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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 3894518" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #416] Asking Questions of the Gods[/PLAIN]"I suspect that the two are not-" Anania began, but, not letting the conversation drop, Shamalin pressed on. She did, however, take a measured breath in an effort to keep her voice from rising further with the emotion coursing through her."We were scried, Anania, just before the attack," the cleric said, her voice even but nevertheless strained. "No one but your messenger eye had any knowledge of the swords." The elf arched an eyebrow, cocking her head to the side."No one but the Dominion of Flesh Reborn, you mean?" she said. "They are allied with the Weavers and you yourself admit to an encounter with a wererat before finding one of our monitors' eyes. Is it not possible that the mage whom you allowed to escape brought word of your swords?""We did not use the swords in that battle," Ixin defended. She looked questioningly at the others and asked, "Did we?" Karak harrumphed."Ayremac did," the dwarf admitted and they glanced over at where the half-celestial was knelt in prayer. "But anyway, the wizard knew about the keys before then. He was there to take the Keys. Just like the rat pile knew about them before we left the cave.""So clearly others apart from my messenger eye knew of the swords, Shamalin," Anania told her. She sighed and looked off into the dark night. "If you do not trust me, then there is nothing I can say to sway you; my actions will have to do that for me. If it is simply that you do not like me... well, that matters little to me. I am here because it is my Sovereign's wish, not because I seek new friends." She began walking away from camp, adding, "I will check our perimeter while you decide whether or not you will abandon Huzair."There was silence for a moment until the scout had disappeared fully into the gloom. At last Shamalin spoke up. "We are not abandoning Huzair," she said. "That monster had a purpose, and six of us still remain. If it returns again, I can prepare a Dimensional Anchor to prevent it from disappearing again. Or perhaps a Planar Ally can aid us in the search. Or a Command spell... But I can do nothing without time to prepare. Unless someone has a better idea?" She looked around, but no one did. Morier caught her eye and frowned."I hate to leave and just give up on Huzair... but we don't really have a lot to go on do we?" the albino said, hesitantly. "As cold and soulless as this sounds, I think we can only afford to wait it out just a little bit before we need to move forward... unless, as Shamalin says, someone has a better idea. We'll wait for long enough to scout the area really well and see if there's any sort of clue anywhere to be found... and then... we... move on."Once again Shamalin found herself at odds with Morier. She hustled to him and sought his gaze in an effort to read in his face how he could give up on Huzair so easily. "Linger just long enough to scout the perimeter?! You're giving up!? What kind of a party does that?" She threw her arms wide as the weight of her words hung in the air. Then she turned and addressed the others. "Listen to me. I need long enough to prepare for what seems to be the only real attempt we have at tracking Huzair, or eliciting that monster's return." She took a deep breath and added quietly, "I have to try." Ixin laid a comforting hand on the cleric's shoulder. "How much time do you need?" she asked."I can pray for the spells at dawn," Shamalin said and Karak looked up at the sky."It be passed midnight now," the dwarf announced. "So we be talkin' about a few hours only." Ixin nodded and stared at Morier."I think it is time well-spent," she said. "Ayremac needs to pray to Umba for help and Shamalin needs to pray to Flor. Karak- you could pray too. It couldn't hurt and it may well allow us to retrieve Huzair. I have been on another plane and so has Morier. There is hope."Freeday, the 26th of Fireseek, 1270 AE"Anania, if Hofralix was here, would he be able to retrieve our friend?" Ayremac asked the elf as she passed him a cup of strong tea. She looked at him impassively and shrugged."Lord Hofralix is capable of a great many things. I do not know the full extent of his power," she said. "I do know that I would feel better about the wizard's chances if the Sovereign were here.""I ask, because I can fly back to New Mellorell and ask for his aid and then return to you," the holy warrior told her between sips of his cup."I don't know what Hofralix will do," Shamalin announced as she trudged back to the fire, her prayers complete. But if you fly back to New Mellorell, you may be at risk of being intercepted and attacked while you are alone.""It may be a slim chance but I think I can do it!!" Ayremac said enthusiastically."You won't need to," Sahamlin reassured him. "My Divination revealed that summoning an extra-Planar Ally would allow us to find and retrieve Huzair.""That's great!" Ixin said. "You are a valuable friend, Shamalin. Without you we'd be running around like fools half the time." Karak harrumphed at that and Morier got to his feet."So what is the delay?" the eldritch warrior asked and Shamalin looked pointedly at Ayremac."I wanted to enlist your assistance in this if I might," she said and the holy warrior's face brightened."What is it you would have of me, Mercybringer?" the Deva asked. She stared down at Shamalin with silver eyes that caught the flickering orange light from the flaming sword she carried in one slender hand. Her face was beautiful, serene and as pale as alabaster."We have lost an ally," she explained. "He was taken off this Plane by forces that seek to prevent our quest." The deva's eyes flicked to Ayremac and Shamalin felt a pang of jealousy as the attention drifted from her."Speak to me not of your quest," the celestial implored. "It is known to me, but the laws of Umba forbid me to interfere.""Then you cannot help us?" Shamalin asked and the deva looked back at her and smiled warmly."I can help you," she said. "But I must act only on the task without and not linger long on the reasons of your quest.""Thank you," Shamalin sighed and the deva nodded."I present you with a choice. I can act now and retrieve your wizard, but the price will be steep and non-negotiable, for it will not be without danger to me" she said. "Or I can give you the knowledge of how to retrieve him in a day or two yourself, for a lesser payment." She looked once more on Ayremac and, smiling, added, "Both will benefit those who defend the border between life and death."</blockquote>

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