Kartakass : Chapter Five

[lostboy]

The rasping chuckle dies as the thing that is and isnt Draven, watches the effect its appearance has on the group with a sort of creepy amusement, its head cocked to one side . The look is somewhat reminiscent of the way a Lion would regard its dying prey's last struggles, seconds before the final bite.

"How amusing." The voice hisses through the clearing, gravelly and evil in its quality, and you cannot be sure whetehr it is only in your heads or if it is spoken aloud, as the things mouth doesnt move from the fixed maniac grin.

With that it slowly gets to its feet, its movements slow and awkward, not unlike a marionette on strings, or a newborn unused to the way its limbs work. As it stands you sense there is somehting more then you can actually see, a tangible shadow seems to rise double its height above it, like a dark haze in the air.

Slowly it trudges forward towards you, until it stops short against the unseen barrier. "So yet another believes they can confine me?" Its gaze sweeps the group before it settles on Jacob. Wityh a sneer on its thin lips it continues

"So it appears my new tormenter is a pathetic mortal, perhaps one with a little more bite to them than this weakling whose skin I wear , but mortal nonetheless." Pausing it raises its face sjkyward and sniffs, in a long drawn in breath.

It returns its gaze to Jacob, studiously ignoring the others. "Yes. Weak, and pathetic to the last one. Even within this pitiful shell I have power the likes none of you can comprehend. So tell me worm, what makes you think this wall and your little weapons will protect you from my wrath?"

[steveflam]

Jacob shivered then kept a straight face, eyeing the Demon with a dead serious look. "I know I can protect my friends here, Demon. I ahve faced the wrath of Priestesses of Llolth in all their glory and have survived. My wall of force shall do nicely against the likes of you, fiend. The power of Lathander courses through me. I do his bidding and he bids me to eliminate the likes of you. Your magic can't harm me, pitiful prisoner, trapped in a human. I pity you, stuck there, with no escape."

Even as Jacob speaks, his fingers are a blur in Tarlyn's direction. Tarlyn grins as he slips into the night, appearing the next instant behind the Demon. As the Demon turns around to face Tarlyn he realises, too late, that Jacob has a spell being cast. Tossing in the air lime, water and earth, Draven begins glowing and as a bluish hue begins the top of his head, it descends slowly, leaving in it's wake a stone Draven.

[BigBadQDaddy]

William slowly gets to his feet.
"What...what did you do to him?"

[ewancummins]

Cornelius scarches his head and stares at the petrified Draven.

''That was impressive. I hope you can change him back, Jacob.''

[steveflam]

'Thank you, Cornelius. Van you can revert to your normal shape now. William I basically turned Alexander to stone. This way noone was harmed. And Cornelius I can turn him back, so no worries!" Concentrating he recasts basically the same spell but the reverse, and Draven is once more flesh. Jacob is at his side, preventing Draven from falling. He lays him on the ground gently.

[VAN]

"I know this spell Jacob. It's awsome! This was our best solution I think."

Says Van as gets his normal human form again.

[Ail]

Lucius observes Jacob's action with deep interest. He hadn't even had time to act, but he ackowledged Jacob's spell as ingenious and creative in use.

"Well done, Jacob. I have much to learn from you, not just in magic but also in how to use it."

[steveflam]

Looking at Lucius, Jacob smiles. "Thank you. Sometimes some spells can be used in ways that they weren't meant to be used for. I have used a Faerie Fire spell more than once to indicate where an invisible foe was. I think you might enjoy a spell I have acquired that is most useful in immobilising a foe, Lucius. It is called Bands of Steel."

[VAN]

"We are really lucky to find you Jacob! Now, what are we going to do with Draven? Is it wise to get him normal immediately or it's better wait a bit?"

[steveflam]

"I feel Alexander is free of the fiend for now. He mererly rests." Looking at Tarlyn he smiles "Thank you, that was perfect in distracting it."

"Anything to help Alexander. I have taken a liking to the fellow. I don't have a liking for the drug or a need for it. I do hope you can help him, Jacob. Now people, if we don't tarry too much, we can make it to Kuhl before sundown. It is north after that for Forformax then Cortton. There we will meet Pietro, I hope. It has been a few years. In Kuhl we can stay at the Rampant Rabbit Inn. As compared to the other places and Inn's you've visited, this Inn is quite friendly as most Kartakan Inns and cities or towns are."

[BigBadQDaddy]

William re-holsters his pistol and brushes himself off as he gets up.
"Friendly towns and friendly inn-keepers...this will be something to see."

[VAN]

Van laughs with William's comment.

"I totally agree with you!"

[lostboy]

Draven twitches, then agin, this time stronger his whole body suddenly spasming, his back arching as if in pain. Then just as suddenly he lies still.

Slowly his eyes flutter open and he looks around at the group not seemign to recognise faces or where he is. Then as if memory returns he shrinks back in fear, his eyes quickly flickingto each of the faces around him in a strange manner, almost as if searching those faces for something.

"Is it gone? What did it make me do?" he whispers thorugh cracked lips.

[steveflam]

Tarlyn sheathes his blades and looks at Draven. Though he appears calm he is worried. Not so much for Draven as for the fact that the Demon is more and more apparent when Draven blacks out. "Nothing happened, Alexander" he says with relief "Jacob here turned you to stone then turned you back to flesh. The was more evident this time. I think, as everyone else here, that once we are done in Kartakass, we need to go to Sri Raji and aid you in ridding your body of this burden, friend."

Jacob's face remains straight, but inside he worries. "I fear we may have to face the full wrath of the Pit Fiend soon enough. I do hope that whatever business is to be had here, it is over with quickly. I really would like to meditate on Pit Fiends and what I know and possible solutions. Tarlyn says this Sri Raji place is the answer? How so, Tarlyn?"

"Well I was told by the temple elder in Darkon that the answer as well as cure is there. HE couldn't be more specific. You know how gods are. They can be a fickle lot to say the least. Just look at the spider bitch, Jacob. I'm sure you'd agree."

Jacob merely nods. "Well let us carry on our journey, then."

For the next few hours the travel is through lush, thick woods. A large road, for horses, pedestrians or caravans passes through the middle of it. This is where you traverse the forest. Near supper time, you exit the thick woods and come unto a town. It seems to be bustling with activity as you approach. The people appear to merely look at you as you approach the town. Most nod and a few smile at you. "Good evening, strangers" a man says as you near the town. He is in his late forties and looks to be a farmer or perhaps someone who toils the land. "Welcome to Kuhl. I am Leon Karussar, Mayor of this fine town. If you just follow the main road through, in les than two minutes you should come upon the Whistling Tree Inn. You can't miss the sign." HE turns and heads back to the throng of men he was with and head off in the direction of the forest, talking and laughing easily with each other.

"Well that was the first time we've been talked to with a friendly attitude since I've been to these lands. BEsides of course in Kartakass, guys. I told you people were friendly here." Tarlyn says with good humor. Sure as Leon said, within two minutes you are in fact in front of an Inn with a huge sign of a whistle and a tree.

[Ail]

"I still think we should be cautious", Lucius says. "People might be friendly, but we do have our own secrets, and there's no amount of friendliness that should make us reveal them."