The Vale of Shadow (Part 5)

[Grahl]

((Ooooh! A Ghost Spider, how rare! Yes I'm familiar with them.))

Elf is an elf still to Naien's estimation, they still all make a good meal over a roasting spit, and this one, regardless of color, still receives the same scowl, [color=red:deutwpyy]"Speak your offer, elf! If it is of value to myself or those I represent, then perhaps we won't be having you for supper. However, make no mistake, we do not take orders from you."[/color:deutwpyy]

[Zekafae]

Looking at inrii" Depends on the invocations.." He mused slightly before turning to face the one whom entered with them unseen. Tricks he at times wouldn't mind perfecting. but that would be bad... very bad for others. Might tempt him to misbehave in ways that was not good for their enemies. Shrugging slightly" Lets just say we're here to deal with a certain pale elf, whom is asking to have the hides of her companions wrapped around her neck as a noose." His hand was close to one of his many weapons, whether hidden or not." So what is one like yourself doing out here? Don't you have a sanctuary some where to be scouring over infernal texts?"

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

"tsk tsk," Alya replied to the grumpy male. "I wouldnt presume to order such as yourself." her eyes narrow a bit, "tho eating me would be trouble than you can hope." a closer look would show a mask of pure shadow accross her face (not quite an avatar, but close enough). her countenance changed again as she continued. "but what I offer would help in your struggle against the platinum one," her words dripping honey as her bardic magic spun them in the most pleasing ways.

--
"my fire will give your invocations a run. you just wait."

her finger remained on the trigger, but the pressure eased, just slightly as to not release the poison bolt. Zek nor Veraka attacked right away, but she was still gunna be cautious. her crimson eyes narrow at him, the crossbow still aimed for his jugular.
"and I suggest you explain yourself first," she snapped back, her temper flaring again and not in the mood to be toyed with by Alya. "I can handle myself enough."
even if she was in severe pain, she wasnt gunna admit it to anyone.
(yes she's a little grumpy right now...)

[Pheurazath]

Both hands are raised, the nigh six foot man taking a step back, patting the air in a gesture for calm, swords, sais, a crossbow, and a growly wolf all pointed at him, first order of business is to show himself to be no threat. It takes little effort of his knowledge of the Planes, to recognize an Aasimar, and a Tiefling among those he is facing, and behind his mask this affords him a smile on top of a smirk, musing how much he wishes these heroes could kill and free him.

The time for musings is quickly done though, and so he speaks, "[color=indigo:2folxn17]There are those who delve into vile study, and those who evil has left its mark upon, even before birth.[/color:2folxn17]" This is in part said, with a gaze turned on Neriah. Then the gaze shifts toward Veraka, "[color=indigo:2folxn17]But you can see into my soul, can you not, Aasimar? Do you see evil behind this mask? Do you believe my bolt poorly aimed, and the false hound my own creation?[/color:2folxn17]" The latter portion of that final question to Veraka, rich with sarcasm, at the many ironies of the notion. Then back to Inrii, "[color=indigo:2folxn17]You are wounded, and fortunate the hound was an illusion, had it not been, allies or not, you might not have survived the battle. If you would have me cut down for an interest in seeing you live to tell of this adventure, then woe to all the healers and goodly clerics in Faerun.[/color:2folxn17]"

With his hands up the front of his cloak pulls apart enough to display a necklace chain supporting a pendant, of some sort. Not fully exposed, all that is certain, is it has a bit of gold to it, and seems to be shaped as a shield with a field of blue upon it.

((Should anyone expose it, a pendant as might be worn by a worshiper of Tyr.))

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Inrii looks back at the warlock. “I have survived worse. And evil or good matter not to me nor your career. What matters is the side of the fence your on [i:1stk563c]now[/i:1stk563c].”
Her hand comes up more while her other is still clutching her side, “so, why are you here?”
she notices his motion and the amulet, tho she didnt recognize the significance of it besides the magical energy around it.
she looks to both her companions...

[veraka]

Neriah looked at the warlock, eying him suspiciously, though her sais didn't leave their raised position at all.
"Some have evil left on them yes; but that doesn't answer the lingering question of who you are, now does it?"

Aurora had settled herself to let her visage fall, but was still on the alert.

Veraka lowers Marala Vharc, as the warlock's words strike him as odd.
"I am capable of such things, yes," Veraka confirms, all the while, looking over the warlock with his celestial vision. Looking over the newcomer's aura, the aasimar gives him a quizzical look.
"You do not have the evil intents of one that I would normally find that is your field of expertise," Veraka admitted. Seeing Inrii go near nuts, the aasimar put an armored hand up to her hand-crossbow.
"Wait a second," he said to her, indicating the newly revealed neck piece.

It was the pendant and the aura that it cast that caught the aasimar's attention; looking the man directly in the eyes, Veraka asked "you are a warlock, yet you wear a pendant of purity to the ideals of justice and redemption; explain this?"

[Pheurazath]

Virgil sees the point he tried to make to Neriah, is a bit lost on her, and this causes some alarm as she is asking for a thing that he cannot in truth tell, he knows, for she is not in truth asking simply for his name, but an identity that can only be known from partaking of his company. But then there is comfort, and a confident grin forming behind his mask, as Veraka speaks, and analyzes, and at last saves him from the immediate danger of a crossbow and an itchy finger upon its trigger.

Finally comes a question the warlock never thought he'd hear asked of him, at least not from anyone outside a temple. Locking eyes with Veraka, and speaking in all honesty, [color=indigo:39yaxpf4]"For your safety and mine, I prefer not to discuss the finer details of how, but let us just say, these powers are mine by circumstance, not by choice. That terrible things have happened to myself, and sometimes to others because of them, and every day, I ask to be judged fairly for my deeds, their reasons, and not the circumstances of my life. I pray that I might awaken some day, and be able to live a normal life. Even so, I cannot ignore these powers, that they might run amok without control over them, so perhaps I can do some good with them... if you do not believe me though, you are welcome to have the first available cleric test my sincerity with their magic."[/color:39yaxpf4]

[veraka]

"Well, then, by your actions here and not the circumstances surrounding your arrival, I will accept that you are not hostile toward us. Then explain to me this, why are you here, and if you cannot answer the fey'ri's question," he shifts his head toward Neriah, while flipping Marala Vharc around to his back and sheathing it.

[Zekafae]

Folding his arms over his chest finally he shook his head" Not all warlocks make pacts with demons. Outsiders as a whole, and many evil beings had been contacted." Hearing Veraka about the pendant he couldn't help but to laugh." Warlocks are born, not made. You make pacts with other beings, and through that you gain your powers." He shook his head" So what we have here, is the rarity of the profession. You seek to redeem yourself for any pacts made by your ancestors or you have done in your past correct? Lets just say any knowledge he has of what we'll be facing, exceeds my own."

Moving from the group overall" Besides, I think you'll find that his gifts, will be very useful. Where our abilities may falter, his will excel I'm sure. I've seen the fearsome might they wield."

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

seeing that the ranger and warrior were less tense of the new guy, the crossbow came down. she was rather surprised at Zek interest.
the sorceress would be watching the warlock also along with Neriah. when their words exchanged (intros prolly also) finished Inrii was quick to remind them that they still had a white drow to deal with. and soon. for Alya would not wait on them much longer. their freeing her and rest took much of their time already.
Inrii moved on to check the side doors in the building they were in; for she would check all these before they entered the chapel. she adjusted her mask a bit as she walked/limped to the first small door. it was less impressive as the main doors, yet the occupants had still taken the time to decorate the door with geometric patterns and crude pictures.
she carefully felt the handle for tricks before pulling on it. the door was difficult but with effort she managed to get it open.
inside was a bedroom size chamber. but it was no bedroom. there were shelves, storage chest and desk/cabnits.
in the middle of the room was a small odd shaped table. magical energies were surrounding it, tho dull and barely noticable.

[Zekafae]

Watching her he'd follow quietly, and when the door to the room was opened he blinked, seeing what was inside, but then noticed the table." Inrii, what is that table for?" He noticed the cabinets desk and other things." You wouldn't mind if we completely ransacked the place right? Afterall, this is in the pale one's control.. so why not relieve her company of some things?"

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Inrii studied the table from her spot carefully. tho there was something not right about it.
"knowing her, I dont know if i wanna know. tho we dont normally do sacrifices like the spider kissers. so its not an altar."
looking back to him beside her, "no i dont care. the Masked Lord says to help all thieves," she replied in her usual jesting manor before a warning, "tho i would be very cautious about anything you find. some things my House makes are cursed for non-followers. and Alya was connected to Jaelre."
the warning was also for the others joining in at the room.

(assuming after talking yall came over. i will wait for yall to reply so i dont leave yall behind.)
--
the kyton made his way down the tunnel. it was a tight squeeze for him also despite being a smaller devil. he felt their blood pumping, their scent. he even growled to the fact that he felt two infernal desendents; one a sworn enemy. he was gunna enjoy this.

[Pheurazath]

Of first concern to the, though not showing it much through his usual stoicism, or mask, relieved Warlock, was preserving his privacy concerning matters he seldom spoke openly about with anyone save the clerics of Tyr's temples. That accomplished, and weapons no longer leveled upon him, he pulls his mask away, to reveal a pale man who seems to have had too little sun, eyes that show yellow, faintly hinting at distant non-human ancestry, and for the relative youth of his face, hair and brows, much too white for his age.

Now all are allowed to witness his smile, its comfort, its confidence, [color=indigo:a7p316p8]"I had thought to ask you lot the same. Though, since you have asked first, I have felt Devilry afoot in the region, and came to investigate. Just because I'm empowered by something from a Lower Plane, does not stop me from despising them, nor seeking to banish them back to their plane. I am disappointed that the Hound was not my quarry, for it means something Infernal still lurks. As for your part-fey friend, she asks not my name, but for me to name a familiarity with me. I am called Virgil, the rest you will have to achieve on your own."[/color:a7p316p8]

Now it is Virgil's turn to show some surprise, he could feel with wizardly magic about Zek, and had held some concerns how this Dark Elf, whom seemed to know a great deal about the ways and powers of Warlocks, might receive his company. Some wizards he knew, viewed Warlocks as something to be spurned, others with intrigue, and rare few, with respect. Relief this time, marked Virgil's face, as well did curiosity and surprise, [color=indigo:a7p316p8]"Perhaps, we have things to learn from one another, and ways to combine our respective arts, if it does not offend you, for all your study and practice, to work with one such as I?"[/color:a7p316p8]

When time came to move on, and vastly unfamiliar with Drow and their ways, Virgil kept up a focus on his Warlocks' ability to 'Detect Magic' at will, seeking and aiming to focus upon the first strong source of Infernal magic he might detect. Passively he regards the storage room, with minimal interest.

((If however, his magic detections should sweep across others upon items complimenting his own abilities he might turn his focus there instead.))

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Inrii listened to the warlock identified as Virgil. He might prove useful, assuming he didnt turn on them. which was a possibility. and with Inrii the weakest right now. she shook hr head slightly. she refuse to think about it. she had suffered worse, been thru worse.
She stepped in slowly, waiting for anything to occur. the chest were inspected for locks and traps and within seconds the locks picked. there was mostly minor equipment left as the departed army had taken the best. there were a few piwafwis in one. drow chain in another. then boots, designed for small feet in the last chest.
the shelves contained small vials, mostly of poisons and chemicals. hidden in a small black jar was a vial of dark oil, used in the protecting of underdark equipment in the sun touched realms. Inrii reached for it, for such a item was of use, the arm holding her injured side reaching deep into the shelf. the stretch was a strain, pulling the muscles of the chest cavity around the broken bones. the drowess held in the grunt of pain as her hand reached around the jar.

the table was mostly ignored, tho Inrii was sure she saw it move in the corner of her eye.
a table of redwood hexagontal in shape, it should have been nothing. she carefully pulled the jar twords her when,
( http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/animateObjects.htm ) the table attacked, rearing up on its back three legs and using its front.
Inrii nimbly jumped to the side tho not without consequenss to herself. she fell down, the jar falling as she had to bring the hand to herself.

[veraka]

Neriah wasn't sure on Virgil; but since Veraka seemed to see him as not hostile, then she'd trust that judgment, though her instincts screamed against that thought process.

Veraka looked to Virgil, nodding at the warlocks suggestion. "Though each of us is talented in our own ways, I'm not above using each of our unique skills to amplify our fighting prowess. Tactically speaking, your own powers well round out our now near full party and it's fighting prowess."

The aasimar then heard Aurora growl audibly as she unleashed an icy blast of fury at the now animated, attacking table.
"Oh brilliant!! Now the furniture is going crazy on us," Veraka exclaimed, drawing out ThunderStrike as he positioned himself to take down the crazed-walking, attacking piece of furniture.