Fair Cities Corrupt

Plot Summary The group wake up to discover some of the group were sent ahead to Emerald Bay. They find Dramicus, who leads them to a grand feast. As they dine Dramicus explains his absence, the future King disappeared along with his closest advisor. The only clue was an ancient Orc flag. They go to the library to learn more. They learn barely anything when a merfolk advises them to check out the advisor's room. They go there and discover a room of rotten flesh and bleached bones, and other necromaning things. He belongs to The Order of Kadly-noth, a necromancing order. Several merfolk surround them and attack, wounding several. One of these merfolk damages the dome surrounding that section of the city. It cracks as water floods through. The group flee to a vessel and escape. They reach the surface as the vessel lurches to a halt. For a day they travel in the wave being knocked about until finally they hit land, a few miles south of Emerald Bay. They charge off merrily and reach Emerald Bay by night-fall, they visit Jason Magellan (from Session II) who is happy to give them food and rooms. After a brief meal they head off for a good rest, safe at last... Full Logs

[Narrator] Time is early morning, at least the group think it is, it is difficult to tell deep down in the ocean.

Shandor yawns.

Shandor says, 'That was one good night's sleep.'

Vaedron yawns and stretches his stiff limbs

Shandor spots a couple of people that aren't merfolk.

Shandor says, 'Hail.'

Dytalorien gazes about his surroundings, amazement apparent within his eyes.

Vaedron sits up in his bed.

Dramicus enters the groups room

Dytalorien scratches his head, "How'd I end up here?"

Vaedron looks around the room and watches the ocean life

Shandor spots Dramicus, 'Hail friend!'

Dramicus says, "I see you are in one piece still"

Dytalorien blinks and waves to Dramicus.

Shandor says, 'I hear you sent message down here to get help, very thoughtful.'

Vaedron looks at Dramicus, "Hello Dramicus."

Shandor turns to Dytalorien, 'We were brought down here by Dramicus' kind brethren

Dytalorien rubs his sore body, "Ah, is that it."

Shandor says, 'The others must be asleep.'

Celemir wakes up groggily and looks at his ribs "ouch"

Vaedron looks to Dytalorien, "You must have been knocked out in the boat crash."

Isondil notices a group of people far off that are not merfolk and approaches

Shandor looks as the leader of the merfolk approaches, 'Nay, the others needed to be sent forward, they are waiting for you are 'Emerald Bay'.'

Dramicus says, "I hope those serpents weren't too violent with you"

Dytalorien rubs his head, "Must've, my head pounds.. unceasingly."

Vaedron turns to the stranger, "Hello I am Vaedron."

Shandor notices the stranger, 'Hail.'

Vaedron says, "Who might you be?"

Isondil hello sir My name is Isondil and yours is?

Dytalorien gazes at the strangers and eyes them appraisingly.

Shandor bows, 'Shandor.'

Vaedron rubs his stomach and says, "Where are the merfolk, I am hungry."

Dytalorien inclines slightly to the two, "Dytalorien is my name, friends."

Celemir gets up off the bed trying not to disturb cutpurse "can someone just remind me of what happened?"

Shandor says, 'Sure is quiet around here in the mornings, or afternoons, whenever this is.'

Vaedron looks to Celemir and says, "The serpents came back and destroyed our boat."

Shandor looks at Celemir, 'To sum up, our boat was destroyed and we were brought here.'

Isondil "A pleasure to meet you Shandor and Vaedron and what brings you here?"

Celemir says "Yes I seem to remember floating around.. umm where IS here?"

Dytalorien rummages through his belongings, searching for his flute. Luckily it is still with him.

Dramicus says, "I almost forgot, you are invited to dinner at the main hall"

Vaedron says to Isondil, "Our boat was destroyed."

Shandor says, 'I wonder why Lesharn and the others were sent ahead..'

Shandor says, 'Really? That is most kind, please, lead the way Dramicus.'

Vaedron turns to Dramicus, "Ah that is great I am starved."

Dytalorien withdraws his flute and taps his head, inquiring, "What exactly are we gonna be served?"

Dytalorien says dryly, "Fish, I suppose?"

Dramicus turns around and walks down a long hallway to the hall

Vaedron looks to Dytalorien, "Does it really matter I am hungry."

Isondil nods and says "alas your story is all to familiar the same thing happened to my boat and I am the only survivor"

Vaedron follows Dramicus

Dytalorien shrugs and follows along behind the rest.

Shandor says, 'I am sorry to hear that Isondil.'

Vaedron motions to Isondil to follow him.

Shandor trails after Dramicus. He jogs to catch up.

Isondil follows the group slowly

[Narrator] The group arrive at the hall

Dramicus says, "Please friends take a seat"

Shandor says, 'My my, this is a grand place.'

Dytalorien strums his flute as he arrives behind Dramicus, looking about the hall.

Vaedron stares around the grand hall.

Celemir follows having collected cutpurse from his nap and sits down wearily

Shandor stares up at the ceiling and walls.

Shandor only vaguely realises he is being sat down.

Isondil stares in awe at the hall

Vaedron says, "Where shall I sit?"

Shandor looks towards Dramicus, 'You know I've been meaning to ask.'

Vaedron picks a seat at random and sits down.

Shandor continues, 'Remember a few months ago when a rider came and you suddenly left with him, where did you go?'

Isondil moves over to Vaedron and sits beside him still looking around at the hall

Dramicus replies, "Well, it is a long story, and it is also why you are here"

Vaedron listens to Shandor and Dramicus’ conversation.

Shandor says, 'Really? Well do continue.'

Dytalorien blinks and listens.

[Narrator] Several merfolk fill the tables with golden plates full of food as Dramicus begins to talk.

Shandor grabs something that looks like an apple and takes a bit.

Vaedron looks around at all the wonderful food.

Shandor 's face contorts, 'Bitter..'

Celemir smiles to himself and looks for the oysters

Dytalorien shrugs and grabs a strange glass of liquid, sipping it thoughtfully.

Vaedron begins stuffing himself with food.

Dramicus says, "Do you remember when we lost Lesharn to the pits of the underworld?"

Shandor takes a sip of what appears to be wine.

Isondil sees the food and takes some fish

Shandor nods, 'Aye, Tarkna.'

Vaedron mutters while he eats, "I sure am hungry."

Dramicus answers, "Well, after I visited a place that i would have called home ten years ago"

Celemir looks at Dytalorien "What’s that?" gesturing at the drink

Dytalorien shrugs, "You've got me, I've never seen it's like in all my travels."

Vaedron sips wine from his glass.

Celemir says "It taste good?"

Isondil takes a glass of water and takes a sip only to splutter it out and mutter "sea water"

Shandor takes another sip of the supposed wine.

Dytalorien replies, "A bit bitter but refreshing to say the least."

Vaedron begins to finish the food that is left on his plate.

Dramicus stopping his story, "It is a wine that is one of our recipes"

Shandor says, 'Do continue with your tale Dramicus.'

Dytalorien twirls his flute within his left hand, listening intently.

Celemir sniffs the liquid and tastes it

Vaedron finishes his meal and adverts his attention to Dramicus's story.

Shandor looks at the others, 'This my interest you, pay attention.'

Isondil finishes his fish and takes out a pipe and lights it and sits back thinking to himself

Dramicus continues his tale, "Well, that used to be one of our many costal trading ports, until an orcish horde had destroyed it all"

Shandor says, 'I am sorry Dramicus.'

Vaedron sips his wine and listens with interest.

Dytalorien moves some stray wisps of hair away from his face, continuing to listen.

Isondil looks up when he hears Dramicus' story about orc's destroying his ports and begins to listen

[Narrator] The door opens and Mihwen walks into the dining hall in a blue silk dress

Mihwen smiles 'Sorry that I'm late'

Vaedron looks to the door and sees Mihwen.

Vaedron says, "Ah welcome."

Dytalorien blinks and smiles to Mihwen.

Shandor smiles, 'It is good to see you, please sit down and enjoy the meal, we are listening to Dramicus' tale.'

Dramicus says, "I see you decided to join us"

Mihwen sits down at the table

Celemir says "Morning to you Mihwen, at least I think its morning..."

Mihwen nods at Celemir

Dytalorien grins and taps his fingers against the surface of the table.

Shandor says, 'Any more to your tale Dramicus?'

Isondil catches Mihwen's eye and nods

Dramicus says, "As I was about to say, recently the soon to be king was traveling with one of our closest advisors"

Dramicus says, "He should have been back last week, and no one knows what has happened to him"

[Narrator] One of the merfolk caught some of this. They stopped what they were doing and left the room.

Shandor says, 'No sign of him, no clue?'

Dytalorien arches an eyebrow.

Celemir reaches for his weapon "What’s with them?"

Dramicus says, "There was one clue"

Shandor looks at the merfolk, 'I guess they are upset.'

Shandor says, 'Pray tell, what was it?'

Vaedron pays no attention to the merfolk, "Don't mind them."

Dramicus says, "When i rode to the spot of where he should have been, there was a flag"

Celemir keeps an eye on the entrance

Shandor raises an eyebrow, 'A flag? Orcish perhaps?'

Dytalorien furrows his brows, "Did it have some sort of insignia?"

Dramicus says, "You are correct Shandor..."

Shandor nods, eyebrow still raised.

Mihwen looks a little confused

Isondil feels the mood change within the merfolk after some of them left

Dramicus says, "I fear there is more too it than orcs though"

Dytalorien scratches his head.

Dytalorien groans, "More?"

Shandor nods, 'Yes, even though Orcs are stupid, they would not leave such an obvious sign, without reason... unless it was not them.'

Isondil "do you have this flag with you?"

Celemir says I’ve read a lot about orcs, its not usual for them to attack anything heavily guarded is it?

Vaedron runs his hands through his hair as he listens.

Dramicus says, "There were no sign of a struggle, and our guards would never allow our prince to be taken captive without a fight"

Dramicus says, "I will go to get the flag now"

Dytalorien blinks and rubs his chin, thoughtfully.

Shandor says, 'Could the prince be attempting something... perhaps trigger a war on the orcs?'

Dramicus walks out of the room

Mihwen turns to Shandor 'what is this all about?'

Dytalorien replies, "If so, for what purpose?"

Vaedron says, "Hmmmm....."

Shandor says, 'When Dramicus left a few months ago... we are catching up on what happened.'

Shandor says, 'Obvious.'

Shandor says, 'The prince had to gain something.'

Shandor says, 'Perhaps the Orcs would be weak from the struggle for a second attacker, causing the orcs to fall and the Prince to rule their lands.'

Isondil ponders what he has just heard he wonders if it could possibly do anything with his quest

Dramicus returns with a crimson flag

Shandor says, 'Or... he is being given something for his deeds.'

Shandor says, 'Perhaps more power.'

Vaedron stares at the flag.

Shandor stands up and examines the flag closely

Dytalorien gazes nonchalantly at the flag.

Mihwen shakes her head

Isondil stares at the flag and his eyes flash as he remembers when he last saw it

Shandor says, 'I am not an expert on these things...'

Shandor says, 'I wouldn't be able to tell one orc flag from another, I am sorry.'

Shandor turns round to see Isondil acting strangely.

Vaedron sighs

Shandor says, 'Perhaps you have something to add?'

Vaedron turns his attention to Isondil.

Dytalorien leans back within his chair, listening to the ongoing conversation.

Isondil nods "I have seen that flag once before but the orcs that use it are all but dead"

Shandor says, 'More details please.'

Shandor says, 'Who were these orcs?'

Dramicus says, "How can they all be dead?"

Vaedron stares with interest at Isondil

Isondil "these orcs I have hunted for most of my life they destroyed my home town"

Shandor says, 'I see.'

Dytalorien blinks.

Celemir looks at Isondil "no...its older than that, I’m sure I’ve seen this before"

Mihwen 'oh'

Shandor remains emotionless.

Shandor says, 'Explain Celemir.'

Celemir says "There’s something about it, probably nothing but i wonder...Dramicus is there a library here?"

Isondil "well maybe so but I know when i saw it last"

Shandor rubs his temples, 'Necromancing Orcs?'

Vaedron rubs his eyes and tries to get a better look at the flag.

Dytalorien taps his flute against the side of his head, "This gets more and more complex.."

Dramicus replies, "There is a library, I could take you there if you want"

Shandor says, 'Please do.'

Celemir says "If you would id be most grateful"

Dytalorien stretches and stands up.

Dramicus leads the group out of the hall, and threw complex passageways till they are at the library

Vaedron pushes his chair back and stands up.

Mihwen stands up and follow the group

Isondil looks round and gets out of his seat

Isondil follows Mihwen out of the room

Celemir looks around him at the library’s expanse "Uhh this could take a while..."

Shandor looks around the library.'

Vaedron follows the group

Dytalorien chuckles, "Take your time, we could use some rest."

Shandor says, 'A most grand library.'

Dytalorien fingers the bindings of several books, thoughtfully.

Shandor begins looking amongst the books.

Dytalorien asks, "What exactly are we looking for?"

Shandor says, ' Dramicus, is there a section for Orcs?'

Celemir disappears down one of the aisles

Dramicus says, "We should have a lot on orcs too, we have had to deal with them for as long as I can remember

Vaedron wanders around the library looking at many books.

Mihwen sits down on a dusty chair

Shandor says, 'Could you point us to an orc section?'

Isondil walks in and looks around the library and heads down one of the aisles

Dytalorien pulls out a random volume skimming through it's contents.

Celemir yells across the hall "Doubt its orcish"

Dramicus points to the third section of books from the entrance

Shandor follows Dramicus' point.

Vaedron walks to where Dramicus pointed.

Shandor starts looking around the section.

Shandor says, 'Perhaps it would be wiser if we knew what we were looking for.'

Dytalorien replaces the volume and grabs another, skimming through it as well.

Vaedron says, "Hmmmmm......Orcish flags, what volume would that be in."

Isondil looks at a couple of books before pulling one out at random and looking through it slowly

Dramicus says, "We should look for the flag in one of the books"

Shandor grins and picks up a book.

Celemir appears from the endless rows of books staggering with around twenty very large tomes "Uhh a little help here.."

Shandor says, 'Perhaps the 'Orcish Flag Listings.'’

Dramicus goes and helps Celemir

Shandor says, 'Okay, here it is.'

Dytalorien looks over at Celemir and grins, "One at a time Celemir."

Shandor goes over to a large table.

Vaedron turns to Shandor.

Shandor flips through it.

Dramicus asks, "What is the tribes name?"

Isondil looks up from his book and walks over to Shandor

Mihwen walks towards the group

Dytalorien puts back the book he was reading through and goes over to Shandor's table.

Celemir hands all the books to Dramicus and walks quickly to a table

Shandor points to an image of the flag. 'There it is.'

Dramicus slowly puts the books down

Vaedron studies the flag.

Vaedron says, "Yah that’s the one."

Dramicus asks, "Does it say what tribe it is from?"

Shandor nods, 'I don't know how to pronounce it though.'

Isondil looks slowly at the flag and his eyes flash again in anger

Dytalorien chuckles.

Celemir looks over Shandor’s shoulder "yes...yes.. but there’s something missing from it"

Shandor says, 'What?'

Celemir says "I don’t know, but there’s something that should be there"

Vaedron brushes his hair from his face and looks at the book again.

Isondil examines the corners of the flags and nods

Dytalorien arches an eyebrow, "That's of little help, Celemir."

Shandor says, 'Indeed.'

Mihwen just stands there observing

Shandor goes back to the section on orcs.

Shandor says, 'Hey look!'

Shandor says, 'There is a book for each tribe.'

Dytalorien glances over at Shandor.

Vaedron turns around quickly.

Celemir says "Sorry I didn’t get much more chance to study heraldry, they don’t teach it in the colleges of thuggery

Shandor says, 'If we all take one we can find the one we are looking for.'

Vaedron nods in agreement to Shandor.

Dramicus says, "So now we have to find the right book"

Dytalorien heads over and grabs blindly one of the volumes.

Vaedron takes a book off the shelf and begins to thumb through it.

Shandor takes one and goes over to the table and sits down.

Shandor flips through it.

Isondil takes out a small wallet and unfolds a flag

Shandor says, ' Dramicus where did this tribe live?'

Dytalorien leans against a bookcase, glancing over the pages of his book as he flips through.

Mihwen get a volume

Celemir begins flicking through the books he collected, a worried look on his face

Dramicus says, "They lived north of the town Lesharn was taken away from"

Vaedron finishes looking thought the book he was looking through and picks up another.

Shandor sighs, 'We'll never find it, we have too little information. Celemir, Isondil, Dramicus is there any more you can tell us?'

Shandor looks at the book, 'Well it's definitely not in this one.'

Isondil walks over to the bookcase examining each book before finally taking one out and looking in it

Dytalorien places his book back, "Nor this one."

Shandor throws the book carelessly over his shoulder. A small 'Ow' comes from the librarian

Celemir mumbles "Not yet, gimme a day or so I might have something"

Dytalorien rolls his eyes at Shandor.

Dytalorien blinks at Celemir.

Vaedron mutters to himself in frustration, "This is impossible."

Shandor goes over to the book shelf. 'I'm sure there's a magical way to do this, I just can't remember what it is.'

Shandor levitates all the books over to the table.

Celemir turns and looks at Dytalorien "What?!"

Mihwen closes her book 'not in here'

Shandor says, 'Well, that's the best I can do.'

Dytalorien yawns and waves his hand dismissively, "Nothing, nothing."

Shandor flips through a second book.

Shandor throws it again, it misses the librarian's head but hits her foot.

Celemir sighs and aggregately continues reading

Shandor gets another book.

Vaedron gives up looking through the books and sits down.

Isondil sets down his book on the table and picks up another

Dytalorien grabs a book, flipping through it's pages.

Dramicus stares at the huge pile of books on the table

Mihwen gets yet another one

Dytalorien goes to put back the book, but instead tosses it over his back, the large volume landing on Shandor's head.

Shandor throws the third book away.

Shandor yelps in pain.

Dramicus picks one up and flips through it

Shandor rolls his eyes at Dytalorien

Dytalorien listens and hears the librarian snickering and grins.

Vaedron says, "Anyone think of just asking some of the merfolk around here?"

Dramicus asks, "What happened?"

Shandor says, 'Not in this one either.'

Shandor throws the book at Dytalorien powerfully, 'Whoops, it slipped...'

Celemir slams the book shut and disappears back into the aisles

Isondil looks through his book before looking up and calling to Dramicus "Do you have a section on elven towns?"

Dytalorien sidesteps the oncoming book, it landing harmlessly on the ground.

Dramicus says, "Why would you want elven towns?"

Shandor levitates the book and hits Dytalorien in the back of the head, 'Whoops, magically slipped.'

Dytalorien rolls his eyes.

Vaedron chuckles at Shandor giving Dytalorien a beating with books.

Isondil "Trust me it will help"

Mihwen smiles 'Stop playing around small boys'

Celemir continues his aggravated transit of books to and from the table long into the night

Dytalorien watches with interest as the librarian scolds Shandor.

Dramicus walks over to the elven towns section

Shandor says, 'Small boys? one-hundred year old boys.'

Shandor grins.

Vaedron sighs and picks up a book and starts looking through them again.

Dramicus says, "It is nowhere near as big as the orc section"

Isondil follows him carefully avoiding a stray book

Mihwen sits down

Dytalorien scratches his head, "Anybody find anything productive?"

Shandor says, 'I did, I found out how to hit you with books.'

Shandor says, 'Always entertaining.'

Dramicus sighs, "Nope"

Vaedron sighs and says, "No."

Isondil "thank you anyway" and he heads of down looking through the books

Shandor reads another book, 'Hey wait!'

Shandor says, 'I think I found something.'

Vaedron quickly looks at Shandor.

Dytalorien glances over at Shandor before moving towards him.

Vaedron scrambles to his feet and walks to Shandor.

Shandor says, 'Let's see, according to this one tribe hated the merfolk immensely.'

Vaedron says, "What is it?"

Shandor says, 'The Sl-oick tribe.'

Shandor says, 'It doesn't say where they come from.'

Dramicus asks, "Does it say anything else?"

Vaedron says, "The SI-oick? Never heard of them."

Mihwen just sits there

Shandor says, 'The flag looks a bit like the one Dramicus had.'

Isondil ignores Shandor and reads through his book and tears fill his eyes as he remembers his home beside the sea

Shandor says, 'Oh... the last encounter with these were fifty years ago.'

Shandor says, 'Unless they would really wait around that long to fight them again.'

Vaedron scratches his head.

Shandor sighs and puts the book down.

Dramicus says, "Orcs never wait for a war"

Shandor says, 'Then I don't know.'

Shandor says, 'There's nothing here.'

Vaedron says, "I suggest we ask the leader of this town."

Shandor says, 'The leader is the one that is gone, the Prince..'

Vaedron sighs and say, "Then one of the Elder Merfolk."

Isondil closes his book slowly and takes out his flag and examines it with hate and his eyes flash red

[Narrator] The merfolk who left at the dining hall barged in the library. He hushes the librarian out.

[Narrator] The merfolk locks the library and approaches the group.

Dramicus asks, "What are you doing here"

Shandor says, 'Hello.'

Vaedron stares suspiciously at the merfolk.

Celemir grabs the book and ducks out of sight

[Narrator] The merfolk says, 'Please, listen to me.'

Mihwen stands up

Vaedron looks impatient.

[Narrator] The merfolk says, 'I have information, you might.... want.'

Shandor says, 'Oh really, continue.'

Vaedron says, "And that is?"

[Narrator] the merfolk looks that them, 'Well, the adviser who went with the prince.'

[Narrator] The merfolk continues, 'I merely want to *suggest* that you visit his room...'

Mihwen listens careful

Shandor raises an eyebrow, 'Would there be good reason?'

Isondil approaches the group again and stares at the merfolk

Vaedron suspiciously says, "Why?"

Dramicus says, "I think we should trust him, we have yet to find anything ourselves"

[Narrator] The merfolk looks at them, 'Please, just take this key, he room is on the southern most dome.'

Dytalorien leans against a nearby wall, listening to the conversation.

[Narrator] The merfolk gives a slender key to Dramicus

Dramicus takes the key

Vaedron say, "It may help if you unlock the library door first."

[Narrator] The merfolk nods and runs, unlocking the door and disappears.

Mihwen 'hmmm'

Shandor says, 'Most odd.'

Vaedron says, "I don't trust that guy."

Isondil nods

Shandor says, 'I suggest we visit this room, I assume you know the way Dramicus?'

Celemir appears from his hidden position "Id suggest I go first and make sure this isn’t a trap, letting myself into houses isn’t exactly new to me"

Vaedron says, "I got a bad feeling about that room........."

Dramicus asks, "Well, are we going to go?"

Shandor says, 'Really grow up, it won't murder us, let's go there.'

Shandor nods at Dramicus

Dramicus leads the group to the room

Shandor moves to the library door.

Dytalorien shrugs and follows behind.

Vaedron says, "Lets go."

Shandor looks at the door.

Shandor says, 'Interesting.'

Isondil follows Shandor slowly

Shandor takes the key from Dramicus

Mihwen follows the group a few meter behind

Shandor unlocks the door.

Shandor carefully prods it open. Nothing happens.

Shandor says, 'What is that smell?'

Vaedron sighs

Dramicus looks in

Vaedron sniffs the air.

Dytalorien sniffs the air, "Don't know."

Shandor coughs as the smell of rotting flesh surrounds them.

Dramicus starts to gag

Celemir takes a deep breath and dashes into the room

Vaedron coughs

Shandor steps in. The room is full of dark candles, bones and weird writings on the walls.

Shandor notes the floor had markings in blood on it.

Dytalorien moves his left hand towards the hilt of his long curved saber, "How welcoming..."

Shandor says, 'This is an evil place.'

Vaedron walks into the room, "I told you I had a bad feeling about this room."

Shandor looks around the room.

Mihwen looks around the room

Dramicus looks at a pile of dead animals

Celemir says "Worse than" Celemir produces a page torn from the book he was reading, that symbol on the floor is what’s missing from the flag..

Isondil walks slowly into the room and small chest catches his eye and walks over to it

Shandor grabs the flag.

Vaedron holds his staff close to him.

Shandor checks the symbol, 'Okay, just what is going on?'

Shandor turns to Dramicus and Celemir.

Vaedron continues to investigate the room.

Shandor says, 'Speak.'

Mihwen shakes her head 'this doesn’t look good'

Shandor spots a piece of parchment.

Isondil takes out a small knife and picks the lock on the chest

Dramicus says, "Speak?"

Celemir throws Isondil a set of lock-picks

Shandor picks it up, 'The Order of Kadly-noth.... I read about these... an evil order of necromancers.'

Vaedron feels the walls as he walks around the room.

Dytalorien raises an eyebrow.

Shandor says, 'The question is, what would the chief adviser being doing as a necromancer?'

Dramicus says, "What do you think that that freak wants with the prince?"

Isondil catches the lock-picks and quickly has the lock picked

Vaedron quickly turns to Shandor, "What did you just say?!"

Shandor says, 'Hmm, oh dear.'

Vaedron grumbles, "So what do you think we should do about this?"

Shandor says, 'According to this the adviser appears to have gone quite mad. He rambles on about murder and blood, especially that of the Prince.'

Celemir takes a pint of lantern oil and covers the symbol on the floor with it

Dytalorien mumbles, "How pleasant."

[Narrator] Several merfolk appear at the door. They say' We serve the Order of Kadly-noth, you will pay.

Shandor says, 'Can't we just talk about thi-' He is knocked over by a spear stabbing into his shoulder.

Shandor falls to the floor in agony.

Mihwen walks backwards

Vaedron is shocked and backs into a wall.

Vaedron grips his staff

Mihwen pulls a dagger

Celemir spins around and hurls two throwing twin daggers each finding its mark in a merfolks forehead

Dytalorien draws his long curved saber, grasping in firmly within his left hand.

Dramicus pulls out his lance and shoves it into one of their feet

Isondil picks up his knife and throws it on the merfolk hitting him in the chest

Dramicus pulls the spear out of Shandor and throws it at a merfolk

Celemir yells to Mihwen, "the symbol destroy that symbol!!"

Dytalorien leaps upon the closest merfolk, slashing diagonally at him. The merfolk blocking easily.

Vaedron runs up and swings his staff at the merfolk stabbing Shandor

Mihwen looks around

Mihwen 'where?'

Celemir watches as the two recently slain merfolk rise again an unholy light in their eyes

Vaedron knocks the merfolk away from Shandor.

[Narrator] The Merfolk barge Mihwen to the floor.

Dramicus shouts, "On the floor Mihwen!"

Celemir says "the one on the floor!!"

[Narrator] The merfolk growl, 'No, no!'

Dytalorien grunts and lashes out with his booted foot, knocking the wind out of the merfolk.

[Narrator] The merfolk surround the symbol

Dytalorien blinks and grunts, "Great..."

Mihwen rolls around on the floor

Isondil falls to the ground as a spear hits him on the arm

Shandor says, 'Oh, lot's of blood.

Vaedron says to Shandor, "Are you going to be ok?"

Shandor stands up, weakly,

Dramicus pulls out a dagger and shoves it into a merfolk’s neck

Vaedron helps Shandor up.

Shandor nods in thanks

Dramicus keeps stabbing the merfolk

Vaedron turns his attention to the merfolk

Dytalorien brings his hand about in a wide arch, a dagger flying at a merfolk but missing.

[Narrator] The dome they are in starts shaking.

Shandor says, 'Now what?!'

Celemir throws another pair of daggers at the merfolk both fly true and find their mark but fail to even slow the merfolk down

Vaedron tries to keep his balance

Dytalorien looks about, and groans.

Vaedron curses in elven

Dramicus shouts, "We are sinking!"

[Narrator] Water starts pouring in from ceiling. A merfolk has broken the magic barrier.

Mihwen looks around

Shandor growls, 'What is it with us and water!'

Shandor shouts, 'Run!'

Dytalorien drops down and brings his saber upwards, finishing the merfolk.

Vaedron yells, "We have to get to the underwater vehicles!"

Dramicus shouts, "Follow me to the port!"

Dytalorien regains his feet and runs all out.

Vaedron yells, "Hurry!"

Dramicus races out of the room

Mihwen runs after

Vaedron helps Shandor run.

Shandor follows painfully

Celemir throws a burning flask of lamp oil at the symbol before running after the others at full tilt

Dytalorien follows behind Dramicus at a frantic pace.

Mihwen slows down to help Shandor

Vaedron follows Dramicus while helping Shandor.

Vaedron looks behind him to see water rushing behind them.

[Narrator] They arrive at a small docking dome. Only one vessel is there, only suitable to hold four people.

Vaedron yells, "Hurry!"

Shandor shouts, 'Get in that!'

Celemir jumps in at the controls

Dytalorien halts and grunts, "Get Shandor in quickly!"

Celemir says anyone else know how to drive one of these?

Vaedron jumps into one of the vessels.

Shandor clambers in.

Mihwen jumps into one

Shandor says, 'Okay, get ready. He sits down at the other controls.

Vaedron shouts, "Lets move!"

Dramicus shouts, "The ship can only hold four of you!"

Celemir says "And I’m driving!"

Shandor says, 'Just clamber in!'

Dytalorien mumbles and searches for an alternate vessel.

Dramicus says, "I will swim for it

Shandor shoves Celemir out of the way,' Do not argue with someone who is very angry.'

Dytalorien forces his way in, finding no other vessel. Squishing between serveral bodies.

Celemir says "you know how to drive this thing?"

Vaedron says, "Shandor you are hurt let Celemir drive."

Dramicus dives into the water

Isondil Dives into a boat

Shandor pulls on a lever. The vessel lurches forward into the water

[Narrator] The vessel rocks as it leaves the dome. At that moment the base structure of the dome collapses. Merfolk are swept away by the waves.

Celemir says "please keep your hands and legs inside the carriage until the ride has come to a complete stop"

Vaedron sighs in relief as he sees the dome collapse.

[Narrator] The vessel starts moving towards the surface

Dramicus starts to swim beside the ship

[Narrator] The vessel crashes through the surface and slams to the waves.

Celemir finds the "go faster" button and dives it hard

Dytalorien looks back, and his eyes blank.

Shandor looks at the instruments, 'Er… I don't think this is working well.'

[Narrator] The vessel whines loudly before shuddering to a stop.

Shandor says, 'Whatever magic powered it, it has worn off.'

Shandor says, 'I don't know what we do now… wait I guess…'

Vaedron groans

Mihwen looks around 'how deep are we?'

Shandor says, 'Okay, I doubt this can be good.'

Vaedron says, "Those serpent will return."

Celemir says on the surface

Shandor says, 'We are on the surface, I think this thing floats.'

Dytalorien curses about their luck.

Vaedron says, "We have to find a way to keep moving.

Isondil "great what happens if the merfolk come?"

Shandor adds, 'Somehow.'

Celemir says "in my experience people aren’t pleased when you take their transportation, even if your only borrowing it"

[Narrator] A day passes slowly. The group are starving as waves continue knocking into the vessel.

Celemir says "who wants to get out and push?"

Shandor says, 'Good news,' He notes their hungry stares, 'I think the waves are knocking us towards shore… that means-' He again notes their stares, 'We don't have to resort to cannibalism,'

Shandor laughs weakly.

Mihwen says Dramicus got any ideas?

Dytalorien rolls his eyes at Shandor.

Vaedron grumbles to himself

Dramicus opens the hatch with some fish

Vaedron says, "I don’t think this is time for jokes Shandor."

Isondil looks and Shandor and smiles weakly

Shandor says, 'Excellent, raw fish, just what I always wanted...'

Shandor looks at Vaedron , 'Who was joking.'

Dytalorien grins, "We could start a fire.. and burn down the vessel..."

Vaedron sighs

Mihwen smiles 'give me that fish'

Shandor smiles.

Dramicus gives Mihwen a fish

Shandor says, ' Dytalorien, I think starvation is turning you insane.'

Celemir says "I’ve eaten worse, Dramicus gimme a fish"

Dramicus gives Celemir a fish

Dytalorien smiles ominously, "Starvation? Who needs that, I'm already insane from your humour!"

Shandor looks at the fish, 'Maybe in a minute...'

Vaedron mutters something about rather starving that eating the fish.

Mihwen holds the fish and the people near her can feel it's getting hotter

Isondil says "give me a fish Dramicus"

Shandor grins, 'Then my work here is done.'

Dytalorien nods and grins, "Indeed."

Celemir takes a large lump out of the fish and looks at Mihwen

Dramicus gives Isondil a fish

Celemir spits it out and says "could you have done that before i started to eat a raw fish?"

[Narrator] The vessel tips into a nearly ninety degree angle.

Shandor falls out the hatch into very shallow water.

Celemir says "Bloody hell!"

Dytalorien blinks.

Vaedron tries to hold onto something

Shandor stands up.

Dytalorien smiles, "Just our luck, land."

Mihwen start to eat her cooked fish

Shandor says, 'Tell me Dramicus , when you were getting fish did you ever thing about.... oh I don't know.... looking around!'

Shandor says, 'We've crashed on land!'

Celemir drops the fish into his pack to the appreciative "mew" sound of Cutpurse

Dramicus says, "Nope, never thought about it"

Vaedron says sarcastically, "Aw i was hoping for more serpents."

Shandor smirks, 'Go Vaedron, I'm sure they want to eat you.'

Shandor walks onto the land.

Vaedron glares at Shandor.

Dramicus asks, "What do we do now?"

Vaedron hops out of the vessel and stretches his limbs

Isondil Follows Shandor of the boat

Celemir drops to the land and kisses it

Mihwen walks out

Shandor walks forward into grassland.

Vaedron looks at Celemir, "Get up."

Dytalorien walks slowly out of the vessel, and gazes about.

Celemir says "last time I get on a boat with you lot..."

Vaedron looks up at the sky to try and get some sense of time.

Isondil takes out his bow and mutters something about getting some real food and walks of

Mihwen looks around 'where are we?'

Vaedron yells to Isondil, "Bring something back worth eating."

Shandor says, 'I've got an idea.

Shandor says, 'Does anyone have a map'

Vaedron says to Shandor, "No."

Mihwen said 'hade one in my bags'

Dytalorien chuckles, "I might have one, if I knew where we were..."

Celemir removes the pages from his pocket at looks at them worriedly

Shandor grabs the map from his pocket that he ‘forgot’ he had in there.

Shandor begins chanting, it lifts up in the air, a red 'X' begins glowing just south of Emerald Bay, 'That's where we are.'

Shandor says, 'We should be able to get there on foot.

Vaedron says, "How many days by foot?"

Shandor says, 'I think this way by foot.'

Dytalorien nods, "Can we set up camp first, I don't think we're in the shape for travel right now."

Shandor starts walking, 'We should be there by nightfall.

Isondil returns with a large boar over his shoulder

Shandor says, 'Maybe,'

Vaedron nods to Shandor

Celemir pulls Shandor aside and shows him the pages

Vaedron begins walking, "We should start moving now."

Dramicus starts to walk

Shandor continues walking.

Isondil says "Wait I didn't kill this boar to leave it behind and i don't fancy carrying it"

Shandor looks at Celemir and continues on.

Mihwen follows

Mihwen 'not the best outfit to walk in'

Shandor looks at the pages, 'So?'

Isondil looks around and quickly slices up some of the meat and runs to catch up with the group

Celemir says "That flag should have had the symbol we saw on the floor of that advisers home on it, it was used by a powerful group of necromancers about years ago to bind a willing soul to them"

Shandor continues walking, 'So, is everyone in one piece?'

Vaedron says, "I think we should be asking you that question Shandor."

Dramicus says, "yes"

Shandor says, 'Orc necromancers... I was right...'

Shandor grins, 'I'm fine.. oh wait there's a HOLE IN MY CHEST!'

Celemir says "I saw it once in the palace library, the king was very interested in it"

Mihwen shakes her head

Vaedron chuckles

Dytalorien grins.

Isondil says "Ah so the orcs that attacked my town were under their power ?"

Celemir shrugs

Shandor says, 'I say all this can wait until we get to Emerald Bay and enjoy a good meal.'

[Narrator] They continue merrily for several hours.

Vaedron yawns, "Maybe we should camp out."

Shandor says, 'I think Emerald Bay is very close.'

Dramicus says, "I think we should keep going"

Vaedron sighs and continues to walk.

Shandor spots buildings in the distance.'

Isondil looks around and says "I would prefer if we carried on"

Shandor shouts for joy, 'There it is!'

Vaedron looks into the distance.

Shandor starts sprinting forward, he winces in pain and slows to a walk

Isondil looks up and starts sprinting and is soon easily in front of the rest of the group

Vaedron says, "You should really take it easy with that hole in your shoulder."

Mihwen 'wow'

Varadrion chuckles at the injured Shandor as he catches up to the group "What trouble have you gotten yourself into now Shandor?"

Shandor says,' I've had worse in my time

Dytalorien creases his brow in worry.

Vaedron shocked says, "Where did you come from Varadrion."

Dramicus says, "It was a long story"

Varadrion replies "I came from Emerald Bay"

Shandor says, ' Varadrion, while it is good to see you, I'm trying to get to Emerald Bay

Isondil reaches the town and turns around to wait for the group

Dramicus runs up to Isondil

Vaedron hurry’s to catch up to Isondil

Varadrion Runs after them

Vaedron says, "I could really use some good rest."

Shandor walks happily along, 'Finally, a nice welcoming city..'

Shandor reaches the town gates.

Mihwen follows but it's not easy moving fast in a dress

Shandor steps onto the cobbled streets.

Varadrion chuckles "Cities are only welcoming to some people"

Vaedron looks around at the city.

Celemir brushes up alongside Shandor and quickens his pace

Shandor breathes the salty air of the port.

Shandor says, 'I know, I know a friend here.'

Shandor runs over to an inn happily.

Varadrion follows warily

Vaedron sighs, "So where are we heading?"

Shandor nudges the door open and peaks in. Jason Magellan, the Bar keep, spots him and smiles, 'Well, if it isn't my friends!'

Dramicus runs after Shandor

Mihwen follows

Shandor steps in and walks to the bar, 'Hello Jason, your son in any trouble?'

Vaedron follows the group into the bar.

Shandor grins as the Barkeep shakes his head, 'Nope.' Shandor nods.

Celemir sits down at a table and places out the pages

Shandor says, 'Okay, could we get some rooms and food?'

Shandor smiles as the bar keep nods.

Varadrion takes an empty table and sits down

Shandor turns away as the bar keep says, 'Your friends came, li'l Lesharn and those lot, they are upstairs sleeping.'

Vaedron sits down at the table with Varadrion.

Varadrion nods to Vaedron and looks around at this new place

Shandor nods and shuffles over to a bench

Shandor rubs his shoulder wound.

Shandor says, 'Perhaps, Mihwen, could you aid my wound?'

Varadrion looks at shandor's wound in obvious interest

Isondil enters the bar slowly and looks around and joins Shandor

Vaedron says to Varadrion, "You wont believe what we have been through."

Vaedron says, "I will have to tell you later Varadrion."

Mihwen says *let me take a look at it'

Shandor nods, 'No sleeping spells this time.'

Celemir gestures at Vaedron

Mihwen smiles

Vaedron turns to Celemir, "What do you want?"

Mihwen looks at the wound

Shandor sighs in the warm room.

Isondil feels the pain in his arm and sits back in his chair and passes out

Celemir says "Sit down, I need to pick your brains"

Shandor looks at Mihwen, 'Thanks.'

Mihwen says 'not so bad..'

Vaedron sits down next to Celemir, "What do you need?"

Shandor says, 'Considering the better part of a spear went through there, I'm a bit surprised.'

Mihwen calls a little boy at the door and tells him something

Varadrion smiles and says "At least you're going to be ok Shandor"

Shandor smiles, 'Whoop-de-do.'

Celemir says "I havnt been able to translate all of this, my elven’s not as good as it should be, I can make out most of it but this last paragraph I don’t know...only word I can make out is 'Tilkhurg' "

Shandor says, 'Pass it here.'

Mihwen says 'if you take it easy the wound will heal, it's clean'

Shandor says, 'I've studied ancient elven as well.'

Celemir glares at the stranger

Shandor says, 'Thank you Mihwen.'

Celemir hands Shandor the page

Varadrion chuckles "One day I’m going to have to peel you off the ground shandor, and you're going to thank me" and smiles

Mihwen say 'but you'll have to drink some medicine every day for a week'

Varadrion pipes up "someone say something about old elven?"

Vaedron chuckles at Shandor, "Stabbed by a lance, and you still have time to translate ancient elven.

Shandor nods at Mihwen.

Isondil wakes from his stupor and looks to see that the sleep has healed his wound

Mihwen says 'the boy is out getting it'

Shandor says, 'What? I lived in the A'lure woods, I like history...'

Varadrion says "The woods were the only home i ever truly knew... but i did have some elven books around"

Celemir says "I don’t think its even elven, some of it looks similar but the rest is a mystery"

Mihwen says 'it wont taste good, but it will make you good'

Shandor says, 'Oh goodie, more of your bitter, foul medicine, I think you like making it taste like that.'

Varadrion laughs at Shandor "Serves you right"

Isondil says "let me see it please"

Celemir places the Page in the centre of the table

Mihwen smiles

Varadrion pulls out a star shaped metal object form his cloak

Varadrion looks at it and puts it back

Vaedron sighs

Shandor says, 'Lemme guess Mihwen, I have to sleep lots too?'

Vaedron says to Shandor, "What’s wrong with lots of sleep?"

Varadrion says "I'm exhausted, long walk... I’m going to sleep.. see you all in the morning"

Isondil leans forward and glances at the script and shakes his head and mutters that he hasn't seen that language before

Shandor says, 'I can't stand it...'

Mihwen smiles 'not really'

Shandor looks at the script.

Shandor says, 'Interesting...'

Shandor says, 'It appears to be a mixture of ancient elven and some other, but I am too weary to continue.'

Shandor says, 'Good night all.'

Shandor stands up and goes upstairs to his room.

Vaedron says, "Yes i think we should all go to sleep." Goes to his room and goes to sleep.

Mihwen says 'g'night'

Isondil say's "night all"