Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

"Did anyone hear any bells?" "No - but I heard a dingaling earlier... I think his name was Draezir." - Kilthal and Drexla

Our snippets begin not long after Draezir planted his banners in Solhaven. See Invasion Takes for more.

Ylarra: "Can I get some backup?"
Thaxius: "Do we have any archery towers here?"
You: "Last I checked."
Nanna: "They all fly sheruvian flags now"
Melicant: "about what training are these sherves anyway?"
Nanna: "most of them are 100th or so..warlocks, maniacs, shadows are all around 100-120 trainings"
Annamari: "im getting strange whispers"
Annamari: "Someone whispers, "Blood...Life...Drink...""
You: "I knew we should have locked Grhim up."
Perilschild: "Sheruvian Guild Captain in the rest"
Ylarra: "Brace yerselves..."
Iaz: "the bell mean something?"
Kylinarr: "everyone else hear the chanting?"
Annamari: "yep"
Naessi: "I just woke up, how fares the town of Solhaven?"
Wakim: "well, if you had asked 3 minutes ago, I woulda said well"
Naessi: "Excellent, has it been beseiged yet again?"
Wakim: "who know's, I think we killed about 50 kajillion of them...how many more can he have?"
Drexla: "Ummmm dear...it's Sheru we're talking about - I think Only Luukos is more prolific in his creations"
Draezir: "As new ruler of this city, first rule is worship shall be done in the evening as of this time. There shall be no loitering amongst the streets. When the bell tolls, make your way to your homes."
Gokkem: "bring it on sheru cowards!"
You: "That's a bit pretentious, isn't it?"
Nanna: "Or what, you'll kill people even more?"
Annamari: "you have lost your mind draezir"
Drexla: "Well now - we won't be discussing pretentious"
Philosilan: "draezir tryin to be my daddy.. "
Kadesha: "he wants worship eh? maybe should hold a prayer service in Lorminstras temple.. or Ronan's"

Someone is vaporized.

Draezir: "Any others wish to be vocal about it?"
Arkanous: "ouch"
Wakim: "erm, given that've you've lost thousands upon thousands of troups and we *may* have lost a 100, I think I shall roam the streets as I please"
Draezir: "If you think you've dented my army and the occupation of this city, you should guess again."
Draezir: "Now, to prayer."
Rethill: "shove it Draezir"
Iaz: "i see no army"
Draezir: "They are in prayer, and as citizens of New Solhaven so should you."
You: "I don't know any prayers to Sheru."
Draezir: "Always time to learn."
Zodier: "Draezir...I...applaud you. But the best thing to do to this human stinkfest town is to burn it down."
You: "Do Sheruvian prayers rhyme?"
Drexla: "Juspera - since when do jackals ever do anything but cackle maniacally?"
Draezir: "Worship comes in many forms, so long as they are directed to the Jackal within this city, all is welcome."
Wakim: "Jackals, when faced with a lion, run"

Someone else is vaporized.

Naessi: "Now, that was funny."
Roemaster: "yes it was"
Roemaster: "Next up"
Draezir: "Worship of the Alliance is welcome within New Solhaven as well."
Kylinarr: "And the point to that was? your minions are STILL dead, Draezir."
Draezir: "Not at all. Now, everyone off the streets and into your homes until the bell tolls again."
Draezir: "My army is in prayer, they're not 'dead' as you claim."
Draezir: "And if you'll excuse your new ruler, I'm off to worship as well."
Quinstol: "Why are you calling it New Solhaven? It's still the same city..."
Darjun: "Whats with all the vaporizing?"

Yeah, what IS with all the vaporizing?

Drexla: "Oh how tiring, you'd think after countless centuries your master could at least come up with something new"
Philosilan: "Like i was saying.... draezir wants to be my father"
Philosilan: "he was talkin about givin me a curfew?"
Corienne: "Draezir thinks he can put down the resistance with his random vaporizings"
Philosilan: "he's deaf, dumb, stupid, and thinks yer cool if you plant a banner everywhere...yer not cool unless you have a banner!"
Drexla: "Uhh... I don't have a banner"
Philosilan: "everyone, be like draezir, plant a banner everywhere!"
Philosilan: "guess yer not cool... just like the rest of us."
Drexla: "I am so!"
You: "Banner? I don't even know 'er!"
Drexla: "Just ask Juspera!"
Roemaster: "I am and will forever be a Luukosian Servant. I know of our Allience and wish to assist in any way I can. But I will not pray to the Jackal himself.. But only to my master. Should there be any problems with that.. please feel free to speak with the master."
Drexla: "How wonderful for you"
Nanna: "Draezir already said you're free to worship your scum god Roemaster"
Drexla: "mainly because Luukos stands one step up from Sheru in the pecking order of the Arkati"
Drexla: "Of course, the cellar is still the cellar - no matter what step yer on"

Now to the action.

Ysharra asks, "Where did that little aardvark go?"

Ysharra asks, "Is he all right?"

You exclaim, "Oh, he's just an aardvark!"

You say, "Let's venture forth."

Ysharra says, "All right."

You hear a sad snuffling from somewhere.

Ysharra says, "Wait."

You say, "Goodbye aardvark."

Ysharra says, "Poor thing."

Ysharra says, "She didn't mean it."

[Captain's Rest, Hallway]
Brass lamps hang on the well-polished modwir paneled walls. Blue carpeting in a pattern reminiscent of waves in the sea runs the length of the hall. Hanging on the wall opposite from a modwir door is a picture of a sunset over a small island. You also see some manna bread, a white flask, a white flask and a silken crimson banner embroidered with an ebony jackal's head on a field of gold.
Also in the room: Zodier, the body of Annamari who is lying down, Larmonious, Quinstol, Ysharra
Obvious exits: east, west.

Ysharra says, "I have this bizarre urge to go die."

Ysharra says, "Just to be incredibly melodramatic."

Caradora asks, "are the sheru's still out there?"

You say, "No, town is quiet right now."

You say, "Draezir's just killing people who disagree with him on the net."

Quinstol says, "I still don't get this naming it 'New Solhaven' thing."

Quinstol says, "I mean, if you're going to rename the city, at least name it after yourself."

Ysharra says, "But Draezir is a silly name."

Quinstol says, "I suppose that's true."

You say, "Drayyyyyzirrrrr"

Ysharra says, "Sheru is all right."

Ysharra says, "Still sounds a bit weird for a city."

Quinstol says, "Sheru's Kennel."

Ysharra says, "Luukos is good, though Morvule sounds like some...dog track or something."

Ysharra says, "Watch the hounds run around the morvule five hundred."

Ysharra says, "People dying somewhere."

Zodier came through a modwir door.

Zodier gestures at Caasy.

A sickly, violet haze encompasses Caasy.
CS: +630 - TD: +87 + CvA: +5 + d100: +50 - -5 == +603
Warding failed!
The violet haze chaotically swirls around the Caasy, the tremendous force causing the victim to crumple inward upon itself!
Caasy is hit for 400 points of damage!

* Caasy drops dead at your feet!

Suddenly there is an uproar, with people screaming, "Murderer! Quickly, someone call for the Guild Captain!"

The ghostly laughter of Caasy echoes through the room, sending a shiver down your spine.

Caasy just left.

Ysharra blinks.

Saevolias stares off into space.

Ysharra says, "That's why evil just might win."

Ysharra says, "Because good is stupid."

Back to the net.

You: "All right, I've composed my prayer to Sheru. It even rhymes."
You: "There once was a minion named Draezir/ Puppeted by a puppy who slays here./ He thinks he can scare you./ Between him and Sheru/ I haven't a clue who's the crazier."
Drexla: "Now Juspera....as mature as they are, it still isn't sporting to make fun of someone who is mentally defenseless"
Arkanous: "yaaay juspera vera good"
[Private] Rekarth: " Perhaps it would be wiser not to antagonize the High Priest of Sheru... Is not antagonizing Setzier adventure enough?"
Drexla: "This Sheruvian puppet wouldn't be human would he?"
[Private] Rekarth: " Ah. Very well, then."
Wakim: "time to go see momma and say bed time prayers to Sheru so the big baby Sheru will feel loved"
Wakim: "awwwww isn't that sweet"
Wakim: "let's all give Sheru a kiss...nighty night Sheru, sweet dreams!! Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
[Private] Drexla: "Sheesh - what does it TAKE to get a god to vaporise a person ;>"
[Private] Drexla: "squat so far - no matter WHAT insults I toss"

Meanwhile...

Time drags on by...
Roundtime: 2 sec.

You feel a strange presence stir within your mind, and the temperature suddenly drops to a bone-numbing cold. A low howl echoes around you as a mist creeps across your vision. Glowing crimson eyes suddenly surround you as you find yourself in a neverending darkness. A curl of shadow strikes at your legs, pulling you painfully to the ground!

You are still stunned.

Ysharra says, "Always someone trying to hone in on your succ-"

Ysharra blinks.

Quinstol blinks.

Ysharra just tried to pull you to your feet, but you couldn't stand on your own and you fall over!

Saevolias stares at you.

Ysharra exclaims, "Juspera!"

Quinstol gestures at you.
You are no longer stunned.

Quinstol asks, "What was that about..?"

You say, "That was not fun."

You say, "I saw eyes."

Saevolias says, "Someone didn't like your prayer..."

You say, "I like my prayer."

The eyes around you blink in a disquieting unison. Suddenly, a pair of them leap toward you, revealing a being of shadow with a gaping maw slavering hungrily as the nightmarish vision lunges toward you! It proves too quick for you as it clamps your hand in its jaws, ripping it off cruelly! Within seconds it melds back into the darkness as the shadows about you ripple with wild laughter!

You shriek!

You say, "Yuck."

You say, "It's a nightmare."

Ysharra says, "It is yuck."

You say, "It ripped my arm off."

Quinstol says, "It seems to be at least partially real..."

You focus your mind on Rekarth and think:
"Jackals are ripping my arms off!"
Roundtime 5 seconds.

You have a completely severed right hand.

Poor baby!

Suddenly the shadows around you descend upon you en masse, whirling around you in a vortex of teeth and claws. Your hand is ripped painfully away as you bend and twist to try and get out of their reach. Just as they come within mere inches of your body, an intense pain rages inside your head, causing you to fall to the ground and scream in anguish! When your vision returns, your surroundings are normal and the nightmare is over, but the warm presence of your blood trickling from your ears tingles against your skin.

Saevolias pulls you to your feet.

You're in no condition to be doing this.

Tell me about it.

Ysharra says, "Now she has no hands at all."

You have severe head trauma and bleeding from the ears, a fractured and bleeding right hand, and a completely severed left hand.

Ysharra says, "Let's take you to a healer."

Later...

You say, "Okay, hold on, I have another prayer."

Ysharra says, "All right."

>think Damn it!
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

>think I've raised up the harbinger's hackles/ So he thinks that by sending me jackals/ I'll be terrored and cowed/ But respite's not allowed/ Till I witness our Draezir in shackles!
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

You move to a kneeling position.

You stand back up.

The silvery luminescence fades from around you.
The very powerful look leaves you.
The white light leaves you.
The powerful look leaves you.
The buzz of thoughts in your mind subsides.
The deep blue glow leaves you.
Your SIGN OF STAUNCHING is no longer effective.
You return to normal color.
The bright luminescence fades from around you.
The light blue glow leaves you.
It seems you have died, my friend.

Quinstol says, "Typical Lornon... no sense of.."

Beaumian blinks.

Quinstol says, "humor."

Kadesha says, "guess he don appreciate art like I do, Juspera"

Next night...

>think Draezir, I beg your forgiveness. My prayers last night were horrible.
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

>think I have a much better prayer now. This one also rhymes.
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

>think There was an old woman named Draezir./ She once was a man, till the razor --/ With a scrape and a song/ Things went terribly wrong/ When the other dark priests tried to haze her.
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

You take a deep breath.

You take a drink from your red Vornavian wine.

The buzz of thoughts in your mind subsides.
It seems you have died, my friend.

Later, in the tavern...

You: "Allanor, did you hear my prayer tonight?"
Allanor: "Eh? No."
Gowain: "I liked it, say it again"
Evangalea: "aye that was quite entertaining. Encore."
You: "There was an old woman named Draezir./ She once was a man, till the razor --/ With a scrape and a song/ Things went terribly wrong/ When the other dark priests tried to haze her."
***
*** Your amulet rub has worn off.
***

Lurch blinks.
Lurch says, "I am glad I didnt eat the steak"
You laugh, the sepulchral sound echoing through the room.
The barkeep snickers.
Lhel softly says, "I swear Juspera, I could train off you if you keep this up"

And a day or so later...

>think There once was a wastrel named Draezir/ Whose intentions got hazier and hazier/ He kills from afar/ While I'm drunk in a bar/ Can he possibly be any lazier?
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

>think I guess my new prayer was acceptable.
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

You snicker.

You take a drink from your red Vornavian wine.
Mmmmmm...that hit the spot.

Suddenly, small shadows creeps out from the corner of your eye, and you notice the air begins to blur with vaporous heat.

The air continues to undulate around you as the shadows rise up to form a distinct humanoid-like shape. Slowly, Draezir walks out of the shadows towards you. With a twist of Draezir's hand, the shadows return to their place, and the air stills once again.

Draezir clasps your hand tenderly.

Aww.

Draezir glances around the area and slowly raises his hands, and claps them sharply together! Shadows begin to churn and dance around in every direction!

The air begins to blur with vaporous heat as the shadows slowly gather around you. With a nod of Draezir's head, the shadows lunge forward and consume you in their embrace! Utter darkness and what feels like your mind being skewered with needles overcomes your being. After what feels like centuries passing, the darkness and pain slowly melt away. You notice your surroundings have changed...

[Solhaven, Nerite Lane]
White-wimpled housewives in their mantles and gowns mingle with brightly-clad artisans and clerics sporting their deities' colors, each on some private mission among the shops and stalls of Solhaven. You also see a jackal-headed onyx statue and a silken crimson banner embroidered with an ebony jackal's head on a field of gold.
Also here: Lord Draezir, Lord Krovax, Lady Pyrocite
Obvious paths: east, west.

Draezir traces a sign while beseeching the spirits for empowerment...

Draezir gestures at you.
CS: +750 - TD: +146 + CvA: +2 + d100: +23 - -5 == +634
Warding failed!
An unseen force envelopes you, restricting all movement.

You say, "Uh."

Pyrocite glances at you.

You say, "I didn't do anything."

Pyrocite shakes her head at you and clucks her tongue.

Draezir points at you.

You exclaim, "It was just a joke!"

>think Help!
You focus on projecting your thoughts...
Round time: 5 seconds.

Draezir says, "Kill her."

You exclaim, "No no no!"

Suddenly you have the strangest feeling that you are being watched.
The feeling fades as quickly as it came.

You exclaim, "It was a joke!"

Suddenly you have the strangest feeling that you are being watched.
The feeling fades as quickly as it came.

Pyrocite folds her arms over her chest.

Krovax says, "well that joke was pretty lame"

You say, "It was in poor taste."

Suddenly you have the strangest feeling that you are being watched.
The feeling fades as quickly as it came.

Krovax says, "it deserves death"

You exclaim, "I'm sorry!"

Krovax says, "make good jokes atleast"

Allanor just arrived.

You exclaim, "Don't kill me!"

Allanor grabs your hand.

Draezir gestures at Allanor.
CS: +750 - TD: +399 + CvA: +2 + d100: +85 - -5 == +443
Warding failed!
Allanor suddenly stops all movement.

Suddenly you have the strangest feeling that you are being watched.
The feeling fades as quickly as it came.

Draezir shakes his head, clucking his tongue.

You say, "I promise, I won't ever do it again."

Draezir says, "Can't have that."

You say, "Don't kill me."

You say, "I was bad."

Mnar grabs Allanor's hand.

Mnar grabs your hand.

Draezir traces a sign while beseeching the spirits for empowerment...

Draezir gestures at Mnar.
CS: +750 - TD: +193 + CvA: -6 + d100: +3 - -5 == +559
Warding failed!
Mnar suddenly stops all movement.

Krovax laughs!

Mnar says, "Let's see how much favor I have"

Mnar says, "Or not."

You say, "It's not his fault."

You say, "Don't kill him."

Draezir seems to be waiting for something.

A jackal-headed onyx statue jerkily raises its massive halberd above its head, the weapon gleaming with a fatal sharpness.

The onyx statue appears to be fixated on you!

You say, "But, I mean. It's not my fault either."

You exclaim, "Ack!"

Draezir nods to the statue.

A jackal-headed onyx statue brings its halberd down in a sharp, deadly arc precisely upon Juspera's neck!
... 45 points of damage!
Incredible slash to your neck!
Throat and vocal cords destroyed!
Zero chance of survival.

The restricting force that envelops you dissolves away.
It seems you have died, my friend.

Draezir says, "Excellent."

You let out a hollow, ghostly moan.

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