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Message: <blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 4430039" data-attributes="member: 11">Session #25 – “Smoke & Ruin” (part 1 of 3) [sup]1[/sup]Meanwhile Telémahkos had been having some adventures of his own.   After quickly dispatching the wild dog in that had cornered him in the alleyway, he had the unfortunate experience of being chased by a whole pack of them, possessed of great strength and intelligence, their eyes glowing red, their fur and color shifting in the lights and shadows.  Eventually, he hid, only emerging when he began to smell smoke.The burning of the seedy quarter of Sluetelot sent him running to Death & Taxes to find the others, but only found Barton cleaning blood off the floor of the abandoned common room.“What happened here?” he asked.“The priest of Ra… He killed Anouk and one of the patrons…”[sup]2[/sup] Barton said, looking up with teary eyes. “He went with the others to <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Havesting" target="_blank">Havesting</a>…”But before the blond Briareus got the fortress gate, he heard word of them leading the efforts to fight the fire, but no one at the plaza was quite sure where they had gone.  Instead, he ended up rounding up a group of the town’s kids and bringing them to the Temple of Isis.  Upon his arrival, the priestesses ended their sequestration and opened the doors to the temple to the children and refugees, administering to the injured, and creating food and water for all of them.  He befriended an urchin girl named Mirth, and used her help to round up more people that needed aid, and got some of the older kids to help against the fire. It was when he was making his third trip leading people to the temple that he ran into Floris Tenbrook.  Telémahkos threw his floppy feathered hat atop Mirth’s head and sent her along. [sup]3[/sup]“According to some dwarves I had fighting the fire, they headed right into the middle of it,” Floris said, when asked if he has seen Bleys and the others.  “They must have had a pretty good reason to do so…”Telémahkos was distracted, for he caught sight of a huge wave with vague bulging arms and a swelling chest rising from the gates of Havesting and smashing into the edge of the fire.  The <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Waveservants+of+Tefnut" target="_blank">waveservants of Tefnut</a> had conjured elementals to fight the fire, and now the tide was finally turning.“Maybe I’ll be able to find a way in that way…” Telémahkos mused aloud.“Your funeral…” Floris shrugged. “But listen, your cousin… You’d better tell him he had better watch his mouth.  He challenged my authority in public, and if he doesn’t apologize, I am going to have to challenge him to a duel.”“I’ll talk to him…” Telémahkos sighed, he took off where a great wall of steam now rose, the huge elemental and several smaller ones plunging into the walls of flame. In Jakos’ tower Bleys bound the wounds of the warlock swordsman.“I wish we still had the Amulet of Fallon,” Timotheus said with an edge of complaint in his voice. [sup]4[/sup]“Laarus has it,” Bleys replied.“What? He not only refuses to aid us, but he has the Amulet and hasn’t been using it?” Timotheus voice grew deep with rancor. “Does Ra want us to continue to suffer our burns and bruises or something?”“You and I agree,” Bleys said. “I believe we should use it in case of an emergency, and this is one…”“I hate my fncking cousin,” Markos said.“Well, we are in no shape to continue as we are,” Timotheus added.“Again, I agree,” Bleys replied.“Is everyone alive in there?” It was Laarus of Ra calling into the tower from the doorway below. The sounds of the fighting had died and he grew worried about his companions.“Barely, no thanks to you,” Markos called, coming to the window with the broken shutters. He called down. “You bald fnck!”Victoria made her way back outside to inform Laarus as what had happened in the tower.  The others followed.  “Laarus, will you heal us, or would that be aiding and abetting?” Markos asked.“There is also one of the guardians above who I have bound, but is close to death,” Bleys said.  The watch-mage kneeled down and scooped some of the snow, rubbing it against a bruise on his face.  “The monk has been vanquished, and should not awaken for some time.” [sup]5[/sup]“He should be fine as long as he is not moved,” the priest said coldly.“I still don’t understand why you will not come in and help us,” Timotheus said.  “It is like saving people from a burning building, you don’t wait to ask permission if you can come in…“Yes, Do you feel Timotheus was trespassing when he saved that old woman and the child…” Victoria argued.“That is different,” Laarus replied.“That is beside the point,” Bleys interrupted. “We require the Amulet of Fallon.”“That is not for us to use,” Laarus said.The watch-mage’s eyes narrowed. “Laarus, I do not know why you will not use the amulet, whether it is pride or piety, but I am asking now that you either use it or to give it to someone who will…”“If I truly believed it would help the people of Sluetelot then I would do so, but I do not.” Laarus was resolute.”What do you think we are trying to do here?” Timotheus anger brimmed over. He turned to Markos.  “Why is he even part of this group if he is not willing to help us?”“He’s a cock, a fncking cock,” Markos replied. “There is no other answer…””The amulet is the property of the <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Medicus+of+Fallon" target="_blank">church of Fallon</a> and not ours to use,” Laarus added.“You will not give it to me?” Bleys the Aubergine asked.“No, I will not,” Laarus said.“This is our own fault,” Markos growled. “We thought he would be the best judge of its use, and we were clearly wrong…”“We may have to wrest the amulet from him by force,” Bleys said to Timotheus when he took the brawny warrior aside while Victoria tried to reason with Laarus about both the amulet and the entering the tower.“Fine,” Timotheus said with finality. “I’m disgusted with him.  I mean, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Medicus+of+Fallon+Characters" target="_blank">Medicus</a> will heal goblins for Fallon’s sake!  Are we less than goblins?  Just give me the word…”“What? What’s going on?” Markos came jogging over, attracted by their sharing quiet words as they walked back into the tower.“I want Laarus out of the group,” Timotheus complained.  “He’s breaking the oath we all made when we signed the charter that we would help and support each other.”“I may hate him, but I think you are wrong,” Markos replied.  Timotheus’ jaw dropped.  He had never heard Markos defend his cousin.”He is zealous, but he is nothing if not sincere in his belief,” Markos continued. “He is not being selfish.”Timotheus sniffed his disapproval. “It’s in Bleys’ hands anyway…”They came back outside, but Bleys told the others he was going to think it over as he looked around the tower some.“Aren’t you the one always telling us not to go off alone?” Timotheus replied.  “I am not as reckless as some,” Bleys said not looking back.“From what I know of the Church of Fallon the welfare of the people comes first. Not using the amulet helps no one,” Victoria was saying to Laarus as the watch-mage passed them. “I do not think the Fallonites would mind our using it to heal ourselves that we might get to the bottom of this threat to Sluetelot.”“That is for them to decide,” Laarus said. “Not us…”Bleys did not go far.  He noted the kitchen Markos had discovered before and found some servant’s quarters and dry storage.  Upstairs were some spartan guestrooms and more storage for things like bedding and housewares.  There were stairs leading up to the tower’s upper level, but he did not go further.  When he came back outside Victoria and Laarus were still talking, while Timotheus did what he always did when bored, he practiced his sword forms.  Markos was observing the dancing black light behind the great encasement of ice atop the tower. Great walls of steam were rising from the far edge of this quarter of Sluetelot near where they figured the edge of the fire would be.“Laarus, I will ask you one last time, because you are a priest of Ra and I respect you and your office, but it is imperative that you allow us to use the amulet even if you are unwilling to use it yourself,” the watch-mage said.Laarus shook his head. “I will not.”“If you think that doing nothing will serve <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Isis" target="_blank">Isis</a>, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Ra" target="_blank">Ra</a> or <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Fallon" target="_blank">Fallon</a>, then by all means continue to do so, but if you will not use the amulet hand it over before anyone else dies!” Bleys the Aubergine’s normal calm demeanor had vanished. He was barking his words with deep anger, his hand open waiting for the priest to comply.“Who has died?” Laarus asked, his voice growing terse as well.  His face revealed his dislike of being yelled at.“The two people you killed in Death & Taxes! Among others!  Do you think we managed to rescue every single person from that fire?  Think on that while you wait outside.  Now, will you hand over the amulet or must I take it from you?” Bleys continued to yell.“And is that what you will do?” Laarus asked, growing calm again.  The others looked on with growing tension.  Markos’ hands were balled into little calloused fists at his sides, and his face grew red.“Yes! I have made that very clear, I think,” Bleys spat back.“Cousin, can you just not be an obstinate fool for a moment?” Markos asked through clenched teeth.“You are overstepping the law,” Laarus replied quietly.“I AM THE LAW!” Bleys yelled.Around this time, Telémahkos was atop the roof of a smoking building, looking for a better vantage point from which to plot a route through the burning streets. He’d spotted the tower with it great cap of ice at the center of the fire and knew that that had to be where the others had gone.  He leapt into a cart full of damp hay and the shrieked as he did not notice how it was smoldering below.  He leapt out and hustled down a narrow alley and leapt through a curtain of flame and past the collapsing frame of a house.  On the other side was a thick wall of smoke.  He covered his mouth and sprinted blindly, brushing against a hot brick wall.Telémahkos tumbled to one side making a dash across a street and leaping over a low crumbling wall.  He took a risk of squeezing between two close buildings and cried out when a jet of flame licked out of a small window.  He leapt and rolled patted at his clothes, but finally he spotted a street leading to the tower plaza and made a break for it.  He arrived at the edge of the round plaza and noticed his fellow Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland yelling at each other in front of the tower door.“You know what? Fnck the law!” Markos said, and he stepped in and swung a fist at Laarus’ face.  The priest of Ra easily sidestepped it, allowing himself a smirk.  Victoria immediately stepped between them grabbing at Markos, but the skinny mage shimmied away.  “Markos, stop! This never ends well for you,” she said. [sup]6[/sup]“Get off me!” Markos whined and shoved his palm right in Victoria’s face and pushed her away, swinging around her to slam a fist into his cousin’s face.  Laarus took a step to regain his balance.  “You gangrenous cock!” Markos swore.  He looked around wildly. “This is between him and me and has been a long time coming.  Everyone stay back!”  He moved in again, fists raised.“Quarreling and fighting among ourselves serves no purpose,” Laarus said.  He began to chant, calling on Ra to enthrall the hearts and minds of his companions with divine truth.  However, despite his prayer, he had enough presence of mind to leap back and avoid a punch from Bleys. Unfortunately for him he did not realize that Timotheus had moved in behind him, and he stepped right back into arms of the brawny man.  The priest’s arms were pinned.  “You can take that amulet from him any time you want now,” Timotheus said to Bleys.“Good move, Tim!” Markos said.  He reached for the priest’s belt, having to push Victoria away once again, as she grabbed at him.  Her efforts seemed a bit half-hearted.  Laarus was still squirming in Timotheus’ pin, so Bleys slammed another satisfying fist into the priest’s face.  Markos pulled the amulet free and stepped back, and Laarus managed to burst from Tim’s grip.  As Bleys moved in again, his anger getting the best of him for once, Tim stepped around Laarus and put his hands up. “Stop! I think that’s enough. It’s over!  They have the amulet now, Laarus doesn’t, that’s all there is to it.”Laarus did not look like he was going to continue the fight, but Markos kept his wary eye on his cousin.“You are all beating on Laarus without me?” Telémahkos asked with a wide smile and a wink. “I feel so left out!” “Where have you been?” Timotheus scolded.  Telémahkos gave a quick recounting of his adventures with the wild and seemingly possessed dogs, his gathering of the children and leading them to the temple of Isis, and about the elemental creatures the waveservants of Tefnut were summoning to fight the fire.“So, why are you fighting Laarus?” Telémahkos asked unable to hide his smile, shining bright from his soot covered his face.Laarus walked off as the others told Telémahkos what had happened, the events leading them to the tower, those within and Laarus’ refusal to use the Amulet of Fallon.  Telémahkos just shook his head.“Here…” Markos handed Telémahkos the amulet, as he walked to intercept Laarus.  Telie and the others went back into the tower covering some more details of what had been happening.“Is it true Laarus killed two people?” Telémahkos asked. “Yes, at the inn,” Bleys replied.“He didn’t mean to, he was possessed,” Timotheus clarified.“Right… So maybe his reticence to act here is because he feels guilty and worries he might do something else that would endanger innocents,” Telémahkos suggested“That is irrational,” Bleys said.“Okay, let’s see if we can get this thing to work,” Telémahkos put the amulet around his neck and held it to his heart, calling to Fallon.  He felt his burns and bruises lessen ever so slightly, recognizing the comforting warmth of divine healing magic.  “Thank you, Fallon…” He said, and then handed it to Timotheus.  “It works… Kind of… Just hold it and pray to Fallon…” Timotheus did just that, but nothing happened.  He shook it and looked at it and then clasped it in his big hands, held to his chest.  Nothing happened.  He let out a frustrated sigh and passed the amulet to Markos as the mage walked in.  Markos Ackers had been trying to convince his cousin to accompany them while they finished searching the tower for Jakos and the source of the sleeplessness.  Laarus Raymer of Ra continued to refuse.Markos put the amulet chain over his head and held it to his heart. “Oh Fallon, please ask the gods to grant some wisdom to my cousin Laarus.  I want this not for myself, but to aid others…” Nothing happened.  Shrugging he took it off and passed it to Bleys but as their hands brushed, Bleys felt himself begin to slowly and steadily begin to heal.  Soon it was as if he had not been leaping through fire and fighting monks and warlocks all day.“I humbly thank you Fallon,” Bleys said aloud, and then he put the amulet around his neck and was able to heal some small wounds on Markos and Timotheus with a touch. Tim was obvious annoyed that his own attempts had not worked. The watch-mage gave it back to Timotheus.  “I must not be doing it right,” Tim said after he tried again, disappointment in his voice.  He handed it to Victoria.  She slipped the amulet around her neck and soon was able to dispense small amounts of healing, and then nothing…“Fallon has spoken,” the militant said, and began to put the amulet away. “Wait!” Timotheus protested. “I want to try again.  I never put it on.  No one told me you had to put it on for it to work!”“Well you saw everyone else it worked for put it on,” Telémahkos replied.“You were the one that told me I just needed to hold it!” Timotheus complained.  He slipped it over his neck and soon he was able to cure some minor wounds as well. It was passed to Markos who finally managed to use some as well.  It was given back into Victoria’s care and she carefully wrapped it and put it away.“Maybe we should have used it on those fellows we hurt,” Timotheus suggested.  Instead, Victoria called on Anhur to make sure the warlock swordsman’s wounds did not re-open and then they carried the two guardians down to the lower level to leave them with Laarus. “If we end up releasing some great evil in here and have to flee we want them out of harm’s way,” Markos reasoned.…to be continued…-------------------------------------------------Notes:(1) This session was played Sunday, February 17th 2008 in Brooklyn, NY.(2) See Session #23 for the tragic events.(3) These events were determined over email/IM discussion with Telie’s player.  We came up with actions that made sense to cover for the character’s absence during the player’s absence. I told him we would start with him at the point where he ran into Floris Tenbrook and asked after the other Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland.(4) The Amulet of Fallon was retrieved from the Tomb of <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Dalvan+d%27Amberville" target="_blank">Dalvan Meir</a> in Session #20.(5) Tellum was beaten into unconsciousness. See Session #24.(6) Victoria is of course referring to Markos’ two other fistfights with party members in Sessions #4 and #5, both of which Markos lost.</blockquote>

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