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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1512796" data-attributes="member: 15043">Assassination? And a Test“Kill her?” Tess asked, her mind failing to wrap around the concept.  All this time, we’ve been trying to get AWAY from assassins!  Now, we’re supposed to become them?“Um... Alex, I know you have high regard for our combat abilities, but... we aren’t an army,” Siabrey said quietly.  “Even if she has only 30,000 left like you say... we are but... 7, if you count the drunken halfling.”  The fighter then turned to look at Luke... who was staring off into the distance.  She read his eyes, and all they gave off was sadness.Poor Luke... she thought as she wrapped an arm around him.  You always knew it would come to something like this... but never really gave a thought that one day your own mother would have to be killed...“Well, I have a fermenting idea, if you would like to hear it,” the Emperor offered.  After they nodded, he began.“The army could march on Holstean as a distraction.  Like I revealed earlier, I still have connections with the Holstean Thieves’ Guild, which is still operational and no friend of the Countess.  Its rather odd, but desperate times make for desperate bedmates.  Anyways, I can send word down for them to prepare the way for you... as the army hits the city walls, you’ll get into the palace and take her out.”“Seems rather loigical to me, save that we can’t just go waltzing up to the front gates of hte Countess’ palace and demand entrance during the midst of a battle,” Siabrey rolled her eyes. “I’d much rather have the staff off-world... or is it off-plane?  Either way, I would much rather have her still around and the staff far far away than to leave it in the city with none of us around for several weeks while we march south.”“Well, if she could teleport here with no issues... whose to say she couldn’t just teleport into the Abyss once we take the staff there?” Shaun asked, causing Tess to give a grunt of acknowledgement.“That’d really be bad,” Tess said thoughtfully.  “Then we’d fight her, on turf she likely knows far better than us, with the staff likely trying to get into our minds to give it back to her!”“True... but if we can get the staff down there quickly, she might not have enough time to figure out what we’re doing!” Siabrey protested.  That staff has hurt so many! We need to get rid of it... NOW!“Well, what about the wizards?  They’re still trying to find locations and whatnot?  Let’s see how far away they are from being able to tell us something before we start making snap decisions,” Orion offered.  “If they’re close to finding locations, I’d say we’d take the staff down the the Abyss as soon as possible.  If they’re not... we give Alexander’s idea consideration.”Aeron was led into the throne room a few minutes later, several fussing mages following behind.  The wizard gave a quick bow to the Emperor, and to the party, before Siabrey cut in with her question.“So... Aeron?  I understand you’ve sent someone to find some information on the staff?  Where are they at?  Do you expect them back soon?”“Well,” the wizard gave a huff, before shrugging.  “We don’t know.  Aeliskir was sent to Sigil some time ago... he was supposed to be back two days ago, but we’ve heard no word...”Sigil?  That must be another world or whatnot... Siabrey mused, before asking another question.  “Any idea how late he’s running?”“Like I said, we haven’t recieved any word.  He could arrive in the next second, the next hour, or the next week, or sometime within this year.  We simply don’t know,” he said with some apprehension.  “I’m worried something might have happened...”At Aeron’s pronouncement, the entire party groaned.  “How soon is the army moving out?” Tess asked.“Within two days,” Alexander said.  “If you want to follow the assassination route, you’ve got to decide by then... otherwise we might have to leave you behind,” Alex shrugged.  “I want her gone off of this world as quickly as possible.”“Wait...” Shaun said, looking off into space as he thought, “If we decide to sneak into Holstean.. how the heck are we going to get our weapons so close to the Countess?  I bet she won’t just let us walk up to her, swords raised...”“Luke could be the bait,” Tess said aloud, causing Siabrey to clutch him a little closer, and involuntarily shake her head no.“Tess, I don’t...” she started, before the bard cocked her head to the side in thought.“Luke, does your mother know you were captured?” Tess said quietly.  Luke... no... no no no... Siabrey’s heart hoped, don’t do this!  Please... “I don’t think so... if she did, she has no way of knowing that I didn’t just escape...” his voice trailed off sadly.“But what if he’s still affected by evil?” Siabrey asked.  “What then?  Before I let you guys drag him off like this, you want to make sure... for sure... that he isn’t susceptible to evil like before!”  That’ll hold you off... thinking of a test for that!“Maybe Luke could touch the staff,” Shaun proposed... and almost immediately found his idea shouted down.“Instead of that,” Tess said finally, “I think we should take him close enough to it that it can get into his head, but far enough away that we can yank him back.”“Luke... honey?” Siabrey said worriedly, “are you really ready for something like that?” Her voice wavered slightly, and she pulled him a little closer.  “You really sure?”   Please say you have some reservations!  For your own good!When he gave a very direct nod that he was sure, Siabrey’s face fell.“Luke?  Honey?” Siabrey cuddled next to him for the first time since he’d been taken from her, “I’m... I’m worried,” she whispered quietly.  “Worried about you and that staff... if it affected your mother so much, I am dead horrified of what it could...”“Ssshhh,” he placed a finger over her lips, and gave a wry grin.  “You’ll be there to protect me... or haul my silly behind out and away from it if it does talk to me.  I’m not worried,” his relaxed face said... his eyes spoke otherwise.“Love... I am she raised herself up to look into his eyes, “I almost lost you again... those few days were sheer torture for me, Luke!  If you’d been gone... I would’ve had no one...” her voice trailed off.“Rest assured,” he gave her a bravado smile, “nothing like that is going to happen again.”“Luke... don’t do it,” Siabrey said finally.  “Please.  For me?”“Love,” he rolled over to look at her, the smile gone from his face, “If this works... and I don’t go into spasms around evil like I used to, then we have a definite way of getting into the palace... and confronting her!”“Are you ready for that?  To confront, maybe kill your own mother?” Siabrey asked, and Luke suddenly went silent.  She saw his eyes were looking through her, to that same far away place he stared at when his mind got hung up on a thought.“Not yet,” he slowly said several moments later, “but this will help me get closer to that.”  The brave smile returned, and he gave her a deep kiss on the lips.  Still worried, she returned the favor, and what she hoped was not their last blissful night began in earnest.The next morning, it took some very persuasive arguments to get the High Priest at the Temple of Pelor to let the party into the room where the staff lay.  As they approached the bronzed doors to what had formerly been a baptismal hall, they could see the air outside of the room shimmer from the magical energy pent up inside... the staff, and the numerous protective wards over the area.The High Priest himself opened the room for them, and upon entering they found themselves assaulted by steam, as the large pool of holy water continued to bubble, boil and ferment.  A clear line was draw in chalk on the floor, and the party noticed that while some 20 paladins in full battle armor were in the room as guards, none stood anywhere near the line.  “I shall wait outside.. in case someone’s soul needs to be reclaimed,” the High Priest said grimly, as the party filed inside.  The doors were then shut, to prevent the curious public from interrupting and possibly causing more damage than the party might.“Luke?  You ready?” Tess asked, standing just inside from the door, her hands on her harp to fire a paralyzing blast if he fell.  Siabrey stood right behind him, her hands tensed and readied.  Luke glanced back at her, and when she gave a sad nod, he walked a step forward, and crossed the line.”Ah... Lord Lucius!” a voice echoed in his head...Siabrey watched as he took a step forward, and started another before seeming to stop in mid stride.  For a split second she caught his eyes glazing over, before he lunged forward, leaping to jump into the pool.Yet again the fighter thanked her reflexes, honed by years of battle, as she snagged his legs.  To do so, she had to cross the line as well, and the same seductive voice entered her head as well.”So you’ve come back, Princess,” the voice crooned.  ”My call has proven tempting, hasn’t it?  You know... if you grab the staff.. or if you let him take it... no one will ever hurt Lucius again... no assassins, no other nobles, and not his mother!”No!  You are a vile fiend!  I will not listen to you! her mind quailed back, as she struggled to pull Luke back out of the water.  He was kicking and twisting with the strength of a madman, and she was only counting progress in inches.”And if saving your HUSBAND is not enough for you... if you are selfish..., the staff whispered, dripping sweet persuasion, ”then if you pick me up... NO ONE will ever hurt you again!  Do you understand what this means!?  No hiding your wings!  No more being ignored by those you love!  You will be protected!  Your friends will be protected!  By me... dear Princess!  Think of it!  An Empire, with no threats!”Before her mind could even weigh the seductive offers, a powerful, wailing shriek tore through the air, piercing deep into her soul.  As painful as it was for her to listen to, it was directed at the struggling Luke, who suddenly quit his flailing in the water.  Siabrey’s hard tugging suddenly yanked him beyound the small chalk line, and the voices in her head receded.“Ssshhh.... sh sh sh!” Siabrey whispered to him, as his eyes continued to look straight above, clearly afraid.  He didn’t remember when Tess had paralyzed him before, and now he lay on the floor in stark, powerless terror.  “It’ll be ok, honey,” Siabrey whispered into his ear, “Tess paralyzed you for about fifteen minutes... so I could pull you away.  You’ll be fine... sh...”  She traced a hand around his face lovingly, a smile coming to her lips.His eyes glazed over... just like Tess’... but his skin didn’t turn red, and his eyes didn’t turn bright white like before!  He’s not vulnerable!  He’s only as susceptible as a normal person! her mind jumped for joy.“It’ll be ok hon,” she smiled at him now, “it’ll be ok!  You’re fine!  Here, watch... I’ll clean your nails while you wait... see?”The others in the party regarded the fighter oddly.“Um.. he’s paralyzed.  And you’re giddy, and cleaning his nails!” Shaun said in confusion.  She happily chirped what she’d noticed, and the party understood her happiness... but even Luke, when he regained movement, said that her cleaning his nails as odd.“Love,” she kissed him deeply as they lay on the floor of the Temple, not caring who saw, “I don’t care!  You’re well Luke!”</blockquote>

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