The Sword of Norgorber was outlined in bright glittering shards.  A rapid head shake could not remove the dust caught in his eyes, but even when blind he drew another dagger and threw it with precision at al-Samara as he charged in his direction.  He hit, and even then his blue skin around the impact wound rapidly turned a pitch black.  His tearful eyes widened as he fell backwards, his hands reaching out to Menya.<br/><br/><em>I'm sorry,</em>he telepathically thought before falling unconscious.<br/><br/>Sword of Norgorber Will Save 15, Blinded (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79449)<br/><br/>Sword of Norgorber thrown dagger attack 26 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79448)<br/><br/>Sword of Norgorber Miss Chance 76 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79450)<br/><br/>Al-Samara Fort Save 16 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79451)<br/><br/>Constitution Damage 10 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79452)<br/><br/>The assassin stumbled about, leaving him wide open for Hanifa who turned him into a living pincushion with three arrows.<br/><br/><br/>Hanifa Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Point Blank Shot 29 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79445)<br/>Hanifa Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Point Blank Shot 26 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79446)<br/>Hanifa Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Point Blank Shot 24 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79447)<br/><br/>Hanifa Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Point Blank Shot Combined Damage 35 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79453)<br/><br/>"Curse you!" Bakr shouted as he added on with another bomb.  The Sword of Norgorber vanished into a puff of acrid smoke from the alchemist's bomb, his remains scattered to the winds.<br/><br/>Bakr Bomb 16 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79454)<br/>Bakr Bomb Damage 23 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=79455)<br/><br/>Al-Samara's final thought wasn't just to Menya, for Alfreldi and Zelda came rushing forth to cry in anguish at the sight.  Hanifa couldn't do much other than kneel down.  "Can any of you heal this wound?"<br/><br/>"I can delay the poison, but not outright cure it," he said.  "Maybe if Garetz were...dammit."<br/><br/>"It's alright," al-Samara said as Bakr applied an extract to his wound.  "I...I still have so much left to do...if I am to die here, I want to at least spend my last moments with the ones I love."<br/><br/>"Don't talk that way!" Alfreldi exclaimed.  "We can get you out of here, maybe find something in the infirmary...dammit Bakr, if you can delay a poison, you can use that time to brew a stronger batch!"<br/><br/>Hanifa and Zelda helped al-Samara to his feet, carrying him with each of his arms over their shoulders.<br/><br/>"I don't know if the battle has subsided," Zelda said, "but sticking around here will do us no good."<br/><br/><em>Menya gains 1,066 experience from this encounter.</em><br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Al-Samara's Bedside</span></span></div><br/>The battle at the Palace is over, the invaders lost, albeit with casualties on both sides.  Roshul is still alive, and the servants are doing their best to tend to the wounded.  Garetz' treachery and death was a major blow, for as the resident healer his skills were sorely needed.<br/><br/>Al-Samara lay in his bedchambers, surrounded by a crowd of trusted friends and lovers.  The poison grew worse, his now-blackened veins reaching to his extremities and the sides of his cheeks.  He gazed into Menya's eyes; he looked weak and defeated, the first time the catgirl ever saw him like this.<br/><br/>"Even in this brief time do I feel regret.  I wish that this life of ours could continue on like this forever, but there must come an end to all things, even I.  Do not cry, for I will reform with the essence of Water to be born anew."<br/><br/>Judi's hands tightly grasped his.  She did not cry, but Menya could see feelings of anguish behind her eyes.  "I won't let you go.  I will hunt you down to the ends of the multiverse if I must."<br/><br/>"Arensha, Alfreldi...all the rest of you catgirls, you deserve the truth from me.  Your memories of life at the palace are lies.  Your memory was altered by Roshul so that you'd adjust better, with no longing regrets or pining over days of old.  Arensha, I found you and the silent Garundi at a marketplace in Katapesh.  Alfreldi, you were found lost and forlorn in the middle of the vast Garundi deserts and taken back to the Elemental Plane of Water.  I fear that I do not know all of your real names, or your homelands, but in due time I hope that you find your true history.  I can ask for forgiveness, but in perpetuating these lies I understand if you despise me."<br/><br/>Al-Samara went on to list the other slave-girls who lost their memories, of what he knew of them and where he first found them.  Then he stared up at the ceiling.<br/><br/>"Your ownership is passed onto Judi, as is this Palace and home.  She will run things while I'm gone."<br/><br/>Hanifa stood silently.  In spite of her feelings for the marid she knew and could feel the pangs of sorrow in Menya and the others.  She felt bad that she could not act quickly enough, a tinge of regret.  Even if they were to be free and continue on their mission for the Crown, would her dear friend ever be the same again?<br/><br/>Al-Samara coughed.  "I...I can feel the Plane's foundations calling for me...it won't be long until I join the world amid the great waves.  Maybe in the future I'll see you again, whether as a gentle sea breeze on the Material Plane, or a much-needed drink at an oasis.  You all served me gloriously, now remember my example as you live your own life.  Farewell."<br/><br/>The marid closed his eyes, his breathing stopped.  Then his body liquefied and drained down into a funerary urn where his feet used to lay.  Without saying a word Judi placed and locked the top on it.  For a moment her tearful eyes peered into Menya.<br/><br/><em>We'll do our best to keep al-Samara safe.</em>That's what she promised earlier.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Things would never be the same here again.  Menya, Hanifa, Alfreldi, and Zelda sat around a table in the kitchen, helping clean up and looking for any leftover spells or traps from the assault.<br/><br/>"What...what will happen now?" Zelda asked.<br/><br/>"I don't know," Hanifa said.  "I really don't."<br/><br/>The ranger's fists shook.  "If only I could've been faster, more attentive, I could've got him before...dammit!"<br/><br/>Hanifa punched the wall.  "It's all over now!  Not only do we remain slaves, we failed to save his life!  Roshul is now onto us, and Judi surely hates our guts!"<br/><br/>She hugged Menya, tears streaming onto the catgirl's shoulder.  "I'm sorry for all this!  We should never have embarked on that quest for that Aroden-forsaken Crown!  I should have never taken you back to Osirion!  Curse my wanderlust for suggesting that we'd make great adventurers on that horrible day!  We could be living as simple village girls, playing mancala and gossiping, and maybe finding a nice home and garden to own!"<br/><br/>Hanifa just cried, not saying anything more.  Not saying anything either, Zelda and Alfreldi reassuringly patted her and exchanged hugs with their dear friends.