<strong>Location:</strong>Innermost Chamber<br/><strong>Tags:</strong>Chorgath, Void, Others<br/><br/>The rot-dog howls balefully in answer to its master's command, putting its nose to the tunnel... and then digging its claws into the engravings, manages to leap-buffet-claw its way to one of the other tunnel exits-- neither the one Chorgath had arrived from nor the one Void and Samaro had emerged from-- and scrambles out of sight.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">"Analysis of the box..."</div><div class="spoiler_body">Chorgath, shortly into his investigation, realizes that the silk is actually part of the box itself.  The whole piece is what his elder wisdom calls a  Rhapsody-Keeping Puzzle Box, a variation on a piece of artifice (very popular for a century or so in the First Age) designed to keep low-security things secure against prying fingers or inquisitive eyes.  To seal the box, one mentally processes a series of notions-- some preferred to seal them while singing a song, some preferred the visualization of mandalas, others while thinking of particularly fond memories.  Unsealing it requires that the user process that same set of mental activities, and can be done by anyone who knows the particular sequence.  While it is possible to unseal the box without the security key, one must possess an MDV of 7+ and spend 1WP to avoid the unnatural Compulsion effect to reseal the box.   The concentration involved in sealing or unsealing the box counts a Miscellaneous action.  This particular box requires twenty actions, although Chorgath is certain that this puzzle box is already half-unsealed.<br/><br/>It's also clear that this place is not the heartroom of the manse.  In fact, with everything that he's seen-- including just how recently Anjushri was killed, as there's still some fading warmth to her body-- Chorgath is now very sure that this entire spire is an Infernal Bastion.  A Bastion only lives as long as its creator does.  The manse is not going to suffer Power Failure immediately-- he'd guesstimate there's perhaps twenty to thirty minutes before Things Go Boom-- but it will be happening soon.</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC @ Chorgath</div><div class="spoiler_body">No need for the CCI expense; at this moment, the winds are merely obstacle-like scenery rather than a peril.  Also, a couple of +1 stunts for previous rolls.<br/><br/>As per his new Mood Swings, he also gets an Emotion applied to him this scene-- which shall he endure?</div></div><br/>"There was more than one attacker," Samaro calls from above, eyes down and concentrating.  "They came and left by different paths.  The hound took the one exit-- that leaves one remaining."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Location:</strong>Feasting Hall<br/><strong>Tags:</strong>Elias, Sanger, Others<br/><br/>The stranger comes to a skidding halt when Sanger interposes himself, quickly enough to stay out of easy reach of that daiklaive in his hands.  Now that he's not moving so quickly, it's easier to get a look at him: the face fixed in a mask of concentration, the dark eyes, the appraising look, and the supple stance of someone who has done their share of fighting.  His gaze snaps from Sanger to Elias as the other one speaks, then to Suicides, then to the other two girls regarding him with visible hostility...<br/><br/>Then, with a great sigh, his hand goes to his forehead, rubbing his temples.  "Son of my mother," he grumbles in Rivertongue.  "Of all the gods-damned luck."  The smashfist falls away as he looks back to Sanger.  "I know this may be a lot to ask," he continues in conversational Rivertongue, "but I don't suppose you could stand aside and let me kill that mass-murdering fuckhead like he deserves to be killed?"<br/><br/><strong>"And people wonder,"</strong>Suicides wheezes, slowly picking himself back up to his feet with a clank and clatter,<strong>"why I come to diplomatic gatherings in full regalia..."</strong><br/><br/>Behind Elias, Ruby and Cerulean exchange a look of recognition.  They nod as one, then scamper over to the body of their fallen comrade-- the latter pulling off the top layers of Whiteblossom's robe, the former doing some meaty-sounding cutting with the small sword she's carrying.