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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PHDungeon" data-source="post: 5508229" data-attributes="member: 86320">Bella's journalSession 40:  I’m just a GirlThe tunnel shakes, collapsing around us as we run hand in hand for our lives.  The cleric runs with easy strides that I am envious of him as he pulls me ahead and away from danger.  The hand that grips mine is strong, and he does not look at me while he runs, always looking ahead with grim determination and never giving up.  He is a far more noble soul then I could ever hope to be and looking at him now in this dire situation I find hope where I normally would see none.  If I were alone, as I normally would be, I would just give up and die but with Bjorn at my side I feel that he will somehow find a way to save us, as he always has.The ground heaves suddenly beneath our feet and Bjorn falls to the ground as I am thrown forward.  Looking back I see him sliding into the dark recess of the tunnel as if being pulled by some unseen force.  His fingers dig into the dirt and he screams my name desperately.  I can hear whispers in the dark, malicious and horrible, barely understood but clear in intent.  They laugh gleefully and lament on the tortures they will visit upon their victim as he is dragged nearer and nearer.  If the clerics body reaches the dark abyss he will suffer for all eternity and never return.I stand and take a step forward toward my friend when the ground yawns open at my feet and I am separated from Bjorn by a huge chasm.  The smell of the grave rises up from the inky void and I am terrified knowing I am incapable of such a leap.  I look out across the pit and see Bjorn’s legs being pulled into the shadow at the back of the tunnel and I hear the voices trill in triumph.  His eyes are wide with terror and I hear the sound of claws rending clothing and then flesh.  His scream of torment rings in my ears and reaches into my soul.  His tear filled gaze meets mine, pleading with me to save him.Steeling myself and seeing no other choice I leap from the precipice with all my meager strength into the air….And hit the wall.Ouch.I feel a cold floor underneath me and have a sharp pain along the length of my body that brings me quickly to my senses. I raise my sweat-covered head and look around.  My memories are slow in arriving, but as my nightmare retreats from my conscious mind I can recall my surroundings and I pull myself up.  I am in one of the guest quarters of an Eladrin noble family’s household.Unconsciously my armor had reverted to its true form instead of the nightgown I make it become when sleeping.  Thankfully the leather had absorbed the brunt of the impact when I hit the wall.  I look over my shoulder and find my bed several feet away.Now how did that happen?I step back to my bed across the room.  I hear Melech and Ardyn come to my door to see if I’m all right.  Apparently I had screamed upon waking.  I frown and chastise myself for being careless.  A changeling’s safety lies in….I stop, realizing that I had just taken a single step to cross my room.Turning to the door I lift off the ground and glide gracefully to it, silver winds manifesting around me and lifting me into the air.  Unlocking my chamber I walk into the hallway.“Sorry, Ardyn. Melech.  I just had a bad dream, nothing to worry about.”Both my companions regard me with concern, not for my well being I realize, but for my sanity.  They had heard my body strike the wall and knowing I was alone can only guess what I was up to.I can feel the Mark filling my head with the knowledge of how to use my new ability, the information settles in until it is indistinguishable from my own memories.  I now know how to use my new ability as if I had always known.  The power is one of my sorceress abilities and is not from the Mark like my command of languages and rituals.  The Mark however contains much arcane knowledge and can teach me things in moments what most people take years to learn.  As time passes and it becomes more powerful it is getting increasingly difficult to tell which knowledge is mine and which is the Marks.  I clutch my head in a fleeting concern over the loss of my sense of self.Taking a deep breath I look into my friends eyes and am brought back to the present.“Actually, I could use your help Ardyn.  It seems I have acquired a new ability and I think it can benefit more than just me.  I would have preferred Turak’s help but you cannot wake up that cow until he’s ready to wake up.  If you want to assist follow me outside.”The elf and teifling are suspicious but follow me outside anyway.  I lead Ardyn to the center of a small courtyard under the stars while Melech leans against a wall and watches.I step back and focus my mind, I feel the silver wind surround me blowing at my hair and whispering in my ears like half forgotten demons.  I send it forward and it surrounds the elf.  He stands there, uncertain what to do.“Jump as high as you can”, I command.To his credit he does not hesitate and is carried by the wind about forty feet into the air.  To be honest he could have guided his flight.  When I share this ability it is the other persons will that commands the winds not mine.  Perhaps it was the lateness of the hour or the elf trusted me so much that he did not think. The magic wears off and he falls. Being an elf, however, he gracefully lands on the ground.“That’s what you get for trusting her,” Corvin brazenly whispers and returns inside.“Sorry”, I apologize, “New ability.  Thank-you.”The elf neither looks offended or impressed.  We return to our rooms shortly after.Afterwards the heroes return to Grimsburg and Bella is able to work in her workshop on a couple of new magic items.Completing the enchantment over the gloves I watch with a smile of satisfaction as the arcane aura that surrounds them fades to nothing.  My breath is quick not just with excitement but also from exertion.  My arcane powers have never come easily to me but they have increased.   I have decided that it was time to re-cast the aura mask on my equipment, but I can only do one piece of equipment a day.  As such, a process that would have been a trifle for Melech and taken an afternoon, I have needed a week and exhausted myself after each casting.My work now complete I take my trusty Endless Quiver and my precious crossbow from my workbench and within seconds they disappear from my hands.  I can still feel them at the tip of my fingers ready to be called back at my whim.  I examine my hands critically, using my arcane sight.  I fail to see a magical aura.  It worked.  I release a breath I didn’t realized I was holding.Standing I walk over to my full-length mirror willing my armor to change from normal clothes to a ball gown.  The white gloves are made with a sturdy but luxurious material that matches the gown beautifully.  With a deft hand I begin putting up my hair and look at myself critically in the mirror.  Again I focus my arcane sight.  The dress, though enchanting, does not appear enchanted.  I focus on my neck.  I had been able apply the magic for a cloak of distortion onto a lovely silver necklace that shimmers with precious stones.  I am pleased to note that it also appears mundane.  Raising my sleeve I subjected the decorative metal armband I find there to the same inspection and with the same result.I see myself looking smug in the mirror.  I appear to be some rich tart ready to go to the ball and snag some handsome prince.  Someone that anyone would look at, and if they didn’t know me, would think the most dangerous thing I could do is break hearts.  Smiling to myself in the mirror I unleash the enchantment of my items and in seconds I am in my armor with my quiver over my shoulder and my bow ready.  Belladonna Nightshade is my chosen name.  It is a lovely and innocent looking flower that can be made into deadly poison.  With every passing day it is becoming more appropriate.</blockquote>

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