[K T Ong]

(ooc: I don't know what the Dark Knight's real name is, either -- or even if Morguerat thought of one for him at all. We'll have to ask Morguerat!)

"Come, let's all come inside first," said Sir Jorlon. The group went back inside the keep.

"The common foot soldiers, such as the ones we just fought, are the weakest of the Dark Knight's ranks," said Chun-Li in reply to Rufus' query. "They can only attack physically, but the venom from their claws can nevertheless spread quickly through your system and eventually turn you into one of them."

"Is there anything which can protect us from the poison?" pursued Ghzarbanan.

"Fortunately, yes," replied the drow. "Any holy symbol worn on the body will neutralize the poison. You'll still be susceptible to their physical assaults, though, meaning their claws can still rend your flesh."

"At least it will be without the poison," remarked Rufus.

"Yes, but so far we have only discussed the weakest of the Dark Knight's minions. The higher-ranking ones are far worse. They use cursed swords and spears which can inflict the same effects -- though this time again holy symbols are proof against their venom -- and in addition they can cast spells of terrible power, such as Energy Ball and Lightning. We will need strong magic resistance to stand a chance at all against them -- and even then that will only reduce the injury, not eliminate it. Of course, the higher the resistance is, the greater the injury reduction will be."

"What can provide good magic resistance?" asked Ghzarbanan.

"I have many rings of magic resistance where I stay," interjected Khadgar. "Meant to sell them at the marketplace, but business wasn't good so they've been sitting in my house..."

"Rufus and I also know the Power Shield spell," joined Magnus, "though neither of us are of sufficient proficiency to cast it at truly high levels. It will offer protection against both sorcerous and physical attacks."

"I also have a few vials of concentrated Golden Rose nectar left in my temple," said StoneRock. "Anointing one's body and armor with this nectar provides some measure of protection against hostile magic as well."

"All this is very good," agreed Chun-Li, "but when we come to the Dark Knight himself, new problems present themselves yet again. For in addition to having the same means of attack as his generals, which I've already mentioned, the Dark Knight also wields a truly terrible power -- the power of Mind Control. So potent is his power of mind control that he can easily make us fight against each other. No amount of magic resistance can stand proof against this power. Nor do I know of any means to counteract it..."

"Magnus, did you study any psionics during our days at the Jefferson College of Magic?" asked Khadgar.

"Afraid not," replied Magnus. "I focused virtually all my attention on alchemy and potion-making."

"Shucks, neither did I..."

"I believe we'll eventually find a way to deal with the Dark Knight's mind control power," said Sir Morguerat. "For now, why don't we find out more about the Sunlight Swords, Magnus?"

"Yes, of course," said Magnus, reaching for and opening the book Rufus brought from the library. "Hmmm, let us see... (reading from the book) 'When the Great Hero vanquished the nine-headed Dragon of the Abyss, he sheathed the Twin Sunblades Guthay and Filistin, which could drink in the light of the sun and spew it forth when so commanded, and placed them in a cave atop the Sacred Mount of Taphthar-tharath...'"

"What?" said Khadgar in astonishment. "The Sacred Mount of Taphthar-tharath?"

"Yes. Why?"

"It's..." stuttered Khadgar. "It's located on another plane of existence altogether! I ought to know -- I did a doctoral dissertation before on the ancient mage Trismegistus' classic Manual of the Planes!" (ooc: There's actually an AD&D rulebook by that title. [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

Everyone stared at Khadgar in shock. "Does that mean we would have to travel to that plane in order to get the Sunblades?" asked Rufus.

"For sure," said Khadgar. "The plane of the Seven Heavens, to be exact!"

"But how?" asked Rufus. "And what sort of dangers might we encounter?"

There was a long silence.

"I think I know what to do," said Khadgar suddenly. "Let's come over to my house, where I do happen to have a copy of the Manual of the Planes. Surely it would offer us some guidelines on interplanar travel. There are many other things we will need for our quest that are over at my house anyway."

"I have had a temple built recently in the same village as Khadgar's house, too," added StoneRock, "so we would also be able to procure various useful things at my temple there!"

"Come, then," said Khadgar, "let's grab what we need and go -- I'll gate us there!"

********************************

In a kitchen a tall, handsome high elven chef was cooking when a plump wood elven serving maid came in. "Well, Aiko? Any new customers outside?"

"None since this morning," sighed the wood elf. "There have been fewer and fewer customers coming to our restaurant -- indeed our village -- ever since the Dark Knight's forces stormed the towns to the north." (ooc: Let's have it that Khadgar's town still hasn't been attacked, okay, fellas? [img]smile.gif[/img] )

The high elf sighed and shook his head. "It's truly terrible. Can only hope the Order of Clangeddin will be able to hold the evil ones at bay when they come."

"Don't worry too much, Ryu," said Aiko. "I'm sure the Order will be able to do so."

"They had better," said Ryu. "I shudder to think of what would happen otherwise."

Just then a man walked into the kitchen, with a few others behind him. Ryu grinned when he saw the man.

"Hey, Khadgar!" exclaimed Ryu, slapping Khadgar in the shoulder. "Good to see you again! Did you enjoy the dish Ukensa which I cooked for you? And are these your friends?"

[ 07-19-2002, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]