Fall of Water (27 Jun 2002) Our heroes take on the evil water mages of Caer Sidi.

Before leaving Galon Annwn, Agatha buried Father Kelby by the stone chapel, for which the old priest was grateful. "Tell the people of Caer Sidi that a new caretaker is needed," his ghost whispered at the last, all but invisible in the daylight. "My blessings upon you all, my children, and the Lord surely smiles on your good work here as well."

When they returned to the chapel, it was Sir Lefallon who pointed out that there was no glow from within, and indeed, it seemed that the Holy Grail had passed on... But water continued to flow miraculously from the spring within the rocks.

The sun was near the horizon as the travelers returned to Caer Sidi with their captive mage Emilio in tow, following the reborn river, but as they came closer, they found that there was a crowd gathering near the monastery that the mages had claimed, Oberia futilely calling for order, a revived Hannah staying close to her.

Caer Sidi, Monastery Gate
The monastery is a tall gray stone building with faded wooden shingles, but dew bedecks its dusty walls, spattered from the ebullient river. The windows are narrow, too narrow for a man to pass through, and placed high like arrow slits in a castle, and the single door in the middle of its eastward-facing long side looks thick enough to stop an army.

Cries ring out from the crowd: "Kill the mages!" "Take their gold that they bought with our thirst!" "Return the Cauldron!"

"Order, please!" calls Oberia. "We are law-abiding people. Let us speak with the mages reasonably, not as if we were ruffians!"

Hearing the approach of their horses, a figure standing near to Oberia turns to look in their direction, then gestures for them to join her. After a moment they realize it is Hannah, although it is not easy to recognize her in the unusual clothing she now wears. Her loose shirt is a very bright shade of green and is tucked into the top of baggy black trousers, with a sash of black cloth boldly embroidered with canary-yellow thread serving as a sort of belt. The oddity of this look is only heightened by the fact that both shirt and trousers are a little too large for her-- obviously, it is an outfit borrowed from one of Caer Sidi's residents. In fact, the single recognizable item that she wears is her rapier, belted over the black-and-yellow sash.

"Well, looks like we have the beginnings of a riot here," Thomas comments as he rides up upon his horse. "Everyone," Thomas calls out, "Please calm yourselves. The mages will be dealt with in due course. There is much yet we can learn from them."

Agatha maneuvers Ahearn to keep their captive shielded somewhat from the eyes of the crowd.

Some of the crowd noise abates, though there are still many voices calling for the blood of the mages; other heads turn toward Thomas. A tow-headed fellow in a dusty leather vest and brown shirt and pants calls, "Who are you to be telling us what to do? Those mages've done us out of enough wealth to choke a Sultan by now, and they must have a dragon's hoard of it in their cellars!" Meanwhile, Agatha's movement seems to have successfully kept their captive from seeming overly obvious to the crowd, for none have made a move to attack them.

From atop Ahearn, Agatha grins and waves to Hannah.

"I am Thomas, late of November. I am on a mission of great importance to Mirari and those ones within have information that may shed some light upon the situation. Their attack upon this land and its people anger me as well, but they will face justice -- not vengeance. We should not be as petty as they were," Thomas replies calmly, looking directly at the man.

Sir Lefallon brings his horse up to flank Thomas, looking nervous as he eyes the unruly crowd. "What's going on here?" he whispers. "I thought we'd return to find cheers, not a riot in progress!"

Ahearn paws at the ground with one hoof and lowers his head, his glower further deterring gawkers from subjecting the newcomers to unwarranted investigation. He eyes the crowd and the monastery with equal degrees of wariness.

"An angry crowd, tired of the pain the mages inflicted on them, Sir Lefallon," Thomas whispers back. "I'm not surprised."

Hannah catches sight of the red-haired girl's wave, and gives her a lop-sided grin in response. It is a quick one, though, as she returns her attention to the unruly crowd.

Rachel folds her hands over the pommel of her saddle, watching the scene with a measured calm. She smiles at Tom's declaration, though her face is otherwise serious.

"What's Mirari ever done for us?" calls another voice, but more people seem to be inclined to listen at least. Oberia pushes through the still-fractious crowd, looking relieved to see Thomas and his friends. "Lord Explorer! It happened not long ago that we heard a mighty rushing noise, and some here swear that they saw angels flying ahead of the river as it came down the old riverbed. Was that your work, Thomas?"

Turning towards Emilio while Oberia and Thomas have the crowd's attention, Agatha whispers to the mage, "What will your comrades do if they feel cornered?"

"Well, I certainly can't claim all the credit for the water's return," Thomas replies with a smile. "It was the actions of my friends as much as any, that helped bring back what was stolen from you."

Sir Lefallon grins to his friend. "It was Thomas who saw what must be done," he says to Oberia. "We did it together."

Agatha reaches over to pull down the prisoner's gag so he can answer, but keeps her hand ready to stuff it back in his mouth if he tries anything.

Emilio glances warily at the crowd and says to Agatha, "I imagine they'll make the lot of you sorry that they ever thought of trying such a thing. Magic isn't always something you can see working, you know."

"Maybe not, but you can tell if it's working, right?" Agatha growls to the pale man. "Is there some sort of spell building up?"

The black-robed mage smirks. "And why should I tell you, if there were? My life is already forfeit."

Oberia shakes her head at the crowd. "Well, that was well done of you all, then! But any road, at first there was a great outcry and people ran to fill buckets and pots of water, and much thankfulness for whatever providence had returned the river. But then, some among this crowd shouted that the mages had charged us extortionate prices and that we were due a refund, now that they could no longer hold the threat of thirst over our heads. And others recalled that we had promised them the Cauldron for so long as they needed it to bring us water, and still others sought revenge against the mages for the curses they have sowed. They are not well liked, you may have noticed." She gestures to Hannah. "Hannah can testify to the effect of their curses."

Hannah nods at Oberia's words, then glances towards the others. Now that everyone is standing together, they notice Hannah's face and hands are slightly flushed and visibly dry, as if she had suffered from too much exposure to the winter's wind. "That's why I became sick so suddenly-- a black-robed man Agatha and I encountered dropped a curse-focus into the hood of my cloak after I gave some water to a beggar-girl. Oberia discovered it while she was tending to me. It was a little straw doll with a grain of salt in its mouth-- meant to kill its victim by dehydration. I'm lucky that she disposed of it in time." She shudders. "It's not a pleasant way to die."

"You might get out of this with your skin intact if you cooperate, Emilio," Agatha offers to the mage. "Otherwise, you'd better be able to run fast, because I may decide you'd serve best as a decoy to draw off this crowd."

Thomas arches an eyebrow at that. "Enslave a land, then attack the daughter of Lord November, eh? Well, they're certainly good at making enemies," Thomas replies as he dismounts from his horse and approaches. "Please, good people, I promise you they will face justice for the paint hey have caused this land. But, should they simply be killed, you may doom all the lands to a worse fate. They have been aiding the Destroyer and we need to know how and why," Thomas calls out. Then, with a glance toward Hannah, he adds in a whisper, "And you and I need to have a talk later -- alone."

Emilio laughs quietly. "I might consider telling you if you were to promise to release me unharmed when this is over," he says. "I am told that the word of a knight is generally good."

Hannah blinks in surprise as Thomas' last words are directed solely to her, but she merely nods in response.

Agatha takes a moment to think it over. "Alright, Emilio. If you cooperate, I promise to release you and that no harm will come to you by my hand."

Oberia adds, "Listen to the Lord Explorer! Let us not stain our hands with blood, or we will never wash them clean!" The crowd settles down considerably indeed, though some shout, "The Destroyer? He's a myth!" Others whisper among themselves, wondering if there might actually be some truth to the old stories.

In the quiet, Emilio leans toward Agatha. "On your honor as a knight," he prompts.

Sir Lefallon whispers to Thomas, "What's our plan, milord?"

Listening to the crowd, Agatha grits her teeth and leans towards Emilio. "On my honor as a knight, I will not harm you and will free you if you help us without reservation. Betray us, and I'll make sure you don't die quickly."

"Very well," Emilio says. He leans toward Agatha to whisper to her.

"The Destroyer is no myth. He waits in the shadows -- watches -- manipulates others. Promises people power if they aid him. He's cunning, devious, evil, and very old," Thomas adds, then glances to Sir Lefallon. "Get the crowd out of here, then face those inside. I'll scale the walls if need be and unlock the doors. I would prefer, however, if they make it easier on us. But if not, such is life."

"Is it a myth that stopped the river from flowing? Is it a myth that killed the keepers of the old shrine? A mere legend that killed any who dared ventured near it?" Rachel enunciates each word loudly and carefully. "Is it a myth that restored the river to you? Mayhaps. And mayhaps the myths are real, and we should all be aware of the power they hold. The old stories are true. I know it."

After listening to the whispers, Agatha frowns and replaces Emilio's gag, saying, "A good start towards earning your freedom, wizard." She then calls forward to Tom, "The Black Robes are about set off a spell from the catacombs, we have to get everyone away from here now!"

The crowd hushes more at the words of both Thomas and Rachel. Excited whispers fly back and forth between them as they speculate over whether it could be true, and some of those present have begun to slink away, not eager to tangle with mages in the pay of the Destroyer.

"You heard Lady Redmane," Thomas calls out a moment later, "Everyone, away from here! Redmane, Rachel, lead these people to safety." Then with a quick glance at Oberia and Hannah, he says, "You both better seek shelter as well. I'll stay here until all are gone."

Others turn to depart as well, but at that moment, the door of the monastery suddenly creaks open, inward, revealing two mages with staves tipped with sword-blades and a third between them whose hands are bare but ringed with gold and silver; an opal-tipped hilt protrudes from a black leather scabbard hanging from his belt proving he is not unarmed. "I am Master Faust of the Water Mages," he intones, gaze sweeping over the fearful crowd that is already retreating, then toward the old woman and her friends on horseback. "Who speaks for this rabble that dares to raise its hands against our ancient order?"

"Look after Emilio then, Tom," Agatha says as she nudges Ahearn towards the crowd and bellows, "Right! Everyone move out who doesn't want to be turned into a raisin!"

Thomas turns to face the mage. "I am Thomas, late of House November, Lord of Field and Stream, and founder of the Golden Hawks. I speak for them," Thomas says grimly and firmly. He flicks his shoulders, shifting back his cloak and freeing his arms up.

Hannah says quickly, "Yes, Lord Explorer." She starts to move away with Oberia, but pauses once the door to the monastery opens.

And yet we are moving forward? Ahearn says, responding to his rider's knees and pushing the crowd -- none too eager to stay in any event -- out of his way. Do you know something I don't?

"Emilio said there are catacombs under the monastery," Agatha tells Ahearn, "and that the mages are working up some sort of spell down there that can have a wide effect."

The crowd disperses quickly under the inducements of both Thomas's announcement, Agatha's urgings, and the fearful appearances of the mages themselves. There are comparatively few, but Hassan looms behind Oberia, hand on his scimitar's handle. Oberia lays her hand upon Hannah's arm and says to her, "Let us remain here with our friends, dear. I may yet be needed to speak for those of Caer Sidi who will listen to me."

Master Faust smiles thinly. "It appears they are not greatly eager to stand here while you speak for them, and wisely so," he says to Thomas. "Should we be attacked, I have instructed my brethren below to complete a ritual which will lay a powerful curse upon this town, so that none who live here shall ever touch water again, even were they to plunge themselves into the river." His smile widens. "I might instruct them to do so anyway, so that I might enjoy watching peasants struggle for a drop to drink amidst plenty."

Sir Lefallon blanches. "The monster!" he hisses to Thomas. "He's fattened himself and his kind on their gold and now he plots to leave them dead in his wake?"

"And I might instruct the Lords to come and take you then slowly eviscerate you while those you condemned watch," Thomas counters grimly. "We can trade threats all day, Faust. I've faced far greater horrors than you. You've lost and you know it."

Hannah nods and stops at Oberia's urging, but her face darkens at Faust's pronouncement and she puts one hand on the hilt of her rapier.

Ah. I am greatly reassured, Ahearn says to Agatha. "Thank you." He stands his ground, looming not far from the master water mage.

"Let's go over to Emilio," Agatha whispers to Ahearn. "There must be another way into the catacombs, even if only a ventilation shaft, and he might know where it is."

"You presume that we shall still be here when your Lords of Mirari arrive, Thomas," the master of the water mages says unruffled. "But I plan for us to be long gone by then. Here is what I propose: you and Lady Oberia shall guarantee us until dawn to prepare ourselves to depart this place, as well as horses and wagons enough for our belongings. We will take with us Pelles's Cauldron, for it was given to us in exchange for our provision of water to your pitifully thirsty town. When we have left, you may have whatever remains in this place." He pauses and then finishes, "If we are denied these things, then I see no reason for us to stay our curse from this dismally backward town."

Nodding, the great stallion paces backwards, until Agatha is within reach of the captive mage again.

Emilio looks none too eager to be seen, shrinking down into his saddle. He gives 'Shoo! Shoo!' looks and motions of his eyes to Agatha as her presence threatens to draw attention to him again.

Leaning towards the captive mage once more, but not ungagging him this time, Agatha whispers, "Don't want to look bad in front of your boss? There must be another opening into the catacombs. Nod if you know of one."

Thomas smiles thinly. "Have you never heard the legends of me, Faust? You can run all you like and it would matter not. I can track a fly the mists of a swamp, I could track a falcon on a cloudy night, I can find my way to any place ... any world. I can find you," Thomas says coldly. "The only thing that might save your hide now, is for you and I to have a little talk ... about your alliance with the Destroyer and his plans."

The captive mage's glance goes from Agatha to Faust, and back again. He gives a tiny nod, his eyes fearful.

"Lead me to it then," Agatha says to the mage. "You can guide your horse with your knees."

Master Faust pauses, his confidence apparently shaken. "Can you, indeed? And what if we were to shelter within the thick of our master Vanya's forces? Surely you have noticed by now that there are far more things of the darkness abroad in this long Winter. It is no mere coincidence, and you have barely begun to feel the true strength of his army. Against them, even should you succeed in convincing the Lords and Ladies to act together, not all the armies of Mirari could stand, for they will come not only at day but at night, and not only on the battlefield, but in sleep and dreams. Find as you like, if you wish to find your way into the mouth of the dragon." He fixes his gaze upon Thomas intently.

Emilio does not move; he seems too absorbed by the drama going on between Thomas and his master. Sweat beads faintly on his forehead.

"Emilio, do not think you can return to your order now," Agatha says, and reaches out to shake the man's shoulder. "I'm your only hope of surviving this, remember."

Thomas merely smiles. "I have tracked the Destroyer, alone. I have faced him, alone. Even then, he could not destroy me. You present to me only challenges. I live for challenges," Thomas replies, then adds, "Darkness may overshadow the light at times, but it can never fully eclipse it."

Startled, the prisoner mage almost leaps off of his horse, and then with furtive glances back to his old master, he nods to Agatha and through nodding toward the direction they should go, with Ahearn to prompt his horse on, he leads her toward the left end of the monastery, where an old and abandoned well sits beneath a toppled triangular roof. What is left of the morbidly fascinated spectators succeeds in sheltering them from the gaze of the mages within the monastery's door.

"A dry well, how fitting," Agatha mutters, then asks Ahearn, "Can you smell the river from here?"

From here? Ahearn snorts. It's impossible to miss. You can't smell it?

"Let's not make comments about my nose, okay?" Agatha requests. Turning to Emilio, she asks, "You're a water-wizard. Can you divert some of the water to flood the catacombs from here?"

Master Faust considers, his eyes studying Thomas's face as if comparing it against something he had seen before. "If the tales are true, you were banished by the Master, not he by you, Lord Explorer Thomas. Yet it is true that I should not care to make an enemy of such as you carelessly, and perhaps I might be persuaded to share with you some of what we have learned, a few trifles of our monastery that we might otherwise have taken, in exchange for your agreement to our release. We have collected much wealth, for instance, or things of great magical power..." He waits for Thomas's reaction.

Lady Oberia whispers to Hannah, "He bargains! I did not think anyone could bring Faust to negotiation, so proud the mages are. Yet if they survive..." She bites her lower lip, wondering if revenge might still be at hand for them then.

Emilio shakes his head.

Hannah smiles briefly at Oberia. "I've seen Thomas do such before, milady. He's had some practice with the Dark Witch in the Golden Woods, after all."

"In that case, I'll want a bit of magic of my own," Agatha notes.

Ahearn directs a dubious look at their captive. Maybe a good kick would improve his magicking skills, he suggests.

After a bit of rummaging through her pack, Agatha pulls out a stoppered vial full of a glowing red liquid, which also gives off a bit of warmth. "I promised not to harm him, Ahearn, unless he betrayed us," she says, examining the potion.

Sir Lefallon whispers to Hannah and Oberia, "Pity we haven't the instrument that helped us last time," with a wry grin.

"Do you think your Master would admit to having been beaten by someone like me, Faust? Banished me he may have done, but it cost him near Fourteen years," Thomas says calmly. "I do warn you, I cannot be bribed, as worldly things mean little to me. You return the Cauldron you have abused, you leave the wealth you plundered save enough to pay for passage far from here, you tell us where he is holding Lord April -- and you and all your mages swear a binding oath to torment others no more, and I can see about having the town let you leave unscathed."

"Or he could be stalling us," Rachel murmurs, anxiously.

"Know what this is, Emilio?" Agatha asks, as she holds the vial out over the mouth of the well.

You promised not to hurt him, Ahearn notes. He paws at the ground.

Master Faust shifts his hand to his sword hilt. "We have poured years of our labor and knowledge into providing this ungrateful town the water that they needed to live," he growls. "If we were to kill you now, I think there would be no Explorer to guide the Lords and Ladies to our hiding place. I'll give you the Cauldron then, but we keep our gold and other items of power, and swear only never to return to Caer Sidi. We are done here in any case."

The prisoner water-mage shakes his head, eyeing the potion suspiciously.

"You only had to work for this town because you put it in the position of suffering," Thomas replies, eyes narrowing as he shifts his own hand to his sword hilt. "I have offered you a far better fate than those here would offer. I suggest you take it. I will not have you putting any others under a yoke of oppression. I offer you a chance to live and find an honest living."

"I think," Agatha says, trying to visualize what she wants, "that this will create a dragon. One with a taste for mages, and quite at home in tunnels." She imagines a fiery serpent snaking through the catacombs, flicking a tongue made of flame. "Let's find out!" she says, then pops the stopper with her thumb and drops the vial down the well.

Emilio's eyes turn wide and fearful as he watches the potion fall into the well, proof that he's bearing in mind he is one of the mages for whom this hypothetical serpent might have a taste.

Master Faust's face darkens. "I will not see all that I have spent Years--" and then there is a loud WHOOOSH! from the well as flames shoot skyward from it. The ground continues to shake as the flames disappear, as if something huge were moving below it. The master mage swears. "Close the door, and let us get to the cellar," he commands his apprentices, who immediately begin doing so. "Those fools must have tried some kind of sneak-attack, but we'll see them repaid for their follies!!"

Sir Lefallon shouts, "After him!" and leaps from his horse into forward motion, drawing his sword. The prisoner water-mage topples from his horse from the violence of the motion, and thrashes against his bindings, trying to struggle to his feet.

Thomas' eyes narrow and he surges forward and draws his sword. "You are going nowhere," Thomas says grimly. "You have sealed your fate."

Ahearn shies from the burst of the flames, then says something to the water-mage's horse that causes the other mount to calm almost instantly. Agatha?

Agatha is nearly blown off Ahearn by the blast of flames as well. "Wow! Just like when my dad uses too much lighter fluid for the barbecue! Let's go see if we can keep them from closing the gate, Ahearn!" She figures Emilio will be safe enough on the ground for now.

In the ensuing chaos, Hannah looks wildly over to where flames are shooting out of the empty well - and sees Agatha with the stopper to a vial in her hand. He face flashes with recognition, and she mouths a silent, "Oh no!"

Rachel slides off her startled steed, extracting her crossbow, and follows the others inside.

As Thomas and Sir Lefallon charge the closing door, one of the mage apprentices jabs his bladed staff at them, inflicting a wound upon the young knight's tunic-covered arm, but the pause offers enough time for a return attack from Thomas...

Thomas scowls and makes a hard slash at the mage as he and Sir Lefallon reach the door. The blade lands true, opening up a deep gash across the mage's chest.

After making sure that Agatha is well and truly on her way to the doors and has not been fried to a crisp by the blast of flames, Hannah draws her rapier and moves forward to assist Thomas and Sir Lefallon in the fight.

The mage apprentice falls back with a cry, leaving only one mage trying to frantically shove the door shut, and as both Thomas and Sir Lefallon throw their weight against the door, he scrambles frantically to try to push it back, then fails and runs into the dark corridors of the monastery. "Flee for your lives, brothers, we are attacked!" he yells.

Agatha draws her sword as she and Ahearn make it to the doors.

"Your guild is at an end," Thomas says, expression grim. Herushes forward, sword raised in front to protect himself. "Surrender and live. Fight, and you may die."

Sir Lefallon yells, "For Mirari! For the Lord Explorer!" as he follows close, ignoring the cut on his sword-arm.

As the doors give inward, Hannah scrambles ahead, rapier still raised in a defensive position, ready to encounter whatever may lie beyond.

Rachel covers the rear, her crossbow strung, cranked, and ready. She surveys the scene behind as well as before them, to be sure that no ambush lurks.

Agatha dismounts before entering the building, with Ahearn covering her back.

The flight of the apprentice leads Thomas, Agatha, Rachel, Sir Lefallon, and Ahearn down through the stairs, while the very stones of the monastery shiver around them to the movement of whatever thing has been unleashed from the potion bottle. At the very last, they see him running down stairs, and then a scream and a horrible crunching noise. Flames illuminate the stairs, and then retreat.

The ritual chamber of the monastery is a huge vaulted chamber with a maze of light and black tiles for a floor, but the circle of mages that was gathered here around a cauldron, next to a stone table bearing a black dagger with a wavy blade, has been disrupted by the attack of a huge dragon made entirely of flames, long and lithe, eyes dark coals. "Flee for your lives!" shout the few water mages remaining. The dragon's gaze drifts toward the newcomers as it hovers near the ceiling.

"You want the cauldron, right?" Agatha asks Thomas, although her eyes are riveted to the dragon.

"By the Heavens, Redmane, what did you do? I thought you slew dragons -- not summoned them," Thomas comments in awe, looking up at the dragon. "The Cauldron? I just don't want them to have it. It's a dangerous item and should return to Pelles."

Sir Lefallon rushes into the chamber, then sees the dragon and immediately draws back, horrified. "Lords and Ladies!" he cries out.

Hannah comes to a complete halt behind the others as she gets a good look at the dragon floating around the ceiling. "You have Pelles to thank in part for this, Thomas," she says. "It was one of his potions that Redmane released, I think."

"It may be a bit protective of Pelles' cauldron too," Agatha notes. "But it's just a spell, and will wear out eventually. I hope."

"Well, will it attack us, though?" Thomas comments. "And did anyone see where their leader went? I want him alive."

The dragon flickers down and in a whoosh of fiery winds, another mage turns into a brilliant torch, then collapses into a pile of ashes. It glides low to the ground and wings upward, sending a rush of hot air past Thomas and Agatha, returning to its high place, watching the even fewer remaining mages... Maliciously as a cat plays with its prey, perhaps?

To one side, Thomas's eyes catch sight of a black-robed man darting into a side chamber of the main ceremonial room. Was that a sword-scabbard hanging from his belt?

"Hey dragon, I'm the one who let you out, remember?" Agatha calls up to the monster. "We need to catch one of these fellows alive."

Thomas takes a few steps into the room and keeps an eye on the dragon. He then breaks into a run after the man heading into the side chamber.

The dragon dips its head as if in a nod. Its wings beat regularly as it glides to and fro, and then it dives into another pass, rushing over Thomas's head.

"Cripes!" Thomas cries out, ducking low and stumbling.

Agatha steps into the room to check out the cauldron. "Nice dragon," she says, as if talking to a nervous horse. "I'll get you an apple afterwards if you behave yourself."

Ahearn flattens his ears against his head, watching the dragon of fire with at least as much wariness as he'd given the mages. I don't think it would go for apples. Maybe a nice hickory log.

Hannah mutters to Rachel, "I hope she knows what she's doing out there. As we found out at Caer Bannuac, Pelles' potions are pretty, uh, unpredictable."

This time there is both booming draconian laughter and a series of smoke rings that drift behind it as the dragon continues its low glide straight for the last group of ages, as if intending to incinerate them entirely with its full weight... At the very last minute, it pulls up, leaving their robes singed and smoldering, and one and all, the mages remaining faint dead away, wreathed in more smoke.

Meanwhile, Thomas follows Master Faust into the side room, which proves to be a study decorated in ancient fashion, with a table heaped full of alchemical equipment...

There are four paintings on the walls of the study, old medieval-style portraits: one showing two stern men with swords and crowns judging kneeling men before them, one showing a seated lady with long curling hair looking out of the painting to one side, a crown of diamonds on her head; the third shows two young men facing one another in an arena, sparring with clubs, wearing golden crowns fashioned to look like wreaths. It is before the fourth that Master Faust stands, staring at it intently. This one shows a man with a golden crown upon his head, and blond hair standing behind a long, waist-high table, on which there are many fine and wondrous items: leather-bound books with their titles stamped in gold upon their spines, piles of gold and silver coins, a small chest decorated with gems, a rack of bubbling, magical potions, enigmatic devices decorated in magical runes of blue and silver, but all of these the man ignores, reaching out toward a large multi-faceted ruby cut in the shape of a heart.

The black-haired girl, apparently concluding that Agatha can control the dragon, starts to scan the room for surviving mages. At Hannah's words, she hesitates, about to call out to a mage she'd selected. "Ah. Really?"

"Interesting paintings, Faust," Thomas says as he slows to a walk, holding his sword ready. "It's over. Surrender."

Master Faust continues to stare into the painting, his hands reaching out in a gesture of beckoning... Or is it pleading? It seems to Thomas as if he has seen the man in the picture before, but at the same time, the subject of the picture is unfamiliar.

"I don't think we should just leave the cauldron boiling like that," Agatha says, noting the steam rising from the vessel.

"Calling to Lord Eoin isn't going to save you now. He is through with you and has thrown you away -- much as he does with all those he takes as servants," Thomas says. "He seeks power for himself alone. He has deceived you."

The dragon overhead dives low and perches upon the floor, long sinuous neck curving down to regard Agatha. There is something in its eyes that communicates to her, My work here is done. Fare well, mortal.

"Thanks for your service, dragon," Agatha replies, looking into the creature's eyes.

And then it shrinks into a cursive S shape in the air made of fire, and even that flickers out with a spark.

Master Faust appears not to have heard Thomas. He calls, "No! You can't abandon me like this, Master! I will not--" And then his shoulders slump as if whomever he was speaking with had closed a door against his face. He offers no resistance as Thomas approaches.

After a final glance to make sure that the dragon-spell has at last fizzled out, Hannah steps into the room towards Agatha. "As I've said before, Lord Pelles certainly had one odd sense of humor," she remarks, grinning.

"No kidding!" Agatha says. "Let's tie up these survivors before they come to. And did anyone see where Thomas ran off to?"

Rachel checks through the bodies of the mages left in the main room -- the few that weren't reduced to ashes. Surprisingly, they prove to be alive, but unconscious. Rachel extracts rope from her pack and begins the task of securing them.

Sir Lefallon says, "I saw him chasing Master Faust. They went into the side room..." He looks concerned as he hurries after Thomas.

"Pity, I would have liked to speak to him again. I'm sure that would come in time, though," Thomas says, voice calm, unthreatening. He sheathes his sword, then places a hand on Faust's shoulder, "It's over and believe me when I say this -- your fate at our hands will be far kinder than what Lord Eoin would have done to you in the end."

The town erupted into wild celebration that lasted well into the night, as virtually everyone in the town rejoiced for the defeat of the mages, and toasted the heroes for having stopped them before they could lay their curse upon them. Hassan and other of the town's more militarily skilled persons took the remaining mages prisoner and began a systematic search of the monastery on Thomas's behalf in the meantime.

The feast was replete with many delicacies both of Mirari and of the Wild Lands, things that they could not recognize (and perhaps might not have wanted to do so) but which nevertheless proved tasty, and there were dancers bedecked in gauzy clothes and jangling coins, both male and female, who were greeted with loud cheers. There were street magicians of a kinder sort than the black robes as well, pulling coins out of air and doing tricks with fire spouts, in honor of the dragon that was said to have destroyed the majority of the mages...

Oberia's Parlor
Adobe walls, fine silk hangings of colors that, protected from the sun, have not faded, oiled paper windows that turn the fading evening sunlight into vague panes of golden light, and plushly thick upholstered couches covered with woven blankets, these are a few of the things that meet the eye immediately. One comfortable chair is surrounded by scrolls and maps, and a scrollcase shelf sits by it with row on row of holes filled with such correspondence; a brazier sits nearby to provide immediate heat and light in the bitterly dry cold of winter.

But the travelers have finally succeeded in eluding the bulk of their well-wishers, and have returned to Lady Oberia's home where they can catch up with one another in a more peaceful setting. After some leisurely baths in tubs with hot water brought in by giggling maidservants, they rejoin one another in the parlor.

"How is your arm doing, Sim-- uh, Sir Lefallon?" Agatha asks the young knight, after sitting down with a mug of hot chocolate.

The evening finds Thomas cleaned and quiet. He stands near one of the windows, one arm resting against the frame. He's dressed in simple trousers and a light shirt that hangs loosely. Now and then, he runs his hand through his raven hair as he looks at the oiled paper as if he's looking out over the dark city.

A clean and damp-haired Rachel drowses in a chair by the fire, wrapped head to toe in a thick fluffy robe. She holds a mug of hot chocolate in her hands, more for the warmth and comfort than the drink itself. ""'Tis a great shame that Angel was not hear to look at it," she murmurs quietly, indirectly responding to Agatha's question.

Sir Lefallon beams. "Quite well, thank you, Lady Redmane," he says. His arm has been bandaged already, and he seems able to use it without trouble. "That dragon of yours seemed to have won the fight for us without our having to lift so much as a sword. I almost feel disappointed." He grins to show that he's only kidding.

"I'm sure it took a considerable effort for Thomas to find the breath to keep Faust distracted long enough," Agatha says with a grin, which she quickly covers by taking a sip from her mug.

Hannah sits on the periphery of the gathering, drinking from a mug of water rather than hot chocolate. Apparently, she is still trying to rid herself of some of the after-effects of the dehydration curse that had plagued her.

"You missed seeing the Vyglari up at the old chapel, Hannah," Agatha says to her travelling companion. "It's good to see you getting your strength back though. I was worried when Oberia took you off to be treated."

"I hope the celebration wasn't premature. This was just one battle in a war that I have yet to see the light at the end," Thomas says quietly, turning his head slightly to look back at the room.

The door handle clatters and then Hassan steps in. He bows low to the travelers. "My humble apologies for disturbing your refreshments, young masters," he says. "Milord Thomas, you wished to be informed when we had completed our search of the monastery and our interrogation of the prisoners. By the way, I have been asked to relay from one mage named Emilio that he desires his release and freedom, and that you have promised it to him...?" As he straightens, the swarthy manservant raises an eyebrow. "He was very fearful of the other prisoners, especially of Master Faust."

The latter half of this statement is addressed to Agatha.

Thomas blinks, then nods, his attention returning fully to the room. "Thank you Hassan. Did they find anything along the lines of what I asked to look for?" Thomas asks.

"I did promise him his freedom if he helped us," Agatha says, nodding. "And he did warn us of the curse being readied, and showed me the back entrance into the catacombs. I think he's earned his freedom, and isn't likely to try and rescue his fellows at this point."

"I just ask that he be requested to promise to never use magic for evil again," Thomas says and looks toward Agatha.

Hassan bows again. "Shall I order him set free then, Lady Redmane? Aye, young master Thomas, there were many books and letters and journals found in the monastery. Indeed, when I informed Lady Oberia of the contents of such, she ordered me to burn each and every of the volumes which contained comments on the misdeeds of our town citizens that might have caused embarrassment to many of our highly respected townsfolk."

"But as to your own question, Lord Explorer," says Hassan as he bows low again. "We discovered one journal which spoke of Master Faust's journey to a place he called Vanya's Keep..."

"I'm sure he'll agree to that, rather than face your wrath Tom," Agatha says, then nods to Hassan. "Release Emilio at your convenience."

"Your will, milady," the manservant says.

"May I have that journal, then? I would like to spend some time reading it," Thomas says. "It may provide some insight into the whereabouts of Lord April."

Hassan winces. "A thousand apologies for my digression, Master Thomas; I have been told by Lady Oberia that I am one given to overly long-winded speech. Indeed, I have brought it here for your perusal, and I hope that you have not been made to wait unacceptably long for its arrival." He bows low again and holds out a black leather-bound tome with a large silver lock upon it, which has been opened so that the lock-plate hangs loose.

Sir Lefallon looks up with interest.

Thomas walks over and accepts the tome. He smiles and says, "Nothing to apologize for, Hassan, Thank you." He looks down at the book and comments, "So, you call yourself Vanya now, do you? Matters not what name you go by, I would find you in the end."

Agatha leans over to whisper to Simon, "Does he usually talk to inanimate objects like that?"

"There were many curious and potentially dangerous artifacts discovered as well," Hassan reports. "Many of these were previously seen in the hands of past travelers to this town who must have come to unlucky endings. They have been sequestered for the safety of all, but Lady Oberia is uncertain what should be done with them. It is said by some that where possible, we should seek out the next of kin of these travelers to return these devices, but by others that they should be sold so that we might find some recompense from the mages' greed. It seems that the mages' hoard was in fact, considerably less than expected. Perhaps much of it was sent away from their monastery."

Sir Lefallon whispers back, "Yes." He grins.

Thomas nods and says, "They were funding the Destroyer with their gains from this place. If you cannot find relativesof the former owners, then by all means sell the items and rebuild what they have damaged."

"What's to become of the captive mages?" Agatha asks. "Will they be put to work digging irrigation ditches or something?"

Hannah huhs at the red-haired girl's suggestion. "It would be only fitting, considering what they did to this town's water supply," she comments.

Thomas holds the book at his side and walks over to Rachel. "Sorry if I seem distant this evening. My mind is on what lies ahead. Always looking to the next 'adventure'," he says and offers a smile.

"Hearkening and obeying, Master Thomas," replies Hassan, bowing. "As for the mages, that has not been decided, but I shall relay your suggestion to Lady Oberia and the town council."

"Is there anything else the young masters would wish?" asks Hassan.

The fey girl rouses herself, eyes half-closed, to smile at Thomas. "Fear not, m'lord," she answers, softly. "If you seem distant, it is no matter tonight, for I think that I seem asleep." Her smile gets a little wider.

Sir Lefallon yawns and stretches, then winces as pain stabs him in the arm. "My only wish tonight, I think, friend Hassan, is for a comfortable bed. I am sure that I will feel better in the morning."

"Nay. You quite active for someone asleep, don't you think?" Thomas replies with a grin. He then looks over at Hassan and says, "Nothing much more this eve, Hassan. Simply bearing our thanks to Oberia for allowing us to stay will do for me.

Agatha watches Thomas and Rachel with interest, then nods at Simon's comment. "Yeah, a night without watching for trolls or scorpions would be welcome."

"Of course, Master Thomas," Hassan says, bowing a final time. He excuses himself through the door and goes out, presumably to find Lady Oberia at the festivities.

"I am, indeed. It was a long day. It feels so good to be at its end." Rachel's smile turns reflective. "I suppose I do not wish to dwell on the future. It would be nice to think that the troubles were truly behind us, and not before us still."

Thomas glances over at Agatha and asks, "Does something interest you, Lady Redmane?"

The redhead blinks and blushes slightly, looking guilty. "Oh.. uh.. don't forget we have sword practice in the morning, Thomas."

Rachel tilts her head, turning to look at Agatha curiously, as if wondering at the reason for her uncharacteristic stammering.

"Late morning, I hope," Thomas replies, looking amused, "I'll probably be up late reading this journal ... and dealing with Hannah."

"Hey, I wouldn't have reached you in time without Hannah's help, remember," Agatha points out.

Hannah sighs at Thomas' comment. "Can't say I didn't see this coming," she murmurs, more to herself than anyone else. To Thomas, she says, "Whenever you wish to talk, I will be ready."

Hannah gives Agatha a grateful look for that last statement.

"This is between Hannah and I, Redmane," Thomas says, tone level and unrevealing. "You don't need to be so concerned."

Rachel makes an 'mph' sound in her throat, wrinkling her nose.

Sir Lefallon blinks up from a slumber. "Is something the matter?" he asks owlishly.

"Although," Hannah stage-whispers to Agatha, "if Thomas and I are not done within an hour, you may need to send Ahearn in after me."

Managing a quick smirk, Agatha nods to Hannah, and whispers, "Hey, I don't mind if you have to rough him up a bit."

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.