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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DustinGebhardt" data-source="post: 5333370" data-attributes="member: 82905">Session 31Never in my life did I ever feel as ill at ease than the day I  looked into that mirror. Not only could I see all that is my opposite,  Mythyria utterly destroyed my double with one spell! To see my own  capacity for evil, as well as my own mortality was more sobering than I  care to think about. I have faced demons and living dead, slavers and  magic of all kinds, but never do I wish to repeat that encounter. It  begs the question though...Where exactly does my evil self reside? Kamal  once warned of not losing myself, but who am I in the first place? A  son, adopted. A husband and father, to a tragic end. A champion of an  Immortal, the truth of which I discover more of each day. A brother, at  last. A friend, yes a friend. This is what separates me from the dark  side of the mirror. I have people I love, who love me in return. This is  what keeps me free, keeps me fighting for the same freedom for all  others. Of this I am certain; love brought me this far, and love will  see me through. Though, the dangerous opposite is ever present; a thin  line between love and its own opposite that I hope to never cross.Eriks G.Another  restless night passes and the group wakes with more visions of spilling  their own blood upon the altar. Kamal and the rangers seem more  affected this morning than the rest."Dark dreams, and a fog shrouded morning. We end this today." Kamal vows to the rising sun."A  drink to clear your heads sirs and lady?" Eriks pulls three mismatched  cups from one of the side flaps of his bag, deftly pours two fingers in  each and offers them to the trio waking from ill omens. Slight and  courteous head shakes return from the priest and Karyan, Hekuba reaches  for a cup."It is to us then, good Hekuba." I say with a smile, "First one of us done, gets the third dose!"Without  pausing to check if the half-orc won the contest, Eriks downs both of  the drinks left in his hands. With an exaggerated sigh, the rogue shakes  loose the last bit of his night time stiffness and recovers the cup  from a toothy grinned Hekuba."If you are quite finished." Mythyria  leaves the remark open ended to warn them all of the wrath that is her  impatience. "I still need an hour to prepare my spells, make yourselves  useful and break camp, but do so quietly, I thought you were good at  that Eriks."Without a sound the tall human gives a stage worthy bow  and disappears from her sight, leaving Hekuba with the full glare of the  wizardress.While Mythyria is occupied the others begin their own  morning routines. Hoppup is also preparing spells, Karyan, Hekuba, and  Mort are repacking tack and gear. Kamal, though he has already prayed  for his spells and felt the power surge within him excuses himself to  just out of earshot of the camp. "You can stop hiding Eriks. Just because I cannot see you, does not mean I did not see which direction you went."Stepping  through foliage and fog, Eriks gives Kamal a friendly smile. "One of  these days, she's just going to burn me to a crisp, I know it.""And you would likely deserve no less." "Ouch" Eriks mocks a wound across his face as Kamal's goes deadly serious."There is something wrong here Eriks, something inherently out of place, I know you can feel it.""I  can, more acutely perhaps than I thought I ever could." The rogue's  hand went instinctively to his coaster - a magical item given to him by  the Immortal Cayden Cailean - that is slowly teaching Eriks the path of a  hero.Not missing the hand's destination, Kamal continues, "It is of  that which I wish to speak. I have noticed a change in you Eriks. After  bringing you from undeath, you told me that Cayden Cailean had chosen  you. But it is more, not so?""It is." Eriks' face goes tight and his voice becomes barely a whisper."I have observed powers from you; granted by the Immortals yes?""Yes" is all the reply the rogue can muster."Do  not misunderstand my intent Eriks, I count you a dear friend, but I  know too well the draw of power. Sarenrae grants me the use of her  divine energy daily, and I hope always to use it in a manner that befits  her. But in so doing, I have given up who I once was. Do you  understand?""The powers granted me by Cayden are not my own.""Yes,  but they are yours to use. To serve an Immortal the way we do is to  relinquish control to that Immortal, while simultaneously keeping  yourself. Do you understand?""We are more than vessels of power, we  are living examples of our chosen patrons." Eriks, had pondered this all  for quite some time, but had not the courage to broach the conversation  himself.Kamal nodded his approval and continued. "The immortals  choose who they will for a reason Eriks, I have no doubt of that for  either of us. Remember that, you were chosen as you were. Power can  easily sway lesser men, and temptations appear as an easy path. Do not  lose yourself Eriks, Cayden is counting on you to be you.""But who am I?" The tall man whispered to no one, nearly forgetting that Kamal was still there.As  the pale haze  of dawn broke into an opaque brightness in the fog,  Eriks pondered his  question. Much had transpired since the day he lost  his family and vowed  vengeance on those who took his girls away. Even  then, he had kept his  sense of honor in not ever taking the life of  another; he had always  felt it was not his place to decide who should  live or die. The words resounded in Eriks' mind, "Cayden is counting on you to be you.""You  are you, Eriks. A husband, father, brother, and friend. You have passed  through death, undeath, and I cannot say what else. To be a hero, if it  is even possible, means making the choices that others cannot, finding  the solutions that others do not see. With that, the priest walked back to the camp and began aiding the others in preparing to re-enter the shrine of Demigorgon.The group cautiously returned to the room that houses two thrones, two mirrors, and two candles. "There  is certainly something of a duality that must be completed here." Eriks  states more to himself than anyone in particular, "And I know that the  mirrors are trapped in a most fiendish way; Mythyria, would you lend a  hand?"The rogue and wizardress proceed to successfully stutter  through the arcane words of disarming on each mirror and immediately the  group goes to work trying to put together a sequence of events to  proceed deeper into the temple. Each time, as the second candle is lit, a  small explosion accompanies it and raises our frustrations. Eriks tells  the group to sit tight, while he ponders what sequence they have not  yet tried."Of course! Cayden's Cup, why didn't I think of it  before?" Eriks takes a drink to sooth some of the remaining char marks  from previous attempts and returns every piece of the puzzle to their  starting points. "Okay, watch and remember, 'cause I might not stay in this room once this is done." First  the man lit the West candle, then sat in the East throne, but just as  the wryly smiling human turned and touched the corresponding mirror, he  realized that the trap in the piece had reset itself. Eriks disappeared  into the mirror and a shadowy vile version of the rogue jumped out in  his place. The evil Eriks gave a grin more sinister than sly, drew his sword, and began an approach on the awestruck group.Wasting  no time, Mythyria sped through a flaming ray spell, adding certain  emphasis to boost the spells power. Twin rays of arcane fire connected  squarely onto the evil facsimile's chest and left little more than a  smoldering husk. With the copy defeated, Eriks, the real Eriks, emerged  from the mirror with an apologetic face that looked more like child that  knows he's in trouble."Well, you're still in this room." Mythyria commented sarcastically. "Though, I must say I've wanted to do that for some time." The group shared a laugh at this and Eriks, defeated, disarmed the mirrors and tried once more."So,  again. IF this works, I will be transported deeper into the temple. Do  as I did, and you should all come to the same place." Eriks reported  with slightly less confidence than before.Repeating the first steps,  only this time not being swapped as he touched the first mirror, Eriks  smiled knowingly at the group. "Here we go."Eriks stepped to the  East candle and lit it, when no explosion was forthcoming, he virtually  skipped to the West throne to sit, turned to touch the second mirror,  and disappeared."We should make haste" Kamal stated emphatically, "We know not the dangers beyond the mirror." One by one, the group went through the sequence Eriks had shown them and the party found themselves in a strange room indeed.The  upper level connected to the wall at three points, and in the corner a  set of stairs led to the upper chamber. The entire room was cast in an  eerie red glow that seemed to be pulsating from the very walls, but  originating from a circular pool of deep crimson just in front of them.  Above them, the upper level connected to the wall at three points. "The  blood of Demigorgon." Kamal nearly spat the words. Before any of them  could ponder more on the nature of the room, two familiar thuds were heard on either side of the group."Invisible  Bar-Igura!" Karyan warns the group. Before most of the group has had a  chance to even draw weapons, one of the creatures pops into view with  its hulking arms wrapped around Kamal. Mythyria and Hoppup begin their  familiar harmonies of casting, the lizard wizard proves faster. A  hypnotic spray of light and colors fan in front of the lizard man and to  the left of Eriks. Though the invisibility of the monster is not  usurped, a clear howl is heard, alerting the group that the spell has  had at least some success.Mort, seeing Kamal's distress, rushes in  and lands a well placed blow to the ribs of the Bar-Igura holding the  priest. The beast goes rigid from the attack, but shows no sign of  taking any injury. This proved counter productive however, as the huge  creature toppled on top of Kamal, pinning the priest of Sarenrae to the  floor. Hekuba and Karyan move in and slash at the stunned Bar-Igura, but  the lines cut into its flank disappears as soon as it is drawn.  Mythyria's spell is at last completed, and a ghostly hand appears in  front of the wizardress. Everything seemed under control until a  tell-tale pea sized orange orb flies into the group. As an inferno  erupts, engulfing the whole group, another creature appears; this one  with a thick serpentine body with a human like face that has angles  entirely too sharp to be anything of this world. "A Naga." Mythyria reports almost fascinated, just before she falls into casting another spell."It's  mine!" Eriks shouted as he activated the flight ability in his boots  and soared toward the snake-like creature. As he sails away, the rogue  intones a prayer to Cayden that sets his blade and the Naga aglow in a  similar faint blue light.Hoppup joins Mythyria chanting, and again  finishes before the elf. Three bolts of arcane energy sail unerringly  into the creature atop Kamal. Hekuba, and Karyan continue their  ineffective assault on the beast, and Mort begins to climb the wall to  join Eriks in the fight with the Naga; which has begun chanting in an  alien tongue. Kamal crawls from under his burden, to hear Hoppup cry in  pain. The other Bar-Igura reveals itself as it bowls over the lizard  wizard in an excruciating crunch. Mythyria finishes her casing at last  and directs the spell into her ghostly hand. The hand connects on the  thick hide of the creature howling over Hoppup, but the electric charge  is wasted as the beast's flesh resisted the spell. It has decided,  however that enough is enough and teleports away. Mythyria and  Hoppup continue their mismatched spell song. Hoppup finishes his casting  just before the other Bar-Igura tackles the lizard wizard to the floor.  The beast's flesh smolders with the electric touch of Hoppup's spell  and even as it yelps in pain Mythyria finishes her own casting. The  ghostly hand shimmers once more with power as the elf moves it onto the  wrestling beast. It visibly drains in color, as Mythyria surges with the  life stolen from the creature. Kamal invokes the power of his goddess  and the group feels more confident of their blows. Karyan connects with  her twin blades, and though her strikes are true, the wounds do little  damage. "Let's try somethin' new." Hekuba taunts as he activates his  ram-faced ring. A concussive blow just barely misses knocking the  Bar-Igura off of Hoppup, as the half-orc curses unpredictable magic. Eriks  flew true toward the Naga, and made a feinting swipe at the thing's  head. The snake creature fell for the ruse and bunched into a shorter,  wider target. The rogue struck twice against the evil thing, boring deep  holes in the things flesh. "Save some for me!" Mort called out,  even as the monk breached the upper level, rushed forward, and connected  a flying kick to the bleeding creature. It's incantation lost, the  snake creature willed itself back into invisibility, leaving Eriks and  Mort wary, but smiling at its pain. "Nothing else for it" Eriks says  with a smile as he drives his blade twice into where the Naga should  have been. The second point, connects, and though Eriks can still feel a  spiritual connection between his blade and the creature, he also is  sure that the thing is slithering away. Mort launches into a flurry of  punches and kicks, but the Naga is not struck by any of the monk's  efforts.Below, Kamal begins to move toward the stairs to join the  drunken masters as he veils himself in protective magic. Mythyria  follows the cleric, keeping an eye on the many alcoves set into the  walls on the lower level. Karyan's strike remain true, but still  ineffective against the Bar-Igura's thick hide. Hoppup and the creature  continue to struggle on the floor, the lizard wizard scoring another  electrifying hit against the creature. Hekuba, looks to his weapons, and  to Karyan's, grunts in frustration, and again activates his ram-headed  ring. This time, the concussion strikes the Bar-Igura, sliding it and  Hoppup across the floor and into the wall. A howl of pain is heard and  the fabric of space bends around Hoppup. The lizard wizard keeps his  wits enough to not be transported away as the Bar-Igura retreats in the  manner it is so accustomed."The Naga remains!" Eriks yells as he  flies and blocks a set of double doors on the upper level. Mort moves  beside his rogue friend, and the rest of the group begin cautiously  climbing the stairs opposite the double doors. Hoppup and Mythyria cast  protective spells of their own, and the room goes quiet for a heartbeat.Never  to be outdone, Eriks pulls a wand from his belt and casts a protection  of his own, even as Mythyria adds to her layers. The group goes quiet  once more and an unease creeps into the room.Eriks begins looking across the room once more, this time however, his eyes have a soft green glow. "I'll  find that snake, by thinking like a snake." Mort claims as the monk  uses astonishing speed to make a serpentine pattern across the upper  level toward the stairs. Hoppup and Hekuba spot another door near the  stairs and begin investigating it just as an all too familiar orange  glow bursts all around them. The Naga appears on the lower level, having  lost its invisibility with the attack, and those caught in the flames  curse through smoking armor and clothes. Kamal and Mythyria burst into  casting, Kamal also running to the edge of the upper level. Mythyria is  the faster, her ghostly hand once more lights with power, moves to  attack, but is dodged by the slithering foe. The Naga is not so lucky  against the priest, who finishes his chant and sends a ray of pure  sunlight into the creature, burning its flesh. Karyan and the others  begin to run back down the stairs, recklessly taking them two at a time.Eriks  flies at the Naga and proves to quick for his own attack as he thrusts  his blade too late to connect to the snake creature. Mort, in an effort  of brave heroics or boastful showmanship dives off of the upper level  into a flying kick the connects squarely on the long body of the beast.  Hekuba and Karyan flank the creature, Karyan drawing its defenses away  from the half-orc as he connects to slice of scale and seared flesh. The  Naga coils in pain and gazes deeply into the half-orc's eyes. Hekuba  can hear a voice in his head assuring him that the snake creature is no  foe and this is all a misunderstanding. But the stubborn orcling denies  that call and instead roars his frustration back into the Naga's fine  featured face. Hoppup throws an enchanted dagger rather haphazardly  toward the creature, but misses hitting; fortuitously missing Eriks,  Mort, and the rangers as well. Mythyria's ghostly hand touches the snake  thing and she assures the group that she has now limited it's spells.  Kamal falls ambush as both Bar-Igura reappear on the upper level. The  priest rushes through a prayer that allows him to open a hole underneath  one of the creatures, but it jumps to safety just in time.Eriks  reorients himself and sees that the Naga is busy with four defenders,  just as any rogue would like. "In Cayden's name, die already!" The man  screams; the warcry is the perfect addition to the presently distracted  Naga, and Eriks drives his blade into the creature's upturned eye. The  fine elven blade sinks to the hilt and the Naga crumples in a heap.  "Great, now finish these!" Kamal yells at the group. Hoppup, his hand  still crackling with electricity, slaps the appendage against the  Bar-Igura closest to him. The charge leaps onto the creature, and  finally stops its heart. The rest of the group runs back to the stairs  to finish the wretched thing, even as it jumps onto Mythyria. The elf is  caught but for a moment before her lithe body slides free of the  thing's embrace."I've not much left!" Hoppup yells as he sends  another three bolts of mystic energy into the Bar-Igura. Mort races past  the rest and begins his squall of fists and feet. The creature proves  more nimble, and turns to jump to the lower level. "Eriks! To you!"  Karyan calls, as she see the things intent. The Bar-Igura leaps from the  ledge, but is more unbalanced by Mort's attacks than it knew. It's  footing is precarious, and instead of a controlled jump, it falls the  thirty feet from the upper level. Ungraceful to the last, the beast  lands rump first and a loud crack can be heard even through its thick  muscle. A heartbeat later, the creature collapses, having broken its own  back.</blockquote>

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