Someone is suspicious of Soth and the Caradoc infiltration...a nd is planning on checking up on our group. Kalaman's a real risk it seems.
While all of this is happening, somewhere in the Wastes, two humanoid figures are shrouded in darkness. One stands, a red gem glinting where an eye should be. The other kneels in front of her. A raspy, feminine voice speaks: Shall I remind you that you have pledged your service to Kitiara, and that she has given you to me, [kneeling one speaks, his voice seeming to echo from the depth of a bottomless cavern] Your anger is pointless, for I have not disobeyed your orders. I remember my pledge. One of my men has infiltrated their ranks., [The one that stands sounds icy, a piercing hate in her tone] And yet, my patrols saw their soldiers moving North, and you still don't know the location of the City. If this is a ruse, the Dragon Queen will make you pay for it, Knight of the Black Rose. [then she spits on the ground next to him], [the low voice answers, sounding unbothered] I honour my word. They have barely reached Sirrion's Fortress, and They will not survive for long., [the standing figure moves, turning back] I will pay them a visit myself, then. See how much I need your useless help.
Caradoc projects outside of Adie and goes to the stone. he's already cursed enough, he doesn't have anything to worry about. as a ghost, he can see in the dark... and saw something gross. "ew"
With Dracophages defeated, and explosion avoided, Nimako does a quick check in on everyone, but everyone's in pretty good condition... so she, with levin agreeing, says Elymas is probably further in... and moves ahead a bit, spotting more stairs thanks to to driftglobe dim light. she calls out to them where it is, but won't descend without them.
Mallori reaches Adie (again) with Caradoc in View. Erei watches her rush past, and calls her to be careful to not get possessed. Mallori seeing both, now has seen all 3 residents of Elymas, and says something along "this is what I wanted to see." Caradoc takes it as a compliment to his beautiful face, which Adie shuts down.
Kay, still unaware of the Erei Pyrophobia, reaches the stairs next to him, sees the tadpoles, and breaths fire at them. Erei screams.
Caradoc is possessing Mallori. He's probably going to walk her off a cliff, is what he tells Adie.
Adie examines the stone while picking up notes... and it is some sort of corrupting stone. They are very fascinated! they don't' know how to contain it, but they want to LEARN. they want to chip off a piece but they don't think they can! They're going to try though! smack that rock with a war pik and put the shard in a lantern it's FINE!
Adie is knocked off the bridge by the monster. Nimako, also seeing it, not knowing who it is, just seeing someone knocked off a bridge by a monster, scramble to pull out the featherfall scroll kay bought her, saying the incantation and BARELY saving Adie's skin. Adie, standing upright, arms crossed, looks up at Maladoc who salutes. they are so done because we're just IGNORING GRAVITY NOW?
Erei heads they're way, doing wellness checks on everyone. Adie, annoyed, calls out "yeah." Caradoc, in Mallori, does not care. They ask do he really want knocked out of someone again. Caradoc does, apparently.
Adie, falling, can see the other big monsters below where he's mary-poppinsing. the ones knocked into the chasm. this surely won't cause any problems at all.
Maladoc Does a flip over the chasm. Adie, watching this, just facepalms. what a waste of a fleshsuit.
Adie, taking advantage of the coyote time of featherfall, flings themself back up with the pick. Caradoc leaves Mallori in the pit below to get mauled by beasts. Caradoc reenters teh Adiemas.
Erei connects the braincells. "Is that Elymas body?" Adie just smirks. they approach. upon being closer, Erei is just "Ooooh, you don't have a shirt!" the pick is out. Adie is annoyed that THAT is what tipped them off. Also, seeing that Adie is still wielding their weapon, but still confused because all the monsters are in the pit, just... preps himself to stop them from going anywhere. just. bonk prepared.
Adie mentally tells Caradoc to cause mayhem. "but please of please don't kill them WINK." Everyone gets to see the wink in silence. so, Caradoc makes Kay attack the mallori who had JUST kissed them for saving her from the clifface.
Adie steps off the bridge. erei is confused. but allows it. Adie then severs the bridge. there's soon to be no bridges to the other side. Erei, rationalizing the actions, asks if the glowey rock over there is dangerous. Adie just goes with it
Nimako has! no clue what is happening! at all! she calls out as such, using a healing word on the poor mallori, and just. asking everyone to get away from the ledge? Erei obliges and pulls Adie from the edge. Adie also not wanting to be near teh ledge just goes along with it.
MEANWHILE Eirma calls Levin.
Endryss here. Magical disruption where you are. You all alright? Kalaman fine. Bakaris problems, but plans in motion. No new attacks. Good Luck Levin, everyone.
Mallori leaves Kay and just. prestidigates coldness around Adie. just because. out of spite. "glad to know both of you are dumbasses." a mutter. "Said the one that got thrown into the chasm."
"So you're not Caradoc or Elymas so what's your name." Erei asks. Adie gives Levin a look of incredulousness. "Adie. at your service."
Nimako interrupts to ask what the hell is going on. She finds out that everyone? knew Elymas is possessed? and that this... Adie? is a Patron? which Erei is able to explain as a magic gifter. Nimako is having realizations. Nimako is having a process.
thinking of people's physical beings snaps her out of a stupor, and Nimako gives Mallori a light cure wounds tap. she then goes to make sure Kay steps away from the cliffside.
Levin Messages back
Uh- Sometimes! Everyone okay. Elymas transformed into patron??? Found Mutated dragon things in temple. Kay has fire magic now? Purple flames causing visions. Stay safe.
After that, the beasts below cause a ruckus, but they're still trapped.
on this floor, with the stuff int eh corner, Mallori finds a wand, and Adie finds a pouch of gemstones!
Mallori Gives Nimako the Wand! Casually with a smile. it's a plus 1 wand! she accepts it with a smile, thanking her. levin comes over to the ladis and is like 'one of us needs to stick with Adie.'. it ends up boiling down into Nimako and Mallori can both stick with Adie, both having volunteered already, so Levin will stick with Erei and Kay! He really wants Erei away from Adie. Mallori quickly takes over holding onto Adie, all chummy, and Adie, knowing Mallori is not in the contract, just. dissonant whispers and forced to run away. Nimako, to it all, is just... "That seemed like a response to personal space being? Ignored?"
the contract of no harm to the party is exposed. Nimako asks if that even includes Mallori. She seems to be the only one giving this 'Adie' the benefit of the doubt sorta?
Erei, Levin, and Kay go to investigate teh barricade. Levin is uncertain, but Erei calls out- and it's a person! a sea elf, who had barricaded herself and others in because of the monsters we slew... a human man is leaned against her, uninjured, but in pained... she thanks them for saving them, but...
Levin checks the man, and he can't recognize what's wrong. The elf, Yearkal, says she cured him, and he was fine for a few weeks, but in the past day he started to really get worse... at the very least, Kay gives them their water. The Sea Elf takes a sip, before gently giving Rone, the man, water so he could drink. she confirms to being a priestess, and once the orange stone was unearth, the froggish monsters appeared. She asks if anyone touched it. as far as the group knows, noone has, but Levin doesn't trust doesn't that.
nothing much goes on with our group, just a precursory glance around with torchlight before Levin comes to check on them. survivors mentioned, Nimako goes to help but.. she can at least determine roan is likely not being magically afflicted. She lets Kay and Erei get them outside to the sun, and returns to her assigned group.
the injured and sick get back to the first floor, just for Maple's arson to be discovered. Kay and Maple start doing Fire things near Erei! Erei finally voices that they! DO not Like Fire! It scares them now!!
Maple lands on Rone. They can hear his heart beating. and something else is beating too. Maple thinks nothing of it. Erei, sharing senses with maple though, asks if he normally have two hearts?
Kay, Levin, and Erei try to figure out where the second heartbeat is. and how to remove the intrusion.
Nimako... connects to Elymas. Mentally. and it wakes him up. in the mindscape. Caradoc waves. Adie hears the yelling. Caradoc fronts, while Elymas and Adie talk. Nimako gets hit on and refuses to give Caradoc her name. "You can just call me Monika." Adie refuses to let Caradoc hit on the young girl. Talking with Adie, Elymas calmed down with the frustrated crazed yelling at Nimako.
there is an attempt to restrain the caradoc bc. noone trusts the caradoc. Erei comes in on this. Adie dissonant whispers Mallori again. things calm down and. Caradoc is given roam, but Nimako makes it clear since, Adie hasn't actively tried to kill them before, she trusts them more then Caradoc... anyways.
they resurface to do surgery, Nimako... tries to slowly stamp out the wild fire with control flames. its slow chip work as she can only do five foot radius of impact, but, it's something, slowly, surely.
Adie does a successful surgery on Rone! It goes well! But the tadpole jumping out of it is NOT NORMAL. he is. he's annoyed by all this weird magic bullshit still! post surgery Adie comes to help Nimako with the fire. it's slow but steady. she has a headache.
Prayers on the stairs: Fire is life, fire is death. Fire is honest. Fire does not discriminate. Fire is the instrument of change. Fire is a useful and extraordinary tool. Remove the fear of fire from the people and teach them all the good things that fire can do for them. Harness the flame to bring light and warmth to the world. Never allow a fire to rage out of control, for all flames that burn should have a purpose. Seek the fire in others and in yourself. Fire to clean out the old and make way for the new. [Mosaic of the temple in its ancient glory: the top of it burns, underneath an inscription reads: as bright as the Sun, Sirrion's flame shines with our Faith]
Kay lights the top of the Temple on fire based on the prayer they read! it's a rainbow flame that is a big beacon in the middle of the waste! Levin decides they should NOT be at the big rainbow beacon, actually!
they reach their old campsite againa nd Nimako helps Levin disguise the campe, Adie starts cooking, once Camp is set, Nimako helps with cooking slightly... she makes a dried fruit and berry drink, teaish, but it's mid. no sweetener. Adie, with limited ration ingredients, makes meat filled bread. it's also mid due to limited ingredients.
In the night, Erei and Kay talk about the fire! Caradoc and Adie argue abotu killing Levin! The fire in Levin, those purple flames, makes Caradoc uncomfy! Adie isn't letting him be stupid they'd get caught!
Caradoc takes things into his own hands and goes to posses someone ELSE to kill Levin as. Kay catches Caradoc out and about and attacks, and then jumps into Kay. Erei... isn't sure how to handle this! And now Kay is sprinting for Levin- Erei is in pursuit, shouting about it. Kayradoc Tries to suffocate Levin, btu can't do it, saying something about never wanting to kill the kid... Erei hugs Kayradoc. and Kayradoc lets himself be lead away, before registering, and just begrudging going 'okay whatever I'm caught you can LET GO NOW'.
Kayradoc seems. Partially scared? anger being used to cover the fear, but the fear is there?
