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.

Still shocked from his experience with the door, Mendi looked confused by the illusionary halfling's speech and the apparition of a thriving city around him. thought the elf, an even more confused look creeping on his face. When the image spoke of him as a creature, however, anger was visible in the tall elf's eyes. An evil scowl distorted his face for a short time, and the rest of the sentence, singularly the part about a leash, did not please him any more.

Of course the elf had heard some rumors about those savage being the former masters of Athas, but this seemed to give more weight to the rumors than he cared about. Then the image spoke of dangers to come and Mendi remembered a saying of his teachers of the School of Thought about better left alone secrets of the past. But Mendi is free and curious. Though he obeyed Tak's advice and didn't touch the miniature city, he is now boiling with curiosity. thought Mendi.

Tak’ is more than a little shocked at the reappearance of the odd halfling, and can barely manage a friendly bow before his face clouds over with confusion at terms and words he knows little of. As the sapphire sun rises in the illusionary spectacle, Tak’ drops to one knee murmuring, "the Green Age..."

thought the elf.

Koreth muttered something under his breath as yet another illusionary halfling appeared before him. Surprised to hear it speaking in words he can understand, Koreth's face contorted as he heard the reference to him as a creature. He sneered at the illusion, his eyes growing slowly darker.

Rayne's blood begins to boil at the mention of her being a "creature" and a slave. Reminding herself there is no way to ring the little illusion's neck, Rayne tries to calm herself.

Standing upright once more, rubbing his head slowly in confusion and in complex thought, Tak’ tried to make sense of what he is told, "I ... I am Tak’Nak’Raq, not a master of nature. I am halfling, one of the Green children, and I will help you as best I can but..."

Then, the image-halfling gasped in pain, and Tak’ looked shocked. "I will help you brother, but how!" Tak’ cries out in anguish, unsure of who he feels honor-bound to protect, and how he can manage to do so.

Tak' soon shakes his head, clearing any doubts he may have: his purpose once more steady and assured. Running over to the table with the miniature city, Tak' reaches gingerly for the piece of purple skin that lies there. Recoiling at the slimy, but strangely warm feel initially, Tak’ muttered something about, ‘honor being courage in itself’, and then quickly flung it onto his left shoulder.

As the small halfling wraps the thing around his shoulder, Mendi shakes visibly, still quite conscious of the unwanted contact with that thing in the hole beside the door... 'You are brave indeed', mutters Mendi.

The purple growth moves slowly, wrapping itself round his shoulder as Tak’ looked on in considerable horror as he bit his bottom lip to keep from shrieking. Tak’s considerable will won out in the end as the skin settled down, still definitely alive - now merely a living extension of Tak’Nak’Raq.

Koreth watches with revulsion as the flesh situates itself on Tak, and shudders. He shakes his head.

Flexing his shoulder, noting his movements were not impaired - although the skin growth pulsated strangely and was warm next to his skin, Tak’ ran back to the companions. "I must help my kinsmen, even if they are in the distant past, or embodied in this building. Understand that this is not a choice I make, it is decided by my blood," the halfling thumps his chest with his fist meaningfully, "and my heart.""

Tak’ bows to his companions, "you are not halfling, so you need not risk your lives for me or my kin. You may come with me as you wish, and I would be honored if you did."

Elric, his complexion gone suddenly pale, looks to Tak'. "Why do you say this? Are we not Pack? Your kin are my kin, your pain my pain. Is this not so, is this not what it is to be pack? We as pack have one Honor! How could we even consider leaving here without fulfilling our honor bound task to give aid? We will hunt these Renegades and if possible destroy these twins and thus free the ancients from danger." Still visibly shaken, Elric turns his words into actions as he strings his bow and prepares for the hunt.

"I will accompany you," Koreth says, a hard tone to his voice "if only to prove to the spirits who still wander this place that I am no creature nor slave!" He flexes both his hands, admiring the bone blades of his wrist razors. He waits solemnly for others to volunteer, his cold dark eyes sweeping across the room.

Rayne speaks up, "I will follow you Tak, but only for the group."

MINDSCAPE:
Rayne retracts into her mindscape to the tent with Marteu. "Do not be so harsh to judge little one." He scolds as he continues to heal her wounds. "I will never be a slave to anyone again Marteu" the defiant child states. "I know little one. Take care 'till next time . . ."

When Rayne opens her eyes, the group has begun to follow Tak, and the mul notices the little halfling has something on his shoulder

Rayne secures her tortoise blade and sword and checks her wrist razors to be sure they are ready for when she will need them. As she moves forward, making sure Gaigin is following along. Left at the back, Rayne keeps up her guard to make sure nothing surprises the group from behind.

"I will join you, Tak." Chit-Zik says eagerly. "This hunt has all anyone could want. Danger, new prey, and fierce competition." His antenna quiver in anticipation. "Before we go though, I must prepare us."

The kreen druid makes use of his healing arts and helps Elric, Koreth and himself. He also brings forth uncanny energy and Tak and Rayne are the recipients of this spell. Everyone is completely healed except for Gaigin and Ptellac who still has some slight scratches on his tough hide.

'I'll come with you, if only because of your bravery, far beyond your age and size', says the elf. He makes sure his crossbow is well cranked, and then follows the halfling, his eyes and ears open (he will look for traps or curious devices while the party moves).

With that Tak’ yells out, to none but the building apparently. "Take me to these twins, or where I may perform good!" hoping that the ancient halfling will somehow be able to guide him where he is needed, Tak' looks around for a sign of some kind....

Gaigin watches the spectacle with remarkable calm, unsure whether to regard the whole scene as just another feverish dream. Finally, as the halfling starts to shout in distress, Gaigin shakes his head violently and shudders, unable to cope with this sort of thing in his condition.

As Tak springs into action Gaigin's eyes clear a little and he manages to regain some of his composure. Turning to address Rayne, he speaks in a haughty, laid-back tone.

"Where's that little slave off to now? You would think that after a certain amount of time he would have calmed down a bit. Still, I suppose that no halfling can truly be civilized, to much of the feral cannibal in them."

Gaigin looks on with mild curiosity as the little slave attaches some kind of skin to his arm...<> His expression changes as the halfling goes running down the corridor, with the rest of the slaves in pursuit. Turning angrily to his assistant, Gaigin speaks with the force of righteous indignation.

"Where's that little beast running off to now? Who does he think is the Master and who the slave! I demand that we follow him! When I catch up to him I'll make him beg to be torn limb from limb by live baazrag! If he grovels well enough, I may even grant his request! After him!"

Gaigin stumbles forward, still leaning heavily on his assistant's shoulders.

OUT AND ABOUT THE LIVING BUILDING

Tak’, not out of breath, but his feet moving as quickly as he can manage, shouts over his shoulder. "The ancient halfling said something of Renegades, and if we face them it will be a stern test of my will and our strength - for Renegades are those halflings who do not know of honor and justice. If we meet any other halflings, let me first greet them - if they respond appropriately, all will be good. If not, I will throw myself to the ground, and those with missile weapons can fire over me, and thus give us time to form a solid line, instead of getting myself cut off and isolated." Tak, still running waits for any suggestions and comments about what he said and they have heard, his mind already trying to figure out what evil he was warned about.

"Reasonable enough," Koreth puffs as he runs behind Tak "I doubt any still live here, but if they want to fight they'll find me willing!" He keeps his eyes on the ground before him, wary for any ambush, trap or attack.

The companions storm out into the hall and fall into single line with Tak at the lead. The halfling hunter takes a right (DM note: No one told me so…) reminding himself that there are two doors which were left unexplored. He had not received any more hints from the building and any direction was as good as any. The group moves for about 30 feet and another door-like opening greets them. Tak places his hand much in the same way that Mendi had done. Sure enough, the door opens like an eyelid. On the other side is another five feet corridor that splits left and right and another door in front of him. Tak places his small hand and the door opens into a fairly large room. The room is dimly lit by the luminescence issuing forth from the walls themselves.

This large chamber has slightly larger ceiling than the rest of the ruins. Here, the ceilings are 8 feet above the floor. As in the corridors, the floors, walls, and ceiling blend into each other with no distinct breaks due to the lack of sharp angles.

Everything in this chamber is like stepping outside…but it's an outside like no one in the group has ever seen. The ceiling looks like the sky; if the sky were light blue and the sun were a glowing sapphire instead of a dark crimson ball. The floor and much of the walls appear to be covered by clear, sparkling blue water, though no wetness at all could be felt. A rock formation sprouts in the middle of the chamber; it is shaped like a tower and made from pure white stone.

The companions start to search the room while Rayne watches the entrance and keeps Gaigin covered. The mul is very attentive while Mendi and the rest of the group search for anything interesting. From outside of the hall, a slight movement is heard. Three halfling dressed much like Tak show themselves. The one in front has leaves and twigs braided into his hair and his body is adorned with green and brown paint. The stern halfling waves his two companions to a stop and addresses the mul.

Rayne does not understand what is being said or asked but she understand the tone as one of command and reminds her of a master addressing a slave. The mul raises her tortoise blade and calls Tak forth. The hunter steps forth and all four halflings lock gazes, suddenly Tak breaks the silence.

Wary, but not hostile, Tak’ opens one of his palms in a gesture of peace, and speaks in his native tongue, "I am Tak’Nak’Raq, not here for war." His tone is courteous, but his other hand lightly grips the strange life-dagger, and his eyes are steely as he awaits a response from his savage kin.

The mul stays quiet but alert as Tak speaks to the halflings. With not much room to maneuver, Rayne is prepared to watch Gaigin and keep him from trouble or harm.

Seeing movement ahead, Elric pulls slightly on his bow bringing tension to the bowstring. Prepared to fire at the first signs of trouble, Elric watches as Tak’ speaks to the halflings. While Tak speaks words of peace, Mendi scans the halflings, ready to fire if they are hostile.

Koreth stands ready for whatever these halflings are up to, his cold dark gaze sweeps across them. Chit-Zik readies his weapons and watches nervously, trying to look formidable.

The strange halfling reaches forth and slowly pulls forth his weapon. As the light is reflected of the short sword's steel blade, an involuntarily gasp is heard from the group but everyone tightens their grips on their own weapons and bow strings are pulled back. Tak steps back and repeats his offer of friendship. The renegade halfling looks past the group, sees Tak's purple skin and suddenly yells out, "You have come to kill them. You cannot kill them. I will free them. The twins shall walk again and fill their destiny as has been foretold by the nature master."

As soon as he stops, all three halfling leave the hallway in three different directions. The companions are undecided as to where to go when another event is heard by all and then felt by some. Six distinct bow strings were heard snapping from the other side of the room. Six arrows whiz into the group. One of them buries itself deep into Ayrus' thigh, another one hits Koreth squarely in the back while a third sticks itself in Ptellac's shoulder.

The group realizes that they have been fooled and surprised by a band of six silent halfling renegades while three other were getting away…

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 (H)

Elric (H)

Chit (H)

Ayrus (SiW)

Mendi (H)

Tak (H*)

Gaigin (MW)

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

Here is a little sketch of the situation.

OK, I know you were all ready for action but things did not happen as you thought. You were not attacked by the halflings that Tak spoke to but rather from another group. You were surprised in this round. We will go 2 rounds as usual. Let me know if the situation is not clear.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian