All That Glitters

[Anastasia]

That's an honest DM mistake on my part, so he'll take the -4 and go nonlethal. I'm not going to penalize you over me simply forgetting in the heat oft he moment.

Duran is a bloody mess - but alive, if out cold.

[Nephrite]

whew!!!

"...It's what you get for following Shar." Moore almost spits the words. He takes a moment to look through the desk and take whatever is there -- he can read it and figure out any meaning later.

He's going to give the desk a quick onceover for anything since he's pretty sure this place is about to topple. Take 10 for 70 on Perception and all that.

"Let's return and see what we can do to ease the suffering of the captives... or help them move on, if we need to." Moore says.

[Anastasia]

We'll handle that and looting shortly.

As you check the desk, a mineral elemental rises up from the ground. Human sized, "Moore," he says slowly. "Sharrans dead?"

"Dead or captured," Cresiel says, shaking his head. Picking up Duran, "I'll handle this one. I intend to get him to Celestia soonest. Has the other resistance been crushed?"

"Yes. Bad Earth ran. Sharrans dead." The elemental replies, peering closely at Cresiel.

[Nephrite]

Moore nods to Cresiel and speaks to the mineral elemental in Terran. "Yes, Sharrans dead. Going to rescue captives."

[Anastasia]

"If you can, pass up your chain of command to undo the sealing around this area," Cresiel continues. "Additionally, have an elemental bring the hostage I left just inside the front gate to me. I intend to directly transport the captives here to Mertion."

The elemental nods to all of you at that.

Chance to add anything here.

[Nephrite]

"Please convey my thanks to Lord Crystalle for his aid." Moore adds in Terran.

[Anastasia]

Okay, at this point there's several things you could do.

1. Looting.

2. Going with Cresiel to see the hostages and prisoners, and transport them to Mertion. Also drop off Duran while there.

3. Meet with Crystalle's forces.

4. Something else of your choosing.

What will you do? Cresiel's booked unless you want to directly counter mand him, but Xandra's free.

[Nephrite]

Moore trusts Cresiel to take care of the hostages and get them safely to where they need to be. He'll handle the looting aspect of things first and then meet with Crystalle's forces. Oh, and of course if all the surrendered cultists are somewhere he'll deal with them.

[Anastasia]

Okay. I'll do a loot post in the morning - it's just a bit late for that for me - so we'll pick up then. Congratulations. Additionally...

As Cresiel heads off, he pauses. "We have stood against Shar and it was good, but it is only the beginning. Vendettas with Shar rarely end. Still..."

You feel a momentary connection with Cresiel, a sensation of strengthening, of will unbreakable.

Congratulations, you fulfilled Cresiel's node goal. Go check out his new one and post once you have.

[Nephrite]

"Don't worry, I'm not the type to rest on my laurels." Moore says with a grin.

So read and so understood.

[Anastasia]

Your loot is up, go reply to that and we'll hash it out over there.

[Anastasia]

In the end, you only find a few survivors. Crystalle sits on a throne of crystal before the temple, the looming, disintegration firing Eye of Shar crushed into rubble. Of the ones who let you pass, you only see three still alive, all of them wounded. Mineral elementals are beginning to undo the building, removing it stone by stone, magic flaring away and fizzling at their touch.

Go ahead.

[Nephrite]

"Lord Crystalle." Moore greets him with a bow. "Thank you again for the aid you provided to us. I am curious about something, do you have any insight into what Rumbling Slide and his cohorts were attempting here? Does Ogremoch see value in what was taken in a way that differs from my understanding of you and yours?"

[Anastasia]

"Ogremoch can be greedy," Crystalle replies once the pleasantries are done, "He takes what he gained here to his caves, to be his treasure and his treasure alone. This would not be the first time he has raided Mineral, and he has the power and skill to sometimes get away with it, much as it pains me to say."

[Nephrite]

"Do you think they -- Ogremoch and Rumbling Slide, were in league with the Sharrans until we made an opportunity for them?" Moore asks.