[Demon's Hand] Chapter 9: Tabling the Discussion
[Table]
As the group battered the table mercilessly it seemed that it had taken
all it could. It slumped down into a large gooey puddle on the floor,
its tentacles slowly oozing back into the main portion of it.
[sala]
Sala was glad she was no where near the pile of ooze. She looked down
the hallway for Talabrina and saw Qki heading back. She moved into the
room and sent Pine flying through the portal, just in case. Then she
turned her atention back to Kaa. He had an odd expression on his face.
She cocked her head slightly and looked at him intently. she squinched
up her forehead asked with concern, "Are you hurt, Kaa?"
[Hammer]
Hammer moved away from the puddle of ooze and joined Sala and Kaa
at the doorway. "Can you walk, Kaa, or do you wish me to carry you? It
would be my honor to help you, so do not give me your Dwarven
stubberness. If you need help, just let me know."
[Kaa]
"I think I have a couple of broken ribs. I can walk but don't ask me to
run or jump up to the portal. Where is Talabrina? I have the damned
statue. We need to go.", the dwarf growled in response. He staggered
away from the wall and promptly fell into Hammer's arms. "Be a good lad
and give me a hand, Hammer. Mind your manners, Ladies first."
[Talonn]
Talonn kept his sword pointed at the puddle that had been the creature.
His eyes glowed nearly as bright as his crackling sword. He slowly moved
closer to Granite. "The damned portal is too high off the floor.
Granite, You are the tallest among us. Will you help the others to reach
the portal? I will stand guard over this thing. Once everyone is
through, then you go. I will come last. If you reach back through the
portal I should be able to jump up to grab your hand."
Talonn looked at the massive stone golem and remembered the power
of
its
attacks. "Will you do this, Granite? I am not ordering, I am
asking,
for
Kaa's sake and for the Ladies."
[Talabrina]
Thinking quickly Talabrina untied the rope from Gabble and her
arm. "I
will give Gabble the gift I promised I would give. After I give
Gabble
gift I want Gabble to go back to Gabble's tribe. Gabble has done
good."
Talabrina says in goblin as she lays a hand on the goblin's
forehead.
Then
a bright silver light quickly spreads from her hand to envelop
the
goblin.
A moment later The light fades leaving the goblin just a little
dazed but
basically unharmed. If anything the goblin seems a little taller
and
broader of shoulder than before.
Then Talabrina quickly stuff the rope into her cloak and looks at
Milara.
"If thee would know more about thyself then I suggest that thou
doth
come
with me now. `Twill be alright I assure thee." Taking Milara's
hand in
hers, Talabrina leads Milara quickly yet gently down the
corriodor
to the
room.
[Milara]
Milara blinked curiously at Talabrina and shrugged. She had
nothing
better to do, that she could remember. Besides this lady seemed
very
nice even if she did look a bit odd.
[Gabble]
Gabble stretched. He felt stronger. He felt good. He felt like
he
could take over the world. Perhaps these peoples weren't so bad.
He
smiled at Talabrina's retreating back and headed off back to his
clan to
have a heart to heart "talk" with the prince.
[Talabrina]
Talabrina arrives just in time to hear Talonn's words.
Immediately she
goes to Kaa. "What hath happened here? I am sorry that I am
late in
arriving I was making friends," she say indicating Milara, "but I
see
that
thou art wounded milord, tell me where thee doth hurt and what
hath
happened."
[Hammer]
Hammer supported Kaa with one arm. "Lady Talabrina, perhaps your
healing
could wait untill we are at Nagard's, to avoid any more trouble?
Please
go
through the portal, so we may follow."
[Kaa]
"Talabrina, methinks I have a couple of broken ribs. They will
wait
until we are safely away. Go quickly through the portal. We will
follow
and you can tend me on the other side." winced Kaa as he pointed
with the
hand holding the statue.
[Talabrina]
Talabrina frowns but nods in agreement. "Alright then." Then
she
turns to
Granite "Prithee be gentle when thou doth bring Lord Kaa through.
I am
ready to go." Then Talabrina is hoisted through the protal by
Granite
and
Muffy simply jumps through as soon as Talabrina is out of the
way.
[Sala]
As soon as Milara entered the room Sala hurried towards her,
"Lady, are
you alright. I apoligize ever so much for what happened. I
truly did
not mean to hurt you." Her words slowed to a stop when she
noticed
that
Milara showed no recognition at all.
[Milara]
Milara smiled at the pretty young elf. She was quite an
attractive
young lady although she did look just a bit too young to be out
here
with all these warrior type people. Milara took a sudden liking
to the
girl. She wondered why she looked so concerned. "It's ok,
whatever you
did could not have been so bad as to make you this concerned.
May I
ask
what your name is?"
[Sala]
Sala just stood there with her mouth slightly ajar. She felt
absolutly
awful. the poor lady didn't remember a thing. She must have
really
hurt her. "Um, my name is Sala. Perhaps you should come with
us."
They couldn't leave her in this goblin infested place, like this,
alone.
She held out her hand and led Milara towards the portal.
Hopefully
Nagard could help her.
[Granite]
Without responding, Granite strode to stand under the portal. As
each
member of the group came forward, he grasped them around the
waist and
lifted them up to the portal in one swift motion.
[Ifreet]
Ifreet walks to the puddle of ooze, smells it, put a finger in it
and
brings it to his nose, then tastes it and wipes it off on the
floor. He
gets out a small empty flask and scoops some into it. He then
stands,
wipes off his hands, and leaps onto his horse, which gallops and
leaps
through the portal hanging in the air.
[Sala]
Sala led Milara to the portal. Milara looked up at the portal
curiously
and then over to Granite with the same wide eyed curiousity that
the
group was used to seeing on Sala. Sala smiled at Granite, "Could
you
give us a lift Granite?" She giggled as Granite gently lifted
first
her
then Milara up through the portal. Once through Pine came to
perch on
her shoulder once again.
[Nagard]
Nagard greeted her with a wide happy smile that sagged as he saw
Milara
appear behind her. He scowled at them, "Why did you bring her
back
with
you?"
[Sala]
Sala looked at him in astonishment. Did he know Milara? Milara
looked
at him despondently, "What Have I done sir. I apoligize for any
infractions I might have commited. I would be pleased to make
you
acquaintence if you would?"
[Nagard]
The wizard looked at Milara appraisingly. "I am Nagard. Who do
you
believe yourself to be?"
[Milara]
Milara smiled, and held out her hand to him, "They have told me
that my
name is Milara. I can remember no further back than when I woke
up to
see the gracious lady Talabrina above me."
[Nagard]
"Well now. That is an interesting turn of events now isn't it.
Well
why don't you two follow the man on the horse out into the living
room.....that doesn't quite sound right, but oh well...and make
some
room for the others to come in. oh, And have something to eat
and
drink. If you wish there is a room that you might wash up in to
the
right...no the left...no..well, you can find it. Once everyone is
back
we can get started.......oh and those two seem to have wandered
off,
the
one in the red and the kid." Sala led Milara out into the main
room
and
they quickly found the wash room.
[Qki]
After retrieving the dagger from the other side of the
room
(having seen what he could do with it, now he wanted to have it
around to
practice with), Qki stepped up to Granite and waved at him. He
enjoyed
the brief sensation of flying as Granite boosted him up to the
portal and
stepped through. On the other side, he hopped over to the wizard
and
said, "Hi, Nagard!" smiling happily.
[Hammer]
"Talonn, Kaa. Will the portal stay open if Kaa goes through? Or
will
Talonn
and Granite be stranded here?"
[Talonn]
Talonn could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Ifreet touch,
then
taste the puddle that had just tried to eat Kaa. Shaking his
head, he
kept one eye on the ooze and one eye on the others entering the
portal.
Talonn backed toward the portal when Hammer asked his question.
"I know
not. Nagard created this portal so I hope he won't leave one of
us
stranded here. To be safe, Hammer go through first and impress
upon
Nagard the importance of keeping the portal open after Kaa has
entered.
Granite carry Kaa as you go through, if you can. Once you are
half way
through, I will begin to follow"
[Hammer]
Hammer smiled a grim smile, and allowed Granite to assist him up
into the
portal. Once up, he greated Nagard with a nod and a warning
look, and
stood
beside him as the rest entered the portal.
[Kaa]
"The wizard will hold the portal open or I will remove his head
when it
closes. Don't dally lad." Kaa grumbled through clinched teeth as
he and
Granite started into the portal.
[Talonn]
Talonn took a last look at the ooze then stepped away from the
portal.
He hoped that he would be able to do what he planned. He feared
to
sheathe the 'Rage sword' and enter the portal. Pointing the blade
toward
the door, Talonn tried to release the 'Rage' from the sword. The
crackling, red energy lifted from the blade and hovered above it
for an
instant then shot from the sword like an arrow. The force of its
release
knocked Talonn to the floor. Talonn covered his eyes to protect
them
from the flash and the debris that was created as the bolt of
energy
struck the door frame.
Talonn regained his feet quickly, sheathed his blackened blade,
and
turned for the portal. He leapt up to the portal rim, caught
hold, and
began to pull himself up. Glancing quickly over his shoulder,
Talonn
saw
that the door and frame were destroyed and the surrounding
masonry was
splintered and crumbling. Shocked and exhausted from the effort,
Talonn
heaved himself throught the portal and collapsed to the floor of
Nagard's chamber.
[Nagard]
The wizard smiled happily at Qki and shooed him into the other
room.
As
each person came through the portal he headed them into the other
room
as well. When Kaa came through his eyes lit up, "Ah, there it
is!
Here, give it to me, quickly! Then get off to the other room and
clean
up and what ever else you need to. The summoning wil commence
exactly
one hour from now." When he got the doorway he immediately
turned his
back on them and started rummaging among the many piles of stuff
in the
room. He didn't even look up when talonn collapsed in the room
and the
portal closed with a pop behind him. Talonn heard a disembodied
voice,
"Be still and do not worry" With that he was hoisted up by
invisible
hands and wisked from the room into the chameber with the rest of
the
group and placed gently down on a pile of pillows that had
suddenly
appeared beneath him.
[Sala]
Seeing this a now cleaner Sala, who had just returned from the
washroom
with Milara, rushed over to his side. "Talonn? What is wrong,
what
happened?"
[Hammer]
Hammer was unprepared for Talonn's colapse, and was caught
completely off
guard. However, before he could react, Talonn was lifted by
invisible
hands
and carried away. Hammer followed the now floating Talonn into
the
sitting
room. After Sala came to take care of Talonn, Hammer wandered to
the
wash
room to clean up.
[Talabrina]
Talabrina was waiting in the chamber as Kaa and Granite arrived.
"Put
Lord
Kaa here Granite," she requested of Granite. After Granite had
done so,
Talabrina gently proded at his chest. "Now tell me where thou
art hurt
milord." Talabrina determines approximatly where the cracked
ribs are
and
stands back and smiles at Kaa. "Now this will not hurt thee
abit,
though
thou might want to close thy eyes. Then she points a hand at him
and a
bright silver light leaps out from her hand to encompass Kaa's
chest
and
torso. The beam continues for a few moments and sweat breaks out
on
Talabrina's brow. Then Talabrina stops as Kaa is fully healed
and
slumps
to a kneeling position on the ground. She doesn't even notice
Talonn
being
brought into the room and looks up only when Sala says his name.
Getting up Talabrina makes her way carefully over to Talonn and
looks
him over.
[Kaa]
Kaa closed his eyes and gave a shiver as Talabrina's light covered
him.
The grimace on his face turned into a grin a he reveled in the
floating
feeling. Kaa snapped his eyes open when he heard Talabrina's knees
hit
the floor. "Thank ye, Lass. That sure makes it easier to breathe."
He
sat up and looked around. When he saw Talonn lying on the pillows,
he
leapt up and followed Talabrina to Talonn's side.
[Ifreet]
Ifreet leaps off his horse as he enters the sitting room and
gestures to
his horse, which then trots out the door and waits outside. He
cleans
his sword with a rag as he watches Talonn and Kaa, then turns his
gaze
to watch Milara and Nagard.
[Talonn]
Talonn had never felt so tired. It was as well that Nagard had
levitated
him from the room for he did not have energy to move just then.
Turning
inward, he was surprised to find the 'Rage' more exhausted than he
was.
A small sigh escaped his lips. It had been many seasons since 'It'
was
this weak. It would be many hours before it would be strong enough
to
trouble him. He relaxed as he sank to the pillows.
When he heard Sala's voice and the sounds of Kaa's stomping feet
approaching, he opened his eyes and slowly sat up. "I am well. I am
not
injured, just exhausted. I had to get rid of my 'sword' before I
came
through the portal." Reaching into his shirt, Talonn withdrew the
wineskin and took a hearty sip. Offering it to them all, he said
"If we
only have an hour before Nagard performs the summoning, I suggest
we use
the time to rest and recupperate. Too bad for you, dwarf. Not
enough
time for you to get a bath, you smell like a .... man eating
table." Kaa
kicked him in the shin.
[Sala]
When Talonn replied Sala visibly relaxed and smiled at him. She plopped
herself down on the pillows next to him opposite Talabrina and jsut
enjoyed being someplace at least a little familiar and calm. She forced
herslef not to think of the ordeal to come. She watched Milara looking
around the room curiously and wondered what would become of her now.
She certainly seemed nicer without her memories.
[Talabrina]
Talabrina smiled and accepted the flask and took a sip before
handing it
back to Talonn. "Oh I doth not know about that milord, I could if
thou
like create some goodly amount of water right above Lord Kaa's head
if
that be thy desire." Talabrina giggled and sat down nest to Talonn.
"Now
how about that massage I promised thee?"
[Kaa]
"What is this!?!! I am off trying to keep from being eaten by a
killer
piece of furniture and you, you elven trickster, are bargaining for
a
masage from a beautiful Lady!! Nay, Talabrina. I you so much as
touch
this lad, you will soon have to heal him for I will thump his head."
Kaa took a swat at Talonn and collapsed laughing onto the pillows.
[Qki]
[Qki]
Since they seemed to have some time before anything else happened,
Qki decided he'd try to experiment with the knife a little more. He set
the weapon on the floor in front of him with the point to the side.
Carefully facing away from everyone else so as not to cause any accidents,
he reached out carefully with his own resonance towards the daggers'. He
took it slowly, because he didn't want quite as violent a reaction as last
time.
With a delicate touch, his own resonance met the daggers', and it
slid slowly across the floor. With a little practice, he was able to move
the dagger at different speeds. Because the magnetisms didn't match up,
however, he wasn't able to move the dagger in any direction except away
from himself. In any case, this was a neat new ability he had found!
[Hammer]
Hammer returned from the washroom cleaned up. Seeing the jovial
mood
of the
group, Hammer sat down on some pillows. However he grew quickly
bored,
and
his attention began to wander, as did his eyes. He took notice of
Qki,
intently, playing? with a dagger. Hammer decided to check on the
little
golem. He wandered over and stood over Qki's shoulder, silently
watching as
Qki could propell the dagger away from him. "Qki, was that what
sent the
dagger flying into the table we were fighting? How? Have you
always been
able to do this?"
[Qki]
Qki, startled from his concentration, looked up. "Hello Hammer!"
He looked thoughtfully back at the dagger. "I never did that before.
I
think it's like whatever keeps me together... Sometimes I see things
around, and they want to be part of me. I can take these things and
merge them with myself. Or they don't want to be near me. Like the
dagger. When I merge it, it flies away like this." With that, he
sent
the dagger skittering away across the floor. "Other things I don't
feel at all, and I can't move them either. I'm just learning this
myself... the first time I sent something away was when I hit the
table
with this knife."
[Hammer]
Hammer thought for a moment. "I am assuming that you can add certain
types of
metal to your self? And other types don't merge with you? Strange.
However,
the metal that the dagger is composed with is actually repelled by
you.
Perhaps this is something we can work on, little one. I will keep
this in
mind, and perhaps later we can devise a weapon suitable to your
abilities.
Perhaps some throwing stars or something.
[Qki]
The little golem nodded. "Thank you, Hammer." Maybe he could be
helpful to them after all. He retrieved the daggger once again, and
looked around for something that would have the opposite resonance.
[Talabrina]
"Oh so that be what thee think is it Lord Kaa?" Talabrina giggled,
"Muffy, if you would be so kind?" With that said Muffy quickly went
over
to Kaa and laid down on him! Kaa's head is not covered by Muffy so
he can
breathe normally. "Now enjoy thy new playmate milord and thee just
might
get away with not having a bath." Then Talabrina turned to Talonn.
"Now
what doth thee say Lord Talonn, doth we dare let Lord Kaa free now or
after
I massage thee?"
[Talonn]
Talonn laughed until his sides were hurting. Kaa made comic attempts at
escaping being the great cat's pillow, which in turn made Talonn's
laughing worse.
"Nay, good Lady. For you see, now that you have provided my dear friend
with a ....companion, I fear that I will be force to listen to his
blustering that he came out the better in this arrangement. I beg thy
pardon and request that you withdraw the offer until this adventure is
ended."
[Talabrina]
Talabrina put her hands on her hips and make a mock pout. Turning to
where
Kaa lay pinned and spoke in an exasperated tone. "I fail to see where
thee
thinks that Lord Talonn finds me so beautiful, he is constantly running
away from me. I doth kindly offer him a massage ha he tells me to wait
until we art out of danger, now he doth wants me to wait until after the
adventure, shat am I to do?" Talabrina throws her arms up in the air in
a
guesture of mock resignation.
Muffy just lays where she is and purrs contentedly.