Academy of Drell, Part IV

[Zhure]

Victor

After watching Sh'ar for a time, it's obvious he will recover on his own, though it may take time. Apparently the poison used on him sapped his strength and fortitude. Victor estimates someone other than a dwarf might have been killed by the insinuative.

While waiting for the group to return, Victor investigates the northernmost egress from the pool chamber. The archway has a few faint runes carved above the door, but whatever they were is no longer obvious as they have faded to illegibility. The tunnel slopes downward at a very steep forty-five degree angle.

 

[Zhure]

Sildarin

Sildarin tries to rest and recuperate a little bit, as he was recently heavily taxed. Palasant is in a quiet conversation with Lehsa and T'or is sleeping at Palasant's feet.

Sh'ar is aware Sildarin is resting and doesn't try to hold a conversation, though he seems happy to see him again.

As Sildarin drifts off into a meditative trance, he feels... odd.

All of Sildarin's power points are restored as if he had rested 8 hours.

 

[Zhure]

Ellie, Rallyn, Charlotte

The three who are shadowing the orcs find nothing of great import within the half-mile distance they've set for themselves.

Rallyn's more sensitive nose picks up the scent of burning buildings, most likely coming from the small town down hill.

 

[GnomeWorks]

"I agree, Ellie, it just doesn't seem to add up." Charlotte says as they reach the half-mile point.

"Nothing does. Why are the orcs capturing students? It seems like that was their purpose, but I don't think we'll be able to figure out 'why' until we find out more."

"However, that would take more following, and I don't think we're ready to do that." She sighs. "As for the orcs not feeling threatened... well, look at us. We only managed to take them down because we surprised them, and had a plan. The other students weren't so lucky."

 

[Dalamar]

What the...
Oh, that was me. Hope it didn't smell very bad.
Eh... No, that's not it. My psionic reservoire is completely restored with merely closing my eyes.
Ah... Then I didn't do anything and didn't say what I just said.
Yes, yes. I need to talk to Sh'ar.
What? You haven't talked to me for a long time and then you just tell me you're going to talk with that overgrown dwarf?
I wasn't going to bother you at all, it just slipped.
And you think that is better?! Sheesh...

Sildarin gets up and moves next to Sh'ar.
"What... is this place... really? I just barely closed my eyes... and my psionic energies were recharged."

 

[Jeremy]

"Oh lord..."

Rallyn stumbles as a vision of terror comes to him unbidden. The people being escorted down to the town screaming as they are boarded up inside houses and set ablaze.

He shakes it from his head, "No, they wouldn't..." They're just firing the grain stores or some such, that's all. They want the people alive... Yes, that's it. Else why capture them.

Rallyn checks the horizon for plumes of black smoke.

 

[Zhure]

Ellie, Rallyn, Charlotte

Rallyn scours the horizon for signs of fire. After a few moments in the still-early morning sunlight, he can see a few scattered wisps of dark smoke. While they could be cookfires set by the townsfolk to stave off Drell's chill winter, some of the small columns are too full to come from any normal chimney.

There's no smell of any burnt flesh.

 

[Zhure]

Sildarin

I should point out that Sh'ar is now a normal-sized dwarf.

Sildarin approaches Sh'ar and asks him a few pointed questions.

Sh'ar tiredly looks up with a wan smile. "This is a focusing chamber... surely you knew that?"

After it becomes apparent Sildarin doesn't know what that is, Sh'ar continues. "Truly I have slumbered a long time. In ancient days, a powerful psion could invest some of his essence into room or natural cave, or even a clearing in the woods (though those tend to change to rapidly to be terribly practical).

"A focusing chamber can be used once per day to recharge one's psyche. In most cases, it will only recharge a small amount."

 

[Zhure]

Addendum

Sildarin's untrained Knowledge (Psionics) check won't be sufficient to identify a focussing chamber. Perhaps one of the others might.

 

[Dalamar]

"I'm not really well versed in the history and theory of psionics..."
Sildarin thinks for a while as he looks around the chamber.

"Say... who put the arbalest up the tunner?"