Free-Form Fantasy

Noname · **Reply #600 on:** January 07, 2010, 03:32:42 AM

The pool immediately reacted to the information it obtained from all four of them. Now that it had specific knowledge of the subject, the waters swirled and spun. Before long, they had formed a whirlpool. Even more surprising was that-

"I know of what you are searching for, and can aid you in what you seek. You have but to ask, and I shall answer."

-it spoke.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #601 on:** January 08, 2010, 02:19:34 AM

The travelers looked at each other before Halo spoke.

"We have been warned of a great evil in this city. What is this evil we must find?"

Noname · **Reply #602 on:** January 09, 2010, 01:29:43 AM

"There are many such evils in this city. The ones you are looking for can be found in the catacombs, for that is where they are based."

The waters changed to form an image of a dark tunnel filled with bones. Human bones... in a Dracon city's burial place. Clearly, this was a place in the catacombs set aside for dead foreigners.

Silverfang's eyes widened as the pool spoke. The catacombs were a narrow, twisting series of tunnelts built over 1500 years ago as a place to bury the dead. New tunnels have been built since the old ones filled up, and the ancient segments of the catacombs had been long unused.

Obviously a place from which the undead could be raised, the catacombs were a place of great secrecy, silence, and above all, isolation. It was definitely a place from which mages could conduct evil acts in secret.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #603 on:** January 09, 2010, 01:49:23 AM

"It looks like a necromancer's dream..." Youri said.

"Humanoid catacombs underneath a Dracon city..." Shiana added. "I wouldn't want to know the history behind it..."

"That mage that is involved with this group," Halo thought out loud, "he attacked someone at the inn the day I arrived. Why did the mage attack?"

Noname · **Reply #604 on:** January 09, 2010, 03:31:08 AM

"His attack was a mistake. Bluntly put, he messed up. The mages in question who gather in the catacombs take on apprentices, and sometimes, as you probably suspect, apprentices can do stupid things with their powers, especially when they learn a new, powerful spell, or break through to a higher level of power, then they think they know it all. In other words, by causing such a mess at the inn, this mage risked exposing his group, which he did." The pool of foresight added.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #605 on:** January 10, 2010, 12:33:43 AM

"Then it was simply someone getting cocky with his magic..." Youri replied.

"Even so," Halo added, "that had to be a lot of power to destroy that inn for an apprentice. The higher classes of mages would be no pushovers. We'll need some allies, and I don't think the Knights of the Cloak will get here in time. Are there any others in the city that could help us against this cult?"

Noname · **Reply #606 on:** January 10, 2010, 02:31:36 AM

"There are others. Ophion would help, I am sure. You must also remember that this cabal, while dangerous, is limited in numbers. It has only 10 full power mages, and only seven apprentices. The head of the mages is a great threat, however. Silver Fang should still be able to handle him." The pool replied.

"The pool is correct; I am quite a powerful mage, although I cannot handle the whole cabal alone." Silver Fang added.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #607 on:** January 11, 2010, 02:35:46 AM

"So that leaves 5 against a dozen plus for now," Halo thought aloud. "Is time against us in finding this cabal?"

Noname · **Reply #608 on:** January 11, 2010, 02:47:29 AM

" "Yes. The group only meets in full about twice a year. The next meeting is the night of the day after tomorrow, just after sunset. I would suggest that, besides Ophion, you recruit some members from the Order" The pool spoke.

"I can help you with that. However, it is not in my power to compel a member of the order to go on a dangerous mission without their consent. Also, unless I can convince them of an award, it will be hard to get them to go. Merely mentioning the catacombs will be a disincentive, but I believe that I can must up about... 8 to 10 members. I don't know how good they will be; some of them might just be inexperienced wizards volunteering in the hopes that this will be their lucky break." Silver Fang told the group.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #609 on:** January 12, 2010, 03:13:00 AM

"I don't like entrusting myself to any wizard apprentices with nothing more than school lessons..." Youri protested.

"We need adventurers with skills to travel in dungeons and fight not only magic but also the undead," Shiana replied. "A cleric or a paladin should be helpful against necromancy."

Noname · **Reply #610 on:** January 12, 2010, 03:47:47 AM

The pool had fallen silent for the moment. It fell to Silverfang to explain the situation.

"I can make a call for clerics and paladins, but I am not sure many will respond. You see... my Order isn't exactly well-liked by the religious institutions. Not most of them. They say we are overly, hmm, ambitious. I must admit, they are correct. My guild is indeed the sort that would do anything for more knowledge and power, and this tends to put off the paladin-types. Still, I can offer help. I'll appeal to those who may help, whether they are motivated by goodness or gain."

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #611 on:** January 12, 2010, 04:05:47 AM

"The Knights of the Cloak would have no problems taking on evil in any form," Halo said, "but they won't be able to get here for several days. OK, let's find Ophion and anyone else who will want to take the challenge.

Noname · **Reply #612 on:** January 12, 2010, 04:14:22 AM

"That's the best plan" Silver Fang told them. "I brought you here, I can get you out. Are you ready to be teleported again? We will reappear in the guild hall, in the inner chambers instead of the general visitors area. There, I might be able to get you more equipment if you should need it."

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #613 on:** January 13, 2010, 12:02:07 AM

"We're ready to get back," Halo replied. "I doubt there's much in the way of magical equipment we could be able to use though."

Noname · **Reply #614 on:** January 13, 2010, 12:16:06 AM

"Alright then" Silverfang prepared a spell. In an instant, the party was back in the guild hall itself, in the blink of an eye. Teleportation always gave the smoothest trips.

"We should look for some help soon" Silverfang added, knowing that they had little time if they wanted to break up this cabal.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #615 on:** January 13, 2010, 12:21:43 AM

"We can search for Ophion, since we know his shop is open today," Halo replied. "You already figured we met his wife earlier."

Noname · **Reply #616 on:** January 13, 2010, 03:50:26 AM

"Yes. I don't know if he is in his shop, though. I'll tell you what; I'll do a scrying spell to find him. One moment." Silver Fang teleported out and about 15 seconds later, returned with a bowl of water. Kneeling down, he cast a spell in some language that was neither draconic nor common; turns out he cast the spell while speaking Ignan. Ophion was revealed to have been walking through the streets of Minbenthac this entire time.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #617 on:** January 13, 2010, 10:12:43 PM

Halo kneeled down across the bowl and looked. "That's him alright," he said. "But I don't remember the street he's on."

Noname · **Reply #618 on:** January 14, 2010, 03:39:58 AM

"I recognize that place; it's star street." Silverfang replied.

Dracon cities usually named their streets after the physical world; when streets converged, like star street and water street, they would refer to that as going to "star water." In any case, it was often confusing to those not from their lands. Having a good map was very useful when navigating a city in their lands.

"I can teleport us there, if you want." the mage added to Halo and the rest.

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #619 on:** January 15, 2010, 02:16:08 AM

"Let's do it," Halo replied. "I doubt even I can find him in less than ten seconds."