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Maissen: Shades of Grey [UPDATE 12/12, post 199]
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<blockquote data-quote="Beale Knight" data-source="post: 1945135" data-attributes="member: 7033"><p><strong>03 - 03 Hilltopple House pt3: Solution</strong></p><p></p><p>03 03</p><p></p><p>Ren, Bessie, Madge, and Aneirin sped into Armis’ house. The halfling had fallen asleep in his overstuffed chair and barely stirred as they tromped past him and upstairs. There they found Killian sitting on the floor amidst several piles of books. </p><p></p><p>“Right here, this is it,” he said as the others entered. “Najeff.”</p><p></p><p>“Bless you,” Ren said. </p><p></p><p>“No – a curse,” the sorcerer answered. “a wronged, tormented soul that transforms into a demon spirit demanding vengeance. So we must satisfy the widow’s demands.”</p><p></p><p>His explanation met with four blank stares, Killian continued. “The widow was wronged, perhaps she really was with child, perhaps there was some other reason, but she was earnestly wronged enough to empower her to become this demon. The people sacrificed to her have placated her enough to leave each night, but she won’t free this place until she gets her proper justice. We must offer up the ones she holds responsible.”</p><p></p><p>“Armis?” Bessie asked.</p><p></p><p>Madge shook her head. “No – he objected to burning her, remember? The demon spirit wants Belze and the archer.”</p><p></p><p>“Do you think she’d care that we already killed them?” Ren asked.</p><p></p><p>“Not a bit,” Killian said. “Not a single bit. I’m thinking we simply display the corpsesand she ought be satisfied.”</p><p></p><p>“This sounds too easy,” Ren said.</p><p></p><p>Killian waved his hand over the piles of books he’d scattered around. “Easy? Take a look at what it took to learn this, and that with help! ‘Easy’!” he huffed.</p><p></p><p>“What help?” Madge asked, “surely not Armis.”</p><p></p><p>The sorcerer thumbed his chin. “Pfft. No. He’s worthless.” A smile formed on his face. “But his father, the elder Hilltopple, now there was a wizard. And a properly organized one. Watch.” He cleared his throat, pointed to three of the four piles of books and said, “Chandelier, these books are ready to be replaced.”</p><p></p><p>There was the sound of thin chains rattling, and then a hollow, metallic voice said, “As you say.” Suddenly the chandelier lowered itself from the ceiling and began to move its multiple arms. The ends wrapped themselves around individual books, and the entire chandelier slowly floated to the far end of the room like a spider in total control of its web strand. The books were replaced on the shelves, and then the chandelier returned for another set. In this way, the piles of books were quickly put away.</p><p>“It’s a wonderful device,” Killian said. “Knows every book in the room and what’s in it. Just asking it for where information might be is enough to send it after the proper book.” He picked up two that the chandelier had not replaced and headed downstairs. “These I have a use for. Tell Armis what we’re planning while I take another look at that first courtyard.”</p><p></p><p>Armis was still fast asleep in the chair, but jumped awake when Bessie put her hand on his shoulder. “What?! What are you doing in here!” he said, his voice rising to a high pitched whine. “I said only the sorcerer! Just the sorcerer!”</p><p></p><p>Madge slammed her hands on the halfling’s shoulders, forcing him to keep still. “Listen to me you whining little coward,” she hissed. “We have solved your problem for you. Killian learned what exactly is going on and how to stop, and we’ve finished half the work already. I should think a little bit of gratitude should be shown – don’t you?”</p><p></p><p>Armis’ eyes widened, partly in fear, partly in disbelief. “You – you can stop this? Really?”</p><p></p><p>“Really,” Madge said.</p><p></p><p>“Of course, we might need a thing or two,” Ren said.</p><p></p><p>Armis smiled and began sobbing in joy. “Yes, yes, anything you need. Anything you want. Free me and it’s yours.” He paused. “Anything but what’s in the house.”</p><p></p><p>Aneirin snorted. “Let’s get started,” he said, turning his back on the halfling. </p><p></p><p>Moving the bodies from the third to first courtyard was simple enough. First they were stripped down to shirts and breeches. Then at Killian’s direction they were placed just beyond the blast perimeter, face up. Then it was just a matter of waiting for nightfall.</p><p></p><p>The hours between were spend in a shameless exploiting of Armis’ permission to take anything wanted. Scores of arrows and spears were removed from the armory, as was a book Killian believed explained how to create golems. The two other horses were befriended, and the four food-making statuettes in the guests houses were claimed and distributed. Then at last the sun began to set in that little bit of pretend sky that shown over Hilltopple House. The four heroes from Vaunth-on-the-Lake and the out of time warrior took shelter in the closer of the guest houses and watched through the glass window. </p><p></p><p>As the sky darkened, there was a sudden spark of light in the middle of the debris pile. This erupted into a full blown fire that lit the entire courtyard without burning a thing. Then in the middle of the fire grey smoke took form, coalescing into the form of a short woman. Her hair was fire itself and so were her eyes. When her gaze fell on the two lifeless bodies a fiery smile formed. The najeff waved her hand and the bodies began to float toward her, and they began to twitch as a semblance of life was returned to them. Their eyes opened and both let out the haunted screams of the damned. The najeff began to laugh, a crackling sound that chilled the observers to the bone. </p><p></p><p>There was a sudden implosion of smoke and fire, and then all three were gone. The five observers felt a sudden sickness in their stomachs, but it passed in an instant, and soon they forgot it. </p><p></p><p>Ren stepped out and looked up. His eyes watered as he smile and said, “The sky is back.”</p><p></p><p>[stroy continues on post 54]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Beale Knight, post: 1945135, member: 7033"] [b]03 - 03 Hilltopple House pt3: Solution[/b] 03 03 Ren, Bessie, Madge, and Aneirin sped into Armis’ house. The halfling had fallen asleep in his overstuffed chair and barely stirred as they tromped past him and upstairs. There they found Killian sitting on the floor amidst several piles of books. “Right here, this is it,” he said as the others entered. “Najeff.” “Bless you,” Ren said. “No – a curse,” the sorcerer answered. “a wronged, tormented soul that transforms into a demon spirit demanding vengeance. So we must satisfy the widow’s demands.” His explanation met with four blank stares, Killian continued. “The widow was wronged, perhaps she really was with child, perhaps there was some other reason, but she was earnestly wronged enough to empower her to become this demon. The people sacrificed to her have placated her enough to leave each night, but she won’t free this place until she gets her proper justice. We must offer up the ones she holds responsible.” “Armis?” Bessie asked. Madge shook her head. “No – he objected to burning her, remember? The demon spirit wants Belze and the archer.” “Do you think she’d care that we already killed them?” Ren asked. “Not a bit,” Killian said. “Not a single bit. I’m thinking we simply display the corpsesand she ought be satisfied.” “This sounds too easy,” Ren said. Killian waved his hand over the piles of books he’d scattered around. “Easy? Take a look at what it took to learn this, and that with help! ‘Easy’!” he huffed. “What help?” Madge asked, “surely not Armis.” The sorcerer thumbed his chin. “Pfft. No. He’s worthless.” A smile formed on his face. “But his father, the elder Hilltopple, now there was a wizard. And a properly organized one. Watch.” He cleared his throat, pointed to three of the four piles of books and said, “Chandelier, these books are ready to be replaced.” There was the sound of thin chains rattling, and then a hollow, metallic voice said, “As you say.” Suddenly the chandelier lowered itself from the ceiling and began to move its multiple arms. The ends wrapped themselves around individual books, and the entire chandelier slowly floated to the far end of the room like a spider in total control of its web strand. The books were replaced on the shelves, and then the chandelier returned for another set. In this way, the piles of books were quickly put away. “It’s a wonderful device,” Killian said. “Knows every book in the room and what’s in it. Just asking it for where information might be is enough to send it after the proper book.” He picked up two that the chandelier had not replaced and headed downstairs. “These I have a use for. Tell Armis what we’re planning while I take another look at that first courtyard.” Armis was still fast asleep in the chair, but jumped awake when Bessie put her hand on his shoulder. “What?! What are you doing in here!” he said, his voice rising to a high pitched whine. “I said only the sorcerer! Just the sorcerer!” Madge slammed her hands on the halfling’s shoulders, forcing him to keep still. “Listen to me you whining little coward,” she hissed. “We have solved your problem for you. Killian learned what exactly is going on and how to stop, and we’ve finished half the work already. I should think a little bit of gratitude should be shown – don’t you?” Armis’ eyes widened, partly in fear, partly in disbelief. “You – you can stop this? Really?” “Really,” Madge said. “Of course, we might need a thing or two,” Ren said. Armis smiled and began sobbing in joy. “Yes, yes, anything you need. Anything you want. Free me and it’s yours.” He paused. “Anything but what’s in the house.” Aneirin snorted. “Let’s get started,” he said, turning his back on the halfling. Moving the bodies from the third to first courtyard was simple enough. First they were stripped down to shirts and breeches. Then at Killian’s direction they were placed just beyond the blast perimeter, face up. Then it was just a matter of waiting for nightfall. The hours between were spend in a shameless exploiting of Armis’ permission to take anything wanted. Scores of arrows and spears were removed from the armory, as was a book Killian believed explained how to create golems. The two other horses were befriended, and the four food-making statuettes in the guests houses were claimed and distributed. Then at last the sun began to set in that little bit of pretend sky that shown over Hilltopple House. The four heroes from Vaunth-on-the-Lake and the out of time warrior took shelter in the closer of the guest houses and watched through the glass window. As the sky darkened, there was a sudden spark of light in the middle of the debris pile. This erupted into a full blown fire that lit the entire courtyard without burning a thing. Then in the middle of the fire grey smoke took form, coalescing into the form of a short woman. Her hair was fire itself and so were her eyes. When her gaze fell on the two lifeless bodies a fiery smile formed. The najeff waved her hand and the bodies began to float toward her, and they began to twitch as a semblance of life was returned to them. Their eyes opened and both let out the haunted screams of the damned. The najeff began to laugh, a crackling sound that chilled the observers to the bone. There was a sudden implosion of smoke and fire, and then all three were gone. The five observers felt a sudden sickness in their stomachs, but it passed in an instant, and soon they forgot it. Ren stepped out and looked up. His eyes watered as he smile and said, “The sky is back.” [stroy continues on post 54] [/QUOTE]
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