After repeating the same words for three times, the strange halfling notices Tak's strange dagger. The halfling smiles as if relieved and repeats his message only for the hunter's benefit, "ULAKA TEERIM…" (DM note: Tak, recognizes the words as the ancient tongue but has no idea what they mean.) The image of the halfling vanishes as soon as Tak approaches it…

Looking at the tiny city, Chit-Zik says, "I don't know what that is, but I would suggest that we not touch it." He tries to examine it, and find out where it is a map of, or maybe if it's of the place the pack is in now. If it looks like it might be, Chit-Zik looks for any other structures of interest in the small city.

"First, I would like to get out of here, once we've taken a look around." The thri-kreen again seems to cough, despite the lack of dust in the air. "I don't like it in here."

The Mul looks around a little uncomfortable in these odd surroundings. "I will take up the rear with our "High Templar". Maybe Chit could stay back here with us to help out? What do you think master Gaigin?" Rayne asks the ex-caravan guard as he leans on her for support. Being courteous, she lets him murmur his response.

Gaigin glances at the contents of the room wearily, shaking his head slightly. "Bloody perfect bloody time to wake up." he mutters softly. Leaning on the Mul woman for support, Gaigin sighs and shakes his head again, a brief look of confusion crossing his features as she refers to him as "High Templar" and "Master." Not even trying to understand what the hell was going on, Gaigin merely stands there, muttering and shaking his head every so often.

Turning to the thri-kreen, Rayne speaks directly to Chit- a little more comfortable with the creature now that she has been around it for sometime. "I agree Chit, we should be on the move. Maybe Tak and Koreth could lead the way with Mendi in there somewhere as well - what do ye all think?" Rayne keeps her eyes about the room, looking for anything that might explain the appearance and disappearance of the odd little halfling - or anymore surprises that may not be so pleasant.

<something is very . . . un-real about this place> Rayne answers her thoughts out loud "Aye, I don't trust this place any more. My curiosity is gone, I'd be happy if we just left." She mumbles her uneasiness in a very quiet tone, but it is amplified a bit higher than she expected in the room.

Chit-Zik looks in amazement at the tiny city when he first enters the cramped room. He is equally amazed by the appearance and disappearance of the halfling, then turns to Tak inquisitively for a translation.

Mendi had looked Ptellac with horror when the pterran trader had explained that he thought that the wall had touched him, and not that he had touched the wall, but when the halfling figure appeared, he had regained his composure and waited for Tak's reaction.

"What do you think of that, Tak? Any idea of the meaning of those words? Do you have any idea of the origins of this place?"

Aryus inspects the miniature city with awe. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but this might be a model of these ruins that we are in right now. What a glorious place to be when this city was at its prime."

Glancing at Tak, "Do you know anything about this place, little one?"

Tak’ reverently steps into the room, glancing round - casting a solemn stare around the room. "I know very little about the crafts of my ancestors - save that they were once rulers of all Athas." Tak’ steps to a wall, and lets his small hand brush it, feeling the rhythmic pulse - almost like a heartbeat - against his skin.

"It was said that the halflings of the Green Age were able to shape the forces of life, to live in harmony with nature." Tak’ sadly thinks of his relatively dilapidated village, "although such arts are lost to us now."

Tak’ is shocked by the appearance of the halfling - for it looked not like any of his kinsmen that lived in abundance on the Forest Ridge. "He spoke in a language unlike my own - but still similar. The words were very old, and now out of use." Tak’s face is a mask of frustration, "I know not what they mean."

"However," Tak’ continues, looking more bright as he thinks things through, "halflings do not only use the tongue for communication. The bow and gestures our host gave were ones of welcome - not warning or of
challenge. I doubt very much that harm is meant for any of us here."

The strange words of the halfling did not sound familiar to Aryus. A bit tense, the half-elf kept a hold on his bow. The cave was very small, and Aryus was forced to bend his neck.

Koreth takes in all the strangeness of the buried ruins, his brows raising and wrinkling as he surveys the room. The small replica of the city instantly grabs his interest; he hovers over it like a child inspecting a new toy. Careful not to touch it, he tries to find where he might be on the map and where anything that is important might be. <A most interesting map....> Koreth thinks to himself <I wonder if it is still useful. And where did that halfling go? Or was it just some illusion?> He steps away from the table, and turns to face his companions.

"I agree with Chit, we should get moving. Bulky weapons aren't too useful in such small passages, so switch to smaller arms if you have them. I would advise against missile weapons, in the passages at least." He looks to Tak, "It would be best if you go first Tak, I'll follow right behind you." He flexes his hands slowly, glad to have brought his wrist razors and to have worn them. He looks to the weapons of his companions. Koreth walks over to Ptellac and hands him his spear, "Try not to skewer me with it." He grins mischievously. The pterran warrior is not as quick with his grin as always. he takes the spear and is careful not to touch the walls again.

Looking at Koreth, Ayrus states, "I'll keep my missile weapon. The lords of air know no boundaries, they will guide my weapon to strike their target. I think I'll third in line behind Koreth and Tak. In case of trouble, I can cover you with my bow."

Tak’ bows to Koreth, "I wish to explore this place, for I will be the first among my village to have walked the halls of my ancestors. Not to learn what I can from this place may deprive my race of knowledge lost to the ages." Turning back to the group as a whole Tak’ adds, "this building is not made entirely of stone or of earth - treat it with as much respect you would any being with a pulse and a soul."

With that, using his spear as a walking stick, Tak’ made his way forward, more an explorer than a warrior, his wide eyes taking in all the detail he could.

"What a thing! I wonder if this is a toy...". Mendi examines the city thoroughly and since he finds no traps, he goes to tough it delicately.

Tak’s eyes go wide with surprise, "Mendi!" He says, louder than he intended, "I beg you not! You do not know what you play with!"

Running over to the model, Tak’ points at it, "this is something of beauty and probably also of function - it has not handholds or buttons for you to manipulate - so why try? Mendi - you are a free spirit, one unchained but I implore you to exercise reason and care in this place."

Tak’ takes a detailed look at the city, trying to discover if it is indeed a map as he and Aryus suspects. Taking in as much information as he can, Tak’ tries to sort out where buildings are damaged, and where the largest concentration of rooms and halls would lie. Smiling merrily at the intricacy and beauty of the structure, Tak’ makes a small bow to it and then continues onwards.

Mendi adds, "I see all marvels are not genuine here; we should remain cautious. Since I have some knowledge of traps and a keen ear, I will scan the rooms and listen for noises. As for the doors..."

Mendi crouched and went to the door-like opening and listened to the noises on the other side. He then looked for a handle or lock. Since the elf hears no noises different than those inside the room, he continues inspecting the door.

WHO YOU CALLING A CREATURE, SHORTY?!?

Mendi spots a small hole at the side of the opening. He gathers up courage and after checking for traps, he kneels down on the small opening. Seemingly satisfied that there is no danger, he proceeds to introduce his hand into the small opening. Instantly, the hole closes about his hand and the elf is caught trying in vain to pull his hand out of the wall. The elf struggles to no avail and his face turns to terror as inside of the wall, something starts feeling his hand. His hand is being probed and touched by the wall itself. After a few seconds, it is all over and the dead-white elf pulls his hand out and inspects it very carefully. His appendage is no worse than before except in the parts he himself pulled and twisted trying to get it out. Much like an eye, the "door" opens into what appears to be the middle of a hallway.

The hallway seems to be made of the same porous living stone as the room. It also vibrates and hums as the walls within the room. It opens up into a five feet wide, forty feet long hallway. There are "doors" at either end and a "door" directly in front of you. When the heroes are about to step forth, another event takes place.

The odd halfling stands before the group again, seemingly appearing out of thin air. When he speaks this time, everyone can understand his words, "This is Ulaka, the city of Waves," he says in an accent that is at once alien and familiar. "It was strong and vibrant when the seas covered the land and no other beings but halflings lived from one end of the world to the other." As he speaks, the chamber around you shimmers and changes. It becomes an ancient city, much like the ruins you are exploring but vibrant and alive. Water fills the street and rises to the tops of the buildings, and narrow boats carrying strange halfling float serenely across the gentle waves.

As the water starts rising, everyone starts to look for a way out until Elric yells out, "It's an illusion, it's an illusion. Remain calm and enjoy the show."

"This was in ages past," the ancient halfling continues, "when our sun was the color of sapphire and the sea gave us all we needed to survive. This was the time before magic, before psionics, before the world began to die."

The heroes are able to discern that the strange halfling is some sort of illusion as well projected by the building itself. The image flickers for a moment but the halfling continues speaking to Tak, "I see you are one of the great nature-masters." The strange halfling nods to the elf and adds, "I have checked its biocodes and it was made from our own biocodes. Why did you make the creature so tall? Well, it is none of my concerns. I suppose it is useful in some task you set it to. I have not checked the other creatures in detail with you, master, but I trust you will keep them on a short leash. You know what can happen if the creatures are left to roam free…"

Although, everyone is annoyed at being called a creature by a halfling, no one speaks a word and so the image continues. He addresses Tak once again, "Have you come to check on the evil master's creations. I think the twins are still dormant. Why do we keep them alive? I understand that we respect life but they are evil after all. I see you have brought forth a life-dagger, I wish you luck in disposing of them if that is what you desire but you will need protection from its domination spores."

The image directs Tak's attention to the table where the miniature city is laid out and points to what looks to be a small patch of skin. "You must wear this on your upper arm and it will protect you should the twins use their spores on you. The spores are very specific and your creatures do not need this protection." (DM note: Matt if Tak (or anyone else) wears this thing, I want a good description on what it looks like and how it feels to have something alive cling on your upper shoulder.)

The image flickers again and the halfling gasps in pain. "I am weak and tired, master. I will need your help. I cannot hold the twins much longer." The halfling image screams but the noise seems to have come from the walls themselves. "Renegades have stormed the place. No doubt wanting to free the twins or the twins have dominated someone into helping them…the renegades are more than one…" The image of the halfling disappears and the lights in the place dim somewhat but are still good enough to see by. The only things that seems to shine more than usual is the great sapphire representing the sun above the miniature city.

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 (SiW)

Koreth (SiW)

Rayne (W)

Elric (SiW)

Chit (SiW)

Ayrus (H)

Mendi (H), (SiW) PSP

Tak (H), (SiW) PSP

Gaigin (MW)

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

Not much to add to this one.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian