Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn From: tkelly@unix2.tcd.ie (Mithrandir-the-Love-Stricken-and-happy) Subject: [Sorc] In search of security Message-ID: Date: Thu, 6 May 1993 12:32:13 GMT "Saoirse, please, where are we going?", asked the panting Talon. They had just run through many buildings and barely avoided magical blasts of varuious descriptions. Saoirse looked worn herself, but wasn't saying anything. 'Talon, we have to reach the central Research Complex and find out what's going wrong.' Her mental signals went straight past his ears. "I see ", he said, looking at her," what is to be found there, then?" 'Jarakh, the Chief Justice and Ponticar', she thought, then moved on. Talon knew what she meant. The Chief Justice and Ponticar equated to the Generican Archmage of Security, only he had a whole city of mages to deal with. The Ponticars were a special order, like Police, within the city, to keep the peace. He also remebered Jarakh, though Jarakh had not been a Council member when Talon was last here. The pair moved through the alleyways, keeping away from the main streets. Magira didn't have too many alleyways, though. Naturally, their strongest wards and Saoirse's Parma Magica were protecting them a great deal from oncoming spells. They reached the end of an alleyway. The sky still rained with bolts and occasional magical creatures being sent anywhich way, but soon getting shot down. Saoirse pointed over a low wall. 'Do you see that building, the tall one with the golden spires?' "Yes ", Talon knew the Academy of Research. 'Well, the only way I can think of getting in there is through the sewers. It is probable that many guard creatures will be set to keep intruders out.' A nearby explosion of a deflected magical bolt caused them to duck. "Bloody maniacs" swore Talon softly to himself. Saoirse didn't read his lips and thus didn't hear what he said. She was busy casting a spell. Talon knew better than to interrupt as she quickly gathered magic power into herself with gestures and concentration. She didn't make a sound. Suddenly, her spell came to it's climax faster than Talon would have expected. She quickly shrunk and grew little paws and fur. She was a mouse, and got up on her haunches, waiting for the Ambassador to do the same. Talon followed suit, polymorphing himself down to the same size, and Saoirse moved off towards one of the smaller pipes. 'With luck, we will not be detected by the sentries amid all the confusion outside' she communicated to him, and crawled into the pipe. It was inky black, but Talon found that he could smell his way, and see his way also. It was disconcerting to do so, but he managed it well, enough. Saoirse led him through the sewer pipes and up into the building. There was a hell of a racket outside and the noise reverberated through the pipes. Saoirse was rapidly thinking to herself. Jarakh should be a safe person to get through to. He was a reasonable man, but this was a city where reason appeared to have simply blown away in the wind. What had happened to cause her fellows to fight so much and so hard? There had to be something of a more sinister nature going on here. She thought of where her old friends were, and what side they were on now. Gods above, were there even sides to this or was every mage just attacking each other in some sick parody of a gladiator match. The last one alive wins the prize or something equally horrid? They arrived at an intersection. Saoirse looked left and right, deciding that the left turn was probably the best bet to take. She moved off without a word, reaching a break in the pipe. It had fallen through the ceiling in a laboratory, and they arrived on a desk. The lab was dark, but that was soon solved as Saoirse changed back and took a simple charm for light out of her robe pockets. The light was dim, but enough. "Where are we?", asked the now-human Talon. 'I think this is one of the apprentice labs' she commented thoughtfully. The Lab was a wreck, but had maany desks and a blackboard up the top of the room. There were also several diagrams over the walls of fundamental theories and so forth. 'Jarakh's personal lab is about two floors up from here', she said and walked out the door into the main corridor. There were many crystal spheres along each wall, all for the purpose of lighting the area. They were all fluctuating in power, like bulbs being turned on and off. "I can see that there is quite a drain on the energies in this place. Seems that this battle is taking quite a toll on your city's reserves" 'I know. I wonder how long it will take before the winter starts to creep back into the city' They moved up the stairs, on guard for all manner of attacks. Then they came to the appropriate floor. Down the end of the main corridor stood a large door with a heavy sigil inscribed upon it. There were three mages standing outside, looking at the two of them. Their robes were all a deep blue in colour, indicating them to be of the Order of Ponticar. "Stay right where you are!!" called one of them harshly. All three looked positively dangerous. They were looking tired, drawn even. Saoirse and Talon stood stock still and didn't move. "Identify yourselves", they called. Saoirse went to use her throught communication spell. Suddenly, one of the Ponticars lashed out at the spell with a counter-spell of greater power. Saoirse's wards reeled from the attack, and some of the enerrgy broke through her Parma even, strinking her in the chest. She was blown back against the wall. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. Talon immediately went over to check her and cast a shield over the pair of them. "Stand back!" ordered the Ponticar, but Talon didn't move. She was dazed and some of her clothes singed, but didn't appear to be too seriously hurt. "Stand back or we'll have to take action" barked the Ponticar. Talon did so. He was a bit shaken by the ferocity of the Ponticar's attack. "Any other tricks like that and I wouldn't want to be you. Now, identify yourselves sharpish" Talon cleared his throat,and quite calmly said, "I am Talon, former Ambassador to Magira from the Generican Guild. This is Scholar Saoirse, the DEAF." that last word was said viciously. One of the Ponticars looked at the leader, "Arak, you twit. You've just blown away one of the CJ's best friends!!" "Shut up, Kalis" "But you've-" "Kalis , shut up. We're at war now" "We have come ", Talon resumed, "to meet with the Chief Justice and find out what the hell is going ON here." "Stay your paces. Kalis, get inside and tell Jarakh that we have two suspects outside named Saoirse and Talon." Kalis looked a bit worried and vanished. "Meanwhile, drop your wards and submit to a holding spell or suffer the consequences." "Are you crazy, sir? In this climate you want me to drop my wards??" "Do it or you're dead meat, got it pal?" Arak was looking definitely vicious, his partner was looking at Arak. "Arak, I think they're alright", he said quietly. "Jemmon, I didn't ask your opinion." Talon dropped his wards carefully, and waited. Arak quickly threw binding magics around him. Talon knew the sort of magic being employed. This Arak was strong, but young. They waited, and Kalis reappeared. Saoirse regained her senses and found herself bound and defenseless. She looked at Talon, who was calmly waiting for the appearance of whomever. Kalis whispered something in Arak's ear. "You sure, Kalis?" Kalis just nodded. Arak then cast a second spell, binding them even more. It was actually beginning to hurt them, it was that forceful. Neither Saoirse nor Talon could move, and they both felt like there was a lot of pressure all over their bodies. Talon couldn't even speak. Then, Jemmon cast a spell and they were teleported to the central lab behind the door. There was a tall, middle aged man standing , lost in concentration. Jemmon waited, and this tall man came out of his reverie. His face looked saddened. "Chief Justice Jarakh, these are the prisoners ", said Jemmon in short, clipped tones. "Have you run positive ID check?" "No sir, we haven't got relevant comparable data to check" Jemmon responded a little embarassed. "I see." Jarakh weaved his hands, chanting words over the pair of them, then he looked into Saoirse's eyes. She was helpless as he entered her mind with the equivalent of steel-toed hobnail boots, and walked all over it, turning up memories. The spell involved was quite a grueling and brutal search spell. It was rarely used owing to the very painful effects that it had on the human mind. She mentally reeled in pain, but could not even think about stopping it. Jarakh was suddenly himself again. Saoirse, still motionless, had flushed skin and appeared tense. He immediately released the binding spell and she collapsed to the ground holding her head and crying silently. Her head was splitting with pain. She looked up with tear-filled but savage eyes at Jarakh. "Saoirse, I am truly sorry. What else could I do? These are dangerous times and we had to be sure." Sniffling and getting up on unsteady feet, leaning against Talon for support she just looked at him. Her thought spells would cause too much pain, so she reverted to sign language. She knew that Jarakh could read sign quite adeptly. Gesturing in short, sharp motions she was quick and to the point. "What the hell is going on here, Jarakh?" "It's very complex. Please, sit down, I'll get you something for the pain-" "No, tell me. The short version." "Very well. As you know, there is war in the city at the moment. It is between two diffrent sides, though I am on neither. I remain neutral. The Masters of Theology and Planar Contacts are against the remining six of the Council, it would seem -" "Laerean and G'phalath? They couldn't stand up to the power of the others, surely" "Ah yes, very true. But, there is something behind them, giving them extra support. It would seem that the two Masters have gone quite mad in their obsessions or some such." "Possibly Infernal aid? Jarakh, you know how strong our defenses against that type are" "Exactly. They are using something else entirely. I habe not joined either side as yet until I find out the full truth behind it all." "Oh for gods' sakes, Jarakh, the six need support, that much is obvious. We need to get all the best mages on their side against these two Ex-Masters. Where are Lagaric, Daemel and Darmal?" "Lagaric fell a short time ago. Daemel fights with the Six. Darmal? who is Darmal?" "He's a potent mage who arrived about a year ago from the Generican Guild. Said he needed to study in a better place. He was accepted after all the standard tests." "From the Generican Guild you say?" At this point, Talon interjected. "Whom are we talking about?" "Darmal ", said Jarakh back to him " he is an ex-Generican mage apparently." "What department?" Saoirse looked at him, and signed to Jarakh who related it back to Talon. "Politics I believe, or so says the Lady." Talon looked at him. "That, sir, is about as likely as fish going rock-climbing. I have worked in the Politics Department for twenty odd years now. There has never been a Darmal in our Guild." Both Saoirse and Jarakh looked at him. "I think we may have something, Talon", said Jarakh. The Ponticar took out a vial. "drink this, Saoirse. It will ease the pain." She took it gratefully. "Now ", said Jarakh," it would appear we may have a spy to catch" -- Mithrandir [tkelly@unix2.tcd.ie] Bill has loads of guns, and bombs, and more guns, and is dead cool. How is dat for Carictar Devleopment -- Alan O'Dea