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<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3627432" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p><strong>Chapter Eleven: KILLING THE ROOTS AND ALL</strong></p><p></p><p>Ischarus continued to embrace Charis and his wife for several more seconds. He didn’t speak until he heard his wife let out a small cough from just above the carpet floor. Immediately he let his grip slacken to give her room to breathe. <span style="color: Lightblue">“Rhema? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis also slipped away from her position of protecting her helpless form. She knelt beside her recovering friend and began to use her hand to feel several places of Rhema’s skin. She was checking Rhema’s temperature and looking for places of bruising or perhaps even infection.</p><p></p><p>Rhema didn’t understand Ischarus’ comments at all. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Sorry for what, Ischarus? We all still seem to be alive. It couldn’t have been that bad.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus began to speak, but Charis caught his eye and made him hold his tongue. Instead, she took a turn to speak. <span style="color: Orange">“Rhema, you’ve hit your head pretty badly, and there is a little swelling. That will eventually go away. I think you’ve had a pretty rough couple of minutes, and I think we’d be wise to let you come back to your senses before telling you about the fight that you missed, don’t you?”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus smiled, but it was clear that he wasn’t pleased with Charis’ assertion. He knew that it was the wise course of action, but he didn’t like knowing that he was going to have to carry around the burden of his guilt until Rhema was in a better position to hear about his deeds. He sighed, and wordlessly stroked his wife’s hair. There was no need to bring her to a standing position until the party figured out what was happening next.</p><p></p><p>Charis rose to her feet and moved to check on Ophee. She had seen Ophee pass out upon the dismissal of the succubus, but was more concerned with the immediate urgency of making sure that Rhema was going to recover from Ophee’s spell. She assumed that Ophee had not suffered any injuries from the banishment of the succubus, and when she arrived to check on her she found that she was correct. Ophee was in good condition, simply unconscious.</p><p></p><p>The Wizard’s College guard, who had turned herself into a citrine dragon, now turned her draconic head to look towards the closest wall. Her gaze was right above where Ophee had fallen and Charis currently knelt. The dragon appeared to be listening to an inaudible voice because it then nodded several times and mentally dismissed the spell that kept her in dragon form. Her body reversed the process it had undergone to place her into the dragon form and in a matter of seconds she had reverted back into a typical Wizard’s College guard.</p><p></p><p>The party hadn’t had the time to observe her before, but now that they were away from the stress of the fight they had better time to examine her. She was nearly as tall as a typical human woman, but her facial features were much more defined like those of an elf. Her golden hair and her blended green and yellow eyes also spoke of a mixed lineage. When she spoke after dismissing the spell, her voice was in stark contrast compared to the draconic voice that she had used as a citrine dragon. <span style="color: Lime">“You have been a great help in stopping a great evil. Your service to our college is highly appreciated, but I am afraid that we must ask you to leave now that your business here is concluded.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion’s glance turned away from his routine observation of his friends laying and kneeling upon the floor. His eyebrows wrinkled together as he heard the words and a look of shock flashed through his eyes and lips. <span style="color: Plum">“What? You are asking us to leave? Without us, you wouldn’t have even known that your colleague was even a threat!”</span></p><p></p><p>Master Searthu continued the argument. <span style="color: Lime">“Indeed. I know that you all in the Wizard’s College are highly secretive about your methods of teaching magic. But even taking that into consideration your request is simply illogical, especially for wizards. We’re not sure that the succubus’ influence has been dealt with. We’re not sure that the effects of the Arum Dracunculus have been effectively stopped. For that matter, you all don’t seem to even care that the Arum Dracunculus had been used at all!”</span></p><p></p><p>One of the invisible Wizard’s College guards allowed the spell of invisibility to lose effectiveness. He appeared in the position that the first guard had looked while in the form of the citrine dragon. <span style="color: Lime">“I understand your desire to remain here and find your answers, but you must understand that your presence simply is not allowed. You cannot deny that the only reason that you are standing where you are now is from a series of illegal transports through a security system that was designed to keep you out. In spite of your helpfulness, the fact remains that you are guilty of trespassing. We have the right to ask you to leave.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion continued the argument. In spite of disagreeing with their conclusions, he couldn’t deny feeling a certain kinship to the Wizard’s College guards and their desire for keeping their methods secret. <span style="color: Plum">“Don’t get me wrong. I’m the first one to appreciate the privacy and intimacy of the study of magic. I know that I was taught my abilities by a master who would no doubt be considered a renegade by your terms, but even my master made me understand the importance of knowing to whom you are showing your magic.”</span> </p><p></p><p>He turned so that his shoulders stood open to his friends. <span style="color: Plum">“But are you blind to what just happened here? In an attempt to save you all from a threat that you didn’t even know was in your midst, I almost lost a wife and a few friends. For Reah’s sake, how can you possibly ask us to leave considering the sacrifice we were willing to make for your protection? We’re not asking to stay and observe the teaching of your magic. We are asking to be allowed to stay and find answers regarding how far the plan of the wizard – or perhaps the succubus – had spread throughout the land.”</span></p><p></p><p>The female Wizard’s College guard focused upon Semeion as he invoked Reah’s name. <span style="color: Lime">“That is twice that you all have made mention of Reah since you have entered the Wizard’s College.”</span> She turned to where her now visible colleague stood and paused for several seconds before finishing her thought. <span style="color: Lime">“Very well, we will allow you to stay here in these quarters. You must agree to not venture out into the remainder of the Wizard’s College. You may search for your answers here and here alone.”</span></p><p></p><p>Master Brandt frowned, but nodded in agreement. <span style="color: Lime">“So long as you two are willing to stay and answer our questions honestly …”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus lifted his head to the discussion for the first time since collapsing from fear of what he almost unwillingly accomplished. Up until now he had been listening, but his eyes were glued to Rhema’s face. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Three, Brandt. There are three.”</span></p><p></p><p>Brandt and Semeion exchanged confused looks and turned their expressions back to the female guard. They didn’t need to say anything; their look of disapproval spoke volumes to the guard. Brandt lifted an eyebrow in anticipation of an answer.</p><p></p><p>The female guard looked again in the direction of the now visible guard. She breathed in a deep breath and nodded. As with the other guard who had turned himself invisible, the third guard let go of the protective spell of invisibility and materialized before the party. Once he was visible, he addressed the party. As he spoke, his hands and arms opened in a gesture of welcoming. <span style="color: Lime">“Very well. We can answer your questions, assuming that you agree to our terms as stated. You will be satisfied with our answers, and if you are not satisfied you will be patient while we try to find deeper answers. You will not leave these quarters.”</span></p><p></p><p>Brandt looked to Master Searthu and received an encouraging nod. <span style="color: Lime">“That is acceptable.”</span></p><p></p><p>The most recently appearing of the guards continued to speak. <span style="color: Lime">“And, since you have dealt with the threat that caused you to violate our policy of secrecy we must also ask one other stipulation. When you decide to leave, you may teleport out of the Wizard’s College. But then you may not return except by adhering to the proper channels of addressing the Wizard’s College. In the future, all visits must be prearranged. We will be willing to discuss future inquiries, but once you leave you will not be permitted to return through the use of magic without us considering it an act of aggression.”</span></p><p></p><p>Master Searthu smiled deceptively and allowed a slight chuckle to interfere with his normal breathing through his nose. <span style="color: Lime">“Of course. We would actually expect nothing different. We get rather upset when people use magic to appear in the midst of our temple, it is only fair to allow you to reciprocate that feeling. And assuming that one of you will be able to be contacted so that we can arrange further inquiries …”</span></p><p></p><p>The female Wizard’s College guard threw up her left hand in disgust. <span style="color: Lime">“Of course. Must we continue on with all these stipulations? I’d personally rather get to the business at hand so that we can purge this abomination’s influence from our college. Can we just agree that we will respond civilly toward each other and move along?”</span></p><p></p><p>Brandt and Semeion exchanged smiles. They knew wizards, and each of them had immediately come up with a sarcastic rebuttal in their mind. Yet, this was no longer the time or the place for sarcasm. If they were to move forward, it would need to be done in honest and respectful relations with one another.</p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]</p><p><strong>Chapter Eleven: KILLING THE ROOTS AND ALL</strong></p><p></p><p>Ischarus continued to embrace Charis and his wife for several more seconds. He didn’t speak until he heard his wife let out a small cough from just above the carpet floor. Immediatemely he let his grip slacken to give her room to breathe. “Rhema? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”</p><p></p><p>Charis also slipped away from her position of protecting her helpless form. She knelt beside her recovering friend and began to use her hand to feel several places of Rhema’s skin. She was checking Rhema’s temperature and looking for places of bruising or perhaps even infection.</p><p></p><p>Rhema didn’t understand Ischarus’ comments at all. “Sorry for what, Ischarus? We all still seem to be alive. It couldn’t have been that bad.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus began to speak, but Charis caught his eye and made him hold his tongue. Instead, she took a turn to speak. “Rhema, you’ve hit your head pretty badly, and there is a little swelling. That will eventually go away. I think you’ve had a pretty rough couple of minutes, and I think we’d be wise to let you come back to your senses before telling you about the fight that you missed, don’t you?”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus smiled, but it was clear that he wasn’t pleased with Charis’ assertion. He knew that it was the wise course of action, but he didn’t like knowing that he was going to have to carry around the burden of his guilt until Rhema was in a better position to hear about his deeds. He sighed, and wordlessly stroked his wife’s hair. There was no need to bring her to a standing position until the party figured out what was happening next.</p><p></p><p>Charis rose to her feet and moved to check on Ophee. She had seen Ophee pass out upon the dismissal of the succubus, but was more concerned with the immediate urgency of making sure that Rhema was going to recover from Ophee’s spell. She assumed that Ophee had not suffered any injuries from the dbanishment of the succubus, and when she arrived to check on her she found that she was correct. Ophee was in good condition, simply unconscious.</p><p></p><p>The Wizard’s College guard, who had turned herself into a citrine dragon, now turned her draconic head to look towards the closest wall. Her gaze was right above where Ophee had fallen and Charis currently knelt. The dragon appeared to be listening to an inaudible voice because it then nodded several times and mentally dismissed the spell that kept her in dragon form. Her body reversed the process it had undergone to place her into the dragon form and in a matter of seconds she had reverted back into a typical Wizard’s College guard.</p><p></p><p>The party hadn’t had the time to observe her before, but now that they were away from the stress of the fight they had better time to examine her. She was nearly as tall as a typical human woman, but her facial features were much more defined like those of an elf. Her golden hair and her blended green and yellow eyes also spoke of a mixed lineage. When she spoke after dismissing the spell, her voice was in stark contrast compared to the draconic voice that she had used as a citrine dragon. “You have been a great help in stopping a great evil. Your service to our college is highly appreciated, but I am afraid that we must ask you to leave now that your business here is concluded.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion’s glance turned away from his routine observation of his friends laying and kneeling upon the floor. His eyebrows wrinkled together as he heard the words and a look of shock flashed through his eyes and lips. “What? You are asking us to leave? Without us, you wouldn’t have even known that your colleague was even a threat!”</p><p></p><p>Master Searthu continued the argument. “Indeed. I know that you all in the Wizard’s College are highly secretive about your methods of teaching magic. But even taking that into consideration your request is simply illogical, especially for wizards. We’re not sure that the succubus’ influence has been dealt with. We’re not sure that the effects of the Arum Dracunculus have been effectively stopped. For that matter, you all don’t seem to even care that the Arum Dracunculus had been used at all!”</p><p></p><p>One of the invisible Wizard’s College guards allowed the spell of invisibility to lose effectiveness. He appeared in the position that the first guard had looked while in the form of the citrine dragon. “I understand your desire to remain here and find your answers, but you must understand that your presence simply is not allowed. You cannot deny that the only reason that you are standing where you are now is from a series of illegal transports through a security system that was designed to keep you out. In spite of your helpfulness, the fact remains that you are guilty of trespassing. We have the right to ask you to leave.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion continued the argument. In spite of disagreeing with their conclusions, he couldn’t deny feeling a certain kinship to the Wizard’s College guards and their desire for keeping their methods secret. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m the first one to appreciate the privacy and intimacy of the study of magic. I know that I was taught my abilities by a master who would no doubt be considered a renegade by your terms, but even my master made me understand the importance of knowing to whom you are showing your magic.” He turned so that his shoulders stood open to his friends. “But are you blind to what just happened here? In an attempt to save you all from a threat that you didn’t even know was in your midst, I almost lost a wife and a few friends. For Reah’s sake, how can you possibly ask us to leave considering the sacrifice we were willing to make for your protection? We’re not asking to stay and observe the teaching of your magic. We are asking to be allowed to stay and find answers regarding how far the plan of the wizard – or perhaps the succubus – had spread throughout the land.”</p><p></p><p>The female Wizard’s College guard focused upon Semeion as he invoked Reah’s name. “That is twice that you all have made mention of Reah since you have entered the Wizard’s College.” She turned to where her now visible colleague stood and paused for several seconds before finishing her thought. “Very well, we will allow you to stay here in these quarters. You must agree to not venture out into the remainder of the Wizard’s College. You may search for your answers here and here alone.”</p><p></p><p>Master Brandt frowned, but nodded in agreement. “So long as you two are willing to stay and answer our questions honestly …”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus lifted his head to the discussion for the first time since collapsing from fear of what he almost unwillingly accomplished. Up until now he had been listening, but his eyes were glued to Rhema’s face. “Three, Brandt. There are three.”</p><p></p><p>Brandt and Semeion exchanged confused looks and turned their expressions back to the female guard. They didn’t need to say anything; their look of disapproval spoke volumes to the guard. Brandt lifted an eyebrow in anticipation of an answer.</p><p></p><p>The female guard looked again in the direction of the now visible guard. She breathed in a deep breath and nodded. As with the other guard who had turned himself invisible, the third guard let go of the protective spell of invisibility and materialized before the party. Once he was visible, he addressed the party. As he spoke, his hands and arms opened in a gesture of welcoming. “Very well. We can answer your questions, assuming that you agree to our terms as stated. You will be satisfied with our answers, and if you are not satisfied you will be patient while we try to find deeper answers. You will not leave these quarters.”</p><p></p><p>Brandt looked to Master Searthu and received an encouraging nod. “That is acceptable.”</p><p></p><p>The most recently appearing of the guards continued to speak. “And, since you have dealt with the threat that caused you to violate our policy of secrecy we must also ask one other stipulation. When you decide to leave, you may teleport out of the Wizard’s College. But then you may not return except by adhering to the proper channels of addressing the Wizard’s College. In the future, all visits must be prearranged. We will be willing to discuss future inquiries, but once you leave you will not be permitted to return through the use of magic without us considering it an act of aggression.”</p><p></p><p>Master Searthu smiled deceptively and allowed a slight chuckle to interfere with his normal breathing through his nose. “Of course. We would actually expect nothing different. We get rather upset when people use magic to appear in the midst of our temple, it is only fair to allow you to reciprocate that feeling. And assuming that one of you will be able to be contacted so that we can arrange further inquiries …”</p><p></p><p>The female Wizard’s College guard threw up her left hand in disgust. “Of course. Must we continue on with all these stipulations? I’d personally rather get to the business at hand so that we can purge this abomination’s influence from our college. Can we just agree that we will respond civilly toward each other and move along?”</p><p></p><p>Brandt and Semeion exchanged smiles. They knew wizards, and each of them had immediately come up with a sarcastic rebuttal in their mind. Yet, this was no longer the time or the place for sarcasm. If they were to move forward, it would need to be done in honest and respectful relations with one another.</p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 3627432, member: 35788"] [B]Chapter Eleven: KILLING THE ROOTS AND ALL[/B] Ischarus continued to embrace Charis and his wife for several more seconds. He didn’t speak until he heard his wife let out a small cough from just above the carpet floor. Immediately he let his grip slacken to give her room to breathe. [Color=Lightblue]“Rhema? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”[/Color] Charis also slipped away from her position of protecting her helpless form. She knelt beside her recovering friend and began to use her hand to feel several places of Rhema’s skin. She was checking Rhema’s temperature and looking for places of bruising or perhaps even infection. Rhema didn’t understand Ischarus’ comments at all. [Color=PaleGreen]“Sorry for what, Ischarus? We all still seem to be alive. It couldn’t have been that bad.”[/Color] Ischarus began to speak, but Charis caught his eye and made him hold his tongue. Instead, she took a turn to speak. [Color=Orange]“Rhema, you’ve hit your head pretty badly, and there is a little swelling. That will eventually go away. I think you’ve had a pretty rough couple of minutes, and I think we’d be wise to let you come back to your senses before telling you about the fight that you missed, don’t you?”[/Color] Ischarus smiled, but it was clear that he wasn’t pleased with Charis’ assertion. He knew that it was the wise course of action, but he didn’t like knowing that he was going to have to carry around the burden of his guilt until Rhema was in a better position to hear about his deeds. He sighed, and wordlessly stroked his wife’s hair. There was no need to bring her to a standing position until the party figured out what was happening next. Charis rose to her feet and moved to check on Ophee. She had seen Ophee pass out upon the dismissal of the succubus, but was more concerned with the immediate urgency of making sure that Rhema was going to recover from Ophee’s spell. She assumed that Ophee had not suffered any injuries from the banishment of the succubus, and when she arrived to check on her she found that she was correct. Ophee was in good condition, simply unconscious. The Wizard’s College guard, who had turned herself into a citrine dragon, now turned her draconic head to look towards the closest wall. Her gaze was right above where Ophee had fallen and Charis currently knelt. The dragon appeared to be listening to an inaudible voice because it then nodded several times and mentally dismissed the spell that kept her in dragon form. Her body reversed the process it had undergone to place her into the dragon form and in a matter of seconds she had reverted back into a typical Wizard’s College guard. The party hadn’t had the time to observe her before, but now that they were away from the stress of the fight they had better time to examine her. She was nearly as tall as a typical human woman, but her facial features were much more defined like those of an elf. Her golden hair and her blended green and yellow eyes also spoke of a mixed lineage. When she spoke after dismissing the spell, her voice was in stark contrast compared to the draconic voice that she had used as a citrine dragon. [Color=Lime]“You have been a great help in stopping a great evil. Your service to our college is highly appreciated, but I am afraid that we must ask you to leave now that your business here is concluded.”[/Color] Semeion’s glance turned away from his routine observation of his friends laying and kneeling upon the floor. His eyebrows wrinkled together as he heard the words and a look of shock flashed through his eyes and lips. [Color=Plum]“What? You are asking us to leave? Without us, you wouldn’t have even known that your colleague was even a threat!”[/Color] Master Searthu continued the argument. [Color=Lime]“Indeed. I know that you all in the Wizard’s College are highly secretive about your methods of teaching magic. But even taking that into consideration your request is simply illogical, especially for wizards. We’re not sure that the succubus’ influence has been dealt with. We’re not sure that the effects of the Arum Dracunculus have been effectively stopped. For that matter, you all don’t seem to even care that the Arum Dracunculus had been used at all!”[/Color] One of the invisible Wizard’s College guards allowed the spell of invisibility to lose effectiveness. He appeared in the position that the first guard had looked while in the form of the citrine dragon. [Color=Lime]“I understand your desire to remain here and find your answers, but you must understand that your presence simply is not allowed. You cannot deny that the only reason that you are standing where you are now is from a series of illegal transports through a security system that was designed to keep you out. In spite of your helpfulness, the fact remains that you are guilty of trespassing. We have the right to ask you to leave.”[/Color] Semeion continued the argument. In spite of disagreeing with their conclusions, he couldn’t deny feeling a certain kinship to the Wizard’s College guards and their desire for keeping their methods secret. [Color=Plum]“Don’t get me wrong. I’m the first one to appreciate the privacy and intimacy of the study of magic. I know that I was taught my abilities by a master who would no doubt be considered a renegade by your terms, but even my master made me understand the importance of knowing to whom you are showing your magic.”[/Color] He turned so that his shoulders stood open to his friends. [Color=Plum]“But are you blind to what just happened here? In an attempt to save you all from a threat that you didn’t even know was in your midst, I almost lost a wife and a few friends. For Reah’s sake, how can you possibly ask us to leave considering the sacrifice we were willing to make for your protection? We’re not asking to stay and observe the teaching of your magic. We are asking to be allowed to stay and find answers regarding how far the plan of the wizard – or perhaps the succubus – had spread throughout the land.”[/Color] The female Wizard’s College guard focused upon Semeion as he invoked Reah’s name. [Color=Lime]“That is twice that you all have made mention of Reah since you have entered the Wizard’s College.”[/Color] She turned to where her now visible colleague stood and paused for several seconds before finishing her thought. [Color=Lime]“Very well, we will allow you to stay here in these quarters. You must agree to not venture out into the remainder of the Wizard’s College. You may search for your answers here and here alone.”[/Color] Master Brandt frowned, but nodded in agreement. [Color=Lime]“So long as you two are willing to stay and answer our questions honestly …”[/Color] Ischarus lifted his head to the discussion for the first time since collapsing from fear of what he almost unwillingly accomplished. Up until now he had been listening, but his eyes were glued to Rhema’s face. [Color=LightBlue]“Three, Brandt. There are three.”[/Color] Brandt and Semeion exchanged confused looks and turned their expressions back to the female guard. They didn’t need to say anything; their look of disapproval spoke volumes to the guard. Brandt lifted an eyebrow in anticipation of an answer. The female guard looked again in the direction of the now visible guard. She breathed in a deep breath and nodded. As with the other guard who had turned himself invisible, the third guard let go of the protective spell of invisibility and materialized before the party. Once he was visible, he addressed the party. As he spoke, his hands and arms opened in a gesture of welcoming. [Color=Lime]“Very well. We can answer your questions, assuming that you agree to our terms as stated. You will be satisfied with our answers, and if you are not satisfied you will be patient while we try to find deeper answers. You will not leave these quarters.”[/Color] Brandt looked to Master Searthu and received an encouraging nod. [Color=Lime]“That is acceptable.”[/Color] The most recently appearing of the guards continued to speak. [Color=Lime]“And, since you have dealt with the threat that caused you to violate our policy of secrecy we must also ask one other stipulation. When you decide to leave, you may teleport out of the Wizard’s College. But then you may not return except by adhering to the proper channels of addressing the Wizard’s College. In the future, all visits must be prearranged. We will be willing to discuss future inquiries, but once you leave you will not be permitted to return through the use of magic without us considering it an act of aggression.”[/Color] Master Searthu smiled deceptively and allowed a slight chuckle to interfere with his normal breathing through his nose. [Color=Lime]“Of course. We would actually expect nothing different. We get rather upset when people use magic to appear in the midst of our temple, it is only fair to allow you to reciprocate that feeling. And assuming that one of you will be able to be contacted so that we can arrange further inquiries …”[/Color] The female Wizard’s College guard threw up her left hand in disgust. [Color=Lime]“Of course. Must we continue on with all these stipulations? I’d personally rather get to the business at hand so that we can purge this abomination’s influence from our college. Can we just agree that we will respond civilly toward each other and move along?”[/Color] Brandt and Semeion exchanged smiles. They knew wizards, and each of them had immediately come up with a sarcastic rebuttal in their mind. Yet, this was no longer the time or the place for sarcasm. If they were to move forward, it would need to be done in honest and respectful relations with one another. [Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section] [B]Chapter Eleven: KILLING THE ROOTS AND ALL[/B] Ischarus continued to embrace Charis and his wife for several more seconds. He didn’t speak until he heard his wife let out a small cough from just above the carpet floor. Immediatemely he let his grip slacken to give her room to breathe. “Rhema? I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.” Charis also slipped away from her position of protecting her helpless form. She knelt beside her recovering friend and began to use her hand to feel several places of Rhema’s skin. She was checking Rhema’s temperature and looking for places of bruising or perhaps even infection. Rhema didn’t understand Ischarus’ comments at all. “Sorry for what, Ischarus? We all still seem to be alive. It couldn’t have been that bad.” Ischarus began to speak, but Charis caught his eye and made him hold his tongue. Instead, she took a turn to speak. “Rhema, you’ve hit your head pretty badly, and there is a little swelling. That will eventually go away. I think you’ve had a pretty rough couple of minutes, and I think we’d be wise to let you come back to your senses before telling you about the fight that you missed, don’t you?” Ischarus smiled, but it was clear that he wasn’t pleased with Charis’ assertion. He knew that it was the wise course of action, but he didn’t like knowing that he was going to have to carry around the burden of his guilt until Rhema was in a better position to hear about his deeds. He sighed, and wordlessly stroked his wife’s hair. There was no need to bring her to a standing position until the party figured out what was happening next. Charis rose to her feet and moved to check on Ophee. She had seen Ophee pass out upon the dismissal of the succubus, but was more concerned with the immediate urgency of making sure that Rhema was going to recover from Ophee’s spell. She assumed that Ophee had not suffered any injuries from the dbanishment of the succubus, and when she arrived to check on her she found that she was correct. Ophee was in good condition, simply unconscious. The Wizard’s College guard, who had turned herself into a citrine dragon, now turned her draconic head to look towards the closest wall. Her gaze was right above where Ophee had fallen and Charis currently knelt. The dragon appeared to be listening to an inaudible voice because it then nodded several times and mentally dismissed the spell that kept her in dragon form. Her body reversed the process it had undergone to place her into the dragon form and in a matter of seconds she had reverted back into a typical Wizard’s College guard. The party hadn’t had the time to observe her before, but now that they were away from the stress of the fight they had better time to examine her. She was nearly as tall as a typical human woman, but her facial features were much more defined like those of an elf. Her golden hair and her blended green and yellow eyes also spoke of a mixed lineage. When she spoke after dismissing the spell, her voice was in stark contrast compared to the draconic voice that she had used as a citrine dragon. “You have been a great help in stopping a great evil. Your service to our college is highly appreciated, but I am afraid that we must ask you to leave now that your business here is concluded.” Semeion’s glance turned away from his routine observation of his friends laying and kneeling upon the floor. His eyebrows wrinkled together as he heard the words and a look of shock flashed through his eyes and lips. “What? You are asking us to leave? Without us, you wouldn’t have even known that your colleague was even a threat!” Master Searthu continued the argument. “Indeed. I know that you all in the Wizard’s College are highly secretive about your methods of teaching magic. But even taking that into consideration your request is simply illogical, especially for wizards. We’re not sure that the succubus’ influence has been dealt with. We’re not sure that the effects of the Arum Dracunculus have been effectively stopped. For that matter, you all don’t seem to even care that the Arum Dracunculus had been used at all!” One of the invisible Wizard’s College guards allowed the spell of invisibility to lose effectiveness. He appeared in the position that the first guard had looked while in the form of the citrine dragon. “I understand your desire to remain here and find your answers, but you must understand that your presence simply is not allowed. You cannot deny that the only reason that you are standing where you are now is from a series of illegal transports through a security system that was designed to keep you out. In spite of your helpfulness, the fact remains that you are guilty of trespassing. We have the right to ask you to leave.” Semeion continued the argument. In spite of disagreeing with their conclusions, he couldn’t deny feeling a certain kinship to the Wizard’s College guards and their desire for keeping their methods secret. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m the first one to appreciate the privacy and intimacy of the study of magic. I know that I was taught my abilities by a master who would no doubt be considered a renegade by your terms, but even my master made me understand the importance of knowing to whom you are showing your magic.” He turned so that his shoulders stood open to his friends. “But are you blind to what just happened here? In an attempt to save you all from a threat that you didn’t even know was in your midst, I almost lost a wife and a few friends. For Reah’s sake, how can you possibly ask us to leave considering the sacrifice we were willing to make for your protection? We’re not asking to stay and observe the teaching of your magic. We are asking to be allowed to stay and find answers regarding how far the plan of the wizard – or perhaps the succubus – had spread throughout the land.” The female Wizard’s College guard focused upon Semeion as he invoked Reah’s name. “That is twice that you all have made mention of Reah since you have entered the Wizard’s College.” She turned to where her now visible colleague stood and paused for several seconds before finishing her thought. “Very well, we will allow you to stay here in these quarters. You must agree to not venture out into the remainder of the Wizard’s College. You may search for your answers here and here alone.” Master Brandt frowned, but nodded in agreement. “So long as you two are willing to stay and answer our questions honestly …” Ischarus lifted his head to the discussion for the first time since collapsing from fear of what he almost unwillingly accomplished. Up until now he had been listening, but his eyes were glued to Rhema’s face. “Three, Brandt. There are three.” Brandt and Semeion exchanged confused looks and turned their expressions back to the female guard. They didn’t need to say anything; their look of disapproval spoke volumes to the guard. Brandt lifted an eyebrow in anticipation of an answer. The female guard looked again in the direction of the now visible guard. She breathed in a deep breath and nodded. As with the other guard who had turned himself invisible, the third guard let go of the protective spell of invisibility and materialized before the party. Once he was visible, he addressed the party. As he spoke, his hands and arms opened in a gesture of welcoming. “Very well. We can answer your questions, assuming that you agree to our terms as stated. You will be satisfied with our answers, and if you are not satisfied you will be patient while we try to find deeper answers. You will not leave these quarters.” Brandt looked to Master Searthu and received an encouraging nod. “That is acceptable.” The most recently appearing of the guards continued to speak. “And, since you have dealt with the threat that caused you to violate our policy of secrecy we must also ask one other stipulation. When you decide to leave, you may teleport out of the Wizard’s College. But then you may not return except by adhering to the proper channels of addressing the Wizard’s College. In the future, all visits must be prearranged. We will be willing to discuss future inquiries, but once you leave you will not be permitted to return through the use of magic without us considering it an act of aggression.” Master Searthu smiled deceptively and allowed a slight chuckle to interfere with his normal breathing through his nose. “Of course. We would actually expect nothing different. We get rather upset when people use magic to appear in the midst of our temple, it is only fair to allow you to reciprocate that feeling. And assuming that one of you will be able to be contacted so that we can arrange further inquiries …” The female Wizard’s College guard threw up her left hand in disgust. “Of course. Must we continue on with all these stipulations? I’d personally rather get to the business at hand so that we can purge this abomination’s influence from our college. Can we just agree that we will respond civilly toward each other and move along?” Brandt and Semeion exchanged smiles. They knew wizards, and each of them had immediately come up with a sarcastic rebuttal in their mind. Yet, this was no longer the time or the place for sarcasm. If they were to move forward, it would need to be done in honest and respectful relations with one another. [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
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