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Into the Moral Darkness: (Now a Completed Story!)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3558357" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p>Semeion twisted the ring on his finger and vanished from the inside of Master Seathu’s office. The follower of Reah smiled as he looked into the crystal ball that held the vision of the arcane spying spell of Barra’s office in Classo. He saw Semeion appear behind the tall and muscular woman. Even through the curvature of the glass he could tell that Semeion was no physical match for Barra. <span style="color: Lime">“May Reah protect him.”</span> Master Searthu paused for a moment of prayer and then watched the others perform their teleportation as well.</p><p></p><p>Semeion decided to speak before attacking. He knew Ophee’s advice had been to strike before giving her a chance, but he couldn’t justify attacking a person without giving them a chance to choose to avoid conflict. <span style="color: Plum">“Barra, I’ve something to tell you about your master in Eberdeen.”</span></p><p></p><p>The large woman jumped and spun around. Semeion had obviously surprised her by magically teleporting into the room. <span style="color: Red">“Who are you, and how did you get into here?”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion’s eyes grew wide as she rose to her feet and looked down upon him. Even though he was only two inches shy of six feet in height, she still dominated over him by over eight inches. <span style="color: Plum">“My name is Semeion, and there is something that you need to know about the wizard that you serve.”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra wasn’t in much of a mood to listen to anyone who had intruded upon her space. Her hand reached across the desk and her fingers easily gripped the leather exterior covering the sheath which protected her blade. In a second the woman had the blade drawn. The handle of the sword was easily long enough to allow both of her massive sets of fingers to secure the blade. <span style="color: Red">“Nobody knows of my service to the wizard in Eberdeen except those that my master tells. I don’t recognize you, so you better either explain yourself or I will slice your tiny, fragile frame in half.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion wasn’t about to take chances against a large blade, however. <span style="color: Plum">“Barra, there is no need for the blade. Put it down.”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra’s fingers clenched the weapon in preparation to strike. Semeion was ready for the move. He had assumed from Ophee’s description that Barra would resort to physical oppression to control a situation. He wouldn’t let her use the weapon against him. <span style="color: Plum">“Crang-d'hai Shintar”</span> He pointed toward her blade as she began to bring it forward in a low arc. With the ceiling above her, she couldn’t use a powerful overhead swing like she had wanted.</p><p></p><p>The blade began to disintegrate as it swung through the air. As the steel neared Semeion’s position it burst into millions of pieces each no bigger than a grain of sand. The momentum of the swing carried these particles onto Semeion, but they did no harm to him. He was covered in tiny steel fragments from the waist up, but he was uninjured.</p><p></p><p>For an instant, Barra was off balance. The disappearance of the weight of the blade was enough to disrupt her motion. She stumbled to her knee, and Semeion pounced on the opportunity. <span style="color: Plum">“Barra, I don’t want to hurt you. I want you to know and see the truth! But if you force my hand, I can hurt you.”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra looked up to him and snarled. Semeion had not managed to convince her to hold back her physical assault. <span style="color: Red">“You came in her as an unwelcome guest. Don’t get on your high moral horse!”</span> She rose to her feet and focused upon Semeion’s position.</p><p></p><p>The young mage stepped back several steps in order to put a little bit of distance between him and the woman. <span style="color: Plum">“I’m sorry, Barra, but you’ve forced my hand.”</span> He exhaled and then quickly replenished the air in his lungs. <span style="color: Plum">“Zysh Shintar.”</span></p><p></p><p>A deep darkness flashed from the ends of Semeion’s fingers and lurched toward Barra’s eyes. Although the darkness coated her head, Barra managed to shake her head and wipe her eyes with the webbing between her thumb and index finger. As she wiped her face, the darkness fell to the ground. </p><p></p><p>Barra shook her head once more and glared in Semeion’s direction. <span style="color: Red">“I can kill you without a sword, and your magic has no effect on me. You had better hope that I don’t get my hands on you!”</span> She jumped in Semeion’s direction and unleashed a serious blow with her fists. The woman’s strong fingers and knuckles cracked hard against Semeion’s jaw and brought blood out of his lower lip.</p><p></p><p>Semeion tasted the blood and stepped another moved away from the woman. If he could stay out of reach, it would be much easier to use his magic. He tried the spell once more. His strategy depended upon the effect. <span style="color: Plum">“Zysh Shintar.”</span></p><p></p><p>Once again the deep darkness leapt off of his fingers and lurched towards Barra’s face. This time, the darkness focused upon her eyes. The magical effect soaked into her eye sockets until the darkness had been absorbed and Barra could no longer see.</p><p></p><p>The woman was enraged. <span style="color: Red">“I can still tear your frame apart even if I can’t see you! I know my office well and there is no place that you can hide!”</span> Her left fist struck out in a jab in the direction of Semeion, but the young mage managed to duck to the left and avoid to menacing blow.</p><p></p><p>Semeion sighed. <span style="color: Plum">“Barra, I do not desire to injure you. I have already blinded you and made your attacks much more difficult to land. Submit to me, all I ask is that you listen.”</span> He slowly walked away from Barra, putting as much distance as possible between him and the woman. He knew she could find him by the sound of his voice, but it would be an inaccurate science at best.</p><p></p><p>Barra growled against the voice whose owner she could not see. <span style="color: Red">“I’ll find you, wizard.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded, and brought his lips together to display his disappointment with respect to Barra’s stubbornness. <span style="color: Plum">“I was afraid of that, Barra. Again, I apologize for what I am about to do to you.”</span> He knelt to the floor and stretched the fingers and palm of his left hand along the wooden floor. <span style="color: Plum">“Thin Sooth Egro.”</span> </p><p></p><p>A small drop of oil formed along Semeion’s middle finger and spread across the floor to underneath the spot where Barra stood. Barra couldn’t see the magical effect approaching, and as she stepped towards Semeion her feet lost traction and she fell to the ground. Her large frame landed on the floor solidly. She tried to bring herself to her feet, but she was unable to lift herself onto her knees before Semeion was in position for another magical strike.</p><p></p><p>The young mage rose to his feet and looked with pity upon the tall woman who had been brought to the floor. The fall looked quite painful, although fortunately there had been nothing below her upon which she could land. <span style="color: Plum">“Your master betrayed you, Barra. Your master has been using you without your knowledge. You have been brainwashed and have committed acts without even remembering them. I can prove it to you.”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra spat upon the floor as she struggled to get to her feet. She couldn’t overcome the slickness of the magical substance beneath her. <span style="color: Red">“My master has done no such thing. I would remember!”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion smirked. Barra was demonstrating her ignorance of magic in that statement. <span style="color: Plum">“Then I will prove it you. My next spell won’t hurt anything except your pride.”</span> The young mage snickered as he saw Barra freeze in response to his words. She was trying to brace herself against his attack. <span style="color: Plum">“Skrie Egro.”</span></p><p></p><p>A small ray of pale green light flowed from the outstretched fingers of his right hand and surrounded Barra. Gradually, Barra’s size began to shrink until her six and a half foot tall frame was now only a touch over three feet in height. She had been reduced to a diminutive size, barely taller than the merchant who had taught Rhema her mental powers. Now it was Semeion who dominated over Barra in size, although with her blindness she could not see for herself.</p><p></p><p>Barra could feel the effect of the spell, however. She could feel her size reducing and sliding over the floor beneath her. In spite of her struggle, she could not resist the effect. She howled in rage, but still could not manage to bring herself to her feet.</p><p></p><p>Semeion looked down upon the woman once more with sympathy. <span style="color: Plum">“This would have been much easier if you would have been willing to listen in the beginning, Barra. Now you have been blinded, coated in grease, and reduced to a simple fraction of yourself. How long will this need to continue? When will you see my purpose for coming here? I don’t want to hurt you, but I am determined that you should be confronted with the truth.”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra shook her head. <span style="color: Red">“You had better work fast, wizard. You magic will not hold its effect for much longer. Once your magic wears off, I will hurt you. What will you be like when you can no longer depend on the limited resources of your magic? My strength never leaves. It can only be suppressed for short times by your tricks.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded. Perhaps that was the first thing that she had said all day that he agreed with. <span style="color: Plum">“Very well, Barra. I had hoped to demonstrate that you could be beaten and have you be conscious of it. But, perhaps the only way to prove my point is to convert you. Your master beat your mind rather easily, I would imagine. My own magic should be able to duplicate his effect. In fact, you should be growing weary of hearing my voice right now. You should be growing tired just listening to my words. You should be growing mesmerized by the ever increasing monotony in my tone. Thin Umaam Egro.”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra offered no reply. In fact, she ceased struggling against the slick substance upon the floor. She merely lay in the grease, facing the direction of Semeion’s voice. It was as though her ability to choose was no longer a part of her conscious mind.</p><p></p><p>Semeion could tell instantly that his attempt to hypnotize her by the use of his voice had worked. <span style="color: Plum">“Barra, in a second, I am going to remove the spell that caused your floor to be slick. I want you to remain lying upon the ground. Then I am going to come over to you and teleport you to see Ophee and the other people the wizard in Eberdeen has in his employ. Do you think this is a wise idea? Would you like to go with me to learn the truth?”</span></p><p></p><p>Barra nodded. <span style="color: Red">“Yes.”</span> Her voice was soft and flat as if it were flowing out of her unconscious mind. <span style="color: Red">“I will go with you.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion allowed his mind to release the slick oil upon the floor, and the magic vanished instantly. Barra did not move as Semeion approached. As he knelt to the ground, he turned to the location that Master Searthu had placed his arcane sensor. <span style="color: Plum">“I’m coming back. Make sure there are a few acolytes able to restrain her.”</span> He touched Barra on the shoulder and twisted the ring that Brandt had given him.</p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]</p><p>Semeion twisted the ring on his finger and vanished from the inside of Master Seathu’s office. The follower of Reah smiled as he looked into the crystal ball that held the vision of the arcane spying spell of Barra’s office in Classo. He saw Semeion appear behind the tall and muscular woman. Even through the curvature of the glass he could tell that Semeion was no physical match for Barra. “May Reah protect him.” Master Searthu paused for a moment of prayer and then watched the others perform their teleportation as well.</p><p></p><p>Semeion decided to speak before attacking. He knew Ophee’s advice had been to strike before giving her a chance, but he couldn’t justify attacking a person without giving them a chance to choose to avoid conflict. “Barra, I’ve something to tell you about your master in Eberdeen.”</p><p></p><p>The large woman jumped and spun around. Semeion had obviously surprised her by magically teleporting into the room. “Who are you, and how did you get into here?”</p><p></p><p>Semeion’s eyes grew wide as she rose to her feet and looked down upon him. Even though he was only two inches shy of six feet in height, she still dominated over him by over eight inches. “My name is Semeion, and there is something that you need to know about the wizard that you serve.”</p><p></p><p>Barra wasn’t in much of a mood to listen to anyone who had intruded upon her space. Her hand reached across the desk and her fingers easily gripped the leather exterior covering the sheath which protected her blade. In a second the woman had the blade drawn. The handle of the sword was easily long enough to allow both of her massive sets of fingers to secure the blade. “Nobody knows of my service to the wizard in Eberdeen except those that my master tells. I don’t recognize you, so you better either explain yourself or I will slice your tiny, fragile frame in half.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion wasn’t about to take chances against a large blade, however. “Barra, there is no need for the blade. Put it down.”</p><p></p><p>Barra’s fingers clenched the weapon in preparation to strike. Semeion was ready for the move. He had assumed from Ophee’s description that Barra would resort to physical oppression to control a situation. He wouldn’t let her use the weapon against him. “Crang-d'hai Shintar” He pointed toward her blade as she began to bring it forward in a low arc. With the ceiling above her, she couldn’t use a powerful overhead swing like she had wanted.</p><p></p><p>The blade began to disintegrate as it swung through the air. As the steel neared Semeion’s position it burst into millions of pieces each no bigger than a grain of sand. The momentum of the swing carried these particles onto Semeion, but they did no harm to him. He was covered in tiny steel fragments from the waist up, but he was uninjured.</p><p></p><p>For an instant, Barra was off balance. The disappearance of the weight of the blade was enough to disrupt her motion. She stumbled to her knee, and Semeion pounced on the opportunity. “Barra, I don’t want to hurt you. I want you to know and see the truth! But if you force my hand, I can hurt you.”</p><p></p><p>Barra looked up to him and snarled. Semeion had not managed to convince her to hold back her physical assault. “You came in her as an unwelcome guest. Don’t get on your high moral horse!” She rose to her feet and focused upon Semeion’s position.</p><p></p><p>The young mage stepped back several steps in order to put a little bit of distance between him and the woman. “I’m sorry, Barra, but you’ve forced my hand.” He exhaled and then quickly replenished the air in his lungs. “Zysh Shintar.”</p><p></p><p>A deep darkness flashed from the ends of Semeion’s fingers and lurched toward Barra’s eyes. Although the darkness coated her head, Barra managed to shake her head and wipe her eyes with the webbing between her thumb and index finger. As she wiped her face, the darkness fell to the ground. </p><p></p><p>Barra shook her head once more and glared in Semeion’s direction. “I can kill you without a sword, and your magic has no effect on me. You had better hope that I don’t get my hands on you!” She jumped in Semeion’s direction and unleashed a serious blow with her fists. The woman’s strong fingers and knuckles cracked hard against Semeion’s jaw and brought blood out of his lower lip.</p><p></p><p>Semeion tasted the blood and stepped another moved away from the woman. If he could stay out of reach, it would be much easier to use his magic. He tried the spell once more. His strategy depended upon the effect. “Zysh Shintar.”</p><p></p><p>Once again the deep darkness leapt off of his fingers and lurched towards Barra’s face. This time, the darkness focused upon her eyes. The magical effect soaked into her eye sockets until the darkness had been absorbed and Barra could no longer see.</p><p></p><p>The woman was enraged. “I can still tear your frame apart even if I can’t see you! I know my office well and there is no place that you can hide!” Her left fist struck out in a jab in the direction of Semeion, but the young mage managed to duck to the left and avoid to menacing blow.</p><p></p><p>Semeion sighed. “Barra, I do not desire to injure you. I have already blinded you and made your attacks much more difficult to land. Submit to me, all I ask is that you listen.” He slowly walked away from Barra, putting as much distance as possible between him and the woman. He knew she could find him by the sound of his voice, but it would be an inaccurate science at best.</p><p></p><p>Barra growled against the voice whose owner she could not see. “I’ll find you, wizard.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded, and brought his lips together to display his disappointment with respect to Barra’s stubbornness. “I was afraid of that, Barra. Again, I apologize for what I am about to do to you.” He knelt to the floor and stretched the fingers and palm of his left hand along the wooden floor. “Thin Sooth Egro.” </p><p></p><p>A small drop of oil formed along Semeion’s middle finger and spread across the floor to underneath the spot where Barra stood. Barra couldn’t see the magical effect approaching, and as she stepped towards Semeion her feet lost traction and she fell to the ground. Her large frame landed on the floor solidly. She tried to bring herself to her feet, but she was unable to lift herself onto her knees before Semeion was in position for another magical strike.</p><p></p><p>The young mage rose to his feet and looked with pity upon the tall woman who had been brought to the floor. The fall looked quite painful, although fortunately there had been nothing below her upon which she could land. “Your master betrayed you, Barra. Your master has been using you without your knowledge. You have been brainwashed and have committed acts without even remembering them. I can prove it to you.”</p><p></p><p>Barra spat upon the floor as she struggled to get to her feet. She couldn’t overcome the slickness of the magical substance beneath her. “My master has done no such thing. I would remember!”</p><p></p><p>Semeion smirked. Barra was demonstrating her ignorance of magic in that statement. “Then I will prove it you. My next spell won’t hurt anything except your pride.” The young mage snickered as he saw Barra freeze in response to his words. She was trying to brace herself against his attack. “Skrie Egro.”</p><p></p><p>A small ray of pale green light flowed from the outstretched fingers of his right hand and surrounded Barra. Gradually, Barra’s size began to shrink until her six and a half foot tall frame was now only a touch over three feet in height. She had been reduced to a diminutive size, barely taller than the merchant who had taught Rhema her mental powers. Now it was Semeion who dominated over Barra in size, although with her blindness she could not see for herself.</p><p></p><p>Barra could feel the effect of the spell, however. She could feel her size reducing and sliding over the floor beneath her. In spite of her struggle, she could not resist the effect. She howled in rage, but still could not manage to bring herself to her feet.</p><p></p><p>Semeion looked down upon the woman once more with sympathy. “This would have been much easier if you would have been willing to listen in the beginning, Barra. Now you have been blinded, coated in grease, and reduced to a simple fraction of yourself. How long will this need to continue? When will you see my purpose for coming here? I don’t want to hurt you, but I am determined that you should be confronted with the truth.”</p><p></p><p>Barra shook her head. “You had better work fast, wizard. You magic will not hold its effect for much longer. Once your magic wears off, I will hurt you. What will you be like when you can no longer depend on the limited resources of your magic? My strength never leaves. It can only be suppressed for short times by your tricks.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded. Perhaps that was the first thing that she had said all day that he agreed with. “Very well, Barra. I had hoped to demonstrate that you could be beaten and have you be conscious of it. But, perhaps the only way to prove my point is to convert you. Your master beat your mind rather easily, I would imagine. My own magic should be able to duplicate his effect. In fact, you should be growing weary of hearing my voice right now. You should be growing tired just listening to my words. You should be growing mesmerized by the ever increasing monotony in my tone. Thin Umaam Egro.”</p><p></p><p>Barra offered no reply. In fact, she ceased struggling against the slick substance upon the floor. She merely lay in the grease, facing the direction of Semeion’s voice. It was as though her ability to choose was no longer a part of her conscious mind.</p><p></p><p>Semeion could tell instantly that his attempt to hypnotize her by the use of his voice had worked. “Barra, in a second, I am going to remove the spell that caused your floor to be slick. I want you to remain lying upon the ground. Then I am going to come over to you and teleport you to see Ophee and the other people the wizard in Eberdeen has in his employ. Do you think this is a wise idea? Would you like to go with me to learn the truth?”</p><p></p><p>Barra nodded. “Yes.” Her voice was soft and flat as if it were flowing out of her unconscious mind. “I will go with you.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion allowed his mind to release the slick oil upon the floor, and the magic vanished instantly. Barra did not move as Semeion approached. As he knelt to the ground, he turned to the location that Master Searthu had placed his arcane sensor. “I’m coming back. Make sure there are a few acolytes able to restrain her.” He touched Barra on the shoulder and twisted the ring that Brandt had given him.</p><p></p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 3558357, member: 35788"] Semeion twisted the ring on his finger and vanished from the inside of Master Seathu’s office. The follower of Reah smiled as he looked into the crystal ball that held the vision of the arcane spying spell of Barra’s office in Classo. He saw Semeion appear behind the tall and muscular woman. Even through the curvature of the glass he could tell that Semeion was no physical match for Barra. [Color=Lime]“May Reah protect him.”[/Color] Master Searthu paused for a moment of prayer and then watched the others perform their teleportation as well. Semeion decided to speak before attacking. He knew Ophee’s advice had been to strike before giving her a chance, but he couldn’t justify attacking a person without giving them a chance to choose to avoid conflict. [Color=Plum]“Barra, I’ve something to tell you about your master in Eberdeen.”[/Color] The large woman jumped and spun around. Semeion had obviously surprised her by magically teleporting into the room. [Color=Red]“Who are you, and how did you get into here?”[/Color] Semeion’s eyes grew wide as she rose to her feet and looked down upon him. Even though he was only two inches shy of six feet in height, she still dominated over him by over eight inches. [Color=Plum]“My name is Semeion, and there is something that you need to know about the wizard that you serve.”[/Color] Barra wasn’t in much of a mood to listen to anyone who had intruded upon her space. Her hand reached across the desk and her fingers easily gripped the leather exterior covering the sheath which protected her blade. In a second the woman had the blade drawn. The handle of the sword was easily long enough to allow both of her massive sets of fingers to secure the blade. [Color=Red]“Nobody knows of my service to the wizard in Eberdeen except those that my master tells. I don’t recognize you, so you better either explain yourself or I will slice your tiny, fragile frame in half.”[/Color] Semeion wasn’t about to take chances against a large blade, however. [Color=Plum]“Barra, there is no need for the blade. Put it down.”[/Color] Barra’s fingers clenched the weapon in preparation to strike. Semeion was ready for the move. He had assumed from Ophee’s description that Barra would resort to physical oppression to control a situation. He wouldn’t let her use the weapon against him. [Color=Plum]“Crang-d'hai Shintar”[/Color] He pointed toward her blade as she began to bring it forward in a low arc. With the ceiling above her, she couldn’t use a powerful overhead swing like she had wanted. The blade began to disintegrate as it swung through the air. As the steel neared Semeion’s position it burst into millions of pieces each no bigger than a grain of sand. The momentum of the swing carried these particles onto Semeion, but they did no harm to him. He was covered in tiny steel fragments from the waist up, but he was uninjured. For an instant, Barra was off balance. The disappearance of the weight of the blade was enough to disrupt her motion. She stumbled to her knee, and Semeion pounced on the opportunity. [Color=Plum]“Barra, I don’t want to hurt you. I want you to know and see the truth! But if you force my hand, I can hurt you.”[/Color] Barra looked up to him and snarled. Semeion had not managed to convince her to hold back her physical assault. [Color=Red]“You came in her as an unwelcome guest. Don’t get on your high moral horse!”[/Color] She rose to her feet and focused upon Semeion’s position. The young mage stepped back several steps in order to put a little bit of distance between him and the woman. [Color=Plum]“I’m sorry, Barra, but you’ve forced my hand.”[/Color] He exhaled and then quickly replenished the air in his lungs. [Color=Plum]“Zysh Shintar.”[/Color] A deep darkness flashed from the ends of Semeion’s fingers and lurched toward Barra’s eyes. Although the darkness coated her head, Barra managed to shake her head and wipe her eyes with the webbing between her thumb and index finger. As she wiped her face, the darkness fell to the ground. Barra shook her head once more and glared in Semeion’s direction. [Color=Red]“I can kill you without a sword, and your magic has no effect on me. You had better hope that I don’t get my hands on you!”[/Color] She jumped in Semeion’s direction and unleashed a serious blow with her fists. The woman’s strong fingers and knuckles cracked hard against Semeion’s jaw and brought blood out of his lower lip. Semeion tasted the blood and stepped another moved away from the woman. If he could stay out of reach, it would be much easier to use his magic. He tried the spell once more. His strategy depended upon the effect. [Color=Plum]“Zysh Shintar.”[/Color] Once again the deep darkness leapt off of his fingers and lurched towards Barra’s face. This time, the darkness focused upon her eyes. The magical effect soaked into her eye sockets until the darkness had been absorbed and Barra could no longer see. The woman was enraged. [Color=Red]“I can still tear your frame apart even if I can’t see you! I know my office well and there is no place that you can hide!”[/Color] Her left fist struck out in a jab in the direction of Semeion, but the young mage managed to duck to the left and avoid to menacing blow. Semeion sighed. [Color=Plum]“Barra, I do not desire to injure you. I have already blinded you and made your attacks much more difficult to land. Submit to me, all I ask is that you listen.”[/Color] He slowly walked away from Barra, putting as much distance as possible between him and the woman. He knew she could find him by the sound of his voice, but it would be an inaccurate science at best. Barra growled against the voice whose owner she could not see. [Color=Red]“I’ll find you, wizard.”[/Color] Semeion nodded, and brought his lips together to display his disappointment with respect to Barra’s stubbornness. [Color=Plum]“I was afraid of that, Barra. Again, I apologize for what I am about to do to you.”[/Color] He knelt to the floor and stretched the fingers and palm of his left hand along the wooden floor. [Color=Plum]“Thin Sooth Egro.”[/Color] A small drop of oil formed along Semeion’s middle finger and spread across the floor to underneath the spot where Barra stood. Barra couldn’t see the magical effect approaching, and as she stepped towards Semeion her feet lost traction and she fell to the ground. Her large frame landed on the floor solidly. She tried to bring herself to her feet, but she was unable to lift herself onto her knees before Semeion was in position for another magical strike. The young mage rose to his feet and looked with pity upon the tall woman who had been brought to the floor. The fall looked quite painful, although fortunately there had been nothing below her upon which she could land. [Color=Plum]“Your master betrayed you, Barra. Your master has been using you without your knowledge. You have been brainwashed and have committed acts without even remembering them. I can prove it to you.”[/Color] Barra spat upon the floor as she struggled to get to her feet. She couldn’t overcome the slickness of the magical substance beneath her. [Color=Red]“My master has done no such thing. I would remember!”[/Color] Semeion smirked. Barra was demonstrating her ignorance of magic in that statement. [Color=Plum]“Then I will prove it you. My next spell won’t hurt anything except your pride.”[/Color] The young mage snickered as he saw Barra freeze in response to his words. She was trying to brace herself against his attack. [Color=Plum]“Skrie Egro.”[/Color] A small ray of pale green light flowed from the outstretched fingers of his right hand and surrounded Barra. Gradually, Barra’s size began to shrink until her six and a half foot tall frame was now only a touch over three feet in height. She had been reduced to a diminutive size, barely taller than the merchant who had taught Rhema her mental powers. Now it was Semeion who dominated over Barra in size, although with her blindness she could not see for herself. Barra could feel the effect of the spell, however. She could feel her size reducing and sliding over the floor beneath her. In spite of her struggle, she could not resist the effect. She howled in rage, but still could not manage to bring herself to her feet. Semeion looked down upon the woman once more with sympathy. [Color=Plum]“This would have been much easier if you would have been willing to listen in the beginning, Barra. Now you have been blinded, coated in grease, and reduced to a simple fraction of yourself. How long will this need to continue? When will you see my purpose for coming here? I don’t want to hurt you, but I am determined that you should be confronted with the truth.”[/Color] Barra shook her head. [Color=Red]“You had better work fast, wizard. You magic will not hold its effect for much longer. Once your magic wears off, I will hurt you. What will you be like when you can no longer depend on the limited resources of your magic? My strength never leaves. It can only be suppressed for short times by your tricks.”[/Color] Semeion nodded. Perhaps that was the first thing that she had said all day that he agreed with. [Color=Plum]“Very well, Barra. I had hoped to demonstrate that you could be beaten and have you be conscious of it. But, perhaps the only way to prove my point is to convert you. Your master beat your mind rather easily, I would imagine. My own magic should be able to duplicate his effect. In fact, you should be growing weary of hearing my voice right now. You should be growing tired just listening to my words. You should be growing mesmerized by the ever increasing monotony in my tone. Thin Umaam Egro.”[/Color] Barra offered no reply. In fact, she ceased struggling against the slick substance upon the floor. She merely lay in the grease, facing the direction of Semeion’s voice. It was as though her ability to choose was no longer a part of her conscious mind. Semeion could tell instantly that his attempt to hypnotize her by the use of his voice had worked. [Color=Plum]“Barra, in a second, I am going to remove the spell that caused your floor to be slick. I want you to remain lying upon the ground. Then I am going to come over to you and teleport you to see Ophee and the other people the wizard in Eberdeen has in his employ. Do you think this is a wise idea? Would you like to go with me to learn the truth?”[/Color] Barra nodded. [Color=Red]“Yes.”[/Color] Her voice was soft and flat as if it were flowing out of her unconscious mind. [Color=Red]“I will go with you.”[/Color] Semeion allowed his mind to release the slick oil upon the floor, and the magic vanished instantly. Barra did not move as Semeion approached. As he knelt to the ground, he turned to the location that Master Searthu had placed his arcane sensor. [Color=Plum]“I’m coming back. Make sure there are a few acolytes able to restrain her.”[/Color] He touched Barra on the shoulder and twisted the ring that Brandt had given him. [Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section] Semeion twisted the ring on his finger and vanished from the inside of Master Seathu’s office. The follower of Reah smiled as he looked into the crystal ball that held the vision of the arcane spying spell of Barra’s office in Classo. He saw Semeion appear behind the tall and muscular woman. Even through the curvature of the glass he could tell that Semeion was no physical match for Barra. “May Reah protect him.” Master Searthu paused for a moment of prayer and then watched the others perform their teleportation as well. Semeion decided to speak before attacking. He knew Ophee’s advice had been to strike before giving her a chance, but he couldn’t justify attacking a person without giving them a chance to choose to avoid conflict. “Barra, I’ve something to tell you about your master in Eberdeen.” The large woman jumped and spun around. Semeion had obviously surprised her by magically teleporting into the room. “Who are you, and how did you get into here?” Semeion’s eyes grew wide as she rose to her feet and looked down upon him. Even though he was only two inches shy of six feet in height, she still dominated over him by over eight inches. “My name is Semeion, and there is something that you need to know about the wizard that you serve.” Barra wasn’t in much of a mood to listen to anyone who had intruded upon her space. Her hand reached across the desk and her fingers easily gripped the leather exterior covering the sheath which protected her blade. In a second the woman had the blade drawn. The handle of the sword was easily long enough to allow both of her massive sets of fingers to secure the blade. “Nobody knows of my service to the wizard in Eberdeen except those that my master tells. I don’t recognize you, so you better either explain yourself or I will slice your tiny, fragile frame in half.” Semeion wasn’t about to take chances against a large blade, however. “Barra, there is no need for the blade. Put it down.” Barra’s fingers clenched the weapon in preparation to strike. Semeion was ready for the move. He had assumed from Ophee’s description that Barra would resort to physical oppression to control a situation. He wouldn’t let her use the weapon against him. “Crang-d'hai Shintar” He pointed toward her blade as she began to bring it forward in a low arc. With the ceiling above her, she couldn’t use a powerful overhead swing like she had wanted. The blade began to disintegrate as it swung through the air. As the steel neared Semeion’s position it burst into millions of pieces each no bigger than a grain of sand. The momentum of the swing carried these particles onto Semeion, but they did no harm to him. He was covered in tiny steel fragments from the waist up, but he was uninjured. For an instant, Barra was off balance. The disappearance of the weight of the blade was enough to disrupt her motion. She stumbled to her knee, and Semeion pounced on the opportunity. “Barra, I don’t want to hurt you. I want you to know and see the truth! But if you force my hand, I can hurt you.” Barra looked up to him and snarled. Semeion had not managed to convince her to hold back her physical assault. “You came in her as an unwelcome guest. Don’t get on your high moral horse!” She rose to her feet and focused upon Semeion’s position. The young mage stepped back several steps in order to put a little bit of distance between him and the woman. “I’m sorry, Barra, but you’ve forced my hand.” He exhaled and then quickly replenished the air in his lungs. “Zysh Shintar.” A deep darkness flashed from the ends of Semeion’s fingers and lurched toward Barra’s eyes. Although the darkness coated her head, Barra managed to shake her head and wipe her eyes with the webbing between her thumb and index finger. As she wiped her face, the darkness fell to the ground. Barra shook her head once more and glared in Semeion’s direction. “I can kill you without a sword, and your magic has no effect on me. You had better hope that I don’t get my hands on you!” She jumped in Semeion’s direction and unleashed a serious blow with her fists. The woman’s strong fingers and knuckles cracked hard against Semeion’s jaw and brought blood out of his lower lip. Semeion tasted the blood and stepped another moved away from the woman. If he could stay out of reach, it would be much easier to use his magic. He tried the spell once more. His strategy depended upon the effect. “Zysh Shintar.” Once again the deep darkness leapt off of his fingers and lurched towards Barra’s face. This time, the darkness focused upon her eyes. The magical effect soaked into her eye sockets until the darkness had been absorbed and Barra could no longer see. The woman was enraged. “I can still tear your frame apart even if I can’t see you! I know my office well and there is no place that you can hide!” Her left fist struck out in a jab in the direction of Semeion, but the young mage managed to duck to the left and avoid to menacing blow. Semeion sighed. “Barra, I do not desire to injure you. I have already blinded you and made your attacks much more difficult to land. Submit to me, all I ask is that you listen.” He slowly walked away from Barra, putting as much distance as possible between him and the woman. He knew she could find him by the sound of his voice, but it would be an inaccurate science at best. Barra growled against the voice whose owner she could not see. “I’ll find you, wizard.” Semeion nodded, and brought his lips together to display his disappointment with respect to Barra’s stubbornness. “I was afraid of that, Barra. Again, I apologize for what I am about to do to you.” He knelt to the floor and stretched the fingers and palm of his left hand along the wooden floor. “Thin Sooth Egro.” A small drop of oil formed along Semeion’s middle finger and spread across the floor to underneath the spot where Barra stood. Barra couldn’t see the magical effect approaching, and as she stepped towards Semeion her feet lost traction and she fell to the ground. Her large frame landed on the floor solidly. She tried to bring herself to her feet, but she was unable to lift herself onto her knees before Semeion was in position for another magical strike. The young mage rose to his feet and looked with pity upon the tall woman who had been brought to the floor. The fall looked quite painful, although fortunately there had been nothing below her upon which she could land. “Your master betrayed you, Barra. Your master has been using you without your knowledge. You have been brainwashed and have committed acts without even remembering them. I can prove it to you.” Barra spat upon the floor as she struggled to get to her feet. She couldn’t overcome the slickness of the magical substance beneath her. “My master has done no such thing. I would remember!” Semeion smirked. Barra was demonstrating her ignorance of magic in that statement. “Then I will prove it you. My next spell won’t hurt anything except your pride.” The young mage snickered as he saw Barra freeze in response to his words. She was trying to brace herself against his attack. “Skrie Egro.” A small ray of pale green light flowed from the outstretched fingers of his right hand and surrounded Barra. Gradually, Barra’s size began to shrink until her six and a half foot tall frame was now only a touch over three feet in height. She had been reduced to a diminutive size, barely taller than the merchant who had taught Rhema her mental powers. Now it was Semeion who dominated over Barra in size, although with her blindness she could not see for herself. Barra could feel the effect of the spell, however. She could feel her size reducing and sliding over the floor beneath her. In spite of her struggle, she could not resist the effect. She howled in rage, but still could not manage to bring herself to her feet. Semeion looked down upon the woman once more with sympathy. “This would have been much easier if you would have been willing to listen in the beginning, Barra. Now you have been blinded, coated in grease, and reduced to a simple fraction of yourself. How long will this need to continue? When will you see my purpose for coming here? I don’t want to hurt you, but I am determined that you should be confronted with the truth.” Barra shook her head. “You had better work fast, wizard. You magic will not hold its effect for much longer. Once your magic wears off, I will hurt you. What will you be like when you can no longer depend on the limited resources of your magic? My strength never leaves. It can only be suppressed for short times by your tricks.” Semeion nodded. Perhaps that was the first thing that she had said all day that he agreed with. “Very well, Barra. I had hoped to demonstrate that you could be beaten and have you be conscious of it. But, perhaps the only way to prove my point is to convert you. Your master beat your mind rather easily, I would imagine. My own magic should be able to duplicate his effect. In fact, you should be growing weary of hearing my voice right now. You should be growing tired just listening to my words. You should be growing mesmerized by the ever increasing monotony in my tone. Thin Umaam Egro.” Barra offered no reply. In fact, she ceased struggling against the slick substance upon the floor. She merely lay in the grease, facing the direction of Semeion’s voice. It was as though her ability to choose was no longer a part of her conscious mind. Semeion could tell instantly that his attempt to hypnotize her by the use of his voice had worked. “Barra, in a second, I am going to remove the spell that caused your floor to be slick. I want you to remain lying upon the ground. Then I am going to come over to you and teleport you to see Ophee and the other people the wizard in Eberdeen has in his employ. Do you think this is a wise idea? Would you like to go with me to learn the truth?” Barra nodded. “Yes.” Her voice was soft and flat as if it were flowing out of her unconscious mind. “I will go with you.” Semeion allowed his mind to release the slick oil upon the floor, and the magic vanished instantly. Barra did not move as Semeion approached. As he knelt to the ground, he turned to the location that Master Searthu had placed his arcane sensor. “I’m coming back. Make sure there are a few acolytes able to restrain her.” He touched Barra on the shoulder and twisted the ring that Brandt had given him. [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
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