Move 317: Another Morning in the Grell Nest
Grell Nest--Early, Day 30 (Marpenoth 15)After the shadow creatures interrupted their slumber, almost everyone who was not on watch was able to get back to sleep, although there were some restless sleepers in the bunch. Nothing else happened during the remainder of the watches. Everyone arose and got ready to go about their next order of business, whatever that might be.
Aloysius sat up, still wrapped in his blanket, and then yawned. He stood up and rummaged through his pack, retrieving his spell book. After thumbing through it for a while, he approached Azrun.
"Azrun, I'd like to commence with the erasure of good Pug's spellbook. Might I have it now?" Looking around at the others, he asked, "What is our plan now? If it is thought prudent, I could examine the auras on the items we found recently, as well as that on the pillar. Of course, I would need to spend an extended period afterwards resting, so if the rest of you think that ill-advised, I will refrain. I also have a task that I am going to assist Echo with."
"Who has the spell gems we found with the grell?" he asked generally. "There are a few more formulae that I've yet to decipher that may prove useful to us later on."
The gnome went around to Blacky, Aloysius, Echo, Olaf and Renn and apologized -- or regretted, at least -- kicking them the previous night in her urgency to awaken everyone. "I was in a hurry," she explained. "Or, I thought that I needed to be in a hurry. I didn't know that Renn could make them leave just by asking them firmly, like that. I'm sorry if I've messed up your spell studies or prayers -- or whatever."
"I suppose that I _could_ take Jana topside now," she added reluctantly. "I've rested enough for that. But with those chilly shadow-things nearby, I guess it's not a propitious moment for trying to move everyone back above -- unless Renn thinks that he could handle the rearguard work well enough. I'd be taking three in the first group and four in the second -- that is, if we're all agreed upon doing that... Which, I guess, is hardly the case..." Abruptly Arachne shook her head. "I forgot -- sorry! First we let Echo try out her scrying. Then, if it looks useful, we'd think about withdrawing uptop. So, in the meantime... um...what do we do? Move on? Visit the pedestal thing again? I don't know whether I should do my little bit to patch up people or hold off in case I might do something else useful."
Rennirolas gave Arachne an injured look as he rubbed his side, though a smile betrayed his true intent. "I would rather have felt your toe than the claws of those...things Arachne," Renn said as he stretched.
"And it was not me they fled from, truly. In that I am a vessel of Corellon those undead cannot stay in his prescence. As they recognize and fear the aura of many other goodly powers," Renn smiled as he continued to collect his trappings.
"It'd be stupid for me to go up there if there's a chance the right sword's still down here," Jana said to Arachne without inflection. "Please use your mind-magic stuff to heal anyone who needs it instead."
"Perhaps we can know soon enough," Renn said after Jana finished speaking. "If you wish it, I will perform a divination before we even leave our lovely abode today," he continued with a wave of his hand about the site. "Corellon may answer such a direct question with a direct answer."
"To what question, specifically, do you seek an answer to, Rennirolas?" asked Aloysius. "'Tis my understanding that care must be used in framing such inquiries if any utility is to be gained from the reply. Will Corellon answer any question, or simply one that requests an affirmative or negative response?"
Echo had finally pulled her cowl back after waking up. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair was messy. She covered a yawn before speaking. "Was there anything else in the cavern that last big monster came from?" she asked. "I thought there was some coin in there."
"Yeah, but I didn't really get a good look," Jana said as she pulled off the leather armor she slept in and put her chain back on, "but we need to check, I suppose. There's a pool in there and we've had some bad luck with that, so maybe Blacky and I can stand guard while the rest of you gather stuff up?"
"Sounds like a plan. Maybe I can be useful for something this time." Blacky said.
After healing whither appropriate, Arachne found Echo. "Good morning," she greeted the wizard. "I know I keep pestering you for it, but I don't suppose you have an invisibility spell you could cast on me if we go anywhere today? I'm not going to be much use anyway and --" She broke off, then said, "You had a rotten night last night, didn't you?" belatedly realizing that Echo looked ill-rested. "I _am_ sorry for upsetting you!" She sighed and sat down on the ground in front of Echo, looking dejected.
"Upsetting me? I'm...I can't cast it now," Echo said with a sigh. "Maybe someone else has one." She looked at Aloysius, "Do you think you'll be able to identify the purpose of that pillar? I thought it might be too big to cleanse properly. There's that big dead grell on it too. If you think it'll work, I think go ahead with the spell. Otherwise, I think we should move on after we finish here. I mean, depending on what any scrying or divination we do reveals. Anyway, I'd wait until there were more things to identify or until we go to the surface to do the mirror and the flask. That's just my opinion though." The last part came squeaky and she cringed a little.
Aloysius nodded. "It had not occurred to me that cleansing the pillar would be such a chore. You are quite correct, Echo. I'll keep the spell available in the event that we remain nearby, or mayhap I can use it at the end of today's events. As for now, I intend to work on Pug's spellbook."
Arachne used her mind magic to provide healing for Renn, nearly removing all of his injuries.
Azrun walked over to Aloysius and handed him the spell gems, "Here you go, Aloysius. Umm, I was wondering since you were going to be scribing into Pug's old book, if I could borrow your old one to copy a spell or two. My selection of spells is quite limited and I wanted to add to it if possible."
"No point in getting yourself all tired out twice," Jana agreed. "Best to wait and check several things at once or do it in safety. 'Sides, I doubt that mirror or flask is anything so important we can't wait awhile to find out more about it." Jana paused then added slowly, "Echo, did you say you'd go to the surface? Or did you mean after," she aked, gesturing in the direction they'd not yet explored.
"Pence," Arachne nodded. She got to her feet, wobbled slightly, then went to Aloysius. "I don't suppose you could make me invisible now...?" she asked.
Arachne went to Azrun. "Are you able to cast invisibility?" she asked.
Azrun looked at Arachne and smiled, "Not yet, Arachne. I'm hoping to learn it so that I can. Once I learn it I'll keep one memorized for you all the time. How's that?"
Arachne nodded cheerlessly, then sank down on the ground again. She remained huddled against Azrun, apparently trying to make herself invisible even without magic.
Azrun pulled his blanket from his pack and draped it over them both as he studied. He patted her on the back and smiled warmly.
Aloysius nodded as he took the gems. "Certainly, Azrun," he said as he handed the bard his spellbook. "Don't you have Pug's spellbook now? I thought you
did, but mayhap it be in the cabin still. That would be unfortunate . . . ." he added under his breath.Azrun frowned, "I might have it I'm not sure let me look through my things." He then began to go through his pack.
"My lord will answer any question put to him," Renn nodded. "No, I shouldn't say that. A frivilous query would get no response, and more than likely I would need to make reparations for doing such. In this case, I think a simple yes or no question would suffice.
"I was thinking to ask whether the sword mmm...Lytern, Kuiper, and Gala," Renn said with a slight pause as he dredged up the unfamiliar names, "found is the one Jana needs to free her of the curse. Something straightforward," he said with a smile.
"I don't think anyone's going now," Echo replied. "Arachne probably tired herself out with healing and as far as I know, we haven't decided exactly what to do. I thought after we got stuff out of that other cave and did divinations, we'd try to cover some ground." She looked at Aloysius and Azrun settling in. "Maybe we're staying here again though."
"My tasks shan't take long," said Aloysius. "And your divination may take place sooner rather than later, if what I suspect is the case. If we are of a mind to move on more immediately, I can be ready quickly."
"I'd prefer we clean out that room and continue on, myself," Jana replied in a strangely tired-sounding voice. "Blacky, still want to help me in there?"
"I'm not tired," Arachne said, pushing the blanket off her face, but not moving otherwise from her place near Azrun. "I'm just exhausted, is all. If we're all going somewhere, then I'm ready to go, too." She closed her eyes, then opened them again. "Least, I think I am ... Pack's all packed ...?" Her eyes closed and stayed that way. As long as Azrun didn't move, she didn't either.
"I meant tired in the way that meant you couldn't do a surface trip now," Echo said quietly.
"Oh."
"Yup."
"Exhausted."
"Sorry,"
Arachne said, her eyes remaining closed and each word apparently a separate inspiration.
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