Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3502242" data-attributes="member: 35788">The following days kept Brandt and Semeion busy, specifically on the magical defense front.  Semeion and Brandt both spent time researching detailed arcane defenses not knowing exactly what they would be facing.  Ischarus, Charis, Rhema, and Ophee traveled south of Fingerdale until they found the barn in question.  The barn was precisely where Darkbringer had said that it would be.  They found out that it was a simple and abandoned structure on a field of overgrown grasses.  It would draw very little attention from anyone.The remainder of the days we spent making sure the party was going to be prepared.  The blades were sharpened, the horse’s gear was tested for durability in case there would be some need to flee rapidly, and a few potions and salves were purchased just in case there would be a need for quick healing or other various remedies.  Between the preparations and the work happening around them at the villa, the party found themselves arriving before noon on the proper day quicker than they imagined.  Iasho stayed outside with the horses.The barn was long and narrow, and it had two equal doors on each end.  The doors were wide enough to accommodate some type of livestock; presumably the barn had once stored cattle or horses.  The barn had a loft that ran the entire length of the structure.  The loft looked to have once been a storage area for hay and alfalfa.  There were several pens that were visible, but many of the dividing structures had rotted away and it was unlikely that any of the pens could successfully hold a horse or a cow.Brandt and Semeion turned around in circles once they stepped inside the barn.  Brandt immediately began formulating a tactical plan.  “We should occupy one end of the barn, preferably the north end.  That way we have access to flee.  Although it seems to be more stable, if we take the southern end and we have to flee we’ll be riding past the north end and possibly the danger on our return to Fingerdale.  The north end will allow us to flee without passing by whatever we are going to face.”Charis nodded in agreement.  “Sounds like a good strategy to me.  Just let me know when you are ready for me to try and contact Bemme for an indication of what is to come.”Brandt smiled politely.  “So, you have chosen a deity to venerate since coming from Quehalost?  Of the choices, I think that Bemme and her compassion fit you well.  Although, I would be remiss in my duties as a servant of Reah if I did not tell you how much Reah will miss your service.”Charis looked embarrassedly towards Brandt’s feet as he spoke and then she replied.  “Don’t get me wrong.  I certainly am grateful to your temple and Reah herself for all that she has done for me.  And I certainly respect her work through her temples and followers.  Yet, if I have learned anything about who I was in Quehalost I know that it is love that kept me strong.  Love for my people is what guided me to be the person that I am.  Of course Reah’s justice is necessary, but Bemme’s love is what draws life from my soul.”As Semeion’s hand and arm wrapped around Charis’ waist in a brief and loving embrace, Brandt wished her well.  “I have many friends who choose to venerate Bemme.  She herself is worthy, as is her consort Ahtoe.  I know you will serve them well.”Ischarus unsheathed his sword and investigated further into the barn.  “Charis, didn’t you say that your connection to Bemme only allows you to see vague impressions of the upcoming hour or so?”Charis turned her eyes to Ischarus and replied.  “Yes, I did.”Ischarus replied, “Then I would suggest that we wait on your impression until we are closer to noon.  The closer we get to the noon hour, the more likely you’ll be able to focus on the right impression.  Brandt and Semeion can begin laying down their magical protections until we draw closer to the appropriate time.”Brandt knew his cue when he heard it.  He knelt to the ground and slowly lifted a long narrow tube over his shoulders.  The tube rested across his back like that of an archer’s quiver, although Brandt’s tube contained no arrows.  Brandt touched the end of the tube for precisely two seconds before unscrewing the cap.  “My tube knows me, and it only lets me open it.”  The priest of Reah began pulling out a series of pieces of parchment with magical writings upon it.Semeion saw the writing on several of the sheets of paper as Brandt rested them on the ground.  The writing was identical on each piece.  Brandt slowly walked around to each person within the barn and placed a hand on their forehead.  “Al-Doithican Zhendahl Sooth.”  When Brandt had completed the cycle of the six people inside the barn, he rested his hand upon the barn and spoke the same words as before.  When he was done with his first task, Brandt’s hands now held seven blank pieces of paper.  “That should make us all invisible to someone’s attempt to locate us or magically spy on us.”Semeion chuckled at Brandt’s magical cunning.  “And you’ve even blanked the barn from magical spying?  I must say, that’s ingenious.”Brandt grinned at the praise.  “Well, not knowing exactly what is coming, I assumed that someone would be trying to find out if we’ve actually come at the right time.  So, I figured that if I was able to blank all memorable objects that could act as foci, they’d have greater difficulty accomplishing their purpose.  Of course, that won’t prevent them from actually coming.  The only spells that I was able to research to prevent them from coming were far beyond my scope to cast.  However, I was able to find a spell that would delay their coming and instruct me regarding the precise nature of anything that would come.  That is going to be my next trick.”Ischarus, Rhema, Charis, and Ophee sat down upon the ground as it appeared that Brandt and Semeion would be stealing the show for a while.  They were appreciative of the arcane warding, but they had no desire to stand while the warding would take place.  The casting, as well as Brandt’s and Semeion’s enjoyment of performing the warding magic, would simply need to be endured.Brandt pulled out another scroll and carefully unrolled it before placing it on the ground and kneeling before it.  “Thizzle Placilicuhn”  He smiled and rolled the paper up and returned it into the tube with the other seven pieces of parchment.Semeion knew that he was up next.  He had spent quite some time researching a spell that would signal an alarm if anything tried to enter the barn area.  It was one thing to ward off any sort of teleportation; it was another thing to be aware if a creature simply walked up to the barn and entered it much like they had just done.  When he had finished researching the spell he had asked Brandt to review the spell dynamics with him.  Brandt assured Semeion that the spell would work as planned.  He inscribed the spell onto the piece of parchment from which he now cast the spell.Semeion drew his rapier out of its scabbard he tied a small piece of twine around the hilt and attached the other end of the twine to a small bell.  He spun around in a circle, and as he did the twine began to grow in length magically.  The bell rang as Semeion spun around.  Eventually the twine grew long enough to strike one of the walls of the barn and as the bell dropped to the ground Semeion called out another magical command.  “Thizzle Shintar.”  When he had finished, he nodded to both Brandt and Charis.  “I will be alerted to any new presences within the barn for several hours.  Now, if I recall correctly, it is time to ward each of us against evil.”Charis and Semeion each received a pair of scrolls from Brandt, who had kept a pair for himself.  Brandt looked to Ophee, Ischarus, and Rhema and informed them of the next step.  “Rest assured, these magical wards were each prepared by me, so they will all be equally effective.  Do not fear that just because I am not the one casting a spell upon you that it is less effective.  This spell should help defend each of you from possession, among other things.”Brandt approached Ophee and again touched her forehead.  “Paash Ahrah.”  Brandt then touched his own forehead and spoke the same words.  Charis cast the same spell over Rhema and herself while Semeion cast the spell over himself and Ischarus.  For several seconds the effect of the magic made the entire group appear as though they were protected by a shimmering golden barrier.Semeion handed the now empty parchments back to Brandt and added one final instruction.  “Brandt and I have prepared one last precaution.  However, due to the nature of the magic involved we can only cast it upon ourselves.  There is the possibility that we could run across an invisible enemy.  In fact, it is quite possible that an invisible being could already be here.  To prevent that possibility from taking us by surprise, we’re going to make ourselves capable of seeing the unseen.”Simultaneously, Brandt and Semeion spoke the magical words as if they had rehearsed together for hours.  Charis noticed that her husband’s eyes appeared to radiate a faint glow that was nearly imperceptible without focusing on the eyes.  Brandt and Semeion turned around in the barn and examined each section closely before indicating that the barn was free from anything invisible.Brandt turned to Charis and smiled.  “As predicted, the magical protections have almost brought us up to noon.  I would suggest that you contact Bemme for your glimpse.  With our spells already cast, I think that your perception will be more accurate.”Charis continued to stay seated as she closed her eyes and brought her hands together in front of her.  “Most loving Bemme, I ask for a glimpse of your foresight to look into the future.  Can you give me any hint as to what might come?”  Charis paused for a moment to allow a silent prayer to be offered from her mind before adding a magical command.  “Xyzzyx Egro.”Semeion grinned at Charis’ command and whispered a response to Ophee, who sat beside him.  “The nonsensical sound of that command has got to be one of my favorites that my wife can perform.”Charis smiled briefly as she heard Semeion’s comment.  The smile didn’t last long, however.  Her mouth opened in shock as her eyes snapped open.  Her eyes were both completely out of focus for several seconds before they began to register that they were open.  Semeion shook his head slowly and spoke.  “Not good, people.”Brandt knew the expression without needing to be told.  “Charis, what did you see?”Charis shook her head slowly in disbelief.  “I saw flames.  The barn was consumed in flames.”Rhema began to speak, but Brandt cut her off.  “No, we’ve come too far to simply turn around.  Whatever is coming is apparently going to be evil and use fire.  Fortunately, I anticipated a magical attack of elemental proportions.  I am prepared to protect each of you.”Brandt walked to the center of the party.  “Join hands and circle around me.”  When the other five people had complied, Brandt closed his eyes and spoke another magical command.  “Terisse Kelath Cadrass.”  Brandt opened his eyes and smiled.  “There, we are all warded against much of the dangers of fire.  You need only fear the greatest of flames.”Charis shuddered.  “I’ve feared fire much of my life.  I hope that the two are not connected.”Brandt nodded.  “As do I.  The time is almost at hand.  I have one last spell that will allow me to detect any evil presence immediately.  Once that spell has been cast, I suggest we wait in silence until Semeion calls out the name once more.”Brandt waited for a response that never came.  Charis’ vision was disturbing.  Now it was important to trust in Brandt’s ability to protect them.  Brandt spoke the words of his final spell.  “Thizzle Pahl”[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]The following days kept Brandt and Semeion busy, specifically on the magical defense front. Semeion and Brandt both spent time researching detailed arcane defenses not knowing exactly what they would be facing. Ischarus, Charis, Rhema, and Ophee traveled south of Fingerdale until they found the barn in question. The barn was precisely where Darkbringer had said that it would be. They found out that it was a simple and abandoned structure on a field of overgrown grasses. It would draw very little attention from anyone.The remainder of the days we spent making sure the party was going to be prepared. The blades were sharpened, the horse’s gear was tested for durability in case there would be some need to flee rapidly, and a few potions and salves were purchased just in case there would be a need for quick healing or other various remedies. Between the preparations and the work happening around them at the villa, the party found themselves arriving before noon on the proper day quicker than they imagined. Iasho stayed outside with the horses.The barn was long and narrow, and it had two equal doors on each end. The doors were wide enough to accommodate some type of livestock; presumably the barn had once stored cattle or horses. The barn had a loft that ran the entire length of the structure. The loft looked to have once been a storage area for hay and alfalfa. There were several pens that were visible, but many of the dividing structures had rotted away and it was unlikely that any of the pens could successfully hold a horse or a cow.Brandt and Semeion turned around in circles once they stepped inside the barn. Brandt immediately began formulating a tactical plan. “We should occupy one end of the barn, preferably the north end. That way we have access to flee. Although it seems to be more stable, if we take the southern end and we have to flee we’ll be riding past the north end and possibly the danger on our return to Fingerdale. The north end will allow us to flee without passing by whatever we are going to face.”Charis nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a good strategy to me. Just let me know when you are ready for me to try and contact Bemme for an indication of what is to come.”Brandt smiled politely. “So, you have chosen a deity to venerate since coming from Quehalost? Of the choices, I think that Bemme and her compassion fit you well. Although, I would be remiss in my duties as a servant of Reah if I did not tell you how much Reah will miss your service.”Charis looked embarrassedly towards Brandt’s feet as he spoke and then she replied. “Don’t get me wrong. I certainly am grateful to your temple and Reah herself for all that she has done for me. And I certainly respect her work through her temples and followers. Yet, if I have learned anything about who I was in Quehalost I know that it is love that kept me strong. Love for my people is what guided me to be the person that I am. Of course Reah’s justice is necessary, but Bemme’s love is what draws life from my soul.”As Semeion’s hand and arm wrapped around Charis’ waist in a brief and loving embrace, Brandt wished her well. “I have many friends who choose to venerate Bemme. She herself is worthy, as is her consort Ahtoe. I know you will serve them well.”Ischarus unsheathed his sword and investigated further into the barn. “Charis, didn’t you say that your connection to Bemme only allows you to see vague impressions of the upcoming hour or so?”Charis turned her eyes to Ischarus and replied. “Yes, I did.”Ischarus replied, “Then I would suggest that we wait on your impression until we are closer to noon. The closer we get to the noon hour, the more likely you’ll be able to focus on the right impression. Brandt and Semeion can begin laying down their magical protections until we draw closer to the appropriate time.”Brandt knew his cue when he heard it. He knelt to the ground and slowly lifted a long narrow tube over his shoulders. The tube rested across his back like that of an archer’s quiver, although Brandt’s tube contained no arrows. Brandt touched the end of the tube for precisely two seconds before unscrewing the cap. “My tube knows me, and it only lets me open it.” The priest of Reah began pulling out a series of pieces of parchment with magical writings upon it.Semeion saw the writing on several of the sheets of paper as Brandt rested them on the ground. The writing was identical on each piece. Brandt slowly walked around to each person within the barn and placed a hand on their forehead. “Al-Doithican Zhendahl Sooth.” When Brandt had completed the cycle of the six people inside the barn, he rested his hand upon the barn and spoke the same words as before. When he was done with his first task, Brandt’s hands now held seven blank pieces of paper. “That should make us all invisible to someone’s attempt to locate us or magically spy on us.”Semeion chuckled at Brandt’s magical cunning. “And you’ve even blanked the barn from magical spying? I must say, that’s ingenious.”Brandt grinned at the praise. “Well, not knowing exactly what is coming, I assumed that someone would be trying to find out if we’ve actually come at the right time. So, I figured that if I was able to blank all memorable objects that could act as foci, they’d have greater difficulty accomplishing their purpose. Of course, that won’t prevent them from actually coming. The only spells that I was able to research to prevent them from coming were far beyond my scope to cast. However, I was able to find a spell that would delay their coming and instruct me regarding the precise nature of anything that would come. That is going to be my next trick.”Ischarus, Rhema, Charis, and Ophee sat down upon the ground as it appeared that Brandt and Semeion would be stealing the show for a while. They were appreciative of the arcane warding, but they had no desire to stand while the warding would take place. The casting, as well as Brandt’s and Semeion’s enjoyment of performing the warding magic, would simply need to be endured.Brandt pulled out another scroll and carefully unrolled it before placing it on the ground and kneeling before it. “Thizzle Placilicuhn” He smiled and rolled the paper up and returned it into the tube with the other seven pieces of parchment.Semeion knew that he was up next. He had spent quite some time researching a spell that would signal an alarm if anything tried to enter the barn area. It was one thing to ward off any sort of teleportation; it was another thing to be aware if a creature simply walked up to the barn and entered it much like they had just done. When he had finished researching the spell he had asked Brandt to review the spell dynamics with him. Brandt assured Semeion that the spell would work as planned. He inscribed the spell onto the piece of parchment from which he now cast the spell.Semeion drew his rapier out of its scabbard he tied a small piece of twine around the hilt and attached the other end of the twine to a small bell. He spun around in a circle, and as he did the twine began to grow in length magically. The bell rang as Semeion spun around. Eventually the twine grew long enough to strike one of the walls of the barn and as the bell dropped to the ground Semeion called out another magical command. “Thizzle Shintar.” When he had finished, he nodded to both Brandt and Charis. “I will be alerted to any new presences within the barn for several hours. Now, if I recall correctly, it is time to ward each of us against evil.”Charis and Semeion each received a pair of scrolls from Brandt, who had kept a pair for himself. Brandt looked to Ophee, Ischarus, and Rhema and informed them of the next step. “Rest assured, these magical wards were each prepared by me, so they will all be equally effective. Do not fear that just because I am not the one casting a spell upon you that it is less effective. This spell should help defend each of you from possession, among other things.”Brandt approached Ophee and again touched her forehead. “Paash Ahrah.” Brandt then touched his own forehead and spoke the same words. Charis cast the same spell over Rhema and herself while Semeion cast the spell over himself and Ischarus. For several seconds the effect of the magic made the entire group appear as though they were protected by a shimmering golden barrier.Semeion handed the now empty parchments back to Brandt and added one final instruction. “Brandt and I have prepared one last precaution. However, due to the nature of the magic involved we can only cast it upon ourselves. There is the possibility that we could run across an invisible enemy. In fact, it is quite possible that an invisible being could already be here. To prevent that possibility from taking us by surprise, we’re going to make ourselves capable of seeing the unseen.”Simultaneously, Brandt and Semeion spoke the magical words as if they had rehearsed together for hours. Charis noticed that her husband’s eyes appeared to radiate a faint glow that was nearly imperceptible without focusing on the eyes. Brandt and Semeion turned around in the barn and examined each section closely before indicating that the barn was free from anything invisible.Brandt turned to Charis and smiled. “As predicted, the magical protections have almost brought us up to noon. I would suggest that you contact Bemme for your glimpse. With our spells already cast, I think that your perception will be more accurate.”Charis continued to stay seated as she closed her eyes and brought her hands together in front of her. “Most loving Bemme, I ask for a glimpse of your foresight to look into the future. Can you give me any hint as to what might come?” Charis paused for a moment to allow a silent prayer to be offered from her mind before adding a magical command. “Xyzzyx Egro.”Semeion grinned at Charis’ command and whispered a response to Ophee, who sat beside him. “The nonsensical sound of that command has got to be one of my favorites that my wife can perform.”Charis smiled briefly as she heard Semeion’s comment. The smile didn’t last long, however. Her mouth opened in shock as her eyes snapped open. Her eyes were both completely out of focus for several seconds before they began to register that they were open. Semeion shook his head slowly and spoke. “Not good, people.”Brandt knew the expression without needing to be told. “Charis, what did you see?”Charis shook her head slowly in disbelief. “I saw flames. The barn was consumed in flames.”Rhema began to speak, but Brandt cut her off. “No, we’ve come too far to simply turn around. Whatever is coming is apparently going to be evil and use fire. Fortunately, I anticipated a magical attack of elemental proportions. I am prepared to protect each of you.”Brandt walked to the center of the party. “Join hands and circle around me.” When the other five people had complied, Brandt closed his eyes and spoke another magical command. “Terisse Kelath Cadrass.” Brandt opened his eyes and smiled. “There, we are all warded against much of the dangers of fire. You need only fear the greatest of flames.”Charis shuddered. “I’ve feared fire much of my life. I hope that the two are not connected.”Brandt nodded. “As do I. The time is almost at hand. I have one last spell that will allow me to detect any evil presence immediately. Once that spell has been cast, I suggest we wait in silence until Semeion calls out the name once more.”Brandt waited for a response that never came. Charis’ vision was disturbing. Now it was important to trust in Brandt’s ability to protect them. Brandt spoke the words of his final spell. “Thizzle Pahl”[/Sblock]</blockquote>

Verification