Maz's logs

[Corwin]

[15:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> With luck, cleverness, and, some might say, skill, Al'Maz Nebes had managed to flee her former family
 without getting caught. Since then, she'd set to work putting distance between them and her, eventually crossing the border of
 Narfell and finding her way into Damara.
[15:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> It was hard for her to easily travel around Damara, though. The somewhat grim and suspicious folk who
 lived there had little sympathy for a rogue tiefling on the run. Instead of travelling near main cities, she found it simpler to
 wander around them, crossing low mountains as she went on.
[15:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Already she'd had to defend herself against a few hungry predators, though, and perhaps it was time to
 start heading to a better place. The area she was travelling through now was bitterly cold, cold enough that she even felt it a
 little.
[15:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> As if that wasn't enough, it was constantly windy, too, blowing snow into her eyes and generally being
 a pain. Nonetheless, the area around was kind of pretty; a blanket of snow to one side, and a mountain range on the other- very
 close, you could run to it if need be.
[15:06] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Suddenly, however, an arrow shoots by the side of Maz's head! Turning about, you see a sight you hadn't
 expect to see for a long time, if ever.
[15:06] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Shirking your duties, sister dear?" comes the voice of Re'laizary Nebes, your sister. A veil over her
 face, she's clad in thick red clothing from head to toe, a billowing cloak covered with snow, and horrible sneer that only you
 know.
[15:06] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> With her are five or six humans, swathed in heavy clothing to keep out the cold. Hired mecenaries,
 perhaps? Either the way, they're all holding spears. And, dammit, the light blizzard is dying down, leaving them all with clear
 sight of you.
[15:06] * Altruistic-GM-Rat sets mode: +v Maz
[15:09] * Maz frowns. "Well, there's a sight I didn't expect to see for a long time, if ever," Maz deadpans.
[15:11] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Because you're a fool, as always," replies Re'Laizary. "Did you honestly think we'd let you go? Did
 you honestly think *I'd* let you go?"
[15:14] <Maz> "Hey, Sis, remember this?" Maz calls out, grabbing her stolen crossbow, and centering it on Relly. "How does it feel
 to be on the other side of 'Mad Badger' for a change?"
[15:15] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "You couldn't hit that mountain if you were standing next to it!" taunts back Relly, levelling her bow
 at you. One of the humans gives a signal- they start to move forward. They don't charge, though- the snow makes reckless movement
 like that impossible.
[15:15] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Roll init.
[15:18] <Maz> roll 1d20+3
[15:18] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+3 --> 12,0 15
[15:19] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+4, 6 , Total: 10
[15:19] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+1, 3 , Total: 4
[15:19] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Your move.
[15:19] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: And remember that you can move *and* shoot.
[15:23] * Maz carefully points the crossbow at the leader of the humans, and pulls the trigger, regretting that she has to be
 practical at a time like this, before moving backwards, out of reach of her pursuers.
[15:24] <Maz> roll 1d20+4
[15:24] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+4 --> 12,0 5
[15:24] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The bolt flies wide, managing to hit nothing at all.
[15:25] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Relly then releases her hand, sending an arrow flying back at you!
[15:25] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+7, 11 , Total: 18
[15:25] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d8, 6 , Total: 6
[15:25] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Ouch! The bitch hit you right in the shoulder! That's an awful wound- blood is already seeping into the
 snow, tinted red.
[15:26] <Maz> "I've always, always hated you," Maz says spitefully. "And I'll set your favorite crossbow on fire the moment I get
 rid of you once and for all."
[15:27] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Fire? I thought ice was your thing," spits back Relly, nocking another arrow.
[15:27] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Your move. What direction are you going in?
[15:28] <Maz> "My hatred of you trumps that of fire." Maz almost shrugs, but thinks better of it.
[15:28] * Maz attempts to head towards the mountain range during her retreat
[15:28] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Action?
[15:29] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: You can just run away
[15:29] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: And you'll move further and possibly out of easy range
[15:29] <Maz> OOC: Not before I hurt her  >_<
[15:29] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Reloading that crossbow is a move action so you have to stand still to do it
[15:29] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Or you can reload and move
[15:37] * Maz's eyes glow, as she holds her free hand in front of her, bluish energy gathering in front of it, while she chants
 softly. Then, in a sudden motion, Maz slams that hand against her chest, calling out, "Mage Armor!" as her features become
 slightly obscured with an icy aura.
[15:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Moving still?
[15:38] <Maz> OOC: Prior to casting, yes
[15:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Okies.
[15:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Relly snarls as she sees the spell, and she moves forward, too, firing as she runs!
[15:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+6, 11 , Total: 17
[15:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: New AC?
[15:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Er that's 1d20+5
[15:39] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: brainfart
[15:39] <Maz> OOC: New AC is 17  >_>
[15:39] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Luck out, is you
[15:40] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The Arrow *spangs* off your armour just as you finish casting it, the shaft shattering- you even
 stumble back a bit from the force of the arrow, but aren't otherwise troubled.
[15:41] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> One of the humans tries to charge forward, but trips and falls facefirst in the snow. The other keep
 closing in on you- well, they would, if you weren't moving back so hurriedly.
[15:41] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Your shot, again.
[15:43] * Maz drinks the potion while still retreating, pausing for a moment to give Relly the evil eye
[15:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: 1d8+1 yeah
[15:44] <Maz> roll 1d8+1
[15:44] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d8+1 --> 12,0 7
[15:45] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The wound closes up completely, leaving only stained clothing as evidence of the arrow that hit you.
 You're very close to the mountain range, now- you can see a trail that leads up and across the mountain. It starts off fairly
 wide, so you could run up it without a problem, but you can see it starts to narrow as it twists around.
[15:46] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Relly's angry, and the snow around her is melting thanks to her apparently physical rage. She notches
 another arrow, and lets fly...
[15:46] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+5, 12 , Total: 17
[15:46] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Maaaaaaaaaaaan.
[15:46] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d8, 2 , Total: 2
[15:46] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> It grazes your leg but doesn't do much serious damage. Hurts like a bitch, though.
[15:48] * Maz moves towards the trail, while loading up the crossbow, muttering about evil bitch sisters.
[15:50] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The humans approach the cliff trail but there's not much room- they can't effectively climb up.
 Eventually, Relly just shouts, 'You'll just get in the way! Wait here!' and starts heading up the trail after you. She doesn't
 shoot this round, though, apparently eager to get closer.
[15:51] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The trail ahead twists up around the mountain. You could try running up- but it gets awfully thin, and
 you're not sure if you could keep your balance.
[15:51] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The alternative, of course, being Relly.
[15:52] * Maz concentrates on her studies, recalling a spell her great-grandfather found very useful, according to family history.
 She makes several quick motions with her right hand over the crossbow she holds in the other, tracing translucent blue lines over
 it in the shape of a pentagram. "Evil or not," she mutters, "you'll still do what I say."
[15:53] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Relly tries to shoot you again, though the twisted mountain path gives you some degree of cover.
[15:53] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+7, 19 , Total: 26
[15:53] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: You are seriously the most unlucky player I've had yet
[15:53] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> roll 1d8
[15:53] <Rei-chan> 12,0Altruistic-GM-Rat rolled :12,0 1d8 --> 12,0 3
[15:54] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The arrow neatly slams into your other shoulder, if lightly. Still, it really hruts, and you're
 bleeding a fair bit, now. Damn! When was Relly this good? You didn't have trouble dodging before!
[15:55] * Ginrai is on IRC (Ginrai)
[15:57] <Maz> "DiedieDIE!" Maz screams. "You're going to be the one to go back and be the bride of a demonic cow, not me!"
[15:57] <Maz> roll 1d20+25
[15:57] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+25 --> 12,0 30
[15:57] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: hit lawl
[15:58] * Maz glares Relly in the eye, firing her favorite crossbow at her
[15:58] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Damage.
[15:58] <Maz> roll 1d8
[15:58] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d8 --> 12,0 3
[15:58] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: EXCITING
[15:58] <Maz> OOC: Dammit
[15:59] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The bolt hits Relly in the arm, causing her to lose grip of her next arrow, which tumbles off into the
 snow.
[15:59] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Snarling, she starts to head towards you more quickly...
[15:59] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+8, 12 , Total: 20
[16:00] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> ..and she's almost next to you! As the path goes on, it gets even thinner, until you'd be forced to
 sidle along very slowly, unless you wanted to risk falling down, hitting a few rocks, and probably dying a messy death in the
 snow at the bottom (that path was steeper than it looked).
[16:07] * Maz panics slightly, but tries not to let it show on her face. She mutters the words for her next spell, bright lines
 outlining her free hand, flaring up briefly before settling into a pattern. Ready, she shoves that hand towards Relly's face, her
 palm facing her, casting Light while averting her own eyes.
[16:07] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: You're using your hand as the focus for light?
[16:07] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Ok.
[16:07] <Maz> OOC: Yes
[16:07] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+4, 14 , Total: 18
[16:07] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: er ignore that
[16:08] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The bright light stuns Relly for a second, causing her to recoil! You've got just enough time to move
 ahead again, onto the narrow ledge.
[16:12] * Maz moves onto the ledge, getting away from her twin, chants once more. This time, tiny motes of icy light spread from
 her hand everywhere, instead of gathering there. They turn into snowflakes, and then melt mid-air, creating a fog which covers
 the area.
[16:13] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> You hear Relly scream in frustration. While you have a decent idea of the footing you'll need to get
 across here, you know for sure Relly doesn't, and if she plows on anyway she'll probably fall.
[16:14] * Maz resists the strong urge to taunt Relly, and concentrates on getting away from her. She'll be back, anyway.
[16:16] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The mountain path widens out a little again, making the going easier. It goes up.. and up.. and up...
 and this trail appears to be the only way down. You don't have the equipment to try scaling the mountain, and with the wind
 picking up again you're not sure you'd want to try even if you did.
[16:18] * Maz ponders. Mountain to the front of her, Relly at the back. Crazy Relly with a brand new crossbow. And a better ability
 to shoot it.
[16:19] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: She was packing a longbow, actually. >_>
[16:19] * Maz offers a quick prayer to her patron deity as she begins the climb.
[16:19] <Maz> OOC: Like I'd know the difference  <_<
[16:19] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Mechanical contraption vs. self bow, not hard. PD
[16:21] <Maz> OOC: Don't think you actually mentioned what she had
[16:21] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The wind buffets you as you climb, the cold ever-present. You can hear the air groaning as the icy air
 rushes through it. The mountain path, however, is not as treacherous as it could be. You manage to ascend higher.. higher.. and
 higher.. until you reach.. a door? Small and nondescript, it's just a regular wooden door (untouched by snow) in the side of the
 mountain.
[16:21] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Ah well, you probably couldnt' see.
[16:24] * Maz looks at the door curiously, and then takes out the wand she carries for situations like this, commanding,
 "Activate," while pointing the wand at it.
[16:25] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The door radiates very faint abjuration magic.
[16:26] * Maz shrugs, and puts the wand away, before knocking.
[16:26] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The knocks, if anyone hears them, go unanswered.
[16:27] * Maz waits a moment for a response, and then tries to open the door.
[16:27] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> It opens smoothly, revealing a spiral staircase that apparently descends down into the mountain. It's
 very dusty, and you can see some unlit torches on the walls. Your hand is still glowing, though, so it's not a problem.
[16:28] * Maz enters the doorway, taking care to close the door behind her, and descends cautiously.
[16:29] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The stairwell descends only a short distance- nowhere near the base of the mountain- before you reach
 what seems to be the scene of some carnage.
[16:30] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The room you enter is a single, large, circular one. The walls are very smooth- someone took their time
 making this place- and covered with broken.. stuff. Alchemical tools, a burnt bookshelf, an upturned pot and a slashed apart
 bed.. a wizards laboratory, raided and destroyed.
[16:31] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The floor is covered by an intricate magic circle, the etchings covering every inch of the stony ground.
[16:32] * Maz notches an arrow into her crossbow, for all the good it would do her, and then activates her wand once more.
[16:32] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The sides of the room radiate faint traces of all kinds of magic; the latent energies left behind in
 any wizarding lab. The ground, however, clearly radiates conjuration magic- if only a little.
[16:35] * Maz looks for any other exits out of the room, combing it carefully
[16:35] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Search check ho
[16:36] <Maz> roll 1d20+5
[16:36] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 15
[16:36] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> You spend several minutes searching, but you can't seem to locate an alternate exit. It's possible that
 if there was such an exit, it would be magical in nature- and if your detect magic spell didn't get it, you'd have a real hard
 time finding it.
[16:36] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> While you're finishing up your search, though, you hear footsteps coming from the stairwell...
[16:38] * Maz looks for a place in the room where she could set up an ambush for whomever is going down the stairs
[16:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> You might be able to shift some furniture and set up an improptu barricade, if you hurry.
[16:39] * Maz moves some of the ruined furniture closer together, then hides behind it, training her crossbow on the entrance
[16:40] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> You see a slight figure peer around the corner of the stairwell.
[16:40] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+6, 14 , Total: 20
[16:41] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Don't think I can't see you.. Maz..," comes the seething voice of Relly. "You can't run. You can't
 hide. I'll find you, wherever you go, you bitch, and I'll drag you back if it's the last thing I do."
[16:42] * Maz ignores her sister for the time being, waiting on her to make the first move
[16:43] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> There's silence for a moment, then Relly rushes out from behind cover! She's not holding her bow
 anymore, but a cruel-looking longsword. "I won't be sacrificed! You'll be the one they take!" she screams, charging towards you!
[16:43] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: You got one shot, girl. >_>
[16:43] <Maz> roll 1d20+5
[16:43] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 6
[16:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Relly ducks under the bolt that flies towards her, closing distance with you at incredible speed!
 Kicking aside your barricade, she lunges at you, sword in hand!
[16:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+4, 20 , Total: 24
[16:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+4, 1 , Total: 5
[16:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: SO
[16:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: LUCKY
[16:44] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d8+1, 3 , Total: 4
[16:45] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> She slashes across your chest, a vicious blow! You can't help but choke back a scream as the blade cuts
 across your unarmoued chest. Relly closes in, and behind her veil you can see her eager, face, her tounge licking her protuding
 fangs.
[16:55] <Maz> "Oh, but you'd fit right in at Hell," Maz returns, grimacing. Swirling energy begins gathering in her right palm,
 taking on a decidedly frosty appearance. "How about I send you there now?" she says with confidence, pulling on her hand while
 willing a burnt book to fly at Relly's head from behind.
[16:56] <Maz> roll 1d20+7
[16:56] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+7 --> 12,0 20
[16:57] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: uh.. 1d3 for damage?
[16:57] <Maz> roll 1d3
[16:57] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d3 --> 12,0 1
[16:57] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The burnt book smacks into Relly's head, jolting it a little. "Don't fuck with me!" she screams,
 plunging her sword forward!
[16:57] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+4, 12 , Total: 16
[16:58] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> It's just deflected off your magic armour- just!
[16:58] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Your shoooot.
[17:00] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> The blood from your earlier wound has spilled into the etchings of the magic circle- and is flowing
 around and around it, filling up all of the tiny gaps.
[17:05] * Maz snarls, and curls the fingers of her right hand. "You'll never take me back!" she promises, moving away from Relly.
 Getting to the center of the magic circle, she begins chanting the words for her strongest spell. Not that it would work all that
 well on her sister, she thinks sadly, but even a bit of frostbite would be welcome right now.
[17:05] <Maz> Glyphs appear over her fingertips, quickly coalescing into snowflakes, which begin swirling in her cupped hand.
[17:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> As you back away, Relly lunges towards you, hoping to finish it here!
[17:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d20+4, 16 , Total: 20
[17:05] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> : 1d8+1, 2 , Total: 3
[17:06] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> This time, her blade stabs though into your gut. Your spell flees from your mind, replaced with
 incredible agony, and your vision starts to dim. As your eyesight narrows, you make out Relly's grinning face.. but somehow, it
 doesn't seem so bad now. You feel postively ethreal, like you're fading away.
[17:08] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> And Relly's face changes from a grin to shock, and then to anger. Her sort slips out of you, as if it
 was never there, and she screams, "You'll never get away, Maz! I'll find you! I'll always find you! I'll rip your legs off and
 drag you back home through the underdark, if I have to! You hear me? I'm not taking the fall for you! Never!"
[17:08] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> And then your vision slips away, soon replaced by.. a house? "Tibur? Is that you- my god! Who are
 you?!" is the last thing you hear before you slip into unconciousness.
[17:09] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> <-Timeskip of several hours!->
[17:10] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Later.. you can't really tell how long, you wake up. While you were asleep, someone apparently changed
 your clothes and dealt with your wounds (full HP again). You feel.. not awful. Tired, perhaps, but better than you should for
 someone who just got stabbed in the gut.
[17:10] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> You're in a fairly cosy little house- you can hear the sounds of a town or something outside, and
 someone is cooking something in a kitchen.
[17:12] * Maz blinks, and stretches her limbs, before taking note of the room she's in
[17:13] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> It's nice. Not similar at all to where you came from- just a fairly ordinary room. You can see your
 gear piled in a corner of it, though. The door is closed.
[17:14] * Maz gets up off the bed, and quickly goes through her gear to make sure everything is still in place
[17:14] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> Everything's still there- including your spellbook and your scrolls, you note with relief.
[17:16] * Maz pockets one particular scroll, and then makes sure she's presentable, before heading towards the door and opening it.
[17:16] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Oh, you're awake? Feeling better?" comes a soft voice- a girl, cooking some stew in a kitchen. "You
 gave me quite the fright, you know."
[17:17] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> She's a pleasant enough young lady, with brown hair and wearing a long blue dress.
[17:17] <Maz> "Umm, if you say so," Maz says, shifting uncomfortably. "I do feel much better now. Thank you."
[17:18] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "How did you end up here?" she asks, turning towards you with a raised eyebrow. "Did Tibur send you?"
[17:20] <Maz> "Actually, it was an accident," Maz replies, raking her brains for any mention of this Tibur. "A bunch of evil
 tieflings attacked me, and I got transported elsewhere right before they finished me off."
[17:21] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "I see. I didn't really think he could have. He wouldn't send you here in your condition," replies the
 girl, shaking her head. "Well. Tieflings, you say. Why were tieflings attacking you in the middle of a mountain in distant
 Damara?"
[17:21] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Especially seeing as you are one of their fellows," she adds, nonchalantly.
[17:24] <Maz> "Oh, that's because I'm only evil lite," Maz responds just as nonchalantly. "They hate it something fierce, it seems.
 Black sheep of the family and all that."
[17:26] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "I see," replies the girl, turning back to the stewpot. "I suppose you have no idea that you're
 currently in Tethyr. Saradush, to be precise. Quite a ways from Darama. I hope you have no unfinished business, there."
[17:30] <Maz> "It's a bit warm for my tastes, but I'll manage," she replies. "So, who's this Tibur you were talking about?"
[17:33] * Ana-breakfast is now known as Anastasia
[17:33] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "My mentor," replies the woman, shrugging slightly. "I have not heard from him for some time, though.
 The circle which you used to escape was his defense mechanism. However.. I fear it may have failed him. Now I see, at least, that
 his spell was active." She turns to you again, and waggles a finger slightly. "And, now. I healed you, and you only escaped by
 using up his spell. Would you be adverse to.. a favour, perhaps?"
[17:34] <Maz> "I'm not marrying anyone," Maz automatically says.
[17:35] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Not quite what I had in mind," replies the girl. "No. Rather, the mayor of this town. He has asked me
 to do some.. adventuring work for him." The girl sniffs slightly. "I owe him one, so I had to agree. But I'd much rather you took
 my place in return for patching you up. I have things to do, you see."
[17:36] * Maz blinks. "Do I get paid?"
[17:36] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Definately," replies the woman. "I wasn't planning on working for free, if I had to work."
[17:37] <Maz> "Tell me more," Maz says, after thinking it over. "If it sounds like fun, I'll do it."
[17:38] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "I don't know much, to be honest," replies the girl. "But tonight, the mayor is gathering together a
 group in order to explain things to them. He specifically asked me to come along, but I'm sure he won't mind trading one mage for
 another."
[17:41] <Maz> "You seem to be into healing," Maz casually mentions. "Do you make potions as well?"
[17:42] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "No. I have some handy from the Clerics of Waukeen, though," she replies.
[17:43] <Maz> "I'm kinda interested in doing this adventure, but I had to use all of mine in the... well, earlier." Maz shrugs.
 "I'd feel unprepared going into the unknown without anything to help me, should anything happen."
[17:45] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Well. You can buy some more?" replies the girl, tentatively. "The clerics sell them fairly cheaply.
[17:46] <Maz> "Kinda short on money at the moment." Maz shrugs then. "I could pay you back after I get paid myself, though."
[17:46] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> "Fair enough, then," replies the girl. "I assume you'll look into the job, then."
[17:47] * Maz nods. "Money's always nice to have on hand."
[17:48] <Altruistic-GM-Rat> OOC: Ok, we'll finish here for now, I'll tell you what you get ooc.

[Corwin]

[17:48] <Carthrat> Go nuts.
[17:49] * Maz finally reaches her final destination at the marketplace, having purchased a new travel outfit, a dozen sheets of parchment and some ink to replenish her supplies.
[17:50] * Maz looks for a cleric to approach with her question.
[17:51] <Carthrat> There are a few wandering around, all smiles and quick words.
[17:52] * Maz heads towards the nearest one, and greets him with a simple "Hello" to gain his attention.
[17:53] <Carthrat> "Greetings," replies the cleric. "What can I do for you?"
[17:56] <Maz> "There are certain things I haven't been able to spot at this otherwise-impressive market," she says, a touch of disappointment coloring her voice, "and I was wondering if maybe you could spare a moment and help point me in the right direction?"
[17:57] <Carthrat> "Mmm. Certainly," replies the cleric, nodding. "What is you wish to buy.. or sell?"
[17:59] <Maz> "A little bit of both," Maz says, smiling slightly, but not so much to show her teeth. "I'm mostly interested in several simple scrolls, and perhaps a wand. Would the temple of Waukeen have a way of procuring those items?"
[18:00] <Carthrat> "There is always a way, and always a price," replies the cleric. "Of course, I take it you are interested in those wands and scrolls of an arcane nature, hmm?"
[18:04] * Maz nods, saying, "Of course, how astute of you." She pauses for a moment, and then continues, "I am glad that there is a way, but what is the price, if I wanted to purchase, say, a scroll of Hypnotism? Or a wand of magic missiles?"
[18:04] <Carthrat> "With regard to such things, the way is long," replies the cleric, musing. "You must understand first that there is little supply or demand for such things in Saradush."
[18:05] <Carthrat> "It's not impossible for us to procure such things.. but they require time and effort. As for price, well, I would not be the one to ask, unforunately."
[18:06] * Maz nods again. "I understand. This also brings us to my other question.... Would the temple be interested in ordering a few simple scrolls, instead of having to go all that way when there is a need?"
[18:08] <Carthrat> "Are you offering yourself as a supplier?" replies the cleric, nodding. "It would certainly be useful to us to have one willing to produce such things."
[18:10] <Maz> "Yes," Maz responds. "I am still but a novice, but I am able to create many of the simple arcane scrolls. And it seems I would be staying in Saradush for the foreseeable future."
[18:11] <Carthrat> "Mmm. I will make sure your talents become known, if that is your wish," says the cleric. "There may be several interested parties."
[18:14] <Maz> "Thank you for your help," Maz says amiably. "It is indeed my wish. And would you be able to direct me towards someone I could ask regarding the price for procuring that scroll I inquired about earlier?"
[18:18] <Carthrat> "I can look into the matter for you," replies the cleric.
[18:19] <Carthrat> "Certainly, if you are willing to sell and provide magical scrolls, we will look to open more avenues of trade for such a thing. I must stress that our options here are limited, but I can see what we can do."
[18:19] <Maz> "Excellent!" the mage exclaims. "My name is Maz, and I am staying with Linda at the moment. I look forward to hearing from you again, hopefully with good news."
[18:20] <Carthrat> "Linda? The name is not known to me," replies the cleric, blinking.
[18:21] * Maz frowns, but then details the way to her house to the cleric.
[18:22] <Carthrat> "I will send a letter if your services are required, then," notes the cleric.
[18:23] <Maz> "I thank you again," she tells him, and nods.

[Corwin]

[16:32] <Carthrat> Set yourself up, hanging around Linda's house, I presume
[16:32] * Serith (~iron_drag@c-67-163-114-219.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
[16:33] * Maz returns from the temple, holding several packages she'd purchased on the market.
[16:34] <Carthrat> The door is locked. Well, honestly, you'd expect that, it *is* a private house.
[16:34] * Maz knocks on the door, and waits for an answer.
[16:35] * SirAlex (~Alex.Puff@cpe-70-112-17-192.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #dunes
[16:35] <Carthrat> There's some shuffling behind the big door, some clinks and twinks as the locks are undone, and then.. "Oh.
 You're back," says Linda, looking intrigued. "Did you find your work pleasurable, mageling?"
[16:37] * Maz nods. "It was okay, aside from a large demonic bandit. The part about getting paid certainly was fun."
[16:37] * Anastasia (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[16:37] * ChanServ sets mode: +oq Anastasia Anastasia
[16:37] <Carthrat> "I'm sure your heart sung at the concept of being equipped to pay me back," notes Linda.
[16:38] <Carthrat> "Do come in. I've just recieved this delightful kind of bean; 'coffee beans', they're called, from Mazitca.
 I'm told they make a.. powerful drink."
[16:39] * Maz shrugs, and smiles at Linda. "The thought crossed my mind, yes." She comes inside, and reaches into her money
 pouch, counting out the hundred gold coins she borrowed. She takes the rest out and places it in her pocket, and holds the
 pouch to Linda.
[16:40] * SirAlex (~Alex.Puff@cpe-70-112-17-192.austin.res.rr.com) Quit (life of lively to live to life of full life thx to
shield battery)
[16:41] * SirAlex (Alex.Puffe@cpe-70-112-17-192.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #dunes
[16:41] * Carthrat is now known as Linda
[16:41] * Linda takes the pouch, musing. "Mmm. What are your plans?" she asks, heading over to the small kitchen area.
[16:44] <Maz> "The mayor seems to think there's more work to be done around here," Maz replies as she follows Linda. "And
 Tethyr isn't exactly a place you'd think of as a mage's first destination, so it works out for me if those creeps try to
 look for me again."
[16:46] <Linda> "Unless they are not incompetent, and trace the teleportation circle to here," notes Linda, dryly. "Just how
 powerful were those chasing you?"
[16:46] <Maz> "Pretty powerful." Maz then smirks. "Pretty incompetent, though. How do you think I escaped in the first place?"
[16:48] <Linda> "I wouldn't know your circumstances well enough to say," replies Linda, mixing some kind of strong, black
 drink in a couple of mugs. "So you plan to stay, hmm? Very good. Will you be staying here? You've fallen right into my lap,
 understand, and if Tibur is truly dead, then I may need your help in the future, myself."
[16:51] * Maz shrugs noncommittally. "I'd love to stay here, if you don't mind a houseguest." She thinks for a moment. "What
 sort of help are you looking for?"
[16:54] <Linda> "All sorts of things. For starters, you can gather spell components for me," she replies, musing. "I'm a busy
 woman, you see, and you don't seem to be. Aside from that.. I presume you're going to aid the mayor with the.. ah..
 'troubles' in the area, hmm? Or don't you know, yet?"
[16:56] <Maz> "That's part of the work the mayor is looking to outsource, yes," Maz answers. "As for gathering components, I
 wouldn't mind helping you with that. Is there anything in particular you're looking for at the moment?"
[16:58] <Linda> "I'll write you a list, but you could do well simply.. taking careful note of what you see while you're doing
 the mayors business, you understand?"
[16:59] * Maz nods.
[17:02] <Linda> "Things are happening in Saradush," she goes on, handing you a mug of steaming hot liquid. "Or, more to the
 point, around Saradush. I'm not sure what your circumstances were before, but you're going to be tangled up in by virtue
 alone of landing on my metaphorical doorstep."
[17:04] * Maz accepts the mug, listening to Linda. "Sounds like I'll be living in interesting times, then," she comments,
 before smiling wryly. "Things have been so interesting lately, in fact, that I don't believe I even know your last name."
[17:04] <Linda> "This could well be because, in fact, you actually don't."
[17:05] <Maz> "That could be an excellent reason, yes," Maz agrees.
[17:05] <Linda> "Glad to hear you agree," replies Linda, holding up her mug and taking a sip.
[17:10] * Maz eyes the drink, and then brings it to her lips, taking a sip herself. "One lesson I learned tonight is to be
 better prepared. I think I should work on that, before I meet with the others tomorrow." She pauses briefly. "Is there some
 quiet space I could borrow for a few hours?"
[17:12] <Linda> It's quite a potent drink- you're not sure how much you like it. Maybe an acquired taste? "Your room should
 do," replies Linda, offhand. "It is your room now, you understand. Just as this is your house. You would do well to keep
 your house and it's occupants rather secret, you know."
[17:13] * Maz manages not to wince, and nods once more instead.
[17:15] <Linda> "Then, yes, off to your work, I suppose. The life of a mage is indeed fraught with peril, if the ever-looming
 threat of myopia counts as 'peril'."

[Corwin]

[18:38] <Maz> After getting a room for herself at the Inn With No Name next to Herzoufwari's and leaving him there, Maz heads towards's Linda's
 house. She travels on foot, having left her new horse in the inn's stables.
[18:41] <Sober-GM-Rat> When you get inside Linda's house, you shortly find her inside, wearing a long, elaborate dress, looking like she's just
 been to a ball or the like. "A cleric from Waukeen dropped by today," she deadpans as she sees you. "Claimed to be interested in purchasing
 scrolls."
[18:44] <Maz> "I'm sorry," Maz tells her with a sigh. "Giving him the address was a stupid mistake. I won't be making it again. Can you forgive
 me?"
[18:47] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Perhaps I can," replies Linda, glancing at you levelly. "Perhaps.. yes. Of course, nothing can be done now that
 Waukeenar are marketing their 'up-and-coming' arcanist scrolls, or whatever. But I need you to perform a service now, directly for me."
[18:47] <Maz> "I will do whatever is in my power to make up for my mistake," Maz responds seriously.
[18:51] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Good. Now that my cover may be blown, I would like to recover a few things from the area around Saradush," she says,
 glancing at you. "I fear that I will not want to remain in Tethyr longer, if I can help it, and I have.. caches of items hidden, in certain
 areas."
[18:53] <Maz> "And you want me to retrieve them?" Maz asks.
[18:54] <Sober-GM-Rat> "I will recover most of them," replies Linda, producing a map. "No. There is one place I wish for you to go- here, north
 of Saradush," she says, jabbing a finger at the forests on the Tethyr/Amnian border.
[18:55] * Maz studies the map. "Alright," she says, looking at Linda. "And once I'm there?"
[18:57] <Sober-GM-Rat> "There is an ancient monastery within the forest that few can find," says Linda. "I have hidden a.. cache of items just
 beyond the main gate, in an area I will specify. A better hiding place I could not find in Tethyr- the goods are not only well-hidden, but
 protected by the guardians of the monastery itself."
[19:01] * Maz thinks it over for a moment. "When do you want me to leave?"
[19:03] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Moderately soonish. I will provide you with information of the monastery itself- it is, I believe, a fascinating place,
 a relic of the first such places in the land. Imagine- someone, all those years ago, devised a method of fighting efficiently unarmed, and
 without magical aid. Truly astonishing.. and it was at places like that it was taught!"
[19:05] <Maz> "Impressive," Maz agrees. "And speaking of relics of times long past, my companions and I discovered something on our recent trip."
[19:05] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Do tell," replies Linda, starting to hurriedly get changed. What does she *do* all day, anyway?
[19:06] <Maz> "You've heard of the various groups fighting in the vicinity of Saradush?" Maz asks, moving further in to take a seat.
[19:06] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Yes. Another good reason to be somewhere else."
[19:07] <Maz> Maz shrugs. "Were you aware that their reason for doing so was to abuse the weakness of the Weave and find a way to go around it
 to access the raw magic directly?"
[19:08] <Sober-GM-Rat> "No. Is someone truly stupid enough to try that?"
[19:09] <Maz> "Unfortunately," Maz agrees. "Wizards from Calimshan are involved, and likely Thayans as well. Perhaps others."
[19:11] <Maz> "Is there anything you could tell me about the areas of wild or dead magic around Saradush, Linda?" Maz asks next. "Their
 locations, how far they reach, any of the history surrounding their creation?"
[19:12] <Sober-GM-Rat> "The Time of Troubles," replies Linda, dismissively. "You know. Gods duking it out and all that. I believe Mystra ignored
 Tethyr in her repairs because other areas needed more work, or the like. It never concerned me. As far as Mystra and I are concerned, I don't
 tamper with what she doesn't want me to, and she doesn't hit me up the backside."
[19:12] <Sober-GM-Rat> "As far as locations go, well, I never took the time to draw a map. They're not such a great concern to me, anyhow."
[19:14] <Maz> "At least one area where the aforementioned combat took place was a wild magic zone," Maz explains. "If I knew where to look, I
 might be able to preempt some of these wizards and get more information out of them."
[19:16] <Sober-GM-Rat> "No sane mage would battle in a wild magic zone," replies Linda. "Though if they're diving into beyond the weave.. bah,
 they'd all be dead by now! Wild Magic isn't to be trifled with."
[19:17] * Maz nods again in agreement. "Well, for what it's worth, the Mayor knows of this as well now. He said something about reporting it
 further to his higher ups."
[19:20] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Mmm. They may try to bring in mages of their own.. a-ha! A good idea, my friend. I believe I will have a word with
 Castor myself."
[19:25] <Maz> "We've captured one of the mages on our reconnaissance mission for the Mayor," Maz says, teasing her lower lip with her fangs. "He
 is from Calimshan. I've put him at the inn where the others are staying, and got myself a room there as well. Is there anything you think I
 should interrogate him about, something I've overlooked?"
[19:28] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Only how he found out about this," replies Linda, frowning. "I am surprised I did not realise this was possible, and if
 there are many, many groups fighting over it, then... they must have a source I don't- especially if they are from so far afield."
[19:30] <Maz> "He claimed it was an open secret in his Wizard Guild." Maz shrugs. "I don't know much about the world outside my lands of birth,
 I have to admit."
[19:32] <Maz> "I would be very much interested in correcting that flaw," she goes on to say.
[19:35] <Sober-GM-Rat> "Perhaps travel will be your true calling," replies Linda. "I know a few things, but Faerun is very big."
[19:39] <Maz> "Even a quick primer on the local habits and attitudes would be invaluable," Maz responds, wincing. "At the very least, it would
 keep me from embarrassing myself, or from committing even worse gaffes."
 few things about etiquette. Perhaps later, I'll talk to you about it. For now.. yes. I have a map to draw. And I'm sure you have study to do,
 or something."
[19:41] * Maz knows a dismissal when she hears one. "I do. Thank you." She inclines her head at Linda, and proceeds to her room.

[Corwin]

[14:10] <Saul> ---
[14:11] * Maz doesn't see Linda when she emerges from her room a few hours after their little chat, and decides to head towards the inn with no name, taking Herzoufwari's spellbook with her.
[14:12] <Saul> It's like the inn makes a concious effort to be dull. If it weren't for the fact that Herzoufwari is sitting around the common room, being loosely watched by Thaeos, you'd probably walk right past it.
[14:13] * Maz walks up to the other mage, nodding at him and Thaeos in greeting. "Exciting evening, isn't it?"
[14:14] <Saul> "Thrilling," the mage says, darkly- though his eyes light up like those of a small child when he sees his spellbook.
[14:16] * Maz shrugs, and takes a seat next to Herzoufwari, placing the spellbook on the table in front of him.
[14:17] <Saul> "I see you didn't open it," he notes, reaching out to take it.
[14:18] <Maz> "Amazing what common sense would do to one's self-control," Maz replies flippantly, allowing him to take it.
[14:19] <Saul> Herzoufwari treats the book with something approaching reverence, carefully going through pages of arcane lore. "But you know what they say- common sense is not very common," he replies.
[14:21] * Maz shrugs again, and doesn't respond, opting to observe him instead.
[14:23] <Saul> "Though I should've taken that lesson well myself," he admits, pointing at a single page. "Ah. Look here. These are the details of how extracting raw magic is done," he says, turning the book to face you.
[14:24] * Maz reaches for the book, asking, "May I?"
[14:25] <Saul> "As long as you don't turn any pages," he replies. It's a big tome- larger than yours in all dimensions.
[14:26] * Maz nods, and takes the book into her arms. She leans back in her seat, getting comfortable, and examines the page he indicated to her.
[14:28] <Saul> The pages seem to detail a spell- but it's not like any spell you've seen. Not just in terms of difficulty or effect- the core basics behind the spell seem different, somehow, drawing on different ideas of meditation and memorization... "It's not quite your usual spell," he says, dryly. "I hestiate to call it a spell at all, honestly... it shares similar traits, in that your mind must move in a certain way, and certain ritual elements
[14:28] <Saul> "But the underlying theory is such that.. well, though only a mage could understand my writings, in theory, even one without training could accomplish this, with practice."
[14:28] <Saul> and certain ritual elements must be included."
[14:31] * Maz nods absently as Herzoufwari speaks, trying to understand the procedure better.
[14:32] <Saul> "You will need to study my writings to best understand how it is done," states Herzoufwari. "But it is not a spell that is memorized, per se. No simple spell can affect the raw magic without the weave. It is a meditative ritual, one that focuses power through existing raw magic."
[14:33] <Saul> "The being wishing to harness power must have some shaped magic of his or her own to work with- a memorized spell, an innate ability- or even a magical item will suffice. If one is in the proper frame of mind, then raw magic can seep through the cracks in the weave, drawn to the existing spell like a moth to the flame."
[14:34] <Saul> "Then, as long as your mind is prepared, it is childs play to direct the raw magic to a suitable recepticle.. of course, unshaped, it's useless, but when properly prepared.."
[14:36] <Maz> "And how would you draw that energy towards you and store it for latter use?" Maz asks.
[14:37] <Saul> "There are a number of methods... but it is mostly through sheer willpower," replies Herzoufwari. "An outsider such as yourself.. you could perhaps store a little power within your own body. I.. I use wands that are empty of charges- they are meant to store energy, though they can only store a little unshaped magic."
[14:41] <Maz> "And once you you've started to draw the magic, how simple is it to stop the process midway?" Maz wonders, glancing at the other mage. "Is it also a matter of willpower, or does the draw continue even without an effort on your part, once started?"
[14:42] <Saul> "Ah. Yes," replies Herzoufwari, darkly. "Once started, the flow of magic can only be stopped by directing it to a mindless, stable source, that will check the motion and stop the Weave from running rampant." He pauses, resting his head on his hand. "The preferred choice is the ground."
[14:43] <Saul> "No doubt you know of the blackened waste that is left behind in the aftermath of all fights. It's not done by spells- mostly, anyway. It's the aftereffect of seizing."
[14:44] <Maz> "Ah," Maz echoes him. "Yes, things are much clearer now, though I suppose I should've realized it was done by the excess magic, not the ritual itself."
[14:45] <Saul> "That sort of damage is not impossible to magi of our level. Fireballs and lightning bolts, wantonly cast, can deal an awful lot of damage to the surrounding area.."
[14:47] * Maz glances at the spellbook once more, and then hands it back to him.
[14:47] <Saul> "Don't you wish to study the methodology?" he asks, surprised. There's certainly plenty there that you'd need to assimilate..
[14:50] <Maz> "Let's go to my room?" Maz offers. "I think I'd be able to concentrate better there."

[Corwin]

[16:38] <Gamer-Rat> Linda is, once again, back at home, this time going over her spellbook, no doubt doing the thing every mage does, sooner or
 later.
[16:38] <Maz> "Hello," Maz greets her, closing the door and approaching Linda.
[16:39] <Gamer-Rat> "Mmph. How is it going?" she replies, not looking up.
[16:41] <Maz> "Castor gave us the week off, it seems," Maz responds, taking a seat next to her. "And it would give me an opportunity to travel
 towards the monastery you wanted me to retrieve something of yours from, as well as correct things with the Temple of Waukeen."
[16:42] <Gamer-Rat> "The Temple of Waukeen is your business, but I would appreciate it if you left to retrieve my cache quickly," replies Linda,
 shrugging.
[16:44] <Maz> "I'll just tell them that I would check in with them once every few days, and be off to the monastery," May says, nodding. "Would
 it be a problem if I asked others to accompany me there, or should I go alone?"
[16:44] <Gamer-Rat> "It wouldn't be an issue if others came with you, as long as you made sure my cache doesn't lose anything," replies Linda.
 "Planning to search the monastery?"
[16:46] <Maz> "It did sound intriguing when you described it to me," Maz says with a shrug of her own.
[16:49] <Gamer-Rat> "There's probably a few interesting things lying around," replies Linda, shrugging. "At any rate, it's up to you- as well as
 items, any*one* could be hanging around the place, now. It could easily be a defensible location... hmm."
[16:51] <Maz> "I'll be off, then. It shouldn't take me too long to return," Maz tells her, smiling, "now that I have a horse."
[16:53] * Maz nods, and heads to her room to gather her things, before leaving in the direction of the inn with no name.

[Corwin]

[17:05] <Wrathful-GM-Rat> As you inspect the murals, you can see that the shifting shadows and shapes depicted therein represent an ancient religion. The monastery here once belonged to the ancient religion of Zauthrinar, an  ancient Netherese religion that venerated the powers of darkness and shadow, paying only lip service to the actual gods at the time. The religion fell during the fall of Netheril, and many of its former temples were converted or abandoned.
[17:05] <Wrathful-GM-Rat> This monastery was one of the latter, the monks and clerics within likely fleeing or killed. Unarmed fighting techniques were originally developed here, new styles being developed for the first time. The monastery itself would likely not have been touched for many years, owing to the fear normal people had of the place.
[17:05] <Wrathful-GM-Rat> Power could still lurk within, but if the ancient rituals and rites held here had any meaning, shadow itself could be a danger- especially if the monastery was never properly cleansed, as it may well not have been. However, as it has been an awfully long time, it's equally likely that most, if not all, of the power inside has now run dry- no doubt leaving relics for the picking, if nobody else has already taken them.

[Corwin]

Comprehend Languages on the tomb writings:

It's all in your mind! You can feel the knowledge pouring through it, with a translation almost whispered straight into your ear: "HERE LIES SARDINIUS. FIRST SHADOW OF THE ECLIPSE, FIRST BREAKER OF THE LIGHT. IN IMMORTAL SPLENDOR, HE RESTS, BUT THE SHADOW NEVER DOES. WHEN DARKNESS COMBINES WITH LIGHT, HE WILL FORM ONCE MORE."


Knowledge: Religion on Sardinius:

Sardinius! You know of this figure! An ancient master of an ancient temple, long ago! Reputed to be a horrible menace to civilized society, many point to his worship of ancient shadow as evidence of his evil- but no specific wrongs can be recalled, and some question if he was truly a servant of evil, or perhaps something else- a mix between the two. No shadow can exist without light... or without something to cast it.

[Corwin]

[17:24] * Maz grabs her pack, and goes towards Linda's house.
[17:25] <Carthrat> "You're back!", says the woman- honestly, she changes apperance every time you see her. Now she's dressed up in some skimpy nightgown, one that looks like it probably spends more time bunched up in the corner of some guys room than anything. "Do you have my box?"
[17:26] * Maz takes a seat, sighing. "Yeah. Though the place was guarded better than I expected."
[17:27] <Carthrat> "You seem to be intact, however," replies Linda, shrugging. "Well. I suppose I owe you a little for the effort. Here, pass that to me," she says, gesturing.
[17:27] * Maz takes the package out and hands it to Linda. "I don't suppose you could tell me what's inside?" she asks as she does so.
[17:30] <Carthrat> "Yes, yes," replies Linda, pointing at it and speaking a Word of Magick. The box opens by itself, the lid facing Maz, so she can't see behind it. "A few odds and ends I thought may come in handy," she says, seeming to reach into the box- her arm going all the way it! It's certainly not big enough to take it all... "Hmph. Is that all? I suppose it *is* quite old," she mutters. "Bah, I suppose it will suit you," she adds, withdrawing
[17:31] <Carthrat> "Bah, I suppose it will suit you," she adds, withdrawing a slender stick from the interior- a straight black piece of wood, with a faintly glowing red tip.
[17:32] * Maz cocks her head, glancing at it.
[17:32] <Carthrat> "Not much. A mere trifling," she mutters. "A wand of magical bolts, or some such. Not quite... forceful... enough for my needs, at present," she says. "But perhaps you can find a use for it."
[17:33] <Carthrat> "Of course, I'll need you to do something else for me, as well," she adds, holding it up. "It's still quite valuable, after all."
[17:34] <Maz> "I still have a few days of downtime," Maz says with a shrug.
[17:34] <Carthrat> "Hmph. You're still working for Castor, nominally? You could probably accomplish this in his service," replies Linda, musing. "I'll speak plainly when I say I'm interested in the power you spoke to me of earlier. But I'm not so foolish enough myself to rip it out directly."
[17:35] <Carthrat> "So if you could... well, procure a sample for me, I would be inclined to be generous."
[17:36] <Maz> "If I were foolish enough to try, like you said," Maz mulls, shrugging, "I would need a container of some kind. A chargeless wand, or anything similar to it."
[17:37] <Carthrat> "You wouldn't necessarily need to extract it yourself," notes Linda. "You could take it from someone idiotic enough to do just that. Hah! Castor will probably be thrilled, as well."
[17:38] <Maz> "I'll do my best to find someone both foolish and lucky enough to have accomplished this, then," Maz says with a smile.
[17:39] <Carthrat> "Hmph. Bring your friends along," she adds, humor vanishing. "It's valuable enough to kill over, apparently... and no doubt hotly defended."
[17:41] * Maz nods. "Apparently, the mage we brought back with us was killed while we were out of town," she says, changing the subject.
[17:42] <Carthrat> "But not before he taught you what he knew," notes Linda. "He was probably killed with the goal of cutting down the competition. Did you note if he had any articles of this power?"
[17:42] <Maz> "I found nothing of the sort," Maz says, shaking her head.
[17:44] <Carthrat> "A pity," she sighs, holding out the wand to you. "Hmph. By the way- you've proven your reliability, you know," she continues. "I half-thought you might try opening the cache, or some such. Hmm... how are your studies coming, after all? Though you have a long way to go," she adds, pompously.
[17:46] * Maz really wants to say something snarky, but sadly wouldn't be able to actually back it up. "Slowly but steadily," she says with exaggerated flippancy. "I've got myself a direction, at the very least."
[17:47] <Carthrat> "Oho. You're one of those specialist types?" she asks, curious, now. "I think that's rather limiting, myself."
[17:48] <Maz> "No, I just really like ice," Maz tells her. "I think it's cool in more ways than one."
[17:51] <Carthrat> "Ice? Hah! Tethyr- no, the whole south could use more of that," replies Linda, grinning. "What a limiting field, though. There's only so much potential in it.. bah. Hmph. Find a few samples for me," she goes on. "And I might have a spell or two I wouldn't be adverse to teaching... well, when you're ready to understand, anyhow."
[17:54] <Maz> "I agree it made more sense back home, but it's still pretty awesome." Maz smiles to herself.
[17:55] <Carthrat> "Hmph. You should tell me about your home," adds Linda. "We've got all night, after all... and I'm curious as to where a fiendling would call home."
[17:57] <Maz> "It's nice and frosty," Maz reminisces. "There's not much in way of civilization, and everyone was evil, so I had nothing better to do than study. But that was cool, since I never liked any of the extended family."
[17:58] <Carthrat> "Everyone was evil? What, except for you?" replies Linda, rolling her eyes. "And how did you make this miraculous leap to the side of good? Or whatever side you're on?"
[18:00] <Maz> "There was no way in hell I'd join them, so any other side seemed good to me." Maz shrugs. "My evil twin liked to use me for target practice. My guardians wanted to sacrifice me to a demon. I'm pretty glad I'm not there anymore, actually."
[18:03] <Carthrat> "An evil twin! Sacrifice! It's like a bad song," muses Linda. "Hmph. Well, I'm going to bed," she says, stretching. "If you go out, make sure you close the door."
[18:03] <Maz> "Sure thing," Maz echoes.

[Corwin]

Having finished up with the deal, Thrall and Seraphin leave, Laus and Maz remaining inside the small room. The richly-drabed cleric shakes his head again. "Sharrans.."

"Always a pleasure to hear about that cult opening a branch in your area," Maz agrees, nodding.

"They're almost omnipresent," admits Laus, shrugging. "I'm happy to hear that you're out to close them down, however. They tend to, ah, help the undesirables that frequent the lands off-road."

"In other words, they serve the same purpose to bandits that we do to decent folk."

Maz frowns. "Sounds most unpleasant. I didn't know about that part."

"It's one of the more badly kept secrets of the Sharran church. But it would have to be, for them to get recruits and gold from barbaric scum. They've certainly got enough well-kept ones to afford to leave a few out."

"Anything else I should know, which would help me shut them down for good?" Maz asks, glancing at Laus. "Any details or even rumors of their operations in the area? Are they closely allied with any notorious gang here, for example?"

"Sharrans make their dealings secret, better than any guild of thieves," replies Laus, shaking his head. "I can only speak of them in generalities, rather than specifics.. their operations about here are almost unknown to us, beyond their more usual bad habits."

OOC: Make a sense motive check, if you do.
ooc: 13
OOC: Carry on!

"I know almost nothing of the amount of men the Sharrans have available to them, nor as to the numbers or abilities of their mages, though it is apparent they have some, if these scrolls are any indication." Maz frowns again. "I was hoping on getting more information to formulate some kind of plan, even if I had to ambush a gang working with them to get to that information."

"The Sharrans at once have access to many men, but few at once," muses Laus. "They spread their agents out, rather than concentrate them... relying on their veils of deceit, trickery, and information to defeat an attack."

"It's difficult to say what oppositon you'll come across, but there are a few constants you should pay attention to."

"The Sharran clerics rarely gather alone, for example. Usually, one senior cleric is accompanied by two neophytes; to keep them under control.. and as sacrifical lambs, should the senior cleric need to escape."

"They employ more sneaks and scoundrels than real warriors.. usually. Sometimes, they employ well-trained mercenaries, the type that will work for anyone- paying them with magic items as well as gold, in return for service."

"Not to mention their popularity amongst the more monstruous types of humanoid..."

Maz snorts. "Sounds practically delightful." She thinks for a long moment, tapping her chin. "Do you think you would be able to provide me with a layout of the area they claimed as their own, Mr. Laus?"

"I haven't been there- but there was that other monk who dropped by," replies Laus, musing. "I think he's still around."

"Yes," Maz agrees. "It is he from whom I first heard of Sharran presence here. I was planning on asking him for what he knows."

"Unless monks became their preferred sacrifice, that is," she adds with a shrug.

"Monks who aren't part of the Dark Moon," corrects Laus, looking weary. "That's something you should watch out for, too. Today's Sharran cleric does away with mundane swordsman and magi when out to accomplish some crime- now, they seem to prefer sending out magely monks, instead. Sorcerers, I should say, that work in well-trained groups, armed with complementary magicks.. Shadow Weave magic."

Maz scoffs at the mention of the Shadow Weave, before shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I just dislike the Shadow Weave." She nods to herself. "Sorcery-using monks... I see. Certainly, something to watch out for."

ooc: What do I know about how often Sharran ceremonies occur?
OOC: At least once a tenday.
OOC: They have one major holy day a year that's churchwide, and they often have ceremonies for initiation and sacrifice.
OOC: Some Sharran structure stuff; each Sharran cell is headed by a head priest, and all the cells in an area (say, Tethyr) are watched over by a single, higher priest.
OOC: Well, there are probably a few groups of cells in a country as large as Tetyhr.

"Do you have any idea when they held their last ceremony, or the date for the next one?" Maz inquires.

"Four or five days ago, or so," replies the cleric, shrugging. "I think. Around when that monk escaped."

"There should still be a window of opportunity, then," Maz muses out loud, "before they gather en masse again."

"Indeed. Unless they have some other task which requires a good deal of manpower."

Maz shrugs. "A risk we'll have to take, I'm afraid, since I see no other venues of information open before me."

"The gathering itself may provide suitable information," notes Laus. "It would be an opportunity to see who may be working for them... or, perhaps to the braver amongst you, to pose as a supplicant, and sneak in."

"I've thought about that," Maz admits. "But it would be suicidal for anyone other than myself to try this, as my companions have already been seen by the cultists. And too much can go wrong for me to consider taking such a risk myself."

"As you say. There's one last thing I can tell you about Sharran tactics, though," replies the cleric, a sly smile across his face. "To keep their numbers and strengths secret, they often try to meet... incursions... only with the force necessary. It's ironic that often, the.. less canny clerics can be fooled. They're so caught up in their own secrets that they forget to look for those of others."

"I see," Maz says, nodding. "Do you have any idea how these Sharrans would identify each other at their gatherings? Perhaps there is someone suicidal enough amongst my companions after all."

"They tend to change signifiers frequently," replies Laus, shrugging. "If they even have them."

"Then we would have to intercept a cultist if we choose this option." Maz nods. "Fine, then." She gives the cleric a smile. "Thank you for your help. I hope we can be of use and remove this problem from the area."

Maz fishes out her meager funds and gives Laus five gold coins from them. "Information has its weight in gold, wouldn't you agree?"

"Keep your coins," replies Laus, not taking them. "To be honest, if you succeed in removing this blight from the face of Tethyr, it will be us who owe you."

"Very well," Maz says, inclining her head, and puts her money away. "I hope to see you again soon, and bearing good news."

"Farewell, and good luck," replies Laus, politely opening the door for you.

[Carthrat]

[02:48] <@Carthrat> <->
[02:49] * @Thaeos (iron_drago@c-67-163-114-219.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has left #dunes
[02:49] * Seraphin is now known as Hotaru-chan
[02:49] * Kethean is now known as Merc
[02:50] <@Carthrat> The Second Wind is everything the Inn with no name isn't. Populated, doing a brisk trade, noisy... and it's where Etna, for all intents and purposes, lives.
[02:50] <@Carthrat> OOC: Set yourselves up?
[02:52] <@Thrall> Bereft of armour, Thrall leads the tiefling mage towards the lively tavern. "I have a friend here who wishes to meet you - she's a mage herself, and interested in what that Calmshite taught you," he tells the short woman as they walk.
[02:53] * @Maz is wearing an impeccable traveling outfit, a cloak wrapped around her, its hood up as she walks by Thrall. "I see," she says curtly.
[02:54] <@Thrall> "She wanted to meet him as well, though..." Thrall strokes his chin thoughtfully. "Ever find out anything more about what happened to him?"
[02:56] <@Maz> "I was too tired from traveling to find anything of note at the time," Maz responds, sighing. "I plan to return and search the place once more soon."
[02:56] * @Thrall nods as he strides inside the tavern, holding the door open for Maz and looking around for Etna.
[02:57] <@Carthrat> The cowled half-elf is in her usual corner, but Maz gets a few whistles and she enters the tavern- even though it's nothing special, she's far better-dressed than most of the yobbos inside.
[02:58] * @Maz follows inside with a nod, and ignores the whistles.
[02:59] <@Thrall> "There she is," Thrall says to Maz, nodding in the half-elf's direction before starting across the tavern.
[03:00] * @Maz follows Thrall's directions and heads towards the corner where the cowled mage is seated.
[03:01] <@Carthrat> "I hear you've been up to a few things," remarks Etna, glancing at both of you. She's a middle-aged half-elf, by Maz's guessed- face slightly wrinkled, but still some traces of former beauty there. She wears a heavy scarf and cowl, and gives you an appraising glance.
[03:02] <@Thrall> "Been a busy few days," Thrall allows, nodding between the two. "Maz, Etna. Etna, Maz," he does a perfunctory introduction for the mages.
[03:03] * @Maz shrugs, and takes a seat at the table. "You could say that," she admits. Smiling at the other mage, she says, "Nice to meet you, Miss Etna."
[03:04] <@Carthrat> "Mrs, actually," replies Etna, extending a hand. "I've been hoping to speak to you a while, now, seeing as your other wizardly friend up and died."
[03:05] * @Maz takes the proffered hand, shaking it. "It seems he had some help with that."
[03:07] <@Carthrat> "No doubt he paid well for it," replies Etna, drolly. "Now.. you happen to know of a certain ritual, I believe. It's one I'm most interested in learning, myself."
[03:08] * @Maz nods. "He managed to show it to me before dying, yes."
[03:09] <@Thrall> "I'll leave you two to your magic bartering," Thrall excuses himself, having little enough interest in rituals and suchlike.
[03:09] <@Carthrat> "So I gathered. And if it's capable of.. exploting.. certain cracks and the like, I would not be adverse to dealing for tuition."
[03:10] <@Carthrat> "As you wish, Thrall. But do call back before you gallivant off again, will you? I do worry so."
[03:10] <@Thrall> "Hmph, no doubt," Thrall smiles amusedly. "I'll be sure to visit after my next meeting with the mayor." Nodding, the half-orc departs.
[03:11] * @Maz nods at Thrall as he leaves, before turning back towards Etna.
[03:12] <@Maz> "It's quite capable of such exploitation," Maz confirms, cocking her head slightly to the left. "The question is how would you be willing to cover said tuition."
[03:13] <@Carthrat> "It's difficult to make an offer without know the needs and wants of a potential tutor," replies Etna, musing.
[03:13] <@Carthrat> "Certainly, if gold is all you wish, then I can procure a suitable amount for you."
[03:15] <@Maz> "Gold interests me, yes," Maz muses, matching Etna's tone, "but the study of magic is the driving force of my life, you could say."
[03:16] <@Carthrat> "I could see us forming a study group, like students at an academy," replies Etna. "I could see a strong relationship built from that, in fact."
[03:17] <@Maz> "I can easily see the benefits in that," Maz agrees amiably.
[03:20] <@Carthrat> "Indeed. The only issue is the.. level of study involved," replies Etna. "There's no accurate way to gauge such without asking, but I consider that a little rude."
[21:19] <@Carthrat> [03:15] <@Maz> "Gold interests me, yes," Maz muses, matching Etna's tone, "but the study of magic is the driving force of my life, you could say."
[21:19] <@Carthrat> [03:16] <@Carthrat> "I could see us forming a study group, like students at an academy," replies Etna. "I could see a strong relationship built from that, in fact."
[21:19] <@Carthrat> [03:17] <@Maz> "I can easily see the benefits in that," Maz agrees amiably.
[21:19] <@Carthrat> [03:20] <@Carthrat> "Indeed. The only issue is the.. level of study involved," replies Etna. "There's no accurate way to gauge such without asking, but I consider that a little rude."
[21:19] * Carthrat sets mode: +o Maz
[21:23] <@Carthrat> "But, either way, I'm willing to make you an offer," she goes on. "Since you've been working with Thrall, as of late.. hmm. Perhaps a spell that gifts great strength to the recipient?" She flips through a small, leather-bound notebook, which you can see has a few magical diagrams and the like in it.
[21:24] * @Maz nods in interest. "That could come in handy, yes."
[21:26] * @Maz mulls over it for a moment. "So would a spell that would allow one assume a different form, if you know it."
[21:27] <@Carthrat> "To appear as a different form, or to truly become it?" she replies, raising an eyebrow.
[21:28] <@Maz> "The latter," Maz says calmly, shrugging. "I should have been clearer, I see."
[21:29] <@Carthrat> "Unfortunately, that is not a spell I currently possess," replies Etna, sighing. "I.. have not had much need for such a spell. But it's not impossible for me to procure such a thing..."
[21:31] <@Maz> "Neither have I, until recently," Maz agrees. With a thoughtful frown on her face, she asks, "Since you know of ways to augment a person's strength with magic, would you by chance know how to make them quicker or help their reflexes in any way?"
[21:33] <@Carthrat> "I do possess the likewise spell," replies Etna, musing. "Perhaps- strength and reflexes in return for your knowledge?" she suggests, leaning back in her chair.
[21:35] <@Maz> "I don't see why not," Maz says with another shrug. "Though, if I may ask, are you planning on trying that ritual entirely on your own?"
[21:37] <@Carthrat> "I will be well protected, if that is your concern," replies Etna, smirking slightly beneath her cowl. "Or, have I mistaken your meaning?"
[21:40] <@Maz> "You haven't," Maz says with a snort of her own. "I do have to wonder whether you have a way to discover weak points in the Weave. I heard that priests had a spell to accomplish just that, though I'm not certain what it would be."
[21:43] <@Carthrat> "I have my ways," replies Etna, drawing back deeper into her cowl, her eyes slightly obscured. "But even lacking supernatural methods... if one is to find the honey, one must merely look to the ants."
[21:45] <@Maz> "That much is true, I suppose," Maz says, slightly disappointed. "Just the same, would you mind pointing me in the right direction with regards to any supernatural method you might know?"
[21:46] <@Carthrat> "You know a priest, do you not?" replies Etna. "The ways of priestly magic escape me. But perhaps he, or his god, may know."
[21:47] * @Maz nods. "I see," she says at length, leaning back.
[21:53] <@Carthrat> "Before we begin our study, I do have one other offer to make you," she adds, looking you up and down. "It's true that you are presently working with Thrall, but I know well that these arrangements are often temprorary, at best. But.. all things considered, should you find yourself out of a job..."
[21:56] * @Maz nods again. "I'm grateful for the offer. Will you be staying here at this inn for the time being?"
[21:58] <@Carthrat> "For the time being," replies Etna. "I should warn you. My field of employment frequent involves travel as a necessity."
[21:59] <@Maz> "I always did want to learn more about the world, and the best way to accomplish that would be to travel it, or so I've been told," Maz responds with a smirk.
[22:01] <@Carthrat> Etna chuckles. "The most obvious, perhaps. But, at any rate. I have a room towards the back. Shall we?" She stands up, and starts moving through the crowd of people- people that move away, making a path for her as she walks.
[22:02] * @Maz stands up as well, and follows Etna, not giving the crowd of people a second glance.

[Corwin]

Having used her proof of employment by Castor to get everyone into the inn of their choice, Maz takes a few moments to make herself presentable again after her journey through the desert, and heads off towards the Temple of Mystra, wearing a desert cloak over her travelling outfit, its hood up.

Darromar is a city, and as Maz walks through it, she notices many of the less desirable aspects of a city; open sewage, hecklers, dirt, the *smell*.. less desirable things that evaporate as you reach the relatively well-kept religious distrct, with spiraling towers, prodigious churches, and Shrine Lane, with it's dozens of miniature places of worship. Reaching the temple of Mystra is a sombre experience, however; stern-faced temple guards, clad in obviously magical plate stand out the front of the archy building, which stands suspended mid-air in it's foundations. A short stairwell, supported by nothing, leads up to the great wooden doors of the place. Revolving globes of light surround the structure, evidence of the glamour - and the raw power - of magic at work.

Maz takes a moment to admire the building, before studying the entrance. She wonders idly whether she would need to seek entry from one of the guards, or if she can just proceed normally.

The doors are closed, and the guards look tense. Nobody is coming in or out- in fact, people are giving the place a wide berth.

Maz approaches the rightmost guard, carefully keeping her frown off her face. Once she's withing normal talking range, she addresses him, using a greeting for Mystra.

"We greet you in her name," replies the guard, stiffly. "The temple is closed to the public at present, unfortuantely."

"Ah," she responds, cocking her head. "Might I inquire as to the reason for that? I was under the impression the clerics of Mystra were actively looking to proposition adventurers for some task."

The guard flinches a little. "Yes. An unfortunate mistake... if you wish to do work in the service of Mystra, I can take your name, at this point, but little else. Our circumstances are no secret at present, though..." He frowns, annoyed at something.

"I appreciate it," Maz responds genially. "And I would be interested in hearing back from a cleric. It is entirely possible that I might have some information about the present... circumstances."

"This... incident, it happened three days ago, during dawn, hadn't it?" Maz asks, thinking back of the time of her allies' battle with the Sharrans. "As I was passing through the desert towards Darromar, I saw something... most unusual... at that time. I was hoping to pool my information along with what the temple might have."

The guard pauses. "Just a moment. I will confer with a cleric." he says, open the massive wooden door, and venturing inside the temple. The other guard glances at you, before shrugging, and resting his hands by his sides. He doesn't seem to be carrying a weapon, now that you think about it...

Maz settles to wait, her gaze sweeping through the temple's grounds passively.

It's a nice place - very relaxing, with a prominent magical feel to it. Despite that, it doesn't feel complex or mind-boggling - a place of calmness and worship. A few minutes later, the guard returns. "Follow me," he says, vanishing back inside the temple.

With a nod at the other guard, Maz follows her guide.

He leads you into the chapel of Mystra - a cross between a more traditional church and a library, books and pews in equal measure. The altar is a great, painted statue of a comely woman, clad in a blue dress and black hair - you recognize her as Mystra herself, the mortal who ascended to godhood, not really all that long ago, comparitively.

Maz studies the interior of the temple, having only read about it prior to this. She keeps on following her guide in silence, waiting until they come before a priest.

At the altar stand several blue-cloaked figures- you can't tell if they're clerics, magi, or anything, but they're of all sorts- two men, three women, of various ethnicities- there's at least one who looks like he's from the far east, someone who looks like a Nar(!), and the otehrs you can't identify straight away.

The eastern one glances up at you."You know something about the events of three days past?" he says, looking you up and down. "Out with it." Quite sharp, an undercurrent of worry and paranoia to his tone.

Maz tries to see if there's a fiendling among the gathered figures.

They're looking pretty human (wait, one of the women is an elf.) No sign of tieflings here.

"Greetings," Maz tells them with a curt if polite nod of her head. "I'm sure you would be delighted to hear that I strongly suspect this to be the work of Shar and her disciples."

The group studies you, for a moment, until - "It is as we feared," states the elven woman, a loud groan escaping from her lips. "The bitch of darkness no doubt works against the Weave, and has struck a blow such as this!" The Nar glances at you, oddly, before speaking - "Calm yourself, Sister," he turns to you - "Are you sure of this?"

"Plenty sure," Maz affirms, and shows them her writ from Castor. "The mayor of Saradush retained myself and a few of my colleagues to investigate the dealings of a Sharran cult nearby. We followed them to a great rip in the Weave. Unfortunately, the loss of our numbers before we reached our destination utlimately meant we failed to stop them from completing their ritual." She pauses, grimacing. "The shockwave was felt for miles, not abating in strength in the slightest, and the storm above the rip was truly a fearsome sight to behold."

The robed figures take your writ and glance at it, becoming sure of it's veracity before they hand it back. "Then you know of the troubles affecting the Weave at the moment," says the elf, quietly. "And the Sharrans.. of course they know, Shar knows all things that are kept secret. Do you know who else is in possession of this information?"

"Which information, specifically?" Maz asks to clarify matters. "What I have just told you, or about the situation with the Weave in these parts?"

"The situation with the Weave," replies the elf, sighing. "As you might guess, it isn't something we wished to become public. Unfortunately.. well, you know, the Sharrans know.."

"I'm afraid it goes far beyond the Sharrans, then," Maz tells them, genuine regret in her voice. "Certainly, plenty of bandit groups in Tethyr out to make a quick name for themselves, but I have reliable knowledge that the information is known outside of the country as well, in certain circles." She pauses, and glances at the gathered devotees of Mystra. "As you can see, I believe, we are on the same side," Maz goes on. "Beyond our mutual... dislike, shall we say, of Sharrans, I don't think it's smart to keep abusing these rips in the Weave the way all the get-rich-quick crowd is trying to do, as they run throughout Tethyr virtually unchecked."

"It is most unwise indeed! Yet, few seem to care about the ramifications their wastefulness will have," swears one of the men- lighter skinned, maybe from somewhere further north along the coast. "These rips- Mystra should be able to restore them, but-" he frowns. "Well, no sense hiding it- despite that it is her role to maintain the weave and repair this sort of thing... ...she is not. Concerns of.. some matter she has not deigned to share with us keep her away, and we are left to do what little we can manage." There's a forlorn note to his voice, as he stops speaking. The elf picks up the speech, however - "Even if many groups are interested, it is the Sharrans who are likely the greatest issue. Are you.. that is to say-" she seems sheepish - "Have you faced them?

"Not alone," Maz says with a proper dose of humility.

"I see," she replies, fidgeting. "Then, with your existing knowledge of the situation, you would agree to help us? You truly believe that sundering the Weave - and the Weave *is* Mystra - is in the wrong, and should be righted? I tell you honestly - it is true that great power, the likes of which were sealed away long ago, is attainable from these places."

"I would not mind having such power, no," Maz agrees. "But I'm not entirely certain this is the way I would want to attain power, even if it were risk-free to myself." She smiles at the elven woman. "I believe that puts me in alignment with you."

"I take it you are a wizard?"

Maz takes the hood of her cloak down, nodding. "And a bit more than that."

"One of the planetouched?" asks the Nar, after a long silence (and at least one intake of breath). "There is a bounty on the heads of those like you in this city, at the moment."

"I've noticed, actually," Maz says with a shrug that tosses her hair slightly. "Quite unfair, wouldn't you say? I am the sum of my actions, past, present and future, not a carbon copy of some ancestor I might have the misfortune of being related to." She raises an eyebrow at the collection of priests and mages. "Does this change your willingness to join forces with me?"

The Nar remains silent at this, nobody deciding to answer this question for a good five seconds. Then- "It is no less than it would be for anyone else," states the elf. "Understand that, if nothing else. The majority of magi, we hope, have no clue what circumstances are taking place. You knowing, and sharing what you know with us, is enough proof of your veracity... Some believe that some test should be asked of you, to determine your veracity, but I can see no gain for you in deceiving us, here."

Maz inclines her head. "If a test to prove I mean what I say is needed, I do not mind undertaking it," she says, smiling, "unless it would be terribly time-consuming or involves fire."

"Is that so?" comments the Nar, studiously glancing over you. "Perhaps not a test of veracity, but a test of competence is required." He gives a knowing look to the rest of the robed figures. "Perhaps you have read the wanted posters already, and seen the message for the rogue invoker living on the coast." He has a deep, suspicious voice, one that almost seems searching in it's intensity.

Maz inclines her head once more, remaining silent this time.

"Who or what this mage has angered, I care not," he says - drawing more than a few angry glares from his companions. "But if you can subdue him, I believe that would be suitable-" "And it would give us enough time to decide on what must be done," adds the elf, trying to sooth over her companion.  

"I see," Maz says at length, mulling it over. "As you have mentioned," she continues, "the current situation in Darromar would limit me in many ways, including the gathering of information. If I were to go after that..." Maz pauses, racking her memory for that wanted poster, "Ardandamus, I would really like to know more about him that a general pointer towards the coast and an equally nebulous warning about his vast magical prowess."

"He's an invoker," remarks one of the men, "Relatively strong, I suppose, though I suspect he's let the 3rd circle of spells go to his head. I think he took up residence in.. a lighthouse?"

"I would be very grateful if an acolyte could provide me with a map of the local area, along with any known lighthouses listed on it before I left," Maz says in response. "I am new to your city, after all."

"A map of the city shouldn't be hard to find," replies the elf. "The lighthouse itself.. the coast is a distance away, however. Darromar is not a port city..."

"So it isn't," Maz agrees. "If you don't mind me asking, what made you suspect the involvement of Sharrans prior to all this? Just their very nature, or something more?"

"The Shadow Weave!" replies the other woman, the one who has not spoken. "The foul scam of magic and mystery, a mockery created by Shar out of sheer jealousy! The lies of secrets and cruel shattered reams beckon through the madness! If the weave is thread, she is the matching outfit, the one that fills the gaps - when rent asunder and magic spilled, the Shadow Weave fills the gate, for darkness!"

Maz keeps her face neutral, though inwardly, she agrees with the other woman's words. She feels it was something she should have considered earlier, and manages to keep a disappointed frown off her face only by a supreme act of will, merely nodding at her words.

"There were other reports," interjects the calmer elf. "We haven't been completely blind. We knew there were Sharrans in the area, and we knew there were rips, as well. Simple math."

"Well then," Maz smiles to herself. "My curiousity is sated, and our business is concluded for the time being, is it not?"

"Will you seek to deal with this rogue invoker?" interjects the Nar, looking you over.  

"If that is what I must do before I am accepted," Maz replies simply.

"And what of your allies?" he asks, piercingly. "Would they accompany you on a quest to right the weave?"

"I suspect," she tells him dryly, "that they would, for a price."

"The weave affects us all," muses the woman. "For their own sakes, they should come, but if gold is the price, well..."

"The Weave does indeed affect us all," Maz agrees, "but usually in ways where most people never pay it much thought."

"I wonder if people see coin as an acceptable substitute," muses the elf. "Well. We are not the ones who pay the bounty on Ardandanus. You will need to speak to.. I think, someone in the guild."

"Yes, I gathered that," Maz tells her.

"Well. Since you are here, are there any more typical services we can provide for you?" she asks, musing.  

Maz mulls over the offer, before venturing, "I've read much about a so-called 'Pearl of Power'. Would you happen to have such an item in your possession, available for sale?"

"A Pearl of Power? I don't think so... one could be crafted, but not without time and expense," replies the elf, frowning.  

"Perhaps, it would be something worth discussing when we see each other next, then," Maz suggests.

"Perhaps. Certainly, if you ingratiate yourself, we will be able to assist you in many ways," says the elf. "Our resources, at present, are stretched thing as is. With the sub-magister... indisposed... most of our efforts go towards restructuring."

"Understandable," Maz says.

-----

Leaving the mystical temple shortly thereafter, it's not too hard to find the golden-topped halls of commerce that pass for a place of worship for some people. As in Saradush, Waukeen's church, though not large, is one of the livliest places in town.

Maz seeks out a cleric of Waukeen not already busy with a customer.

You have to wait in a queue; there's an entire system of tellers and bankers set up in one corner, along with one fellow who isn't in a queue, but is wearing the light symbol of Waukeen on his light jacket, and carries a sword on his belt. His eyes scan the area calmly, waiting and watching.

Maz waits for her turn patiently, not having anywhere in particular to go in a hurry.

Eventually (after about ten minutes!), it's your turn. "What can I do for you?" asks a polite-sounding cleric, safely behind a counter.

"I'm here to inquire about a loan," Maz tells him cheerfully. "The taking of one, that is."

"What's the size of your requested loan?" asks the cleric, nodding, and producing some papers.

"Might I first ask about your interest rates, and the framework of repayment?" Maz returns with a question of her own.

"That depends on the size," replies the cleric. "We prefer smaller loans to be repaid all at once. A system can be worked out for larger sums, but collateral will be required."

"I'm interested in a substantial loan," Maz says, her voice more serious now. "Well, substantial for me. I'm not sure how you would see it. A thousand gold coins."

"That is quite substantial," remarks the cleric. "Given that you are anomynous to us, at any rate, and lack any credit history. Or am I mistaken?"

"I have had dealings with your branch at Saradush recently," Maz responds, "but other than that, I would say that you are in fact quite close to the truth."

"Indeed. A thousand coins is a princley sum - you will need to provide some collateral for us," he replies, shrugging. "Additionally, you will be needed to swear your veracity in the hall of truth."

"What would be considered suitable collateral?" she inquires.

"Something with significant value, around a hundred gold pieces, at the least," replies the mage.

"Very well," Maz tells him, satisfied. "I might have just the thing, and the hall of truth seems quite sensible and reasonable. How do we proceed?"

"You'll need to fill out a statement," replies the Waukeenar, nodding, and shoving some papers towards you. "The collateral involved, your details, that sort of thing. We will read it back to you in the hall of truth for verification."

Maz takes the form and scans it with her eyes, before putting down Al'Maz Nebes as her full name, the inn at Saradush as her address and 'under the retainer of the mayor of Saradush' under occupation. She writes the sum of one thousand gold coins in beautiful script, and happy at her handiwork, puts the ligt crossbow in her possession under collateral. It was Relly's pride and joy back in the day, so it should be quite expensive. Certainly over a hundred gold, even with her incomplete knowledge of weaponry.

The Waukeenar doesn't bat an eyelid as you hand it over, and he glances at you, nodding. "What length of terms were you looking for?"  

"What payment plans do you have available?" she asks. "I see no need to reinvent the wheel."

"Good to hear. A month, upon which it will be paid in full is our usual policy. Costs will incur; 10% extra will be required. If you overstay your term, then matters may become.. well, unpleasant."

Maz ponders. "Will I be required to pay portions of the sum in the intervening time?"

"That won't be necessary, unless you're looking for a longer term loan?" The cleric smiles. "One month isn't very long, and I trust you have a purpose for this money secured that will prove profitable to you?"

"Yes, I consider it a small investment." Maz smiles. "I certainly hope my venture takes off. What are the conditions for the longer-term loans?"

"A better credit history," replies the cleric, frowning. "The most we could extend the period is to two months."

Maz is puzzled that the cleric could go from smiles to frowns so easily, but shrugs it off. "Two months would be more than enough."

His face changes again, like an clever mask. "Excellent. The loan will need to be paid half by the end of each, with 10% interest - that's 550 gold in a months time, and another 550 after that."

"That's acceptable," Maz agrees. "Even in the worst case scenario, I could cover my loan by liquidating some of my assets." She grimaces. "I would prefer very much not to, but such is life."

"Indeed. Let's hope that doesn't befall you," replies the cleric, gesturing to a door. "This way, please."

OOC: We can timeskip all the oath-swearing stuff, as I'm sure you mean it.

-----

Using midnight black chalk, Maz charts a large circle on the floor in the middle of her room. Stepping inside it, she crouches and begins connecting some of the dots on the surface with steady, straight lines. When she steps back, an equally-black six pointed star is settled neatly in the center of the circle.

Maz picks up six previously-prepared pouches, each containing precicely one and two thirds grams of carbon, and places them on the tips of the star, being careful not to smear the drawing.

Picking up another chalk so deeply blue it's almost green, Maz draws another circle on the outside of the first one, keeping the distance between them at half a foot throughout. Without stopping to marvel at her handiwork, she proceeds to draw triangles pointing inwards, pairs of lines leaving the outer circle to kiss at the inner one. Upon completion, she pauses only long enough to switch chalks again, picking a menacing ember red and drawing identical triangles reaching outwards, turning each pair into a rhombus.

Twenty five hollow wooden needles filled with a gram of water each are then carefully hammered by Maz into the wooden floor at the center of each rhombus, right on the second circle, without spilling them or otherwise wiping off the chalk.

Done with that task, Maz proceeds towards the table where she has one hundred and fifty milligrams of lime and eighty milligrams of phosphorus in two separate jars, and spills them into an ornate dish, mixing them gently together with a wooden spoon. Ten grams of saltpeter and eight grams of sulphur join the golden plate from their own containers afterwards, to add their own special flavor to the mix. Her mixture deemed complete, Maz dances across the lines of the symbol she drew on the floor, and carefully places the golden dish at the center of the six-pointed star, retreating just as cautiously.

A deep wooden bowl gets her attention next, as she pours twenty five milligrams of salt, five milligrams of iron and three milligrams of silicon inside, and crushes them together with the flat end of her spoon. Once ready, this mixture is applied to the tip of each triangle pointing outwards from the second circle in a crude imitation of a sun.

Two gases in glass containers catch Maz's notice, sitting innocuously at the table side by side, and she mentally prepares herself, for that would be the catalyst for the ritual she had spent all day preparing for. She closes the blinds to her room and makes sure it is reasonable sound-proof, before she walks steadily towards the table, taking a container in each hand, and returns to face the arcane drawing. Her eyes determined, Maz uncorks the receptacles simultaneously, and barks out, "Stay!" At the command, the seven and a half millilitres of fluorine draw into a spherical shape over the center of the six-pointed star, and the four hundred milligrams of ammonia gather around it, translucent, like turbulent clouds.

Maz's hands come together, and flash through the hand seals an ancient monk cult devised to help them focus for their techniques, basing them on their culture's zodiac. As her hands form the first of the twelve seals, Rat, the pattern comes to life. On Ox, the six pouches of carbon wither away, leaving only the substance they were containing behind. Tiger makes the black chalk lines glow with the flames of the deepest night, licking towards the gases swirling above. Hare causes them to extend, completely obscuring the gold plate at the center of the pattern from view.

Dragon animates the middle part of the pattern, granting the icy blue lines life as the hollow wooden needles are drained of their precious cargo. Serpent causes them to wither, as live snakes, no longer remaining the straight chalk drawings they were brought as into the world. Horse comes around, and the outer circle comes into motion, no longer a line but rather a restless tide. With Ram, mist gathers over the middle section of the pattern, and what little view of its center that comes through is broken and distorted.

Maz's hands make the seal for Monkey, and the minerals at the tips of the outermost triangles erode into gaseous form, hovering above the pattern's outer tips like tiny dust mephits. Bird causes no visible effect, but a nightingale's trills in the room. Dog finally brings the red chalk to life as fire, the pattern no longer looking like a mere mockery of a sun as the heat is felt by Maz, if ignored due to her resistance to it. Boar completes the twelve hand seals, and ice and fire war for dominance, some of the rhombes overcome by blistering heat and an explosion of nearly-blinding light, while the others freeze the fire into stalagmites, preserving it for all time.

Maz reaches into her pouch of components and takes out the fifteen special herbs she had prepared for this very purpose. A seemingly careless gesture tosses them into the raging maelstrom of magic, and her hands return to form the seal of the Bird.

"Melopsittacus Undulatus!" Maz calls out, and the gases swirling overhead zoom downwards to consume the herbs, the pattern suddenly imploding on itself. There is a pop and a blinding flash of light which forces Maz to look away this time lest she be blinded. And when her sight returns, Maz gazes at the center of what used to be her pattern....

-----

[16:09] <Carthrat> "Atheist's Rest", it's called, a noisy inn/pub just outside the temple district. The walls are a garish green, with comically moaning ghosts painted on it to make it seem as a chunk of the wall of the faithless. Long debates on how stupid churchmen are frequently take place in the taproom, but in the upstairs rooms, a mage and her familiar get to know each other better.
[16:10] <Maz> "You are a budgerigar?" Maz asks, cocking her head at the small, blue bird.
[16:11] <Carthrat> "...are a budgerigar!" replies the vibrantly-coloured bird, doing a fair imitation of Maz's voice.
[16:12] * Maz nods to herself. "From now on, your name is Relly," she announces to her familiar.
[16:12] <Carthrat> "Your name is Relly!" replies Relly, fluttering his wings in your face.
[16:13] <Maz> "Relly the Budgie," Maz tries, looking at the bird curiously.
[16:13] <Carthrat> "..the Budgie!" it replies, perching itself on top of your head (making it quite difficult to see).
[16:14] <Maz> "As annoying as the original," Maz concludes, nodding again.
[16:15] <Carthrat> "Your name is Relly! Your name is Relly!" the budgie continues to squawk, flying up and circling the room a few times. It's lucky the room is mostly bare, otherwise, it might break something, or worse, hurt itself.
[16:16] <Maz> "Just as long as you know what you're called, I suppose," she says, frowning as she looks at the hyperactive bird. "Don't hurt yourself."
[16:17] <Carthrat> The bird eventually settles on the windowsill, looking at you almost plaintively. "Your name is..." it squawks, continuing to emulate your voice- though there's almost a snigger in it's tone.
[16:19] <Maz> "Maz," she responds curtly. Then, Maz smiles. "Let's be friends!"
[16:20] <Carthrat> "Let's be friends, Maz!" It perches itself on your shoulder, this time, significantly less scratchy than when it was on your head.
[16:21] * Maz reaches out an arm to pat its feet carefully.
[16:21] <Carthrat> They're feet, alright, small talons, good for clinging to perches and branches, you'd assume. The budgie starts preening a little, getting feathers in your face.
[16:23] * Maz smiles again. "Hungry?" she asks.
[16:23] <Carthrat> "Hungry!" it speaks, tone reverting from your-voice to bird-voice, practically falling off your shoulder to land on the ground, mouth wide open.
[16:25] * Maz walks over to her table, and gets a small plate of millet seeds, setting it down on the floor next to Relly.
[16:26] <Carthrat> Relly starts pecking at the seeds, scattering more than a couple across the ground while he's eating. "Hungry! Hungry!" he caws.
[16:27] * Maz resigns herself to watching the bird as she eats, waiting patiently.
[16:28] <Carthrat> Eventually, the bird clears away all the seeds, looking up at you again. "Maz!" it pronounces, staring at you in the eye. "Watcha ne-ed?!" There's a rising inflection on the end of 'need', quizical eyes looking at you.
[16:29] <Maz> "Just someone to talk to, for now," Maz responds, walking over to Relly and gathering the familiar in her arms before heading to sit on her bed.

[Corwin]

<--->

MAZ has just finished talking to THRALL, SERAPHIN, and KETHEAN. What does she do NOW?

After parting ways with the others, Maz stops by her room to collect Relly, and heads towards the room Ardandanus was staying, knocking on the door as she approaches it.

"Yeah?" comes Ashton's voice, sounding a little tired.

"A moment of your time," Maz tells him in a pleasant tone of voice. "May I come in?"

"Just a moment," replies Ashton. You can hear him fiddling with the lock, and then the door swings open, revealing him, Ardandanus, and Alicia, sitting around a table. Not too different from how you were just a moment ago...

Maz inclines her head at them as she crosses the doorway, reaching out to close it after her.

Ashton stares at you briefly as you close the door, before he walks back and takes a seat on one of the beds. "Come to get to know us better?" asks Alicia, sounding amused.

"Yeah, that's it," Maz responds wryly. "This is Relly. Meet Relly."

"Meet Relly!" squawks your bird, before Ardandanus blinks and puts on what appear to be a pair of spectacles. "A familiar, I take it?"

"Yeah, she's my friend." Maz smiles briefly. "Now that the pleasantries are over, you should move the inn as quickly as possible. You are not safe here."

"We're not safe anywhere," remarks Alicia. "Or do you mean something else?"

"Evidently, or I would not come to tell you banalities," she responds with a sigh. "I have come to know that Calenstat is being propped up by a more powerful group, who knows at least some of our movements -- yours and mine. This means you must disappear within the city to a place you haven't been to before, without contacting any of your friends, family or even acquaintances. And that person you have been waiting to rejoin you? Avoid all contact with him for the near future, to be on the safe side."

"I knew we were better off at the lighthouse," grumps Ashton, though his heart doesn't really seem in it. Alicia sighs. "So they know our movements after all? Then what are our chances of killing Calenstat? Virtually none, if he is aware that he may be betrayed."

Maz snorts. "And that's where you're wrong, of course."

"Do explain," remarks Ardandanus. "You understand that we cannot rest until we free Darromar from his grasp, so what we can do is, well..."

"I wouldn't come with you if I didn't have a plan," Maz says, adding, "A workable plan, naturally."

Ashton coughs. "Let's hope it's better than charging up a trapped stairwell..."

"Here's what we know," she tells them, ignoring Ashton, as she leans against the door in a mimicry of Seraphin's earlier actions. "We can't just wait him out, so sitting back at the lighthouse gives you nothing except more and more attempts on your life. At best, it was a status quo you were not satisfied with. And we also know," she goes on, "that Calenstat couldn't accomplish this alone, so even if you tried to face him on your own, you alone would not have been enough." She glances at the three casually. "How am I doing so far?"

"Is that not why he hired you, though?" guesses Alicia, shrugging.

"I meant that he could not have come up with the plan to dominate Darromar and executed it on his own," Maz explains.

"So why *did* he need to hire you," mutters Alicia, before Ashton continues- "Alright. So he has backing, and that backing is a threat to us, correct? So what ideas did you have?"

"Even if he thinks it's a trap, he needs his spellbook. He'll go a long way for it, and I could force conditions preferable to us on him, if you still want to face him." Maz pauses, and then she shrugs. "Or we could just lure him out with this meeting and loot his place while he's gone. He must have a considerable amount of the Wyld he uses in his domination spell, and losing that would hurt him. And I know another mage who might help us find a way to break through his enchantment, if we brought her a sample of it."

"Does he need *his* spellbook?" remarks Ashton, sighing. "He's not a man of small means. I'm sure he can put together a book of lesser spells without too much trouble.. spells that'd be quite potent against us anyhow. Even so... I can't say I don't want to try and defeat him as soon as possible. Where is this other mage?"

"There are two of them, and each a few days on horseback from Darromar. No more than a week, though." Maz shrugs again. "I just trust one of them more than the other, that's all."

"When did they start tracking our movements?" asks Alicia, glancing at the other two friends. "Before you even left Darromar? But if you knew you had such a group watching you, why would you play turncoat now.."

"We didn't know until our return," Maz responds. "Anyway, being dominated by another person isn't fun. There's no way I'd support that. I'm not sure about how the others with me would feel, however. That is another reason I want you to leave and contact only me at a place of your choosing tomorrow."

"So we can't really trust your companions, either," murmurs Ashton. "Some week this is turning out to be..."

"Not all of them, no," Maz agrees. "But we'll see how it turns out. I'm not ready to give up on them just yet."

"So we're to vanish once more," states Ardandanus, with an exaggerated sigh. "Alicia, I believe you know places good for the purpose?" The girl nods, a trifle shortly. "We'll meet you at the market," she replies. "By the cheese vendor."

"Try to avoid places you've been to before or people you know," Maz reminds them with a grimace. "There's no way of knowing who this group has gotten to."

"Not that many people, surely, if they're hiring outsiders," remarks Ardandanus, before Ashton cuts in, with an "Are they?"

Maz shakes her head. "It's complicated, but the short answer is no."

"I guess we have to trust you," remarks Alicia. "As you've had your way with us so far, I suppose that if something bad was to happen, it already would have. Come, let's go." She yanks Ashton back. "No, not through the *door*."

"There was another matter I wanted to discuss with you," Maz interjects. "An acolyte from the Temple of Mystra made contact with one of my friends, convinced of your innocence. Unfortunately, that only happened after we left. Would you have any idea who that girl is?"

Ardandanus coughs, and Alicia snorts. "A tavern girl. Not too bright, but liked Ard's magic hands. Is that right?"

"What if her name, and can I trust her?" Maz asks simply.

"Vale," mutters Ard. "Probably, but don't bring her into this more than she is. If you can."

"If anything, I think I'll need to advise her to stay back to avoid getting hurt," Maz muses, "but she might put me in contact with someone trustworthy higher up at the temple, or at least let me know who amongst its leadership still holds onto his or her mind."

"I doubt she even knows," remarks Ashton. "Probably scared senseless, the poor girl. But I'd keep away from the Mystrans if I were you.. at least until this was sorted out."

"This does raise an interesting point," Maz smoothly continues. "I am in a far better position than the two of you to find out, coming from having had prior contact with them and not being, well, a fugitive. And from being able to use certain spells I believe you cannot, such as one that divines the surface thoughts of the people one talks to."

"Good luck using that in the TEMPLE of the GODDESS OF MAGIC," mumbles Ashton.

"Who said I wanted to use it there?" Maz responds, raising an eyebrow as she looks at Ashton. "And, of course, if you have better suggestions that those I have shared with you so far, feel free to offer me constructive criticism or volunteer your own," she adds with a touch of snideness.

"I want to find out where he sleeps and rip his lungs out with my bare hands," replies Ashton, shrugging. "I'm not convinced there's much point trying to figure out who's dominated when we should be aiming straight for the source.. but it seems you know more than us." He sighs.

"He is but a puppet, I have recently learned," Maz responds. "Would you like to handle the symptoms or the disease itself?"

"The Temple of Mystra can come in handy in another way," she continues. "The substance Calenstat uses for his spell is 'mined' in a way Mystrans find abhorrent. Finding it in his possession and showing it to a high-placed Mystran untouched by the Domination would help our case immensely."

"If you show it to all the Mystran's at once..." muses Ashton. "You must tell us more about this substance, sometime."

Maz inclines her head. "There is no real reason to keep it a secret, but another time might be better suited for such talk." She pauses, and then looks at Ardandanus. "The spell I mentioned and one other, used to locate objects of my choosing, are ones I have only read about and do not know personally. And purchasing them from the Guild is out of the question at the time being. Would you let me study them from Calenstat's book?"

"If needs must," replies Ardandanus. "It is over there-" he gestures to it. "What time do you want us to meet, tomorrow?"

"High noon is suitably cliche and fitting our cause, I find," Maz tells him.

"I was hoping we'd attack at dawn," yawns Alicia, slipping open a window. "Come, let's be going."

"Relly would meet you at the market tomorrow. Just follow him, and I'll be waiting," Maz says, petting the parakeet.

"Alright," says Ashton, walking to the window. "Come on, teacher, let's be going."

Maz turns around, book in hands, and leaves the room.

[Corwin]

The self-proclaimed 'master smith, enchanter, and merchant extrordinare' works from an open-street forge. Shirtless and covered in many, many tattoos, he clangs away with hammer on steel. Racks of fabulously well-crafted blades hang about in glass display cases; some glowing, some writhing, some actually on fire.

Maz makes sure her Detect Magic spell is firmly in place before she enters the shop.

The smith himself is a tall, lean and tightly muscled man. He's exceptionally handsome as well, and more than a few girls are simply standing by watching him work.

Maz gets a severe headache as she heads into the shop, the whole place being tightly enchanted.

Maz loosens the concentration, using just enough of her willpower to keep it muted in the background.

It's still a dull pounding in the back of your head, not helping your mood in the least.

Maz is used to pain, sadly, and goes on regardless, not letting any of her discomfort show on her features. She moves towards the gaggle of other girls and stands there, observing the blacksmith, Relly settled on her shoulder.

The blacksmith is quite busy, forging what appears to be a massive metal pole- no, a lance! He's making the shaft and point entirely out of steel. Surely it's too heavy for anyone to lift...

"Oh wow!" Maz gushes before she can stop herself, apparently. "It's so big and firm!"

"Aye! It's a mighty thrusting weapon," replies the smith, continuing to hammer way. "Making it for a flaming knight- I mean, making it flaming for a knight!"

"Ooh, knights!" she exclaims. "How exciting!"

The other girls titter at your remark, the smith himself snorting. "Honor-bound morons all, lass. Bring in the profit, though, and that's what counts!"

Maz blinks in surprise. "But if not a knightly lance,  what other weapon could possibly be more massive and impressive for large, sweaty men to handle with their big, strong arms?"

"A greatsword- actually, no, them greataxes are heavier." The smith grabs the lance and pulls it out the forge, setting the smouldering weapon up against the wall (and almost setting a girls hair on fire as he swings it over.) "Now, lassy, are yer going to buy something or shall we keep makin' jibes at each other?"

"A greataxe sounds fantastic!" Maz chirps. "I just can't wait to see you make that one!"

"Surely? I can't wait for you to give me money, then," comes a mild-mannered voice. A door into the building behind the forge opens, and an elf steps out, clad in a red jacket with gold trim.

"How much?" she asks, suddenly businesslike.

"Depends what you want done with it," replies the elf, the smith just standing back and starting to flirt with the other girls. "Do you want your axe to be flaming, or would you prefer a more tasteful enchantment?"

"I like cold," she says simply.

"Frost enchantments, eh? Well, from scratch, that'd be around 8,000 gold," replies the elf. You can see his jacket has the symbol of Waukeen on the breast, and he's wearing a dull-smouldering ruby in a chain around his neck. "Unless you can provide some of the materials."

"I can provide the axe," she assures him. "What else would you require?"

"That's 300 gold down," replies the elf, chuckling. "We'd need, oh, sapphires- perfect ones, they're worth around five-hundred each, we'd need five of them. And, let's see. The blood of a water elemental and a pound of fresh snow."

"And what would this reduce from the cost, in detail?" Maz inquires.

"Well, each sapphire would take 550 off the total price. We usually charge a finders fee," replies the elf, hand stroking his chin. "The blood of the water elemental would take a thousand off as well, and the fresh snow another 250- it's hard to get around here."

"About a pint of blood is necessary. It's challenging to get it, though, because you need to get it out the elemental while it's still alive. And it looks just like water, to boot."

"The four-thousand is the usual sum we like to charge for our time, effort, and the part of our soul that is unfortunately used to craft further weapons of war." The elf rolls his eyes upwards at this. "And assorted other materials, of course."

"I see," she says, nodding to herself. "And what if I wanted an axe with an extra-sharp edge?"

"Oh, one of those," mutters the elf. "Well, we need a whetstone made of something hard, like adamant, mithril, or diamond. And some oil from the pores of a giant."

"That'd knock off four-thousand, again."

"Can't be just any giant- a fire giant is usually what we like to have."

"Fire giants are evil creatures, I approve," she says, nodding once more.

"If you pay us full price, we'll get them.. but we won't enjoy doing it," mutters the smith.

"I mean, the smell alone makes me want to double the price."

"You don't need to kill the giants anyway. Just rub a spounge against his armpit."

"The lesser stage of magical enhancement is the easy part," remarks the elf. "You can take a lot of different kinds of gems and magical materials to forge a weapon, it's when you start building different enchanments together that it gets more precise."

"I remember that time when we mixed Magmin blood with salamander scales for the suit of armour. Even after we paid to raise the poor bastard, they still ran us out of town..."

"Well, I suppose they don't _have_ to die," Maz agrees sullenly. "There are other weapons I have heard of, however. A weapon that defends its owner, one that returns on its own if the wielder throws it, an axe that is not fooled by a mage's attempts to hide himself, or even one which stores a mighty spell to be released upon a successful hit."

"Aye, these all exist. I'll pass on giving you our total list of recipes, though," says the smith, throwing the elf a baleful look.

"I'm really asking because it's so hard to choose just one," Maz tells them in a slightly whiny voice.

"There's plenty of choice," replies the elf, shrugging. "We can make all those things. Hell, we make up custom enchantments, too. When it comes to forging magical weapons, there's nothing we can't do-" "Except weapons beyond the fourth craft," mutters the smith, earning him a glare back from the elf.

"Oh, I see." Maz nods yet again. "Please tell me, can you enhance an already-magical weapon, like you would use a normal axe as a component?"

"It's not impossible! It's just very, very picky." The elf seems forlorn. "Takes a while to de- and re-construct the enchantment, don't you know."

"Just recently, though, we did this rapier for an elf," remarks the smith. "Paranoid git. Wandered around with some blurring enchantment on all the time. Was very complimentary, though- said he'd heard a lot about us."

"Took a week to break apart the enchantment and reforge it."

"Oh? An elf with a rapier... what did he look like?" Maz inquires without being eager.

"Kinda hard to say with the damned enchantment on," mutters the smith. The elf pauses a moment, as if recalling something, then he shrugs. "Yeah. Can't really say," he replies.

"Then I think we just might have a mutual friend, that elf and I," Maz muses.

"Oh well, no matter," she says, shaking her head.

"Hmm," she says at last, after making a show of thinking this over. "I think I'll order just a normal magical enchantment for my friend's axe, and let him think about what he would like the weapon to do." She pauses, giving them a smile. "I'm certain that once he's decided on something, you two would be the first we'll check with!"

"So just the basic stuff, eh?" replies the man, scratching his head. "That's fine. If you've got any magical goods to trade in, we can use them to cut the costs a little. Otherwise, two-thousand gold." The elf nods. "You'll need to leave the axe with us for a day. We can give you a rental, though!"

"I thank you for your kindness in helping me decide," she tells them, still smiling. "I'm not really all that great with weapons, you see, beyond the terrific sight of them in the hands of seasoned fighters!"

"I like shorts," replies the elf. The smith almost pisses himself laughing at the remark, and the girls dutifully laugh along with him.

"Oh!" Maz exclaims suddenly. "The enchantment that elf I might know ordered... is it worth getting for my friend's axe?"

"It's pretty expensive," replies the elf, sobering up. "We'd need at least 18,000 gold, along with a litre of blood and the fang of a vampire."

"Please don't make us drain ourselves and hunt undead."

"It's really not fun."

"Can't you, well, buy blood? And fangs?" Maz asks, looking confused. "A lot of people in the slums would sell their mother for a gold piece, so donating some blood shouldn't be all that hard."

"It needs to be the blood of one related to a fey or an outsider," replies the elf, glancing at you levelly. "So me or you would do."

"I'm afraid I won't sell my mother for a gold piece," Maz deadpans. "Dad, now...."

"Well, then." Maz bows to the smith and the elf. "I'll be back," she tells them happily, and leaves.

"Take care! Remember, we'll buy weapons you don't want!" they call, in chorous. "Itterashai-masen!"

-----

"...wait, wait, you don't want it magical at all?" says the elf, looking crestfallen.

"I know, I was saddened as well," Maz says, easily mirroring his disappointment. "But what can I say? He knows what he wants in his weapons."

"But we.. well, we have the adamant," he responds, sulkily. "But it's hard stuff, even with our elite magical forge. It'll take three or four days to forge."

"That's the price of great sundering axe," she agrees solemnly. "But speaking of magic, I actually have something you might be able to use your many talents on."

"That's right! I *am* talented!"

"I mean, yes, of course. What can I do for you?"

"It seems your talents extend far and beyond the making of arms and armor," Maz tells him, cocking her head. "Just how far?"

"I'm an expert tailor," replies the elf, nodding.

"I mean, that depends on what you want done, exactly."

"Craft a ring, or a staff? Cut a gem holding magic with precision, according to specs?"

"We can make rings, and cut gems and stuff. We don't usually, though. Special orders only." The elf shrugs. "There's not much demand for them. As for staves, well, we cater for warriors more than wizards, I'm afraid."

"Maybe if you didn't have this nasty habit of killing other wizards and stealing spellbooks," mutters the smith. The elf kicks him over, dangerously close to the forge.

"Ignore my friend here! Back in the day, our crusades for justice were as lucrative as they were righteous!"

"I understand righteousness and the need to put liberated spellbooks to good use," Maz agrees readily. "Why, just the other day--" She coughs, before withdrawing a small shard and the opal from a pouch at her waist. "I need this shard to match the opal's shape perfectly," she tells the elf. "I won't insult you by asking you if it is within your power. How much?"

"I will need to inspect your jewels before I can give you a quote," replies the elf. "May I?"

"But of course," she says, handing them over. "I would be curious to hear the results of your examination."

The elf takes the opal and the crystal, and vanishes back inside for a few minutes. He shortly emerges, blinking. "I could do that for you. But if you're trying to replicate the opal, forget it," he says. "The shard itself isn't powerful enough if that's what you want. You'd need a whole bag of the things to get anything meaningful out of it."

"A whole bag, you say?" Maz asks, a glint in her eye. "It just so happens I have a suitable quantity of this crystal." She pauses, looking uncertain for a moment. "Then this," she says, indicating the shard, "indeed holds the same properties as my opal, only in much lower concentration?"

"Essentially," replies the elf, nodding. "A whole bag, you say? You know, it'd make a decent component for use in a magical weapon."

"I think."

"Please, do elaborate," she tells him smoothly.

"Well, the opals are filled with a kind of self-sustaining magical force," he explains. "Traces of somebody's soul, you see, probably imbued by some mage. Now, if you treated it right, and hammered it into a weapon, well.. though I'm not sure how durable the enchantment is, it'd certainly boost it up in a few ways- more likely to home in on lethal areas, I think."

"I think I'll keep researching it as it is, for now," Maz replies. "However, for that I need more than just the one." Maz thinks back to the underground chamber, and whether it had any chunks imbued with magic she deemed too heavy to carry in her sack, originally.

It did not.

Maz sighs, and hands the bag she brought along to the elf. "Could you achieve the same results while leaving a couple of them as they are for me?" she inquires.

"So you want me to try and forge these into another opal?" replies the elf, taking the bag, and considering your proposal. "I'm willing to do that... hmm. It'll cost you. Either four-hundred gold... or two-hundred, and I get to keep a few shards for myself."

"I can see how this would be conductive to a successful business relationship," Maz agrees with a nod of her head. "What about the time period necessary for the job?"

"It'll take a while," he admits. "Do you want it before or after the axe?'

"Before, if it is only a day or two. After, if it's more."

"It'll only be a day or two," he promises.

"Excellent." She smiles. "And since we're headed into uncharted territory, as far as magic as we know it is concerned... there was this idea I had that you might help me with...."

[Corwin]

Ardandanus seems to have taken residence in the mage guild once more, and the place hasn't gotten any better since you last saw it. It still looks like it is about to topple at a slight breeze.

He sits in a room somewhere near the top of the tower, away from the initiates and the like who lounge around on the lower floors. When you catch up with him, he appears to be experimenting with a small, flying sailboat, about as large as your forearm. It whizzes around the room, discharging belches of smoke as it comes to rest back on his desk.

"Nice," she tells him, taking the liberty of seating herself. "I thought you only dabbled in wands, though?"

"I found this," replies the mage, wrestling the contraption towards the table. "I've been trying to figure out how to make it work properly, that's all. But it's a bit unstable."

"I've got some time, if you want to compare notes," she offers.

"If you feel up to it!" he responds, sounding more cheerful than he did when you first met him. "I'm not sure what it's good for, but it needs to have been made for *something*.

"What brings you here, anyway?"

"Stuff," she responds vaguely. "Errands, mostly. There are some supplies we need to get here before we move on, and I found myself with an abundance of time on my hands."

Ardandanus nods, shoving the boat to one side of the desk. "I'm happy to help you how I can," he replies.

"I'm happy to receive that help!" she chirps, her tone matching her words. "I've been hoping for some insight into the making of wands."

"Instruction? I suppose I have some time for that, but it's not exactly an easy process," he responds, shrugging. "They sort of bottle up half a century of memorization. They're like a kind of goldfish that can only think one thing, you know?"

"There are other kinds of goldfish?" she asks with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "But no, I'm afraid I don't have the time for a comprehensive instruction. What I would like to do is examine the ways the principles used in the construction of wands could be applied elsewhere."

"Oh, yes," he responds, reaching for a bookshelf near the wall. "Well, it's really divided into a few parts, you know. You need to store up the requisite magical energy, and you've got to code in release parametres and the actual discharge methodology, too."

Maz nods eagerly, leaning closer. "What I have in mind would make this divide physical, and not just ideological, if I may call it that."

"They're put together for more than just convenience," he notes, pulling out a tome, titled 'The Intemperate Wand'. "It's a matter of efficiency, too. When all the parts are working together, it's easy to provide the 'casting impetus' for a skilled wizard.

"But what did you have in mind?"

"Well," Maz says, gathering her thoughts as her brief excitement subsides somewhat, "we already have ways to store magical energy for spells, when you think about it, right? Scrolls are basic, but there are methods for doing the same with tattoos or gems. And there exists pools -- spellpools -- that various mages could draw arcane energy from. And that's even without going into the more advanced magical items or esoteric artifacts."

She waits for his reaction before continuing.

"There are many methods," he admits. "Scrolls are the most efficient, I believe. Spellpools are.. high maintenance. Only a few groups use them, nowadays... but, yes."

Maz nods. "But while scrolls are essentially spell near-completion, that one percent the mage is yet to go in order to bring about the spell's effect still exists." She thinks back to that troublesome time she was surrounded by Sharrans and Silenced magically. "But that one incomplete percent can, sometimes, be a matter of life or death."

"It's much the same with wands, and with staves, to my understanding. You've got to add the last word of the spell in almost every case.

"You're right, though.

"That's why, oh, necklaces of fireballs and the like are constructed. I don't believe they were developed with other people in mind. It seems that even arrogance can develop tactics, too."

Maz nods again. "I have theorized about the existance of a device, imbued with my own power for the purpose of supplying that one percent to the various spells stored in the fashion we touched upon earlier, in a way to free me of the need to devote any attention or concentration to the casting process at the time I would wish to use these stored spells."

"Ah, but you're unable to complete it without determining some way for it to engineer the casting, like a wand?"

"Not cheaply, at least," she agrees, "and what need is there to reinvent the wheel in this area? And," she adds with a grimace, "I have been unable to find a way for it to be viable in combat, due to an inability of using more than one spell within a reasonable timeframe. The spell-reloading time, if you will."

"That one spell could save your life," notes Ardandanus. "It wouldn't be impossible to set up several spells on such of device. Take, oh, the necklace of fireballs I mentioned. It's the jewels that have the spell enchanted on them, but it's detatching it from the circlet that sets off the power."

"Yes, it's possible," she says, her reluctance at using fireballs as basis showing.

"Well, you can use the same sort of basis," he replies. "Say you, oh, enchant jewels with the spell entirely, and have the device finish them all at once.. but, like this necklace, not discharge them until removed."

"And be impervious to an outside trigger, as is the case with the necklace you mentioned!" Maz pitches in, gloating over the failures of fire mages over the ages.

"One of the benefits I hope to see is a greater diversity in my arsenal," Maz continues, her tone reflective. "I have in my possession a wand of magic missiles, which I have gotten at a time their powers were equal to mine. Now, however, as I have grown in both knowledge and strength, I see it more of a last resort, one I am loathe to use. And I have not seen all that much use from it, yet.

"But wands are made with a length term of use or a furious battle in mind. I am hoping to create a balance between the various one-use magical items and the standard wands."

"The over-all cost efficiency will be less, however," muses Ardandanus. "Insight can come quickly early in ones career, true..."

"The higher cost seems an inevitability," Maz agrees. "And it's never too late to try new things. We're not dogs or anything, right?" she adds with a smirk.

"Time is progress! Wizards everywhere are crafting new spells and tools as we speak," nods Ardandanus. "True, the tools that are most useful will stand the test of time, and those that aren't will be forgotten. But you won't know where you stand unless you try, eh?"

"Right!" she exclaims.

"Well, this book might be useful to you. I'll let you borrow it a while." He sets it over to you with great revenance. "It's quite weighty, but everything you need to know about the basics of wand-crafting is there. Though, I don't think you should try actual wands with just it..."

"Of course," she agrees. "Half-assed magical items, bad."

<--->

The enchantments surrounding the temple of Mystra have... dimmed. It seems more prefunctionary now, more than anything, and the overall *feel* of magic from the place is less than you remember.

Maz approaches the temple's entrance, seeking out the guards.

The guards, at least, seem intact, but somewhat forlorn. "Ah, it's you," one says, standing aside to let you enter.

"There's a warm welcome for you," she tells him with a smirk. "So, how are things?" she asks, not entering just yet.

"Well enough, considering the circumstances," replies the guard, sighing. "At least we're open for business again, so to speak."

"An openness for business is always a step in the right direction," Maz agrees with a nod, before the conversation turns to more serious topics. "I heard the the old leadership did not make it. Did that include the head cleric of the temple, who had fallen into a coma during my previous visits?"

"He still appears to be in said coma," replies the guard, shaking his head. "We hoped he would come out of it with the removal of the... disruption of this area, but it seems he was either more deeply affected by it than we know, or, perhaps, his connection to Mystra binds him across a greater portion of the Weave...

"At least, that's what the initiates think. I am but a humble knight."

"That's a shame," she tells him with a frown. "With whom then, pray tell, should I speak inside?"

"Falleen has taken some measure of control for now," replies the soldier. "She usually stays near the altar.

"Things aren't boding well. That mage, Ardandanus, claims he can keep the mage tower from falling down, which at least takes one burden off our shoulders."

"He probably can, in the near future at least," Maz agrees. "I saw him and the tower earlier. Well then, I believe I shall try and seek an audience with Miss Falleen. Good day to you both."

"Mrs, actually. But just Falleen will do," chortles the guards, opening the door for you.

Maz heads inside with a nod at the guards, intending to get as far to the altar as she can unmolested.

A woman, wearing, remarkably, blue plate mail and carrying a similarly cobalt mace is kneeling in front of the alter. She doesn't react as you approach.

Maz decides to give her a few minutes to finish up her prayers, consultations with Mystra or whatever ritual she is supposed to be doing, standing a ways off in a non-threatening manner.

"Mystra's grace be with you, wizard," she murmurs, eventually, rising up from her kneeling position. "I know not why, but she is pleased with you."

"That's alright, I do," Maz responds happily. "It's nice to be favored by a decent goddess, even a bit."

A short bark of laughter as the woman turns around to face you, standing a few inches taller, no doubt thanks to the height the armour gives her. "True enough. What can I do for you?"

"The previous administration and I had an... agreement of sorts," she says, shrugging as she mentions it. "I'm honestly saddened by their passing, especially in the manner it happened, but life goes on."

"If we owe you money, I'm going to have to ask you to wait a little longer," replies Falleen. "But that it does. Do tell."

"You actually don't," Maz says, shaking her head. "It was not that kind of agreement. They wanted me and my friends to prove ourselves strong enough before fully committing to a formal... alliance of sorts, I suppose, against those who would rend the Weave, Sharrans at their lead. They have already judged our intentions to be on the right track, though I suppose it is no glowing endorsement under the circumstances."

"Ah. Rending the Weave," snorts Falleen. "I consider every mage who isn't participating in destroying it to have a duty of, if not stopping those who are, at least repairing it. You're the first one to actually approach me about it, though."

"If there were any records of your predecessors' dealings left, I am hoping that you could consider my part in proving myself to be fulfilled, so that we could proceed towards this cooperation."

"I'm more than happy about cooperating with you," replies Falleen. "But there's precious little I can actually *do* with you, right now.

"But there's something I could give you, certainly. The elder clergy were working on a device that could repair holes in the weave, or at least block them up so Shar can't get at them.

"With her guidance, I was able to finish it."

"They mentioned a way to fix the tears that they would share with me," Maz muses out loud, nodding to herself, "though I had not thought it to be a device, but rather a spell or a magical procedure of some sort."

"There was a spell," replies Falleen, troubled. "But I don't know it. It's beyond my strength... it's much easier to rip the fabric apart than mend it."

"Perhaps I'll check back with you the next time I pass through Darromar," Maz offers. "For now, though, the device would have to do, if you would entrust it with me."

"Perhaps. What are your immediate plans?" replies Falleen, considering.

"Like I said, to formalize an agreement between the temple and my friends. As I explained to the others, should you actually want us to go out of our way seeking out these rends rather than merely sealing the ones we come across as we battle the Sharrans, they would need to be on a retainer, or we should find some other financial agreement. I am the only mage in the group, sadly, and none of them truly understand the impact of a torn Weave on us all, not merely on the mages amongst us." She pauses, considering. "I also inquired about a certain pearl I wanted to have, and was told it could be crafted, when matters were less urgent and the temple was open to the public again."

Falleen spreads her hands. "I don't have the authority to agree to a retainer. At least, not one that would truly reimburse you fully," she responds. "It is true that your group is the one responsible for resolving the situation here, correct?"

Maz poses dramatically. "We fight on the side of light and justice!"

"I hope your devotion to righteousness is strong," replies Falleen, producing what appears to be some kind of miniature gong. "Placed in the center of a disruption to the weave, this device will, in effect, fix it.

"It will work on dead magic, and wild magic areas, as well. However, the magic takes.. around half an hour to complete itself. I cannot pay you with money.. at least, not much, but at the moment, the temple possesses a sizable stock of potions. Even if you only strike down those you come across- and I guarantee that you will come across one or two, if your activies continue- then it will be a suitable payment."

Maz nods to that. "It sounds like a decent start, yes." She frowns then. "There is something else, in a way."

"Oh?"

"In our most recent battle with the forces of evil, literally, our cleric passed away," Maz says with appropriate sadness.

"I'm sorry for your loss," replies Falleen, with suitable gravity.

"It turned the battle into an empty fight for vengeance," Maz continues, sighing. "In the end, we were too late to save him."

"I.. if you require him to be raised, perhaps you should try another temple," replies Falleen, looking aside.

"His brother took his body with him," Maz tells her, showing no sign of noticing Falleen's obvious discomfort. "What I mean to ask is, would there be an acolyte here, one who would like the chance to travel around and see more of the world? Without the clerically-inclined, we have no easy way to find the rendings in the Weave or the weak spots in it which would be targetted by the opportunists. On the other hand, they should be reasonably safe with us -- certainly safer than traveling with a group of their peers."

"An acolyte? To travel with you? It would be possible.. but I would have to entrust you with her safety," replies Falleen, staring you straight in the eye. "Acolytes are all I have, here, and few are wise to the world.

"Or to combat."

"I would prefer to secure said acolyte's agreement, before even yours," Maz says, though she makes an effort to keep her tone inoffensive. "However, that aside, I am willing to hear which guarantees you would demand of me for their safety, and I could tell you straight away if they are feasible."

"You need to guarantee that you'll do everything you can to keep her alive. I'd prefer you keep her out of any battles for the weave entirely, but I appreciate that.. well, things happen, but I'd expect her safety to be of your first concern while she's with you, and to take precautions as such."

"I would protect her as I would any of the others, as well as try to keep her out of fighting, whenever possible," Maz agrees. "Is that enough?"

"I hope so," replies Falleen, tsking. "I won't question you on that any further. If, for whatever reason, you find yourselves not requiring her services further, I'd put it to you to make sure she finds her way to a temple, if there are none nearby."

"She would be free to travel wherever she wishes," Maz replies smoothly. "I would provide her an escort to safety, naturally."

Falleen nods, briefly. "If she perishes... well, let us hope that does not happen," she finishes. "Not to sound threatening, but I will hold you accountable."

"It is most unlikely that this girl we speak of should die before me," Maz affirms. "Who did you have in mind?"

"Lucia," she murmurs. "There are many minor acolytes here.. in training, so to speak. She seemed to be the one who most wanted to get outside and do things."

"When do you think would be the best time for me to meet her and extend the offer to her?" Maz asks, cocking her head.

Falleen blinks. "Offer her? Yes, of course. Today, perhaps?"

Maz nods. "I would like to thank you for your help, then."