All of the guards dispersed, executing the Centurion's commands with the speed of men trained to obey.  The room became a flurry of activity, with men sweeping every corner in search of additional assailants, but, if any more had been present they have fled.  As others among the guard begin to carry out the remains of the al-Muqtar, the two legionairies dispatched to Hieronymous room return.  Approaching the Centurion swiftly they salute him and report.
  "Sir, we regret that we were unable to summon the Lord Astrologer.  We sounded the bronze gong repeatedly, and commanded him in her Majesty's name to come forth, but he did not appear.  It is impossible to enter his...chambers as he has barred the way with sorceries that only the royal family have ever been able to pass.  Forgive us, commander, but we know not what else to do." 
   He dismisses Cadmus and Taraxon with a smart salute, then looks with grave concern towards Lady Sadina.  "Your Ladyship, is there any way you know of to gain entrance to the Royal Astrologer's study?  If not I shall command the men to break down the door if necessary."

 She lifted the Empress onto a lounge and covered her with a bathsheet to make her comfortable, then turned to the Centurian in reply.

"Wait you here. I will go see if I can get him to answer me. It must be a dire thing, else he'd have been here defending the Empress. Guard her as you can. I fear for her life. The attack was attained by magical means, one not seen before now. It was not your fault."

   Lady's Sadina's feet take her swiftly down the corridor to the Lord Astrologer's  chambers.  In truth, she could find it in the dark, for it has changed little with the passage of time.  Looming over the ornately carven stone doors is a statue of a winged dragon so lifelike in appearance that one would think it could awaken and take flight at any moment.  Before the doors themselves there is an elaborate stand on which sits a bronze gong embossed with a fiery sun, along with the instrument for sounding the device.  The entryway is eerily silent, cloaked in perpetual shadows even though there are narrow windows set high up in the walls to either side.  Very few venture into the gloom here, save at great need.
   As Lady Sadina steps up to the door, there are suddenly shining golden runes that blaze above the mantel of the doorway and down either side like fire.  The glittering eyes of the dragon gleam slightly, as if an inner flame sleeps there in those crystalline orbs.  Suddenly the voice of Hieronymous is heard, echoing around her, speaking in a long forgotten tongue; the lost speech of the sidhe.

   "It happens once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years."  It asks ominously in the old Tuathan.

   The air grows still as if awaiting an answer...

 She traced the familiar route quickly, almost automatically while her mind ran over what might have gone wrong. Something had to have happened to keep Hieronymous from answering the alarm! She came up to the golden dragon form upon the door and waited for it to speak it's ancient runes.

"The letter M."

   Stone grates loudly as the dragon's eyes glow with crimson fire and the ancient doors swing inwards, beckoning Sadina onwards.  Nothing can be glimpsed within, the rune scribed portals seem to open onto oblivion itself.  Then the dragon speaks once more, in archaic Tuathan, with the voice deep of the Lord Astrologer:

  "Enter, kindred of the Fey, blood of the Emperor.  Only one of that noble heritage, the Imperial House of Arn could answer my riddles.  Come for thy humble servant awaits thee."

   All is silent once more, the shadows surrounding Lady Sadina are cold and cheerless, but the door to Hieronymous' inner sanctum is open.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:20, Wed 19 Aug 2009.

 She looked around quickly to see if anyone had been close enough to overhear that revealing greeting, then stepped through the portal and through the energy field within. She hurried through the suite looking for Hieronymous, hoping that he was well, knowing that if anything horrible had happened to him she would surely have sensed it.
 "Hieronymous? Are you here? Are you well? Where are you?"

   When Sadina steps into the bedroom, the first thing she notices is how very dark it seems.  As fond as Hieronymous was of shadows and gloom, he usually had at least a few candles burning in the various nooks and crannies of his chambers.  The Lord Astronomer's room was filled with oddities and curios, both magical and otherwise, that he had collected over his very long lifetime, but now his collection of wonderous, and often disturbing, relics were scattered across the floor.  It was as if a great storm had shaken this place to its foundations; making the lightless path dangerous for the unwary.
   Yet the darkness does not impede the Lady Sadina, and she easily steps over and around everything before her.  Making her way to the bed chamber, she can make out the form of Hieronymous, laying face down on the floor, writhing uncontrollably.  As she approaches a circle of glowing sigils gleams brightly, a protective ward that surrounds the bed.  They blaze to life as she gets closer...


         RUNE                                  RUNE

               ---------------------------------
               -                               -
        RUNE   -                                        RUNE
               -                               -
               ---------------------------------
                          HIERONYMOUS
        RUNE                                     RUNE

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:10, Fri 21 Aug 2009.

 She entered and looked around at the horrendous chaos of the room then looked over toward the bed... She gasped and ran over near him to study the runes, using what skills and talents she has to try to figure out what these runes were!

18:07, Today: Sadina rolled 26 using 1d20+24. spellcraft.
18:04, Today: Sadina rolled 27 using 1d20+9. know arcana.
18:03, Today: Sadina rolled 7 using 1d20+6. decipher script.

   Hieronymous had taught Sadina very well indeed.  She easily recognizes now archaic Arnish sigils once used to name the messengers of the gods.  The six runes each had names it that all but forgotten tongue.  The runes as Sadina reads them from left to right are as follows:

ANDA, DOSHA, SAMA, IRU, ANDA, NEBA

   Sadina is certain, as she studies these runes, that they are the kind meant to be spoken, in some sequence, that will end the spell.  Spoken incorrectly, however, would undoubtedly lead to most disastrous consequences for the speaker...

 She studied the runes again, then in sudden inspiration, she spoke them in a certain order. She prayed it was right, or they both might very well die.
"SAMA  ANDA  DOSHA  IRU  NEBA  ANDA!"

 She waits with baited breath, ready to take the consequences if she is wrong.

   The air seems to shimmer with energy at the mention of each ancient rune.  As they are named they burn brightly and then grow dim, though they do not go out entirely.  Lady Sadina can feel the ebbing of the ward of power as it lowers, surrendering to her magical authority.  She can now safely pass, having recognized the sequence of runes as being, of all things, her own name.
   Upon the floor, lays the twitching form of Hieronymous, writhing as if he struggled with some unseen foe.  His normally cowled face is pale, amber eyes glowing with gilded fire, though there is no recognition in him of Sadina or his surroundings.  It is as if his eyes are focused upon some unseen world.  A world wherein he is struggling for his very life!

 She quickly took in what was going on and ran to kneel beside Hieronymous. Carefully, she checked out the area, then placed her hands upon Hieronymous, feeding him energy, trying to bolster his energy and his power so he could fight off what was attacking him. She closed her eyes, and entered the link, striving to help him fight, to stand beside him if she could, to guard his back.
 "I am here Hieronymous! I am with you! I will help you! Fight it My Love! Come back to me alive and whole!"

   As Sadina placed her hands upon Hieronymous and closed her eyes, she found herself in a truly surreal, swirling, dizzying landscape that could only be the Dreaming.  The alpine meadow dream-scene might have been more familiar to her, had it been bathed in sunlight as it was when last she had been there many years before.  Now however, it was hidden in shadows, the winds howling around her, whipping the trees into a frenzy.  On the ground, near the ruins of an ancient dolmen,  lay the convulsing body of Hieronymous, sprawling on the ground,  and mouth wide open.  His face looked pale and wan as he struggles futilely against the hideous thing that loomed over him.
   A dark, bloated thing from the heart of nightmare itself, this terrible worm-like creature slithered and hissed as its tentacles began to surround the helpless Astrologer, its many mouths, eyes, faces, heads, and other indescribable orifices morphing and changing from moment to moment in a completely chaotic and sickening display.  The immense thing's eyes glowed with baleful light as they drew the life slowly from Hieronymous, a trail of bloody red energy passing from him into the nightmarish beast.
   At the appearance of Sadina, several ugly faces turn their malevolent eyes in her direction...
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:25, Fri 18 Sept 2009.

 She quickly summoned 4 celestial badgers to attack the creature in hopes of driving it away, as well as a celestial hippogriff. The celestial badgers went for the eyes, harrying the beast while the celestial hippogriff went for the head. Then she'd nail it with magic missiles.

16:15,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 9 using 1d8+2. CH bite.
16:15,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 7 using 1d4+4. CH claws.
16:14,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 0 using 1d2-1. CB claws.
16:14,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 1 using 1d2-1. CB claws.
16:14,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 0 using 1d2-1. CB claws.
16:14,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 1 using 1d2-1. CB claws.
14:56,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 1 using 1d3. summon monster lvl 30- 1 CH
14:55,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 4 using 1d4+1. summon monsters lvl 1- 4 CB


16:19,  Secret Roll: Sadina rolled 16 using 5d4+5. magic missiles.

   The Nightmare Worm recoiled drawing itself up to an extraordinary height, swiftly lashing back at its attackers.  The creature reaches forth its mass, creating three pseudo-pods that envelope all but one of the celestial badgers harrying him.  Its head split into two smaller heads when the hippogriff attacked, but it otherwise seemed unaffected by the creatures efforts.
  New faces bubbled up and others were swallowed back into the writhing mass of the Worm but most of its eyes focus on Sadina as the magic missiles slam into its bulk and cause it discomfort.  Several of its mouths open in what seems like a silent scream and the air shimmers around Sadina.  Suddenly the ground beneath her feet becomes slippery and soft, like warm mud threatening to suck her down into the earth...

{OOC: Reflex Save Sadina...hehe)

 She waved her arms briefly, trying to catch her balance. She tries to concentrate and send a blast of magic missiles toward the creature. If she can make it, she will try to drag Hiero away.

22:48, Today: Sadina rolled 28 using 1d20+11. reflex.

   With surprising swiftness, Sadina manages to jump away as the earth turns into pudding beneath her, threatening to suck her down the rapidly expanding sinkhole.  A moment before it had seemed solid underfoot, which meant the dream creature could alter reality somehow!  Very dangerous indeed, the worm-like twisting horror's multiple mouths shriek as Sadina's missiles find their mark.  Several ugly bloated faces swell up until they burst like pustulent sores when struck by the eldritch bolts, spewing their contents all over the ground.
   Three pseudopods erupt from the rippling flesh of the Nightmare worm and streak straight for Sadina now, each with a sucker mouth full of needle sharp teeth!

14:53, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 7 using 1d6+4. Nightmare worm pseudopod damage.
14:48, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 8 using 1d20+6. Nightmare worm pseudopod attacks.
14:48, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 13 using 1d20+6. Nightmare worm pseudopod attacks.
14:46, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Nightmare worm pseudopod attacks.

   Meanwhile, Hieronymous begins to slide forwards, towards the ever growing sinkhole...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:55, Mon 05 Oct 2009.

 She leaped upon Hieronymous, trying to tear him away from the hole, her love for him making her fearless as she tried to rescue him from the pit. She wrapped her arms around him and tried to get purchase to pull him back from the edge. She ignored the snapping mouths, concerned only with saving her Beloved Hieronymous. If she had to die to save him, so be it. He was needed more than she was by Empress Sidi. She clawed at the "earth as the mouths struck, sinking teeth into her body, but she wouldn't let go of Hieronymous, wouldn't let his nightmares take him from her. She clung with desperate strength to his body, concentrating only on saving him from the dark pit below them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:54, Thu 29 Oct 2009.

In reply to Sadina (msg #90):

   Sadina falls backwards, bringing Hieronymous with her.  The mouths biting into her flesh do not bring her any pain, though the teeth are deep in her arms, her thoughts only for her beloved.  As she thinks only of saving the Astrologer from the yawning chasm , the pit at her feet quickly shrinks and disappears!  Even the ceaseless moaning, screaming, and wailing of the Nightmare Worm seems to fade into the background, though it rages with no less ferocity than before.
   Suddenly, Sadina sees a vision of the Empress Sidi laying on the floor of the bath chamber surrounded by her faithful legionnaires, almost as if thinking of her has brought the image to life.  The storm still rages across the Dreaming, this place where once she and Hieronymous had shared some rare moments of happiness.  It is as if this whole scene is a part of the doomed Magician's memories.  A dream of the past that has been twisted to darkness.
   The Nighmare Worm withdraws its pseudopods and begins to slither towards the couple, seeming to swell in size as it approaches...

{Sadina may make a knowledge Arcane roll}

 Suddenly realizing in her chaotic mix of emotions that they were somehow perhaps trapped in a dreaming of his that was being twisted and made malignant, she drew upon her Love for Hieronymous and holding him close, she closed her eyes and kissed him deeply upon the mouth, letting all her soul-deep love and desire for him fill her mind, and projected it into Hieronymous' if she could pass his mind barrier. She thought only of love and hope, and of springtime, and the scent of apple blossoms and the smell of crushed green grass under them as they had made love that time on the hilltop.
 "I Love you Hieronymous! Come back to me! Fight the demons of your past!"

21:34, Today: Sadina rolled 17 using 1d20+9. know arcana.

   Suddenly the Nightmare Worm shrieks and all of the Dreaming shatters like a dark mirror, into shards of a painful memory.  Beneath Sadina the Astrologer stirs and his arms reach out to embrace her desperately.  He returns her loving kiss, fiercely, as if he were drowning and her sweet lips alone could bring him life again.  Clinging to her, he shivers, his whole body trembling with passion...for a moment they are both once more in that fragrant meadow and their unbridled love knows no boundaries.  Once again they are alive and in each others arms and there is no one else in the world but these star-crossed lovers.  For a moment.
   Then Hieronymous' golden eyes open wide and they are both, once more, in his Orrery in the Royal Palace, on the floor.  A look of deep anguish replaces all the Astrologer's unabashed joy and he pulls back from Sadina, ending their passionate kiss.  His strong arms release her, suddenly and he turns his face away from her, unwilling to let her see the pain on his face.
   "I...thank you, Sadina..." he says, trying to keep the sorrow from his voice.  "You, and you alone, could have aided me against that evil chimera.  A second of weakness allowed my enemies to entrap me.  I will not allow it to  happen again."
   He sits up, alert and focused, and his walls are in place once more; his bastion against the world.  Carefully he slides Sadina from atop him and gets to his feet, then lifts her up as well.  The taste of her honeyed kiss still lingers on his lips, but he forces that aside and bites his lip hard.  He steeled himself not to surrender to his aching heart, to resist the almost overwhelming urge to take her in his arms.  Arms that still were warm from holding her so close.  He dared not give in, he mustn't.  He could not, would not allow his selfish needs to endager her.  Not Sadina!  The gods alone knew what perils she had already braved to save him already.  Forcing himself by sheer will to think, he let the passion ebb within him, though he could not banish it from his mind entirely this time.
   He stepped back, then quickly the question came to his mind and he voiced it, though he still dared not look at her.
   "Why have you come?  You have never come unbidden to my sanctuary!  Something is wrong, Sadina, tell me what has happened!"  A terrible thought sprang into his mind now, and he feared the worst for the Empress!

 She responded to his embrace and kiss with wild passion born of nearly losing him to his own mind. Her body clings to his as she returns his kiss with wild abandon, her mind refusing for the moment to listen to any arguements about what she knows his eventual reaction will be. All too soon though his reason replaced his love and he pushed her away.
"My Hiero, when are you going to stop pushing me away? When are you going to realize you cannot do this all alone? Haven't you figured out yet that you cannot go on alone, you cannot survive alone. Perhaps that is your lesson the Gods want you to learn? Perhaps you are just letting your pride be your downfall! If I had not braved your santuary, you'd still be locked inside your nightmare, and perhaps your mind would be gone by now!"
 With dispair she stood and waved her arms emphatically as she replied to his actions, his other words not yet sinking in. She was too caught up in her fear of losing him to listen at first. Instead, she grabbed his arms and shook him hard, though she barely moved him physically.
 "You listen to me Hiero! Man was not meant to work alone! Accepting help is not a weakness! I don't care what that pride of yours says either! Accepting love is not ambition! It is accepting a partnership. Together we can help save our Empress. If we stand together we are stronger than if we stand alone! Don't you see that?"
 She stopped then and took a deep breath, her shoulders sinking as she realized he's probably never listen. His pride still ached from his betrayal of all he's loved before and harmed in his ambitions. He could not see that he was a different man than he used ot be. She tried to wrap the hurt she felt in her heart inside a cocoon and isolate it deep within. She would always be on the outside as long as he wouldn't let anyone in his heart.
 "Fine, have it your way Hiero. You are too stubborn to listen to reason. You are set on being a martyr on the alter of your own pride. So be it. Stand alone then and watch it all fail once more."
 "The "Princess" was attacked. I knew you must be in trouble here alone if you were not there to protect her. I did what I could but she is poisoned. She may die if you can't help her. Go to her, do what you can."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:59, Wed 17 Feb 2010.

   Hieronymous felt the pangs of regret as he saw the hurt in Sadina's eyes.  She had saved his life more than once, and she deserved far better than his callousness.  If the Astrologer could still love anything or anyone is this world, it was Sadina.  He wanted to reach out to her, to sweep her into his arms and tell her that she was the only reason he'd not gone utterly mad after centuries of loneliness.  Yet he knew he could not do that.  She needed more than he could ever hope to offer.  He would not subject her to the same accursed existence he was forced to endure.  It was too terrible, and it blighted all it touched, he knew.  The old Astrologer could not face the thought of Sadina's brilliant light extinguished by the awful geas that haunted his every waking moment.
   His enemies had used his memories of her, of their joy together, to nearly destroy him.  Indeed they would have succeeded had Sadina not found him in his Sanctum Astrum.  Already his ancient mistakes returned to wreak havoc upon the present; threatening to destroy him and anything he held dear.  The greatest protection Hieronymous could offer his beloved Sadina, was to push her away.  Yet every time he was forced to do so, he died inside, a thousand times he died to see the pain in her eyes.  He wondered bitterly if the gods enjoyed his anguish.  How much longer would they torment him and his Lady?  'In all of the limitless universe, there is none so evil, so vile, so heartless, as those who keep me from my love!  When will they tire of this thrice damned game?'
   Reality came crashing against the beleagured walls of his solitude, as the immensity of Sadina's last words finally came to him.  All other thoughts left him and he regarded Sadina with a disturbingly intense look, his golden eyes blazing.
   "POISONED?  NO!  CURSE ME FOR THE FOOL I AM!  I WARNED HER OF THE DANGER!  I CANNOT FAIL HER, NOT AGAIN!"  If they had detected the truth, even suspected it...then Sidi was in very real peril.  He offered Sadina his hand as he began the chant to bring him to the 'Empress' presence.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Fri 10 Dec 2010.

 She looked at him sadly then squared her shoulders and stepped closer, taking his hand and meshing her power with his as they stepped into, and through the the aether to appear in the palace near the Empress Apparent. She quickly looked about to take in their surroundings, signaling to the guards that all was well but to keep watch. She relunctantly released Hiero's hand and stepped toward the girl upon the bed to bend and lay her hand upon her brow, sending healing energies into her as best she could to bolster the girl's flagging energy, hoping to lend her strength to fight the poison's course through her system. She looked back at Hiero with a frown upon her face.
 "If we cannot heal her, can we suspend her in time until such a time as we can find an antidote?"

   Having cured the "Empress" of her malady through the combined use of their arcane lore, Hieronymous stayed with Sadina, for a time.  He explained that he simply wished to make certain there would be no further attacks upon the Royal Ruler of Arn.  And yet, as with so many things involving the Imperial Astrologer, that was far from the entire truth.  He felt keenly the distance between himself and his beloved.  Even though it was an estrangement he himself had forged, he deeply and truly regretted it.  It was a wound in his soul that he knew would never be healed.
   Seeing that 'Sidi' was finally sleeping peacefully he closed her door and nodded silently to the guards who stood to either side.  He knew they would not make the same error again, having felt the sting of their failure, the loss of honor, and their Centurion's fierce rebuke.  Entering the main hall, his startling amber eyes turned to Sadina, and he could see the hurt in her face, even though she might try to master it, she could not hide it from Hieronymous.  He almost wished she could.
   He looked away, he couldn't bear to see her after the argument they'd had earlier.  He bit his lip and pulled his hood up over his head.  "She sleeps.  It would seem your quick wit has saved her life, Lady Sadina.  She owes you much.  I shall withdraw to my chambers now.  If you have further need of me..."
   He paused mid sentence, gazing around the room, as though he perceived some unseen person there, some apparition that only he could see.  He remained silent for several moments, then without looking around he said quietly.
    "I have received a request for aid, my Lady Sadina, a rather disturbing one...it comes from your daughter...  It were best I go to her, directly.  I shall return anon Lady Sadina."

    And in a blink he is gone, as if he was never there.