Company+of+the+Phoenix+Session+7

** Session 7** **4/15/16**  **The Black Onyx Spiders at the Huntscrown Estate and the Assassination Attempt at The Wedding**

The jeweled onyx spider had sank into Alix's chest! Having heard Charlemagne's warning, Tiri had pulled off her broach and More'nue's and threw them into the fountain. Alaric removed his and Princess Ily'Aleera's, tossing them into the fountain as well. Charlemagne and Anuul removed their own as did Nuada.

Charlemagne attempted to disarm Alix, but his cousin stepped back quickly, grabbing his head. A spiritual magic hand formed out of Alaric and he reached across the room to pull the onyx broach from Urd. More'nue blinked in surprise at his younger sister's quick response. "Do what you can to help subdue the attackers," Tiri nodded and smiled at him before turning back to slip her delicate hand into the hole in Alix's chest, attempting to grab the onyx spider! She only managed to pull one of it's legs off as it continued to dig deeper! Tiri blinked wide eyes at Charlemagne, holding up the twitching spider leg in her fingers, and Alix's blood on her hand, "It's digging in deeper! I'm afraid to cut it out... I don't want to kill him!" Alix felt sick to his stomach and as he blinked and looked around, one minute he was at a ball... now he was surrounded by orcs with heavy weaponry! One of them had just stuck a knife into his chest! He pulled out his doomsong knife and stabbed it into the orc who had stabbed him! Alix stabbed Tiri with his blade! The priestess stepped back, screaming from the pain with a hand over her now bloody side! Doomsong sounded angry as he spoke to Alix, "What is wrong with you? She is of good align!" "It's an orc!" Alix argued. "It is of GOOD align!" Doomsong growled back. Several of the possessed guests had gathered around the group. 2 of them swung and missed Alaric. 1 of them scratched More'nue. Nuada dodged out of the way of another, glancing back to Tiri's scream, "Are you alright?" "She's fine, she's back here with me," Alaric piped up quickly, keeping himself between the possessed guests and Tiri and Ily'Aleera. "That's what concerns me," Nuada replied. Tiri answered, holding her side, "I'm okay. He didn't mean it... it's the spider." Another guest swung drunkenly at Charlemagne who easily stepped aside. With the priestess now bleeding beside him, Charlemagne struck Alix mightily with the flat of his blade, "Stay away from my healer!" The blue haired elven woman blinked at her muscled warrior companion in surprise. Alaric threw up a magic shield in front of him, and shouted toward Urd, and the other princesses, "It's the onyx broaches! Get them off of people!" Several of the other guests who had been running around in terror began ripping the broaches off of themselves and dropping them on the ground. The onyx jewels came to life as spiders, skittering across the ground to look for warm bodies to attach to. A wave of positive energy washed out from Tiri to heal her and her companions... the possessed guests around them reeled back from the divine light quickly, hissing! Tiri blinked, "They don't like divinity!" "Then divine the hell out of them!" Charlemagne nodded to her. She nodded, "Try to corral them together." Alix reeled back from the burning light! Several other Cormyrian nobles were with him, helping to fight back the orcs! "Doomsong, who do i trust?" Alix looked around, feeling confused by the whole situation. What was that that had burned him? Was it something from the orc who stabbed him? "We trust ourselves," the dagger replied, "We could escape... find our friends... we could run." One of the possessed guests sliced deeply into More'nue! "Stay with me, brother!" Tiri called out to him when she heard his anguished groan. More'nue pulled his blade, "Another hit like that, and we're going to have to start cutting them down." "Gather them into a corner!" Tiri nodded. "So much for Cormyrian negotiations," he shook his head, raising his blade. "Corellian will negotiate for us," she replied with confidence, "Gather them!" Alix watched one of the nobles around him point to Tiri, "Kill the priestess!" He directed three of the nobles to charge her as he dashed out of the window! Alaric seen them coming and held firm as the three nobles beat against the magic shield around him, sending off sparks of flaming light as they pounded with their might! Tiri stood directly behind the mage, her warm hand going to his shoulder as she leaned closer, "Does magic go through that?" "Yes," he nodded, keeping his concentration on holding their possessed attackers back. Nilyniel had gathered Urd, Nazoun , Kalaree , and Sebathian behind her, protecting them as she wove her magic in front of her. Nazoun nodded toward Tiri, "Divine energy is it then?" The priestess of Selune began conjuring. Several possessed guests surrounded Nuada, 2 of them pierced him with their dinner knives! "Nuada!" Tiri called out, glancing toward him as she heard his cry. "I'm fine!" he replied through gritted teeth, fighting the nobles back! Anuul was struck by another, and she backed up calling out, "I don't have a weapon! You don't bring daggers to a party!" "Come and take my longsword!" Tiri called out her. Nilyniel wove her magic, incinerating several of the possessed nobles charging toward her and her sisters! Her face was serioius... at war... she was protecting the noble family. Alix glanced back, feeling the powerful magic wash out from the corner from the warmage princess. Charlemagne charged into Alix, clanging his blade into the side of his cousin's head to drop him unconscious to the ground! The onyx spider crawled out of his chest, staggering to fall to the ground. Alaric sent out a fiery cone of fire, dropping one of their attackers unconscious to the ground, and horrifically burning the other two! He called out to the crowd, "If you're a priest... channel the power of your god. It seems to hurt them." Spiders crawled out of the other unconscious nobles on the ground, also staggering. Tiri moved over, sending out a big wave of her divine energy. All of the possessed around her reeled back 30 feet, compelled by the divine. Nazoun charged up to the fountain and released a powerful wave of positive moonlight, blasting several back to the edge of her spell and turned the spiders skittering on the ground to ash! Nilyniel wove a massive spell of calm, turning the chaos of terrorized nobles into those who paused to think and remove their broaches. The energy from Nazoun healed Alix's wounds, bringing him awake. Slowly the heroic companions took the area back over. Several nobles were on the ground, hurt or dying. Nazoun and Tiri did what they could to heal them. The man who had sent the three after Tiri and fled... hadn't worn any of the family colors. He was dressed in browns and greens and had fled out of one of the balconies. Charlemagne and Alaric helped Alix up, "We need you to track a man who escaped." Alix nodded, rubbing his head, "What happened?" "Don't worry about it for now," Alaric shook his head, "Just come and track." Alix nodded, going out with them to find any sign of tracks. There was no blood on the ground. Nilyniel spoke with someone else through mental magic. Tiri informed her of the strange person they had noticed and thanked Nazoun for her help. Having found no real sense of tracks outside, Alaric went back in and spoke with the patriarch of the Huntscrowns... asking about the jeweled broaches they had given as gifts. "They came from a new town, along Way of the Dragon ," he assured him, "There was a woman... a new jeweler." Her family name was Blackscrown... I thought it sounded fortunate since it was so close to my own name." Charlemagne frowned, "How many of these did you order?" "100," Morgan answered him with confidence, "Since they were a new jeweler, I was able to get them for a discounted price." "I hope that you're ready to make retribution for this heinous mistake in judgement that you've made upon these proceedings," Charlemagne looked at him questioningly. "Trust me," the patriarch Huntscrown nodded to him with a sag in his shoulders, "I feel bad enough already." "Eh, he should be strung up," Charlemagne muttered to Alaric as he turned back to his cousin. The green-eyed mage nodded, "He probably will be... Azoun is not forgiving when it comes to the endangerment of the royal family." "Were you aware of what lied inside of those jewels?" Alix asked the lord Huntscrown. "Of course not!" Morgan shook his head in shock at such a question, "I wouldn't bring such a threat on the nobility of Cormyr!" "How did you learn of this jeweler in the first place?" Alaric asked. Morgan gestured to the northwest, "A messenger told me. They had come from that way." "Sounds like we need to take a ride up there," Charlemagne looked to Alaric. His cousin nodded, "Yes... I think we will." Nilyniel arrived next to the four companions, "Are you okay?" Charlemagne chuckled, "Of course we are." "Yes...mostly," Alix touched the spot on his chest where the onyx jewel had crawled into him, muttering about mis-shaped memories. Alaric nodded to the warmage princess, offering her a bow of respect, "We're fine. Our hunter was unfortunate in the chaos, but he's healed now. But how are you and the other princesses?" "They are fine and on their way back to the palace now. The city is on lock down," she handed them a royal badge, "You will need this to exit. Hurry!" Tiri curtsied with grace, nodding to the leader of the warmages, "Thank you, your highness." "I want a report by morning," Nilyniel looked at the group seriously. "Then we are your team," Tiri assured her, accepting the task. "Morning?" Alix blinked with surprise. "By your command," Charlemagne pulled Ashweaver in a single swift motion to whip the blade to point downward in front of him as he went to one knee with his head bowed to the powerful princess. "Excellent, that's what I wanted to hear," Nilyniel nodded, looking the 4 of them over once more, "Phoenix, is it?" "The company of the Phoenix," Alaric nodded to her, proud that their name was already so noted, "We will leave right away. This attack on Cormyr will not go unpunished." "If this Blackscrown is there... bring her before me," the warmage princess demanded, "And I want a full report of what you find there." "In pieces if we have to," Charlemagne nodded. "No, she can't answer questions in pieces... well... she could... but I prefer her alive if possible," Nilyniel nodded to him. "By your command," Charlemagne nodded with a bow of his head before turning to his companions, "We ride!" "Is there a rewar..." Alix began asking about rewards for the task, but his words were immediately muffled as the blue-haired priestess clamped a quick hand over his mouth, whispering harshly in his ears, "Yes. To have the honor! Keep walking!" Tiri hugged More'nue warmly, "We're to check out the jeweler outside of town. I'll return soon. Please look after Nuada." Her brother returned her hug, "My duty is currently to the crown. I'll be looking after Sebathian and Kalaree." "Well don't forget to look after yourself as well," she looked at him sternly. He smiled and nodded. Nuada laid a hand on her shoulder, "And I can look after myself... this is not my first confrontation. Though I appreciate the kind words." She smiled up at him and nodded. "You stay here," Alix looked at Anuul. She sighed heavily. "You are welcome to stay at the Goldsword estate while we sort this out," Alaric nodded. "Thank you!" the kitsune nodded to him, her tail wagged excitedly. When the 4 companions arrived at the gate, there were 4 fast warhorses waiting for them. Tiri smiled and nodded, speaking aloud though the princess was not present, "Thank you, Nilyniel." The four of them rode fast down the Way of the Dragon searching for this 'newly established settlement'. The road was near empty at this time of night, and they were able to make good time. The road met the edge of the woods... and as they rode in carefully, they found an old burned out farmhouse among overgrown weeds... something abandoned long ago. Alaric looked around, detecting magic... there was lingering remnants of big magic around the area. They tied up the horses, and Alix and Charlemagne led the way up to the skeletal ruin of a large farmhouse... The warrior held up his elven blade, bursting it into flame to light the way. The inside was gutted and blackened from a long ago fire. As the walked through cautiously, Alaric wrinkled his brow... there was a strange taste in the area... arcane magic had been cast, but something was different... wrong... mistakenly cast? incorrectly cast? ...certainly nothing that Mystra would approve of. He informed the others as they continued walking, searching the area. Alix found disturbances in the ash and dust and a handful of humanoid tracks outside of the barn... possibly from two people. The companions followed the river to the next nearest farm, arriving just at the barest glow on the horizon. A woman was feeding chickens and a farmer was attending a cow as a couple of children were playing in the fields. The farmer eyed them warily as they rode up, "A little early for visitors." "We just have a few questions that need to be answered," Alix nodded to him. "Alright," the farmer nodded, still wary, "My name is McGregor. How may I help you?" "We're the Company of the Phoenix. We just rode from the west, where we had been told there was a new settlement... but when we arrived, all we found was a burnt out farmhouse. Have you heard of such a place?" Alaric asked. The farmer shook his head, "That's the old Williams place. The old man got sick a couple of winters back and died. His family moved on. There hasn't been anyone there in years... nice chunk of property though." "Have you heard of a family out here called the Blackscrowns?" Alix asked. McGregor shook his head, "It's the Huntscrowns... you must be mistaken. We've heard of the Huntscrowns. Over in Suzail. Good people from what I hear." "But you haven't heard of the Blackscrowns?" Alaric asked. "No... and I've lived here in Cormyr my whole life," the farmer shook his head. Alaric nodded and gestured toward the west, "And you haven't noticed anything strange in the area? Or had any problems on your farm? ...anything at all strange... lights in the forest or anything?" After a long pause the farmer nodded slowly, gesturing toward his children, "My little one... she wanders into the forest now and then... and she talked about something odd that way." "Can we speak with her?" Tiri asked. "If you can make sense of it... you're welcome," he nodded, and turned back gesturing toward the little girl, "Amy, come here." A young girl came over dressed in a home-made outfit to peek around her father's leg at the strangers. "I'm good with kids... let me talk with her," Alix assured his companions, sliding off of his horse to speak to the girl, "Hello there... what's your name?" "Amy..." she held onto her father's pant leg with one hand and raised her other with an open palm, stretching out her fingers and thumb, "I'm this many." "It's good to meet you, Amy. My name is Alix... Alix Ebonhawk," he nodded to her, "If you don't mind... we'd like to ask you a few questions. You're not in trouble or anything... we're just looking for some answers." "What if I mind?" she asked him warily, peeking out around her father's leg. "Well... your father mentioned that you seen something strange in the woods," Alix continued, ignoring her question, "Could you describe them for us?" "They looked like shadows..." she answered. "Shadows? ...how big?" Alix asked, moving his hands slowly apart emphasizing how to measure a size. "Like people," she replied with a nod. "Like people sized?" the young slayer asked, bringing a hand up at his own height. She nodded. "Was there anything strange about them?" Alix continued his questioning. "There was nothing casting the shadows," she replied, shaking her head. A shiver ran up Tiri's spine, "Sounds like shades... from Sembia." Alaric looked from Tiri to Amy, "Were the shadows talking?" The little girl nodded up to him. "What did they say?" the sorcerer asked. "I didn't understand," the girl shook her head. "Like a different language?" Tiri tilted her head. Amy nodded, "It sounded like it." "Do you remember where you saw them?" Alaric asked. The young farm girl pointed back toward the west toward the road and the woods. "Did you see where they went?" Charlemagne asked. Amy shook her head, ducking back behind her father's leg shyly, "I ran away..." "Coward," the brown-eyed warrior muttered under his breath, but then smiled charmingly at the young girl and nodded, "That was very brave of you." "Did you see anything else? ...like wagons?" Tiri asked her. Amy paused thoughtfully, "Boxes... big boxes." "Boxes," Tiri nodded encouragingly, and whispered like it was an exciting secret, "Did they have pretty sparklies in them?" "I didn't get that close," Amy shook her head. "Did you notice anything else about the boxes?" Alix asked. "Just that the shadows were carrying them," Amy shrugged. "Thank you for your time," Alix nodded. Alaric nodded, placing a few copper into her father's hand. "If you see any more creatures like that," Charlemagne nodded to the girl, "Be sure to stay away from them. Here's your Charlemagne." He took a doll that resembled himself from the inside of his bag at his hip and placed it in the girl's hands. Tiri giggled, sliding down off of her horse and removing a jeweled barrette she had gotten from the estates tour from her own blue hair and clipped it into the girl's hair, drawing the child's hair from her eyes, "Thank you. You've been very helpful." Happy, the young girl ran back to her brother, carrying her warrior action figure and proudly showing him the pretty barrette in her hair... with no idea as to it's great worth. "Great... now she's going to get all uppity," Alaric shook his head at the priestess as they rode back into the woods. Tiri laughed, "She deserved something pretty and sparkly." "I gave the farmer some copper... he could have bought a new cow or something... and they spoke with Cormyrian nobles... we're beloved by all," he nodded to her as though that should have been gift enough. The blue-haired elven woman laughed and nodded, sarcasm in her voice, "Yes... I can see that... because you treat other people so well." "We do," he nodded to her. The group found a stack of large wooden boxes with packing hay still inside them showing small depressions of what they once carried. There was a Sembian stamp on the side of the boxes. Tiri packed one of the boxes onto her horse to take back to Nilyniel. The group discussed the presence of the shadovar in Sembia... with rumors that they had been oppressing the Sembian people. Alaric and Charlemagne told the story of a shade who had attempted to assassinate the king not so long ago... when Kalaree and Sebathian had saved Azoun's life. "Sembia is a trading country... the boxes are not definitive... the jewels... or the boxes themselves may have simply passed through there," Alaric suggested.

"It would take a pretty powerful mage to create the appearance of a settlement," Alaric frowned as they rode back to Suzail, the sun rising into dawn. "Are the shades adept with such things?" Charlemagne asked. "Well... from what I've heard... the shadovar sorcerers used to cast magic that can't be done today... as that sort of magic no longer exists in the world. I mean they kept a city floating in the air," Alaric nodded. "So to say that the shades could have had a hand in this is certainly conceivable," Charlemagne nodded. "Yes," his sorcerer cousin agreed, pausing thoughtfully, "And that could explain why the magic felt so off... there was a rumor of a weave of magic that these shadow casters can use... while most casters use Mystra's weave of magic... the shades use the shadow weave... a secret thread woven by a goddess called Shar... hidden between Mystra's own weave."

The group arrived back in Suzail to find double guard duty at the gates with the city fully locked down. They were let in easily as soon as they showed the royal badge given to them by the warmage princess. They arrived at the palace and were escorted in to hear the click clack of Nilyniel's heels already coming down the hall. She escorted them personally through a few halls into a meeting room where they immediately fully reported their discussion with the farmers, the farmhouse, and the boxes. Alaric went on to explain the strange feeling of magic and the possible use of shadow magic. She took it all in, nodded and agreeing with the possible theories, "I will report this with my father... it will be up to him as to whether we proceed with the wedding... it was supposed to be a large public event... but that may have to change." "The wedding should certainly proceed," Charlemagne nodded, "Even if a more private event right here." "That wont be up to me," Nilyniel nodded to him. "However we can help... we'll be happy to do so," Tiri offered. "It is good to hear such things," the warmage nodded to her, "Your brother has said as mush as well. He is with Sebathian now." "Excellent," Tiri nodded, "And all are well? And the princesses have all been accounted for? There was one who wasn't at the party." Nilyniel nodded, "All are well and accounted for. No worse for the wear."

"Ily'Aleera is alright?" Alaric asked. "She is well," the warmage princess nodded, her black hood cascading off of her pale shoulders, "And she asked to know that you are well also... after your trip into the darkness." He smiled and nodded, "We are as well as we can be... until we can bring these assassins to proper judgement. We've seen nothing to show that the Huntscrowns had more to do with this other than they were duped... but they certainly showed poor judgement." "That was my assessment as well," the black-haired princess agreed. "I assume the fleeing man was not found?" Alaric asked. "Not yet," Nilyniel shook her head, "But if you would like to stay... you are welcome to stay here." She led them to a common room with a library, a door away from the kitchen, "You can consider this your room if you would like to stay, but forgive me... I need to go and speak with my father now." Tiri bowed her appreciation, "Most generous, your highness. We will wait here for your further word." The warmage nodded to her, "Thank you, my woodland ally. I will tell your brother that you are here." "Thank you," she nodded.

"So this fleeing man must still be in the city... I mean it's locked down, so he couldn't have left," Charlemagne turned to his companions, "If only we had a mage who could help to find him..." he glanced at Alaric. His cousin furrowed his brows, "He would have to be close to me... we would have to walk the entire city, searching and hoping that he was bright with magic so we could pick him out... and lucky enough to get close enough to see him. It's not like I can cast over the whole city at once... and he could be moving." Nilyniel paused at the door, glancing back to them, "I have more capable people already on that task." "More capable," Charlemagne nodded, "Finally." Alaric scowled at his warrior cousin, imagining crushing him under his boot. "I mean no disrespect, Lord Goldsword," Nilyniel turned to nod to him, "We have our eye on you... and we expect great things." She left the room with the door closing behind her.

Food was readily available and Ily'Aleera and More'nue arrived fairly quickly, exchanging stories of the night. "Have you been able to keep a tight lid on the events? Or does the entire city know?" Alaric asked. "It's known that something happened... but they aren't sure exactly what happened," Ily answered.

Urd came in to visit, dressed in her ranger leathers, having dropped the princess facade. She poured herself a brandy, playing it coy to notice that Charlemagne was there. He smiled, joining her, "What brings you by?" "Brandy," she smiled, taking a drink from her glass with the decanter still in her other hand. "The whole decanter?" he asked, setting a glass on the counter. "Sometimes..." she smiled and gave him a wink. "That a girl," he grinned, "Mama's medicine." The group filled her in on what they had learned and their theories about the shades involvement. "We should probably just hunt them all down to extinction," Charlemagne took a drink from his glass. "You would not be the first to suggest such a thing," Urd nodded to him. "Well I might be the first to succeed," he countered. She smiled, raising her glass, "I would drink to that." "Then I'll get the bottle ready," he nodded to her. "Room temperature, not chilled," she smiled.

Nilyniel returned, letting out a deep held breath. "Did it go well?" Alaric asked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm fine," she nodded assuredly, "But the Huntscrowns better start packing... they're to be renounced, titles and land taken... and there are going to be some adjustments to the wedding. As much as he is agonized over this, he would like to get it done." "Certainly, much gold has already been spent," Alaric nodded. "Well between you and I..." Nilyniel looked over the group, "He's a little reluctant to step down... without seeing it go to a son. Sebathian has served him well. ...the place of the wedding has moved. Instead of being outdoors in the courtyard, it's going to be in the balcony above the courtyard. The public can still attend, but they will be more protected." "Is there anything we can do?" Alaric asked. "For now... keep your eyes open for the escapee... if that's what he really looked like," she nodded, "I would guess not... and I do have other people looking for him."

Nilyniel nodded, "Forgive me, it's going to be a long day... the wedding is to be this afternoon." "We'll be there," Tiri nodded. "Get some rest," the warmage nodded to them. Having been up all night... the companions nodded, realizing for the first time just how tired they all were. The coronation was still scheduled to be later in the summer.

They returned to the Goldsword estate late in the morning. Cousins and family had come in along with extra servants, and everyone was busy getting ready for the wedding. Anuul snored loudly from her room, and Alaric closed her door before going into his room with red silk and gold coin printed sheets. Donning his dragon nightcap, he snuggled down for sleep as his companions fell into their own beds to get their meager few hours of sleep. Charlemagne shined up his armor for the wedding. Tiri nodded to him, wearing her elven darkleaf armor beneath her formal azure priestess robes. Alix wore his armor beneath his formal attire as well. Alaric, who didn't normally wear armor anyway, donned his formal attire.

The four of them had balcony seats where they could see over the crowd gathered in the courtyard. Beautiful colors and jewels were out. Everyone was dressed in their best. Several of the common families were gathered on rooftops to see. Thousands of people were here.

In another balcony, Nuada was accompanied by several other elves including Iowyn who was hanging out with one of the squad riders. Tiri excitedly waved to her friend who waved back, both of them easily dropping formal decorum.

Sebathian and Kalaree came out on the balcony, accompanied by More'nue as the best man and Nilyniel as the maid of honor. Nazoun, Ily'Aleera, and Al'ashay were dressed beautifully behind them, inside the balcony. Accompanying them was the very proud Baron Viktyr Hawklin, Sebathian's father. Urd was not seen... likely out ready to strike. Everything was pristine and beautiful.

A voice came over the courtyard, magically enhanced, "Off to hell I send thee!" An arrow came from somewhere far beyond the court as the priest asked for the rings. Sebathian turned in full view, extending his arm to More'nue for the ring... and More'nue leapt in front of his friend... the enormous black arrow piercing into his back! Nilyniel threw up shields around the balcony, and Tiri watched in horror as black veining spread up and over her brother's skin into his face, and his whole body became rigid as he locked up! "More'nue!!" Tiri screamed from their balcony, and leapt without a second of thought... off of their railing... bolting with a magic grace across balconies, people, and the courtyard... heading directly for the palace to get to her brother.

"Follow that arrow back!" Charlemagne pointed back over the rooftops. Alix nodded to him, and leapt up up to the pillar top from their balcony. People were screaming and running below him in the courtyard and the streets. He continued on to the next rooftop, drawing his bow to try and align where the arrow had come from. Knowing the city well, Alaric looked back and pointed to a high temple tower, "I'm going to head that way." Charlemagne nodded, taking the lead and pushing their way through the crowd toward the temple of Lathander. Leveling one person to the ground as he cleared the people in front of them... most of the others quickly got out of his way.

Tiri met the guards at the palace doors and they allowed her in, recognizing her. She quickly made her way to the tower, noting a drow heading down the stairs as she was heading up. She appeared to be on a mission. The blue-haired priestess continued on to the tower where the arrow was still in her brother. His face was covered in black veining. "We believe it was an arrow of slaying, specific to Sebathian... it's probably the only reason he is still alive... It wasn't meant for him," Nilyniel informed her on her arrival. Tiri nodded, "Why was there a drow in the palace?" "She's one of us," Al'Ashay quickly answered, "Don't worry about her." Tiri nodded, accepting the answer, and dropped to her knees next to her brother, sending many prayers off to Corellion and healing spells directly into More'nue who was unresponsive.

Charlemagne and Alaric made their way up to the temple where the doors were wide open. Inside they find a priest lying dead behind a podium. A large arrow stuck out of his chest. The two made their way up to the tower where they joined their cousin, Alix, on the rooftop. Most of the spectaters had left the rooftops, leaving a clear open view. A strip of rolled up paper was on the ground in the belltower. Residual divine magic lingered on the paper. Alaric opened it carefully to see a series of shao glyphs that read vertically... likely some sort of prayer. Charlemagne pulled the arrow evidence from the priest and Alaric wrapped the body carefully. They found another priest in a back room of the temple who hadn't heard a thing and was quite shocked to find the other man dead.

The three cousins headed back seeing a squad of gryphon riders flying around the palace, guarding it with bows. They were welcomed in to the palace where they were led to where most of the princesses were gathered and Tiri prayed and healed over her unconscious and unresponsive brother... black veins ran through his face into his eyes, and he shuddered occasionally. They reported to Nilyniel who requested that they bring the dead cleric's body to her.

Nazoun brought the corpse awake enough to speak, working with Alaric, Charlemagne, and Alix to ask questions. "Who killed you?" The dead priest answered, "The masked man." "What did the masked man look like?" "The mask was a veil pulled up over his nose. Long black hair. He was shao," the corpse responded. Was the masked man alone or with others?" "I saw only him before he killed me," he answered. "Did you see or speak to this man before he killed you?" "I saw him. We spoke briefly. He spoke something that I did not understand, and then he shot and killed me. He made no noise," He answered before fading back into his peaceful state of death.

Alaric frowned, "It seems unusual that a shade is working with a shao... or vice versa. They aren't anywhere close. Could be just a hired assassin." Charlemagne nodded, "I can't imagine the two incidents aren't related... We need to find at least one of them."

Alaric laid a hand on Tiri's shoulder. She was on her knees, muttering prayers and speaking with her brother, unaware of the presence of who was coming and going in the room. "You may want to consult with your elven experts on his condition... or perhaps speak with the temple of Lathander. He is the god of light and sun... perhaps there's something they can do in direct opposition of this darkness," Alaric spoke to her gently. Tiri nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks.

LEVEL 3! Woot!