Two tiny Arasai, who look like mirror images of each other, hover over the door of a South Qeynos home late at night, waiting for the unsuspecting young Elf who lives there to return to her home. A third person, a Sarnak, lurks around the corner, hiding in the darkness.
As the pretty Feir'dal approaches her house, the tiny Arasai fly over her head and throw a giant burlap sack over the Elf, big enough to enclose her whole body.
The Elf screams for help, but one of the Arasai casts a stifling spell, preventing her from having sounds escape her lips The giant Sarnak then leaps onto the scene and snatches the sack, throwing it over his broad shoulder while the Elf tries to wiggle herself free.
The scene is repeated three more times, until the band of bandits has four scared, mortified members of the Saga family in their captivity.
Their names: Kiaria, Callysta, Anaris, and Aluini
A scroll is delivered by a young Gnome to the Saga guildhall. The scroll reads:
SAGA LEADERSHIP, YOU'VE BEEN WARNEDZ:
We havz taken your pretty Elvz prizonerz for ranzom! Pleez diliver the folloween ranzom diliviriez in ezchange for your pretty Elvz or we will keel them! We want 99 Jum Jum piez for Kiaria, a Ratonga zervant for Callyzta, all the Qeynoz mailboxez for Anariz, and the hair from 1000 Halfing orphanz for Aluini by nezt Oceanzfull or the Elvz get thrown in the Oceanz of Tearz to their deathz!
Pleez dilivier to:
Big Rock to the left of the bell
Timorouz Deep
Zinzirely,
Scorched, Cataclysta, Bullwhip, and the other Ebil Guy
The Artiztz of Dekztruction
An hour after the letter above is delivered, a large, writhing sack is left outside the Saga guildhall's door, with a note attached to it that reads:
PLEAZE TAKE THIZ REDHEAD ONE BACK, PLEAZE! No needz to zend zee mailboxez!
The Artiztz of Dekztruction
Namae discovers the squirming sack, and opens it immediately, discovering a bound and gagged (and double gagged.. no, triple gagged?) Lady Anaris.
Removing the restraints as quickly as possible, she asks, "What happened, Milady?"
*still dizzy and shaken, tries to stand in order to unwrinkle her robe and fix her hair*
Oh Namae! It was horrible! Simply horrible! I was walking home from my b...from church...and suddenly everything went dark and I was off my feet and in some sort of sack! A nightmare! I didn't even know what hit me! All I know is that I was being taken somewhere while inside that bag, so awful! They tried to stiffle me, but stifling is one of my specialties so I know how to counter them, though it was difficult to even move in there! So then they gagged me....
*sighs and brushes her hair quickly*
Anyway, they've got others with them! We must act quickly! Oh, and the nerve! They said they weren't going to keep me because, hear this, I was too heavy to carry to Timo-something Deep and too annoying to keep around??? Lies! I'm not that heavy, and I'm far from a nuisance! They should be so lucky to have me in their captivity!.......right?
*bats her eyelashes at Namae*
*looks at Lady Anaris, then back at the sack*
"So.... you mean you want to go back into the sack?" ???
NO silly! Gods no! That was terrible! And my hair!!
*reads the note*
Oh no.........
*panics*
They've got Kiaria! And Aluini! And.....Callysta?! Why would they keep Callysta and not me?! I mean, not that I'd want to be in that situation but really...? Callysta?! Over me? I knew they sounded like very inept criminals, and this proves it!
*huffs and storms into the hall, handing the note back to Namae*
*notices Namae reading soemthing as he passes by and glances at it over her shoulder*
Hmm.. this is more serious than I thought. It appeared to me to be nothring more than pranksters, but i was only hearing the commotion. And the way you were treated, Lady Anaris! Deplorable! This cannot go unanswered, nor can our friends be left in the clutches of these fools. I am at your service in this.
Quote...This cannot go unanswered, nor can our friends be left in the clutches of these fools. I am at your service in this.
Eh?
Did Jez get stuck with Kiaria again? I'll help!
*grins wolfishly*
Boudeccai strides into the room, her face set and storms swirling in her wake. Lightening fires off around her and licks of fire circle her feet. Standing in the middle of the guild hall, she bellows loud enough to shake the chandeliers ... "Saga! To arms!"
Aluini smiled coyly at Kharem as they walked arm in arm through the darkened streets of North Qeynos. The evening was cool, but not uncomfortable. The young wizard and his Fier'Dal wife had spent a relaxing evening at the Saga guildhall, eating and sharing stories of the road with friends before heading out into the night. They passed a guard patrol and waved a cheerful greeting. The sergeant relaxed his grip on his sword hilt as he recognized the familiar couple, and returned a wave before turning back to his rounds. "Members of Saga, a respectable guild here on the North side.", one of the guardsmen told the newest recruit.
The guards stationed at the gate to South Qeynos allowed them to pass unchallenged as well. Kharem and Aluini were frequent visitors to the city, even though they lived in Kelethin. Tonight they would not be returning home.
"I am worried about Zerzal", Aluini whispered in a low voice. Kharem nodded but said nothing. He was distracted by a strange feeling of dread, and was trying to pinpoint the cause of it. They crossed the courtyard, shadows skipping and dancing in the flickering firelight of the torches
"She is long overdue, but Boudeccai doesn't seem concerned.", Aluini continued. Kharem murmured something in agreement, his eyes searching the darkness ahead. Aluini sensed his mood, and followed his gaze into the shadows.
They were approaching Maile's Exchange on the corner of Karana Court and the main square. Kharem slipped his arm out of Aluini's, and rested it on the belt pouch where he kept his spell components. The gesture was not lost on Aluini. "Should I summon Redblaze?" she whispered.
"You should get home and lock the door now!" Kharem hissed. "Iksar!" Aluini's eyes grew wide, and she turned back toward the gate and the guard patrol.
"NOW!", Kharem repeated urgently. "Let's go!" They broke into a trot as they passed the Exchange and headed down Karana Court. Kharem glanced up and down the first street they passed. He noticed a movement to his right, and slowed to a walk, then stopped to get a closer look at several figures at the end of the street, hoping it was another guard patrol. Aluini kept moving, heading toward the doorway and the safety of home.
Kharem took a few steps toward the patrol, then realized it was merely a group of companions who had just left the Lion's Mane Inn at the end of the street. With a mild curse, he turned back toward Aluini. He rounded the corner, impatient to be reunited with her, and saw a sight that filled him with dread. Aluini had reached the doorway to their home, and was about to enter when two winged creatures descended on her from the darkness above. A huge sack dropped completely over her slender figure, and she disappeared from view.
The blood rage rose in him instantly, and he reached into a pouch at his side. He removed the elfstone, and stepped into the darkened doorway beside him. The familiar feeling of vertigo and disorientation passed quickly. A paladin stepped out of the doorway. Dressed almost completely in black, he was invisible in the shadows. His dark cloak concealed his form. He looked up in time to see a huge reptilian creature sling the wiggling, writhing sack over its shoulder. The creature looked quickly around then turned the corner, followed by the two winged creatures who chattered nervously.
Ravenns unsheathed his blade with a deadly hiss, and sprinted with murderous intent toward the fleeing kidnappers.
Bahladar stumbles in after working at the Ironforge and sees the guild hall in a mess
Who threw a party and did nay invite me?
Looking around, He overhears Boudeccai and sees that she is in a rage. Bahladar jumps behind the bar. Slowly getting the nerve to talk, he squeeks
Me Love...I did nay do this! I swear. I would nay break bottles when I raid the bar.
*straightens up instantly at the call from her leader*
Aight ! I'm ready.
*a steely look enters her usually grinning eyes*
*her wolfish smile turns deadly*
Well, I suppose I can bake some of the Jum Jum pies....
Oh, poor Kharem and poor Halagren! To have their loved ones stolen like that! They must be terribly upset... Too bad Callysta doesn't have anyone to mourn her....
If it is of any help, I did hear their names while I was held captive. The large one, his name was Bullwhip. He appeared to be an Iksar, or Sarnak, one of those creatures. The one with the funny lisp was named Cataclysm or something like that. A third was named Scorching. There was a fourth, a male voice, but they never said his name. These aren't the brightest of the lot, I'd say...they couldn't even conceal their identities very well... I didn't see what they looked like but at least we've got names.
Deep in Timorous Deep, in a shabby Gorowyn apartment, four figures hover over three big sacks laid on the floor.
GRRRRR! You are zo ztupid Bullwhip! I told you that wazn't Mizza! That iz Callyzta. I don't know if she iz worth az much to Zaga!
The Arasai furiously flies about the apartment, from one side to the other, plotting the bandits' next move. She squints her eyes and rubs her chin, pondering.
Zcorching? Do you think maybe we should zend Zaga another mezzage? Maybe, a threatening one that zayz we're not mezzing around here, maybe add zome fireworkz and zpecial dramatic effectz? How about zome blood, too? It doezn't have to be the elvz'z blood! We could kill that rat there and uze itz blood...
Points at a rat dangerously approaching the sacks on the ground.
I wonder if they're hungry...? What do elvz eat anyway? Melted gold?
Tilts her head and peers at the sacks curiously.
Hey you! Prizzy Elvz! You hungry?
/squirms in the bag trying to get out or at least get her hands free so she can cast a spell
Hears the question about food, and wonders how she was suppose to answer with her mouth covered.
Kiaria's bag lays utterly still.
Callysta sat in her bag, more angry than hurt or frightened. How DARE they stick her this stinky bag with a foul tasting rag stuffed in her mouth! How DARE they tie her hands in such an uncomfortable way! On second thought, however, her hands being tied back did push her breasts forward in a most becoming way. Callysta entertained herself with thoughts of one of the handsome Saga paladins finding her in her sack looking so lovely and helpless. Callysta gave a little sigh of satisfaction as she thought of this and the look on Anaris' face when she was rescued and made a fuss over.
Soon, however, the enchantment of the little scenario lost its appeal as the reality of her uncomfortable predicament reasserted itself on her sensibilities, primarily her nose. Callysta sighed thinking that it would likely take ages for the paladins to find them in this disgusting place and set about thinking of ways to free herself from the restraints. She considered summoning her sister, Ella, but the girl was totally useless in situations like this and would likely just mope about staring in her silly way. Callysta thought about her various powers and realized that none would be of much use here. She could make the kidnappers go to sleep, which might help if they were insomniacs or something but she was not yet powerful enough to charm one to force them to do her bidding, a fact she would die a thousand deaths with hundreds of smelly rags in her mouth before she would admit to Anaris.
Suddenly Callysta remembered her nail file. She had just finished her manicure and was starting to paint her toenails when she had been unceremoniously dumped in a bag and dragged off. The nail file should still be tucked in her belt where she had left it. Callysta felt around with much difficulty but gave a slight cry of triumph when she discovered the file and set to work on the rope binding her hands. Although the file was not sharp, the rope was old and partly rotted and the file made quick work of the restraint. Callysta felt a momentary pang as her posture returned to normal, but wasted no time in ridding herself of the smelly gag.
She could hear the abductors asking if they were hungry. She considered answering because yes, she was and a scone and some tea would be lovely. Then she considered that perhaps this was a trick because she was supposed to be gagged so she kept quiet, though her stomach growled most unbecomingly at the thought of food.
Boudeccai Boru rubbed her fingertips against her forehead. Although she had gotten herself under control, the initial rage she had felt at learning of the capture of their members had left a throbbing headache in its wake. She could feel the anger boiling beneath the surface facade she managed to hold in place only with difficulty. It was at times like these that she felt most keenly her lack of experience leading others. She was a barbarian, or at least half barbarian, and uneducated. She wished that she was able to summon the cool poise of Orrernoeth at times like these. Her instinct was to lash out at her enemies and all that would harm Saga. To burn them with her fires or set them alight with her storms, not reason and plan with calm objectivity. The two halves of her nature warred, leaving Boudeccai drained and spent.
To think that they had two of the perpetrators in their very tavern! But it could not be helped. The only ones present had been two of the fae and Erendrel. The fae were unable to comprehend the magnitude of what was happening and Erendrel ... well, while she would normally rely without qualm on the paladin he was a bit distracted these days. In any event he had not noticed until much too late that anything was amiss and had failed to detain the intruders as well. Perhaps Gilleana was right. If they had not grown so complacent with their happy lives in Saga, perhaps these vermin would not have been able to take three of their members. Boudeccai slammed her fist into the table.
She had heard from Ravenns. She did not quite understand how Ravenns, Kiaf, and Kharem could be the same person as well as three distinct people, but in any event he had been on the scene immediately. Understandably alarmed and determined to win his lady free, he had set off immediately, but lost the kidnappers. Even now he was scouring Timorous Moor seeking sign of where the girls were hidden. Boudeccai took a deep breath. The first step was to find the girls. These ... artists ... would be dealt with when the girls were found and returned home safe. With that end in mind, Boudeccai called in her husband, Bahladar Boru, as well as her co-leader, Menemas, to lead Saga into battle.
Erendrel paced the foyer of the guildhall, his hand clenching and uncleancing the hilt of his sword. How could he have been so inattentive to his duties, he wondered, and betrated his failure yet again, as he had repeatedly since the kidnapping. He failed in his duty, failed his guild, failed himself as a paladin. Nothing could excuse it, nothing could expunge his guilt other than the safe return of the victims and the flowing blood of the prepetrators. At least one of the ladies was safe, though that was little comfort. He feared Anaris would hold the failure against him for decades. He fear they all would, especially Boudeccai.
Rumor had it that the kidnappers wer last seen in the Sinking Sands. Erendrel checked his blade for freedom, and stepped toward the magic carpet, his face set resoultely, his mind intent on vengeance.
Quote from: Cataclysta on February 21, 2009, 05:31:43 PM
Deep in Timorous Deep, in a shabby Gorowyn apartment, four figures hover over three big sacks laid on the floor.
GRRRRR! You are zo ztupid Bullwhip! I told you that wazn't Mizza! That iz Callyzta. I don't know if she iz worth az much to Zaga!
The Arasai furiously flies about the apartment, from one side to the other, plotting the bandits' next move. She squints her eyes and rubs her chin, pondering.
"Sister, relax. These ones are from Qeynos and as long as what was liberated from Saga is young and pretty, they will want it back." Scorching stretches, her back still aching from having to bear the weight of an entire netted elf. She turns back to a paint splashed easel and dabs a bit more color on a crude painting of three bags. A fourth can be seen, visibly painted over.
Quote from: Cataclysta on February 21, 2009, 05:31:43 PM
Zcorching? Do you think maybe we should zend Zaga another mezzage? Maybe, a threatening one that zayz we're not mezzing around here, maybe add zome fireworkz and zpecial dramatic effectz? How about zome blood, too? It doezn't have to be the elvz'z blood! We could kill that rat there and uze itz blood...
"Scorching thinks that is too dangerous." The arasai doesn't look up from her painting as she monotones, "Sister, Saga will be looking for communication and attempt to intercept Artists. Sister remembers negative space, correct? The less Saga knows about where the Artists are, the more It will haunt them."
Quote from: Cataclysta on February 21, 2009, 05:31:43 PM
Points at a rat dangerously approaching the sacks on the ground.
I wonder if they're hungry...? What do elvz eat anyway? Melted gold?
Tilts her head and peers at the sacks curiously.
Hey you! Prizzy Elvz! You hungry?
"Sister and Scorching should open the bags to look upon them. The ones we took should be full of terror by now." Scorching nods slowly in agreement, still brushing away leisurely at the painting, "And what's more... Scorching needs to paint them before Sister and Bullwhip send them back. A foray into the world of artistic kidnapping would not be complete if we did not catalog the terror of captured properly."
*Anaris stood in front of the guildhall's stove, baking away, her forehead with a hint of dew*
Is that...sweat? I can't believe I am sweating! I never sweat! I don't think I've ever worked this hard before...
*she looks at the finished baked goods as she delicately dabs a silk handkerchief over her forehead... Only 40 jum jum pies, 59 more to go...*
Oh my....here I worry about a little sweat on my forehead, but what about poor Kiaria and Aluini, and even Callysta! Who knows if their captors are even letting them bathe! The poor darlings, they must be horrified at the prospect of not being able to brush their hair or groom!
Samina! I need you to fetch me more jum jums. While you are out, please stop by my spa and bring enough products with you so I can make a beauty care package for the girls!
*Samina peers up from the jewelry work bench and sighs*
Now Lady A., how you gonna get them a care package if we don't even know where they're keepin' 'em, eh? Unless you're not tellin' us everythin' you know....? Says Samina, raising a pierced eyebrow at Anaris.
Don't be silly Samina! Of course I've no idea where they are, but from the note I deduct that they're somewhere in Timorous Deep. My plan is to drop several beauty care packages and hope that they're at least considerate enough of Kiaria's beauty ritual. It's cruel enough they've taken the girls, but it's even more tragic if they don't let them at least put on some moisturizer!
*Samina rolls her eyes at Anaris and sighs again, picking up after herself. She flings a bag over her shoulder and heads out the door to complete Anaris's latest request*
Bullwhip glares at Cataclysta
So what....elfs are all the same. Small, weak, and softskinned. They all taste good....when can we eats them? And elfs probably eats grass...like cows..
Catalysta stares back at Bullwhip, her lisp growing even more pronounced as she grows nervous about their grand kidnapping ploy that isn't quite going according to her plans....did they even have a concrete plan?
Bullwhip you uzelezz brute! We can't eatzz them! We need them alivez for our mazterplan! Make yourzelf uzeful! Go to the market and fetch zome grazz and fayberryz for theze ztupid prizzy elvzz! For all we know they eat fried Arazai wingz! Go now and alzo check the rock to the left of the bell in Timorouz Deep dockz. They should hazz put the ranzom there by now if they care about theze elvzz, don't you think?!
Cataclysta peers over Scorching's wings at the image on the canvas, in awe. A slow smile creeps over Cat's lips.
Zizter, I've alwayz thought of your art az weak, but you do have a giftzz for truly capturing the fearzz in their eyez....have you ever thought about using elvzz blood in your paintingz?
A sadistic smile appears across Cat's face.
Now, enough zentimentality! We have a lotzz to do! Zee, you get your chanze to exzprezz your art but I have to wait eonz to ezprezz mine! Mine will be the greatezt pieze of art any Norrathian haz ever zeen or witnezzed! Qeynoz! In flamezz and chaozz! A majeztic exzplozion of fire and color! Zzzzo beautiful! My heart achez with joy juzt thinking about it!!
The Arasai flutters her wings excitedly and looks down at the slowly moving sacks.
Which remindz me, we need to take control of Zaga, otherwize how are we going to zneak in all that dynamite? The ztupid Down Below plan didn't work becauze of that Freeport zmuggling ring zituation mizunderzztanding.... Grrrr I hate Freeportian zcum!
Sees Callysta's hand slowly creeping out of the sack and freezes, not knowing what her next move should be now that Bullwhip, the muscles behind the operation, has gone off to check the ransom site.
Oh oh....zizter? Iz that one...iz that one the 'chanter? We were zuppozed to keep her in a different room!
Flies nervously back and forth across the room.
"No, no the enchantress was the red haired one. The red haired one cried and screamed about hair and makeup and how much too pretty she was to be captured with the the others we took?" The arasai's tone is flat, with virtually no emphasis as her brush whips across the easel, tracing a streak of yellow, "Bullwhip had to take that one back after there were no more gags that could be used, but the red haired one wouldn't walk (something about dying before being seen with a Sarnak escort?) so into a bag and back to Saga the red haired one went."
"Does Sister not remember that? Scorching even asked the red haired one in between the screams and was told that the red haired one was Saga's only premier illusionist." The arasai dips her head slightly, "So none of these three other Saga could be an illusionist."
Callysta pries open the sack and steps out, ljust in time to hear the comment about Anaris being Saga's only illusionist. "How DARE she claim to be the premier illusionist of Saga! Everyone knows that I am the NEW premier illusionist of Saga now!"
Looking around the shabby surroundings with a clear expression of disdain, Callysta sniffs audibly. "What a dump!" She tidies her dark hair and brushes her gown, noticing the two sacks on the ground.
Her gaze falls on the two bags laying on the floor. "You!" She gestures imperiously towards Cataclysta. "Hand me that knife! Release my friends this instant!" Callysta stamped her foot and then, enjoying the theatrics of it, stamps her foot again.
Not waiting for assistance, Callysta uses her nail file to start sawing away at the cord holding the nearest bag closed, hoping against hope that the bag contains anyone except Anaris. It occurs to her that they might have stolen one of the handsome male members of Saga, who might be suitably impressed and relieved to be rescued by a lovely lass. Callysta takes a moment to pinch her cheeks before opening the bag, just in case.
As the bag falls open to reveal Kiaria, she smiles warmly at Callysta.
"Greetings to thee, Darling!"
She arises from the sack, acting as if she was as gorgeous and glorious as when it dropped over her head in the guild hall dressing room.
"Twas a most marvelous rest!"
Her brown eyes fall on the others in the room, "Greetings to all of thee!" She hurries over, "Tis, I, Kiaria Vakhalye, Druid of Saga and Healer of Al l!"
She smiles happily at the others, clearly expecting someone to graciously introduce themselves. She carefully fluffs her tangled golden hair.
Callysta's face falls when she sees Kiaria rather than a handsome male and she throws a petulant pout towards the kidnappers before moving to open the third bag.
After opening the final bag, she begins to move about the room, picking things up and inspecting them until, moving around behind Scorching, she spies the painting. "What's this? A painting? Oh please! You have the lighting all wrong! And you aren't showing my best side!"
Freezes in panic mode while the pretty Wood Elf demands a knife from her. Just then, she realizes she used her knife to cut out the cork from that bottle of wine she stole from Saga's tavern because they didn't have a bottle opener. Notices Callysta is using something anyway to cut open the ropes.
I wouldn't do that if I werz youzz!
What are you doing!? Leave the zackz alone! ZTOP IT!
Dives to the floor and wraps her arms around Callysta's ankle but looses her grip.
Blinks and gasps in disbelief as a gorgeous Koada'dal emerges from the sack and greets her amicably with a bright smile. Then shifts her eyes toward Callysta, who has apparently forgotten she is held captive and s now playing art critic with Scorching's painting.
What...what do you know about art you prizzy elf! WE are the Artiztz, not you! Zizter Zcorching iz the greatezt artizt of fear there iz! You should be zo lucky to be..HEY! Why aren't you zcared?! What iz WRONG with you!? What iz the matter with ALL of you Zaga elvezz! Thiz iz a kidnapping! It iz a zeriouz and terrifying crime! You should be terrified! Why aren't you trembling!! I don't zee you trembling! Thiz iz incredulouz! We are the Artiztz of Decztruction! FEAR UZ!!!
Realizes she's too small and too weak to take on any of the Elves, but starts swatting at Callysta's robe anyway with her tiny Arasai fists. Then pauses, panting and exhausted, to catch her breath.
You Zaga people are all inzane...Zcorching! I told you we should've gone with a Vagabond Knightz abuction inztead but noooo you zaid they were drunkz and would probably not make ranzom...I betz thoze Zaga leaderz are happy we gotz rid of their crazzzy elvz for them!
Keeps panting out of sheer exhaustion.
Zizter! What are we going to do with themz if we do not make ranzom?? They are too high maintenanze to keep for too long! They're not even zcared!
Winces at the three Elves standing in the room.
Oh....great, and now they zee what we look like ....
Resumes her Ebil Mastermind post and stands in battle position, her height only coming up to about Kiaria's knee.
I demand you to FEAR UZ!
*crouches down to gaze sweetly at Cataclysta*
Thy wings art so pretty! Might I toucheth them?
*extends a delicate digit*
Fills with dread as Kiaria's finger slowly extends toward her, about to touch her wings and starts stuttering on top of her lisp.
N.n...n..n..n.nnn...not th...th...not the wingzzz!!
Zizter! Help! She'z going to touch me!
Stiffens up.
Aluini tumbles out of bag and starts to gag as she tries to get the dirty rags out of her mouth. With one final yank, she pulls the rags out of her mouth and starts to cough.
"Please, would you cut these ropes off my hands, they are hurting terribly!"
With a gleam in her eyes, she holds her bound hands out to Callysta.
Callysta turns from her place observing the painting in progress and gives the third elf a scrutinizing glance. Taking her much abused nail file, she saws through the ropes binding Aluini's hands. "Better?"
Without waiting for a response, Callysta turns back to the kidnappers. "This place is hardly fit for rats!" Tapping her chin, Callysta appears deep in thought for a moment. "Ok! Go fetch some pillows for sitting, tea and scones because doesn't that sound wonderful? And of course chocolate! And fetch it quick! This place is so dreary, don't you think? And maybe some nice yellow curtains for the window there." Callysta notices that her toenails are not fully painted and shrieks with horror. "You could have WAITED until I finished painting my toenails! Now I look like a hoyden! And that one is smudged where it was not quite dry! What are you, ANIMALS?"
As all eyes turn to Callysta's shrieking, Aluini quietly starts chanting and waving her hands. Before anyone can stop her, Redblaze, her earth defender appears before her.
Aluini quickly points and Redblaze slowly starts moving toward Cataclysta.
Callysta sighs when she sees the earth elemental appear. "Oh dear, I was so hoping for scones and tea." Her face brightens as she sends a wave of sleep towards Scorching. "Perhaps if we finish this up quickly we can be home in time for dinner!"
The dervish spat at Erendrel's feet, glaring malignantly into the Elf's eyes. One of the guards of the Court of Truth pulled the dervish's head back by the hair and pressed dagger blade to his throat. Erendrel regarded the dervish impassionately, though he seethed inside.
"One more time," Erendrel said.
"I told ya all I know," the dervish responded. "I saw them dark fae with a bundle what were writhing as filled with snakes. Then they takes off on a carpet."
"Where?" Erendrel asked.
"Looked like it were toward the Butcherblock Mountians, but how would I know?"
Erendrel nodded, satisfied that the captive was telling the truth, or at least something near enough to the truth to be valuable. But Butcherblock could not provide the kidnappers with allies or safety. The must have gone somewhere else.
"Shall I have this scum killed, barrashar?" Ishara asked.
Erendrel turned to the Caliph of Truth, shaking his head. "No. But I would be grateful if you would hold him for a day or two to give me time to pick up the trail."
Ishara nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "You will owe me many Coin and Blades Tokens for this, Qeynosian."
"It will be my pleasure to provide them upon my return."
Erendrel bowed to Ishara and took his leave from the Court of Truth, hastening to the docks n Sinking Sands where he took the carpet to Butcherblock. Though he was convinced the two insane Arasai had taken their captives to Darklight Woods, the information provided by the dervish offered another possibility. The answer, he believed, lay in Gorowyn.
Leaving the carpet at the Butcherblock docks, Erendrel whistled for Sycorax. Sparks flew from the destrier's hooves as Erendrel spurred him to the gallop racing across the flagstones of the docks to the beach. The transport to Gorowyn lurked above the sands to the north of the docks. Erendrel wasted no time getting there. Roughly shoving the griffon tamer aside, he leapt from Sycorax to the griffon's back. The beast took flight, conveying Erendrel to Timorous Deep.
The lifts and platforms of Gorowyn caused Erendrel no little difficulty, but they did not deter him. The first level yielded nothing of value, nor did the Shadowed Seminary offer much.
He searched the Gorowyn Assembly, and the Arcane Erudition to no avail. Gnashing his teeth in frustration, he hurried back to the main lift, and took it to the next level. Just beyond the Academy of Warfare, Erendrel found another conveyance to carry him over the chasm within which Gorowyn was built. There, in the market area he spied a Sarnak, and tied to the lizard's belt was a scrap of cloth that matched the color and fabric of Callysta's robe. A moment later he heard a scream, and drew his sword....
Kiaria rises gracefully to her feet as the elemental spawns. With a moue of disappointment, she, too, starts waving her arms and murmuring an incantation. Storm clouds gather in the small room...
As attention is turned towards her earth elemental, Aluini starts a new incantation, then points at the arisai in front of the paint, with that her aqueous horse attacks.
Callysta stamps her foot. "You broke my mez!" Crossing her arms petulantly, she huffs with indignation. "You spank it, you tank it!"
Recovering from her fit of pique, she begins to cast as well.
Glares at Callysta and Kiaria.
"You silly girls! I guess you can stay here and keep the mezz going and playing with bug wings if you want, but I want to go home!"
"You mean we aren't going to ... " Callysta looks thoughtful. "Well, even though they deserve death for sticking me in a stinky bag and shoving rags in my mouth, I'd rather go home! I have a pile of magazines to read and I still have to finish painting my toenails!"
Still frozen from the invasive attempted "touching" by Kiaria, or possibly from Callysta's mez, the tiny Arasai's eyes turn to Callysta.
Lizzzten to me you prizzy Elvz! Why don't you juzt be quiet and ztill for a minute! Mezz yourzelf or something! You're giving me a headache! Jeezzz you don't need that Aneurizm zpell, you ARE an aneurizm!
Meanwhile, Aluini's pet approaches the Arasai , looking very mean. The Arasai snaps out of its close encounter with Kiaria and flies to a corner of the room.
Zizter! I told you we should've put zome zort of magnetic field over thiz plaze! Now all the prizzy elvzz are uzing magic!
Flustered and unable to get a handle on the precarious elves, she gives up and pulls at her hair in desperation.
You know what?!! Why don't you all juzt call back to your hallz! And none of you are very zmart either! All thiz time, youzz could've juzt called home obviouzly becauze we forgot to block your magic! I've had it with you! You are too high maintenanze for uz! For Ro'z zake! Who can put up with all of youzz?!
You can keep your jum jumz and your zpaz and your Halfling Orphanz hairz! Go home! Take Zcorching'z painting with you too! I don't want to ever be reminded of youzz lot!
Wonders if there's a hunting party coming after the Artists...
Oh and....could we juzt forget thiz little inzident, eh? Youzz know....erm....in caze they azk what we look like? You know, we were juzt playing......
Gives the girls a toothy grin and throws some fireworks for dramatic effect as she casts Invisibility on herself and vanishes from viewing.
BUT WE WILL BE BACK, ZAGA! YOU'LL ZEE! FEAR UZ!!
"Well, I guess that's that!" Callysta grins at the others. "Calling home, girls?"
"That sounds good. I will have Redblaze protecting us while we call home."
/starts moving her hands in a now familiar pattern, recalling herself to the guild hall.
Erendrel burst into the room just as Callysta disappeared in the all too familiar lights of the Call. The empty sack lay on the floor amid the wreckage of overturd furniture. Otherwise, the room was empty. He lowerd his sword and took a deep breath.
"I guess this is not my night," he said to the empty space.
Meanwhile, back at the hall, Nikodeimus the Froglok knelt in deep prayer in the hall's fountain. Suddenly he opens his eyes to rays of light and looks up to find three beautiful Elves standing right before him. His eyes bulge out practically in the shape of hearts and he leaps out of the water.
Marr! Thou wonderful wonderful of all gods! Thou has answered my prayers in less than 30 seconds!!!! I only asked for one lover, but thou has sent me THREE!! THANK THEE, MARR! THANK THEE!!
The Froglok leaps with joy towards the girls and begins to kiss their hands excitedly.
*allows her hands to be kissed three times before extracting them*
Darling... Thou art too kind, verily.
I shall leaveth thee to thy true loves...
*casts a wicked, laughing glance at the others*
*glides from the room, her hair a tangled mess and her gown a stained rag*
"ACK! It TOUCHED me! Now I shall have to positively BATHE in astringents! I might get WARTS! Get away you ... you FROG!" Callysta jerks her hands away and storms off after Kiaria.
The wind howls over the Timorous Moors, as two Arasai and a Sarnak cross in a defeated silence. They stop at a plateau, dire wolves encircling the base, and plot their course.
"Sister, Bullwhip..?" the blue hair Arasai carries an easel, and lets her monotone voice rise slightly above the thunder of the wind, "Do not be discouraged. This defeat was within expected parameters for Saga. Saga did not capture us, so in our escape the Artists are victorious.
She continues, "Also, I have arranged for payment! Releasing the red haired one was a shrewd maneuver my Sister, for that same weak elf agreed to not only to honor what demands we have that were reasonable, but in cowardice gave us a new headquarters. As soon as things cool down, the Artists shall go to collect our new spa." An maniacally smirk contorts a normally inexpressive face.
Cataclysta, looking slightly discouraged by the failed attempt at collecting ransom for the three Elves, ponders what Scorching says.
Zizter Zcorching, I'm not shure what a zpa iz, but if you think it iz worth collecting, then by all meanz let uz do it! Did the redhead one give you any inztructionz on how to collect the keyz to thiz zpa thing? And where iz the zpa? Iz it in Qeynoz? Iz it IN Zaga'z hall?
Flutters her wings in anticipation.
If the redhead did not give you inztructionz, we will go to their tavern thiz very eve and collect what rightfully belongz to uz! Muahahaha! Elvzz are zuch weak creaturez!! FEAR UZ, ZAGA! We are coming for our zpa key!
Holds up a tiny fist and cackles maniacally.
Konnar stands in the guild hall at the engraved desk feverishly studying scrolls when a loud crash is heard behind him. He spins to see an uninvited Sarnak who had just kicked over the workbench. The Sarnak turns to Konnar, roars and shouts "FEAR US!" before turning to kick over a plant and vow his return then leaves as suddenly as he arrived.
He turns to Keevma who is also working nearby...
"What do we make of this? I should let Talemus know as soon as possible."
Zerzal frowns. She clearly is quite worried about this ongoing menace.
"This is serious, friends! I worry about you! We must take some actions!"
The paladinesse sighs and raises her eyebrows in defeat.
"I fear we shall have to set some kind of trap, in order to prevent them from leaving next time, so we can get them and hand them over to the authorities."
Cataclysta sat in her shabby Gorowyn apartment, staring into the only mirror in the place. The mirror was a gift from her new friend, the friend who freed her from her former Arasai body. The wings were gone. The lisp was gone. Even the sudden urge to blow up a firework was gone. She had asked for a transformation of both body and soul. The body changed. The soul was...well, perhaps there was never a soul to begin with.
Her new body was long... Not long like an Erudite's, but much longer than an Arasai's. An Ayr'Dal's small frame.
Nothing in the apartmet was sized to her. The bed was too small. The chairs too small... Only Bullwhip's old roll mat was big enough... Quite big, actually... She had to get new clothes, so she stole them from some random Teir'Dal's laundry hanging to dry in a garden. The clothes were about the same size as Cat would wear on her new body... A little too risque for what she was used to, perhaps, but they'll do for now...
Her main struggle was how to get back into Qeynos. Her first attempt was successful, sneaking into the Saga tavern again. But that wasn't so hard, she'd had practice and she looked different now... Very different... However, she didn't have her former skills anymore...nor her posse... She would have to figure out her way in without a scout's help next time. Surely she could get her old charms back... She tried to remember the way those pretty Elves had behaved under captivity... It was only a matter of time before she'd get a handle on her "self" again........
But her mind was focused on only one thing.... And she could only hope that the brainwashed Troll named Mabb would deliver her message...
Ugh...that reminds me. I've to find some rats to roast for tomorrow....
She groaned.