Saturday April 20th 1428 Imperial Calendar (20 days in the Time Bubble)
Leipzig haus served as a extended sanctuary for the adventurers. All, save one were enjoying the plentiful amenities and comforts. This oversight was not lost on Casper. Spending hours researching a solution. A plan finally emerged. It was risky and not completely above moral recriminations. Knowing the risks Casper sought Calais’ council. The discussion grew to encompass Celeste. Initially she was resistant to the idea, but understanding the needs of the quest she agreed to a course of action that would openly and honestly approach the summoned angel.
The ceremony required to summon the angel was lengthy. Once completed the entire group gathered facing the summoning circle. An angelic figure appeared in the circle. His features were fine, but his expression was one of dismay and alarm. The forceful method of drawing the angel into the circle could have angered and outraged the celestial being. Instead he surveyed the array of people before him. “Who speaks for you?” He demanded. Casper explained quickly that it was he who had summoned him. Celeste stepped forward to plead the case. Fumbling with her words, she attempted to explain that they were on a holy quest and the fallen member of the group was essential to complete that request. Calais, sensing that the paladin had not made the case well enough injected his own thoughts. Satisfied that he understood the nature of the request, the angel asked if everyone was in agreement that this soul should be allowed to return to its body. In exchange for this deed a favor will be owed by all in attendance. If the terms are agreeable than we shall proceed. None wavered in their conviction. In the next moment Mouse inhaled deeply. The angel Kalaziel departed.
Members of the quest relaxed and enjoyed the hospitality of the extra-dimensional sanctuary for nearly 3 weeks. At least four members of the party were able to deepen their relationships.
Calais and Silverhawk had come from very different backgrounds. The quest giving them common ground to know and understand one another. The many tests and confrontations served to temper and hone her skills. Finally achieving a level of sophistication to be an equal to her mentor Calis. The love she held for him was never in question. Her own worthiness to receive his in return was the only thing in doubt. With that barrier removed the two rangers would consummate their relationship and further deepen the bond between the two woodland hunters. The unspoken bond would be further advantage to the two silent killers.
Celeste and Enzo too had ample opportunity to quench the fire of desire they both held. As warriors their passions are hot, as lovers they produce flames rarely equalled. The sparks are undeniable and to many within the otherworld cottage the audible expression of their coupling was too much.
Mouse had finally found the right combination of clothing and shoes to spend the gem he had been holding for a liaison with the magical nymphs of the pool. His selection for the 24 hours that followed was a woman none of the party had seen before. On occasion the name Lee was heard in their amorous discussions. Her blonde hair was curvy and bouncy, just like the rest of her.
Nearing the end of their stay Enzo took time to commune with his dragon spirit. Still in doubt of the compass heading of his soul he waited expectantly to see the nature of his spirit companion. When it did appear its silver color was a fair indicator of the path his soul was on. The seven questions he asked of the spirit revealed that the fallen angel and the remains of St. Roselyn were indeed below them. Confounding the vision was the realization that there were at least two sub-levels to be explored.
On the eve of departure a feast was held in the dining room. The calm aloofness that had pervaded them in the weeks leading up ‘til now was absent. A sense of urgency and mortality was seeping into the happiness they had fostered. Time had caught up with them and it was not time to return to the abbey.
By morning Calais was the most changed in his demeanor. Barely touching his breakfast he appeared eager to conclude the unfinished business of the abbey. With a knowing glance Silverhawk assumed a similar game face. Following the wizard to the odalisque that marked the exit form the amulet the group was transported back.
The room still smelled of burning hair and ash. Half a minute had transpired since there departure three weeks ago. A commotion could be heard in the bishops room beyond the closed door. Calais flung open the door and took cover behind the wall. Celeste was the first into the room. Corman’s hand held a coin the swelled with light until he appeared to hold the sun in his palm. The message was clear to the drow in the adjoining room. Celeste could see the drow exiting the room in to the narrow hall that connected to the library. She was busy dealing with a dire tiger who had recently been summoned into the bishop’s chamber. Taking his cue Enzo crossed the room to pursue the fleeing drow commander and the shaman priestess.
Enzo spat acid down the hall in an attempt to harm anyone in ambush. The drow commander answered the challenge. Rushing into the hall from the library beyond he closed the ground between them. His ebony rapier flashed in the dim corridor. Plunging the Vithmill blade into Enzo with skill and confidence he blocked the hall to further advancement by the party.
At the back of the group Calais and Casper had similar ideas about back-dooring the two drow. Swiftly moving through the sacristy into the main hall Casper raced to the entrance to the scribing room. The battle continued in the narrow hall as Silverhawk and Celeste pressed to aid Enzo. Casper had hatched a plan he was eager to employ. Hurriedly whispering instructions to Calais to pull him back and close the door once he was done. Left Calis and mouse to wonder at what the mage was concocting. In the nest moment a wall of stone formed over the entrance to the narrow hall separating the commander from the priestess and sealing him in with Enzo and company. Without taking a breath the mage summoned a noxious cloud that began filling the library and scribe chambers adjoining it.
Observing the boing cloud of death rolling toward them Calis instinctively followed the instructions he had heard form the wizard moments ago. With the door closed the fate of priestess was still in doubt. Listening intently at the door Calais could not hear the tell-tale choking associated with the noxious cloud. In the hall the light of day fell upon the weapons and armor of the drow commander thanks to Corman’s persistence. With his weapons and armor in ashes on the floor his fate was sealed.
Calais continued in his pursuit of the fate of the priestess. Opening the door he could see a small gap between the cloud and the door. Stepping inside he closed the door behind him. She only had one way out and he would see to it she didn’t slip through the net.
Time passed without confirmation of her death. The cloud would linger for some time to come. Exploring the rome before the cloud was gone would be fatal.
With the commander dead and his quiver of arrows recovered the remainder of the party regrouped near the great bell in the main hall.
Enzo, sensing that the battle was unresolved slowed his pace allowing everyone else to regroup. Watching and listening he finally heard something in the pews. The drow archers that had been killed by the mage had reanimated and were shambling toward him. Calais had given up on waiting in the room and assigned the task to Mouse. Hearing Enzo discharge his breath weapon was enough to trigger his combat readiness. Even in the half light of the room his trained gaze revealed the hiding place of the priestess. Tossing the daylight coin where she was crouched behind the pews removed her protective armor. Enzo and Celeste pounced on her without hesitation. The priested raised a ring of slicing blades around her as a protective barrier. Celeste and Enzo were forced to give ground. Calais and Silverhawk unleashed the fury of their arrows on the drow brining her to the brink of death. Corman used his command of divine magic to for her to surrender her life. With that she was dead and the treat was removed.
Once the group had concluded that no immediate that was bearing down on them they took measures to secure the front and rear entrances to the abbey. Mouse had managed to remove the wards from the door to the infirmary. Beyond that was the lower tombs, if the church was consistent in is architecture.
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