"You're welcome, good sir!" Kass said with a grin to the white-robed man, bowing slightly to him with a grin as she awaited Aria to arrive safely upon the ground, since the last dregs of the creatures crashed about the pyramid with sickening crunches.<br/><br/>He was clearly a man from Mulhorand, and by the looks of it one of distinction, or perhaps of great wealth or worth.  His name was Karsus... a royal surveyor... that explains his being here.  Here from Skuld, sent by Horustep, the pharaoh himself, to determine the reason for the blast Kass had seen.  Investigated, and discovered the mindflayers and the temple, was brought before a silvery creature that looked into their souls... and Kass figured she knew what happened to the two 'guilty' men... but there was a priest in there that had not gotten out?  More reason to go back in...<br/><br/>Stepping aside from a kyton body sliding down to her feet in it's own ichor, Kass sighed and addressed the man.<br/><br/>"The 'guilty' men, sadly, have been turned into tentacled abominations, halfway between Illithid and human." Kass started with, figuring it would be better to start with the bad news as she waited "They are gone, and I have not seen the priest... but if he was not out here then he was likely trapped inside as it fell... I don't know if he'd be alive or not.  However, regarding your mission... the shockwave was a devastating spell performed by a wizard, at the behest of a Shar priestess who had ensnared his mind and bent it to her will.  This man and the priestess, however, are no longer a threat; they are both dead, and the spells destroyed and unavailable to even the most talented arcanist ever.  My companion and I made sure of that<em>personally</em>.  So, when you go to speak to Horustep, you can tell him that a wizard did it, but that the wizard is dead and gone, his country safe from such a thing once more."<br/><br/>Then, Aria did indeed arrive, and when she did... well, Kass damn near hugged her, but stopped at the sight of the bruises.  She apparently had taken quite the beating... and yet was speaking still.<br/><br/>"Indeed, and you've saved us I do believe... and put your own life on the line for us..." Kass said, cupping the woman's cheek with one hand and giving her a kiss on the other, and another upon her bruised lips "I think you shall require a<em>reward</em>later, my servant, but for now heal yourself, and be ready to go back in; there is yet more to handle inside his pyramid, and a priest who may not yet be transformed or dead... we are still on a time limit, though right now I suspect it is a much<em>longer</em>one."<br/><br/>Then, she would explain Karsus and his reasons for being there, and anything else Kass could recall, to bring her up to date with everything as the young woman healed.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Actually, even if I remembered Feather Fall, Kass would probably have stuck with her, considering the alternative was let her drop to the ground unconscious and risk the mindflayers getting to her first, and teleporting away with her.  Staying with her was the best way to keep her safe as it was.  Least, that's her thoughts on the matter.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>