Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Eberron Giantslayer
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="AsherVance" data-source="post: 8283105" data-attributes="member: 7030390"><p>The passengers mingled for another half hour, chatting with one another. Dishes were cleaned up, and the table was wiped down. </p><p></p><p>Omast returned with some armor and weapons and he, Kurst and Roderik headed above decks. Aemon disappeared into his room for a nap, and soon snoring could be heard echoing down the hall.</p><p></p><p>About an hour later, Roderik returned with the other two. With them was a swarthy human with chaotic brown locks and dark eyes that twinkled; a long scar ran from his right cheek across his nose to just under his left eye. Tall and strong, he was followed by an older man, with long white hair hanging down over his shoulders and a styled beard. He was wearing a neat set of high-quality blue robes and carried a cane with the head of a dragon carved into it. </p><p></p><p><strong>"That was amazing, friends,"</strong> the olive-skinned man beamed, following Omast down the stairs into the dining area. <strong>"I think you knocked a tooth out, Kurst,"</strong> he lamented, rubbing his jaw. <strong>"Or would have."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Consider it payback for where you decided to jam your short sword, Valeros,"</strong> Kurst gruffed, throwing his weapons down on the built-in couch. <strong>"My mind is telling me I shouldn't sit for a week, whether or not it was permanent."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"I thought that is where you Reachers liked it,"</strong> Valeros jabbed, winking at Kurst.</p><p></p><p>They all laughed. The older man sat on the built-in couch against the wall next to Kurst’s weapons, kicking his feet up. <strong>"I still owe Omast here,"</strong> he complained, pointing his thumb at Omast, who was grinning as he wiped the sweat from his brow. <strong>"He threw me from the top of the quarterdeck!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"I missed you throwing Ezren off?"</strong> Roderik bemoaned, looking at his friend. <strong>"When? Where was I? I would've paid good money to see a Thrane splat on the deck."</strong></p><p></p><p>Sighing deeply, Ezren sat down near Valeros. <strong>"You did pay good money,"</strong> he grinned toothily, shaking a pouch full of coins. <strong>"But I did not splat on the deck."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"You were on the fo'c's'le, fighting Valeros,"</strong> Kurst's voice was muffled from inside the body of his armor as he pulled it off over his head. When he emerged, hair tousled, he gestured at Valeros, who had pulled out a mug and was drinking from it - although he had never filled it. <strong>"I could see you from where I was dangling."</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros coughed on his drink, laughing. <strong>"How did you get your leg caught up in those ropes?"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"I've no idea, but you just <em>had </em>to cut the ballast and drag me up into the rigging,"</strong> Kurst shook his head in bemusement as he tossed his armor down next to his weapons in a jumble.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Drag you <em>screaming</em>..."</strong> Roderik amended, neatly stacking his weapons and armor against the wall.</p><p></p><p>Valeros pointed at Roderik, <strong>"...screaming with my short sword lodged between your -"</strong> </p><p></p><p><strong>"- <em>Firmly </em>lodged,"</strong> Kurst interjected.</p><p></p><p><strong>"- Yes. Firmly."</strong> Valeros shook his head as if he was trying to clear an image from his memory. <strong>"I could've used that against your brother here, but you disarmed me. That sword’ll never be the same again."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Is it still called dis<em>arm</em>ing, if a less…<em>appropriate</em> body part is used?"</strong> Omast opined, sitting down with a groan.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Are you talking about his ass?"</strong> Ezren deadpanned. <strong>"Because it was definitely lodged in his ass."</strong></p><p></p><p>Kurst wheezed as he tried to catch his breath from laughter, and tears streamed down Valeros’s cheeks as Roderik regarded them fondly, shaking his head. </p><p></p><p><strong>"You threw up all over the deck, dangling there,"</strong> Ezren chuckled.<strong> "The Captain was not pleased."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"All that bacon, just gone to waste,"</strong> Kurst sighed.</p><p></p><p>Valeros finished his drink, smacking his lips in appreciation. <strong>"Bugger the Captain,"</strong> he grinned, perking up. He leaned forward, plopping his mug on his knee, sloshing beer over the edge. <strong>"You lads want to take another turn? Ezren, we’re guaranteed to beat them handily again. Let's do it!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Nothing is certain, my friend." </strong>Ezren pronounced, tossing the bag of coins above his head and catching it.</p><p></p><p>Kurst shook his head, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, <strong>"I'm done. For a minute."</strong></p><p></p><p>Omast snorted, <strong>"Count me out."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"You should have a go with these folks, they're rested up,"</strong> Roderik offered, looking around at the group of travelers. <strong>"What say you all?</strong> <strong>Who wants to pound the stuffing out of this arrogant birk with nothing to lose but his pride? Tuk? Thalmor? Jacynta? Engineer #3 here could snap you like a twig. And Thuurvi..."</strong> Roderik whistled dramatically. <strong>"You couldn't handle her."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Well, perhaps Ezren could, but that's cause he's been around the tower a few times,"</strong> Kurst grinned, wickedly. <strong>"Dirty old man."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Jealousy never suited you, Kurst,"</strong> Ezren winked. He smiled politely, nodding at Thuurvi, <strong>"and a woman can only be handled when she wants to be."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Roderik, you flatter me dangerously - I'm used to talking my way out of fights, most of the time; it's a good habit when around giants and medusae."</strong> Thuurvi smiled around her tusks and wiggled her blackened fingers. </p><p></p><p><strong>"I'm game if you all are,"</strong> Valeros proclaimed, surveying the room.</p><p></p><p><strong>"I will engage in melee training combat if you are amenable."</strong> Engineer #3 Mk. II spoke up. <strong>"Would you prefer to utilize weaponry, or perhaps fisticuffs? I do warn you that my construction affords me the opportunity to deal lethal damage without a traditional weapon in hand. As the recipient of such a challenge, I afford you the traditional choice."</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros clapped his hands together in excitement.<strong> "A challenge!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Roderik took a drink of water. <strong>"Not to worry, Three, Valeros here is a bearer of a rare dragonmark from House Deneith."</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros removed his bracer on his right arm to display a Mark of Sentinel, the dragonmark of House Deneith. <strong>"I am Valeros d'Deneith,"</strong> he said with a flourish. <strong>"My mark allows me to bind anyone who touches it - and who consents - to a non-lethal exchange for just under half an hour."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"So you can let loose."</strong> Roderik smiled at his warforged friend. <strong>"You cannot kill him, and he cannot kill you." </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"You feel it still -"</strong> Kurst grumbled, shifting in his seat.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Although at a remarkably lessened rate,"</strong> Valeros added appeasingly. <strong>"Still, I would say...avoid getting stabbed in the ass."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Sure, I'll go for a round, Ser Valeros d'Deneith,"</strong> Thuurvi said, standing. <strong>"I'm always up for some friendly practice."</strong></p><p></p><p>Grinning from ear to ear, Valeros offered Omast a full stein of beer, <strong>"Did you hear that?"</strong> Valeros crowed, smacking Omast on the arm. <strong>"She called me Ser." </strong></p><p></p><p>Omast laughed, waving off Valeros’s offer of beer. <strong>"You never served in no noble army, brigand,"</strong> he scoffed, filling up a mug with water for himself and returning to his seat. </p><p></p><p><strong>"Ezren,"</strong> Kurst winked at the wizard, nodding meaningfully in the direction of Valeros. <strong>"I've got fifteen Sovereigns that Thalmor and the rest could take you and the old man."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"I'm just a mercenary, that's right. No Ser for me," </strong>Valeros glanced at Thuurvi. <strong>"And yeah, I'm old,"</strong> Valeros huffed, turning towards Kurst. <strong>"And I'll take your bet. I'll use my winnings to clean my short sword."</strong></p><p></p><p>Omast’s eyebrows raised at the much younger man calling himself old, his eyes twinkling with good nature. <strong>"Put me down for 25 shillings on the dwarf and this lot."</strong></p><p></p><p>Thalmor shook his head, <strong>"Nay, I reckon I’ll get sick if I venture on deck. It’s unnatural how high up we are..."</strong> He looked out the window nervously, fidgeting with one of his silver rings. <strong>"Besides, I’m a bloody banker, not some kind of reckless brawler."</strong> He raised his second mug, grumbling, <strong>"You kids go have fun."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Master banker, we can have our fun down here, rather than above decks, if you would care to join us."</strong> Valeros held out his arm, the Mark of Sentinel prominent on it, for all in the room. <strong>"Anyone who wishes to join, grab my arm. Hold onto it until I tell you it is okay to let go, and each of you repeats the phrase 'I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood.'"</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk immediately marched out of the shadows in the corner where he had been speaking with Jacynta and grabbed Valeros’s arm. <strong>"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."</strong> He looked the warrior up and down,<strong> "You'll make a good sound when you hit the deck!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros laughed heartily, nodding at the halfling. <strong>"I like this one."</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren stood and pulled a dark leatherbound book out of his satchel. He looked over his notes for a few moments, flipped a couple of pages, and began walking around the room, muttering arcane syllables to himself. He touched items as he went, and for a moment the items he touched seemed to be the focus of the room...as if everything around them dimmed...but then the moment passed.</p><p></p><p><strong>"We're allowed to use magic to prepare before the fight begins, Ezren?"</strong> Thuurvi’s tone was light as she watched Ezren. <strong>"Because I'll do the same, if so." </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Go right ahead," </strong>Ezren acknowledged Thuurvi with a nod of his head without looking at her, touching several more items. <strong>"This is a spell of my own making that allows me to reset the room if we damage anything. It just takes me a few minutes to place a kind of...memory over everything. Like a net. You can prepare either before or after Valeros completes his ritual."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"How very thoughtful, Ezren,"</strong> Thuurvi said silkily. After Tuk finished his handshake, she approached the curly-haired man, standing over him by a number of inches. Looking him in the eyes, she took his pink hand in one of her tattooed ones, and spoke clearly, <strong>"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."</strong></p><p></p><p>Engineer #3 stood and placed a large metallic hand alongside Thuurvi’s, repeating the oath. <strong>"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."</strong> He looked around the room at each of them, <strong>"I will strive not to injure or incapacitate anyone."</strong> Valeros nodded at both of them, his grin getting bigger.</p><p></p><p>Jacynta hesitated for a moment, then shook her head muttering to herself, <strong>"Ah, what the hell. I think I'm in a mood to blow off some steam."</strong> She stepped up to the Deneith scion and laid her hand on his arm. <strong>"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."</strong></p><p></p><p>Omast and Roderik sat on the built-in couch against the wall, surrounded by piles of their armor, looking excited to watch the event about to unfold. They placed bets on what they thought might happen. Kurst returned from the kitchen with an orange he’d found on a shelf and joined them. He peeled the orange swiftly as the inhabitants of the common room all bound to Valeros's dragonmark.</p><p></p><p>With a final light touch on Thalmor's notepad, Ezren pulled out a small round item connected to a fine chain from his pocket and walked back over to Valeros. Sitting down, he placed the item on the table and opened it. <strong>"This watch will now help me protect the room from any wanton destruction that happens when Valeros's body ‘hits the deck’,"</strong> he explained, nodding at Tuk. He opened a pouch on his belt and placed several pinches of something inside the watch before snapping it shut. He stood, and returned it to his pocket. Hanging his cane off his right forearm, he drew out a wand with his left hand. <strong>"I think I'm ready,"</strong> he nodded, grasping Valeros's forearm. <strong>"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros grinned toothily, inclining his head at Thalmor once more. <strong>"If you bind to my mark, it will protect you if anything bad happens."</strong> </p><p></p><p>Thalmor blinked and looked around, considering. He took the warrior’s arm, <strong>"Fine."</strong> Clearing his throat, he muttered, <strong>"‘I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood.’"</strong> Letting go he straightened out his clothing, as the line of his sleeve appeared slightly wrinkled after the exercise of touching someone else. <strong>"Aye, thanks,"</strong> he nodded, begrudgingly, <strong>"it was a good idea."</strong> He grumbled something incomprehensible and went back to his ledger.</p><p></p><p>Valeros walked over to the three men on the couch, and each of them, in turn, clasped his dragonmarked forearm and repeated the phrase. </p><p></p><p>He turned and faced the room, closing his eyes, and Valeros laid his hand on his forearm over the Mark of Sentinel. <strong>"The Blood of the Sentinel watches. The Blood of Deneith protects us, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood, and blood runs deep."</strong> With that, he strapped his bracer back over the mark. </p><p></p><p>The thrum of the airship elemental fell loudly on the heavy silence of the room. The liveliness of a few moments ago was replaced with anticipation of the coming conflict; a reminder that life was about living, and loss. </p><p></p><p>Valeros drew his swords from the sheaths on his back and cracked his neck, while Ezren held his cane in his right hand and his wand in the other. They grinned at each other, and the white-haired wizard inclined his wand to his forehead in a salute. <strong>"Let’s do this!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk made a rather rude impatient gesture at Valeros, calling the man on, as Thuurvi wiggled her tattooed fingers and uttered something guttural that didn’t quite sound like Orcish. Much of the room, excluding the table, was suddenly filled with thick smoke billowing up to the ceiling, and Valeros was obscured from the halflings’ view.</p><p></p><p><strong>"We've got a bloody witch, Ezren. Can't be that pretty half-orc,"</strong> he cursed, his voice belying a hint of sarcasm. <strong>"No, I bet it's the 'forged!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk, who was obscured from Valeros’s vision, moved around the table, drawing his rapier. He crept through the edges of the haze, before exiting it, coming to stand in the kitchen. He waited, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet, his relaxed stance betrayed by the intensity of his gaze. </p><p></p><p>Jacynta frowned, glancing from Thuurvi to Three and back again, before shrugging the comment off. She ducked under the table where Thalmor sat, drawing her belt knife as she crept toward the edge of the mist.</p><p></p><p><strong>"She's not using magic,"</strong> Ezren warned from inside the fog. <strong>"I don't know what she's doing or how, but watch out!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Don't step on a halfling!"</strong> Kurst taunted from deep in the fog. Thalmor smirked at the quip and sipped his beer, watching the proceedings with care.</p><p></p><p>Engineer #3 formed Their mindblade over-top Their hand and slipped across the room near Tuk at the edge of the fog, nodding as he took up a flanking position with the halfling to the entrance of the kitchen.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Time for some fun!"</strong> With a bellowing laugh, Valeros crashed out of the mist. He now loomed over ten feet tall, ducking his head to avoid banging it against the ceiling and ran right into Tuk and Three, unaware they had moved.</p><p></p><p><strong>"One must maintain defense in combat at all times, Valeros,"</strong> Engineer #3 lashed out at an unprotected region that was normally not so high off the ground. <strong>"The unexpected blow will cause the greatest damage." </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Whoa!"</strong> Valeros dodged aside, avoiding the cheapshot from the warforged. Tuk side-stepped Valeros’s rush easily, but missed his slash at the man’s meaty thigh.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Whoops, careful now, step lightly now…"</strong> Tuk used the moment of Valeros’s disorientation and stepped closer to the enlarged warrior, the opposite of what people his stature usually did. Suddenly he was moving with the man weaving in and out of his feet and legs, intonating,<strong> "Careful now, step lightly now…" </strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros growled at the chanting halfling under his legs,<strong> "Oh no you don't big guy!"</strong> He slammed Tuk in the nose with the pommel of his blade, <strong>"A couple of dirty fighters, Ezren! Like Kurst!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Sarcasm and wit. Most of the warriors with such styles use a rapier or cutlass. Yet here you are with a simple utilitarian sword, Valeros."</strong> Engineer stepped up, swinging with his oversized mind blade ‘power fist’. <strong>"Interesting."</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk blinked the stars out of his eyes from Valeros's blow and continued to dance around his big feet.<strong> "If that's all ya got..."</strong> He lunged forward and up, aiming his rapier at the man's exposed crotch,<strong> "Take that!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros dropped his short sword and spun, trying to avoid the irritating halfling stabbing him in the nethers, and open-hand slapped Engineer #3 Mk. II in the face. <strong>"You're like a cat!"</strong> He howled at Tuk, <strong>"Get out from under my fee - OW!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Ezren has left the battlefield! Cheating!"</strong> Thuurvi's gaze followed Ezren as he slipped out of the room through the door to the sleeping area, hidden by the haze to everyone but her. She hurried after him, coming face to face with the wizard on the other side of the doorway he went through. He stood just outside the mist that covered her, and she stabbed at the old man with her dagger. He swatted the blade away with his dragon-headed cane, knocking her off balance.</p><p></p><p>Hesitating for a moment just outside the unnatural mist, Jacynta steeled herself and slipped into it. Almost immediately she was confronted with Valeros's oversized feet, stamping around madly as he cursed at Tuk. </p><p></p><p>She waited for a good opening before sinking her dagger into Valeros’s boot. As she yanked it free, she knocked a latch on the boot, unintentionally releasing it. On his next step, Valeros's boot came halfway off his foot and he stumbled, getting entangled in the boot flopping around beneath him. He bellowed jovially, <strong>"The Six ravage your father you tiny little nightmare!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Thalmor, trying to have a peaceful sip of his drink, got a slosh of beer in the face as Valeros stumbled into the corner of the table. He cursed, wiping the froth from his face as he smirked at the antics - as much as he could see. The odd haze and smoke made it noticeably less interesting, visually. Keeping his head down, he tried to stay out of the way.</p><p></p><p>Stomping his heel back into his boot, Valeros squeezed past the table that was bottlenecking him, looming halfway out of the mist. Looking down he grinned upon seeing Tuk there. <strong>"You are quite fun to fight, halfling!"</strong> His eyes flashed happily as he cut his sword across Tuk's thigh.</p><p></p><p><strong>"You lot are quite resourceful!"</strong> Ezren agreed, stepping back from Thuurvi. He cast a spell, holding his left arm out in front of him, hand in a fist. <strong>"Վահան!"</strong> The air in front of his arm seemed to solidify for a moment into the shape of a shield, before returning to normal.</p><p></p><p>Cheers went up from the three men in the back of the room, laughing and taunting as the battle roared around them.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Your mobility is commendable,”</strong> Exploiting his advantageous position, Engineer reached for Valeros to grapple him, <strong>“but if you cannot move it will avail you naught."</strong> Valeros shrugged off Engineer #3's attempt to grapple him.</p><p></p><p>Tuk spun around Valeros' knee, scooting back between the warrior's legs. Lunging upward, Tuk tried to embed his rapier in Valeros's meaty buttocks but Valeros reached between his legs and got ahold of Tuk's collar, flinging him back into the dining area. As Tuk was ripped off his feet, he kicked a boot up and rang the bell just above his head. He landed in front of Jacynta, keeping his balance as he bumped into Thuurvi's back, all of them vague shifting shapes in the mist.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Son of a - !"</strong> Valeros groaned and made a sound in his throat. <strong>"Siberys, I'm gonna keck."</strong></p><p></p><p>Jacynta, who was still crouched under the table, slipped past Tuk. She swiped again at Valeros's oversized calf, but her dagger slid off his leather greaves as he stomped around.</p><p></p><p>Thuurvi nudged Tuk. <strong>"If you can get into that area near the wizard, gut him."</strong> The disquieting ripples in the air around her moved the fog around as if she was struggling with a blanket wrapped around her knees, trying to untangle herself, completely separate from her actual movement.<strong> "Er, no pun intended."</strong> Looking down, she considered the dagger gripped in her hand. <strong>"Gah, I should have pulled out my sling; stupid demon spirits."</strong> Dark power flowed through her mortal conduit, and she whispered harshly through her tusks, <strong>"I am your bane."</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren took another step back, tracing arcane sigils in the air before him. He seized the sigils as if they had a physical form, and attempted to turn an unturnable object until - with a snapping motion almost as if he broke something - Ezren overclocked the spell! Two bolts of white-hot light darted out faster than a blink of the eye, hitting Thuurvi in her abdomen. Ezren whooped with joy, <strong>"Haha!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Mother of - tiny, bloody, awful halflings..."</strong> Shaking off nausea from Tuk's parting gift, Valeros spun to face Engineer #3 with a roar. He brought his sword across in a powerful back-handed strike, but his wrist was caught by the warforged, who stepped inside the attack, snapping Valeros’s right elbow back and propelling him over the warforged’s shoulder. <strong>"The unexpected attack deals the sharpest blow, as I stated.”</strong> Valeros slammed hard into the ground. <strong>“And now you will feel the might of a psionically-empowered fist."</strong> Engineer #3 delivered a crushing blow with his ectoplasmic battle fist to Valeros’s thigh. </p><p></p><p><strong>"Ow!"</strong> Valeros grunted in pain, trying to fend off the warforged’s punches.</p><p></p><p>Tuk got his feet under him and ran out of the mist, jabbing his rapier at Valeros sprawled out on the ground. Tuk's rapier was deflected with the largeLongsword, knocking the rapier out of the halfling's hands; it landed next to the shelf to Tuk's right.</p><p></p><p>With her easy target of Valeros's leg gone, Jacynta slipped back through the mist to Thuurvi's side.</p><p></p><p><strong>"I think Tuk is otherwise engaged,"</strong> she said, peeking around the corner of the doorway through the edge of the mist at Ezren. <strong>"You've been fighting the wizard alone this whole time?"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Yeah,"</strong> Thuurvi responded, looking down at the halfling woman next to her, <strong>"let's get that wizard. Everyone else is busy with the big swordy guy."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Ezren!"</strong> Valeros yelled, sprawled on the ground in the kitchen, fighting off the warforged and the halfling menacing him.</p><p></p><p>Ezren concentrated on his wand in his left hand for a moment, and spoke a word of command, <strong>"যাদু মিসাইল!"</strong> A bundle of barbed wire quickly poured out the end of the wand onto the ground. Woven in amongst the barbed wire were five sharpened bones. <strong>"Ah! Backfire!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Lashing out from the ground, Valeros caught Engineer #3 in the legs with his longsword. <strong>"Screw your backfire! Get over here, now!"</strong> he bellowed, lurching to his feet. Engineer #3 swatted at his face, almost hitting him in the eyes.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Hey, Ezren! You know the Devourer likes to eat pink skins like you who delve into His magic, right?”</strong> Thuurvi taunted, slipping into the room with Ezren. <strong>“It starts at night, with bad dreams. And itching!"</strong> She moved to the opposite wall while the wizard was occupied with the backfiring wand.</p><p></p><p>Tuk glanced in the direction his rapier went flying, shrugged, and pulled out his dagger. <strong>"That bigger and better spell didn't seem to do much for ya down in th' basement!"</strong> the halfling taunted.</p><p></p><p><strong>"This warforged hits like a blacksmith!"</strong> Valeros shouted to Ezren, just as Tuk stabbed him in the knee, <strong>"Ow! And this halfling can't seem to hit anything!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Correct. I am trained in both martial combat and the manipulation of metal via forge."</strong> Engineer swung again with his mind blade, the oversized ectoplasmic battle fist turning his already large hand into a veritable battering ram. <strong>"Now would be an ideal time for your surrender."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"What is it you warforged say in times like this? I forget..."</strong> Valeros smirked as he caught the enhanced fist on his blade and pivoted, stepping up and smashing the pommel into the warforged's eyes, temporarily blinding him, <strong>"...oh that's right. F#@k off!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Engineer held his arms up in a defensive posture, attempting to clear his vision.<strong> "My visual sensors need recalibration."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"The Devourer take this - confounded...I can't get there, Valeros!" </strong>Ezren glanced between his cane and his wand, trying to make a choice.</p><p></p><p>Jacynta darted around the corner after Thuurvi, dagger flashing as she lunged for the old man. Ezren kicked over a Rundlet of wine that was standing against the wall, and Jacynta tripped over the barrel, banging her knees and her shins. The barrel burst, stopping her in her tracks, as a deep red wine poured all over the compartment's floor. The wizard yelped, <strong>"Ah! I thought that might be flour! Not good wine!"</strong> The air reeked of alcohol, and Ezren could distinctly smell notes of cherries and plums. <strong>"Enough! যাদু মিসাইল!"</strong> Ezren shouted, pointing his wand at Thuurvi. Another white-hot point of light shot out, hitting her in the shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Ezren dodged past Jacynta. <strong>"Valeros, I’m—"</strong> he ducked under a plank of wood the halfling flung at his head, <strong>"—I’m a fool!"</strong> He splashed through the wine gushing from the broken barrel. </p><p></p><p><strong>"I spilled—"</strong> he stumbled, narrowly avoiding the shattered cask of the barrel Thuurvi kicked in his way, <strong>"—I spilled good wine!"</strong> He panted, disappearing into the mist. <strong>"Blast it!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren burst out of the mist across the table from where Thalmor sat. The wizard put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Thalmor grumbled and waved dismissively, folding his hands impatiently.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Dammit, Ezren! Come on!”</strong> Valeros cleared his head with a shake, hitting Tuk with his longsword in a devastating blow before stepping back into the corner behind the warforged. <strong>“Again?"</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk winced, muttering,<strong> "The harder they hit, the harder they fall..."</strong></p><p></p><p>He swung in around Three, slashing at Valeros' large calves. Valeros caught the halfling’s blade on his longsword, spun it around, grabbed Tuk's hand, and flung him onto the ground in the corner. <strong>"Get over there!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi grimaced and peered over at Ezren, who was a bit hard to see around the corner from her vantage point. Her eyes pierced through the mist she’d summoned, even though no one else could see through it, it did not hinder her vision. <strong>"Jacynta, we should invest in a net - these wizards are slipperier than alchemical hogs,"</strong> Thuurvi quipped. Muttering under her breath, she whispered to the spirits that surrounded her. Several napkins left on the breakfast table began to smolder and then light on fire, trails of smoke wafting up into Thalmor's face.</p><p></p><p>Jacynta eyed the mist with trepidation, adjusting her grip on her dagger. <strong>"Did you see which way he went?"</strong> she called out to Thuurvi, scanning the obscured common room for Ezren.</p><p></p><p>Ezren scrambled up the chair and onto the table, crossing it in two steps. He unintentionally kicked the bits of fabric that Thuurvi had set on fire into Thalmor's lap. He leaped onto the counter behind Thalmor, his foot slipping on the edge, and crashed to the countertop. His momentum knocked dishes and other breakfast items to the ground as he fell into the kitchen with a thud. </p><p></p><p>Thalmor shoved back his chair, cursing, but the leg caught, toppling him to the ground. Beer flew into the air as the dwarf impacted the floor.</p><p></p><p>Thalmor coughed, taking the full force of the fall. <strong>"Hey! I don’t mind you rapscallions playing your games, but leave me in peace!"</strong> he sputtered, annoyed. He glared at the fighters around him.</p><p></p><p>Surrounded by pots, pans, plates, and broken crockery, Ezren uttered a word of magic, pointing his wand at the warforged fighting Valeros. <strong>"যাদু মিসাইল!"</strong> A bolt of light streaked out of the tip of the wand, hitting the warforged in the back, knocking Them to the ground.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Great job, Ezren!"</strong> Valeros yelled, beating his long sword into the prone warforged.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Get 'im, Three!"</strong> Roderik yelled. Watching what they could of the battle royale, Kurst and Omast chattered as Ezren crashed through the kitchenware. <strong>"Thuurvi's gonna murder Ezren,”</strong> Omast grinned over his drink. <strong>“I know,”</strong> Kurst bellowed with glee, his beer sloshing out of his mug as he gesticulated enthusiastically. <strong>“I'm so excited!" </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"You'll be out and about if there's a real scrap, yes?"</strong> Thuurvi scowled at Thalmor as she moved past the beer-covered dwarf struggling to disentangle himself from his chair. <strong>"At least trip Ezren next time!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Jacynta cautiously moved into the fog, stepping carefully until she came out the other side. Three stood to her right, with a giant Valeros beyond him. Tuk lay sprawled on the ground in the corner.</p><p></p><p>Thalmor scowled from the floor, unable to see Thuurvi. <strong>"Now why would I need to be out and about fer any reason? Why would there be a real scrap?"</strong> He grumbled and stood up, obviously annoyed. He wiped himself off as he stumbled away from the action to the corner, nursing his grievance, and sporting his beer in his beard. <strong>"Yer business is yer own, I'm not a blasted nursemaid nor bodyguard!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi scuttled towards Jacynta and tapped her to let the halfling know she was behind her. <strong>"I can heal you to wallop another day, Brave Tuk." </strong></p><p></p><p>Jacynta gave Thuurvi a flat look. <strong>"What, all halflings look the same to you?"</strong> Thuurvi sighed, realizing she had mistaken Jacynta for Tuk from behind.</p><p></p><p>Three heaved himself to his feet as Valeros laughed, <strong>"Take this, 'forged!"</strong> With a look of triumph on his face, he kicked the warforged squarely between the legs.</p><p></p><p><strong>"You have tried to injure reproductive organs on a Warforged."</strong> Engineer #3 spoke without inflection as he calmly took the low blow.<strong> "That was a very poor tactical choice, Valeros,"</strong> the warforged advised, wiping the look of triumph off Valeros’s face with a punch.</p><p></p><p>Tuk stood and stepped inside Valeros’s defenses as Three punched the man, stabbing him in the thigh.</p><p></p><p>Jacynta rolled her eyes and glanced between the enormous form of Valeros, and Ezren struggling to get back to his feet. She nudged Three, <strong>"Have fun with the biggun,"</strong> she called over her shoulder at the metal man before darting at the wizard.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Halfling!"</strong> Ezren yelped, kicking a pan on the ground and launching it up into Jacynta’s path, and knocking her dagger out of the way with an awful clang. <strong>"Angry halfling!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Gesturing and muttering, Thuurvi whipped a fork from the galley at Ezren’s face. He ducked as it shot by exceptionally close to his ear. <strong>"Fork!"</strong> he yelled, as it clattered against the cabinet over his shoulder with a racket. </p><p></p><p>Ezren scrambled to his feet, evading another swat from Jacynta. He leveled his wand at her, grinning. <strong>"ভারক্লাকড ম্যাজিক মিসাইল!"</strong> Two balls of light streaked out, hitting her in the chest.</p><p></p><p>As Ezren dodged silverware on one side of the room, Valeros was battling the halfling in the other. <strong>"Stay down!"</strong> Valeros yelled, cutting Tuk across the halflings' right shoulder.</p><p></p><p>Tuk growled in frustration as he was again hit by the enlarged man, ducking and jamming his dagger into Valeros’s right side, finding a spot to slip just under the edge of the armor. With a yell of pain, Valeros fruitlessly tried to slash out and defend himself and was almost tripped up on a cup that rolled under his feet from the chaos of Ezren's plunge over the counter. <strong>"No!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Engineer #3 swung again at the large fighter. <strong>"Indeed. I will end this conflict as soon as possible."</strong> Valeros brought the pommel of his sword around on the back of the warforged's fist, yelling, <strong>"Hands off!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Jacynta, trip him or knock his wand out of reach!"</strong> Thuurvi called, stepping closer to Three and waving her hand in the direction of Ezren in the corner. In an eyeblink, the floorboards underneath him took on strange, jagged shapes, shifting under the wizard's feet.</p><p></p><p>Jacynta glanced back at Thuurvi, then up at the old man towering over her.<strong> "Sure,"</strong> she said under her breath, <strong>"Just knock him down. How hard could that be."</strong></p><p></p><p>She lunged forward, smacking the wand out of Ezren's grasp and sending it clattering to the counter behind him. He scowled at Jacynta, <strong>"Don't listen to the half-orc!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren stomped his foot on the ground, and a shockwave burst across the floor, flinging the fragments and detritus off the ground with a cacophonous clamor. </p><p></p><p>The shockwave slammed over the ground at Thuurvi and Jacynta's feet but both of them kept their footing, and Ezren quickly slipped past Jacynta as the halfling slashed at him, moving through the debris-covered ground to get closer to Valeros.</p><p></p><p>Valeros brought his sword around in a powerful blow, as Engineer #3 countered him perfectly. Valeros was able to just step out of the way of the counter, while his longsword connected with a resounding crash on the warforged’s plating.</p><p></p><p>Feeling beleaguered and fatigued, Engineer #3 kept his hands up near his head and tucked his elbows in close to his chest, maintaining a defensive stance. </p><p></p><p><strong>"I hope there's some blood or juice in you, Three,"</strong> grunted Thuurvi as she placed a hand on the 'forged's side, concentrating on the energy of the touch. </p><p></p><p><strong>"The witch is doing something to the warforged! I think she's repairing it. Artificer!"</strong> Ezren shouted as Thuurvi stared daggers at him.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Are you a wizard or the town crier?"</strong> she snarled. She leaned in, moving energy into the wounded warforged, and her focus shifted, leaving her open for just a moment. Valeros swung his longsword, cutting some netting above Thuurvi’s head. It pooled on the ground next to her, missing almost entirely.</p><p></p><p>Tuk cried out, grinning from ear to ear, as he saw his warforged comrade wavering. <strong>"Let's go metal-man, we've him on th' rope!"</strong> He bellowed up at the enlarged Valeros, <strong>"Come on, big guy, pick on some yer own...er - well...my size!"</strong> Tuk dodged in, planting his dagger firmly in the back of Valeros's thigh. </p><p></p><p><strong>"Ezren! I don't -"</strong> With a groan, the giant armored man sank to one knee.</p><p></p><p>A cheer went up from the corner, as Roderik, Kurst, and Omast leaned out comically over the counter, trying to get a better angle to observe the battle. <strong>"Aim higher!"</strong> Kurst yelled to Tuk.</p><p></p><p>Jacynta glowered down at her ineffectual dagger, then darted after Ezren. As Ezren swung his cane at her, she dodged deftly under it and launched herself at his legs, knocking him to the ground. <strong>"Ahhh!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren hit the ground and immediately reached in his belt pouch, pulling out a potion. <strong>"Catch!"</strong> he called to Valeros, tossing him the potion as both Jacynta and Tuk unsuccessfully tried to block it. With a triumphant exuberance, Valeros snatched the vial out of the air. <strong>"Thanks!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren scrambled to his feet, his eyes on Jacynta. <strong>"You, my dear…”</strong> he spat breathlessly. <strong>“We need to have words."</strong></p><p></p><p>Valeros thumbed the end of the potion open, quaffing it down. <strong>"Yes!" </strong>he beamed. </p><p></p><p><strong>"That there's cheatin',"</strong> Tuk uttered darkly.</p><p></p><p>Valeros brandished his longsword at the halfling who smacked the blade out of the way, denting the big sword with his tiny dagger. <strong>"Hey!"</strong> Valeros exclaimed. Tuk was clearly pleased with himself.</p><p></p><p>Thuurvi stepped away from Valeros's reach, muttering and wriggling her tattooed fingers in his direction. </p><p></p><p><strong>"What in Khyber—"</strong> Valeros swore as a spatula smacked him in the face. Tuk cut in again, and Valeros parried the attack, hitting the halfling in the elbow with the pommel of his sword.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Death to the biggun'!"</strong> Jacynta yelled, hurling herself at Valeros’s hulking body. <strong>"He can't stop us all!" </strong>Her dagger struck home, cutting into Valeros's arm.<strong> "Gah! Ouch!"</strong> Valeros yelled.</p><p></p><p>Tuk grimaced as he rubbed his numbed arm, keeping an eye on Valeros, ready to dodge away from any attack from the warrior, <strong>"Yer gonna pay for that one..."</strong></p><p></p><p>Engineer #3 lurched up suddenly, startling Valeros, but the enlarged man was able to get his hand on the warforged's head, pushing him back to the ground. The warforged pushed back up, getting a large thumb in his eyes, but finally stood, ready for more.</p><p></p><p>Ezren pushed past Jacynta as she tried to hinder him. He ran into the corner to pick up his disarmed wand.</p><p></p><p>Valeros quickly drew out a vial from his belt and threw it on the ground in between the half-orc, halfling, and warforged. It burst into a ball of flame, burning all three of them, just as the mist that has been covering the entire room waned and disappeared.</p><p></p><p>With a roar of laughing and cheering, the three men on the couch all stood, scrambling to get a better view.</p><p></p><p>Tuk jumped up and cut one of the ropes dangling from the ceiling near the wall closest to him, low enough for him to reach it. Leftover from when Valeros cut them moments ago, the halfling caused another section of netting to fall, as well as what appeared to be several bags of potatoes and onions, entangling Valeros in it. Valeros bellowed in confusion, flailing to unentangle himself. <strong>"What in the blinding hell?!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Oh, come on,"</strong> Jacynta snarled, flinching back from the sudden flames. She drove her dagger at Valeros’s leg again, desperately. It sank into his leg as he fell back on his heels, dropping his longsword to the ground with a loud clatter. </p><p></p><p>Net draped over him, Valeros leaned back onto his wrists, breathing heavy, looking up at the ceiling, his eyes closed. <strong>"Khyber, I'm sweating like a Thranish hooker,"</strong> he huffed, breathing heavily. <strong>"Ezren! The halflings got me! They said they're going to feed me to their dinosaur gods."</strong> He lay down on his back, still entangled in the netting, chuckling softly. After a moment, a ripping sound drew all eyes up to the ceiling. A sack of onions lodged in the rafters tore and a remarkable amount of red onions pummeled Valeros in the face in rapid succession. <strong>"I yield!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Kurst harrumphed and handed over several coins to Omast, who chortled happily.</p><p></p><p>Wiggling his fingers around the hilt of his dagger, the feeling in them restored, Tuk called out, <strong>"Ha! Take that you Big-Assed Ass!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Oof!"</strong> Valeros groaned as Tuk stabbed him with his dagger. <strong>"I yield! Feed me to your dinosaurs!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi launched a saucepan at Ezren, then ducked around the corner. <strong>"Just tackle the magic-user!"</strong> she shouted. <strong>"Valeros, be sure to rub the onions all over your face—the dinos like that for seasoning!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Ezren ducked as the saucepan Thuurvi launched at him crashed against the wall. <strong>"Alright!"</strong> he called, holding the wand he’d just picked up into the air along with his cane, both pointed toward the ceiling. <strong>"Alright! Let's call it there I think.”</strong> He stood unblemished in the corner of the kitchen, surveying the detritus surrounding him. </p><p></p><p>The wreckage in the cabin was an impressive sight. Valeros lay on his back, bleeding from several cuts and wounds. His body was covered in a pile of pots and pans, various root vegetables, and some netting that still wasn’t fully disconnected from the ceiling. His left boot was still hanging off his foot, with a large hole in it where Jacynta's dagger had found purchase.</p><p></p><p>Tuk and Jacynta stood over him. Tuk’s smashed nose was red and angry-looking. Engineer #3 Mk. II knelt next to Valeros and Jacynta, also down for the count. Behind Them, Thuurvi stood at the entrance to the kitchen. Valeros's discarded shortsword, still oversized, lay next to her on the ground, Tuk's disarmed rapier only inches away from it.</p><p></p><p>Trails of smoke rose from the two women and the warforged, and prominent singe marks surrounded them all on the surfaces and items where the burst of flame happened. Thuurvi's clothes had several small holes where magic pierced them, as did Jacynta’s.</p><p></p><p>Engineer #3 had several newly acquired dings, scratches, dents, and one particularly prominent scrape right across Their glowing green eyes.</p><p></p><p>Dishes and broken crockery littered the kitchen and eating area where, moments ago, Thalmor had sat quietly, his empty seat now upended and set ablaze. The smell of wine was sickeningly intense as it slowly seeped across the kitchen floor from the anteroom, where a pile of barbed wire rested amidst a broken barrel of red wine.</p><p></p><p>A small fire burned feebly on one side of the table. Thalmor was illuminated in the corner behind it, standing next to the stair leading up to the top deck. He held his notebook in hand along with a still-dripping mug, his beard soaking from spilled beer.</p><p></p><p>Another onion thwacked Valeros wetly in the face, leaving a large wet smudge.</p><p></p><p>Engineer offered him a hand, the one not enclosed in a massive ectoplasmic battle-fist. Valeros groaned, taking the proffered help, and the warforged hauled him upright. <strong>"You fought valiantly and in a tactically sound manner."</strong> Root vegetables tumbled off Valeros, and Three nodded to him slowly. <strong>"Despite being outnumbered, you rendered me unable to continue and could have potentially eliminated Tuk. Well done. You have my respect, and I will fight by your side if the need arises, certainly."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Likewise, my friend,"</strong> Valeros winced, clapping him on the shoulder. <strong>"And you!"</strong> he scolded, looking down at Tuk, pulling the netting off himself and failing. <strong>"You took avenging Kurst's smelly old—Ezren, would you please get rid of this?"</strong> He interrupted himself, gesturing at the size of his body, and the net.</p><p></p><p>Ezren glanced down at Valeros. <strong>“Yes, I think it’s time.”</strong> Ezren raised his voice for the others to hear. <strong>“Let's put the cabin back to order, and have a good afternoon rest, what do you all say?"</strong> He put his wand away, whispered an arcane word, and Valeros and all his gear returned to normal size.</p><p></p><p>Valeros glared with bemusement at Tuk as he finally separated himself from the net. <strong>"You took avenging Kursts’ precious bottom way too literally,"</strong> he winced, laughing and offering his hand to the halfling. Looking at Jacynta, he laughed. <strong>"Both of you,"</strong> he smiled, then took Thuurvi and Thalmor into his gaze as well, <strong>"all of you. Well done."</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi shrugged and smiled.<strong> "Really, I'm more of a talker than a fighter; with many of the things you meet in the Byeshk Mountains, there wouldn't be a fight to speak of--I'd just wind up a smear on a rock, along with the rest of you."</strong> She rolled her eyes at herself. <strong>"See, like that. Talking,"</strong> she laughed. <strong>"Ezren had the right idea, though—he ran and hid."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"You were controlling the battlefield, my dear,"</strong> Ezren grinned, picking up Valeros's short sword and handing it to him. <strong>"Your strength was in removing our ability to see. So I eliminated that strength. The nearest door seemed the most logical choice."</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk fetched his rapier, rubbing the back of his neck, <strong>"That was a nice bit o' fun! I'll be takin' to the air more oft'n if t'is how lively it gets!"</strong> he exclaimed, touching his sore nose tenderly with a finger.</p><p></p><p><strong>“Tuk, that combat was quite effective.”</strong> Three commented. <strong>“If we are to battle such large foes in the future, we would be wise to remember that tactic."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Remember it? You better believe it!”</strong> Tuk nodded to the warforged. <strong>“It's my life's work...all us Tuks together..."</strong> his shoulders slumped a bit, thinking about all of his dead cousins. <strong>"Ah...together...not much together when yer the only one."</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi nodded to Three as well. <strong>"Well, ogres and giants can be found not too far from Sylbaran, although they don't usually come that close. We shall see."</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk grinned up at Thuurvi, his voice brightening it seemed by will alone, <strong>"Let them come! I figure we'll take 'em down, right quick!"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"I like your spirit, Tuk.”</strong> Thuurvi winked at the halfling warrior.<strong> “There will no doubt be occasions when merely talking with an ogre won't do the trick."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"I ran right into these two. Didn't even realize they were there."</strong> Valeros smiled, nodding at Tuk and Three. He raised an eyebrow at Ezren. <strong>"What do you think, Ez?"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Yes, I think so."</strong> Valeros removed his bracer, baring his dragonmark. Ezren took the silver watch from before out of his waistcoat, opened the watch, and wound the dial back. As he did, the wine flowed back into the barrel, which righted itself. Onions and potatoes rebagged themselves and were deposited in the rafters again, and the haze cleared from the air as the smoke from the various fires dissipated. Ropes and nets reattached themselves to the walls, and broken crockery mended, stacking neatly on the counter next to the pots. Thuurvi noticed the holes made by Ezren's wand in her clothes were mended, as were everyone else's, and the beer seeped off Thalmor's beard into his mug.</p><p></p><p>As each object returned to its original place, the face of the watch flared a soft red light until it was pulsing with wild, rapid flashes, before slowing and finally stopping.</p><p></p><p>Valeros spoke in a low, quiet tone, touching his mark, <strong>"Deneith Blood runs deepest. All must bleed, and blood will have blood. All have not yet bled."</strong></p><p></p><p>The party’s exhaustion faded, and their cuts and bruises vanished. Valeros's face was contorted in anguish for a few moments before he let out his breath in a rush. Sweat still covered his brow.</p><p></p><p><strong>"There,"</strong> he grimaced. Looking up at the room, he nodded to Ezren. <strong>"That's done."</strong> He wiped away sweat beading on his forehead with the back of his hand and proffered a cloth from the counter. He wiped a bit of blood off his dragonmark, tossed the cloth into a refuse bin, and deftly fastened his bracer back on his forearm.</p><p></p><p>Tuk had been watching carefully as Valeros utilized his Dragonmark, winding back the damage. <strong>"Neat trick, big man,"</strong> he observed respectfully.</p><p></p><p><strong>"You both command powerful magic. I have never seen a room repair itself in such a manner, nor the injuries of combat heal so quickly among so many.”</strong> Three said, running Their hands over Their previously dented frame. <strong>“I am honored to have trialed with you both."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"It's not powerful magic, really,"</strong> Ezren said to the warforged. <strong>"My spell takes a long time to cast, works in a very limited area, and does not actually restore things. It's more like...I paint a picture, and then we paint over it. When we're done, I simply remove the top layer of paint, uncovering what was there the whole time. What we just painted over for a few minutes."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"And my mark is mostly just a trick, yeah. It works similarly."</strong> Valeros entered the dining area, pulling his stein from his belt again as he replied to Tuk. <strong>"Once bound to my mark, someone is much less likely to be hurt severely. But as it must be voluntary... it's useless outside of training."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"It's actually where I got the idea for the spell - his mark," </strong>Ezren explained, gesturing at Valeros. <strong>"It is a fairly unique Dragonmark, only mentioned in writings of House Deneith. Not without its costs, of course."</strong> He nodded at Thalmor.<strong> "In principle, I think, the spell functions a bit like some of House Kundarak's aptitudes. It...preserves...an area. I don't think that is what Valeros's Dragonmark is doing, but it's the methodology around which I designed the spell."</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi shook her head in wonder at Ezren's explanation. <strong>"So not a glamour then, not an illusion, but another...skin...on top of reality?"</strong> She adjusted her orange braid. <strong>"That's far beyond my area of expertise, but fascinating. I do often think about what is real, although I'm no philosopher nor metaphysicist."</strong></p><p></p><p>Thalmor grumbled as everything reset but sat back down. <strong>"Wouldn't know too much 'bout Kundarak marks. I get my callings from ol' reliable here."</strong> Thalmor withdrew his holy symbol and took a sip of beer. Grimacing slightly at the slight oxidation occurring near a corner of the symbol, he polished it on his coat. Thalmor snorted, <strong>"I get power from work not luck of birth."</strong> He chose his words carefully, and took another sip, <strong>"feels more...honest. Many folks aren't 'marked; not sure why we gotta lionize those who are."</strong> He sniffed, gazing out the window.</p><p></p><p><strong>"Houses rise. And Houses fall."</strong> Omast declared, pulling on one side of his mustache thoughtfully. <strong>"Like the chest of some great sleeping beast. Some people in the Great Houses are good. But many just helped prolong the war, prolong the slaughter,"</strong> he said in a disgusted tone. </p><p></p><p><strong>"I agree, Master Thalmor. An individual's accomplishments deserve recognition. Not just a coincidence at birth, by chance.”</strong> Omast nodded solemnly at the dwarf. <strong>“Like Roderik..."</strong> he turned to his friend. <strong>"You're great because of who you are, not what you were born with."</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk nodded, agreeing with the sentiment, <strong>"Ya, what ya do is what ya are!"</strong></p><p></p><p>Thuurvi shrugged at Thalmor and Omast. <strong>"Gods and powers mark people in different ways--no shame in using what you have. Anyhow, what you are often changes over time. But I hear what you're saying, Thalmor, no need to unduly elevate them."</strong></p><p></p><p>She leaned against the edge of the table. <strong>"Ezren, have you examined the artifact?"</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"The pillar? No, I've not,"</strong> Ezren said, joining Thuurvi at the table. <strong>"Any of you?"</strong></p><p></p><p>Jacynta shook her head.<strong> "I worked with the team who found it, but I left Xen'drik a long time before they got to that point."</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>"Well, I hope we can go look at it closely,"</strong> Thuurvi mused. <strong>"I wonder if there's writing on it, even if it's magically concealed."</strong></p><p></p><p>Tuk examined his rapier, looking for dents and scrapes, then looked sideways up at Valeros, a bit of mischief in his eyes. <strong>"Wanna do some more sparrin' up on deck? I'm just gettin' warmed up!"</strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AsherVance, post: 8283105, member: 7030390"] The passengers mingled for another half hour, chatting with one another. Dishes were cleaned up, and the table was wiped down. Omast returned with some armor and weapons and he, Kurst and Roderik headed above decks. Aemon disappeared into his room for a nap, and soon snoring could be heard echoing down the hall. About an hour later, Roderik returned with the other two. With them was a swarthy human with chaotic brown locks and dark eyes that twinkled; a long scar ran from his right cheek across his nose to just under his left eye. Tall and strong, he was followed by an older man, with long white hair hanging down over his shoulders and a styled beard. He was wearing a neat set of high-quality blue robes and carried a cane with the head of a dragon carved into it. [B]"That was amazing, friends,"[/B] the olive-skinned man beamed, following Omast down the stairs into the dining area. [B]"I think you knocked a tooth out, Kurst,"[/B] he lamented, rubbing his jaw. [B]"Or would have." "Consider it payback for where you decided to jam your short sword, Valeros,"[/B] Kurst gruffed, throwing his weapons down on the built-in couch. [B]"My mind is telling me I shouldn't sit for a week, whether or not it was permanent." "I thought that is where you Reachers liked it,"[/B] Valeros jabbed, winking at Kurst. They all laughed. The older man sat on the built-in couch against the wall next to Kurst’s weapons, kicking his feet up. [B]"I still owe Omast here,"[/B] he complained, pointing his thumb at Omast, who was grinning as he wiped the sweat from his brow. [B]"He threw me from the top of the quarterdeck!" "I missed you throwing Ezren off?"[/B] Roderik bemoaned, looking at his friend. [B]"When? Where was I? I would've paid good money to see a Thrane splat on the deck."[/B] Sighing deeply, Ezren sat down near Valeros. [B]"You did pay good money,"[/B] he grinned toothily, shaking a pouch full of coins. [B]"But I did not splat on the deck." "You were on the fo'c's'le, fighting Valeros,"[/B] Kurst's voice was muffled from inside the body of his armor as he pulled it off over his head. When he emerged, hair tousled, he gestured at Valeros, who had pulled out a mug and was drinking from it - although he had never filled it. [B]"I could see you from where I was dangling."[/B] Valeros coughed on his drink, laughing. [B]"How did you get your leg caught up in those ropes?" "I've no idea, but you just [I]had [/I]to cut the ballast and drag me up into the rigging,"[/B] Kurst shook his head in bemusement as he tossed his armor down next to his weapons in a jumble. [B]"Drag you [I]screaming[/I]..."[/B] Roderik amended, neatly stacking his weapons and armor against the wall. Valeros pointed at Roderik, [B]"...screaming with my short sword lodged between your -"[/B] [B]"- [I]Firmly [/I]lodged,"[/B] Kurst interjected. [B]"- Yes. Firmly."[/B] Valeros shook his head as if he was trying to clear an image from his memory. [B]"I could've used that against your brother here, but you disarmed me. That sword’ll never be the same again." "Is it still called dis[I]arm[/I]ing, if a less…[I]appropriate[/I] body part is used?"[/B] Omast opined, sitting down with a groan. [B]"Are you talking about his ass?"[/B] Ezren deadpanned. [B]"Because it was definitely lodged in his ass."[/B] Kurst wheezed as he tried to catch his breath from laughter, and tears streamed down Valeros’s cheeks as Roderik regarded them fondly, shaking his head. [B]"You threw up all over the deck, dangling there,"[/B] Ezren chuckled.[B] "The Captain was not pleased." "All that bacon, just gone to waste,"[/B] Kurst sighed. Valeros finished his drink, smacking his lips in appreciation. [B]"Bugger the Captain,"[/B] he grinned, perking up. He leaned forward, plopping his mug on his knee, sloshing beer over the edge. [B]"You lads want to take another turn? Ezren, we’re guaranteed to beat them handily again. Let's do it!" "Nothing is certain, my friend." [/B]Ezren pronounced, tossing the bag of coins above his head and catching it. Kurst shook his head, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, [B]"I'm done. For a minute."[/B] Omast snorted, [B]"Count me out." "You should have a go with these folks, they're rested up,"[/B] Roderik offered, looking around at the group of travelers. [B]"What say you all?[/B] [B]Who wants to pound the stuffing out of this arrogant birk with nothing to lose but his pride? Tuk? Thalmor? Jacynta? Engineer #3 here could snap you like a twig. And Thuurvi..."[/B] Roderik whistled dramatically. [B]"You couldn't handle her." "Well, perhaps Ezren could, but that's cause he's been around the tower a few times,"[/B] Kurst grinned, wickedly. [B]"Dirty old man." "Jealousy never suited you, Kurst,"[/B] Ezren winked. He smiled politely, nodding at Thuurvi, [B]"and a woman can only be handled when she wants to be." "Roderik, you flatter me dangerously - I'm used to talking my way out of fights, most of the time; it's a good habit when around giants and medusae."[/B] Thuurvi smiled around her tusks and wiggled her blackened fingers. [B]"I'm game if you all are,"[/B] Valeros proclaimed, surveying the room. [B]"I will engage in melee training combat if you are amenable."[/B] Engineer #3 Mk. II spoke up. [B]"Would you prefer to utilize weaponry, or perhaps fisticuffs? I do warn you that my construction affords me the opportunity to deal lethal damage without a traditional weapon in hand. As the recipient of such a challenge, I afford you the traditional choice."[/B] Valeros clapped his hands together in excitement.[B] "A challenge!"[/B] Roderik took a drink of water. [B]"Not to worry, Three, Valeros here is a bearer of a rare dragonmark from House Deneith."[/B] Valeros removed his bracer on his right arm to display a Mark of Sentinel, the dragonmark of House Deneith. [B]"I am Valeros d'Deneith,"[/B] he said with a flourish. [B]"My mark allows me to bind anyone who touches it - and who consents - to a non-lethal exchange for just under half an hour." "So you can let loose."[/B] Roderik smiled at his warforged friend. [B]"You cannot kill him, and he cannot kill you." "You feel it still -"[/B] Kurst grumbled, shifting in his seat. [B]"Although at a remarkably lessened rate,"[/B] Valeros added appeasingly. [B]"Still, I would say...avoid getting stabbed in the ass." "Sure, I'll go for a round, Ser Valeros d'Deneith,"[/B] Thuurvi said, standing. [B]"I'm always up for some friendly practice."[/B] Grinning from ear to ear, Valeros offered Omast a full stein of beer, [B]"Did you hear that?"[/B] Valeros crowed, smacking Omast on the arm. [B]"She called me Ser." [/B] Omast laughed, waving off Valeros’s offer of beer. [B]"You never served in no noble army, brigand,"[/B] he scoffed, filling up a mug with water for himself and returning to his seat. [B]"Ezren,"[/B] Kurst winked at the wizard, nodding meaningfully in the direction of Valeros. [B]"I've got fifteen Sovereigns that Thalmor and the rest could take you and the old man." "I'm just a mercenary, that's right. No Ser for me," [/B]Valeros glanced at Thuurvi. [B]"And yeah, I'm old,"[/B] Valeros huffed, turning towards Kurst. [B]"And I'll take your bet. I'll use my winnings to clean my short sword."[/B] Omast’s eyebrows raised at the much younger man calling himself old, his eyes twinkling with good nature. [B]"Put me down for 25 shillings on the dwarf and this lot."[/B] Thalmor shook his head, [B]"Nay, I reckon I’ll get sick if I venture on deck. It’s unnatural how high up we are..."[/B] He looked out the window nervously, fidgeting with one of his silver rings. [B]"Besides, I’m a bloody banker, not some kind of reckless brawler."[/B] He raised his second mug, grumbling, [B]"You kids go have fun." "Master banker, we can have our fun down here, rather than above decks, if you would care to join us."[/B] Valeros held out his arm, the Mark of Sentinel prominent on it, for all in the room. [B]"Anyone who wishes to join, grab my arm. Hold onto it until I tell you it is okay to let go, and each of you repeats the phrase 'I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood.'"[/B] Tuk immediately marched out of the shadows in the corner where he had been speaking with Jacynta and grabbed Valeros’s arm. [B]"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."[/B] He looked the warrior up and down,[B] "You'll make a good sound when you hit the deck!"[/B] Valeros laughed heartily, nodding at the halfling. [B]"I like this one."[/B] Ezren stood and pulled a dark leatherbound book out of his satchel. He looked over his notes for a few moments, flipped a couple of pages, and began walking around the room, muttering arcane syllables to himself. He touched items as he went, and for a moment the items he touched seemed to be the focus of the room...as if everything around them dimmed...but then the moment passed. [B]"We're allowed to use magic to prepare before the fight begins, Ezren?"[/B] Thuurvi’s tone was light as she watched Ezren. [B]"Because I'll do the same, if so." "Go right ahead," [/B]Ezren acknowledged Thuurvi with a nod of his head without looking at her, touching several more items. [B]"This is a spell of my own making that allows me to reset the room if we damage anything. It just takes me a few minutes to place a kind of...memory over everything. Like a net. You can prepare either before or after Valeros completes his ritual." "How very thoughtful, Ezren,"[/B] Thuurvi said silkily. After Tuk finished his handshake, she approached the curly-haired man, standing over him by a number of inches. Looking him in the eyes, she took his pink hand in one of her tattooed ones, and spoke clearly, [B]"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."[/B] Engineer #3 stood and placed a large metallic hand alongside Thuurvi’s, repeating the oath. [B]"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."[/B] He looked around the room at each of them, [B]"I will strive not to injure or incapacitate anyone."[/B] Valeros nodded at both of them, his grin getting bigger. Jacynta hesitated for a moment, then shook her head muttering to herself, [B]"Ah, what the hell. I think I'm in a mood to blow off some steam."[/B] She stepped up to the Deneith scion and laid her hand on his arm. [B]"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."[/B] Omast and Roderik sat on the built-in couch against the wall, surrounded by piles of their armor, looking excited to watch the event about to unfold. They placed bets on what they thought might happen. Kurst returned from the kitchen with an orange he’d found on a shelf and joined them. He peeled the orange swiftly as the inhabitants of the common room all bound to Valeros's dragonmark. With a final light touch on Thalmor's notepad, Ezren pulled out a small round item connected to a fine chain from his pocket and walked back over to Valeros. Sitting down, he placed the item on the table and opened it. [B]"This watch will now help me protect the room from any wanton destruction that happens when Valeros's body ‘hits the deck’,"[/B] he explained, nodding at Tuk. He opened a pouch on his belt and placed several pinches of something inside the watch before snapping it shut. He stood, and returned it to his pocket. Hanging his cane off his right forearm, he drew out a wand with his left hand. [B]"I think I'm ready,"[/B] he nodded, grasping Valeros's forearm. [B]"I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood."[/B] Valeros grinned toothily, inclining his head at Thalmor once more. [B]"If you bind to my mark, it will protect you if anything bad happens."[/B] Thalmor blinked and looked around, considering. He took the warrior’s arm, [B]"Fine."[/B] Clearing his throat, he muttered, [B]"‘I consent to train with Valeros d'Deneith, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood.’"[/B] Letting go he straightened out his clothing, as the line of his sleeve appeared slightly wrinkled after the exercise of touching someone else. [B]"Aye, thanks,"[/B] he nodded, begrudgingly, [B]"it was a good idea."[/B] He grumbled something incomprehensible and went back to his ledger. Valeros walked over to the three men on the couch, and each of them, in turn, clasped his dragonmarked forearm and repeated the phrase. He turned and faced the room, closing his eyes, and Valeros laid his hand on his forearm over the Mark of Sentinel. [B]"The Blood of the Sentinel watches. The Blood of Deneith protects us, for all must bleed. Blood will have blood, and blood runs deep."[/B] With that, he strapped his bracer back over the mark. The thrum of the airship elemental fell loudly on the heavy silence of the room. The liveliness of a few moments ago was replaced with anticipation of the coming conflict; a reminder that life was about living, and loss. Valeros drew his swords from the sheaths on his back and cracked his neck, while Ezren held his cane in his right hand and his wand in the other. They grinned at each other, and the white-haired wizard inclined his wand to his forehead in a salute. [B]"Let’s do this!"[/B] Tuk made a rather rude impatient gesture at Valeros, calling the man on, as Thuurvi wiggled her tattooed fingers and uttered something guttural that didn’t quite sound like Orcish. Much of the room, excluding the table, was suddenly filled with thick smoke billowing up to the ceiling, and Valeros was obscured from the halflings’ view. [B]"We've got a bloody witch, Ezren. Can't be that pretty half-orc,"[/B] he cursed, his voice belying a hint of sarcasm. [B]"No, I bet it's the 'forged!"[/B] Tuk, who was obscured from Valeros’s vision, moved around the table, drawing his rapier. He crept through the edges of the haze, before exiting it, coming to stand in the kitchen. He waited, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet, his relaxed stance betrayed by the intensity of his gaze. Jacynta frowned, glancing from Thuurvi to Three and back again, before shrugging the comment off. She ducked under the table where Thalmor sat, drawing her belt knife as she crept toward the edge of the mist. [B]"She's not using magic,"[/B] Ezren warned from inside the fog. [B]"I don't know what she's doing or how, but watch out!" "Don't step on a halfling!"[/B] Kurst taunted from deep in the fog. Thalmor smirked at the quip and sipped his beer, watching the proceedings with care. Engineer #3 formed Their mindblade over-top Their hand and slipped across the room near Tuk at the edge of the fog, nodding as he took up a flanking position with the halfling to the entrance of the kitchen. [B]"Time for some fun!"[/B] With a bellowing laugh, Valeros crashed out of the mist. He now loomed over ten feet tall, ducking his head to avoid banging it against the ceiling and ran right into Tuk and Three, unaware they had moved. [B]"One must maintain defense in combat at all times, Valeros,"[/B] Engineer #3 lashed out at an unprotected region that was normally not so high off the ground. [B]"The unexpected blow will cause the greatest damage." "Whoa!"[/B] Valeros dodged aside, avoiding the cheapshot from the warforged. Tuk side-stepped Valeros’s rush easily, but missed his slash at the man’s meaty thigh. [B]"Whoops, careful now, step lightly now…"[/B] Tuk used the moment of Valeros’s disorientation and stepped closer to the enlarged warrior, the opposite of what people his stature usually did. Suddenly he was moving with the man weaving in and out of his feet and legs, intonating,[B] "Careful now, step lightly now…" [/B] Valeros growled at the chanting halfling under his legs,[B] "Oh no you don't big guy!"[/B] He slammed Tuk in the nose with the pommel of his blade, [B]"A couple of dirty fighters, Ezren! Like Kurst!" "Sarcasm and wit. Most of the warriors with such styles use a rapier or cutlass. Yet here you are with a simple utilitarian sword, Valeros."[/B] Engineer stepped up, swinging with his oversized mind blade ‘power fist’. [B]"Interesting."[/B] Tuk blinked the stars out of his eyes from Valeros's blow and continued to dance around his big feet.[B] "If that's all ya got..."[/B] He lunged forward and up, aiming his rapier at the man's exposed crotch,[B] "Take that!"[/B] Valeros dropped his short sword and spun, trying to avoid the irritating halfling stabbing him in the nethers, and open-hand slapped Engineer #3 Mk. II in the face. [B]"You're like a cat!"[/B] He howled at Tuk, [B]"Get out from under my fee - OW!" "Ezren has left the battlefield! Cheating!"[/B] Thuurvi's gaze followed Ezren as he slipped out of the room through the door to the sleeping area, hidden by the haze to everyone but her. She hurried after him, coming face to face with the wizard on the other side of the doorway he went through. He stood just outside the mist that covered her, and she stabbed at the old man with her dagger. He swatted the blade away with his dragon-headed cane, knocking her off balance. Hesitating for a moment just outside the unnatural mist, Jacynta steeled herself and slipped into it. Almost immediately she was confronted with Valeros's oversized feet, stamping around madly as he cursed at Tuk. She waited for a good opening before sinking her dagger into Valeros’s boot. As she yanked it free, she knocked a latch on the boot, unintentionally releasing it. On his next step, Valeros's boot came halfway off his foot and he stumbled, getting entangled in the boot flopping around beneath him. He bellowed jovially, [B]"The Six ravage your father you tiny little nightmare!"[/B] Thalmor, trying to have a peaceful sip of his drink, got a slosh of beer in the face as Valeros stumbled into the corner of the table. He cursed, wiping the froth from his face as he smirked at the antics - as much as he could see. The odd haze and smoke made it noticeably less interesting, visually. Keeping his head down, he tried to stay out of the way. Stomping his heel back into his boot, Valeros squeezed past the table that was bottlenecking him, looming halfway out of the mist. Looking down he grinned upon seeing Tuk there. [B]"You are quite fun to fight, halfling!"[/B] His eyes flashed happily as he cut his sword across Tuk's thigh. [B]"You lot are quite resourceful!"[/B] Ezren agreed, stepping back from Thuurvi. He cast a spell, holding his left arm out in front of him, hand in a fist. [B]"Վահան!"[/B] The air in front of his arm seemed to solidify for a moment into the shape of a shield, before returning to normal. Cheers went up from the three men in the back of the room, laughing and taunting as the battle roared around them. [B]"Your mobility is commendable,”[/B] Exploiting his advantageous position, Engineer reached for Valeros to grapple him, [B]“but if you cannot move it will avail you naught."[/B] Valeros shrugged off Engineer #3's attempt to grapple him. Tuk spun around Valeros' knee, scooting back between the warrior's legs. Lunging upward, Tuk tried to embed his rapier in Valeros's meaty buttocks but Valeros reached between his legs and got ahold of Tuk's collar, flinging him back into the dining area. As Tuk was ripped off his feet, he kicked a boot up and rang the bell just above his head. He landed in front of Jacynta, keeping his balance as he bumped into Thuurvi's back, all of them vague shifting shapes in the mist. [B]"Son of a - !"[/B] Valeros groaned and made a sound in his throat. [B]"Siberys, I'm gonna keck."[/B] Jacynta, who was still crouched under the table, slipped past Tuk. She swiped again at Valeros's oversized calf, but her dagger slid off his leather greaves as he stomped around. Thuurvi nudged Tuk. [B]"If you can get into that area near the wizard, gut him."[/B] The disquieting ripples in the air around her moved the fog around as if she was struggling with a blanket wrapped around her knees, trying to untangle herself, completely separate from her actual movement.[B] "Er, no pun intended."[/B] Looking down, she considered the dagger gripped in her hand. [B]"Gah, I should have pulled out my sling; stupid demon spirits."[/B] Dark power flowed through her mortal conduit, and she whispered harshly through her tusks, [B]"I am your bane."[/B] Ezren took another step back, tracing arcane sigils in the air before him. He seized the sigils as if they had a physical form, and attempted to turn an unturnable object until - with a snapping motion almost as if he broke something - Ezren overclocked the spell! Two bolts of white-hot light darted out faster than a blink of the eye, hitting Thuurvi in her abdomen. Ezren whooped with joy, [B]"Haha!" "Mother of - tiny, bloody, awful halflings..."[/B] Shaking off nausea from Tuk's parting gift, Valeros spun to face Engineer #3 with a roar. He brought his sword across in a powerful back-handed strike, but his wrist was caught by the warforged, who stepped inside the attack, snapping Valeros’s right elbow back and propelling him over the warforged’s shoulder. [B]"The unexpected attack deals the sharpest blow, as I stated.”[/B] Valeros slammed hard into the ground. [B]“And now you will feel the might of a psionically-empowered fist."[/B] Engineer #3 delivered a crushing blow with his ectoplasmic battle fist to Valeros’s thigh. [B]"Ow!"[/B] Valeros grunted in pain, trying to fend off the warforged’s punches. Tuk got his feet under him and ran out of the mist, jabbing his rapier at Valeros sprawled out on the ground. Tuk's rapier was deflected with the largeLongsword, knocking the rapier out of the halfling's hands; it landed next to the shelf to Tuk's right. With her easy target of Valeros's leg gone, Jacynta slipped back through the mist to Thuurvi's side. [B]"I think Tuk is otherwise engaged,"[/B] she said, peeking around the corner of the doorway through the edge of the mist at Ezren. [B]"You've been fighting the wizard alone this whole time?" "Yeah,"[/B] Thuurvi responded, looking down at the halfling woman next to her, [B]"let's get that wizard. Everyone else is busy with the big swordy guy." "Ezren!"[/B] Valeros yelled, sprawled on the ground in the kitchen, fighting off the warforged and the halfling menacing him. Ezren concentrated on his wand in his left hand for a moment, and spoke a word of command, [B]"যাদু মিসাইল!"[/B] A bundle of barbed wire quickly poured out the end of the wand onto the ground. Woven in amongst the barbed wire were five sharpened bones. [B]"Ah! Backfire!"[/B] Lashing out from the ground, Valeros caught Engineer #3 in the legs with his longsword. [B]"Screw your backfire! Get over here, now!"[/B] he bellowed, lurching to his feet. Engineer #3 swatted at his face, almost hitting him in the eyes. [B]"Hey, Ezren! You know the Devourer likes to eat pink skins like you who delve into His magic, right?”[/B] Thuurvi taunted, slipping into the room with Ezren. [B]“It starts at night, with bad dreams. And itching!"[/B] She moved to the opposite wall while the wizard was occupied with the backfiring wand. Tuk glanced in the direction his rapier went flying, shrugged, and pulled out his dagger. [B]"That bigger and better spell didn't seem to do much for ya down in th' basement!"[/B] the halfling taunted. [B]"This warforged hits like a blacksmith!"[/B] Valeros shouted to Ezren, just as Tuk stabbed him in the knee, [B]"Ow! And this halfling can't seem to hit anything!" "Correct. I am trained in both martial combat and the manipulation of metal via forge."[/B] Engineer swung again with his mind blade, the oversized ectoplasmic battle fist turning his already large hand into a veritable battering ram. [B]"Now would be an ideal time for your surrender." "What is it you warforged say in times like this? I forget..."[/B] Valeros smirked as he caught the enhanced fist on his blade and pivoted, stepping up and smashing the pommel into the warforged's eyes, temporarily blinding him, [B]"...oh that's right. F#@k off!"[/B] Engineer held his arms up in a defensive posture, attempting to clear his vision.[B] "My visual sensors need recalibration." "The Devourer take this - confounded...I can't get there, Valeros!" [/B]Ezren glanced between his cane and his wand, trying to make a choice. Jacynta darted around the corner after Thuurvi, dagger flashing as she lunged for the old man. Ezren kicked over a Rundlet of wine that was standing against the wall, and Jacynta tripped over the barrel, banging her knees and her shins. The barrel burst, stopping her in her tracks, as a deep red wine poured all over the compartment's floor. The wizard yelped, [B]"Ah! I thought that might be flour! Not good wine!"[/B] The air reeked of alcohol, and Ezren could distinctly smell notes of cherries and plums. [B]"Enough! যাদু মিসাইল!"[/B] Ezren shouted, pointing his wand at Thuurvi. Another white-hot point of light shot out, hitting her in the shoulder. Ezren dodged past Jacynta. [B]"Valeros, I’m—"[/B] he ducked under a plank of wood the halfling flung at his head, [B]"—I’m a fool!"[/B] He splashed through the wine gushing from the broken barrel. [B]"I spilled—"[/B] he stumbled, narrowly avoiding the shattered cask of the barrel Thuurvi kicked in his way, [B]"—I spilled good wine!"[/B] He panted, disappearing into the mist. [B]"Blast it!"[/B] Ezren burst out of the mist across the table from where Thalmor sat. The wizard put his finger to his lips in a shushing motion. Thalmor grumbled and waved dismissively, folding his hands impatiently. [B]"Dammit, Ezren! Come on!”[/B] Valeros cleared his head with a shake, hitting Tuk with his longsword in a devastating blow before stepping back into the corner behind the warforged. [B]“Again?"[/B] Tuk winced, muttering,[B] "The harder they hit, the harder they fall..."[/B] He swung in around Three, slashing at Valeros' large calves. Valeros caught the halfling’s blade on his longsword, spun it around, grabbed Tuk's hand, and flung him onto the ground in the corner. [B]"Get over there!"[/B] Thuurvi grimaced and peered over at Ezren, who was a bit hard to see around the corner from her vantage point. Her eyes pierced through the mist she’d summoned, even though no one else could see through it, it did not hinder her vision. [B]"Jacynta, we should invest in a net - these wizards are slipperier than alchemical hogs,"[/B] Thuurvi quipped. Muttering under her breath, she whispered to the spirits that surrounded her. Several napkins left on the breakfast table began to smolder and then light on fire, trails of smoke wafting up into Thalmor's face. Jacynta eyed the mist with trepidation, adjusting her grip on her dagger. [B]"Did you see which way he went?"[/B] she called out to Thuurvi, scanning the obscured common room for Ezren. Ezren scrambled up the chair and onto the table, crossing it in two steps. He unintentionally kicked the bits of fabric that Thuurvi had set on fire into Thalmor's lap. He leaped onto the counter behind Thalmor, his foot slipping on the edge, and crashed to the countertop. His momentum knocked dishes and other breakfast items to the ground as he fell into the kitchen with a thud. Thalmor shoved back his chair, cursing, but the leg caught, toppling him to the ground. Beer flew into the air as the dwarf impacted the floor. Thalmor coughed, taking the full force of the fall. [B]"Hey! I don’t mind you rapscallions playing your games, but leave me in peace!"[/B] he sputtered, annoyed. He glared at the fighters around him. Surrounded by pots, pans, plates, and broken crockery, Ezren uttered a word of magic, pointing his wand at the warforged fighting Valeros. [B]"যাদু মিসাইল!"[/B] A bolt of light streaked out of the tip of the wand, hitting the warforged in the back, knocking Them to the ground. [B]"Great job, Ezren!"[/B] Valeros yelled, beating his long sword into the prone warforged. [B]"Get 'im, Three!"[/B] Roderik yelled. Watching what they could of the battle royale, Kurst and Omast chattered as Ezren crashed through the kitchenware. [B]"Thuurvi's gonna murder Ezren,”[/B] Omast grinned over his drink. [B]“I know,”[/B] Kurst bellowed with glee, his beer sloshing out of his mug as he gesticulated enthusiastically. [B]“I'm so excited!" "You'll be out and about if there's a real scrap, yes?"[/B] Thuurvi scowled at Thalmor as she moved past the beer-covered dwarf struggling to disentangle himself from his chair. [B]"At least trip Ezren next time!"[/B] Jacynta cautiously moved into the fog, stepping carefully until she came out the other side. Three stood to her right, with a giant Valeros beyond him. Tuk lay sprawled on the ground in the corner. Thalmor scowled from the floor, unable to see Thuurvi. [B]"Now why would I need to be out and about fer any reason? Why would there be a real scrap?"[/B] He grumbled and stood up, obviously annoyed. He wiped himself off as he stumbled away from the action to the corner, nursing his grievance, and sporting his beer in his beard. [B]"Yer business is yer own, I'm not a blasted nursemaid nor bodyguard!"[/B] Thuurvi scuttled towards Jacynta and tapped her to let the halfling know she was behind her. [B]"I can heal you to wallop another day, Brave Tuk." [/B] Jacynta gave Thuurvi a flat look. [B]"What, all halflings look the same to you?"[/B] Thuurvi sighed, realizing she had mistaken Jacynta for Tuk from behind. Three heaved himself to his feet as Valeros laughed, [B]"Take this, 'forged!"[/B] With a look of triumph on his face, he kicked the warforged squarely between the legs. [B]"You have tried to injure reproductive organs on a Warforged."[/B] Engineer #3 spoke without inflection as he calmly took the low blow.[B] "That was a very poor tactical choice, Valeros,"[/B] the warforged advised, wiping the look of triumph off Valeros’s face with a punch. Tuk stood and stepped inside Valeros’s defenses as Three punched the man, stabbing him in the thigh. Jacynta rolled her eyes and glanced between the enormous form of Valeros, and Ezren struggling to get back to his feet. She nudged Three, [B]"Have fun with the biggun,"[/B] she called over her shoulder at the metal man before darting at the wizard. [B]"Halfling!"[/B] Ezren yelped, kicking a pan on the ground and launching it up into Jacynta’s path, and knocking her dagger out of the way with an awful clang. [B]"Angry halfling!"[/B] Gesturing and muttering, Thuurvi whipped a fork from the galley at Ezren’s face. He ducked as it shot by exceptionally close to his ear. [B]"Fork!"[/B] he yelled, as it clattered against the cabinet over his shoulder with a racket. Ezren scrambled to his feet, evading another swat from Jacynta. He leveled his wand at her, grinning. [B]"ভারক্লাকড ম্যাজিক মিসাইল!"[/B] Two balls of light streaked out, hitting her in the chest. As Ezren dodged silverware on one side of the room, Valeros was battling the halfling in the other. [B]"Stay down!"[/B] Valeros yelled, cutting Tuk across the halflings' right shoulder. Tuk growled in frustration as he was again hit by the enlarged man, ducking and jamming his dagger into Valeros’s right side, finding a spot to slip just under the edge of the armor. With a yell of pain, Valeros fruitlessly tried to slash out and defend himself and was almost tripped up on a cup that rolled under his feet from the chaos of Ezren's plunge over the counter. [B]"No!"[/B] Engineer #3 swung again at the large fighter. [B]"Indeed. I will end this conflict as soon as possible."[/B] Valeros brought the pommel of his sword around on the back of the warforged's fist, yelling, [B]"Hands off!" "Jacynta, trip him or knock his wand out of reach!"[/B] Thuurvi called, stepping closer to Three and waving her hand in the direction of Ezren in the corner. In an eyeblink, the floorboards underneath him took on strange, jagged shapes, shifting under the wizard's feet. Jacynta glanced back at Thuurvi, then up at the old man towering over her.[B] "Sure,"[/B] she said under her breath, [B]"Just knock him down. How hard could that be."[/B] She lunged forward, smacking the wand out of Ezren's grasp and sending it clattering to the counter behind him. He scowled at Jacynta, [B]"Don't listen to the half-orc!"[/B] Ezren stomped his foot on the ground, and a shockwave burst across the floor, flinging the fragments and detritus off the ground with a cacophonous clamor. The shockwave slammed over the ground at Thuurvi and Jacynta's feet but both of them kept their footing, and Ezren quickly slipped past Jacynta as the halfling slashed at him, moving through the debris-covered ground to get closer to Valeros. Valeros brought his sword around in a powerful blow, as Engineer #3 countered him perfectly. Valeros was able to just step out of the way of the counter, while his longsword connected with a resounding crash on the warforged’s plating. Feeling beleaguered and fatigued, Engineer #3 kept his hands up near his head and tucked his elbows in close to his chest, maintaining a defensive stance. [B]"I hope there's some blood or juice in you, Three,"[/B] grunted Thuurvi as she placed a hand on the 'forged's side, concentrating on the energy of the touch. [B]"The witch is doing something to the warforged! I think she's repairing it. Artificer!"[/B] Ezren shouted as Thuurvi stared daggers at him. [B]"Are you a wizard or the town crier?"[/B] she snarled. She leaned in, moving energy into the wounded warforged, and her focus shifted, leaving her open for just a moment. Valeros swung his longsword, cutting some netting above Thuurvi’s head. It pooled on the ground next to her, missing almost entirely. Tuk cried out, grinning from ear to ear, as he saw his warforged comrade wavering. [B]"Let's go metal-man, we've him on th' rope!"[/B] He bellowed up at the enlarged Valeros, [B]"Come on, big guy, pick on some yer own...er - well...my size!"[/B] Tuk dodged in, planting his dagger firmly in the back of Valeros's thigh. [B]"Ezren! I don't -"[/B] With a groan, the giant armored man sank to one knee. A cheer went up from the corner, as Roderik, Kurst, and Omast leaned out comically over the counter, trying to get a better angle to observe the battle. [B]"Aim higher!"[/B] Kurst yelled to Tuk. Jacynta glowered down at her ineffectual dagger, then darted after Ezren. As Ezren swung his cane at her, she dodged deftly under it and launched herself at his legs, knocking him to the ground. [B]"Ahhh!"[/B] Ezren hit the ground and immediately reached in his belt pouch, pulling out a potion. [B]"Catch!"[/B] he called to Valeros, tossing him the potion as both Jacynta and Tuk unsuccessfully tried to block it. With a triumphant exuberance, Valeros snatched the vial out of the air. [B]"Thanks!"[/B] Ezren scrambled to his feet, his eyes on Jacynta. [B]"You, my dear…”[/B] he spat breathlessly. [B]“We need to have words."[/B] Valeros thumbed the end of the potion open, quaffing it down. [B]"Yes!" [/B]he beamed. [B]"That there's cheatin',"[/B] Tuk uttered darkly. Valeros brandished his longsword at the halfling who smacked the blade out of the way, denting the big sword with his tiny dagger. [B]"Hey!"[/B] Valeros exclaimed. Tuk was clearly pleased with himself. Thuurvi stepped away from Valeros's reach, muttering and wriggling her tattooed fingers in his direction. [B]"What in Khyber—"[/B] Valeros swore as a spatula smacked him in the face. Tuk cut in again, and Valeros parried the attack, hitting the halfling in the elbow with the pommel of his sword. [B]"Death to the biggun'!"[/B] Jacynta yelled, hurling herself at Valeros’s hulking body. [B]"He can't stop us all!" [/B]Her dagger struck home, cutting into Valeros's arm.[B] "Gah! Ouch!"[/B] Valeros yelled. Tuk grimaced as he rubbed his numbed arm, keeping an eye on Valeros, ready to dodge away from any attack from the warrior, [B]"Yer gonna pay for that one..."[/B] Engineer #3 lurched up suddenly, startling Valeros, but the enlarged man was able to get his hand on the warforged's head, pushing him back to the ground. The warforged pushed back up, getting a large thumb in his eyes, but finally stood, ready for more. Ezren pushed past Jacynta as she tried to hinder him. He ran into the corner to pick up his disarmed wand. Valeros quickly drew out a vial from his belt and threw it on the ground in between the half-orc, halfling, and warforged. It burst into a ball of flame, burning all three of them, just as the mist that has been covering the entire room waned and disappeared. With a roar of laughing and cheering, the three men on the couch all stood, scrambling to get a better view. Tuk jumped up and cut one of the ropes dangling from the ceiling near the wall closest to him, low enough for him to reach it. Leftover from when Valeros cut them moments ago, the halfling caused another section of netting to fall, as well as what appeared to be several bags of potatoes and onions, entangling Valeros in it. Valeros bellowed in confusion, flailing to unentangle himself. [B]"What in the blinding hell?!" "Oh, come on,"[/B] Jacynta snarled, flinching back from the sudden flames. She drove her dagger at Valeros’s leg again, desperately. It sank into his leg as he fell back on his heels, dropping his longsword to the ground with a loud clatter. Net draped over him, Valeros leaned back onto his wrists, breathing heavy, looking up at the ceiling, his eyes closed. [B]"Khyber, I'm sweating like a Thranish hooker,"[/B] he huffed, breathing heavily. [B]"Ezren! The halflings got me! They said they're going to feed me to their dinosaur gods."[/B] He lay down on his back, still entangled in the netting, chuckling softly. After a moment, a ripping sound drew all eyes up to the ceiling. A sack of onions lodged in the rafters tore and a remarkable amount of red onions pummeled Valeros in the face in rapid succession. [B]"I yield!"[/B] Kurst harrumphed and handed over several coins to Omast, who chortled happily. Wiggling his fingers around the hilt of his dagger, the feeling in them restored, Tuk called out, [B]"Ha! Take that you Big-Assed Ass!" "Oof!"[/B] Valeros groaned as Tuk stabbed him with his dagger. [B]"I yield! Feed me to your dinosaurs!"[/B] Thuurvi launched a saucepan at Ezren, then ducked around the corner. [B]"Just tackle the magic-user!"[/B] she shouted. [B]"Valeros, be sure to rub the onions all over your face—the dinos like that for seasoning!"[/B] Ezren ducked as the saucepan Thuurvi launched at him crashed against the wall. [B]"Alright!"[/B] he called, holding the wand he’d just picked up into the air along with his cane, both pointed toward the ceiling. [B]"Alright! Let's call it there I think.”[/B] He stood unblemished in the corner of the kitchen, surveying the detritus surrounding him. The wreckage in the cabin was an impressive sight. Valeros lay on his back, bleeding from several cuts and wounds. His body was covered in a pile of pots and pans, various root vegetables, and some netting that still wasn’t fully disconnected from the ceiling. His left boot was still hanging off his foot, with a large hole in it where Jacynta's dagger had found purchase. Tuk and Jacynta stood over him. Tuk’s smashed nose was red and angry-looking. Engineer #3 Mk. II knelt next to Valeros and Jacynta, also down for the count. Behind Them, Thuurvi stood at the entrance to the kitchen. Valeros's discarded shortsword, still oversized, lay next to her on the ground, Tuk's disarmed rapier only inches away from it. Trails of smoke rose from the two women and the warforged, and prominent singe marks surrounded them all on the surfaces and items where the burst of flame happened. Thuurvi's clothes had several small holes where magic pierced them, as did Jacynta’s. Engineer #3 had several newly acquired dings, scratches, dents, and one particularly prominent scrape right across Their glowing green eyes. Dishes and broken crockery littered the kitchen and eating area where, moments ago, Thalmor had sat quietly, his empty seat now upended and set ablaze. The smell of wine was sickeningly intense as it slowly seeped across the kitchen floor from the anteroom, where a pile of barbed wire rested amidst a broken barrel of red wine. A small fire burned feebly on one side of the table. Thalmor was illuminated in the corner behind it, standing next to the stair leading up to the top deck. He held his notebook in hand along with a still-dripping mug, his beard soaking from spilled beer. Another onion thwacked Valeros wetly in the face, leaving a large wet smudge. Engineer offered him a hand, the one not enclosed in a massive ectoplasmic battle-fist. Valeros groaned, taking the proffered help, and the warforged hauled him upright. [B]"You fought valiantly and in a tactically sound manner."[/B] Root vegetables tumbled off Valeros, and Three nodded to him slowly. [B]"Despite being outnumbered, you rendered me unable to continue and could have potentially eliminated Tuk. Well done. You have my respect, and I will fight by your side if the need arises, certainly." "Likewise, my friend,"[/B] Valeros winced, clapping him on the shoulder. [B]"And you!"[/B] he scolded, looking down at Tuk, pulling the netting off himself and failing. [B]"You took avenging Kurst's smelly old—Ezren, would you please get rid of this?"[/B] He interrupted himself, gesturing at the size of his body, and the net. Ezren glanced down at Valeros. [B]“Yes, I think it’s time.”[/B] Ezren raised his voice for the others to hear. [B]“Let's put the cabin back to order, and have a good afternoon rest, what do you all say?"[/B] He put his wand away, whispered an arcane word, and Valeros and all his gear returned to normal size. Valeros glared with bemusement at Tuk as he finally separated himself from the net. [B]"You took avenging Kursts’ precious bottom way too literally,"[/B] he winced, laughing and offering his hand to the halfling. Looking at Jacynta, he laughed. [B]"Both of you,"[/B] he smiled, then took Thuurvi and Thalmor into his gaze as well, [B]"all of you. Well done."[/B] Thuurvi shrugged and smiled.[B] "Really, I'm more of a talker than a fighter; with many of the things you meet in the Byeshk Mountains, there wouldn't be a fight to speak of--I'd just wind up a smear on a rock, along with the rest of you."[/B] She rolled her eyes at herself. [B]"See, like that. Talking,"[/B] she laughed. [B]"Ezren had the right idea, though—he ran and hid." "You were controlling the battlefield, my dear,"[/B] Ezren grinned, picking up Valeros's short sword and handing it to him. [B]"Your strength was in removing our ability to see. So I eliminated that strength. The nearest door seemed the most logical choice."[/B] Tuk fetched his rapier, rubbing the back of his neck, [B]"That was a nice bit o' fun! I'll be takin' to the air more oft'n if t'is how lively it gets!"[/B] he exclaimed, touching his sore nose tenderly with a finger. [B]“Tuk, that combat was quite effective.”[/B] Three commented. [B]“If we are to battle such large foes in the future, we would be wise to remember that tactic." "Remember it? You better believe it!”[/B] Tuk nodded to the warforged. [B]“It's my life's work...all us Tuks together..."[/B] his shoulders slumped a bit, thinking about all of his dead cousins. [B]"Ah...together...not much together when yer the only one."[/B] Thuurvi nodded to Three as well. [B]"Well, ogres and giants can be found not too far from Sylbaran, although they don't usually come that close. We shall see."[/B] Tuk grinned up at Thuurvi, his voice brightening it seemed by will alone, [B]"Let them come! I figure we'll take 'em down, right quick!" "I like your spirit, Tuk.”[/B] Thuurvi winked at the halfling warrior.[B] “There will no doubt be occasions when merely talking with an ogre won't do the trick." "I ran right into these two. Didn't even realize they were there."[/B] Valeros smiled, nodding at Tuk and Three. He raised an eyebrow at Ezren. [B]"What do you think, Ez?" "Yes, I think so."[/B] Valeros removed his bracer, baring his dragonmark. Ezren took the silver watch from before out of his waistcoat, opened the watch, and wound the dial back. As he did, the wine flowed back into the barrel, which righted itself. Onions and potatoes rebagged themselves and were deposited in the rafters again, and the haze cleared from the air as the smoke from the various fires dissipated. Ropes and nets reattached themselves to the walls, and broken crockery mended, stacking neatly on the counter next to the pots. Thuurvi noticed the holes made by Ezren's wand in her clothes were mended, as were everyone else's, and the beer seeped off Thalmor's beard into his mug. As each object returned to its original place, the face of the watch flared a soft red light until it was pulsing with wild, rapid flashes, before slowing and finally stopping. Valeros spoke in a low, quiet tone, touching his mark, [B]"Deneith Blood runs deepest. All must bleed, and blood will have blood. All have not yet bled."[/B] The party’s exhaustion faded, and their cuts and bruises vanished. Valeros's face was contorted in anguish for a few moments before he let out his breath in a rush. Sweat still covered his brow. [B]"There,"[/B] he grimaced. Looking up at the room, he nodded to Ezren. [B]"That's done."[/B] He wiped away sweat beading on his forehead with the back of his hand and proffered a cloth from the counter. He wiped a bit of blood off his dragonmark, tossed the cloth into a refuse bin, and deftly fastened his bracer back on his forearm. Tuk had been watching carefully as Valeros utilized his Dragonmark, winding back the damage. [B]"Neat trick, big man,"[/B] he observed respectfully. [B]"You both command powerful magic. I have never seen a room repair itself in such a manner, nor the injuries of combat heal so quickly among so many.”[/B] Three said, running Their hands over Their previously dented frame. [B]“I am honored to have trialed with you both." "It's not powerful magic, really,"[/B] Ezren said to the warforged. [B]"My spell takes a long time to cast, works in a very limited area, and does not actually restore things. It's more like...I paint a picture, and then we paint over it. When we're done, I simply remove the top layer of paint, uncovering what was there the whole time. What we just painted over for a few minutes." "And my mark is mostly just a trick, yeah. It works similarly."[/B] Valeros entered the dining area, pulling his stein from his belt again as he replied to Tuk. [B]"Once bound to my mark, someone is much less likely to be hurt severely. But as it must be voluntary... it's useless outside of training." "It's actually where I got the idea for the spell - his mark," [/B]Ezren explained, gesturing at Valeros. [B]"It is a fairly unique Dragonmark, only mentioned in writings of House Deneith. Not without its costs, of course."[/B] He nodded at Thalmor.[B] "In principle, I think, the spell functions a bit like some of House Kundarak's aptitudes. It...preserves...an area. I don't think that is what Valeros's Dragonmark is doing, but it's the methodology around which I designed the spell."[/B] Thuurvi shook her head in wonder at Ezren's explanation. [B]"So not a glamour then, not an illusion, but another...skin...on top of reality?"[/B] She adjusted her orange braid. [B]"That's far beyond my area of expertise, but fascinating. I do often think about what is real, although I'm no philosopher nor metaphysicist."[/B] Thalmor grumbled as everything reset but sat back down. [B]"Wouldn't know too much 'bout Kundarak marks. I get my callings from ol' reliable here."[/B] Thalmor withdrew his holy symbol and took a sip of beer. Grimacing slightly at the slight oxidation occurring near a corner of the symbol, he polished it on his coat. Thalmor snorted, [B]"I get power from work not luck of birth."[/B] He chose his words carefully, and took another sip, [B]"feels more...honest. Many folks aren't 'marked; not sure why we gotta lionize those who are."[/B] He sniffed, gazing out the window. [B]"Houses rise. And Houses fall."[/B] Omast declared, pulling on one side of his mustache thoughtfully. [B]"Like the chest of some great sleeping beast. Some people in the Great Houses are good. But many just helped prolong the war, prolong the slaughter,"[/B] he said in a disgusted tone. [B]"I agree, Master Thalmor. An individual's accomplishments deserve recognition. Not just a coincidence at birth, by chance.”[/B] Omast nodded solemnly at the dwarf. [B]“Like Roderik..."[/B] he turned to his friend. [B]"You're great because of who you are, not what you were born with."[/B] Tuk nodded, agreeing with the sentiment, [B]"Ya, what ya do is what ya are!"[/B] Thuurvi shrugged at Thalmor and Omast. [B]"Gods and powers mark people in different ways--no shame in using what you have. Anyhow, what you are often changes over time. But I hear what you're saying, Thalmor, no need to unduly elevate them."[/B] She leaned against the edge of the table. [B]"Ezren, have you examined the artifact?" "The pillar? No, I've not,"[/B] Ezren said, joining Thuurvi at the table. [B]"Any of you?"[/B] Jacynta shook her head.[B] "I worked with the team who found it, but I left Xen'drik a long time before they got to that point." "Well, I hope we can go look at it closely,"[/B] Thuurvi mused. [B]"I wonder if there's writing on it, even if it's magically concealed."[/B] Tuk examined his rapier, looking for dents and scrapes, then looked sideways up at Valeros, a bit of mischief in his eyes. [B]"Wanna do some more sparrin' up on deck? I'm just gettin' warmed up!"[/B] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Eberron Giantslayer
Top