Raknesh was readying himself for another troublesome grappling seance when Prizzard plan backfired. At least he oped it had backfired...


"WHAT DID YOU DO ??" he yelled, running toward Tanzy.

"You only had to knock her out!"

Sonn falls from the air, overwhelmed through his empathic link. Prizzard is on his knees, face to the ground, blackened hand in a fist so tight that his nails draw blood, pooling and crackling around the hand. He remains there completely still, body tense with pain both inside and out yet not breathing or shaking. He barely holds onto his conciousness and guilty wrath at the same time.

rolled 23 using 1d20+12.  Fortitude
rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Constitution

I suppose you expected he'd resort to the powder once the spell was resisted the first time. Desperate times.. He expected to experience the empowered spell, possibly even effecting a wide area. Something unbelievably painful that wouldn't harm a single hair, something she would never remember from this night. Or so that was the plan..

Raknesh and Althol both find Tanzy just as dead as you feared, the poor woman's face frozen in her last expression of pain and betrayal. Just then Raina, Halek, and Loden burst on the scene, no doubt alerted by the siren's previous shriek, or perhaps it was Rocky. Either way, they all look on in horror.

What happened!? Loden demands, drawing his sword, but Halek and Raina are more comprehending. Raina looks at the woman, sees the remains of the powdery substance and then looks at the barely conscious Prizzard.

What did you do....? she breathes. The air still feels charged with the tainted energy of the powder. No doubt she can feel it. D-did you use the whole bag?! The question is quiet but the accusation is incredulous nevertheless.

Halek only stays long enough to assess the situation before paling and then running violently away as though his very life depends upon it. You've seen the boy run before but never like this. Should anyone make a move to go after him Raina stops them. Leave him! If you value your life, leave him be!

As for Prizzard, every vein, every muscle is weak and trembling. Blackness crowds the edges of your vision but to your despair it never comes. The sweet release of unconsciousness teases and taunts but never spares you from your torment. As the seconds go by you feel just how weak you really are. Standing is impossible, moving might be too, you're not sure, but one thing is for certain. You can feel your abilities, your spells, are completely cut off from you. All you can do is kneel on your hand and knees, and wish over and over again that none of this happened.

Bryon felt helpless. A friend was gone, another responsible? She stayed in the background trying to be scenery.

Raina's remark about the bag of black powder only fueled Raknesh's anger.
His mind blade grew to its maximum size and he looked at the culprit with light in his eyes.
Prizzard was lucky his state was so pathetic, for it stopped him to act and the blade struck the ground at Raknesh's feets.

"You fool... you had to use that cursed powder, despite knowing how dangerous it was...
WHY! We only needed a few more hits and she would have been knocked down...

Fool...  does that powder already have such a hold on you to shatter your reason?"

But Halek's escape cut his reproaches short.

"What do you mean?" he asked Raina as she stopped him.

Raina looks worried at Raknesh's words, as does Loden who looks about to intervene. They both look immensely relieved when the blade hits the ground harmlessly.

At Raknesh's question, the woman sighs. I fear I bear some responsibility for this. The powder is dangerous but I don't think I ever explained how much so. She puts the palm of her hand in the air suddenly, as if concentrating, and then rubs her fingers together. Don't be too hard on him. What he did to her would not have harmed her under other circumstances. I think she just went into shock and her body couldn't take it she glances down at the woman sadly. I'm sure he's punishing himself already. Especially if he burned out as I fear... she looks at Prizzard with worry. The powder is made of many things, most of them are mere amplifiers to necromancy in particular, but there's...another element that reacts unexpectedly. Only Halek knows the full truth of it and he fears it more than any of us. It's called mortex corporem, though I know not where it comes from. A single grain of it would be enough to cause what has happened here. The more powerful the user the bigger the reaction. If any got on Halek it could be disastrous.

She bends down to Prizzard and puts a hand on his back and then with a hiss draws away. I feared that. Oh Prizzard. she sounds shocked.

Before Raina began to explain for him half of his guilt had turned to boiling rage at the accusations, but unable to move he didn't even try to speak. Sonn seemmed to be getting back to his feet and chipped in slightly on his defense: "Whatever you may think, he has never used this powder. The worst he feared was catching everybody in the debilitating spell it was intended to be. He was fully willing to share in the pain to see that she would be unharmed when this passed." The rest could be inferred pretty easily, though shock and anger may cloud the mind.

I'm not sure how much the others analyze their companions, so I'll leave a bit of info on the table for yall to use in determining further reactions and interactions concerning this event. Prizzard is still childlike in many ways, having grown up avoiding people as much as he could. He has never been willing to cause lethal damage to a capture target, knowing how well his options kill (he has specifically stated that this spell is for that purpose). He has been quite protective of this group, moreso the woman he just killed, one for whom he carried obvious unrealized feelings. Nobody here had the ability to resist her grapple for long, if at all. A single bite could have infected anybody else. He had been willing to put himself and anybody nearby through the intense pain of the spell to see an immediate and uneventful end to this event which his ignorance allowed to occur. A child desperate to correct his mistakes and prevent tge potential terrible damage while out of both options and time. I think Artemis knows Prizzard quite well.

Raknesh felt a bit guilty and ashamed.
Too many close calls and stressful situations and end of the few tranquil days, breaking the false sense of security, had him overreact.

Still, excuses will have to wait.

He asked Raina about a little hope he still had.

"How bad is he?" he began, but quickly jumped to his real question
"I heard there are spell that could bring back the dead. Not wizard or sorcerer spells, but spells of divine energy.  You are very knowledgeable in that field..."

He trailed off, as asking the question might end with a crushing answer.

"What do you know about it? Can you do something or know someone who could?"

Prizzard tries to speak but coughs weakly instead and slowly starts to move toward standing. "An arcanist could preserve the body, any major city should have a priest capable of resurrection. Although the powder drew out divine energy, which may complicate things. I should mention: Master took a chip of Stephans bone for the same purpose, though lacking the full body requires an exceedingly talented priest."

Seeing Prizzard struggle to stand, Raknesh moved quickly toward him and extended his hand.

His plea obvious in the gesture, although he said nothing and barely looked at the man in the eyes. Not in disdain or disgust but more in a struggle and unable to ask him to forget his accusations.

Prizzard rejects Raknesh's attempts to help, twisting away and trying to stand on his own, only to fall to the ground again. Loden puts a sympathetic hand on Raknesh's shoulder as if to apologize for Prizzard's anger.

Raina sighs at the conversation and shoots Prizzard a disapproving look for his reaction while she's at it. He's right, the powder...complicates things. If this were a simple death we could have a much easier time but this... She looks like she wants to sit down, suddenly exhausted and you can see stress in her green eyes. The powder has linked her to the underworld. I'm afraid the only way out is to go in after her. I can arrange that but it will be risky. Very risky. Raknesh, you can attest to that she adds drily. Remember your little rescue of Stefan those months back? This will be worse. As for Stefan, I wish to the gods that we could bring him back while we were at it but...he chose to die. He willingly gave up his life. Noble as that was, it has marked him a servant of my father. Death does not relinquish anyone easily but when someone chooses to join his ranks, it is nearly impossible to free them. That's why... her voice thickens with sadness, I have not suggested as much before

She's silent a long moment before continuing. I am willing to go after Tanzy under one condition. You two need to find a way to work together and put this nastiness behind you. It will take all of our ability if we're to survive and I don't want bitterness and pride mucking things up. I refuse to go until you can assure me of this. For Tanzy's sake, put your anger behind you. Both of you. That said, Prizzard you should know something. You may have burned yourself out...permanently. There's no way of knowing. Your powers could come back tomorrow or they could be gone forever. That is the risk of drawing too much from the black powder. It is very dangerous. You may be limited in your ability to help, but that said I am hoping to avoid confrontation as much as possible. If there's any way we can get in and out without notice, we have to try. And we have to hurry.


Tanzy: pm

Pm

He lies still, thinking on her words. Sonn seems to focus on him for a while and Prizzards face seems to emote a conversation, the only one hearing Sonn for a moment. Sonn does take a moment to send a thought to most of those nearby.

Bryon nodded, "I agree, I'll go and help, but only if you two can have a D'entente."

Raina's comment about Prizzard having burned his abilities increased -greatly- the weight on Raknesh's shoulders.

So, after a moment with his head slightly inclined, a posture he often took while 'talking' with Rocky, he nodded and made another attempt.

"I am sorry, Prizzard.  I let the shock dictate my words... my masters would be so disappointed...   I thought we could take it slow and did not factor the risk of contamination... I was foolish, maybe more than you..."

Prizzard just nods, visibly calming before speaking with some difficulty through the lingering pain and feelings: "My father would be dissappointed in me as well. We try to work together without talking, sparring, and learning one-another. Mutual respect only makes a group of individuals, not a team. Finally we share something other than duty.. At least, that sounds like what he would say. So before we do anything else reckless, you will fight me, as soon as I have my feet back." Anger leaves his words quickly and by the end there is even a friendly tone, hope for a bond finally after all these months. It really seems to be a normal thing for his people, both the Rashemi and mercenary families he has had.

The fight need not be played out. Artemis may weigh stats or simulate it out as she sees fit. I'd rather not hold up the story and sidequest for personal roleplay.

It is some time later before the fight is finished. Raina watches with mild exasperation, clearly not understanding the need to "pummel the life out of each other at a time like this," as she described it. Loden, however, seems to see the need and he watches intently. Halek still has not returned though Raina says he will when the powder fades a bit more.

At last when things are done you're both feeling absolutely thrashed, especially poor Prizzard who has had a very intense night. Satisfied that it's over at last, Raina steps forward.

Alright, if that's done with we'll need to get started. I'll have to put you in a trance and then your souls can cross over, leaving your bodies behind. Loden, Althol and Halek can stay behind to guard us but we'll need to find someplace safer than the middle of the woods. A cave or a village, something not out in the open at least. You should know, if you die in the underworld your soul stays there and your body will wither away here. Raknesh has been there, he knows what manner of place we're going. Also, magic works differently there. It will be hard to focus and it will be challenging to produce anything. Your weapons will not be transported with you, but I believe I can find replacements. If any wishes to stay behind, now is the time to speak your peace.

Tanzy: pm

Panting, surprised Prizzard was able to fight that much despite his current state, and promising himself to redo his formation's first training to put himself back in shape, Raknesh listened to Raina's explanations.

"You said Prizzard had burned his abilities, what did you mean exactly and how will it impact him here... and there..." he finished with a gloomy tone, remembering all too well his last trip.

"Here.. I may need to drop my arcana research and practice to focus more on the weapon and maneuvers." He's already pulling out gauze and ointments for their bruises, scrapes, and other 'nonlethal' injuries.

Raknesh had the obvious advantage through the fight, Prizzard is just used to taking pretty seriois damage, takes longer to wear him out.

Pm

Raina considers Raknesh's question. The powder, it draws from the user's abilities and enhances them. It's extremely easy to use too much of your own strength and damage your abilities permanently. Like I said, it's difficult to tell if the effect is lasting for him or if it will come back. Knowing Prizzard, I think there's a good chance he'll come out of it but he has to be careful. As for the underworld, you probably recall the troubles you had with your own abilities? You have to struggle to find the connection with your bodies, which are very far away from your souls. That is why it is so difficult to concentrate, you have to find your way home to yourself in a way each time. I have an unfair advantage of course but for you two she nods to Raknesh and Bryon, well....we'll see. I'll try my best to minimize our combat though. However, I can promise nothing for those who wish to go with me. she finishes darkly.

Tanzy: Pm

"Prizzard, are you ready? I'm not sure my mindlink will work there, but telepathic communication would be very useful, and we are both accustomed to it."

Bryon continued to stay back and out of the way.

Pm

"Ready as I can be. Hopefully my spirit is in better health than my body." Prizzard lies comfortably, almost asleep with weariness after some quick bandaging.