<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=205751.msg11486715#msg11486715">Quote from: Chloe Milev on 26-07-2015, 04:54:09</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 16pt;">Professor Yarminda's Slumber Party</span></div><br/>Plus, I think if you settle in one place, you tend to get mixed up in politics and taking sides.  I've heard about magic schools just being training grounds for armies, or being controlled by governments for their own ends, rather than for the students.  I think travelling probably keeps Redhurst independent and always pushing our boundaries to learn something new.  And it might make it easier for new students to learn about magic, or to even enroll in the school.  If it were stuck in one place, it would be hard for students to plane shift to attend, but the school can come around and pick people up instead!"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Zull nodded.  "Quite logical.  Even then it still seems that the places we go to are more inclined towards us.  Of all the places to go in Midgard, we're put right next to Allain."<br/><br/>The drow laid back on the pillows.  "Bah, this is all too complicated to think about right now!"<br/><br/>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."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Kleris accepts</div><div class="spoiler_body">"Thanks, I'd like that.  I still remember the arguments we had last year.  I guess after losing Travis, I don't want to lose her as a friend."<br/><br/>Zull got up and slightly pulled back the covers for her and Kleris to slip into.  Naila at the left, Zull in the middle, and Kleris on the right.  The high elf turned over in her sleep, an arm splayed out over Zull and touching's Kleris' shoulder.  A smile formed on her lips, and she squeezed Zull tight.  The drow smiled back, knowing it was the right decision.<br/><br/>"Goodnight, Kleris."</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Kleris thinks three's too many</div><div class="spoiler_body">"I understand," she replied.  "I suppose it could get awkward, but...I still remember the arguments we had last year.  I guess after losing Travis, I don't want to lose her as a friend.  If you don't mind, I'd like to sleep with her.  Don't worry, we're roommates all the time, she ain't gonna steal me away from you!"<br/><br/>Zull Zull got up and slightly pulled back the covers for her to get into.  The high elf turned over in her sleep, an arm splayed out over Zull.  A smile formed on her lips, and she squeezed Zull tight.  The drow smiled back.<br/><br/>"Goodnight, Kleris."</div></div><br/><hr/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 16pt;">Archtowers of Bemmea</span></div><br/>"Okay, that didn't work, we have to cover Arturon, I'll keep them off your backs!"  As the others were able to shove aside students and delay their attackers for a moment, Kleris noticed a larger beast being kept in check apparently by enchantments rather than chains or cage.  He dispelled the magic upon it, whereupon its eyes immediately focused, darkened, and it went on an unholy rampage throwing everything into more chaos and drawing the greater focus off of themselves.  With that, he and the Redhurst students were able to continue their flight down the streets and to the bridge of the city.<br/></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>They all made it to the bridge exiting the city, and spared no time at all dashing across it.  Arturon already activated the<em>Communal Protection from Evil</em>on them, and Carson cast<em>Expeditious Retreat</em>on Kleris.<br/><br/>Arisad made it to the bridge, but the gang was well over a hundred feet away.  "Lower the bridge!" he shouted.  "Send them into the sea!"<br/><br/>The entity from Kleris' ring was back, appearing out from under the structure with no clear means of how it got there.  At this point the bridge violently shook, knocking Lillin to her feet.  Zull, who was lagging behind, ran up to help her.<br/><br/><em>Roll a DC 17 Acrobatics check for Kleris.  On a failure, he's knocked prone and is helped up by Arturon.</em><br/><br/>Rensha was well in front, as was Carson, and they could've gone further, but they slowed their pace upon hearing the shouts of those knocked down.  Even more horrifyingly, the bridge was sinking fast, and already seawater was flowing over the rails.  The opposite shore was several hundred feet away.<br/><br/><em>You will not perish as long as I dream,</em>the ring-entity thought.<br/><br/>Then it grasped Kleris around the torso with his tail and flew into the air.<br/><br/>"Kleris!!!" Lillin shouted out in despair.  "Don't take him away, you bastard!"<br/><br/>"No," Carson said, "it's his guardian, he'll be alright."<br/><br/>"What about us?!" Arturon stammered.<br/><br/>"Shrink yourselves if you can, I should be able to carry you on my back," Edgar said.<br/><br/>Zull cast a<em>fly</em>spell on herself, but not before she hoisted Rensha by her shoulders.  She was not used to this and the pair nearly dipped down to the water, inching forth slowly to the coast.<br/><br/>Kleris could feel the entity in his mind.<em>I'm sorry, but I can't save everyone.  Breyton wished for me to look after you and you only.</em><br/><br/><em>A DC 20 Diplomacy check convinces the quori to go back and grab as many friends as he can.</em><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Success</div><div class="spoiler_body">At this point Arturon already used <em>Reduce Person</em> and is now hoisted by Edgar, who's having as much trouble as Zull is with Rensha.  Carson and Lillin were treading water, and a pair of riders upon shadowy black horses rode across the sea as though it were solid ground.<br/><br/>One of them conjured a lance out of purest black, aiming it at Lillin, only for the ring-entity to interpose itself.  One of its claws shot forth, knocking the rider off the horse.<br/><br/>With his free claws he picked up Carson and Lillin, leaving only two mobile to fight the last rider and his horse.  The pair were quite experienced, and the ring-entity was having some trouble fighting with half its limbs.  Perhaps Kleris can help in some way...<br/><br/><em>I assume that as long as he has a spell of combat or utility use, that Kleris can inconvenience the rider as the quori finishes him off.</em><br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Failure</div><div class="spoiler_body"><em>No, stop squirming, we must escape!</em><br/><br/>"Kleris!!!"<br/><br/>Hearing Lillin's voice was all that was needed to give him the strength to break free of the monster's grasp.  He tumbled down to the water, hitting it flat on his side which stung like the dickens, (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=78535) but he had enough time to conjure a spell to save Lillin as the rider conjured a lance out of purest black, aiming it as his tiefling lover...<br/><br/><em>I assume that as long as he has a spell of combat or utility use, that Kleris can save Lillin.</em><br/><br/>As he took care of the first rider, the monster dived down to hit the remaining one.</div></div><br/>Somehow, they made it to shore.  Zull and Rensha didn't even reach the land before they finally dropped into the water, and their hurried swimming did not do much to hasten their retreat.  Arturon voluntarily ended his transmutation spell as Edgar dropped him off.<br/><br/>Even hundreds of feet away, Kleris knew that Arisad was at the opposite end of the bridge, looking at him and his friends.<br/><br/>Rensha was drenched, but her sword was drawn, as was Carson's.  Arturon's hands were shaking as he tried and failed to cast a spell.  Shivering and wet, Zull broke down crying.  Lillin knelt down to comfort her, but even in her eyes Kleris could see fear.  Edgar perched on Arturon's hands as she exchanged glances with his master, sharing some intuitive understanding known only by a mage and their familiar, and then his limbs stopped quivering.<br/><br/><em>He will not pursue us to Redhurst,</em>the entity communicated to them all,<em>but we are far from safe.  Get up, we must keep moving.</em><br/><br/>They all seemed to want to say something, but they knew that they had to obey or else they will all surely die.<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 road back to Redhurst was strangely uneventful, but even then it was tinged with dread.  Even the small lizards and insects which scurried about elicited glances of fright from the group, not knowing if it was some abomination-spawned creature or a summoned entity of Arisad's to spy on them.  The ring-entity flew just above Kleris, its pincers out and ready for danger.  It was unresponsive to Kleris' queries, always communicating that he'll reveal more in time once they're safe.<br/><br/>Suddenly Zull broke the silence.  "This was a mistake, Kleris!"<br/><br/>She ran up to match his pace and angrily grabbed him by the shoulder to spin him around.  "We should've never gone back, should've listened to our senses!"<br/><br/>"Zullinat!" Edgar squawked.<br/><br/>"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?!"<br/><br/>"You're angry," Rensha said.  "I understand, but can we please save it for when we get back?!"<br/><br/>"No!" she screamed.  "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!"<br/><br/>Zull, what the hell?!" Arturon exclaimed.<br/><br/>"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/><br/>"Fuck you Lillin, if this is what I get for coming along, then I don't want to be friends anymore!"<br/><br/>"I was friends with Kleris," the tiefling responded coldly.  "I don't think I ever said the same for you."<br/><br/>Zull spat at her, the saliva landing on the bridge of Lillin's nose.<br/><br/>Lillin produced a wand in hand, aimed squarely at her.<br/><br/>Rensha interposed herself between the two, sword aimed at Lillin, but Zull pushed the orc aside, her own wand in hand now.<br/><br/>"Lillin, put that thing away!" Carson shouted.<br/><br/>"Wait wait wait!" Edgar squawked as he flew between them.  "Enough of this insanity!  Stay your hand and reserve your anger in case Arisad attacks again."<br/><br/>The pair gave each other a long glare, then relented, slipping their wands back into their hip-sheathes.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>It was a long walk back to Redhurst.  Dean Khûdzak's angry visage was flanked by four Redhurst patrolmen, but grew to concern once he spotted the frayed robes and black circles under their eyes.  The ring-entity in particular set the guards on edge.<br/><br/>"What happened?" he asked.<br/><br/>"No time to explain here," Edgar said.  "First Primarch Arisad tried to kill Kleris."<br/><br/>The dwarf stayed silent for a bit, then it seemed as if all the color drained out of his face.  "You're not lying.  Kleris, you and that entity follow me.  Headmaster Andarlin must hear of this.  The rest of you, wait outside the office."<br/><br/><hr/><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/>(http://i.imgur.com/UV81mu6.png)<br/><br/>The elderly elf's office would be a wondrous sight to behold under less dire circumstances: Every inch of wall seemed lined with tomes, and a life-size recreation of a silver dragon floated above near the roof.  His desk, made of mahogany wood and bearing an hourglass upon it, seemed the most humble thing in the room.<br/><br/>The archmage briefly stared at the ring-entity, the two of them sharing some telepathic conversation Kleris was not privy to.  It didn't last longer than a few seconds.<br/><br/>"Come and take a seat," Andarlin said to Kleris.  "Take a deep breath, and tell me what happened."