Move 436: A Beak-Examining PauseThe group stood at their various chosen posts, guarding the formerly webbed tunnel or looking over the rock that Echo claimed was emitting a magical presence.
Dalgaer felt a tugging on his arm. It was toward the nearest wall. "Please, Dalgaer," Arachne's voice said. "I don't know anything about bird-beak magic and I'm not very good at waiting alertly for trouble. But I do want to sit down -- I feel awful so I'd rather not sit alone and unseen. I'd rather sit with you -- and unseen. Please?"
'Of course." Dalgaer said tenderly. "Why don't we sit against the wall there? I can still keep an eye on the cavern opening, and I can stand pretty fast."
Arachne agreed. As they sat, he could feel her moving carefully and also using him as a prop. He was also aware that she was leaning against him (still quite gingerly) rather than against the wall. Not a good thing if he did indeed have to stand pretty fast.
After they sat down Dalgaer said awkwardly, "The problem with you being invisible all the time is i don't get to see you as much as I would like... 'course I prefer you safe and undamaged."
"Half a loaf..." she murmured. "I mean, I _feel_ safe -- right now. And I'm not invisible _all_ the time. It wears off after a day entire. Hopefully, by then I'll be more presentable. I'm sorry I can't keep myself undamaged for you. I hardly like doing it to myself. But I find it's the most effective thing I can do in the middle of these battles we keep getting into. I can make useful people like you a lot better in a hurry..." She sighed against him and then, very softly added, "You know, it does feel almost godlike how quickly I can make you or Azrun or Jana or you lots better. I guess it _would_ be godlike if the pain didn't always make me whimper. Gods aren't supposed to whimper, you see. I think it's written somewhere in their playbook: Thou Shalt Not Whimper -- It Makes Your Worshippers Worry That They're Not Following The Real Deal. Even Eldath doesn't whimper. Eldath's into kindness and mercy and forbearance and turning the other cheek and trying to negotiate it out -- and a whole boatload of stoicism when it all goes south anyway. No whimpering for her -- or her priests. I don't think I ever was very good at faking it as an Eldathian priestess -- but at least she didn't toss a lightning bolt or rampaging waterfall at me before I stopped. See, if you're going to irritate a goddess, it's a good idea to go after one who's pacifist."
As usual Dalgaer appeared a bit overwhelmed by Arachne's speedy tongue. "Not everyone is dumb enough to swing an ax. I feel safer with you on this trip, and i would have died without you. 'Course, I still wish you were not taken wounds on yourself."
Arachne sighed again. "Are you sure you have to be quite so exuberant in battle? I know I'm not doing what you want so there's no reason why you should do what I want. I'm not using the powder you gave me -- much. I've used it some, but I'm not staying safe and definitely not -- ow! -- undamaged. But I have to confess... I'm scared for you ... The way you throw yourself at these creatures we meet. And I'm scared that I won't get to you quickly enough -- I'm just not that reckless and the monsters, they're scary. You might die before Renn or Kanon or I --" Her voice broke off. She shuddered. "I don't suppose -- Has anyone --? Um. There was another gnome with this party. Before. Several tendays ago -- it feels like forever but he wasn't killed -- that long ago, really. And ... And it was just.... He was kind of sneaky, actually. But nice sneaky, you know. Sneaky with a grin? Pug. That was his name. And he was fond of gems -- just like gnomes are supposed to be? I was just... finally ... kind of warming up to him and thinking
maybe -- and then he got gutted by a goblin. Right next to me. I was too slow..." The small weight against Dalgaer was shuddering again.Dalgaer frowned, "I'm sorry, but I don't know how else to fight... and it is exciting. But I think I understand how you must feel when I ask you not to take my wounds on yourself. I have to fight to help." Dalgaer smiled at the invisible gnome. "I will try very hard not to die."
"And I'll do my best to help you..." There was another pause. Arachne stopped shuddering. "Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result," the gnome's voice said weakly. "A professor at University. He liked to say that about the battles he said he'd fought. He had a chair in military history and _claimed_ to be a veteran of some Dalelands campaign or other. They all seemed to me to be the same but they did fascinate an awful lot of people -- including Vincent as well as Professor Kirkindall. _I_ thought the man -- the professor -- insufferably pompous, but Vincent said that that was what people thought of me, also. Vincent and I didn't part amicably when we did at last part. I think... I think he did go to the Dales when he left. I wonder how he is now...?"
"Renn?" Echo asked again, sounding worried. She looked at Aloysius and Azrun. "Can either one of you tell anything about this rock?"
"Nay," said Aloysius, who had been studying the rock. "Naught have I been able to discern, and I've no magics left of that nature to assist me." He glanced about nervously.
"When did anyone last have words with Rennirolas?"
Azrun looked around, "I've got a spell available....let me try it." With that he began casting a spell.
"Waitaminute," Jana said urgently, "if Renn's missing, finding him is our first priority. Renn, dammit, answer!"
The priest turned quickly from looking at the strange rock and looked off into space, "That is true the last I heard of our elfin companion was a sound during combat when he was attacked." With a worried look on his face the priest moved to the location where he'd heard the sound of Renn's voice and began to move slowly around scanning for any sign of the elf or perhaps his body.
Blacky used the handle of his axe to prod around him on the floor of the cavern in search of an invisible Renn.
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