The Eye of Anubis: Book Eight

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"You," Lia thinks as she frowns at the point from which Andre's voice emerges, "have some explaining to do." Other than that, she holds position, checking and re-checking the spells at her disposal.

[NeoTiamat]

The West Guestroom, The Monastery of Stilled Nightmares, Sebua
July 17th, 761, 1:22 AM; Day 122 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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"What the hells do you think you were just doing out there?" Kuzan snapped at the unfortunate young man, "Are you trying to get yourself slaughtered? Don't pick fights with things that are too much for you to handle!"

"Well excuse me." Dieter growled in response, sitting on the edge of the bed and clutching his head in considerable pain. "Just trying to do my job. And don't yell so loud, jeez."

[OOC: I believe that by this point enough time has passed for the round/level buffs to have worn off, so let's see everyone again.]

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Oneiran flowed from Andre's lips, the half hissing susurrous sounds clinging at the back of his associates minds, an indication that there was something perhaps wrong with Andre that would never be really right again, profane teakettle hiss filling the air.

The massive beast nodded to itself as Andre spoke, though it resembled more the sinous twisting of a cobra than any respectable creature's nod. It was still a huge, dragon-winged monstrosity, but you didn't think it was planning to get violent again just yet.

Suddenly, it spread its wings wide, flaring them sharply as it drew itself up to its full height. It raised its claw-tipped hands for a moment, and it must have occurred to Andre that he was approximately two or three yards away from what amounted to twenty-eight fileting knives. These knives were mounted on long, serpentine arms that were fair rippling with cord-like muscles, all the while the creature's bright-crimson eyes glowed like heated coals.

But suddenly as it began, the display ended, and the creature finished its speech with a low, soft whisper, one that touched caused the pain that still remained at the edge of your consciousness to flare briefly. But no, it was not attacking, merely giving Andre a sideways look before waiting for his response.

[Kaitou Kage]

"Sorry," Kuzan replied, chastened. He looked down at his hands. "Just worried and scared. You went down so suddenly and so fast that I just about lost it."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Only the knowledge that it is contrary to all customs of war to interrupt a parley with violence is preventing Charles from walking up behind this thing and trying the edge of Shadowfinger on it.

Andre has continued his habit of making nice with monstrosities, but Charles fundamentally approves of the diplomatic approach when feasible, so he's willing to let the professor do his thing. In the meantime, he reloads. Just in case.

[DocBeard]

"So, Andre is the diplomat to the metaphysical horror." Tomas concludes, looking up at Charles for a moment.

He then pulls a small flask from his boot, unscrews the cap, and downs the liquid in one smooth motion.

"Okay." Tomas breathes, "I think I am being ready to accept that as the 'good' outcome."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Indeed," Lia says, eyeing Tomas rather intently. While keeping an eye on the Lamordian, the wizard moves to stand between him and Kuzan, if this is at all possible.

[DocBeard]

If Tomas is at all aware of any unholy rage on Kuzan's part, he certainly isn't acting like it. He does look a little sheepish, but ultimately is more concerned about making sure no one's dead-Tomas takes the respite from combat to look over to where Guy and Loup's bodies were, hoping to confirm that the monsters were just illusions, and not possessing their friends like he thought.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"So he is," Charles says in reply to Tomas. "It's a division of labor, really; Professor Theroux negotiates with the eldritch horrors, malign fey, and Barovian necromancers, I negotiate with the princes of Hell and the Hazlani warlocks, and we divide the un-dead between us. And everyone, apparently, is pleased."

Guns re-loaded, Charles gives Tomas an ironic glance and says, "Next time, perhaps we can confer a bit before diving in, yes?"

[yalenusveler]

If Andre felt any disapproval at Tomas and Charles' assessment of the situation, it was disapproval he hid well. This was easy when you had a large creature capable of rending you limb from limb in front of you which you were engaged in negotiations with, and in said creature's language. Which was likely causing your companions no small amount of discomfort.

Andre returned to the hissing language of dreams and nightmares once the Ennui's display of grandeur was over, trying to if not be casual, at least be friendly. One never knew when it might pay to be friends with a metaphysical horror after all, social season in Dementlieu being what it was.

[NeoTiamat]

The West Guestroom, The Monastery of Stilled Nightmares, Sebua
July 17th, 761, 1:25 AM; Day 122 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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Andre and the Ennui continued to speak, the eldritch tongue of dreams hissing and rustling from throats that were neither human nor could be. Even not being able to make out a single word, you could tell the obvious differences, how Andre's was still, in part at least, human, how his words were softer, rounder, almost possible to listen to without fear. But the Ennui's... those were words of madness and terror, words of nightmare given form.

But then, with a final, sibillant hiss in Andre's direction, the gargoyle-like monstrosity spread its wings, twenty feet at the least from tip to tip, and took to the sky. It flew slowly, not the maddened zipping of the spell-borne wizard or cleric, but the graceful flight of something that was not of this world, borne aloft not by magic, or muscle, but by some kind of psychic belief. Even as the Greater Dreamspawn passed before the moon, even as a brief shadow passed before your eyes, even as the creature disappeared into darkness, there was one thought that niggled at the back of your mind.

As a living thing, the Ennui could not exist.

As a nightmare, it always has.

[The Whistler]

It was a dashed good thing that Otto was good at compartmentalizing. Otherwise, it might've been more difficult for him to switch from "I've just emerged from the space between dimensions in a cloud of gunpowder smoke and vengeance," to "I am acting as stenographer during an edifying bit of trans-species communication."

As it was...well. He'd managed the task as well as he could, but even the Lamordian language wasn't perverse enough to transcribe Oneiran phonetically. The gunsmith would have to come up with some new dipthongs in his off time.

He closed his notebook quietly, venturing a step towards Andre. "Er...is good, yes? What did...erm...it say to you?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I suggest that we head back into the room," Lia says, rather calmly given the circumstances. "After that ... Yes. Do let's hear what is going on." The Wizard looks somewhat pointedly at Andre, but stays fairly close to Tomas.

[Kaitou Kage]

After the others re-entered the room, Kuzan stood up from where he'd sat by Dieter. "You stay in bed the rest of the night," he gently ordered his friend, "Even if more demonic dark beasts come calling. I don't think your head will take kindly to another shot like that." His tone was soft and a bit playful, but it carried tones of command. While Kuzan had calmed down, he certainly wasn't kidding about his order.

Then he moved over to Tomas and gave the other Lamordian a stern command to sit down. Once obeyed, he put his hands on the graduate student's head and invoked a healing prayer, working to undo the mental damage the fiend had caused.

Healing finished, Kuzan patted Tomas on the shoulder and walked quietly back to his own bed.

Cure critical wounds on Dieter: 20 (dice) + 8 (augment) + 11 (effective caster level) = 39 hp. I am sure he needs a little more, but I'll top him off once I know how much.

Cure critical wounds on Tomas: 23 (dice) + 8 (augment) + 11 (effective caster level) = 42 hp. Using caduceus bracers to convert 40 hp worth of healing into 8 Wisdom (I believe that's correct) healing. So Tomas heals back his lost Wisdom and gets 2 bonus hp on top.

As I recall, nobody else took damage that fight, hp or otherwise, but if you did, give a holler.

[yalenusveler]

As the Ennui flew off, a smile spread across Andre's face slowly, like lamp oil across water. A smile, mixed in nature between small triumph, and "I cannot believe I managed to pull that off"

"All in all, that went better than it could've." Andre said, turning towards the group. "Now then, my minions. Let's head inside and discuss what just occurred and what I learned. Because it's quite some matters of importance."

It was most likely rather jarring to get referred to as minions, but Andre didn't really seem to be listening to any statements to the contrary, waiting for all and sundry to return to their guest quarters. He himself though, lingered at the doorway, eyes closed, though obviously trying to perceive...something, though whatever senses it could involve were likely not amongst the standard five most humans were given. However, whatever he was trying to do or sense seemed to be beyond him, and with a disappointed sigh, he made his way into the guest quarters, shutting and bolting the door behind him.

"That was the Dreamlord Night Terror. And he and his fellows were a bit hungry, and since we weren't fare that he has to worry overmuch about, decided to snack. Fortunately, he and I were able to come to terms on that whole issue, but for how long I know not." Andre said, looking over his companions.

"Of course, there are..other matters which I doubt negotiation would change, specifically the matter of HOW he's here, and what's deciding now would be a grand time to wake and see the world. "

[Nathan of the FoS]

Minions? Charles mouths, catching Lia's eye.

"Well, let's hear it, Professor," Charles says. "Not being privy to your, ah, unusual mode of communication, we are all eager to hear what you have learned. Who's waking up, and what are the terms of your deal with...Lord Terror, if that's his name?"