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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BoldItalic" data-source="post: 7323567" data-attributes="member: 6777052">...As the drop of her blood touched the Altar Of Binding, Jeli's world changed utterly. Planets moved in the sky, continents drifted into new positions and evil dictators were replaced by other evil dictators as the course of history was rewritten. The space-time continuum twisted as the galaxy went into a spiral and the value of pi became irrational. This was cosmic.The casket sprang open with a velvet sound and something unexpected fell out. It was about the shape and size of a half-brick but where a half-brick would be rough and gritty, this was smooth and slippery, like wax."Don't touch it!" shouted Herewulf, suddenly aware of an overwhelming aura of evil. This thing was beyond evil. It was an evil that knew no bounds. And the evil had a voice."Ah, Jeleneth," said the voice. "So glad you have decided to serve me. I'm sure our little pact will be profitable to both sides. You want that, don't you?" It was a smooth, silky, seductive kind of voice that was full of malice and terrible power but at the same time promised unimaginable delights. Jeli felt exhilarated and trapped at the same time. She moaned involuntarily and a voice that was not her own spoke from her lips: "Command me, O lord!"Nord was quick to react and he brought his rapier down on the brick, hoping to destroy it somehow and break the spell that was taking hold of Jeli. But the brick slithered aside and there was a clang! as his blade hit the stone altar. He uttered a colourful phrase in pirate language.Herewulf was aghast. He tried spell after spell until he was exhausted but nothing could break the link that had now been forged between Jeli and this terrible entity. When a warlock makes a pact, it cannot be broken.Od racked his brain for any lore that might explain what this thing was, what it wanted Jeli for, and how to stop it getting it. He remembered something, a snatch of a ballad, but it was hard to think in the heat of the moment. Then it came to him. He pointed a finger accusingly at the brick. "I know you for what you are," declared Od firmly. "You are a renegade bard, who brought shame on our profession in days of old. You do not deserve to live. But I have the measure of you, for I know your true name. You are Bar-de-Door."At this, the voice lost its soapy quality and shook with anger. "Strike down this upstart!" it commanded Jeli, "Use the spells that I have granted unto you! Slay him!"But deep down, Jeli was still herself. With the cunning of her elvish ancestors, she turned the situation to her own advantage. "I will do your bidding," she declared, "in exchange for the biggest diamond in the world. Payment in advance.""What?" yelled Bar-De-Door. "I make the rules!""Actually, you don't," said Snappy and he opened his mighty jaws and swallowed the bar of soap. He looked uncomfortable for a moment and went cross-eyed (which, for a crocodile, is no mean feat), foamed at the mouth a little and then grinned."Let me out! Let me out! It's all gloopy in here!" came a small voice from somewhere about half way along Snappy. Then the voice was still.As if in response to the changed situation, the candlesticks on the altar somehow acquired lighted candles and another entity made its presence felt. This one wasn't evil but it was rather confusing because it spoke with many voices at once. About ten, probably. And it kept referring to itself in the third person as Us. "Well done," it seemed to say. "You can all level up now. Congratulations on Level Three."Uh-oh, thought Herewulf. Decision time ...</blockquote>

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