Chapter 3: The Enemy Within

[Jeff]

Sickbay

Kal has to assume the face is the same. It has been a few days since he saw that halfling woman and then it was under duress and only for a few moments. But it seems probably.

"I didn't say kill, dear Kal," Pel says. "Only hurt. A great deal of that. When we really meet, you and I, I will show you to what I am referring."

She turns her eyes to Streko. "Only one chance, Streko. One. Get them out." Hers curl into a snarl.

The choice is yours, Matheu says to Streko. We will leave you with him if that is your will, if you are unafraid to speak with him alone. No matter what, the Rule of Returns will begin. But it takes time. We will help you see it through.

Within the next room, with Grafth's ears pressed to the wall, he just make out that there is speaking. But the slightest sounds—a sharp wind against the hull, Misha moving around in the dining area just around the corner—obscure the words. He could make the attempt at the right time, but it would be difficult to be sure.

[Joe]

"For Olladra's sake, Kalarian, leave. Please." Tears flow freely down the halfling's cheek. He turns back and stares at Pel, hatred boiling beneath the surface, but refusing to erupt. "There are worse things than death in this world."

Streko takes in a deep breath. "I will do whatever I need to for my sister's sake, Malov. There is no need to harm Varna. Just tell me what it is you need from me and let this be over."

[Darren]

Kalarian turns to Streko. "There is no proof he even HAS your sister," he says. He stops, clearly wanting to say more. He scowls at the creature that has taken Pel's body, "To Khyber with you, Malov," then stalks quickly out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Kal walks, without hesitation, to the top deck to find Goran. "I need the dagger," he says, a hard edge in his voice. "Will you let me borrow it?"

[Jeff]

Kal hears Pel chuckle on his way out. Kal, meanwhile, feels Matheu (still invisible) slink past him like a cat just before he closes the door, and a rush of air as he takes to the air as well. He knows when I am there, the pseudodragon explains. Kalarian, calm down. When you have composed yourself again, I will tell you what I have learned from the examining the book alone.

Sickbay

"Come, sit." Pel indicates the bed across from where she is bound. "I will not attempt to harm you. On the contrary, you and I should become well acquainted." She lowers her voice and begins to speak to Streko.

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Grafth can attempt a Listen check to see if he can make out any of the softly-spoken conversation through the wall. It is quite difficult, but not impossible.

Beyond that, Pel's/Streko's conversation will take place in Streko's private section.

[Josh]

Frowning, Grafth leaves the adjacent room. He closes his eyes in concentration, and after several moments, moves as silently as possible to the door, resuming his guard at the door.

He will do his best to hear the conversation within, but will not interrupt unless he senses that Streko is in danger.

[Darren]

Still waiting for Goran's decision, Kalarian takes a deep breath, but his words still have a sharp edge to them. "Say what you will, then, Matheu. I'm listening."

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Can we assume that when Matheu was done examining the book, it was given back to Goran for storage in the lead box again?

[Jeremy]

Goran senses the urgency in Kal's voice, seeing more than pride here, but actual need.

"Of course. Take it for as long as you need." He pulls the knife from it's sheath and hands it, hilts out, to Kal.

"Do you want the sheath too?" Goran looks at Torhak and back at Kal.

"Can we help?"

[Jeff]

The arcana noted in that book, Matheu begins, speaking with his telepathic voice to those nearby, is much as Phorem already explained. It is the study of conjuration. But more specifically, conjuring from the plane of Shavarath, the Battleground. What I suspect...is that the book is about how to form summoning circles. How to temporarily make a physical space into something more like a manifest zone. Do you know what that is?

___________________________________

Yes, Matheu can have returned the book to Goran and its lead, shielding frame.

Josh, would you like to roll Grafth's checks?

[Darren]

"I do not," Kal says, his grip on the dagger tightening, his voice coming through clenched teeth. "Please get on with it."

[Jeff]

You should have studied more in the academies of House Deneith. I am certain some of your masters would know this. Matheu pauses, daring Kal to argue. But he continues on nevertheless.

Manifest zones are places where the boundaries between the planes are thinner. While the thirteen planes revolve around Eberron in a complex orbit, there are places here on the material plane where permanent planar connections exist. They are touchpoints, environments that share characteristics of both Eberron and the plane they connect to.

Sharn, for example, was built upon a manifest zone to Syrania, the Azure Sky. Because the manifest zone shares some of the natural laws of that plane, a plane of air and flight, it can support the otherwise impossible weight of the towers of Sharn. Do you follow?

While the Twilight Demesne in the Eldeen Reaches is a manifest zone to Thelanis, the Faerie Court. So walking into that zone is much like walking into Thelanis itself; in some places you can even enter the other plane directly. Hence, there is a larger presence of fey near that manifest zone than anywhere else in the world.

Manifest zones are rare, and only a handful of them are known and documented by the intelligent races. There are none alive who can say with certainty how a manifest zone is created, or destroyed. But some have formed, and some have been removed.

Do you follow?

Even as Matheu says all this, it rings a bell to Kal and to other nearby. They are not schooled in such planar knowledge, but they'd heard the term used by scholars now and then.

[Darren]

"So, what? Malov intends to create a new manifest zone? Is that what you're telling me? To where? And for what purpose?"

[Jeff]

I did not say that was his intention. Moreover, I do not believe that one mortal wizard alone could do such a thing.

As for your other questions, you are asking me something I cannot know. This book is rough, if complex arcana. It doesn't spell out Malov's plans. Perhaps if you can gather sufficient evidence of his intentions, you can bring them to an authority better equipped to handle it. But what evidence do you now have? Very little. A book. A changeling who may or may not be possessed with the spirit of the wizard who wants this book.

[mike]

"Malov is able to walk between worlds, and this book helps him, perhaps," says Torhak. "And he may seek to walk to different worlds as well. Is that possible, little wizard?"

[Darren]

"Thank you for your investigation, Matheu. Your breadth of knowledge is appreciated." Kal lifts the dagger in front of him. "Now I'm going to perform a little field experiment," he says as he moves quickly back to the sickbay.

Reaching the door, Kalarian throws it open, rushes in, and proceeds to plunge the dagger directly into Pel's leg.

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I'm assuming some sort of combat roll will be needed, but hopefully I'll at least have the element of surprise against an unarmed foe.

[Jeff]

First things first:

Grafth has strained to hear the conversation taking placce inside the room*, but when it suddenly quiets within he hears Streko moving to the door. At the same time, Grafth sees Kal coming down the stairs with the dagger, Skyfang, in hand, a gleam of determination in his eye.

Will Grafth do anything or will he allow Kal to open the door?

_______________________________

* Josh, refer to your private section for the results.

[Jeff]

Like impatient animals, humans, Matheu quips when Kal walks off with the dagger. Only Torhak and Goran remain standing right beside him, though they can see Ralsor has been leaning against one wall, listening quietly.

To Torhak, he answers, I don't think so. Whether Malov can walk between worlds I wouldn't know. He seems able to walk between bodies, so long as his spell of sickness affects a would-be host. The rider you....

He looks over to Goran, aware that Torhak wasn't with the group yet last night.

The rider you fought last night, Goran, was a host of Malov's. In the struggle, as it was described to me, it seems that that host was able to infect Pel. So now she is host to his spirit. Thus does he 'travel.' And he is returning somewhere, perhaps to his original body. I do not know.

But no, regarding the book.....I suspect the book is about more than granting himself some sort of direct power. I believe he is trying to effect some sort of summoning circle. Maybe one that duplicates the effects of a manifest zone. And I think, specifically, it is tied to Shavarath.

[Josh]

Grafth sees Kalarian approach and does not bar him from entering the room.

[Jeff]

Kal throws open the door, only to see Streko still reaching for the handle, looking quite agitated. Inside, Kal sees Pel on the bed, still bound.

"...what happened?" she is asking Streko.

__________________________

Is Kal still intent on his experiment?

[Jeremy]

Goran follows Kal into the room, but does nothing to stop him. Not pleased with the necessity of stabbing Pel in the leg, the half-elf is nonetheless ready for more extreme measures to be taken.

If anyone makes a move to stop Kal, Goran will make an effort to hold them back.

To Matheu: "Clearly the book is dangerous, and powerful, and more to the point beyond the power of anyone here, I deem...except perhaps yourself. Do you think it can be used remotely? Can Malov or others harness its power without being in its vicinity or even in possession of it?"

[Darren]

If the dagger is not glowing (i.e. Malov is not present), then no, Kalarian will not stab Pel, and I will post a different action.

[mike]

Torhak follows slowly behind Goran. He does not attempt to stop Kal.

[Jeff]

Skyfang always seems to maintain a soft glow, but it is not flaring up as brightly as before.

[Darren]

Bursting through the door of the room, Kalarian approaches Pel with the dagger held ready to strike. Glancing up and noticing that the bright fire has gone out of the blade, he hesitates, then moves to the bed across from Pel and stabs the blade down hard, letting out a stream of curses that his companions probably thought Kal didn't even know. Turning to sit on the bed, Kalarian barely lifts his head as he says to Streko, "What did the bastard say?"

[Joe]

"Not here, Kal. Let's go topside. We shall talk there." Streko leaves the room, assuming Kalarian and the others will follow. "You, too, Grafth. We should all know what just transpired," he says, passing the shifter in the hallway.

[Darren]

Kalarian follows silently behind Streko, motioning for Amal to guard the door to Pel's room.

[Joe]

He takes Kal's hand and squeezes it gently. "Thank you for leaving the room, Kal. It was important for me to see exactly what Malov was capable of doing. I know, for certain, that my sister is already dead, or will be regardless of any action I might take. I've abandoned her...because in my heart, in my soul, I cannot abide Malov succeeding in his endeavors. I know that if I submit once, I will be his forever. I fear that my sister has already made that choice and that she will either be dead soon, or wish to be. Mockery's tongue! She may already be dead.

"Malov knows we headed north from Passage. He does NOT know where we are and he desperately wishes this information. He said he would tell me a different destination once I told him what he needed to know. I was then to disembark at this location and work for him...do whatever he ask of me. I was to leave this group in doing so.

Why he wants me, I cannot say. Perhaps he simply wanted his claws embedded within another of the great houses. But he does need me for something.

"Which begs the question: Why doesn't he want a representative from either House Deneith or House Lyrander, both of which can be found on this very ship?

"I apologize in advance for not getting more from him. He wouldn't tell me where he wanted to go before he told me he was going to torture Varnaleen. I did not give him the satsifaction of seeing my pain and I will not give him the advantage of knowing how I wish to pull his intestines out through his nostrils. I must stay away from Pel. If he controls her again with me around...I fear for my reaction.

"I will kill Malov, Kalarian. I will see him to Dolurrh's door. I will see this quest through to the end."

[Darren]

Kalarian smiles down at the halfling. "Now that's the kind of spirit I've come to admire from your people, Streko. You have the spirit of a Plains-warrior." Kalarian squeezes his friend's shoulder. "Do not worry about not being able to get any information out of him. I was largely unsuccessful, as well. Malov has no intention of giving anything up. He just keeps probing us for weaknesses, hoping to get anything he can from us." Kalarian turns to address the group as a whole. "My friends, this is a strength for us and shows the coward's weakness. He doesn't know what he needs to know, and we still posess what he needs. We may not be as far behind our enemies as we think we are. I maintain that we are on the right course, that we follow our lead to Whisper Woods and see what we can find there. If no valuable information is gained from that journey, then I think we need to consider simply destroying the book. It would seem, from Matheu's investigations, that no use in the service of good can be gained from the knowledge contained in its pages. Its only value to us now is as a bargaining tool." Ceasing the pacing that he began in the middle of his words, he turns to Streko. "You will not be alone when you kill that bastard, Streko. I promise you that." As if the talk of violence was a reminder to him, Kalarian realizes he is still holding the enchanted dagger. Flipping it in his hand so that he is holding the blade, he presents the hilt to Goran. "If Malov presents himself in Pel's body again, I suggest we strike her and see if the blade might not help to exorcise the creature's taint."

[Jeremy]

Goran takes back the dagger, and sheathes it. He nods at Kal.

"Whatever must be done, will be done." He looks at Streko.

"Your pain is pain to me, too, Streko. If I can help you in any way, you have but to ask. It was an evil filth that took from me one who I loved, too. That I will never forget, or forgive. I will aid you in slaying this vile...person."

"What will we do?" he asks the group at large.

[Josh]

"Kalarian," the shifter remarks, "you say that the only good that can come of this book is as a means of bargain, but have we not seen that Malov is not interested in anything of the sort? From what I heard of your conversations with him, his hubris is uncontrollable."

He looks at Streko, "What's more... what would we possibly be bargaining for? Streko has heard the type of deal that Malov wants, one-sided and treacherous.

"Unless there is some means within this book to rid the world of Malov, then I see no reason to keep it intact."

[Darren]

Kalarian folds his arms, placing one hand on his chin. "Good point, Grafth. But I don't want to destroy the book before we consult Matheu. There's still probably too much we don't know about it. We should get his opinion on the subject."

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I've lost track. Is Matheu here with us right now?