<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg11508065#msg11508065">Quote from: Skynet on 02-08-2015, 06:46:44</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Turning to see Naila sleeping in the other bed, she paused a bit.  "She looks comfy, but kind of lonely.  Hey Kleris, do you mind if all three of us slept together?  The bed's big enough, and we shouldn't disturb her if we're quiet enough."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>He looked over, Naila was indeed asleep already, and still tucked in nicely, as opposed to spread out and half-covered like some woke up the next day.  "I guess it wouldn't disturb her, and its nice to bunk with people sometimes.  Sure, slip in, and I'll follow."  As Naila shifted, Kleris was worried they'd woken her, but as she snuggled in and Zull smiled, Kleris relaxed and enjoyed the closeness of them without the sexual tension that often followed such situations.  It had been a long night of friendship bonding, and for once he wasn't struggling to hide his excitement, instead feeling like he belonged.  "Goodnight," he whispered, and went to sleep himself.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>[Acrobatics 12+2 = 19, success<br/>Diplomacy 6+16 = 22, success<br/>Cast<em>spiked pit</em>]<br/>As the spell took hold, Kleris felt his limbs lighten, his stride lengthen, and with no effort greatly overtook his companions in sprinting across the rocking bridge.  The ring was throbbing with life again, apparently doing something else to aid them while Kleris concentrated on not tumbling into the sea.  He was just about at the end when he heard sharper yells, and looked back to see Lillin and the rest struggling to catch up.  Skidding to a stop and catching himself on his fingertips, he managed to keep his feet in the ankle-deep water and make a runner's start back to help.  When he was suddenly lifted up and away, though, he struggled against the unexpected aid taking him away.<br/><br/>"We have to help them!  I don't know who you are or why my father gave you to me or why you're doing this, but you said as long as you dream I will not perish.  So keep dreaming about going down there!"  It wasn't the best argument, its not like he was invulnerable via logic, but the entity kept quiet as they flew back down the bridge to his companions.  A few were limping away, but Carson and Lillin were sitting ducks before the phantom riders.  Urging themselves down with all his will, the Dream Master arrived just in time to deflect it, unexpectedly knocking the rider into the water.  As Kleris reached down to pull at Lillin and Carson, the next rider reared up to attack, leaving them all vulnerable.  He knew that unless its rider was extremely powerful, the phantom horse was probably only walking above the water, not truly flying, and quickly cast a new spell he'd prepared for an emergency.  The water suddenly dropped and spun into a vortex as a large void of spikes appeared below the rider, leaving him to sink and splash as the ring-creature struck it aside and flew off with its charges.<br/><br/>With just enough time to catch their breath and collect themselves again, Kleris looked to each of his companions, making sure they had at least enough strength to continue their staggering flight.  If they hadn't, he wasn't sure what they could have done to continue.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">The Allainian Wilds</span></span></div><br/>The tense journey back was fraught with moments of panic followed by lulls of tired plodding.  A few time they stopped and tried to hide from something on the path, an animal or nothing, then wordlessly joined in a jog to hurry on, eventually drifting back to a tight, tense walk.  It was another shock when Zull burst and caught him, making everyone stop to stare.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"This was a mistake, Kleris!  We should've never gone back, should've listened to our senses!  We almost <em>died</em> back there, and to learn what!  That Kleris' Dad pissed off some tyrant?!  Was it really worth it to learn all this?!  This has to be said now!  Kleris, you're not the only lady in the Known Realms whose Dad is lost, but if this is what happens, then we can't keep going!  Your father's better off forgotten than for us to die!</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Kleris could only choke out some air in response, unable to defend himself for stress and guilt combined.  They had all been too shocked and focused on escaping back to school to think about what happened or digest it, but it seemed to have boiled over for Zull, and Kleris had to agree with everything she said.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Stop taking your anger out on her!" Lillin shouted.  "If we stop now, then all this is for naught!  Look at us, look at <em>this,"</em> she gestured to the ring-entity, who seemed uninvolved in this quarrel.  "This is obvious that someone, somewhere, is watching over Kleris, that there are dangers out there in the world.  You fought at our side during that demon attack at that party, things aren't going to go back to normal after this!"<br/>"Fuck you Lillin, if this is what I get for coming along, then I don't want to be friends anymore!"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>After Zull's first outburst, the dam of shocked silence burst as everyone started shouting and fighting, and Kleris felt like he could just collapse and cry.  "She's right, Lillin, she's right.  This is all my fault, and I'm the one who dragged you all along to die!  I knew Arisad was an enemy, I should have known it was all a trap, and I thought I could be more clever and just get out of it again like everything else.  But bringing you all along was just a sign of my doubts, that inside I knew I couldn't win and I'd need others to bail me out.  I warned you it would be dangerous, but of course you all came anyway, you're my friends.  But I should have been your friend and stopped you, or smarter yet, not have come at all!  We should have all died back there if not for some stupid quirk of happenstance."  If he hadn't been able to choke it out, Kleris felt like he wouldn't be able to breathe.  His eyes filled with tears, he just clung obstinately to Zull's arm as she challenged Lillin, and was desperately thankful the others could at least interpose themselves enough to head off a full scale brawl.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Finally seeing Redhurst, the safety that should have brought some joy, instead only brought resignation to a new destination and not the end of their troubles.  Kleris wasn't even able to lift his hanging head to Dean Khûdzak, but he was fortunately concerned with their status, punctuated by the still-accompanying vestige.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Headmaster Andarlin's Office</span></span></div><br/>Once inside the school and able to relax his nerves, Kleris felt the effects of the last of his adrenaline fading away, and all he wanted to do was die in bed.  Still, he felt oddly calm too, all his emotions wrung out and with no more anxiety to worry about consequences before the Headmaster.  As the two seemed to be having a conversation, much like two parents speaking above a child's comprehension, Kleris stared at the hourglass on his table, following the curve of the glass and trying to comprehend how many grains must be inside.  When the Headmaster finally spoke, Kleris's head jerked up, then he relaxed again and took a chair.<br/><br/>"Where do I begin.  My father was an adventurer, who apparently got in trouble with some bad people.  He left us this ring, which seems to be the source or home of this... entity.  Though it only manifested just today.  Master Arisad had made comments about knowing my father before, and recently sent a note inviting me to speak with him about it.  I had a bad feeling about it, but was blinded by my curiosity and pride or naivete, and instead of ignoring it, decided to take my friends as backup."  He had to establish this was all his fault, and that the rest were innocent victims of his bad judgment.  "We arrived at Master Arisad's tower, where he complained of my father's past meddling, and declared he'd have some sort of revenge on me.  That's when this showed up," looking at the quori, "and stopped us getting killed long enough to flee the tower and city while Arisad pursued us.  He might decide to come get us anyway; I can't imagine what wards the school might have, but you might want to make sure they're secure against a determined archmage to be safe.  I'm so sorry to bring this to your doorstep Headmaster.  Just please don't expel my friends, I manipulated them and they didn't deserve any of this business."