The Staff – Endless Stair
Stretching out before the group is what almost seems like an endless tower of walkways and stairs. Except the stairs go off in random directions. Some lead to doors, others lead to empty walls. Some twist and bend in a manner that is certainly not natural; starting out as a normal stair, then twisting and bending until someone one it would be walking sideways for a bit, then upside down for another. A myriad of clocks and timepieces are scattered all along the walls as well. Some tick away … but each tick does not seem to be the same amount of time. Some run backwards. Some run backwards, then forwards, then just vibrate in place.

The climb up the stairs has been long and tiring. Many more ghosts in their cells have been dispersed back into oblivion by the skill of Mage Qing since they left the Witch's cell far below. At some point during the climb, the 'caretaker' of the staff sent a floating head to call Morgan back. Apparently he had some more information to impart on completing the obliteration of this prison within limbo. Of course, it didn't just tell Morgan the message, the head proceeded to lick the Kadie until he went dashing back down the stairs to answer the call. Buffy, amused, followed after him. So, now Qing and Olivia are left alone with Kadin.

"There should only be one or two more ahead I am aware of. The door atop the stairs leads somewhere else; so I do not know what you may find beyond it. I must ask your forgiveness in that," Kadin says.

Olivia hmms and looks a little disquieted at this information, but she says gamely to the mage, "I'm willing to go in if you are, Master Qing. If there are any lost souls in there, we'd better do what we can while we're here."

The serpentine spirit mage winds his way up the stairs, long coils sometimes riding up on the walls where the staff's reality seems to twist what's up and what's down. He merely bobs his head at Kadin, trying not to show the exertion that's telling on him.

Kadin heads upwards, then, to another door (still not the top). "I must warn you about this cell," he says quietly and places his hand upon the doorknob. "Valicross was indiscriminate in what he would seek to fuel his quest. One of his acts was to destroy an orphanage. A collection of many young was equivalent two a few older and easier to obtain."

Qing's many hands ball into fists, but he quickly hides them under his robe. "Lead on," he hisses, a little too evenly.

Olivia shoots a quick glance at the Naga and frowns. Now knowing what she does about Qing's lost daughter, she inwardly hopes that this particular work won't be too much for him. At his words, however, she merely nods to Kadin to indicate that she is ready.

Kadin nods and turns the knob on the door. He steps through into another spherical-like room. Lining all the walls are little 'cots' if you can call it that, with a mixture of species sleeping upon them (Khatta, Lapi, Eee, Skeeks and Skreeks.) None of them probably pass the age of seven or eight from their appearance. The room itself feels hollow … like there is no love, no hopes; just existence. "Valicross used to laugh and say how he did them a favor, since they had no place in the world anyway, their families were lost to wars and invasions. So … he wanted to give them a greater purpose."

Olivia looks all around the room and shivers, wrapping her arms around her body as if for warmth. "This doesn't look like a greater purpose to me," she mutters.

Qing's face is tight, lidless ruby eyes scanning the room. "To give them no choice is no future at all. It is the worst sort of crime. Was there no caretaker brought in with them? No orphanage marm?"

"She was used to power one of his rituals long ago. There were more than this, but, he has used them one by one for various acts, resurrections, and empowerments of his army," Kadin says quietly and shakes his head. All around the group, the 'ghosts' seem to wake up. They stretch out and yawn, tired eyes slowly focusing on the great snake and diminutive mouse. They all look tired. Like they have been awake and trapped in an endless night. One of them curls its arms protectively around a small specter of a girl sitting next to him. "Don't take sis," it whispers.

Olivia exchanges a swift, pained look with Qing, then slowly approaches the boy trying to protect his sister. "It's all right," she croons softly, trying to appear less like a threat as possible. "We're not here to hurt you. What's your name? Mine's Olivia."

Qing lets Olivia advance, just folding his hands one over the other. Rather than frighten them with his strange appearance, he keeps his distance and begins murmuring another spell of empowerment to feed the drained spirits.

"Piotyr," the little boy ghost answers. He doesn't however, let his sister go. "Why are you here? You're just trying to trick us into going willingly to him now, aren't you?"

Olivia shakes her head and kneels down in front the boy so that they are more or less looking one another in the eyes. "No, Piotyr," she replies gently. "I'm not going to take you, your sister, or anyone else to that… man. I couldn't, even if I wanted to. He's dead now and he won't be coming back."

"He's dead?" Piotyr asks and looks up from his sister. "Is it over? Can we go home now?"

"Yes. Your nightmare is over," Olivia says, reaching out for just an instant, as if wanting to touch the boy. She seems to think the better of it, however, and settles for smiling at him instead. "Master Qing will help to set all of you free," she continues, nodding at the Naga. "He may look a little scary, but he won't hurt you, I promise. Do you believe me?"

Qing opens his hands, spreading them. Streamers of energy flow away from them, to restore the spirits as before. Strangely, however, they coalesce into… sweets, of all things. Ghostly candies, cakes, pies, drifting lazily along.

The ghostly 'candies' certainly get the attention of the 'children' surrounding them. They reach out and grab from the air whatever comes closest to them. In moments, the 'candy' is gone too and the expression of the specters is not unlike watching someone taste food after a week without. They seem to become stronger and relax at the same time.

After the candies, Piotyr finally releases his sister and sits upright. "I believe you," he tells Olivia. "What will happen to us now?"

The pallid spirit mage glances at Olivia, then at the ghostly children around them. He can't seem to meet any gaze for long, dipping his head down to hide his eyes with his broad hat.

"Mage Qing," whispers a voice from outside of the cell. "A word please?"

"Yes," hisses the snake, and he turns away, pouring himself back outside.

Olivia waits until after Piotyr and his sister have 'eaten' their fill to answer the boy's question. "I think Master Qing will use a spell to set everyone free. The bad man who trapped you in here used magic to do it, so Master Qing will have to undo that magic. It won't hurt, so you don't have to worry. All right?"

The dark Lapi is there, next to the soldier Kadin. "Let me take them," Buffy asks the Rokuga. "I might be able to give them a little more life, as rabbits. They'll be able to play in the sun, and have families, even if they won't really be fully aware of it all."

Piotyr nods his head slowly. "Will we get to see the sun again? I miss the sun," the child says and looks to his feet.

The reptile's back goes rigid as he realizes who's speaking to him. "You," he whispers. "There is… they're just echoes now. They… I shouldn't… "

"You don't want to dissolve them, I can tell," the vampire-spirit says, and even places a paw on Qing's shoulder. "I know that they aren't real, and any effort to save them is ultimately futile, but my heart doesn't really believe that, and I don't think yours does either."

Olivia, who can't hear much of what is going on outside the cell, does catch a snatch or two here and there – just enough to think that these children might be destined for something other that what she had originally thought. "I think you will," she says, then curls her fingers and 'tickles' the air close to the boy's stomach. "Unless it is raining when you get out of here, of course!" she teases.

The mage's shoulders slump, and he puts a hand to his head. "I don't… " he admits. "No, I've been a mage of spirit for too long to believe otherwise. But… for Nagai, the most important thing is the legacy they leave behind. A reminder, a monument then… to the legacy they were robbed of. I will give them over."

"Thank you," Buffy says, and even gives the reptile a kiss on the cheek.

The reptile almost flinches, but doesn't, simply beginning to work over the bindings of the young spirits in his mind. "You are a guardian of some sort, are you not? I was told you belong with a family within Stonebarrow."

Buffy nods, and then leans in close to the side of Qing's head, even ducking under his hat, to whisper, "But I have a secret: I'm not really a vampire."

Piotyr goes 'eep!' and pulls back from Olivia's fingers, even if she doesn't actually touch him. All around the room the ghosts are slipping off their cots and dropping quietly to the floor. Even Piotyr does when he's sure Olivia isn't going to try and tickle him again. And then all the ghosts start to converge on Olivia.

Beneath the shade of Qing's hat, the dark Lapi finds herself looking into a deep ruby eye. "What is your nature, then?" he murmurs.

The Lapi's own red eyes look back, and she whispers, "I don't know. But the curse was never completed. I was not bitten, but I drank the vampire's blood, and it poisoned me. I remember… I'm not sure what it means. Perhaps you could help me find out, someday?"

Olivia stays where she is, letting the children's spirits advance on her. She finds herself wondering what it would feel like if they all touched her at once… Glancing back over her shoulder to the door, she calls quietly to the others, "Now would be a good time to begin the spell, I think!"

Olivia gets the answer to her wondering … a large group of the children rush in and hug her. The net effect feels like she's being hugged by a giant bowl of chilled pudding.

Olivia shivers and laughs at the same time, trying to hug them all back – but gently. It's not exactly an unpleasant effect, really.

Qing glances over his shoulder, then nods once at Buffy, lightly bopping her with the brim of his hat by accident. "Very well. There are many things to learn out here, I've been finding. There will be time later." Finishing his studying, he beckons Buffy into the chamber with him. "Children. I will release the shackles of this place that bind you. This one will guide you… " He hesitates a moment, as if tasting the next word in his mouth for the first time. "… home."

Buffy smiles to the children, and promises, "You will never feel weak or trapped again, and there will be others for you to play with."

The children finally release Olivia from their squishy embrace. Only to inflict the same experience on the Rokuga as their collective answer to being able to finally go home.

Qing seems to draw back at first, surprised. But eventually, he settles, resting his hands on cubling heads. There's a faraway look in the mage's eyes, as if he's tapped into some long lost memory. But instead, he simply murmurs again, soft words of magic that sound more like lullaby than spell.

Olivia rises to her feet now and watches, curious to see what will happen now that Buffy will be the one to lead all the children 'home.'

One by one, some sense of weight leaves each tiny ghost. Holes begin to open in the opposite wall of the little cell, eating away at it and leaving behind nothingness, swallowing threadbare cots as it spreads.

Kneeling down next to the serpent, Buffy begins to gather the children to her. The skirts of her wedding gown fan out for the children to sit on, forming a sort of white taffeta raft.

The gathering of children of all species surround Buffy. Probably for the first time in long years, they're smiling. The braver and older ones lean in to hug Buffy. Piotyr, though turns outward to face Olivia and Qing. He waves to them, saying, "I will not forget you. Thank you."

Once the purple aura of protection flows from Buffy to cover the children, the Lapi bride turns to Qing and says, "Until we next meet, fare well Mage." And then she and her group of orphans begin to fade away.

Olivia blows the boy a kiss and waves back, saying, "You're welcome. Safe journey."

Qing begins backing away toward the door, more and more of the prison breaking off and falling away into endless aether. His arms spread wide, he ushers the group back toward the door, and in a soft voice that breaks slightly, Qing whispers, "And you will not be forgotten. You… are welcome. Goodbye."

Olivia takes her cue from Qing and also goes towards the door, thinking that the room will not exist much longer.

The cell falls away, leaving just a blank wall. Olivia and Qing are once again back on the stairwell. "The last door is ahead," Kadin says from where he rests against the nearby wall.

The witchdoctor lays his hand on the plaque next to the door, shoulders stooped as if he's aged years since he came in. He wipes away the words, and lets his hand drop. "Let us go, then," he hisses. "I grow weary, and would finish this."

Olivia nods mutely to Qing and gestures for Kadin to lead the way to the last room. However, she falls into step beside the mage, apparently not wanting to leave him completely alone. She seems to offer silent support.

"Right," Kadin says and heads upwards now. The walk to the last door goes faster than all the others. The final door is ornate. The frame carved deep with runes and twisting vines. "I cannot go through this doorway and I cannot tell you what is beyond it. So, this is my end too, I guess," the Khatta says in a quiet tone and sits down on one of the stairs.

Though Qing may not wish to show it, he does seem to find some reassurance with Olivia at his side, strange as the tall, pallid reptile may look near the small Skeek by him. He simply nods at Kadin. "Go back to Morgan, if there are any other wishes you would leave for the living and for your memory. Thank you for your guidance."

Olivia bobs a quick curtsy to the Khatta as well, saying, "Yes, thank you so much for all your help! This has all gone so much better because you were here to lead us."

"I cannot feel too many regrets to be at the end of my path; it is enough to know that my legacy was in a way, to have helped end him and protect others. My death had a purpose; not everyone can say that," Kadin answers as he manages to get back to his feet. Down the stairs the Khatta goes, leaving the Rokuga and the Skeek with the final doorway. The door itself seems to radiate cold.

Olivia watches Kadin leave for a few moments, then turns back to the door and examines it. "Do you happen to know what these runes mean?" she asks Qing, indicating the carved lettering.

"Perhaps this is where Valicross controlled this place from," murmurs Qing. He brings a hand up to bring it close to the doorway without touching it, and begins studying the written carvings. As he does so, another hand puts a milky crystal to one eye, filmed with cobweb, and he begins muttering a spell of inquiry, trying to piece together what may be protecting the door, and what may lie beyond.

Olivia backs up a pace or two, giving the Rokuga enough room to work.

The runes make enough sense to the mage. This room is some sort of an archive; a library of the arcane. The door itself is not trapped, for who would need to trap a door in their personal 'fortress'? What lies beyond the door may be Valicross' innermost secrets and discoveries.

Finding little to obstruct his way, the mage presses forward, putting his hands to the door to push through. "This is his sanctum. Perhaps here there is an answer to the questions surrounding his madness."

The door creaks and groans as it gives way. A blast of cold air rushes from the room, almost with the scent of must and old books. Inside the room is dim with only a few dribbly (Igor would be envious), candles to light it.

Olivia quirks one eyebrow at the mage, curiosity warring with concern on her face. As Qing pushes the door open and walks though, however, she merely shakes her head and follows along behind him.

The Rokuga leads the way into the chamber, looking at least a little more in his element here. His tongue flicks, tasting old knowledge and forgotten history.

Olivia starts exploring a little on her own, although she is careful always to keep the mage in sight. She peers among the rows and rows of books, trying to find something that she might even remotely understand.

The room is littered with papers and books in a variety of languages. Of course none of it is 'real', but it appears that Valicross must have used this point as an anchor for things he considered too important to really write down.

Qing runs his fingertips along the spines of books, other hands sifting through scrolls. "It is like the 'library' we found in his lair, is it not?"

Olivia nods distractedly, frowning over the title page of one of the books that she has carefully pulled from its resting place. "Although I'm trying to find out what makes this library different from the other one," she answers.

And that's when it hits both of them … little whispers in the backs of their mind. While the language seems muddled, they both manage to understand what it says … or rather what it offers. Power, plain and simple. The cost isn't so high, really. Just give into the power contained within the books. Let the power rule you and in turn it will serve you as well.

Olivia blinks a few times, idly wondering how she could 'understand' the completely foreign language that is written into the book she is holding… when she finally gasps, snaps it shut, and puts it back where she found it. "I think this place is just as bad as the last in its own way," she says, shuddering.

Qing brushes his hands over the books, tongue flicking again. "Is it? What could be done if this knowledge were used with a proper purpose? If this power could bring back the glory of the Collegias… "

As Qing's hands brush over the back of the books, the scattered papers around the room rustle, then swirl up in an unseen wind. They twist and curl together, slowly forming out a caricature of some sort of creature. A feline? Hard to say. Its fingers curl and stretch out as it slides up behind Qing, then rests its hands on one part of his shoulders. It leans forward to whisper as if Qing had an ear, "Yes. Afterall, what is power but a means to an end? Why does it have to be considered evil? Once you embrace the quest for power; all things can be yours. All things."

Olivia now turns towards the mage, her expression subtly shifting, peering at him with a look of quiet intensity on her face. "Master Qing, I know you felt exactly what I did when you-," she begins, then starts and backs up a pace when the paper creature forms and lays a 'hand' on the Rokuga's shoulder. Then she seems to gather her courage again and says quickly, "This thing is another one of Valicross' constructs. You can't listen to him!"

Qing's robes stir with the wind that gathers the scraps of parchment around, and he looks at it, then Olivia, seeming to stare through her. "Yes, his construct… the construct of a grandmaster mage of spirit, made to serve him… that could do so much, push back death itself… " He reaches out to begin taking up the dripping candles one by one, holding them up to see the writings in better light. "And what price would be tendered for the ability to do so much? Is control worth keeping if you control nothing?"

"Price is simple. You let go of what you were and become the power," the paper-construct hisses and reaches around the mage. "Let go of your burdens," it coos and strokes over the mage's chest. One of its 'claws' hooks on the string that carries the charm made by Qing's daughter and pulls it out. "You don't need such things burdening you. You are so much better than needing these simple things to cling to."

As the paper creature touches Qing, Olivia stifles a cry and starts forward, although what she would do to fight off such a thing is not clear. When she sees the mage pick up several of the candles, however, her brow furrows a bit and she stops where she is. Still, she repeats, "You can't trust him! You don't want to become just like Valicross by taking on his power, do you?"

The Rokuga's eyes drop to the wooden charm, six hands cradling a curled form. "To become power itself… " he murmurs. "… is to strike without direction and burn all those in your way, to accomplish nothing. No… it is better to control nothing at all. I will build my own power, and it will bend to MY will. You are worthless." With that, Qing reaches forward with the candles to try to press them to the sheafs of parchment.

The parchments flare to life as if they were coated with lamp oil. The construct behind him shrieks in pain and pulls away from Qing. "You fool," the creature hisses as it too starts to immolate. Patterns start to emerge on the feline paper-creature; spots. "I will find another. You had such potential, but you just won't let go of your past. You are a waste," it rasps, "Even Valicross was a disappointment in the end. He was powerful, he came so close … and he fell because he kept wanting revenge." The face of the creature turns to look at Olivia and it grins menacingly, "As for being a construct. That I may be, but I was not Valicross' construct." And that's the last heard from the creature as it explodes into a fireball. All around the room books and shelves ignite.

Olivia looks horrified as the paper creature bursts into flame – but she appears even more horrified still at what its last words imply. Yet there is no time to ponder just what they might mean, as it seems the creature wanted the burn down the entire room with them in it! "Let's get out of here!" she yells to the mage and jerks her head in the direction of the door.

Qing shields his face from the flare of light and heat, and quickly turns on his coils to join the Skeek. "I'll close the door behind us!"

Olivia calls her assent to Qing and backs quickly towards the door, keeping an eye on the mage just in case he needs any last-minute help. She starts to cough violently as the room fills with smoke, but she manages to draw nearer to the exit…

The room is glaringly bright now as the flames spread rapidly and smoke starts to fill the air. Wood cracks and snaps as the shelves start to give way, collapsing into a heap of burning rubble. Thankfully, the door is open.

Olivia covers her nose and mouth with one hand as she waves smoke away with the other, trying to see through its thickness, hoping that Qing is still safe. She's almost through the door now and into the fresher air.

The Rokuga brings up the rear, arms spread out to sweep Olivia along should she fall back, even as he weaves from side to side to avoid falling, flaming debris. Something seems to catch his attention as hurries along, spare sets of arms shielding his face. "No… it couldn't… "

More shelves start to collapse as glowing fragments of paper start to swirl and fill the air. For a moment, the swirl seems to form into the picture of a laughing, feline, face, and then it is gone. Perhaps it is just in the imagination, though.

Over the sound of the blaze and her own coughing, Olivia hears the mage talking to himself. She pauses right in the doorway, just a step or two away from the relative safety of the stairs and calls, "Master Qing? What's coughcough wrong?"

Qing raises his voice again. "Just move!" He reaches the doorway, and quickly makes to haul the door back into place. Though he doesn't pant like a mammal, his chest rises and falls hard, and his breath comes quickly.

Olivia takes the hint and darts out of the mage's way so he can wrestle with the door. Almost overcome by the smoke, she drops to one knee a few paces away and hacks in a painful-sounding way.

Once Olivia is clear, the door swings closed with with a resounding thud from Mage Qing's efforts. Outside on the stairs, there is no smoke. In fact, all that gives evidence of the inferno they escaped from is the roaring sound of a fire … that abruptly ceases within moments.

The witchdoctor leans on the door, his palms resting on it as he catches his breath, head hanging from his long neck. "Then… it is done."

Olivia drops all the way to the ground to sit on one step, finally able to relax. She takes in a great lungful of air, slowly clearing the smoke from her body. At last, she asks, "What… in the world… made you stop… in there?" she wheezes at Qing, sounding incredulous. "I almost… went back… to get you."

"… Aeztepa… " The mage slowly lifts his head up, and looks over his shoulder. "It makes sense now, slowly but surely… Necropolis, ruins that have ruined many men, including this one. An old foe."

"Aeztepa?" Olivia asks, trying out the name on her tongue. "Who – or what – is that? I've never heard of it before."

The reptile turns away from the door, folding his arms under his robes. "A nation long buried but never dead, an island of restless spirits, greedy, hungry. The Necropolis' foul artifacts still somehow find their way to mortal hands. It was on Rephidim that myself and the hero Baron Zoltan Cambio faced the foul agent of Amenlichtli."

Olivia thinks about this for a little while. "And is this… Amenlichtli… " she says slowly, probably butchering the name "… the same person who made the paper construct that we saw in that room?"

"Of that, I cannot be certain," hisses Qing, rolling his three sets of shoulders in a multi-layered shrug. "It could have been born of any number of horrors there, and my knowledge of that place is not much better than a layman's. Many are the secrets that lay forgotten on that cursed island. People do not come back to life, nor do they return from that Land of the Dead."

Olivia falls silent again for a short time, apparently absorbing this information – and trying to piece it together with other things she has seen. "But you do think Amenlichtli may have survived your previous encounter, right? Or, at least, that's how it sounds to me. This person - er, spirit, or whatever it is – wasn't a Savanite, by any chance? The only reason I say that is because the paper construct looked like a feline, then seemed to sprout spots. But I also thought that Savanites couldn't talk, either… " She shakes her head, looking somewhat confused.

The spirit master shakes his head, adjusting his spectacles. "They were an old people that bore similar marks, but they are not the Silent-Ones. As for Amenlichtli, I believe Baron Cambio faced it at some point, but I do not know the full results. What we dealt with on Rephidim was merely an agent known as Amaranth. It operated through a strange black organ embedded in a living body, and had a disturbing degree of control over spiritual power."

Olivia nods absently, getting to her feet at last. "Hmm, sounds like something completely out of my league, that's for sure," she replies, giving the mage a self-deprecating smile. Then her smile falters as she adds, "Although… the paper creature did say it would find another… you don't think it will look for someone else here, do you? For heaven's sake, we just got over Valicross trying to take over!"

"I can't be sure," hisses Qing. "I will do my best to seal the staff and destroy any remaining taint on the relics. Then I will remain to watch over Stonebarrow… for a time."