Dark Rumblings

[Anastasia]

The man shivers as you support him, hugging you half by position and half by need. "Mystra, Mystra, Mystra," he sobs, "You came! You came for me!"

"Peace," Ebony's voice is a soft song, soothing. She puts her hand on his back, "Breathe. It is not Mystra, but Mystra's sword that has come. Saint Alicia is here and has vanquished the evil in her name and in Mystra's name."

[Ebiris]

Marie just gives the knocked out arcanaloth in her clenched fist a glare as the rebuilt man sags against Alicia.

"It is by Mystra's will, you're safe now with us," Alicia agrees, rubbing a hand up and down his back once his feet are rebuilt enough for him to stand on them. A further flex of her power grants him some dignity, cladding his body in white cotton robes, the seven stars of Mystra embroidered over them.

Alter reality for major creation there, vegetable matter like cotton lasts 2hrs/level so should be plenty of time for this.

[Anastasia]

"Free...free..." A sobbing gasp before he stands, wiping himself clean before bowing deeply, "I am forever in your deepest debt, Lady Alicia."

[Ebiris]

"Thank you," she responds, nodding. "What's your name? And what can you tell us of what happened here?"

[Anastasia]

"Faram," The man says, "Faram Okelon. I...may I sit down," he asks.

Ebony goes to him, helping him to a simple stool.

Once down he says, "We were attacked from within, massacred before we could raise our hands," he says, "The daemons and their minions struck like lightning, leaving us with no hope."

[Ebiris]

"That is how their dark mistress would like it," Alicia says, shaking her head. "But now it is they who are routed. Did you manage to see who was in charge or was leading the assault?"

[Anastasia]

A shaking hand points at the arcanaloth. "I saw that thing directing the attack. I was caught in meditation," he admits, "Though I heard a lesser daemon demanding a report from him for something else. It started with an A, I think."

[Ebiris]

"Allema?" Alicia suggests. "That was the fiend in overall charge of this atrocity."

As for the arcanaloth it gets jostled as Marie's clenched fist squeezes. "Don't worry, he won't have the chance to hurt anyone else ever again," the eladrin promises.

[Anastasia]

A creak of bone as the 'loth is squeezed, Ebony murmuring, "Peace. Let there be justice when the time is right, not torment in the heat of anger."

"I think it was," Faram manages, "I think it was, I think it may have been. A spell hit me and I knew pain, then more pain and madness as the magic was carved into my mind. Like scalpels. Like being dissected."

[Ebiris]

It had more been for visual effect than to do real injury, but Marie looks genuinely chastened and lowers her head at Ebony's rebuke. "You're right, I should watch that," she agrees meekly.

"All to turn a person into a spellbook. Madness," Alicia shakes her head. "We'll cleanse the rest of Icerime before we pursue the one behind all this. So far you're the only survivor but there may perhaps be more. Can you come with us? It would be safest where we can keep an eye on you, at least until we've made sure the cathedral is clear."

[Anastasia]

"Yes, yes, there may be other survivors," Faram says, "Let's go."

[Ebiris]

Giving Marie a pat on the shoulder, Alicia leads their troupe back out and to the wondrous laboratory next.

[Anastasia]

It's a full laboratory filled with all manner of things, areas to work and supplies. It's hectic, teetering bookshelves topped with glass jars filled with a variety of things looming over it all. They cast shadows over the workspace as occasional motes of colorful magic drift through the air.

[Ebiris]

Seems innocent enough so Alicia steps back out. "What was up those stairs?" she asks Faram, pointing at the collapsed stairwell.

[Anastasia]

"Storage, observatory decks and astronomy," Faram answers, "As well as passage to the various cathedral towers, devoted to various specialized studies of magic. Though some can also be reached from the ground floor."