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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Iron Sky" data-source="post: 4897894" data-attributes="member: 60965">Session 23, Part 1 <Note: I have the next week-and-a-half off from work, so my goal is to post once-a-day for the next week, before I head off to my sister's wedding.>Kormak watched as Bail threw himself at the gate and dug his claws in, scaling it in vertical leaps while Harold flew quickly backwards away from the ghost, scrambling for his bow.  Then with a sharp word from Suniel, he and his acolytes unleashed a dozen simultaneous blasts of magic and blasted the ghost into rapidly dissipating yellow vapors. Harold stared, wild-eyed at the space where it had been while Bail finished scaling the door and stood on the parapet near one of the gate towers. “We have to cleanse this city,” Harold said, turning to look down at the party.  “I will not rest until every single undead abomination is destroyed.” Bail looked in at the city.  “This is a big place, cleansing it could take weeks.  Don't we have more pressing matters, like Iron Sky and gathering the True Stones?” Harold pointed a finger at the half-dragon.  “We are in the lands of the Crystal Towers.  As the highest ranking member of the Crystal Towers military present, I order you to help me cleanse the city.” Bail snorted.  “I follow only the Dragon's orders, not yours human.” “What, Gilderalin?” Harold said.  He looked down at Suniel.  “Why do we even have this Undercouncil spy here with us in the first place?” “Well, he does have somewhat of a point Harold,” Suniel said, arching his neck to look up at the two of them.  “None of us are citizens of the Crystal Towers and so, while I will follow the laws of the Crystal Towers, that does not mean we are under your command.” “Crystal Towers is under martial law, that means the military makes the laws.  Right now, I am the military!” Harold said, his body rigid.  “Leave your followers here where they'll be safe and come with me.  It is time to prove once and for all that you are free from the taint of the Ashen Tower, Suniel.  To redeem yourself in the eyes of the world.” Kormak found the archer's stiffness and tension almost comical as he floated in the air above them.   “I didn't realize that there was still and question about that,” Suniel said softly.  “And while I do seek redemption for what I have done, I will choose its manner, not you Harold.” Kormak spotted a spec of black against the gray and white of the clouds.  As he watched, it grew quickly larger. “Gem Eye incoming!” he shouted, pointing up. The others reached for weapons, but Harold, bow still in-hand, glanced up and fired in one motion.  “There is no alternative,” he said.  “We will cleanse the city.” His arrow clanged into the Gem Eye two hundred feet above them and the Gem Eye lurched and fell even faster, disintegrating into nothing but flakes of rust before it even hit the ground.    “Did you just see that?” Bail said, pointing at the sky.  “Iron Sky is here too, near your precious Crystal Towers.  It is the real threat.  We need to get this gate open and get the turtle on the way to the Crystal Towers.” “The True Stone of Lightning is in the Crystal Towers,” Keeper said, nodding.  “I can sense it more finely and there is no where else it could be located from here.” “Suniel's minions will have to stay here then,” Harold said, looking at Bail and pointing down at the turtle.  “That ghost flew through the wall.  What chance do you think they have if, while we are out fighting in the city, another one comes through the wall of the turtle to them.” “Well, I thought they did pretty well a minute ago,” Kormak said.  “Better than I did here sitting on my hands.” “They are not under your authority, Harold,” Suniel said. “If they enter the city, they'll be killed too, just like everyone else who stayed in this city!” Harold said, nearly shouting.  “You want them to die too?  I won't have them dying here while I am in charge.  Can't you see, the Ashen Towers has to be stopped before Thessalock destroys everything!  Crystal Towers is Felskein's only hope. Why can't you see that?” Suniel and Harold stared at each other for a tense moment, Harold's chest heaving and face flushed, Suniel almost totally still.  Finally Suniel looked away.  “Then perhaps we should part ways.  We know where one or two other True Stones are, we can find those while you deal with the situation here.” “Sounds like a plan,” Bail said, jumping off the wall, hooking his claws into the wood of the door, sliding down, and casually walking towards the turtle's mouth.  The company was suddenly in motion, preparing to ready the turtle for travel.  Kormak scrambled up the scaffolding and stared up at Harold. There was a crazed look in Harold's eyes, his look a mix of anger and desperation and anguish as he looked between them and his fallen city.  Harold's jaw clenched and Kormak's eyes widened as the archer raised his bow and drew an arrow, the clenched-white of his knuckles clearly visible even with the distance between them. Now this should be good, Kormak thought, finding a comfortable place on the scaffolding to watch what was about to unfold.</blockquote>

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