Chapter 1 - The Place I'll Return To Someday

[TheDruid20]

"Perhaps you didn't hear me. It was not HIS mistake it was Mine. And it wasn't a mistake. "

[BigRedRod]

The Elder shakes his head,
"It shames me that your Elder thought you ready to begin your pilgrimage."
Ielenia stands and interupts and beings walking toward her companion Summoner,
"Luian perhaps the madness has seeped into you, I refuse to believe that a member of our order can show such disrespect to an Elder."
She glances at the guardians,
"Kythrin, Triren, Garland, go and retrieve the boy. We need everyone together to ensure that the temple will remain safe and secure. This may mean difficult choices, and moving victims who may be better left, but it must be done. A single maddened boy could be the downfall of the temple, and this boy, you say, seems to have reacted differently to every other member of the temple, we have no way of knowing if it is for better or for worse, it is a liability we cannot risk. And so I request that as my guardians you go and complete this task."

[TheDruid20]

"If the order wants sheep then they can have Ielenia, if they want a strong woman who will solve problems of teh people and not sit around waiting for others then they want me. If they want sheep who obey blindly and can't think for themselves let me know know elder and I will denounce the order and solve this without you."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder simply shakes his head
Ielenia, however, takes more direct action and lands a sytining slap on Luian's face,
"You disgust me and have no right to call yourself a High-Summoner. I pray that the insanity has spread to you, I would hate to think that someone I should know so well has fallen to such depths. You should show respect and obey an Elder if you have no reason to ignore his requests, we were tasked with gathering the afflicted, curing them and bringing them here, a task which one group did not complete. Rather than questioning their actions you foolishly protect them but offer no more reason than they have."
Ielenia takea breath,
"There is a difference between blind obedience and the actions which not only shame yourself, but our guardians and even me."

[Samurai]

Garland


Garland calmly waits nearby his charges as the disagreement begins to enflame into a vitrolic argument. Turning an eye to the exit leading from the room, he wonders if Triren and Kythrin will be alright dealing with the strange boy. Still, his duty compelled him to stay, for both of those under his protection remained in this room.

Garland begins to respond to Ielenias request, but he is cut off by Luians immediate reply denouncing the command. Garlands dark eyes are framed by his narrowing eyebrows as Ielenia slaps Luian across the face, and he immediately steps between them, his fierce countenance holding them at bay for a moment, as he says;

"This is pointless. While you waste time arguing, this temple is falling to pieces around our ears. I have sworn an oath to see both of you safely through your journeys. My life, and my blade, are yours. But I do not follow the command of one of you, I follow the command of both of you. I suggest you find a middle ground, and settle this matter as befits your stature and power, rather than as two bickering children."

[TheDruid20]

"If you feel doing what is the least tramatic to a child who has lived in thishouse of horrors the last few days shameful then I question your morals. If I need to denouce myself as a high summoner to help spare the mind of a young boy I will do that in a second. I would rather do what it right then follow rules of a man who doesn't even listen to reason."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder looks with such puzzlement at Luian,
"And what would the alternative be, summoner? Should I stumble through the corridors with Sara further draining our srength, so that he might see the full extent of the pale shells we have become? Perhaps we should leave him alone so that he might stumble upon the bodies of those who are lost to us, or even out of the temple and into the city. You condemn a course of action and fail to look for alternatives"
The Elder speaks without anger, his voice is soft

[TheDruid20]

"No we came back here to see if any of you were well and drop off those we have found to see if anyone here knew him and might offer us some suggestions. Before you tear him from his comfort zone. If I need to I can make him magically follow us. But he is different in some way and I don't want to harm him or scare him."

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin steps up beside Luian, placing his hands behind his back.

"I am under the direct command of my charges, no matter what circumstance, and whether or not I agree. That is my duty. But Elder, I must agree with my charge on this matter. For the boy has been through much in the past days, and he must have something different about him. Keeping an eye on him would be a good idea, but I say we do not force him into anything."

He nods, looking down at the ground. "So I suggest we keep watch over him, either magically or physically, until we get everything worked out here. Then we can confront him. because of his different reactions, he must have some sort of connect with either a solution or the cause. He might be our key."

OOC: Diplomacy +29, if it matters.

[TheDruid20]

Luian turn to Kythrin and a tear forms in her eye. You wonder if her resolve was about to crack till you spoke up for her.

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin nods to Luian, then takes a step forward, between her and the elder.

"I think we should send our stealthiest member to go check on the boy, then try and devise a means to magically keep and eye on him. We don't want him running away. If all else fails, I shall go keep watch myself until a better plan can be formulated."

[TheDruid20]

"Unless someone here knows him and maybe able to coax him back here."

[Samurai]

Garland

Garland blows out a deep sigh as the argument continues unabated, his words ignored. Shaking his head slightly, he steps back as Luian continues her tirade. He is surprised to note Kythrins return. He could have sworn he left with Triren to retrieve the youth in question.

"At least he brings a measure of calm to the situation," Garland thinks to himself. Resigning himself to the whims of fate once more, he quietly awaits the decision of his charges as to how best handle the matter.

[BigRedRod]

[ooc: nope, you were all in the room with the Elder, Sam]

The Elder motions to the bodies on the ground,
"Someone here will know him. But they are in no state to do anything. Leaving the boy alone seems far more harmful than moving him here. I understand he may well be a special case, that is all the more reason to have him here where we can watch over him. "
The man swallows and continues,
"If you believe he is acting out of something else than the madness, then simply retrieve him without attemtping to cure him so that we might study him. I am not asking you to traumatise him, I am asking you to ensure his safety and well-being, and that involves him being here."

[TheDruid20]

Luian looks aroudn to see if any are well enough to walk with help like the elder is. If there is she comments on them. "The building is safe now even you could come with us. We can easily carry you or use a spell or two to assist us. (Spell that is the flat disk that follows behind you that carries stuff I can't recall if it is still in 3e...)"

[BigRedRod]

Besides Sara, all of the others are currently sleeping, or unconcious. The Elder raises an eyebrow,
"You honestly think that carrying me, magically or physically, to the boy would reassure him? I feel he would simply assume the worst and be all the more hostile."

[TheDruid20]

"Do you know the boy? If not you is there another he might trust? What do we have to loose? I would rather have him follow us back here willingly then force him. The less magic on him the better we will be able to study him."

[BigRedRod]

"I am familiar with many of my students, there are only two here I would describe as boys however."
He pauses to think for a moment,
"Mikos and Tun. Sara spends more time with them than myself"
Sara nods, and closes her eyes while she speaks
"I do ... I give their basic lessons. But ... my condition may be more alarming to him than reassuring, I have no wish to scare the boy more than I have to. But I should be able to walk there with some help ..."
She takes a deep breath,
"If you think a familiar face would do more good than harm, then I shall try. I do not feel I should trust my own judgements while ... I am like this"

The Elder nods,
"I have no objection if you are sure you are able to help, and believe it would help."

[TheDruid20]

"I think him beign scared of you in yoru conditino may be less tramatic then us trying to subdue him with force."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder, Ielenia and Sara all looked shocked at the summoner's words. Sara blurts out,
"Why would you use force!? They are just children! You don't need to hurt them. A simple sleep would work without the need to ever resort to violence against a child."
Sara looks incredibly distressed

[TheDruid20]

"Sleep does nto always work. It would of course be our first choice."

[Samurai]

Garland

Garland maintains his reserved air while the conversation continues. As Sara mentions the names of the two boys she trains, he speaks in a soft voice, saying;

"Well, when I looked into the room, I saw two boys. However, only one was alive. I realize this matter is best decided by the three of you Summoners. Still, I cannot say it would be conducive to a young ones mental health to be locked in a room with a rotting corpse, especially if it is a person he once knew."

Stroking his goatee for a moment, Garland continues. "He is only a boy. I have no doubt I can subdue him, if neccessary, and no permanent harm will be done. I understand your trepidation to take any violent action against a young one, but if the spells do not work, it may be the only way to proceed. The choice is yours, of course."

[BigRedRod]

Another wave of shock passes through the room, again Sara is the first to speak,
"He is alone in a room with a corpse!? And you thought it best to leave him? I don't know how you can pretend to have his mental welfare at heart at all..."
She enters a coughing fit before she can continue

[tyckspoon]

Triren leans against the outer wall of the room, near the door. I shouldn't have said anything..I'm forgetting everything I learned in this city. Silence is the best approach. Proven every damn time I talk to people. He ignores the raised voices as best he can while he waits for the arguing group to decide on a course of action.

[TheDruid20]

"Well lets stop argueing and see what we can do about him, he has been with the body for awhile now these extra few minutes can cause no more harm."
Luian asks the elder if he has any scrolls of that disk spells whose name I cannot remember and I am without boosk in texas so someone help me.

[BigRedRod]

Sara shakily stands giving Luian a rather disgusted look as she does so
"One of you help me to him, I'll see if I can convince him to join us here before you seek to further traumatise him."

[TheDruid20]

OOC: I so want to slap her right now.

"Let me try this, Luian taps Sara twice ith her staff, once for bull's strength and once for Endurance (which are now both +4 in 3.5 as opposed to 1d4+1 but do it how you want)

[Samurai]

Garland folds his arms as the argument finally draws to a close, his face an unreadable mask. As Luian begins enchanting Sara, he says, "I will remain here, with Ielenia, unless she chooses to accompany us. No Summoner should be without the protection of a Guardian at any time, especially in a place like this."

[BigRedRod]

Sara walks with much greater ease after Luian's magical aid, she still scowls at the other summoner however. Sara, Luian and the two guardians make their way to the room of Mikos and Tun.
Sara insists that she lead and enters the room, her eyes go wide at the sight of the body of the floor, the boy on the bed however just bursts into tears,
"I'm so sorr- he-"
Sara sweeps toward him best she can, and sits next to him on the bed hugging him for a few minutes they sit saying nothing with the boy continuing to try, then Sara speaks,
"Mikos, what happened?"
The boy sniffs,
"We both woke up at the same time, I was having a nightmare and then Tun came at my screaming. I- He's dead, isn't he? I killed him?"
Mikos speaks with an eeries level voice. Sara replies soothingly after a long pause,
"It wasn't your fault and it wasn't Tun's fault for the way he acted. Everyone in the temple was cursed, except you it seems, the curse makes them lose control of themselves. You defended yourself as best you could, you didn't mean to kill him. And really Tun didn't want to hurt you. We're going to the dining hall, everyone is there, we've cured them. These people have managed to save most of us in the temple."
She gestures vaguely toward Kythrin, Triren and Luian,

"How do you feel?"
Mikos shakes his head,
"I don't know."
"Tired?"
"No"
"Ok, come on then"

And Sara stands taking Mikos by the hand and leading him back in to the corridor, she speaks to the fragment of the party,
"Mikos is ok, the curse seems to have passed him over completely"

[TheDruid20]

"We must figure out how or why it has passed him."

[BigRedRod]

Sara mutters something, but doesn't seek to clarrify. Simply walking ahead of the group with an arm around the boy. As they approach the door, Luian, Triren and Kythrin all notice the boy take a deep breath and slow slightly.

The Elder, Ielenia and Garland remain the only three concious individuals in the room, seated at one of the bench-tables in quiet, slow disscussion. Sara guides Mikos to the Elder before he has a chance to lose his nerve. The Elder speaks, his voice is almost that of a healthy man, but it is easy to see the toll it takes on him to maintain the facade,
"Mikos, it is good to see you so well."

Sara sits next to the boy on the bench,
"Mikos seems to have been passed over entirely by the curse"

The Elder begins a series of quick questions about the boys health and state of mind, all are seemingly answered in the helpful way of a youth "Yes" "No" "I don't know". After he seems satisfied the Elder speaks directly to Sara and Mikos,
"Soon the others will be awake and no doubt hungry. I'm charging you with going to the kitchen and cooking something simple and nutrious, a stew or a soup. Can you do this, Mikos?"
Mikos nods and Sara follows him from the dining hall into the kitchen

The Elder loses his false health as the boy enters the kitchen,
"I think I may need to ... rest, but I didn't want the boy seeing me like this. For ... his own good, I'd ... hate to ...think it was my vanity."
Shutting his eye for a moment he suddenly realises there is more to say,
"Is there any reason you can think of..., either in what we know, or how you discovered Mikos that could ...explain why?"

[TheDruid20]

"Elder is there anything you can think of that is special about this boy?"

(obviously wait for a reply but want to get this moving)

Turning to the cleric as well as any temple clerics if there are any.
"Have you been granted the power of Restoration? The spells I used to help Sara are temporary but we may be able to heal all of you for the long term. "

OOC: how many clerics of the temple are there if any, I beleve we found clerical scrolls so I am assuming some.

[BigRedRod]

The Elder pauses before speaking, building the strength to force out a slow sentance without any odd pauses
"Sara would be the best to ask about that. He was always a bit stubborn I suppose, but a quick lad, does well with his studies. I don't want him here while we discuss him, but neither do I want him left alone ..."

[ooc: you don't know how many are clerics, but it's usually less than 10% of a given temple. Summoning tends to bemore of an arcane art]

[LuneMoonshadow]

"It may just be me, but I sense something strange about that boy. I don't think he is entirely normal, and don't begin to blame it on the curse just yet." Kythrin pulls his pack off and sets it in front of him, beginning to dig through it.

"I think we should watch him closely." He looks up at Luian and says, "I don't think he's entirely sane."

[Samurai]

Garland speaks up in response, saying, "Hardly surprising, considering what he has gone through. Even if the curse passed him by, few of his age could handle the stress of the events occuring here. Especially with his friend having been slain. Did you find out how the other boy was killed?"

[tyckspoon]

After the boy is retrieved, Triren heads off to explore the wing of the temple that he and Garland hadn't combed. Elder doesn't like me, I know nothing of magic..best I not be in the way right now. After several minutes of (presumed) unexciting results, he fills his time by gathering the dead to one spot so the summoners can more easily perform whatever rites they have.

[BigRedRod]

The Elder looks between the priest and Luian as Triren stalks away,
"I'll assume the silence means you do not know."
The rooms falls quiet for a moment
"We need to study Mikos, find out what it is that is that made him seemingly immune to the curse. But I feel that perhaps time could be better spent ... Our previous studies led to the fact we need to discover the source of the affliction-"
Ielenia blurts,
"I think perhaps I'm more suited to aiding the efforts here, with the resources here I should be able to do as good a job as any other at finding the unique factor."

The Elder nods and speaks once more in a slow steady voice,
"The temple itself should be secure, Andrion itself is far from safe if the same madness is present as you have said. Summoner Luian, I task you to take your full contigent of guardians into the City, and locate whatever caused the affliction. Something of such great power will hopefully be simple enough to track."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Elder, is there anything within these walls that could aid us in our journey? Maybe a device to help us pin point the source of the insanity?" Kythrin shifts his weight onto his other foot. "I mean no disrespect with the use of temple property, nor do I mean to keep it. I just wish to make this task as easy as possible. My duty is to guard Luian, and I plan to do it as best as I possibly can."

[BigRedRod]

"A simple detect magic incantation should suffice. Although if there is a specific problem which can you forsee then I shall consider whether the temple owns any item which could help overcome the challenge"

[TheDruid20]

"Perhaps an item with the enchantment to find item, or the like. I will try detect magic as it is the simpliest but also the shortest range."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder nods,
"But without even the vaguest notion of what you seek such a power would be useless. If you lack the magical skill neccessary to maintain such a cantrip then perhaps you should take this,"
The Elder reaches within his robe and hands a small cubic object to Luian

The Cube is about an inch on each side and constructed from a red crystal. Each edge is protected by a small covering of metal, the metal used is different for each face of the cube. One of Gold, one of Silver, one of Mithril, one of Adamantine, one of Copper and one of an unknown jet black metal. The cube is set on a light looking but finely crafted mithril chain

"Looking through the face framed with Mithril will allow you to see the tides and fields and magic that wash our world. It should allow you to focus your magical abilities on studying the source rather than just locating it."

[LuneMoonshadow]

"Ah, that would work." Kythrin takes a few steps to the door. "We seem to be missing Triren. We should go find him then set off to find this... thing."

[TheDruid20]

slightly peeved, "I am more then capable of such a simple spell, I was more then capable of saving this temple as well as creating this weapon of great power (emphisizing her staff) I may not be a summoner of your calabier or of the mindset you beleive I should have but do not confuse lack of age with lack of power." Turning to her fellow summoner, perhaps you and I should fly over the city and scan it with detect magic, should should be fastest and safest I would think. We should stick together for saftey, with the ability to fly we should be able to flee back to the saftey of our gaurdians should we need to."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder's face is one of immense dissapointment with Luian

"Someone needs to stay here to conduct the research and I feel it is far more suited to my skills."
Ielenia responds to her companion's request

[LuneMoonshadow]

Kythrin looks over at Ielenia, shaking his head.

"I can go with you, Luian, so long as I can obtain an air walk scroll." Kythrin looks over to the Elder, speaking softly. "May I search the library for such a scroll?"

[BigRedRod]

The Elder nods,
"I don't condone the waste of our resources, but the archives are at your disposal"

[TheDruid20]

"I can make you fly so no need to waste the scrolls."

[BigRedRod]

The Elder nods,
"You have your plan. Locate the source and return with as much information as you can gather."

Chapter End

[BigRedRod]

Experience

Kythrin - 3,216
Triren - 3,158
Luian - 3,052
Garland - 3,167

[ooc: add to your sheets, do any levelling then on to the next chapter]