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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1541343" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p><strong>Noises on Sigil... and A Strange Old Man</strong></p><p></p><p>“What the hell noises were those?” Shaun shouted at Tess shortly after the pit fiend stormed out. “And whoever your interior decorator was, I’d hire a new one.”</p><p></p><p>“P…Pit F…F…Fiend,” the bard stammered from under her bed.</p><p></p><p>“Oh great,” Shaun rolled his eyes as other party members arrived. “Hey guys, she got visited by a Pit Fiend. Other than scaring Pelor’s Ghost out of you, did he hurt you at all?”</p><p></p><p>“N... no,” Tess stammered, taking his hand when he offered it. Gently, the rogue guided her from under the bed. Once she was standing, he gave her a reassuring hug.</p><p></p><p>“Well... I say the next one that comes, Tess... just sing that really shrill note you love and make his head explode, ‘k?” Shaun whispered in her ear. The bard laughed nervously... which was far better than her crying shamelessly.</p><p></p><p>“Tess, I’ll stay here with you, and I’m sure the others will too,” Orion said, gently stroking her shoulder to try and comfort her. “I doubt he’ll be back...” the monk said, as the party heard more feet coming up the hallway. “Great... hope I didn’t speak too soon.”</p><p></p><p>“Nah... that sounds like a woman’s steps,” Shaun said quietly, “not 20 foot tall knock down your house and act like a horned-punk steps.” Despite his expert analysis, Shaun pulled out his rapier, and held it at ready.</p><p></p><p>“Lovely, official sounding description,” Aeron groaned dryly, before he began readying spells, just in case.</p><p></p><p>The steps drew closer and closer... until they seemed to stop just beyond eyesight through the broken down door. Then, the steps resumed, as a tall, gangly man dressed in a sergeant’s uniform of the Imperial Guard peeked his head through the doorway. His skin was slightly bluish.</p><p></p><p>“Anias! Buddy! Pal! We’re so glad to see you!” Shaun rushed forward, grabbing the angel and yanking him into the room. “Diddya hear what kind of stunt Tess pulled?”</p><p></p><p>“Look, I said I was sorry,” the bard growled, her face still wet.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know what in the world happened, but I have never seen so many devils marshalling!” Anias said with a huff, his hands on his sides. “Listen... I talked with higher ups, and you all were right, the staff can’t be destroyed outright. I talked to some of the upper archons, and originally a few solars were supposed to accompany you, but this sudden mess sidetracked them! I tracked you down to make sure you’re... what’s wrong?”</p><p></p><p>“Tess, stop it, they’re not after you! It’s just a show of force!” Aeron groaned as the bard nearly broke down again. “They’re upset, yes! But they aren’t going to invade Sigil! The Lady of Pain would crush them in an instant!”</p><p></p><p>“Why would she think they were...” Anias started, before Shaun launched into an eager and overly descriptive explanation of the events of the past few days. When he finished, Anias nodded his head.</p><p></p><p>“Oh,” the angel said quietly, “that explains many things. Well, I think congratulations are in order Tess!” he grabbed her and wrapped one of his thin, wiry arms around her. “No solar or archon I know of has gotten the Nine Hells this up in arms in years!”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“Dammit!” Siabrey swore under her breath as the gentle rapping noise sounded again from the large doors of the Throne Room. “They won’t go away,” she blew an errant strand of hair from her eyes, “maybe one of us should tramp down there in our birthday suit and tell them to go away.” A mischevious grin danced in her eyes as she looked down on Luke.</p><p></p><p>“Um... I’d much rather both of us just stay here?” he offered, trying to pull her back in. She managed to evade his attempt to grab her, and with a tsking noise, starting to put her clothes on.</p><p></p><p>“Its been three and a half hours... you got bonus minutes,” she grinned. “And I should be getting back... they’re all likely sitting there waiting for me.” She didn’t bother telling him what Tess did... she had precious little time with him, and she saw no reason to cause him worry when he should be having some bliss.</p><p></p><p>“You’re right,” he groaned, making it well known he wasn’t happy with her choice of action. Reluctantly he started dressing as well. “Its too bad there’s a silly Empire to run and save... I’d much rather have a small cottage and spend all my time-“</p><p></p><p>“Sh... loverboy,” she grinned and gave him a kiss. “Help me with my armor...oh!” she suddenly shouted, as her mind jumped to something. “I forgot the gnome!”</p><p></p><p>“What gnome?” Luke asked, confused.</p><p></p><p>“Pyrion! We’re in shirts and trousers... respectable enough!” she pulled away from his grip and dashed to the door of the throne room. She creaked it open slightly, and peered through the crack.</p><p></p><p>“Sorry! Forgot one thing! Can you fetch us the gnome known as Pyrion, and then come back here?” Siabrey asked. Before they could reply, she uttered a quick, “Okay! Thanks! Bye!” and pulled the door shut again.</p><p></p><p>“There! I bought us another fifteen minutes!” she laughed, running at Luke again.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“My my my,” Anias shook his head in astonishment. “We had to pull out some four hundred solars and the like to keep an eye on this... that’s impressive, Tess,” the angel gave a slight grin. “They say there are legions of devils out in the Outlands... and now I know why they’re waiting.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m not steeping outside of this city, unless I head to another plane,” Tess said firmly. “No way!”</p><p></p><p>The room was even more dimly lit now, as Orion had relit the one candle that was recoverable from the pit fiend’s fury. Shaun stood by the doorway, nervously watching the hallway, as Aeron, Geoffrey, Grumki, Hidalas and Vin all stood close around the angel and the bard.</p><p></p><p>“Psst! Hey!” Shaun whispered, suddenly ducking into the room ahead. “Don’t look now, but a horned female is coming up the hall, headed this way!”</p><p></p><p>“Horned? Great... Hieroneous’ piss pot,” Tess swore, earning a sharp glare from the angel. “I want to blast her. I’m tired of this! Can I blast her?”</p><p></p><p>“No, the last time you just ‘blasted’ someone is how you got into this,” Orion said dryly. “She can’t hurt you, and we’ll kindly stand between her and your items so nothing else gets broken.” Tess growled at his observation... she was really tired of this mess... and as long as her friends were here, and no pit fiends thundered through, she felt confident enough to stay out from under the bed.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow"> “Well well well,”</span> a voice echoed from up the hallway, <span style="color: yellow"> “I mean no harm, I merely wish to talk... and I sincerely hope my talk doesn’t end the same way your talk with my sister did...”</span></p><p></p><p><em>Sister?! Oh gods!</em> Tess groaned. Within a few seconds another beautiful woman, same cinnamon brown skin, raven black hair and red eyes ambled into the doorway. Unlike the other, this devil had two small horns above her eyes, and while her wings were smaller, her tail was longer. She bared a brilliant white smile, and to the party’s surprise, extended a hand.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow"> “Thank you for.. distacting my sister Baalphegor for a bit. She thought she could pull a trump card to one up me... but instead she got embarrassed, while I took care of a few of her... minions,</span> the devil grinned. <span style="color: yellow"> “My manners are poor... pardon me... I am Glasya, consort to Mammon and daughter of Asmodeus.”</span></p><p></p><p>“Pleased... to... meet... you?” Shaun stammered, as Anias glowered at her. The devil princess looked at the angel momentarily, then with a laugh, flitted her hair to the side, looking directly at Tess.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow"> “Your friend can stop glowering at me any moment... him wishing for my demise won’t make it happen!”</span> she chuckled. <span style="color: yellow"> “You won’t need your angelic escort much longer anyways... with the help of my consort, my ally Bel and a few other infernal princes, I’ve convinced my father to send the devil legions back home. Don’t thank me yet,” </span> her smile turned icy as she looked at Orion, who still clutched the staff tightly in his hands.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow"> “If we weren’t in Sigil, and the Lady of Pain didn’t look down so highly on stealing artifacts, you would all be dead right now, and I would have the staff. We still desire it... and we’ll find one way or another to relieve it from you. Put in those blunt terms, would you like to hand it over, and save not only us but yourselves the pain of a long, and ultimately boring chase?”</span> her smile faded somewhat. At the party’s silence, she gave a scowl.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow"> “I was prepared to offer you the safety of your person, Tesseron, but seeings that you are... unwilling to cooperate, that offer has become stillborn.”</span> She gave Tess a hard stare. <span style="color: yellow"> “Unwittingly, you assisted me in the politics of the Nine Hells... and for that I am grateful. By not grabbing you and teleporting you back to my father’s palace, I am repaying that debt. Consider it the only repayment. We devils live for an eternity...”</span></p><p></p><p>“And thus your grudges last for an eternity... yadda yadda yadda,” Anias said in annoyance. At her furious look at him, the angel merely shrugged. “What are you going to do, put out a hit on a celestial?” The angel gave a grin, and Glasya stormed out of the room.</p><p></p><p>“Phew,” Tess breathed finally. “So... two Princesses of Hell met, one slain, one angered. What’s that put my score sheet at, Shaun?”</p><p></p><p>“Dumb and dumber,” the rogue replied, also relieved that Glasya had left the room.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The teleportation chamber slowed to a stop, as Siabrey and Pyrion returned to the dingy chamber below the party’s tavern.</p><p></p><p>“Eh, I’ve seen better looking toilets,” the gnome growled. He shifted uneasily under the weight of his equipment.</p><p></p><p>His shifting made Siabrey wistful for a moment. After Pyrion had been fetched, the mages had patiently waited another ten minutes, before softly knocking and calling through the door again. Very reluctantly, Siabrey and Luke had bid each other goodbyes... until Luke saw all the flasks and oil containers she would be carrying, and gallantly offered to take most of them. She’d tried to resist, but his kisses could get her to do wonders.</p><p></p><p>It’d taken many of those to prep her for going back... and she smiled sadly at remembering it was her that had to push him away when they’re departure had been delayed enough. <em>He’s still madly in love with me... despite being Emperor, despite the fact he could dredge up concubines...</em> She was still amazed that he’d not used any concubines during her time away...</p><p></p><p><em>He might have to wait quite a while longer before I return again,</em> she thought sadly as she and the gnome trudged up the stairs... more she trudged, the gnome climbed. The stairs were designed for creatre’s slightly larger than men... a medium between the large mercanes and the smaller humanoids. For poor Pyrion, it was like trying to climb a cliff.</p><p></p><p>“Gah! Maybe I should mount the head of the guy who built this place!” the gnome grumbled as he reached the top stair. Siabrey was right behind him, until she heard him whistle. “Ooo... looks like somebody wasn’t wanted up here!”</p><p></p><p>“Somebody... what?!” Siabrey said in surprise, peeking her head into the hallway. Seeing the room on the far end open, and a few papers and the like strew outside of it, she ran inside... to find everyone clustered around a very tired, very annoyed, and very scared Tess.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It had taken a good ten minutes for everyone to explain what had happened... the pit fiend, Anias’ return, and Glasya’s threats. Siabrey agreed to honor her promise to sleep beside Tess, and the bard, for her part, sang a few notes to form a mobile, extra-dimensional hole, which she proceeded to set on the floor and climb into to sleep.</p><p></p><p>It was some three hours later, in the dead of the night, when both Siabrey and Tess awoke to more steps in the hallway outside of their room. The steps were halting... as if someone was looking for something. Cautiously, Siabrey rose, and crept up towards the awkwardly hanging door that Shaun and Orion had partially remounted. Through the crack between the door and its broken frame, she peered out.</p><p></p><p>She saw an old man, clad in simple, brown robes, making his way up the hall, looking at each door and then an object in his hand... which looked like a key. Siabrey wanted to laugh... it seemed as if the poor fellow couldn’t find his room. But only a second later, his eyes turned and looked not at their door... but at <em>her</em>. And suddenly his gray eyes flashed lavender.</p><p></p><p>For a split second Siabrey’s mind flashed back to an old friend who had lavender eyes... one who had fallen in battle long before. Before her mind could even dismiss this thought, the old man had shuffled with unnatural speed to their door, and looking right at her peeking eye, knocked. Loudly.</p><p></p><p>“Open up! I see you peeking!” his voice cracked. “I need some help finding my room! You young little...” his voice descended into elderly grumbles.</p><p></p><p>“Should I open it?” Siabrey looked back to her friend, and she only saw the top of Tess’ head and the bard’s eyes peering from above the rim of the hole. “Aw, c’mon Tess, its an old man! And if its someone polymorphed as an old man,” Siabrey tapped Kelir, “you don’t have anything to worry about!”</p><p></p><p>“Okay,” the bard said reluctantly. <em>Pit fiends can polymorph... but if Siabrey confronts this one... maybe it won’t assault me or my sense of self preservation so bad...</em></p><p></p><p>Siabrey swung open the door, and before she could say anything, the old man had puttered into the room, and was rumaging through Tess’ broken things.</p><p></p><p>“Tsk tsk tsk... it looks like somebody didn’t like you, young lady,” he turned immediately to Tess, who was half-hanging outside of the hole. This raised alarm bells in Siabrey’s head. <em>How did he know she was the one who was here? And that this is her stuff?</em></p><p></p><p>“What if I told you I was the one people didn’t like, and that is my stuff that a demon destroyed?” Siabrey challenged him. <em>Let’s see if there’s anything fishy about him...</em></p><p></p><p>“I’d say you were a liar,” the old man smiled. “A pit fiend did this... and these items belong to Tesseron Keldare... not Empress Siabrey Sipner,” the old man’s teeth were out of alignment... and Siabrey’s eyes found themselves drawn to the gaps as she considered his words... even more alarmed.</p><p></p><p>“For someone who cannot find his room, you know quite a bit, old man,” Siabrey said guardedly, her hands already traveling towards Kelir’s hilt. “Who are you... and what do you want with us?” <em>If all else fails... bluntness!</em></p><p></p><p>“Ah... who am I?” he ambled over towards her, “Its a question that man, elf, dwarf, and all other races have sought to answer since time began.” His eyes flitted down momentarily towards Siabrey’s hand. “You do not need to draw Kelir, I am a friend,” he grinned again.</p><p></p><p>“You know me, you know her, you know the name of my <em>katana</em>,” Siabrey said, her hand still resting on Kelir’s hilt, “Who are you? You clearly are not the old man your face and body claim to be!”</p><p></p><p>“As to what I am... give me a second,” the old man smiled, and his form seemed to shudder... and then grow. His skin, wrinkled and broken, stretched, and became smoother, younger, more pliant... and a brilliant shade of emerald green.</p><p></p><p>His eyes, previously slate gray, took on the lavender that Siabrey saw for a brief second. His frame, formerly thin and broken, now grew strong, and muscular. His thin strands of white hair melded into his head, until it was gloriously bare. When his transformation was done, two pairs of enormous, feathery wings sprouted from his back, and Tess and Siabrey gasped at the form of a full solar looking down upon them.</p><p></p><p>“As for who I am... I was known by some as Pell. I should like to be known as that again.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1541343, member: 15043"] [b]Noises on Sigil... and A Strange Old Man[/b] “What the hell noises were those?” Shaun shouted at Tess shortly after the pit fiend stormed out. “And whoever your interior decorator was, I’d hire a new one.” “P…Pit F…F…Fiend,” the bard stammered from under her bed. “Oh great,” Shaun rolled his eyes as other party members arrived. “Hey guys, she got visited by a Pit Fiend. Other than scaring Pelor’s Ghost out of you, did he hurt you at all?” “N... no,” Tess stammered, taking his hand when he offered it. Gently, the rogue guided her from under the bed. Once she was standing, he gave her a reassuring hug. “Well... I say the next one that comes, Tess... just sing that really shrill note you love and make his head explode, ‘k?” Shaun whispered in her ear. The bard laughed nervously... which was far better than her crying shamelessly. “Tess, I’ll stay here with you, and I’m sure the others will too,” Orion said, gently stroking her shoulder to try and comfort her. “I doubt he’ll be back...” the monk said, as the party heard more feet coming up the hallway. “Great... hope I didn’t speak too soon.” “Nah... that sounds like a woman’s steps,” Shaun said quietly, “not 20 foot tall knock down your house and act like a horned-punk steps.” Despite his expert analysis, Shaun pulled out his rapier, and held it at ready. “Lovely, official sounding description,” Aeron groaned dryly, before he began readying spells, just in case. The steps drew closer and closer... until they seemed to stop just beyond eyesight through the broken down door. Then, the steps resumed, as a tall, gangly man dressed in a sergeant’s uniform of the Imperial Guard peeked his head through the doorway. His skin was slightly bluish. “Anias! Buddy! Pal! We’re so glad to see you!” Shaun rushed forward, grabbing the angel and yanking him into the room. “Diddya hear what kind of stunt Tess pulled?” “Look, I said I was sorry,” the bard growled, her face still wet. “I don’t know what in the world happened, but I have never seen so many devils marshalling!” Anias said with a huff, his hands on his sides. “Listen... I talked with higher ups, and you all were right, the staff can’t be destroyed outright. I talked to some of the upper archons, and originally a few solars were supposed to accompany you, but this sudden mess sidetracked them! I tracked you down to make sure you’re... what’s wrong?” “Tess, stop it, they’re not after you! It’s just a show of force!” Aeron groaned as the bard nearly broke down again. “They’re upset, yes! But they aren’t going to invade Sigil! The Lady of Pain would crush them in an instant!” “Why would she think they were...” Anias started, before Shaun launched into an eager and overly descriptive explanation of the events of the past few days. When he finished, Anias nodded his head. “Oh,” the angel said quietly, “that explains many things. Well, I think congratulations are in order Tess!” he grabbed her and wrapped one of his thin, wiry arms around her. “No solar or archon I know of has gotten the Nine Hells this up in arms in years!” “Dammit!” Siabrey swore under her breath as the gentle rapping noise sounded again from the large doors of the Throne Room. “They won’t go away,” she blew an errant strand of hair from her eyes, “maybe one of us should tramp down there in our birthday suit and tell them to go away.” A mischevious grin danced in her eyes as she looked down on Luke. “Um... I’d much rather both of us just stay here?” he offered, trying to pull her back in. She managed to evade his attempt to grab her, and with a tsking noise, starting to put her clothes on. “Its been three and a half hours... you got bonus minutes,” she grinned. “And I should be getting back... they’re all likely sitting there waiting for me.” She didn’t bother telling him what Tess did... she had precious little time with him, and she saw no reason to cause him worry when he should be having some bliss. “You’re right,” he groaned, making it well known he wasn’t happy with her choice of action. Reluctantly he started dressing as well. “Its too bad there’s a silly Empire to run and save... I’d much rather have a small cottage and spend all my time-“ “Sh... loverboy,” she grinned and gave him a kiss. “Help me with my armor...oh!” she suddenly shouted, as her mind jumped to something. “I forgot the gnome!” “What gnome?” Luke asked, confused. “Pyrion! We’re in shirts and trousers... respectable enough!” she pulled away from his grip and dashed to the door of the throne room. She creaked it open slightly, and peered through the crack. “Sorry! Forgot one thing! Can you fetch us the gnome known as Pyrion, and then come back here?” Siabrey asked. Before they could reply, she uttered a quick, “Okay! Thanks! Bye!” and pulled the door shut again. “There! I bought us another fifteen minutes!” she laughed, running at Luke again. “My my my,” Anias shook his head in astonishment. “We had to pull out some four hundred solars and the like to keep an eye on this... that’s impressive, Tess,” the angel gave a slight grin. “They say there are legions of devils out in the Outlands... and now I know why they’re waiting.” “I’m not steeping outside of this city, unless I head to another plane,” Tess said firmly. “No way!” The room was even more dimly lit now, as Orion had relit the one candle that was recoverable from the pit fiend’s fury. Shaun stood by the doorway, nervously watching the hallway, as Aeron, Geoffrey, Grumki, Hidalas and Vin all stood close around the angel and the bard. “Psst! Hey!” Shaun whispered, suddenly ducking into the room ahead. “Don’t look now, but a horned female is coming up the hall, headed this way!” “Horned? Great... Hieroneous’ piss pot,” Tess swore, earning a sharp glare from the angel. “I want to blast her. I’m tired of this! Can I blast her?” “No, the last time you just ‘blasted’ someone is how you got into this,” Orion said dryly. “She can’t hurt you, and we’ll kindly stand between her and your items so nothing else gets broken.” Tess growled at his observation... she was really tired of this mess... and as long as her friends were here, and no pit fiends thundered through, she felt confident enough to stay out from under the bed. [color=yellow] “Well well well,”[/color] a voice echoed from up the hallway, [color=yellow] “I mean no harm, I merely wish to talk... and I sincerely hope my talk doesn’t end the same way your talk with my sister did...”[/color] [i]Sister?! Oh gods![/i] Tess groaned. Within a few seconds another beautiful woman, same cinnamon brown skin, raven black hair and red eyes ambled into the doorway. Unlike the other, this devil had two small horns above her eyes, and while her wings were smaller, her tail was longer. She bared a brilliant white smile, and to the party’s surprise, extended a hand. [color=yellow] “Thank you for.. distacting my sister Baalphegor for a bit. She thought she could pull a trump card to one up me... but instead she got embarrassed, while I took care of a few of her... minions,[/color] the devil grinned. [color=yellow] “My manners are poor... pardon me... I am Glasya, consort to Mammon and daughter of Asmodeus.”[/color] “Pleased... to... meet... you?” Shaun stammered, as Anias glowered at her. The devil princess looked at the angel momentarily, then with a laugh, flitted her hair to the side, looking directly at Tess. [color=yellow] “Your friend can stop glowering at me any moment... him wishing for my demise won’t make it happen!”[/color] she chuckled. [color=yellow] “You won’t need your angelic escort much longer anyways... with the help of my consort, my ally Bel and a few other infernal princes, I’ve convinced my father to send the devil legions back home. Don’t thank me yet,” [/color] her smile turned icy as she looked at Orion, who still clutched the staff tightly in his hands. [color=yellow] “If we weren’t in Sigil, and the Lady of Pain didn’t look down so highly on stealing artifacts, you would all be dead right now, and I would have the staff. We still desire it... and we’ll find one way or another to relieve it from you. Put in those blunt terms, would you like to hand it over, and save not only us but yourselves the pain of a long, and ultimately boring chase?”[/color] her smile faded somewhat. At the party’s silence, she gave a scowl. [color=yellow] “I was prepared to offer you the safety of your person, Tesseron, but seeings that you are... unwilling to cooperate, that offer has become stillborn.”[/color] She gave Tess a hard stare. [color=yellow] “Unwittingly, you assisted me in the politics of the Nine Hells... and for that I am grateful. By not grabbing you and teleporting you back to my father’s palace, I am repaying that debt. Consider it the only repayment. We devils live for an eternity...”[/color] “And thus your grudges last for an eternity... yadda yadda yadda,” Anias said in annoyance. At her furious look at him, the angel merely shrugged. “What are you going to do, put out a hit on a celestial?” The angel gave a grin, and Glasya stormed out of the room. “Phew,” Tess breathed finally. “So... two Princesses of Hell met, one slain, one angered. What’s that put my score sheet at, Shaun?” “Dumb and dumber,” the rogue replied, also relieved that Glasya had left the room. The teleportation chamber slowed to a stop, as Siabrey and Pyrion returned to the dingy chamber below the party’s tavern. “Eh, I’ve seen better looking toilets,” the gnome growled. He shifted uneasily under the weight of his equipment. His shifting made Siabrey wistful for a moment. After Pyrion had been fetched, the mages had patiently waited another ten minutes, before softly knocking and calling through the door again. Very reluctantly, Siabrey and Luke had bid each other goodbyes... until Luke saw all the flasks and oil containers she would be carrying, and gallantly offered to take most of them. She’d tried to resist, but his kisses could get her to do wonders. It’d taken many of those to prep her for going back... and she smiled sadly at remembering it was her that had to push him away when they’re departure had been delayed enough. [i]He’s still madly in love with me... despite being Emperor, despite the fact he could dredge up concubines...[/i] She was still amazed that he’d not used any concubines during her time away... [i]He might have to wait quite a while longer before I return again,[/i] she thought sadly as she and the gnome trudged up the stairs... more she trudged, the gnome climbed. The stairs were designed for creatre’s slightly larger than men... a medium between the large mercanes and the smaller humanoids. For poor Pyrion, it was like trying to climb a cliff. “Gah! Maybe I should mount the head of the guy who built this place!” the gnome grumbled as he reached the top stair. Siabrey was right behind him, until she heard him whistle. “Ooo... looks like somebody wasn’t wanted up here!” “Somebody... what?!” Siabrey said in surprise, peeking her head into the hallway. Seeing the room on the far end open, and a few papers and the like strew outside of it, she ran inside... to find everyone clustered around a very tired, very annoyed, and very scared Tess. It had taken a good ten minutes for everyone to explain what had happened... the pit fiend, Anias’ return, and Glasya’s threats. Siabrey agreed to honor her promise to sleep beside Tess, and the bard, for her part, sang a few notes to form a mobile, extra-dimensional hole, which she proceeded to set on the floor and climb into to sleep. It was some three hours later, in the dead of the night, when both Siabrey and Tess awoke to more steps in the hallway outside of their room. The steps were halting... as if someone was looking for something. Cautiously, Siabrey rose, and crept up towards the awkwardly hanging door that Shaun and Orion had partially remounted. Through the crack between the door and its broken frame, she peered out. She saw an old man, clad in simple, brown robes, making his way up the hall, looking at each door and then an object in his hand... which looked like a key. Siabrey wanted to laugh... it seemed as if the poor fellow couldn’t find his room. But only a second later, his eyes turned and looked not at their door... but at [i]her[/i]. And suddenly his gray eyes flashed lavender. For a split second Siabrey’s mind flashed back to an old friend who had lavender eyes... one who had fallen in battle long before. Before her mind could even dismiss this thought, the old man had shuffled with unnatural speed to their door, and looking right at her peeking eye, knocked. Loudly. “Open up! I see you peeking!” his voice cracked. “I need some help finding my room! You young little...” his voice descended into elderly grumbles. “Should I open it?” Siabrey looked back to her friend, and she only saw the top of Tess’ head and the bard’s eyes peering from above the rim of the hole. “Aw, c’mon Tess, its an old man! And if its someone polymorphed as an old man,” Siabrey tapped Kelir, “you don’t have anything to worry about!” “Okay,” the bard said reluctantly. [i]Pit fiends can polymorph... but if Siabrey confronts this one... maybe it won’t assault me or my sense of self preservation so bad...[/i] Siabrey swung open the door, and before she could say anything, the old man had puttered into the room, and was rumaging through Tess’ broken things. “Tsk tsk tsk... it looks like somebody didn’t like you, young lady,” he turned immediately to Tess, who was half-hanging outside of the hole. This raised alarm bells in Siabrey’s head. [i]How did he know she was the one who was here? And that this is her stuff?[/i] “What if I told you I was the one people didn’t like, and that is my stuff that a demon destroyed?” Siabrey challenged him. [i]Let’s see if there’s anything fishy about him...[/i] “I’d say you were a liar,” the old man smiled. “A pit fiend did this... and these items belong to Tesseron Keldare... not Empress Siabrey Sipner,” the old man’s teeth were out of alignment... and Siabrey’s eyes found themselves drawn to the gaps as she considered his words... even more alarmed. “For someone who cannot find his room, you know quite a bit, old man,” Siabrey said guardedly, her hands already traveling towards Kelir’s hilt. “Who are you... and what do you want with us?” [i]If all else fails... bluntness![/i] “Ah... who am I?” he ambled over towards her, “Its a question that man, elf, dwarf, and all other races have sought to answer since time began.” His eyes flitted down momentarily towards Siabrey’s hand. “You do not need to draw Kelir, I am a friend,” he grinned again. “You know me, you know her, you know the name of my [i]katana[/i],” Siabrey said, her hand still resting on Kelir’s hilt, “Who are you? You clearly are not the old man your face and body claim to be!” “As to what I am... give me a second,” the old man smiled, and his form seemed to shudder... and then grow. His skin, wrinkled and broken, stretched, and became smoother, younger, more pliant... and a brilliant shade of emerald green. His eyes, previously slate gray, took on the lavender that Siabrey saw for a brief second. His frame, formerly thin and broken, now grew strong, and muscular. His thin strands of white hair melded into his head, until it was gloriously bare. When his transformation was done, two pairs of enormous, feathery wings sprouted from his back, and Tess and Siabrey gasped at the form of a full solar looking down upon them. “As for who I am... I was known by some as Pell. I should like to be known as that again.” [/QUOTE]
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