[ We find Our Heroes trudging through a particularly dark portion of the Underworld, which has no light at all that isn't from an artificial source that you're carrying. It's only their first day of traveling, and the maps they've studied, if they can be assumed to be current, have them on a pretty clear course before they have to part ways to take their respective paths to the Drow metrolopis. ] [ Assuming that the unexpected continues to not happen, they'll be there in two more days of travel. But we all know the chances of that happening. ] [ Session Start! ] * Tia trots along lightheartedly, her greataxe firmly in hand. Her stuffed bear Wuffiekins sits in her knapsack with his head poking out. [ Wuffiekins rides along and sees the world! Assuming he had darkvision. ] Underground cow was sooooo tasty, Isty! I want more! Can we go back and have more when we're done here? * Tia rubs her belly in fond reminiscence. [ Everyone is on foot for this journey, for the layout of your path makes taking steeds quite impossible. ] * Alcinoe clanks along. She's noisy, and she don't care. She's also been pretty much silent as far as words go, but what else is new? When we get back, Tia, I'll see if I can get you a whole cow to eat if you want. [ Kardos walks along in the middle of the group, being quiet and looking about idly. ] Ooh! I've never eaten a whole cow before! * Patrick silently walks along, randomly smiling. ( "I'm sure you could if you tried." ) * Seylin is quiet as she walks, keeping watch for unpleasant things. I'm sure you could if you tried, Tia. ( Dammit, Robin. ) (Haha!) * Max floats along, seemingly re-reading some old notes in his Book. You think so, Kenji? It's smaller than you are. * Tia blushes in the dark, then beams. I have no idea why you would -want- to eat one, but you probably could. It's tasty, Kenji! You sure you don't want to try some next time? It's a dwarven delicacy, prepared mostly for large groups in order to cement ties. There's a dwarven saying that, roughly translated, means 'Those who devour a whole roethe together stick together." * Anastasia walks next to Kenji, towards the outside of the group. She's in her red armor that you've all seen before and has her sword across her back. She looks around once in a while, but seems mostly intent on keeping an eye out. * WillS clanks along in the back. Being silent as usual. Max? * Tia has taken to ignoring Anastasia, which seems to be easier for her when she's in a good mood and well fed. Hm? *looks up, nudging the bridge of his glasses up even though it doesn't need it* Come here, please? So does that mean I'd stick together with myself if I ate a whole underground cow, Isty? * Max drifts over, and waits expectantly. * Alcinoe looks over at the conversation. * Istvan pauses. "Suppose so. Probably just means you'd be really, really full." * HKenji looks up at Max thoughtfully for a moment, then says calmly, "I need the fifth headband, Max." * Tia giggles. That will take time to make. It is for your betrothed, yes? The one you made for yourself, Max. * HKenji doesn't look particularly angry at all, oddly. * Max raises an eyebrow, and takes off his glasses. Which he proceeds to breathe fog onto and clean with the edge of his robe. He answers while examining them at arms' length, "You are aware that it is impossible to wear more than one headband at a time, and have it function, are you not?" * Anastasia casts a glance back at Kenji and Max, then continues looking out. * Tia trots along cheerily, singing quietly in Draconic (Ganache's shanty) and wagging her tail. I am, and I am also aware that you are dodging the question. Whatever link you use, I need it. * Max re-dons his glasses, and meets Kenji's eyes. He actually looks a bit sad, as well as nervous. His voice drops in tone. "That means that any link I had into the set I made at your behest would have to either not be a headband, or would have to be incorporated into my own. My headband significantly increases my cognative abilities, and allows me to utilize my spells far more precisely." * Istvan walks along with his war pick in his hands, idly letting the flames that bathe its point flicker on and off. If you did the latter, say so, Max. * HKenji frowns. * Max raises a hand, palm out, delaying Kenji's statement. IF I had secretly done as you believe, one would have to wonder why, and under what conditions I would be willing to admit it and give it up. * Alcinoe frowns. Stop, Max. [ Soon, the path takes an abrupt turn upwards, at about an eighty degreen angle. ] A simple, direct answer to a simple, direct question. That is all I require. * Max sighs, and settles back on his Book, cross-legged. "My headband is linked to the others," he states flatly, sounding more saddened than defeated. * Alcinoe climbs up. She looks tremendously displeased. * Anastasia looks back towards the pair, frowning slightly. * Istvan looks up. "That's a helluva slope." *starts up* * HKenji sighs. "I am... most displeased, Max. I told you there were to be four headbands, no more, and no less." * Max swallows, but states calmly, "You did. And yet you desire the fifth, now." I expected you to make a fifth object that was -not- a headband, Max. * WillS climbs up and starts huffing and puffing immediately. "Stupid slope...heavy armor..." * HKenji doesn't even blink as he hits the slope and walks straight up it. * Patrick walks up the slope, just like he was walking on the floor. * Max blinks, and cracks a tiny grin in spite of himself. It's quickly chased away. "I see. You should have said so. I do not follow inuendo well." His tone is quite unreadable - probably because he's not sure how he feels about this, himself. Oh, and he doesn't even notice the slope, what with flying and all. You don't bother following orders. [ The shaft is quite large, actually, and should provide plenty of room for the fliers to do their thing. ] That is both disturbing and disappointing. There is little purpose to following the letter of an order if you are not going to follow the spirit. If you had intended I create one, you should not have forbidden it. * Tia makes sure no one's in her way, bunches her leg muscles, and launches herself up through the shaft. * Anastasia works her way up the slope with no apparent difficulty. * Istvan pushes himself up the slope with slow, steady steps, digging his pick into the ground ahead of himself every so often like a piton for balance. Anyone need a lift? There is every purpose in following the letter of an explicitly worded order. At least then you can claim you followed the letter. You broke both letter and spirit, and that leaves me in an interesting quandary. * Tia calls down sheepishly from higher up in the shaft, where she has latched onto the slope with her claws, "Um, does anyone need help? Sorry, I forgot." * Alcinoe looks up at the conversation, and her eyes widen. * Istvan shakes his head. "I'm good." * WillS is slowly climbing up, taking a rest every couple feet of climbing when he hears Tia's offer. "Tia!! Can you help me please?" * Anastasia says "I'm fine, thanks." And she does appear to be. * Tia yells back down, "Sure, Will! I'll come back to getcha!" Ah, Alcinoe? A claim to follow the letter is worse than a lie. It is a self- deception. A better question to ask, if you have not already answered it yourself, is 'why?'. Though you will like that answer even less. What quandry do you now have that a 'letter' following would not have left you? And, finally, why bother giving an order you intend to be broken? * Tia spirals back down to Will, hovers close to him, and holds out her hand. * Alcinoe stares at Max. She's stopped climbing. "Kenji," she says. Anyone else want some help? Don't look down, Alcinoe. * WillS turns slowly and grasps Tia's hand. "Thanks Tia." You're welcome, Will! * Max moves nearer the 80-degree slope, and puts his staff in front of him, muttering one word. [ Kardos clambers up the wall without too much difficulty. ] * Tia heaves Will up onto her back, and her wingbeats carry her back up the shaft. Just take it slow and easy and everything will be fine. * WillS holds on tightly to Tia and tries not to look down. * Alcinoe snaps out of it, her expression changing to anger, and starts walking fairly quickly up the incline. * Istvan is moving up the slope at a pretty decent clip, despite his heavy armor, having found a good rhythm using his pick as a piton to pull himself up every few steps. Someone hold Max. * Istvan looks back down. "Hold what now?" * HKenji reaches out for Max's arm. Just *do* it! Kardos, check Max. This ain't right. [ Kardos frowns, and looks at Max. "Odd." ] 'Odd' don't cover half of it. [ Kenji fails to touch Max; something invisible is in the way. ] * Max doesn't look up at Alcinoe, but does look disappointedly at Kenji's hand. [ Kardos descends the slope again, looking at Max more carefully. "He has a slight bit of evil in him." ] * Anastasia stops working up the slope, and turns around. "Is there a problem?" [ "It wasn't there first we met. Max, have you done anything wretched lately?" He sounds serious. ] * Patrick stands his ground higher up on the 'wall', drawing his bow and aiming it near the ground. * Max looks at Kardos, surprised. "I do?" Then he blinks, looks contemplative, and mouths a small 'oh'. "It's actually probably not me." He smiles a bit nervously. Then what *is* it? [ Kardos seems unimpressed. "Oh?" ] * Seylin narrows her eyes slightly. She probably doesn't look the least bit intimidating. Some detritus from our last encounter with Sherincal, is my guess. She -did- reek of evil, did she not? * WillS hears Kardos and looks down towards Max, which he regrets immediately. * Tia alights on the slope above the party as soon as she realizes that something is going on. [ "Evil does not typically 'rub off' on other individuals, Max." ] What's wrong, guys? [ "Not unless you were witness to something truly terrible." ] But it does stay with portions of them, such as are used in creating devices to thwart said evil individuals. At least, I must assume so, given your detection. [ "Oh? And what such device do you carry on you now?" ] ...Guys? Yes Tia? What's happening down there? * Istvan blinks, and mutters. "Oh, by Moradin's beard..." * Tia sounds a little worried. * Max looks a bit embarassed, and pulls out a handkerchief. It looks like it was once used to wipe up some blood. "I, er, dabbed the wall she was near when Kenji opened her up." How can we believe ya, Max? Ya just *lied* a few moments ago! * Alcinoe sounds extraordinarily frustrated. "Ah don't think ya just 'picked up' somethin' evil. We've all been with ya fer these things. Nobody else did. Not even Patrick did." [ "A dab of her blood would not radiate even the small amount of evil I and Alcinoe detect." ] * Patrick snerks. "Thanks for the vote of confidence." * Alcinoe ignores Patrick. She's good at that. It wouldn't? *looks disappointed, and bites his lower lip, looking at Kenji consideringly* * Patrick thinks Alci's full of shit. He's good at that. Max, what have you done? * Anastasia looks down. "He's covering for something. Couldn't tell you what, though." Nothing 'evil', unless my deception regarding the headbands would do what a dab of one of the vilest creatures I know's blood cannot. ...However... * Tia starts down the slope, facing the party, her claws gripping the steep surface securely. "What's happening?" * Alcinoe stiffens at that 'however'. He captured Sherincal's soul. ...it is probably bes-- *struggles with himself a bit, then blurts out* ItrappedSherincalinagemwellmostlybutshe'snolongerathreat. * WillS stares at Max unbelievably. You what? * Tia pipes up, "It's in a really pretty rock!" * Patrick blinks. [ Kardos blanches. ] * Alcinoe stares at Tia. "Y'all... what?" What? How? You did what? [ Kardos begins to tremble slightly. ] * Anastasia blinks. Slowly. He trapped Sherincal's soul. In a gem. On his person. When? I don't... * Max sighs, but beams proudly nevertheless, as if caught between horror that he's telling and glee at the opportunity. He pulls a faintly blue diamond - clearly -very- valuable - out of his robes. * Tia nods. * Alcinoe slowly processes this, and her gaze fixes on Max. Thus, the evil. Can we get moving now? Ah... can't... NO. See? Pretty and shiny! Max says she'll never hurt anyone again! Oh gods... * Alcinoe puts her face in her hands. How did you do it, Max? I tricked her. I used her blood to make a simulacrum of her, and sent Sheri - that's the simulacrum - with orders to convince Sherincal I wanted ot betray you guys 'cause Kenji's an idiot (sorry, Kenji, but she'd definitely think you were one for letting her go so it was a necessary thing to say). Sheri gave her a packet that was supposedly information with my terms and a tidbit of my traitorous information, but really just had a specially prepared paper with her name on it inside that triggered a spell I researched that was supposed to trap her body and spirit inside this gem. When the gem turned blue, I knew it had worked. ^_^ [ Kardos draws his sword. ] * HKenji pales. * Tia starts, almost losing her footing on the slope. "Hey! Why are you drawing your sword, Kard? Don't hurt him!" * Alcinoe shudders, and upon hearing just a fraction of Max's babble lifts her head and draws her sword, too. Her cheeks are already tearstained. "Back off, Tia." * Istvan blinks, releases his pick from the earth, and slides back down the slope. "Woahwoahwoah! Sword down, Kardos. You too, Alci." * Tia 's mouth opens, but she stops moving forward. Unfortunately, it didn't work -quite- as well as I planned; I have her body, but it isn't trapped in...here... ...oh, dear. I somehow knew Kenji wouldn't like this, but Alcinoe? *looks crestfallen* Max is our friend! Don't hurt him! * Patrick nods in understanding at what Max did. * HKenji drops his right hand to his katana even has his left withdraws back into its sleeve and emerges with a short, brutish looking rod with one thick end wrapped in simple cloth. In one smooth motion, he flings the rod into the air at Max, where it impacts for a moment on nothing, then falls through onto the other side of the barrier that was. Before the rod even hits the ground, Kenji's sword is out and racing through the air for Max's throat. * Tia bellows in alarm. No! Kenji! Kenji, STOP! * Max 's eyes widen in alarm. No! * WillS stares in shock. Dammit, NO! * Anastasia stands up at the top of the slope, looking on with a frown. [ While Kenji's blade is still in motion, Kardos moves to position himself between Kenji and Max. But he can’t get there.] * HKenji removes Max's head from his body, his sword trailing blood from the tip as he pulls back on the blade into recovery stance. * Tia wails. * HKenji flicks the blood from the blade as a ghostly image, barely noticable now, flickers out of existence around him. * Istvan activates the flames on his pick, and charges at Kenji. "You son of a bitch!" * Max 's body slumps forward, not even having moved from being cross- legged on his Book. The Book, incidentally, stays in the air, seemingly unconcerned as the little bubble of force it generates fails to protect its master. [ Kardos sighs. "Kenji, you do realize that you've just comitted murder." ] * Seylin gasp-sobs. * Tia buries her head in her hands and sobs violently. Not again! * Alcinoe turns and moves, trying to stop Istvan from getting to Kenji. * Anastasia draws her sword and shield, then starts sliding down the slope when she sees Istvan move. * Patrick shakes his head and points his bow at Kenji, drawing it. "Don't. Move." * HKenji flicks the blood off his katana and calmly sheaths it. [ Kardos looks thoughtful. "Kenji. By the authority placed in me by the Holy Church of Bahamut, I hereby put you under arrest for the heinous crime of murder. From this point on, you are my prisoner. Do you understand?" ] * Istvan stops short in front of Alci. "You goddamn piece of honorless scum! You just fucking killed him in cold blood for doing what you should've done if you weren't so goddamn spineless!" Had to kill him because he cleaned up your fucking mess, didn't you? * Alcinoe lets Istvan yell. She's glaring at him, and she's shaking, and her sword is out. But we don't have *two* decapitations yet. * Tia wails loudly. "Whyyyyyy? Why'd you kill him?" * Seylin has a hand at her back, but she hasn't moved yet. She's watching with an utterly horrified look on her face. I killed him because he admitted to practicing blood magic. Couldn't acknowledge that all those people died at the school because YOU decided to let Sherincal go, and couldn't stand that Max had the good sense to make sure it didn't happen again! * WillS stares at Max's corpse with tears falling, all the while muttering to himself repeatedly. "Not again..." Kenji, these are not your lands, they do not have your laws. You DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY to do so. * Istvan takes a deep breath. "Will, Resurrect him." * Anastasia hits the bottom of the slope and moves to stand beside Alci, sword at the ready as well, but a great deal calmer. Lest you forget, these are not your lands, either. These are no man's land. Blood magic is impossible to use without corruption, a thousand years of history have taught us that. Your 'blood magic' is. How do you know what he did was done the exact same way, using the meathods of your people, when he has no knowledge of what they have done or what they do? Blood magic is blood magic. * WillS looks towards Kardos and Alci before replying to Istvan. "I'll have to take some time to prepare." I have a good mind to kick your ass right here and right now. * Istvan eyes Alci. "Lower your sword. Kardos has him, and I respect Kardos too much to interfere in that." *turns to Anastasia* "Afraid you're gonna hafta marry a corpse." * Tia takes Will closer to Max's headless corpse. If you raise him in your awful rituals, I cannot, will not stop you. But I also will not work with a blood sorceror. * Alcinoe doesn't lower her sword. She keeps her eye on Istvan. "Let's get off this cliff." And if I get a chance, I will kill him again. That is my duty, both ancestral and legal. Hmph. You don't know what you're talking about. * Tia fixes Kenji with a look of abject horror. * Anastasia stares levelly at Istvan. "We'll see about that." * Istvan eyes Anastasia. "We're gonna turn him over to the dwarven authorities. The penalty for murder is death. The penalty for murder in interference with a mission to recover a potentially canyon-destroying artifact is a particularly nasty death." * Alcinoe eyes Istvan a moment longer, then turns and climbs the shaft, sheathing her sword as she does so. * Istvan eyes Kenji. "There's a special hell plane just for people like you. I'll make sure and visit." Will, how long are you going to need? * Anastasia says nothing to Istvan, but doesn't actually move, either. * Alcinoe reaches where Kenji, Max, and Kardos are, and she looks at Kenji. "Ya committed murder," she says quietly, repeating what Kardos did. Because once we revive Max, we're going back to turn Kenji over to the Dwarven authorities, and then we're going back to the drow city and get the pick. *glares at Kenji* Remember the Titan's Pick? Little artifact, hideously powerful, in the hands of the drow, we were gonna go get it?" * WillS looks towards Istvan. "A whole day." * HKenji snorts. We don't have that time. But we also don't have the resources we require now that Kenji has incapacitated Max. * WillS looks towards Alcinoe. "Unless Alci has the spell on her already." No. * Alcinoe taps Kardos lightly on the arm. [ Kardos looks at Alcinoe. "Yes?" ] * Istvan shoots a look at Kenji. "Do not test me, little man." * HKenji glares at Istvan. "You have neither the skill nor the intelligence to defeat me, peasant." * Alcinoe looks at Kardos. She takes a breath and tries to stop herself from shaking. "Kenji's under yer care, right?" No, I am NOT. * Alcinoe looks at Kenji. I have no intention of being murdered by barbarians for the "murder" of a blood sorceror. * Alcinoe looks puzzled. "We're gonna kill ya now?" I intend to continue with the mission. If you will not come with me, I am sure Anastasia and I can destroy the entire city, if need be. * Istvan pauses, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and looks back at Patrick. "We've got no choice. We've gotta revive Max to execute the plan, and we've gotta get Kenji the hell outta our way." [ "It is likely that, given the numerous special circumstances surrounding this incident, a death sentence will not be leveled. And I never had any intention of breaking off the mission." ] Istvan, that's the last thing we're doing. As much as we need Max for the plan to work, we also need Kenji. There will be no sentence, death or otherwise. You presume too much. * Anastasia stands there, sword drawn! She's quiet because politics are difficult. * Max floats there, dead! He's quiet because he lacks a mouth with which to speak, as well as ears with which to hear. [ "Yes, there will. If you attempt to resist arrest, I will have to subdue you, Kenji. And then what good will you be to anyone?" ] * Tia just stands there on the slope, tears streaming from her eyes. * Alcinoe has gone from angry to tired, somehow, and she clanks to one side, slumping against the wall, though not sitting. She gazes at Kenji and Kardos. Okay, Patrick. So whaddya propose we do then? * HKenji narrows his eyes. [ Kardos stands there, calm as you please. He isn't even looking at Kenji, directly. ] You can try, Kardos. You will not succeed. He will with me backing him up. * Patrick nods. "And me as well." [ "And what will you do if I try, Kenji? And if the others back me up? Will you kill all your friends?" ] No. I will leave you to your unhappy fates and continue on the more important of the two missions. I, after all, do not need special permission to pass through Rokugan, nor would Anastasia, as my betrothed. * Istvan forgets about getting an answer to Patrick, and steps next to Kardos, noticably less calm, and staring directly at Kenji. * Alcinoe shoves herself off of the wall and clanks over to Kenji, looks at him for a moment - though not unkindly - and lightly twaps him on the back of his head. [ "Have you not been listening, Kenji? The mission would not end here. As my prisoner, you would continue on, under my supervision. After we had retieved the artifact from the Drow, we would return to the surface, where you would then attend a trial." His brow wrinkles slightly for a moment. "Likely a shor... er." ] [ Kardos seems surprised by Alci smacking Kenji. ] * HKenji jerks his head forward from the thwap. * HKenji turns his head slightly to glare at Alcinoe, but his glare softens after a moment. * Alcinoe puts a hand on Kenji's arm. "Ah understand why ya did it, though Ah don't think it was right," she says, "and bein' a prisoner doesn't mean yer gonna suffer, or even that ya were wrong. It jus' means you'll haveta explain yerself and answer fer things." No. I will submit myself to the judgment of a qualified magistrate, and no other. Until such time, I will not be a prisoner of any sort. * Alcinoe lets her hand drop. "Fine with me, as long as ya agree ta it." She looks to Kardos for approval. As this matter involves blood magic, only a Jade or Emerald Magistrate have jurisdiction. Technically speaking, we're on a mission from the dwarven authorities. So they have jurisdiction. [ Kardos shrugs. "So long as he submits to judgement, I suppose arrest is a technicality." ] He must submit to judgement by those who have authority in these lands. Which are the Dwarves. [ "And he will, after we have retrieved the pick." ] We are not in dwarven lands. If I am to submit to any authority, it will be the authority to which I am personally beholden. In this case, a Jade Magistrate, who have dominion over all matters pertaining to blood magic, by preference. [ Kardos sighs. "Kenji, the spell Max used to imprison Sherincal's soul, while vile, likely had nothing to do with the Shadowlands, and is therefore not 'blood magic' as you would define it." ] It was the spell before that. Sermiculum? Isn't that an illusion? And in any case, imprisoning a soul also likely falls under the definition of blood magic. I would have to consult a Jade Magistrate on that, however. [ Kardos nods to Patrick. "It is, indeed, an illusion." ] ... and what, praytell, gives you the right to choose what court you'll be tried in? You can attempt to try me in any court you wish. You will not succeed. * Istvan tilts his head. "Awfully eager for a friendly court for someone who's sure of his innocence." [ Session Pause. ]