The succubus froze, knowing she was out-classed. Grogza came rushing in, her sap-stained axe raised and ready to chop up more foes, but slowed down when she saw that the demon had already surrendered, with Rayne holding her at bow-point to make sure she didn't try anything funny.<br/><br/>"Is that a dimensional anchor? What happens when it runs out?" Grogza asked the obvious, her eyes flicking over the shimmering emerald field covering the succubus's body.<br/><br/>When neither Lizzy nor Rayne could come up with an answer that satisfied her, Grogza shrugged, hefted her axe, and brought the blunt end down on the horned temptress's head. There was a sickening crunch and she collapsed limply and instantly like a sack of potatoes before she could react. The barbarian toed the body at her feet to make sure the succubus was truly unconscious. When there was no response, she looked back up at the other two women. "Eh, she'll be fine... I think. I used nonlethal damage to knock her out, that's all."<br/><br/>"Right... we can take her back to the castle and set up a proper magic circle to hold her prisoner," Lizzy said. "I'll check for a forge now..."<br/><br/>"I'll come with you," Grogza offered. "Rayne, can you keep watch over our prisoner? Stick an arrow in her and call out if she starts to wake up."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Searching the succubus (no check required)</div><div class="spoiler_body">The succubus didn't have any treasure on her body, which wasn't that surprising considering the fact that she wasn't wearing anything.<br/></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Studying the magic circle (DC 20 Spellcraft check)</div><div class="spoiler_body">Rayne made a surprising discovery as she studied the shape of the magic circle and the sigils inscribed in it - this was no summoning circle meant to call something in and hold it in place, as she had originally suspected, but rather it was the reverse: a teleporting circle meant to transport something <em>out</em>. It was also still functional and would only require the candles to be relit to activate the portal once more.<br/></div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Reading the book (no check required)</div><div class="spoiler_body">What was so important about the book that the succubus didn't immediately teleport away, but tried to retrieved it first, which directly led to her being anchored and captured?<br/><br/>The first half of the book was actually a player's quest journal, detailing quests accepted and completed, the words printed in neat computerized type. Normal stuff comparable to Rayne's own quest journal, if she delved back through the various quests she herself completed... then halfway through, dated a few hours after the Change, the printed text gave way to words written by hand in a flowing, cursive script.<br/><br/>Entry 1: <em>Oh, the look in the fool's face when I pointed out the mistake in his magic circle and stepped out. He was delicious <em>and</em> he met my monthly quota of souls sent to hell, how kind of him.</em><br/><br/>Entry 2: <em>Rumour has it that "Lord" Telathrax is breeding a monster army to take over this city. It is of no concern to me, except that the rumours go on to say that he needs more breeders, and he is paying very handsomely for each one delivered to him. Time to pay him a visit and see exactly how handsome he is.</em><br/><br/>Entry 3: <em>The adventurers holed up in the castle are too well-organized to risk a direct attack. Fortunately the adventurers in the Trader's Garden are more vulnerable. I have managed to activate my ex-summoner's golems to do the dirty work for me. Iron, flesh and wood.</em><br/><br/>Entry 4: <em>All the exits from the bazaar have been sealed by the golems. But curse that elf! She destroyed the flesh golem before the iron one could finish her off. At least with her gone, the remaining adventurers are weak and easily captured. I have set up the teleport circle to deliver the first batch of goods to Telathrax.</em><br/><br/>Entry 5: <em>Telathrax's payment was as handsome as promised. But the destruction of the flesh golem has unleashed negative energy that is trapped here. Corpses are rising as undead, and even worse, the iron golem has gone rogue from damage sustained. Now it alternately lies in wait and wanders the streets, trying to swallow every moving thing it sees, making no distinction between the adventurers and me. Pickings are becoming slimmer, and soon it will not be worth the effort to remain here.</em><br/><br/>Entry 6: <em>New adventurers have just entered from the roof. I will wait for the iron golem to finish them and wander away before picking them up, lest I become a victim of its embrace myself.</em><br/><br/></div></div><br/><br/><hr/><br/>"We're back!" Lizzy announced as she returned, her voice sounding happier than before. "I got the forge."<br/><br/>"I spotted a ladder in a back street close by," Grogza added, slinging the unconscious succubus over her shoulder. "It should be able to bring us back up to the roof. You ready to go?"<br/>