Turn 63 > > > > > > To Return a Blade > > > > > > Brief Recap: Last turn, Blade (with Fyona) met with Bruce. Though > it > > > > appeared they might reach agreement of some kind at first, the two > > > > failed to reconcile their differences. Blade and Fyona left Bruce > the > > > > sword as Bruce threatened further consequences. > > > > > > That Went Well... > > > > > > [I changed their departure time from the same day to teh next day > > > > since > > > > it was nightime when we left Bruce's hoiuse and Fyona was drunk. I > > > > mentioned last turn that they would stay overnight at in Inn to > sober > > > > Fyona up before leaving.] > > > > > > Blade gets a single room for the two of them and puts Fyona to bed. > > > > He > > > > stays awake all night, maintaining a silent vigil. He sits in a > chair > > > > next to the window his sword within arms reach. The night is > > > > uneventful > > > > save for Fyona occasionally murmuring in her sleep. More than once > > > > Blade > > > > finds his gaze resting on Fyona rather than the streets below. Each > > > > time > > > > he sighs and thinks it must be the longest night of his life as he > > > > returns his gaze to the streets. > > > > > > Blade and Fyona ride out of Pastille the next day, putting much > > > > distance between themselves and the city. They push on after > > > > nightfall to throw off any potential pursuit. After camping a few > > > > short hours, they once again press ahead quickly. Snow falls from > the > > > > gray sky, and they are thankful to have their trail concealed. > > > > > > After three days of this schedule, both travelers relax both in > mood > > > > and the pace of their journey. It appears no one is following them. > > > > They follow the Old Bugbear Trail (renamed the Tyrlan Trail a > decade > > > > ago when Bruce forced a trade route through--the main reason for > his > > > > success). Though no bugbears live this far south, the trail is > still > > > > known commonly by both names. > > > > > > Journey journey journey... > > > > > > The two travelers slog through the snow on their way northward for > > > > weeks. As they enter the hills south of the mountains of Heklamar > [in > > > > the general region where they encountered the humans and monster a > > > > few turns ago], they break on a ridge for lunch. As the two rest, > > > > Fyona notices something moving on the southern horizon. The two > watch > > > > carefully for several minutes and conclude that riders follow them. > > > > They can't be sure how many, for they are still several hours ride > > > > distance. It appears to be at least ten riders. The occasional gaps > > > > in the clouds show sunlight glinting off armor and weapons. > > > > > > "I'm assuming they are after us and probably sent by Bruce. I > figure > > > > we > > > > can either try to throw them off of our trail by sending one horse > > > > off > > > > alone, thereby splitting their forces or we can find someplace to > > > > hide > > > > in the hopes that they pass us by. The latter would give us a > better > > > > idea of what we are up against. I'd prefer to deal with the > situation > > > > now rather tahn have them dogging our trail the entire way back to > > > > the > > > > city. " > > > > > > After a short pause Blade reconsiders, "You know that if they were > > > > sent > > > > by Bruce, they have no quarrel with you. He said as much at our > last > > > > meeting. If you's prefer to go on alone and steer clear of this > mess > > > > I'd understand. I'd hate for anything bad to happen to you because > of > > > > it. " > > > > "I don't think it Bruce's men. Why would they go to the trouble of > > following > > us out here when they already had us?" Fyona looks to Blade for his > > thoughts > > on this. > > > > "That's true, but I'm not ready to rule l Bruce out just yet. > Perhaps > > he > > thought better of it after we left or just didin't have teh > necessary > > manpower at the time. " > > > > Fyona adds with a sound determination in her voice. "I say we get > them > > now. I hate being follow." She angrily thinks of the six months she > > spent > > trying to elude one constant pursuer. > > > > "I agree, though I think we should hide in an attempt to have them > go > > past us. That way we can see who it is that is following us and > what > > we > > are up aginst. We can improvise from there. I've got my cloak that > > would > > help us hide. It's probably not big enough to cover us both > > completely > > but it could cover a good deal of us. we just have to dind > somewhere > > to > > hide the horses. " > > > > Fyona speaks again as if she is irritated by the thought of trying > to > > elude. > > "All right, we should continue up the path them sidestep the horses > > off the > > trail so as not to leave any turning makes. Then cover our tracks > > though the > > brush as we back track and tie the horse far enough away so they > > won't be > > heard." > > > > Blade is baffled by Fyona's grammer. "Ahhhhh......Right." he says > > > > > > The two survey their surroundings. The area is very rough terrain, > > with rocky cliffs and dropoffs, sparse vegetation, and snow > covering > > everything. It would be difficult to try and circle around, > > especially without being seen by their pursuers, and backtracking > is > > much easier. So they move off the trail they have been following > and > > tie the horses to an old cedar tree growing in the shelter of > several > > giant boulders. The boulders hide the horses from view, though the > > tracks through the snow are another matter. Fyona and Blade each > tear > > branches off the cedar tree and do their best to hide the tracks > they > > left as they moved the horse off the trail. They then backtrack, > > trying to leave as little evidence of their passing as possible; > they > > try to walk in their horses trail. When they are about a hundred > > meters back on their own trail, they find a boulder in the sun > (with > > no snow on it) that they can leap to, so they don't leave obvious > > tracks as they move off their trail. > > > > They then hide amid the boulders, about 40 feet away from where > they > > left the trail. Blade bids Fyona crouch down, and he covers them > both > > with his cloak. It is a close fit, and the two must squeeze > together. > > They both can see out from beneath the cloak, and they watch and > wait. > > > > Not long after they are hidden, and before they expected it, a lone > > tracker lopes by on foot. He does not pause at the boulder they > used > > to leap off the trail. He disappears around the bend. > > > > About ten minutes later, ten mounted warriors trot past. They are > > heavily armed and armored, with various weapons: crossbows, swords, > > axes, and lances. Neither Blade nor Fyona sees an insignia on their > > gear. They look like mercenaries. > > > > [What do you do? The riders are about to ride on past you.] > > > > "Let's see what this is all about shall we? " Blade asks Fyona. > > Without > > waiting for an answer he stands up from his hideen position and > draws > > his swords. "Ho there! if you've come looking for trouble, then it > > seems > > you've found it! " State your business!" He shouts to the > mercs. "Get > > ready for the crosssbows. " he says to Fyona. Blade hated > crossbows. > > It > > made killing too easy. It was a coward's weapon and lacked any > > finesse. > > Swords on the other hand, had style. > > > > Upon hearing Blade's voice, the riders stop. They wheel their > horses > > around to face Blade, and one of them (maybe their leader) > > speaks: "Here we've been following you for weeks, Blade, and you > make > > our job easy for us." Blade and Fyona can see that most of the > > mercenaries are cocking their crossbows and loosening swords in > their > > scabbards as the leader speaks. [It will be one full round before > > anyone is ready to fire.] The leader continues. "I have an > important > > message for you. Would you like to hear it?" The leader waits for > an > > answer. Neither Blade nor Fyona recognizes the speaker. > > > > "Certainly. But remember they may be your last words, so hopefully > > they > > will be something people can remember you by. " says Blade. > > > > The man looks at Blade darkly, and grimaces. Perhaps he is aware of > > Blade's reputation. "Then I will be brief. Bruce Tyrlan sends his > > greetings. FIRE!" Not all his men have their crossbows ready by > this > > time, but five do, and they all fire at Blade. > > > > [Please post your intended actions for two rounds of combat. This > is > > not surprise, I will roll initiative. If you win initiative you may > > leap backward behind cover, greatly reducing the chances you will > be > > hit by a bolt. If you lose initiative, you will be fully exposed to > > their fire. Anne, Fyona is with Blade up there, but you did not > post > > whether she stood up with him or not. I am assuming you did not > stand > > up.] > > > > Blade immediately jumps behind cover. [I still say DEX bonuses > should > > apply to initiative,] > > > > "Let's wait til they all fire and then charge them. " he says to > > Fyona. > > "I'll take the five on the right. You take the five on the left. > > Assuming there are any left after THIS!" > > > > Blade fires his Ring of the Ram at the rocky cliff face behind the > > mercs, knocking loose several small boulders which quickly become > a > > large rock/snowslide > > > > [If need be. I'll be spending a plot point for this to happen. > > > > 1st round, dodging and firing the ring. second round attacking any > > survvirs of teh rockslide. HOO-HA!] [Blade spends a plot point.] Blade knew the man would order them to fire. He easily ducks back under cover, and the five bolts zip by over his head. He then fires his Ring of the Ram at the rocky cliff face behind the mercs. A bright image of a ram's head bursts forth with much color and light, and flies through the air over the mercs' heads and into the opposing cliff face. The mercs duck in their saddles. When the Ram hits the cliff, boulders shudder and snow and rocks fly everywhere. Then, the cliff wall itself appears to shake. The mercs quickly try to move their horses out of the way, but the wall of snow and rock and earth crashes down upon them, completely covering all but the captain and one other rider. The two remaining mercenaries assess the situation, and quickly decide to flee. They ride north, away from Blade and Fyona with the small avalanche between them. Blade surveys his handiwork with a smile. "maybe magic's not so bad after all." He helps Fyona to her feet. "I doubt those two will be coming back anytime soon, if at all. Let's be on our way then." As Fyona stands she looks at the destruction in disbelief. "That ring did that?" > > > > ____________________ > > > > > > The Crown of Acererak > > > > > > Brief Recap: Last turn, Humphrey agreed to go with Nepal to a > meeting > > > > with another mage, one who had swindled Nepal before the Timeline > > > > Alteration. Nepal, now aware of the impending double cross, > believes > > > > the two of them together can overcome the trap. > > > > > > The Preemptive Double Cross > > > > > > After making his preparations, Humphrey joins Nepal in the central > > > > room of his manor house. The two have all their equipment and > > > > supplies ready. [NOTE Bry, you still have to tell me what spells > are > > > > in your traveling spellbook. Until you do, it is assumed there are > > > > none. If you cast a spell before you tell me, that particular spell > > > > can't be in it (or else you could just add them as you need them). > If > > > > you need info on Boccob's Book, just let me know.] > > > > > > Humphrey stand near Nepal, one hand on his comrade's shoulder-- > > > > supplying the physical link necessary to teleport them both. Nepal > > > > concentrates for a moment, then chants the magic words. > > > > > > Humphrey's vision is overcome with a flash of brightness, then > > > > darkness as his eyes adjust to the new lighting. He stands next to > > > > Nepal in an entirely different room, an intricate circular pattern > > > > worked into the stone at his feet. Humphrey has seen such things > > > > before, as the Guild uses similar patterns to allow teleportation > > > > over long distances. > > > > > > Humphrey's eyes adjust to his new surroundings. He stands in a > large > > > > domed chamber. The pattern is in the middle of the room on a raised > > > > platform, five steps in front of Humphrey leading down from the > dais > > > > upon which he and Nepal stand. Two blue robed figures stand at the > > > > bottom of the steps, holding staves in their hands. Nepal says > > > > loudly, "Hail to the Brothers Wendfoot, peace be upon them." > > > > > > The two robed figures lower their staves and then their hoods. Both > > > > are bald. "Hail Nepal," one says, raising his hand palm > forward. "As > > > > always, you are welcome here. What news from the West?" > > > > > > > > Nepal chuckles. "A war that never happened and salvation from a > > > > plague that will never be!" He reaches inside his sleeve and > > > > withdraws a sizeable red gem. He presents it to the Wendfoot > brother > > > > who first spoke, placing it in the man's palm with a short bow. The > > > > brother places it inside his own sleeve without examining it. > > > > Apparently accepting Nepal's incomprehensible news without > question, > > > > the two brothers allow Humphrey and Nepal to pass. > > > > > > The name Wendfoot is familiar to Humphrey. He tutored one by that > > > > name only a few years ago at the Guild in Galay. But neither of > these > > > > is the pupil Humphrey knows. > > > > > > Nepal leads Humphrey to an arched doorway and into the hall beyond. > > > > The hall turns and widens, and Humphrey sees many people ahead. > They > > > > stand at intersections of the halls talking or trading, and some > side > > > > passages of the hall appear to lead to shops or dwellings. After > > > > walking a short distance, Humphrey realizes the two are in an > > > > underground community of some kind. The people here speak common, > but > > > > with an accent Humphrey suspects comes from the lands east of the > > > > Northern Kingdom. Perhaps they are in one of the Warring States-- > > > > several petty kingdoms constantly at war--war which has brutalized > > > > the regional population for over two decades. Humphrey notes that > > > > many of the people of this underground ort have the look of > refugees. > > > > > > Some parts of the area are broken down, and periodically Humphrey > can > > > > see a cracked and repaired ceiling above him, but only darkness > above > > > > in others. What he first saw as side passages now appear to be > > > > alleys, and the cobblestones beneath his feet show the wear of a > much > > > > used city street. > > > > > > Nepal speaks as they walk. "This is the Lost City, or what part of > it > > > > is still safe for habitation." He sidesteps a gang of shoeless > > > > children who race past, fleeing the yells of a potato vendor. "We > are > > > > in Kee-Tai, in the Center Lands." Humphrey recognizes that this > name > > > > is indeed one of the Warring States. > > > > > > "And where do we meet your `friend,'" asks Humphrey. > > > > > > The journey is not far, but we must go into one of the uninhabited > > > > areas of the city. But before we get there, I must explain what > > > > happened last time I went through this. This Julabi bin Saud is a > > > > dark skinned sorcerer, and he has many servants both man and beast. > > > > He may be a necromancer or a demonologist, I can't be sure. But > last > > > > time we met, there was a well in the center of the meeting hall-- if > > > > you can call it a hall any more. As soon as I was inside the hall > > > > with the well, Julabi conjured some kind of undead or demonic > > > > creatures. They looked like Shades, but were much bigger and more > > > > powerful than any Shade I've encountered. They drained nearly all > my > > > > life force before I escaped. That is one of the reasons I had > > > > returned to the Guild when your party went back in time, to seek > > > > Oorialith's aid. [Oorialith is the healer/mage we have met before.] > > > > > > Nepal continues in a whisper. "But this time, I have a spell that > > > > will magically seal the well. And this Julabi won't know that we > know > > > > about his trap, because he didn't travel back in time like we did. > > > > And, he will be expecting me to come alone. > > > > > > "We must hike through the tunnels for several miles. Tomorrow by > noon > > > > we should reach the well chamber." > > > > > > [Insert any conversation you want, or plans you intend to make for > > > > the encounter. Also, please tell me what is in your traveling > > > > spellbook!] > > > > > > The next day, the broken underground path takes the two mages to a > > > > large stone gate. Judging by the echoes, the ceiling beyond the > gate > > > > is many feet above in the darkness. The gate itself is twenty feet > > > > wide, and the two great doors bear an engraved glyph in the local > > > > writing, probably that of some ruling dynasty or royal house. To > the > > > > right of the gate is a stone tower, the top smashed level with the > > > > top of the gate. From the tower, a great mound of rubble and earth > > > > merge with the side of the cavern. Left of the gate the remains of > > > > the guard tower meets with the stone wall of the natural cavern. > > > > > > [We have to go over the gate somehow.] > > > > > > Once beyond, the two can see they are in a large section of city > > > > which has remained intact, but strangely is not inhabited. The > > > > granite paved street stretches level before them with empty but > > > > intact buildings along either side. They advance forward several > > > > blocks, to a large intersection. Nepal stops and casts a spell, > > > > explaining, "The well ahead is now sealed." > > > > > > The two approach the intersection. It is a large grass commons set > > > > diagonal to the streets so that one street exits at each corner of > > > > the yard. The buildings in this area are perfectly intact, as > though > > > > protected from the catastrophe that dropped the city below the > > > > surface of the wurld. In the center of the yard is a large low > stone > > > > well. > > > > > > Across the intersection stands a robed figure, its features hidden > in > > > > a deep hood. Nepal approaches, whispering, "He will try to raise > the > > > > spectres when we are close enough to speak." > > > > > > "We shall see about that." Humphrey reaches in his backpack and > > pulls the crown of Acererak out and puts it atop his head (note it > is > > still invisible). He drops the pack and pulls the sceptre out > (which > > is visible). He points at the man and says "Do not move!" in a > loud > > booming voice. > > > > > > [Not that it is very important, but how long does invisibility > last? > > Is there a duration? I don't think it will matter much in the > coming > > turns....] > > > > > > The robed figure, which wasn't moving anyway, continues to not > move. > > With the crown and sceptre brandished, Humphrey feels as though > his > > mind is extremely alert. As he and Nepal carefully walk toward the > > robed figure, Humphrey can hear their footsteps echo off the stone > > ceiling far above them, invisible in the darkness. He can nearly > tell > > the shape of the ceiling from listening to the echos. > > > > He also becomes aware that there are other creatures in the > vicinity. > > > > Before he can react or even speak, the creatures attack. They are > not > > visible to him, but he senses them nonetheless. Nepal appears > unaware > > of them--until they strike. > > > > Both mages feel an awful pain in their foreheads, as though > something > > were attacking their mind. The attack does not feel magical, more > > like a githyanki mind blast, with which Humphrey has had > unfortunate > > experience. But this attack is much worse than the gith mind > blast. > > Humphrey, and apparently Nepal too, can now see ghostlike images > of > > small floating creatures. They appear to be ethereal. As the > > creatures hover near the mages, they feel immense pain in their > > minds. > > > > For a brief moment, Humphrey becomes disoriented. He quickly > > recovers, but realizes he can no longer remember any of his first > > level spells. > > > > [The creatures appear to be small, fanged ducklike monsters with > > bulbous eyes. There are dozens of them, and they look famished, > their > > ribs showing. They are darting around Humphrey and Nepal. Humphrey > > can't see any visible attack from them, but it is clear they are > the > > source of his pain. You know that none of your spells nor your > staff > > will affect ethereal creatures unless you yourself are ethereal > when > > you cast them.] > > "Hold on!" He yells to Nepal. He strikes his staff on the ground, > sending the two of them to the ethereal plane. [He then commands the > monsters to stop! If they don't fall to the ground, he fireballs > the lot of them with his wand of fireball.] > > As he prepares to send the two of them to the ethereal plane, > Humphrey feels Nepal's grip lock onto his arm like a vice. Nepal is > rather athletic for a mage, and his grip is painful. Humphrey also > notices a fanatical look in Nepal's eyes, as though he is being > coerced by a great force and failing to resist. > > The staff strikes the granite paved path with a dull thud, and the > world transforms for the two mages as they transcend the Prime > Material Plane and enter the Ethereal Plane. The Wurld becomes > insubstantial to them, and the insubstantial creatures become solid > in appearance. But they do not halt their attack. > > Then, Humphrey Commands them. Since he can't address them each > individually, he spreads his arms and yells, "STOP!" > > As before, when he issued that same command in Heklamar to stop the > demon who had come for the Crown, everything within the range of > Humphrey's voice stops. The creatures freeze in place, and the > terrible pain in Humphrey's mind is immediately gone. Nepal, too, is > frozen in place, his fingers still clawing Humphrey's left bicep. > Humphrey also notices that insects, insubstantial to Humphrey since > they are material, have also stopped in place. > > All is still. A second later, the ethereal wind blows, as though even > it has been temporarily halted by Humphrey's Command. > > [You are still ethereal. You can go back the same way you came. Nepal > is still frozen.] Humphrey removes himself from Nepal's grip. Ignoring the creatures, though leaving them stopped, he turns to Nepal and says "Speak only what I command you. Tell me who is controlling Nepal? I command you to answer this question." Nepal speaks immediately. "Humphrey Commands me." "No you dumbass! Who commanded you before Humphrey commanded you? I command you to answer!" Humphrey turns and looks at the ethereal creatures, while he waits for Nepal to answer. Nepal looks confused for a moment, then says, "No one Commanded Nepal before Humphrey." The ethereal creatures are still frozen. "Nepal is free of my Commands." Humphrey turns and fireballs the creatures and then turns to Nepal and says "Sorry old chum, I thought you were acting a bit strange. I think it is this damn crown. I didn't mean to stop you like that, but while I had you, I figured I might as well ask. I promise not to do that again." Once released, Humphrey sees powerful resentment in Nepal's eyes. Nepal looks at the crown, which is now visible (it turned visible when you actively used it) and the scepter. The creatures are destroyed. The two mages are still ethereal. [I will assume that you next go back to the Material Realm? If not please edit as needed.] After returning to the Material Plane, Humphrey sees the robed figure still immobilized. Nepal walks over to the figure and pulls back the hood. Exposed before them is a visage like none they have ever seen. The skin is mottled purple and shiny with slime. Two large eyes without pupils or other details stare out from above several slender tentacles where there should be a mouth. [Note to DM: That really didn't work out as I planned it at all-- thanks!! it is all your fault.] "Look Nepal. I understand your anger, but I swear upon our years as allies and friends that I had no intention of freezing you in such a way. It was merely a consequence of the use of the crown. Furthermore, I had suspected the creature had grabbed your mind, judging from the intensity with which you had grabbed me and the stabbing pain I felt in my own head, even with the crown on. I hope that you believe my words, for I speak the truth." Nepal glares at Humphrey when he begins to speak, but his look calms as he hears Humphrey's words. Finally, Nepal shakes his head as though to clear it, and says, with effort, "I'll be fine." Humphrey continues: "So, shall we kill the beast--what the hell is it anyway-- and end the worry that it will come for us later? Or would you rather take the book and be on our way?" Nepal pauses a moment, thinking. "This is not what happened the last time I went through this. Those creatures that attacked us are not the shades that came from the well the first time I was here." Nepal looks into the well, which is invisibly sealed with his previous spell. "Why were things different? Before, there were no creatures like we just faced. If there had been, I would never have survived. I barely survived anyway. But this creature," he indicates the purple tentacle- faced monster, "somehow prepared a different trap than last time." Nepal rummages through the creature's robes, but comes up empty handed except for a shrunken human skull with a rune carved upon its forehead. Nepal tosses it to Humphrey. "It doesn't have the book. Last time, it showed me the book, or something that looked like it, just before it attacked. "Why are things different this time? Everything else has been the same in this second timeline, except the things I myself changed." "Why don't we ask him?" Humphrey turns to the creature and says "Speak only the answer to the following question and then cease speaking. Why did you fail to bring the book?" The creature speaks in a sibilant voice beneath the tentacles, almost bubly with the slime that covers its skin. "No intent to give this one," nodding to Nepal, "the book. Rather slay you both. Fzllch gives death instead of books." That is all the creature says. Before it can speak, Humphrey says "I command you to stop!" [Did you mean to post "before it can speak"? Didn't you just command it to speak? Besides, it answered your question. It was then free from your "freeze" command, because the speaking command is inconsistent with a freeze command. He can't speak when frozen. So after he was done speaking, he acted. The ring is a device (like your staff) and only takes a segment to activate, and it was his turn. Also, you should note that you only get to issue a command when you have an action available to you. I can't let you go back and insert new commands between rounds to correct for how your previous commands have been subverted. So the following happens...] But Humphrey is unable to complete the new command before Fzzlch acts. After it is done speaking, it twists a ring on its finger and disappears. [Does Humphrey keep the crown on? Or does he take it off? If you don't answer, I must assume you still wear the crown and carry the sceptre.] Humphrey and Nepal decide to search the surrounding buildings. In the third one they look into, they see evidence that this was the creature's lair. There is a silver box about the size of a trunk with a lock on it, but no keyhole in the lock. There is also a bookshelf full of very old looking books. Humphrey says to Nepal "Lets see just how powerful this crown is. I command you to open," he says to the chest. When Humphrey commands the chest to open, the silver box shudders. Then the lock snaps as the lid of the box springs open. Inside, there are a number of gems and two scrolls. Also there is a very old looking brass bound book, with runes and glyphs of magic embossed on its cover. Nepal looks at it and says, "Ah, the book of Na'Greb. This is what he was to trade me." Nepal takes the brass book and slips it into a leather case he brought, which he then puts inside his backpack. Also inside the chest is the head of a man, probably only severed a few weeks ago. It is dried and leathery, and the brain and eyes have been removed. The dried tongue protrudes from a mouth of teeth filed to points. "That is the head of Julabi bin Saud," says Nepal. "This creature, Fzllch, must have taken his form. Not a terrible loss, considering Julabi's reputation. See those teeth? They are the mark of the Dark Clan, a group of southern mages who are said to dabble in cannibalism and necromancy." Humphrey then removes the crown from atop his head and places it back in his backpack. "I must refrain from wearing that thing. It is dangerous. Shall we gather the treasure, old friend?" He says with a certainty that comes only from years of friendship. When Humphrey removes the crown, he watches Nepal. He definitely notices a change in Nepal's demeanor as soon as he feels the crown lift form his brow. Where just a moment before Nepal had been grinning at the dead head of Julabi bin Saud, he is now looking at Humphrey with open suspicion, perhaps even fear. But Nepal says nothing, moving toward the bookshelf. "Now, my old friend, you must answer this question with complete candor, for it is tied to the crown, and probably to my own fate if I continue to use it. Already I have felt its power attacking my confidences. I fear it makes me paranoid. Just then, when I removed it, I felt your gaze and animosity. Was that real? Are you afraid now? Do you fear me? I ask these questions only from an intellectual point of view, for I know that it is the crown that causes this phenomena, whether true or not, but I seek some verification, some validity to what I have fealt. I wonder if what I see is real, or if it is the crown and its effect when I remove it from my head." Nepal seems suspicious as Humphrey asks this question. "Am I your guinea pig, then? You use the crown against me so that you can gauge its effects on you?!" Nepal stops, raising one hand as if to ward off a blow and covering his eyes with the other. When he looks up again, his look is more calm. "I am sorry, old friend. I can still feel its influence on my mind. It is not pleasant. I ask you, do *not* use the crown against me again." The two also investigate the bookshelf. The books are mostly scholarly works on herb lore, alchemy, astrology and astronomy, mathematics, timekeeping, something called Calculus (which neither Humphrey nor Nepal has ever heard of), and history. Nepal takes a couple of books that interest him. None of them appear magical. [If you like, post more actions or conversation. Otherwise, I will assume the turn ends here and the two mages begin their trek home. They will not be able to teleport this time because neither of us is familiar enough with Humphrey's new house to teleport such a long distance without some risk of messing it up. Once you are more familiar wtih your home, you will be able to 'port there with relative safety.]

Posting Instructions: Please add as you like, and feel free to revise any actions I have portrayed you as taking.

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