Maglor draws his sword.

Hear Maglor, then!
Our wise counsellor has learned much.
Draw, ye Blades! Draw and fight!

And, by the Gods,
If there be but one soul
Left standing
On this blood-besotted ground,
By the Gods, I say,
Let it be one of us!
Forward!

Maglor begins a mighty song of battle...

Spag motions for the others to follow, except for Grimbergen, who remains at his new post as guard for this mysterious lady. Once out of earshot he lays out a plan... "Since Vren has discerned that you of elvish blood are immune to the effects of the lady's charms, you must be the ones to enter the house- Maglor, Pol, Vren and Kyil. Malcolm and I will provide some distraction to lead Grimbergen and the other two away... hopefully without harm coming to Grimbergen,"he glances down at Kyil whose concern was apparent by the look on her face, "though it was his foolishness that got us into this predicament. Once we have them sufficiently far distance from the door of the house, the rest of you sneak in and subdue the lady by whatever means and gain the release of Grimbergen from her clutches. Vren, do you have any of those spells to make yourselves invisible? If not, I would suggest that you go over the back wall as quietly as possible... I will make as much noise as possible to cover your clambering. Kill the lady if you must, but take her alive if you can... she may have valuable information as to the quarry we seek." With that, Spag shoulders his axe and turns to glare coldly at the drooling orcspawn, who in turn glares back maniacally. "Come Malcolm, this should be interesting."

Heed ye well, my Blades! Our general has an excellent plan.
I do fear what we may find inside the cottage, but let our fears not dissuade us!

Onward, Blades!

Well fine and good, Pol will do as ye ask there but are you sure about this one, this lady is evil or that she just brainwashed TA so he would go out and send us all on our way? Sometimes folks just don't want to be bothered nor do they fell beholding to strangers to even say their reason why figuring tis their right to do and live as they please, hurting no one and to themselves. Heck, the gods know--Pol feels obliged to offer up any explainations at all as to what she does long as she didn't hurt anyone, her business is hers----but she is by nature and class and training scretive and her motivations her own to reveal or not----after all what Vren saw-*shrugs* was her use peaceful means to send what was to her a nuscience on it's way----she lives on her own and quiet edge of the forest of the golden elves and tis her right not to like a race nor want them really in her yard and house---Pol has not been welcome lots of places for various reasons *grins*. Aye the small fellow fits the description of the one we look for but tis lots of those types around ye know---and would remind ye also---this dwarf spoke of a particular village from which the problem happened------and this is not in anyway a village---could be these are her body guards and just exactly that no more.

And guess I feel that we really do need more information before we do anything and kill anyone or attack them------for that tis serious action and would like that we make sure as best we can whether tis warranted. If this hafling is not the one we look for then we need to push on ------if he is then I want to skin him alive literally.....but feel evil folk, folk with views different from me, all have the right to live and do as they will----til they visit actual harm on others---the potential of harm is not enough-------ye seek your way around hostile animals-and I agree with that philosophy and kill them not unless they visit harm on us------well people are deserving of that much to aren't they? No harm was done to TA except he was charmed. *shrugs* so ? tis not a reason to draw weapons at this point.

Cannot one of ye cast a spell or that to protect Mal or Mal call upon the power of his goddess for protection and let him go forth to try to discern the truth before we strike-----please let us consider such before we incite a battle-----that can always come as a last resort.

GRINDS FERRALY* but ohh yes but if it comes to that-----Pol wants that pus green piece of slobbering snot with the axe----ohhh yes he is mine, mine, mine. I'll teach that drooling moron some manners I will and send him on to "grace" the afterlife with his repugnant presence if it does come to that. meanwhile mayhap we can send Mal in protected from the ermm ladies charms. And surely Athena---from what I understand of her would be one to beseech for protection for her cleric from the lady's charms--in trying to secure a peaceful resolution if all that is needed is clearing if the halfling is the one we seek. Or is Athena only in the raise dead business?

Vren responds to Spag's plan:

Spag, we should have a contingency plan in case the halfling and half-orc refuse to leave the vicinity of the door. The house has no other entrances.

I cannot cast the invisibility spell again until I rest. I suppose we could leave TA for a time while I sleep, after which I would be able to make four of us invisible. This would also make plain whether TA has been charmed permanently or temporarily. It is my fear that the effect is permanent.

Once we get inside, we may want to try to bar the door. There is a long hallway leading to a central room in which stands the elf. If we are not invisible when we enter she will surely see us. Even if we are invisible, she may notice the door opening of its own accord. I conjecture that she has other spells to utilize against us.

Pol, the bewitching of TA is no small matter as you argue. It is nothing less than a form of enslavement -- an enslavement of the mind rather than the body. We trailed a known murderer to this location and have been met with threats of violence. TA entered with good intent and exited ready to draw weapons on his friends. The danger here is clear.

Maglor urges the group onward.

There is no time to rest. We must attack now!
General Spag has the best plan.
Those with elvish blood rush the house. I will try to put a "hold" on Grimbergen. Spag and Malcolm must deal with the underlings.

Forward Blades!

Malcolm's eyes flick back and forth between Spag, Maglor, Pol, Vren and Kyil.

General Spag, I believe your plan is best. I dare not risk Brother Grimbergen's fate. It is bad enough I may have to hurt him. Malcolm then looks to Maglor.

But I pray Athena share her Grace with all of you. I am concerned I will be unable to assist you with her Blessings should you be injured.

Indeed, if Vren's magic cannot disable Brother Grimbergen, we may have to let him attack us until you break the Witch's hold on him. I'd rather focus on healing General Spag than wounding Brother Grimbergen.

He turns to Pol, reaching to touch her cheek with his fingertips, looking into her eyes.

I agree with Vren. She has ensorcelled Brother Grimbergen not to lead us away, but to stand and fight against us. At the least, she owes us an explanation -- one I hope Maglor is able to receive. Indeed, none of us stands a better chance. Dearest Pol, I do pray Athena protect us all from her charms. I am but Athena's humble servant - she is not mine. I can ask her for favors, but I know they are only granted if it is her Will, not based on my need.

As strong as my Faith is, I cannot blindly match it against this woman's treachery while there are other alternatives available to us.

I wish to interrogate this little man to see if he was indeed the one in Esirup. I strongly suspect he is... And I would love to see you slice open this beast before us {looks to the half-orc} but I suspect you'll be needed inside.

Next Page...