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Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 23, 2004 19:18:23 GMT
[OOC: This, at least for now, is closure for the plot from the Forge thread. It's not intended as the start of a new plot.] *A door opens, and a remarkable quartet of people enters. Ursula, struggling, has brought Hordriss. Young Grimwold has brought FrightKnight. The room has two single beds - YG couldn't afford two rooms with his spare coins. The quartet is playing a unique disharmony of yawns, groans and sniffs.* *Ursula deposits Hordriss onto one of the beds, with the same grace as an athlete depositing a shot-put. Hordriss struggles to stay awake - his seasoned mind and body have been pushed to their limits. YG is semi-tempted to take the other bed, but with a stifled yawn, places the unconscious FK onto it instead.* *Ursula has moved over to the window, and leaning out, wrenches clumps of ivy away. YG sees the wisdom in this - the last thing they want is an uninvited climber. They leave the window slightly open, to allow air in.* *YG tries to engage Ursula in conversation, but she is eager to get back to the Forest. They thank each other, and she leaves.* [ModNote: Ursula is next seen in Meditations and Reflections.] *YG sits on a stool next to Hordriss' bed.* Apologies for the room-sharing, Hordriss. I'm sure FrightKnight won't disturb you. *Hordriss suddenly nods off, and snores like a removal man dragging furniture across a squeaky floor and treading on a cat's tail en route. YG is filled with intolerant rage; but he keeps it in, and instead shakes Hordriss gently, so that he wakes again.* I've paid your board for the next few nights. You'll have to pay any extra yourself. Please, get the rest you need. Whichever of you wakes first will be a fine guardian to the other. And I won't be far away, if I'm needed. You'll be safe here. And, I believe, Ursula was kind enough to secure the room even further with a charm of some kind, before she left. [OOC: If YG is right, then this can be added retrospectively.] *YG moves to the door.* Thank you, both of you. Thank you. *YG shuts the door behind him.* [ModNote: YG is next seen in Entertainment at the Crazed Heifer.]
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Post by FrightKnight on Feb 23, 2004 22:33:08 GMT
*Many hours after the battle, FrightKnight regains consciousness* Where...where am I? What happened? I remember having a drink with an ogre and some other chaps...then Hordriss came to me....I bought a sword at some point. *FrightKnight raises his hand to his head, as he has quite a headache* What? Oh! My hands! Ah! So much pain! Such searing heat! *FrightKnight sits bolt upright, chainmail clattering enough to make Hordriss awaken* I remember now...the battle. Hordriss...here? But where is here? Is this an illusion, a nightmare, or worse still a knightmare? I'm not sure if I'm alive... *Hordriss, currently resting, yet listening at the other side of the room, rolls his eyes upwards and says:* "Quiet, FrightKnight. One is alive, although not well, and you too survived the battle with the Bloodfang Blade. Now, please, let us rest." I suppose...a few days of rest would be fine....I mean, being in an inn isn't too bad, as long as I'm not paying for this. *FrightKnight once again feels drowsy and takes off some of his armour to get a little more comfortable in his bed* *Hordriss snores once more* *Sigh...* I'll let him live this time. After all, he helped save many lives... [ModNote: FrightKnight is next seen in Swapping Stories.]
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Post by ringmasterrob on Mar 2, 2004 7:34:23 GMT
*Rob has entered the Heifer and has approached the barman*
Rob: I believe Hordriss is still staying here, I need to speak with him.
*The barman goes to check if Hordriss is available*
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Post by Young Grimwold on Mar 2, 2004 16:06:13 GMT
[OOC: Does this mean that the Crazed Heifer and the Wolf's Howl Inn are the same building?]
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Mar 2, 2004 16:30:12 GMT
[OOC: I'm just assuming Rob made a mistake, I don't think that the high-class inn and the dive are sharing the same premises, even if the Heifer was damaged by fire...]
*A few minutes later Rob is joined by Hordriss. The mage has dressed a little hastily, although much rested he was not planning to recieve visitors for a while.*
Ringmaster, one thought that one requested not to be disturbed. One's recent experiences were most draining and...
*Notices the expression on Rob's face.*
However, it is clear that something is deeply concerning you, and one is sure that you would not call unless your need was great. Say how one may assist.
*At that moment a clutch of revelers bursts into the inn, seeking a refuge from the entertainment at the Craized Heifer. The Innkeeper eyes them distrustfully but is happy to take their money. As they take a table near Rob and Hordriss however, Rob feels another wave of that strange nauseous feeling sweep over him. Hordriss, sees the change in his expression.*
Ringmaster, are you well?
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Post by ringmasterrob on Mar 2, 2004 19:12:23 GMT
Rob: I will be fine, however I may not be fine for long. My rings have been aparrently cursed and a fault scroll sold by one Mr Nesty told me they were, however I could not identify the curse with the normal and Netherworldian magics, I wondered if you have an identify curse scroll?
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Mar 2, 2004 20:14:39 GMT
*Hordriss knots his brows in concentration, mulling over Rob's problem*
A curse.... well, one has dealt in such things in the past and developed a certain... sensitivity to them. Do you have any symptoms?
*Rob describes the feeling of nausea which he experiences from time to time, another wave comes over him as the crowd of revellers passes into another room at the inn.*
Hmmm... such a feature may only be a warning of something worse, one doubts that the Lich-lord, your enemy, would send such a minor enchantment.
*Hordriss takes Rob's hands for a moment and closes his eyes, trying to feel anything unusual in the rings. He shakes his head.*
One can detect nothing, but the magic of your rings is strange to me... otherworldly. Perhaps one will have something more suitable in my casket. One shall return to my room. Please, wait a moment.
*Hordriss is gone for longer than Rob anticipates, eventually re-emerging into the room amidst the crowd of revellers, forcing his way through them with quiet dignity. As the nausea once again bubbles up within him, Rob sees that Hordriss now carries a small jade bowl, which he fills with wine.*
This will guarantee success, it will not only identify any curses, but will give one an indication of the nature of the enchantment. However, if you touch the wine it will disturb the enchantment with your own magic, so it is necessary for you to remove one of your rings and place it in the bowl. This is regrettable but vital, if this curse is dangerous time may be short. Already you look ill. Ringmaster?
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Post by ringmasterrob on Mar 3, 2004 7:45:28 GMT
*Rob looks deeply into Hordriss' eyes, despite his apparent sickness he sense something is wrong.*
Rob: Just one ring, but i'm warning you, if this is a trick you won't leave here alive
*Again Rob's normal friendly face is replaced with a fire in his eyes and his voice sounds dangerous, more than capable of carrying up the threats being made.*
Rob: Understood?
*Hordriss nods and Rob removes one of his rings and drops it into the bowl, he then watches and has his staff pointed at Hordriss under the table just in case.*
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Mar 3, 2004 11:11:47 GMT
*Hordriss looks shocked and concerned at Rob's suddenly aggressive attitude*
Calm yourself Ringmaster, one is only offering the aid which you solicited...
*As the ring falls into the wine it begins to bubble furiously, sending out wreathes of coloured smoke which Hordriss studies intensely. His frown deepens as he looks at the patterns*
I am afraid, Ringmaster, that this curse is very real. It only activates intermittantly, which may explain the conflicting results of your identification attempts...
*He places his fingers in the bowl, closing his eyes to feel the magical pulses in the liquid more easily. When he opens them he looks more worried than ever.*
The symptoms you have been showing are not physical, they are a struggle in your psyche as if... as if something has been awakened and is trying to take control. One felt something like this during our battle with the Bloodfang Blade... this ring has been tuned to affect your psyche. One cannot be sure, but if this is allowed to progress you may commit terrible acts and be unaware of them.
*The wine has now almost bubbled away and Hordriss takes his hands away, pushing the bowl towards Rob. At the bottom is his ring, slightly tarnished*
I am afraid that one had to probe deeply into the ring to discover this curse. It's power may be diminished for a time. Personally, one would recommend giving it to me until one can find a cure, but I take it that this is impossible. Beware, Ringmaster, that anger you felt may be the first stirrings of its evil influences...
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Post by ringmasterrob on Mar 3, 2004 13:35:21 GMT
*Rob's face has a cynical look and he calmly takes the ring back from Hordriss.*
Rob: I thank you for your advise Hordriss and I apologise if I was over protective of my ring, but I cannot give my ring to another, not after all this. I will never allow my rings to leave my side. Return to your resting, good day.
*Rob parts with Hordriss and leaves the Wolf's howl.*
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Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Mar 3, 2004 15:57:19 GMT
*Hordriss waits until Rob has gone, then he goes to the innkeeper to announce that he is leaving the inn for the time being. He pays his rate and leaves the inn. Before he goes he orders his luggage, which arrived soon after he did, to be sent to a warehouse on the outskirts of town. He watches his bags, and a large wicker trunk, being loaded onto the cart and driven away, and he smiles* *He walks away from the inn, down the street and into the back alleys. As he approaches the Craized Heifer he smiles. Again, that same, unusual smile. Rob is far away, he can sense the distance of his presence. Slowly, carefully, he opens his left hand to reveal... Rob's ring.* The great Archmage, defeated by a simple sleight of hand! One down, three to go. *He slips the ring on his finger, and sighs in satisfaction, it shimmers for a moment, and then seems to vanish. Just then he hears a commotion nearby, moves to the mouth of the alley, and listens* [My part continues in 'A talk' in 'Wolfenden Village', but please leave this thread open for FrightKnight, who is still asleep upstairs]
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Post by ringmasterrob on Mar 3, 2004 19:22:07 GMT
*Rob leaves the Wolf's howl and goes straight into a dark alley, he attempts to detect magic on the rings and they will not respond. A ring as powerful of his even when drained of all magic would respond as magical such was its great power. Rob sees Hordriss leave the Wolf's howl and turns invisible to follow him*
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