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Into the Moral Darkness: (Now a Completed Story!)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3670836" data-attributes="member: 35788"><p><strong>Chapter Twelve: FERRETING OUT THE WIZARD’S HOUND</strong></p><p></p><p>Brandt met up with the party the next morning. The party hadn’t learned much else in the library the prior evening, and when they explained what they had found Brandt was in agreement that they may well have been battling Ankh-Bahl. However, it was not the news of Ankh-Bahl that had the party in anticipation. They wanted Allyssa and her location.</p><p></p><p>Once the party had finished explaining their research, Ischarus asked Brandt what news he had managed to discover. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Any word of Allyssa’s location?”</span></p><p></p><p>Brandt slowly shook his head. <span style="color: Lime">“No. I tried everything of which I could possibly think. I tried different appeals to Reah, but someone is hiding her location from me. I tried several attempts to magically locate her, but without a description the magical spying sensors weren’t able to really focus on anyone in particular. Apparently there are just too many people named Allyssa around here. I even went back to Master Searthu, but he was unable to have any success.”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion looked disappointed. <span style="color: Plum">“There has got to be some way of finding her. If only we had more information. Doesn’t the temple have a collection of spell references?”</span></p><p></p><p>Brandt nodded in the affirmative, but his tone was clearly against Semeion’s thought. <span style="color: Lime">“Magic is not always the answer, Semeion. Sometimes, work must be done the old fashioned way. Sometimes in order to find someone you just have to go out and do it.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ophee smiled. <span style="color: Lime">“You all found me, remember?”</span></p><p></p><p>Semeion turned to Ophee and returned her smile, but his smile quickly turned into a look of rejection. <span style="color: Plum">“Yes, but we found you because you really found us. Your former master was watching us and knew where we were going to look. So, he sent you there in order that we would find you.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis listened to the conversation, but stared at the joint where the head of her pick had been joined with the handle. When she needed to think, she would hold the pick’s handle in her hand and rotate it over and over. She found that the rolling of the head helped her mind focus on something deeply. <span style="color: Orange">“Wait a minute. Maybe Ophee is still the answer.”</span></p><p></p><p>A look of horror flashed upon Ophee’s face. <span style="color: Lime">“Oh, no. I’m not Allyssa. I might have been brainwashed to try and kill you under the guise of the Whetting One, but the magic mixed with the Arum Dracunculus has been removed from my system, remember? And I have been with you all in this temple every moment from the barn until now. There is no way I’m Allyssa. I’m positive of it.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema chuckled at Ophee’s vehement argumentation. Of course, she knew that Ophee still carried around a guilty conscience for what she had been tricked into doing for her former master. Of course she would misinterpret Charis’ words. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“No, Ophee. I don’t think Charis was trying to say that you were also Allyssa. You’ve played your part out already, and we know that. But you’re right. Your brainwashing has been purged.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis explained her thought a bit deeper once Rhema had comforted Ophee. <span style="color: Orange">“Of course not, Ophee. You’re not Allyssa. But Allyssa was brought in to replace you. Think about it. The wizard paid for you to stay in Fingerdale. He’s already got an apartment here that he rents.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus’ face brightened. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Of course! He’s already paying for the space, so he might as well use it. Do you think it is that easy? Do you think the wizard would use Allyssa to replace Ophee so predictably?”</span> By the time he had finished speaking his face glistened like that of a child on his birthday.</p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded. <span style="color: Plum">“Of course he would. He’s a wizard. There are many things that can be said about wizards, but most of them are logical and pragmatic. The only people who knew where Ophee lived prior to the incident in the barn were presumed dead. Putting Allyssa in the same apartment would be a hassle free and immediate solution.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ophee reached down the front of her shirt and removed the end of a small necklace made of beads and mulberry hemp that was hanging around her neck. A bronze skeleton key hung from the end of the necklace. <span style="color: Lime">“Only one way to find out, and I’m going with you.”</span></p><p></p><p>The whole party smiled at Ophee’s assertiveness. She was beginning to come into her own. Brandt also smiled and wished them well. It was clear that he was needed at the temple and would not be joining the five adventurers in their excursion across town. They were off quickly, stopping only for a light breakfast as the traveled across Fingerdale.</p><p></p><p>The trip was fairly short and they soon found themselves staring up at the squatty building that had once been Ophee’s home. It wasn’t the nicest of apartment complexes, but it was only two stories instead of the normal three or four. It had been a fairly quiet home, and Ophee suddenly felt saddened at the thought of someone else living in her space.</p><p></p><p>Ophee pulled the key out from under her shirt once more. <span style="color: Lime">“You know, I didn’t even get a chance to clean it. All my papers, belongings, books, and everything else were laid open for that wizard’s perusal. No doubt that he took advantage, of course.”</span> There was a hint of bile in her tone.</p><p></p><p>The door to the building opened suddenly, and a woman popped out from the inside. She gave the party a strange look, but then quickly turned and walked towards the center of town. The party watched her go and then moved inside the building. </p><p></p><p>The stairs leading to the second story floor were in obvious need of repair, but they were still functional. The ascent up the stairs went quite easily, and Ophee slipped her key into the lock and opened the door with a single jerk of the handle. As she stepped inside, a hand reached out from behind her and jerked her back into the hallway.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus pulled her back into his chest, and his sword was drawn. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Let Charis and I go first, Ophee. Allyssa may be in there, and we’ve no idea what kind of power your former master had granted to her. She’s obviously skilled, and I’d feel better if we went in first.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ophee nodded and moved aside to let Charis and Ischarus enter. Once they made sure that the first room was clear, Ischarus motioned for Ophee, Rhema, and Semeion to enter. Ischarus disappeared into the room to the left while Charis took the room to the right. Ophee, Semeion, and Rhema moved into the room and looked out the windows onto the street below.</p><p></p><p>Ophee spoke, and there was sadness in her voice. <span style="color: Lime">“She’s moved in. Nothing is the way that I left it. In fact, much of this furniture has been moved and lived in since I was last here. I don’t think that there can be any doubt that we’ve found where Allyssa lives.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus spoke as he returned from the room to the left. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Well, that’s obviously her bedroom, and she’s not there. She’s quite a vigorous sleeper, if the way the sheets and blanket strewn about the bed are any indication.”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis also returned. <span style="color: Orange">“Nothing in the bathroom, either. Someone’s been here, and reasonably recently. There was still water in the wash basin. And it was cool, not room temperature.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ophee looked back out the window and her eyes suddenly opened. <span style="color: Lime">“You don’t think that the woman was her, do you? She gave us a strange look, but I didn’t recognize her. Could she have known me?”</span></p><p></p><p>A dark and rumbling voice spoke from behind the party. <span style="color: Red">“I think that’s a clear possibility.”</span> The voice was clearly male and quite unwelcoming.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus and Charis were already facing the entrance to the room and saw the figure approach. He held two short swords, and the one in his left hand reflected green when it caught the light. Ischarus lifted his sword high and pulled the shield off of his back. Charis responded by likewise shielding herself and moving to intercept the intruder.</p><p></p><p>Semeion slipped his signature spell into the approaching figure before Ischarus could converge upon him. <span style="color: Plum">“Thin-tok Egro.”</span> The familiar blue pulses flashed from his right shoulder and down his outstretched arm. The blue energy launched off of his fingers and merged into two magical balls that flashed in the direction of the intruder. Each ball of energy struck the newcomer solidly, and Semeion smiled at the blow. His magic had served him well.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus reached the intruder and swung hard. The man crossed the backs of his swords together and blocked Ischarus’ attack. The man laughed as his swords blocked the attack, and once they were free of Ischarus’ own sword he spoke while thrusting at Ischarus with both blades. <span style="color: Red">“Allyssa told me that you would fight. I’m glad to have the honor of killing you and watching you die slowly.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus noticed that the green tint to the intruder’s left blade was from some kind of oil. He called out as Charis charged. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Watch the left blade! I think it’s poisoned!”</span> As he spoke, he brought his own blade down and deflected the stab from the intruder’s left hand. His body tucked and rolled out of range for the man’s attack with his right hand. He managed to survive the combination unscathed.</p><p></p><p>Charis arrived at the scene, but the intruder had wisely positioned himself in the doorway so that she couldn’t move around him. Unable to fight him from the opposite side as Ischarus stood, Charis took up a position beside Ischarus and swung her pick. The pointed attack nearly landed, but it was deflected at the last minute by the man’s pair of blades.</p><p></p><p>Rhema had been planning to try a bit of her mind control, but she saw Charis and Ischarus both fail to land a blow. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“For the sake of the poison, guys, nail him!”</span> Her eyes focused in on the man’s pair of eyes and she pierced his soul with a mental strike. The man yelled in pain as Rhema assaulted his mind.</p><p></p><p>Semeion wanted to finish the man, but he knew that he needed to save his magic. He was the most limited in resources of the party, and he would need to depend on Charis’ and Ischarus’ ability to finish the man. He watched as the opening for one of his spells vanished when Ischarus stepped forward to attack. He also watched as the man deflected the strike into the doorjamb. Ischarus’ blade stuck fast in the wall when he tried to pull it out.</p><p></p><p>The man snarled as Ischarus lost his blade. <span style="color: Red">“You know it’s not wise to lose your sword when facing an assassin!”</span> The assassin’s left blade caught Ischarus on the arm and the green poison leaked into the cut. Ischarus cried out at the sudden pain from the poison, but managed to stay focused on the assassin’s right blade. As the assassin continued the attack, Ischarus struck out with his shield and knock the sword out of the hand of the assassin.</p><p></p><p>As the blade clanked to the ground around the assassin’s feet, Charis returned the blow that the assassin had just given to Ischarus. The end of her pick dug into the assassin’s side, nearly dropping him to one knee. As Charis yanked the point of the pick out of the wound, thick red blood flowed freely. <span style="color: Orange">“Surrender now and tell us about the poison, and you live.”</span></p><p></p><p>The assassin spat back in Charis’ direction but missed his mark. <span style="color: Red">“You don’t kill, anyway.”</span></p><p></p><p>Rhema looked at the man and grimaced. She knew he was right, and he had obviously known enough about the party. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Feel the burn of my wrath, anyway!”</span> </p><p></p><p>The assassin smiled. Her power refused to enter his mind. He had mustered up enough of a defense through the agony of the blows to ward off her assault. <span style="color: Red">“Ask your husband whose burn is worse, mind witch.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus reached for the hammer at his side and swung it at the assassin. However, the man blocked his blow and Ischarus noticed that his own attack had lost some power. The poison leeching through his body was sapping his strength.</p><p></p><p>The assassin returned the strike as he picked up his fallen sword. Ischarus managed to jump over the assassin’s low blow from the blade in the assassin’s left hand. When he landed, he easily spun away from the hurried attack from the assassin’s right blade.</p><p></p><p>Charis swung once more and put the assassin on his back. The point of her pick dug into the rising assassin’s leg, and the man collapsed as his leg gave out below him. His head thumped hard against the floor and he passed into unconsciousness.</p><p></p><p>Rhema ran to her husband. <span style="color: PaleGreen">“Ischarus, how bad is it? Charis, can you heal him?”</span></p><p></p><p>Charis nodded, but also pointed to Ischarus’ face. <span style="color: Orange">“I think he’ll be fine. I can’t counter the effect of the poison here, but he seems healthy enough to make it back to the temple.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ophee had already moved to the body of the fallen assassin and was rummaging through his pockets. She pulled out a piece of paper and read the writing aloud. <span style="color: Lime">“The note says, ‘Araxis, there are unwanted guests in my apartment. Deal with them and meet me at the docks ten minutes after sunset.’ Of course, it is signed Allyssa.”</span></p><p></p><p>Ischarus looked down at Ophee as she finished reading the note. <span style="color: LightBlue">“Well, we at least know where to go next. Let’s search this place for a little bit and then go back to the temple. Don’t forget to put the note back, Ophee. There’s no reason to let Allyssa come back and know for certain that we’ve found it.”</span></p><p></p><p>[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]</p><p><strong>Chapter Twelve: FERRETING OUT THE WIZARD’S HOUND</strong></p><p></p><p>Brandt met up with the party the next morning. The party hadn’t learned much else in the library the prior evening, and when they explained what they had found Brandt was in agreement that they may well have been battling Ankh-Bahl. However, it was not the news of Ankh-Bahl that had the party in anticipation. They wanted Allyssa and her location.</p><p></p><p>Once the party had finished explaining their research, Ischarus asked Brandt what news he had managed to discover. “Any word of Allyssa’s location?”</p><p></p><p>Brandt slowly shook his head. “No. I tried everything of which I could possibly think. I tried different appeals to Reah, but someone is hiding her location from me. I tried several attempts to magically locate her, but without a description the magical spying sensors weren’t able to really focus on anyone in particular. Apparently there are just too many people named Allyssa around here. I even went back to Master Searthu, but he was unable to have any success.”</p><p></p><p>Semeion looked disappointed. “There has got to be some way of finding her. If only we had more information. Doesn’t the temple have a collection of spell references?”</p><p></p><p>Brandt nodded in the affirmative, but his tone was clearly against Semeion’s thought. “Magic is not always the answer, Semeion. Sometimes, work must be done the old fashioned way. Sometimes in order to find someone you just have to go out and do it.”</p><p></p><p>Ophee smiled. “You all found me, remember?”</p><p></p><p>Semeion turned to Ophee and returned her smile, but his smile quickly turned into a look of rejection. “Yes, but we found you because you really found us. Your former master was watching us and knew where we were going to look. So, he sent you there in order that we would find you.”</p><p></p><p>Charis listened to the conversation, but stared at the joint where the head of her pick had been joined with the handle. When she needed to think, she would hold the pick’s handle in her hand and rotate it over and over. She found that the rolling of the head helped her mind focus on something deeply. “Wait a minute. Maybe Ophee is still the answer.”</p><p></p><p>A look of horror flashed upon Ophee’s face. “Oh, no. I’m not Allyssa. I might have been brainwashed to try and kill you under the guise of the Whetting One, but the magic mixed with the Arum Dracunculus has been removed from my system, remember? And I have been with you all in this temple every moment from the barn until now. There is no way I’m Allyssa. I’m positive of it.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema chuckled at Ophee’s vehement argumentation. Of course, she knew that Ophee still carried around a guilty conscience for what she had been tricked into doing for her former master. Of course she would misinterpret Charis’ words. “No, Ophee. I don’t think Charis was trying to say that you were also Allyssa. You’ve played your part out already, and we know that. But you’re right. Your brainwashing has been purged.”</p><p></p><p>Charis explained her thought a bit deeper once Rhema had comforted Ophee. “Of course not, Ophee. You’re not Allyssa. But Allyssa was brought in to replace you. Think about it. The wizard paid for you to stay in Fingerdale. He’s already got an apartment here that he rents.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus’ face brightened. “Of course! He’s already paying for the space, so he might as well use it. Do you think it is that easy? Do you think the wizard would use Allyssa to replace Ophee so predictably?” By the time he had finished speaking his face glistened like that of a child on his birthday.</p><p></p><p>Semeion nodded. “Of course he would. He’s a wizard. There are many things that can be said about wizards, but most of them are logical and pragmatic. The only people who knew where Ophee lived prior to the incident in the barn were presumed dead. Putting Allyssa in the same apartment would be a hassle free and immediate solution.”</p><p></p><p>Ophee reached down the front of her shirt and removed the end of a small necklace made of beads and mulberry hemp that was hanging around her neck. A bronze skeleton key hung from the end of the necklace. “Only one way to find out, and I’m going with you.”</p><p></p><p>The whole party smiled at Ophee’s assertiveness. She was beginning to come into her own. Brandt also smiled and wished them well. It was clear that he was needed at the temple and would not be joining the five adventurers in their excursion across town. They were off quickly, stopping only for a light breakfast as the traveled across Fingerdale.</p><p></p><p>The trip was fairly short and they soon found themselves staring up at the squatty building that had once been Ophee’s home. It wasn’t the nicest of apartment complexes, but it was only two stories instead of the normal three or four. It had been a fairly quiet home, and Ophee suddenly felt saddened at the thought of someone else living in her space.</p><p></p><p>Ophee pulled the key out from under her shirt once more. “You know, I didn’t even get a chance to clean it. All my papers, belongings, books, and everything else were laid open for that wizard’s perusal. No doubt that he took advantage, of course.” There was a hint of bile in her tone.</p><p></p><p>The door to the building opened suddenly, and a woman popped out from the inside. She gave the party a strange look, but then quickly turned and walked towards the center of town. The party watched her go and then moved inside the building. </p><p></p><p>The stairs leading to the second story floor were in obvious need of repair, but they were still functional. The ascent up the stairs went quite easily, and Ophee slipped her key into the lock and opened the door with a single jerk of the handle. As she stepped inside, a hand reached out from behind her and jerked her back into the hallway.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus pulled her back into his chest, and his sword was drawn. “Let Charis and I go first, Ophee. Allyssa may be in there, and we’ve no idea what kind of power your former master had granted to her. She’s obviously skilled, and I’d feel better if we went in first.”</p><p></p><p>Ophee nodded and moved aside to let Charis and Ischarus enter. Once they made sure that the first room was clear, Ischarus motioned for Ophee, Rhema, and Semeion to enter. Ischarus disappeared into the room to the left while Charis took the room to the right. Ophee, Semeion, and Rhema moved into the room and looked out the windows onto the street below.</p><p></p><p>Ophee spoke, and there was sadness in her voice. “She’s moved in. Nothing is the way that I left it. In fact, much of this furniture has been moved and lived in since I was last here. I don’t think that there can be any doubt that we’ve found where Allyssa lives.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus spoke as he returned from the room to the left. “Well, that’s obviously her bedroom, and she’s not there. She’s quite a vigorous sleeper, if the way the sheets and blanket strewn about the bed are any indication.”</p><p></p><p>Charis also returned. “Nothing in the bathroom, either. Someone’s been here, and reasonably recently. There was still water in the wash basin. And it was cool, not room temperature.”</p><p></p><p>Ophee looked back out the window and her eyes suddenly opened. “You don’t think that the woman was her, do you? She gave us a strange look, but I didn’t recognize her. Could she have known me?”</p><p></p><p>A dark and rumbling voice spoke from behind the party. “I think that’s a clear possibility.” The voice was clearly male and quite unwelcoming.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus and Charis were already facing the entrance to the room and saw the figure approach. He held two short swords, and the one in his left hand reflected green when it caught the light. Ischarus lifted his sword high and pulled the shield off of his back. Charis responded by likewise shielding herself and moving to intercept the intruder.</p><p></p><p>Semeion slipped his signature spell into the approaching figure before Ischarus could converge upon him. “Thin-tok Egro.” The familiar blue pulses flashed from his right shoulder and down his outstretched arm. The blue energy launched off of his fingers and merged into two magical balls that flashed in the direction of the intruder. Each ball of energy struck the newcomer solidly, and Semeion smiled at the blow. His magic had served him well.</p><p></p><p>Ischarus reached the intruder and swung hard. The man crossed the backs of his swords together and blocked Ischarus’ attack. The man laughed as his swords blocked the attack, and once they were free of Ischarus’ own sword he spoke while thrusting at Ischarus with both blades. “Allyssa told me that you would fight. I’m glad to have the honor of killing you and watching you die slowly.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus noticed that the green tint to the intruder’s left blade was from some kind of oil. He called out as Charis charged. “Watch the left blade! I think it’s poisoned!” As he spoke, he brought his own blade down and deflected the stab from the intruder’s left hand. His body tucked and rolled out of range for the man’s attack with his right hand. He managed to survive the combination unscathed.</p><p></p><p>Charis arrived at the scene, but the intruder had wisely positioned himself in the doorway so that she couldn’t move around him. Unable to fight him from the opposite side as Ischarus stood, Charis took up a position beside Ischarus and swung her pick. The pointed attack nearly landed, but it was deflected at the last minute by the man’s pair of blades.</p><p></p><p>Rhema had been planning to try a bit of her mind control, but she saw Charis and Ischarus both fail to land a blow. “For the sake of the poison, guys, nail him!” Her eyes focused in on the man’s pair of eyes and she pierced his soul with a mental strike. The man yelled in pain as Rhema assaulted his mind.</p><p></p><p>Semeion wanted to finish the man, but he knew that he needed to save his magic. He was the most limited in resources of the party, and he would need to depend on Charis’ and Ischarus’ ability to finish the man. He watched as the opening for one of his spells vanished when Ischarus stepped forward to attack. He also watched as the man deflected the strike into the doorjamb. Ischarus’ blade stuck fast in the wall when he tried to pull it out.</p><p></p><p>The man snarled as Ischarus lost his blade. “You know it’s not wise to lose your sword when facing an assassin!” The assassin’s left blade caught Ischarus on the arm and the green poison leaked into the cut. Ischarus cried out at the sudden pain from the poison, but managed to stay focused on the assassin’s right blade. As the assassin continued the attack, Ischarus struck out with his shield and knock the sword out of the hand of the assassin.</p><p></p><p>As the blade clanked to the ground around the assassin’s feet, Charis returned the blow that the assassin had just given to Ischarus. The end of her pick dug into the assassin’s side, nearly dropping him to one knee. As Charis yanked the point of the pick out of the wound, thick red blood flowed freely. “Surrender now and tell us about the poison, and you live.”</p><p></p><p>The assassin spat back in Charis’ direction but missed his mark. “You don’t kill, anyway.”</p><p></p><p>Rhema looked at the man and grimaced. She knew he was right, and he had obviously known enough about the party. “Feel the burn of my wrath, anyway!” </p><p></p><p>The assassin smiled. Her power refused to enter his mind. He had mustered up enough of a defense through the agony of the blows to ward off her assault. “Ask your husband whose burn is worse, mind witch.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus reached for the hammer at his side and swung it at the assassin. However, the man blocked his blow and Ischarus noticed that his own attack had lost some power. The poison leeching through his body was sapping his strength.</p><p></p><p>The assassin returned the strike as he picked up his fallen sword. Ischarus managed to jump over the assassin’s low blow from the blade in the assassin’s left hand. When he landed, he easily spun away from the hurried attack from the assassin’s right blade.</p><p></p><p>Charis swung once more and put the assassin on his back. The point of her pick dug into the rising assassin’s leg, and the man collapsed as his leg gave out below him. His head thumped hard against the floor and he passed into unconsciousness.</p><p></p><p>Rhema ran to her husband. “Ischarus, how bad is it? Charis, can you heal him?”</p><p></p><p>Charis nodded, but also pointed to Ischarus’ face. “I think he’ll be fine. I can’t counter the effect of the poison here, but he seems healthy enough to make it back to the temple.”</p><p></p><p>Ophee had already moved to the body of the fallen assassin and was rummaging through his pockets. She pulled out a piece of paper and read the writing aloud. “The note says, ‘Araxis, there are unwanted guests in my apartment. Deal with them and meet me at the docks ten minutes after sunset.’ Of course, it is signed Allyssa.”</p><p></p><p>Ischarus looked down at Ophee as she finished reading the note. “Well, we at least know where to go next. Let’s search this place for a little bit and then go back to the temple. Don’t forget to put the note back, Ophee. There’s no reason to let Allyssa come back and know for certain that we’ve found it.”</p><p>[/Sblock]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nonlethal Force, post: 3670836, member: 35788"] [B]Chapter Twelve: FERRETING OUT THE WIZARD’S HOUND[/B] Brandt met up with the party the next morning. The party hadn’t learned much else in the library the prior evening, and when they explained what they had found Brandt was in agreement that they may well have been battling Ankh-Bahl. However, it was not the news of Ankh-Bahl that had the party in anticipation. They wanted Allyssa and her location. Once the party had finished explaining their research, Ischarus asked Brandt what news he had managed to discover. [Color=LightBlue]“Any word of Allyssa’s location?”[/Color] Brandt slowly shook his head. [Color=Lime]“No. I tried everything of which I could possibly think. I tried different appeals to Reah, but someone is hiding her location from me. I tried several attempts to magically locate her, but without a description the magical spying sensors weren’t able to really focus on anyone in particular. Apparently there are just too many people named Allyssa around here. I even went back to Master Searthu, but he was unable to have any success.”[/Color] Semeion looked disappointed. [Color=Plum]“There has got to be some way of finding her. If only we had more information. Doesn’t the temple have a collection of spell references?”[/Color] Brandt nodded in the affirmative, but his tone was clearly against Semeion’s thought. [Color=Lime]“Magic is not always the answer, Semeion. Sometimes, work must be done the old fashioned way. Sometimes in order to find someone you just have to go out and do it.”[/Color] Ophee smiled. [Color=Lime]“You all found me, remember?”[/Color] Semeion turned to Ophee and returned her smile, but his smile quickly turned into a look of rejection. [Color=Plum]“Yes, but we found you because you really found us. Your former master was watching us and knew where we were going to look. So, he sent you there in order that we would find you.”[/Color] Charis listened to the conversation, but stared at the joint where the head of her pick had been joined with the handle. When she needed to think, she would hold the pick’s handle in her hand and rotate it over and over. She found that the rolling of the head helped her mind focus on something deeply. [Color=Orange]“Wait a minute. Maybe Ophee is still the answer.”[/Color] A look of horror flashed upon Ophee’s face. [Color=Lime]“Oh, no. I’m not Allyssa. I might have been brainwashed to try and kill you under the guise of the Whetting One, but the magic mixed with the Arum Dracunculus has been removed from my system, remember? And I have been with you all in this temple every moment from the barn until now. There is no way I’m Allyssa. I’m positive of it.”[/Color] Rhema chuckled at Ophee’s vehement argumentation. Of course, she knew that Ophee still carried around a guilty conscience for what she had been tricked into doing for her former master. Of course she would misinterpret Charis’ words. [Color=PaleGreen]“No, Ophee. I don’t think Charis was trying to say that you were also Allyssa. You’ve played your part out already, and we know that. But you’re right. Your brainwashing has been purged.”[/Color] Charis explained her thought a bit deeper once Rhema had comforted Ophee. [Color=Orange]“Of course not, Ophee. You’re not Allyssa. But Allyssa was brought in to replace you. Think about it. The wizard paid for you to stay in Fingerdale. He’s already got an apartment here that he rents.”[/Color] Ischarus’ face brightened. [Color=LightBlue]“Of course! He’s already paying for the space, so he might as well use it. Do you think it is that easy? Do you think the wizard would use Allyssa to replace Ophee so predictably?”[/Color] By the time he had finished speaking his face glistened like that of a child on his birthday. Semeion nodded. [Color=Plum]“Of course he would. He’s a wizard. There are many things that can be said about wizards, but most of them are logical and pragmatic. The only people who knew where Ophee lived prior to the incident in the barn were presumed dead. Putting Allyssa in the same apartment would be a hassle free and immediate solution.”[/Color] Ophee reached down the front of her shirt and removed the end of a small necklace made of beads and mulberry hemp that was hanging around her neck. A bronze skeleton key hung from the end of the necklace. [Color=Lime]“Only one way to find out, and I’m going with you.”[/Color] The whole party smiled at Ophee’s assertiveness. She was beginning to come into her own. Brandt also smiled and wished them well. It was clear that he was needed at the temple and would not be joining the five adventurers in their excursion across town. They were off quickly, stopping only for a light breakfast as the traveled across Fingerdale. The trip was fairly short and they soon found themselves staring up at the squatty building that had once been Ophee’s home. It wasn’t the nicest of apartment complexes, but it was only two stories instead of the normal three or four. It had been a fairly quiet home, and Ophee suddenly felt saddened at the thought of someone else living in her space. Ophee pulled the key out from under her shirt once more. [Color=Lime]“You know, I didn’t even get a chance to clean it. All my papers, belongings, books, and everything else were laid open for that wizard’s perusal. No doubt that he took advantage, of course.”[/Color] There was a hint of bile in her tone. The door to the building opened suddenly, and a woman popped out from the inside. She gave the party a strange look, but then quickly turned and walked towards the center of town. The party watched her go and then moved inside the building. The stairs leading to the second story floor were in obvious need of repair, but they were still functional. The ascent up the stairs went quite easily, and Ophee slipped her key into the lock and opened the door with a single jerk of the handle. As she stepped inside, a hand reached out from behind her and jerked her back into the hallway. Ischarus pulled her back into his chest, and his sword was drawn. [Color=LightBlue]“Let Charis and I go first, Ophee. Allyssa may be in there, and we’ve no idea what kind of power your former master had granted to her. She’s obviously skilled, and I’d feel better if we went in first.”[/Color] Ophee nodded and moved aside to let Charis and Ischarus enter. Once they made sure that the first room was clear, Ischarus motioned for Ophee, Rhema, and Semeion to enter. Ischarus disappeared into the room to the left while Charis took the room to the right. Ophee, Semeion, and Rhema moved into the room and looked out the windows onto the street below. Ophee spoke, and there was sadness in her voice. [Color=Lime]“She’s moved in. Nothing is the way that I left it. In fact, much of this furniture has been moved and lived in since I was last here. I don’t think that there can be any doubt that we’ve found where Allyssa lives.”[/Color] Ischarus spoke as he returned from the room to the left. [Color=LightBlue]“Well, that’s obviously her bedroom, and she’s not there. She’s quite a vigorous sleeper, if the way the sheets and blanket strewn about the bed are any indication.”[/Color] Charis also returned. [Color=Orange]“Nothing in the bathroom, either. Someone’s been here, and reasonably recently. There was still water in the wash basin. And it was cool, not room temperature.”[/Color] Ophee looked back out the window and her eyes suddenly opened. [Color=Lime]“You don’t think that the woman was her, do you? She gave us a strange look, but I didn’t recognize her. Could she have known me?”[/Color] A dark and rumbling voice spoke from behind the party. [Color=Red]“I think that’s a clear possibility.”[/Color] The voice was clearly male and quite unwelcoming. Ischarus and Charis were already facing the entrance to the room and saw the figure approach. He held two short swords, and the one in his left hand reflected green when it caught the light. Ischarus lifted his sword high and pulled the shield off of his back. Charis responded by likewise shielding herself and moving to intercept the intruder. Semeion slipped his signature spell into the approaching figure before Ischarus could converge upon him. [Color=Plum]“Thin-tok Egro.”[/Color] The familiar blue pulses flashed from his right shoulder and down his outstretched arm. The blue energy launched off of his fingers and merged into two magical balls that flashed in the direction of the intruder. Each ball of energy struck the newcomer solidly, and Semeion smiled at the blow. His magic had served him well. Ischarus reached the intruder and swung hard. The man crossed the backs of his swords together and blocked Ischarus’ attack. The man laughed as his swords blocked the attack, and once they were free of Ischarus’ own sword he spoke while thrusting at Ischarus with both blades. [Color=Red]“Allyssa told me that you would fight. I’m glad to have the honor of killing you and watching you die slowly.”[/Color] Ischarus noticed that the green tint to the intruder’s left blade was from some kind of oil. He called out as Charis charged. [Color=LightBlue]“Watch the left blade! I think it’s poisoned!”[/Color] As he spoke, he brought his own blade down and deflected the stab from the intruder’s left hand. His body tucked and rolled out of range for the man’s attack with his right hand. He managed to survive the combination unscathed. Charis arrived at the scene, but the intruder had wisely positioned himself in the doorway so that she couldn’t move around him. Unable to fight him from the opposite side as Ischarus stood, Charis took up a position beside Ischarus and swung her pick. The pointed attack nearly landed, but it was deflected at the last minute by the man’s pair of blades. Rhema had been planning to try a bit of her mind control, but she saw Charis and Ischarus both fail to land a blow. [Color=PaleGreen]“For the sake of the poison, guys, nail him!”[/Color] Her eyes focused in on the man’s pair of eyes and she pierced his soul with a mental strike. The man yelled in pain as Rhema assaulted his mind. Semeion wanted to finish the man, but he knew that he needed to save his magic. He was the most limited in resources of the party, and he would need to depend on Charis’ and Ischarus’ ability to finish the man. He watched as the opening for one of his spells vanished when Ischarus stepped forward to attack. He also watched as the man deflected the strike into the doorjamb. Ischarus’ blade stuck fast in the wall when he tried to pull it out. The man snarled as Ischarus lost his blade. [Color=Red]“You know it’s not wise to lose your sword when facing an assassin!”[/Color] The assassin’s left blade caught Ischarus on the arm and the green poison leaked into the cut. Ischarus cried out at the sudden pain from the poison, but managed to stay focused on the assassin’s right blade. As the assassin continued the attack, Ischarus struck out with his shield and knock the sword out of the hand of the assassin. As the blade clanked to the ground around the assassin’s feet, Charis returned the blow that the assassin had just given to Ischarus. The end of her pick dug into the assassin’s side, nearly dropping him to one knee. As Charis yanked the point of the pick out of the wound, thick red blood flowed freely. [Color=Orange]“Surrender now and tell us about the poison, and you live.”[/Color] The assassin spat back in Charis’ direction but missed his mark. [Color=Red]“You don’t kill, anyway.”[/Color] Rhema looked at the man and grimaced. She knew he was right, and he had obviously known enough about the party. [Color=PaleGreen]“Feel the burn of my wrath, anyway!”[/Color] The assassin smiled. Her power refused to enter his mind. He had mustered up enough of a defense through the agony of the blows to ward off her assault. [Color=Red]“Ask your husband whose burn is worse, mind witch.”[/Color] Ischarus reached for the hammer at his side and swung it at the assassin. However, the man blocked his blow and Ischarus noticed that his own attack had lost some power. The poison leeching through his body was sapping his strength. The assassin returned the strike as he picked up his fallen sword. Ischarus managed to jump over the assassin’s low blow from the blade in the assassin’s left hand. When he landed, he easily spun away from the hurried attack from the assassin’s right blade. Charis swung once more and put the assassin on his back. The point of her pick dug into the rising assassin’s leg, and the man collapsed as his leg gave out below him. His head thumped hard against the floor and he passed into unconsciousness. Rhema ran to her husband. [Color=PaleGreen]“Ischarus, how bad is it? Charis, can you heal him?”[/Color] Charis nodded, but also pointed to Ischarus’ face. [Color=Orange]“I think he’ll be fine. I can’t counter the effect of the poison here, but he seems healthy enough to make it back to the temple.”[/Color] Ophee had already moved to the body of the fallen assassin and was rummaging through his pockets. She pulled out a piece of paper and read the writing aloud. [Color=Lime]“The note says, ‘Araxis, there are unwanted guests in my apartment. Deal with them and meet me at the docks ten minutes after sunset.’ Of course, it is signed Allyssa.”[/Color] Ischarus looked down at Ophee as she finished reading the note. [Color=LightBlue]“Well, we at least know where to go next. Let’s search this place for a little bit and then go back to the temple. Don’t forget to put the note back, Ophee. There’s no reason to let Allyssa come back and know for certain that we’ve found it.”[/Color] [Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section] [B]Chapter Twelve: FERRETING OUT THE WIZARD’S HOUND[/B] Brandt met up with the party the next morning. The party hadn’t learned much else in the library the prior evening, and when they explained what they had found Brandt was in agreement that they may well have been battling Ankh-Bahl. However, it was not the news of Ankh-Bahl that had the party in anticipation. They wanted Allyssa and her location. Once the party had finished explaining their research, Ischarus asked Brandt what news he had managed to discover. “Any word of Allyssa’s location?” Brandt slowly shook his head. “No. I tried everything of which I could possibly think. I tried different appeals to Reah, but someone is hiding her location from me. I tried several attempts to magically locate her, but without a description the magical spying sensors weren’t able to really focus on anyone in particular. Apparently there are just too many people named Allyssa around here. I even went back to Master Searthu, but he was unable to have any success.” Semeion looked disappointed. “There has got to be some way of finding her. If only we had more information. Doesn’t the temple have a collection of spell references?” Brandt nodded in the affirmative, but his tone was clearly against Semeion’s thought. “Magic is not always the answer, Semeion. Sometimes, work must be done the old fashioned way. Sometimes in order to find someone you just have to go out and do it.” Ophee smiled. “You all found me, remember?” Semeion turned to Ophee and returned her smile, but his smile quickly turned into a look of rejection. “Yes, but we found you because you really found us. Your former master was watching us and knew where we were going to look. So, he sent you there in order that we would find you.” Charis listened to the conversation, but stared at the joint where the head of her pick had been joined with the handle. When she needed to think, she would hold the pick’s handle in her hand and rotate it over and over. She found that the rolling of the head helped her mind focus on something deeply. “Wait a minute. Maybe Ophee is still the answer.” A look of horror flashed upon Ophee’s face. “Oh, no. I’m not Allyssa. I might have been brainwashed to try and kill you under the guise of the Whetting One, but the magic mixed with the Arum Dracunculus has been removed from my system, remember? And I have been with you all in this temple every moment from the barn until now. There is no way I’m Allyssa. I’m positive of it.” Rhema chuckled at Ophee’s vehement argumentation. Of course, she knew that Ophee still carried around a guilty conscience for what she had been tricked into doing for her former master. Of course she would misinterpret Charis’ words. “No, Ophee. I don’t think Charis was trying to say that you were also Allyssa. You’ve played your part out already, and we know that. But you’re right. Your brainwashing has been purged.” Charis explained her thought a bit deeper once Rhema had comforted Ophee. “Of course not, Ophee. You’re not Allyssa. But Allyssa was brought in to replace you. Think about it. The wizard paid for you to stay in Fingerdale. He’s already got an apartment here that he rents.” Ischarus’ face brightened. “Of course! He’s already paying for the space, so he might as well use it. Do you think it is that easy? Do you think the wizard would use Allyssa to replace Ophee so predictably?” By the time he had finished speaking his face glistened like that of a child on his birthday. Semeion nodded. “Of course he would. He’s a wizard. There are many things that can be said about wizards, but most of them are logical and pragmatic. The only people who knew where Ophee lived prior to the incident in the barn were presumed dead. Putting Allyssa in the same apartment would be a hassle free and immediate solution.” Ophee reached down the front of her shirt and removed the end of a small necklace made of beads and mulberry hemp that was hanging around her neck. A bronze skeleton key hung from the end of the necklace. “Only one way to find out, and I’m going with you.” The whole party smiled at Ophee’s assertiveness. She was beginning to come into her own. Brandt also smiled and wished them well. It was clear that he was needed at the temple and would not be joining the five adventurers in their excursion across town. They were off quickly, stopping only for a light breakfast as the traveled across Fingerdale. The trip was fairly short and they soon found themselves staring up at the squatty building that had once been Ophee’s home. It wasn’t the nicest of apartment complexes, but it was only two stories instead of the normal three or four. It had been a fairly quiet home, and Ophee suddenly felt saddened at the thought of someone else living in her space. Ophee pulled the key out from under her shirt once more. “You know, I didn’t even get a chance to clean it. All my papers, belongings, books, and everything else were laid open for that wizard’s perusal. No doubt that he took advantage, of course.” There was a hint of bile in her tone. The door to the building opened suddenly, and a woman popped out from the inside. She gave the party a strange look, but then quickly turned and walked towards the center of town. The party watched her go and then moved inside the building. The stairs leading to the second story floor were in obvious need of repair, but they were still functional. The ascent up the stairs went quite easily, and Ophee slipped her key into the lock and opened the door with a single jerk of the handle. As she stepped inside, a hand reached out from behind her and jerked her back into the hallway. Ischarus pulled her back into his chest, and his sword was drawn. “Let Charis and I go first, Ophee. Allyssa may be in there, and we’ve no idea what kind of power your former master had granted to her. She’s obviously skilled, and I’d feel better if we went in first.” Ophee nodded and moved aside to let Charis and Ischarus enter. Once they made sure that the first room was clear, Ischarus motioned for Ophee, Rhema, and Semeion to enter. Ischarus disappeared into the room to the left while Charis took the room to the right. Ophee, Semeion, and Rhema moved into the room and looked out the windows onto the street below. Ophee spoke, and there was sadness in her voice. “She’s moved in. Nothing is the way that I left it. In fact, much of this furniture has been moved and lived in since I was last here. I don’t think that there can be any doubt that we’ve found where Allyssa lives.” Ischarus spoke as he returned from the room to the left. “Well, that’s obviously her bedroom, and she’s not there. She’s quite a vigorous sleeper, if the way the sheets and blanket strewn about the bed are any indication.” Charis also returned. “Nothing in the bathroom, either. Someone’s been here, and reasonably recently. There was still water in the wash basin. And it was cool, not room temperature.” Ophee looked back out the window and her eyes suddenly opened. “You don’t think that the woman was her, do you? She gave us a strange look, but I didn’t recognize her. Could she have known me?” A dark and rumbling voice spoke from behind the party. “I think that’s a clear possibility.” The voice was clearly male and quite unwelcoming. Ischarus and Charis were already facing the entrance to the room and saw the figure approach. He held two short swords, and the one in his left hand reflected green when it caught the light. Ischarus lifted his sword high and pulled the shield off of his back. Charis responded by likewise shielding herself and moving to intercept the intruder. Semeion slipped his signature spell into the approaching figure before Ischarus could converge upon him. “Thin-tok Egro.” The familiar blue pulses flashed from his right shoulder and down his outstretched arm. The blue energy launched off of his fingers and merged into two magical balls that flashed in the direction of the intruder. Each ball of energy struck the newcomer solidly, and Semeion smiled at the blow. His magic had served him well. Ischarus reached the intruder and swung hard. The man crossed the backs of his swords together and blocked Ischarus’ attack. The man laughed as his swords blocked the attack, and once they were free of Ischarus’ own sword he spoke while thrusting at Ischarus with both blades. “Allyssa told me that you would fight. I’m glad to have the honor of killing you and watching you die slowly.” Ischarus noticed that the green tint to the intruder’s left blade was from some kind of oil. He called out as Charis charged. “Watch the left blade! I think it’s poisoned!” As he spoke, he brought his own blade down and deflected the stab from the intruder’s left hand. His body tucked and rolled out of range for the man’s attack with his right hand. He managed to survive the combination unscathed. Charis arrived at the scene, but the intruder had wisely positioned himself in the doorway so that she couldn’t move around him. Unable to fight him from the opposite side as Ischarus stood, Charis took up a position beside Ischarus and swung her pick. The pointed attack nearly landed, but it was deflected at the last minute by the man’s pair of blades. Rhema had been planning to try a bit of her mind control, but she saw Charis and Ischarus both fail to land a blow. “For the sake of the poison, guys, nail him!” Her eyes focused in on the man’s pair of eyes and she pierced his soul with a mental strike. The man yelled in pain as Rhema assaulted his mind. Semeion wanted to finish the man, but he knew that he needed to save his magic. He was the most limited in resources of the party, and he would need to depend on Charis’ and Ischarus’ ability to finish the man. He watched as the opening for one of his spells vanished when Ischarus stepped forward to attack. He also watched as the man deflected the strike into the doorjamb. Ischarus’ blade stuck fast in the wall when he tried to pull it out. The man snarled as Ischarus lost his blade. “You know it’s not wise to lose your sword when facing an assassin!” The assassin’s left blade caught Ischarus on the arm and the green poison leaked into the cut. Ischarus cried out at the sudden pain from the poison, but managed to stay focused on the assassin’s right blade. As the assassin continued the attack, Ischarus struck out with his shield and knock the sword out of the hand of the assassin. As the blade clanked to the ground around the assassin’s feet, Charis returned the blow that the assassin had just given to Ischarus. The end of her pick dug into the assassin’s side, nearly dropping him to one knee. As Charis yanked the point of the pick out of the wound, thick red blood flowed freely. “Surrender now and tell us about the poison, and you live.” The assassin spat back in Charis’ direction but missed his mark. “You don’t kill, anyway.” Rhema looked at the man and grimaced. She knew he was right, and he had obviously known enough about the party. “Feel the burn of my wrath, anyway!” The assassin smiled. Her power refused to enter his mind. He had mustered up enough of a defense through the agony of the blows to ward off her assault. “Ask your husband whose burn is worse, mind witch.” Ischarus reached for the hammer at his side and swung it at the assassin. However, the man blocked his blow and Ischarus noticed that his own attack had lost some power. The poison leeching through his body was sapping his strength. The assassin returned the strike as he picked up his fallen sword. Ischarus managed to jump over the assassin’s low blow from the blade in the assassin’s left hand. When he landed, he easily spun away from the hurried attack from the assassin’s right blade. Charis swung once more and put the assassin on his back. The point of her pick dug into the rising assassin’s leg, and the man collapsed as his leg gave out below him. His head thumped hard against the floor and he passed into unconsciousness. Rhema ran to her husband. “Ischarus, how bad is it? Charis, can you heal him?” Charis nodded, but also pointed to Ischarus’ face. “I think he’ll be fine. I can’t counter the effect of the poison here, but he seems healthy enough to make it back to the temple.” Ophee had already moved to the body of the fallen assassin and was rummaging through his pockets. She pulled out a piece of paper and read the writing aloud. “The note says, ‘Araxis, there are unwanted guests in my apartment. Deal with them and meet me at the docks ten minutes after sunset.’ Of course, it is signed Allyssa.” Ischarus looked down at Ophee as she finished reading the note. “Well, we at least know where to go next. Let’s search this place for a little bit and then go back to the temple. Don’t forget to put the note back, Ophee. There’s no reason to let Allyssa come back and know for certain that we’ve found it.” [/Sblock] [/QUOTE]
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