Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old One" data-source="post: 243061" data-attributes="member: 83">Session 16 (Part Five)Greetings All!Fairly short update this time...I am busy working on the first installment for Session 17 wherein an ancient mystery is expanded and expounded upon<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />!Without further ado...Assassins?A shimmering, translucent cocoon of force encased Lew, Quintus, Rosë and Rowan, completely immobilizing them.  Only Sextus fought the effect off, although the effort left him reeling.  The materialized dwarf, eyes flashing with fire, thundered, “So!  They dost more assassins to kill me!  Moradin’s curse be upon thee!  Soon thou shalt join the others!”The speech bore an archaic pattern, stiff and formal.  The dwarf stepped forward, raising his hand again.  A nimbus of soft purple light played around his fist – another spell was coming.  Any surprise felt by the party was not reflected in the frozen features of Lew, Quintus, Rosë and Rowan.  Sextus, thinking quickly, unslung his hand harp and began to play.The words of power flowing from the dwarf’s mouth stumbled, and then halted.  Lew felt as though he was watching everything through the bottom of a glass ale mug, but he noted the dwarf’s hands fall to his side.Sextus, suppressing a small tremor of fear in his voice, began to sing.  His deep baritone echoed from the vaulted ceiling.  His music and words encouraged calm and reasoned discourse.“Why doth they send a minstrel with the assassins?  That is passing odd!” The dwarf mumbled to himself.“No!  Mine enemies attempt a foul trick, disguised with sweet words!  I will send thee to oblivion!”  The fist, pulsating with purple power, came up again.Sextus redoubled his efforts.  Soothing words flew from his lips, carried by music akin to a child’s lullaby.  The dwarf faltered again, ranting.  He seemed to be battling some inner force for control.  He shook his head violently and roared incoherently, raising his hand a third time.Just then, the thrumming noise washed over the chamber.  The encased party members felt it vibrate up through their prisons, threatening to shake the teeth from their heads.  Sextus staggered, missing a chord, his voice faltering.  The dwarf clapped his hands to his temples and screamed soundlessly, gnashing his teeth.  Spittle splashed from his mouth and down his beard.The second and third waves came quickly and Quintus felt as if his whole body would explode in pieces by the time the third arrived.  Sextus spoke first as the echoes faded.“We are not enemies.  We come as friends.  Please hear us out!”The dwarf looked up, his face a mask of pain.  The fire in his eyes had subsided to a smoldering ember.  “Get thee gone from here…flee now, or thou shalt know true and everlasting pain!”With that, the dwarf turned and passed through the door opposite from the one they had entered.  Perhaps it was a trick of the soft light, but it looked to Sextus as if the dwarf’s feet never touched the floor.  Rowan shuddered in his cocoon…the dwarf passed right through the door!The danger ended, at least for the moment, Sextus saw to his friends.  After several turns of the minute glass, the covering hardened and became brittle.  Ten turns later, everyone was free.  Quintus looked around at everyone.  Fear and wonder were reflected in each face.  “That was…interesting.”The looks his companions exchanged elevated the sorcerer’s comment to understatement of the year!To Be Continued…Next: The Mystery Deepens~ Old One</blockquote>

Verification