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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1335835" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>DM’s Note: At the end of this harrowing two weeks, our party finds themselves (apparently) safe in Irulas... at least for the time being. People under stress tend to lose their inhibitions around each other, and humor tends to flow...which can lead to interesting circumstances.</p><p></p><p>That said... be forewarned... SOME OF THE FOLLOWING MAY OFFEND PEOPLE'S GRANDMOTHERS (Isida Kep’Tukari taught me the phrase... roughly <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> ) It is included because its either darn funny, or there are significant potential plotlines coming out of it. So there... its been said <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = </p><p></p><p>As the party looks up the information alongside the priests, Shaun becomes slightly bored. </p><p></p><p><em>Hmm... I think Xanadu would look funny if...</em></p><p></p><p>“Instead of a cloak,” Shaun volunteers, “how about you wear my entertainer’s outfit?” </p><p></p><p>Xanadu looks at the bard, and growls a gutteral, “No, I’m not a fool like others present.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh... a battle of wits is it?” Shaun asks, accepting what he presumes to be a challenge, “at least I wasn’t a grumpy cat for the past... oh... two hundred years?”</p><p></p><p>Xanadu, thoroughly annoyed, extends a finger, and mutters a word. Shaun’s clothes collapse to the ground around his now furry, cute faced figure. </p><p></p><p><em>You bastard!</em> he snaps, but all his voice can muster is, “Meow!”</p><p></p><p>Siabrey breaks out into laughter, as does Elenya. The priests look on in worried confusion, as Lucius just hangs his head.</p><p></p><p>“Now, where were we?” Xanadu says to the priests, who rather nervously restart the search. That lasts for only a few moments before Lucius asks politely that Shaun be changed back.</p><p></p><p>“By all means, m’lord,” Xanadu smiles, “I think he’s learned his lesson.” The trickster reforms into his regular human shape, sans clothing. Shaun quickly moves to cover up vital areas, but not before Siabrey breaks out into more laughter, Elenya laughs a little softly but more goes a slight shade a red as she stares at said areas, and Lucius hangs his head even lower.</p><p></p><p>“Can we continue our search?” he asks, his voice even, but just barely concealing a slight annoyance.</p><p></p><p>The party quickly finds the relevant entries... discovering that dopplegangers function as if an <em>alter self</em> spell has been continously cast on them.. and that this spell can break down in periods of stress... such as when wounded, or put in an exceedingly stressful situation. The priests ask why the party is interested, and Lucius starts telling them about the governor before Shaun’s mouth interrupts again.</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps someone needs to cast <em>alter attitude</em> on our friend wizard... he seems rather grumpy.”</p><p></p><p>Xanadu points another finger at Shaun, whose lips suddenly cannot convey sound. Siabrey pronounces this an excellent arrangement, and as Lucius, miffed, continued his description of the governor’s actions, Shaun begins scribbling an apology. Xanadu flashes a finger at him again just before he can complete the note.</p><p></p><p>“Will you behave?” Xanadu asks, his tone very much with the fatherly and lecturing side of speech.</p><p></p><p>“Yes... I will. I apologize.” </p><p></p><p>”Good... you were being a jackass. Its a good thing people are here sometimes to keep you in line,” Elenya grins, to Shaun’s shock.</p><p></p><p><em>Huh?</em> his confused mind thought. He looked at her in a very confused manner, and she gave him a wink. <em>She’s talked back to me... none of the others did that... She saves my life, and tells me off... ????</em></p><p></p><p>Some hours passed with Shaun actually behaving as the party and a few priests delved deeper into the mysteries of the doppleganger. Tess returned, and updated everyone on her brother’s condition. By their fourth hour, it was late into the night, and yawns were dancing around the table.</p><p></p><p>“Friend priest,” Tess asked, “my noble friend here has but a short list of places where he can safely stay. Would it be possible for us to stay here, in your Temple?”</p><p></p><p>“I can speak on the behalf of the High Priest that, by all means, we would be honored if the Count of Holstean, and his retinue, stayed within our Temple walls.”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The group set out for some well deserved rest... Tess asking to stay with her brother, with Shaun, Elenya, Siabrey and Lucius following their usual pairings, leaving Pellaron and Xanadu a third room to themselves. The priests spent twenty minutes or so preparing the rooms, before allowing the party to go in. Lucius snuck off, while the rest of the party watched as Xanadu and Shaun got into another spat.</p><p></p><p>“For a human, you can be pretty stupid,” Shaun spat at one point, and Xanadu snapped, “I am a <em>half elf</em>! Half elf! Don’t deny me the better half of my ancestry! No offense to the other, sane humans present,” he quickly added. Siabrey and Elenya both broke out laughing as the exchange deepened until both parties in the verbal duel decided to just break things off for the night. Shaun missed seeing Xanadu make some slight motions, and didn’t feel that some things on him might have grown smaller... namely his best friend...</p><p></p><p>Shaun’s mind was on one thing... Elenya. His heart had wandered repeatedly in the past, yet now, he was sure it had finally settled on someone. He wasn’t exactly sure when it happened, but his mind guessed it was likely when she attacked the assassin that had badly hurt him. The mixture of fury against the creature, and her deep caring for him and his wounds afterwards, plowed deeply into the furrows of his heart.</p><p></p><p><em>She is the one... and I get her to myself tonight! And now that I owe her so much...</em> his mind snaps back to Lucius’ book. He excuses himself from her room, and begins walking towards the small room where Lucius and Siabrey would be.</p><p></p><p>Siabrey meanwhile, had nice, warm thoughts in her head as she walked back to her room. <em>After fives days of hard riding, fighting, and nearly dying...I get to spend some alone time with Lucius...</em> Her heart lept a little at the thought... far more relaxing than sleeping on the saddle or slashing her sword into some creature’s belly. Perhaps it was because of the stress of the past few weeks, of nearly losing him five times, of she herself nearly falling in battle several times... but her normal moral foreboding about being around him was gone. Her emotions roiled with a mixture of love and protectiveness... he was <em>her</em> charge the same time that he was <em>her</em>... more than friend. She hadn’t felt this way about any man in a long time, if ever... and it was quite exhilarating for her.</p><p></p><p>Before she reaches the door, a priest stops her, and hands her a small package, saying it is from her friend Tess. Siabrey thanks the man, and opens it once she’s sure no one is looking. Inside, she finds several vials, with the stamp of an alchemist’s shop on them.</p><p></p><p><em>Tess... I ought to smack you tomorrow,</em> Siabrey grinned. <em>I’m not going to need these.</em> Absent mindedly she rolled one around in her hand, as she walked into the room to put them into her backpack...</p><p></p><p>And then she sees him with a book. Lucius looked up, saw her, and quickly the book flies shut, his hands protectively covering it as he looked at her with wide, surprised eyes.</p><p></p><p>“What book was that?” Siabrey asks, walking closer. “Was that the surprise in Kulloden?” <em>You let me see the other books you have, Lucius. Why is this one so special that it needs to be covered up?</em></p><p></p><p>“Its... its nothing...just a history book,” Lucius blabbers, slowly moving it towards his pack. His fingers don’t cover as much as he wanted them to, and she notices the small symbol of the Temple of Sune on the lower cover. She blushes a tad, but more her face grew a sly grin. <em>Mmm... things begin to make sense now...</em></p><p></p><p>“What is it you have there?” she presses, her hands delicately reaching for it. “A book from Sune?” She saw his tension relax a bit, though the look of surprised horror remains on his face. She beamed a big smile at him, taking the book from him. “Why do you have this?”</p><p></p><p><em>Aha!</em> her mind shouts, <em>That’s what it was...</em> The thought provokes questions in her mind between the side that loved him, and the side that wanted to protect him. <em>He’s vulnerable... he’s trying to learn. Don’t push him too hard. If he wants to take another step, he will... but let him make the decision.</em></p><p></p><p><em>He’s bought this book! He’s made up his mind already!</em></p><p></p><p><em>No, he could be just curious...</em></p><p> </p><p>“I... um... well... I... was nervous,” he finally admits, “All I had to go on was... what you mentioned those weeks ago at my mother’s banquet, and should things... um... well.. happen... I just wanted you...um...well...”</p><p></p><p>“Me to be happy?” she asked, beaming with pride as he nodded sheepishly, the more relaxed part of her mind starting to fill for the first time with anticipation. <em>Hold yourself, Siabrey... let him choose!</em> the more restrictive parts called... in a fight they were quickly losing.</p><p></p><p> “I got through only 30 pages... I tried to read when you weren’t looking... I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said quietly. </p><p></p><p>Her smile grew exceedingly bright as she stood over him with the book in hand, glancing at the items he would have covered. <em>He wanted to surprise you... to make you happy!</em></p><p></p><p><em>If he cares for you this much, that he was planning for this... why are you so wound up about the possibility? Its not as if you’re brand new to this thing, Siabrey! You love him, don't you?</em></p><p></p><p><em>Yes! But I don’t want to hurt him...</em> her doubting mind called plaintively, as its last ditch defense.</p><p></p><p>For a few minutes she was only able to stand there in stunned, if pleased, silence. Her wide smile somehow grew wider... </p><p></p><p>And then the debate was settled in her mind. She leaned over and delivered on his lips a kiss that conveyed her every feeling for him as her hands pulled his face up towards her. It couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds, but it was a moment she truly savored until the creak of the still unlocked door rudely interrupted her plans.</p><p></p><p>”Um,” Shaun’s voice came from the doorway, and whatever he was about to say was cut off when he saw Siabrey leaning over Lucius... the two obviously not wanting to be bothered.</p><p></p><p>“Are you looking for this?” Siabrey stood up, and held up the book with a grin a rogue would be proud of. Shaun coughed. </p><p></p><p>“Um... yes... I was...” he said slowly, looking at Lucius who, with a grin on his own face, nodded slowly.</p><p></p><p>“Here... take it. Lucius won’t have any need for it tonight,” Siabrey gave a devilish grin, handing the book to Shaun. <em>I have some lessons of my own, </em> her mind laughed.</p><p></p><p> He started to thank her, but she’d already started swinging the door shut, his last glimpse of the two being her sashaying over to where Lucius sat, and his face covered in a grin. The door closed with a slight thunk, and Shaun started peering inside the book. He hadn’t gotten more than a few paragraphs into it when he heard the soft click of the lock on the door, as a few nervous giggles came from the other side.</p><p></p><p>Happy and giddy, Shaun dashed down the hall of the temple to his own room, the few priests that were up at this late hour too busy in their thoughts and contemplations. He flipped through several pages as he walked, and was more than amazed to see that in the first two pages he looked at, there were more tips and items than he could dream of. Quite eager, he burst into Elenya’s room, slammed the door shut, and started about his business, until his trousers came off; and he screamed.</p><p></p><p>Priests in the hall noticed this, and several began knocking on his door, asking if all was well, as the screams now mingled with Elenya’s giggling laughter. The door then burst open, and Shaun in his birthday suit flashed down the hallway, screaming the whole time, to the room with Xanadu and Pellaron.</p><p></p><p>Xanadu opened the door, a big grin on his face, and asked in a shaky voice if there was a problem. Before Shaun could speak, Xanadu nearly fell over laughing, and to the bard’s chagrin, the paladin had almost fallen off of his bed in laughter as well. </p><p></p><p>“Can you fix it? Please?” Shaun asked in desperation. </p><p></p><p>“I don’t know... the last two times you didn’t learn your lesson. I don’t know if I should fix this one... how can I be sure you won’t go back on your word again?” Xanadu tried to cross his arms and look imposing, but numerous snickers made their way through his attempts at a stern visage.</p><p></p><p>“Please... for the love of all that is holy, fix it!” Shaun begged. It was fortunate it was this late, as only three priests had gathered outside the door, confused as to what was going on.</p><p></p><p>”Fine,” Xanadu smiled, “I’ll return it to its normal size... IF... in return you get a cat’s tail, until I am sure you’ve learned your lesson not to be such a fool around me.” Shaun eagerly nodded, and Xanadu, with the flick of his fingers, restored Shaun’s best friend, and bestowed upon his rear an orange, striped cat’s tail.</p><p></p><p>“Go...” Xanadu said in a commanding voice that collapsed into a snicker. “Go before I change my mind!” the snicker exploded into more laughter.</p><p></p><p>Thoroughly cowed and embarrassed, Shaun slinked back to his own room, with his tail literally between his legs. He was too red faced to notice the concerned look of the acolyte who walked by... rather confused. As he dashed back into Elenya’s room, she burst out giggling again, this time at the tail. After her spasms of laughter ended, she said it was too late to do anything, and that she was willing to cuddle, or sleep. Resigned to his fate, Shaun laid down and went into a fitful, rather grumpy sleep.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It was early the next morning when Tesseron came to the wing of the temple where her friends were to wake them up... after all, today was the day Princess Zoe would arrive in Irulas. She found Elenya awake and setting her room straight, save the bed, where Shaun still lay sleeping, the last few inches of a cat’s tail peering out of the covers. Tess and Elenya shared a good laugh, before she went to the next room.</p><p></p><p>It was locked.</p><p></p><p>She asked several of the acolytes where she could find a key (fortunately, all of the ones awake now had been asleep during the shenanigans the night before), and soon one was tracked down so she could wake the Count and, “his bodyguard,” as she loosely described Siabrey.</p><p></p><p>The lock opened with a soft click, and the door cracked as Tess’ voice echoed into the silent room.</p><p></p><p>“Rise and shine, sleepy... oh!” The door quickly closed, as Tess’ face went beet red.</p><p></p><p>“Are his lordship and his guard awake?” one of the acolytes asked. “We shall being preparing a meal for them if that is so.”</p><p></p><p>“Um,” Tess said quickly, “they... uh... need a couple hours more rest. I’ll check on them then... and tell you if they’re awake. Don’t open the door till then.” The acolyte nodded, and Tess had to suppress a laugh.</p><p></p><p><em>So, the vials did come in handy. I’ll have to tell Siabrey ‘I told you so’ when she finally wakes up...</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1335835, member: 15043"] DM’s Note: At the end of this harrowing two weeks, our party finds themselves (apparently) safe in Irulas... at least for the time being. People under stress tend to lose their inhibitions around each other, and humor tends to flow...which can lead to interesting circumstances. That said... be forewarned... SOME OF THE FOLLOWING MAY OFFEND PEOPLE'S GRANDMOTHERS (Isida Kep’Tukari taught me the phrase... roughly :) ) It is included because its either darn funny, or there are significant potential plotlines coming out of it. So there... its been said :) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = As the party looks up the information alongside the priests, Shaun becomes slightly bored. [i]Hmm... I think Xanadu would look funny if...[/i] “Instead of a cloak,” Shaun volunteers, “how about you wear my entertainer’s outfit?” Xanadu looks at the bard, and growls a gutteral, “No, I’m not a fool like others present.” “Oh... a battle of wits is it?” Shaun asks, accepting what he presumes to be a challenge, “at least I wasn’t a grumpy cat for the past... oh... two hundred years?” Xanadu, thoroughly annoyed, extends a finger, and mutters a word. Shaun’s clothes collapse to the ground around his now furry, cute faced figure. [i]You bastard![/i] he snaps, but all his voice can muster is, “Meow!” Siabrey breaks out into laughter, as does Elenya. The priests look on in worried confusion, as Lucius just hangs his head. “Now, where were we?” Xanadu says to the priests, who rather nervously restart the search. That lasts for only a few moments before Lucius asks politely that Shaun be changed back. “By all means, m’lord,” Xanadu smiles, “I think he’s learned his lesson.” The trickster reforms into his regular human shape, sans clothing. Shaun quickly moves to cover up vital areas, but not before Siabrey breaks out into more laughter, Elenya laughs a little softly but more goes a slight shade a red as she stares at said areas, and Lucius hangs his head even lower. “Can we continue our search?” he asks, his voice even, but just barely concealing a slight annoyance. The party quickly finds the relevant entries... discovering that dopplegangers function as if an [i]alter self[/i] spell has been continously cast on them.. and that this spell can break down in periods of stress... such as when wounded, or put in an exceedingly stressful situation. The priests ask why the party is interested, and Lucius starts telling them about the governor before Shaun’s mouth interrupts again. “Perhaps someone needs to cast [i]alter attitude[/i] on our friend wizard... he seems rather grumpy.” Xanadu points another finger at Shaun, whose lips suddenly cannot convey sound. Siabrey pronounces this an excellent arrangement, and as Lucius, miffed, continued his description of the governor’s actions, Shaun begins scribbling an apology. Xanadu flashes a finger at him again just before he can complete the note. “Will you behave?” Xanadu asks, his tone very much with the fatherly and lecturing side of speech. “Yes... I will. I apologize.” ”Good... you were being a jackass. Its a good thing people are here sometimes to keep you in line,” Elenya grins, to Shaun’s shock. [i]Huh?[/i] his confused mind thought. He looked at her in a very confused manner, and she gave him a wink. [i]She’s talked back to me... none of the others did that... She saves my life, and tells me off... ????[/i] Some hours passed with Shaun actually behaving as the party and a few priests delved deeper into the mysteries of the doppleganger. Tess returned, and updated everyone on her brother’s condition. By their fourth hour, it was late into the night, and yawns were dancing around the table. “Friend priest,” Tess asked, “my noble friend here has but a short list of places where he can safely stay. Would it be possible for us to stay here, in your Temple?” “I can speak on the behalf of the High Priest that, by all means, we would be honored if the Count of Holstean, and his retinue, stayed within our Temple walls.” The group set out for some well deserved rest... Tess asking to stay with her brother, with Shaun, Elenya, Siabrey and Lucius following their usual pairings, leaving Pellaron and Xanadu a third room to themselves. The priests spent twenty minutes or so preparing the rooms, before allowing the party to go in. Lucius snuck off, while the rest of the party watched as Xanadu and Shaun got into another spat. “For a human, you can be pretty stupid,” Shaun spat at one point, and Xanadu snapped, “I am a [i]half elf[/i]! Half elf! Don’t deny me the better half of my ancestry! No offense to the other, sane humans present,” he quickly added. Siabrey and Elenya both broke out laughing as the exchange deepened until both parties in the verbal duel decided to just break things off for the night. Shaun missed seeing Xanadu make some slight motions, and didn’t feel that some things on him might have grown smaller... namely his best friend... Shaun’s mind was on one thing... Elenya. His heart had wandered repeatedly in the past, yet now, he was sure it had finally settled on someone. He wasn’t exactly sure when it happened, but his mind guessed it was likely when she attacked the assassin that had badly hurt him. The mixture of fury against the creature, and her deep caring for him and his wounds afterwards, plowed deeply into the furrows of his heart. [i]She is the one... and I get her to myself tonight! And now that I owe her so much...[/i] his mind snaps back to Lucius’ book. He excuses himself from her room, and begins walking towards the small room where Lucius and Siabrey would be. Siabrey meanwhile, had nice, warm thoughts in her head as she walked back to her room. [i]After fives days of hard riding, fighting, and nearly dying...I get to spend some alone time with Lucius...[/i] Her heart lept a little at the thought... far more relaxing than sleeping on the saddle or slashing her sword into some creature’s belly. Perhaps it was because of the stress of the past few weeks, of nearly losing him five times, of she herself nearly falling in battle several times... but her normal moral foreboding about being around him was gone. Her emotions roiled with a mixture of love and protectiveness... he was [i]her[/i] charge the same time that he was [i]her[/i]... more than friend. She hadn’t felt this way about any man in a long time, if ever... and it was quite exhilarating for her. Before she reaches the door, a priest stops her, and hands her a small package, saying it is from her friend Tess. Siabrey thanks the man, and opens it once she’s sure no one is looking. Inside, she finds several vials, with the stamp of an alchemist’s shop on them. [i]Tess... I ought to smack you tomorrow,[/i] Siabrey grinned. [i]I’m not going to need these.[/i] Absent mindedly she rolled one around in her hand, as she walked into the room to put them into her backpack... And then she sees him with a book. Lucius looked up, saw her, and quickly the book flies shut, his hands protectively covering it as he looked at her with wide, surprised eyes. “What book was that?” Siabrey asks, walking closer. “Was that the surprise in Kulloden?” [i]You let me see the other books you have, Lucius. Why is this one so special that it needs to be covered up?[/i] “Its... its nothing...just a history book,” Lucius blabbers, slowly moving it towards his pack. His fingers don’t cover as much as he wanted them to, and she notices the small symbol of the Temple of Sune on the lower cover. She blushes a tad, but more her face grew a sly grin. [i]Mmm... things begin to make sense now...[/i] “What is it you have there?” she presses, her hands delicately reaching for it. “A book from Sune?” She saw his tension relax a bit, though the look of surprised horror remains on his face. She beamed a big smile at him, taking the book from him. “Why do you have this?” [i]Aha![/i] her mind shouts, [i]That’s what it was...[/i] The thought provokes questions in her mind between the side that loved him, and the side that wanted to protect him. [i]He’s vulnerable... he’s trying to learn. Don’t push him too hard. If he wants to take another step, he will... but let him make the decision.[/i] [i]He’s bought this book! He’s made up his mind already![/i] [i]No, he could be just curious...[/i] “I... um... well... I... was nervous,” he finally admits, “All I had to go on was... what you mentioned those weeks ago at my mother’s banquet, and should things... um... well.. happen... I just wanted you...um...well...” “Me to be happy?” she asked, beaming with pride as he nodded sheepishly, the more relaxed part of her mind starting to fill for the first time with anticipation. [i]Hold yourself, Siabrey... let him choose![/i] the more restrictive parts called... in a fight they were quickly losing. “I got through only 30 pages... I tried to read when you weren’t looking... I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said quietly. Her smile grew exceedingly bright as she stood over him with the book in hand, glancing at the items he would have covered. [i]He wanted to surprise you... to make you happy![/i] [i]If he cares for you this much, that he was planning for this... why are you so wound up about the possibility? Its not as if you’re brand new to this thing, Siabrey! You love him, don't you?[/i] [i]Yes! But I don’t want to hurt him...[/i] her doubting mind called plaintively, as its last ditch defense. For a few minutes she was only able to stand there in stunned, if pleased, silence. Her wide smile somehow grew wider... And then the debate was settled in her mind. She leaned over and delivered on his lips a kiss that conveyed her every feeling for him as her hands pulled his face up towards her. It couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds, but it was a moment she truly savored until the creak of the still unlocked door rudely interrupted her plans. ”Um,” Shaun’s voice came from the doorway, and whatever he was about to say was cut off when he saw Siabrey leaning over Lucius... the two obviously not wanting to be bothered. “Are you looking for this?” Siabrey stood up, and held up the book with a grin a rogue would be proud of. Shaun coughed. “Um... yes... I was...” he said slowly, looking at Lucius who, with a grin on his own face, nodded slowly. “Here... take it. Lucius won’t have any need for it tonight,” Siabrey gave a devilish grin, handing the book to Shaun. [i]I have some lessons of my own, [/i] her mind laughed. He started to thank her, but she’d already started swinging the door shut, his last glimpse of the two being her sashaying over to where Lucius sat, and his face covered in a grin. The door closed with a slight thunk, and Shaun started peering inside the book. He hadn’t gotten more than a few paragraphs into it when he heard the soft click of the lock on the door, as a few nervous giggles came from the other side. Happy and giddy, Shaun dashed down the hall of the temple to his own room, the few priests that were up at this late hour too busy in their thoughts and contemplations. He flipped through several pages as he walked, and was more than amazed to see that in the first two pages he looked at, there were more tips and items than he could dream of. Quite eager, he burst into Elenya’s room, slammed the door shut, and started about his business, until his trousers came off; and he screamed. Priests in the hall noticed this, and several began knocking on his door, asking if all was well, as the screams now mingled with Elenya’s giggling laughter. The door then burst open, and Shaun in his birthday suit flashed down the hallway, screaming the whole time, to the room with Xanadu and Pellaron. Xanadu opened the door, a big grin on his face, and asked in a shaky voice if there was a problem. Before Shaun could speak, Xanadu nearly fell over laughing, and to the bard’s chagrin, the paladin had almost fallen off of his bed in laughter as well. “Can you fix it? Please?” Shaun asked in desperation. “I don’t know... the last two times you didn’t learn your lesson. I don’t know if I should fix this one... how can I be sure you won’t go back on your word again?” Xanadu tried to cross his arms and look imposing, but numerous snickers made their way through his attempts at a stern visage. “Please... for the love of all that is holy, fix it!” Shaun begged. It was fortunate it was this late, as only three priests had gathered outside the door, confused as to what was going on. ”Fine,” Xanadu smiled, “I’ll return it to its normal size... IF... in return you get a cat’s tail, until I am sure you’ve learned your lesson not to be such a fool around me.” Shaun eagerly nodded, and Xanadu, with the flick of his fingers, restored Shaun’s best friend, and bestowed upon his rear an orange, striped cat’s tail. “Go...” Xanadu said in a commanding voice that collapsed into a snicker. “Go before I change my mind!” the snicker exploded into more laughter. Thoroughly cowed and embarrassed, Shaun slinked back to his own room, with his tail literally between his legs. He was too red faced to notice the concerned look of the acolyte who walked by... rather confused. As he dashed back into Elenya’s room, she burst out giggling again, this time at the tail. After her spasms of laughter ended, she said it was too late to do anything, and that she was willing to cuddle, or sleep. Resigned to his fate, Shaun laid down and went into a fitful, rather grumpy sleep. It was early the next morning when Tesseron came to the wing of the temple where her friends were to wake them up... after all, today was the day Princess Zoe would arrive in Irulas. She found Elenya awake and setting her room straight, save the bed, where Shaun still lay sleeping, the last few inches of a cat’s tail peering out of the covers. Tess and Elenya shared a good laugh, before she went to the next room. It was locked. She asked several of the acolytes where she could find a key (fortunately, all of the ones awake now had been asleep during the shenanigans the night before), and soon one was tracked down so she could wake the Count and, “his bodyguard,” as she loosely described Siabrey. The lock opened with a soft click, and the door cracked as Tess’ voice echoed into the silent room. “Rise and shine, sleepy... oh!” The door quickly closed, as Tess’ face went beet red. “Are his lordship and his guard awake?” one of the acolytes asked. “We shall being preparing a meal for them if that is so.” “Um,” Tess said quickly, “they... uh... need a couple hours more rest. I’ll check on them then... and tell you if they’re awake. Don’t open the door till then.” The acolyte nodded, and Tess had to suppress a laugh. [i]So, the vials did come in handy. I’ll have to tell Siabrey ‘I told you so’ when she finally wakes up...[/i] [/QUOTE]
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