The eladrin mutant tries to stand--and though a bit unsteady, he manages to do so. "Goo--argh, mmm..." he stumbles a bit, but Torinn manages to catch him and help him to his feet. "You... you freed me? You're fighting those things...?" he asks, not looking directly at any of you, but seeming to gaze ahead with glazed-over eyes. It seems he's still getting accustomed to having control over his body and senses again.

While that would probably be more of a secondary objective to finding the leyline, Torinn figures that they'd be guarding it anyway, and answers affirmatively. And he's pissed. "Absolutely. I cannot abide what they've done, and they will pay for it."

"Th-then let me help. I want...payback," Savenoul says, almost snarling as he does so. He gestures towards the cursed magic greatclub. "When I held that thing... I know. The voice told me even a weakling like me can fight with the strength of ten men, if I use that."

>>10776
Torinn gives a look of incredulity, saying, "I don't particularly trust talking objects given to me by somebody who was hell-bent on turning me into some kind of weapon." In an act of what could be recklessness, he picks up the club. "What say you, magic hunk of wood? Tell me your secrets."

Pick up the cursed greatclub
brace for terrible things

Sariel is about to warn about the stupidity of grabbing cursed weaponry, but by now she's pretty much used to the Paladin lacking in the insight department.

Just in case, she stands back and braces.

Total Defence and stand at 10 squares distance from Torinn.

Torinn picks up the greatclub. Nothing happens immediately, though he can feel something unwholesome creeping into his psyche--it's not a physical feeling at all, but it's about the psychic equivalent of biting into something with an extremely disgusting taste. Somewhere beyond that, Torinn hears a very faint "voice" beckoning for him to use the weapon.

...It does not, however, seize control of his body or anything like that. Sariel, knowing much about the curse, knows that you need to actually use the weapon before the curse can take hold, and it does not force the wielder to use it the first time.

>>10779
Torinn listens for a moment, makes a face, then drops the club on the ground. "It's evil. It feels absolutely, irrepentantly, unbelievably evil. Makes my skin crawl, has suspicious voices urging violence, and leaves the taste of blood in my mouth. I don't suggest using it for anything other than its residuum value." He faces Savenoul with a stern look, "If you want to help, you'll have to find another way, because I forbid you from using that cursed club."

"You will have your revenge, but it's no use if you go and die in vain because of this curse. If what Sariel says is true then disenchanting it should't be hard, and it should still be usable as a weapon."

"I... I have no combat training," Savenoul tries to explain, looking a bit desperate. "I know what it will do to me, but... my body is already like this. At least let me be useful to you in getting back at those aberrations...! Let me put this great strength and endurance I've been given to good use!"

Your ghostly guide is staying outside the garden area. It seems to be rather deliberately entering the room for whatever reason.

Torinn/Sureiya: From what you have seen of him so far, he probably wouldn't be of much use without the cursed greatclub. His reaction time is noticeably slow, and if he lacks training with weaponry on top of that, you doubt he'd be of much use in combat.

Surprised by his fighting desire, Sureiya doubts for a while his opinion, but in the end he stands resolute.
"I won't lie, you are strong. But look at you right now. We had to beat you to a pulp to stop your rage, you are in no fighting condition. Look, do you remember Archenius? He has been looking for you." says the ranger, walking to the entrance to the laboratory.
"We have your man, library keeper. Now help us to heal him."

As Sureiya walks away, Savenoul repeats desperately, "I'll b-be fine to fight again, if I just have a few moments to recuperate!"

"I... I'd rather not enter the garden, if that's quite all right. What that illithid has done to it is utterly repulsive," Archeunis replies with no small amount of disgust in his voice. "If you've retrieved Savenoul that's well and good, but I don't have any way to heal him myself."

"Do you value your life at all, Saverous? Is this cruel desire for revenge stronger than your will to live? No offense, but what would happen if you lose control again and attack us?... I would rather try to find a way to turn you back to normal."
Saying this, and not waiting for a reply, Sureiya gives a look to the group and returns to the scrying room. Once there he attempts to find a healing ritual scroll.
Perception in the room (24) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3767558/
Sureiya desire for healing Saverous translate into amazing reading skills (Arcana, Heal and Nature for reading the scrolls) (19, 23,22) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3767543/

>>10784
With a light thunk, Torinn smacks a bit of sense back into Savenoul and yells at him. "Get a hold of yourself, man! If you're worried about us, we'll be fine. If you want to make your mark on your enemies, I'll kill them in your name. If you want revenge, live in defiance of that thing's wishes and don't give in to those killer instincts. But I will not let you kill yourself over something we can handle ourselves. "

diplomacy to diplomate http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3767565/ (20)

Sureiya doesn't find anything that resembles a healing scroll in the security room. However, he does find what appears to be a rather perfect-looking crack in the wall--one that indicates a hidden door, just past the scrying pool. You could reach it if you sidle around...

Savenoul gasps as Torinn's gauntlet-ed hand smacks him in the face, and he rubs his cheek thoughtfully. "Urgh... how can you say that, after what I've been through... I want to make those things pay, and I don't see why I should be making you do it for me!" Despite his apparent outrage, the eladrin makes no hostile gestures towards you, he merely sits on the ground, rubbing the spot where Torinn struck him.

"...Why not?"
Sureiya attempts to reach the hidden door.

Sariel crosses her arms. "Savenoul, we did not go through this trouble so you could die," she says to him in Elven. "I understand you have great need to exact swift and merciless justice on these abominations, then deposit them in the nearest ditch. However, that is also our goal, and you would be a detriment to us if you wield... that." She nods to the greatclub.

"We've found some other eladrin who've yet survived. It seems to me your suffering has been great and long. Won't you grant yourself some relief and look towards making something of your future, rather than jeopardise it? If you still insist, I will not remove the curse from the greatclub, but think closely on the value of your life!"

Saverous looks at Sariel briefly, then looks back at the ground. He sputters a bit as he replies, "I... I think it'd be okay if I fought. I'd live... but ultimately, I guess it's up to you guys. You're the ones fighting them, you probably know them best, and you saved me in the first place. I don't mean to throw my life away, just to get back at them."

When Sureiya pushes his way past the hidden barrier--it's a simple, sliding section of the wall, he discovers a small, well-lit chamber. It doesn't appear that any creatures have been here for quite some time. There are several runes inscribed on the walls here, but the chamber is barely big enough to contain two people. Sureiya cannot identify the purpose of the runes at a glance.

"What could this strange place be?"
Not finding anything else of interest, Sureiya returns with the rest and informs them about te situation. "I'm sorry, I was sure that place would have plenty ritual scrolls, but I couldn't find any. On the other side, I found an interesting hidden passage to a small chamber with some strange runes in the walls. Sariel, would you mind taking a look to it?"

"I suppose," Sariel replies to Sureiya, seeing no retort from Savenoul.

Just to clarify, there ARE ritual scrolls there, but none for healing.

Sariel follows Sureiya and carefully sidles into the hidden room he discovered. When the eladrin has a look at the runes, she quickly surmises that one of these is probably the rune mentioned by the guard captain--the rune that seals off the tower you just came from.

OOC: You can make an arcana check to try an determine the function of the runes.

Attempting not to make Sariel feel uncomfortable, Sureiya stay outside while she examine the runes. "Any idea what is this for?"
Actually, which kind of ritual scrolls did Sureiya recognize? Can we loot them?

Sariel nods. "Of course."

http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3774877/
Reveal your secrets.

Sariel has absolutely no problem identifying that these runes activate spells elsewhere--very advanced spells, that will trigger an intricate sequence to seal off certain buildings. Her advanced knowledge allows her to easily determine which one will seal the tower containing the guard captain and the survivors, protecting them from incursions from the illithids, and she knows exactly how to activate the runes. The only thing she doesn't know is what other buildings the other runes connect to.

Understanding a bit of Savenoul's indignation, Torinn tries to calm him down, "So what did you do before you were caught here?"

"We can use these to seal off parts of the city," Sariel indicates, pointing at the one she is sure about. "That one seals off the other eladrin we met."

"Oh yes, I remember now. I wonder if we should really seal it, Sid is waiting for us on that magical boat-thing."

"I... I was a mason," Savenoul replies to Torinn's inquiry. "I mostly helped to shape the pearlstone they use for these towers, both inside and out."

Savenoul's occupation sparks a vague sense of kinship within Torinn, who muses, "Mason, huh... I had an uncle who was a mason. He liked to work with marble, would probably have given his left leg to see this place." A small thought occurs to him, and he inquires, "You wouldn't happen to know about the rooms these uglies are holed up in, would you? Shape, size, outstanding features?"
take 10 on diplomacy to calm savenoul down some more

"I, uh... don't know where they are, really," Savenoul said, sounding a bit calmer. "Was kinda out of it when that... orb was still going."

>>10812
"I see. Then, do you know where to find any floor plans, maps, or blueprints for the area?"

"Ah... well, I'm sorry, I don't know," Sanveoul replies sadly. "The higher-ups kept track of all that..."

It was worth a shot. "Ah well, don't worry about it, then. We'll deal with the menace ourselves, you just worry about keeping yourself safe."

"Nothing for it but to consult the rest," Sariel determines expertly. She leaves the small room Sureiya found, beckoning for the ranger to follow. Finding Savenoul and Torinn in conversation, Sariel bruskly shoves aside the subject for her own.

"We've found the rune that will allow us to seal the city, at least partially. I am more than willing to oblige, but it may cut off our main route of egress. I recognise, however, that I cannot decide such things by myself." She crosses her arms, and looks at each of her companions. Her gaze settles on Torinn.

"Whichever you decide." Mentally, she ponders if it is possible to reverse the process.

Do I need to roll for Arcana?

>>10820
"Seal off the vaults as requested. Anything else might just block our way forward."

"So, where are we going now? Archenius, do you know where is the rest hiding?"
Sureiya will try to recall if there was any door or passage in the room where the fighted a while ago.

The ghost replies, from outside the laboratory where he is waiting, "You should be able to access the depths, the non-flooded portions anyway, by taking the stairs in the library's center. If Hemah lives, he is certainly down there, near the leyline."

Sariel nods, then turns to Sureiya and Myn. "And you two agree to this, then?"

"...I do not like the idea, as there's no certainty than we will find another way out. But I'm willing to take the risk.
Savenoul, return with us to the surface. Curing your curse should be easy feat for the people at the Arcanimus."

"I would have to voice an objection, Miss Sariel. Completing our objective and leaving here should be our first priority. If we find a clear way out, we can simply return here and activate the rune at that point."

Myn neglects to mention his view that said survivors would do well to jump in a lake and save them some trouble.

Folka shrugs, seemingly content to go with whatever the rest of the group decides. Savenoul hesitates for a bit--and then nods. "...very well. I'll go with you then, I suppose."

Sureiya wonders about Myn reply, and walk toward the ghost waiting outside of the lab ask him. "We found a room with some runes used to seal this area from mugglers and such. Do you know if there's another way to return to the surface if we were going to seal this area?"

Sariel questions the ghoast about the function of the other runes, if he'd kindly go along. Regardless, she seals the guard captain's tower, not further entertaining the opinions of her allies. Not through some unsocial device but a cosmic force is impatient.

As Sariel leaves to trigger the rune, the group and Savenoul relocate to outside the laboratory and meet up with their ghostly guide. When Sureiya asks the question, Archeunis responds, "The entire city is at least partially submerged. It would require your transport to relocate, but there should be another way in. I cannot guarantee that, however."

Sariel holds her hand over the rune, and mutters the words she knows will activate the ritual. In the distance, there is a faint rumbling that the eladrin recognizes as sounds that the vaults have been sealed.

Seeing the Eladrin leave Sureiya shrugs and say "While I think the same as you, Myn, it seems she decided already.Let's waste no more time, that crazy man should have noticed our presence by now. Let's return to the library. "

The party groups around the center of the archives, and the ghost rejoins them--Savenoul trudges behind you dejectedly, as Torinn is carrying the cursed greatclub. There are two sets of spiral stairs leading downwards, and as Archeunis explains, "Both converge below, and lead to what was once a large, empty chamber where some empty bookshelves were kept. At the time of the crisis, we were in the process of stocking them with books, but I imagine they are empty now. The wards the cultists have set up prevent me from proceeding farther, and so I apologize, I will be unable to render further aid to you beyond this point."

You notice that Archeunis seems to be avoiding eye contact with Savenoul.

"You've helped us plenty already, we can take it from here. And, uh, your friend is back to himself. Sort of."

Archeunis averts his eyes as Torinn speaks, and huffs a bit. "...it is difficult to look upon the full range of what those abominations have despoiled."

Savenoul almost looks embarrassed at this, and turns away himself.

>>10850
Torinn pounds his fists together, growling, "They'll pay for it. By the Platinum Dragon's scales, they'll pay for it." The dragonborn whistles, and a familiar figure steps out from the mist, in much better shape than he was earlier.

>>10854
Continued~