Ayrus helps Gaigin and calls forth Mendi who quickly came followed by Ptellac. The party had reunited but at what price! The halls were again strangely silent save for the low beating from the walls that reminded them that they still were inside a living building with a few crazy halflings running about trying to awaken who knows what sort of monstrosity.

Seeing his companions fell the beast, Aryus was all too relieved. He gracefully leapt forward on top of the dead creature and poked it with his spear, to make sure that it was really dead. When satisfied, the windmage turns to look at his companions.

Things did not look so well, most had suffered serious injuries, including himself. Rayne and Chit had lost use of one of their arms, certainly not good. And unfortunately the windmage only had one spell left. Tough choice, but better than nothing.

Chit-Zik nurses his arm a little, and his victory. "The hunt brought excellent prey. This will provide a great deal of food for our journey." He favors his arm slightly, adding, "I have 3 more, you know."

"I'll get you next time Chit, I promise." Aryus whispered to the kreen as he walked by. He then approaches Rayne who grabbed her arm and leaned against the wall trying to fight back the numbing pain.

"Let me take a look at that arm of yours." Aryus inspects over the wound and begins the healing spell. He casts cure light wounds on the nasty bite. "Won't help you too much, but will get that arm working again." The mul's muscle and skin apparently heal up under the cleric´s care. After the spell is cast, Rayne frowns as she counts the twelve teeth marks left on her skin by the lizard.

Aryus then turns to look at the rest of his companions. "I don't like this place one bit, but we're stuck here for now. We still have halfling hunters running around waiting for the first opportunity to nail us with an arrow. I really don't like what I can't see and all of this sneaking around is quite a toll on my nerves. As much as I hate it, it seems like we are one big bulls eye target if we wander around in one large group. They can find us easily and pull whatever ambush they want. On the other hand, if we split up, we are more vulnerable to whatever horrors this place has for us. Like the monster that we just slew. Honestly I really don't know what's best. Perhaps one of you can use some psionics or a spell to locate the halflings. But whatever we do, we really need to eliminate this threat to our group first, before they send another big creature after us."

"My mastery of the Way will not help us this time. I cannot make out individuals with those living walls, as far as I know," said Mendi. "Tak, do you have any ideas of what waits us in the dark corners of this place? How many Renegades are left? Two archers, the leader... where did you lose him, by the way?"

Tak’ looks from Mendi to the dead lizard. "There are at least 6 more renegades in the building - and only Gaea knows what other creatures inhabit this place. I have not seen their leader since we were ambushed - it seems he had time to make good his escape."

Smiling broadly as he cleans his blade, Elric turns to Koreth "I thought for sure I would lose you when we came around that corner and hit the straight of way. These low ceilings where the difference, had we been on the open sand, I would surely have left you." Elric’s voice fades as he turns to see his injured companions "Blood and Ashes".

Moving toward Chit, Elric reaches into his pack and pulls out his bandages. "I am unsure how to bandage this Chit, but if you direct me I will do what I can to help secure your arm from further damage."

Chit-Zik examines the wound carefully. "The most important thing to remember is that the plates must be held together to heal well, but not so tight that the tendon's won't" He carefully guides Elric's hands through with the bandages. "It would be good for someone to know how to do this, should I be hurt again. That's why packs have several healers, usually one in each clutch."

Taking in the whole situation of what has transpired, the thri-kreen takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. "So… What now?"

Rayne, still feeling very disoriented, is glad for the help of the warlock. Leaning against the wall she stares at her shoulder. Finally looking to her companions a smirk slowly rolls across her face "Well that was fun. If it's all the same to the rest of ye, I'd like to leave this place as soon as we can. I think that we should stay together though. We may run into more foes as tough as this beast," she says while kicking the dead creature.

With a sigh, she heads over to where Elric is bandaging Chit. "Here, I don't have much left, but I think I can help some." Reaching deep inside herself, it takes Rayne much discipline to pull forth the energy she needs to bring her and the thrikreen into Marteu's tent for some healing. Chit's chitin heals somewhat but Rayne is exhausted and has no more energy to pour forth. The mul feels a bit light-headed but is still able to go on. Once that's done, Rayne listens to the conversation her companions are having to see if she can help with the decisions to be made.

Tak speaks up, "We are too weak to split up; Rayne, Gaigin, Aryus and Chit would not last long if we faced another ambush, or another beast. While we would be smaller target - we would not take much to put down. We should either continue as one, with those strongest taking the lead, or attempt to return the wounded to the surface."

"I will continue on, as it is my kin - even one who is long dead - who has requested my help," Tak’ looks to the group, "if needed I will progress alone - and rely on stealth instead of strength." Tak’ turns to Koreth, "Where will we go from here?"

Koreth is strangely quiet and moody at this time not answering but actually hearing other people's opinions. The warrior lets his psionically enhanced strength drop giving himself some time to breathe.

Looking toward Tak, Elric states, "There is no need to continue on alone, I am little injured and would travel in the lead." Glancing down the hall in time to see his phantasm fade away, "I only wish I still retained my phantasm it would have done well to lead the party and draw enemy arrows."

Drawing again his bow and arrows, Elric prepares to continue on through the structure. Waiting till everyone is ready, he softly pads down the hall. Eyes alert and tension on his bowstring, Elric moves close to the wall gaining what little cover it offers.

Ptellac stumbles near the front making his way towards one of the lizard's heads. He plants his clawed foot on the beast's neck and carefully twists the spear out. He inspects the weapon and frowns as he sees marks etched in the fine agafari wood shaft. He looks toward Koreth and apologizes, "I shall have this cleaned and fixed by the best weaponsmithis in my village. You shall see that I will return it as good as new. The weapon has served me well thus far, I shall keep it until we get out of this place."

He squats down as he hears the conversation start about what to do next. He unconsciously pulls out his bone figurines and seems lost in thought as others argue around him. "I shall finish this off with the halfling. I am hurt but can still fight. Let's get this over with and rest out under an open sky. As much as I have been reconforted by the halfling image, I am not comfortable here in this place." He caresses the wall and recoils his hand back quickly, "Damn, the wall still reacts to my touch… this is very strange…"

Gaigin grimaces as he leans against the wall, not caring at this point that the damn thing kept moving and pulsing. For a moment he peers at Ptellac fingering some carving and muttering, but soon he lets his head drop, collecting his thoughts. Listening to the conversation, Gaigin sighs and pushes himself vaguely upright.

"I'm in no position to be of any bloody help in any of this. I couldn't swing an axe if me life depended on it, which it probably will, and I can't even walk, let alone run if the need arises. By Kalak's rotting carcass, I can't even be sure I'm in the right mind, or if a sudden outburst could put us all in danger. Had me mind been right I would've stayed up top, but I'm down here, and gettin' me back up would be more dangerous then cartin' me around."

Gaigin pauses for a moment to recollect his chain of thoughts.

"One o' the first things ye learn in the Caravans is that when the Mekillot's are movin' and the elves come a raidin' you leave the wounded behind, for the sake o' the Caravan. Now I ain't so noble as to suggest the lot a you leave me here to die...if ye do I'll come back an' haunt ya like a mad Dwarf, be sure of that...but I'm in no way fit to move, and I won't put the rest of you in danger if I can help it."

Gaigin grins feebly and points to the room with the Fountains.

"Gimme a knife and what weapons can be found on the lil' devils corpses, and I'll wedge meself in that room their til the all's clear. The damn doors may open by themselves, but I'll do what I can. 'Sides, I doubt they'll break off their attempts on the lot o' you to butcher some half-crazed defenseless unarmed 'pet beast' like meself. No, I'll be safer in there than in battle, and without me to protect you can concentrate on yer jobs. Just make sure ya come back and get me once them 'Twin' bastards get their end, or my spirit'll make a Banshee look like pleasant company."

Gaigin slumps against the wall, grinning slightly, waiting for a response.

"Hmmpfr..." grumbles Mendi. "As if Elves were the only raiders. I've met more Gith and mannish raiders than elven ones during my career... but that's besides the point. Perhaps you should leave the building altogether, perhaps with the help of the kreen. What do you think? For me, I'll help Tak, I still can use my crossbow and my scimitar, and I can open the way. This arrow only brushed me, but as far as the Way is concerned, I hope we will not have to rely to much on it."

It is Tak that speaks up again, "While Mendi may have reached his limits with the Way, I may yet to able to offer something. I will require a few minutes, please bind wounds and watch for any more renegades while I try to discern where these ‘twins’ might be."

MINDSCAPE:
Tak’ reached into the mindscape, feeling the reassuring well on energy in his nexus - while his physical body may be drained somewhat, his mind was still strong. Thinking about the building, Tak’ picked a door that had yet to be opened, a corridor yet to be explored and created a harbringer.

Not one to kill or destroy - but to explore. Tak’ created a brightly-colored bird, small and swift. It flew to where Tak’ indicated and sat there. Reaching deeper, Tak’ transposed himself with the bird, seeing into the real world - looking and exploring.

Tak will use Clairsentience to look behind any doors that are yet to be opened, or down corridors that have not been explored yet. Specifically, he is looking for: the ‘twins’, any renegades, or any clues that might tell him where they are.

The halfling starts by pointing to the door right next to them (DM note: Room 1 in map), "No, do not open it. Let me try and see beyond." The hunter closes his eyes and suddenly smiles. The halfling then looks confused and states, "The room is dark, really dark much like the place where the lizard came out. The walls are not glowing, they are not alive. I…am sorry, I can't see anything else."

Tak then points north, "There, the door that was left untouched (DM note: Room 2 in map)." The hunter continues, "Ah…now I can see." The halfling turns his head and adds, "The room is empty of renegades but there are strange pods made of what look like spongy material around the place. The lighting seems dimmer but exists nevertheless. If I didn't know any better, I would say that these things were for sleeping except that they are standing up."

The halfling shakes his head and points next door (DM note: Room 3 in map). "The room is also alive and filled with the same type of pods but of all different sizes and they are strewn about everywhere. All sorts of things are in the pods or ready to come out." Tak draws in breath audibly and hits his fist into his palm, "They are here! The two archers are each facing the doors and waiting for us. One of them is bleeding but are ready to attack nevertheless. There seems to be only the two of them and the room seems fit for growing different fruits an vegetables."

Before decisions are made, Tak silences everyone. "Wait, let me try right next to where we came in (DM note: Room 4 in map). "This seems to be some sort of story-telling hall. There are those strange husks again and all face one large husk in front of the room. There is also a door in the room but I can't see past it."

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Ptellac (W)

Ayrus (W)

Tak (W), (SeW) PSPs

Chit (SeW)

one arm out of action for 3 days unless magical healing

Koreth (SiW), (W) PSPs

Mendi (SiW), (W) PSPs

Elric (SiW)

Rayne (SiW), 0 PSPs

Gaigin (MW)

Gaigin will recover full hitpoints gradually in 5 days time notwithstanding any magical healing

Excellent work here. So much so, that I am using it as an example as to how a good group of players behaves. There are still some things left unanswered that I thought needed one more turn. The main things to be resolved is what is done about Gaigin and where does the group go? Think of that when answering this turn.

If any type of battle is due in the following turn, please give me 2 rounds of that.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian