The stone continues

"Ah, greetings Aiko. And yes, I've brought friends today. Were planning to stop the Dark Knight. Hows the business been faring? And the Ukensa was excellent."

Aiko- "Business hasn't been the greatest, but hey, I'm the only resturant within 40 miles, so I shouldn't be complaining. I'm hoping you can put an end to all this. But say, what will you have today."

Khadgar- "Well guys and girls, what will you have? I'll have the special Fish Fillet."

Jorlon- "Give me some Thorax Rib. I hear you make some of the best ribs."

StoneRock- Aye, give me the ground beef. This better be the best elven food I've had, cuz all elves make lousy food to us dwarves."

Aiko-"No hard feelings my short friend. Say, what will all of you have, its on the house!"

[K T Ong]

Sir Morguerat smiled. "I'm not hungry now," he said as he fingered the Girdle of the Giants around his waist. "Thank you. Perhaps another time." (ooc: the party went to Khadgar's house first to pick up a few things, including the Girdle of the Giants, before coming to the inn. Now Sir Morguerat's size and strength etc are temporarily restored to normal by the Girdle -- no problem, yeah, Morguerat? )

"A couple green apples for me, please," said Ghzarbanan.

"I'll have some chilled blackcurrant juice, please," said Chun-Li.

"Do you have any orc melon, miss?" asked Magnus. "Real sweet and juicy. You've got to grant that the orcs grow the best melons -- even though they're not exactly the friendliest or most refined race around."

"Have to agree -- I love orc melon, too!" said Rufus.

"Melon... nice!" said Fenric, stirring excitedly in his seat. "Fenric... like!"

"No orc melon, I'm afraid," sighed Aiko. "They stopped shipping them in since a couple weeks back. It's got to do with the Dark Knight again... May I serve you something else, friends?"

Magnus was silent for a moment. "...well, all right, then, let's settle for some chilled blackcurrant juice too, shall we, Rufus?" Rufus shrugged his shoulders.

"No problem, friends," nodded Aiko, "I'll go in now and get the dishes prepared!"

"Good to know that this town still hasn't been touched by the Dark Knight yet," said Magnus. "Hope that remains the case."

"With a dozen of my fellow clerics around this town," said StoneRock, "we'll fry them easily if they dare take so much as one single step inside this town's premises!"

"Do you and your clerics know the sunlight spell, StoneRock?" asked Magnus.

"No, actually..."

"I think it will be better for us to provide the Order of Clangeddin with the means to cast this spell," said Magnus, "all the better to fight the undead forces with. You know, like a wand of sunlight or something." StoneRock nodded in agreement.

"I've got plenty of scrolls of sunlight," said Khadgar. "I'll supply them all to StoneRock's temple. But for now..." Khadgar opened a large book which he had brought along from home -- the Manual of the Planes.

"Interesting," remarked Khadgar. "It states here that to reach the plane of the Seven Heavens we must first enter the Astral Plane -- an intermediate dimension between our world and the many outer planes, of which the Seven Heavens is one. Okay, I have no problem with that -- a plane shift spell will enable us all to enter the Astral Plane, though it will burn up all of my mana in a single casting -- but once in the Astral Plane we must then look for a pool of many colors..."

"Pool of many colors?" muttered Rufus.

"It's supposed to be a dimensional portal," explained Khadgar, "which keeps changing its colors, with the color being indicative of the plane into which it will transport us. If you step into it when its color is ruby red for example, you'll go to the Nine Hells."

"I wouldn't want to go there!" cried Ghzarbanan.

"What color will bring us to the Seven Heavens, then?" asked Sir Morguerat.

"Gold," replied Khadgar, still looking intently at the book.

"Say, that's a very appropriate color!" remarked Magnus.

"How will it be like in these planes?" asked Rufus. "What sort of things might we encounter -- and how may we return?"

"The Seven Heavens should be an absolutely safe and friendly place if you're good by nature," replied Khadgar. "It is the place to which all mortals go after death if they had led virtuous lives and had been of lawful alignment. It says here it's a place of marvellous beauty, too, with vast forests, mountains and oceans all made of precious metals and stones..."

"I can't wait to visit it!" said Sir Jorlon.

"It's with the Astral Plane," continued Khadgar, "that we need to be on our guard. Various sorts of creatures could randomly appear in this dimension at any time, some friendly to us and some hostile. This dimension is supposed to be like a great, endless expense of gray extending forever in all directions. When you enter it, it will be as if you're floating in an endless gray sky. As for how we can return..."

Suddenly a stranger in a black cloak came into the restaurant -- just as Aiko and Ryu were coming out with the dishes ready.

"Oh! Greetings, stranger," said Ryu, "what would you like?"

The stranger's voice was bloodcurdling. "You wouldn't serve human flesh, would you? Heh, heh, heh..."

StoneRock and Sir Jorlon recognised the voice. "It's... It's the operative we met in Moondusk City two weeks ago!!" cried Sir Jorlon in shock.

"Yes," said the stranger as he turned towards the party. "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Goody Goody Paladin and the Stupid Fat-ass Priest again!"

Sir Jorlon quickly stood up. "Get behind me!" he shouted to Aiko and Ryu.

Jorlon- "You arrogant Bastard!! You got away with cold murder once, but it won't happen again!"

StoneRock- "Call me a Fat-Ass will ye. I'll kick your arse all the way to hell!!!!!"

Both Warriors draw their weapons, ready for battle.

Operative- "Hmmm. What a pity. The Dark Knight would have good use for such powerful souls, but to bad, I've been sent to kill you. Now, to show how

Jorlon- "You arrogant Bastard!! You got away with cold murder once, but it won't happen again!"

StoneRock- "Call me a Fat-Ass will ye. I'll kick your arse all the way to hell!!!!!"

Both Warriors draw their weapons, ready for battle.

Operative- "Hmmm. What a pity. The Dark Knight would have good use for such powerful souls, but to bad, I've been sent to kill you. Now, to show how stupid you really are, I'll use this tecnique."

Aiko- "H..He..Help Me!!!! I can't control myself...!" He starts walking toward the Operative until he halts right in front of him.

Operative- "Well, what are you going to do. One false move, and this hostage ARRRRRRRHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA............." He drops dead, with a blade in his back.

Rufus- "I hope you guys don't mind me shutting him up at a time like this. Workers of the Dark Knight always seem to miss one person, that leads to their downfall. Its another weakness of them."

[K T Ong]

(ooc: I actually meant for Aiko to be female, SecretMaster. )

Rufus was trembling visibly and perspiring all over. "P-Pardon me... I'm just not used to... k-killing..."

"You did the right thing, Rufus," said Magnus as he walked to Rufus and put an arm encouragingly on his shoulder. "The miscreant got what he deserved." Aiko wept as Sir Jorlon consoled her, holding her in his arms. Chun-Li searched the body for whatever items there might be which might prove to be of use.

"The situation looks real bad," said Sir Morguerat. "StoneRock, I think you'll have to alert your fellow clerics to take extra precaution against probable intrusions into this town by the Dark Knight's minions!"

"I'll supply all the scrolls of sunlight that your temple will need," joined Khadgar. "And I think we'll have to make a trip to the plane of the Seven Heavens real soon!"

(ooc: Hey, folks, why not let Chun-Li discover something real good or useful. I don't mind you RPing her at all -- just so long as you don't twist her too much out of character. Hey, I shouldn't be the only one to come up with interesting ideas all the time, right?)

[ 07-20-2002, 05:12 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

[AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe]

OOC: I think Ghzarbanan is going to see some of his former fellow halfling knights, when we get to the planes, I havent worked out the post completely yet in my head, but I think it will be an interesting turn of events.

[K T Ong]

Well? Any follow-ups?

Or do you fellas want me to continue?

[Morgeruat]

Sir Morguerat walked forward and nudged the corpse with his foot, yup, he's dead as he walked around once more the knight grabbed one foot of the corpse and swung it around full circle, smashing the head against a wall, covering it with greenish black ichor and brain fluid.

The dark night can still read their thoughts for some time after his agents die, destroying the brain is be fastest way to make sure they can't be probed. I know some of his limits, but his psionic ones are few, since he took the reforged Crysomer from me, when Soul Burner was combined with Crysomer, the resulting weapon greatly enhanced any latent psionic powers the user had, making them a powerful mindbender, I didn't retain any of the abilities the sword gave me but I still remember what powers it gives. We must be very careful in dealing with his agents Sir Morguerat offered the barkeep a handfull of gold coins to pay for the cleaning.

[K T Ong]

"Does that mean the Dark Knight would lose his power of mind control if somehow he could be deprived of his weapon?" wondered Chun-Li. Fenric slashed the corpse repeatedly with his claws nearby, and had to be stopped by Magnus. "Bad man!... Bad!"

"It would seem logical to draw such a conclusion," nodded Sir Morguerat in response to the drow, "though there is always the possibility he may have access to yet other sources of psionic power unknown to us. We cannot rule that out."

"I think it's time we set off on our trip to the Seven Heavens," said Khadgar. "Come, let's return to my house and get prepared. Aiko, Ryu, we're truly sorry about what happened, and equally sorry we couldn't stay longer to keep you company and partake of your fare..."

"Sheesh!" cried Ghzarbanan in exasperation. "Don't you just hate that Dark Knight and his stupid bunch of bozos? Can't even let you sit down for a while and have a meal in peace!"

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

Later, inside Khadgar's house.

"I've briefed my clerics on the use of the scrolls of sunlight you've given me, Khadgar," said StoneRock, "plus I've also anointed everyone now with the Golden Rose nectar. We can set off now."

"Have all of you put on the rings of magic resistance I've given you, too?" asked Khadgar. The rest of the party all nodded their heads -- except Fenric, who was still absorbed in the sparkles emitted by the strange rings Magnus and Rufus had put on his fingers.

"Get ready, then," instructed Khadgar. He traced a circle in the air while chanting an incantation and the circle widened to form a large ring of violet light which encircled himself and the entire party. As he continued chanting, lines of intense concentration weighed upon his forehead...

Suddenly the ring of light wavered -- and vanished. "Gasp... The plane shift spell is a whole lot tougher to cast than I thought..."

"Khadgar, are you all right?" asked Magnus.

"I'm okay... Glad I don't have to cast such difficult spells too often, or I'd end up having high blood pressure... Magnus, you mind if we pool our powers and cast the spell together?"

"Let's do it," agreed Magnus. The two mages pressed their palms together with each other's and closed their eyes while starting the incantation again. The ring of violet light appeared again, surrounding the party, and this time it glowed ever more brightly while the room itself seemed to blur...

[ 07-23-2002, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]

They Incantation was cast. The room transformed into colors and shapes, the room was no longer there, but instead, a vast plane of clouds. Suddenly, a violent blinding light was coming right at them. The group turned away from the light and closed their eyes. It stopped, and as everyone opened their eyes, they looked at the ground, and saw, that it was white marble stone.

Khadgar- "This is the Temple of the Astral Plane. I've been here once before. I didn't tell you because I had a bad experiance here. Anyway, this is a Sanctuary. We must leave this place, but we should stock up on supplies. There is a storekeeper here, named Jah`zuer. And do not upset the locals. After we get our supplies, we must walk to Mt. Cavernas, to find the next Plane Transporter."

StoneRock- "By Clangeddin, I've never seen such beauty and sculpture. This artwork is way more advanced then elves AND dwarves combined. Who did this???"

Rufus-"I remember reading about this plane one time in Master Magnus's Library. The Gods created this temple. There is 1 Sanctaury Temple in every plane, except the bowels of hell. If I'm not mistaken, each temple was supposed to great the fellow traveler, and give info if they needed any about the world."

Jorlon-"A truly wonderous place. I wonder what we can encouter here?"