! If you can not see that then we should all turn now and go home, to pass the time with family and loved ones until the darkness comes to all the lands.”

Conall then holds his hand up, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath and then continues in a bit more of a calming voice but still very agitated. “I would throw myself upon my own sword if it would bring her back to us, put the sword in your hands and bring all this to an end. But it does not work that way and if me killing her to save all of you and in doing so I breathe my last breath in the process then I will do so. That is what I do!” Conall then looked directly at Althena, “I will leave the holding of evil dark swords to you. You leave the finding and killing of evil things to me. Perhaps one of us will make it out alive and I pray to Odin it is you. Now if you will keep your teeth together and your voice quite and let me rant so I can prepare myself to do what needs to be done then perhaps I can do the unthinkable and...” Conall voice drops off and just pushes his way to the door. "Are we going to fallow or just stand here?"