[Demon's Hand] Chapter 9: Tabling the Discussion

[Table]

As the group battered the table mercilessly it seemed that it had taken all it could. It slumped down into a large gooey puddle on the floor, its tentacles slowly oozing back into the main portion of it.

[sala]

Sala was glad she was no where near the pile of ooze. She looked down the hallway for Talabrina and saw Qki heading back. She moved into the room and sent Pine flying through the portal, just in case. Then she turned her atention back to Kaa. He had an odd expression on his face. She cocked her head slightly and looked at him intently. she squinched up her forehead asked with concern, "Are you hurt, Kaa?"

[Hammer]

Hammer moved away from the puddle of ooze and joined Sala and Kaa at the doorway. "Can you walk, Kaa, or do you wish me to carry you? It would be my honor to help you, so do not give me your Dwarven stubberness. If you need help, just let me know."

[Kaa]

"I think I have a couple of broken ribs. I can walk but don't ask me to run or jump up to the portal. Where is Talabrina? I have the damned statue. We need to go.", the dwarf growled in response. He staggered away from the wall and promptly fell into Hammer's arms. "Be a good lad and give me a hand, Hammer. Mind your manners, Ladies first."

[Talonn]

Talonn kept his sword pointed at the puddle that had been the creature. His eyes glowed nearly as bright as his crackling sword. He slowly moved closer to Granite. "The damned portal is too high off the floor. Granite, You are the tallest among us. Will you help the others to reach the portal? I will stand guard over this thing. Once everyone is through, then you go. I will come last. If you reach back through the portal I should be able to jump up to grab your hand." Talonn looked at the massive stone golem and remembered the power of its attacks. "Will you do this, Granite? I am not ordering, I am asking, for Kaa's sake and for the Ladies."

[Talabrina]

Thinking quickly Talabrina untied the rope from Gabble and her arm. "I will give Gabble the gift I promised I would give. After I give Gabble gift I want Gabble to go back to Gabble's tribe. Gabble has done good." Talabrina says in goblin as she lays a hand on the goblin's forehead. Then a bright silver light quickly spreads from her hand to envelop the goblin. A moment later The light fades leaving the goblin just a little dazed but basically unharmed. If anything the goblin seems a little taller and broader of shoulder than before. Then Talabrina quickly stuff the rope into her cloak and looks at Milara. "If thee would know more about thyself then I suggest that thou doth come with me now. `Twill be alright I assure thee." Taking Milara's hand in hers, Talabrina leads Milara quickly yet gently down the corriodor to the room.

[Milara]

Milara blinked curiously at Talabrina and shrugged. She had nothing better to do, that she could remember. Besides this lady seemed very nice even if she did look a bit odd.

[Gabble]

Gabble stretched. He felt stronger. He felt good. He felt like he could take over the world. Perhaps these peoples weren't so bad. He smiled at Talabrina's retreating back and headed off back to his clan to have a heart to heart "talk" with the prince.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina arrives just in time to hear Talonn's words. Immediately she goes to Kaa. "What hath happened here? I am sorry that I am late in arriving I was making friends," she say indicating Milara, "but I see that thou art wounded milord, tell me where thee doth hurt and what hath happened."

[Hammer]

Hammer supported Kaa with one arm. "Lady Talabrina, perhaps your healing could wait untill we are at Nagard's, to avoid any more trouble? Please go through the portal, so we may follow."

[Kaa]

"Talabrina, methinks I have a couple of broken ribs. They will wait until we are safely away. Go quickly through the portal. We will follow and you can tend me on the other side." winced Kaa as he pointed with the hand holding the statue.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina frowns but nods in agreement. "Alright then." Then she turns to Granite "Prithee be gentle when thou doth bring Lord Kaa through. I am ready to go." Then Talabrina is hoisted through the protal by Granite and Muffy simply jumps through as soon as Talabrina is out of the way.

[Sala]

As soon as Milara entered the room Sala hurried towards her, "Lady, are you alright. I apoligize ever so much for what happened. I truly did not mean to hurt you." Her words slowed to a stop when she noticed that Milara showed no recognition at all.

[Milara]

Milara smiled at the pretty young elf. She was quite an attractive young lady although she did look just a bit too young to be out here with all these warrior type people. Milara took a sudden liking to the girl. She wondered why she looked so concerned. "It's ok, whatever you did could not have been so bad as to make you this concerned. May I ask what your name is?"

[Sala]

Sala just stood there with her mouth slightly ajar. She felt absolutly awful. the poor lady didn't remember a thing. She must have really hurt her. "Um, my name is Sala. Perhaps you should come with us." They couldn't leave her in this goblin infested place, like this, alone. She held out her hand and led Milara towards the portal. Hopefully Nagard could help her.

[Granite]

Without responding, Granite strode to stand under the portal. As each member of the group came forward, he grasped them around the waist and lifted them up to the portal in one swift motion.

[Ifreet]

Ifreet walks to the puddle of ooze, smells it, put a finger in it and brings it to his nose, then tastes it and wipes it off on the floor. He gets out a small empty flask and scoops some into it. He then stands, wipes off his hands, and leaps onto his horse, which gallops and leaps through the portal hanging in the air.

[Sala]

Sala led Milara to the portal. Milara looked up at the portal curiously and then over to Granite with the same wide eyed curiousity that the group was used to seeing on Sala. Sala smiled at Granite, "Could you give us a lift Granite?" She giggled as Granite gently lifted first her then Milara up through the portal. Once through Pine came to perch on her shoulder once again.

[Nagard]

Nagard greeted her with a wide happy smile that sagged as he saw Milara appear behind her. He scowled at them, "Why did you bring her back with you?"

[Sala]

Sala looked at him in astonishment. Did he know Milara? Milara looked at him despondently, "What Have I done sir. I apoligize for any infractions I might have commited. I would be pleased to make you acquaintence if you would?"

[Nagard]

The wizard looked at Milara appraisingly. "I am Nagard. Who do you believe yourself to be?"

[Milara]

Milara smiled, and held out her hand to him, "They have told me that my name is Milara. I can remember no further back than when I woke up to see the gracious lady Talabrina above me."

[Nagard]

"Well now. That is an interesting turn of events now isn't it. Well why don't you two follow the man on the horse out into the living room.....that doesn't quite sound right, but oh well...and make some room for the others to come in. oh, And have something to eat and drink. If you wish there is a room that you might wash up in to the right...no the left...no..well, you can find it. Once everyone is back we can get started.......oh and those two seem to have wandered off, the one in the red and the kid." Sala led Milara out into the main room and they quickly found the wash room.

[Qki]

After retrieving the dagger from the other side of the room (having seen what he could do with it, now he wanted to have it around to practice with), Qki stepped up to Granite and waved at him. He enjoyed the brief sensation of flying as Granite boosted him up to the portal and stepped through. On the other side, he hopped over to the wizard and said, "Hi, Nagard!" smiling happily.

[Hammer]

"Talonn, Kaa. Will the portal stay open if Kaa goes through? Or will Talonn and Granite be stranded here?"

[Talonn]

Talonn could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Ifreet touch, then taste the puddle that had just tried to eat Kaa. Shaking his head, he kept one eye on the ooze and one eye on the others entering the portal. Talonn backed toward the portal when Hammer asked his question. "I know not. Nagard created this portal so I hope he won't leave one of us stranded here. To be safe, Hammer go through first and impress upon Nagard the importance of keeping the portal open after Kaa has entered. Granite carry Kaa as you go through, if you can. Once you are half way through, I will begin to follow"

[Hammer]

Hammer smiled a grim smile, and allowed Granite to assist him up into the portal. Once up, he greated Nagard with a nod and a warning look, and stood beside him as the rest entered the portal.

[Kaa]

"The wizard will hold the portal open or I will remove his head when it closes. Don't dally lad." Kaa grumbled through clinched teeth as he and Granite started into the portal.

[Talonn]

Talonn took a last look at the ooze then stepped away from the portal. He hoped that he would be able to do what he planned. He feared to sheathe the 'Rage sword' and enter the portal. Pointing the blade toward the door, Talonn tried to release the 'Rage' from the sword. The crackling, red energy lifted from the blade and hovered above it for an instant then shot from the sword like an arrow. The force of its release knocked Talonn to the floor. Talonn covered his eyes to protect them from the flash and the debris that was created as the bolt of energy struck the door frame. Talonn regained his feet quickly, sheathed his blackened blade, and turned for the portal. He leapt up to the portal rim, caught hold, and began to pull himself up. Glancing quickly over his shoulder, Talonn saw that the door and frame were destroyed and the surrounding masonry was splintered and crumbling. Shocked and exhausted from the effort, Talonn heaved himself throught the portal and collapsed to the floor of Nagard's chamber.

[Nagard]

The wizard smiled happily at Qki and shooed him into the other room. As each person came through the portal he headed them into the other room as well. When Kaa came through his eyes lit up, "Ah, there it is! Here, give it to me, quickly! Then get off to the other room and clean up and what ever else you need to. The summoning wil commence exactly one hour from now." When he got the doorway he immediately turned his back on them and started rummaging among the many piles of stuff in the room. He didn't even look up when talonn collapsed in the room and the portal closed with a pop behind him. Talonn heard a disembodied voice, "Be still and do not worry" With that he was hoisted up by invisible hands and wisked from the room into the chameber with the rest of the group and placed gently down on a pile of pillows that had suddenly appeared beneath him.

[Sala]

Seeing this a now cleaner Sala, who had just returned from the washroom with Milara, rushed over to his side. "Talonn? What is wrong, what happened?"

[Hammer]

Hammer was unprepared for Talonn's colapse, and was caught completely off guard. However, before he could react, Talonn was lifted by invisible hands and carried away. Hammer followed the now floating Talonn into the sitting room. After Sala came to take care of Talonn, Hammer wandered to the wash room to clean up.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina was waiting in the chamber as Kaa and Granite arrived. "Put Lord Kaa here Granite," she requested of Granite. After Granite had done so, Talabrina gently proded at his chest. "Now tell me where thou art hurt milord." Talabrina determines approximatly where the cracked ribs are and stands back and smiles at Kaa. "Now this will not hurt thee abit, though thou might want to close thy eyes. Then she points a hand at him and a bright silver light leaps out from her hand to encompass Kaa's chest and torso. The beam continues for a few moments and sweat breaks out on Talabrina's brow. Then Talabrina stops as Kaa is fully healed and slumps to a kneeling position on the ground. She doesn't even notice Talonn being brought into the room and looks up only when Sala says his name. Getting up Talabrina makes her way carefully over to Talonn and looks him over.

[Kaa]

Kaa closed his eyes and gave a shiver as Talabrina's light covered him. The grimace on his face turned into a grin a he reveled in the floating feeling. Kaa snapped his eyes open when he heard Talabrina's knees hit the floor. "Thank ye, Lass. That sure makes it easier to breathe." He sat up and looked around. When he saw Talonn lying on the pillows, he leapt up and followed Talabrina to Talonn's side.

[Ifreet]

Ifreet leaps off his horse as he enters the sitting room and gestures to his horse, which then trots out the door and waits outside. He cleans his sword with a rag as he watches Talonn and Kaa, then turns his gaze to watch Milara and Nagard.

[Talonn]

Talonn had never felt so tired. It was as well that Nagard had levitated him from the room for he did not have energy to move just then. Turning inward, he was surprised to find the 'Rage' more exhausted than he was. A small sigh escaped his lips. It had been many seasons since 'It' was this weak. It would be many hours before it would be strong enough to trouble him. He relaxed as he sank to the pillows.

When he heard Sala's voice and the sounds of Kaa's stomping feet approaching, he opened his eyes and slowly sat up. "I am well. I am not injured, just exhausted. I had to get rid of my 'sword' before I came through the portal." Reaching into his shirt, Talonn withdrew the wineskin and took a hearty sip. Offering it to them all, he said "If we only have an hour before Nagard performs the summoning, I suggest we use the time to rest and recupperate. Too bad for you, dwarf. Not enough time for you to get a bath, you smell like a .... man eating table." Kaa kicked him in the shin.

[Sala]

When Talonn replied Sala visibly relaxed and smiled at him. She plopped herself down on the pillows next to him opposite Talabrina and jsut enjoyed being someplace at least a little familiar and calm. She forced herslef not to think of the ordeal to come. She watched Milara looking around the room curiously and wondered what would become of her now. She certainly seemed nicer without her memories.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina smiled and accepted the flask and took a sip before handing it back to Talonn. "Oh I doth not know about that milord, I could if thou like create some goodly amount of water right above Lord Kaa's head if that be thy desire." Talabrina giggled and sat down nest to Talonn. "Now how about that massage I promised thee?"

[Kaa]

"What is this!?!! I am off trying to keep from being eaten by a killer piece of furniture and you, you elven trickster, are bargaining for a masage from a beautiful Lady!! Nay, Talabrina. I you so much as touch this lad, you will soon have to heal him for I will thump his head."

Kaa took a swat at Talonn and collapsed laughing onto the pillows.

[Qki]

[Qki] Since they seemed to have some time before anything else happened, Qki decided he'd try to experiment with the knife a little more. He set the weapon on the floor in front of him with the point to the side. Carefully facing away from everyone else so as not to cause any accidents, he reached out carefully with his own resonance towards the daggers'. He took it slowly, because he didn't want quite as violent a reaction as last time.

With a delicate touch, his own resonance met the daggers', and it slid slowly across the floor. With a little practice, he was able to move the dagger at different speeds. Because the magnetisms didn't match up, however, he wasn't able to move the dagger in any direction except away from himself. In any case, this was a neat new ability he had found!

[Hammer]

Hammer returned from the washroom cleaned up. Seeing the jovial mood of the group, Hammer sat down on some pillows. However he grew quickly bored, and his attention began to wander, as did his eyes. He took notice of Qki, intently, playing? with a dagger. Hammer decided to check on the little golem. He wandered over and stood over Qki's shoulder, silently watching as Qki could propell the dagger away from him. "Qki, was that what sent the dagger flying into the table we were fighting? How? Have you always been able to do this?"

[Qki]

Qki, startled from his concentration, looked up. "Hello Hammer!" He looked thoughtfully back at the dagger. "I never did that before. I think it's like whatever keeps me together... Sometimes I see things around, and they want to be part of me. I can take these things and merge them with myself. Or they don't want to be near me. Like the dagger. When I merge it, it flies away like this." With that, he sent the dagger skittering away across the floor. "Other things I don't feel at all, and I can't move them either. I'm just learning this myself... the first time I sent something away was when I hit the table with this knife."

[Hammer]

Hammer thought for a moment. "I am assuming that you can add certain types of metal to your self? And other types don't merge with you? Strange. However, the metal that the dagger is composed with is actually repelled by you. Perhaps this is something we can work on, little one. I will keep this in mind, and perhaps later we can devise a weapon suitable to your abilities. Perhaps some throwing stars or something.

[Qki]

The little golem nodded. "Thank you, Hammer." Maybe he could be helpful to them after all. He retrieved the daggger once again, and looked around for something that would have the opposite resonance.

[Talabrina]

"Oh so that be what thee think is it Lord Kaa?" Talabrina giggled, "Muffy, if you would be so kind?" With that said Muffy quickly went over to Kaa and laid down on him! Kaa's head is not covered by Muffy so he can breathe normally. "Now enjoy thy new playmate milord and thee just might get away with not having a bath." Then Talabrina turned to Talonn. "Now what doth thee say Lord Talonn, doth we dare let Lord Kaa free now or after I massage thee?"

[Talonn]

Talonn laughed until his sides were hurting. Kaa made comic attempts at escaping being the great cat's pillow, which in turn made Talonn's laughing worse.

"Nay, good Lady. For you see, now that you have provided my dear friend with a ....companion, I fear that I will be force to listen to his blustering that he came out the better in this arrangement. I beg thy pardon and request that you withdraw the offer until this adventure is ended."

[Talabrina]

Talabrina put her hands on her hips and make a mock pout. Turning to where Kaa lay pinned and spoke in an exasperated tone. "I fail to see where thee thinks that Lord Talonn finds me so beautiful, he is constantly running away from me. I doth kindly offer him a massage ha he tells me to wait until we art out of danger, now he doth wants me to wait until after the adventure, shat am I to do?" Talabrina throws her arms up in the air in a guesture of mock resignation.

Muffy just lays where she is and purrs contentedly.