"Living mercenaries," Maeve hisses at Reginald.  "Which we soon won't be unless you be quiet and let us assess the situation!"

See if you can get them to stand down (fly down?) and let us pass.  If not, we knock them out of the sky.  The chasm isn't a threat.  We can just step over it.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 983):

Ooh!  I've got it!  Keef claps his hands.  What if... what IF!  What if they had... I mean if something were to fly at them and dash down the pit?  Maybe they'd chase it... then maybe everyone could sneak over the chasm.... then the flying thing could vanish into thin air and join up with you!

Interesting plan, Keef.  I assume the flying thing will be you in this situation?  What did you have in mind?

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 986):

Well... not ME me, but yeah.  Not sure what's fast enough...

Keef looks sternly at Longshank.

Do you have any ideas?  A really fast flier, not too big though.

In reply to Keef (msg # 987):

A peregrine falcon?

Zuriel looks around, suddenly very self-conscious. Lyriel finishes tucking his tabard on around him, straightening it and smoothing out the wrinkles. Upon an encouraging word from her, he nudges Shahara forward.

The paladins around him fall back as Zuriel approaches the Knight-Captain and his command squad. Shahara whinnies, unusually nervous in the presence of so many other celestial chargers. [Private to Lyriel Vesper: Zuriel pulls Lyriel tightly to him, left arm encircling her waist, drawing strength from her presence.]

Hold your head high, Shahara, he says, though the words were more for his own benefit than hers. We have done well today.

Shahara comes to a stop a few paces before Edrahil. Slowly, Zuriel takes off his helmet.

"Hello, Father," he finally says.

In reply to DM (msg # 988):

Hmmmm... I wonder if a demon would chase a falcon... would chase a swallow... if it could carry something demon's want... maybe a coconut?  I don't think we have one of those.  Hmmmm...

"That's not a bad idea, both of you," Maeve says thoughtfully.  "Keef could transform one of you fellows into a falcon, you lead the erinyes on a merry chase, and we either use the opportunity to make our escape. . . .or to be up here waiting for them with weapons drawn and spells readied."

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 991):

Oh well... maybe they DO have more experience as birds... but I thought I could be the one to distract them.

"I think you'd make a fine bird, Keef."

[OOC: My bad, I somehow gleaned from your posts that you couldn't transmogrify yourself anymore today, but *could* transform others. . . .I dunno.  Anyway, feel free to bird out.]

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 993):

Which do you think demons like chasing most: birds or small dragons?

Keef is already in the process of stowing his belongings and rolling up his sleeves, so to speak.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 993):

The Spire

The silence that follows Zuriel's announcement is so profound and absolute that you can almost hear the tormented wailing of the souls of the damned in the nonexistent wind.

Almost.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:39, Tue 29 July 2014.

In reply to DM (msg # 995):

"I am... surprised and overjoyed," the knight-captain says at last, "to publicly commend the bravery of Knight-Errant Zuriel Silendril and Lady Lyriel Vesper in their extraordinarily duplicitous actions."

"Which, in this case, is meritorious," he clarifies, to the assorted chuckles of a few of the higher-ups standing nearby. Though his face displays a smile, his eyes hold another message: When this is over, we're going to have a nice, long chat.

"Now then," Edrahil says, loosening his warhammer and approaching the spire's front door. "Let us deal the final blow to whatever resistance awaits us inside. Advance!"

Without further ado, Edrahil, his flag-bearer (whom you recognize as Lt. Faye, from Ikuabai), Zuriel, and Lyriel enter the lobby of the spire -- leaving a sizable ring of paladins outside for protection.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Mon 28 July 2014.

"Oh small dragon, without a doubt," Maeve says, enthusiastic about the notion of Keef transforming into her favorite mythical beast.

"Assuming that we're all agreed on this plan, that is."

This place feels wholly wrong. The fire...are we in the Hells?! And is that man your...sire? Shahara whinnies, clearly overwhelmed by the events of the past few moments.

Yes and yes, Zuriel replies. I promise I'll explain more later. For now, be on your guard. The demons could be back.

Zuriel and Lyriel dismount as gracefully as expected, given the awkward seating arrangement, conscious of the dozens of pairs of eyes upon them. The paladin gives his charger an affectionate pat, leaving her to guard the base of the tower, but not before empowering her with a couple spells.

[Golden Barding; One Mind]

Incantations completed, Zuriel joins his father wordlessly, drawing his sword and shield in anticipation of combat. The longbow he passes back to Lyriel.

He nods a greeting to Lieutenant Faye.

So, she made it after all. I am glad.

Lyriel takes her place next to Zuriel. She twists her signet ring, sheathing herself in armor.

[Barkskin]

She then quickly incants a spell for protection, and a circle of emerald runes appears at her feet.

[Magic Circle Against Evil > centered on self]

The remainder of the tower's defenders should have fled, Lyriel says. Unable to fathom the conflicting emotions in Edrahil's visage, she felt it safest to stick to the business at hand. To my knowledge, only the mage remains. I don't know if the tower has any magical defenses, or if it does, whether or not they have been activated. The top of the tower contains a significant amount of spells and material. We ought to make haste to apprehend Brooks before he either manages to send a message to his superiors, destroy the supplies, or both.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 999):

"Fled?" Edrahil responds, somewhat sharply. "To where? Is this not a bottleneck?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Mon 28 July 2014.

"There is a warren of tunnels below this peninsula that are somehow connected across planes. That's how we managed to make it here. The former denizens of the tower are likely fleeing through them now." Zuriel narrows his eyes upward. "Except for Brooks."

Zuriel looks at his father's expression. "I'll explain it in more depth later. It's all rather complicated. For now, the best thing we can do to thwart this evil is to apprehend the mage above us before he can send any messages, and secure the tower."

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 1001):

For Keef, Maeve's backing is clearly enough.

He spreads his arms and begins to encant. His arms lengthen while his clothes fade into his body.  Keef's neck and face stretch oddly, hair receeding and giving way to a crest of thin spines.  His backpack molds itself into a long tail and soon Keef the boy is Keefdragon and though he retains the golden red shimmer of magical armor, it is now over glimmering armored scales.  These scales are nearly black in the poor light, but glimmers from your torches reveal a faint greenish tinge.

[OOC: Polymorph, "Very Young" Green Dragon]

Chubbs, having seen a far more impressive dragon before, is not impressed.

In reply to Keef (msg # 1002):

The Spire

"We shall comb those tunnels, as well, then,," the knight-captain says resolutely. "The more of these dark-hearted miscreants we apprehend, the stronger our case against their organization will be in court."

He looks around the lobby for a basement of some sort, but finds none.

"Where are they?"

In reply to Edrahil Silendril (msg # 1003):

The Tunnels

The mages whistle appreciatively as Keef transforms into a dragon, though Reginald is giving Chubbs run for his money in the apathy department.

"Will you get on with it?" he says, his voice lower than before but still much too loud.

"The spell!" Les says, looking nervously at Drake. "I... er... we left the passwall spell active. Anyone could follow us!"

Drake glares at him, more annoyed than anything else.

"Then go back and dispel it," he says slowly. "If you lack the capacity, plug the gap with your addle-brained body. We don't need Crusaders following us, or else Brooks died for nothing."

Les swallows and hurries off back the way you came, leaving you with Drake, the unnamed mage, Stevens, and Reginald.

Zuriel gestures outside to the shed. "That leads down to the labyrinth. If you intend to give chase, then we will accompany you to show you the way as best we can. The tunnels are filled with traps, devils, and demons. But I urge you to waste no time in securing the tower, and the last mage. He cannot be allowed to get off a message, sabotage the supplies, or destroy the body of evidence here. Oh, that reminds me!"

The paladin reaches into his pouch, and pulls out the missive from the imp. "As the new master of the tower, this is rightfully addressed to you, Father," he says with a wry smile. "I don't know the extent of the OSA's dealings with the natives, but this certainly indicates that it was not entirely hostile."

And now my bargain is fulfilled.

"Whichever course of action you decide on, let us hurry. They have a fair head start."

Lyriel speaks up. Sir Silendril, she says, clearly addressing the elder, I would recommend you order the bodies of all the fallen soldiers and mages to be gathered. With a little bit of time, either myself or my fellow priestesses can learn much from speaking with them.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Tue 29 July 2014.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 1006):

Will Sir Silendril order troops into the tunnels, or attempt to take the spire from the nefarious Brooks? Will Keef the Dragon be able to successfully distract the disgusting erinyes guarding the passage? And will Chubbs ever find something worth croaking about?

Find out NEXT TIME, in The Game: Chapter 10, Part Deux!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:05, Wed 01 Mar 2017.