The Eye of Anubis: Book One

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Once the roof subsides, Lia gingerly stands and dusts off her skirts and gloves. "Well," she says, her tone barely above a whisper, "that was ... exciting. I am fine, now. The noble priest healed me during the -- the battle. But I would like another glass of wine at this point -- or at least after we have studied what the attacker left behind." She indicates the gloves, robe and mask.

[lostboy]

As the figure melts away, Khalil howls in rage at the empty sky. He reaches out as if to clutch at the sand that vanishes thorugh his fingers.

[OOC: Reflex save - 17

In his preoccupation at the dissapearance of his adversary he lapses his concentration from the moevement of the roof which bucks suddenly under the desert guides feet, sending him flailing off balance. Crashing to his knees he fails to gain footing and slides across the slick slates toward the edge.

[OOC: Climb check - 21

Just as Khalils legs vanish over the eave and into the darkness, he grabs purchase on the iron spike at the top of the rope. Dangling over the drop by one hand, he takes a deep breath, plants the scimitar on the eave and eases his body back up over the edge.

Retrieving his blade he stows it at his belt, with the adrenaline gone he looks around as if snapping out of trance, suddenly relaising there are others on the roof with him. Turnign to Samael and the others he nods to show he is fine. "A few bruises only Afandi" he says quietly staring at the space where the Anubite vanished from...

[Kaitou Kage]

Kuzan winced, the shock from the lightning finally settling on him as the adrenaline of combat faded. He sent a thankful prayer to Ajad for the cold rain pelting him. It helped soothe the burns and ease the frazzled feeling somewhat. His priestly garb was singed and blackened in places. It was a small disappointment but he'd survive.

He landed softly on the rooftop once the shaking subsided and whispered a short prayer. The burns and scorches on his skin faded away and he heaved a relieved sigh. But all was not done. The priest acknowledged Lia's concern and flew over the edge of the roof. He landed in the garden near Charles and Carter and shook his head.

"You okay?" he asked, even though the answer was obvious, "Hold still."

He gave Charles a once-over and then placed his hands on the man's shoulders, whispering another prayer.

"Guess everyone should just line up, huh?" he said, a touch wryly.

Sacrificing two more L2 spells for cure moderate wounds.

Kuzan: ((5+7) + 5 + 4) = 21 hp healed

Charles: ((5+4) + 5 + 4) = 18 hp healed.

I'll make my rounds in future posts until I run out of healing or patients

[NeoTiamat]

On the Roof

The tremors the roof was undergoing had finally slowed, then stopped, and aside from a few broken tiles, it was as though it had never been moving.

The door to the platform opened, and out stepped Miss Lily D'Envers, notebook in hand and shielding it from the rain as she wrote rapidly. She was followed by a big, beefy man, Mordentish by nationality, you guessed, a greatsword in hand, and Sarari, a bow drawn and heedless of the rain.

Lily stopped at the platform and looked out, gazing thoughtfully at the scorched, battered roof, her eyes stopping for a moment at the remnants of the jackal-masked figure.

"Would anyone," She asked in a clear, reportorial tone, "like to tell me what has happened?"

Meanwhile, the large Mordentishman had stepped out onto the ridgeline and had met Samael half-way.

"You're late, Harris." The Borcan said without preamble.

"Sorry. I wasn't about to go charging up unarmed, and Sarari had to get her bow." You recognized the man. It was the guard chief, Edmund Harris.

"Fine, fine, makes sense." Samael let out an explosive breath of air. "Gods what a night. Alright, check that everything is clear and lets get everyone downstairs. I am so glad we have all of our funding already."

"You're the boss." Harris took a deep breath and then bellowed clearly over the storm. "If you don't have something to do, head downstairs, we'll figure out what to do then."

[OOC: The shaking has stopped, no further reflex saves are necessary.]

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"Not a problem, my friend, it was not a very good pistol to begin with." De Angelis grinned, as though he hadn't just taken a tumble from a three story roof. "Brandy is a good idea, I shall go get some. Come along, my strong and silent associate."

Benoit grunted, rubbing a bruised elbow. "Come Loup." The dog gave Otto a last, cheerful look, and bounded off after its master.

Carter, meanwhile, had nodded to Kuzan. "Good idea. I think Miss Allikhain and Herr Schultheiss need your attentions now, and then lets get all of us out of the rain.

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[OOC: Spot Checks please.]

[Rock of the Fraternity]

(OOC: Spot check 24 on a natural 20. o_o I wish I rolled this well all the time ...)

Lia gingerly crosses the roof, taking care to avoid Miss D'Envers, but approaches Harris. "Excuse me, sir," she says quietly, "but it might be prudent to summon a member of the faculty for arcane philosophy or arcane science to gather those." She indicates the tattered robes, mask and gloves. "Our assailant was a strong spellcaster, a cleric of some kind. I would not wish to risk someone touching those things before we know for certain that they aren't enchanted in some way."
Having said this much, Lia tries to slip away to the stairs and get back to the great hall.

[yalenusveler]

"Would anyone," She asked in a clear, reportorial tone, "like to tell me what has happened?"

Andre looked towards Lily from where he had been steadying himself. "Remember all that talk of curses and whatnot? Apparently, someone has decided that if there isn't one, they should go about and manufacture us one. Unfortunately...they managed to escape. But...they did leave things behind" He gestured over towards the mask and paraphernalia that the Anubite had left behind. "It may or may not be enchanted...which is something we should check before anyone touches it....which, if you'll excuse me a moment..." He smiled, trying to be charming while rain soaked...heading over to the pile of regalia, and casting Detect Magic.

OOC:21 spot, 17 on the concentration check to get a detect magic off in the rain.

[Nathan of the FoS]

Spot check 15

Charles waves again to the back of the departing de Angelis, then flinches at the sudden appearance of the Rajian priest from above. "Er...all right," he says as the priest takes him by the shoulders; as the prayer takes effect he smiles broadly. "Ah! Much better. Thank you, m'sieur. Thank you very much." Looking up at the roof, he shouts to the people there, "Don't relax too much, m'sieurs, madames--better not to be taken unawares a second time, especially in such a precarious position!"

Turning back to Carter and Kuzan, he says, "I suppose I had better gather up my belongings...also, I believe that our unwanted visitor dropped his ankh somewhere in the vicinity. Care to help me search? One pistol, two daggers, and a black ankh which we had probably better not touch until a savant examines it."

Suiting deeds to words, he begins to examine the lawn and flower-beds for the missing items.

Search check 30, which ought to find something.

[yalenusveler]

Andre blinked rapidly on the roof, heading to investigate the sand and mask up closer. Kneeling down to get a better look, he muttered to himself. "Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there, He wasn't there again today, I wish that man would go away." He then looked up from the sand "Someone find one of the Arcane theory professors...this is outside my specialty, I'm afraid."

[DocBeard]

Blinking at the strange mystic's healing magic, Tomas shakes his head and gives Kuzan a thumbs up, before turning around to see...

To see...

....Okay, Tomas thinks to himself, So she's Lily D'Envers, the best writer in a ten mile radius. Whatever you do, don't squeel like an overexcited little girl.

"I." Tomas blinks. "Um." He blinks again. "There was a guy and lightning and I." Another stop. "I fell off of the rope." This obviously is the young man who calmed the crowd earlier's stupid twin brother.

(OOC: Spot Check: 11 - 6=5. Tom has other things on his mind, obviously.)

[The Whistler]

OOC: Spot check 15+8-8 = 15

"Guess everyone should just line up, huh?"

The gunsmith suffered a brief moment of cognitive dissonance as he watched the priest levitate to the ground and start healing: he had been studying magic's theoretical aspects for a while, now, but still wasn't quite used to seeing friends casually throwing spells around without so much as an eyeblink. However, whatever instinctive reaction his upbringing might have brought on--Is he *sure* he knows what he's doing?--was soon eclipsed by a more immediate desire to stop hurting.

"*That* is what is called an excellent idea."

Otto stood to attention next to Charles, as if preparing for a physical exam; half-joking, half-earnest.

"Now, this will be my first magical healing, so please be gentle with me, yes?"

[Kaitou Kage]

The priest winked at Otto. He'd probably have greeted the man by name, but damned if he could remember how to say that awfully complex surname. Instead, he smiled and whispered another prayer to Ajad. A blue-white glow suffused his hands and he reached out toward Otto.

"Don't worry," Kuzan replied, "It's very relaxing."

A feeling like a sunny, warm sea breeze washed over the Lamordian as the priest's magic mended his wounds and healed his bruises and scratches. Once all was said and done, Kuzan dusted his hands.

"That should do it," Kuzan smiled and gave Otto a pat on the shoulder, "Probably more than needed, but it'll work."

Using a 3rd-level spell on Otto

Cure serious wounds: ((7 + 6 + 7) + 5 + 6) = 31 hp

[NeoTiamat]

On the Roof

Lily arched a single eyebrow at Tomas's enthusiastic, if slightly incoherent response. "I see...." She smiled warmly.

At that point Harris came over. "Miss Lily, I'm afraid you'll have to continue the interview downstairs, everyone, you heard the boss, clearing the area."

Maleagant called over. "And tell Doctor Pelletier his expertise is needed." He looked to Andre. "You, stay."

Samael massaged his temples as he motioned for the others to head downstairs.

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On the Ground

Prof. Carter nodded gratefully to Kuzan. "That is very helpful, thank you. I think we should get the wounded out of the rain, good idea?"

Carter looked around to see Charles had wandered off. "Find anything?" He called.

Meanwhile, Prof. Devereux had shown himself a marvel of foresight, or at least a marvel of following directions, and had arrived with a brandy bottle and shot glasses.

"Er, I think someone wanted these, hope I'm not too late."

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Inside

Lily followed Lia downstairs, pausing to get herself a snifter of brandy from the buffet. The room was all but deserted now, and University Gendarmes were taking possession of the body.

The notebook disappeared, and the green-silk fan made a reappearance. Lily fanned herself dry from the rain as she took a sip of the brandy.

"Well, I joined the Expedition so I wouldn't be bored. Got that right, I suppose." Lily smiled at Lia, a piercing look in her eyes. "That was very brave what you did."

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[OOC: As a reminder, Samael is in current possession of the knife and note from the body.]

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Lia, who was standing with her back to the room to sip at a glass of red wine, starts at being addressed and is briefly caught up in a coughing fit. When she's composed herself and readjusted her mask and veil, she turns around -- and flinches noticeably when she recognizes Lily D'Envers from the earlier introductions.
"Ahh ... what I did?" she mumbles, starting to edge away towards the door. "Oh, I just ... I just clung to the Rajian priest. Very safe, very safe indeed. I just ... I just didn't want to be - be left behind, is all. Yes. Didn't do anything special. More dangerous to be alone, and all. I ... Yes."
Lia continues to edge around Lily, all pretense at subtlety now lost as she tries to get away from her.
"Um. Well, see you. Such a ... strange experience, I think I'll ... think I'll ... yes, indeed. See you later during the expedition, I suppose."
Eyes casting to and fro for any kind of distraction, Lia fixes her sight on the body.
"One moment!" she calls to the gendarmes, her voice suddenly more authoritative. "One moment, please." She swiftly approaches them, not looking back to Lily D'Envers at all.

[lostboy]

[OOC: Spot = 15]

Khalil stares at the discarded mask and the sand, trying to reconcile the last few minutes expereience in his mind. The unfathomable rage had gone, leaving an emptyness inside him.

He makes a short search for the throwing knife the creature pocketed.[OOC: search =23

[Nathan of the FoS]

Carter looked around to see Charles had wandered off. "Find anything?" He called.

"Quite a bit," Charles replies, standing and brandishing Michel's pistol. "A word with you, Professor?"

As Professor Carter approaches, Charles speaks in a lower voice, glancing around the garden as he speaks. "It's what I haven't found that interests me most, Professor. I was all but certain I saw the creature's ankh fall into the garden, and I've only found one of my daggers. One or both could be on the roof...but I doubt it. I also found this..." Pointing to the ground, he indicates the stub of a cigar. "And this." Now he indicates two small piles of cigar ash near the stub.

"Someone was here in the garden, in the rain, for a considerable amount of time. I am not much of a tracker; Loup!" Turning, he waves to Guy. "Guy, bring Loup over here! Er...sorry, Professor. Inspiration strikes. If there was a confederate waiting here in the garden invisible who took up the ankh and my knife and absconded, it may still be possible to find him; he can't have much of a head start. I'll get someone to check on the roof..."

Stepping back so he can see the roof, he sees Khalil moving back and forth across the roof, as if searching for something. "Oy...Khalil, isn't it? Do you see a dagger, two-edged, about seven inches of blade, made of cold iron, and our friend's ankh up there?"

"Oh, and one final puzzle. Here's a pieces of...something." Charles points to one final item almost hidden in the grass; it is a chunk of wood a few inches square which appears to be the corner of a box made of some dark wood and plated in silver. "I've no idea what this could be, but it might be just as well to have a mage examine it, as well."